Entrepreneurship Chronicles in Africa #1-1000
Date: 2025-03-10T15:26:17+00:00

Entrepreneurship Chronicles in Africa

Unknown

Chapter 1: Transmigration

February 24th, 1862, Germany.

Late at night, the drunken stars scattered faint light across the cold, black sky.

The perspective shifts to southern Germany, where the biting winter wind whips through the branches of the roadside trees in the ancient city of Hechingen, causing the leaves to rustle.

The aged wooden street lamps formed patches of light and shadow, illuminating the dark cyan cobblestone streets. The streets were deserted, and an empty, ghostly sound echoed from the dark alleys.

Through the windows of the houses scattered along both sides of the street, one could almost hear people whispering.

The citizens of Hechingen were enjoying their dinner. The flickering candlelight danced freely behind the dark, aged wooden window frames, like natural-born dancers.

Walking forward along the road, slowly leaving the district, a road leading out of the city suddenly opened up. Along a low slope, a luxuriously decorated carriage slowly drove out of the city, heading towards the distant hills, upon which stood a solemn and ancient castle.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the castle gate. The guards with guns recognized the visitor and opened the gate, and the carriage slowly drove into the castle.

The person sitting in the carriage was none other than the ruler of the Hechingen region, Prince Constantine of the Kingdom of Prussia.

Hechingen was originally a small country in southeastern Germany, the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family, but now it was part of the Prussian Hohenzollern Province.

The decision-maker who promoted Hechingen’s accession to the Kingdom of Prussia was this Prince Constantine, whose full name was Constantine von Hohenzollern.

Prince Constantine, exhausted from a day of hard work, finally returned home and was preparing to return to his room to rest.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the corridor. The person who arrived was the old butler, Keno.

“Your Excellency, something terrible has happened!” Keno reported to Constantine in a panic.

“What is it, Keno? Don’t rush, speak slowly,” Constantine said calmly and naturally.

“Today, His Highness the Prince suddenly fainted while riding a horse. The doctor is examining him now. Your Excellency, please go and have a look!” Keno explained quickly.

Upon hearing that something had happened to his son, Constantine’s air of authority as a superior couldn’t hold up any longer. Ignoring his exhaustion, he followed the butler to his son’s bedroom door.

The servants were waiting in front of the door, not daring to breathe loudly, cautiously waiting for the old master’s arrival.

Constantine didn’t say anything, but pushed open the bedroom door and walked in. He saw his son, Ernst, lying on the bed.

Seeing that the “awakened” Ernst was safe and sound, Constantine’s heart relaxed. Looking at the doctor waiting beside him, Constantine asked, “Doctor, what’s the situation?”

The doctor didn’t dare to be negligent and respectfully replied, “Your Highness, the Prince is currently fine, but the cause of the fainting cannot be determined yet. It is highly likely due to over-fatigue. It would be best if we ask His Highness the Prince later.”

Constantine carefully came to the bedside, held his son’s tender little hand, and asked, “Ernst, how do you feel?”

…

Ernst felt confused and a little depressed. Suddenly hearing someone ask a question, he didn’t dare to act too deliberately, and said softly, “Uh, I feel a little muddled, and I’m still a bit unclear.”

“Then do you remember who I am?” Prince Constantine asked anxiously.

“Of course, Father. It might be the after-effects of my fainting, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

Constantine turned his head to look at the doctor, who quickly replied, “Your Highness, don’t worry too much. The Prince’s physical condition has been checked before and is very healthy. He can rest for a while and then we can observe him. If there are any problems, I will follow up with treatment in a timely manner.”

Looking at the dark sky outside the window, Prince Constantine pondered for a moment and said, “Well, alright, you can all go down! Let the Prince rest well.”

Everyone quietly exited the room. The old butler closed the door as he left, and Prince Constantine, relieved, realized that he was covered in cold sweat. Prince Constantine put his hand on his chest and said piously, “Thank God for his protection!”

Prince Ernst, as the only scion of the Hechingen branch of the Hohenzollern family, had been Constantine’s precious treasure since he was a child.

Constantine was fifty years old when he had this one child. Not long after Ernst was born, his wife, Eugénie de Beauharnais, died of a cold, so Prince Constantine was particularly fond of Prince Ernst.

Of course, historically Constantine had no children. From the moment Ernst was born, the timeline of history changed, and a new branch grew from the main trunk.

At this moment, Ernst didn’t dare to breathe loudly, lying on the bed playing ostrich, because only he knew that he was actually a transmigrator. Today he suddenly awakened the memories of his previous life, so he fainted. In his previous life, he was a “patriot.” If not a workhorse, he was someone who gave his all until death. He would occasionally read some novels to relax and vent his emotions in groups.

Of course, Ernst had been here for twelve years, and it was only today that he realized he was a transmigrator. Was this a second life? It felt a bit like Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly.

Fortunately, the knowledge and common sense he had learned in his previous life couldn’t deceive him. Added to this were the corroborating historical events, such as the already deceased Napoleon the Great, who had shaken the continent, the loose German Confederation, the developing Prussia, the still powerful Austrian Empire, and his own identity as a member of the Hohenzollern family…

Speaking of the Hohenzollern family, they were very famous, but Ernst’s family was somewhat different from the well-known Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg, Prussia. His family was a junior branch of the Hohenzollerns, located in what would be southwestern Germany in his previous life. Next to them was another junior branch of the Hohenzollern family – Sigmaringen, which, like Hechingen, belonged to the Swabian branch. Ernst happened to know something about this Sigmaringen.

Historically, they had plotted for the Spanish throne and later produced a Romanian emperor. In this way, apart from his own family, they were all prominent families whose names were recorded in history books.

If you were to ask why the Hechingen Hohenzollerns were not involved, well… because the Hechingen line died out in history. However, Ernst’s arrival changed history.

While Ernst was still sorting out his thoughts and memories, Constantine had already come back to his senses and began to ask, “Feeling better, Ernst?”

“Yes, Father. I think I’ll be as lively as a dragon and a tiger after a sleep,” Ernst replied, pretending to be relaxed.

“It’s good that you’re alright. You’re going to inherit the title in the future, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It doesn’t matter even if you live a muddle-headed life. I don’t ask you to be ambitious, but you must grow up healthy. You must pay attention to rest, eat healthy food, and don’t learn from those spendthrifts and profligate sons who indulge excessively…”

After saying a lot, Constantine stopped, tucked Ernst in, told him to rest well, and to call the servants if he needed anything, before getting up and leaving the room.

The candlelight flickered weakly, illuminating the dark walls, and the room fell into silence.

Ernst curled up in the quilt, trying to get warmer, and began to sort out his thoughts.

Speaking of which, Ernst in his previous life had a promising job, and was sent by the company to Africa to work as an engineering consultant. His days in Africa were boring, and he often moved with the construction site.

In his previous life, his workplace was basically a remote wilderness, often with power outages and internet disconnections, and sometimes there were supply shortages. Fortunately, the salary was decent.

His days in Africa greatly changed Ernst’s perception. Ernst’s previous workplace was in Tanzania, a remote African country.

Working in Tanzania allowed Ernst to re-understand Africa. Before going to Africa in person, influenced by the media and news, Ernst’s impression of Africa was that it was backward, poor, had harsh natural conditions, and was turbulent.

But truly working and living there, Ernst overturned his previous thoughts. Most of the information on the internet was biased.

From an environmental point of view alone, the temperature and precipitation conditions in Tanzania were better than those in his hometown, the North China Plain.

Originally, he thought that Africa was unbearably hot, with vast tropical rainforests, endless grasslands, and the Sahara Desert deeply imprinted in Ernst’s mind. But when he arrived in Tanzania, Ernst found that the temperature here was between ten and thirty degrees Celsius, neither cold nor hot. The rainy season every year was also abundant in precipitation, with excellent rain and heat conditions.

Tanzania was an unknown small country. Because of his work, Ernst began to become familiar with it. By searching for information on the internet and comparing it with reality, he found that this country was surprisingly good.

Although located in the tropics, it had become a habitable place because of its plateau terrain, similar to the Brazilian Highlands.

The land was flat, the vegetation was lush, and savanna grasslands were the majority, which also changed his perception, because the African grasslands conflicted with his traditional understanding of grasslands.

Before seeing the savanna grasslands with his own eyes, Ernst naturally imagined all the grasslands in the world to be like the Mongolian grasslands.

But when he arrived in Africa, Ernst saw a different landscape. The savanna grasslands could be said to be a unique landscape combining trees and grasslands, which looked very pleasing to the eye. The water and heat conditions far exceeded those of the Mongolian grasslands. From childhood to adulthood, history had described the Mongolian region as a cold and barren land in the north of the country, while the African savanna grasslands were a veritable natural paradise.

The farmers here generally could also have a good harvest, and this was based on crude planting methods. The biggest trouble for local farmers was probably that it was more difficult to fetch water for irrigation, and they lacked water conservancy projects and basic farmland irrigation systems.

The living standards of the local people were not too bad. A relatively rough lifestyle could also allow the poor Africans to be content and happy.

Because of its location in the tropical savanna, fruits and meat could be supplemented to a certain extent. Coupled with the crude small-scale peasant economy, their living standards were even slightly higher than those of the peasants in the late Eastern Asian dynasties.

Of course, attitude towards life was also an important factor. In the nearly hundred years of colonial history, Westerners had forcibly pulled them from a primitive hunting lifestyle into modern society.

The concepts of the Africans had not changed in time. The complex, refined, and self-evident survival model of Eastern Asians was difficult to reflect in Africa.

Industrial conditions in Africa also had a major feature. The mineral resources here were not as superior as those said on the internet, taking Tanzania as an example.

This was a country that mined and exported minerals, but many of the main mineral resources were actually not as abundant as imagined. Coal, iron, copper, and oil were all available, but compared to those truly resource-rich countries, there were not many.

Many resources were not ranked in the world, but the extremely low level of industrialization had created the affluence of mineral resources.

In his impression, Eastern Asia was a country poor in minerals, which was actually related to Eastern Asia’s high degree of industrialization. But when comparing the actual reserves of mineral resources, Tanzania was far behind.

Just in terms of coal, iron, and oil, Eastern Asia had world-class large mines. Even the worst oil had several large oil fields that could be counted.

Tanzania was considered a country poor in oil before the discovery of oil off the eastern coast. But Tanzania was not a small country in the traditional sense.

In terms of land area, it was 940,000 square kilometers, almost one-tenth of Eastern Asia. However, deserts alone account for nearly a quarter of the area of Eastern Asia’s northwest, and there were also high-altitude, difficult-to-develop alpine plateaus and countless mountains. Only the east had considerable agricultural development conditions.

The main body of Tanzania was a plateau, but the plateau’s altitude was not too high, the terrain was relatively flat, and the equator passed through it, making the temperature suitable and the rainfall moderate, which created a well-known agricultural country in Africa. Tanzania’s comprehensive natural agricultural conditions were estimated to be second only to Nigeria in Africa.

From a population perspective, Tanzania was also an internationally recognized large population country, having crossed the 50 million population mark and still growing rapidly. However, Tanzania still had many uncultivated lands, and its fishery resources had not been fully developed. Its population limit was more than that.

As for industrial conditions, although mineral resources were not very abundant, it depended on who you compared it with. At least a group of small and medium-sized European countries were beyond its reach. It was completely sufficient to meet the needs of primary industrialization. The overall mineral resources in Africa were not abundant among the continents. Resources were concentrated in South Africa and West Africa, as well as North Africa, which had unique oil resources. Tanzania’s mineral resources were also of medium quality in Africa.

In terms of transportation, Tanzania was also not bad, located on the traditional commercial shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean. Dar es Salaam was one of the few well-known major ports in Africa. Before the opening of the Suez Canal, it was an important world-class commercial node, a pearl on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The once-rising Omani Empire established a branch here – the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

From this, it could be seen that Tanzania’s conditions in all aspects were not bad, so why was its level of development so low?

Before Ernst went to work in Africa, influenced by traditional media, he believed that there was only one reason for Africa’s poverty: Africans were lazy and relied on nature.

But after arriving in Africa, Ernst realized the one-sidedness of this idea. It was a superficial phenomenon.

Multiple factors were the source of Africa’s poverty. Before the arrival of the colonists, the overall level of civilization on the African continent was very low. The isolation of the Sahara Desert led to most of southern Africa being a civilization desert. Only West Africa and Ethiopia in East Africa had developed independent civilizations, and they were greatly influenced by the Arabs.

The Bantu people of West Africa were the earliest group to expand southward, but the Bantu people had only developed the civilization characteristics of early countries, with extremely low technical levels. Their southward migration also had to cross the Congo rainforest and the Central African savanna, areas full of wild animals. The expansion of the Omani Empire in the Middle East was also limited to Zanzibar Island and the coast of East Africa. Civilization did not expand into the African interior.

In Central and Southern Africa, tribal social forms based on hunting widely existed. The tribes on the Mongolian grasslands were influenced by Central Plains culture and developed regimes. But Africa was a desert of regimes. The native aborigines lived a life of fighting against wild animals.

The arrival of Westerners forcibly dragged this area, which was mainly in the form of primitive tribes, into the modern social system.

According to Ernst’s own experience, this destructive method made it difficult for the local aborigines to integrate into the modern social form. For example, in the western mountainous areas of the Heavenly Kingdom of Eastern Asia, slavery still existed when the Republic was founded. After nearly a hundred years of integration and support, it was still difficult to change some of the habits of the local people.

Not to mention the Westerners who did not come for poverty alleviation and the primitive tribal social societies in Africa, whose social forms were not even as good as slavery.

In fact, the tribal system was already a very advanced system for the Africans at that time.

At that time, many areas in Africa still existed in the most basic forms of families and villages. How to say it, even the lions on the African savanna existed in this family form!

Therefore, the starting point of African civilization was very low, almost equal to zero, and remained at the same level as prehistoric civilization.

Africa was forced onto the path of civilization in the guns of Westerners, which was also the inducement for the constant wars after Africa’s independence.

Of course, Tanzania did not have the impact of large-scale wars. In modern times, Tanzania’s overall stability ranked among the top in African countries.

However, Tanzanians lacked experience in governing the country. There was no history to learn from, the starting point was low, and social solidification caused little overall progress. Although there was some development, it was insignificant compared to the rest of the world, just like Eastern Asia and the Middle East in later generations far surpassed Africa.

But compared to a group of African countries, Tanzania could already be said to be one of the most successful countries in Africa.

Ernst couldn’t help but sigh when he recalled his life experiences in his previous life. Working in a region with complete infrastructure to a region with basically no infrastructure was a disaster. Later, Ernst slowly adapted to that kind of life.

Of course, now was not the time to recall his previous life. He had transmigrated through history back to modern Europe. A new life was beckoning to him again, and he was about to seek his place in the torrent of history.

Chapter 2: Ernst’s Transformation

Morning. The ancient and fresh air filled the land of Hechingen, where the traditional agricultural manor landscape displayed vibrant vitality.

Green tree-lined paths, leisurely streams, and busy farmers working in the fields—Hechingen’s town and pastoral scenery were naturally and harmoniously connected.

Ernst sat in the carriage, leisurely admiring the beautiful rural scenery. Although the industrial revolution was unfolding vigorously on European soil, the remote and secluded Hechingen had not been greatly affected, with no tall, black chimneys rising from the ground or the roar of machinery.

Hechingen had neither too many nor too few people. The streets were clean and tidy, with people coming and going but not crowded. Small stalls built by vendors along the street sold freshly unearthed vegetables from the fields and fruits from afar. Some shops featured industrialized daily necessities, but the variety was limited.

There were also small newsstands on street corners selling news. The implementation of compulsory education in Germany had made newspapers popular among the masses, which was also thanks to Ernst’s grandfather. Ernst’s grandfather, Prince Frederick, was an enlightened monarch who, although he had no political achievements, truly developed the cultural and educational undertakings in the Hechingen area. He was very attentive to culture and art.

Many German literati praised him highly. At least, the intellectuals in the Hechingen area benefited, and Hechingen could be considered to have a relatively strong cultural atmosphere.

Today was Ernst’s first day of recovery, and it was also the first time Ernst had left the castle to see this brand new world.

“Tom, stop for a moment, and get a copy of today’s newspaper,” Ernst instructed his servant.

“Yes, young master!” The servant named Tom replied respectfully.

The coachman slowly parked the carriage in front of the newsstand. Soon, Tom got out of the carriage to buy the newspaper, and Ernst began to check the information on it.

《Stuttgart Weekly》(Fictional)

Hmm…

Stuttgart is an important city in southwestern Germany. Newspapers are not a novelty, but at this time, Germany was not yet unified, and the newspaper industry was very chaotic, with all kinds of local tabloids.

However, the newspapers of this era still felt relatively novel to Ernst. Unlike the color newspapers of later generations, the content of this newspaper was varied and the text was dense, lacking pictures and not intuitive, making Ernst feel dizzy.

There were some municipal discussions on it, which will not be described in detail here. Ernst didn’t have much of a concept of these, and being new to the place, he found it difficult to resonate. He continued to read.

《New King Wilhelm I Appoints New Prussian Prime Minister, Bismarck May Change Prussia》, such a plain and unadorned title.

At this moment, Hechingen had already been incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia, but it was still too early for Prussia to unify Germany. Hechingen and neighboring Sigmaringen both belonged to the Hohenzollern branch. Earlier, Prince Constantine and Prince Karl of the neighboring state jointly promoted the two principalities to join Prussia, which were considered two tentacles of Prussia in the less influential South German region.

The newspaper briefly described Bismarck’s resume: the Prussian United Diet convened on April 14, 1847, and he was elected as the official representative of the Berlin state. In 1851, he served as the representative of the Kingdom of Prussia at the Frankfurt Confederation Assembly, and was soon promoted to ambassador, serving for eight years. In 1857, he was appointed as the ambassador to Russia. On September 23, 1862, he became the prime minister and foreign minister.

What followed was an analysis of the personality and remarks of this new Prussian prime minister, and finally a prediction that Prussia was about to usher in great changes.

Written very reasonably…

At least, Ernst thought so. Bismarck was indeed a capable general in the unification of Germany. He and Wilhelm I could be described as having the same mind, working together to create a unified and powerful Germany.

In the end, Hechingen had bought a ticket to the future, standing on the side of Prussia, and contributing to the cause of German unification.

However, these were too distant for Ernst, who was still a teenager. His own destiny was not actually in his own hands. When the tide came, not becoming a helmsman meant being destined to be a lone boat drifting with the current.

Fortunately, his identity was different now. He didn’t have to struggle and survive in the cruelty of this era like ordinary people. Perhaps he could go a step further and become a trendsetter of the times.

Although the current era was full of turbulent waves, the opportunities were also unimaginable. Having some knowledge of the future meant that he was naturally entitled to strive for a further step.

Of course, the premise was to integrate into the background of the era. Otherwise, wasting good resources would leave him with nothing to complain about.

Ernst believed that one should eat as much as one was capable of. For him, it was more important to cultivate his own abilities and grasp the pulse of the times, rather than indulging in endless fantasies.

Like in his previous life, Ernst despised the remarks of many keyboard warriors who claimed they could do better. If those keyboard warriors were to transmigrate and hold high positions, how would they govern the country well?

Facing the history he was familiar with, he could speak freely on the internet, but being in it would reveal that things were not simple.

For example, in a country, you accidentally know some information about the future, but it is unrealistic to expect to move your mouth and have your subordinates obey you.

Faced with various complex situations, it would be difficult to cope without systematic learning, such as those processes and rules.

If you become a superior, what should you do on the first day? Who are your own people? Whether those known geniuses will act according to your ideas is uncontrollable.

…

Ernst was an engineering consultant in his previous life and had never held a high position. His experience in commanding others was almost non-existent, and he knew nothing about interpreting official documents. Even a small official at the village chief level might be more experienced than him.

Fortunately, he was young and could still learn. Now that he had the conditions, he naturally had to actively integrate into his new identity.

Ernst was thinking when the carriage unknowingly returned to the castle, pressing on the bluestone road, driving into the courtyard. He got out of the carriage, and the old butler came to greet him.

“Young master, the master instructed you to go to his study after you return. He has something to discuss with you.”

“I understand, Butler Keno,” Ernst replied.

Ernst followed the instructions of his memory and walked towards the study on the second floor, stepping onto the wooden stairs and arriving at the corridor on the second floor.

At the end of the corridor was the study of His Highness the Prince. This study had a separate balcony, which was filled with pleasing green plants and flowers. From the balcony, one could overlook the manor outside the castle. There was a wicker chair on the balcony, where Prince Constantine would lie to enjoy the sunlight and relieve fatigue during breaks.

Ernst slowly walked to the door and knocked on the study door, thump, thump…

“Come in!”

Turning the handle and pushing open the door, he saw Prince Constantine sitting at his desk, flipping through the documents of the territory. When Prince Constantine saw that it was his son who had entered, he took off the glasses he was wearing and placed them on the desk.

“You’re here, Ernst. How is your health?” Constantine asked.

“Much better, Father,” Ernst replied respectfully, standing aside.

“Well, the reason I called you here is to ask if you have any plans, or rather, ideas for the future.”

“Uh…”

Ernst pondered for a moment and said, “Father, I want to study abroad on the continent.”

Hearing Ernst’s answer, a subtle smile appeared on the corner of Constantine’s mouth. He was very pleased with his son’s idea, but still pretended to be stern and asked, “As a nobleman in the German region, the Hohenzollern family has always focused on military affairs. Why do you also want to learn that British trick?”

Ernst was a little nervous, but he calmed down and slowly explained.

“Father, in my opinion, the times have changed. In the past, the nobility was the most dominant force in Europe, but now, with the development of industry, the power of capitalists is growing in Europe. The French even had a republic before. I wonder what gave them such encouragement and courage. I think it is capital. And why capitalists can accumulate huge capital in a short period of time is precisely because of large-scale mechanized production…”

“Interrupting for a moment, they are just clowns. Ernst, you overestimate them too much!” Constantine said disdainfully.

“Father, please listen to me. Capitalists are indeed not enough to change the situation at present, but they are expanding too quickly. For example, the British 《Bill of Rights》, the previous turmoil in France… The same will happen in our German region in the future. Capitalists control more advanced production methods than us. Industrialization has accelerated the accumulation of wealth for capitalists. If we let them develop, it will directly threaten the rule of the nobility in the future. Not to mention the distant past, how long ago was the Frankfurt Assembly? Such history will be staged again in the future.”

Constantine listened to his son’s alarmist talk with a blank expression and said, “Then what are your thoughts?”

He took the bait! Ernst was overjoyed and explained to his father.

“I once heard an ancient saying in the East: if you can’t beat them, join them. Why can’t our nobility also use the capitalist model to accumulate wealth?”

“Then aren’t you afraid of breaking away from the noble group? You must know that as a great nobleman, the most taboo thing is to degrade yourself.”

“Father, please listen to me. The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain. Our nobility itself exists as a whole with common interests. Only when the family prospers will people naturally come uninvited…”

After a long sermon, Constantine seemed to be persuaded. In fact, His Highness the Prince, who had been in a high position for many years, didn’t care about these things at all.

Having his own huge family business was enough for Ernst to enjoy for a lifetime. Being a good-for-nothing second-generation heir was better than courting death.

That’s what he said, but in reality, Prince Constantine didn’t want the Hechingen line to be extinct. Strangely enough, he himself was the only heir of the Hechingen line, and his son was also the only heir. Moreover, he had a son late in life. Constantine’s greatest wish at the moment was for Ernst to grow up quickly, marry and have children, and have a grandson to hold.

As for noble glory and the like, it was nonsense. Constantine’s father, Count Frederick, had experienced the war against Napoleon, and he relied on switching sides at the end to gain the identity of a victor. Although he himself also held a position in the kingdom, he had basically no practical experience.

His son’s health was not very good (Constantine thought so). It was better for him to inherit the family business honestly. Of course, he would not say these inner thoughts to damage his authority as a father.

The influence of the Prussian redneck mindset of this era still existed. The Junker nobles in the North German region, especially the nobles in the Prussian region, left a deep impression. Nobles were indeed keen on developing in the military.

Of course, more and more nobles began to value culture and education, but most of them actually invested in literature and art, and did not pay much attention to practical subjects. Some traditional conservative nobles even anti-intellectually believed that practical subjects were what the bourgeoisie studied.

Nobles valued social interaction the most. In order to show their elegance and cultural cultivation, they would mostly learn these cultural and artistic things. There was even a phenomenon of funding artists to create in order to highlight their appreciation of art (without much skill themselves).

In this way, the most admired cultural and artistic centers for the entire European nobility were Paris and Rome.

But who was Ernst? A former roughneck in science and engineering. Wasn’t it difficult for him to do these things? Moreover, influenced by the society of his previous life, he also felt that the so-called liberal arts were indeed useless.

Of course, it was different now. He definitely had to dabble in these things. After all, if he wanted to integrate into the noble group, these things were the art of slaying dragons. He thought so in his heart, but Ernst mainly wanted to go to Berlin to realize some of his whimsical ideas. But he definitely couldn’t say that.

Chapter 3: In Berlin

June, 1863, Berlin University.

As a scion of a top-tier aristocratic family, Ernst was auditing classes here thanks to his father’s connections.

Ernst’s schedule had been quite packed recently, but it mainly consisted of studying economic principles. Other courses, primarily on aristocratic etiquette, deportment, and even religion, were handled by Ernst’s private tutor.

Traveling with Ernst were his tutor, Richard, and his servant, Tom.

Richard had been responsible for Ernst’s early education.

The group first traveled from Hechingen to Stuttgart, and then took a train through Bavaria to Berlin.

The journey took nearly half a month because of numerous visits to aristocratic acquaintances along the way.

Fortunately, the latter half of the trip was mainly by rail, which avoided some unnecessary banquets and social events.

Upon arriving in Berlin, as a member of the Hohenzollern family, Ernst naturally had to pay his respects to the Prussian royal family. Ernst met his great-uncle, Wilhelm I.

Actually, Ernst had met Wilhelm I as a child, but he was too young to remember clearly, and he hadn’t awakened his memories of his previous life yet.

As for why they had crossed paths, it was necessary to mention Hechingen’s unique position. As the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family, even with the Brandenburg branch of the Hohenzollerns being so prominent, becoming Holy Roman Electors and expanding into the Kingdom of Prussia, blood ties couldn’t be denied. The Prussian royal family’s ancestors had also come from Hechingen.

The castle where his family lived was actually co-funded by them and the Prussian royal family. However, his branch had lived in Hechingen for generations and never left, while the Brandenburg branch of the Hohenzollerns couldn’t possibly leave Berlin, the Prussian power center, to develop in a rural area like Hechingen. It was only because of the ancestral land’s special significance that the Brandenburg royal family funded the renovation of Hohenzollern Castle in Hechingen; it was a matter of family pride.

Hohenzollern Castle was originally a military fortress, but it was destroyed in war. The current Hohenzollern Castle is a newly rebuilt structure.

Sometimes the Brandenburg Hohenzollern family would return to Hechingen to visit. The last time the Prussian royal family sent someone was when Hechingen and Sigmaringen formed the new Prussian Hohenzollern Province and were incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia. Ernst was just born then, so he naturally couldn’t recognize the Prussian prince who visited.

Wilhelm I first inquired about Prince Constantine’s recent situation, and then learned about Ernst’s reason for coming to Berlin. When he learned that Ernst was there to study abroad.

Wilhelm I was very pleased. The Prussian royal family had always attached great importance to education, considering it a long-term plan as important as military affairs.

Now that Ernst had chosen Berlin as the first stop on his study tour, Wilhelm I was very happy. This was also a side proof of the development of Prussia’s education in recent years.

Finally, Wilhelm I welcomed Ernst and assured him that he could come to the palace for help if he encountered any trouble.

Ernst expressed his gratitude and met other members of the Hohenzollern family, Crown Prince Friedrich and the young Wilhelm II, who would later stir up the world.

Having just arrived in Berlin, Ernst often had to attend gatherings among the nobility, which was Ernst’s only social activity.

He spent most of his other time at school or doing physical training. Medical standards were difficult to guarantee in this era, so Ernst paid great attention to his health.

In addition to basic strength training, there was also equestrianism and, of course, firearms shooting. Ernst had been exposed to this basic military education before. For Prussian nobles, it was the foundation of their standing.

Ernst also made many friends at the University of Berlin. Although he struggled with his studies and seemed dull compared to these genius classmates, Ernst had a good attitude and didn’t try to compare his intelligence with these monsters.

There were also some aristocratic children similar to Ernst studying here, but they were all older. However, the slightly mature Ernst got along well with them.

There were quite a few powerful figures at the University of Berlin, but that was the case throughout Germany. Nobles were more enthusiastic about military academies, as well as rival institutions like the University of Göttingen and the University of Bonn.

…

“Alright, that’s all for today’s lesson. Class dismissed!” the professor said sternly.

The professor expressionlessly packed up his teaching materials and left without hesitation.

A weary Ernst rubbed his eyes, packed up the notes and books in front of him on the desk, put them in his briefcase, and stood up to leave.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind: “Ernst! Where are you going after school?” A classmate, Garrett, nudged Ernst, who was about to leave, with his elbow.

“I’m going home, of course, Garrett,” Ernst replied.

Garrett asked with feigned surprise: “Aren’t you going to the party tonight? I heard Karl is organizing it, and there will be many ladies attending!”

“Garrett, I’m still young. Don’t try to corrupt me. Besides, there have been too many parties and salons lately. I’d rather rest for a while,” Ernst said with a chuckle, nudging Garrett’s shoulder with his elbow.

“You bastard, you tell more dirty jokes than I do. I think you’re just pretending to be proper,” Garrett gesticulated wildly, using comical movements to “expose” Ernst’s hypocrisy.

…

Amidst the horseplay, Ernst left the school. Outside the school gate, Tom was already waiting.

“Tom, to the workshop today!” Ernst instructed Tom.

“Yes, sir.”

The carriage slowly left the school gate, weaving through the streets of Berlin, turning corners, and after some time stopped in front of a blacksmith’s shop.

Ernst pushed open the door and entered the house. The house was full of debris, mostly tools, hammers, axes… randomly discarded on the ground.

The furnace was burning with flames, and the house was filled with the smell of charcoal. There were also splashes of solidified molten iron near the furnace.

The blacksmith shop, or rather, what Ernst called the workshop, was rented by Ernst. In addition to the original blacksmith, he had also hired a junior high school student with a science and engineering background. Ernst interrupted Peter, the junior high school student, who was adding fuel to the furnace.

“Peter, have you made the thing?” Ernst asked naturally.

“Boss, I’ve made it. See if it’s like this!” He said, taking a wooden box from the counter behind him.

He opened the lid of the box and took out a metal object, a copper handle with two thick iron pieces sandwiching a thin iron piece. It was a T-shaped razor.

As a time-traveler, the most important thing was, of course, to make money. Although Ernst was born a noble, money was always lacking. Not to mention anything else, even the noble status wasn’t secure. In later generations, the German Empire would be defeated, and even the emperor would have to step down and flee abroad.

He was a noble from a small place. Although his status was high (Hechingen was a principality before being annexed, Constantine was a prince, and now he was a Prussian prince, with a status equivalent to a feudal lord), Hohenzollern Province sounded grand, but it wasn’t even as big as the county he lived in his previous life, and the population wasn’t even one hundred thousand.

In such a small place, it wasn’t even his family that was the most powerful. The neighboring Sigmaringen was clearly more prosperous than his family.

Through historical experience, he should make more money using his current noble status. Even if the empire fell in the future, he could settle down and make a living, so he wouldn’t be destitute.

Of course, these were distant matters, and Ernst wasn’t too anxious. He was more focused on completing a bold idea from his previous life.

Once a person reaches a certain position, ambition follows. Ernst was naturally the same.

Having knowledge of future events, Ernst wasn’t optimistic about the future of Europe. Not to mention the distant future, there was the series of wars for Prussian unification of Germany right now. When he got old, there would be two World Wars.

If he had to stay in Germany in the future, the fall of the German Empire would affect him. At that time, German nobles would be lambs to the slaughter. Even with a lot of wealth, it could be confiscated by the great powers and the republican government, so he had to arrange a way out in advance.

Europe was by no means a safe place. The continent was turbulent, with great powers standing side by side. Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary were all squeezed here. In the future, there would be interference from the United States and the Soviet Union, so Europe had no future. Now was the best era for Europe, the best era for Germany.

So where did Ernst want to go? Here it is necessary to mention the location of his previous job, Tanzania.

When Ernst learned about the history of East Africa in his previous life, he was always filled with emotion. As Germany’s most valuable colony, German East Africa was simply a land chosen by heaven.

Unfortunately, Germany went all-in at the end, and German East Africa didn’t have time to develop before the empire fell. Of course, it was also related to the German government’s lack of attention at the time.

Currently, no country in Europe is paying attention to East Africa. The United Kingdom and France have vast colonies, Germany has not yet unified, and only the Portuguese have a few strongholds on the East African coast, but other than the plains along the coast of Mozambique, the Portuguese have not penetrated deep into the interior of East Africa.

In his previous life, the Germans didn’t encounter any decent resistance when they invaded East Africa. The only ones who left a mark were the native African tribes.

These natives were still in a primitive tribal society, which shows how wild East Africa was.

But for Ernst, wildness was a good thing. As long as he could slowly develop East Africa through immigration, and use methods to relocate the natives in the primitive social system, wouldn’t he be able to easily establish a country in the future?

First of all, East Africa doesn’t have any decent resources (it was developed late), and few colonizers pay attention to it.

Secondly, East Africa has a small population, unlike the densely populated Philippines in East Asia. Colonizers can’t squeeze out human labor value, which also means that the native population is small. It is easy to drive them away, which can avoid a repeat of the South African event.

Finally, East Africa has good agricultural conditions, the land is open, and it has reclamation value, and other conditions are not bad.

In Ernst’s eyes, as long as he could obtain the management rights of East Africa, he could establish an independent kingdom as his future retreat.

This kingdom may be inconspicuous on a global scale, but after the wave of African independence in the future, the country he built would definitely be able to beat the surrounding native countries.

Of course, the premise is not to be as stupid as the Boers, wanting both, and finally fleeing abroad.

It’s not that Ernst is contemptuous, but even putting a pig in charge would be stronger than those African “benevolent rulers” of later generations.

As for why Ernst thought he could start a business in distant Africa, in addition to his optimism about the African environment and resources, there was also a “benevolent ruler” like Leopold II of Belgium as an example.

Before the great powers set their sights on the African continent, create a fait accompli, and finally wave the flag of Germany, and win over Austria-Hungary and Germany, and he will be able to lay down a foundation for the Hohenzollern family overseas.

Of course, the realistic problem with all this fantasy is - making money. Ernst can’t even come up with the initial capital for colonization, so he naturally has to use his decades of life experience to make money.

That’s right, the T-shaped razor in front of him is the first step. At this time, people are still using straight razors. Ernst is still young and hasn’t reached the age where he has a stubble, but seeing this straight razor also makes his face hurt.

Fortunately, he had seen his grandfather’s old-fashioned razor in his previous life, which was invented by Gillette, an American.

Ernst only remembered the general idea of this razor, so after coming to Berlin, he used sketches to have Peter replicate it. Now it seems that the initial form has been completed.

“Peter, you’ve done a great job. If this razor is mass-produced, how difficult do you think it will be?”

Peter looked solemn and answered Ernst cautiously.

“Boss, look!” As he spoke, he disassembled the razor blade, pinched both ends of the blade and snapped it. “Crack,” the blade broke in response.

The strength of this thin blade is too low to be used at all. If the problem of the blade’s strength cannot be solved, it will be impossible to sell.

Ernst pondered for a moment and asked, “Is there a solution?”

Peter said: “Maybe metallurgists have a solution, you can seek help. Another method is through repeated experiments.”

“Well, okay, on the one hand, you continue to experiment to find a solution, and I will find a way to find experts.” Ernst decided to do both, and solve this problem as soon as possible.

Chapter 4: Everything is Difficult at the Beginning

October 4th, 1863.

After months of long waiting, Ernst finally saw the finished product. Through connections and using his chequebook, Ernst found a metallurgist expert at an armory in Berlin, and the blade problem was solved.

It must be said that experts are reliable. With years of experience and rich knowledge, Ernst made a request, and the expert immediately had a solution.

Finally, Ernst, with a mature plan, successfully launched the first generation T-shaped razor blade smelting machine at a factory specializing in customized industrial equipment in Berlin, using product patents and sketches.

This also led to a rapid shrinking of Ernst’s personal savings, but fortunately, he has now achieved results.

Having the corresponding mechanical equipment is only the first step. To achieve large-scale production, one set of equipment is not enough, but how to solve the funding problem?

At this time, the benefits of being a rich second-generation come into play. As a top rich second-generation, of course, he can justifiably reach out to his old father to “borrow” money.

Prince Constantine was also concerned about his son’s life in Berlin. As a result, one ordinary afternoon, he received a letter of help from Berlin, which made him laugh and cry.

For Constantine, this money was not a small amount, but he could still afford the money for his son’s first venture. As a German landowner, relying on rent collection was a very lucrative job.

This was also considered the family’s first investment in industry. For Constantine, cultivating his children’s autonomy was more important than anything else. Only by letting him do it himself and make decisions could he become a good successor in the future. As for failure, it was just a trial and error cost.

While he was not yet senile, he wanted to train Ernst’s abilities, which was much better than leaving behind a vast fortune.

For a nobleman, experience and knowledge are the best wealth. Only by being beaten by society can one become a qualified nobleman.

Prince Constantine’s generosity and straightforwardness greatly accelerated Ernst’s industrial production process.

Through his noble status, the relevant procedures were also handled smoothly. No one dared to make things difficult for a prince’s son, especially a prince of the Hohenzollern family.

Well-informed nobles knew that old Prince Constantine’s son was running a factory, but most people were not optimistic about it.

Although some nobles are involved in industry these days, very few top nobles personally get involved. A freak like Ernst who does everything himself is rarely seen.

After renting the factory building and getting the workers and other corresponding facilities in place, Ernst’s factory opened.

The operation of the machinery required a large number of workers to operate, and people came and went in the factory building, always paying attention to the operating status of the machines. Furnaces and steam tracks required a lot of energy, and black chimneys rose from the ground.

Black fog shrouded the sky over Berlin, and wastewater was discharged directly into the suburban rivers. This was the norm in early industrial countries.

Of course, this was the result of the joint efforts of many factories. Ernst’s small factory was inconspicuous among them.

As the tracks rotated, molten iron was shaped, cooled, and sent to the workers along the steel wheels, eventually taking shape.

Then, the workers used machines to cut these thin sheets, which were collected by the workers in the next process and finally packaged in oiled paper.

This was the production process of the blades. In addition, there was a separate production line developed for the handles.

Everything adopted assembly line operations, which greatly saved the waste caused by intermediate links and improved production efficiency.

At this moment, Ernst was holding the finished razor produced by his own factory. In order to test its practicality, Ernst decided to “personally” try it out.

“Peter, sit still, don’t move,” Ernst ordered.

Peter sat nervously on the chair, not daring to move, as if waiting for the arrival of great terror.

Ernst personally wielded the razor, first lathering up with soap and applying it to the victim’s face. Ernst waved the handle from side to side, and the beard fell smoothly to the ground with the scraping of the blade.

As the first victim, Peter nervously enjoyed the boss’s service. Although the new razor focused on safety and convenience, who knew the anxiety of having one’s fate in the hands of others.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. When the last stroke fell, Ernst handed the towel to Peter to wipe his chin.

“How does it feel?” Ernst asked curiously.

“Boss, just talking about the product’s quality control, there is absolutely no problem, but whether it can sell for a good price is hard to say.”

Peter was not very optimistic about the market prospects, after all, such novel things are difficult for people to accept in a short time.

Moreover, there are actually similar products on the market, but the principles are different. As for why the boss insisted on engaging in this new type of razor with uncertainly, Peter felt that maybe the boss was just playing around, after all, he was young.

Ernst really hadn’t explained the reason, as long as his subordinates produced the finished product. In fact, this old-fashioned razor that looked like it came from his previous life was really too successful.

Even in the era of smart home appliances, some people still use this purely mechanized old-fashioned T-shaped razor. The classic is taken over and copied directly.

As the inventor of this razor, Gillette himself was from a sales background and invented this maintenance product that did not require sharpening, was relatively safe, and was inexpensive in his life experience.

Moreover, the profit model of this razor is also very novel. Unlike traditional straight razors, the blade and handle are integrated and cannot be replaced at will, so it is difficult to discard.

Gillette razor blades are very cheap. When they become blunt, they can be thrown away, saving the effort of sharpening the blades and saving time. The cutting edge is sandwiched between iron sheets, which looks safer than the straight razors that can slit throats.

Of course, promoting this new razor is still a long way off. The first problem to be solved is how to get the handle into the hands of the public.

This is a big problem. It takes time for the public to accept this new thing. Only when they really have such a knife in their hands can they increase the sales of blades in the future.

Ernst decided to use three methods to promote the new razor. The first is for salesmen to promote it door-to-door, the second is to find distributors, and the third is to increase advertising investment.

The first is the most conventional. Salesmen can explain the advantages of the new razor, directly hit the customer’s pain points, and the transaction rate is high.

The second is more troublesome, because their own products do not yet have a large reputation, and it is very likely that distributors will not like it.

So advertising has become a necessary auxiliary means. As for the advertising content, Ernst already has a rough idea.

That is to put up posters. This poster cannot be too small, it must be large, preferably occupying the space of an entire wall.

This is the only way to popularize the use and advantages of the new razor.

Then there must be a comparison. Get a male model, it must be the handsome type. Make two comparison images, one using an old-fashioned razor to directly cut the face, causing trauma. And next to it is using the new razor and looking refreshed.

The words “safer” must be placed in large letters on the first line, and then the durability of the product must be highlighted (reusable handle), and finally, it is time-saving and labor-saving (the blade can be replaced, and it is not expensive.)

…

After two months of promotion, “Gillette” razors were freshly released. That’s right, Ernst even copied the name, not even bothering to pretend.

Just as Ernst thought, the sales of “Gillette” razors were not a great success. Fortunately, after two months of promotion and advertising, Berliners already knew about this product.

And many families who have already used it have become old customers. After all, that metal handle can probably be used for decades without any problems. The required costs are all sets of blades, achieving small profits but quick turnover.

At present, it is still necessary to ensure product quality. There are not many things left to do. Ernst has appointed Peter as the acting factory director, and he will take time to come and inspect.

As for the funds after the profit will be used to increase advertising promotion, from Berlin to other cities, and finally the entire German region. The current production line can fully meet the product supply of the entire German region.

When Ernst’s products cover the entire German region, Ernst will make the next plan. At that time, Ernst may increase production efforts and formulate plans for the entire continent or even the Americas and other regions.

Or he may invest in some new industries. The prerequisite for all of this is the big sale of razors.

All of this takes time. Ernst currently has no time and money to do extra things. He can only consider the next step after the razors are profitable.

Chapter 5: The Booming Manufacturing Industry

The 19th century undoubtedly was a paradise for entrepreneurs. In this era of increasing industrialization, the returns on investment in industry were quite considerable.

Although the risks were also high, for Ernst, they were practically nonexistent. After a year-long back-and-forth.

“Gillette” razors had at least become well-known. The customers who had already purchased them were firmly in hand, and repeat customers could be seen.

“Gillette” had already embarked on a path to profitability. Of course, Ernst would not stop there. In his previous life, “Gillette” truly grew into a powerful force by capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the World War. The American army took Gillette to the whole world.

And Ernst had also caught up with a good era. Bismarck, as the Iron Chancellor, paid considerable attention to the army, and after taking office, he put forward the famous “blood and iron policy.”

That is, to increase industrial construction to serve the army, and at the same time increase the joint military strength of the German states.

According to the history Ernst was familiar with, next year would be the prelude to Prussia’s war to unify Germany, allying with Austria to declare war on Denmark and reclaim the two northern duchies of Schleswig-Holstein.

Therefore, while Prussia was integrating its army, Ernst personally went to the Prussian Royal Palace to promote “Gillette” razors to Wilhelm I.

Ernst mainly focused on the urgency of time if a war were to occur. Traditional razors were not only unsafe, but also difficult to operate, and the blades also required separate time for maintenance, while “Gillette” only needed to replace the blade, which could save this time.

Of course, in order to dispel Wilhelm I’s concerns, Ernst took the initiative to offer a loss-making aid of twenty thousand “Gillette” razors to support the kingdom’s army building efforts.

Whether it was a loss or not was not important. What was important was to let these Prussian soldiers feel the convenience of “Gillette.”

People are all lazy. If they can sit, they will never stand. If they can lie down, they will never sit. Ernst deeply understood this during his university years in his previous life. Just take buying cigarettes, for example, he was basically too lazy to even go downstairs.

……

Thinking of this, Ernst suddenly froze. “Cigarettes.” Ernst felt like his brain was about to explode!

However, he was still in the Royal Palace at the moment. Ernst tried hard to calm his emotions. After discussing the army trial of “Gillette” with Wilhelm I, Ernst’s mind was no longer solely focused on orders.

Leaving the Prussian Royal Palace, Ernst sat in the carriage and began to fantasize about why he hadn’t thought of cigarettes, a business with almost no cost. No, he still had to squeeze his brain properly.

If he wrote down some things from his previous life and produced them in the future, wouldn’t he become rich?

Of course, there were also cigarettes in this era, but they were handmade. Machines for large-scale cigarette production had not yet been developed and popularized.

For Ernst, as long as he found some experts to overcome the technology of large-scale cigarette production, he would be the first to eat crab. [idiom for “first to try something new”]

Moreover, cigarettes, which satisfy human needs on a spiritual level, were too marketable. Although there were also competitors, how could relatively expensive and inefficient manual labor compete with large-scale machine production?

Ernst decided to find someone to cooperate with as soon as he got back, and he had to write down many things from his previous life that made life easier but had low technical content, and get them out in advance.

Well, it was also time to establish a new company. Currently, “Gillette” was actually a factory that only produced razors.

If he were to produce more things in the future, there would definitely be more than one factory. How to control these factories at that time? He still had to hire some professionals to help manage them.

As the Prussian army began to equip “Gillette” razors produced by Ernst’s factory, as Ernst had expected, these soldiers liked this time-saving and labor-saving razor very much. The blades, as consumables, had usage restrictions, but the low price and convenient practicality covered up this shortcoming, and orders for blades followed.

In this way, the Prussian army could increase the equipment of new razors and order blades simultaneously. Ernst was not idle either.

Besides Prussia, there were other states within Germany! Ernst naturally would not let them go and began to increase the promotion of his razors in the armies of various countries.

What? You don’t need it? The Prussian army used it and said it was good. How could you be embarrassed? The successful use by the Prussian army also became a classic case for Ernst to promote his products.

If you don’t believe it, you can go to the Prussian barracks to see for yourself. With this, Ernst successfully promoted these razors in many small countries.

Good things always come one after another. The razors promoted in the army soon attracted the attention of interested people. Some factory owners who produced precision instruments also began to introduce them.

Hair was a big problem for precision instrument factories, and it was necessary to require workers to shave. Now these factories required workers to directly use Ernst’s “Gillette” razors.

The new razor industry had entered a fast lane of rapid development, and the ambitious Ernst began an even bigger plan.

The newly established Hechingen Development Company began to send sales teams to other countries, with the Austrian Empire and Russia being important markets.

For countries like Russia, which were relatively conservative, Ernst emphasized that the sales team members should focus on the progressiveness of the new razors. This was the crystallization of industrialization, a representative of hygiene and safety.

At this moment, Russia was still the Tsarist era. As everyone knows, Russians yearned for the West, especially during the Tsarist era.

As for the Austrian Empire, the sales team mainly used the advantages of Prussia equipping this kind of razor to persuade Austrian officials.

At the same time, Ernst also actively developed other countries’ markets, mainly throughout Europe, and looked for agents in North America.

North America was the home base of “Gillette” in his previous life. Ernst could not personally run to the United States to direct factory construction.

Patents alone were a big problem. The United States was a complete copycat country at the moment. Ernst didn’t want to test the conscience of Americans.

He simply established an office in North America and cooperated with those big capitalists in the United States.

The Hechingen Development Company, with its European aristocratic background, still had some influence in the Americas. At least no one made things difficult for this small company with an Old World aristocratic background.

Moreover, “Gillette” razors had not yet been promoted, and capital would not personally enter the market. Through exchanges with an American capital group, Ernst successfully equipped the American army with “Gillette” razors. Of course, this was in the future.

It was just an authorization of the patent, but the factory and construction funds were handled by the Americans. Ernst could get ten percent of the U.S. dollar share every year for nothing.

This was already a good result. As for the future when “Gillette” began to explode, Ernst would not have to aim at this single seedling alone. According to Ernst’s vision, the Hechingen Development Company should already be a diversified large company.

Now Ernst had received good news that his large-scale cigarette production line had been completed.

Before long, the kind of cigarettes from his previous life (of course, there were no filters yet) would appear in convenience stores and factories all over Germany, and of course, the army, a demanding customer, would not be missing.

No one paid attention to the dangers of cigarettes in this era. Ernst didn’t even need to print the words “smoking is harmful to your health” on the packaging.

Of course, industrialization led to European cities being filled with black chimneys. The smog and dust were not necessarily less harmful to the body than smoking.

While selling “Gillette” razors, Ernst had already set his sights on the production of various small commodities.

For example, flush toilets, which had not yet been widely popularized, Ernst also planned to set up a separate factory. The United Kingdom already had mature products. Ernst was mainly responsible for increasing the promotion of the product. It was not too much to set up an OEM factory, and he could also get private label products in the future.

With cigarettes, lighters were definitely indispensable. Ernst decided to get kerosene lighters out first. This could be considered Hechingen’s flagship product.

There were still many ideas that Ernst wanted to take out, but his current capabilities could not reach them. The funds alone were somewhat risky.

Ernst had passed the start-up stage. At present, stable expansion was enough. As the war was approaching, the good days were still to come!

Chapter 6: War Approaching

January 14th, 1864.

Recently, Ernst had begun to restrain himself, because Prince Constantine was coming to Berlin.

Prince Constantine was traveling from Hechingen to Berlin on business. Constantine rarely left the countryside, and each time he did, it was usually because a major event was about to happen.

Ernst was busy every day with the great cause of expanding his business, shuttling between factories and schools. The study tour he had promised had turned into a permanent stay in Berlin, so he felt a little guilty and lacked confidence.

Of course, Ernst knew that his “little things” were not worth Constantine’s personal trip to Berlin. It must be an important matter of state and military affairs.

Prince Constantine’s status in Prussia was equivalent to that of a feudal lord. Although the Principality of Hechingen had been incorporated into Prussia, its status was preserved.

The Hechingen line were basically all traditional army field marshals, and Constantine also held the honorary rank of field marshal, holding a position in the General Staff.

This trip to Berlin was probably to participate in the discussion of major events and prepare for war.

Ernst’s grandfather had participated in the war against Napoleon. Of course, at that time, Hechingen participated as one of the many German states. Hechingen used to be a member of the Confederation of the Rhine, a puppet regime supported by Napoleon.

Seeing the rise of the European anti-French alliance, Frederick, the old Marquis of Hechingen, jumped ship in time and joined the victor’s camp.

Later, after the war, Marquis Frederick turned to education until his death.

Later, Constantine and Prince Karl, the person in charge of Sigmaringen, joined Prussia after a joint decision. After all, they were both members of the Hohenzollern family, and there was naturally no objection to responding to Prussia’s “call” to unify Germany.

If successful, they would be imperial heroes in the future. If they failed, the worst outcome would be maintaining the status of a principality.

As members of the Hohenzollern family, in Europe, where bloodlines and origins were valued, natural interests led the two branches to lean towards the increasingly powerful Prussian main line.

The New Hohenzollern Province, where Hechingen was located, was in southwestern Germany, where there were many feudal lords. To the east was Bavaria, a significant German state, and to the west was close to France. Surrounded by Baden and Württemberg, its strategic location was very prominent.

As the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family, it was an important military fortress and a wedge in the less influential southern German region of Prussia. Prussia attached great importance to the Hohenzollern Province.

As for Ernst himself, the future war between Prussia and Austria would have no impact on his family. Hechingen was surrounded on three sides by Württemberg, and on the other side by the Grand Duchy of Baden. The main battlefield was in Bohemia, bordering Prussia and the Austrian Empire. Even if Austria and Prussia did not play a surprise attack according to the script, Württemberg and Baden would be the first to be beaten.

The subsequent Franco-Prussian War would also mainly be within France, so his family would basically not suffer any losses in the series of German unification wars.

Before Ernst started his business, the Hechingen line was a traditional combination of military landlords, whose main industries were agricultural rent collection and real estate income from various places, as well as Prince Constantine’s salary in the army. Even if a war broke out, it would not threaten any important industries.

Moreover, Ernst’s own factories were all in Berlin, and unless it was a world war, Berlin could not fall.

As for the future, transferring the industry to a safe area before the outbreak of World War I would not be affected. By then, even if the world changed drastically, it would not affect the wealth of the Hohenzollern of the Hechingen line.

As for grand words like saving Germany, Ernst said he couldn’t afford to play that game. Europe was so competitive, and there were many capable people.

To make a splash in Europe, you needed top-notch resources and intelligence. A small place like Hechingen couldn’t afford it. Only small countries like Bavaria and Belgium, which had a certain influence and size in Europe, had just obtained a ticket to the game.

Hechingen could only rely on Prussia to make a lot of money and accumulate capital in the future.

Ernst pondered historical events. It was likely that the Prusso-Danish War was approaching (the Second Schleswig War), and he had to speed up the construction of his tobacco and lighter factories.

The army was a major consumer of tobacco, and lighters, as war artifacts, were even more so. Thinking of the matches that were popular now, Ernst felt that kerosene lighters still had a market.

He had to ensure the large-scale production of these two things before the war started, and then accelerate the recognition of the civilian market through the natural platform of war.

These soldiers came from all over the country, and when they returned to their hometowns, they would be natural promoters.

While Ernst was still making plans, Constantine had already returned from the palace.

The place where Ernst lived in Berlin was actually the family’s ancestral property. After the Hohenzollern family rose in Brandenburg, the Hechingen line purchased a manor in Berlin as a liaison office. It was now a century old.

Constantine would stay here every time he came to Berlin. Constantine’s carriage stopped in the courtyard, and Butler Keno urged the coachman to pull the carriage away.

“Ernst!” Constantine greeted Ernst’s name kindly.

“Father, why did you come to Berlin? Has something major happened?” Although Ernst knew that his father was probably in Berlin on official business regarding the war against Denmark, he still pretended to be puzzled.

“Well, there are some things to contact the royal family in Berlin, and of course, to see my son’s career by the way,” Constantine said pleasantly.

Ernst felt a little ashamed. He had been busy with business in Berlin and had not gone back to see his old father. Although he usually communicated by letter, he had been out for almost a year, and had only returned once last Christmas.

“Father, I will spend more time with you in the future. I have been so concerned about business that I have become a little forgetful,” Ernst said to Constantine.

“Okay, what do I need someone to accompany me for at my age? I have come to Berlin this time because a major event is about to happen, so don’t think too much about it.” Constantine stroked Ernst’s head and continued, “But you have really given me some surprises. I didn’t expect our family to have a talent for business. I was prepared for the investment to go down the drain, hahaha…” Constantine joked.

“Father, is the kingdom preparing for war?” Ernst changed the subject.

“Well, not bad, but where did you hear the news from?” Constantine asked seriously.

This kind of thing was confidential before the war started and could not be taken lightly. Ernst was still a child, and the royal family would not take the initiative to tell him, so Constantine asked cautiously.

“Father, you also know that the kingdom’s army is my important customer. Recently, they have started ordering a large number of new supplies, and some factories around Berlin have also started working overtime to produce them. This is obviously to prepare for the army.”

Seeing Constantine frown, Ernst began to increase his persuasiveness.

“Of course, some business owners have business dealings with us, so they can find out some inside information. Moreover, the kingdom’s new prime minister is obviously not an ordinary character. As soon as he took office, he threatened to use iron and blood to solve the major problems of the present era. Now, it is obvious that he is going to use force to solve the kingdom’s troubles.”

Ernst explained his “guess” in a few words.

Constantine looked at his son with satisfaction and said, “Well said, it seems that the Hohenzollern family has produced another outstanding person, hahaha…”

After laughing.

“The kingdom is contacting Austria, preparing to use force to force the Danish government to give up the two German states of Holstein and Schleswig. Currently, the German Confederation has sent troops to Holstein, and Prussia also intends to promote the independence of the Duchy of Schleswig,” Constantine continued.

“Currently, other countries on the continent are watching. The only countries that can really interfere are Britain, France, and Austria. The Russians are still licking the wounds of the Crimean War, and the French dare not act rashly to avoid the recurrence of the anti-French alliance and trigger a continental war. The British navy will have the strength to intervene at that time, but the British hope to drag the Russians into the water. As for Austria, this time we will jointly participate with the Austrian Empire to maintain the interests of the German region.”

Constantine spoke eloquently. In fact, this was a gamble. Wilhelm I and Bismarck used the infighting between the great powers to achieve a delicate balance in international affairs. At the same time, the Danish new constitution aroused the anger of the Germans, finding an excuse for this war.

If national sentiment is used well, it can achieve what Bismarck has always emphasized: using iron and blood to determine the major international issues of the present era.

Bismarck could unite the many German states and free cities by maintaining the interests of the German region, and use righteousness to integrate the power of the German region.

At least in the North German region, Bismarck could realize the penetration of Prussian influence to prepare for the future unification of the German region.

Chapter 7: Expanding Production

Regardless of Bismarck and Prussia’s decisions, the flames of German nationalism were already raging.

The entire German region was stirred by this powerful trend, the populace swept up by public opinion. At this moment, every citizen in the German region was a “patriot.”

The Prussian nobles and capitalists would not stop at this point. Prussia’s rapid development urgently required new land and markets.

Schleswig itself was economically developed and densely populated, naturally attracting the attention of the Kingdom of Prussia. Moreover, the Danish government’s attempt to annex Schleswig through a new bill conveniently provided the Kingdom of Prussia with an excuse.

Preparing for war was inevitable. With Prussia’s first-rate mobilization capabilities, the army was already prepared for war.

Of course, as a fog of war tactic, this wasn’t heavily publicized. Prussia itself was seen as a soldier nation in the eyes of Europeans, so troop movements weren’t unusual to other countries.

However, Prussian armories had already secretly begun to increase production. Benefiting from this, Ernst’s factory also began working overtime.

This time, Ernst directly pulled in Prince Constantine as a conscript. After all, to promote the newly produced tobacco and lighters to the army, it was essential to leverage connections.

Ernst explained the advantages of his products to his father in detail, bluntly stating that if the Prussian army was equipped with his cigarettes, their combat effectiveness would increase significantly.

Ernst didn’t mention the addictive and harmful aspects of tobacco, only that it could refresh tired soldiers. He also emphasized that mechanically produced cigarettes were inexpensive (compared to handmade ones) and could be provided to frontline soldiers on a large scale at a low cost.

Constantine didn’t pay much attention initially, but as it was a family business, he had to offer some guidance. Providing them to the kingdom’s army within a certain scope was feasible.

When Ernst presented the kerosene lighter, Constantine became interested, examining it closely and playing with it.

To facilitate carrying, Ernst had specially produced a batch of small kerosene lighters. They could fit perfectly in a pocket and were thoughtfully equipped with a hemp rope loop for attaching to a belt.

Kerosene lighters were, of course, prepared for “cigarettes.” If soldiers used them to start fires, that was also fine.

Both the cigarettes and lighters were specially made, preparing for war. For example, cigarettes came in large boxes of fifty and small packs of five. The lighters were shaped like bullets. Ernst even directly imported two shell production lines to produce the lighter shells. For product differentiation, Ernst also created a special officer’s edition.

Of course, the civilian version adopted the classic designs of later generations. The army version was mainly for troop transport and distribution, while kerosene lighters were simply for cost savings.

Prince Constantine believed that this type of kerosene lighter could play a significant role on the battlefield. Compared to matches, which were susceptible to moisture and easily broken, these kerosene lighters would definitely be popular on the battlefield.

The next day, after discussing some trivial matters with Ernst, Constantine once again set off for the Prussian Royal Palace, this time specifically bringing the kerosene lighter and cigarettes.

Indeed, having a top-tier noble father as a backing was a blessing. Ernst’s two new products quickly received new orders from the army.

Cigarettes and kerosene lighters, already in production and stockpiled in warehouses, were transported in batches along with small kerosene tanks directly into military camps and logistics warehouses.

Why do so many people get rich during wartime? Of course, it’s because the military pays promptly, Ernst thought truthfully.

Of course, this was on the premise of an orderly country. Otherwise, if there was a forced requisition, there would be no place to cry.

The military’s orders immediately recouped the invested capital. Now, Ernst needed to increase the scale of production.

Wars don’t end in a day or two. Subsequent orders would come knocking, and sales through other channels also needed to be increased.

As a temporary ally of Prussia, Ernst certainly wouldn’t overlook Austria. With the previous cooperation experience, maintaining it this time was a given.

At Ernst’s command, all departments of the Hechingen Development Company sprang into action.

The sales department’s burden also increased. New products were being sold externally at an accelerated pace, and advertising was of utmost importance.

At the same time, hired salespeople were organized into a network radiating towards Germany’s surrounding countries. This scene couldn’t help but remind Ernst of those peddlers in his previous life who went to the countryside to sell water purifiers.

Fortunately, Ernst was selling genuinely good products. Once people started using them and got used to them, they would fall into the “it’s actually pretty good” trap, truly proving the saying, “It’s easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.” Of course, poverty was an exception.

Ernst’s factories were working overtime to produce, but Ernst was still not satisfied. It wasn’t that he wanted to further expand the scale of production.

He could already initially meet market demand. Ernst mainly wanted to open up a few more battlefields.

Now that funding was no longer an issue, and the industries in hand were all starting to generate profits, he naturally had to spend the money.

Ernst decided to first establish a dedicated research and development center, recruiting some engineers to tackle those time-tested everyday items from his previous life.

No sooner said than done, Ernst quickly selected a place with beautiful scenery and a secluded location in the suburbs of Berlin to build a research and development center.

Unlike the construction of factories, which were restricted by raw materials, energy, and transportation, the research and development center mainly focused on experimentation. It could be divided into small studios, mainly responsible for the structural framework in principle, and finally, drawing blueprints and recording specific operating procedures.

Ernst categorized these areas according to function, with some specializing in designing clothing, others in designing daily necessities, and still others in working with special metal objects…

With the Second Industrial Revolution arriving in full swing, preparations for deployment in the field of electricity could also begin. Ernst prepared to allocate funds separately to establish an electrical research institute nearby.

To attract talent, Hechingen Development Company had already begun posting recruitment advertisements in Berlin, Bonn, Stuttgart, Munich…

Hechingen Company could be considered to have taken the first step towards industrial upgrading, developing into a research-oriented enterprise.

As Hechingen Company grew stronger day by day, Prussia and Austria also began to sharpen their swords and prepare their horses.

Trains in the German region were frequently scheduled, vehicles and horses intertwined, and soldiers gathered for large-scale drills.

A cloud of war had already enveloped the Jutland Peninsula, ready to break the peace of continental Europe at any time. Ernst had already begun to mourn for the poor Danes in advance, but Ernst only had one thought in his heart: “Good, give them what’s coming to them!”

Without the Danish assist, how could he get rich? War was the best catalyst, and Ernst’s enterprise would also get a piece of the pie in the upcoming war.

Ernst even hoped that the Danes would try harder and not lose too quickly so that he could gain even more. The hearts of capitalists were so cold and ruthless.

No wonder Americans in his previous life liked to start wars so much. Only when you truly make money from it will you actively promote the outbreak of war.

This war was actually the common expectation of the Junker landowners and Junker capitalists behind Prussia. Everyone hoped to get a piece of the pie in this feast.

Chapter 8: Prussian-Austrian Coordination

With King Wilhelm I and Prime Minister Bismarck at the helm, the Prussian upper echelons were actively preparing and maneuvering.

The army of the Kingdom of Prussia stood ready for battle, and the army of the Austrian Empire was on its way.

The Austrians were naturally very clear about Prussia’s ambition to unify the German regions.

The rapid development of the Kingdom of Prussia in recent years was no secret. The establishment of the Customs Union, the development of industry, and the interconnection of railways had led to a growing voice for the Kingdom of Prussia in the German regions.

Therefore, the Austrians would naturally not miss this war against Denmark, and they could not allow Prussia to win over the hearts and minds of the people in the German regions.

Of course, Austria’s ambition to unify the German regions was no weaker than Prussia’s, but it did not dare to act rashly due to the interference of countries such as England and France. This time, Bismarck lured Austria into the water by jointly controlling the fate of the two northern duchies.

Faced with common interests, Austria took the bait as expected; this was an open plot. If they did not take action, they would sit and watch Prussia win over the hearts and minds of the German people. If they did take action, they could not bypass Prussia’s solo operation. Prussia was already in an invincible position.

Schleswig and Holstein were far away from Austria. Even if Austria gained control of one of the two regions, it could only be regarded as an exclave, while Prussia could quickly digest its spoils of war by taking advantage of its geographical location.

However, Austria had countless exclaves in its history, and no one cared about this issue. The former Habsburgs had countless exclaves not only within the Holy Roman Empire, but throughout Europe and even the world. In the future, Prussia could use this as a point of contention.

This was also where Bismarck was clever. The Austrians had to swallow this open plot. By dragging Austria into action, Prussia shared its international pressure.

As the world’s top power at the time, Austria was naturally incomparable to Prussia, a secondary power, in the eyes of other countries.

During its heyday, the Habsburg dynasty had no rivals in Europe. Even now, it was a world arbiter of the same level as England, France, and Russia.

The current Austrian Empire was not the dual monarchy of the later Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its strength was still considerable.

The old guys from the Napoleonic era had not yet died out, and the Austrian army was still a top army on the European continent that could not be underestimated.

Of course, it was unlikely that these old guys would personally command on the front lines, but at least they could stabilize the morale of the Austrian army. They were all people who had seen the world.

Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails. Although these people’s ideas may be outdated, they still had ability and vision.

From this point of view, the Austrian army could still keep up with the times. Although the army’s composition was chaotic, preparations were still being made in an orderly manner.

As the Austrian army marched north, a large army quickly gathered in northern Germany. Bavaria, Württemberg, and other countries also raised their respective armies to join.

In terms of mobilization ability, Prussia was naturally superior. Although Prussia was basically mobilizing within its own territory geographically, Austria needed to start from its own country, then go north, a long journey, and was naturally at a disadvantage.

However, it must be said that the Prussian army had top-notch qualities. Through the unified dispatch of railways, ports, and mules and horses, the General Staff formulated plans in an orderly manner.

With the interconnection of logistics networks, the entire Prussia was like a large military station, and every link of the state machine could be well connected with the army.

The unified clothing and complete rules and regulations created a clean and capable Prussian army as a whole.

The Austrian army appeared more diverse. Due to the lack of a unified language and culture, nobles from various regions led their respective regional armies, with various designations. The army’s clothing was not uniform, retaining the characteristics of their respective regions and ethnic groups.

It was only because the Austrian Empire was large and prosperous that its logistics did not collapse, and it could also get the support of the northern states. The Austrian army could get relatively good rest conditions.

In addition to the Prussian and Austrian armies, other capable states also brought their respective armies to help the two countries, but compared to Prussia and Austria, they could only play a supporting role.

The gathering of armies from various countries, in addition to the supplies that set out with the army, the subsequent logistics naturally could not all be transferred from their own countries. Most of them were purchased from Prussia and the northern states.

At this time, the prepared Ernst joined the great cause of supporting the army. The first batch of industrial products was directly loaded from factories and warehouses and pulled to the military camp, and it was given away for free.

Many armies that had not used products produced by the Hechingen Development Company felt very novel.

In particular, cigarettes and lighters were very popular among soldiers, especially in the Austrian army.

Although the Austrian army was also Ernst’s customer, Ernst could not provide products to the Austrian army on a large scale before because of the distance.

Now Ernst wanted to take this opportunity to popularize his products in the Austrian army. By the time the war ended, Ernst’s tobacco company would have also built a factory in Austria.

Because the Prussian army uniformly purchased and distributed living materials to soldiers and officers, Ernst could not engage in some small tricks.

Austria was obviously different. The Austrian army was a mixed bag, the quality of officers was uneven, and the military discipline was poor, which brought sales to Ernst’s products.

Through bribing officers, these guys were puffing away in the barracks, and soon the cigarettes provided by Ernst were consumed. The Austrian quartermaster had to increase the demand for cigarettes in the military supply order.

Because cigarettes could indeed ensure the emotional stability of the soldiers, there was nothing to say. The Austrian generals turned a blind eye, and the empire made a big stroke, and a large number of orders flew into Ernst’s factory.

After these soldiers retired, it would be difficult to quit their dependence on tobacco. At that time, Ernst could continue to do tobacco business. Convenient and cheap paper-rolled cigarettes would spread throughout Germany with these soldiers.

January 16, 1864.

Representatives of Austria and Prussia formally signed an agreement. Austria drafted a clause to continue to maintain the 1852 agreement, but Bismarck cancelled it and changed it to the effect that Austria and Prussia could only jointly decide on the relationship between the two duchies, and neither country could decide on the issue of inheritance without the other’s consent.

In this way, the two countries would jointly bear the pressure of public opinion from countries outside the region. The problems in the German region should naturally be solved by the Germans themselves.

Chapter 9: Contact Warfare

February 1st, 1864.

The Austro-Prussian allied forces reached the southern bank of the Eider River. Under the dim light of the night, concealed by the vast fog rising and spreading across the river, men and horses quietly traversed the winding Eider River.

The German Confederation’s command on the southern bank mobilized all available ships and hastily crossed the icy Eider River using the bridges they controlled, both large and small.

Tens of thousands of troops marched urgently before the narrow, calm Eider River, and the commotion they created was considerable.

Even though the army had made thorough preparations before departure, such a large-scale troop movement could still be observed, unless the Danish scouts were blind and deaf.

However, the Danes could only watch helplessly as everything unfolded. The allied forces possessed an absolute advantage in numbers, and the allied troops scattered across the narrow terrain of the Jutland Peninsula were simply overwhelming for a small country like Denmark.

The Eider River meandered and twisted, offering numerous landing points and making defense difficult. What was even more crucial was that the Eider River, originating in the hills south of Kiel, had a gentle current and was not wide, destined to be impossible to defend.

Unless the entire nation devoted its strength to building a defensive line stretching for dozens of miles along the Eider River, it would naturally be impossible for Denmark, with a population of only a few million, to accomplish this in a short period.

Soon, the vanguard of the allied forces had already landed on the northern bank and began constructing coastal positions.

The Danish army dared not act rashly for the time being, only watching from a distance, with reconnaissance cavalry roaming the edges of the allied forces.

In this strange environment, both sides stared intently at each other, reaching a delicate balance.

The Danish military did not dare to be negligent. While consolidating their forces to confront the allied forces, they sent messengers at full speed to the capital with news of the German Confederation forces crossing the Eider River.

Waiting for instructions from the government to take corresponding measures, as the defending party and the weaker side, the Danish army dared not act without authorization.

Exaggerating the problem as much as possible, conveying the dangerous situation to the rear as much as possible, so that even if they suffered subsequent defeats, they could shift the blame to the enemy.

It wasn’t that the soldiers were slacking off, but that the Germans were dishonorable, with two rogue nations dragging along a bunch of little brothers to attack them.

Even if they failed, it would be the government’s own political failure. The enemy was so strong, yet they couldn’t secure allies to join the fight, so they could just wait to be ousted!

The Danish government, of course, could not sit idly by. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urgently contacted the British ambassador.

The Prime Minister personally led a team to seek help from the British ambassador, while the government sent envoys to Russia, France, and even Sweden.

Unfortunately, the envoys from various countries were vague and evasive. Only Britain continued to explicitly support Denmark, but when it came to the issue of sending troops, the British said that they were waiting for news from home and not to worry, believing that the kingdom would respond soon.

February 2nd.

Prussia took the lead in launching a probing attack on the Danish positions, attempting to outflank the Danish flanks.

……

Half an hour earlier.

Winter on the Jutland Peninsula was still cold. The cold wind blew across the faces of the soldiers gripping their steel rifles, and the cold breath from their mouths instantly formed a white mist before their eyes.

The officer leading the team took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. The cigarette pack had the delicate marking of “Cornflower” printed on it, which was the trademark of the Ernst Tobacco Factory.

He opened the paper lid of the cigarette pack, took out a cigarette from inside, and put it in his mouth.

He casually took out a kerosene lighter from his pocket. In the trench, leaning against the earthen wall, shrinking his head, one hand protecting the wind vent, the other hand flicked the flint wheel. A burst of sparks sprayed out fiercely, instantly igniting the oil-soaked cotton core in front.

The young officer put the cigarette in his mouth against the flame and lit it. The front end of the cigarette began to emit a flickering red flame.

He took a deep drag, which passed through his throat, flowed through his lungs, and then exhaled a large cloud of smoke with his breath.

The young officer felt refreshed, and the anxiety in his heart seemed to be relieved. He began to calmly await the order to charge.

……

As the command issued the order, the Prussian army began to attack. Under the leadership of their officers, the soldiers launched an assault on the Danish fortifications.

Accompanied by the roar of artillery fire, the battle-hardened Prussian soldiers advanced steadily forward. No one dared to retreat.

Only attack and the guns in their hands were the soldiers’ reliance: reloading, aiming, and firing, all done in one go.

Artillery fire crisscrossed, creating one pit after another on the ground. The air was filled with gunpowder smoke, and only the flashes of enemy guns and cannons guided the way forward.

“Bang… bang… bang…”

In a burst of intense gunfire, the Danes relied on their fortifications and the terrain to successfully block the Prussian attack.

Although the Prussian soldiers were still attacking, the gunfire was noticeably sparser.

The first wave of attack did not achieve the expected results. The charging troops suffered heavy casualties, but they did not break the disciplined Prussian army. As a test, the rear command decisively ordered the attacking troops to withdraw in an orderly manner.

The first engagement between the allied forces and the Danes thus ended. For the Danes, the Prussian barbarians were nothing more than that.

The Prussian rear commander didn’t care. This was just an appetizer, and they had barely started! The artillery in the rear had not yet been deployed, and the previous attack was just to test the mettle of the Danish army.

The Danes still had some destructive power, but in the eyes of the Prussian officers, it was far from enough.

The Prussians were not afraid of fighting hard battles. As the most martial nation in Europe, they had seen all kinds of situations.

Moreover, this was just a Prussian probe. The German Confederation and the Austrian Empire had not yet made their move!

The strength of the various parties was several times that of the Danes. For the Kingdom of Prussia, which had dealt with powerful countries such as France, Russia, and Austria, they had always exploded in adversity.

They completely looked down on a declining country like Denmark. This kind of advantageous situation was simply bursting with confidence.

The last time the Danes (First Schleswig War) were able to win, they relied more on international forces. This time, the Danish government showed sluggishness in politics.

They did not promptly collude with other countries on the European continent to cheer them on, such as Britain, which had previously warned Prussia.

Now, the British had not made any major moves. As a naval power, it was impossible for the British to act alone and flaunt their power on the European continent.

As for France, it could disrupt Prussia’s plans, but Bismarck had long understood the diplomatic field and exchanged other interests for the silence of Napoleon III’s government.

The British hoped to bring Tsarist Russia into the fray, but the British and French had jointly inflicted heavy damage on the Russians in the last Crimean War, so Russia would naturally not interfere in the European situation at this time.

This put the British in a dilemma. They couldn’t possibly send the navy ashore to fight the Prussian barbarians!

Therefore, the British could only give the Danes all their support verbally, but without any sincerity in sending troops.

Maintaining the balance of power on the European continent was Britain’s national policy. Denmark losing two duchies did not constitute an impact on the continental situation at all.

At most, the Danes would retreat to the interior of the Jutland Peninsula, losing some land. Moreover, a defeated Denmark would inevitably intensify its hatred of Prussia, and would more firmly stand on the side of the British, laying an ambush on the European continent for Britain for the next European turmoil.

Of course, the British had other tricks they could use, but they were far from requiring war, and the Danes had not yet used their full strength!

It should be known that although Denmark was a small country, it had also prospered in history. The last Schleswig War alone showed considerable strength.

The Danes controlled the outlet to the Baltic Sea, had a superior geographical location, and a developed economy. Even now, they could raise a considerable number of troops.

War is always full of uncertainty. What if the Danes survived? Moreover, the Danish government showed extraordinary confidence before the start of the war, otherwise it would not have reached this point.

Although it was unknown where the Danish government’s confidence came from (at least Ernst thought so), it did not hinder the Danish government’s sluggishness in the diplomatic field.

Now, Prussia, through alliances, had stabilized most of the great powers, and had also roped in Austria and the German Confederation.

With the pressure in public opinion and diplomacy gone, as long as they did not suffer major setbacks in the military, Schleswig and Holstein would be meat in their bowl. However, the premise was to deal with Austria after the war, but Bismarck had already been confident.

Chapter 10: Reactions from Various Countries

As the war progressed, the battlefield began to turn bloody. After Prussia’s initial display, the Austrian Empire also began to demonstrate the strength befitting a major power.

On the very next day, the Austrian army launched a large-scale attack in the Battle of King’s Hill, successfully pushing the front line closer to the Danish fortifications through a fierce offensive.

The Danish defenses immediately appeared to be in dire straits. If other German states were to join in, Denmark’s defense would likely face even greater difficulties.

On the smoke-filled battlefield, the heavy weaponry of the German states continued to increase, and the number of cannons steadily rose.

The simultaneous firing of hundreds of cannons intensified the pressure on the Danish defenses. The fire illuminated the night, and the weather began to turn foul.

However, the Danish positions were clearly unable to fully withstand such a powerful artillery barrage, and morale noticeably declined under the bombardment.

Seeing the danger to the defenses, and the high probability of being outflanked, Danish Commander-in-Chief General Mesa had already begun to consider abandoning the position.

On the fourth day, Mesa convened an emergency meeting. The Danish generals in attendance wore grave expressions.

The commanders of each unit were complaining about the difficulty of the war. The enemy possessed overwhelming firepower and countless troops. The soldiers had not even had a chance to fight before being injured by flying shells.

At the same time, they grumbled about the incompetence of the domestic government, as the British remained inactive, and the envisioned Nordic alliance had not materialized.

Now, Denmark was in a state of isolation and helplessness. If they were to sacrifice their troops here, they might as well surrender directly.

“Alright, I didn’t call you here to listen to complaints. I am also aware of the difficulties we face, but we have no way out!” General Mesa rebuked, and then said, “Now, there are two paths before us. The first is to defend the position to the death and fight the enemy to the bitter end.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone began to object: “Fight to the death! How can we fight? This place is obviously indefensible. Even if we doubled our numbers, we couldn’t do it.”

Others immediately echoed, believing that relying on this defensive line to hold out was simply a pipe dream.

Mesa looked at the noisy officers under his command and reprimanded them expressionlessly: “Enough, I didn’t call you here to argue. Do you even look like soldiers? If arguing could solve the problem, go argue with the enemy!”

The meeting immediately quieted down. Mesa continued, “Now, the second option is to retreat from the current fortifications, delaying the enemy’s advance in order to find weaknesses later. Now it’s time to choose. Start speaking.”

Immediately, an officer said, “Commander, I think retreating can preserve a glimmer of hope. If the government can persuade other countries to intervene and send troops later, we still have a chance of winning. Blindly defending this place is a dead end.”

Most of the officers nodded in agreement, but General Mesa dared not make a decision lightly.

“What you said is very good, but retreating also has risks. Just considering the weather, it is currently winter. How to ensure the orderly withdrawal of troops is a major problem. However, we really have no other choice. But after careful consideration, let’s vote to decide!”

Subsequently, General Mesa had his generals vote, using an anonymous method, mainly because Mesa was not optimistic about the war’s trajectory and could not allow anyone to seize on this as a handle.

Adopting the most democratic approach, even if problems arose, he could then claim it was a collective decision.

Using anonymous voting further prevented investigators from saying that he had manipulated the meeting and acted arbitrarily.

As the voting results were announced, the retreat to preserve the remaining forces passed unanimously, with no dissenting votes.

Thus, that night, the Danes began to retreat, but the severity of the weather conditions exceeded expectations. The retreating Danish army encountered a blizzard.

The sudden blizzard disrupted the Danish plans. On a winter night, it was already bitterly cold. Suddenly, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and then the cold wind, mixed with goose feather-like snow, quickly dyed the earth white.

The marching columns, lined up in a row, stepped on the white snow, forming a long black dragon. But tonight, the moon hid behind dark clouds.

The troops, who had not turned on any lights, could only see a blurry darkness in front of them. Military boots stepped on the snow, and gradually the white snow under their feet turned into black, muddy slush.

Without railway assistance, the Danish army could only trek long distances in the blizzard. Low morale made the march even more difficult. The formation slowly began to slip out of the commanders’ control, from initially being orderly and organized.

The chaos exacerbated the instability of morale. Curses gradually arose, mixed with the sounds of horses and men neighing. Mules and horses also slacked off in the snow. The sounds of whips and angry curses intertwined in the night sky, appearing heavy and bleak amidst the roar of the wind and snow.

Sitting in the rear, General Mesa, who had not yet retreated, looked at the undiminished blizzard outside the fortifications. An uneasy feeling grew stronger in his heart, and dark clouds filled his mind.

However, he could no longer take back the order. The main force had been gone for a long time, making it difficult to call them back halfway.

General Mesa could only hope that the god of fate would bless Denmark. But from Mesa’s gloomy face, so dark that not a drop of water could be squeezed out, it could be seen that his heart was not so calm.

The next morning, with the light of dawn, the Danish army began to assess the losses. Affected by the weather, a large amount of supplies and weapons were left behind in the wind and snow. The hasty retreat also increased non-combat personnel losses.

There were also unlucky individuals who had become separated from the main force during the night, and it would probably be difficult to regroup them.

This was not an ideal retreat, even comparable to the losses of a small battle.

However, the Danish army still completed the retreat in the early morning of the sixth day, preserving most of its remaining forces and continuing the war.

The poor General Mesa did not escape blame. When the news of the unsuccessful retreat reached the country, angry citizens took to the streets to protest. Mesa was dismissed from his post for his poor command of the retreat.

The Danish government still had no intention of surrendering and negotiating peace. Although the front line had temporarily suffered a setback, the main force was still intact, and they could still gamble.

The remaining Danish troops retreated to Flensburg to continue resisting the Allied forces’ offensive, and the war continued.

Although the government did not intend to surrender, their hearts were still ice-cold. The anticipated intervention of various countries had not arrived, and the British and Swedes were the most detestable.

Denmark was the linchpin of British control over the Baltic Sea, and Sweden and Denmark were even more interdependent. Although there had been some old grievances with these two countries in history.

But Denmark was no longer the minor power that could single-handedly stir up the situation in Europe. The failure of Denmark, allowed by various countries, would further accelerate Denmark’s decline.

The Danish government was burning with anxiety. The British were slow to respond, and other countries were even more unwilling to help in their time of need.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs practically “lived” in the British Embassy. The British Minister to Denmark relayed the news back to his country in detail.

However, a unified consensus had not yet been reached within the British government. The royal family, the government, and the military were vying with each other, and there was no detailed plan for sending troops.

Britain could only send a message to its ambassador to Denmark, a single word: “Delay.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was actively lobbying the Nordic countries and the Russian Empire, but without major progress.

Chapter 11: The Hechingen Conglomerate

The Danish government’s distress had no effect on Ernst. Or rather, the suffering of the Danes created joy for Ernst at this moment.

The Second Schleswig War directly boosted the development of the Hechingen Development Company, and its business level rose sharply.

The expansion of the war was bound to increase the Allied forces’ emphasis on logistics. The daily consumption of supplies by the Allied forces, who launched successive powerful offensives, increased exponentially.

The demand for tobacco, a necessity for war, continued to rise, and the Hechingen Tobacco Company took advantage of the situation to increase production.

New production lines had been deployed, and orders were pouring in. Civilian orders were temporarily put on hold.

The senior executives of the Hechingen Company were all working hard amid the excellent situation. The boss had already drawn a grand picture. The advantage was on their side. After the war, the Hechingen Company would definitely reach a new level.

At that time, the well-funded Hechingen Company would increase its efforts to expand into other fields. New factories and units would inevitably increase, and new positions were waiting for everyone.

As long as someone was a capable person, they could very likely become the head of a new department. Under the influence of such a grand blueprint, everyone worked harder to achieve better results and catch the boss’s eye.

The enthusiasm of the workers at the bottom was also high, and production efficiency was significantly improved. The saturation of orders, coupled with the expansion of new machines, also led to a substantial increase in overtime pay.

There was nothing that could mobilize workers’ enthusiasm for production more than an increase in income. Moreover, the industries of the Hechingen Company were all manufacturing industries that did not require much physical exertion. What was needed was a mastery of the machines and a more detailed workflow.

Compared with the heavy physical labor industries of the same period, many bottom-level workers wanted to enter Ernst’s factory to work.

In the German region of the 9th century, the population was extremely surplus and still growing. The jobs created by the increasing industrialization obviously could not meet the needs of the local population.

In recent years, not only have German nobles been a treasure trove for replenishing the fresh blood of various royal families, but residents of the German region have also been the main force of world immigration.

Large numbers of German residents expand their survival channels abroad every year, especially in the countries of North and South America, where German immigrants are an important component.

A large number of industrial cities have emerged in the German region. Backed by a large employment population and the popularization of quality education, the development of industry in the German region has been promoted. Even though Germany has not yet been unified due to historical factors, it has still begun to catch up with France economically.

France’s mainland is limited by population and resources, and in the process of industrialization, it has begun to be distanced by the German region.

Fortunately, France has the second largest colony and world market after Britain, which meets the needs of French industry and commerce for raw materials and markets. Compared with the relatively divided German region, France does not feel the pressure.

However, the development of Prussia in recent years has still attracted the attention of the French. However, the French government believes that Prussia’s road to unifying Germany is still far away.

At the same time, the chaos in French politics has led to serious infighting in France. Royalists and Republicans are fighting each other, often fighting to the death.

Although Napoleon III was quite accomplished, he was restricted everywhere. He had to guard against the conspiracies of the Bourbons and Orleans, and also had to withstand the Republicans from making trouble.

As an old revolutionary base, France also had to guard against other political factions inciting people’s hearts. A small parade could be used by people with ulterior motives and escalate into a riot.

Napoleon III himself came to power by relying on the power of Napoleon the Great, and his power was naturally limited. It was difficult to take strong measures to integrate the power of the entire France and participate in world competition.

Even so, France, with its rich political heritage and foundation accumulated over the generations, firmly ranks second among the great powers.

In contrast, although the German region is scattered and fragmented, and the independence of various countries hinders the economic development of Germany, German nationalism has risen in modern times.

People of insight in the German region have successively promoted the unification of the German region. While a group of talented people have emerged, they are all striving for the same goal.

Although there has been a debate over the route of Greater Germany and Lesser Germany, the unification process of the German region has instead moved a step closer.

Markets, transportation, and resources are rapidly integrated. Nobles and capitalists with common interests actively promote the development of the German region, hoping to achieve the goal of unifying Germany to participate in the competition for global interests.

Ernst is a beneficiary of this trend. It is hard to say whether a strong motherland can protect you, but it is much better than being a rootless duckweed.

Ernst was born as a member of the top German aristocracy. If Germany is unified, then Ernst’s aristocratic status will also increase in value with the unification of the empire.

However, Ernst still has to solve the immediate problems. With the development of the industry, how to more smoothly dispatch and manage the resources in his hands is the top priority.

In order to firmly grasp the current and future markets, and to strengthen the management of his own enterprises, Ernst plans to establish a new business management center to complete the operation and management of his enterprises.

The current Hechingen Development Company has shown signs of a large enterprise. With the increasing perfection of the daily necessities factory system and hardware facilities, many new product types have appeared. At least it can be said that in terms of basic daily necessities, the Hechingen Development Company has formed an operating model in which three carriages drive the entire system.

With the help of the war, the Hechingen Development Company quickly completed the return of funds, and after making profits, the construction of factories quickly spread. At the same time, the commercial outlets and partners established in the early stage have formed a mature network, centered on the German region and radiating to the surrounding areas.

Although the Hechingen Development Company has also encountered some resistance from traditional handicraft industries, competitors have not come up with the same cost-effective products during the window period for new products.

This has led to the Hechingen Development Company quickly gaining a firm foothold in the field of daily necessities, and has expanded the scope of the field of daily necessities. It has an objective influence in this industry and is a proper representative of advanced productive forces.

This makes Ernst intend to establish a separate subsidiary for the already mature field of daily necessities.

Tobacco is a highly profitable industry, and the Hechingen Tobacco Company will be separated by Ernst to become an independent department.

Together with the previously established research and development center, this completes the current three carriages of the Hechingen Development Company.

A supreme strategic decision-making body will be established on top of the three carriages. This new institution will become the core of Ernst’s industry.

After repeated research, Ernst formulated a general plan as follows:

First, establish the Hechingen Development Bank, and establish a Hechingen conglomerate centered on the German region through sole proprietorship and holding shares.

Second, establish an independent Hechingen Tobacco Corporation, with the German region as the basic market, and add sub-brand companies in other regions.

Third, establish a new Hechingen Daily Necessities Corporation to take over all the factories of the current Hechingen Development Company except for the tobacco industry.

Fourth, establish the Hechingen Science and Technology Research and Development Center to uniformly guide the product research and development and new market development of other departments.

In this way, the prototype of a Hechingen conglomerate with the Hechingen Development Bank as its core was born.

In addition to grasping the current industries, the Hechingen Development Bank will participate in the development of emerging fields in Germany through investment and equity participation.

These fields are all important industries and industries in later generations, including the core industries of the Second Industrial Revolution, mainly electronics, internal combustion engines, and information (radio, telephone, etc.).

At this time, just before the outbreak of the Second Industrial Revolution, the scientific and technological achievements that are still lying in the laboratories or in the minds of scientists and engineers, the seedlings that have not yet burst into strong vitality, are the focus of Ernst’s bet.

Chapter 12: Lull in the Battlefield

While the Black Heringen Development Company was undergoing a vigorous reorganization, the situation on the Schleswig battlefield was deadlocked.

After the main force of the Danish army successfully retreated to Flensburg, the new commander of the Danish army began to direct the Danish cavalry to delay the Allied forces’ march.

In order to pursue the retreating Danish army and deal with the harassment of the Danish cavalry, the Prussian cavalry constantly launched attacks, and the two sides began a tit-for-tat chase on the vast snowfield.

Taking advantage of villages, forests, farmland, and scattered buildings, the Danish cavalry appeared and disappeared unpredictably, often popping out from places the German Allied forces least expected.

In some narrow terrains, the Danish cavalry could even wipe out small units of the Allied forces, causing trouble for the Allies.

The Allied commanders began to grind their teeth at the Danish cavalry, and with an order from the command post.

The large Allied cavalry force, which had been preparing for battle for a long time, finally entered the field.

The previous positional warfare was not the main stage for the cavalry, and the cavalry officers could only watch their infantry colleagues gain military merits.

Now they could finally show their skills on the battlefield, and the cavalry units quickly assembled and launched attacks.

Faced with several times their number of Allied cavalry, the Danish cavalry began to struggle. The Danish cavalry general ordered the cavalry to fight and retreat.

Because of their familiarity with the terrain, the Danes could always find breakout points. Although the Allied cavalry had a numerical advantage, it was difficult to completely wipe out the Danish cavalry.

The Allied cavalry commander became ruthless and began to disperse his troops, forming several columns to pursue the Danes separately.

As long as they could delay the Danish cavalry’s retreat, they could severely damage the Danish cavalry units.

Relying on their numerical advantage, the Allies quickly discovered the Danish cavalry’s movements. After communicating with relevant units.

The Allied cavalry quickly seized the opportunity and caught the Danish cavalry’s location, and the two sides engaged in a brutal encounter.

The Prussian and Austrian cavalry, who had been galloping on the European continent for many years, were clearly tough nuts to crack.

Whether it was equipment, horses, or personnel quality and experience, the Allies clearly had the advantage.

Under the leadership of seasoned Prussian cavalry generals, the Allies easily countered the opponent’s moves.

The Allied, especially the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire’s cavalry generals, had superb command capabilities.

On the snowfield, they launched a full-scale charge against the Danish cavalry. In just half an hour, the Danes lost more than half of their forces.

The Danish cavalry general had no choice but to order a retreat, but the Allies clearly did not intend to let them go.

The fleeing Danish cavalry were severely damaged again by the Allied cavalry during the retreat, and only a small portion escaped to Flensburg.

Shortly after the Allied cavalry achieved a great victory, the main force of the infantry also caught up, and the Allies launched the Battle of Flensburg.

On the 7th, the Danish army, feeling that it was difficult to resist, withdrew from Flensburg and returned to Danish territory. The Allies advanced the battle line to the Danish border, and the war came to an end.

On the 18th of the month, Prussian troops occupied Kolding. The Danes tried to form a new line of defense with all available buildings and terrain, but there was not enough time.

But the Austrians sent the Danes an assist. Schleswig had been completely controlled by the Allies, and the Austrians did not want to continue advancing, and the two sides formed a brief ceasefire.

The Austrian Empire had originally joined this war passively, because the Austrian Empire understood that even if the Austrians did not join this war, Prussia and the German Confederation could complete the victory over Denmark.

However, if Austria did not join, it would inevitably lead to the expansion of Prussia’s influence in the German region.

Austria was likely to be abandoned by nationalists, and at this time Prussia took the initiative to give up the leadership of the war and share it equally with the Austrians.

Bismarck even took out the Duchy of Holstein to lure the Austrians into the war. After the war, the Austrians could obtain the dominance of the Duchy of Holstein.

Under the guidance of this situation and interests, the Austrian Empire sent troops. Now that the war had recovered Schleswig, the Austrian Empire no longer wanted to continue expanding the scope of the war.

While Prussia and Austria were negotiating, the Allied forces were resting on the Danish border.

Kane, an ordinary Austrian farmer, was conscripted into the army by the village lord when the war came.

Kane participated in the Battle of Kingdom Mountain, and subsequently experienced the Battle of Flensburg, and is now resting in a temporary position on the Danish border.

The surrounding soldiers and colleagues are all acquaintances from Kane’s village or nearby villages, and the leading officer is the village chief of this village.

“Kane, do you have any cigarettes?” a villager asked.

Kane lay on the dirt pile, his hands behind his head, his head resting on his arms, his legs crossed, his eyes looking at the sky, and replied: “No, I finished smoking them yesterday.”

“Alas, I don’t know when the war will end, and I don’t know how my family is doing.” Another colleague of Kane sighed.

“Young lads, don’t worry, the scale of this war is nothing. When I joined the Imperial Army to resist Napoleon, that kind of war was really terrible. There were crowds of people everywhere, with no end in sight. You could only follow your comrades and charge forward.” The speaker was the village chief.

The village chief was an old man who had participated in the anti-French war when he was young.

“Uncle Morey, how do Napoleon’s troops compare to the Danes?” Kane called out the village chief’s name and asked.

“Napoleon! He was a great man. I knew his name before I even joined the battlefield.”

Morey recalled thoughtfully, and then said: “At that time, I thought Austria was the most powerful country in the world, but His Majesty the Emperor’s army was defeated by Napoleon first. I only learned later when I joined the army that the countries of the whole of Europe had united to overthrow Napoleon, this usurper.”

Morey told everything he knew. Of course, as an old farmer, Morey had also heard his superiors say a few words when he was young.

“At that time, the war was much more cruel than it is now. France was at its zenith. It was rumored that Napoleon’s officers had magic powers, and the French soldiers, under the influence of magic, would charge forward without fear of death!” Morey took advantage of the space in his speech to take out a cigarette from somewhere, lit it, and took a puff.

“The troops I was in collided with the French in a place called Garidon (fictional). The French, under the leadership of Napoleon (actually other French officers), charged towards us.” Morey took a deep breath of smoke and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“The French on the opposite side were like they didn’t value their lives. My colleagues fell one by one around me. Some lost their arms, some lost their legs, and the worst even lost half of their faces!” Morey seemed to return to that distant war memory.

“Fortunately, the reinforcements arrived in time. We saw that there were many people and great strength, so we drove the French back. At that time, there were battles every day, and the people around me changed to new faces in a few days. Fortunately, I had a big life, so I survived…”

Morey told his experiences when he was young, and the surrounding young men listened attentively to the “story”.

Welcoming the arrival of a new war.

Chapter 13: International Mediation

A few days later, after Bismarck’s instigation and urging, Austria and Prussia reached an agreement.

The Austrian army continued to attack the Danes together with the Prussian army unless the Danish government agreed to the complete independence of the two duchies.

Of course, it was impossible for the Danes to agree. Losing Schleswig also meant losing more than thirty percent of Danish territory. Nationalists within Denmark would definitely brand the cabinet government as traitors.

Compared to surrendering without a fight, defeat would obviously elicit more sympathy from the Danish people. It wouldn’t be that the government didn’t try hard enough, but that the Germans were too despicable.

The Danish government rejected the conditions of the German states, and so, the war machine of the allied forces was launched again.

On March 8th, after receiving orders from home, the Austrian Imperial Army took the lead in launching the war and won the Battle of Vejle.

On March 15th, the Danish Navy announced a blockade of the Prussian coast. The navy entered the war, and the newly established Prussian Navy responded.

The naval fleets of both sides began a fierce exchange of fire in the waters of Jasmund. At that time, the Prussian Navy had only been established for a short time, while Denmark was a traditional naval power in the Nordic region. The outcome of the battle was self-evident. Two days later, the Danish Navy achieved a tactical victory in the Battle of Jasmund.

The weak Prussian Navy was no match for the Danish Navy. Denmark firmly controlled the sea, but the Prussian Navy preserved its strength and was not completely annihilated.

On the same day, the Prussian Army also launched an offensive against the new Danish positions set up in Dybbøl. Prussia first mobilized its artillery to bombard the Dybbøl positions on a large scale, and then the army attacked under the cover of artillery fire.

Faced with the ferocious Prussian army, the new Danish commander naturally did not dare to repeat General Mesa’s mistakes. This time, he did not choose to withdraw from the battlefield. Relying on their tenacious perseverance, the Danes repelled the Prussian probing attacks multiple times in one day.

However, this exchange of fire was just a prelude. The Prussian army’s ultimate move was still gathering strength.

A month later, on April 18th, the Battle of Dybbøl broke out. After dozens of hours of artillery preparation, Prussia launched a general offensive. Hundreds of cannons simultaneously attacked the Dybbøl positions, braving the firepower of the Hrolf Krake, which was anchored near the Danish coastline, and fiercely attacked Dybbøl.

As the Danish flagship, the Hrolf Krake was obviously unable to stop the Prussian land offensive and could only temporarily slow down the Prussian army’s advance.

Under the overwhelming artillery fire, the Danes could only huddle in their fortifications. The Prussians seized the opportunity, relying on their numerical superiority, and advanced towards Dybbøl.

Gradually, the vanguard troops at the forefront reached the edge of the Dybbøl positions.

The Dybbøl positions had long been on their last legs under the attack of the allied forces’ powerful artillery fire. Many temporary fortifications had become ruins under the bombardment.

The Prussian army, having reached the Dybbøl positions, used these ruins to successfully break into the interior of the Danish line.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Danish commander-in-chief had no choice but to order the troops to abandon Dybbøl, leaving only the Danish 8th Brigade to cover the rear.

The Danish 8th Brigade resisted very stubbornly to cover the retreat of the main Danish force.

However, they suffered heavy losses. The Danish 8th Brigade was almost crippled by the Prussian army, with more than a third of its members killed or wounded, but it successfully completed the task of covering the Danish main force’s retreat.

After the defeat in the Battle of Dybbøl, the Danish military, limited by its troop strength, had to abandon its simultaneous attempt to retake the Fredericia area, which had already been occupied by the Austrian army.

Under a series of battles fought by the allied forces, nearly half of the Danish territory on the Jutland Peninsula (including Schleswig) was lost. The Danes’ hope for victory had been completely extinguished by the allied forces.

At the same time, the successive defeats of the Danes led the British government to decide to intervene. Maintaining the balance of power on the continent was the bottom line for the British. The British could not allow major changes to occur in continental Europe.

Previously, the British government had already issued a stern warning to Prussia, and Prussia had verbally agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 12th.

However, Bismarck postponed this plan to April 25th, during which time Prussia gained control of the entire Dybbøl area.

After obtaining the support of Russia, France, and Sweden, the British government proposed to intervene in the Jutland Peninsula war, pointing out that the entire Schleswig issue should be decided by a group of European countries.

Austria and Prussia, which had already secretly reached an agreement, stated that as long as the 1852 Protocol was not used as the basis for the decision, and the duchies and Denmark were only connected by personal ties, the two countries would agree to the decision.

The conference was held in London on April 25th, and the British representative, Viscount Palmerston, presided over the meeting.

Britain accused Prussia and Austria of war crimes, threatening the peace of Europe.

But the German representatives only stated that the issues involved were inevitably chaotic.

At the same time, Count Beust, representing the German Confederation, demanded that all countries recognize the Duke of Augustenburg’s sovereignty over the duchies.

Although the Austrian Empire preferred a solution similar to the 1852 Protocol, Prussia had already shown its ambition to obtain the duchies.

If the Kingdom of Prussia wanted to realize this ambition, it first had to make the Duchy of Schleswig completely independent.

Therefore, the Prussian representative insisted that the Schleswig region be completely independent from Denmark.

This put Austria in a dilemma. If Austria opposed it, it would probably completely lose its influence in Germany. If it did not oppose it, Prussia’s strength might increase.

After weighing the pros and cons, Austria still felt that its influence in the German region was more important. Unifying the entire German region was also the wish of the Austrian Empire.

So, reluctantly, Austria supported Prussia’s claim that the Duchy of Schleswig should be granted complete political independence, but that it should be bound by a common institution. As for the next step, it was not yet considered.

In order to appease Britain, France, and the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia’s representative stated that Prussia would not seek land other than the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.

This satisfied the other major powers’ requirement that the Danish straits, which controlled access to the Baltic Sea, should not be controlled by other major powers.

The Swedish representative did not express an opinion. Denmark had historically been a competitor of Sweden. If Prussia and Austria could weaken Denmark’s strength, Sweden would be happy to see it happen.

Of course, the premise was that the German allied forces would not swallow the entire Jutland Peninsula, as that would put Sweden directly in the face of a more serious strategic and geopolitical danger than Denmark.

Obviously, Prussia and Austria had not considered the feelings of the Danes. Britain and other countries had also tacitly agreed to Prussia’s conditions. The Danish government rejected the proposal.

This London conference did not fundamentally solve the Jutland Peninsula issue, but it temporarily suspended the Prussian-Austrian offensive.

Taking advantage of the time the conference was held, the Danes completed their final mobilization. Most of the Danish army’s attempts on the Jutland Peninsula had failed.

The troops transferred to the island of Als to continue their resistance. In June, the Prussian army began to gather opposite the island of Als. The Second Schleswig War was about to enter a new phase.

Chapter 14: Kingdom’s Ambition

Stopping is impossible. The ambition of Prussia is known to all. Bismarck is about to complete the first step of his life’s great achievement.

As long as they defeat the Danish main force on the island of Als, the Danes will lose their last bargaining chip in the war.

June 29th, Als Fjord.

Als Island is located in the eastern part of the Jutland Peninsula, connected by the Als Fjord, which is an extension of the Baltic Sea. The fjord waters are not wide.

The fjord between Als Island and the Jutland Peninsula is calm and the sunny weather provides a broad view of the sea. Under favorable natural conditions, the Prussian army began to march towards Als Island and attempted to cross the fjord.

Prussian engineers built pontoon bridges on the sea, and personnel and weapons began to board the ferries in the bay.

With the roar of steam, the ferries advanced towards Als Island. Thousands of sails competed, and hundreds of boats raced. The narrow Als Fjord was densely packed with ships.

Danish observers watched the sea through telescopes. The Prussians were rapidly approaching the coast. Seeing this scene, they immediately reported to their superiors.

The Danish army, hastily retreating to Als Island, suffered a blow to their morale due to successive defeats in the war. Their organizational strength was far from sufficient, and there was not enough time to build fortifications on Als Island.

The Danish army on the island could only use artillery to harass the Prussian landing force. Sporadic artillery fire could not stop the Prussians’ determination.

Under the cover of gunboats, thousands of Prussian troops easily landed on the coast of Als Island. The two sides began a fierce battle for the coast.

Denmark could now only rely on simple fortifications to block the Prussians, but Prussian artillery was being continuously transported from the rear via ships and pontoon bridges.

With artillery support in place, the landing Prussians launched an attack. The Danes quickly fell into chaos. The temporary defenses were destroyed by Prussian artillery in just one round.

As Prussian infantry stormed the Danish positions, the demoralized Danish army raised the white flag after a brief resistance.

Als Island was the last large-scale battle between the allied forces and Denmark. With the surrender of the garrison on Als Island, the Second Schleswig War came to an end.

A few days later, on July 3rd, the Battle of Lundby broke out, and the allied forces won, leaving Denmark without any ability to resist.

The Danish government had no choice but to sit at the negotiating table and negotiate with the German states. As the losing side in the war, the Danish government announced its surrender. Prussia and Austria also stopped their advance, and all hostile actions ceased. The war was over.

On August 10th, 1864, King Christian IX of Denmark signed the preliminary peace treaty, renouncing his rights in the two duchies and instead supporting the Austrian Empire and the King of Prussia.

In the Treaty of Vienna on October 30th, Denmark ceded all these territories to Austria and Prussia.

The Second Schleswig War.

Denmark’s territory retreated 250 kilometers, losing forty percent of its land and nearly forty percent of its population. The total population decreased from 2.6 million to 1.6 million, including 200,000 Danes in the Schleswig region. Denmark’s power on the Jutland Peninsula was greatly reduced.

Prussia gained control of the Duchy of Schleswig through this war. The army began to move into the Schleswig region, acquiring the important port city of Kiel. The Kiel Canal is an important passage for the German region to bypass the Danish straits, greatly enhancing Prussia’s ability to access the sea.

The Austrian Empire also gained the Duchy of Holstein in this war. The war ended with the victory of Prussia and Austria, and the Second Schleswig War came to a close.

Chapter 15: From Amsterdam to Venice

June. It was now summer, and all of Prussia remained unaffected by war. The streets of Berlin bustled with pedestrians, shops and factories operated normally, and a vibrant scene unfolded.

For two months, Ernst had been busy with the establishment of the Hechingen Development Bank. Fortunately, setting up a bank in this era was relatively easy, with fewer barriers and regulations.

After two months of preparation, the Hechingen Development Bank was established. Many senior executives from Ernst’s companies attended the opening ceremony. After completing the equity confirmation with the numerous factories under Ernst’s control, the Hechingen Consortium was initially formed.

After its establishment, in addition to opening basic businesses such as savings and loans, the Hechingen Development Bank’s first major move was to invest in the establishment of the Berlin Electric Power Company and the Berlin Energy and Power Company.

This was naturally Ernst’s masterpiece. Currently, these two companies were still empty shells. To find managers for the new companies, Ernst put in a lot of effort, visiting various universities, conducting on-site inspections of companies in the industry, and publishing recruitment advertisements in newspapers. After completing a large amount of screening.

On July 28th, the Frenchman Étienne Lenoir became the first general manager of the Berlin Energy and Power Company. This Étienne Lenoir was the inventor of the original internal combustion engine.

Although Lenoir was an important promoter of internal combustion engine development, Lenoir’s research consumed huge financial resources, and no one invested or cooperated with him, so he himself was not very wealthy, but lived a frugal life.

After receiving Ernst’s invitation, he gladly accepted Ernst’s request, because Ernst not only offered a generous salary, but also promised to support his research work.

At the same time, a young man about to graduate from school, Karl Friedrich Benz, became Lenoir’s assistant.

At this time, Karl Benz was still a student about to graduate from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Ernst discovered him in advance and directly appointed him as the assistant to the older generation, Lenoir, skipping his original historical factory internship.

The Berlin Energy and Power Company also funded the purchase of an engine patent from a young Frenchman, Alphonse Beau de Rochas, and appointed him as a technical consultant. The Berlin Energy and Power Company was initially formed.

This Alphonse Beau de Rochas was not famous in history, but it was he who registered the carburetor patent of Nikolaus August Otto in history.

Nikolaus August Otto was the inventor of the four-stroke engine in history. Ernst originally wanted to find this inventor who influenced the course of human history to serve as a senior executive in the company.

But unfortunately, he was one step late. This Nikolaus August Otto obtained the patent right for the innovation of the two-stroke engine in 1863. Soon after, he found a partner to provide him with funding, named Eugen Langen. Eugen Langen was the son of a German sugar merchant, a typical rich second generation. The two jointly established a company that manufactures internal combustion engines.

The current Nikolaus August Otto does not need to look for new partners and investors. The two people’s factory has already begun to make a profit.

The newly established Berlin Energy and Power Company also recruited many recent college graduates as talent reserves. College students in this era were all genuine elites. With these talents, the Berlin Energy and Power Company looked quite decent.

The first order Ernst gave to the new company was to overcome and develop a more advanced four-stroke engine based on Alphonse Beau de Rochas’s patent.

Historically, Alphonse Beau de Rochas’s patent did not produce any prototypes, so it was forgotten, but Ernst still bought his patent and planned to further improve and develop it.

With Lenoir, a pioneer in the field of internal combustion engines, assisting, this goal was not difficult for the new company. It might even be possible to develop a practical four-stroke engine before Nikolaus August Otto.

Lenoir was the first person to invent the internal combustion engine. Although his internal combustion engine was only in its initial form and its efficiency was pitifully low, it might be difficult to find a few people in the world who were more familiar with internal combustion engines than Lenoir.

With Benz, the young man scheduled to take over in the future, Ernst could realize the layout of the automobile industry in advance.

…

On October 3rd, Karl von Linde, this young man, was appointed as the first general manager by the Hechingen Development Bank, and the Berlin Electric Power Company began operations.

Compared to the internal combustion engine, an industry with the steam engine as a foundation, electrical theory had only recently been proposed, and many theories were even immature.

Ernst searched all over Europe before finding Karl von Linde as a suitable candidate. Karl von Linde invented the refrigerator in history.

As for other talents in the field of electricity, they were too difficult to find. The most famous Siemens family in Germany was itself a noble family, and was valued by the Prussian government. There was no room for Ernst to get involved.

Moreover, Siemens itself was a synonym for cheating. The only people Ernst knew who could be on par with him were the American Edison and Tesla. Of course, Ernst did not include those theoretical big shots.

These were all genius figures that Ernst had spent a lot of effort to find. As a science and engineering college student, Ernst knew many famous scientists and inventors of later generations, but some had already achieved fame and fortune, or were still unknown in some corner of Europe and the United States, or were still children or had not been born yet.

After filtering out those who were too old and those who did not need investment and cooperation, he still had to search the world like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, these two fields had not yet exploded with great power, and belonged to the most cutting-edge technologies of this era. Only a few members were able to engage in related industries and research.

As long as he kept an eye on the lists of companies and well-known universities that had already developed in these fields, he could still find one or two conspicuous ones.

For the Berlin Electric Power Company, Ernst did not have any good way to cheat, and could only follow the development of the times and let his subordinates come up with some small innovations.

In the future, he still had to closely follow the development of Siemens and some American companies, because he could also earn some hard money by running factories with patent licenses.

…

On October 20th, while the Vienna Conference was being held, Ernst came to the port of Amsterdam in the Netherlands to conduct an inspection. This time, Ernst’s goal was to find suitable partners to prepare for the development of the Far East market.

The Far East was his hometown in his previous life, so Ernst naturally couldn’t forget it. Of course, the temptation of profit was also irresistible. In the contemporary world, apart from those resource areas, the regions coveted by European and American colonists and powers due to their huge population markets were India and East Asia.

India, this magical country, was the lifeblood of the United Kingdom, and the way Indians thought was so strange that Ernst didn’t dare to get involved.

East Asia was different. Ernst dared to pat his chest and say that no one in Europe understood East Asia better than him. Compared with India, a country that knelt on the ground as soon as it encountered a strong enemy, East Asians still had some backbone. This made it difficult for the powers to fully take root even after they opened the door of a certain major country in East Asia.

Even if all the powers united, they could not completely control the situation in East Asia. The forces inside were chaotic. Even if a Prussian mixed in to make a fortune, it would not be too conspicuous, which would conveniently allow Ernst to fish in troubled waters.

However, Ernst could not swim to East Asia himself to get involved, so he needed to find a long-distance commercial fleet to cooperate with. Recently, Ernst had reached agreements with several old Dutch long-distance trading companies. Ernst would send people to East Asia to establish purely commercial strongholds, while the Dutch would earn the difference in price as middlemen.

As for the transportation of goods and the transmission of commercial intelligence between Europe and East Asia, he could only rely on the Dutch to complete. Compared to the Netherlands, a country based on commerce, Ernst did not trust the British. If a German aristocrat ran to the United Kingdom to cooperate, would the British government pay special attention to it? Ernst did not want to deal with any officials, because that meant trouble, especially since he had no connections in the United Kingdom!

Although the Dutch, who had been sanctioned by the British, were inferior to the rising British Empire in terms of cost and safety in long-distance trade, the Dutch were more cautious than the British when it came to ruining their reputation. After all, the Netherlands could only survive by commercial trade, and credibility was more important in Europe.

Of course, Amsterdam in the Netherlands was only Ernst’s best choice at the moment. In the future, Ernst would still shift his focus to the ports along the Mediterranean coast.

In a few years, after the Suez Canal was opened, Ernst could use this intelligence advantage to build his own fleet and routes.

In addition, after Germany was unified in the future, commercial trade routes could pass through Austria. Prince Constantine still had some old friends in the Austrian Empire. After all, Hechingen was not far from Austria. Judging from the map alone, Hechingen was closer to Vienna than to Berlin, which also meant that this route was safer.

Finally, through ports on the Adriatic Sea such as Venice, passing through the Suez Canal, he could avoid detouring around most of the west coast of Africa, and the distance to East Asia would be directly reduced by half, and the freight would be cheaper.

Putting that aside, even goods departing from the Netherlands could be transshipped through the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal to reach their destination.

Before the plan that Ernst had been harboring for a long time began, Hamburg in Germany was also a transitional option, but it had to wait until after Germany was unified. The German region currently lacked experience in long-distance commerce, and the technology of ships was not as good as that of the Netherlands and the Venice region.

Therefore, Ernst was not in a hurry to invest in shipyards in Hamburg. The focus now was Venice. The scale of his industry had not reached the point where it had to rely on maritime transport. After all, he had not yet been involved in bulk commodity trade, so even though it required land transportation from Berlin to Venice under the rule of the Austrian Empire, Ernst could afford the cost.

It would not be too late to establish a fleet in Hamburg when he wanted to engage in the trade of those large-volume commodities in the future.

Therefore, the layout of the Mediterranean Sea and going to scout the area in advance could already begin. After ending his trip to the Netherlands, Ernst planned to go to the Adriatic Sea to conduct an inspection.

Chapter 16: Venice, City of Water

February in Venice is somewhat desolate. In the early morning, there are few people coming and going along the banks. The water surface is shrouded in rising mist, and the Gothic architecture on both sides of the canal is picturesque in the mist, as if entering a dreamlike world.

Ernst is most interested in the arched bridges that occasionally appear on the water, connecting the two banks. This reminds him of the small bridges and flowing water of the Jiangnan region in his previous life’s literature. The arched bridges of Venice have a unique flavor, yet they also have commonalities that resonate with him.

Sitting on a “gondola,” a unique Venetian boat, Ernst admires this ancient city that retains a strong medieval style. The buildings on both banks move rapidly backward as the boat travels.

These exquisite houses, closely leaning together and arranged in a staggered manner, along with the elegant and magnificent churches, towering and mottled bell towers, and resplendent palaces… all tell of her past glory.

Medieval Venice had an incredibly glorious history in Europe. Its unique geographical location and natural, excellent harbor shaped the character of the city. The Venetians of that time were as full of desire and pursuit of wealth as the Dutch are today.

By monopolizing the maritime trade routes between East and West along the Adriatic Sea, the Venetians established a prosperous commercial republic. Eastern goods were transshipped in Venice, and Venetian merchants traveled all over Europe, with wealth flowing into their pockets.

The development of commercial trade created the prosperity of Venice. The Venetian merchants, who became wealthy first, built churches and palaces one after another. Many of the buildings Ernst sees can be traced back to that period.

Economic prosperity drove cultural prosperity. The rise of the citizens, coupled with the gathering of writers and artists, made Venice one of the most important cultural centers in Europe.

A large number of literati and painters used words and paintings to record the wealth and freedom of Venice. Shakespeare, an Englishman of the same era, also used Venice as the setting for his popular classic, “The Merchant of Venice.”

However, since the beginning of the Age of Exploration in Europe, with the continuous opening of new sea routes, the shift in the world’s main trade routes has accelerated the decline of port cities along the entire Mediterranean coast, and Venice is no exception.

A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The declining Venice could not escape the covetousness of ambitious people, and successively fell into the hands of the French and Austrian empires.

Currently, as one of the many regions under the rule of the Austrian Empire, Venice is clearly not receiving enough attention. The struggle for hegemony in Europe is the main direction of the Austrian Empire, and Venice is more like a buffer zone used by Austria to operate.

In fact, Ernst also feels sorry for the history of the Austrian Empire. The Habsburg family’s centuries of efforts in Europe, the endless heroes and countless cultural arts that were born, ultimately could not withstand the progress of the times. When the tide of nationalism came, they did not change direction in time, and finally fell apart. Success and failure all turned to emptiness.

Ernst believes that Austria has paid too many ineffective costs for European hegemony. As a typical sandwich, Austria is feared by Britain, France, and Russia. In comparison, Prussia, although ambitious, cannot restore the glory of the Holy Roman Empire, because Austria is too large. They can only kick Austria out; a Germany without Austria is not complete.

If Austria were to complete the unification of Germany, it would create a terrifying country spanning from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, bisecting the entire center of Europe. The whole of Europe would tremble.

Therefore, Britain, France, and Russia would rather have the Prussians implement the Lesser German plan than make any concessions to Austria.

And if Austria aimed to maintain the balance of power in Europe and joined the colonial enterprise, it would be much more comfortable than it is now, and Venice, as a gateway to the sea, could benefit from it.

It is also Austria’s bad luck that if the Suez Canal had opened ten years earlier, Venice, with the help of Austria’s size and geographical location, could at least have developed into Austria’s largest port city, if not restoring the foundations of its ancestors.

But history does not allow for “ifs.” In the future, Venice will return to Italy, and the Austrian Empire will become the Austro-Hungarian Empire until its demise.

Compared to Venice returning to Italy, Ernst is more optimistic about Venice remaining within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It should be known that Italy is surrounded by the sea on three sides and has more than one hundred ports, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire will only have one outlet to the sea in the Adriatic Sea in the future.

Italy also caught up with a good time. Only a few years after regaining Venice, the Suez Canal was opened, and the status of the Mediterranean Sea became important again.

…

Venice’s Martin Shipyard, now taken over by Ernst. This is a family shipyard with a long history, but in recent years, it has been poorly managed and has fallen into a state of loss. The heir, Fordtz Martin, is looking for a buyer to take over, and Ernst has invested in buying it.

As for Fordtz Martin, he will take the money from selling the shipyard and invest it in the textile industry. Martin has made a lot of money in the textile industry in recent years and is about to increase his investment. It just so happens that the shipyard in his hands has been in a state of loss, a complete liability, so he sold it to Ernst for cash.

Ernst plans to upgrade it and expand the scale of the dock so that he can form his own ocean-going merchant fleet when the Suez Canal opens.

This family shipyard does not have any special advantages, but it is old, has a group of experienced shipbuilders, and its size is not small, in the upper-middle range in the Venice area.

This provides convenience for Ernst to upgrade the shipyard. Ernst plans to recruit some Austrian workers to work in the shipyard to buffer the number of Italians.

Of course, he also plans to train a group of German workers to reserve technology and employees for the future Hamburg branch. Ernst cannot fool a group of Italians to work in northern Germany. The Austrians themselves are of German ethnicity, and there is no great psychological pressure for future personnel transfers, making it easy to handle.

Since he has already acquired the shipyard, it is naturally impossible to use the original name again. As usual, the Hechingen Shipyard is born. Ernst does not like to use people’s names for the names of factories and companies, so he often uses the place name Hechingen.

As for the shipyard’s management personnel, in addition to continuing to employ the original management personnel, Ernst will transfer some capable people from Berlin to assist in management and supervision.

The small Hechingen, as a rural area deep in the European interior, unexpectedly owns a seaside shipyard, and at the same time owns a bank, a company, and a research and development center in Berlin.

The concept that Hechingen is his own has already taken shape in Ernst’s mind. Influenced by Prince Constantine, Ernst has voluntarily adopted the role of Hechingen’s spokesperson.

Chapter 17: Dar es Salaam

February 1st, 1865, Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam means “Haven of Peace” in Swahili. In later generations, it would become Tanzania’s largest city and port, the national economic and cultural center, a major port in East Africa, and the capital of the Dar es Salaam Region. The city is green year-round, with a beautiful environment, and sparsely dotted with well-preserved Western and Arabic ancient buildings. It is a city along the “Maritime Silk Road.” Zheng He of the ancient Eastern Asian country of Ming Dynasty visited the coastal areas here during his voyages to the West.

Currently, with the Suez Canal not yet open, Dar es Salaam is a necessary stop for European ships traveling to Asia. Many merchant ships dock here to rest, replenish fresh water, and obtain supplies.

Some Portuguese and Dutch merchants also trade here. The Sultanate of Zanzibar encourages Arabs to go to the Tanzanian interior to hunt slaves and capture ivory. The local area also cultivates distinctive products such as cloves. European merchants returning from Asia will purchase ivory and cloves here to take back to Europe and earn higher profits.

Today, the temperature is around thirty degrees Celsius. The salty and humid sea breeze blows from the Indian Ocean, coconut trees sway in the wind, and the tide gently laps against the white sandy beaches. Standing on the coast and looking out, a large fleet gradually appears on the horizon.

The ships fly the Dutch flag and, under the guidance of pilots, slowly enter the port of Dar es Salaam.

A heavily armed team of more than two thousand men disembarks from the ships and lands on the port’s docks. This team is the German colonial group hired by the Heckingen Bank.

The team is led by a recently retired Prussian officer. Many of the men are veterans who have retired from the Prussian army, having just participated in the Second Schleswig War.

The team’s second-in-command is an old mercenary who has been active in Asian waters for many years and has worked in the Dutch East Indies colonies.

Of course, most of them are unemployed people recruited from all over Germany. After being equipped with second-hand weapons retired from the Prussian army, they were sent to Africa to carry out colonial activities.

This colonial group, which is not small in size and carries “advanced” weapons and equipment, has caused panic to the local Sultanate of Zanzibar. A colonial team of this size is enough to fight a war of annihilation in this era.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar is a genuine Arab country, the African part of the former Indian Ocean power, the Sultanate of Oman, after its division. During its heyday, the Sultanate of Oman occupied East African lands centered on Zanzibar Island, while also controlling parts of the East African coast. Opposite Zanzibar Island is the port of Dar es Salaam, which is also the core ruling area of the Zanzibar kingdom.

As a former Indian Ocean hegemon, Zanzibar has had a lot of dealings with Western colonists. These people are all tough characters. Zanzibar has fought with the Portuguese, so after seeing the colonial group sent by Heckingen landing at the dock, the Sultan of Zanzibar did not dare to act rashly and sent people to negotiate.

Europeans of this era naturally look down on small countries like Zanzibar. Apart from Europe, other regions are seen as barbaric and uncivilized lands in the eyes of Europeans. However, remembering the task assigned by the boss, it is better not to cause trouble.

Representatives of the colonial team followed the Zanzibar representatives to the palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar. The Sultan prepared a banquet to receive the representatives of the colonial team and began to indirectly inquire about the team’s intentions at the meeting.

“May I ask how to address you?” the Sultan of Zanzibar asked.

The leader of the colonial team replied, “Your Excellency Sultan can call me Yalman.”

“Mr. Yalman, are you Dutch? Your attire seems somewhat different from those Dutch people,” the Sultan of Zanzibar said curiously. “But you came here on Dutch ships, so I don’t know where you are from for a moment.”

“Your Excellency Sultan, we are from the Kingdom of Prussia in the great German region. This time, we came to your esteemed land aboard ships from the Netherlands.”

Prussia! The Sultan of Zanzibar frowned. He had heard of the German region, but he didn’t know much about Prussia. He turned to look at his Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, seeing the Sultan’s signal, leaned close to the Sultan’s ear and whispered, “Your Majesty Sultan, Prussia is one of the powerful countries in the European region. It is said that they have a strong army in Europe, but I have not heard that Prussia has a navy like Portugal and England. Usually, only a very small number of Prussian merchants can be seen here.”

“Hmm,” the Sultan understood. The people who came were not ordinary people and could not be easily offended. After all, the Portuguese were already very powerful, and this so-called Prussia was actually a powerful country in Europe, so its strength should not be much different from that of the Portuguese.

“Then I wonder what your purpose is in coming to Zanzibar? Zanzibar is just a small country with no outstanding resources to exploit,” the Sultan of Zanzibar asked.

“Your Excellency Sultan, we Prussians have come with sincerity. Our main purpose is to engage in agricultural production in Tanganyika and will not threaten your country’s rule in Zanzibar,” said Commander Yalman.

The Sultan of Zanzibar did not believe the Europeans’ nonsense and cautiously asked, “The land in Tanganyika is not as good as you might think, especially the interior. Lions and wild beasts are everywhere, outnumbering people. Even our country has no way to develop the interior. Your Excellency has come from afar, I’m afraid it will be difficult to accomplish.”

Commander Yalman explained, “Your Excellency Sultan, don’t worry. To be honest, we are going to develop farms in the interior to grow tobacco and some tropical plants. These are rare items in Europe, so we chose this place.”

The Sultan of Zanzibar was still uneasy and asked, “Although I am not interested in whether your country develops the interior or not, our country also has many interests in the interior. For example, the savages there, and ivory, are things that our country cannot give up. How do you guarantee that you will not harm the interests of the Zanzibaris?”

“Your Excellency Sultan, I can guarantee that we will not interfere with your country’s interests in the interior. At the same time, we can also cooperate and sign an agreement. Because we are developing land, we have to drive away the wild beasts and savages in the interior. Although these things have some value, our team does not value them and can sell them to your country. This time, we have only sent the first batch. More people will come later, so confrontation is a dead end, while cooperation will bring a harmonious future for both parties,” Yalman advised with a hint of threat.

Thinking of the two thousand “elite” troops at the port, the Sultan of Zanzibar’s heart was alarmed and said insensibly, “Mr. Yalman, peaceful development between the two sides is also the pursuit of the Zanzibaris. However, having an army under one’s nose, I think no king in any country can sleep peacefully!”

Seeing the Sultan of Zanzibar already yielding, Yalman smiled contemptuously in his heart and said comfortingly, “Your Excellency Sultan, please rest assured. As a show of sincerity, we can leave in two weeks and will not reside in Dar es Salaam for a long time. Of course, with your country’s support, it can be even faster.”

Understanding such an obvious hint, the Sultan of Zanzibar understood instantly and said generously, “You are too kind, we will do our best to help our ‘friends’.” But he felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Yalman explained, “Your Excellency Sultan, don’t worry. We just need to build some tools for outdoor camping. After all, one can’t live in the open in the wilderness, can one?”

Hearing Yalman say this, the Sultan of Zanzibar’s heart was relieved and he quickly replied, “You are too kind, Mr. Yalman. We can still provide some additional support.”

Unexpectedly, Yalman unhesitatingly followed up, “There is indeed something else that requires your country’s help.”

“Damn… why didn’t you say so earlier!” the Sultan of Zanzibar thought, preparing to be extorted.

“Our subsequent supplies and personnel also need your country’s port to help with transit. We hope that your country can provide us with convenience.”

So that’s what it was about. The Sultan of Zanzibar had expected it. Such a large group of people was not moving house, and a transportation channel was definitely needed to connect with Europe. But as a precaution, the Sultan of Zanzibar still mentioned, “Borrowing the port is no problem. We can set aside a piece of land for your country to use, but your country cannot have troops stationed in the port and Zanzibar, and your country’s port staff cannot carry weapons.”

Hearing this, Yalman knew that things were almost done, but he still bargained, “No problem, but the safety of the staff stationed in the port must be guaranteed, so we will leave a twenty-man armed group to protect the safety of the staff.”

Hearing that it was only twenty people, the Sultan of Zanzibar agreed. Although the Sultanate of Zanzibar is a small country, it still has some strength. It is just afraid of a lose-lose situation with this group of Prussians, and the Portuguese next door would be ready to make trouble.

The conditions proposed by the Prussians were barely acceptable as long as they did not threaten the rule of Zanzibar. After all, the other party’s guns were pointed at his head. What else could he do? Whether he fought or not, Zanzibar would suffer. Fortunately, this group of Prussians knew what they were doing. Otherwise, the Sultan of Zanzibar would not let these Prussians enter the interior through Zanzibar even if he risked his life.

Chapter 18: Overseas Trade

After reaching an agreement with the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the Hohenzollern Group’s colonial team managed to gain a foothold there.

The colonial team began building carriages, tents, and other travel equipment in Zanzibar to prepare for exploring the interior.

Meanwhile, the Dutch ships docked in Dar es Salaam, after replenishing their fresh water and supplies, continued their journey, heading for East Asia.

…

Hechingen.

Returning to Europe, a new building was being constructed in Hechingen, not far from the city, and it had already become a large construction site.

“Ernst, are you planning to open a factory in Hechingen?” Prince Constantine asked.

After the war, Prince Constantine retired from the Prussian General Staff in Berlin and returned to Hechingen.

Not long after visiting Venice, Ernst came home and asked him for a piece of land.

Prince Constantine originally thought that Ernst wanted to take over his business and develop in the agricultural field. Although he didn’t participate in the labor himself, a landlord still had to know how to keep accounts.

Prince Constantine thought that Ernst was using the land for crop experiments, because Ernst had mentioned wanting to create a large farm in East Africa some time ago.

Unexpectedly, after a few days, his field was bulldozed! It was piled with bricks, soil, sand, and cement ordered by Ernst. The miscalculating Prince Constantine had no choice but to ask him in person.

“Father, I want to build a school here,” Ernst said, looking at the building that was already taking shape with satisfaction.

Hearing this, Prince Constantine was even more confused. Building a school in Hechingen? Wasn’t that nonsense?

It wasn’t that Prince Constantine was just imagining things. The last thing Hechingen lacked was schools. After all, Prussia had already popularized compulsory education, and the children of Hechingen were all in school. Ernst couldn’t possibly conjure up students out of thin air! So Ernst couldn’t be opening a primary school. But Hechingen also had a secondary school, which was established during the time of Marquis Frederick.

The number of students in Hechingen who could attend secondary school each year was too small. Most people went out into society after finishing primary school. After all, attending secondary school was very expensive. They either went home to farm or asked someone to find them an apprenticeship in the city.

Only a hundred or so students could attend secondary school each year, two or three hundred in good years, and even only eighty or so in bad years.

So Constantine wasn’t sure what kind of school Ernst wanted to open, and asked, “As far as I know, the education market in Hechingen is already saturated. You can’t possibly waste your resources for nothing!”

After spending the last few years together, Constantine realized that his son was someone who wouldn’t get up early without a profit. He was becoming more and more like a businessman. Fortunately, Ernst was currently very successful, so Constantine didn’t object to Ernst developing according to his own ideas. However, Ernst would never do anything that would lose money.

“Father, I want to build a military academy in Hechingen to train family talent,” Ernst explained to Constantine.

Hearing the words “military academy,” Constantine’s eyelids twitched, and he quickly asked Ernst.

“What do you want to do? Military academies have to be reported to the government! You’re not pursuing a military career, so building a military academy is unnecessary. As long as you give me a heads-up, I can get you a position in the army.”

Constantine said in confusion, “Besides, even if you want to build a military academy, shouldn’t you find a big city? This rural place of Hechingen, without military cooperation, will anyone come?”

Ernst knew that Prince Constantine had misunderstood, and began to describe his ideas: “Father, you’ve misunderstood. I do want to open a military academy, but this military academy has nothing to do with Prussia. It’s for the development of East Africa. The so-called military academy is not actually what you think it is.”

Of course, Constantine understood. This wasn’t a regular school at all. Wasn’t this just training a colonial team? But Constantine’s doubts were even greater.

“Even if you’re developing East Africa, you don’t need to train so-called talent separately. You can just form a colonial team or hire a mercenary army, right?”

In this day and age, colonial forces were indispensable, but they were all government troops, commercial teams, and mercenary organizations doing this work. Constantine had never heard of establishing a school specifically for colonial activities, especially a military-type one.

“Father, this is related to my vision for East Africa. The future area of East Africa may be larger than the entire Germany, so it’s essential to prepare military talent in advance. With such a large area of land, if we occupy it exclusively, someone will definitely covet it.”

Larger than Germany? Prince Constantine didn’t dare to imagine it. Had his son gone mad? Such a wild idea.

Constantine naturally knew about Africa, but he hadn’t specifically learned about it, so Constantine took Ernst’s hand and went home.

“Let’s go, let’s go back and study it.”

Soon, a world map was spread out on the table in front of Constantine, and he pointed to Tanzania on the map, “Is it here?”

“Yes, Father.” Ernst began to draw on the map with a pen, and soon a circle took shape on the map.

This circle included present-day Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and southern Kenya.

“This is my initial idea. Other European countries haven’t paid attention to this place yet. I plan to use the Hohenzollern Group, like the British East India Company, to bring this area under the rule of our Hohenzollern family.” This was the first time Ernst had revealed his ambition to someone.

“Unlike India, which is an ancient civilization with a long history, the only civilization in all of East Africa is Aksum.” He drew an X on the Ethiopian region on the map.

“Aksum’s sphere of influence is in northern East Africa. I won’t touch that area. The only threats to us in all of East Africa are the colonial teams from various countries and the Sultanate of Zanzibar.” He circled Zanzibar and the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.

“These colonial teams are not worth worrying about. They are mostly small teams hunting slaves and ivory. As long as we can clear the field in advance with various means before the European countries notice this place.”

Ernst continued, “The Sultanate of Zanzibar has hundreds of thousands of people and is an Arab country, so it’s not a big threat. Our first colonial team has already landed successfully.”

“As for the Portuguese, they have been in decline and their control over various colonies is not as good as before, but Mozambique is a threat. The local colonial government still needs to be careful,” Ernst said with a serious expression.

“However, the Portuguese are not very interested in other parts of East Africa and mainly operate along the coast, which gives me room to maneuver.”

Ernst continued, “I plan to send people to establish many strongholds in the interior of East Africa, focusing on the area between Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi.” He used a pen to outline the area between the three lakes.

“As long as we immigrate several hundred thousand people, this place can be completely incorporated into the hands of our Hohenzollern family.”

Hearing this, Prince Constantine asked, “Where are you going to find so many people? That’s more than the entire population of Hechingen!”

Ernst replied, “Here!”

The pencil in his hand pointed to the Qing Dynasty in East Asia.

Prince Constantine frowned and asked, “If you’re going to achieve this goal through foreigners, why go so far? Can’t you use the local natives?”

“Father, that’s a good question. The Qing Dynasty is the most populous country in the world. Their human resources are surplus, and the common people live in hardship. Every year, many people go abroad to make a living due to famine and war. But for the natives of Africa, we are invaders. They will not willingly accept our rule, so we introduce people from the Qing Dynasty. These Qing people, when they first arrive in a strange place, can only depend on us for survival.”

“Then why not import people from the German region?” Constantine asked.

“I want to! Father, but importing people from Germany is too expensive. Just the first colonial team was hired by me with a lot of money. But the Qing people only need a mouthful of food to work for us. It’s a matter of cost.”

Ernst continued, “Secondly, now that the American Civil War is over, most Germans will choose to go to the developed United States to live and work. If you tell the Germans to go to Africa, they will probably be afraid as soon as they hear the word Africa.”

Affected by previous public opinion, Africa in Europe represents wild animals everywhere and various tropical diseases, so that Europeans now only establish colonial strongholds on the African coast, and dare not go deep into the interior, creating opportunities for Ernst.

“Then how do you control the Qing people? You know, if there are too many people, there will be chaos,” Constantine said.

“The current idea is to cultivate our own talent. This is also the original intention of establishing the Hechingen Military Academy. The students will be recruited from the Qing Dynasty. We will instill ideas in them, make them obey management, and then go to Africa to assist the Germans in dividing and governing the Qing immigrants. After using the Qing to develop the land in East Africa, we can stop importing immigrants from the Qing Dynasty and instead attract people from Germany and Europe. Then, through the Hohenzollern Group, we will establish a preliminary industrial system for East Africa, and finally drive out the local natives. In this way, we can establish a country similar to Brazil and the United States.”

After listening to Ernst’s ideas, Prince Constantine’s mind could not calm down for a long time. This was a big project, but there was indeed theoretical room for operation.

If Ernst completed it, it would be equivalent to re-establishing a country overseas for the Hohenzollern family, a new country with a scale no less than Germany and led by the Hohenzollern family. Such map expansion made Prince Constantine’s heart surge.

“Well, since you have your own ideas, I support them. Other than that, I still have connections and relationships in this land of Germany. Just let go and do it!” Constantine said calmly, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

…

Jiaozhou Bay.

German Commercial Liaison Office. This was a new liaison office with the Prussian flag hanging, and there was also one in Zhuhai, but Ernst specifically emphasized establishing one in the north, and directly selected Jiaozhou Bay.

In addition to being responsible for promoting the Hohenzollern Group’s goods in northern Qing, the Jiaozhou Bay German Commercial Liaison Office also had a special task: to send people to select five hundred healthy teenagers from the north, especially the area along the Ji River, and bring them back to Germany.

The standards were: no diseases, no cultural education, and the most important thing was that they must be from poor peasant families.

This was the source of students that Ernst had selected. In the Qing Dynasty, local clans were most likely to form groups, which were unstable factors for rule, especially in the south, where clan forces were widespread, so Ernst did not recruit students in the south.

As for why it was the Ji River, it was because that was Ernst’s hometown in his previous life. In this era, there was no Mandarin, and dialects were everywhere. Ernst didn’t want his subordinates to speak in a way he couldn’t understand. If it was his hometown dialect, Ernst could still understand it roughly. After all, the languages in the north were much more unified than in the south.

Ernst was going to personally serve as the principal of the Hechingen Military Academy and might also give lectures. The language had to be unified, otherwise it would be awkward if these teenagers couldn’t understand what Ernst was saying. Giving these people three years to learn German would mean that Ernst wouldn’t have to personally supervise and manage them in the future.

The Jiaozhou Bay German Commercial Liaison Office also shouldered the tasks of recruiting workers to go to East Africa and trading in bulk commodities. In addition to Ernst’s own goods, Ernst had gathered some merchants in Berlin to reach a cooperation agreement, taking this opportunity to jointly develop the market in the Far East for Germany.

Cigarettes and kerosene lighters, as star products, had already begun to be welcomed by the dignitaries in the Far East market, while the Hohenzollern Group used Dutch ships to transport cheap raw materials from the Far East and the population needed by East Africa back.

The Dutch themselves also added a lot of Far Eastern specialties, silk, porcelain, and tea were the main products.

Through this long-distance trade, Ernst initially established a trade route with three centers: Europe, East Africa, and the Far East. Although he borrowed the power of the Dutch, he also cultivated the experience of the Germans on board.

In the future, after the Suez Canal was opened, Venice’s fleet would be almost ready, and then a commercial route completely dominated by the Germans could be established.

The main process of this commercial route was: Europe exported industrial products and sold them in the Far East, recruited people from the Far East to develop East Africa, and then transported the agricultural products and minerals developed in East Africa back to Europe.

Of course, in the early stage, the Hohenzollern Group was still operating this route at a loss, because East Africa was still barren and could only produce goods after the population was in place. At the same time, the Far East market had not been fully opened, and the business of the two commercial liaison offices was still limited to the coastal areas, while advertising investment and personnel wages cost money. Ernst could only rely on the profitable industries in Europe to support his colonial activities.

However, this process might take several years. The good news was that the Berlin Energy and Power Company had made a major breakthrough, and Ernst’s golden goose was about to increase. In addition, with the increase in the popularity of the Hechingen Development Bank in the German region, Ernst’s funds were actually richer than before. Sure enough, the banking industry was the real wealth fighter and industry incubator.

Chapter 19: Black Root Military Academy

In just a few short months, the Black Root Military Academy completed its initial setup. The teachers Ernst had recruited had not yet begun teaching.

This was because the five hundred-odd teenagers recruited from the Far East were too weak and needed a period of rest. Most of them were sallow-faced and malnourished.

Ernst didn’t dare let the teenagers, who had just crossed the sea to Europe, eat too much. They were already physically weak and had been drifting on the sea for so long. Even normal people couldn’t stand the rocking of the ship, let alone these children.

Moreover, they had been in a state of famine for a long time, so their stomachs were in no condition to handle too much rich food. If he rashly gave them too much greasy food, he was afraid that there wouldn’t be enough toilets for them to ruin the next day.

Therefore, after they landed, Ernst only prepared some vegetables, bread, and potatoes for them to ease into it. He didn’t give them much each time, fearing that they would gobble it down and increase the burden on their bodies. Even so, their eyes were full of light, a desire for food.

For children in the East during this era, being able to eat every day was already a great happiness. Some had even eaten tree bark and mud. The food Ernst prepared was like delicacies from land and sea to them, as they weren’t picky eaters.

Ernst could at least guarantee that these pitiful children would have enough to eat, and he was even willing to dig into his own pocket to add some meat to their diet.

In recent years, affected by the war, the already decaying Qing government had further increased its exploitation of the lower classes. The indemnities to the foreign powers and the war expenses for suppressing the rebellion in the South were all squeezed from the hands of the common people. As for the frequent natural disasters in the North and the countless refugees, the Qing government turned a blind eye.

From this, one can see how difficult it was for the people of this ancient Eastern country to survive. For these farmers who had no land, in addition to giving their blood and sweat for nothing, they not only received no return but also might be burdened with huge debts.

The landlords only had to move their lips, and the taxes levied by the court would be doubled and taken back from the tenant farmers. Once a natural or man-made disaster occurred, countless families would be ruined. The lucky ones would beg all the way and travel far away, while the unlucky ones would die in the wilderness on the road.

Therefore, Ernst’s Far East Commercial Liaison Office had extremely smooth recruitment in the Qing Dynasty. For these people who had lost hope of survival, whoever could give them a bite to eat was like a second parent. This explains why some people traveled across the ocean to build railways in America.

This is also why the Chinese in later generations were the most hardworking. You can hardly imagine their poverty decades ago. As long as you give them hope, they are the best workers in the world.

As for countries like India, the entire class is habitually slacking off. They learned this thousands of years ago. In Ernst’s eyes, they are not even comparable to the African natives.

Although the African natives are not good at doing things, they have a positive attitude towards life. Indians tend to be passive and “realistic.”

This “realism” is not a good word, but a vague expression of the Indian worldview and values. After all, the Indians have developed a civilization, but they have a national character that does not match it.

This is also why Ernst dared to employ Chinese people. Although there is some emotional inclination, it is actually driven by interests. Ernst wants to maximize profits, so naturally, he needs disciplined and obedient labor.

In this era, Europeans are the best labor force in the world because European education is at the forefront of the world, especially in the German region. Compulsory education has freed the common people from illiteracy and enabled them to better adapt to industrialized society.

Even in the Prussian army, ordinary soldiers have a primary school education and can follow orders. Therefore, popularizing education is the general trend of the times.

Ernst wants to develop East Africa, and of course, he also wants to use such high-quality labor. However, the enlightened German people are not stupid. One is the American continent, where opportunities are everywhere, the standard of living is high, and the level of modernization is high, and the other is Africa, where wild animals and poisonous insects are everywhere, and there is not even a decent road. Everyone knows where to go to make a living.

If he doesn’t spend money, who would be willing to work for Ernst in East Africa? Since he can’t choose the best, he will use the second best, and the Chinese are the inevitable choice.

First of all, the various dynasties in East Asian history were best at mobilizing the people, organizing the people through lower-level government offices to dig roads and repair canals, or engage in large-scale projects, so they generally have obedience and are easy to manage.

Secondly, modern Chinese people have had enough of hard times, and the entire society is extremely competitive. There is no problem in saying that the spirit of hard work is the best in the world. Europeans who have experienced the sharp decline in population due to the Black Death cannot feel this. In addition, due to the influence of the long-term serfdom in Europe, European people and lords have reached a certain degree of balance. After all, serfs are the assets of the lords. Excessive use leading to accidental death would be a loss, after all, labor costs have been increased due to the Black Death.

Not only that, but the Black Death also made the entire Europe panic. Like a lottery, people might be gone one day. Therefore, the European nobles indulged in enjoyment, which promoted the development of culture and art. The nobles above were focused on enjoyment, so there was less trouble, and the people below lived better.

Therefore, Europeans find it difficult to understand the current Chinese people’s attitude of working desperately. Without sufficient wages and sufficient rest time, they will rebel.

Finally, Ernst doesn’t need too high-end labor at all, at least not at present. Ernst is a person with a strong desire for control. Chinese people who have not received education and do not have the vision of Europeans have low pursuits and are easier to satisfy and manage than Europeans.

Ernst is currently only reclaiming land in East Africa, and he needs people who can farm. Ernst believes that no region can directly skip agricultural modernization and directly realize industrialization. Now Ernst wants to organize Chinese farmers in the form of a company to farm in Africa.

Those people hired from the Far East were originally just looking for a bite to eat, so there was naturally no salary. Large-scale collaborative production did not require them to put in high-intensity physical labor, and they could also use local natives to cultivate the land.

That’s right, Ernst is just a profit-obsessed nobleman, not some saint. Ernst not only wants to confiscate the land of those tribes but also temporarily use the slaves that the Sultanate of Zanzibar does not need.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar has been selling slaves to various parts of Arabia since the Omani Empire era, and they do not need local natives who are not physically qualified.

Currently, Ernst does not have the ability and energy to transport these natives to other countries and regions, so he can only use them as production tools to reclaim land.

Originally, most of these natives relied on hunting and gathering for a living, so it would be difficult to get them to farm. Farmers also need experience.

Therefore, Ernst only intends to let these natives undertake simple heavy physical work such as pulling plows and digging canals.

After all, there are no tractors and excavators now, and even if there were, Ernst couldn’t afford them. The entire East African reclamation can only be completed by manpower.

As Ernst’s last bit of conscience, that is, if these natives live long enough and survive Ernst’s dependence on manpower, Ernst will find a way to transport them to other countries and regions.

And this group of teenagers is the reserve talent for assisting Ernst in managing the Chinese in East Africa in the future. He can’t equip all the Chinese with translators. There are probably not many Germans who can speak Chinese.

As for the future, Ernst will not need to do this after he popularizes German in East Africa. The problem is that it will take a long time, at least until the next generation of Chinese.

In this life, as a genuine German, Ernst will not do anything that destroys his foundation. Therefore, the future of East Africa must be the world of German. In the early stage, Germans will inevitably be the ruling class, and in the later stage, mixed-race people will be the focus of employment until the ethnic integration is completed. Ernst will not leave any hidden dangers.

Chapter 20: First Town (Mlandizi)

Leaving Dar es Salaam and traveling approximately 58 kilometers west, one can see a brand new village. This is the first stronghold established by the Hechingen colonial team in East Africa.

To commemorate this important place, the leader of the colonial team, Earlmann, named it First Town (later known as Mlandizi Town in Tanzania), symbolizing that this was the first step in the development of the colony.

First Town is located in the buffer zone between the East African coastal plain and the plateau. There are no mountains nearby, only a few hills distributed in the southwest, and the terrain is relatively flat and open.

First Town is situated on the coastal plain not far from the Indian Ocean, close to the border of the Zanzibar Sultanate. Influenced by the warm and humid air currents near the equator, the annual rainfall in First Town is over 1300mm, and the surrounding vegetation is lush.

Because of the uneven distribution of rainfall in Africa, a large amount of precipitation in the upper reaches during the rainy season flows into the rivers, which may gather in the lower reaches and cause floods. Therefore, First Town was built on a high ground to avoid the impact of sudden floods during the rainy season.

A large river passes through the north of First Town, originating from the Uluguru Mountains. Commander Earlmann named it the Little Rhine River (Ruvu River). This river extends all the way to Bagamoyo in the Zanzibar Sultanate and enters the Zanzibar Channel.

First Town is located in the Little Rhine River basin. The entire area has abundant rainfall, and because it is located near the equator, there is sufficient sunshine and heat, which is suitable for the growth of crops such as rice, flax, and corn.

Currently, this place is still desolate. Apart from the ubiquitous wild animals, only the slave hunting teams of the Zanzibar Sultanate occasionally pass through here.

Due to the Zanzibar Sultanate’s perennial slave hunting activities, there are basically no large-scale indigenous tribes nearby. Slave hunting teams must go deep inland to gain anything, so they only make short stops here.

The Hechingen colonial team dug trenches around First Town and built low fences to prevent wild animals from attacking. This was a considerable amount of work, so the scale of the village is not large.

Currently, there are approximately eight hundred residents in First Town, including the colonial team members stationed here and the Chinese immigrants who have just arrived from afar, as well as more than five hundred indigenous people who are temporarily held here.

Last month, the first batch of seven hundred East Asian immigrants arrived here via the Dutch fleet. Most of them were tricked here under the guise of recruitment. In reality, they may never leave East Africa and return to their hometowns for the rest of their lives.

The Hechingen employment contract lasts for twenty years. Needless to say, they can only work for the Hohenzollern family for the rest of their lives. After all, those who come here are all adults. In this era of short life expectancy, twenty years basically declares that most of their lives will be spent here.

However, with the future development of East Africa, by that time, even if Ernst sends people to ask them to leave East Africa, they may be unwilling to return to their distant and disaster-ridden hometowns.

After docking at the port of Dar es Salaam, the immigrants were driven off the ship by staff. The port personnel who had been prepared for a long time disinfected these immigrants.

In the temporary sheds, they were divided into groups of fifty, stripped naked, and cleaned with water and soap from wooden barrels. In the hot weather, there was no need to worry about catching a cold.

They were changed into uniform German clothing (mostly second-hand Prussian military uniforms that Ernst had scavenged) and began to have their hair cut and beards shaved.

Cutting off their queues caused a small-scale panic. After all, they had been suppressed for nearly a century, and there was still fear in their hearts. But having come here, it was no longer up to them. Even if they were unwilling, they had to accept it obediently.

After the cleaning work was completed, these people were sent to First Town to carry out reclamation work. The colonial team spent a month clearing the surrounding wild animals, and the surrounding five or six kilometers were all safe zones.

Because this place is close to Zanzibar, there are hardly any indigenous tribes nearby, only a few small villages. Most of them were driven away under the physical threats and intimidation of the colonial team, and a few who refused to obey were directly captured and used as free labor.

As for why they didn’t just grab them all but chose to drive them away, it was still because there were too few people. Each member of the colonial team is a valuable asset at the moment, and it is not cost-effective to use tough methods against these tribes. However, those indigenous people who were unwilling to leave their land were made an example of.

Now they are digging ditches and building roads in the prisoner-of-war camp in First Town. The village trenches a few days ago were completed by them. Currently, more than five hundred people are building the first gravel road from First Town to the port of Dar es Salaam.

In the early stages, these indigenous people are still substitutes for livestock and machines, and are the source of power for the colony. The land in First Town and the surrounding dozens of miles is waiting for them to act as draft animals.

The flat and open land of Tanzania did not make these immigrants feel uncomfortable, because the first batch of immigrants basically came from northern Qing, which is also an open plain.

Although the weather was a bit hot, it was better than cold. As for the strong ultraviolet rays in Africa, it was nothing to these farmers who faced the loess and turned their backs to the sky all year round.

What was the first problem encountered by the new immigrants? Even Ernst did not expect it, or rather, forgot to explain it, that is, the climate in East Africa near the coast is relatively humid and hot, which is more suitable for planting rice.

However, most of these immigrants are northerners and have no experience in rice cultivation, and Ernst has not prepared rice seeds.

It’s not that wheat cannot be grown. Tropical areas can actually grow wheat, but the yield is not high. Tropical wheat is suitable for growing in highland areas, but First Town is located on the East African coastal plain.

For example, in India, the Deccan Plateau is mainly planted with wheat, while the Ganges Plain is mainly planted with rice. India’s annual wheat production is not less than rice.

Since this is the case, wheat will be temporarily used to replace rice for planting, but the pursuit of yield will no longer be emphasized. Just plant some rations, and other areas will be converted to cash crops.

Sisal is the key development crop of the Hechingen colonial team. In later generations, Tanzania, located in the tropics, is a world-renowned sisal producing area. Sisal fiber has strong toughness and is not afraid of seawater erosion. It is a superior raw material for manufacturing ship cables, sacks, and carpets.

The current era is still the era of wooden-hulled ships. The good characteristics of sisal, coupled with the huge market, make the economic value of this crop on the rise. Compared with grain, Ernst can say without exaggeration that he can harvest as much as he plants.

After all, the development of the grain market is a long process. The world’s largest number of people are still farmers, and the largest industry is also agriculture. Countries have their own grain industries, and the intensity of market competition can be imagined. Moreover, all staple foods have low profit margins and cannot quickly obtain profits. This is also the reason why the United States has so many plantations.

And in-demand goods like sisal are different. Basically, only tropical areas can be widely planted, and the rainfall requirements are high. After all, not all tropical areas have abundant rainfall, and there is also a tropical desert climate.

Tropical rainforests are also not suitable for sisal cultivation. It’s not that the climatic conditions of tropical rainforests are not good, but the development is difficult. In terms of land alone, there are too many trees in tropical rainforests, and felling trees is more difficult. The economic benefits of small-plot planting are not prominent.

Tanzania is different. In addition to its superior climatic conditions, it has a vast land area, especially arable land.

Later generations’ statistics show that Tanzania’s arable land area may reach 600 million mu, accounting for more than 40% of the country’s land area, which can feed 400 million people.

Ernst doesn’t know where the data comes from, but his previous life’s personal experience tells him that East Africa is indeed suitable for agriculture.

The East African plateau has a vast area. Although it is said to be a plateau, Ernst, who grew up in the North China Plain, feels that East Africa is very similar to North China. That is, the altitude of East Africa is a bit higher. Otherwise, in Ernst’s eyes, there is basically no other difference from the plain area.

The most unique point of the East African plateau is that it has not formed a shield like Brazil on the coast. The coastal plain and the plateau transition slowly, and the economic hinterland conditions are superior.

Therefore, the population distribution in later generations of Tanzania is very even, unlike the population of Brazil, which is all squeezed into the southeast corner of the Brazilian Highlands.

The entire main body of Tanzania is on the East African plateau. The terrain within the country is stable and basically on the same plane. The mountains are distributed in the East African Great Rift Valley zone on the border, such as Kilimanjaro, a towering mountain that suddenly appears on the plain, which is quite spectacular.

This is also a puzzle that Ernst cannot solve, because Kilimanjaro and the African savanna are clearly divided, unlike other areas where there is a buffer between the mountains and the plains.

In any case, Ernst believes that East Africa has excellent natural conditions. The only thing that restricts land development is water resources. The agricultural predicament in Tanzania in his previous life lies in this.

Lack of water conservancy facilities and water storage reservoirs. A large amount of rainfall during the rainy season flows into the Indian Ocean along the rivers for nothing without being effectively utilized.

Therefore, in the future, solving the problem of water diversion and storage in the East African colony can solve the biggest constraint on East African agricultural development.

Chapter 21: Militarized Management

“Everyone, stand at attention! Don’t move! Second row, third from the left, I’m talking to you!” the drill instructor roared. This was truly the worst batch he had ever trained.

Although most people had already understood the meaning of the word “stand at attention,” meaning to not move and stand ramrod straight after the instructor said “stand at attention,” there were always some people who were slow on the uptake.

After severely punishing that unlucky fellow with a ruler, the drill instructor stared intently at the formation with fierce eyes. He moved back and forth within the square formation, his gaze as sharp as a hawk searching for prey in the sky. As soon as he discovered someone making a small movement or slacking off, the ruler in his hand would come down hard on the offender’s body.

This ruler was made of close-grained mulberry wood, exactly one meter long. After processing, it was extremely flexible, leaving a red mark on the body almost instantly when struck.

This was the Black Hinggen Military Academy, and the students were doing morning exercises. All the drill instructors in the academy were veterans from the army, having undergone rigorous training and experienced the baptism of war.

They brought the army’s set of rules and regulations into the academy. In this era, the military basically relied on corporal punishment. For the safety of these teenagers, Ernst replaced the sticks with rulers, which would only injure the skin and flesh, not the bones.

…

“Clang, clang, clang…”

The bell rang, and the students sat in the classroom. Because they had been “educated” earlier, they now sat upright on their stools, hands straight and close together, the palm of the right hand overlapping the back of the left hand, elbows bent at a sixty-degree angle on the desk, heads held high and chests out.

Ernst walked into the classroom with a lesson plan and went straight to the podium. Ernst pointed to the student on the far left of the first row, “Roll call will begin now! Start counting from you.”

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…one hundred.” There were exactly one hundred people in a class, for a total of five classes.

To facilitate early teaching, everyone was assigned a number instead of a name. Everyone had to memorize their number first.

This made it easier for the German instructors who didn’t speak Chinese to manage them. In the past few days, these students had learned some simple vocabulary, mostly military commands.

Therefore, even if they didn’t understand what the instructor was saying, they could guess what the instructor wanted them to do through these words.

“Now turn your textbooks to page five,” Ernst said in Chinese, which these students could understand.

They saw that page five of the book was full of German. Of course, they weren’t supposed to read it now. They just had to listen to what Ernst said. Someone else was responsible for German language instruction; Ernst was mainly in charge of ideology.

But the rules couldn’t be broken, so Ernst required everyone to strictly protect this German textbook that they couldn’t understand yet. Of course, even if it was written in Chinese, these students probably wouldn’t understand it either, since there were too many illiterate people in the East in this era, and ordinary people didn’t have access to education.

“This lesson will mainly be about the Hohenzollern family,” Ernst said seriously. “You may ask, what family is the Hohenzollern family? What does Hohenzollern mean?”

The students below began to listen to Ernst’s story. They really didn’t know what Ernst was talking about, but Ernst’s lectures were about some German common knowledge and German cultural traditions. These students listened as if they were listening to stories. After all, in an era without media and self-media entertainment, listening to these things from foreign lands felt very novel.

“You should all know what a family is, it’s a group of people who are related to you by blood, like your parents, brothers, and sisters…”

Ernst tried his best to instill ideas into these students with easy-to-understand plain language. “We already know what a family is, so now let’s explain what Hohenzollern means. In German, Hohen means noble, and Zollern is a place name and also the name of a family. You look at that castle in the distance every day, Zollern Castle. Putting this sentence together means the noble Zollern family.”

Ernst spoke eloquently, “So what does noble mean? It’s like those dignitaries in your former places, that is, high-ranking officials and relatives of the emperor, more or less. In a word, it means ‘aristocrat’.”

“And Zollern is the name of my family. My family originated in this place called Zollern, so we use the place name as the family name. In addition, our family’s position in Europe is very prominent, so the name is prefixed with noble, that is, Hohen. Do you understand now? If you don’t understand, you can ask.”

Ernst looked at these students. Obviously, no one wanted to be the first to speak up, so Ernst simply called on someone by name, “Seven, do you understand? Don’t pretend to understand.”

After being called by name, the student codenamed Seven answered somewhat timidly, “Report, Headmaster, I don’t fully understand.”

“Which part don’t you understand? You can say it directly, don’t worry, I won’t blame you,” Ernst asked kindly.

“Report, Headmaster, you said that Hohen is noble, but I don’t know how noble it is. Can you use something from our hometown as a reference?”

Ernst was satisfied with this answer. “Very good, then I’ll tell you this. Who do you think has the greatest power in your hometown, who is the most powerful person in the world?”

“Report, Instructor, I heard my adults say that the officials are the greatest, and the greatest of the officials is the emperor in the capital who lives in the Forbidden City,” Seven answered.

Ernst nodded and said, “That’s right, the highest and most noble position in your East is your emperor, and the highest position in the Hohenzollern family can also be understood as the emperor, that is, the King of Prussia. Of course, you don’t need to know what Prussia is, you just need to understand the Hohenzollern family as the royal family.”

Ernst continued, “And I, your headmaster, am a member of the royal family. My father in your East would be a prince. I think you should know what a prince is, that is, someone whose position is second only to the emperor.”

Although it was a bit of a stretch, Ernst wanted to emphasize the nobility of the Hohenzollern family and instill the power of the Hohenzollern family into these ignorant children.

Ernst continued, “And from today onwards, you must remember one thing, that is, the emperor of the East, that is, your emperor, is no longer your emperor.” Looking at the ignorant teenagers looking at each other.

Ernst increased his deception, “From today onwards, you have a new identity, that is, Germans, because you are already German citizens, and the German emperor is your emperor.”

Ernst had given this set of things careful consideration. He had to instill a new identity recognition in these students and change their worldview, outlook on life, and values, to use later generations’ words.

After all, Ernst wanted to employ these people to maintain his rule in the future, and he couldn’t let them play the “Are kings and generals born with a silver spoon in their mouth?” game.

Russia had a Yellow Russia plan in history, and Ernst was now going to implement a Yellow Germany plan. But the difference was that Ernst sincerely wanted to integrate two different ethnic groups.

Therefore, the Eastern immigrants Ernst selected were mostly illiterate farmers. Ernst didn’t want any of the “reactionary” intellectual groups, and of course, those “religions” and “clans” were all strictly controlled by Ernst, and none of them could sneak in.

In the future, East Africa would only have a unified country with a pan-German cultural identity. Everyone would only have one ethnicity, and that must be German. This was determined by Ernst’s background. People who betray their class often don’t end well, was Ernst’s deep-seated thought.

…

After completely deviating from the textbook, Ernst frantically instilled his own private thoughts into the minds of these ignorant teenagers. It could be said that Ernst didn’t come to teach, his purpose was to brainwash these students.

This was to ensure the harmony and stability of the future colony. Ernst could not tolerate any unstable factors under the future waves of the world.

Chapter 22: Colonial Development

The Hechingen Consortium, First Town, Tanzania. Rows of sisal seedlings, freshly planted, lined the low hills to the southwest. Agricultural workers were tilling the soil.

On either side of the rows, natives pulled iron plows, purchased from Europe, to turn over the soil in the pathways. Chinese workers were responsible for the soil around the sisal seedlings. This was delicate work; if the natives were allowed to do it, they might damage the roots of the sisal. Therefore, only experienced and meticulous Chinese farmhands could use hoes to carefully cultivate the soil, bit by bit.

On the already completed land, Germans, under the guidance of Hispanic agricultural experts, directed and supervised the natives in digging drainage ditches.

Spreading from the high slopes to the plains were already planted wheat seedlings. To ensure the wheat had enough water, new irrigation canals were under construction.

With the arrival of more and more Chinese immigrants, the scale of agriculture had become quite considerable. These new immigrants were assigned by the company to work under the experienced hands of those who had arrived earlier, participating in the land reclamation work. The Germans were the leadership, mainly responsible for supervision, management, and armed force.

To prevent some clueless native tribes and slave-hunting parties, the remaining German mercenary groups would patrol the surrounding territory in groups.

The main force continued to explore inland, drawing maps. Sometimes, when they returned for rest and recuperation, they would also grab some labor along the way, clearing the land around First Town.

The entire First Town was expanding westward at a visible rate. As long as subsequent personnel arrived, new strongholds would continuously appear in the Tanzanian interior.

The entire colonial team had already begun planning the second stronghold, located thirteen kilometers southwest of First Town on the banks of the Little Rhine River. To facilitate statistics and management, the naming this time was still as simple and unadorned as before: Second Town (Rufiji). In addition, the Third Town was also in the planning stages.

Third Town (Kitonga) was located north of First Town, approximately ten kilometers in a straight line. Construction would begin once the subsequent personnel were complete.

A prototype East African colony, centered on First Town, connecting to the port of Dar es Salaam in the east, and radiating westward, had emerged, covering an area of approximately 100,000 mu (approximately 16,494 acres).

Sisal prefers high-temperature, humid, and evenly distributed rainfall environments on high slopes, especially climates with high temperatures, dryness, and full sunshine during the day, and foggy dew at night.

East Africa happened to meet the above conditions. The daytime sunshine was strong and the temperature was high. At night, because it was located in a plateau terrain, the atmosphere was relatively thin, the insulation effect was poor, heat loss was rapid, and the moisture in the air easily condensed. Therefore, the daily temperature difference in Africa is greater than the annual temperature difference.

The suitable growing temperature for sisal is 27-30℃, with an upper limit of 40℃ and a lower limit of 16℃. The diurnal temperature difference should not exceed 7-10℃, which is in line with the temperature conditions in East Africa.

The suitable annual rainfall is 1200-800mm. It has strong adaptability, drought resistance, and barren tolerance, but is afraid of waterlogging. However, it has strong growth power and a wide range of adaptation. It is suitable for planting in loose, well-drained, low-groundwater-level, and fertile sandy loam. It is not suitable for planting in poorly drained and frequently humid places. It has low cold resistance and is prone to physiological leaf spot disease.

This data was provided by the Hispanic agricultural expert Ernst hired from Mexico. Sisal originated in the Mexican plateau and was later brought to the world by Europeans.

This Hispanic expert was a farmer engaged in sisal cultivation in Mexico. Although he was not highly educated, his grandmother came from the German region, so he also spoke German, which is why the East African colony hired him.

The Mexican plateau and the East African plateau are similar, both near the equator, and the environments are somewhat similar. The difference is that East Africa is closer to the equator, with the equator passing through the middle, while Mexico is between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator.

The rainfall distribution in Mexico is uneven. Some places are tropical rainforests, while others are tropical deserts. The conditions in East Africa are better. South of Ethiopia and Somalia is basically tropical grassland.

The East African colony adopted corporate management. The Chinese who immigrated here were nominally workers of the Hechingen Consortium, and in practice, this was also the case. The land belonged to the Hechingen Consortium, and the consortium would arrange for these agricultural workers to work collectively.

All immigrants were divided into different work groups to systematically develop the land in East Africa. The food supply was ultimately determined by the work efficiency of each group.

The management of the colony would send people to inspect the labor results of the agricultural workers. The inspection standards included workload and time, the quality of farmland development, and the subsequent crop growth.

In theory, these agricultural workers could receive wages, but no one had received them yet. The Chinese farmhands didn’t care. The main purpose of coming here to work was to make a living. In the Far East, most of them had lost their land or gone bankrupt due to force majeure, and they had no way to survive, so they traveled across the ocean to East Africa.

The East African colony encouraged such people to come to East Africa to make a living, because the most lacking thing now was people. After comparing the use of Chinese and natives, the colony’s senior management also found that the work efficiency of the Chinese was much higher than that of the natives and they were easier to manage.

Those natives mostly needed the colonial team to send people with whips to supervise them before they would lazily go to work, although there were factors influenced by the exploitation of the Hechingen Consortium.

But everything is afraid of comparison. The Chinese on one side were working hard without complaint, and they were obedient, doing whatever they were told without any reluctance. Why couldn’t these local lazybones do it?

As a result, the senior management of the colony gradually “understood” the boss’s good intentions. These Chinese were indeed born to be high-quality workers, and not inferior to the Germans.

However, the appetite of these Chinese workers was indeed not small. Ordinary Germans who could barely make ends meet in Europe could hardly understand the Chinese’s desire to eat their fill.

In the East African colony, the more work you did, the better, and the more food you could eat, the better, so naturally, they worked desperately.

Because of the colonial reclamation, the animals on the East African grasslands suffered a great disaster. Wildebeest, lions… a group of large animals were hunted by the colonial team.

The meat of these animals mostly went into the bellies of the Chinese laborers. For many Chinese laborers who had not seen meat for many years, it was like celebrating the New Year.

Even in this era, many of the Qing Dynasty’s lower-class people could not see a trace of oil during the New Year. Unlike now, as long as they worked hard, they could get a meal, and occasionally they could eat meat. Although it was very hard every day, happiness and satisfaction appeared on these people’s faces for the first time.

After the basic survival problem was solved, some families had already started the great cause of making babies. That’s right, there were Chinese families in the East African colony.

The East African colony encouraged family immigration. After all, forming families was a condition for maintaining the stability of the rule. Of course, large families and clans were not included in this category. In Ernst’s eyes, large families and clans were unstable factors. After all, relying on large families and clans would lead to group formation, and if they made trouble, it would be no joke, and it would also be unfair to the development of society.

Therefore, Ernst strictly prohibited large families and clans from intervening when recruiting people in the Far East. Perhaps these families and clans would not think of coming to East Africa, but Ernst still had to take precautions.

As for small families of two or three people, Ernst greatly welcomed them. Not to mention anything else, as long as they formed a family in the East African colony or were already married, they would be assigned separate housing. As for the bachelors, most of them could only live in dormitories.

Currently, the gender ratio in the colony was seriously imbalanced. Only a few had formed families, and they were already married in the Far East. And there were even fewer female workers recruited separately.

In the future, solving the marriage problems of these bachelors would fall on Ernst’s shoulders, but Ernst did not have the energy to deal with these things now.

Ernst was now more concerned with the development of industry and changes in the European situation.

Chapter 23: Hindering the Progress of the Era

Berlin Energy and Power Company.

Ernst returned to Berlin. After all, the military academy could function perfectly well without him. The textbooks had been checked and co-edited by him, and as long as the teachers at the school taught according to the textbooks, there wouldn’t be any major problems.

But the Berlin Energy and Power Company was something he needed to see to personally. Ernst had received news that a major breakthrough had been achieved with the four-stroke engine, and the first prototype had been created.

It was now in the laboratory, waiting for Ernst’s inspection. The somewhat bulky and crude thing in front of him was the world’s first four-stroke engine.

“Start it up and let’s see!” Ernst directed his subordinates to begin operation.

After the staff filled it with gasoline, they took a crank from the workbench, centered their energy in their lower abdomen, took a firm stance, and began to crank the handle with some effort. As the machine wheel turned, the speed increased.

“Get it going, get it going…”

“Rumble…”

A huge plume of black smoke billowed from the chimney. With the reciprocating motion of the piston, the huge machine wheel started working with the axle and gears.

The entire room was filled with loud noise, but to Ernst, it sounded so pleasant.

Lenoir and his assistant Benz also wore satisfied smiles. This was definitely a great innovation that would change mechanical power, and would be recorded in history in the future.

After walking out of the laboratory, Ernst communicated with the technicians, “I am very happy with your success. This is a great innovation that will change history. This month’s bonus will be doubled, and after mass production in the future, all staff will share twenty percent of the technical shares according to their contribution.”

After Ernst gave what he considered a generous concession, he continued, “I am very satisfied after seeing this prototype, but this initial machine is still too bulky. You need to increase the improvement, do your best to correct the accuracy of the components, and reduce the volume to adapt to the working application of small machines.”

This was in preparation for seizing the automobile market in the future. Currently, steam engines and internal combustion engines are mostly used in large objects such as factory machines and ships, so the requirements for volume are not so harsh.

“No problem, boss.”

Lenoir said confidently. Since Ernst found him, with sufficient funds and space, many ideas that could not be realized in the past could be realized.

Moreover, the young man named Benz is also very good. Although he just graduated, his ability is not bad. He can often have some different ideas to supplement his shortcomings, and his hands-on ability is also extremely strong.

Secondly, most of the other people in the company have received a good education, and they can understand and realize Lenoir’s ideas very well.

As the general manager of Berlin Power Company, although Lenoir is more interested in research, with the assistance of people Ernst transferred from Hechingen Bank to assist in the specific affairs of the company, Lenoir can spend more time on research and development work.

Under the influence of these factors, Lenoir is confident to speed up the work progress.

“As for the production of the product, you don’t have to worry, I plan to implement it specifically around 1870.” Ernst continued.

“Boss, isn’t the time a bit late? I think as long as some details are improved, this engine can completely occupy the market now.” Lenoir asked puzzled.

Ernst certainly knew that the earlier the production, the earlier the profit, but the four-stroke engine had too much influence on history. Historically, it was not until 1876 that Otto came up with the first four-stroke engine, and now it is only 1865.

As a time-traveler, Ernst’s biggest advantage is his understanding of some historical developments. If the historical changes are too great, then his advantage will be gone.

The four-stroke engine is directly related to many industries, especially automobiles. What if history becomes completely unrecognizable if it is released early? Although Ernst has already changed history, it seems that the historical process has not changed drastically because of Ernst. Ernst naturally wants to maintain the development of history on its original track.

Just talking about this four-stroke engine, although Ernst plans to release it in five years, it is still six years earlier than history.

So Ernst still has to be cautious. If history really changes, it is best to wait a few more years, but Ernst’s little thoughts will naturally not be told to others, he said.

“Mr. Lenoir, this is actually the company’s strategy. Our team found after investigating the market that although the four-stroke engine improves efficiency, the steam engine and two-stroke engine on the market are completely sufficient.”

Ernst continued, “I am very optimistic about the future of the four-stroke engine, so I want to maximize the benefits and layout related industries, so I don’t want this great invention to come out ahead of time.”

In order to appease the employees, Ernst continued, “You don’t have to worry, we have long held patents, and no one can take them away. The market that should be ours will still be ours in the future, and we are only temporarily delaying this machine from impacting the market. This is to better layout the future.”

Lenoir and others probably “understood” Ernst’s thinking, to play the long game, but still cautiously asked, “Boss, what if someone else invents a four-stroke engine?”

Ernst said, “Don’t worry, even if someone develops it, our products will be more complete and advanced, and with the insurance of patents in hand, we have no opponents in the market.”

In order to completely appease everyone, Ernst pretended to be serious and said, “In fact, the biggest purpose of our delaying the launch of the four-stroke engine is to develop products that can change the whole world even more. I have always had an idea, which is to use a very small size and more powerful power to change people’s way of travel.”

Ernst continued, “And the emergence of the four-stroke engine is such an opportunity. We can install this engine on carriages in the future. Because the power is gasoline, let’s call it ‘automobile’! Think about it, if the automobile appears, then it will definitely be another era-defining invention.”

“Of course, I only say these words to you. Today’s content will be signed with a confidentiality agreement, after all, it is related to the future development strategy of the company. You must now keep your mouths shut.” Ernst emphasized.

……

July 13, 1865, the world’s first four-stroke engine was invented. These were made public in the declassified documents of the Hechingen Consortium in the future, so that some later generations said that Ernst hindered the development of the era.

If the four-stroke engine appeared on the market earlier, it would definitely change the era, and the technological explosion of the Second Industrial Revolution would be even more intense.

Even some later unscrupulous media used such titles: “Shocking! This person is the biggest mastermind behind humanity’s inability to move towards Mars and enter the interstellar era ahead of time…”

Of course, these are all things of the future, and Ernst cannot hear the fierce criticism of these people.

Chapter 24: Raising Funds

“Sir Ernst, if you have no objections, we can sign this agreement.”

Ernst examined the contents of the agreement one last time and signed his name.

The visitor was from the Prussian Royal Family. Recently, there had been a great deal of controversy within Prussia regarding the privatization of the Cologne-Minden Railway.

This indicated that the Kingdom of Prussia was desperately raising funds for war, and Ernst, being a large fish himself, had fallen into Prussia’s sights.

After all, the Hechingen Consortium was currently a star enterprise throughout Germany, with a sizable bank, a world-class daily necessities company, Hechingen Tobacco…

The massive wealth Ernst had rapidly accumulated in a short period naturally attracted attention. Fortunately, Ernst was indeed a second-generation nobleman, lacking the inspirational story of a self-made man. Compared to the geniuses who rose from humble beginnings in the same era, he was not particularly conspicuous.

However, wealth does not lie, especially to the Prussian Royal Family, as they themselves were Ernst’s clients.

Now, the purpose of the Prussian Royal Family’s representative coming to Ernst was self-evident. Rather than selling strategic facilities like the railway, they would first consider other options.

The Cologne-Minden Railway was one of the earliest railway lines built in Prussia, designed from 1833 and fully completed in 1859, becoming a hub of the Prussian railway system.

The original intention of the railway project was to transport coal from the Ruhr area cheaply to Prussia’s industrial production bases.

In fact, the Cologne-Minden Railway was a large-scale public infrastructure project led by the Prussian government from the very beginning. The Prussian government directly purchased one-seventh of the original shares and guaranteed the railway bonds with 14 million thalers, issued at a nominal interest rate of 3.5%.

In return, the government could buy back the company’s circulating shares in installments and eventually become the sole shareholder of the railway, completing a gradual nationalization.

Railway nationalization was a strategic decision for Prussia because Prussia valued the railway’s ability to transport troops and supplies.

But now, the conflict between Prussia and Austria was intensifying, and the Prussian government was actively preparing for war.

And war cannot be waged without financial support. The Cologne-Minden Railway was brought up for discussion under such circumstances.

Bismarck’s war preparations against Austria required a total of approximately 60 million thalers. The burden of raising such an astronomical sum for war expenses fell on Bleichröder’s shoulders.

In fact, as early as December of 1862, after careful calculation and repeated consideration, Bleichröder had proposed a highly controversial plan to privatize the Cologne-Minden Railway.

The core of his plan was that rather than the government spending huge sums to fully acquire the railway company’s shares in 1870, which would put enormous pressure on finances, the Prussian government could immediately obtain compensation from the railway company by abandoning nationalization. At the same time, by giving up the guarantee on bond interest, it could immediately free up part of the 14 million thaler security deposit.

As soon as the plan was introduced, it was opposed by many people, who believed that Bleichröder’s plan was at the expense of the government’s long-term losses, allowing the railway company’s shareholders, including Bleichröder himself, to make huge profits. In this plan, the government would lose a total of 30 million thalers in various rights and interests, in exchange for only 10 million thalers in compensation and 4 million thalers in available security deposits.

The already developed Cologne-Minden Railway was a very profitable project among the government’s investments. The privatization plan could provide the government with emergency funds in the short term, but the price was selling off excellent assets at less than half price, while also losing long-term revenue rights. In any case, it was not a good deal for the government.

Based on history, Ernst also knew that unified Germany would eventually nationalize the railways, so the current privatization was just a sacrifice that had to be made.

But it is impossible to expect capitalists to do good deeds; they pursue higher profits, so patriotism is out of the question.

The Rothschild family was behind this Prussian railway privatization, and Bleichröder was their employee.

The Rothschild family’s headquarters are now in Vienna, Austria. It would not be an exaggeration to say they are Austrian citizens, yet they are preparing war funds for an enemy country.

Their actions are indeed unscrupulous, but the benefits they receive are substantial. If the Rothschild family were in the East, the emperor would have exterminated their entire clan.

It is the current European social system that protects them, but of course, these things have little to do with Ernst.

Ernst is more concerned about the agreement in front of him, which is the result of negotiations between the Prussian Royal Family and Ernst.

Although Ernst is very wealthy now, he also has many things to do, especially the development of the East African colony. Population migration, grain reserves, production tools, and colonial weapons and equipment, including the salaries of staff, all need to be paid for by himself.

Therefore, after deducting the operating funds needed by the entire consortium, the expenses of the East African colony, and reserve emergency funds, the available thalers are only a few million. However, this is enough. The Prussian Royal Family did not expect too much anyway. A few million thalers is a huge sum in this era. It should be known that the Prussian government can only get an initial four million thalers from the privatization of the Cologne-Minden Railway.

One of the important reasons why the Prussian Royal Family sought help from Ernst was the hope that Ernst would be more conscientious than those banks and consortia that only aimed for economic benefits.

In any case, Ernst is one of their own, a member of the Hohenzollern family. Ernst really does not need railway bonds. What Ernst values now is East Africa.

Therefore, Ernst also put forward his benefits, that is, Prussia must guarantee the interests of the Hechingen Royal Family in East Africa in the future.

Prussia’s top priority now is to unify Germany, and they do not value colonies very much. Since Ernst hopes that Prussia will support all of Ernst’s interests in East Africa after unifying Germany in the future, then so be it.

So the two sides signed an agreement. This agreement included the Prussian government, the Prussian Royal Family, and the Hechingen Consortium represented by Ernst.

The specific content is that the Hechingen Consortium will invest in acquiring forty percent of the government’s shares in the Cologne-Minden Railway. The Hechingen Consortium will not prevent Prussia from recovering the Cologne-Minden Railway shares held by Ernst at a price higher than the market price in the future.

This is actually a sleight of hand. Ernst uses idle funds to give to the Kingdom of Prussia to participate in the war. After the war, Prussia only needs to pay back the bill to take back the railway into state ownership.

Of course, Ernst is not giving without receiving. As a price, the unified German government must recognize the Hechingen Royal Family’s ownership of the East African colony and support the Hechingen Consortium’s expansion throughout the African region.

This kind of gentleman’s agreement, although not secure, can avoid many troubles. The former German East Africa has completely lost its basis and legal basis. This time, it is the territory of the Hechingen Royal Family.

As a supplement to the agreement, Ernst also took this opportunity to obtain the long-awaited admission ticket.

Chapter 25: Military Industry: Beginner’s Ticket

As a supplement to the agreement, Ernst specifically obtained a ticket into the arms industry from Prussia, first solving the problem of having nothing to start with.

This time, Ernst explained his purpose in advance, namely for the weapons and equipment of the East African colonies under the administration of the Hohenzollern royal family.

After all, in Europe proper, there’s nothing inherently wrong with you messing around with weapons and equipment, but if you were to set up a production line, that’s another story, even if it’s relatively backward technology, they would try their best to avoid its proliferation.

Since Ernst emphasized that it was for the purpose of the colonial East Africa, the Prussian government didn’t need to worry too much about its use, as long as they sent someone to check the accounts and collect taxes reasonably.

This time, the Prussian royal family and government were very generous, in addition to a small arms factory, there were also several lines for producing flintlock muskets that were about to be retired, as well as a bullet production line. At the same time, they promised that Ernst could order other needed materials from Prussian military industrial enterprises such as Krupp in the future, of course, for a fee, and they could not be used in Europe.

At this time, Prussia, affected by the Second Schleswig War, increased the retirement of muzzle-loading flintlock muskets and turned to the production of breech-loading rifles, so it generously gave the production line of muzzle-loading flintlock muskets to Ernst, just to free up space for the new production line.

Ernst was already very satisfied to be able to get these old weapons production lines. Ernst planned to equip the East African colonies with these weapons that were about to become obsolete.

The number of Chinese immigrants in the East African colonies is increasing, and the number of strongholds will also increase in the future, and Ernst’s armed forces in East Africa are only employed Germans, and the number is only more than two thousand, while the number of Chinese immigrants is currently almost more than three thousand.

In fact, more than two thousand people is already a lot. Before the outbreak of the First World War, the forces of German East Africa included 68 white officers, 60 white non-commissioned officers, 132 white medical officers and administrative personnel, 2 black officers, 184 black non-commissioned officers, and 2,286 black soldiers.

Such a small army suppressed a land area of more than nine hundred thousand square kilometers, and now Ernst’s investment in the East African colonies is not comparable to that of Germany in his previous life.

Speaking only of the military level, there are two thousand white people who are also of their own ethnicity, and Chinese troops will be organized later.

In his previous life, German East Africa, as the most valuable colony of Germany in his previous life, was not so valuable in the eyes of Germany. Germany mainly planted cash crops such as cotton, rubber, and sisal in this place.

Germany mainly pinned its hopes on going all-in on the European continent. As long as it won the victory in Europe, it could arbitrarily divide the dominance of the world, and then it would have all the colonies.

So Germany took the initiative to abandon its overseas colonies during the First World War and concentrated on fighting the Allied Powers in Europe.

And Ernst regards East Africa as his fallback, so he is more concerned about population, agriculture, and industry.

The current increase in immigration is to prevent a situation like South Africa from happening in the future, making room for new tenants. This can also be regarded as learning from the Americans, but Ernst will not do it so crudely. Slaughter is impossible, and it is likely that he will choose to send them elsewhere by boat.

Agriculture, this is what Ernst is currently doing in East Africa. In addition to planting cash crops, Ernst retains the dominant position of food crops. He cannot delay the colony’s development plan because of a little immediate benefit. Only with sufficient food can immigrants be settled in place.

Industry is a bit far away. The basic conditions in East Africa are too poor now, and there is no room for industrial development. It is mainly basic industries such as mining, and Ernst does not intend to carry it out.

Before he has completely controlled East Africa, if he discovers incredible minerals, he may get burned, so Ernst acts cautiously.

And to control East Africa, he needs an army of considerable size. Almost no Germans are willing to go to East Africa to develop, so Ernst plans to organize a small number of Chinese people to establish a Chinese army.

It will be used to control the land of East Africa. In the future, the expansion of the colonial area will inevitably collide with those tribes and other colonizers.

Ernst does not want to repeat the experience of German East Africa being besieged by the colonies of surrounding countries during the First World War. Even if a war breaks out, his side should have several times the strength of the opponent. Compared with a fair duel, a gang fight is the way to go.

It is certainly unreliable to form an army with natives. In his previous life, Britain pulled together 250,000 native troops from various colonies in Africa to deal with German East Africa. In the early stage, they were played like monkeys by the thousands of colonists in German East Africa.

Therefore, the combat effectiveness and combat desire of the natives can be imagined. Maybe they also know that they are going to die, so they just give up, but Ernst is more willing to believe that this is their daily state.

If you want to change the lazy and perfunctory character of these natives, it is not impossible. As long as you do a good job in education and start with the next generation, you should be able to correct it.

But who can bear the money and time costs involved, and the colonists are here to make a fortune, not to help the poor. The wealth of society is fixed. It is better to let them work hard than to expect to get money from the colonists.

Of course, not all colonies are like this, such as the United States and Canada, which have completed the “cleaning”. The rest are “our own people” and cannot be treated like natives.

So it turns to the state of a normal country. The current East African colony has not reached this goal, and there is no way to pack up all the natives and send them out.

Restricted by the number of people, Ernst plans to establish a Chinese army of 50,000 people in East Africa in the next three years.

In order to prevent this army from getting out of control, all officers will be Germans, and students from the Hohenzollern Military Academy will serve as staff and other deputy positions to assist in management.

Ernst also wants to expand the German population in East Africa, but there is no good way at present. Who would want to develop in such a “barbaric” place?

Only when the infrastructure construction of the East African colonies is completed, and Europe is in great chaos, under the threat of the cloud of war, can Ernst reach into Europe and attract those ordinary people.

As the first Chinese army to be established in the East African colonies, the problem of its weapons will naturally be solved by these old muzzle-loading flintlock musket production lines.

This envisioned force is not a standing army, but a special force similar to a peasant army that has to participate in production and construction on a daily basis.

After all, the current opponents facing the East African colonies are just those uncivilized native tribes, most of whom are still in the stage of using stones and trees to make spears and bows and arrows with a small amount of ironware.

Such opponents are not worth forming a professionally trained standing army to deal with. As long as Chinese immigrants take the retired flintlock muskets from Europe and learn to fire and aim, it will be a dimensional reduction strike for those native tribes.

Chapter 26: People from Afar

East African Colony, Second Town.

This is the location of the town of Ruvo in Tanzania in my previous life, and the Little Rhine River’s name in its previous life was the Ruvo River.

The Little Rhine River in East Africa runs southwest to northeast, starting from the Uluguru Mountains, flowing east to Kisaki where it turns northeast, and empties into the Zanzibar Channel of the Indian Ocean north of Bagamoyo.

Second Town is located on the eastern bank of the Little Rhine River. The newly assigned five hundred-plus Chinese immigrants were settled here. At the same time, more than fifty immigrants who had been living in First Town for a while were transferred to guide the new immigrants in production and life. There were also three Germans responsible for local security management.

Ernst was not afraid that these Chinese immigrants would have bad intentions. These were all carefully selected, illiterate old farmers who inherently lacked any rebellious spirit.

As everyone knows, the Chinese are second only to the Indians, who are good at non-resistance, in their tolerance before being forced into a dead end.

As for the French, they may surrender on the battlefield, but if you lower their treatment, the Parisian rabble will dare to besiege the government building the next day. (A cold joke)

This was Ernst’s view, but it was absolutely true in this era. After all, the Chinese at the very bottom deeply understood the golden rule that “the common people don’t fight with officials.”

Looking at ancient times, even those who led rebellions in Chinese history, even if they had not received education, had read a few books. A typical example is the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, which was just suppressed. Its leader, Hong Xiuquan, had participated in the imperial examinations and was considered a top student in this era.

Going further back, Chen Sheng, the earliest leader of peasant uprisings in Chinese history, could say things like “How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?” Even if he had never really read a book, he must have heard some great principles and had some knowledge. After all, someone who could be a village head would likely have contact with lower-level officials and local elites of the Qin Dynasty.

Therefore, when Ernst selected immigrants, his top priority was farmers, even vagrants. They basically couldn’t have any culture or knowledge, and at most had only been exposed to some operas and storytelling.

As a Chinese person in his previous life, Ernst understood these people’s thoughts best.

No wonder the British liked to use Indians in the colonies so much. Obedience was one aspect, but their innate ability to act as a tiger’s paw was also perfect for helping the British suppress various colonies.

There wouldn’t be any problems in the East African colony. The real concern was those natives who were temporarily captured. Now they were few in number and couldn’t cause trouble, but they needed to be vigilant in the future.

As for the Chinese, their status in the East African colony was not low, at least in theory. After all, both the Germans and the Chinese in East Africa were, in terms of identity, employed workers of the Hechingen Consortium, and both had signed contracts, so the two were nominally equal.

It’s like how people say everyone is equal in later generations, but would you dare to say that to your boss in a company? So the actual situation was that the Germans in the East African colony were all in management, while the Chinese were managed, similar to a company.

And the natives were never considered part of the population of the East African colony from the beginning. They were currently assets, and assets to be sold.

Affected by the development of the East African colony, the Sultanate of Zanzibar even played the strategy of small profits and quick turnover, and the price of native slaves sold to the Arab regions had dropped.

Compared to these natives, the newly arrived Chinese immigrants were even more honest and worked harder. After all, the natives had already proven that the Germans were not to be trifled with, and the primary and secondary importance had to be kept in mind at all times.

Under these circumstances, Second Town was quickly developed. With the experience of First Town, Second Town appeared on the land of East Africa as long as the process was followed.

There was also a new breakthrough this time, which was rice cultivation. This was Indica rice introduced from India. Tanzania and India both belong to the tropics, so the East African colony did not directly try to grow subtropical rice. Moreover, transportation from India was convenient and the distance was shorter. As long as they negotiated a price with the British merchants passing through the port of Dar es Salaam, they could have them carry some on their return trip.

Second Town was close to the Little Rhine River, and the water source was more guaranteed than First Town, so rice was grown in large quantities in Second Town. In the future, those wetlands in the East African colony would likely be planted with rice like Second Town.

After all, the yield of rice is higher than that of wheat. In the East African colony, which also requires manpower to develop, it is reasonable to pay more labor costs now in pursuit of better yields.

Not only that, Ernst also planned to grow higher-yielding corn in the East African colony in the future. In his previous life, Africa was a continent where corn was widely grown.

…

Second Town, the new immigrants were reclaiming newly developed paddy fields, using waterwheels to draw water from the Little Rhine River into the ditches, and into the paddy fields with well-built ridges.

Li Tiezhu and his fellow farm workers were burying their heads in digging new irrigation ditches. Their dark and thin bodies seemed effortless when they swung their shovels. Stepping on the Prussian-made shovel, the loose red soil was brought out by the shovel. With a lift of his hand, he turned the shovel over, and the soil was smoothly piled on the ridges on the side.

“Uncle Jiaxiang, you’ve been here for a few months, tell us, what are these ‘Kilmann’ (German transliteration) people like? Do they keep their word?” Li Tiezhu asked while digging the ditch.

Li Tiezhu was a newcomer from North China to the East African colony and didn’t know much about the Germans in the East African colony.

Zhang Jiaxiang, who was digging in front, said, “What are you asking so much for? Isn’t it just begging for a living wherever you go? In the Great Qing Dynasty, we were tenant farmers for the landlords. Coming to ‘Ah… Ah-fei-ka’ (German transliteration), isn’t it just being tenant farmers for the Kilmann masters? What’s there to be afraid of?”

Li Tiezhu said, “We’ve been farming for the landlords in the Great Qing Dynasty for generations, we know them inside and out. We’re not familiar with these Kilmann masters, isn’t it scary to not have a clue?”

“What are you afraid of, young man? Can the Kilmann people be more scary than Master Zhou in your village? If there wasn’t no way to survive, would you have run to ‘Ah-fei-ka’ to farm for the Kilmann masters? Stop thinking nonsense all day long. As long as the Kilmann masters give us something to eat, we should be grateful,” Zhang Jiaxiang said to Li Tiezhu.

“That’s true. It was a drought in my area this year, there was no water in the river. Master Zhou even went to the city to live, but he still collected rent, not a penny less. There was no grain at home, and we were starving to death. When the Kilmann masters came to recruit workers, I signed up, and finally got on the ship at sea,” Li Tiezhu recalled.

Then he said, “That ship was the biggest I’ve ever seen in my life, bigger than Master Zhou’s house. But life on the ship was not easy. For the first few days, I was throwing up and having diarrhea. The little bit of rations I got at the pier were fed to the fish in the sea.”

“It’s good to be in ‘Ah-fei-ka’. I started out the same way. Now it’s good, we can eat our fill every day, and there are three meals a day. Where would I have imagined such a good life in the Great Qing Dynasty! At the end of the month, if we work well, we can even get two taels of meat. This life is better than celebrating the New Year!” Zhang Jiaxiang said with emotion.

“If we work well, can we really eat meat? Uncle Jiaxiang, don’t lie to me,” Li Tiezhu asked, his eyes shining.

“Why would I lie to you? I’ve gotten meat for three months. As long as you don’t end up in last place, every team can get a little.”

Li Tiezhu said upon hearing this, “Then we have to work hard. I haven’t tasted meat in years!”

Saying that, he worked even harder. The others were also listening to the conversation between the two, and they also had expectations in their hearts, and the progress of repairing the aqueduct was greatly accelerated.

Second Town was also becoming more and more decent in the hands of the new immigrants. Even the Germans in charge of management were a little surprised by the diligence of these Chinese. In terms of the spirit of hard work, the Chinese were indeed admirable.

Chapter 27: Map

As the year drew to a close, the advance troops of the East African colony had already drawn up a relatively intuitive map of the East African interior.

Transported by commercial fleets, a copy of this map now lay on Ernst’s desk.

The entire map was about one meter long and seventy centimeters wide, and its contents marked the approximate mountains, rivers, and lakes.

On the easternmost side, a road led directly from the port of Dar es Salaam to the First Town. The Second Town and the Third Town were two points marked with names on the map, with the Little Rhine River running through them.

The depiction was relatively clear, including grasslands, woodlands, and farmland. The dotted line represented the border of the Zanzibar Sultanate, extending from north to south to the Portuguese colonies. These two basically monopolized the East African coastline.

The map detailed the rivers in the east, clearly showing a relatively dense network of waterways, which was also due to the ease of exploration. After all, the Zanzibar Sultanate was active in the vicinity all year round, and some geographical features could be found with the help of local guides.

In the north of the map, a triangle indicated a mountain range, which should be the Kilimanjaro Mountains. To the west of the mountains was Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria was vast in area, as shown on the map, covered with shading to represent the body of water.

As the largest lake in Africa, Lake Victoria was first discovered and named by British explorers, with the aim of exploring the source of the Nile.

The time of discovery was exactly one year after Ernst awakened his past life’s memories. To the west of Lake Victoria were two other large lakes, Lake Albert and Lake Edward.

Of course, Lake Edward was not yet called Lake Edward at this time. In the original history, it was not until 1889 that the British Stanley named it Lake Edward.

Together with Lake George downstream, the British royal family monopolized the naming rights of these lakes. However, Ernst came to this era and regarded East Africa as his own territory, so these British names would naturally not be recognized, even if they had already been named by the British.

In fact, the names of these lakes discovered by the British have not yet been finalized, or rather, they have not been updated on the new maps of Europe, and the East African colony’s mapping team arrived only a few months later than the British explorers.

Therefore, with a stroke of Ernst’s pen, Lake Victoria was named Great Lake, which was very much in line with the characteristics of Lake Victoria. After all, in his previous life, the area around Lake Victoria was known as the Great Lakes region.

Lake Albert was changed by Ernst to Lake Frederick, to commemorate his grandfather.

Lake Edward was renamed Lake Constantine. Needless to say, Lake George downstream was renamed Lake Hechingen.

Lake Frederick (Lake Albert) and Lake Constantine (Lake Edward) are both part of the East African Rift Valley, while the Great Lake is located between the two, a lake formed by water accumulation in a basin.

The entire Great Lake (Lake Victoria) covers an area of 69,400 square kilometers, making it the largest in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. The drainage area is more than 200,000 square kilometers, commonly known as the Great Lakes region. In his previous life, more than 30 million people lived around the entire Taihu Lake, making it one of the most densely populated areas in Africa.

In comparison, Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China in his previous life, is only 4,625 square kilometers, and the maximum area of Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake, is only more than 3,000 square kilometers during the flood season. The freshwater lakes that can compete with Taihu Lake (Lake Victoria) are the North American Great Lakes and Lake Baikal in Russia’s hands, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, which are also located on the East African plateau.

Therefore, Ernst must take down the Great Lake (Lake Victoria). Not only are the fishery resources abundant, but the rainfall is also higher than the surrounding areas, the land is flat, and the conditions for agricultural development are good.

Continuing westward is Lake Kivu… Well, it’s better to call it Lake Kivu, after all, it’s the famous “killer” lake from his previous life, which is inauspicious.

Continuing to look at the west side of the map is Lake Tanganyika, which Ernst named Lake Soren. The importance of Lake Tanganyika to Tanzania is self-evident. In his previous life, Tanzania was formed by the merger of Tanganyika on the mainland and Zanzibar in the east.

“Nia” does not actually have any special meaning in Africa. It is mainly an English word suffix, so many African countries have this suffix, such as Kenya, Nigeria… Tanzania is the abbreviation of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Lake Tanganyika is the largest lake in the East African Rift Valley and the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal.

Lake Tanganyika is winding and tortuous, and the terrain on both sides is relatively steep, with narrow coastal plains distributed. Compared with the open land around Lake Victoria, the economic value is not so high. The geographical location is not bad, about 679 kilometers long from north to south. In his previous life, it was an important transportation route for landlocked countries in Central Africa, and water transportation was relatively prominent.

The lake to the south is Lake Rukwa, an inland saltwater lake, but it has abundant fishery resources, and there are many salt ponds at the southwestern end.

The southernmost part is another large lake. For the convenience of remembering, Ernst still changed the name of Lake Nyasa to Lake Malawi.

In addition, there is Lake Serengeti near Dodoma, Lake Eyasi in the north, Lake Manyara, Lake Balangida…

It can be seen that the water resources on the East African plateau are abundant. The area of these large lakes alone is hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, which is larger than the area of many countries. Adding up all the lakes on the East African plateau, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the water tower of Africa.

In the mountain range section, in addition to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, there is also the Mitumba Mountains in the eastern Congo Basin.

In the southwest direction, crossing between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi is the Katanga Plateau, and to the south is the Mozambique coastal plain.

Ernst decided to take the area between Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi in one bite.

First, establish three important lakeside strongholds, located on the shores of the three great lakes respectively: Mwanza on the southern bay of Lake Victoria, Kigoma on the east bank of Lake Tanganyika, and Karonga on the northwest corner of Lake Malawi.

The inland strongholds are directly selected in Dodoma, Tabora, and Mbeya near Lake Rukwa.

As the red fountain pen outlined the map, several red circles appeared on the map, so that most of Tanzania was within the scope of these circles.

…

“Tom, make a copy of this information and send it to the East African colony!” Ernst implemented this ambitious plan in the East African colony.

“Also, the weapons produced by our armory can also be sent to East Africa. First, form a musket force of six hundred Chinese immigrants.”

Ernst continued: “These six hundred people are divided into six groups, led by senior colonial officials respectively, to clean up and maintain the management of the six strongholds of the new plan. Subsequent immigrants must increase the migration to these six strongholds. In the future, with these six strongholds plus the three towns in the coastal colony as the radiation center, we can bring the entire Tanganyika region into our pocket.”

Ernst said spiritedly: “Also, the first batch of musket teams should use the initial batch of immigrants as much as possible. First, migrate five hundred people to each stronghold, and the ammunition for the weapons must be managed by our own people (Germans).”

Ernst thought about whether there were any omissions.

“Oh, right, select a few trustworthy people from the company, preferably local Berliners with families, to take over part of the colonial management. We can’t let that mercenary group do everything. Their primary task is to be responsible for security. Okay, that’s all for now, go and do it!”

“Yes, sir.” Tom replied respectfully, holding the document, turned and left the office, closing the door behind him.

Chapter 28: “Land Grab”

With Ernst’s order, new instructions and supplies sailed across the ocean to East Africa. Upon receiving Ernst’s command, the East African colony began its “land grab.”

In the First Town, the physically stronger immigrants were selected by the magistrate today to form the first Chinese army in the East African colony. Those selected would be registered.

A long line formed in front of the First Town’s town hall. These were the recruits who had passed the initial selection, and they were preparing for what the officer called “registration.”

“Name?”

“Wang Tiegen.”

“Age?”

“23.”

The registrar filled out the form: “Name: Tiegen Wang, Age: 23, Occupation: Mercenary, Number 0423.”

Then he handed Wang Tiegen a small card with the number 0423 on it.

“Take this number and go to Group Four over there to collect your equipment.”

The so-called equipment was a brand-new military uniform and a flintlock musket produced by the Hechingen Armory.

These were Prussian regular army uniforms ordered from Berlin. The entire uniform was light blue. Because the African environment was different from Europe, the Prussian-style spiked helmet was not issued.

Instead, the soldiers wore a wide-brimmed hat similar to those of later generations, made of cotton cloth, which provided good sun protection and breathability.

They were also issued a pair of yellowish-green military shoes. Because of the high temperatures in Africa, specially modified military boots were not suitable.

Wang Tiegen followed the instructions to Group Four, where many people were already lined up. These were hastily organized Chinese soldiers preparing to go deep into the East African interior.

Now, under the leadership of German officers, they were about to go to places like Dodoma and Mwanza to establish new colonial strongholds.

Their main task was to clear out the natives along the way, opening up a safe new road for subsequent immigrants to migrate.

After arriving at their destinations, they also had to clear out the wild animals and native tribes near the new strongholds. After all, the East African land Ernst was claiming were all famous places in later generations.

So the environment was not bad. Certainly, there were native tribes who chose to live there, whether they were hunting or already engaged in preliminary agricultural cultivation, they needed places to carry out their activities.

This would threaten the safety of the East African colonists, so the newly formed Chinese army had to clear out these native tribes before the immigrants arrived.

At the same time, the new colonial strongholds would also serve as transit stations for future immigrants. Coupled with the small outposts along the way, a relatively safe and mature immigrant migration network could be established.

“Everyone, attention!” A white-faced commander stood in front and commanded: “I am your first officer, Andre. From today on, you are all members of the Fourth Detachment of the East African Vanguard!”

Standing beside him was a young student from the Hechingen Military Academy, responsible for translation and serving as the detachment’s staff officer.

“This time, His Royal Highness Prince Ernst has decided to send our detachment to the Kigoma region on the eastern shore of Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) to develop new land. All of you are participants in this military operation.”

“You will face not only savages and beasts, but also African poisonous insects and diseases, as well as a harsh environment. Therefore, each of you may be subject to life-threatening situations. To increase your chances of survival, you will receive three days of special training.”

Andre gave way to the student from the Hechingen Military Academy. This student, named Zhou Wei, was among the first batch of students at the Hechingen Military Academy. He had been studying for several months and could already read and write German fluently.

Having been trained by Prussian officers and nourished by the excellent and abundant food at the Hechingen Military Academy, the sixteen-year-old was no longer as skinny as he had been when he first arrived in Germany.

He now stood straight and tall in front of these temporarily conscripted immigrants. Although young, he had an imposing aura.

“Hello, I am Zhou Wei, a (premature) graduate of the Prussian Hechingen Military Academy. I am honored to have been chosen by the principal to come to the East African colony to serve as your officer. You can report any problems to me in the future.” Zhou Wei introduced himself concisely and neatly.

“For the next three days, you will receive training from me and Officer Andre. I believe you have all seen the fertility of the East African colony. This will be our home in the future, so you are all part of this home. Do not bring the bad habits from the Far East into the army. Now you only have one identity, and that is ‘soldier,’ or as the saying goes, a serviceman.”

Zhou Wei said sternly: “There are only two words you must always remember: ‘Obey.’ So you must abide by military discipline and regulations, and obey the orders of your officers. If I find anyone disobeying orders or violating military discipline, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Everyone in the Fourth Detachment of the East African Vanguard listened intently to Zhou Wei’s instructions. Although Zhou Wei was very young, with the Germans standing behind him and his spirit clearly different from that of the colonial immigrants, speaking in a powerful Chinese, these honest immigrant soldiers did not dare to be presumptuous.

“Tomorrow morning, everyone must arrive here on time to report for duty. The time is within half an hour after the first bell rings. Do you all remember?” Zhou Wei said.

Only the Germans in the colony had clocks to tell the time, so in order to arrange the colony’s production activities, several large bells were shipped from Europe and distributed to various strongholds. At certain times, there would be dedicated bell-ringers to announce the time.

Chinese immigrants arranged their daily activities according to the bell sounds. The first bell in the morning rang at about eight or nine o’clock, because the German watches also had to be wound and the time corrected, so they were not very punctual.

The immigrants in the colony had plenty of free time, after all, apart from agricultural production, there was nothing else to do. Just like in the Far East, farmers also had idle time, which was arranged by God, after all, not every time was suitable for sowing and crop growth.

“Alright, dismissed.” After Zhou Wei announced the dismissal, he and the German officer left. Zhou Wei talked with the German mercenaries for a few words about the training arrangements for tomorrow, and then walked towards his newly assigned residence.

It was actually the backyard of the First Town government, where a room had been converted into a temporary dormitory for students from the Hechingen Military Academy.

When he returned to the dormitory, the others had also arrived. A total of six people lived in the dormitory, all of whom were outstanding students from the Hechingen Military Academy.

“Zhou Wei, how do you feel?” Wang Mingdong asked.

“Not bad! You can’t tell the specifics on the first day. We’ll see what they’re made of after the training tomorrow.”

“I’m not asking about the training. I’m asking how you feel about the conditions in the East African colony?”

“It’s alright! There’s a great future, but the current conditions are indeed much worse than Hechingen, but better than the Far East,” Zhou Wei said.

“Zhou Wei, do you think we’ve been exiled or given an important task?” Gao Youming, who was in the same dormitory, asked.

Zhou Wei shook his head: “It’s hard to say. The conditions here are indeed not as good as in Europe, but the principal clearly values this place very much, so I can’t be sure. But I’m still optimistic about everyone’s future. As long as we honestly complete the tasks assigned by the principal, no matter how things change in the future, as long as we have outstanding abilities, the principal will appreciate us.”

……

Five days later, six fully equipped colonial teams gathered on the parade ground. After a mobilization rally, they embarked on the journey to conquer East Africa.

Chapter 29: Arduous March

March in East Africa is the season when the rains arrive. Amidst booming thunder, a torrential downpour descends, the raindrops dense and forceful. On the sparsely vegetated ground, exposing the yellow earth, the intense rain washes away the soil, quickly turning it into a muddy swamp.

The murky rainwater gradually gathers, bypassing grasslands and high slopes. Thousands upon thousands of tiny streams follow depressions and gullies, converging into rivers.

The Little Rhine River is no longer its usual calm self, becoming turbulent. The surging river carries driftwood, weeds, and silt from upstream, rushing along the riverbed at a rapid pace.

In the rice paddies of the Second Township (Rufuo), overflowing rainwater continuously pours into the river through drainage ditches. The rice plants are battered by the rain and strong winds, swaying back and forth. Houses built of grass, wood, and brick soil appear precarious in the storm, roaring as if to lift everything visible on the East African land into the sky.

This kind of storm, where heaven and earth seem to combine forces, is common during the rainy season. In the dry season, the whole of Africa is like a stagnant pool, with no signs of human life for miles across the savanna. Occasionally, explorers and hunters observe hundreds or thousands of animals migrating across the vast, withered yellow grasslands, the entire African continent silent as death.

But once the rainy season arrives, the entire African continent seems to come alive, violently lashing the land with rainwater stored for more than half a year. Yet, the more terrifying the natural spectacle, the more vigorous life becomes. The dried-up riverbeds across the savanna become winding and intricately interwoven.

Withered yellow plants don new green clothes. Wildebeest and antelope chase after the most lush water and grass in herds. Hippos frolic in the lakes, and crocodiles roam around, patiently waiting for their opportunity.

……

All things thrive, brimming with vitality.

But for the East African Vanguard Group, which is advancing inland, this is not good news.

Fourth Squad Leader Andrei is sitting comfortably on a rock, using a small knife to scrape the mud stuck to his boot.

Staff Officer Zhou Wei is directing his men to count the supplies: “Remember to put the food and ammunition on top of the carts, so they don’t get damp from contact with the ground.”

“How is this rain tarp set up? What if rainwater seeps in? Everything must be arranged strictly according to the training procedures! We have a long way to go, and we must ensure the safety of food and ammunition.”

The sudden downpour had forced the Vanguard Group to halt their march, and the team was temporarily resting on a high ground.

“Zhou! Let’s not go any further today. Let’s rest here for a day. We’ve been on the road for two weeks, and the team’s morale has declined a lot. We still need to ease the team’s mood.” Andrei said to Zhou Wei.

Zhou Wei looked around. The rain had subsided slightly, but it was still falling, and he didn’t know when it would stop. He nodded and said, “Mr. Andrei, you’re right. Mainly, the time is too tight, so we chose the most inappropriate time to set off. I didn’t expect the rain here to be so heavy!”

Andrei said with a chuckle, “Seeing this rain reminds me of my days on the European battlefield. I was a new recruit then, and it was my first time camping out with the army. Suddenly, it rained heavily in the middle of the night. We were in a hurry to march, so the temporary resting place was a depression. As a result, the shelters we built were soaked in puddles. Many people in the unit didn’t even have a dry set of clothes, and the next day they fought Napoleon’s army in wet clothes.”

Zhou Wei listened to Andrei’s story. He had seen Napoleon in textbooks, and he was indeed a generation of heroes. Andrei had actually participated in the anti-French war of that time. But thinking about Andrei’s age, it was about right. Andrei had never said how old he was, but Zhou Wei estimated from Andrei’s appearance that he was at least fifty years old.

“Mr. Andrei, your past is indeed wonderful!”

“Thank you for your praise, Zhou. Your performance is what surprised me. I went to elementary school. I had never seen anyone from the Qing Empire at that time. I only saw the appearance of people from the Qing Empire in the teacher’s picture book. Our teacher said that the Chinese all had big braids, and it was hard to tell the difference between men and women. They also liked to smoke opium and were always listless.” Andrei recalled.

“Later, after I retired, I was hired by the Hechingen Company and came to East Africa. They paid my salary to my family’s bank account. That was the first time I traveled across the ocean to such a distant place, and it was also the first time I saw Chinese people.”

Andrei continued, “When they first came off the ship, they did have braids and were malnourished. However, the first rule of the colony was to cut off the braids, keep their hair short. After cutting off the braids, they did look different, especially after putting on German military uniforms, their spirit improved. I saw that the cleaned-up Chinese looked more like dark-haired Italians from the Mediterranean coast.”

“However, you Chinese people soon changed my impression again. In the early days of the East African colony, in the First Township, your diligence and hard work made me realize that Italians could not compare to you, because Italians were too good at enjoying life. But at that time, I still thought that Chinese people were not as good as Germans.”

“Until I met you, Zhou, I completely changed my previous thoughts. Your cultural knowledge and rigorous spirit made me realize that Chinese people don’t need to be compared. You are as good as we Germans. You know, some of my former comrades-in-arms, including the French and British people I have met, were very rude.”

Andrei continued to express his feelings: “You Chinese people are just like us Prussians, natural soldiers and the best farmers in the world.”

Zhou Wei listened quietly to Andrei’s words and said, “Mr. Andrei, I must first correct one point. I have already obtained a citizenship certificate issued by the Hechingen government, so I am also a German. And I believe that these people in front of me will also be part of the German Empire in the future, because our Principal Ernst said that no matter where you come from, as long as you are devoted to Germany and willing to fight for it for the rest of your life, then you are a true ‘German’.”

Andrei laughed loudly when he heard Zhou Wei’s words: “You’re right, Zhou, I was narrow-minded.”

……

Night falls.

In the temporary camp, the members of the Vanguard Group, who had been on the road for the past few days, peacefully fall asleep, even though the rain is still falling outside, it can’t disturb the sleeping team members at all.

The sentries are vigilantly watching the surroundings in the rainy night, preventing wild animals and other dangers from breaking in. Zhou Wei comes out to check the posts from time to time. Everyone can sleep, but Zhou Wei can’t. As someone who has received education at the Hechingen Military Academy, the education in the school always warns himself that leading by example and taking care of everything personally is what a qualified soldier must remember.

……

On the third day, the Vanguard Group, having rested, sets off again, the mud caused by the rain makes the march extremely difficult, but they are moving steadfastly towards Lake Solen (Lake Tanganyika).

Chapter 30: Dodoma

Dodoma was the destination of the East African Pioneer Force’s first team. While other teams were still on their way, the first team had already begun construction.

Dodoma, the administrative capital of Tanzania in later years, sits at an altitude of over 1,100 meters, with a cool climate. Located near the upper reaches of the Wami River, it features rolling low hills and diverse terrain.

This was a stopover point for caravans from the Swahili coast to Lake Tanganyika. In its previous life, it was an important railway hub in Tanzania, making its geographical location extremely important.

Goods landed at the port of Dar es Salaam could be transferred through Dodoma and distributed to various strongholds in the East African colony, providing convenience for subsequent immigrants.

Dodoma’s annual rainfall is around 600 millimeters, and the annual temperature fluctuates between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, making it very suitable for human habitation.

This provided convenience for the East African Pioneer Force’s first team. Before the rainy season arrived, the first team used kerosene lighters produced by the Hechingen Company to set fires everywhere.

With the help of the southeast wind, the fire spread northwest, and many animals fled in all directions. The unlucky ones who didn’t escape provided the soldiers with a meal of meat, paired with wild bananas picked and roasted over the fire until they sizzled with oil.

After the fire, the remaining ashes happened to neutralize the acidity of the soil, and the more than five hundred immigrants accompanying the army began to plow the land.

There were also indigenous tribes near Dodoma. This was a trading place for them and Arab merchants. They saw the newly arrived Pioneer Force’s first team with firearms (the Arabs also had them), and humans are naturally wary of unfamiliar things.

The main thing was that it was rare to see East Asian faces here. The local natives were mostly Bantu people who had migrated all the way from West Africa hundreds of years ago, with dark skin. They had dealt with both the San people and white people in East Africa. The skin color of the Pioneer Force’s first team was between the two, and their clothing styles had never been seen before. They could be distinguished from a great distance.

The first team also had no intention of starting conflicts with these indigenous tribes for the time being. After all, they were new here and wanted to build their camp first.

Fortunately, East Africa at this time was still sparsely populated. The entire East African savanna in Tanzania probably had fewer people than the Mongolian grasslands.

After all, the Mongolians knew how to herd horses and sheep, while these natives were still in the hunting and gathering stage. Low productivity meant they could support fewer people.

Also, the Arabs often provoked tribal conflicts, causing wars and selling people into slavery. In recent years, the population of East Africa had decreased rather than increased.

Tanzania’s population of fifty million in later years was thanks to the Germans and the British. Although the motives of the colonizers were not pure, they really brought these barbarians into the agricultural age.

Therefore, after the independence of African countries, without the constraints of the colonizers and with increased productivity, the population doubled. For example, Tanzania’s population was just over 10 million in the 1960s, and it had reached nearly 60 million before Ernst’s transmigration, and the birth rate was still rising.

Currently, Ernst suspected that the population of the entire 940,000 square kilometers of Tanzania had not even reached five million.

Because after decades of development in German East Africa in his previous life, there were only more than seven million people before World War I. German East Africa included Rwanda and Burundi, which were relatively densely populated areas in Africa.

That’s why Ernst dared to have designs on the East African colony. After all, Ernst had seen many counties with populations close to one million, and some even had two million in his previous life.

Think about it, if you said you wanted to move the population of an entire country, you would definitely be called a delusional person. If it was the population of a few counties, then it was still possible.

After all, the mobilization ability of the motherland in his previous life was too terrifying. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the Three Gorges Dam… there were many such examples.

Moreover, large-scale population resettlement was completed in a relatively short period of time. Ernst currently had plenty of time. In the future, he could spend thirty to fifty years focusing on sending the natives away, and there would be no ethnic issues in East Africa.

As for the Chinese and white people, this was easy to solve, at least Ernst himself thought it was easy to solve. Ethnic integration was a real case. For example, in Brazil, everyone was so poor that they were carefree, and no one had the mind to engage in these things. On the contrary, the highly developed Americans were constantly using race to divert conflicts.

There were also examples like Cuba. Ernst greatly admired the Cuban government. All races lived in harmony under the same system. If this were placed in other capitalist small countries in later generations, they would have been fighting like cats and dogs.

There were also negative examples, such as Yugoslavia. It wasn’t that Ernst was looking at this country with tinted glasses. Ernst felt that the disintegration of this country was the leader’s own fault. They perished in compromise and freedom, and they didn’t even understand their own position, failing to exert their superiority. (Scared, shivering.)

Speaking of which, Ernst felt that he had the ability to solve this matter. After all, he had lived in a country with three thousand years of centralized power and two thousand years of unification, and he knew some methods.

Ernst felt that even the enfeoffment system of the Western Zhou Dynasty was more centralized than the West. After all, the enfeoffment system of the Western Zhou Dynasty also had a core. The Zhou royal family was still nominally the common ruler of the world in the later period. Europe directly had everyone as a Roman, and they couldn’t even manage a European Union even after fighting two world wars.

In Europe, the only country with underlying centralized ideas, Russia, counted as half, so it’s no wonder the Americans were afraid of Russia, because it really had the ability to unify Europe.

…

Dodoma, today’s temperature is twenty-three degrees Celsius. The clothing of the Chinese immigrants is relatively simple, mostly Prussian military uniforms. In the first town, the humid and hot environment was stuffy and hot, but it was just right in Dodoma.

Therefore, the immigrants were in good condition, but the commander was still cautious. Africa was considered a cursed continent in the eyes of Europeans in the past, because there were so many tropical diseases in Africa. Most colonizers were active along the coast and were unwilling to go deep inland.

Therefore, Ernst attached great importance to the sanitation of the colony and also gave a feasible plan. For example, raw water must be boiled before drinking, semi-raw wild animal meat cannot be eaten, food with many parasites such as snakes and frogs should not be touched, the colony should be disinfected regularly, attention should be paid to preventing mosquito bites, and excrement should be collected and utilized reasonably…

These were the daily tasks of colonial officials, especially to strictly restrict the diet of immigrants. After all, the food-loving masses of a large country who had suffered from famine for many years could eat things in various ways.

But the East African colony still had sufficient food. If there was really nothing to eat, weren’t there still wild bananas and fruits to fill their stomachs? There was no need to eat some strange animals, even large herbivores in groups on the African savanna could be hunted through teamwork, such as zebras and wildebeests, which were full of wildness and had a certain degree of danger.

At night, the visibility in the Dodoma area was extremely good, and the night sky was full of stars. The temperature dropped somewhat, and the immigrants who had worked for a day lay on simple wooden beds and entered a peaceful dream.

Chapter 31: Clash of Tribes

“Fire!”

Bang… bang… bang…

“Second rank, ready!”

……

One hour earlier.

Lake Malawi, Karonga.

The Sixth Team had a fierce firefight with the locals upon their arrival. Traveling for the same reason, the Sixth Team and the Fifth Team separated in Mbeya and headed south.

The “Leta” tribe here is relatively large, with thousands of people, located in the northwest of Lake Malawi.

The arrival of the Sixth Team instantly aroused the vigilance of the “Leta” tribe. As the overlord of this area, the Leta tribe had no rivals in the Karonga area.

Their leader, Haru, was a promising chief who, since taking office, had launched a campaign to conquer the Karonga area.

Those small tribes with hundreds or dozens of people were no match for the Leta tribe, which had hundreds of warriors.

Just as Haru was complacent, secretly thinking that there was no match for him under the heavens, the arrival of the Sixth Team gave him an opportunity.

A Portuguese expedition had once come to this place and was wiped out by the Leta tribe. The Portuguese took no action, because in this era explorers were a high-risk profession. They believed that the explorer had probably strayed into the mountains or had already been eaten by wild animals.

Therefore, the “experienced” Leta tribe did not take this team of only a few hundred people seriously.

After receiving a report from an affiliated tribe, Haru decided to personally lead the expedition. All the warriors of the tribe were summoned, and after being baptized with holy water by the high priest, the Leta tribe’s army set off.

They blocked the Sixth Team’s path on the shores of Lake Malawi, and the two sides began to confront each other. Haru led the Leta tribe’s warriors to observe the strength of the Sixth Team.

The Sixth Team’s clothing was all made of cotton fabric, which was a rare commodity in Karonga’s textile industry, worth more than gold. The Karonga tribe could only trade with tribes in the Zimbabwe area to purchase a very small amount.

Therefore, in Haru’s eyes, the Sixth Team was prey. As for the flintlock guns equipped by the Sixth Team, Haru directly regarded them as a special kind of “spear.”

Haru had never seen a flintlock gun. The Portuguese man killed by the tribe had carried a pistol, but it was not loaded with bullets. Haru fiddled with it for a long time without figuring it out, and it was eventually hung in Haru’s “palace” as a trophy.

Haru blew the horn, and the Leta tribe rushed over in a frenzy, “Wah, ooh…” Haru took the lead, holding a spear, and attacked the Sixth Team.

Haru’s spear was made from the unfortunate Portuguese man’s knife, wrapped with rope on a pole. Haru carefully sharpened the spear blade every day.

Holding the “divine weapon,” Haru was confident. The group of fools opposite him actually lined up in a row, holding the “spears” horizontally in their hands.

Haru had never seen this way of using “spears.” His own spear was both sharp and long. The “fools” opposite him had no blade at all on their “spears,” and they were short. It was just a strange-looking stick. An inch longer is an inch stronger. Haru was going to teach these savages who “didn’t even understand” weapons a lesson.

The Leta tribe charged forward recklessly. In the eyes of the Leta warriors, this was an opportunity to make a small fortune, and they rushed to kill each other for military merit.

……

The Sixth Team’s commander, Yuri, was dumbfounded! This was the first time he had seen such arrogant aborigines. Who gave them the courage to launch a frontal attack against a modern army with so few people and such primitive weapons?

If these aborigines relied on the terrain and mountains to fight a guerrilla war with him, it would definitely be a headache. Even if there were twice as many who dared to attack directly like this, Yuri wouldn’t feel any pressure.

Yuri calmly commanded the Sixth Team, prepared, and aimed their guns at these aborigines. Although the training time they had received was short, the team members could still intuitively line up the flintlock guns in a row, divide them into three groups, and begin to execute them in batches.

Bang… bang… bang…

Haru was startled by the gunshots, but past experience made him instinctively rush forward. The courage of war!

The chief was still charging forward, which boosted the morale of the Leta tribe’s warriors. Although they didn’t understand what the loud noise was, they still followed Chief Haru forward.

After the first round of gunshots, because the distance was not yet close, the aborigines only injured a few. Commander Yuri was not flustered at all.

“Second rank, ready. Third rank, prepare. First rank, reload.”

“Fire!”

Bang… bang… bang…

As a cloud of smoke rose from the muzzle, this time the aboriginal warriors charging at the front fell to the ground in response. Haru was also shot and wounded in the arm.

But Haru was indeed a reckless man. Even when injured, he did not panic. At this time, the morale of the team had already begun to waver. Haru showed a calm expression and said, “Warriors of the tribe, don’t panic. The enemy is not far away. As long as we run faster, their weapons will be useless!”

At this moment, Haru had realized that the enemy’s weapons were long-range attacks, but at this moment he could no longer hesitate. As long as he could get close to the enemy, there would still be a chance, otherwise he could only suffer a crushing defeat.

The Leta tribe was indeed worthy of the prestige of being the overlord of the Karonga area. Even in the face of the enemy’s terrifying weapons, they did not give up easily.

Yuri’s expression remained unchanged as he watched the aboriginal tribal soldiers getting faster and faster, and ordered, “Third rank, fire!”

Bang… bang… bang…

This time the results were even better. More than twenty aborigines fell to the ground in response, but Haru once again escaped death by luck. However, his soldiers had completely panicked.

After three rounds of gunshots, nearly fifty people had lost their ability to fight, and some wanted to escape.

But Yuri didn’t give them a chance: “First rank, fire!”

“Second rank, ready! Everyone else, fix bayonets!”

In two consecutive rounds of attacks, the aborigines lost more than forty people. For the Leta tribe, which only had a few hundred warriors, they could only run away now.

Before they even touched the enemy, they had lost nearly one-sixth of their forces. Although it was not impossible to continue fighting, the sight of their comrades falling one by one gave them great pressure. Haru could no longer hold them back, and the morale of the army was in chaos. The entire team was in chaos, looking for a way out.

“Chase!” Yuri drew his saber, raised it in his hand, and took the lead in charging forward.

The momentum of attack and defense had changed. The Leta tribe, without organizational ability, was chased and killed everywhere by the Sixth Team’s soldiers. The Chinese soldiers, who had seen blood, were bloodthirsty.

At dusk, the war was over. Yuri began to direct the clearing of the battlefield. The Leta tribe suffered more than three hundred casualties and sixty-two were captured, including the wounded leader Haru. In the Sixth Team, in the battle, apart from two people who were injured in the battle, only one person twisted his ankle during the pursuit.

There was no doubt that this was a great victory, and it was the first recorded victory in East Africa’s colonies by the newly formed Chinese troops.

Regarding the disposal of the Leta tribe, the Sixth Team did not take further action, but chose to drive them away. The leaderless Leta tribe fled towards Zimbabwe.

Because of the battle, the Sixth Team did not have time to build a camp, so they simply occupied the Leta tribe’s villages.

Most of the houses in these villages were made of rattan covered with mud, about one person tall. Only Haru, as the tribal chief, had a slightly larger shack. The team members could only make do for one night.

Chapter 32: Hohenzollern Castle

April 13, 1866.

Today is the day Hohenzollern Castle is completely finished. Prince Constantine has specially invited some important family members to come here to celebrate.

Hohenzollern Castle is the birthplace of the Hohenzollern family and its spiritual symbol.

The castle was built in the 11th century. The founder, Burchard I, was granted the title of Count of Zollern around 1100 (his territory was located between the upper Neckar River, the Swabian Mountains, and the upper Danube River), and he began to build the castle. However, the old castle was later destroyed.

The family fortified the castle and added defensive works, making it a refuge for the Hohenzollern family to escape the ravages of war. Due to its strategic location, it was a key military point contested by the French and Austrians. A brutal battle once took place where the enemy besieged the castle for nine months, and the garrison inside starved to death. During the wars, the castle was not fully completed according to the original plan and was eventually abandoned after changing hands several times.

In 1844, William IV, who inherited the Prussian throne, mentioned in a letter the fond memories he had of the castle when he was 19, especially when he looked out at the scenery at sunset. Therefore, rebuilding the castle became a dream of his youth.

The current Hohenzollern Castle began reconstruction in 1850, jointly funded by Prussia and Hechingen. Historically, it was to be completed in 1867.

However, after Ernst made money in industry, the Hechingen royal family had more funds, so Ernst decided to speed up the construction of the castle.

After discussing it with the Prussian royal family, Ernst accelerated the construction of the new Hohenzollern Castle. The workers worked overtime every day, completing the castle a year ahead of schedule.

At the same time, Ernst increased the Hechingen royal family’s ownership of Hohenzollern Castle to fifty percent by repurchasing the Prussian royal family’s property rights.

After all, this is his home, representing not only the glory of the Hohenzollern family but also the face of the Hechingen lineage.

King William I of Prussia, who was worried about war funds, was happy to sell some of the property rights. Although the royal family’s funds were separate from the national treasury, it was cheaper for the royal family to use the money to invest in the kingdom’s construction than for commercial banks to buy national debt, since middlemen also charge a handling fee.

……

Those attending the castle completion ceremony today are all prominent figures in the Hohenzollern family. From the Hechingen line, there are only Prince Constantine and Ernst.

Because William I was preparing for war, the Prussian royal family sent Crown Prince Frederick (Frederick III, the Ninety-Nine Days Emperor, William II ascended the throne after his death) as a representative to attend the ceremony.

There are also many members of the Sigmaringen line, including Prince Karl Anton and his two sons, the eldest son Prince Leopold (whose eldest son Leopold became a candidate for the Spanish throne in 1870. Leopold’s inheritance of the Spanish throne was one of the direct causes of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871).

As for Karl Anton’s youngest son, Karl (the future Romanian Emperor Carol I), Ernst envied him. He is currently in Romania and is about to ascend the Romanian throne, so he cannot attend.

Among the Hohenzollern family members present today, only Ernst and Leopold have “dim” futures. Leopold originally had the opportunity to become the King of Spain but was blocked by the French. Ernst is even more so, with only the position of Prince of Hechingen to inherit.

Ernst has an advantage over Leopold in that he has the East African colonies, so after World War I, Ernst can still go to East Africa to continue to throw his weight around. The poor descendants of Leopold can only live off their ancestors’ property on the European continent.

However, in this regard, the descendants of his brother and the Prussian royal family are even more pitiful, one losing the Romanian throne and the other losing the German imperial throne. Compared to that, Leopold might feel better. (Evil smile)

Ernst vowed that if East Africa develops well in the future, he will give these relatives a hand. This is sincere, just like the Prussian royal family has supported Ernst a lot. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy for Ernst to get military orders and access to armories. This is the benefit of a strong family.

As for Ernst’s deceased mother, Eugénie de Beauharnais, she was the daughter of Eugène de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg. Eugène de Beauharnais had many children, and the only one still alive is the former Queen Josephine of Sweden.

The above are roughly Ernst’s important relatives. Currently, the Hohenzollern family is Ernst’s real reliance.

……

“…The reconstruction of Hohenzollern Castle is a sign that our Hohenzollern family is taking another step forward. I hope it will stand forever on German soil with the Hohenzollern family.”

After the Prince of Hechingen finished his speech, applause rang out from the audience. Then, Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Karl Anton gave speeches on behalf of the Prussian royal family and Sigmaringen, respectively.

Night, a reception.

“Hi, Cousin Leopold, why are you drinking alone?” Ernst greeted.

“I’m mainly worried about whether Karl is doing well in Romania. After all, Romania is not a safe place now. Although the family supports him, the tragic experience of the previous Romanian Grand Duke shows that the situation in Romania is unstable.”

“Don’t worry, Karl’s other abilities aside, his experience in leading troops is very good. As long as Karl can establish contact with the Romanian military, those Romanian opponents will definitely not dare to act rashly,” Ernst comforted. This is based on the fact that Karl has been in the army for many years and has also participated in the Second Schleswig War.

“Alas, I hope so! I heard that you’ve been doing well recently, Ernst. It seems Uncle Constantine didn’t consider letting you develop in the army.”

Hearing this, Ernst said self-deprecatingly, “Cousin, I don’t know anything about military affairs. I still can’t compare with you brothers. I won’t harm the kingdom’s army.”

“I heard my father say you got a colony in East Africa. Is it going smoothly?” Leopold changed the subject.

“Haha, East Africa really can’t compare with Europe. Now I’m just doing some agricultural planting there, and in the future, I’ll produce some raw materials for my factories. It’s just a small business,” Ernst said with a smile.

“What are you talking about?” Crown Prince Frederick walked over.

Crown Prince Frederick is the oldest of the three. He and Leopold have both been in the Prussian army and have only met Ernst a few times, so they know very little about him.

“Your Highness, I was just talking to Ernst about some small things. I was just curious because I heard that Ernst developed a colony in East Africa,” Leopold said.

“Colonies are indeed good places. The British rely on their vast colonies to maintain their maritime hegemony. Unfortunately, Germany has not been unified, wasting the opportunity for overseas expansion. Now those rich colonies have been divided up by countries such as Britain and France, and what’s left are probably just scraps,” Crown Prince Frederick said with emotion.

Ernst took the opportunity to say, “Therefore, our current efforts should be focused on completing the unification of the German region. Only a strong Germany can compete with those powerful countries.”

Leopold and Frederick nodded, expressing their agreement.

Frederick said, “This is Prussia’s destiny, to complete the unification of the German region. Our Hohenzollern family has an unshirkable responsibility.”

These words were full of murderous intent, clearly aimed at the Austrian Empire. It seems that the Prussian high command has reached a consensus to deal with the Austrian Empire with all their strength.

Chapter 33: Seeking “Light”

Berlin Electric Company.

Located in the eastern part of Berlin, its location is unremarkable, situated in the transition zone between the bustling city and the countryside. A gray and white building serves as the office of the Berlin Electric Company.

After the completion ceremony of the castle, Ernst returned to Berlin because the first achievement of the Berlin Electric Company had emerged.

Under Ernst’s prompting, the Berlin Electric Company had been focusing on one thing: experimenting with filament materials for electric lights.

Ernst remembered Edison’s improvements to the electric light, experimenting with many materials and finally choosing carbonized cotton fiber, and later switching to bamboo fiber, so he provided some convenience for the staff.

Ernst walked into the company and, after asking an employee, learned that Carl von Linde was in the laboratory. Ernst went to the laboratory door and pushed it open.

The laboratory was full of tangled wires, and various experimental devices were placed in a disorganized manner. Ernst carefully stepped over the various pieces of equipment and saw Carl von Linde sitting in an armchair drawing on blueprints.

Ernst didn’t dare to disturb Carl von Linde, after all, a genius’s imagination is the most precious thing. If he accidentally interrupted Carl von Linde’s valuable train of thought, he would suffer a great loss.

Ernst quietly found a chair, sat down gently, and waited for Carl von Linde to finish his work.

In the quiet laboratory, only the ticking of the clock and the rustling of the pencil on the paper could be heard.

After an unknown amount of time, Ernst was about to doze off when the sound of papers being organized came. Carl von Linde stretched and yawned.

Only then did Carl von Linde, who had finished his work, notice that there was someone else in the laboratory.

“Your Highness Ernst, what brings you here? I’m really sorry, I didn’t notice your arrival because I was too focused on my work!”

Ernst got up and stretched his muscles, saying, “Mr. Linde, why don’t you have someone clean up? The laboratory is too messy. Will this affect your research?”

Carl von Linde explained, “It’s like this, I can only better organize my thoughts when I’m alone, so I generally don’t allow others to enter my room. Moreover, these instruments and tools are all part of the experiment. There are too few talents in the company who understand this, or they are not professional enough. I’m worried that they will mess with the instruments and destroy some of my experiments.

Of course, I myself would also like to work in a tidy environment, but scientific research is like this. Inspiration bursts out from time to time, and some experiments need to be verified, which makes the instruments and wires more and more numerous. Later, I simply gave up the idea of cleaning up the laboratory,” Carl von Linde explained.

“I see!” Ernst suddenly understood. The world of geniuses is indeed extraordinary, while some people are simply lazy.

“Mr. Linde, if there’s anything you need, you can tell me in advance. Of course, the main reason I’m here today is to see about the electric light!” Ernst said.

When Carl von Linde heard Ernst say this, he began to show Ernst the results.

“Your Highness Ernst, please come with me!”

So, under Carl von Linde’s guidance, the two passed through the stairs and turned into a laboratory on the first floor. Several workers were refining something in a furnace. Ernst guessed they were refining materials.

Carl von Linde came to a shelf and took down a box, which was full of oval spheres made of glass. Inside the spheres were strangely shaped filaments, all handmade.

“Morgens, come over and demonstrate!” Carl von Linde called over a worker.

The employee demonstrated the working principle of the sphere in front of Ernst.

“Boss, this is a socket, and the bottom of this light bulb is a plug. We directly plug this light bulb into the socket, and the current passes through the internal filament, which can emit light…”

As he spoke, he plugged the light bulb into the socket, and the light bulb in front of him immediately lit up. The filament burned red, emitting a dazzling pale yellow light.

After waiting for a moment, the light did not show any abnormalities, and the worker breathed a sigh of relief.

Ernst asked, “How long can this lamp burn?”

“About six hours!” the worker replied.

Carl von Linde explained, “Your Highness Ernst, the thing is, after you provided the correct ideas, we did make a finished product, but some hardware is still difficult to achieve with the current scientific development.”

“For example, this light bulb, its filament needs a completely vacuum environment to be used effectively, but the vacuum technology of the current era cannot achieve this. There are no instruments or patents on the market that can achieve this goal, so we can only make do with it.”

Ernst asked, “Is there a solution?”

“This is what I was going to say. Currently, I am specializing in improving the existing vacuum technology on the market. I have been researching this for the past few days, but I have not yet achieved any substantial results.”

Ernst pinched his chin and thought carefully. Although Carl von Linde has many achievements in the field of electrical applications, when it comes to precision instruments, the Lenoir group spends all day studying internal combustion engines. The tightness and reliability required by internal combustion engines are extreme, and there cannot be the slightest mistake. Their research on machinery is more professional.

So he suggested, “How about this, Mr. Linde, the requirements for vacuum technology are very high for equipment. You also know that I also have an energy and power company under my name. Their researchers deal with machinery for a long time, and the requirements for the precision and quality of machinery are very high. We can ask them if they have any solutions for this!”

Carl von Linde agreed. After all, it was too difficult to do this alone, and it was not his area of expertise.

So Ernst and Carl von Linde took a carriage to the nearby Berlin Energy and Power Company headquarters. It was afternoon, and Lenoir and others had not yet left.

“Mr. Lenoir!”

Ernst called over Lenoir and others.

“Your Highness Ernst, is there anything you need to order from the company today?”

“It’s like this…”

Ernst told Lenoir and others about the situation Carl von Linde encountered, and at the same time introduced the senior executives of the two companies to each other.

“Is that so?” After Lenoir heard this, he found a piece of paper and started drawing. After a while, he asked, “Mr. Linde, can you lend me your blueprints to take a look at?”

Fortunately, Ernst and Linde brought Linde’s research documents with them. They handed these to Lenoir.

Time passed second by second, and Lenoir suddenly realized something.

“This idea is very good, Mr. Linde. This method is feasible, but you need to adjust the direction. The breakthrough point now is not in the structure, but in the research and development of materials. I happen to have some experience in this.”

So the two big shots from different fields happily argued. Benz and others also joined in. As the few people discussed intensely, the blueprints were overturned and redrawn again and again.

Unconsciously, the group chatted until night, and the moon was already hanging high in the sky. Ernst, a academic bum, could only order a cup of coffee and wait for these big shots to finish their discussion.

“…This solves the last problem, Mr. Linde!” Lenoir said excitedly.

“Great, this solves the biggest obstacle on the road to improving electric lights. Thank you so much, Mr. Lenoir!” Linde also said excitedly.

Finally, Lenoir and Linde and others concluded that the improved vacuum technology would require at least three months of experimentation to turn the principle into reality, and the two sides reached a brief cooperation.

The patent for the new technology is jointly applied for by all researchers, and the ownership is with Hechingen Bank. They can enjoy twenty percent of the profit in the future.

Chapter 34: Mobilization

The time came to May of 1866.

Today, Ernst attended a class reunion. He felt ashamed, as he had gotten into Berlin to study through connections, but ultimately abandoned his studies halfway through.

Today’s gathering place was a large hotel located 960 meters south of the University of Berlin, where many dignitaries and nobles visiting Berlin stayed.

Inside the magnificent hall.

“Sir, welcome!” As soon as Ernst, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, arrived at the entrance, he was greeted by a service worker.

Second floor.

“Sir, please show your invitation!”

Ernst handed the invitation to the waiter, who carefully examined it and said politely, “Your Highness Ernst, please come in and enjoy your time!”

…

In the banquet hall, crystal chandeliers hung high from the dome, illuminating the entire hall. Many people had already arrived at the venue.

“Ernst, over here!”

Garrett, dressed in a military uniform, waved to Ernst.

“Garrett, you joined the army?” Ernst asked, surprised.

Garrett said smugly, “Oh! The old man said my grades were too bad and insisted on getting me a position in the army.”

“Which unit are you in?”

“Isn’t the empire expanding its army! So the old man told me that now is the best time to get some experience. As long as I go to the battlefield once, I’ll have the qualifications for the future. Now I am a staff officer in the Third Company of the Twenty-Third Infantry Regiment of the Kingdom.”

Ernst patted Garrett on the shoulder, “Very good, next is your chance to shine.”

“Ernst, do you have any inside information? Can you give me a hint!” Garrett said, winking.

“You’ve misunderstood me. My identity now is more of an entrepreneur, so I don’t have any inside information about the army. However, I do know something about military supplies procurement, but unfortunately, it’s not much help to you.”

“Ah! Then forget it. Isn’t your father, Prince Constantine, working in the General Staff? Didn’t he tell you anything about the army?”

Ernst laughed, “I’m not interested in military matters, and I never talk to my father about that. Besides, the kingdom values the cultivation of young people now. Are you, a Berlin University student, worried that you won’t make a name for yourself in the military camp?”

“Haha… No, it’s just that I’m a bit of a gossip. After all, everyone wants to take a peek at the answers before the exam, right?”

Ernst nodded, “It’s human nature, I understand.”

“The main thing is that you, Ernst, have already made your own career. We were both academic failures, and we agreed to fail together, but you went solo! Since you stopped coming to school, I’ve been the one with the worst grades.”

Garrett said with a smile, “Business has been good these past few months, right! Our troops have purchased a lot of products from your company.”

“Just small business. It’s you, kid, who will be successful in the army in the future. Don’t forget to help out your old classmate’s business!”

Garrett was speechless, “Don’t show off. Everyone knows the relationship between the royal family and you. You damned second-generation noble, I’ll still need you to help me out in the future.”

Ernst joked, “Alas, who knows what will happen in war? Maybe you are a military genius like Moltke? Maybe there will be a place for you in the high ranks of the kingdom in the future.”

Ernst originally wanted to say a Napoleon-like genius, but when he thought about Napoleon’s reputation in Germany, he changed his words.

“Okay, let’s not talk about these things, let’s go drink. I must get you drunk today!” Garrett said fiercely.

…

Prussian Palace.

Wilhelm I was discussing war preparations with Prime Minister Bismarck and Chief of the General Staff Moltke.

Wilhelm I: “Prime Minister, how are the preparations going?”

“Your Majesty, the war funds have been raised, and we have also won over the Italians as allies. Russia is temporarily unable to interfere in European affairs, and they had a falling out with Austria last time. Even if war breaks out, they will lean towards us. Britain and France have no intention of intervening, and they hope that we and Austria will be both losers, so we must achieve a quick victory militarily to avoid intervention from the great powers. And the military aspect still depends on the preparations of the army.”

Moltke said, “This time we have made thorough preparations. The three newly built corps have been completed, and the railway network has been connected to the barracks. We can quickly deploy 200,000 people to the front line. Currently, there are 50,000 troops ready at the border. With the previous reforms, we can quickly conscript hundreds of thousands of reservists to the front line via railway in a short period of time. With the Italians tying down some forces, we have an advantage over Austria in terms of troop strength.”

Then Moltke put his hand on the map and pointed to the middle of Prussia, “This time, we must first solve the North German princes. Many of these princes are inclined towards Austria and are located in the heart of the Kingdom of Prussia, which may cause us trouble. As for the South German states, including Bavaria, they are not very determined to go to war, and we must strive for their neutrality diplomatically.”

Bismarck said, “You can rest assured about this. As long as we focus on the Austrian battlefield and focus on defense in the South German region, these Austrian allies will not do their best. As long as we solve the Austrian army in a short time, other countries will surely submit to Prussia’s powerful prestige.”

In short, both agreed to prioritize resolving Austria. Once Austria was resolved, all problems would be solved.

Wilhelm I paced back and forth in front of the table with his hands behind his back, thinking, “Even when a lion hunts a rabbit, it uses all its strength. Austria’s reputation in Europe is not comparable to those small countries. Although Austria’s development has not been satisfactory in recent years, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, especially Austria’s army, which has not declined significantly overall, so we should wholeheartedly increase our offensive against Austria.”

He walked to the desk and sat down, picked up a pen, and crossed out the original plan.

“This time, it is Prussia’s battle for destiny. We must bet everything. The previous plan was still too conservative. General Moltke, I now formally appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Prussian Army. Prussia enters a state of war. All reservists must enter the army in advance to receive training. The railway must strengthen train schedules, and weapons must be quickly replaced…”

Wilhelm I continued, “Prime Minister, your government must cooperate with the military’s requirements and do its best to provide convenience for the military. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must actively observe the dynamics of European countries and prevent accidents from happening…”

With Wilhelm I’s instructions, Prussia began its final mobilization before the war, and the three newly formed corps were directly dispatched to the western region of Prussia.

The number of military trains increased significantly every day. Carriages carrying soldiers, artillery, and supplies were mobilized within Prussia.

Reservists were conscripted in advance, and the barracks were full of soldiers. The government began to build training grounds everywhere, and idle land was converted into new barracks.

The railway network was rearranged, and railway workers began to work overtime to overhaul the lines to provide guarantees for the sudden increase in train schedules.

At the same time, Prussia began to increase the construction of wired telegraph lines from the border to Berlin and quickly popularized telegraph equipment on a large scale in the army.

While Prussia was mobilizing, Austria and Italy were also preparing, but the effect was significantly inferior to that of Prussia, which pursued militarism.

Chapter 35: Beasts of Burden

A month prior, April 22nd, 1866, Dar es Salaam Port.

Today, the immigrants of the First Town, and the colony’s officials, came to Dar es Salaam Port to receive goods. Unlike usual, there were more people mobilized today.

“Old Qian, why did Mister Kilmann call us all here today? Usually, it’s just his own people who come to this place,” one of the immigrants asked.

“How would I know? Just do what the official tells us to do. Why so much nonsense?” Old Qian said.

“I’m just afraid. We finally have enough to eat in the First Town. What if they send us back to the Qing Dynasty!”

“Don’t let your imagination run wild. Mister Kilmann needs us to grow crops for him. The land here is so barren, and those natives are clumsy, they don’t even know how to farm. Mister Kilmann can’t possibly farm himself, right? So what’s there to be afraid of?”

As the two were chatting, several large ships appeared on the distant horizon.

“Judging by the looks of it, could it be new immigrants? We were brought here on a big ship like that last time.”

Old Qian shook his head. “Who knows? We’ll find out once the ship docks.”

Before long, the Dutch merchant ships docked at the Dar es Salaam Port pier. The Dutch opened the railings on the side of the ship and laid down wooden planks, creating a cargo unloading通道 several meters wide.

The German official began directing the immigrants to board the ship and unload cargo. Led by the official, the immigrants once again boarded the familiar ships. On the ship, the immigrants finally saw the cargo this time.

“These are horses, these are cows!” The man who had been talking to Old Qian earlier exclaimed in surprise.

“I knew it! Such good land should have some livestock. The grass near the First Town grows so well. These natives can’t farm, and they can’t raise livestock either.”

Old Qian said disdainfully, “You’re getting more and more outrageous! How can you be cursing them! They’re called livestock.”

“It’s all the same, it’s all the same. I can’t speak politely, I’m uneducated, aren’t I? Haha…” he said with an embarrassed laugh.

“Stop laughing, come and lend a hand, herd the livestock!”

…

After a busy period, they finally managed to drive the cattle and horses off the ship. The immigrants from the First Town began to drive the livestock towards the First Town.

The German official seemed to have been prepared. He took out a saddle and bridle from somewhere and fitted them onto a horse.

As an old European cavalryman, Del finally found the feeling of galloping on the battlefield once again.

He drove this horse, imported from Russia, and tested his skills on the open ground. The horse had a relatively docile temperament, carrying Del for two laps on the flat ground.

Recently, due to Prussia’s preparation for war, Prussian mules and horses were under control, and exports were even more impossible.

Therefore, Ernst specifically imported hundreds of horses from Russia. Horse-drawn plowing was prevalent in Europe, so various countries had many horses, and the Eastern European part of Russia was rich in horses, and Central Asia and the Far East had vast grasslands suitable for raising horses.

Ernst sent people to Russia to purchase horses, and then shipped them from the Baltic Sea to the East African colony via Dutch merchant ships. They also picked up a batch of cattle in the Netherlands along the way.

The Netherlands was a major livestock country, with livestock farming as the primary agricultural industry, and flower cultivation as the second.

Ernst currently had no way to improve the mechanization of the East African colony. Europe was still using animal power. Steam-powered agricultural machinery did have some sales in the market, but steam-powered agricultural machinery was expensive, bulky, and not very efficient.

Therefore, Ernst was thinking of developing some animal husbandry in the colony to provide some animal power for the future. There were no domesticated large livestock native to Africa. African animals were full of wildness, and the natives lived by hunting. The animals everywhere were the source of food for the natives. Although dangerous, the abundant resources made these tribes lack the consciousness to improve productivity.

…

The immigrants drove the cattle and horses back to the First Town, and so many livestock successfully attracted the attention of the townspeople.

The chief of security began ordering the immigrants to build horse pens and cattle pens, and at the same time, he found some experienced immigrants to be responsible for breeding.

The breeding farm was located five or six miles away from the town, between the First Town and the Third Town.

There was a grassland here, and the immigrants built a camp here, using wooden fences to drive the cattle and horses inside.

“These are all good cows! In the past, only the landlords’ families in my hometown could raise them so strong.”

“These horses are also good. I’ve only seen horses ridden by high officials in my life, with a fat-headed, big-eared official sitting on top, and the soldiers running behind.”

“Are you talking about the imperial court fighting the Taiping rebels?”

“Yes, that’s what those soldiers said. Before they left, they robbed several cows from the Wang landlord’s family in our village, saying that the imperial court was requisitioning them. They were even worse than bandits. The Wang landlord’s guards could usually protect the village. There was a bandit near us called King Pockmark, who usually didn’t dare to go to Master Wang’s village, but when the imperial court’s soldiers came, his guards didn’t even dare to fart. They usually just bullied us common people.”

“Bah, they’re all bad things, dogs biting dogs, all the same. Why doesn’t God take away these beasts? Heaven is truly blind!”

“Alas, fortunately, the foreign masters came to recruit workers the year before last. At that time, we had no way to survive, so we thought of making a living and got on the ship. We never dared to imagine the life we have now!”

“Who says otherwise! My family also suffered a disaster. My two brothers starved to death. I was lucky to have Mister Kilmann, and I survived. Without those corrupt officials and landlord bastards, life is better now. Mister Kilmann keeps his word, he really gives us food!”

“I say it serves the Qing Dynasty right for being finished. I heard the scholar in the village say long ago that the imperial court couldn’t beat the foreigners, and they ceded land and paid reparations every year. These grandsons don’t treat us like human beings. Someone will take care of them.”

“Alas, it’s hard to say. When those foreigners, what English and French, came to our land, didn’t the officials still eat and drink well? The reparations they wanted were still spread over our heads! I heard that every time they lost a battle in the south, they would increase taxes several times, calling it war repayment, dog-like things, scourges!”

“That’s because we’re not making a living in the Qing Dynasty anymore. We don’t have those black-hearted masters over our heads. Everyone says foreigners are scary, but Mister Kilmann is a bit fierce, but his intestines are cleaner than those of the black-hearted Qing Dynasty officials.”

“Alas, saying that Africa is good in every way, good food, good clothes, but there are too few wives. Those natives are too dark to look at. So many of us bachelors don’t know if we can get a wife in this lifetime.”

“All you know is to let your imagination run wild. You couldn’t even get enough to eat in the Qing Dynasty. Which woman would look up to you and live a hard life with you?”

“Am I not considering the important things in life? What’s wrong with thinking about it? If we become rich in a few years, we can return to the Qing Dynasty, then we can get a wife, right? Then we’ll come back here, and the family will have a litter of babies.”

“That’s impossible, right? Would Mister Kilmann let us go back?”

“You don’t understand this, right? Do you know that there’s an official from Kilmann in the town, he’s also Chinese, and he has a foreign name, something like Pierce Lee, he can talk to people.”

“He said he was a graduate of the Black Heart Root Military Academy. The land here belongs to the principal of that Black Heart Root school. This principal is amazing. In the Qing Dynasty, he would be a relative of the emperor’s family.”

“I’ve also heard of it. Officer Pierce Lee was valued by Mister Kilmann at a young age and went to Kilmann to study, so he can come here to be an official.”

“It’s this Officer Pierce Lee who said that we are all employees of the Black Heart Root Company, that is, long-term workers. After working for twenty years, we can choose our life. After the time is up, we can choose whether to stay in Africa or return to the Qing Dynasty, and Officer Pierce Lee also said that we can’t lose the few pieces of paper that are issued to us every month. Those are Kilmann silver dollars issued to us, and they can be exchanged for money at the money shops in the Qing Dynasty.”

“Those few pieces of paper can be exchanged for money?”

“You don’t understand this, right? This is the money used by the foreign masters. It can be exchanged for silver in the Qing Dynasty. If the Qing Dynasty doesn’t recognize it, the foreign masters will beat those masters. A few years ago, the English and French soldiers heard that they had entered the Forbidden City and sat on the dragon throne, and burned the emperor’s garden, called the Old Summer Palace. In the end, the empress dowager and the emperor had to pay a sum of money to the foreign masters.”

“If that’s the case, I have to keep those pieces of paper safe. Mister Kilmann gave them to me before, and there was a foreigner’s head printed on them. I thought it was something important and didn’t dare to lose it. I didn’t expect it to be money. I have to keep it safe and use it to marry a wife in the future.”

“Old Wang, you’re forty years old and you’re still thinking about getting a wife? What will you look like in twenty years?”

“What’s wrong with getting a wife? I haven’t tasted it in my life! When I’m old, I’ll find an old wife. As long as I have money, I can find anything.”

“That’s right…”

The immigrants chatted about the past, present, and future, their eyes filled with hope for a happy life.

Chapter 36: Coastal Zone

“Attention all, five-kilometer cross-country run with full gear begins!”

The East African Colonial New Army, formed by Chinese immigrants, advanced through the rain with heavy packs.

April in East Africa was a time of continuous rain, but the colonial recruits still had to undergo training. As time passed, the East African colony had begun to plan for the entire interior.

After the vanguard team set off, the area originally near Dar es Salaam naturally did not stagnate. This was the first place immigrants arrived. First Town lived up to its name; every Chinese immigrant arriving in East Africa had to stay here, and after being reassigned, they were sent to various new strongholds.

Recently, the East African colony had begun planning new villages and towns, mainly developing northward from First Town. The plains there were relatively broad, the prime area of the Tanzanian coastal plains.

Dar es Salaam belonged to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and with it as the core, stretched north and south along the entire East African coast. However, the plains west of the coast, closer to the interior, had little population. The main body of the Sultanate of Zanzibar was still on Zanzibar Island and Dar es Salaam across from it; other areas had few people.

This gave the East African colony an opportunity. To expand the land as much as possible, the East African colony did not plan to establish strongholds around First Town this time, but instead established three new towns at a slightly greater distance: Msorwa, Pangani, and Mandawa.

In this way, starting from First Town (Mlandizi), passing through Msorwa, Pangani, and Mandawa, plus Second Town (Ruvu), a huge circle was formed. The entire area, including Third Town (Kitonga), nearly 3,500 square kilometers of land was brought into the fold. The East African colony decided to establish the East African Colonial Coastal Zone in such a large area.

The Coastal Zone temporarily governed six towns, with its administrative center in First Town, and was the first large-scale district in the colony.

Land cannot appear out of thin air, so driving out the natives on this land became important. Now, after nearly a year of development, the number of Chinese immigrants in this area had reached more than eighteen thousand, concentrated around the three completed towns.

Therefore, the East African colony decided to pull out an army of two thousand men to conduct a carpet search of the native tribes in the Coastal Zone.

Weapons had long been prepared in the warehouse, and now they could be issued to the soldiers after a short period of training, and then they could set off to eliminate the native tribes.

April was the rainy season, so the colonial soldiers’ training often encountered heavy rain, but the German instructors didn’t care about the details; everyone had to complete the training on time every day.

The recruits painfully climbed forward in the mud, with gunshots occasionally ringing in their ears, to build up their courage.

The natives that the recruits had to face were not difficult opponents. They were mainly small tribes hiding in the mountains and forests. The slightly larger tribes were all in the west, and those with thick skulls had long been captured by the Sultanate of Zanzibar and sold to Arab countries.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar could bully the natives, but the East African colony, armed with guns, was not to be trifled with, so the two sides had been at peace until now.

The East African colony also generally sold stolen goods through the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Now, the Sultanate of Zanzibar had begun to lie flat, sitting at home waiting for the East African colony to deliver slaves and ivory to their door.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar was responsible for selling these goods overseas through Arab merchants, so the East African colony actually promoted the abnormal prosperity of the Sultanate of Zanzibar in the early stage.

…

A few days later.

Mandawa, the northernmost part of the Coastal Zone.

“Chase them quickly, even if you can’t catch them, you can’t let them run back! Fire!”

Bang… Bang… Bang…

The panicked natives could only desperately flee north. It had to be said that these natives ran really fast, and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

“Okay, let’s chase them to here! The north is not our target yet. Everyone take a break for now.”

“Captain, how can those black things run so fast? They disappeared in a puff of smoke!”

“That’s because these natives live by hunting. They have to chase all kinds of animals every day, or be chased by animals. Think about how fast lions, cheetahs, and wildebeests run. If these natives can’t catch up or escape, they will starve to death or be eaten! We are different. Our ancestors in the Far East mainly farmed. All our strength was used in the fields, so we can’t run as fast as those natives who compete with wild animals every day.”

…

German commander Roche was studying the map. Currently, Järmann was responsible for the entire East African colony’s military affairs, while Roche was responsible for the Coastal Zone’s military affairs. Therefore, he could be considered the second-in-command in the colony’s military forces.

This time, Roche led the team in the task of driving out the native tribes in the Coastal Zone. These recruits were led by experienced German veterans, mixed with some students from the Blackingen Military Academy as translators.

This Coastal Zone operation was the first large-scale coordinated action, mobilizing a full two thousand three hundred and twenty-one people.

The completion of the action meant that the plan to use Chinese for large-scale military purposes was feasible. Among them, the Blackingen Military Academy played an important connecting role.

But this aroused Ernst’s vigilance. Although the students of the Blackingen Military Academy had been brainwashed and were very loyal to the Hohenzollern family, he still had to be careful that they would form cliques and separate themselves from other Germans.

After all, these students from the Blackingen Military Academy could directly contact and communicate with the soldiers of the colonial army, while German commanders had to rely on the students from the Blackingen Military Academy as translators.

From this, it could be seen how much influence the students of the Blackingen Military Academy had on the bottom-level soldiers of the colony.

For Ernst, any uncontrollable factors had to be destroyed in the bud. After thinking for a long time, Ernst came up with a good idea.

The Blackingen Military Academy could not only have Chinese students, but also white students. Ernst planned to find some orphans in Europe, especially in the German region, and have them learn German and Chinese, and finally develop together with the Chinese students in the colonial army.

In this way, the two could supervise and restrain each other. Studying in the same school would also allow them to communicate and integrate.

In the future, the colony’s army would have white people who could understand the Chinese immigrants. They could understand the immigrants’ true thoughts and report to Ernst at any time.

This was a delaying tactic. What really needed to be done was to start German education in the colony. Once the entire colony spoke German, Ernst could relax a little.

Fortunately, the colony was not large now, and Ernst did not have to worry about anyone trying to cause trouble. The colony was extremely dependent on the Blackingen Consortium, which was why Ernst could remotely control the East African colony.

At the same time, he constantly sent his confidants to East Africa to take up important positions, dividing the colony’s high-level officials. These measures that were beneficial to his centralization of power were not abandoned.

Chapter 37: War

June 14, 1866.

Prussia declared war, citing Austria’s mismanagement of Holstein.

On the day of the declaration, Prussian forces on the western front launched a lightning strike against the northern German states, quickly taking over their government organizations and railway hubs.

Due to the long-standing power and marriage alliances of the Habsburg family of the Austrian Empire, only a few small German states with virtually no military strength supported Prussia. Most of the larger states sided with Austria.

At the last German Confederation Diet, Prussia’s plan to resolve the German question by force was rejected by many countries in the Diet.

This Diet made Prussia realize that it had basically no allies in the German region, so Prussia quickly declared war on these small northern German states after the war began.

At this time, Prussia was divided into two parts on the map, with these scattered small German states in between.

Most of these small countries were surrounded by Prussia, yet they dared to stand with Austria. The Prussian army, not playing by the rules, naturally did not negotiate with these small countries, but directly launched a war to take over their regimes.

Prussia’s determination to unify the entire northern Germany and achieve the Little German Solution this time was unprecedented. Since these small countries did not know what was good for them, they could only be eliminated.

It would have been one thing if those few southern states with a bit of strength opposed Prussia, but these small countries and free cities, with basically no military strength and located in the Prussian heartland, still dared to make a fuss.

As the Prussian army on the western front directly entered the northern German states via the railway lines, these small countries were naturally unable to stop them, and Prussia successfully seized their administrative power.

First eliminate these ungrateful small countries to prevent them from stabbing Prussia in the back, and at the same time, completely ensure the traffic safety of Prussia’s east-west railway network.

The Bohemian battlefield was the main battlefield of the Austro-Prussian War, where both sides gathered hundreds of thousands of troops, but Prussia was clearly more efficient than Austria.

One reason was that in 1862, Prussia’s Albrecht von Roon implemented several military reforms to ensure that all Prussian citizens were obligated to be conscripted.

Prior to this, the size of the army had been determined earlier, without considering population growth, making conscription unfair and unpopular.

Although some Prussians remained in the army or reserve until the age of 40, about one-third of them (even more in some areas where the population had increased significantly due to industrialization) were assigned minimal tasks in their local militia.

The implementation of universal conscription within three years increased the size of the active army and provided Prussia with a reserve force that was comparable in size to Austria’s, and even superior.

Prussia considered that if France under Napoleon III attempted to interfere with Prussian actions, they could also use the reserve system to conscript an equal or greater number of troops to confront Napoleon III’s army.

Prussian conscription was a continuous process of training and drills, while some commanders of the Austrian army routinely sent conscripted infantry home on permanent leave shortly after conscription, keeping only a group of long-term soldiers in the barracks for extended periods or on missions.

Therefore, Austrian conscripted soldiers, when recalled to their units after the outbreak of war, had to be trained almost from scratch.

Therefore, the Prussian army was better trained and more disciplined than the Austrian army, especially in terms of infantry.

Although the Austrian cavalry and artillery were as well-trained as their Prussian counterparts, and Austria possessed two elite heavy cavalry divisions, weapons and tactics had advanced since the Napoleonic Wars, and cavalry charges were outdated.

The Prussian army was based locally, organized by military districts, each containing a corps headquarters and its constituent units. Most reservists lived near their regimental depots and could be mobilized quickly.

Austria’s policy was to ensure that troops were stationed far from their homes to prevent them from participating in separatist rebellions.

Conscripted personnel on leave or reservists recalled to their units during mobilization faced journeys that could take weeks to report to their units, making Austria’s mobilization much slower than that of the Prussian army.

At the same time, Prussia’s railway system was more developed than Austria’s. Railways made it possible to supply more troops than ever before and allowed troops to move quickly within friendly territory. The more efficient Prussian railway network allowed the Prussian army to concentrate faster than the Austrians.

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, in reviewing his plans with Roon, said: “We have the inestimable advantage of being able to bring our 285,000-strong army corps to bear on five railway lines and of virtually being able to concentrate them in twenty-five days. … Austria has only one railway line and it will take her forty-five days to assemble 200,000 men.”

Moltke the Elder had also said earlier, “Nothing could be more welcome to us than to have now the war that we must have.”

The Austrian army in Bohemia was led by Ludwig von Benedek.

Previously considered to enjoy the advantage of “central position” because they were able to concentrate on launching successive offensives along the border.

But the faster Prussian concentration offset this advantage. By the time the Austrians were fully assembled, they were unable to prevent two other Prussian armies from attacking their flanks and rear, threatening their lines of communication, while concentrating on dealing with one Prussian army.

And in the south, the presence of the Italians forced Austria to disperse its forces to fight the Kingdom of Italy, and Austria had even proactively withdrawn from Venetia.

The war situation was unfavorable to Austria from the beginning. The aging Austria had to seek help from Napoleon III, but Napoleon III underestimated Prussia and, despite agreeing to Austria’s request, hesitated to intervene.

On June 23, Prussian forces went straight to Zavidov to the Zittau line to assemble.

On June 26, the Battle of the Jizera River took place between the Prussian and Austrian armies.

The Prussian General Staff, led by Moltke the Elder, meticulously planned the battle formation, concentrating firepower to attack Austria. When the Austrian army concentrated on invading Silesia, he transferred troops to Saxony and Bohemia to meet with King William I of Prussia, who had already assembled a large army there.

On July 3, the Prussian army launched a large-scale offensive and defeated the Austrian army in the Battle of Königgrätz (also known as the Battle of Sadowa). Although the Austrian army had a numerical advantage, its casualties were seven times those of the Prussian army, all because the Prussian army was well-equipped and had effective strategies.

Apart from Saxony, other states had limited impact on the war. The Hanoverian army defeated the Prussian army in the Battle of Langensalza on June 27, but soon surrendered after being besieged by a large army. The Prussian army confronted Bavaria head-on on the Main River, fighting in Nuremberg and Frankfurt. Würzburg in Bavaria was besieged by the Prussian army, but did not surrender until the armistice.

Austria, on the other hand, performed surprisingly well in its operations against Italy, defeating the Italian army in the Battle of Custoza on June 24 and the naval Battle of Lissa (Lissa is now Vis, Croatia) on July 20.

Chapter 38: Reclamation

While Prussia and Austria were locked in fierce battle, the East African colony’s coastal region had already driven out all the natives. Aside from those sold to Zanzibar’s slave traders, a portion was kept for heavy manual labor, and the rest were given back their weapons and released.

Of course, the East African colony wasn’t acting out of kindness by banishing these natives. They had been terrified by the coastal region’s military strength and naturally didn’t dare return. They could only head west or north, inevitably encountering other native tribes. Armed and without land or food, they were bound to clash with other tribes. When they fought to the death, the East African colony would be the oriole behind, ready to claim new land.

Moreover, whether the natives who lost their tribes could survive was uncertain. In short, the goal was to reduce the native population.

It was impossible to plant crops on all the new land, but the areas around the new strongholds could be developed first.

These were mostly places with ample water sources, providing a stable water supply for production and daily life. Although the coastal region also had abundant rainfall, the current East African colony had a small population and didn’t cultivate much land. As long as they found a river, they wouldn’t have to rely on the weather.

As the easternmost district, the coastal region was close to the Indian Ocean and had a humid and hot climate, making it very suitable for rice cultivation.

Naturally, rice was the preferred staple crop for these newly developed lands. Wheat yields would decrease in the high temperatures, so it was more suitable for planting in the western highland areas.

Furthermore, the western part of the East African colony had relatively less rainfall, making it suitable for drought-resistant crops like wheat and millet.

Sisal was currently the colony’s biggest star product. East Africa was suitable for growing many tropical cash crops, such as cotton, bananas, rubber, and coffee…

However, sisal grew best here and had a relatively good market. Competition for other cash crops was more intense.

In addition, cloves were also an important crop for the colony. The Sultanate of Zanzibar was famous for its clove production, so the coastal region, being close to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, didn’t miss out on clove cultivation.

Clove production was relatively low, so sales weren’t a problem. Each time, they could use Dutch ships to transport the cloves directly back to Europe for sale.

The East African colony had already begun to see the use of horses and oxen for plowing. With the increase in new horses, the corresponding plowing facilities were also being arranged.

The colony was also starting to use horses for communication. News that used to take one or two months to travel back from various strongholds could now be delivered within one or two weeks.

The East African colony was also using horses to explore further afield, including gathering intelligence on regions like Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Horse-drawn plowing was prevalent in Europe, which meant that Europe didn’t have the same scarcity of warhorses as ancient East Asia. Horse-drawn plowing made horses necessary production tools, and the people were motivated to raise them.

At the same time, this made cattle less important in Europe, turning them into a common food on the table. That’s why Europeans liked to eat beef and drink milk.

This was also related to Europeans’ inability to properly prepare ingredients. For example, Europeans didn’t castrate male pigs, resulting in pork with a strong boar taint that could only be masked with strong spices.

Of course, modern-day Europe didn’t eat much pork either. Only the German regions ate a lot, and the quantity would further increase after Germany unified in the future.

Beef, on the other hand, only required simple preparation to taste good, naturally making it popular among Europeans. A pat of butter with a little salt could create a simple and delicious steak.

In the East African colony, Ernst naturally chose horse-drawn plowing. Cattle were mainly used for raising meat. The Maasai people of later generations were nomadic people in East Africa who made a living by herding cattle.

Forcing the use of horse-drawn plowing would inevitably increase the demand for horses. As an important means of transportation, horses could improve the East African colony’s transportation capabilities.

After all, the current East African colony had virtually no infrastructure and was still at the walking stage. Only a few Germans were equipped with military horses for travel.

Coupled with East Africa’s flat and open terrain, which was very suitable for horses to gallop, the more horses there were, the better.

Manda, the northernmost part of the coastal region, could now see wisps of smoke rising from chimneys as immigrants began to light fires and cook.

The nearby fields had also been almost completely cultivated. Using waterwheels to draw water from the river into the rice paddies, the entire land was a patchwork of fields.

These rice paddies were all relatively large, using horse-drawn plows to till the land. Of course, some of the work was done using natives as labor.

Some of the land had already been planted with rice seedlings, while others needed more time. To the east was a range of hills used for sisal cultivation.

Rows of sisal plants covered the hills from top to bottom, looking like East Asian tea plantations from afar, circling the low hills in a spectacular fashion.

The recent climate conditions in the coastal region had also been good, with rainfall arriving relatively consistently and rarely being off schedule.

This was one of the benefits of the Indian Ocean. As everyone knew, the El Niño and La Niña phenomena were more pronounced in the Pacific Ocean, exacerbating climate fluctuations in East Asia.

Although the Indian Ocean was also affected, it wasn’t as significant. In East Africa, in addition to the influence of the equator and highland regions, the most important factor was the movement of the trade wind belts. Each year, the southward or northward shift of the trade wind belts would bring a certain amount of rainfall to East Africa.

This created two rainy seasons in East Africa each year. At the same time, the East African coast was also affected by ocean currents, most notably in the coastal region.

Without the Somali Current, rainfall along the East African coast would definitely increase, forming orographic rainfall similar to that in northeastern India.

The stable climate of the East African colony also led to the orderly progress of agricultural production. The colony already had a relatively mature agricultural calendar that could be used to guide and arrange for new immigrants to participate in agricultural production.

Currently, the number of immigrants coming to develop in the East African colony was rapidly increasing, especially from the north, due to the turmoil in the East Asia region.

Influenced by the “Go to Northeast China” movement, residents in the north now had two choices: to develop overseas or to develop in Northeast China.

If they chose to go overseas, East Africa was currently the best option. Because Ernst had made arrangements early, and because the northern regions didn’t have as much contact with the outside world as the southern regions, the immigrant network that Ernst had built in the north was larger and more mature.

In the southern regions, especially the southeast coast, there were more channels. Some people chose to develop in Southeast Asia, while the second destination was the Americas. After all, there were more connections, and many people went abroad together as clans and local groups.

Therefore, immigrants from the south were more united overseas, but internal strife was also quite serious. Because they were also gathered together overseas, forming strongholds similar to Chinatowns, and clan feuds were a characteristic of southern clans, their interests overlapped even more overseas. If you ate a little more, he would eat a little less, so there were more gang fights than in China.

This was also one of the reasons why Ernst dared not choose immigrants from the south. Only those who honestly farmed the land and didn’t cause trouble, especially those who would form groups, were acceptable. Although the Chinese immigrants in the current East African colony were the most numerous, they had no leaders and were just a disorganized mass, which Ernst was very satisfied with.

While Prussia and Austria were engaged in fierce battles in the German regions of Europe, the East African colony was peaceful, and everyone was contributing to the development effort.

Building houses, developing farmland, constructing canals, building new roads, and raising livestock, an agricultural-centered East African colony was being rapidly built.

Chapter 39: The Battle of Lissa

July 20th, Adriatic Sea.

Lissa Island was the naval base of the Austrian Empire in the Adriatic Sea.

After Italy declared war on Austria, it was eager to find a breakthrough on the battlefield. The combat effectiveness of the Italian army was notoriously difficult to describe.

However, the passage from Venice into Austrian territory was indeed not suitable for large-scale marching. Moreover, the Austrian front-line commander had previously taken the initiative to withdraw from Venice, which was difficult to defend. Therefore, the main force was intact, and with the help of terrain advantages, it repeatedly repelled the attacks of the Kingdom of Italy.

The disadvantage in terrain could indeed be used as an excuse for the army, and the Italian army escaped this time.

The Kingdom of Italy, unable to break through the Austrian Empire’s defenses on land, turned to attacking Austria at sea.

At this time, the Italian Navy was recognized as one of the strongest navies in the world, possessing 12 ironclad ships, including the new “Italia” and “Re d’Italia” fast ships, as well as the new turreted warship “Affondatore”, in addition to 16 wooden-hulled steam warships.

In contrast, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had only 7 ironclad ships, and the rest were wooden warships.

With 12 ironclad ships against 7, the advantage was on their side. The Italian Navy commander, Admiral C.C. Persano, decided to launch an attack directly on the Austrian naval base, Lissa Island.

On June 16th, an Italian squadron composed of 11 armored ships, 5 cruisers, and 3 gunboats, under the command of Admiral Persano, set sail from Ancona, attempting to capture Lissa Island (which had 9 permanent fortifications, 11 artillery companies with a total of 88 cannons, and a garrison of nearly 3,000 men) by landing, which served as the naval base of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The attacks on Lissa Island on July 18th and 19th were poorly organized, and the Italian forces were resisted by the Austrian forces because they did not have the necessary intelligence about the defending forces.

The Austro-Hungarian troops defending the island were very tenacious and used artillery to damage the Italian ironclad ship “Re d’Italia”.

While the Italian fleet was preparing to organize another attack, the Austro-Hungarian fleet arrived at dawn on July 20th.

When the Italian fleet set out, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Tegetthoff led his fleet in the port of Pola, 165 nautical miles away.

When he learned that Lissa was under attack, he initially thought it was just a feint.

He found it hard to believe that the Italians would take such a risky action, as the amphibious assault had neither the opportunity for a surprise attack nor the initial control of the sea.

However, the Italian commander, Admiral C.C. Persano, would soon make him understand that reality is often bolder than imagination.

As the Italians launched a full-scale attack, Tegetthoff sailed towards Lissa, and upon reaching the waters near Lissa, he ordered the fleet to prepare for battle. Realizing that his firepower was inferior, he chose an easy-to-charge formation - three “V” shaped longitudinal formations, the first V-shape consisting of the 7 ironclad ships led by him, with the flagship “Ferdinand Max” at the head.

The second “V” shape was composed of wooden-hulled fast ships and a coastal defense ship, led by the “Kaiser”.

He organized the remaining small ships into the third “V” shaped formation.

On the other side, the Italian naval commander Persano’s ships bombarded the fortress batteries on the shore of Lissa for two days, but failed to stop the 88 small-caliber guns on the shore from firing, causing heavy casualties to the Italian fleet.

One Italian ironclad ship lost its attack capability, most of its ammunition was used up, and the fuel was only enough for two days.

However, on the morning of July 20th, Persano began the attack again. As he was bombarding Lissa’s batteries and preparing to send troops ashore, the lookout suddenly reported that the Austro-Hungarian fleet was coming from the northwest.

Panicked, Persano hastily formed his ironclad ships into a column and rushed past the front of the Austro-Hungarian formation.

In this moment of emergency, Persano panicked and moved his flag from the “Re d’Italia” to the “Affondatore”, which was outside the battle formation.

As a result, a large gap appeared between the three Italian warships in front and the warships behind.

The Austrian commander Tegetthoff seized the opportunity and immediately led his vanguard formation of ironclad ships through the gap, while his wooden ships rushed towards Persano’s wooden ships and the remaining ironclad ships.

The battle quickly turned into a melee, with the movement of ships partially obscured by smoke. The “Affondatore” tried twice to ram the wooden “Kaiser” but failed. A shell from the “Kaiser” grazed the “Re d’Italia”, but it caught fire under the opponent’s fire and was eventually driven out of the battle by the “Affondatore”. At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s fire caused an Italian ironclad ship to catch fire and burn.

Tegetthoff’s flagship’s ramming of the “Re d’Italia” was the most spectacular action in this battle.

As the “Ferdinand Max” searched through the smoke of battle, it rammed the “Re d’Italia” on the side, and the Italian warship lost directional control.

Moreover, its front was blocked by another Austro-Hungarian warship, and as it retreated, the “Maximilian” rammed its side at full speed, causing it to list severely to starboard.

As the “Maximilian” slowly retreated, the “Re d’Italia” returned to normal, then tilted to port again under the force of its own momentum and the tons of seawater pouring in through the breach. As it capsized and sank, the poorly trained but highly motivated sailors on board shouted long live their king.

The sinking of the “Re d’Italia” ended the battle, and the Italian fleet retreated westward. Since several ships of the Austro-Hungarian fleet were damaged and still at a disadvantage, Tegetthoff did not pursue. In any case, he had completed the mission of rescuing Lissa, and he returned to Austria as a national hero.

On the Italian side, Persano was dismissed from his post after the war.

The Battle of Lissa was a great victory for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, completely lifting the siege of Lissa. In the naval battle, the Italian fleet suffered heavy losses, losing 3 ironclad ships and more than 1,000 officers and soldiers.

This first battle between steam-powered ironclad ships was remarkable. Navies around the world studied the battle in depth and detail in terms of tactics, armaments, and ship structure.

The role of ironclad ships in this naval battle attracted the attention of various countries, and this naval battle marked the transition of naval combat from the age of sail to the age of steam ironclads.

After this battle, the Italian fleet retreated. The reasons for Italy’s failure were poor reconnaissance, lack of a battle plan, poor communication, and the indecisiveness of Admiral Persano.

The Italian sailors were not well trained, their officers lacked initiative, and their commander, Admiral C.C. Persano, seemed to know nothing about his fleet.

Compared to Persano’s dozen ironclad ships, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had only 7 ironclad ships, all of which were steam-powered fast ships and relatively old.

Their wooden-hulled ships mainly included 1 steam-powered ship “Kaiser”, 5 propeller fast ships, and 1 coastal defense ship. On each wooden-hulled ship, only a small number of cannons were rifled guns. In fact, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s firepower was not even half that of Italy’s.

But their inestimable advantage lay in their fleet commander, Rear Admiral B. von Tegetthoff, whose soldiers were well-trained, both enterprising and proficient in their profession, which the Italian commanders lacked.

As for the Italian commander Persano, he not only did not pay attention to the role of intelligence, but also lacked professional knowledge and was stubbornly arrogant.

Persano initially ignored the order to “wipe out the enemy in the Adriatic Sea” and only made some meaningless movements of the warships at the Ancona base. During this period, he did not train those untrained gunners.

Finally, the Italian King issued a mandatory order, “Attack the enemy’s fortresses or fleets, any action is considered likely to achieve victory.”

Driven by this order, Persano made the strategic decision to capture Lissa, a small island of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In this naval battle, Rear Admiral von Tegetthoff led the fleet to support the defending forces.

The Austro-Hungarian fleet launched a sudden attack, concentrating its fire on the ships in the center of the Italian fleet. However, the artillery battle between armored ships was ineffective.

So the Austro-Hungarian flagship “Erzherzog Ferdinand Max” armored ship rammed the Italian “Re d’Italia” armored ship, which was sunk along with four hundred crew members, thus determining the outcome of the naval battle.

Another Italian warship, the “Palestro”, caught fire after being hit by artillery fire, lost its combat capability, and finally exploded.

All in all, the different abilities of the commanders on both sides led to unexpected results, and the seemingly powerful Italian navy was instead routed.

William von Tegetthoff’s “V” shaped tactic also became famous in the Battle of Lissa.

Later, the Beiyang Fleet once replicated Austria’s “V” shaped tactic, but the results were not satisfactory.

Of course, the Yellow Sea Battle and the Battle of Lissa were completely different. The Austrian Navy was well-trained, while the Italian Navy’s training could not keep up due to its rapid expansion. The Yellow Sea Battle, on the other hand, was a battle between the poorly trained and ammunition-deprived Beiyang Fleet and the well-trained Japanese Navy.

In addition, the Austro-Hungarian fleet’s ramming tactics in the Battle of Lissa were repeatedly effective, so this ancient tactic was revived, and after that, until the beginning of the 20th century, most countries’ warships were equipped with rams.

The Battle of Lissa was the first major naval battle of steam armored ships. The naval battle proved that it was no longer effective to use artillery to deal with armored warships, and steam-powered ships had high mobility, allowing them to quickly transform into various combat formations.

And William von Tegetthoff, Admiral of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, as the victor of the Battle of Lissa, became one of the greatest naval commanders of the nineteenth century.

Chapter 40: Immigrant Army Returns Home

The naval battle of Lisa had ended, but it had no impact on Ernst.

Currently, besides stepping up the supply of materials to both warring parties, Ernst’s biggest concern was accelerating the pace of immigration from the Far East and Europe.

Although the coastal area had been cleared of land, the area was so large that there were not enough people to develop it. Apart from a few newly developed strongholds with a small population, the vast land in between was left uncultivated.

To absorb more immigrants, Ernst sent instructions to the East African colonies to increase the speed of immigration this time, whether by trickery or force, to bring more people from the Far East.

…

July 4th, 1866. Jiaozhou Bay.

A Dutch fleet that had passed through East Africa docked in Jiaozhou Bay. Unlike in the past, this time, along with the staff responsible for the Hechingen Consortium’s immigration affairs, there were also some Chinese who had lived in the East African colonies for a long time.

They were among the first batch of Chinese immigrants to the East African colonies.

Before going to the East African colonies, most of them were sallow and emaciated, unable to even get enough to eat, and almost starved to death. After the Germans recruited workers, they went to sea without much hesitation.

Now, after nearly a year of recuperation in East Africa, they were no longer as thin as they used to be, their faces were ruddy, their bodies were strong, and especially in their eyes, there was a sense of pride that was difficult to describe.

Stepping on the land of their motherland again, they were no longer people of their former country. Now they were all registered Germans, holding the household registration of the East African colonies.

Unlike before, perhaps they used to be afraid of the local dignitaries, but now with the Germans backing them up, they had confidence instead.

At this moment, they were carrying guns and negotiating with German and Qing officials.

Since Germany was not yet unified, the Hechingen Consortium could not fly the flag of the German Empire. Therefore, to deter these Qing officials who bullied the weak and feared the strong, this East African Chinese immigrant army, burdened with a mission, was armed.

Having received training from German instructors, the Chinese immigrant army responsible for negotiating with foreigners in Jiaozhou Bay looked quite impressive.

Although the guns were outdated front-loading flintlocks, only the Prussian army had massively replaced them with breech-loading flintlocks on a global scale. Moreover, these guns were not second-hand goods retired from Prussia, but new guns produced by the Hechingen armory.

Paired with custom-made, brightly colored Prussian military uniforms, they were simply the East African branch of Prussia. In the eyes of the Manchu Qing diplomatic officials who came to negotiate, they indeed had something about them. Compared with the Qing army at this time, they were simply disciplined and a model of a royal army.

This Manchu Qing official was the port administrator of Jiaozhou Bay, and he had previously known that a so-called “German merchant team” had come here to trade.

Because of the troubles caused by the British, French, and even Dutch and Portuguese in recent years, Qing officials did not dare to offend merchants or even ordinary people from Europe too much.

What if a diplomatic incident was triggered, giving these foreign barbarians an excuse to declare war? Could the Emperor spare us?

In previous years, foreigners had attacked the Forbidden City from the sea. This Jiaozhou Bay was even less safe than the Emperor’s palace. The cannons of the foreign ships were enough to cause trouble.

Therefore, in the past, Qing officials turned a blind eye to the actions of the Hechingen Consortium’s company, for fear of causing trouble.

The way to be an official was to be flexible, not seeking merit, but seeking no fault. Usually, Qing officials would also help the Hechingen Consortium’s staff, for fear of foreigners causing trouble.

But today was different. No matter how incompetent or weak they were, they could not turn a blind eye. The foreigners who landed today were carrying an army of a hundred or so people. What were they going to do?

After receiving the report from the dock’s informants, the dock manager did not dare to neglect it and directly reported it to the government. The highest official of Jiaozhou Port did not dare to come forward and sent his deputy, Wang Qiangui, to find out the news.

Wang Qiangui cursed in his heart, but he did not dare to oppose his superior. After calling a few government runners, he came to the dock to understand the situation.

“Mr. Anthony! May I ask what your company is doing?” Wang Qiangui carefully probed.

Anthony, a staff member of the Hechingen Consortium, pulled Wang Qiangui, who looked disgusted but pretended to be flattered, over and said, “Haha, Wang, you came just in time. This is our company’s private armed force. This time, we are mainly here to assist our company in recruiting workers throughout North China!”

“Mr. Anthony, although we are all ‘friendly nations’, we have our own difficulties. After all, your country’s army will embarrass the high-level officials of our government!”

Wang Qiangui immediately identified the “conspiracy” of these Prussian barbarians. Clearly, it was an army, but they said it was a private armed force? Could the uniforms, posture, and spirit of these people be displayed by a group of servants?

Wang Qiangui was right about the spirit. Many immigrants in the East African colonies had seen blood. After all, the natives would not obediently submit, and they had to take the initiative to attack.

The colonies would give priority to those immigrants who had lived in the colonies for a period of time when choosing Chinese immigrant troops.

In addition to being physically strong after a period of recuperation, the main reason was that the colonial high-level officials were more cautious about new immigrants, and these old immigrants were “their own people” who had been tested by time.

Although the Chinese immigrant army did not speak and were neatly lined up behind Anthony, Wang Qiangui still felt a faint murderous aura.

Anthony explained, “Wang, I know your concerns, but we Germans have come with goodwill. We have heard that your country has a large population, especially idle people. Therefore, we are here to recruit workers as usual! After all, you don’t need these people who are unable to find employment, and we need people to develop the land. If we send your surplus population to our Germany, wouldn’t you have fewer hidden dangers?”

Wang Qiangui was not worried about this. What employment and what surplus population did he know? He was just making a living in the government, at most reading the Four Books and Five Classics and looking at the gazettes.

“Mr. Anthony, it’s not that I’m making things difficult for your country, but this army is not easy to handle! If your army encounters some accidents with our troublemaking civilians, I won’t be able to keep my job! My whole family depends on it for food! Please understand our situation!”

Seeing that Wang Qiangui was not giving in to either soft or hard tactics, Anthony became angry. Was he giving him face?

“Wang, I am now solemnly warning you that if you cannot agree to our request, then be prepared for war!” Anthony threatened war as soon as he opened his mouth. In fact, Anthony could not mobilize anyone other than the soldiers composed of the Chinese immigrants in front of him.

But even so, Wang Qiangui still flinched and quickly said, “Mr. Anthony! Don’t be excited, don’t be excited, things are not that serious. It’s just that this official is of low rank and has little power and cannot make a decision. Please wait a moment, I will notify my superior immediately and will definitely not keep you waiting!”

Saying that, Wang Qiangui ordered his subordinates to stay here and ran towards the government in a puff of smoke.

…

“Lord, Lord, you should make a decision! Otherwise, if the Prussian barbarians really cause trouble, will the Emperor spare us?”

“Tell me in detail about the details of this Prussia, and this official will think of a way!” the fat-headed and big-eared official said.

Despising this incompetent superior in his heart, Wang Qiangui said, “Lord, this Prussian barbarian is also considered a strong country in Europe, second only to Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and other countries. I heard that Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and this Prussia belong to the same echelon…”

After listening for a long time, this superior understood, they could not win.

“Then what is the purpose of their trip?”

Uh…

Wang Qiangui still said, “As in the past, they said they are recruiting workers to work overseas.”

“In that case, what are you afraid of! How much are a few troublemaking civilians worth? Send them away first. Remember to send someone to keep an eye on them, but don’t let them come to the government. If they are really recruiting workers, other local officials should worry. If they are not recruiting workers but have other intentions, as long as it is not too serious, don’t interfere. If they come to the government… you must report it in time. Then this official will return to the capital to ask for some helpers, and you will temporarily preside over the affairs on behalf of this official.”

In this way, the colonial immigrant army and the liaison office staff responsible for recruiting workers swaggered towards the inland. The local governments along the way did not dare to stop them, and even helped them in their work of recruiting workers in the inland.

After all, they were all asking for peasants, who were not worth much.

Chapter 41: Returning Home in Glory

July 13th, 1866, Far East.

Wang Dazhi was an old member of the Chinese immigrants in the East African colony, and now a member of the coastal area’s Chinese immigrant army.

Just a month ago, the higher-ups of the East African colony’s Chinese immigration office found Wang Dazhi and discussed using his Chinese identity to go back to the Qing Empire to recruit people.

The current Qing government had just quelled the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebellion not long ago. The south had suffered from war for a long time, greatly alleviating the contradiction between people and land. Since the Song Dynasty, the economic center had shifted south, and the south was a densely populated area. Although the mutual conquest between the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Qing government had created a large number of vacant lands, after the end of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the population of the surrounding areas could quickly fill these vacancies.

In the north, the rise and colonial expansion of Tsarist Russia directly threatened the Qing people’s place of origin. Previously, they were afraid that the Chinese would damage the Qing people’s ancestral land and dragon veins, but now that the Russians were about to invade, they couldn’t care about the distinction between Qing and Han. In order to populate the border through immigration, the Qing government relaxed restrictions on immigration to the Northeast, and a large number of Chinese poured into the Northeast, which was known as “Venturing into the Northeast.”

In the relatively northwest Shanxi and Shaanxi areas, they also had an immigration route, which was to cultivate land for those princes and nobles in Inner Mongolia, which was known as “Going Through the West Pass.”

The main option for immigrants from the East African colony was the north. They would be transported back to East Africa by ship through the northern seaports.

The common people in the north currently had two choices: one was to go to the Northeast, and the other was to go to East Africa. Compared to a foreign country, their own land was of course the first choice, so when choosing, most immigrants chose to bring their families to venture into the Northeast.

This was also why the East African colony wanted to bring over the old immigrants who were already living in East Africa this time. Otherwise, if these Chinese didn’t see tangible benefits, who would believe the words of you foreign devils?

As for the south, it was not so easy to recruit people. In addition to the new living space created after the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement, the locals also had two paths to choose from. One was to go to the Americas from the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta. The Americans’ current advantage was something the Germans could not compare with. Even the British and French would recruit some Chinese to serve as thugs in their colonies.

The second was the south, especially the southeast coast and the southwest border. They themselves could go to the Nanyang region to start businesses and develop, because of the convenience of maritime transportation, or because of their proximity to the border. Since ancient times, many people had gone to Nanyang or Southeast Asia to make a living.

The south was originally full of clans and kinship groups. Their self-organized hometown associations would also recruit people in the south, so it was the most difficult for the East African colony to recruit people in the south. Not to mention the many competitors, the conditions they offered were not very attractive.

How could these Chinese spontaneously go to the East African colony? Unless they really distributed land to these Chinese, then they would definitely bring their families to East Africa to develop.

But Ernst would not give away land for nothing. The land in East Africa was Ernst’s private property and would be of great use in the future. Giving away land directly would not necessarily bring gratitude, but might also cultivate ingrates.

Only when it was time to distribute the land would Ernst give these Chinese immigrants land property rights.

That was during war. Only those who risked their lives and had proven their loyalty would Ernst distribute land to meritorious people in the form of military merit.

If the land in East Africa was distributed now, what would Ernst use to buy people’s hearts when countries like Britain and France began to eye the land in Africa? Still land.

Moreover, in Ernst’s vision, the agriculture of East Africa in the future would be intensive, rather than the form of small-scale farmers being self-sufficient. If you worked for the Hohenzollern family, I would give you land. The more you worked, the more land you would get. This would lead to the birth of countless large-scale farms in East Africa.

If everyone could really get two or three acres of land, then the Chinese would dare to have children. It would be fine if the colony was short of people in the early stage, but what if there was no shortage of people later? By then, no matter how fast East Africa developed, it was estimated that it would not be able to keep up with the rapid population growth.

Therefore, Ernst carefully considered the issue of immigration and the way of life after immigrating to East Africa. In any case, it could not be too radical. East Africa was there and could not run away.

Even if countries like Britain and France began to divide Africa, Ernst estimated that there would still be five million people in the East African region at that time. Not to mention five million, even with three hundred thousand and the help of the German Empire, Ernst would dare to have a major African war with the British.

……

Mopan Village, an unremarkable small village in North China.

Today the village was very lively, not because of any festival, but because Wang Dazhi, who had left a year ago, had returned.

Wang Dazhi’s return was not surprising, what really made the villagers feel novel was that Wang Dazhi returned with foreigners, and there were several soldiers behind him, all holding real weapons.

At first, the villagers didn’t dare to show their faces when they saw a group of people with foreign guns coming to the entrance of the village. In this chaotic era, who dared to join in the fun and risk their lives?

Fortunately, everyone knew Wang Dazhi. He took a loudspeaker and publicized it everywhere in the village.

“Folks, don’t be afraid, I’m Wang Dazhi! Don’t you remember me? Now I’m rich, and I’m here today to take you to live a good life.”

Wang Dazhi was wearing a military uniform, looking quite presentable, strutting around the village. When he walked to the depths of the village, several acquaintances pulled Wang Dazhi into a house.

“Dazhi, is that really you! My God, you’re so fat I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Wang Dazhi almost didn’t recognize the dark and thin scarecrow in front of him.

“Aren’t you Old Xu from the end of the village? How are you doing? Now that your brother is rich, I’m here to take you to live a good life.”

Old Xu walked around Wang Dazhi twice, and said in surprise: “You kid really got rich, now the clothes you wear are all fancy! Looking at your outfit, you wouldn’t have joined the army, would you!”

Although Old Xu didn’t recognize the Prussian military uniform, the soldiers behind Wang Dazhi when he entered the village couldn’t fool anyone. They were carrying real weapons.

Wang Dazhi said with a smile: “Where, where, I am now the deputy captain of the 25th squad of the coastal division of the Chinese Immigrant Army in the East African colony.” He said with a smug look on his face.

Old Xu asked curiously: “You really became an official! That’s great, but what is this East African colony, and what is this coastal area? How big is your official position?”

When Wang Dazhi heard Old Xu ask about himself, he immediately beamed and said: “Now I am not what I used to be. My official position is not very big, and I only manage five or six people. Don’t look down on this small official position, but there is a lot of attention to it. I am not an ordinary official, but an official for the Germans. You don’t know, just this outfit of mine, I walked hundreds of miles from Jiaozhou all the way here. The big officials I met on the road all had to see me off with courtesy.”

Wang Dazhi continued to pretend: “You know that Mayor Li in our town, right? He was still bowing and scraping to me before I returned to the village!”

Old Xu said in surprise: “Being a soldier for those Germans is so prestigious? Even officials are shorter than you!”

“Old Xu! You are really ignorant. Do you know about the foreigners who invaded the Forbidden City a few years ago?”

“Of course I… heard people say it.”

“That’s right, now even the emperor is afraid of foreigners, let alone the soldiers of foreigners? Look at me, I was originally an old farmer in the village who couldn’t afford to eat. After my land was taken back by the Wang landlord, didn’t I go to Jiaozhou to beg for food? I heard that I could carry bags at the Jiaozhou wharf to earn some money, so I went. As a result, I met a German boss who was recruiting people, saying that he wanted us to farm for them. I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time, after all, I was about to starve to death, and I couldn’t find a job. I was so hungry that I was skin and bones. The manager at the wharf saw that I was about to die, so he didn’t take me in. Fortunately, the Germans were recruiting people, and they gave me food as soon as I signed up, so I signed up, and then ate a few days of free food and got on the ship.”

Wang Dazhi recalled the past and couldn’t help but sigh: “On the ship, I vomited and had diarrhea. Fortunately, it didn’t take long before I arrived on land. Later, I heard people say that it was East Africa. The German boss wanted to develop the land and was short of manpower, so I was recruited. In the beginning, I just farmed. There was a lot of land there, and no crops were planted. The local natives lived by hunting lions and wild animals, and the land was all barren. The German boss let us Chinese develop these lands.”

“Later, there were more and more people. At this time, the German officers in East Africa began to look for men among our group to be soldiers, and people like me were selected.”

Old Xu asked curiously: “Isn’t this the same as the Qing Empire? If you can’t afford to eat, you go to be a soldier!”

“It’s not the same, Old Xu.” Wang Dazhi quickly said to Old Xu: “Can being a soldier of the Qing Empire be the same as being a soldier of Germany? Let me tell you, do you know how many meals I eat every day?” Wang Dazhi said with a sense of superiority.

“Two meals? That’s not bad.”

Wang Dazhi said to Old Xu with a look of disgust: “You really dare to think, the Germans are not so stingy, I eat three meals a day, and I can also have meat once a week. This is Western fabric, and I can also receive a little salary every month.”

Saying that, he handed the cuff to Old Xu and others and said: “You all touch this clothes, what a good material, how smooth.”

Old Xu and a few people touched it, and it was true. Wang Dazhi was doing really well. When he was in the village before, you could see his ribs through his clothes. Now he was not only fat, but also had a ruddy complexion. You could tell at a glance that he was well-fed, and he was also wearing decent clothes.

But Old Xu still asked cautiously: “Are these foreign masters so good to you? They’re not calling you to sell your lives.”

Wang Dazhi said with disgust: “Selling your life is not your turn! And you don’t know, in that place in East Africa, we only encircle and suppress the natives. Those natives are holding clubs, and the better ones are holding stone spears. I can shoot one down from a distance, they are very weak.”

Hearing this, Old Xu and others began to think about it. What Wang Dazhi said really made people feel itchy. Who doesn’t want to live a good life? But who knows if you, Wang Dazhi, are just picking the good things to say.

“Brother Dazhi, is East Africa so good, is there no shortcomings at all?”

Wang Dazhi understood that these people were still not at ease, and said comfortingly: “Life is a good life, if I say there are no shortcomings, you definitely won’t believe it. There is really one shortcoming.”

“Brother Dazhi, what is it?” Several people asked curiously.

“The shortcoming is that there are too many men over there, and too few women, but don’t worry, when you go there, you won’t have to worry about wives in the future.”

“Isn’t that a contradiction, Brother Dazhi.”

“You are confused! Think about it, is it easy to find a wife in the Qing Empire? There are not a bunch of bachelors, why? Isn’t it because they think you are poor? If you go to East Africa for a few years, you can at least save some money, and your body can be nourished. When you come back in the future, you will be strong and have money. Which girl won’t look up to you?”

Wang Dazhi then whispered to a few people: “To tell you the truth, I came back this time to solve the wife problem. The officer told me that when I return, I will spend money to buy one in Nanyang. There are connections there, of course, the premise is that I do a good job!”

“You see, now I have money, a livelihood, and even a wife. Isn’t this getting rich? So can I lie to you? Hurry up and help me publicize it in the village, especially those old bachelors. If you don’t act now, you will be single for the rest of your life!”

When a few people heard this, they became anxious and said to Wang Dazhi: “Brother Dazhi, how many people are you recruiting? If there are too many people, will you not want them? You can’t forget us first when there are good things!”

Wang Dazhi looked at the anxious people and waved his hands and said: “Don’t worry, don’t worry, you don’t have to be afraid of someone robbing you, there is a lot of land there, and there is a shortage of people, no matter how many come, they will all be wanted. Like this, if you can recruit a few more people in the village, I can say a few good words for you in front of the officer and find a good place for you.”

When a few people heard this, they immediately assured Wang Dazhi that they would definitely live up to his expectations. Soon this propaganda team went to every household in the village to publicize, and they blew it even more exaggerated than Wang Dazhi, almost saying that East Africa was heaven, and if they were late, they wouldn’t be able to eat hot food.

Chapter 42: The Immigration Rush

There were many recruiters like Wang Dazhi, who went deep into their hometowns to promote the benefits of the East African colony and dispel the concerns of the Chinese.

Of course, it also provided an opportunity for these illiterate and ignorant suffering people. Without access to information or someone to guide them, ordinary people would not easily step into unfamiliar territory.

Who wanted to starve in their hometown? They didn’t know before, or didn’t have the means. Now that they knew, what did selling their lives matter as long as they had food to eat!

The most exaggerated case was a recruiter named Zhang Gensheng. His hometown was suffering from a drought, and his return caused a strong reaction. Even villagers from neighboring villages took the initiative to sign up.

These disaster-stricken people didn’t know what the East African colony was like, but Zhang Gensheng didn’t look like he had suffered. In this era, you could basically determine how well a person was doing by their appearance. Most ordinary people had sallow complexions and visible bones, without a trace of fat.

But Zhang Gensheng, standing there, was in the robust state that people of this era sought, representing a full stomach.

Moreover, who around didn’t know about Zhang Gensheng? When foreigners came to recruit workers back then, everyone watched Zhang Gensheng board the “pirate ship” with a sense of amusement, since they were barely making ends meet and figured foreigners couldn’t have good intentions.

Some even spread rumors that Western devils were man-eating demons, and Zhang Gensheng would never return once he left. But now, a year had passed, and Zhang Gensheng had returned, disproving the rumors.

Looking at Zhang Gensheng in his fancy clothes and high spirits, the disaster-stricken people naturally asked all sorts of questions. As for Zhang Gensheng shaving his queue, no one cared much. Didn’t they see the local officials bowing and scraping when his group arrived?

This showed that they weren’t afraid of the government at all. After all, only revolutionaries or the long-haired rebels from the south shaved their queues in this era’s Qing Dynasty.

The government would never treat such people politely. They would be dragged away immediately, imprisoned at best, or shot at worst.

Zhang Gensheng clearly didn’t belong to either of these categories, so the villagers he knew asked him about the situation, and Zhang Gensheng naturally answered everything he knew.

Hearing Zhang Gensheng’s description, the villagers were excited. They couldn’t believe there was such a good thing in the world. The villagers who couldn’t even get enough to eat naturally spread the word.

So the nearby villages also learned about this. There’s strength in numbers, so these villagers thought that going to the East African colony together would provide mutual support.

It was understandable that these immigrants thought this way. Unfortunately, the East African colony wouldn’t keep these people together. They would be scattered and assigned to various parts of the colony, which these villagers naturally wouldn’t know.

As a result, more than a thousand people in the area Zhang Gensheng was responsible for signed up to go to East Africa that day. This made things difficult for the Jiaozhou Bay staff, who had to urgently allocate a batch of food and medicine before arranging for these people to leave.

And as a result, they had to report to the higher-ups and ask for more ships, while also notifying the East African colony to prepare more food to receive this batch of immigrants.

Ernst also bought a batch of grain from Europe and sent it to East Africa to stockpile in preparation.

In this way, people from the Shandong and Zhili regions north of Jiaozhou mostly chose to try their luck in the Northeast, while those south of Jiaozhou, especially in the border areas of Anhui, Henan, and Shandong provinces, chose to go to East Africa. One thing that was very effective in recruiting people for the East African colony was that it provided meals on the way to the port and free food all the way to East Africa. Once in East Africa, they had to participate in labor.

There was naturally nothing they could do about those who really didn’t want to leave their homeland, but they would regret it in the future. Whether East Africa was paradise or not was not important. What was important was that East Asia was hell right now.

According to the East African colony’s population registration, this campaign to persuade Chinese to return home and immigrate resulted in more than 50,000 immigrants arriving in the East African colony within the next three months.

The surge in population quickly filled the vacant land in the coastal area of the East African colony. Neighboring Zanzibar only had a little over one hundred thousand people, while the coastal new district quickly approached sixty thousand after this immigration campaign.

It was only because Ernst had a large and prosperous business that he could accept fifty thousand people in a short period of time!

Another winner in this immigration was the Dutch. Ernst had signed a long-term agreement with the Dutch, and these commissions were basically fixed.

But this sudden surge in immigration required temporarily renting more ships from the Dutch, so the price naturally had to be increased.

Afterward, the Dutch fleet was divided into three batches, arriving at the East African colony every six days, unloading people at the port of Dar es Salaam and immediately returning to East Asia for another trip.

After these immigrants arrived in the East African colony, some would be assigned to the western regions under construction, such as the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) area and the Soren Lake (Lake Tanganyika) area…

But most would first fill the vacant land in the coastal area. After driving away the natives, the land here had been barren.

Now that manpower was available, they were immediately divided into groups and arranged to enter the hinterland of the coastal area for reclamation, starting from the north and continuing south to near the First Town.

The continuous flow of immigrants did give the Zanzibaris in the port of Dar es Salaam a small shock. After the Sultan of Zanzibar heard about the huge commotion caused by the immigrants, he didn’t take any action, but instead laid even flatter. It could be said that the East African colony had completely established itself.

Even if Zanzibar and Portugal united, they couldn’t shake the East African colony’s rule in the area. Relying on military threats before was only a short-term measure. Now that the population had increased, it was true long-term stability.

With the help of these immigrants, more than one hundred villages were formed in the coastal area. These villages were roughly on the scale of several hundred people. The three strongholds built later were upgraded to three town-level administrative regions due to population expansion. A town-level administrative region had one or two thousand people.

As long as the population of these towns increased a little more, Ernst planned to put some simple primary industries here to form some urban prototypes with some industries.

Moreover, this immigration was no longer dominated by individuals as in the past. Affected by natural disasters, some small families also came to East Africa collectively to make a living.

In order to facilitate rule and management, these immigrants were scattered, and immigrants from various regions were mixed together to form new villages.

Therefore, the residents of these new villages might not even speak the same dialect. Everyone was unfamiliar with each other, so they naturally relied more on the coordination and management of the colony.

Brand new iron farm tools were distributed to these immigrants. The immigrants who received the means of production were full of energy. With the help of advanced farm tools and some native captives, plus horses and cattle.

The immigrants developed nearly five hundred thousand acres of land, accounting for ten percent of the total land area of the coastal area, thirty percent of the arable land area, and seventy percent of the irrigable arable land area.

Among them, the paddy field area reached two hundred thousand acres, and it is estimated that a single season can harvest thirty million kilograms of rice. After deducting rations (one catty of rice produces about six taels of rice), there will still be eight million catties of surplus. The remaining land is planted with sisal and other crops.

Among them, grain is used for further immigration and expansion needs, so there are no plans for export, and five percent of the value brought by sisal exports is used to distribute wages to colonial immigrants and management personnel. After all, the residents of the colony can’t use it, because there are no entertainment venues and other consumption places in East Africa, so Ernst doesn’t need to pay them too much wages, which is more symbolic.

In this way, the land to be cultivated by immigrants in the East African colony is more than eight acres per person, and the physical labor is still very large, but Ernst has not treated them badly in terms of rations, which is almost close to the per capita staple food consumption of later generations, so even if he does not pay them wages, Ernst has no burden in his heart.

After all, in the Far East, you can’t get enough to eat even if you work yourself to death, but in the East African colony, although it is still very tiring, the food is far better than all countries in the East Asian region.

Moreover, although there is a lot of land to be cultivated, the intensity is not as high as imagined. For example, the quality of these agricultural tools shipped from Europe is much better than that of the Far East, and the use of livestock plus native labor and collective operations have reduced the labor intensity.

Moreover, there is no need for the intensive cultivation like in the Far East. Pesticides and fertilizers are shipped from Europe, and farmland management is relatively rough.

Of course, in order to improve the production enthusiasm of these immigrants, the colony has also formulated an effective reward and punishment system. Those who do well eat well, especially the distribution of meat. Those who do not do well may go hungry and have to do compulsory labor as punishment.

During the slack season, the East African colony’s coastal area organized the construction of 196 kilometers of primitive dirt roads, basically connecting the six most important towns in the coastal area.

By the end of October, 1866, the entire East African colony had more than 97,000 new and old immigrants plus Germans. In the Tanganyika part of the East African colony, important locations and land were basically controlled.

And between these immigrant strongholds, there are still vast areas of land occupied by local natives, whose number may exceed three million. In addition to the coastal area, there are still considerable native tribes in other areas.

Compared with these huge numbers of natives, the East African colony can be said to have initially completed the strategy of cities (towns) surrounding the countryside (tribes).

But immigrants are still constantly coming to this land in East Africa from the Far East, which provides conditions for the further expansion of the East African colony.

Chapter 43: Administrative Divisions

The increase in immigrants undoubtedly gave the East African colony greater development potential. However, population growth also increased the difficulty of managing the colony, especially given the current chaotic administrative planning of the East African colony, which made colonial management even more challenging.

This situation forced Ernst to systematically reorganize the administrative institutions of the East African colony and establish a new system of governance. Only under a new administrative division could colonial data be better collected and plans implemented based on specific circumstances.

For example, the Coastal District was established on a whim by Ernst as the highest-level administrative unit in the current East African colony after the land and population reached a certain scale.

The Lake Soden District and the Great Lakes District were established with reference to the Coastal District, but their scale at the time of establishment was only equivalent to that of a town in the Coastal District.

In the beginning, the number of colonial strongholds and immigrants was very small, so it was easy to count and manage.

Now the population scale has been reached, and some areas have developed. The Coastal District alone is equivalent to more than the sum of all other East African colonies.

Within the vast Coastal District, an administrative division with three levels has already formed. One is the Coastal District, with its capital in the First Town, which is also the location of the highest ruling body of the colony.

Below that are the First Town, Second Town, and so on, small towns with relatively dense populations.

Below the First Town, Second Town, and other small towns are the newly established villages, which are distributed around the six small towns.

In other areas, apart from the nondescript Lake Soden District and Great Lakes District, there are scattered strongholds like Karonga and Mbeya, but they are essentially at the same level as the former three.

In short, the current management of the East African colony is relatively chaotic, and the names are also quite arbitrary.

After Ernst spent a long time drawing on the map with a pencil and ruler, a preliminary administrative division of the East African colony was born.

First, the supreme management hub of the East African colony, the East African Colonial Government, was still established in the First Town, which was planned separately from the Coastal District. The Second Town was also incorporated into the First Town.

Second, the provincial-level administrative regions of the East African colony, also known as regions, were divided into ten blocks.

The original Coastal District was renamed Upper Coastal District, with the Third Town (Kitunga) as the seat of the administrative body.

Below the Upper Coastal District were naturally two new districts to be planned: the Central Coastal Province, with its capital in the Rufiji River’s Lusenda area, and the Lower Coastal District, with its capital in Ruanda.

These three coastal districts are distributed from north to south, close to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, with the northern part reaching into Kenya and the southern part bordering the Portuguese forces.

To the west of the Upper Coastal District is the Northern Highlands District, with its capital in Karatu.

To the west of the Central Coastal District is the Central Highlands District, with its capital in Dodoma.

To the west of the Lower Coastal District is the East Malawi Lake District, with its capital in Songea.

North of Lake Malawi is the Upper Malawi Lake District, with its capital in Mbeya.

Then, the East African colony established the Great Lakes District around the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) area, with its capital in Mwanza.

East of Lake Soden (Lake Tanganyika) is the Soden District, with its capital in Kigoma.

And in between the Soden District and the Central Highlands District, another Great Savannah District was established, with its capital in Tabora.

In this way, the ten major regional-level administrative divisions of the East African colony were completed.

They are: Upper Coastal District (Third Town), Central Coastal District (Lusenda), Lower Coastal District (Ruanda), East Malawi Lake District (Songea), Upper Malawi Lake District (Mbeya), Central Highlands District (Dodoma), Northern Highlands District (Karatu), Great Savannah District (Tabora), Great Lakes District (Mwanza), Soden District (Kigoma).

Then there is the urban administrative division. In addition to the capitals of each major region, some places suitable for population gathering will also be designated as cities, such as Karonga, located on the shore of Lake Malawi. Because the Upper Malawi Lake District already has Mbeya as its capital, Karonga can only be designated as a separate city.

Finally, there are the most basic villages, that is, natural villages, which are generally managed by the surrounding towns as the center.

The current East African colony does not have counties as administrative units. Instead, it has towns similar to those in the German regions, while the major regions of the East African colony refer to the states of the later German Federation.

This set of administrative division designs will be used as an administrative plan for the transitional stage. In the future, the East African colony will change with the expansion beyond Tanganyika.

Among them, the Central Coastal District, Lower Coastal District, and East Malawi Lake District have not been brought under actual control, and this will also be an expansion goal for the East African colony in the future.

…

Two kilometers north of Manda Town, in the new Upper Coastal District, is the newly established Longka Village, under the administrative scope of Manda Town.

This village is currently the northernmost village in the Upper Coastal District, with approximately 400 villagers, including a five-member Chinese immigrant-formed colonial security team to guard against incursions by northern indigenous tribes.

Although the East African colony has already conducted an expulsion operation in the Upper Coastal District, it has not completely encircled and suppressed the nearby tribes due to manpower reasons, so there is still the possibility of tribal incursions.

After all, although the East African colony has driven them to the surrounding areas, they have also lost the land and environment on which they depend for survival.

If they cannot find new resources to maintain their livelihoods, some natives may take the risk of entering the Upper Coastal District.

For the safety of these immigrants, the East African colony has arranged five or six-person village security teams in each village, headed by a German who is also the village head, responsible for the village’s daily production activities and the village’s security issues.

Liu Damao was an honest and hardworking farmer from North China. He originally had two or three acres of land in his previous village, and he could make ends meet in good years.

This year, there was a drought there, and the wheat harvest was almost completely wiped out. Forced by desperation, Liu Damao had to borrow some grain from the landlord. Although it met the temporary minimum living requirements, Liu Damao’s only two or three acres of land were also taken away by the Zhou landlord because he could not repay the grain.

Coincidentally, Zhang Gensheng, from the same village, returned from the East African colony to recruit people to reclaim land in East Africa, and Liu Damao, who had no way out, signed up.

In this way, Liu Damao had no choice but to come to the East African colony to make a living. When he first arrived in the East African colony, Liu Damao first went to the First Town.

After registering, he was assigned to Longka Village. After several days of traveling, he and his companions, led by the colonial security team, arrived in Manda Town, and then received basic living supplies and production tools in Manda Town.

When Liu Damao first arrived in Longka Village, he felt that the environment here was not bad. The terrain was relatively open, and the vegetation was relatively lush, but such good land was being wasted at will.

Longka Village belongs to the Tanga region of later Tanzania, where natural conditions are very favorable and suitable for agricultural development.

Under the leadership of the German village head, Liu Damao and other villagers developed the land around Longka Village.

They built canals along the river, built waterwheels, and diverted the river water to the shore. They plowed the land along these canals, and plots of farmland were developed.

The soil here has accumulated over thousands of years, and at the same time, no one has developed these lands, so the soil is very fertile, and the crops grow very well.

The East African colony took care of Liu Damao and others’ food, clothing, housing, and transportation, so they had no worries. However, they had to work on time every day and complete the planned production workload.

For example, there is a minimum limit to how much land each person has to develop each day. If they cannot complete these tasks, then food rations will be reduced, and those who fall behind will be punished. The Germans are responsible for supervising the work, and the Chinese security forces under their command will patrol the immigrants’ work.

The Chinese security forces in the village have their weapons and ammunition provided by Manda Town. They are responsible for the village’s security and alert work. If enemies are discovered, the German village head will temporarily issue ammunition.

There are more than 100 small villages like Longka Village in the entire new Upper Coastal District, which are managed by four towns.

The reason why small towns like Manda Town have a slightly denser population is that their geographical location is more advantageous, and most of them are close to sufficient water sources, so production conditions are better than these small villages.

In the East African colony, there are also some towns that are located on transportation routes, connecting the entire East African colony, so they are not greatly affected by the natural environment.

Just as the Upper Coastal District was carrying out a vigorous agricultural development, an exploration team from the East African colony had already begun to head south. The places they were going to were the Central Coastal District and the Lower Coastal District planned on the map.

In the beginning, the East African colony’s expansion direction was mainly to the western inland, so it neglected the southern region close to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The focus was also on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi in later years, as well as important cities and regions such as Dodoma, the capital of later Tanzania.

This diverted the colony’s energy, and the southern part of the original Coastal District was neglected. Now, Ernst’s newly planned administrative division of the East African colony has brought the southern region of Tanzania back into focus, so the colony has begun to advance to the south.

Chapter 44: New European Situation

August 23, 1866, German region.

Prussia and Austria signed a ceasefire treaty in Prague, ending the Austro-Prussian War.

Because the war only lasted seven weeks, it was also known as the Seven Weeks’ War, and the war resulted in the defeat of the Austrians.

This war laid the foundation for Prussia’s unification of Germany, resolving Austria, the biggest obstacle on Prussia’s path to unifying Germany.

Austria, because of this war, not only lost its leadership in the German region, but also triggered a domestic political crisis.

Due to the failure of the war and the rise of separatism, Austria had to compromise with the nobles in the Hungarian region. The Austrian Empire was about to become a thing of the past, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was about to enter the historical stage.

As a dual monarchy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire naturally could not compare with the monolithic Austrian Empire. Just in terms of the future, the infighting and struggles between the nobles of the two regions would divert most of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s energy. Austria basically lost its influence on the European continent.

The Austro-Prussian War was so short that Ernst only made a small fortune from the war. Once the war ended, the Hechingen Consortium returned to its original track.

This war still had some impact on Ernst. For example, Prussia basically established its dominant position in Germany, and as the place where the Hechingen Consortium started, the Hechingen Consortium would enter a faster stage of development with Prussia’s increasing influence in the German region.

The Hechingen Consortium’s goods would become easier and more convenient to enter the German states, and the Hechingen Development Bank could also better carry out its business in the German region.

The Austro-Prussian War can be said to have shocked the entire European continent. Britain, France, and Russia did not expect the Austrians to lose to the rising star Prussia. A rising star was about to rise on German soil.

The most frustrated of them all was probably the French Emperor Napoleon III. Prussia’s victory also represented the breaking of the old European system. For example, the cooperation between Italy and Prussia this time would affect the future European landscape.

As a beneficiary of the old European order, Napoleon III naturally wanted to maintain the old order, but he did not expect the Austrians to be so unhelpful. If Napoleon III had known that the Austrians were just a paper tiger, he would definitely have supported Austria at the start of the war.

But Prussia fought too beautifully, ending the war in a short period of time. Bismarck seized the opportunity and reached an agreement with the Austrians in a timely manner, avoiding the intervention of other European countries.

At the same time, Prussia, as the victor, did not impose severe punishments on Austria, only requiring Austria to hand over the administration of Holstein to Prussia, and demanding a war indemnity that could be repaid in a timely manner.

Such lenient conditions meant that Prussia and Austria, as the parties involved in the war, did not become estranged because of the war, but instead became closer.

On the one hand, the Austrians needed Prussia’s support to suppress domestic separatist tendencies, and on the other hand, Austria had to be wary of the Kingdom of Italy in the south.

However, Prussia and the Italians were allies, and Prussia would indeed work hard in the future to promote reconciliation between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy, easing the contradictions between the two countries.

This basically formed the prototype of the Triple Alliance before World War I, and the contradictions between Austria and Italy would become an inducement for the collapse of this alliance in the future. It can be said that the outcome of World War I in the future had already been sown at this time.

As a major victory on Prussia’s road to unifying Germany, the Prussian Palace was filled with laughter. The Junker nobles and their Emperor held a celebration, and smiles were on everyone’s faces.

The entire banquet was brightly lit, and all Prussian nobles with power would try to find a way to get an invitation to the palace banquet.

Constantine, the Prince of Hechingen, and Prince Ernst naturally also participated in this event. Constantine was a member of the Prussian General Staff during the Austro-Prussian War, and Ernst’s own company also played its role in the war. In addition to his already prominent aristocratic status, it was naturally easy to participate in the banquet.

For great nobles like Constantine and Ernst, whether they could attend the banquet was just a matter of whether they wanted to. Even if they did not participate in the Austro-Prussian War, they could enter the banquet by virtue of their top aristocratic status.

In addition to the great Prussian nobles who attended the banquet, the most numerous were Prussian soldiers. They raised their glasses together to William I, cheering for the victory of the kingdom.

Prussian soldiers were respected and were the most popular profession in Prussian society. If a noble joined the army, his social status would be further enhanced.

William I, like his ancestors, raised his glass to pay tribute to these Prussian soldiers. Bismarck and Moltke, the two heroes who made the greatest contribution to the war, stood on William I’s left and right, respectively.

Prince Constantine and Prince Karl Anton, these great Prussian nobles, also stood in the front row, while Ernst followed behind his father.

After William I read out the declaration of victory in the war, William I stated that this victory meant that the Kingdom of Prussia would eventually lead the German region to greater unity and make important contributions to the prosperity of Germany.

After the speech, warm applause rang out in the hall and lasted for a long time.

The second half was a time for free activities. Those who could attend the banquet were all important figures or some noble children.

Ernst also met some acquaintances, such as Leopold and some other nobles. As a young man, Ernst could still attract some attention. Now Ernst was a miracle of wealth among the nobles.

Although Ernst could not go to the battlefield as a soldier to gain military merit, in this era when wealth was becoming increasingly important, those who could achieve great success in money would be actively curry favor with.

If ordinary people created such a miracle of wealth, they would not be respected by the nobles, because you were not born a noble. Even if you achieved achievements that ordinary people could not achieve, you would at most be a nouveau riche in the eyes of the nobles.

But Ernst was different. As a member of the top nobles by birth, Ernst achieved great wealth, which was a model of nobles starting a business with their own hard work.

In Europe, noble status does not mean that there is nothing to ask for. As everyone knows, the trend of comparison among European nobles is relatively serious. Even in countries like Prussia, it cannot be avoided. In Europe, in order to show the dignity of their status, the expenses of the nobles are extremely huge, especially those nobles who are desperate to save face. Even top nobles have a huge demand for money.

Therefore, it is common for European nobles to borrow money. This is also one of the reasons why Jews can thrive in Europe. Even some European kings borrow money from Jews.

If they cannot repay the debt, then everyone will have a very bad impression of the Jews. In fact, this is also the Jews’ own fault. Originally, as a foreign race, the Jews were excluded from the fringes of Europe, and they did not actively give up integrating into it.

Moreover, Jews often engage in unclean commercial activities such as usury and money laundering. As the debtor, the European nobles, or the ordinary Europeans who borrowed money from the Jews, the entire European society is filled with a hostile attitude towards the Jews.

But the Jews are indeed a little clever. The industries they engage in do make money quickly, and they are relatively united, so commercial information is more advantageous. Therefore, they are getting bigger and bigger. As soon as the financial industry is mentioned, people will think of Jews.

The Jews, as the representative of the wealthy and unkind in Europe, can be described as universally disliked, and Ernst’s Hechingen Development Bank is one of the few large banks in Europe that has no relationship with Jewish consortia.

Now everyone knows that Ernst has a lot of wealth in his hands. It’s okay if he doesn’t lack money usually, but if he lacks money, he will always have one more way out, so that the Jewish banks will not unilaterally increase their exploitation.

Moreover, as a member of the nobles, Ernst himself is embarrassed to ask these nobles for too much interest, which has indeed caused many nobles to borrow money from Hechingen Development Bank in a short period of time.

Some nobles are not good at managing the economy, and they cannot repay the debt in a short period of time. Ernst really has no way to collect the debt in a short period of time.

However, he also got some unexpected benefits. Since you cannot repay the debt, then you can always introduce and guarantee the deposit business of Hechingen Development Bank to the people in your territory.

In this way, Hechingen Development Bank unexpectedly entered some markets that it could not enter before, so everything has its good and bad sides.

And those nobles’ debts are not too worried. When lending, Hechingen Bank has already selected customers. Generally, they are mortgages of real estate, so the difficulty of Hechingen Bank’s loans is considered to be medium to high among so many banks in Europe. Even if someone really cannot repay the debt, Ernst can temporarily take away the remaining part of the industry to offset part of the loss. If the debt can be repaid later, the mortgaged industry can be taken back. Therefore, although the difficulty is relatively high, Hechingen Development Bank still has a good reputation among the noble groups.

Watching his son interacting with a group of nobles, Constantine inadvertently felt that his son had grown up and was able to develop independently from his protection, and had achieved good results.

Thinking of his age, Prince Constantine couldn’t help but worry. He was already over 60 years old. If Ernst got married too late, wouldn’t he not be able to see his grandson? Prince Constantine thought in his heart that it was time to find a marriage for Ernst.

Chapter 45: Ron Roda

Ron Roda, currently a small stronghold in the East African colony, is approximately 60 kilometers in a straight line south of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, and 30 kilometers east of the Zanzibar Sultanate’s sphere of influence.

September 13, 1866.

After the geographical survey team of the East African colony investigated this place and determined that it was suitable for human habitation.

On October 7, the first batch of immigrants arrived in Ron Roda. To date, the entire population of Ron Roda is over 600 people.

Ron Roda is planned by Ernst to be the capital of the Lower Coastal Region. The entire Lower Coastal Region has an area of nearly 80,000 square kilometers.

On the 80,000 square kilometers of land, there are only the 600-plus Chinese immigrants in Ron Roda and a small number of Germans.

Ron Roda is nearly 400 kilometers away from the First Town, separated by the Central Coastal Region. The Soren Lake District, the administrative region farthest from the First Town, has a capital, Kigoma, about 1,000 kilometers from the First Town.

Therefore, even with the addition of natives, the entire East African colony seems sparsely populated, and the development of the East African colony still has a long way to go.

As the capital of the Lower Coastal Region, Ron Roda currently only has the name of a capital, and its scale is only equivalent to a village in the Upper Coastal Region.

The situation in the more remote East Malawi Lake District is even more indescribable. Currently, only exploration work has been completed, and the immigrants assigned by the First Town are still on their way to Songea.

The situation in the Central Coastal Region is relatively better, because it is closer to the Upper Coastal Region. Currently, the number of immigrants has reached more than 1,000.

The highest administrative officer of Ron Roda is a German named Thomas, who was originally a member of the East African colony’s mercenary corps.

His deputy is Li Wenhua, a graduate of the Black Heart Root Military Academy. The Germans in the East African colony have basically participated in the army, and the Chinese constables in the second tier of status are also selected from graduates of the Black Heart Root Military Academy.

Therefore, it can be said that the entire East African colony is currently a military government, and all immigrants act, produce, and live according to military-style plans and instructions.

Fortunately, the colony adopts a collectivized management method, and the immigrants are relatively honest and obedient, unlike the people of Europe who have a sense of resistance.

If, like other countries, these immigrants were given the right to live freely, then these colonial officials from military backgrounds would definitely be at a loss, after all, they are not professional bureaucrats with administrative experience.

Collectivized management is just like in the army, completing the orders of the superiors step by step. Before the East African colony is fully developed, it is best to develop according to Ernst’s instructions.

As a graduate of the Black Heart Root Military Academy, Li Wenhua’s loyalty to Ernst goes without saying. Compared with his days in the Qing Empire, studying at the Black Heart Root Military Academy reshaped the worldviews of students like Li Wenhua.

Through brainwashing and cramming education, the students of the Black Heart Root Military Academy subconsciously understand that Ernst pulled them out of dire straits, and the only way to repay the principal is to work hard.

Li Wenhua came to the East African colony with this mentality. At the colonial conference on the issue of developing new large area land, Li Wenhua was selected as the second-in-command of the Lower Coastal Region.

Currently, the East African colony is basically managed by two groups of people: Germans and students from the Black Heart Root Military Academy.

Among them, the students of the Black Heart Root Military Academy play a bridging role, and are an important link in promulgating colonial policies to immigrants.

They are responsible for publicizing policies, educating the people, and managing important military affairs.

All official documents in the colony must be in German, so those colonial policies must be translated to the immigrants by them.

At the same time, the East African colony promotes Germanization, so it is necessary to re-educate these immigrants, but for these illiterate old farmers who have not read books for many years, learning is very difficult.

Therefore, the colony can only provide them with simple German education, first learning eight hundred important German words, learning two or three every day.

To completely teach the immigrants German, it can only start with the children, from the next generation. At that time, the East African colony will move compulsory education into the colony.

All of this requires preparation time. Ernst is training a group of future colonial teachers at the Black Heart Root Military Academy. After they graduate, they will start this century-long plan of education in the colony.

The students this time are mainly composed of orphans from the German region. They study together with Chinese students in the classroom. In the future, they will go to the East African colony with these Chinese students to establish their own schools in the East African colony.

……

Ron Roda’s geographical location is relatively superior, so three native tribes are distributed less than a few miles to the west.

These native tribes are relatively large in scale, so the colonial security forces need to be dispatched to clear them. Among the immigrants sent to Ron Roda this time, there are two hundred security soldiers.

After being equipped with guns and ammunition, Thomas and Li Wenhua began to lead the team to set off. The first tribe to be purged by the Ron Roda colonial security forces was called Qigugu.

With only a few hundred people, the security forces equipped with horses scattered these natives with a single charge. After burning down the tribal houses built of thatch and branches, the colonial security forces set off for the next destination.

The second and third native tribes are located north of the Qigugu tribe. Among them, the Muwina tribe has the most people, and the Lindi tribe has the most dangerous terrain.

The method of solving the Muwina tribe was similar to that of Qigugu, that is, it took a little more time, but the Lindi tribe was really difficult to fight.

The cavalry could not play a role, so they could only use more ammunition to consume the enemy. Fortunately, the doors and fences of the Lindi tribe were made of wood.

The colonial security forces soaked rockets in vegetable oil and set fire to the walls of the Lindi tribe. Finally, in the scorched earth, the security soldiers launched a charge and defeated the last native tribe near Ron Roda.

The remnants of the three native tribes could only flee westward, and there was a relatively safe area near Ron Roda.

After clearing the wild animals near the Ron Roda colony, the colonial security forces joined the immigrants and began the security work of Ron Roda.

The initially established Ron Roda is a small village built of earth and wood. It is relatively close to the sphere of influence of the Portuguese and Arabs, so defensive functions have been added to the construction.

Watchtowers, trenches, fences with a certain degree of defense, and drawbridges all give the immigrants who come here a sense of security and stability.

Ron Roda is also located in the African coastal plain, so it mainly grows rice, but the choice of cash crops is tobacco.

Tobacco planting can provide raw materials for the Black Heart Root Tobacco Company. Previously, the Black Heart Root Tobacco Company mainly imported from merchants from the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Netherlands, and then processed and sold them.

Therefore, the cost is still relatively high, and East Africa is more suitable for tobacco growth, and the land area is also large. As long as it is developed, it is enough to supply the needs of the entire Black Heart Root Tobacco Company.

Ron Roda is the first step in experimenting with tobacco planting. If this planting is relatively successful, it will be promoted to the entire Lower Coastal Region in the future.

The Central Coastal Region, like the Upper Coastal Region, mainly grows sisal hemp, because sisal hemp sells really well and the market needs more.

There are more competitors in tobacco planting, especially North and South America are important producing areas of tobacco. Most of the tobacco in the East African colony is still used by the Black Heart Root Tobacco Company itself. The main purpose is to reduce costs while also taking into account the development of the colony.

Therefore, the colony does not intend to blindly expand some crops that are theoretically suitable for East Africa for the time being. Before there is a stable market, it will first plant on a small scale, such as coffee and rubber.

Chapter 46: Fleet

October 8, 1866, Venice.

Hechingen Shipyard.

Today is Ernst’s second time in Venice. Unlike last time, it is now October, but the weather is transitioning from hot to cold, so the temperature is relatively cool and comfortable.

Because he received news the day before yesterday that the fifth new ship had been built, all the ships Ernst had ordered have now been completed in the shipyard and are just waiting to be launched.

So this time, Ernst has come to attend the launching ceremony of his own fleet. The Hechingen Shipyard has been accepting other orders, so it cannot wholeheartedly build ships for Ernst. Each cycle can only leave one dock for Ernst’s own company, after all, this is the only way for the shipyard to operate smoothly.

This time, Ernst, led by the employees of the Hechingen Shipyard, easily arrived at the shipyard’s dock, accompanied by the ship’s designer and technical负责人 (technical director/person in charge).

A huge sea ship was parked next to the dock. The surrounding wooden frames had been removed. As the waterway was closed, water flowed from the water pipe channels on both sides of the waterway to the middle. Slowly, the big ship floated as the water level rose.

“There are now a total of five such ships, all of which are sailing wooden-hulled ships, equipped with steam power, and structurally designed by experienced naval architects…”

Ernst stood on the shore listening to the technician’s explanation. These five wooden ships are technically quite good, after all, the experience is mature, and they are easy for the crew to operate on the sea.

“If the ships are going to the Far East and drifting at sea all year round, is the safety reliable?”

“Boss, don’t worry. Our workers have been relying on this craft to make a living for many years. They dare not be careless in their workmanship and material selection. As for the design, it draws on the most mature and stable solutions, with only some minor improvements, but it will not threaten the safety of the main body of the ship.”

Although the staff’s guarantee may not be worth a penny, it still gave Ernst some comfort. Ernst was still afraid that they would mess around. Every year, there are ship accidents caused by designers’ bold innovations.

As long as the shipyard staff operate stably according to the mature experience of the current era, the safety will be better.

Now that the ships are available, it’s time to put them into work mode to generate revenue for himself, starting with the recruitment of the fleet personnel.

Ernst instructed his new assistant, Eric.

“Eric, start preparing for the recruitment of crew members for our first ocean-going commercial fleet the day after tomorrow. You can post recruitment advertisements in the Venice area.”

“Be sure to find experienced old hands who have sailed ocean routes to lead the way, and recruit other sailors from the local people.”

“Yes, boss!” Eric replied.

“Also, these five ships can just solve the problem of sending a batch of our instruments to East Africa. You have to do a good job of coordination.”

Ernst plans to order a batch of machines to the colony, machines for weaving sisal hemp, threshing machines, and some basic machines.

Some materials are still processed locally and then exported, the profit will be higher, and the loading and transportation of goods will be more convenient.

…

While Ernst was planning the ocean-going fleet, Prince Constantine was using his connections to find marriage partners everywhere.

Prince Constantine’s desk was filled with information from various families, many of which were from German regions. In this era, the German region was the incubator of European nobles. Many European nobles came from the German region, so Prince Constantine’s selection focused on Germany.

In addition to Germany, some nobles from Sweden, France, and Russia in Northern Europe are also being considered.

“This one won’t do, too young. This one is too old. This family’s status is too low. This one has a disease…”

After picking and choosing, Prince Constantine finally locked in on three families. After thinking about it, he decided to wait for Ernst to come back before making the final decision.

…

After visiting the ship launching ceremony, Ernst registered these five ships under the name of Hechingen Ocean Trade Company.

The main focus is trade from Europe to East Africa and then to the Far East. Whether it makes money is secondary. The current purpose is to reduce costs. After all, the Dutch charge a lot, and the most important thing is to make it easier to control the colonies.

Currently, the Suez Canal has not yet been opened. First, let these sailors familiarize themselves with the ocean routes. At the same time, continue to expand the scale of the fleet and wait for the opening of the Suez Canal.

Once the Suez Canal is opened, the distance from Europe to East Africa will be shortened by a large margin.

As long as you start from the Mediterranean Sea, pass through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea, and enter the Indian Ocean through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, you can reach East Africa along the coastline all the way south.

The fleet can decide to go east to the Far East or south to the colonies in the Gulf of Aden, and the fleet returning from the Far East or from the East African colonies can dock at ports along the Mediterranean coast, transporting the goods through land transportation from the Austrian region back to Prussia.

For now, they can only continue to take the long coastline of West Africa. This way, the newly recruited sailors can familiarize themselves with their work and environment.

“Eric, one more thing, go to the market to investigate whether there are any second-hand ships for sale. Five ships are still too few. We need to speed up the progress and see if we can expand the fleet to more than ten ships.”

“Yes, boss.”

Eric recorded everything and prepared to complete it one by one.

Five sailing ocean-going ships were test-sailing on the Adriatic Sea. Ernst stood on the bow, feeling the invasion of the sea breeze. Ships came and went on the Adriatic Sea, and various whistle sounds rang in his ears from time to time.

The sea was relatively calm, and tiny waves quietly lapped against the outer walls of the ship. Ernst did not feel strong vibrations. The initial experience on the sea ship was relatively comfortable.

In the future, this fleet will sail for a long time on the road to the East African colonies. Europe and East Asia are just two ends providing human and material resources for the development of the East African colonies. East Africa is the real focus in Ernst’s mind.

Chapter 47: Marriage Matters

October 14, 1866, Hexingen.

Ernst finally assembled his first fleet of ships. This was a major step for the Hexingen Consortium. As this fleet continues to expand in the future, and the shipping routes become increasingly stable.

It will bring huge profits to Ernst. The purpose of building the fleet is not just a matter of profitability, but a question of whether he can be independent and self-reliant.

As the saying goes, leaning on a mountain, the mountain will collapse; leaning on a person, the person will fall. Relying on the Dutch will eventually lead to a big loss, whether it’s today or tomorrow.

Having his own fleet means he can personally participate in world trade. Overseas colonization relies on strong ships and powerful guns.

Ships are the hub connecting the world and the most important means of transportation in the age of exploration. Several world hegemons have successively completed their dominance by controlling maritime power.

Today, the Hexingen Consortium established its first fleet. This is not only the first step in Ernst’s own career, but also a major step for the entire East African colony.

The population and materials needed by the East African colony can be better transported through its own fleet, especially some items that were previously troublesome and that the Dutch would not transport, as well as some materials with high confidentiality requirements. Ernst himself would not feel comfortable letting the Dutch handle them.

Ernst, who had returned from Venice, was reading a newspaper at home when old Prince Constantine walked in from outside.

“Ernst, in the blink of an eye, you are already 16 years old!” Prince Constantine said with emotion.

“What’s wrong, Father?” Ernst asked in confusion.

“It’s nothing, just a moment of emotion seeing that you have grown up and have your own career,” Prince Constantine replied.

“Ernst, you are no longer a child, and it’s time to consider your lifelong affairs!”

Hearing this, Ernst knew what the old man was thinking. Having been reborn, Ernst had been waiting for this day to come.

Having lived two lives, Ernst is not someone who acts on emotion. The grind of his previous life had long smoothed out his rough edges.

In this life, as an aristocrat, Ernst himself feels that so-called free love is nonsense. Now, Ernst also prioritizes interests.

Marriage, especially the intermarriage of contemporary European nobles, is all about the exchange of benefits. Usually, it’s fine, busy with work, Ernst himself has no intention to think about these things.

Now that Prince Constantine has said it himself, he probably has a plan. He might as well go with the flow and see what his father is thinking.

“Father, do you already have someone in mind?” Ernst asked deliberately.

“Hehe, no wonder you’re my son, you know everything.” Constantine took out a file from behind him with a smile.

“I’m getting old and still want to personally oversee your marriage. Your mother left early, and I raised you single-handedly, so naturally I have to arrange your marriage well.”

Saying that, Constantine spread out the documents in his hand and said, “This time, there are three candidates. One is Princess Heidi of Sweden, introduced by your aunt. One is Princess Masha of the Russian Empire, and the other is Princess Karina of Austria.”

Ernst looked at the information and asked in surprise, “Why are they so young? The oldest is only twelve, and the youngest is only ten!”

Prince Constantine tapped Ernst’s head with his hand: “Are you very old yourself?”

“Ernst, you are only sixteen years old. You don’t think you are already an adult, do you! I was twenty-six years old when I got married, so naturally you have to wait a few years.”

“These princesses are very young, but in a few years they will be beautiful young women. Of course, we must strike first and take advantage of the fact that this old bone of mine still has some influence to find you a good marriage,” Constantine said.

“Isn’t it too early to worry about this?” Ernst asked, puzzled.

“What do you know? In recent years, there have been more and more misfits among European nobles, especially the royal families of various countries. I don’t know what’s going on, but things always happen. Others don’t dare to say it, but I know it clearly in my heart. We didn’t have so many things back then. I’m only telling you this, so don’t mention it to anyone else.”

“So, I’m looking for a healthy daughter-in-law. I’ve even checked their parents’ medical history before finally finding these three who are absolutely healthy and whose status is worthy of our Hohenzollern family.”

Hearing what his father said, Ernst understood what his father was talking about. His poor nephew, Wilhelm II, was a victim. Although he escaped hemophilia, he still suffered from a type of paralysis at birth, leading to the atrophy of his left arm.

Thinking of this, Ernst suddenly felt a chill down his spine. If he remembered correctly, because of the intermarriage of the British royal family, hemophilia, a hereditary disease, was brought to several European royal families through the descendants of Queen Victoria, including Germany, Romania (the Hohenzollern family is suspected to be the biggest victim), Greece, Croatia, Russia, and Denmark…

Ernst didn’t know how many children Queen Victoria had, after all, he hadn’t looked it up carefully, and it wasn’t something that a nobody like him could get involved in.

However, he still felt worried about the royal families of the aforementioned countries, looking at the two candidates on the information, Sweden and Russia, well, they should be fine!

The information above was written very clearly about their parents’ situations and relationships. After all, consanguineous marriage was very normal in this era.

This time, none of the three candidates had anything to do with England. Ernst continued to read.

Suddenly, Ernst discovered something incredible? To be honest, Ernst had never heard of any of these three princesses.

Among them, the Swedish princess and the Russian princess were related to his mother’s side, so they were connected. For example, former Swedish Queen Josephine was Ernst’s aunt, and the first candidate was chosen by her. The second Russian princess was also related because his mother’s sister had married into the Russian aristocracy.

But the third one was beyond Ernst’s knowledge. Princess Karina, daughter of Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, 10 years old, has lived in the Habsburg family since childhood and was raised by her grandmother, Princess Sophie…

????……

Ernst’s mind was filled with question marks. This Princess Karina was too outrageous!

If he remembered correctly? This Maximilian I was the brother of Franz Joseph, the current Emperor of Austria-Hungary in the Habsburg family.

He had also heard of the name of this Emperor of Mexico, but he did not remember that he had any descendants in history?

If he remembered correctly, Maximilian I had even adopted the descendants of the former Emperor of Mexico as his adopted sons because he had no descendants of his own.

“Father, what’s going on with this Princess Karina?” Ernst asked in confusion.

“This Princess Karina is the daughter of Maximilian I. She was born when Maximilian I and Empress Carlota were still in Europe.”

That’s not right? Ernst doubted himself. Even if the butterfly effect of his birth caused history to change, there was no way that his family could be connected to the Habsburgs, right?

“Father, I don’t understand. This Princess Karina has a very high status in the Habsburg family. She is Franz Joseph’s niece and was raised by Empress Sophie. Moreover, her father is still the Emperor of Mexico, whose status and identity are more prominent than ours. Why would they want to contact us!”

Constantine said with a smile: “Isn’t this Maximilian I’s own doing? Back then, the entire Habsburg family opposed him going to Mexico to take office and be a scapegoat for Napoleon III, but this muddlehead ignored his family’s opposition and would rather give up his inheritance rights in the Habsburgs to make a comeback in that mud pit in Mexico.”

“Now it’s good, France has withdrawn from Mexico, and I heard that Maximilian I’s situation is getting worse and worse. Some time ago, he and Empress Carlota were still lobbying in various European countries, hoping that they would interfere in Mexican politics.”

Ernst nodded: “But what does this have to do with marriage?”

“Isn’t it Empress Sophie’s own idea? Back then, Maximilian I’s trip to Mexico almost killed Empress Sophie with anger. She had loved Maximilian I the most since she was a child.”

“Before Maximilian I and Empress Carlota went to Mexico, the situation in Mexico was turbulent, and Princess Karina was still young, so Empress Sophie took her with her.”

“Having met two troublesome sons, Franz Joseph and Maximilian I, Empress Sophie is now easily frightened and is afraid that her descendants will be as unhappy as her two sons. So she is even stricter in education.”

“For example, Maximilian I, who was raised too extravagantly back then, was originally a parasite, but he was instigated by Empress Carlota to delusionally become an emperor, resulting in a big fall.”

“Princess Sophie thinks that her two sons have become like this because of their daughters-in-law’s fault, so she now values identity and ability even more when choosing a grandson-in-law.”

Ernst nodded repeatedly when he heard this. Ability is indeed very important.

“It’s not easy to find such a person in Europe. The Habsburgs don’t lack marriage partners, but Empress Sophie values ability and character even more this time, and finally chose you.”

!!!

Ernst was a little embarrassed to be praised like this. He was not as good as they said.

“Of course, I know my son very well. Needless to say, his ability is among the best in Europe.”

“His character is even better. He has never messed around. You know, many nobles are dissolute in their lives. Ernst, it’s rare to have no scandals at your age.”

“In terms of status, our family is not bad either. The Hohenzollern family is at its most prosperous period. Now Prussia and Romania are both our Hohenzollern family. We are also among the best in Europe, and you will inherit my princely position in the future.”

“Although Karina’s father is the Emperor of Mexico, his position is just a self-indulgence of the Mexicans! His real value is his identity as a member of the Habsburg family, but he insisted on giving up his inheritance rights. Now the situation in Mexico is becoming more and more difficult to control, and everyone understands that there is no emperor’s position in Mexico.”

Chapter 48: Engagement

With that said, Ernst more or less understood. This Princess Carina must be a butterfly effect caused by his appearance, or perhaps this universe isn’t simply a parallel universe to his previous one. Well, regardless, it’s best to keep uncertain factors under control.

This Carina is the first person he’s encountered in this world who differs from history. Le Nohr and the others don’t count, as their fates were changed through Ernst’s active intervention.

This Carina was born before his memories of his previous life awakened, meaning she was born when Ernst was six years old.

At six years old, he was just a little rascal, causing trouble in the manor all day. He couldn’t have influenced anyone back then.

Moreover, Ernst had a premonition that something big would happen if he didn’t marry her in the future.

Thinking about it, how much history has he changed since awakening? There’s the Hechengen Consortium and the East African colonies, indirectly altering the fates of many.

The Austrian Princess Carina holds a significant position, and the 19th century is an era where anything is possible.

Could it be that she’ll stage a return to Mexico as queen to avenge her father, or inherit the Habsburg throne and rebuild the Roman Empire? (It’s not my intention, but think about how unlucky Franz was. His brother was executed by Mexicans, his wife was assassinated in Italy, his son committed suicide, and his chosen heir was shot by a Serbian.)

…

Having said so much, Ernst also had his own interests to consider. He had been planning a colonial trade route from Prussia (the German Empire) to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, through the Mediterranean, and finally to the East African colonies.

Of these, Prussia was of no concern, being practically like his own home.

Italy was an ally of Prussia, and could be used to some extent before the First World War.

The East African colonies were even less of a concern, having been planned and built with his participation. In East Africa, his word was law.

Only in the Austro-Hungarian Empire did he have the least influence. If he could solve the problem of political influence within the Austro-Hungarian Empire through marriage, all the better.

Moreover, the East African colonies were poor! Prussia (Germany) alone certainly couldn’t support them; it needed to be supplemented by the equally large Austro-Hungarian Empire.

So many resources were wasted when the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated; it was a pity, and Ernst was willing to be the one to take them over.

“Father, let it be the Habsburg Princess Carina! We truly lack influence in Austria. This marriage will allow the family’s businesses to spread better throughout the Greater Germanic region, enhancing the security of our own industries from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean.”

This was the truth. If this goal were achieved, no European conflicts would affect Ernst’s great undertaking of developing East Africa.

The navies of Germany or the Austro-Hungarian Empire alone could easily be cornered at sea, let alone small commercial fleets.

The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean were Germany’s only two sea lanes. Germany was slightly better off, as the northwest corner was the Atlantic Ocean, but venturing out to sea meant facing behemoths like the British Empire.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s overseas outlet was the Adriatic Sea, geographically feeling worse than Germany, but the actual threat wasn’t as great as what Germany faced. It wasn’t that Ernst looked down on the Italians, but the Battle of Lissa was too embarrassing.

If the British wanted to blockade the German coast, it was simple. But if the Italians wanted to blockade the Austro-Hungarian coast, they could only dream, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire could directly threaten Italy by land. Moreover, Prussia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary would form an alliance in the future. With Prussia mediating, relations wouldn’t be too bad.

“Well, alright, I’ll go to Vienna and discuss it with the Habsburgs. Just wait for my news!”

With that, Constantine set off for Vienna.

…

Meanwhile, in Austria, Vienna, Schönbrunn Palace.

“Mother, isn’t it too early to discuss marriage for Carina at such a young age!” Emperor Franz said helplessly to his mother.

“Hmph, what do you know? Isn’t it because you and your brother have caused so much trouble after getting married? I wouldn’t dare let Carina follow in your footsteps,” said Empress Sophie.

Mentioning his own marriage, Franz dared not speak. Mother-in-law relationships are a global problem, and even emperors can’t escape them.

As for his brother Maximilian I, he went to that pit in Mexico and stubbornly refused to believe his family, dreaming of being emperor.

“This time, I must personally choose the marriage partner for the younger generation. I was too indulgent with you two brothers back then, which is why so many troublesome things happened,” said Empress Sophie.

As she spoke, she took Ernst’s information from her hand and handed it to Franz.

“Take a look, what do you think of the person I’ve chosen this time!”

Franz looked at the information and said, “He’s a bit better looking than I was when I was younger, but isn’t his status too low? Carina could marry the prince of any kingdom, right?”

“What do you know? There aren’t that many kings and princes for you to choose from, and there are only so many members of European royalty. I haven’t taken a fancy to any of them yet. This Ernst may have a lower title, but he’s also a legitimate member of the Hohenzollern family, and Prince Constantine only has him as an heir. He’ll at least become a prince in the future.”

“Moreover, his mother passed away early, so Carina won’t have any mother-in-law conflicts if she marries him. This Ernst also knows how to manage businesses. I’ve heard that his businesses are among the top thirty in Europe. Carina will have no worries about food and clothing if she marries him, and being a princess consort is quite good.”

“What about his character, Mother?” Franz asked.

“You can rest assured about that. I’ve investigated him thoroughly this time. This Ernst is already sixteen years old, but he’s quite enthusiastic about his career and hasn’t had any messy scandals. I’ve also looked at his life trajectory, and he’s indeed a doer. He recently went to Venice to build a fleet and then returned home.”

“Moreover, he doesn’t have any bad habits and has a regular lifestyle. It’s better to get your hands on such outstanding young people early.”

“But Mother, are you really not going to discuss it with my brother and sister-in-law?” Franz asked cautiously.

“Hmph, don’t mention them, especially Charlotte. She kept encouraging Maximilian. If it weren’t for her, our family would be together now. If anything happens to your brother, I’ll never forgive her.”

In this way, the Emperor and Empress of Mexico were deprived of their daughter’s guardianship rights. At this time, Empress Carlota was still crying, making a fuss, and threatening suicide in France, demanding that Napoleon III keep his promise and send troops back to Mexico.

After communicating with Prince Constantine, who was on his way to Vienna, the two families agreed to get engaged first. In the future, when Ernst was in his twenties, he could marry Princess Carina.

On November 3, 1866, the two families announced the engagement of Prince Ernst and Princess Carina. (Later generations called this event the reunification of the Hohenzollern and Habsburg families.)

Ernst and Princess Carina attended the ceremony and exchanged tokens of love under the influence of European tradition. From now on, Habsburg Princess Carina was Ernst’s fiancée.

As someone who had lived two lives, Ernst didn’t have high demands. As long as she wasn’t too ugly, he could accept it. But Carina did have a good foundation and would definitely be a great beauty in the future. At least in the eyes of the people of the time, the two were a perfect match.

…

Now that he had determined his future marriage partner, Ernst couldn’t just stand by and watch his future father-in-law die. In the end, Maximilian I was too miserable. The throne he picked up was actually Napoleon III’s scapegoat. It wasn’t just that the French were shifting the blame for colonizing Mexico onto Maximilian I.

What was truly vexing was that the Mexican people no longer trusted the emperor. Influenced by the Iturbide Dynasty and fueled by the Americans, Maximilian I couldn’t even exert his authority outside the palace and was forced to take the blame.

In particular, the various Mexican warlords didn’t take Maximilian I seriously at all. Among them, the Republican Juárez regarded Maximilian I as a thorn in his side.

Next year, when Maximilian I was arrested and executed, Juárez would be a formidable figure, willing to offend European monarchs and the Habsburgs to execute Maximilian I.

Ernst wondered if he could rescue his unlucky father-in-law. First, he would select a group of outstanding students from the Hechengen Academy, disguise them as Indians, sneak into Mexico, and finally pack Maximilian I back to Europe…

There was indeed a glimmer of feasibility. If this failed, he wouldn’t suffer any losses, but if it succeeded, he would definitely receive good feedback.

Not to mention anything else, the Habsburgs would still have to take care of him in the future, and the monarchs of European countries would also look at him with new eyes.

Ernst wanted to develop East Africa, and he would inevitably have to interact with various countries in the future. Otherwise, it would be ridiculous to have his home stolen when the great powers divided Africa in the future.

Now, establishing an image of upholding the aristocratic class and supporting the monarchical system would ensure that the royal families of various countries would say a few good words for him to their respective governments, and the governments would also have to be cautious.

Chapter 49: Disease Prevention

December 7th, 1866. East African Colony.

Great Lakes Region (Lake Victoria), Mwanza.

Today, the Great Lakes Region is second only to the Upper Coastal Region in terms of immigrant population in the East African Colony. It is located near Mwanza Bay on the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The Great Lakes Region is rich in water resources, fertile land, and has a mild climate. The Great Lake (Victoria) is formed by the accumulation of water in a basin and is the source of the Nile River. It is situated between the East African Rift Valley, and the East African Colony currently controls the southern shore of the Great Lakes Region, while the other areas are in the hands of the natives.

The first primitive fishing industry in the East African Colony also began here, with simple canoes used to catch fish in the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) as a supplement to their meat diet.

The Great Lake (Lake Victoria) today is not like later generations where the introduction of Nile perch farming caused ecological diversity damage.

Therefore, the Great Lake has a diverse range of freshwater fish, and the unpolluted lake water makes it safe to eat.

The Great Lakes Region is a relatively humid and rainy area in Africa. The vast area of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) directly changes the local climate environment.

In sub-Saharan Africa, humidity is not necessarily a good thing. For example, later Nigeria and Congo are hotbeds of tropical diseases.

In East Africa, mosquitoes are also very troublesome because the equator passes through the middle of Africa. In most parts of Africa, the temperature basically remains above twenty degrees Celsius, which is suitable for mosquito breeding all year round.

Malaria, dengue fever, and a host of other infectious diseases are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

In later generations, East Africa is a disaster area for malaria and other diseases. In addition to the low level of medical care, the biggest problem is the rampant mosquitoes.

In his previous life, Ernst worked in Tanzania. Although the protective measures were relatively good, there were so many mosquitoes in Africa that Ernst contracted malaria twice.

That was in the twenty-first century, and Ernst, a modern man, was still infected despite mosquito nets and mosquito coils. One can imagine the extent of the terror that Africa held in the eyes of Europeans in this era.

To date, European countries’ colonies in Africa are mostly narrow coastal plains, and they dare not venture deep inland.

The Ottoman Empire has the largest area of land in Africa, mainly in North Africa and the Ethiopian region. Second is Portugal, which has established colonies in Angola and Mozambique. Third is France, mainly concentrated in North Africa and a small amount of land in West Africa. Finally, there is the Cape Colony under the British. Other countries, such as Spain and the Netherlands, can be ignored.

Therefore, Ernst’s East African Colony is already unique in Africa, being the first colony to penetrate deep into the African inland plateau.

The Portuguese colonies are also relatively large, but the Portuguese management is relatively rough. They use the method of controlling native tribes with native tribes, stirring up trouble everywhere, and finally reaping the benefits.

Although the East African Colony is just as bad as the rest, Ernst is indeed managing it as his own home. Although the interests of the natives are sacrificed, it facilitates future immigration, as he plans to reside here for a long time.

Compared with the Portuguese colony, the East African Colony can be said to be engaging in outright exploitation. It is only because of the current environment that Portugal can get away with it. After World War II, under the instigation of the United States and the Soviet Union, the African countries will still be swept out the door by the natives.

Of course, this is the history of the previous life. Maybe this world will be annexed by the East African Colony. Anyway, Ernst will not let go of Mozambique. “How can others be allowed to snore beside my bed?”

The Portuguese have a previous record. They had designs on the Sultanate of Zanzibar in the past, but were severely beaten.

They also entered the Zimbabwe and Zambia regions some years ago, but eventually withdrew due to the outbreak of diseases among the natives.

Therefore, the greedy Portuguese will sooner or later attack the East African Colony. Ernst must keep an eye on them. If the East African Colony develops smoothly, it will be the Portuguese who will have to worry about their own colonies.

The year-round temperature in East Africa is above twenty degrees Celsius, which causes the肆意肆意 breeding of mosquitoes and various viruses are also more active.

Currently, disease is also the biggest problem threatening the survival of immigrants, so rectifying the sanitation problem in the East African Colony has always been a major issue.

This includes strict management of water sources near residential areas, and strictly prohibiting acts that pollute water sources.

Environments suitable for mosquito breeding, such as shrubs and puddles, are cleaned up by means of fire attacks and burial.

In large water areas, some natural enemies of mosquito larvae are released to control their population size.

In the East African Colony, diseases such as malaria are like a lottery, drawing the unlucky people among the immigrants. Fortunately, quinine has already appeared in this era.

Ernst also specially introduced cinchona tree species from South America and cultivated them in suitable places in East Africa, along with various traditional Chinese medicines.

Western medicine is still relatively mysterious and has not yet fully matured. Bloodletting therapy is still the mainstream treatment method of contemporary doctors. In 1833 alone, France still imported more than forty million leeches.

Fortunately, more and more scholars are beginning to question and oppose the theories of traditional Western medicine. Ernst is in an era of transition from traditional Western medicine to modern medicine.

The 19th century was an era of rapid development for Western medicine. Merck (USA) in 1816, Pfizer (USA) in 1849, Novartis (Switzerland) in 1859, Bayer (Germany) in 1863, Glaxo (UK) in 1873, Smith Kline (UK) in 1875, Abbott (USA) in 1888, Roche (Switzerland) in 1896 and other Western medicine companies were established one after another, and mankind entered the era of Western medicine.

It is undeniable that in some European and American medical laboratories today, countless crystallizations of medical wisdom may be emerging, and will completely replace the status of traditional medicine in the next few decades.

But this process is long and will continue until the 20th century before the edifice of modern medicine can be completely established.

Although cutting-edge medicine is advancing by leaps and bounds, the mainstream clinical medicine of the current era is still in the hands of those traditional “old Western doctors.”

These “old Western doctors” who have not yet been eliminated still have an outdated understanding of diseases, bacteria, and viruses. Surgeries are performed without anesthesia, hemostasis, or disinfection concepts. Therefore, relatively outrageous medical accidents often occur.

Ernst doesn’t dare to gamble his luck with them, so those experienced and mature prescriptions with few side effects are more reassuring.

In addition to obtaining some local herbs from the East African natives, he also seeks some mature and reliable drugs from traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

For example, quinine, artemisinin, and other drugs effective against malaria. Ernst is not a medical student and does not know how to process these drugs.

But having medicine in hand is better than having no medicine. If an immigrant in the colony is unfortunately infected with malaria.

They can only boil these two things in water and drink them. It’s not that he doesn’t want to use extracted drugs, but the cost is too high. The colony is so large, the population is not small, and the expenses in all aspects are not small, while planting drugs has almost no additional cost other than labor costs.

The land is readily available, and as long as the environment is suitable, you can plant as much as you want, while ordering drugs from Europe is expensive.

At present, the most effective means of preventing and controlling infectious diseases in the East African Colony is still isolation. Once a problem is discovered, it is isolated separately.

If the immunity is good, they can survive it. If they can’t survive it, they can only die painfully.

Ernst has also purchased some drugs, but because of transportation reasons, most of the drugs are in the Upper Coastal Region, which is closest to the seaport.

The inland area is relatively lagging behind in terms of material and drug supplies, so this requires the inland colonial strongholds to exert greater subjective initiative than the Upper Coastal Region.

Organize more immigrants to carry out sanitation cleaning activities, centrally plan and manage garbage and excrement, eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, plant mosquito repellent plants (East Africa is a pyrethrum producing area)…

Prevent the spread of infectious diseases to the greatest extent. In the current era, it can be said that the East African Colony immigrants’ concept of hygiene is world-leading.

They may not know what hygiene is, but they know that the governor requires them not to litter, eat food indiscriminately, or defecate anywhere…

These are all enforced by the colonial management, otherwise those who violate the rules will be severely punished.

The colonial management does not actually have much concept of hygiene, but Ernst forces the colony to implement it according to his instructions, and Ernst tells the colonial management in a righteous manner that these are the conclusions drawn by European experts.

Regardless of whether the colonial officials believe it or not, after doing what Ernst said, the diseases in the East African Colony were indeed controlled within a low level range.

Compared with the colonies of other countries, the effect is significant, even better than some developed areas and countries, such as neighboring Mozambique and South Asia’s India.

Chapter 50: Education

December 9th, 1866.

Today, another school has been established in Hekingen: the Hekingen Cultural School. This school is actually a primary school, and unlike the Hekingen Military Academy, it enrolls local Hekingen students in addition to Chinese students.

After all, attending the Hekingen Military Academy means eventually going to East Africa, and which German parents would rush to send their children to Africa?

Therefore, apart from Chinese students, most of the other German students at the Hekingen Military Academy are orphans from various parts of Germany.

The Hekingen Cultural School is different; it is a regular school, while the Hekingen Military Academy is essentially a diploma mill.

The Hekingen Military Academy is not included in the Prussian education system. Its students are recruited entirely independently by the academy, and their career paths are clearly defined.

The Hekingen Cultural School, on the other hand, is registered with the Prussian government, and the Chinese students here are studying as “foreign students.”

Students at the Hekingen Military Academy like Ernst can be granted East African colonial residency, while the Chinese students at the Hekingen Cultural School are still listed as Chinese in the Prussian government’s records.

After all, these Chinese students will eventually go on to study at other German schools. Without government-issued identification, they would theoretically be undocumented, so they are simply using the guise of foreign students as a cover, with Ernst as their guarantor.

The Hekingen Military Academy can only meet the demand for military talent, while Ernst will need professionals in all walks of life in the future.

In order to utilize limited educational resources, outstanding students can continue their studies in German secondary schools, and Ernst also plans to establish a secondary school.

Then, Ernst will recommend the best of these students to audit and study at various German universities.

As for those who don’t study well, they can only work in Ernst’s factories after graduation, tightening screws. Of course, they can also apply to the Hekingen Military Academy and eventually go to the East African colony as soldiers or become German teachers.

Currently, German language education has begun to be piloted in the Upper Coastal District. The first German primary school in the First Town has been established, and the East African colony requires all Chinese immigrants in the First Town to send their children to the German primary school in the First Town.

The teachers at the school are graduates of the Hekingen Military Academy, and the textbooks are the ones they used to use.

When it comes to the education of immigrants, it naturally starts with these children. There is no expectation that the older generation of immigrants will speak German; mastering a few common words is enough.

The thinking of these adult Chinese has already been fixed, and they are past the most suitable age for learning. If they were to be taught to read and write directly, the cost would be considerable, and the results might not be satisfactory.

As long as they realize that German is the future of the colony, the smarter ones among them will take the initiative to learn German.

In fact, some quick-witted immigrants have already learned simple German through communication with colonial officials and have been assigned as managers.

For the immigrants in the colony, sending their children to school is not a burden at all. After all, as the saying goes, all other occupations are lowly, only studying is noble.

The bureaucrats in the Far East certainly rely on monopolizing knowledge and education to block upward mobility. As the folk operas say, as long as you pass the imperial examination at the highest level, you can have whatever you want. The common people may not have eaten pork, but they have seen pigs run.

The local scholars, graduates of the provincial and metropolitan civil service exams, and officials, the benefits those who have studied receive are very real. Even a scholar can escape manual labor by teaching, not to mention the economic privileges of exemption from some taxes and the improvement of social status.

The education in the East African colony is certainly not the same as the education model in the Far East, which is used to select officials. It is simply to teach these ordinary immigrant children to read and write.

Of course, in the early stages, those who receive compulsory education earlier will receive greater dividends. For example, in the arrangement of better jobs in the colony, immigrants who have received colonial education will definitely be given priority.

In the future, as compulsory education becomes more widespread in the East African colony, these dividends will become less and less, and it will become the most basic threshold.

The educational content of the first school in East Africa is actually very simple. In addition to German language education, there are only simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and finally, the idea of “loyalty to the monarch and love for the country.”

Therefore, these children only have half a day of classes every day. They go to school in the morning and can go home to help in the afternoon.

In order to improve their quality of life, immigrants will engage in some small income-generating activities, such as growing vegetables near their houses or raising some chickens and ducks, which the colony does not interfere with.

As long as they complete the work assigned by the colony on time, they are free to arrange the rest of their time as they please. Because the land is relatively abundant, there is a lot of vacant land in the East African colony.

For example, the houses of the colonial immigrants are not as crowded as in the Far East, but are more scattered. These houses are arranged with two open spaces in the front and back, a garden, and a drainage ditch.

The Chinese immigrants have never even heard of a garden. It would be better to use this land to grow vegetables. The drainage ditch is behind the house, and there is actually not that much land needed. Next to the ditch, the land is turned over and planted with crops.

These extra income generated from the use of vacant land belongs to the immigrants themselves and does not need to be handed over.

Only the residences of the Germans have real gardens and lawns in front, and the land behind the drainage ditch is abandoned.

This can only represent the different lifestyles of the two groups of people. Moreover, the salaries of the Germans are indeed higher, and their work is more relaxed.

The Germans are also curious about the Chinese immigrants growing vegetables in their gardens. Sometimes they will actively ask these immigrants what kind of vegetables they are and what the tools are used for.

The Chinese did not come to East Africa empty-handed when they boarded the ship. The colony will not confiscate their belongings, but items that are too large cannot be brought on board.

Some Chinese carried plant seeds in their pockets and brought them to East Africa, causing various Far Eastern vegetables to appear on African soil.

African soil is most suitable for vegetable growth. After all, vegetables are essentially grass, and Africa is suitable for grass growth, so it has the largest savanna in the world.

There is no winter here. As long as the water supply is guaranteed, plants can continue to grow.

There are also some ideological differences between the German and Chinese immigrants. For example, the Germans value their territory. Others cannot enter their yard without their permission. Chinese immigrants, on the other hand, visit each other and have no sense of territory.

The Chinese also do not actively go to the yards of the Germans. After all, the Chinese immigrants feel inferior by nature. In fact, these Germans do not have that kind of arrogant idea. After contacting the Chinese, their impression is not bad. After all, everyone is a farmer, and after exchanging some agricultural experience, their feelings are not bad.

The Chinese immigrants without queues, coupled with their diligence and hygiene—these are the results of mandatory regulations in the colony, but the Chinese are highly compliant, so they cover up some shortcomings.

The Germans in the East African colony are also roughnecks from the Prussian region, and they don’t care about some small details.

The only difference between the two sides is that the Germans have received compulsory education, so their cultural level is relatively high, but they have only received primary school education, so there are limited high-quality people.

In the eyes of these German farmers, the Chinese immigrants are relatively easy to deal with. The thinking of ordinary farmers is relatively simple and straightforward, without any hidden agendas.

Unlike later generations, some people who go abroad casually pick flowers and break grass in other people’s yards. After being criticized, they pretend to be wronged and argue unreasonably. You say they are uncultured! They have all gone abroad, so their education is generally not low, so education and quality do not have much relationship.

This is the situation that Chinese people would encounter in developed countries in later years. When Ernst was in Africa, the Chinese could be said to be hated by everyone. There were many workers from the motherland at Ernst’s construction site.

Their education was not high. At least, many of those Ernst knew had high school and junior high school diplomas, but in Africa, they directly treated the natives like monkeys.

Every day, they acted like complete fools, giving the native children some snacks, and then teaching them some “stupid words,” taking a picture with their phones, and posting it on social media, showing a sense of superiority.

In fact, weren’t those natives looking at them as a joke? Some even regarded certain people as suckers.

Although Ernst also looked down on the natives, the education of the motherland prevented Ernst from doing such impolite things. Doing so would be too demeaning.

In this era, because the country was weak, people were poor, and there was brainwashing education, Chinese immigrants abroad dared not act like they were the most important people in the world like they did in later generations.

Being submissive was the true portrayal, so the Chinese immigrants who voluntarily took a step back and found a broader world got along relatively harmoniously with the Germans.

Chapter 51: Tanga Port

December 14, 1866. Tanga Region.

Under the scorching sun, East African colonial administrators, wearing straw hats, were using whips to supervise the indigenous people working on the construction site.

The indigenous people, in groups of four, were manually carrying huge stones and slowly placing them on the shore.

Immigrants used wheelbarrows to transport sand, gravel, and cement to the shore, mixed them with water, and used the mixture to fill the gaps between the laid stones.

This was a newly built pier, entirely constructed of stone, which had been polished smooth and made sturdy.

Not far away, immigrants and indigenous people used shovels, picks, and other tools to widen the bay along the coast. Thousands of people were working together, creating a spectacular scene.

This construction site was located in what would later become the city of Tanga in Tanzania. The port that the colony was building was Tanga Port.

Tanga Port, historically a military port of the German East Africa colony in 1889, later became Tanzania’s northernmost seaport after independence, and the second largest port in Tanzania, a center for sisal processing and trade.

Currently, this land was leased by the East African colony from the Sultanate of Zanzibar to prepare for the construction of a port for the colony’s own use.

Before this, it was just a desolate bay of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Tanga Port is located east of Tanga Bay, with a relatively winding coastline and a dense concentration of excellent bays. The average water depth is seventeen meters, and Pemba Island serves as a sea barrier in the eastern waters, making the sea free from strong winds and waves.

The Tanga region experiences southeast winds from December to February of the following year, and southwest winds from April to October. The highest average temperature in January is 32 degrees Celsius, and the lowest average temperature in July is 20 degrees Celsius. There is little fog throughout the year, and the sea offers a wide field of vision.

Tanga Port is approximately one hundred and twenty kilometers in a straight line from Manda Town, the closest town in the Upper Coastal Region, making it the newest northern stronghold of the East African colony’s Upper Coastal Region.

The reason for choosing this location for the port, besides the suitable natural conditions for port construction, is mainly that starting next year, the East African colony will begin to penetrate into Kenya.

Currently, the East African colony has roughly taken control of the Tanganyika region, especially those important transportation hubs and relatively fertile, water-rich areas, which have all been taken into the colony’s possession.

However, Tanganyika has a vast area, and there are still indigenous tribes of various sizes between the strongholds of the East African colony. Currently, the East African colony does not have the capacity to clear these indigenous people out.

Mainly because there is no place to arrange these indigenous people. The best way is to sell them to merchants of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and the second is for some projects within the colony to absorb a portion.

But these are just drops in the bucket. After all, the demand for slaves from Arab traders is limited, and since the East African colony began its expansion, it has sent a large number of indigenous people from the interior to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, causing market saturation.

Until now, slave prices have remained low, and the once highly profitable industry has resorted to the strategy of small profits but quick turnover.

Since Arab merchants cannot absorb them, the East African colony can only find its own way to get rid of these indigenous people.

Because ships are relatively scarce, most ships can only be used to accommodate immigrants, and there is no capacity to pack up these indigenous people and send them overseas for the time being.

Therefore, the East African colony can only temporarily drive out some indigenous tribes. Even so, the East African colony has still accumulated a large number of indigenous laborers.

Since this is the case, the East African colony can only use them to engage in some large-scale projects, in addition to reclaiming farmland, building roads, and digging canals.

The biggest project this year is the construction of Tanga Port, and the roads connecting the port to Manda Town in the Upper Coastal Region have also used a large number of indigenous people.

With the widespread use of indigenous prisoners, Tanga Port is beginning to take shape. The docks and warehouses have already been built, and a seventeen-meter-high lighthouse has been erected in the port area.

As a key port for the future import and export of the East African colony, Ernst imported a batch of artillery from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, loaded them onto ships in Trieste, bypassed the Strait of Gibraltar and the long African coastline, and landed them at the Port of Dar es Salaam.

After being pulled and dragged by people and horses, they were sent to Tanga. Now, these artillery pieces are being used to erect defensive gun emplacements north and south of the port area.

While Tanga Port was being built, Ernst was also preparing to build the colony’s first factory, a sisal processing plant.

Ernst specifically imported a batch of decorticating machines from France and transported them to East Africa for assembly.

As the current advantageous commodity of the East African colony, sisal has considerable profits. In order to further increase the value of sisal, the export of raw sisal materials will be changed to the export of finished and semi-finished products.

The sisal processing plant selects and sorts the sisal planted in the East African colony, and sends it into machines to complete the processes of crushing, filtering, washing, and drying. Finally, the workers arrange the fibers, comb them, and draw them into slivers, followed by spinning and weaving.

The finished products are rope and canvas, as well as primary processed fiber semi-finished products.

Sisal is a coarse fiber, so it is not suitable for use as a textile fabric.

However, sisal has a dense texture, strong toughness, is resistant to alkali, and is not easily corroded by seawater. Before the birth of chemical fibers, it was the best material for making ship ropes.

At the same time, sisal is also widely used in fishing nets, canvas, mine ropes, various types of ropes, sacks…

It is also used as a raw material for high-grade paper, such as nautical charts and banknotes.

Therefore, the sales of sisal are not a problem. Sisal is also grown in other parts of the world, with Brazil and Southeast Asia having larger scales.

The establishment of the sisal processing plant in Tanga Port will help to enhance the competitiveness of the East African sisal industry in the world in the future.

Sisal itself is a relatively drought-resistant and barren-resistant plant. In addition, the East African climate is very suitable for sisal cultivation. After farmers plant sisal in the ground, they basically do not need to manage it.

Currently, the labor costs in the colony are quite low. With the addition of machinery, the cost of sisal fiber produced by the East African colony’s sisal factory is extremely low.

Currently, all the workers in the factory are immigrants. A total of three factory buildings have been built, all near Tanga Port.

As the machines roared, workers put the stacked sisal leaves into the machines, and the rollers rolled over the sisal leaves, breaking them up.

Workers used wooden sticks to wrap the sisal into balls at the exit, put them into pots for rinsing, and then捞 out烘干.

Finally, the sisal fibers were straightened by hand to be twisted into ropes or turned into canvas in the next factory.

The produced sisal finished and semi-finished products will be exported overseas near Tanga Port, and transported back to Europe for sale by the East African colony’s own merchant ships or the merchant ships of Portuguese and Dutch passing along the coast.

Tanga Port has become a sisal processing and trading center. At the same time, the colony’s characteristic products, such as cloves, pyrethrum, and cinchona bark, can also be transported abroad through Tanga Port.

The supplies needed by the colony can also be transshipped through this place, especially for the penetration into Kenya next year.

Starting directly from Tanga Port, it is not far to enter Kenya. At that time, immigrants transported from overseas can land directly in Tanga, and after being distributed, they can be directly transported to various parts of Kenya.

This will save a lot of manpower and material resources compared to landing directly at the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Of course, immigrants who will develop Tanzania in the future will still land at the Port of Dar es Salaam to fill the empty areas of the colony in Tanzania, while immigrants heading to Kenya will choose to land at Tanga Port.

Chapter 52: Trieste

December 15th, 1866.

Trieste, the Austrian Empire’s most important port.

Since the end of the Austro-Prussian War, Austria handed Venice over to Italy through France, and Trieste automatically became the single most important port for the soon-to-be-born Austro-Hungarian Empire (February 1867).

Currently, the Austrian government is negotiating with the Hungarian Magyar nobles, and both sides are fiercely debating rights and obligations.

In February of the following year, the two sides reached a compromise. The Hungarian Magyar nobles obtained equal rights with Austria, but the Magyars had to guarantee that Hungary would remain within the empire. This was the dual monarchy.

Trieste is the shipbuilding center and commercial shipping center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Having fought Venice for two centuries, the locals later actively sought protection from the Habsburgs and were incorporated into the Austrian Empire, and has since been a core territory of Austria.

Trieste actually has its own dialect, but due to the increase in Italians, coupled with the temporary strength of the Venetian Republic and the influence of Italian culture in Europe, speaking Italian became the mainstream.

After World War I, Italy annexed Trieste on the grounds that Italian was spoken there, and Austria lost Trieste, which it had ruled for five hundred years. This is truly land that has been ours since ancient times, which shows the overall inefficiency and incompetence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Today, this city still retains a strong Viennese style, and there are many people who speak German. As long as the Austrian government starts to promote German education here, Austria would not have become a landlocked country after World War I.

And the Trieste of later years also changed from the jewel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to an unremarkable city in Italy.

This shows the power of cultural influence. Originally, Trieste spoke a local dialect, but in the long process of dealing with the Italian states (especially Venice), it began to speak Italian, and was eventually annexed by Italy.

This is also why Ernst wants to reform the immigrant education in the East African colonies. As long as you successfully shape the immigrants’ identity, the East African colonies will only have genuine “Germans” in the future.

The current Trieste is directly connected to the Austrian capital, Vienna. A railway directly to Vienna was completed in 1857.

With the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire as its economic hinterland, Trieste became the third largest city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, second only to Vienna and Prague.

As the largest seaport city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was responsible for the empire’s coal supply and foreign cargo transportation, and was also the headquarters of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

It was called the “Azure Coast of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.” At that time, Trieste was definitely one of the largest cities in Europe and the world.

But in the hands of Italy, Trieste became the frontier of the country. Trieste, which lost its economic hinterland, has no presence in the later Italian ports.

Many Italians don’t even know about the city of Trieste.

People in the future world can only learn from Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech that “there used to be such a place in Europe.”

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” - Churchill

…

Ernst walked the streets of Trieste. Now Ernst is considered half a son-in-law of the Habsburgs, so he can use their name to make some investments in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Trieste is one of Ernst’s goals. Ernst plans to build a center for the East African ocean-going trade fleet here.

Although Venice and this place have functional overlaps, Ernst still wants to put his eggs in two baskets.

After all, Venice and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are now considered two different countries. If goods are transferred from Austria to Venice, the Italian government will collect taxes again.

Therefore, the shipyard will remain in Venice, while the fleet will directly change maps and develop in Trieste.

The main reason for choosing Trieste, in addition to economic reasons, is to import population to the East African colonies.

The white immigrant problem has been troubling Ernst. It is difficult to trick the Germans in Prussia into going to East Africa. High education (compared to other regions in Europe) is secondary. Now Prussia is thriving, with many opportunities. Few choose to develop overseas.

Those Germans who go to America to try their luck, one is that America was developed early and has a good environment. Another reason is that they can’t survive in Prussia. Many of these people are criminals, hooligans, and are recorded by the Prussian government. Of course, some ambitious people who want to get rich are not excluded.

And these two types of people can be seen at a glance, and are not what the East African colonies need. Receiving them in East Africa will also threaten the stability of the East African colonies.

But the Austro-Hungarian Empire is different. From the moment it was established, it has been going downhill. The national power is declining, and the degree of industrialization is not high, and ethnic conflicts are serious. This gives Ernst a chance to poach people.

The population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is second only to Tsarist Russia and Germany (which has been excluded from Germany), and the education level of the people is far inferior to that of Germany, only slightly better than that of Tsarist Russia. There are quite a few illiterate farmers.

Farmers without knowledge mean that their cultural identity can be transformed through education, which is exactly the high-quality immigrants that the East African colonies need.

Farmers who have not received education have the strongest ability to reproduce offspring in any era, and the land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot be increased out of thin air, coupled with the exploitation of the nobles in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

These farmers either go to the city to work, but obviously the industry in the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot digest so many people, and the unscrupulous factories in the city are not necessarily easier than farming.

Or they choose to revolt against the exploitation of local nobles. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where conservative forces are strong, the success rate is basically zero.

Finally, they go abroad to find employment opportunities in other regions.

Unlike the educated people in Germany, if you tell a German to go to East Africa to work and live, he will definitely think of you as a liar. Only mercenaries and people who specialize in colonial activities will go.

But the lower-class people in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if you tell them to go to East Africa, they may first ask where East Africa is?

At this time, just increase the intensity of the deception, describe East Africa as a paradise, and finally find a few shills to persuade them. Anyway, you have no land in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and you can’t find a job, so why not go overseas and give it a try.

These farmers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire are still not as easy to deceive as Chinese immigrants, after all, the Chinese are desperate, but the farmers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire can barely survive.

If you go further back, during the serfdom era, you don’t even need to think about it, after all, serfs are the private property of the nobles, and if you want to trick them into immigrating, you must deal with the local nobles.

Now it’s just right, the serfdom was abolished not long ago, and these farmers don’t need the nobles to be responsible for them anymore. They are responsible for their own food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

Farmers who have no land can only choose to continue farming for the noble masters. The problem is that the population is constantly increasing, and the efficiency of production tools is also improving, so farming does not require so many people.

At this time, farmers who have no land to cultivate can only go to the city to work in unscrupulous factories to support their families.

A large number of farmers go to the city to look for work opportunities, but the degree of industrialization in the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not very high, so it cannot absorb so much labor.

Ernst organized people from the company to put up recruitment advertisements in various cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, tricking unemployed farmers into developing in East Africa.

Not only is there a salary, but also free food and accommodation, and you can return to Europe in the future when you earn money.

Agricultural workers are also workers, and Ernst is not lying. Free food and accommodation are also true, but you still have to build your own place to live, and the food you eat is also the grain grown from your own land.

As for the salary, it is basically better than nothing, but you can indeed save some money. What? You said it’s not enough to support your family, then you’ve really come at the right time.

Encourage the whole family to go to the East African colonies to work, so that your family will basically have no worries about food and clothing, and the colonies also provide free education for children.

As for returning to Europe in the future, that is indeed possible, there is still hope in four or five years, after all, the current merchant ships in the East African colonies only bring people in and not out, and there are only so few ships.

And if you want to return to Europe through merchant ships from other countries, the price of a ticket is not cheap, and you can’t save it up if you don’t work in the East African colonies for four or five years.

Currently, if you develop in East Africa, you can only support your family, and don’t even think about getting rich. The East African colonies don’t have as many messy industries as America, and there is no such thing as entrepreneurship.

The only valuable land, the property rights are in the hands of the colonial government, and it is impossible to enclose land to build farms like the Americans in the West.

However, the East African colonies take the initiative to bear the cost of immigrants going to East Africa, which is better than going to America, after all, the American government will not actively pay you a fare to cross the Atlantic.

Another advantage of going to East Africa is that you are still doing your old job of farming. If you go to America without a skill, aren’t you just going to work as a general worker? But farming is something you already know, and no one can trick you, and even if life is bad, it won’t be as bad as when you were a serf.

Chapter 53: Potato Planting

December 16th, 1866.

Karatu, capital of the Northern Highlands Region.

Northwest of Karatu lies the famous Serengeti, a true animal kingdom.

Currently, in every region of the East African Colony, except for the Upper Coastal Region which underwent a thorough cleansing, the rest are basically the territory of wild animals.

Even the natives, whose population is relatively large compared to the immigrants, appear small and insignificant in the face of East Africa’s massive animal population.

These abundant animal resources allow the natives to live comfortably by relying solely on hunting.

After hunting each day, they sing and dance, and go to sleep when it gets dark, without other worries. After all, the animals are truly inexhaustible, and they don’t have to worry about the source of food for tomorrow.

As immigrants who came to Africa to farm, they naturally cannot learn from these natives and live by hunting.

Their ideology is influenced by thousands of years of agricultural culture, emphasizing diligence to get rich. The immigrants cannot yet understand the natives’ attitude towards life, which only considers the present and doesn’t think about the future.

In fact, people’s ideas are endowed by social traits. For example, the natives have not developed a nation, but the environment in Africa allows them to live very well under the most primitive tribal system. Once they enter a relatively advanced social system, their development is lackluster.

After all, humans who walked out of East Africa millions of years ago faced survival problems, so they actively learned planting and breeding.

For example, in Egypt, a vast desert, without relying on the Nile River to engage in some planting, survival would be a problem. Humans who walked out of Africa eventually embarked on the path of “involution kings.”

Millions of years later, Europeans returned and directly “involuted” these African native tribes to death.

…

Immigrants in the East African Colony must first clear the local wild animals and threatening native tribes whenever they arrive at a new location.

To prevent accidents, immigrants work and move collectively to avoid any stray animals from attacking them.

Karatu is surrounded by lush vegetation, but during the dry season, it is basically withered and yellow. Yellow vines and weeds cover the land with a thick layer.

The immigrants who first arrived here burned the withered and yellow vegetation. After the fire, a thin layer of ash was left on the land.

Then they used shovels and hoes to clear the plant roots buried in the soil. After the soil was turned over, the light red soil came into view.

Therefore, the residential area of the immigrants in Karatu and the land after renovation are dazzling red, matched with the surrounding withered yellow vegetation and the hazy low sky under strong sunlight, which seems a bit depressing.

Karatu has relatively little rainfall because it is located inland and affected by the highland terrain. It is difficult for water vapor from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to penetrate deep here.

There are two large lakes to the east and west of Karatu. Among them, Lake Eyasi in the west is a seasonal shallow endorheic salt lake, and Lake Manyara in the east is also a saltwater lake.

Both are lakes formed on the East African Rift Valley, and flocks of flamingos and other water birds can be seen on these two lakes.

North of Karatu is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro is a highland volcano, and Karatu is located on the southern edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Ngorongoro is a very unique area, concentrating various ecological landforms such as grasslands, forests, hills, lakes, and swamps. Countless species of wild animals live here, gradually forming an independent ecological chain system.

Ngorongoro means “big hole” in the African native language.

Lake Manyara is the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. Hemingway once described it as “the loveliest place in Africa” in his previous life.

The famous African Maasai tribe lives near the crater of Ngorongoro, leading a nomadic life.

During the dry season, the crater’s accumulated water lakes become the water source for nearby animals, and groups of animals live and thrive here.

As the newly established regional capital of the East African Colony, Karatu is definitely not outstanding, and its future development potential is not as good as the capitals of other regions.

The reason why it was separately designated as the capital of the Northern Highlands Region is still due to its geographical location, as it is located in the center of the Northern Highlands Region.

In Africa, places like Mwanza and Kigoma have superior natural conditions, Dodoma has outstanding transportation advantages, and the First Town in the east is where the colony first started.

Only Karatu and Ronroda in the Lower Coastal Region became the administrative centers of the region because Ernst casually drew circles on the map.

In the East African Colony, all cities are basically starting from the same starting line, starting from scratch. Therefore, the future development of Karatu and Ronroda depends on whether the two capitals can give full play to their first-mover advantage.

Karatu has relatively little rainfall, so it did not choose rice and wheat for crop selection, but chose potatoes.

Potatoes are a typical crop for lazy people, and like sisal, they do not require careful management.

Potatoes like cold and fear heat, and the altitude in Karatu is high, with temperatures between ten and twenty degrees Celsius.

The light conditions in the highlands are basically the most suitable for crop growth, with a thin atmosphere, shallow clouds, and strong light.

At the same time, the soil is acidic, and the reason for adding grass ash before reclamation is that it is weakly acidic.

The soil in Karatu is also relatively loose, not sticky, which is convenient for the later expansion of potato roots.

There is no need to worry about the water needed for potato growth. Although the rainfall is low, the water in the rivers is enough.

The immigrants used tools to turn over the soil, then ridge it, divided the sprouted potato stems into groups of two buds each, inserted the potato buds upwards into the turned soil at intervals of about twenty to thirty centimeters, and finally sprinkled fertilizer, and the initial planting was completed.

In terms of cash crop selection, Karatu still chooses sisal.

The forest resources in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are relatively rich, which provides convenience for the construction of Karatu.

Houses are mostly built with wooden structures, which also facilitates the creation of some production tools, such as waterwheels and windmill millstones.

The immigrants in Karatu are currently only active in the southeastern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and have not penetrated into the interior of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Therefore, the northwest direction of the entire Northern Highlands Region, mainly the Serengeti area, has no East African Colony forces entering.

On the contrary, to the west is the Great Lakes Region, where the immigrant population is second only to the Upper Coastal Region, and there is no natural barrier between the Great Lakes Region and the Serengeti.

Therefore, the Serengeti is classified into the Great Lakes Region, but the animals in the Serengeti are a true animal paradise.

In the documentaries of the previous century, the scene of tens of thousands of wildebeest crossing the river was a scene on the Serengeti. That river is called the Mara River, which is a river between Kenya and Tanzania. Every year, wildebeest and other animals migrate between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

Such a large piece of land was not effectively developed by Tanzania in its previous life, but was used as a national park. The East African Colony would not stubbornly develop the Serengeti either.

So many wild animals are indeed difficult to solve, and the early East African Colony will definitely develop barbarically. The wild animals in other regions have already suffered.

It is better to leave the Serengeti to give the wild animals of East Africa a pure land. Now the East African Colony has no shortage of land, and it can also develop north and west.

Therefore, although the Serengeti is not small, its impact on the East African Colony is very limited.

Chapter 54: Schönbrunn Palace Conversation

Habsburg Schönbrunn Palace.

Ernst had come to Franz seeking help.

To be honest, Franz had been recently overwhelmed, dealing not only with the aftermath of the defeat but also with the unreasonable demands of the Hungarian Magyar nobles.

But Franz still made time to meet with his future nephew-in-law.

“Ernst, what brings you to Austria!” Emperor Franz asked.

“Your Majesty, I have come this time hoping that Austria can support me in my recruitment efforts within Austria,” Ernst said frankly.

“Surely such a small matter doesn’t require you to speak with me!” Franz asked, puzzled.

Recruitment was such a trivial matter. Did he really need to come to the palace to tell him personally? If so, wouldn’t every company in Austria have to report to him every day? That was simply absurd.

“Actually, it’s like this, Your Majesty. The number of people I’m recruiting this time is a little… large. And I hope the Austrian government can endorse this recruitment.”

“How many people are you recruiting?” Franz asked curiously, after all, a small number wouldn’t require government intervention.

“If possible, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands,” Ernst replied without changing his expression.

“Ernst, are you joking! Are you planning to arm an army? That’s far too outrageous!” Franz asked in disbelief.

Ernst explained everything in detail: “Your Majesty, it’s like this. I think you should know that I have a colony in East Africa. The economic benefits are not bad, barely breaking even. The factor hindering the colony’s development is population. Because no one was willing to go to East Africa to develop in the beginning, I recruited many people from Asia, just like the German population of the Austrian Empire. The number of white people in the colony is very small, and I think you know what that means!”

“So you want to recruit people from within the Austrian Empire to balance the colony’s Asian population! But why don’t you recruit people from Prussia?” Franz asked curiously.

How was he supposed to answer that? Ernst thought to himself. Was he supposed to say that the Austrian people had low levels of education and were easy to fool!

“Actually, it’s like this, Your Majesty,” Ernst said, biting the bullet. “The Prussian army has solved Prussia’s employment problem very well in recent years, so fewer people choose to go abroad to develop. As everyone knows, Prussia’s army is ridiculously large, so it has been difficult to recruit workers in recent years.”

Of course, Franz didn’t believe a word of this nonsense, but he still decided to give Ernst a chance: “If you can give me a reason that moves me, I might still support you.”

Ernst said unhurriedly: “Your Majesty, may I ask if Austria is currently troubled by nationalists?”

Franz nodded: “That’s the truth, especially the Hungarians. They’ve been taking an inch and wanting a mile lately, and are on very bad terms with the imperial center!”

Ernst asked: “Then what does Your Majesty think the Hungarian Magyar nobles are relying on to negotiate with the Austrian government?”

“Naturally, it’s Hungary’s strength. Hungary has a large area and a large population. If the Hungarians become independent, Austria will also lose its position in Europe. The empire cannot abandon this place!” Franz said.

“That’s right! Your Majesty,” Ernst echoed. “The rise of European nationalism is actually a conspiracy by England and France against your country. Germans don’t even make up thirty percent of your country’s population.”

“Germans only account for just over twenty percent, but the Hungarian population accounts for twenty percent, and there are also ten percent Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Croats, as well as a small number of Romanians and Italians.”

“Among them, the Hungarians alone have the ability to challenge the German nation, let alone the Poles and other Slavic peoples in Galicia. In the past, with the support of the entire German region, the empire could suppress these ethnic groups.”

“But now the international situation is becoming more and more turbulent, and Austria can no longer dominate Europe as it once did. Even clowns like Italy dare to covet the empire’s territory, and once they subvert the Italians within the empire, Trieste and the southern part of the empire will be very dangerous.”

“The Poles have been actively seeking support for their restoration in various European and American countries, but Poland is only a country that existed in history. What drives the Poles is the cultural identity shaped by the glorious history of the Polish region.”

“But are the Poles really only seeking territory within Russia? They are now focused on smearing Russia in Europe because they need support, but they will not forget Prussia and Austria from back then.”

“Even if the Poles within the empire currently support the royal family, there is a saying that goes, ‘You can share blessings, but you can’t share hardships.’ They now support your country’s rule, which is highlighted by the suffering of the Poles living in Russia. Once the Austrian Empire’s economy has problems one day, they will blame Austria.”

“In addition, there are other Slavic peoples within the empire. Now the Russians hate your country because of the Crimean War, and Russia’s influence among the Slavs is obvious. The Ottoman Empire has suffered a lot in the past two years.”

…

Franz listened to Ernst’s long speech with a frown, and interrupted: “Enough, of course I understand what you mean.”

Franz got up, put his hands behind his back, looked at the map of the Austrian Empire, and said with a low mood: “How can I not know the many problems of the empire, but politics is not as easy as you think, Ernst.”

He slowed down his tone and said: “Maybe you are still young, and young people always have the courage to face difficulties, but Austria is too old, so that even a small change may lead to a catastrophe that will kill the Austrian Empire.”

“For example, that guy Maximilian is very radical, and as a result, he suffered a big setback in Mexico. He is also competitive and unwilling to ask me for help. I don’t know how he is doing now!”

He walked up to Ernst and said with firm eyes: “The Austrian Empire was once the overlord of Europe. Although it is now facing unimaginable difficulties, I believe that my ability is not enough to solve Austria’s problems, but I still have the ability to support this great country to continue to move forward.”

He turned his back to Ernst and said: “When I get old, the future belongs to you young people. I believe that you and the descendants of Austria will use your wisdom to make Austria great again.”

“Austria has indeed become turbulent because of nationalists, and the Austrian government itself wants to change this situation.”

“But the pressure we face is unimaginable. The control of local nobles over the regions far exceeds that of the central government, and the Austrian central government itself is also facing very棘手problems. Finance has been困扰ing the government to promote Austria’s reforms.”

Speaking of this, Franz was a little lonely and said to himself: “I also tried to learn from my ancestors to promote centralization and strengthen the German education of the people.”

“However, whenever these suggestions are put forward in the government, those local dignitaries try their best to stop them. At the same time, the empire’s economic situation has become worse and worse in the past two years, and the government does not have the extra financial resources to support reforms.”

Of course, Ernst knew these difficulties. Austria was indeed facing the problem of difficult transformation, and contemporary Austria did not have the kind of figure who could turn the tide.

For example, Franz, although he is an emperor, cannot be a radical reformer. His identity determines that he must prioritize the interests of the Habsburg family.

If he promotes reforms, it may shake the Habsburg rule, so the royal family will not take the initiative to lead the reforms.

At present, the Austrian government does not have a politician with outstanding ability and unparalleled influence in the entire empire.

Next door, Prussia has Bismarck, plus Wilhelm I and the Prussian monarchs of the past generations were relatively wise, laying a good foundation for Prussia, and Bismarck used war victories and diplomatic achievements to establish personal prestige.

If Austria could also produce a Bismarck-style figure at this time, then Austria would still have a chance, but unfortunately Austria is not a gambler like Prussia and does not have the spirit of self-innovation.

Of course, Ernst’s purpose here was not to help Austria solve political problems, but to get people for the colony.

“Your Majesty, Austria’s problems are indeed more棘手, but we can choose to reduce the difficulty of things.”

Ernst continued: “For example, when I recruit workers in the empire, I am actually absorbing the unemployed farmers of the Austrian Empire. They have just entered the cities from rural areas all over the country. The problem is that Austria’s jobs obviously cannot digest so many people.”

“Once these people cannot find employment, it will aggravate Austria’s social crisis, and reforms will be more difficult. What’s more, they will be used by those radical capitalists, after all, they have a criminal record.”

Franz sighed and said, “Alright, I know what you’re thinking.”

“You can recruit workers in the Austrian Empire. As long as you have the ability, you can recruit as many people as you want, but I want to warn you first, you can’t pay attention to the Germans. As for other ethnic groups, if you can recruit more, we will not only not object, but also support it.”

In this way, the two reached a tacit verbal agreement. Austria reduced the number of other ethnic groups through Ernst, and Ernst obtained white labor to develop Africa.

Everyone has a bright future…

Chapter 55: Off to East Africa

December 22, 1866.

Doboz, Hungary.

Janos, a Hungarian who spoke German.

In his youth, Janos went to Austria to seek his fortune, eventually becoming a worker in Trieste. However, a mechanical failure caused Janos to permanently lose his left arm.

Lucky Janos survived with the help of simple medicine, but it also cost him all his savings. Having lost his left arm, Janos also lost his ability to work.

The heartless factory owner directly fired the now worthless Janos. Just when Janos’s future looked bleak, he encountered the newly established Austrian Mälardalen Company recruiting staff.

The company’s recruitment conditions were quite unique. No academic qualifications were required, only the ability to speak German and at least one dialect within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Of course, being multilingual was even better. After an interview, one could start working.

With a “nothing ventured, nothing gained” mentality, Janos applied. Because he spoke Hungarian dialect and German, and had good eloquence, Janos was directly hired by the Mälardalen Company.

Janos’s job was simple: to recruit people within Hungary. His salary depended entirely on how many people he could convince to board ships heading to the East African colonies.

This so-called Mälardalen Company was actually the Hechingen Consortium’s new front in Austria, responsible for immigration affairs within the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the future.

As a newcomer to the Mälardalen Company, Janos roughly understood the company’s business after learning about his job.

Janos was quick-witted. After analyzing his situation, Janos, eager to get paid quickly, decided to start working in his hometown.

Although the Mälardalen Company looked like a shell corporation, it didn’t matter to Janos, who had lost his ability to work. As long as they could pay him a salary, he didn’t care what kind of company it was.

The reason it seemed like a shell corporation was that when Janos interviewed, the Mälardalen Company had only three employees in total, and the company didn’t even require academic qualifications for recruitment.

Janos himself had seen some small companies, mostly in the financial industry, but they all required highly educated people.

The Mälardalen Company’s recruitment destination was Africa. Having traveled extensively in his early years, Janos had heard descriptions of Africa from some sailors.

They said Africa was all sand, the sun was scorching, and Arab merchants in robes rode camels through the sand.

Egyptians relied entirely on the Nile River for their lives, and the Nile was home to terrifying creatures called crocodiles, with gaping jaws that could swallow a person whole.

These sailors often sailed along the Mediterranean coast, so they imprinted their impressions of North Africa on young Janos.

Therefore, the Africa that Janos knew was hot, desert, Arab merchants, and black slaves…

In short, Africa was not a good place. However, after joining the Mälardalen Company, Janos learned about East Africa.

After all, to lure immigrants, they had to paint East Africa in glowing terms, and the state of the East African colonies had to be explained to these employees.

They couldn’t let these uneducated employees conjure up an image of the East African colonies out of thin air.

It would be better for each employee to simply take a Bible and tell the country bumpkins in the Austrian Empire that East Africa was the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve once lived.

In any case, the East African colonies, as adapted by the Mälardalen Company, were like this: the land was fertile, rivers crisscrossed, there were boundless grasslands, and it was like spring all year round. Most importantly, those who went to work in the East African colonies now would not only be provided with free tickets, but also with food and accommodation, wages would not be in arrears, and families were welcome to relocate, with free education for children.

This was the basic template, and employees could fully exercise their subjective initiative and exaggerate on this template!

If immigrants went to East Africa and found that it did not match reality, sorry, it was purely the employee’s personal behavior. Besides, now that you’ve come all this way, you have no choice.

…

Janos was promoting the benefits of the East African colonies to his fellow villagers.

“Folks, sign up now, or you’ll regret it if you miss the opportunity.”

“Janos, are you trying to trick us? Can such good conditions be available to us?”

“Uncle Kari, we’re all from the same village, am I that kind of person? You can definitely trust my character. This recruitment is the same as those who go to America to make a fortune. The difference is that East Africa was discovered later than America. Now America is no longer so short of people, while East Africa is in urgent need of population, so there is an opportunity for us.”

“Then why aren’t you going to the East African colonies, instead of tricking us into going?”

“Uncle Kari, what are you saying? I’m just assigned this job by the company. Look at my arm, it’s good enough to have a job. If I can’t do it in the future, I’ll go to East Africa to retire. After all, it’s all-inclusive and they even allocate houses.”

As he spoke, Janos raised his empty left sleeve and waved it, the sleeve swaying from side to side in the air.

A woman said, “Janos, I’ve never even heard of this East Africa. The villagers don’t dare to go to a strange place to develop.”

Another villager also said, “Janos, don’t tell us about East Africa. You’ve come back from the big city, why don’t you tell us about how work is in the city, so I can let my children go out and try their luck.”

“Uncle, it’s not easy to get by in the city either! For example, your children, do they have any skills or have they studied? If they don’t have either, they can only be apprentices to others first, or do heavy physical labor. It’s better to go to East Africa to develop!”

Janos continued, “Think about it, your family has been farmers for generations, why bother working for others for several years for nothing, or doing heavy physical labor? That’s not work for humans, the wages are low, not to mention it’s more tiring than farming. Your body will break down after four or five years!”

“Going to East Africa is different. What does East Africa have the most of? It’s land. Why do so many people in our village go out to work every year? Isn’t it because there’s not enough land to cultivate now? Since the peasants were liberated, the noble lords don’t need so many people to cultivate for them. Going to East Africa is also cultivating for German nobles, just in a different place.”

“What’s more, East Africa also provides free education for children, and there is plenty of food. Isn’t it great for the whole family to go to East Africa and not worry about food and drink? And the work you do is what you’re familiar with. Can others trick you about farming?”

“Don’t look at the fact that many people in big cities earn money, the water there is deep! Most people who go to the city don’t get any benefits. Those who can make a fortune and come back to show off are rare, one in ten thousand. Do you believe you can do it? Do you have the ability and luck?”

…

Port of Trieste.

Janos had still managed to trick a bunch of villagers. After all, the rural areas of Hungary are quite fertile, and it is normal for families to have three or five children. The eldest son inherits the family business, and the remaining younger children naturally have to go out and seek their fortune.

Janos took dozens of people and brought them to the Port of Trieste, where an Austrian soldier received them.

This Austrian soldier was the port administrator, and had received orders today to prepare these immigrants for their journey to East Africa by doing their psychological work.

The method was also very simple and crude, which was to prove to these immigrants gathered from various regions within the Austrian Empire that the Mälardalen Company was a legitimate company and everyone didn’t need to worry. Behind it were German nobles with connections to the royal family.

So you must believe that the government will not deceive you. Do not cause trouble on the way. After three to five years, you can come back if you make something of yourselves.

Whether they could return was only known to the Austrian government itself. They also supported Ernst’s activities. They couldn’t directly intervene, because if the Magyars discovered their intentions, it would be difficult to withdraw.

The influence of the Magyar nobles on the Hungarian region was indeed too strong, otherwise they would not be able to be presumptuous in front of the Austrian government.

Ernst’s recruitment of workers from within the Austrian Empire was actually weakening the power of these local nobles. Although it had a somewhat insignificant effect, it was better than sitting still and waiting for death.

At the same time, Ernst was also equivalent to arranging employment for some unemployed people. For the Austrian Empire, which was currently experiencing rapid population growth, the value of the population was depreciating, especially the non-German population, which was growing even faster.

Unemployment among the people is detrimental to the stability of the rule in any era. Ernst packed up and took away these unemployed people, which also alleviated social conflicts.

Currently, the Habsburg royal family still had some credibility for these people. The emperor couldn’t possibly deceive ordinary people like us, right?

So the relieved immigrants obediently boarded the ships to East Africa…

Chapter 56: Balance

Ernst returned from Austria to his home in Hechingen, spending Christmas of 1866 with Prince Constantine.

The East African colony was also developing steadily.

January 14, 1867.

The first batch of immigrants from the Austrian Empire arrived at the port of Dar es Salaam.

Having long been worn down by the rocking of the sea, the immigrants were overjoyed to finally see land.

Because it was still within the territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the environment here seemed quite good in the eyes of the immigrants. After all, Zanzibar had been developed for many years, and its urban construction was barely passable.

People of all colors could be seen in Zanzibar: Germans, Arabs, Portuguese, Blacks, Indians, and Chinese…

The immigrants, who had always lived deep inland within the Austrian Empire, had never seen anything like this. The architectural style of Zanzibar was also different from that of Europe, filled with a strong Arabic flavor.

Coupled with the tropical beaches and coconut trees, everything was so new and exotic to these immigrants.

…

After three days of travel, these immigrants were brought to the First Township. Officials from various regions of the East African colony, who had been prepared for this, had arrived long ago to recruit immigrants.

The first batch of immigrants to arrive today were actually white people! The colonial officials, who were used to receiving Chinese immigrants, were somewhat surprised.

However, they soon began to fight like cats and dogs. The colonial officials were currently all Germans, and the students of the Hechingen Military Academy generally served as translators and assistants, or as junior officers in the colonial army.

In fact, these Germans were also a little apprehensive. What if the yellow-skinned people under their command rebelled? It was okay earlier when the population was small, but in the last few months of last year, tens of thousands of Chinese immigrants had arrived, while the number of Germans remained at the original two thousand.

Two thousand people could suppress tens of thousands, but the number of Chinese immigrants was increasing too quickly. This year it was tens of thousands, next year it would be hundreds of thousands, and the year after that it would be millions.

And that was putting it mildly. No one knew if Ernst would increase the number of ships and transport even more people.

Although the Chinese immigrants were relatively obedient and had a strong work ethic, the development of East Africa had greatly accelerated since the restrictions on Chinese immigration were lifted.

But for the German officials, it was more reassuring to have their own people (white people). Because the German officials could not speak Chinese, much of their work had to be done by students from the Hechingen Military Academy.

Having tasted the sweetness of power, the German officials were naturally uneasy. After all, these Hechingen Military Academy students were loyal to Ernst and had a supervisory role over the German officials in the colony.

The German officials believed that they were Ernst’s reliance, and that Ernst’s over-reliance on the Chinese would lead to instability in the East African colony.

Compared to the Germans hired with money and the students of the Hechingen Military Academy he had trained himself, Ernst naturally trusted his own students more.

But human hearts are unpredictable, so Ernst did not dare to hand over the colony to them. He preferred to use Germans of not very high caliber (mostly retired veterans and mercenaries who had been wandering overseas, with only a small number of high-level managers from the Hechingen Consortium).

The migration of people from within the Austrian Empire this time was also to prevent the Chinese immigrants from becoming dominant.

Ernst was just a feudal aristocrat with the ambition to expand territory on a map. Some people always suspected that Ernst was yellow on the inside despite his white skin.

In fact, Ernst had never thought that way. In addition to fulfilling his great ideals from his previous life and building a powerful country in East Africa to prevent those natives from wasting Africa’s good land, Ernst always put the interests of the Hohenzollern family first.

In Ernst’s own view, Africa could support at least two world-class powers, one in West Africa and one in Southeast Africa.

West Africa was a densely populated region with a mixture of powers. Various colonialists had their own spheres of influence on the Gold Coast, while East Africa only had Portugal as a top player.

Cape Town in South Africa was already controlled by the British, and the Boers were not to be trifled with, so it was not a good place to start either.

East Africa basically only had Portugal, a country that was already on the decline. Ernst did not even consider the neighboring Sultanate of Zanzibar a threat (the colonial army already outnumbered Zanzibar’s).

The development of East Africa required all the natives to be squeezed out, and the best way to squeeze out the natives was to use immigrants to seize the land of the Indians, just like the Americans did.

For example, in the former German East Africa, local officials wrote in their reports to the German government: It is impossible for white people to settle in Tanganyika on a large scale. The cultivation of large-scale land must be done by local labor.

So it was not that Ernst did not want to use Germans, but that there were too few Germans. The population of the German region was also just enough. Before, Germany was constantly at war, so many people chose to go abroad and immigrate overseas. Now Germany was basically stable under Prussian control.

Germans who were not threatened by war naturally chose to stay in Germany. And Prussia, which already had a foundation for unification, was experiencing rapid industrial development, which meant a bigger pie and a better solution to unemployment problems.

Coupled with the fact that the standard of living in the German region was first-class in this era, Germans would rather wait than easily go abroad.

Even the Germans in Austria would prioritize going to the German region when choosing a job and place to live.

So if you want to develop Africa, you must have a large amount of surplus labor, and the countries with the most abundant labor in the world today are the Russian Empire, India, and Qing China.

Russians are not easy to consider, after all, Russians live in temperate, subarctic, and arctic zones all year round, and they cannot stand the African environment.

Ernst could not possibly use India either. Not to mention the poor reputation of Indians in his previous life, India would still be one of East Africa’s few powerful rivals in the Indian Ocean in the future. Ernst’s ambition was to dominate the Indian Ocean.

A unified India has the ability to interfere in all countries around the Indian Ocean. In later generations, Indians relied on the Indians left in Africa during the British colonial era to influence the politics of various African countries.

Qing China did not have such capabilities as India. Its influence extended at most to the Strait of Malacca. The problem was that Ernst never saw the Imperial Navy break through the first island chain until his death, let alone Malacca.

To be honest, India only needs to choke off Malacca to take half of the Empire’s economy. First of all, the main channel for oil and energy would be cut off, and secondly, the European market would have to be transited through the Americas. That is why Pakistan’s position is so important. Even if everyone knows that the two countries are brothers on the surface, the common threat prompts both sides to stand together. Whoever takes it seriously is a fool.

Weakening India in the future is East Africa’s long-term strategy. There can only be one hegemon in the Indian Ocean, and East Africa’s goal in the future is hegemony over the Indian Ocean.

Channels like the Strait of Malacca are also the target of future East African colonies.

Since the first two cannot be used, then only Chinese immigrants can be chosen. Ernst was Chinese in his previous life, so he naturally had some good feelings towards the Chinese, and the Chinese are really easy to use.

Now Ernst is a thorough German. In terms of identity, of course, German is the priority. After all, his German identity in this life cannot be changed. German priority is his own priority.

And to develop the East African colony, which German fool would be willing to come if it is not developed? He can’t just use high salaries to get them to come. Ernst’s money didn’t come from thin air. Just the two thousand Germans hired at the beginning took up a lot of Ernst’s expenses in East Africa.

Even the immigrants lured from Austria were just ancestral farmers of Hungarians and Slavs.

The population of the Austrian Empire can only be considered second-rate, and the composition is complex. Ernst doesn’t care about this. After all, the later United States was also ruled by Saxons with immigrants from all over the world. The largest immigrant group was of German descent, and later the Latino group rose in the United States, but it cannot change the fact that American Saxons are the ruling class. English is the foundation for maintaining American rule.

The country that Ernst wants to build is naturally a German-speaking country. All cultures look up to Germany. After Tanzania’s independence in later generations, it still used English as its official language, so race is secondary. Language and cultural identity are the foundation of rule.

Otherwise, countries like Brazil would have no need to exist at all. What maintains Brazil’s national unity is Portuguese language and cultural identity.

Moreover, even if Ernst wanted to recruit people from Germany on a large scale, it is currently impossible. It would not be okay to learn from the United States and bring some fraudsters and robbers over.

The United States is just relying on its large family and large business, and its comprehensive conditions are the best in the world. Otherwise, the crime rate in the United States is basically no different from that in South America. The only difference is that Americans are really rich, while South Americans are really poor.

Not being able to recruit Germans now does not mean that they will not be able to recruit them in the future. When the East African colony is developed in the future, people will naturally be willing to come and develop. Moreover, there will be two world wars and economic crises later, which are all good opportunities for Ernst to take action in Europe, so there is no need to rush.

Conversely, if East Africa cannot be developed, even if they beg them to immigrate, they will not come.

Therefore, the current East African colony focuses on developing wasteland and doing a good job in agricultural construction. Only by building it can there be a future.

When agricultural conditions are mature and the industrialization stage is entered, that is when European immigrants need to be introduced on a large scale.

As for the problem of too many Chinese immigrants, it is not a threat at all until the East African natives are cleared. Moreover, Ernst has already begun to seek European immigrants to balance the number of Chinese.

European colonists and Chinese immigrants are both latecomers who invaded East Africa, but they are in the relationship of principal and accomplice. After the natives are cleared, the two races will not be able to feel at ease in the future. This is the effect that Ernst wants. If everyone is guilty, then it is not easy to mention racial conflicts, just like the tacit understanding of most Americans ignoring the Indians.

Ernst did not learn from the United States and South Africa to engage in racial segregation. The current East African colony is following the model of Brazil and Cuba. In the end, cultural identity is the priority.

Cultural identity naturally needs to be instilled from an early age. Don’t look down on the fact that the immigrants in the colony have no culture. In fact, they are all very shrewd in their hearts! They have not received cultural education, but they have ancestral social experience.

Trying to change the thinking of the first generation of immigrants through education is basically a thankless task. Ernst only needs to ensure that they can eat their fill, and they will be grateful.

After all, the Chinese people today have no political concepts in their minds. Unlike the European troublemakers who even try to make political demands, before the Republic of China, the Chinese would only rebel if they really had nothing to eat. Even if they had a mouthful of food to keep them going, they would hold on to the death.

But if the Republic of China really arrives, Ernst will not recruit immigrants from the Far East. At that time, it will not be recruiting immigrants, but recruiting troublemakers who participate in rebellions every day. Foreigners all miss my Great Qing, he really does, I’m crying to death.

Ernst thought.

…

The evil cause of colonialism cannot be washed clean. Ernst chose to drag the Chinese into the water, so that as accomplices, the descendants of the Chinese in East Africa will not be able to speak loudly when they enter the modern era in the future.

Everyone learns from the unspoken understanding of the Americans, and pretends that there have never been natives in East Africa. The integration of the German and Chinese nations is the key.

Ernst is already a saintly mother who has shown great kindness by not dealing with the natives in the same way that the United States treats the Indians. None of the current world’s colonialists are more noble than Ernst.

Chapter 57: Expedition Team

January 12th, 1867.

Namanja, a small place on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.

An expedition team was heading north through Namanja. The team leader was Henriette, a self-taught explorer from the German region.

Since childhood, Henriette had loved listening to adventure stories from the old folks in her hometown. Her heart yearned to explore like the protagonists in those stories, so when she grew up, she wanted to travel the world, seeking that thrill and novelty.

Henriette’s first stop was Africa, because Africa was the most mysterious place in Europe at the time. Unfortunately, Henriette didn’t have a penny to her name and couldn’t afford a ticket to Africa.

Fortunately, at that time, Ernst was recruiting people in the German region to scout out the East African colonies, and Henriette signed up.

Henriette, like Commander Jarmann, was one of the earliest members of the East African colonial mercenary team.

Henriette followed the mercenary team from the Baltic Sea, across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, to East Africa.

Newly arrived, the East African colonial mercenary team did not know much about the environment of the East African interior, so they needed to survey the inland environment. They formed several expedition teams to explore the East African interior, and these teams were formed by sign-ups and selections from the initial two thousand or so Germans in the East African colony.

Henriette, as the first person to sign up for the expedition team, was appointed as the leader of a squad. She led an expedition team of a dozen people and explored all the way west to the vicinity of Lake Sorel (Lake Tanganyika).

This exploration of Kenya was also led by Henriette, participating in the survey of East African geography, but this time it was an exploration northwards into Kenya from the East African colony.

At the same time as Henriette’s squad set off, another squad was sent out by the Mwanza capital in the Great Lakes region (Lake Victoria) to explore northwards along the eastern edge of the Great Lakes.

…

A few days ago, Henriette and her party set off from Karatu, first heading east to the Arusha stronghold, and then turning north from Arusha, arriving in Namanja today.

Namanja is a small town on the border between Tanzania and Kenya in its previous life, and Mount Kilimanjaro is more than seventy kilometers to the east.

Because the Sultanate of Zanzibar controlled large areas of eastern Kenya, the East African colony did not choose to start from the eastern part of the colony to survey the situation in Kenya in order to avoid trouble.

Instead, they explored the central and western parts of Kenya from the relatively central northern plateau area of the East African colony.

As long as Henriette’s squad continued straight north from Namanja for about 150 kilometers, they would encounter the Nairobi area, the capital of Kenya in its previous life.

The central and western parts of Kenya are the essence of the Kenyan nation in its previous life. This can be seen from the administrative map of Kenya. The administrative regions in the southwest are smaller and more numerous, while the three provinces in the east account for half of the area.

Kenya’s population is concentrated in the western highlands and near the Great Lakes, while other areas only have relatively large populations in places such as Mombasa on the southeastern coast.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar’s rule over Kenya is much stronger than its rule over Tanzania. Basically, the eastern part of Kenya is within the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s sphere of influence.

Therefore, the colony took action from the central and western regions, first preparing to take the Kenyan land between Uganda and the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Henriette wore a dome-shaped hat woven from banana leaves on her head, leaned on a tree branch carved into a crutch, and walked with dozens of people against the scorching sun of the East African plateau, while observing the changes in the nearby terrain and recording the scenery and things along the way.

“Captain, shall we take a break? This terrible road and the scorching sun are really unbearable!” a member suggested to Henriette.

Henriette raised her sleeve and wiped the sweat from her forehead, taking a deep breath.

She first looked at the sky around her, took out a compass, and observed the direction.

Now, it was just past noon, the hottest time of the day. The earth under the scorching sun was emitting waves of heat.

She took out a simple map drawn along the way from her backpack and crossed out the Ngong Hills from the list.

Looking north from the expedition team’s position, a hill could already be seen in the distance. This was the Ngong Hills mentioned by the Arab merchants.

Henriette pointed to the Ngong Hills and said to the team members, “Everyone, persevere a little longer. Today, we must hurry to the foot of the mountain. Looking at it from this distance, the Ngong Hills are not far away. At most, we have to walk another ten li, and then we can rest there.”

The team members were no longer impatient when they heard that they could rest after another ten li. For team members who had been traveling outside for a long time, ten li was a piece of cake when they were full of energy, just a warm-up.

So the team continued to set off. After about an hour and a half, the sky had begun to darken, and the sun was approaching the horizon.

The expedition team finally reached the vicinity of the foot of the Ngong Hills. The environment here was good, with dense green vegetation on the mountain and many trees.

The team began to set up camp to rest, and soon several camping tents were set up.

Henriette sat in the tent, took out the notes she had made along the way from her backpack, and began to check for omissions and draw maps.

From Arusha to Namanja, it was almost all flat ground, with gentle undulations, but the further north they went, the drier the climate became, but there was still green vegetation along the way, and occasionally they could encounter some jungles.

This situation continued until near the Ngong Hills in Namanja. The green space in the Ngong Hills obviously increased, and there were large forests on the mountains, and there were more rivers, no less than the Arusha area.

Henriette carefully read the notes, marking the sights she had seen along the way on the map with a pencil.

She continued to organize until it was completely dark, and Henriette completed the map marking work. A drawing was filled with dense text annotations and icons.

…

“Captain Henriette, dinner is ready!” a teammate’s voice came from outside the tent.

The temperature in East Africa dropped quickly at night. The team members found some firewood, built a bonfire, and started heating food while keeping warm.

While Henriette was working, they had hunted a serval.

After skinning and removing the tendons, it weighed only a few pounds with the bones. They pierced it through the middle with a sharpened wooden fork, sprinkled it with spices and salt, and roasted it.

The expedition team carried dry food, which was rice produced in the colony. They learned the skill of steaming rice from the Chinese. In fact, compared to rice, the Germans in the expedition team wanted to eat bread more.

Unfortunately, the conditions in the colony did not allow it at the moment, and the procedures such as kneading and baking were very complicated and not suitable for field operations. These were all secondary. The main reason was that the expedition team were all grown men who had never cooked before.

That is, simple cooking methods such as grilling meat and cooking rice can be learned easily.

They used aluminum lunch boxes to fill with rice and water, and threw them directly on the charcoal fire to cook the rice. The serval meat sizzled with oil under the charcoal fire, and with wild vegetables picked from the wild, they could barely make a meal.

The rice in the colony was the long-grain type from South Asia. The wild vegetables were learned and recognized from the local natives, and the serval meat tasted good, but it might not be very delicious due to dietary habits.

After eating, the team members began to rest, with two people responsible for keeping watch, taking turns to prevent wild animals from invading the camp.

In the darkness, flames danced in the open space, insects chirped, and several pairs of glowing eyes seemed to be staring at the expedition team’s location in the nearby mountains and forests.

The watchmen added firewood to maintain the flames of the bonfire while gripping the guns in their hands, vigilant about their surroundings.

…

The next day, the team members packed up their supplies after a peaceful night and embarked on their journey to Kenya again. Crossing the Ngong Hills would allow them to enter Kenya.

Chapter 58: Conspiracy

Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Since the establishment of the East African colony, the relationship between the East African colony and the Sultanate of Zanzibar had been relatively harmonious.

The East African colony expanded into the western interior of East Africa, which, although it affected the traditional trade routes of Arab merchants, the East African colony was not interested in native slaves and ivory.

Each time after clearing newly occupied land, the East African colony would bring natives, ivory, and other products to the port of Dar es Salaam to trade with merchants from various countries.

Unlike the previous Arab caravans that needed to deal with Bantu tribes in the interior, the East African colony directly overturned the table, with a large number of natives falling into the hands of the colony with each expansion.

The East African colony naturally would not keep these people, directly driving down the price of slaves. Arab merchants only needed to wait at the port for the East African colony to deliver the goods.

The East African colony only needed Arab merchants to exchange grain and other goods.

However, the actions of the East African colony still aroused the displeasure of some people, namely, the progressive forces of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, represented by Barghash bin Said, the brother of the contemporary Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said.

This matter must start with the contemporary Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said.

Majid bin Said, the Sultan of Zanzibar, was the sixth son of Said bin Sultan, the former King of the Sultanate of Oman.

Said bin Sultan was a remarkable figure who once led the Sultanate of Oman to prosperity. Zanzibar was conquered by him.

After his death, Majid bin Said competed for the throne with his third brother, Thuwaini bin Said, but Thuwaini bin Said was more skilled and seized the Omani throne.

He then established himself as the Sultan of Zanzibar, and Zanzibar seceded from the Sultanate of Oman and became an independent country.

During his reign, Majid bin Said used the controversial Indian Ocean slave trade to consolidate his power and accumulate the country’s wealth.

During his reign, Barghash bin Said (also a son of Said bin Sultan) attempted to usurp the throne but failed and was exiled to Mumbai for two years.

The problem lies in Barghash bin Said’s opposition to the slave trade. He advocated abolitionism and was interested in Western science and technology, wanting to promote the development of the Sultanate of Zanzibar through infrastructure (which he did historically).

The East African colony was eager to pack up and send away the natives, so it shipped them out on a large scale, which in Barghash bin Said’s view was simply helping the wicked.

…

Dar es Salaam Port, Barghash bin Said’s residence.

“Gentlemen, we can no longer sit idly by, or Zanzibar will have no future!”

Barghash bin Said roared with red eyes.

“Majid bin Said is now senile, and the Germans’ East African colony is helping the wicked. Majid bin Said’s engagement in the slave trade is already a step backward in history. The world’s great powers have already abolished slavery. If we cannot abolish the slave trade, how can Zanzibar integrate into the civilized world in the future? Remaining unchanged will inevitably be eliminated by the times.”

Those sitting below were all Barghash bin Said’s confidants. They had all witnessed the power of Western civilization after industrialization and were relatively enlightened figures in the Arab world (possibly related to the British behind the Sultanate of Oman).

“That’s right, Your Highness, but relying on our strength alone, it may be difficult to deal with the Germans’ armed forces in the East African colony,” said an officer of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

“If we don’t do it, who else can raise the banner of Zanzibar’s future! So, no matter how difficult the road is, we must face it bravely. It is impossible to count on Majid. He only knows how to enjoy himself and is addicted to stimulants,” said Barghash bin Said.

“But, Your Highness, if we cannot persuade His Majesty the Sultan to stand on our side, then the power we can use is too limited!” said another young officer.

“What’s so difficult about that! You must know that we represent the side of civilization. His Majesty the Sultan relies on the slave trade to amass wealth, which is itself an act that provokes the wrath of both gods and men. As long as we raise our arms, we will definitely be able to awaken the vast compatriots of Zanzibar and overthrow the slave trade with us,” said a young man in a suit.

“Are you out of your mind? You want to reform Zanzibar with such naive ideas. Political struggle is not child’s play,” an officer scolded.

“I think some people are just timid and dare not dedicate themselves to the great cause of Zanzibar, afraid of death!”

“Kid, do you know what you’re talking about? I’m an old man who followed His Highness to oppose the Sultan in the early years. I’m not like you, a playboy who wets his pants when things really happen.”

“What! Can’t argue, so you start attacking people personally?”

…

The two sides quarreled like this.

Barghash bin Said looked at his subordinates arguing with each other with a livid face, raised his hand and slapped it on the table with a loud “bang,” instantly silencing everyone.

Barghash bin Said said sternly, “Enough, what kind of behavior is this to be arguing all day long? Do you think you’re acting properly?”

“Solving problems depends not on arguing, but on ability and methods. Instead of complaining and attacking each other here, it’s better to think of ideas and seek solutions together.”

Everyone was silent…

Looking at the speechless crowd, Barghash bin Said said earnestly, “How can I not know the danger involved, but we have no way out. Failure is not terrible, even if it fails, it is only temporary, just like back then, when we were forced to flee to India, didn’t we make a comeback now?”

Barghash bin Said continued, “If we want to abolish the slave trade, we must have two preparations. The first is to cut off Majid’s supply, that is, the route and source of slaves provided by the East African colony to Majid. The second is to overthrow Majid’s rule. Only in this way can Zanzibar be fundamentally brought into modern society. This time, we cannot escape as embarrassingly as last time.”

“Now we ourselves have a considerable army in our hands, which is our capital. As long as we can quickly resolve Majid and his entourage, we can seize the power of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.”

“I have learned about that East African colony. According to information provided by Portuguese and British merchants, in addition to two thousand retired Prussian soldiers (in reality, there are only a little over a thousand), the rest are farmers recruited from East Asia.”

“As long as we gain the right to speak in Zanzibar, we can put together a professional army of more than four thousand people, and at the same time, we can temporarily conscript a portion of the people to deal with the farmers in the East African colony. Four thousand against two thousand, the advantage is on our side.”

After listening to Barghash bin Said’s plan, an officer said, “Your Highness, what about His Majesty the Sultan? If we succeed, should we…” He made a pistol shape with his hand and pointed it at his forehead, making a “bang” shooting motion.

Barghash bin Said shook his head: “That is the practice of barbarians. The monarchs of European countries often attack each other because of political struggles, but no one ever persecutes the losers. Even ambitious people like Napoleon were ultimately only exiled by the monarchs of European countries!”

An officer named Abdullah said, “Your Highness, we must not be soft-hearted! What if Sultan Majid makes a comeback…”

Barghash bin Said: “Alright, I have made up my mind, and there is no room for discussion. We will exile him to other countries at that time. I heard that he has a good relationship with the Sultanate of Ossa, so we will exile him there. Anyway, he is old and will not come back to cause trouble. After all, he is not like us, with the British backing us.”

…

In this way, a conspiracy against the East African colony and the Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, took shape.

If the officials of the East African colony knew their plan, they would definitely complain, what kind of brain circuit is this? We didn’t initiate the slave trade, and we’re being targeted for making a little extra money!

This is really suffering an undeserved disaster. It was originally your own family affair, but you had to involve outsiders, and how can you have the nerve to say that the East African colony is a bad person? And helping the wicked!

It doesn’t make sense logically! Until the future, the officials of the East African colony could not understand the brain circuits of these Arabs.

Chapter 59: Zanzibar Palace Coup

January 23, 1867.

Zanzibar Sultanate, Dar es Salaam Port Barracks.

Barghash bin Said was plotting with his confidants to overthrow the Zanzibar Sultanate regime.

“Abdullah, how many men can you muster?” Barghash bin Said asked his subordinate.

“Your Highness, I originally controlled more than eighty men in the army. With the addition of the several officers we have placed in the army, we control more than 300 soldiers.”

“Very good, I also have more than 800 men. Added together, that’s 1,200 men, which is already one-third of the entire kingdom’s army.” Barghash bin Said analyzed.

“And that fellow Majid still doesn’t know our plan. He’s probably still living a life of luxury and dissipation in the palace. As long as we can catch Majid’s trusted aides in the army off guard, then the Zanzibar Sultanate will be ours.” Barghash bin Said said excitedly.

Several officers and staff members under him were also in high spirits. After all, the odds of winning this time were great. If the coup succeeded, they would be able to rise to positions of great power and influence in the Zanzibar Sultanate.

“Your Highness, only you can bring a bright future to the Zanzibar Sultanate. We are all willing to follow in your footsteps.” A staff member seized the opportunity to flatter him.

“Your Highness, please assign the tasks! It’s time for us to change this backward country!” Other officers and staff members also urged him to take action.

Barghash bin Said was very satisfied with the fanaticism and flattery of his subordinates.

It was this feeling of having great power in his hands. Barghash bin Said was indeed dissatisfied with the current state of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and he also regarded himself as the leader of the Zanzibar Sultanate in his heart.

However, Barghash bin Said was also a mortal. When he felt the charm of power and the enthusiasm of others, he also felt very comfortable in his heart.

He walked excitedly to the table and began to assign tasks.

“This is the royal palace of the Zanzibar Sultanate. There are about one hundred and twenty guards, but they are scattered throughout the palace and cannot be gathered in a short period of time. Therefore, we must send people to seize control of the palace in a very short time. I myself will lead the soldiers and hold Majid hostage. In this way, the palace guards will be without a leader and will automatically give up resistance.”

Barghash bin Said said, pointing to the location of the Zanzibar Sultan’s palace on the map.

“This is the first group of people. As long as Majid is taken care of, basically no one can fight against us. But to be on the safe side, we will use five hundred people to be responsible for the actions in the palace. Abdullah has been in the army for many years, so you are responsible for disarming the soldiers in the military camp outside the city, while I will lead people straight to Majid’s bedroom to control Majid.”

Barghash bin Said continued, “The second group, led by Abdullah, is responsible for controlling the military camp outside Dar es Salaam. The military camp wakes up at eight o’clock every morning. At this time, the firearms are placed on the shelves in the soldiers’ dormitories. As long as we break in before the soldiers wake up tomorrow morning and control the firearms, we can make the soldiers in the military camp surrender.”

“The time for the action is five o’clock tomorrow morning. We will break into the palace while the palace guards are lax. In order for the plan to proceed in an orderly manner, our men must be assembled by three o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“As long as we control the palace and the army, we will be sure of victory. Then we will gather the national army and drive out Majid’s accomplices, the Germans, from Dar es Salaam Port and Tanga. Then we will be completely victorious.”

“Now, let’s divide up the number of people to complete each task. We can take action early tomorrow morning…”

…

While Barghash bin Said was assigning tasks, what was Sultan Majid bin Said doing?

In fact, Majid bin Said had no idea about the conspiracy of his subordinates. When he was young, Majid bin Said was considered relatively promising, otherwise he would not have been able to fight for the independence of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

However, in his later years, Majid bin Said had completely let himself go, indulging in pleasure and drug stimulation every day.

Historically, Majid bin Said died in these two years. People speculated that his death was related to excessive use of “stimulants.”

…

The next day, the Zanzibar Sultan’s palace.

The sky was just dawning, and the guards were standing lazily in front of the palace gate. Suddenly, Barghash bin Said came to the gate with a few people.

The guards naturally recognized the king’s brother, Prince Barghash bin Said, and thought that Barghash bin Said was going to discuss matters with the Sultan as usual.

Walking up to the guard, suddenly the two people behind Barghash bin Said took out two revolvers from their sleeves and pointed them at the chests of the two guards.

“Don’t move, or we’ll shoot you!” Barghash bin Said’s men threatened.

Then, Barghash bin Said waved his hand, and a team of people emerged from a corner. Barghash bin Said led a team straight to Majid’s bedroom, and the rest were responsible for controlling the guards and servants in the palace.

Majid was sleeping in bed with the Queen when suddenly a maid broke in from outside the door.

“Your Majesty, something bad has happened! Prince Barghash bin Said has broken in with his men.”

Awakened by the maid’s shouting, Majid’s mind was still confused at the moment, and he was about to reprimand her.

Barghash bin Said walked in directly with a group of people.

“What are you doing, Barghash? Are you planning to rebel?”

Barghash bin Said said with a mocking face, “My dear brother, can’t you see the situation clearly? It seems you are really senile. That’s right, this is a coup!”

“You…you…alas!”

After recovering, Sultan Majid sighed decadently. It was too late to say anything now.

…

While Barghash bin Said was controlling Sultan Majid, Abdullah also led people to control the military camp. The entire coup basically encountered no resistance.

At eight o’clock in the morning, Majid’s ministers came to report for duty as usual, only to see Barghash bin Said sitting on the Sultan’s seat.

“Gentlemen, His Majesty the Sultan is old and overworked, and cannot manage affairs, so he has entrusted me to take charge of national affairs.” Barghash bin Said said to the ministers with a smile.

It must be said that Majid’s ministers, like their old king, were all good-for-nothings. After seeing the armed guards, they immediately jumped ship and joined Barghash bin Said’s camp.

…

While Barghash bin Said was carrying out the coup, Basel, the head of the East African colony stationed in Dar es Salaam Port, also observed the abnormality of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

After all, it was definitely abnormal for hundreds of soldiers to rush back and forth on the streets. In the past, the soldiers of the Zanzibar Sultanate would not appear in the streets of Dar es Salaam on such a “large scale.”

After all, Dar es Salaam is currently the political and economic center of the Zanzibar Sultanate. The Zanzibar Sultan would not allow soldiers to wander around the streets like this.

Even when Majid traveled on weekdays, the Royal Guard was responsible. The Royal Guard was still decent. They would line up relatively neatly, wearing relatively gorgeous and uniform Arab clothing, and their movements were neither fast nor slow.

However, the soldiers who appeared on the streets today were obviously not the Royal Guard, and they were marching in a hurry. At the same time, the meticulous Basel also noticed that the soldiers’ guns were all loaded, obviously they were going to fight.

The more Basel thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. He called his assistant Dühler and instructed, “You go to the border and report to our people now, and let them report to the East African colonial government, saying that the Zanzibar Sultanate may have taken unusual actions. It looks like it may be a coup. Let the colonial government and the border army pay attention to Zanzibar’s movements.”

Dühler nodded and was about to leave. Basel suddenly stopped him: “Go and change into Arab clothes first. Don’t go out in military uniform.”

So Dühler, disguised as an Arab merchant, rode a horse and left from the back door of the East African colonial office in Dar es Salaam Port.

Chapter 60: Marching Towards the Port of Dar es Salaam

Dürer, dressed in an Arab robe and riding a horse, did not stand out on the streets of Dar es Salaam.

Being German, his white skin combined with Arab clothing made him look like a local Arab at first glance.

Without attracting the attention of the soldiers of the Zanzibar Sultanate, Dürer urged his horse onward, quickly heading towards the border region.

The East African colony had initially promised Sultan Majid not to station troops in Dar es Salaam. As a compromise, the East African colony left a two-hundred-man army on the border some distance from Dar es Salaam.

This was to prevent any changes in the Zanzibar Sultanate, or rather, to ensure the smooth passage from the port of Dar es Salaam to the East African colony.

After all, for a country whose standing army rarely exceeded a few thousand men, two hundred well-equipped soldiers were a considerable threat.

Currently, the East African colony’s armed forces numbered around eight thousand, of which about two thousand were Germans and over three hundred were immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The rest were Chinese immigrants.

These eight thousand soldiers were scattered across the East African colony’s nearly 700,000 square kilometers of land.

Approximately three thousand colonial troops were stationed in the three coastal areas in the east. After deducting the necessary local defense forces, the East African colony could quickly mobilize about fifteen hundred men.

This fifteen hundred included two hundred in the direction of Dar es Salaam, three hundred in the port of Tanga, over five hundred in the First Town, and the remaining troops that could be flexibly mobilized from other parts of the three coastal areas.

…

“Halt! Who goes there?” The East African colonial soldiers stationed in Kibaha (about forty li from the port of Dar es Salaam – approximately 20 kilometers) stopped Dürer, who was dressed in Arab attire.

“Friendly! Quickly take me to your commanding officer. I have important military intelligence to report,” Dürer said breathlessly.

Upon hearing that it was military intelligence, the soldiers dared not delay and immediately reported to the officer in the camp.

After verifying the identity of the visitor, Felix, the military officer stationed in Kibaha, received Dürer.

“Sir, this is a personal letter from Mr. Basel!” Dürer handed the letter to Felix.

Felix took the letter, opened it, and read it.

After a moment, Felix frowned and asked, “Mr. Dürer! Did you see any unusual movements of Arabs on your way here?”

“Sir, I did see quite a few soldiers on the streets of Dar es Salaam. They seemed to be conducting some kind of military operation, especially in the direction of the palace. Civilians were prohibited from passing through. I bypassed them and came out from the southern part of the district.”

“Are you sure it was a military operation? You didn’t see wrong!” Felix asked.

“Sir, normally only the Zanzibar Sultanate’s Royal Guard would appear on the streets of Dar es Salaam, while the army is stationed outside the city and at the docks.”

Dürer continued, “This morning, our people saw the Zanzibar garrison at the docks moving out unusually, but no one paid attention at the time. Around eight o’clock, the number of soldiers on the streets of Dar es Salaam increased, and there weren’t that many Zanzibar troops at the docks, indicating that the Zanzibar army outside the city had entered the city. Moreover, Mr. Basel observed that most of these soldiers entering the city were heavily armed, and the Zanzibar Sultan Majid’s Royal Guard was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Basel suspected that something major must have happened in the Zanzibar Sultanate. However, we didn’t hear any gunfire, so we didn’t dare to jump to conclusions, but we couldn’t let the situation go unchecked, so we came to report.”

After listening to what Dürer said, Felix looked at his adjutant, Hans Zhang, and asked, “Zhang, what do you think!”

Hans Zhang was a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy. His original name was Zhang Yuzhu. After entering the academy, all students had to take German names. At that time, they were given a list and asked to choose names that sounded pleasing to them.

Zhang Yuzhu thought that the name Hans was simple and easy to remember, so he changed his name to Hans. The surname was a German transliteration, as the German instructors couldn’t distinguish between the various Chinese surnames. The German instructors grouped all surnames with similar pronunciations into one category.

So, surnames like “Zhang, Zhao, Jiang…” which were difficult for Germans to pronounce, all sounded like the Chinese “Zhang,” so they were all written as the German transliteration “zhang.”

When these students first arrived in Germany, they were mostly illiterate, and no one could write their own name, so they followed the instructors and changed their surnames to “zhang.”

After the name change, Zhang Yuzhu’s name became “Hans Zhang.”

…

After thinking for a moment, Adjutant Hans Zhang said to Felix, “Judging from the current situation, if we report to the colonial government first and wait for them to make a decision before taking action, we will definitely be too late.”

“If a coup really occurs in Zanzibar and a new government is established, then the new government’s attitude towards us may be different from before. Currently, we only have about twenty staff members stationed at the port of Dar es Salaam. This afternoon, there may be new immigrants arriving at the port. These immigrants have no weapons to defend themselves. Relying solely on twenty armed staff members will definitely not be enough to stop the Zanzibar government army.”

“Immigration is the top priority of the East African colony. The principal has repeatedly emphasized the need to ensure the safe arrival of immigrants in the East African colony. If a military turmoil really occurs in the Zanzibar Sultanate, it may threaten the safety of the new immigrants arriving today!” Hans Zhang analyzed.

In fact, the current immigration to the East African colony is not limited to the port of Dar es Salaam. Immigrants can also land at the port of Tanga. The problem is that the conditions at the port of Dar es Salaam are more mature, so the Dutch prefer to dock at Dar es Salaam. Immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire also prefer to choose the closer port of Dar es Salaam because they have to detour around the Atlantic Ocean. Only the Hechingen Consortium’s own fleet departs from the port of Tanga when transporting goods.

This situation will only change after the Suez Canal is opened. But even then, the location of the port of Tanga may not be the closest to Europe… (Mombasa will be acquired after this incident.)

“That’s right. If we act one step later, we may not be able to control the situation, so action must be taken immediately,” Felix agreed.

“Now we should send someone to report the situation to the East African colonial government and march towards the port of Dar es Salaam at the same time.”

“Mr. Dürer, please stay here and rest! The personnel responsible for receiving immigrants will pass by here at noon. You can return to Dar es Salaam with them then.”

Felix’s words showed that he didn’t take Zanzibar seriously at all. In fact, Felix was so arrogant. As a former member of the Prussian army, Prussia often fought the strong with the weak alongside His Majesty the King in Europe.

Felix believed that as long as the army had courage, defeating the strong with the weak was not necessarily impossible. Moreover, the Zanzibar army was “weak chickens” in Felix’s eyes. After all, European countries were frantically expanding around the world. Although Prussia did not participate, Prussia was also a prominent military power in Europe.

Small countries like Zanzibar were often beaten badly by the Dutch and Portuguese, so naturally they were not Prussia’s opponents.

Felix had a fiery temper, and as the saying goes, “a bear of a general breeds a den of bears.” Only his adjutant, Hans Zhang, could moderate Felix’s temper.

This was because Hans Zhang, as a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy, had received systematic military training, so his style of doing things was quite like that of a Prussian officer. Every time Felix interacted with Hans Zhang, he felt like he was talking to his former Prussian aristocratic officers, which made Felix often miss his days of service in Prussia.

But when it came to fighting, Felix, this former Prussian soldier, had a kind of reckless courage. Since entering East Africa, Felix, who had often fought with the natives and never lost, was quite inflated.

However, Felix was meticulous in his roughness. His control over the army was completely in accordance with Prussian army regulations. There were no errors in execution every time he deployed and fought, so Adjutant Hans Zhang mostly did not stop Felix, but instead supported Felix’s actions.

“Issue my order! The entire army will assemble immediately and march towards the port of Dar es Salaam!” Felix ordered.

The soldiers led by the reckless Felix were naturally swift and decisive. After receiving the order, they quickly organized their equipment and assembled.

Felix and Hans Zhang took the lead, walking in front, and marched east with the soldiers.

The army of only two hundred men showed the momentum of a regiment, advancing towards the port of Dar es Salaam with dust flying all the way.

Chapter 61: Baghash bin Said’s New Administration in Zanzibar

At the same time, Baghash bin Said, who held great power, began his first administrative experience.

He declared himself the First Regent of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, fully representing Sultan Majid bin Said in managing national affairs.

“Slavery is a sin. Sultan Majid bin Said, misled by treacherous people, implemented this backward system, abhorred by the civilized world, in Zanzibar. This will inevitably hinder the Sultanate of Zanzibar from integrating into the civilized world and hinder Zanzibar’s development…”

In short, in Baghash bin Said’s mouth, the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s implementation of slavery was a major step backward in history, an unspeakable evil.

“In summary, I announce that the slavery system in the Sultanate of Zanzibar is abolished from today, and the slave trade is prohibited within the territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.”

As soon as Baghash bin Said finished speaking, the Zanzibar ministers below immediately became anxious.

“Your Excellency the Regent, this matter is absolutely impossible! This is shaking the foundation of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.”

“Your Excellency the Regent, Zanzibar’s prosperity depends entirely on the slave trade. If the slave trade is prohibited, Zanzibar’s economy will be severely damaged.”

“Zanzibar is a poor and small country. If we abandon the slave trade, it is like tying our own hands. The so-called civilized world is just wishful thinking. I hope the Regent will prioritize national interests and not destroy our own Great Wall.”

…

The ministers defended the slavery system with great enthusiasm. As Zanzibar, which made its fortune through the slave trade, these ministers themselves were big slave owners and earned a lot of profit through the slave trade.

Although Majid bin Said was relatively昏庸 in his later years, he really led everyone to make a fortune. If Baghash bin Said hadn’t pointed a gun at them.

These ministers would definitely shout that Sultan Majid bin Said was wise and mighty, and Baghash bin Said was not worth discussing matters with.

The ministers were thinking: How could Zanzibar produce a traitor like you? If you want to be a dog for the British, don’t drag us down! Talking about the civilized world, go to India and don’t come back! Sultan Majid bin Said was really something, he should have shot this brain-dead thing directly back then, instead of letting this idiot run to Bombay.

After going to Bombay for two years, he keeps talking about the civilized world, but he doesn’t even look at what kind of place India is. Aren’t the so-called Indians essentially slaves of the British? Changing the place becomes a backward system, so why do the British stay in India as superiors?

Of course, the ministers dared to be angry but dared not speak out, after all, Baghash bin Said, this dictator, has a gun in his hand now. Although Baghash bin Said is a blockhead, the Zanzibar ministers don’t want to use their heads to compare with bullets to see who is harder.

“Okay, I have made up my mind. There is no room for bargaining on this matter. You better not test my patience.” Baghash bin Said threatened sternly.

Baghash bin Said himself was a reckless person, otherwise he wouldn’t have directly opposed Majid bin Said and been exiled to India.

The lesson he learned from the last failure was that he had to have power in his hands to speak firmly. How does that power come about? Baghash bin Said, who achieved enlightenment in Bombay, realized that he still needed to have a gun in his hand to have power! So, after Baghash bin Said returned this time, he actively wooed those progressive officers who opposed the slavery system and placed his own people in the army.

In addition, Majid bin Said became increasingly confused in his later years due to taking too much medicine, which allowed Baghash bin Said to seize the opportunity.

“Now, let’s talk about the second thing. The Germans who provide slaves to the Sultanate of Zanzibar must be expelled from Zanzibar. From now on, Zanzibar does not welcome any slave traders.”

This time the ministers did not object, but instead felt a little secretly pleased. These ministers who were engaged in the slave trade knew the most about the Germans’ power in East Africa.

In the past, the Sultanate of Zanzibar would go to the East African interior to hunt for slaves themselves. Those black tribes were not easy to deal with, so the Zanzibar slave hunting teams mainly used trade to instigate those tribes to fight each other, and then exchange simple materials for slaves from the victors.

But since the establishment of the East African colonies, in front of the Germans, those black tribes have become paper tigers, good-looking but useless. The Germans don’t need any advanced methods of instigating tribal conflicts, they just take action directly.

Initially, when the Germans arrived, these ministers were worried, fearing that these Germans would hinder their interests in East Africa.

But the Germans didn’t care about the blacks. In Ernst’s eyes, land was the most valuable wealth in East Africa, so the East African colonies didn’t need natives, they only wanted the land, not the people.

But dealing with these blacks was also very troublesome, so they simply sold them to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar could obtain a large number of blacks by paying only a symbolic reward.

In the Arab world, black slaves were in high demand. Arabs widely used black labor, and because of the distance, the cost for Arabs to obtain blacks was low.

In the past, Zanzibar caught slaves themselves, and the cost was higher than that of the Sultanates in North Africa and Somalia. The northern countries only needed to cross the narrow Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to sell black slaves to the Arabian Peninsula. Fortunately, they themselves also had a large demand for black slaves, and they developed the market early, so the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was established later, could eat a part of the market.

Since the East African colonies directly delivered goods to their door, the slave merchants of the Sultanate of Zanzibar took off directly.

Not only was the quantity large and sufficient, but the price was also low. In the past year or so, Zanzibar has been capturing territory in the Arab slave market, and life has been very comfortable.

From this point of view, Ernst was still somewhat kind-hearted. If Ernst learned from the Arabs and directly castrated the natives, he could not only get free labor, but also solve future troubles…

That’s digressing. In short, the ministers knew that the Germans had good military strength, and the East African colonies were still constantly recruiting people, so their strength might be even stronger than before.

Baghash bin Said returned in the last few months, and he didn’t know much about the Germans’ strength.

As long as he provokes the Germans, he will definitely be beaten to the ground. When the ministers come forward to accuse Baghash bin Said of his crimes and take back the power of the country, they can dance and the horses can run as usual.

While the ministers were fantasizing endlessly, Baghash bin Said was arranging personnel appointments.

“Abdullah will serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom’s Army, responsible for this expulsion operation against the Germans. Katibu will serve as the Major General of the Kingdom’s Army, cooperating with Abdullah…”

After arranging his own people in important positions, Baghash bin Said couldn’t wait to start implementing his plan.

……

Dar es Salaam port wharf.

“Mr. Bazel, please leave!” Katibu, the newly appointed lieutenant general of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, said arrogantly.

“Hmph, you will regret it.” Bazel said angrily.

“Hehe, we’ll see!” Katibu mocked.

Bazel was expressionless and turned to arrange for the evacuation of personnel. Fortunately, the ship arriving at the port today was an ocean-going ship of the Hechingen Consortium. After Bazel discussed with the captain, the fleet carrying the immigrants of the Austro-Hungarian Empire turned north and headed for Tanga Port, where there were troops from the East African colonies, so there was no need to worry about the difficulties from Zanzibar.

Bazel and more than twenty armed personnel, after packing up their supplies, left Dar es Salaam under the surveillance of the Zanzibaris.

At this time, Felix’s army was still on the way. Due to the lack of horses, the group could only choose to walk. Forty miles was not long, but they had to maintain their physical strength, so they could only reach Dar es Salaam Port before dark.

Chapter 62: Fierce Battle

Bazel, leading over twenty staff members, escorted the carriages eastward. After traveling about ten miles in two hours, they encountered the East African colonial army coming towards them.

Felix stepped forward to greet Bazel. “Bazel, what are you doing out here? What’s the situation inside Zanzibar?”

“Ah…” Bazel sighed.

“There’s been a coup in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Barghash bin Said has seized control of the army and imprisoned Sultan Majid bin Said. We were driven out by Barghash bin Said’s men.”

“What about the immigrants? Shouldn’t today’s ship have arrived?” Felix asked.

“Today’s ship is from Europe. I had them go north to Tanga,” Bazel replied.

Felix narrowed his eyes into slits and said in a low voice, “These Zanzibaris are really getting bold! Just because the tiger isn’t roaring, they think we’re pushovers. This time, we have to teach them a lesson!”

Bazel asked with some surprise, “You’re not planning to retaliate right now, are you? Shouldn’t we wait for the main force to arrive before taking action?”

Felix said dismissively, “I don’t even put the Zanzibar army in my eyes. I’m going to educate them later.”

Bazel said with some worry, “Don’t be reckless. It won’t be easy to clean up if you mess things up.” After speaking, he signaled Hans Zhang with his eyes to persuade Felix.

Hans Zhang put his hand on Bazel’s shoulder and comforted him, “Don’t worry, Felix is still measured in his actions. Although he’s a bit bold, we won’t do anything we’re not confident in. Besides, we have legs, don’t we? If things go wrong, we can always run.”

Seeing that these two guys weren’t listening to his advice at all, Bazel asked helplessly, “Then what are you planning to do?”

Felix said, “Of course, we’ll scout out the situation first before making any plans. We’re not brainless, rushing in headfirst without a second thought.”

Felix had been in East Africa for so long, and he usually fought against uncivilized natives, which didn’t require any brains at all. As long as a volley of gunfire was fired, they could easily win.

Now that he encountered a slightly more challenging opponent, it was like a long-awaited rain after a drought, and his heart was itching.

“Don’t go back either. We don’t have many people anyway, so you can join us. I’ll take you back to Dar es Salaam,” Felix said to Bazel and his group.

“Alright, I’ll trust you this time. We’re your subordinates now, so you can’t mess around,” Bazel said.

Bazel was also a Prussian soldier, so he wasn’t afraid of fighting. He was just a little more cautious in his personality.

“Don’t worry! I came to East Africa for the high salary. My family is still waiting for me to go back! I value my life very much. I haven’t enjoyed it yet, so how could I mess around?” Felix patted his chest and guaranteed.

The German soldiers in the colonies were indeed hired with high salaries. In addition to the base salary, it was also based on battle achievements. Every accumulated battle achievement was money. Although they didn’t get much for each battle, there were plenty of battles to fight in East Africa.

Accumulated, the income was very considerable. This was also the reason why Felix and others were happy to hear about war, especially against a force like Zanzibar, which had civilization and formed a country in East Africa. One battle was worth several sweeps against savage tribes.

Ernst’s requirement for the colonies was to act according to plan. Every expansion had a direction. Anything beyond the scope would be considered working for Ernst for free.

Regarding the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Ernst’s instructions were: “If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.” They couldn’t cause trouble before the Sultanate of Zanzibar threatened the East African colonies.

The students of the Schwarzenberg Military Academy and the people sent by the consortium would check the war’s effectiveness and details. They didn’t rely on battle achievements to get money, so they wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about war.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar had not targeted the East African colonies before, so people like Felix couldn’t find a reason to take action. Now that the Sultanate of Zanzibar was courting death, they couldn’t blame Felix for being impolite.

…

Evening, the weather began to cool down slightly.

Outside Zanzibar City.

Felix and his group hid in the jungle not far outside the city, waiting for the intelligence personnel to return.

Before long, they saw a person dressed as an Arab leaving Dar es Salaam and entering the dense forest.

“Report, sir, I’ve scouted everything out. The enemy is not under martial law. Ordinary people can still enter and exit normally. There are no soldiers on the streets. Barghash bin Said is now in power in Zanzibar. His men are in the palace…”

“Very good, take a rest for now,” Felix ordered.

Turning to the people around him, he said, “It seems that this Barghash bin Said is really not someone who can achieve great things. He doesn’t even know that he has provoked someone he shouldn’t have, and he’s still not acting cautiously.”

“It’s not that surprising. Based on my years of experience in Southeast Asia, most of the leaders of these small countries are like this. There are also many who are quite arrogant,” Bazel said.

“When it gets dark, we’ll take advantage of the night to enter and catch them off guard,” Felix said powerfully, clenching his fist in front of his chest.

Saying that, he took out a map of Dar es Salaam and pointed to the palace on the map.

“To defeat the enemy, first capture their chief. We’ll go straight to the enemy’s headquarters and let this Barghash bin Said taste the feeling of being captured.”

…

At seven o’clock in the evening, it was already dark. The East African colonial army sneaked into the city. Entering the city went smoothly. The Dar es Salaam Palace was in the center of the city, a three-story building.

Barghash bin Said was holding a celebration banquet. As the first time Barghash bin Said was in power, he felt that today was too smooth. He seized power, abolished the backward system, and expelled the Germans from the port of Dar es Salaam.

These were all completed within a day. Barghash bin Said held a grand banquet to commemorate the success of the first day.

Because of religious reasons, there was no alcohol on the table, only coffee and coconuts.

Barghash bin Said held a coconut and said to everyone, “Today is the greatest day in the history of Zanzibar…”

Before he could finish speaking, there was a sudden commotion outside the palace. “Bang, bang, bang…” The sound of gunfire rang out one after another.

“What’s going on? Abdullah, go and see!” Barghash bin Said roared angrily, “Who didn’t attend today?”

The first thing Barghash bin Said thought of was the remnants of Majid bin Said.

The ministers present looked at each other. At this time, only you, Barghash bin Said, have people in your hands! Could it be the Germans from the East African colonies? That shouldn’t be!

If they wanted to retaliate, they would have to gather troops and it would take two or three days to get here!

Although everyone knew that there were two or three hundred East African colonial troops not far from Dar es Salaam, those two or three hundred people shouldn’t be so reckless!

This was because they didn’t understand Felix’s personality, the added bonus of the Prussian military spirit.

Although Prussia was considered a war maniac in the eyes of Europeans, the quality of the Prussian army was just so-so in the eyes of the great powers.

Before Prussia defeated the French, it couldn’t be considered a top player in Europe, although Prussia had defeated Austria before.

But everyone tacitly attributed Prussia’s victory to Austria’s poor condition. After all, Hungary and various local nationalists rebelled domestically, Italy attacked from the side, Austria’s preparations were not sufficient, and Prussia quickly negotiated peace with Austria, so the intensity of the war was not that great.

Prussia’s most brilliant achievement was during the reign of Frederick the Great, when he fought one against three. This credit should be attributed to Frederick’s own genius military ability. After all, it was the Russians who let Prussia escape.

Prussia was also reduced to ruins. Later, a figure like Napoleon appeared and rode roughshod over the entire German region. At that time, only Austria was in slightly better condition in the entire German region.

Felix was one of the more extreme among the many lower-level soldiers in Prussia. He only retired from Prussia when he reached a certain age.

However, Felix couldn’t stay idle at all. If he couldn’t fight in Europe, couldn’t he come to Africa to bully the natives?

The natives of Africa were too disappointing for Felix. None of them were capable, so he naturally had to try to fight Zanzibar, which had some strength.

Outside the palace, Felix calmly directed the battle. This group of Zanzibar soldiers was too weak, that was Felix’s thought.

“First squad, throwers, get ready, aim and throw! Throw them all at the gate.”

Limited by the conditions of the East African colonies, apart from the coastal defense cannons in Tanga, grenades were the only weapons of mass destruction.

Due to the popularity of cannons and the upgrading of fortifications in European countries, the importance of throwers was getting lower and lower.

Grenades became “nuclear weapons” in East Africa. No matter how tough the natives were, they would immediately run away with their heads in their hands after a grenade was thrown.

After all, there was also Leopold, a scumbag who used magnifying glasses to light fires and batteries to electrocute the natives in the Congo, posing as a god.

The power of grenades was like the wrath of the Grim Reaper. The natives who had never seen the world even prostrated themselves and begged the gods for forgiveness.

Zanzibar, an “advanced” army with rudimentary cannons, would naturally not be scared away by grenades like the natives.

However, Felix didn’t intend to use grenades to defeat Zanzibar.

The Zanzibar Palace was a three-story building of considerable size, built of brick and stone. Because it was a palace, the Zanzibar soldiers didn’t have time to build positions and could only rely on the walls of the palace to resist stubbornly.

The palace gates and windows became the few shooting ports, so Felix concentrated ammunition to try to break through from the gate.

“Boom…” With a loud noise, half of the palace gate collapsed directly.

The Zanzibar soldiers in front of the gate went directly to see Allah, and the soldiers behind the gate were also lying on the ground moaning. Due to the twists and turns of the structure in the palace, it was difficult to fill the gap in the first time.

Felix heard that there was no gunfire in front of the palace gate, drew his saber, waved it forward, and shouted, “Soldiers, victory is ahead, charge in with me!”

“Kill…”

Due to the darkness, the Zanzibar soldiers didn’t know the number of enemies, so they didn’t dare to fight outside the palace. After the colonial army suddenly attacked, they hid in the palace.

Restricted by the terrain in the palace, it was even more difficult to fight back, and they were blocked inside by the well-equipped East African colonial soldiers.

Some of the clever ones had already run away in the dark. Abdullah, who came after hearing the sound, was captured by four or five East African colonial soldiers before he could deploy his command.

The Zanzibar soldiers had no intention of resisting. Some fled through the windows, and some ran around in the building. At this time, they didn’t care about the palace or anything else. Saving their lives was the most important thing.

Chapter 63: Conquering the Zanzibar Palace

After a hasty battle.

The Zanzibar army lost its fighting ability. Inside the palace, the East African colonial army captured several hundred people, while other Zanzibar soldiers fled to various parts of Dar es Salaam, unable to continue resisting.

Felix, leading his men, entered the Zanzibar banquet hall, where he was met by the Zanzibar ministers.

…

Three minutes prior.

“Your Excellency, Ministers, something terrible has happened! The Germans have invaded! General Abdullah has been captured alive, and now the Germans are arresting people everywhere!” A maid ran into the hall in a panic.

“What? How is that possible! How many of them are there? How could they invade so quickly? Are the kingdom’s troops all donkeys? Can’t they even resist for ten minutes!” Barghash bin Said’s expression changed drastically.

According to Barghash bin Said’s own plan, he should have gathered the national army, then removed the Germans from Tanga, and finally cut off the East African colony’s connection with the sea, forcing the Germans to surrender.

Because it was the first day of the coup, Barghash bin Said planned to recruit troops from Zanzibar the next day, which was already very fast. After all, he knew that the East African colony’s closest town to Zanzibar, Mlandizi (First Town), was more than one hundred li away. According to the Zanzibar army’s own marching speed, it would take at least two days to arrive.

Moreover, for the East African colony to send troops, the personnel driven away from the port of Dar es Salaam had to return to deliver intelligence, and it would take time to gather troops.

Barghash bin Said originally estimated that it would take the Germans in East Africa at least three and a half days to send troops. As a result, he drove away Basel and others at noon, and the East African colonial army attacked in the evening. Did they fly over?

As for the two hundred or so German soldiers outside Dar es Salaam, he couldn’t imagine that Felix would be so bold.

“Your Excellency, I don’t know how many people there are. It’s already a mess outside, but our people must have been defeated,” the maid replied慌乱ly.

“How is this possible…” Barghash bin Said’s mind became dazed. He slumped weakly in his chair, falling into deep doubt.

The ministers who heard the news were not surprised but delighted. Finance Minister Ali suppressed the joy in his heart and turned to signal to the ministers around him.

The others understood and slowly approached Barghash bin Said.

“Seize this traitor!” Ali shouted.

More than a dozen ministers swarmed forward, using their fat bodies to hold Barghash bin Said firmly in his chair.

“What are you doing? Are you rebelling? I am the ruler of Zanzibar!” Barghash bin Said, awakened by Ali’s shout, instantly sobered up. Before he could react, he was pinned down by more than a dozen mountains of flesh, unable to move at all.

“Hmph, you rebellious traitor, you dare to speak wildly. I’ve been tolerating you for a long time!” Ali said disdainfully.

“That’s right, Barghash bin Said, from the moment you launched the coup, I knew you wouldn’t end well,” the Foreign Minister said.

“We were just waiting for the opportunity. Did you really think you were as wise and martial as Sultan Majid bin Said? I only regret that I didn’t see your true colors sooner, which led to Sultan’s misfortune…”

The ministers bombarded Barghash bin Said with accusations, completely different from their obsequious behavior this morning.

…

“Your country’s troops have finally arrived. We’ve been waiting so bitterly! May I ask how to address you?” Ali pretended to be excited, grabbing Felix’s hand as if he were about to burst into tears.

Felix was completely stunned by the “meatball” in front of him! Disgustedly withdrawing his hand, he said, “Just call me Felix. Besides, I am your enemy. Who expects the enemy to invade their own country!”

Zanzibar Sultanate Minister Ali quickly said, “Mr. Felix, you are mistaken! Under the leadership of Sultan Majid bin Said, our Zanzibar Sultanate cherishes its friendship with your country very much. Sultan Majid and we have always treated the people from your country who come here as family and friends!”

“Your country is developing the land in East Africa. Our Zanzibar Sultanate, if not wholeheartedly, can be said to be helping as much as we can. Even Tanga has been provided to your country. What a great friendship this is!” Ali flattered shamelessly, even wiping non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes with self-pity.

Felix was embarrassed by Ali’s exaggerated performance and words. A rough Prussian like him had never experienced such a scene.

Basel saw Felix’s embarrassment and quickly stepped forward, saying to Zanzibar Sultanate Finance Minister Ali, “Minister Ali, do you remember me? I am Basel, from the East African colony’s liaison office in the port of Dar es Salaam.”

“Mr. Basel, of course I remember you. We met in the palace before, when Mr. Järmann was leading the team. Speaking of which, Mr. Basel, I wonder how Mr. Järmann is doing?” Ali tried to get closer.

“Mr. Järmann is doing well. I thank you for your concern on his behalf. But Minister Ali, your country should explain today’s events first!” Basel said angrily.

“Mr. Basel, I believe you also know something about today’s events. This is not the fault of our Zanzibar Sultanate! It’s all because of that bastard Barghash bin Said. He imprisoned Sultan Majid bin Said and colluded with the army to control us, which caused some trouble for your country,” Ali explained.

“Sultan Majid bin Said and we are all supporters of your country.”

Basel interrupted, “Alright, you can’t wash away your responsibilities just because of Barghash bin Said’s actions. You have already caused us serious losses. As for the resolution and compensation issues, you will have to wait for instructions from our superiors!”

With that, Basel turned and whispered a few words in Felix’s ear.

Felix nodded and said to the ministers of the Zanzibar Sultanate, “Alright, we don’t need any explanations. After all, I am just a small lower-level officer and cannot speak on behalf of the colonial government. You just wait for news! But before that, you will have to stay in the palace for a while until my superiors come to resolve this matter.”

The princes and ministers of the Zanzibar Sultanate still wanted to argue, but Felix and his party turned and left directly to take over the security of Dar es Salaam.

…

East African colony, First Town.

The East African colonial government received the intelligence that Basel had sent back earlier, and several high-level officials were discussing countermeasures.

Von der Leyen, director dispatched to the East African colony by the Hechingen Consortium.

Järmann, currently the nominal highest military officer in the East African colony.

Siweit, a Chinese student who graduated from the Hechingen Military Academy, whose original name was Ma Youcai, is now the head of the staff of the Hechingen Military Academy in the East African colony.

…

More than a dozen people sat at a long table, analyzing the intelligence.

“It seems that the new leader of the Zanzibar Sultanate has some opinions about our East African colony!” Von der Leyen said.

Järmann said, “We cannot allow this new leader of the Zanzibar Sultanate to exist. We should send troops to help Majid bin Said restore normal order in Zanzibar.”

“Yes, that’s right. Otherwise, this Barghash bin Said, who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth, will seriously hinder the East African colony’s immigration work and subsequent development. As for sending troops, you military personnel should come up with a plan first,” Von der Leyen said.

“It doesn’t need to be too troublesome. We can directly gather people from the First Town, the Second Town, and the surrounding villages. We don’t need too many troops to deal with the Zanzibar Sultanate. One or two thousand should be enough,” Siweit said.

Von der Leyen said, “As far as I know, the Zanzibar army also has several thousand people. Is it too few if we only send one or two thousand?”

Järmann said, “The Zanzibar standing army is only a few thousand people. Dar es Salaam, as the capital, has a maximum of three thousand assigned to it. Moreover, their weapons are backward. One thousand people are enough to deal with them. Even if Zanzibar pulls in some strong men, it doesn’t matter. Ordinary people who have not received formal military training are just a rabble.”

“Alright, let’s start voting now. Please raise your hand if you agree to send troops,” Von der Leyen said.

After the vote, no one objected, and it was passed unanimously. The colonial government decided to send Järmann to lead one thousand five hundred soldiers, along with Felix’s two hundred or so people near the port of Dar es Salaam, to conquer Barghash bin Said of Zanzibar.

Chapter 64: One-Day Politics

The 1,500 military personnel prepared by the colonial government, led by Commander Yarmann, marched mightily towards Zanzibar.

…

Dar es Salaam.

Majid bin Said and his relatives were dragged out of the dungeon by colonial soldiers and restored to the throne of Zanzibar.

Although the legitimate government of Zanzibar had regained power, Majid bin Said and his palace ministers were confined to the palace, unable to take a single step outside.

The Zanzibar army was disbanded, all officers were detained, and the soldiers were sent home on leave, with their weapons confiscated.

Only maids were allowed to remain in the palace to take care of the Sultan and ministers’ daily lives, while male servants were expelled to prevent the Zanzibar side from using them to plot mischief.

Felix arranged for Hans Zhang to lead people to guard these individuals, while he himself was responsible for maintaining law and order in Dar es Salaam. Basel also returned to his post to welcome the immigrants arriving today.

As for Barghash bin Said and his staff, they were thrown into the Zanzibar dungeon like dead dogs. Majid bin Said, deeply resentful of Barghash bin Said’s betrayal, strongly demanded that the colonial army execute him.

However, Barghash bin Said was now an important piece of evidence for the East African colony, so he could not be executed casually.

Majid bin Said settled for second best, demanding that Barghash bin Said be given the worst cell and food, ensuring that he would not have an easy time.

Although Majid bin Said only spent one day in the dungeon, Barghash bin Said did not have time to torture him. After all, he was his own brother, and Barghash bin Said still needed to use Majid bin Said’s name to control Zanzibar. Therefore, before Barghash bin Said had finished organizing state affairs, Majid bin Said had a relatively good time in the dungeon.

In addition, the arrival of the East African colony was too sudden, and Barghash bin Said was defeated too quickly. Majid bin Said was released from prison in less than a day.

The entire coup took place within a single day, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar was the first national regime defeated by the East African colony. Therefore, it was recorded in the annals of the later East African government and was historically known as “One-Day Politics,” or “Zanzibar One-Day Politics.”

The government of Barghash bin Said also became one of the shortest-lived governments in the history of the world, lasting eleven hours from the time Barghash bin Said declared himself the ruler of Zanzibar to the time the East African colonial government captured the Zanzibar palace.

The losses of the East African colony were only a delayed immigrant ship, one soldier killed, two seriously injured, and six slightly injured.

The reason for these losses was that the colonial army did not have heavy weapons, so they could only rely on soldiers with rifles and a small number of grenades to attack the Zanzibar army, which had an absolute numerical advantage.

As a country that had seceded from the Omani Empire, the Sultanate of Zanzibar was actually a rare naval power in the Indian Ocean region.

Although most of Zanzibar’s territory was on the East African coast, its main body was actually the island of Zanzibar.

The population and economic scale of Zanzibar Island accounted for more than 70% of the Sultan of Zanzibar’s total. On the mainland, only Dar es Salaam and Mombasa had considerable populations, mainly engaged in the slave and ivory trade.

The Zanzibar navy did not participate in this battle. Its navy only had a few old wooden European-style warships inherited from the Omani Empire era.

Most of the Arab ships on the ocean were armed merchant ships engaged in maritime trade, which were not controlled by the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Zanzibar’s prestige in the region was due to its geographical advantage of occupying the land and Zanzibar Island.

These Arab ships needed to dock in Zanzibar for rest and replenishment of supplies and fresh water, so the Zanzibar navy was far from being as good as its reputation suggested.

In addition, the Sultans of Zanzibar had been shifting their political focus to the mainland in recent years, even moving the palace from Zanzibar Island to Dar es Salaam. Therefore, the navy could not land, which is why Barghash bin Said was able to seize power in Zanzibar with only the Dar es Salaam garrison.

As for why the capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar now fell into the hands of the East African colony, it was still the result of the Zanzibar people’s habitual thinking.

Before the establishment of the East African colony, there was no strong opponent in the East African interior. The Sultanate of Zanzibar itself could defeat the various East Bantu tribes in the interior, who were still in primitive societies.

The lack of opponents on land led to the early, relatively wise Sultan of Zanzibar, Majid bin Said, actively expanding towards the East African coast and eventually moving the capital to Dar es Salaam.

Now that the Germans had arrived, the aging Sultan of Zanzibar and his ministers had not yet changed their thinking. In addition, the East African colony had always adopted an equal dialogue attitude towards Zanzibar, further promoting the prosperity of the Zanzibar slave trade, so the Zanzibar elite continued to indulge in extravagance and pleasure.

…

The third day.

Yarmann, traveling at full speed, arrived in Dar es Salaam with the main force.

On the way, Yarmann received a report of victory from Felix, but Yarmann and the army, who had already set out halfway, could not return the way they came, so they continued to advance towards Dar es Salaam.

And Felix’s messenger continued westward to send a letter to the colonial government.

“Felix, well done! This battle has really made me look at you in a new light!” Yarmann said to Felix.

“Hahaha, it’s nothing. Who would have thought that the Zanzibar army would be so useless? I originally thought that the Zanzibaris equipped with firearms would be stronger than the natives in the interior, but I didn’t expect them to be so trash,” Felix said smugly.

“What about the casualties?” Yarmann asked.

“One soldier was sacrificed, and two are still being rescued. They are now out of danger, and the rest have recovered almost completely,” Felix said, sounding somewhat somber.

The main reason was that Zanzibar’s combat effectiveness was too low, giving Felix the illusion that casualties could have been completely avoided.

“Alright, it is always inevitable that someone will be sacrificed in war, especially when fighting the strong with the weak, and against enemies several times our number,” Yarmann comforted.

“Don’t let individual data affect the overall judgment. If it is possible to minimize losses, of course, it is a good thing, but don’t hesitate to move forward because of a little setback. Only soldiers who dare to bear setbacks and responsibilities are qualified soldiers.” In order to prevent Felix from falling into a mental misunderstanding, Yarmann reminded him in time.

“I was thinking too perfectly. Your Excellency Yarmann, there is no such thing as perfection in this world!” Felix said.

“That’s right. Collect the remains of the sacrificed soldiers, and we must look forward.”

…

Yarmann’s arrival solved the problem of insufficient manpower in Dar es Salaam, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar completely fell under the temporary jurisdiction of the East African colony.

After receiving the information, the colonial government sent the news of victory to Europe, requesting Ernst to make a decision on the attitude and solution to the Zanzibar issue.

Due to traffic and distance constraints, it was already more than ten days later when Ernst received the information.

Chapter 65: Electric Light

February 7, 1867.

News of the situation in the East African colony hadn’t yet reached Europe. Ernst was still unaware that the colony had taken Zanzibar.

Today was an important day for Ernst. The improved electric light was finally ready for commercial use.

In fact, the first person to invent the electric light was the Englishman Humphry Davy. He used two thousand battery cells and two carbon rods to create an arc lamp. However, this arc lamp was too bright, generated too much heat, and wasn’t durable enough for large-scale promotion.

In 1854, the German Heinrich Göbel, who had emigrated to the United States, invented the first electric light with practical value, which lasted for four hundred hours, but he didn’t apply for a patent.

In 1860, the Englishman Joseph Swan made a carbon filament lamp. This was already the most mature solution, but Swan was limited by the vacuum technology of the time, so his invented lamp couldn’t work for long periods. Historically, it wasn’t until 1878 that he completed his improvements and applied for a patent.

As for now! Ernst had to say goodbye to him. The Berlin Electric Company, having broken through vacuum technology, became the first company in this timeline to apply for a patent for a mature, commercially viable electric light and mass-produce it.

“Ernst, it’s been lit for more than ten hours, and there hasn’t been a single problem. This is definitely a groundbreaking invention.”

Prince Constantine said, looking at the still-lit electric light with amazement.

As the promoter and investor of the electric light invention, Ernst naturally installed this epoch-making product in his own home first.

Just yesterday, after the installation workers had finished, Ernst kept more than twenty light bulbs on all night to test the effectiveness of the company’s lights. After checking today, not a single one had failed.

The servants and Prince Constantine all felt amazed at this novel thing.

“Father, this isn’t just a great invention; it represents huge profits. Just imagine, from Berlin to Vienna, from Moscow to London, the whole of Europe, even the world, installing this electric light that represents ‘light,’ what a tempting and considerable return that would be.” Ernst said excitedly.

“Yes, an invention that changes the world should be promoted as soon as possible. Let’s start with Berlin first!” Prince Constantine set the tone.

“You and I will go to the palace today. We must recommend this to His Majesty the King.”

…

William I and Crown Prince Frederick, along with the little rascal William II and a crowd of nobles in the palace, looked at the electric light with astonishment.

A dozen arc-shaped light bulbs emitting a unique glow illuminated the entire hall of the Prussian Palace.

“Constantine, this is really a good thing. It’s neither as fragile as the candlelight of candles, nor as dim as kerosene lamps, and at the same time, it doesn’t have the odor of gas lamps.”

William I said to Constantine.

“Your Majesty, Prussia has always valued education and the development and progress of technology. These achievements were already destined in the course of promoting the development of education in Prussia.” Prince Constantine praised.

“Yes, we must first arrange for the installation of electric lights in Berlin, so that other countries can see the development of Prussia. We are already at the forefront of the world.” William I said.

While the whole world was still stuck with candles and gas lamp lighting, Berlin had already illuminated the streets of Berlin with electricity. Just thinking about it was exciting.

To promote electric lights, Ernst’s Berlin Electric Company would install lighting systems for the Prussian and Austrian royal families free of charge.

As for the city lighting of Berlin and Vienna, the governments of the two countries would foot the bill. With the two royal families as role models, other nobles and wealthy people would surely want to have a set at home.

…

Three days later.

“This is the electric light that Ernst was talking about. It looks really good!”

Franz said to his family.

Empress Dowager Sophie also exclaimed, “Yes! Such a small thing can be used for lighting without fuel or open flame. This is truly an unimaginable miracle.”

“I heard that William I is going to replace Berlin’s lighting system with electric lights. We in Vienna can’t fall behind either.” Franz said to the ministers around him.

When His Majesty the Emperor spoke, naturally they would comply.

In this way, Berlin and Vienna became the first and second cities to replace candles and gas lamps with electric lights.

This news spread around the world through newspapers, and many people went to the two cities to visit this great invention.

In the bustling downtown areas, the first time began with brightly lit streets.

And the Berlin Electric Company became known to the world for this achievement, and the company’s stock price rose sharply, becoming one of the most valuable companies in Ernst’s hands.

…

“Tom, have you made contact with the people over there?” Ernst asked Tom.

“Young Master, this time we contacted the Tsar’s confidants and others. By bribing Russian officials, they are willing to act as lobbyists. As long as the money is right, they guarantee they can persuade the Tsar to sell the Alaska region.” Tom said.

“Very good, as long as we seize this land before the Americans, we can instantly possess a territory larger than the East African colony.” Ernst said with satisfaction.

“Young Master, as far as I know, Alaska is just a snowy and icy place, with no value other than animal furs.” Tom still reminded him. In Tom’s view, it was completely unnecessary to spend money to take this so-called Alaska region.

“Alright, I have my own plans. This matter is not as simple as it seems on the surface. When have you ever seen me, your Young Master, suffer a loss?” Ernst said.

“Oh, right, Young Master, just now a message came from the East African colony.” Tom handed the intelligence from the East African colony to Ernst.

Ernst picked up the intelligence and read it.

Gradually, a smile appeared at the corner of Ernst’s eyes.

“Very good, I’ve long felt a headache about the existence of the Zanzibar Sultanate. I didn’t expect them to deliver the opportunity to our hands themselves.”

Ernst naturally knew the impact of the Zanzibar Sultanate on the East African colony. It basically monopolized the coastal area between the East African colony and the ocean. It would be fine if they were at peace, but if someone with ulterior motives used the Zanzibar Sultanate to make trouble, the East African colony would be threatened.

This time, the Zanzibar Sultanate ran into the muzzle of the gun themselves, and Ernst would naturally not let go of this opportunity.

He sat in his chair, picked up the pen in front of him, and began to write down the handling of the Zanzibar Sultanate. This time, the East African colony would completely solve the security problem of the outlet to the sea.

“Tom, send this document to the East African colony and have them act according to the requirements above.” Ernst instructed.

“Yes, Young Master.” Tom responded.

He turned around and took the document to the telegraph room to send it to Trieste, and from there it would be brought back to East Africa by sea.

Chapter 66: The “East Zanzibar Treaty”

February 20, 1867.

East African Colony.

“Your Majesty Sultan Majid, as long as you sign this agreement, you and your government can regain your freedom.” Von der Leyen handed the treaty to Sultan Majid.

Sultan Majid looked at the agreement in front of him with a livid face, inwardly cursing the East African Colony and Baghash, that traitor, a thousand times over.

This was no friendly mutual assistance treaty; it was clearly turning the Sultanate of Zanzibar into a puppet of the East African Colony.

Except for Zanzibar Island, all the territory had been effectively annexed by the East African Colony. Apart from the royal guards, all the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s troops were to be disbanded and only allowed to be stationed on Zanzibar Island.

Even the few pitiful old warships of the Sultanate of Zanzibar were taken away by the East African Colony. Even a mosquito is meat, no matter how small. The money wasn’t important; ships were a rare commodity for the East African Colony.

Previously, being landlocked, there was no need to emphasize the role of the navy. Now, through war, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, Mombasa… all were excellent harbors, and the colony needed its own fleet to protect the coast.

“Your Excellency Von der Leyen, your country is asking for too much. It is really difficult for us Zanzibar to deliver,” Sultan Majid said to Von der Leyen with a pitiful expression.

“Your Majesty Sultan, this treaty is very lenient to your country. You see, even when you occupied the East African coast, it was for slaves and ivory. Now, we, the colony, will directly provide you with these two things, so you no longer need the East African coastal territory,” Von der Leyen said to Majid.

“Your Excellency Von der Leyen, although the slave trade and ivory are important, the East African coastal territory concerns the national security of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and the Zanzibari people on it also need land to survive,” Majid said with a troubled expression.

“Alright, does Your Majesty not trust the friendship of our East African Colony government? If we hadn’t sent troops, you would probably still be languishing in a dungeon. As for the residents of the Sultanate of Zanzibar in the East African Colony, they can completely go to Zanzibar Island to live. There is no need to worry about national security; we will be responsible for your safety and that of the Sultanate of Zanzibar,” Von der Leyen said in a stiff tone.

Seeing Majid’s hesitant expression, Von der Leyen had no choice but to continue, “To show the sincerity of our East African Colony government, we will place the slave market of Dar es Salaam port on Zanzibar Island and continue to have it operated by your country, so that your country will not have to worry.”

In reality, Ernst wanted to directly pass the buck for the slave trade to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Although the profits from the slave trade were considerable, it was better for Ernst not to touch it.

Engaging in colonialism was bad enough for one’s reputation; if he also engaged in the slave trade, that would simply be “scum.”

As for the East African Colony government providing slaves to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, our East African Colony had never done such a thing. Those were all the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s own actions.

The natives within our East African Colony all hoped to develop all over the world. As a result, the evil Sultanate of Zanzibar used the natives’ desire to go abroad to earn money and turned them into slaves.

The East African Colony government could not control this. After all, the East African Colony government respects the sovereignty of other countries and does not interfere in their internal affairs.

As for why they annexed the territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, this was the reward for helping the Sultanate of Zanzibar quell the rebellion.

It was clearly written in the treaty that, due to the East African Colony government’s assistance to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the Sultanate of Zanzibar voluntarily gave the land on the East African coast to the East African Colony government for management.

In short, what our East African Colony government sent out was not slaves, but good citizens who yearned for civilization. As for the Zanzibaris turning them into slaves, we cannot control that.

As for the territory on the East African coast, it was the reward paid by the Sultanate of Zanzibar to thank the East African Colony government.

“Your Excellency Von der Leyen, please allow me and my ministers to discuss it before giving you an answer,” Sultan Majid said to Von der Leyen.

“Of course, there is no problem, Your Majesty Sultan, but please be quick and do not delay too much time,” Von der Leyen said.

So Majid began to discuss the matter with his ministers.

“These are the conditions offered by the Germans. What do you think?” Majid said to the ministers in the palace.

“Your Majesty, it is better for us to agree to the Germans. Now, they are the knife and we are the fish. Letting the Germans release us is the first priority,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

“Yes, Your Majesty! Our interests in East Africa were originally in the slave and ivory trade. As long as they do not harm our main interests, what does it matter if we give the East African coastal territory to the Germans? Originally, these lands were seized by us, and now losing them has no impact.”

…

The ministers of Zanzibar now only wanted to leave the palace quickly and regain their freedom. If they were away from their families and power for too long, who knew what would happen?

As for the territory of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, as long as it did not threaten their business, losing it was no big deal! Besides, there was still Zanzibar Island to fall back on.

After a series of persuasions from the ministers, Sultan Majid also began to waver. The ministers were right; it was most important to regain freedom first.

If he was away from state affairs for too long, who knew if a schemer like Baghash would appear on Zanzibar Island? At that time, not to mention the territory on the mainland, he would not even have a place to stand on Zanzibar Island.

So Sultan Majid and the ministers of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, representing the Sultanate of Zanzibar, signed the agreement.

Historically known as the “East Zanzibar Treaty.”

First: From this day forward, the Sultanate of Zanzibar will give all of its mainland territory to the East African Colony government.

Second: The Sultanate of Zanzibar will disband all armed forces except for the Royal Guard (not to exceed two hundred people).

Third: The East African Colony government will be responsible for the security of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and will have the right to station troops on Zanzibar Island.

…

Through this treaty, the Sultanate of Zanzibar was effectively reduced to a colony of the East African Colony government.

The East African Colony government enjoyed all privileges in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, but in order to appease the Zanzibar government, the East African Colony government did not interfere too much in Zanzibar’s internal affairs, except for stationing troops.

As long as it did not threaten the interests of the East African Colony, they could do whatever they wanted.

Through the “East Zanzibar Treaty,” the East African Colony obtained all the land of the Sultanate of Zanzibar on the Tanzanian coast and in Kenya. The East African Colony, plus the soon-to-be-developed central and western Kenya, would reach approximately 1.2 million square kilometers.

Chapter 67: The Minister Route

March 2nd, 1867.

Saint Petersburg.

Kross, a judgment expert from the Hechingen Consortium, was bargaining with Count Sergei (a fictional character), a confidant of Tsar Alexander II.

“Your Excellency Count Sergei, is the news really reliable about your country’s intention to sell the Alaska region?”

Kross cautiously sought confirmation from Count Sergei. After all, this was a major deal and he couldn’t afford to be careless.

“With my status and position, I wouldn’t have such petty thoughts as to play tricks on you. In fact, some ministers have previously suggested to His Majesty to sell the Alaska region. Some even wanted to contact the American government and let them take over the Alaskan territory,” Count Sergei said solemnly.

“Now Alaska is a burden on the empire, and it also faces the threat of the British. That’s why there are voices calling for the sale of the Alaska region.”

Hearing this, Kross knew the news was mostly accurate, so he asked, “Mr. Sergei, is your country no longer planning to continue expanding into the Americas?”

Kross’s words were impolite, but Sergei, having already received the money, didn’t care at all.

He explained, “Since the Crimean War, the empire has embarked on the road of reform. And reform! That costs money. Moreover, our focus is now on the Central Asian region. We don’t have the energy to develop American colonies. In addition, in order to manage and develop the Alaska colony, not only is it not profitable, but it also often loses money. The empire’s economic situation has been poor for the past two years, and many people have long wanted to sell Alaska for cash.”

Kross followed up, “That’s right, our Hechingen Consortium is interested in purchasing your country’s Alaskan colony.”

“That’s certainly no problem, but if you want me to act as a go-between, the commission… you understand!” Sergei made a counting-money gesture with his fingers.

“Your Excellency Count Sergei, if you can help us reach this deal, we will not forget the friendship of our friend,” Kross quickly said.

As he spoke, he subtly handed Sergei a check for 20,000 rubles.

“This is just a small token of our appreciation, a small gift!”

Looking at the check in his hand and counting the amount, Sergei was quite satisfied.

He inquired, “What kind of outcome do you want? I can find some friends to help, but the reward can’t be low!”

Kross cautiously probed, “Your Excellency Count Sergei, is there any possibility of buying Alaska for a few million rubles?”

“That’s absolutely impossible! You must know that Alaska’s area is more than one million square kilometers. Even the wealthy Americans wouldn’t get Alaska without taking out several million dollars,” Sergei said firmly.

“Then what is your country’s expected price?” Kross asked.

Sergei pondered for a moment and held up one finger.

“Ten million dollars!” Kross suppressed his shock. The Russians really dared to think big.

Kross had also done some research. The so-called Alaska was actually just a large snowfield. Although the area was large, it couldn’t grow grain and had no mineral resources. The Russians were only developing the fur trade in Alaska.

According to Russian fur merchants, the fur business in Alaska was not doing well these past two years. What value was there left?

If the company hadn’t sent him here to negotiate, Kross wouldn’t want to buy this large snowfield based on his own ideas.

“Your Excellency Count Sergei, you and I both know that although Alaska has a large area, it is actually just a snowfield with no economic value. Its value is simply not worth ten million dollars,” Kross said to Sergei.

“Moreover, our consortium wants to buy this land not because we have any urgent need, so the price cannot be too high.”

Sergei asked curiously, “Then what are you buying such a large area of barren land for?”

Sergei also knew that the Alaska colony was now a completely worthless piece of land. Not only did it not produce anything, but it also cost the empire a lot of money every year just to maintain its sovereignty over the Alaska region. Now Russia was busy looking for a sucker to buy Alaska, but so far only the Hechingen Consortium had taken the initiative to contact the empire.

Kross pretended to explain helplessly to Sergei, “It’s just a small idea of the boss himself. He once told us that if things can’t be done, there’s no need to force it,” Kross said nonchalantly.

“Mr. Kross, I really don’t understand why anyone would buy such a wasteland. Does your boss have some kind of quirk?” Sergei asked curiously.

“To be honest, Mr. Sergei, our boss does have a hobby, but this is just our guess!”

Kross mysteriously said to Sergei, “It is said that he also bought a piece of land in Africa for colonization, but Africa, as you know, is full of tropical diseases and a terrifying natural environment. He actually fantasized about engaging in planting there, and even recruited immigrants from other places at a loss. To be honest, the local natives are the most suitable labor force. Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse?”

“It doesn’t seem like something a shrewd businessman would do,” Kross said.

In short, our boss is a weirdo, a sucker. Once this opportunity is missed, there won’t be another one. If you don’t cherish us, we won’t serve you anymore.

“Mr. Kross, it’s not that I don’t want to help your company, but the price you’re offering is really too low. In that case, our country will naturally choose the Americans to buy the Alaska region,” Sergei said to Kross.

You didn’t say that when you took the money, Kross thought to himself.

However, Ernst had foreseen this. If you want these Russians to work, you have to dangle benefits in front of them. Just imagine, in the previous life, in order to get the money from selling Alaska, the always greedy Russia had to bribe American officials to get the money back, which was a bit comical. (There are also versions that say Russia didn’t get a penny, but that’s unlikely.)

So Ernst’s choice this time was to bribe Russian ministers. I can’t offer a better price than the Americans, but I can bribe the Russian ministers!

As for whether the Americans had the same idea, probably not. After all, historically, the majority of Americans opposed the purchase of Alaska, so they were unlikely to be so active.

So Ernst instructed Kross and others, “This time you go to Russia, don’t directly touch the Alaska issue, but complete it by indirectly bribing those ministers.”

So Kross said, “Your Excellency Count Sergei, as long as you can persuade your government to sell the Alaska colony to us, we will provide you with a reward of 300,000 rubles, provided that it does not exceed 15 million rubles. If, on this basis, you can reduce the purchase price by 1 million rubles for us, we are willing to pay an additional 100,000 rubles in reward each time…”

Sergei’s eyes lit up, and a greedy look involuntarily overflowed from his eyes.

“Mr. Kross, if you had stated your conditions earlier, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble. Don’t worry! Leave the rest to me. I will definitely satisfy your company.”

For Sergei, this was no different from picking up money.

Chapter 68: Alaska

Saint Petersburg.

Sergei, having taken on the assignment, gathered his associates and explained the situation to them.

“Alright, this time, as long as we can persuade the Empire to sell the Alaskan colony to the Hexingen Consortium, we’ll get a sum of money. If we can help them pay less, we’ll earn more. Here’s an initial deposit of twenty thousand. As long as we complete the task, we’ll get one hundred thousand rubles, and for every million less they pay, we earn an extra ten thousand.”

Sergei said, holding the twenty thousand ruble check that the Hexingen Consortium had sent in advance.

“Your Excellency Count, isn’t this Hexingen Consortium being a bit stingy? Such a large piece of land, and they only want to pay so little?” one of the ministers said.

“What do you know? You should all be aware of what kind of place Alaska is. It’s a godforsaken place with no value. Do you really expect some sucker to take it off our hands! It’s only because the boss of this Hexingen Consortium has unique tastes that he’s willing to spend money to take it over,” Sergei explained.

“Your Excellency Count, isn’t the Empire currently contacting the Americans to buy the Alaskan colony? The Americans should be able to offer a higher price!” someone asked.

Sergei said fiercely, “Even if the Americans want to buy this land, they won’t be doing it willingly. If we hadn’t supported the Americans during their independence, they wouldn’t even bother with us.”

“So, even if the Americans take over the Alaskan colony out of consideration for the past, what does that have to do with us? The Americans won’t pay us separately.”

“Now, if we persuade the Empire to sell the Alaskan colony to the Hexingen Consortium, not only can the Empire get rid of this burden of Alaska, but we can also collect an extra reward. Why not do something that’s a win-win for everyone?”

…

Winter Palace.

Sergei and others were proposing the sale of Alaska to Tsar Alexander II.

Alexander II looked at Sergei and the others with curiosity and said, “Count Sergei, the matter of selling Alaska has always been known to only a few people. Where did this Hexingen Consortium get the information from?”

“Your Majesty, this is actually normal. After all, we have discussed this matter with several royal families in Europe, and the Hexingen Consortium is backed by Prince Ernst of Hexingen, Prussia. With his status, it’s not difficult for him to obtain this information,” Sergei replied calmly.

Alexander II agreed with this reason and nodded, “Yes, that’s true.” Then he said, “What price are they planning to offer?”

“Five million rubles.”

“What? Five million rubles? I must have misheard! That’s absolutely impossible. That’s wishful thinking,” Alexander II said in disbelief.

Seeing this, Sergei quickly explained.

“Your Majesty, don’t be anxious. In reality, the Hexingen Consortium is not buying the entire Alaskan colony, but only the part north of 56 degrees north latitude. As for the land south of 56 degrees north latitude, it will still be part of the Empire.”

Hearing this, Alexander II immediately became interested. He knew that Alaska was located in the frigid zone, and only the further south you went, the more suitable it was for human habitation.

Previously, in order to develop Alaska, Russia had tried to immigrate to the Alaskan region, but the harsh weather made it impossible to live in the north, so most of these immigrants were based in archipelagos with oceanic climates and the relatively warmer southern lands.

But the Hexingen Consortium actually gave up the warm south and chose the vast snowfields of the north instead, which Alexander II couldn’t understand.

“Why did they give up the Alaskan territory south of 56 degrees? Why did they choose the harsh climate of the north instead?” Alexander II asked curiously.

“Your Majesty, this is because the Hexingen Consortium has the same awkward situation as us, which is that there are two overly powerful potential opponents on the North American continent, the British and the Americans,” Sergei explained.

“And the Hexingen Consortium only wants to find a place to engage in the fur trade, so the Hexingen Consortium doesn’t particularly need the relatively warm south, but chooses the barren, harsh climate of the north. This can avoid the greed of the British.”

Alexander II, hearing someone say that the British were greedy for the first time, was still very happy. After all, in the international community, it had always been Britain, France, and Austria who said that the Russians were insatiable.

“You mean this Hexingen Consortium is using the Empire as a shield!”

“Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is a mutually beneficial situation. There is no question of who is using whom. What do you think our purpose was in colonizing Alaska back then and selling Alaska now?” Sergei asked in return.

“Back then, colonizing Alaska was of course for development and expansion in North America. Now, selling Alaska is because this land is completely a burden, and the British are eyeing it covetously,” Alexander II said.

“That’s right, Your Majesty. If we really sell Alaska to the Americans, then we will forever lose our foothold in the Americas in the future. But if we sell Alaska to the Hexingen Consortium, we not only retain the relatively habitable area of Alaska, but also, when the Empire’s strength recovers in the future, we can use southern Alaska as a base to continue expanding south. As for the threat from the British, after we sell off most of Alaska, we can migrate the population within Alaska to southern Alaska, south of 56 degrees north latitude, which is controlled by the Empire. With a certain population, even if the British want to swallow the Empire’s southern Alaska with their strength in North America, they will have to lose a tooth.”

Alexander II agreed with this very much. In fact, the British had imposed very strict restrictions on Russia. Since the Crimean War, Russia had also been temporarily unable to confront the British.

That’s why the idea of selling Alaska, this bridgehead in the Americas, came about. In fact, with the character of the Russians, a harsh climate was nothing. So many harsh places in Siberia were still swallowed by Russia in one gulp.

“In short, Your Majesty, selling northern Alaska to the Hexingen Consortium is beneficial in every way. It doesn’t matter even if the price is a little lower. After all, compared to losing our bridgehead in the Americas, earning less money now is nothing.”

Other ministers who were benefiting also echoed Sergei’s statement, which further shook Alexander II’s thoughts.

After all, the richness of North America was visible to the naked eye for the Russians, especially the rapid development of the United States in recent years, which all demonstrated the fertility of the American land.

If they had not experienced defeat in the Crimean War, even if they were losing money every year, Russia would never have given up the opportunity to expand into North America.

Now that someone was willing to buy the northern Alaskan region, it greatly reduced the pressure on the Russians in the Americas.

The Alaskan region south of 56 degrees north latitude is located in the southeastern corner of the Alaskan colony, mainly composed of archipelagos and mountainous terrain, with an area of approximately twenty thousand square kilometers, which is indeed easy to defend for Russia.

Moreover, this location is closer to the core positions of Canada and the United States. After all, the entire northern part of North America is covered with vast snowfields, tundra, and forests. Thousands of miles are uninhabited, which is a true reflection of northern North America.

And the place that Ernst deliberately left for the Russians was very particular. Not only was it located at the southernmost tip of the Alaskan colony, but it also had the Alaska Current passing through it, making the climate the best in Alaska. At the same time, this place had no important resources.

If the gold-producing land of Juneau and some of the nearby oil-producing areas from the previous life were not in the southeastern corner of Alaska, Ernst would have wanted to leave the entire southeastern tail of Alaska to the Russians so that they could fight with Canada and the United States in the future.

Chapter 69: Black Heringen Royal Territory

Thanks to Sergei’s efforts, the Russian government finally decided to sell the Alaska colony to the Black Heringen Consortium.

The final price, after repeated haggling between the two sides, was set at 7 million rubles, a real fire-sale price.

Of course, to appease the Russian government, some more habitable islands and territories were not recovered by Alaska. In reality, the area of land traded was about 1.6 million square kilometers.

In return, Sergei himself directly benefited nearly one million rubles from this transaction.

March 13, 1867.

Under the witness of the Prussian government, the Black Heringen Consortium and the Russian government signed the “Agreement on the Transfer of the Alaska Colony,” and the Alaska colony was assigned to Prince Constantine.

That is to say, from today onwards, the main body of the Alaska colony is the overseas territory of the Black Heringen Royal Family.

This transaction was made public by some European media, but it did not cause any waves. After all, in the eyes of Europeans at that time, Alaska was just a remote and barren land. Perhaps polar bears were the most numerous residents of Alaska.

As for Ernst, although he paid to buy Alaska, he had no intention of developing Alaska.

It was entirely out of the mentality of trying his luck, since it was so cheap. It would be impossible to encounter such a good thing where you could take a large piece of land for a little money in the future.

This time, thanks to bribing Sergei and others, although he paid a separate million rubles, these Russian ministers did a good job after taking the money.

You should know that the United States spent more than seven million U.S. dollars to buy Alaska in his previous life, while Ernst only paid in rubles.

In this era, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the ruble is basically two to one, and affected by the Crimean War, the ruble still has room for continued depreciation.

So even with the funds paid to bribe the Russian ministers, Ernst still saved nearly half the money and took the Alaska region.

That is a full 1.6 million square kilometers of land. Regardless of whether it is useful now, even if Ernst leaves it to his descendants to inherit in the future, it will enable them to live a prosperous life.

As for the possibility of throwing money down the drain, Ernst also took it into consideration. In addition to inviting the Prussian royal family to guarantee it.

He also did some work in other aspects, such as Ernst using installments to pay the Russians.

After paying the first installment of 2 million rubles, the remaining 5 million rubles will be paid off within 10 years, so the Russians will have to be honest if they want to get all the money.

And in less than ten years, Ernst will have a way to drive all the Russians out of the Alaska region, which was stipulated in the previous agreement.

After all, the Russians still have the southernmost land in Alaska in their hands, which is a full 20,000 square kilometers, and the Russians also need manpower to develop it.

Therefore, the agreement between the Black Heringen Consortium and the Russian government clearly stated that Alaska (Greater Alaska) under the Black Heringen Royal Territory has the right and obligation to send the Russians within its territory to the Russian South Alaska (Lesser Alaska) territory to assist in development. Similarly, Russians are not allowed to stay in the Greater Alaska region.

In the Greater Alaska region, Ernst plans to adopt the most advanced “closed-door” policy, expel merchants from various countries, and monopolize the local fur market.

At the same time, it is strictly forbidden for exploration teams and private individuals from various countries to enter the Greater Alaska region to engage in any activities. If the resources on Alaska are really discovered, then Ernst’s money will really be wasted.

Now, Ernst is buying Alaska and leaving it there to gather dust, and it is best if no one discovers its true value.

Plus the newly acquired land of Zanzibar, the current territory of the Black Heringen Royal Family has reached an astonishing 2.8 million square kilometers.

In order to facilitate external claims, Ernst and Prince Constantine discussed and jointly referred to the two places as the Hohenzollern family’s Black Heringen Royal Territory.

Such a vast territory will naturally attract the attention of interested people, but other countries have defaulted that this is a Prussian overseas colony.

After all, the main body of Ernst’s industry is still based in North Germany, and taxes are naturally paid to the Prussian government.

Currently, only the East African colony can barely be integrated with Ernst’s industry, limited to food and tropical crops such as sisal.

As some raw materials are incorporated into Ernst’s industry, and Ernst’s industry is a link in the Prussian industry, it is equivalent to the East African colony ultimately serving the industries in the German region.

Therefore, there is no problem in saying that the East African colony is a Prussian overseas colony, but Ernst and the Black Heringen Consortium are the intermediaries, connecting the industries of East Africa and Germany.

Currently, Prussia’s say in North Germany is increasing day by day. Anyone with discerning eyes can see that as long as there is no interference from other countries, Prussia’s merger of North Germany is only a matter of time.

If Ernst wants to get rich quickly, it would be too easy. Just let people go to East Africa to look for mines, and he can definitely make a lot of money in a short time.

But this may prematurely attract the attention of the great powers to Africa. Productivity determines the relations of production. The reason why the great powers simultaneously set their sights on Africa in the late 19th century was because the Second Industrial Revolution changed the production models of the great powers.

They shifted from commodity exports to capital exports, so they needed to occupy raw material markets and consumer markets all over the world.

The East African colony is currently at the eve of this trend, so Ernst is developing relatively backward agriculture in East Africa. Although the time it takes for agriculture to accumulate wealth is slow, it is stable, and at the same time, it can slowly accumulate the colonial population.

Only when the population under its rule reaches a certain scale will the future East African colony have the ability to resist the invasion of other colonizers.

At the same time, strictly restricting the freedom of colonial immigrants and adopting a collectivized management model is also to prevent the outflow of some information.

For example, the current East African colony is actually developing quite well compared to other colonies in the world, but Europeans do not yet understand this place due to geographical reasons (the Ottoman Empire and Arab forces are all over North Africa and East Africa).

The lag in information gives Ernst room to maneuver. By making good use of the one or two decades before the great powers divide Africa, first determine the general scope of the East African colony and consolidate the work of immigrant migration, there is still a chance to gain a foothold in Africa.

In fact, most countries, as long as they do not court death themselves, are difficult for other countries to take advantage of. Ernst only needs to honestly farm in Africa in the early stage and get involved in fewer international hotspots, and it will still be very comfortable.

Therefore, in the next stage, the East African colony will basically have nothing major to do except digest the newly annexed land of Kenya.

As for the Alaska colony, in order to pack up and send away the Russians and merchants from other countries in Alaska first, Ernst decided to transfer an East African colonial army to the Alaska colonial region to cooperate with the new Alaska colonial government.

Chapter 70: Mombasa

March 11, 1867.

Mombasa was one of the only ports in East Africa that could rival Dar es Salaam. This port was built by Arabs in the 11th century.

Now, with the signing of the East Zanzibar Treaty, Mombasa, the second most important port of the Zanzibar Sultanate, had also fallen into the hands of the East African colony. To improve the operational capacity of the Port of Mombasa, the East African colonial government began to transform the port’s infrastructure.

Today, the highest temperature in Mombasa is 33 degrees Celsius, and the lowest is 22 degrees Celsius.

Working in the port during the day is still a bit stuffy, but it is within tolerable limits.

Colonial soldiers were directing black slaves to push wheelbarrows back and forth in the port area to transport sand and gravel. The dredging of the port area was also entirely completed by black slaves.

These black slaves were all assets of the Zanzibar Sultanate. Because the colonial handover work had not yet been completed, they were temporarily requisitioned by the East African colony.

In addition to the soldiers and black slaves supervising the port’s reconstruction, most of the rest were Chinese workers and immigrants from the Austrian Empire.

In order to renovate and repair this important port city of Mombasa, the East African colony’s Mombasa government had taken out its bottom-of-the-barrel cement.

Currently, the colony’s cement was still shipped from Europe, so the quantity was limited.

At the dock, Mitar Vitković, an immigrant from the Austrian Empire, was directing his workers to build the buildings on the dock.

Vitković was a South Slavic farmer from the southern part of the Austrian Empire. The good thing about this guy was that he had gone to school for two years and had participated in the construction of the church in his hometown. Therefore, he was appointed by the Mombasa colonial government as a foreman to direct the workers in construction.

In those days, farmers themselves had some skills. Some repairs were naturally not a problem. After all, the one or two dilapidated houses in their homes could mostly be passed down for four or five generations.

Therefore, as long as immigrants from the Austrian Empire took the lead in demonstrating, Chinese workers could quickly master new things like cement, which they had never encountered before. It was just changing from mixing mud to mixing cement.

Several workers used iron bars to pry off the loose and decayed bricks and stones, and even some rammed earth foundations.

The staff next to them used shovels to shovel the knocked-off bricks and stones into the wheelbarrow carriages. After the entire cart was full, they pushed it to the shore and dumped it on a temporary pile of earth. These waste materials might later be used to pave roads.

“Here, it needs to be built up to half a meter,” Vitković said to the workers.

He took a measuring ruler, turned the ruler body outward, and used his hand perpendicular to the ruler body to cut off at the half-meter mark, telling the Chinese workers to pay attention.

“Like this, understand?” Vitković said.

This was the disadvantage of not being able to communicate in the same language. Communication between the two sides required a lot of body language. Although both sides knew some German, neither knew much.

Many immigrants from the Austrian Empire knew German, but more only knew the local dialects within the Austrian Empire. They only knew one or two sentences of German, and it was likely that they had heard and learned it from the ruling nobles.

Chinese immigrants had also received German education, mostly in temporary classes opened by the colony, teaching some simple words and phrases.

But there was not enough time, and there was no environment to use German. After all, in the early days, except for German mercenaries, almost all the immigrants were Chinese, and there was no place to use German at all. Even the students of the Hechingen Military Academy were responsible for translation work.

However, the East African colony’s recruitment of workers was not a mess. It made full use of this point. Only old immigrants who also knew a little German were qualified to work in the colony.

Therefore, both the Austrian Empire immigrants and the Chinese immigrants working in Mombasa knew some German, but not much.

In the colony, the number of workers was quite small, but from the moment they left the fields, the status of Chinese immigrants improved by one step.

Currently, soldiers are more numerous than workers, and workers are more numerous than farmers in the East African colony. And being able to speak German (at least a little) was required to become a worker or soldier, otherwise, they would honestly farm the land.

Chinese workers at least reached the same stage as those immigrants from the Austrian Empire who continued to engage in agriculture, which was reflected in their wages.

The immigrants from the Austrian Empire were not fools. They would not be easily fooled by just a full meal if they could not get the benefits.

They might not have the ability to resist the colony, but they still had the courage to fight for their legitimate rights from the colony.

After all, when they boarded the ship to the East African colony, they still had a glimmer of hope for a better life in their hearts.

The East African colonial government did not disappoint the Austrian Empire immigrants. Although they received less money, it was stable. Moreover, there were almost no entertainment venues in East Africa at the moment, and there was nowhere to spend the money. Over time, the accumulated money was also considerable.

Of course, the colonial government had already begun to use an accounting system. After all, the East African colonial government could not print money, so the currency in the hands of immigrants was “virtual.”

When they needed it, they could withdraw it from the Hechingen Bank through the ledger, but only German mercenaries had used this method.

German mercenaries were only in East Africa to make money. Strictly speaking, they were not immigrants, so their families were in Europe, and they could also keep in touch with their families in Europe. It just took some time. Sometimes when their families needed money, they could advance their wages through the Hechingen Bank and send them to their families.

…

Near dusk, most of the Port of Mombasa had been rebuilt.

After all, there were no decent commodities that could be produced in Africa, so the cargo volume was not large. Therefore, the scale of the Port of Mombasa was not considered large in the world.

At most, it had some status in its own little corner of Africa, which was also the reason why the colony’s repair work progressed quickly.

Of course, the use of slaves was also indispensable. Currently, Mombasa was still in the handover stage, and the local residents of the Zanzibar Sultanate had not completely withdrawn, so the slaves plundered from Uganda and other places were temporarily requisitioned by the colonial government.

After the ships were empty, the East African colonial government would pack these black slaves and the residents of the Zanzibar Sultanate together and send them to Zanzibar Island.

Due to Majid Sultan’s昏聵 (昏聩 means senile and muddle-headed), the Port of Mombasa had been in disrepair for many years, and the silt had accumulated, greatly reducing its transportation capacity.

The most important industry in the East African colony at present was agriculture, and grain, as a bulk commodity, required a large amount of transportation.

Not to mention the immigrants, machinery, and the docking of merchant ships from various countries, all of which required the East African colony to prepare more excellent ports.

Africa was originally a continent lacking excellent ports, so it was necessary to make use of the current ports.

Currently, Bagamoyo Port was also under construction. By then, the East African colony would simultaneously have four excellent ports: Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, and Mombasa, which would greatly solve the transportation capacity problem.

After the renovation, the roads of the Port of Mombasa were expanded by one time, and the roads were paved with a thick layer of gravel and construction waste.

The wharf was reinforced and widened, and at the same time, unreasonable structures were demolished, safety hazards were gradually investigated, and old facilities were replaced.

Now the transportation capacity of the Port of Mombasa would be about one and a half times that before the renovation. As the most important port in the north of the current East African colony.

Mombasa would replace Dar es Salaam Port and Tanga Port. After the Suez Canal was opened in the future, it would undertake the reception work of merchant ships from Europe and Asia, and become the most important port with the largest transportation volume in East Africa in the future.

Chapter 71: Submarine Cable

March 22nd, 1867.

On the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.

A deep-sea submarine cable laying ship, flying the German flag, was about to depart from the port of Mombasa, heading north towards the Red Sea.

The sudden outbreak and conclusion of the East-Sang War made Ernst realize that the information connection between the East African colonies and Europe was far too backward.

To the extent that the East-Sang War, from its outbreak to its end, was a decision made autonomously by the colony. After all, relying on ships to carry letters back and forth was too slow to report to Europe, which was understandable.

The colonies were far from Europe, so they had a relatively high degree of independence and authority. Under special circumstances, they could decide on countermeasures independently.

However, the East-Sang War still sounded an alarm for Ernst, who was already cautious, that the East African colonial government should not be granted more autonomous power.

Therefore, in order to strengthen the connection and control over the East African colonies, Ernst invested heavily in laying a telegraph line from East Africa to Europe, to direct the development of the East African colonies.

As early as 1858, the world had its first transoceanic submarine cable, namely the Atlantic submarine cable laid by Britain and the United States from Newfoundland to Ireland.

After so many years of development, submarine cable laying was no longer a major technical problem. This time, Ernst chose Siemens, a company from the German region, as his partner.

Siemens laid the underground telegraph line from Berlin to Frankfurt in 1848, which was also the first telegraph line in the world.

Therefore, it had relatively rich experience, but Ernst was not sure whether Siemens, whose business was mostly on land, was competent in submarine cable laying.

However, Berlin Electric Company and Siemens, the only two well-known companies in the German region, had a good cooperative relationship and had been in contact with Siemens since its establishment.

For example, in the field of generators, Berlin Electric Company’s lighting system used Siemens’ products.

After Ernst’s Berlin Electric Company expressed its intention to cooperate, Siemens’ engineers, after calculations, believed that the technical conditions for this cooperation were mature.

Siemens was not completely without experience in laying marine lines, as it also had business around the Baltic Sea.

The line that Ernst wanted to lay mainly had four sections. The first was from East Africa to Egypt, passing through the Somali waters of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea, landing in Egypt. This section was the longest and most difficult.

The second was the line on land in Egypt. This section was short, and Egypt was an important transportation hub with relatively good infrastructure for the time, so there was nothing to say.

The third was across the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Adriatic Sea, landing in Trieste. This section was entirely at sea, but the difficulty was small.

The fourth was the European section, from Austria-Hungary all the way to Berlin.

Egypt itself had telegraph lines laid by the French to communicate with the mainland, but due to the direction, Ernst could not directly use them.

The European lines could be used with existing mature lines. For example, the telegraph lines within Germany could directly use those built by Prussia and Austria.

During the previous Austro-Prussian War, Prussia built a large number of telegraph lines. After the war, Austria also learned its lesson and followed suit on a large scale.

Therefore, Ernst could completely use these mature lines to complete the transmission of intelligence, just paying some fees.

“Woo…”

The steamship roared on the sea. The cable-laying workers stood at the stern, carefully unwinding the coiled cable and slowly sinking it into the sea.

The cable was provided by Berlin Electric Company, while other facilities, including engineers and workers, were mostly provided by Siemens. As the undisputed leader in the electricity industry in the German region, Siemens was not something Berlin Electric Company could compete with.

It was only recently that the invention of the electric light made Berlin Electric Company a sensation, but from the perspective of the entire electricity field, Siemens undoubtedly had dominance.

Especially in electric wires, generators, basic components… Siemens held an absolute advantage.

Before the invention of the electric light, Berlin Electric Company was actually a processing plant for Siemens, producing products through patent authorization.

The black cable slowly disappeared into the sea as it slid off the stern. Too much force could break the cable, so experienced workers had to keep an eye on it at all times and adjust it according to the speed of the ship.

Due to the limitations of the era, the laying of submarine cables was relatively simple and crude, almost entirely operated by skilled workers relying on their “gut feeling.”

The world’s first submarine cable was cut off after being salvaged from the sea by French fishermen.

In this era, it was impossible to dig trenches for cables on the seabed. At best, sinking the cable to the seabed was considered a success.

The sailors carefully steered the ship, creating a good working environment for the submarine cable layers. The wind and waves on the Indian Ocean were the biggest obstacle to the laying work.

…

“Frank, release the line faster, don’t let the lines get tangled together.” Duden, an engineer from Siemens, directed the workers.

“Turn the handle faster, increase the speed of the gears evenly,” Duden said to the worker operating the pulley.

“Those in the back, install all the counterweights, don’t cut corners. If these lines can’t sink to the bottom of the sea, you won’t get paid.”

Duden orderly directed the workers to sink the cable into the sea, while strictly following procedures to supervise the workers’ work.

This work could not be taken lightly at all. A mistake in one detail could lead to all previous efforts being wasted.

This ship traveled all the way from the German region to the Indian Ocean. Because it had to go around the west coast of Africa, it had previously been resting in the port of Dar es Salaam.

This work would take at least one or two months. All the crew’s food, clothing, shelter, and waste disposal had to be done on the ship.

A ship full of cables was just enough to complete the laying work from East Africa to Egypt, so no ship followed.

At the same time, in the Mediterranean, a ship of the Hechingen Consortium was also responsible for this work, but their conditions were much better. The laying distance was short, the workload was small, and supplies were easier to replenish.

Therefore, this deep-sea submarine cable laying ship in the Indian Ocean had to strive for one-time success. Finally, it could dock in Egypt for rest.

…

The submarine cable laying work from East Africa to Europe was quite smooth, and basically no major accidents or mistakes were encountered.

Three months later, the entire line was completed. Intelligence sent from Berlin to the East African colonies, via Trieste and Egypt, was finally transmitted to the colonial government.

The communication time between the two places was greatly reduced. Any situation that occurred in the East African colonies on the same day could be reported to the Berlin telegraph center through the submarine cable.

Ernst’s remote control ability over the East African colonies was greatly strengthened, which facilitated the arrangement and decision of daily work and affairs in the colonies.

Chapter 72: Tobacco Cultivation

Kenya, Central Province, Mashuru Town.

To develop newly explored areas, the East African colonial government, after sending people for on-the-spot investigations, decided to plant tobacco here.

As a crop that loves warmth and sunlight, most of East Africa is almost suitable for tobacco cultivation, and East Africa has moderate rainfall, which can meet the water source required for early growth.

Mashuru Town is located ninety kilometers southeast of Nairobi, with an unnamed river running north-south through it.

There were only thirty-odd immigrants who first arrived here, led by the German Anthony, five immigrants from the Austrian Empire, and more than twenty Chinese.

Looking at the boundless prairie directly connected to the sky, Anthony couldn’t help but sigh at the magnificence and magic of nature.

Having lived in Europe, Anthony had seen agricultural estates and forests full of elegance and vitality in the North German region since he was a child.

The land of Africa is full of wild nature, and the area is so large that people can’t help but feel a surge of emotion in their hearts.

The immigrants from the Austrian Empire were the same. Most of them came to Africa for the first time, and they were even more shocked than Anthony. The Austrian Empire has mountains and rivers, especially the places where the immigrants lived. Because of relative backwardness, they still maintained a relatively simple way of life.

Some people had never even left their village in their entire lives. It is conceivable that after going to sea, they were first conquered by the magnificence of the sea, and then attracted by the unique tropical scenery of East Africa after landing.

The Chinese immigrants were relatively better. Due to the issue of origin, they could not see such a large area of grassland in North China, but the farmland there was also endless.

Although the land area of Germany and the Austrian Empire is far less than that of the Far East power, when it comes to per capita land ownership, the Far East is far inferior to the former two.

It’s just that the Far East has too large an area, especially the endless plains and long land, which always easily make people ignore its huge population size. After removing the population data, it does have some meaning of being vast in territory and abundant in resources.

…

The immigrants began to build residences. These were temporary residences built with mud. After all, there were too few people now, and they couldn’t waste too much time improving living conditions.

After landing at the ports of Tanga and Dar es Salaam, they replenished supplies in the first town, led by experienced elders.

This is the source of the first batch of immigrants in Mashuru, with living supplies all on two carriages, farm tools and rations.

Looking down from the sky, more than thirty people seemed so small on the vast grassland, and their houses were like matchboxes.

This is the initial scale of Mashuru Town. The East African colonial plan is to send nearly a thousand more immigrants to this place in the future.

During the same period, towns and villages like Mashuru Town were rapidly rising in Kenya.

From the eastern coastal area to the shores of the Great Lakes in the far west, immigrants quickly filled the local ecological niche.

This phase of immigrants were a mixed group, led by Germans, and jointly composed of immigrants from the Austrian Empire and Chinese immigrants.

…

After a month of development.

The population of Mashuru Town has reached more than four hundred people, and it already has the appearance of a village. The development of the fields has also become quite decent.

Along the unnamed river, the residents of Mashuru Town have opened up thousands of acres of tobacco plantations.

On rows of ridges, the green tobacco seedlings are full of vitality and rooted in the red soil.

These are all future raw material supply areas for the Hechingen Tobacco Company.

All along, Hechingen Tobacco Company has mainly purchased tobacco from other countries’ merchants, and then processed it into cigarettes by machine.

This greatly wasted production costs, because the pricing power of tobacco was in the hands of those merchants.

East Africa has a vast area of barren land suitable for planting tobacco, which can not only provide Hechingen Tobacco Company with large quantities of high-quality raw materials, but also the quality is quite good.

The East African colonial government plans to build 50,000 acres of tobacco plantations near Mashuru Town.

On the one hand, it can speed up the immigration to Kenya, and on the other hand, it can create revenue, which is the best of both worlds.

After the tobacco is harvested, people from Hechingen Tobacco Company will come to collect it and send it to Mombasa Port or Dar es Salaam Port on the coast, and then ship it back to Europe.

Anthony looked at the quite successful Mashuru Town in front of him, and a sense of pride arose spontaneously.

As the town head, Anthony can be regarded as one of the last of the German mercenaries in the colony to make a name for himself.

When he first came to East Africa, the entire East African colony only had two thousand German mercenaries. Later, with the increase in the colony’s population.

Adhering to the principle of primary and secondary, Germans became natural candidates for rulers. Anthony’s teammates successively rose to become officials in various places, or gained more power in the army.

Anthony was still standing still. This time, with the development of the Mashuru area, it was finally Anthony’s turn. He was selected as the town head of Mashuru Town.

As a mercenary and former Prussian soldier, Anthony actually didn’t like the days of fighting and killing.

Compared to war, Anthony, who came from a farming family, was more willing to deal with the land.

After becoming the ruler of Mashuru Town, he did not show an arrogant attitude, but instead acted like a farmer in the Prussian region.

Leading everyone to work in the fields every day, looking at the vibrant crops, Anthony felt more and more happy and satisfied.

The immigrants of Mashuru Town were also infected by this amiable town head, and were full of passion for the reclamation cause.

Three different groups of people from Germany, Austria, and the Far East had a common language because of their farmer status.

They exchanged and shared experiences while working in the fields. Anthony shared some scientific knowledge popularized in Prussian education with the two, and the immigrants from the Austrian Empire were also very experienced, especially good at knowledge of some agricultural facilities. The Far East immigrants were slightly more experienced in vegetable planting and non-staple food research.

Because they often communicated together, Anthony learned some dialects from the Austrian Empire and many short Chinese sentences. The immigrants from the Austrian Empire themselves understood some German, and now they have also learned a small amount of Chinese vocabulary, while the Chinese have also touched the threshold of some European languages in the communication with the former two.

The residents of Mashuru Town lived in harmony, just like the red sunset connecting with the iron-red land.

In the entire East African colony, the largest number of people besides immigrants engaged in agricultural work were soldiers, so there was no significant difference in class.

This created conditions for different ethnic groups to live together, eating from the same pot and receiving similar benefits. The estrangement and vigilance caused by historical and geographical reasons were slowly being eliminated.

Of course, the natives of East Africa are not counted here. After all, these natives don’t even have decent clothes, and their faces are covered with patterns and tattoos, which look fierce. Moreover, their skin is dark, and it is difficult for ordinary people to accept them from the perspective of civilization or race.

The East African colonial government also deliberately strengthened the impression in the immigrants’ minds that the natives were cruel, did not work, were uncultured, and were backward in evolution (by comparing the faces of apes and natives, with the lower face protruding forward).

Chapter 73: Digestion

East African Colony, current area approximately 1.2 million square kilometers, including all of Tanzania and most of Kenya (the north being the sphere of influence of Arabs and indigenous people).

The area already exceeds that of the former German East African colony, because there are more indigenous countries in the western Great Lakes region, and the population is relatively dense, so it has not yet been annexed by the East African Colony.

In this area of such a large size, the number of immigrants is around two hundred thousand, of which nearly fifty thousand were absorbed from the Austrian Empire in recent months, and the rest are Chinese.

The East African Colony has benefited from the current Austrian Empire’s transformation into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with domestic turmoil. It absorbed about thirty thousand immigrants from the Austrian Empire in the first month. Currently, it has declined somewhat, to about three thousand per month. Chinese immigrants, due to the shortage of manpower in the Alaska Colony, have been diverted, and now the number of people arriving in East Africa is stabilizing at around ten thousand per month.

However, Alaska does not need too much population. Once it reaches around thirty thousand, Ernst will no longer support its population migration. At that time, the number of Chinese immigrants to East Africa is estimated to stabilize at around fifteen thousand per month.

In addition, because most of the current immigrants to the East African Colony are farmers, their fertility rate is in the top tier of the era, basically doubling every year. After all, there is enough land to support more births, and the colony pays more attention to hygiene, so the infant mortality rate is low.

Not to mention the old immigrants who have lived in East Africa for some time, even the new immigrants from the Austrian Empire have joined the army of reproduction.

However, this small population is still insignificant compared to the nearly two to three million native indigenous people in the East African Colony.

The grassland area is too large, animals are rampant, and the climate is too good. They can fill their stomachs with wild fruits, so the indigenous people still have room to survive after being deprived of a large amount of high-quality land by the East African Colony.

In Ernst’s view, these are all hidden dangers. Only when all the indigenous people of the current East African Colony are cleared out can Ernst feel half relieved.

However, after a year of exhausting slave hunting operations, the slave traders of Zanzibar have only digested two hundred thousand indigenous people, which is somewhat of a drop in the bucket.

This is also because it has seized a large number of Middle Eastern slave markets. Even the Ottoman Empire, under the influence of this wave of cheap slave trade, has ushered in a small development, greatly alleviating the labor loss caused by national contradictions, and suppressing other ethnic groups in the country more severely.

The current East African Colony faces three problems. One is gender imbalance. Unlike the Austrian immigrants who brought their families, there are a large number of single men among the early Chinese immigrants, which is an unstable factor in the future rule of East Africa.

The second is ethnic imbalance. The proportion of Chinese is too high. Austrian Empire immigrants can only alleviate this situation. To truly solve this problem, in Ernst’s view, the ratio of yellow and white people must reach at least two to eight. After all, judging from the fact that black people in the United States only account for a little more than 10% of the population in later generations, and they dare to engage in the equal rights movement, different races in the East African Colony must exceed this bottom line.

After the Austrian Empire completely became the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after this period of chaos, the number of Austro-Hungarian Empire immigrants may not be able to maintain the current data.

Now that the East African Colony has supplemented a large number of Austrian Empire immigrants, it has forced some Chinese immigrants to learn German in their daily lives.

The ratio of yellow and white races is a healthy three to one, but more than half of these Austrian Empire immigrants do not speak German, so this data is very misleading for the colonial government that wants to implement German education in East Africa. Even some Austro-Hungarian Empire immigrants who only know a few simple German phrases have been classified as German speakers.

The third is the large number of native black indigenous people. The land completely controlled by the East African Colony actually only accounts for 20% of the area of the East African Colony. These are all fertile and easily accessible lands.

Black tribes in other places evenly occupy the remaining 80% of the land.

Therefore, the population problem currently facing the East African Colony is how to solve the above three problems.

In order to solve these three problems, Ernst has formulated three general guidelines.

The first is to fund the establishment of a wedding company to purchase slaves from the Sultanate of Zanzibar in the name of transnational marriage. This is mainly aimed at the Middle East, especially the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of Armenian women in the Ottoman Empire. Of course, if the Sultanate of Zanzibar is strong enough, it would be good to get women from other Arab regions. Anyway, Ernst is willing to pay for this, and even can exchange them through black slaves, at a ratio of five to one or even twenty to one.

Ernst believes that, with the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, they are likely to agree. After all, they are making money anyway. It is better to deal with the population of opposing ethnic groups in a non-massacre way and also make some money. At that time, not only Armenians, Kurds, Greeks, Christian populations… it is estimated that the Ottoman Empire, without any integrity, will send them out.

After all, this is not slave trade, this is marriage introduction, and Western countries are not easy to criticize. As long as the unified caliber is “free love.”

Of course, this policy will not only be launched in the Middle East, Ernst also wants to find his old friend, the Dutch, who have a large number of colonies in the Far East, to help. You can’t forget your friends when you make money.

Second, there is no good way at present. Now Europe has begun to move towards a brief period of peace, which is not easy to operate. We can only increase the intensity of忽悠(deceiving/persuading) on the original basis and try to collect some scraps from the immigrants going to the Americas.

Third, which is the most important work of the East African Colony in the coming year, is to collect all the black indigenous people in the colony and exile them to the west of the Great Lakes region, the three regions of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.

Since the Sultanate of Zanzibar cannot digest so many slaves, Ernst can only send them to the west of the Great Lakes region to consume the power of the indigenous countries there.

After all, their land is also limited, and the population is large. After the East African Colony drives a large number of indigenous people there, the two waves of people with different cultures and systems will definitely fight like cats and dogs.

Ernst can take the opportunity to eliminate at least one-third of the indigenous people. As for fleeing further west, there is the Congo rainforest. Tropical rainforests are a human restricted area even in modern society. It is hard to say whether you can survive if you enter.

This third plan is actually a bit of a 驱虎吞狼(using one enemy to fight another) idea, but to put it the other way around, it is 送羊入虎口(sending a lamb to the slaughter).

After all, the indigenous countries living in the Great Lakes region are not easy to mess with. Compared with the many indigenous people in the East African Colony who are still in primitive society, their slave states are already quite developed.

There is no need to say much about the means of slave states when facing overpopulation. Referring to the Shang Dynasty in the Far East, most of them will take physical means to balance the population size. What’s more, these indigenous people in the East African Colony are like Germanic barbarians facing ancient Rome to the indigenous countries west of the Great Lakes region.

In short, the current focus of the East African Colony government is no longer to continue expanding, but to first secure the land in its hands.

While driving away the indigenous people, stabilize the population structure of the colony and fill the vast land of the East African Colony with immigrants.

Chapter 74: The “Purge” Movement

In response to Ernst’s instructions.

Starting on April 3rd, 1867, after a series of meetings among the higher-ups of the East African colonial government, it was decided to implement a year-long “Purge” movement.

Just from the literal meaning of the words, it’s clear that the so-called “Purge” was aimed at the natives within the colony, to organize and eliminate unstable elements within the East African colony.

And these unstable elements were the local natives and tribes.

To mobilize the manpower of the entire East African colony to complete this task, the East African colonial government directly assigned tasks to each immigrant settlement according to the area.

Each settlement was to provide its own provisions and carry out encirclement and suppression operations against the natives and tribes around villages and towns.

……

Kagongo Town is a town under the jurisdiction of Kigoma, in the Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) area.

Today, Kagongo Town posted an announcement about the “Purge” movement issued by the East African colonial government on the village bulletin board.

The immigrants knew the function of the bulletin board. Whenever there was a major action, the colonial government would post corresponding policies and instructions there.

All colonial documents were written in German. As the most educated group in the East African colony, the German mercenaries, with their elementary school education, possessed unquestionable authority in the East African colony.

Only the students of the Hechingen Military Academy and the African management personnel dispatched by the Hechingen Consortium had relatively higher education levels.

But they also considered themselves Germans and inwardly classified themselves as the same kind of people as the mercenary team.

In short, the German-speaking population in the East African colony was a unified group, and a group belonging to the ruling class.

Even Chinese immigrants and Austrian Empire immigrants, as long as they spoke German, would be assigned to important positions and regarded as their own.

The simple economic structure of the East African colony meant that the personnel of the East African colonial government at all levels did not need particularly strong abilities.

And the colony’s simple economic structure and crude collectivized management model resulted in the colony having only a rudimentary legal operating model.

After all, apart from agriculture, the colony had almost no other industries. Everyone worked from sunrise to sunset according to the company’s targets, without any extra entertainment industries.

Under a simple lifestyle, economic crime had no market in the current East African colony. The immigrants were honest farmers and strict retired soldiers, lacking the soil for “anti-intellectualism” to survive.

Kagongo Town government, bulletin board.

Early in the morning, government staff posted the freshly printed German documents on the wooden bulletin board for display.

Unlike in the past, no spokesperson appeared to explain the content of the new policies.

Several immigrants gathered under the bulletin board to discuss the content above.

“Old Liu, what does it say on there?”

“You’re asking me? Who am I going to ask? I only recognize the words ‘village,’ ‘gun,’ and ‘expel’ on it. I bet it’s definitely going to be a fight, eight or nine times out of ten.”

Old Liu knew these words thanks to their frequent use in the East African colony, especially since new immigrants would receive a short period of military training.

That is, military training, where the instructors would teach some simple and necessary vocabulary.

While the immigrants were still guessing what was written on it.

A soldier dressed as a colonial soldier walked to the bulletin board and began to blow the bugle hanging from his waist.

“Woo… woo… woo…”

The other townspeople also began to gather near the bulletin board following the East African colonial government’s assembly call. The crowd discussing also grew, and for a time, the area under the town’s bulletin board was bustling with noise.

Soon, the town mayor and the senior civil and military officials of Kagongo Town arrived together, and the soldiers began to set up the venue.

A small wooden platform was temporarily built, and the soldiers invited the mayor and others to speak on stage.

Kagongo Town Mayor Go Shin Kushi, with a large belly, walked onto the stage and began to interpret the latest instructions from the colonial government.

The military officer, Carson Bullock (a student of the Hechingen Military Academy), was responsible for translation using a megaphone.

“Townspeople, just yesterday, we received instructions from the higher-ups of the East African colonial government.”

The venue was silent, and everyone carefully listened to the mayor’s speech, after all, the content on the bulletin board was usually closely related to them.

“In order to strengthen the colony’s public security management level and prevent the savages (the official term used by the East African colonial government for the natives) from causing damage and threats to the colony’s production and life.”

“Every village and town under the jurisdiction of the colonial government should carry out a purge, arresting, encircling, suppressing, and destroying the savages and their tribes within its jurisdiction.”

The crowd began to whisper to each other.

“This means we’re going to crack down on the natives again!”

“Definitely, otherwise where would we have gotten the land to cultivate? It was all taken by force.”

“What do you mean taken by force! The natives here don’t make a living by farming. This is all wasteland. We’re here to reclaim the land. The land doesn’t have a name on it, so whoever farms it owns it, right?”

“That’s right, those natives don’t need this land anyway. They can hunt anywhere. This land suitable for growing grain is being used to feed lions, leopards, and jackals.”

The immigrants had no burden in their hearts. The discussion of right and wrong was too far removed from the farmers who toiled in these lands. Filling their stomachs was much more practical than any benevolence or morality.

Everyone came from feudal countries and feudal countries transitioning to industrialized countries, so their thinking naturally remained at the level of farmers in the feudal era.

On the vast land of the East African colony, although black people were the original inhabitants, the first government in East Africa was indeed the East African colonial government.

And only the government can grant the nature of land ownership. Just look at the natives, they only know that they live on this land, and their understanding of the land’s nature remains at the level of where they can hunt and where they can pick fruit.

But the immigrants had the concept of land ownership. The land of the East African colony was all the private property of the Hechingen Consortium.

And the status of the immigrants was between serfs and industrial workers. They had no right to choose, but their basic human rights were protected by law.

Although the East African colony had no courts or judicial organs, it defaulted to implementing Prussian law, but without specific enforcement.

The coexistence of rule by man and rule of law is the current state of the East African colony, similar to Liu Bang’s “Three Laws” with the people, or the Roman Twelve Tables.

There was a specific yet vague boundary.

……

The mayor continued, “In order to respond to the government’s call, our Kagongo Town must also organize manpower to carry out encirclement and suppression operations within and around Kagongo Town.”

With the issuance of the order, Kagongo Town and its subordinate villages conscripted more than a thousand temporary soldiers, issued weapons, and cooperated with the Kigoma municipal government and its subordinate villages to carry out the “Purge” movement throughout the Lake Soro area.

For a time, gunfire erupted throughout the Lake Soro area and the East African colony, turning it into a large battlefield.

Chapter 75: The Great Escape

Early morning.

The sun slowly rose from the horizon.

The fiery red sunlight illuminated the entire East African grassland, and animals were grazing with their heads down.

Suddenly, their sensitive ears perked up, twitching slightly.

A hurried and chaotic sound of footsteps came from the distance.

“Bang… bang… bang…”

Gunshots shattered the tranquility of the grassland.

Animals that had never heard gunshots before were still in a bewildered state, staring warily at the west.

Soon, a group of people appeared in sight.

Some animals couldn’t bother to continue grazing and fled in all directions.

It was none other than the East African natives, about forty or fifty of them, running towards this place, panting for breath.

As a memory etched in their genes.

Seeing these black people carrying spears and bows and arrows, the animals naturally awakened their ancient memories.

“Danger!” This was the animals’ instinct.

And the black people were not having an easy time either.

Judging by their appearance, they clearly lacked the courage they usually had when facing wild beasts, and they were completely flustered.

They were disorganized, lacked any sense of teamwork, and only wanted to escape from here as quickly as possible.

A hundred meters behind them, a group of East African colonial soldiers and militiamen could be seen.

A. Toll.

The sheriff of Roean Village in the northern highlands.

He was riding a black steed, leading the village’s soldiers and temporarily conscripted villagers, chasing after the black natives in front of him.

To allow his subordinates to keep up, he didn’t ride too fast, after all, two legs couldn’t outrun four.

Of course, except for the black natives in front of him. A. Toll had never seen people who could run so well.

A. Toll and his subordinates had been chasing this group of black people all night.

Just yesterday, A. Toll, following the orders of the East African colonial government, destroyed the nearby native tribes.

In the vast East African grasslands, the density of black people was actually not high, and the tribe to which this group of black people belonged was the only tribe within a hundred miles of Roean Village.

A. Toll easily destroyed their tribe, but there were still some resisters who refused to surrender and took advantage of the chaos to run away.

A. Toll personally led the team to hunt down these fugitives, because it was getting late yesterday, so A. Toll and his subordinates did not immediately catch up with these fleeing natives.

Today, according to the traces, A. Toll and his party quickly caught up with the natives who were gradually running out of strength.

Just now, A. Toll and his party fired warning shots.

But the black people who heard the gunshots not only didn’t slow down, but ran even faster.

For these black people, the colonists’ firearms were the weapons of the devil, which would emit the devil’s roar, and then those chosen by the devil would go to hell.

The desire to survive instantly filled their entire bodies, and with the last burst of strength, they rushed forward desperately, hoping to get rid of these messengers of the devil.

These natives, who had been racing with African beasts all year round, had to be said to have really good physiques, and in the blink of an eye, they widened the distance from A. Toll and his party again.

“Damn it, what did they eat to grow up so well, they can run so fast!” A. Toll said in exasperation.

“Everyone, continue the pursuit, we must not let them go today.”

For a time, everything that could move on the grassland was running, startled animals, frightened natives, and colonial soldiers chasing the natives.

Gradually, A. Toll suddenly ordered: “The troops stop advancing.”

A. Toll’s eyesight was very good, he had already seen a river in the distance, blocking the natives’ footsteps.

“Now, let’s see how you can escape, everyone prepare, we will slowly encircle them.”

And the black people also looked at the river in front of them in despair. Having lived on the grasslands for many years, except for fetching water, these natives who lived on the grasslands rarely knew how to swim.

Could it be that they would be buried here?

Of course not, several natives who could swim had already begun to go into the water to try to cross the river.

A. Toll also saw it in the distance, and he hurriedly ordered: “The river may not be deep, we must not let them run away again, we rush over.”

But the situation was somewhat different from what A. Toll thought.

The few natives who went into the water had just entered the river and were about to swim to the other side when a scream suddenly came.

The natives on the shore were just about to try to cross the river when they saw their companions being dragged into the water by something in the screams.

Several crocodiles surfaced, biting the natives in the river.

The river water was instantly dyed red with blood.

A. Toll said with joy in his heart, “God bless.”

Seeing that going into the water was also a dead end, the black people gave up resisting.

They put down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and begged A. Toll and others to spare their lives.

As for the final resistance, who could beat the devil! They still had the courage to run, but they didn’t dare to resist at all.

A. Toll rode his horse and slowly walked to these black natives.

Thinking that these natives had wasted so much of his time, he felt very angry.

He raised his whip and lashed it fiercely on the backs of these bare-chested natives.

Seeing that A. Toll did not use the thing that would emit the devil’s roar to kill them, but only used a whip to beat them, the natives instead felt relieved.

They lay on the ground, begging for forgiveness in strange languages, and kowtowing incessantly.

A. Toll, having vented his anger, finally stopped punishing these ungrateful natives.

He said to his subordinates: “Tie them up with ropes and take them back.”

The natives were strung together by colonial soldiers with ropes, forming a long line.

With guns pointed at these natives, everyone slowly moved forward in the direction of their return.

……

This scene was repeated on the East African land, of course, there were also exceptions.

Some large tribes with the ability to resist, adhering to the principle of running away if they couldn’t win, went deep into the mainland.

This was also what the colony wanted to see. As long as these natives went west, as long as they were still within the territory of the East African colony, they would not be able to stop.

And the only two ways for them to truly survive were, one was northwest Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and other places.

One was the southwest Zambia, Zimbabwe direction.

The colony used a pocket formation to drive these natives. Northern Kenya was the direction of the East African colony’s subsequent expansion. It was relatively arid there, and the population was originally small, so the colony would not increase the difficulty for itself.

The south was the sphere of influence of the Portuguese, which was not easy to operate, and the east was already in the pocket of the East African colony, so naturally it would not allow the tiger to return to the mountain.

As for capturing those small tribes, it was mainly for continuing to do business with the Sultanate of Zanzibar and recouping funds.

And more natives were still driven to the western inland areas.

When they went there, they would inevitably compete with the original native tribes and countries for land and resources in order to survive.

Making the entire western inland area chaotic was completely in the interests of the East African colony.

On the one hand, it could impact the systems of those more developed native countries and destroy their subsequent resistance capabilities.

On the one hand, letting these natives fight each other could take the opportunity to eliminate their numbers. Ernst himself couldn’t do this kind of thing.

Although there was no room for whitewashing as a colonizer, there was still a big difference between direct and indirect participation in some things.

Don’t you see Leopold of Belgium in his previous life, everyone wanted to spit on him and scold him as a beast, it was just that he ate too ugly.

Although everyone was a colonizer, you played too rough, so that the British and French seemed like saints in front of Belgium.

Only the Japanese could save Belgium’s reputation, after all, no one was more beastly than Japan in terms of not being human.

This couldn’t help but give Ernst a bold idea. Since Leopold was so “outstanding”, then in this space-time, he might have to help him.

After all, Ernst himself also knew that he would not be able to whitewash himself in the future, so it would be better to find a more beastly one to stand in front, so that he would seem more normal.

Just like the Americans, instead of discussing the Indians, it is better to discuss your human rights issues.

Chapter 76: Promised Land

Kingdom of Karagwe.

One of the eight kingdoms west of the Great Lakes region.

It was a country established by indigenous people on the western shore of the Great Lakes, bordering the Kingdom of Buganda to the north and the Kingdoms of Igara and Burundi to the west.

Its territory is mainly located within present-day Tanzania.

Between Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, and Lake Tanganyika, the land area is only about one hundred and fifty thousand square kilometers.

Yet it is home to eight indigenous countries, making it the strongest region for Black people in East Africa. Among them, the Kingdom of Buganda is the most powerful country established by East African Black people (Abyssinia is not a purely Black country and is deeply influenced by Arab culture).

The names of these eight indigenous countries are: Kingdom of Kitara, Kingdom of Toro, Kingdom of Nkore, Kingdom of Buganda, Kingdom of Karagwe, Kingdom of Igara, Kingdom of Rwanda, and Kingdom of Burundi.

Among them, the Kingdoms of Buganda, Igara, and Burundi border the East African colony.

With the advancement of the “rectification” movement in the East African colony, the indigenous tribes that fled northwest poured into these three countries.

……

Border of the Kingdom of Karagwe.

As a slave kingdom, the Kingdom of Karagwe has little defensive power in the east, after all, the east was originally just some indigenous tribes, which posed no threat to the Kingdom of Karagwe.

Although the eight northwestern countries have formed states, they are still in a fairly primitive stage. Their method of rule is actually similar to that of colonies.

They all carry out colonial activities against the indigenous tribes within their borders through the military, somewhat similar to the Shang Dynasty in China, which made the local vassal states pay tribute through military conquest.

Therefore, it is impossible to use their inefficient national structure to resist the tide of refugees launched by the East African colony.

Today, another large group of people entered the Kingdom of Karagwe from here.

They are the Kogo tribe, originally a giant indigenous tribe living in the East African colony’s savanna region, with a total population of nearly two thousand people.

Chief Odbiao can be said to be a generation of heroes of the Kogo tribe. Since taking office, he has annexed surrounding tribes and plundered the population through warfare, becoming an indigenous overlord in the savanna region.

Good times did not last long. After the “rectification” movement in the East African colony, the Tabora municipal government in the savanna region, in order to eliminate this indigenous tribe entrenched in the savanna region, assembled an armed force of more than five hundred people to encircle and suppress the Kogo tribe.

Even if Odbiao had three heads and six arms, he could not resist the modern weapons of the East African colony.

The battle did not last long before the Kogo tribe was defeated.

Odbiao led the remnants on a difficult escape journey.

The colonial government could only drive them northwest, so after a long trek of more than two hundred kilometers, Odbiao’s troops finally arrived at the border of the Kingdom of Karagwe today.

After several days of fleeing, Odbiao now has only over a thousand tribesmen left. War and the escape journey have reduced the Kogo tribe by nearly half.

Odbiao was surprised to find that the devils who could use magic weapons were no longer chasing them, as if they were unwilling to take another step forward.

In fact, the East African colonial government had already achieved its goal. The front was the Kingdom of Karagwe, and the goal of the East African colony was to drive these indigenous people into its territory.

The naive Odbiao thought that gods lived in the northwest, so these devils dared not go forward.

Odbiao, who also served as the tribe’s priest, became excited.

He picked up his scepter and immediately began to perform a strange dance in front of his tribesmen.

He tiptoed and spun quickly on the ground, as if the ground under his feet was not land, but a hot stove.

He began to chant incantations, and no one could understand what he was saying. Even the members of the tribe did not know what the chief was doing, but it looked impressive and very powerful.

With the blessing of spells and dances, Odbiao’s whole body began to twitch, and his eyes began to roll back.

The scepter in his hand began to slowly tilt towards the northwest, and finally pointed directly to the northwest.

“Soil,” Odbiao let out a loud shout.

“Shakalaka…”

The whole person “fainted” on the ground, and his subordinates were already frightened and didn’t dare to step forward to help.

After all, the chief’s appearance just now looked like a symptom of “possession,” and Odbiao was the only high priest in the tribe. If he couldn’t solve it, the extremely superstitious tribesmen would not dare to act rashly.

Some people even knelt down and began to pray for the blessing of the tribe’s gods. The god of the Kogo tribe is a lion, so they have lion head patterns on their tattoos.

A hundred meters away, the East African colonial soldiers responsible for watching these indigenous people and preventing them from running back were curiously watching these indigenous people doing strange things there.

“What are these savages doing?”

“Looks like the shaman dancing in the village before!”

“Didn’t the leader just roll his eyes while jumping around? The sorceress in our village can also do that.”

“So far away, can you still see him rolling his eyes?”

“Of course I can’t see it, but his set of movements is too much like the sorceress in our village, so I guess he rolled his eyes.”

“These natives also believe in gods and ghosts, this is really rare! Do you think there are really gods and kings of hell in this world… these?”

“This… maybe in the Qing Dynasty, but aren’t we no longer in the Qing Dynasty? Those gods! Immortals! Can’t control us anymore. Now this land, according to the Germans, is blessed by God, and this God is the Jade Emperor in the Western heavens.”

While the immigrant soldiers were talking to each other.

Odbiao secretly narrowed his eyes into a slit, feeling very satisfied with the tribe’s frightened appearance. This was the effect he wanted.

Odbiao had been out of luck these past few days, encountering the iron fist of the East African colonial government, the failure of the war, the tragic situation of exile, and the tribe was in turmoil.

Today, he suddenly discovered that the East African colonial soldiers were no longer chasing them. Odbiao, worthy of being a generation of heroes of the Kogo tribe.

Immediately thought of a way to re-consolidate his position in the hearts of the tribe.

Odbiao, who was lying on the ground, suddenly got up, sat cross-legged, shivered, shook his body, and instantly “woke up.”

In the tribe’s surprised eyes, Odbiao said: “Warriors of the tribe, just now, I received the guidance of the gods. He told me, go northwest! There is the promised land for the Kogo people.”

“The gods live there, so these devils dare not take another step forward. Look back, aren’t those devils afraid to come forward!”

The tribesmen followed Odbiao’s hint and looked back, and indeed the East African colonial soldiers were standing still and had no intention of continuing to pursue.

Seeing the natives turning around and looking back, the East African colonial soldiers suddenly felt like they were facing a formidable enemy, thinking that these natives wanted to make a final resistance, and tightened their grip on their guns.

Seeing the suddenly nervous East African colonial soldiers, the Kogo tribe became even more convinced of Odbiao’s statement. If they were not afraid of the gods, why would they be nervous?

Thinking that they were protected by the gods, the Kogo tribe cheered. They shouted “Odbiao, the divine envoy” and danced awkwardly around Odbiao in place.

Odbiao looked at the scene in front of him with satisfaction. He raised his hands in the air and slowly lowered them, signaling silence.

“Warriors, let’s continue to move in the northwest direction, the gods will bless us.”

So Odbiao, who had re-established his authority, led the invigorated tribesmen towards the Kingdom of Karagwe.

The East African colonial soldiers felt inexplicable.

Chapter 77: “Cargo” Arrives

Dar es Salaam Port.

Slave trading market.

Although the Zanzibar Sultanate had been packaged up and sent to Zanzibar Island, the colonies couldn’t possibly send slaves to the island for trading.

Therefore, the slave market in Dar es Salaam Port was preserved, jointly operated by the East African colonies and the Zanzibar Sultanate.

“Sir, take a look at these goods. Absolutely top-notch. All carefully selected from the Ottoman Empire. Whether you take them back for farming or household chores, they are all first-rate helpers.” Azam vigorously promoted the goods in front of him.

Poor Armenian women, like cattle and sheep, were lined up by Azam for the East African colonial officials to inspect.

Azam vigorously touted the “goods” in front of him: “They used to live in the western mountainous areas of the Ottoman Empire. The environment there is much worse than in East Africa. Not only are the roads difficult to travel, but the land is barren and lacks water. So, buying them back will definitely mean they can endure hardship and won’t cause you any trouble.”

Mark Verian, an East African colonial official, held a wooden stick in his hand, looking left and right, occasionally using the stick to lift the faces of these “goods” to check their health.

Having suffered a long sea voyage, their mental state was mostly not very good, but they were still considered healthy. Mark Verian was very satisfied with the quality of the “goods” in front of him.

“Mr. Azam, I have already seen them. They are all pretty good. If our people find no major problems after their physical examination, we will take this entire batch.”

Azam hurried forward, smiling obsequiously: “Sir, since you think this batch of goods is not bad, and the quantity we provided this time is also good, could you give us a higher price?”

Mark Verian said sternly: “The price was agreed upon beforehand. One Armenian for seven savages. Any higher would violate our original agreement!”

Azam quickly said: “Sir, you also know that the distance from the Ottoman Empire to East Africa is not short. We who run ships cannot avoid losses. A round trip not only incurs losses on the way here, but when we go back to fetch more people, the conditions on the ship are even worse, and the losses will be even greater.”

Mark Verian nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging Azam’s statement. Mark Verian was not a professional merchant in the first place and indeed lacked talent in this area.

He turned his head and discussed it with his deputy, and after receiving confirmation, he said to Azam: “Mr. Azam, we understand your difficulties, but the East African colonies are not something a small clerk like me can decide. However, for the sake of our friendship, I will still provide you with ten more savages within the scope of my authority. I can’t do any more than that!”

Azam said with a look of regret: “This really puts me in a difficult position! Sir.”

After saying that, Azam changed his tone: “However, for your sake, I will still do this ‘loss-making’ deal to ensure our friendship.”

Azam said “loss-making” deal, but he was secretly delighted. This time, going to the Ottoman Empire to pick up the goods actually didn’t cost him anything.

The Ottoman Empire’s attitude towards Armenian infidels could be described as universally despised. And the Armenians were not like those rebellious people on the Balkan Peninsula who were always seeking independence.

Adhering to the principle of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, the bureaucrats within the Ottoman Empire, after learning that Zanzibar merchants were acquiring Armenian women, directly agreed, and even wanted to send away the Armenian men in a package deal.

Unfortunately, the East African colonies currently lacked women the most, otherwise Ernst might have really been tempted.

The grassroots officials within the Ottoman Empire fully utilized their subjective initiative and launched demolition operations in areas where Armenians gathered. Those with good brains used deceptive means to coax Armenian women to work in Europe. Those with bad brains were too lazy to use their brains and directly went to people’s homes to rob people. If the men resisted, they would directly use force to kill them.

And the reward paid by the Zanzibar merchants was only two castrated East African native slaves in exchange for one Armenian woman.

Now, affected by the cheap slave market, a trend of using black people for production activities has emerged in the Ottoman Empire.

These black people are cheap, easy to use, and disposable, without any hidden dangers, and their skin is dark, making it impossible for them to escape.

The landlords, bureaucrats, and nobles of the Ottoman Empire used black people to plow the land, mine, and build wonders to satisfy their luxurious lives.

Even the cheap labor greatly alleviated the Ottoman Empire’s dependence on European machinery and commodity imports.

Now it is not a matter of production efficiency, but a matter of the number of black slaves. The more slaves, the more wealth can be created.

Even some industries that heavily rely on manpower, after using a large number of black people, the Ottoman Empire had a competitive advantage over Europe, and some handicraft products were sold back to Europe.

As for the attrition of black slaves, it was naturally quite large. They worked day and night, eating worse than pig slop, and basically declared dead after getting sick.

But the Ottoman Empire was not worried at all. Now with the help of the East African colonies, they could have as many as they wanted.

Ernst didn’t care about the situation of black slaves within the Ottoman Empire. Once they left East Africa, they could forget about coming back.

And the Zanzibar merchants, after deducting the losses at sea and the natives needed to pay the Ottoman bureaucrats, the rest were all their own, which were not used to exchange people, but directly used for sale in the market.

The East African colonies made money, the Zanzibar Sultanate made money, the Ottoman Empire also made money, and the Arab merchants also made money, achieving a world where only the natives were hurt.

Mark Verian arranged for his subordinates to number these Armenian women and send them to various parts of the East African colonies.

The solution to how to mobilize the enthusiasm of Chinese soldiers in this large-scale “rectification” movement in the East African colonies lies here.

After all, fighting with the natives is also a threat. Even if the native arrows are shot randomly, it is possible to injure some unlucky people.

And the East African colonies do not have bonuses to give to these immigrant soldiers, so what can be used to mobilize their enthusiasm?

Of course, it is what they need most: starting a family. Living in the East African colonies, having enough to eat is no longer a fantasy. As the saying goes, “When bellies are full, people think of lust.” There is basically no alcohol in the East African colonies, and the Chinese immigrants don’t need it either. After all, they couldn’t even get enough to eat back then, so why would they want to drink alcohol?

Now that basic guarantees for food, clothing, housing, and transportation are in place, what Chinese bachelors need most is to carry on the family line.

This is how it is in this era. Things like fear of marriage, free love, and having multiple wives and concubines are advanced methods that only the rich and nobles play with.

The thinking of ordinary people is simple and unadorned. The East African colonies used this point to adopt the highest reward method for the Chinese in the East African colonies: distributing wives.

Before, the East African colonies were not doing nothing. They also brought some native women from Southeast Asia every month, but the number was extremely small.

For those Chinese immigrants in the colonies who had the most outstanding labor and contribution, they would directly receive a wedding gift package.

But in the past, only a hundred or so Chinese people could get this gift package each month.

Even so, the Chinese bachelors who saw hope were full of energy. Especially the earliest batch of Chinese who started families in East Africa, whose children could already run around on the ground, were the envy of many bachelors.

Before this “rectification” movement by the East African colonial government, it had already promised that the towns and villages that performed the best would be allocated more women.

And those who performed the best in their own locations would have a greater chance of getting women, which completely stimulated the enthusiasm of the vast number of Chinese immigrant bachelors.

They enthusiastically joined the army and entered the East African colonial army. As for what Armenians, Christians, Southeast Asian natives…

For the bottom-level Chinese people of this era, they are not picky eaters, as long as they can give birth to children.

Chapter 78: Austro-Hungarian Empire

May 29th, 1867.

Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and Deák finally reached a consensus and signed the Austro-Hungarian Compromise on May 29th, 1867, restoring the Hungarian Parliament.

From this day forward, the Austrian Empire came to a complete end, and the power center of the Austrian Empire was divided in two.

The citizens of the country could only choose between Austrian and Hungarian nationality, and could not simultaneously hold passports from both the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary.

The foundation for maintaining the existence of this country was the Habsburg emperor, who also served as the king of both countries, which shows how absurd and fragile the Austro-Hungarian political system was.

From now on, all decisions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire must be negotiated by the Austrian and Hungarian governments, which is the beginning of serious internal administrative friction.

The current Austro-Hungarian Empire naturally did not hold any ceremonies; everything was completed in the silent agreement of the nobles of the two countries.

Ernst came to the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire again, this time somewhat reluctantly, after all, the great cause of immigration from Europe was at stake, and he could not be careless.

The new Hungarian government was about to part ways with the Austrian government, and the object of Ernst’s dealings also changed from the Austrian government to the Hungarian government.

Now that Hungary had autonomy, Ernst wanted to test whether this new government would cause trouble for his actions.

After a few days of contact, Ernst found that the new Austro-Hungarian Empire was easier to deal with than the Austrian Empire.

As a thoroughbred Prussian, the Hungarian government treated Ernst with great courtesy, especially when it came to immigration issues.

This group of people did not object, and even hoped to engage in some cooperation with Ernst.

This is not surprising, as the essence of the Hungarian nobles’ push for independence was still for profit. If they really drove Austria out, they would have no place to cry.

After all, without Austria, Hungary alone would still be a dish on Russia’s plate. Although the current Russia had experienced the failure of the Crimean War.

But for Europe, especially the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it was still a behemoth.

And it was always thinking of further expansion to the west, which is the basis for Britain and France allowing the Austro-Hungarian Empire to continue to exist.

The reason why Hungary was afraid of the Russians was because of the huge Slavic population within its borders.

Among the many ethnic groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the South Slavs were not only extremely numerous, but also at the bottom of society, especially the Serbs.

Serbian populations were widely distributed within Hungary, and even if all the Germans and Hungarians within the Austro-Hungarian Empire were added together, they would not constitute the main ethnic group.

Therefore, the newborn Austro-Hungarian Empire faced extremely severe tests. Austria and Hungary compromised, and those ethnic groups with significant populations naturally had soaring ambitions.

This was not only aimed at Austria, but also at Hungary, which was also a disaster area for ethnic separatism.

This was the basis for Ernst’s cooperation with the Hungarian nobles: to reduce the population of other ethnic groups within Hungary as much as possible.

The Hungarian nobles allowed Ernst to continuously export any non-Magyar population from Hungary to East African colonies.

This made Ernst’s immigration work in the Austro-Hungarian Empire smoother. From the Austrian side, Ernst could massively move immigrants from Slovenia, Croatia, Galicia, Czechia, Slovakia, and other places.

And within Hungary, Ernst could even unscrupulously devour the populations of other ethnic groups.

This was different from what Ernst initially thought, that after the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with the stabilization of the Austro-Hungarian situation, the authorities might curb the loss of population.

The high-level officials of the Austrian and Hungarian governments were not fools, especially the Hungarian government, which had made its fortune through nationalism. Would others not do the same? So it was better to take precautions.

And Ernst now had to persuade Franz to avoid him holding Hungary back.

This must be explained. Among the measures Franz had taken to contain Hungary, one was to buy off the lower-level people in Hungary.

Franz demanded that the Hungarian government guarantee the rights of non-Hungarian nobles, that is, other ethnic groups besides the Magyars.

Now Ernst could not let Franz do this as he did in history. If the Hungarians did not harm the people below, how would Ernst have the opportunity to undermine the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

…

Schönbrunn Palace.

“Ernst, you are really diligent, running to Austria every other day. What do you want this time?” Franz said to Ernst.

Ernst was not timid and said, “Your Majesty, for me, Austria is like my own home, of course I have to come often.”

“You kid, what do you take Austria for?” Hearing Ernst’s shameless words, the always rigid and steady Franz felt a little amused.

This guy never gets up early without a profit, and he still says such things. It was just that he was blind back then and agreed to his mother arranging this marriage for Karina.

That’s what he thought in his heart, but in reality, Franz still quite recognized Ernst. Just like the British were so cunning and insidious in diplomacy, Franz had to admit that the British were always on the winning side.

Although Franz himself was rigid and conservative in his behavior, it did not prevent him from appreciating those who were smooth and unconventional. Otherwise, he would not have been attracted by Princess Sissi’s free and romantic personality in the first place.

“There are no outsiders here, speak! What tricks do you want to play this time?” Franz said to Ernst.

Ernst was not polite and said directly, “Your Majesty, now Hungary has achieved equal status with Austria. I wonder how Your Majesty plans to deal with the attitude towards the people of other ethnic groups in Hungary?”

As soon as Hungary was mentioned, Franz’s mood immediately deteriorated. He said, “All ethnic groups in Hungary are my subjects, and of course I must treat them equally.”

Ernst immediately said, “I hope Your Majesty will think twice before acting and not easily make any substantial promises to the lower-level people in Hungary.”

“Ernst, what do you mean by this?” Franz asked.

Ernst replied, “Your Majesty, it is understandable that you love your people, but the current Austria is not the former Austrian Empire! I think you are very angry that Hungary has split the power of the empire, but anger often makes people lose their minds.”

“For example, you are the emperor of the entire empire, but what is used to maintain you and the entire empire is actually the nobles and officials under your command. Now that Hungary has become independent and established a separate government, you must be even more cautious. In the past, you only had to be responsible for Austrian affairs to command the entire empire, but now you have to face two governments, so you must be careful.”

“Hungary has certainly weakened the power of the central government, but what’s done is done, and you can’t add fuel to the fire. After all, Hungary is still Habsburg’s. Instead of making trouble for the Hungarians, it’s better to let Hungary make trouble for itself.”

“If you personally intervene, then the Hungarian nobles will definitely think that you are biased, and they will make more trouble. And in reality, local nobles always have more advantages than the central government in terms of public opinion. As long as the Hungarians cheat and lie, they will make the dizzy people point the finger at the central government’s decisions…”

In short, Ernst’s meaning was, Franz, you can’t actively maintain the interests of other ethnic groups in Hungary. Just express your concern, and actively singing the opposite tune with the Hungarian nobles will easily get you into trouble.

Chapter 79: Small Talk

“Having said so much, what’s in it for you? Is it worth it for you to speak well of the Hungarians!” Franz asked curiously.

Often, sincerity is the most touching thing. Ernst stated frankly, “For the sake of immigration to the East African region.”

Franz slowly walked to his desk, leaned lazily on the sofa, and said, “It seems you really value the East African region. But forgive me for speaking frankly, Europe is far more valuable than a dump like Africa. Don’t refute me yet.”

Franz continued, “I’ve also studied places like Africa. The French are very close to North Africa, and as the ancient Roman Mediterranean territory, its strategic position is indeed worth valuing. The British also control the Cape Town colony, after all, the Cape of Good Hope is the maritime throat to the Asian region. The most valuable things left in Africa are ivory and gold, which, as far as I know, are distributed in the West African region. As for East Africa, I really don’t know much about it, so I’m very curious as to why you’re so optimistic about the potential of East Africa, Ernst?”

It wasn’t that Franz was really interested in Africa. He was just curious as to why Ernst was wasting so much manpower, material resources, and financial resources to develop a piece of land that had no important resources and a harsh environment.

Ernst asked, “May I find a place to sit down?”

“Of course, please, feel free. There’s no need to be restrained here, Ernst,” Franz said.

Ernst found a chair, moved it opposite Franz, and sat down in front of Franz.

“Speaking of East Africa! Your Majesty, do you believe that gods really exist?” Ernst asked rhetorically.

As a Catholic, Franz said without hesitation, “Of course I believe in the existence of God!”

What Ernst was talking about was naturally not the Christian God. As a person from his previous life’s motherland, Ernst was originally a staunch atheist, but the mystical event of transmigration happened to him, so now Ernst has at least psychologically begun to waver in his faith.

Of course, Ernst didn’t believe in any Christianity. In his previous life, he wasn’t a Westerner, and he scoffed at God and the like. If there really was a God, He certainly wouldn’t have chosen Ernst as a transmigrator.

Ernst had a sense of mission in his heart, and it was this power that drove Ernst to continue his connection with Africa, which was connected to his previous life.

It was impossible to say what this power was. Feeling? Faith? Or ideals? None of them could accurately describe it.

“Your Majesty, it’s like that kind of religious, very mysterious power that drives my actions, and I myself am happy to do so, so many questions have no answers, and naturally it’s just done that way.” Ernst tried his best to explain that feeling, but he couldn’t describe it.

“The guidance of God?” Franz muttered to himself. As the emperor of an empire, Franz actually had this feeling as well. It was a kind of desire for Austria’s development, and a hope that the family’s glory would continue. Franz was sure that he had such a mission, but when faced with the deteriorating situation, he always felt powerless, a contradictory feeling.

“The current East Africa is indeed a bottomless pit for me. There are no important resources worth describing there except for animals and natives, but it is this kind of East Africa, a region without any history and unnoticed, that can satisfy the wild ideas in my heart. I am like a painter who can arbitrarily add any color he wants to this canvas of East Africa, while in Europe I am just an unremarkable little prince! I will be bound by European rules and it will be difficult to display my nature…”

Ernst and Franz, one young and one old, chatted back and forth like old friends. Franz rarely relaxed, so he didn’t keep asking about East Africa.

……

Trieste.

“There are a lot more people today than before, and there are a lot more Serbian accents,” Jean Degout, a staff member of the Heckingen Overseas Shipping Team, said to his partner, Phil Moore.

“Is East Africa really worth going to?” Phil Moore asked.

Jean Degout took out a bottle of cheap Italian red wine, took a hearty sip, and said, “It looks okay! It’s no different from the European countryside, just more desolate.”

“There are still too many people in Europe, especially within the empire. There is always only so much land, and the population has been growing faster and faster in recent years. Someone always has to go out and make a living.”

Phil Moore sighed, “Yes, the empire’s population is still growing very fast. For example, many people in our generation come from the countryside. Decades ago, our fathers were still working on the estates of nobles, and now we have come to the city’s factories to work for capitalists.”

“Fortunately, you and I are still a bit cultured, otherwise we should still be doing manual labor in factories or docks, how could we be able to write on paper and guide immigrants to make money like we do now!”

“Ah! Speaking of factories, do you still remember that Flanders guy? A few days ago in the tavern, I heard from former workmates that he died suddenly on the job. A man with good arms and legs, who looked quite strong, ended up falling on the machines that ran non-stop day and night for more than ten hours…”

Looking at the two people in front of him, chatting familiarly from East Africa to Europe, from the countryside to the city.

A young man among the immigrants had an idea. His name was Krik, a Serbian from the Hungarian countryside. He was only 15 years old this year and had come out to make a living.

Born into a family of farmers for generations, Krik naturally had no special skills, only a lot of strength. The land at home was left to his eldest brother, and Krik could only go out to find work.

He happened to encounter the East African colony recruiting people. Krik was actually not sure, but the requirements of the East African colony were very simple, and food and lodging were not a problem, and there was also money to be made, so Krik followed the staff of the Heckingen Consortium and several unemployed people from the same village to Trieste.

Krik was relatively active in the village. He stepped forward and asked Jean Degout, “Uncle, have you been to East Africa?”

Jean Degout looked at the young man in front of him and said, “I’ve been to two or three ports in East Africa on the ship, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and the newest Mombasa, I’ve been to all of them.”

“Then is East Africa really the same as the situation in Africa in the newspapers?” Krik asked.

Jean Degout pondered, “If you’re talking about Africa, then most of it is indeed like that. North Africa is full of sand, all the way along the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean, with a few oases inhabited by Arabs. The Atlantic coast, that’s West Africa, is the starting point of the slave trade, a place where gold and ivory are said to exist, but the climate is harsh, hot and humid. Further south, you can see white beaches, which are also barren lands. South Africa has very good conditions, and it’s British territory. As for East Africa, I haven’t heard of any special resources, but the few ports I’ve been to look pretty good, although they’re not as good as European cities, they’re much better than the conditions in the countryside.”

Jean Degout’s words made the immigrants feel a lot more at ease. At least they knew that East Africa was not a barren land, and living there should not be worse than in the village.

Chapter 80: Agriculture

As the “rectification” movement vigorously unfolded, a large amount of land was vacated. With the increase in immigration in the future, it will inevitably be fully developed.

The current agricultural system in the East African colonies is still relatively chaotic. Due to the dispersed population of the colonies, there are vast differences in crop cultivation.

The staple foods alone include wheat, rice, and corn. Recently, the East African colonies have also been trying to introduce millet cultivation in Kenya. This was emphasized by Ernst, as Kenya, especially the further north you go, has an increasingly arid climate, and millet is a very drought-resistant crop.

In his previous life, East Africa was an important millet-producing area. This place is very suitable for millet cultivation, after all, East Africa has a tropical savanna climate, which is most suitable for growing “grass,” and millet is derived from the domestication of foxtail grass.

These are the food crops; the cash crops are even more chaotic. The East African colonies are located in the tropics, and basically all tropical plants can be grown: sisal, coffee, rubber, cocoa, all kinds of vegetables and fruits…

If the East African colonies only considered their own food and clothing needs, then they could grow anything. But the East African colonies are a region that Ernst intends to develop vigorously in the future, after all, to prepare for industrialization.

And if agriculture wants to pave the way for industrialization, it must first undergo modernization reform to give full play to its economies of scale.

To put it bluntly, East African agriculture must go to the market to fight and earn a lot of real money to accumulate East Africa’s original capital.

Currently, the best template Ernst has is Argentina. Argentina is a typical country that started with agriculture. Regardless of the various problems in its subsequent industrialization.

Argentina has achieved great success simply by developing agriculture. East Africa and Argentina also have similarities: both are sparsely populated with vast lands, and both are covered with grasslands.

The only difference is that one is located in the temperate and subtropical zones, and the other is located in the tropics. The fertility of the soil in the East African colonies is only slightly weaker than that of Argentina’s black soil.

The rainfall in the two regions is comparable. Rainfall in northern Argentina can reach about 1500mm, while in the south it is only about 600mm. In East Africa, it decreases from east to west, and reaches a peak again in the Great Lakes region, with the regional average between 600mm and 1500mm.

This level is not bad in the world. Direct data: The annual rainfall in the North China Plain is about 600mm, and it is concentrated in July and August.

East Africa, however, has two rainy seasons: the short rainy season from November to December and the long rainy season from April to May.

The main reason why the East African colonies are striving to develop agriculture is that the cost of developing agriculture is relatively low. As long as the land is reasonably planned and some production tools are improved, that’s about it. The requirements for technology and personnel are not as high as in industry.

And if you want to develop agriculture, taking the path of a “small-scale peasant economy” is definitely a dead end in this dog-eat-dog world. It is more than enough to protect itself, but unable to expand, and will eventually be defeated by the low-cost advantages of large-scale agricultural production.

The significant characteristic of capitalist agriculture is the centralization of land management. The most prominent examples in modern times are the “Prussian model” and the “American model.”

The essence of both is to concentrate land in the hands of a few people, manage it uniformly, and use economies of scale to impact the market, occupy the market, and obtain huge profits.

The land ownership of the East African colonies is directly in Ernst’s hands, so there is no need for top-down reforms like in Prussia.

But Ernst himself does not abuse black people, so it is different from the plantations in the United States.

In that case, Ernst might as well directly adopt the model of large farms.

All the land in East Africa is Ernst’s private property. Immigrants do not have property rights; their nature is that of agricultural workers on the farm.

The way to obtain remuneration is naturally to each according to their work.

Currently, the East African colonies are directly divided into several large agricultural regions according to climate and rainfall, and the same crops are planted uniformly within the regions.

The western Great Lakes region, the Sori Lake region, the northern Lake Malawi region, the eastern Lake Malawi region, the central plateau region, and southern Kenya are mainly planted with wheat.

This is determined according to the dietary habits of the immigrants and market demand. Whether it is immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire or immigrants from North China in the Far East, they all have a habit of eating pasta, and the main market for grain is naturally Europe, which is also mainly wheat.

The three coastal areas in the east, as well as the coastal plains in eastern Kenya, are mainly planted with rice.

The Great Plains area east of the Great Lakes region, the northern plateau region, and the area north of Kenya will develop millet and animal husbandry.

Among them, wheat and animal husbandry are the main sources of income for the East African colonies besides cash crops.

Both of these have deep markets in Europe. Even if they can’t squeeze into Europe, the Arabs will still eat them, after all, most Arabs rely on commerce and nomadism for survival, and their own output is too small.

Ernst is not considering the Far East, mainly because the Far East is really not rich at present, and it is a purely agricultural production area, poor, and the market competition is still fierce.

In his previous life, the most popular crops in East Africa were probably corn and cassava, but Ernst still chose wheat when developing East Africa.

Corn and cassava are certainly high-yielding, but both have certain drawbacks. The cost of processing is also higher than that of wheat, and due to the dietary habits of immigrants and the European market, the focus is still on wheat cultivation.

As for cash crops, the largest cash crop in the East African colonies at present is naturally sisal.

In addition to sisal, Ernst is preparing to plan for the cultivation of oil crops, rubber plantations, tea plantations, cotton plantations, and coffee plantations as five important cash crops.

In addition to these main cash crops, there are also advantageous crops such as cloves and pyrethrum.

In his previous life, East Africa was an important cotton-producing area in Africa, and all East African countries have cotton cultivation, so cotton cultivation is not a problem, and the market is relatively easy to find. Backed by Germany, it can still be digested in Germany’s own territory.

There are many choices for oil crops: peanuts, sesame, soybeans… and other traditional oil crops can grow. East Africa also has castor beans, small sunflower seeds…

Rubber plantations are mainly planned in coastal areas and around the Great Lakes region, where water is more abundant.

Tea is mainly planted in some mountainous and high-altitude areas. Just plant a lot of black tea directly like in his previous life. Anyway, Europeans can’t taste the difference.

These are all crops that need to be produced centrally, and the rest will not be discussed in detail. The land and climate conditions in East Africa are simply too superior.

In his previous life, East Africa also had a flower industry and various tropical fruits and vegetables. Ernst is of course also envious of these, but the current technical level cannot reach them, and large-scale short-term transportation cannot be achieved.

As for animal husbandry, Ernst has no way to carry it out on a large scale in East Africa directly. The entire East African region is suitable for the development of animal husbandry, but the problem is that the preservation technology is really poor.

Unless Ernst initially processes the meat in East Africa and makes it into various pickled foods, but all of this takes time.

Chapter 81: Coal Mine

Tanzania does have some coal resources, but not much, mainly distributed in the southern highlands.

Reserves are estimated at about one billion tons, mainly high-quality, low-sulfur coal. This reserve is not outstanding in the entire Africa, let alone compared with other coal-producing regions in the world.

Originally, Ernst did not plan to develop Tanzania’s meager coal mines in advance, but for the subsequent development of East African agriculture, Ernst changed his mind and planned to develop Tanzania’s coal resources ahead of schedule.

To develop agriculture, agricultural product processing is indispensable, and agricultural product processing in East Africa certainly cannot be done by manpower alone.

If natives are used, it would go against Ernst’s bottom line. If they are allowed to re-establish themselves, it will be easy to invite a god but difficult to send him away later.

Moreover, agricultural product processing is already a basic industry. Ernst doesn’t even want to teach the natives agriculture, let alone industry.

After all, the root cause of the explosive population growth in Africa in his previous life was that European colonists taught Africans how to grow crops.

For example, in Tanzania, in the primitive society where they lived by hunting, the population always remained at a low level, but after German and British colonization, due to the development of plantations.

The number of natives who learned to farm doubled from several million to sixty million in two hundred years.

Before that, Zanzibar was actually engaged in colonization in eastern East Africa, but the slave trade in Zanzibar was completely negative for the population growth of East African natives.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar did not need natives to farm for them, but coveted their bodies. Therefore, provoking tribal wars to capture slaves was the way for the Sultanate of Zanzibar to make money.

Under this environment, the black people in East Africa naturally became fewer and fewer. In fact, throughout East Africa, including the Somalia and Ethiopia regions, within the Arab sphere of influence, the native population showed a decreasing trend.

Therefore, Ernst wants to prevent the situation of “teaching a man to fish” from happening. Heavy physical labor such as road construction, ditch digging, and mining, which consume a lot of energy and do not require much technical expertise, can still be handed over to these natives.

Engaging in agricultural product processing in the colony is for higher profits and also to facilitate food transportation.

Immigrants are currently scarce resources in East Africa. The total immigrant population in East Africa is only just over two hundred thousand.

Therefore, it is still necessary to import some machines from Europe for production, and the power for the machines naturally requires coal. Importing coal from Europe and other places is certainly not realistic.

Therefore, the development of Tanzania’s local coal resources is essential.

Mbeya, the capital of the Upper Lake Malawi region.

This is an important mining area in Tanzania in later generations, with gold, coal, and iron distributed there.

The most attractive thing for colonizers in this world is gold mines. Many colonies were established because of gold resources.

Mbeya was completely set as the capital of the Upper Lake Malawi region by Ernst himself, in accordance with the important cities of Tanzania in his previous life. Before this, no important resources had been discovered.

Now, as Ernst sent people to conduct on-the-spot investigations and analyze the local mineral resources, its mineral resources have also surfaced.

If other colonizers had discovered these resources, they would have been scrambling for them, but the East African colonial government had already completely controlled the East African region.

Moreover, the East African colony is completely under semi-military management, without even currency or any free economy, so it can well control these resources.

Mbeya is located inland, and the news is easy to control, making it difficult for other colonizers to discover. Even if they discover it, it is not easy to cross the East African colony to the inland to plunder.

Unlike California in the United States, where everyone can get a share of the pie, all the wealth of the East African colony is controlled by the Hechingen Consortium.

Therefore, Mbeya’s resources were quietly developed by the Hechingen Consortium. Among them, coal and iron resources will be directly used for local construction, and gold mines will be added to the Hechingen Bank.

In this era, mining is a physical labor, so the natives captured by the East African colony have a place to work again.

They were driven into the mines by the East African colonial government, relying on simple tools and crude safety facilities to fight day and night in the mines.

The East African colony currently has a large number of idle native laborers. Before their sales channels are clear, most of them are struggling on the sites of road construction and water conservancy projects.

In order to connect various cities and towns in the colony, the colony plans to use hundreds of thousands of natives in its hands to build approximately ten thousand kilometers of roads this year.

These roads are certainly not hardened cement and asphalt roads, but simple gravel roads. Even so, this amount of work is considered relatively large in this era.

East Africa is really poor and blank. Except for some roads built by the Sultanate of Zanzibar along the coast, the vast inland area had no decent roads, or even no roads at all, before the establishment of the East African colony.

Of course, as a tropical grassland area, roads may not be of any use to the natives.

The East African colony certainly needs to rely on roads to manage the colony. Just the transportation of grain requires certain requirements for roads. Currently, East Africa is vigorously developing animal-powered transportation tools such as carriages and ox carts.

Therefore, simple roads are necessary, otherwise, according to the climate of East Africa, especially during the rainy season, the wheels will definitely get stuck in the mud and be unable to move.

The transportation of mineral resources in the East African colony must also rely on these gravel roads.

The East African colony is currently unable to develop railways. To transport coal and iron ore resources to various parts of the colony, it must rely on animal power to pull carts.

The railway development is not due to insufficient funds. Simply developing the resources along the railway can recover the cost. The main problem is the lack of manpower.

The colony has just driven most of the natives out of the East African colony and only has hundreds of thousands of native prisoners in its hands.

It is not that the East African colony does not want to capture more labor, mainly because the current grain production in the East African colony cannot supply so many people.

Even for natives, their food standards can only maintain the most basic survival, but the amount consumed by hundreds of thousands is not a small number.

The grain in the East African colony, in addition to the portion needed by immigrants, is also used to provide immigrants with initial rations and seeds. The rest was originally used for export.

But now, to feed these natives to build roads in the colony, exports have decreased and are basically digested by the colony itself.

A person’s energy is limited. Currently, with the colony’s road construction, it is impossible to have the energy to engage in other projects, even the water conservancy projects that are concurrent with road construction are actually mainly completed by the immigrants themselves.

When the colony’s primary road system is completed, Ernst will consider other large-scale projects. As for the natives, they are inexhaustible. The Northwest Eight Countries are there, and their efforts will be indispensable for future development in East Africa.

Chapter 82: Flour Mill

June.

Bagamoyo Port, on the Little Rhine River.

As the fourth largest port in East Africa after Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and Tanga, Bagamoyo is a key area for the development of the East African colonies.

A factory building covering an area of over a thousand square meters rises from the ground in Bagamoyo Port. It is entirely constructed of brick and concrete, with red walls that are out of place among the surrounding white Arab architecture.

Its style completely imitates the current European architectural style, forming a sharp contrast with the surrounding low Arab houses. Even the local Arab church in Bagamoyo looks a little small in front of it.

A tall chimney protrudes from the roof in the middle of the factory building, and billowing black smoke ignites the azure sky of East Africa. The breath of industry sweeps over East Africa.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar also has some small-scale handicraft industries in East Africa, all of which are traditional small workshops, such as blacksmith shops, tailor shops… these traditional handicraft industries.

The Bagamoyo Flour Mill is the second recorded modern industry in the entire East African region to use large-scale machine production.

The first was the Tanga Sisal Processing Plant, which has been operating for a long time and is currently thriving in the market.

But sisal is East Africa’s advantageous industry, and only Brazil and parts of Southeast Asia can compete with it.

And flour mills are a relatively common industrial industry today, especially in Europe and the United States, where there are countless such factories, including those with small scales and possibly only one or two machines.

The Bagamoyo Flour Mill uses steam power, which means burning boilers. The boiler power source is the coal developed from the East African interior, which drives steam turbines to provide a continuous and stable power supply to the equipment in the factory building.

All the machinery and equipment in the factory are the latest models imported from the German region, shipped in the form of spare parts from German ports on the Baltic Sea coast, and finally unloaded at Bagamoyo Port.

Under the guidance of professional technicians, dozens of machines were installed. These machines are all large and made entirely of metal parts.

The entire workshop is simple and generous, facilitating hygiene cleaning and disinfection work.

The lighting system all uses Berlin Electric Company’s own technology, which can maintain continuous operation even at night. The generator is a Siemens product imported from Germany.

Closely connected to the production workshop is a huge modern warehouse. The climate in the coastal areas of East Africa is relatively humid, which is not conducive to food preservation, so the storage requirements for food are higher.

Therefore, the construction of the warehouse fully adopts the best technology and planning of the current era.

To prevent moisture and rats, the ground is completely poured with concrete. The drainage system is designed by professionals, fully considering the local climate environment. At the same time, the warehouse is equipped with various measuring instruments, and workers can check the indoor temperature and humidity at any time to adjust the environment in the warehouse.

The Bagamoyo Flour Mill is an extension of the agricultural industry. With the help of local port conditions, the processed East African colonial wheat can be directly exported in the form of flour.

Its staff, in addition to the professional technicians hired by the Hechingen Company, mainly consist of immigrants from Austria-Hungary with a little education to maintain the operation of the machines, supplemented by a small number of Chinese.

On the other hand, more Chinese are needed in the material transportation, packaging, and finished product transportation stages.

These immigrants from Austria-Hungary and China still need to undergo simple training. In addition to hygiene and safety education, they also need to be familiar with the operating principles of the machines.

The flour produced by the Bagamoyo Flour Mill will be marked with the Hechingen Company’s trademark and sold in Europe.

It will be brought back to Trieste by the returning Hechingen ocean-going trade fleet and sold directly through the commercial outlets established by the company within Austria-Hungary.

At the same time, this can also be used as an opportunity to recruit immigrants, after all, this batch of flour can prove that East Africa has its own products and is not a barren land.

Bagamoyo was once one of the largest slave trade markets in East Africa. With the defeat of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, Bagamoyo was also taken into the hands of the East African colonial government.

The East African colonial government only opened one slave trading market for Arabs in the port of Dar es Salaam, and the slave trade markets in Mombasa, Bagamoyo and other places were closed.

As early as the eighteenth century, Bagamoyo was the most important port in East Africa. During its peak period, more than 50,000 indigenous slaves were shipped out of here every year.

With the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s development of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo gradually declined. Now the East African colonial government has taken up Bagamoyo again for development.

After all, there are still too few good ports along the entire East African coast. It may seem sufficient now, but with the development of East Africa and the increase in population, port resources will inevitably become precious in the future.

Currently, the factories that can be established in East Africa can only be located in the coastal areas, taking advantage of the port’s sea transportation advantages, so that machines from Europe can be landed.

As for the interior, don’t even think about it for now. The cost of moving these large and clumsy machines to the interior is too high.

Moreover, the machines of this era are relatively delicate. If they are exposed to rain, get stuck in the mud, or are bumped, it will be difficult to repair them according to East African conditions.

Wheat is currently the largest food crop in the East African colonies, and its annual output is quite considerable. Moreover, with the arrival of immigrants and the development of land, its future potential will become greater and greater.

As for rice, in fact, compared to wheat, the planting of rice is distributed in the coastal plains of East Africa, which has a distance advantage.

However, because Europe mainly focuses on wheat crops, the field of agricultural machinery development after industrialization naturally leans towards wheat and other European native crops.

Even if Ernst wanted to import rice planting and processing machinery from Europe, it would be impossible. Just like in his previous life, after Japan’s industrial development, it vigorously promoted the progress of East Asian rice planting and processing technology, and was the first to realize mechanized rice production in the Far East.

Therefore, developing wheat is an important step for Ernst to enter the grain processing market. It is simple and easy to operate, and East Africa has a large land area, a wide arable land area, and rainfall suitable for wheat cultivation.

Currently, the wheat planting area in the East African colonies has exceeded the rice planting area, which is based on the fact that the population in the eastern rice planting area is higher than the population in the western wheat planting area.

Wheat embodies its significant advantages of being easy to manage and more drought-resistant, and is very suitable for tropical savanna climates. In particular, East Africa has significant plateau characteristics, and the temperature is lower than at the same latitude, so the yield can reach above the average level. Coupled with the planting area advantage caused by the vast land and sparse population, the yield is quite considerable.

The Bagamoyo Flour Mill is a food processing enterprise established under this potential advantage, further extending the agricultural industry chain, improving the level of the East African colonial agricultural industry, and obtaining higher profits.

Chapter 83: Saving Maximilian I

June 19th, 1867.

Compared to Juarez, Maximilian I could be said to have no political acumen or ability whatsoever.

As a traditional monarch supported by the Mexican conservative forces and Napoleon III, he largely implemented the Republican platform in his policies. At the same time, he naively believed that he could shake hands and make peace with his opponents, such as Juarez and other Republicans.

And Juarez did not disappoint Maximilian I, seizing upon Maximilian I’s pitiful naiveté to quickly stage a comeback, and now he has even imprisoned Maximilian I.

If Ernst were to become the Emperor of Mexico, he would definitely vigorously support the local conservatives, stabilize the French, and actively suppress the so-called revolutionaries.

As for reactionary forces, backward systems, and corrupt rule, that’s just a joke. For example, so many small African countries in his previous life had leaders and governments rife with corruption, causing widespread resentment and suffering, but they still ultimately had a good ending.

Even if they were forced to flee overseas, their descendants could even return to their homeland and run for office again, perfectly fitting American-style democracy.

As long as you can promise benefits to the local powerful forces, you have a chance to be elected. As for the dark history of your father’s generation, do the people of Africa really not know about it? Have they forgotten what their family’s rule was like in the area in just one or two generations?

It can only be said that the votes in the hands of the people can be cashed in. Even if the people don’t fall for it and actually elect a president who dares to work for the people, the powerful class can still arrange a “convertible” limousine service for the so-called democratically elected president.

Political struggle is a matter of life and death, and you can’t detach yourself from your base. Maximilian I, as a trust fund baby, thoroughly implemented an idealistic administrative model.

In this respect, Maximilian I can be said to be a breath of fresh air in world history. He may not be a good emperor, but he is definitely not a bad person.

Moreover, he didn’t run away after his defeat, which Ernst is ashamed to admit. Maximilian I is truly a man of integrity.

Admiration is admiration, but Ernst would never want to be someone like Maximilian I.

Moreover, as Ernst’s father-in-law, Ernst can’t just stand by and watch Maximilian I die. If he has the ability, he should lend a hand; whether or not it succeeds is up to fate.

…

Three o’clock in the morning.

Maximilian I, dressed neatly, walked out of his prison cell, escorted by Mexican soldiers to the execution ground.

The execution ground was chosen in the suburbs, a place that could be considered scenic.

Maximilian I slowly turned his head, took out a handful of gold coins from his pocket, and distributed them to the execution soldiers.

…

Roy Lee, a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy.

“Is Vincent Cassel ready?”

“Don’t worry, Lee. This time, we’re using the latest explosive invented by Mr. Nobel. It will definitely blow down the entire wall.”

“Very good. Get our people ready. Once the explosion occurs, open fire directly. Then, stuff the Mexican emperor into a sack and take him away.”

…

Maximilian I, standing on the execution ground, was preparing to give his last “speech” before his death.

He opened his mouth and said, “I…”

“Boom…”

Before he could even utter a single word, a series of loud noises came from around the execution ground. A breach tens of meters wide was blown open in the execution ground’s wall.

A riot suddenly broke out in the crowd. Hechingen Military Academy students dressed as Indians shouted in an Indian language, “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Mexican Empire!”

They took out pistols from their pockets and began firing wildly at the bewildered Mexican soldiers.

Roy Lee fired several shots at the Mexican officials at the execution ground to prevent them from organizing a counterattack.

A sound of horses’ hooves suddenly came from outside the wall. A group of masked men on horseback burst into the execution ground and galloped up to Maximilian I.

Maximilian I stared blankly at the chaotic execution ground, still unable to react. He felt a darkness before his eyes as he was stuffed into a sack.

The Hechingen Military Academy students, with a coordinated effort, tossed the sack containing the hundred-plus-pound Maximilian I onto the back of a horse.

With a whistle, all the Hechingen Military Academy students in the execution ground mounted their horses, continuing to attack the crowd with a seemingly endless supply of bullets.

The soldiers at the Mexican execution ground watched helplessly as their emperor was kidnapped by this group of people, while the unlucky officials at the execution ground breathed their last.

…

Ten o’clock in the morning, Juarez received the news that Maximilian I had been kidnapped.

“Bang…”

Juarez slammed his hand on the table in anger. The officials of the Mexican Republican Party didn’t dare to breathe loudly.

“Has the target been identified? Are they French or Austrian?” Juarez asked.

“Mr. President, according to the survivors at the scene, there were about forty or fifty of them, and they were equipped with horses. They also planted explosives at the execution ground beforehand. After investigation, it is very likely that our soldiers were bribed for information, which is how they were able to find the location of the execution ground.”

“Due to the lack of prior warning, they caught us off guard. No effective counterattack was organized at the scene. The enemy did not leave behind any casualties or bodies.”

Juarez said, “Get to the point. We need to figure out who the enemy is first, not rehash the events.”

“Mr. President, according to the descriptions of the suspects provided by eyewitnesses at the scene, they are indeed Indians, and they spoke an Indian dialect. But we know that this is impossible! So it is very likely that they are Mexican desperadoes hired by the French.”

Juarez was an Indian himself, so government officials certainly couldn’t say that the incident was planned by Indians. Moreover, the students of the Hechingen Military Academy originally had Asian faces and looked like Indians, and the Mexicans couldn’t imagine that someone would use people from the Far East to participate in Mexican affairs.

After a period of analysis, the Mexican authorities did not obtain any useful information.

At this time, Maximilian I was stuffed into a carriage, and the group of Hechingen Military Academy students frantically galloped towards the west coast of Mexico.

At this point, even the dullest Maximilian I knew that someone had saved him, but his two generals, Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía, were still at the execution ground.

Maximilian I also tried to communicate with the Hechingen Military Academy students, but Ernst, who had given prior orders, instructed all students not to speak to Maximilian I.

The mission of the Hechingen Military Academy students in Mexico was only to bring Maximilian I back to Europe.

To prevent Maximilian I from messing things up, Ernst specifically emphasized that the students should treat Maximilian I as if he were a piece of wood.

…

The next day, noon.

After a day and night of frantic travel, several horses had been exhausted to death. The group finally reached the prearranged coast.

A Hechingen ocean-going vessel, which had recently been on a mission in Alaska, was already waiting there. They sent out a small boat to pick up the Hechingen Military Academy students and Maximilian I onto the ship.

With the roar of steam, the ship left Mexico and headed towards Alaska, everyone was safe.

Chapter 84: News

The ship passed through the Far East and finally docked at Mombasa, a port in East Africa.

Using the telegraph from East Africa to Europe, Ernst learned that Maximilian I had been successfully rescued.

What was both amusing and frustrating was that after Maximilian I figured out in East Africa that Ernst had sent people to pull him out, he refused to return to Europe under any circumstances, stubbornly remaining in the East African colony.

He even sent a telegram, forbidding his son-in-law, whom he had never met, from telling the Habsburgs his whereabouts.

Ernst dared not act on his own initiative. After receiving news that Maximilian I was safe, he still notified Archduchess Sophie.

As early as when Mexico announced its intention to execute Maximilian I, news had already reached various European countries. Many royal leaders requested that Juarez not execute Maximilian I.

Austria-Hungary was naturally among them, but Maximilian I was too stubborn. When Napoleon III’s people ran away, they had invited him along, but he was thinking of coexisting with Mexico, and was eventually captured by the Juarez government.

Although Empress Carlota sought help in Europe, the various countries were unable to send troops to Mexico, or did not want to interfere in the Mexican situation. Austria-Hungary had just experienced the defeat of the Austro-Prussian War and was confronting Italy in the Mediterranean. Its navy naturally did not have the spare capacity to go to the Atlantic Ocean to interfere in Mexico’s internal affairs.

Therefore, the various countries could only send telegrams, advising Juarez to change his mind, but Juarez stubbornly insisted on executing Maximilian I by firing squad.

Just as Juarez was confident of victory, Ernst’s people caught him off guard. Did he really think that everything had to be done according to the rules of nations?

Ernst, disregarding all moral codes, directly adopted the most simple and unadorned method from ancient times to the present, pulling Maximilian I out of the Mexican quagmire.

At that time, Mexico had just experienced a civil war, and the country was full of warlords. The chaotic situation was imaginable. Not to mention the present, Mexico would be like this even after several hundred years.

Such a Mexico naturally had low administrative efficiency, allowing Ernst’s people to seize the opportunity and escape from the land of trouble in one go.

…

“God bless…” Archduchess Sophie’s heart, which had been hanging in the air, was half relieved after hearing that her son was safe and sound.

The Mexican government would naturally not release the news that they had lost someone, especially when they did not know who had snatched the emperor away right under their noses.

Therefore, before Maximilian I arrived in East Africa, no country other than Ernst’s people knew that someone had kidnapped Maximilian I in front of the Mexican government.

“Ernst, thank you so much this time. How could I not have thought of using mercenaries to rescue Ferdinand (Maximilian I)?” Franz said with self-reproach.

Franz could only think of mercenaries. In reality, Ernst would never use mercenaries for such an important task.

Mercenaries only work for money, and they might waver when things are impossible. Ernst was certain that if mercenaries were used to carry out the rescue plan this time, there would definitely be someone like Qin Wuyang in Jing Ke’s assassination of the King of Qin, who was scared out of his wits.

After all, Mexico was such a large country, and Juarez now controlled the overall situation. To oppose him would be no different from opposing the entire Mexico.

Therefore, the people in this operation had to be loyal and unwavering, even if the operation was difficult. Ernst did not raise assassins; he could only use the students of the Blackingen Military Academy.

For these students of the Blackingen Military Academy, Ernst was like their parents. Coupled with the academy’s education in loyalty to the monarch and patriotism, they had a fanatical worship for Ernst and the Blackingen royal family.

Now that loyalty was assured, everything else was easy. As early as after the marriage, Ernst had arranged for a group of outstanding students to join the special operations team.

They underwent several months of training, while constantly collecting intelligence on Mexico, and constantly changing the action plan in a targeted manner.

This led to the timely rescue of Maximilian I by the students of the Blackingen Military Academy just before he was about to be executed.

“Your Majesty, in fact, no one would have thought that Juarez and Emperor Maximilian I would be so rigid. One disregarded international opinion and insisted on executing a monarch, and the other would rather die for his country and coexist with Mexico, a country beyond cure.” This was the truth.

If Ernst were in Juarez’s shoes, he would never have antagonized the royal families of Europe. The United States next door was the real threat. Yet, he disregarded the intervention of European countries and insisted on antagonizing the monarchs. When the Americans came in the future, Mexico would be truly powerless to resist.

Don’t be fooled by the American president’s hypocritical hope that Juarez would spare Maximilian I. It is estimated that the Americans were overjoyed when they heard that Juarez was going to execute Maximilian I.

The Americans had always coveted and been wary of Mexico. Even after the Civil War ended, the first thing the American government did was send people to the US-Mexico border to scout out military intelligence.

When they heard that Juarez was still fighting as a guerrilla, the American government was overjoyed and immediately transported weapons and ammunition to Mexico to support his overthrow of the monarchy.

And from Maximilian I’s point of view, Mexico was a quagmire that could not be helped.

For a start like Mexico’s, there must be a ruthless person who dares to carry out drastic reforms in Mexico. Mexico was already relatively weak against the United States.

If it could not be united into a fist, it could only be gradually eroded by the Americans.

But Maximilian I was a liberal. If that was the case, why did he run to Mexico to be emperor? It was really incomprehensible.

This could not help but remind Ernst of Franz’s son, Crown Prince Rudolf. This guy was also a liberal, and even hated the throne of Austria-Hungary. Later, he publicly declared that he hoped to be the president of Austria and Hungary.

???

Truly, birds of a feather flock together. It was a pity that Rudolf eventually committed suicide with his mistress in extreme depression, and did not harm his country like his uncle.

There must be something seriously wrong with the education of the Austro-Hungarian royal family! I wonder how Princess Karina is! You know, the education of the former two was personally managed by Archduchess Sophie, and Princess Karina was personally raised by Archduchess Sophie from a young age.

Ernst looked at the little Karina in Archduchess Sophie’s arms. The eleven-year-old little fellow only knew that her father had been saved by the person in front of her, and her grandmother was in a much better mood. A pair of watery eyes curiously looked around.

She looked very smart, at least there was light in her eyes, not the kind of lifeless look. Most people with depression are psychologically depressed and have a look of deep hatred.

Obviously, Karina had no worries. Perhaps because they were both women, Archduchess Sophie’s education did not involve politics or emphasize responsibility, so Karina’s growth environment was still very relaxed.

Chapter 85: East Africa in the Eyes of Maximilian I

It’s easy to invite a god, but hard to send him away. The extremely proud Maximilian I didn’t want to return to Europe. He considered himself exceptionally talented, and if he were to return in such a disheveled state, he would surely be ridiculed by everyone.

Late July.

Mombasa Port was quite bustling. Due to its location, Asian immigrants landed here, while European immigrants landed at Dar es Salaam.

Maximilian I arrived in Mombasa with a fleet of Chinese immigrants. He only stayed in Alaska for one day; that place was uninhabitable.

The Far East did not yet have an Austro-Hungarian diplomatic office (per the Sino-Austro-Hungarian Treaty of Beijing in 1869), so the ships of the Hechingen royal territory could only bring Maximilian I to East Africa.

East Africa could directly contact Austria-Hungary. In Mombasa, Maximilian I immediately found his people.

After all, there were quite a few Austro-Hungarian immigrants here (colonial immigrants were assigned and scattered to settle down), allowing Maximilian I to gather a lot of information.

After learning that this was his future son-in-law’s territory, Maximilian I had no intention of leaving. He used poor health as an excuse and refused to take the ship back to Europe with the students from the Hechingen Military Academy.

The East African colonial government and the Hechingen Military Academy special operations team couldn’t force Maximilian I to return. After all, this was the Hechingen royal territory, and Maximilian I was the prince’s father-in-law, making Maximilian I the person with the highest status in the current East African colony.

Of course, just Maximilian I’s identity as the Emperor of Mexico was enough to ensure no one dared to neglect him, let alone as a member of the Austro-Hungarian imperial family.

Although the environment in East Africa was not as good as in Europe, and its development was not as mature as in Mexico, Maximilian I felt that it was not bad here.

Like Mexico, East Africa was also a tropical region, and both were mainly highland terrain, so the coastal environment was somewhat similar.

Maximilian I walked on the docks of Mombasa, watching the busy workers carrying goods.

He was followed by students from the Hechingen Military Academy, responsible for his safety.

From Mexico to East Africa, through their interactions, Maximilian I learned that these people who looked similar to Native Americans were not Native Americans. They even spoke fluent German, very similar to the language of northern Austria.

Maximilian I was, of course, very angry. In Mexico, Maximilian I had always thought that these people were local Mexican Native American groups who supported him, but because they couldn’t understand what he was saying, they didn’t communicate with him.

As a result, when replenishing supplies in Alaska, the local managers communicated with these students in German, and Maximilian I knew that these people were not unable to communicate, they simply didn’t want to communicate with him.

After arriving in East Africa, Ernst, having received a telegram, couldn’t immediately send Maximilian I back to Europe. After all, Empress Sophie was quite emotional, and if she saw this unfilial son, it would be another palace drama.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Before Maximilian I returned to Europe, he was still the pitiful little son in Empress Sophie’s eyes. It was better to wait for a while, until both sides had let go of their obsessions, before letting them meet.

With nothing to do, Maximilian I spent his days wandering around Mombasa. Before becoming emperor, Maximilian I was actually quite interested in entomology.

In East Africa, Maximilian I wanted to completely return to the mountains and forests, to explore and find various unique East African insects.

The East African colonial government certainly couldn’t agree to that. Maximilian I’s range of activities was also restricted to the area around Mombasa.

“Li, why is it that you, as fellow Asians, are more understanding than the Native Americans?” Maximilian I said with emotion.

“Your Majesty, please allow me to correct a mistake. I am first and foremost a German, not an Asian. The education I received taught me that German is a cultural symbol. Anyone who accepts German culture from the heart is a German. If ethnicity is divided by skin color and bloodline, then the German nation, located in the center of Europe, would also be torn apart.” Roy Li replied.

“You’re right! Just like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if everyone identified with German culture, it wouldn’t have changed from the Austrian Empire to what it is today,” Maximilian I said in agreement.

The role of cultural identity is paramount. The German region, located in the European interior, is a region where various ethnic groups converge.

For example, Prussia was not originally a traditional German region country. It was forcibly pulled into the German region by Brandenburg, and eventually dominated German politics.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was also like this. During the Austrian Empire period, it was not a purely German country. As long as Austria won the struggle with Prussia for dominance in the German region, then Germans would immediately become the majority population in the country. Nationalism was simply a minor problem that Austria was worried about.

Unfortunately, Austria lost the Austro-Prussian War. A Greater German Empire could not be established, and the Hungarian and other ethnic groups in the country could not be suppressed.

“Yes, if Austria had realized the importance of cultural identity back then, it wouldn’t have suffered such a crushing defeat.”

Maximilian I looked at the Austro-Hungarian and Chinese immigrants in Mombasa, cooperating and living together in harmony.

After leaving Mexico, Maximilian I seemed to have found the days of directing the country and giving orders again.

Governing in Mexico was a daily struggle of infighting, constantly arguing with conservatives and republicans. The rebels were winning victories every day, and his own side was the object of public resentment. Maximilian I couldn’t hear a single piece of good news.

“Ernst is doing a great job. He has given everyone the motivation to live. Although East Africa is not very wealthy, it is much fairer than Mexico,” Maximilian I said.

“The principal is very strict with the immigrants. Although the immigrants generally have a low level of education, without the influence of messy ideas, these immigrants are very simple at heart. As long as they can have decent living conditions, they are not very interested in politics,” Roy Li said.

“Yes! Mexico is very bad in this regard. Various ideologies have taken root in Mexico, American, French, Republican, Monarchist… No one sits honestly at the negotiating table, everyone wants to solve problems with force!” Maximilian I concluded.

Roy Li naturally couldn’t say to Maximilian I, “You’re like that too, how dare you mention others!”

“East African society as a whole is relatively backward, unlike Mexico, which came into contact with civilized society early. Our principal often tells us that people shouldn’t try to run before they’ve learned to walk. So, before changing the socio-economic foundation of East Africa, we shouldn’t blindly adopt seemingly advanced systems, but should adapt to local conditions,” Roy Li changed the subject.

“Ernst’s fallacies are quite numerous! But they do have some truth. In Mexico, I also actively promoted social reforms, but the Mexican people still opposed my rule, even though I gave them freedom and equal rights. Even when I first arrived in Mexico, I thought about pardoning Juarez and others, but in the end, everyone opposed me. But I ask myself, the policies I implemented were all advocated by European philosophers. The Mexican people still cannot accept these advanced theories,” Maximilian I said narcissistically.

As an idealist, Maximilian I’s governance, on the surface, was indeed beneficial to Mexico, and he had no selfish intentions after becoming emperor.

However, Maximilian I’s subordinates and Napoleon III supported him in order to exploit Mexico with peace of mind. Maximilian I’s flirting with the Republicans not only didn’t earn him praise, but also caused him a lot of trouble.

Seeing that East Africa, as a colony under Ernst’s rule, was not very prosperous, but full of order and vitality, and comparing it with Mexico, as an independent country, with its chaotic and turbulent situation, Maximilian I couldn’t help but feel that God was treating them differently.

Chapter 86: Coffee

Foothills of Mount Kenya.

The coffee plantation Ernst selected is under construction.

Coffee, as the most common beverage in Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, has a very considerable market.

In his previous life, Kenya was a place known for good quality coffee, but coffee cultivation in Kenya didn’t begin until the late 19th century, when British colonists introduced superior coffee varieties from abroad.

Now, Ernst is opening a coffee plantation here ahead of time.

It’s quite funny to think that the origin of coffee, Ethiopia, is just north of Kenya, but coffee didn’t take root in Kenya until modern times.

Previously, a small number of coffee trees were introduced by Arabs from Yemen, but there was no large-scale cultivation.

Ernst is directly drawing on Kenya’s experience from his previous life and importing coffee varieties from Brazil.

The eastern highlands, mainly the foothills of Mount Kenya, are between 1,400 and 2,000 meters above sea level.

The first coffee plantation currently planned has a scale of more than twenty-eight thousand acres.

If he were competing for business with countries like England and France, Ernst might not have the courage, but he is very ambitious to be the king of the hill in the German regions.

Countries like England and France, which have overseas colonies, mostly have their own coffee plantations. For example, France has plantations in places like Vietnam, and Haiti once bore the heavy responsibility of producing coffee for France.

The countries in the German region, on the other hand, do not have colonies overseas, and their homelands are not suitable for coffee production, which provides convenience for Ernst.

Kenyan coffee is affected by natural conditions, so its quality is very good. Good goods don’t have to worry about sales, and the land cost in East Africa is extremely low. It may not be comparable to the British and French colonies in terms of labor costs.

But Ernst is not afraid. He can accept giving up some profit. Growing coffee in Kenya is about making money on the one hand, and solving employment problems for immigrants on the other.

In his previous life, the Kenyan coffee industry supported millions of jobs. Ernst doesn’t ask for much. If hundreds of thousands of people rely on this crop for employment, the East African colony can still do it.

It takes at least three years for coffee to grow from planting to bearing fruit, so the effects cannot be seen in the short term, but the East African colony can already support the cultivation of these long-cycle crops.

At that time, with the help of the Hechingen Company’s mature commercial network in the German regions, it can quickly occupy a part of the German coffee market. That will coincide with the convenience of the opening of the Suez Canal, reducing transportation costs.

And products from East Africa to the Austro-Hungarian Empire only need to follow the west coast of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea to reach.

Unload the goods in Trieste, and then distribute the goods to various parts of the German region and the Austro-Hungarian Empire through the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s railway network and the railway connecting the German region.

If possible, Ernst can also use the geographical advantages of East Africa to open a Far East coffee trade route.

Nowadays, the Far East is influenced by Western countries, and more and more people are drinking coffee, which is a new market being developed.

Especially since the time of the Meiji Restoration in Japan is not far away, the Meiji government will definitely learn from the West vigorously.

According to the Japanese character, they will definitely play the “Leave Asia, Enter Europe” game. How can they integrate into the “civilized world” and become a European country without drinking coffee?

At that time, Japan’s demand for coffee will definitely explode in a short period of time. Ernst is preparing to produce instant coffee from his previous life and export it to Japan.

After all, Europeans have more discerning tastes and may not easily accept the taste of instant coffee, while many Japanese people will not be able to accept the bitterness of coffee when they try it for the first time.

Add more sugar and flavor to instant coffee at that time, and fool the Japanese. This is the latest “industrial” coffee from Europe, and the price can be increased even more.

After all, traditional ground coffee is still very natural, while instant coffee is almost like a heretic in the eyes of traditional coffee lovers.

There is no concept of food safety in this era. Adding more technology can also broaden the horizons of the Japanese, who yearn for Western industrial civilization.

The black smoke emitted from London factories is sweet, so it’s nothing to add more technological tricks to my coffee. Just treat it as a dessert.

At that time, coffee produced in Kenya can be divided into two parts. The high-quality part is supplied to the European region, and the inferior part is digested with the help of the Japanese market.

In this way, Kenyan coffee will definitely be able to make a name for itself in Europe, after all, the quality is already good, and it has been screened again on this basis, so what arrives in Europe is all good stuff.

And when the Japanese react, the Hechingen Company can confidently say that all the products are produced in Kenya, and European customers are full of praise. How could there be a problem with what we provide to you?

Our company specially takes care of your country’s taste and has also made appropriate improvements to the coffee. How can it be said to be fraud? As for why Europeans don’t drink instant coffee, that’s because you didn’t investigate clearly at the beginning.

Instant coffee is certainly not a scourge. Compared with traditional coffee, it is only somewhat different in taste, and a little more is added.

As for the risks of cancer, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and increased risk of obesity and diabetes being higher than traditional ground coffee, no one in this era can prove it.

In the Meiji Restoration era in Japan, those who can afford coffee are definitely not ordinary people, at least they must have a certain identity and status.

Those ordinary people can’t get in touch with it, so there is no risk, and as long as you don’t drink instant coffee like water, what are you afraid of?

Anyway, Ernst plans to make this money. He must do more advertising in Japan at that time and promote his own products. In an era without perfect supervision, it is not outrageous to say that coffee is a miraculous medicine for curing diseases. After all, in this era, the British still use opium as a panacea! So compared with Jewish merchants, Ernst instantly felt that he was still too “conscientious.”

In order to lay out the Japanese market in advance, Ernst is preparing to attack it in advance. After all, Japan, which has actively opened its doors, also has a market that is not small.

Japan, which is learning from the West, will definitely purchase a large number of Western products at that time, and send many people to investigate and study in the West.

Speaking of studying abroad, Ernst thinks that he might be able to open a diploma mill in Europe to swindle Japan’s funds.

At that time, he will copy a diploma mill in the United Kingdom and France, and specialize in using low tuition fees to cheat Japanese students, after all, the cost of studying abroad is not low in this era.

Ernst can even take the initiative to recruit students in Japan, pay for the boat tickets and tuition fees, and then it is hard to say where he will take them…

It’s not that Ernst is psychologically dark, after all, influenced by his previous life, Ernst still has some hostility and prejudice towards some countries.

This is not to say that it can be written off after rebirth, and it will naturally be affected by the values of the previous life.

What’s more, he can earn a sum from them, and he can trick them, and he can also earn an inexplicable amount of goodwill from Japan.

After all, they are “friendly neighbors” separated by a strip of water! Alaska and Japan are both mixed up in the North Pacific bathtub, so it is right to help neighbors more.

Chapter 87: The Turmoil in the Northwest

Recently, the Kingdom of Karagwe has been having a rough time.

With a large number of tribes and displaced people from the east pouring into the Kingdom of Karagwe, the kingdom’s public security has steadily deteriorated.

As a slave kingdom, Karagwe already had poor organizational capabilities and lacked strict laws and systems.

However, these East Bantu tribes, driven out by the East African colony, mostly lived by hunting and were incredibly physically fit.

Compared to the Kingdom of Karagwe, which had reached a certain stage of development in Africa, the Bantu’s great migration had the same impact on Karagwe as the barbarian invasions on ancient Rome.

These Bantu people, in tribal units, led by their chiefs, engaged in killing, burning, looting, and seizing territory within the Kingdom of Karagwe.

The eastern part of the Kingdom of Karagwe quickly descended into chaos.

The nobles of the Kingdom of Karagwe were naturally very annoyed, wondering what madness had driven these barbarians to come west so relentlessly.

The Kingdom of Burundi was also in trouble. Affected by the “rectification” movement in the East African colony, Burundi and Karagwe, as the two gateways to the Northwest Eight Kingdoms, were naturally the first to bear the brunt.

The invasion of a large number of Bantu tribes caused serious trouble for the two countries. To make matters worse, Rwanda and Buganda, seeing their neighbors in trouble, became restless and frequently provoked incidents on the border.

Adhering to the principle of “if you are unjust, don’t blame me for being disloyal,” the Kingdom of Karagwe and Burundi decided to go all the way.

Since they couldn’t control so many Bantu tribes, they simply gave up and directly used force to drive them westward and northward, so that the western and northern countries could also feel their pain.

Therefore, after discussions between the two kings and nobles, they opened up roads within their countries and allowed the Bantu tribes to move westward and northward.

As for those who wanted to stay, frankly, it was difficult under the current circumstances. After all, there was a continuous stream of Bantu tribes coming, and it was impossible to occupy the land in front without strength.

Karagwe and Burundi, after all, were countries, and they could rely on their size to withstand the pressure on their own land by taking advantage of the terrain. However, the westward-migrating Bantu tribes were not a united front, but a group of scattered sand.

Unless they united as one, they might have been able to directly destroy these two countries, but that was clearly impossible. Everyone was a chief, so why should they listen to you?

The methods of the Kingdom of Karagwe and the Kingdom of Burundi were still very effective. After using both soft and hard tactics, a large number of Bantu tribes continued to move north or west.

Rwanda, the Kingdom of Igara, and the Kingdom of Buganda, which had previously wanted to take advantage of the situation, were instantly dumbfounded.

The continuous influx of migrating armies directly overwhelmed the local order. Even the Kingdom of Nkore, which had not participated, suffered an innocent disaster, with its southeast falling into chaos.

Of the entire Northwest Eight Kingdoms, only the Kingdom of Toro and the Kingdom of Kitara, located deep in the rear, were temporarily unaffected. However, seeing the miserable situation of the six southeastern countries, they strengthened their military presence on the border overnight to prevent the impact of the East Bantu tribes.

The East Bantu tribes, who had been beaten black and blue by the colonizers in the East African colony using firearms, found the feeling of freely galloping on the vast East African savannahs in the Northwest Eight Kingdoms.

The Northwest Eight Kingdoms had already entered the era of primitive agriculture, learned to live in settled communities, and compared to the East Bantu tribes, they did not have to fight beasts on the savannah, nor did they have to live in the open and migrate at any time.

Therefore, the people of the Northwest Eight Kingdoms were far less physically fit than the East Bantu tribes.

The advantage of the Northwest Eight Kingdoms was that their social structure was more advanced, they could support more people, and they could organize more manpower and armies.

However, after the barbarian invasion, these advantages were instantly offset by the East Bantu tribes, and a large number of East Bantu people poured into the countries.

This caused their ruling system to fail, and the local areas and the central government were divided by the large and small tribes of the East Bantu people.

After losing the jurisdiction of the central government, the local areas naturally became stronger, and their hard-won centralized kingdoms instantly returned to the era of tribal strife.

The East Bantu people in the Northwest Eight Kingdoms were like fish in water. They used to play military games with animals on the East African savannah. The animals in East Africa did not play one-on-one with them. All the animals on the savannah were in large groups. Even lions traveled in packs, so they were really difficult to deal with.

Now, they only needed to plunder the resources of the Northwest Eight Kingdoms to live. The Northwest Eight Kingdoms had been engaged in agricultural labor for many years, and the stored grain directly entered the stomachs of the East Bantu people.

This proved the old saying, “If the neighbor stores grain, I’ll store guns; the neighbor is my granary.”

The local nobles of the Northwest Eight Kingdoms naturally could not watch their property being eaten and taken away by these barbarians, so they organized armies and fought fiercely with the East Bantu tribes.

The two sides fought fiercely, with blood flowing like rivers. The population of the northwestern Great Lakes region was slowly depleted in this war.

The East African colonial government, as the instigator, was very satisfied with the situation. As colonizers, they naturally had endless greed for fertile land.

Unfortunately, the area where the Northwest Eight Kingdoms were located was basically the area with the best soil and water conditions and the most suitable for agricultural development in the entire East Africa.

The Great Lake (Lake Victoria) has a vast area, which directly changed the local climate and created a region with abundant rainfall.

Its terrain is relatively high, located in the transition zone from mountainous areas to plateau basins. In temperate zones, this may not be a good place, but in tropical zones, it is the most suitable place for human habitation.

If we exclude the East African regions north of Sudan and Kenya (the Ethiopian Plateau and the Sahara Desert influence area), and only calculate the tropical savanna climate region of East Africa, the entire Northwest Eight Kingdoms has more than half of the population in this region.

(In the 21st century of the previous life, Uganda had more than 47 million people, Burundi had more than 12 million, and Rwanda had more than 13 million, totaling about 80 million. The entire East African Community has a population of about 130 million, equivalent to the Northwest Eight Kingdoms plus the East African colony.)

Moreover, as the largest lake in East Africa, the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) itself is worth the East African colonial government’s attention.

This is a large lake with an area of nearly 70,000 square kilometers. The preciousness of freshwater resources goes without saying. Human habitable areas are always inseparable from rivers and lake shores.

The rivers in East Africa are relatively poor in quality. The water volume and length cannot be compared with those of world-class rivers.

As for the White Nile, it is not a river unique to East Africa. Its downstream Sudan and Egypt are strictly speaking North African regions.

The unique terrain of East Africa has created considerable freshwater lake resources. Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi were both born with the East African Great Rift Valley and are among the largest lakes in the world.

The Great Lake (Lake Victoria) is also located in the plateau basin between the two fault zones of the East African Great Rift Valley.

There is also a series of smaller lakes in the Northwest Eight Kingdoms. Saying they are small depends on who they are compared with. After all, with the first three examples, these slightly smaller lakes cannot be ranked in the first tier in East Africa.

Among them, Lake Frederick (Lake Albert) has an area of more than 5,000 square kilometers, while Qing China’s largest lake, Qinghai Lake, is only more than 4,000 square kilometers.

It should be known that Qinghai Lake is still a saltwater lake, and its value cannot be compared with that of Lake Frederick, which is a freshwater lake.

Such a group of world-class lakes appearing in East Africa can only be suppressed by the Great Lakes of North America. As for saltwater lakes such as the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, they are not within the scope of comparison.

(Still looking for a reference object to highlight the water resources of East Africa, Lake Victoria is equivalent to China’s national freshwater resources, both around 2.8 trillion cubic meters, while Lake Malawi has 7.7 trillion cubic meters of freshwater storage, and Lake Tanganyika has 18.9 trillion cubic meters.)

The rainfall in East Africa is only between North China and Jiangnan in the Far East, which is not considered abundant rainfall.

However, with such a terrifying amount of freshwater resources as a backing, it will be easier to deal with the water resource crisis in the future.

The East African colony may not have the ability to dispatch these water resources to various parts of East Africa through large-scale water conservancy projects, but it can migrate more people along its coast, so that it will not face the impact of insufficient rainfall in bad years.

Therefore, taking the three Great Lakes of East Africa and the land along their coasts is the established policy of the East African colony. Among them, the east and south banks of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) have already fallen into their hands. The entire east bank of Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) is in the hands of the East African colony, and only Lake Malawi will be more difficult to solve in the future, as its southern part involves the Portuguese colony.

Chapter 88: Conflict Escalates

Enzera.

East African colony border post.

Primarily responsible for monitoring the movements of exiled indigenous tribes, while preventing their return.

Currently, the effect of this “purification” movement has largely achieved the East African colonial government’s expected outcome.

The northwest has become a complete mess. Wars always cause deaths, and the colony’s plan to eliminate the local indigenous population has been achieved.

It’s not that indigenous tribes don’t want to return to the east. The East African colonial government has established dozens of military strongholds of various sizes where it borders the northwestern countries.

These form a one-way valve, only allowing indigenous people to leave, not to enter.

Enzera is one such military stronghold.

The East African colony’s defense against the northwest mainly consists of a straight line from the southwest corner of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) to the northeast corner of Lake Soren (Lake Tanganyika).

Spanning approximately three hundred kilometers, a military stronghold is set up every twenty to thirty kilometers. Patrol personnel are stationed between these strongholds, continuously patrolling the border area.

…

The northwestern countries, deeply harmed by the various East Bantu tribes, began to cooperate and collude with each other.

Although the East Bantu people caught the countries off guard, and the domestic situation in each country was relatively turbulent, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse.

The central governments of these indigenous countries still have some strength, at least the royal families still have a directly controlled army.

Even if many places are temporarily separated from the kingdom due to transportation and enemy blockades, the central government still occupies the largest territory.

Faced with the aggressive East Bantu tribes, the northwestern countries, who have been dealing with each other for years, put aside their past hatreds and prepared to join forces to suppress and clear out these barbarians first.

The East Bantu tribes also began to expand in size with the arrival of subsequent refugees. After all, not all the indigenous people driven out by the East African colonial government were large tribes of hundreds or thousands of people. There were also some small tribes of dozens or even a few people, and some scattered indigenous people.

These small tribes and individuals were incorporated into the larger tribes within the East Bantu groups, strengthening their power.

Thus, the scale of the war escalated. The nobles who originally lived in this area formed an alliance to jointly attack the East Bantu tribes.

The East Bantu tribes, having gained population replenishment, greatly increased their strength and were not afraid. The two sides engaged in a mixed war in the area west of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The war disrupted the social order of the northwestern countries. The slaves originally used for development and cultivation took advantage of the chaos to join the ranks of both sides in the war, or fled into the wilderness.

The original nobles, needing to fight the East Bantu people, naturally conscripted a large number of slaves as cannon fodder, further exacerbating the situation of abandoned land.

With land abandoned and grain production reduced, families that were not wealthy to begin with were hit even harder. In order to compete for the remaining resources, the two sides fought even more vigorously.

Facts have proven that when the nobles of the northwestern countries become serious, they do indeed have more advantages than these scattered East Bantu tribes.

As the region with the most advanced productivity among the indigenous people in East Africa, the northwestern countries, in addition to having more advanced social systems and organizational capabilities than the East Bantu tribes, also possessed more advanced iron forging capabilities.

The advantage of the East Bantu tribes over the northwestern countries lay in their powerful destructive force. After all, as civilized countries, the northwestern countries also had construction attributes, while the East Bantu tribes, still in primitive society, only knew how to compete for resources.

Fortunately, the martial strength of the nobles of the northwestern countries was not completely abandoned. Constrained by the narrow land area west of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) to the East African Rift Valley, the countries often held “friendly matches” with each other.

Moreover, as slave-owning civilizations, the nobles of the northwestern countries naturally monopolized military power, responsible for suppressing the slaves in their respective jurisdictions.

In other words, these nobles were actually still primitive military nobles.

In contrast, the East Bantu tribes did not have the concept of nobles. They mainly elected the strongest people in the tribe as chiefs.

The East Bantu tribes’ looting of the northwestern countries was actually out of necessity. After being driven out by the East African colony, they lost their hunting grounds, and grassland animals were their main source of food.

In addition, having traveled all the way from the east, with long journeys and empty stomachs, the East Bantu tribes had no choice but to rely on robbing the lords of the northwestern countries to survive.

The northwestern nobles, with the advantage of iron weapons and strong organizational skills, quickly gained an advantage over the East Bantu tribes after uniting.

The balance of war slowly tilted towards the northwestern countries. The nobles of the northwestern countries, who hated the East Bantu tribes to the bone, did not accept their surrender, and any prisoners were executed immediately.

The East Bantu tribes, at a disadvantage, saw that there was no way to survive by surrendering, and also launched deadly attacks on the northwestern countries.

The hatred value between the two sides grew, and the bloodshed of the war became stronger and stronger. Both sides took eliminating the other as the only goal of the war.

The winner lives, the loser dies. There were no fancy operations, completely aimed at eliminating the last person on the other side.

This battle lasted for more than three months, and finally ended with the victory of the northwestern countries.

The East Bantu tribes could not be completely killed off, but only some of the old, weak, sick, and disabled remained, who were compiled into slaves by the northwestern countries to supplement the loss of labor caused by the war.

This war, unremembered by the world, caused at least several million vendettas. In the entire northwestern countries, many areas were left with few inhabitants.

What was even worse was that after the war, the corpses of both sides were not effectively disposed of. In the past, when the scale of wars was small, wild animals could solve the unattended corpses.

But this time, the scale of the war was so large, coupled with the hatred of the northwestern countries towards the East Bantu tribes, that a large number of corpses were exposed in the wilderness.

Even nature could not decompose so many corpses in time, and a terrible plague began to spread in the northwestern countries.

The miserable situation of the northwestern countries was reported to the government by the East African colonial soldiers on the border. In order to prevent the plague from affecting the colony, the East African colonial government strengthened the blockade of the entire northwestern countries.

This time, even Kenya, which borders the Kingdom of Buganda, was heavily guarded.

In tropical regions, diseases are already quite terrifying. Every year, many people in the East African colony are infected, and this is on the premise that the East African colony pays attention to hygiene.

In order to prevent the plague from being carried into the territory of the East African colony, the East African colonial government ordered the soldiers guarding the border between the East African colony and the northwestern countries not to let a single living thing pass through.

Even a mouse or a snake must be shot immediately.

At the same time, the East African colonial government urgently ordered a large number of disinfectant and bactericidal agents from Europe to carry out large-scale disinfection work on the border between the East African colony and the northwestern countries.

Under strict defense, the East African colony successfully blocked the spread of the plague into the territory of the East African colony.

The northwestern countries were completely turned into places with few inhabitants. The countries closer to the south were more miserable, while the northern Kingdom of Buganda, the Kingdom of Toro, and the Kingdom of Kitara were the least affected.

Chapter 89: The Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet

July 1st, 1867.

The “Constitution of the North German Confederation” officially came into effect.

The significance of this constitution was that Prussia legally dominated the affairs and military and political power of the North German region. It maintained Prussia’s dominant position in the federation and the Prussian King’s overriding power in the government, while also donning a cloak of democracy.

The North German region legally became Prussia’s reserved territory, and riding this wave.

Ernst’s Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet was established. This fleet reached a scale of eleven ships (before German unification, the total number of registered German maritime merchant fleets was only 4,350 sailing ships and 175 steamships), which was not small in scale in the entire North German region.

Combined with the Hechingen Overseas Fleet based in Trieste in the Mediterranean, Ernst’s merchant fleet reached a scale of more than 50 ships.

Many of these ships sailed the Far East to East Africa route, gradually replacing the hired Dutch merchant ships.

The main task of the newly established Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet was to undertake the overseas trade of the German region and to help Ernst transport some mechanical equipment to East Africa.

After all, unlike Austria-Hungary, the people at the bottom of the German region have a high level of education and are not easy to fool, so immigration is not the main task.

The size of the ships under Ernst’s name is not small, after all, the larger the ship, the better for sea routes.

Among them, the shipyard built by Venice for its own use only built a few ships, and most of them were purchased from European countries.

With the promotion of new steamships, especially the emergence of ironclad ships, the price of traditional sailing ships has been falling, so Ernst bought a batch of good-quality ocean-going sailing ships without much effort.

If the ships seized from the Sultanate of Zanzibar are added, Ernst has more than sixty large ships in his hands.

At the same time as the establishment of the Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet, a new Hechingen Shipyard (Hamburg) was also established.

You can’t put all your eggs in one basket, so the splitting of the Venice Hechingen Shipyard began.

As early as when he acquired the Martin Shipyard, Ernst had inserted many German employees into it in the name of the boss, and now they will become the backbone of the Hechingen Shipyard (Hamburg).

Among these German employees, there are also many Chinese interns, most of whom are students from Hechingen School, and their later lives are basically bought out, and they have to work in this industry until retirement.

Shipbuilding has always been an important industrial sector in Europe, and its requirements for the experience and education of its employees are relatively high, so every experienced shipbuilding worker is an intangible asset.

With the future unification of Germany and the explosion of the German economy, the scale of the Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet will definitely be considerable.

The Hechingen Overseas Fleet in Austria-Hungary actually has poor profitability, especially when going to East Africa. The ships are full of immigrants, and they can’t make any money at all. They can only rely on the specialties brought back from East Africa on the return trip to recover some costs.

The ships sailing the Far East route are even more tragic. The vast majority of them are mixed with people and goods, and immigrants and goods are placed together.

Even if they rent Dutch ships, it is the same. Just transporting immigrants, where is there so much money to subsidize? They still have to take some goods along the way to make up for the cost.

The important task of the Hamburg port fleet is to make profits. After the unification of Germany, the number of merchant ships in the entire German region doubled, and it quickly became one of the top forces in world ocean trade.

The Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet will take advantage of this trend to grow stronger.

For example, the Hechingen Consortium needs to develop the world market for the expansion of its companies’ commodities and banking businesses.

The transportation of German goods and the import of goods will be good deals in the future, and even being a middleman is very promising.

In addition to making money, accumulating experience, technology, and talent for future East African colonies is also one of the reasons.

With the progress of the industrial revolution, the speed of shipbuilding is also accelerating, and more and more new technologies are being applied to ship manufacturing.

If you don’t want to fall behind the times in the future, relying solely on the Venice Shipyard is not enough. As we all know, the two centers of the Second Industrial Revolution.

One is Germany, and the other is the United States. Ernst can’t intervene in the United States, but Germany is currently Ernst’s base.

As a member of the Hohenzollern family, Ernst himself is a member of the ruling class in the German region, and his interests are deeply tied to the German region.

With the help of the development of science and technology in the Second Industrial Revolution in Germany, Ernst can reserve technology and talent for the future of East Africa.

Germany is now, East Africa is the future, and the order cannot be messed up. Only under the protection of the Prussian government can the current Hechingen Consortium develop and grow.

Only when the future East African colonies have the ability to resist the European countries’ frenzy of dividing Africa will Ernst dare to transfer the main body of the industry to East Africa.

Otherwise, it will be a waste for other colonizers, and Ernst will have no place to cry.

Using Germany as an incubator for East African industries is safe at least before World War I, and Germany is currently in the bonus period of technological explosion.

High-end technology and talent are not comparable to Venice. This can be seen through the German Navy during World War I.

Although the German Navy ultimately failed, how many opponents in the world at that time could compete with Britain on the high seas?

Only the Americans were pretty good, and even the French had fallen behind in the naval arms race.

Therefore, the crazy expansion of German maritime power after unification was still based on a strong education system and the accumulation of technology from the Second Industrial Revolution.

If the future East African shipbuilding industry wants to eat this dividend, it can only slowly accumulate in the German region first.

East Africa’s future positioning is a maritime power along the Indian Ocean coast, so there can be no delay in shipbuilding. Since East Africa currently does not have the ability and strength to develop the shipbuilding industry personally, it should first practice its internal skills in the German region.

East Africa currently has four excellent ports, and with the development of East African colonies, the demand for cargo transportation is also increasing.

Other ports will also be developed in the future, such as in Kenya and southern Tanzania, which will have great potential in the future.

In addition, the large inland lakes in East Africa will also need inland lake ships in the future, so it is right to accumulate experience, technology, and talent first.

The lakes in East Africa are all big guys, and water transportation and inland lake fishing are inseparable from the development of ships, especially the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), whose shipping value will have at least a quarter of the potential of the North American Great Lakes in the future.

And Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika), and Lake Malawi, Lake Frederick… all have the need for surface ships.

These lakes are located deep inland, and their economic and strategic value are very important. The development potential of surface and underwater ships required for their development is huge.

Chapter 90: New Administrative Divisions (Refer to the Egg Chapter Map)

August 11, 1867.

With the last batch of subjects of the Zanzibar Sultanate being sent to Zanzibar Island, the East Africa colony completely controlled the mainland territory of the Zanzibar Sultanate.

To facilitate the colony’s administration and thoroughly assimilate these newly acquired lands.

After a series of studies and discussions between Ernst and the colony’s senior government officials, the administrative divisions of the East Africa colony were further divided.

First, the Kenya colony was divided into three administrative regions and incorporated into the East Africa colony, in order from west to east.

The western region, with Kisumu as its capital, located on the north shore of the Kavirondo Gulf of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), was established as the West Kenya District.

Like Mwanza, Kisumu is located on the shore of a bay of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria). In its previous life, Kisumu was the third largest city in Kenya, while Mwanza was the second largest city in Tanzania, which shows the superior conditions of the Great Lakes region.

In the future, after the plague in the northwest dissipates, and if we can seize Kampala, the capital of the Kingdom of Buganda, we can build a troika for urban and economic development around the Great Lakes region.

The central region, with Nairobi as its capital, was established as the Central Kenya District.

Nairobi needs no introduction. In its previous life, it was the capital of Kenya and the largest city in East Africa, with great development potential. The coffee plantations currently being developed by the East Africa colony are not far from Nairobi.

The eastern region, with Mombasa as its capital, was established as the East Kenya District.

Mombasa, as one of the two most important ports in East Africa in the future (the other being Dar es Salaam), has excellent transportation conditions and is currently the most prosperous and lively area in Kenya.

In addition to the division of Kenya, Ernst and the East Africa colony government also made minor adjustments to the administrative regions within Tanzania.

First, the jurisdiction of the First Town, where the central government of the East Africa colony is located, was redivided, incorporating Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam into the First Town, establishing the Central District.

The newly established Central District has a full hand. Although it is the smallest in area among the administrative regions of the East Africa colony, it is the strongest in strength. In addition to possessing the First Town, the administrative center of East Africa, the two port cities of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam have also been incorporated, and there is also the Second Town, the earliest planned immigrant settlement.

The infrastructure construction of these four cities can be said to be the most complete in the current East Africa colony, and the future development prospects will not be bad.

The capital of the Upper Coastal District was also changed from the Third Town (Kitunga) to Tanga.

As one of the only four port cities in the East Africa colony, Tanga Port is also one of the few cities in the East Africa colony with industry (sisal processing plant), and its potential far exceeds the Third Town.

Kitunga is too close to the First Town to highlight its advantages, so it was downgraded, but the Third Town, with its first-mover advantage, is still the second-ranked city in the Upper Coastal District.

With the departure of the residents of the Zanzibar Sultanate, the other coastal territories of the former Zanzibar were also incorporated into the adjacent regions.

In this way, the Central Coastal District and the Lower Coastal District have also become coastal regions. From south to north, the coastal regions of the East Africa colony are the East Kenya District, the Upper Coastal District, the Central District, the Central Coastal District, and the Lower Coastal District.

In this way, the number of regions in the East Africa colony has increased from ten to fourteen (the First Town becomes the Central District, plus the three districts of Kenya).

In order to develop the southern part of the East Africa colony, this meeting also decided to establish a new port city on the southern coast of the East Africa colony.

That is, Mtwara, located in the Lower Coastal District, whose main service targets are the Lower Coastal District and the East Lake Malawi District.

Affected by the previous policies and geographical location of the East Africa colony, the Lower Coastal District and the East Lake Malawi District can be said to be the two regions with the lowest presence in the East Africa colony.

Previously, the main development and expansion directions of the East Africa colony were the west and north. In the middle, there was a war with the Zanzibar Sultanate, and the south had not been paid attention to.

This has resulted in its immigration speed even slower than the western inland areas, and at the same level as the central areas.

It is understandable that there are fewer immigrants in the central areas, after all, the threat is smaller in the very center of the East Africa colony.

But the south has to be taken seriously. The Portuguese in the south are not to be trifled with. Although Portugal has been declining in recent years, its overseas power is beyond the reach of Ernst, or even the current Prussia and Austria-Hungary.

Therefore, strengthening the population in the south and consolidating the security of the East Africa colony is extremely important.

The colonizers of this era have great autonomy, so even if Portugal itself has no ideas about the East Africa colony, if the higher-ups of Portuguese East Africa have ulterior motives, the country cannot control it.

The Portuguese have been in contact with the Mozambique region since 1497. Their Mozambique (also known as Portuguese East Africa) colony has a full four hundred years of history in this area.

Such a deeply rooted rule, its foundation is still quite stable. From its history, it can be seen that the Portuguese have had ideas about the East Africa colony, and have even had conflicts with the Zanzibar Sultanate.

Therefore, we cannot take it lightly. The capital of the Lower Coastal District, Luenroda, and the capital of the East Lake Malawi District, Songea, are very close to Portuguese East Africa, and it is necessary to strengthen the military strength of the two places to deter the Portuguese.

The colonial activities of this era are not so lofty. It is just a group of people using advanced weapons to conquer backward areas and plunder local resources.

Excellent resources, such as gold and silver mines, will naturally be contested, so colonizers often fight each other.

East Africa is relatively barren, with no outstanding resources, and the environment is not excellent. The vast grasslands could not compete with West Africa even in the era of the slave trade.

The only advantage of the East Africa colony is that Ernst personally planned its development route and vigorously promoted its construction.

Therefore, the superiority of the plan is reflected everywhere in the East Africa colony. The number of immigrants in the East Africa colony is rapidly increasing, and the number of natives is drastically decreasing.

For example, the Portuguese next door have developed Mozambique for hundreds of years, and the number of immigrants is not as large as the East Africa colony, which has not been developed for two years, and they use a lot of black labor and let them grow, which looks very cool at the moment, but it has laid the seeds for the future independence of Portuguese East Africa (independent in 1975).

In its previous life, Portuguese East Africa ruled Mozambique for a full five hundred years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it has been there since ancient times, but in the end, it left in disgrace.

Currently, in the East Africa colony, the number of natives has dropped directly from several million to hundreds of thousands, and they are still consumables. The scale will continue to decline in the future. In a few years, the entire East Africa colony will be the world of European and Chinese immigrants (it will not be completely cleared in twenty or thirty years, after all, they will still need to contribute to the later major projects).

Chapter 91: Explanation: Please Don’t Scroll Away, Be Sure to Read It, Begging You.

Some readers have reported that they can’t see the map. The reason is that the map is in an “Easter Egg” chapter, and some people haven’t opened the Easter Egg chapter.

Below, I’ll teach you how to open the Easter Egg chapter:

Enter the reading interface and click the screen, and the settings interface will appear.

At this time, look at the upper right corner of the phone screen. To the far right of “Subscribe” and “Monthly Ticket,” there are three dots.

Click the three dots, and options will appear.

Click the “Chapter Comments” switch on the second line.

Four options will appear, and at the very bottom is the Easter Egg chapter switch.

Open the Easter Egg chapter.

Exit to the bookshelf interface, pull down to refresh, and you can find the Easter Egg chapter in the book’s directory to view the map.

Why am I posting this explanation?

Because Africa is too unfamiliar to everyone, and without a map, a lot of the content isn’t intuitive. So, I will post Easter Egg chapter pictures after chapters that need map explanations.

But many people are reporting in the comments section that they can’t see the map.

Only then did I understand that some people may not have opened the Easter Egg chapter settings.

This book has already released seven Easter Egg chapters, which means seven map chapters. It would be a great pity if many people haven’t seen them.

Chapter 92: Stealing from the Foundation

South America, Paraguay.

Allied occupied territory (Triple Alliance of South America).

Devon Gilhart watched George Swinton lead a large group of children out of the village.

“Mr. Swinton, if the old man upstairs knows of your good deeds, he will surely reward you with good health and your company’s prosperity,” Devon Gilhart said.

George Swinton replied, “General Gilhart, you jest. We simply don’t want to see these children suffer. War always has nothing to do with these innocent children.”

“As a soldier, my duty is to obey. Although this war has no good or evil, I am ultimately a participant in the war. Their parents may have died as innocent victims of the war, but I am powerless to do anything about it. The condemnation of my conscience can only make me more supportive of your company’s work,” Gilhart said.

Gilhart was an Argentine officer in the Paraguayan War, currently resting in Paraguay.

George was an employee of the Hechingen Consortium, on a business trip to South America to be responsible for receiving orphans caused by the war.

The population problem has always been the biggest problem facing the East African colonies, but solving the population problem in the East African colonies cannot be rushed.

Otherwise, introducing a large number of undesirable people would have solved the problem long ago, without even needing to introduce them, the local natives would be enough.

The problem is that this is definitely not what Ernst wants. Ernst wants stable and easy-to-govern immigrants.

For a long time, the Far East has been the main source of immigrants to East Africa, but Ernst’s strict restrictions have meant that the number of Far Eastern immigrants to East Africa does not reflect the Far East’s population size at all.

On the one hand, in order to culturally assimilate the immigrants in the East African colonies, Ernst introduced a large number of illiterate people.

On the other hand, Ernst also had to balance the population numbers of all parties, so that none of them would have an absolute advantage.

For example, with the recent Austro-Hungarian immigrants, Ernst was a little worried that too many South Slavs were being introduced, with Croatians and Serbians being the majority, especially the Serbians, who were on a rapid upward trend.

So Ernst tried every means to obtain more sources of immigrants.

Fortune favors the bold.

The opportunity came as soon as it was mentioned.

Coincidentally, Ernst recently noticed an inconspicuous news item while reading the newspaper.

The news was about South America, and in this era, there wasn’t much news about South America in Europe.

What did it say? It was about the most tragic war in South American history, the Paraguayan War.

How tragic was this war?

According to statistics, the population of Paraguay in 1865 was 525,000, while in 1871, only 221,079 people remained in Paraguay. Among them were 106,254 women, 86,079 children, and only 28,746 adult men.

This war completely exhausted Paraguay’s potential, leaving a large number of widows and orphans, and also created Paraguay’s unique polygamous system in its previous life.

Now, this war has not yet ended, but Paraguay is already beyond saving. More than half of its army of more than ten thousand soldiers are elderly people and children.

The enemies faced by the Paraguayans are not only the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, but also the backers behind the three countries, the British.

Just this year, the Triple Alliance has just replenished its army, and Paraguay will face an even more brutal situation. This is the content of the newspaper.

As soon as Ernst thought of the severely unbalanced population ratio in Paraguay after the war, he thought that this was the exact opposite of the situation in the East African colonies, wasn’t it?

Paraguay has more women than men, while the East African colonies currently have more men than women.

Putting that issue aside for now, Ernst was also envious of the orphans created by the war.

They were a little young, but there was more room to reshape their thoughts and culture.

Moreover, most Paraguayans are of Spanish descent, which can be used to balance the colonial population, and they are mainly women and children, making them high-quality immigrants.

So Ernst began to work on a plan to bring people from South America. Through the use of money, the Hechingen Consortium quickly contacted Argentine government officials.

The Hechingen Consortium, in the name of not wanting so many orphans to be displaced by the war, prepared to adopt these children who had lost their relatives due to the war.

Not only that, but single women who lost their husbands in the war could also take their children to live in East Africa.

Now, most of the men in Paraguay have been conscripted and sacrificed in the war, leaving a large number of single-parent families.

These single-parent families are currently the mainstay of Paraguay’s residents, mostly women who have lost their husbands and are raising children.

There are also some single women who have not even married, and Paraguay’s young and middle-aged men have almost been consumed by the war.

This is not an exaggeration. Most of the men in Paraguay who haven’t run away are in the army, and the age range for recruiting soldiers is also gradually expanding.

From gray-haired old men to underage children, can be seen in the Paraguayan army.

At the end of this war, even seven or eight-year-old children and women soldiers could be seen in the army.

Currently, Paraguay’s ruler, Francisco López, has not yet died and is still resisting, so the Paraguayan government authorities still exist.

And Ernst’s recruitment of orphans and people from Paraguay is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the future Paraguay.

Paraguay, which is already experiencing a large population decline due to the war, cannot withstand Ernst’s poaching of its foundation.

Without a population, what will Paraguay use to continue its development after the war ends? Ernst doesn’t care about the life or death of the Paraguayan government.

As long as he can attract this group of immigrants, it will be adding bricks and tiles to the development of the East African colonies, and it will also consolidate the ruling foundation of the East African colonies.

So many single women, or rather, forced single women, some with children, although the East African colonies promised to provide subsidies and free education, life will definitely still be difficult.

And these people are not machines, their emotional problems also need to be solved. It’s not Ernst talking nonsense, but those single men from the Far East are really indiscriminate, and they don’t care if they marry someone with children.

Many of them don’t care about adopting their ex-husband’s children from a few years ago. After all, families in the Far East raise as many children as they can, and it’s common for a family to have seven or eight children.

And Chinese immigrants are influenced by traditional concepts, as long as they can leave offspring, they will have completed the task entrusted by their ancestors. Adopting their ex-husband’s children is not a big deal, they can continue to create their own.

What Ernst thinks doesn’t matter, anyway, no one can guess his thoughts. As for whether there are smart people in the Paraguayan government who can see his plan, that doesn’t matter either.

Now Paraguay is already struggling to protect itself, so Ernst has no intention of talking to Francisco López at all. He simply and directly bribes the officials of the Triple Alliance who are fighting Paraguay. Then, he can move as many people as he wants.

…

Gilhart asked, “Excuse my bluntness, but I don’t know if your company really intends to adopt so many orphans? This isn’t just dozens or hundreds, there may be tens of thousands in Paraguay!”

George said, “In this regard, you are overthinking it. Our company’s boss is a nobleman of the Kingdom of Prussia, a prince of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen family. His reputation is absolutely reliable. You should know that he often recruits orphans from the Far East and Germany and sponsors their education. The future of these children is bright.”

Chapter 93: Mtwara

Mtwara is located on the eastern shore of Mikindani Bay, a natural deep-water harbor in southern Tanzania.

As the first step after the new administrative restructuring, the construction of Mtwara Port was given top priority.

The construction work was jointly completed by the government of Ron Rhoda and staff from the Upper Coastal Region.

The initial construction scale, once completed, will be able to accommodate about two ships, which is enough. Fleets arriving from Europe can be diverted here.

Two ships at a time can distribute hundreds of immigrants from Austria-Hungary. Coupled with immigrants arriving from the Far East, this will be enough to meet the population needs of the Lower Coastal Region and the East Lake Malawi area over time.

While Ernst was thinking about and reviewing the Paraguayan War, a sense of worry was growing in his heart.

Counting the tragedies of the Paraguayan War, on the surface, it was that the Paraguayan leader Lopez yearned to become the Napoleon of Paraguay, using an advanced army to safeguard Paraguay’s own interests (Paraguay’s territorial disputes and autonomy with neighboring countries), which ultimately led to a three-nation siege.

In reality, the British were behind the Paraguayan War. Affected by the American Civil War, Britain lost its North American agricultural market, so it sought to compensate for its losses in North America by expanding trade and economy to South America.

From 1857, Britain began to build railways connecting the most important agricultural areas and ports within these countries, according to agreements reached with the Argentine Federal Government and the Brazilian government.

At the same time, Britain hoped that the Paraná River and the Paraguay River would be completely open to navigation, and hoped to conduct tax-free trade with the inland provinces of Argentina and Paraguay.

Paraguay firmly opposed this. However, because the Paraná River could pass through Paraguay from Buenos Aires to the rich areas of southern Brazil, Britain wanted to crush Paraguay’s resistance at all costs.

In addition, Britain hoped to “destroy the seedlings of independence of these two countries” by funding Brazil and Argentina in the war, “thereby gradually placing them under its control in order to gain a firm foothold in South America.” Before the outbreak of the war, Britain tried its best to ignite the flames of war.

The script played by the British in South America is the same as the balance of power they played in Europe. They all rely on provoking conflicts between countries in the region to achieve their own goals.

As a traditional skill of the British, it must be guarded against. In his previous life, the British actually used similar methods in Africa.

For example, the conflict between the Boers and the Zulu Kingdom, and the dispute between Germany, France, and Germany in Morocco.

These have nothing to do with Ernst, because in his previous life, the British personally intervened to solve the problem of German East Africa.

In his previous life, Britain launched the ambitious Two Cape plan in Africa, which would extend British colonies in Africa from Cape Town at the southernmost tip of Africa to Egypt in North Africa.

At that time, the biggest obstacle for Britain to complete this plan was the German colonies across southern Africa. After unification, Germany successively opened up German East Africa and German Southwest Africa (Namibia) in Africa.

These two colonies happened to contain the British South African colonies, forming a mutually supportive situation in the east and west.

If the British want to connect the entire British African colony, they cannot bypass German East Africa. After all, the west of German East Africa is the Congo rainforest.

Tropical rainforests are also known as green deserts, and the difficulty of development can be imagined. A flood season can make the British feel the power of nature (refer to the Amazon rainforest video). Even in the twenty-first century, tropical rainforests are extremely difficult to develop.

In his previous life, German East Africa was completely backed by Germany and had some power to fight back.

Now, Ernst’s East African colony does not have a close relationship with Germany. After all, German East Africa is an overseas territory directly managed by the German government, while the East African colony in this time and space is just the private territory of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family.

In his previous life, Germany could not take care of its overseas territories and colonies during World War I, let alone desperately protect Ernst’s East African colony.

Moreover, the East African colony cannot be tied to Germany in the future. Otherwise, like in the previous life, if Germany is defeated, wouldn’t it have to cede the East African colony to countries such as Britain and Portugal?

Therefore, it is impossible for Ernst to always stand on the German ship. It is better for East Africa to be independent in the future.

Of course, if you want to be independent, you must be able to stand on your own and arm yourself, otherwise who will take the East African colony seriously?

What if Britain continues to promote the Two Cape plan in this life! At that time, even if Ernst asks Germany for help, it may not be effective.

After all, great powers can compromise, especially at the expense of others. The interests of the German government and Ernst are not completely consistent. They may exchange the East African colony with Britain for interests in other regions.

This has historical basis. In his previous life, Germany and France competed for Morocco. At the beginning, Germany made good promises to the supporters of Morocco. In the end, under the joint pressure of the British and French, Germany still gave up Morocco, and Britain and France gave Cameroon to Germany as compensation.

Therefore, it is impossible for Ernst to wholeheartedly follow the future German government to the end. Ernst’s active communication with the Austro-Hungarian royal family is also due to this reason.

Having more friends means more options. If his grandfather hadn’t stabbed Napoleon in the back, Ernst would have wanted to build a relationship with Napoleon III’s government.

As for Britain, it is likely to be a potential enemy of the East African colony in the future, and Ernst is too lazy to try to curry favor with them.

The most important thing is that his family has nothing to do with Britain. His deceased mother was French, and his grandfather also had some influence in France, with some disciples and former officials.

Ernst has no contacts to talk to the British. Only the Prussian royal family and some countries in the North German region have connections with Britain, and they often form alliances in history.

Ernst’s family mainly operates in the South German region. Before joining Prussia, they had been mixing with Austria and France, and at the worst time, they lived under the rule of Bavaria (during the Holy Roman Empire).

Therefore, the network of relationships is mainly in continental Europe, and it is difficult for the British to interfere in the affairs of the South German region. Without the size of Baden, Württemberg, and Bavaria, the British government would not even look at you.

However, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family can still wave the flag of the Hohenzollern family. Now Prussia under the rule of the Hohenzollern family, plus Romania, is quite impressive in Europe.

The Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family also has some contacts in other countries, such as Sweden, Russia, and the married Austria. These are all the forces of public opinion in Europe that Ernst can strive for.

It is better to have good relations with so many European countries in the future than to hang on a single German tree. Of course, before the outbreak of World War I, the East African colony was a trustworthy partner of Germany.

The interests of the German government and Ernst are not completely consistent, but the interests of the Prussian royal family and his own family are consistent. They are all members of the Hohenzollern family, so help if you can.

All in all, if the East African colony is threatened by the British in the future, it will mainly rely on its own strength. Relying on others is uncertain.

The establishment of Mtwara Port is to strengthen East Africa’s strength on the southern border. A large number of weapons and supplies can be transported through this port and stockpiled in the Lower Coastal Region and the East Lake Malawi area.

As everyone knows, Britain and Portugal are so close that they almost wear the same pants. In his previous life, the two countries joined hands to destroy German East Africa and German Southwest Africa.

Therefore, the Portuguese must be guarded against. Moreover, the two colonies are already adjacent, and there will inevitably be conflicts with the Portuguese in the direction of Zimbabwe and Zambia.

It is always safer to arm the southern part of the East African colony first. As for the north, the Northwest Eight Kingdoms are already in a state of near death, just waiting for the end of the plague, and the East African colonial army can directly go over to take over.

In the northeast direction, the players are not yet established. Apart from some tribes, the strongest are Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and the Ottoman Empire.

However, the East African colony and these two countries are not actually adjacent, and are separated by some small religious countries and indigenous forces.

Moreover, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Ottoman Empire has greatly buffered the speed of Western countries’ development of Africa.

Extending from the Balkan Peninsula to Algeria, vast lands are under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire itself is restrained by Western countries, and the domestic situation is relatively turbulent, making it unable to expand, which is even better to cover up the early development of the East African colony.

The half-dead Ottoman Empire is a true friend of the East African colony, which can both block the Western powers’ attention to Africa and pose no threat to the East African colony.

As for the Abyssinian Empire, it faces the same predicament as the Ottoman Empire.

Chapter 94: Paraguayan Immigrants Arrive

The Paraguayan War not only created a large number of orphans, but even more single-parent families and single women.

The Paraguayan War is not over yet, but it is estimated that at least seventy to eighty thousand orphans and widows who have lost their husbands and fathers have accumulated.

With the intervention of the Hohenzollern Consortium, some people have already left this place of turmoil and are heading to East Africa to start a new life.

According to the time when the Paraguayan War ended in my previous life, this project can last for another three or four years.

Before the establishment of the new Paraguayan government, the East African colony can absorb at least tens of thousands of Paraguayan immigrants. If coordinated well, hundreds of thousands are not impossible.

This kind of thing can only be done during wartime. After all, Paraguay, as a small country with a small population, originally had only five to six hundred thousand people before the war (some data say more than one million, after all, many countries did not have a census in that era).

The East African colony’s approach is to dig up the foundation of Paraguay, but Paraguay is not without a solution.

Paraguay was originally an immigrant country. In the future, it will just absorb more immigrants. Of course, this is just empty talk. If immigrants were so easy to recruit, Ernst would not have such a difficult time.

Moreover, after the war, Paraguay was carved up with large tracts of land, and the country was in ruins. Which immigrant would be so blind as to want to develop in Paraguay? Isn’t neighboring Brazil and Argentina more attractive!

In this regard, the East African colony is much stronger. Although the East African colony has not been developed for a long time, it is already a fairly well-developed place in Africa (excluding North Africa).

As for the environment in East Africa, even if it can’t compare with Argentina (after all, it is similar to Europe, and immigrants don’t need to adapt), it is roughly similar to the Brazilian highlands.

In addition, the East African colony recruits immigrants in a planned and premeditated manner, which is much faster than those American countries that rely on spontaneous immigration.

It is just that the East African colony would rather have fewer but better immigrants, and is more repulsed by some local ruffians and petty thieves. At the same time, it guards against some immigrant groups that are not easy to govern and are not conducive to stability, such as fellow villagers and clans.

Otherwise, exceeding the number of immigrants to the United States every year would not be a dream. The immigrants from the Far East alone could rank first in the number of immigrants from various countries in the world.

This is not an exaggeration, because in this era, it is quite difficult for immigrants to afford a ship ticket, unless they encounter some colonies urgently recruiting manpower. The problem is that this situation is not continuous.

It is not that no country wants to build colonies well to give back to itself. The British put in a lot of effort in the Americas back then, but the entire War of Independence went down the drain.

Therefore, Ernst is very strict in checking the immigrants in the East African colony to prevent the emergence of rebellious elements like the United States.

The reason why the United States was able to become independent was because of the existence of a large number of elite members. After all, those who escaped to the United States on the Mayflower were not refugees, but Puritans with knowledge and organization.

There was a saying in my previous life that Calvin’s Puritan theory was the foundation of the United States.

Therefore, Ernst greatly rejected any theories and beliefs, or blood ties and clans, that might unite immigrants.

There are no missionaries or churches in the East African colony, and the immigrants’ beliefs are chaotic. There are Protestants, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and even a small number of Muslims.

The beliefs of immigrants from the Far East are even more chaotic. Ancestors, family spirits, the God of Heaven, the Jade Emperor, the City God… Some people who have had a lot of contact with Western immigrants will even guess who is the real God between God and Allah, fully reflecting their pragmatic thinking.

The East African colony is managed similarly to a company, and Ernst will naturally not actively promote the construction of churches, nor does he have the idea of recruiting missionaries.

Most of the immigrants in East Africa are illiterate and old farmers. They have not systematically studied religious knowledge. Even if they spontaneously perform some rituals at home, they only have a smattering of knowledge and rely on experience passed down from generation to generation.

Missionaries can connect people through their interpretation of religion and through missionary activities, so Ernst strictly prohibits religious people from entering the East African colony.

Most of the immigrants in the East African colony are ordinary people and have no ambition. Most of the leaders are Germans who retire and return to Germany to live out their lives.

In addition, with the restraint of the loyal students of the Hohenzollern Military Academy and the continuous replenishment of the leadership by the Hohenzollern Consortium.

The current East African colonial government is quite stable and in a state of multiple checks and balances, and the only hub that maintains the East African colony is Ernst.

As for causing trouble in the East African colony, not to mention the checks and balances between the various parties, the economic structure of the East African colony would disintegrate and collapse if it left the foreign trade system of the Hohenzollern Consortium.

…

September 10, 1867.

Mogens Kröger.

The village chief of Ngaga Village, Massassi Town, Lower Coastal District, East African Colony.

He is taking the immigrants assigned to Ngaga Village from Paraguay to see their new homes.

“Ladies, the conditions in the East African region are not very good at the moment, so the furniture and other facilities in these houses are relatively simple, but the environment is definitely not bad.”

Mogens Kröger pointed outside the door and said:

“Have you seen those large tracts of fertile land? Doesn’t it feel good? You should know that a year ago, Ngaga Village was still a wilderness where only wild animals lived, and with the arrival of immigrants, Ngaga Village has been developed at a speed visible to the naked eye, so don’t worry about the living conditions and future development prospects of the East African colony. It is far away from the war, and it is well-ordered. With the government’s clearing of the surrounding beasts, you can no longer see traces of beasts, which is very safe.”

The translator is a German-speaking resident of Paraguay. Although most of these immigrants who came to East Africa from Paraguay to escape the war are Hispanic, the fragmentation and war in Germany in earlier years caused a large number of Germans to go overseas.

Prussia has only improved after integrating the North German region, and the wave of immigration has been cooled down. The female translator is a German whose ancestors immigrated to Paraguay, so she speaks both German and Spanish.

Mogens Kröger continued: “And you have definitely caught up with a good time. In order to take care of you orphans and widows caused by the war, His Royal Highness Prince Ernst of Prussia, the owner of the East African colony, personally took out his own pocket to subsidize you poor people, and the East African colony provides your children with free education… So live in Ngaga Village with peace of mind, and the future will be better.”

After listening to the introduction of Village Chief Mogens Kröger, these Paraguayan women who traveled across the ocean from a distant country felt relieved.

Some were overjoyed and wept, praying to God for Ernst’s good health.

They are also pitiful people who lost their husbands in the war, and the war is still going on, and there is no hope of ending it, so many people had to leave Paraguay, that place of turmoil, and come to East Africa to live for the safety of their children.

Of course, the living allowance also gave them some determination. After all, they can only rely on themselves to raise their children in the future, and a subsidy can reduce their pressure.

Before coming to East Africa, they may have been worried that the local government would go back on its word, but now that the houses have been distributed, their hearts have immediately settled down.

Chapter 95: Armory Upgrade

August 20, 1867.

Berlin, Hechingen Armory.

“Clang… Clang…”

A worker carefully held a chisel, rhythmically striking the rivets on the machine’s welded joints with a hammer.

With each fall of the hammer, the rivets were knocked off with force, but the machine’s surface was left without any major marks.

Holding a large wrench, they exerted force to remove the screws, and then other workers sorted the removed rivets and iron filings into wooden barrels.

A professional master craftsman placed the disassembled parts into wooden boxes according to their fixed positions. These machines, which had only been in service for a short time, were honorably retired from the Hechingen Armory.

This batch of disassembled machines was the same ones originally obtained from the Prussian royal family, along with the armory’s outdated facilities.

When Ernst acquired this armory, his purpose was never really for these machines, but mainly for the factory’s workers and technicians.

Therefore, the fate of this batch of machines was decided the moment Ernst acquired them.

Of course, based on the principle of making the best use of everything, this batch of dismantled, outdated machines would be sent to the East African colony for rearmament, used to repair and process parts.

Currently, the East African colony has stockpiled and equipped a large number of old-fashioned flintlock guns, which happen to need these machines to be put to use.

Those old-fashioned flintlock guns can still serve for at least seven or eight years in the land of East Africa, which is enough to deal with the African natives.

And the old machines are perfect for maintaining these guns and replacing parts. To be honest, there is no other choice. Once this batch of machines leaves Berlin and the Prussian military-industrial system, they can only do this kind of work.

The Hechingen Armory itself is a semi-finished product processing plant. Many parts still need to be ordered from other factories in Prussia.

Therefore, even if this batch of old equipment is reassembled in East Africa, it will not be able to resume production, but it is more than capable of completing small tasks such as gun maintenance and correction.

Ernst did consider selling this batch of machines, but unfortunately, there were no good buyers. In Europe, needless to say, with the Austro-Prussian War as a demonstration, countries are trying to improve their equipment and are also facing the problem of eliminating a large number of outdated production machines.

So it can’t be sold for a good price at all. Backward regions such as the Far East and South America have little contact with the government, and the shipping costs alone are not a small amount.

As for Africa, the most backward region, the native tribes and small countries in West Africa may need them, but they have no money! In the era of the slave trade, they could still use slaves to exchange weapons from European colonists, but now Europe and the Americas have banned slavery, and slaves are worthless.

Therefore, it is better to let this batch of machines continue to shine in the East African colony, and they can also be sent to East Africa on the way with immigrant ships, without having to send a separate ship.

While dismantling this batch of old equipment, new machines have been installed.

These new machines will be used to produce Dreyse needle guns, which the Prussian army is currently equipping. During the Austro-Prussian War, Prussia completed the equipment replacement.

After the war ended, the control over the military industry naturally relaxed, so Ernst easily obtained new machines.

In addition to supplying the Prussian army, the remaining new rifles will be used to equip the standing armed forces of the East African colony.

As part of the Prussian military-industrial system, the main service target of the Hechingen Armory is still the Prussian army.

After all, the parts and some technologies required by the Hechingen Armory cannot be separated from Prussia’s support, and if the armory wants to make a profit, or at least not lose money, it must serve the entire market.

And on the premise of ensuring that it does not lose money, it will then replenish the weapons of the East African colony’s army.

In East Africa, there have always been two types of military forces: standing armed forces and militia armed forces.

The former are full-time soldiers who respond to various crises at any time, while the latter are militiamen who receive military training during the slack farming season and are only mobilized when large-scale operations are required.

Previously, both were equipped with old-fashioned flintlock guns. Of course, most of the weapons in the East African colony were second-hand goods eliminated from the Prussian army, and a small amount was produced by the Hechingen Armory itself. After all, second-hand goods are large in quantity and cheap.

The difference between the two, who are equipped with the same weapons, is that the former is a regular army with a high intensity of daily military training, mainly with live ammunition. The latter has very little live ammunition experience. Aiming at targets with empty guns is the mainstream of training. Only during the temporary conscription responsible for clearing local natives can they have enough gunpowder to enjoy themselves.

The Dreyse needle guns newly produced by the Hechingen Armory will be used to arm the standing armed forces of the East African colony, that is, the full-time regular army, while the old-fashioned flintlock guns will all be distributed to the militia armed forces of the East African colony.

While the Berlin Hechingen Armory is undergoing equipment upgrades, a branch of the Hechingen Armory is also under construction in Austria-Hungary.

Different from the Berlin Hechingen Armory, which mainly produces rifles, the focus of the Hechingen Armory in Austria-Hungary is on imitating and producing light artillery.

Currently, the scale of the branch is very small, belonging to the experimental stage, which is only slightly better than some small workshops, but its main purpose is to provide experience for artillery production in the East African colony.

Moreover, traditional armories have fixed partners. For example, the Hechingen Armory in Berlin was originally an industry under the Prussian government, but Ernst acquired and took control of the management rights. Therefore, after upgrading the equipment, it can continue to receive orders from the Prussian army.

The branch in Austria-Hungary does not have this treatment. The Hechingen Armory branch is located in Trieste, and the purpose of this location is self-evident.

It is to facilitate the supply to the East African colony. East Africa currently does not have the ability to produce weapons and equipment, let alone artillery.

The branch is to use the convenient sea transportation conditions of Trieste (the Suez Canal will be opened in the future) to provide artillery power to the East African colony.

Currently, the East African colony’s armed forces are still using the most basic firearms, and the only weapons with slightly greater power are hand grenades and explosive packs.

As for why light artillery is needed, it is still to deal with the Portuguese colony and potential threats at sea.

Even the Zanzibar Sultanate actually has a dozen artillery pieces, mainly inherited from the Omani Empire period.

Most of them are in the seaports of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and after the East African colony seized the mainland part of Zanzibar’s territory, it also confiscated a few old artillery pieces in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

The Zanzibar Sultanate still has artillery to use, not to mention the neighboring Portuguese and other maritime colonists, their ships cannot be without these things.

Therefore, it is better for the East African colony to equip some artillery. As for the few artillery pieces of the Zanzibar Sultanate, they are not only in disrepair and severely corroded, but also too few in number to be used by the East African colony.

Therefore, the establishment of a branch is necessary. As for why not directly buy a batch from Europe, it is mainly because the East African colony does not need it now. Now the East African colony is mainly digesting the territory and will not take the initiative to cause trouble.

It won’t conflict with the surrounding forces, and buying is not as good as making is a short-sighted behavior, and buying is not as good as making is a long-term plan.

Chapter 96: Northwest Elegy

September. A light drizzle falls from the sky over northwestern East Africa.

Bukoba, a small fishing village on the western shore of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), is a small settlement under the rule of the Karagwe Kingdom.

Rippling waves gently lap against the damp soil of the shore, the fine rain falling into the lake without causing a ripple.

Early morning. The sun has not yet risen, but the glow of dawn filters through the horizon, reflected in the western sky above Bukoba village.

A hazy mist, mixed with needle-fine rain, a gust of cold wind blows, icy and damp. The dim sky lends a sense of desolation to Bukoba village.

As a village, Bukoba possesses a primitive architectural structure. Entering Bukoba, one sees a circle of fence walls woven from rattan and mud, covered in moss, appearing low and mottled after wind and rain.

Inside the fence, houses with semicircular frames a little over a meter high are built from vines and branches, covered with banana leaves and other plant leaves to provide wind and rain protection.

In the center of the village is an altar, a circle formed by stones of varying sizes, a place where villagers gather for activities.

Behind the altar are the residences of the chief and elders, which are no different from the villagers’ houses except for being slightly taller. This is roughly the layout of the entire village.

As a village of a hundred or so people, Bukoba mainly relies on fishing for a living, thanks to the abundant fishery resources of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The Bukoba people cut down trees from the shore, mostly large trees that can be embraced, hollowing out the trunks with axes to make canoes two or three meters long.

Years of fishing and hunting have made the Bukoba people excellent swimmers. They steer their homemade canoes, using simple nets woven from hemp, cooperating with each other to catch local freshwater fish from the Great Lake.

Relying on fishing, the Bukoba people live reasonably well. The surplus catch can also be traded with surrounding tribes for earthenware pots, salt, and other necessities.

…

In the past, Bukoba village was a lively place, filled with the atmosphere of daily life. Men went out fishing, women did housework at home, and when important festivals arrived.

The chief and elders would organize sacrificial activities, everyone gathering around a bonfire, singing and dancing. The Bukoba people lived fulfilling lives every day, living with clarity.

This is also the norm for some tribes and villages in later African countries, life being nothing more than eating and drinking their fill every day, carefree.

Of course, some special circumstances are excluded, such as war.

The most serious national and tribal conflicts in the African region occur in West Africa. After hundreds of years of the slave trade, they wish they could capture and execute all enemy tribes.

Western colonists could use only a small amount of supplies to provoke conflicts between the numerous tribes of West Africa. The reason for a war might be that a tribal chief wanted to obtain glass beads brought by Western colonists.

This is a kind of asymmetrical trade and exchange that takes advantage of the low level of productivity, lack of knowledge, and even superstitious mentality in backward areas.

Some people in East Africa also did this in the beginning, namely merchants from Zanzibar and the Arab regions. But when the East African colonies were established, they disdained using such methods.

They preferred a simple and crude approach. There was no need to use tricks to fool ignorant natives, after all, East Africa was not as densely populated as West Africa. The East African colonial government could handle the indigenous people on the East African plains themselves.

As a result, a large number of East African plains natives were driven to the northwest region. Although East Africa was sparsely populated, the number of natives living on nearly a million square kilometers of land was still considerable.

When a large number of people suddenly poured into the northwest region, if the resources of this region were originally only enough to support five people, and now five more have come, then five people must disappear for the remaining five to survive.

Therefore, the East African colonial government’s actions were somewhat like burying one’s head in the sand, clearly intending for the two sides to fight.

And Bukoba village was one of the places harmed by the East African colonies.

The Eastern Bantu people poured in, slowly spreading to the location of Bukoba village, responding to the kingdom’s call and protecting their homeland at the same time.

The Bukoba villagers engaged in fierce fighting with the invaders, together with the nearby villages of the Karagwe Kingdom, taking advantage of their familiarity with the terrain, the Bukoba villagers launched guerrilla warfare against the Eastern Bantu people.

The Eastern Bantu people were hastily expelled to the northwest by the East African colonies, so naturally, they could not bring food with them. Moreover, as a people who lived by hunting, they did not have the habit of hoarding grain.

They spent their days raiding, killing, and looting on the way into the Karagwe Kingdom. As for settling down, that would only happen if the Karagwe Kingdom agreed.

Especially those Karagwe nobles in the south who suffered the most, they wished they could eat the Eastern Bantu people alive.

The two sides had irreconcilable conflicts, so they naturally fought fiercely, and it had to be a fight to the death.

And naturally, the more the war was fought, the deeper the hatred became, and the larger the scale became, which is why the tragedy of the northwestern countries was created.

Bukoba village survived the first wave of Eastern Bantu tribal attacks, but the Eastern Bantu people were like flowing water, constantly pouring into the entire northwest from the East African colonies.

Bukoba village was thus annihilated in the repeated baptism of war, and the current Bukoba village is just an empty shell.

The various Eastern Bantu tribes did not choose to stay, after all, they did not live near the Great Lake, relying on fishing and hunting for a living.

Without the corresponding skills, they naturally could not survive by fishing and hunting like the Bukoba villagers, so the Eastern Bantu people could only continue north.

Now, the Eastern Bantu people are facing not one or two enemies, but the combined armies of the northwestern countries.

Therefore, the war is far from over. The vanguard has already spread to areas such as the Buganda Kingdom and the Toro Kingdom.

The northwestern countries have a low level of productivity, so naturally, they do not have the ability to build a certain number of cities and fortifications, so the various Eastern Bantu tribes can pass through the southern countries’ territories and directly threaten the northern countries.

And Bukoba village, after the Eastern Bantu people left, only the corpses of the Bukoba villagers were left, unattended in the wilderness.

Various scavengers happily enjoy the feast. Bukoba village has lost its former vitality and has become an uninhabited village.

Gradually, it is being eroded by nature bit by bit, and these buildings built of plant vines and mud will mostly not be preserved in the future.

No one will remember the suffering that once happened here. Such a war is insignificant in the entire northwest of East Africa, and no one even records it, even the final evidence is destroyed by nature.

And the culprit behind this suffering is the East African colonial government. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Regardless of whether the East African colonies directly participated in this war, they are the chief culprits of this war.

On the contrary, as the two sides of the war, the northwestern countries and the various Eastern Bantu tribes are all victims. They fight to the death, and no matter who wins in the end, the final beneficiary is the East African colonies.

The war is just a microcosm of northwestern East Africa. Affected by the war, the famine caused by abandoned land, the plague caused by the corpses left by both sides, and the water sources polluted by the corpses are all accelerating the population decline in the northwest region.

Only the northern parts of countries such as the Buganda Kingdom and the Toro Kingdom have not been greatly affected for the time being, and life is barely sustainable.

And the entire northwest countries, hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land, the south has completely become a battlefield, and the north is also under the threat of war.

The entire northwest region is in a wail, but no one in the world knows the pain it is suffering. Only the East African colonists are watching covetously, greedily staring at this land.

Chapter 97: Daily Life

Ernst couldn’t care less about the lives of the natives on the East African land. As a colonizer, one should be hard-hearted; otherwise, what’s the point? One might as well end it all early, or else one would be driven mad by the darkness of this world.

As a Western colonizer, Ernst was practically a saint compared to his peers. After all, he wasn’t as twisted as some countries, using the natives’…

Based on the principle of “what you don’t think about, you can pretend didn’t happen,” Ernst never considered the consequences of this. As long as the East African colony completed its tasks according to his goals, that was enough. As for extermination or anything like that, well, the East African colony didn’t do it directly, so it didn’t count.

On the one hand, Ernst managed the political affairs of the East African colony, and on the other hand, he took care of the company’s business in Europe. Most of the time, he was quite busy.

Today, he stole half a day of leisure to have afternoon tea with his father in the garden.

Ernst was drinking authentic Oriental green tea. The common beverages of this era were just a few kinds. Ernst, for one, couldn’t get used to coffee. He would only take a sip or two when visiting others or entertaining guests.

Prince Constantine, on the other hand, liked to drink coffee. He didn’t find it strange that his son liked Oriental tea. After all, the British loved to drink tea, and there were also Dutch merchants selling tea in the German regions. This kind of beverage wasn’t rare.

Ernst’s own fleet would also bring back some tea from the Far East, all famous teas specified by Ernst himself, purchased personally by the staff in the Far East tea regions.

Ernst didn’t make things difficult for the resident staff. After all, the Hexingen Consortium’s business was mainly in the north, so they mostly went to the tea regions near North China to buy tea, such as Lu’an Melon Seed Tea, Xinyang Maojian…

The tea from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions was also good, but foreigners knew more about it (thanks to the Nanyang Chinese merchants), and it had a high reputation. The local dignitaries competed fiercely (high consumption in wealthy areas), so with that pitiful output, most of what circulated on the market was definitely counterfeit, especially for Westerners like the Hexingen Consortium staff, who were most easily fooled.

It was more reliable to buy the goods directly in the tea regions. Moreover, the inland tea regions weren’t as common for foreigners as the coastal and southern regions, so the local officials were always more cautious and would give the Hexingen Consortium staff some convenience.

“Ernst, how is your East African colony doing lately? I haven’t heard you mention it in a while!” Prince Constantine asked, holding his coffee cup.

“Father, everything is under control at the moment. Since the telegraph lines were laid, I can now process information sent from East Africa on the same day. Immigration is also steadily increasing. If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to reach a scale of five hundred thousand by the end of the year.” Ernst said to Prince Constantine.

Prince Constantine leaned back in his chair and said with slight surprise, “The East African colony hasn’t even been developed for two years, has it? And you’ve recruited so many people. The entire Hexingen, including the countryside, is probably only a little over tens of thousands!”

“Father, you must first understand a concept. The area of the East African colony is currently as large as two Austro-Hungarian Empires, while the population of the East African colony is only one percent of the population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (the 1870 Austro-Hungarian Empire had a population of over 33 million), so this amount of immigration is not enough at all.” Ernst said to Constantine.

“Has so much land in East Africa already been developed?” Constantine asked, somewhat surprised.

When Ernst told him about developing the East African colony, he didn’t take it seriously at all. Anyway, it wasn’t a bad thing for a child to have his own ideas. It didn’t matter whether he succeeded or not.

He didn’t expect his son to be so outstanding. The promises he made back then have basically been fulfilled. The company and the bank have been established, and he has become one of the top people in Europe.

Constantine also knew about spending money to buy Alaska, but it was a frozen wasteland, so there wasn’t much to say. He just thought his son was foolish and had too much money.

Constantine knew that East Africa was the land that Ernst valued the most. He didn’t expect him to actually accomplish it on his own (without the backing and support of national power).

“Five hundred thousand people, one million two hundred thousand square kilometers of land, very good! Württemberg and Baden combined only have over two million people (the Hohenzollern Province to which Hexingen belongs is sandwiched between the two, so Constantine compared the two). Five hundred thousand is not too few.” Prince Constantine calculated.

“How many Germans are there among the immigrants?” Prince Constantine asked.

“About close to eleven thousand people, mainly German immigrants from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition, there are fifty to sixty thousand people of other ethnic groups from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Recently, I also recruited some people from Paraguay.” Ernst said.

“There are still too few Germans. I happen to have some news to tell you. In recent years, the grain production in the south (of Germany) has decreased, and many people have been forced to leave their homes and go out to make a living. I didn’t notice it before because of the war, but after returning home (Hexingen) for a while, the steward told me that the grain production in the territory this year was indeed less than in previous years. Württemberg, Baden, Bavaria, and other regions are about the same. This is an opportunity. When the time comes, I will talk to them (the nobles in the South German regions) and ask them to direct people to you and give you some convenience.” Constantine said calmly.

Hearing this, Ernst was overjoyed. He had been running around between Berlin and Vienna recently and hadn’t paid attention to the situation in his hometown. If his father hadn’t come to Berlin on business this time, he would have missed this opportunity.

“Father, you have really helped me a lot. When you talk to your old partners, no matter how many immigrants there are this time, I can take as many as there are. East Africa has plenty of places to arrange them.” Ernst said excitedly.

These were definitely high-quality immigrants, perfectly matching all of Ernst’s requirements for immigrants: Germans, and farmers, with a relatively low level of education (compulsory education in Southern Germany is not as widespread as in Northern Germany).

The Southwest region has always been an important area for German overseas immigrants, accounting for more than thirty percent year-round.

If this part of the immigrants can be used well, at least hundreds of thousands of pure German population can be added to East Africa (currently, many Austro-Hungarian immigrants in the East African colony are imitation Germans).

In addition to the education of Paraguayan children, it is entirely possible to change their identity recognition in this generation. By then, the German population can barely be on par with the Chinese immigrants (Chinese people who marry white people are automatically classified as mixed-race people and are not counted as part of the Chinese group).

Although there are many fake and shoddy Germans, after two or three generations, they will all be native German people. The West also naturally has families, such as the Hohenzollern family to which Ernst belongs, where each branch is clearly traceable, no different from the East.

However, ordinary people in the West do not have the concept of clan as much as Easterners. For example, in the Far East South, ordinary people may not have the ability and financial resources to repair genealogy, but they mostly live together as a family. Rich and famous people in the family will organize the continuation of the genealogy together, so Easterners are descendants of nobles on average.

In the West, however, the boundary between nobles and commoners is clear. Only nobles who recognize each other are considered real nobles, so commoners don’t care about their background at all, and even if they do, they have no power to change it.

So when they arrive in East Africa, these immigrants, after two or three generations of education, will not know who their ancestors were, at most remembering the grandfather generation of the first generation of immigrants.

After all, the level of education of farmers in this era is such that many recording methods rely on memory rather than writing, which will form a recording break.

And at that time, relying on the colony’s education system, instilling ideas into the children of immigrants from an early age, Ernst can say whatever he wants, and it may not be impossible to create a new nation.

Chapter 98: Traveling

Maximilian I, who was biding his time in East Africa, was not one to sit still. Having had enough of the incredibly dull life in Mombasa, Maximilian I planned an East African tour.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Maximilian I’s family members knew through Ernst that he was in East Africa and had considered calling him back. However, Maximilian I was naturally stubborn; not even ten oxen could pull him back.

Maximilian I’s mental state was probably similar to that of Xiang Yu, who committed suicide at the Wu River—he had no face to see his elders back in Jiangdong.

He had ignored advice and, against the opposition of his entire family, had resolutely gone to Mexico to realize his life’s ambitions and values, only to end up imprisoned.

Therefore, Maximilian I was determined to stay in East Africa for three to five years, and then return to the Austro-Hungarian Empire after people had forgotten about him.

If he had no ties, Maximilian I would have been happy to live in East Africa forever. However, Maximilian I was a filial son. Although somewhat willful, he did not want his mother to be heartbroken, and since his mother was getting old, he would still have to go back to visit her in the future.

Although feeling dejected because of his failure, Maximilian I still sent a few letters of reassurance to his mother after arriving in East Africa to prevent her from worrying.

As for others, his brother and father, Maximilian I asked Empress Sophie to send them his regards in the letters.

Maximilian I couldn’t bring his beloved daughter with him at the moment. When he went to Mexico, he was worried about the situation and environment there and that his daughter was too young to endure it.

That’s why he left her in Austria under his mother’s care, since Austria had first-class living conditions and educational opportunities.

Now that he was reduced to exile in East Africa, he naturally couldn’t ask for too much.

Empress Carlota, who was seeking aid among the European countries, upon receiving news from the Habsburgs that her husband had escaped, prepared to go to East Africa to reunite with him.

Originally, Empress Carlota was quite indignant when she heard that Empress Sophie had arranged a marriage for her daughter without her and Maximilian I’s consent.

Regardless of who the betrothed was, as parents, they should naturally decide their daughter’s fate. Although her own marriage was a political one, she and Maximilian I were truly in love. Empress Carlota, who was Princess Charlotte of Belgium at the time, had fallen for the unremarkable Maximilian I at first sight.

And the Belgian royal family was not bad in Europe, worthy of the Habsburg family, so the two did not experience any obstacles. In this era of Europe, it was definitely a perfect marriage.

Maximilian I and Empress Carlota had a very good relationship. The problem was that their ambitions were too high, and they ultimately fell into the Mexican political quagmire.

After hearing that her future son-in-law had saved Maximilian I, Empress Carlota’s favorable impression of this son-in-law she had never met greatly increased, changing her previous impression of Ernst.

To be able to organize a group of people to go to Mexico, thousands of miles away, and rescue a major figure like Maximilian I from the local government.

His ability was naturally beyond question, and this Ernst also had strong political acumen (in reality, it was a God’s-eye view). Otherwise, he would not have been able to save Maximilian I. Too early or too late, he might have missed the opportunity.

To snatch someone from a major country like Mexico (after all, there were not many independent countries in the world at that time) required courage, wisdom, and responsibility.

Ernst was willing to offend the Mexican government to rescue his father-in-law (in fact, the Mexican government is still in the dark), so he would not treat his daughter too badly in the future.

Knowing her husband’s location, Empress Carlota couldn’t wait to go to East Africa to reunite with him. Although rumors said that the environment in Africa was harsh, this could not scare Empress Carlota.

After all, Mexico and East Africa are both highland countries in tropical regions, and the environment of East Africa could not stump Empress Carlota, who had lived in Mexico.

…

Tanga Port.

Inside the Tanga sisal processing plant, the machines roared.

Maximilian I watched with interest, imitating the workers’ movements, waiting at the exit of the machine to sort and arrange the loosened sisal fibers.

“This factory should be the largest factory in East Africa, right?” Maximilian I asked the factory manager.

“Your Majesty, you are right. Currently, sisal processing is one of the few industries in East Africa that uses machines, and with the expansion of sisal planting in the colony, the scale and prospects of sisal processing in East Africa are very promising in the future.”

“Then how are the workers’ wages? How long are the working hours?” Maximilian I asked.

“It’s like this, Your Majesty. Our workers mainly come from immigrants from the Far East, where labor costs are relatively low, so the wages are not high (almost none). As for working hours, they are about six to ten hours a day.”

The person in charge was not lying. That was the schedule at the sisal processing plant. It wasn’t out of kindness, but because the supply of raw sisal materials was currently tight (they hadn’t had a good harvest yet and were using stockpiles), and the Mwanza coal mine had not yet started supplying coal. Coal was still being imported from Europe, so the energy supply for the machines was not stable.

However, it wouldn’t be long before the first batch of sisal planted in the East African colony would mature, and with the development of the Mwanza coal mine, the Tanga sisal processing plant would definitely have to work overtime to produce sisal products.

Maximilian I, unaware of the inner workings, continued, “It looks good, but are most of the employees here Chinese? Didn’t you say that some Austro-Hungarian immigrants also came to East Africa? I saw many Austro-Hungarian immigrants in Mombasa, why are there so few in this factory?”

The person in charge mentally complained, “With these conditions, how dare you try to fool Austro-Hungarian immigrants?” Many Austro-Hungarian immigrants had been in factories before. Which Austro-Hungarian immigrant would accept the meager wages paid by the East African sisal factory?

“Most of the Austro-Hungarian immigrants are from farming backgrounds, so they are not enthusiastic about industry. Therefore, more Austro-Hungarian immigrants choose to continue with agriculture,” the person in charge told Maximilian I.

“Alas, what a pity. Modern industry is a symbol of civilization. Currently, European countries are vigorously developing industry, and East Africa cannot underestimate industrial development too much,” Maximilian I sighed.

“Your Majesty, you are overthinking it. His Highness Prince Ernst also attaches great importance to industry, but East Africa is, so to speak, utterly poor and backward, even lacking agriculture. Only with a good agricultural foundation can industry be better built. For example, the Tanga sisal processing plant is a factory established to cooperate with the East African sisal planting industry. If the East African government did not plant sisal first, this processing plant would have no value and no prospects for development in the future. Therefore, we must first lay a good agricultural foundation before we can develop industry in the future,” the person in charge said to Maximilian I.

Chapter 99: Coastal Defense Guns

“You have a point, but I still favor prioritizing industrial development, especially since East Africa’s population isn’t large right now, making industrialization less difficult. As for the food issue, we can completely use high-value industrial products to exchange for low-value agricultural products,” said Maximilian I.

“Judging from the actual situation in some European countries, what Your Majesty says makes sense. After all, not every country is suitable for developing agriculture. However, East Africa’s natural conditions and land area dictate that developing agriculture is its advantage, and having food in hand brings peace of mind.”

The person in charge continued, “Prince Ernst often emphasizes that agriculture is the easiest industry to be self-sufficient in. After all, no one can go without eating. But developing industry requires various conditions and has a very high barrier to entry, especially since first-mover countries have a strong advantage. They constantly update their technology, which continuously raises the threshold for industrialization in less developed countries.”

“For example, East Africa currently lacks the basic conditions for industrialization. Most of our residents come from rural areas and know virtually nothing about industry. Our grain production is not enough to support large-scale industrialization and cannot provide sufficient raw materials. Our transportation conditions are even worse, inferior to most backward countries. The length and density of dirt roads cannot compare with those of countries and regions with a bit of history. And the most important thing for developing industry is to import machinery and equipment from Europe, but the Hechingen Consortium still needs to make a profit, and East Africa is temporarily unable to import industrial facilities from Europe on a large scale.”

Maximilian I listened silently to the words of the sisal factory manager, lost in thought. He thought of his own life experiences.

He had always believed in liberalism, and he acted that way when he governed Milan (at the age of twenty-five, he was ennobled as Governor-General of Lombardy and Venice), implementing many policies that he considered advanced and humane, which ultimately provoked his brother’s dissatisfaction and led to his dismissal.

This was one of the reasons why he later chose to go to Mexico, to prove that he was not an idealist and that his policies could promote national development.

Unfortunately, reality slapped him in the face. The Mexicans simply didn’t appreciate him, and in the end, they even wanted to execute him. He had offended everyone.

Looking back now, Mexico was indeed not suitable for the development of a monarch. The Mexicans were deeply influenced by republican ideas, and the previous royal family’s overspending had exhausted the Mexicans’ trust. His trip to Mexico was a mistake from the very beginning.

Of course, Maximilian I was also deceived. The French forged a Mexican public opinion survey, which tricked the muddleheaded Maximilian I into going to Mexico as a scapegoat.

The Mexicans’ opposition to his rule was a matter of choosing their ruler, while Ernst’s East African colony was the opposite; it was Ernst choosing the people he would rule.

Therefore, the East African colony could achieve strict obedience, and Ernst could fully display his talents, Maximilian I thought.

…

September 11, 1867.

Mtwara Port.

“One, two, three, heave! One, two, three…”

Hundreds of dockworkers at the pier were working hard to unload cannons from the seagoing ships. These were all large pieces hauled from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The East African colony lacked transportation equipment and could only rely on manpower to complete the task.

Recently, all the cement imported by East Africa had been used to build the port’s defense works.

Influenced by the Paraguayan War, Ernst suddenly felt that East Africa’s location in Africa was somewhat similar to Paraguay’s location in South America, both located in the central-eastern part of their respective continents. The difference was that Paraguay had no access to the sea, while East Africa had a long coastline.

This was also East Africa’s advantage and disadvantage compared to Paraguay. The advantage was that East Africa, with its many ports, had greater development potential, while the disadvantage was that East Africa faced a greater maritime threat.

The East African colony currently had no navy, which meant that the door to the Indian Ocean was wide open, and there were only two ways to deal with enemies from the Indian Ocean.

One was to build its own naval force, and the second was to build fortifications along the coast, especially important facilities such as gun emplacements that could fight back.

A navy! That was a money-burning thing, and a small scale was completely useless. At most, it could bully some fishing boats, and even armed merchant ships were not easy to mess with.

Moreover, the navy was a purely technical arm of the military. Without accumulated experience and a lot of training, it would be difficult to exert its role.

With the current economic situation of the East African colony, it was better not to fantasize and honestly build some gun emplacements.

Now was a good window of opportunity to buy some large-caliber cannons from retired ships from Europe. The naval battle of Lissa last time, the duel between the Austrian and Italian ironclad ships, accelerated the speed at which countries upgraded their naval vessels.

Many old warships faced retirement, and the large-caliber cannons on the retired warships naturally had to be retired as well.

In order to make the best use of everything, some countries might dismantle them and continue to use them, such as using them as coastal defense guns, while others would find buyers to take over.

Ernst had found a batch of large-caliber cannons retired from warships from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although they were second-hand, they were still strong and durable, far more deterrent than the few “skeleton” cannons left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Mtwara, as the southernmost seaport in East Africa, naturally enjoyed the convenience in advance. Ships coming to and from Europe to East Africa arrived at the port of Mtwara first.

Having received the news long ago, the port of Mtwara had built the basic outline of the basic gun emplacements in advance. The design drawings were designed by professionals from the Austro-Hungarian Navy Department and were definitely the most advanced in this era.

Now, it was just waiting for the cannons to arrive for the final test firing.

After a great deal of effort, the workers finally transported the cannons to the designated location. The Austro-Hungarian naval advisor accompanying the ship personally directed the ammunition loading and target selection.

After all the preparation procedures were completed, the cannon was aimed at the target prepared on the sea, a wooden floating object marked with red paint.

“Fire!”

“Boom…”

With a roar, accompanied by thick smoke from the muzzle, the coastal defense gun accurately fell into the designated area and exploded.

A huge wave was instantly blown up on the sea, and the floating target was shattered and flew into the air.

The operators and observers near the launch point on the shore felt a roar in their ears and felt a clear blast of air at the moment the ammunition was fired.

In this way, the power of this batch of cannons was definitely enough to cope with some large armed ships of the current era.

However, there were also shortcomings. Ammunition still needed to be imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the price was not cheap, so it had to be used sparingly. Usually, the gunners’ own professional skills should be improved to make up for the shortcomings caused by the insufficient amount of ammunition.

Chapter 100: Coastal Defense System

Besides Mtwara Port, other ports were naturally equipped with gun emplacements as well. Moreover, influenced by geographical and historical factors, the gun emplacements in other East African ports were of a much higher standard than those in Mtwara.

The number of coastal defense guns varied depending on the importance of each port.

Among them, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were the most important in East Africa, with a long history of port construction and optimal natural conditions, ranking in the top tier of East African ports.

The gun emplacements arranged for Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were initially set at eight guns each.

Tanga and Bagamoyo were also two key ports to focus on, connecting the sea area between Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, ranking in the second tier.

Tanga and Bagamoyo were allocated six gun emplacements each.

Mtwara Port was not only small in scale, but also less strategically important than the former, so it could only be ranked in the third tier. It was estimated that newly built ports in Tanzania and Kenya in the future would be in the same category as Mtwara Port.

However, Mtwara Port also had four gun emplacements.

In addition to these ports, some islands seized from the Sultanate of Zanzibar were also key areas for defense. The most typical were Pemba Island and Mafia Island, the two largest islands off the coast of East Africa after Zanzibar Island.

Pemba Island was once an important part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s territory. Mafia Island was also suitable for human settlement.

Both islands played a defensive role for the East African coast. If Zanzibar Island was added, it would form a chain of islands, but this island chain was relatively close to the East African coast, making it difficult for overseas forces to control.

For example, it would be impossible for someone to use this island chain to blockade the East African coast. First of all, these three islands could only cover the coastal area of northern Tanzania. Secondly, the vast Indian Ocean to the east made it difficult for hostile forces to replenish supplies and weapons to this island chain.

Like the Ryukyu Islands in the island chain of East Asia, although they are relatively far from the United States, the mainland is also not close to them. The United States can rely on countries such as Japan and the Philippines to blockade and control this island chain.

As for the “island chain” off the coast of East Africa, it is no exaggeration to say that it is possible to land by dugout canoe from the coast of mainland East Africa.

Even so, the strategic importance of Pemba Island and Mafia Island is still very prominent, and the economic value of Pemba Island is also very promising, suitable for population settlement. In its previous life, Pemba Island was inhabited by more than two hundred thousand people, with cities and ports of all kinds, and suitable for agricultural cultivation.

The status of Mafia Island is roughly between Tanga Port and Mtwara Port. In its previous life, Mafia Island was an important tourist destination in Tanzania, with a permanent population of about twenty thousand.

Therefore, the East African colony would not give up these two islands. In order to ensure the development of these two islands and to protect the strategic security of the East African coast, Pemba Island was allocated six gun emplacements, while Mafia Island was allocated two.

In this way, the East African coastal defense system had a rough prototype, with a total of forty large-caliber coastal defense guns.

Forty guns is not a lot, but the current scale of East African ports is not large, so the match is still reasonable, especially for defending against large ships, it is more than enough.

This is of course only the first step. The current East African colony does not have the ability to continue to improve its defense capabilities, and can only wait until the future to increase the number of large-caliber guns.

However, small-caliber guns can be arranged one after another, after all, the price of ammunition for large-caliber guns alone is not something that ordinary people can afford.

If the enemy at sea first sends small boats to scout and attack, the cost of using large-caliber coastal defense guns to attack would be unbearable. At this time, small-caliber guns are needed.

The advantage of large-caliber coastal defense guns is that the coverage sea area design parameters are fixed and pre-calibrated, so the hit rate will be much higher, but the cost is relatively high, suitable for dealing with large ships.

Small-caliber guns, on the other hand, have relatively low cost, are mobile, flexible, and have good advantages against small targets.

The East African colony is not yet equipped with small-caliber guns, because the Hechingen factory in Trieste has not yet been put into production.

The research and development difficulty of large-caliber guns is relatively high. With the strength of the Hechingen factory, it is still too early to develop large-caliber guns.

After all, you can’t learn to run before you learn to walk, so it is important to accumulate experience starting from the production of small-caliber guns.

Moreover, small-caliber guns have a wide range of applications, convenient transportation, and low cost, making them very suitable for production by the small-scale Hechingen factory.

The East African colony is the Hechingen factory’s own reserved land, and the guns it produces will continue to be equipped to the East African colonial army.

The East African colony currently faces mostly indigenous forces. To be honest, rifles are enough. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? But Ernst just likes the feeling of sufficient firepower.

Portugal is also a potential enemy. Portugal’s Mozambique colony has a long history of development, and they must have some real stuff in their hands, so we can’t take it lightly.

After the Trieste Hechingen factory is put into production in the future, the highest priority will be given to the East African colony’s coastal defense system and the border between East Africa and Portuguese forces.

Speaking of the coastal defense system, its construction is designed by professional personnel from the Austrian Navy. In the Battle of Lissa last time, the Austrian Navy was actually on the defensive side, so they have rich experience in this area.

After the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire strengthened its coastal defense, and its retired naval guns, like those in East Africa, were also deployed in important strategic locations in the Adriatic Sea.

So Ernst can be said to have picked up a bargain, and can copy ready-made ones. Except for the insufficient number of small-caliber guns (second-hand goods left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar), other aspects are exactly the same as the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

For example, the gun emplacements are built with thicker reinforced concrete protection, and their structure is exactly the same as that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, even the coastal defense guns are from the same manufacturer.

Therefore, the coastal defense system along the East African coast is equivalent to replicating the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s defense system in the Adriatic Sea, which is a first-class standard in this era.

As long as the number of small-caliber guns is reached in the future, the entire East African coast will be an impregnable fortress that no one can bite, unless they attack at all costs. It’s not that Ernst looks down on the strength of other countries, but only the European and American navies have the ability to break through the completed East African coastal defense system.

But the navies of various countries are not fools, who would drive an ironclad ship to East Africa to fight this impregnable fortress? The shipping costs alone would not be worth it.

Only Portugal has the strength and motivation to attack East Africa by land and sea, so the East African colony has especially strengthened its military presence in the south. The south is East Africa’s land defense line, and the east is the coastal defense system. These two systems are obviously used to guard against someone.

The other directions are all East African colony’s active offensives and do not require defense. For example, the southwest direction, Mbeya leads to Zambia and Zimbabwe, the due west is Lake Tanganyika as a natural barrier, and the due north are all indigenous forces.

Chapter 101: Recruiting

Prince Constantine was indeed a prominent figure in southern Germany. Just by communicating with the major nobles in various regions, he secured the support of the southern German states.

For the southern German nobility, emigration overseas was actually a good thing. Southern Germany was primarily focused on agriculture, and farmers were a group with a high birth rate.

Moreover, the soil in southern Germany was fertile, and the farmers’ living standards were decent. In normal years, they had children freely, but they couldn’t cope with disasters.

Southern Germany already had a high population density, and the nobles’ territories didn’t lack people. Naturally, they couldn’t care about the lives of those affected by disasters. After all, the land was in the hands of the nobles. If you didn’t farm, someone else would.

The industrial level in southern Germany wasn’t high (compared to Prussia and Austria), so it couldn’t absorb the surplus population.

Therefore, unemployed farmers had to find their own way out. Previously, most southern German farmers went to America.

This wasn’t because America had particularly good conditions, but because German immigrants had nowhere else to go. European countries rejected immigrants due to religion, population, and other reasons. Britain, in order to develop North America, had lured many Germans to North America.

Among these Germans who went to America, a few might have made a name for themselves, but most people’s lives didn’t improve much. The earlier they went, the harsher the living conditions were. Many German immigrants in America became so-called “indentured servants,” whose status was only slightly higher than that of black slaves.

However, due to historical inertia and the increasingly improved attitude of the United States towards immigration (even black slaves were freed), going to America was still the first choice for German immigrants.

Especially recently, Prussia had basically stabilized and controlled the North German region, so the number of North German emigrants had decreased significantly.

The south hadn’t been controlled by Prussia yet, and coupled with crop failures, immigration not only didn’t decrease but increased (the period from 1866 to 1869 was a peak for southern German emigration. Data source: the internet).

But the situation in America had improved again. The Civil War had ended, and the United States had begun developing the western interior, increasing the demand for immigrants.

So, Ernst’s goal now was to snatch people from the Americans, and the chances of success were definitely high this time.

In the past, the German region didn’t have its own colonies overseas (Prussia and Austria had tried, but most were spontaneous actions by merchants, so they failed). German immigrants naturally had to choose to live in British colonies.

Now, the East African colony was a colony developed by the Germans themselves (Hechingen was a German principality. After being incorporated into Prussia, its nominal status was retained, and it participated in Prussian politics as a principality). It was vast and had been initially developed, so the conditions weren’t bad, giving German immigrants a new option.

This wasn’t the most important thing. The main advantage was that Hechingen itself was one of the local powers in southern Germany, and it had connections with the nobles in southern Germany. They were all on the same side.

The residents of southern Germany were the nobles’ subjects. The serf system had only been abolished recently (for example, Bavaria abolished serfdom in 1808), and the nobles still had a profound influence on the local farmers.

Therefore, as long as Hechingen gained the support of the nobles in various regions, it could obtain a large number of immigrants who would have gone to America in history.

Historically, German immigrants who went to America weren’t interested in politics, which was similar to the immigrant groups from the Far East. This made it even easier for Ernst to operate.

Of course, it was impossible to take all these immigrants. After all, some people might choose to go to America to join relatives and friends. Such people were a minority, and Ernst didn’t care.

……

Kingdom of Württemberg.

A group of people were gathered around the Hechingen Consortium’s recruitment office. It was very simple, just a platform built in the village.

Most of the people who came to inquire were German farmers in rags.

“Sir, I’ve never heard of this East African colony. Is it reliable for us to live and work there?” A farmer from the Kingdom of Württemberg, Oluchi Reis, asked Eric Knight, a staff member of the Hechingen Consortium.

“You can rest assured. The East African colony is a territory developed by us Germans overseas. It’s larger than two German regions combined. More than a million Germans already live there. It’s just that we mainly recruited residents from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire before, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of it,” Eric Knight exaggerated, boasting that all the people in the entire East African colony (including the natives) were Germans, to reassure these people to go to East Africa.

“Uh… how much is more than a million? Sir, I haven’t been to school, and I can only count to ten on one hand! Can you give us an analogy?” a farmer asked embarrassedly.

Eric Knight suddenly felt embarrassed, but for the sake of his performance, he still said kindly: “Your village, on the map of the Kingdom of Württemberg, is as small as a grain of wheat thrown into a pond. There are hundreds or thousands of villages like yours in the Kingdom of Württemberg. The total population of all the villages and cities in the entire Kingdom of Württemberg is about the same as the population of the East African colony.”

“Ah! There are so many people in East Africa, as many as in the entire kingdom, why do they still need to recruit us to develop it!” a farmer asked in confusion.

Good heavens, everything he said before was wasted. Eric Knight had no choice. The villagers’ level of knowledge was too low to understand his words at all. However, Eric Knight didn’t give up. It was easier to fool people with a low level of knowledge, it just took more effort.

“It’s not the same. Let me draw it for you on the ground.”

Eric Knight found a branch, squatted on the ground, and cleared a space.

“This is the Kingdom of Württemberg,” he said, drawing a small circle the size of a thumbnail on the ground with the branch.

“And this is the East African colony.” Eric Knight stretched out his arms and drew a large circle with a diameter of one meter. “Look, this is the difference in area between the Kingdom of Württemberg and the East African colony. To put it another way, the size difference between your village and the Kingdom of Württemberg is the same as the size difference between the Kingdom of Württemberg and the East African colony.”

“You see, the East African colony has such a large area, but only as many people as this small Württemberg. That’s why the East African colony needs to recruit people to develop it!” Eric Knight explained to the villagers.

“What does East Africa look like? Is it the same as Württemberg? Is the soil fertile there? What about the rainfall?” a villager asked.

“East Africa is similar to here, not too cold and not too hot. The land is also very flat, and the rainfall is about the same as here. There are also many rivers, which are very suitable for growing crops. Of course, there are some drawbacks, such as too few people and more wild animals. But don’t worry, the East African colonial government will organize the army to clear the wild animals before arranging for everyone to develop the land. Safety is not a problem,” Eric Knight said, half-truthfully.

In reality, Germans who immigrated to the East African colony now basically didn’t go to those desolate places.

In order to balance the Chinese immigrants, Ernst would definitely split up the German immigrants and place them in existing colonial cities and settlements.

So, the worst that could happen to German immigrants was being assigned to well-developed villages. They shouldn’t even think about settling independently as a group.

After all, to assimilate the Chinese culture and achieve Germanization in East Africa, they couldn’t allow Chinatowns to exist like in Southeast Asia in later generations.

If you all live together, you don’t need to communicate with other ethnic groups, so how can you integrate with each other?

As for why Eric Knight was deceiving these villagers, it was actually to dispel their concerns.

After all, if he praised East Africa as being as beautiful as a flower, full of advantages, it would definitely arouse the villagers’ vigilance. Only by telling the disadvantages of East Africa could he dispel their doubts, while also not scaring away these villagers.

Wild animals were a good excuse. They did pose a certain danger, which also proved that East Africa did have a lot of wasteland. Saying that the East African colonial government would send troops to clear them would also reassure these villagers subconsciously, after all, how could wild animals beat an army with guns?

Chapter 102: Deceive, and Continue Deceiving

“Sir, if East Africa is really as you say, that wouldn’t be bad. But someone from the next village went to America, so that should be okay too! I heard that America has been developing well these past few years!”

He even knows about America! Erik Knight was a little surprised. It seemed that these villagers could still get some news.

“America? It used to be a good place to go, but now it’s far inferior to the East African colonies. Do you know that America just finished a war not long ago?” Erik Knight asked rhetorically.

“I heard about it a few years ago. The fighting in America was pretty fierce. But didn’t Germany also have wars? Prussia and Austria fought each other recently, and the kingdom (Württemberg) was in a state of panic at that time,” one of the villagers said.

“Of course, that’s different. The war in the German region is for the unification of our nation, so that we won’t be bullied by foreigners in the future. But you may not know the inside story of the war in America. Let me tell you!”

Erik Knight mysteriously analyzed the “inside” information he knew with the villagers: “This America, like the East African colonies, didn’t have many people, and the land was wasted. Of course, America had Native Americans, who were killed by the British. We all know the British are rich, so they’re lazy! They can’t work themselves, and the Native Americans were wiped out too quickly, so there was no one to work for them. So they recruited people from Africa and Europe to plant crops and mine coal for them.”

Erik Knight returned to his seat, poured himself a glass of water, took a small sip, and continued, “These Africans are so black that you can’t even see them standing in the dark.”

“Sir, does this Africa have anything to do with the East Africa you mentioned?” a villager asked curiously.

“Of course. I guess you’ve all heard of the slave trade, where the British dragged black people from Africa to America to plant crops. So there’s no one left on the land in Africa, and those lands were abandoned. That’s why we Germans went to develop the East African colonies,” Erik Knight said with a straight face, talking nonsense.

“Bah, those British are really not good people. But I heard that these black people aren’t anything good either. They look like monkeys, stupid and dull,” one of the villagers said.

“Pretty much, pretty much,” Erik Knight said cheerfully.

“The British are divided into two groups. One group is the Southerners, who specialize in using black slaves to plant crops. The other group is the Northerners, who plant crops and also open factories. These British factories are not good things. They’re all black-hearted! They work day and night, and the workers have short lives. These workers are all recruited from our place, Italy, and Ireland. Anyway, the British don’t care about using them. How can those people have a way out!” Erik Knight said alarmingly.

“If all the people in the factory are worked to death, what will they do if they run out of people? The factory can’t stop, otherwise, why are the British so rich? Does that make sense? So the Northerners are eyeing the black slaves on the Southern plantations, wanting these black slaves to work in the Northern factories. But the British are stingy! They don’t want to pay the Southerners, they just want to use people for free. If you were in that situation, would you agree?”

The villagers listened to Erik Knight’s nonsense as if they were listening to a story. Someone said, “If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t agree.”

“Exactly! They don’t pay and they want to freeload workers. The Southerners definitely wouldn’t agree, so America started fighting.”

“The Southerners were unlucky. They didn’t beat the North, and these black people entered the factories opened by the Northerners in America. That was deadly. Although there are many black people, they can’t withstand being used like that! That’s why they need to continue recruiting people from our place. I ask you, do you still want to go?” Erik Knight said.

“Of course, we can’t go!”

“That’s right. I didn’t expect the Americans to be so black-hearted. No wonder they’re descendants of the British.”

The villagers discussed animatedly.

…

“Alright, quiet down. If you want to develop in East Africa, you can start signing up now!”

Erik Knight stopped the discussing villagers.

“Sir, is it possible that the East African colonies also want to open factories and learn from the Americans!” a villager asked.

“Don’t worry, everyone. The East African colonies are legitimate German colonies. That’s our German territory. Everyone is a compatriot. How could we learn from the British and mistreat our German people?”

Erik Knight said, while starting to use his final trump card: “Everyone, perhaps my words are not convincing enough. Next, we will have the village chief verify it.”

The village chief had been sitting aside without speaking. At this moment, he opened his mouth and said, “Everyone, don’t worry. The East African colonies are our German territory. Going there is no different from being in Germany. Do you know whose territory the East African colonies are?”

The villagers shook their heads.

“You should know the name of Prussia, right?”

“Village chief, I know. Now everyone says that Prussia is the boss of Germany. Austria couldn’t beat them.”

“That’s the idea. The East African colonies are the territory of Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen of Prussia. It’s all our own German people there. Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen is a top nobleman, and his credibility is very reliable. It’s just that he thinks our German land is too small, there are too many people, and there’s not enough land, so he went overseas to open up the East African colonies, so that we Germans can live a good life. So those of you who don’t have land to cultivate, sign up quickly, don’t miss the opportunity,” the village chief said.

“Village chief, is the news reliable?” a villager asked.

“Why would I lie to you? Knight von Krey from the town told me this news himself. He said that it has been confirmed by our Kingdom of Württemberg, and the news is absolutely reliable and true.”

“It’s just that His Highness Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen is kind-hearted and cares about us Germans. Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen is a great nobleman in Prussia who can talk to the king. His territory is next to Württemberg, so he can be considered a local, so he’s thinking of you when there’s something good,” the village chief said.

“Don’t even think about going to the city to work. Do you have any skills or have you gone to school? There’s no place for you in the city. As for America, if you have connections, it doesn’t matter if you go. If you don’t have connections, don’t waste your effort. Would the British give you benefits for nothing? They would have given the benefits to their own people long ago. It wouldn’t be your turn.”

“Going to the East African colonies is different. When you go there, you’ll still be doing your old job. Farmers do farm work, and no one can deceive you. Our ancestors have been doing this kind of land cultivation for generations, and no one can fool you. Okay, that’s all I have to say. Anyway, it’s all about making a living. You definitely have to go to our own German place. The only difference is that one is in Europe and the other is overseas. But overseas is still our German land, which is the same as not leaving Germany. If you have any ideas, sign up quickly, don’t waste time,” the village chief said.

…

After a day and a night of consideration, most of the farmers who did not have land chose to sign up. Most of them were young people, with small families, who had no land to cultivate, and chose to go overseas to make a living.

And those who originally had the idea of going to America, under the rumors of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium staff, gave up their plan to go to America and instead chose to go to East Africa. After all, East Africa was officially certified.

The same scene appeared in Baden, Württemberg, Bavaria… and even in northern Austria, which borders Austria.

The first wave of large-scale German migration to East Africa began.

Chapter 103: “Big Killer”

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite infecting the human body, and it is the biggest problem facing the development of the East African colonies.

The daytime temperature in the East African colonies remains around twenty degrees Celsius all year round, and the coastal areas often remain above thirty degrees Celsius.

This is very suitable for mosquitoes to survive, and malaria is spread through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes.

Therefore, the more rampant the mosquitoes are, the wider the spread of malaria. Especially in this era, people do not yet know that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Because it is impossible to block the spread of malaria at its source, malaria is widespread from tropical to subtropical regions.

In the early days, the development of the East African colonies was extremely difficult for immigrants. Even with the East African government’s mandatory orders for large-scale modifications to hygiene and living conditions, there was little effect.

This was because early East Africa was a vast wilderness, with lush vegetation, especially during the rainy season, when the weather was humid and hot, and mosquitoes bred rapidly.

The immigrants were new arrivals, and their numbers were still small, so the speed of transforming the living environment was naturally slow. As a result, many people were infected, and quite a few were taken away by malaria and other tropical diseases.

Fortunately, those who could survive in the Far East and travel across the ocean were immigrants who had seen all kinds of storms.

Like the black slaves who went to America through the slave trade, they were the healthiest of the black people who had been screened by nature and humans.

The Far Eastern immigrants who were able to reach East Africa alive were similar, although to ensure the survival rate of the immigrants, the conditions of their transport ships were much better than those of the slave ships.

Later, as the number of immigrants gradually increased, and the cities and villages of East Africa were developed, living conditions in East Africa slowly improved.

Under the command of Ernst, East Africa launched a large-scale mosquito eradication campaign, which has been ongoing since the beginning of the East African colonies.

This involved burning the vegetation around settlements, filling in puddles to reduce the mosquitoes’ living environment, and implementing biological control of the colonies’ water bodies, with large-scale breeding of fish and frogs to reduce the number of mosquito larvae.

As the development of the colonies began to take shape, the quality of life in the colonies also improved significantly. In particular, tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, which are spread by mosquitoes, were greatly reduced due to the mosquito eradication campaign in the colonies.

Moreover, the colonies required immigrants to pay attention to hygiene, strengthened the management of water sources in the colonies, strictly prohibited the pollution of water sources, and forbade drinking raw water, or carried out simple filtration and disinfection of some water bodies.

Feces were also disposed of in a unified and centralized manner, and a new batch of public toilets were built in each village to meet the needs of the immigrants.

The management of wild animals that could spread disease was even stricter. In the early days, immigrants were allowed to hunt to supplement their food due to food shortages, but once colonial food production began, this behavior was prohibited.

Ernst always believed that many diseases in Africa in his previous life were entirely caused by Africans themselves. For example, AIDS was caused by Africans eating local primates.

Regardless of whether this statement is correct, all primates in East Africa (excluding humans, of course, unless they were natives) suffered. As long as they were within the range of immigrant activity (including farmland and roads), baboons, monkeys, and apes were all brutally poisoned and physically eliminated with firearms by the colony, then burned to ashes, and finally buried (remote mountains, forests, and the depths of the grasslands were not included, as they would be reserved as ecological reserves in the future).

This was done to prevent some people from eating them, after all, the immigrants had been hungry before, and had eaten soil and tree bark. Having suffered enough, they were afraid that someone would secretly give themselves extra rations.

Under this strict defense, the living conditions in the East African colonies naturally greatly improved, and the sanitation was better than anywhere else at the time, including Europe.

When the Austro-Hungarian and Paraguayan immigrants arrived later, East Africa was already well-established. They were all assigned to cities and villages that had already been developed by Chinese immigrants, in order to dilute the number of Chinese and prevent the formation of interest groups (such as ethnic groups) in the future.

In addition, more and more Chinese and white women intermarried (Armenian, Paraguayan, etc.), and imperceptibly, the East African government integrated various ethnic groups. As long as the cultural characteristics of immigrants from various countries other than German culture were removed in the future, the population integration would be completed.

Although the living conditions in the current East African colonies have greatly improved, and tropical diseases have been compressed to a very low level for the same latitude, it is impossible to completely eradicate mosquitoes, and mosquitoes are the most important carriers of disease. Therefore, in addition to continuing to strengthen sanitation activities, scientific methods of repelling and killing mosquitoes are also essential.

Again, people in this era have no understanding of mosquitoes as disease carriers.

It was not until the end of the 19th century that European scientists discovered that mosquitoes were the source of tropical diseases such as malaria, and began to study mosquitoes.

So now, only Ernst and the people of the East African colonies believe that mosquitoes are the carriers of diseases such as malaria.

It’s not that Ernst is selfish and doesn’t want to announce it to the world, but the problem is that he only knows it from his previous life, and he is not a researcher or authority in this field. If he said it, he would probably be laughed at.

East Africa is different, with widespread illiteracy and public opinion controlled by Ernst himself. He can just make up a few non-existent experts and have his subordinates implement his instructions.

In the beginning, people may have been reluctant, after all, everything was enforced. But slowly, as sanitation and the environment improved, diseases such as malaria really decreased, and the immigrants were happy to change (after all, no one wants to die).

And the benefits of using Chinese immigrants early on were demonstrated: strong obedience, weak resistance, and influenced by the culture of the Far Eastern government, even if they had grievances, they would hold them back first. Therefore, the sanitation improvement campaign forcibly implemented by the East African colonial government was successfully implemented.

By the time immigrants from other countries arrived, this model was already mature and had become the norm and routine in the East African colonies. And the new immigrants, after all, started with a small number, so they could only follow suit. In this way, paying attention to hygiene became the iron rule of the East African colonies, and everyone had to follow it.

Soon, immigrants from the German region will arrive in East Africa, and the Hechingen Consortium has brought good news.

Pyrethrin, a result of the cooperation between Ernst’s funding and various German universities, has been extracted.

As long as mosquito coils are produced later, following the example of mosquito coils from his previous life, and professional personnel are hired to design and produce mosquito coil machines, mosquito coils, the “big killer” of mosquitoes in tropical regions, can be mass-produced.

This will undoubtedly further improve the living conditions in the East African colonies and further reduce the spread of diseases such as malaria.

Moreover, mosquito coil production can bring a new wealth to the Hechingen Consortium, and East Africa itself is a pyrethrum producing area, which can further form a perfect industrial closed loop.

Chapter 104: Diet

October 3rd, 1867.

Mbeya, Inyanya Village.

Aygul Yaghub was preparing breakfast for herself and her husband.

Aygul Yaghub was Armenian. She had been bought from Ottoman nobles by Arab slave traders and sold to the East African colony.

She was given as a “prize” to Zhao Yizhan, recognized by the colonial government as a model worker.

Zhao Yizhan was a Chinese immigrant, one of the first to arrive in Mbeya, part of the initial group of Chinese immigrant soldiers organized by the colony.

Of the hundred men in Zhao Yizhan’s group, only ninety-seven survived to reach Mbeya. Three of his comrades had fallen during the arduous march.

Later, Mbeya became the capital of the Upper Malawi Lake region. The East African colonial government established villages throughout the East African colony to develop the land.

Inyanya Village was established near Mbeya, and Zhao Yizhan, as a veteran, was assigned to Inyanya Village and became a member of the Inyanya Village security team.

Zhao Yizhan was originally from Shandong Province. He was not short, reaching one meter seventy-eight (in the early twentieth century, the average height in many European and American countries was still less than one meter seventy). In the Far East, he was skin and bones because he could not get enough to eat, so he looked like a large reed stalk.

Although Zhao Yizhan was still malnourished when he first arrived in the East African colony, he worked with vigor after being well-fed.

His mental state was excellent, and he was selected as one of the first batch of Chinese soldiers in the First Town, eventually embarking on the journey to conquer Mbeya.

During his year of military service in Mbeya, Zhao Yizhan’s obedience and resilience were noticed by his superiors, and he was appointed as a key member of the newly established Inyanya Village (after all, the village security team only had a few people, headed by a German village chief and a Black Forest Academy trainee, so he was considered to have high status and power in the village).

Later, the “rectification” movement came. Mbeya was located on a major transportation route from indigenous areas to the southwest (towards Zimbabwe and Zambia).

The local government of Mbeya had to maintain the smooth flow of the passage, ensuring that indigenous tribes would not stay, and was also responsible for expelling local indigenous tribes. Therefore, Mbeya bore a relatively heavy responsibility and workload.

As a result, Mbeya was able to gain more achievements, and in the subsequent application for female quotas, it gained some advantages. Zhao Yizhan also performed well in organizing the militia (temporary expansion) during this rectification movement, standing out among his colleagues.

He became one of the first people to be assigned a wife. Aygul Yaghub married Zhao Yizhan at that time.

The Mbeya government of the East African colony personally issued the marriage certificate for the two.

As an Armenian woman, Aygul Yaghub was not very skilled at handling East African ingredients.

The Armenians lived in the Transcaucasian region of West Asia, historically influenced by Greek and Persian culture, so their cuisine was a mix of Greek, Persian, Turkish, and Arab flavors.

The Armenians lived in high mountain valleys and plateaus, where the environment was harsh and transportation was not very convenient.

Compared to West Asia, East Africa seemed like a “land of fish and rice.”

East Africa was quite rich in products. Various tropical fruits and vegetables were suitable for growing here. Fertile, flat, and large areas of land supplied abundant grain production. There were also many rivers and lakes, with all kinds of ingredients available, from those that flew in the sky, ran on the ground, and swam in the water.

Many of these were things that Aygul Yaghub had never seen before. Fortunately, Mbeya mainly cultivated wheat, and Aygul Yaghub, as an Armenian woman, knew how to make an Armenian version of baked bread as a staple food.

East Africa was currently promoting the use of fish to replace wild animals as a meat supplement, and Armenians were also good at preparing fish.

However, Aygul Yaghub lacked experience in handling many East African ingredients.

This was where Zhao Yizhan’s advantage came into play. As someone from the Far East, Zhao Yizhan certainly knew how to cook, but he only knew how to cook, not how to cook well.

Even so, he taught Aygul Yaghub how to stir-fry, deep-fry, and make pancakes, noodles, and other Oriental dishes.

Although these few things seemed simple, they were already enough to handle most foods.

Although the food in Zhao Yizhan’s family was relatively simple, it reflected a combination of East and West. In any case, being able to eat enough was considered good in this era, and no one cared much about the taste of the food.

As an agricultural planting area, East Africa’s grain production capacity was relatively considerable, with each person receiving about half a kilogram of rations per day.

As a model worker and member of the security team, Zhao Yizhan could be allocated three-quarters of a kilogram of rations per day. Aygul Yaghub, as a woman, could also get close to 350 grams of grain. The two of them together had just over 1.1 kilograms.

In addition to the occasional meat supply, self-grown vegetables, and wild vegetables, melons, and fruits from the fields.

In this era, the living conditions of Zhao Yizhan’s family far exceeded the world average. It was only in terms of clothing, housing, and transportation that the East African colony was lacking, otherwise, it was no different from Europe.

Today, the breakfast in Zhao Yizhan’s family was two pieces of baked bread, a fish soup, and a stir-fried green vegetable dish.

Aygul Yaghub was responsible for processing the ingredients, and Zhao Yizhan was responsible for lighting the fire.

In addition to a set of Oriental stoves, there was also a West Asian-style oven built in the house.

In the past, most of the pots, bowls, and pans in the East African colony were imported in bulk from the Far East and Europe.

Since receiving the mainland part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the brick kilns and handicraft workshops on it were also taken over and expanded by the East African colony, providing the bricks, stones, pottery jars, iron pots, and other industrial products needed for stoves throughout East Africa.

Of course, in addition to families like Zhao Yizhan who cooked for themselves, East Africa also had a large number of canteens. After all, East Africa still had a large group of bachelors who had not started families (after starting a family, they could not eat in the canteen). Their dietary problems were solved by communal meals.

However, as more and more people solved their marriage problems and family immigration increased, the proportion of people eating in the canteen had gradually begun to decrease.

Before long, the village canteen would likely close down. Following the instructions from above, family immigrants would be given priority in being assigned to villages in the future.

Male single immigrants would first be arranged into cities. The East African colony was currently establishing a batch of traditional handicraft workshops to provide simple daily necessities for the development of the East African colony.

Moreover, cities could be managed more conveniently. Immigrants with families were naturally easier to rule than single immigrants, so family immigrants were currently given priority in being assigned to farms.

Single immigrants were first assigned to cities with stricter management. The cities in East Africa were not the usual European cities where citizens enjoyed full freedom.

In fact, the cities in East Africa were just slightly larger towns, or giant farms, but they were called cities administratively for the sake of convenient management and nomenclature.

Their industry was still mainly agriculture, but the conditions and transportation in these cities were advantageous. Even if the East African colonial government interfered with their development, they would become regional centers in the future by virtue of their own conditions.

Chapter 105: The Portuguese

October 5th, 867.

East Malawi Lake Region.

Mitomoni Village, located more than one hundred kilometers south of Songea.

The forests in the East Malawi Lake Region are relatively dense. The tall, clustered trees are distinctly different from the endless grasslands of the northern East African colony.

In his previous life, even in the 21st century, Tanzania’s forest coverage remained at around fifty percent. In this era, the forest coverage of the entire Tanzania is only higher, not lower.

Unlike tropical rainforests and subtropical forests, the trees in East African forests are not densely packed. There are large gaps between the trees, mainly grasslands, with few shrubs, making passage easy. However, without a compass and map, it is easy to get lost.

Therefore, the East Malawi Lake Region is also the least developed land in East Africa. After all, a fire can burn a large area of wasteland in the grasslands, but cutting down these trees is still difficult for the relatively small East African colony.

Everything has two sides. The forests are lush, and timber resources are abundant. Limited by transportation capacity, these trees cannot be exported for the time being, but they greatly satisfy the needs of the East African colony itself.

Building houses, using them as fuel, and making tools can all utilize these rich resources. According to the current population size of the East African colony, developing these timbers is truly inexhaustible.

As one of the southernmost villages in the East Malawi Lake Region, Mitomoni Village is also a small military stronghold.

In addition to the low walls made of mud and stones, there are also simple sentry posts built with wood. At the exit, there are wooden chevaux de frise. Such a configuration is somewhat extravagant for the natives in the south.

Strictly speaking, East Africa has not yet bordered the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. After all, although Mozambique has a large population, there are not many Portuguese, and most are distributed along the coast.

The Portuguese naturally could not completely control Mozambique, so there were a large number of native tribes within Mozambique, whose relationship with the Portuguese was more like that of vassal states.

As long as they submit to the rule of the Kingdom of Portugal, they are considered their own people. Of course, this situation is more obvious inland. In the coastal areas controlled by the Portuguese themselves, those natives can only be slaves for the Portuguese, arbitrarily bullied.

Before the end of the slave trade, Mozambique was an important source of goods for the Kingdom of Portugal.

The Portuguese colonization of Mozambique can also be considered conventional, first occupying the coastal ports, and then gradually expanding inland along the rivers.

Of course, the Portuguese initially had another additional goal, which was to destroy the power of the Arabs as much as possible, so this was also a religious war.

In Mozambique, the Portuguese succeeded. The Arab forces along the coast were indeed weak and difficult to resist the Portuguese invasion.

But when the Portuguese tried to move north and replicate this action, they encountered the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was at its peak. The two sides fought to a draw, so the Portuguese switched from confrontation to cooperation with the Sultanate of Zanzibar, jointly developing the interests of the western Indian Ocean coast.

The farthest the Portuguese forces had reached was parts of Zimbabwe and Zambia, but because of the plague in the two places, the Portuguese were forced to withdraw to Mozambique. This was also the first failed attempt by Western colonizers to develop the African interior.

Until now, the Portuguese have not successfully expanded into the African interior again, at most influencing the important extraterritorial forces of inland native kingdoms and tribes.

…

A Portuguese patrol, fully armed, explored northward, led by Turrio Penili, an officer of the Portuguese Mozambique colony.

As a Portuguese who has been in the Mozambique colony for many years, Turrio Penili is relatively familiar with the local area.

The team was small, with a total of forty-seven people, patrolling the native tribes under the Mozambique colony along traditional roads.

Gradually, Turrio Penili came to the border area between the East African colony and the Mozambique colony.

In fact, the Portuguese did not know much about the expansion of the East African colony, only that the Germans had defeated the Sultanate of Zanzibar, but the Sultanate of Zanzibar still existed, only retreating to Zanzibar Island.

According to the Portuguese, the Germans should be the same as themselves, mainly concentrated in the coastal areas, at most affecting the inland tribes.

After all, the Portuguese have developed their own power in Africa for hundreds of years, and they have not succeeded in penetrating inland. The Germans, who have just arrived, can only develop the coastal plains at most.

Mitomoni Village is not far from Lake Malawi and can be considered inland, so Turrio Penili and his party casually set off to the north.

Soon, after arriving at the last northern tribe in Mozambique, its chief began to report the latest news to Turrio Penili.

“Many people who fled from the north were captured by us. They are all from the northern tribes. I heard that recently they were driven away by a group of white-faced people. Many resisters were killed or fled west. They are also resisters. They are unwilling to flee west and escaped to our territory with the help of the forest.” The translator said to Turrio Penili.

“White faces?” Turrio Penili whispered: “Could it be the Germans!”

Turrio Penili couldn’t make up his mind and said to the chief: “Tell me in detail about their appearance, clothing, and weapons.”

“Our people have gone to the north to check. A castle (Mitomoni Village) has been built there. Their skin color is very similar to yours (actually, most are Chinese), and they have the same weapons as you (guns). Their clothes are also similar, but they are more uniform and not as good-looking as yours (Western clothing is fancy, while the East African colony is mainly military uniforms). The people from the northern tribe we captured said that the other party is a tribe with a lion as a totem.” The chief replied.

“It seems they are indeed Germans!” Turrio Penili said to the team members, “In that case, we will go and visit them. Listen to my orders at that time and do not conflict with the Germans.”

Soon, Turrio Penili and his party arrived near Mitomoni Village under the leadership of the chief. Looking from a distance, the lion totem that the chief said was erected in front of the simple fortifications.

Turrio Penili naturally recognized that it was not the tribal totem in the mouth of the local natives, but a flag, the coat of arms of the Hechingen family, and also the flag of the East African colony.

In fact, Turrio Penili only knew that it was the flag of a European noble family. As for Hechingen or something, there are so many nobles in Europe, especially in the German region. How could Turrio Penili, a commoner of the Kingdom of Portugal, know them all?

The reason why he can know that it is the flag of a European noble family is mainly because the lion on that flag is too common in Europe. Many noble families and royal families have this symbol on their coat of arms. Generally, those who can use eagles and lions as their coat of arms have a great background.

But this does not prevent Turrio Penili from knowing that it is the German flag, because in the eastern coast, Portuguese merchants can still obtain a lot of information from East Africa, especially the mouth of the Ruvuma River (the Ruvuma River is the boundary river between the eastern East African colony and the Mozambique colony), and many such flags are erected on the opposite bank.

What Turrio Penili did not expect was that the Germans had penetrated into the inland areas of East Africa and established a considerable stronghold here.

Chapter 106: The East Africa and Mozambique Non-Aggression Treaty

“Halt! Who goes there?” The militiaman raised his gun, cautiously aiming at the approaching figures.

Túlio Peni stepped forward, handing his weapon to the men behind him. He raised both hands high and addressed the Mitomoni village militia in Portuguese: “I am Túlio Peni, an officer of the Kingdom of Portugal’s Mozambique colony. I wish to speak with your commanding officer.”

Gibberish… After a burst of Portuguese, the Mitomoni village militiamen were even more bewildered, gripping their guns even tighter.

At that moment, hearing the commotion, Gilles Zioni, the village chief of Mitomoni, walked to the front of the village.

Looking at Túlio Peni and his group, Gilles Zioni asked in German: “Who are you people?”

Seeing the completely clueless look on Túlio Peni’s face, Gilles Zioni, whose hometown was on the Franco-Prussian border, repeated the question in French.

Finally, someone in Túlio Peni’s group understood. This person’s mother was French, so he understood French.

He walked to Túlio Peni’s side and repeated Gilles Zioni’s words to him.

With a middleman acting as translator, the two sides could finally begin to communicate.

After understanding the intentions of Túlio Peni and the others, Gilles Zioni did not make things difficult for the Portuguese.

Currently, East Africa’s strategy towards the Portuguese was primarily “if they don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.” East Africa was also relatively restrained regarding the land to the south, stopping its southward advance at the Ruvuma River.

Unlike the eastern side, the western sides of the two colonies did not have a clear border, because there were no mountains or rivers to serve as geographical boundaries; the eastern shore of Lake Malawi was a flat plain.

Gilles Zioni received the Portuguese, but only allowed a few of them to enter Mitomoni village without weapons, while the others had to remain outside the village.

…

A month after Gilles Zioni saw Túlio Peni off, the Portuguese high command in Maputo, the capital of Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), also received Túlio Peni’s report.

The Portuguese were still quite surprised by the speed of the German East Africa colony’s expansion. They had toiled for hundreds of years to develop the Mozambique colony to its current scale, while the Germans had only been there for a few years.

Although surprised by the Germans’ speed, the Portuguese did not take any action. As long as the Germans did not have any ulterior motives towards Mozambique, the Portuguese were too lazy to take the initiative.

After all, the strength to easily defeat the Sultanate of Zanzibar was a force to be reckoned with on the entire western coast of the Indian Ocean, and the East Africa colony currently did not have any resources that the Portuguese particularly desired.

However, the Portuguese were not doing nothing. To avoid conflicts between the two colonies, the Mozambique government sent people to Dar es Salaam to discuss with the East Africa colony and determine the border between the two colonies, dividing up the sphere of influence in East Africa.

The East Africa colonial government accepted the Portuguese request. Currently, the East Africa colony was still focused on the north and west, and was not interested in Mozambique to the south for the time being.

Ernst’s plan for colonizing East Africa also changed with the development of the East Africa colony. If Ernst’s original plan was to occupy the Tanganyika region, then the second stage was the entire Tanzania. Currently, it was in the third stage, which was the land of the East African Community in later generations.

In his previous life, the East African Community had six member states: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan.

Currently, the focus of the East Africa colony’s strategy was Uganda, the three countries of Burundi and Rwanda, and northern Kenya.

As for South Sudan, there was only Sudan at the moment, and it was under the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Empire, so South Sudan was not part of the current plan.

When carrying out colonial activities in East Africa, Ernst always advocated taking a steady approach. Before gaining a firm foothold, he would not clash with the relatively powerful forces in the area.

First, lie low for a while, and when the population reached a certain scale, then look for targets to expand. Of course, this was in regards to the Arabs and other European colonizers. Towards the native tribes, the East Africa colony was always arrogant and domineering.

It seemed like a simple principle, but in reality, it was very difficult in this era. With the development of the European Industrial Revolution, European and American countries were now unscrupulous in the oceans and other continents.

As long as they saw valuable resources and products, they would snatch them if they could. A ship, a flag planted on a small island, could obtain an overseas territory. Of course, this was generally a self-indulgent act. If the countries did not recognize it, it was useless. If valuable minerals were discovered on the island, the great powers would come smelling the scent.

The East Africa colony was an official colony. Although Hechingen nominally ceased to exist as a country and became part of Prussia, as long as the name still existed, it was easy to handle.

As the Hechingen royal family’s territory, the East Africa colony was separated from Prussia in terms of ownership, but everyone tacitly assumed that it was a Prussian colony.

After all, Hechingen had become part of Prussia. Who knew if it was a disguise created by Prussia? And Prussia temporarily did not pay much attention to overseas affairs, so there was no need to explain to other countries.

Therefore, the East Africa colony was borrowing power from a greater force. Otherwise, if the Portuguese in Mozambique really understood the ins and outs of the situation, they would not be so polite.

December 3, 1867.

The East Africa colony and the Mozambique colony signed an agreement: “The East Africa and Mozambique Non-Aggression Treaty.”

The treaty demarcated the border between the two sides, starting from the mouth of the Ruvuma River and ending at the village of Idila on the mid-eastern shore of Lake Malawi, with a border line of more than seven hundred kilometers.

The area north of the border was the sphere of influence of the East Africa colony, and the area south of the border was the sphere of influence of the Mozambique colony.

Neither side was allowed to enter the other’s sphere of influence without the other’s permission, and both sides would respect each other’s interests along the western Indian Ocean coast and jointly maintain the smooth flow of traditional commercial trade routes in the western Indian Ocean.

This treaty focused on the intersection of the two sides’ spheres of influence, one being the land border and the other being the maritime trade route.

The limitation of the treaty was that the division of land forces only described in detail the border demarcation between the two colonies’ current border areas, that is, the area between Lake Malawi and the Indian Ocean.

It did not divide or determine many places in East Africa and South Africa, which laid the groundwork for future conflicts between the two colonies on the western shore of Lake Malawi.

However, this treaty was still quite good at the moment. East Africa currently had no intention of going deep into the west of Lake Malawi, and Mozambique had no plans to advance inland.

The two sides would not meet in the west for the time being, and both sides needed a stable situation in the east to ensure their respective interests.

As the end of the year approached, the East Africa colony’s immigration task for this year was about to be completed, and the immigrant population of the East Africa colony would reach a new level.

The war with the natives in the northwest region had long ended, and the East Africa colony was just waiting for the end of the plague to take down the northwest region in one fell swoop.

Adding in the northern Kenya region that was being explored, the main body of the East African Community in his previous life would basically be in the hands of the East Africa colony.

The signing of “The East Africa and Mozambique Non-Aggression Treaty” added a layer of insurance to the East Africa colony’s expansion to the north, avoiding the need to expend too much energy to guard against the Portuguese.

Chapter 107: Lake Turkana

December 5th, 1867.

As the year drew to a close, the workload in the colony began to lighten. The East African colony was no longer in the destitute state it had been two years prior (February 1st, 1865, the initial landing at Dar es Salaam).

Operations had matured into a well-established process, greatly reducing unnecessary complications. Immigration work was also smoother, simply replicating past experiences.

Therefore, as the year ended, the East African colony had the capacity to stir up some action. Although they had previously occupied the southern part of Kenya, the northern part of Kenya was still untouched.

As for the northwest region, they could only observe it this year. The local epidemic had not yet ended, and the most optimistic estimate was that they could only take action next year.

The natural conditions in northern Kenya were far inferior to those in the south, mainly due to less rainfall, presenting a coexistence of desert and grassland.

However, the East African colony was not picky. The presence of grassland meant that rainfall was still decent, and a small amount of desert was not entirely unacceptable.

The average rainfall in the north was approximately between 300mm and 400mm, meaning that some areas could reach around 500mm to 600mm. However, some desert areas did not even reach 200mm.

This rainfall condition was not bad, allowing for the cultivation of some drought-resistant crops, as well as the development of animal husbandry.

Of course, the prerequisite was to avoid those desert and arid areas, mainly the northeastern part near Somalia, which was the driest region in all of Kenya.

This was mainly due to the influence of terrain and ocean currents. The northwest was flat, while the southeast trade winds brought moisture from the Indian Ocean towards the East African interior. In the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) region, influenced by the terrain’s uplift, the southwestern highlands of Kenya formed, resulting in abundant rainfall.

However, once the southeast trade winds crossed the equator, influenced by the Coriolis effect, they turned into southwest winds and had little rainfall left when they reached northeastern Kenya.

The northeast trade winds, blowing from the Arabian Peninsula, mainly passed over land, making it difficult to carry large amounts of moisture.

In addition, the northeastern coastal plains were flat, providing little interception of moisture, and there was also the cooling and dehumidifying effect of cold currents in summer, thus forming a non-zonal tropical desert.

The impact of terrain on rainfall can be seen from Ethiopia, Somalia’s neighbor. The Ethiopian highlands intercept the moisture of the southwest monsoon, resulting in more rainfall in the southwestern part of the Ethiopian highlands, even forming large-scale wetlands downstream of the rivers.

…

Lake Turkana.

The border lake between Kenya and Ethiopia, located in the northwestern part of Kenya.

Lake Turkana is the fourth largest lake in Africa, after the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria), Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi.

This time, Henriette (character appearing in Chapter 57) led a team to survey northwestern Kenya. The conditions were much better compared to a year ago.

After replenishing supplies in the coffee-growing area at the foot of Mount Kenya, Henriette and her team embarked on the journey to conquer northwestern Kenya.

Now, Henriette had the azure blue Lake Turkana before her.

“What a beautiful lake, even more magnificent than Lake Tanganyika!” Henriette exclaimed.

The reason why Lake Turkana was so impressive, apart from its unique turquoise color, was mainly because the surrounding desert and grassland formed a stark contrast, giving a visual impact.

“Captain, let’s keep going. Looking at this lake from south to north, it clearly doesn’t end here. What we see now might just be a corner of it. Further north, maybe this is another large lake comparable to the three major lakes,” Andy, a member of the expedition, said to Henriette.

“Yes, we must continue to work hard. This might be another major discovery, enough to make us famous in history,” Henriette said.

Andy’s words made a lot of sense. Lake Turkana is about two hundred kilometers long from north to south. Even at the fastest speed, it would take several days to reach the northernmost end.

…

In the following days, Henriette and her group traveled north along Lake Turkana, while recording the ecological, climatic, and hydrological characteristics of the lakeside.

The local natives called this lake Turkana. The lake water is alkaline and contains a large number of algal organisms (cyanobacteria), so it appears bluish-green.

The lake is home to Nile crocodiles, hippos, and some fish. There are also many wild animals by the lake. There are many dry riverbeds by the lake, and it is unknown whether there is water during the rainy season. By the lake, Henriette and others saw no less than a hundred species of birds (actually there are more than three hundred species).

On the seventh day, Henriette and her group reached the northern part of Lake Turkana. Along the lake shore, Henriette and her group saw Lake Turkana’s main water source—the Omo River.

The Omo River originates in Ethiopia, flowing through the rainy highlands in its upper reaches, with abundant water. The river channel is narrow and tight, and the downstream channel is as wide as 150-200 meters, making it a rare large river in East Africa.

Ninety percent of Lake Turkana’s water comes from the Omo River, which is why Lake Turkana can remain un-shrunken in the desert.

Henriette and others recorded in detail the hydrological and geographical conditions along the Omo River. The banks of the Omo River are rare fertile lands.

Compared to the arid desert and grassland along Lake Turkana, the downstream of the Omo River is wide, with abundant water, and can at least support two hundred thousand people.

The downstream banks of the Omo River can be used as a key area for the development of northern Kenya. Of course, some areas around Lake Turkana can also grow some drought-resistant crops.

From then on, the East African colony regarded the downstream of the Omo River and Lake Turkana as their own. Even in the future, in order to ensure the safety of the Omo River and Lake Turkana, the East African colony would continuously encroach on the land upstream of the Omo River.

This was not making a mountain out of a molehill, but because Ethiopia had a previous record in its past life. In its past life, Ethiopia built a series of hydropower stations upstream of the Omo River in order to generate electricity.

This caused a reduction in river water in the downstream areas and the increasing depletion of Lake Turkana. However, Lake Turkana is mainly located in Kenya.

The Ethiopian government did not care about the lives of the Kenyans who depended on Lake Turkana for survival. The reduction of river water and the shrinking of the lake caused a reduction in fish production, triggering conflicts among tribes within Kenya over the right to fish resources.

Therefore, Ernst required that at least most of the Omo River basin be controlled by the East African colonial government to ensure water security.

Currently, Ethiopia was still in the era of the Abyssinian Empire, and its control over the south was not very strict, and it also faced the threat of Western colonizers such as Britain.

In 1863, Tewodros II of the Abyssinian Empire did a stupid thing. Because the British Foreign Office did not reply to his letter (he wrote a letter to Queen Victoria, asking Britain to cooperate with him in opposing Egypt and the Ottoman Empire), he kidnapped British diplomats and 58 Europeans in Ethiopia as hostages in 1864.

Ernst had to admire this old man’s courage. However, the next operation was even more surprising.

After the British Foreign Office asked an Iraqi man who served Britain to bring a reply to Tewodros II, Tewodros II released the hostages.

But soon, Tewodros II went back on his word and re-arrested British diplomats within the Abyssinian Empire, while extorting a batch of craftsmen and machines from the British government.

The British, who were at the height of their power, could not tolerate this kind of grievance. In the same month that Henriette and others were exploring Lake Turkana and the Omo River (December 1867).

The British army expedition to Abyssinia had already assembled in Mumbai, India, preparing to show the ignorant Tewodros II some color.

The fate of Tewodros II and the Abyssinian Empire was already known (the British looted a large number of cultural relics and treasures, including Tewodros II’s crown, and Tewodros II committed suicide after the defeat).

Next year, when Ethiopia and the British fight, it will also be the time for East Africa to expand in the Omo River basin. This will create conditions for Ernst and the East African colony to annex the Omo River basin.

After the death of Tewodros II, the Abyssinian Empire (Ethiopia) fell into a brief era of feudal disputes, and would not pose a threat to the East African colony for at least three or four years.

Chapter 108: History Class

December 7th, 1867.

East African Colony, Mlandizi Cultural School.

Today, the First Town (Mlandizi) Cultural School welcomed two special “students”: Maximilian I and his wife, Empress Carlota.

A month ago, Empress Carlota had arrived in East Africa. At that time, for the sake of his future mother-in-law’s safety, Ernst had personally arranged for his own ship to make room and join the fleet to East Africa.

Seeing the unharmed Maximilian I in Tanga, East Africa, Empress Carlota and Maximilian I embraced and wept.

As the person who initially encouraged Maximilian I, Empress Carlota had spent her days in Europe in tears and suffering after Maximilian I was arrested and imprisoned in Mexico.

The disaster in Mexico made Empress Carlota abandon her illusions of becoming an empress. Now, she only wanted to spend the rest of her life with her beloved.

After a passionate reunion with Maximilian I in Tanga, Empress Carlota expressed her willingness to stay with Maximilian I in East Africa for some time.

…

It was Maximilian I’s first time visiting First Town (Mlandizi), the seat of the East African central government.

As the earliest developed city (town; European cities were often very small, actually just towns) in East Africa, First Town was slightly smaller than Dar es Salaam in scale, but its planning and facilities were significantly more complete, and its architecture and culture reflected the style of the German regions everywhere.

What was slightly different from Europe was the local natural landscape, climate, and some of the East African urban amenities personally planned by Ernst.

For example, street trees and green belts, which were currently difficult to see in European cities. Of course, the green belts in the East African colony were very rudimentary, simply leaving a patch of bare earth in the middle or on both sides of the road for weeds to grow on their own.

The East African colony had no shortage of land, so urban planning was very wild, pursuing the idea that bigger was better everywhere. Although the current road scale and grade were not up to par, the areas that needed to be reserved were all reserved, and could be directly used to upgrade urban roads in the future.

Therefore, on both sides of the roads and streets paved with bricks and stones, in addition to the green belts, there was still a lot of open space, and the houses and buildings on both sides were separated far from the road, making First Town (Mlandizi), which already had a relatively small population, look even more empty.

The houses and buildings on both sides were mainly one-story, and many were still of earth and wood construction, but with the addition of the courtyard and the space between the houses, they were about one hundred square meters, which also facilitated subsequent renovation and upgrading.

The drainage ditches were mainly behind the houses and currently open-air. The peculiar laws of East Africa stipulated that residents were not allowed to discharge sewage into the public drainage ditches behind the houses. The drainage ditches were mainly used to cope with rainfall during the rainy season.

This was done to prevent the drainage ditches from becoming stinking sewers. It should be known that in the East African environment, especially in coastal plains like First Town, the temperature was relatively high throughout the year. Once the sewage fermented, it could be washed away by rainwater in time during the rainy season, but during the dry season, the sewage could only remain in the ditches, breeding various bacteria and attracting flies.

Of course, when development progressed in the future, it would naturally not matter if the open-air ditches were paved with cement pipes, but in this era of East Africa, hygiene must be put first. The hotbed of tropical diseases was no joke.

Maximilian I and his wife saw the First Town Cultural School on their first visit to First Town. Because the First Town Cultural School was built late, it was built on the outskirts of the town.

Both husband and wife were interested in the content of education in the East African colony. They wanted to know what was taught in such a backward (compared to Europe) place and how it differed from Europe.

In Mexico, Maximilian I simply did not have time to realize his grand ambitions. The whole country was in chaos, so there was no energy to engage in education.

Although the conditions in East Africa were relatively poor, it was still able to run compulsory education, which naturally interested the couple, so Maximilian I took the initiative to propose experiencing the schools of East Africa.

The East African colonial government sent people to arrange for the two to visit the First Town Cultural School.

In the classroom of Class One, Grade One, of the First Town Cultural School, was full of students, and Maximilian I and his wife were arranged to sit in the temporary seats in the back.

There were about thirty or forty students in the class, including children of Chinese immigrants and children of Austro-Hungarian immigrants (Paraguayan immigrants needed a separate Spanish teacher). The teacher was a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy.

As the seat of the East African central government, the teaching staff of the First Town Cultural School was far ahead in East Africa.

It should be known that the Hechingen Military Academy and other schools run by the Hechingen royal family were actually cram schools, so the level of the students varied.

Many students, by the time they graduated, could at most converse in German and master some German words.

But East Africa was too short of people, so even those with poor grades would be sent to teach in the East African colony.

Those who were smart and learned a lot would teach the higher grades, and those who were not so smart and learned poorly would teach the lower grades.

Fortunately, the textbooks in the East African colonial schools were relatively basic, and most people only needed to read the textbooks verbatim.

This lesson was a history lesson. Maximilian I opened the East African colonial textbook and read it with great interest, constantly whispering complaints to Empress Carlota.

The Hechingen graduate who was teaching automatically ignored the small actions of Maximilian I and his wife, after all, they all knew that these two were honored guests invited by the government.

Because of the current diversity of immigrants in the East African colony, teachers had to use bilingual teaching in the first grade. Afterwards, from the second grade onwards, teaching would be fully switched to German, so Chinese children had to overcome the language barrier if they wanted to achieve good results.

The first chapter, unsurprisingly, was a eulogy to the Hohenzollern family, emphasizing the ruling position of the Hechingen royal family over the land of East Africa, and the long history of the Hechingen royal family and the Hohenzollern family.

These young children naturally did not feel awkward watching it, and listened to it as a story. The history textbook was actually extracurricular reading material, and there were no exams at all.

This was also a small trick played by Ernst. When a course requires an exam, there will always be a group of people who dislike it (dislike learning).

Reading extracurricular books (actually books without exams), the younger you are, the more easily you get addicted, just like novels, the more you read, the more addicted you become, but treating novels as exam content will greatly frustrate the reader’s enthusiasm.

Maximilian I and Empress Carlota forced back their smiles and finished reading the last content of the first chapter.

After all, in terms of history and heritage, many European families were more prominent than the Hohenzollern family, especially in front of the Habsburg family, the Hohenzollern family was still somewhat lacking in foundation.

Of course, every noble family in Europe promoted the prominent status and long history of their family to the outside world, so this was not the reason for Maximilian I’s breaking defense. If they were bragging about the Habsburg family, he would definitely exaggerate even more than what was written in this book.

What made Maximilian I and his wife feel amused was the final description of the Hechingen royal family, which was simply like a savior.

This was not wronging Ernst. The last content used the narrative method of religion to mythologize the status of the Hechingen royal family.

It was just that Ernst was relatively subtle and did not explicitly mention any gods or God, such as the so-called descendants of the sun goddess of the Japanese royal family, the Egyptian pharaohs calling themselves sons of the sun god, the emperors of the Far East performing the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai…

Instead, he used rhetoric (yes, it was the Blue Sky Project type) to make the Hechingen royal family appear very solemn and dignified. The reason for this was to avoid religion.

The current immigrants in East Africa had a variety of beliefs, but there were no churches or priests. Residents, whether Catholic or Orthodox, could only rely on ancestral experience to engage in some spontaneous prayers and other activities.

Ernst was aiming for secularization. It was difficult to force these adults to abandon their beliefs, but it was still easy to change the thinking of these children.

There was no need to go too far, as long as the religious colors were not implanted in education and sports as in current Europe (many religious schools in Europe).

If not learned and repeated, people’s memories will slowly fade. Relying on the East African people to spontaneously inherit those religious traditions will never be able to match the explanation and dissemination of a professional organization (referring to the church).

Chapter 109: Christmas

After visiting the East African schools in First Town, Maximilian I and his companion were deeply moved.

As top-tier aristocrats, both had received royal court educations from a young age, making it difficult for them to truly understand a grassroots education model like the one in East Africa.

Moreover, as a colony, East Africa had no need to hide anything from them, so what they saw was the most authentic daily life of East African schools.

East African schools had few courses, with only German and mathematics as the main subjects, followed by history and physical education.

The content was also extremely simple, with a lot of repetition in each grade. After finishing school in East Africa, one would at most be proficient in German reading and writing and simple mathematical operations.

The entire content of East African education, in terms of knowledge, was less than a third of what Ernst had learned in elementary school in his previous life (third-grade level).

This was decided to adapt to the weakness of the teaching staff in the East African colony. East Africa, as a colony, only had the ability to run this kind of impoverished education.

Of course, this type of education in East Africa also had avenues for advancement. After passing the graduation exam, the most outstanding students could obtain the opportunity to study in the German regions.

In terms of difficulty, it was very easy to pass the exam and get a study abroad spot with the average level of a former elementary school graduate. However, East African immigrants might not realize the importance of education.

This led to the fact that only families who valued education had a greater chance for their children to study in Germany, while families who did not value education, even if their children had good grades at graduation, might just stay in East Africa to farm. After all, going to Germany required parental consent.

Ernst was too lazy to correct this situation. Anyway, he only needed to cultivate a sufficient number of talents. An excess of talent could sometimes be a disaster.

After all, compared to those positions that required high academic qualifications, the most needed profession in East Africa was currently farmers to develop the land. In the industrialized countries of Europe, workers were the most in demand.

With the current level of industrialization, only England had completely industrialized (with an urbanization rate of over fifty percent), while other countries were lower, with a lot of room for improvement.

The cultural level requirements for workers in these industrialized countries were not high, let alone in the East African colony, which was still focused on developing agriculture.

The reason for establishing compulsory education in East Africa was for assimilation and to cultivate the talents needed for the future, all for the need to consolidate rule. It was not actually to change the fate of these people (although it objectively did).

Just like Prussia started compulsory education to improve the combat effectiveness of its army, the motivation for compulsory education in East Africa was not pure.

If you were to ask Ernst how much he valued education, it was just so-so, even though Ernst had received complete nine-year compulsory education and higher education in his previous life.

But Ernst’s identity in this life was an aristocrat. What he was doing now looked very grand (establishing a country by seizing land), but the premise was to maintain the interests of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family and its continued prosperity in the future.

The experiences of countries like India in his previous life told Ernst that as long as the volume was large and the population was large, even a country with a low-quality population could accumulate a large amount of wealth at the top.

Therefore, Ernst, representing the aristocracy, essentially did not need too many highly educated people, but rather people who could create wealth and were obedient.

This was the same as why ancient rulers liked to keep the people ignorant, and why the West would be anti-intellectual, essentially the same approach.

East Africa’s education was somewhere in between, with a lukewarm attitude towards education, neither teaching too much nor too little, actively lowering the standards.

Apart from paying more attention to national issues and cultural identity (Germanization), it was not enthusiastic about changing other qualities and concepts of ordinary people.

As long as you honestly act as a German, everything else is fine. Who cares whether your character is noble! Whether you are kind! … This part of education is still left to the family to complete.

So the seemingly simple and full of loopholes East African education system is actually full of political wisdom behind the scenes.

Of course, Maximilian I could not see this. After visiting East Africa’s education, he couldn’t help but offer suggestions to the East African government personnel next to him. In Maximilian I’s view, this simple and crude education had huge room for improvement.

The staff listened with one ear and let it out the other, verbally agreeing but actually promising nothing.

Among the management personnel of the entire East African government and army, apart from the employees of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium (who basically had at least a middle school education), everyone else, including the students of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Military Academy, whose names sounded intimidating, were actually at the elementary school level.

In the eyes of the employees and mercenaries, this was just a job. In the eyes of the students of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Military Academy, this was to repay the principal’s kindness.

They would only complete the tasks meticulously according to the route planned by Ernst, and did not care about how East Africa developed.

It was only out of respect for Maximilian I’s status that they were dealing with him perfunctorily, while Maximilian I was still chattering on and on.

A true European intellectual, commenting on East African policies, truly confirmed the saying that it is easy to be critical when you are not in charge.

If he had been as energetic as he was today when he was the Emperor of Mexico, I could do it too, Ernst would really admire Maximilian I.

…

December 25, 1867.

Another Christmas.

Ernst and Prince Constantine, who had been traveling around for the past year, returned to Hechingen early to spend the holiday.

Ernst was holding a small Rottweiler puppy, strolling around the castle. This little Rottweiler puppy was bought from a farm in Berlin in Ernst’s village, named “Navi”. It had no real meaning, just to commemorate a local dog he had raised in his previous life. That dog was raised by Ernst when he was a child in his previous life, named Navi, and later died of old age. Ernst was sad for a long time.

The castle was decorated with the necessary decorations for the holiday, with fir trees transplanted from the southern German forests placed in the hall as Christmas trees.

Unlike previous years, electric lights were used in the hall this year, replacing candles and other lighting tools. The entire castle, and even the roads outside the castle, were illuminated by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium’s lighting system.

Other European royal families and large cities also enjoyed the convenience of electric lights. Of course, some more traditional people still used candles to create the atmosphere of the religious holiday of Christmas.

The huge castle seemed a bit deserted, because many servants were sent home by Prince Constantine to accompany their families for Christmas, so there were not many people in the castle.

This year, the climate was a bit cold. Hechingen and the whole of Germany were covered in heavy snow. Through the windows, you could see the white snow covering the earth, and the deep green branches and leaves under the snow on the treetops of the pine and cypress trees around the castle.

While Germany was still in the cold winter covered in white snow, in the distant south, on the land of East Africa, it was still like spring. The East African government also organized its residents to start Christmas celebrations.

And 1867 was about to pass in a few days. 1867 was an unforgettable year. This year, the East African colony completely controlled the entire territory of Tanzania and Kenya, the number of immigrants reached five hundred thousand, and it initially had the scale of a country. East Africa could already be seen as a political entity participating in international affairs.

Chapter 110: Data

Ernst sat in an easy chair, reviewing the East African colony’s data for the year.

With northern Kenya falling into the hands of the East African colonial government (merely possessing sovereignty, development hadn’t begun), the East African colony’s area reached approximately 1.4 million square kilometers. The Tanzania and Kenya of his previous life were basically in the hands of the East African colony (the island of Zanzibar and the northeastern coastal desert region of Kenya were not yet unified).

Currently, the registered immigrant population of the East African colony reached 582,413. Of course, excluding the number of Black natives, the East African colony currently controlled approximately 400,000 to 800,000 Black people.

Initially, Ernst and the East African government estimated the year-end immigrant population to be close to 500,000. The reason for exceeding this number by so much was the Paraguayan War immigrants and the immigrants from the South German region, two newly opened sources of immigrants.

The composition of immigrants also changed due to the addition of new immigrant sources. Among them, Chinese immigrants still ranked first in number, but only slightly over 300,000. Austro-Hungarian immigrants ranked second, close to 200,000. Third were Paraguayan immigrants, mainly women and children. Fourth were Middle Eastern immigrants such as Armenians. Fifth were immigrants from the German region.

Of course, calculated by ethnicity, the number of Germans was not small, ranking third. A considerable portion of the Austro-Hungarian immigrants were Germans.

In reality, immigration from the South German region had not yet begun to exert its full potential. Optimistically, at least 200,000 Germans could be recruited throughout the German region (excluding Austria-Hungary) next year.

The reason for the large fluctuation in the number of native captives was that the natives were not worth the East African colony wasting ink to count.

The development of East African land required a large amount of labor. For some dangerous projects, in order to reduce immigrant losses, the colonial government still had to use a large number of native captives.

In addition, there were always natives who could escape in the first wave of cleansing operations. After all, the East African colony could not send everyone out to sweep, and farmland and crops still needed to be managed. Therefore, there would always be those who slipped through the net and were captured by the colony during patrols.

Therefore, the total population of East Africa, including natives, was currently around one million. Using this million people, the entire East African colony developed a total of 3.49 million mu of land this year.

Among them, 730,000 mu were rice paddies, mainly distributed in the East African coastal plains and near the Great Lakes region. They were still expanding towards the northern and southern ends of the coastal plain. In the future, the southernmost end would be in the Ruvuma River basin in the Lower Coastal District, and the northernmost end would be in the Asili River basin in the East Kenya District.

Calculated at a yield of 200 kilograms per mu (fluctuating between 180 and 250), the estimated output could reach at least 140 million kilograms. If further processed into rice, approximately 84 million kilograms of rice could be obtained.

East Africa currently planted 1.51 million mu of wheat, which was undoubtedly the largest food crop in the East African colony, mainly distributed in the inland plateau and the northern end of the developed land in Kenya.

The inland plateau had less rainfall, which was suitable for wheat growth, but the yield of wheat was not as good as rice, at about 160 kilograms per mu.

The estimated wheat yield was around 240 million kilograms. Wheat had a high flour yield, about 70 percent, which translated to about 168 million kilograms of flour.

In addition to rice and wheat, there were also two to three hundred thousand mu of other food crops, namely potatoes, millet, and corn.

The scale of cash crops also reached one million mu, mainly sisal, oil crops, cotton, coffee, rubber, and so on.

The above data was calculated according to conservative figures. After all, the land currently developed in East Africa was all high-quality land with sufficient water sources and fertile soil.

Moreover, a large amount of farm manure was used (East African manure was uniformly treated), and a small amount of imported fertilizer was used (mainly from Europe). The yield per mu was only higher.

So much land was developed, but the actual number of immigrants used was less than 400,000. After all, the later immigrants did not have time to develop new land.

The achievement of such great success was inseparable from the use of Black natives. The natives currently acted as cattle, horses, and tractors.

Cultivating land, digging canals, and building roads all required the use of a large number of natives. Of course, immigrants could not be idle. Planting crops was a delicate job, and immigrants needed to complete it themselves.

The arrival of the population also promoted the growth of the East African urban population. Among them, large cities had a population of twenty to thirty thousand, and small ones only had two to three thousand.

First Town was undoubtedly the largest immigrant city in East Africa, with a total population of about 30,000.

Dar es Salaam was the second largest city in terms of immigrant population, with a population of over 27,000. In fact, Dar es Salaam, plus foreign merchants, Arabs, Portuguese, and Dutch, was the most populous city in the East African colony, exceeding 30,000. If the number of native slaves was added, it would be even more. This was the only slave market reserved by the East African colony.

However, East Africa’s population statistics were based on registered immigrant population, and natives and foreigners were not included.

The city with the third largest population was surprisingly not a coastal city (such as Mombasa, which had a long history of construction), but Mwanza, which was deep inland, with a population of over 23,000.

The fourth was Mbeya, the only mining city in the East African colony, with a population of over 21,000, mainly developing coal and iron ore, with other resources attached (gold, copper, and other by-products).

The fifth was Mombasa, with a population of about 20,000. Mombasa fell into the hands of the East African colony relatively late, but it received high attention, and the policy inclination was second only to Mwanza and Mbeya, so its development was relatively rapid.

The sixth was Tanga, with a population of over 18,000. As the earliest controlled coastal port, and already the East African sisal processing and trade center, European merchants ordered goods from here every day.

The seventh was Bagamoyo, with a population of over 13,500. As a port city, Bagamoyo’s development was quite satisfactory. Although it belonged to the three major cities in the Central District (First Town, Dar es Salaam), its function overlapped with Dar es Salaam, so it was not outstanding. However, Bagamoyo still had a good future prospect and had very good potential.

Because the current population of East Africa was not enough, the requirements for ports were not high. Dar es Salaam could meet the needs of the Central District. However, with the development of East Africa, Dar es Salaam Port alone might not be able to meet the needs of the Central District in the future. At that time, Bagamoyo could be used as a supplement to Dar es Salaam Port.

The eighth was Dodoma, with a population of over 13,000, not far behind Bagamoyo. Dodoma was located in the center of Tanzania and was an important transit station for the transportation of immigrants and materials from east to west.

The ninth was Mtwara, with a population of over 12,000. Mtwara was located in the Lower Coastal District, close to the capital of the Lower Coastal District, Luenloeda, so its development was not bad. However, Mtwara had fewer berths, which restricted its development.

The population of the above cities all exceeded 10,000, and the gap was not very large. Moreover, the future development would not be bad, and the potential was great.

In addition to the above nine cities, the next most populous city was not the capital of the major districts, but the nearby Pemba Island. As the largest island in the East African colony, the current number of immigrants reached more than 9,700.

Then came the other unlisted district capitals, such as Kigoma, Songea, Luenloeda, Nairobi…

Among them, Nairobi was currently the least populous city in the East African colony, with a scale of just over 2,000.

As the largest city in East Africa in his previous life, Nairobi could not be ignored by Ernst. The reason why its current development was so backward was that its development was taught late.

Kenya had only been acquired recently, and Nairobi, which was deep inland, was naturally not easy to develop. Mombasa was close to the sea and had convenient transportation. Kisumu was located on the coast of the Great Lakes region and could get help from Mwanza. Nairobi could only rely on itself.

Moreover, the opening of the Kenya coffee plantation diverted Nairobi’s energy. The coffee plantation was located at the foot of Mount Kenya, directly north of Nairobi, and the plantation needed manpower, which dragged down Nairobi’s development.

However, Nairobi’s future was still very promising. In the future, after occupying Uganda and other places, Nairobi, as a transportation hub (railway) to Uganda, still had great potential for development.

Chapter 111: Civilization Theory

East Africa’s current population (including the natives) is comparable to that of the British colony of Australia. However, if we want to fully develop East Africa, this population is far from sufficient.

Unlike British colonies such as Canada and Australia, East Africa does not have the backing of a powerful empire like the British Empire at its peak.

Therefore, although Canada and Australia have small populations, their security is not a problem, especially Australia, which is surrounded by the sea and has no external enemies.

The East African colony, on the other hand, only has Ernst and the Hohenzollern Consortium behind it, which cannot withstand much turmoil.

The only way to control East Africa is through continuous immigration. With a larger population, security will naturally be more stable.

Like the Ottomans and the Far East, when facing the great powers, although they were forced to cede some interests, no one could swallow them whole due to their considerable population and size.

Of course, India is a negative example, so national cohesion is not a castle in the air, but something that truly exists.

To ensure the stability of East African rule, we must constantly strengthen the immigrants’ sense of identity, assimilate and erode their unique cultures, and finally form a unique cultural identity belonging to East Africa itself.

If we adopt the Western racial theory, we will surely plant the seeds of future trouble. Therefore, even for the black natives, Ernst does not deny their intelligence.

When compiling the colonial textbooks, Ernst described the black natives as people who can be transformed through education, but whose transformation is extremely costly due to the influence of history and culture.

Ernst did not say that black people are inferior to other races, but that black people cannot even farm and are still in an extremely primitive stage. It will take at least a century to correct their ideology.

Moreover, if we don’t expel the black people, where will the East African land come from for you immigrants to survive? Therefore, you must learn to be grateful, remember your identity as East African Germans, and repay the motherland in the future.

Honesty is the best policy, it’s better than the lies being exposed in the end. Now all East African immigrants are Ernst’s accomplices. The descendants of East African immigrants cannot blame their ancestors for this debt in the future.

As for racism, Ernst himself does not believe in it, and he will not use this theory in East Africa.

In the East African history textbook, in the chapter on the origin of mankind, Ernst located the origin of mankind in East Africa (in actual history, East African human fossils were discovered in the late 20th century), and divided mankind into three branches: one went to West Africa, one went to the Middle East, and one went to the coast.

Correspondingly, these are the black people, Eurasian people, and brown people.

The Eurasian people are further divided into three sub-branches: the Mediterranean race (Romans and Arabs), with black hair and black eyes; the East Asian race, with black hair and black eyes; and the Nordic race, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

The explanation for skin color is that it is divided according to latitude. Generally, the higher the latitude, the whiter the skin color, so different skin colors are caused by environmental changes.

The explanation for why the Nordic race has blonde hair and blue eyes is that it is caused by genetic mutation. The evidence is that people in other regions of the world have black hair and black eyes, while the hair and pupil colors of the Nordic race are diverse and unstable (brown, gold, red…).

This fabricated origin of mankind also has an interesting point, which is to list the brown race separately, describing them as spreading by picking seafood and fishing by the sea. Therefore, Indians, Indonesians, Australian Aborigines… are all arranged into the brown race by Ernst.

As for the black people, needless to say, they live in low latitudes, with strong sunlight, and are often scantily clad, so after tens of thousands of years of precipitation, they have become what they are today.

If this theory were to spread back to Europe, Ernst would definitely become the target of criticism from European white liberals. Unfortunately, this is East Africa, Ernst’s one-man show. The only person qualified to criticize Ernst is Maximilian I.

However, Maximilian I highly approved of the textbooks compiled by Ernst, because when he went to be the Emperor of Mexico, he had many Indians under his rule. As a monarch, although he didn’t know where Ernst got his fallacies, Maximilian I thought Ernst was doing the right thing.

Dividing all races into one big family, and using some of Darwin’s theory, can eliminate the contradictions between the various ethnic groups in East Africa. As mentioned before, the worldview of the children who study these East African textbooks in the future will be recast.

Of course, this set of textbooks also magnified Ernst’s own stains. Since you don’t admit that black natives are an inferior race, then you are so cruel to these black natives, isn’t that just pure evil!

Logically, this is indeed the case, but Ernst doesn’t care at all. It’s just bearing the infamy of a colonizer and aggressor.

Throughout human history, those who are the same, as long as they are the victors, someone will always commemorate them, such as the great emperors of Russia, and the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor of the Far East. Which of them is not such a person? Their own people will remember their contributions to their own people.

In the future, as long as East Africa is guaranteed to continue as a civilized whole, later generations will also remember Ernst’s achievements, even if this achievement is built on the history of the natives’ blood and tears.

Therefore, shaping the overall national cultural identity of East Africa is the only card Ernst can play, and it is also the theoretical basis for the future rule of East Africa by the Hohenzollern royal family.

Like religion, there is such a thing as conversion. Ernst plans to engage in cultural conversion and promote German culture in East Africa.

In East African education and propaganda, German is no longer the patent of the Germanic people, but of all those who are willing to live in the German way of life and accept the influence of German cultural education.

This turns narrow ethnic German into civilized German. German in East Africa is not an ethnicity, but a civilization.

For German immigrants in East Africa, it doesn’t matter as long as the culture of East Africa is still dominated by the German region.

For other immigrants of non-traditional German ethnicity, this provides a theoretical basis for integrating into East African life. I am a person who accepts and identifies with German culture, so theoretically I am a German.

To promote this theory, it is necessary to achieve equality in the identity of all races, even the natives.

Although Ernst has carried out persecution activities against black natives, he admits that black people are the same as other races, and there is no difference in intelligence and other aspects.

This is deliberately committing a crime, while Western colonizers are more moral than Ernst in this regard, because they believe that black people are an inferior race, so they find an excuse for their crimes, which basically means that they are not the same species as themselves, at most they look a bit similar.

In comparison, Ernst is premeditated, purely for his own benefit to drive away black natives and force them to do physical labor and indirectly participate in trafficking, not even bothering to pretend.

Like criminals, some criminals do not think they are committing a crime in their cognition, while Ernst is the kind of person who knows he is committing a crime and continues to do it.

Chapter 112: Population and Agriculture

The future ideology of East Africa is a form of civilization, namely, German civilization. As for democracy, freedom, and equality, those are not things that Ernst, as a traditional aristocrat, should be learning. To wave that banner is to dig one’s own grave.

Instead, the nationalism, order, rule of law, and conservatism within German culture are the foundation upon which Ernst stands.

These are the things that a feudal monarch should vigorously promote, cloaked in some beautiful garments, such as science and sports. Then the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen can continue in East Africa forever.

Compared to public opinion propaganda, these will definitely not be able to withstand the future American and Soviet approaches, but can’t I slander the other side?

Anyway, once the 20th century is over, all the problems will be solved. By then, everyone will be able to see that crows are black all over the world.

……

Leaving those considerations aside for now, the most important thing in East Africa at present is still vigorous immigration. With immigrants, there will be land development. Only with land development can there be profits, and only with profits can the strength of the colony continue to expand, arming more troops and equipping them with more advanced weapons.

Turning East Africa into a European Switzerland, a tough nut that no one in Africa can crack, and Ernst will be secure.

In two years, nearly six hundred thousand people have immigrated (five hundred and eighty thousand). Next year, it can reach at least five hundred thousand.

On the one hand, Hechingen’s fleet has been expanding, and immigration costs are decreasing. On the other hand, new sources of immigrants are constantly being developed, especially in Europe and the Americas.

Tsarist Russia (where the emancipation of serfs led to the bankruptcy of a large number of peasants), Italy (an important source of immigrants to North and South America), and the various South American countries are all potentially untapped sources of immigrants in the future.

The number of immigrants from the Far East is currently stabilizing, unless there are disasters and wars that cause a large number of displaced people. However, the situation in the Far East is currently in a period of stability and development (the Self-Strengthening Movement).

Regarding the current Far East immigration policy, Ernst intends to continue it until around 1890, because the end of the 19th century is the most chaotic period of thought in the Far East, and also the time when Far Eastern national consciousness began to awaken and reshape. At that time, Ernst will greatly raise the immigration threshold for the Far East to prevent all sorts of monsters from entering.

From next year to 1890, there are at least twenty-two years. Such a long time is enough to bring in the population needed to develop East Africa. At a rate of two hundred thousand per year, that’s four million four hundred thousand people.

Adding other immigrants, by 1890, East Africa will have brought in at least ten million people. And the original immigrants in East Africa are not wooden, they will definitely have children.

It should be known that the farmers of this era have terrifying reproductive capabilities. Before World War One, the population of the East African colony could at least triple, reaching or even exceeding the scale of France, at least in terms of size.

Anyway, the source of land to support these people is the natives, and Ernst and the East African government do not feel sorry for them. Therefore, steadfastly completing the great agricultural undertaking of East Africa is the foundation of East Africa’s establishment.

An agricultural country with a sufficient size, coupled with a relatively complete mobilization system and weapons that do not have a significant technological gap, is enough for East Africa to protect itself in the world.

As for industry, it can come slowly. Only by solving the agricultural problem first can we have the energy to solve the industrial problem. After all, the industrial population needs agriculture to support it.

If we develop industry right from the start, what will these people eat?

Moreover, agricultural development can not only enrich the population of the East African colony, but also stabilize the newly expanded land of the East African colony. At the same time, grain, as a hard currency, is more reliable than industrial products. Even if it is not sold, it can be used as rations.

Unless other countries’ colonizers invest a large number of their own people in Africa, it is impossible for them to compete with the East African colony on the African continent.

Relying on the natives, it is possible to hinder the expansion of the East African colony, but the natives who get weapons will also turn against their masters. If other colonizers do this, at most they will end up in a lose-lose situation with the East African colony.

If they were to dispatch an army of four hundred thousand, like the British did to suppress the Boers, the current East African colony would definitely not be able to withstand it.

But by the time various countries pay attention to Africa, East Africa will have already become dominant. Only when capitalism develops to a certain stage will the European powers frantically seize land around the world, and this time node is around 1890.

Twenty years of development time is Ernst’s confidence in sitting tight. As long as he manages to increase the immigrant population of East Africa to the ten million level within twenty years, Ernst can say that he is not afraid of anyone on this land of Africa!

This is a matter of survival for the East African colony, so Ernst’s choice of agriculture as the entry point for colonization is well-considered.

Agriculture is not very popular among colonizers during this period. Most colonizers are keen on engaging in precious metal mining and plantations, or developed lands like India and the Philippines.

It is rare to see someone like Ernst vigorously developing grain cultivation. European countries such as Tsarist Russia and Austria-Hungary are originally major grain producers, and sometimes face the problem of overcapacity, so the profit from grain cultivation is not very high, and it is not easy to be targeted by other colonizers.

Not to mention that Ernst’s development of East Africa was actually losing money at the beginning. Although with the development of East African land and the ripening and harvesting of crops, East Africa can now maintain self-sufficiency while also contributing some economic value.

But if you count the clothing, ships, rations, etc. needed for immigration; all kinds of materials needed for the colony, such as fertilizers, guns and ammunition, etc., the East African colony is now barely maintaining a balance between income and expenditure.

The colonizers at this time are basically more impatient. Who has Ernst’s patience to develop the colony?

The British did patiently cultivate America, but they raised a rebellious son, so colonization also has risks.

And Ernst also faces this risk. To suppress this risk, one is to suppress the spread of various ideas in the colony.

The second is to treat the colony as the homeland. East Africa will be Ernst’s foundation in the future. Even the current huge Hechingen Consortium is not as important in Ernst’s eyes as East Africa.

The future positioning of the Hechingen Consortium is to be an important global capital force rooted in East Africa, so which is more important is clear at a glance.

Third, there must be no ineffective investment. Like the British, their investment in America went down the drain. To achieve this, Ernst’s idea is not to give East African immigrants too many rights at once. The saying “Give a pint, they’re grateful; give a peck, they hate you” is deeply ingrained in Ernst’s mind.

Of course, it is definitely not realistic for all the benefits to be gained by the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. The people of East Africa are, in essence, partners of the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, so Ernst will gradually give benefits to the people of East Africa.

This process will last at least until before World War II, which is seventy or eighty years. If Ernst does not live that long, he will naturally arrange for his descendants to continue doing this.

At that time, East Africa will definitely be a constitutional monarchy. Ernst will dismantle the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in advance, with one branch continuing to serve as the monarch of the country, and the other branch turning into a capitalist family like those in America.

One in the open and one in the dark, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen family can hide behind the scenes and continue to influence and dominate the politics of East Africa through the Hechingen Consortium and the military and other forces.

Chapter 113: Ambitions

Although the focus is said to be on developing agriculture, some other industries can also be started, such as some handicrafts and more basic industries.

After all, the population of East Africa is growing, and it’s impossible to rely on imports for everything from pots and pans. The cost would be terrifying.

Handicrafts are easy to understand: blacksmith shops, tailor shops, woodworking shops… These industries that meet the daily needs of East African people can be opened up first.

Basic industries refer to those industries that are suitable for the current East African colony and have low barriers to entry. For example, it’s not a good idea to always import the cement needed by the East African colony from Europe. To save costs, it’s better to build a factory in East Africa.

Some processing industries that can increase the added value of East African agricultural products can also be introduced, such as flour mills, oil presses, and textile mills.

And these factories cannot do without steam engines, so it is also necessary to develop East Africa’s local coal resources. Once the coal mine in Mbeya is developed, transporting it to various parts of East Africa will require transportation infrastructure…

In short, it is a relatively complex process, but there is no need to rush. Complete it one step at a time. If it succeeds, it will only be icing on the cake for the current East Africa. If it fails, there will be no loss.

The military industry is an important industry to ensure the security of the East African colony, second only to agriculture in importance. Currently, machines retired from European arsenals are being used to arm the East African colony.

This can guarantee the supply of some weapons and ammunition. In the future, after the resources of the East African region are developed, it will also be possible to imitate the ammunition for artillery on this basis.

In the short term, achieve self-sufficiency in weapons and ammunition. Of course, artillery ammunition cannot be rushed, because the Trieste Hechingen Arsenal has not yet entered the production stage, and artillery production is not yet in place, so the East African colony still needs to wait some time.

In addition to immigration and industrial work, the expansion tasks for 1868 cannot be neglected. Now we are focusing on two directions: one is the northwest, and the other is the Omo River basin (border between Kenya and Ethiopia).

The northwest needs no further explanation; it has always been the area that Ernst wanted to take, as it is the most fertile region in all of East Africa.

And if the Omo River basin is not taken while the British are at war with Ethiopia, there may not be such a good opportunity in the future. Anyway, the British will definitely attack the Abyssinian Empire from the Red Sea.

The Omo River is located in southwestern Ethiopia, so East Africa and the British can fight their own battles without interfering with each other.

As for the Abyssinian Empire, its energy will definitely be focused on the British, after all, the heartland of Ethiopia is in the central and northern regions.

The southwest is full of plateaus and mountains, and there are many tribes, so the Abyssinian Empire’s control over the area is relatively weak.

As for why it is necessary to seize the Omo River basin, the answer is water. The entire northern Kenya is relatively arid, and the Omo River basin is one of the few areas with abundant rainfall. At the same time, the Omo River is related to the safety of Lake Turkana.

As for the Abyssinian Empire causing trouble for East Africa in the future, there is no need to worry at all. The Abyssinian Empire’s rule over the south is relatively weak, and the local population is mainly Oromo and Luo tribes.

The Abyssinian Empire’s control over the area is similar to the so-called tributary system in the East, so it’s not a big deal as long as it doesn’t threaten the core interests of the Abyssinian Empire.

If the Abyssinian Empire is not calm, the weapons of the East African colony will calm it down, after all, the East African colony is not like Britain and Italy, fighting on foreign soil.

In addition to these two areas where force may be used, northern Kenya also needs to be developed. Although the number of natives in the area is relatively small (deserts, grasslands), they cannot be ignored.

Northern Kenya is positioned as a pasture for grazing. It is definitely not possible to engage in planting there.

Unless it is around rivers and lakes, where there is a guaranteed water source, it is okay to plant some drought-resistant crops such as millet.

Many of the rivers and lakes in northern Kenya are seasonal rivers and saltwater lakes, so water sources are relatively scarce. Much of this water has a high salinity and is only suitable for livestock to drink.

Water-scarce areas are also suitable for developing some specialty crops, but the current level of East Africa cannot reach that, so grazing is still simple and crude.

However, be careful with grazing and try to plan the pastures in a reasonable range to avoid permanent damage to the grasslands.

In addition to these tasks, intelligence work to the west (Zambia, Zimbabwe) can also be carried out.

In 1868, the exploration of the Zambia and Zimbabwe regions must be completed, especially the copper belt in the area where Zambia and Congo meet.

That is the world’s largest sedimentary copper deposit, known in its previous life as the Zambian-Congo Copperbelt, with copper reserves reaching fifteen percent of the world’s total. Not only is the quantity large, but the quality is also relatively high.

Who can resist such temptation? If any great power learned of such news, they would probably flock to it, let alone Ernst.

Moreover, this copper belt is located on the Katanga Plateau, which is not too far from East Africa, about seven hundred kilometers west of Mbeya.

In addition to copper mines, the Katanga Plateau is rich in other resources, including cobalt, tin, radium, uranium, and diamonds…

To avoid collisions and conflicts with the Portuguese, East Africa can refrain from exploring the Zimbabwe area for the time being, while Zambia and southern Congo can be surveyed first, and action can be taken after East Africa resolves the territorial issues in the north.

…

Ernst held a pen and wrote and scribbled wantonly on the draft paper, which was quickly filled with several pages.

These are the things that East Africa needs to accomplish in 1868. Ernst organized them and copied them into a memorandum.

It must be said that this is an ambitious plan. It is only because there are few (basically none) competitors in the African region today that Ernst has picked up a bargain.

As for those natives, the East African colony, armed with hot weapons, is a dimensionality reduction strike against them.

What can really cause huge losses to the East African colony is not the native tribes, but the harsh environment of Africa.

Especially the primeval forests in the Zambezi River basin, the conditions can be imagined. Northern Zambia is better, mainly tropical grassland, so it is not difficult for the East African colony to take the land between the Katanga Plateau in Zambia and Congo and East Africa.

Lake Malawi and the Malawi Kingdom on its southwestern shore are also temporarily outside of Ernst’s consideration. A buffer zone is needed between East Africa and Mozambique, and the Malawi Kingdom has a strong degree of autonomy and is almost unaffected by Portuguese forces.

It can effectively isolate East Africa from contact with Portuguese forces. As for the east, East Africa and Mozambique have temporarily reached an agreement, and the Ruvuma River serves as a natural barrier, with only a small section directly bordering, so there is not much to worry about.

Chapter 114: Christmas in East Africa

While Europe and America were immersed in the festive atmosphere of Christmas, the East African colonial government was also planning Christmas celebrations for the East African colonies.

As part of the Germanization of East Africa, all residents were required to participate. Of course, in this era of limited entertainment, people still enjoyed gathering for a lively event.

For European immigrants, this Christmas was quite novel. After all, East Africa has no winter, and the overall climate is very similar to the European summer, giving them the feeling of celebrating Christmas in summer.

Chinese immigrants were even more unfamiliar with it, having never seen it before. Paraguayan immigrants, on the other hand, felt quite good about it, because Paraguay’s latitude is relatively close to East Africa. The temperature in Paraguay is above 10 degrees Celsius year-round, with an altitude of about 300 to 600 meters. The northern part is an extension of the Brazilian Highlands, and the southern part is the La Plata Plain.

Especially the northern part of Paraguay, which also has a tropical savanna climate, so Paraguayan immigrants adapted very well to the local climate in East Africa. This also resulted in the fewest losses among Paraguayan immigrants in East Africa, even though they were mainly women and children.

European and Paraguayan immigrants were very clear on how to celebrate Christmas, but the Chinese had seen much less of it.

Those who came early had participated last year, but those who came this year had never seen it before. Therefore, in order to encourage the Chinese to participate actively and avoid conflicts (after all, Christmas is a religious holiday with many rules and taboos),
the East African government sent out a large number of propagandists, mainly teachers, to explain the details and taboos to the Chinese immigrants. Otherwise, if a joke was made, it would be difficult to deal with.

This East African Christmas was definitely an unforgettable day for Chinese immigrants. In addition to the East African colonial government teaching them step by step, they also felt for the first time the fervor of some Westerners towards religion.

The East African colonial government required the Chinese to participate. Besides the Chinese, some Serbians also had different ideas about Christmas.

This was not because they didn’t celebrate Christmas themselves, but because the Orthodox Church used a different calendar than the Catholic Church, so there was a difference in dates.

However, now that they had come to the East African colony, there was no longer the control of the church, and the right to interpret Christmas fell into the hands of the East African colonial government.

In any case, ordinary people’s understanding of religion could not be as systematic and strict as that of priests. In addition, with the increasing decline of the Roman Church’s power in recent years, its voice had gradually fallen into the hands of various countries.

As long as East Africa did not force these immigrants to change their beliefs (Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity), and only made minor changes, these European immigrants could accept it.

A typical example was the Chinese immigrants. The East African government only required them to participate in celebrations, not to believe in religion.

This was the East African version of freedom of religion. As for why they had to participate in Christmas, it was simply because it was a statutory holiday in the East African colony.

How to achieve the Germanization of the East African colony naturally required manipulating activities like holidays, which could promote German culture.

In the morning, the East African colony organized people to participate in holiday parades and program performances…

Although Christmas was not a holiday unique to Germany, but was celebrated throughout the West.

It was also an important way for Chinese immigrants to experience and learn Western culture, just like the immigration plan. This kind of forced participation in Christmas and other Western holidays would continue until 1880.

By then, relying on inertia, many Chinese would naturally continue to celebrate Christmas and other Western holidays, especially those children who received German cultural education.

In this way, immigrants would basically be unified on holidays, which could be regarded as a kind of cultural integration.

Of course, in addition to holidays, language, clothing, architecture, living habits… all these things that forced immigrants to maintain consistency with German culture could change the cultural traditions of immigrants.

It was not only the Chinese immigrants who were being changed, but all East African residents. For example, living habits were not entirely based on the German tradition.

Instead, they combined modern lifestyles with some improvements, such as hygiene, politeness…

Ernst supplemented the “German culture” with many excellent cultural contents, which were actually those healthy lifestyles, while removing many of the dross in traditional German culture.

Therefore, the German culture of the East African colony was a modified German culture, which had many differences from that of Europe.

These were the most basic cultural contents and were closely related to the lives of ordinary people. More advanced things, such as German poetry, books, music…

were simply not accessible to the large number of illiterate people in the East African colony. When East Africa developed in the future and more people were educated, it would be possible to do some of these things.

…

No matter how much was said, it could not compare to the tangible enjoyment of material things. In order to celebrate the holiday, the East African colonial government distributed many supplies that were usually rare to see.

In addition to various meats, and double the flour and rice, there were also many white sugar and fruits, which every household could get some of.

As for the bachelors who ate in the cafeteria, the cafeteria also prepared corresponding food.

In short, everyone had a share. For these immigrants, eating well and being full was more practical and made them happier than those activities.

In the evening, after dinner, it was already dark. The East African Christmas was considered over.

There was nothing like the Christmas night that people imagined, with Christmas trees, candlelight, gifts… these elements of Christmas.

This was Christmas in East Africa, with a lack of material things and simple facilities. Even candles were only available in government offices.

It was dark, so what was the point of celebrating Christmas night? It was better to go to bed early. Moreover, East Africa was so far away from Europe that European immigrants felt less burdened.

This was a normal psychological state. In an unfamiliar environment, people are always infected by the environment.

For example, European immigrants were still influenced by tradition before coming to East Africa, and religion was deeply rooted in their lives (as everyone knows, the European church is a grassroots organization). As a result, when they arrived in East Africa,
these people saw all kinds of people, various skin colors, various different beliefs, and even no beliefs. As a result, after comparison, they still lived the same way. Everyone was just scraping a living from the land.

In this way, inadvertently, everyone’s respect for the traditional culture they had accepted was weakened. This was the difference after having seen the world.

There was no need to worry about whether this influence was good or bad. Anyway, it was bidirectional. After European immigrants came into contact with the Chinese, their religious beliefs would weaken. After Chinese immigrants came into contact with European immigrants, they would also be infected by the different mental outlook of the Europeans.

Therefore, ethnic integration was taking place all the time, but the premise of ethnic integration was that there was a primary and secondary issue, and that it could be recognized by both parties.

In East Africa, the primary and secondary status of culture was very clear, and the Germans naturally believed that German culture was the most excellent, while other immigrants felt inferior in their hearts.

Especially the Serbians, who currently did not even have a motherland and had been living under German nobles.

Now the East African colonial government gave everyone the opportunity to become Germans, so they naturally had to seize it. (Blacks:?)

After all, admiring the strong is the essence of human nature, and German immigrants had the support of top powers such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and military powers such as Prussia as a facade. Even if the East African colony was also the territory of a German (Ernst), with such strength, other immigrants would naturally admire them in their hearts.

But if the status of German immigrants was placed first because of this, it was estimated that others would not agree. Then why not everyone join Germany and become Germans? The problem would be solved.

Therefore, the assimilation methods of the East African colony were a conspiracy in the open, allowing everyone to be assimilated willingly.

(Blacks: (▼皿▼#), you should give me a chance!)

Chapter 115: After Christmas

If you were to ask which country had the most enjoyable Christmas in 1867, the answer would undoubtedly be Prussia. Throughout the entire year, the North German Confederation, led by Prussia, experienced significant economic growth in the latter half.

The establishment of the North German Confederation connected the entire northern part of Germany, linking Prussia’s most important industrial area in the west with its political center in the east via railways.

Within the confederation, unified transportation and tariffs greatly reduced the cost of transporting goods and raw materials throughout North Germany.

Any factory or enterprise of considerable size benefited from this wave of unification.

And Ernst’s Hechingen Consortium was naturally among those that benefited the most. Besides being part of Germany’s economic engine in Prussia’s emerging economic sectors, alongside companies like Siemens,
in traditional economic sectors, the Hechingen Consortium relied on innovation and invention to conquer markets. For example, in everyday consumer goods, Hechingen’s products accounted for fifteen percent of the entire German market (including Austria-Hungary).

Heavy industries such as steel, coal, and machine tools, however, remained firmly in the hands of Germany’s traditional industrial and commercial giants.

In the financial sector, Hechingen Bank, relying on the numerous companies under the Hechingen Consortium and leveraging Ernst’s memories of the Second Industrial Revolution to invest in companies in emerging sectors, successively surpassed some traditional commercial banks.

Currently, it firmly holds the third position in the German region. Geographically, Hechingen is located in Southern Germany, but politically, it belongs to the North German Confederation and maintains close ties with the Austro-Hungarian imperial family. With the support of nobles from various regions, it would be difficult not to grow and prosper.

Therefore, Hechingen Bank’s business operations throughout the German region have been very smooth. Banks of all sizes are spread throughout Germany, from the Baltic coast south to Trieste on the Adriatic coast.

At the same time, Hechingen Bank, citing the need to facilitate the repayment of funds obtained by Tsarist Russia from the sale of the Alaska region, has launched banking operations in major cities such as Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Kyiv.

Tsarist Russia is a very large market. Although the Russians welcome other European companies to invest in Russia, Ernst still chose to play it safe.

He only opened business locations in a few key cities. The investment environment in major cities is always much better than in the localities, especially since the credibility of local Tsarist Russian officials is simply unreliable.

If it were in the German region, Ernst could gain the recognition and assistance of German nobles with his Hohenzollern family identity.

But within Russia, apart from a few major nobles (with whom there are cooperative relationships), who recognizes the ruler of a small country like Hechingen?

Besides Tsarist Russia, Hechingen Bank has also engaged in business activities in other countries with mature market rules, such as England, France, the United States, the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries.

In the economic field, Prussia and Ernst have achieved good results, and the same is true in other areas.

For example, in the military field, successive victories over Denmark and Austria, coupled with the victories Prussia achieved before Ernst’s awakening, have boosted the confidence of the Prussian army to unprecedented levels.

Especially in the second half of this year (1867), with the entry into force of the “Constitution of the North German Confederation,” the North German Confederation became a new political entity.

Its territory reached two-fifths of the entire German region, possessing 340,000 square kilometers of land.

Its population also accounted for two-thirds of the total German population, growing to more than 24 million people.

In comparison, France’s mainland area is only 550,000 square kilometers, and its population is only over 36 million. Considering the level of industrialization of the two countries, Prussia already has the strength to confront France.

Coupled with the innovation of weapons and equipment, the added value of industrial production, the application of inventions such as railways and telegraphs in the military field, and the advancement of Prussian military reforms (especially the reserve and general staff systems),
the North German Confederation has essentially crossed the threshold of European powers and become a new European power, second only to England, France, Russia, and Austria. But considering the fighting power of Prussia and Austria before, it is hard to say who should be placed fourth.

Of course, Ernst has already placed the North German Confederation in fourth place in the world. The disjointed nature of Austria-Hungary makes it difficult for Ernst to have confidence in it; only its size still looks intimidating.

…

In any case, the North German Confederation (Prussia) has had a very good year, from top to bottom.

In the South German region, ordinary people are not doing so well. The impact of the poor harvest is still significant. Fortunately, the East African colonies have given these people a way out.

However, as the saying goes, no one wants to leave their hometown unless they are desperate!

In this wave, the East African colonies have completely surpassed the United States in terms of the destination of South German immigrants. The vast majority of immigrants have chosen to go to East Africa.

This is not because the conditions in the United States are bad, but because German immigrants are unwilling to take risks. After going to North America, everything is unknown.

But going to East Africa clearly means continuing to farm for the noble lords. The farmers of South Germany do not understand the capitalists of America, but they still trust the noble lords of the German region.

In particular, Ernst is a local noble lord in South Germany. At worst, going to East Africa will not be worse than the conditions in South Germany, but who knows how the Americans will treat them if they go to the United States.

After Christmas, there was a small peak in the number of South German immigrants heading to East Africa. Many young people who went to East Africa to make a living bid farewell to their parents and siblings and boarded the carriages hired by the Hechingen Consortium.

In many villages throughout South Germany, temporary carriages hired by the Hechingen Consortium can be seen, with all transportation costs covered, as promised by the East African colonies.

These immigrants will be gathered nearby and sent to the nearest railway station, according to prior arrangements, to be sent to the port city.

Currently, there are two routes for German immigrants. One is to go north along the railway and take Hechingen’s ships or hired Dutch ships from the ports of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to East Africa.

The other is to transfer uniformly in Bavaria, go south along the railway, pass through the territory of Austria-Hungary to Trieste, and then take Hechingen’s own ships to East Africa together with Austrian-Hungarian immigrants.

These two routes have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the distance is not too different. They both need to go around a large circle along the west coast of Africa.

For this wave of immigrants, the transportation costs paid by the Hechingen Consortium are a large sum, but as long as it can replenish the German population of East Africa, spending more money is not a big deal at all.

Anyway, after this batch of immigrants arrives in East Africa, they will continue to create value for Ernst. It’s just that the investment takes a relatively long time to take effect. No matter how you calculate it, Ernst cannot lose.

While keeping an eye on the immigration task, Ernst was not idle. Currently, many employees in Berlin have taken a few days off, and with company executives watching over them, there are not too many major events.

And Ernst happened to be in Hechingen, so he went to care about the students in the Hechingen Military Academy and Cultural School.

These students are all orphans, rootless and without support. Ernst is their only family member, so Ernst instructed his servants to prepare gifts and prepare to inspect the two schools.

Chapter 116: Rudolf’s Source of Nightmares

“Ernst! Why so many carriages? Where are you going?” Constantine asked, looking at the several carriages neatly arranged in the yard.

“Father, isn’t it just after Christmas? I was thinking of visiting the children at the school. They’re all orphans and have no family, so I plan to go see them,” Ernst replied.

“Hmm! Well done, Ernst. I’d like to see these poor children too. Wait a moment, and we’ll go to the school together, father and son,” Constantine said.

As nobles, generally speaking, intelligent nobles cultivate their reputation by, for example, providing relief to disaster victims and vulnerable groups.

Of course, there are also some tightfisted misers who can’t wait to take the last bit of savings from their subjects, ruining the reputation of the noble class.

However, most nobles have a decent level of intelligence and will put on a show even if they lack genuine compassion.

The House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen has traditionally had a good reputation in Hechingen. Constantine also provides financial assistance to some Hechingen residents in difficult circumstances during festivals.

…

The carriage moved slowly, with Ernst and Constantine sitting inside.

“Ernst, I know you’re busy, but life can’t always be about work. Sometimes you should care about other things,” Constantine began, broaching the subject with Ernst.

“Uh… Father, can you just get to the point?” Ernst asked.

“You idiot, it’s about your marriage! How long has it been since you last saw your fiancée?” Constantine said, exasperated.

Ernst was stunned for a moment. He thought carefully and realized that the last time he saw that little girl was a few months ago when he went to Schönbrunn Palace and stopped by to see her.

“Father, Karolina is still young, there’s no rush. I know you’re eager to hold your grandson, but your daughter-in-law isn’t going anywhere. Let’s wait a few more years,” Ernst replied.

Karolina is only eleven years old this year, and will be twelve next year. She’s so young that Ernst only sees her as a little girl. However, Ernst himself isn’t very old either, and since this is a political marriage, he’s not opposed to it. Anyway, the wedding is still a few years away, so there’s no need to worry too much.

“You brat! Do you think I’m an impatient person? Although your old man is getting on in years, I’ve never panicked, even when facing the biggest things in my life. If you weren’t my son, I wouldn’t bother with your affairs!” Constantine said.

“As someone who’s been there, I’m sharing my life experience with you. Back then, your mother and I also had a political marriage. We didn’t have any feelings for each other before the wedding, but we were gradually attracted to each other as we spent time together, slowly discovering each other’s good qualities. Even after Jenny passed away, I didn’t remarry and raised you alone.

So, people’s feelings develop slowly. Even a stone can be warmed up in your arms, let alone a human heart!

Of course, I know that these days, the slogan of free love is quite popular among you young people…”

Hearing this, Ernst couldn’t help but interrupt, “Father, you haven’t been secretly reading romance novels, have you? I’ve never been a person who acts on emotion. As far as I’m concerned, from the moment I became aware, I never considered free love. My identity dictates that everything is for the benefit of the family.”

That was the truth. Having lived two lives, Ernst was open-minded. Love is as unreliable as buying a lottery ticket, or to put it bluntly, it’s a moment of impulse.

What happens afterward depends entirely on fate. If two people don’t get along, they won’t be happy after marriage, no matter how affectionate they were before the wedding.

And some people may just want to get by when they get married, but they slowly develop feelings and can grow old together.

Therefore, Ernst doesn’t place much importance on emotional matters. Especially his achievements in this life, the development of East Africa, is very satisfying.

Like the fishing buddies in his previous life said, “I’ve never caught anything, but I’m not addicted.” Moreover, Ernst hasn’t been catching nothing. His investment in East Africa is real and tangible, and he can see the returns.

Although the returns are currently small, almost negligible, they still bring Ernst great satisfaction.

Of course, Ernst isn’t saying that he’s emotionally cold, but he’s currently prioritizing his career. He’s only seventeen years old, in the prime of his youth, so it’s better to be self-disciplined.

“That’s not what I meant. I mean you should spend more time with Karolina when you have time. The poor child must be feeling bad, having such irresponsible parents (Maximilian I and his wife). Besides, communicating and developing feelings in advance will help with marital harmony in the future,” Constantine said.

Hearing this, Ernst pondered. Constantine made a very good point. Considering the mental state of the Habsburg family, it’s rare to produce figures like Maximilian I and Rudolf. Moreover, the previous generation had mental problems.

Of course, Maximilian I is in good mental health and has no problem with his intelligence, but he’s just unlucky. Coupled with being pampered, he’s somewhat idealistic, which is why he ended up in that troubled place, Mexico.

As for why Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide in his previous life, it was entirely due to family reasons. Empress Elisabeth was not suitable to be an empress, but she greatly influenced Rudolf’s personality. In addition, Franz Joseph I was rather rigid and autocratic. The rebellious and confused Rudolf chose to end his life, resulting in a tragedy. From the perspective of Rudolf’s suicide in his previous life, there was a hint of revenge against his parents.

Now, Ernst has come to this time and space, and Maximilian I’s fate has been completely changed. He’s still living carefree in East Africa, just pointing fingers at some of East Africa’s affairs and often sending telegrams to Ernst.

Ernst also understands why Maximilian I chose to be the Emperor of Mexico in the first place. In later generations, he would be a typical keyboard warrior!

“I can do it too,” so Maximilian I went to be the emperor. The fact proves that going doesn’t necessarily mean you can do it.

However, Ernst still humbly accepted some of Maximilian I’s suggestions, because Maximilian I could give Ernst a different perspective on the development of East Africa.

As for Crown Prince Rudolf, he’s still a little brat. Ernst is thinking of finding some opportunities to pull him out of the Austrian Imperial Palace and reshape his values.

In his previous life, Rudolf’s political views were quite explosive. He actually wanted to be the president of Austria and Hungary instead of being the emperor, and he also wanted to fight for more benefits for Hungary.

This is a typical case of biting the hand that feeds you! However, this is indeed somewhat similar to Empress Elisabeth’s thinking, so Ernst feels that he can correct the child’s thinking for Franz Joseph I.

Even if it doesn’t work, can the result be worse than Rudolf’s suicide in his previous life? Moreover, Ernst can pull Rudolf to live a hard life under the guise of normal exchange and learning. In Ernst’s view, since the Austrian royal family’s education will definitely fail, it’s better to arrange for Rudolf to learn and experience a different life.

After thinking so much, Ernst said to his father, “Father, don’t worry, I will visit Austria more often.”

Ernst decided to observe the psychological state of his fiancée and see if there was an opportunity to make trouble for that kid Rudolf.

Chapter 117: Domestic Bliss

Constantine nodded with gratification. “Good, listen to me. It won’t do you any harm anyway. You’ll naturally agree with these words after you’ve experienced more.”

Constantine never imagined that his son was up to no good, preparing to interfere in other people’s family affairs.

…

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the school district. That’s right, this area was now being called the school district.

This year, Ernst had expanded the scale of the school district again to receive orphans from Paraguay and the German regions.

Initially, Ernst hadn’t expected there to be so many orphans in Germany. Now, Hechingen School was a veritable orphanage.

The total number of orphans in Hechingen added up to nearly twenty thousand, all of whom were taken in by the several schools built by the Hechingen royal family.

Keep in mind that the entire population of Hechingen was only a few tens of thousands. Now, Hechingen had become the largest orphanage in all of Germany.

Moreover, with the increase in Paraguayan orphans, Ernst would have to set up separate schools to teach these Paraguayan children German.

As for the Far Eastern orphans at the Hechingen Military Academy, they were actually older, many of them teenagers, mainly to train translators for the colonies.

Of course, there were also younger ones, but they didn’t attend the Military Academy; they went to ordinary German schools.

Currently, there were four schools under construction and expansion in Hechingen, with ten completed buildings, all of which were teaching buildings and dormitories.

Among them, the Hechingen Military Academy mainly catered to the older orphans, while the other three schools were for the younger orphans.

The Hechingen Military Academy, as an accelerated school, fulfilled the functions of a middle school. Many students who weren’t particularly outstanding in their studies were directly sent to the East African colonies after graduation.

The first few graduating classes were fine because they were mostly older children around sixteen or seventeen. Children in this era looked relatively mature, so they didn’t stand out when placed in East Africa and society.

But now, the age of the students at the Hechingen Military Academy was getting younger and younger. Many graduating now were only fifteen or sixteen years old.

The younger they were, the easier it was to remold their thinking, but the cost of training was also higher. At the very least, they needed to be fifteen or sixteen years old to graduate. So, some orphans were only five or six years old now, and Ernst would have to raise them for at least ten years.

As for the even younger ones, Ernst arranged for families in the East African colonies to adopt them, with the East African colonial government providing subsidies and supervision.

…

“Come on, little one, say ‘Grandpa,’ and Grandpa will give you candy, okay?”

“Grandpa!”

“Ah, that’s a good boy!” Constantine happily held a small child, unwrapped a piece of candy, and put it in the child’s mouth.

The surrounding children showed envious looks, but their eyes also held a hint of worry. Some were secretly swallowing their saliva, which instantly softened Constantine’s heart.

“Children! As long as you all say ‘Grandpa,’ I’ll share all these candies with you, okay?”

However, no one dared to come forward.

Constantine knew that these children were afraid of strangers, so he pulled over a small child and asked kindly, “Do you like candy, little one?”

The little child nodded timidly.

“Since you like candy, then say ‘Grandpa’ to me, and I’ll give you this piece of candy, okay?”

“Okay.” The little child said in a childish voice, “Grandpa.”

“Ah, that’s a good boy!” So, the little child also received a piece of candy. Constantine said to the surrounding children, “You see, Grandpa keeps his word. As long as you call me ‘Grandpa,’ Grandpa will give you these candies.”

“Grandpa, Grandpa…” The children, already attracted by the candy, couldn’t resist the temptation and spoke up one after another.

Constantine happily began to hand out candy to the children.

This was the lower grades class at Hechingen School, filled with little children around five or six years old.

“Ernst, stop standing there grinning like an idiot and come give me a hand,” Constantine said to Ernst.

“Yes, Father!” Ernst gave a comical salute and then began to hand out candy to the children.

…

Hechingen Military Academy.

“Good day, Headmaster!”

As a military academy, the Hechingen Military Academy certainly had older students, around fifteen or sixteen years old.

Naturally, they couldn’t be treated the same way as the little children earlier.

“Well, hello students! First of all! I wish you all a Merry Christmas. I didn’t bring any valuable gifts today, just some candy. Class monitor! You distribute it to everyone.”

“Thank you, Headmaster!” everyone said. Politeness was a compulsory course at the Hechingen Military Academy. One had to express gratitude when receiving gifts from others.

“Mm.” Ernst nodded with satisfaction and left the classroom, then went to the next class.

In reality, Ernst was only a year or two older than these children, but with the added weight of his position, Ernst still looked very dignified.

Back then, Ernst taught the first batch of Hechingen students, and he was even younger than some of them, but in terms of temperament, Ernst, with his experiences from two lifetimes and having received aristocratic education, looked like an adult in his twenties or thirties from his previous life.

…

After giving out the gifts, it had gotten dark, and Constantine and Ernst had to return.

The carriage rumbled along the stone-paved road. Constantine said to Ernst, “Seeing these adorable children reminds me of you when you were little, such a small thing, always jumping around like a little monkey. Back then, I was worried that you were too rash and that the Hechingen royal family would decline if I handed it over to you. But gradually, you’ve become a little adult, with a steady character and bold thinking. Now it seems my worries were unnecessary.”

“Father, rest assured, the interests of the family come first. I abide by this every moment. The future of the Hechingen royal family will definitely be bright,” Ernst said to Prince Constantine.

“I know that too, but you kid has to step up and give me a few chubby grandsons with Carina in the future. Only with a thriving population can the family’s lineage prosper. This is the lesson the Hechingen family has learned. I hope you don’t follow the old path in your generation. Look at the most illustrious families in Europe, if there are no successors, they still disappear into history,” Constantine sternly warned.

“I understand this principle as well, Father. Rest assured,” Ernst replied seriously.

Seeing that Ernst wasn’t just paying lip service, Constantine nodded with satisfaction. Constantine sometimes found it incredible.

Ernst’s thinking sometimes didn’t seem like that of a young man at all, but rather as rigid and traditional as his own. But he wasn’t like this when he was young. He only gradually became steady after middle age.

But Ernst was different. Although he would also interact with friends and peers, he was always strictly self-disciplined and had a strong ambition.

Of course, many people Ernst’s age were mostly mixing around in military camps. Naturally, they would be disciplined in the military camps, but they would reveal their true colors when they entered society. On holidays, you could see young soldiers mixing in bars and dance halls.

Chapter 118: Beer Hall Gathering

Just as Prince Constantine had thought, Prussian officers were returning home for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

And Garret sent Ernst a telegram, inviting him to Berlin to hang out.

…

Berlin, at a beer hall Ernst and Garret often frequented during their school days.

“Ernst, I’ve missed you so much!” Garret howled at Ernst.

“Stay away from me, you look like a lunatic,” Ernst said, looking disgusted.

“Ah, you don’t understand. Life in the barracks is inhuman. I’m suffocating in there every day. Now that I finally have a chance, of course I want to relax.”

“I brought some friends with me today. Come on, Ernst, let me introduce you.”

They arrived at the table.

“This is Prince Ernst of the Hohenzollern family.” Garret solemnly introduced Ernst’s identity to his colleagues.

“Hello, Your Highness,” several people greeted Ernst.

“Hello to you all!” Ernst responded.

“These are all my good friends from the barracks. They all participated in the Austro-Prussian War, and we all worked in the staff department at the time. Of course, our fathers were also comrades who fought in the same trenches,” Garret added.

The group gathered around the table and took their seats.

Garret ordered several beers, one for each person, and the bartender stood by to replenish the drinks.

After a few beers, the floodgates opened.

“Ernst, you don’t know the new officer in charge of us, I think his name is Hermann, right brothers!” Garret asked the others.

“It’s Hermann, that’s right. I heard he used to be a staff officer in the Ninth Brigade. I heard that when he was young, he was a bit of a rascal, but later, his old man caught him and sent him to military school to receive an education. Later, he graduated with excellent grades, first serving as a battalion commander, and then rising all the way up. It is said that during the war with Austria, the troops under his command, braving the Austrian heavy artillery bombardment, forced a bloody path and broke through the Austrian positions. He and his former brigade commander are absolute ruthless characters.”

“I heard he’s extremely strict with his subordinates. We’re in for a rough time!”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. The situation in the army is much better than before. Everyone here comes from military families. You all know what the Prussian army used to be like.”

“That’s true. In recent years, those real spoiled brats have been severely suppressed. Now the kingdom has higher requirements for professional competence, otherwise, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity.”

This was true. However, Garret and the others’ families were actually considered upper-middle class in Prussia, and they were old Junker families.

Nobles like Ernst who transitioned to business were not very compatible with the mainstream. However, before joining Prussia, the Hechingen royal family was a genuine South German noble family.

In the previous life, Junker was more like a proper noun for Prussia. In fact, Junker in German means “son of a landowner”, but the deep impression left by the Prussian nobility made Junker its unique symbol.

As a result, after World War II, the Allied forces completely eliminated the Junker nobles in Prussia, cutting them off at the root. After the war, several victorious countries jointly divided the territory of Prussia, drove away the people on these lands, demolished the houses, and even changed the place names. Some Junker nobles’ ancestral graves were dug up, and the Junker nobles disappeared completely from then on.

“Ah, let’s not talk about these annoying things. Ernst, what have you been busy with lately? I haven’t heard any big news from you in a while?” Garret asked.

As a rising capitalist, young and rich, Ernst had some reputation throughout the German region.

Especially during the period of purchasing Alaska, many North Germans recognized this sucker, and many media ridiculed Ernst for being dizzy and buying a piece of worthless land.

To this Ernst wanted to say, I have money, I am willing to buy it and leave it there, even if Ernst cannot get Alaska in the future, hindering the development of other countries is also a good thing. Ernst feels a loss no matter who develops Alaska first, whether it is the United States or Russia.

This kind of lose-lose behavior is actually a bit secretly satisfying. Of course, it would be even better if Alaska could be preserved in the future.

“Where would I have any big news? You think too highly of me. I’ve been very low-key lately,” Ernst said.

In the past few months, the East African colonies have indeed been busy digesting, without expanding outwards, and the Hechingen Consortium has also been reorganizing its business, without any major moves.

“But I heard from the old man that the military supplies department’s procurement of war materials has only increased, and the largest source of orders for daily necessities is your company’s products,” Garret said.

Ernst responded, “Actually, it doesn’t make much profit. Many of the supplies for veterans are provided at cost. Currently, the Hechingen Company is mainly targeting the civilian market.”

He wasn’t lying about the veteran supplies not making money, but this was part of Ernst’s plan to cultivate users, and at the same time, it could leave a good impression on the Prussian royal family and government.

Prussia implements a conscription system, so soldiers come from all over the country. After they adapt to the convenience of the products produced by the Hechingen Company, they will be walking advertisements in the future.

At the same time, maintaining a relationship with the government is very important. In the future, the government will not be able to cross the river and tear down the bridge. Some benefits should always be considered to reward the Hechingen Consortium first, such as the army’s tobacco business, which is very profitable and empties the wallets of many soldiers.

The potential for developing the civilian market is still very large. Currently, the main providers of daily necessities on the market are still those small workshops, and their productivity level is not on the same line as the Hechingen Company. In the future, more and more cheap and durable Hechingen products will appear on the market.

“Really? Cooperating with the military without making money!” Garret couldn’t believe it.

“What would I gain from lying to you? Why would I tell a lie? You can ask your father, and you’ll know the military’s purchase cost,” Ernst said.

“You’re amazing!” Garret nodded and said to Ernst.

Giving up some benefits in exchange for greater benefits is very worthwhile for Ernst. Unlike some people who really have to rely on connections to get orders from the troops, it’s okay if the quality of the goods is good, but if the quality is not good, in a militaristic country like Prussia, being discovered will be disastrous.

Currently, the most profitable industries in Ernst’s hands are, first, banks, second, tobacco, third, electricity companies, fourth, daily necessities production, and fifth, engines…

Tobacco is a purely high-profit industry, and as the area of tobacco cultivation in East Africa expands, the cost will be even lower in the future.

Electricity companies are currently making a lot of money from lighting systems, and there are more and more derivative products.

As for the most promising Berlin Energy and Power Company, although Ernst has suppressed the time of its product launch, with a deep understanding of more advanced engines, the company’s improvement of low-performance engines is even more perfect.

Currently on the market, the two-stroke engines produced by Berlin Energy and Power Company are far superior in quality to their peers. In fact, this product is already two generations behind within the company.

But making a fortune quietly is too good. When competitors are about to catch up, Berlin Energy and Power can bring out the leading new products, which can create an illusion in the market that Berlin Energy and Power’s products have a high cost performance and the best reliability. It is expensive, but it is right to buy the brand.

Chapter 119: Busy Farming Season

As soon as Christmas ended, the East African immigrants began their busy lives again. Unlike Africa, Europe was truly in winter, and farmers could rest for a while.

In many parts of East Africa, however, it was the short rainy season of the year (usually from November to December). While planting crops, immigrants had to dredge rivers and ditches, and do a good job of drainage and water diversion.

The climatic conditions of the East African colony, if not particularly blessed, were above the world average. As long as the water supply was guaranteed, rice, for example, could be planted for 2.5 seasons a year (5 seasons in two years).

The land currently developed in East Africa is all near rivers and lakes with sufficient water sources, or in areas with abundant rainfall. With the water problem solved, planting is no problem, so the immigrants are busy.

Only during the crop growing process is there a slack farming season. During the slack farming season, the East African colony will conscript immigrants to conquer other areas.

This is East Africa’s expansion model: farmers in farming season, soldiers in wartime. Even without war, militia training will be organized. Anyway, there is rarely any time to relax.

Not delaying production, nor delaying combat, is the basis for the orderly expansion of the East African colony. And in addition to the militia, East Africa already has a standing army.

Under normal circumstances, the militia is enough to deal with the natives. Only when facing tough opponents will the regular army be dispatched.

However, this situation only occurs when East Africa is expanding. In the future, when East Africa stops expanding, or the population is sufficient, there will be no need for the militia to participate in combat.

The main thing is that to clear out the natives, manpower is essential. They are also familiar with the terrain and can disappear into the mountains and forests.

With the regular army’s limited forces, it is impossible to play hide-and-seek with the natives, so it is necessary to mobilize the militia force to conduct large-scale screening of the land in the conquered areas.

Even if there are a few that slip through the net, it doesn’t matter. Just like many invasive species, even if two or three individuals break in, they cannot reproduce the population if they cannot find a mate.

The East African colony is currently in this situation. There must be some that have slipped through the net within East Africa, but they are separated from society, even a primitive society like a native tribe, and it is difficult to survive in the wild.

After all, the good places have been occupied by East African immigrants. They can only be accompanied by wild animals. Even if they escape the mouths of beasts and the screening of the East African colony, and live to the end, they can only die alone in the end.

For example, most of the wild animals in Africa are mainly gregarious, and rarely act alone. Animals are much more adaptable to the East African environment than humans.

They still need to huddle together for warmth, let alone humans. One important reason why East Africa is not as densely populated as West Africa is that there are fewer people.

The East African native tribes and the animals on the East African savannah are at best evenly matched, while the reason why East African colony immigrants are different is the dimensional reduction strike of hot weapons.

No matter how powerful a wild animal is, it can be brought down with one shot, while the natives need to unite and cooperate. At least four or five people are needed to deal with a wild beast, and large animals such as elephants and hippos require the cooperation of the entire village to capture.

…

Christmas, that day, being able to take the time to celebrate can already be considered the East African government’s respect for traditional festivals.

The rainy season every year is the busiest time in East Africa. East Africa’s development is weak, and its infrastructure is poor.

And concentrated rainfall is also a challenge for East Africa. In the past, throughout East Africa, once the rainy season arrived, rainwater could only gather along the terrain, so low-lying areas were easily flooded.

This is also the reason why the natives do not live near rivers. They generally only need to go to the river to fetch water, anyway, they live by hunting.

Therefore, in documentaries, you can often see Africans carrying water jugs on their heads to fetch water from very distant rivers. Of course, some water sources are near areas with more wild animals, which are relatively dangerous, which is also the reason why Africans do not live near water sources.

But the East African colony is different. Agriculture is the most important industry in the East African colony, and agricultural planting is naturally better the closer it is to water sources. As for wild animals, they have long been cleared by the East African government, so most East African immigrants live near rivers, lakes and other water sources.

In order to draw river water to irrigate the fields, it is also necessary to dig canals and build water lifting facilities such as waterwheels.

And when the rainy season arrives in East Africa, some river sections are prone to flooding, so in order to prevent floods from threatening residential areas and farmland.

Dredging river channels and building dikes during the rainy season has become a necessary measure, and these large projects require the joint action of everyone in the colony.

Of course, it is mainly prevention. The probability of a real flood disaster is not high. It only happens in extreme years when there is too much rain.

And as long as preventive measures are taken in advance, the East African colony can withstand the losses even if it suffers them.

After all, the land developed by the East African colony is relatively large in area, and the riverside part is only a small part. Water is mainly drawn through ditches for irrigation.

The conditions are just relatively poor now. In the future, when the conditions are better, important tools such as water pumps will definitely be introduced. At that time, there will be no need to rely on manpower to laboriously drive water lifting devices.

You don’t even have to wait that long. Machines with primitive power such as windmills can be introduced in advance. Ernst plans to send people to the Netherlands to learn from their experience.

In fact, Dutch windmills were originally introduced from the German region, but the Dutch have played various new tricks with windmills.

In addition to absorbing and draining water, windmills are also used by the Dutch as an important source of power for grinding grains, tobacco leaves, extracting oil, felt, papermaking…

With the advent of the steam age, Dutch windmills have gradually declined, but this thing still has a lot to offer in a wild place like East Africa.

Anyway, East Africa is not short of materials. The main wood and stone are sufficient, and other materials can be imported from Europe.

The current conditions in the East African colony are not yet able to enter the industrial age, but all the advanced tools and experience of the agricultural age can be used.

The main thing is to save costs. The threshold for industry is too high and cannot be achieved overnight, while the East African colony can make traditional agricultural tools itself.

Coupled with the advanced experience of the agricultural age that has been summarized for thousands of years, at least the production efficiency of East Africa can be improved to the extreme of the agricultural age.

And the agricultural age is only a transitional stage for the East African colony. It will not continue forever. Ernst also knows that industrialization is the future, but building a house requires laying a foundation first. Industry without agricultural support is just rootless duckweed.

Of course, it is not impossible to engage in small-scale industrialization, but the problem is that in this way, Ernst might as well directly enclose land in that small place in Hechingen and be content with his lot. East Africa’s talent is so good that it cannot be wasted in vain, and large-scale industry cannot be separated from agricultural independence and self-reliance.

The East African colony’s improvement of East Africa’s original primitive social economic system to the agricultural age is already a kind of progress, let alone completing the agricultural civilization that other countries have spent hundreds or thousands of years to pass through in a few decades.

Chapter 120: Tropical Disease Research Center

January 4, 1868

Berlin is not only the political center of Prussia, but also one of its academic hubs.

Numerous Prussian universities, academic institutions, and research facilities are concentrated here.

Today, Ernst is also establishing a medical research institution in Berlin: the Tropical Disease Research Center.

Ernst’s understanding of medicine is like using a poker to light a fire – he knows absolutely nothing. However, with money, anything is possible. Once the funding is in place, there will be plenty of capable and talented individuals willing to join.

The Tropical Disease Research Center, as its name suggests, primarily focuses on conquering tropical diseases.

As a mid-latitude country with no overseas colonies, Prussia’s research in the field of tropical diseases is virtually nonexistent compared to countries like England and France during the same period.

In this era, let alone researching tropical diseases, even the study of common infectious diseases is still in its exploratory stage, so achieving significant results is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Ernst doesn’t expect the research results to immediately improve medical conditions in East Africa; he’s simply making technical reserves ahead of time, which is never wrong.

Why were Western medical companies and research institutions able to monopolize the most cutting-edge medical theories and technologies in his previous life?

It’s because they started early, coupled with the support of strong Western national power, allowing them to build solid fortresses.

The Tropical Disease Research Center is tasked with preparing technology and experience for the future of East African medicine. Falling behind by one step is not a problem; falling behind step by step is what’s truly frightening.

Although the Tropical Disease Research Center has the word “tropical” in its name, its research field is not limited to the tropics.

This research center will be divided into two parts: one built in East Africa and one in Berlin.

After all, conducting infectious disease research in Berlin without preservation technology makes it difficult to obtain tropical virus and bacteria samples (live ones are fine). Therefore, the Berlin section mainly studies traditional European diseases.

Establishing a Tropical Disease Research Center in East Africa will certainly require more money. For example, in terms of personnel, they can only choose European medical talents who have received higher education.

Without huge benefits, who would risk their lives for you in Africa? It’s not impossible that there are people who purely love and have lofty ideals who are willing to shed blood and sweat for the cause of human medicine, but everyone still needs to eat.

Therefore, the salaries of the staff at the East African Tropical Disease Research Center cannot be low. They must also be given huge insurance coverage to dispel their worries.

Medical equipment is another major expense, which cannot be spared. To achieve results, the blessing of the most advanced medical tools is indispensable.

Berlin is fine, but in East Africa, it must be transported from the sea, which is time-consuming, laborious, and expensive.

At the same time, Ernst plans to purchase a batch of medical materials from around the world for professional reference.

For example, penicillin. Ernst heard in his previous life that ancient China had already come into contact with this kind of thing. Ernst doesn’t know if it’s true. After all, the internet in his previous life was just a big sewer, and rumors don’t cost anything.

However, “artemisinin” has official endorsement, so it must be recorded in ancient Chinese medical books.

In addition to traditional Chinese medicine, other parts of the world have their own medicine, or witch doctors.

There will always be some successful cases and mature medicines in these medicines for professional research.

In fact, according to the characteristics of this era, there is no need to set up a separate disease research center in the colony.

Many countries set up research institutes in their own countries and collect samples from all over the world.

The reason why Ernst is going to great lengths to replicate a research center in East Africa is mainly due to the fear in his mind.

In his previous life, the reputation of those infectious diseases in Africa was too great: AIDS, Ebola, Marburg… each and every one of them was a viral ceiling.

Therefore, Ernst is very cautious. If he brings African virus samples to Europe, causing huge losses… the consequences would be unimaginable, especially if the root cause is traced back to Ernst’s tinkering. There would be no place for Ernst in the whole world.

Of course, this is a bit of worrying about things that may never happen. There are special reasons why Africa was a breeding ground for viruses in his previous life.

As the origin of mankind, Africa retains the most diverse genes, which provides multiple possibilities for virus mutation.

In addition, Africans have poor sanitary conditions, such as drinking dirty water and eating raw meat…

There are also other conditions conducive to the production of viruses, such as war and poor medical conditions. In his previous life, Africa was able to become a breeding ground for viruses.

As for the natural environment, South America, India, and Africa are similar. Therefore, the environment is not the main reason.

Moreover, Ernst’s East African colony is responsible for driving out the local races. In this way, the genetic diversity of the local races is reduced.

At the same time, the sanitary conditions in the colony are improved, and the wild animals (especially primates) near the residence are cleaned up, further compressing the breeding and spread of viruses and diseases.

With the increasing expansion of the East African colony, it will definitely affect the pattern of the entire Africa in the future. It is hard to say whether those viruses that made people talk about them in the previous life will be produced.

For example, AIDS, which originated in Congo (Kinshasa), appeared around the mid to late 20th century.

It’s still early now! According to the expansion speed of the East African colony and the current expansion target, the East African colony will sooner or later take the Mitumba Mountains in the west and the plateau area in southern Congo.

These are the places where tropical grasslands and tropical rain forests meet, which are suitable for agricultural development. In his previous life, Rwanda occupied part of Congo’s territory in the Mitumba Mountains.

Ernst has not considered whether to take the entire Congo, after all, tropical rain forests are really difficult to develop, and with the help of rain forests, the natives there are not easy to drive away.

However, when taking the northwest region, there will definitely be natives fleeing west into Congo. In the future, the kingdom in Zambia will also face the fate of being driven into the Congo rainforest by the East African colony.

However, the rainforest is not a place where people can survive. In his previous life, most Congolese settled along the edge of the Congo Basin.

To feed so many people, they can only continue to flee north, to the Central African savanna, or the West African region.

Anyway, the Congo region is definitely different from his previous life, and it is difficult to say whether diseases such as AIDS will appear.

However, Ernst’s worries are not unreasonable. In his previous life, the Marburg virus was discovered in the Marburg laboratory in West Germany. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a separate research center in East Africa.

The Marburg virus originated from monkeys in Uganda and Kenya, and Kenya is currently East African territory.

Therefore, at present, Ernst’s extinction activities against native primates in the East African region are still somewhat reasonable.

You must know that it is now the 19th century, and medical conditions will only be worse than in 1967 (when the Marburg virus was discovered). It is still safer to choose the method of direct physical elimination.

Chapter 121: Mwanza Shipyard

January 3rd, 1868.

Great Lakes Region, Mwanza.

The Great Lake (Lake Victoria), with a water area of nearly seventy thousand square kilometers and an average depth of about 40 meters, possesses excellent navigation capabilities.

To develop the Great Lake, advanced ships are essential. Not necessarily extremely advanced, but at least better than the canoes used by the natives.

Moreover, the Great Lake has over a thousand islands, many of which are suitable for human habitation and are naturally inhabited by natives.

These natives live by fishing, and some may spend their entire lives on the islands. This is naturally not allowed by the East African colonial government, which pursues “zeroing out” as its ultimate goal.

Therefore, considering the development and utilization of the Great Lake and the need to clear out the natives on the islands, it is necessary to establish East Africa’s own inland lake force.

Whether it is for fishermen to fish or to establish an inland lake force, boats are indispensable.

Even in his previous life, the main mode of transportation on Lake Victoria was ferries. Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania all built ports along the shores of Lake Victoria, relying on the vast waters of the lake to establish many large port cities. These lake ports are in no way inferior to some of the seaports in Africa.

Furthermore, the Great Lake possesses abundant freshwater fishery resources. With the development of the East African colony and the restrictions on eating wild animals, finding new sources of meat is inevitable.

Currently, Ernst has two ideas: one is to develop pastures and engage in animal husbandry, and the other is to develop the fishery resources of East Africa’s freshwater lakes.

The development of animal husbandry takes time, while the fishery resources in East African lakes are readily available. The Great Lake, Lake Soro, Lake Malawi, and even Lake Turkana, any one of them is enough to meet the current meat demand of the East African colony.

As for marine fishery resources, it is true that the fishery resources along the East African coast are very rich, especially during the season when the Somali Current passes through, forming large-scale fishing grounds.

However, East Africa’s current conditions are not suitable for building large shipyards, and if the fishing boats are too small, they are not safe on the ocean.

It is more cost-effective to develop fishery resources in inland lakes, after all, inland lakes are not as turbulent as the ocean.

Ernst plans to build several small shipyards in the inland lakes. The ships produced will not only meet the needs of the fishing industry but also accelerate the development and expansion of East Africa.

After all, these lakes are large and wide. If you want to go to the other side, it takes a long detour on land. Having ships can save a lot of time.

At the same time, ships have a large carrying capacity, which facilitates the transportation of goods and personnel, and can effectively reduce losses.

Currently, the most important means of transportation in East Africa are carriages and ox carts. In places with a lot of construction, there are also many wooden wheelbarrows (mainly pushed by manpower to transport grain and other materials), which are also an important means of transportation in East Africa.

The first shipyard in East Africa was located in Mwanza on the shores of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

This is the result of comprehensive consideration of various factors.

Currently, the two important cities in the East African colony are located along the Great Lake: one is Mwanza (the capital of the Great Lakes Region), and the other is Kisumu (the capital of Western Kenya). Connecting the two cities can accelerate the development of the Great Lake, and connecting the two cities naturally relies on ships.

At the same time, the natives living on the islands in the Great Lake also need to be dealt with. Lake Soro and Lake Malawi do not have similar needs, so there is no need to rush to build factories.

In addition, the conquest of the northwest also needs to rely on the navigability of the Great Lake, which can strengthen control over the northwest in the future.

Finally, Mwanza itself has excellent natural conditions. Relying on Mwanza Bay, Mwanza itself is a natural and excellent lake port.

Previously, this place was inhabited by tribes of the Sukuma people (in reality, they are known as the “Gypsies of Tanzania” and are the largest ethnic group in Tanzania. Tanzania has more than one hundred and twenty ethnic groups.). Later, the East African colony directly took over the magpie’s nest and occupied this place.

In the subsequent “rectification” movement, the entire Sukuma people in the Great Lakes region were driven away. They were driven by the East African colonial government to the tribe with the largest population in the eight northwestern countries.

The Mwanza Shipyard is located southwest of Mwanza City, on the south side of a small peninsula extending westward in Mwanza Bay. The area is calm and the lake is deep, making it very suitable for building a dock relying on the peninsula.

…

Coming to East Africa is definitely a chore for those who can stay in Europe.

Therefore, Ernst directly assigned personnel from the Chinese interns in his own European shipyard to go to Africa to guide the construction of the shipyard.

These Chinese interns are all students of the Hechingen Military Academy, so they unconditionally obey Ernst’s orders.

Compared to the days of displacement and starvation in the Far East, the conditions in East Africa are poor, but for these Chinese youths who once lived in dire straits, it is not bad at all.

Moreover, during their time at the school, they were prepared to go through fire and water for the principal. As a result, they did not go because their spoken language (German) was too poor. Translators must be able to communicate without obstacles.

Therefore, many students who did not pass the language test stayed in Europe to continue their studies in German. However, the school could not keep them forever, so they had to go to work as interns in companies under Hechingen, learning German while working. This was faster than learning in school, after all, most of the surrounding colleagues were Germans, and the language environment was better.

Those students with excellent grades (good German) were transferred to East Africa to join the army and local government, responsible for coordination work.

Since the recruitment of European local students was late, the early Hechingen students who interned in the Hechingen factory were all Chinese.

Rob Lee was the person Ernst chose. Just by hearing the name, you know he was Chinese before.

Rob Lee previously interned with German workers at the Venice Shipyard, and later was transferred to Hamburg to work together.

As one of the few Chinese students working in the shipyard, he was selected to go to East Africa to guide the construction of the shipyard.

Although Rob Lee only has more than a year of work experience, the shipyards in Venice and Hamburg are all building ocean-going ships, and Rob Lee is also learning the construction experience of ocean-going ships.

Therefore, going to East Africa to guide the work of the Mwanza Shipyard is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Hundreds of workers, under the guidance of Rob Lee and German technicians, leveled the land along the coast, felled trees, and cleared rubble.

This time, Rob Lee did not come alone. There was also a German technician, but he was only responsible for the first few months of work, and he had to return to Germany later.

This German technician was willing to come to East Africa only because of the large amount of remuneration, taking a gamble. As an old shipbuilder, his economic conditions in Germany were not bad, much better than ordinary people.

Therefore, he only planned to make a quick buck and then leave. After all, the conditions in East Africa were too harsh, with no entertainment venues. Coupled with his knowledge of Africa (Prussian compulsory education includes geography), he naturally did not plan to stay permanently.

Soon, under the command of the two, a large area of open space was cleared on the south side of the peninsula, and the reserved land for buildings and roads was planned around it.

In order to put the shipyard into production as soon as possible, Rob Lee decided to start work on land and in the water at the same time, building the shipyard’s land-based factory buildings and roads while relying on the water to build docks.

The Great Lakes region has abundant rainfall and dense forests, with an inexhaustible supply of timber.

The Mwanza government organized people to cut down trees, providing raw material support for the construction of the shipyard.

These trees are all high-quality materials that have grown for many years, and the natives have backward productivity and are unable to develop these trees on a large scale, which is a bargain for the East African colony.

The design scale of the shipyard is not very large, and the technical requirements are not too high. Most of the materials are still local wood to make the hull.

Although it is a shipyard in Africa, the production equipment still needs to be imported from Europe. Although the production equipment imported from Europe is not easy to transport due to the geographical location, it does not have a big impact.

In addition to production equipment, some parts, including ship nails, ship paint… also need to be imported.

Although the Mwanza Shipyard is not large and is not worth mentioning in Europe, the Mwanza Shipyard will be recorded in history in the future, that is, it will be the first to use engines and special propellers produced by the Berlin Energy and Power Company.

Currently, many technologies of the Berlin Energy and Power Company are stored and not used in Europe, but East Africa does not have to worry about it at all. This is Ernst’s territory, and there is no fear of leaks.

It is also good to test this type of boat-specific engine here and measure its data and performance. It can be regarded as opening up a water track for future Berlin Energy and Power Company products in advance.

Currently, these important parts are made in the closed factory under the Berlin Energy and Power Company, and then transported to East Africa by sea.

The shipbuilding workers in East Africa only need to complete the assembly according to the design drawings.

This kind of ship equipped with an engine is actually a small speedboat. The hull is made of wood, and the hull is willow-shaped. After the engine is started, it runs very fast.

In his previous life, this kind of extremely simple boat, which ordinary people could replicate by collecting materials, was nothing at all.

But in this era, this kind of ship using a petroleum engine is the most advanced ship of the same volume.

The power required for these speedboats is generated by petroleum, which needs to be imported, but if you are not in a hurry, you can also use paddles to slide slowly.

In addition to this type of engine-powered boat, the main product of the Mwanza Shipyard is still small fishing boats without engines.

Engine-powered speedboats will be given priority to form a lake force (navy), while traditional-powered small boats will be provided to fishermen in Mwanza and Kisumu.

Although Kisumu is not close to Mwanza, after the boats are built, a large number of ordinary small fishing boats can be pulled to Kisumu by speedboats with ropes.

Therefore, after the Mwanza Shipyard is completed, it will be sufficient to supply the demand for ships in Mwanza and Kisumu (after all, the two cities do not have a large population, currently totaling more than twenty-six thousand people).

In the future, Mwanza and Kisumu will be positioned as important cities in East Africa. The local environmental carrying capacity is large, the water source is sufficient, and the products are abundant. Africa is suitable for population gathering, and the development of fishery resources is an important step in its development.

Chapter 122: Northern Territory Development

February 11, 1868.

Omorate Town is located on the east bank of the Omo River in Kenya, currently the northernmost immigrant settlement in the East African colony.

With the full support of the Nairobi government, a large number of immigrants were transported here for settlement in a short period of time, with a current population of more than eight hundred people.

The Nairobi government organized all its vehicles to transfer these immigrants, who had landed at Mombasa and traveled west to Nairobi, to the Omorate area.

Poor Nairobi government, in the grand scheme of East Africa, it gained nothing, but instead continuously supported other regions of Kenya, hindering its local development.

As the former capital of Kenya in a past life, cities that had the same fate as Nairobi include Dodoma, the former capital of Tanzania. The two are truly brothers in misfortune. How dazzling they were in their past lives, how desolate they are now.

Of course, Dodoma’s situation is much better than Nairobi’s because it was developed earlier, so it has accumulated a sufficient population. Nairobi, on the other hand, diverted a portion of its population to build coffee plantations in the north in the early stages of its construction. Now, before it has had time to rest, it has to support the development of Omorate Town.

The status of these two cities is completely incomparable to what they were in their past lives. Of course, this is the current situation of the East African colony. The closer the colony is to the center, the slower the city’s development.

On the contrary, a large number of cities on the edge of the colony have received sufficient development, and Omorate is such a city on the edge.

Omorate is the first nail driven into the Omo River basin by East Africa. In order to get it early for peace of mind, there was not even time to clear out the local natives.

As for why Omorate was chosen as the current northernmost city, it is because of its good geographical conditions and flat land, making it easy to develop.

Further up the Omo River, there are mountains and plateaus, making development difficult. Restricted by the terrain, the upper reaches of the Omo River can be described as tortuous and winding. Even the phrase “twists and turns” is not enough to describe the river’s complexity.

No wonder Ethiopia wanted to build a hydroelectric power station in the upper reaches in its previous life. Its water energy resources are indeed abundant.

Omorate is located tightly next to the Omo River Delta to the south, about thirty kilometers away from Lake Turkana.

The Omo River Delta is home to indigenous tribes who live by fishing, so Omorate bypassed the Omo River Delta and chose a location further north to build the town.

This location is very good. Compared to the delta, it is not prone to flooding, and the land is very fertile. The local natives have no planting experience.

Therefore, the land here has never been developed. With the nourishment of the Omo River and thousands of years of accumulation, both banks are full of fertile land.

The establishment of Omorate Town follows the same pattern as East Africa’s previous expansions, which is to first enclose the land and then slowly ask the original owners to leave.

The enclosed land then becomes the East African colony’s own land. Ernst initially used this trick to enclose the entire Tanzanian inland plateau.

Taking Mwanza, Kigoma, Mbeya, Karonga… and other large cities around the Tanganyika region (collectively known as the inland plateau) as strongholds, Tanganyika was separated from other forces.

Then, immigrants were used to completely occupy the land within the enclosure. Slowly, the Tanganyika region fell into the hands of the East African colony.

As for Kenya, it was plundered through war, so it is not the same pattern.

Now, the establishment of Omorate Town once again demonstrates East Africa’s best expansion strategy.

From the moment it was established, Omorate Town completely separated the various forces of Ethiopia (including the Abyssinian Empire) from the land south of Omorate.

When the village strongholds under Omorate are established and completed, the roads for these forces to contact and enter northern Kenya will be blocked by the East African colony.

The vast land along Lake Turkana (approximately five hundred thousand square kilometers) has become the East African colony’s possession. The East African colony can slowly digest the middle region from two directions: south (Nairobi) and north (Omorate).

As a saltwater lake, Turkana does not have a large number of tribes and natives around it. Once isolated and without assistance, they can only become lambs to the slaughter.

The rainfall in the Omo River basin is between 1500mm and 2000mm, so Omorate, located in the lower reaches, does not lack water at all. In this area, rice can be grown on a large scale to feed the immigrants.

Lake Turkana south of Omorate Town and the Kenyan region east of Lake Turkana are not suitable for large-scale grain cultivation.

Deserts and grasslands are intertwined, so they are planned as pastures. Pastures are the land use method with the lowest economic value in East Africa.

The entire East African plateau has a tropical savanna climate and does not lack this bit of grassland. Moreover, the rainfall in the south is higher, and the grass is more lush.

In addition, East Africa currently has a large amount of undeveloped land. Even in the most densely populated Upper Coastal Region, there are still a large number of grasslands and forests.

Therefore, the natural conditions in northern Kenya are simply not good enough. It is only for the sake of settling immigrants that northern Kenya is favored in the selection of pastures.

However, grazing is not so easy. In East Africa, “armed” grazing is practiced.

Except for the Sahara Desert, which is truly barren, almost all areas of Africa are covered with wild animals. Even the Kalahari Desert in the south is a paradise for wildlife.

No matter how poor the conditions in northern Kenya are, there will still be a lot of animals, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas.

As a large pasture planned by East Africa, the population of northern Kenya is destined not to be too large. In terms of numbers, it certainly cannot compete with wild animals.

Wild animals will definitely threaten the safety of the livestock raised by the colony. In this era, there are no barbed wire fences or electric fences to separate the two.

Even if there were, East Africa’s current economic conditions would not be able to afford them. So what can East Africa afford? That is the gun in its hand.

The East African colony has about hundreds of thousands of guns, almost one for every five people.

Carrying a gun to graze is definitely cost-effective and safe. East Africa can produce this thing on a small scale itself.

The East African colony’s plan is to first select the pasture, and then organize personnel to physically eliminate the beasts and wild animals within the pasture range.

Then, immigrants will form grazing groups, with each group responsible for its own area.

Herdsmen are different from farmers. Each person has a weapon to patrol the pasture and prevent wild animals and savages from harassing the pasture.

Speaking of savages, herdsmen also have the obligation to capture savages who break into the pasture and then have them uniformly escorted to the south by higher-level departments.

In this way, northern Kenya is covered by large and small pastoral areas, and the living space of the natives naturally becomes smaller and smaller. If they resist or break into the pastoral areas, they will be arrested by the East African colony.

The day when Kenya is covered with pastures and plantations is also the time when the natives are completely cleared out.

This is East Africa’s rough plan for the development of northern Kenya, simple but effective.

Unlike the vast area of northern Kenya, Omorate Town has its own unique political and economic status.

This is an agricultural planting area, bordering Ethiopia and leading directly to Sudan in the northwest. Its strategic and economic value is very high.

At the same time, occupying this area also has considerations for the future, just like the average American in a past life has a headache about illegal immigrants from South America.

East Africa will definitely face this situation as well. The people in northern Ethiopia are okay, many of them are Arabs or North African whites with lighter skin tones.

However, a large number of pure black people are distributed in Ethiopia and southern Somalia, which Ernst, who is committed to clearing out the black population, has to guard against.

Based on Ernst’s experience in his previous life, the skin color of black people is very conspicuous wherever they are (except in the dark). If he wants to prevent black people from appearing in the East African colony in the future, it is not enough to clear out the black people within his own territory.

It is also necessary to clear out the black people in the areas near the colony. Otherwise, the natives of these backward areas will definitely run to East Africa in the future. Based on Ernst’s understanding of bureaucrats and capitalists, they are capable of anything.

For example, the American politicians gave legal status to Latin American illegal immigrants. In the end, it was the American lower class who suffered (the American government also wants ordinary people to compete, and Latin American immigrants are obedient and can also divide the lower class and undermine their unity… Anyway, for the upper class, there are only advantages and no disadvantages, and for the American local lower class, there are only disadvantages and no advantages.)

Anyway, whether the American people suffer losses or not, the parasites at the top will never suffer losses. They will only earn more or earn less. Even if the United States is ruined by their recklessness, they can open up new battlefields (run globally) with the capital and force in their hands.

Chapter 123: Kidnapping

February 1, 1868.

Ernst moved through Schönbrunn Palace as easily as if he were in his own home. The servants were used to it and no one stopped or guided him.

Since last year, Ernst had been traveling back and forth between Hechingen, Berlin, and Vienna. The Ernst family had their own castles and estates in Hechingen and Berlin, and Prussia was the territory of the Hohenzollern family, so it didn’t matter where he stayed.

As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was the Hechingen Consortium’s most important market after the German region, so it was natural for Ernst to pay attention to it personally.

Unlike in Hechingen and Berlin, Ernst only bought a small property in Vienna, not far from Schönbrunn Palace.

During his time in Vienna, Ernst would often visit the Austrian Imperial Palace. Basically, he was either away on a trip during the day or at Schönbrunn Palace, only returning to his residence to rest at night.

…

“Ernst, Ferdinand (Maximilian I) and his wife haven’t been causing you any trouble, have they?” Dowager Empress Sophie asked kindly.

“Your Majesty, please rest assured, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are doing very well in East Africa. Their whereabouts are telegraphed to Europe every day, and I have arranged guards to protect their safety. East Africa is just a little less developed than Europe, with fewer entertainment venues, but the scenery is quite good,” Ernst replied respectfully.

“Is that so? There are telegraph lines from Europe to East Africa? I wasn’t aware of that,” Dowager Empress Sophie said in surprise.

“Your Majesty, perhaps you were too worried about my father-in-law’s safety and didn’t notice. I mentioned the telegram from East Africa in my last telegram,” Ernst explained.

“I see! I only knew that Africa was a rather desolate place. I didn’t expect there to be telegraphs to Africa,” Dowager Empress Sophie said.

“Actually, North Africa, namely Egypt, also has telegraph lines laid by other European countries. East Africa isn’t too far from Egypt, so I ran a telegraph line from Egypt as a transit point. All messages can travel from East Africa to Europe within a day,” Ernst said.

“Ernst, in that case, could you have someone send Maximilian I and his wife’s daily news here in the future?” Dowager Empress Sophie asked.

“Of course, no problem. In fact, the news always arrives in Trieste first, and Vienna is the second stop. After all, I don’t stay in one place often. The news is always backed up and sent to me. Starting tomorrow, I will arrange for the staff in Vienna to send news of my father-in-law and mother-in-law to Schönbrunn Palace,” Ernst said.

“Thank you so much, Ernst. Alas! As a mother, who doesn’t love her own son?” Dowager Empress Sophie said with emotion.

“Your Majesty, you are too kind. This is all I should do as a junior. You are all my family, and naturally your affairs are my affairs,” Ernst said quickly.

In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the person with the greatest power was naturally Franz, but in Schönbrunn Palace, the person whose words carried the most weight was definitely Dowager Empress Sophie. Apart from politics, Franz could not disobey Dowager Empress Sophie’s will, so Ernst naturally had to try his best to please Dowager Empress Sophie.

“You’re just full of sweet talk! If you didn’t really have no bad habits and stood out among the young men, Karina wouldn’t have a chance with you. Isn’t that right, Karina?” Dowager Empress Sophie asked the little girl in her arms, looking down.

Karina stared with her big, watery eyes, watching the two of them talk. Suddenly, she heard her grandmother ask her and said without thinking, “Grandmother, are you giving me away? Don’t you want Karina anymore?” Karina’s words were shocking, her eyes revealing a pure and innocent foolishness.

“Silly girl, don’t talk nonsense. You and Rudolf are the apples of your grandmother’s eye. How could I give you away!” Sophia said, stroking Karina’s hair. “In the future, you will all grow up and get married. You can’t always be under my protection. This old body of mine! I don’t know how long I can last!”

As she spoke, she hugged Karina and Rudolf, who was next to her, together.

Little Rudolf was only eleven years old, three months younger than Karina. Unlike Karina, little Rudolf was probably more restrained due to his status as crown prince.

The education he received was stricter, and he had been by Dowager Empress Sophie’s side since he was a child, so he seemed a little reserved.

After all, little Rudolf could still see his parents, but Franz was quite rigid, and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) had been stripped of her educational power.

Karina, on the other hand, had rarely seen her parents since she could remember, and had only met them a few times when Maximilian I visited Europe.

Therefore, Karina was closer to her grandmother since she was a child, and Dowager Empress Sophie was even more fond of Karina because of her worries about Maximilian I. In any case, Karina wouldn’t have to bear the future of the empire like Rudolf, so her education wasn’t strict either.

In contrast, Rudolf was miserable. Dowager Empress Sophie directly copied the set of methods she used to educate Franz onto Rudolf.

There was nothing wrong with doing so, but the problem was that Rudolf’s family situation was different from Franz’s at the time.

Dowager Empress Sophie and Archduke Karl at least had no conflicts, and Dowager Empress Sophie was very strong, and Archduke Karl was relatively slow (due to inbreeding), unaggressive, and mediocre. With one strict and one kind, their relationship was not bad, and the children’s psychology was relatively normal.

Rudolf was completely different. His father was rigid but indecisive when it came to family matters (the same was true in politics, but it was basically qualified in the environment at the time), and his mother, Princess Sisi, was out of sync with the court, and the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was tense.

In any case, Rudolf was destined not to feel a harmonious family environment, so he was somewhat timid. Faced with the different personalities of his parents, he was naturally more easily influenced by his mother.

Ernst’s eyes lit up when he saw little Rudolf. Wasn’t this one of his goals?

Ernst reached out his hands and pinched little Rudolf’s chubby cheeks, saying, “Oh! Who is this? So cute!”

Ernst wasn’t lying. In his previous life, Ernst liked children, except for brats, of course.

Little Rudolf and Karina were obviously the well-behaved type, and most adults would like children with such personalities.

“Ernst, I remember you’re only a few years older than them, aren’t you? You act like an adult,” Dowager Empress Sophie said with a smile, watching Ernst tease Rudolf.

In fact, Dowager Empress Sophie was even more satisfied with Ernst. Ernst was eighteen now, which was already an adult in his previous life.

Of course, in this era, people became adults even earlier, but that was because people in this era needed to take on responsibilities earlier. The son of a farmer needed to go to the fields, while the son of a noble needed to start learning to be a mature successor.

Currently, Ernst’s level as a successor was definitely not a problem. His background was also good, and he would definitely become a prince in the future. Moreover, he had started his own business and achieved success. In addition, he was very disciplined and had no bad habits. In the eyes of traditional people like Dowager Empress Sophie, he was naturally excellent in all aspects.

“Your Majesty, no matter how old I get, I will always be a little kid in front of you elders,” Ernst said.

Ernst was setting his sights on Dowager Empress Sophie’s grandson, but Dowager Empress Sophie didn’t know it yet.

As one of the tragedies of the Habsburgs in his previous life, Rudolf’s suicide was indeed a pity. As Rudolf’s future brother-in-law, Ernst naturally wanted to give Rudolf a hand.

Of course, Ernst also wanted to see what the future of the Austro-Hungarian Empire would be like if Rudolf didn’t die! And Franz’s unfortunate nephew, Archduke Ferdinand, who was shot by a Serbian youth, would his fate change?

As for the butterfly effect, Ernst wasn’t afraid at all now. Judging from Franz’s extraordinary long reign in his previous life, even if Rudolf lived in this life, he would have to wait until after 1916 to gain power.

By 1916, it would be too late. At the current speed, the East African colonies would have developed by then, and East Africa was far from Europe.

As long as he didn’t take the wrong side in advance, both World Wars wouldn’t affect the East African mainland. Moreover, unlike the United States, East Africa was an important force near the Indian Ocean, and would be the target of both sides (after all, it could threaten the Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope, two important sea routes).

Therefore, Ernst wasn’t worried about World War I and World War II at all. What he was really worried about was the start-up phase of the East African colonies.

Currently, the risk was the greatest. Other major powers had the ability to interfere in the situation in Africa. Fortunately, capitalism in Europe hadn’t developed to the stage of capital export (searching for raw materials and markets all over the world).

That is to say, currently, colonists were mainly plundering raw materials, and all industries were in their home countries. If Ernst didn’t publicize the resources of East Africa, it wouldn’t attract attention.

The capital export stage was when the major powers had completed their domestic industrialization, and the domestic market and profits were saturated, so capital had to go to the world to conquer territory.

Therefore, after 1880, Europe and the United States launched a frenzy to divide the entire world. In just over a decade, more countries in Asia became colonies or semi-colonies; Africa was divided up; Latin America actually became a semi-colony. By the end of the nineteenth century, the capitalist world colonial system was finally formed.

Therefore, East Africa had to reach a size sufficient to protect itself before 1880, and have the ability to be independent and autonomous by the end of the 19th century.

…

“Rudolf, would you like to come and live in Prussia with me for a while?” Ernst asked, half-jokingly.

The little guy didn’t say anything, but turned to look at his grandmother.

“Ernst, are you kidding? Even if you like children, Rudolf is the future emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He doesn’t have time to play with you. If you really want to hold a child, have one with Karina after you get married?” Dowager Empress Sophie joked.

Ernst said with a serious face, “Your Majesty, I’m not joking. I think that as a future emperor, he should see more of the outside world, especially since the current era is developing rapidly, industrialization is accelerating, and many things are different from before. The emperor must also keep pace with the times, otherwise he will easily become out of touch with the times.”

“You’re being alarmist! Franz came through it this way back then. It’s not impossible for Rudolf to see the outside world when he grows up,” Dowager Empress Sophie retorted.

Ernst wouldn’t give up easily if he didn’t achieve his goal, and continued to persuade, “Your Majesty, it’s not a bad thing for Rudolf to go out and see the world in advance. Emperors are lonely. Apart from the experience passed down from their fathers, they have no other channels for reference. After all, there are only so many people in the world who can be the ruler of a country. I was thinking of taking Rudolf to the Prussian royal family to have some exchanges with Crown Prince Frederick, Prince Wilhelm, and other future Prussian monarchs.”

Ernst continued to deceive, “Your Majesty, everyone has seen the development of Prussia in recent years. Others may not know, but I am very clear about the development of industrialization in Prussia. It is no exaggeration to say that Prussia’s industry is currently sufficient to compete with France, and Prussia’s speed of development is still accelerating, and surpassing France is just around the corner. Based on my personal contact with the Prussian royal heirs, they are all outstanding young talents of the same era, so letting Rudolf contact them will help improve his abilities.”

“But Prussia’s development is based on Austria’s temporary failure, otherwise Prussia would not have been able to achieve such success, Ernst!” Dowager Empress Sophie retorted strongly.

“Your Majesty, Prussia does have some tricks, but the last war was definitely not an accident. Take the application of technology, for example. Last time, Prussia’s firearms were at the forefront of Europe, and technologies such as railways and telegraphs played a huge role.”

“This is enough to show that understanding industry and technology will be a compulsory course for a monarch in the future, and among the current European countries, the Prussian royal family is definitely at the forefront. Admittedly, Vienna is one of the cultural and artistic centers of Europe, but the level of industry and science can directly improve national strength.” Ernst didn’t forget to give Vienna a title.

“But isn’t it the same to invite teachers in related fields?” Dowager Empress Sophie said.

“It’s like looking at landscape paintings and going to see the landscape in person. The impact is different. Take Schönbrunn Palace, for example. Your Majesty, if we look at Schönbrunn Palace through paintings, it will definitely not be as profound as living here. If you want to understand the times and feel the development of industry and technology, you still have to visit the site to have a deeper feeling.”

This was very reasonable, and the example was also very good, simple and easy to understand. Dowager Empress Sophie wavered a little, but still said, “But Rudolf’s studies can’t be neglected!”

Ernst struck while the iron was hot and said, “You can completely let the palace teachers follow, study while communicating with those princes, and at the same time appreciate the situation in various places.”

“The most important quality of a monarch is not how well he studies. There were many illiterate monarchs in the Middle Ages, but some of them could still be good kings, while some knowledgeable monarchs may not be able to govern the country well. After all, Rudolf will be an emperor in the future, not a scholar.”

…

Under Ernst’s barrage of words, Dowager Empress Sophie reluctantly agreed to let Rudolf follow Ernst to see the world, but she had to discuss it with Franz first.

Chapter 124: Water Well

Events proved that Franz did not place much importance on this matter. As the ruler of a country, Franz was busy with national affairs every day.

As for little Rudolf’s education, Franz still trusted his mother more. After all, he had gone through the same process back then.

In fact, this was an irresponsible attitude. Some people may just be looking for something that is good enough. Perhaps he himself did not realize it, but it really saved a lot of trouble.

…

Poor little Rudolf fell into Ernst’s clutches just like that. He had no idea what kind of life he would be facing next.

“Goodbye, Aunt! Goodbye, Grandmother!” Little Rudolf bid farewell to his two sisters (his own sister Princess Gisela and Karina) and his grandmother.

“Ernst! Rudolf is entrusted to you for a while. You must take good care of him and not let him neglect his studies,” Empress Sophie emphasized.

“Don’t worry, Empress! I am taking Rudolf to receive a more complete and advanced education. He will also be in contact with outstanding aristocratic talents from various European countries,” Ernst assured.

“Darling, take care of yourself!” Empress Sophie kissed Rudolf’s forehead in farewell.

“Let’s go!” Ernst said to the coachman. The coachman flicked his whip, striking the horse’s backside, and the carriage slowly moved forward.

As the carriage gradually disappeared from sight, Empress Sophie came back to her senses. She did not know whether Rudolf’s departure was a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, it was only for three months, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

…

“Rudolf, what do you think of the scenery along the way?” Ernst asked Rudolf, looking at the fields rushing past outside the train window.

“Brother Ernst, yesterday was okay. The scenery outside is indeed something you can’t see in the palace. It’s very novel, but later it was too tiring. I feel like my bones are falling apart,” Rudolf complained.

The reason why Rudolf was like this was because Ernst was taking him by train to northern Germany.

It is conceivable that the comfort of steam trains in this era was very poor, and Ernst had specially booked a hard seat carriage.

There were only Ernst and Rudolf, as well as Ernst’s bodyguards and assistant team, in the carriage.

In fact, with Ernst’s status, he could have ordered a luxury suite, where the conditions were very good, but the luxury suite did not have the feel of the hard seat carriage of the old green trains that Ernst remembered from his childhood.

Ernst also wanted Rudolf to experience the hardships of ordinary people traveling. These steam trains and bumpy railways, coupled with hard leather seats, huge noise, and a journey of more than ten hours.

Not to mention Rudolf, even Ernst felt very tired, but Ernst was doing it with a taste of remembering the bitter past and appreciating the sweet present, so he enjoyed it, but Rudolf was miserable. He had never suffered such torture since he was a child.

After more than ten hours of torture, the train finally arrived at its destination, Berlin.

It was Rudolf’s first time going abroad and seeing the capital of another country, and he felt everything here was very novel. Compared with Vienna, Prussia seemed more solemn and orderly. This was a feeling that the city itself exuded and could only be understood.

Ernst prepared a full set of education for Rudolf, and all the itineraries were fully arranged, of course, with a slight difference from what he had promised Empress Sophie.

In addition to all the courses he originally took, little Rudolf also had to deal with the Prussian royal family, visit Prussia’s industrial achievements, and spend a month studying at the Hechingen Military Academy.

Ernst focused on establishing a social education for Rudolf outside of palace education.

Just like in his previous life, many families in China lacked family education, but school education made up for the lack of family education.

Good family education is definitely more advantageous than social education like school, but many family educations are failures.

Judging from Rudolf’s experience in his previous life, his family education was definitely a failure among failures, so Ernst wanted to imitate the exam-oriented education of his previous life and forcibly instill a set of normal people’s thinking into Rudolf.

Birds of a feather flock together, and people are divided into groups. Letting Rudolf come into contact with more outstanding people will definitely affect his future.

The advantage of exam-oriented education is very obvious, that is, “involution”, so much so that Rudolf has no time to think and complain.

This is something that palace education cannot compare with. Palace education only serves Rudolf alone. All palace teachers revolve around Rudolf. Those palace teachers only need to forcibly instill knowledge into Rudolf.

In exam-oriented education, Rudolf has competitors. Ernst is going to let Rudolf taste the terror of exams and the terror of competing with geniuses of the same age.

As for exam-oriented education obliterating nature and imagination, even if it is really like this, it will definitely not be bad for Rudolf. Franz wanted to train Rudolf to become a ruler who would maintain the status quo, but judging from his previous life, Franz still failed.

Under the pressure of exam-oriented education, Rudolf can really make some close friends, unlike those who take the initiative to curry favor. At that time, Rudolf’s classmates will be brothers in distress.

…

February 10, 1868.

Just today, the East African Central Government issued a new document to the local authorities, the content of which was to dig wells throughout the East African colonies.

Judging from this document, East Africa is indeed backward. Digging wells should be a spontaneous act of the people in any country and region (except Africa).

And what the East African government deals with and does every day does not look like managing a country at all, but like managing a large village.

Of course, the East African colonies have abundant water resources, and villages and towns are also close to water sources.

Why did Ernst launch the “digging wells” campaign in East Africa?

This depends on the data report of the East African government. Currently, the drinking water resources of East African immigrants mainly come from rivers and lakes.

The rivers and lakes in East Africa are not as clean as imagined. It is okay to use them for agricultural irrigation, but during the rainy season or drought season, many rivers and waters become muddy water.

Some rivers are even more exaggerated. Some hippos gather in the same section of the river, and their excrement directly pollutes the entire water area, even suffocating the fish (it is said that they died of lack of oxygen).

Therefore, the water from East African rivers and lakes is generally drunk after simple treatment, which is a mandatory requirement.

Generally, two sedimentation tanks are dug to simply filter the river water. If it is too turbid, some alum may be added, and finally it is boiled before drinking.

In this way, the drinking water in the East African colonies is directly linked to the local surface water quality. Even with simple filtration measures, many people still get sick or even die due to drinking water problems.

However, this is the case in most areas in this era, so everyone is more accustomed to it. It is also common for some people to drink raw water directly from rivers and lakes to save trouble.

Therefore, every measure in East Africa is enforced. Once it is discovered that the regulations of the colonial government have been violated, they will be punished.

In short, East Africa currently lacks clean and safe drinking water. Ernst does not demand that it be compared with tap water in his previous life, but at least it must meet the standards of well water.

Well water may face the hidden dangers of bacteria, dust, and excessive minerals, but it is much safer than surface water from rivers and lakes, especially compared to many frequently yellow water sources in East Africa.

Dodoma, Fata Village.

“The mud here is relatively wet. You can see that this is the area with the most moisture around,” Jorah Mormont said to the people in the village.

As he spoke, he directly dug a piece of mud from the ground in front of him, and also dug a piece around it.

“You see, this piece of mud, when I squeeze it, it takes shape; look at this piece, when I squeeze it, it falls apart! So there is a high probability that there is a water source under this piece of land,” Jorah Mormont proved his guess.

Jorah Mormont was an immigrant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Serbian who had lived in Hungary before and had well-digging experience, but only experience.

“Then let’s dig here first!” The German village chief made a decision.

So a group of more than a dozen villagers began to dig here with tools. There were no advanced tools, just iron shovels and hoes.

The people in the village were responsible for preparing bricks and rattan materials as materials for the well wall.

Jorah Mormont was responsible for the main work. After digging about fifty centimeters, he began to build the well wall with rattan and bricks. The rattan was mainly used for fixing.

After each layer was built, Jorah Mormont and his assistant used short-handled iron shovels to dig soil along the bottom of the bricks, and the villagers on the ground used buckets tied with ropes to pull the soil up.

As dusk approached, after tossing for most of the day, the well gradually took shape. It was dug for almost ten meters, but still no water was seen.

“How deep is it now?” the village chief asked.

Someone brought a measuring rope and lowered it along the wellhead. The person at the bottom of the well pulled it tight.

“Village chief, it’s about four meters away from twenty meters!”

“Okay! Today, we will work overtime to see if it produces water. If there is no water after twenty meters, we will change places and come back tomorrow,” the village chief set the tone.

At this time, Jorah Mormont spoke from the well: “Village chief, don’t worry, we will definitely get water if we dig a few more meters. The mud is getting wetter as we go down. According to my previous experience in Hungary, water should have come out at about ten meters. It seems that the land in Africa is still a bit different from that in Europe.”

After hearing this, the group accelerated the digging speed. Sure enough, in less than a meter, Jorah Mormont shoveled down, and well water gushed out from the ground.

“Water is coming out, water is coming out!” Jorah Mormont shouted excitedly.

“Okay, pull him up first,” the village chief said.

The villagers used a simple ladder and put it into the well. Jorah Mormont slowly climbed up.

In this way, the first well in Fata Village was born.

Currently in East Africa, wells are mainly used for drinking water for residents. Digging one or two wells in each village is enough for the entire village to use.

As for agricultural irrigation, surface water from rivers and lakes is still used, including drinking water for livestock.

The development and utilization of wells further improved the safety of residents’ water use in the East African colonies and further compressed the living space of various diseases.

Before the construction of tap water plants began in East Africa, wells had always undertaken the main task of providing drinking water for residents. Some of these wells had been in service for decades before being slowly replaced by tap water, and in some extremely water-scarce areas, wells will continue to play an irreplaceable role.

Chapter 125: Rudolf’s Transformation

The safety of drinking water is a major issue, not to be taken lightly. In my past life, Africans would rather drink filthy, stagnant water from shallow puddles than use wells.

There wasn’t really any special reason, just a matter of perception. Perhaps Africans were more inclined to believe that bacteria and viruses were just Western conspiracies.

After all, African blacks had been doing this for thousands of years and still thrived. Even a terrifying disease like AIDS seemed insignificant in the face of Africans.

In my past life, two South African presidents openly declared that AIDS was not caused by a virus but by poverty. This shows the mindset of Africans.

Keep in mind, the people who can become South African presidents are the most elite group in Africa. If they are so anti-intellectual, then what is the state of mind of the African masses who are keen on superstition and lack knowledge?

Maybe the power of AIDS is still not enough, not as awe-inspiring as the Ebola virus.

Of course, Ernst also felt that there was some truth to the conspiracy theories of African people and politicians. Looking at the terrible diseases in Africa, all of them broke out after the arrival of Western colonization (around 1950).

Currently, the most terrifying disease in Africa, and also the disease that hinders European countries from developing Africa, is “malaria,” which is completely incomparable to those incurable diseases.

Malaria can also be eradicated. This is not empty talk. In my past life, China eradicated malaria (there were 30 million cases in the early days of the People’s Republic). As everyone knows, malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes have not been eradicated.

However, China still eradicated malaria through a comprehensive plan and great determination. Even India, which has suffered from malaria as much as Africa for many years, has suppressed malaria to a very low level.

But in Africa in my past life, it was truly a paradise for diseases. Moreover, malaria, an old virus in Africa, has not weakened after a century of development, but has become even stronger.

Therefore, Ernst is convinced that Africa is really incompetent in terms of disease prevention. After all, there are not a few countries in the same latitude and with the same environment as Africa, but none are as outrageous as Africa (except Haiti).

Although the East African colonies are a bit poor, they are still very determined to fight diseases. Ernst is also keen to popularize relevant knowledge to the people in his territory. Of course, they can choose not to listen, but if they dare not to do as told…

…

Rudolf completely lacked the enthusiasm he had at the beginning. Rudolf used to be forced by Franz to accept the rigid and harsh royal education of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Although it was also hard, it was nothing compared to the studies arranged by Ernst. If the previous courses were said to be hard work, now it is torture.

The essence of exam-oriented education is like this, very grinding. Anyway, the test papers and homework will never be finished.

And these assignments will also be used by Ernst to the fullest, and sent to the Austro-Hungarian royal family for Empress Sophie and Franz to review.

When a large pile of test papers and homework is placed in front of them, they will definitely not say that Ernst does not value Rudolf’s education.

According to Ernst’s own speculation, Franz may still look at his son’s educational achievements on the first day, but when endless homework is continuously sent to Franz, he will definitely not look at these assignments a second time. This way, Ernst’s goal will be achieved.

Affected by Rudolf, more than a dozen students from the Hechingen Military Academy are also suffering together, all of whom are relatively young.

In order to create the educational atmosphere of his past life, Ernst tried his best to restore the scene.

When a person is unlucky, it is definitely painful and torturous, but after there is more than one unlucky person, and even someone is more miserable than himself, he will gloat.

That’s what Rudolf is doing. Ernst specially selected a group of talented students with excellent grades and high IQs, and also selected a few students with average grades.

Because Rudolf studied in Austria relatively early and studied a lot of content, his knowledge reserve far exceeded that of the Hechingen students (the Hechingen Military Academy has fewer courses and fewer knowledge points), so he was often praised in the early stage.

But as those geniuses slowly accepted this knowledge, the gap between them and Rudolf narrowed at a speed visible to the naked eye every day.

This gave Rudolf great pressure, especially in terms of exams. Every time the scores were approaching rapidly (the students of the Hechingen Military Academy had not been exposed to these courses before).

“Rudolf, 97 points. Your score is still the first in the class this time, but the improvement is not obvious. You still need to work harder.” Class teacher Alfred Essenbeze said to Rudolf.

Alfred Essenbeze is very interested in this educational method required by Ernst, which is an improved version of Prussian compulsory education.

The difference is that there are endless assignments and exams, and a percentage system is used. He doesn’t need to explain all the questions and answers, just the key points. All other tasks are handed over to the students.

In other words, his responsibilities have not changed much, but the students’ tasks have increased several times. According to Alfred Essenbeze’s own experience, he probably wouldn’t be able to complete that amount of homework himself, but these students have to complete it, and they have done it, although the quality is not high, but it is indeed incredible.

“Yes, sir!” Rudolf replied, feeling both fortunate and a little nervous.

“Okay, take a good look at where your problems are?” Alfred Essenbeze said.

“David Zhang, 93 points. This time your score is very good, much higher than last time. Keep up the good work.

Robert Jervis, 92 points…”

“Jim Liu, 32 points, failed.”

Alfred Essenbeze said with disappointment, “Jim Liu, you still need to work harder? Otherwise, you won’t even be able to see your classmates’ backs in the future.”

As a famous German teacher, Alfred Essenbeze rarely sees students as stupid as Jim Liu.

It would be fine in an ordinary class, but with Rudolf and many other excellent students as a foil, Jim Liu is not good enough.

Alfred Essenbeze really can’t figure out why Ernst wants to add a few freaks to the class.

Other teachers also feel the same as Alfred Essenbeze.

These teachers do not know Rudolf’s identity and are all borrowed by Ernst from other schools with high salaries.

Therefore, they treat Rudolf and other students equally, but Rudolf’s good upbringing and relatively rich knowledge reserve (early education) have left many teachers with a good impression of him.

Those few talented students are also very popular with the teachers, and they learn very quickly.

Students who are poor in learning are naturally treated differently by the teachers. Some are very strict, some are relatively gentle and choose to persuade, and some simply give up.

Such a class similar to the exam-oriented education of his past life was established in the Hechingen Military Academy. Its learning content far exceeds that of other classes (after all, Rudolf has to accept more courses). At the same time, there are geniuses, average people, and poor students in the class.

Except for the teaching content, this class is the same as other classes in the Hechingen Military Academy in terms of normal activities and exchanges.

Crown Prince Rudolf also opened up a new world because of this, made many friends, and came into contact with all kinds of people for the first time, and not the noble children of the past.

The heavy academic tasks every day made Rudolf have no time to think about his family in Schönbrunn Palace, and even gradually forgot the contradictions between his parents, the quarrels between his grandmother and mother, and his father’s serious face…

In the dormitory and classroom, only classmates surrounded Rudolf. Occasionally, Ernst would take Rudolf to the Prussian Palace on weekends to meet and communicate with Crown Prince Frederick and others, and participate in some court activities, so as to prevent Rudolf from neglecting noble etiquette.

Although the current study life is more tiring, Rudolf feels a kind of happiness that he could not experience before.

In the past, facing Franz’s stern face and denial, Rudolf always felt inferior and felt that he was useless.

But in Hechingen, Rudolf received sincere praise from the teachers, and sometimes he would be criticized for his declining grades. Rudolf knew for the first time that he could also make progress, especially that hard work and seriousness could always produce results.

The teachers’ objective evaluation and the students’ communication made Rudolf feel that he was no longer just a future crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who mechanically followed the path arranged by his father, but a truly self-conscious person.

Gradually, the smile on Rudolf’s face became more and more. The timid boy of the past also became more confident. He no longer blindly denied himself, but would objectively face his strengths and weaknesses.

At the same time, Rudolf learned to switch images between the court and the school. In front of the nobles in the court, he was the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with noble manners and demeanor.

At school, he became an ordinary teenager again, playing games with his classmates, joking and doing what he liked.

Looking at Rudolf’s changes, Ernst was very satisfied. This is what a sunny boy should look like.

…

Sunday.

“Rudolf!” Ernst called him.

“What’s wrong? Brother Ernst.”

“Boy, come here!”

Rudolf obediently went to Ernst.

“How was this month at school? Is it very interesting?” Ernst asked with a smile.

“School is very good, both teachers and students are very good.”

“Then which do you think is better, staying at school or in Schönbrunn Palace!” Ernst deliberately set a trap.

“Both are very good. I have experienced different lifestyles in Hechingen and grown a lot.” Rudolf avoided the trap.

“Hehe, why didn’t I see you smiling every day in Schönbrunn Palace? It’s not like this when you tell dirty jokes at school.” Ernst teased.

Rudolf said without blushing or skipping a beat, “You can’t slander people’s innocence for no reason. I’m a good boy, how could I tell dirty jokes.”

“Now, you’ve learned to lie? Very good, I have people watching you every day! Brat, you still want to deceive me. I know everything you say every week.” Ernst gave Rudolf a flick on the forehead.

“Ouch…”, his head was hit, and Rudolf sucked in a breath of cold air in pain.

“It seems that you are about to graduate. Well, now it’s time for you to perform. Go to the photo studio with me tomorrow, and you will show the same appearance as in the Prussian Palace. You must be confident, you know? Tomorrow, follow my arrangements.” Ernst said.

Although he didn’t know what Ernst wanted to do, Rudolf nodded.

…

“Okay, straighten your back a little, and show a more arrogant expression on your face!” Ernst stood in the distance and directed.

“You’re overdoing it. The arrogance I’m talking about is extreme confidence, you know? Readjust your state.”

Rudolf stood in the manor, letting Ernst manipulate him. Early this morning, the two went to the photo studio.

Ernst asked the staff to bring the equipment to his own manor, and at the same time put Rudolf in a military uniform.

I don’t know where Ernst found a black pony for Rudolf to ride on.

This horse is just a show. In order to make little Rudolf look taller, the pony is also underage. The final effect Ernst wants is handsome.

After Rudolf readjusted, Ernst looked left and right and observed for a while, and said with satisfaction, “Very good, photographer, start shooting!”

“Click”, the photo of Crown Prince Rudolf was taken.

…

A few days later, Schönbrunn Palace.

In the photo, Rudolf is riding a black horse, looking majestic and imposing. His young face shows a trace of perseverance and confidence.

Empress Dowager Sophie admired the photo sent by Ernst with great satisfaction.

“Franz, do you think my grandson has the temperament of a future emperor of the empire?” Empress Dowager Sophie asked.

“He has half the temperament of me when I was young.” Franz said shamelessly.

Empress Dowager Sophie didn’t think much about it, her attention was all on the photo. Then she said, “It seems that Rudolf is doing well in Ernst’s place. He is much more energetic. Ernst said that because Rudolf is used to the teaching methods of the recent teachers, it is better to continue to stay in Prussia for education. Send Rudolf back at the end of the year.”

“Mother, is it too long!” Franz said worriedly.

“What are you afraid of? I think Ernst is better at educating children than you brothers. None of you are reliable, especially Ferdinand (Maximilian I). He hasn’t come back for so long. Karina hasn’t seen him for so many years!”

Empress Dowager Sophie continued, “Look at others, Ernst sends back Rudolf’s situation every week. The homework and exam papers weigh almost dozens of pounds. You, as a father, swore that you would check your son’s studies, but you gave up the next day!”

“Look at my grandson, how healthy he is now. He looks much fatter than before, his spirit is also good, and he hasn’t fallen behind in his studies. People who have been to the Prussian royal family said that when they saw Rudolf, they felt that his whole temperament was better than before!”

Anyway, Empress Dowager Sophie is more and more satisfied as she looks at it. This is the effect of Ernst’s packaging of Rudolf.

Currently, Ernst does not plan to return Rudolf in a short time. Therefore, in order to reassure Empress Dowager Sophie, he naturally reports good news but not bad news, and tries his best to show his educational “achievements”.

In his past life, Ernst knew that “impression” can be engraved in a person’s heart as long as it accumulates over time. Ernst sends messages to Schönbrunn Palace every day to let Empress Dowager Sophie know what her grandson has learned today, what he has done, and how he is performing.

Anyway, he keeps hinting that Rudolf is performing very well, so rest assured and leave him here with me!

Ernst is not afraid of being exposed. He said that it is a hint, so naturally he will not use false information, at most he will exaggerate.

As Ernst’s experimental product, Ernst doesn’t want to return Rudolf so early. Otherwise, the Austrian royal family will twist Rudolf’s character back, then wouldn’t all his hard work be in vain.

Chapter 126: Border Patrol

Ernst desperately wanted to change Rudolf’s fate. He was genuinely curious about the future. Anyway, no matter how Rudolf changed, it wouldn’t greatly affect his East Africa development plan. The specific effects would only become apparent after World War One.

Someone in his previous life had said that the Austro-Hungarian Empire was Franz’s personal empire, which was very true. The rise and fall of this empire were closely related to Franz.

Anyway, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had no future. Only Franz could manage that dual monarchy. Separation was only a matter of time.

…

The sound of camel bells came from afar. A camel caravan appeared on the Kenyan horizon, not large in number, about twenty or so.

The lead camel walked gracefully on the sandy ground, the rider swaying rhythmically with each step.

He wore a Mexican-style straw hat, a specially made light yellow Prussian uniform, and a Prussian Dreyse needle gun on his back.

The soldier on the second camel carried the lion flag of the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. These characteristics indicated that this was a regular armed force of the East African colony.

The militia wouldn’t get the most advanced Dreyse needle guns. They still had to use muzzle-loading flintlock guns.

Light yellow uniforms were also rare in Africa. Ernst had specifically tendered for them at a factory in Germany. The Prussian army had always been active in Europe and didn’t have this kind of clothing to cope with the tropical desert environment.

Africa was already relatively hot, and because of the high altitude, most areas were very sunny. This was especially true in the desert areas of northern Kenya.

Therefore, straw hats were being purchased more and more by East Africa. This was also a characteristic of East Africa. In the fields, villages, cities, and government agencies, many people wore straw hats.

Currently, East Africa’s straw hats were mainly ordered from the Far East. Straw hats were difficult to produce mechanically, and relying on manual labor was time-consuming and laborious.

Therefore, East Africa mainly imported straw hats. Mexico could have been an option, as it also had abundant human resources, but it couldn’t compare to the Far East, so Far Eastern straw hats were cheaper.

However, the style of Far Eastern straw hats was too monotonous. Ernst personally didn’t like this style, so he asked people to provide the style of Mexican straw hats to merchants in the Far East and have them purchased according to the style.

Of course, some of the Far Eastern immigrants in East Africa could also weave straw hats, but at most during the slack farming season, they would weave them for their own use. This thing tested patience, and for immigrants who could already eat and drink their fill, it wasn’t cost-effective at all. Some immigrants didn’t care about the African sun at all. After all, they used to face the loess and turn their backs to the sky, and were used to the feeling of the sun overhead.

Thanks to the color of the clothes and the addition of straw hats, this East African camel caravan, from a distance, had a distinct American West flavor. The difference was that the American West had cowboys riding horses, while this team rode camels.

The caravan included Germans, Austro-Hungarians (overlapping with Germans), and Chinese, which was very much in line with the current population composition of the East African colony.

They were patrolling the border between Somalia and Kenya, that is, the border defense force.

Of course, Somalia and Kenya currently had no clear borders, because the area patrolled by the East African colony was mainly desert and grassland, with few people living there, let alone national forces.

Currently, Somalia was a melting pot, with many indigenous tribes and Arab forces. In his previous life, the colonial players in Somalia were mainly Britain, France, and Italy.

The only ones truly active in Somalia were the British, and they were mainly active in the Somaliland region of northwestern Somalia (along the Gulf of Aden).

France only occupied a small area, adjacent to the British. (Mainly Djibouti in 1859)

The Italians had not yet arrived (1889), so the vast areas of central and southern Somalia were actually considered no man’s land by Europeans (ignoring the local natives).

If East Africa’s energy wasn’t mainly focused on northern Kenya and northwestern East Africa, Ernst wouldn’t mind taking a large piece of Somalia.

However, Somalia couldn’t be taken lightly, especially Mogadishu. As an important port city along the Indian Ocean, it had a long history. Zheng He had once reached it (called Mukdishu).

Therefore, unlike the unsophisticated natives in the African interior, Somalia was deeply influenced by Arab civilization, and its strength was at least on par with Zanzibar.

The battle of Zanzibar last time was dramatic, and at that time, the coastal area was not far from Dar es Salaam, and could support the battle at any time, which also gave the army confidence.

Northern Kenya, which borders Somalia, had not yet been developed by the East African colony. There weren’t many people there, so Ernst naturally wouldn’t risk attacking Somalia.

He didn’t want to end up like the Italian’s debacle against Ethiopia.

Moreover, unlike the Italians, who simply wanted to colonize the East African region and needed local natives as labor to create value for Italy.

East Africa, for the sake of future stability, wanted to clear the local population, so the resistance in the Somali region would be even stronger.

Mogadishu was a place where even the Americans had failed in his previous life. Ernst didn’t plan to take action against Somalia without a force of several thousand people.

So, what was the significance of the East African colony patrolling the Somalia-Kenya border?

This had to do with the East African colony’s policy, which, to put it bluntly, was like “closing the door to beat the dog.” Since they were going to take action against the natives in northern Kenya, they naturally had to cut off their connection with the outside world.

At the same time, they had to prevent foreign natives from infiltrating the territory of the East African colony.

It should be known that there were many tribes in Africa, and they had no concept of territory. They would go wherever there was water and grass to hunt and graze.

If East Africa cleaned up the local natives and then let foreign native tribes sneak in, it would be a waste of effort!

Especially in northern Kenya and Somalia, the climate was drier, and many tribes lived as nomads.

Therefore, the task of the East African border patrol was to forcibly separate the Somali tribes from Kenya, and at the same time expel the Somalis from the border area.

The temporary border between Kenya and Somalia was mainly desert and grassland, and the best means of transportation in the desert was camels.

The East African colony had contact with camels very early on, because there were many in Zanzibar. Every batch of East African immigrants who landed could see camels in coastal cities such as Dar es Salaam.

Therefore, the history of the East African colonial government using camels to form cavalry was not too late. After receiving a portion of the camels from Zanzibar, it established a camel cavalry with a scale of more than two hundred people.

Now this cavalry unit was all active in northern Kenya. Kenya in his previous life was also a major camel country, with about 3 million camels, second only to Sudan and Somalia.

Of course, the East African colony couldn’t raise so many camels in Kenya. Camels were most suitable for desert activities, and were not very flexible in other areas (mainly because other livestock had more advantages).

Currently, only northern Kenya was suitable for large-scale camel breeding in the East African colony, but northern Kenya also had a lot of grasslands, and the area was far above the desert, so it could be used for large-scale cattle and horse breeding.

…

Hans Bakke was the leader of this camel caravan, a German born and raised in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and a true-blue Austrian German.

Therefore, it went without saying why Hans Bakke could become the captain of the patrol team.

In East Africa, the most guarded against were not the Chinese, but the immigrants of Serbian and other Eastern Orthodox faiths.

With the minds of Europeans, in this era, they firmly believed that civilization was divided into levels, and the only one in the current world that could compete with traditional Europe was Tsarist Russia.

Heretics were often more hateful than pagans. The problem with the Orthodox Church was its struggle with the traditional European churches (even Protestant churches) for orthodoxy.

The Chinese, who had no faith (ancestor worship didn’t count), were not the main target of the East African Germans, but the main target of evangelism.

Although there were no churches in East Africa, many believers (especially Austrian Catholics) were enthusiastic about introducing their religion to the Chinese.

The Serbian and other Orthodox churches were different. If they weren’t relatively honest (after all, they were all farmers, all formerly ruled objects, and the lowest in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, accustomed to it), it was estimated that they could fight with Catholics, Protestants, and others.

Germans and other Europeans also had criticisms of the Chinese, such as those two-faced people who opened their mouths to God and closed their mouths to Heaven (pragmatism), which made Europeans feel that the Chinese were not very devout.

As for those who shared a faith with the Arab region, there were also some. There were all kinds of birds in the forest, especially many immigrants who fled from the Ottoman Empire to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and were recruited by the East African colony, but there were few in number, and no one had come forward to say that they came from the Arab church.

Of course, these were minor details. After all, life and work were busy, everyone was uneducated, and their mouths were clumsy, so they had no time to target each other.

Hans Bakke found a shady spot behind the camel, put a mat on it, took out his water bottle and took a hearty drink.

The other team members also got off the camels and temporarily rested the team.

“Heinz, how much further do we have to go to reach Divuf (place name)?” Hans Bakke asked.

“Soon, about thirteen li, we just passed the dry riverbed marked on the map an hour ago.” Heinz replied.

“That’s good, we’ll rest for ten minutes and then set off!” Saying that, Hans Bakke took out a box of Blue Cornflower brand cigarettes from his pocket.

He took out one, lit it, and smoked it with a comfortable expression.

The blue cornflower was the national flower of Germany in his previous life, and the homeland of the cornflower symbolizing happiness was in Europe.

Therefore, Hohenzollern-Hechingen Tobacco launched this cigarette for sale in the German region. In France, they made irises, in Tsarist Russia, sunflowers, and in Austria, edelweiss…

This series of cigarettes with the more famous flowers of various countries as commodity signs was also called the National Flower Series.

East Africa was naturally supplied with cigarettes by tobacco factories in the German region, mainly to the army and government. Of course, ordinary people could also buy them with money. There were wages in East Africa, which were relatively meager, but East Africa happened to have a desert-like entertainment industry, so many people spent that little wage on tobacco. At first, only Austro-Hungarian immigrants smoked, and later some Chinese also learned.

Having one during breaks from work and fighting could indeed relieve emotions well.

Chapter 127: The Ras Kamboni Trading Market

Hans Buck spat out the last puff of smoke, casually tossing the cigarette butt onto the sand beside him. A dry wind blew past, quickly burning it to ashes.

Feeling a dryness in his throat, Hans Buck opened his water bottle and took a small sip to moisten it.

After about four or five minutes, everyone began to pack up their equipment, remounting their camels and continuing their dull and monotonous patrol.

The dromedary camels of the East African colony were mainly distributed in the Middle East and North Africa. Dromedary camels are best adapted to desert environments, especially tropical deserts, and can go without water for months (mainly obtaining moisture from plants), and can survive for a week even without food or water.

Bactrian camels, on the other hand, are mainly distributed in the Far East and Central Asia, suitable for deserts, Gobi, and grasslands, and are more cold-resistant compared to dromedary camels.

The two also have their own advantages and disadvantages in terms of functionality and use. Bactrian camels are suitable for carrying heavy loads and have good endurance, while dromedary camels are suitable for riding and are faster.

…

“Captain, look ahead, aren’t those people moving!” Heinz said to Hans Buck.

They hadn’t been walking for long when Heinz saw a moving black line appear in the sea of sand.

Hans Buck squinted his eyes and looked carefully in the direction Heinz indicated. He saw a black line in the distant desert slowly moving towards Kenyan territory.

Hans Buck picked up the binoculars from beside him and put them to his eyes. The distant scene immediately zoomed in. After careful observation, it was indeed a group of people dressed in Arab attire crossing the border.

“Brothers, prepare for battle, take out your guns.” Hans Buck ordered.

The atmosphere of the entire team instantly became tense. Everyone took out the guns from behind them, unwrapped the gauze, and held them in front of them.

Hans Buck spurred his camel, leading the troops at a trot, chasing after the direction the group of Arabs was heading.

“Stop! What are you doing?” Hans Buck stopped in front of the Arabs and asked them.

Somalia has both Arabs and Black people. If they were Black people, Hans Buck wouldn’t be so polite. He would usually fire a warning shot directly to intimidate them first.

But Arabs are different. Arabs are mainly engaged in commercial activities in Africa. East Africa itself does business with Arabs, so their attitude towards Arabs is relatively friendly.

Even with the Sultanate of Zanzibar, when a “small friction” occurred between the two sides, Ernst didn’t say to exterminate them. He simply left Zanzibar Island for the Sultanate of Zanzibar to continue living on. Zanzibar Island is the core of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, so doing so was considered generous enough.

Hearing Hans Buck’s question, the Arabs looked confused, after all, they didn’t understand the language.

Heinz stepped forward and repeated Hans Buck’s words in Arabic.

These Arabs then understood. Heinz had previously worked in Dar es Salaam, so he knew some Arabic and Swahili.

“Friend, we are an Arab caravan, going south to trade. May I ask what power you represent?” The leader of the Arab caravan said to Hans Buck.

Unlike the natives of inland Africa, Arabs have seen the world, especially these Arab merchants who travel around. They naturally recognized the real weapons in the hands of Hans Buck and his men, so they were relatively respectful.

“We are a patrol team from the Hohenzollern East African Royal Territory, ordered to patrol this area and prevent anyone from crossing the border.” Hans Buck said.

“Hohenzollern East African Royal Territory? I wonder if you are the country to the south that borders the Sultanate of Zanzibar.” The Arab merchant asked.

“That’s right. Now can you tell me where you are going and what you are doing!” Hans Buck asked.

After confirming the other party’s identity, the Arab merchant became even more respectful. The Arab countries have been severely weakened in recent years. Even the Ottoman Empire can barely protect itself, and the Indian Ocean is almost becoming a bathtub for European countries.

The Arab merchant replied, “My name is Aikaramu, and I am the person in charge of this caravan. We are going from Hamar (Mogadishu) city to the south to trade with those tribes, mainly to purchase some medicinal materials and other specialties.”

“I see!” Hans Buck relaxed. He said to Aikaramu, “You don’t need to go south anymore!”

“The south is already the land of the Hohenzollern East African Royal Territory. Whether the tribes there still exist is now unknown. You should go back early, maybe you can still recover some losses.”

“Sir, why do you say that!” Aikaramu asked Hans Buck.

“Now, the entire south is under our rule. All external forces, including natives, merchants, and tribes, are not allowed to enter. This is an order issued by the East African colonial government. You can also take the message back to others, so they don’t need to come here anymore.” Hans Buck said.

Hearing this, Aikaramu became a little anxious. If he couldn’t do business this time, he could still bear it, after all, he hadn’t been traveling for many days. But if he couldn’t do business in the future, wouldn’t he lose his job!

Aikaramu was anxious in his heart, but he still said politely, “Officer, we are just doing small business, and we all rely on this trade route to support our families! If you cut off the trade route, how can we survive!”

Who cares about your life or death. Just as Hans Buck was preparing to forcibly drive these people away, Heinz came to Hans Buck’s side and whispered a few words in his ear.

“How could I forget about this!” Hans Buck said with annoyance.

“Alright, don’t be anxious, don’t look so gloomy. What’s your name again? Aikaramu, right! Do you know the place called Ras Kamboni (a small town at the southernmost tip of Somalia)?” Hans Buck said.

“Sir, are you talking about a village on the eastern coast!” Aikaramu said uncertainly.

“Yes, that’s the one. That village. If you go south along the coastline for a few miles, you will see a trading market. If you want to obtain goods, go there!” Hans Buck said.

Aikaramu was still a little hesitant. “But, sir, that requires a big detour, and I don’t know if there are any goods we need in that place!”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Most of the products you can see in the south are available there. Of course, I can’t guarantee medicinal materials, but at least it will allow you to bring back some goods and make some profit.” Hans Buck said.

This Ras Kamboni trading market, needless to say, is another trading place of the same nature as the Dar es Salaam slave market.

A slave market doesn’t necessarily have slaves, it can also have ivory, sisal, and even Hohenzollern’s expiring goods…

Of course, the Ras Kamboni trading market is definitely not a slave market. The East African colony is still relatively righteous. They beat up the Sultanate of Zanzibar so badly that Ernst was a little embarrassed. In order to appease (reduce the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s resistance to the cession of land), the East African colony packaged the slave trade and gave it to the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

In other words, the Sultanate of Zanzibar is the sole seller of slaves in the East African colony, doing a monopoly business.

Currently, the Sultanate of Zanzibar is still very satisfied with this.

“Besides, if you go south now, you may not even see those tribes and villages, so it’s better to trade in Ras Kamboni!” Hans Buck hinted to Aikaramu.

Hearing this, Aikaramu finally understood the hidden information in Hans Buck’s previous words. When they first met, Hans Buck said that whether the southern tribes still existed was a question, and now he emphasized it again. Wasn’t this clearly saying that they had been wiped out?

Aikaramu’s heart turned cold. This Hohenzollern was indeed not a kind person. As a merchant, Aikaramu traveled north and south and had a very broad experience. He had been to Liberia in North Africa in the west, Damascus in the east, and parts of Kenya in the south. He had seen many different things.

In this area, the disputes between Arabs and Westerners, Arabs and natives, and native tribes and native tribes were numerous.

Now there was a new player in East Africa, and their strength was not bad. It seemed that this business trip was not going to work out. He could only go to Ras Kamboni, which the Hohenzollern forces mentioned, to try his luck.

Ras Kamboni is a transliterated place name and an important stop on many trade routes, so for Aikaramu, who has been trading in this area for many years, as soon as he heard Ras Kamboni, he knew where it was, even though their accents were not very “accurate.”

“Thank you for your reminders, we will go east to Ras Kamboni to try our luck.” Aikaramu said to Hans Buck and others.

“Also, you should try to walk along the northern edge of the desert as much as possible, and don’t run into our people. What if the next team’s officer is not as easy to talk to as I am, you understand!” Hans Buck emphasized.

“Thank you, thank you!” This time, Aikaramu sincerely thanked Hans Buck, this was life-saving information.

Afterwards, the two teams separated. Aikaramu, who cherished his life, naturally retreated far to the north before continuing to turn east, heading towards Ras Kamboni.

Hans Buck and others continued to head west towards Difu (outpost name).

…

Four days later.

“This is the Ras Kamboni trading market, it looks quite large!” Aikaramu said.

The Ras Kamboni trading market was established by the East African colonial government, not far south of the original Ras Kamboni village.

Aikaramu observed that some Arab merchants had already started doing business here. These were all Arab merchants who, like Aikaramu, had been persuaded to come here.

The market was managed by the Hohenzollern forces, and there were armed personnel patrolling the market, dressed the same as Hans Buck and his men who they had met on the road that day.

The East African colonial government had specially prepared many special products, such as ivory and cloves, sisal woven goods, grain, and European industrial products.

After tying up his camel, Aikaramu took his men to the market.

“Hmm, the quality of this woven fabric is not bad!” Aikaramu held a piece of Tanga-produced linen in his hand and pondered in his mind.

He tugged at the sample with his hand, it was quite strong. This kind of high-quality and cheap fabric would also sell well to ordinary residents in Somalia.

Aikaramu was mainly interested in the quality of the sisal cloth. He wanted to use this fabric as a material to process some household items, such as carpets and utensils, which could be added as decorations or to save costs, anyway, the price was not expensive.

The Ras Kamboni market mainly sells raw materials, such as unprocessed ivory, animal skins, hemp ropes, linen, logs, grain, etc. Except for ivory, most of them are needed by Somalia and North Africa. Of course, ivory, which has high profits, is also very good.

Unfortunately, the number of Arab merchants in the Ras Kamboni trading market is currently too small, and many of the products used for trading are not good enough, such as salt, a necessity for many natives.

East African salt is mainly divided into two parts, one part is salt farms built after acquiring coastal areas, and the other part is imported from the German region. Germany is an important salt exporting country in Europe, especially from the port of Hamburg, a large batch can be brought to East Africa to solve East Africa’s salt problem, and the quality is good.

Of course, Arab currency is still acceptable. As for some gadgets used to deceive the natives, the East African colony naturally looks down on them.

Many Arab merchants who came this time could only sigh at the goods and then go back to raise money and other materials accepted by East Africa.

Aikaramu did have some gains. The price of linen was not high, so he bought a large quantity to take back and sell.

The Ras Kamboni trading market has just been built, but it provides a commercial channel for the South Somalia region. Many commodities that used to need to be transshipped from North Africa (Egypt) can now be bought in Ras Kamboni, and the price is cheaper, which greatly facilitates Arab merchants in earning price differences.

Chapter 128: Reconnaissance

The Las Canpoli trading market is mainly used to broaden the sales channels for East African goods, such as grain. Although it is a hard currency, it has a shelf life. If it cannot be sold in time, there is a risk of expiration and spoilage.

There is also sisal cloth. A lot of this stuff was produced by the East African colonies at the beginning, but the sales in the European market were extremely limited. European merchants mainly bought hemp ropes directly, or bought sisal fiber directly to process themselves.

The Las Canpoli trading market is also an attempt at East African land trade. In the future, a caravan may be formed to try the route from East Africa all the way to Egypt.

Egypt is located on the Mediterranean coast, and European ships can directly reach the port of Alexandria in Egypt. At the same time, Egypt is a land connection channel between Africa and Asia, and goods from Asia can also directly reach Egypt by land.

There are two main routes for the land trade route from East Africa to Egypt. One is the eastern route, going north from Somalia or eastern Ethiopia, passing through Sudan to Egypt; the other is the western route, going north from what was formerly South Sudan, passing through Sudan to Egypt.

Land trade routes, although not very efficient and more costly than sea routes, can provide East Africa with more options.

The coast of East Africa is currently relatively easy to blockade, so there is a potential danger of being cut off from maritime foreign contacts by other countries.

……

On the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), several small boats sped across the lake. The propellers at the stern of the boats waved quickly under the water, providing power to the boats. The engine emitted black smoke and made a rumbling sound, which spread across the water.

The first batch of engines had just arrived and were hurriedly installed on their toys by the newly established East African Inland Lake Force.

After a few days of training, the sailors drove the speedboats and began their first long voyage mission - to scout the situation on the west side of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), carrying weapons, dry food and fuel tanks, the Inland Lake Force set off.

In the initial stage, the Inland Lake Force had a total of 153 people and five boats. To prevent accidents, all boats were dispatched for the first time.

All of them were speedboats equipped with engines and propellers. The commander of the Inland Lake Force was named Werner Joly. He was from Trieste, Austria-Hungary. He had lived in the seaport since he was a child, and his father had been a sailor.

Therefore, Werner Joly was relatively familiar with ship operations and had some basic knowledge. Most of the sailors of the East African Inland Lake Force were good swimmers, and most of them had lived on the coast.

For example, the immigrant sailors from Austria-Hungary mainly came from Trieste. Trieste was the first stop for Austria-Hungarian immigrants to East Africa, so there were a large number of Trieste immigrants in East Africa.

Like the Trieste immigrants, there were also immigrants from the Jiaozhou Bay area in the Far East. They were also the port of departure for Far Eastern immigrants, so there were quite a few of them in East Africa.

Most of the East African sailors also came from these two coastal port cities. Of course, living by the sea does not necessarily mean that you can swim, so some immigrants with good swimming skills from the inland were also selected as sailors, but not many.

“Land ahead!” a sailor shouted.

Werner Joly looked forward, and sure enough, the outline of the land gradually became clear. He said, “Bring the boat closer.”

Under the operation of the sailors, the boat slowly approached the shore, which was the west bank of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

“Leave thirty people to watch the boat, and the rest of you come ashore with me to see the situation.”

Soon Werner Joly selected six people from each boat to stay behind. He said to them, “You are not allowed to leave before we come back. If you don’t see us before dark, go back and report to the government!”

Excluding the people who stayed behind at the headquarters in Mwanza and the people who stayed behind to watch the boat, Werner Joly had only seventy or so people available.

Leaving thirty people to watch the boat was actually quite a lot, but to prevent accidents, Werner Joly still did so. Thirty soldiers with hot weapons were enough to fight a small tribe.

After arranging the personnel tasks, Werner Joly led the main force ashore and headed inland.

Werner Joly and his party landed in the territory of the Kingdom of Buganda, which the local natives called Bale, but Werner Joly and others did not know this.

As soon as they landed, they were on a lakeside mudflat. A few dozen meters away was a primeval forest. Tall trees extended along the lake shore in both north and south directions, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Werner Joly said to the team members, “When you enter the primeval forest later, don’t run around. Follow the team closely, and make more marks along the way, otherwise you will be finished if you can’t find your way back. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Captain!”

Werner Joly took out a compass from his pocket, aimed it at the west, and led the team towards the jungle.

In the primeval forest, the trees were tall and thick, and the dense branches and leaves blocked the sunlight, showing the quietness of this place everywhere. Werner Joly was used to it.

There are also similar primeval forests around Mwanza, distributed on both sides of Mwanza. According to Werner Joly’s speculation, the situation here should be similar to that on the east bank. If so, the width of this forest should not be long.

As Werner Joly predicted, after walking for about two or three kilometers, there was no forest ahead, and the field of vision suddenly opened up.

At this time, spreading out the team would make it easier to investigate the intelligence of this place, but for safety, Werner Joly still chose to be cautious.

The group continued to move westward. Soon, the careful Werner Joly suddenly squatted on the ground and studied it carefully.

“Look, doesn’t this look like a dirt road!” Werner Joly said.

“Although there is grass growing on it, it is obviously shorter and sparser than the surrounding area.” As he spoke, Werner Joly pressed his hands on the ground in various places.

Then he changed a few places and repeated the action. Werner Joly was even more certain of what he thought in his heart. He said to the team members, “The soil quality of this suspected road is indeed harder than the surrounding area. It seems that it is undoubtedly a road!”

“Captain, could it be trampled out by animals?” someone questioned.

“I have been in East Africa for a while, and I have seen roads trampled out by animals. They are far from as regular as this road.” Werner Joly denied.

“If you look carefully, the width of this road is about one meter, which is more like a path made by the natives. I don’t know why so much grass has grown on it. It is very likely that it has been abandoned by the local people, so if we move forward along this road, there is a high probability that we will encounter villages or traces of natives living there.” Werner Joly analyzed.

“Whether it is or not, saying it is not convincing. We still have to investigate it ourselves to know whether what I said is right. Let’s go and take a look along this road.”

So Werner Joly led the team forward. This road ran from east to west. The east was the direction Werner Joly came from, so Werner Joly and others continued to move west.

“Look, that’s a native village!” Werner Joly said excitedly after walking for a short time.

Sure enough, a village appeared in the distance, with conical tops, gray-black branches, and mud walls, all highlighting that this was a primitive village.

“Get your weapons ready, we’ll go and see what’s going on.” Werner Joly ordered.

The group prepared for battle and nervously approached the native village.

“Captain, there seems to be no one here! I don’t see any natives.”

“Well, it is indeed different from the native villages we have seen before. It shouldn’t be so quiet, at least someone should be guarding it.” Werner Joly said standing at the entrance of the village.

“It seems that this is an abandoned village, let’s go in and take a look.”

Werner Joly walked into the native village and saw that moss had begun to grow on the wooden buildings that no one had taken care of.

Most of the doors of the small sheds, which were more than one meter high, were open. Werner Joly walked towards the largest building in the village, which was usually where the chief lived.

Werner Joly bent down and entered the chief’s house. He saw that the living facilities inside were messy, and many pottery jars were overturned on the ground. It seemed that it was not a normal evacuation.

There was a totem on the wall, and it was impossible to tell what material it was painted on, but there were obviously several man-made holes in it, as if they had been poked out with sharp objects.

This should have been done by the enemy. You must know that totems are sacred and inviolable to some tribes.

“Captain, I found something!” a team member shouted outside.

“What’s going on!” Werner Joly asked as he walked out of the chief’s house.

“Captain, come and see for yourself!”

The team member led Werner Joly to a house. There were ashes left by a bonfire, and next to the bonfire were some white bones, which were randomly discarded everywhere.

“Withdraw first!” Werner Joly ordered.

Outside the house, Werner Joly gathered everyone together and said, “Obviously, this village has been wiped out. The totem was destroyed by the enemy, and the bottles and jars were not taken away. I have never seen any native tribe so rich. The natives we drove away before wished they could take the whole house with them. This place was obviously destroyed artificially, and the enemy is still staying here…”

Cannibal tribes are not uncommon in Africa. There was a joke in the previous life. A European said to a native chief, “Millions of people died in our World War I.” The native chief asked, “You killed so many people, can you finish eating them?”

Different worldviews lead to different conclusions. Therefore, in many very primitive African tribes, cannibalism may be as insignificant in their worldview as slaughtering cattle and sheep.

Werner Joly had only heard of it, but it did not prevent him from deducing the tragedy that happened in this village based on the situation in front of him.

“Okay, don’t think about these things. Go find some dry grass and dead wood.” Werner Joly ordered.

Soon everyone found many combustibles from outside the village. Werner Joly asked the team members to spread these things around all the houses.

“Light the fire!” With Werner Joly’s order, the village disappeared forever in the raging fire.

Werner Joly and others turned around and left after setting the fire, heading towards the place where they came from. The fire behind them went out at some point…

Chapter 129: Northwest Will Be at War

In the following days, Werner Jöri and his team gradually moved north along the shore of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), surveying several locations.

From south to north, they initially only encountered dilapidated villages, and the fishing villages built along the lake were also deserted.

After passing Entebbe, the shore of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) began to veer eastward, and gradually the population became denser. By the time they reached Kampala, the capital of the Buganda Kingdom, it was quite prosperous, clearly because it was located deep in the central part of the Buganda Kingdom and had not been significantly affected by the war.

After passing Kampala, Werner Jöri and his team continued eastward, traveling for about two hundred kilometers. Along the way, they could see that the eastern part of the Buganda Kingdom and some basic tribes had not been affected.

Finally, Werner Jöri and his team arrived at Kisumu, the capital of the western Kenya district, replenished their supplies, and then headed south back to Mwanza to report on the situation.

……

In April, Werner Jöri’s intelligence was sent to the central district. The East African colonial government organized and analyzed this information and sent it to Ernst in Europe via telegram.

In the telegram, the East African government believed that the conditions for annexing the Northwest region were ripe, especially since the southern countries of the Northwest region had clearly suffered heavy losses, and even the northern countries such as Buganda had been profoundly affected.

If a large-scale battle were launched, with more people conscripted, taking this area would be entirely possible.

After carefully reading the East African government’s report, Ernst issued instructions to take the south first, and to leave the Buganda Kingdom and the northern countries that had not suffered too much damage untouched for now.

Once Kisumu and the western Kenya district were built up, forces could be concentrated again to launch attacks on the Buganda Kingdom from the east and south.

This would effectively avoid casualties for the East African colony, while also adhering to the principle of tackling the easy targets first.

In the telegram, Ernst emphasized that they should occupy and clear each area, leaving no native population behind. As for Arab merchants and foreign explorers, arrangements could be made for their evacuation.

This, of course, did not mean slaughtering the natives, but rather driving them north, allowing them to flee towards the lands of their former allies.

To the west was the Congo rainforest. Entering it rashly without adequate preparation was basically a death sentence, so it didn’t matter if the natives wanted to flee west.

According to Ernst’s own thinking, the ruling classes of those southern countries would definitely choose to flee north, after all, they had previously jointly resisted the invasion of the East Bantu tribes with their allies.

As for resisting the East African colony, after being severely damaged by the East Bantu people and the plague, these southern countries had not recovered, and whether they could organize a sizable army was a question.

In fact, after planning the last “rectification” campaign, and after several months of testing, it now seemed to be very effective. The East African colony did not have to take action itself to solve the problem of where the natives went, while also weakening the power of the natives in other areas.

After receiving Ernst’s order, the East African colonial government and the military began to formulate a battle plan for the smooth progress of this battle.

April 5, 1868.

The conference hall of the central government of the East African colony.

“This action is an act of war, and our government’s main role is to cooperate with the military. So, Your Excellency Yahlmann, please introduce the battle plan, so that our government departments can make corresponding arrangements.” Councilor von der Leyen set the tone, stating the government’s attitude.

“Alright, then I will first represent the military and talk about the general plan.” Yahlmann stood up from his chair, walked to the map, and pointed to the Kingdom of Karagwe with a pointer, saying: “This time, according to the instructions of His Highness Prince Ernst, in the first stage, we will mainly attack from the south. The military plans to replicate the last”rectification” campaign, with the main targets being the four countries of the Kingdom of Rwanda, the Kingdom of Igara, the Kingdom of Karagwe, and the Kingdom of Burundi.

The operational area is about sixty to seventy thousand square kilometers. According to the requirements of His Highness Prince Ernst, it is necessary to ensure that the natives in this area are cleared.

Therefore, we are also responsible for driving all the remaining native forces in the area to the north, in order to continue to impact the remaining four northern countries, in preparation for the second stage of the operation. However, the second stage of the operation still depends on His Highness Prince Ernst’s plans,” Yahlmann said.

“How many people do you plan to send in the first stage of the operation?” Councilor Anderson asked.

“Currently, in the Lake Soro area and the Great Lakes area bordering Burundi and the Kingdom of Karagwe, we previously deployed a defense line of more than three thousand people to prevent the East Bantu people from returning to the East African colony, including more than three hundred regular troops.

My expectation is that we will need to transfer at least six thousand militia and one thousand regular troops from the rear on this basis.”

Yahlmann continued: “The scale of this battle is not expected to be too intense, after all, the local kingdoms were severely damaged by the East Bantu people before. Although the local nobles suppressed the East Bantu people, it was basically a case of hurting the enemy one thousand, and losing eight hundred oneself.

In addition, the land abandonment and plague caused by the previous war, as well as famine and disease, have greatly weakened the local population.

Therefore, we only need to pay attention to the large military fortresses and cities of these kingdoms, and we will basically not encounter large-scale battles.

But if we want to carefully comb through such a large area and complete the expulsion of the local people, we need at least ten thousand people. This battle is different from the past. It is a typical extraterritorial operation. Only the two cities of Mwanza and Kigoma have the ability to support the battle in a short time, so the number of people cannot be small.”

The East African high-level officials agreed with Yahlmann’s explanation, because this battle was indeed different from the past. The northwestern countries were located deep in the East African interior, and the focus of the East African colony was currently in the east. The Lake Soro area, as the westernmost region of East Africa, had more difficult supply than other regions, so ensuring the supply of materials to the front line was indeed a lot of pressure.

“In addition to the number of people required, the government must also follow up on the work of immigrant migration. The immigrants in the past few months should give priority to the Northwest region. At the same time, considering the second stage of the battle, we must also strengthen the immigration efforts in the western Kenya district. Immigrants should give priority to these two regions.” Chief of Staff Swiet said.

“Then how should the immigrant distribution ratio be divided recently?” Someone asked von der Leyen.

“Six, three, one. In the next period of time, sixty percent of the new immigrants will go to the newly occupied areas in the Northwest, thirty percent will be assigned to the western Kenya district, especially the area bordering Buganda, and the remaining ten percent will be assigned to Omorate. It just so happens that Omorate is not far from western Kenya, and can support the actions of the western Kenya district.” Von der Leyen said.

“Agreed, this will also fill the entire western population.” Anderson said.

“If you have any good suggestions, you can put them forward.” Von der Leyen said to the government personnel.

“New immigrants should be arranged as close to the front line as possible. It is better to form a vacuum in the rear than to let the natives come back around.” Someone suggested.

“Agreed, next.”

“Also, the newly formed inland lake troops can also be used to transport grain and other materials from Mwanza by water, which is more convenient.”

“Adopted.”

……

After a while, after the government’s discussion, von der Leyen’s attention returned to the military.

“What other requirements do you have from the military? You can put them forward, and our government will try its best to satisfy them,” von der Leyen asked.

Several military generals discussed carefully, and then Yahlmann said: “It is necessary to ensure the smooth flow of material transportation. New immigrants and materials can be transported to the front line at the same time. This can ensure the safety of food and grass, and arrange for immigrants to take root in the Northwest region. In the second stage, we can also recruit more militia from the local area.”

“Therefore, new immigrants to the Northwest should receive military training as soon as possible, otherwise they will not be able to catch up with the second stage of the combat mission! Your military can transfer more instructors from the rear.”

“Our staff will do the relevant work.” Swiet said, training the militia still requires staff personnel.

The staff department is mostly composed of students from the Blackhegen Military Academy, who are bilingual and can better deal with the training problems of immigrants from the German region, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Far East. At the same time, they are an important force for Ernst to monitor the local area and the army in East Africa.

“Are there any other questions?” Von der Leyen said.

“No.” Everyone replied.

“Since that’s the case, everyone should go back and prepare well! Meeting adjourned.” Von der Leyen said.

The East African war machine was started, and this was the first time that the entire colony had participated.

The last Zanzibar War actually only used the power of the coastal area, and this time the entire East Africa was mobilized.

Even areas that were not directly involved in the war were affected. For example, immigrants and materials were given priority to the front line, and the development of all developed areas temporarily entered a uniform stage.

The western Kenya district, the Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) district, and the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) district were the most affected.

The army and militia began to gather towards the Lake Soro district and the Great Lakes district, and the immigration speed in the western Kenya district was also accelerated in advance.

The inland lake troops led by Werner Jöri also began to actively operate on the west coast of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), drawing lake shore maps, looking for suitable locations for the landing of materials and personnel, in preparation for subsequent connection with the front line.

This battle was steadily advancing, because it was necessary to drive away the local population, so the front line was basically a straight line, steadily advancing from south to north.

The replenishment of troops and materials was partly done by land transportation from the rear, and partly by the inland lake troops.

After the first stage of the battle is completed, new immigrants should also be settled as close as possible to the northern border line, to isolate the natives and prevent them from returning to the occupied areas of the East African colony.

At the same time, new immigrants can provide militia and labor for the East African colony to capture the four northern countries in the second stage. The closer to the temporary border, the more convenient it is to provide convenience for subsequent battles.

Chapter 130: Invasion

In the mid-16th century, the Kingdom of Burundi was established. The Tutsi people, who lived by grazing livestock, arrived and established their rule over the local Hutu farmers.

In the mid-17th century, the Kingdom of Burundi began to expand outwards. By the first half of the 19th century, King Ntare Rugamba had unified most of Burundi and occupied some areas of what is now southern Rwanda and western Tanzania. However, this kingdom failed to establish a centralized ruling system and remained in a state of decentralized division for a long time.

The central and western parts of Burundi are mainly plateau terrain, and the terrain between it and the East African colonies is basically flat.

The main forces responsible for defending the Kingdom of Burundi were the East African troops and militias stationed in the Lake Soro area, namely the western section of the Great Lakes to Lake Soro defense line.

In order to command the front lines more flexibly, the East African colonial government established the Northwest Wartime Command in Kasanda (place name).

Yalman personally took charge here to handle front-line affairs. Based on prior intelligence analysis, Yalman decided to strike Burundi and Karagwe first.

The Kingdom of Burundi’s power was scattered, with many feudal lords and warlords, while the Kingdom of Karagwe was small in size and population, especially after suffering the greatest impact in the previous “rectification” campaign, so it was in a semi-dead state.

Both kingdoms had been severely damaged, and due to the previous impact of the East Bantu tribes, they had become even more divided.

Therefore, Yalman believed that he could take both countries at the same time. The main force of the East African army was also divided into two by Yalman, each responsible for the combat missions in the two countries. The two main armies would eventually converge on the border between the Kingdom of Igara and the Kingdom of Rwanda.

……

May 3, 1868.

The East African colony invaded the Kingdoms of Burundi and Karagwe without declaring war, and the East African army directly crossed the provisional border.

Initially, the East African soldiers thought that a major battle would break out, because this mobilization by the East African colony was unprecedented, and with extraterritorial operations, it should be a tough fight.

But reality was different from what the East African government had expected. In southern Burundi and Karagwe, the East African army did not encounter any decent resistance, and it was even difficult to see anyone.

Invasion is nothing more than killing, burning, looting, and plundering, but the East African army faced a situation where there was nothing to loot in the two countries. Killing also required someone to resist, and plundering the population was not the goal of the East African government. Driving out the indigenous population was the established policy of East Africa.

The last “rectification” campaign had been too effective, so the East African army was like entering an unpopulated land throughout southern Burundi and Karagwe.

In three days, the East African army on the western front advanced more than one hundred kilometers. There were very few natives along the way, and villages were abandoned. Instead, there were many natives fleeing the war in the dense forests and suburbs.

It was bad luck for these natives to encounter the East African army. Among these natives were East Bantu people who had been driven out by East Africa before. Upon seeing the East African army, they immediately ran away.

The natives of the Kingdom of Burundi had never seen the power of the East African army, and they foolishly stayed in place, only to be hit by the iron fist of the East African army.

Even militiamen could use their weapon advantage to overwhelm the natives. After being shot at, the natives reacted and began to flee north in panic.

It can be said that ninety-nine percent of the natives of Burundi and Karagwe had never seen races other than black people, let alone firearms and other hot weapons.

Arabs and some European explorers active in the Northwest might carry some advanced weapons, but the groups they fundamentally dealt with were still the royal nobles of African indigenous kingdoms. For example, Arabs, even if they participated in the slave trade, would choose to cooperate with indigenous forces, and generally would not personally get involved, especially in such deep inland areas.

As for European explorers, they were not good people in this era. Most of them were funded by European capitalists and nobles, and can be said to be reconnaissance teams for invaders. They wanted to obtain first-hand information about Africa, so they naturally communicated with African chiefs and kings.

Although the results along the way were minimal, the East African army did not do nothing, such as burning abandoned villages. Smoke billowed throughout the East African controlled area.

The main reason was that the natives really didn’t have anything of value. In addition, the land had been abandoned due to previous wars, and even valuable products such as grain were not produced. The East African soldiers didn’t like those bottles and jars either, so they simply set them on fire, which could also prevent the breeding of plagues. No one knew what these villages had experienced before, or whether they were clean or not.

Bujumbura (city in northern Tanganyika Lake).

“Hey, I thought there would definitely be a large-scale war with such a large mobilization, but in my opinion, this native kingdom is not even as good as the tribes on the East African grasslands! We’ve only encountered a few nobodies in so many days,” Hai Sheng Li complained to his comrades.

“Isn’t that a good thing! You want to fight so much? Now you just travel every day, set fires, and shoot at natives a couple of times. You don’t want such a comfortable life, and you have to fight the natives to the death?” John Zhang said to Lao Li.

“Fight to the death? I think it’s only a matter of him dying and me living. With the gun in my hand, I, Lao Li, have never been afraid. Every time, I easily solve the other party,” Hai Sheng Li said proudly, touching the gun in his hand.

“That’s because you haven’t met a tough guy. What kind of weapons are these natives holding? The iron shovel in my house is stronger than the native’s spear,” John Zhang said.

“Isn’t it because they don’t have any? If they also had firearms, then I would naturally have to consider it, but it’s their fault for not having this thing,” Lao Li said.

“It’s just bullying the natives for being backward. Isn’t the Qing Dynasty also being bullied by foreigners like this?” John Zhang said.

“Hey, don’t mention the Qing Dynasty to me. From top to bottom, the emperor and the local landlords are all bad guys. Being reincarnated there in the past must have been a sin in the previous life. It’s better to be born directly in Germany!” Lao Li said.

“Heh, being born in Germany in this era may not be so good either. Look at those Austro-Hungarian immigrants in our team. They didn’t have an easy life before, either. It’s only a little better than the Far East,” John Zhang said.

“You can’t say that. People may be poor, but they have a strong backbone! They have Germany and Austria-Hungary backing them, so they speak more confidently than us,” Lao Li retorted.

“What’s there to be afraid of? We are Germans now. According to the people who went back to the Far East to recruit people, wearing this uniform, we are someone in the Far East. Those landlords, town chiefs, and county magistrates will have to greet us with courtesy,” John Zhang said.

“Besides, Prince Constantine and Prince Ernst have repeatedly emphasized that there is no distinction between ethnic groups in East Africa. As long as you recognize the German brand, you are a German…”

(This is a fictional dialogue based on the background of that era, mainly to reflect the change in the mentality of immigrants. Please do not substitute modern ideas.)

……

Oruç Reis looked dejectedly at another abandoned village. Judging from the scale of this village, it was likely to be an important city of the native kingdom.

Because it was several times larger than other villages, although according to the standards of Oruç Reis and the others in the team, this city was at most a large village, whether it was placed in the Far East or Europe.

But in backward Africa, this was very likely to be the central city in the region, or even the fiefdom of a royal nobleman.

This unremarkable large village was Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi in his previous life. Bujumbura was not special in Burundi at the time. In his previous life, the Germans also colonized this place and used it as the center to rule the Burundi region. After Burundi’s independence, it inherited Bujumbura’s capital status.

Oruç Reis led a team of more than three hundred people, advancing north along the east bank of Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika).

The coast of Lake Soro must have been a densely populated area of the Kingdom of Burundi in the past, but Oruç Reis had not seen many people along the way.

And according to the speed of the team led by Oruç Reis, if they didn’t encounter any natives with some strength, they would be able to reach the border of the Kingdom of Rwanda in a few days.

The entire Burundi combat area extended about fifty kilometers forward, and was already connected to the Great Lakes region of the East African colony (Burundi is more south than the Kingdom of Karagwe).

It happened to be the area south of the straight line connecting the northernmost end of Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) and the southwestern corner of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The East African army in the Kingdom of Karagwe mainly had two directions of attack. One was directly north, all the way to the border between Buganda and the Kingdom of Karagwe.

The other was to advance in the northwest direction, heading towards the Kingdom of Igara. This route was the main force in the Karagwe Kingdom war zone, while the army that went north was mainly to prevent the Kingdom of Buganda from interfering southward, with defense as the goal.

From Bujumbura in the far west, all the way to the intersection of the Kingdom of Karagwe and the Kingdom of Buganda on the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The East African army happened to form a northeast-southwest straight line, slowly eroding the four northwestern countries from southeast to northwest.

The team led by Oruç Reis was the westernmost branch of the East African army on the entire front line, and was currently resting in Bujumbura. Lao Li and John Zhang were Chinese immigrant soldiers in this team.

Oruç Reis’s team was a temporary formation of regular troops and militias. There were more than forty regular troops, mainly Chinese. Because Austro-Hungarian immigrants and German immigrants arrived relatively late, their numbers in the army were relatively small, especially immigrants from the German region (mainly referring to within Germany), who had only been massively introduced into the colony in recent months, so fewer of them entered the army to develop.

The newly introduced German immigrants were mainly used to dilute the population ratio in each settlement and strengthen the spread of German culture.

Currently, including Austro-Hungarian immigrants, the pan-Germanic ethnicity has actually gained an advantage (Europeans are collectively referred to as the pan-Germanic ethnicity, and Chinese who marry white people are classified as mixed-race, to divide the Chinese community. Of course, these are statistical data and conceptual references, and are not used as formal documents by the East African government.). Coupled with guidance in education and administration, East Africa is accelerating Germanization.

Most of the earliest German mercenaries, apart from non-combat attrition (acclimatization) and some unlucky ones, have already served in the East African colonial army and government agencies.

Oruç Reis was one of the German mercenaries who followed Yalman to land in the East African colony.

Chapter 131: Capturing Kayanza

Kayanza is located in northwestern Burundi.

The capital of the Kingdom of Burundi is Gitega, which is the geographical center of the kingdom, situated on the central plateau (of Burundi).

In peacetime, Gitega, as the national center, naturally strengthens the Kingdom of Burundi’s influence over the surrounding areas.

However, when the East Bantu tribes surged in from the south like a tide, Gitega, with no natural defenses, became precarious.

If it had only been a small-scale attack, the Kingdom of Burundi could have coped, but the East Bantu tribes consisted of millions of natives from across the East African colonies, driven into this narrow region in the northwest.

Even if everyone just stood there without moving, it would take half a day to mow them down with machine guns, let alone for the Kingdom of Burundi, which still had relatively primitive iron tools.

Therefore, after being attacked by the East Bantu tribes, the central government of Burundi, after attempting resistance without success, fled towards the northwest.

Kayanza, about sixty kilometers from Gitega, has slightly more complex terrain, making it easier to defend, and thus became the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Burundi.

However, before the Kingdom of Burundi could return to its old capital after jointly eliminating the forces of the East Bantu tribes with other kingdoms, they encountered the aggressively advancing Germans.

To resist the East Bantu people, the Kingdom of Burundi built a large number of fortifications in this area, and a large number of people were temporarily relocated here.

This is one of the reasons why the population of southern Burundi is small. Without a certain accumulation of people, it is impossible to resist the surging tide of the East Bantu tribes, so many nobles chose to band together with the central government for warmth.

In any case, the soil fertility in the northwest region is similar, and the rainfall conditions are basically the same. A large number of Burundian nobles migrated to Kayanza with food and people.

Kayanza lived up to expectations, blocking the invasion of the East Bantu people, and the Kingdom of Burundi’s vital forces were preserved.

…

“Ahead is Kayanza, the temporary capital of the Burundians. We estimate that the population inside the city is at least fifteen thousand, making it probably the toughest nut to crack in the Burundi region.” Larry Antonio introduced the situation of Kayanza to Yalman.

Yalman held up his binoculars, carefully observing Kayanza’s defenses.

As a city expanded in a short period of time, Kayanza’s urban construction was very crude. Its city walls were built with many irregular rocks, far inferior to Gitega, which had already fallen into the hands of the East African colony.

The stones in Gitega were mostly simply polished, and the city looked more orderly, but after being looted by the East Bantu people, it lost its former prosperity. Later, the East African colony counted the number of people in Gitega and found only 23 people.

Kayanza is different. Standing on the high ground and looking out, the scale of the surrounding fields alone is not small. There are many shacks inhabited by poor people outside the city, and the population inside the city is estimated to be even larger.

In addition to stone, Kayanza also used a large amount of rammed earth and wooden strips to reinforce the city walls. The city walls were about two meters thick, and the city’s scale was twice as large as Gitega, which had been developed for many years.

“It seems that we need to prepare more manpower. It’s a bit difficult to deal with so many natives with just our current forces. If they run around randomly, we won’t know which direction to choose to capture people first,” Yalman said.

There were only more than five hundred East African troops in front of Kayanza. It might be possible to block one side, but if they wanted to drive the natives north, they would have to block the east and west directions as well.

“Okay, Larry Antonio, go and transfer six hundred more people from other units on the east and west sides. Just say it’s my order,” Yalman instructed.

“Yes, sir!” Larry Antonio replied.

The total number of people mobilized by the East African colony this time was only over ten thousand, but the front line was nearly four hundred kilometers long, so only two to three hundred people could be allocated every ten kilometers.

In this way, there will definitely be some fish that slip through the net from under the East African colony’s long, snaking line, but the East African colonial government has made subsequent arrangements. When new immigrants arrive, they will re-comb the occupied areas.

A large Burundian city like Kayanza is worth Yalman temporarily drawing manpower from other areas. A city with a population of over ten thousand is rare throughout Africa, and can at least be ranked in the second tier.

…

With the manpower in place, Yalman was ready to launch a strong attack.

The Burundian soldiers on the city warily watched the army led by Yalman. Due to the previous impact of the East Bantu people, the Kingdom of Burundi’s external communication of information was actually paralyzed, so that the Burundian central government only learned of the East African army’s arrival now.

However, the Burundians did not understand the details of the East African colony, especially the East African colonists’ skin was too white and their clothes were very bright.

They were somewhat similar to the Arabs, but the nobles recognized Arab clothing, and it was completely different from what these people wore.

As for European explorers, they were rare animals. Only a very few northwestern nobles had seen them, and the high-level officials of the Kingdom of Burundi were among these few people.

It wasn’t that European explorers, or even the early East African colony, had visited these native nobles. At that time, it was mainly to survey the local terrain.

…

“Uru, what do you think these strange people are doing?” Mopu lay on the city wall of Kayanza, watching the Germans digging simple fortifications in the distance.

Although digging fortifications was somewhat redundant for the East African army, after all, these natives had no longer-range weapons other than bows and arrows and projectiles to shoot at the East Africans. Standing a little further away could avoid the natives’ attacks.

“I feel like they are with those southern barbarians (East Bantu people). They are definitely not good guys either. They followed closely after we got rid of the southern barbarians. They are obviously not here for peace,” Uru responded.

“But they obviously don’t look like the southern barbarians! And the cloth they wear is very good. The southern barbarians are very poor and want to grab everything from us, but these people outside the city are obviously much richer than us. Only the chief’s family used to be able to afford so much cloth, but everyone on the opposite side is wearing it, everyone has their share. They must be very rich,” Mopu said, pointing to the Prussian military uniforms that each East African had two of.

“Anyway, the priest Abra said just now that the opposite side is not easy to deal with, especially that fire stick that doesn’t look very powerful. I heard that it has been enchanted. As long as it makes a loud noise, it will take away people’s souls, so you should stay away from the city wall. If your soul is taken away by the opposite side, you will die,” Uru said.

“I don’t believe it. The Yaha priest of our tribe has already given us a secret holy water to drink. The Yaha priest told me that as long as we see the other side rushing over, we should shoot at them with bows and arrows. The other side won’t be able to hurt us at all,” Mopu said proudly.

It was as if the two were comparing whose priest was more powerful. Obviously, Mopu’s priest was better, not only able to break the Germans’ evil magic, but also able to fight back, while Uru’s tribe’s priest had no way to deal with it, which made Mopu feel very proud in front of his new friend.

Uru and Mopu are from two different tribes in Burundi. Last time, because of the East Bantu people’s invasion, they were brought to Kayanza by their chiefs. Because the two tribes were stationed near the same defense line, Uru met Mopu.

“I think these people must have been cursed by the kingdom’s priest, so they don’t dare to come forward. It’s been two days, and they haven’t attacked. Instead, they are digging pits there! I really don’t understand, what’s the use of that pit? Could it be that they have become crazy because of the curse, what do you think, Uru?” Mopu said to Uru.

“I don’t know about anything else, but I know that it’s lucky that it hasn’t rained these days, otherwise the mud pits on the opposite side would have turned into ponds,” Uru said lazily, leaning against the city wall and chewing on a blade of grass.

“Look! What is that thing? Uru,” Mopu suddenly shouted at Uru.

“What thing?” Uru slowly got up, stretched, and turned to look at what Mopu was talking about.

Many sharp-eyed natives also discovered the movements on the East African army’s position.

For the past two days, the natives had been very curious about the East African army outside the city, but the kingdom’s generals and their tribe’s chiefs had ordered them to close the city gates and not to take the initiative to attack.

The natives on the city wall had no choice but to watch what the East African army was doing. Apart from digging pits, it seemed that there had been no major movements.

Today, a new thing that the natives had never seen before suddenly appeared. The natives on the city wall craned their necks to look at the new thing that was being pushed to the open space in front of them by the East African army.

They saw that this thing was black all over, with a black hole as thick as a bowl, and large circles like the sun on both sides.

…

“Raulde, is your skill still good? You won’t miss, will you! We only have three shells, so save them for me,” Yalman said.

“Don’t worry! Yalman, I’m from the artillery corps. How could I forget the thing I used to make a living? Besides, the opposite side doesn’t even have the ability to interfere with us. There’s plenty of time to calibrate. Just wait for me to blow open the city gate with one shot!” Raulde said.

The new thing that Mopu saw was a cannon, which had just arrived in the East African colony this month, and Yalman had transferred one from the port.

After all, the natives’ bows and arrows were not just for show, and they also had city walls as cover. Yalman was afraid that rifles would not have much effect on the natives.

In fact, they could use local wood to build a large siege vehicle, push it to the bottom of the city, and bury explosives. This would protect against the opposite side’s arrows and falling rocks.

However, Yalman just wanted to play with a cannon, so he applied to the East African colony. Considering that there were not many cannons in East Africa now, they only approved one.

“Okay, I’ve already aimed. As long as I fire, it will definitely give those natives on the opposite side a little bit of shock,” Raulde said to Yalman.

“Okay, everyone listen up, cover your ears, we’re going to fire!” Yalman said to his subordinates.

After everyone was ready, Yalman drew his saber and shouted at the city gate of Kayanza: “Ready!…”

…

Uru stood on the city wall and said to Mopu, “Look, there’s a person standing next to that black thing. He’s pointing a knife at us.”

“He should be the priest on the opposite side, right? Can he cast spells from such a long distance?” Mopu asked doubtfully.

…

“Fire!” Yalman gave an order.

Everyone on the East African position covered their ears, and Raulde lit the fuse.

Boom…

Uru and Mopu only heard the black thing make a huge roar, and a white flame flashed from the hole.

Bang…

The city of Kayanza shook violently. The city gate, which had been intact just now, was blown open with a large hole along with the bricks and stones, directly collapsing half of it. The unlucky people on the city gate were also buried in the rubble.

“Wrath of the gods, the gods are angry…”

The panicked natives shouted everywhere. Uru and Mopu were very close to the city gate. Although they did not become the unlucky ones who sacrificed themselves with the city gate, their ears were now filled with roaring.

The two were stunned by the explosion. It took a long time for them to recover. The two were so frightened that they could not speak. They immediately fell to the ground and atoned to the gods.

The East African army had already walked out of the trenches and rushed towards the collapsed part of the city wall, while aiming the guns in their hands at the natives who could still stand on the city wall.

Bang… Bang… Bang…

The intermittent gunshots woke up the natives who were still praying to the gods. Now they couldn’t care about anything else. They ran towards the bottom of the city in a hurry. Everyone was squeezed together in the passage. The panicked native soldiers ran and shouted, “The demons are here, the gods have sent demons to punish the Kingdom of Burundi, everyone run!”

The streets were in chaos. The civilians who had been living in fear for several months could not bear this. Anyway, even the kingdom’s army had collapsed. They must have encountered something terrible.

Some natives with foresight had even packed up all their belongings and ran away. Everyone in the city was fleeing north in rumors and panic.

The king and nobles in the temporary palace of Kayanza felt ominous when they heard the huge sound of the cannon. In addition, the gunshots of the East African army and the screams of the people in the city made them decide to run away immediately without thinking.

Ordinary people did not recognize the thing in the hands of the Germans, but the most knowledgeable group of people in the Kingdom of Burundi still knew it. Anyway, if you let the high-level officials of the Kingdom of Burundi think for themselves, they would not think that warriors could defeat firearms. After all, Arab slave traders had already shown them.

With the experience of running away last time, all the residents of Kayanza City in the Kingdom of Burundi were familiar with the road this time.

Adults, children, kings, nobles, chiefs, priests, civilians, slaves…

It was as if the scene of the East Bantu people’s invasion had reappeared, but this time there were no “swarms” of East Bantu people behind the Burundians, but bursts of gunfire.

For the Burundians who were keen on “superstition,” this was a hundred times more terrifying than the East Bantu people, especially since the priest had said before that the Germans had soul-snatching weapons in their hands.

Therefore, every Burundian (except the nobles) firmly believed that the loud noise that pierced the sky was the shrill roar of the devil, and that being caught by the devil would lead to eternal damnation.

Severe chaos occurred in Kayanza City, with frequent stampedes and robberies, but everyone couldn’t care about these trivial matters. They fled towards Rwanda in the north. If possible, the Burundians now wished they could grow an extra pair of legs to leave this place of right and wrong.

Chapter 132: Eager to Try

“Report, sir! Kayanza City has been taken. Our men are now sweeping the battlefield,” the officer in charge reported to Yalman.

“Very good. You’ve all worked hard. To celebrate this great victory, everyone gets extra rations tonight,” Yalman said.

The Battle of Kayanza was the first major battle in the annexation of the Northwest. Although the enemy’s performance was disappointing, leaving some warmongers feeling unsatisfied, encountering such a decent fight after so many days was a welcome change.

Yalman walked through the streets of Kayanza. The streets were in chaos, with everything that remained askew. Some houses even had their doors torn off, and several corpses lay on the sides of the road.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that none had died from bullets. The dark skin bore muddy footprints, evidence of being trampled by fleeing people.

Before the East African army entered Kayanza, these natives who died from trampling lay scattered throughout the streets. It was only after the East African soldiers entered the city that they moved the dead to the side of the road and stacked them up.

Kayanza’s area, by European standards, was not large at all, only the size of a town district. Therefore, the residents of Kayanza were able to escape in a short period of time. However, so many people were crowded into such a small city, especially since the city only had four gates, three of which were blocked by East Africa. Only the north gate could be used for escape, so trampling incidents were inevitable, and the entire city of Kayanza was a scene of utter devastation.

After counting the spoils of war, the East African army’s results were as follows: seven enemies crushed to death by the collapse of the (south) city gate, twelve natives died from trampling incidents within the city, sixteen enemies killed by East African soldiers, and forty-seven native wounded and children (who didn’t escape) captured.

The East African army suffered no casualties, and also captured an empty city, pushing the battle line further towards the Kingdom of Rwanda, completing the task of expelling the native population of Kayanza.

…

With the capture of Kayanza City, the Kingdom of Burundi was basically finished. Next, the East African army would not encounter any decent resistance in the Burundi region.

Just over ten kilometers north of Kayanza was the border between the Kingdom of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Burundi, so the Battle of Kayanza also meant that the Burundi battlefield was basically entering its final stage.

Compared to the Burundi battlefield, the resistance encountered on the Karagwe battlefield next door was even more insignificant. As the kingdom most deeply harmed by the East Bantu people, the Kingdom of Karagwe even had its king and central government wiped out by the East Bantu people.

After falling into a state of leaderlessness, the Kingdom of Karagwe was even less able to resist the invasion of the East Bantu people. Even many local nobles took the opportunity to secede from the Kingdom of Karagwe and joined the Kingdoms of Buganda and Igara in the rear.

And these two countries did need manpower to resist the East Bantu people, so they gladly accepted these nobles who brought their own populations, using them to offset the first wave of the East Bantu people’s attack.

Therefore, before the East African colony invaded the Kingdom of Karagwe, this country had already existed in name only. The central government was destroyed, and the border nobles fled. Fortunately, those nobles who could not escape had to fight to the death with the East Bantu people. With the support of countries such as Buganda, they finally eliminated the invading enemy.

Even so, after the war with the East Bantu people ended, the support of various countries for the nobles of the Kingdom of Karagwe also ceased. This was a fatal blow to the Kingdom of Karagwe, which had been focusing on preparing for war, leaving its fertile land desolate.

In fact, even if East Africa had not invaded the Kingdom of Karagwe, this native country would not have escaped the fate of national extinction.

If the East Bantu people had not caused huge losses to the Northwest countries, and other countries were eager to restore order and production after the war, and temporarily had no time to pay attention to the Kingdom of Karagwe, the Kingdoms of Buganda and other countries would have divided the Kingdom of Karagwe long ago.

Now, there was no need for the Kingdoms of Buganda and other countries to take action. You had no time, but East Africa happened to have it. The East African army drove the native population of the Kingdom of Karagwe towards the Kingdoms of Buganda and Igara like driving pigs.

Although the population of the Kingdoms of Karagwe and Burundi had been harmed by the East Bantu people for the most part, the survivors probably only numbered around sixty or seventy thousand. Compared to the million East Bantu people at the beginning, sixty or seventy thousand refugees were insignificant, but this was definitely another disaster for those northern countries that wanted to restore order and production.

“These natives should have run north. Running west and then having to go north again is simply a waste of effort,” John Joe, the staff officer of the West Route Army on the Karagwe battlefield, said to Ga’er Oqirbat, the commander-in-chief of the West Route Army.

“Joe, the natives don’t know our operational intentions. They are just running in the opposite direction of our advance. I bet these natives have never even seen a map in their lives, so it’s not surprising that they fled west,” Ga’er Oqirbat said.

“But then again, we haven’t encountered any decent enemies along the way. Oqirbat, it seems like you won’t have a chance to surpass Felix this time,” John Joe joked to Ga’er Oqirbat.

“Even if you destroy ten of these native kingdoms, it’s not as good as destroying one Sultanate of Zanzibar. So, if you want to compete with that Felix guy, you can’t just rely on these weak native countries,” Ga’er Oqirbat said.

“I have already found the arena to compete with Felix. When the second stage comes, that Felix guy will definitely attack the Kingdom of Buganda from the north of East Africa. Then we will have a chance to meet him and see who can capture Buganda’s capital first.”

The Felix that Ga’er Oqirbat was thinking about was the one who had single-handedly conquered the Sultanate of Zanzibar last time.

Since Felix achieved such great results last time, he was promoted to the commander-in-chief of the Northern Theater of East African Colonies, under which was the entire Kenya colony.

Now Felix’s troops were stationed in Kisumu, the capital of the West Kenya region, so Felix did not catch up with this war against the four southern countries of the Northwest.

As the number one person in East African military achievements who had the merit of destroying a country, Felix’s achievements were very valuable. No matter how declining the Sultanate of Zanzibar was, it was once one of the powerful countries in the Indian Ocean.

Although Felix’s victory was accidental, it did not prevent his colleagues from wanting to compete with Felix.

Ga’er Oqirbat was one of these people. Ga’er Oqirbat and Felix had an unusual relationship in Germany. They were not only from the same village, but also served in the same army in Prussia at the same time.

In the Prussian army, Felix’s performance was as mediocre as Ga’er Oqirbat’s. They were just ordinary soldiers. As a result, after coming to East Africa, Felix seemed to have a cheat, and his record was brilliant.

This was quite a stimulus for Ga’er Oqirbat. As people from the same village, Ga’er Oqirbat knew Felix very well. The two performed similarly in the army. As a result, after arriving in East Africa, his former colleague showed extraordinary talent. Ga’er Oqirbat naturally couldn’t believe it.

Therefore, Ga’er Oqirbat wanted to see whether Felix was lucky or really had some ability. And if you want to see whether a person has ability, of course, it is more intuitive to compare.

Chapter 133: Northwest Immigration Work

The battle lines were advancing rapidly. The Kingdoms of Rwanda and Igara were just ahead.

Rwanda and Igara were naturally under immense pressure facing the East African colony. They had finally suppressed the East Bantu people, and now they had new enemies to face.

Unlike the Kingdoms of Karagwe and Burundi, Rwanda and Igara had not previously bordered the East African colony, so they basically knew nothing about East Africa.

However, an enemy that could make Burundi flee the country must be a ruthless character. Faced with the new invaders, the Kingdoms of Rwanda and Igara also had a major headache.

After all, compared to the Kingdoms of Burundi and Karagwe, Rwanda and Igara were not in much better shape. The impact of the East Bantu people on the southern four countries had been disastrous.

Now, the royal ministers of the two countries were very conflicted. Should they fight, or would it be better to flee? They might not be able to win if they fought, but they were reluctant to give up their little possessions if they fled.

If it had been before the East Bantu people invaded, the two countries would definitely have had the confidence to fight East Africa. Now, looking at the state of the country, even putting together a decent army was a problem.

Soon, the two countries no longer had to struggle. Refugees from the Kingdoms of Burundi and Karagwe helped the two countries make a choice.

Although this wave of refugees was nothing compared to the East Bantu invasion, the two countries were no longer as powerful as they had been.

Moreover, the Burundi and Karagwe refugees not only flooded in, but also spread rumors all the way. The East African colonial army was described as devils, who ate people without even adding salt. One of them was even more terrifying in combat than a hundred East Bantu people (of course, most natives couldn’t count at all, that was the idea).

As for whether the people of Rwanda and Igara believed it? If one person said so, it was definitely a rumor, but so many people were fleeing from the southeast, they must not be crazy. Everyone knew the East Bantu people, even if they didn’t know the East African colony!

Even more powerful than the East Bantu people! The people of the two countries, who had suffered from the war, did not wait for news from the central government, but took all their belongings and fled north with the refugees from Burundi and Karagwe.

The people of their own country had all run away, so what was the point of resisting? The high-level officials of the kingdom also planned to run away, gathering all available forces and heading north.

Compared to the East African colony, the natives were still willing to deal with other natives. Anyway, what the East Bantu people could do, they could also do. The two countries planned to go north and start over.

Of course, the high-level officials of the two countries were not stupid. They would not go to the northern four countries to stir up trouble, but just planned to borrow a road to develop in the northwest region of Africa (towards Congo and Central Africa).

As for why they didn’t go directly west, it was mainly because the mountains and forests to the west were difficult to traverse, so it was better to borrow a road from the northern countries (highland grasslands).

The reason for choosing to re-establish the country in the northwest was that these natives had originally come to East Africa from West Africa (African blacks originated in West Africa). Although the natives had no writing to record their origins, they knew roughly that their ancestors came from the northwest, based on oral tradition and myths.

National migration is very normal for this kind of underdeveloped, primitive civilization (refer to the changes in the capital of the Shang Dynasty). They were originally just slash-and-burn farmers, so they could just find a new place to develop.

…

“Are all the people on board?” Werner Jory, the captain of the East African Inland Lake Force, asked.

“Captain, the numbers are all correct. In addition to our own people, this trip has a total of one hundred and twenty-seven immigrants on board. The supplies to be transported to the front line are also almost ready,” Hanks Fischer replied.

“Good, prepare to set off!” Werner Jory said.

While the war was going on at the front, the East African colony was also speeding up the pace of immigration.

The East African Inland Lake Force also joined the task of transporting immigrants and supplies. The Mwanza Shipyard worked overtime to rush out ships, increasing the transport capacity of the Inland Lake Force.

In addition to waterways, East Africa also opened up inland immigration transport routes. It took a lot of time and effort inland, so military supplies and other materials that needed to be transported to the front line urgently were mainly transported by the Inland Lake Force.

The first batch of immigrants to the northwest set off with Yahlmann’s troops. They pushed food in simple wheelbarrows, carried rain tarps, and set off with the army.

It took exactly about a month to walk the whole journey to reach Burundi and Karagwe, as fast as twenty-eight days, and as late as just over thirty days, while if there was a waterway in Mwanza, it could be reached in as little as twenty-three days.

Of course, it was definitely impossible to rely entirely on walking. The East African colony put together a large number of livestock and vehicles to transport immigrants and supplies.

At the same time, villages and cities along the way were used as strongholds to provide convenience for immigrants and troops, preparing rations and drinking water, greatly saving time.

Especially in the Central District and Upper Coastal District, where villages were dense, the population was large, and animal husbandry was developed early, a large amount of transport capacity could be temporarily borrowed to serve the immigrants.

Currently, approximately three thousand immigrants arrive in port every day (there are fluctuations, some months have more immigrants, some months have fewer). This is the combined effect of recent German and Paraguayan immigrants.

About one thousand eight hundred people are sent to the newly occupied areas in northwest Burundi, about nine hundred people are sent to western Kenya, and the remaining one hundred or so go to Omorate (the Omo River Basin).

The first batch of immigrants arrived in the Burundi and Karagwe areas on May 3rd, and now it is already June (war preparations were in early April, and the war started in May).

In nearly a month, the East African colony has settled more than fifty thousand people in Burundi and Karagwe. Fortunately, the East African colony is now a food-producing area, and with the support of the Hechingen Consortium, it can supply so many immigrants in a short period of time.

Now that the war has been going on for more than a month, the East African army is about to advance into Igara and Rwanda (the army’s marching speed is faster than that of the immigrants, so the army and the immigrants set off at the same time, but the army is faster in the later stage).

Sufficient immigrants ensure the development of the newly occupied areas. After all, the native countries in the northwest have already abandoned hunting and live on primitive agriculture, so the new immigrants only need to accept the land of the natives.

The main task of the immigrants is to re-divide and modernize the land of the natives. The development conditions are definitely better than the initial stage of entrepreneurship in the East African colony.

After all, at that time, only the Sultanate of Zanzibar had some plantations along the coast (at that time, the East African colony had not yet annexed the coastal land of the Sultanate of Zanzibar), and all the land had to be developed by itself.

The immigrants going to the northwest can be said to be directly picking up ready-made land. Of course, the new immigrants also have their own difficulties, that is, the immigration route of more than one thousand kilometers is a big challenge for these immigrants who have traveled across the ocean from the Far East, Europe, and South America.

Fortunately, the East African colonial government has arranged many service points along the route, otherwise this journey would definitely be very tragic.

Chapter 134: End of the First Phase of Operations

The subsequent battles of the East African army against the Kingdoms of Rwanda and Igara were unremarkable. They encountered virtually no resistance. In some areas, the natives had even fled before the East African troops arrived.

Having witnessed the fate of the Burundi royal nobles, Rwanda and Igara chose not to fight the East African colony to the death. Instead, they relocated to start anew.

The current state of the Burundi and Karagwe nobles is truly pitiful, like stray dogs. On their way into Rwanda and Igara, most of their servants deserted, taking much of their wealth with them.

Given the current state of Rwanda and Igara, their leaders had no confidence in resisting the East African colony’s invasion. And since the East African colony probably wouldn’t accept their surrender, they decided to leave as soon as possible.

By voluntarily giving up this land now, they could preserve their strength and the elite forces of both kingdoms, heading to Central and West Africa to show the natives there the iron fist of civilization.

Just as the Northwestern countries faced a civilizational gap against the East African colony’s firearms, the Northwestern countries also possessed a civilizational advantage over those native tribes.

Their iron-making capabilities and organizational skills were unmatched by the nomadic tribes. Furthermore, the Northwestern countries were not entirely agrarian, maintaining a strong martial spirit and not fearing opponents of equal standing.

Moreover, the Northwestern countries were not reckless simpletons like the Eastern Bantu. If the Eastern Bantu had only shown a little favor to the local nobles, the two sides wouldn’t have fought to the death.

The Northwestern nobles wouldn’t have minded having the many Eastern Bantu chiefs under them, above the commoners.

However, some of the larger Eastern Bantu tribes were arrogant and domineering, completely disregarding the feelings of the local nobles, committing all sorts of atrocities, including murder, arson, looting, and pillaging.

This was still tolerable; the local nobles could turn a blind eye. But these Eastern Bantu didn’t know what was good for them, carrying out family exterminations, targeting the local nobles and robbing their wealth.

This threatened the very existence of the Northwestern nobles, leading to a united effort by the Northwestern noble forces to suppress the Eastern Bantu.

This time, facing the East African colony’s invasion, Rwanda and Igara had no intention of fighting a desperate battle again. They really couldn’t afford it.

Anyway, the East African colony wanted land, not their lives, wealth, or slaves. There was plenty of land in Africa. They could just give it to the Germans and find another place to settle. Anywhere but the Sahara Desert was suitable for continued living.

Therefore, the leaders of both kingdoms sent envoys to the East African colony, requesting the East African army to hold back. They would leave on their own accord. The East African colonial government was happy to oblige.

Thus, a harmonious scene unfolded in both kingdoms. The nobles of Rwanda and Igara collected their belongings (including slaves) and followed their kingdoms north, heading to Central and West Africa to start anew, while the East African army leisurely accepted the land from the two kingdoms.

Rwanda and Igara decided to stick together, conquering a new territory in Central and West Africa, employing a strategy of distant alliances and close attacks to defeat the native tribes one by one.

This wasn’t because the two kingdoms understood military strategy, but because the Central African natives, living in scattered tribes, were simply incapable of uniting.

As long as the two kingdoms took things one step at a time, they could establish new nations in Central and West Africa.

…

June 27, 1868.

The East African army advanced to Ruhengeri, the largest city in northern Rwanda, effectively ending the war within Rwanda.

June 30.

The entire Kingdom of Igara fell. The East African colony advanced through the central route to the borders of the Nkore and Buganda Kingdoms.

July 1.

The first phase of operations was essentially completed. The four southern kingdoms fell completely into the hands of the East African colony.

The East African colony newly acquired approximately 83,000 square kilometers of land (excluding water areas).

In the short period of the war, the East African colonial government relocated eighty thousand new immigrants to the area, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the East African colony, instantly surpassing many large regions in the central and western areas.

Of course, the infrastructure in this newly occupied area wasn’t great, but it was far better than the Omo River basin. After all, it had been developed by the native kingdoms for many years, and there were some fields and roads that could be used, requiring only minor modifications.

At the same time, a large number of South Germans were settled here, along with orphans and single mothers from Paraguay, which balanced the ethnicity, gender, and age demographics. With a predominantly young labor force, the population structure in the area was relatively reasonable.

As long as the connection with the Soro Lake area and the Great Lakes region was well-established, ensuring smooth transportation and communication, the East African colony’s rule in this area would be completely solidified.

Such rapid progress naturally meant that the natives weren’t completely cleared out. The thoughtful East African colony specifically organized those natives who hadn’t fled and gifted them to the Kingdoms of Rwanda and Igara, which were about to start anew. The East African army in Nkore escorted these natives out of the country.

The fall of the four southern kingdoms naturally had a huge impact on the four northern kingdoms, especially Nkore and Buganda, which strengthened their military presence on the borders adjacent to East Africa.

The natives who had just been put into production were recalled to rejoin the army. Nkore was weak, while Buganda faced the pressure of fighting on two fronts. Both kingdoms were in a difficult situation.

If the second phase of the war were to break out, it was uncertain what the outcome would be compared to the first phase. After all, the four northern kingdoms hadn’t suffered any fundamental damage from the previous Eastern Bantu invasion, especially Toro and Kitara, which were shielded by Nkore and Buganda and suffered no losses at all.

This was the basis for the four northern kingdoms’ willingness to resist the East African colony. Rwanda and Igara had their assets almost completely destroyed by the previous Eastern Bantu. They didn’t care about selling off their ancestors’ land. The core interests of the four northern kingdoms hadn’t been damaged.

The strong will to resist of the four northern kingdoms was the difficulty of the second phase of operations. The East African advantage was that, when the second phase of operations broke out, they would have sufficient manpower on the border this time.

Moreover, the supplies stockpiled on the front lines during the first phase would prevent the East African army from being as overwhelmed as when they first entered the Northwestern region.

During the first phase of operations, the long supply lines, not the enemy, severely hampered the East African army’s advance.

At the same time, another advantage of the second phase was, as mentioned earlier, the ability to fight on two fronts. East Africa could attack simultaneously from the south and east. Moreover, the population of the Buganda Kingdom was mainly distributed along the shores of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), which facilitated the East African colony’s transportation of troops and supplies by water, directly attacking Buganda’s capital, Mengo.

Mengo was only one hundred and fifty kilometers from Kisumu. If transported by ship, they could reach Mengo, the brain of the Buganda Kingdom, in two or three days.

Chapter 135: Recuperation

With the war temporarily over, the East African colony returned to its normal operational routines.

During the war, transporting immigrants to the front lines was an overwhelming challenge for East Africa.

Therefore, the East African war machine also needed to slow down. The whole of East Africa is an agricultural colony, so its capacity for large-scale military support is only slightly better than that of traditional agricultural countries.

Fortunately, the East African colony was newly established, with a vast land area and a large per capita arable land area, resulting in high total grain output, which not only ensured self-sufficiency but also strongly supported the actions of new immigrants and the army.

The army needed to rest and reorganize, and the new immigrants heading to the west also needed to work hard to cultivate the land as soon as possible and create value, while other areas of East Africa also needed to step up their land reclamation efforts.

In the past two months, East Africa received one hundred and seventy thousand immigrants (this figure is not exaggerated, referring to the slave trade and the ability of British ships to transport black people. Therefore, East Africa does not lack transportation capacity, but the source of immigrants, especially German immigrants). All of them were received by the newly occupied northwest region, the West Kenya region, and the town of Omorate.

If these one hundred and seventy thousand immigrants were distributed among the already established colonial settlements, East Africa would definitely be able to take its development to the next level.

In the first half of 1868, East Africa had already received more than five hundred thousand immigrants. The first half of the year alone almost completed Ernst’s year-end estimate of six hundred thousand immigrants for the entire last year.

Currently, East Africa has a population of one million two hundred thousand people and a land area of about one million five hundred thousand square kilometers. Moreover, the Uganda of his previous life has already been regarded as a piece of cake, adding another two hundred thousand square kilometers of land.

It is expected that it can definitely be swallowed before the end of the year. If the immigration activities go smoothly at that time, it can reach at least one million seven hundred thousand.

And the population exceeding one million has made Ernst not panic at all now. One million is not only a unit, but also a tranquilizer. In this era, countries that exceed one million in population…

In the 17th century, when the Netherlands rose, its population was in the millions; in the 19th century, when Britain rose, its population was in the tens of millions; in the 20th century, when the United States rose, its population was in the hundreds of millions.

Having exceeded one million people, the East African colony can gain a foothold in Africa. In Africa’s small territory, its strength can at least rank fourth.

The first is naturally the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt under the nominal territory of the Ottoman Empire.

Those familiar with history know that the Muhammad Ali reforms allowed Egypt to enter a period of national prosperity and military strength, even defeating its suzerain state, the Ottoman Empire.

Later, the intervention of Britain and France saved the dying Ottoman Empire, and Egypt was thus reduced to a semi-colonial state again.

Although Egypt’s reforms failed, the reformed Egypt had taken half a step into industrialization, and its army had also completed modernization. Therefore, Egypt’s comprehensive strength should be the undisputed first among the local forces in Africa.

And the current territory of Egypt also includes Sudan (including South Sudan), which is actually adjacent to the Omorate River basin colony in the northwest of East Africa.

The East African colony may not be afraid of Egypt militarily, but the East African colony is not as comprehensive as Egypt, which has both industry and agriculture, as well as a navy, and even achieved partial self-sufficiency in weapons and equipment.

The second is France. There is nothing to say about France. Just considering the distance between the French North African colony (Algeria) and mainland France, it is no problem to say that France is the strongest force in Africa.

Anyway, the French mainly expand in North Africa and West Africa, and do not border East Africa. The French colonies closest to East Africa are the Comoros Islands and French Madagascar, separated from East Africa by the Indian Ocean.

The third is Britain. Like France, its navy is too strong, so no country in the world except other great powers can compare with these two countries.

Why not put Britain and France before Egypt? That is because these two countries are not purely African countries.

So, locally, excluding the colonizers, the first is Egypt, the second is the Abyssinian Empire, and Ernst himself does not know who is third.

The British and French colonies have the support of national power, so East Africa naturally does not dare to cause trouble in front of the two countries, but it is not afraid of the Boers and the Portuguese at all.

Because if it offends Britain and France, East Africa will only be beaten, and it will not be able to fight back even if it leaves the Indian Ocean. But facing the remaining forces, it is different. The Boers only have hundreds of thousands of people, and the Portuguese in Mozambique, including merchants and immigrants, probably only number in the tens of thousands (maybe only a few thousand).

And the East African colony is at the same level as them. As for the Kingdom of Portugal supporting Mozambique, just listen to it. Unless they send hundreds of thousands of troops, Ernst will not even look at them.

Fighting does not require him to charge into battle himself. As long as the territory has a large immigrant population, there will be more troops, and the army is Ernst’s confidence in establishing himself in East Africa.

Of course, at present, East Africa does not need to conflict with the above-mentioned forces at all. There is still a lot of open space in Africa that can be developed.

Therefore, before the great powers set their sights on Africa, the East African colony can expand as much as it wants, and its opponents are only indigenous forces.

And the indigenous people, without the support of external forces, are basically not the opponents of the East African colony.

Do not think that the development of the East African colony is smooth sailing and its expansion speed is extremely fast. It is based on Ernst’s daily anxiety.

The East African colony is just an illusion that Ernst gave to the outside world by using the identity of the Hohenzollern family, that the East African colony is an attempt at Prussian overseas colonization.

Compared with Prussia focusing its energy on developing colonies, countries are more worried about Prussia unifying Germany, so the expansion of the East African colony can be tacitly approved by countries such as Britain and France.

And Prussia itself does not have the energy to pay attention to overseas affairs. Now the high-level officials of the kingdom are making various preparations for the unification of Germany. As for the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family developing Africa, as long as it does not require Prussia to contribute money and effort, and the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family is considered its own people, developing colonies in Africa will eventually have to lean towards itself.

As for Tsarist Russia, needless to say, its interests are all in the Eurasian continent.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire is supportive of Ernst. The Austro-Hungarian Empire does not have the energy to expand overseas, and the relationship between the Habsburgs and Ernst is so good that they are almost one family. Ernst recruiting immigrants in Austria-Hungary is not only beneficial to Austria, but also beneficial to Hungary, stabilizing its rule. Many factors have caused the Austro-Hungarian Empire to support Ernst’s colonization.

But support is support. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is just doing Ernst a favor. Apart from being lenient on immigration issues, there is no real benefit at all.

In summary, there is not a single country that the East African colony can rely on. Completely leaning towards any party may lead to eternal doom.

Therefore, only by relying on immigrants and forming an army can it protect itself. And of course, there must be a threshold for immigrants. If all kinds of people are accepted, they will definitely be collaborators when imperialism comes knocking on the door.

This is also the reason for the slow immigration to East Africa. If quality is not considered, two to three million immigrants per year would be easy, but the East African colony spent two and a half years to reach a population size of one million two hundred thousand, which is the result of Ernst reversing and raising immigration standards.

Chapter 136: Roads

During the lull in fighting, the East African colony reinforced its internal road network.

Being utterly impoverished was no joke. Other countries wanting to industrialize at least had the accumulated wealth of the agricultural era, or support from a major power.

Roads, bridges, agricultural irrigation systems, even canals… other countries and developed colonies had at least a century of accumulation in these areas.

But before the colonists arrived in East Africa, it truly had nothing. Even dirt roads were developed by the East African colony itself.

The state of East Africa’s roads was therefore predictable. After a rain, they would become incredibly muddy. Fortunately, the East African savanna was flat and open, so road construction wasn’t difficult.

Those toiling on the front lines of East Africa’s road-building army were the native prisoners, supervised by the East African colonial government.

Tens of thousands of people worked simultaneously on the road construction front. Although the tools were simple, the sheer number of people allowed East Africa’s roads to expand at a visibly rapid pace.

The East African colony’s food rations weren’t bad for the natives. High in salt and oil, they ensured they had plenty of energy each day.

The portions weren’t large, of course, but they were more stable than living by hunting. Plus, the East African colony’s wildlife would occasionally supplement the natives’ diet.

The natives, working at high intensity every day, didn’t collapse from exhaustion. Instead, they appeared more robust than before.

In this era, regardless of whether it was a colony or not, people were worked to death, especially in regions outside of Europe.

The development of the Suez Canal, the construction of the American transcontinental railroad… all were built on mountains of bones. These projects not only involved intense labor, but also, to save costs, most laborers had extremely poor food: bad taste, spoiled food, and frequent deductions.

As for why East Africa was fattening up the natives, so different from other places, it wasn’t because the East African colonial government had a change of heart.

It was so that these retired native laborers from East Africa could be sold for a good price later. These slaves would be used for a period of time and then sent to slave traders in Zanzibar.

East Africa was just harvesting the labor value of these natives first. Places in East Africa that were treacherous, or had high engineering difficulty and high risk factors, would use large numbers of natives to complete the work.

The East African colonial government didn’t care at all if a few people died in accidents at each of East Africa’s construction sites.

The East African colonial government had to ensure that the natives’ food wasn’t too bad, and since the entire East Africa was pitch black at night, it was impossible to make these natives work day and night.

With decent food and sufficient sleep, the natives were even more comfortable than when they were hunting on the savanna. The only downsides were the loss of freedom and being treated as inferior.

As everyone knows, strength comes from training. In the past, these natives were quite strong, but their tolerance for heavy labor was poor. Years of hunting gave them good explosive power and made them good runners, but working also required back strength, arm strength, and patience.

Now, after the East African colony’s training, working on construction sites every day greatly increased the natives’ obedience and physical endurance.

As a result, after the East African colony sold these retired natives to slave traders in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, they received unanimous praise.

The reason was that customers in the Ottoman Empire, after using this batch of trained natives, were surprised to find that they were easier to use than previous slaves, more obedient, and also healthier, with a lower attrition rate.

Of course, to ensure the quality of East Africa’s roads, at least to ensure they weren’t too bad, relying solely on native labor wasn’t enough.

As mentioned earlier, the natives had poor patience and couldn’t do precise work, so some sections of the road that required some skill still had to rely on immigrants.

Especially bridges and other sections that needed to be reinforced and durable, and had technical content, ordinary immigrants wouldn’t do; they had to find immigrants with relevant experience.

Through the combination of natives and immigrants, the East African colony achieved the connection of various towns within the colony by roads.

One of the functions of these dirt roads was to prevent immigrants from getting lost. The vast savanna was desolate and it was easy to lose direction. Immigrants needed to be continuously transported inland, so the colony’s strongholds needed to be connected by roads. If they got lost in the wild, they could always find a settlement and be rescued by following the road.

If the current roads in East Africa were used for transportation, there would be both advantages and disadvantages.

When the weather was clear, the roads were indeed more comfortable than the grassland, but when it rained, the sides of the road with grass were naturally easier to walk on. Although that was the case, there weren’t many situations where people traveled in the rain, so the roads still needed to be built.

And the road conditions were poor now, but they could be upgraded later. Not to mention the distant future, the road from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam was already undergoing gravel modification.

Mbeya’s coal mines needed to be transported out by vehicles to provide energy for East Africa’s few factories, so the roadbed had to be stronger than ordinary roads.

In addition, the Upper Coastal District and the Central District, which were developed earlier, were also upgrading roads. As for other areas, the priority was to solve the problem of having roads or not.

During the ceasefire, the East African colony mainly reinforced the road from the coast to Mwanza, and hastily repaired a simple dirt road from the Great Lakes region to the newly occupied areas.

During the war, the long supply lines and terrible road conditions had caused the East African colony a lot of suffering.

The war was only halfway over, and there were still the stronger Northern Four Powers ahead, so they had to be fully prepared to avoid a setback.

Although Ernst looked down on the natives, they could sometimes unleash considerable power. There were many historical examples of backward forces defeating advanced forces.

Therefore, every battle should be prepared for seriously. If the British and Portuguese were to fight this war, they would definitely not be as cautious as Ernst.

More than ten thousand East African colonial troops (including militias) with modern military weapons were enough to fight a small-scale war on the European battlefield.

And they were enough to pose a serious threat to some small countries, such as Greece and other Balkan countries, with populations of only a million and armies of only a few tens of thousands. Not to mention some weaker countries, such as many small states within Germany.

Therefore, East Africa treated these native countries with utmost care. Even the Sultanate of Zanzibar hadn’t enjoyed this treatment before.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar only had a few hundred thousand people. East Africa placed the troops invading the northwest in front of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and it was extremely intimidating.

East Africa could quickly raise a temporarily demobilized force of seventy to eighty thousand people in the entire East Africa. In the entire Africa, only Egypt could do this currently.

That’s why Ernst dared to say he would establish a foothold in Africa. As for why it hadn’t attracted the attention of other forces.

It was because the colonizers of other countries hadn’t penetrated deep inland, so they didn’t understand East Africa’s details. Plus, East Africa was originally the necessary route for Europe to India and the Far East. A large number of merchant ships docked in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa every day.

People coming and going was normal, and immigrants landing in East Africa was naturally not abrupt. Besides the East African colony itself, who would bother to count how many immigrants East Africa had?

After all, everyone was recruiting people to their own colonies, and the East African colony was just recruiting a little more. Moreover, the East African colony had a completely closed management system. Zanzibar merchants could only do business in the Dar es Salaam market. Currently, no other forces had penetrated into the East African interior to investigate the situation, at most making simple judgments through East Africa’s few ports.

But from the coast, East Africa looked similar to the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, naturally not worth worrying about.

The Portuguese who actually bordered East Africa had only seen a few villages in East Africa. The west bordered East Africa’s subordinate native forces, and most of the two colonies were separated by the Ruvuma River, so the Portuguese were also unclear about the strength of the East African colony.

As for the Arabs, the one most familiar with East Africa was the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was now trapped on the island.

Egypt’s Sudan (South Sudan) was very close to East Africa’s Omo region, but there were many native nomadic forces separating them, and Egypt’s control over South Sudan was too weak (South Sudan was all black people).

Of course, East Africa’s geographical location was still good, especially Dar es Salaam, which was an important port of call on the Indian Ocean coast.

But Britain and France were well aware that the Suez Canal was about to be completed, and Britain had Cape Town, and France had Madagascar. Both countries had their own footholds in the Indian Ocean, so Dar es Salaam wasn’t that important.

What’s more, ports such as Dar es Salaam had been armed into iron turtles with artillery, so considering many factors, East Africa could remain aloof.

If East Africa really wanted to be targeted by other countries, there was of course a way, which was to develop East Africa’s mineral resources on a large scale and monetize them. This was obviously impossible. Ernst would naturally keep it covered up for as long as possible.

Chapter 137: Patch

East Africa is isolated overseas, far from Germany.

And it is very obvious that for the Hechingen royal family, their core interests currently remain in Germany proper. The East African colony can only be considered a major project in which the Hechingen royal family has invested.

Although Ernst has strategically chosen East Africa as the future of the Hechingen royal family, there is no need to go to East Africa immediately.

Because in the eyes of any colonial power, the East African colony is still a long-term project, and even the first phase of this project has not yet been completed.

The East African colony relies heavily on the Hechingen Consortium to replenish its blood. Without the Hechingen royal family, its development would immediately come to a standstill.

For example, weapons, technology, and population from Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot even be dreamed of by a single East African colony without the Hechingen royal family as a central regulator.

Although Ernst is not in East Africa, the power in East Africa is in Ernst’s hands. Various rules and regulations restrict the power of all officials in East Africa to a very small range.

Because East Africa adopts a employment system, that is, a corporate system, and the current main development project is agriculture, it is no exaggeration to say that the East African colony is an agricultural development company under the Hechingen banner.

And the officials in East Africa are also employees of Hechingen, especially in the army. Those earliest Germans all signed contracts with Hechingen.

In other words, these people all have weaknesses in the hands of the Hechingen royal family. You can feel free to mess around in East Africa using your authority, but your family is recorded in the archives of the Hechingen Consortium. It is not easy to take advantage of the Hohenzollern family in Prussia and Germany.

Moreover, these German mercenaries who hold various ruling positions in the colony are all veterans retired from the Prussian army.

To put it bluntly, they are all elderly people who were kicked out of the army when they got old, and they came to East Africa to work for Ernst for a living.

Once they have made enough money, they will definitely not want to continue staying in East Africa. After all, they also want to enjoy their old age, and East Africa is obviously not a place to retire now.

The medical conditions in East Africa are poor, and there are no fun places. Most importantly, their families are not there.

Unlike those lower-level immigrants, the immigrants from the Far East, Austria-Hungary, Southern Germany… are there to make a living. They were mentally prepared to die in a foreign land the moment they left their hometown. It is not ruled out that some people have the idea of returning home in glory, but most people are going there to survive.

The German mercenaries, from the very beginning, aimed to participate in colonial activities to make money. No matter what, they are Germans (here, Germany refers to the general term for the various German states at present) and not East Africans.

So after earning enough money, they naturally want to return to Germany to enjoy life, so power is only temporarily in their hands, especially power locked in a cage.

The resident directors of the Hechingen Consortium in East Africa are specially used to check accounts, strictly control the allocation and expenditure of various resources in East Africa, and are also responsible for supervising the implementation of Ernst’s orders by East African officials.

Although the number of directors dispatched by the Hechingen Consortium to East Africa is small, their status at the top is not low. Von der Leyen is a representative. Together with Yallman, the military commander of East Africa, and Swiet, the chief of staff of the East African army (of Chinese descent), they constitute the troika of East Africa.

In the East African army, which Ernst values most, the General Staff is the second force. They are all students of the Hechingen Military Academy, mainly Chinese students in the early days, and now German students have begun to be added.

The Hechingen Military Academy is actually where Ernst raises his private army. All students have received brainwashing education, and the Hechingen royal family is their belief, so Ernst dares to reuse them and supervise all forces in East Africa.

Basically, every East African official is assigned a student from the Hechingen Military Academy as an assistant. This configuration extends from the central government to the countryside.

Any action in East Africa requires a joint meeting of the above three groups, and then a report to Ernst, who then makes a decision.

Of course, this does not improve the administrative efficiency of East Africa, but it is very stable, because the three interest groups cannot pee in the same pot.

Fortunately, East Africa is a completely agricultural colony. The specific affairs are boring and tasteless, that is, farming, farming, farming…

Occasionally fighting a native tribe, the villages in the colony can make their own decisions. Only native countries, Arab forces, and other colonizers need to report to their superiors.

However, the forces around East Africa have long been investigated by East Africa. Those people cannot be provoked, and the East African colony knows it well. Except for the Portuguese and the British, there are no threatening forces.

Even so, the East African colony is quite low-key. For example, with regard to Britain, the reason why East Africa is polite to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, in addition to dealing with natives, is to be wary of British interference, so the core of the Sultanate of Zanzibar can continue to exist.

On the border between East Africa and Mozambique, the East African colony has always maintained restraint and will not take the initiative to cause trouble.

Not to mention Britain and Portugal, the East African colony handles even those natives with caution.

For example, in Zambia to the southwest, East Africa has long had the ability to seize land. Even if East African forces enter Zambia, other colonial forces will not receive the news.

But the East African colony did not do this. You have to eat one bite at a time, and there is no rush to expand without immigrants in place.

Of course, it is not that Ernst does not want to go to East Africa to take charge, but he cannot get away at the moment, and there is no need to.

Prince Constantine is old (67 years old), and Ernst is not at ease leaving his old father alone in Europe (historically, Prince Constantine died on September 3, 1869).

At the same time, the greatest wealth in the hands of the Hechingen royal family is the Hechingen Consortium, and its main business is all located in Europe.

Ernst does not dare to easily hand over the affairs of Hechingen in Europe to others. If he loses the Hechingen Consortium, Ernst will not be able to develop the East African colony no matter how capable he is.

From its creation to the present, the East African colony can be said to have been supported by the Hechingen Consortium bit by bit. The funds and ships needed for immigration, the early rations for immigrants, the weapons and equipment of the colony, the salaries of East African officials… all were provided by the Hechingen Consortium.

There is only one way to solve this problem, and that is to transfer the focus of the Hechingen Consortium to East Africa.

However, the current conditions in the East African colony are not enough to support the Hechingen Consortium, let alone support itself. Ernst does not ask much, at least until East Africa has established a preliminary industrial base before transferring the Hechingen Consortium to East Africa.

For example, to develop industry, it is necessary to solve the problem of coal in the East African colony, which requires the construction of railways. The main coal in East Africa is in the southwest, so they must be pulled to the coastal areas. Of course, some people may say, wouldn’t it be better to build factories locally?

The problem is that the machines in this era are all big, stupid, and clumsy things. If you want to transport them to the inland, you also need railways. In addition, the main business of the Hechingen Consortium is in Europe. In the end, the goods and grains in the inland still have to be transported out by railway.

And with the current conditions in East Africa, building a railway to the inland is still quite difficult. If the entire colony and the support of the Hechingen Consortium are gathered, it is not impossible, but the cost is too high.

Of course, Ernst knows the role of railways, but now is not the time to build railways. Ernst knows an opportunity period and plans to plan the railway construction in East Africa at that time.

In addition to railways, iron smelters, cement plants… these must be available! Otherwise, even a clever woman cannot cook without rice for the Hechingen Consortium. It is useless to move the machines over. You can’t rely on imports for everything.

Not to mention these, even the current agricultural scale in East Africa is difficult to support industrial construction. For example, cotton, a raw material for light industry, is only grown on a small scale in East Africa. If it is really expanded, it may attract the attention of certain countries. The textile industry is the pillar industry of many industrialized countries.

…

In short, East Africa still has many roads to travel. At present, the East African colony is at most a vassal of the Hechingen Consortium. Ernst can influence the politics of the German region and European public opinion through the Hechingen Consortium, while controlling the industrial development of East Africa.

Although the East African colony is very important in Ernst’s heart, the fact is that the East African colony is not as good as the Hechingen Consortium now.

To put it this way, if he loses East Africa, Ernst can find another place to start again through the Hechingen Consortium, but if he loses the Hechingen Consortium, Ernst will not be able to do anything.

Of course, Ernst’s idea is to combine the Hechingen Consortium and the East African colony in the future, but now is not the time. The development of the East African colony is not enough to support Ernst to bet all his wealth on it.

Chapter 138: The Battle of Lake Kivu

July 3rd, 1868.

The East African colonial government was preparing for war. Buganda, along with the other four nations, was not idle either. They were constantly deploying troops and conscripting large numbers of soldiers on the border.

At this time, Buganda was the most powerful country in the Great Lakes region besides the East African colony, and its monarch, Mutesa I, was quite accomplished.

Buganda used to be a vassal state of its northern power, Bunyoro, but in the 19th century, Bunyoro, like most old empires, embarked on the road to decline. Therefore, Buganda took advantage of the situation and quickly seized Bunyoro’s original ecological niche.

During the same period, the Kingdom of Toro also seceded from the Bunyoro Empire.

Interestingly, both the Kingdom of Buganda and the Kingdom of Toro were established by members of the Bunyoro Empire’s royal family. However, Buganda separated four or five hundred years ago, while the Kingdom of Toro was established in the 19th century by the eldest son of the then-King of the Bunyoro Empire in rebellion.

Despite numerous blows, the Bunyoro Empire did not disappear. The Kingdom of Kitara is its direct successor.

The Kingdom of Nkore has also been an ancient country for hundreds of years.

The above is the basic information of the four northern countries. It can be seen that the relationship between them is actually very similar to that of European countries, so whether the relationship is good or not does not affect the exchanges between their nobles.

Before the opening of the East African colony, Buganda already had a standing army of more than six thousand people and a navy of three hundred ships.

Therefore, Buganda’s strength was still quite considerable, worthy of its reputation as the overlord of the Great Lakes region. Moreover, Mutesa I was a rather conceited person, especially in recent years, Mutesa I had led the Kingdom of Buganda from one victory to another.

Not only did he completely replace the Bunyoro Empire, bringing the Kingdom of Buganda to its peak, but he also led the country to effectively resist the invasion of the East Bantu people.

Although the invasion of the East Bantu people reduced the strength of the Kingdom of Buganda, it further strengthened the prestige of Mutesa I.

Under the rule of such a powerful monarch, the people of Buganda were naturally full of fighting spirit, and they believed that their monarch could solve all problems.

Mutesa I was also a man of great vision. He also had a good understanding of North Africa, especially Egypt. In the late years of his reign, he also introduced forces from Britain and France to check the influence of the Arab Church.

Therefore, Mutesa I also had some understanding of the East African colony, this suddenly emerging neighbor, but Mutesa I’s people could not enter East Africa, so they could only observe the situation of the East African colony on the border (West Kenya region).

Next, the East African wars against Burundi and other countries made Mutesa I believe that the East African colony was up to no good.

This was a powerful enemy that the northwestern countries had never faced. All the wars that the northwestern countries had encountered in the past few hundred years were wars of conquest.

After all, population is an important asset, especially for Africa with its backward productivity. Conquering the other party and obtaining their population and wealth has always been the theme of wars in the northwestern countries.

Now, the East African colony clearly wanted the land but not the people. This was not leaving any way out for the northwestern countries. Rwanda and the Kingdom of Igara had already fled to Central Africa.

However, Mutesa I was not afraid of the East African colony. Mutesa I had fought his way out from the day he ascended the throne.

One victory after another made Mutesa I full of confidence. He had encountered many dangerous situations before, so he was not afraid of war.

In order to cope with the challenge of the East African colony, Mutesa I actively colluded with the other three countries and formed a four-nation alliance.

Mutesa I served as the leader of the alliance. He used the resources of the four countries to organize an army of thirty thousand people, divided into two routes to fight the East African colony.

More than twenty thousand were deployed on the southern front, and more than ten thousand were deployed on the eastern front. In order to appease the countries, the eastern front was mainly composed of Buganda people, while the southern front was a joint force of the four countries.

The Kingdom of Toro and the Kingdom of Kitara actually had some careful thoughts. Because they were not directly bordering the East African colony, they did not go all out.

The Kingdom of Nkore, facing the threat of the East African colony directly, had already devoted all its national strength to cooperate with the Kingdom of Buganda, so the main force of the battle was the Kingdom of Buganda and the Kingdom of Nkore.

Mutesa I naturally knew the little thoughts of the two countries of Toro and Kitara, so Mutesa I also hoarded more than ten thousand reserve troops in the rear to prevent accidents.

On July 4th, the East African army, which had been resting for more than a month, began to move again. This time, both the east and south directions were prepared for war.

The commander-in-chief of the southern battlefield was still Yalman, and the commander-in-chief of the eastern battlefield was Felix.

The main force of the four-nation allied forces was personally led by Mutesa I, and his eldest son temporarily took over the national government affairs.

This time, the East African colony did not directly kill into the territory of the four countries. With the demonstration of Rwanda and Igara last time, the East African colony decided to send a notice to the four countries first.

The content was roughly, the time left for you is running out, hurry up and learn from the two countries of Rwanda, and you can still guarantee a safe retreat. If you are obsessed with your own ideas, don’t blame the East African colony for being ruthless.

“I have said what I needed to say,” or something like that. However, the four northern countries were not as badly damaged by the East Bantu people as Rwanda and other countries. They had a large family and a large business, so they would naturally not give up easily.

Mutesa I personally sent someone to the East African colony to bring a message, let’s have a battle between warriors! The winner takes all, and the loser is utterly defeated.

Simple and crude, then there is nothing to say. As for the battle of warriors, the East African colony said that we are not warriors, we just bully people with our guns.

July 6th.

The main forces of both sides launched a decisive battle on the south bank of Lake Kivu. Mutesa I personally led the allied forces to launch an attack on the East African army.

The valiant Mutesa I directly boosted the morale of the allied forces, and they rushed towards the East African army like a tide.

The allied soldiers had tattoos on their bodies, their faces were covered with bright colors, plus braided pigtails, and they held simple shields and spears, looking fierce.

The elite troops wore robes, held scimitars, and carried bows and arrows on their backs, following Mutesa I’s personal supervision of the battle.

The East African commander was not in a hurry to attack. After the enemy entered the firing range, he began to calmly line up and shoot.

There was nothing skillful about the battle. It was just bullying the natives for their backward weapons and equipment. In addition, the East African colony had stockpiled enough ammunition before, so the East African army let loose and fired.

In the afternoon, at three o’clock, the battle ended.

Mutesa I and the allied nobles were nowhere to be found, leaving only the corpses of natives all over the ground. Cleaning up the battlefield was painful for the East African colony.

This was the largest battle that the East African colony had fought in the northwest. The enemy left more than ten thousand corpses, and East Africa could not ignore these corpses.

Due to the lack of fuel, there was no time to burn them. They could only transport a large amount of hay and firewood from the rear for burning, and at the same time dig pits around and bury them on the spot, taking both measures, and working for two or three days.

Chapter 139: The War Ends

“So this is the Buganda Royal Palace. Doesn’t look like much!” Felix said, sprawled casually on the throne in Mengo, the Buganda capital.

“Compared to Zanzibar, this isn’t exactly a wealthy nation. Mutessa the First and his predecessors did a pretty good job making the palace what it is,” the staff officer said.

Mengo’s location was decent, situated in the northern part of the Great Lakes region. Unlike the south, this area had many relatively large islands. Mengo was built on a peninsula surrounded by these islands, and the Buganda Royal Palace stood atop a hill.

“It’s a shame I didn’t get to cross swords with Mutessa the First on the southern front,” Felix said with a hint of regret.

Leading the Buganda army on the eastern front was Mutessa the First’s son, the Buganda crown prince. Clearly, the Buganda crown prince wasn’t as brave as his old man.

He fell into a rout as soon as the fighting started. The Buganda crown prince took the lead in running away, and Felix had been chasing him all the way to the Buganda capital for the past few days.

Now, the city was deserted. The valuables in the royal palace had been taken away. The Buganda Royal Palace had a distinct Arabic architectural style, clearly influenced by the countries of North Africa.

“Report, sir! Our advance troops have encountered the forces from the south. Lord Yahlman has ordered us to pursue north,” an intelligence officer said, handing Felix an order.

“They’re here so fast! It seems Mutessa the First also suffered a defeat on the southern front. No wonder the Buganda abandoned the royal city; they must have received the news and ran. I was wondering why they didn’t regroup here and continue to resist!” Felix said.

“Lord Yahlman must have won a great victory on the southern front. That was a four-nation allied force, and the Nkore Kingdom and Buganda were fighting on their home turf. I didn’t expect them to be so easily defeated,” the staff officer said.

“Well, the Buganda aren’t ignorant natives. They frequently interact with Egyptians, and their army also has Egyptian-made weapons. It’s just that the Buganda are too poor at operating and maintaining these weapons, so they didn’t have much of an impact in battle.”

Felix continued, “This shows that the natives here, especially those closer to the north, have more contact with the Egyptians. It’s very different from the natives in the south and in the former Tanganyika.”

“It’s a pity that the Buganda are deep inland and can’t directly communicate with the civilized world. Otherwise, their level of development wouldn’t be so low. They could at least reach the level of the countries along the Indian Ocean coast,” the staff officer analyzed.

Within Buganda, there was obvious influence from countries like Egypt, and there were many mosques. Unfortunately, the surrounding civilizations were not very advanced.

The only contact they could have with Egypt was through Arab caravans, because Buganda didn’t directly border Egypt. Many nomadic tribes separated the two countries.

Especially within the Egyptian Sudan, the Sahara Desert was boundless, and the long and difficult supply lines prevented Egypt from penetrating deep into the African interior.

“Alright, let the whole army finish resting. Next, our task is to continue driving the natives to the northwest. We need to connect all the land along the Great Lakes into one piece,” Felix ordered.

Meanwhile, the Buganda royal family, who had disappeared from the front lines, had already fled northwest under the leadership of Mutessa the First.

The reserve troops that Mutessa the First had left in Kampala became his capital for re-establishing the kingdom. Mutessa the First knew that fleeing north was definitely not an option.

Although Mutessa the First had a decent relationship with the Egyptians, it was only through dealing with Arab merchants, who were responsible for getting some good things for Mutessa the First.

The Egyptians’ power was in the north, and Mutessa the First didn’t want to live under someone else’s roof. Plus, the greedy East African colony was likely to continue north, so Mutessa the First chose to go northwest.

Mutessa the First’s idea was good, but his good-for-nothing son didn’t think so. The Buganda crown prince, deeply influenced by Arab culture, hurriedly took a hundred or so people and headed towards the Egyptian Sudan after the defeat, preparing to directly seek refuge with the Egyptians.

Mutessa the First didn’t care. He had dozens of sons, so losing one wasn’t a big deal. Besides, the remaining elite forces of Buganda were in his hands.

After having his men pack up all the valuables in the royal palace, Mutessa the First headed northwest.

With money and men, he had nothing to fear, and the elite royal guards that Mutessa the First had built with firearms obtained through Arab merchants hadn’t participated in the war this time. Mutessa the First was confident that he could carve out a new world in the northwest.

This defeat didn’t crush Mutessa the First’s confidence. Instead, it made Mutessa the First feel that the East African colony was only able to defeat the allied forces because of the advantage of firearms.

Mutessa planned to increase contact with Arab merchants after going northwest, and then build a large army armed entirely with firearms.

Once his power grew, he would fight back. As for military expenses, Mutessa the First had already thought it through. He would first rob the various tribes in the northwest, and then collect more taxes after the kingdom was re-established.

…

In the following dozens of days, the East African army advanced north, driving the native forces to the northwest. Even the nomadic tribes in the north suffered.

Starting from Kampala Bay, they swept west and north, reaching the vicinity of Omorat and the northeast shore of Lake Frederick (Lake Albert), covering an area of about four to five hundred kilometers in diameter. The countries and tribes along the Great Lakes and the nomadic tribes in the north were all within the scope of the attack.

Omorat cooperated with this operation to prevent the native forces from fleeing east and to cut off their continued northward route.

If these tribes were allowed to go north, they might disturb Egypt and Abyssinia. East Africa didn’t want to directly contact the two countries at the moment, so a stable buffer zone was needed.

From the southwestern mountains of Ethiopia to the grasslands in South Sudan, a region about three hundred kilometers wide and four hundred kilometers long, East Africa planned to leave it untouched for now.

The tribes and kingdoms near the Great Lakes were driven west into the Congo and Central Africa.

After this battle, the entire Great Lake became an inland lake of the East African colony, and its nearly seventy thousand square kilometers of water were exclusively enjoyed by the East African colony.

The entire northwestern part of the Great Lakes region, more than three hundred thousand square kilometers of land, all fell into the hands of the East African colony. At the same time, the newly occupied area directly connected Lake Turkana, Lake Frederick (Lake Albert), Lake Tanganyika, and the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

In this way, several of East Africa’s major lakes were connected to the East African colony, and lakes such as the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and Lake Kivu became inland lakes of East Africa.

Chapter 140: New Product

July 12th, 1868.

The Berlin Electric Company presented its latest research achievement to the world.

Due to the advance publicity in the newspapers, this experiment attracted many people to watch.

The experiment took place in Berlin, and many dignitaries also came to join in the fun.

Because before the start of this experiment, the Berlin Electric Company advertised in the newspapers that this was an invention no less significant than the electric light.

The weather was clear on this day.

The Berlin Electric Company set up a temporary venue in the city center, reserving spaces for Berlin’s dignitaries and various newspaper reporters.

Ten o’clock in the morning.

The atmosphere was bustling with noise and excitement as many Berlin citizens came to join in the fun.

The staff removed the curtain concealing the experimental equipment.

Two semi-open pavilions, a hundred meters apart, appeared before people’s eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the launch event of our Berlin Electric Company’s latest product. This time, we will definitely bring you another shock. The Berlin Electric Company was founded in…”

The host, holding a megaphone, gave a long introduction to the Berlin Electric Company’s excellent history and the scope of its business.

“As we all know, technology is advancing day by day, and Berlin and Germany are at the center of this civilization. Therefore, this experiment will declare that Germans are once again at the forefront of the world…”

Seeing that the audience under the stage was starting to get impatient, the host quickly cut off the topic and refocused attention on the experimental activity.

“Now, please ask the staff to unveil the red cloth, and we are about to witness history.”

The staff waiting on both sides of the pavilion pulled back the cloth on the table, and a set of strangely shaped equipment appeared before people’s eyes.

“Can anyone guess what this is?” the host asked the audience.

A plant, arranged in advance, shouted from the crowd: “This thing doesn’t seem to have any connection with our lives. Who can tell what it can do from its appearance? Could it be an electric toy!”

The conversation between the two people did make the audience a little curious. What could these two strangely shaped things do?

“Since everyone is curious about the purpose of this thing, let me first reveal to you that the name of this machine is ‘telephone’. Can you guess its function from this name?” the host asked the audience.

“Telefon, a distant sound?” the plant shouted from the crowd.

“This gentleman, you can actually guess the meaning of this word, that’s amazing. It is indeed derived from ancient Greek.” The host and the plant were improvising there.

If you delve into it, the two people’s words can’t stand scrutiny at all, but this is a product launch event, and no one cares about these minor details. The company can call it whatever it likes.

“The function of this thing is very similar to that of a telegraph, but the difference is that a telegraph can only send telegrams, while a telephone can be used for long-distance calls.” The host revealed the answer.

There was an uproar at the scene!

“Do you mean to say that this thing is used for dialogue?” someone asked incredulously.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the telephone uses lines to transmit people’s voices to distant places, so it can naturally be used for mutual communication. If you don’t believe it, we can demonstrate it on the spot. Is there anyone willing to try it out in person!”

Someone in the audience raised their hand.

“This gentleman! What is your name?”

“I am Baron Arkela from Saxony.”

“Baron, would you like to try this experiment yourself?”

“Of course!” Baron Arkela said politely.

“This gentleman, please come this way!” The staff invited Baron Arkela to the front of the telephone booth.

“This is the earpiece, put it to your ear, and this below is the microphone. After we turn on the power, you can say a sentence into the microphone, and our staff there will record what you say.” The staff handed the earpiece and microphone to Baron Arkela.

Afterwards, the staff connected the telephone to the line. As the switch was pressed, the staff said to Baron Arkela: “Your Excellency Baron, you can begin.”

Baron Arkela thought for a moment and said a string of numbers: “18450214.”

The staff in the telephone booth in the distance, after hearing the numbers spoken by Baron Arkela, wrote the numbers on a drawing board and then showed the drawing board to everyone.

“Baron Arkela! Is this what you said?” the host asked from the side.

“That’s right, but I still don’t quite believe it. Can you have the person over there transmit this sentence back to me through this machine before I can believe it.” Arkela said.

“Your Excellency Baron, please hold the earpiece!” the staff said to Baron Arkela.

Arkela did as he was told.

The staff ran to the opposite telephone booth, picked up the microphone, and replied to Baron Arkela: “Hello, Your Excellency Baron, 18450214, can you hear my voice!”

“Of course, it’s unbelievable!” Baron Arkela was completely convinced.

Seeing Baron Arkela’s shocked expression, everyone wanted to try it.

“Gentlemen, you can all come and try this epoch-making invention.” The host said respectfully to the upper-class people and reporters in the audience.

The powerful and wealthy were the Berlin Electric Company’s next customers, and the reporters were responsible for publicizing the appearance of the “telephone.”

Like electric lights, in this era, only the rich could afford such luxury goods as telephones.

Of course, electric lights are much cheaper now. Although ordinary people can’t afford them, the municipalities of some large cities can still afford to purchase them.

The dignitaries and reporters who came to the scene were very interested in trying this new thing called the telephone.

Of course, the dignitaries were only in relation to ordinary people. In fact, the real top nobles had seen it a few days ago.

The Prussian and Austrian courts have already begun to install relevant system applications.

Especially Wilhelm I, at the first sight of this thing, recognized its strategic value and planned to promote a part of it in the Prussian army.

Telegraphs also have this function, but they require professional personnel to operate, while telephones only require the general to connect and then dictate instructions.

Speaking of the invention of the telephone, Ernst took a shortcut. Antonio Meucci was the actual inventor of the telephone.

Antonio Meucci was an Italian-American. From 1850 to 1862, after immigrating to the United States, Antonio Meucci made several different forms of sound transmission instruments, called “teletrofono.” However, Meucci was unable to pay the $250 patent application fee and was unable to obtain a telephone patent.

The Americans obviously did not realize the important role and value of the telephone. Antonio Meucci had already published his invention in the Italian-language newspaper in the United States, but apparently no one cared, so no company bought his patent.

Ernst, based on the information he knew from his previous life from the Italian-language newspaper, had people go to the United States to find Antonio Meucci. The result was obvious: the audience of the Italian-language newspaper was small, and Antonio Meucci also had a small reputation in the Italian community.

So, he quickly found this Antonio Meucci, and the Hechingen Consortium staff bought the telephone patent from him.

Unlike Antonio Meucci’s publication of the telephone results, the Berlin Electric Company had a significant influence in Europe because of electric lights, so the new product launch attracted the attention of the entire society as soon as it was launched.

Unfortunately, after receiving the money, Antonio Meucci refused the invitation from the Berlin Electric Company and instead planned to return to Italy with his wife to live a pastoral life.

These years, Antonio Meucci was tired. In order to study the telephone, his family’s life had been tight, so in order to compensate his wife, Antonio Meucci decided to return to Italy, return to the countryside, and no longer engage in inventions.

Chapter 141: Central Asian Bandits

The end of July saw not only the end of the war but also the end of the East African immigration wave. In over half a year, with Ernst poaching talent, the South German region was instantly emptied.

To seize the new lands acquired from the war, the Hohenzollern Consortium increased its immigration efforts. Besides using all its own ships for immigration, it also hired a large number of ships from the Nordic region.

Now that the war was over and the number of immigrants was sufficient, the immigration potential of South Germany was exhausted by Ernst in a short period. It would take some time to accumulate another wave.

Not only did the number of German immigrants drop to a low level, but also the number of immigrants from the Far East and the Austro-Hungarian Empire reached a low level due to early development.

The Far East is currently in a period of great political stability, especially after the Nian Rebellion was suppressed and order was re-established in the north.

The long-term large-scale wars in the Central Plains and North China have basically ended. Moreover, from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to the Nian Rebellion, many areas from south to north were devastated, leaving only one or two families out of ten. Now the rulers of the Qing Dynasty have to start restoring local production, which requires a large population.

In addition, the immigration conditions in East Africa have always been relatively high. Just being healthy screened out a large number of opium addicts and sick people in the countryside.

Those who are too weak have a very low chance of survival on the sea, and the immigration conditions in the Far East are certainly worse than those in Europe.

After all, if European immigrants go back to visit their relatives in the future and complain that the conditions on the ships to East Africa are too poor, it would scare off a batch of people.

As for Far Eastern immigrants, they have no right to be picky, especially those who take Dutch ships. Basically, people and goods are mixed together, and the living conditions are even worse, almost like the treatment of black slaves.

Fortunately, East Africa pays according to the survival rate, so Dutch shipowners don’t go too far.

Among the many immigrants, only those from Paraguay and the Middle East remain stable.

The Paraguayan War is still going on, and the Allied forces are getting closer and closer to victory. The staff of the Hohenzollern Consortium follow the advance of the front line, slowly spreading the business of recruiting people to the interior of Paraguay.

The immigrants from the Middle East are all women. The business of the Zanzibar merchants is getting bigger and bigger. Now they not only trade slaves with East Africa, but also take over the promotion of products from the Hohenzollern Consortium.

A large number of goods and tobacco enter the Middle East, and Zanzibar merchants only need to pay with women from the East African colonies.

This is the buying and selling of people, but the Sultanate of Zanzibar enjoys it. Now the source of Middle Eastern immigrants is not limited to Armenians within the Ottoman Empire. They have even connected with Tsarist Russia at the farthest point, and the scope of business reaches the Central Asian region of Tsarist Russia.

With the integrity of the Russian nobles, they naturally have no integrity. The products of the Hohenzollern Consortium are hard currency in Tsarist Russia.

The Russian officials in Central Asia are certainly not as good as the gentlemen in Europe. Their conditions are only slightly better than the exile area of Siberia.

Therefore, it is relatively difficult for Russian officials in Central Asia to make extra money. Now they only need to use Turkic women to exchange for goods.

This is a cost-free business for Russian officials, so the originally relatively stable Central Asia has recently been plagued by bandits who specialize in robbing wealth and women.

…

With the reduction of immigrants, Ernst conveniently invested more ocean shipping capacity in the transportation of goods. In the past few months of the war, in order to fill the gaps in the newly occupied areas as soon as possible, the Hohenzollern Consortium was over-immigrating, spending a large amount of money in an instant.

Now that the entire East African population has exceeded one million, Ernst is not in a hurry to immigrate. The number of immigrants can return to normal levels every month.

What Ernst is really concerned about now is reducing the construction costs of the colonies and realizing the production of cement, ironware, food processing, etc. in East Africa.

For a long time, modern industrial materials such as cement in East Africa have been heavily dependent on imports, and the raw materials for these industrial materials are not lacking in East Africa at all. They can be produced by themselves, and what East Africa lacks are factories and other facilities.

The first country in Europe to carry out industrialized cement production was England, in 1824, and then cement plants blossomed all over Europe.

Cement is not a high-tech product in itself. Of course, this high-tech is relative to European and American countries. Countries outside Europe and America still need to import a lot.

It is not difficult for the Hohenzollern Consortium to obtain cement production equipment (the first cement plant in Asia originated from Japan in 1871). It can be solved by simply acquiring a small cement plant in the German region.

There are so many German states, and each state has some industries, so it is very easy for Ernst to obtain some technology and factories.

No sooner said than done, the Hohenzollern Consortium soon acquired a poorly managed cement plant in Hamburg. Ernst naturally did not intend to engage in cement production in Germany. The cement industry in Germany is already very competitive, and the profits are not too high. Moreover, the Hohenzollern Consortium does not have any large-scale mineral resources in Europe to support these traditional industries.

Therefore, the Hohenzollern family started with light industry and relatively cutting-edge technology fields.

Currently, many power companies and technology research and development companies in Germany have investments from the Hohenzollern Bank behind them. These are all future cash cows of the Hohenzollern Consortium.

After acquiring the cement plant, the equipment and personnel were directly transported from the port of Hamburg to East Africa on their own ships.

Second-hand and in debt, the boss was eager to sell, so the price was very cheap, and the employees of the cement plant were directly sent to East Africa by Ernst under the guise of aid construction.

If they were allowed to stay in Germany, these workers would definitely not do it, so Ernst used high salaries and dispatch methods to send them to East Africa to guide the construction of the cement plant.

The first cement plant was located in Dar es Salaam. It was quite convenient to ship all the way from Hamburg to Dar es Salaam by sea, and it was also convenient for loading and unloading.

Next, Ernst plans to build a cement plant in several important cities in East Africa. The first batch selected are Mombasa, Dodoma, Mbeya, Kisumu, and Songea.

The cities in East Africa, to be precise, are small towns. The population is completely insufficient, and ordinary people don’t need them at all. Houses built in the traditional way are very good, at least for now.

The investment is about 50,000 pounds, which is really very little money, because East Africa does not need so much. Cement is mainly used in special road sections and cities in East Africa, so the scale of the subsequent cement plants is not even as large as that of Dar es Salaam.

…

Dar es Salaam.

The factory building of the first cement plant in East Africa is under construction. Before the machinery and equipment were sent to East Africa, the staff in Dar es Salaam received the news via telegram.

This cement plant will become the largest cement production plant in the current East African colony and will remain so for some time.

Because it is necessary to put it into production as soon as possible and meet the needs of the East African colony as much as possible, the scale cannot be small.

The next few built will also be small factories. The reason for building more is to reduce transportation costs. If the East African colony can solve the transportation problem, it doesn’t really matter whether it is built or not.

And what East Africa does not lack is manpower. When developing northern Kenya, the East African colony captured a large number of tribal people to supplement the labor force. Therefore, during the Northwest battlefield, East Africa did not capture natives in the Northwest, but drove them all out.

Chapter 142: Three Districts and One Renaming

After acquiring all the land along the Great Lakes region, these new territories needed to be divided into new administrative districts to facilitate management and data collection.

This included the northern part of Kenya, which had been in a temporary state of no administrative division.

This time, due to the expansion from the Northwest War, the land west of Lake Turkana also fell into the hands of East Africa, with Omorate Town as its center.

Previously, the East African colony had no presence on the western shore of Lake Turkana, with Lake Turkana itself serving as a natural barrier, hindering East African expansion.

Moreover, at that time, the south was separated by the Kingdom of Buganda and many tribes, making it difficult to develop West Kenya to the west.

Now that the Great Lakes coastline has fallen into the hands of the East African colony, the East African colony has taken the opportunity to incorporate the land west of Lake Turkana all the way to Lake Frederick (Lake Albert).

Since much of the climate west of Lake Turkana is similar to that of northern Kenya, being relatively arid and water-scarce, it is not suitable for agriculture.

Therefore, the arid land west of Lake Turkana and northern Kenya are regarded as the same region. In its previous life, this area also belonged to northern Kenya, except that this time, East Africa occupied this area later than the eastern part.

This area has many seasonal rivers, which can be seen as a unique feature of the area.

In addition, the only area in the entire northern East African colony suitable for large-scale agricultural cultivation is the Omo River basin on the northern shore of Lake Turkana. Ernst simply established the entire northern Kenya and the Omo River basin as the Northern District.

The capital is located in Omorate Town. Since the climate in the north is arid and many places are pastoral areas, the population will certainly not be too large, so it does not matter if the area is larger.

In this way, the largest administrative region in East Africa was born. The Northern District reached more than 300,000 square kilometers, bordering Somalia, South Sudan, and Ethiopia in its previous life.

In the first half of this year, when East Africa annexed the Omo River basin, the Abyssinian Empire was being badly beaten by the British, so the East African colony easily occupied this area.

During the colonial era, many countries did not have detailed borders, but rather spheres of influence. For example, the tribes in northern East Africa were theoretically similar to the vassals of the major North African countries.

Therefore, their suzerain has reason to protect these tribes. The Omo River basin is a collection of black tribes, some of which are subject to the Abyssinian Empire, and some are independent.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Abyssinian Empire was busy dealing with the British and could not take care of its little brothers, the East African colony took the land.

After the war between the Abyssinian Empire and Britain ended, the Abyssinian Empire is now facing a political crisis. The country is in chaos, and all parties are busy vying for the throne, so they are even less concerned about the life and death of their little brothers in the south.

After Omorate Town was established, East Africa drove all the natives in the area westward. In addition, the natives of northern Kenya were previously sent south by East Africa for development. Currently, the only pure black native forces left in northern East Africa are the natives in the Somali region.

The Sahara Desert is a racial dividing line. The area north of the desert, including the desert area, is mostly inhabited by white people, while the area south of the Sahara Desert and the southern edge of the desert is inhabited by black people.

Many black people in Somalia are influenced by Arab culture, so they are no different from Arabs in terms of living habits. This is also the reason why they can adapt to the desert climate and survive.

Other regions, such as northern Ethiopia, are mainly inhabited by white people and mixed-race people. Now that East Africa has driven out all the black people in southern Ethiopia, without the injection of fresh blood, Ethiopia will only become whiter and whiter in the future.

Because Ethiopians in their previous life considered themselves tanned white people, and East Africa will definitely eliminate the pure black forces around them in the future, Ethiopia will definitely only deal with other races besides black people in the future.

In addition, the skin color in northern Ethiopia is already light. In a few hundred years, it may become similar to the skin color of Indians.

Ernst has never considered Indians to be white people. Their natives are more inclined to be brownish-black. It was only the continuous invasion of northern white people that slowly made Indians look somewhat like white people.

This is similar to Ethiopians, but Ethiopia is closer to black people after all, so it retains more black gene characteristics.

Ernst cutting off Ethiopia’s future contact with pure black people can avoid the blackening of Northeast Africa.

Maintaining the numerical advantage of the white race in Northeast Africa ensures that northern East Africa will not be blackened in the future.

The population of the newly established Northern District is mainly concentrated in the Omo River basin in the northwest, especially during the war, a large number of immigrants entered the Omo River basin. The Omo River basin is mainly based on planting, while other parts of the Northern District are mainly based on animal husbandry development.

Generally speaking, animal husbandry can support a relatively small population, so the total number of people in the planned grazing areas in the Northern District is not very large.

The development of animal husbandry in some areas is actually forced. For example, in those areas mainly based on planting, if they are not developed, their water and grass will be more abundant, while the areas where animal husbandry is developed are generally those whose climatic environment is not suitable for the development of planting.

In addition to the newly established Northern District, near the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), Ernst followed the experience of establishing the Great Lakes District and the West Kenya District before.

Two administrative districts were established in the newly occupied areas, and their scope happened to be the area of the original Southern Four Kingdoms and Northern Four Kingdoms.

However, the area of the Southern Four Kingdoms is relatively small, so it needs to be extended slightly to the north, exactly with Lake Frederick (Lake Albert) as the boundary.

The area where the Southern Four Kingdoms are located plus the land between the southern shore of Lake Frederick (Lake Albert) is established as the West Great Lakes District, with the capital located in Bujumbura on the northern shore of Lake Soren (Lake Tanganyika).

The area of the Northern Four Kingdoms is established as the North Great Lakes District, including many lands in the northwest direction.

The capital is located in Kampala, a good harbor in the north of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

The original Great Lakes District (Mwanza) is no longer appropriate to call it by this name. Before, East Africa only had a part of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria).

In addition, this place was developed early, so it does not matter to call it the Great Lakes District. Now the entire Great Lake (Lake Victoria) has become an inland lake of East Africa.

The Great Lakes District cannot be used to specifically refer to the large area centered on Mwanza, so for the sake of distinction, the original Great Lakes District is renamed the East Great Lakes District. Except for the name, everything else remains the same.

In the future, when talking about the Great Lakes District, it is a geographical concept, referring to the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and all the land along the coast.

A total of three new districts were established this time, namely the Northern District, the North Great Lakes District, and the West Great Lakes District. The original Great Lakes District was renamed the East Great Lakes District.

Chapter 143: Slave Economy

August, Mbeya Mining Area. Indigenous people were shackled by their feet with wooden yokes, carrying hoes to clear weeds and gravel from the ground.

Because movement was inconvenient, efficiency was low, but the East African guards supervising them were not at all worried about low efficiency ruining things.

East Africa never expected these indigenous people to be highly efficient in the first place; they just set a fixed daily target and that was it.

As for failing to complete it, naturally, they would be subjected to bamboo cane beatings and reduced rations.

Anyway, the indigenous people were doing rough work, and East Africa didn’t expect them to do it perfectly. As long as the quantity was sufficient, that was enough.

Digging soil, hauling bricks, digging ditches, felling trees… these were all skills that could be picked up quickly. The indigenous people would do a rough job, and then the East African immigrants would refine it later.

Especially in the Mbeya mining area, where the population was very scarce, East Africa needed to use a large number of indigenous people to ensure coal production.

Currently, more than three thousand indigenous laborers were working in the Mbeya coal mine. Although nominally laborers, their essence was that of slaves.

In sub-Saharan Africa, there were two types of civilizations: one was primitive society, existing in the form of tribes, and the other was slave society, in the form of slave-owning kingdoms.

East Africa certainly belonged to slave society, because East Africa really had a large number of black slaves, and they were an important component of the East African colonial economy.

Before the opening of the East African colony, although East Africa also had a large number of slaves, the form of civilization was still mainly primitive tribes.

Therefore, the indigenous people of the Tanganyika region were called the various tribes of the Eastern Bantu people.

The establishment of the East African colony was equivalent to changing the overall form of civilization in East Africa from a primitive society to a slave society.

The difference between the two was that the East African indigenous tribes used slaves to trade with Arabs, or even for sacrifices and as food rations.

The East African colony, on the other hand, used slaves for production and construction, turning slaves from commodities (food) into tools of production.

And then East Africa itself was in a state of transition from a slave society to a feudal society.

The immigrants of East Africa were all upright and proper feudal people, who had not been disturbed by liberal ideas.

And the number of black slaves in East Africa was constantly decreasing. At that time, the whole of East Africa was mainly composed of feudal people, so it was said that East Africa would at least experience a brief feudal era in the future.

Of course, no matter which stage it entered, the construction of East Africa would require the indigenous people to contribute their strength, just like the plantation industry in the American South. Even in the age of capitalism, slaves were still used when needed.

Construction, especially in the tropics, required human lives to fill the gaps. The East African highlands were not bad, but other tropical regions were truly deadly.

The East African colonial government deeply understood this point. Although the coastal areas were developed earlier (including the construction of the Zanzibar Sultanate), they were really not as livable as the inland areas.

People often had to work in high temperatures, not to mention the slaves.

Mbeya was at an altitude of about one thousand seven hundred meters. The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature, so although located in the tropics, Mbeya was very cool.

Such good weather was naturally suitable for indigenous people to work in the mines, and the immigrants were not idle either. Maintaining the wooden frames supporting the mine tunnels (pit props), etc., required the immigrants to complete.

To be honest, this was not a particularly difficult job, but the indigenous people could not do it. They would be perfunctory or feign ignorance.

It was as if a small wooden frame support had become an insurmountable global problem for the African indigenous people.

In fact, these indigenous people simply lacked patience. They would rather do physical work that was both hard and tiring but without technical content, than complete work that was slightly technical.

This was not nonsense. Before they were captured by the East African colony, when they were still in a tribal state, they could weave huts from branches, carve wood into beautiful sculptures, and also sharpen weapons and make bows and arrows…

But after they fell into the hands of the East African colony, those natural skills seemed to disappear overnight, and they could only be used as animal power.

In the early days, some managing personnel in the East African colony who did not believe in fate tried to use black people to farm (at that time, they were still in the east), but the rice seedlings in the paddy fields were planted crookedly and unevenly, which made the Chinese farmers feel distressed. In the end, they were all pushed down and replanted. (When agricultural personnel from our country assisted Africa in planting peanuts, they encountered a similar situation. They taught them hand-by-hand, but the locals could not learn to bury the seeds at the same distance. In the end, the agricultural personnel from our country made a rope with markings, and the Africans could only bury the peanut seeds according to the markings on the rope.)

Agriculture was the primary industry of East Africa, and grain production was related to the economic well-being of East Africa, so the indigenous people could not be allowed to ruin things like this.

The work of the indigenous people was limited to those jobs that had no technical content and were very physically demanding.

For example, when East Africa developed fields, after burning the wasteland, the fields had to be plowed, and East Africa’s current animal power was obviously insufficient, so the indigenous people became a substitute for animal power.

The indigenous slaves of Mbeya were used as mine carts. All the raw coal from the mine had to be carried up by the indigenous slaves.

Even so, the East African colonial government was still not at ease with these indigenous people, and had to go down to the mine every once in a while to check, to prevent the indigenous people from operating in violation of regulations in the mine tunnels.

However, the transport of coal from Mbeya did not require these indigenous people. Instead, ox carts were used to haul the coal to East Africa.

Mbeya’s production capacity was actually not high, but compared to the current demand of the East African colony, it was far in excess.

Ernst stored the coal in various parts of East Africa for future needs. Only a few steam engine factories in East Africa needed coal as energy.

Although East Africa was mainly grassland, the forest area was not small, so there was no shortage of wood in various places, which could be used to meet the fuel needs of various places (cooking, etc.), so the demand for coal was not high.

However, the coal mined from Mbeya could not be wasted for nothing, so warehouses were simply built in various parts of East Africa to store it.

As for selling it to Europe, Germany possessed the Ruhr area and did not lack coal, and it would also squeeze the shipping capacity originally used for immigration, so it was completely not worth it.

Moreover, East Africa would need these coals to contribute greatly to the construction of some primary factories later. After the Mbeya coal mine was developed, the East African colony no longer imported coal mines from Germany to East Africa, which saved a lot of money.

The Mbeya coal mining mainly used indigenous slaves, and the cost was very low. It only needed to provide food.

In addition, there was basically no investment. Many tools were obtained locally, that is, some iron tools had to be imported from Europe.

In addition to the development of the Mbeya mining area, slaves were widely used in the construction and production in various parts of East Africa, but most of them were used for large-scale projects. After all, the immigrants could not be idle, and many jobs still had to be completed by the immigrants themselves.

For example, in the development of fields, indigenous people would be used as animal power at the beginning of the development, but after the fields were developed, they would be handed over to the immigrants themselves to complete all the work.

At the same time, immigrants also had to accept military service, regularly clean up wild animals in the colonial area, and participate in the expansion tasks of the colony.

Chapter 144: Trade

Dar es Salaam Port.

Slave trading market.

“These natives are now in your hands, Mr. Abluragh. Pleasure doing business with you.” A staff member handed over a batch of slaves to a Zanzibar slave trader.

“Of course, my friend, good luck to you.” Abluragh said.

He then ordered his men to put chains on these natives, and just like that, another slave convoy left East Africa.

Abluragh was a long-term partner of the East African colony; his father was a minister of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

The long line slowly moved towards the dock under the supervision of thugs.

“Livestock! Don’t look back anymore! From today onwards, you will never return! Give up that thought.”

The Zanzibaris used Swahili to psychologically attack these natives.

This was to dispel the last hope in the hearts of these slaves, a procedure in the slave trade.

Becoming a slave was not so scary for black people because they were already in a tribal era. It was normal for the natives of the African continent to conquer each other, with the losers becoming slaves.

In the tribal era, each tribe would capture people from opposing tribes and turn them into slaves, or be captured by opposing tribes and become slaves.

In other words, slaves were common in the African continent, so natives did not panic too much after becoming slaves, because their worldview was like this—the losers become slaves.

Moreover, being a slave in the East African colony was actually not bad in the eyes of some natives!

This is not an exaggeration. Under the training of the East African colony, these native slaves were actually quite satisfied. Although they were a bit tired every day, the food supply was stable every day.

And these natives knew how their tribe treated slaves in the past. Beatings and scoldings were commonplace, heavy physical labor was common, missing arms and legs were not surprising, and when the tribe was short of food…

Compared with the methods of their own tribe, the actions of the East African colony were simply like a living Buddha.

So the natives were not too afraid of becoming slaves, but they were afraid of the ships on the sea.

Because they also knew that once they boarded the big ship, they would leave this land forever, and they might never return in their lifetime!

Experienced Zanzibar slave traders naturally wanted to dispel the natives’ “homesickness”, otherwise, these native slaves would easily riot after boarding the ship.

There was no more convenient and effective way to divert the attention of these natives than beating and scolding.

The Zanzibaris’ method worked very well. The attention of these slaves was quickly diverted by the beatings and curses, and with the previous training of the East African colony, they soon became well-behaved.

“You separate the goods from these slaves, don’t let these natives ruin them, and also put them in a high place so that the goods don’t get damp! If my goods suffer a little loss, you’ll be in trouble.” Abluragh said to his subordinates.

“Yes, sir.” The subordinates said respectfully.

Now, more and more slave traders are starting to use the method of mixing people and goods, pulling slaves and goods to the Middle East for sale.

In the past two years, the situation has become increasingly tight, and the slave trade has become more and more difficult. For the Zanzibaris, those Europeans are like dogs barking up the wrong tree, sticking their noses into other people’s business.

You were the most enthusiastic about buying and selling slaves back then, but now that you’ve made a fortune, you’ve come to smash everyone’s rice bowl!

The Zanzibaris and Arabs were talking about the various countries of England and France. The now-popular anti-slavery movement has already resulted in ships being seized.

If Europeans are really so kind, Abluragh would eat shit upside down. As someone who has been mixing in the sea for many years, Abluragh knows that those who mix in the sea in this era are all living devils, and there is not a single good thing. Saints have long been thrown into the sea to feed the sharks.

These European grandsons, now that they don’t need slaves, they start pretending to be saints and playing moral kidnapping, which is really disgusting.

People who are influenced by Arab culture have the most contact with the West. The two religions have fought for thousands of years, who doesn’t understand who?

It’s just that the Arabs have declined now, and these Europeans dare to stand on their heads and shit.

The situation is stronger than people. The Arabs are indeed not good anymore. Without strength, there is naturally no confidence. But the Zanzibaris and other Arab merchants will naturally not sit still. They have also begun to transform and upgrade. Of course, giving up the cake of the slave trade is impossible.

Illegal slave ships, after some packaging, have become labor import ships, and slaves have also become legally recruited workers.

And in order to prevent Europeans from seizing them, slave traders will also reduce the number of slaves on board, so there is no problem of overcrowding, at least it is not visible from the outside.

However, in order to earn more, many merchants began to use the space originally used to transport slaves to load goods.

This was also influenced by the East African colony. The Hei Xing Gen Consortium transports goods to the Arab region, mostly along the Mediterranean line, from factories within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, through ports around the Adriatic Sea, directly to Ottoman and other countries. But some will also flow to East Africa.

These industrial products are very valuable to the Zanzibaris, and the main thing is that they don’t have to pay! East African commodities are of course priced clearly, but they can be mortgaged with women.

In addition to black people, they want all kinds, as long as they are not too old. That’s easy, anyway, the Zanzibaris don’t just run the Middle East route alone, they also go to India and Southeast Asia.

In this era, the bottom people in the colonized areas are so poor that it is truly soul-stirring. They are already being exploited by the local powerful people, and now that the colonizers have come, there is another group of vampires.

Southeast Asia is a colony that has been developed by the Dutch and Portuguese for two or three hundred years. The reason why Southeast Asia can become a high-quality colony is that there is a large local population and it was developed early. After all, there is also civilization there, unlike Africa and the Americas. Before the Europeans went there, the Indians in the Americas were still playing with stones, and Africa…

Moreover, many of the island countries in Southeast Asia, especially in the south (Indonesia), are Arab countries, so there are naturally many Arab merchants who go there for trade and commerce.

In this way, the Zanzibaris’ channels are very diverse. As long as they bribe the local nobles, they can basically pull as much as they can, anyway, there is no such thing as human rights in the colony.

Many of these nobles are agents of the European colonizers. European countries cannot do without their help in colonizing the local area, mainly to rule and suppress the lower classes, so don’t expect them to have any integrity in the face of interests.

And just right, as local snakes, they do all kinds of evil. There are not many people at the bottom of the colony who can eat their fill, and the economic conditions at the bottom are naturally very poor.

When the bottom people are about to die but still have a breath, they will feel fear, because the colonizers and local nobles can really decide life and death with a word, but no one wants to be the first to stick their neck out, because they can still “live” now.

For survival, no ethics, morals, or good qualities are as practical as a meal, so Zanzibar merchants often use one or two meals to buy people from these areas.

Anyway, what merchants earn is the price difference, and in the end, the East African colony pays the money.

Chapter 145: Tobacco Factory

While the Zanzibar merchants were taking people and goods from East Africa, the Hechingen Consortium was also working hard to save on the cost of commodity production in order to obtain greater profits.

At the same time, it was also to ensure the safe and smooth flow of raw material channels. Before the establishment of the East African colonies, the world’s tobacco cultivation was basically monopolized by those overseas colonial countries. The East African colonies just happened to solve this problem.

Of course, the Hechingen Consortium is not encountering a bottleneck problem now. The current world is one where many powers coexist, and no country can stand out.

The Hechingen Consortium can even compare prices from several suppliers when purchasing tobacco, choosing the products they are satisfied with.

Especially after the development of the East African colonies, in the past two years, the area under tobacco cultivation has become wider and wider, and the Hechingen Consortium is even less worried.

The cost of tobacco cultivation in the colonies is very low, and in the end, it only needs to be shipped back to Europe, which can be conveniently done by the returning immigrant ships.

Of course, Ernst himself doesn’t even know how many kinds of industrial products the Hechingen Consortium has now. Basically, it is involved in products that are closely related to the lives of Germans.

The raw materials required for so many products are also destined to be diverse and in huge demand.

Fortunately, the scale of industry in this era cannot be compared with Ernst’s previous life, and the consumption capacity of the people is completely incomparable, so many raw materials can be provided by Europe itself.

The coal in the Ruhr area is a classic example, providing abundant and cheap energy for the future rise of German industry. Coal is one of the important indicators of the First Industrial Revolution.

The East African colonies bear the heavy responsibility of supplying raw materials, but currently, what East Africa imports into Germany the most is not minerals, but timber and some special products.

When the immigrant ships return, they carry a large amount of wood and agricultural products, which naturally does not attract much attention.

Some of these woods are kept by the Hechingen Consortium for their own use, for making handles for razors and other utensils, or some furniture. The rest are all sold cheaply. There is no shortage of wood in Europe, so it is basically impossible to sell raw logs at a high price.

Although selling wood himself does not make much money, it saves a lot of money on buying wood. When selling, those unscrupulous merchants kept saying that this was not good and that was not good. When buying, they kept boasting and even talked about production cuts.

This is the colonial era, and the whole world is the backyard of Europe and America. And wood is basically available everywhere except deserts and ice fields. How dare they talk about production cuts?

However, when the Hechingen Consortium itself became a wood supplier, it was as embarrassing as it could be after scolding those unscrupulous merchants so harshly before. In the end, they became what they hated.

And the characteristic agricultural products of East Africa are the most profitable commodities, such as cloves, sisal, and various characteristic fruits and vegetables…

August 11, 1868.

Mbeya.

The weather is clear today, with a gentle breeze. Workers are building a new building in the city.

Under the guidance of German engineers, the construction team formed by immigrants is meticulously completing the task.

At present, East Africa already has a professional team of construction workers. They are fighting on every construction site in East Africa. Roads, bridges, and buildings for special purposes are indispensable to them. Construction workers can be regarded as the main force of the current East African workers.

The new building in Mbeya is obviously a European-style factory building. The reserved vents and chimney openings indicate that steam engine-driven equipment will be installed here.

According to the timeline, the machines should have landed by now, and within a month, they will be transported, assembled, and put into production. As long as the machines are in place, this factory will be the first industrial cigarette factory in East Africa.

When the East African colonies were first established, they had a clear goal: to provide raw materials for the Hechingen Consortium.

As the highly profitable industry in the hands of the Hechingen Consortium, the tobacco industry is naturally highly valued by Ernst. At that time, the purpose of opening up the East African colonies was to supply raw materials to the Hechingen Tobacco Company.

When the first town was opened up in the East African colonies, the colony tried to grow tobacco, and later gradually expanded inland.

Many places in the East African colonies are suitable for tobacco cultivation, especially around those lakes, among which the shores of Lake Malawi are important producing areas.

Mbeya is the capital of the Upper Lake Malawi region, and the northern part of Lake Malawi is under the jurisdiction of Mbeya, so Mbeya is very close to the tobacco growing areas.

Compared with harvesting and processing tobacco and then pulling it back to Germany for processing and sales, it is definitely cheaper to process the products locally in East Africa in one step and then sell them abroad.

The transportation price of tobacco and finished cigarettes is there. For the same weight of tobacco, its volume far exceeds the finished product. The more you pull, the more you lose. For merchants, earning less is a loss.

And Mbeya, as one of the tobacco growing areas, has abundant raw materials, and at the same time, coal resources are abundant, which can provide a steady stream of power for factory production.

And it is very simple to transport the finished products out. Cigarettes are originally highly profitable products, and the weight of a carload is only that little, which is not enough to see. You must know that Mbeya is going to transport coal to all parts of the East African colonies, so transportation is not a problem at all.

Moreover, after cigarettes are produced locally in East Africa, they can be directly supplied to local immigrants in East Africa, squeezing out their meager wages again.

At the same time, it can directly supply Zanzibar and Arab merchants, taking the opportunity to increase the development of the market around the Indian Ocean and make the name of Hechingen Tobacco famous.

Opening up the market around the Indian Ocean, and even the Southeast Asian market, is an irresistible temptation for any merchant.

In the colonies, labor is much cheaper than in Germany, and with self-sufficiency in raw materials, there is basically no cost.

The Hechingen tobacco factory in Germany will continue to purchase tobacco from tobacco merchants in other countries. It is easy to be beaten by the crowd if you eat alone, so it is better to be cautious.

Moreover, the East African colonies have been developed for too short a time, and can only be said to be full of potential. It is unrealistic to want to satisfy the tobacco supply of Germany and Europe all at once.

Therefore, considering all factors, it is impossible to ruin the relationship with some partners, especially now that the Germans’ presence on the ocean is completely equal to zero.

Even the Hechingen Consortium itself is the largest maritime trader in Germany. The Prussian Navy can only bounce around in the Baltic Sea, and the Austro-Hungarian Navy is only active in the Mediterranean region.

Apart from the above two regions, the four oceans are all in the hands of countries such as Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. The merchant ships in Ernst’s hands cannot compete with them.

Not to mention these maritime powers, even some countries in the Arab region have relatively strong maritime power in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the East African colonies must continue to keep a low profile.

Chapter 146: Agricultural Research Institute

August 19, 1868.

In Berlin, the Hechingen Consortium reached an agreement with several German research or academic institutions.

The Hechingen Consortium would provide funding and experimental land to build a research institute in East Africa dedicated to studying local East African agricultural crops and tropical plants—the East African Agricultural Research Institute.

“Professor Anton Perutz, a pleasure doing business with you!” Ernst raised his glass to Anton Perutz.

Anton Perutz drained his glass and said, “All for Germany!”

As a tropical agriculture expert in the German region, Anton Perutz’s life could be described as extremely unsatisfactory before accepting the invitation from the Hechingen Consortium.

While his colleagues from other countries were traveling around the world, possessing their own experimental fields and ample funding, Anton Perutz could only conduct his scientific research in a small laboratory in Germany.

Germany relied entirely on imports for tropical crops, and the local nobles were only interested in increasing grain production on their own land.

Germany was originally a temperate climate, so naturally all research funds and talents were inclined towards studying crops suitable for local growth.

No German nobles were interested in tropical crop research, let alone investing in a project that was destined to be unprofitable.

Germany’s research on tropical crops was basically zero compared to other disciplines, which was the worst situation for Anton Perutz.

However, the emergence of the East African colony changed this situation. Now, the Germans also had a vast colony in the tropics.

Moreover, the agricultural conditions of this colony were quite good, so in order not to waste the talent of this land, it was necessary to pay attention to local agricultural research.

The purpose of establishing the East African Agricultural Research Institute was to develop East Africa’s agricultural talent as much as possible.

Although the climatic conditions in East Africa were not unique, the Brazilian Highlands and other areas at the same latitude were similar to East Africa.

But after all, every place has its own characteristics, and these need to be discovered slowly.

Previously, East African colonial agriculture was based on borrowing, directly importing mature planting techniques and plans from all over the world, or directly hiring experts in related fields.

The work of the East African Agricultural Research Institute mainly included breeding, crop disease prevention and control, and increasing grain yield per unit area.

To support the work of Anton Perutz and others, the Hechingen Consortium provided eight experimental sites, covering an area of more than three hundred acres.

Experimental sites were established from the coastal plains to the inland plateaus, from the arid desert fringes of the north to the humid areas of the south, and along the shores of the three great lakes of East Africa.

“Professor Anton Perutz, please feel free to conduct research in East Africa. We will do our best to meet all the needs of your team. Our company will often take care of the lives of your family members,” Ernst said to Anton Perutz.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your contribution to the German agricultural cause.” Anton Perutz did not dare to be presumptuous in front of the financial backer, especially a top noble financial backer.

“You’re welcome. This is what I should do. Due to the impact of division, Germany has lost many interests around the world, allowing other countries to grow stronger overseas. Now that Germany is getting closer and closer to unification, it will definitely expand its own interests overseas in the future.

Therefore, what you and I are doing is just laying the groundwork and preparing for the future expansion of the German nation overseas. When the time comes, Anton Perutz, your research results will definitely become famous,” Ernst said, drawing a grand picture.

But Anton Perutz took it seriously. In recent years, German nationalism had awakened, accompanied by the rapid rise of Prussia and the rapid development of industry in the German region.

The confidence of the German people was also growing stronger. Now, all that was needed was an opportunity for Germany to soar into the sky, and that opportunity was naturally the Franco-Prussian War.

Like many Germans, Anton Perutz firmly believed that Germany was one of the greatest nations, so he firmly believed in what Ernst said about Germany opening up its own interests overseas in the future.

“Your Highness, the German people will not forget the great achievements of the pioneers. I am just a small agricultural expert, and compared with the cause you are pursuing, it is not worth mentioning,” Anton Perutz flattered.

“There is no distinction between noble and humble in careers. In my eyes, what you are doing is contributing to the entire world. Let’s work hard together, work hard together!” Ernst praised generously, and toasted Anton Perutz with a glass.

At the banquet, everyone was satisfied.

A few days later, the Port of Hamburg.

“Mr. Anton Perutz, hello!”

“You are?”

“I am the East African staff member who will be receiving you. You can call me Daniel Zhang. This time, I will help you have a pleasant journey at sea. If you need anything, you can tell me.”

“Hello, Zhang, thank you for your company’s support for our cause,” Anton Perutz said politely.

“This is what we should do, sir. Please follow me. We have already reserved rooms for you on the ship.” Daniel Zhang said, picking up Anton Perutz’s luggage and leading the way.

Soon, the group arrived on the “Merry,” a large ocean-going ship built by the Hamburg Hechingen Shipyard itself.

“Daniel Zhang, I see that there are many Germans on this ship. Are they also going to the East African colony?”

“Yes, sir. These are immigrants who are going to develop in East Africa. Now, East Africa is an important choice for many Germans. There are already nearly two million Germans in East Africa,” Daniel Zhang introduced.

“I see! But two million Germans, there can’t be that many in the East African colony!” Anton Perutz questioned.

Even in Germany itself, there were only a few countries with a German population of over one million. Anton Perutz naturally did not believe that an unknown colony had a German population of millions.

“Mr. Anton Perutz, it’s like this. East Africa does not recognize the existence of other ethnic groups. All residents living in East Africa must learn German culture. Everyone who sincerely converts to German culture is automatically classified as German,” Daniel Zhang said.

“So that’s how it is! Then you are?”

“Yes, I am a German. I studied and graduated from the Hechingen Military Academy.”

Anton Perutz had no idea which school the Hechingen Military Academy was, but he knew Hechingen.

Looking at the yellow-skinned German in front of him, Anton Perutz felt a strange feeling, but Anton Perutz did not say anything.

Isn’t this assimilation! Cultural figures like Anton Perutz and other German upper-class people were the main force in promoting German nationalism.

For Anton Perutz, everything German was the best. Although the policies of the East African colony were somewhat strange, making Anton Perutz, a genuine German cultural person, feel a little uncomfortable, it was acceptable if the core of assimilation was based on his own national culture.

For example, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ethnic integration was not impossible, but the problem was that both Austria and Hungary wanted to use their own culture as the core to integrate other ethnic groups, which naturally could not be achieved.

East Africa had always been centered on Germany, and education and other aspects were in German. Those who were assimilated were also more willing, so naturally there would be no worries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

One important reason was that there were very few intellectuals like Anton Perutz in the East African immigrant community.

If you were to bring a group of people with a little culture from the Far East, they would definitely engage in secret collusion, even if they didn’t say it out loud, just like those families with cultural traditions in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, the East African colony also introduced a large number of illiterate people in order to reduce assimilation costs. The thinking of those who had received non-German education had already been shaped, and it might not be possible to change them even if you tried.

Chapter 147: Rubber Planting

One month later, once Professor Anton Perutz’s people arrived in East Africa, the East African Agricultural Research Institute could begin operations.

August 15, 1868.

Lake Victoria Region (Uganda).

Having just finished working the fields, the immigrants immediately began the great undertaking of planting trees.

This time, they were planting rubber tree seedlings imported from Brazil. Under the guidance of Brazilian agricultural experts, the immigrants planted the rubber tree seedlings according to the proper procedures.

“These seedlings shouldn’t be planted too close together. You need to ensure the plots have good ventilation and sunlight, as well as convenient access, so they can be better managed and harvested in the future,” Albert Werger, the (pseudo) Brazilian agricultural expert, said to the colony’s agricultural workers.

Albert Werger was just an ordinary rubber farmer in Brazil, with relatively rich planting experience.

“Drainage work must be done well, especially in areas with very gentle slopes. But the slopes shouldn’t be too steep either, just a slight incline is enough.”

“Mr. Albert Werger, will the temperature affect the growth of rubber trees?” an East African immigrant asked.

“No, no, that’s not something you should be concerned about. As long as it’s a tropical climate, the temperature will basically meet the growth needs of rubber trees. Of course, if the altitude is too high, it definitely won’t work. When the temperature drops below five degrees, the rubber trees may be damaged by frost, but I’ve lived in Brazil for many years and haven’t seen such low temperatures,” Albert Werger said.

“You newcomers probably don’t know, East Africa doesn’t have spring, summer, autumn, or winter. The temperature is pretty much the same all year round. It’s just divided into rainy and dry seasons based on rainfall,” an old immigrant said to the new immigrants on the side.

“That’s right, that’s why we’re planting rubber here. The rainfall here is the most balanced and stable, so we’re planting on a large scale here instead of other places,” Albert Werger said.

Rubber trees like warm and humid conditions. Temperature isn’t a problem in East Africa, but humidity is harder to control. The annual rainfall in rubber tree growing areas must be no less than 1200mm, while East Africa has a tropical savanna climate, and the rainfall isn’t very stable, fluctuating between 600mm and 1100mm. However, the Great Lakes region is one of the few rainy areas. The Great Lakes’ nearly 70,000 square kilometers of water area directly affects local rainfall.

“Mr. Albert Werger, what are rubber trees used for?” an immigrant asked.

Albert Werger shook his head and said, “I don’t know exactly how they’re used. In the past, I was only responsible for planting and harvesting, and then merchants would buy them. All I know is that the harvested semi-finished product is a gelatinous substance that hardens over time.”

Albert Werger was telling the truth. The rubber he planted was bought by Europeans, and the Europeans processed the rubber across the ocean. Albert Werger didn’t need to know what rubber was used for; he only needed to know that planting it could be exchanged for money.

The purpose of planting rubber in East Africa is self-evident. No one knows the strategic value of rubber better than Ernst, and the future industries of the Hechingen Consortium are destined to be inextricably linked to rubber, so it’s necessary to plan ahead.

The growth cycle of rubber is relatively long, taking at least six or seven years to generate value, so the sooner it’s planted, the sooner it can be harvested.

This year, start with a ten-thousand-mu rubber plantation, and then slowly increase it every year. Having a lot of land is a sign of extravagance.

In fact, the rubber planting conditions in East Africa are far inferior to those in West Africa, where the tropical rainforest climate is a paradise for rubber growth.

However, planting rubber in East Africa is still promising, as long as you put in more effort and ensure soil moisture, sunlight, and other precautions.

The reason for the urgency to promote rubber planting along the Great Lakes region is that the Great Lakes region is the most suitable place for rubber planting.

If it’s not planted now, it will be more time-consuming and laborious to change later. All the conditions in the Great Lakes region meet the requirements for rubber planting, especially the rainfall, which is only slightly worse than the tropical rainforest climate, but significantly better than the tropical savanna climate. The dense tropical rainforest near the Great Lakes is evidence of this.

“Don’t worry about what this thing is used for, as long as it doesn’t affect our livelihood. What these things are grown for isn’t something you and I should worry about.”

“That’s true.”

“Mr. Albert Werger, you just said that this thing needs to be harvested. How exactly is this tree harvested? Is it cut down directly when it’s mature?”

Albert Werger was speechless when he heard this. These Germans really hadn’t seen the world. They didn’t even know how rubber trees were tapped.

“No, no, everyone, I think you’ve misunderstood. Rubber trees aren’t like ordinary trees.”

“Could it be that this thing bears fruit like fruit trees, and then we pick the fruit?”

Albert Werger suppressed his laughter and explained, “Everyone, please let me finish. The harvesting of this rubber is like drawing blood from a person. You have to make a cut on it and let it bleed out the sap. We’ll fix the collection container in advance, so that after it’s full, we can collect a portion of rubber.”

“Ah! This sounds so scary.”

“It’s not scary at all. I’m just using blood as a metaphor. It’s actually the sap of the tree, and the sap of the rubber tree is white, not at all like blood. I was just trying to vividly illustrate the scene of collecting rubber,” Albert Werger didn’t want to listen to these guys’ wild guesses and nonsense.

“I see,” everyone suddenly understood.

Albert Werger continued, “And you don’t have to worry about harvesting at all. It will take at least six or seven years for these seedlings to grow up. You won’t have the opportunity to come into contact with them before then. In six or seven years, there will probably be new people to teach you how to collect rubber.”

…

Albert Werger wasn’t just someone who could be found and used as an expert.

In addition to basic rubber planting experience, speaking German was the reason why East Africa hired him to guide rubber planting in East Africa.

Otherwise, communication would be a big problem, especially since many immigrants near the Great Lakes were new immigrants who had arrived in East Africa in the past few months.

There were quite a few Germans among them, so they could chat with Albert Werger very well. Of course, the East African colony also mobilized a group of old immigrants to help the new immigrants adapt to their new lives in East Africa.

German teachers are also being prepared as quickly as possible, and East African-style compulsory education in the three newly built districts will begin soon.

Fortunately, the new immigrants, even families, didn’t bring many children with them, because the sea was dangerous, and families with children wouldn’t dare to gamble.

Therefore, education in the newly occupied areas will start with adult education, especially for the Chinese, Serbians… They need to develop their oral communication skills first.

Chapter 148: Education for Immigrants

Evening. The immigrants who had finished dinner arrived at the temporary school.

The sound of reading aloud came from the school.

“Danke!” (Thank you!)

“Danke!”

“Auf Wiedersehen!” (Goodbye!)

“Auf Wiedersehen!”

…

The makeshift school was packed with people “diligently” learning German.

“When you are helped by others, to express gratitude, you say ‘Danke.’ Now, follow me,” Lovos Rhein said to the students.

“Danke!”

“Dahn-keh!”

Apart from the German and some Austro-Hungarian immigrants, the rest basically didn’t know any German.

Now they were being forced to attend classes in a crowded classroom.

These students were divided into different classes according to their different languages. Even many illiterate old farmers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire became teachers.

They were mainly responsible for the immigrants from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire who only spoke local dialects.

Don’t have too high hopes for the learning ability of these immigrants. The East African colony only teaches some simple words and phrases to meet their initial life in the colony.

Anyway, the only common language for everyone in East Africa is German. Even without German instruction, some people will be able to become self-taught.

This situation is not uncommon, especially in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In areas where two different languages intersect, many people know both languages, but if you ask them to pick up a pen and write down what they say, they don’t even recognize the words.

And the adult education in the East African colony mainly focuses on spoken language and does not require them to learn to write.

Many German immigrants are like this, only able to speak but not write, mainly because the immigrants are too old, making it unrealistic for them to study like elementary school students.

The method of adult education is also very simple, using things that everyone recognizes to learn repeatedly.

For example, this is rice. Now everyone follows me to read the pronunciation of rice.

Grammar, vocabulary… sorry, there simply isn’t any.

As long as you learn some simple spoken language, others can probably guess what you mean.

After the language class is the common sense class.

This requires everyone to study together.

Every batch of new immigrants must receive common sense education.

The East African colony is, after all, a special place. It is very different from where the immigrants lived before.

“In Africa, there are no four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, so agricultural planting is not arranged according to the experience of the Old World.

There are two rainy seasons here, which are affected by the monsoon. It is relatively hot all year round, and the lowest temperature will not be lower than 10 degrees,” Lovos Rhein introduced to the students.

At this time, Lovos Rhein was the professional. Difficult courses like geography and astronomy can naturally only be taught by professional teachers, and those temporary illiterate teachers also became students and began to attend classes.

“In East Africa, the most important thing is to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Our government’s data tells us that the number one cause of death in East Africa is disease, and the spread of disease is through mosquitoes and unhygienic behavior.

So everyone must do a good job in mosquito control, and at the same time pay attention to hygiene, do not defecate anywhere, but should go to the toilet, and wash your hands before meals, do not drink raw water, and do not eat wild food…” Lovos Rhein instilled in these immigrants one by one the things to pay attention to in living and working in the colony.

“Teacher, you have said so much, how can we remember it? And there are so many rules and regulations, isn’t it making a mountain out of a molehill!” Some European students questioned.

“Hmph, do you think I want to waste my breath here telling you these things? Presumably, you have heard some things about overseas colonies before coming to East Africa, and I’m afraid there are not many good things, terrifying examples of various diseases and deaths.

For example, Africa, in our European words, is called the cursed continent, and in Eastern words, it is full of ‘miasma,’ which kills countless people and has piles of white bones.

Maybe you haven’t seen the real horror when you came to East Africa, why is that? Isn’t it because the measures promulgated by the government guarantee your safety.

You probably don’t understand what I’m saying, so I’ll use the Black Death and the plague as examples. The power of these two diseases in Europe and the Far East is about the same as the power of some common diseases in the colonies.

In the beginning, many Native Americans couldn’t stand the European diseases brought by the Europeans, so they died of widespread disease. By the same token, Africa, as a breeding ground for diseases, also has many diseases that you can’t resist, so you must strengthen prevention.”

“Mr. Lovos Rhein, you said that we can’t resist, then aren’t we wasting our efforts in vain?” Someone said.

“I’m saying that you can’t resist after getting sick. According to the current medical level, many diseases are incurable, and you have to rely on your own immunity to survive.

Of course, the East African colony does seem very safe now, but don’t think I’m joking. Your current safety is based on things that some of you resist.

For example, some people may have never taken a bath in their lives before coming to East Africa, but now they have to take a mandatory bath and wash their clothes every day.

Diseases are most afraid of cleanliness, so you often heard about plagues in the city in the past, especially during the Black Death era, when sewage flowed in the streets and the stench was overwhelming, which were all breeding grounds for diseases.

And the most prevalent tropical disease, malaria, our East African government has discovered, is a disease spread by mosquito bites, so we require you to pay attention to relevant prevention work…”

The common sense class is basically a life guide launched by the East African government after the immigrants arrive in East Africa.

It covers all aspects of the East African colony, including natural conditions, laws and regulations, and various life experiences.

It is used to help immigrants better integrate into the East African colony, and at the same time, it is also to transform the immigrants’ thinking through this form.

Admittedly, many immigrants have not received education and may not have enough knowledge, but lack of knowledge cannot lead to crooked ways, otherwise, it is ignorance.

For example, many people are superstitious, but you can’t let superstition affect East Africa’s policies.

Otherwise, I tell you to be clean and hygienic, but you turn around and worship all kinds of gods, and don’t believe that your own efforts can avoid disease, which is incorrigible.

The East African colonial government will never tolerate it. No gods work in East Africa. The only religious interpretation right here is in the hands of the government.

As for the bad habits you brought from various places, it is impossible to find soil for development in East Africa.

The East African colony cannot withstand any setbacks now. There is no benevolent governance, and it is even stricter than the rule of Prussia.

The difference is that Prussia is surrounded by strong enemies and is nervous, while East Africa has no enemies for the time being, and has even been bullying the surrounding natives all these years, lacking that sense of urgency.

Chapter Still Under Review…

This chapter probably has a problem with the title. Actually, I didn’t write anything forbidden. Everyone, please wait and see tomorrow!

I don’t know when the review will pass. The editor is not working today, Sunday.

Chapter 149: Throne

The education in the East African colonies had a popular science aspect. Through the dissemination of this knowledge, the outbreak of local diseases in East Africa was greatly reduced, while improving the health and survival rate of immigrants.

Currently, the East African colonies are performing much better in disease prevention and control than those South American colonies that have been developed for hundreds of years.

It’s just that the East African colonies are newly built, so they look relatively poor and not very wealthy.

This is especially reflected in the ugliness and roughness of the architectural appearance, especially the earlier developed buildings in East Africa. This is because there are no templates to refer to, so there is naturally no beauty to speak of. In addition, the clothing is also very monotonous and uniform, but these are all external.

In fact, East Africa’s investment in other aspects far exceeds that of contemporary colonies, or independent countries at the same latitude, mainly in education, health, and infrastructure construction.

For example, roads and other infrastructure, although the quality is not high, the East African colonial government is seriously repairing them, first solving the problem of whether they exist or not. Few other countries at the same latitude have this, or rather, they don’t have the opportunity.

The word “colony” literally means a place for colonizers to parasitize, especially in the current era, where Western countries are simply draining the colonies of their blood.

But East Africa is being built by Ernst as a country, so the treatment is naturally different. Excessively exploiting East Africa’s potential is a waste.

Moreover, East Africa currently has no strong enemies on all sides and can develop with peace of mind. No one has noticed this small place in the corner.

People’s needs are nothing more than the four most important things: clothing, food, housing, and transportation. The current priority for East Africans is to solve the problems of transportation and food, and efforts are being made in these two areas.

As for clothing and housing, they can make do for now. Anyway, the weather in East Africa, even at its lowest, will not be lower than ten degrees Celsius, so there is nothing to worry about.

As for the food problem, East Africa is currently a colony specializing in agricultural development, and it is sparsely populated. Immigrants in terms of diet far exceed the world average, so it is not too urgent.

The problem of transportation is the biggest problem in East Africa, so infrastructure construction requires building more roads, digging more canals, and raising more livestock as transportation capacity.

Only by solving the problem of transportation can European materials and equipment be transferred to East Africa, and East Africa’s grain can be sold. So this is a two-way economic problem.

Hundreds of thousands of indigenous laborers are fighting on the front lines of road construction in East Africa, adding bricks and tiles to East Africa’s transportation construction. Road construction is not simply building a road, but also doing a good job of road drainage in East Africa.

Therefore, drainage ditches must be dug next to the roads, and the scale cannot be small, but must be sufficient to cope with the heavy rains of the East African rainy season to prevent the roads from being washed away by the rain.

In the absence of professional machinery, a large number of natives can only be used to complete these tasks.

East Africa is not only building roads, but also a water network. Rainwater in the rainy season gathers in these canals, instead of spreading directly on the grasslands as in the past.

Actively introducing rainwater into rivers, lakes, and low-lying areas is equivalent to seizing a piece of land with the potential to become arable land in the plains where rainwater used to flood during the rainy season.

Rainfall distribution in East Africa is not concentrated, and these ditches can also help the East African colonial government act as a water diversion network in the future.

And collecting rainwater can also improve the local environment, especially during the dry season.

Now it is not realistic to build reservoirs in East Africa, but many natural depressions and lakes can be used. While building roads, East Africa also introduces rainwater from various places into depressions and lakes through ditches beside the roads.

Some temporary wild reservoirs have been formed, so that much rainwater will not flow into the Indian Ocean in vain along the terrain.

……

Berlin.

Hohenzollern Estate.

“Ernst!” Prince Constantine suddenly got up from his deck chair and shouted to his son excitedly.

Constantine held the edge of the chair with one hand and asked with a newspaper in the other, “Have you seen today’s newspaper?”

Ernst calmly held his teacup, added some hot water, took a small sip at his mouth, and then said, “Of course, Father, it’s just a small matter.”

“Good heavens, you are so calm. This kind of thing is still a small matter? This is an event that affects the European order.” Constantine said.

He continued, “It’s really unexpected, the world is changing faster and faster now.”

Ernst comforted him, “As long as the European order doesn’t affect our interests, let it change freely!”

“That’s true, but it’s not without influence. Now the Spanish queen has fled to France, and the Spanish monarchists will inevitably choose a monarch from the European royal families.” Constantine said meaningfully.

“Father, the situation in Spain is very bad, especially in the future, it will continue to decline at a visible rate. There is no unified voice in the country, and local autonomy is also very strong.” Ernst said rationally.

Constantine was still a little unwilling: “But what if it succeeds!”

Ernst only said one sentence: “The French!”

Constantine understood instantly.

“It seems that I am impatient!”

“In fact, anyone who has such a big opportunity in front of them is likely to resist the temptation, Father, but we don’t want to be the first to stick our necks out, and there is no need to take such a big risk.” Ernst comforted him.

“After all, Spain is also one of the major powers today, who wouldn’t be envious!” Constantine sighed. As for the risk, the temptation of the monarch’s throne did not make people feel difficult to deal with.

“The interests of our Hohenzollerns are in Germany, in East Africa, and nowhere in Spain. Maximilian I is still staying in East Africa! This is a lesson from the past, so we must take it as a warning.” Ernst said.

“Indeed, with the current complex situation in Spain, even someone like me who has been in politics for a long time may not be a match for those old guys, especially now that they still have force in their hands.” Constantine said.

“These are nothing, the main thing is that Spain is too old, many things cannot be changed, and there is no investment value at all.” Ernst said.

“The situation in East Africa is much better than in Spain now. The land area is second only to Tsarist Russia in Europe, and it is not that kind of bad land. The population will soon be close to two million this year, and the comprehensive resources far exceed a large number of European countries.” Speaking of these, Ernst felt a sense of accomplishment.

The most important thing is that the East African colony is new enough, and all the orders and rules are customized by himself. With the current situation of the East African colony, Ernst can call himself an emperor without any problem.

But if you really go to Spain, it won’t be so easy. There are all old foxes and powerful factions there. To be honest, the Habsburgs have stronger power there than the Hohenzollern family.

At the end of September, 1868, the Spanish military government overthrew the rule of Isabella II, and the Queen finally fled to France, leaving the Spanish throne temporarily vacant.

As in history, the Spanish first targeted the Hohenzollern family, of course, Prussian Prime Minister Bismarck played a major role in this.

After Bismarck used his money magic, the Spanish government shamelessly chose the Hohenzollern family.

The Hohenzollern royal family naturally did not show any interest in this matter. After Constantine and his son communicated, they both made it clear that Hohenzollern currently had no interest in Spain.

Then the baton of history returned to Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family next door.

From a personal point of view, Leopold was actually not very willing to wade into the muddy waters of Spain, but now it involves the interests of the family and the kingdom, so Leopold hesitated. However, soon, the French will help Leopold make a decision.

Chapter 150: Investment and Instigation

The shifting political landscape in Europe had little immediate impact on the steady development of the East African colonies. Leopold’s troubles would require a considerable amount of haggling between Prussia and France, so there would be no resolution this year.

However, Ernst knew that the Spanish throne was nothing but a pipe dream for Leopold. Of course, this was for the best, as Amadeo I, from Italy’s House of Savoy, would later prove that the throne was a hot potato.

Amadeo I nearly replicated the fate of Charles I (of Great Britain) and Louis XVI of France, but Amadeo I was more flexible. Upon arriving in Madrid, he realized he was incapable of solving Spain’s problems.

In 1873, Amadeo I voluntarily abdicated, returning to Italy with a light heart and resuming his title as Duke Amedeo of Aosta.

The Spanish throne looked good, but only looked good. Behind it lay not only the various factions within Spain, but also the inevitable interference of the great powers.

However, history proved that a republic could not save Spain. Even after two world wars, after much meandering, Spain eventually returned to a monarchy.

Therefore, the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was not idle. While others were focused on the situation in Spain, members of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen had already gone to Paris to cultivate relations with the future King of Spain, Alfonso XII.

Adding flowers to a brocade is never as touching as providing charcoal in the snow, especially for Alfonso XII, who was now implicated by his mother, the former Queen of Spain (Isabella II).

Of course, the mother and son were very close. Alfonso XII simply hated the rebels in Spain.

In fact, the reformist general Juan Prim had launched a failed military coup in 1866, but he succeeded in 1868 when he tried again.

October 16, 1868.

Paris.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, on behalf of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, I express my sympathy for your situation. Our Prince and His Highness have said that rebels will never come to a good end.” Tom represented the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Paris to express the House’s attitude to the mother and daughter.

The former Queen of Spain said, “Thank you for your country’s support. Alfonso and I, on behalf of the House of Bourbon and the Spanish people, will not forget your country’s friendship.”

Although she was referred to as the former Queen, Isabella II had not actually given up her claim, which laid the legal foundation for Alfonso XII’s restoration later on. All that remained was for Spanish loyalists to regroup and welcome the prince back home to be crowned.

“This is a small token of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen’s esteem. Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as a country is no longer worthy of the name, and can only offer a small gift. We hope that the Queen and the Prince will not disdain it.” As he spoke, Tom presented a box.

Isabella II knew very well that the box contained money or something similar. She instructed the butler to accept it and then said, “Alfonso, you must remember who our true friends are during these times, and who are the ones kicking us when we’re down, do you understand?”

“Yes, Mother, the House of Bourbon will not forget those who are true friends,” the still-youthful Alfonso XII said.

The mother and son were not exactly destitute. After all, the House of Bourbon still had considerable value. As one of the three major forces of the French Royalists, its political status in Europe still carried weight.

However, having temporarily lost control of Spain, it was inevitable that some who had previously fawned over them would scatter and even defect to the enemy camp.

The fact that the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a small German principality that had not had close ties with the Spanish royal family in the past, had come to express their condolences touched the mother and son.

“The people of Spain are only temporarily deceived. If the Americans hadn’t been weakening Spain’s power overseas, Spain would never have fallen to this state.

After all, we all know that Spain’s economic problems are caused by the loss of overseas interests, and those rebels are actually a bunch of troublemakers who can’t bully the Americans, so they can only make up for it at home.” Tom did not forget the Prince’s instructions and began to poison the well for the future Spanish royal family.

“Well said. In recent years, the Americans have been jumping up and down all over the Americas, eyeing Spain’s overseas territories covetously. This is the root cause of Spain’s economic ruin,” Isabella II said with a look of agreement.

As a ruler, Isabella II lacked self-awareness, but since someone was helping her find an excuse to absolve herself of responsibility, she naturally took the opportunity to attribute all the causes and blame to the Americans.

The United States did not need to cry injustice: Cuba, the Philippines, Argentina, Mexico… In his previous life, these colonies of Spain…

On October 10, 1868, under the leadership of some white elites, the Yara uprising broke out in Cuba. At this time, Cuba was a multi-racial area, with blacks, whites, and even some Chinese. The source of funding for the rebels was self-evident.

Although this uprising was not successful, it preserved the spark for Cuba’s later independence. The mother and son, Isabella II, who had lost the Spanish throne, were of course unaware of this news. Now that they had lost their base camp, who would care about an overseas island? Even if it was Spain’s most valuable colony.

Ernst certainly did not mind letting the mother and son learn more about international affairs and broaden their horizons.

Tom said, “Just a few days ago, an uprising broke out in Cuba. The rebels chose a good time. The rebellion in Spain had barely subsided when they plotted Cuban independence. It’s hard not to think that the two sides are related. After all, it’s been less than two weeks since the Spanish rebellion. Cuba never causes trouble at any other time, but they chose this time. The person behind it is truly…”

“Hmph! A bunch of clowns! So their goal is to destroy Spain. I knew they were up to no good. I didn’t expect them to collude with Spain’s enemies (the United States).” Isabella II said through gritted teeth.

The young Alfonso was even more indignant. Good, now the evidence was conclusive. The rebels’ financial backer was definitely related to the Americans.

Conspiracy theories are indeed the easiest to believe, and the mother and son did not need evidence at all, just suspicion. And the United States was undoubtedly the most suspicious of all countries.

In addition to the conflict of interest between the two countries, the United States, as a republic, was highly suspect.

If the United States inherited the mantle of world hegemony from Great Britain in his previous life, then the United States became a great power by standing on the corpses of Spain’s vast colonies.

Although Spain’s own governance problems were significant, the United States’ stirring the pot and playing petty tricks was even more disgusting.

Moreover, since Napoleon III’s restoration in France, the United States had become the main base of reactionary (republican) forces in the eyes of European monarchs.

Anti-government organizations from various countries could be found in the United States. For example, Antonio Meucci, the holder of the telephone patent purchased by the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen consortium, was one of these people. Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the three heroes of Italian unification, had lived in Antonio Meucci’s home in the United States for three years.

Not to mention distant examples, Ernst’s father-in-law, Maximilian I, was one of the victims. After all, everyone knew who was behind the Mexican rebels.

Back then, the Mexican Republicans had been driven into the mountains by Napoleon III, and the United States, having just ended the Civil War, began to provide various forms of support to the Mexican rebels until Maximilian I was overthrown.

Chapter 151: In France

Before this trip to Paris, Tom had done his homework and practiced for a long time.

In reality, Tom’s rhetoric was quite clumsy, and it would definitely be ineffective against those old foxes.

However, Tom’s purpose for this trip was still Alfonso XII, and communication between adults could still boost these vigorous young people.

As for Isabella II, she had just arrived in Paris from Spain with Alfonso, and it was impossible for her not to feel apprehensive. It was just that in Paris, she didn’t have to worry about being pushed onto the guillotine by the angry Spanish people.

Anyway, the United States was currently in a state of being disliked by everyone in Europe. Each country was sure to blame the Americans for some fabricated things.

……

While Tom was on his way to Paris, Ernst was not idle himself, and was currently in Marseille, France, inspecting the development of enterprises.

Although Ernst was also in France, it was completely unnecessary for Ernst himself to talk to the Spanish royal family.

Sending a representative was already quite conspicuous in the governments of various countries. Apart from France and Spanish exiles, there were hardly any decent forces. At this time, caring about the fate of the Spanish royal family, let alone providing support, was rare.

Although the money from Hechingen wasn’t much, it was definitely unique. More people wanted to get a share from Isabella II, after all, Isabella II was an extravagant person and took a lot of good things from the Spanish Royal Palace when she fled.

Coupled with the Bourbon family’s influence in France, many people could wave the banner of restoring the country and receive a salary under the mother and son’s banner.

After all, Isabella II herself declared to the outside world that she was still the Queen of Spain. To this end, she even tried to contact her political enemy, the Carlist faction, and was even willing to give them financial assistance. Although she was rejected by the Carlists, it showed that Isabella II still had considerable funds in her hands.

As the second largest city in France after Paris, Marseille was extremely prosperous in commerce. The Hechingen Consortium also established a French branch here to manage its business in France.

In the Hechingen Consortium’s business market, Germany and Austria-Hungary were equally important, both in the top tier, while the French market and Eastern Europe were in the second tier.

Although Eastern Europe had a large population, its purchasing power was not as good as that of France today, and the French were more likely to enjoy themselves, so France was an important customer of the Hechingen Consortium.

The French market was connected to the Hechingen Consortium’s factories in Austria-Hungary. Relying on the convenience of the Mediterranean route, the factories in Austria-Hungary were mainly responsible for the business west of Trieste in the entire Mediterranean.

The factories in the German region mainly expanded into Eastern Europe, that is, the Russian market.

As for the Ottoman and Middle East markets, Ernst was currently trying to expand business to the Middle East with East Africa as the center.

Of course, East Africa was not up to the conditions yet, especially the Ottoman and North African businesses around the Mediterranean were still undertaken by factories in Austria-Hungary.

Marseille was indeed a good city among European cities, especially in this era, a proper international metropolis. Napoleon III even had a palace built here.

Ernst arrived in Marseille by boat from Austria-Hungary, and disembarked at the port of Marseille with a large group of bodyguards and staff.

This trip to France, Marseille was just the starting point. Ernst was trying to re-establish contact between the Hechingen royal family and those former Hechingen royal family members in France.

Finally, he would end this trip in Paris and transfer by rail back to Hechingen.

“Your Highness, the hotel for today has been arranged. You must be tired from the journey. I wonder if you would like to rest first today?” Carlisle, the head of the Hechingen Consortium in Marseille, said respectfully.

“Well, no need, let’s go to the company first and check the business situation of the French branch this year. I’m very energetic now,” Ernst said.

“Okay, Your Highness, but please wait a moment. You brought quite a few people this time, so our carriages were not arranged properly, please forgive us!” Carlisle said.

“Of course, no problem, you go and prepare!” Ernst said.

This was normal. Ernst brought as many as seventy or eighty bodyguards, as well as a bunch of professionals, and he hadn’t made it clear to the staff in Marseille in advance.

To be honest, with so many people gathered together, those who didn’t know would think that some important person was visiting Marseille.

Ernst, with his large family and business, didn’t dare to mess around. He wasn’t indestructible and unafraid of assassination and other acts.

Although Hechingen had no enemies on the surface, Ernst would not leave his fate in the hands of “maybe.”

Ernst’s bodyguard team was definitely first-class in the whole of Europe. Taking this trip as an example, there were ten members of the Hechingen Royal Guard on the surface, all of whom were regular military personnel with live ammunition. This had already been communicated with the French government.

This was the benefit of being a German prince. Although Hechingen had completely become a part of Prussia, the treatment of those European monarchs was not lacking. As long as the Hechingen royal family could pay the salary, the palace guard could naturally be retained.

Outside the palace guard was a security team in suits and leather shoes. These were non-official security personnel, and they were the largest in number, consisting of fifty or sixty people.

Their uniforms were all custom-made, and when they stood there, they looked more like elite people of this era. These were the ones who guarded Ernst on the surface.

The remaining security personnel were a dozen plainclothes, mainly responsible for observing whether there were any suspicious people and dangers around, and investigating the existence of dangers in advance.

Their range of activities was relatively large, and the area within a hundred meters was their area of activity. Moreover, in order to hide in the crowd, they specially dressed up as French people and foreign tourists this time.

……

Soon, the motorcade arrived at the Hechingen Consortium branch in Marseille. Ernst’s team of professionals began to check accounts, performance, and so on.

Basically, there were no major problems, and minor discrepancies could be accounted for. Ernst was very satisfied with the effect of this surprise inspection.

“Carlisle, you have done a very good job, and you must continue to work hard, as well as everyone present, you must not slack off in your work.

France is an important market for our consortium, and we must remember the service tenet that customers are our bread and butter. Only when customers are satisfied can our products and businesses better expand the market. The Hechingen Consortium is based on quality, so that more people in the market recognize the reliability of our products and businesses.”

Now the German region has not yet been unified, and the supervision of commodity production is not in place, coupled with the fact that Germany is an out-and-out counterfeit country, the reputation of industrial products is only slightly stronger than that of the United States.

Therefore, when doing business, the Hechingen Consortium is not keen on being associated with Germany, that is, in the fields of electricity and energy power, this kind of high-end industry, the strength is there, it does not matter to hang the logo of German products, anyway, professionals know which company’s products are the best to buy.

For ordinary commodities, the Hechingen Consortium mainly focuses on differentiation, especially launching commodities that meet the national conditions of various countries.

Cooperating with commercial outlets to increase the world’s impression of Hechingen’s products and brands.

Of course, fake goods are unavoidable. Many small workshops in Europe can replicate trademarks and launch them on the market the next day.

At this time, the Hechingen Consortium’s commercial outlets came into play. The Hechingen Consortium cannot determine whether the products you buy from other places are fake, but the Hechingen’s commercial outlets are officially certified, and the goods are directly shipped from the factories under the Hechingen Consortium, seamlessly connected.

Products purchased from Hechingen’s commercial outlets will also be equipped with codes for anti-counterfeiting.

There are basically no fake goods in the commercial outlets certified by the Hechingen Consortium. In order to prevent some outlets from using inferior goods to impersonate good ones and privately pocket the profits, the Hechingen Consortium also thoughtfully provides customers with reporting services. If the evidence is conclusive, customers can also get a huge reward.

Therefore, basically no负责人dare to engage in petty actions in the commercial outlets under Hechingen.

As long as the goods are purchased through formal channels, the Hechingen Consortium will also provide follow-up services, so Hechingen’s products have a good reputation in the market.

The consequence of doing this is that, in order to protect consumer rights, Hechingen’s commercial outlets are spreading relatively slowly, and many stores need to invest themselves, but Hechingen is doing long-term business after all, so it does not matter to spend more effort.

Moreover, now the Hechingen Consortium’s product coverage is very wide, and there are many exclusive products that can be provided, and at the same time, it can also sell some other companies’ products part-time.

To put it bluntly, it is a supermarket. Of course, Hechingen’s supermarkets only exist in slightly larger cities in Europe, and many places do not yet exist.

Ernst fully borrowed from his previous life’s experience, so that the current Hechingen commercial outlets have become a model where customers can directly interact with the goods, reduce intermediate links, and finally pay at the counter.

In order to enhance consumers’ shopping interest, Ernst does not mind putting other companies’ products on the shelves, as long as they meet the Hechingen Consortium’s standards.

These commercial outlets do not have a unified brand throughout Europe, that is, they are named according to the national conditions of various countries. For example, the name used by Hechingen Supermarket in France is Seine Department Store.

The French public, who do not know the inside story, think that these supermarkets are opened by Parisians. Anyway, Paris is the capital of France, so the products from Paris should not be too bad, just go in and buy them.

Of course, Germany and Austria-Hungary are exceptions. These two regions use Hechingen’s real name to name them. In Ernst’s eyes, Germany and Austria-Hungary are one.

The larger the city and the better the economy, the larger the scale of Hechingen’s supermarkets, the more goods they provide, and the more services they offer. With the help of the Hechingen Consortium’s unique supply channels, these supermarkets have been able to develop and grow in Europe.

You can see these supermarkets all over Europe. After all, Seine Supermarket is not necessarily only available in France, but also in Germany and Russia. Anyway, the public who do not know the truth think it is a French brand, and the romantic capital itself has a brand effect.

Now the Hechingen Consortium has begun to land in the British market, and a batch of supermarkets will soon appear there.

Chapter 152: Restoring Contact

Ernst was generally satisfied with the work of the Marseille branch of the Hechingen Consortium, giving it at least an eight out of ten.

However, rewards and punishments were clearly defined. After praising and rewarding some outstanding employees, he still made adjustments to some of the shortcomings here.

Apart from the company’s business situation, there was nothing in Marseille that Ernst particularly wanted to see.

After a brief tour of some of Marseille’s unique sights the next day, Ernst and his party left.

Traveling north along the railway, Ernst first arrived in Lyon, the textile city of France, and then transferred from there to Paris.

October 18, 1868.

Paris, France.

In this era, it was completely impossible to find a city in Europe that could compare with Paris in terms of scale and quality, at least that was Ernst’s personal opinion.

The black chimneys and black water rivers of London, England at the same time were suffocating.

Vienna and Berlin, although the environment was still good, were not outstanding in scale.

Saint Petersburg showed a sense of depression and repression everywhere.

Napoleon III carried out a large-scale renovation and reconstruction of the old city of Paris, making the city full of vitality while also showing artistic value.

Of course, the citizens of Paris at this time were not interested in this new city. The French criticized this new city, roughly meaning that it destroyed the unique flavor of the original old Paris.

Ernst appreciated Paris more from the perspective of his previous life, and naturally could not understand the thinking of these people.

Of course, this did not prevent the citizens of Paris at this era from hating this new city, and there were many elites among the critics, including writers and artists.

Finally, forced by public opinion, Napoleon III’s designer Haussmann resigned to quell the incident, but the transformation of Paris continued.

Later, Paris also built the Eiffel Tower, which was hated and complained about by the citizens of Paris at that time.

The transformation of Paris by the Napoleon III government basically laid the foundation for the urban form of Paris in later generations, with more green plants on both sides of the new streets, and city parks everywhere.

Ernst’s motorcade slowly drove on the streets of Paris, through the crowds, towards the area where the rich and nobles of Paris lived.

…

A manor in Paris.

Under the guidance of his entourage, Ernst arrived at a reception room.

“Oh, I didn’t expect little Constantine’s son to be so big!” An old French man with white hair sat on the sofa and said, looking at the visitors.

This was a former comrade-in-arms of Ernst’s grandfather, the (fictional) French Count Jakob Medina.

“Jaime Medina, come and meet him. This is the grandson of my old friend. I really didn’t expect that after so many years, that little guy Constantine has such a young son. He must be in his sixties or seventies now!” Jakob Medina said to his son.

Jakob Medina’s son was estimated to be in his sixties or seventies this year, and was of the same generation as Prince Constantine.

“Hello, I am Baron Jaime Medina, welcome to Paris.” Jaime Medina said politely to Ernst.

“Baron Jaime Medina, it’s a pleasure to meet you, and best wishes for good health to the old Count.” Ernst said to the father and son.

“Today, the little ones in the family are not here, otherwise I would have let you meet them.” Jakob Medina said.

The little ones referred to Jakob Medina’s three grandsons.

Jakob Medina’s family was obviously more prosperous than the Hechingen royal family. He himself had several brothers, and he had two sons and three grandsons.

“It’s a pity that the commander settled in Bavaria and never came back. Otherwise, we old-timers might have been able to get together. Now only this old guy is left.” Jakob Medina sighed.

The commander Jakob Medina was talking about was Ernst’s maternal grandfather, the former Eugène de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s stepson and adjutant. However, after Napoleon’s restoration, Eugène de Beauharnais did not return to France to support Napoleon, but stayed in Bavaria according to the advice of his father-in-law, the King of Bavaria at the time.

“Back then, your grandfather and I fought together under the commander. Later, although we served different masters, our friendship is unforgettable. At that time, the swords and shadows…” The old Jakob Medina recalled the past in a low and slow tone.

Ernst and Jaime Medina listened quietly as Jakob Medina recounted his experiences when he was young.

“What are you mainly doing in Paris this time? Little Ernst.” After recalling the past, Jakob Medina began to inquire about the purpose of Ernst’s trip.

Ernst respectfully said: “Your Excellency, Count, this time I am here according to my father’s instructions to visit my father’s and grandfather’s old friends. There is no other purpose.”

Jakob Medina nodded: “It’s rare! There are still people who remember us old guys. When you go back, you must say hello to your father for me.”

“I’d be happy to.” Ernst said.

“We old guys are afraid that our days are numbered, so you young people still need to interact more, have more friends, and have more paths, especially the exchanges between nobles…” Jakob Medina said to the young people.

…

Ernst stayed in Paris for three days, visiting all of the Hechingen royal family’s former partners. Because of their age, many people were no longer around.

However, the Hechingen royal family still re-established its relationship network in France. In the future, as long as the two sides communicate more, they can at least provide mutual support in public opinion.

In addition, Ernst also visited other great nobles in Paris, including various factions, and did not even let go of the Bonaparte family.

As for the past between the Hechingen royal family and the Bonaparte family, it is nothing in European history. For the sake of interests, enemies can also become friends.

And the Hechingen royal family and the Bonaparte family obviously have not reached the point of being enemies. It is just that Constantine has been old and rarely goes abroad in recent years, so the contact with these forces has decreased.

Like the neighboring Sigmaringen and the Prussian royal family, they still communicate frequently. For example, Carol I was able to serve as the Emperor of Romania, thanks to the operation of Napoleon III behind the scenes.

But history has proven that this investment was a failure. Carol I eventually sided with his own family and stood on the side of Prussia.

Where there is cooperation, there is stabbing in the back, just like the current dispute between the two sides over Leopold and the Spanish throne.

Therefore, in the noble world, one should not be happy with external gains or sad with personal losses, and everything is based on realistic interests.

And Ernst came to Paris, not necessarily to get the support of these people, the most important thing is to reconstruct the contact network. Intelligence is an important trading chip for exchanges between nobles. As local snakes, the information they have can better allow the Hechingen royal family to avoid risks.

Chapter 153: Delivering Wine

“The total is fifty-seven people, so let’s calculate it based on sixty,” Mikhail bargained with the merchant.

“That won’t do. You can’t round down like that, old brother. You have a big business and a large family fortune left by your ancestors. Why make things difficult for a small-time worker like me?” Giovanni, an employee of the Moscow Labor Company, said to Mikhail.

“Brother, these years have been hard for me too! Since the reforms, my land hasn’t increased, and I have to pay more in labor costs. I thought about buying some machines to save on costs, but the prices are simply too high. I haven’t even recouped my investment in those machines yet!” Mikhail complained.

After hearing Mikhail’s words, Giovanni seemed to make a big decision and said, “Brother, I can’t bear to see you suffer losses.

I know your character. You’re a well-known honest man around Moscow. But business is business, and I can’t let the company lose money.

Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll personally sponsor you with a bottle of Romantic Paris brand red wine, along with two bottles of Wrangler Vodka. Then, the price, we’ll calculate it as we agreed beforehand. I’ll take a slight loss, but our friendship is naturally priceless.

Besides, we’re not doing a one-time deal, brother. You know we’ve been doing business for more than just a day or two. I’m always the first to notify you when there are benefits.

Next time, when you receive the ‘goods,’ just send them here. Our company’s demand has been very high these past two years. In my opinion, we can do this business for at least another ten years. Just accumulate more, and little by little, I can’t guarantee anything else, but you can definitely earn some money for cigarettes and alcohol.”

With that, Giovanni took out a very high-end-looking box from the carriage and reluctantly gave it to Mikhail, along with two bottles of Wrangler Vodka tied with rope, from who knows where.

Mikhail opened the box, and what caught his eye was a bottle of exquisitely packaged red wine. As a rough and tumble guy, Mikhail directly took the opener from the box, opened the red wine, and took a sip from the bottle.

Then, he thoughtfully pursed his lips and said, “This wine tastes pretty good, but it’s not strong enough. I still prefer Wrangler.”

Giovanni quickly leaned forward and said, “Brother, this is wine, naturally different from vodka. Nowadays, gentlemen in the city are particular about style when drinking. Using this wine to entertain some friends will definitely give you face.

Look at the name, Romantic Paris. You can tell it’s imported from France just by hearing it. Look at the introduction on it, all in French. The meaning is:

I’ve heard people say that Romantic Paris is where the ancient Roman Emperor Caesar, when conquering Gaul, was thirsty near a place called Lover’s Spring near Paris, and then drank from this spring, feeling it was very clear and sweet.

Later, a winemaker from Rome heard about this and traveled all the way from Rome to this place to make wine with the water from this spring. It is said that the wine brewed with this spring has a fragrance that lingers for three days after opening.

Because this wine was born near Paris and uses water from Lover’s Spring, it has the name Romantic Paris.”

Mikhail asked in confusion, “Since this wine has such a great origin, why haven’t I heard of it before?”

Giovanni said, “Although the story of this wine is quite old and has a long history, it was discontinued due to war and other reasons. Plus, Lover’s Spring eventually dried up, so it disappeared into history along with Rome.

It was only a little over ten years ago that an Italian merchant discovered this record and the wine’s approximate recipe while sorting out his ancestors’ manuscripts.

A French winemaker heard about it, bought the recipe from the merchant, and then specifically recreated this wine in Paris.”

“If Lover’s Spring has disappeared, then the taste of this wine will be different, right?” Mikhail said.

Giovanni had been waiting for this question, and he said, “Brother, you don’t know this, but even if the water from Lover’s Spring is good, it’s still Paris water, so the water quality hasn’t changed in essence.

Moreover, this wine has been verified by authoritative masters and won a gold medal at the Second European Winemaking Conference.

Look, it’s engraved on the box lid! This wine won the gold medal at the European Winemaking Conference in 1867.

The venue was in Hechingen, Germany. It is said that this wine emerged from many old brands to win the gold medal.

Twenty-four wine tasting masters unanimously gave it good reviews. Can the taste be bad?”

It was basically clear at this point that this wine was a brand created through marketing, and it was definitely inseparable from Ernst.

The so-called Lover’s Spring, Italian merchant, and French winemaker were all fictitious.

Moreover, Romantic Paris was not even produced in Paris. The raw material origin and factory were all in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was just a change of trademark and marketing everywhere.

In order to sell the wine, the Hechingen Consortium frantically created more than thirty trademarks, each trademark concocting a romantic history or story, and none of them could be verified, all coming from a certain merchant or historical data of unknown origin.

And the so-called European Winemaking Conference was also created by the Hechingen Consortium itself. Basically, every wine produced by their own company was awarded a prize, and the other manufacturers invited were treated the same way, focusing on participation!

Of course, in this era of relatively closed information, no one can distinguish the truth from falsehood. Mikhail was confused by a set of combo moves.

Mikhail believed it and began to inquire about the information of this wine. He said to Giovanni, “Brother, where is this wine sold, and what is the price?”

Giovanni said, “You can basically buy it in stores in Moscow and other cities, but if you want to avoid buying fake goods, go to the Gorligan store, which is officially certified.

The bottle I gave you is just a mid-range price, worth six rubles. I heard that the high-quality ones cost twelve rubles, and there are also collector’s editions, which are not something ordinary people can get their hands on. I heard there are only two thousand bottles in all of Russia.”

“That’s so expensive!” Mikhail was a little surprised after hearing this.

“Brother, it’s cheap enough. Compared to those famous wines, the price of Romantic Paris is not expensive, and Romantic Paris has history, taste, and culture. Using this wine to entertain guests will definitely give you face,” Giovanni said.

“That’s not necessary. Usually, no big shots come to my house. They’re not cultured people, so it’s enough to treat them with Wrangler. I can buy some Romantic Paris for myself to drink later,” Mikhail said stingily.

“Wrangler is also good. At least the taste is considered very good among vodkas,” Giovanni said smoothly.

“That’s right, vodka is the symbol of Russia. It’s enough to be kind to them by treating them with Wrangler,” Mikhail said.

In fact, Wrangler Vodka was also a product of the Hechingen Consortium, specially supplied to the Tsarist Russian market to expand the civilian market in Tsarist Russia. It has gained a good reputation in Tsarist Russia for its high strength, purity, and low price.

Moreover, the name Wrangler Vodka made many Russians think that this was their own Russian brand.

Isn’t a Wrangler a Cossack? Vodka goes without saying. The Cossacks, as the Tsar’s cavalry, certainly fit the characteristics of Wrangler Vodka’s high strength.

Chapter 154: Shipping the “Goods”

“Alright, you can take the people now!” Mikhail waved his hand at Giovanni.

“Okay, brother, be sure to contact me first next time you have any goods,” Giovanni shouted from the carriage.

The goods Giovanni was transporting were peasants bankrupted after the Russian Empire’s reforms. Although Alexander II’s reforms had granted freedom to the serfs.

However, the local nobles would never engage in unprofitable ventures. They used various means to squeeze the freed peasants as much as possible.

For example, regarding land, as part of the compromise with the feudal conservative forces, the ownership of land by landlords and nobles naturally had to be prioritized, and compensation had to be given.

The land allotments obtained by the freed serfs (for which they had to pay redemption dues) were determined by area according to the region. The noble landlords “skimmed the cream,” keeping the fertile land and large amounts of forests and grasslands for themselves, and distributing the most barren land to the serfs.

Even so, the Russian Empire was vast and rich in resources. In terms of area alone, the land obtained by the Russian serfs was still considerable, but much of this land was worthless.

For example, in the northern part of the Russian Empire, there was a large expanse of icy and snowy land where crops were difficult to grow. The sandy grasslands of southern Central Asia and other areas of poor land were also distributed to the serfs. In the end, the land that the serfs redeemed at three times the market price was all worthless land such as deserts, high-altitude areas, and saline-alkali land.

In addition to being small in area (compared to the landlords’ land) and of poor quality, when dividing the land, the landlords and nobles deliberately dispersed the peasants’ land, causing their fields to be fragmented and far apart, many of which had no development value.

At the same time, after liberation, the serfs lost the right to use corresponding means of production, such as cattle and horses, and agricultural tools were all taken back by the landlords.

As a result, many serfs, although they obtained land after liberation, found it difficult to develop this land, and they also bore a heavy debt.

However, the government had to ensure that finances continued to be maintained, and continued to levy heavy taxes on the freed serfs. Many serfs lived worse lives after liberation than before.

Of course, the reforms were not without effect. At least they cultivated a group of wealthy peasants, but more peasants still embarked on the road to bankruptcy, and land was re-annexed. In addition, the birth rate in the Russian Empire was quite good, and people always had to go out and make a living. Many peasants were forced to go to the city to work, or return to the local landlords and nobles to farm.

With so much surplus population, the Hechingen Consortium naturally coveted it. Now that the immigration from Germany and other places had entered a stable stage, these surplus laborers from the Russian Empire could be used to fill the gap.

What Ernst was most satisfied with was that the price of female labor in the Russian Empire was much lower than that of men. To harmonize the population structure of East Africa, it was natural to encourage different immigrants to intermarry.

East Africa has been committed to increasing the proportion of mixed-race families, and the effect is currently very good. In addition to allowing Chinese immigrants to marry white women bought over, white men will also marry women from Southeast Asia.

Of course, this is aimed at those populations that East Africa obtains through abnormal means, after all, East Africa exchanges them for real money or slaves.

As for whether both parties are willing, in any case, in arranged marriages, neither party has a choice, only the East African government has the right to decide.

The Russian Empire immigrants are low-human-rights immigrants, bought by East Africa with money, so their status in East Africa is only higher than that of immigrants from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The Hechingen Consortium, through monetary transactions, contacted the powerful local forces in the Russian Empire, and introduced laborers from the local area at a price of 25 rubles per man and 17 rubles per woman.

The Russian Empire is not just Russia; it includes Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Belarus, Central Asia, the Caucasus region, Finland…

Therefore, there are many channels to obtain population from the Russian Empire, as long as the money is in place, there is no problem.

Of course, the Hechingen Consortium did not introduce Slavs to East Africa on a large scale, but controlled it within a certain range.

The most taboo thing when buying things is to be impatient, as it easily allows the seller to overcharge. Therefore, the Hechingen Consortium plans to purchase immigrants on a small scale, so that the Hechingen Consortium can have more autonomy in terms of price and save costs.

At the same time, the Hechingen Consortium staff in the Russian Empire can also have more energy to select high-quality immigrants.

It is best to have the kind of old Russian serf family background with three generations of impeccable credentials, who certainly have no culture, just a lot of strength, and know nothing else, making them effortless to assimilate.

……

Saint Petersburg.

This is the transit port for Russian Empire immigrants heading to East Africa in the entire Russian region.

In other regions of Eastern Europe, it mainly passes through other ports, such as Poland under Russian rule, which has its own ports.

Giovanni came to Saint Petersburg to ship the laborers he had purchased.

“Giovanni, you’ve brought the most people this time, teach your brothers the secret!” Maxim asked.

Giovanni said nothing, just held up three fingers. Maxim immediately understood. This was their rule, but he still looked embarrassed and said, “Brother, three meals is too much, two meals at most.”

“This is my experience of making a living, three meals is cheap enough! No, go find someone else,” Giovanni said.

“Alright! But you can’t cheat me!”

There was no way, Maxim could only agree to Giovanni’s request.

Giovanni was not stingy and began to impart his experience: “If you want to find ‘sources of goods’, you have to go to the countryside more often, don’t always stay in the office, communicate more with the local nobles and landlords, and if you have a good relationship with them, you naturally won’t have to worry about not being able to get people.

Don’t just look for people in the city. There are now many unemployed peasants who want to go to the city to find work. If they have already entered the city, then they must have their own channels, nothing more than relatives and friends. Moreover, people who can actively enter the city must be more flexible and not so easy to deceive.

So trying to fool people in the city is definitely unreliable, but it’s different in the countryside. Those nobles and landlords are all more eloquent than us when facing those villagers.

And many villagers are in debt, and their fate is in the hands of the local nobles and landlords. And some, rural people can give birth! Several sons in a family, unable to make a living, always have to go out and make a living.

At this time, when we go to the countryside, we can basically get a lot of people with 100% certainty. Of course, there are also disadvantages. Dealing with local nobles and landlords will definitely cost more money, but it saves trouble…”

Giovanni was not afraid that Maxim would learn these experiences, because the two were responsible for different regions and did not constitute competition.

Giovanni was responsible for business near Moscow, while Maxim was active near Saint Petersburg. In addition to the two of them, there were also people in Poland, Ukraine, the Caucasus…

Chapter 155: Special Treatment for Russian Immigrants

“Alright, based on your sharing everything you know, I won’t treat you unfairly, brother. I happen to know a St. Petersburg restaurant that has excellent food. We’ll go there today. As for the remaining two meals, we’ll get together again next time I’m in St. Petersburg.” Maxim readily agreed to the arrangement.

After finishing their work, the two men left the dock to eat, while the Russian immigrants on the ship waited anxiously for their unknown fate.

As black smoke billowed from the steam funnels, the ship left the St. Petersburg dock. The immigrant instructors had already taken their positions; this could be considered special treatment for the Russian immigrants.

“From today onwards, you are no longer Slavs. Forget your religion and ethnicity. I think you all know that you were sold as goods by your lords.

So, from today on, you must forget everything about Russia. Otherwise, you won’t have a good life in the colony. Only by becoming one of us can you receive fair treatment.” Achtermann lectured loudly.

Achtermann was also Russian, but he was a so-called “Volga German,” meaning his ancestors had moved to Russia from Germany during the time of Catherine the Great.

By hiring these Germans living in Russia, the Hechingen Consortium could save the trouble of finding translators.

These Germans living in Russia had been attracted by Russian policies and had retained their faith and culture, so many of them were bilingual.

They had all benefited from Empress Catherine the Great. In Catherine’s view, German farmers were more hardworking and better organized than Russians. Therefore, Catherine offered generous terms to encourage German families to immigrate to Russia and engage in agricultural development.

Coincidentally, Ernst thought the same way, so he was using the same approach in East Africa. The difference was that Catherine only brought German immigrants to Russia.

While Ernst brought in German and other immigrants, he also had to clear out the local natives.

After all, Russian serfs were called “gray livestock,” which was much stronger than the natives of East Africa. For serfs, “gray livestock” was an insulting term, but for the rulers, it was a wonderful term, representing a large amount of cheap and high-quality labor.

Originally, Alexander II’s emancipation of the serfs was intended to change the status quo of Russian society, but he probably never imagined that a sly fox like Ernst would target the labor force he had freed.

Logically, Ernst should have prioritized the Volga Germans within Russia, after all, that was over one hundred thousand pure Germans.

However, East Africa held no attraction for these Russian Germans. Influenced by Catherine’s policies, these Germans were doing quite well in Russia, especially before, enjoying many privileges, which had only been gradually stripped away in recent years.

It’s quite funny, Germans are principled and refuse bribes, so many high-ranking positions in the Russian judicial system were held by people of German descent at that time.

“Don’t be unconvinced! You are nothing more than the private property of your lords. Without Emperor Alexander II, you would still be serfs. You have no place in Russian society. You are just talking tools.” Achtermann continued to instill ideas into these serfs.

First, he praised Alexander II. Monarchs, of course, cannot make mistakes, they are always benevolent, loving, and holy. After all, someone like Ernst would never undermine himself.

Next was to find a reason to make these Russian serfs stop thinking of themselves as people. You think you are Russian? No, you are not even human, so don’t think about the Russian way of things. Subtly separate their identity from Russia.

After all, Russian culture is quite good, especially in the areas of religion and customs, which retain distinctive features and are completely different from Europe.

For immigrants with their own culture, the East African colony must completely erase their national characteristics, otherwise, it will be a disaster later on. Especially since Russia currently has a decent position in the world, just like those poor people in the slums of Great Britain, even though I am poor, I have a powerful homeland.

In this sense, East Africa should also thank the Qing government. Those Chinese immigrants retained very few of their national characteristics, of course, various superstitions aside. Apart from that, the only knowledge that Chinese farmers possessed was “don’t fight with officials” and “the protruding nail gets hammered down,” this kind of philosophy of life.

This stuff simply cannot compete with European religion and culture. Wisdom for survival cannot be considered culture. This stuff exists all over the world, even some relatively intelligent animals have it.

Moreover, the poor in this era were never the disseminators of culture. Only nobles and wealthy people paid attention to this aspect.

The uniqueness of Russian immigrants compared to Chinese immigrants lies in the fact that their lives are influenced by the Orthodox Church in every aspect, so Ernst treats Russian immigrants differently.

Achtermann, holding a pointer, stepped forward and pointed to the shrinking St. Petersburg and said to these immigrants, “See that? That is Russia, but from today onwards, it has nothing to do with you anymore. You will never come back in your life.

So, give up your illusions. You, including your descendants, will never have any connection with Russia. Abandon everything about Russia, language, clothing, and even the Orthodox Church.”

Achtermann was still hoping that someone would stand up and resist him, so he could set an example, but obviously, no one dared to refute him.

Perhaps what Achtermann said made some sense. Having been reduced to being sold by their lords, they must not have been doing well in Russia.

Immigrants of this era, apart from those free individuals who actively went to America to escape religion and autocracy, who else had the right to have so many wild thoughts?

When they boarded Giovanni’s carriages, these immigrants had some guesses about their fate.

Now, Achtermann’s education was completely insignificant to these Russian immigrants. Some people were prepared to continue living as serfs who were beaten and scolded. As a result, they were given a lecture about great principles, which confused the Russian immigrants themselves.

However, the Russian immigrants still roughly understood what Achtermann meant. Wasn’t it just separating from Russia? Agreed, they couldn’t ask for more.

Of course, regarding religion, some immigrants did have objections in their hearts, but circumstances were stronger than people. Change it then, God will forgive them.

Anyway, having left the church, the right to interpret religion returned to their own hands. At this time, there were no priests and pastors to restrain them with precepts.

In fact, most people have their own understanding of religion, especially this group of serfs who have not received education and have not been exposed to books.

Once they leave the church, their understanding of religious knowledge is only that God exists, a few famous gods, and basically nothing else.

Chapter 156: Burning (Content May Cause Discomfort)

Bang… bang… bang…

Northern Kenya, gunfire erupted everywhere.

Falling to the gunshots were the wild animals of Africa. To make way for pasture, the wildebeest, lions, warthogs, hyenas, leopards, zebras… of the African savanna all suffered. The East African colony first set a massive fire, directly igniting the grasslands.

The animals were driven in all directions by the fire. The unlucky ones who couldn’t escape were buried in the flames, and others lay half-dead on the scorched earth, groaning in pain.

In areas that the fire couldn’t reach, the East African immigrants had to take matters into their own hands.

Currently, life for East African immigrants in East Africa can be summarized as farming, fighting, and setting fires, all of which have become commonplace.

Farming is naturally the top priority in East Africa; that’s easy to understand.

Fighting is to secure land. East Africa frequently clashes with indigenous forces, so it would be strange if the East African colony wasn’t at war.

Setting fires is rather peculiar. Land reclamation requires fire, establishing settlements requires fire, and eliminating the animals’ habitat also requires fire.

Nothing is more time-saving and labor-saving than setting a fire on the African savanna during the dry season. The whole of East Africa presents a primitive and wild beauty of slash-and-burn agriculture.

The opening up of the East African colony can be said to be at odds with both the black people and the wildlife. Whether human or animal, as long as they are native to East Africa, they can be eliminated without reason.

Ernst wanted to emphasize that he had no prejudice against the natives; it was purely a conflict of interests.

The masters of the land of Africa are not the black people, but these herds of wild animals, evenly distributed throughout the region south of the Sahara Desert.

Except for the tropical rainforests, which are truly forbidden zones for humans, no one knows what lurks inside.

The African savanna is mostly populated by familiar faces, typically lion prides, wildebeest herds, elephant herds, zebra herds, hyena packs, wild dog packs, warthog groups…

The entire African savanna, with its more than eight million square kilometers of land, from West Africa to East Africa and all the way to South Africa, is basically home to these creatures.

Ernst didn’t feel any heartache killing them, because they simply couldn’t be killed off completely, let alone driven to extinction.

Ernst didn’t really have any reverence for species extinction. In his previous life, he had seen news of countless species going extinct, and the Earth still kept spinning.

Moreover, Ernst wasn’t denying these animals a way to survive. They could only blame themselves for being born in the wrong place.

The East African colony’s policy was that wherever immigrants arrived, they would completely destroy everything in the area.

East Africa is currently sparsely populated, and immigrants are all choosing to live in good locations, disdaining those mountain gullies, primeval forests, deserts…

For example, the Serengeti Plain, such a large area (about thirty thousand square kilometers), Ernst didn’t plan to develop it, considering it a nature reserve.

To develop Africa, one must naturally use thunderous means, and a large amount of grassland and forest will inevitably be destroyed.

In fact, Ernst’s slash-and-burn approach had another purpose: to disrupt the local ecosystem.

Africa, as a breeding ground for various diseases, is not only a threat to humans, but also to animals.

Ernst’s deepest impression from his previous life was African swine fever and African horse sickness.

African swine fever was simply the “AIDS” of pigs. For more than a hundred years after it was first discovered in Kenya in 1927, it was incurable. Until Ernst transmigrated, he had never heard of an effective vaccine being developed.

Moreover, African swine fever has spread extremely widely, ravaging the entire African continent while also gaining a foothold in Europe. The Americas and Asia have not been spared, and even Russia, a frigid region, has a presence of African swine fever.

Regions that discover African swine fever can only solve the problem through large-scale culling. Basically, all live pigs within a few kilometers of the discovered African swine fever are doomed.

African swine fever is extremely contagious, with a mortality rate of one hundred percent. Once discovered, the only solution is to eliminate the infected pigs through quarantine, culling, disinfection, and harmless treatment. There are no effective prevention and control measures.

And the initial vector of African swine fever is soft ticks and other parasites. As for African horse sickness, it is also a disease transmitted through Culicoides midges and other parasites.

Africa has long suffered from parasites, so the East African colony faces the same problem if it wants to engage in animal husbandry.

Of course, these two diseases don’t exist in this era yet, but Ernst wouldn’t dare to gamble.

Burning wasteland is the most economical, practical, and effortless method. A one-size-fits-all approach is what it is, given the conditions of this era.

Ernst’s one-size-fits-all approach, the first strike, was aimed at the animals of East Africa. They are hosts for various diseases and parasites, and they themselves pose a threat to livestock.

Therefore, it is necessary to clear the animals from the pasture, and with a large fire, the living environment of those parasites can also be destroyed.

Once the rainy season arrives, new pasture will grow again, and it will be much safer for East Africa to put cattle and horses in the pasture.

…

“Andrei! This pork is cooked through, I can even smell the fragrance. What a pity!” Porter Young said, looking at the warthog that had been affected by the fire.

“Heh, don’t even think about it. The higher-ups have ordered that all animal carcasses will be cremated later. Game meat is good, but you need to have the life to enjoy it,” Andrei said.

“I really can’t see what harm this thing has. Isn’t it just a pig!” Porter Young retorted.

“This isn’t Eurasia. Just because something looks harmless doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Especially these wild animals. When we first arrived in East Africa, we could make do without food, but now that we don’t lack food, why gamble with our lives?

Don’t take it the wrong way when I say this, but these are all experiences accumulated by the local natives with bloody lessons. Animals in tropical regions have a large number of parasites and diseases in their bodies, and eating them rashly can have serious consequences.

Back then, I saw a native, good heavens, he didn’t have a single intact spot on his body, all parasites. It made me lose my appetite for three days,” Andrei lectured.

The native that Andrei saw didn’t actually get parasites from eating wild animals. That unlucky guy got it from drinking unclean water, but that doesn’t stop Andrei from using this incident as a negative example.

There are many cases of African natives being infected with various parasites. Unlike the immigrants, the natives don’t even wear clothes and are not particular about their food and drink, so the old immigrants are knowledgeable and, coupled with the colony’s education, dare not violate the regulations.

Porter Young was clearly reminded of some bad memories by the examples Andrei mentioned, and hurriedly said, “Now that you mention it, I really didn’t pay much attention before. I also saw one, a native who didn’t wear shoes, and his feet were gnawed beyond recognition by something (sand fleas). He couldn’t even walk. Thinking about it now, it’s really terrifying.”

“Right! So let’s just obediently follow orders. The higher-ups have much more knowledge than us. They say it’s science,” Andrei said.

“You’re right. This science is indeed a good thing. Back then, many of those who didn’t listen to advice easily got sick, and later they became obedient. I’ll have to pay more attention in the future,” Porter Young said in agreement.

…

In the evening, the immigrants piled the collected animal carcasses on firewood.

The person in charge poured kerosene on it and casually lit it with a lighter. In the raging fire, these animal carcasses also returned to dust, earth to earth.

And the savanna burned by the fire was a scorched black, just waiting for the rainy season to come, and then it would be lush green again. However, at that time, none of the original wild animals could be seen on the savanna, only the livestock raised by East Africa would be active on the savanna.

Chapter 157: Windmill Mill

Karatū, the capital of the Northern Highlands District.

A tall windmill began its work. As the gentle breeze blew, the enormous windmill blades started to turn slowly. The wooden blades and transmission shaft emitted creaking sounds.

The technician came down from the spiral staircase. The massive wooden gears were fixed in mid-air inside the windmill. As the external windmill blades rotated, the gears and other parts inside the windmill also began to turn. The running track of the giant wooden gears was clearly visible.

“Alright, starting today, this windmill mill can begin operating!” the technician said to the residents of Karatū after the windmill had been running for a while.

This windmill mill was a microcosm of the Dutch windmills that were initially intended to be introduced. Currently, many new windmills have been built in East Africa, but most of them are used for water diversion and irrigation. This is the first one used to provide power to a mill.

“Seeing this windmill, I feel like the East African colony is almost like my old home in Bavaria!” a Bavarian immigrant said.

In his hometown, there was also a windmill mill, built at the entrance of the village. The villagers went there to grind flour, so he had a deep impression of it.

However, his comparison of the Bavarian countryside with the capital of the East African region was truly amusing, fully demonstrating the fact that East Africa was essentially a large rural area.

Currently, only a few port cities along the coast and First Town in the East African colony could compare to some small European cities.

“Let’s add some wheat first and see how it works?” the technician said.

Two people poured half a sack of wheat into the hopper above the millstone. The technician manipulated the rope controlling the windmill’s millstone, and the mill began to operate.

The millstone began to turn with the crankshaft, grinding the wheat kernels. The wheat converged towards the center of the millstone, and gradually the wheat was swallowed by the millstone.

As the millstone ground, the original granular wheat began to turn into powder, along with the bran, becoming yellowish, coarsely ground flour.

“It’s working normally. This windmill mill can basically solve the local flour processing needs,” the technician said.

“It’s that simple? It just turns into flour like that?” a Chinese immigrant asked.

“Of course, that’s how flour is made in our place. It’s just that in recent years, cities have started using steam engines and building flour mills on a large scale, which can process a lot of flour, and the quality is much better than this. So most city dwellers buy flour produced in factories, but in our rural areas, we still use windmills more often,” said the immigrant from the Bavarian region.

Most Chinese immigrants used stone mills, driven by human or animal power, so they were quite curious about the windmill mill.

“Before, by the river, I thought it was already amazing that this thing could be used to lift water, but I didn’t expect it could be used like this,” the Chinese immigrant said.

Due to the increase in the German population in East Africa and the promotion of adult education, many Chinese in East Africa can now communicate with European immigrants in simple German.

“I’ve only seen windmill mills. In reality, it’s rare to see windmills used for irrigation in Germany,” the Bavarian immigrant said.

The technician interjected at this moment: “If you really look at the uses of windmills, then the Netherlands is definitely world-class. In the Netherlands, windmills used to be the most important source of power.

We use windmills to drain water, make paper, process food, drive machines…

We even reclaimed much of our land from the sea using windmills.

It’s just that now, with the widespread use of steam engines, the status of windmills is not as good as before.”

“Reclaim land from the sea using windmills?”

“That’s right, the Netherlands is a low-lying country, connected to the sea. In the past, much of our land was covered by the sea and swamps. We built dikes, and then used windmills to pump the water out of the dikes, which created a lot of land for cultivation and habitation.” The Dutch technician proudly introduced the story of his windmills and the Netherlands.

This was difficult for the Chinese and Bavarian immigrants living inland to imagine. The only time they had seen the sea was when they were traveling to East Africa on immigrant ships. Before coming to East Africa, they had never even left their villages.

“I’ve only seen the sea once in my life, during those days at sea. But the sea is so big, it’s amazing that you Dutch people can reclaim land from the sea!” the Bavarian immigrant sincerely admired.

The Dutch technician was very pleased to hear this. After all, hearing others praise his country was a matter of pride.

In reality, the Dutch technician’s level of education was not high. He was only hired by the East African colony because he knew how to build windmills.

But compared to the unsophisticated Chinese and German bumpkins, a sense of superiority immediately arose.

East Africa also has its own flour mill, located in Bagamoyo, but the flour produced by that factory is mainly used for export to Europe, not to solve the flour milling needs of East African immigrants.

Therefore, each village and town in the East African colony still has to solve the processing of wheat and other staple foods on its own.

Previously, it had always relied on manual labor. In the early stages, even stone mills were not enough. Later, after annexing some stone processing workshops from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, they reorganized personnel to produce stone mills, which solved the problem.

As for animal-powered mills, East Africa also did not have the conditions to do so. After all, it takes time to popularize animal power. Livestock also need to breed and grow, and many of the limited livestock in East Africa are also used to pull carts or for the army.

Therefore, East Africa could only use natives as livestock, using natives to pull the mill.

But the natives are also important labor. They are used for building bridges and roads, digging ditches and canals. In addition, East Africa intends to control the size of the native population, so the natives are not as abundant as imagined as labor.

Now that the East African colony is building windmills on a large scale, it can at least save more natives and put them into other projects.

Moreover, once the windmills are built, they can be used for a long time. As long as the parts are replaced in time and maintained, they can be used for more than a decade without any problems.

Don’t even think about more advanced steam engines. Those things are too expensive and it is difficult to popularize them. The materials for windmills can all be made and provided by East Africa itself.

For example, the canvas on the windmills can be made from the unsold sisal cloth in East Africa. Stones and wood are supplied in unlimited quantities.

Moreover, windmills are not considered backward. Europe and the United States are still using windmills in large quantities. After all, the cost of steam engines is what it is.

Among them, the United States is currently developing the West. In order to solve the problem of water for humans and animals, it has built many windmills, which are the famous farm windmills of the United States in the previous life.

The windmills in the United States are different from the windmills in the East African colony. The wealthy United States has adopted many metal parts, and even used metal blades. After all, the United States has a high steel production, which East Africa cannot do now.

Chapter 158: Isolated East Africa

November 5th, 1868.

First Town.

Northwest of First Town, on the banks of the Little Rhine River, lay what was once the territory of Second Town. However, with the upgrade of the East African colony, the status of First Town also rose accordingly. As the seat of the East African colonial government and the capital of the central region, it naturally had to expand. Thus, Second Town, which was right next to First Town, was annexed.

A little over a month ago, the residents of the former Second Town saw a group of strangers arrive, something they hadn’t witnessed in a long time. For the residents of Second Town, who hadn’t seen a new face in nearly half a year, this was truly a rare sight.

Since the area of East Africa had expanded, various regions needed immigrants to populate the newly occupied lands. Many areas in the eastern part of the colony, having been developed earlier and possessing a relatively larger population, rarely received new immigrants. Second Town was one such place.

The plains near the coastal areas, with the exception of the few port cities in East Africa and the First Town urban area where the East African colonial government was located, basically received no new immigrants. Most new immigrants tended to gravitate towards the inland regions.

If they were just ordinary immigrants, the residents of Second Town naturally wouldn’t be curious. However, the residents of Second Town could tell at a glance that this group of people was different from ordinary immigrants. After all, the residents of Second Town were immigrants themselves.

They were very clear about what it was like when they immigrated to East Africa. Back then, they looked a complete mess, with many not even having a decent piece of clothing.

They still remembered the uniforms that the East African colony uniformly distributed upon their arrival. Even now, the vast majority of people in East Africa still wore clothes that were modified from Prussian military uniforms.

Even the immigrants from Europe didn’t wear much better clothes, but their clothes weren’t confiscated by the East African colony.

Instead, after a simple disinfection, they were returned to them, along with a set of Prussian military uniforms with East African characteristics.

After all, European immigrants lived more decently than Chinese immigrants, and their clothes were slightly more refined.

If you could at least tell that the clothes of European immigrants were actually clothes, it was just that the size and other aspects might not fit properly.

The set of clothes that Chinese immigrants wore to East Africa could be said to be a motley collection of rags. There wasn’t a single complete piece. Patches upon patches were commonplace, and the number of rips and holes was countless. Some Chinese immigrants who arrived in East Africa in the same batch even wore single layers of clothing, while others wore cotton-padded jackets.

To facilitate the disinfection of bacteria and dust that immigrants might carry, and to facilitate subsequent management, Ernst simply prepared new clothes for the immigrants. The rags worn by the Chinese immigrants were directly confiscated by the East African colony.

Of course, the East African confiscation of the clothes that the Chinese wore from the Far East also had considerations for assimilation. Since the goal was Germanization, it should be thorough. The queues had already been cut, so there was naturally no need to keep clothes with oriental characteristics.

The clothes of immigrants from Europe didn’t need to be confiscated. They were simply cleaned and then returned. Moreover, some European immigrants even brought a few pieces of ancestral clothing to change into.

However, since East Africa distributed a set of new clothes, even though it was a military uniform, the poor of this era wouldn’t refuse something for free.

European immigrants liked to alternate between wearing their original clothes and the Prussian military uniforms.

If people from European countries came to East Africa to visit, they would see a strange sight.

Throughout East Africa, all you could see was Prussian military uniforms. Without careful investigation, you would think you had arrived at a Prussian military camp.

Anton Perutz was one of the victims. Anton Perutz was the professor Ernst hired for the East African Tropical Agriculture Research Institute.

When he first arrived in Dar es Salaam, Anton Perutz hadn’t noticed anything amiss, because the port was, after all, the only window for external communication in the East African colony. In order not to scare friendly nations, the immigrants in the port were issued ordinary European clothing, not military uniforms.

Ernst couldn’t possibly close the two traditional Indian Ocean coastal ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Merchant ships from various countries still had to stop at these two ports for supplies.

If he were to close the ports, the Anglo-Portuguese-French-Dutch allied forces would come knocking on his door the next day. Ernst’s successful establishment of the East African colony was thanks to Prussia not yet unifying Germany.

Especially Great Britain, the maritime hegemon, had a very good relationship with Prussia at the time. Plus, East Africa wasn’t exactly a desirable place, so with a blind eye, Ernst was able to establish the East African colony.

East Africa was not a good place, relatively speaking, according to the current perception of various European countries. Not to mention East Africa, there were only a few places in the entire Africa that could attract the attention of various countries.

West Africa was the Gold Coast, the Ivory Coast, the Slave Coast, the Pepper Coast… so various countries scrambled for it.

Cape Town, British Somaliland, Gibraltar, and the future Suez Canal controlled the most important sea routes in Africa.

The North African coast had been a region valued by Europe since the ancient Roman era.

Only the Portuguese steadily managed a few colonies in Africa, but the Portuguese had arrived in Africa hundreds of years ago, when the slave trade was still prevalent. They had long recouped their investment, but such a long-term investment was clearly beyond the current capabilities of Portugal.

The reason why Europeans flocked to Africa en masse around 1880 was entirely due to the economic crisis of 1873.

Every economic crisis was fatal for capitalist countries, and it also represented that economic development had reached a bottleneck, requiring a new outlet.

The direct consequence of the 1873 economic crisis was that capitalist countries transitioned from commodity export to capital export. For the sake of raw material production areas and world markets, the great powers launched a frenzy to divide the world.

The current time was clearly not yet ripe. For the British, life was good, and Britain was making waves in South America. Major wars were taking place one after another in Europe. France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia had no energy to cause trouble. The United States was busy cleaning up the mess from the Civil War and the development of the West. Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands had not made much progress in recent years and had no major actions overseas.

As long as Ernst could restrain himself and not expose the resources of East Africa in advance, basically no one would target East Africa.

Back to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, these two ports, as the only windows for external communication in East Africa, had to cater to the colonialists of various countries drifting on the Indian Ocean, in addition to their own use.

After all, they were important nodes on traditional sea lanes. If he really took himself too seriously and engaged in isolationism, there would definitely be no good outcome.

Of course, Ernst was originally eating alone in East Africa, so he simply continued to maintain the status quo of these two ports, continuing to provide convenience to various countries.

There was no need to share Tanga, Bagamoyo, and Mtwara with other countries. These were all ports developed by East Africa itself, solely for the use of the Hechingen Consortium.

However, as a precaution, Ernst still forced all immigrants in all ports, except for the regular army, to wear ordinary clothes, making East Africa look slightly more normal in the eyes of foreign ships.

If other countries were to see a large number of Prussian military uniforms appearing in East Africa, everyone would probably overthink it.

There was no need to worry about the inland areas. Apart from immigrants and members of the Hechingen Consortium, no people from other countries could delve deep into the interior of East Africa to investigate the situation.

The Arab merchants and slave traders who used to operate in the interior of East Africa were now waiting directly at the border markets for the East African colony to deliver goods to their door.

And East Africa itself was separated from other countries and colonies connected to the world by terrain and native tribes.

Chapter 159: Experimental Base

Looking at the thriving experimental base before him, being built at a speed visible to the naked eye, Anton Perutz felt quite satisfied.

Anton Perutz and his group were the strange strangers in the eyes of the residents of Second Town.

After all, compared to the immigrants, Anton Perutz and his group were all dressed in suits and leather shoes, and they were also accompanied by people sent by the East African colonial government. It was clear at a glance that they were important figures.

Second Town was also notified to cooperate with the work of Anton Perutz and others. In order to build the experimental base for the East African Tropical Agriculture Research Institute, Second Town contributed both manpower and land.

In fact, Anton Perutz was initially taken aback when he first arrived in Second Town. From passing through the First Town’s urban area, Anton Perutz began to suspect whether this was a branch of the Prussian Kingdom overseas.

The uniform Prussian military uniforms shocked every researcher in Anton Perutz’s team.

Fortunately, the accompanying East African colonial government personnel acted as guides, resolving many of Anton Perutz’s doubts.

However, Anton Perutz and his research team were still shocked by Ernst’s grand scale in the East African colony.

The clothing alone for hundreds of thousands of people must have cost a lot of money, which was definitely an astronomical figure for ordinary people in this era.

This was indeed the case. In addition to Ernst acquiring a large batch of second-hand Prussian military uniforms from the Prussian government in the early days, he later simply bought a factory to produce “monkey version” Prussian military uniforms to supply East Africa.

After all, the Prussian army only had hundreds of thousands of people, so there were not that many second-hand military uniforms for Ernst to freeload. In addition, he was not close to the Austrian royal family at the time, so Ernst did not think of acquiring some second-hand goods from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to save some costs. Moreover, the big white Austrian military uniforms were not resistant to dirt. How could immigrants wear that stuff to work in the fields?

The “monkey version” Prussian military uniforms also underwent many modifications for the East African region. The weather in East Africa was like summer all year round, so there was no need for so much fabric, saving it; the bizarre pointed helmet of Prussia, not to mention whether it was useful, Ernst simply did not like it from an aesthetic point of view, so it was discontinued; what was the use of so many buttons? They were deleted; a belt? What belt was needed? A uniform rope was issued…

The modified “monkey version” Prussian military uniforms were completely different, but they were still conservative. After all, the strong ultraviolet rays in East Africa prevented them from becoming short sleeves. Ernst did not save on these fabrics.

Therefore, the “monkey version” Prussian military uniforms still had three parts of their appearance that resembled Prussian military uniforms. In addition, the second-hand Prussian military uniforms of the early immigrants were mixed in, so Anton Perutz and others still recognized the almost national Prussian military uniform attire of the East African colony at first glance.

In the past month, Anton Perutz and others had gradually become accustomed to the attire of the East African residents.

Anton Perutz’s experimental base was built on the east bank of the Little Rhine River, directly occupying many cultivated lands developed by Second Town. Including undeveloped land, the fertile land alone covered more than seven hundred acres.

Covering the southern hills, the northern plains, and the low-lying areas along the Little Rhine River, the natural conditions and terrain were very superior.

The Little Rhine River guaranteed the water supply, and the hills, plains, and low-lying areas could provide diverse terrain materials.

Windmills for lifting water were built on the shore, which could continuously supply water to the fields. According to Anton Perutz’s requirements, the fields were built with water-retaining field ridges made of stones and mud, and divided into plots of different sizes to facilitate the observation of the growth characteristics of crops under different planting scales.

Sluice gates for discharging water were also built in the fields to control the amount of water in the fields and to switch between paddy fields and dry fields at any time.

Laboratories, archives, warehouses, and staff dormitories were also built around the base. All the equipment in the laboratories was imported from Europe, including microscopes, petri dishes, calipers… everything was available.

Attached were a botanical garden, vegetable garden, and flower garden. At the same time, a portion of land was planned for tree planting.

This was the main place for Anton Perutz’s work and research in the future. In fact, Anton Perutz’s team could actively conduct field research throughout East Africa.

In Germany, Anton Perutz had more superior hardware facilities, but East Africa was a paradise for Anton Perutz, a tropical botanist.

Plants that could only be seen through materials and specimens in the past could now be seen locally, and East Africa had a vast area with diverse tropical climate types such as rainforests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts…

…

Anton Perutz’s experimental base had not yet opened, but that did not prevent him from teaching the students first.

“The local conditions in East Africa are very conducive to agricultural development. Of course, what determines the agricultural potential of a region is its shortcomings.

The growth of agriculture and plants cannot be separated from four factors: land, heat, water, and light.

Taking East Africa as an example, the shortcoming that determines the agricultural potential of East Africa is the land in East Africa. Of course, the terrain in East Africa is relatively flat, and the main problem is the soil.”

The students followed behind Anton Perutz, diligently recording Anton Perutz’s words.

“The actual energy output of land in tropical regions is much higher than that in middle and high latitudes, but this energy cannot be effectively absorbed by the soil, but is stored in the plants and animals in tropical regions.

This is why the vegetation in tropical regions is dense, but the soil fertility is not as good as that in temperate and cold regions.

Tropical land is not barren, but these nutrients have not penetrated into the soil, and our crops need the nutrients in the soil.” Anton Perutz said his views.

“Professor, since you said that tropical soil cannot store nutrients, isn’t this land still barren?” a student questioned.

“This is what I am going to tell you next. What is soil? In my understanding, it is ‘sand’ with impurities, but this ‘sand’ is more delicate than the sand in the desert, can be connected together, and at the same time, there are nutrients in the soil that we cannot observe with the naked eye. The amount of these nutrients determines the fertility of the soil.”

As he spoke, Anton Perutz grabbed a handful of soil from the ground and put it in his hand and said, “You see, the soil here is dark red. Many places in low-latitude regions are red soil, while middle latitudes are white soil, and high latitudes are black soil.

Therefore, as the latitude changes, the soil color changes, and the soil fertility also changes, but we know that the vegetation in high latitudes is actually not as good as that in tropical regions.

This involves the factors of sunlight and precipitation. Plant growth requires sunlight and water. Without these two, most plants will die.

The existence of tropical rainforests just shows that the nutrients produced in the tropics are much higher than those in cold regions, but once we use the red soil in the tropics to plant food crops, its effect is not as good as the black soil in the middle and high latitudes.

This shows that a large amount of nutrients in the tropical soil are taken away. This is definitely not the fault of the vegetation, because there are still large areas of vegetation in high latitudes, and high latitudes also cause many plants to not grow due to low temperatures. The temperature factor should not be the main culprit, so we can only consider it from the aspect of water.

Early civilizations were born in areas where river silt accumulated. For example, the agriculture of ancient Egypt prospered by relying on the flooding of the Nile River.

Tropical rainforest rivers are more dense and have more water, but why don’t they have these effects!

Because tropical rainforest rivers hardly accumulate soil, but instead take away the nutrients in the soil along the coast.

Although East Africa is also tropical, the rainfall is generally low, so this situation does not exist. Therefore, studying soil fertility requires studying the relationship between soil and water.

Of course, this is just my guess, and the truth still needs to be verified through experiments.

Only by mastering the laws can we better prescribe the right medicine and improve the soil fertility of East Africa.”

Chapter 160: Reform

Professor Anton Perutz’s ideas would be validated in East Africa over the next few years. However, while continuing his scientific research, he also had to shoulder the important task of finding ways to increase agricultural output and improve crops for East Africa.

This was the task Ernst assigned to Anton Perutz’s team. Otherwise, who knew how far astray these scientists’ research directions would go?

Conducting scientific research was acceptable, but contributing to the East African colony was also a must. Ernst funded the agricultural research institute ultimately to serve his own colony, not truly to contribute to the cause of human scientific endeavors.

…

November 7, 1868.

Europe, Prussia, Hechingen.

As time went on, the scale of the Hechingen Military Academy grew larger and larger, and its facilities and teaching staff became increasingly complete.

Currently, the school had a student body of as many as three thousand seven hundred, mainly from Europe, the Far East, and South America.

Originally, when Ernst established the Hechingen Military Academy, his initial intention was to develop it into a professional military academy.

However, things didn’t go as planned. Due to the development of the East African colony, which required a large number of language translators and military technical personnel, the Hechingen Military Academy became a crash course German language school.

Now that the East African colony had developed to its current state, it no longer needed to equip immigrants with language translators to implement instructions and policies.

With the significant increase in the number of European immigrants and the initial success of German language education in East Africa, many non-German-speaking immigrants had already learned to communicate in German, while also forcing the remaining people to actively learn German.

In addition, in the past two years, the Hechingen Cultural School had begun to replace the Hechingen Military Academy in providing East Africa with professional, low-skilled personnel, and the East African regular army had no desire to expand. Therefore, East Africa’s demand for the Hechingen Military Academy had been greatly reduced.

These combined factors led Ernst to want to bring the Hechingen Military Academy back on track and truly make it a cradle for cultivating professional military talent for his own use.

In order to restore the Hechingen Military Academy to its proper appearance, Ernst prepared to start from four aspects.

The first was the academic system, canceling the crash courses, restoring normal teaching order, and changing to a three-year system.

East Africa was currently saturated with military talent, and the enemies they were fighting were all natives, so there was no need for so many professional military personnel.

In addition, the establishment of the Hechingen Cultural School began to provide the Hechingen Military Academy with German-speaking students, so the Hechingen Military Academy no longer needed to provide language education to non-German-speaking students.

If the Hechingen Cultural School was like elementary school, the Hechingen Military Academy was like middle school. In the past two years, the students adopted by Hechingen were first thrown into the Hechingen Cultural School for preliminary training.

Students graduating from the Hechingen Cultural School could be divided into three grades. The first grade, those with particularly excellent grades, could apply or be assigned by Ernst to study further in the German education system, a treatment generally reserved for true geniuses.

The second grade, students with excellent grades, but only relatively outstanding in the Hechingen Cultural School, entered the Hechingen Military Academy to study or intern in enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium.

The third grade, students with average or poor grades, were sent to the East African colony to engage in education and translation work.

The students of the Hechingen Cultural School provided relatively excellent sources of students for the Hechingen Military Academy.

The second was to reform the teaching materials, find professionals to modify the teaching materials of the Hechingen Military Academy, and add more professional knowledge and courses.

The first edition of the Hechingen Military Academy’s teaching materials was written by Ernst himself, and the professionalism was not strong. The brainwashing stuff he gave to the students in the textbooks naturally could not be deleted, but the professional part of the content could be modified.

The third was the teaching staff, hiring a group of professional retired officers from the Prussian army to teach at the school.

The current teaching staff of the Hechingen Military Academy was still too weak and needed a group of senior teachers with real talent and practical knowledge.

The fourth was the construction of professional training grounds.

A military academy naturally requires a lot of training, but the Hechingen Military Academy was currently restricted to the campus and lacked professional training grounds.

Ernst planned to coordinate a relatively large area with relatively complex terrain in Hechingen to establish a training ground for students to use for training.

The location was chosen in the west of Hechingen, where the population was relatively sparse, and the hills and plains were interlaced, and there were large areas of jungle, which was very suitable.

No sooner said than done, Ernst, who had just returned from France, began to carry out reforms at the Hechingen Military Academy.

First, he conducted a review of the students of the Hechingen Military Academy. Due to age reasons, some of the students of the Hechingen Military Academy did not come up from the Hechingen Cultural School, so the quality of the students of the Hechingen Military Academy was uneven.

Ernst thoughtfully prepared an exam for them. Those who passed the exam continued to stay, and those who failed were dealt with in two batches.

Those who were younger were sent back to the Hechingen Cultural School for retraining, and those who were older were directly sent to East Africa for employment.

The students who remained in this way basically had similar cultural levels and were relatively healthy, which was convenient for unified teaching in the future.

In terms of building materials and teachers, Ernst planned to start from the various German states, and it would definitely be more difficult to poach talent from Prussia.

However, some talents from small states could still be discovered, especially after Prussia integrated the military forces of the northern countries.

Some people whose ideas were different from those of the Prussian army were definitely eliminated from the army. Although their military ideas were different, their military skills were still good. Ernst planned to use his connections to hire them to teach in Hechingen.

It didn’t matter if their military ideas were different. The Hechingen Military Academy was a school, not an army. It was a place where Ernst specialized in cultivating backbone military talents. As long as the military ideas didn’t involve the students’ ideological field, Ernst could tolerate them.

The training ground was the easiest to solve. The entire Hechingen was nominally his own, so there was no need to be polite. He just had his father allocate a piece of land to him.

Then, he put up a cordon and matched it with supporting facilities, and the students could conduct live-fire exercises.

No matter how much training was done in the school, Ernst could not build shooting ranges and other facilities in the Hechingen Military Academy. In the beginning, in order to facilitate materials and construction.

The Hechingen Military Academy was chosen in the suburbs of Hechingen Town, not too far from the residential areas, so it was impossible to issue weapons to them and let them train freely.

Moreover, at that time, the focus was on crash courses, and the students’ professional level was not valued, so there was no need to conduct live-fire exercises. They could learn about seventy or eighty percent of the textbook knowledge, and as long as they knew how to shoot and were physically healthy, they could go directly to the army in East Africa to find a job.

Now, Ernst wanted to turn the Hechingen Military Academy into a professional military academy, so naturally he had to conduct combat exercises.

Actual combat is always the only standard for testing the combat effectiveness of an army. The students of the Hechingen Military Academy naturally have no chance to come into contact with real war, so they can only settle for second best and conduct some exercises to simulate the battlefield environment to improve the students’ military skills.

Chapter 161: Inspection

November 11th, 1868.

The House of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch held a student inspection ceremony in the suburbs of Haigerloch.

After streamlining through examinations, the total number of students was only a little over three thousand three hundred. However, this was the first relatively high-quality batch of students since the establishment of the Haigerloch Military Academy. Therefore, they were well-trained, obeyed commands, and looked quite like soldiers.

Morning.

A little after six o’clock.

Construction of the reviewing stand began. It was reserved for the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family, specifically for Prince Constantine and Ernst to sit.

Viewing platforms were set up on both sides of the reviewing stand, for the academy’s teachers and the gentry officials of the Haigerloch region to watch the ceremony.

At eight o’clock, the students of the Haigerloch Military Academy began to assemble and enter the inspection area.

“Listen up, everyone, today is different from the usual school inspections. This one is truly for the public and the officials and gentry of Haigerloch and the surrounding areas, so you cannot afford a single mistake.

If, due to the stupidity of one or some of you, we lose face, it won’t just be you losing face, but also the Haigerloch Military Academy, the Haigerloch region, and the faces of the Prince and Prince Ernst.

Therefore, not even the slightest mistake is allowed. If you embarrass yourselves in front of the guests, my riding crop will be paying you a visit when we get back. Do you hear me?”

“Reporting, instructor, we hear you!” the students responded loudly and seriously, each with a resolute and solemn expression on their faces.

Today, all the students of the Haigerloch Military Academy were wearing the uniforms of the Haigerloch army, a one-to-one replica of the attire of the army led by the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family.

This was the first large-scale semi-militarized force established by the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family since Haigerloch was incorporated into Prussia.

It was as if Haigerloch had returned to the days when it was one of the thirty-plus states of Germany, and the Haigerloch army, which was not large in scale but still considered a military force in the German region, had returned.

Of course, everyone knew that Haigerloch could not go back. Among the attendees of this ceremony were officials from the Hohenzollern Province of the Kingdom of Prussia, including the military officers sent by the Prussian government stationed in Haigerloch.

The Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family only possessed many privileges and great autonomy. The actual rule of the Haigerloch region was in the hands of the Prussian government.

The Haigerloch Military Academy was registered as an educational institution, so it naturally could not be compared with the army. However, everyone with eyes could see that it was an army, and a private army of the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family at that.

At nine o’clock, the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family arrived late. Prince Constantine and Ernst arrived by carriage from Hohenzollern Castle in the south.

By this time, many people had already arrived, including Haigerloch townspeople who had come to join in the fun. It had been many years since they had seen the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family hold a military parade, so they naturally wanted to join in the excitement. Among them were many old soldiers who had fought alongside the old Count and the Prince in the past.

Prince Constantine made a special effort to invite them to the vicinity of the viewing platform. The army of the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch principality was gone, but it could not erase the fact that these old soldiers had once gone through fire and water for the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family.

At nine twenty, Prince Constantine first gave a speech.

“Haigerloch is a region with a long history and is also the place where the Hohenzollern family originated. The Hohenzollern family is closely connected with the people of the Haigerloch region.

The Haigerloch Military Academy is precisely to inherit and carry forward the excellent traditions and virtues of the Haigerloch region…”

After Prince Constantine, as the person in charge of the Haigerloch region, finished speaking, it was Principal Ernst’s turn to appear. Ernst stood on the reviewing stand and began to give instructions.

“The Haigerloch Military Academy, as a military institution, bears the important task of cultivating professional military talents. It not only serves the Haigerloch region but is also a good place for all ambitious young people in the entire German region.

Here, they learn professional knowledge, cultivate a spirit of courage and fearlessness, understand military honor, and become pillars of society in the future.

…

When I first established the school, I adhered to the idea of cultivating the Haigerloch Military Academy into an important military academy in the German region in the future. However, due to conditions and time constraints, and the fact that (East Africa) society urgently needed a large number of talents, the Haigerloch Military Academy focused on quick results. However, this kind of crash course also squeezed the potential of the students.

In the future, the Haigerloch Military Academy will move from the past pursuit of quantity and speed to the stage of pursuing quality and precision.

Every student will receive better educational resources, so the students of the Haigerloch Military Academy should demand more of themselves, strive to improve their own level, and strive for Germany in the future.”

After Ernst finished his speech, the inspection was officially announced to begin.

Under the guidance of the instructors and student officers, the military band first played a Prussian national anthem, purely instrumental. This was for the Prussian government officials to see.

As this music sounded, the students of the Haigerloch Military Academy began to prepare.

Then the military band began to play the Haigerloch Military Academy’s school song. As soon as the melody of the prelude sounded.

The instructors led the teams into the arena. The students of the Haigerloch Military Academy were divided into eleven squares and marched at a uniform speed on the temporary field to receive the inspection.

“The glory of Germany shines on Haigerloch,

Military Academy trains hard,

Strive to be good sons of the times,

Defend Germany, defend our homes.

…”

The students of the Haigerloch Military Academy sang the school song of the Haigerloch Military Academy along with the music of the military band.

This school song was completed by Ernst in Vienna, the city of music, by inviting some well-known musicians. It sounded melodious, solid in tone, and regular in rhythm.

Led by the military flag, marching in Prussian goose steps, carrying Dreyse needle guns on their shoulders, they passed in front of the reviewing stand with great momentum.

The guests on the viewing platform applauded the young team in front of them. Leaving aside the technical aspects, their morale was very good.

The Prussian military officer invited from the Haigerloch region said to the surrounding guests: “Their training level is far higher than that of the ordinary Prussian army before the reforms, but there are still some flaws. Just in terms of their formation and following orders, their technical level is estimated to be about the same as that of the current ordinary Prussian army, but they are all young and have a more promising future.”

In fact, he did not think so in his heart. An army that has not been tested by the flames of war, of course, does not know its own weight.

The Haigerloch Military Academy is currently just marching in formation. Their organizational ability can give a glimpse of what they are capable of, but the enemy will not give you such a relaxed environment on the battlefield.

Therefore, the Prussian military officer stationed in Haigerloch could not determine the combat effectiveness of the Haigerloch Military Academy. In his report to the government, he wrote: “Judging from their military appearance, they are well-organized, but they are all young students and lack war experience. Their combat effectiveness is certainly not as good as that of the Kingdom’s army. In my personal opinion, it is far better for the Kingdom to establish professional military academies than for the Hohenzollern-Haigerloch royal family to train these students.”

If Ernst knew that this military officer had written this, he would definitely not take it seriously. The road of the Haigerloch Military Academy had only just begun.

Today’s military parade was only the prelude to the reform of the Haigerloch Military Academy. It was not until the professional teaching team and facilities were built that the Haigerloch Military Academy would begin to exert its strength.

Whether the students of the Haigerloch Military Academy are mules or horses will be revealed in two years.

Chapter 162: Fishing

Mwanza.

The only shipbuilding center in the entire Great Lakes region.

East Africa’s energy is limited. In the absence of technical personnel, namely skilled shipbuilders, priority can only be given to replicating the inland lake shipbuilding of Mwanza to Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi.

Therefore, the workers of the Mwanza Shipyard went ahead to support the construction of shipyards on Lake Soro and Lake Malawi, instead of building new shipyards in other strongholds and cities in the Great Lakes region.

The Mwanza Shipyard continues to maintain its status as the only shipyard in the Great Lakes region.

Through the previous wars, the Great Lakes have become inland lakes of East Africa, so the East African colony is not in a hurry to develop the Great Lakes region.

However, Lake Soro and Lake Malawi are not exclusively occupied by the East African colony, so it is necessary to take the lead in establishing shipyards in these two important lakes to facilitate subsequent East African colonial activities.

Although no new shipyards have been established along the Great Lakes, as time goes by, the production capacity of the Mwanza Shipyard has increased, and more ships have been built. Small ships built by the Mwanza Shipyard can be seen everywhere on the Great Lakes.

These ships are distributed to villages along the coast for fishing or incorporated into East African transport teams to transport supplies.

At present, Great Lakes water transportation has become the most important mode of transportation for the East African colony to connect the west and north of the Great Lakes region.

Early morning.

The sky is just dawning, and the morning light sprinkles on the water of the Great Lakes, sparkling.

The villagers of Sangabu Village got up early. Smoke curls up from the chimneys as every household lights a fire to cook breakfast.

After breakfast, the fishermen of Sangabu Village began to team up to go fishing in the Great Lakes.

Sangabu Village is located in the north of Mwanza and is a small fishing village under Mwanza. The village has a population of more than four hundred and seventy people, most of whom make a living by fishing.

More than a hundred people gathered at the village’s pier, where more than a dozen small fishing boats from Sangabu Village were moored.

In the past, the natives relied on canoes to gallop on the Great Lakes, but the small fishing boats of East Africa are certainly not comparable to the natives’ canoes.

“The weather is much cooler today than yesterday. Our village needs to work harder and strive to complete this month’s task ahead of schedule, so we can rest for a while longer,” Village Chief Relas said to the villagers.

“Village Chief, how many days off will we have this month?” someone asked.

“If the harvest is good these days, we can rest for two more days at the end of the month. If we can reach the maximum target every day, we can rest for at least five days at the end of the month,” Relas replied.

Hearing this, the villagers were already eager to try. Drifting on the water every day is always not as comfortable as staying on land.

Before immigrating to East Africa, the villagers of Sangabu Village were people who lived by the water all year round, or simply lived on boats.

“Village Chief, let’s not talk too much nonsense. Let’s work a little longer today, and we can definitely make it,” someone said.

“Okay, I’ve been waiting for you to say that. The Great Lakes have no shortage of fish. As long as we put in the effort, we can definitely do it,” Relas replied.

Looking at the sun slowly rising from the horizon to the sky, Relas said, “Set sail and head into the lake!”

The fishing boats of Sangabu Village sailed towards the lake, and the oars stirred up waves in the water.

Soon, the fleet of small fishing boats arrived at a specific area. Under the command of Relas, the villagers began to cast their nets in the lake.

The outer small fishing boats shuttled freely on the lake, driving the fish schools. The frightened fish schools were driven towards the center by the small boats on all sides.

“Raise the nets!”

When the fish schools reached the position, the fishermen of Sangabu Village worked hard to pull the fishing nets onto the boats.

The small boats, which were not very large to begin with, seemed to be on the verge of collapse under the drag of the fishing nets, but the skilled fishermen could always find the critical point to maintain the stability of the hull.

Although the process was a bit difficult, the harvest was still good. The fishery resources in the Great Lakes are abundant, especially after the East African colony drove away the surrounding natives.

The entire fishery resources of the Great Lakes are completely monopolized by the East African colony, and East Africa only has so many people in total, with only a few hundred thousand being distributed near the Great Lakes region.

And the fishery resources accumulated by the Great Lakes for thousands of years have all benefited East Africa.

After working for a few hours, the fishing boats of Sangabu Village were already full of harvest.

The face of the sky changes as quickly as you turn a page in a book. The clear sky instantly began to change, with dark clouds gathering.

“Hold steady, maintain formation, don’t panic!” Relas shouted to the fishing boats on all sides.

The lake had already begun to blow with strong winds, which was not terrible for the villagers of Sangabu Village who were accustomed to strong winds and waves.

According to normal times, Sangabu Village should have returned when encountering this kind of weather, but today, in order to catch more and strive for more days off at the end of the month, the fishermen of Sangabu Village continued to work.

Under the oppressive weather, the fish in the Great Lakes also became more active, coming out of the water to breathe.

The harvest of Sangabu Village was also affected by this and became even richer, and the cabins were soon filled with fish.

Looking at today’s harvest, Relas felt that it was almost enough. He shouted to the others, “Okay, that’s it for today, let’s go back first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, heavy rain fell from the sky, hitting the lake surface, and the entire Great Lakes became blurred, with water mist rising.

Dense raindrops hit the fishermen, flowing down with the sweat. The villagers paddled their oars against the wind and rain, heading towards Mwanza.

After more than an hour, the villagers of Sangabu Village finally saw the land to the south. The journey that usually took half an hour took twice as long.

Fortunately, thanks to the rainy weather, today’s harvest was very good. The rain was not in vain.

……

“Relas, the harvest is good today!” the fish receiving staff in Mwanza said to Relas.

“Ah, don’t mention it. The harvest is good, but the weather is not good. The rain is really heavy today,” Relas said, wiping the rain off his body with linen.

“The rainy season is coming again. Coupled with the fact that the Great Lakes are already rainy, there will definitely be a lot of this kind of weather in the future,” the staff member said.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. After all, we can’t change the weather. Besides, this little wind and rain is nothing compared to when I was by the sea. The wind and waves and storms on the sea are the real horror, especially since our fishing boats on the sea are very small, similar to the fishing boats on the Great Lakes now. The risk is much greater,” Relas said casually.

“That’s right, these lakes in East Africa can’t be compared with the sea after all. The wind and waves are much smaller.”

The staff member said while counting Sangabu Village’s harvest today and recording it on the form.

“Take a look, is it correct? If there are no objections, sign it!”

Relas took the form, checked the accounts, and signed his name at the end of the form after finding that there were no problems.

These data will be added together at the end of the month to determine the income of Sangabu Village, so it must not be taken lightly.

After all the fish were unloaded, the fishermen of Sangabu Village drove the empty boats back to Sangabu Village along Mwanza Bay.

Chapter 163: Year’s End

In 1868, the year was drawing to a close once more.

The population of East Africa had reached a fluctuating total of one million, seven hundred and fifty thousand. This included not only new immigrants but also the first baby boom in East Africa.

The relatively stable environment of the past two years, coupled with East Africa’s policies favoring female immigrants, and the gradual improvement of marriage prospects for immigrants, meant that newly established families constituted the majority of households in East Africa.

Since people were settling down and starting families, naturally they wanted to continue their lineage. East Africa had been reaping the benefits of war, with its territory expanding and the area for food cultivation increasing, all of which provided an incentive for immigrants to have children.

In this era, the cost of raising children was extremely low. Furthermore, influenced by the traditional reproductive values of the immigrants, they were basically having as many children as possible.

These immigrants, as long as they worked a little harder, could support more people.

The immigrants in the East African colony generally lacked a sense of crisis, mainly because East Africa was too spacious and the natural conditions were too good. They had lost the cutthroat environment of the Eurasian continent.

Besides the immigrant population, the native laborers were not included in East Africa’s population statistics. It was estimated that there were around one million, three hundred thousand natives this year.

The African continent was certainly not lacking in natives. Even if the natives of East Africa itself were brought under control, they still had to bear heavy labor and were also sold off by the East African colony, so the attrition rate was still very high.

However, when East Africa expanded westward, it would capture another batch to replenish the missing labor force in East Africa. This was a typical slave economy, and with people both coming in and going out, it formed a closed loop.

Under the slave economy, East Africa’s infrastructure was being created at a speed visible to the naked eye. Roads connected the entire East Africa, linking cities and villages.

At the same time, the widespread use of slaves allowed East Africans to easily cultivate several times more land, replacing livestock and machinery, and supporting East Africa’s agricultural scale.

The grain harvested by the East African colony was mainly divided into three parts: one part was food rations for the immigrants, one part was food rations for the slaves, and one part was sold overseas.

Among them, the immigrants’ food rations accounted for the largest proportion. This was not because the immigrants ate more, but because the new immigrants to East Africa were all penniless and could not immediately engage in production. The early food rations were entirely advanced by the East African colony.

Moreover, East Africa was engaged in land development, village and city construction, or fighting on all sides, all of which required a large amount of grain as a guarantee.

The slaves’ food rations also accounted for a significant proportion. The number of slaves was there, and the total amount of food they ate could not be small.

In order to solve the slaves’ food problem, East Africa planted large areas of corn and cassava as slave rations. These things had high yields and were easy to manage, basically growing as soon as they were planted in the ground, so the slaves’ food was easily solved.

The grain used for sale was the main economic source of the East African colony. However, grain cultivation was cyclical, and with immigrants pouring in continuously, the amount of grain currently used for export in East Africa was not much. However, thanks to the vast cultivated area, the quantity was still considerable.

Naturally, the best quality grain had to be selected for export, so that it would be competitive in the European market. With the help of low labor and land costs, East Africa’s grain export profits were very considerable.

Compared to grain crops, cash crops were certainly more profitable, but East Africa had existed for too short a time, and many cash crops had not yet entered the harvest stage.

For example, the coffee plantations in Kenya took at least three to five years from planting to bearing fruit, and the rubber plantations along the Great Lakes took even six to eight years. There were also specialty products such as cinchona trees that all required time.

Only sisal, cloves, peanuts, and other cash crops had entered the stage of sustainable production and export.

In the second half of the year, East Africa’s territorial expansion was not significant, mainly involving a simple expulsion of the natives on the western side of the Mitumba Mountains.

The western side of the Mitumba Mountains was a buffer zone between the East African Plateau and the Congo Basin, and the terrain was relatively rugged.

Occupying the Mitumba Mountains area could only be regarded as a continuation of the previous Northwest War, so the East African government did not pay much attention to it.

The entire Mitumba Mountains area was covered with dense primeval forests and sparsely populated. Further west was a tropical rainforest climate.

Therefore, the East African colony easily incorporated this area, about two hundred thousand square kilometers of land, mainly the two regions of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in its previous life.

In this era, the Kingdom of Kongo was still gathering dust on the Atlantic coast in the west. The strongest force in the Mitumba Mountains area was the Northwest Eight Nations, which had been eliminated or driven away by East Africa.

As the legacy of the Northwest Eight Nations, the Mitumba Mountains area was taken into East Africa’s possession. Further west was the vast tropical rainforest, with almost no suitable places to live.

There were also no countries in the Congo Basin, only tribes, collectively referred to as the Northwest Bantu tribes, corresponding to the East Bantu tribes that had already been eliminated.

It was only later, when Belgium invaded this area, that it integrated the prototype of the former Democratic Republic of the Congo, the infamous Belgian Congo Free State.

Now that the Mitumba Mountains area in the Congo region had been occupied by East Africa, there was no place for the Belgians here.

And next year, East Africa will also swallow the Katanga Plateau in southern Congo and eastern Zambia according to last year’s plan. Therefore, what is left for the Belgians in the future is only the real Congo Basin, that is, the tropical rainforest area.

Any highlands and mountains that are slightly suitable for human habitation have been reserved or already occupied by the East African colony. Moreover, the emergence of the East African colony will definitely affect the great powers’ division of Africa in the future, and how it will change in the future is highly variable.

Currently, Ernst is not interested in the hinterland of the Congo Basin. The reputation of the tropical rainforest as a human forbidden zone is not just for show.

This whole year, East Africa’s territorial expansion was not very large, adding up to about five to six hundred thousand square kilometers, mainly in the northwest.

Among them, the Northwest Eight Nations took the most effort. However, after eliminating and driving away the Northwest Eight Nations, East Africa also established a stable rule in the local area. Except for Egypt in North Africa, no other forces could threaten this place.

In addition to population and area, East Africa also initially built a traditional handicraft industry system to meet the needs of the colony’s immigrants.

Including salt fields, brick kilns, lime factories, various handicraft workshops…

These were all gradually promoted inland after taking over the industries in the eastern region of the former Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Low technical content and low output were its characteristics. However, the East African colony was just a blank sheet of paper. It had to solve the problem of having something first before seeking subsequent development.

Technical content also meant that it was easy for practitioners to master, and it was suitable for spreading in an environment like East Africa where illiteracy was rampant. If something too advanced was really done, with the cultural level of the colony’s immigrants, even the maintenance of the machines would probably be a problem.

And the most educated group of people in East Africa were only equivalent to elementary school level. Even so, they were scattered in government agencies everywhere to maintain the operation of the East African colony.

Of course, East Africa also built several modern factories this year. Although the scale was not large, it could be considered an introduction.

All machines and parts depended on imports, and professional technicians were needed to guide them. Each factory needed European employees to supervise it from the construction to the production stage.

The most important thing was that East Africa did not have a complete industrial chain. If something was missing in Europe, it could be imported from neighboring countries. Therefore, even small countries could achieve industrialization with the help of Europe’s complete industrial system.

And around East Africa, only Egypt had achieved half a foot into industrialization, and it was also cut off by Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire.

The neighboring Mozambique colony was completely a place for the Portuguese to extract blood. Portugal’s own industrialization level was not high, let alone the colony. Therefore, the conditions for East Africa’s industrialization were still immature.

Of course, if one was willing to spend money, skyscrapers could be built even at the North and South Poles. However, the Hohenzollern Consortium was not a welfare institution. The Hohenzollern Consortium under Ernst’s control was constantly transfusing blood into the East African colony, which was how it achieved today’s population and scale.

One could not find a second company in the whole world like this. It was just like if the East India Company had always been losing money in developing India, the British government would have given up on India long ago.

The reason why colonizers did not blindly expand was, in the final analysis, a matter of cost. Colonial operation also required costs.

The problem that East Africa should be most worried about was not working hard to develop and build, and finally making wedding clothes for others. Therefore, population and army were the core of the East African colony.

Only people could provide more soldiers and military expenditure. Only an army with a large scale, advanced equipment, and strong combat effectiveness could protect the safety of the East African colony.

Moreover, for colonizers like Ernst, people were also wealth. If the quality was not good, the quantity was enough to gather wealth for the Hohenzollern royal family.

Just like India in its previous life, no matter how deep the water and how hot the fire ordinary people lived in, it would not affect Indian enterprises from becoming bigger and stronger by relying on India’s population and market.

Chapter 164: Meat

Mwanza Seafood Processing Plant.

Workers were pouring freshly acquired fish into wooden barrels, ready to be sent to the workshop for further processing.

This was a factory built purely on manpower, its main product being salted dried fish.

Salted dried fish could be preserved for a long time, was easy to transport, and could even be carried as military rations.

In this era where preservation technology was still immature, East Africa’s current level could only produce this traditional product.

Canning was somewhat feasible, but the cost was too high. Cans required materials such as metal or glass as containers, and East Africa had no production capacity for either of these. It could only be considered after the iron and glass factories were built later.

And this was just the first step. After all, even with the materials, machines and other processes still needed to be considered.

In this era, any metal, even bones, were important materials. Many places in Europe were recycling them, and East Africa couldn’t afford to be generous enough to provide canned goods to immigrants.

Producing them required cost, and recycling materials also required cost. After recycling, they also needed to be disinfected or remelted, which was really uneconomical.

To make a profit, they still had to be sold in Europe, but competition in Europe itself was very fierce, and canned goods were not widely accepted by the public, only popular in the military.

And the armies of various countries had stable canned food suppliers, so Ernst couldn’t get involved for now, unless there was a war, when military supplies were in short supply, and the army made large-scale purchases, there would be an opportunity.

The main agricultural products currently sold by the Hechingen Consortium in Europe were flour, logs, and other primary agricultural products.

In this era, relying on machines to process fish was basically a fantasy. Just the first step of removing fish scales was a problem, so the salted dried fish produced in the East African colony was completely handmade, without any machine involvement.

Every day, the Mwanza Seafood Processing Plant received a large batch of freshly caught freshwater fish from fishermen.

The workers at the seafood processing plant first used tools to remove scales and other debris, and then the workers in the next process gutted these fish, removed the internal organs and gills, then rinsed the surface clean with water, placed the fish in large vats, salted them, and finally strung them on poles to dry in the sun.

Simple and unadorned processing methods, but on a relatively large scale, so the production capacity was considerable. The Mwanza Seafood Processing Plant currently had more than five hundred workers and was the largest salted fish processing plant in East Africa. Its products were mainly supplied to inland and arid areas of East Africa.

After the consumption of wild animals was banned in the East African colony, alternative sources of meat became particularly important.

The East African government carried out unilateral slaughter of wild animals, while also enclosing land, causing the range of animal activities to shrink sharply, and a large number of wild animals were eliminated.

And East African immigrants needed protein and supplements for physical labor. There were three solutions: first, develop East Africa’s aquatic products; second, raise livestock; and third, plant soybeans.

Among these three, aquatic products were readily available. East Africa had a vast water area, especially many lakes. Whether it was fresh water or salt water, fishery resources were relatively abundant.

Livestock needed time to breed, and the scale was not large, after all, most were imported. It was basically impossible to count on them without ten years of breeding and growth.

Soybeans were the easiest plant protein to obtain, and many were also widely planted in the East African colony, mainly for crop rotation. Soybean root nodules had the effect of fixing nitrogen. They were generally rotated with wheat. The tropical plateau was also very suitable for soybean planting, but it was impossible to completely replace meat.

Therefore, the protein supplement for East African immigrants mainly relied on East Africa’s rich fishery resources. Fish were inherently safer to eat than other wild animals on the East African savannah.

After preliminary pickling and processing, it could also effectively kill bacteria and parasites in the body.

In Mwanza and other places, a large amount of fish meat harvested was manually descaled and gutted by workers, then salted and dried. The resulting dried fish could be stored for several months in East Africa.

In coastal, lakeside, and riverside areas, residents could obtain fresh fish, while in areas lacking water and fishery resources, they could only eat pickled dried fish.

Of course, just eating fish definitely couldn’t solve the problem. Animal husbandry (breeding) was the real way out in the future.

The East African savannah itself was a natural pasture. Although it was not of high quality, the area was definitely large enough. The uneven distribution of rainfall was the biggest factor restricting the development of animal husbandry in East Africa. At the same time, livestock such as cattle and horses could not be replaced in the next hundred years.

Of course, East Africa couldn’t only have large livestock such as cattle and horses. Poultry such as chickens, ducks, and geese definitely occupied an important position.

However, large-scale poultry farming was not easier than large livestock such as cattle and horses. Free-range and domestic rearing were safer and less prone to disease, so East African poultry farming mainly relied on immigrants themselves.

In East Africa, there was also a special kind of poultry, namely guinea fowl, which was also promoted by the East African government.

This thing was once brought to Europe by the Ottoman Empire and called “Turkey chicken”. The meat quality was not bad.

The most important thing was that as one of the few local African breeds, it was much more disease-resistant, and guinea fowl would crow incessantly when they saw fire, which could be used to prevent fires.

This was very important for the East African colony, especially during the dry season, when the weather was dry and prone to fires.

Poultry farming occupied an important position in East Africa, but mainly relied on immigrants to carry it out spontaneously. The grains and other things it needed also needed to be solved by the immigrants themselves.

Therefore, the scale of breeding was limited to the family. The more they raised, the more they ate. Although East Africa did have many wastelands to grow feed.

However, every immigrant needed to first complete the tasks in the fields arranged by the East African colony before they had time to manage the wasteland they developed themselves.

The land allocated to each immigrant in the East African colony was not a small plot, but more than ten acres of land. Even with slaves, it was very laborious to complete.

Therefore, after completing all the land owned by the Hechingen Consortium, the immigrants basically had no extra energy to reclaim wasteland.

Moreover, the immigrants did not have property rights to the reclaimed land. The East African colonial government could take it back at any time. That is to say, the East African colony now had no shortage of land, so it allowed immigrants to develop it themselves.

However, if immigrants wanted to develop wasteland, they could basically only rely on the women in the family to complete it. The work assigned to women in East Africa was relatively light, so they could squeeze out time to increase the family’s income.

Poultry farming and vegetable garden management were basically completed by the women and children in the family.

Speaking of seafood processing plants, currently, such factories had been built near the slightly larger lakes and seas in East Africa to provide meat supplements for the entire East Africa.

According to the principle of proximity, they were responsible for the meat supply in their respective regions, combined with other meat sources allowed in East Africa, which could basically satisfy the East African immigrants’ demand for meat.

Chapter 165: The Development of the Las Khorey Trade Market

Somalia, the once small village of Las Khorey, prospered due to the establishment of the Las Khorey Trade Market in the East African colonies.

Las Khorey village does not belong to the East African colonies, but is located within Somalia. It’s just that the East African colonies were trying to save trouble and were too lazy to name the market, so they simply took the local name and used it directly.

Therefore, the Las Khorey Market and the Las Khorey village are not the same concept, but belong to the East African colonies and the Geledi Sultanate in southern Somalia, respectively. The predecessor of the Geledi Sultanate was the Ajuran Sultanate, which had always been in a state of fragmentation, and was later unified by the founder of the Geledi Sultanate, Ibrahim Adeer.

This era was the late stage of the Geledi Sultanate’s prosperity. The previous Sultan Yusuf Mahamud Ibrahim was a highly decorated warrior, defeating the then Omani Empire (including Zanzibar). However, according to the original history, in 1871, the Sultanate of Zanzibar defeated the Geledi Sultanate and became its vassal until the arrival of the Italian colonists.

So, like the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the Geledi Sultanate had declined. Its national strength was only superficially impressive, but in reality, it was fragile.

Many Arab merchants gathered at the Las Khorey Trade Market to purchase supplies and goods from here, promoting them to the inland regions of North Africa.

The village of Las Khorey under the rule of the Geledi Sultanate also benefited from the Las Khorey Trade Market. Merchants paid more attention to costs, so many small merchants would choose to stay in Las Khorey village to save money.

Even so, some merchants would still choose to stay directly in the hotels in the Las Khorey Trade Market.

This was because the architecture of the Las Khorey Trade Market was completely European in style, and the facilities were relatively complete, far from what a small village under the rule of the Geledi Sultanate could compare to. Some merchants who paid more attention to enjoyment or face would still choose the hotels in the Las Khorey Trade Market.

After more than half a year of development, the Las Khorey Trade Market was already quite prosperous. Only major cities such as Mogadishu in the Geledi Sultanate could compare with the Las Khorey Trade Market.

It has also become the first major tax revenue area in East Africa. The Las Khorey Trade Market basically monopolized the entire trade between the East African colonies and North Africa. The original route of Arab merchants traveling south to trade was forcibly interrupted due to the expansion of the East African colonies.

Moreover, the East African colonies went all the way and, in order to prevent the return of natives and so-called explorers from entering the East African colonies to gather information, directly sealed off the border, so Arab merchants and slave traders were also turned away.

Cutting off someone’s financial path is like killing their parents, so while sealing off the border, East Africa opened up the Las Khorey Trade Market to trade with merchants from North Africa.

In addition, the East African colonies did not raise the prices of the original East African products, and frequent wars led to a continuous decrease in slave prices, so the costs for Arab merchants did not increase but decreased.

Logically speaking, the Las Khorey Trade Market should not be very profitable for the East African colonies, because coastal cities such as Mombasa and Dar es Salaam should be the most commercially valuable areas in East Africa.

However, the East African colonial government basically did not collect taxes in the coastal areas, or only symbolically collected some service fees.

After all, the maritime colonizers were not easy to mess with. The creation of the East African colonies was not easy, and they still had to play dumb.

As for sovereignty, it was just something to listen to in this era. Even Germany after its unification in its previous life, without the support of naval power, its overseas colonies were still a piece of meat in the mouths of Britain and France.

After World War One, they were divided up by various countries. Of course, the German navy itself was not weak, but it was a pity that it was blocked at its doorstep and beaten badly by the British.

Unified Germany was a top-tier power, and its national strength was so strong, yet it was still treated like that. The East African colonies, as an African “isolated island” that carved out a small territory for self-entertainment, naturally did not have the strength to negotiate with those maritime powers.

Portugal and the Netherlands, which were already declining in the eyes of Europeans, were maritime powers in the eyes of the East African colonies, not to mention Britain and France.

Collecting taxes was simple. East Africa also had the ability to resist for a period of time by relying on the fortifications built along the coast, but the Black Hengen ships at sea were the foundation of the East African colonies.

Maintaining the immigration and commercial routes between Europe and the Far East, without immigrant population, the population of the East African colonies could only slowly rely on the existing indigenous immigrants to reproduce and grow, and it would take at least twenty years for a generation to grow up, and twenty years would be too late.

Relying on the natural growth of the population, East Africa could not grow. In the future, it would at most reach the level of South Africa in its previous life, or even be inferior to South Africa, after all, South Africa also had abundant resources.

Although East Africa’s resources were also relatively rich, the most important resources such as coal, iron, and oil were relatively scarce.

Moreover, if the population size could not be reached, East Africa might not have the ability to cope with the threat of Western powers in Africa, after all, East Africa was a German colony, and if international relations were not handled well, it was very likely to be ganged up on.

Although the number of immigrants in East Africa now far exceeds the number of colonists in Africa in its previous life, they still have natives who can be pulled over to serve as cannon fodder.

In short, it was impossible to collect taxes in economically developed port cities such as Dar es Salaam. In the era before the Suez Canal, so many merchant ships docked in East Africa, and it would be bad if they provoked a powerful enemy.

Of course, Ernst was not afraid of the colonists of various countries, but starting disputes with them would be too disadvantageous for East Africa, which would be tantamount to sacrificing its own development potential just to make other colonists uncomfortable.

The Las Khorey Trade Market was different. Its audience was mainly Arabs from North Africa. The East African colonies feared the colonists of those Western maritime powers, but they were never afraid of the Arabs from North Africa.

After all, the trade routes in North Africa were mainly on land. East Africa was indeed weak at sea, but on land in Africa, East Africa was like a great power.

Therefore, East Africa’s tariffs were concentrated in the Las Khorey Trade Market, and the North African market was not small, especially those tribes living in the Sahara Desert and oases, which lacked everything.

Before the East African colonies were opened up, only Egypt, Ethiopia, and some countries in West Africa cultivated food crops on a large scale in Africa. The entire sub-Saharan Africa, although it also cultivated food, lacked good seeds, such as wheat, rice, corn… these staple foods were brought over by immigrants when they colonized Africa.

Therefore, the indigenous agriculture in Africa was not worth mentioning. Take the Northwest Eight countries that East Africa had just eliminated as an example.

They were still in a state of semi-farming, semi-pastoralism, semi-fishing, and semi-hunting. In the land originally cultivated by the East African colonies, some technological innovations could occasionally be seen.

For example, terraced fields, water conservancy facilities, etc., had appeared in some areas, but the backward situation in Africa did not allow these innovations to spread.

These innovations discovered in the Northwest countries were also isolated cases. The reason was very simple, Africa was too comfortable. It was completely more convenient to sit and wait for various tropical fruits and vegetables to ripen than to engage in planting.

Moreover, in Africa, which lacked good seeds, the yield of crops might not be better than those wild plants. Coupled with the animals that were rampant in Africa, if Ernst were an African, he would not be motivated to engage in agriculture.

Africa’s agricultural output was originally not good, and North Africa was influenced by Arab culture, and its dietary habits were completely different from those of sub-Saharan Africa.

Therefore, North Africa mainly relied on the Mediterranean or the Middle East to import grain. Now, the East African colonies provided it with another channel, especially Arab merchants in the Somalia region could also participate in the competition with merchants from the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Chapter 166: Job Advertisement

October 3, 1868.

The Stuttgart Evening News published a job advertisement.

Architectural workers urgently needed.

Requirements: Skilled workers.

Familiar with various styles of German architecture.

Minimum of five years of work experience.

Family members can accompany.

Work location: Overseas.

Benefits: Housing provided, free education for children, eight-hour workdays, monthly salary of 3 Thalers and 5 Groschen.

Such an advertisement might be considered a scam in any era, but its contents were indeed extremely tempting to workers in the Württemberg region.

Opportunities always favor the unlucky, but whether they can be seized is another matter entirely. In this era of imperfect systems, workers lived in great hardship.

Especially unemployed workers who had been dismissed by their bosses for various reasons. Fischer was one such worker, abandoned by his boss because of his age.

Fischer wasn’t actually that old, only in his thirties, but bosses always preferred the young and strong.

With the progress of European industrialization and the rise of capitalist agriculture, German farmers without land went bankrupt one after another.

Especially in the southwestern region of Germany, where harvests had been poor in recent years, it was truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly for the farming community.

Many farmers were forced to leave their homes and seek a way out. Cities absorbed a batch of farmers, turning them into industrial workers, and Stuttgart, as a major city in southwestern Germany, naturally saw an influx of many farmers.

The labor market was booming, and the bosses in Stuttgart also began to become picky.

The city could not solve the livelihood problems of so many people, especially in the southwestern region of Germany, which was mainly agricultural.

The remaining people had to find other ways out. At this time, the East African colonies and the United States appeared. The Hechingen Consortium took the initiative, creating a wave of German immigration to East Africa that lasted for half a year.

Fischer was not a farmer. Starting with his grandfather, his family had been construction workers, supporting their family with meager wages.

However, Fischer’s grandfather was clearly not a particularly capable person, and he was quite fertile, having four sons.

The eldest son inherited the house, and the second and third sons each received a share of the remaining inheritance. By the time Fischer’s father inherited from his grandfather, all that was left was the family’s ancestral craftsmanship.

Fischer’s father lived up to expectations and joined the army of the Kingdom of Württemberg, participating in the war against Napoleon. Fortunately, he caught the last war.

Fischer’s father made a small fortune in France with the Allied forces, saved up some money, bought a small house in Stuttgart after retiring, and married Fischer’s mother, the wife of a comrade who had died in the war.

Fischer’s father and mother gave birth to Fischer in their thirties, and Fischer’s father only had Fischer as a child, so his starting point was better compared to his father.

After his parents died, Fischer inherited his father’s property, a small house and a few pieces of furniture, as well as the ancestral craftsmanship.

Moreover, Fischer was relatively lucky and married the girl next door. However, life had always been very tight, especially after having children, the family lived even more miserably.

The year before last, during the Austro-Prussian War, the situation in the entire German region was relatively tense. Fischer originally thought about whether he could replicate his father’s old path and make a small fortune through the war to support his family.

As a result, the Austro-Prussian War was all bark and no bite, especially in southwestern Germany, where there was basically no fighting, and the Austro-Prussian War ended in two or three months.

Fischer, who had just entered the boot camp and had not yet received his military pay, was discharged, and Fischer was completely reduced to an unemployed vagrant.

…

“Anna, what do you think about us going to East Africa to develop?” Fischer asked his wife, holding the Hechingen Consortium’s job advertisement in his hand.

“Is this reliable? We don’t know what the situation is in East Africa. What if we get scammed over there? If it’s fake, we won’t be able to return to Europe on our own!” Anna said worriedly.

Fischer gently stroked his wife’s hair and said, “But I’m out of work now, and I can’t just sit around doing nothing. Our family has to eat.”

“Can’t you really find a job? It doesn’t matter if it’s hard work, Europe is much better than that place in Africa, right?”

“There are a few factories recruiting, but I heard that the working conditions there are bad, working day and night, and the bosses often delay wages.

A friend of mine said that it’s a sweatshop, just trying to work people to death, and even if you can get paid, it’s difficult to support a family. One person can barely make a living.

But there are four of us in the family. Even if you go out to work another job, it’s still not enough,” Fischer said with a frown.

After Fischer finished speaking, the room fell into a brief silence.

Anna leaned in Fischer’s arms and said with a bitter smile, “In that case, it seems we can only try our luck in this East African colony!”

Fischer hugged his wife tightly and comforted her, “Honey, don’t be too pessimistic. Africa may not be the man-eating hell that people describe.

In the past few months, many people have gone to East Africa to develop, mostly farmers from the countryside. I heard that East Africa has been recruiting immigrants. I have seen several batches of farmers going to East Africa near the Stuttgart train station. There should be quite a few Germans there.”

Fischer had naturally done some research, and East African immigrants within Württemberg naturally had to transit through major cities such as Stuttgart, so it was not uncommon to see immigrants going to East Africa in Stuttgart.

“Honey, if you really decide, I will always support you.” Anna already understood Fischer’s thoughts. Her husband was tempted, but he couldn’t make up his mind, so he asked for her opinion.

Fischer said emotionally, “If East Africa is really like what the newspaper says, I will definitely let you live a good life.”

…

In the blink of an eye, it was December.

Fischer’s family arrived in the East African colony in full. East Africa had always welcomed family immigrants, especially “high-end talents” like Fischer.

Under the guidance of the Hechingen Consortium staff, Fischer’s family boarded a ship specially provided for family immigrants, whose conditions were much better than ordinary ships.

They did not encounter any major storms along the way and arrived at the East African colony smoothly.

Fischer’s work location was also determined, in Dar es Salaam.

Ernst never left any room for maneuver regarding some matters in East Africa, such as the indigenous people issue, which would definitely end with none left.

Similarly, since colonization was to be carried out, it had to be done thoroughly. For the healthy development of East Africa in the future, all evidence of colonial-era crimes that could be destroyed must be destroyed. East Africa did not want to argue with the descendants of those victims in the future. The indigenous civilization relics that existed in East Africa must be completely destroyed.

Chapter 167: Cultural Extinction

East Africa, even within Africa, is a wasteland of civilization compared to the rest of the world. The brilliant civilization of ancient Egypt supported the entire historical narrative of African civilization.

However, Ernst has never considered Egypt as part of Africa. When he thinks of Africa, Ernst subconsciously excludes the entirety of North Africa. The boundless Sahara Desert is like a Milky Way, dividing Africa into two worlds.

The indigenous people of the East African plains are not, in Ernst’s eyes, part of the civilized world. They are too wild and unrestrained, so much so that Ernst feels they are one with the vast African continent.

In good conscience, Ernst is unwilling to disrupt the indigenous people’s way of life, where they have danced with beasts for thousands of years.

However, even without Ernst, other colonizers would break the peace of this continent, so Western colonizers are the true destroyers of this world.

They forcibly dragged Africa into the gears of the world, and before their arrival, these indigenous people had no concept of human society. Like the animals of the East African plains, they followed the law of the jungle and possessed a truly simple way of thinking. They were rich in the most primitive and untamed thoughts.

The colonizers endowed the world of these indigenous people with the lies, deceit, selfishness, greed, and all the other evils of the so-called civilized world.

Yet they singularly failed to educate them, to impart the great thoughts and fine virtues of human sages to these indigenous people.

Of course, Ernst is no saint either. As a seasoned veteran who has been whipped by society for decades, Ernst’s heart is also pitch-black.

Now Ernst is about to completely erase the traces of these indigenous people’s existence in East Africa. Destroying the traces of the East African natives’ existence is very simple, especially in the grassland areas. A single wildfire can burn away all traces of their existence.

However, this time Ernst’s main target is not these indigenous people, but the Arab civilization that has truly left its mark on East Africa.

The East African colony contains a large legacy of Arab civilization. Arabs, Persians, Indians, and even the Great Ming from the Far East have all visited the land of East Africa.

India, Persia, and the Far East are not worth worrying about, after all, they were only visitors to East Africa.

It is the Arabs who have truly taken root in East Africa. The entire East African coast and the areas close to North Africa retain a large number of traces of Arab civilization.

This includes the architecture and cities left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which are only the tip of the iceberg, as well as the regions of Kenya and Buganda that have been deeply influenced by North Africa.

Even in the twenty-first century of his previous life, archaeologists could still excavate traces left by ancient Arabs in the ruins of East Africa.

The uniformly Islamic-style buildings are quite eye-catching in East Africa, many of which are products of the Middle Ages, and would be proper cultural heritage in his previous life.

However, Ernst is not a person who cherishes cultural relics, especially those whose existence may affect the legal basis of East African land in the future.

People always like to fantasize, and many people like the saying “since ancient times.” East Africa once contained many cities built by Arab civilizations.

In his previous life, Ernst had reason to believe that some Arabs would use this as a basis to demand explanations from East Africa.

Not to mention the twenty-first century, even now, this kind of thing is very common. For example, a bunch of European countries claim to be the successors of Rome. If France and Germany are doing it for the sake of declaration.

Then Italy is dreaming of restoring the Roman Empire, which is wishful thinking. Everyone knows that the Rome that Italy is talking about is not reliable. Is it possible to cede the entire Mediterranean coast to you!

Some people in Italy are reaching for the moon, they are out of their minds.

And the Turks are just purely funny clowns. Eastern Rome was destroyed by the Ottoman Empire, but now the Ottoman Empire also claims to be the legitimate successor of Rome. The Germans at least accepted part of the Roman cultural heritage, but the Ottomans are completely a foreign civilization, and were complete enemies of ancient Rome, not giving Eastern Rome any chance of survival, and even exterminating its culture. How can they have the nerve to say that?

Moreover, Turkey wants to fly the flag of Rome, but also cannot forget Arab civilization, and later even engaged in Pan-Turkism, truly jumping up and down.

Therefore, as times develop, outrageous things will only become more outrageous. Ernst is just patching things up, trying to prevent extraterritorial countries from finding fault in the future.

As for East Africa, all historical sites have been destroyed. In the future, East Africa’s history book will replace the United States as the thinnest one. Ernst doesn’t care.

Even if the United States in his previous life gathered cultural relics and cultures from all over the world in the United States, it would not change the contempt of the people of the Old World for American history and culture.

There is no need for East Africa, which has an even shorter history, to bury its head in the sand. It just doesn’t have history and culture, so admit it, and frankly admit that East Africa is a patchwork.

Fischer’s job is of this kind, and his job content is to direct the demolition work in Dar es Salaam.

All buildings left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar are demolished and replaced with buildings in the German style. This work is also being carried out in areas such as Mombasa and Buganda.

In the future, new cities in the German style will replace mosques and other typical Arab buildings as new windows for East Africa’s foreign exchanges.

It was a complete accident that “high-end talents” like Fischer could come to Africa. The Stuttgarter Abendzeitung was actually opened by Ernst. As the speed of German immigration slowed down, he took a shot in the dark and published recruitment advertisements in the newspaper.

Originally, he thought that East Africa would not be attractive to city dwellers in Germany, after all, the salary offered was not high, and Africa had such a bad reputation in Europe.

But Ernst underestimated the living conditions of the lower classes in this era. Even in relatively developed cities, there were still craftsmen like Fischer whose families were about to run out of food.

However, don’t fantasize about recruiting a large number of workers with advertisements. The vast majority of Germans are still willing to live in Europe, and leaving their hometown is a last resort.

Moreover, East Africa does not have that many jobs to accommodate these workers now. Fischer is fine, the construction industry is popular everywhere, that is, the technical threshold is relatively low.

And this industry in Europe is currently saturated. A low technical threshold means it is easy to be replaced. In addition, Fischer has not received much education, and relies entirely on ancestral experience, and just happened to encounter an unscrupulous boss. These combined factors led to Fischer losing his job and finding employment in East Africa.

There are probably not many unlucky people like this in Germany. Even if he waited a little longer, he should be able to find a job, but Fischer’s family had three mouths to feed, and he couldn’t afford to wait.

In addition, the southwestern region of Germany is indeed a key area for East African immigrants. With the farmer groups immigrating to East Africa as a demonstration, it further deepened Fischer’s impulse to develop in East Africa.

Chapter 168: Utensils

Dar es Salaam.

A public canteen.

New immigrants are receiving a torturous lesson.

“Extend your middle finger and bend it slightly, like I’m doing here. See this first joint above?” Layton said to the European immigrants, pointing to the first joint of his middle finger with his left hand.

“This part is key, determining your application of this utensil. Now, extend your index finger and thumb as well.

Watch my movements carefully. First, place the first chopstick on your ring finger, then place the second one on the first joint of your middle finger. Pinch the top with your thumb and index finger.

Note that the pad of your thumb should also press on the first chopstick. At this point, the first chopstick remains stationary.

Use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger together to manipulate the first chopstick, like this. If you master this skill, you can basically handle all the food in East Africa.” Layton said to the German immigrants, holding chopsticks in his hand.

As he spoke, Layton began to demonstrate the entire process of using chopsticks to the immigrants. He had a ceramic bowl filled with rice and vegetables.

Layton skillfully held the bowl and used the chopsticks to pick up the rice and vegetables, bringing them to his mouth.

“Of course, you can also do this with a spoon, but the East African government only provides chopsticks to save costs. It will be very inconvenient if you can’t learn to use chopsticks,” Layton said.

Of all the utensils in the world, none are easier to produce than chopsticks. You can even find two branches to temporarily replace the function of chopsticks.

As a canteen, the scale is naturally not small, so the number of utensils required is also large, and the impoverished East African colony does not have the energy to provide these European immigrants with knives, forks, and spoons.

In this era, Europeans, especially commoners in the German region, mainly used spoons.

In German rural families, meals were basically eaten with the whole family around the table, with a communal pot of porridge-like wheat porridge. Everyone directly scooped it out of the pot with a spoon.

If it was food that needed to be divided, such as bread, a communal knife was used to cut it.

Knives and forks were not very popular in Germany during this era.

In the European Middle Ages, people were still eating with their hands. The first to use forks (two-pronged) were the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, around the tenth century. It quickly spread to Italy and became an important utensil for eating pasta.

Before that, people used to grab pasta with sauce and eat it with their fingers, and they would always lick their fingers clean with a satisfied slurping sound after eating.

In order to improve this inelegant eating habit, they chose the Byzantine Empire’s fork - rolling the noodles on the fork teeth and sending them into the mouth in clumps.

However, the “fork” was opposed by the medieval church. For example, a German missionary in the Middle Ages directly denounced the fork as a “devil’s luxury” and said, “If God wanted us to use this tool, he would not have given us fingers.” He warned everyone to continue to maintain the tradition of eating “finger food.”

As the church gradually declined, forks began to spread from Italy to other regions.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, the European upper and middle classes had completely accepted the mode of eating with forks. The French court of the “Sun King” Louis XIV first started the mode of using a knife in one hand and a fork in the other, and produced a large number of exquisite silver utensils. At the same time, the French also improved the fork from two prongs to four prongs, and the fork was basically finalized.

At this time, forks were still popular in French upper society. Most ordinary Europeans were still eating “finger food.”

Napoleon was the one who really promoted knives and forks. In the Napoleonic era, France was keen to export French culture to the whole of Europe, and forks also took root everywhere in Europe with Napoleon’s army.

Knives and forks are already common in German cities, but they have not yet become popular in the countryside. Many rural people still maintain traditional eating habits.

However, German commoners are not considered backward in dining, at least they use spoons.

Spoons are not as difficult to make as forks, but chopsticks are easier to make and easier to clean, so the utensils prepared in the East African canteen are chopsticks.

The use of chopsticks in the East African canteen was not decided by Ernst, but was a spontaneous choice by the people in charge of the East African canteen.

After all, the person in charge of the East African canteen can make his own decisions on such trivial matters as what utensils to use, as long as he does not embezzle funds, and every item is recorded in the accounts and reported with reasons.

The East African canteen chose chopsticks mainly inspired by Chinese immigrants, coupled with Ernst’s large-scale hygiene campaign in East Africa and the low cost of chopsticks.

If it weren’t for Ernst’s hygiene policy, immigrants probably wouldn’t even care about eating with their hands, and even chopsticks could be saved.

In fact, immigrants eating in the canteen can bring their own utensils. It is a dead rule that they are not allowed to eat directly with their hands in the canteen, but they can choose what utensils to use, but the East African canteen only provides chopsticks.

However, not every European immigrant brings their own eating utensils when they come to East Africa. There are always some careless and sloppy guys, and on the way to East Africa, they are basically supplied with dry food, so they don’t need utensils, and they are at a loss when they arrive in East Africa.

The East African canteen adopts a separate meal system, stipulating that you cannot directly use your hands when eating in the canteen to prevent food waste. Immigrants can choose to bring their own utensils or choose the utensils provided by the canteen.

The people in charge of the canteen are very satisfied with the use of chopsticks, which not only reduces costs but also meets hygiene conditions. As for some European immigrants who are not used to it, there is no way. Anyway, the people in charge use complete utensils themselves, with knives, forks, spoons, and everything else.

And the vast majority of immigrants who come to East Africa will definitely bring their own eating utensils, but it does not rule out the existence of some immigrants who are so poor that they don’t even have a bowl, or who still retain the medieval habit of “finger food.”

Of course, canteens that use chopsticks are mainly distributed in the eastern coastal areas of East Africa and the Great Lakes region, which are the main rice-producing areas.

In the wheat-producing areas, the staple food in the canteen is mainly baked cakes, bread, etc., and the wheat-producing areas are mainly inland. Immigrants can make their own utensils on the way to the inland, so the need for chopsticks is relatively small.

Chopsticks are just a transitional product for most European immigrants who have just arrived in East Africa and have not brought their own eating utensils.

Once they have time to make a set of utensils themselves, or leave the canteen, they can choose whether to continue using them.

Of course, it is not ruled out that some people will like chopsticks as a utensil, and the large Chinese community in East Africa will also influence some European immigrants.

However, it is difficult for European immigrants to influence Chinese immigrants to use European utensils in return. After all, most European immigrants, especially German immigrants, come from rural areas, and their utensils are just a spoon, and spoons are not unique to Germany or even Europe.

This can also be regarded as one aspect of the advantage of Chinese immigrants in the mutual integration of the two civilizations, after all, East African policies are biased towards Europe.

Chapter 169: Fisher’s Work

After Leiden gave these European immigrants, who were lacking cutlery, a lesson on how to use chopsticks, he went off to busy himself with other work. As for whether they would learn or not, that was not Leiden’s concern.

Some people had already grasped the knack and were starting to play around with them, while more were still scratching their heads, unable to use the chopsticks properly.

When they got to the dining table, sure enough, as expected, all sorts of embarrassing situations arose. The small chopsticks became strange and bizarre in these people’s hands. Some who gave up simply gripped the chopsticks in their palms, picked up their bowls, and shoveled the rice into their mouths.

Those who had learned were using the chopsticks in a decent manner to pick up food and enjoy the wonders of it.

There was also a group of people who had learned it in their heads, but their hands hadn’t caught up. Their posture for holding the chopsticks was correct, but they couldn’t pick up the food or easily dropped it.

Unlike the European immigrants who were forced to use chopsticks to eat in the cafeteria, the Fisher family was now cooking their own meals in the house they had been allocated.

For the first few days after arriving in East Africa, the Fisher family had also experienced the East African cafeteria, but the Fisher family was relatively well-equipped. After all, they were people who had lived in a big city and had seen knives, forks, spoons, and other cutlery, and they even had them at home.

Before leaving Stuttgart, Fisher had sold his small house, along with the furniture. It wasn’t worth much, after all, the house was too small and dilapidated, and the furniture was old and rough, so it didn’t fetch a good price. Every little bit helps.

Fisher took the opportunity to deposit the money into the Hechengen Development Bank. This was what the staff responsible for immigration had told him – that there was also a Hechengen Development Bank in East Africa.

Apart from the house and furniture, Fisher found almost nothing else of value. All that was left were some pots and pans, knives, forks, spoons, and a few tools for construction work.

Fisher could easily manage these things with a bundle, so carrying all his belongings, Fisher led his family across the ocean to live in East Africa.

In East Africa, the Fisher family was allocated a house in Dar es Salaam, which was formerly a residence of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

The original owner had returned to Zanzibar Island with His Majesty the Sultan, and the property had fallen into the hands of the East African colony.

The house was a brick and tile structure, in good condition, and very large, fully meeting the needs of the current Fisher family of four.

This house alone made Fisher feel that coming to East Africa was worth it. The allocated house was much better than the small house in Stuttgart. It was not only larger, but also looked newer.

As for other benefits in East Africa, such as free education, Fisher considered them to be better than nothing, because he himself had never been to school, and most of the people he came into contact with were illiterate. The masses at the bottom of society in this era did not know that knowledge could change their destiny, especially in Germany, where nobles were everywhere.

The salary, on the other hand, was a bit of a miscalculation for Fisher. There were too few places to spend money in East Africa, and Fisher didn’t smoke or drink, so he basically couldn’t spend much money. He had no choice but to continue depositing the money in the bank.

As an important commercial hub on the Indian Ocean coast, the Port of Dar es Salaam also had a branch of the Hechengen Development Bank.

In addition to handling salary settlement business for colonial personnel, it mainly served merchants and sailors from various countries passing through.

Needless to say, merchants, the Hechengen Development Bank could reap a lot of benefits from the sailors on the sea lanes. Most sailors in this era had some side hustles and could get a lot of good things overseas.

And Dar es Salaam, thanks to its advantageous location, could help them dispose of stolen goods, so they didn’t have to run to Europe to sell their goods, saving procedures and time.

…

“Everyone, pay attention, the cement must be mixed evenly. Don’t rush to add water, add it little by little, and continue to stir after each addition of water so that the water is completely integrated.

This won’t work! Add more sand, otherwise it won’t stick.”

Fisher was directing work all over the construction site. This was near the wharf in Dar es Salaam. The original Zanzibar buildings had been demolished, and East Africa was going to build a hotel and beer hall here to serve the ships that docked here.

After the Sultanate of Zanzibar retreated back to Zanzibar Island, the original port staff also went to Zanzibar Island to seek other ways out.

This included people who provided accommodation, food, gambling, and alcohol to merchant ships.

However, the East African colony initially lacked relevant experience when it took over here and failed to take over these businesses in time, wasting many opportunities to make money.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to renovate the city of Dar es Salaam, the East African colony planned to revive these commercial activities.

And East Africa’s main focus this time was on the European style, which would give those European sailors a sense of returning to Europe. European architecture combined with the unique tropical scenery would definitely be unique.

The Indian Ocean coast is not lacking in Arabic-style architecture and culture, so that those Arab merchant ships can also experience the charm of European architecture.

Both consumer groups can at least attract some people to come and spend money, and before the Suez Canal was opened, the geographical location of the Port of Dar es Salaam was still good, so business should be better in the coming year.

European architecture is basically unified, with Baroque and Gothic styles being the most popular. Of course, there are also so-called Romanesque architecture, Neoclassical architecture… These architectural styles borrow from each other, or are simply related to inheritance and development.

Stuttgart is located in Central Europe, so Fisher could be exposed to both Baroque and Gothic architectural styles.

Fisher didn’t really understand these things. Everything was done according to ancestral experience and customer requirements.

Years of dealing with various customers, especially those merchants who had strict requirements for architecture, had also allowed Fisher to see a lot, and his ancestral craftsmanship had also integrated various trends in the current German architecture.

“The foundation is not deep enough. It needs to be at least thirty centimeters deeper. This is going to be a three-story building. If the foundation is not solid, there will be big trouble.” Fisher said to the workers with a measuring scale.

This was to be used to build a hotel, so it could not be taken lightly. Therefore, Fisher personally tested each process and immediately modified any unqualified areas until they were qualified.

And many of the workers in East Africa were amateurs who had switched from farmers to workers and knew nothing about architecture.

Although Fisher was originally just an ordinary construction worker, he was still very good compared to these so-called construction workers in East Africa. Fisher had both seen the pig run and eaten the pork.

And the best of these workers who were temporarily transferred from farmers in East Africa may have only been exposed to building houses in the countryside before.

And Dar es Salaam, as a city, naturally cannot use those small houses in the countryside, especially since it mainly provides accommodation and other services for people traveling to and from the sea, so it must at least look professional.

Chapter 170: Shopping

It was another beautiful day.

The Fischer family began preparing for Christmas.

Dar es Salaam was different from the inland cities. Because it was an open port, ships from various countries passed through, making it easy to obtain many products.

This also meant that currency had a use here. European and Arab merchants would set up stalls in the open areas of Dar es Salaam to promote their products.

“Honey, you’re back,” Anna asked sweetly. Since coming to East Africa, the Fischer family had been living a life of guaranteed income, no longer having to live as frugally as they had in the past.

The Fischer family’s mental state had also become more optimistic and positive, shaking off the worried expressions they once wore for life.

“Yes, I just went to the trading street to take a look. Here are the things I bought. Take a look,” Fischer said, handing a basket to Anna.

Anna took the basket and saw an oilskin package, a bag, and a jar inside. There were also things underneath that she didn’t know what they were.

“What’s this?” Anna asked, first taking out the oilskin package.

“Open it and see,” Fischer said.

Anna opened the oilskin package along the creases. It turned out to be a string of sausage-like things.

“Does East Africa even sell sausage?” Anna asked, somewhat surprised.

“I didn’t expect anyone to be selling this stuff on the trading street. It’s really rare, and the price isn’t too expensive, so I bought it. The shop assistant said it was Vienna sausage imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The taste is not much different from what we had back home,” Fischer said.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen food from the German region, and even in Germany, we rarely could afford it,” Anna said with delight.

Although the Fischer family didn’t have to worry about food and drink in East Africa, they had their own worries. The main crop grown in the eastern region was rice.

Every month, Fischer received a salary and food rations for his family from the East African colony.

The food rations distributed in the eastern region were rice, after all, wheat was mainly grown inland, and flour, as an important export product, was mainly supplied to Europe.

Rice was different. This stuff had no market in Europe, and the Far East and India were rice-producing areas, so it couldn’t be sold for a good price.

If it couldn’t be sold, they simply used it to feed the immigrants as part of Fischer’s salary. Fischer had no choice in the matter.

So the Fischer family was forced to eat rice. With Fischer’s financial resources, he could actually buy flour, but rice was provided free of charge by East Africa, while flour had to be bought with cash.

People of this era had a sense of saving money and food to cope with risks, after all, they didn’t know when they might not have enough to eat.

However, the Fischer family couldn’t stand eating rice all the time, so Fischer still took out some money to buy some flour to keep at home, occasionally using it to improve their meals.

“Honey, we don’t have to live like we did in Germany anymore. The days will get better and better,” Fischer said to his wife.

“Yes!” Anna snuggled into Fischer’s arms.

“You haven’t looked at the things below yet!” Fischer reminded her.

Anna took out the jar. Through the glass jar, she could see white granules.

“This is salt. Don’t we have some at home?”

“No, this is what I bought from the Hechingen store. Guess again what it is.”

Anna shook her head. Besides salt, she couldn’t think of anything else.

“This is white sugar, imported from the Far East,” Fischer revealed the answer.

Sugar was not very cheap in Europe, and was basically dependent on imports. Ordinary people usually couldn’t afford it. The German region had already begun to grow sugar beets to make sugar, but the scale was not large and the output was very limited.

Currently, Europe mainly imported sugar from the Caribbean and other regions. East Africa could also grow sugarcane, but there were too many things that East Africa could grow, so it was only grown on a small scale in the Great Lakes region.

The white sugar that Fischer bought was indeed imported from the Far East, and was transported to East Africa with the immigrant ships. This was just a side business. The main part was actually transported to Europe.

“This must not be cheap!” Anna said worriedly.

“The price is indeed a bit high, but we have the means now, and Christmas is coming soon, so we should add some nutrition for the children,” Fischer explained.

In East Africa, the work Fischer did was highly paid. Only officials and employees of the Hechingen Group could earn more than Fischer.

In fact, ordinary people in East Africa generally lived pretty well. At least they had enough to eat, which was very good.

East Africa lacked everything except food. The vast arable land and natural resources, relative to the sparse population of East Africa, meant that living conditions would not be too bad.

Of course, maintaining a basic standard of living, plus occasionally being able to eat meat, was the level that immigrants could reach.

The difference between Fischer and ordinary immigrants was that he had the technology needed by the East African colony, so Fischer’s salary was much higher than that of ordinary immigrants.

And these extra wages meant that the Fischer family had more choices than ordinary immigrants, such as going to the trading street to buy the goods they needed.

The Dar es Salaam trading street was actually the commercial district closest to the pier, specially prepared for merchants and sailors.

And in East Africa, only a few thousand people could afford to spend money on the trading street. It should be known that the entire population of East Africa was now close to two million, which shows the consumption level of the trading street.

As an important port in East Africa, Dar es Salaam had many offices of the Hechingen Group and government agencies of the East African colony.

The people in these institutions and agencies were the consumers in Dar es Salaam who could afford to spend money in the Dar es Salaam trade market.

And Fischer belonged to the real employees of the Hechingen Group. He was recruited to East Africa and belonged to the talents actively introduced by East Africa, rather than ordinary employees who were employees in name only.

Although ordinary immigrants were also nominally under the Hechingen Group, everyone with discerning eyes knew that they were more like the Hechingen royal family’s subjects, especially the German and Slavic immigrants. After arriving in East Africa, they did not feel any different from Europe.

It was not even much different from the life of serfs in those years. As long as East Africa did not go too far, serfs or farmers were just a matter of name, which was not a big deal. At least these immigrants with their level of education didn’t care.

And the Far Eastern immigrants did not have the same feeling as the European immigrants. After all, the Far East did not have the kind of nobility that Europe had. These Far Eastern immigrants mainly dealt with the landlords in the villages, and it was obvious that the landlords in the Far East did not have as prominent a political status in society as the European nobles.

After all, Europe paid more attention to the division of people’s status, especially between nobles, and the distinction between nobles and commoners was clear. It was difficult for commoners to become nobles, at least there were no clear channels.

And in the Far East, in theory, ordinary people could improve their social status through hard work. For example, farmers had the opportunity to become landlords, and ordinary people could become the “scholar” class through the imperial examination, but the difficulty was a bit too high.

Chapter 171: 1868 Development Report

December 28, 1868.

This year’s statistical data for East Africa has been slowly compiled. Due to factors such as the growth of various data points, expansion of territory, population increase, and the addition of industries, the statistical process has been much slower than in the previous two years.

Previously, the immigrant population could be easily calculated directly from the archives of the port areas, as each immigrant was registered upon arrival.

But this year, that model no longer works because of the explosion in the number of newborns. This requires each region of East Africa to report the data, and related personnel to verify it.

By the end of November 1868, the entire East African colony’s population was over 1.75 million, approaching 2 million.

Although reaching this level in nearly three years is an exaggeration, East Africa has indeed done it. After all, no one in this era is as painstaking, laborious, and financially invested in actively recruiting immigrants as East Africa.

The entire journey from the immigrants’ departure to their arrival in East Africa is almost entirely covered by the East African colony, with all transportation costs and food provided by the Black Hingen Consortium.

The 1.75 million is the total data for East African immigrants and newborns and does not include the indigenous people of East Africa. The number of indigenous people should fluctuate between 1.3 and 1.5 million. When East Africa has many projects and a large demand for labor, East Africa goes to the west to seize some. When there are fewer projects, the number of slaves is in a continuous state of decline, with batches being sent away from the port of Dar es Salaam every day.

The number of slaves is so high, almost reaching a one-to-one ratio with the local population. Even the American South did not have such a terrifying proportion, so it is ridiculous to worry about the East African colony lacking labor. East Africa is not stupid.

Even so, Ernst is still considered restrained. After all, East Africa is bringing in immigrants from all over the world to strengthen East Africa’s power, not to support a bunch of freeloaders. Therefore, the East African colony still tries to squeeze the value out of the immigrants as much as possible, rather than letting the black slaves do all the work.

Throughout 1868, the expansion of the East African colony was not very prominent because the opponents were too weak, and the northwest area was small compared to East Africa. As for northern Kenya, although it was also developed this year, the difficulty was even lower.

This is because this area is within the sphere of influence of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Although the Sultanate of Zanzibar does not actually rule here, the local tribes and northern forces have basically been beaten badly by the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

Including the Sultanate of Geledi in the Somali region, which was also a little brother during the Omani Empire, only breaking away from Omani control a little over a decade ago.

According to the normal historical trajectory, in a few years, the Sultanate of Zanzibar (the Omani Empire consisted of two parts: Muscat and Zanzibar. Later, the Sultanate of Zanzibar became independent, a royal family split) would once again turn the Sultanate of Geledi back into its vassal.

It can be said that the emergence of the East African colony temporarily rescued the Sultanate of Geledi from its predicament, preventing it from being annexed by the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

In northern East Africa, in addition to the Sultanate of Geledi, there is also the traditional overlord of East Africa, Ethiopia. However, this year the British gave the Ethiopian Abyssinian Empire a severe beating, and the emperor even committed suicide, so naturally, it could not hold up its reputation.

Therefore, the development of the northern Kenya region was very smooth, and the population was relatively sparse compared to the south, making it easier to colonize and develop.

The northwest region and northern Kenya have brought East Africa’s territory to approximately over two million square kilometers (not including the area of Lake Victoria and other water bodies).

In terms of industry, East Africa can still be ignored. To be honest, East Africa’s dozens of factories and workshops would not be impressive even in a feudal country, let alone compared with European countries.

Take Prussia 20 years ago as an example. The number of its large and small workshops and factories was as high as more than 78,000, with more than 550,000 workers. Now that Prussia has integrated the North German Confederation, its terror can be imagined.

Therefore, agriculture is still as stable as Mount Tai in the industrial structure of the East African colony.

As of November 26, 1868, the East African colony had cultivated approximately 20.4 million mu of arable land, with an average planting area of approximately 12.75 mu per person (excluding slaves and recent immigrants to East Africa).

Among them, the rice planting area has not increased much, totaling 1.1 million mu. The newly developed areas are mainly in eastern Kenya and near the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) region, and the estimated output can reach 220 million catties.

The wheat planting area is approximately 6.6 million mu, or approximately 440,000 hectares, almost quadrupled, with an estimated output of over 1 billion catties, or approximately one million tons.

This year, corn planting has made a leap forward. As the main food for livestock and slaves, the planting area has reached more than 5 million mu, or more than 300,000 hectares.

In addition, the planting area of sorghum and millet has also reached more than 2 million mu.

Among them, sorghum is one of the native species of Africa and is very suitable for planting, mainly as a supplement to corn.

Corn, millet, and sorghum are easier to manage than rice and wheat, especially sorghum. In East Africa, it relies on extensive planting and low yield. It is almost enough to just scatter it in the ground.

The above are the main food crops of East Africa. Among them, rice, wheat, and millet are the main food for East Africans, while corn and sorghum are mainly used for indigenous people and livestock. In addition to these crops, the remaining land is used to grow cash crops.

Sisal is still the largest cash crop in East Africa, followed by soybeans, and third is coffee. In addition, there are large-scale peanuts, sesame, rubber, cloves, cotton, tea, and other crops.

Sisal’s position is being overtaken by soybeans, because soybeans, as a nitrogen-fixing plant, are used for crop rotation and will be mixed with wheat and other crops.

Although the coffee planting area is not small, the harvest is still a long way off.

Interestingly, many cash crops are mainly concentrated in the Great Lakes region, such as rubber, which is currently distributed along the Great Lakes coast and near the rivers in the Great Lakes basin.

Tanzania, as a tropical region, is suitable for rubber planting, but the prerequisite is to ensure water supply. East Africa is not actually short of water, but the amount of water is less than in tropical rainforest areas.

In its previous life, Africa was the second largest rubber producing area after Southeast Asia, and Tanzania’s rubber planting scale was in the top ten in Africa.

However, due to the Tanzanian government’s lack of attention to rubber planting, slow updates in planting technology, and the locals’ lack of enthusiasm for managing this complicated crop, East African rubber production costs are far higher than in Southeast Asia and other regions, and even need to be imported from Southeast Asia. In fact, Tanzania is fully capable of achieving self-sufficiency in rubber planting. (Source: East African General Tire’s data report from 1978 to 1991, the company has directly affiliated rubber plantations in Tanzania)

Therefore, the main factor restricting East African agriculture is still the uneven distribution of rainfall in time and space. For example, in the East African wheat planting area, water is mainly used to ensure the priority of food crops such as wheat, while in the more water-scarce north, millet and sorghum are widely planted.

Many cash crops require a lot of water during their growth period, and the Great Lakes region and the eastern coastal plains are the places with the most abundant rainfall in East Africa.

Especially the newly occupied land in the Great Lakes region, the Mitumba Mountains, whose west side is the Congo Basin, has more abundant rainfall.

Of course, some cash crops do not need too much water and are suitable for dryland planting, such as cotton and sesame.

The development of so much land requires the widespread use of slaves and advanced iron tools. Although East Africa cannot achieve the level of mechanization in Europe, it is still good compared to other regions.

Importing iron farm tools from Europe is a major expense for the East African colony, which has led East Africa to prioritize all available funds on iron imports. In order to ensure the priority of agricultural tool popularization, many families in East Africa do not even have an iron pot. Pottery cookware and ovens are very popular, and most of the tableware is also made of wood.

The amount of iron ore mined in East Africa is quite small, only as an ancillary product of coal mining. East Africa does not even have a modern steel plant, relying only on the traditional kilns left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar in the east and a few small ironware workshops (blacksmith shops).

Of course, East Africa does not not want to build a steel plant. The problem is how to transport the machines in, and steel plants in this era are definitely a king bomb industry, determining a country’s level of development.

If you want to introduce it, the price is very high, and the most uncomfortable thing is that East Africa’s transportation conditions are still at the level of human and animal power.

East Africa’s coal and iron resources are distributed inland. In this era, steel plants are built near resource areas, resource-oriented. For example, the Ruhr area is built on coal mines.

Unlike the previous life, the 21st century is market-oriented. The Far East country has built many large steel plants in coastal areas, relying on sea transportation for coal and iron resources, and at the same time facilitating the sale of products to the world through sea transportation.

Therefore, Ernst has not built a steel plant in East Africa until now, and the little coal produced by slaves in East Africa is only provided to a few factories that use steam as power. Even so, there is still a lot of surplus. As for the amount needed by the factory, it can be supported by handcarts, let alone horse-drawn carriages.

The only advantage East Africa has over contemporary backward countries in industry is that there are several factories using steam engines for production, all of which are distributed along the coast, including the only steam engine used for drainage at the Mwanza coal mine.

In addition to a few primary agricultural product processing plants (sisal, tobacco, flour, etc.), the rest of East Africa are slightly larger “workshops” and workshops, relying purely on human power. For example, the ship engines used by the Mwanza Shipyard are transported from Germany, and the rest of the hull is handcrafted.

In other words, how developed East African handicrafts are completely depends on how developed the Sultanate of Zanzibar is on the East African coast. Unfortunately, the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s economic center of gravity has always been on Zanzibar Island, and Ernst, adhering to the principle of leaving a line for others, did not copy Zanzibar Island, after all, he had to leave a way out for the Sultanate of Zanzibar (the most important thing is that the Sultanate of Zanzibar has connections with the United Kingdom. During the Omani Empire, the British supported Oman in competing with countries such as Portugal).

Of course, East Africa also has a military factory, which is considered the most advanced industry in East Africa, but it only stays at the stage of repairing East Africa’s damaged guns and producing simple explosives for bullet production.

Compared to industry, East Africa’s agriculture is really good, meeting local needs while also exporting.

But this is based on the premise that East Africa is sparsely populated and the slave economy is prevalent, rather than how high the agricultural productivity level of East Africa is. East Africa’s agricultural productivity is only at the upper-middle level in the world. The comprehensive application of windmills, advanced agricultural tools, fertilizers, and scientific cultivation methods makes East Africa stand out among backward countries and regions.

Chapter 172: Expansion and Immigration Issues

Currently, it seems that East Africa is developing very rapidly, although it is now the era of industrialization, East Africa’s industrial development is almost a blank slate.

However, East Africa’s own conditions are not very good, especially before the development of the East African colonies, the vast majority of the area was still in a primitive hunting civilization.

Vast lands were not developed and utilized. The only entity that could be considered a modern state, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, relied mainly on the slave trade in its mainland territories.

The fact that the East African colonies brought the local area into an agricultural society is already a considerable achievement.

Agriculture is the foundation of East Africa. Even in my previous life, East Africa was one of the few agricultural zones in Africa, basically able to achieve self-sufficiency. Tanzania and the countries near the Great Lakes are important agricultural countries in Africa.

Of course, compared to being an agricultural country, the countries of East Africa would definitely prefer to be resource countries. However, judging from the development of East Africa in my previous life, East Africa belongs to a relatively economically backward region in the whole of Africa.

This is because East Africa’s own resource endowment is not prominent in the whole of Africa. Of course, this also has some advantages. Compared with other regions of Africa in my previous life, East Africa has relatively fewer conflicts and wars, and the society as a whole is relatively stable.

Of course, not prominent does not mean a lack of resources. Rather, East Africa lacks the main mineral resources needed for industrialization, such as coal, iron, and oil. These mineral resources, which are in great demand and widely used, are the foundation of industrialization.

For example, the most famous and highest-yielding diamond resources in Africa in my previous life, this kind of hyped luxury item, basically does not help African industrialization much, and its profits are still siphoned off by European and American capital.

As for coal and iron resources, the overall reserves of the entire African continent are relatively small compared to other continents. Oil resources are good, but they are mainly distributed in North Africa and the West African coast.

The fundamental reason why the African continent is seen as resource-rich in the eyes of the world is that Africa’s development level is low and its resource utilization rate is low. The mining industry is the pillar industry of many countries.

Moreover, with the development of science and technology, especially after the 21st century, the demand for non-ferrous metals, including heavy metals (such as copper, lead, zinc), light metals (such as aluminum, magnesium), precious metals (such as gold, silver, platinum) and rare metals (such as tungsten, molybdenum, germanium, lithium, lanthanum, uranium) is increasing, especially the research and development of rare metals, and these resources are relatively abundant in Africa.

But in terms of importance, the status of oil, coal, iron, copper, aluminum, and gold cannot be shaken.

Especially energy; so many wars are energy wars. Many countries are fighting tooth and nail for energy.

East Africa can forget about oil resources. After searching all around, only South Sudan has considerable reserves. But now Ernst does not intend to create conflict with Egypt. Any country with some strength deserves to be respected.

Coal can be worked on. East Africa has few coal reserves, but southern Africa has a lot of coal resources, especially in the Zambia and Zimbabwe areas. These two places just happen to be in a “no man’s land” right now.

Moreover, Ernst has long been interested in Zambia and has always been thinking about the Katanga Plateau copper mining belt (Central African copper-cobalt belt).

This is the most easily accessible world-class important metal mining belt for East Africa, which can directly affect the pricing power of the world’s copper mines.

With the Northwest of the Great Lakes and Northern Kenya safely in the bag, the main direction of expansion for the East African colonies in 1869 will definitely be the Katanga Plateau.

This time, East Africa will generally maintain its previous expansion strategy, trying to avoid conflicts of interest with regional powers and other colonizers, and bypassing their core interest areas, namely Egypt, Britain, Portugal and other forces.

At present, there is a wide buffer zone between East Africa and the above countries or their colonies, avoiding direct contact between the two sides.

To the south is the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, and to the north are the Egyptian and British Somaliland colonies. East Africa is separated from these forces by terrain or natives.

This also means that East Africa’s next expansion can only be westward, and due west is the Congo. Ernst is not very interested in tropical rainforests, and there is nothing in the northwest direction that attracts East African expansion.

So only the southwest region remains. First, take the Katanga Plateau, and second, prepare for future expansion of energy reserves (coal).

The above is the current resource situation of the East African colonies, the surrounding situation they face, and the expansion plan for 1869.

In 1869, East Africa’s immigration goal is to break through two million people. That’s right, Ernst’s requirements are so low now. Currently, the population of East Africa has reached more than 1.75 million, and breaking through two million can be said to be a breeze. Relying on the newborn population alone, it may be possible.

Two million is a threshold. Once this threshold is crossed, Ernst will no longer have to worry about the security of East Africa as he used to.

Next, East Africa’s immigration work can continue as usual. There may not be much fluctuation in the future. The new ships and transport capacity of the Hechengen Consortium will no longer be invested in immigration, but will be used for industrial transfer and commodity transportation.

This change also means that East Africa’s screening standards for immigrants will increase rather than decrease. In the past, there was an urgent need for immigrants, and it was inevitable that standards would be lowered in the work. Now, the requirements for immigrants will increase instead.

Of course, the growth rate of East African immigrants should not change much. Since the second half of 1868, East Africa has entered a stage of slow immigration.

The political stability in the Far East and the German region is peaceful, and the willingness of civilians to go to sea has dropped significantly. In addition, East Africa had used too much force before, and the immigration potential of the two regions has been squeezed dry, and it takes time to recover.

Therefore, East Africa’s current immigration capacity is somewhat excessive. Fortunately, the newly introduced Slavs have filled some of the gap, but the overall immigration speed has entered a slowdown stage.

Of course, East Africa still welcomes immigrants from the German region, but there is really not a drop left. With the decrease in German immigrants, Ernst intends to compress the entry of other immigrants into East Africa.

German immigrants need to account for at least 30 percent of the level, other European immigrants should be at the 20 percent level, and the Far East is probably at 30 percent, while other regions (such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the Americas) account for 20 percent.

In this way, although there are many Chinese immigrants, there are more European and other immigrants, and Europeans are mainly Germans. In addition, there is intermarriage between immigrants in various regions within the East African colonies. This population structure is already relatively stable, and it is only necessary to continue to promote Germanization culture next.

This is also an important factor why Ernst no longer pursues the number of immigrants. Each batch of immigrants must have a certain number of German immigrants to neutralize them. Now that German immigrants are decreasing, the number of other immigrants will be reduced, or new sources of immigration will be introduced to prevent any region of immigrants from dominating except for German immigrants.

As a German in this life, Ernst must ensure the dominant position of German culture and thought in East Africa, especially in the early stage of the colony.

Moreover, Ernst now needs to prepare for the Franco-Prussian War. The Franco-Prussian War is an important opportunity. Ernst wants to seize the opportunity to take the Hechengen Consortium to the next level. At the same time, the opening of the Suez Canal, also this year, will also have a profound impact on East Africa. Ernst will definitely make some adjustments to the East African colonies, so the immigration issue is no longer so important this year.

Chapter 173: Agricultural Development Directions in 1869

In 1869, East Africa’s agricultural plans mainly involved continuing to reclaim wasteland, prioritizing land in border areas as before.

In Ernst’s view, agricultural regions in the age of industrialization were naturally buffer zones. They could nurture the population, ensure border security, and wouldn’t cause too much heartache in the event of war. After all, compared to destroying an industrial area, bombing a piece of farmland was clearly not a big deal (referencing Northeast China and Ukraine). Moreover, with proper follow-up, farmland could quickly recover production.

Of course, this was in relation to large countries. For those with small land areas and land resources directly threatening their survival, they would try every possible means to seize any piece of land around them (referencing Israel).

If the East African colonies were considered a country, their area reached two million square kilometers, which was not a small country in any era.

To ensure the security of the East African colonies, immigration was prioritized in border areas, which was very practical for East Africa, where the population was already relatively sparse.

Currently, the border areas of East Africa, except for those near Somalia, were basically good plots of land. The Ruvuma River basin in the south, the shores of Lake Malawi, the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the west, the Mitumba Mountains, Lake Albert in the northwest, and the Omo River basin in the north were all good places with ample water sources.

Increasing the number of immigrants in border areas could also isolate the surrounding natives.

When asked how to solve the problem of France becoming “black” in his previous life, Ernst believed that the key was to have children. If native French people could really reproduce, then it wouldn’t be a problem of France becoming “black,” but rather a problem of French colonies (West Africa, North Africa) becoming “white.”

Immigrants in this era, especially those in the East African colonies, were mainly farmers, and their fertility rate was the highest.

Distributing them along the border, and in the future, when these populations became surplus, whether they spread inward or outward, it would not be detrimental to East Africa.

From the experience of his previous life, one of the most common detours in tropical agriculture was blindly planting cash crops for economic gain, ultimately leading to the loss of food autonomy.

Therefore, Ernst had always adhered to the bottom line of prioritizing food crop cultivation in East Africa. Otherwise, like German East Africa in his previous life, if plantations were built all over East Africa, the East African colonies could profit solely from plantations.

One important measure Ernst used to ensure food security in East Africa was to plant a little of everything. Single crop cultivation was prone to major losses. For example, the Irish Great Famine was caused by potato fungus.

Currently, the East African colonies basically have all the major grains that can be grown, except for crops suitable for cold regions such as barley.

In 1869, East Africa needed to continue promoting the cultivation of diverse staple crops while continuing to expand the introduction of cash crops.

Introducing cash crops in this era was not easy. For example, crops like tea were originally controlled by their countries of origin.

Of course, ways could be found. For example, rubber, which originated in South America. In his previous life, it was rumored that Brazil prohibited the export of rubber seeds and seedlings.

The source of seeds for Southeast Asian rubber plantations in his previous life was Henry Alexander Wickham, a Briton who allegedly stole them from Brazil, brought them back to England, and then planted them in Southeast Asia and other regions.

Wickham publicly claimed to have stolen seventy thousand seeds of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree from the Santarém region of Brazil.

Actually, later historians discovered that the Brazilian government at the time may not have prohibited the export of rubber seeds. Wickham’s description was likely self-aggrandizement.

Ernst naturally wanted to test whether the Brazilian government of this era was really as strict about rubber control as Wickham described.

The fact was obvious: rubber had already been planted in East Africa. It was possible that the Brazilian government had indeed controlled rubber at some point, but Ernst’s people sent to Brazil did not encounter this situation.

Moreover, given the current chaotic situation in South America (the Paraguayan War), it would be difficult for so many countries in South America to have such strong organizational capabilities.

Furthermore, rubber was not unique to Brazil, because the Amazon rainforest was not solely occupied by Brazil. It was also distributed in small quantities in other countries. It could basically be concluded that this information obtained from marketing accounts in his previous life was false.

The organizational capabilities of most countries in this era were very poor, and it was very difficult to control certain things.

Moreover, colonizers wouldn’t necessarily consult with you about what they wanted. They would just take it directly. With a gun pointed at your head, would you say yes or no?

The bureaucracy of many countries in this era was quite poor. It was quite difficult to expect them to accomplish anything. For example, countries like Tsarist Russia and Brazil basically operated on bribery, which was very easy for a great aristocrat and capitalist like Ernst to penetrate.

Therefore, East Africa had achieved very good results in the introduction of cash crops. It had introduced more than twenty varieties of tea alone.

Moreover, the East African Agricultural Research Institute was conducting investigations and research on native East African plants. In the future, many unique East African species would also be developed.

The current agricultural development strategy in East Africa was to further improve tool innovation, accelerate livestock breeding, and accelerate the construction of water conservancy facilities.

Mechanization was too expensive, and before the advent of the diesel engine, oxen and horses were the most important sources of power for agriculture.

With the backing of the Berlin Energy and Power Company, East Africa could directly get on board in the future, skipping the agricultural steam engine stage.

Steam engines were too expensive and inefficient. It wasn’t cost-effective to import them in large quantities now. Only those wealthy countries could afford steam agricultural machinery (such as England and America).

Historically, even the largest agricultural steam engine manufacturer in the United States only produced more than thirty-six thousand units, indicating that this thing was not affordable for ordinary people in the United States.

After all, more than thirty-six thousand agricultural steam engines would not make a splash on the territory of the United States.

One must eat one’s fill bite by bite, and agricultural development must conform to the actual situation in East Africa. Currently, East Africa was only suitable for developing livestock power of oxen and horses to improve agricultural efficiency. Moreover, an important purpose of developing livestock was to reduce reliance on slaves.

The construction of water conservancy facilities was a long-term plan for East Africa and should be emphasized at all times.

In 1868, the most important things in East Africa besides war were road construction and water conservancy facility construction.

Especially the application of windmills. In the second half of the year alone, East Africa built tens of thousands of agricultural irrigation windmills, greatly improving agricultural irrigation efficiency.

As for the agricultural planting area in East Africa, it would depend on the situation of new immigrants entering East Africa in 1869.

People’s energy was limited. Relying on the current productivity, it was already the limit for East Africa to develop about 12.75 mu of land per capita. Subsequent land development would depend on the number of new immigrants.

For example, some of the immigrants who arrived in East Africa in December 1868 may still be on their way to designated areas inland. Only after they arrived at the allocated locations could they develop new land, while the original immigrants would naturally continue to manage the already developed land.

Chapter 174: Independent Food Industry

January 13th, 1869.

Vienna.

As soon as the year ended, Ernst immediately set off for Austria. Austria in January was still very cold, and the snow in Vienna had a unique charm.

Vienna Hohenzollern Group Office.

“This place is about two miles from the Vienna city center. The surrounding area is mostly farmland, and due to the terrain, the land is not very fertile, so the price is not high.

The most valuable thing is that this is one of the few large open spaces around Vienna. Its owner is the Austrian Viscount Lexston. We have already negotiated the price with him. If the entire plot is purchased, the price can be even cheaper.” The Hohenzollern Group’s head in Vienna, Boone, pointed to a piece of land in the suburbs of Vienna on the map and reported the situation to Ernst.

“How big is the area?” Ernst asked.

“A total of 1,642 acres, enough to build several factory sites, so there is absolutely no problem in terms of size,” Boone said.

“Well, what about the transportation conditions?” Ernst asked.

“It’s less than twenty minutes away from the train station and the Danube River. If the roads can be renovated, it will definitely be faster, so it is very convenient to collect and distribute materials from here,” Boone answered fluently.

“Very good, you go and discuss the price with Viscount Lexston! By the way, ask if anyone around is interested in selling land, and try to make this place bigger, of course, provided that the land is connected,” Ernst said decisively, basically declaring that the land property rights would fall into the hands of the Hohenzollern royal family.

In the new year, Ernst planned to separate food production from the daily necessities group under the Hohenzollern Group and establish a specialized food group.

Previously, because the Hohenzollern Group’s food processing and manufacturing scale was small, it was placed under the daily necessities group for management.

In 1869, after three years of development, the East African colony was no longer what it used to be and could provide the Hohenzollern Group with enough agricultural raw materials.

Most importantly, in 1869, the East African immigration task was eased, which could save a lot of surplus grain for export.

In the previous three years, East Africa had been trying its best to immigrate people, and settling new immigrants required grain. In order to support the new immigrants, the early immigrants needed food provided jointly by the East African colony and the Hohenzollern Group, which continued until the land was developed and harvested.

Fortunately, the temperature in East Africa is the same all year round, and immigrants can quickly get into production, but immigrants in the dry season will be given priority to be arranged near rivers and lakes.

This year, East Africa no longer pursues the maximum number of immigrants, so more grain can be used for export.

Directly exporting grain is certainly not very profitable, especially now that the whole of Europe is enjoying peace and prosperity, and the production order is well-organized. Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia are all focusing on development.

Therefore, in order to enhance the competitiveness of East African grain, Ernst strives to establish a modern food enterprise group in Europe.

Unlike in the past, this time Ernst placed the headquarters of the new company in Austria-Hungary, for the first time implementing the Hohenzollern Group’s integrated development model of Germany, Austria, and Africa.

Food is an important industry no less than the production of daily necessities. If it can be developed, it will definitely be another heavyweight industry in the Hohenzollern Group’s territory.

To develop the food industry, the Hohenzollern Group has natural advantages. Backed by the East African colony, it has sufficient raw materials, and this year it has more abundant funds. The funds used to expand immigration in the past can be invested in new industries.

In addition, Austria’s superior geographical location and stable social order give it a natural advantage in building food companies in Austria.

Of course, the most important point is that it can better use the resources of Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary itself is an agricultural power. The Hohenzollern Company’s wine raw materials are provided by Austria-Hungary. At the same time, the Hohenzollern Group often sells grain from the Hungarian region throughout Europe through the supermarket system.

The two sides have a natural basis for cooperation. Politically, the Hohenzollern royal family has close ties with the Austrian royal family. The timing, geographical advantages, and human harmony are all on Ernst’s side.

The above conditions are also available in the German region, but Austria has an advantage that Germany cannot match, that is, Austria is on the Mediterranean coast.

Once the Suez Canal opens at the end of the year, the products of the East African colony can reach Trieste directly through the Suez Canal. At that time, Austria-Hungary will be the center connecting Germany and the East African colony.

Moreover, the level of industrialization in the German region is high, and the same is true in the field of food processing. Relatively speaking, Austria-Hungary has a large gap in this regard, and the Hohenzollern Group happens to fill this gap, avoiding competition.

Moreover, Ernst’s choice of this time to come to Vienna to arrange the construction of food enterprises can be said to be very subtle.

It will take at least a few months from land acquisition to the completion and commissioning of the factory, and this is only the Vienna area. Trieste will definitely have to build a factory later.

Vienna can make full use of the agricultural resources of Austria and Hungary, while Trieste can connect with the agricultural resources of East Africa.

In this way, both internal and external, the ability to resist risks is greatly improved. At the same time, the construction time of the Trieste factory is arranged in the second half of the year, which corresponds to the opening time of the Suez Canal.

The Vienna factory will be built in the first half of the year, and the Trieste factory will be built in the second half of the year, so there is no need to rush the construction period. It will be a natural success when the Suez Canal opens.

Ernst sat at the table and circled Hamburg, Berlin, Hechingen, Vienna, Trieste and other cities on the map with a red pencil.

These cities and regions will become the fulcrum of Hohenzollern food enterprises in Europe, just taking into account the entire European region.

The competition in the European food industry is definitely very fierce. In addition to Europe itself, it will also be subject to competition from overseas colonies.

Therefore, Ernst did not have much illusion about the profit. It is definitely impossible to make huge profits, so a steady stream is good. Moreover, East Africa’s products are mainly large in quantity. If the quantity is sufficient, considerable income can also be obtained.

At the same time, it can also pave the way for East Africa’s future agricultural products in advance. The grain output that two million people can provide is definitely considerable.

After all, in this era, most countries still rely on agricultural taxes to support their finances. East Africa does not have agricultural taxes, but more than 90% of the profits from agricultural production are in the hands of the Hohenzollern Group.

However, in the past three years, the investment in the East African colony has also been very large, so the money obtained by the Hohenzollern Group has basically been invested in the construction of East Africa. Moreover, in the past two years, the Hohenzollern Group has been doing loss-making business, subsidizing a large amount of funds to build East Africa, which has led to the slow development of enterprises in Europe.

Moreover, the population of East Africa is now close to two million. Only when these two million people carry out production activities at the same time can the agricultural profits be high. That is to say, only a few months later can East Africa really produce the agricultural value of two million people, after all, agriculture has a cycle, and crops need time to grow.

Chapter 175: Village Site Selection

East African Colony.

East Malawi Lake Region.

“Right here, using the terrain within the riverbed, build a row of dams to allow the water to flow over this area. This will both cut off the river flow, ensuring that water doesn’t go to waste during the dry season, and also allow excess rainwater to flow over the top during the rainy season.” Roald said to the villagers, pointing to an undulating area in the riverbed.

This was an unnamed tributary in the upper reaches of the Ruvuma River. Although the river was small, it flowed into the Ruvuma River. The terrain on both sides was extremely flat, and the soil was fertile, suitable for cultivation.

Starting this year, East African immigrants began to move north along the Ruvuma River, establishing settlements on the north bank of the Ruvuma River.

Filling the gap between the coastal area and the East Malawi Lake region, the first river-based residential belt in East Africa was slowly taking shape.

The southern East African port, Mtwara, was also affected by this, experiencing a rare small wave of immigration, with ships docking at the port of Mtwara every day.

“Mr. Roald, if we build the village here, we shouldn’t encounter flooding disasters, right?” Acting Village Chief Wasim asked Roald.

“I have surveyed the terrain here and, combined with the maps drawn by the East African government, there are no significantly higher areas in the vicinity. It’s basically all plains. If there is heavy rainfall during the rainy season, it will only be evenly distributed throughout the area.

So, as long as we do a good job of drainage, building more drainage ditches and sewers to divert rainwater from the village construction site into the river, there won’t be any problems,” Roald replied.

“If we build the village near the riverbank, it will be easier to develop, but what if the river suddenly swells during the rainy season? If the river channel can’t handle so much water during the rainy season, will it flood the surrounding land?” Wasim expressed his concerns.

“I’ve already considered that. Mr. Wasim, look, this is the Ruvuma River, and this is the small river. The two converge here, and where we are standing now is northwest of the confluence of the two rivers.

This area is about half a meter higher than the surrounding area, and through my research on the surrounding soil and river channel, I found that even during the most severe floods in history, the river water would not exceed ten meters from the riverbank.

So, the biggest concern here is not too much rain, but too little rain. After all, a little more water is not a bad thing for developing agriculture.

And the reason why I proposed building an arched dam in the middle of the river is to ensure the water supply in this area during the dry season.

There are very few people here now, but it’s hard to say what will happen in the future. Water consumption may increase greatly. Of course, I am referring to the population density in Europe.

Moreover, this river happens to form a high ground in this section, and with the help of the terrain of the riverbed, it can be completed quickly during the dry season,” Roald, as a professional, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages in detail.

“Well, the project doesn’t seem too difficult, after all, this river is indeed very small compared to the Ruvuma River, but recently we probably don’t have the extra energy to build this dam.

Right now, we only have a hundred or so people. We have to wait until the subsequent personnel arrive and the slaves are allocated before we can start work.

We are already too busy just preparing houses and developing the surrounding land,” Wasim said.

Wasim was from Austria-Hungary, previously a villager near Ronnroda in the lower coastal area. This time, for the Ruvuma River basin immigration, Wasim took the new immigrants to open up the village as an old immigrant.

So Wasim is just an acting village chief. Before this, Wasim was just an ordinary immigrant in the Ronnroda area.

This acting village chief was actually an opportunity that Wasim fought for himself. Now East Africa is short of educated people everywhere, so they can only choose the tallest among the dwarves.

The relatively active Wasim basically didn’t encounter any competitors and was selected, because not many people signed up at all.

Chinese immigrants have always been relatively steady, so Wasim had nearly forty percent fewer opponents, while European immigrants were unwilling to leave Ronnroda and lead a group of people to develop new areas again, so few people signed up.

After all, the village chief is not a big official in East Africa, with no power, especially a village chief like Wasim who came from the wild.

And the specific affairs that the village chief is responsible for are many, and the responsibilities are heavy. He only receives a little more salary than ordinary people every month, so most immigrants are unwilling to compete for the village chief in the new area.

Developing a new area, especially in the early stages, is the most difficult. Everything is lacking, and the conditions are relatively harsh.

“Mr. Wasim, don’t worry, I have worked in East Africa for a while, and I am very clear about the efficiency of East Africa. I believe that the East African government will send support soon, of course, provided that we quickly finalize the construction site of the village and report it,” Roald said to Wasim.

Roald was a geography student hired at a high salary by the East African colony. He has been working in East Africa for nearly two years, which is half a year earlier than Wasim came to East Africa.

However, East Africa will definitely not be able to retain such talents at present. Like those who were left behind with high salaries, they all came to East Africa to make a quick buck.

Especially Roald, a person with culture, is definitely a talent in this era. The reason why he came to East Africa was that he was too young when he just graduated and could not resist the temptation of society, so he went to the casino and owed debts.

In fact, Roald’s family conditions were not bad, and he didn’t owe much money, but Roald’s father was relatively strict, and Roald was afraid that his father would know that he went gambling, and he might break his legs.

He temporarily concealed it from his family, to see if he could find a job to pay off the gambling debts, and then he met the recruitment staff of the Hechengen Consortium.

The East African colony happily paid off his gambling debts for him, provided that he worked in East Africa, and offered three times the salary, and allowed him to take the Hechengen ship home once a year.

The young Roald thought, is this a good thing? Plus, young people are not afraid of anything, so they got on the pirate ship.

After working in East Africa, Roald found that the conditions in East Africa were good, and he did fulfill his promises.

But this damn place is too poor! Moreover, Roald’s job is to explore points in various parts of East Africa to help East Africa find suitable places to live. Roald basically goes to sparsely populated places, and he has completely said goodbye to the glamorous world. This is quite similar to Ernst’s previous life.

However, Roald has indeed developed some feelings for this job. For example, his gambling addiction has been completely quit here.

Moreover, after traveling in East Africa for many years, he has truly seen the geographical landscapes described by his teachers and recorded in the textbooks, which has allowed Roald to truly reach the level of applying what he has learned. In the future, when he returns to Europe, it will definitely be no problem for his father to operate a little and go to a university to teach.

In short, Roald felt his growth in East Africa. Of course, when the contract expires in the future, Roald still plans to return to Europe to develop.

Chapter 176: Hornfeiss and Maria

Northern Kenya.

Early morning, the sun rises, and the African wilderness is silent. On the vast grasslands, a dozen small stone houses stand alone. As far as the eye can see, only these dozen households are particularly conspicuous in the endless pasture.

One of these small stone houses is the home of Hornfeiss. Hornfeiss’s Southeast Asian wife, Maria, got up early and began preparing breakfast for Hornfeiss.

Maria came from the Dutch East Indies colony (Indonesia) and was sold to the East African colony by the Dutch at a low price. The Dutch East Indies had no shortage of people.

People in tropical backward regions are very similar. Women are much more diligent than men, and Maria is this type. From a young age, her family relied on mothers to work and support the family.

Of course, Maria’s father had three wives and more than a dozen children. Everyone except the father had to work.

As for Maria’s father, relying on the foundation left by his ancestors, he originally had a small fortune in the local area. However, in Maria’s father’s generation, he did not inherit the glorious traditions of his ancestors at all, but was proficient in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.

Soon, he squandered the family property and relied entirely on his three wives and a bunch of children to support him. Even so, Maria’s father remained unrepentant and was soon blocked by creditors because he could not repay his gambling debts.

After a round of beatings and kicks, Maria’s father sold his three youngest daughters to repay the debt. Maria was one of them.

Maria was fifteen years old when she was sold by her father. She had an average appearance, and her skin was slightly dark from working in the fields with her mother all year round. She was also not tall and looked like a straw stalk due to malnutrition.

Maria, who was not outstanding in appearance, was sold to the Dutch by the creditor at an extremely low price, and the Dutch sold Maria to East Africa at twice the price, mainly to earn the price difference as an intermediary.

Of course, in this era when the slave trade had ended, they certainly could not sell Maria and others to East Africa under the banner of human trafficking, but instead imported them to East Africa in the name of textile workers.

Hornfeiss is Austrian, in his early twenties this year. He came to East Africa a year and a half ago, and like many Austrian immigrants, he is a young and strong lad.

After all, most of the European immigrants who come to East Africa, except for those who are already married, are male bachelors.

According to the practice of the East African colony, Chinese people are assigned to white people, and white people are assigned to Asians. Hornfeiss got an Indonesian wife.

Of course, in addition to assigned marriages, there is also freedom of love in East Africa, but only limited to immigrants who arrive in East Africa through normal immigration channels.

For example, East Africa is quite respectful of the wishes of women and widows from Paraguay, and Paraguayan women have become the object of courtship for East African bachelors.

Chinese and European immigrants are evenly matched. Basically, unmarried young Paraguayan women will choose European youths, while widows with children will generally partner with Chinese people.

After confirming the relationship, a wedding is held, and a marriage certificate is issued by the East African government at the same time.

However, there are relatively few Paraguayan women after all. The entire population of Paraguay is only several hundred thousand. So far, East Africa has only managed to get eighty or ninety thousand from the local area with great effort, which is a scarce resource. Fortunately, Paraguay is strong enough and is still fighting against the Triple Alliance, so East Africa can continue to poach people.

Paraguayan immigrants in East Africa are all arranged in areas that have already been developed. There are none in newly developed areas like northern Kenya.

Therefore, Hornfeiss’s marriage problem can only be solved by relying on immigrants who arrive in East Africa through abnormal channels.

In Mombasa, Hornfeiss and his competitors obtained spouses by drawing lots. Of course, the East African colony already has a mature process.

Hornfeiss’s competitors are also Europeans, and their targets are also limited to Asians. Chinese immigrants are just the opposite.

In East Africa, there is very little room for immigrants to choose. Hornfeiss can only pray to God that he does not draw someone too ugly.

Hornfeiss finally got the number seven card, which was Maria. At that time, Hornfeiss felt pretty good, after all, his appearance was just so-so, and it would be great to be able to get married in this life.

On the same day, the local government of Mombasa processed marriage certificates for these newlyweds and held a symbolic wedding ceremony. Hornfeiss took Maria home.

To this day, Hornfeiss and Maria have lived together for more than six months, and Maria is also sixteen years old.

Hornfeiss lives a very comfortable life and is very satisfied with Maria. The couple can be said to be living in harmony.

Hornfeiss came from a rural area in Austria and is relatively simple. Moreover, he was only eighteen years old when he first arrived in East Africa, had not entered society, and had not seen those twists and turns.

Because there are several older brothers in the family, it is destined that the family business has nothing to do with him. It just so happened that East Africa was recruiting immigrants, so he went to East Africa with several partners from the village to make a living.

Maria has also been taught by her mother since she was a child, and she is diligent and capable, and she keeps the housework in good order. These two people are simply a match made in heaven.

The name Maria was given by Hornfeiss. At first, the two people did not speak the same language. Hornfeiss asked Maria what her name was, but Maria did not understand what Hornfeiss meant at all.

Maria did not have a proper name in the first place. She was not liked by her father at home. Her father usually called her “black monkey.”

Seeing that the two could not communicate, and Maria was shy and afraid to speak at first, Hornfeiss took the liberty of giving her the name “Maria.”

For the first month, Hornfeiss and Maria communicated mainly through body language and guesswork. As the days passed, Maria gradually learned some simple German.

After half a year of getting along, Maria can already communicate normally with Hornfeiss in broken German.

Maria kneaded the dough in the kitchen, simply baked a few pancakes, cooked a pot of millet porridge, and prepared a few cold dishes. A simple and unadorned breakfast was ready.

“Honey, breakfast is ready!”

Hornfeiss had already put on his clothes, simply washed up, pulled over a chair, and sat down at the table.

“Maria, don’t be busy, sit down and eat together!” Hornfeiss招呼着还在收拾家务的妻子说道.

“It’s okay, you have to work later, and I can’t stay idle anyway. It won’t delay anything if I eat later.” Maria said while tidying up the bed.

“As a family, it’s better to eat together to have an atmosphere. In Europe, my family and I also eat at the same table. You also said that I will go to work later. There is so much time in a day, it’s not too late to clean up later. Come and keep me company first.” Hornfeiss said to Maria.

Maria finished the work at hand before coming to the dining table, looking at Hornfeiss, who was gnawing on the pancake, and said, “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Hornfeiss smiled slightly. This is the meaning of his life.

Chapter 177: Grazing

After eating, Hornfeiss stretched lazily and began to gather his equipment, while Maria cleared the table.

Hornfeiss squatted in front of the bed, tied his riding boots, and pulled a wooden box from under the bed. He opened the lid and checked the condition of the rifle inside, which was well-oiled.

He put on his coat, tightened his belt, checked the amount of ammunition, and put it in his pocket.

Then he wrapped the rifle with a cloth strap, slung it on his back, went to the wall, and took the straw hat down.

“The water bag is filled, and I’ve put the dry food and raincoat in the bag,” Maria said, handing over a brown leather bag.

Hornfeiss kissed Maria’s forehead and said, “Darling, I’m off.”

Maria snuggled in Hornfeiss’s arms and said, “I’ll have dinner ready. Be careful out there, and don’t rush when you’re riding.”

“I know, I’ll be careful,” Hornfeiss assured her.

The two walked out of the house together. Hornfeiss went to the stable, untied the whip from the post, held it in his hand, secured the saddle, and with a step on the stirrup, leaped onto the horse’s back.

“Wait for me to come back!” Hornfeiss said to his wife, then rode off to meet his colleagues.

Hornfeiss’s village was small, with only a dozen households. Soon, all the villagers had gathered.

Village Chief Karl counted the number of people and, after confirming that everyone was present, said, “Go to the cattle pen and drive the cattle out.”

The cattle pen was built next to the village and was quite large, holding more than three hundred head of cattle.

Hornfeiss and his colleagues opened the cattle pen and drove the cattle out. A dozen people drove the cattle towards the pasture.

“Giddy up.”

…

East Africa is a natural ranch. Hornfeiss and his party drove the cattle to a lush pasture and began grazing them.

The cattle in northern Kenya are not the batch that Ernst originally imported from the Netherlands, but rather native African cattle, mainly used for draft power and later for food. The Dutch dairy cows are all kept in enclosures in the Upper Coastal District, as they are more delicate, so it’s better to be careful.

These East African native cattle were naturally seized from the natives and then concentrated by the East African colony in the pastures of Kenya for breeding.

Few animals were domesticated in Africa, but it’s not like there were none. For example, the domestic donkey is said to have been domesticated from two subspecies of African wild asses in East Africa, the Nubian wild ass and the Somali wild ass. Today, these wild asses still live in Somalia and Ethiopia. Of course, this was the work of ancient Egypt and has little to do with the natives south of the Sahara.

The origin of African domestic cattle is somewhat controversial. There are three theories. Early archaeological research suggested that African domestic cattle were not domesticated locally, but rather spread from Asian and European domestic cattle through the Nile River basin and East Africa (the Somali Peninsula).

In the late twentieth century, archaeologists began to propose that African domestic cattle were domesticated from native African wild cattle.

Later, there was a third theory that the western desert region of Egypt was the origin of domestic cattle domestication. Of course, Ernst favored the theory of multiple domestication origins, as there are records of cattle domestication in many regions of the world (except the Americas, Australia, and Oceania).

In any case, the existing domestic cattle in East Africa today are spoils of the East African colony.

In addition to African domestic cattle, the East African colony also has a batch of African Zebu cattle, mainly brought to East Africa from the Indian subcontinent by medieval Arab and Indian merchants. They are distributed in many parts of East and Central Africa.

Currently, East Africa is mixing the two and grazing them together in the northern Kenyan grasslands.

Throughout northern Kenya, the East African colony currently has approximately one hundred and thirty thousand registered cattle. The East African colony also raises many cattle in other regions, but the scale is not as large as in northern Kenya, and they are mainly used for draft power.

Hornfeiss rode his horse, observing the surroundings. Although the East African colony had conducted multiple extermination campaigns against large wild animals in northern Kenya, there were bound to be some that slipped through the net.

Therefore, Hornfeiss and other herdsmen are armed while grazing to deal with emergencies.

Before the development of the East African colony, there were many more cattle in East Africa than there are today. However, East Africa itself didn’t seize many, as major breeders such as the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the Kingdom of Buganda were simply driven away by East Africa, and most of their cattle, as important assets, were taken with them when they fled.

These domestic cattle in the East African colony mainly came from nomadic peoples on the East African grasslands, such as the Maasai. After seizing their assets, some were turned into slaves by East Africa, and others were driven westward.

In addition to domestic cattle, East Africa itself has a large number of African wild buffalo. However, wild buffalo are not favored by East Africa. In the early days, they were used as rations by East African immigrants. After grain cultivation developed and solved the immigrants’ food problem, African wild buffalo suffered the same fate as lions and hyenas. They were mostly killed in the developed areas of East Africa and now only roam the Serengeti, the East African Rift Valley, Mount Kilimanjaro, or other remote mountains and forests.

It was the end of the rainy season, and a light rain gradually began to fall. Hornfeiss and the others put on their raincoats. This kind of light rain is when the grass is lush and suitable for grazing, so raincoats are essential.

The life of grazing is generally monotonous, but it is also relatively leisurely, especially in East Africa, where grazing is done in fixed areas. Herdsmen don’t need to roam around like cowboys in the American West because East Africa doesn’t have a consumer market as large as America.

At the same time, the current cattle herd in East Africa is not large, and exports are not very effective. In recent years, the focus has mainly been on breeding cattle.

After an unknown amount of time, the light rain stopped, and it was almost noon. Karl called everyone to sit together and eat lunch.

“Ah, I really want time to pass quickly. The times I miss home the most are when I’m munching on flatbread every day. Village Chief, aren’t you from the Far East? Tell us some stories about your hometown!” said Schubert, a young man from Bavaria.

That’s right, Village Chief Karl is Chinese. Although his name sounds completely European, it was actually given to him in Europe. He was an early student at the Hechingen Military Academy, but later, because his spoken language was too poor, he was sent to work as an intern in a company in Berlin. Gradually, he learned a pure Berlin accent.

Karl seemed to recall his days in the Far East and began to speak, “If you want to talk about my hometown, the climate there is very similar to East Africa, but the lifestyle is similar to Europe. There are also endless wheat fields, and there are many people in each village.

But the houses in our villages are very different from those in Europe, and the roads are similar to those in East Africa. Before coming to Europe, I had hardly seen a city. I grew up in a village and only saw what a city looked like once before I was taken to Europe. On the day I first went to sea, the leader told us that the port city was called Jiaozhou, which was a big city in the Far East. That’s where I set sail for Europe…”

“Village Chief, don’t talk about Europe! We’re mainly interested in the Far East. My wife is said to be from there, so I want to hear you talk more about the Far East,” Schubert said.

“The Far East is very big, and I don’t know if your wife is from the same place as me. Later, I saw a world map at Hechingen, and our place is almost as big as the whole of Europe. The languages may be different in many places. Many of my classmates were from the same place as me, but I couldn’t understand the dialects of many people. It’s probably as different as German and French. How would I know which province your wife is from? Moreover, I didn’t go to school in the Far East. I only remember the name of my old village and Jiaozhou, the place where I went to sea. I don’t know much about many places in the Far East. I only heard some place names when the village opera was performed, but I don’t know where those places are,” Karl said.

Perhaps, these villagers will never know that their wives and Karl are not from the same country at all. They only know that their wives are from the East, but where exactly? In this closed era, without having studied knowledge and culture, they will never figure it out in their lives.

Even Karl only knew what his country looked like through the world map at Hechingen. Many rural people may never have been to a county town in their lives and are trapped in the countryside for their entire lives.

And the villagers’ wives, who come from various parts of Southeast Asia, are like Karl before he went to school, without knowledge and may not even know where their own country is.

Chapter 178: The Yeke Kingdom

Karl was recounting his experiences and the various landscapes he had seen to everyone. Although Karl was about the same age as the others, he had lived in three places: the Far East, Germany, and East Africa. He had also attended school and worked in factories, so his experiences were indeed much richer than those of these young people from rural Germany and Austria.

Evening.

The group drove the cattle towards the village, ending another ordinary day.

…

Mbeya.

A meeting concerning the Central and Southern Africa region was underway. Mbeya City’s military commander, Mörke, was reporting the situation to the city government’s higher-ups and the commissioner sent by the central government.

Mörke stood in front of a map, pointing to it with his finger as he said, “This is Mbeya. As the most important city in the southwestern region of East Africa, Mbeya is not only rich in resources, but also a military stronghold, guarding the East African Plateau’s access to the South African Plateau.

This cluster to the east is the East African Plateau. The main body of our East African royal territory is on the East African Plateau.

Westward from the East African Plateau, this large dotted area to the due west is the Congo Rainforest. Starting from the southern part of the Congo Rainforest, this large area is the South African Plateau.

The South African Plateau is different from the East African Plateau. The East African Plateau is a single large area, while the South African Plateau is composed of many small plateaus.

Including the Katanga Plateau, the Lunda Plateau, the Kwango Plateau, the Bié Plateau, and so on.

Everyone, look here. This location is the Katanga Plateau, located in the northeastern part of the South African Plateau, connected to our East Africa, which is also the target this time.

Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi separate East Africa from the South African Plateau. There is a 300-kilometer-long passage between the two lakes, and our teams patrol this 300-kilometer-long passage every day.

Crossing this passage is the first step in our conquest of Central and Southern Africa.”

Mörke gave the attendees a lesson on the geography of Central and Southern Africa and its relationship with East Africa, then returned to his seat.

“Very good! It seems you have done your homework.” Central Commissioner Swete said, “I came this time with instructions from His Royal Highness the Prince. This concerns our future strategy for managing the Central and Southern Africa region, and Mbeya is the outpost for this operation. Mörke, your Mbeya garrison should be quite familiar with the forces around East Africa. Give everyone a brief introduction.”

Mörke sat at the conference table and said to everyone, “Commissioner, and everyone present, currently, the forces around our Mbeya are nothing more than two: one is the Kingdom of Malawi at the southern end of Lake Malawi.

Malawi is not our target this time, so I will focus on the forces on the Katanga Plateau.

To our west, on the Katanga Plateau, there exists a Yeke Kingdom. This Yeke Kingdom is also called the Msiri Kingdom. The Yeke Kingdom is relatively young, only a few decades older than our East Africa.

Its founder was a slave trader named Msiri, and Msiri was originally a native of the Tanganyika region. His father was a porter for Arab merchants.

Therefore, this Msiri had a relatively broad perspective. He obtained firearms through trade with Arabs and gained the trust of the original local chiefs, constantly launching wars, gradually growing stronger, and finally establishing the Yeke Kingdom.”

Mörke’s mouth was a little dry. He picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and continued, “This Yeke Kingdom has been relatively strong in the area, relying on the firearms provided by Arab merchants.

Initially, when we first developed the Upper Lake Malawi area (capital Mbeya), we clashed with the Yeke Kingdom. Its strength is indeed better than that of ordinary natives.

However, the Yeke Kingdom has a fatal weakness, which is that their ammunition needs to be provided by the Arabs, and we have cut off the Arab forces, so the Yeke Kingdom’s ammunition is used up with each shot.

However, at that time, we were not interested in this Yeke Kingdom, and our numbers were relatively small, so after repelling their attacks several times, we did not counterattack.

Later, construction required a large number of slaves. We actually had some cooperation with the Yeke Kingdom. East Africa continued to provide them with ammunition, and the Yeke Kingdom provided us with slaves.”

The cooperation between the Yeke Kingdom and East Africa was not entirely willing, but rather a desperate move. It wasn’t that the East African colony was targeting it.

Initially, Msiri established the Yeke Kingdom, relying mainly on firearms. He used his equipment advantage to conquer everywhere, bullying the surrounding natives.

However, after the establishment of the East African colony, especially after the establishment of the Upper Lake Malawi area, it directly cut off the Yeke Kingdom’s original trade routes with Arab merchants.

The Yeke Kingdom lost a lot of economic benefits as a result, and naturally refused to give up. So, at the beginning of the establishment of the Upper Lake Malawi area, it tried to use force to defeat the East African colony.

As a result, the East African colony was not easy to mess with, and its weapons were even more advanced. The Yeke Kingdom ran into a brick wall.

The most deadly thing was that weapons and ammunition could not be replenished, and the weapons in the Yeke Kingdom’s hands became useless sticks.

The original advantage over the surrounding native forces disappeared, and many enemies began to counterattack the Yeke Kingdom. In addition, the Yeke Kingdom’s rule itself was relatively brutal, and internal rebellions also began to break out.

The Yeke Kingdom’s rule began to be precarious. Fortunately, the East African colony later discovered that slaves were still indispensable for East African development, but the natives of East Africa itself had been captured by East Africa, so it was necessary to obtain them from other regions.

Looking around, the Yeke Kingdom was relatively easy to obtain, after all, the Yeke Kingdom itself had been engaged in the slave trade for many years, and originally made a living by selling slaves.

The East African colony did not want to go into Central and Southern Africa to capture slaves themselves, so they simply let the Yeke Kingdom act as an agent, and the cost was only a little ammunition.

But the Yeke Kingdom had no choice. Obtaining ammunition would allow it to re-establish a strong military force, suppress the people and other surrounding native forces, and the Yeke Kingdom could continue to exist.

Although it didn’t make any money, and was equivalent to working for the East African colony for free, it was better than national subjugation, so the Yeke Kingdom accepted the East African colony’s cooperation request.

“Yes, I know about this. The military负责人 of Mbeya reported it to the central government at the time. But now what we need more is the entire Katanga Plateau. Slaves can be obtained from all around, but there is only one Katanga Plateau. This Yeke Kingdom is hindering our development path,” Swete said.

As the military head of Mbeya, Mörke immediately said, “Sir, that’s what our Southwest Military Region thinks too. We should strike hard against the Yeke Kingdom. After all, we haven’t settled the score for their active attack on us back then.”

It wasn’t that Mörke hated the Yeke Kingdom so much that he wanted to put it to death, but that the Southwest Military Region’s troops hadn’t gained anything in the Northwest War. All the credit was taken by the Northwest Military Region and the Northern Military Region. The Southwest Military Region could only stay in place, responsible for monitoring and preventing the native forces in Central and Southern Africa.

The East African colony fought quite well in the Northwest War, basically a smooth victory. Mörke was naturally envious. Isn’t it just fighting natives? I can do it too.

Just as Mörke was about to continue to urge the commissioner to start a war against the Yeke Kingdom, a discordant voice came from the Mbeya government personnel’s seat.

“Commissioner, I actually have an idea. I don’t know if we can try it. We can take the entire Katanga Plateau at the lowest cost.”

Chapter 179: Headquarters

While the group in Mbeya were offering advice on how to conquer the Kingdom of Yeke, the office building for the Hechingen Food Enterprise in Vienna had also been secured.

Ernst’s pre-selected candidate for general manager of the Vienna Food Company, Müller, was introducing the company headquarters building to Ernst.

The new company’s name, again using a place name plus function, was Vienna Food Company. The company’s headquarters would primarily be responsible for the overall coordination of all food-related affairs under the Hechingen Consortium, so it was located in the main urban area of Vienna, with its developed transportation and information networks.

“Your Highness, this is the new company’s office location we’ve chosen. Its original owner was Count Antonio of Salzburg. Count Antonio has always been active in Salzburg and rarely comes to Vienna, so this property has been vacant. He intended to sell it. After my repeated bargaining, I finally managed to acquire this building for the company within the budget,” Müller said to Ernst.

“Well, the environment is not bad, and the transportation is quite convenient. This is a good location. Working here will allow us to handle business well,” Ernst commented.

“Your Highness is right. I considered this point from the beginning. This location is just a little bit away from the center of Vienna, connecting to the adjacent affluent area.

The surrounding environment is elegant and away from the noisy city center. The land prices around here are also relatively high. As long as we make some professional renovations to this building later, we can definitely make customers feel at home.

As the company headquarters, we naturally need to leave a good impression on customers, which will also facilitate our work,” Müller said.

“You are also a veteran employee. Your banking skills were always very good. Will you be unaccustomed to being transferred from the financial sector to the food production sector this time?” Ernst asked.

Müller quickly said, “Your Highness, serving the consortium requires constant learning to continuously improve, regardless of the industry one is in. After receiving your instructions, I have already done a lot of research on the food industry in advance. I definitely dare not fail your cultivation.”

Ernst nodded and said, “Very good, but I still want to see what unique insights you have into the food industry, including what plans you have for the company’s future development.”

“After studying a lot of materials and combining my previous work experience and common sense, I do have some humble opinions on the food industry.

Currently, I believe that if the company operates according to the traditional market model, it may be doomed.

We are in an era of change, especially the increasing impact of machines on the food industry.

The traditional food industry maintains operations with the most basic products and production methods, especially in Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia, which are traditional agricultural powers in Europe.

However, through my research on the agriculture and food industries of various countries in recent years, I have found that North Germany, France, and other countries are accelerating their efforts to outpace Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia in terms of grain processing efficiency and utilization.

The application of machines is the absolute main force. Now, the horsepower of machines in Austria-Hungary cannot compare with that of Germany, France, and Britain.

Therefore, we should increase the application of new equipment and new technologies in the food sector in the future.

And the disadvantage of Austria-Hungary is also the advantage of us establishing the company in Austria-Hungary. Once our industrial zone on the banks of the Danube is completed, it will fill the gap in Austria-Hungary in related fields,” Müller said eloquently.

“It’s good that you can think of this. Industrial development does have a great impact on agriculture. Making more use of machines can reduce the production costs of our products, but the food industry ultimately depends on whether customers are satisfied.

Low prices do not mean that customers will buy it, but a comprehensive consideration is needed, such as taste, target consumer groups, product quality, marketing efforts, and so on.

If the product does not get good promotion, it will still be unsalable, so be sure to do a good job in product packaging and publish more high-quality advertisements.

At the same time, you should pay attention to the expansion of product types, and study more about food preservation and methods, so that customers have more choices,” Ernst suggested to Müller.

“Yes, Your Highness, in my daily work, I will definitely pay attention to these matters,” Müller assured.

“What I said just now are just some ideas. What I want to tell you below is the key point. You must remember it,” Ernst said with a serious expression, “The most taboo thing about food is safety, so you must firmly grasp the issue of hygiene, as well as some anti-corrosion foods. Don’t add too many things, there must be a limit.

At that time, please ask a few experts to verify how much is appropriate, and then specify strict uniform standards.

Also, public opinion must be grasped well. Some troublemaking consumers must be dealt with privately in a timely manner, and negative factors must not be allowed to spread to society.

If it is a small problem, just pay a little more compensation and correct it in time. If it is a big problem, do not take it upon yourself to cover things up. You must report to me in time, otherwise, you will have to bear the consequences yourself…”

Müller felt a chill all over his body when he heard this, and immediately said, “Your Highness, rest assured, I, Müller, swear to God that I will follow your instructions as a work attitude and will never take it lightly.”

Ernst was very satisfied with Müller’s attitude, so he said kindly, “You don’t have to worry too much. Making mistakes is not terrible. It is really worrying to hide mistakes. As for work! As long as you are careful, you will generally not make big mistakes, especially since your ability is not bad, otherwise such a big company would not be handed over to you to be responsible for. Usually, check a few more times at work. I will arrange a secretary to assist you in your work and remind you more.”

Müller said upon hearing this, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will do my best to serve the company.”

“Well, very good. In short, you must pay attention to the keywords: technology, talent, food safety, and advertising. Develop the company according to this idea,” Ernst said, “Also, how is the progress of the industrial park recently!”

Hearing Ernst ask about the industrial park, Müller said, “The construction of the industrial park is underway. We are currently building roads leading to the wharf and the railway station.

The land in that area has also been leveled. The factory buildings are under construction. Now, a total of two factory buildings have been started, a flour mill and a sugar mill. There are several factory buildings planned for later.

The entire industrial park is expected to be completely completed in June this year. Later, as long as the machines are installed, we can start work.”

“Well, very good. At that time, pay attention to the recruitment work. Conduct more safety education for employees and standardize the quality of workers. After all, machines still need workers to operate, and the food industry pays the most attention to hygiene. Now, many people do not pay much attention to hygiene, but our Vienna Food Company must not do this. A large company must have the rules of a large company, and we must never do the stupid thing of ruining our own brand,” Ernst said.

Chapter 180: A Nation of Football

Vienna.

The Danube River Food Industry Park.

Construction workers were everywhere on the site, and two hardened roads extending from the park towards Vienna’s main urban area and the port were under construction.

“Today, everyone try to finish these last fifty meters, and you can go rest.” The foreman said to the workers, looking at the darkening sky.

The workers, who had been busy all day, heard that it was finally coming to an end and inadvertently began to speed up their work, striving to get a hot meal as soon as possible.

……

In East Africa.

Nairobi City, Andaluyo Village.

“Figo, pass the ball quickly.” Mars shouted to his teammate.

Hearing the shout, Figo turned and with a flying kick, kicked a leather-stitched football towards his back.

“Catch it!”

A strong figure came quickly towards the football. Mars stopped the rolling ball with his foot and dribbled towards the undefended right side, speeding towards the opposite side.

“Damn it, stop him.” Antonio roared at his teammates.

Three players from the Jacob Village team hurriedly returned to the blank area behind.

However, it was too late. Mars was as if in no man’s land, and with a feint, he tricked the three who came to intercept behind him.

Not forgetting to shout back at the three, “See you, sweethearts!”

Saying that, he dribbled the ball quickly towards the direction of the opponent’s goal.

The goalkeeper, watching Mars coming towards him, had already begun to predict Mars’ shooting direction.

The other players from Jacob Village were unable to return in time and could only watch Mars launch an attack on their own goal alone.

Mars stopped suddenly, a smooth transition. At this time, the football hung in the air according to inertia. Mars found the right direction, jumped up, and volleyed towards the right side of the goal.

Everyone inside and outside the field held their breath, watching whether the ball would succeed.

In a fleeting moment, the football came towards the goal. Jacob Village goalkeeper Soles pounced towards the right side of the goal the moment Mars kicked the ball. The football slammed hard into Soles’ arms.

“Ah!” Mars gnashed his teeth and let out a roar, watching the intercepted football.

“Another failed shot. This is Mars’ third shot today, but unfortunately his luck is not so good, and they were all blocked by Soles.” A villager from Andaluyo Village commented.

“I think this ball is very good, almost no mistakes, and it is also going towards the goal, not out of bounds. The main problem is that the weather has been relatively humid recently, and this ball is made of wild boar skin, which has absorbed a lot of water, so it appears bulky. This is the reason why Mars’ shot cannot pose a threat to Soles.” Another villager said.

“That’s true. This ball hasn’t been taken out to dry recently. I estimate it’s at least a third heavier than a month ago. If it was dried in the sun before, it could at least fly faster, and the goalkeeper wouldn’t have time to defend.”

Men, women, and children from Andaluyo Village and Jacob Village all came to watch the game, and almost everyone could say a thing or two about football.

As the number one sport in the East African colony, football has been popularized in almost every village.

During the slack season, a stimulating football match is a rare enjoyment for East Africans who lack entertainment activities, so football has almost become a national sport in East Africa.

And East Africa has its unique conditions for popularizing football. East Africa has no shortage of land, there are many open spaces, and the grass is very suitable for playing football. The soft soil can effectively prevent injuries.

Moreover, football goals and footballs are very easy to solve. The goals can be replaced by stones or two lines, and East African footballs are made of various animal skins with soft fillings.

Animal skins are quite abundant in East Africa, and the variety is complete, all thanks to the selfless dedication of grassland animals. Many of them are also sold to Europe by the East African colony. High-quality lion skins and crocodile skins are very popular in Europe, and the prices and profits are also very high.

Moreover, as a team sport, football is quite competitive, highly confrontational, and highly watchable. In particular, the football rules in various parts of East Africa are quite imperfect, with no unified standard, which creates a lot of room for players to play freely. Many players have their own exclusive secrets.

There are all kinds of fancy kicking methods, creating many classic kicking methods that are talked about. If you put East African football matches in Europe, it would not be surprising if there were a hundred or so mistakes in a game.

However, now the East African football rules are basically no rules. Its entertainment significance is far greater than competition.

After all, the villagers are just having fun. As long as they don’t get rough and start holding the ball and walking, they can kick it however they want.

Even the number of players on the field is not too limited. As long as both sides are equal, theoretically, both sides can have a hundred-person battle.

In East Africa, almost every region has its own set of football rules, which are the result of everyone’s agreement.

With such chaotic football order, each village plays its own game. And if neighboring villages want to have a friendly match, they have to temporarily formulate a set of rules that everyone can accept before the game.

Of course, a very small number of European immigrants have been exposed to formal football, but the number is very limited. After all, most of the immigrants come from rural areas, and football is only relatively popular in Britain now. Not many common people can pay attention to sports in this era.

Therefore, the popularization of football in East Africa is inseparable from Ernst’s promotion. Ernst has always attached importance to the time arrangement of East African immigrants, that is, they cannot be too idle, and they must be given more things to do.

Football is very suitable for promotion. Anyway, the materials and venues are readily available, just let each region hold a few games at a fixed time every week.

With more exposure, immigrants slowly begin to enjoy the sport at other times and will spontaneously play football in their spare time.

And it is the kind that men, women, old and young all participate in. The immigrants in East Africa are generally relatively young, and the older ones are not too old.

Children, who are receiving compulsory education, will receive football education in schools. There are quite a lot of physical education classes in East Africa, because textbooks, teaching materials, teaching aids, etc. all require costs, and East African children do not learn many knowledge points, so some local schools have almost a third of their courses as physical education classes, which have become the easiest courses to popularize.

Compared to the relatively boring activities such as running and long jumping, football is obviously more popular with children.

As the whistle blows.

The friendly match between Andaluyo Village and Jacob Village ended. In the end, Andaluyo Village won the game with a slight advantage of six to five. According to local rules, the two sides shook hands and said goodbye.

“Soles, you have to be careful next time. Today my condition was not good. Next game, I must kick in three.” Mars said, shaking Soles’ hand.

“Hehe, next time, I’ll wait and see.” Soles chuckled.

“You kid!” Mars hit Soles on the shoulder, and then they both laughed.

Chapter 181: Armed Delegation

February 14th, 1869.

A group of just over fifty people set off towards the capital of the Yeke Kingdom, led by Moltke, who had threatened to wage war against the Yeke Kingdom at the Mbeya expansion conference half a month ago.

Marching on the savannah was still somewhat difficult, especially on foot. Swet had provided them with a carriage, but the group could only take turns resting in it. This wasn’t because Swet was stingy, but rather because carriages were a strategic resource in East Africa and relatively scarce.

From their weapons and equipment, it was clear that these fifty-plus people were regular East African troops. They carried uniform-issue Dreyse needle guns, clean and tidy, and wore complete Prussian uniforms without any skimping on materials. They also had simple hand grenades produced by East African armories hanging from their waists.

“This weather is really stifling!” Moltke said to his entourage, wiping the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.

“This is nothing! You’re sitting pretty without realizing it. The eastern coast is where it really gets hot enough to kill you. The inland highlands only have strong sunlight, and the heat from the sun is far less intense than on the eastern coast,” Becker said to Moltke.

Becker was the one who interrupted Moltke’s “performance” at the expansion conference. His suggestion was highly appreciated by Swet.

As a result, Becker was authorized to carry out this important mission to the Yeke Kingdom, while Moltke was responsible for the safety of the journey.

“Mr. Becker, do you think Msiri will accept our goodwill?” Moltke asked Msiri.

“Heh, Msiri is already in a desperate situation. If he doesn’t rely on us, he’ll face the danger of national extinction. Msiri is a smart man; he’ll make his own choice,” Becker said confidently.

“It’s not that I don’t understand the current situation of the Yeke Kingdom, but Msiri, like many natives, can’t have his character judged by normal human standards. Our scouts say that Msiri is acting like a madman, carrying out massacres within the Yeke Kingdom. I don’t know the specifics, but the scouts say his character is worse than an animal’s,” Moltke cautiously told Becker.

East Africa had deployed a large number of scouts around its colonies, some disguised as exploration teams, others as merchants. Arabs and Portuguese were East Africa’s primary imitation targets.

Currently, in south-central Africa, East Africa mostly impersonated Portuguese to carry out various activities, gathering local intelligence and geographical information.

In the eyes of many native forces in the western East African colonies, East Africa had become a dark and evil force, leaving land but not people, making East Africa notorious among the northern and southern native forces bordering the Congo rainforest.

Those tribes and kingdoms expelled by East Africa spread the great name of the East African colonies throughout both sides of the Congo rainforest, in the south-central and west-central African regions.

Therefore, East African spies in these areas could only disguise themselves as people from various countries; they couldn’t fly the East African flag.

For example, in south-central Africa, although it was deep inland, some Portuguese merchants still conducted business there for profit.

Many Portuguese merchants even settled in the land of south-central Africa, so spies from the East African colonies often disguised themselves as Portuguese traders to operate in the south-central African region.

Becker smiled slightly and said to Moltke, “Although Msiri is brutal, he is practical. He knows very well who can bring him tangible benefits, especially since the vast territory he rules relies entirely on advanced firearms to suppress local forces and natives.

The Yeke Kingdom he established is only a few decades old, and its territory was basically seized, so naturally many natives are not convinced by him.

Moreover, his family once worked for the Arabs, so he is one of the few African natives who has seen the world, so he wouldn’t dare to act rashly against us.”

“Mr. Becker, this is just speculation based on an ideal situation! Msiri has been the king of the Yeke Kingdom for over a decade, and his character has become increasingly tyrannical. I now seriously doubt whether his mind is clear. If he really goes crazy, then we might…” Moltke was about to continue, but Becker interrupted him.

“Don’t be so pessimistic. Our armed force of fifty-plus people isn’t just for show. Msiri’s rifle team is only about a hundred strong, and their equipment is outdated. Their ammunition is also provided by East Africa. Unless he uses all his forces, it’s hard to say who would win in a real fight.”

Moltke agreed with this point. Although Becker was a civil official, he wasn’t ignorant of military matters.

Most of East Africa’s officials were drawn from the military or came from the Black Hegen Military Academy. Becker had fought in many tough battles in East Africa.

Moreover, Becker’s qualifications in Mbeya were earlier than Moltke’s. Moltke was transferred from the east to Mbeya, while Becker had originally served as a soldier in Mbeya before entering the civil service system, so he had been in Mbeya for several months longer than Moltke.

“However, it’s still best to be cautious. In my opinion, we should have decided to send troops directly. We need to talk ‘hard truths’ with these natives. They might not cooperate with the ways of the civilized world, and our team is ultimately too small compared to the Yeke Kingdom. I’m afraid they’ll use a human wave tactic against us…” Although the mission to the Yeke Kingdom had already been set in motion, Moltke still insisted on his original proposal to start the war directly.

“Although our mission may be dangerous, we need to consider things from multiple perspectives. East Africa is currently developing rapidly, and every war means disrupting East Africa’s development process.

For example, the Northwest Campaign saw the entire East Africa’s resources tilted towards the northwest region, and East Africa basically stagnated in its development at that time.

Fortunately, the benefits of the Northwest Campaign were large enough to justify our actions. If we were to directly send troops against the Yeke Kingdom, there would naturally be no problem.

But if we can take the Yeke Kingdom at a smaller cost, wouldn’t that be better? Although there is some risk in doing so, it is worth East Africa trying.

After all, this is our first time dealing with these natives in a diplomatic manner. Even if we fail, we can still accumulate some experience for East Africa.

And if we succeed, our contribution will definitely not be less than the contribution of a large-scale war. Don’t you think that makes sense, Mr. Moltke!” Becker said.

In fact, the last sentence was the main reason. Compared to a war, if this mission to the Yeke Kingdom succeeded, Moltke and Becker would definitely get their fair share of the credit.

Moreover, military merits in war had to be divided, and Becker, as a civil official, would receive almost negligible credit. Although Moltke was the military commander of the Mbeya region, if a war really broke out, the East African colonies might send troops from other regions to participate, or parachute in famous generals like Felix to command the battle.

The Yeke Kingdom was like a cake. The more people there were, the less each person would get. As a civil official, Becker was naturally unwilling to accept this.

That’s why he proposed the strategy of sending a mission to the Yeke Kingdom. If it succeeded, Becker’s contribution as the proposer and executor of the strategy would definitely not be lower than second place. After all, there was still the commissioner and a group of senior officials in the Great Lakes region above him. With the commissioner present, other officials would not dare to snatch Becker’s credit. As for Commissioner Swet, Becker understood these social niceties. However, Becker was judging a gentleman’s heart with his own petty mind.

As one of the most outstanding graduates of the Black Hegen Military Academy, Swet was appreciated by Ernst and basically kept by his side for personal instruction.

At that time, there were only four or five of the most outstanding graduates of the Black Hegen Military Academy in total. According to the regular procedure, Swet should have entered a military academy in Berlin for further study.

However, Ernst sent him to East Africa alone to supervise the military work of the East African colonies and eventually become a member of East Africa’s top decision-making body.

Ernst’s trust in him was evident, and Swet was also grateful for Ernst’s cultivation and was one of Ernst’s confidants.

Swet was like Ernst’s avatar in the East African colonies, strictly following Ernst’s every order. Swet’s position in East Africa had already reached the ceiling. He could rely on Ernst for the rest of his life and didn’t need any additional merit, so Swet wouldn’t covet Becker’s little bit of credit.

Moltke’s purpose was similar to Becker’s. Although he was a hawk, Becker’s proposal was more tempting.

Becker and Moltke were both early German mercenaries. Once their contracts expired, they would have to return to Europe.

Every achievement in East Africa was real money, which was related to Becker and Moltke’s life in their later years, so that’s why this mission to the Yeke Kingdom was set in motion.

Chapter 182: The Choice

March, 1869.

After inspecting his businesses in Vienna, Ernst visited the Austro-Hungarian royal family, staying for a short time before returning to Hechingen.

The year 1869 was a crucial one, and the opening of the Suez Canal at the end of the year alone would have a profound impact on the East African colonies.

The opening of the Suez Canal meant more than just a change in shipping lanes; it also affected all aspects of East African affairs.

The strategic importance of Cape Town would decline accordingly, and Britain and France would engage in a series of competitions over control of the Suez Canal.

Ernst believed that this was also an important factor in Britain’s decision to allow Prussia to challenge France later on, as France was indeed too powerful at the time.

Now, all the European countries knew that Prussia was accumulating strength, and the changes in the European landscape depended on Prussia’s next decisions. With everyone’s attention focused on Europe, this was a good thing for East Africa.

The opening of the Suez Canal weakened the position of East African ports such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in the world’s main shipping lanes.

The impact on the East African colonies was both positive and negative. It could reduce the vigilance of other powers towards East Africa, but East Africa, including the whole of Africa, would also be in a very passive position in terms of future economic and strategic importance.

It was like the United States’ relentless containment of Russia. The Americas were geographically too isolated from the world island as a whole. If a country like Russia, spanning the Eurasian landmass, were allowed to extend its influence over the entire world island, the United States would truly be confined to being the king of the Americas.

Africa was the same. In the past, world commercial routes had to go around the entire African continent to operate. The North African Mediterranean coast had always been the main traditional commercial route for Europe and the Middle East, while the coasts of East, West, and South Africa were the only way to the Far East.

After the opening of the Suez Canal, the coasts of East, West, and South Africa would decline, of course, with one prerequisite: that no world power was born in Africa.

If a true world power, like the United States, were born in sub-Saharan Africa, it could pull sub-Saharan Africa back into the world trade system and occupy a huge share. Otherwise, South America would be the ceiling that Africa could develop to in the future.

“Ernst, what have you been busy with lately? I’ve seen you writing in the study recently. Didn’t you just come back from Vienna after building some businesses?” Prince Constantin came up behind Ernst and asked, looking at the piles of information and documents on his son’s desk.

Prince Constantin had now completely retired from kingdom affairs and was at home, mainly managing the territory every day.

In another year, Constantin would be 70 years old. The original Prince Constantin’s life was relatively turbulent. He had no children in his previous life, so he spent his later years mainly in Prussia, and finally passed away in Grünberg, Prussia.

But in this life, after having Ernst, Constantin’s attention to politics was significantly reduced, and he was not very active in Prussian politics either.

For example, the famous Hohenzollern House Order was jointly founded by Constantin and Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Prince Constantin was very enthusiastic about the entire Hohenzollern family’s cause.

In this life, Prince Constantin put most of his mind on cultivating Ernst. The Hohenzollern House Order still appeared, but this time only Prince Karl Anton led it.

In the early days, Ernst was still young, and Constantin stayed in Hechingen most of the time to take care of Ernst. After Ernst awakened, Ernst’s growth rate was too fast, which led to Constantin losing his ambition. After all, his son was so successful, and he should enjoy his old age.

“Father, I am planning the upgrade and renovation of First Town, intending to build First Town into a modern city with a high level of development,” Ernst said, holding a book and reading knowledge related to urban construction.

“First Town, is that the temporary political center of the East African colony?” Constantin asked.

The Hechingen royal family now had two colonies, East Africa and Alaska. Compared to the real buying and selling procedures and documents of Alaska, the East African royal territory was only the Hechingen royal family’s own claim.

The political center of the two colonies was Hechingen. As the nominal owner of the Hechingen royal territory, Constantin naturally knew something about it.

“Yes, Father, First Town, as the political center of East Africa, will also be our Hechingen royal family’s temporary capital in East Africa in the future, so I want to do a good job in local construction in advance to facilitate subsequent relocation work,” Ernst said bluntly.

“It seems that you really like East Africa very much, and have completely decided to put the family’s future entirely in East Africa!” Constantin said with emotion.

As a European, Constantin certainly had deep feelings for Europe, but he would not stop his only son from betting the family’s future entirely on East Africa.

Nobles should focus on family affairs. The East African region, judging from the data alone, was indeed not comparable to the small Hechingen.

Hechingen was originally an insignificant small country in Europe. Although it was a nail embedded in southern Germany by Prussia, its strategic importance to the current Kingdom of Prussia could be ignored.

After the unification of Germany in the future, it would have almost no sense of existence. To put it bluntly, it was a mountainous area. Of course, the entire southern Germany, adjacent to the Alps, was almost this kind of terrain.

“This is also something that can’t be helped. The interests of East Africa are too great, especially now that it has developed to this point. Anyone who understands the real data of East Africa will probably be tempted,” Ernst handed a real-time updated map of East Africa to Prince Constantin.

“Indeed, such a large area of colonies cannot be hidden for long. If it is exposed, I am afraid it will really attract the attention of interested people,” Constantin said seriously, looking at the East African colony that occupied a large area in Africa on the map.

At the beginning, Ernst was just drawing a pie for himself, but now that this pie had really appeared, Prince Constantin had to pay attention to it.

“Father, this is the various data of the East African colony last year, take a look,” Ernst took out a folder from the drawer below him, which contained the annual statistical report of the East African colony, recorded from 1866 to 1868, a total of three sheets.

Prince Constantin pulled over a chair, sat at the conference table, and began to read carefully.

After browsing the economic, grain output, resource, population, and military data, Constantin’s brows became tighter and tighter.

After a while, Constantin put down the documents and said with a serious face: “Now it seems that East Africa has completely grown up, what are your plans?”

“Father, I plan to go to East Africa in the next year or two to personally go to East Africa and preside over the various affairs of East Africa,” Ernst said honestly about his plan.

“That won’t do. East Africa now urgently needs someone with enough prestige to be in charge, otherwise remote control will have too many hidden dangers. I don’t believe that anything is bigger than the Hohenzollern family controlling East Africa, and can make you sit still!” Constantin rarely reprimanded Ernst in a stern tone.

Ernst fell into silence. Of course, Ernst wanted to fly to East Africa immediately to take charge, but Ernst had always been struggling with three points.

One was his only relative, Prince Constantin. In his previous life, Ernst was most worried about his parents in his hometown, but he had to travel overseas for life.

In Africa, Ernst’s work location was uncertain, and he often had to work across countries with the company. He was a stranger in a foreign land, so Ernst paid special attention to family affection. As a result, he died in a foreign land. Ernst couldn’t imagine how heartbroken his parents would be when they heard the news.

Therefore, in this life, Ernst was naturally worried about his father, whom he lived with day and night. This was also the biggest psychological obstacle for Ernst to make up his mind to go to East Africa.

The second point was to coordinate the coordinated development of the East African colony and the Hechingen Consortium. Ernst had tried to convince himself that the weight of the Hechingen Consortium was currently above East Africa, but the rapid expansion and development of East Africa was shattering Ernst’s thoughts. East Africa’s position in Ernst’s heart was indeed unshakable.

Of course, in terms of feelings, the Far East was definitely very important in Ernst’s heart, but Ernst knew that he was not the right person to deal with the chaotic situation in the Far East, and he was a German, and there was no reason to interfere in the politics of his previous homeland in this time and space. Being able to bring countless Far Eastern refugees and the lower classes to develop in the East African colony was already the greatest help Ernst could do for the Far East at present, but Ernst never had any illusions about the Far East in this life, and he really couldn’t go back.

The third point was that Ernst was waiting for an opportunity to announce the sovereignty of East Africa at the right time, at least with the consent of most of the great powers.

The above three points were the reasons for Ernst’s struggle. Anyone who truly faced a choice would have to make trade-offs. Ernst was not a hard-hearted person. This could be seen from the fact that Ernst did not carry out direct extermination activities against the natives, but Ernst was not weak either, so he could accomplish many things. If he were really a saint, the East African colony would not exist.

“I probably know what you are worried about!” Prince Constantin said with emotion.

Looking at his usual high-spirited son, who was rarely silent, Constantin vaguely guessed a part of it.

“Ernst, you must remember that life, death, and separation are inevitable. No one can act on impulse, especially for us nobles. From the moment we are born, our fate is no longer controlled by ourselves. Family interests should always be the first priority,” Prince Constantin said.

“I know, I have now become an obstacle in your heart, but I am old and frail, and I am open to many things. If you have any ideas, feel free to do it. I should not become a shackle on your life path. Every father hopes that his son can be successful, and even more so, does not want to become a stumbling block on their path to growth.”

Hearing this, Ernst knew that Constantin might have understood the first point he was worried about, but this was only Ernst’s main concern, and the other two points could not be ignored.

So, he explained to Constantin: “Father, thank you for your selflessness and love for me, but things are not what you think. The East African affairs also involve…”

Ernst told Constantin about his difficulties one by one.

“Is that so! It seems that it is indeed difficult for you to go to East Africa now, but not going is also a problem…” Prince Constantin also fell into thought after hearing his son’s reasons.

“That’s right!” Suddenly Constantin seemed to have thought of something.

He stood up and said, “I have now thought of a win-win solution, do you think it will work?”

“What solution?” Ernst asked in confusion.

“What do you think about me going to East Africa to take charge for you?” Prince Constantin said to Ernst.

Ernst instantly lost his composure. Of course, it would solve the problem if his old father went to East Africa, but the road to East Africa was not very friendly to an old man.

“No, Father, you are so old, you will definitely not be able to stand the sea voyage,” Ernst said to Prince Constantin categorically.

“Hmph, you are looking down on me. You weren’t even born when I led Hechingen across Europe back then! In recent years, I have been taking care of you, which can be said to be basically equivalent to retiring in Hechingen in advance. My physical fitness is no worse than you young people. Isn’t it just a sea voyage? Why don’t you believe in your father’s physical fitness?” Constantin said to Ernst.

“But…”

“But what? Let’s not argue anymore. I have made up my mind. This is no longer just your business, but the business of the entire Hechingen royal family, the entire Hohenzollern family. As the current patriarch of the Hohenzollern family - the Hechingen line, I have the final say on this matter,” Constantin deprived Ernst of the right to speak in one sentence.

Originally, Constantin was the main candidate for the position of patriarch of the entire Hohenzollern family, but for the sake of Ernst, Constantin gave up the position of patriarch to Prince Karl Anton in his early years. After all, the patriarch of a large European family had a lot to do, and after merging into Prussia, Constantin had to deal with the affairs of the Hechingen territory and Prussia at the same time.

So Constantin handed over the position of patriarch to Prince Karl Anton, and at the same time only held a nominal position in Prussia, receiving an extra salary. At that time, the merger of Hechingen into Prussia actually reduced part of Constantin’s ambition. After all, Hechingen was originally a small country, and it was nominal, so what was the point of fighting? Moreover, Constantin had a son in this life, so he was no longer enthusiastic about participating in Prussian politics.

In his previous life, he didn’t even have children, so he could only consider the family. This life was naturally different.

“You arrange the ships now, I want to go to East Africa immediately to continue the great cause of our Hechingen royal family. Don’t think I have been very idle these years, in fact, I have been unable to restrain myself in my heart. For me, it is impossible to give up power all at once. It’s just that in the past, Hechingen limited the stage for me to play. Now there is a large stage of more than two million square kilometers to continue to display my revenge. Are you willing to cut off the dream in a father’s heart?” In order to make Ernst compromise, Constantin deliberately began to use mental secret techniques.

As a former king of a small country with real power, Prince Constantin, like most European monarchs, was full of diplomatic skills. After all, it was common to switch allegiances, and countries with poor diplomacy were destined not to survive for so long.

In Prince Constantin’s eyes, Ernst’s diplomatic talent was just so-so. When it came to grasping people’s hearts, the old fox was more experienced.

In the end, the father and son had a brief confrontation. The experienced Prince Constantin was naturally not someone that Ernst, a little baby, could deal with.

Helpless, Ernst could only agree to Constantin’s decision, but he also won some compromises, that was, for Constantin’s safety and health, Ernst had to make full preparations. It was impossible for Constantin to set off for East Africa immediately.

He had to wait for Ernst to coordinate and arrange the company’s best ships and service personnel before he could set off, and East Africa also had to race against time to prepare a good living environment for Prince Constantin.

Chapter 183: Arrival

In the study.

Having seen his father off, Ernst breathed a sigh of relief. Since things had come to this, he could only respect his father’s decision.

Currently, letting his father oversee things in East Africa did seem to be the best solution. Prince Constantine possessed sufficient prestige and ability, and no one with any sense would dare to provoke a monarch from Europe in their own colony.

The reverence for nobility was ingrained in the hearts of the immigrants. The immigrants in the East African colony were all from feudal or autocratic regions (Paraguay), and naturally held a sense of awe towards nobility.

The officials in the East African colony, mostly mercenaries, were all of German origin, and they knew the status of a German monarch. Moreover, they were just hired hands; the vast majority would not stay in East Africa permanently, and most were retired from the Prussian army, not young anymore, so they wouldn’t stay in East Africa for long.

As for the students of the Hechingen Military Academy, they would definitely listen to Prince Constantine, after all, the Hechingen Military Academy was built in Hechingen, and Prince Constantine was a frequent visitor to the academy, often interacting with the students.

Finally, there were the employees of the Hechingen Consortium, few in number, and frequently rotated, mainly responsible for economic affairs in East Africa, which meant auditing.

In other words, no one in the entire East Africa disobeyed Prince Constantine, after all, it was common knowledge among the East Africans that the Hechingen Royal Family was the master of East Africa.

It was just that the immigrants of East Africa rarely saw the legendary figure, just like the emperor, staying in the deep palace all his life, which did not affect his status as the supreme ruler.

Ernst sat back down at his desk, looking at the unfinished First Town upgrade and renovation plan on the desk, which now had to be reworked.

With Constantine’s involvement, First Town definitely couldn’t be upgraded and renovated according to the original design. The expenses that were originally intended to be saved seemed unavoidable.

…

“Who goes there? Stop!” On the border of the Yeke Kingdom, several natives suddenly blocked the path of Moltke and his party.

“Bring the native translator over!” Becker ordered the soldiers behind him.

Soon, a dark-skinned native was singled out from the end of the line. He was the translator found by the East African colony. East Africans certainly wouldn’t learn native languages, so they could only select from the native slaves.

Among the hundreds of thousands of native slaves, there were always a few with a knack for languages who learned German through contact with the East African colony, so they were temporarily used as translators by the East African colony.

“Tell them that we are guests from afar and have no ill intentions towards them,” Becker said to the translator.

So the translator began to relay Becker’s words to the other party, and the two sides began to communicate.

“Where do you come from?” the native asked cautiously.

“A country to the east,” Becker said.

Talking about colonies with these natives, it was estimated that their language didn’t even have the concept of a colony.

Hearing Becker’s words, the faces of the natives opposite them clearly changed, although nothing could be seen because of their skin color.

The east, that must be the existence of the East African colony. The Yeke Kingdom and the East African colony had dealt with each other a few times, especially when the East African colony expelled the local natives to the southwest and northwest regions.

At that time, some of the East Bantu natives who entered the southwest entered the Malawi Kingdom, and some entered the Yeke Kingdom.

Among them, many of the East Bantu natives who entered the Yeke Kingdom were recruited by Msiri, after all, Msiri was also from the Tanganyika region.

These people spread the terror of the East African colony throughout the Yeke Kingdom, describing the East African colonial army as the army of devils.

The upper echelons of the Yeke Kingdom and some soldiers certainly didn’t believe the nonsense of these East Bantu people, after all, they had seen firearms, and even the Yeke Kingdom itself had a unit purely equipped with firearms.

However, more people in the Yeke Kingdom believed it. It was said that if three men say there’s a tiger, there must be one. Tens of thousands of mouths could turn the dead into the living.

Moreover, the common people of the Yeke Kingdom themselves believed that their king and the East African colony were the same gang of devils, after all, they were both from the east and used firearms.

The number of East Bantu natives expelled by East Africa and taken in by the Yeke Kingdom was not large. At the beginning, the vast majority of the natives were driven to the northwest region by East Africa.

Of the remaining small part, the Malawi Kingdom also took a large share, so the number of East Bantu natives who arrived in the Yeke Kingdom was not large.

Out of consideration for being from the same hometown, Msiri largely recruited and employed these East Bantu people to suppress opponents within the Yeke Kingdom and surrounding forces.

The army of the Yeke Kingdom had also become a paradise for these natives from the Tanganyika region. Apart from Msiri’s most elite firearms unit, the army of the Yeke Kingdom was basically composed of the more brave and warlike East Bantu people.

And the natives who blocked Becker and his party were precisely the East Bantu natives who had been incorporated into the Yeke Kingdom.

It could be seen from their weapons that they were uniformly equipped with spears and bows and arrows, which were obviously the peripheral forces of the Yeke Kingdom.

“Are you the people of the devil!” An East Bantu soldier shouted tremblingly at Becker and his party, clutching the weapon in his hand tightly.

The East Bantu natives were truly brave and warlike on the East African grasslands, and were born to fight with wild beasts, but the East African colony was too unreasonable, directly using hot weapons to open the eyes of this group of East Bantu people.

No matter how high your kung fu is, you are still afraid of a kitchen knife. The natives who fled the Tanganyika region naturally couldn’t forget these terrifying East Africans.

“Don’t worry, we have no ill intentions. This time we have come mainly to meet your king, Msiri,” Becker said to these Yeke Kingdom soldiers.

Devil or not, it didn’t matter. As long as he achieved the purpose of this trip, Becker would be a big winner, so Becker tried his best to speak to these natives in a kind and gentle manner.

After some negotiation between the two sides, the natives finally understood the purpose of Becker and his party, and said, “Guests from afar, we must first report to His Great Majesty Msiri. Only after His Great Majesty Msiri agrees can we allow you to go to the palace to meet him.”

Chapter 184: Negotiation

Before long, a flamboyantly dressed black warrior arrived at the scene. Compared to the surrounding natives clad in simple fabrics and the plainly dressed East African soldiers, it was clear at a glance that this black warrior held a high position in the Yeke Kingdom.

“I am a guard of His Majesty Msiri. His Majesty has agreed to meet you. Please, follow me,” the black warrior said.

“Please,” Becker responded with a courteous gesture.

The black court guard of the Yeke Kingdom led Becker and the others toward the capital of the Yeke Kingdom.

After an unknown amount of time, they saw a city. Surrounding the city were slums of all sizes, with a magnificent palace towering in the middle.

The city’s environment was naturally appalling. The East Africans covered their mouths and noses as they traversed a muddy road mixed with who-knew-what liquids.

This made the Yeke Kingdom’s court guard feel very embarrassed, but these East Africans were guests whom His Majesty Msiri had specifically requested to see, so he couldn’t very well lash out.

When the group passed through the slums, it was as if they had suddenly entered another world. The muddy road turned into a road paved with stone slabs. The palace they had seen outside the city was surrounded by a circle of walls, but they were too short and obscured by the slums, which was why the group hadn’t seen them.

This was probably the royal city of the Yeke Kingdom. The royal city exuded a strong Arabic architectural style. The stone pillars and carvings were clearly not the natives’ own handiwork. This must have been built by artisans from the Sultanate of Zanzibar whom Msiri had specially hired back then.

The black guard led Becker and the others through the city gate. The guards at the gate saluted him with their guns. Passing through the city gate, the palace appeared in front of them.

“Gentlemen, according to His Majesty’s request, you cannot bring weapons into the palace. You can only enter if you hand over your weapons for us to keep. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll have to rest here,” the guard said to Becker and the others.

This was a difficult situation for the East Africans. Guns were their lifelines, especially when they were in enemy territory. Naturally, they couldn’t hand them over to the other side.

At this moment, Becker called Moltke over and said, “Mr. Moltke, I’m the one who initiated this, so naturally, I need to be responsible to the end. In a moment, I’ll take the slave translator to meet with that Msiri myself. You lead the team and wait here. If anything unexpected happens, you’ll have to rely on yourselves.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Becker. If these natives are blind, I’ll let them know that a lion’s butt is not to be trifled with,” Moltke said.

“Okay, then I’ll go in first. You stay here. If you don’t see me come out after a long time, then you can decide what to do on your own!” After saying that, Becker took the translator and followed the guard into the royal palace of the Yeke Kingdom.

Inside the main hall.

“You are the envoy of the East Africans?” Msiri wore a golden crown and a magnificent royal robe, reclining on a throne made of lion skin. Behind him, several native servant girls fanned him with fans made of banana leaves.

“That’s right. I am an official from Mbeya, a territory of the East African royal family. I have come here to discuss a business deal with His Majesty,” Becker said to Msiri.

“Hmph, you East Africans are quite bold, daring to come and talk business with me with so few people! You should know that you have cut off my source of wealth!” Msiri said something without thinking, almost causing Becker to lose his composure.

Becker thought to himself, “As expected, these natives are all uncivilized barbarians. They only know the law of the jungle. If East Africa were the weaker party, they probably would have already attacked.”

But Becker still said politely to Msiri, “Your Majesty, what are you talking about! Our East Africa has always been on good terms with your country, and we have never neglected you. Over the past year, our two countries can be said to have been living in harmony and seeking common development.”

Becker deliberately spoke nonsense with his eyes wide open, which made Msiri on the throne laugh in anger.

“Others may not know the details of you East Africans, but I, Msiri, the greatest believer of the True God on earth, how could I not know?

Living in harmony? How dare you East Africans say that? When I left Tanganyika, that land was all the territory of our local people. You should know that I also grew up in the Tanganyika region. You East Africans have simply snatched our land away.

Is this what you call living in harmony? Tanganyika was such a large place, yet you forcibly seized it all the way to the vicinity of the Yeke Kingdom.

Moreover, you monopolize the slave trade, causing our country’s fiscal revenue to decline year after year. If it weren’t for me, the great King Msiri, the Yeke Kingdom would have disappeared long ago…”

Msiri enumerated the crimes of the East African colony, becoming more and more angry as he spoke. After all, East African expansion had caused him the greatest losses.

Originally, with the slave trade, the Yeke Kingdom was able to get whatever it wanted in Central Africa. Msiri also lived a life of extravagance through the slave trade, but since East Africa blocked the trade routes, Msiri could only further exploit the natives in the region in order to continue to maintain his luxurious life.

Actually, all of the above was not enough to make Msiri so angry. In Africa, it has always been about who is stronger, and the winner takes all.

But East Africa was too inhumane. What made Msiri feel most unbalanced was that the East African colony continued the slave trade, but forced him to contribute. Contributing was one thing, but they didn’t even give him any remuneration. It was equivalent to working for the East African colony for free.

Becker listened to Msiri’s complaints with an old-god-like composure. Finally, Msiri probably felt his mouth was dry, so he asked for some wine to moisten his throat.

Becker took the opportunity to say, “Your Majesty, actually, you have misunderstood us East Africans. We are also very fond of peace.”

“Hehe,” Msiri looked at Becker’s performance like he was watching a monkey.

“In fact, most people in East Africa love peace, just like me. I am definitely a messenger of peace, but there are bad people in East Africa!

The reason I came to your country this time is actually to let you know that those bad people in East Africa have already set their sights on the Yeke Kingdom.”

“Stop pretending! How many people are you East Africans planning to send to fight us?” Msiri said indifferently.

Although he said that, Msiri had actually already begun planning his escape. He naturally knew the strength of the East Africans very well. Even the Arabs couldn’t beat them, let alone the East Africans.

“Your Majesty, what are you talking about? I said that we East Africans love peace. It’s just that some individuals want to provoke the relationship between our two countries, but the righteous people of East Africa will naturally not stand idly by, which is why I am visiting this time,” Becker said.

“Then what exactly do you East Africans want?”

“Your Majesty, I already said when I entered the palace that I came here to discuss cooperation, which is of course beneficial to you and also beneficial to us East Africans,” Becker said.

“What cooperation?” Although Msiri knew that East Africa had no good intentions, he still asked.

Chapter 185: Transaction Accomplished

“Ahem!” Becker said, “We, the East African hawks, are prepared to take over the Yeke Kingdom, but considering the friendship between our two countries, we want to let Your Majesty make two choices yourself.”

After saying this, Becker himself felt a little embarrassed. Who starts a diplomatic mission by saying they want to destroy another country?

Sure enough, M’Siri’s fists hardened, and his face was so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip from it, but he still held back and asked, “Oh, what choices does your side intend to give me?”

“The first is to resist to the end, and then our East African army will take action personally. If that happens, we will leave no one alive,” Becker said, his tone suddenly changing.

“Mr. Becker, I must say you are truly audacious. I don’t know how strong your East African military is, but your mouth is certainly tough. Don’t you know how serious the consequences of angering a monarch are?” M’Siri retorted sharply.

“Right now, you few are not in East Africa, but in my hands. You don’t think you can run rampant here with just a few dozen guns, do you?

The reason I, M’Siri, rule the Yeke Kingdom is not just because of firearms, but because of wisdom. So many slave traders came before, but only I achieved such success.

The moment you stepped into this royal city, I had already arranged for warriors from all over the country. Right now, hundreds of gun muzzles are aimed at your people, along with countless archers and an endless number of spearmen. As long as you make any unusual move, we will definitely turn you into sieves in a short amount of time,” M’Siri said triumphantly to Becker.

“Uh, Your Majesty, why do you say that? We carry weapons mainly to guard against wild animals. Your Majesty also knows that Africa has the most wild animals,” Becker said. “Moreover, we came here to discuss cooperation. Your Majesty hasn’t even heard the second option yet, so how can you rely on speculation!”

“Then tell me and let me hear it! If it doesn’t satisfy me, then don’t blame me for being ruthless!” M’Siri said.

“The second option is that Your Majesty voluntarily leads the subjects of the Yeke Kingdom to give up the Yeke Kingdom. As a thank you, we in East Africa are willing to provide Your Majesty with a batch of arms to help Your Majesty re-establish a country abroad,” Becker said to M’Siri.

After hearing Becker’s words, the first thing M’Siri focused on was the arms. As for East Africa wanting to annex the Yeke Kingdom, it was hardly a secret. Judging from the past behavior of the East African colony, they were insatiable.

M’Siri said, “Your country really has a good idea. You plan to buy my entire kingdom with just a little bit of arms. Is this how you used to do business?”

Becker retorted, “Your Majesty, it’s not the entire kingdom. We just want the land under your feet. As for your wealth and subjects, you can naturally take them all with you.

I think Your Majesty should know that with guns in hand, finding a blessed place to re-establish a country is not difficult.

There’s no need for both of us to fight to the death for this little bit of land. Moreover, I think you should be very clear about how much of an advantage firearms have over traditional weapons.”

After hearing Becker’s words, M’Siri understood that these East Africans really intended to get something for nothing. They wanted to swallow the Yeke Kingdom without paying a price.

“There is nothing in the world that cannot be traded, but how much is East Africa willing to offer?” M’Siri said.

Becker held up five fingers.

“Five hundred guns? No, that’s too few!” M’Siri shook his head.

Becker said awkwardly, “I’m talking about fifty guns.”

“Mr. Becker, can you East Africans have a little bit of shame? The Yeke Kingdom is such a large area, and fifty guns can’t easily take it.”

“Your Majesty, it’s business! Naturally, there has to be bargaining. If you think the price is not suitable, of course you can make a request!” Becker said.

“At least one thousand guns, plus corresponding ammunition. You must know that we are going to give up the entire Yeke Kingdom. We can’t do without arms to start a business abroad,” M’Siri said.

“One thousand is too many, seventy at most. Seventy guns, plus the firearms team that Your Majesty already owns, can run rampant throughout Central Africa,” Becker said.

“Mr. Becker, that’s not how you calculate it. The Yeke Kingdom has been developed for a long time, and I, M’Siri, have worked diligently to govern the Yeke Kingdom for so many years. Let’s not talk about anything else, but look at this palace. Its value is more than just seventy guns!” M’Siri said.

“Well, Your Majesty, in fact, these palaces and cities have no value to us in East Africa. On the contrary, they are a burden. Just like the buildings left by the Zanzibaris in East Africa, it took us a lot of effort just to tear them down,” Becker said.

What a waste of resources, M’Siri cursed inwardly, and said, “It may have no value to your country, but it was built with a lot of financial resources, materials, and manpower from the Yeke Kingdom.

Moreover, my request is the cheapest you can find in the entire Africa! One thousand guns is not difficult for you to manufacture. If you meet my request, what does it matter if I hand over the Yeke Kingdom? Not only that, but we can also leave the people to your side.”

“Ah! That won’t do, Your Majesty. We in East Africa only need the land. Your people should of course go on the expedition with you. After all, you need manpower abroad!” Becker said quickly.

“But what do I want so many useless people for? I only need to bring the warriors and officials of the Yeke Kingdom and set off lightly. These natives are also a burden to me,” M’Siri said to Becker.

Becker pondered in the palace. He really didn’t expect this. This M’Siri was simply impervious to reason and extremely indifferent to his people. It seemed that he had to show some sincerity. East Africa wanted the land but not the people. He had to find a way to make M’Siri drive these natives out of the Yeke Kingdom himself.

“Your Majesty, how about this? This time, we in East Africa will suffer a bit of a loss. We can provide you with five hundred guns, but you must take your people with you. You must know that five hundred guns can organize a powerful army, enough for us in East Africa to personally conquer the Yeke Kingdom.

So, paying five hundred guns is definitely the most we can do. At that time, you can easily establish another Yeke Kingdom with these five hundred guns.”

“One thousand!” M’Siri still said to himself.

“Hmph, Your Majesty, I’m talking to you about cooperation in a friendly manner, not because I’m afraid of the strength of the Yeke Kingdom. If we continue to haggle like this, it will be meaningless. Five hundred is the fixed price, and we can’t give any more.

Otherwise, I can only regretfully announce that this negotiation has broken down,” Becker said with a slight threat.

It seemed that this was indeed East Africa’s bottom line. M’Siri was indeed a smart man, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to complete the transformation from slave trader to king.

In fact, from the beginning, M’Siri didn’t intend to confront East Africa head-on. He just wanted to get as much as possible from East Africa.

Under M’Siri’s more than thirty years of rule, the Yeke Kingdom could no longer even sustainably deplete its resources. Riots occurred frequently and were forcibly suppressed by force.

M’Siri didn’t need to bear any obligations to rule the Yeke Kingdom. After collecting taxes, he just bought weapons without thinking. If there were any opponents, he would send them to see God.

Under M’Siri’s rule, the population of the Yeke Kingdom decreased by thirty percent, which is why he later accepted the East Bantu people into the army.

The local natives were already difficult to manage, and M’Siri naturally wanted to pass the buck and find another place to start over.

The envoy sent by East Africa allowed M’Siri to extort a batch of arms. As Becker said, he could run rampant throughout Central Africa with five hundred guns.

Moreover, the Yeke Kingdom originally had a firearms team of several hundred people. After East Africa restricted the supply of ammunition, there were still more than three hundred people.

“Alright, Mr. Becker, this time I will reluctantly agree to this transaction for your sake, but five hundred guns, not one less,” M’Siri said.

“Your Majesty, rest assured, as long as we don’t see a single native left behind when we subsequently take over the Yeke Kingdom, we will naturally keep our promise.

But before that, we can only provide one hundred guns first. Only after confirming the result can we hand over the rest to your country at the border.

This can also be considered a form of employment, so your country can rest assured. Maybe there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future,” Becker said.

After thinking for a while, M’Siri drank the wine in his hand in one gulp and said, “Deal!”

Chapter 186: The “Three Lines” Plan

March 11, 1869.

Professional cable-laying ships once again appeared on the Mediterranean and Red Seas. For the people along the Mediterranean coast, this was nothing new. In recent years, as countries have increasingly emphasized the role of telegraphs, capable nations and companies have been laying telegraph lines on the seabed.

This time, the ships laying cables at sea came from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany, starting work in the Mediterranean and Red Seas respectively.

From Trieste in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Egypt, and then from Egypt to the seas off East Africa, another cable-laying operation began.

This time, it was a double-line laying operation. After all, a single cable was not a secure way to maintain contact between East Africa and Europe.

The plan to lay a double line had been on Ernst’s desk for a long time. It was planned when the first cable from East Africa to Europe was laid, but it was not implemented at the time due to funding constraints.

Later, the first cable remained in good working order. After all, the entire line was not used for civilian purposes, but was a dedicated government line for East Africa, and the workload was not heavy, so the second line was never started, or rather, Ernst had almost forgotten about the plan.

Now that his father was about to depart for East Africa, communication between father and son was essential. To prevent accidents, Ernst decided to restart the cable-laying operation.

Submarine cables are relatively fragile, so laying a double line is like installing insurance. Even if the frequently used line fails, a backup line can be activated immediately.

East Africa, First Town.

“This is a document from His Highness. Send it to the governments along the inland route in advance to prepare them.” Von der Leyen handed the document on the East African telegraph line construction to the people in the conference room.

“This is quite a workload!” The officials in the conference room said after reading the document.

“It’s not too difficult. Although the entire project line is as long as four thousand kilometers, we only need to erect telephone poles along both sides of the road. The local governments along the way only need to be responsible for the work within their jurisdiction,” Von der Leyen said.

“That’s true. The telephone poles can be sourced locally. We also need to prepare the machine rooms in advance to facilitate the installation of generators later.”

What everyone was discussing was the land part of the telegraph line construction plan. As early as last year, the East African colony had erected a land telegraph line from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam and then to First Town.

So telegraphs were not unfamiliar to the officials in First Town. After all, the submarine cable only went to Mombasa, which was some distance from Dar es Salaam and First Town, and they could not rely on couriers to deliver messages.

Currently, the main way to transmit messages in East Africa is still by horses, with post offices set up in various cities to form a communication network. Telegraphs are only available in First Town, Dar es Salaam, and Mombasa.

“This telegraph line construction will be divided into two main lines and several branch lines, one originating from Mombasa and one originating from First Town.

The Mombasa line will pass through Nairobi, then reach Kisumu, and finally reach the new northwestern city of Kampala. At the same time, a branch line will be separated from Nairobi and go north directly to Omorate Town above Lake Turkana, so that any disturbances in the north can be transmitted to us in time.

The First Town line will take Dodoma as a transit station, with the southern line going all the way to Mbeya City as the end point, and the northern line going north first through Mwanza, and then west until it reaches Bujumbura on the north bank of Lake Tanganyika, so that the government can keep abreast of the news from the west.” Kane, the technical director, summarized.

At this time, Merkel and Becker, sent by the Mbeya government to negotiate with the Yeke Kingdom, had not yet returned, so everyone did not know that the Yeke Kingdom had been sold to the East African colony by Msiri. Therefore, the western end of the First Town line in this telegraph line plan only reached Mbeya.

The above, the East Africa-Europe submarine cable line, the First Town line, and the Mombasa line, are the latest communication projects designed by Ernst for East Africa, also named the “Three Lines” Plan by Ernst.

It basically covers the main directions of East Africa, with no construction plans for the south, because the south and the Portuguese forces are separated by the Ruvuma River, and the defense pressure is small. Moreover, the Portuguese side mainly lives in indigenous tribes, and the two colonies are not really adjacent.

East Africa’s classification of these indigenous tribes into the Portuguese sphere of influence can also be regarded as a gesture of goodwill to the Portuguese. If the two colonies were really close together, there would inevitably be friction.

So far, the expansion activities of the East African colony have been quite smooth, and naturally not achieved through Becker’s peaceful negotiations.

Moreover, Becker’s success also relied on the strength of East Africa. Msiri, a slave trader, was not a benevolent person. The reason why he sold the Yeke Kingdom to East Africa at an extremely low price was that he knew that East Africa was truly insatiable and of the same kind as himself.

But he could not beat the other party, and since the slave trade became a unilateral demand from East Africa, Msiri gained nothing, and the Yeke Kingdom’s interest group began to crumble, so it was better to sell it to the East Africans.

The transaction with the Yeke Kingdom reflected the imperialist style of East Africa. Putting East Africa in Europe, other countries would probably just laugh, but it was an insurmountable mountain in front of the African natives.

Currently, the main direction of East Africa’s expansion is the south-central African region, so it is necessary to lay a telegraph line to Mbeya.

The Bujumbura area is responsible for the liaison of the Mitumba Mountains area, which East Africa is infiltrating.

Kampala is responsible for the exchange of information in the northwestern Great Lakes region.

Omorate Town is responsible for the Omo River basin. After all, it is very close to the Abyssinian Empire, so it is necessary to be vigilant and monitor the movements of the Egyptian Sudan region.

Through the “Three Lines” Plan, the above key areas of concern in East Africa can directly contact the central government of East Africa, and Ernst can keep abreast of the movements in East Africa.

Apart from the above areas, only Mozambique in the south and Somalia in the north are not covered by this plan. The Portuguese have already spoken, and Somalia is completely worthless.

The border between Somalia and East Africa is mainly desert, which is a natural geographical barrier. Moreover, the Geledi Sultanate in the direction of Somalia is too weak and has a small population. East Africa would be grateful if it didn’t cause trouble for it.

No sooner said than done, the governments of First Town and Mombasa, which received the news first, began to organize personnel to erect the telephone poles needed for the telegraph line.

The telephone poles were sourced locally. The forest coverage in East Africa was quite terrifying in this era, reaching more than forty percent. Timber was quite cheap, with basically no cost. The speed at which the small population of East Africa cut down trees could not keep up with their growth rate.

After simply processing these timbers uniformly, wooden wedges were added to the top to serve as fulcrums for fixing the wires later.

Later, as long as the wires, generators, iron wires and other materials from Europe are transported over, the lines can be fixed on top. A small maintenance and inspection point will be built every certain distance to facilitate workers to detect problems early and maintain the smooth flow of the line.

Some buildings are machine rooms, used to power the entire telegraph line system. The generators are high-power direct current generators imported from Siemens. A large part of the expenditure of this “Three Lines” Plan is on generators and other equipment.

Taking advantage of Prince Constantine’s visit to East Africa, Ernst directly connected the East African land telegraph line together with the submarine line in one step.

Chapter 187: Persuasion

In reality, it wasn’t procedurally possible for Prince Constantine to set off for Africa immediately, after all, Prince Constantine’s status was not ordinary.

He was not only the monarch of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, but also a prince of the Kingdom of Prussia. Moreover, going to East Africa would inevitably involve bringing some trusted confidants of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family. He couldn’t just dissolve these loyal subjects who had served the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family for generations on the spot.

Hohenzollern-Hechingen was not large, but as a country, it had all the necessary administrative institutions. Even after merging into Prussia, some powers were handed over.

That only applied to military affairs, taxation, and other powers. The Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family still supported a large number of people, including servants and guards.

The future of these people had to be arranged. Those willing to go to East Africa with Prince Constantine would be taken along, those unwilling would be given a higher severance payment, and those who were unwilling to go to East Africa and had nowhere else to go would stay to continue managing Hohenzollern-Hechingen’s properties.

After all, the castle and properties needed manpower to manage. However, after Prince Constantine left, they would no longer belong to the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, but would be managed by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium, changing from employees attached to the royal family to regular employees.

At the same time, Prince Constantine’s destination had to be thoroughly discussed with the family. The first to receive the news was Sigmaringen next door.

“Constantine, do you really want to go overseas alone?” Prince Karl Anton asked Prince Constantine.

As one of Prince Constantine’s closest friends and relatives, Karl Anton couldn’t understand Prince Constantine’s decision at all.

Due to geographical location and family reasons, Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Sigmaringen had a very good relationship, especially in this generation, Prince Karl Anton and Prince Constantine were the closest.

The two jointly decided to merge the two countries into Prussia, and they also helped each other in politics. In recent years, Constantine had faded out of Prussian politics, but his support for Prince Karl Anton had not diminished.

Sigmaringen had indeed developed well. Karl Anton’s two sons were both quite promising, and he himself held an important position in the Kingdom of Prussia. If Prince Constantine had not faded out of the kingdom’s power center, he would probably be in a similar position to Prince Karl Anton in the Kingdom of Prussia now.

“Yes, for the family’s expansion overseas, I, this old bone, also want to contribute.” Prince Constantine said.

“Then there’s no need to go to East Africa in person! In this era, almost none of the nobles of our status go overseas to develop. Europe is the center of the world. The overseas situation is complicated and unpredictable. You may not be able to grasp it!”

What Prince Karl Anton was alluding to was none other than the Empire of Brazil of that year, a country briefly established after the Portuguese royal family was forced to move to Brazil because of Napoleon.

“To be honest, the reason why we nobles can gain a foothold in Europe largely depends on the mutual support of families and political allies. After all, overseas is a region where our power is difficult to radiate. We don’t have any power there, so going overseas is too risky.” Prince Karl Anton said to Constantine.

In Karl Anton’s view, the East African colony was probably the same as those traditional colonies, where the suzerain state used a policy of muddling through to maintain its rule.

It was to temporarily suppress the majority with a minority. After all, colonies were used for plunder, and no one would bother to sincerely build colonies with great effort.

Even if Britain and France had some construction in their colonies, it was to further exploit the potential of the colonies. Only Portugal was forced to build Angola and Mozambique with great effort.

There was still a risk of overseas colonies becoming independent, so Karl Anton strongly urged Constantine not to risk going overseas.

“Alas, Karl, I am different from you. Hohenzollern-Hechingen is a small country with not much potential. Since merging into Prussia, I haven’t had much motivation to strive.

Unlike you, your sons are now almost able to find good positions. Ernst didn’t catch up with the good times because he was too young. Even if he wants to operate in Europe in the future, I’m afraid the chances will be slim. After all, I’m getting old, and Ernst’s situation will be even more difficult after I die.”

Constantine was talking about Ernst’s future. Like Sigmaringen, Ernst himself also had the possibility of becoming a European king, but such a pie-in-the-sky thing was probably something only Sigmaringen could encounter twice.

Although European nobles intermarried and the German region also had a tradition of exporting kings, the position could not be vacant for no reason.

Especially in recent years, the European political situation was chaotic, and even if there was a real opportunity, Constantine might not agree.

In Europe, when others invite you to be a king, it is not a trivial matter of inviting you to dinner. It is to maintain their own interests. For example, Maximilian I was a pawn thrown into Mexico by Napoleon III, at best a high-ranking puppet.

Countries like Romania, which are under the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Empire and want to rely on Europe, need a king to strengthen their ties with Europe are really rare.

“This is not a big deal. There are so many European nobles, especially those of us with higher status. There are not a few of them. There are three royal families in France next door, and there are so many people under them. It is indeed difficult to go further. However, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, as a vassal state, is inherently talented, and you only have one son. It is enough for Ernst to inherit your title in the future. Moreover, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen industry is so large now that many nobles are asking for your family’s help. This is something that many people envy!” Prince Karl Anton still couldn’t understand Constantine’s thoughts.

To be honest, Prince Karl Anton was actually very envious of Constantine. What nobles like them lacked most was money. If you were to say who had the most money in the German region, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family would definitely be among the best. Hohenzollern-Hechingen Bank alone was already one of the leading banks in Europe. If Constantine arranged a marriage for Ernst, a large group of top nobles would definitely flock to him.

Although the great nobles themselves had a lot of assets, their expenses were even greater. Especially these European nobles who had come from the Middle Ages had a lot of worries about debt in history. In the eyes of outsiders, Ernst was a synonym for young, rich, and noble.

“Money is not omnipotent. At least our Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family is not very interested in money now.” Constantine rarely showed a hint of pride: “It’s enough to have enough money. When wealth reaches a certain stage, it doesn’t mean much to great nobles like us. If we want to achieve something, we still have to go further in politics.”

“Then there’s no need to go to that godforsaken place in Africa to suffer! With Hohenzollern-Hechingen’s current strength, I think there are many opportunities to operate in Europe. Especially since you have a good relationship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if you have nothing to do, you can at least seek a throne in the Balkans!” Karl Anton said.

“There are many opportunities in the Balkans, and the success rate is high, but the situation in that place is too complicated. Living in the cracks between three major powers, I bet Karl (Carol I, King of Romania) has complained to you a lot!” Constantine asked rhetorically.

“That’s true, but it’s still better than the barren land of Africa. Even if Karl can’t really hold it down, we won’t stand idly by. But if you go to Africa, even if we want to intervene, we won’t be able to.” Karl Anton said.

“There’s nothing wrong with a barren land. At least it shows good potential. Moreover, Europe is too competitive. It’s really not easy to stand out. Although there may be dangers there, it’s easier to deal with natives than to deal with a bunch of old foxes in Europe.” Constantine said insincerely.

The more he understood, the more he felt the potential of East Africa. Before Constantine decided to go to East Africa, his impression of Africa was similar to Prince Karl Anton’s.

But as more and more data was presented to Prince Constantine, Constantine had to admit that his most optimistic expectations for East Africa before were too conservative.

East Africa, which had been vigorously developed by Ernst, had almost no shortcomings, except for a navy. However, East Africa was now busy with inland expansion, and the demand for a navy was not very urgent.

The thought of a new country with a population of more than two million that was easy to rule, an area of more than two million square kilometers that was still expanding, being brought into the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family’s pocket made Constantine even more excited.

However, one takes on the qualities of one’s company. Following his son, Constantine had now learned to be bad and applied the principle of making a fortune in silence with great proficiency.

He said to Karl Anton: “Although Africa is difficult, it was also extremely difficult for our Hohenzollern family to rise. It took many generations to achieve today’s achievements. In the future, the development of the East African colony will inevitably require the support of Germany. Don’t be stingy at that time. Fight for more support for me in the kingdom.”

He didn’t mention the current development of East Africa and the huge interests of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family in East Africa, but instead turned the tables and sought help.

Chapter 188: West Palace

“Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t try to dissuade you. But if anything happens over there, send us a message as soon as possible. I’ll take care of things here in Germany for you,” said Prince Karl Anton.

“Thank you, Karl,” Constantine said gratefully.

“Hmph, we’ve grown up together since we were kids. Our families have shared thick and thin, and we’ve always been strategically aligned. To be honest, Karl is doing well now, becoming the King of Romania, and Leopold has a good chance at the Spanish throne. In the future, the Sigmaringen line might really take off with me.

Although Ernst is still young, he also has a large enterprise. All the young people are going out into the world. Eventually, as we grow old, both Hechingen and Sigmaringen will become just place names in Prussia.” Prince Karl Anton said with a sigh.

“Yes! Hechingen and Sigmaringen are too small for young people. Europe is their stage now,” Constantine said.

…

First Town, city center.

The reserved square had already become a construction site. Fischer, due to his outstanding performance in the Dar es Salaam port renovation project, was transferred from Dar es Salaam to First Town by the First Town government.

At this moment, Fischer was directing the workers’ construction in the central square of First Town.

Since the establishment of the Central District, First Town had been explicitly designated as the political center of the East African royal territory for the first time in official East African documents.

Therefore, a large number of East African government agencies were established here. First Town was able to become a political center because it was the first colony in East Africa.

However, Ernst had his own considerations for placing the political center of East Africa here. Relatively speaking, Dar es Salaam had a better transportation location. In his previous life, the capital of German East Africa was in Dar es Salaam, which made it easier to strengthen ties with the homeland and had high development potential due to the convenience of sea transportation.

But the real Hechingen already belonged to Prussia. The snowy wilderness of Alaska was still idle. The East African colony that Ernst was building was the homeland of Hechingen.

Dar es Salaam was on the coast, but East Africa had no navy, only a coastal defense system composed of cannons.

In other words, although it could prevent the enemy from landing, the enemy’s naval guns could also hit Dar es Salaam.

Looking at it this way, First Town was in a better location. It was some distance from the sea, ensuring safety. At sea, East Africa was weak, but on land, it was East Africa’s home field. First Town also connected the two ports of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo, so transportation wasn’t too bad.

“We must complete the main structure of the building within a month. His Highness attaches great importance to this matter, so everyone must not be careless or delay,” Fischer said to the workers.

“Mr. Fischer, is His Highness coming to East Africa in person?” a worker asked.

Fischer shook his head and said, “I don’t know. The documents only say that important members of the royal family will be staying here, so we need to work overtime to complete the construction of the palace.”

“Mr. Fischer, do the kings in your Europe all live in palaces like this? I’ve never seen such a luxurious building in my life, with such a large area, and it’s also going to be carved with flowers, and have that so-called fountain and garden…” a Far Eastern immigrant asked.

“Palaces, huh? I’ve actually seen them. My hometown is Stuttgart, the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg. The residences of the rich and powerful there are very luxurious. Stuttgart is much larger than First Town. However, the royal palace is a bit far from the city center.

I was fortunate enough to follow an old architect to the royal palace for some repair work. The so-called palace we are building now is nothing compared to the Württemberg Royal Palace. It’s only better than those buildings in the city center,” Fischer recalled.

The temporary palace that Ernst planned in First Town naturally couldn’t compare to Ludwigsburg Palace, the royal palace of the Kingdom of Württemberg. First Town itself wasn’t very large in East Africa, small and exquisite, with an administrative function far greater than its economic one.

Moreover, First Town was currently the capital of East Africa, but that might not be the case in the future, because East Africa’s territory was constantly changing. Ernst didn’t know how far East Africa could develop in the future, so First Town’s status as the capital was not stable.

It was obviously not cost-effective to build a palace here at a high price, but for the sake of the Hechingen royal family’s prestige, it certainly couldn’t be too shabby.

“Ah! Mr. Fischer, according to what you said, wouldn’t Prince Constantine and His Highness Ernst be living in something inferior to that so-called palace of the Kingdom of Württemberg?”

The colonial immigrants all knew about Hechingen and their hometowns, so they had no concept of Württemberg, where Fischer was from.

So much so that when some people heard that the palace in Württemberg was larger and more luxurious than the palace they were building for the Hechingen royal family, they couldn’t believe it.

In their eyes, East Africa was already a very powerful and wealthy region they had ever seen, so the Hechingen royal family must also be a symbol of power and perfection, because the entire East Africa belonged to the Hechingen royal family.

“That’s not true. I heard from my colleagues about the Hechingen palace, called Hohenzollern Castle. When it was renovated a few years ago, my colleagues were lucky enough to participate. Hohenzollern Castle is one of the best in Europe, said to be one of the symbols of the entire Hohenzollern family,” Fischer said.

“Then how does it compare to that Württemberg palace?” the worker asked simply.

“It certainly can’t be compared to the Württemberg palace, at least in terms of status, because the most powerful family in the German region now is the Hohenzollern family, and the Hechingen royal family is part of the Hohenzollern family,” Fischer didn’t want to shatter an immigrant’s illusion.

Ludwigsburg Palace and Hohenzollern Castle might have some differences, but not much. It could only be said that each had its own merits, but many immigrants were grateful to the Hechingen royal family in their hearts.

In the eyes of most immigrants, Ernst was almost like a savior, especially those immigrants who were wandering between hell and earth. It could be said that Ernst’s development of East Africa gave them a way out.

“I knew it! The Hechingen royal family is so kind and benevolent, they deserve good fortune. Their family should be the number one family in Germany,” an immigrant said.

“But, Mr. Fischer, why don’t Prince Constantine and His Highness Ernst build a big castle in First Town as well? It doesn’t have to be too big. I think you can refer to that Hohenzollern Castle you mentioned. This so-called West Palace, in my opinion, is not worthy of the Hechingen royal family,” a worker said to Fischer.

Fischer almost couldn’t hold back!

What do you mean “will do”? Although the West Palace was a bit smaller compared to those large palaces in Europe, it was definitely the ceiling in East Africa. It directly surpassed the original Zanzibar Palace in Dar es Salaam. Even in Europe, it was larger than the palaces of some small countries.

The East African immigrants really dared to think. However, most of these workers were temporarily transferred from being farmers, and they didn’t have much education or knowledge, so it was understandable that they said these things.

So, Fischer explained, “This palace is not necessarily the bigger the better, especially for the Hechingen royal family. Think about it, they have such a big palace in the German region, what good things haven’t they seen? It’s like you often say that your former emperors used golden hoes to till the land! Gold must be too common for the emperor.

The Hechingen royal family might be the same. They’ve lived in big palaces enough, so they want to build a slightly smaller one to live in. Does that make sense?”

Fischer tried his best to explain to these immigrants in simple terms. In fact, Ernst also wanted to build it bigger, but the problem was that he didn’t have the money. If he had sufficient funds, he would definitely build it bigger. In terms of material enjoyment, Ernst never treated himself badly, especially since this newly planned West Palace might be the foothold of the Hechingen royal family for a period of time in the future.

Chapter 189: Occupation

Although Prince Constantine’s sea voyage wasn’t widely publicized, it still circulated among the German nobility.

It was incomprehensible to them that a prince would abandon Europe to suffer in Africa, so interested nobles sought out literature and records about Africa.

The German regions lacked a seafaring tradition, so the information and documents mainly came from foreign sources and novels by earlier explorers.

However, because the written records were quite old, some even dating back hundreds of years, their understanding of Africa was still stuck in the “White Man’s Grave” era.

And many of the explorers’ novels aimed to exaggerate, featuring things like snakes hundreds of meters long, terrifying poisonous insects, and cannibalistic tribes…

Good heavens! Did Prince Constantine hit his head on a tree to be so foolish as to go to Africa!

The German nobles’ records of Africa were definitely problematic. For example, sailors and explorers mostly recorded thrilling and exciting content, especially many explorers who, after returning to Europe, compiled books and naturally added some “sensational material” for sales.

Prince Constantine’s status was esteemed, and what he did would certainly attract the attention of those interested, but their preconceived notions about Africa made them pessimistic about Prince Constantine’s voyage.

However, this also allowed many nobles in the German regions to learn about Africa in detail for the first time, although there were many errors.

The Prussian royal family expressed concern about Prince Constantine’s voyage, but now the issue of Prince Constantine’s whereabouts was not very important to the Prussian royal family. It was a critical period for Prussia, with a mountain of things to deal with.

Out of courtesy, the royal family sent a representative to briefly communicate with Prince Constantine, and finally concluded that Constantine was simply bored.

…

April, 1869.

Becker and Moerke led the delegation back to Mbeya and reported the results of their mission to Commissioner Schwert.

Hearing that Msiri had agreed to the terms of the transaction, Schwert was overjoyed. He told Becker and Moerke that he would truthfully report their achievements to the central government. Then, he convened an emergency meeting in Mbeya to discuss taking over the Yeke Kingdom.

“We absolutely cannot completely trust Msiri’s nonsense! The natives are an uncivilized group, and their promises may not even be worth the paper they’re written on,” an official said at the meeting.

“Yes, that’s right. When we first arrived in East Africa, many local chiefs often went back on their word, so it’s best to be careful,” Schwert affirmed the previous official’s statement.

“Commissioner, Msiri is still somewhat knowledgeable, and he is also intimidated by our East African military strength, so he must give up the land of the Yeke Kingdom. Therefore, whether Msiri will go back on his word is not important. What’s important is our attitude,” Moerke said to Schwert.

“Moreover, Msiri certainly wouldn’t go against our East Africa just for the sake of the Yeke Kingdom’s civilians. In my contact with him, I observed that he is an extremely pragmatic person who disregards life. Therefore, cooperation between him and us is inevitable. This person has almost no emotions and only considers the gains and losses of personal interests,” Becker added.

Hearing this, Schwert pondered for a moment and said, “In that case, this mission should have been successful, but we cannot be careless. After all, every immigrant in our East Africa is a precious asset and cannot be lost.

Moreover, considering the efficiency of African natives, even if Msiri agrees to us, it will probably be an eternity before he empties the Yeke Kingdom. We should actively lend him a hand.”

At this time, Becker also said, “I completely agree with the Commissioner’s point of view, especially regarding the relocation of the Yeke Kingdom’s natives. Msiri will definitely be perfunctory. If we don’t take action, Msiri will probably leave more than sixty percent of the natives behind. In my opinion, Msiri will have exceeded expectations if he takes away the capital and the surrounding natives.”

“Well, in that case, we should send troops to actively cooperate with Msiri to complete the migration of the Yeke Kingdom. Moerke, you are the military commander of Mbeya. Do you think we can do it with just the military strength of Mbeya?” Schwert asked.

“Reporting to the Commissioner, if we don’t mobilize the militia, we definitely can’t rely solely on the regular army of Mbeya. If the militia cooperates with this operation, we will definitely be able to complete the task,” Moerke said.

“How many militiamen do you estimate you need?”

“Not too many. If we add all the forces together, about four thousand will be enough. We already have more than a thousand troops near the defense line, and we can temporarily conscript three thousand people from Mbeya.”

“Isn’t that too few people, which will lead to a large number of escapees? After all, Africa has a lot of jungle area. It’s very difficult to comb through such a large area of the Yeke Kingdom with just over four thousand people,” an official from Mbeya asked.

“That’s not a problem. We just need to drive away most of the natives. Those natives who run into the mountains are not a threat. In the past, the Northwest battlefield also said that the local natives should be driven away cleanly, but there are still many natives in the Northwest now.

Not to mention the Northwest, I am afraid that there are many escapees in the entire East African interior, so it is very unrealistic to completely clean up the natives by military means.

Only by immigrating and constantly squeezing the living environment of these natives is the solution. In the future, as the number of immigrants increases, there will naturally be no living space for the natives,” Moerke explained.

“Okay, our main task this time is to first secure the Yeke Kingdom, and the remaining problems will be left to the central government and the new government to worry about,” Schwert concluded.

…

The area bordering the Yeke Kingdom on the upper Lake Malawi.

“This time, the municipal government requires us to cooperate with the Yeke Kingdom to help its ruler, Msiri, complete the relocation of the Yeke Kingdom. Everyone must obey orders and not act alone to prevent terrorist attacks by thugs from the Yeke Kingdom,” Moerke said to the soldiers and militiamen.

The thugs refer to the natives who are unwilling to relocate. The East African army can only encounter those natives who are stubborn. If you live in a remote place, the East African army will not meet you. If you block the only road of the East African army and still want to be a nail house, you can only send them to hell.

As estimated at the Mbeya municipal meeting, Msiri’s perfunctory skills were superb. He really only took away the capital and the surrounding subjects, and completely ignored other places.

The Yeke Kingdom has at least hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, and the capital and surrounding areas are only a small part, so most of the work still needs to be done by East Africa itself.

However, Msiri is not useless. He gave up resistance, and most other natives naturally had no intention of resisting. However, many natives in the border areas chose to defect to the neighboring countries of the Yeke Kingdom.

The East African government couldn’t be happier. The Yeke Kingdom has been sold to East Africa by Msiri. Those native countries that accept the border areas of the Yeke Kingdom have become “aggressors” of East Africa from this moment on, and East Africa has become a “victim,” so naturally it will demand an explanation in the future.

Chapter 190: Seeing Off and Explanations

“Your Highness, this is an urgent dispatch from East Africa!” An employee from the telegraph room delivered a telegram with the latest date to Ernst’s office.

Ernst took the telegram and read it aloud: “March 1869, Mbeya City, Personnel Officer Becker, Military Commander Merke, Envoy… The Yeke Kingdom has been basically taken, with a small portion of the area annexed by surrounding indigenous forces. – Student, Chief of the General Staff of the East African Army, Swiet.”

“Excellent, this is truly rare! I didn’t expect diplomatic talent to emerge so quickly. Tom, tell me, how should I reward this Becker?” Ernst asked Tom.

“Your Highness, Mr. Becker was born in the Wallen region of Prussia. He once served in the Kingdom’s army and later retired to participate in the East African colonization activities you organized. To be honest, Becker is not young, and he probably won’t stay in East Africa for long. It would be better to directly give him and his family two huge bonuses, divided into two parts and deposited in accounts at the Hechingen Bank,” Tom said.

“Leaving aside everything else, why divide it into two parts?” Ernst asked, puzzled.

“Sir, the human heart is unpredictable. People like Mr. Becker, who work for East Africa, are separated from their families for many years. Frankly, it’s difficult for us to investigate their family situations. Therefore, dividing the bonus into two accounts can provide Mr. Becker with a form of insurance in the future,” Tom explained.

After hearing Tom’s words, Ernst fell into thought. He tilted his head back on the chair, blinking his eyes as he looked at the light.

“You’re right! Tom, families are complex, and not everyone’s family is happy or has good relationships.

Back then, some of the first people who ran to East Africa may have been trying to escape their families, or were unable to adapt to life after retirement and went to the East African colonies.

In any case, they have all worked hard for our Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, and we cannot ignore their later years.

So, go and collect information about the family situations of the first batch of mercenaries, see if there have been any changes, and record any difficulties they may be facing. I will come up with a plan later to take care of them,” Ernst instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Tom replied.

…

“Father, this is the bodyguard captain I have arranged for you, Anderson. They will be responsible for your safety along the way.

After arriving in East Africa, you should stay in Dar es Salaam for a while to adapt to the local climate. Your father-in-law and mother-in-law also live there. If you wish, you can visit them.

After you have adapted to the local climate, you can go to First Town. By the time you arrive in East Africa, Swiet Palace in First Town should be completed.

If you have any questions, you can send me a telegram. The telegrams from First Town can directly reach me here.

…” Ernst rambled on, giving Constantine instructions.

“Alright, alright, I understand. You’re making my head spin. If I don’t understand something, can’t I just send you a telegram? Why are you being so long-winded?” Constantine said impatiently.

“Sigh, it’s just that I’m worried about you!”

“Alright, hurry up and help me get my things on the ship. I’ve seen all kinds of storms in my life. Do I need you to lecture me?” Constantine said.

Peaceful Voyage – a simple and unadorned name.

This is currently the largest ship under the Hohenzollern-Hechingen banner. It sails very steadily on the sea and is equipped with a steam power system, allowing it to maintain a constant speed even when there is no wind.

It was originally positioned as a merchant ship, mainly for transporting goods, but in practice, it would be used to carry both people and goods.

This large ship is considered the main force in East African immigration ships, but Ernst temporarily requisitioned it. After more than ten days of modification, the ship was completely renewed.

All facilities were complete. To strengthen maritime defense and avoid pirate attacks, Ernst specifically hired a Dutch shipbuilding expert to upgrade the Peaceful Voyage’s defense system.

At the same time, three purely armed ships will be responsible for escorting it this time.

The space reserved for the merchant ship, which was originally used for immigration and loading goods, was particularly large. This time, in addition to the sailors and security personnel, only a few confidants and servants of Prince Constantine were temporarily staying on board.

“The environment on this ship is not bad. If it weren’t for being at sea, it could rival the manor where I live for a long time,” Constantine said, sitting on the sofa in the bedroom.

“Father, don’t speak too soon. You will be at sea for at least a month. By then, you will know how boring it is,” Ernst said.

“A month will pass by with a little patience. It won’t be as you say,” Constantine said.

“I can’t win against you. I have prepared a lot of wine and drinks for you on the ship, as well as various foods. There are not many people on your ship, so the food and drinking water are very abundant.

There are five bookshelves full of books in your study to help you relieve boredom on the road. I also specifically equipped the ship with a game room. If you are bored, you can play cards and chess with your entourage…” Ernst introduced the facilities on the ship like enumerating his family’s treasures.

“Alright, I understand. There’s no need to tell me about these small things. Caino will arrange everything. I have a bunch of people here to take care of me. There’s no need for you to worry about me.

On the other hand, your tasks will be heavier after I leave. You should interact more with the Prussian royal family. I won’t be able to personally contact them for you in the future. If there is anything you can’t solve, remember to find your Uncle Karl. He used to be the Prime Minister of Prussia and the Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom’s Army. Although he has retired now, his influence in Prussia is still very strong. With him coming forward, William I and Bismarck will give you, this young man, some face,” Constantine directly entrusted Ernst’s affairs in Prussia to Prince Karl Anton.

After Sigmaringen was incorporated into Prussia, Karl Anton first worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then served as the Prussian Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Army from 1858 to 1862.

Later, when the old king died and William I succeeded to the throne, Prince Karl retired. After all, a new emperor has new ministers. William I was ambitious and prepared to strengthen Prussia’s military strength, while Prince Karl opposed Prussia’s military expansion.

The reason why Prince Karl did this was partly because he was relatively conservative, and partly because he was friends with Napoleon III of France and paid more attention to the relationship between France and Prussia.

This is also the reason why Napoleon III supported Carol I to become the King of Romania. Hechingen and Sigmaringen both belonged to the Rhine Confederation established by Napoleon and had close ties with France.

However, Sigmaringen clearly had closer ties with France than Hechingen, after all, Constantine had long since faded out of politics.

Currently, it seems that William I and the new government have indeed brought great changes to Prussia. A series of wars have allowed Prussia to directly annex the entire North German region.

However, William I still respected Prince Karl, not only because he was an important minister of his father, but also because they belonged to the same family.

The current Prime Minister of the Kingdom, Bismarck, was also once a subordinate of Prince Karl. Prince Karl also had a strong influence in the army. His two sons both served in the Prussian army. Leopold still holds a substantive military position, which also reflects the status of the Sigmaringen royal family in Prussia.

All kinds of events also show that Hechingen is indeed not as good as Sigmaringen now, even if it possesses two colonies, East Africa and Alaska.

After all, in the eyes of Europeans, a Romanian throne is much more valuable than so-called overseas colonies.

Ernst also had to admit this. If there was a ready-made throne to inherit, Ernst might also choose Romania.

Romania’s conditions are really good, especially from the historical development of Romania, there have been several opportunities. If they can be used well, it can also become a powerful country, and at the very least, it can maintain an important European country status.

As for Africa, although the potential is very strong, there are no ready-made cases. Step-by-step development all depends on Ernst’s own exploration in this life, which is a combination of risks and opportunities.

However, Hechingen is betting on the path of overseas colonial expansion. No one knows how the future development will be, and the future fate of the two royal families is also unknown.

No matter what the future fate of the two royal families is, it cannot change the close relationship between Hechingen and Sigmaringen.

In Europe, Hechingen and Sigmaringen are not only the closest relatives, but also the closest political allies. With Prince Karl’s care, Ernst can still walk sideways in the Kingdom of Prussia.

Chapter 191: Green Lemon

“Woo…” The steamship’s whistle echoed throughout the dock.

The ocean liner was preparing to depart. Ernst was at the dock, seeing off his father. Constantine also stood on the ship, waving goodbye to Ernst.

Although the dock was bustling with noise, a sense of loneliness welled up from the bottom of his heart. Ernst didn’t regain his senses until the “Peace” had completely disappeared from sight.

This was probably the first time the father and son had been so far apart. In the past, Prince Constantine would also go to Berlin on business, or he himself would travel around Europe, but he had never felt this sense of distance before.

…

Berlin.

“Are you sure this thing is safe and reliable? You haven’t added anything strange to it, have you?” Ernst asked.

“Boss, this is all made with purely natural ingredients. We’ve also gone through repeated experiments. The researchers always take the first sip, then we use it on lab mice, and finally, the researchers test large doses. We absolutely guarantee its safety,” Richter said.

To reassure Ernst, Richter took a large jar of the liquid in front of him, filled a cup from the tap, and drank it all in one gulp.

“How do you think it tastes?” Ernst asked.

“The taste is absolutely no problem. It’s definitely better than the carbonated sugar water on the market, and it’s interesting, burp,” Richter said with a burp.

Ernst also took a cup, pressed the tap, and the large glass jar lowered slightly. Soon the cup was full.

The unknown beverage in the cup was transparent in color and filled with many small bubbles, especially when it was first poured, constantly churning to the top before gradually settling down.

Ernst took a small sip. A familiar yet unfamiliar taste rushed to his head. Although it wasn’t summer yet, he still felt a thorough, refreshing sensation.

“Not bad!” Ernst commented.

It felt like Sprite from his previous life, but as soon as he tasted it, Ernst knew this wasn’t Sprite. This unique taste was something he was trying for the first time in both of his lives.

There might have been a beverage with a similar taste on the market in Ernst’s previous life, but he had only tasted a few of the most common ones.

“This has lemon, carbonated water, sugar, and what else?” Ernst asked Richter.

“Salt and various spices, honey, and a whole bunch of things. Basically, they’re all natural ingredients,” Richter replied.

“What about the cost?”

“If it’s a cup like the one in your hand, the cost will definitely be high. We’re using the best ingredients on the market. If it’s the common version, we can compress the cost to a very low level, at least compared to the existing beverages on the market. The price will be in the middle to lower range, guaranteeing that many common people can afford it,” Richter replied.

“Many” definitely had to be questioned. In this era, there were still many people struggling near the poverty line, but there was no shortage of people in Europe with extra money, so the beverage market was still quite considerable.

“The common version? So, what I have in my hand is the ‘noble’ version,” Ernst said.

“Boss, after all, nobles definitely have to drink the real stuff. The difference in experience between different consumption levels is definitely in this. In reality, there’s no difference in taste between the common version and the noble version,” Richter replied.

“Haven’t you named this sugar water yet?” Ernst noticed that Richter was also using the word “beverage.”

“Not yet. Why don’t you name it, boss?” Richter suggested smoothly.

“Hmm, let me think about it,” Ernst said thoughtfully.

To be honest, Ernst really wanted to directly steal the name “Sprite,” but he felt that this carbonated beverage, although very similar to Sprite from his previous life, was definitely not the same thing.

Moreover, this thing was, after all, painstakingly developed by his subordinates. Directly using the name “Sprite” felt a bit disrespectful to their work.

So, Ernst asked, “Do you have any ideas yourselves?”

“If I were to name it, I would definitely use a person’s name. After all, many beverages are named that way,” Richter replied.

“Richter Brand!” Ernst asked?

“Of course, we’d use your name, boss!” Richter replied with a good sense of his own limitations, although “Richter Brand” sounded pretty good.

“Then never mind. I always feel like using a person’s name is weird,” Ernst said, shaking his head.

Ernst felt that using anyone’s name was a bit outrageous. Influenced by his previous life, Ernst was very unaccustomed to using people’s names to name products, although it was very common in this era, both in the East and the West.

Suddenly, Ernst had a flash of inspiration and suggested, “Since this beverage uses lemons, why not name it ‘Green Lemon’ sparkling water?”

“Boss, that name sounds a bit ordinary!” Richter said.

“Why?” Ernst asked.

“Our product is originally a lemonade beverage! Naming it ‘Green Lemon’ feels a bit too straightforward. But adding ‘sparkling water’ is quite interesting. It feels very playful,” Richter said.

“Straightforwardness has its advantages. Our beverage is positioned as a mass-market beverage. Directly using ‘Green Lemon’ as the name will also directly leave an impression on consumers. This is a plant-based beverage like beer, tea, and coffee.

At that time, I plan to directly have a lemon image designed on the glass bottle as a trademark. Imagine summer, the scorching sun, lemons can directly give people a very strong desire to take a sip,” Ernst thought of “stilling thirst by thinking of plums.” The sour taste can naturally stimulate people’s taste buds.

Lemons have a very important place in European history, especially after being introduced from the East during the Age of Exploration. They were widely planted, especially along the Mediterranean coast.

In the 17th century, the Black Death broke out again in Europe. France was an important stop in this European plague. The death toll in Europe exceeded thirty thousand. Except for Paris, no major city in France was spared. Some people believe that it was the soft drink lemonade, which was popular in Paris at the time, that allowed Parisians to escape the disaster.

In the 18th century, lemonade was first discovered by the British to have a miraculous effect in treating scurvy, and lemonade became an important partner for sailors.

In this way, just the fact that it’s a lemon beverage, compared to Coca-Cola, which was initially sold as a medicine, “Green Lemon” seems to have a better market.

After all, lemonade was really used as a medicine on a large scale in Europe, and Europeans can easily accept it.

Speaking of Coca-Cola, Ernst had also thought about making a similar beverage, but his brain wasn’t very good, and he didn’t quite remember the main ingredients of Coca-Cola.

When he made requests to the experimental staff, they couldn’t imagine what Ernst was talking about after describing it for a long time. He only remembered a caramel color.

“Green Lemon” was created. After all, there was such a big lemon on the Sprite bottle, Ernst remembered it very clearly, plus the requirements for sweetness and bubbles.

“Green Lemon” was created by the research and development staff, but it was indeed not the same taste as Sprite. However, Ernst felt very satisfied after tasting it. This was a soda that was not inferior to Sprite in taste. As long as the marketing was good, future sales should not be bad.

“Alright, I’m very satisfied with your results this time. Continue your research, think of ways to further reduce costs. When my beverage factory in Austria is built, it can be put into production. There will be no shortage of benefits for you then,” Ernst said to Richter and the others.

Chapter 192: Splitting the Research and Development Department

After inspecting the recent work of the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company, Ernst summoned Antonio, Richter’s immediate superior.

“Antonio, I’ve looked at the company’s recent data. You’ve done a great job. Keep up the good work,” Ernst said to Antonio, reclining on the sofa.

“Your Highness, our business growth this quarter hasn’t been significant; it’s generally stable. We’re currently focusing on the Tsarist Russian market, and the results won’t be visible until the end of the year,” Antonio said respectfully, standing to the side of Ernst.

“Hmm, that’s fine. Although the consumption level in Tsarist Russia isn’t high compared to Europe, the population base is large, and the market shouldn’t be underestimated. Especially the Tsarist Russian nobility, who value emulating Europe the most and are very particular about appearances. They can be extremely critical of product quality and origin, so we must do a good job of marketing our products.

Your marketing department shouldn’t be stingy with creativity. Try to link our products to European history and culture. In a country like Tsarist Russia, the lower levels follow the upper levels. As long as our products are recognized by the top nobility, the people below will follow suit and buy them,” Ernst said.

“Your Highness is right. This is also the result of our marketing department’s in-depth analysis of the Tsarist Russian market. We adopt a ‘rather have less but better’ sales model for the Tsarist Russian nobility, using only genuine materials. Currently, the feedback on our products from the top Tsarist Russian nobility is very good.”

Antonio continued, “Especially our lighters, bicycles, faucets, belts, paper, shower products, and other industrial products sell particularly well in Tsarist Russia.

However, textile products, including bedding, clothing, curtains, etc., still don’t sell ideally.”

“I understand. There’s no way around that. There are too many competitors in the textile industry, and countries like England and France have lower costs, better quality, and good reputations, even a long history. This isn’t Germany’s strength.

I think we can compress this area a bit. Don’t invest too much publicity in the Tsarist Russian nobility; just maintain small-scale sales. We want to give the Tsarist Russian nobility the illusion that German textiles are also good, just not in large quantities.

Our strength is industrial products, especially the practicality and convenience of the products. Innovation is the foundation of our company. It was the small invention of the lighter, which is practical and more convenient, that allowed me to quickly earn my first pot of gold, and that’s how we have today’s Hechingen Daily Necessities Company,” Ernst emphasized.

“Yes, Your Highness. Innovation is an important direction for the company’s development, and the research and development department’s funding has always been relatively ample,” Antonio said.

“Speaking of the research and development department, I’m here for this matter today. Your research and development department was originally the Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center of the same level.

To support the development of the Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center, I temporarily placed it under the research and development department of the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company.

Now, the scale of the Hechingen Consortium is large enough to independently support the development of the Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center. I plan to separate some of the units, projects, and personnel again. Do you have any opinions?” Ernst asked.

Another good thing like this? Antonio thought instantly. Scientific research and technological development are very expensive. At that time, Ernst needed money everywhere, and he had a lot of affairs and not much energy to maintain the development of the Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center.

So, he simply merged the Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center into the newly reorganized Hechingen Daily Necessities Company, making it its product research and development department.

However, Ernst didn’t want to stop many projects that were already halfway through, because giving up is easy, but it’s difficult to pick them up again.

Therefore, he bundled them all up and gave them to the research and development department of the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company, which formed a very strange scene.

As a daily necessities company, the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company mainly focuses on product research and development in related fields, but it supports a large group of research and development personnel in unrelated fields.

For this reason, the senior management of the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company had many complaints. These personnel and projects couldn’t generate revenue for the company, and they also squeezed a lot of funds and involved the company’s energy. After all, the company also had to be responsible for supervising their work progress. Ernst didn’t support people who did nothing, but this was completely a thankless task for the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company.

“Your Highness, I absolutely support your decision. Those scientific research personnel and projects that are not related to the field of daily necessities research and development take up a large part of our energy, and they are not our strengths. It is also very difficult to supervise them,” Antonio said.

“Well, okay, I know that you had to worry more when I placed this research and development center here. Now, the group’s development has been on the right track, so naturally, it won’t be difficult for you anymore. You will leave the scientific research personnel in the field of daily necessities research and development, and the rest will be sent to the headquarters in a few days. Also, call Richter from the research and development department over,” Ernst said.

…

“Boss! General Manager,” Richter said respectfully when he saw them sitting in the office.

“Richter, you and your colleagues have developed the ‘Lime’ drink, which has expanded the company’s products. Now! Because I plan to separate the projects and personnel in the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company’s research and development department that are not related to the field of daily necessities.

Everything else is easy to say. It will restore the former Hechingen Science and Technology Research Center. I have other arrangements for you researchers in the field of food and beverage research,” Ernst said mysteriously.

“I don’t know, boss, what are you planning to arrange?” Richter asked.

“It’s like this, didn’t I tell you yesterday that your research and development results will be produced in a food factory in Austria?

Now the group has newly established a Vienna Food Company of the same level as the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company in Austria. I plan to arrange for you to go to the Vienna Food Company to form the company’s research and development department. What do you think!” Ernst asked.

Richter knew that his opportunity had come, and he replied decisively, “Boss, I support your decision.”

“Very good, but I have something to say first, because it is the Vienna Food Company, so the work location is also in Vienna. You people also have to live in Vienna permanently, so you have to do a good job of ideological work for your colleagues when you go back later. Two words, move. Can you do it?” Ernst asked.

“Don’t worry! Boss, I will definitely do a good job of psychological work for my colleagues and ensure that all the employees of the food research and development studio will be relocated to Vienna,” Richter guaranteed.

The reason why Richter dared to guarantee was naturally not without reason. The treatment of the Hechingen Consortium was quite good for people like Richter. Moving for this job was not difficult.

Moreover, Austria is also a German-speaking region, and they are not psychologically repulsed. For people like Richter, this is not even considered going abroad.

Antonio looked at Richter meaningfully. Richter can be considered to have finally made it. In the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company, Richter is at most the leader of a small subordinate unit in the company’s subordinate department, but when he goes to the Vienna Food Company, he is basically the mainstay of the Vienna Food Company’s research and development department.

In fact, when the Vienna Food Company was not established, the food field work of the Hechingen Consortium was also managed by the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company.

However, Antonio does not reject the work in the food field, because the food field is also very profitable, especially the sales of wine and grain, which is very helpful to the company’s business.

However, professional things should be left to professional people to do. Now that the food field is independent, if Antonio were the head of the group, he would do the same.

In the future, there will be more colleagues at the group’s work meeting, Antonio couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. As a veteran-level figure, he has watched the Hechingen Consortium grow step by step.

Chapter 193: Husband and Wife Chat

May 29th, 1869.

East Africa, Port of Dar es Salaam.

“Attention! All present and accounted for!”

The Dar es Salaam garrison was gathered at the docks, a rare sight in Dar es Salaam.

Inside a tavern.

“Miller, what are they doing? It’s unusual to see the army mobilized at the docks like this. Usually, it’s just a few men maintaining order,” Schultz asked.

“I don’t know the specifics, but I’d guess some big shot is coming to East Africa, so they’re here to welcome him!” Miller said.

“It must be those four big ships out at sea! I was wondering why no immigrants were disembarking today. I even checked the flags on the ships to make sure, and they are our own East African ships, not some passing vessels,” Schultz said.

Passing vessels were ships that stopped at the port of Dar es Salaam for rest and replenishment, usually merchant ships from various countries temporarily replenishing fresh water and supplies at East African ports.

“That’s what I thought at first too. The docks have been temporarily cleared and separated from those four ships, which tells me there’s something important or someone important on board. And just now, I saw many important figures from the city government arrive, dressed to the nines. Such a grand display leads me to believe they’re here to receive someone,” Miller said.

Sometimes important instruments and facilities are landed in East Africa, which is also taken seriously, but they would not clear such a large area on the dock separately, and make such a big show. Although sometimes soldiers would come to escort them, it would be at most a dozen or twenty people.

“Clop, clop…” The sound of rhythmic hooves approached.

A luxurious carriage passed by on the cobblestone road in front of the tavern, attracting the attention of nearby residents and interrupting Miller and Schultz’s conversation.

It wasn’t the noise of the wooden wheels on the cobblestones that affected the two, but the carriage’s owner was a prominent figure in Dar es Salaam, or rather, a household name.

In East Africa, the only carriage equipped with a dedicated guard belonged to none other than Emperor Maximilian I and Empress Carlota, Ernst’s in-laws.

Maximilian I had originally planned to travel around East Africa, but since Empress Carlota arrived in East Africa, his travel plans were indefinitely put on hold in Dar es Salaam.

Earlier in the year, Maximilian I, at the urging of Empress Carlota, returned to Austria to visit his mother and daughter. Unfortunately, after spending some time in Vienna, Maximilian I felt very uncomfortable. Some people’s eyes revealed a faint curiosity when they talked to him.

Especially when facing Franz Joseph I, Maximilian I felt even more uneasy. Franz Joseph I did not kick his younger brother when he was down, but only said to Maximilian I when he saw him: “Don’t bother with those unrealistic things in the future.” This well-intentioned sentence caused Maximilian I to suffer ten thousand points of damage in his heart.

So, feeling ashamed, Maximilian I ran to East Africa again under the pretext of recuperating in East Africa. Fortunately, Dowager Empress Sophie also knew her son’s embarrassment, so she agreed to his request. Maximilian I had considered bringing his daughter with him, but when he thought of the poor educational conditions in East Africa, he decided to let his daughter stay with her mother.

Recuperating in East Africa was definitely an excuse. At this time, the conditions in East Africa could not be compared with those in Austria. Even traveling in East Africa was impossible, and traveling in East Africa was destined to be a living hell due to the poor transportation conditions.

The coastal areas were okay, especially Dar es Salaam. As an important commercial hub, you could hear all kinds of interesting stories from the East African interior and the sea. After the transformation of the East African government, the living environment was greatly improved, which was also an important reason why Maximilian I had been living in Dar es Salaam.

Of course, there was another important reason why Maximilian I stayed here, that was, as a coastal city, Dar es Salaam always reminded him of his time as Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Imperial Navy in Trieste and later as Governor of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.

That period was Maximilian I’s highlight moment, showing outstanding talent. The Austrian Navy grew rapidly under his sweeping reforms. Later, Admiral Tegetthoff, who was famous in the Battle of Lissa, was a military talent promoted during Maximilian I’s reforms.

Politically, he also made achievements in governing the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, easing the relationship between the Italians and the Austrians, but his liberal policies aroused Franz Joseph I’s dissatisfaction, believing that he was too indulgent to the local Italians, so he was soon removed from the post of governor, but still retained the position of commander-in-chief of the navy.

After the Mexican affair, Maximilian I now admitted that he was indeed not good at politics, but his work in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was still good.

“My dear, why do you think Prince Constantine would choose to come to a place like East Africa? He’s so old now, can he stand the sea voyage?” Empress Carlota asked.

“It’s normal. East Africa is now the most important territory of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family. After all, the Hechingen homeland is just a small country and has been completely integrated into Prussia. The road for the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family to go further has also been completely blocked.

According to Hechingen’s current financial resources, it does have the ability and opportunity to operate a throne in Europe. Although there are opportunities, there are not many. Even if that glimmer of opportunity can be grasped, it will take time. After all, the Hohenzollern family’s acquisition of the Romanian throne is a once-in-a-century event in Europe.

Moreover, operating a throne requires connections. To put it bluntly, the Hohenzollern royal family’s connections among the European nobility are mostly maintained by Prince Constantine alone.

But as you said, Prince Constantine is sixty-nine years old this year, and age is a hard injury, and Ernst was born too late, almost a generation apart. It will be difficult to completely inherit Constantine’s political legacy without a few years.

In addition, Ernst has always been more enthusiastic about business in Europe. He is from such a noble Prussian background, and generally mixes qualifications in the military camp.

Prussia! We all know that the army is the fastest way to promotion there. Ernst’s peers are probably still suffering in the military camp, but he is having fun outside. If it weren’t for his noble background, he probably wouldn’t even be able to touch the circle. To put it bluntly, you and I are more popular in the European aristocratic circle than him.

So, if you want to speed up, the Hohenzollern royal family only has the road of developing overseas colonies left, and at present, this road is very likely to work.

This is also one of the things I admire about that kid Ernst. He found a good direction. The difficulty of East Africa is simply not worth mentioning compared to Europe.

And the potential is huge. Why didn’t I notice this good place in East Africa before? It’s much better than that damn Mexico!

In Mexico, I carefully maintained the interests of all parties, and had to look at the faces of the French and Americans. In the end, I offended everyone. As a result, that kid Ernst only needs to keep suppressing and打击 the natives in East Africa to get such a large territory.

Moreover, East Africa has such good conditions, but no forces have targeted it before, allowing Ernst to seize the opportunity in vain. Our son-in-law still has some of my courage.”

Speaking of this, Maximilian I recalled his experience in Mexico with some sadness, and then began to envy Ernst’s vision and luck. Finally, he returned to being satisfied. The more powerful the East African colony developed, the better, anyway, Ernst was already engaged to Karina.

So, in the future, East Africa will also be a part of him. After all, he only has one daughter, Karina. Ernst’s descendants will still have Habsburg blood flowing in their veins.

Maximilian I had to admire his mother’s vision. This marriage was a great deal. Others were not optimistic about Africa. Maximilian I, who had been in East Africa for so long, became more and more aware of East Africa, and the more he understood, the more optimistic he was about the potential of East Africa, which was definitely the foundation of a king.

However, Maximilian I also had a confusion. Such a good piece of land, but these natives did not develop any civilization. Is it really because of the race!

You want to say that African diseases are terrifying! But these natives will not be greatly affected. The reason why those natives in American plantations chose blacks was because they were durable.

You want to say that they are far away from the civilized world! East Africa is not remote, and Dar es Salaam is a natural window for foreign exchanges. As a result, there is only one Sultanate of Zanzibar on the coast that is a bit like it, which was created by Arabs in the Middle East.

You want to say that their IQ is not good, but these Africans do not seem to be so. Those chiefs and slave traders are quite shrewd when talking about business.

Moreover, he had stayed in the Americas, which was really separated from the Eurasian continent, but the Indians relied on playing with stones to create a more brilliant civilization than the African natives who entered the Iron Age.

All kinds of things he couldn’t understand, what was the difference between these African natives? Changing his way of thinking, assuming that the reasons why Africa could not develop were summarized, such as geographical location, climate environment, disease war… the comprehensive factor was a rotten basket, and anything could be thrown into it.

But now there is a real case as ironclad evidence, and that set is no longer working. The construction of the East African colony just shows that the geographical location here is good. That kid Ernst is using the geographical location of East Africa to transport immigrants from Europe and the Far East.

In terms of adapting to the climate environment, European and Far Eastern immigrants are certainly not as advantageous as natives. Even East Africa now has a group of Slavic immigrants transported from the cold region of Tsarist Russia.

In terms of diseases and wars, East African immigrants are far less resistant to African diseases than local natives, and the East African colony itself is a war贩子, destroying several countries, and small-scale wars are constantly…

Chapter 194: Welcoming

“Darling, what are you daydreaming about?” Empress Carlota roused Maximilian I from his reverie.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about some issues and got a little lost in thought,” Maximilian I said, as if waking from a dream.

Empress Carlota said with some concern, “You’re not still hung up on Mexico, are you!” After all, Maximilian I had sounded quite resentful when he mentioned Mexico just now.

It was Empress Carlota who initially encouraged Maximilian I to go to Mexico, but their time there shattered her dreams of being an empress.

During those days, she had nightmares every night, fearing that she and Maximilian I would be tortured to death by Mexican thugs.

Maximilian I took Empress Carlota’s hand and comforted her, “Rest assured, we will never return to that place, Mexico. I was actually thinking about some things concerning the East African colony, just thinking about giving Prince Constantine some advice later. After all, our daughter will be the mistress of East Africa in the future.”

…

Inside the beer hall.

“The person that Emperor Maximilian I is personally welcoming must be someone of considerable importance. Do you think it might be Prince Constantine or a royal prince coming to East Africa?” Miller asked Schultz.

“Ah! Who knows? The boss himself said earlier that the city government announced a curfew today because a big shot is arriving in Dar es Salaam, but he didn’t say exactly who.

But only royalty would have the clout to warrant Emperor Maximilian I personally welcoming them,” Schultz replied.

…

On the ship, the Ping An.

“Your Excellency, we can disembark now. The East African government has made all the necessary arrangements for our reception,” Keno reported, entering Prince Constantine’s study.

“Oh, I see!”

Prince Constantine put down the book in his hand, stretched, and said, “Being at sea for a month has really been torturous. Finally, I can return to land.”

“Your Excellency, you and the young master didn’t say that back then,” Keno joked.

“Heh, an old man doesn’t want to admit defeat. I was just saying that back then. My body certainly can’t compare to those young whippersnappers,” Prince Constantine said. “Alright, have someone pack my things. Let’s disembark.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Keno replied respectfully.

Prince Constantine walked out of the study, where Chief Guard Anderson was already waiting outside the door.

“Your Highness!” Anderson saluted.

Constantine instructed, “Let’s go!”

The people on the ship waved to the staff on the shore.

“Prepare the orchestra!”

A German symphony with exotic flair began to play, and the combination of Arabic traditional instruments and European instruments sounded quite bizarre.

The people and officials of East Africa thought it sounded alright, but Prince Constantine, who had some musical literacy, and Emperor Maximilian I and his wife, who had come to welcome him, couldn’t help but grimace. What on earth was this?

Maximilian I turned to look at the officials of Dar es Salaam beside him, his eyes full of doubt.

The mayor of Dar es Salaam, Martin, explained, “Your Highness, you know that the East African colony is still in its early stages, and there hasn’t been much investment in music and other fields. So, we don’t have any professional personnel, and we lack musical equipment. Therefore, we borrowed some personnel and instruments from the Sultanate of Zanzibar to put on this welcoming ceremony.”

Martin was Austrian, so he was still accustomed to addressing Maximilian I as Archduke Ferdinand of Austria.

“That shouldn’t mean you can’t even organize a band! I hear that the performance of those using European instruments isn’t very professional either!” Maximilian I asked.

“Your Highness, you may not know, although East Africa has a large population now, the territory is also vast. Dar es Salaam is just a temporary stop for immigrants. The permanent population of Dar es Salaam is only tens of thousands.

Moreover, the immigrants are mostly uneducated people, so it’s even less likely that they have received musical training. It’s not that East Africa can’t organize a band, after all, among so many people, there must be a few who have been exposed to instruments.

But Dar es Salaam simply doesn’t have the ability. We only received the news a few days ago that Prince Constantine was coming to Dar es Salaam, but we couldn’t find anyone in Dar es Salaam who knew music.

Those few in the band who are playing German instruments were selected from local military officers and a few government officials.

Only a very small number of students who graduated from the Hechingen Military Academy have been exposed to instruments in Germany, or some officials who were born into fallen noble families.”

The Hechingen Military Academy didn’t have music classes, but many of the cultural teachers were famous teachers from various regions, who knew a little about music, which led to some Hechingen students being exposed to music. An even smaller number were accidentally exposed to it during internships in enterprises after graduation.

But this kind of person is a very small minority in the Hechingen Military Academy, and even rarer when spread across the whole of East Africa.

The fallen nobles were the management personnel hired by the Hechingen Consortium. East Africa is such a large area, it is necessary to have some educated people to govern, such as handling official documents and statistics.

Although most of the German regions have implemented compulsory education, spending some time in the Prussian army is almost like going back to square one. Unless it is a special unit, most people only use a little German when writing letters home, and mathematics is basically useless.

And the channels for the Prussian nobility to rise are relatively smooth. After all, there have been two major military reforms in Prussia in recent years (since the 19th century). Those with ability will naturally enter the army, and those who are second best can also use their family business to run some industries.

And those who just loaf around, to be honest, Ernst himself may not look up to them. Ernst thinks that the impoverished nobles next door in Austria are very good, after all, Prussia has already screened them once, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire is still the same. Franz and the Austrian government can only patch up the empire, and even slightly larger actions will be dragged down by the more conservative and status-conscious Hungarian government.

Most of the management personnel in the Hechingen Consortium are not mediocre people. To enter the Hechingen Consortium, you need at least a secondary school education, and those who can afford to go to secondary school in this era are basically not ordinary people.

This is why there are a large number of Austrian impoverished noble children governing East Africa. East Africa is, after all, a raw material production area for the Hechingen Consortium, so many staff members must be sent to manage it.

It’s not that they don’t trust the German mercenaries and the students of the Hechingen Military Academy, but there are not enough talents. There are only more than two thousand mercenaries, and many were lost during the opening up of East Africa, and many are still in the army. The students of the Hechingen Military Academy are no better. A crash course takes at least two or three months to train, and in order to balance the power of the mercenaries in the army, they will also be stuffed into the army.

So, in the talents of the East African colony, the army occupies a large share, and the rest is distributed to various parts of East Africa to participate in administrative work, which is a drop in the bucket. After all, East Africa has expanded too quickly, and there are already more than a dozen cities.

“This welcoming ceremony, the music is really appalling. Whether Prince Constantine is satisfied or not, I am very dissatisfied. When I have time, I must reflect this to that kid Ernst. We can’t fail to pay attention to the cultural education of East Africa,” Maximilian I said.

Martin stood aside pretending not to hear. This kind of thing is not something he can interfere in. Maximilian I has such a high status and is also the big boss’s father-in-law. He has to be careful.

At this time, Constantine was indeed very confused. What on earth was this performance? Although he was not a cultured person and his musical level was not high, he still had a basic appreciation for music due to his family background. This was too awful! The rhythm was all wrong.

Fortunately, at this time, Maximilian I came up to ease Prince Constantine’s embarrassment, “Your Highness, you have finally come to East Africa!”

“Are you Archduke Ferdinand?” Constantine asked uncertainly. He had met Maximilian I in person before, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was still the Austrian Empire and Maximilian I was still a young man.

Later, when he went to talk about the marriage with the Habsburg family, Maximilian I happened to be in Mexico, so they didn’t meet.

This was the second time they had met, but Maximilian I had changed too much. In addition to the erosion of time, his appearance had changed greatly, and his personality was also very different. He no longer had the arrogance and confidence he had back then, but instead revealed a sense of maturity and stability.

Constantine did not address Maximilian I by his imperial title, but rather as Archduke Ferdinand, not hitting a man when he’s down, and not rubbing salt in the wound. Mexico was Maximilian’s eternal pain.

Chapter 195: Visiting

“Yes, Your Highness, you are as energetic as ever. This is Charlotte,” Maximilian I introduced to Constantine.

Charlotte greeted Prince Constantine, “Your Highness, hello! Thank you to the Hechingen Royal Family for your help.”

“Hahaha, we’re all one family, no need for formalities. It’s what that kid Ernst should do,” Constantine said with a smile.

Constantine and Maximilian I and his wife exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then officials from East Africa came to pay their respects one after another.

“Grandpa Constantine!” A young officer gave Constantine a standard military salute.

“And you are?”

“Hechingen Military Academy, Class 6 of the second term, Hans Zhang, currently the highest military officer in Dar es Salaam, Hechingen East African Royal Territory. I met you before, Grandpa Constantine. You spoke to us,” Hans Zhang said.

Hans Zhang was one of the commanders who, along with Felix, commanded the Zanzibar campaign. Felix was later transferred elsewhere, while Hans Zhang became the military head of Dar es Salaam.

“I see! Good, this is how a soldier should be!” Constantine said.

After learning that Hans Zhang was a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy, Constantine was no longer surprised that this person called him Grandpa.

Ernst founded the Hechingen Military Academy, but Constantine spent more time at the Hechingen Military Academy than Ernst, after all, Ernst had a lot to do and often traveled around Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The students of the Hechingen Military Academy were all teenagers, and all orphans, so Constantine let them call him Grandpa Constantine.

After chatting for a while, Constantine let everyone disperse, as he was still a little tired from getting off the ship.

“Your Highness, I will be bothering you for a while!” Constantine said to Maximilian I.

“Charlotte and I are the guests in East Africa. We should be thanking you, the host. Besides, I have something I want to suggest to you,” Maximilian I said.

The staff had already introduced Constantine to his residence in Dar es Salaam, which was the former Zanzibar Sultanate’s palace in Dar es Salaam.

Maximilian I’s status is already top-notch in this world, after all, he still holds the title of Emperor. In East Africa, the only residence that can match him is the Dar es Salaam Palace.

After a large-scale renovation by the East African government, the Dar es Salaam Palace has been completely renewed, with some cultural flavor of German palaces.

Constantine was about to ask what suggestion, when he heard Maximilian I say, “But these are all trivial matters. You’ve traveled all the way from Europe by boat, you must be tired. It’s better to go to your residence to rest for a few days first, and we’ll talk about these things later.”

“Alright, it’s just that I have a lot of people with me this time, and I need to arrange their accommodation first!” Constantine said.

At this time, an East African official who had not left said, “Your Highness, you don’t have to worry about such trivial matters. His Highness Ernst had already arranged it in the telegram. We have prepared accommodation for them near the Dar es Salaam Palace in advance, and prepared basic daily necessities. The dining problem can also be solved in the cafeteria.”

“That kid! He has arranged everything for me clearly,” Constantine said happily.

…

May 23, 1869.

Sigmaringen.

A few days before Prince Constantine arrived in East Africa.

“Your Highness Ernst, you’re here!” Schneider saw Ernst familiarly entering the door.

“Butler Schneider, is Uncle Karl at home?”

“His Highness the Prince is receiving guests in the drawing room. Your Highness Ernst, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for a while. Do you have anything important that I need to report?,” Schneider said.

“Is that so! My matter is not urgent. I’ll take a walk around the castle first. When Uncle Karl is done with his guests, you can come and call me,” Ernst said.

“Alright, Your Highness Ernst, would you like me to find a servant to accompany you for a while,” Schneider asked.

“I’ll just walk around. I’m familiar with this place, no need to bother. If you have something to do, go ahead and do it!” Ernst said to Schneider.

Hearing this, Schneider didn’t say anything else. He didn’t suspect that Ernst would mess around, because Ernst was a regular here.

Sigmaringen Castle is the residence of Prince Karl Anton. Compared with the newly renovated Hohenzollern Castle, Sigmaringen Castle has a more simple and ancient flavor.

The castle has a large collection of weapons, hunting specimens, and murals. The interior decoration is magnificent, fully reflecting the power and wealth of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family.

Ernst strolled through the castle, gradually regaining his childhood memories. Because the two families were too close and the kinship was the closest, the relationship was very good, and they moved around frequently.

Constantine used to bring little Ernst here often. At that time, Ernst had not awakened his past life memories. Now, visiting Sigmaringen Castle again has completely different feelings. When he was a child, he only cared about playing! He didn’t pay attention to the scenery and culture here.

Ernst climbed the watchtower, and the entire Sigmaringen was in full view. Unlike Hohenzollern Castle, which is far away from the town of Hechingen, Sigmaringen Castle is surrounded by the area where the population of Sigmaringen gathers.

The castle is built on the south bank of the Danube River. The Danube River surrounds the town of Sigmaringen on three sides. This pattern reminds Ernst of Paris, which is also surrounded by the Seine River on three sides, making it a typical easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack place in medieval Europe.

A large number of fortifications have been built here, and Sigmaringen Castle is one of them. Hohenzollern Castle is built on a hilltop (not high above sea level) and is surrounded by forests, so it is lonely. Sigmaringen is a large castle complex, surrounded by residential buildings.

I don’t know how long it took…

“Your Highness Ernst, His Highness the Prince has seen off the guests and is now waiting for you in the drawing room!” Butler Schneider came to Ernst and said.

“Okay, I’ll go now,” Ernst replied.

Walking down the spiral staircase and through the corridor, he came to the drawing room, where Prince Karl was sitting on the sofa.

“Ernst, why do you have time to come here today? Since you went to Berlin to study, you have come here less often,” Prince Karl said with a smile.

“Uncle Karl, people always have to grow up, but I have also been tied down by a lot of things later. I would like to go back to the carefree days of my childhood,” Ernst said.

“It seems that your generation has grown up. Leopold is now serving in the army, Karol has become a king, and now you have your own life plan,” Prince Karl Anton said with emotion.

“It’s all thanks to your good education that the two cousins are so promising,” Ernst complimented.

“Hahaha, it’s just luck. In my opinion, the two of them are just so-so, but they caught up with a good time,” Prince Karl Anton said with a smile.

This sentence is not false. Prince Karl Anton himself served as a king with real power, and served as the Prussian Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Army. His ability is indeed full.

“Why do you have time to come to me today? Is there something you want me to solve?” Prince Karl Anton asked.

“You saw through it, Uncle Karl!” Ernst said.

“Hmph, I had a feeling from the moment you entered the door that there would be no good things today. Tell me, what do you want me to settle?” Prince Karl Anton said.

Prince Constantine entrusted Ernst to Prince Karl Anton’s care, and Prince Karl Anton naturally had to do his best. This is nothing, the two families often help each other.

Ernst was not polite. He said, “Uncle Karl, I know you are very capable, so I want to know the specific situation of the entire German railway business.”

Chapter 196: Railroad

“What, you want to get into this industry too?” Prince Carl Anton asked.

“Not exactly. I mainly want to test the waters in the colony,” Ernst said directly, without hiding anything.

“This might be a little difficult!” Prince Carl Anton said without hesitation. “Although I admire your talent for business, I’m afraid this venture will be hard for you to make profitable!”

In Prince Carl Anton’s mind, what was the point of a colony if it was just going to lose money?

“Uncle Carl, when I say ‘test the waters,’ I mean to build only a small section, not to roll it out on a large scale in East Africa,” Ernst explained.

“That still doesn’t make sense! If you’re just building it for fun, you wouldn’t need to ask me, would you? You could just find a German railroad company, and they should be able to start construction directly! And I believe no one would dare to swindle you, given your status,” Prince Carl Anton said.

In Prince Carl Anton’s view, Ernst was now a major aristocrat and a major capitalist in the German region. This combination was practically an invincible shield.

Moreover, Ernst had said he wanted to test the waters. No German railroad company in their right mind would offend a future prince and business magnate for such a small profit.

“The truth is, Uncle Carl, I’m also eyeing the railroad market, but I know that railroads are different from the things I’ve done before.

The technology for railroads is already mature, and the barriers to entry are very high. Most importantly, there are many railroad companies in the German region. Entering directly now would definitely be a thankless task.

But I’m optimistic about the future development of railroads. Just because there’s no opportunity now doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the future. The problem is that even if there’s an opportunity in the future, you have to be able to seize it. So, I want to make some preparations in advance,” Ernst said.

“I think I understand what you mean! You do want to do this business, but you’re not optimistic about the short-term market prospects, so you don’t want to enter on a large scale. Instead, you want to start with something smaller to accumulate experience and prepare for the future. Is that right?” Prince Carl Anton asked.

“Uncle Carl, that’s exactly what I want to express. And I have another purpose. As you know, I don’t have any big businesses in East Africa. It’s mainly just organizing immigrants to go there and farm. So, the commodity transport in East Africa is mainly bulk goods like grain and timber.

These goods are bulky and unsophisticated, but if they can’t be transported to Europe, it’s a real losing proposition. My colony is counting on these grains and materials to recoup some of the investment.

But the biggest obstacle to transporting these things is the transportation conditions in East Africa. Take the rivers in East Africa, for example. There isn’t a single continuous one, and they all flow directly from the highlands to the coast, with only a hundred kilometers or so of navigable conditions.

Water transport is impossible, so I thought of railroads. But railroads are too expensive, and I need to experiment in East Africa before I can decide to promote them,” Ernst said.

After listening, Prince Carl Anton thought for a moment and asked, “I have a question. You see that East Africa’s main industry is agriculture, right? If it’s large-scale, agriculture is indeed very profitable. But transporting grain from East Africa to Europe involves significant shipping costs, and you also have to face competition from grain producers in Germany, Hungary, France, and Tsarist Russia. Can you really make money?

Moreover, I heard from your father that you have to pay extra costs to bring in immigrants from outside, instead of using the local natives. That’s another expense. So, where exactly is the profit point of this East African colony?”

In fact, Prince Carl Anton knew that overseas colonies were very profitable. Otherwise, how could the British have become maritime hegemons with just that one island?

But as a true-blue old German Junker, Prince Carl Anton really didn’t know much about the operation of overseas colonies.

After all, only Austria had experience in the entire German region, but the results were obvious: Austria’s attempts had failed.

In recent decades, the European continent had been turbulent. First, Napoleon stirred up trouble, then the Crimean War, and then Prussia fought two wars with Denmark, and finally a war with the Austrian Empire.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the European continent, and the old politician Prince Carl Anton was naturally the same. But recently, Prince Constantine of Hohenzollern-Hechingen went to East Africa, which aroused Prince Carl Anton’s strong interest in the East African colony.

Unfortunately, Constantine had already gone to East Africa, so Prince Carl Anton simply asked Ernst.

“Uncle Carl, the East African colony is a long-term business. You can’t see the good or bad in the short term. After all, the East African colony is just a leftover that the great powers didn’t want. It doesn’t have any particularly outstanding advantages. In the early stages, it’s basically pure investment, and ordinary people can’t handle it at all.

So, when I was running the East African colony, I never thought it could be profitable. Instead, I tried to make it lose as little as possible.

Although grain isn’t profitable, the volume is large. This is one of the few advantages of the East African colony: the land area is large enough.

Although it doesn’t sell for a high price, the production costs in East Africa are also low. The land is readily available, but it needs to be developed. And we only pay for the immigrants’ boat fare and food and clothing, so there is a sufficient supply of cheap labor.

It’s really not realistic to make money in the East African colony right now, but it might be possible in the future. However, the risks overseas are also high, so they cancel each other out.

But right now, running a factory in Europe is definitely a surefire way to make money, and the profits are high,” Ernst said.

In fact, the East African colony can already guarantee a balance of payments and even has a slight surplus. After all, East Africa mainly makes money from cash crops, and the East African market includes not only Europe but also North Africa and the Middle East.

It’s not that Ernst is hiding anything. Developing colonies in this era is indeed very risky. Ernst also took advantage of a loophole, picking a good time and a good place.

“I see! It seems that developing overseas is not easy. I was just curious, so I asked,” Prince Carl Anton said.

“Uncle Carl, there are actually good places overseas, but those places have long been divided up by those maritime nations,” Ernst said.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this! Let’s continue talking about the railroad! What are your plans? Just tell me directly, don’t beat around the bush,” Prince Carl Anton said.

“Uncle Carl, since that’s the case, I’ll be frank. I actually want to directly acquire a railroad company. It doesn’t need to be too big, but it must have construction experience. But I’m not in that circle, so I don’t know much about the inside scoop, so I came to you to understand the situation,” Ernst said.

The railroad industry in the German region was developing rapidly, with many companies, large and small. There were those who were practical, and naturally there were those who were all talk and no action.

Although Ernst was also a capitalist, he operated in different fields. If he entered rashly, the other party might not dare to swindle him. As one of the pillar industries of Germany, those people’s power was not much weaker than Ernst’s, and they even had closer ties with the government.

Naturally, the fewer competitors in a business, the better. A wealthy businessman like Ernst entering the railroad industry would definitely attract attention.

And Ernst didn’t plan to go against these people. To be honest, the main reason he wanted to squeeze into this industry was to accumulate relevant technology and experience for East Africa.

Moreover, the railroad market was currently in a boom, but that wouldn’t be the case in the future. When the entire market was in dire straits, it would be the right time for Ernst to enter in a big way.

Chapter 197: Suggestion

“So, in other words, you’re looking for a railway company that is qualified, has some experience, but isn’t too large,” Prince Karl Anton summarized.

“That’s right, Uncle Karl,” Ernst said.

“Well, I’ll keep an eye out for you. Prussia has now integrated the North German Confederation and will definitely carry out a unified transformation of the railway systems of the various states within its borders. This will inevitably cause some companies to be unable to adapt.

However, don’t have too high hopes. Prussia has always attached great importance to railway construction, so it adopts a mixed model of state-owned and private railways. Moreover, it seems to me that Wilhelm I and Bismarck, and the military, want to further strengthen the nationalization of railways, which will inevitably strengthen investment in related fields.

Therefore, the railway operation situation in the north may be relatively ideal. The main thing is that there may not be a shortage of orders, and it will not be easy to bargain on prices.

After all, with the Prussian government backing them, they will definitely not agree to lower prices. They can sell poorly managed businesses to the government at a premium.

On the other hand, I think there are great opportunities in the South German region. The south is still relatively loose now, the standards are relatively chaotic, and the most important thing is that the market is not very ideal.

Even with the Customs Union, there will be varying degrees of closeness between the various states, especially those sandwiched between Austria and Prussia.

However, in the end, it still depends on the investigation results. I will have people find out, and I will send them to you after I sort them out in a while. When the time comes, you can pick them out, and I will help you contact them,” Prince Karl Anton said.

“Thank you, Uncle Karl. When the time comes, please send the information to Hohenzollern Castle and give it to Tom,” Ernst said.

“Aren’t you staying at home for a while?” Prince Karl Anton asked.

“Alas, the main reason is that I opened a new company in Austria, engaged in agricultural product processing. At that time, I planned two factory areas, one in Vienna and one in Trieste. The Vienna factory area has already been built, but the Trieste factory area is just about to start construction, so I have to go and inspect the construction progress,” Ernst replied.

“You really are a busy man now! Haha,” Prince Karl Anton joked.

…

June, 1869.

Dar es Salaam, East Africa.

Maximilian I was exchanging pleasantries with Prince Constantine.

He took a sip of iced tea and asked, “Your Highness, are you getting used to living in East Africa?”

“It’s alright, but the weather is indeed more humid and hot than in Germany. Is it like this all year round here?” Prince Constantine said.

“The rainy season is cooler, and you’ve come at a good time, especially in July, when Dar es Salaam is at its coolest. If it’s the dry season, it can be difficult to endure, and sometimes the temperature can reach over forty degrees in extreme weather,” Maximilian I said.

“Over forty degrees? Wouldn’t that be like soaking in hot water!” Prince Constantine said in surprise.

“That’s extreme weather, and you might not even encounter it once a year. Moreover, only the coast of East Africa is relatively hot. I heard that the inland areas are very cool, as they are all plateaus, and sometimes you have to add an extra layer of clothing, like a warm spring in Europe all year round,” Maximilian I said.

“Then why doesn’t the East African government move to the inland areas? It should be more livable there!” Constantine said.

“Although the inland climate is good, the transportation is relatively poor, unlike Dar es Salaam and First Town, which have complete facilities, and the resources are also relatively abundant here, especially the merchant ships from Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, which pass through here, allowing you to enjoy products from all over the world,” Maximilian I explained.

Of course, this is only one aspect. The East African government is located in First Town to facilitate contact with Europe and to better connect with immigration reception work.

“I see. But when transportation becomes more convenient in the future, it would be better to move the government inland. The hot weather is very demoralizing,” Prince Constantine said.

“I think so too, but I only heard about the situation inland from them. I originally planned to travel to the inland myself, but then Charlotte arrived and I canceled the trip.”

“By the way, didn’t you mention something about giving advice when you were at the dock a few days ago?” Prince Constantine suddenly remembered.

“That’s right. I’ve also been in East Africa for a while and have seen some of the problems in East Africa. I sent a telegram to Ernst before, but that kid hasn’t replied to me yet,” Maximilian I said.

“I wonder what the problem is?” Prince Constantine asked. Now that he has come to East Africa, he can solve some of them, but it depends on what Maximilian I is talking about.

“Then I’ll say it. One is the cultural and educational work in East Africa. I believe Your Highness also heard the band’s terrible performance when you arrived at the port that day. They also used many Zanzibaris, making it a mishmash.

I know that Ernst has been promoting Germanization in East Africa, but the depth is not enough, especially in culture and education.

I have also visited education in East Africa. That was at a primary school in First Town. The curriculum is very simple. We Germans have so much philosophy, art, and music, but almost none of it is there. There is only a dry history textbook, and it is very crude, and there are many alterations. Of course, I am not against altering history, but there are too many loopholes, which are easy to expose.”

“Ah, yes! Actually, I know about that. I have read the East African textbooks. Many of them were personally compiled by Ernst. However, he told me that East Africa is engaged in poor education. This set of textbooks is enough for the current stage. As for the loopholes, there are many illiterates in East Africa who have not received education, and no one can see them,” Prince Constantine said. “As for German culture and art, to be honest, Ernst himself doesn’t know anything about it, and he doesn’t pay much attention to it. But I’m here now, and there are talents in this area among my entourage.”

Prince Constantine brought a lot of talent to East Africa, or rather, the former Hechingen team. As a country, a court band is always necessary. Among the entourage are musical talents who used to serve Hechingen. They may not be outstanding in Europe, but they are definitely professionals in East Africa.

As for philosophy and literature, Constantine couldn’t bring those talents, but he brought many books himself.

“That’s just a small problem. What I’m most concerned about is the security of the East African colonies,” Maximilian I said after listening to Constantine’s explanation.

“Hmm!”

“Your Highness, how much do you know about East Africa?” Maximilian I asked.

“This… not much. I only brushed up on some knowledge after deciding to come to East Africa, but I was in a hurry when I came, so I don’t know much,” Prince Constantine said.

“Then do you know how many seaports there are in East Africa?” Maximilian I asked.

Constantine shook his head.

“There are five in total, of which Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are two relatively large ones, which are not bad compared to the top ports in Europe. There are also three slightly smaller ones, but their potential is not small. These five ports are distributed along the more than one thousand kilometers of coastline in East Africa, and there are also many bays and estuaries with port potential that have not been developed,” Maximilian I said. “What do you think of the coastal conditions in East Africa?”

“Listening to you, of course they are relatively good,” Prince Constantine said.

“Not only that, the East African ports are also the only way for Europe to reach the Far East. These conditions are very good, but East Africa does not yet have a navy to guard such a good coastline,” Maximilian I emphasized.

Chapter 198: A Comical Conversation

Hearing this, Prince Constantine knew the purpose of Maximilian I. He wanted to use him to persuade Ernst to establish an East African naval force.

Before Prince Constantine came to East Africa, Ernst had not really discussed the situation of the East African coastline. The information he had seen was mainly about land, population, and revenue data.

However, since Maximilian I had mentioned this matter to Ernst, and Ernst had not responded, he probably had his own plans.

Therefore, Prince Constantine did not plan to agree immediately. He wanted to talk to Maximilian I first and then consider it.

“So, this is what you’re worried about?” Constantine said, “I don’t know much about East Africa. Before coming to East Africa, I really didn’t think about the coastal defense issue. Having stayed in Germany for so long, I myself have forgotten about the navy.”

Hechingen is located deep in the European hinterland, not even close to the sea. Not to mention a navy, even fishing boats are rare in Hechingen. At least Sigmaringen next door has the Danube River flowing through it, and cargo transportation requires ships. Hechingen, on the other hand, has no major rivers flowing through it and is sandwiched between small hills in a small plain.

Even though Constantine later served in the Prussian army for a period of time, he only worked in the army.

If it weren’t for Ernst developing the East African colony, Prince Constantine probably wouldn’t have had much interaction with the sea in his life.

“Although I don’t know much about the situation in East Africa now, I still have some common sense about the navy. There are so many countries in Europe, and quite a few are involved in maritime activities.

But the number of countries with powerful navies is probably very small in the world. I don’t know the specific details of the navy as a military branch, but everyone knows that navies are becoming increasingly expensive. The construction cost of just one ship is an astronomical figure for many countries.

This money can be used to build a decent-sized army, and East Africa’s direction of expansion does indeed require an army more. Those European countries that engage in overseas colonization, if they had the ability to expand in Europe, I believe they would also prefer army construction.

For example, France has both a navy and an army, but France still prefers army construction. In addition to defense needs, there is also the fact that it still has opportunities with some of the surrounding countries.

Although there are countries like Britain and Austria to contain it, their ability to interfere with France is actually very limited. As long as France handles its diplomatic affairs well, those powerful countries may not be willing to sell out the interests of some smaller countries.

And then there’s Austria. Austria used to have overseas attempts, and then retreated. Now, almost all its energy is invested in the continental direction. It’s the same principle,” Prince Constantine said.

“You can’t say that. Although Austria has not organized overseas colonial expansion activities, its naval strength is still good, and Austria’s current coastline endowment is not as good as East Africa’s. The only major port that can shoulder the heavy responsibility is Trieste.

And the cost of building ships for the navy is indeed very high, but that depends on who you compare it to! If East Africa doesn’t pursue a large navy, it should at least have a small fleet! At the very least, it can get a few small gunboats, which is also possible,” Maximilian I retorted.

Maximilian I certainly knew that East Africa’s current situation could not support the construction of a considerable naval force. He was not a person without a sense of proportion.

Although he was not a qualified emperor, he had at least made significant achievements for the Austrian navy. The reason why he suggested that East Africa engage in naval construction was actually out of good intentions.

Moreover, he had a mature plan. After his observation, East Africa now has the ability to build a small navy. As he said, at the very least, it can get a few gunboats to play with.

“East Africa’s coastline is not completely undefended. Ernst has built many forts. I’ve seen them in Mombasa, Tanga, and Dar es Salaam. They’re done quite well, but coastal artillery is ultimately an inanimate object and can only provide limited defense on land.

In case someone really likes to do things that harm others and do not benefit themselves, only considering attacking East Africa’s coastal cities, East Africa doesn’t even have the opportunity to take the initiative to attack. It can only allow foreign warships to freely shuttle along the Indian Ocean coast.

Of course, this is the worst-case scenario. If it really provokes a major power, East Africa can only be beaten unilaterally.

But there are not only national forces on the ocean. Which of those merchant ships is not armed? As long as they dare to think about it, they can instantly become pirates.

Back then, the Sultanate of Zanzibar also split from the Sultanate of Oman in the Middle East. Before that, Zanzibar Island was not the territory of the Sultanate of Oman.

Ernst’s acquisition of East Africa can be considered a clever move. He bluffed the then Sultanate of Zanzibar. If it really relied on force, the colonial team at that time would not have been able to land.”

Maximilian I was right. The first batch of German mercenaries who landed in East Africa came aboard Dutch merchant ships.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar, without paying attention, allowed these two thousand people to land. And the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s power in Dar es Salaam was relatively weak. Plus, it was the political center, and fighting would not be cost-effective. Commander Yahlmann’s attitude was relatively friendly, and his demands were not excessive. He allowed the mercenaries to build the first colony in the interior.

Asking himself honestly, the East African colony can use this strategy, and other forces can naturally use it as well. Now, Dar es Salaam is still a free port, and merchant ships can dock at will. This is indeed a hidden danger.

“What you said makes sense, but East Africa and the Sultanate of Zanzibar are still somewhat different. The main body of Zanzibar is on Zanzibar Island, while East Africa’s power penetrates deep into the interior. Even if external forces land, it will not be easy to gain a foothold in East Africa. After all, East Africa’s land strength is very good,” Prince Constantine said.

“This security issue is only one aspect. I also considered the future development of East Africa before making this suggestion. The navy as a military branch requires a long period of accumulation. One step slow, every step slow. Ships and equipment are secondary. Personnel must be reserved first!

Building a smaller navy can always accumulate some naval talent. East Africa cannot always expand inland. At a certain stage, it will inevitably develop maritime power. Spending some money now will save more money in the future,” Maximilian I said.

At this point, Prince Constantine was actually persuaded. Prince Constantine also knew that East Africa would need a navy in the future.

However, what was Ernst thinking? Had he really not considered East Africa’s naval power?

The answer is definitely no. This is the result of an information gap. Maximilian I had not participated in East Africa’s administrative work. Secondly, a large amount of East Africa’s data would eventually converge in Ernst’s hands. The East African government may not even be clear about some of East Africa’s situations.

After all, information work between government departments is often not interconnected, and the Hechingen Consortium also participates in the management of East Africa. Some statistical data will not eventually pass through the East African government.

Ernst had of course considered the development of East Africa’s naval power. In fact, East Africa really has an irregular naval force.

That is, East Africa’s river and lake troops, especially the three major lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi.

Although the name is river and lake troops, this is the foundation that Ernst is building for the future navy. The three major lakes are all giant lakes, which can completely simulate some maritime situations. But in the end, the river and lake troops have not really entered the sea, so it is said to be irregular.

As for Maximilian I’s suggestion to Ernst, it was mainly because he chose the wrong time. At that time, it was the Northwest Campaign, which can be said to have mobilized the entire colony’s strength to seize such a large piece of land by force. Eight countries alone were eliminated, and at the same time, a long supply line and a large-scale immigration operation were also launched. Ernst naturally did not have the energy to pay attention to naval construction.

And Constantine had not yet taken over East Africa’s administrative work, so he naturally did not know about East Africa’s river and lake troops. Thus, there was this comical conversation.

Regarding the establishment of a true East African navy, Ernst had relevant ideas, but he was always busy with various affairs and had been putting it off until now.

Chapter 199: Settling the Account

“Your Excellency Msiri, this is the payment from our East African government for the goods. You can check it,” Merkel said.

“Hmm.” Msiri gave a look, signaling to the two black men beside him.

For Msiri, nothing was more important than profit, so he directly had people begin counting the munitions provided by East Africa.

The two indigenous officials began carefully counting box by box. It was truly rare that the Kingdom of Yeke, where everyone was practically illiterate, could even muster two people who knew a little math.

Before long.

“Your Majesty, everything is accounted for,” the two indigenous officials of the Kingdom of Yeke said.

However, Msiri was not at ease. He went to a box, took out a musket from inside, examined it carefully in his hand, and then spot-checked a few more boxes.

“Mr. Merkel, may I test fire it?” Msiri said.

“Of course, that is your right,” Merkel said.

Msiri skillfully loaded a gun with ammunition, then aimed at a distant tree and pulled the trigger. With a “bang,” a hole appeared in the tree.

At this point, Msiri finally revealed a satisfied smile. He said, “You are very good! I am very satisfied with this deal.”

“That’s natural. Our East African government also values integrity and would never deceive you with shoddy goods, my friend,” Merkel said.

While saying this, Merkel didn’t think so in his heart. These guns were all repaired rejects from East Africa, but they could still be used normally, but they would definitely be considered junk in the East African colony.

East Africa had at least tens of thousands of guns, most of which were outdated muskets eliminated from Europe, with many problems. Some would experience various issues after being used a few times.

Then the East African government would send these problematic guns to East Africa’s armories for repair, and finally select the worst batch from these repaired guns to send to Msiri.

“By the way, Your Excellency Msiri, because of your cooperation this time, East Africa is very satisfied, so we have also prepared some other gifts for you this time,” Merkel said.

With a wave of Merkel’s hand, several East African soldiers unloaded three boxes from the carriage. They looked quite large and should contain a lot of things.

“What’s in these?”

“You can open them and see.”

Msiri curiously looked at these unexpected gifts, but worried about trickery, Msiri still had his men go forward to open them and check.

As the first box was opened, it was a box of liquor, not many bottles, a total of five, with straw padding the bottom.

Msiri immediately felt his eyes light up. He stepped forward and carefully examined a bottle in his hand.

Glass bottles were truly rare objects for Msiri, and so perfectly crafted, even if the shape was a bit strange.

“Mr. Merkel, is this water in this gem-made bottle?” Msiri asked.

“It contains liquor,” Merkel replied.

“This kind of liquor must be very precious!” Msiri asked like a country bumpkin.

Anything contained in such ingenious artwork should not be ordinary, especially when Merkel said it was liquor inside, Msiri was even more convinced that the liquor inside was also very precious.

Msiri had also drunk alcohol, but it was fruit wine brewed from local bananas in the Kingdom of Yeke, and it was very turbid with many impurities, so when he saw the liquid in the bottle so pure, Msiri thought it was water.

As for why this artwork contained water, maybe it was a special hobby of the East Africans. Msiri thought so before Merkel said it was liquor inside.

“You’re right. Look at the mark on this bottle, a man herding horses, so in our place, this liquor is called ‘Horse Herder.’ This liquor is very precious, and even in Europe, only a few people can afford to drink it,” Merkel said, talking a load of nonsense.

“Where is Europe?”

“It is my hometown.”

“Does ‘a few people’ mean only your king can afford to drink it?” Msiri asked.

“Of course, only people with your status can drink this kind of liquor,” Merkel said.

Hearing this, Msiri was instantly satisfied. The same as himself, wasn’t that their king? This liquor was worthy of his status.

In fact, Merkel said this on purpose. In his eyes, how could Msiri compare to people from the civilized world?

Horse Herder, a familiar brand, was that popular vodka for the common people in Tsarist Russia, the favorite of the bottom-tier drunkards in Tsarist Russia.

However, thanks to the contributions of the Russian drunkards, Horse Herder Vodka had also become the highest-produced liquor of the Black Herington Consortium.

Its greatest advantage was its low price, so it was used by East Africa to give to Msiri.

Msiri was already eager to taste the flavor of this liquor. He fiddled with it, found the wooden stopper on top, grabbed the bottle with one hand, and pulled it open with force with the other, and took a big gulp straight to his mouth.

“The taste is indeed good. East Africa is full of sincerity. I will remember this friendship!”

“We are always generous to friends,” Merkel said with a smile.

The first box had already revealed such a good thing, Msiri was already eager to see what the remaining two boxes contained.

This time he took action himself, holding the liquor bottle in one hand and opening the second box with the other. He saw a textile inside.

“Mr. Merkel, what is this?”

Merkel stepped forward, took out the textile, and shook it open. A cotton cloth cloak was presented before Msiri.

It was also sewn with unique African animal patterns, looking colorful, but the workmanship was still qualified, especially compared to the robe Msiri was wearing, it was indeed more refined.

“This is a cloak we prepared for you, which can better show your kingly demeanor,” Merkel said.

Msiri took it over and carefully examined it. The workmanship was indeed “excellent,” and the patterns were also very beautiful, colorful, especially the lions, crocodiles, etc., were simply “lifelike.”

“Good, very good, I am very satisfied with this gift.” Msiri put the cloak back into the box.

He came to the third box and opened it. This time, Msiri completely didn’t know what the thing in front of him was.

He could consider the liquor bottle as a gem-made artwork, and Msiri also recognized textiles, at most he didn’t know their use, but the thing in front of him was somewhat beyond Msiri’s understanding. He had never seen this kind of thing in Africa!

Merkel stepped forward and said, “This is a specialty of East Africa, called cigarettes. They are used for smoking and can make people feel very good.”

“How do you smoke this thing?”

Merkel took out a pack, tore off the cellophane, took out a cigarette, lit it, and then began to teach Msiri how to smoke.

Soon, Msiri got the hang of it, but he was very puzzled: “This thing doesn’t feel like much, isn’t it just smoke!”

Merkel said, “It doesn’t show its effect in a short time. After a long time, you will know the fun in it.”

But Msiri was still skeptical. Merkel said to him again, “Have one after every meal every day, and in a few days, you will know the fun in it.”

……

The reason why East Africa gave Msiri gifts was naturally with ill intentions. Tobacco and alcohol are both addictive things. When Msiri’s stock runs out, he will naturally take the initiative to contact the East African colony.

Anyway, Msiri still had to grab territory now, and he could always grab some good things from other indigenous people. East Africa could exchange them for tobacco and alcohol at that time.

Of course, Msiri was relatively cooperative, handing over the original territory of the Kingdom of Yeke to East Africa very cooperatively, and also actively expelling the people to the border areas with other indigenous countries, saving the East African colony a lot of trouble, so the East African colony had to “reward” him well.

However, Msiri also had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. After leaving the Kingdom of Yeke, he did not choose to be neighbors with East Africa again, but grabbed a relatively distant territory as his base. If the payment from East Africa hadn’t arrived yet, it was estimated that he could have run even further. Subsequently, Msiri’s ammunition still had to be replenished by East Africa, so it was impossible to directly cut off contact with East Africa.

The East African colony was not worried about giving guns and ammunition to Msiri. The more chaotic the Zambia region was, the better. Anyway, Msiri had a small number of guns and could not threaten the safety of East Africa.

And relying on the weapons in his hand, Msiri would definitely not be idle. The surrounding indigenous people would definitely suffer, just to see who was more unlucky.

Chapter 200: Division

Although Msiri had long since sold the Yeke Kingdom to East Africa, the Yeke Kingdom’s land area was over one hundred thousand square kilometers, so it took the East African government three months to completely take over the territory.

The most difficult point was immigration. Currently, the overall number of new immigrants to East Africa has decreased, and the Yeke Kingdom is located deep inland, the furthest from East Africa’s main immigration landing ports, making immigration even more difficult.

Just walking from the coast to this place takes a lot of time. Mbeya even diverted a portion of its own immigration quota here.

…

Former capital of the Yeke Kingdom.

At this moment, the Yeke Kingdom’s capital palace was deserted. The natives had been driven away, but some people still remained here, including East African immigrants and some Portuguese merchants.

“Mr. Santos, we’ve investigated. These people are Germans. They made a deal with Msiri to buy this place, but we don’t know the specifics of the transaction,” Afonso said.

“That Msiri, did he get kicked in the head by a donkey? Not only did he give up the Yeke Kingdom, but he also helped the Germans drive away his own people!” Santos said angrily.

Santos was so angry because East Africa’s expulsion policy had instantly nullified the results of his years of hard work in this area.

Portuguese influence had not yet reached this area, but many Portuguese merchants still ventured into the African interior. The risks were high, but the profits were even greater.

Santos had made a considerable profit by operating in the Yeke Kingdom. These unsophisticated natives were quite easy to deceive, especially after East Africa blockaded the Yeke Kingdom’s original trade routes. In the past two or three years, Santos had made a killing.

Good times don’t last. Now East Africa was taking action against the Yeke Kingdom, and the most outrageous thing was that these Germans didn’t want the natives, which directly cut off Santos’s original source of goods.

However, East Africa only expelled the natives and maintained respect for these Portuguese merchants, allowing them to stay.

“Have you contacted the Germans?” Santos asked.

“Yes, but we have to go through a native translator to understand the general result. The native language lacks many words and meanings, so the translation may have some discrepancies,” Afonso said.

“What did the Germans say?” Santos asked.

“The result is not bad. My people can continue to stay here, but they must abide by their laws,” Afonso said.

“What kind of good result is that? They drove away the natives, and we have no source of goods. How do we account for this loss? We originally had an exclusive business, but now we have no goods, so there’s no business to do. And what kind of bullcrap laws are those? Isn’t it just whatever they say goes! What laws are there in a colony?” Santos said indignantly.

“Mr. Santos, the result is already pretty good. The Germans promised to continue providing us with goods, but they need to wait until their people arrive. They said it will only take a few months,” Afonso said.

“I knew these Germans were out of their minds! Why did you drive away the natives if you were short of people? How can you even say you don’t have enough people? And who can wait for several months?”

Santos was really furious. These Germans were only doing things that harmed others and didn’t benefit themselves. Although Portugal was also engaged in colonization in Africa, natives as labor were an important asset of the colony. These Germans’ actions were simply outrageous.

And no matter how capable the Germans were, how many immigrants could they bring? Can’t they see that Portugal has been in Africa for hundreds of years, and the immigrant population is still so small?

“What are your thoughts?” Santos asked everyone.

Afonso said, “Sir! After careful consideration, I plan to stay.”

“What about you!”

Of the remaining Portuguese merchants, some wanted to stay, while others said they wanted to leave.

“No matter what you decide, I plan to leave this hellhole. How much money will we lose if we have no business for a few months? I plan to go to the Kazembe Kingdom in the south to develop,” Santos stated his position.

The Kazembe Kingdom was located southwest of the Yeke Kingdom, on the south bank of Lake Mweru, bordering the Malawi Kingdom to the east, and was established by the Lunda people.

The Kazembe Kingdom was an important hub for the African ivory trade. Originally, Santos had started out in the Kazembe Kingdom before moving to the Yeke Kingdom to develop.

Relatively speaking, the Kazembe Kingdom had greater profits, but also more competitors, so Santos had taken a group of people north to develop the Yeke Kingdom.

Afonso and the others were like Santos’s partners, and they had indeed made a lot of money in the Yeke Kingdom in the past two years.

However, Afonso had his own ideas. He didn’t want to leave the Yeke Kingdom now. Although this place had been annexed by the East African colony, those resources and ivory wouldn’t grow legs and run away. He also knew that Santos had been thinking about leaving this place ever since the Germans came.

As the number two figure among the local Portuguese merchants, wouldn’t this area be his after Santos left?

Moreover, before the meeting, Afonso had been responsible for contacting the Germans. Santos was a very cautious person and didn’t want to negotiate with the Germans himself, mainly because he had been overseas for too long, suffered too many losses, and was afraid of being double-crossed.

The East African government had actually promised the Portuguese the local ivory and other business rights, but in Afonso’s words, it became that the East African government agreed to allow the Portuguese merchants to continue to stay here.

Ernst had always been cautious about colonizing Africa, especially in dealing with Europeans and Arabs. Although East Africa had swallowed these lands, the goods were still handed over to these people for processing at relatively low prices.

They wanted to stabilize them first to prevent them from going back to call their parents, of course, the Portuguese merchants of the Yeke Kingdom did not have this kind of energy.

They were far from the Portuguese colonial sphere of influence and belonged to spontaneous commercial activities, but East Africa was not clear about this. After all, the Portuguese had arrived in Africa too early, and East Africa had not yet figured out where the Portuguese influence in the African interior could reach.

“I must remind you that the Germans are not kind people. At least, I don’t believe their promises. My years of experience have taught me that colonizers are synonymous with ruthlessness and cunning. Don’t expect the Germans to share their profits for nothing.

Putting ourselves in their shoes, we have been active in Africa for so long, relying on deceit and the weapons in our hands. The Germans will definitely do even worse,” Santos said to those who wanted to stay in the Yeke Kingdom.

As expected, after Santos’s persuasion, many people who had originally supported staying, who were already small in number, wavered and joined the supporters of leaving.

Santos was actually very dissatisfied with Afonso’s desire to break away from him and go solo, but he couldn’t express it too clearly, after all, this was now East African territory.

Moreover, Santos himself was not optimistic about the future of the Yeke Kingdom, so he let Afonso and those people stay here. They would regret it in the future.

As long as the majority of people followed him, he could return to the Kazembe Kingdom to develop, and he would need a group of more loyal followers.

Chapter 201: Taking Office

“Mr. Afonso, why have so many of your people left?” Merkel asked.

Just yesterday, Santos had left the capital of the Kingdom of Yeke with many people.

“They chose to leave and go to the Kingdom of Kazembe in the south. It’s a real shame!” Afonso said regretfully, but a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, fleeting and unnoticed.

……

Prince Constantine, still wavering, finally sent Maximilian I’s suggestion to Ernst via telegram from Dar es Salaam.

After staying in Dar es Salaam for a few days, people from the East African Central Government had arrived.

“Your Highness! How has your stay been recently? Are you getting used to the East African weather?” Von der Leyen, an official from the East African Central Government, asked respectfully.

“Not bad. Are we going to First Town today?” Prince Constantine asked.

“Yes, His Highness the Prince instructed us to come and welcome you. It’s not too far from Dar es Salaam to First Town, but it will still take two days of travel,” Von der Leyen said.

The road from First Town to Dar es Salaam had been repaired and renovated twice, and was very smooth, having been upgraded to a brick road surface. At the same time, most roads in East Africa were still compacted earth roads.

In fact, if they didn’t mind pushing the horses, they could arrive in one day, but Prince Constantine was of noble status, so the speed couldn’t be too fast.

“Your Highness Archduke Ferdinand, I am leaving today. If I have any news, I will send someone to inform you,” Prince Constantine said to Maximilian I.

“Of course, Your Highness. If this is successful, I will be happy to be of service,” Maximilian I replied.

Prince Constantine spoke with Maximilian I several more times, and he found that Maximilian I really couldn’t forget the navy.

So he suggested to Maximilian I that if Ernst replied agreeing, he could invite him to participate in the establishment of the East African Navy.

Maximilian I took the bait as expected. In fact, Maximilian I’s own idea was very simple: since East Africa would belong to his grandson (or granddaughter) in the future, he also had an obligation to do his part.

Soon, Prince Constantine and his entourage from Beichingen gathered. Dar es Salaam was just a transit point for this trip, and the team of more than a thousand people marched mightily towards First Town.

……

June 13, 1869.

First Town.

The East African government held a warm welcoming ceremony for Prince Constantine. All the residents and officials of First Town had a day off to welcome the arrival of Prince Constantine.

It was also the first time that the residents of First Town had witnessed the true appearance of a member of the actual ruling family of East Africa.

The military band began to play. This time, First Town was prepared and did not make the same mistakes as in Dar es Salaam.

The five leading officials of East Africa stepped forward to pay their respects to Prince Constantine and introduced themselves. In fact, the East African Central Government was now managed by six people.

One of them was Von der Leyen, who was accompanying Prince Constantine and was mainly responsible for East Africa’s economic work. He was the one who went to Dar es Salaam to pick up Prince Constantine and bring him to First Town, so he was not included in the initial group of five.

“Welcome, Your Highness, to First Town! My name is Yalman, and I am currently the Chief Military Officer of East Africa. I was also one of the first mercenaries to arrive in East Africa to develop it. I used to serve in the Prussian army,” Yalman said excitedly to Prince Constantine.

This was also the second time that Yalman had come into close contact with a truly important figure (the first time was Ernst), especially since Prince Constantine had once been his superior, although at that time he was just an insignificant soldier in the Prussian army.

“You served in the Prussian army! What was your unit number?” Prince Constantine chatted with Yalman for a short while.

“Your Highness, Chief of Staff of the East African Army, Swiet, reporting to you!”

Swiet was clearly different from the others, with an academic style deeply ingrained in him.

“I remember you. You were a student in the second class of the Beichingen Military Academy, and your grades were excellent in all subjects at the time,” Prince Constantine said.

Swiet was indeed an all-rounder, so Prince Constantine remembered him. Swiet, who had excellent grades, was entrusted with an important task by Ernst, who was in urgent need of manpower at the time, and sent to East Africa. He is currently the highest-ranking Chinese immigrant in East Africa.

“Your Highness, hello, I am the head of the East African agricultural department. You can call me Wiggins.”

“Hello…”

“I am the head of the disease control management department, Belreid, from the Würzburg region of Austria.”

“Hello…”

The last one was Karal, who was in charge of major engineering projects in East Africa.

These five people, plus Von der Leyen, were the six-horse carriage of East Africa, basically representing the current development direction of the East African colony.

Previously, only Von der Leyen, Yalman, and Swiet were known as the three-horse carriage. Now, the six-horse carriage is clearly a division and balance of government power.

In addition, there were some other relatively important independent departments, such as communications and the immigration bureau.

In addition, the subordinate companies and units of the Beichingen Consortium also participated in the management of East Africa, so East Africa was actually jointly ruled by the government and the company.

In short, the East African government was a mess, with a chaotic system of authority, which stunned Prince Constantine.

One moment it was the Chief Military Officer, the next it was the Chief of Staff. The names were impressive, even more exaggerated than his positions in the Prussian army. Then there were department heads, which didn’t sound like formal government agencies or job titles. Finally, there were bureaus and senior executives of various companies under the Beichingen Consortium stationed in East Africa.

The entire administrative system of East Africa was a mess, and the same was true in the army. East Africa was divided into regular army and militia.

Needless to say about the militia, they could be temporarily conscripted by handing out a gun. The unit numbers of the regular army were also varied.

Although the East African regular army was divided into eight military regions according to eight directions, the unit numbers of each military region were varied and there was no unified standard.

This was clearly not the level that the East African army should have. Most of the German mercenaries in charge of the army came from the Prussian army, and had basic military literacy. The students of the Beichingen Military Academy had also received systematic Prussian-style military education, so under normal circumstances, East Africa should directly copy the Prussian army model.

Therefore, the chaotic situation of the East African army was entirely Ernst’s masterpiece. The power of government departments was divided into small pieces, and the army was naturally even more so.

Fortunately, the opponents East Africa chose were all natives, so even if the East African army was useless, its organizational ability was still several levels stronger than that of the natives.

Although this greatly reduced the efficiency of the army, it made it easier for Ernst to balance the power of all parties and prevent the emergence of strongmen in East Africa other than himself.

However, the arrival of Prince Constantine could end this special situation.

With Prince Constantine taking over East African government affairs, Ernst could have more energy to promote the construction of some projects in Europe and East Africa.

Prince Constantine’s arrival in First Town also meant that the Beichingen royal family had officially settled in the East African colony. This would be the center of gravity of the Beichingen royal family in the future, and the Swiet Palace in First Town officially became the political center of East Africa.

Chapter 202: Consolidating Military Power

June 14th, 1869.

Prince Constantine presided over the first military conference of the East African colonies.

Yalman and Swete, leading their respective officers and staff, sat on either side of the conference table. Yalman was older and his physical energy was waning.

Although Yalman was only in his fifties, he had suffered greatly on the European battlefields. Constantine had also been in the Prussian army, but the two men’s experiences were worlds apart; one was on the front lines, the other in the rear. As a result, Yalman in his fifties looked several years older than Constantine, who was approaching seventy.

However, the more Yalman was like this, the more Ernst valued him, and the more comfortable he was entrusting the East African army to him.

The worse his health, the smaller his ambitions. Yalman was indeed like this; he didn’t even know how many good years he had left. It wouldn’t be bad to coast along in the East African army, relying on his seniority and rank to collect a pension.

Therefore, the previous expansion plan against the Yeke Kingdom was carried out by Swete. This time, the military’s work report was also completed by the young and energetic Swete.

“As of March of this year, the East African Royal Territory has a standing army of ninety-eight thousand men. In addition to the field army, there are garrisons in various cities, as well as river and lake forces, temporarily divided into eight military districts according to direction and location.

Among them, the three eastern military districts have a total of twenty-three thousand men. The five coastal ports and two islands are the focus of defense, including coastal defense forces, equipped with various cannons, so their strength is the strongest in East Africa.

The eastern military district includes four important cities: Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, and First Town. In particular, First Town is the current political center of East Africa, so the military district headquarters is also located in First Town.

The northeastern military district is mainly responsible for the military security of the area bordering Mombasa and northern Somalia. The main focus of defense is Mombasa.

The southeastern and southern military districts correspond to the Lower Coastal Area and the East Malawi Lake Area, mainly to prevent the northward expansion of Portuguese forces.

However, the two colonies are separated by the Ruvuma River, so the pressure of defense is not great. The main thing to guard against is the plain area on the east bank of Lake Malawi, which is flat and open, so we have built many bunkers along the border, where we have deployed five thousand people.

The northern military district currently has a garrison of ten thousand men. Except for the Omo River basin, there is no need for expansion, and the overall situation is currently defensive.

The western and northwestern military districts have Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains as natural barriers, and there are no strong enemies to the west, so there are a total of more than five thousand people.

The military district with the largest number of people now is the southwestern military district. The southwest is now the main direction of expansion. Recently, we have basically mastered the Yeke Kingdom. In the next few years, the expansion in the southwest will definitely continue, so we have deployed more than twenty-five thousand people.

In addition to these, the rest are the East African city garrisons, and the river and lake forces…” Swete gave Constantine a detailed introduction to the number and distribution of East African standing forces.

As of April of this year, the population of East Africa had officially exceeded two million, and with the natives, the entire East African population was about three and a half million.

The East African standing army is basically supported by these three and a half million people, and there is also a large militia force.

However, the East African government has not counted the exact number of militiamen, because the fluctuation is too large, but according to the East African government’s storage of firearms and ammunition, the East African government can pull up a militia force of three hundred thousand people at any time.

“Well, the East African army is still quite considerable in number, but due to political reasons and the complex situation in Africa, the East African army is relatively chaotic.

For example, there are as many as eight military districts, which I think is too much and bloated. Moreover, the jurisdictions are not very reasonable. You are all elites in the East African army. How do you view this problem?” Constantine asked.

“Reporting to His Royal Highness, I think the East African military districts should be reorganized according to their functions and importance.

For example, those military districts in the remote corners can be completely merged into other military districts. For example, the northern part of the northeastern military district should be划入 (be incorporated into) the northern military district, and Mombasa and the southern part should be 划入 (be incorporated into) the eastern theater.

The southern line facing the Portuguese should be统筹 (integrated) into one military district to facilitate troop management and mobilization.

There is also the western military district. Now the troops don’t know what to do. Since crossing Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains, the west is all tropical rainforest, with almost no inhabitants,” Swete said first.

At this time, Yalman also suggested: “Your Royal Highness, in my opinion, the military strength of the central region should also be strengthened.

First Town is still too close to the coast, only one or two days away from the two seaports of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, which is very dangerous for the security of East Africa.

Therefore, we should focus on the important position and location of First Town and strengthen its military defense.

Although we have a relatively mature defense system in Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, it’s better to be safe than sorry. We should build a new defense work in First Town, and at the same time strengthen the military strength of First Town and build a centrally controlled guard force.”

“Very good! Anyone else who has any suggestions can put them forward,” Prince Constantine said.

Felix, who was promoted to Deputy Military Chief of East Africa, said: “Your Royal Highness, East Africa should also reform the internal structure of the army, divide and clarify the functions and powers of various departments, introduce relevant regulations of the Prussian army, as well as the rank and serial numbers of the army.

We all know that Prussia has achieved great military success through reforms in recent years, and has the power of a strong army in Europe. And most of us come from Germany, so we should learn from the Prussian army…”

Everyone summarized and categorized the various malpractices of the East African army, and at the same time called for strengthening the management of the army and统归 (unifying) the decentralized military power to the center. In the past, Ernst was worried about the army forming a core in East Africa, but now that Prince Constantine has arrived and is in charge of military affairs, there is naturally no problem.

Ernst not only掺沙子 (mixed sand, i.e., planted people) in the army, but also in other government departments. Now that Prince Constantine is sorting out East African affairs and strengthening central power is the general trend.

The Hechingen royal family only has Prince Constantine and Ernst, and the population is sparse, so there is no need to worry about any court dramas of power struggles being staged.

…

“Your Highness, this is the first telephone line in East Africa, directly connecting Europe to East Africa. With the telephone, you will be able to talk directly to His Highness Ernst in the future,” the European technicians introduced to Constantine.

The “Three Lines” plan not only included the construction of telegraph lines, but also the invention of the telephone by Berlin Electric Company.

At the same time, the original telegraph lines were改造升级 (renovated and upgraded). By the time Prince Constantine arrived in First Town, it was just completed. In the future, Constantine can directly discuss anything with Ernst.

“Connect me to Hohenzollern Castle,” Constantine said.

Soon.

“This is Hohenzollern Castle, who is calling?” Tom answered the phone.

“Tom! This is Constantine, is that kid Ernst there?”

“Your Majesty, the Prince is currently in Trieste. Please wait a moment, I will have the call transferred over!”

After a while.

“Hello, Father, this is Ernst. How have you been in Africa recently?”

“It’s not bad here, I’ve adapted. What are you doing in Trieste?”

“I’m inspecting the construction of the food factory here.”

“Well, I see. By the way, I held the East African military conference today, and I want to discuss with you about reforming the army…”

“That’s right! What they said makes sense, but don’t put all your eggs in one basket. I think we can’t ignore Austria besides Prussia. Austria has always been a military power, and many experiences are also very valuable…”

“By the way, I sent you a telegram yesterday about your father-in-law’s naval proposal, what do you think?”

“You should already know that East Africa has a river and lake force, right? This is the preliminary prototype of the East African Navy, but it’s not a true navy after all. My opinion is that the navy can be built, but let’s experiment first, don’t come up and do anything drastic. First, select a group of people with good swimming skills from the river and lake forces to form a foundation…

In terms of equipment, I am relatively short of money in Europe now, but I can get a few small boats to try next year. For troop training, let’s use the old boats left by Zanzibar to tide us over for now!…”

Chapter 203: Impure World Reincarnation

“Buzz, buzz, buzz…”

The noise on the phone was loud, but even so, it represented the cutting-edge technology of the Berlin Electric Company.

To achieve such a long-distance call, no fewer than sixty-seven sound amplifiers were used. Ernst spent a fortune recruiting relevant talent and inviting tech giants from the German region. Finally, with the help of Siemens bigwigs, he gathered the strength of all Germany to overcome the related problems in a few months.

Compared to Siemens, Ernst’s Berlin Electric Company was practically an elementary school student. Several important inventions were also obtained through clever tricks.

At the same time, the Berlin Electric Company also acted as a semi-factory for Siemens, processing some parts under its technology license.

Although the Berlin Electric Company was so unremarkable, it had also grown into the second largest electric company in Germany, with Siemens being the first.

Just like Ernst had said before, the only great inventors in the field of electricity who could compare with Siemens were Tesla and Edison of the United States (excluding theoretical giants).

By the time the telephone line was laid, the total cost was almost enough to buy Alaska again. However, such a transoceanic line had basically no commercial value for the Hohenzollern Consortium.

The entire telephone line could only be used to maintain communication between Ernst and Constantine. The only benefit was that it increased the Berlin Electric Company’s technological reserves.

Unlike the telephone line, the modified telegraph line could be partially separated and no longer used exclusively as the East African government’s private line. It could also be used for some civilian communications, but given the current situation of East African immigrants, it was not needed.

After chatting for a long time, Ernst and Constantine finally returned to the topic of the military.

East Africa now had a problem: whether to reduce or expand the army. An army of nearly one hundred thousand people seemed like a lot.

But it seemed very small on a territory of more than two million square kilometers. However, East Africa’s defense pressure was not that great.

The militia alone could form an overwhelming advantage over the surrounding natives. Fighting with other colonists would probably be a fifty-fifty chance, of course, relying on numerical superiority.

But if the enemy came from the sea, the militia would not be able to deal with it. Those who could attack from the sea must have strong military capabilities, and even East Africa’s so-called “regular army” would probably have difficulty coping.

The standing army of the East African colony, a large part of which actually acted as police, with some stationed in almost every city and some in villages and towns.

The quality of East African officers was also difficult to guarantee. Even the students who graduated from the Hohenzollern Military Academy, to put it bluntly, were just soldiers with slightly higher military literacy.

Moreover, they were quickly trained in a short period of time, and their abilities might not be as good as mercenaries who had been in the Prussian army for many years.

That is, there was a lack of professional military talent, which was why someone at the military conference suggested learning from Prussia.

Currently, only three graduates of the Hohenzollern Military Academy had received officer-level education in Prussia. These three were talents selected from thousands of people.

Prince Constantine, who was still in Europe at the time, used his connections to get them into the Berlin Military Academy. It was hard to say whether they would succeed in their studies, and the number was too small to be of use. Moreover, the first Hohenzollern student to enter the Berlin Military Academy still had two years before graduation.

“Father, I think we should separate some soldiers from the army and establish East Africa’s police force. As for the army, we should not expand it any further. We should focus on improving the professional quality and combat capabilities of the troops. East Africa does not need so many troops now.”

“Naturally, the more troops the better. No matter how powerful Napoleon was, he couldn’t stop the siege of the entire Europe. However, East Africa’s militia should be enough. The standing army really doesn’t need to be expanded any further,” Constantine said.

“Then it’s settled. Through this military reform, we will first completely grasp the military power of East Africa in the hands of our Hohenzollern royal family, and then start reforming the East African government,” Ernst set the tone.

The military power of East Africa had actually always been in Ernst’s hands, but that was achieved through balancing measures. Now that Prince Constantine had arrived in East Africa, it was equivalent to the Hohenzollern royal family moving to East Africa.

In the past, Ernst was afraid that the central government and the army would have too much power, and he would lose control. Now, Prince Constantine could reshape East Africa’s centralism.

This was also a good thing for the East African government, which could better take over many of the powers originally exercised by the Hohenzollern Consortium.

The previous East African government was truly a puppet government, and even the power to collect statistics had to go through the employees of the Hohenzollern Consortium.

The original administrative director of the East African government, Von der Leyen, was himself an employee of the Hohenzollern Consortium. The East African government was more like a subsidiary of the Hohenzollern Consortium.

“Regarding government reform, are you going to let the government completely take over all of East Africa’s political affairs?” Constantine asked.

“Almost, but it still needs to interface with the Hohenzollern Consortium. After all, East Africa’s trade is still completed by the Hohenzollern Consortium.”

“Then what matters should be paid attention to in the government reform! What are your views?”

“Father, the existing departments are all very important. Although we have to learn from the Prussian government structure to a certain extent, the situation in East Africa is different from that in Prussia. For example, the disease control and management department, its importance in East Africa cannot be small. After it becomes the Ministry of Health in the future, it still needs to be valued. As a tropical region, diseases and medical care must not be ignored in East Africa.

The most important thing is the army. The Ministry of Defense must be established. Let Järmann serve as the Minister of Defense. He is not in good health, so we can use him with peace of mind, and his qualifications and prestige in the army are sufficient.

The police force mentioned earlier can also be established in the new government. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also a new department in East Africa. You can decide on this yourself.

However, I do have a candidate to recommend, that is, Becker, an official from Mbeya City. You can give this person a try.

He previously relied on his words to get East Africa to take the Yeke Kingdom with only five hundred guns. His ability should be pretty good.”

Both Swiet and Ernst had reported about Becker, and Ernst remembered him, so he mentioned him to his father.

However, Constantine would make the specific decisions himself, because Hohenzollern, as a country that had existed, had only been incorporated into Prussia for twenty or thirty years, and the Hohenzollern royal family’s foundation still existed.

It was just unknown whether Constantine had brought it with him this time he came to East Africa. After all, many people had disbanded in those years, or had already passed away, or had not chosen to come to East Africa.

“I have almost remembered what you said above. I think the Ministry of Culture can also be established. I happen to have some old partners who can be arranged to enter,” Constantine said.

East Africa’s cultural undertakings were basically non-existent, if popularizing German didn’t count. Therefore, Constantine wanted to strengthen East Africa’s cultural construction, which was also good for Ernst. The Hohenzollern royal family had always attached importance to cultural development, starting from Ernst’s grandfather. To this day, the literati in the Hohenzollern region had a very good reputation for Frederick.

However, Ernst still reminded him: “Father, it is possible to promote the development of East African culture, but don’t involve the ideological level. Just organize some entertainment activities for the East African immigrants.

They don’t need any profound ideas. It is enough for them to honestly support the rule of the Hohenzollern royal family. We can’t put shackles on ourselves.”

“Don’t worry about this. I know what to do. I just want to promote the traditional German culture in East Africa and expand it. Do you think I won’t guard against the set of liberalism?” Constantine said murderously.

The reason why Hohenzollern was incorporated into Prussia in those years was the result of Napoleon promoting the French set in Germany. At least Constantine thought so. In order to prevent the impact of “mobs,” Hohenzollern and Sigmaringen had no choice but to invite Prussia to send troops.

It was from that time that the country of Hohenzollern existed in name only. But now that the East African colony was being developed, it was equivalent to Hohenzollern being resurrected.

Hohenzollern’s small court suddenly found a way out again and was re-employed in East Africa. It was a case of Impure World Reincarnation.

Moreover, in terms of legitimacy, East Africa seemed to be stronger than the Hohenzollern homeland. The Hohenzollern County in the German region had even moved its royal family to East Africa, and the East African colony had become the main body of the Hohenzollern County.

As for the Hohenzollern homeland, it had become East Africa’s tentacles in Germany and Prussia. But the Hohenzollern homeland was originally Prussia’s tentacles in the South German region. Things had become interesting instead.

Chapter 204: “Exile”? “Going Abroad”!

After chatting with Ernst, Prince Constantine roughly understood his son’s plans. The East African colony, or rather, it should now be called the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in East Africa, since the main body of the principality had moved over. He couldn’t very well colonize himself!

As for the million or so slaves in East African lands, they were all international “laborers” supporting the construction of East Africa. The owner of this land was already the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family.

The original Hohenzollern-Hechingen homeland had completely become Prussian territory, although the claims and many industries were still in the hands of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family.

In the future, the name of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen could be returned to the Kingdom of Prussia, after all, East Africa was not a Prussian dependency, but the Hohenzollern-Hechingen homeland was. Hohenzollern-Hechingen and East Africa needed to be distinguished.

…

“Your Highness, this is the information about the railway industry that Prince Karl sent over!”

“Hmm, put it on the desk!”

Ernst had already returned from Trieste. The construction of the new food factory was going smoothly, but the location wasn’t ideal.

The coastline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was too narrow, and only Trieste could serve as a major port, resulting in an over-concentration of industries. In other words, land was too expensive, and most of the good locations were already owned.

Of course, this didn’t mean that undesirable locations had no owners. Don’t underestimate the country squires; they were all legitimate Austrian nobles. So, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen food factory was built in the suburbs of Trieste.

Ernst flipped through the data and quickly saw Prince Karl’s note: The Rohner Railway Company is worth paying close attention to, it meets your requirements.

“Rohner Railway Company, located in the Grand Duchy of Baden, with complete equipment and personnel, but after old Rohner died a few years ago, his son, young Rohner, inherited it. Young Rohner is a playboy who knows nothing about management, resulting in several orders being missed, and the company is now in a precarious state.

Originally, the Rohner Railway Company was considered a leading enterprise in the Grand Duchy of Baden. Relying on old Rohner’s diplomatic skills, business even extended to France, but of course, it was outsourced.

Otherwise, it would seem that the French railway company was incompetent. Under Napoleon III’s rule, the economic level could be said to be one of the best periods in French history, and French railways also developed rapidly.

After young Rohner took control of the company, he spent his days indulging in pleasure, wanting to have intimate relationships with the women of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

The Rohner Railway Company is neither a large enterprise nor does it have its own economic territory. The Grand Duchy of Baden is weak and leans towards Prussia due to geopolitical reasons.

As a result, young Rohner didn’t actively explore the French market, and his backyard was raided by Prussian companies. Now, the Rohner Railway Company is on the verge of bankruptcy,” Ernst analyzed, looking at the information.

“This company is not bad. Before old Rohner died, he was worried about his son’s ability and specifically improved the company’s facilities. The equipment is all the latest, but it’s really a pity!”

“Is Your Highness not satisfied with this company?”

“It’s not that. I just think that even if young Rohner didn’t mess around, the company’s future situation wouldn’t be too good.

The railway industry is too competitive now, especially in the German region, and the railway industry is only a few years away from a downturn. Even if young Rohner is capable, it’s hard to say whether he can survive that crisis.”

“Your Highness, how do you know that the railway will enter a downturn in the future? Now railways are becoming more and more valued in various countries, and the potential should be very good,” Tom asked curiously.

“The railway itself has great potential. I think it will be the same even in a hundred years, but can everyone really settle down and engage in real industry? For the sake of money, the financial industry is speculating on railways, and railways are being built everywhere, even exceeding the needs of some regions. These regions don’t have enough traffic and logistics, so how will they recover their costs in the end? In the end, it’s still those self-righteous fools who take over,” Ernst said, because he had historical knowledge.

“Then Your Highness, why are we still entering the railway industry?”

“The German region, no, the whole of Europe is very competitive. I didn’t think about expanding railway investment in the short term. Now, I’m solving the problem of having something or nothing first.

East Africa will need railways in the future, and a lot of them. I’m preparing for a rainy day,” Ernst said to his butler.

“Alright, you go and contact this young Rohner and take over the company. Remember to lower the price,” Ernst said.

“Yes, Your Highness, I’ll arrange it.”

…

Karlsruhe.

The capital of the Grand Duchy of Baden, not much larger than Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Although Hohenzollern-Hechingen was a backwater, it had become more prosperous since Ernst became successful.

The Hohenzollern-Hechingen Military Academy and other schools alone had increased the population of Hohenzollern-Hechingen by a lot. The construction of Hohenzollern Castle and the school district had also driven local employment. As the territory of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, Hohenzollern-Hechingen enjoyed some other economic benefits and had developed well in recent years.

Although Karlsruhe was the second largest city in the southwest, second only to Stuttgart in the Kingdom of Württemberg, it only had a population of over one hundred thousand.

The Rohner Railway Company was located in this “big city” in southern Germany, Karlsruhe.

“Mr. Nording, I heard that our company has a new owner. Is it true?” An employee asked the chief engineer of the Rohner Railway Company.

“That’s right, the company has been acquired by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Bank.”

“Mr. Nording, does that mean the salary can be paid out!” Several employees asked eagerly.

“Of course, I think you all know the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Bank. It’s a big bank, and its reputation is naturally guaranteed, but it may not be easy to get this money,” Nording replied.

“Why?” Several employees asked anxiously. It was a matter of livelihood, so they were naturally anxious. The company had been in arrears with wages for two months.

“The new boss said that if you want to get paid, the company has to move to East Africa,” Nording replied.

“East Africa, is that in Africa? That’s so far away, doesn’t that mean we have to leave Baden?”

“That’s right, the new boss said that the German market is saturated, and without orders, there’s naturally no salary, so we can only go to East Africa to have work to do.”

“Ah! But we all have families, how can we go to East Africa?”

“The new boss said that he encourages families to go to East Africa. The company will bear the cost of travel, food, clothing, and accommodation along the way. Houses will also be allocated in East Africa, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“But Africa is said to be uninhabitable! I heard that it’s full of wild beasts and cannibal tribes…”

“Don’t just parrot what others say. Africa is very big, and there are always some good places. Although it’s not as good as Germany, it’s still better than some snowy and icy places in Russia.”

“What’s the difference between this and exile? We’re not the Tsar’s criminals, are we going to East Africa to dig potatoes?”

“Don’t be impatient. What better way do you have if you don’t go to East Africa? The previous boss left a pile of mess, and it’s good that someone is taking over now.

Besides, what will you eat without a salary? The new boss said that the salary will be increased by ten percent in East Africa, which is considered preferential treatment. Once the contract is signed, you can come back after ten years. The choice is up to you. If you don’t want to do it, you can resign, but because you didn’t work for the past few months, you can only get one-third of your salary.”

Saying this, it felt like Ernst was a black-hearted boss. He was indeed the boss of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, but compared with his peers, Ernst’s conscience was highlighted.

If others took over, wanted a salary? Hmph…

Ernst didn’t want to make things difficult for these poor people, but there was no way. No one wanted to go to East Africa! Especially these workers engaged in high-end industries.

If he didn’t push them, they would run away and resign the next day after the salary was paid. Now the German railway business was very good, and there were many choices.

Moreover, the conditions in East Africa were not bad now. Food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all guaranteed, but the medical conditions might not be up to par. But when they arrived in East Africa, they didn’t have to do heavy work themselves. The million “laborers” were not just for show. It was just that professional matters required their own people to step up.

Taking their families to East Africa meant that they would basically not have to worry about livelihood for the rest of their lives, because they were the first batch. The earlier they went, the greater the future advantages would be. This was called seniority. So going to East Africa was not called exile, but “going abroad.” Anyway, Ernst himself thought so. Thinking about it this way, Ernst felt that he was still too kind, helping the workers keep their jobs, helping Baden solve a batch of “potential” unemployed people, and developing East Africa at the same time, a complete win.

Chapter 205: Don’t Say I Didn’t Give You a Chance!

Entering mid-July, the reforms of the army and government were nearing completion. Through this reform, East Africa finally began to resemble a nation.

The new government looked for all the world like the “Hohenzollern-Hechingen State.” The full name of the East African colony was the Hohenzollern-Hechingen East African Royal Territory, and the monarch was also the genuine original monarch of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen State.

Some of Constantine’s old subordinates also completed their layoffs and re-employment, mainly in some newly established, less crucial departments. After all, they were here first!

The Hohenzollern Royal Guard was also re-established on a large scale, responsible for the garrison duty of the First Town.

This was a new “old country” that blended Hohenzollern, Prussian, Austrian, and colonial styles.

Emphasizing “Hohenzollern-Hechingen State” rather than “Hohenzollern-Hechingen Principality” was an important signal. The principality would always be a principality of Prussia, while the Hohenzollern-Hechingen State was once an independent European country.

Hohenzollern may be small, but it might still have a destiny. Since they were all mixed up with the Germans, how could they not compete for the legitimate succession of the Holy Roman Empire? After all, many countries relied on “skirting the edges” of Rome, so why not “skirt the edges” of the Holy Roman Empire? Wouldn’t that be wonderful!

Of course, this was a joke. Constantine and Ernst wouldn’t be so foolish. Keeping a low profile was the strategy of the Hohenzollern royal family, and East Africa didn’t need to try to associate itself with “Rome” at all. Germany was enough.

Many new institutions appeared in this new East African government, and the most eye-catching of them was undoubtedly the navy.

Unsurprisingly, the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy was Maximilian I, who held a series of titles such as former Emperor of Mexico and Archduke of Austria.

The reason he was eye-catching was not because of his identity, but because the entire East African Navy, apart from the barely assembled eight hundred sailors and two dilapidated Zanzibar ships that were nearly half a century old, consisted of him alone.

Regardless of his political abilities, Maximilian I, who served as commander-in-chief of the Austrian Navy in 1854, was indeed the only and best choice for the East African Navy. (A free chapter will be posted to introduce him – referring to encyclopedia)

In the East African army, the one with the ability to coordinate the overall situation was undoubtedly Prince Constantine, after all, Constantine was among the top tier in the Prussian army.

Now, as long as Navy Commander-in-Chief Maximilian I copied and pasted his Austrian Navy experience to East Africa, he would surely earn the title of “Father of the East African Navy” in the future.

This was a good thing for both East Africa and Maximilian I. If things were done well, Maximilian I could at least redeem himself by half.

Future generations would change their evaluation from “idiot” to “he may not have been a good emperor, but he was born to work in the navy.”

So, Ernst “gave enough” opportunities to his father-in-law, it just depended on whether he could seize them.

…

“Ferdinand, the fate of the East African Navy is entrusted to you. I think it will definitely shine in your hands,” Constantine said with a smile to Maximilian I.

But Maximilian I couldn’t be happy. He said to Constantine with a worried face, “Your Highness, thank you very much for your trust, but this matter is too challenging for me. East Africa’s foundation is too weak!”

It wasn’t just a weak foundation, it was no foundation at all. Other countries’ navies were so poor that they sold their pants, but the East African Navy didn’t even have a pair of pants.

Two mottled wooden sailing ships, in disrepair, were patched up a month ago and could barely be launched. Maximilian I was worried that they would sink to the bottom of the sea at any time, and the East African Navy would directly “kick the bucket.”

“Hehehe, the able are burdened with more work! Just like the East African colony, it developed to its current scale from scratch. I believe that with your ability, you can also develop the navy.

Think about the Austrian Navy back then, without your strong leadership, how could there have been the opportunity for Tegetthoff (commander of the Battle of Lissa) to become world-renowned?” Constantine praised him to the skies.

“Your Highness, although I also want to show my skills in East Africa and contribute to the East African Navy, I still need some support!

Although I made some achievements in the Austrian Navy, Austria’s foundation is there after all. Even the original old fleet before the reform is still a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

Moreover, I was asking for help everywhere in Austria at the time, and I was able to get some support from the royal family and the government, which led to the current Austrian Navy.

I can’t just rely on these two rotten ships and eight hundred inexperienced sailors to build the East African Navy out of thin air!

In my opinion, even the worst merchant ship of the Hohenzollern Consortium could easily sink this so-called “East African Navy”.”

Among the ocean-going vessels of the Hohenzollern Consortium, the worst were also the warships left by the Sultanate of Zanzibar. However, those that could be sailed at the time and had no major problems were used as immigrant ships, and the remaining two dilapidated ships were the current East African Navy. If they really fought, the result would be hard to say.

“Of course I know your difficulties, but East Africa is also in trouble now! Ernst said that he has too many things to do recently and needs money urgently, even gunboats will have to wait until next year to be built.

So, don’t worry, things will always get better. Although the East African Navy is penniless, it is more meaningful for you.

Think about it! Even if you made great contributions to the Austrian Navy before, who remembers you now? If you don’t ask, Austrians will probably forget that you were in the navy.

Even if someone remembers, they will first think of, oh! There was a Maximilian I who went to Mexico to be an emperor, and now I don’t know where he is hanging out! Instead of, we Austrian Navy Commander-in-Chief Archduke Ferdinand.

So, washing away the shame starts with rebuilding in East Africa. Although East Africa is remote, it also has its advantages. No one pays attention here. When you really make achievements, you will definitely impress people. Archduke Friedrich (Father of the modern Austrian Navy, before this the Austrian Navy was the Venetian Navy) is your role model.

The title of Father of a Nation’s Navy is so good. If you are more capable and develop the East African Navy to the European level, then you will have a place in the entire naval history.” Constantine incited him with despicable means.

“Okay, after saying so much, there is still no support!”

“Ernst and I support you spiritually, but rest assured, according to the development speed of East Africa, we will definitely be able to help you achieve your goals in less than fifty years. You are still young, and things will always get better.”

“Taking on this East African Navy Commander-in-Chief, I have a feeling that it may be the second wrong decision in my life, but never mind, I have no other choice now!

But let me say first, I don’t dare to think about warships or anything, but I have to be ruthless in personnel management. East Africa’s foundation is too weak, and I plan to train the personnel first.

You let Ernst pick a group of good seedlings, and I will arrange them to study at the Austrian Naval Academy. Moreover, I will be responsible for selecting gunboats next year, that’s not difficult, right!”

“Of course, no problem!” Constantine said forcefully.

This was exactly what they were waiting for Maximilian I to say. What was most important about Maximilian I? Of course, it was his identity, and besides that, it was his influence in Austria.

As long as Maximilian I opened his mouth to Austria, how could Franz not support him? This was not a bad thing, it was better than letting his brother risk his life to be an emperor.

Moreover, with the first time, there will be a second time. In the future, if the East African Navy lacks anything, Maximilian I will naturally come forward to coordinate with Austria.

The army should follow Prussia’s example, and the navy should naturally be “thick-skinned” and freeload more resources. Maximilian I was the most suitable to do this, such as the Austrian Naval Academy. If Ernst or Prince Constantine contacted them, even if they agreed, they might not be wholehearted.

But Maximilian I was different. Most of the big shots in the Austrian Navy were his former subordinates. These people are now the pillars of the Austrian Navy. It would be easy for Maximilian I to ask them to do something.

As long as they put a little pressure on the Austrian Naval Academy, no one would dare to take it lightly. After all, students will still be employed in the navy after graduation.

Of course, this was just an exaggeration. In fact, many teachers in the Austrian Naval Academy also came from the Austrian Navy and had close relationships with Maximilian I. No one would be so blind.

Chapter 854: Archduke Ferdinand

In 1854, at the young age of 22, Archduke Ferdinand (Maximilian I) became the Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Imperial Navy, the youngest Commander-in-Chief of the Navy after Archduke Friedrich.

In the minds of the Austrian Empire’s upper echelons at the time, sea power was never a policy core, so the country’s navy did not receive support from the royal family, the military, and most of the public. However, thanks to Archduke Ferdinand’s efforts, the navy began to be noticed by the people and received a lot of funding.

He threw himself into the work of the Austrian Navy with fervor, further promoting modernization. During his tenure, he created the Trieste naval base and a powerful operational fleet.

The Archduke began to vigorously reform the Imperial Navy. He successively supported the Trieste Shipyard and the Pola Shipyard, which later became the most important shipyards in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Furthermore, he sent a large number of talented people to countries with advanced shipbuilding technology such as Great Britain, France, and Denmark to study, while vigorously supporting capable military talents.

Later, Admiral Tegetthoff, who was renowned in the Battle of Lissa, was one of them.

Archduke Ferdinand also launched large-scale scientific expeditions. During his tenure, the Austrian Navy completed its first circumnavigation of the globe. It can be said that the Austrian Navy’s later glory in the Battle of Lissa was laid by the Archduke single-handedly.

Chapter 206: “Collecting Scrap”

Constantine had a long conversation with Maximilian I. In a nutshell, money was out of the question, but they could discuss anything else.

Faced with the brazen Prince Constantine, East Africa’s first naval commander had no choice but to return empty-handed, not only failing to secure support but also having to contribute a significant amount of his own resources.

Meanwhile, Ernst, whom Constantine claimed was short on funds, was inspecting the Ruhr region in Prussia.

…

Thick smoke filled the air, and dark clouds loomed overhead.

This was the scene Ernst witnessed in the Ruhr cities. The Ruhr region was rich in coal resources but lacked iron ore.

Fortunately, the area boasted excellent transportation links. The Rhine, Ruhr, and Lippe rivers converged, creating a dense network of waterways and facilitating river transport. Moreover, Prussia had constructed numerous railways, which, thanks to the Customs Union, essentially covered the entire German region.

“The industrial environment is truly remarkable!” Ernst said sincerely.

“Your Highness, I believe the environment here is far inferior to that of Berlin. The air in Berlin is not nearly as polluted,” the accompanying manager of the Hechingen Bank remarked.

“I’m referring to the industrial environment, not the natural environment. Remember, we are not here for tourism but to inspect the local industrial equipment and factories.”

“By the way, what is the status of your local research?” Ernst inquired.

“Your Highness, we have visited two-thirds of the local businesses and factories. Currently, many of them are expanding. The German market has been booming in recent years, so they are busy with production and increasing capacity.

Many machines and equipment are snatched up by related businesses and factories as soon as they leave the factory. The prices of machinery have also been driven up significantly.

However, there is also a benefit. To improve production efficiency, some large enterprises and small workshops are accelerating the decommissioning of old machines and equipment. These devices may be a bit outdated, but they are also cheaper, and the quantity is large. If Your Highness’s requirements for mechanical equipment are not too high, our suggestion is to acquire these second-hand devices.”

“My requirements aren’t too high, but you can’t afford to be careless. If I end up buying a pile of scrap metal, I’ll be truly angry!” Ernst said.

Officially, Ernst was here for inspection, but in reality, he was here to collect scrap. This was considered an old tradition of the Hechingen Consortium.

Initially, they collected second-hand uniforms and weapons from the Prussian army. Now, they were acquiring second-hand industrial equipment from Prussia.

These decommissioned industrial equipment might not have many good uses in Prussia, but in East Africa, they would definitely be a powerful tool for increasing production capacity.

Poor Mbeya was still using a large number of “laborers” who used simple tools like hoes and shovels to produce coal for East Africa through manual labor.

“Laborers” were also a resource. If some of them could be freed from the coal mines, East Africa could invest more manpower in other projects.

“Your Highness, rest assured. We have hired a group of professionals who will conduct a professional inspection of the equipment in advance to assess whether it has the conditions for continued use.

At the same time, we will actively cooperate with large enterprises such as Krupp. The equipment they decommission should be of more reliable quality.”

Even collecting scrap required professionals, otherwise, Ernst would be left crying if he really bought a pile of scrap metal.

Even scrap metal wouldn’t be cheap, because Ernst’s purchase volume was very large. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the manager of the Hechingen Bank accompany him.

According to political and economic standards, East Africa was undoubtedly a feudal agricultural country, but feudalism and agriculture didn’t mean there was no industry.

Now, even the Qing government and Japan were engaged in industrial construction, so East Africa naturally couldn’t lag behind.

However, these two countries in the Far East had too strong foundations. Take Japan, for example. It had a long history, a very dense population, and possessed everything it needed. It was just behind the times. East Africa was just a bit larger than Japan in terms of territory. Otherwise, it really didn’t have any advantages. It did have a lot of mineral resources, but they had to be developed first.

Moreover, Japan’s current reforms weren’t too difficult. After all, the Japanese were good at enduring humiliation and bearing burdens. As long as they were willing to give the green light to the United Kingdom and the United States, the United Kingdom and the United States were also willing to support Japan.

Historically, Japan had done the same. Just to build the railway from Tokyo to Osaka, Yokohama, and Hyogo, the Meiji government issued bonds worth one million pounds in the United Kingdom, using the entire Japanese customs revenue as collateral.

Moreover, supporting Japan could contain the Far East and Tsarist Russia. Strategically, the United Kingdom and the United States also needed a stronger Japan.

East Africa didn’t have these conditions. Currently, East Africa hadn’t introduced any foreign investment, nor could it do so. Not to mention the United Kingdom and the United States, even Prussia and Austria were out of the question.

That wouldn’t be introducing foreign investment, but taking the life of the Hechingen royal family. After all, East Africa had basically no cooperative value for various countries.

On the contrary, it was a potential competitor. After all, East Africa didn’t have a greedy Tsarist Russia next to it. East Africa itself was the “African Tsarist Russia.”

Therefore, all of East Africa’s trade was only conducted through the Hechingen Consortium. The data was all in its own hands and wouldn’t be announced to avoid attracting the attention of other countries.

The disadvantage was that the funding gap was large. East Africa’s construction completely depended on the Hechingen Consortium. This was also why Ernst chose agriculture as East Africa’s foothold.

Agricultural investment was small, and the speed of recovering funds wasn’t slow. It didn’t make much money, but it kept people in place.

“This time, you need to focus on mining and iron smelting equipment and strive to complete the construction of a primary industrial city in East Africa,” Ernst said.

Ernst was referring to Mbeya, which was located deep in the East African interior, had good resource conditions, possessed both coal and iron resources, and had a climate suitable for industry. The transportation conditions weren’t very good, but East Africa’s industrial products were definitely for self-use and internal consumption, so there was no need to export them.

“Your Highness, the corresponding mechanical equipment isn’t difficult to find, but the problem of not having professional workers with just mechanical equipment is not easy to solve.”

“Don’t worry about that. I will naturally have a way to solve it when the time comes. You don’t need to worry about it.”

The solution Ernst was talking about was “paid internships.” Ernst planned to transfer a batch of immigrants from the Far East to the Ruhr region to “intern.” Their wages would be paid by himself, allowing them to accumulate experience in the Ruhr factories for a period of time before being directly sent to East Africa.

Ernst could still afford this bit of money. Honestly, how much salary were you planning to pay the Far Eastern immigrants? Just enough to maintain a basic standard of living was enough. Ernst wouldn’t pay a penny more.

And the German factory owners had no reason to refuse. People were working for you “for free” for a period of time. Would you use them or not!

This would solve the problem of the most basic industrial workers. The lowest-end, which were those heavy and tiring jobs without technical content, would be handled by “laborers.” High-end workers would be recruited from Europe with heavy money. There was no need for too high-end workers, just general technicians who could regularly inspect and maintain the second-hand machines to ensure the equipment operated normally.

This scrap collection activity was quite a sensation. The entire Ruhr region was the target of the Hechingen Consortium because it had the most complete industrial equipment and dense cities, so they wouldn’t have to run all over Germany.

Moreover, once the equipment was in hand, it could be disassembled into parts and transported directly to the ports of the North German Federation via river and railway for shipment to East Africa, which was very convenient.

Chapter 207: Changing the Sign

August.

The sea breeze blowing from the southeast brought a heavy rain that lasted for three days, leaving the city streets wet.

Especially in areas where roads hadn’t been built, it was incredibly muddy, and walking meant your shoes would be covered in thick mud.

After the rain cleared, the streets teemed with pedestrians and carriages, a chaotic scene rarely seen in East Africa, comparable only to the development zones of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

East African cities have dedicated police to maintain order, formerly soldiers, but after reforms, some soldiers transitioned into police officers.

Therefore, East Africa has excellent order, even in rural areas, which also have security personnel. Currently, the rural security personnel haven’t changed, making them a unique presence.

Mainly because there are too few of them, only a few people in each village, under the jurisdiction of the township or nearby city police station.

Ships entered the port as usual, and a large group of merchants and dock gangs began competing for business. Merchants mainly received goods, while gangs referred to factions formed by dockworkers themselves, mostly from the same village.

The docks were a bustling sight, but who could have imagined such prosperity three years ago, Richard from the German Commercial Liaison Office thought.

Three years ago, when he arrived, it was still a small town, sparsely populated, with incomplete port facilities and “rustic” buildings, many mud houses with thatched roofs.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was probably the residents, still looking gaunt and malnourished, clearly showing signs of nutritional deficiencies.

That’s right, this wasn’t East Africa, but Jiaozhou in the Far East.

Jiaozhou was the transit port for East African immigrants from the Far East, where immigrants from the North China region gathered before being transported to East Africa.

Of course, some people from the Northwest also departed from here, but in small numbers. The farthest the East African government could reach was Henan province.

The southern transit port was in Shanghai, where the Hechingen Consortium had very little influence, and even doing immigration business meant competing with the British and Americans.

Here, it must be said that while Germans might be a bit clumsy with words, they definitely couldn’t compete with Americans in spreading rumors. Even though many of East Africa’s conditions were “genuinely good,” many people were still tricked into going to America to work on the railroads.

The American Pacific Railroad was completed in the first half of this year, and only the Chinese laborers buried beneath the ground know how much blood and tears were shed.

These were things that the local Chinese didn’t know, but Ernst couldn’t expose the scam. America wasn’t the superpower it would become, and its threat to East Africa couldn’t be ignored.

Especially in the Far East, unless the Hechingen Consortium wanted to quit and abandon this source of immigrants and market.

If a unified Germany were to do this, America would probably just make empty threats.

Getting off track, let’s continue talking about Jiaozhou. Jiaozhou’s status in the Far East wasn’t high. Before the arrival of the Hechingen Consortium, it was just a small town.

After the Opium War, Western powers used their powerful ships and cannons to force open the gates of the Far East, and Western merchants flooded into the coastal areas of the East.

Originally, Jiaozhou was just a few small fishing villages, but its geographical location and natural conditions were relatively advantageous, so a few Western merchants did business here.

However, it wasn’t until 1865 that the Qing government established a checkpoint here to manage shipping and collect taxes, which shows that Jiaozhou was still not considered very important by the Qing government.

This was the most dynamic and important port for the economy of Shandong and even Northern China in later generations. Now, it was Yantai, a treaty port for the British.

Before the arrival of the Hechingen Consortium, Jiaozhou was just a branch of the Yantai Customs.

The Hechingen Consortium, in addition to handling immigration here, had also started doing business. Its own company’s industrial products were essential, and East African agricultural products like rice were also mainly exported here.

The main competitive advantage was cheapness. Immigrant ships returning from East Africa would load up with a large batch of goods in East Africa and transport them here.

At the same time, Hechingen had also established a few small factories here, mainly textile factories, but they were too small to be significant.

The reason for choosing this location was simple. Neither East Africa nor Germany was currently suitable for the textile industry. East Africa lacked manpower. Although the supply of “labor” was almost “unlimited,” expecting black people to do delicate work like textiles was simply wishful thinking.

Germany had tried developing the textile industry, but the results weren’t good. Since someone had already tested the waters, Ernst naturally wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.

Relying on the Hechingen Consortium and East African trade, Jiaozhou’s economy developed rapidly, especially the rapid increase in customs revenue, which attracted the attention of the Qing government. They separated it from the Yantai Customs for independent management, and the local officials in Jiaozhou were thus promoted.

…

Just as Richard was feeling sentimental, the sign of the German Commercial Liaison Office was being taken down, and a brand new sign for the Hechingen Far East Commercial Liaison Office was being put up.

“Mr. Richard, why are you changing your sign!” a Qing government official responsible for contacting the Hechingen Consortium asked.

“It’s like this, Mr. Wang, we received a notice from above that we won’t be using the old sign anymore.”

“I know about Germany, but is this Hechingen the same as the Hechingen Bank that was newly established the year before last?”

“That’s right, Hechingen is a state in Germany, so this change isn’t a big deal for you. And the main people doing business in Jiaozhou are from our Hechingen Consortium.”

Wang Enke was completely confused by Richard’s words. He asked, “The Hechingen Consortium?”

“The Hechingen Consortium is one of the most powerful large companies in Germany, you can understand it that way.”

“Then where did Germany go?”

“Germany certainly exists, but we are no longer just representing Germany in trade with you, so the old name is no longer used.”

“Mr. Richard, please forgive me for being so bold as to ask, which other party does your company represent?” Wang Enke quickly asked.

He was mainly a bit scared. If they didn’t just represent Germany, then did they also represent other countries or regions?

“The Hechingen East African Royal Territory.”

“This?”

“A new country.”

“Where is East Africa?”

“On the east coast of Africa. Africa is a continent, you can imagine it as a place even larger than your Qing Dynasty.”

“East Africa is that big?”

“I said it’s Africa. East Africa is just an important emerging country on it, just like your Qing Dynasty is an important country on the Eurasian continent. And the full name of East Africa is the Hechingen East African Royal Territory.”

…

Although the German Commercial Liaison Office was changed to the Hechingen Commercial Liaison Office, its functions remained unchanged.

The name change was a political signal after the Hechingen royal family moved to East Africa. Currently, East Africa mainly engages in trade in the Far East. After the country is established in the future, it will definitely send diplomatic personnel.

It wouldn’t be good to still have a German name at that time. People who don’t know might think that Hechingen had unified Germany! (Laughs).

In addition to the commercial personnel of the Hechingen Consortium and East Africa, there were also merchants from other German states and some missionaries in Jiaozhou.

Before Prussia completed its unification, its international influence couldn’t reach here. There was naturally no problem with the Hechingen Consortium representing Germany in Jiaozhou.

This was also the case. Currently, the main body of Germany’s trade activities in the Far East was the Hechingen Consortium, and other German merchants naturally united under Hechingen.

Many negotiation issues were handled by the original “German Commercial Liaison Office.” After all, the Hechingen Consortium was an armed merchant group overseas, and merchant ships equipped with cannons were very persuasive.

However, because of Ernst, everyone naturally got along peacefully, provided that they didn’t hinder his immigration work. You could not support it, but you couldn’t oppose it. This was a completely painless or even non-existent small problem for the Far East authorities. Even if I let you recruit people freely, it wouldn’t keep up with the population growth of the Qing Dynasty.

As for other things, having seen the brutality of the British and French, the Hechingen Consortium was simply the conscience of the Westerners. It would be even better if they didn’t carry guns.

To this, Ernst said, “If you don’t trust my conscience, I don’t trust your integrity!”

Chapter 208: Indecision

With the backing of the Hechingen Consortium and East Africa, Jiaozhou was already taking shape as a major Far Eastern city, and simultaneously the most influential Eastern city for Germany.

Distinctly different from those semi-colonial treaty ports, Jiaozhou was a port controlled by the Qing government, but due to distrust of the Qing government’s bureaucratic circles, the Hechingen Consortium chose to continue maintaining armed forces.

Even if the Manchu Qing officials didn’t have the courage, those local gangs might. Local snakes are, after all, local snakes, and they are definitely bold enough. As long as the benefits are right, there’s nothing they wouldn’t dare to do. These people truly live life on the edge, so without armed forces, there really wouldn’t be any deterrent against them.

Don’t think that being a foreigner allows you to run rampant; that’s a privilege only enjoyed by England and France. Those two countries couldn’t wait for the Qing Empire to stab one of their citizens, because with one wrong move, it would be another excuse for war.

…

“Father, I plan to build an experimental railway between Dar es Salaam and First Town to strengthen the connection between Dar es Salaam and First Town, and at the same time accumulate experience for future railway construction in East Africa,” Ernst said into the phone to Prince Constantine.

Speaking of the topic of railways, Prince Constantine was very interested, especially since this was a railway that belonged solely to their family.

In Europe, Hechingen was a poor and remote place, without a decent river or railway passing through it. Transportation relied mainly on carriages and walking.

But the road conditions in Hechingen were not ideal, even worse than those in East Africa at this time. European roads had not changed much until the eighteenth century.

Even roads built in ancient Roman times were patched up and used, but these were already the best roads in Europe at the time.

After the 8th century, Europeans began to pay attention to transportation construction, and roads and railways developed rapidly, but all of this had nothing to do with Hechingen.

Hechingen’s geographical location, construction conditions, resources, and population could not support road renovation. At most, the original dirt roads could be repaired to be slightly flatter.

“Very good, but a railway is no ordinary project. Do you have a specific plan?”

“Father, I acquired the Rohne Railway Company, which is already on its way to East Africa. After they arrive in East Africa, they will plan the route based on the actual local conditions.”

“Rohne Railway Company? Never heard of it!”

“It’s a small company in the Grand Duchy of Baden, so its reputation is not very high.”

“Then can they complete this project if it’s entrusted to them?”

“You can rest assured about this. They have experience and have been building railways for the French before.”

“French?”

“Yes, but mainly subcontracted projects. After all, southern Germany has abundant and cheap labor resources, and they are also easier to manage than French workers.”

Prince Constantine nodded upon hearing this and said, “Well, then I’m relieved. I was most worried that they wouldn’t have relevant experience. But even so, how will you solve the problem of materials for building the railway?”

“Cement can be provided by East Africa currently. Sleepers can be made locally in East Africa. There is no need to worry about land resources. That is to say, locomotives, rails, some parts, and equipment need to be imported from Germany.

In addition, the distance from Dar es Salaam to First Town is not far, and the terrain is relatively flat, so the final construction cost of this railway will not be too high.”

“Then what do you need me to do?” Prince Constantine asked.

Haven’t all the problems been solved? Is that why you called me?

“It’s like this, Father. I still need to discuss some details of this railway with you, such as the defense project you mentioned wanting to build in First Town some time ago!

Railways are strategic transportation tools. You saw the effect of Prussia using railways to transport troops last time, so we must pay attention to this railway in terms of national defense. Dar es Salaam is very close to First Town. With this railway, the speed of travel between the two will be faster.

So when you are doing this project, you must include the railway and not have any loopholes.”

“I know about this. The defense project hasn’t started yet. I will arrange for people to set up checkpoints when the time comes.”

“This requires cooperation between the designers and the railway company, so there’s no rush. At least we have to wait for them to arrive in East Africa. Moreover, since the railway belongs to national defense transportation, let’s set up a Ministry of Railways in the government by the way!” Ernst said.

“Any other questions?”

“There’s one more, which is the railway gauge issue. I can’t make up my mind on this.

Currently, the main options we can refer to are 1000mm, 1435mm, 1520mm, 1676mm, and others. 1435mm is the most popular. Prussia is using this now. If we directly adopt 1435mm, we can save some costs, but the wider the railway gauge, the greater the cargo volume.”

Constantine pondered for a moment and said, “I don’t know much about railways. Can you introduce the railway situation in various countries in detail to me?”

“There is no unified standard for railway gauge, and flexibility is relatively strong. For example, 1435mm is the width of Roman chariots, and European carriages also adopted this number. Later, the British were the first to develop railways, so this number is used in Britain, its colonies, the United States, and some European countries.

1000mm is mainly used by France and its colonies, especially French colonies. Its characteristic is that it is suitable for construction in mountainous areas and is cheap to build.

1520mm belongs to the broad gauge, mainly used by the Russians. For military considerations, they do not want to be compatible with Europe.

1676mm belongs to an even wider railway. In addition to these, there are many different standards. In short, they are all different, so I am relatively troubled by this issue.”

“I understand your meaning roughly. 1435mm is currently the most widely used, but it should be relatively ordinary among various railway standards. Narrower ones are cheaper to build and more flexible, but have lower cargo volume. Wider ones are more expensive to build and less flexible, but have larger cargo volume. Is that what you mean?”

“That’s not entirely true. For railways, you can think of them as two iron bars. These two iron bars are the main cost. If they run parallel on two straight lines, the width is actually about the same. It’s just that more materials are used when turning, and the sleepers are a little longer, and the land area occupied is also a little larger.

But all of these are not problems for East Africa. East Africa has plenty of land, and there is no shortage of wood. The small loss from turning can be completely offset by the cargo volume.

After all, a railway is a long-term operation project, so a slightly higher cost is a fact, but the longer the railway operates, the higher the profit and efficiency will be, after all, the cargo volume is large.”

Hearing this, Constantine completely understood. This kid still tends to use the broad gauge in his heart. He started to defend the broad gauge before he even finished speaking. But because the world mainly uses 1435mm railways, especially in Europe, he is hesitant because people tend to follow the crowd.

Therefore, Prince Constantine said, “Let’s use the broad gauge! But you also said that there are many standards for broad gauge. Let’s not discuss which one to use first. After the railway company moves to East Africa, let the East African government and professionals make an assessment based on the actual situation in East Africa, and then we can choose a standard.”

Chapter 209: First Railway Project Approved

In mid-September, the personnel from the former Roens Railway Company arrived in East Africa. The company name was changed to the East African Railway Company, but otherwise, there were no major changes in direction.

The chief engineer, Nording, was hired as a technical advisor to the East African Railway Department.

In October, the East African Railway Company personnel studied the terrain data provided by the East African government. Finally, Engineer Nording and his team were invited to participate in a working meeting held by the East African government regarding railway construction issues.

“Gentlemen, this meeting will determine the fate of the future East African railway. It can be said that once it is established, the future East African railway can only follow this path. Therefore, everyone should speak freely, summarize the actual situation in East Africa, and select the most suitable railway standard for East Africa. Now, let’s invite Mr. Nording to introduce the situation to everyone.” Prince Constantine set the tone for the meeting.

Engineer Nording nodded to everyone, then stood up and began to explain the relevant content of railways. This was necessary because there were a lot of “high-achievers” with only elementary school educations in the East African government.

“…The above are some of the key points of railway construction, but the topic ultimately returns to the question of what gauge is appropriate for the railway. There is no unified standard in this regard among countries around the world, after all, national conditions are different. Everyone can speak their minds without worrying about being an outsider.” Engineer Nording said.

As Ernst’s trusted aide, Swete was instructed before the meeting to be the first to offer his opinion. Therefore, he was the first to speak: “There is no fixed standard for broad gauge or narrow gauge (the International Railway Union established 1435 mm as the standard gauge in 1937). According to my idea, why not just take a middle ground and go directly to 1500 mm?”

With the first speaker, everyone became relatively active.

Yalman said, “I think it’s better to build it bigger. I’ve been on trains before. In the army, many people were squeezed into a small carriage, which was very crowded and uncomfortable. At that time, I thought it would be better if the train carriage was bigger, the experience would definitely be better, so I suggest going directly to two meters. Of course, this is my personal opinion, don’t be offended if I’m wrong.”

Yalman’s statement was recognized by some officials who came from the original Prussian army.

“I think it’s good to use 1435 mm directly, after all, many countries use it.”

“1435 mm sounds awkward. It was originally 4 feet 8.5 inches in British units. The British love to make things complicated like this, just like the conversion of pounds. We in East Africa use the metric system, so it’s better to take an integer according to the metric system, which is also convenient for calculation.”

“I don’t agree with using 1435 mm either. Overseas, we Germans are a relatively weak force. Now Britain and France are the major colonial powers. We Germans can develop East Africa, and Britain and France can also develop Africa in the future. Moreover, France is now in North Africa and West Africa, while Britain is in Somaliland and Cape Town, sandwiching us in the middle. Therefore, I propose that for defense considerations, we should learn from the Russians and not engage in unified railway standards with them.”

“I also agree with this point. We in East Africa don’t need to consider the issue of connecting with the world in the future. Africa is not Russia, which connects the two regions of Europe and Asia. Our connection with other regions of the world still relies on sea transportation. The land connection point with Europe and Asia is only that small area of Egypt, and Egypt is currently building the Suez Canal. Egypt is a battleground for Britain and France, and I don’t think they will allow outsiders to intervene.”

“The advantage of broad gauge is that it can carry large loads and has low technical requirements. The disadvantage is that the larger the load, the heavier it is, and the horsepower cannot go up.

However, we are not pursuing speed. East Africa’s main exports are grain and timber, and we don’t even have enough of other things for ourselves, so I prefer to use broad gauge.”

“In my opinion, the bigger the railway, the better. As for the land issue, East Africa is more sparsely populated than Tsarist Russia. It doesn’t matter if we occupy more land. The main thing is that Europe has dense farmland, and railways will affect farmland. We in East Africa don’t have to worry about this. There are so many grasslands and forests that we can use, this is completely a minor issue.”

“Generally speaking, there is no such problem, because the broad gauge is only wider than the width of a seat, and the railway line, in addition to the tracks, generally has a railway range of 10-30 meters on both sides, which can be ignored compared to the increase in the area occupied by the track. The main impact is on tunnels and bridges,” Engineer Nording added, “In terms of safety, broad gauge can also run more smoothly under current technical conditions, but turning relies on the special design of the outer diameter of the wheels to solve the differential problem! So the gauge cannot be too wide.”

“Mr. Nording, what do you mean by ‘not too wide’ specifically?”

“My suggestion is not to exceed three meters, because there has not been an actual operating railway with such a wide gauge.

The British did build more than three hundred miles of 2140 mm gauge railway in 1835, and it operated for a period of time. I don’t have in-depth research on locomotives, but with so many years of technological development, I estimate that it is relatively stable within three meters.

Moreover, if East Africa adopts a railway gauge of more than two meters, it should be unique in the world. This should be called ultra-wide gauge.

However, as far as I am personally concerned, I think the future of ultra-wide gauge has more potential. Judging from the current freight volume in Europe, it has been increasing, and the development of railways is nothing more than pursuing speed and heavy load.

If technical problems such as power can be solved in the future, all of this will not be a problem. Based on the current technological development, I think the possibility is very high.”

Hearing this, Felix, the new commander-in-chief of the army, said, “Then I think we should simply use 2500 mm as our own standard in East Africa. This way, the technology is guaranteed, and it also meets the needs of East Africa. The climate of East Africa is the opposite of the climate of Tsarist Russia, but I know that Tsarist Russia is also mainly grassland and forest. Different paths lead to the same goal, so East Africa is similar to Tsarist Russia in this respect, so there is no problem with using broad gauge.”

Felix’s words were also supported by most people. Tsarist Russia does have similarities with East Africa in terms of geography, forests, grasslands, and permafrost. East Africa does not have permafrost, but East Africa has many swamps.

After the final estimation by the East African government and the confirmation by Engineer Nording, East Africa finally chose a maverick number - 2500 mm.

Originally, Ernst preferred the number 1500 mm, but the statement at this meeting made Ernst very interested.

It doesn’t matter if you spend more money, the most important thing in building railways is labor costs. Anyway, East Africans don’t have to do it themselves, so feel free to do it boldly.

East Africa’s first railway project was officially approved. Because the end point of this railway is in First Town, and it is the first railway in East Africa, the name is directly called “First Railway”, but later generations will add the qualifier “East African” in front of it.

The First Railway is planned to be fifty-nine kilometers long in total. The station location is a short distance from both First Town and Dar es Salaam. This is the result of considering defense engineering. Of course, the noise of the steam locomotive is also quite loud. Ernst doesn’t care, but it would be bad to disturb Prince Constantine’s rest.

Because the first railway being built is an experimental railway, Ernst is not afraid of making mistakes. If it really doesn’t work, just stop it, it won’t be too late then.

At the same time, this meeting also made Ernst feel a sense of urgency. Ultra-wide gauge, this concept put forward by Engineer Nording is bold and avant-garde, but the relevant technical reserves must be valued.

The standard railway gauge was actually a path dependence issue in Ernst’s previous life. The British were the first to come up with it and exported it to the world, and it later became the standard for many countries. Once you encounter a situation where you want to change it, you will give up because the cost of changing the entire railway system is too high.

In his previous life, someone proposed that the China-Europe train should adopt an ultra-wide gauge of more than two meters, which could increase the number of containers, but it could only be a pipe dream.

In this time and space where Ernst is, the development of railways has not been many years, and for many countries in the world, they have not even seen it. East Africa will definitely not be able to compete with other countries in terms of steam power.

The first-mover advantage of the standard gauge has been determined. If East Africa wants to be unique, it must have its own breakthroughs in technology.

Now Ernst has a trump card in his hand that has not yet been used, that is the Berlin Energy and Power Company - now the world’s top company in the field of internal combustion engines. Next year, that is, 1870, the Berlin Energy and Power Company’s practical four-stroke internal combustion engine, according to the arrangements of that year, will be launched.

Now the company is relatively idle, so we need to increase their workload and establish a new department to focus on increasing research and development in the application fields of internal combustion engines such as internal combustion engine locomotives and automobiles.

Chapter 210: The Clown

“Mr. Lenoir, I’m counting on you to put in a lot of effort during this trip to Vienna. First, get the team set up over there. In the future, our company can form a dual-core structure of Berlin and Vienna, with different focuses on each side, which will also benefit the company itself,” Ernst instructed Lenoir.

“Your Highness, rest assured. I’ve accumulated a lot of work experience over the years, and I will definitely develop Hechingen Energy and Power Company in Austria,” Lenoir assured him.

Compared to managing the company, Lenoir was more enthusiastic about research. However, after truly becoming a senior executive of the company, he discovered that he could use the company to combine more resources to realize some of his ideas.

“Karl, I’m leaving Berlin to you. Do you have confidence?” Ernst turned to the young Karl Friedrich Benz.

“Your Highness, I will definitely live up to your expectations,” Benz said excitedly.

Anyone would be so excited to suddenly take over such a large company, especially for a young man like Benz.

Having been learning from the old senior Lenoir for many years, Benz already had the ability to stand on his own, and he handled many of the company’s daily affairs.

“Rocher, you have to take on more responsibility this time you go to Vienna. Your imagination is very wild, but your execution is not enough. You have to learn more from Mr. Lenoir.”

……

Berlin Energy and Power Company, just hearing the name, you know that Ernst’s original intention in creating this company was not limited to the field of internal combustion engines.

In fact, the steam engine is also an important research project of the company, because the vast majority of machines on the market are still powered by steam.

This time, Ernst split the company. Although Berlin is good, it will be able to enjoy the dividends of German reunification in the future, which is more conducive to gathering talents within Germany.

However, it is also necessary to guard against the Prussian government, which is one of the most efficient governments of this era, with strong nationalism, so it is very dangerous for Berlin Energy and Power Company to only be in Berlin.

For example, railways, such important strategic resources, are targeted by the Prussian military and government, and then nationalization becomes a trend. Ernst does not think that the attractiveness of internal combustion engines is less than that of railways.

So the name of Berlin Energy and Power Company has to be changed. It is definitely not possible to use East Africa to name it, so it should be changed to Hechingen.

As everyone knows, the Hechingen Consortium spans Germany and Austria-Hungary, which is already a common sense concept in the minds of ordinary people.

After renaming it Hechingen Energy and Power Company, it is very logical to open a branch in Vienna. Vienna is also a world-class level in higher education, so there is no need to worry about talent issues.

The first railway in East Africa will definitely still use steam locomotives for a while, and Ernst does not intend to invest too much in this area.

If you don’t want to invest too much, but you want to ensure that you have a certain say in this field, the best way is to find a partner.

There is no better candidate for this partner than the Austrian royal family. In fact, Ernst has always been more inclined to cooperate with Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary always seems easier to deal with than Prussia.

There are too many states within Prussia. Although the Hechingen royal family has a certain influence due to its surname, the innate conditions of the Hechingen region are destined to have a limited influence in Germany, especially since Ernst has not chosen to enter the Prussian army and government, and is naturally separated from the Prussian power center.

East Africa’s future first partner must be Austria-Hungary, not Prussia. This is not only the result of the marriage, but the main reason is that Austria-Hungary is not enthusiastic about overseas colonial expansion in the future, and is also unable to do so.

If East Africa wants to develop, it must hold a thigh, and it is best if this thigh has very little ability to intervene in East Africa.

The new company has two headquarters, one in Berlin, led by Benz, specializing in the new car project.

In Vienna, Lenoir and Rocher are responsible for focusing on research in the railway field, of which internal combustion locomotives are a separate project, and steam locomotives are completed in cooperation with Austria.

The development of Austrian railways is moderate compared to the current world powers. Considering the large number of national ethnic groups, the Austrian government attaches great importance to railway construction.

Therefore, the strength of Austria’s many railway companies is not weak, but not too strong, which is the basis for the cooperation between Hechingen Energy and Power Company and Austria.

Over the years of development, Hechingen Energy and Power Company also has many unique skills in the field of steam power, which complements Austria’s advantages.

There is another advantage to putting the railway project in Austria, which is convenient for East Africa to import. The Suez Canal will be opened next month, and Austrian ships can go directly to East Africa after passing through the Suez Canal.

This also means the decline of the entire African southwest route, the strategic position of Cape Town has dropped sharply, and the shipping value of East African coastal ports has also dropped significantly, but it is more convenient to travel from East Africa to Europe.

……

“Ernst, you are really a thief who never leaves empty-handed. I heard some time ago that you were busy setting up an agricultural company in Austria, and I didn’t see you come to the palace. This time you have a request and you run to the palace. Did you corrupt that kid Ferdinand?” Franz said speechlessly.

“Your Majesty, you can’t say that. I’m also driving the economic development of Austria! Just tell me, which of the agricultural company and Hechingen Energy and Power Company is not a famous big company, solving the employment problems of so many people, and also bringing so much tax revenue to Austria. This is clearly a two-way street!”

“Hmph, sophistry. Last time Ferdinand sent a telegram asking me to stuff people into the Royal Naval Academy. I knew it was you who instigated it.”

“Your Majesty, Archduke Ferdinand also wants to make a career. Now he is the naval commander of East Africa. It is not a shame to learn from a naval power like Austria. It is definitely out of public interest and not instigated by me. This can only prove that Archduke Ferdinand is upright and conscientious,” Ernst said righteously to clear Maximilian I’s name.

“Okay, I’m not kidding you. This is the information of a railway company invested by the royal family. If your Hechingen Energy and Power Company didn’t really have some achievements in Prussia, I wouldn’t be relieved to cooperate with you, a young man.”

Ernst immediately smiled and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. Our East Africa will not forget your country’s kindness.”

“By the way, when are you and Prince Constantine planning to build a country? I heard that Prince Constantine has already gone to East Africa. Can you reveal it?” Franz asked curiously.

It is no secret that the Hechingen royal family went overseas, so Franz is even more curious about what the Hechingen royal family will do next. It is not easy to establish a kingdom.

“Of course, it depends on you, Your Majesty. You also hope that Princess Carina will become a queen in the future, not a princess consort!” Ernst looked at Franz I pitifully.

Franz was so angry that his beard was blowing: “You brat, joking with me, get out of here!”

“Okay, I’ll get out of here right away. I wish you a happy life in the future!” After saying that, Ernst ran away in a puff of smoke.

“This kid is still so improper…” Franz said with a smile.

Saying that, Franz is still very relieved of Ernst. Having a “clown” in the solemn court always makes Franz feel novel and relaxed. It is lonely at the top.

Chapter 211: The “Pocket” Plan

“Your Royal Highness, the East African army has been fully integrated. I think we should take the south next year.”

Felix placed his teacup in the middle of the map, on the upper reaches of the Zambezi River, north of it.

“Let’s not rush this matter. There are only a few months left this year. I think we should first reach an agreement with Msiri and have him cede the land east of the Lualaba River. This way, East Africa can completely control all the territory east of the upper Congo River. As for the south, we’ll have to wait until next year at the earliest!” Swet suggested.

Prince Constantine seemed not to hear their conversation. He bent down, carefully examining the map, and suddenly frowned.

He placed his thumb on the location of the Malawi Kingdom marked on the map and said, “Why hasn’t this Malawi Kingdom been taken? I see it stuck between the upper Lake Malawi area and the eastern Katanga region, and the land is quite large. It’s just like the state of Prussia’s eastern and western territories being separated by those small countries before the Austro-Prussian War.”

Since arriving in East Africa, Prince Constantine’s horizons had broadened. The states of the North German region had now become small countries in his eyes. Anything less than one hundred thousand square kilometers of land couldn’t catch Prince Constantine’s eye.

“Your Royal Highness, Prince Wilhelm specifically instructed us not to act rashly against this Malawi Kingdom. You see, its southeast borders Portuguese Mozambique, so its position is that of a buffer zone.”

“That’s too good for these natives. This country doesn’t look small on the map. I think the north can still be considered. Even if the southern land is left, I think it’s more than enough to serve as a buffer zone.”

“You don’t have to worry about that, Your Royal Highness. In fact, this map is already quite outdated. Actually, since East Africa expanded in the Tanganyika region, we have been nibbling away at this country’s land. When the city of Karonga in the upper Lake Malawi area was developed, we dealt with the affiliated tribes of this kingdom. So far, its northern part is already under our control, so there’s no need to worry.”

“That puts my mind at ease. The main thing is that the land of East Africa on this map looks like a long snake. If someone takes advantage of this salient and launches a surprise attack on the land passage between Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi, it will cut off East Africa’s territory in the middle.”

Constantine analyzed from a geopolitical perspective. As for who would launch a surprise attack on East Africa from here, that was up to each individual to decide.

“Your Royal Highness, to judge the surrounding situation of East Africa, it’s better to use a sand table. It’s more intuitive on a sand table.”

“Sand table?”

“It was promoted by Prince Wilhelm, but it’s only being implemented in the East African central government and the army. It’s used to record changes in East African territory and record African terrain at all times.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Mainly because the sand table is relatively large. There’s a room in the East African central government’s office building specifically for displaying it. The rest are in the military camps. The palace was newly built not long ago, so there isn’t one.”

“After you go back, remember to get me a set as well, and put it right in the middle of the conference hall.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness!” Swet replied.

“Alright, let’s continue discussing East Africa’s expansion plan. Although this map is simple, let’s make do with it for now!”

Swet and Felix didn’t respond, listening carefully to Prince Constantine’s words.

“By the way, what’s the deal with the transaction you proposed with Msiri earlier?”

Swet said, “I was responsible for this matter before. Msiri is the former owner of the eastern Katanga region, the former King of the Yeke Kingdom.

We peacefully seized this land through negotiations, so the Msiri regime was not eliminated. This guy is now occupying land as king in the Luba Kingdom.

The Luba Kingdom is an ancient African country. Records show that its most glorious period had a population of over one million, and its territory reached Lake Tanganyika. In the 19th century, this country had already disintegrated.

Msiri developed from a small chieftaincy that split off from it. In addition to Msiri, we East Africa also have interactions with this Luba Kingdom.

The part of the northwestern Mitumba Mountains to the Lualaba River that we occupy is the land of a small tribe that split off from it.

The main body of the Luba Kingdom is located west of the Lualaba River, and the eastern part is the area bordering us, where Msiri is now.

Before you came to East Africa, Prince Wilhelm’s plan was to directly use the Lualaba River as the boundary, with everything east of it belonging to East Africa. This way, the entire upper Congo River east would be under our control in East Africa.

So the content of our transaction with Msiri is that he crosses the Lualaba River and continues to be his king in the eastern part of the Luba Kingdom, while we take over the land east of the Lualaba River.”

“So, it’s this area along the river! It doesn’t look too big. We can indeed take it this year.” Prince Constantine said, “By the way, Felix, what’s the specific situation of taking the south that you mentioned earlier?”

“Your Royal Highness, the south I’m referring to should actually be the southwest, which is the area where I just put the cup, mainly north of the Zambezi River. You see, the upper reaches of the Zambezi River are very close to the Lualaba River, and the two rivers form a large circle. What I mean is to take the land inside this circle,” Felix said.

Felix’s proposal was indeed in line with his hawkish persona. His circle basically included most of Zambia and Katanga.

Just looking at it on the map, this piece of land is almost the size of Tanzania, with the south directly bordering Zimbabwe along the river.

“What’s the significance of this area?” Constantine asked.

Felix replied, “Because it’s shaped like a pocket, I call it the ‘Pocket’ Plan. This area is based on the Congo River and the Zambezi River, and it’s also a tropical savanna climate. Especially as you go further south, the rainfall decreases, so marching shouldn’t be too difficult. The most important thing is that the south is the same as the former Tanganyika region, with no countries, only tribes. Our soldiers will be very suitable for this kind of combat.”

(Image)

“Isn’t there also the Kazembe Kingdom!” Swet said.

“The Kazembe Kingdom is not worth worrying about. It’s too close to us. We can eliminate it in the first step of our southward advance,” Felix said.

“Will this cause dissatisfaction among the Portuguese?” Swet said with some concern.

“Although there are some Portuguese merchants in Kazembe, this is not a Portuguese colony or sphere of influence. I don’t see any problems,” Felix said.

“Well said, I agree with this plan!” Constantine said, “First come, first served. The Portuguese are not the owners of this place, and leaving the Malawi Kingdom is enough to give them face. Mozambique alone is not the entire Portuguese kingdom. If they want to protest, let them protest!”

Chapter 212: The Suez Canal

The reorganized East African army was smaller in scale, focusing on field troops. To realize the “pocket” plan, the East African government planned to deploy ten thousand people into the Upper Katanga region.

Unlike previous operations aimed at driving away native indigenous people, this time East Africa simply wanted to acquire ownership of these lands first.

Therefore, it was enough to adopt the methods of general colonists to carry out colonial activities, which were nothing more than forcing various tribal chiefs to sign land treaties under the threat of guns.

As for the indigenous people, they could be handed over to subsequent immigrants and replaced little by little. This year, the number of immigrants was relatively small, and the shortage of “laborers” had increased, so the indigenous people still had some use.

November 17, 1869.

Egypt.

The Suez Canal—this century-long project that sacrificed 120,000 Egyptians was finally completed.

East Africa was on the east coast of Africa, so in the future, East African ocean-going ships only needed to pass through the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, enter the Red Sea, and finally bypass Somalia.

As for the original African sea route, the Cape of Good Hope, it was not only a long journey, but it also had the nickname “Cape of Storms,” and the Namibian coast also had a “Skeleton Coast,” so the original route was not only long but also risky.

With the toll paid, the Hechengken ocean-going ship, which had been waiting here for a long time, could not wait to experience this great project.

Originally, ships from Trieste had to go through Gibraltar and make a big circle, but now they only needed to go south through the Suez Canal to reach East Africa directly.

Moreover, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea were relatively calm seas, and navigation was not difficult.

“Captain Modo, with the Suez Canal, our good days have finally arrived. In the past, we spent most of our time floating at sea, and the African coast was full of barren land, making it difficult to find a place to settle down,” Fairmont, an employee of the Hechengken Ocean Trading Company, said.

“Africa! It is what it is. Do you expect those natives to build entertainment venues for you to enjoy? But with the Suez Canal route in the future, safety will be guaranteed.

Even if a major accident occurs to the ship, our chances of being rescued will be much greater. Look, how crowded this narrow place is!”

“There are so many ships on the canal and at sea today! It’s almost comparable to the ports of Europe and the Far East!”

“It has already surpassed them. Every country worth mentioning has ships passing through here. This is the main artery connecting Europe to the Far East in the future,” Modo emphasized.

The opening of the Suez Canal was good news for the whole world except for Cape Town. Although the strategic value of East African ports declined.

However, the route to Europe was shortened, and the transportation of personnel and equipment from Europe to East Africa would not only save time but also money in the future.

The current East Africa was like a seedling that needed to draw nutrients from Europe, so for East Africa, the opening of the Suez Canal was more beneficial than harmful.

Austrian immigrants leaned on the fence, curiously looking at the canal that ran through the desert. This was the first time they had seen a desert.

“Lai Suoya, is Africa all like this? I heard that it was all desert before, and now it seems to be true. But how do the Egyptians survive in this desert!” Blair asked curiously.

“You illiterate! Don’t tell others you know me when you go out in the future! Egyptians rely on the Nile River and oases in the desert to survive. Of course, they don’t live directly in the desert. As for the people we just saw, they are all workers building the canal. Their food is naturally transported from outside! Factories in Trieste don’t produce food either, so do those workers not live?”

“Who said factories in Trieste don’t produce food? Food factories process food!”

“Food processing also needs to be grown in the fields in the countryside first, and then transported to the city…”

“By the way, Lai Suoya, why do you want to go to East Africa? You are also considered a cultured person. It would be easier to find a factory in Austria to screw screws!”

Lai Suoya raised his head and looked at the dazzling sun and said, “I yearn for rural life more. The salary in the city is not low, but it is not what I expect.”

“Ah! If I had gone to school or had a skill, I would definitely go to the big cities in Austria to look for opportunities. After all, the colony is the last choice. We can only gamble on what the situation is there!”

“Hehe, young man, don’t worry. East Africa is not considered a colony now. You can think of it as a European country, or a state in the German region.”

“Uncle, have you been to East Africa?”

“Of course, can’t you see the sailor uniform he is wearing?” Lai Suoya said speechlessly.

“Uncle, can you tell us some inside information?” Blair asked.

“Of course, there is no problem, but I can’t guarantee that what I say is completely correct. I have only been to the ports of East Africa, and at most I will tell you what I heard and saw in the ports.”

The sailor uncle leaned on the railing and began to tell the two young men about the situation in East Africa: “East Africa is now officially called the Hechengken East African Royal Territory. East Africa used to be a colony of the Hechengken royal family, but now the Hechengken royal family has moved to East Africa, so East Africa will become an independent country in the future. This is inside information revealed to me by a friend of mine. Don’t tell others.

The scenery of East Africa is definitely different from that of Europe, but the coastal areas should be similar to the Mediterranean coast. When this ship arrives in Dar es Salaam, you can see the general situation of East Africa.

It definitely cannot be compared with Vienna and Trieste, but it is not worse than other Austrian cities.”

“Uncle, is Dar es Salaam our final destination?”

“I don’t know about that. Dar es Salaam is just the final destination of this ship in East Africa, and your final destination depends on how the East African government allocates it.”

“Allocation, so will we be separated?” Lai Suoya said to Blair.

“Uncle, Lai Suoya and I are very good friends. We came to East Africa together this time. Will they separate us?”

“This… I’m afraid it will be a little difficult. Generally, the East African government has the tradition of separating people from the same place. They will put immigrants from different regions in the same city or village.”

“Is there no solution?”

“How old are you two?”

“Lai Suoya is 16, and I am 17.”

“Being young is okay. Have you been to school and can write?”

“I can, Mr. Sailor,” Lai Suoya said.

“When you arrive in East Africa, you immediately write an application to the local official in charge. Generally speaking, they will not make things difficult for you. If you choose to remain silent, they will default to separating you. You are just friends, right! And you are young, so there is a high probability that you will be assigned to the same place, but it is hard to say whether it is a city or a village.”

……

Modo chatted with the two young men for a long time, explaining a lot of knowledge about East Africa to them, some of which was indeed very practical.

“Modo, where did you go just now? Why did it take you so long to come back?” Fairmont asked.

“I just chatted with two young men for a while. Seeing them reminded me of the days when I went to sea when I was young.”

Chapter 213: Southwest Strategy

The United States had its “Go West” policy. The East African version should be called the “Go Southwest” policy. The American westward movement was a large-scale land grab from the east coast towards the interior.

What East Africa is currently undertaking is a large-scale advance into the southwest. Unlike the already weakened Native Americans, there are still quite a few indigenous tribes in the southwest.

The “pocket” area designated by Felix is estimated to have an indigenous population of over three million. East Africa now needs these three million people to contribute to East Africa’s construction efforts.

Of course, according to East Africa’s consistent policy, indigenous children and women are not needed; only able-bodied young and middle-aged laborers are required.

After this screening, only about one million “laborers” will be left. Adding them to East Africa’s current “laborers,” the total will be just over two million.

Using “laborers” is acceptable, but “laborers” must also meet certain standards. Indigenous children have no productivity and waste food, so they are not needed. Women have the ability to work, but to strictly safeguard East Africa’s racial policies, not a single one can be left.

East African citizens are divided into three categories: pure white, pure yellow, and mixed-race. Mixed-race naturally refers to those of yellow and white descent. Although East Africa’s gender ratio has been improving, there are still more men than women.

If black indigenous women are allowed to remain, it’s hard to guarantee that some single men won’t be unable to control themselves, and what would happen if they produced black children?

Regarding East Africa’s gender imbalance, Ernst has always emphasized that you can wait; opportunities will always arise. However, if you get involved with black people, you will be exiled.

The destination of exile is uncertain. Generally, it’s the Alaska colony. Currently, over three hundred people have received this treatment.

The East African government repeatedly emphasizes these cases to East African residents, warning them not to take it lightly. If you really end up in Alaska, there will be no one to hear your cries for help.

Moreover, if you are exiled to Alaska, don’t even think about bringing your black children and black women to Alaska. As for how they are handled…

Alaska currently has a population of over twenty thousand. Excluding normal immigrants and “criminals” who intermarry with the indigenous population, there are still over a thousand criminals.

Generally, only those who have committed heinous crimes receive this treatment. Laws have always existed in East Africa and are constantly being strengthened, but among the two million people, there are always some who are incorrigible.

East Africa has expanded westward to the eastern reaches of the upper Congo River. Further west is the vast tropical rainforest.

According to East Africa’s capabilities, it can continue to move westward because the Belgians colonized the entire Congo Basin by going upstream along the Congo River. If East Africa continues westward, it will be going downstream, which is more convenient.

However, the rainforest area is too difficult to develop, and Ernst also wants to see if Leopold of Belgium will set his sights on the Congo as he did in his previous life after East Africa occupies the prime areas of the Congo (highlands and mountains).

The Congo left for Leopold is only the large area of tropical rainforest in the lower Congo Basin, lacking minerals and with land that is difficult to develop. That only leaves abundant timber resources. Moreover, the tropical rainforest has a small population, so Leopold can only resort to more extreme exploitation strategies to recoup his investment.

The eastern and southern directions from the Congo Basin are blocked by East Africa. To the west are the Portuguese and French. Only the northern highlands offer some prospects, namely the Central African Republic and Chad.

The area is currently a mix of forces. In addition to the original indigenous tribes, several kingdoms driven out of the Great Lakes region by East Africa, as well as some northern tribes, have flocked there.

In fact, calling the Belgian Congo “Congo” is somewhat inappropriate. The true Kingdom of Kongo is actually in Angola and that small section of the Congo River estuary. The name of the Congo Basin also comes from this country. In any case, there are not many good places left for Belgium.

The rainfall in south-central Africa gradually decreases southward from the Katanga Plateau in Zambia and Congo. Its climate and terrain are basically the same as East Africa’s, which is why East Africa is focusing its expansion on the southwest.

(Image)

Therefore, after annexing Zambia, East Africa remains a highland nation. In the future, as long as a railway is built, the two places can be connected.

Expanding southward will inevitably involve dealing with the Portuguese. The southern Zambian grasslands are an important source of the Portuguese ivory trade.

There has always been an ivory trade route spanning the east and west coasts of southern Africa. The Kazembe Kingdom is an important node on this trade route.

The two ends are precisely the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique. Even if East Africa swallows this middle area, it will not border Angola. The only one with the real ability to interfere with East Africa is Mozambique.

But now, East Africa has grown bolder, especially the Army Commander-in-Chief Felix, who is a hawk in East Africa, and Prince Constantine also comes from a military background. Both of them have served in the Prussian army.

The style of the Prussian army is known throughout Europe, so the current state of the East African government can be imagined: expansion, expansion, and more expansion.

If it weren’t for Ernst and Sivet mediating, it is estimated that Prince Constantine would have stripped the indigenous forces around Mozambique clean.

…

“The East African First Cavalry Regiment is assembled!”

“Very good. The Kazembe Kingdom has declined East Africa’s good intentions. Next, shall we give them a cavalry shock?”

“Listen to my orders, strike directly at the center of the Kazembe Kingdom, capture its high-level officials alive. Don’t be afraid of hostages missing arms or legs. As long as we have the people in our hands, we won’t be afraid that they won’t yield!”

The so-called good intentions of the East African government were not without reason. After the Yeke Kingdom was sold to the East African government by Msiri, some affiliated forces took the opportunity to defect to neighboring countries.

Some chiefs of the Kazembe Kingdom also participated in this division of spoils. Now, the East African government is directly demanding that they spit out the benefits they swallowed. The Kazembe Kingdom, which has not been beaten up by East Africa, is naturally unwilling.

If it were the Malawi Kingdom, which has been dealing with the East African government and the Mozambique colony for many years, it would probably have found scapegoats long ago and come to apologize.

…

“Hehe, everyone listened to my advice. Isn’t it better to live here than in the Yeke Kingdom? That kid Afonso is willing to be a dog for the Germans, but he doesn’t know that the Germans are ambitious wolves who will eventually suffer the consequences. Unlike the Kazembe Kingdom, this is our Portuguese territory. Moreover, where isn’t a market for doing business in Africa? The Yeke Kingdom doesn’t even have many living people left. Even if Afonso wants to monopolize the Yeke Kingdom market, he can’t find suppliers,” Santos said smugly to his subordinates.

After returning to Kazembe, Santos quickly contacted his former partners. The Portuguese originally lacked manpower in Africa, so they quickly agreed to Santos and others joining them. Santos had accumulated a lot of wealth in the Yeke Kingdom, and now he has more men and horses, so he is thriving in the Kazembe Kingdom.

“Boss, don’t worry. As the saying goes, he who laughs last laughs best. Afonso will have his day of crying.”

Whether Afonso will cry or not is unknown, but Santos and others will soon have nothing to laugh about.

Chapter 214: One of Us, Don’t Shoot?

From dawn till dusk.

Late at night, in the Kingdom of Kazembe, a pale white moon hung in the sky, bringing a sliver of light that shone on a clearing in a dense forest two kilometers from the royal capital.

“The troops will rest for three hours. The men and horses are exhausted from a day’s march. Feed the horses well. After three hours, we’ll advance towards the Kazembe capital and launch an attack at the first hint of dawn.”

“Yes, sir!”

“There are many mosquitoes in the wild, and the ground is damp. I think we should have everyone gather in one tent as much as possible to keep warm,” the battalion adjutant said.

“Mm, have them share tents then!”

Having traveled for a whole day, the soldiers of the East African First Cavalry Battalion were already physically and mentally exhausted. They quickly put up rain tarps, and a simple tent was set up.

They found some dry firewood and withered grass, tossed it on the ground, and several people huddled together and fell fast asleep.

The grooms couldn’t sleep yet. To ensure the smooth progress of the next day’s battle, they lit special outdoor mosquito coils and sat on folding stools, beginning to prepare the horse feed. They tied a knot, added a handful of corn and soybeans, and stuffed it into the horses’ mouths.

…

Battalion Adjutant Rolls took out his pocket watch from his inner pocket and checked the time. It was already three twenty-five, and the sky was still quite dark. He nudged the sleeping battalion commander awake.

“Andrew, wake up, it’s time to move!”

Andrew rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned.

“Rolls, what time is it?”

“It’s three twenty-five East African time.”

“It’s a bit later here than in the First Garrison. The sun will probably rise later too. Let’s control our marching speed. I think we should add an extra twenty minutes of leeway, so we arrive at the center of the Kingdom of Kazembe just before dawn.”

“No problem. I’ll get everyone up now. It’ll help them wake up on the way.”

The cooks had already used the field kitchen to cook hot porridge, adding dried chili peppers, salted dried meat, and unknown wild vegetables.

The temperature dropped sharply in the African night, and the soldiers’ bodies were cold after a night of suffering. They took a sip of hot porridge, and a warm current instantly surged into their hearts.

“It would be better if they didn’t add chili peppers! It’s too spicy, ha… hiss…”

“I think it’s great. The spiciness instantly wakes me up. I feel like my whole body has come back to life.”

…

Leaving the grooms and cooks to rest here, the East African First Cavalry Battalion set off lightly armed. The two-kilometer journey, which was about one and a quarter miles, wasn’t too far. They led their warhorses, relying on the faint moonlight, and slowly headed towards the Kazembe capital.

“Report, Captain! The Kazembe capital is about five hundred meters ahead!” a scout returned to report.

In an era without lights, the capital of this African kingdom of Kazembe was also integrated with the darkness. It was indeed difficult to spot without careful observation.

Rolls took out his pocket watch and checked the time by the moonlight.

“Four nineteen.”

“Prepare for battle! Make final technical adjustments now, check horses and weapons. Launch the attack in eleven minutes,” Andrew ordered.

Four thirty.

“Everyone mount up, prepare!”

“Attack!”

At four thirty, a wisp of light had already emerged from the eastern horizon, but the Kazembe people were still in their dreams.

“Work at sunrise, rest at sunset” was a description of East Africans, but it was a little difficult for the natives. Most of them wouldn’t get up until the sun was high in the sky.

Wake up so early to count stars and look at the moon? Even if the sun rises, there are no fields to guard or manage, so they just kept sleeping.

“Rumble…” The sound of horses’ hooves suddenly erupted.

“Enemy attack?”

The East African cavalry had already passed through the streets and were directly approaching the royal city. The so-called royal city had a low stone wall. Andrew fired a shot at the guards at the stone wall fence.

The Kazembe guards had already begun to panic. They shouted, “The Portuguese are attacking! The Portuguese are rioting!”

The Kazembe civilians were hiding in their huts, afraid to go out. They had witnessed the power of firearms. Portuguese merchant ships mostly carried these things.

“Mr. Santos! Something terrible has happened! There’s a riot in the Kazembe capital,” a lackey hurriedly came to report.

Santos was putting on his clothes.

“Do you know which force is behind it?”

“It’s not clear yet, but I heard the Kazembe people shouting that it’s our own people’s operation.”

“Our own people?”

“Yes, they said it was a riot launched by the Portuguese.”

Santos’s expression turned ugly. “They didn’t even notify us about such a big operation? How can they act on their own initiative? Are they not treating us as one of their own?”

“Mr. Santos, we are, after all, newcomers. Could this be the previous plan?” his subordinate said uncertainly.

“Bullshit! Is taking down a bunch of natives difficult? It would be nice to notify us, but they didn’t even give us a heads-up. I think they just want to take all the credit for themselves!”

“Mr. Santos, what should we do next?”

“They want to take all the credit, but we can’t let them succeed. Otherwise, when it comes time to divide the spoils of war, they’ll definitely kick us out early.”

Santos put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth, saying, “Gather our men. They want to take all the credit, but we have to get involved. When the Kingdom of Kazembe is divided up, we can’t be left out.”

“Yes, boss.”

Soon, more than eighty guns under Santos’s command were gathered.

“Brothers, today is the day we get rich! For the benefit of the Kingdom of Kazembe, follow me!”

…

At this time, Andrew and his men had already stormed into the palace. The pitiful Kazembe king was being held in Andrew’s hand like a chick.

“Bang, bang, bang…”

“What’s going on? Why did the gunfire suddenly become so intense again?” Rolls asked.

A soldier suddenly rushed in. “Report, Captain! An unknown armed force has suddenly launched an attack on us. Our men are already engaged with them!”

“How many enemies are there?”

“About a hundred or so, and their weapons aren’t bad. They shouldn’t be natives of the Kingdom of Kazembe.”

“They really have the audacity of a bear and the courage of a leopard! Pass down my order to annihilate this group of enemies, and capture their leader alive. I want to see who’s so bold that they dare to attack my troops with just a hundred or so men.”

“Yes, sir.”

…

“Damn it! Why are they firing at us? Could they be trying to double-cross us?”

Because it wasn’t dawn yet, it was impossible to see the situation in the city clearly. Santos fired back while shouting, “Brothers, we’re on the same side! Don’t shoot!”

“What gibberish are they speaking?”

“They’re natives anyway, who cares what they’re saying! They dared to come and support, so they’re probably the elite troops of the Kingdom of Kazembe. Just beat them hard!”

The only response to Santos was a continuous stream of gunfire. Watching his men fall one by one, he was completely enraged. These were all his assets!

“Devils? I’ll fight you to the death!”

Santos left his cover and raised his gun to aim. “Bang!” He was shot in the right leg and fell to the ground in pain.

“Ah!”

The battle was one-sided. Soon, it was dawn, and the East African cavalry began to clean up the battlefield.

Dusty and disheveled, Santos was dragged before Captain Andrew.

“Report, Captain! This man is their leader.”

Santos looked at the familiar Prussian uniform, and a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow welled up in his heart. He spoke incoherently, “Fake, haha, it’s all fake, Prussian barbarians, allies, hogging the loot, I’m just a joke…”

Andrew squatted on the ground and patted Santos’s face. “What’s your name? Which force do you belong to? Who sent you here?”

Santos’s eyes were scattered, and he repeated, “Fake, barbarians, allies…”

The pitiful Santos had gone mad.

Chapter 215: Negotiation

Santos could be said to have misjudged the situation this time. He never imagined the Germans would act so quickly against the Kazembe Kingdom, or rather, that they would dare to act against the Kazembe Kingdom at all.

This led him to mistakenly believe that this operation in East Africa was an action by the Portuguese colony. Furthermore, his subordinates’ failure to gather accurate information reinforced his incorrect assessment.

However, he wasn’t entirely wrong in his analysis. The Portuguese in the Kazembe Kingdom certainly didn’t treat him as one of their own. After all, it was unreasonable for Santos to expect to gain a foothold there with a bunch of “stray dogs.”

When East Africa sent envoys to Kazembe to demand the return of “criminals” and land, the Portuguese Kazembe Chamber of Commerce did receive the news, but they didn’t bother to inform Santos and his group.

In fact, the Portuguese Kazembe Chamber of Commerce was also shocked by the efficiency of the East Africans. According to the Portuguese colonial playbook, they would generally try to avoid conflicts with local forces.

The Portuguese consistently preferred a combination of soft and hard tactics, resorting to force only when deception failed. This can be seen from their two colonies, Mozambique and Angola.

The Portuguese Kingdom encouraged its citizens to intermarry with the indigenous elite, believing that they could strengthen Portuguese control over the colonies through indigenous leaders with Portuguese blood.

The Portuguese initially engaged in colonial activities in Africa by cooperating with local chiefs during the height of the slave trade.

The chiefs acted as “suppliers” for the Portuguese. Later, after the Portuguese gained a stronger foothold in the area, they transformed these chiefdoms and kingdoms into their own tributary states, which eventually led to the establishment of the Mozambique and Angola colonies.

In reality, Portuguese colonization represented the most conventional approach to colonization: gradual, adaptable to changing times, and backed by a long history, making it a living “textbook” of colonization.

Later, the unscrupulous British directly jumped ahead by seizing existing colonies from other colonizers. Now, the East Africans were giving the Portuguese a taste of an even simpler and more brutal form of colonization: resorting to violence at the drop of a hat. True to the Prussian barbarian style, the British would at least test the waters before engaging the enemy.

East Africa already knew exactly what the indigenous people were made of. For them, fighting the natives was now just child’s play.

East Africa’s confidence stemmed from its two million immigrants. If international politics were not a concern, these two million people could conquer half of Africa.

Other colonizers considered costs during colonization, so they were often stingy, aiming to make a fortune, not to engage in charity. Long-term investments were generally difficult to decide on, because they might be robbed of the fruits of their labor, leaving them with no one to complain to.

The British did carry out some construction in India, but India’s population base was too large, and its independence was inevitable.

…

“I am Yaris, the president of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in Kazembe. May I ask how I should address you?”

The president of the Portuguese Kazembe Chamber of Commerce, Yaris, arrived late.

“Andrew.”

“Mr. Andrew! Why did you launch this war against the Kazembe Kingdom without even giving us a heads-up?” President Yaris questioned.

“This is a matter between our East African government and the Kazembe Kingdom. Humph!”

Yaris was about to explode when Rolls stopped him.

“Mr. Yaris, right? Hello, I am the staff officer of the First Cavalry Battalion of East Africa. You can just call me Rolls.

Battalion Commander Andrew is not good at communicating with people and is rather antisocial. You can discuss any questions you have with me.”

Yaris carefully examined the young man with East Asian features, and asked, “Can you represent the East African government?”

Rolls shook his head and said, “I cannot represent the East African government, but I can represent the army in front of you.”

Yaris didn’t ask about the war first, but instead said, “Mr. Rolls! Are you German?”

“Of course!”

“May I ask which part of Germany you are from?”

“The Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in Prussia.”

“Your face is quite rare in Europe. I thought you were from Italy!”

Rolls didn’t respond, so Yaris shifted his attention back to the war.

“May I ask why your country launched a war against the Kazembe Kingdom?”

Regardless of whether this matter had anything to do with the Portuguese, Yaris had to first express the Portuguese position. The East African government was too inconsiderate. Even if you wanted to annex the Kazembe Kingdom, you should have informed us! Launching an attack directly on the Kazembe capital without a word, it scared Yaris so much that he didn’t dare to go out in the morning.

“Mr. Yaris, we had a deal with King Msiri of the Yeke Kingdom in the north, acquiring all rights to the Yeke Kingdom. However, the Kazembe Kingdom invaded our East African territory while we were taking over the Yeke Kingdom. We demanded compensation a few days ago without success, so we resorted to this measure.”

Rolls’s explanation was actually a notification. East Africa’s attack on the Kazembe Kingdom was justified, and the Kazembe Kingdom would naturally have to pay the price. It was that simple. As for what the price was, that was confidential.

“Even if the Kazembe Kingdom was in the wrong, it shouldn’t warrant the direct use of force! Moreover, the Kazembe Kingdom should have only invaded your country’s border territories. You only need to reclaim the territory that the Kazembe Kingdom encroached upon. Why go so deep into this place and occupy the Kazembe Kingdom’s palace! This is too barbaric and not the behavior of the civilized world!”

“Mr. Yaris, you are mistaken. East Africa is of course part of the civilized world, but Kazembe does not belong to the civilized world. We East Africans naturally have an obligation to help the Kazembe Kingdom enter the civilized world.”

Yaris saw that Rolls was impervious to reason. He himself had said such shameless words when he was young, so he didn’t plan to dwell on this point. He simply asked, “What does your country intend to do with the Kazembe Kingdom?”

“This, of course, is not something a small soldier like me can decide. It depends on what the central government decides. If you want to know the answer, you can go to Dar es Salaam and ask the government officials.”

Rolls clearly knew the answer, but pretended not to know, unable to extract East Africa’s true intentions. Yaris changed his approach.

“Since your country hasn’t made a decision yet, I won’t ask about these things. I want to know when you plan to leave? You are one of the officers of this army, so I think you know the answer, right?”

“We naturally have no right to move the army before receiving orders from our superiors,” Rolls said evasively.

At that moment, Rolls felt a chill in his heart. How disgusting! But Rolls finally knew that East Africa had ulterior motives towards Kazembe. Not having the right to move the army was a lie, and staying put was the truth.

However, the Portuguese Kazembe Chamber of Commerce was weak and unable to interfere with the East African government’s decisions, so Yaris turned to inquire about East Africa’s attitude towards the Portuguese Kazembe Chamber of Commerce.

“Your chamber of commerce can rest assured. You can continue to stay here and conduct business as usual.”

Before East Africa completely controlled this place, there was really nothing they could do about them. They couldn’t just kill everyone, so they would maintain the status quo for now.

“By the way, is this person one of yours?” Rolls asked, pointing to Santos in the distance.

Santos was lying on the ground, his eyes glazed over, muttering something under his breath.

Yaris hurried forward to confirm, “Santos! Santos?”

Yaris looked at Santos, who had gone mentally unstable, repeatedly saying something about allied forces. He also gave Santos a slap.

“Smack, Santos, wake up!”

Although Yaris usually disliked Santos, he was still “one of their own,” so he wanted to know what had happened that had turned Santos, who had been lively just a short time ago, into this state.

“What did your people do to our person?” Yaris asked the East African soldiers, seeing that he couldn’t wake Santos up.

“Are you sure he’s one of yours? Yesterday, this guy launched an attack on us with weapons. He became like this after we captured him alive! Can I understand that your chamber of commerce organized this sneak attack?” Rolls asked in return.

Hearing the East Africans turn the tables, Yaris quickly pushed Santos away and said, “Misunderstanding, I don’t know this person at all. It’s just that he looks a little like an old friend of mine. After repeated confirmation, I’m sure it’s just a slight resemblance. He’s definitely not my friend from before!”

“That’s good. This guy launched a surprise attack on us yesterday when we were cleaning up the battlefield. There were a total of eighty-eight of them, each with a gun, and several of our people were injured by them,” Rolls said.

“These guys must be bandits from the African savanna. They have nothing to do with our chamber of commerce, Mr. Rolls,” Yaris asserted.

“In any case, it’s still a human life. We didn’t intend to execute him. If you don’t mind, you can take him away!” Rolls suggested.

“Mr. Rolls, you’re really joking. The bandits brought it upon themselves. Let him live or die on his own. But your side is truly a benevolent army, giving such people a chance.”

Looking at Santos, who had no value, Yaris said with a wry smile, cursing Santos, the good-for-nothing, in his heart. So many people, and it was a surprise attack, yet they only inflicted so little damage on the Germans!

But this was also good, at least it showed that these Prussian barbarians were really capable. With this equipment, Yaris even suspected that they were regular Prussian soldiers.

As for taking him back, Yaris had already determined that Santos was crazy. He didn’t even react to Yaris’s hints (referring to the slap) just now, so he was probably useless.

Moreover, these Germans probably had some conspiracy in mind, Yaris maliciously speculated. After all, the excuse for these Prussian barbarians’ war against the Kazembe Kingdom was the harboring of Yeke Kingdom rebels and the invasion of East African territory. If Yaris really took Santos back, wouldn’t it confirm that Santos’s individual actions yesterday were directed by the Kazembe Chamber of Commerce?

Thinking of this, Yaris cursed Santos’s entire family again in his heart. Although Yaris had no good feelings towards the Germans either, the situation was stronger than him. This place was far from the Portuguese colonies, and the Kazembe Chamber of Commerce was weak, so he could only vent his anger on Santos.

Chapter 216: Future Prospects

“Hmph! These Germans are so inconsiderate! They don’t even give us a heads-up. They really don’t take the Kingdom of Portugal seriously!” Aristos said indignantly to his subordinates.

“Chairman, what are you planning to do?”

“Do? Do what? We’re just a chamber of commerce, and they’re an army! Do you want to fight a losing battle?”

“Should we contact the government and have them deal with the Germans?”

“Are you counting on those good-for-nothings in the rear? The young people of Portugal have long lost the vigor of the Kingdom of Portugal! If they hadn’t been so timid, they should have kept the Germans out, even at the cost of offending the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Now the Germans have gained momentum in Africa, and I’m afraid the entire Mozambique is no match for them.”

“Chairman, it can’t be that pessimistic, right? We’ve been developing in Africa for hundreds of years, and the Germans have only been in East Africa for three years.”

“Bah! You all remember this. When looking at problems in the future, be sure to grasp the key points and don’t be shortsighted.” Aristos lectured: “I ask you, why have we Portuguese given up expanding inland in recent years?”

“This?”

“Isn’t it because we lack the ability? Not only are the colonies failing, but even the kingdom itself is failing. I’ll just say it here, East Africa can now have organized armies appearing inland, but we can’t do it.”

“Chairman, that shouldn’t be difficult, right!”

“Of course, it’s not difficult, but you should also see the level of the garrison in Mozambique. In recent years, it’s even been difficult to defeat the natives. The Germans have even produced cavalry. They must have more troops in East Africa. They are worthy of being Prussian barbarians. When I think of their mobilization capabilities, I’m afraid. It doesn’t take many people. Fifty thousand Germans would be enough to give all the kingdom’s colonies in Africa a hard time.”

After careful consideration, the Katzenberg Chamber of Commerce chose to endure, but still sent a letter to the Mozambique government in the rear, explaining the situation.

…

Time waits for no one. After the cavalry battalion set off, other East African troops also began to pour into the area of the “pocket” plan.

The East African armory is also speeding up its progress, refurbishing second-hand military equipment and distributing weapons to newly landed immigrants.

After several sweeps in East Africa, the interior of East Africa is now free of natives, so there is no need for so many guns. Therefore, most of them have been recovered, and a few are left to the security team to deal with wild animals.

A steady stream of armed immigrants will go deep into the Zambia region, creating conditions for East Africa to completely occupy the “pocket” area.

At the same time, the telegraph line extending from Mbeya to the Tanganyika District has also begun construction to ensure smooth communication. While the Katzenberg Chamber of Commerce is still using letters to convey messages to Mozambique, East Africa has already used the telegraph to send messages back to First Town.

…

In the blink of an eye, the end of 1869 has arrived.

This time, the statistical data will be summarized and sent to both Prince Constantine and Ernst.

This year, the immigrant population in East Africa reached 2,453,000, of which the newborn group performed very well, reaching more than 200,000.

In terms of territorial expansion, it is mainly in the west, mainly the area between the Mitumba Mountains, Lake Soren and the Lualaba River, about 300,000 to 400,000 square kilometers. There is also the ongoing advance into the Southwest. If completed, at least 600,000 square kilometers of land will be added next year. In addition, the territory of East Africa may exceed 3 million square kilometers before April next year, as the northern region has been encroaching on the Omo River basin.

In the industrial field, the East African Railway Company and a large number of mines with imported equipment will drive the development of East Africa’s mining industry. In addition to Mbeya, the mineral resources near the Great Lakes region can also be developed.

In terms of agriculture, as of November 30, 1869, the statistical data showed that the development was satisfactory. The cultivated land reached more than 25.5 million mu, mainly expanding the scope on the basis of the original cultivated land, but affected by the advance into the Southwest, there should be good results next year.

The newly developed land this year is mainly used for rice and other food crops. There is little change in wheat, and the output of corn, soybeans, potatoes and other crops has increased significantly.

The total grain output exceeds 2.5 billion catties, which is about 1.25 million tons.

The per capita output is about twice that of Italy, but East Africa has large-scale cash crops in addition to food crops. At the same time, a large area of cassava planted to solve the food problem for the natives must be excluded. This thing has a very high yield and is not a staple food for East Africans, so it is not included in the statistical data. Italy does not have this.

The population of East Africa, after removing the natives, is also close to one-tenth of that of Italy. The population of Italy is about 25 million.

Although East Africa is close to or even exceeds Italy in some fields, Italy has accumulated thousands of years after all, so relying solely on agricultural and population data, East Africa cannot reach one-tenth of Italy’s national strength.

As the Paraguayan War is about to end, Ernst will introduce some immigrants from poor areas of Italy next year to replace this gap.

Sicily is an important source. Although Sicily, like the people in the Far South, likes to form societies, they will all be diluted when they arrive in East Africa. Just don’t let them gather together.

Now the villages in East Africa can be said to have become very complete. There are no so-called ethnic gathering places. According to the template, the residences of all people are scattered. That is to say, your neighbors may be immigrants from any other region, but not immigrants from the same region.

Neighbors are forced to communicate and integrate with each other. In addition, the common language is German, and a new German-speaking nation will eventually emerge.

In addition to the newly occupied land, the road construction in East Africa has been basically completed. The main roads can be connected to all cities and towns. The next step for the “labor force” will be to transfer to the construction of mines, railways and large-scale water conservancy projects.

The above data shows that East Africa already has the foundation of a country. If development goes smoothly, from the year after next, with the help of transportation, mining and agricultural production, East Africa will become an agricultural and mining exporting country.

Currently, the Suez Canal has been opened. Ernst plans to strengthen cooperation with the Austrian royal family, focusing on Austria, not Austria-Hungary, strengthening Austria’s voice, which is equivalent to strengthening Germany’s voice, which is equivalent to strengthening East Africa’s voice.

It is very important for Ernst to use East Africa’s mineral and agricultural resources to accelerate the development of the Austrian region. It is dangerous to recognize Prussia as the big brother. Austria has Hungary to hold it back, so there is no such hidden danger.

After all, Austria cannot swallow East Africa’s size. Hungary alone is enough to torture it. Is it possible to create a tripartite empire?

At the same time, East Africa will establish an independent country next year. It must be recognized by the world powers, so the leading role of the Austrian royal family is very important. It will be basically stable if it stirs up Prussia, Romania and a bunch of German states to recognize it.

As for what Prussia thinks about Ernst giving profits to Austria, the wording is readily available. Austria is closest to East Africa, and the Suez Canal directly opens up trade routes between the two countries. All German countries should help each other.

Moreover, the Prussian royal family is also the Hohenzollern family. It is a good thing for the Hohenzollern family that Hechingen is developing in East Africa. It is also convenient for the Prussian government to recover some of the rights of the former Hechingen Principality (Europe).

All aspects are taken care of, so there is naturally no opposition. As for the other countries, only Britain, the United States and Tsarist Russia are left. East Africa has a good relationship with Tsarist Russia and there are no conflicts of interest.

The United States is currently busy fighting with Britain and Spain. Britain also needs to pay attention to the situation in France and Prussia. As for France, its attitude is actually no longer important. It should be a new government by this time next year. Ernst, who knows the historical answer, only needs to bet on the new French government in advance. Moreover, East Africa is a remote place, and France may not interfere with East Africa.

Chapter 217: Ernst’s Little Scheme

December 3rd, 1869.

Svet Palace, the first city of the Central Region of East Africa.

“Heh heh heh, this East Africa is truly a treasure trove.” Prince Constantine said, looking at the detailed data in his hand. “Ernst, what are you planning to do next?”

From the other end of the phone: “Father, East Africa’s current affairs can continue to develop as usual. However, there is one thing we need to speed up, otherwise, it may cause trouble in the future.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Geledi Sultanate in the Somali region.”

“Are you planning to take action against them?”

“Although the Geledi Sultanate doesn’t have a large population, its location is very important, especially since its residents are mainly black. This is a potential threat.”

What Ernst meant by “location is very important” was in reference to East Africa’s population policy, not in a geographical sense.

Constantine had not witnessed the terrifying birth rate of black people in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, so he couldn’t feel the urgency in Ernst’s heart.

Historically, from 1961 to 2021, the entire population of Somalia increased from 2.94 million to 17.06 million. The Geledi Sultanate is now just a country in southern Somalia, with a population of only about a few hundred thousand, so taking the Geledi Sultanate is not very difficult.

Historically, the Sultanate of Zanzibar defeated the Geledi Sultanate and made it its vassal state. East Africa might as well take it one step further and directly annex the Geledi Sultanate.

Somalis, like Ethiopians, are a mixed race of black and white people. The difference is that Somalis are mostly Arab countries. Arab culture is based on culture as a bond and does not emphasize blood relations. This has the same effect as East Africa’s German culture promoting racial integration.

(Image: The dark blue area is the distribution of black and white mixed-race people in Africa)

“Ernst, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. The Geledi Sultanate only has a few hundred thousand people and cannot become a threat to East Africa. However, its geographical location is indeed not bad. If you want to gobble it up, just say so. No need to hide it from me. Just tell the truth between father and son.”

“Father, I’m completely planning for the future situation around East Africa. In reality, the Geledi Sultanate doesn’t have any resources that I value. Only Mogadishu is slightly valuable, but East Africa itself also has ports like Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.”

“Furthermore, after the Suez Canal opens, Mogadishu will be even less valuable. The Geledi Sultanate isn’t really on the Horn of Africa, so it can’t control the passage from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, and there are also large areas of desert. It’s not worth much to take it down.”

(Image: Location of the Geledi Sultanate)

“Alright, let’s take it down first, regardless of whether it’s valuable or not. Anyway, its population is not large, and occupying it shouldn’t be difficult,” Constantine said.

“Yes, we can replace all the black people here with immigrants. That way, there will be very few pure black forces in the northern part of the entire East African colony,” Ernst said.

Prince Constantine was very disdainful. He thought his son’s reaction was a bit excessive, as if hearing about black people was like hearing about a terrifying and difficult monster, giving him a sense of being afraid of one’s own shadow.

However, if Ernst’s plan is completed, it won’t be bad for East Africa anyway, so let him be willful. In an ordinary conversation between father and son, the fate of another ancient African country was decided.

“This year is a crucial year. Before May of next year, we must solidify the overall foundation of East Africa a bit, so that when East Africa becomes a kingdom, the facade will also look better,” Ernst said.

Speaking of the topic of nation-building, Constantine immediately became interested. In fact, Ernst had already hinted that the goal was to build East Africa into a country.

But this was the first time Constantine had heard Ernst explicitly say that East Africa was to become a kingdom, not a principality, a march, or a grand duchy. Becoming a kingdom was too tempting for Constantine!

“Ernst! Are you confident in completing this matter?” Prince Constantine suppressed the excitement in his heart, his voice trembling slightly.

“Father, East Africa’s conditions are there. Becoming a kingdom is a natural progression. To be honest, if we want to amuse ourselves, there’s no problem with creating an African emperor title,” Ernst joked.

East Africa’s geographical location determines that it doesn’t have to follow European legal principles and procedures to position itself. However, Ernst doesn’t want to be a real African chieftain, so it’s better to have some connection with Europe.

And Europe, from beginning to end, has only one emperor, that is, the Caesar of Rome. Now the rulers of three European countries call themselves Caesar, namely Franz of Austria, Napoleon III of France, and Alexander II of Tsarist Russia.

Franz’s emperor has no controversy, after all, he is the legitimate heir of the Holy Roman Empire. Whether Napoleon III is considered a legitimate noble is debatable. Tsarist Russia is completely excluded by Europe. Not to mention Tsarist Russia, even if Eastern Rome were still alive, it would only be the Byzantine Empire in the mouths of Western European countries.

“How are you planning to operate?” Constantine asked curiously. Getting recognition from European countries is the real difficulty for East Africa. Otherwise, even if it calls itself the Cosmic God Kingdom, it will only be a joke in the eyes of others.

“It’s very simple. We will first establish the Kingdom of East Africa. The legal basis naturally comes from the land of East Africa. This is also one of the reasons why I want to take down the Geledi Sultanate.

Then, Uncle Franz will come forward and declare that he recognizes the legitimacy of the Kingdom of East Africa. This way, we will have obtained the recognition of a European emperor, which naturally represents the official recognition of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Then, we will obtain the recognition of Prussia, Romania, the German states, and the Kingdom of Sweden. This is not too difficult, after all, we are all related.

Finally, the key is to win over Tsarist Russia and Spain. Tsarist Russia is okay, at least we have cooperated with them before. As for Spain, you don’t have to worry about it.

The success rate of the above countries is basically above 60%. The success rate of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is 100%. The success rate of Romania, Prussia, and Sweden is also 100%, but their influence is slightly weaker compared to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Most of the South German states will support us, and North Germany has become Prussia’s mouthpiece.

In short, by obtaining the recognition of these countries, we will basically control international public opinion. Even if countries like Britain and France have objections, they can only grin and bear it.”

The most cunning part of Ernst’s plan is that it forcibly connects East Africa with Europe. An African country needs Europe to recognize its legitimacy, which is equivalent to adding a layer of protection to itself.

And the main point is that the legal basis of the Kingdom of East Africa comes from Africa, not Europe. But what legal basis is there in Africa? It’s not up to East Africa to explain it as it pleases.

Franz became Ernst’s tool. According to European procedures, a country needs to be promoted to a kingdom by imperial decree. The Kingdom of Württemberg next to Hechingen was crowned by Napoleon, changing from a grand duchy to a kingdom.

Ernst’s plan for the establishment of East Africa is to first establish the kingdom ourselves, rather than being crowned by the emperor, but later let Franz, the emperor, recognize it. This way, the right of interpretation is still in the hands of East Africa itself.

But it is also easy to give uninformed European countries the illusion that East Africa is an affiliated force of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which adds another layer of protection to East Africa.

As for why it is the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is because Prussia after the Franco-Prussian War was too awesome. Prussia jumped to become a top European power, which would give all countries a great shock. If East Africa joins Prussia again, then Britain and France will definitely go crazy in the future.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also very powerful, everyone knows that the Austro-Hungarian Empire is living off its past glory, so other countries will not be too wary, and at the same time, they will not dare to underestimate it too much.

Chapter 218: A Meeting Gone Astray

December 30, 1869.

Maputo.

“This is the news brought back by the president of the Kazembe Chamber of Commerce, Aristos. The Germans have appeared in the Kazembe Kingdom, and they are even garrisoning troops there, so they probably don’t plan to leave,” said the Governor-General of Mozambique.

“Governor-General, the Germans are rapidly expanding in the African interior. I think we should contact the Angolan colony to jointly contain the Germans’ development.”

“That’s right. If the Kazembe Kingdom is occupied by the Germans, the land route between us and Angola will be cut off by the Germans.”

“However, Angola may not act with us unless we persuade the Kingdom. But there is a fatal problem here. How do we deploy troops inland? The British are harboring malicious intentions towards us. This year, the British directly marched their troops into Delagoa Bay in Mozambique. If it weren’t for our powerful artillery fire, the British wouldn’t have fled in disarray.”

“Truly between a rock and a hard place. If the Germans are the wolf, the British are the tiger. The Germans are always at war and have always been strong on land, while the British can directly attack our ports with warships.”

Unlike a large number of inland cities in East Africa that were planned and built in advance, the core of Mozambique is the coastal cities and ports.

Therefore, it is difficult to say whether East Africa or the British pose a greater threat to Mozambique. On land, East Africa is definitely a bigger threat, as the two are directly adjacent. However, in recent years, East Africa has been relatively peaceful along the Ruvuma River, and the two colonies have been getting along relatively peacefully.

“Gentlemen, the Germans are developing too fast in Africa. If we let them develop like this, Mozambique will be greatly threatened sooner or later.

You must know that the Germans have only been in East Africa for just over three years. At first, they were just a small parasite under the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Now, they have not only eliminated the Sultanate of Zanzibar but have even expanded their sphere of influence to the African interior. How terrifying is that?

Take a look at this map. Here is the mouth of the Ruvuma River, here is Lake Malawi, and here is the Kazembe Kingdom. These three points form a line that almost surrounds us.

Moreover, I won’t elaborate on how long this line is. This shows that the area of land occupied by the Germans is very large.”

“Mr. Kelton, I disagree with your view. It is true that the Germans have gone deep inland, but how will they gain a firm foothold? Although the capital of Kazembe has been occupied by the Germans, the chiefs and tribes under them still exist. We also tried to expand inland in the past, but we gave up after encountering stubborn resistance from the natives.

Therefore, the Germans will at most support a few puppets to rule on their behalf. Moreover, Mr. Kelton, look at the line you drew. This distance is not generally long.

If the Germans expand inland in this pattern, we should be glad instead. Like a long snake, it is convenient to defeat them one by one. Everyone, look here. This is the Malawi Kingdom, which is right in the middle of the German territory. If we attack from here, we can make the Germans unable to attend to both ends.

Our Mozambique colony has always been developing Mozambique in an orderly manner. After so many years of rule, it has become very stable. The Germans came late, but they are trying to bite off more than they can chew. Their ruling foundation in the local area must be unstable. If we clash with the Germans, as long as we instigate the local natives of East Africa, it will instantly lead to smoke and fire everywhere in East Africa.”

“Instead of discussing the threat of the Germans, it is better to talk about the threat of the British. The Germans may only cause us harm, while the British have already taken action.

This year, the British have already begun to probe us. Fortunately, we have enough artillery to prevent the British from succeeding.”

“Moreover, the British have the Cape Town colony in the south, which is not too far from us. The so-called Zulu Kingdom in the middle cannot play a buffering role at all, and the British probably wouldn’t refuse if they borrowed the road.”

“In this way, the British can pose a threat to us from the sea or land, and they have already begun to take action. The British are the country we should be most wary of.”

“The Kingdom has a good relationship with the British on the surface, but when it comes to the colonies, it’s a mess. The British have been coveting us all these years.”

“We can’t be completely defenseless against the Germans either. At least we should give some support to the three kingdoms in the west to help them withstand the pressure from East Africa.”

“No, we should only support the Malawi Kingdom. The Malawi Kingdom is our buffer state with East Africa. The two countries to the south are our future direction of expansion. Giving them support is equivalent to cutting off our own retreat.”

“That’s right, Chris, can you use your brain before you speak? The Germans can’t reach there. On the contrary, we have been infiltrating there all these years. So, next time you speak, you should first look at the map and not fabricate the so-called German threat theory in a clever way. That will only let everyone here know that you didn’t bring your brain when you went out today.”

This council member’s words caused everyone to burst into laughter, and Chris, who supported aiding the western countries, wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

“Alright, quiet.” The Portuguese Governor-General of Mozambique, who had been listening to everyone’s discussion, spoke.

“I have listened to everyone’s suggestions just now. After careful analysis, I still think that the British threat is greater than the German threat. The main reason is that the Germans do not have a strong navy. The Portuguese Kingdom has an advantage in this regard.

We are temporarily unable to expand in the inland areas, but we can negotiate with the Germans first. The most important thing is to guard against the British first. Otherwise, if we really clash with the Germans, the British will definitely attack us from the sea in the end. Therefore, we must remain calm before East Africa infringes on our core interests.

Moreover, we haven’t understood East Africa well enough in the past two years, so much so that the news of the East African army suddenly appearing in Kazembe was still brought by the Kazembe Chamber of Commerce. We can take this negotiation as an opportunity to investigate the development of East Africa and find out the strength of the Germans.”

“Governor-General, the most important thing in this negotiation is to ensure our interests in the Kazembe region with East Africa, and it is best to bring the Malawi Kingdom along to talk together. To be honest, it is better for us to control the southern part of the Malawi Kingdom ourselves.”

“That’s right, the Malawi Kingdom should have entered the dustbin of history long ago. We can discuss with East Africa to divide the Malawi Kingdom.”

As soon as they heard that there was a profit to be made, everyone immediately changed their tune. One second ago, East Africa was a major threat, and now it has become an accomplice that can share the spoils.

The party that originally said it would support the Malawi Kingdom is now silent. If East Africa is easy to talk to, wouldn’t it be a win-win situation for everyone to directly divide Malawi? This is much better than directly confronting East Africa.

Unknowingly, the theme of the meeting deviated. The original discussion of the threat from East Africa and Britain turned into a discussion of how to divide the Malawi Kingdom with East Africa.

Chapter 219: The Importance of Connections

Bagamoyo Port.

Two sailing warships that looked quite imposing were completing their handover.

“Your Royal Highness, these are warships we’ve drawn from active service specifically to support your endeavors.”

Austro-Hungarian Navy Captain Blair, responsible for the delivery, introduced the ships to Archduke Ferdinand (Maximilian I) with a beaming smile.

“Alright, I probably know them better than you do when it comes to understanding them.” Ferdinand, Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, interrupted Blair without ceremony.

“They were serving in the Austrian Navy when I first took office. Now that they’ve come to East Africa, it’s a good place for them to continue serving and making use of their remaining value.”

As he spoke, Ferdinand boarded one of the ships, with Blair accompanying him from behind.

“They haven’t changed much in all these years, but is this paint newly applied?”

“Yes, before setting sail, both ships underwent careful inspection. Their overall performance is still intact, but there were some minor issues accumulated over the years. So they were taken to the Trieste shipyard for maintenance, and some modern facilities were also added.”

“Franz has done well. When you return to report, give him this letter.” Ferdinand took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Blair.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness, I will definitely deliver the letter.”

The letter naturally contained words of gratitude. This time, Ferdinand genuinely felt that having a good older brother was truly wonderful.

Having suffered a severe beating from the Mexicans, Archduke Ferdinand had swung from one extreme to another.

Back in Mexico, Ferdinand stubbornly refused to seek any help from the Austrian royal family. Now, Ferdinand declared, “It smells so good!” (a common expression meaning that something one previously disliked is actually quite appealing.)

With Franz’s help, the East African Navy, with two warships retired from the Austro-Hungarian Navy plus two antique warships from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, instantly began to look respectable.

“Blair, what do you think the future of the East African Navy will be?” Ferdinand asked.

“Your Royal Highness, I’m not in a good position to comment on that. Hmm…it has potential, at least the maritime conditions are much better than in Austria.”

Blair didn’t hold much hope for the East African Navy. After all, East Africa was so poor, how could it afford to build a navy? Blair felt a bit sorry for Ferdinand, the so-called Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, considering those two antique warships from the previous century. However, East Africa’s geographical conditions were indeed several times better than the “bathtub” (a derogatory term for a small, enclosed sea) outside the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s doorstep.

Bagamoyo Port had decent conditions, but because it was very close to Dar es Salaam, it was often overlooked by the East African government.

For example, immigration and commercial exports were diverted by Dar es Salaam and Tanga Port on both sides, even falling behind Mtwara Port in the south.

Because Bagamoyo Port was shallow, while Dar es Salaam was a deep-water port, it was difficult for Bagamoyo to compete with Dar es Salaam. Tanga Port and Mtwara Port were important regional ports without competitors, so they were also more important than Bagamoyo. However, Bagamoyo also had its advantages.

It was a river port, located on the right bank of the mouth of the East African Little Rhine (Ruvu River).

However, the rivers along the East African coast were not very valuable for shipping. The few larger rivers were only a few hundred kilometers long, and only a hundred kilometers or so were navigable due to the terrain.

But the Little Rhine was strategically important to East Africa. Going upstream from the estuary, one could directly reach the first town in East Africa, the political center.

Therefore, the East African naval base was located here, which could take advantage of Bagamoyo’s port conditions, control the mouth of the Little Rhine, and provide support to the ports on both sides of East Africa. The opposite bank of Bagamoyo was a natural geographical barrier, Zanzibar Island, which could resist some of the wind and waves from the Indian Ocean. At the same time, if economic development didn’t take off, then so be it. It was just right to use it as a naval base.

It must be said that East Africa made the right choice in selecting Maximilian I as the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy.

After taking office, he couldn’t get resources from the East African government, so he could only turn his attention to Austria. “I, Ferdinand, am asking Franz to send money!”

This was also why Franz said that Ferdinand and Ernst had gone bad. However, the Austrian Navy itself couldn’t get enough funding, so where could it find support for Ferdinand?

Oh, it’s no longer correct to call it the Austrian Navy. It should be called the Austro-Hungarian Navy. When the Austrian Empire was renamed the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867, the navy was also renamed accordingly.

Faced with the Emperor’s inquiry, the Austro-Hungarian Navy stated that they were willing to provide Ferdinand with two brig warships free of charge, and could also send a group of young talents as advisors to help Archduke Ferdinand build the East African naval force.

A brig is a sailing ship with two masts and square sails. In the age of sail, brigs were widely used as warships and merchant ships due to their speed and maneuverability.

The design lifespan of a 19th-century pine brig was generally 20 years, and many actually lasted even longer.

The two ships that the Austro-Hungarian Navy gave to East Africa were built around 1840. The Austro-Hungarian Navy had long wanted to retire these old ships, but they didn’t know where to throw them. It was just right that East Africa would take them. Since the Emperor wanted to take care of his younger brother, then the navy would just give these two warships to East Africa. Next time they asked for military spending, they could be more assertive.

As for the young talents, they were naturally inexperienced or marginalized young officers in the Austro-Hungarian Navy. For them, being sent to East Africa was practically like being exiled.

In short, the Austro-Hungarian Navy and the East African government had the same attitude: anything was easy to talk about as long as money wasn’t involved. Ships and talent could be sent for free.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, squeezed into the narrow Adriatic Sea, such a geographical location caused Austria-Hungary to have little interest in the navy. But neighboring Italy helped the Austro-Hungarian Navy. In order to cope with unified Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had a relatively better time in recent years. From 1861, the Austrian Navy entered the era of ironclad ships, and now it was the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

“You’re right, but potential is just potential after all. Without the support of a powerful country, even the best conditions will be wasted.” Ferdinand said.

“Your Royal Highness, don’t worry. I personally am optimistic about East Africa. In the future, with Austria’s help, East Africa may not catch up with Europe, but it should be able to develop well in Africa.” Blair said cautiously.

In this era, Europeans were constantly deepening the impression of Europe as the center of the world, and the only overseas country that could be compared with Europe, the United States, could be considered half. Therefore, Blair added the words “in Africa” before “develop well.” The reason he said it could develop well in Africa was that there was another semi-modernized country in Africa: Egypt.

The strength of the Egyptian Navy during the Muhammad Ali era was quite considerable even in Europe. At its peak, it had 32 warships. Although Egypt had declined now, it was still the strongest military power in Africa, which East Africa could not compete with.

In terms of the army alone, the number of troops in East Africa before the reforms was already very close to that of Egypt, but after the reforms, the number of troops was basically cut in half, and it could not be compared with Egypt in terms of scale alone.

Moreover, Egypt had the ability to produce its own equipment, although it had now become import-oriented again due to British and French colonization, but that set of military industrial systems still existed.

Blair escorted the warships, passing through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden all the way to East Africa.

He had seen some of Egypt’s cities, and in East Africa, he had only reached Mombasa once to replenish supplies before arriving in Bagamoyo. Mombasa was still considered prosperous, but Bagamoyo was too desolate.

Therefore, Blair concluded that East Africa had a clear gap with Egypt, so it would probably be difficult to become the number one in Africa.

Blair had never heard of any civilized countries in Africa other than Egypt. The Ottoman Empire didn’t count, after all, its main body was in the Middle East and Europe.

In fact, it’s not Bagamoyo’s fault. After all, immigration and exports were all in the neighboring free port of Dar es Salaam, so it seemed very unpopular.

Historically, Bagamoyo had a period of glory when Germany colonized it, but later the Germans also found that Dar es Salaam had better conditions, and also turned to focus on developing Dar es Salaam. Bagamoyo was mentioned again in the twenty-first century when a major country engaged in the Belt and Road Initiative, which had a bit of a “beggars can’t be choosers” feel. The credit of African countries was not high, and the conditions of Bagamoyo Port could only be considered average, but there were no other options, after all, the excellent ports along the Indian Ocean were controlled by Western or pro-Western forces.

Chapter 220:

“Your Excellency, Archduke Ferdinand!”

A row of young Austrian naval officers stood ramrod straight before Ferdinand, who looked at the “promising young talents” with satisfaction.

“Your Excellency, this is the East African advisory group formed by the Imperial Navy. They will be working under you from now on!” Blair introduced to Ferdinand.

Ferdinand nodded, affirming, “Alright, once you get to East Africa, just focus on your work. Don’t harbor any dissatisfaction about coming to East Africa. The conditions in East Africa are a bit rough at the moment, but with me, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Navy, leading you, your talents won’t be wasted. From now on, just treat East Africa as your own home.”

Ferdinand and Blair, in just a few words, defined the nature of these men. Ferdinand, of course, knew that these people might be troublemakers or come from less-than-ideal backgrounds. After all, in the Austro-Hungarian system, it was difficult for commoners to rise through the ranks.

But the more it was like this, the more it indicated that these guys had real skills. Anyway, East Africa was short of all kinds of talent, so Ferdinand would use them without hesitation.

With this group of people in hand, the eight hundred sailors in East Africa would have real leaders. Ferdinand couldn’t possibly handle everything personally.

The numbers weren’t large, but they could share the knowledge they had learned and some of the experiences of the Austro-Hungarian Navy with the sailors who came from the inland lake forces. This was the most valuable asset.

…

January 7, 1870.

Central District, First Township, Kivit Palace.

“Your Majesty, Mozambique has sent a delegation, saying they want to cooperate with us! Their people have already arrived at the port of Dar es Salaam.”

Von der Leyen, holding a telegram from Dar es Salaam, came to Kivit Palace to report to Prince Constantine.

“Cooperate! What does Portugal want to do?”

“After our people inquired indirectly, they learned that they probably want to divide the Kingdom of Malawi with us.”

“Oh, that’s a rare thing indeed. I thought they were here to protest our actions in the Kingdom of Kazembe?”

Prince Constantine took the telegram and began to read it with interest.

“Your Majesty, why do you think the Mozambique colony wants to discuss this with us? With their strength, they should be able to deal with those natives on their own, right?” Von der Leyen asked.

“It’s simple. They themselves are not strong enough to swallow the entire Kingdom of Malawi, so they need an external country to help them share the pressure,” Constantine said after putting down the telegram.

“I estimate they’ve been interested in the Kingdom of Malawi for a long time, but the local resistance is too fierce, so they haven’t succeeded. Before I came, the Kingdom of Malawi had been almost disintegrated and divided by the Portuguese. The central government exists in name only, but the tribes below haven’t seen them swallow it up.”

“Your Majesty, what should we do? Have them come to the First Township to talk?”

“Let the Dar es Salaam city government negotiate with them. There’s no need to let them enter the interior, as it might expose some intelligence. Agree to the cooperation for now. We can take this opportunity to occupy some strategically important locations and consolidate the land of the Kingdom of Malawi that we’ve been nibbling away at over the years.”

“But I feel like this is too much of a bargain for the Portuguese, Your Majesty. In this way, we actually won’t have taken much land, and it would be like handing over the southern part of the Kingdom of Malawi to the Portuguese.”

“We are currently launching a war against the Geredi Sultanate, and we are also using troops in the southwest, which is tying up a lot of troops. We don’t have the energy to open up another front. Let the Portuguese try their luck with the Kingdom of Malawi. As for whether they can control it, that depends on their own abilities. However, the Portuguese haven’t had much success with the Kingdom of Malawi all these years, so whether the Portuguese Kingdom can succeed is still unknown. So, let’s not worry about what they’re doing and focus on our own affairs first.”

“Your Majesty, I understand. But in my opinion, we and the Portuguese will have a war sooner or later. There are still many blank areas in Africa, so there’s no need for fierce competition between the two sides. But once the interests in this area are divided up, it’s hard to say.”

“I naturally know this. It’s still best to stabilize the Portuguese for now. As long as we maintain our current rate of development, we won’t have any problems facing the entire Portuguese Kingdom in the future.”

At this time, the Portuguese Kingdom’s mainland population was only a little over four million. However, Portugal was a traditional naval power, and its influence in the Indian Ocean was not weak.

East Africa’s current population is actually comparable to that of Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, and Greece.

But again, East Africa’s history is too short, and its accumulation is insufficient. It is only much stronger than Greece, a country that barely survives by taking on debt.

“Your Majesty, there is one more thing that I must explain to you. If it is not resolved, it is likely to hinder the development of East Africa.”

“What is it?”

“When the lower-level governments reported the statistics last year, they reflected that East Africa may be ushering in a baby boom this year, which is a huge challenge for us.”

“A baby boom? Wasn’t two hundred thousand newborns last year enough? Can it break through this year?”

“Your Majesty, I was also shocked when I heard about this, but after thinking about it carefully, it is indeed the case. Immigrants arriving in East Africa, in addition to those who are already married, those single immigrants have also gradually married in recent years. Through our efforts in recent years, more than one million families have been established in East Africa. In addition, East Africa is becoming increasingly stable, and the public’s desire to have children is very strong. Some families have even started having second and third children, so the birth rate this year is likely to be astonishing.”

Prince Constantine fell into deep thought, then looked at Von der Leyen and asked, “Will they also have fourth and fifth children…”

Von der Leyen nodded and said, “The conservative estimate is at least five children. If there are no accidents, families with ten or more children may not be uncommon!”

The main body of East African immigrants is farmers from various countries, and the population structure is very young. In addition, East Africa’s special land and distribution system makes the birth rate indeed terrifying.

At the same time, East Africans don’t go out at night and don’t have any nightlife, so they can only stay at home making little people, so East Africa’s birth rate is naturally not low.

The current two and a half million people may become more than ten million or even more in twenty years. Thinking of this, Prince Constantine instantly felt that Ernst’s immigration policy was still too radical.

It’s not that East Africa can’t afford to support so many people, but that there are too many newborns, and their concentrated birth in such a short period of time will definitely cause a shortage of manpower and food pressure. After all, taking care of young children is also very energy-consuming. At the same time, they are born together, which is equivalent to suddenly having hundreds of thousands more mouths to feed. According to East Africa’s traditional age of adulthood, they will not be able to support themselves until at least fourteen years later.

“Regarding this matter, you must first clarify the situation in various places and report the relevant data. I will discuss this issue with Ernst.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Von der Leyen replied.

Chapter 221: Make the Negroes Suffer First

January 11th, 1870.

Hohenzollern Castle, in the garden.

“One hundred and eleven, one hundred and twelve, one hundred and thirteen…”

Ernst gritted his teeth, struggling to count his push-ups, sweat soaking his white cotton undershirt.

“Three hundred!”

“Huff… huff… this challenge is still too difficult for me!” Ernst said to the coach, panting heavily.

He supported himself with his hands on his thighs, sweat pouring down his forehead. Tom handed him a towel at the right moment. Ernst took the towel and wiped the sweat from his face.

“Your Highness, it’s already remarkable that you can persevere like this. I doubt many ordinary people could do it!” the coach commented from the side.

“Coach Rowett, you flatter me too much. I wouldn’t be able to persist without someone supervising me. Only someone with a bit of wealth like me would do such a pointless thing.”

Recently, Ernst had looked in the mirror and realized he had gained a lot of weight, which was a bolt from the blue for him.

In his previous life, he had always had a normal physique, but after transmigrating, he had gained a bunch of fat because of the good food and lack of exercise.

Ernst would be 20 years old at the end of this year. He was currently 178 centimeters tall and probably wouldn’t grow any taller, something he couldn’t control.

Prince Constantine’s appearance couldn’t be called ugly, but it could be described as ordinary. Ernst had only slightly improved upon Prince Constantine’s looks.

Combined with his relative youth, he was above average in appearance for people of this era. You could say Ernst had presence and spirit, but he was far from being handsome.

Given this foundation, weight had a huge impact on Ernst. If he was even slightly overweight, he would look unattractive. Ernst was self-aware and knew he didn’t have the willpower, so he hired a professional to create a personalized weight loss plan for him.

“Your Highness, your figure is actually not bad among the nobility. There’s no need to engage in this so-called ‘weight loss’,” Tom said.

“You don’t understand. My aesthetic is different from ordinary people. It only matters if I think I look good. Other people’s standards are irrelevant to me. My life is about being satisfied with myself, not following the crowd.”

Hearing Ernst say this, Tom stopped trying to persuade him. In Tom’s opinion, Ernst was completely asking for trouble. Before the weight loss, Ernst’s figure had a lot of Prince Constantine’s style, which looked good, or at least very stable.

If Ernst knew what Tom was thinking, he would probably be depressed for a while. Prince Constantine wasn’t stable, but indeed a little heavy, his face almost like a pancake.

…

“Ding-a-ling…”

“Your Highness, a call from His Royal Highness the Prince!” a servant came to the garden to report to Ernst.

Ernst dismissed Tom and the coach and went to the telephone room, taking the phone from the operator’s hand.

“Wait outside. Come back in if I call you.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The operator skillfully closed the door.

“Hello, Father, what’s up?”

“Ernst, I have something I want to ask your opinion on, regarding the population in East Africa.”

Hearing this, Ernst became attentive. The East African population had always been a major concern for Ernst.

“Father, what is it?”

“It’s like this, the total number of newborn children in East Africa in 1869 was just over 200,000. I think you’re aware of that number, but this year the number of newborns in East Africa will probably break a new record. According to reports from all levels of government, we can now roughly determine that the number of newborns this year is very likely to exceed 500,000!”

“Isn’t that a good thing, Father?” Ernst asked, puzzled.

“It seems you don’t realize the seriousness of the situation. Five hundred thousand is just a conservative number. This number could also be six hundred thousand, seven hundred thousand, or even more. East Africa has a total of over 1.11 million households. Excluding families who just had children last year, there are still over 900,000 households. All of these 900,000 households could have children this year, and some families may even have a second or third child. If we follow this trend, think about how many children there will be in East Africa in the next twenty years?”

“That is indeed a bit much!” Ernst said, then fell silent.

“A bit much? These families, let’s assume that each household has at least five children in the next twenty years. If we add new immigrants, the population of East Africa will definitely exceed 10 million by 1890, or even less than twenty years, ten years will be enough.”

“Then what do you think about this issue, Father?”

“I’m wondering whether we should implement administrative intervention on the population of East Africa, to make them have fewer children?”

“Absolutely not!” Ernst firmly opposed. “It’s easy to correct people’s views on childbearing, but it will be difficult to correct them in the future, so we must never use administrative means to interfere with the population of East Africa.”

Ernst was a staunch anti-birth control advocate. This was related to his own life experiences in his previous life. If the one-child policy had been strictly enforced, Ernst would not have been born in his previous life. Even so, Ernst’s family was fined a large sum of money. People were generally very poor at that time, so everything of value in Ernst’s home was taken away. Later, when the country became rich, no one was willing to have children anymore. Ernst himself hadn’t even gotten married.

“Uh… weren’t you the one who asked me to express my opinion? I was just saying it casually.” Constantine didn’t expect Ernst to object so vehemently.

“Father, since the people of East Africa are so enthusiastic about having children, let them have them. As long as these children grow up in the next twenty years, they will be the future of East Africa. Then the population of East Africa will no longer be a problem. It just so happens that mixed-race families account for the highest proportion. This is the prototype of the East African German ethnicity,” Ernst said.

“I know, you have always emphasized that population is the cornerstone of a country, and a larger population is the cornerstone of a strong country, but the education and support of so many children will be a heavy burden for East Africa!”

Ernst thought carefully and said to Prince Constantine, “Father, the childcare costs in East Africa are benchmarked against rural areas around the world, not Europe. I don’t think East Africa needs to worry about this population growth at all. As for the education issue, East Africa is already running a poor education system. The original fundamental reason was to liberate the East African labor force and allow women to participate in more labor tasks. The industrial scale of East Africa is very small and doesn’t need that many knowledgeable people. Therefore, we can be flexible with the issue of compulsory education. The schools in East Africa are currently small classes. These newborns will be of school age in about four or five years. It will be just right to change to large classes by then. The students from the previous classes will also have graduated, which will solve the teacher shortage in East Africa. Anyway, they just need to read from the textbooks, and the requirements don’t need to be too high.

The main problem East Africa is facing now is actually how to raise so many newborns. My personal opinion is to turn women into full-time housewives and no longer participate in agricultural production activities. It’s not difficult for a mother to take care of five or six children, just responsible for their food and clothing. As for the problem of the agricultural population shortage, let’s use black people to supplement it!”

In the end, the key to solving the problem was still “labor.” The black slaves in East Africa were only adult males, and there was no fear of them reproducing indefinitely. They could only exist in East Africa for one generation. Distributing agricultural work to them was equivalent to letting them use their generation to support the generation of East African newborns. When this batch of East African newborns grew up, it would be time for the “farm tools” to retire from East Africa.

This was cruel, but if the level of mechanization couldn’t be improved, then the Negroes would have to suffer first. Ernst guaranteed that after finding a new tool to replace the Negroes, he would definitely help these kind people who had made important contributions to the construction of East Africa to return to their “hometown” in advance.

Chapter 222: Decency

January 20th, 1870.

Sultanate of Geledi, Mogadishu.

Mogadishu, as the East African government calls it, a name derived from ancient Persian. The locals call it Hamar, and the Ming Dynasty of the East referred to it as Mukdishu. These three names demonstrate the city’s long history and the prosperity of its cultural exchange.

Now, this ancient city has been completely destroyed by the East Africans. Swet bombarded the area with more than thirty cannons, and finally, under the attack of more than three thousand East African soldiers, the most solid fortress of the Geledi Sultanate was completely reduced to ruins.

After the Battle of Mogadishu, the Geledi Sultanate was basically declared extinct, as this was the most populous area of the Geledi Sultanate.

From ancient times to the present, the Geledi Sultanate has never been able to support a large population. Even Mogadishu is mainly based on animal husbandry, making it difficult to develop agriculture.

Mogadishu is located on the east bank of the Shebelle River. Although the Shebelle River is the largest river in Somalia, its water volume is very small.

(Image)

In February and March, the entire river will dry up completely. If it were not for its source in the Ethiopian Highlands, it is feared that the water volume in other seasons would not be too great, so that the shipping and hydropower value of the entire river is almost non-existent.

Although the rivers in East Africa itself do not have high shipping value, they are rich in hydropower resources. The Shebelle River has neither, and like the Yellow River, it is very prone to changing its course. Even in the 21st century, its lower reaches will show the strange phenomenon of the riverbed being higher than the banks on both sides, so it is no wonder that Ernst said that the Geledi Sultanate has no important value.

“Report, Chief of General Staff, there is a letter from the Central Government.”

Swet, who was about to lead his army upstream along the Shebelle River, was stopped by an intelligence officer.

He opened the letter and looked at its contents.

“Lavise?”

“Here, Chief of General Staff!”

“Your unit will stay here and be responsible for guarding the residents of Mogadishu. From now on, no one is allowed to leave the city. Later, the government will send people to take over the population. At that time, you must cooperate with the government and keep a close watch on everyone in the city.”

“Yes, Chief of General Staff!” Lavise replied forcefully.

“But Chief of General Staff, what exactly does the letter say?”

“It’s not a big deal. There’s no harm in telling you. East Africa needs more natives to serve as labor, it’s that simple.”

“By the way, let me emphasize to you that the Geledi Sultanate royal family and nobles should be detained separately. This group of people has other uses.”

“Yes, Chief of General Staff!”

This time Lavise was not curious. The native royal family! In Lavise’s eyes, this thing is no different from those chiefs, only the name sounds better. East Africa has wiped out hundreds, if not thousands, of native chiefs, which is too common.

…

The territory of the Geledi Sultanate is still very large, mainly in the Shebelle River and Juba River basins. Next, Swet will sweep across the entire Shebelle River basin and wipe out the remaining forces of the Geledi Sultanate, so just go up along the Shebelle River.

The Juba River is in the southern part of the Geledi Sultanate, and East Africa attacked it once when it went north. Now it can be completed by the military police who used to patrol the border in East Africa.

This time, Swet’s combat range is not only limited to the territory of the Geledi Sultanate, but also includes the territory of the western Cushitic people. By eating up the land in the southern part of the Cushitic people, the newly occupied Somali area of East Africa can be connected to the Omo River basin.

That is, the original historical regions of Ethiopia and southern Somalia are incorporated into East African territory, forming a natural geographical barrier with the Ethiopian Highlands and the desert regions of Somalia as boundaries.

Once East Africa completes this goal, Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia in its previous life, will directly become the border area between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire. (Historically, in 1887, Menelik II officially moved the capital to Addis Ababa. This is a terrace in the mountains, completely a wilderness before becoming the capital of Ethiopia.)

(Image)

“The advantage of fighting in the desert area is that you don’t have to play hide-and-seek with the native tribes like on the grasslands. These Geledi Sultanate tribes live by water and grass. As long as we follow the rivers or look for oases, we can pinpoint and clear these natives.” Swet said.

Not long after leaving Mogadishu, Swet eliminated another Geledi Sultanate village, a few dozen people, who were camel herders.

“Continue to move forward, this time we will fight all the way to the source of the Shebelle River!”

…

“Mr. Platini, if you look at it solely from the port of Dar es Salaam, what do you think of East Africa’s strength?”

The Portuguese Mozambique mission is discussing the division of the Malawi Kingdom between the two sides with the East African government. Although East Africa has essentially occupied the northern part of the Malawi Kingdom, this meeting only needs to condone the Portuguese invasion of the southern part of the Malawi Kingdom.

However, in order to show that East Africa attaches great importance to this matter, the Dar es Salaam municipal government actively conducted an unnecessary tug-of-war with the Portuguese mission.

During the leisure time of the meeting, the Portuguese also performed their official duties and assessed the strength of East Africa, but the East African government rejected their application for free activities and only allowed them to move around in the port area.

“If we talk about urban construction, Dar es Salaam can already be compared with Maputo, but this has no value. After all, building more houses will not increase strength. However, the Germans’ construction of near-sea defense projects is not bad. Mozambique does not have such large-caliber coastal defense guns.”

“Mr. Platini, that’s for sure. You only need to think about the pitiful navies of Prussia and Austria, and you will understand why the Germans attach importance to coastal defense guns, hahaha!” Everton laughed heartily.

Platini was also amused by Everton’s words, and he said, “Mr. Everton, you are right. Without a strong navy, if the Germans don’t build a few coastal defense guns, they will be completely finished.”

In fact, the strength of the Portuguese navy may not be as good as the navies of Prussia and Austria, but Prussia and Austria, as land powers, have too much military power, and at the same time, the navy is limited by terrain, becoming a coastal fleet, which is very easy to create the illusion that the naval strength of the two countries is weak.

Although the Portuguese have many ships, it is estimated that the East African navy can play one-on-one with that pile of old ships.

The earthquake and tsunami in 1755 interrupted Portugal’s national destiny, and since then Portugal’s national strength has been steadily declining.

Although there are many ships, after all, this is the livelihood of many Portuguese people, but the Portuguese kingdom is unable to support new shipbuilding plans, and the current situation of the Portuguese navy is extremely bleak.

Historically, it was not until 1876 that the first ironclad ship, Vasco da Gama, was launched. This old ship, which was not even as good as the Dingyuan, actually participated in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, which shows Portugal’s decline.

But this does not prevent the Portuguese from mocking East Africa’s maritime power. Except for those big countries, the naval power between small countries is very flexible. The two warships that the East African navy took over from the Austro-Hungarian navy are actually not much different from the Hechingen Consortium’s ocean-going trading ships, except that they are equipped with more cannons. Moreover, in terms of power and volume, the Hechingen Consortium’s ocean-going trading ships are mostly newly built and are more advanced.

Similarly, the merchant ships of the Kingdom of Portugal can also be used as warships. This is the confidence of the Portuguese. Occasionally acting as pirates, they can even moonlight as the Portuguese navy, integrating the military, civilians, and thieves to maintain the decency of this old colonial kingdom.

Chapter 223: Trip to Sweden

“Gentlemen, the division of the Malawi Kingdom will still be based on Kampamba Bay along Lake Malawi. This way, both of us can obtain half of the Malawi Kingdom’s territory. I wonder if your side is satisfied with this?”

The Portuguese delegation’s leaders, Platini and Everton, exchanged a look, and then Platini nodded. Everton also had no major objections to this division.

“Mr. Martin, our side agrees to this division plan!”

“Happy to cooperate!”

“Happy to cooperate!”

The mayor of Dar es Salaam, Martin, finally ended this torturous negotiation, as required by the East African government.

In the past few days, Martin had been asking for the moon. The initial plan was to use Nkhotakota in the southern part of Lake Malawi as the boundary, which was almost a third of the Malawi Kingdom.

The Portuguese naturally did not agree, but in order to keep the Portuguese interested, Martin said that everything was negotiable. Since everyone had ideas about the Malawi Kingdom, wasn’t it only natural for East Africa to want a little more?

Moreover, wasn’t the purpose of your coming to East Africa for this matter? Put forward your plan, and then we can discuss it together and compromise with each other.

The Portuguese, who originally thought that the East African government was not sincere and wanted to turn around and leave, continued to sit down for negotiations after hearing this.

The East African government’s actions seemed like they had nothing better to do, but in reality, they were deliberately delaying the negotiation time. The later Mozambique annexed the southern Malawi Kingdom, the better.

Mozambique was idle, and they really were idle, but East Africa seemed idle, but Zambia and the Sultanate of Geledi were securing their gains.

……

March 11, 1870.

Kingdom of Sweden.

“Ernst, so many years have passed, and you have grown up. If your sister were still alive, she would be very gratified.”

The aging former Queen of Sweden, Josephine Maximiliane Eugénie Napoléone, said while holding Ernst’s hand.

“You see, we are practically from two different eras. How has your father been recently?”

“Aunt, my father is in good health.”

“Alas, many of my relatives and old friends have already passed away. Your mother also died young, leaving behind you as a toddler. It wasn’t easy for Prince Constantine to raise you alone.”

“Yes, Father is very good to me.”

“Well, do you have any matters to discuss during this trip to the Kingdom of Sweden?”

Ernst told his great-aunt about East Africa’s nation-building plan in detail.

“I didn’t expect Prince Constantine to become a king in his old age. You can talk about this with Karl later! It’s not a difficult matter; he will agree.”

Karl is Karl XV, the current King of Sweden and Norway. This time, Ernst came to Sweden to prepare for diplomatic relations after the founding of East Africa.

Sweden was one of the stops. With his aunt’s help, the trip to Sweden was not difficult. At this time, Ernst couldn’t help but sigh at how important it was to have a good mother.

Ernst’s maternal grandfather, Eugène, and maternal grandmother, Augusta (daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria), had six children who all married into various European aristocratic families.

One son was the King Consort of Queen Maria II of Portugal (died early two months after the marriage), another son was the son-in-law of Emperor Nicholas I of the Russian Empire, and their daughter Amélie even crossed the ocean to South America to become the Queen of Brazil.

Their eldest daughter, named Josephine after Eugène’s mother (Empress Joséphine of France, Napoleon I’s ex-wife), with the full name Josephine Maximiliane Eugénie Napoléone (1807-1876), went to Sweden in 1823 and married Oscar I, who would soon ascend the throne. The Swedish people affectionately called her Josefina. Karl XV, who currently rules the Kingdom of Sweden, is her son, making him Ernst’s cousin.

And Ernst’s mother married Prince Constantine. If you add the relatives on Prince Constantine’s side, it’s simply possible to connect the European royal families together; they are all relatives.

When Ernst and Karolina got married, the Bavarian royal family acted as a matchmaker; they were all one family.

However, that being said, European nobles still prioritize interests. I can marry you, but that doesn’t prevent me from fighting you.

“Cousin Ernst, are you really going to establish a kingdom in Africa?” Karl XV asked curiously.

“Yes, cousin, the difficulty of establishing a kingdom overseas is always much simpler than in Europe. It’s almost enough to conquer the natives there.”

“Africa, tsk tsk tsk, I really can’t evaluate it well. The climate should be the opposite extreme compared to Sweden!” Karl XV said.

“When do you plan to announce the establishment of the kingdom?”

“Around May of this year.”

“There are still two months left. Do you need any help?” Karl XV asked.

“It’s enough if the Kingdom of Sweden announces its recognition of the establishment of the East African Kingdom at that time. We will send diplomatic personnel to Sweden then.”

“Well, okay, you can have someone notify me in advance. You should have done relevant work with other countries, right!”

“That’s right, mainly including Austria-Hungary, Prussia, and Bavaria and other German states. In addition, there are Romania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and other countries.”

“What about the major powers like England and France?”

“We can only try our best to work with them. After all, England and France are colonial powers, and East Africa happens to be overseas, so…”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about this aspect. I can help you with this. Sweden has a good relationship with England and France.”

“Then thank you so much, cousin!”

“I’m not entirely sure, but as for the African region, besides the Suez Canal and Cape Town, I don’t see any valuable places. They shouldn’t pay much attention to it and should tacitly allow East Africa to become an independent country.”

……

The trip to Sweden went smoothly. Next, Ernst will go to Saint Petersburg, where Alexander II took the time to meet with Ernst.

Alexander II agreed quite readily. After all, Africa was too far away from Tsarist Russia, and there was no need for any benefits. Anyway, it was always good to give someone a favor.

Next, Ernst began to visit all over the European continent, notifying all the countries that had a good relationship with the Hechingen royal family, and at the same time contacted Alfonso XII, who was still in France.

The Hechingen royal family had been funding Alfonso XII, and this future King of Spain expressed his willingness to issue a statement on behalf of Spain.

Although the Spain that Alfonso XII represented was just a government-in-exile established in France by Isabella II, Isabella II had only fled and never claimed to have given up the Spanish throne.

Alfonso XII himself could also use the establishment of the East African Kingdom to expand his influence within Spain.

Chapter 224: King Constantine Falls

April 13, 1870.

Clear weather, moderate temperature.

The surging and magnificent Zambezi River water, along the cliffs, rushed like ten thousand horses galloping straight into the bottomless depths of the canyon. The huge water mist, refracted by the sunlight, formed a beautiful rainbow bridge.

The sound of the waterfall was like thunder. The huge sound of the water crashing could be heard for several kilometers around the banks. Being on the shore, one was even more impressed by this natural wonder.

I stood on a boulder overlooking the entire waterfall complex, feeling my own insignificance for the first time. Even after more than twenty years of military service, experiencing countless life-and-death decisions, I had never felt this way before.

War brought me only numbness, or rather, it was my job, my only means of making a living.

But this natural wonder gave my numb soul a huge shock, washing away the soul stained by gunpowder smoke.

——Excerpt from “The Diary of Felix, Commander-in-Chief of the East African Kingdom’s Army”

Felix’s diary is a rare detailed historical text from later generations in East Africa, showing how East Africa expanded and ruled the local area from Felix’s perspective.

It can also be regarded as a rare written proof of colonial crimes in East Africa. The official attitude of later generations in East Africa towards this is not to deny it, but Ernst simply gave it a cold treatment.

Once someone wants to understand the history of East Africa, they cannot avoid Felix’s diary. However, the copyright of Felix’s diary is in the hands of the royal family, and the price is very high. Ordinary people still learn about this history through marketing accounts.

And besides Felix’s diary, there is indeed no better way. The East African government is keen to destroy evidence, and it has been doing so since the establishment of the colony.

Including a large number of Arab historical sites and cultural cities, were demolished by East Africa, so it is very difficult to find colonial evidence in East Africa.

At that time, the overall cultural level of East Africa was such that few people, or rather, no one had the ability to keep a diary every day like Felix.

In addition to being able to write, you also had to solve the problem of paper and pen. Generally, only government personnel could access them, and it was difficult for East African government personnel to write an official document, let alone keep a diary.

Therefore, Felix’s diary is even more important. In addition, Felix has a high position and authority in East Africa, and is also blessed with the halo of a famous general, so this diary is very popular.

Ernst’s attitude towards colonial crimes is to confess without denial, but he rarely mentions it. In the era of the Three Kingdoms hegemony, East Africa was criticized by many so-called “progressive” hypocrites because of this.

However, the East African government still went its own way. Once the descendants of victims filed a complaint, the East African government would reject it, because the East African government did not recognize their identity. Indeed, there were some negroes who really wanted to fish in troubled waters, whose ancestors had lived in West Africa for generations, but pretended to be descendants of East African aborigines who had fled to West Africa from East Africa.

As a result, they got nothing. The East African government only admitted to exporting 200,000 aborigines, and most of them were in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar was East Africa’s “brother” country, as close as siblings.

And the Sultanate of Zanzibar had long been raised as a pig by East Africa, and its life was quite good, so naturally it had no intention of courting death.

With the rapid development of the 21st century, the development of various countries gradually entered a bottleneck, especially the various “turning black and white” movements launched by American blacks, trying to morally kidnap the world, but instead allowed East Africa, the former colonial empire, to slowly gain a whitewashed posture.

At least compared with the United States, the difference is obvious, because there are no blacks in East Africa, and there is no such thing as racial discrimination.

Ernst only engaged in colonialism and forced blacks to work, but he did not create strange laws and regulations like the United States. Compared with the colonizers of the same era, East Africa can be described as generous.

Because there was no targeted genocide, even if there was, it was not East Africa who did it themselves. It was just African natives killing each other. Even in the 21st century, West Africa is still like this, with serious tribal conflicts.

Entering the 21st century, Ernst, a controversial historical figure, has also gained more and more recognition from ordinary people in countries outside of East Africa, especially the various social conditions caused by the blackening of the United States and France, which have made the people of the German region more united under the banner of East Africa.

History is a cycle. Ernst, a typical monarch who has had a profound impact on the world, will still be praised. Under the view of heroic history, no matter how sinful the monarchs of any empire are, they will be beautified by later generations.

……

King Constantine Falls.

Felix, the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Army, as the proposer of the “Pocket” Plan, is also the executor of this plan.

At this moment, he was riding a black steed, watching several East African Army soldiers erect an East African flag on a high ground on the north side of King Constantine Falls.

The East African army officially drank water on the north bank of the Zambezi River, and the “Pocket” Plan was completely completed. This “Pocket” Plan lasted five and a half months, occupying the entire territory of later Zambia and part of the territory of the Republic of Congo.

East Africa has added more than 800,000 square kilometers of land. Most of the native kingdoms and tribes have become East African vassal states, signing a large number of land transfer treaties that they did not understand. Under the coercion of the East African Army with guns pointed at their heads, they confusedly pressed their black handprints.

King Constantine Falls is the famous Victoria Falls in Africa in the previous life, called Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls by the natives.

In fact, Victoria Falls was discovered by David Livingstone in 1855 and named after Queen Victoria of England.

However, like the Great Lakes, things in East Africa’s hands naturally have to use German names.

The origin of the name King Constantine Falls dates back to an hour ago.

……

After the completion of the “Pocket” Plan, Felix inspected the area from the north to the vicinity of the Zambezi River, starting from the Yeke Kingdom and ending at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls in the mouths of the natives.

“Commander-in-Chief!” An East African soldier saluted Felix.

Felix looked at the waterfall complex in front of him and asked the people around him: “Well, what is the name of this waterfall?”

“Reporting to the Commander, we don’t know, but the local natives call this place Mosi-oa-Tunya.”

“Mosi-oa-Tunya? Not good, this place will also be East African territory in the future, so we still have to change it to a German name.”

“Commander, I don’t know what name to use?”

“Since it is East African territory, use His Majesty’s name. From now on, this place will be called Prince Constantine Falls.”

However, Felix’s mind turned and he suddenly felt that it was inappropriate. East Africa would eventually establish a kingdom, and it would not be appropriate to use the title of Prince again.

“No, it’s better to call it King Constantine Falls, so that this waterfall is worthy of the status of our East African Kingdom.”

“Yes, Commander-in-Chief!”

This is the origin of the name King Constantine Falls, which was decided in Felix’s few words. For convenience, it is also called King Falls.

Chapter 225: The East African Kingdom

May 13th, 1870.

Inside the Kivett Palace, under bright lights, King Constantine, after a simple coronation ceremony, officially declared the establishment of the East African Kingdom in the presence of Ferdinand, the only two high-ranking nobles, the Naval Commander-in-Chief, East African army and navy officers, and East African central government officials.

The ceremony was simple. European monarchical coronations had a strong religious and cultural influence, which was absent in East Africa. As an African nation, East Africa did not need to follow the European model for this ceremony.

The absence of clergy in the coronation ceremony meant that East Africa was a completely secular nation from the moment of its founding.

As for the Church, two months later, the Savoy Dynasty of Italy would let the Pope in Rome know the importance of a few divisions.

Religion was no longer effective in this era, especially in East Africa, where various faiths and even atheists gathered. Believers saw that heathens and atheists were doing just fine. What was the point of believing? Perhaps believers still existed, but their degree of piety was questionable.

The coronation regalia consisted of the crown, scepter, and royal robe of the former Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen.

King Constantine personally placed the crown on his head, and the music for the coronation ceremony was traditional German folk music.

The crown and scepter had been modified with a large number of jewels and gold, including East African signature jewels such as East African sapphires (Tanzanite) and diamonds.

The East African Kingdom’s flag was also designed. If it weren’t for the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal coat of arms (image), it would look like a replica of the North German Confederation flag.

(Image)

The East African Kingdom flag did not adopt the original flag of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. The eagle flag mainly clashed with the flag of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen; the two flags looked exactly the same.

(Image)

The East African Kingdom flag has no special meaning. The black, white, and red stripes originate from the family coat of arms. At the same time, the deer element was removed from the family coat of arms on the flag to make it look more simple and imposing, symbolizing the unity of the East African Kingdom and the Hohenzollern-Hechingen family.

Finally, the ceremony concluded with a review of the East African Royal Guard. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to make it grand, but the conditions in East Africa didn’t allow it. Even if they held a celebration, they couldn’t gather many people. They could only give the people a few days off and let them organize activities spontaneously in various places.

…

May 20th, the East African Kingdom’s diplomatic missions were directly separated from the Hechingen Consortium and began operating in various countries.

May 25th, this day.

In Europe, major newspapers began to publish the news of the establishment of the East African Kingdom.

According to the previous plan, the Austro-Hungarian government was the first to announce its recognition of the East African Kingdom, followed by Prussia, Sweden, Romania, and the Russian government.

Subsequently, states in the German region such as Bavaria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and other countries also issued statements recognizing the legitimacy of the East African Kingdom.

Finally, Alfonso XII, who was still in France, also represented Spain in announcing the recognition of the East African Kingdom, leaving the current Spanish government in an awkward position!

…

France, the Élysée Palace.

The French Foreign Ministry delivered the letter of credence submitted by the East African Kingdom today to Napoleon III.

“What is this?”

“Your Majesty, it is a letter of credence from a new country.”

“A new country? How come I don’t know of any such changes in Europe recently?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty, this country is not in Europe, but an African country.”

“An African country! Isn’t it all natives there? Is your Foreign Ministry so idle?”

“Uh, Your Majesty, this African country still has some connections with Europe.”

“Could it be that something happened in Egypt?”

Napoleon III immediately thought of the Suez Canal and the British.

“It’s not like that, Your Majesty. The Hohenzollern family has established a new country in East Africa. They call themselves the East African Kingdom.”

“The Hohenzollern family, East Africa, I remember, isn’t that the line of the Principality of Hechingen in the South German region?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I knew it, the East African Kingdom, how interesting!”

“Your Majesty, what should we do next?”

“Have they sent a delegation?”

“They are in the hotel.”

“Let them come and see me!”

…

England.

The then British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone exclaimed that he had been fooled after receiving the news from Europe.

“Damn it, we’ve all been deceived! This so-called East African colony is not a colony established by Prussia itself at all, but Austria-Hungary is supporting it from behind.”

“Mr. Prime Minister, this is not exactly deception. After all, the East African colony has never said that it is a subordinate force of Prussia. We were just misled by the Hohenzollern surname at the beginning.”

“Does this mean that Austria-Hungary has unrealistic fantasies about overseas colonies?”

“Not necessarily, Mr. Prime Minister. It can only be said that this so-called East African Kingdom deliberately leaned towards Austria-Hungary. Our intelligence shows that the two royal families were married long ago. This may be the main reason. Moreover, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, who is also the father-in-law of East African Crown Prince Ernst, is in East Africa.”

“That’s good. As long as it’s not a kingdom instigated by Austria-Hungary, it’s still acceptable.”

“Mr. Prime Minister, in fact, the founding routine of this East African Kingdom is similar to the East India Company’s occupation of India. It was also initiated by the German Hechingen Consortium. As far as we know, the owner behind it is the Hechingen royal family. So, this kind of thing has been planned by the Hechingen royal family for a long time, and the relationship with other countries is not very important.”

“In other words, Constantine personally planned this? Just to go to Africa and be a chieftain?”

“Uh, Mr. Prime Minister, I think that’s very likely. Our intelligence agent analyzed it this way. After the Principality of Hechingen was annexed by Prussia, Prince Constantine has always been dissatisfied. After all, he has fallen from a sovereign country to a puppet, so he is naturally unwilling, especially with the same fate of annexation. Prince Karl next door has been the Prime Minister in Prussia, which has aggravated the imbalance in Prince Constantine’s heart. In order to get rid of the Kingdom of Prussia, Constantine decided to go overseas. So, he planned for more than ten years. At the same time, in order to retaliate against Prussia, he chose Austria-Hungary, which was not very close, as an ally. The previous marriage with the Habsburg family was also within his calculations. At the same time, saving Maximilian I made his relationship with the Austrian royal family closer…”

Worthy of being the British intelligence department, relying on sparse intelligence, they forcibly made up a bloody drama.

“Okay, I’m not…” William Ewart Gladstone was about to say something.

Suddenly, an official ran over in a panic and whispered something to William Ewart Gladstone.

“What? Is the news confirmed?”

“Yes, Prime Minister, riots have already broken out in Ireland.”

“Okay, I know. I’ll go and deal with it right away.”

Seeing that the Prime Minister was about to leave, the Foreign Secretary hurriedly asked, “Mr. Prime Minister, what happened?”

“It’s the Irish.”

The Foreign Secretary immediately understood.

“Then how should we deal with this East African Kingdom?”

“There’s no time to deal with him now. You copy a statement according to the statements of other countries and send it out!”

After speaking, the Prime Minister left.

On May 25th, 1870, the European powers Austria, Russia, England, and France successively recognized the legitimacy of the establishment of the East African Kingdom, and then other European countries followed suit. Overnight, most Europeans knew of the birth of a new country.

Ernst’s choice of May 25th to announce the establishment of the East African Kingdom in Europe was truly premeditated. Before the Franco-Prussian War, the establishment of the East African Kingdom meant that even if the French government did not recognize the legitimacy of the East African Kingdom, it could still negotiate with the new French government later.

At the same time, on May 25th, the Irish Home Rule movement broke out in Britain, which could divert the British’s attention.

However, the result was still good. Britain and France did not make things difficult for the newborn East African Kingdom. Now, except for a few small countries, most of Europe recognizes the existence of the East African Kingdom.

Among the few small countries, only the Vatican has some influence. The Pope is very dissatisfied with Constantine’s actions. He made such a big splash in Europe, but the church knew nothing about it. How was his coronation ceremony completed? The South German region where the Principality of Hechingen is located is a Catholic region.

The most hateful thing is that this East African Kingdom has sent envoys to many countries, even Italy, but not a single person has come to Rome (Papal States).

Chapter 226: Far East Ambassador

1870, Far East.

“Mr. Richard!”

“What is it, Wang?”

“It hasn’t even been a few months, how come your side has changed the signboard again?”

“Hahaha, to be honest, I won’t be working here anymore.” Richard said with a face full of triumph.

“Ah! Mr. Richard, are you returning to Europa?” Wang Enke asked with slight worry. Richard was usually quite easy to talk to, would his successor be difficult to communicate with!

“Not at all, not at all, in your Far Eastern language it’s called a promotion.”

“Then congratulations to you.” Wang Enke cupped his hands in congratulation.

“Congratulations to you too!”

“May I ask where you will be going?”

“This time, I will represent the Kingdom of East Africa in establishing diplomatic relations with your country, and will serve as the Kingdom of East Africa’s ambassador to the Far East in your capital.”

“The Kingdom of East Africa? Then won’t you be the same as Great Britain and France in the future?”

“More or less, more or less.” Richard said with a slightly guilty conscience.

This was simply too flattering for East Africa, comparing it to the world’s maritime hegemon and the world’s second strongest country.

…

“Mr. Lee Force, there is someone outside claiming to represent the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen of Prussia, Germany, requesting an audience.”

“Hohenzollern-Hechingen? I’ll go take a look!”

Lee Force, the Prussian envoy to the Far East, walked out of the courtyard and saw Richard, who had come from Jiaozhou.

“May I ask who you are?”

“Mr. Lee Force, I am Richard, the former head of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Far East Commercial Liaison Office.”

“Oh, I know about that, I wonder what your purpose is in seeking me out.”

“I have a personal letter from Prince Constantine here.” Richard took a letter from his pocket.

“A letter from Prince Constantine?”

Lee Force quickly took the letter, opened it and began to read.

After a while.

“Uh, Mr. Richard, Prince Constantine’s request puts me in a difficult position! Without confirmation from the Prussian government, I dare not act without authorization.”

“Mr. Lee Force, you are overthinking it! In fact, the establishment of the Kingdom of East Africa has been approved by the Prussian royal family and government, it’s just that the news from Europe hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Then how did you get the news?”

“When our Kingdom of East Africa was established, we naturally made preparations in advance. In fact, I was authorized half a month ago, but the kingdom had not yet been established at that time, so I did not come over.”

“Prince Constantine considered it thoroughly, but why didn’t he let the Prussian government send us a message in advance so we could prepare earlier? Now isn’t he making things difficult for me?”

“Mr. Lee Force, in fact, you only need to be responsible for the introduction, you can do it on the grounds of personal relationship, without representing the Prussian government.”

Lee Force’s eyes lit up and he said, “That is indeed a solution, then I will contact the Far Eastern government on your behalf in a private capacity.”

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived at a residence in the capital.

“Mr. Lee Force! I wonder what brings you here today?” Qing government minister Chonghou asked with some surprise.

“Your Excellency Chonghou, this is the envoy of the Kingdom of East Africa, who has come to the capital to establish diplomatic relations with your country, so I am acting as an introducer.”

“The Kingdom of East Africa? I wonder where that is? Is it also a Western country!”

“Let Mr. Richard tell you, he knows more about it than I do.”

“Hello, Your Excellency Chonghou, I am Richard, the representative of the Kingdom of East Africa.”

Listening to the Mandarin with a Shandong accent, Chonghou asked, “Hello, Your Excellency Richard, I wonder where your Kingdom of East Africa comes from? Why have I never heard of it, and your language has a Shandong flavor, have you stayed in Shandong?”

“Hahaha, Your Excellency Chonghou, you are indeed clever, I did come from Jiaozhou, where I used to be responsible for the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium’s trade with your country!”

“Hohenzollern-Hechingen! I know, that’s where the new Jiaozhou Customs was established! This Hohenzollern-Hechingen is said to be a German company as well? I wonder what the relationship is with the Kingdom of East Africa?” Chonghou asked Lee Force in confusion.

Hearing that Richard came from the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium, Chonghou instantly grasped the key point. This Hohenzollern-Hechingen came from Germany, didn’t it, so wasn’t it the same path as Prussia! Lee Force often said that Prussia was the leader of Germany, so wouldn’t this Hohenzollern-Hechingen be a front for the Prussian government?

“I used to be an employee of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Company, but now I represent the Kingdom of East Africa. Although the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium comes from Germany, it is a large company spanning Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of East Africa, and it also has trade relations in various European countries and around the world.”

“I see! I know a little about Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but I am ignorant and have not heard of the Kingdom of East Africa.”

“Your Excellency, it’s not your fault, in fact, the Kingdom of East Africa is a new country.”

“A new country? Is it also a German country?”

“Of course, but the Kingdom of East Africa is special. It is a new country established in East Africa by our German Prince Constantine.” Lee Force said from the side.

“The eastern part of the African continent?”

“That’s right. Its monarch is our Prussian Prince Constantine, who is now also the King of the Kingdom of East Africa.”

…

The reason why Richard asked Lee Force for help was because the Austro-Hungarian Empire had not yet established diplomatic relations with the Qing government in the Far East, while Prussia had established diplomatic relations with the Qing government as early as 1861.

Even in 1864, during the Second Schleswig War, Prussian envoy Lee Force deliberately clashed with Danish ships in the Bohai Sea and privately captured three Danish ships as spoils of war at Dagukou.

Finally, under the Qing government’s strong protest based on international law, Lee Force returned the ships and compensated 1,500 US dollars. This can be considered one of the Qing government’s rare diplomatic achievements.

On the 13th of the month, the day the Kingdom of East Africa was established, Emperor Tongzhi received Richard, the representative of the Kingdom of East Africa, under the introduction of Chonghou.

May 15, 1870.

Richard, the ambassador of the Kingdom of East Africa, signed a treaty with Chonghou, the representative minister of the Qing government. Historically known as the “Two East Treaty,” referring to East Africa and the Far East.

With the signing of the “Two East Treaty,” East Africa officially established diplomatic relations with the Far Eastern Empire.

The “Two East Treaty” contains fifty-seven articles. The main contents are as follows:

1. The Kingdom of East Africa may send envoys to the capital and to various parts of the Far East; (2) East Africa is permitted to establish consulates in various Far Eastern treaty ports, allowing East African citizens to trade, reside, lease land for construction, hire Chinese, and buy and sell various books and goods; (3) East African merchants in China shall pay taxes according to common practice, equal to those of other powers; (4) The Qing side is responsible for protecting the property, goods and debts of East African citizens in China; (5) The Kingdom of East Africa enjoys consular jurisdiction and unilateral most-favored-nation treatment; (6) The Kingdom of East Africa may recruit Chinese laborers in various parts of the Far East, and the Qing government shall not hinder it. The “Commercial Regulations and Customs Tariffs” were also signed along with this treaty.

Overall, it is considered an equal treaty, the problem lies in Article 6, but the Qing government did not raise any objections, so it was passed.

According to the treaty, in addition to establishing the Embassy of the Kingdom of East Africa in the Far East in the capital, consulates were also established in Jiaozhou, Shanghai, Xiangshan County (Zhuhai), Xuzhou, and Kaifeng.

Qing government minister Chonghou did not find the first two locations strange, but was quite surprised that this Western country actually knew about Xuzhou and Kaifeng, and even he himself did not know about Xiangshan, this small place. How did the East Africans know about it?

Richard’s explanation was that these three places had commercial trade with the Kingdom of East Africa. In reality, these were the nodes of the North China immigration route to East Africa.

Kaifeng and Xuzhou are important transportation nodes in North China. Kaifeng can gather immigrants from Henan and the Northwest, while Xuzhou is located at the intersection of four provinces, making it convenient for East African immigration work to be carried out. Zhuhai and Jiaozhou were the earliest trading stations established by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium in the Far East, as for Shanghai, it is a place valued by almost all countries.

Chapter 227: The Utterly Morally Deficient East Africans

The Far East was a vast market, while Japan at the same time was an emerging market, also an important source of immigrants and a grain trade market in the Far East for the East African Kingdom.

To express its emphasis on Japan, the East African Kingdom established diplomatic relations with the Japanese government the day after establishing diplomatic relations with the Qing government.

Sebastian, the general manager of the Black Hingen Bank branch in Japan, served as the East African Kingdom’s minister to Japan, and East Africa also set up a number of consulates throughout Japan.

After the Meiji Restoration in Japan, the Japanese government began to vigorously develop industry, but industrial development required a lot of capital. The Japanese government raised funds in only two ways: one was to borrow from Western countries and large domestic merchants, and the other was to exploit the domestic population to the extreme.

Japanese women and farmers were the hardest hit. The Japanese Meiji government encouraged women to engage in work such as textiles. During the same period, the second largest industry in Japan for female employment was “special services.”

With these conditions, East Africa certainly couldn’t miss out. After sending diplomatic envoys, they even more blatantly introduced female immigrants from Japan.

The Meiji government first invested in light industries such as silk and cotton, and hired foreigners to guide industrial production. However, industrial modernization projects required a large labor force, especially the textile industry, which required a large number of female laborers. However, difficulties were encountered when recruiting workers. Recruitment work in rural areas was not smooth, and the daughters of farmers were unwilling to leave their villages. Therefore, nationwide government propaganda aimed to persuade women to work in factories. Some local officials, in order to achieve the purpose of propaganda, first sent their own daughters to work in factories. When the government’s demonstration effect became apparent, many people regarded factories as a safe place.

This provided convenience for East Africa to introduce immigrants. The method used by East Africa to introduce Japanese female immigrants was very simple: invest in establishing textile factories in Japan, specifically recruit female workers, and then arrange for them to work in “Europe” under the guise of internal company transfers.

What followed was a series of shady operations. Ships going to “Europe” often encountered storms and pirates at sea, resulting in “accidents.” Each time, only a thousand or eight hundred people were lost.

Then the factory owner would come forward to express sympathy for the “shipwreck,” and would issue a symbolic compensation to be handed over to the Japanese authorities for handling. As for whether it could be distributed to their families, East Africa didn’t care.

“Shipwrecks” were force majeure, so the Japanese government couldn’t say anything about it. In addition, Japan’s international status was low at the time, so naturally they wouldn’t pursue the matter. “I’ve already given compensation, what else do you want?”

There were downsides to doing this. The shell companies opened by East Africa often had to move around after one deal. Next time, another group of people would continue the scam. The excuses were readily available: the previous factory owner suffered huge losses due to the shipwreck and went bankrupt, and the factory was acquired because its assets could not cover its debts.

As for who would take the blame, naturally it wouldn’t be the East African Kingdom. It was all investment merchants from Germany and even other European countries. When asked where they came from, they were from places like Poland, Ukraine, Tsarist Russia, Italy, or even countries that existed during the Holy Roman Empire but had now disappeared.

The second method was to buy directly from Japanese farmers. That’s right, buying. In this era, Japanese women had extremely low status and no human rights at all. When many Japanese people couldn’t even afford to eat, they could only choose to sell their daughters. After all, boys had to be kept to carry on the family line.

This was also the reality of Japan. The East African Kingdom could buy a large number of them at prices slightly higher than the Japanese market, and pay directly with grain. This could be considered a win-win situation. After the Meiji Restoration, the second largest employer of women, after the textile industry, was “special services.” The Meiji government defined abortion and infanticide as criminal offenses, so when famine and crop failures came, many families in rural areas would sell their daughters to “special services.”

Therefore, during the Meiji period, “special services” surpassed the Tokugawa shogunate period in both quantity and growth rate.

The East African government exchanged grain for Japan’s surplus population. Their families could make a living with the grain, and these women didn’t have to engage in “special services.” Everyone had a bright future.

Although East Africa was doing this, it was quite morally deficient, but they had their own ways to make the Japanese government turn a blind eye.

Although the textile factory was an old actor, there was also a group of fixed women who had been working there, and they could earn a sum of money from it to send home. At the same time, the wages were slightly higher than those of the Japanese textile industry during the same period, and they were never in arrears, which was also considered a fixed income. With stable employees, there was naturally output, and this part of the tax revenue was also cheap for the Japanese Meiji government.

As for the disappearances caused by the shipwreck, they could only express regret. With the cooperation of these stable employees, next time there would still be “naive” people entering the factories invested by East Africa to work.

And not everyone could become a stable employee. The wages in the Japanese textile industry were extremely low, and Japan didn’t set a minimum wage standard until 1880. Even so, many people couldn’t get their wages.

The treatment in the factories invested by East Africa was so good in Japan, so the stable employees were naturally of considerable status. Most of them had relationships with local Japanese officials.

This echoed what was mentioned earlier: Japanese officials sent their own female relatives to work in factories as a demonstration in order to fool women into working in factories.

……

“Mr. Sebastian, thank you for your trouble! Thank you very much for your help!” A group of Japanese officials in Tokyo bowed ninety degrees in a standard manner.

“Hahaha, this is what I should do as a diplomat,” Sebastian said.

Just now, Sebastian, the East African Kingdom’s minister with a spirit of “justice,” helped the local government to demand compensation from the barbaric “Tsarist Russia” merchants.

Tsarist Russia government: I don’t know! Which country’s merchant?

East African Slavic immigrants who had been trained were very good at impersonating Tsarist Russian merchants. Even Tsarist Russian diplomats couldn’t see through them. After all, it didn’t seem like acting. Fluent Russian, a detailed understanding of Tsarist Russia, and impressive conversation made them look like the real deal.

Especially their carefree personality made up for the last flaw. When Japanese employees of a factory opened by “Tsarist Russia” merchants “died” overseas, the local government naturally had to ask about it.

As a result, after explaining the reason for the shipwreck, the problem was not solved. As a great power of the world, the “Tsarist Russia” merchants naturally didn’t put up with it. This was force majeure, force majeure, force majeure! …

Then they threatened to beat these unreasonable Japanese troublemakers out. “Coincidentally,” Sebastian, the East African Kingdom’s minister who was out “buying” breakfast, passed by, so Sebastian, bursting with “sense of justice,” severely reprimanded the “Tsarist Russia” merchants’ behavior.

Finally, under Sebastian’s mediation, the two sides shook hands and made peace, and the “Tsarist Russia” merchants paid compensation, and the matter was over.

“Mr. Sebastian is a very good person, a true gentleman.”

“Yoshi, it would be great if all the foreigners in Tokyo were as understanding as Mr. Sebastian.”

“Mr. Sebastian dared to confront the Russians and even reprimand them in person. In the future, the Yamato nation must also stand up like this…”

“Long live the Emperor! We will definitely…”

Chapter 228: International Students

May 23rd, 870.

“Your Majesty, these are the students with outstanding academic performance from various regions this year, totaling over 500. After excluding those whose parents don’t support studying abroad, only over two hundred remain. Among these two hundred, support is more common among families of German and Far Eastern immigrants.”

“Well, there’s no need to force those who don’t want to go. This is a matter of mutual consent. Studying abroad isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not guaranteed to be a good thing either. It’s just that East Africa is too backward, and we have no choice but to learn from the world’s great powers.”

“But Your Majesty, it can’t be said that way. East Africa’s implementation of universal compulsory education alone is a remarkable achievement. Moreover, our Kingdom of East Africa has only been established recently, but it will definitely surpass other countries in the future.”

“Don’t be arrogant! Settle down and do things properly. Being backward is being backward, there’s no point in arguing. These students going to Europe must be well taken care of, so they can be exposed to the best education in Germany and Austria. In the future, they can come back and contribute to the development of East Africa after completing their studies.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also, since these children’s families have chosen to trust us, we must do things well. After all, who would dare to place their children’s fate in the hands of others? So, we must not betray this trust. The students’ meals must be nutritious, and we should prepare learning tools such as textbooks and pens. Their accommodation should also be managed and cared for by someone.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

On May 30th, the Kingdom of East Africa sent a total of 243 students to Austria and Prussia in the name of the state.

Speaking of education, the Kingdom of East Africa is really lacking. In addition to the low average level of education and high illiteracy rate, East Africa’s so-called compulsory education is completely like building a high-rise building on flat ground, and the foundation hasn’t even been laid yet.

Including the colonial period, the Kingdom of East Africa has only existed for a little over three years. The earliest batch of primary school students haven’t even graduated yet, and the first batch of international students can only be selected from these teenagers.

…

“Marklov, Karl next door sent his son back to Europe for education. Our son’s grades are better, do you think our decision was not so good?” Marklov’s wife asked with some concern.

“Study! Study my foot! I didn’t see many people going to school when I was in Europe! Aren’t we all doing pretty well now?”

Marklov’s so-called Europe actually refers to Tsarist Russia. Marklov, originally named Marklovsky, came from a serf family. The educational level of ordinary people in Tsarist Russia can be imagined.

“Moreover, the government is now forcing that compulsory education thing, which I think is enough. Being able to write and read government announcements is about all you need.”

“But…”

“There are no ‘buts’. Listen to me, you can’t go wrong. They aren’t lords and nobles, studying can’t be eaten. If the government hadn’t forced that compulsory education thing, I would never have let my son go to school. With that time, he could grow vegetables at home, raise chickens, and lend a hand with farm work during the busy season. Doing housework is better than going to school!” Marklov said.

Under the internal competition of Chinese immigrants, the Western garden still lost out. It looks good, but you can’t eat it, especially in this era of scarcity.

Therefore, the area of the less practical garden was directly reduced, turning it into a vegetable garden or planting fruit trees. However, the garden was not completely defeated. Pleasing things still have some use. Even the Chinese will learn from the Europeans and plant some flowers and plants in the yard to decorate it.

The scene changes to the neighbor’s house next door.

“Karl, little Karl is so young, it’s too dangerous to let him go abroad alone!”

“What’s there to be afraid of? The government has already said that they will take good care of them. Staying in East Africa may not be better than going to Europe.”

“But little Karl is only eleven years old!”

“Hmph, eleven years old is about right. I started working in the fields for my parents when I was ten years old. Now little Karl is an intellectual, it’s a good thing for him to go to Europe to receive a higher level of education. Besides, Germany is our root, it’s also a good thing for little Karl to be exposed to German culture. Although East Africa is good, in terms of culture, we still have to look to Germany.”

At the same time, in a Chinese immigrant family in the same village.

“Hans! Frank is so young, will it be bad for him to go to Europe alone?” His Paraguayan wife Petra asked worriedly.

“What’s there to be afraid of! There’s an old saying in my hometown, ‘All other professions are lowly, only studying is noble.’ We didn’t have the conditions before, but now that we have the opportunity, we should naturally let our son go out and make a name for himself. How much can he achieve by farming with us all the time?”

“I don’t think farming is bad! The risk of going out is too great!”

“What do you know? Farming is so tiring! Frank will only need to move his pen in the future, and the money he earns will be more than the two of us combined. Maybe he can even become an official. Look at our village chief, isn’t it because he’s a little educated that he can be the village chief?”

…

The first batch of students going to Europe departed from Dar es Salaam, with one hundred and eight going to Austria, and the rest going to Prussia and other German states. In the future, they will have the opportunity to enter universities in various countries to study. Before that, they will first enter secondary schools in various countries to study.

Although the students going to Europe are young, most of them are intelligent. Being selected from East Africa’s free-range schools with excellent grades and ultimately passing the examination organized by the central government shows that these people, in addition to being smart, really have some interest in learning.

“Remember, don’t lose your name tag, repeat your home address every day, and don’t forget the way home.”

“When you go to Europe and enter school, you must remember that you are there to study. Don’t care what your classmates think. If anyone asks, just say that you are students from the Kingdom of East Africa and tell them that you are also Germans.”

“If you have any difficulties, you can contact your supervisors and teachers. The government will provide free food, clothing, accommodation, and transportation. You are responsible for studying with peace of mind, all…”

On the ship, the staff repeatedly emphasized the precautions to these children.

At the same time, in order to leave some memories for the parents of these children, the Kingdom of East Africa opened a telegraph line from Europe to East Africa, and a telegram can be sent home every three months.

East Africa’s two telegraph trunk lines can directly reach the inland, and then be sent to the families of students studying abroad by the post office.

The cost of this alone is quite high, which also shows the importance the East African government attaches to it.

The biggest problem that students studying abroad may encounter is not learning, but discrimination and habit problems, but there is no better way. The first batch of students is destined to be the most difficult.

For the first batch of international students, choosing Germany is also good for integrating into the local society and cultural atmosphere. German is the pass, and Europe defaults that East Africa is a German country. This cannot be changed. Using German identity may not work in other parts of Europe, but it is enough in the German region.

Chapter 229: Full Throttle

Trieste.

Entering June.

Ship after ship loaded with grain from East Africa began unloading at the docks of the Port of Trieste, and then transported via a dedicated railway line to the Vienna Food Company’s factory in the suburbs of Trieste.

“In these two months, everyone needs to work harder. We need to increase production capacity by sixty percent,” the foreman said in the factory.

It was already dark, but the electric lights illuminated the entire factory, with the night shift seamlessly connecting to the day shift.

It was the height of summer, and the weather was extremely hot. The baking ovens further intensified the heat, permeating every corner of the factory building.

“Francis, keep adding coal to the boiler.”

“Mars, organize people to immediately take the finished products out of the oven, quickly cool the products, and then package them.”

“Larry, clear out the warehouse for me, and be sure to keep the warehouse dry.”

…

At the same time.

The Hechingen factory in the German region was also increasing its production efforts, especially for military supplies, food processing, and alcoholic beverages.

Even the factory that specialized in producing imitation East African militia uniforms had begun to produce relatively refined Prussian military uniforms in large quantities, stockpiling them for shipment in two months.

Prussia was scheming to wage war against France, especially Bismarck and the Prussian army, those reckless individuals.

The Franco-Prussian War was inextricably linked to these gamblers, namely the Ems Dispatch incident. Bismarck arbitrarily modified Wilhelm I’s reply to Napoleon III, causing the French to become extremely angry, ultimately leading to war between the two countries.

If something like this happened in East Africa, Ernst would definitely let this kind of self-important person know what the iron fist of dictatorship is. In Eastern thinking, Bismarck’s behavior was simply courting death.

However, this was Prussian internal affairs, and Ernst saw no need to expose the matter. Moreover, with the Prussian Prime Minister deliberately inciting war, the even larger Junker aristocratic military group probably felt the same way.

This was the will of the entire Prussia, so the Franco-Prussian War was bound to happen sooner or later. Coupled with the blindly confident Napoleon III next door, the two sides truly complemented each other.

In his previous life, Prussia mobilized nearly a million troops to fight this war. Such a large number of people, all young and strong, were suddenly conscripted, which would inevitably affect the autumn harvest that year. Therefore, Ernst decided to make up for this shortfall himself, while also finding more sales channels for East African grain.

The Franco-Prussian War broke out very hastily. Neither France nor Prussia was adequately prepared. However, the reformed Prussia had a very complete mobilization system, and its reaction speed was faster than France’s. Coupled with a well-developed railway transportation system, its advantages were even more obvious.

Mobilizing a million soldiers greatly increased the chances of victory, but grain, as a consumable needed on the battlefield, would still put pressure on the Prussian government, which had mobilized a large number of troops in a short period of time. At this time, the Hechingen Consortium, which had stockpiled a large amount of goods, could dump its products on the Prussian military.

There was no need to raise prices. Just sell them at the usual market price. The Hechingen Consortium, which had been running at full capacity for two months in advance, would be victorious as long as it had enough supply when the Prussian military began purchasing supplies.

With the massive raw materials from East Africa and Austria-Hungary, and the newly built two comprehensive grain industrial zones, the cost could be kept to a minimum.

At the same time, the half-year-long war would also drive the development of related industries. It was a good time to profit from war.

In fact, Prussia could ultimately win, and even if it suffered more losses, it could make up for it from the French. Therefore, the slight loss of industry and agriculture caused by the war could be completely ignored.

…

“Your Highness, this is the compressed biscuit military ration we developed according to your requirements. However, the taste of East African flour is a bit poor. To improve the taste, we added cornmeal and ghee and other ingredients to make it more fragrant, but we don’t know if this thing can be sold.”

“As long as it’s edible, the most important thing is that it’s easy to carry, has a long shelf life, and it would be even better if it can improve the taste.”

Ernst directly picked up a piece and put it in his mouth to taste.

“Hmm, the taste is not bad, but the saltiness is a bit light.”

“Too much salt is definitely not a good thing for the military. The salt problem is easier to solve. It doesn’t take up as much space as dry food.”

“Hmm, how is the packaging being handled?”

“We wrap it in oiled paper, and then put it in wooden boxes with desiccant. The wooden boxes can be recycled, and the boxes are easy to stack, and can be quickly transported to the front lines by rail.”

“Very good, I wonder how you are doing with other products?”

“Your Highness, look here, these are all the latest results of our research and development, all cooked food products, especially meat, which can be stored for up to half a year.”

“What is in this can?”

“Beef stew with potatoes. This can can solve the problem of a squad’s meal. After opening it with a can opener, there is beef, potatoes, and butter inside. It smells very fragrant, and it can be eaten directly without heating.”

“What is in this can?”

“This can contains green beans and ham.”

“What is the cost of these canned goods?”

“Your Highness, don’t worry, we used a lot of minced meat and scraps, so the cost will not be too high.”

Afterwards, Ernst began to inspect the production of alcoholic beverages.

“Just the cheapest Wrangler Vodka. Cheapness and high alcohol content are the biggest competitive advantages. When they are on the battlefield, what the soldiers drink depends on what the quartermaster purchases. Therefore, low prices can reassure the military, and high alcohol content can satisfy the soldiers.”

“Hmm, increase the production of lime soda as well. Sweet drinks are infinitely attractive to soldiers, especially in July and August, when it is the height of summer. The refreshing taste of lime will definitely be loved by them.”

“Your Highness, this soda does sell well in the market, but its competitiveness may not be as good as alcohol and coffee.”

“It’s summer, and the power of this sweet drink has just begun. Last year, we produced this drink at the end of summer, so we couldn’t see the effect, but in these two months, its sales have soared, especially the taste after being chilled, the market response is very good,” said a sales department director.

“Okay, you still have to continue to work hard, especially on the convenience, taste, and cost-effectiveness of food.”

“Yes, Your Highness, our research and development department will definitely make more good products that are convenient for people’s lives and are of high quality and low price according to the needs of the market and the people.”

“Not only that, but we still need to do more advertising, especially to grasp public opinion and not let people set the pace for us. Although industrial food has low cost, large quantity, convenience, and speed, it may not be recognized by everyone, especially those housewives, who are the most picky. Therefore, you also need to promote the nutritional aspects of our food more.”

Although Ernst said this, in fact, the next few months were for providing logistics for the Franco-Prussian War. Ernst was even pondering how to play both sides, how to supply military rations to France.

If he wanted to do business with the French, he had to plan ahead, first establish a shell company in France, then buy a few warehouses, and when the French reacted and started national mobilization, then sell these things through French nobles who had connections with his family. Hmm! It seems feasible. Ernst planned to consider it carefully after returning.

Chapter 230: Foundations in East Africa

The foundation of East Africa lies in the East African Plateau, covering approximately one million square kilometers, mainly encompassing Tanzania, Kenya, and the Great Lakes region. This is already a solid land area, and with the addition of some surrounding areas, it amounts to nearly two million square kilometers. The Kingdom of East Africa fears no competition from any power.

With the advantage of immigrant numbers, even if other colonizers were to combine forces with all the indigenous powers, it would be difficult for them to pose a threat to the East African Plateau and its surroundings.

Currently, the southwestern region, formerly the area of Zambia, has only recently been incorporated and has become a weak area for the Kingdom of East Africa. The Kingdom of East Africa has made temporary compromises with the local indigenous forces.

Without external forces intervening, East Africa can naturally slowly devour the southwestern region. However, if any power instigates trouble there, the Kingdom of East Africa will fall into a passive position.

Besides these two areas, the Mitumba Mountains, the coastal plains, and the northern desert regions also account for a considerable portion of the area. All these regions together are close to four million square kilometers.

“Your Majesty, this is the current map of the Kingdom of East Africa, the result of our revisions after multiple comparisons.”

(Map)

Von der Leyen spread out a map and presented it to Constantine. Upon closer inspection, the shape of East Africa, if forced to describe it, resembled a leaf, wide in the middle and narrow at both ends, diagonally inserted into the African interior.

“This map really looks awkward! It looks strange,” Constantine commented on the map.

“Your Majesty, this is because when we expanded the territory of East Africa, we avoided some slightly stronger forces. The west is obstructed by the Mitumba Mountains, the Congo River, and the tropical rainforest, so it only reached the east bank of the Lualaba River. Along the plateau, we can expand unimpeded to the southwest, and the absence of other forces in the interior has created conditions for us.”

“In the future, this plateau will be the core area of East Africa. Its climate is similar, its area is large enough, its terrain is relatively flat, and it has a topographical advantage over the surrounding areas,” Felix said.

“The main problem we are encountering in developing the southwestern plateau is transportation. In the past, in the east, most rivers ran east-west, roughly in line with our direction of expansion. However, in the southwest, most rivers are tributaries of the Zambezi River, extending north-south. Therefore, to open up transportation in this area, we must build more bridges.”

“Not only that, but besides these tributaries, the Zambezi River itself is a natural barrier. If we don’t solve the Zambezi River problem, our future expansion will also be affected.”

“I think we should have the inland river and lake units cooperate more with our work in the future. Africa has too many wetlands, swamps, and lakes, and their small boats are very suitable. Given the conditions in East Africa, we can build more suspension bridges to temporarily replace them, at least to ensure the smooth passage of troops and weapons in the interior.”

From the map, it is not difficult to see that if East Africa does not want to conflict with other colonizers, there are only three directions for future expansion: southern Sudan, the Luba Kingdom and the Ruanda Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.

Southern Sudan can be expanded, but it is also relatively limited, mainly because further north is North Africa, and the west is not a good place, being relatively short of water.

So, only the Luba and Ruanda Kingdoms in the west and Zimbabwe in the south remain. Both of these areas are not bad, one being the Lunda Plateau and the other being the Matabeleland Plateau.

As for which one to choose, Ernst didn’t even need to look, directly choosing Zimbabwe.

Ernst knew Zimbabwe too well. After all, in his previous life, Zimbabwe’s currency was world-renowned, with a face value higher than ghost money. Ernst also worked in Africa in his previous life and knew the resources of Africa like the back of his hand. Due to the particularity of his work, Ernst was active in various African countries all year round, which is also a characteristic of people engaged in engineering and mining industries in the Far East in Africa.

Zimbabwe has the most valuable resources of this era: coal and iron. It is no exaggeration to say that with Zimbabwe, East Africa can directly become an industrial country based on its coal and iron resources.

Looking at the resource analysis reports of Zimbabwe in later generations, it is known that among the African countries, it is rare for coal and iron to appear at the same time among the top resources. The top-ranked ones are often diamonds, non-ferrous metals, and some rare metals. The top-ranked resources in Zimbabwe include coal and iron. At the same time, Zimbabwe’s coal has high grade and few impurities, belonging to high-quality coal.

(Zimbabwe is rich in mineral resources, with a rough estimate of more than 80 types, of which more than 40 have been basically proven. The main mineral products are diamonds, platinum, chromium, gold, iron, coal, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead; industrial mineral products include limestone, phosphate, clay, and dolomite. In addition, newly discovered biogas reserves are also extremely rich. According to preliminary exploration estimates, platinum reserves rank second in the world, chromium ore reserves rank second in the world, iron ore reserves are about 38 billion tons, coal reserves are 27 billion tons, and coalbed methane reserves are 500 million cubic meters. In 2001, rich diamond mines were discovered in Zimbabwe. Preliminary exploration results show that its diamond reserves rank first in the world. - Data source: Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the Far East Republic in the Republic of Zimbabwe)

Coal and oil, these two energy sources are the most important for industry, and coal and iron are the foundation of the First Industrial Revolution.

The only disadvantage of Zimbabwe is its lack of water. Its rainfall is at the same level as Shaanxi in the Far East. The rainfall in Shaanxi has been maintained at a level of more than 600 millimeters for many years (data source: Shaanxi Government official website), while the rainfall in Zimbabwe is in the range of 400 to 900 millimeters. At the same time, the rainfall distribution is uneven in both places. Shaanxi decreases from south to north, while Zimbabwe decreases from east to west.

These are not problems. Without coal and iron resources, East Africa can only be an agricultural country and a mineral exporting country. With coal and iron resources, East Africa can become an industrial country.

Compared with other continents, the African continent itself lacks coal. Iron ore is relatively considerable, but it is concentrated in West Africa. In the entire Central and Southern Africa, there were only three countries in the previous life that did not lack coal and iron resources: South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

The first two have now been occupied, leaving only Zimbabwe, this “no man’s land.” The country of Zimbabwe was historically called Rhodesia in its previous life. After 1880, it was gradually occupied by the Boers and the British, slowly forming the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, namely Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Now that the Kingdom of East Africa holds two of the three, taking Zimbabwe will also block the Boers’ northward expansion and block the Portuguese’s westward expansion.

Therefore, after occupying Zimbabwe, East Africa will inevitably begin to plan to attack one of the two, otherwise the threat will be too great. As for who will become East Africa’s enemy first, it depends on who reaches far enough. Ernst has always been wary of the Portuguese colonies, but the Boers are also stubborn. Fighting on two fronts is definitely not possible. It is better to take the initiative to attack and cripple one first.

Chapter 231: Reforming Administrative Divisions

“According to the current map, with so much land suddenly added, and also for the sake of governing the newly occupied territories, I think we should reform the existing administrative divisions,” Constantine said.

Currently, East Africa has a total of 18 administrative regions, and there are two areas where no administrative divisions have been established, belonging to military occupation zones, namely the southwest (Zambia) and the northeast (Somalia).

Of these 18 administrative regions, 17 are in the east, and only one, the East Katanga Region, is in the southwest, beyond Mbeya.

Among the 17 administrative regions, excluding the Central Region and the Northern Omorate Special Region, the remaining 15 are distributed in the former Tanzania, Kenya, and the Great Lakes region.

Constantine had long wanted to reform East Africa’s administrative divisions. East Africa is vast and sparsely populated, and the eastern administrative regions are divided too small, with not many people in each administrative region, which is a waste of administrative resources.

The main thing is that the changes in the region caused by East Africa’s expansion have made the original regions seem somewhat inadequate, especially in defense work.

For example, in the south bordering Portugal, the Ruvuma River coast is divided into the East Malawi Lake Region and the Lower Coastal Region. The two administrative regions should be merged into one.

This would better cope with the potential threat from the Portuguese colony, and the East Malawi Lake Region’s presence is too weak. With Songea as the center, it is obviously no match for Mbeya. On the contrary, the Lower Coastal Region has the good port of Mtwara, and the capital, Lindi, is developing well. One of the purposes of building the port of Mtwara was to serve the East Malawi Lake Region and the Lower Coastal Region. Therefore, from the perspectives of national defense, economy, complementarity, and administrative costs, the two regions should be merged.

There is also the Central Coastal Region, which has an even weaker presence and no port of its own, completely dependent on the Central Region. Actually, the Central Coastal Region is not without excellent bays. Kilwa Kisiwani Island in the east was once the most powerful city in East Africa in the Middle Ages, and its farthest reach even extended to Zimbabwe, but it later declined, leaving only a group of ancient ruins.

Currently, East Africa has no plans to develop new ports. The existing ports are completely sufficient and have redundancy. However, the Central Coastal Region can be merged into the Central Region, which already has two excellent ports of its own.

East Africa also has a Great Savannah Region, located deep in the East African interior. Ernst established it as an independent region entirely because it was too large, a veritable wildlife paradise.

There is also the Upper Malawi Lake Region where Mbeya City is located. Looking at the potential of Mbeya City now, the Upper Malawi Lake Region is too small.

In addition to these problems, the most prominent are the newly occupied northeast and southwest regions, which are completely blank slates.

To establish rule there, relying solely on military suppression is definitely not enough. Government departments must be established, and East Africa does not have many administrative personnel to begin with. Therefore, to utilize the already limited administrative personnel, the simplest way is to merge administrative regions in the east, so that half of the original government personnel can be transferred to the newly occupied areas. Internal administrative adjustments can free up more administrative personnel to be投入 into the newly developed land. This is actually similar to the Meiji government’s planning for Japan.

However, Japan is more extreme than East Africa, because East Africa has a large amount of new land to place these officials, while Japan has a need for centralisation (daimyo domains), which East Africa does not.

“Your Majesty, we do need to dismantle some regions with unclear positioning, such as the Omorate Special Region (the Omorate River basin and vast lands of northern Kenya). It used to be the northernmost region, but now that the Geredi Sultanate has been incorporated, our border has been pushed to central Somalia, north of the Shebelle River. Apart from the Somali states and tribes, it is not too far from the colonial territories of Britain and France along the Red Sea. No matter how it changes, everything north of the Shebelle River should be integrated to deal with the natives and the forces of Britain and France,” he said.

“Yes, and the Abyssinian Empire as well. It is large in size, populous, and has a long history. It is a potential threat,” Felix said.

“My view is completely the opposite. The Abyssinian Empire poses almost no threat to us, whether in terms of strength or interests. Even if we assume that the Abyssinian Empire has the same national strength as East Africa, they will not conflict with us. Now we have taken advantage of the opportune moment, and the geographical advantages, plus the German people are also here. The Abyssinian Empire will not fight us for a bunch of bad land in the southern Ethiopian Highlands,” Von der Leyen countered.

The core area of the Abyssinian Empire is in the northern Ethiopian Highlands. East Africa’s Omorate Special Region, through years of infiltration, gradually completed the wars against the Oromo, Luo, and Cushitic peoples in the southern Ethiopian Highlands, thus possessing its current area.

These are all native tribes, so their combat power is not very strong. However, some tribes still have some connections with the Abyssinian Empire, similar to its vassal states. But after seeing East Africa’s armed forces, the Abyssinian Empire, educated by the British, chose to play dead regarding East Africa’s expansion, and these subordinate black forces were easily wiped out by East Africa.

East Africa also has no need to continue expanding north. The pure black race has been completely erased from the area, and the northern skin color crisis has been 80% resolved.

Moreover, the Ethiopian Highlands are not an ideal area for East Africa to expand into. The Ethiopian Highlands are one thousand meters higher in altitude than the East African Plateau.

The altitude of the East African Plateau is the most suitable altitude for human habitation (scientific experiments have proven that the most suitable altitude for human habitation is between 500 and 2000 meters). The environment of the Ethiopian Highlands, with an average altitude of over two thousand five hundred meters, especially the oxygen content, is not suitable for East African immigrants to live in, and can easily cause altitude sickness, making people psychologically uncomfortable.

This is also why East Africa chose to expand southwest. The altitude there is similar to the East African Plateau, and immigrants have almost no altitude sickness, making it very livable. For East African troops accustomed to fighting in the East African Plateau environment, expanding there is like returning home.

Especially for German immigrants, they feel no difference from Europe in East Africa. Most of East Africa’s German immigrants come from Austria or southern Germany.

That area is considered a relatively high altitude area in Europe, with the Alps and the Bavarian Plateau having an average altitude of around five hundred meters.

“Yes, we’ve taken advantage of the cheap opportunities. If we occupy some more easily defensible sections, we can stop in the north. The Abyssinian Empire is sandwiched between Britain, France, Egypt, and East Africa. Obviously, Britain, France, and even Egypt pose a greater threat to them. They won’t be foolish enough to offend us again,” Zwett agreed.

In fact, Abyssinia really couldn’t be so foolish. The Omorate River basin and the southern Ethiopian Highlands occupied by East Africa are surrounded by mountains and have treacherous terrain, not a good place for marching. East Africa was able to take this area thanks to the convenience of thermal weapons.

Now, as long as East Africa sets up some simple fortresses on some key transportation routes, it will basically have nothing to fear from the Abyssinian Empire.

Moreover, the Abyssinian Empire has no reason to expand south, just like East Africa’s reason for expanding to the upper reaches of the Omorate River. East Africa did it to protect the upstream water source from threats. Other than that, the southern Ethiopian Highlands have basically no economic value. Even in its previous life, this area was the least populated and economically underdeveloped region of Ethiopia.

“Look at Egypt’s territory, which happens to half-encircle the Ethiopian Highlands in the south. Now is the age of the ocean. The Abyssinian Empire doesn’t even have a sea outlet. Its future development can be imagined.”

It was already backward, and now even the window for foreign exchange has been blocked. If it weren’t for Italy’s colonization in its previous life, Ethiopia would probably be even more backward.

Chapter 232: Reorganizing Districts and Establishing Provinces

After discussion, the upper echelons of the East African Kingdom decided to establish provinces within the kingdom, modeled after Europe, and the original districts were no longer mentioned.

The kingdom’s administrative divisions were delineated based on factors such as terrain, economy, environment, and defense needs, ultimately resulting in a rough map.

“The Northern Province of Somalia should have its border defined along the course of the river,” one official suggested.

“Hmm! That won’t do. It’s better for this province to cross the river.”

As he spoke, Felix used a pen to draw a line between the Jubba and Shebelle rivers.

“This way, the entire Shebelle River basin, that is, the oases along the riverbanks, can provide military supplies to the north, without having to transfer them from the south. Relying solely on the productivity of the land north of the Shebelle River will definitely not be enough.”

“Hmm, that makes sense. Next,” King Constantine said.

“Should the provincial capital be located in Mogadishu?”

“Mogadishu is close to the sea, making its geographical position dangerous, and it’s too far from the interior. Choosing it as the provincial capital is definitely not feasible. Beledweyne, on the south bank of the Shebelle River, is a good choice.”

“I have no objection to Beledweyne as the provincial capital, but a military town should be established separately in the northwest to deal with potential threats from the northwest corner. Both Mogadishu and Beledweyne are too far from there.”

“Then let’s choose Diredawa village! This location is perfectly situated at the northern foot of the mountains and is also a strategic military point.”

“Agreed.”

“How should we choose the capital for the Jubba River province?”

“Like the Northern Province, let’s have a port and an inland city as the provincial capital. Although Kismayo is more economically developed, it’s too far east, like Mogadishu, and cannot radiate into the interior.”

“Then let’s choose Baidoa town!”

“Agreed.”

“I have a suggestion regarding the South Salzburg Province. We should concentrate the forces on Lake Malawi at Karonga port to uniformly manage the Lake Malawi area, facilitating wartime dispatch and coordination with army operations. It will also help prevent the enemy from moving north via Lake Malawi.”

“Okay, then let’s incorporate the original territory of the Malawi Kingdom into the South Salzburg Province and establish a river and lake force sub-center in Karonga.”

…

May 23, 1870.

After a period of discussion and analysis by the East African government, the East African Kingdom made the following administrative division adjustments:

Tropical desert climate region.

1. Turkana Province (capital: Omorate). A province established with Lake Turkana as its geographical center.

2. Northern Province (capital: Beledweyne, Mogadishu Port, Diredawa Military Town – to counter British Somaliland and French Djibouti colonies, as well as the Abyssinian Empire). The northernmost province, Beledweyne is a city along the Shebelle River.

3. Jubba Province (capital: Baidoa, Kismayo Port). Baidoa – a city along the Jubba River, a transportation and military hub.

Due to the tropical desert climate, these three provinces are all very large, but only Turkana Province has considerable arable land and water sources.

Changes to the original three districts of South Kenya region.

1. Eastern Province (capital: Mombasa). The original East Kenya District, with the addition of some northern land, expanding its area.

2. South Prussia Province (capital: Nairobi). The original Central Kenya District.

3. Great Lakes Province (capital: Kisumu). The original West Kenya District.

Changes to the original Tanzania District.

1. Coastal Province (capital: Tanga Port). The original Upper Coastal District.

2. Central Province (capital: First Town, Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam ports). Incorporating land from the original Central Coastal District.

3. Lake Province (capital: New Origin City, Mtwara Port, Ruangwa, Songea). Formed by the merger of the original East Lake Malawi District and the Lower Coastal District. The new provincial capital is located in New Origin City between Ruangwa and Songea.

4. South Salzburg Province (capital: Mbeya City, Karonga Lake Port, including the Katanga Plateau and the Lake Malawi coast). The original Upper Lake Malawi District, with an expanded area, renamed South Salzburg due to its important geographical location.

5. Plateau Province (capital: Dodoma City), the original Central Plateau District.

6. Kilimanjaro Province (capital: Arusha City) The original Northern Plateau District, with the capital moved from Karatu to Arusha.

7. South Great Lakes Province (capital: Mwanza City). Incorporating part of the Savannah District.

8. Hohenzollern Province (capital: Kigoma City) The original Lake Sollen District. Incorporating part of the Savannah District.

Other administrative divisions near the Great Lakes (almost unchanged).

1. West Great Lakes Province (capital: Bujumbura City).

2. North Great Lakes Province (capital: Kampala City).

Western tropical rainforest region.

1. Mitumba Province (capital: Kindu City). Tropical rainforest with some tropical savanna climate.

2. Hesse Province (capital: Kisangani City). Tropical rainforest climate.

Zambia and Katanga Plateau regional administrative divisions.

1. West Katanga Province (capital: Lubumbashi City).

2. East Katanga Province (capital: Kazembe City).

3. West Plateau Province (capital: Ndola City).

4. Western Province (capital: Mongu City).

5. Southern Border Province (capital: Lusaka City).

6. Walungu Province (capital: Bos City).

Two islands.

1. Pemba Island (New Hamburg City).

2. Mafia Island (Mafia City).

Associated State:

Sultanate of Zanzibar, with a garrison stationed there.

A total of 24 provinces, 26 provincial-level administrative regions, and 1 associated state.

▼(East African Kingdom Administrative Division Map)

During this administrative division, the Savannah District was divided up, and its capital, Tabora, was incorporated into the South Great Lakes Province, becoming the second-largest city in the province after Mwanza.

The northwest banks of Lake Malawi were incorporated into the South Salzburg Province. The provincial capital remained Mbeya, with Karonga as the second-largest city as a lake port. At the same time, part of the Katanga Plateau was incorporated, further strengthening the South Salzburg Province’s position as a transportation hub straddling the East African Plateau and the Katanga Plateau.

The unique status of Pemba Island and Mafia Island was established, and the associated state status of the Sultanate of Zanzibar was clarified.

The newly established Kilimanjaro Province replaced the original Northern Plateau District, and the capital was moved from Karatu to Arusha, which has a more advantageous geographical location (closer to Tanga Port and Mombasa Port, and the terrain is more open and flat).

The Lower Coastal District and the East Lake Malawi District were merged into the new Lake Province, with the provincial capital located in New Origin City (formerly Tunduru village) between Songea and Ruangwa.

At the same time, some places adopted names with Germanic influences, mainly New Hamburg City, South Salzburg, South Prussia Province, Hesse Province, and Hohenzollern Province.

The special provinces established by East Africa for defense purposes are mainly South Salzburg Province, Lake Province, and Northern Province, mainly to counter other Western colonial powers, while there is no such need in areas bordering indigenous peoples.

With this administrative division change, the East African government will establish governing bodies in the newly occupied areas, and at the same time, begin to differentiate these indigenous people in areas such as Zambia. The old, weak, sick, and disabled will be exiled. Through military operations, resistance forces will be eliminated, and young and strong slaves will be used to replenish the “labor” shortage in the east.

Chapter 233: Padding Out Another Chapter (Do Not Subscribe)

The state is a tool of class rule. All countries follow the same path. Emigrating to East Africa is, at best, just changing the place where you’re ruled.

In Germany and the Far East, the vast majority of people own no land. The land is owned by the Junkers and the landlord class, just like the people who emigrate to America in this era. If you’re not an aristocrat or a rich person, you still have to work as a laborer for a few years first.

The difference in East Africa is that below the general populace, there are also slaves. I might not be living well, but if there’s someone worse off than me, then I’m doing great.

Ernst initially considered distributing land to immigrants, but now it seems completely unnecessary, because the immigrants have no such demands. They’re used to being tenant farmers for nobles and landlords. Suddenly, encountering East Africa, which takes care of food, clothing, housing, and even solves marriage problems, they’re satisfied. After all, they can’t imagine a better life.

Originally, Ernst also wanted to implement a system of granting land for military merits, but the fighting power of the natives is completely not worth the price, so the land has always been rotting in the hands of the Hohenzollern royal family.

In addition, East Africa belongs to a unified state and family, with the Hohenzollern royal family owning the entire East Africa, leading to East Africa’s politics becoming a Frankenstein’s monster.

The current agricultural situation looks like a Soviet-style collective farm. The difference is that collective farms legally belong to the collective economy, that is, jointly owned by the villagers, while East Africa is private ownership. However, almost all industries in East Africa are the private property of the Hohenzollern royal family.

Unlike the large farm owners in America, farm owners have to consider efficiency and profitability, while East Africa is completely planned and doesn’t consider efficiency much, resulting in per capita productivity not being fully utilized. According to East Africa’s agricultural conditions of two harvests every five seasons, and the scale of the land, it should be able to surpass Italy, but in fact, it is not the case.

East African immigrants have also been somewhat spoiled by Ernst, and the reason why this system hasn’t collapsed is still due to the existence of the slave economy.

As for the issue of whether selling grain will result in losses, that is completely unnecessary worry. There are always places in the world that lack grain, such as Japan. The conflict between people and land is extremely prominent, and there are quite a few landless farmers. It has already become the main importer of East African rice. It’s not that East Africa has any special tricks, it’s just because Japan in this era is too poor and can only buy East Africa’s cheap rice. And East Africa imports “women” and cultural relics, ancient books from Japan through grain trade, a win-win situation.

Italy has the same experience. The East African flour produced by the Trieste factory is notoriously of poor quality, and Italy imports the most. And East Africa takes this opportunity to import family immigrants from the Southern Italian region.

Now, only Ireland, this major immigration country, hasn’t been targeted by Ernst. It’s not that he looks down on Ireland, but the British are too inhumane. They don’t even allow Germans to enter Ireland, and the reason is readily available. The situation in Ireland is not very good now, and the British are afraid that countries from outside the region will cause trouble. Who knows if you are spies for the French.

Another reason is that the Irish immigration wave has passed for many years. That was around 1850, when about 1.8 million people left Ireland. Coupled with the fact that the Great Famine led to the death of a quarter of the population, now Ireland is just a little poor, a little dissatisfied with Britain, and there is no reason to move far away.

If he can’t get immigrants, then he won’t. Ernst is now somewhat relieved about the current scale of immigration, because in the first five months of this year, the birth population in East Africa reached an astonishing 380,000. If nothing unexpected happens, in the entire year of 1870, East Africa will add more than 600,000 people just through births. Adding the immigrant population, it will easily break the million mark.

And the new immigrants will join the fertility army again after a while. Conservatively calculated, with a cycle of three years, East Africa’s population can break the ten million mark in ten years.

Now immigration is stable at 400,000 per year, which is four million in ten years. And immigration cannot always be so stable, because there is also a world economic crisis that lasts for several years. At that time, the population immigrating to East Africa will definitely explode in a short period of time.

Ernst is already sitting tight on the Diaoyu Islands regarding the population issue, so he should focus on other undertakings in East Africa.

Land ownership is a problem that Ernst is worried about. Ernst is very clear that the Hohenzollern royal family cannot always reach an agreement with this group of troublemakers. As time goes by, the land will have to be thrown out sooner or later.

It’s just that he has to consider carefully when to throw it, and how to throw it, so that it doesn’t become a complete mess.

Now, some mines can be taken out to allow Austrians to come and invest. This was designed before the establishment of the East African kingdom.

By using East Africa’s mineral resources to help Austria’s industrial development, East Africa can complete its economic ties with Austria. When East Africa has conflicts with Britain and France, the Austrian government will definitely be the first to panic.

Although the Suez Canal is controlled by Britain and France, the biggest beneficiary is probably Austria. An East Africa of four million square kilometers can solve Austria’s food and industrial raw material problems at the same time. The only flaw is that East Africa’s market is not open to Austria. At the same time, the quality of tropical grain is poor, avoiding direct competition with Hungary. Even the raw materials for Ernst’s Vienna factory come from the Hungarian region, focusing on the mid-to-high-level food market.

East Africa’s market can be ignored. The people’s consumption power is almost equal to zero. Even the wages they receive are bonds issued by the Hohenzollern Bank. No one recognizes this thing outside of East Africa.

The only thing Austria can get from East Africa is the weapons and equipment purchased by the government, such as large-caliber coastal defense guns, gunboats, etc.

Relying solely on royal investment, development is still too slow. At the same time, a portion of immigrants can be diverted to enter the industrial sector.

There is also the army problem. Now East Africa’s army is not enough again. For four million square kilometers of land, the army must at least break 100,000. A large number of troops are also needed to suppress slaves.

With the development of the agricultural slave economy, agriculture no longer needs so many people. Later, when enough money is saved, the Hohenzollern Energy and Power Company’s tractors will be almost manufactured, so slaves can continue to be used. They are destined not to stay.

Cooperation with Austria is East Africa’s national policy. Later, East Africa’s education, scientific research, military industry and other industries need Austrian support.

None of these can be realized in East Africa now. Taking education as an example, to expect East Africa’s education to develop, we have to wait at least two more years. The first batch of East African students are only in the second grade. Even the international students are half-grown children. They have to continue to attend elementary school and middle school when they go abroad before they can receive higher education.

And since higher education cannot be developed for the time being, scientific research and the military industry are naturally impossible to achieve. Even the manpower for industries with slightly technical content is insufficient.

However, Ernst is not worried about this. East Africa has only been developing for three years, so don’t think about these unnecessary things.

Moreover, East Africa established a basic compulsory education system from the beginning. This system will sooner or later develop with the growth of the East African second generation. It’s just a matter of time. So many countries in the world don’t even have compulsory education, so East Africa’s starting time for education is not too late.

Chapter 234: Brothers Haggling

Schönbrunn Palace, Austria.

“Hmph, what’s this! Not happy being the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy? Regretting it already, my silly little brother?”

Franz immediately greeted Ferdinand, the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, who had just returned to Vienna, with a barrage of sarcastic remarks.

Ferdinand, who had long since become a seasoned veteran, immediately retorted, “In East Africa, this Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, even though I don’t have many ships under my command, is still much better than Austria’s ‘bathtub’ navy. When the East African Navy develops in the future, I’ll order a blockade of the Gulf of Aden, prohibiting Austrian ships from entering the Indian Ocean.”

Ferdinand’s jest didn’t elicit a response from Franz.

Blockading the Gulf of Aden? It seemed that East Africa’s geographical location really made it feasible. Although East Africa didn’t have ports on the Red Sea coast, Djibouti, or the northern coast of Somalia, its northernmost point, Mogadishu, wasn’t too far from the Gulf of Aden. It was like the North German region; although it had ports facing the Atlantic Ocean, if the British really wanted to use their navy to trap Prussia in the Baltic Sea, it was entirely possible.

Actually, Franz hadn’t thought of one thing: if East Africa really intended to blockade the Red Sea, it would be impossible to use the so-called East African Navy. What level was the East African Navy compared to Great Britain? Relying on the East African Navy to blockade the Gulf of Aden wasn’t as reliable as the East African Army blockading the Gulf of Aden.

According to East Africa’s current military strength, the army could directly rush to Djibouti and Somaliland at any cost, taking down the British and French colonies in one fell swoop, and setting up a few cannons could pose a serious threat to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. East Africa’s latest planned military town in the Northern Province, Dire Dawa, was only a little over 186 miles away from Djibouti.

The narrowest point of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait was only about 16 miles. The range of most East African artillery in the current era couldn’t reach that far, but a few large-caliber coastal defense guns might be able to, but they couldn’t be moved. Current technology couldn’t achieve it, but the future was hard to say.

This was also the reason why Ernst didn’t go to the Red Sea coast and the Gulf of Aden to seize land. Going there was too conspicuous and easily targeted. The British, French, Ottomans, and Egyptians were not to be trifled with, but East Africa also had the ability to threaten this passage.

Moreover, even if East Africa really blockaded the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, it was estimated that the British would be overjoyed. The British were reluctant to dig the Suez Canal in the first place, relying entirely on the French to promote it. Seeing that the French were likely to succeed, the British came out to take advantage, just like their later behavior of joining and leaving the European Union.

If Suez was gone, at most the French would be unlucky. Cape Town could return to its peak, and the British Indian lackey in the Far East was also not easy to deal with. The British military strength in India had the ability to cross the sea to attack the Abyssinian Empire and win, which showed its capabilities.

It should be known that although the former Emperor Tewodros II of the Abyssinian Empire was arrogant, his vision was much broader than that of the bunch of idiots in the Far East. Expanding the monarch’s authority, restricting the Abyssinian Church, which possessed vast wealth, from owning more land, paying soldiers, building roads, purchasing modern firearms and cannons, and attempting to abolish slavery were all achievements of this Tewodros II. In the end, seeing that his defeat was imminent, he had the courage to shoot himself in the head. Just the fact that he didn’t choose to live in disgrace made him a hero of his time.

Of course, East Africa didn’t have the ability right now, nor was it willing to learn from Japan and gamble its national destiny, but that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be opportunities in the future. Once East Africa became strong, not to mention Suez, even the entire Egypt would have to come over and lick its boots. Egypt’s climate and environment couldn’t produce Vietnamese jungle commandos, and its geographical environment couldn’t become an Afghan graveyard.

…

“How is it? Scared by my words!” Ferdinand said smugly, having won back a point.

“Hmph, with East Africa’s current situation, it won’t reach that level even in another fifty years. Look at the United States, it’s been so many years since its founding, and it’s good at bragging, just wishing it could replace the British, but it only dares to shout across the Atlantic.”

“Just kidding! You’re taking it seriously, Franz. It seems you’re still so stubborn,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

Franz was speechless. “Speak! Why did you have time to come back!”

“It would have been better if you were this serious earlier! Of course, I came back this time to see my mother and Karolina.”

“It should be on the way, right! I heard that you were inspecting the newly completed gunboats at the shipyard in Trieste a few days ago!”

“It’s on the way, so what? You should know that it’s not easy to travel back and forth by sea, and I’m so busy every day!”

Ferdinand wasn’t talking nonsense on this point. He was really busy. The East African Navy was just starting out, and in order to get these sailors from river and lake units to form combat effectiveness as soon as possible, Ferdinand and the young Austrian naval officers “exiled” to East Africa had to do many things themselves.

“Since you’re back to see your mother and Karolina, why are you here to annoy me, your older brother?” Franz was indeed a conversation killer.

“Do you think I want to! It’s not that kid Ernst who asked me to talk to you about cooperation.”

“He told me about this a few days ago.”

“Of course, I know, but he only mentioned the intention of cooperation, not the content. Here! This is the cooperation list drafted by our Kingdom of East Africa. Take a look!”

Ferdinand took out a large stack of cooperation lists from somewhere, and Franz took it and looked at it carefully.

Two hours later.

“Ernst, that person is indeed suitable to be a shrewd businessman, hiding so many things for so long,” Franz said with a smile.

“Any region, as long as it reaches a certain area, can always find some resources. I think East Africa’s resource situation is far inferior to that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

“It’s good to have these conditions. Austria is the chosen land of the Habsburg family. How can its conditions be compared to a marginal place like East Africa?” Franz said with pride.

Ferdinand gave his brother a fierce look of contempt, but East Africa was indeed disappointing. With hundreds of thousands of square miles of land, it had so few resources. No wonder it had never been targeted.

As the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, Ferdinand knew a lot about East Africa’s situation. Naturally, he had read the resource list provided by the Hechingen Consortium’s economic department in advance.

East Africa’s eastern territory was more than two million square miles, which seemed much larger than the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but its resource endowment was indeed at the same level as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There was also a large area of ineffective desert land in the north. Fortunately, although Somalia was also a tropical desert, it had two major rivers, the Shebelle and the Juba, flowing through it.

Even so, if East Africa’s resources in the east could reach the level of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it should attract the attention of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Why was the effect mediocre?

This was because Ernst had tampered with the list. The list was a detailed analysis report of some of East Africa’s mineral resources and the Kingdom of East Africa’s mining plan.

The main thing that was made public was the distribution of coal and iron ore in southern Tanzania (east bank of Lake Malawi) and the mineral resources in the Kenya region.

As for the gold mines in the Great Lakes region, they would naturally not be open to the outside world. The copper mines on the Katanga Plateau were also hidden by East Africa. That copper mine was so huge that it could change the world’s copper industry pattern, just like how Middle Eastern oil in the previous life would breed mold.

Copper was a scarce resource all over the world, and it was also one of the most important, most common, most widely used, and largest-used metals in the world.

Since copper was discovered and utilized by mankind, it has always been one of the most important metals, especially before the Iron Age, it was the most important metal.

There were also quite a few wars caused by copper mines. Ernst had thought about this issue in his previous life, that is, what was the reason why the Shang Dynasty in the Far East liked to launch wars? Copper mines were an indispensable factor, just like how mold liked oil, copper mines were the most important strategic resource in that era.

Cooperation also required precautions. Just the resources in Kenya alone were enough for Austria to eat its fill. As for coal and iron ore, to be honest, they were not very attractive to Austria. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s main mineral resources ranked among the top in Europe and were completely sufficient. If the value was not high, it would be better to think of ways to get more from the Balkan Peninsula than to ship them from East Africa by sea.

The East African government’s idea was also very simple, which was to develop the three provinces of southern Kenya, namely the Eastern Province, the South Prussia Province, and the West Great Lakes Province.

If they wanted to transport these resources to Mombasa Port for export to Austria, they would have to help East Africa build a railway!

At the same time, they could also get orders for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s railway departments and companies. East Africa’s steel production capacity couldn’t support such a large project, and other equipment had to be imported from Austria, while locomotives were also provided by Austria, and East Africa would pay off the debt with mineral resources.

Now that the Suez Canal was open, transportation costs had also been reduced. The distance from Trieste to Mombasa was not far, and it was still very cost-effective. After all, no one would dislike having too many mines. France, which lost the Lorraine iron ore, was an example.

At present, priority was given to developing the southern Kenya region. As for what to do with Tanzania, there was actually no good way. Just focus on farming. In its previous life, Tanzania was an agricultural country, and its resource situation was not as good as Kenya’s. In this life, it was at most a little stronger. Whether Tanzania could develop still depended on the development of Zambia. If Zambia developed, Tanzania would not be a problem. After all, the ports were concentrated in the east. The geographical conditions of the East African Plateau were very good. It was still possible to turn it into East Africa’s own crossroads like Germany in its previous life after sorting out the transportation.

The basis of cooperation was being able to make money. There was no need to worry about this aspect. The East African government itself was also a buyer. The produced mineral resources could also be digested by itself, and even more than half could be eaten. The rest would be transported back to Austria to support Austria’s development.

The intention of cooperation was very clear, it was Austria and not the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ernst had been trying to find ways to strengthen the advantages of the German nation within Austria, especially the advantages of the Germans near the Adriatic Sea. Trieste, where there were not a few Italians, was very dangerous.

Trieste was the channel connecting Germany and East Africa. Naturally, it was better to have it in the hands of one’s own people. Therefore, the Hechingen Consortium had been committed to recruiting Italian immigrants in Trieste, and the effect could only be said to be mediocre. Under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the economic situation in Trieste was very good. It was the only excellent port, and the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire served as its economic hinterland, and it could even radiate to Eastern Europe and South Germany.

Reducing the Italian population had not achieved much, so they would increase the German population. The grain processing plant area in Trieste had absorbed a large number of Germans to come and work.

Not being able to solve the population problem in Trieste now didn’t mean it couldn’t be solved in the future. Ernst had already thought about it. As an industrial city, Trieste should not be able to escape the sanctions of the economic crisis.

Chapter 235: Ernst, Who Wants to Stir Things Up But Doesn’t Want to Exert Himself

Just as Franz and Ferdinand were engaging in some “heartwarming concern and brotherly harmony,” Franz, for reasons unknown, had another uninvited guest arrive.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, Prince Ernst is here again,” the maid announced.

Normally, servants and guards would let Ernst through without announcement, as he visited Schönbrunn Palace so frequently that Franz had granted him this privilege. However, with Ferdinand present today, the maid chose to announce him first.

“Hmm!” Franz and Ferdinand exchanged glances. What a coincidence! Ferdinand, Ernst’s future father-in-law, had never actually met Ernst. Princess Charlotte (Empress Carlota) had met Ernst once, but she was so eager to reunite with Ferdinand that she didn’t interact with Ernst much.

“Should I let him in?” Franz asked his brother.

Franz, with mischievous intentions, was eager to see Ernst’s reaction upon meeting Ferdinand. The slight upturn of his lips betrayed his inner thoughts.

“Hmph! Bring that boy in. I want to see if he’s worthy of my Karinna.”

Franz waved his hand, and the maid immediately understood. “Yes, Your Majesty!”

…

Why is today different from usual? Ernst stood outside the palace gate, waiting. He used to be able to enter freely, but now he was being stopped. Could it be that Franz had something important to attend to or was meeting some important figure? But he hadn’t heard of any important figures visiting Austria!

The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt. Ernst felt as if he had become prey. What was going on? He hadn’t felt this sense of crisis since awakening his past life’s memories.

Instinct told Ernst that he should just go back today! The matter he wanted to discuss wasn’t that important anyway. He could come back tomorrow. Just as he was about to retreat, the maid arrived.

“Prince Ernst, His Majesty invites you in.”

“Oh, good!”

Ernst readily agreed.

“By the way, has anyone special arrived at the palace today?”

“Anyone special? I don’t think so!” the maid replied. How could there be anyone special? This was Schönbrunn Palace. As for Ferdinand, he certainly didn’t count, since the Archduke of Austria was still a member of the royal family and had lived here before. Surely he didn’t count! That was how the maid understood it.

“That’s good. I’ll go in then,” Ernst said, and then walked inside on his own.

…

The moment Ernst stepped through the door with his left foot, he immediately felt two pairs of eyes staring at him. He looked closely and saw that next to the sofa where Franz usually sat alone, there was another person.

Ernst sized him up, while Ferdinand carefully observed Ernst.

“Oh, my god!” Ernst felt a chill run down his spine. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. “Isn’t that Archduke Ferdinand! What’s he doing here?”

Ernst recognized his father-in-law at a glance. In fact, Ernst had known Ferdinand in his previous life. After all, the picture of Ferdinand lying in his coffin was too memorable.

Anyone who knew a little about Mexican history couldn’t avoid Maximilian I. After all, if you ranked modern executed foreign monarchs, Maximilian I would definitely be on the list after Charles I of England, Louis XVI of France, and Nicholas II of Tsarist Russia.

In this life, since Ernst became engaged to Princess Karinna, he had naturally paid more attention to Ferdinand. He had seen several photos and portraits of him.

Although Ferdinand had shaved his beard for some reason, Ernst still recognized him at a glance. Ferdinand looked quite energetic and neat without a beard. This habit had actually developed in East Africa. Immigrants in East Africa generally had fewer beards (the population was generally younger), and Ernst had given them all haircuts when they immigrated to East Africa. East Africans had their hair and beards trimmed every month, as poor hygiene could really be fatal in East Africa. And Black Hering Daily Necessities Company happened to produce razors and hair clippers, and the cost was very low, so it was promoted very thoroughly.

Ferdinand had lived in East Africa for so long, so he learned to shave his beard like the East Africans. And it was indeed much more convenient in East Africa. Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and present-day Bagamoyo, where he had lived, all had relatively high temperatures, mostly above thirty degrees Celsius. Just imagine how hot it would be with thick hair and a beard plus sweat. It would be really sloppy.

“You’re Ernst?” Ferdinand, having carefully examined him, spoke first.

“Yes, Father-in-law,” Ernst immediately became obedient and alert.

Franz, on the other hand, covered his mouth and chuckled ungenerously, although he made a gesture of stroking his beard. This was the first time he had seen Ernst like this.

“You’re quick to presume. Karinna hasn’t married you yet, young man!” Ferdinand said.

“Well, Father-in-law, we’re all family here. There are still three years to go. Then we’ll be completely family,” Ernst said. Although he had lived two lives, this was the first time he had met his father-in-law, so he was a little clumsy in his response.

The two then began a question-and-answer conversation, which Franz found a bit of a buzzkill.

…

“By the way, those small gunboats you purchased, I went to the shipyard to see them. Their performance is not bad. But I think you should also build a shipyard in East Africa. Don’t say you don’t have money. Just build some small fishing boats first. Anyway, the Sultanate of Zanzibar next door has ready-made ones. Just copy its shipyard. The technology may not be comparable to European shipyards, but it’s still possible to fish along the coast. It’s also convenient to train a group of good swimmers and fishermen, which will make it easier to expand the navy in the future,” Ferdinand suggested.

This suggestion, in addition to considering naval personnel, also had a high degree of feasibility. You wouldn’t even have to spend money. Just allocate some immigrants to the Sultanate of Zanzibar to learn the technology. Anyway, the Zanzibaris wouldn’t dare to have any objections.

“I’ll arrange it. But why didn’t you suggest it to my father when you were in East Africa?”

“I only thought of it recently. By the way, what did you come to Schönbrunn Palace for?” Ferdinand asked.

“Of course, I have important matters!”

Franz finally spoke. “You’re not here to ask for help again, are you!”

“Not quite. This time I’m here to deliver intelligence.”

“What intelligence?” Franz asked curiously.

“This shouldn’t be considered important intelligence, or rather, it’s a prediction of mine,” Ernst said. “Prussia and France should be fighting soon.”

“Don’t say such things carelessly!” Franz and Ferdinand both became excited, especially Franz. He asked, “Did Wilhelm I tell you?”

Ernst shook his head.

“I guessed!”

“Guessed!” The two said in disbelief. Was this a time for jokes?

“But I’m not talking nonsense. This is the result of feedback I received from German companies. Prussia is preparing for a war, and it’s obvious who Prussia has the most tense relationship with right now. It can’t possibly fight Austria again!”

In reality, Ernst was talking nonsense. So far, the Prussian army hadn’t mobilized at all, nor had it ordered materials from Ernst’s companies on a large scale. The company feedback Ernst mentioned was completely fabricated.

“If it’s true, then it’s indeed possible. If this Prussian military change is to prepare for the unification of southern Germany, it’s indeed possible that it will clash with France,” Ferdinand said.

“That’s right! The French will never let Prussia achieve success so easily.” They will treat themselves as a gift and elevate Prussia to the status of a great power, Ernst added silently in his mind.

“You’re here to remind us to beware of Prussia’s ambition to control southern Germany? In reality, Austria-Hungary can’t do anything right now,” Franz said.

As he said this, Franz’s tone became somewhat low. Austria-Hungary really couldn’t do anything. If Austria-Hungary took actual action, Prussia would seize the public opinion. The accusation of colluding with the French would be unavoidable, and the hearts of the people in the German region would all belong to Prussia. Moreover, the Hungarian government within Austria-Hungary would probably try its best to hold back, because it would be beneficial for them if southern Germany was taken by Prussia. They didn’t want to see Austria or the Germans strengthened.

Really can’t do anything? Wrong, Ernst currently had something for Austria-Hungary to do.

“Actually, Your Majesty, the success or failure of the German region is no longer relevant to Austria-Hungary. The empire’s real enemy is no longer Prussia! Your real enemy…” Ernst paused deliberately.

“France? Tsarist Russia? Are you here to be a lobbyist for Wilhelm I?” Franz asked suspiciously. The Hohenzollern surname gave Franz reason to believe that Wilhelm I had instigated Ernst to tell him not to act rashly.

“You think too highly of me. Wilhelm I would never let me be a lobbyist. Besides, you know what my personality is like, and Your Majesty, you’re too extreme!” Ernst finally stopped pretending after so long. His usual image in Schönbrunn Palace reappeared.

“Whatever happens to Prussia, like you said, Austria-Hungary can’t do anything. What would I be lobbying for? Moreover, Austria-Hungary’s real enemy is Prussia’s ally, the soon-to-be unified Kingdom of Italy.”

“Italy?” Franz and Ferdinand were somewhat confused by Ernst’s turn of events.

“Isn’t it? Now Italy has completely broken free from the state of being dominated by Austria and France. If Italy takes advantage of the war between Prussia and France to unify the Papal States, then Austria-Hungary will really have to live at the mercy of the Italians in the Mediterranean!”

“Moreover, I can already see Italy’s territorial demands after it unifies the Papal States. Southern Austria isn’t bad, there are many Italians there.”

Ernst finally revealed his true intentions. He intended to disgust Italy, that two-faced traitor. As for whether he could prevent Italy from annexing the Papal States in the future, it depended on what Austria-Hungary did. Anyway, he didn’t have to exert himself. He would just throw a stone to test the waters, whether anything came of it or not.

Chapter 236: The “Rome” Scheme

Speaking of the Italian problem, Franz’s face also darkened. After the Austro-Prussian War, Italy took Venice. Before that, Italy had used similar tactics to seize Lombardy and a number of Austro-Hungarian Italian dependencies with the support of the French. Italy was indeed the biggest enemy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire outside its borders.

Prussia’s acquisition of leadership in the German region was due to Austria’s defeat in battle, but Italy, that weakling, was too good at picking sides. Moreover, it had taken territory from the Austrian Empire, leaving Austria with only the port of Trieste to maintain a fragile navy. This was indeed the greatest humiliation Austria had suffered in recent years.

Franz cursed Italy, Prussia, and the rebellious Hungarians in his heart. Internal and external troubles were coming one after another.

“Do you have a solution?” Franz asked.

Currently, the one protecting the Papal States was the French. Napoleon III could be said to be the greatest driving force behind Italian unification. During his early exile in Italy, he had even joined the Italian “Carbonari” secret society. After Napoleon III declared himself emperor in 1851, he explicitly put forward the “principle of nationalism” and supported Italian unification. In 1856, the Crimean War broke out. Towards the end of the war, the Kingdom of Sardinia took advantage of the discord between Britain and France and sided with the French, winning Napoleon III’s trust. In order to win over France, the Kingdom of Sardinia used Savoy and Nice as rewards, and with the help of France, defeated the powerful enemy Austria, seized the Lombardy region controlled by Austria, and annexed the small states of Tuscany, Parma, and Modena, which were under Austria’s sphere of influence, initially unifying Italy.

Looking at it this way, Prussia, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria (Ottoman), and even Russia, whose relations were ruined, were in a terrible geopolitical environment.

Ernst said, “The question now is whether France will suffer losses on the European battlefield, causing it to withdraw its troops from Rome to support the French mainland.”

Franz and Ferdinand looked at each other in disbelief and said, “Do you mean that Prussia can pose a huge threat to France?”

It wasn’t that they looked down on Prussia, but France was recognized as the strongest power on the European continent. Even the Austro-Hungarian Empire, also a member of the great powers, had to admit this.

France had always given the impression of being very powerful, especially during the Napoleonic era, when it fought against many enemies alone. After Napoleon III’s restoration, the power of the French army remained strong. It had regained face from Russia in the Crimean War, and in recent years, it had made Austria suffer greatly in Italy.

“To put it bluntly, you yourselves have fought against Prussia, and at that time, Prussia defeated the Austrian Empire on its own.”

“That’s different. Prussia had Italy as an ally, and the situation within the Empire at that time was not very good…” Franz retorted.

“You lost, you just lost. And you know what level Italy is at. To be honest, the level of the Italian army might not even be enough to successfully take the Abyssinian Empire in northern East Africa.”

“Heh…”

Franz and Ferdinand clearly didn’t believe it. How could the level of the natives compare to Europe? If the opponent was changed to East Africa, it would be more like it.

“You don’t believe it, fine. No need to be sarcastic. You admit how much worse Italy’s army is compared to yours, right!”

With the example of the last war there, they really couldn’t overturn the verdict.

“Besides, Prussia was just Prussia before, but now it’s the entire North German Federation. And the speed at which the Prussian army has grown in recent years is obvious to all. From a weakling during the anti-French wars, to a draw with Denmark, then successful revenge, and in recent years, it has turned the Austrian Empire into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while also gaining leadership in Germany. Now, four years have passed, and the Prussian army should have reached a new level.”

“You’re exaggerating a bit too much…”

“Am I exaggerating? In my opinion, I still have some say in this. Putting aside everything else, the quality of the Prussian army’s equipment has improved a lot in recent years. After all, I made my fortune by catching up with the benefits of the Second Schleswig War, and even the Austro-Prussian War made my company even better. Next, the Franco-Prussian War will make me a lot of money.” Ernst said smugly.

Prussia declared war on France. Putting aside everything else, so many troops would need to raise military expenses. A lot of war bonds would definitely be issued, and the current size of the Hechingen Bank was just right to do some business. He would get a share of the five billion war indemnity.

“Last time, Prussia mobilized more than five hundred thousand troops in a short period of time to fight you. If Prussia attacks France this time, I’m afraid it will be a million strong army!”

Franz and Ferdinand did not refute this time. Prussia, which had integrated the North German region, did have this ability. Prussia’s mobilization ability during the Austro-Prussian War was terrifying, but it was not Prussia’s limit, because at that time, there were still many Austrian allies mixed in Prussia’s territory, so Prussia’s railway system could not be used to its full potential.

In addition, the states incorporated into the North German Federation in the last war were all densely populated and economically developed areas. Their population should be close to thirty million in recent years, while the population of France was about thirty-eight million, which was not a big difference between the two sides, because the South German region had not yet been counted. The strength of the South German states was not bad either. The last Austro-Prussian War established Prussia’s leading position in the German region, so the South German states would also support Prussia. Bavaria alone could make up for the population gap between the two groups.

The entire population of the Little German region exceeded forty million, and South Germany could restrain part of France’s forces even if it did not go all out.

“Prussia must also have an operational plan against you. Although this battle will definitely not happen, it is certain that they will be wary of you siding with France.” Ernst teased unkindly.

I would like to! Franz said in his heart. In fact, the Austro-Hungarian Empire could not participate in the war. As his foreign minister said, “The Austro-Hungarian Empire is already a ‘defensive country’ that cannot engage in territorial expansion. This country is already ‘overweight’ and cannot carry anything else. Whether it is mud or gold, it will collapse.”

“If France and Prussia fight, I’m afraid it will be a very tragic war. The French are not terrible, because Napoleon III is not Napoleon the Great. Regardless of victory or defeat, France and Prussia will go all out from the beginning. Then the Roman garrison closest to France will probably have to return home to provide support!” Ernst sighed, “What do you think Italy will do at this time?”

“Take the opportunity to annex the Papal States!”

“That’s right, so this is the last chance for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is very difficult for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to expand, but it can still make trouble for its enemies.”

“But how can we interfere in Italy, especially the Papal States? It is on the west coast of Italy. Even if we want to mobilize troops to interfere, it will be very difficult! And the French haven’t left yet, and we have no reason to intervene in the affairs of the Papal States.” Franz asked.

“So, arrange the troops over there first!”

“How to arrange it? It’s impossible, right!”

“The troops don’t have to wear uniforms, and they don’t have to carry weapons. You say these are troops, but how do I see them as devout believers going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.”

“You mean disguise as believers to enter the Papal States! But if you want to interfere in the affairs of the Papal States, there should be a lot of people!”

“So, you can slowly arrange it in the next two months. At least five thousand people are safe. Enter the Papal States in batches. As long as they can hold back Italy, the Empire can succeed by threatening Italy from the direction of Venice.”

“How to solve the weapons problem!”

“Of course, merchant ships will transport them over. At the same time, a special diplomat should be set up to contact the Pope in time when the French army is preparing to withdraw, and inviting Austria to send troops can obtain righteousness.”

Franz fell into deep thought. This plan was still feasible, but the difficulty of specific implementation was relatively high. Any mistake in any link could lead to failure. This was like gambling, making Franz, the stability-loving emperor, hesitate.

Ernst continued to instigate, “If you miss this opportunity, you won’t even have a place to regret it. You understand which country Italy hates the most, it is none other than France and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. According to the principle of picking the soft persimmon, Italy will only be more confrontational towards the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the future. The feud has already been forged, and southern Austria, and even the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, are all ancestral lands that Italy has been thinking about.”

“Okay, I will consider this matter, but this plan is too risky, I still have to consider it carefully. Military affairs are not child’s play, I must first discuss the feasibility of the plan with the army before making a decision.”

Chapter 237: Thinking Too Small, Scope Too Narrow

Replacing France as the protector of the Papal States would be a huge temptation for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It would allow them to criticize Italy in public opinion under the guise of religion and, most importantly, delay the Italian unification process.

Although the Papal States are now small, they are not just any region; they are Rome, one of Italy’s most economically developed areas, with unmatched cultural, historical, and political significance. The most economically developed regions are Venice and Lombardy, formerly Austrian territories.

Ernst only proposed a rough plan. To make it a reality, professionals would need to refine the details. The fact that it caught Franz’s attention meant the plan was halfway to success.

…

“Ernst!”

Ferdinand, who had just walked out of Schönbrunn Palace, called out to his future son-in-law.

“Father-in-law, what’s wrong?”

“Do you have some kind of grudge against the Italians? To come up with such a nasty idea!”

“Haha, how could that be? Italy has never offended me. Besides, I have quite a bit of business dealings with Italy. Why would I have a problem with them?”

“You’re a businessman. Judging by your usual style, you wouldn’t get up early without a profit. There must be some reason why you’re trying to screw over the Kingdom of Italy like this.”

“Nonsense! Where did you hear such rumors? I’ve always operated with integrity. My business partners are very willing to cooperate with my companies, and all my operations are legal and compliant. I’m nothing like those unscrupulous capitalists. Tell me who’s spreading these rumors, and I’ll definitely teach them a lesson!”

“Franz said it.”

“Oh, never mind then. But even an emperor shouldn’t confuse black and white.”

“What’s the real reason that made you actively dig a hole for Italy?”

“Don’t overthink it. The reason is simple: East Africa needs a strong Austro-Hungarian Empire, not a strong Italy. It’s that simple.” Ernst interrupted Ferdinand.

“Hmm, is that so? I guess I was overthinking it. By the way, what did you mean earlier in Schönbrunn when you said that if the Franco-Prussian War breaks out, you could make a fortune from it?”

Compared to politics, money is also a big draw for Ferdinand. If someone else had said that, Ferdinand wouldn’t have believed it, but Ernst has an extraordinary talent in this area.

“If you want a guaranteed profit, just buy bonds issued by the Prussian government.”

“You’re that pessimistic about France!”

Ernst’s words were tantamount to saying that France was bound to lose; otherwise, how would Prussia repay its debts? The military expenses from the previous wars and debts hadn’t even been cleared yet.

“France’s army is only slightly stronger than the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s. In other aspects, it doesn’t have a clear advantage over the Austro-Hungarian Empire. What does it have to fight Prussia with?”

“Although I’m Austrian and a member of the Habsburg family, to be honest, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is far behind France. The Hungarian issue alone is very troublesome.”

“Do you think France is a monolithic entity? There are currently three royal families in France. The Orléans and Bourbon families are all opponents of Napoleon III. And France has an even bigger reactionary group—the Republicans.”

Ernst was being mild when he called the French Republicans a reactionary group. A government that represented big capitalists, colluded with the enemy during the war, and brutally suppressed the people could be ranked among the top two most disgusting governments in French history, the other being the French government during World War II.

“Are you saying the French will stab Napoleon III in the back?”

“Those people’s bones are soft. They’re okay with easy victories, but as long as Napoleon III makes a slight mistake on the front lines, those idiots will definitely screw things up,” Ernst said.

To be honest, Napoleon III was a capable emperor. France did develop impressively under his rule. In terms of national strength, France was indeed above Prussia. However, in the Franco-Prussian War, the operations of the French government in the rear were so bad that calling them vermin would be an overstatement.

Napoleon III wasn’t ruthless enough. If he had even half of Napoleon’s decisiveness, he wouldn’t have been backstabbed by his subordinates.

…

Schönbrunn Palace.

“Go and summon the generals from Vienna.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The main high-ranking generals of the empire in Vienna gathered at Schönbrunn Palace before dusk.

“Do you think the Franco-Prussian War will break out?” Franz asked, sitting on the sofa.

“It’s definitely going to break out, but it’s hard to say when.”

“What if the Franco-Prussian War breaks out in two months?”

“Your Majesty, that’s probably unlikely!”

“First, tell me if there’s a possibility.”

“There’s definitely a possibility. France has always coveted the German region, and Prussia is no pushover. Its army size has always been maintained at a high level.”

“Then, assuming the Franco-Prussian War suddenly breaks out, what should our Austro-Hungarian Empire do?” Franz asked.

“Uh, to be honest, it’s better for our Austro-Hungarian Empire not to get involved early.”

“But if we don’t get involved early, we won’t get anything. We can only watch one of the two sides monopolize the spoils of war.”

“Then what can we do? Joining the battlefield won’t give us a high chance of winning. The risks and rewards are completely disproportionate.”

Watching his subordinates argue fiercely, Franz remained silent. Austria had indeed declined. The generals’ attitudes toward Prussia and France had become ambiguous, which meant they lacked confidence.

“Alright, let’s not discuss this matter. What if we don’t take sides in the Franco-Prussian War and instead open up a new battlefield?” Franz said.

“Huh?” The Austrian generals were confused by Franz’s words!

“Imagine, if the Franco-Prussian War breaks out, is there a country that will also be eager to make a move?”

“Your Majesty, are you talking about England!”

Franz shook his head and said, “I’ve already said, let’s not discuss the Franco-Prussian War. This time, the empire won’t interfere in the Franco-Prussian War, but if the Franco-Prussian War really breaks out, Italy won’t be idle.”

“Italy? Could Your Majesty be referring to the Papal States!” A perceptive general immediately noticed the key point.

“That’s right. If the Franco-Prussian War breaks out…” Franz explained Ernst’s analysis and plan in detail.

“Do you think this plan is feasible?”

“Intervene in the Papal States and prevent Italy from unifying the Apennine Peninsula! If that’s the only goal, it doesn’t seem too difficult.”

“What are the benefits for us?”

“A disunited Italy is the biggest benefit for us. I think Italy poses a much greater threat to the empire than Tsarist Russia and Prussia. A unified Italy will definitely be detrimental to us. Besides the navy, it probably has ambitions in the Balkans as well,” said Navy Commander Wilhelm von Tegetthoff.

The Ottoman Empire could also be counted, but the Ottoman Empire only had strength on paper; in reality, it was useless.

“Hmm, if we’re targeting Italy, I think the scope of this plan is still too small. Can we take this opportunity to regain Venice?” A land army general suddenly suggested.

His words instantly opened up the minds of the Austro-Hungarian generals.

“That’s right, this is an opportunity. If the Franco-Prussian War breaks out, then Italy will have no backers, and Prussia and France, in order to win us over…”

“Wonderful! We all know Italy’s combat effectiveness. If it weren’t for the support of Prussia and France in the past, it would never have been able to pose a threat to us.”

“Your Majesty, if we’re going to war, we should take action now. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The military generals, who had been cautious and submissive toward Prussia and France, suddenly changed their tune, as if the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already won and Italy was meat on the chopping board.

The morale was good, and Franz was very satisfied. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was at the bottom of the four great powers, but it was more than capable of defeating Italy. Now, it was a matter of quickly sending personnel and weapons to the Papal States.

As long as the French troops withdrew and the Pope reached an agreement with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there would be a pretext for war. At the same time, as the generals said, taking Venice back was also a possibility.

As for the risks, even if the advance on the front lines wasn’t smooth, Italy wouldn’t be able to counterattack into Austrian territory. But if it succeeded, then Venice…

Venice was too tempting for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As for the population problem, more fleas don’t itch, and more debts don’t worry. Wasn’t that little devil Ernst planning to immigrate people? It would be good to pack up the opponents and send them to him to contribute to the development of Africa.

“Now, come up with a detailed plan. This operation must not attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. When the time is right, we will catch the Kingdom of Italy off guard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” This time, everyone was a hawk.

Chapter 238: Three “Knives”

“We need to hurry and finish building the iron chain bridge during the dry season. We need to build at least five iron chain bridges across this section of the river to ensure smooth transportation.”

“With an iron bridge connecting the north and south banks, the army can continuously enter the south directly from the bridge. Fortunately, East Africa mainly relies on light infantry, so the requirements for bridges are not high.”

“Transportation is simply connecting two places. These iron chain bridges will also serve as the most important hubs in this area for the foreseeable future.”

Two engineers were chatting on the north bank of the Zambezi River, and the overall framework of a bridge had already appeared before them. All that remained was to lay wooden planks on the iron chains.

The Zambezi River, originally the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is the fourth largest river in Africa, with a total length of 2,660 kilometers and a drainage area of 1.35 million square kilometers. In Africa, its water volume is second only to the Congo River and the Niger River.

The biggest characteristic of the Zambezi River is its ruggedness, with many canyons, rapids, and dangerous shoals. At the same time, it is prone to flooding in Mozambique downstream.

Therefore, if you want to cross this natural barrier, you must build bridges. However, the Zambezi River is too far from the economically developed areas of East Africa, and within the East African Kingdom, except for the eastern territory, which has established a preliminary road system after years of renovation, other areas can be said to be a blank slate.

Therefore, it is unrealistic to transport building materials from the rear, so it is more time-saving and labor-saving to use iron chain bridges.

“When all the bridges on this river are built, it will be about the time when the southwestern provinces are completely stabilized.”

As the saying goes, an army marches on its stomach. Now East Africa is planning to build roads in Zambia.

There is a saying that the world originally had no roads, but as more people walked, they became roads.

Native Africans actually have their own roads, but they are really made by walking barefoot. East Africa is just expanding the roads on this basis.

Unlike the Tanganyika region of East Africa, the southwestern region at least has some native kingdoms, so transportation is not zero, especially in the north, where the former Kazembe Kingdom has the best transportation conditions.

Some people often misunderstand and regard the speed of road construction in East Africa as incredible. In fact, there is no need for this. Road construction in East Africa is not the same concept as building highways in later generations.

Except for the Central Province and the eastern cities, which use hardened roads, other areas are still dirt roads. What about these mud roads? Some sections have not even been touched and are directly used.

However, East Africa will strengthen drainage measures when building roads, and this is actually the largest part of the workload.

While planning to build roads, the East African government also plans to build a telegraph line from Mbeya City in South Salzburg Province to Lusaka City, the capital of the Southern Frontier Province, so that the central government can directly contact the southwestern region.

East Africa has not completely digested Zambia, but it is already eager to enter Zimbabwe and other regions.

This is also the reason for the hasty construction of bridges on the Zambezi River. At the same time, East Africa is actively expanding its army, planning to expand the army to about two hundred thousand.

The role of the army is very important now. East Africa has a large territory and needs more troops to consolidate it. At the same time, East Africa plans to develop a slave economy in these years, and the army is also needed to suppress slaves.

The river and lake troops will be greatly strengthened as a key support target. The Zambezi River basin has a crisscrossing water system, which is a good place for them to exert their strength.

……

Italy, Rome.

A remote courtyard has gained a hundred or so people on this day.

“Pastor, where did you find this courtyard? Although it can accommodate a lot of people, the conditions are too simple!”

“Okay, it’s good to have a house to live in, and don’t forget our purpose here, which is to gather together to make it easier to act. Otherwise, if things change, command will be a problem, and this place happens to be in a remote suburb, so the Italians won’t notice it.”

“Alas, to be honest, I’m not surprised to go abroad, but it’s most difficult for me to go abroad empty-handed. Is a soldier without a gun still a soldier?”

“Mr. Blythe, stop complaining. As an elite of the empire, you should continue to maintain military integrity. Sending us to Italy further illustrates the importance of this operation. If we succeed, we will be heroes of the empire when we go back.” The pastor educated.

As “devout believers” from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is natural to have a real pastor to accompany them, so that it is not easy to be exposed. If these Austrian soldiers disguised as believers were allowed to act alone, it would be a disaster.

“Knock knock knock…”

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” The pastor opened the door to check.

“Sir, would you like an Italian pizza?”

“What flavor?”

“Pineapple flavor.”

“Very delicious, but I prefer spaghetti with tomato sauce.”

The code was matched.

“General Karl is the person in charge of this operation. He should have passed Ostia by now and is heading to Rome. Two days later, at three o’clock in the afternoon, the heads of each district must arrive at this address in advance for a meeting.”

Saying that, the person who came to deliver the message handed a note to the pastor. The pastor looked at the location on it and then said, “I know, but are we really going empty-handed this time?”

“You don’t need to worry about weapons. The empire will naturally solve this problem. You just need to prepare and go to receive them when the time comes.”

This is one of the military personnel strongholds that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has placed in the Papal States. This time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire sent a total of more than four thousand seven hundred soldiers, most of whom came from the empire’s elite troops, including two guards under the royal family.

In addition, Franz also listened to Ernst’s suggestion and sent a diplomatic team to Rome, but the diplomatic team was overstaffed, and many people entered the Papal States as diplomatic personnel.

At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also deploying troops in the country. In order not to make this military operation too eye-catching, it is using the banner of troop rotation.

But with a little attention, it will be found that the equipment of the army defending the Italian direction has obviously been upgraded by a level.

……

In July, the Spanish cabinet meeting decided to find a suitable successor to the Spanish throne.

Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern family, who had distant relatives with Prussian King Wilhelm I, seemed to have hope of becoming a candidate for the Spanish royal family. Unfortunately, the news was leaked at the end of June, 1870.

French Foreign Minister Duke Gramont immediately put pressure on Prussia to abandon its support for Leopold, and at the same time demanded that Prussia guarantee that it would never interfere in the Spanish throne. Wilhelm I婉拒(wan ju - politely refused).

Now East Africa is sharpening its knives in Zambia, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire is secretly gathering forces to the southern front, and Prussia has been planning to change the European situation for more than a decade.

The strength of the Prussian army has been rising, and now the contradictions between France and Prussia have begun to emerge. Everyone is waiting for an opportunity, or rather, waiting for Prussia’s next decision. Prussia will become the protagonist of the event. If France and Prussia go to war, East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire will also strike at their respective targets.

Chapter 239: What Exactly is Franz Up To?

“Your Excellency Prime Minister! This is an insult to Prussia by the French. It’s time to let the French know the results of the Prussian army’s reforms over the years.” Moltke stared solemnly at Bismarck and said, his tone slow but forceful.

His sharp eyes revealed a strong desire to win. Moltke knew the development of the Prussian army over the years better than anyone else, and he had a strong urge, like a father seeing his son grown up, to go out and make a career.

“General Moltke, there’s no need to rush yet. War will come sooner or later, and this is also the attitude of myself and His Majesty. However, victory in war is never just a matter on the battlefield. We are indeed developing rapidly now, but we must also recognize the reality that France is a top-tier power, and its strength should not be underestimated. I still need the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do more work to ensure that various countries do not interfere in this war, creating conditions for our victory on the battlefield,” Bismarck said unhurriedly.

Some time ago, under Bismarck’s maneuvering, he had already secretly signed a treaty of alliance with the South German states. Therefore, this seemingly Franco-Prussian War is actually a Franco-German War. Germany has already emerged, and now it only needs France to send the certificate of recognition, and the so-called alliance will become a real Germany. This shows that France is capable, and can be called the founding father of the United States, Italy, and Germany, and all three countries became great powers later.

“Currently, there are three countries that are uncertain factors in our war with France, and I believe you are aware that if we cannot persuade them, it is likely to lead to us working in vain.”

Last time, Prussia diplomatically isolated the Austrian Empire by promising France to cede part of the Rhineland region (the famous Ruhr industrial area is located here) and tacitly allowing France to annex parts of Belgium and Luxembourg between France and Prussia; borrowing a large sum of money from Britain at very high interest rates, allowing British capital to lie down and make money from Prussia’s rapid economic development; signing preferential trade agreements and secret alliance treaties with Tsarist Russia; and finally, using the territorial disputes between Italy and Austria to jointly attack Austria from the north and south with Italy. This series of operations demonstrates Bismarck’s diplomatic capabilities.

“Britain and Tsarist Russia are still manageable, but the most important thing now is the attitude of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, the possibility of the Austro-Hungarian Empire sending troops is very small, but in the end, it depends on Emperor Franz’s personal thoughts…”

In order to break the restrictions imposed on Russia by the 1856 Treaty of Paris, Russia chose to maintain “benevolent neutrality” in the Franco-Prussian War, and deployed 100,000 troops on the Russian-Austrian border, while promising Prussia that if Austria joined the Franco-Prussian War, it would also send troops to help Prussia.

The subsequent development was as Russia hoped. The Prussian army won a great victory in the Franco-Prussian War, and eventually unified Germany to establish the German Empire. As a reward for Russia’s neutrality, at the London Conference held in March 1871, Bismarck helped Russia break free from the restrictions of the Black Sea neutrality clause stipulated in the Treaty of Paris, and once again confirmed the principle of closed straits and prohibiting the passage of foreign warships, guaranteeing Russia’s interests.

As for Britain, as the saying goes, the debtor is always the boss. Prussia borrowed a lot of money from Britain in the previous wars. If Prussia loses…

Of course, the most important thing is that France is too powerful. France under Napoleon III can be said to be the strongest period in French history. Its national strength is infinitely close to Britain, and it is the second largest colonial empire in the world. Its army, navy, and air force are unprecedentedly powerful, threatening Britain’s hegemonic position.

Therefore, both Tsarist Russia and Britain support Prussia, and the only ally France can win over is the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

However, Napoleon III’s foreign policy has always been considered foolish. Otherwise, he would not have allowed Italy to unify. Even if Italy unified, France still sent troops to protect the Papal States in the final step of Italy’s impending unification, leading to the breakdown of Franco-Italian relations.

At this time, Napoleon III still did not realize the seriousness of the problem. If he could win over the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the outcome would still be uncertain.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

Just as Bismarck was about to say something more, there was a sudden knock on the door.

“Come in!” Although he was very unhappy that someone interrupted his speech, he knew that it must be a very important matter when the Imperial Prime Minister and the Imperial Chief of Staff were talking at this time.

“Your Excellency Prime Minister, General Moltke! This is important information sent by the intelligence department.”

Bismarck took the document and read it.

A moment later.

“Good, good! Take a look at this intelligence as well.” Bismarck handed the document to Moltke.

The main text of the document: “July 1st telegram, there has been some movement in the Austro-Hungarian army. Elite troops from the Slovak region have been transferred, and their destination is temporarily unknown. The newly stationed troops can be temporarily confirmed to be from the southern region of Austria. — Slovak Intelligence Office”

“What is Franz thinking?” Moltke said in confusion.

It should be known that Russia had just deployed 100,000 troops in the border area. At this time, Austria secretly transferred elite troops from the Slovak region, which is a military stronghold not far from Prussia and Tsarist Russia, capable of responding to possible attacks launched by both Prussia and Russia at the same time. It can support the Czech Republic to the west and the Galicia region to the east.

“The only areas that Austria values and benefits from are the Balkans and Italy, but now is obviously not the time for the Austro-Hungarian Empire to launch a war. Franz’s decision is indeed puzzling. Do you think it’s possible that this is just a normal troop rotation in the Austro-Hungarian Empire!” Bismarck said to Moltke.

“Even if it’s a troop rotation, there’s no need to secretly transfer elite troops from the Slovak region at this time, right! I don’t believe Franz dares to bet that we and Tsarist Russia won’t attack the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

“Could it be that Hungary is causing trouble again! But I haven’t heard of any recent movements in Hungary,” Bismarck said strangely.

“Hungary is indeed an unstable factor within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but dealing with Hungary doesn’t require any elite troops at all.”

“Then what is Franz’s true intention?” Both of them pondered.

First of all, Italy is excluded. Italy has Prussia as an ally, and even if the Austro-Hungarian Empire dares to attack Italy, the French will not agree.

Secondly, the Balkan Peninsula. This is possible, but the Ottoman Empire on the Balkan Peninsula is already struggling on its last breath. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire wants to attack the Ottoman Empire, ordinary troops can solve it.

Moreover, Tsarist Russia will not allow the Austro-Hungarian Empire to expand in the Balkan Peninsula. Therefore, if the Austro-Hungarian Empire really wants to attack the Balkan Peninsula, it should deploy more troops on the Austro-Russian border to cope with the pressure from Tsarist Russia. So what exactly does Franz want to do? Is it really just a normal troop rotation?

“Forget it, in short, we can be sure that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has no intention of interfering with Prussia recently. Anyway, there are many people who make wrong decisions. Maybe Franz was just fooled by some ‘idiot’ around him.”

Saying this, Bismarck still reviewed the major events that had happened in the Austro-Hungarian Empire recently in his mind, but nothing major had happened.

The establishment of the East African Kingdom some time ago was considered a relatively big move when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the first to speak out, but there was nothing to pay attention to in the East African Kingdom. The Hechingen royal family was starting a business overseas, which was indeed a bit eye-catching, but going to Africa at this time was just looking for death. At that time, Bismarck also commented - Prince Constantine and his son Ernst have the same adventurous spirit.

Why not be a good Prussian prince and go to the cursed continent of Africa? What’s the point? Now the whole of Germany knows that the Hechingen royal family is very rich, but some areas in Africa and South America are a paradise for explorers. There is no point in opening up a colony there to become king and dominate. At most, you can be an African chief. Europe is the center of the world. It’s just that Prince Constantine has a high status, and everyone gives him face.

“Well, at least this move shows that the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s intention is not in Germany. I think our army can also focus more attention on France,” Moltke said.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s intention is not in Germany, it is completely lying flat, because if they were to attack Germany, Hungary would definitely object and make small moves behind their back. However, Austria can solve the problem of attacking a weakling like Italy by itself, and Hungary will rush to join in, after all, the Austrians cannot be allowed to take all the benefits.

Chapter 240: A Large Loan

Recently, Prussia had been noticeably more affectionate towards Ernst. Before he even returned to Hohenzollern Castle, Ernst learned that the Prussian royal family had invited him to Berlin as a guest.

Ernst had long anticipated Prussia’s intentions, so he changed his route in Bavaria and headed towards Berlin.

Kingdom of Prussia.

“Ernst, how have you been lately!” Wilhelm I said with a hearty laugh.

“Your Majesty, I’ve been doing well. I’ve been busy with business recently, so I’ve been quite occupied,” Ernst said.

“Just call me Uncle. Your father is now a king as well, making you the crown prince. Besides, we’re all members of the Hohenzollern family, no need to be so formal,” Wilhelm I said.

“That might not be appropriate!”

“What’s inappropriate? We’re all family. Since that’s the case, call me Uncle in private from now on, and Your Majesty in formal settings.”

Then William II would be my great-nephew! Ernst thought to himself with glee, but he remained composed and said, “Yes, I’ll listen to you, Uncle Wilhelm.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“The reason I called you here today is actually to ask for your help. I’m not afraid to be laughed at, but although I’ve fought many battles in my life as king, Prussia’s finances have become unsustainable as a result. We owe a lot of debts, but for the sake of German unification, Prussia cannot stop moving forward,” Wilhelm I sighed.

“I certainly understand that. Prussia has indeed made a huge contribution to the cause of German unification over the years,” Ernst said with a compliment.

“Well, now I can give you a heads-up: the French are already losing their patience. But Prussia is already heavily in debt from the last war, and it’s really difficult to raise military funds this time!”

The true motive is revealed.

“Uh, Uncle Wilhelm, although Hechingen has developed well in recent years, this year’s investments have also been quite large, so our funds may not be too abundant. I understand the government’s difficulties, so I’ll subscribe to 500,000 Thalers worth of war bonds as a token of my support for the kingdom.”

500,000 Thalers was not a small sum, but for a major capitalist like Ernst, it was peanuts.

Although Prussia was also preparing for war, France had not declared war on Prussia, and the North German Confederation government would not agree to allocate funds to the kingdom.

Historically, on July 21, 1870, the North German Confederation parliament, led by Prussia, approved a war credit of 120 million Thalers.

So now, the Kingdom of Prussia could only try to find more ways to raise some funds on its own. Ernst estimated that Prussia could probably only scrape together a few million at most.

Even in the original timeline, in the early stages of the war, the Berlin stock market was in a near-panic situation, with even high-quality stocks like the Cologne-Minden Railway falling by 30%. The Prussian government urgently sold the first tranche of war bonds worth 100 million Thalers, trying to get rid of the underwriting channels monopolized by bankers and sell them directly to the market, with conditions of 5% interest and an 88% discount. The bankers’ suggestion was an 85% discount, which was rejected by the government. Oppenheim emphasized in a letter to Bleichröder, “This is a ridiculous condition in the current market situation.”

As a result, the sale encountered a huge failure, with only 60 million Thalers worth of bonds sold. In fact, the root of the problem was that if the government sold directly, the bankers would not be able to earn underwriting fees, and therefore took collective resistance. This once again demonstrated the power of “channel is king” in the financial market. At the end of October 1870, the Prussian government learned from its previous lesson and appointed Hansemann to form an underwriting syndicate to sell 20 million Thalers of the second tranche of loans in London and Berlin. With the good news from the Prussian army, the prices of these loan contracts rose, and the government was soon able to cancel some of the mortgaged credit lines. Finally, the interest rate on the war bonds was set at 5%, with a term of 5 years.

On November 30, the bankers continued their efforts and successfully issued another 34 million Thalers of 92% discount loans in the United Kingdom, with the option to further issue 17 million Thalers. At the same time, although the British began to sympathize with the unfortunate France, French bonds were almost unsalable in the United Kingdom. On this invisible front of finance, France failed again.

But until the end of the Franco-Prussian War, the total war expenditure of Prussia was only 22 million Thalers.

Ernst was not greedy and had already started saving money to prepare for the Franco-Prussian War. Currently, the entire Hechingen Consortium had about 30 million Thalers of available funds. Ernst planned to bet at least 20 million on Prussia’s victory. If he won, the French would ultimately foot the bill.

“500,000? This…” Wilhelm I was a little melancholy. 500,000 was not a small sum, but for the war, it was like a drop in the bucket.

“Ernst, just the Hechingen Bank alone has developed very well over the years. I heard that you have also developed business in the Far East… Rest assured that this time Prussia is confident of winning the war. Invest boldly, and at the same time, we will set an interest rate slightly higher than the market price. Not only that, the East African kingdom is just starting out and probably lacks many things. We Prussia can cooperate on these in the future…”

As for the confidence of winning, Wilhelm I was just saying it casually. In fact, Prussia was still apprehensive before fighting France.

But Wilhelm I knew that the wealth of the Hechingen royal family was definitely astronomical. Now the Hechingen Consortium had taken shape, its business covering the entire Europe, and it had business all over the world. So it was right to borrow money from Ernst, so Wilhelm I made bold promises.

At the same time, everyone was a member of the Hohenzollern family, so he could play the emotional card. If he could borrow more from the Hechingen royal family, he could be a little tougher when negotiating with other big capitalists later.

Ernst pretended to be embarrassed and said, “In fact, Hechingen has many industries, but there are also many workers. Just the workers’ wages are not a small sum…”

“Tell me the truth, how much can you take out? Prussia can give you seven percent interest, and the army will give priority to purchasing products from Hechingen companies.”

“Uncle Wilhelm, it’s not really about the money. However, you helped me a lot when I started my business, and it would be a bit much for me to be so stingy. I won’t hide it from you. The company can mobilize about 15 million Thalers in total funds this year, including workers’ wages. But for the sake of German unification, I will order 15 million Thalers worth of shares first! From now on, if Prussia cannot achieve victory, Hechingen will go bankrupt due to the break in the capital chain, so please be sure to achieve victory!” Ernst said somewhat “heavily.”

15 million! Wilhelm I was a little dazed when he heard this number. According to his expectations, or rather this goal, it was only three or four million Thalers. After all, it was not yet determined whether to fight or not!

Large-scale borrowing would only happen if France really declared war on Prussia. It was just that Prussia’s finances were too tight now. After all, the Austro-Prussian War did not demand war reparations from Austria, and the debts owed were too much, so he was trying to see if he could borrow some money to deal with the emergency.

Ernst came up with a 15 million investment, which was enough for the expenses of a major battle, and it could greatly alleviate Prussia’s current financial pressure. This also meant that the army could prepare in advance!

Wilhelm I was very moved. Sure enough, family was reliable. Ernst was really selling everything to support Prussia this time! After all, there were not many people who were optimistic about Prussia’s victory. If this war failed, the Hechingen royal family might really go bankrupt.

In fact, Wilhelm I was completely overthinking it. Ernst, such a cautious person, would never bet all his assets.

Not only that, Ernst planned to continue buying shares worth 10 million Thalers after Prussia issued its first war bonds. At the same time, he would use Hechingen Bank to help Prussia issue bonds and earn some extra handling fees. Coupled with the privileges promised by Wilhelm I earlier, he would really be making a killing.

Both sides, who believed they were making a big profit, quickly signed the agreement. Professionals from the Prussian government and the Hechingen Consortium carefully checked all the terms dozens of times, and only signed their names after confirming that there were no errors.

Chapter 241: Black H興根 Enters the Scene

Loans are naturally not given out so easily. To maximize profits in the Franco-Prussian War, there also had to be political demands.

As a state of Southern Germany, Black H興根 also had an obligation to participate. Although Black H興根 was Prussian territory, the name of the Black H興根 royal family could still be used.

“Uncle Wilhelm, as a member of Germany, Black H興根 also has an obligation to participate in Prussia’s war of resistance against France.”

Hmm! Wilhelm I didn’t quite understand. What did Ernst mean by this? The company’s money had already been lent out. How else did the Black H興根 royal family want to contribute?

“Although Black H興根 is now an inseparable part of Prussia, our East African Kingdom, as a member of the German states, also has an obligation to do its part.”

“Uh, your East African Kingdom also intends to join the war!” Wilhelm I seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. Although the day the East African Kingdom was founded, it was a recognized German country, everyone just took the geographical location of East Africa as a joke. No one would really treat Africa as Europe, right?

“No, it’s Black H興根 participating in the war as a German state.”

“Ernst, forgive me for speaking frankly, Black H興根 is now only a German principality in name. We Prussia can take care of it…”

Suddenly, Wilhelm I paused. He suddenly realized that Black H興根 had indeed become part of Prussia, but there were indeed some people with good military skills inside, and Prussia had no right to conscript them.

Prussia had long begun to implement a conscription system, but conscripts could only be forcibly conscripted from citizens within Prussia. However, the students of the Black H興根 military academy were initially so-called “Far East students” arranged by Ernst, so they were not Prussian citizens. Later, when the East African Kingdom was established, these Far East students naturally became citizens of the East African Kingdom.

In fact, Prussia had long been paying attention to the Black H興根 Military Academy. After all, conscription was the most important task for Prussia, and the Black H興根 Military Academy was actually an unregistered military school in Prussia, a so-called diploma mill.

At first, the Prussian government didn’t pay much attention to Prince Constantine’s diploma mill. After all, Black H興根 was such a small place with such a small population. What could they possibly come up with?

But they didn’t expect that this diploma mill wouldn’t recruit students in Prussia at all, but instead brought in a large number of so-called “students” from the Far East.

This was nothing. A diploma mill with students from the “world-renowned” country in the Far East. Prussia’s impression of the Far East was the same as what its minister to the Far East had seen in Zhili, comparable to the Ottoman Empire in the south.

However, later, when the Austro-Prussian War broke out, Prussia changed its mind. The Black H興根 local conscription department had previously mentioned in its report to the central government: its students were obedient, disciplined, and their military skills were comparable to those of ordinary Prussian troops when observing their exercises.

In fact, they just wanted to pull a large number of students (compared to the Black H興根 area) to use as cannon fodder. Naturally, it was rejected by the Black H興根 royal family at the time. These were “students,” not Prussian citizens. Moreover, East Africa was short of manpower at the time, and the Black H興根 Military Academy was all crash courses, and they had to be sent to East Africa. This matter was dropped.

Later, Wilhelm I began to pay attention to the Black H興根 Military Academy, which was related to the Berlin Military Academy.

Prince Constantine used his connections to force two of the most outstanding Black H興根 Military Academy students into it for study. At that time, Ernst valued only three talents, and Siweit, the current Chief of the General Staff of the East African Kingdom’s Army, was one of them, because Ernst needed a capable person to go to East Africa to check and balance the mercenary faction and the consortium faction.

The remaining two, who were also talents selected from thousands of miles, were sent to the Berlin Military Academy for further study by Ernst.

Nepotism! So, their initial life after going to the Berlin Military Academy can be imagined, but soon the Berlin Military Academy was shocked by their learning ability.

At the Berlin Military Academy, the top military academy in the Kingdom of Prussia, the two always ranked among the best in every exam. Because they both came from the Black H興根 Military Academy, they were called the “Black H興根 Twin Heroes” by the students and teachers.

The Twin Heroes performed outstandingly, and they came from the Far East, and at the same time, they were students from the Black H興根 Military Academy, a diploma mill, plus they got in through connections, naturally bringing traffic, leading Wilhelm I to hear about them.

He had also received the two in the Berlin Military Academy. They were indeed outstanding talents. The fame of the Twin Heroes also brought a little reputation to the Black H興根 Military Academy in Prussia, changing the impression of some Prussians on the Far East. The people of the Far East were not bad. There were so many talents, but they only bloomed after arriving in Prussia. It could be seen that it was not that their national quality was weak, but that the government was stupid and deliberately suppressed talents. Conversely, it was said that our Prussian education was strong.

Wilhelm I, who had a good impression of the Black H興根 Military Academy, asked, “Why do you want to participate in the war in the name of the Principality of Black H興根 instead of in the name of the East African Kingdom?”

“Although East Africa is also a German country, it is located overseas, while Black H興根 is a traditional Southern German state. If a war breaks out between Prussia and France, it will inevitably affect Southern Germany, so it is natural to participate in the war in the name of Black H興根.”

Ernst explained this way, actually separating the East African Kingdom. The East African Kingdom could not have a bad relationship with France. After all, they would see each other often in the future. But the East African Kingdom also wanted to get a share of the benefits. What should they do? Naturally, a small account was launched, using Black H興根 to get the benefits and then transfer them to the East African Kingdom.

This procedure was too important. If East Africa directly declared war on France, France would inevitably make things difficult for East Africa in Africa in the future.

But Black H興根 was different, because now Black H興根 was really a part of Prussia. No matter how many benefits Black H興根 got, the French would blame Prussia.

“What are your demands?” Wilhelm I asked.

After all, no one gets up early without a profit. The Black H興根 royal family took the initiative to participate in the war, definitely wanting some benefits.

“Uncle Wilhelm, it’s actually not a difficult matter. You also know the geographical location of East Africa. We just want to get a small island in the East African waters from the French.”

“An island?”

“Yes, this island is part of the Comoros Islands, now a French colony, called Mayotte. For East Africa, the location of this island is very important, but it is not very useful to France, because France has other islands in the Indian Ocean. If the kingdom can defeat France, we hope to be able to obtain Mayotte through negotiations.”

This demand was not high, an island that he had never even heard of, Wilhelm I thought. Moreover, if he could exchange an island for the Black H興根 Military Academy to join the battlefield, it would be a good deal. For Prussia, the more troops the better, after all, the opponent was “the strongest army in Europe,” France.

“Okay, if Black H興根 participates in the war, we will transfer the ownership of this island to the Black H興根 royal family after the war.”

“By the way, Uncle Wilhelm, although Black H興根 is participating in the war, I hope to hand over the command of this troop to my cousin Leopold,” Ernst said.

“Of course, no problem!” In Wilhelm I’s view, this was not even a requirement.

But this was very important to Ernst. The Black H興根 Military Academy was his “Whampoa,” not really going to be cannon fodder for Prussia.

This Franco-Prussian War could also be used to see how capable the Black H興根 Military Academy was, and at the same time, to train this group of students. The battlefield was the place where soldiers grew. Military academies could not cultivate real military strategists.

The enemies East Africa would face in the future could not always be natives, so it was important for the students of the Black H興根 Military Academy to be tempered by war. After all, East Africa would build its army system on their foundation in the future.

Leopold was one of the triggers of the Franco-Prussian War. His Spanish throne was messed up by the French, so Leopold still held an important position in the Prussian army. In the future, he would probably only be able to inherit his father’s business.

Prince Karl was the original Commander-in-Chief of the Prussian Army, with great influence in the army, so Leopold also rose all the way in the Prussian army. Plus, his younger brother Carol I went to Romania, so Leopold’s position in the Prussian army would at least rank in the top ten in the future.

Handing over the Black H興根 Military Academy students to Leopold, Ernst was also relieved, after all, they were all his own people.

Chapter 242: Why Mayotte?

Mayotte is located in the Mozambique Channel, and together with Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli, it forms the Comoros Islands. It has an area of 374 square kilometers, and its economy is mainly based on agriculture, primarily producing spices such as vanilla. In its previous life, it was an overseas region of France, under which was a province, namely the Mayotte province.

In 1870, France had six key colonial areas. The first was North Africa (French Algeria), whose importance was self-evident, being closest to mainland France and the region France most wanted to integrate.

The second was West Africa (French Seychelles - Gambia, Guinea, etc.; Ivory Coast - Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, etc.; Gabon, Equatorial Guinea region - later developed into French Congo). In terms of quantity and quality, it could be considered France’s most economically valuable colony. At the same time, the latter two were located in the Gulf of Guinea, making it easy for the French mainland navy to support these areas.

The third was Madagascar, which, together with French Comoros (Mayotte) and French Réunion, formed its strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean.

The fourth was Southeast Asia (Cambodia, southern Vietnam), the Far East region.

The fifth was French Guiana, the South American region.

Finally, there was the Djibouti region, which controlled the Suez Canal. After all, the importance of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait was self-evident. Without the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal would be a dead end. Both Britain and France had deployed troops near this area.

These areas constituted the main body of the French colonies. Together with mainland France, they could radiate across the globe, so none of the above areas could be touched.

Moreover, Africa accounted for four of these six areas, which was enough to show France’s emphasis on Africa. After all, according to the European version of the world map, Africa was the true geographical center of the world, with the intersection of 0 degrees latitude and longitude located in the Gulf of Guinea.

Therefore, Ernst could only think of solutions from the islands controlled by France. Those too far away were definitely not feasible, and Mayotte was closest to East Africa, while also being located in the center of the Mozambique Channel, making its strategic position very important for East Africa.

At the same time, the island had good agricultural conditions, and it was no problem to support tens of thousands of people. Adding the entire Comoros Islands, supporting more than one hundred thousand people was also no problem (in reality, the Comoros Islands had a population of more than eight hundred thousand in later generations). The other three islands were no man’s land (actually, there were two indigenous kingdoms, with Grande Comore speaking Swahili like the East African natives), but Mayotte, which was solely occupied by France, was very conspicuous, so Ernst paid more attention to the island.

The residents of Mayotte were the Malagasy people. Southern Madagascar consisted of tribes composed of Malagasy people, while the north was the French Madagascar colony and the Kingdom of Imerina.

It would be impossible to say that Ernst was not interested in Madagascar, but he couldn’t defeat the French Madagascar colony, and the four ships of the East African navy couldn’t withstand the trouble.

The Kingdom of Imerina was also obviously not something East Africa could handle at the moment. Not only was it large, but it was also not like the ignorant, gunless, and disunited tribal groups of East African natives. Ernst’s standard for judging indigenous civilizations was very simple: primitive, slave, semi-feudal and semi-slave, feudal.

And East Africa’s expansion in Africa also verified this statement. The easiest to fight were primitive tribes, followed by slave kingdoms, then semi-feudal kingdoms, and finally feudal kingdoms.

The higher the level, the higher the degree of centralization and the stronger the organizational ability. So far, the most difficult countries East Africa had fought were the group of semi-feudal and semi-slave kingdoms in the Great Lakes region and the Geledi Sultanate. As for the Zanzibar Sultanate, it was completely an accident. After all, Felix, who did not follow martial ethics, controlled its high-level officials. If East Africa had chosen to wipe out the high-level officials of the Zanzibar Sultanate at that time, I am afraid that there would still be fighting with the Zanzibar Sultanate in the future, its main body was on Zanzibar Island, and at that time, East Africa did not even have its own ships, and it was impossible to cross the sea to attack.

And the Kingdom of Imerina was a very tough nut to crack, on the same level as the Ethiopian Empire among African natives.

It can only be said that the Malagasy people, like the Ethiopians, were not purely African natives. One was deeply influenced by Middle Eastern civilization, and the other was mostly brown people from the Far East. The two countries happened to be in a zone where civilizations converged, so they were relatively enlightened.

As early as 1817, Britain signed a treaty with the Kingdom of Madagascar, recognizing Radama I as the King of Madagascar, and promised to provide weapons and advisors and prohibit the slave trade. The London Missionary Society was allowed to join Madagascar to preach.

Its ruler, Radama I, was also a generation of heroes, abolishing the slave trade and promoting modernization reforms. His successors, Ranavalona II and Ranavalona III, clashed with France and were eventually overthrown by France. After the failure of the anti-French war in 1896, Imerina was destroyed and became a French colony.

Even so, the Kingdom of Imerina continued to revolt, so it was impossible to take Madagascar without a sufficient population.

From the time of its fall, it can be seen that the Kingdom of Imerina was not easy to deal with. Belgium, a small country, took only a few years to annex the entire Congo, while the Kingdom of Imerina fought with France for nearly a century.

Therefore, compared to the Kingdom of Imerina, Ernst was more interested in the tribes in southern Madagascar.

Now East Africa’s focus is on the mainland, so it is impossible to expand to Madagascar, but not being able to do it now does not mean not being able to do it in the future, and southern Madagascar is very far from East Africa, and the Comoros Islands in the middle can serve as a transit station.

And the biggest problem in obtaining the Comoros Islands is Mayotte, which is controlled by France. Mayotte is very important, but for France, it is just so-so, because it already has the Madagascar colony and the Réunion colony. The Madagascar colony is definitely the key area of concern for the French, related to its global strategy (threatening the Cape of Good Hope and the Indian Ocean routes).

And the only colonial choice that can be obtained through the Franco-Prussian War is Mayotte. Other French colonies are strong and far away, and their autonomy is very strong. They may not obediently listen to the central government. To be precise, they have a cooperative relationship with the French central government.

So don’t even think about those large and populous colonies. Even if France agrees, East Africa will have to fight a second battle.

Mayotte does not have this concern. It has a small population, a small area, and low value, so it does not hurt to cede it to Hechingen.

As for the competition, it is not East Africa’s turn. In this area, the British are the French’s biggest concern. For example, the Seychelles were snatched by the British from the French, and the British naval strength is stronger than the French, which is also an important reason.

Chapter 243: Type 70

June 17, 1870 (Half a month ago).

“Clang, clang…”

In the sweltering boiler room, workers, stripped to the waist, began shoveling coal into the furnace. As the temperature steadily rose, the machinery, driven by a massive crankshaft, began to operate, emitting a piercing noise.

The needle on the pressure gauge rose rapidly, eventually stabilizing within the reasonable range. The steam engine continuously transmitted power throughout the entire factory.

Driven by belts and shafts, a series of steam engines powered over one thousand five hundred machines, all operating at high speed.

This was the Jiaozhou Textile Factory, one of the only two textile factories owned by the H興根 Daily Goods Company. Unlike the Berlin Textile Factory, this factory used a complete set of British imported textile machinery.

The Berlin Textile Factory, also known as the H興根 Textile Factory, was a textile enterprise acquired and renovated in Berlin. Therefore, it used equipment manufactured independently by Prussia, and its scale was not large, with only about a hundred machines. Before the completion of the Jiaozhou Textile Factory, it had been the largest “Prussian” military uniform manufacturer in East Africa.

During the East African colonial period, Prussian military uniforms were not only military uniforms but also civilian clothing. Men, women, and children, except for European immigrants, basically only had Prussian army uniforms as clothing.

Now that the East African Kingdom had been established, things naturally couldn’t continue like this, or it would really become a “Prussian Army” kingdom.

Moreover, recently, Ernst was preparing for the Franco-Prussian War and began producing Prussian standard military uniforms, preparing to stockpile a batch to supply to the Prussian army. Therefore, the Berlin Textile Factory simply abandoned the East African business and directly sold the finished products in the German region.

The Jiaozhou Textile Factory in the Far East began to replace its operations. The Jiaozhou Textile Factory was reorganized from the original three small factories, mainly to facilitate management and improve production efficiency. At the same time, in order to support related infrastructure, such as the Jiaozhou factory’s private fire department, employee family buildings, roads from the factory to the docks, the factory’s power plant (mainly providing lighting electricity), and the factory’s repair shop.

The reason for using British equipment for the textile machines was also very simple: high cost-effectiveness. Britain was the world’s leading textile power, and its accumulation of related technologies was indeed much higher than that of Prussia. The machine failure rate was low, and while machine failures were easy to handle in Europe, with convenient access to maintenance personnel and replacement parts, they were fatal in the Far East. Without stockpiling a pile of spare parts in advance, the machines would dare to strike until the parts were shipped from Europe. At the same time, the technicians were also highly paid professionals.

The Jiaozhou Textile Factory had approximately 7,000 workers, with a production capacity of up to 700,000 bolts of cloth. In addition to supplying East Africa, the remaining products were mainly sold throughout the entire East Asian region.

The benefits of building a factory here were also obvious. In addition to the excellent port conditions, the abundant labor force was the main reason, as well as low wage costs and no shortage of raw materials. It was also close to the market (Far East, Korea, Japan).

…

Next to the Jiaozhou Textile Factory was the Jiaozhou Garment Factory. The Jiaozhou Garment Factory was actually connected to the Textile Factory, sharing the infrastructure of the factory area.

“What kind of clothes are these? They look so strange!”

“These are Western-style clothes worn by Westerners.”

“I’ve seen these before. They call them suits. Usually, only the high-ranking officials among the Westerners can wear them. Look at our factory, only the factory director and technicians wear them.”

“But I’ve never seen this thing next to it before, but it looks a bit like what the factory guards wear. However, it looks better than theirs. Look at this hat, there’s a… what is this thing?” He originally wanted to say dog, but it didn’t look like one.

“It looks a bit like the stone lions at the entrance of wealthy people’s houses to me.”

“No way! It doesn’t look like one at all. This thing has something on its head, and this thing is standing. I’ve seen those stone lions before, they look very nice and they are squatting. This thing has its two front legs on the front, and the color doesn’t look festive at all.”

“Who cares what it is! Anyway, we’re not the ones wearing it.”

Before them, the finished product being made was the East African independently designed Type 70 military uniform (1870), with a strong European style. As for the animal being discussed on the hat, it was actually the cap badge, the lion on the H興根 royal coat of arms, with a crown on its head, of course. This kind of lion was too common in Europe, and many noble families and kingdoms had this element, just like the double-headed eagle.

The Type 70 military uniform came in two styles: grassland and desert. The only difference was the color. The grassland type was light blue, and the desert type was brownish-yellow.

The biggest change was in the hat. The military hats of the German states and Europe were shaped like cylinders or peaked caps. The East African military hat combined the characteristics of both types of hats. Unlike the peaked cap, it did not have such an exaggerated crown. Instead, it was similar to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire’s cylindrical hat, but it was not as regular, but rather loose. At the same time, from top to bottom, it looked like a trapezoid from the front.

The East African military hat had a shield-shaped cap badge in the center, the same as on the national flag, with black, red, and yellow colors, made of brass.

In addition to saving fabric, this hat focused on sun protection, which could better prevent sunlight from affecting vision.

The military uniform jacket was not much different from the European ones, with five pockets, including four large outer pockets and one inner pocket. It also came with a belt, but it was produced in Tanga, East Africa, made of canvas. At the same time, this belt added many holes reserved for future accessories.

The military uniform trousers were no different from the European ones in shape, and there was no need to change them.

The East African-designed military uniform did not seem to have changed much overall from the previous Prussian military uniform. This was not plagiarism of Prussia, but rather that the entire Germany was almost like this, such as the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Bavaria, including H興根 in the era of independence, the shapes were similar.

In addition to producing suits and military uniforms, the Jiaozhou Garment Factory also produced work clothes and women’s clothing. Now East Africa was striving to change the situation where Prussian military uniforms were popular.

Of course, with large-scale production, there were definitely very few styles. There were only four types for ordinary people in East Africa to choose from, which could be purchased from specialty stores with H興根 Bank vouchers.

This time, East Africa was expanding its army by one hundred thousand, so it produced a large number of military uniforms, all of which were Type 70 military uniforms. In the following years, East Africa would gradually replace the clothing of the troops already equipped with Prussian military uniforms with Type 70 military uniforms.

…

H興根.

“Cousin Leopold, these people of mine will be entrusted to you for the next few months. You can help me take good care of them.” Ernst said to Leopold, who had returned to reorganize the H興根 Military Academy.

“Don’t worry, I won’t assign them harsh tasks. How about letting them handle logistics?” Leopold said blatantly.

“That’s not necessary. The reason I chose to entrust these students to you is to prevent them from suffering unfair treatment. You also know that many of these people come from the Far East. If they were in the hands of other generals, I’m afraid they would only be used as cannon fodder. These are all high-quality soldiers who have undergone long-term formal military training. Most of them will be taken to East Africa by me in the future. I also want to take advantage of this war to train them. Just treat them as ordinary troops under your command, as long as they are not treated differently from other troops.” Ernst said.

“So that’s what you mean. But if you ask me like this, I can’t just agree casually. I have to see how good their military skills are first, so I can assign them tasks based on their level on the future battlefield.” Leopold said frankly.

“No problem. Although they haven’t been on the battlefield, they have never missed military training and exercises. Moreover, their German is good, they can communicate normally, and they all have writing skills. They are also familiar with the various military regulations and orders of the Prussian army.” Ernst said confidently.

“Empty words are useless. Let them gather first, and I’ll see what they’re made of.” Leopold said.

Soon, all the students of the H興根 Military Academy were urgently summoned. A total of 2,247 people (third year) gathered in the training ground in neat formations.

“Judging from the reaction speed and assembly speed, it’s really good! It’s even better than the average kingdom’s army. It can be compared to some elite troops. I just don’t know how their actual abilities are.” Leopold commented.

“That’s easy. I have a military exercise field in western H興根. We can organize an exercise today for you to use as a reference.”

“That’s great! But you’re playing too big! You even have an exercise field?”

…

In the evening, the exercise ended.

Leopold said with satisfaction: “Very good. These students have strong organizational skills and are very good at using firearms. Their physical fitness is also top-notch. Judging from the exercise process, there are no problems at all. I have a feeling that as long as they are baptized on the battlefield, they can definitely be compared to the elite troops of Prussia.”

“So, you have to use good steel on the cutting edge and lead them to make contributions. This is the result of my years of cultivation.”

“Don’t worry. I originally thought that Ernst, you designated me to lead the team because you wanted to pull strings and let me take care of them. Now it seems that I misunderstood you.”

“It can’t be said to be a misunderstanding. This is originally pulling strings. Otherwise, how could a newly established unit be led by the future Prussian Field Marshal, hahaha!” Ernst joked.

“That day will come.” Leopold said. His father could reach the position of Commander-in-Chief, and he wouldn’t be too bad.

Chapter 244: Turning Defeat into “Victory”

East African Kingdom, First Town, Kivite Palace.

“How is the reorganization of the new army going recently?” King Constantine asked the East African officials.

“Your Majesty, we have currently completed eighty percent of the progress. We have dismantled and reorganized the original troops. Based on their merits, we have promoted a group of people who showed outstanding abilities last time to serve as new army generals.”

“Well, after the troop reorganization is completed, send the information to my office,” Constantine instructed.

“By the way, one more thing, what have the Portuguese been doing recently? Have they taken the southern shore of Lake Malawi?”

“We haven’t heard anything about that. Our troops on the border of South Salzburg Province haven’t seen any Portuguese troops so far. Scouts haven’t gone deep into the southern region of Malawi, but we haven’t seen a single Portuguese figure within two hundred miles south of South Salzburg Province,” Merkel said.

“Could it be that they haven’t even sent out troops yet!” Von der Leyen guessed.

“That’s unlikely. It’s been several months. It didn’t take us that long to occupy such a large area in the southwest,” Merkel said.

“I do remember that. The Portuguese should have set off. Two months ago, our intelligence personnel in Maputo informed us that the Portuguese had organized a team to go inland, but the number of people was small, only a few hundred. At the time, we didn’t pay much attention to this information, but looking at the timeline, it is very likely that it was the force from the Mozambique colony to conquer the Kingdom of Malawi,” Felix said.

“A few hundred people should be enough to defeat a native kingdom, but it won’t be easy to achieve effective occupation unless the natives all turn into pigs and are willing to be slaves to the Portuguese,” Swete joked.

“Maybe the Portuguese force encountered some irresistible factors that led to the annihilation of the entire army. A flash flood could wipe out a few hundred people. After all, Mozambique has a lot of rainfall, and rivers often flood,” Von der Leyen said.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this group of Portuguese people. It has nothing to do with us if they can’t take Malawi. Before July, complete the troop reorganization, and then we can expand wildly into the inland areas,” Constantine set the tone.

…

Southern Malawi Kingdom, Chipoka area, a small team composed of Portuguese is resting. Suddenly, a shadow flew out of the nearby dense forest.

“Careful, Ross.” The team leader Anthony knocked the warrior named Ross to the ground.

At the same time, the shadow in the dense forest also revealed its true form. It was an arrow, flying past Anthony and Ross with a whistling sound, and finally falling into the soil in the open space in the distance.

“Damn it, what are you waiting for? Shoot!” Anthony shouted.

The Portuguese soldiers, belatedly realizing what was happening, began to shoot randomly at the place where the arrow flew out, and the leaves on the trees in the dense forest were shot down one after another.

Is it the same as the past few days, with no results?

“Damn it, those guys ran away again. If they fall into my hands, I will definitely skin them alive,” Anthony said indignantly.

Just as Anthony was complaining and the Portuguese soldiers were reloading their ammunition, a green “grass monkey” suddenly jumped up from the ground in the place where the random shots had just been fired, and instantly ran towards the depths of the dense forest.

“Not good! We were tricked?”

Anthony realized it and felt annoyed. Although the “grass monkey” was wearing green leaves as camouflage, the dark skin exposed when he ran away had already explained everything.

“Captain! Should we chase?” a soldier asked in a low voice.

“Chase? Chase my ass! Can’t you see that he’s just one person playing you all for fools! And don’t go deep into the forest. How do you know if there are native traps behind? If it weren’t for my strong observation skills, Ross would have gone to meet God just now! So you rookies listen to me, I don’t care what you did before, from now on, listen to my command, otherwise no one will want to go back alive!” Anthony educated his subordinates with disappointment.

Anthony was actually quite speechless. This team, which was temporarily assembled, was really difficult to lead. They didn’t have the vigilance they should have on the battlefield, and their discipline was also very poor.

However, he couldn’t blame them. They were originally a group of sailors who rarely operated in the unfamiliar environment of the African inland grasslands and rainforests. Although this was land, it was not necessarily safer than being a pirate at sea.

…

The rear.

“Bastards, you can’t even defeat a group of natives. What are you doing? Do you want the Prussian barbarians next door to laugh at our great Kingdom of Portugal?”

The commander-in-chief of the Portuguese colonial Malawi expeditionary force, Boer Leid, roared sharply.

He couldn’t help but be angry. This time, the Portuguese Mozambique colony had dispatched a full five hundred people, plus more than three thousand Mozambique native auxiliary troops, to attack the southern part of the Kingdom of Malawi.

As a result, after fighting for three months, they only advanced the front line to the Chipoka area. The worst thing was that the ammunition was running out, and taking the southern part of the Kingdom of Malawi was nowhere in sight.

“Commander-in-chief, it’s not that the soldiers aren’t trying their best! It’s that the natives on the shores of Lake Malawi are too cunning. They start running as soon as they see us from a distance. As a result, when we go over, they come out of the forests and bushes again. We don’t have enough manpower to deal with them, and because of the existence of Lake Malawi, the climate is too humid and hot, and even normal marching causes serious attrition in the troops.”

“Captain Charles, I don’t want to hear any excuses now. We Mozambique came earlier than the Prussian barbarians, and we are both Europeans. Why didn’t they encounter the above problems?”

“Commander-in-chief, although the Prussians are barbaric, they are originally good at land warfare, while we Portuguese are traditional maritime countries. So, to put it bluntly, we are probably not as good as the Prussians in inland operations.”

Charles’s excuse was perfect. Prussia is a land power, so they are like a fish in water in Africa. We Portuguese are a maritime country, so of course we have advantages on islands and coasts.

Boer Leid wanted to find a reason to reprimand him, but after thinking about it, he suddenly felt that what Charles said made sense.

“Moreover, our Mozambique team was also put together temporarily. To be honest, the Mozambique colony has been peaceful for many years, so it can’t exert its combat power,” Charles said while the iron was hot.

“What you said makes some sense, but what should we do if we can’t complete the task now? And now the ammunition problem is also a trouble. If we continue to fight, such a large number of casualties will definitely lead to the colonial government holding you responsible,” Boer Leid said.

Although Boer Leid is the commander-in-chief of this expeditionary force, he is actually just a figurehead who is here to get gilded. He just has someone above him, so the war mistakes are mainly the responsibility of Charles.

Charles was sweating profusely. He thought about it carefully, and suddenly a flash of inspiration came to his mind. He said to Boer Leid: “Commander-in-chief, do you remember the heavy rain a few days ago?”

“Ah! Of course, even my coffee stove was soaked and couldn’t be lit, so I didn’t get a hot cup of coffee that day.”

纨绔子弟! Charles severely despised Boer Leid in his heart, but said nicely on his lips: “Commander-in-chief, think about it, heavy rain is most likely to cause river flooding and flash floods, and the terrain near Lake Malawi happens to be relatively undulating. Why don’t we embellish the battle process a bit and report it?”

“How to embellish it? It’s already been fought like this!” Boer Leid asked curiously.

“Commander-in-chief, we’ll just say that under your heroic leadership, our department has made great strides, but man proposes, God disposes. Just when we were about to take the entire southern part of the Kingdom of Malawi, the main force suddenly encountered a flash flood, so…”

“This idea is not bad, but how do you guarantee that it won’t be exposed?”

“It’s easy to deal with our own people, anyway, there aren’t many people left. We can just unify our statements. The main thing is the group of natives. Excluding those who ran away and died, there are still more than a thousand people. Why don’t we just kill them here? When the colonial government asks, we’ll just say that they ran away when they encountered the flash flood, and the heroic Portuguese soldiers didn’t get separated under your inspiration…”

Chapter 245: My Governor Uncle

“Good, that’s a good idea. The troops encountered a flash flood, not a failure in battle. We were about to succeed, but man proposes, God disposes,” Bulled praised.

“Commander-in-chief, should we implement this plan?” Charles asked.

Bulled waved his hand and said, “Hurry, hurry. Get rid of those natives today. As for the rest of our people, tell them to be honest and not to try to be too clever.”

“You got it!” Having received his orders, Charles disappeared from Bulled’s sight in a flash and began to implement the plan.

That day, the auxiliary troops were disbanded. At the same time, Charles ordered the Portuguese soldiers to drive the native auxiliary troops towards the Kingdom of Malawi. As for those who didn’t want to go, they received a bullet as a reward.

“Remember this, everyone. If anyone asks, say that you encountered a flash flood. That way, we can return safely. If anyone dares to tell the truth, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

…

“Reporting, Governor, Commander-in-chief Bulled of the Kingdom of Portugal’s expeditionary force to Malawi reports to you.”

“Good, very energetic,” the Governor of Mozambique said.

“Mr. Bulled, why have so few people returned? And what happened to the three thousand natives who set out with you? Moreover, if you’ve returned, doesn’t that mean the Kingdom of Malawi hasn’t been conquered?” a young official beside the Governor asked.

The others watched coldly. These young people were just reckless, but it would be good for them to learn a lesson in the future. Didn’t they see that everyone else was silent? Why did he have to interrupt?

“Who are you? I don’t recognize you!” Bulled asked in surprise.

“He is Major Chakoff, newly dispatched by the Kingdom, from the Nigran region of Portugal,” the Governor took the lead in explaining.

So he was a “country bumpkin” from the Portuguese countryside. Bulled decided to ignore this guy for now and find an opportunity to teach him a lesson later.

“My unit entered the Kingdom of Malawi at the beginning of March. As soon as we entered the interior of the Kingdom of Malawi, we clashed with several tribes. Under my command, the Portuguese soldiers fought ten against one, and finally defeated the enemy, thus achieving a victorious first battle. It took another seven days to advance the battle line to the Chipoka area, a hundred kilometers away. After that, our army advanced triumphantly… Just when victory was in sight, an accident happened.” Speaking of this, Bulled took out a handkerchief from his pocket and began to pretend to blame himself. “In the end, it was my misjudgment that harmed the soldiers! In order to take the entire territory of Malawi as soon as possible, I led the army north, not daring to stop for a single day. As a result, I didn’t pay attention and encountered a flash flood. At that time, the native auxiliaries took the opportunity to rebel, and the flood caused heavy losses to my unit.”

“So that’s how it is. Bulled, you don’t need to blame yourself. This was completely an accident. No one would have a good solution to such a thing. Moreover, you have completed the task excellently and are worthy of the title of brave Portuguese soldiers. Therefore, although this time we did not take the Kingdom of Malawi, I still want to commend you.”

“Thank you, Unc… Governor! I thank you for your understanding on behalf of the soldiers.” He almost called him the wrong thing. Bulled was embarrassed. After all, it wasn’t good to conspire so loudly on a formal occasion.

The Governor of Mozambique certainly heard Bulled’s slip of the tongue just now, and he hated him for not living up to expectations. This nephew was just like his sister, a hopeless romantic, hopelessly stupid.

In fact, the Governor certainly knew what Bulled was capable of, but thinking that the natives of Malawi were being attacked from the north and south by East Africa and Mozambique, their strength must be far less than before, so he might as well let his nephew take the credit. He didn’t expect this simple matter to be screwed up by this idiot. However, he wasn’t so stupid as to be beyond redemption, knowing to make up an excuse to clear himself of guilt.

Just as the two were discussing how to turn the fact of defeat into a result of victory, the clueless Major Chakoff spoke again.

“Governor, I don’t think they should be rewarded. On the contrary, they should be punished. After all, the entire operation has completely failed because the Kingdom of Malawi was not taken. Moreover, the so-called flash flood only shows that Mr. Bulled was eager for quick success. After all, anyone with military literacy should pay attention to weather factors.”

No one asked you to speak! Bulled was furious. He and his uncle had already set the tone, and this guy still came out to stir things up. He was just about to go up and give Chakoff a piece of his mind.

The Governor took the lead in speaking, “Alright, what’s there to question? You’re completely overthinking it. You’re probably new here and don’t know how bad the climate is in the interior of Africa. When you have time, go outside the city of Maputo and see for yourself. There are rivers and wetlands everywhere, and they flood as soon as the rainy season comes. Especially since Bulled’s expedition time happened to be at the end of the rainy season, but he went north all the way and caught up with the northern rainy season, so encountering a flash flood was completely an accident. This can only be said to be an error in experience. Moreover, although this war did not take the Kingdom of Malawi, we also severely damaged the native forces of the Kingdom of Malawi. Therefore, I announce that the overall completion of this mission is good. It’s completely no problem to give it an eight out of ten. Who agrees? Who opposes?”

“The Governor is right, Chakoff, you are still too young and don’t understand the real situation in Mozambique, so don’t question the Governor’s decision.”

“That’s right, I’ve been in Mozambique for a full ten years. I know the weather in Mozambique best. That is, accidents can happen at any time. And General Bulled was able to lead so few people into the Kingdom of Malawi to fight, which can be said to be very well done. I dare say that eight or nine out of ten people here can’t do it. Don’t you think so?”

“That’s right, judging from this war alone, Bulled is definitely the most capable general in Mozambique. We absolutely support His Excellency the Governor’s decision.”

Soon, under the boasting of the crowd, Bulled became a “capable and good at fighting” wise general. With Bulled around, the Mozambique colony was as solid as a rock and indestructible.

“Alright, Bulled did a good job this time, and rewards are indispensable. And some people shouldn’t casually question the Kingdom’s ‘good generals and loyal ministers’. If Bulled didn’t have any outstanding qualities, would this Governor have made an exception to promote him to be the commander-in-chief of this crusade against the Kingdom of Malawi?”

His outstanding qualities were that Bulled had a good mother, and it just so happened that his mother had a good younger brother, and even more coincidentally, this younger brother was the Governor of the Portuguese Kingdom’s Mozambique colony.

Now that things had reached this point, how could Major Chakoff not understand that this damn Mozambique colony was completely a den of snakes and rats? He had been thoroughly disgusted.

“Governor, I’ve been feeling unwell recently and may not be suitable for working in the colony. I’m afraid I have to leave this place,” Chakoff said.

“Oh, Major Chakoff, I actually saw it a long time ago. Your complexion hasn’t been very good since the first day you came to Mozambique. I’m afraid you’re not acclimatized. In this way, you write a letter of resignation, and I’ll give you a certificate. After all, Mozambique is not a good place and can’t compare to the homeland at all. You are still suitable for working in Portugal.”

“Then… thank you, Your Excellency the Governor,” Chakoff said. Although he was taking the initiative to withdraw, Chakoff remembered these faces. If he ever made a name for himself in the future, he would definitely settle this score.

The matter had been perfectly resolved, and everyone had gotten the results they wanted. As for what to do with the Kingdom of Malawi? Of course, they would pretend they didn’t see it. Anyway, this operation was organized by the Mozambique colony itself, and any losses had nothing to do with the Kingdom. They would just slack off and be done with it.

Chapter 246: The First Shot of the German Wars of 1870

According to historical records, in July of 1870, three major German powers successively launched wars. These three powers essentially coerced all the German states into participating, so these three wars of 1870 are collectively referred to as the German Wars of 1870.

Among them, the largest in scale (calculated by the number of personnel and weapons deployed), the most intense in terms of warfare, and the most influential was the Franco-Prussian War. The second was the Second Italian War of Independence, and the last was the East African Kingdom’s Third War of Conquest.

July 10th, 1870.

On the iron-chain bridge spanning the Lualaba and Zambezi Rivers, people surged. The expanded East African New Army began to depart in three directions.

The East African Kingdom, which had not yet fully digested Zambia, was about to use its final potential to completely lay the foundation for its basic form.

West bank of the Lualaba River.

Msiri, along with his sons and the army of the Msiri regime, had been waiting for a long time.

“Mr. Moltke! Your country’s strength is truly terrifying!” Msiri exclaimed with lingering fear. The sight of over thirty thousand well-equipped and well-trained East African Kingdom soldiers filled this African chieftain with endless shock.

“Of course, Mr. Msiri. Any tribe is nothing more than a paper tiger in the face of the East African Kingdom, utterly vulnerable. With just a little effort, we of the East African Kingdom are unstoppable. You are a smart man, choosing to cooperate with us, to be a friend of East Africa. We will not treat you unfairly.”

Msiri had already been molded by the East African Kingdom into a staunch “pro-East African” figure. At the same time, the East African Kingdom had also promised that it would not kick him to the curb after using him.

Before this war, the East African Kingdom had given Msiri two choices: after East Africa had cleared the entire south-central African plateau, Msiri could either go to the Sultanate of Zanzibar as a figurehead or borrow a route through Central Africa to develop in West Africa. Msiri chose the latter.

Looking at the vast East African army before him, Msiri was somewhat grateful for his initial choice. If he had picked the wrong side, he would probably be the target of their campaign now. Msiri did not believe that the few hundred guns in his possession would be a match for the East African army.

“Mr. Moltke, rest assured, this time our Yeke Kingdom will fully assist your forces in battle. I dare not speak for other areas, but the Luba Kingdom is my old rival. Let my people lead the way for your forces.”

“Very good!” Moltke affirmed.

…

“Bang…” The East African Third War of Conquest (the first was the Great Lakes region war to eliminate the Northwest Eight Kingdoms, the second was the war against Zambia and the Geredi Sultanate, collectively referred to as the East African Wars of Conquest) fired its first shot. The Kasongo area, located between the Lualaba River and the Sankuru River. The Lualaba River is the upper reaches of the Congo River, while the Sankuru River is a southern tributary of the Congo River. The northward-bound East African army encountered the Luba Kingdom’s army in this area.

…

First Township, Kivita Palace.

Felix stood before a sandbox model and introduced, “In this war of conquest, our East African army is divided into four routes: the Northern Route Army, the Western Route Army, the Southern Route Army, and the Southwestern Army. The targets are the Azande Plateau and southern South Sudan; the Lunda Plateau and the Kwango Plateau; the Matabeleland Plateau; and the northern region of the Kalahari Basin, respectively.”

“Once the objectives are achieved, East Africa will border Egypt to the north, the Portuguese colony of Angola and the Kingdom of Kongo to the west, and the Boer territories to the south, while also forming an encirclement around the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.”

“In other words, after this expansion, East Africa’s neighbors will change from natives to various countries of the world: England, France, Egypt, the Abyssinian Empire, the Ottoman Empire (Red Sea coast), Portugal, the Boers, the Somali tribes…”

“Therefore, East Africa will not have such a large-scale operation for a long time to come.”

This was an extremely exaggerated operation, with a targeted area comparable in size to India. Once completed, East Africa’s territory would directly reach over seven million square kilometers.

This was also East Africa’s limit. It couldn’t possibly swallow any more. As always, the plateau regions were the foundation of the East African Kingdom. This expansion was primarily aimed at the plateau regions, as only plateaus and mountains in tropical regions are best suited for human habitation.

East Africa’s capabilities were limited, so it naturally had to prioritize occupying the good places in East Africa’s eyes. Therefore, rainforests and deserts were not included in this plan.

Although the Kalahari Basin was essentially uninhabited to the west and south, the desert climate and long supply lines made it impossible to complete. Even if it were taken, it would be impossible to maintain contact.

And large-scale military operations in the Congo rainforest, unless casualties were disregarded, were simply impossible. Even the natives who had lived in the rainforest for generations would not dare to say they could traverse it.

In fact, it was still possible to occupy some riverside strongholds along the rivers, but it was completely unnecessary. That way, an effective rule could not be established. Colonization might be possible, but there were very few people in the Congo rainforest, all small-scale tribes, with no colonial value at all. And all the valuable land in the Congo region was included in this East African expansion.

It should be emphasized here that the Congo region and the Congo rainforest of the previous life are two completely different concepts. When the Congo is mentioned, it seems as if its natural resources are very rich and its arable land is very large, but the Congo’s minerals, population, and arable land are all concentrated in the highlands and mountains of the southeast, northwest.

For example, in the former Congo (Kinshasa), its urban population was distributed completely around the Congo rainforest, and in this circle, the Mitumba Mountains in the east were already East African territory, and the Katanga Plateau in the south was also in East African hands. Now that East Africa was expanding, the Azande Plateau in the north and the Lunda Plateau and Kwango Plateau in the south were also gone. Only the area west of Kinshasa in the east was still habitable.

That area happened to already have forces present, namely the Portuguese. In fact, before the Belgians, the Portuguese had always claimed the Congo region as their sphere of influence, but the British did not see it that way, and other countries did not recognize it. Now, western Congo was divided between the Portuguese and the British, with the French colony of Gabon next door.

“Our troops, marching along the plateau terrain, will basically not experience any physical discomfort. The most difficult area here is still the Kalahari Basin, where water is a major problem. Although the Okavango River forms a huge inland delta here, it is also for this reason that almost all animals gather here. The mapmakers say that herds of hippos dump feces into the rivers and wetlands, making it difficult to find clean water, so the army size cannot be too large.”

“Logistics is also a major problem. The natives of the plateau regions grow some crops. If there is not enough food, it can be temporarily resolved locally. The Kalahari Basin has no agriculture at all. All food must be transported from the east, and this cost cannot support a large-scale force. Therefore, the Southwestern Army has only a little over a thousand people in total.”

“The plateau regions are basically connected, and only rivers hinder our marching speed. If we want to control these areas in the future, we must build roads and bridges.”

Chapter 247: The Hechingen Brigade

On July 15th, shortly after the start of the Third War of Conquest, France had already begun mobilizing its troops. The next day, the French parliament voted to officially declare war on Prussia.

Immediately following this, the four South German states (Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, and Hesse), fueled by nationalist sentiment, completely sided with Prussia.

Prussia currently had three corps. The southern front was mainly composed of the Third Corps, led by Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (later Frederick III), which consisted of:

5th Corps: Commander Kirchbach

6th Corps: Commander Tumpling

11th Corps: Commander Bose

Bavarian 1st Corps: Commander von der Tann-Rathsamhausen

Bavarian 2nd Corps: Commander Hartmann

Württemberg Division

Baden Division

2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions

Hechingen Brigade.

Due to the special status of the Principality of Hechingen, it was designated as a separate operational unit, theoretically on the same level as a Prussian corps.

The Hechingen Brigade in this war was entirely formed by the Hechingen royal family. Besides providing manpower, it was also self-sufficient in terms of weaponry and equipment, supplied by the Hechingen armory in the German region. Its standard equipment was completely consistent with the Prussian army, making it easier to integrate with Prussian logistics compared to other South German states that joined temporarily.

Leopold served as the commander of the Hechingen Brigade, reporting directly to Corps Commander Frederick III.

The Principality of Hechingen contributed a total of 4,372 soldiers, including third-year students from the original Hechingen Military Academy, as well as some second-year and first-year students, and some conscripts recruited by Hechingen and Sigmaringen.

…

“Knock, knock, knock…”

As the bell rang, the temporarily formed Hechingen Brigade assembled on the parade ground of the Hechingen Military Academy.

The Hechingen Brigade, consisting of two infantry regiments, quickly assembled under Leopold’s leadership. Then, they went to Stuttgart and advanced westward along the road. Benefiting from their geographical advantage, they arrived at the border area three days later. Except for the army of the Grand Duchy of Baden, which was fighting on its home turf, the armies of other states and Prussia had not yet arrived.

The Third Corps, mainly composed of South German states, supplemented by Prussian troops, this German force consisted of 12 divisions, approximately 130,000 men (historically about 125,000), deployed in the Palatinate region near Baden and Karlsruhe in southern South Germany.

Hechingen was originally close to the Grand Duchy of Baden, and the Hechingen Brigade, as a state force, was the smallest in the Third Corps, so its movements were more flexible.

Two days later, the army of the Kingdom of Württemberg, which bordered Baden like Hechingen, arrived in Baden, and on the same day, the Prussian army led by the Prussian Crown Prince also arrived from the north.

As the supreme commander of the Third Corps, Frederick III first reviewed the armies of the other states, except for the army of the Kingdom of Bavaria, which had not yet arrived.

Frederick III had the most confidence in the Prussian army, but Baden and Württemberg had been at peace for a long time and had not fought a war for a long time, so it was difficult to reassure people. As for the Bavarian army, it would not be too bad, after all, the two countries had fought each other last time.

Soon the armies of the various states were assembled. Looking at the bustling armies of the states, Frederick III was very dissatisfied. His tightly furrowed brow never relaxed. Their level was too poor compared to the Prussian army, and their equipment was chaotic. Even a single unit was equipped with weapons from Prussia, France, and Austria at the same time. Their daily organizational skills were so poor, how could they compare with the battle-hardened Prussian army on the battlefield? Moreover, the enemy opposite them was the French army, which was recognized as the number one army in the world.

Just when Frederick was losing hope in the armies of the other states, the Hechingen Brigade, located in a remote corner, caught his attention.

First impression: young, second impression: capable, third impression: orderly.

“Leopold, is this the Hechingen Brigade?” Frederick III came to Leopold and asked.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness. They are a team formed by the Hechingen royal family themselves, recruited from military academy students.”

“Uh! Didn’t I hear that Ernst is not interested in military affairs? Since he wanted to form a unit, why didn’t he go directly to the army? Prussia can provide him with a position.”

“Hahaha, Ernst’s lack of interest in military affairs is just an excuse. It’s just that he has self-awareness. I think it’s the right choice for him to do business. Besides, these student soldiers are completely prepared for his colonies. It’s completely impossible to squeeze him into the army.” Leopold laughed.

“Alas! Prince Constantine can also be regarded as a famous general, why didn’t Ernst inherit this point from him.” Frederick sighed.

“Everyone has different choices, Your Royal Highness. Besides, Prince Constantine had a son late in life, and Hechingen only has one heir, so naturally he doesn’t want Ernst to be exposed to the battlefield again.”

“Putting aside other things, Ernst’s so-called Hechingen Military Academy is doing a good job. I heard that he is the principal himself. He is quite capable of managing this unit in front of him like this. It looks much better than the armies of other states. It’s a pity that there are too few people.”

“Hehe, after all, the various South German countries have their own military systems. If France hadn’t declared war, they would have continued to exist independently. The Principality of Hechingen is originally a Prussian vassal, so the Hechingen Brigade naturally completely copied the Prussian army template. Its instructors are all selected from Prussian retired soldiers, and there is one thing you don’t know. Although Ernst is the principal of the Hechingen Military Academy, he is actually a hands-off shopkeeper. He usually doesn’t participate in teaching and training, especially after his business has grown, he often goes on business trips. Many times when I go to Hechingen to visit, I can’t see him.” Leopold laughed.

“Ernst is a clever man, but he does too many things. Besides business, he also engages in overseas colonization. Naturally, he spends less time in Hechingen. However, overseas colonization doesn’t seem to be very difficult, right? Even a businessman like him can do it so smoothly. Shouldn’t a unified Germany also participate more actively?” Frederick III said.

“Overseas colonization is indeed very attractive, but the British are not easy to deal with, and the places Ernst colonizes, although not considered bad land, are not that good either. After all, even the Portuguese have been there for hundreds of years, and we haven’t seen them take action against East Africa.”

“Forget it, let’s not think about these things. The most important thing now is to deal with the French. If we don’t defeat France, Prussia and Germany will have no future at all. But with the current troops, among the South German states, the armies of Baden and Württemberg look even worse than Hechingen. Even the Bavarian army is probably not good enough. This battle between us and France will probably be difficult.” Frederick III said.

“That’s hard to say. The elite troops of the Kingdom of Bavaria should still be good. Besides, the appearance of the troops is secondary. You only know if they have the strength on the battlefield.” Leopold said.

“Then do you think this well-trained Hechingen Brigade can make contributions on the battlefield?”

Leopold confidently replied: “Of course, although these are all student soldiers who have never really entered the battlefield, it is inevitable that they will suffer some losses, but as long as they get through the first stage, they will definitely become an elite unit.”

…

The enemy facing the Prussian Third Corps was the French First Corps. The two sides were facing each other along the border area from Saarbrucken to Strasbourg.

(Image)

The Franco-Prussian War broke out. The declaration of war sparked great patriotic enthusiasm in France. People poured into the streets to cheer on the departing troops, shouting: “March to Berlin, kill the Prussians!” Such scenes were seen all over the country. At train platforms in remote areas, people stuffed bottles of wine into the train windows full of soldiers, asking them to teach the “square-headed Germans” a lesson.

Chapter 248: Heinrich

At this moment, the review ground was sharply divided. Compared to the somewhat lax troops of Baden and Württemberg, the Prussian army was clearly more imposing. Besides their strict discipline, a chilling aura of killing intent naturally emanated from the Prussian ranks.

If we rewind the clock a few decades, the Prussian army’s appearance and discipline were actually not much better than those of these two states.

Shame leading to courage is a characteristic possessed by the Prussian kingdom’s high command over these generations. Continuous military reforms thoroughly removed the aristocratic parasites from the army.

Coupled with the baptism of war, the Prussian army had already achieved a considerable level of tactical proficiency. It is undeniable that the Prussian army’s numbers were almost twice that of France in the Franco-Prussian War. However, France’s mobilization and organizational capabilities during the Napoleonic era far surpassed those of other European countries at the time. Therefore, victory or defeat is the key, not numbers. People only remember the victors.

…

Baden Division.

“Blair, the Prussians all seem so serious, and their discipline… that’s how soldiers should be!”

“Just warmongering! But the current crisis in the German region does require a powerful land army like Prussia to act as the main force against the French. We Baden and the South German states are still too small.” Sixth Regiment Commander Blair replied.

“We have our own advantages. Although our troop strength is slightly inferior to the Prussians, battlefield intelligence is the key to victory. Compared to the Prussian army, we Baden are smaller but more flexible. If we maximize our mobility, we can definitely pose a huge threat to the French.”

“Speaking of scale, the unit next door flying the flag of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen is even smaller,” Blair said.

“Do you know their background?”

“I learned it by chance. My father has business dealings with the Hechingen Consortium. These past few years, they’ve switched from growing grain to growing grapes to make more money.”

“I know the Hechingen Consortium. They’ve invested a lot in Baden and Württemberg these past few years. But how is this Hechingen Brigade related to the Hechingen Consortium? Isn’t Hechingen just a place name in Prussia?”

“There are plenty of states under the Kingdom of Prussia now. Not to mention Prussia, there are many states under the North German Confederation stronger than Hechingen, but how many do you see using a specific region as their unit designation?” Blair retorted.

“That’s true. After Hechingen and Sigmaringen were incorporated into Prussia in earlier years, as far as I know, the armies of both countries were disbanded at that time. How has Hechingen reappeared now? Is it because of the Hohenzollern family?”

“Although the ancestral home of the Hohenzollern family is in Hechingen, that’s not the reason for the Hechingen Brigade’s appearance. Because of economic cooperation, my father has investigated the situation in Hechingen in depth. In recent years, the entire Hohenzollern family has shown a trend of rising. Not to mention the Prussian royal family, the second son of Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became the Grand Duke of Romania a few years ago. If the French hadn’t interfered, the eldest son, Leopold, would probably be the King of Spain now. The Hohenzollerns of Hechingen are taking a different route, shifting from politics and military affairs to commerce. The Hechingen Consortium is now the family business of the Hechingen royal family.”

“What does this have to do with the Hechingen Brigade?”

“Didn’t you read the newspaper two months ago?” Blair said.

“The newspaper! I really didn’t pay much attention.”

“At that time, a German country was established in Africa. You must know about the Kingdom of East Africa!”

“Oh, I remember, but I only glanced at it then. Who cares about an overseas native country, even if it was established by Germans.”

“You didn’t notice, but I did. It’s not something that just any native kingdom can do to get the Austro-Hungarian Empire to take the lead and stand with so many countries to recognize it.”

“Since you haven’t paid attention, you probably don’t know that the King of the Kingdom of East Africa is Prince Constantine of Hohenzollern-Hechingen of Prussia, and the head of the Hechingen Consortium is his only son, Prince Ernst. Ernst is the future son-in-law of Archduke Ferdinand of the Habsburg family.”

“In that case, the Hechingen royal family has indeed been doing well these past few years. But what was the idea behind developing in Africa? It’s really hard to understand.”

“Maybe they were stimulated by Sigmaringen next door. Of course, that’s just my personal guess. After all, European thrones aren’t so easy to plot for, and the Sigmaringen royal family was able to encounter such opportunities twice, which is indeed a bit envious.”

“After saying so much, just tell me directly about the origin of this Hechingen Brigade!”

“Of course, it’s the private armed force of the Hechingen royal family. You can also think of it as a military talent training base established by the Kingdom of East Africa in the German region. After all, the Hechingen royal family must cultivate its own core military force to start a business in East Africa. Therefore, the military power of Hechingen in Europe was taken away by Prussia. However, in recent years, relying on the financial resources of the Hechingen Consortium, they established a Hechingen Military Academy, which is actually the Hechingen royal family rebuilding the army in the name of a military academy.”

“That explains it. Can I understand that this Hechingen Brigade is actually not a military force in the German region, but an armed force of the Kingdom of East Africa or the Hechingen Consortium? It doesn’t belong to the Kingdom of Prussia. Now that everyone has to deal with the threat from the French, it’s being given special privileges, just like our Baden Division?”

“Almost, that’s how it is.”

…

“Leopold, look who’s here?” Frederick III called out to Leopold from a distance.

“It’s actually you… Ernst? I really didn’t expect you to come to the front line!”

“Nonsense, I’m the principal. Now that they’re about to graduate early, I naturally have to be there in person. Moreover, this time I’ve brought you a talented person to assist you.”

Although Ernst is a hands-off manager, it is necessary to appear frequently in front of the students. Occasionally, he would call a school-wide meeting to do ideological work for the entire school. He must let the students know who they are loyal to. Now, this class of students is about to join a war that will go down in history, and Ernst naturally has to come to the front line to boost morale (the main thing is that Ernst knows that the French are still preparing, and the war will not start for the time being).

A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. It is impossible for Ernst to put himself in danger. It’s not that he’s afraid of death. As someone who has died once, Ernst is not afraid of death. It’s just that his family and business are too big. If something happens, and his hard-earned foundation benefits others, it would be more painful than killing him.

“Talent? Don’t cause me trouble!”

“Don’t worry, this is a top student currently studying at the Berlin Military Academy. I’m not bragging, but it’s certified by the instructors of the Berlin Military Academy. I had to plead with them to let him go. Heinrich, this is your superior this time, His Highness Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.”

Heinrich gave a stiff military salute: “Hello, Your Highness Prince Leopold!”

Heinrich is one of only two students from the Hechingen Military Academy to enter the Berlin Military Academy for further studies. He has consistently ranked in the top thirty, which is actually not the most outstanding. Otherwise, the Berlin Military Academy would not have let him go so easily.

Currently, Adenauer, who has the best grades at the Berlin Military Academy from the Hechingen Military Academy, is steadily in the top ten, with the highest score reaching third in the entire academy. Moreover, his learning and thinking abilities are very strong, and he has even published several high-quality military papers, which have attracted Moltke’s attention and has already been noticed by the Prussian General Staff.

The reason why Ernst called Heinrich over was actually for his own good. Adenauer has a bright future, while Heinrich is much worse off. Letting him enter the army early can add a stroke to his resume. Especially since this is the Franco-Prussian War, and because of the special nature of the Hechingen Brigade, he can directly serve as Leopold’s deputy. In the Prussian army, this starting point can be said to be very high.

After all, Heinrich is not a native German. If he wants to stand out in the future German army, he must have military exploits to his name.

In fact, Ernst arranged for him and Adenauer to enter the Berlin Military Academy with the intention of letting them enter the high-level Prussian army to develop. The composition of East African immigrants has special characteristics, which determines that they cannot be separated from the influence of Germany and Austria-Hungary in the future. Therefore, these two must have a certain influence in the German region. At the same time, this is also the reason for the establishment of the Hechingen Brigade, to let the German public know that yellow-skinned Germans are also brave, intelligent, and combat-capable, which is convenient for the racial integration of East Africans.

Ernst’s approach has an unexpected impact on the French, regardless of its effect in Germany. In order to suppress the black people in the French African colonies, France later formed many French Allied forces composed of Southeast Asians.

Chapter 249: Heat

France.

Jaime Medina is the current head of the Medina family. The old Count Jacob Medina unfortunately passed away in March of this year, and Jaime Medina inherited the title.

The Medina family is an ally of the Hechingen royal family in France, but in earlier years, the old Count Jacob Medina was sidelined for opposing Napoleon III’s reforms.

As an old guard who followed Emperor Napoleon, Jacob Medina was very dissatisfied with some of Napoleon III’s policies, especially towards factions other than the Napoleonic faction within the country.

Having been disliked by Napoleon III, and already facing hostility from the Orleans and Bourbon dynasties, as well as the Republicans, the fate of the Medina family was predictable.

Having faded from politics, the Medina family had declined significantly before Ernst’s rise. This decline was all-encompassing.

Later, after Ernst went to France and reorganized these old family friends, he helped them improve economically through financial assistance, acting as the Hechingen Consortium’s agents in France.

However, the price they paid was a greater distance from Paris, the political center, because the Hechingen Consortium’s center in France was the southern port city of Marseille.

Under Ernst’s support, the Medina family-led group of Hechingen’s French allies has formed a considerable force in southern France.

The death of the old Count reminded Napoleon III of this stubborn old fellow. Although he disliked him, he was, after all, an old minister who had followed the Napoleon family. So, in June, Napoleon summoned Jaime Medina, the successor of the Medina family, to Paris.

“Your Majesty, although the Medina family has long been disregarded in France, I must still say that war is impossible to win unless France is fully prepared for war. Any irrational behavior could ruin the Napoleon family’s reputation in France.”

This was the first thing Jaime Medina said after meeting Napoleon III.

“Uh, Count Medina, I have no plans to start a war recently.”

“I am just making a prediction. There must be a victor between Prussia and France. We need the land on the Rhine and a divided Germany, while Prussia wants the unification and integrity of the entire Germany. There are irreconcilable contradictions between the two sides.”

“That’s well said, but what do you mean by full war preparation?”

“Prussia is not a small country, but rather a military power in Europe. The existing French military strength and system cannot quickly defeat Prussia. Once the war is delayed, the entire Germany will be clenched into a fist by Prussia. Therefore, France’s war against Prussia is different from the previous Crimean and Italian battlefields. To deal with the North German Confederation, France should first transform its army system to be similar to Prussia’s, making it easier to organize large-scale operations…”

Medina was interrupted by Napoleon III before he could finish speaking: “Prussia has indeed made some achievements in recent years, but that is because of the help of France. Without my acquiescence, not to mention Austria, even Denmark would probably give them a hard time. Moreover, we were deceived by that despicable villain Bismarck last time. He promised us French land but did not deliver at all. And recently, Bismarck instigated Leopold to compete for the Spanish throne. If it hadn’t been stopped in time, France would have been attacked from both sides.”

“Your Majesty! Of course, I know these things, but the problem now is that the Prussian army has completed sweeping reforms, has been tempered by war, and its military system is becoming increasingly perfect, while France is somewhat complacent!”

“Enough, Count Medina, the Imperial Army does not need you to criticize it here. If the old Count knew you had become like this, fearing a small Prussia like a tiger, he would probably climb out of his grave in anger.” Marshal MacMahon, who had returned from Algeria, rebuked Medina angrily.

At the same time, other French generals also began to bombard Medina. Seeing that the situation in the court was becoming somewhat chaotic, Napoleon III urgently called a halt.

“Enough, stop arguing. Medina, you can go back to Marseille first! The answer will naturally be revealed in a month. The Imperial soldiers will prove everything with their strength.”

With one sentence, the Medina family was exiled again. Count Medina seemed to have expected this. He turned to leave. Before leaving, he looked back and said, “Your Majesty, you will regret it!”

Outside the Compiègne Palace, a group of media reporters swarmed over. They were from various French newspapers and publishing houses, surrounding Medina as if they had planned it in advance.

A reporter from The Tumult magazine asked Count Medina, “Count Medina, is it true that you oppose the war!”

“Of course, France is not prepared for war.”

A day later, The Tumult magazine published a cartoon titled “Surrendering Without a Fight, the Old Count Sheds Tears.” Medina knelt on a map of Germany, shouting “Peace” in the direction of the French map, while a caricatured Bismarck set up cannons behind him, a cannonball already flying towards France. In the upper right corner of the cartoon, the old Count Jacob Medina cursed “Traitor” in heaven.

A reporter from Havas News Agency then asked, “Then Count Medina, who do you think is stronger, France or Prussia!”

“Of course, it is France, but it is difficult to evaluate the military aspect.”

The next day, the headline of Havas News Agency was “Count Medina Believes France is No Match for the Prussians.”

…

That night, Medina took a train from Paris overnight to “escape.” If he didn’t run, the angry people of Paris might eat him alive tomorrow.

Having just experienced the humiliation of the Ems Dispatch, also known as the “Bismarck Telegram” incident, the French people were furious with Prussia. War with Prussia was already the will of the people. At this time, singing a different tune would definitely be attacked by the crowd.

The reporters were not brought in by others; they were all hired by Medina with his own money. As for why he did this, it was naturally for the publicity.

Medina was well aware that since the old Count had retired, the Medina family had been completely marginalized in France. Even if they made a comeback now, they would not be trusted. The French Empire had no place for the Medina family.

Although he deliberately stirred up a bunch of trouble in Paris, Medina planned to use the media under the Hechingen banner to clear his name after returning to Marseille.

He couldn’t really let the reputation of being a surrenderist fall on his head. He was also a pro-war advocate, but not a blindly pro-war one, but a rational pro-war advocate who “saw the drawbacks of the French government.”

Three days later, the media in Marseille began to exert their strength. Medina used local newspapers to start a war of words with the Paris newspapers.

“The news media in Paris distort the facts. They misinterpret my original words, unlike the media professionals in Marseille, who have excellent, truth-seeking spirit.”

By praising one and disparaging the other, the media in Marseille were naturally very happy. They used the “Medina Incident” to criticize their Paris counterparts, saying that they were noble children living in the “big city,” whose understanding of French public opinion was forever stuck in the capital of Paris, and who looked down on any place outside of Paris, even the great revolutionary city of Marseille.

The Paris media, having been tricked by Medina, naturally did not show weakness and bombarded Medina and his Marseille counterparts.

As things got bigger and bigger, the French government stepped in to stop the farce in time, but the Medina family’s reputation was completely established. It no longer mattered whether Medina was a pro-war advocate, a peace advocate, or a surrenderist.

Chapter 250: The Enemy is in Paris

The Rhine River flowed quietly as ever. The Prussian and German allied forces had already established a solid defensive line on the eastern bank of the Rhine.

However, the French side had not made any significant moves so far. Since the French had not yet fully arrived, Prussia was in no hurry. The mobilized troops and equipment from the rear were continuously converging on the front lines via railways and canals.

In the front-line headquarters, Moltke personally presented his battle plan to Wilhelm I and others: “Here are the Alsace and Lorraine regions. Metz and Strasbourg are separated by the Vosges Mountains. According to our staff’s data analysis, Strasbourg’s railway capacity is insufficient to complete the full deployment of the French army. Therefore, Metz in the northwest will share this pressure, and the French army will be divided into two parts. If we take the initiative to attack, we will also be affected by the Vosges Mountains, dispersing our main force, which is clearly disadvantageous to us. Therefore, I advocate waiting for the French attack on the banks of the Rhine, which will make defense easier.”

Wilhelm I asked, “What is the current state of troop assembly?”

“Currently, the Prussian active army has been fully assembled, and conscripts from the rear are also being recruited from various regions. However, the other states will need some more time. The Third Army from the south, the main force of Bavaria, has not yet arrived at the front,” Moltke said.

Prussian army information exchange was very smooth, thanks to their telegraph network. Siemens, founded by Werner von Siemens, the “father of German electrical engineering,” built the most advanced telegraph network at the time for Prussia, allowing the General Staff to know the exact location of each army, division, and regiment down to the hour. After the last Austro-Prussian War, Prussia had been promoting the laying of telegraph networks throughout the German region. With the help of the Customs Union, the South German region was also popularized.

“Austria, for some reason, has moved its main force away from the northern border region. Therefore, this time, in response to the French, we have mobilized more forces from the east, just waiting for the French to walk right into our trap,” Moltke said excitedly.

From the winter of 1868 to 1869, Moltke began to formulate a plan of operations against France. So, from Moltke’s personal perspective, he had been waiting for this day for too long.

In fact, shortly after the establishment of the North German Confederation, Moltke was striving to proactively start a war against France, because at that time France was replacing its weapons with the new Chassepot breech-loading rifle. This rifle was far superior in performance to the Dreyse needle gun. If France completed the replacement, its combat effectiveness would increase by a level.

However, Bismarck strongly opposed it at the time, saying, “If we proactively declare war on France, we will become an aggressive warmonger. Not only will the French unite against us, but other countries will also not support our actions, and even the North German Confederation will not support us.”

The matter was delayed. As a result, in 1870, Bismarck used only one telegram to humiliate the entire France. The French were outraged, and Napoleon III, in a moment of impulsiveness, declared war on Prussia.

Moltke was still on vacation when France declared war. After France declared war, Moltke urgently ended his vacation and organized the Prussian army to begin mobilization according to plan, equipping and transporting 300,000 soldiers to the border within 18 days.

“Austria still needs to be guarded against. I don’t believe they will be content with their last defeat. However, so far, I haven’t heard any statements from the Austrian government, which makes it difficult to determine their intentions,” Wilhelm I said.

“It may also be out of fear of public opinion in the German region. The Austrians know they can’t do anything. Whether they support France or not, they can’t stop Prussia’s actions in the South German region. Now, the only thing they can do is to let France completely defeat us without taking action, so as to prevent us from unifying the German region.”

The logic was clear. If Austria took any action to interfere in the Franco-Prussian War, and France won, Austria would become a “German traitor.” And even if Austria really intervened, it might not be able to defeat Prussia. Prussia could summon Italy to launch a north-south pincer attack on Austria, and Tsarist Russia would also take action.

……

The gloomy weather in Paris reflected the mood of Napoleon III. After declaring war on Prussia, Napoleon III discovered that he had been deceived by his subordinates.

The assembly speed of the French troops was not ideal. Compared to Prussia’s conscription system, France focused more on professional soldiers. If one were to consider individual combat capabilities, professional soldiers were generally stronger than conscripts.

The combat capability of French soldiers was beyond doubt, but the situation France faced now was that years of colonial wars had led to the excessive dispersal of French forces.

Starting with Napoleon III, France pursued a unique neutral policy in Europe. This was a lesson learned from the experience of being ganged up on during the Napoleonic era.

Unable to flex its muscles in Europe, France rapidly caught up with Britain in the colonies. At the same time, Napoleon III also actively cooperated with the British, such as in the Crimean War, which had almost nothing to do with French interests, and the Anglo-French Allied Forces in the Far East.

In addition to cooperating with the British, France also personally intervened in numerous colonies such as Mexico (supporting Maximilian, interfering in Mexican internal affairs), Southeast Asia, and North Africa. At the same time, under the personal micromanagement of Napoleon III, the Kingdom of Italy was born, Austria was severely beaten, and Prussia was allowed to challenge the Austrian Empire, in addition to the previous Crimean War, which severely damaged Tsarist Russia.

Two powerful enemies from the anti-French wars were crippled by the French, which was undoubtedly a great victory, although the newly established Kingdom of Italy cut off France’s traditional expansion route, but that was not a big problem.

Colonial activities led to the dispersal of French forces. It took time to transfer colonial troops back to mainland France, and now that the war machine had been started, there was no time left. There was no point in saying anything more.

The main thing was that France had always had its own ambitions for the land of the Rhine, so there had always been a large number of French troops on the Franco-German border, which could be temporarily assembled. Although the number was not as large as the German alliance, France had always been able to fight two enemies at once. The generals were also full of confidence. Since the military said there was no problem, Napoleon was not in a hurry. What really angered Napoleon III was the logistics department.

“You bunch of good-for-nothings, the front-line troops have been waiting for so long, and you still haven’t delivered the supplies to the front? Do you want the empire’s soldiers to fight the Prussians on an empty stomach!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. There is a reason for this. The declaration of war was too sudden, and our system is currently unable to operate at full capacity. After all, more than ten thousand troops have suddenly gathered on the front lines, and the amount of supplies required is enormous. The logistics department is already coordinating with the railway to strive for more trains to transport supplies to the front.”

“So, you have never had a contingency plan for a war in the German region? You only started to react when the war came?” Napoleon III scolded.

The emperor was angry, and the people below were silent. Looking at these useless people in front of him, Napoleon wanted to send them to the front line to serve as cannon fodder.

Calming down, Napoleon III said, “I don’t care what methods you use, you must ensure that the front-line supplies are in place within ten days. If you can’t do it, then everyone in the logistics department will be out of a job. Everyone will be assigned to the front line, and you will use the supplies you have prepared to fight the Germans.”

After scolding the logistics department, Napoleon turned around and began to scold the intelligence department: “And you, when I ask where the troops are, you actually tell me you don’t know, maybe, possibly? Is this the working ability of your intelligence department?”

“Your Majesty, the main reason is that the overseas troops are too scattered and the distance is too far. Information can only be transmitted by ships on the sea, and it takes a lot of time to go back and forth. North Africa and Rome are close, so it’s easy to contact them, but it may take more than ten days to half a month to contact other regions.”

“Then you should have some understanding of the enemy, right! You still haven’t figured out the size and organization of the Prussian army?”

“Prussia is a country that cannot be judged by common sense. Everyone knows that Prussia has universal conscription, so it’s not surprising how many soldiers they can produce. If you add the German states, the workload is too difficult for our department. We simply don’t have enough people.”

The intelligence department pushed the responsibility away completely. Government departments were all the same, and Napoleon III was very angry, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He knew very well that the enemy was in Paris, not Berlin. The other two royalist factions and the Republicans were all hoping that something would happen to him.

Chapter 251: Actions on All Fronts

Time flew by, and it was almost August. Napoleon’s original plan to mobilize 400,000 French troops to fight Prussia fell through completely due to insufficient pre-war preparations and logistical issues.

However, from the moment the decision to declare war was made, there was no turning back. If he had known that government departments were so unreliable, Napoleon III would never have declared war so rashly a month ago.

Currently, France has deployed 230,000 troops in the Alsace and Lorraine regions. At the same time, the number of German allied forces on the opposite bank of the river has reached 420,000, which is more than 40,000 more than in history due to the transfer of some troops from the Prussian-Austrian border.

The French army is divided into two offensive corps and one reserve corps. One offensive corps is deployed near Metz in Lorraine, with a total strength of 128,000 men, led by the French Emperor Napoleon III and Marshal Bazaine. This is the main force of the French army, known as the Rhine Army; the other is deployed on the right side of the Vosges Mountains, near Strasbourg in Alsace, led by General MacMahon, with less than 40,000 men; in addition, a part of the reserve force is stationed in Châlons, west of Metz in Lorraine.

“Here are the Vosges Mountains. The Rhine Army is near Metz on the north side of the mountains, while General MacMahon’s Châlons Army is near Strasbourg on the south side. The Rhine Army is the main force, and I will personally command it. Our goal is here—Frankfurt. If we capture Frankfurt, we can separate the North German Confederation from South Germany. The task of the Châlons Army is to support the main force’s actions. Only by suppressing the South German states first can we focus our energy on Prussia.” Dressed in military uniform, Napoleon described his battle plan to the generals of the French Rhine Army in the command post.

Frankfurt is more than two hundred kilometers northeast of Metz and Saarbrücken. Capturing it would encircle Baden and Württemberg to the south, and at the same time, going north from Frankfurt could threaten Prussia’s western mainland, and going southeast could threaten Nuremberg in Bavaria. This was originally a pre-emptive offensive deployment, planning to concentrate forces to quickly cross the border, advance towards Frankfurt, cut off the connection between North and South Germany, force the South German states to remain neutral, and defeat Prussia with all its strength.

“Your Majesty, the battle plan is feasible. Judging from Prussia’s mobilization capabilities in the last Austro-Prussian War, Prussia plus the German allied forces should be able to deploy at least 300,000 troops on the east bank of the Rhine. Fortunately, Austria is containing Prussia, otherwise Prussia’s eastern front troops would also be transferred, and our situation would be even more terrible. Although the imperial soldiers are more experienced and have stronger combat effectiveness than the Prussians, we still need to be careful when facing nearly twice as many enemies,” Marshal Bazaine said.

François Achille Bazaine (February 13, 1811 - September 23, 1888) started as a mercenary and became a Marshal of France in 1864. In his 40-year military career, he was known in France for his incredible bravery.

François Achille Bazaine was born in the Palace of Versailles, the son of a mathematics and bridge engineer. His father was invited by Tsar Alexander I to preside over the construction of several bridges in St. Petersburg. He failed to pass the entrance examination for the École Polytechnique due to lack of family financial support, and in March 1831, he entered the 37th Infantry Regiment. At that time, Louis-Philippe was still an ordinary man, having just become king. In January 1832, he joined the Foreign Legion as a mercenary, and in 1833, he was awarded the rank of Second Lieutenant. In the First Carlist War, which broke out in 1833, he completed a military mission to Spain, injured his right leg in battle, and was awarded a medal for his bravery. In 1835, he served again in Algeria, and in 1837, he was promoted to Captain. Later, he served in the intelligence department, confronting Abd al-Qadir, the national hero of Algeria, in the Sahara Desert, relentlessly pursuing him and forcing him to retreat into Morocco. In 1845, he injured his wrist again. After Abd al-Qadir was captured in 1847, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1850, he became a Colonel. In June 1852, he married Maria Juana of Lasoledad, his first wife, in Versailles. In addition, he participated in the Crimean War, the Franco-Sardinian War against Austria, and the French intervention in Mexico, so he could be said to be an old acquaintance of Maximilian I.

No one refuted Bazaine’s words. Looking back on the wars he had participated in, they were all typical cases of fighting more with less, especially in Mexico, which was fighting on foreign soil, and Mexico was far away from the French mainland.

As a general, Bazaine’s command ability was not outstanding, his only advantage was that he was brave enough, always taking the lead, so he was often injured, and was recognized as a warrior by France.

The French “warrior” has already spoken, and the French soldiers are brave, so what else is there to say? They must suppress the Prussian army and fight one against two.

“We have no retreat. This time, our opponent is not the European countries of my uncle Napoleon the Great’s era, but the German region that he once trampled underfoot. Even the Austrians have not participated, so our chances of winning are great. Let Prussia and Germany once again see the terror of France. Long live France!” Napoleon III encouraged.

……

“If I’m not mistaken, France’s goal must be to cut off our connection with the South German region, and the most likely way to achieve this goal is to occupy the Frankfurt region. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, Napoleon III will definitely take the initiative. So our people should pay close attention to the movements of the French on the west bank at all times. The front-line troops should avoid directly engaging the oncoming French army, and first retreat to favorable positions to wear down the French army’s morale.”

While Napoleon III and his staff and generals were discussing the offensive plan, Moltke was also analyzing the movements of the French and the solutions with the Prussian generals.

……

The Franco-Prussian War was about to break out, and the war in East Africa had been going on for more than ten days. For East Africa, the experience of this conquest war was very unfriendly. Restricted by logistical reasons, the speed of advancement was seriously slowed down. In the second conquest war, with Mbeya as a base, logistics could barely keep up.

And this time, the newly occupied Zambian area in East Africa has not been developed, and the grain output can basically be ignored. Therefore, military rations and supplies need to be transported from the rear through the poor transportation in the Zambian area to the front line.

Although the progress is slow, it is stable, and it can advance ten or twenty kilometers every day.

……

Rome.

“The French have withdrawn?” the Austro-Hungarian special envoy to Rome asked.

“Yes, the last batch of French troops withdrew from Fiumicino today. Originally, there were not many French troops stationed in Rome, only more than three thousand. Now the French barracks are completely empty.”

“Very good. I will go to see the Pope immediately and persuade him to sign an agreement with our Austria. This time, we must give Italy a lesson no matter what.”

“Do we need to notify General Karl to cooperate with the operation!”

“No, now is not the time for our army to show up, otherwise, what if we scare the Italian government and cause them to not dare to act? You go back and tell General Karl to continue to lie low. We will wait until Italy attacks the Papal States and give them a surprise.”

The special envoy continued: “I will go to Rome first to persuade the Pope to accept Austria’s protection, and then announce this news. The Italian government will definitely be anxious, and they will definitely strengthen their troops in Venice to guard against our intervention on the one hand, and directly send troops to Rome on the other hand to let everything come to a conclusion. But they would never have imagined that we still have a surprise force in Rome. As long as the empire gets a pretext for war, it can then justifiably send troops to Italy. At that time, Italy will be the invader, and we will be the guardians of peace and order.”

Chapter 252: The Outbreak of War

July 30th, 1870.

Franco-Prussian Front.

“Your Majesty, we should launch an immediate attack on Prussia! According to information from our intelligence officers, the number of Prussian troops has been rapidly increasing in recent days. The efficiency of the Prussian railways is almost four to five times that of ours, with a large number of personnel and supplies being continuously sent to the front. If we continue to wait, the strength of the Prussian front-line troops will grow stronger day by day, and they will be able to defeat us with sheer numbers alone.” Napoleon III’s advisor, Leboeuf, analyzed.

“Why can’t our railways achieve the same effect?” Napoleon III questioned with some anger.

The era of Napoleon III was also a time of rapid industrialization in France, and many new railways were built, not inferior to Prussia in terms of quantity.

Leboeuf explained, “Your Majesty, although France’s railways developed earlier and we also attach great importance to the role of railways, the businessmen who built them only considered economic benefits. Prussia regarded railways as strategic resources as early as before the Austro-Prussian War, and even established a Ministry of Railways specifically to manage wartime railway scheduling, which in essence served the Prussian army. We only realized this after the Austro-Prussian War, but the government, due to financial problems…”

Leboeuf didn’t finish, but Napoleon III already understood. He sighed, “We are still too short-sighted. I remember the first time we used railways to transport troops was during the Italian War with Austria, wasn’t it!”

“Yes, but the effect was not very good that time. Although both we and Austria used railways to transport soldiers to the front, we ignored the logistics problem, which led to a shortage of food for hundreds of thousands of people at the front. So, this plan was shelved. Who knew that the Prussians at the time noticed the enormous role of railways in warfare, and have actively invested in railway construction in recent years.”

“If we adjust our railway policy now, can we increase transport capacity?”

“I’m afraid not, Your Majesty. The railway lines in our country have already taken shape and cannot be easily changed. Even if we build a few new lines, there is no time. Moreover, our mobilization capacity cannot keep up with Prussia. We only have four strategic railways, while Prussia has five or six such railways, three starting from Berlin, passing through northern and central Germany to reach the border, and the other three starting from Hamburg, Dresden, and Munich respectively. Prussia’s railways not only have an advantage in quantity, but also in quality, which our railways cannot match. Most of Prussia’s railways are double-track railways, so an average of 50 trains can reach the border area every day, while we can only run 12.”

“So, if we continue to delay, France will be caught in Prussia’s human wave tactics?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. We must interrupt Prussia’s war mobilization, which can only be accomplished by taking the initiative to attack, and the sooner the better.”

Foreign Minister Duke of Gramont also reminded from the side, “Taking the initiative now is also the only way to attract Austria, Italy, and Denmark to join the French camp.”

Napoleon III thought carefully for a while and said, “Order all units to launch an attack into Prussian territory.”

…

Suburbs of Saarbrücken.

At this time, the French army was as if in an unpopulated land, advancing more than ten kilometers in half a day. These places were ceded to Prussia after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. However, most of the people here are pro-French, and the men have all fled to avoid Prussian military service, leaving only women and children when the French army passed by.

“Bang… Bang… Bang…”

“Enemy attack, find cover nearby, don’t panic!”

Without Lieutenant Leraud’s reminder, the French soldiers, experienced in combat, had already thrown themselves to the ground and began to return fire towards the woods ahead.

The vanguard of the Rhine Army collided with the vanguard of the Prussian Second Army on the west bank of the Rhine. The sound of Chassepot rifles exchanging fire with Dreyse needle guns broke the peace on the European continent.

Fifteen minutes ago, Lieutenant Gamier Leraud of the French army led a platoon and encountered a Prussian company hiding in the woods. The Prussians, relying on their numerical advantage, rushed out of the woods, intending to surround and annihilate this French force. Leraud immediately ordered his men to lie down, using the ridges as cover, and opened fire on the approaching Prussians, a barrage of bullets blocking the Prussians. Subsequently, Leraud ordered his men to advance 10 meters and shoot again in a kneeling position, the Prussians couldn’t withstand it and began to scatter and flee.

Two hundred meters away, the Prussian officer, seeing his men being beaten so miserably by so few French soldiers, angrily waved his flag, intending to regroup the team.

“Everyone, listen to my command, don’t get entangled with the French, retreat towards Saarbrücken, I will lead the first platoon to cover the rear.”

Such a conspicuous target, French commander Lieutenant Leraud naturally wouldn’t let it go, picked up his Chassepot rifle and aimed at the Prussian commander waving the flag, knocking him to the ground with the second shot.

Although the commander fell, the orders he had issued had already been delivered, and the remaining Prussian troops, under the leadership of the deputy commander, began to flee towards the rear.

“Take advantage of the victory to pursue! Don’t let the Prussian barbarians run away.” Seeing the Prussian army begin to flee, French commander Lieutenant Leraud shouted.

In this way, a French platoon defeated a Prussian company. In this small battle, the advantages of the French Chassepot rifle and the combat quality of the personnel were fully demonstrated.

…

“Your Majesty, the French have moved. The front-line troops in Saarbrücken have already exchanged fire with the vanguard of the French Rhine Army. Our people are currently unsure how many French troops have been deployed. The front-line troops are now waiting for the French to attack in the fortifications behind.”

“Start the counterattack according to your deployment!” Wilhelm I said.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Moltke said.

“Send a telegram to the Second Army headquarters, notify Prince Frederick to move closer to us. Napoleon III will definitely attack us in Saarbrücken. The First Army has too few people to fight the main French force head-on. The French troops shouldn’t be too many either. Concentrate our forces and fight the main French force with superior numbers.”

“Send a telegram to the Third Army, ordering Crown Prince Wilhelm (Frederick III)’s Third Army to go south to the Vosges Mountains, isolating the French troops south of the Vosges Mountains from the main French force, preventing them from joining forces with the main French force.”

…

Palatinate.

Third Army Headquarters.

“Just received orders from the general headquarters, the French have already launched an attack in the Saarbrücken area. The General Staff requires us to immediately advance towards the Vosges Mountains, blocking the French troops south of the Vosges Mountains from moving north. Everyone, listen to my command, advance towards the Vosges Mountains.”

“The Second and Fourth Cavalry Divisions will immediately go south, clearing the French troops along the route to Wissembourg, and at the same time surveying the situation of MacMahon’s corps, opening up the passage for the main force to go south.”

“Generals Leopold and Kirchbach, you will each lead the Hechingen Brigade and the Fifth Corps to the Saverne area, guarding against the French army in the north from going south to support MacMahon’s Châlons Army.”

“The other troops will advance with me towards Strasbourg. We must pin MacMahon down south of the Vosges Mountains.”

Frederick III methodically assigned tasks. MacMahon’s corps only had 40,000 men, while the Third Army had more than three times that number.

With the advantage on their side, the generals of the Kingdom of Bavaria requested that the two Bavarian corps take the lead, first attacking the Wissembourg area.

On the one hand, MacMahon had few troops, only four divisions, and they were scattered in four areas. Wissembourg only had one French division, while Bavaria had two corps, so from the perspective of troop strength, the advantage was on their side. On the other hand, the Bavarian army needed to “resupply” from the residents along the way and in Wissembourg. If the Prussian and other German state troops passed first, they wouldn’t get anything.

Although Frederick III knew the Bavarian army’s little thoughts, he didn’t refuse, letting them test the waters first was also good.

Chapter 253: The Battle of Wissembourg

On August 2nd, the Second Army of France, under Frossard, and the Third Army, under Bazaine, with six divisions, invaded Saarbrücken.

Most of the Prussian troops had already withdrawn from the area, so resistance was light. Casualties on both sides were minimal, with the Prussians suffering 83 casualties and the French 86.

Napoleon III, accompanied by the Crown Prince, entered the city and, on horseback, accepted the troops’ congratulations. Prior to this, Emperor Napoleon III had not ridden a horse for a long time due to hemorrhoids.

The French media enthusiastically hailed the “Victory of Saarbrücken,” with news reports featuring bloody illustrations.

After taking Saarbrücken, disagreements arose within the French command regarding the next course of action. Bazaine hoped to develop this offensive into an attempt to destroy the 40,000 Prussian troops gathering near Saarbrücken, but Napoleon III disagreed.

Information from various sources, as well as the Prussian cavalry seen everywhere in the war zone, had made Leboeuf and Napoleon III nervous. They learned from prisoners that the Prussian army was about to launch an offensive. Leboeuf suggested withdrawing the French army from Prussian territory and deploying along the border.

Thus, the Fourth Corps, commanded by General Paul de Ladmirault, which had originally been planned to advance after taking Saarbrücken and capture Saarlouis, was ordered to return and defend the corridor from the Moselle Valley to Thionville. The French troops occupying Saarbrücken also retreated completely, returning to the defensible areas of Forbach and Spicheren within France. Bazaine’s Third Army also withdrew from Sarreguemines to Saint-Avold.

Félix Douay, who had been ordered to lead the Fifth Corps to join the battle of Saarbrücken, was ordered back to his starting point, the Bitche fortress.

MacMahon’s First Army remained unchanged, still guarding Frouard-lès-Villerupt south of the Vosges Mountains, maintaining contact with Félix Douay’s French Seventh Corps in Belfort. The French reserves, Charles-Denis Bourbaki’s Imperial Guard and Marshal Canrobert’s Sixth Corps, moved forward, with the Imperial Guard heading to Saint-Avold and the Sixth Corps to Nancy.

Napoleon III’s pre-war promise of a “second Jena” had turned into a defensive retreat. The wavering attitude of the high command greatly dampened the enthusiasm of the French army.

With the French army on the defensive, Moltke ordered a full-scale German counter-offensive, and simultaneously ordered the Third Army to take Wissembourg on August 4th.

…

Wissembourg.

The Kingdom of Bavaria’s army, eager to prove itself, took the lead in launching an attack on the French garrison at Wissembourg.

The commander of the 2nd Division of MacMahon’s First Corps was General Abel Douay, aged 61, the brother of Félix Douay, commander of the Seventh Corps, and former head of the Saint-Cyr military academy. Douay led his troops to Wissembourg on the afternoon of August 3rd.

Wissembourg was a picturesque old town on the banks of the Lauter River. From the 18th century onwards, France had built defensive fortifications in Wissembourg, including a series of towers, fortresses, and moats. However, in 1867, Marshal Niel abandoned these fortifications, which were somewhat outdated for 19th-century armies, and removed the cannons to save the budget. After that, the fortifications and fortresses gradually became desolate. However, if the Prussians were to attack, this was still a strategic location, a transportation hub from Bavaria to Sarrebourg and Lower Alsace.

Upon arriving at the location and surveying the local situation, General Douay’s engineer suggested, “Wissembourg needs to be renovated in order to be defended as a strongpoint.”

This suggestion was immediately reported to the First Corps headquarters. But Douay was unlucky. Just as the telegram was sent, the German army had already crossed the Lauter River and was attacking Wissembourg, this strategic location, giving him no time to react.

The battle that broke out on August 4th was very sudden for the French army, which had no prior knowledge that more than 80,000 Prussian and Bavarian troops had gathered opposite them. For weeks, French infantry officers had not allowed a single French cavalryman to scout the Prussian army’s situation across the river. The French army had been under the impression that “all was well.” The previous evening, a local official reported that Bavarian troops had occupied the customs post on the Franco-German border, where a large number of German troops had been discovered. However, the report was received late, and General Abel Douay, aged 61, was tired from riding, so he did not immediately send cavalry to verify the situation. The next morning, he sent cavalry to scout, but they were quickly driven back by Prussian cavalry, and there were some small-scale skirmishes. General Douay did not pay much attention and normally started drinking coffee at 8:00 in the morning, then reported the reconnaissance results to Marshal MacMahon in Strasbourg. Marshal MacMahon felt that he should send some troops forward to reinforce the front line and planned to move his headquarters forward to Wissembourg the next day. Just as the telegraph operator was sending his plan to Leboeuf in Metz, the battle of Wissembourg broke out.

Although the defensive fortifications of Wissembourg were built in the previous century and were somewhat outdated, they could still serve as defensive positions for the infantry. Despite being “suddenly attacked,” General Douay remained calm and immediately deployed two of his eight battalions, along with 6 cannons and several machine guns, in front of Wissembourg along the river. Another battalion was placed in Altenstadt, a small town adjacent to Wissembourg, and the remaining infantry, cavalry, and 12 cannons were placed on the slope behind the town. As the Bavarian 4th Division attacked, all the French guns and cannons deployed on the front line opened fire together, weaving a dense web of fire. The French veterans used their Chassepot rifles to aim at the advancing German troops, causing serious damage to the enemy.

It was also here that the Bavarians first heard the sound of machine gun fire. However, the machine guns at this time were not the killing machines of World War One. They could not sweep, but could only fire at one target. As a result, dozens of bullets would hit one person, immediately turning the person into pieces. The intimidation effect of this new weapon far exceeded its actual killing power. A Bavarian officer said that there were no wounded under this gun; if you were hit, you would only die. The French artillery and rifle fire were so accurate that every Bavarian unit participating in the attack was scattered. The Bavarians retreated, and Prussian officers shouted loudly to reorganize the troops for another attack.

Bavarian and Prussian infantry exchanged fire with the French army from behind the vines. They could not see the French, but could only hear the French gunfire and see the muzzle flashes. The Dreyse rifles equipped by the Bavarian and Prussian armies were inherently less accurate and had a lower rate of fire than the French Chassepot rifles. In addition, the German troops needed to lie on the ground to conceal themselves and fire, while the French troops were either standing in the trenches or hiding behind protective walls, reloading much faster. Therefore, the German army was at a disadvantage in the exchange of fire. Fortunately, the Prussian and Bavarian armies also had superior weapons, namely the new Krupp cannons. Several cannons were pushed across the river to join the infantry battle. The artillery on both sides began to exchange fire, and the Krupp breech-loading cannons quickly showed their advantage over the French muzzle-loading cannons. In addition, the French shells still used very unreliable time fuzes, which caused little damage to the German army. The Krupp cannons used percussion fuzes, which exploded upon impact, and soon the French cannons were silenced. Then, the Prussian cannons began to shift their targets to strike the French infantry hiding in the trenches. Nevertheless, even under the French infantry fire, the Bavarian army still suffered heavy casualties.

In this battle of unequal strength, the French army’s eight battalions faced the German army’s 29 battalions. The outcome of the German victory was without suspense, but the number of casualties exceeded that of the French army, demonstrating the French army’s combat effectiveness, especially against the Bavarians.

Chapter 254: An Unpleasant Parting

According to Friedrich’s deployment, Kirchbach’s Fifth Army and the Hechingen Brigade were mainly to prevent the French Rhine Army from heading south to support the Châlons Army.

Currently, Napoleon III himself had begun to contract his forces. In order to prevent Prussia from cutting off MacMahon’s connection with the Rhine Army under his command, leading to being caught in a pincer movement, he ordered the French Fifth Army to immediately head south to support Marshal MacMahon’s forces.

…

“Your Highness Leopold, next you will be deployed in Waldolwisheim, and the Fifth Army and I will hold Saverne, how about that!”

Although the Hechingen Brigade and the Prussian army were nominally at the same level, Kirchbach did not see it that way. There was a difference of two levels between them. Although Leopold had a noble status as a member of the Hohenzollern family, the battlefield was not a stage where one could do as one pleased. Therefore, the main force naturally had to be the numerous Fifth Army. In fact, although the Fifth Army was a regular Prussian army corps, the vast majority of its soldiers came from various states within the North German Confederation, excluding Prussia.

Leopold ignored Kirchbach and turned to look for the location of Waldolwisheim on the map.

After a long time, he finally found the so-called Waldolwisheim in a corner of the map, an inconspicuous little village located in the southeast corner of Saverne.

“This won’t do!” Leopold retorted.

“Although the Hechingen Brigade is a temporary unit composed of students and has never been exposed to the battlefield, its military literacy is not weak and does not need your protection. Waldolwisheim is too close to the rear. Even if you don’t trust us, you shouldn’t deploy the Hechingen Brigade in a small village that is difficult to find on the map!”

“Your Highness Leopold, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I am aware of your abilities. However, as you said, the Hechingen Brigade has never been exposed to the battlefield. Putting this group of student soldiers on the front line, to put it bluntly, I am not at ease. Moreover, I have seen your troops. Fifty percent of them are not of German or even European descent. The combat effectiveness of such troops may be useful in overseas colonies, but this is Europe,” Kirchbach said arrogantly.

“Kirchbach! Stow your arrogance. The Hechingen Brigade actually belongs to the state army. I only take orders from Crown Prince Wilhelm and the General Staff. You have no say over me. As for the combat effectiveness of this unit? I know better than you. I also participated in the Second Schleswig War and the Austro-Prussian War. I don’t need you to judge my subordinates!”

“That’s a pity then. In that case, Your Highness Leopold! Where do you want to deploy the army?” Kirchbach asked.

In his opinion, the so-called Hechingen Brigade could not shoulder great responsibilities, but as Leopold said, he really had no say over him.

“Here, Dettwiller.” Leopold pointed to the town on the eastern line of Saverne, a road connecting Dettwiller with Saverne. This area belonged to the flank of Saverne, and its strategic importance was second only to Steinberg in the northeast direction of Saverne.

“If you are determined to do so, then go ahead! But I must say in advance that when we engage the French army, we may not be able to take care of this area.”

“Hmph, I don’t need you to take care of me. In fact, if you can defend Saverne, you should count your blessings! As far as I know, the Fifth Army is just a temporary unit formed by Prussia. Many soldiers are farmers from Hamburg, Saxony, and other places who have just put down their hoes and been temporarily recruited. The opponents are the French, and although their troops are small in number, they are all professional soldiers who have been on the battlefield for a long time,” Leopold said, reminding him despite his anger.

“Hahaha, I admit that the Fifth Army’s combat effectiveness may be somewhat inferior to the French, but we have enough numbers and the advantage of terrain. Moreover, there are also many Prussian veterans in the army. Under the leadership of Prussia, the new soldiers from other states will also grow rapidly in the flames of war,” Kirchbach laughed.

“I hope so!” Leopold said this and walked away without looking back.

After Leopold left, Kirchbach immediately changed his face. He said seriously to his subordinates, “He really doesn’t know what’s good for him, Robert!”

“Here, General!”

“That Hechingen Brigade has no combat effectiveness at all, but we cannot fail to consider the safety of His Highness Leopold. You lead the Third Brigade to deploy in Wilwisheim on the right side of the Hechingen Brigade. Once they are in trouble, you will hold the line for me and don’t let any gaps appear in the defense line, understand?”

“Yes, General!”

…

Leopold returned to the Hechingen Brigade’s station with a gloomy face. This Kirchbach was too arrogant. In fact, judging from the past records of the two, Kirchbach’s command level could only be said to be average, no better or worse than his own. They had the ability to organize army operations, but they were both far from being famous generals.

Originally, he would not have participated in this Franco-Prussian War. After all, as one of the protagonists of the Spanish throne incident, his energy before the war was focused on the Spanish throne bid.

After France took action and the Spanish government retreated, he had no time to rejoin the Prussian army. If Ernst hadn’t requested it, he would still be in Sigmaringen!

“Your Highness Leopold, who made you angry!” Heinrich said when he saw Leopold’s bad mood.

“Does my face look bad?”

“Yes… a little.”

Leopold rubbed his face with his hands to relax his muscles and said, “It’s not a big deal. I just had some unpleasantness with Kirchbach. This Kirchbach is a bit arrogant, but I didn’t indulge him.”

“Is it General Kirchbach?”

“Uh, how did he offend you!”

“Hehe, he’s just a pig-head who took advantage of the kingdom’s changes and rose to power. He’s just old and not very capable. He even looks down on the Hechingen Brigade. The Hechingen Brigade is the best unit I’ve ever led in terms of execution.”

“Your Highness, don’t be angry. The Hechingen Brigade does not have any battle records to support it, so naturally it cannot convince people. Although the name of the Hechingen Military Academy sounds impressive, it is not well-known. Most of the students in my class were from crash courses and have already gone to Africa. This class of the Hechingen Military Academy has undergone two and a half years of training and is much stronger than my class. Perhaps, in terms of training and professional knowledge alone, military academy students who have undergone long-term training are stronger than many Prussian veterans, but on the battlefield, it doesn’t matter where you come from. People will only remember the victors. Whether it’s slander or insult, only a victory will tell whether it’s the real deal.”

“Hehe, you don’t need to comfort me. In fact, I wasn’t much better than Kirchbach at the beginning. When Ernst handed over the troops to me, my opinion was actually similar to Kirchbach’s. However, after I really led this team and spent some time with them, I changed my mind. This unit is not inferior to the kingdom’s elite troops in any aspect except for not having been on the battlefield. It’s not like I haven’t led new recruits before. In my opinion, the Hechingen Brigade is more than one level stronger than those temporary conscripts under Kirchbach.”

“Therefore, Your Highness, we should focus on doing our own thing and prove that the Hechingen Brigade is not just a showy display, but a modern and powerful light infantry army.”

Chapter 255: Fifty-Fifty Chance

David Light.

Trenches, barbed wire, and sandbag positions were rapidly taking shape. That night, the soldiers of the Xinggen Brigade used entrenching tools to construct a line of fortifications around the town of David Light.

Combined with some buildings and civilian houses, David Light was surrounded, becoming almost like a hedgehog.

A typical academy-trained unit like the Xinggen Brigade was bound to have a more meticulous attitude and rigorous spirit when constructing defensive works.

So the next day, they were still standardizing and repairing them. This scene stunned Robert, who was next door.

Putting down his binoculars, Robert said to his deputy, “I think General Kirchbach is completely overthinking it. I can’t say how good the Xinggen Brigade is in combat, but their survival skills are definitely better than ours. Look at them, they want to turn David Light into a solid fortress. If I were the French, I would never be foolish enough to launch an attack on such a place.”

“Brigade Commander, these people from the Xinggen Principality are too timid! The battlefield is changing rapidly. There isn’t that much time to do so many fancy things. Fortifications at most play an auxiliary role. We currently have a far greater advantage in numbers than the French. The kingdom’s top leaders will definitely choose to take the initiative to attack, rather than passively defend. So no matter how good the defenses are, they won’t be of much use. After all, we are the attacking side.”

If Napoleon III heard these words, he would definitely slap him. The French had already been tricked by their own people before the war. At that time, the French also chose to take the initiative to attack, and because preparations were rushed, they did not build many fortifications in the Alsace and Lorraine regions at all. Who knew that the situation would now be reversed, and they would become the defending side, only to find that there was no natural defense to rely on.

For example, Wissembourg was still using defensive works built in the last century, which were actually almost completely abandoned.

…

Not only did Robert not understand, but Leopold was also a little puzzled. He said to Heinrich, “Are you young people so energetic now? Building such long fortifications will probably make the other troops laugh.”

Heinrich said, “We are just doing what we should do based on textbooks and the practical experience of our predecessors. There is no small matter in war, and we must not relax our vigilance at any time. Moreover, in this war, the French Chassepot rifle has a longer range than the Dreyse rifle, so they have an advantage. If we want to offset this advantage, in addition to suppressing them with artillery and other things, we can only think of ways to improve our cover!”

“That does make some sense. But, if the battlefield changes tomorrow and the higher-ups order you to go to other areas, wouldn’t these defensive works that you have worked so hard to build be useless!”

“If they are useless, they are useless. That’s not something I should consider. Wherever we go, we will build fortifications wherever we go. Even if we only stay for one night, we must do it. This is for the sake of the soldiers’ lives and to reduce casualties.”

“Did you learn this in Berlin?”

“No, I learned this at the Xinggen Military Academy.”

“After this war is over, I must go back and take a look at your textbooks. I can only say they are very unique,” Leopold said.

…

French Rhine Army Fifth Corps.

The commander of the Fifth Corps was the French General de Failly, and the enemy he was about to face was the Prussian Fifth Corps, Kirchbach’s command.

At dusk, the reconnaissance cavalry of the French Fifth Corps had returned.

“General, we have already figured out the details of the opposite side. The Prussian Fifth Corps is stationed on the northern slopes of the Vosges Mountains. In addition, there are a small number of troops on its right, but the number is temporarily unknown.”

“What is the size of the Prussian Fifth Corps?”

“The number of people should be more than us, but the main force is divided into two parts, one part is stationed in Soultz-sous-Forêts, and the other part is stationed in Saverne. The remaining small units are deployed along the highway in villages and towns such as David Light.”

“Bring the map!” Failly said.

“Soultz-sous-Forêts is here. It is the protruding part of the Prussian army’s defense line. The Prussians should have been waiting for us here long ago. Saverne is not far to the left rear and can support Soultz-sous-Forêts at any time, and vice versa. Saverne is a transportation hub. Mastering this place allows you to attack or retreat.”

“If we rashly attack Soultz-sous-Forêts and Saverne, it will not be in line with the purpose of our trip. Our goal is to strengthen the connection between the Rhine Army and the Châlons Army, and avoid the possibility of either side being encircled and suppressed by Prussia. So this trip must not be the same as in the past, a frontal attack, but a clever one.”

“So far, Prussia’s trump cards have gradually become clear. They want to divide and surround us through numbers, and then annihilate us one by one. We must not let Prussia’s plan succeed.”

“These days, I have also seen through some of the characteristics of Prussia. Except that their guns are not as good as ours, their cavalry does not seem to have appeared much, but focuses on intelligence work, sometimes wandering between the two armies to find out the truth. If this analysis is accurate, as long as it is used well, it can definitely give the Prussian army a fatal blow.”

After the analysis, Failly began to arrange tasks according to this idea.

“The cavalry brigade outflanks Saverne from the side, two infantry divisions on the main battlefield, the Twelfth Infantry Division feigns an attack on Soultz-sous-Forêts. This should be the most elite unit of the Prussian army. Hold them back. The main force, the Fourteenth Infantry Division, and the artillery units go south in the west and go straight to Saverne. Cooperate with the cavalry brigade to attack Saverne from both sides. After taking Saverne, we will turn back and join the Twelfth Infantry Division.”

“General, what about the enemy in the east?”

“Let the Twelfth Infantry Division draw a brigade to block the remaining enemies in David Light. You, the Twelfth Infantry Division, must remember that the key to this war lies in holding back the enemy. Once we take Saverne, everything else will be easy.”

The commander of the Twelfth Infantry Division asked, “What if the Prussian Third Corps comes to support from the south?”

Failly said, “You must believe in Marshal MacMahon’s command ability, and the Prussian Third Corps should now be going south to fight against Marshal MacMahon’s troops. They will not be able to go north in a short time. The enemy’s Fifth Corps is to prevent us from taking the opportunity to go south. The Third Corps has far more troops than the Châlons Army. The Prussian Crown Prince Wilhelm definitely wants to use superior forces to encircle and annihilate the Châlons Army first, so he only deployed a corps of troops in Saverne. So Marshal MacMahon and the Châlons Army are in a very bad situation, and whether they can be relieved depends on whether we can quickly defeat the Prussian Fifth Corps, so that the Prussian Third Corps has to divide its forces to defend, which will greatly reduce the pressure on Marshal MacMahon’s troops.”

Since it was a surprise attack, they naturally couldn’t go there openly. Under the command of Marshal Failly, the French Fifth Corps took advantage of the darkness and rushed towards their target at top speed. The first unit to make contact was the Prussian army stationed in Soultz-sous-Forêts. As soon as the war started, the Prussian Fifth Corps commander stationed in Soultz-sous-Forêts urgently sent a telegram to Saverne in the rear, requesting support.

Kirchbach immediately sent two infantry brigades to support Soultz-sous-Forêts, but Soultz-sous-Forêts was only the target of the French feint attack. Kirchbach’s dispersal of Saverne’s troops to support Soultz-sous-Forêts was exactly what Failly wanted.

The French Fifth Cavalry Brigade had already arrived at the southeast direction of Saverne from the left in the dark, and the main force of the French army was also rushing towards Saverne from the west.

Due to the diversion of troops, the number of troops in Saverne had dropped to the same level as the French attacking troops. The Prussian and French Fifth Corps would also fight a decisive battle tonight.

Chapter 256: Receiving Italian “Refugees”

“Knock, knock, knock…” A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in!” a voice came from the study.

Tom entered the room with two telegrams in his hand. Ernst was processing East African documents. As the Crown Prince of East Africa, he naturally couldn’t let his aging father suffer, so many affairs were handled entirely by Ernst before Constantine implemented them directly. This way, Ernst could also discuss undecided matters with Constantine.

“Your Highness, telegrams have just arrived from the Hamburg and Trieste branches. All available ships under the Hechingen Overseas Fleet have been freed up, but I’m afraid this small number of ships won’t be able to complete the task you assigned.”

“I understand that. How many ships have they prepared?”

“A total of sixty-four. The rest have to take on other businesses, such as the recent export of grain and goods to Marseille. So this ship deployment has actually affected the company’s overall operation.”

“Well, first contact our old friends, those Dutch shipowners. Let them temporarily take charge of the North German immigrants for the time being. They are also familiar with the routes. Contact other fleets in Trieste for the Austrian and Italian immigrants. They should be able to share some of the burden. With the opening of the Suez Canal, it’s not too difficult for these Mediterranean ships to reach East Africa, as long as the price is right, it shouldn’t be a problem. Also, for our cargo transport, find Italians for the part going to Marseille! If that’s not enough, think of ways to get help from other countries, like Greece and Spain!”

A shortage of ships? That might be possible for the Far East, but Europe, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe had a large number of so-called maritime powers, especially Italy and Greece, with cheap freight rates and sufficient quantities.

Before the Suez Canal opened, the countries mainly engaged in ocean trade were concentrated along the Atlantic coast, mainly England, Holland, Spain, Portugal, and France. Ernst chose to cooperate with the Dutch. Among these countries, the Dutch had the least political baggage. As long as the money was right, they were easy to work with, and their trade activities extended as far as Japan and Korea, which aligned with Ernst’s immigration routes.

After the opening of the Suez Canal, Ernst had more choices. Austro-Hungarian merchant ships and warships could pass through the Suez Canal directly into the Indian Ocean.

As far as Ernst knew, the army weapons that Franz smuggled to Rome were transported by hired Italian ships.

As for how Ernst knew, it was out of curiosity. Ernst wanted to know how Austria-Hungary transported the weapons and equipment of an entire army to Rome.

After all, Rome was on the west coast of Italy, surrounded by the current Kingdom of Italy. Austria-Hungary must have its own channels to transport weapons.

As the instigator of this matter, Ernst directly asked Franz. Franz didn’t hide anything. The solution was very simple: find Italian merchant ships, negotiate a price, and leave the rest to the Italians to handle themselves.

Ernst said he had learned something, and also analyzed East Africa to avoid such loopholes. However, East Africa, in its “closed-door” state, didn’t seem to have this problem. The “closed-door” policy was a one-way valve, only allowing inflow and not outflow. Although there were two free trade ports, they were places for ships from various countries to rest, to avoid criticism. The British at sea often used the banner of free trade to cause trouble everywhere, so Mombasa and Dar es Salaam were left as free ports.

Now that the Suez Canal was open, basically all European ships were crowded in the Red Sea waiting in line. The East African coast, which Europeans saw as “lacking markets and resources,” had declined. Only East Africans and Arabs still roamed this sea.

…

Under the nose of the Kingdom of Italy, Austria-Hungary had provided the Papal States of Rome with complete military equipment, just waiting for Italy to take the bait.

So, starting in August, Hechingen’s ships began to be emptied to prepare for a large-scale Italian immigration, or rather, war refugees, that “might” exist.

In fact, as early as June, the Hechingen fleet had been quietly preparing in the German region. With France’s declaration of war, residents on the Franco-German border, and even in Alsace and Lorraine within France, also took advantage of the East African immigration to migrate to East Africa.

Alsace and Lorraine, as former territories of the Holy Roman Empire, had a majority of residents who were essentially Germans under French rule, speaking High German (actually, South German dialects). Coincidentally, the Hechingen royal family was the same. The northern states in Prussia and the North German Confederation spoke Low German.

At the same time, Southern Germany, Alsace and Lorraine, and Austria-Hungary were all Catholic regions, so there were still some large cultural differences between Northern and Southern Germany. This was also why Southern Germany naturally gravitated towards Austria (Austrian German evolved from the Bavarian dialect).

From East African colony to East African kingdom, in the past three years, the surplus population of the Southern German region had been almost completely absorbed by East Africa. With this war, the population of Baden and Württemberg in the south might experience a negative growth. The specific situation in Bavaria was hard to say, but it was probably similar.

The dominant position of Southern German and Austro-Hungarian immigrants in the pure German population, coupled with the fact that the Hechingen royal family itself came from the Southern German region, meant that the overall cultural attributes of East Africa leaned more towards Southern Germany.

This was also good. The half-dead Austria-Hungary had limited overseas intervention capabilities and no desire in this regard. Prussia was too strong, so choosing to cooperate with Austria-Hungary was more reassuring.

And East Africa was only separated from Austria-Hungary by Egypt, which was close to three million square kilometers, excluding the Mediterranean. So, theoretically, Austria-Hungary could take care of its little brother, East Africa, not too far and not too close, the location was just right.

And Ernst had already prepared a place for the Italian immigrants. A large amount of land in the Zambia region needed to be populated. There was no need to be too picky about the location. Just build new towns in the areas where the natives lived.

Places where settlements had formed would not have too bad of an environment, and the local “labor force” could be fully utilized to develop new land.

Italian immigrants, along with Far Eastern immigrants and German immigrants, would be scattered in various provinces of the Zambia region. At the same time, some residents would be moved from the east to guide their agricultural production and labor.

East Africa was a typical tropical highland agricultural region. Its experience, climate, and the Far East and Europe were all different. In the early stages of East African agricultural development, on the one hand, it absorbed native agricultural experience, and on the other hand, it sought guidance from “professionals” from South America and Mexico. After three years of exploration, it had the current East African model. Therefore, these new immigrants also needed the help and guidance of the old immigrants.

The climatic conditions of Zambia were the same as those of the East African plateau, even the rainfall and latitude were the same (although Zambia was inland), so there was no problem in developing according to the East African plateau model.

…

“Tom, there’s one more thing. Make sure things are done cleanly in Marseille. We are only responsible for raw material input and commodity production. Leave the rest to the Medina family. In non-German regions, our principle is that everyone makes money together. Don’t directly interfere in politics. Let our allies do that.”

“Yes, Your Highness, I will carefully investigate and make sure there are absolutely no mistakes.”

For friendly forces of the Hechingen royal family such as the Medina family, support was naturally needed. This Franco-Prussian War was an opportunity. Ernst knew that France would lose, but not completely. At least the French people had not surrendered, and the Medina family could use this war to accumulate their reputation in southern France. Anyway, Prussia would only reach the vicinity of Paris at most. Count Medina could unscrupulously express his “patriotism” in the rear, winning the favor of the French people.

Chapter 257: Mutual Calculations

The French citizens who, according to Ernst, wouldn’t surrender, were at that very moment lowering the drawbridge of Wissembourg, joyfully welcoming the Prussian Third Army, their “savior.”

Although they spiritually supported France, the Prussian artillery was destroying the homes of Wissembourg’s residents. Furthermore, the French army, for defensive purposes, often climbed onto roofs, breaking the tiles and causing the citizens great distress, leading them to cry out, “Please, stop fighting!”

The French army, of course, wouldn’t listen to the citizens. When the French were squeezed into the small urban area of Wissembourg by the Prussians, the residents themselves raised a white flag and welcomed the Prussian army into the city.

This scene infuriated Léo, the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the French 74th Regiment, but he was helpless.

Of course, this could only represent the individual actions of the residents of Wissembourg and couldn’t represent France, especially since this was the Alsace and Lorraine region.

The Battle of Wissembourg was an embarrassment for the French side, but the French soldiers displayed their valor. After the German Confederation forces entered the city, they engaged in fierce street fighting with the French army.

The French army ultimately failed because they were outnumbered and couldn’t defeat all their enemies. After repelling the Bavarians, the Prussians and other German states stepped in, even a Seventh Brigade composed of Poles.

At the same time, the French had no effective countermeasures against the advanced Krupp artillery of the Prussians. Artillery suppression and numerical inferiority made the outcome of the battle a foregone conclusion.

The French eight battalions faced an attack from twenty-nine German battalions. The German victory was inevitable, but their casualties exceeded those of the French, especially the Bavarians, who performed poorly.

Before the battle, the Bavarian army had deployed two of its most elite units, but they were soundly thrashed by the French.

Despite the Bavarian army’s poor performance in the first battle, the Prussian National Gazette greatly praised them: “The Bavarians defeated the enemies of Germany…, the flames of war witnessed their unwavering loyalty.”

The victorious German army entered Wissembourg. Crown Prince Wilhelm led the German generals in a moment of silence before the remains of General Douay. The former headmaster of the French Saint-Cyr Military School would forever rest in this place.

The Prussians were very surprised by the captured maps of General Douay. Not only was the quality poor, but the scale was so small that it was completely unusable for commanding operations. Furthermore, General Douay at least had a map, but lower-ranking officers had no maps at all, only some hand-drawn sketches. Prussian officers down to the rank of lieutenant had very good maps. Of course, the Bavarian army didn’t yet meet this standard, which was their own fault for not being of one mind with the Prussians.

The German bumpkins saw African soldiers for the first time here. They looked at the captured Algerian soldiers as if they were animals in a zoo. Actually, this shouldn’t have been the first time, if the soldiers of the Hechingen Brigade, whose nationality belonged to East Africa, were also counted as Africans. However, black soldiers (I didn’t say Algerians were black) were truly seen for the first time.

……

The countryside west of Dambach. There was a rare forest here, because the surroundings were all farmland.

The French Army’s 54th Brigade was currently resting and preparing here, guarding against the westward advance of the Hechingen Brigade and the Prussian Third Brigade led by Robert, further to the east, to support Kirchbach’s forces.

“Report, Brigadier General, we have obtained information from a villager that the Hechingen Brigade is stationed in Dambach. They supposedly have a South German accent, and there are many Easterners mixed in with them.”

“Easterners?”

“Faces like the residents of our Far East colonies (Cambodia and Vietnam), yellow-skinned people.”

The French were able to obtain this intelligence thanks to the residents of Dambach who were hiding in the countryside to escape the war. Due to historical reasons, the locals were fluent in both German and French, and thus learned some information about the Hechingen Brigade.

“Probably like the Algerian troops, they are a unit formed with colonial soldiers, but do the Prussians have their own colonies in the Far East?”

“It’s also possible they are mercenaries. Although Prussia has always been active in Europe, they have their own diplomatic relations in the Far East.”

“How are they deployed in Dambach?”

“According to residents who escaped from Dambach, the Hechingen Brigade began building fortifications on the very day they arrived. The entire town of Dambach has been surrounded by them.”

“Interesting!” the 54th Brigade commander said, “This is rare among the Prussian troops we have encountered. Especially now, Prussia is on the offensive, and we are on the defensive. Under normal circumstances, we should be actively building fortifications to hinder the Prussian advance.”

“Our intelligence personnel also obtained a piece of information. This unit flies the flag of a German state. The Hechingen Brigade comes from the Principality of Hechingen, so their numbering is somewhat different from the Prussian army.”

“That makes sense! This unit must be a ragtag force from the South German region, temporarily cobbled together because of the war. This may be a good opportunity.” The 54th Brigade commander analyzed.

The commander of the French 54th Brigade looked down on the combat effectiveness of the various states in the South German region. This was normal. Apart from Austria and Prussia, there were no German state armies that could make the French use their full strength.

“What if we could devour this unit and take Dambach?”

“That might be difficult. According to our intelligence, Prussia has another brigade deployed in Wilwisheim to the east, only two kilometers from Dambach, which can quickly support this place.”

“Two kilometers means they can arrive in half an hour at the fastest, and the Prussians are also carrying baggage, which will take even longer. If we can resolve the battle within half an hour, that would naturally be no problem. This so-called Principality of Hechingen sounds like it’s not very large. It wouldn’t be easy to assemble a unit, otherwise they wouldn’t use so many Easterners. And the abnormal construction of a large number of defensive fortifications shows that their commander also knows that this unit’s combat effectiveness is not good. This is our opportunity. Order the troops to step up their rest. At dawn, we will take the initiative to attack, quickly take Dambach, and then be ready for the arrival of the remaining Prussian brigade.”

……

“Around ten o’clock (in the evening), a French army quietly sneaked into the forest to our west. The scale is difficult to determine for the time being, but it shouldn’t be smaller than our own.” Heinrich woke Leopold, who was sleeping in the temporary command post, and reported.

“This forest is located in the center of Dambach and Saverne, which means they bypassed Steinbourg and went directly south. The French are definitely planning to attack Saverne. This unit is part of the support, either directly interfering with Saverne, or coming for us. But according to the distance, it is more likely that they are coming for us.” Leopold analyzed sleepily.

“This is a good opportunity. The Hechingen Brigade should attack immediately!” Heinrich suggested.

“Oh!” Leopold was a little surprised.

“The French army suddenly arrived and bypassed Steinbourg, directly inserting themselves into this forest, which indicates a high probability that they are coordinating with the main French army’s actions, otherwise they wouldn’t be so risky. And bypassing Steinbourg to get here means they are on a forced march, and they must be exhausted at this time and need to rest here first. This is a flaw for the French. If we quickly attack, we can definitely catch them off guard!”

“Hmm, what else!” Leopold asked, “We don’t know the size of the French army, this is a huge risk.”

“Your Highness, precisely because we don’t know the size of the French army, we should take the initiative to attack, because the French can more easily ascertain our strengths and weaknesses. If the French outnumber us, they will also take the initiative to probe us tomorrow at dawn, at which time we will have lost the initiative in the war. If they are fewer in number than us, we can take advantage of the night to attack, and we won’t suffer too much. We have also passed through that forest before, and during the day, so we are more familiar with the environment than the French who entered in the dark. And it is likely that the French army is not large in number, because the overall number of French troops is far less than that of the German Confederation forces.”

“That makes sense. Should we act now?”

Heinrich shook his head and said, “Not yet. Let’s prepare first, let the soldiers have a midnight snack to replenish their strength. When they are in high spirits at twelve o’clock, we will launch a surprise attack on the French. The French have been marching all day and must be exhausted. After eleven o’clock, they will be even more drowsy. That is the best time for us to launch an attack.”

“If we fight a night battle…” Leopold said with some concern.

“There’s no need to be afraid of night battles. We can’t see, and the French can’t see either. Furthermore, the range and accuracy of the Dreyse needle gun are not as good as the French Chassepot rifle, which is a great disadvantage in open areas. And the French just happen to be stationed on the edge of the forest. The forest environment can greatly limit the performance of the Chassepot rifle. Under the cover of night, both sides can only aim by feeling. If we prepare more melee weapons for our people, then we will turn into the advantageous side.”

Chapter 258: Night Raid

Heinrich successfully persuaded Leopold. The two exchanged opinions and then summoned all the brigade’s commanders for a meeting to refine the details of the operation plan.

Officers of company level and above were present at the meeting, as time was short, allowing them to return and prepare in advance.

The Hechingen Brigade only had two infantry regiments and a directly subordinate operations battalion, so there were only twenty or thirty officers of company level and above.

Due to the needs of the war, the command post was not located in the civilian area, but in a separate semi-underground bunker-style building. The construction time was also relatively short, so it was quite crowded. The officers of the Hechingen Brigade gathered in the small space of the command post, and the war meeting began.

“After consultation between Staff Officer Heinrich and myself, we have decided to launch a surprise attack on the French in the suburbs tonight. Staff Officer Heinrich will now explain the reasons to you. I personally agree with this, and everyone is welcome to raise any objections or suggestions.” Leopold said.

Then Heinrich began to repeat what he had said to Leopold earlier: “…In summary, I believe this is a good opportunity. A fleeting opportunity. If we miss tonight, we will be in a passive position tomorrow.”

After Heinrich finished speaking, Leopold said, “Let’s hear your opinions!”

The first regiment commander said, “I support a proactive attack. It’s good to fish in troubled waters under the cover of darkness. This is the Hechingen Brigade’s first battle. It’s different from previous exercises. It will be a baptism of blood. Although the darkness cannot hide the scent, it can reduce the visual impact of the war on these recruits.”

“I have no objections, but we must be fully prepared for this war. As you said, this is the Hechingen Brigade’s first battle, so we shouldn’t be reckless.” said the second regiment commander.

After nearly an hour of discussion, the deployment of the battle and the tasks of each unit were finalized.

“Alright, now go back and start preparing, mobilize the soldiers’ morale, and don’t drop the ball at the crucial moment.” Leopold said somewhat wearily.

As Leopold’s voice fell, everyone began to leave in an orderly manner.

…

According to the meeting arrangements, the Hechingen Brigade’s cooks began to work overtime, pouring boxes of canned beef stew with potatoes into the pots and stirring, adding a large pot of onions and stewing it directly.

“Listen up, everyone. This is not an exercise. If you die, you really die. Your opponents are experienced Frenchmen, so don’t take it lightly. If you encounter them in the forest, go for the kill!”

Saying that, Platoon Leader Otto began to distribute cigarettes and beer to the soldiers in his platoon. He stuffed a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of beer into a soldier’s hand and said, “If you’re scared before we set off, smoke one or drink a bottle. You won’t have the chance on the battlefield.”

…

Midnight. In the pitch-black environment, you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. Soldiers of the Hechingen Brigade quietly opened a gap and poked their heads out of the fortifications one by one.

“Follow closely, don’t get separated. When we get close to the location, crouch down. Don’t stand there like a log before you reach the enemy’s position.” The officer tried to keep his voice down as he instructed his subordinates.

Leaving the Develier position, there were only country roads, farmland, and ditches nearby. Squads of men crossed the wheat fields under the cover of darkness, slowly approaching the edge of the forest.

Gradually, the French position came into view. Heinrich began to carefully observe the enemy’s situation.

From the French army’s simple position, it could be seen that this French army had really rushed over overnight. They hadn’t even dug trenches properly, and the camp was quite chaotic, with sentries leaning every which way.

“Order the troops to prepare. When you hear the gunfire, charge forward. Fix bayonets and other close-combat weapons in advance. There may not be time to reload.”

As the troops prepared, the time came to twelve fifty-seven. Heinrich fired the first shot of the attack.

Subsequently, the two infantry regiments of the Hechingen Brigade charged into the French position in one go.

“Bang…”

“Where’s the shooting?” The commander of the French 54th Brigade woke up from his sleep.

“Report, Brigade Commander, unidentified armed forces are attacking our unit!”

“What unidentified armed forces? It’s clearly the Germans on the opposite side trying to launch a surprise attack while we’re unprepared. Stop talking nonsense and quickly organize the troops to counterattack!” The 54th Brigade Commander picked up his pistol and led his men to the front line, wanting to organize a French counterattack.

But as soon as he stepped out of the camp, a bullet flew over, fortunately not hitting him, but wounding the guard next to him in the arm.

“Brigade Commander, the lights here are attracting the enemy. We can’t stay here. It’s like being a sitting duck.”

The 54th Brigade Commander’s tent had an oil lamp lit, so it was quite conspicuous in the darkness.

“Other places with lights are encountering similar situations. Darkness is the only safe place. Brigade Commander, we can only engage in a melee with the enemy in the dark now!”

In such a dark environment, it was impossible to organize the army at all. The Hechingen Brigade and the soldiers of the French 54th Brigade were completely mixed together.

Sparse gunshots rang out everywhere in the French camp. In the darkness, the unprepared French army could only fire their Chassepot rifles randomly. Many people had not prepared bayonets or other close-combat weapons, which allowed the Hechingen Brigade to seize the opportunity.

In the intervals when they were reloading, the Hechingen Brigade soldiers’ bayonets could quickly establish their merit. At the same time, in the darkness, even if the enemy and their comrades were covered in blood, it would be hidden by the night. The tobacco and alcohol before the battle also numbed and stimulated the senses of the Hechingen Brigade soldiers, and most people were in a state of extreme excitement.

Gradually, the French soldiers, realizing that there were more and more Germans and fewer and fewer comrades around them, had a premonition that something bad was about to happen. Coupled with the fact that they could not contact their superiors, some took advantage of the chaos to flee into the forest behind them, and some simply laid down their weapons and surrendered.

Caught off guard, the fighting will of the French 54th Brigade was rapidly disintegrating.

The gunshots attracted the 3rd Brigade of the 5th Corps, led by Robert, stationed in the east of Develier, and they arrived at the battlefield after the battle between the Hechingen Brigade and the French 54th Brigade ended.

At this moment, the Hechingen Brigade was cleaning up the battlefield. The current results were not yet clear, but the French had suffered heavy casualties, and some had fled into the forest, which basically meant that the remnants of the French 54th Brigade had no way to reorganize.

Entering the forest, if you were not familiar with the local environment, you would definitely get lost. This was also proven by the fact that scattered French soldiers, who had wandered around in the forest for a long time, returned here and were captured by the Hechingen Brigade.

Chapter 259: Italy: It’s My Turn to Take the Stage!

The next day, after the sun rose.

The results of yesterday’s battle were tallied. The Heringen Brigade suffered two hundred and fifty-six casualties, including seventy-eight dead and three missing.

The French Fifty-Fourth Brigade had two thousand three hundred and twenty-four captured last night, six hundred and eighty-seven killed in action, and the remaining personnel fled into the forest. By the next day, over a hundred had returned, lost and surrendering to the Heringen Brigade.

The commander of the French Fifty-Fourth Brigade, Alade, was stabbed to death in the chaotic battle last night, with two knife wounds on his body. Due to the darkness, it was unknown who killed him.

This battle was undoubtedly a great victory, but the casualties of over two hundred men still made Heinrich feel a little heartache. Leopold, who was used to such things, said, “War is so cruel!”

……

Prussia and France were fighting to the death, and Prussia was currently gaining the upper hand. The Kingdom of Italy could finally no longer hold back.

“Your Majesty, our intelligence personnel have confirmed that the last French troops withdrew on July 28th. Now that Germany and Prussia have begun fierce fighting, this is a good time for us to recover Rome!”

Emmanuel II was still somewhat worried, saying, “The situation at the front is unclear. We don’t know if the French have the ability to interfere with Italian unification. What if Prussia fails and the French settle accounts later?”

“This is not something we should worry about. Both France and Prussia must now act according to our wishes. Whichever side we join, the scales of victory will tip in their favor. Therefore, both France and Prussia will only try their best to win us over. So, if we annex the Papal States at this time, they will only remain silent,” the Italian Foreign Minister said.

“If we don’t take the initiative now, there won’t be such a good opportunity in the future. Now France and Prussia are deadlocked in Alsace and Lorraine, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army is also being held back by Prussia and Tsarist Russia. All obstacles preventing the Italian unification have disappeared!” Garibaldi, one of the three heroes of Italian nation-building, also said, “Last time, if Napoleon III hadn’t gone back on his word, Italy would have completed unification long ago. Now that Napoleon III, this stumbling block, is being held back by the Prussians, we can’t hesitate any longer, Your Majesty!”

Unifying Italy was Garibaldi’s long-cherished wish. After France declared war on Prussia, Garibaldi saw an opportunity, which was why he appeared in the Italian Royal Palace.

Emmanuel II was a relatively cautious person, but after being persuaded by his subordinates, he was also somewhat shaken and was about to speak.

“Your Majesty, something bad has happened!” An intelligence officer rushed in with a telegram.

“What happened?”

“Just yesterday, the Pope in Rome issued a joint statement with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire declared that Rome is a common holy land of Catholic countries, and its sovereignty is sacred and inviolable. The Pope also announced that the Papal States are under the protection of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

……

Time returned to a day earlier.

Rome.

The French soldiers had withdrawn, and the most panicked person was undoubtedly the Roman Catholic Church. Even though Pope Pius IX repeatedly pleaded, the French still withdrew.

Without the protection of the French, Pius IX knew that no one could restrain the ambitions of the Kingdom of Italy.

Pius IX certainly didn’t want to become a prisoner, but the problem was that after the French withdrew, what could he use to resist the army of the Kingdom of Italy with his motley crew?

He didn’t believe that the Kingdom of Italy would make an exception because of his identity as Pope. Last time, that guy named Garibaldi almost captured Rome.

Just as Pius IX was panicking and at a loss, the special envoy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire came to visit.

“Your Majesty, our Austro-Hungarian Empire is willing to provide protection to your country, but as a condition, the Papal States must firmly stand on the side of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the future and oppose the atrocities of the Kingdom of Italy.”

This condition was not a condition at all for Pius IX, who was at the end of his rope. If you were to ask who was most resistant to Italian unification, it would definitely be himself.

Subsequently, under the guidance of the special envoy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Papal States signed a large number of agreements with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including the right to station troops.

Then, both sides summarized the contents of these agreements and published them, which was equivalent to telling the Kingdom of Italy openly that the Papal States were under their protection.

……

“Too much!” Even if Emmanuel II was tolerant, he couldn’t stand this humiliation. Although the last war between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire didn’t look very good, it was still a victory for his side after all.

Now the Austrian Empire was a thing of the past. Emmanuel II, as a neighbor, knew better than anyone what the current Austro-Hungarian Empire was like. It was simply not on the same level as the former Austrian Empire.

Moreover, this time the Austro-Hungarian Empire had the threat of the Tsarist Russian army in the east and Prussia strictly guarding it in the north. What could it use to compare with Italy?

Most importantly, the French had just left, and the Austro-Hungarians were engaging in some bullshit declaration with the Pope. Did they not ask for his opinion?

Emmanuel II was more inclined to believe that this time Franz wanted to use the skin of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to blackmail him. Now that the French had left Rome, it was basically in a state of being slaughtered by the Kingdom of Italy.

The Austrians came out at this time to maintain the Papal States because they were afraid that Italy would annex the Papal States and complete unification. Emmanuel II himself thought that a unified Italy would challenge the current Austro-Hungarian Empire.

“Your Majesty, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is just trying to exert pressure through diplomatic means to make us back down. This is also in line with the Habsburg style. However, this time Franz has made a wrong calculation. Now Rome is isolated and helpless, and the Austrians cannot possibly fly across the Adriatic Sea to personally support the Papal States,” the Foreign Minister said.

“The only thing the Austro-Hungarian Empire can do is to make some small moves in the Venice area. Their main force now has to guard against Tsarist Russia and Prussia, so as long as we strengthen the defense work in the Venice area, they will have no way to stop us and can only watch us annex the Papal States,” Garibaldi also said.

Garibaldi naturally had the capital to say this. Last time, Garibaldi led a volunteer army of over a thousand men to annihilate an Austrian battalion, capturing more than four hundred people at the same time. Through guerrilla warfare, he caused great trouble to Austrian Empire’s Field Marshal Radetzky. Garibaldi had also fought against the French army several times, so he didn’t have much fear of these so-called great powers.

Although Garibaldi and the Foreign Minister made a lot of sense, Emmanuel II was still hesitant. He always felt that this was not a good time for Italy to take action.

So he asked, “Is it possible that the Austro-Hungarian Empire dares to target us like France did last time…”

Last time, France, along with Austria and Spain, under the banner of Catholic countries, jointly prevented Italy from unifying Rome.

“No, France is now unable to attend to other matters, and Spain has just gone through turmoil. Moreover, the current King of Spain is one of our own, so this time the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot win over any countries.”

The current King of Spain, Amadeo I, is the second prince of the Kingdom of Italy, Prince Amadeo, so Spain may actually support Italy, or at least the King himself may support Italy.

After repeatedly confirming all possible hidden cards of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Emmanuel II was finally relieved.

“In that case, let’s march on Rome! However, in order to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Empire from interfering, we still have to put more troops in Venice. Transfer the kingdom’s elite to guard against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As for Rome, let Mr. Garibaldi and the kingdom’s other troops conquer it together!”

Chapter 260: A Wildly Inaccurate Guess

Just as the Italian government was enthusiastically discussing how to complete the great cause of unification, Pius IX in Rome couldn’t be happy at all.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire promised to protect the security of the Papal States and provide defense, the question was, where were your Austrian soldiers? Surely you couldn’t just stand across the Adriatic Sea and talk big to Italy!

Although the Adriatic Sea wasn’t wide, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s naval strength wasn’t weak, the Austro-Hungarian navy couldn’t possibly land and engage in a bloody battle with the Italian army.

Since the Battle of Lissa, the Royal Italian Navy had become a laughingstock, and its budget had been drastically cut. Historically, it wasn’t until 1877 that the Kingdom of Italy reinvested in developing its navy, so at this time, the Italian navy could be considered one of its weakest periods.

The Papal States were conveniently surrounded by the Kingdom of Italy. In theory, the Papal States could attack eastward with their limited forces, and as long as they took back the original eastern coastal areas of the Papal States to provide a landing point for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they could joyfully welcome the “Royal Army.”

However, at the thought of the strength of the Papal States’ army, Pius IX considered this a fanciful plan.

After the last war, the eastern territory of the Papal States was annexed by the Kingdom of Italy, accounting for two-thirds of the Papal States’ area.

Not to mention confronting the entire Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Italy could easily defeat the Papal States by simply integrating the forces of the eastern annexed territories.

The main force of the Papal States’ army, also known as the Zouave Regiment, was basically composed of young, unmarried Catholics, commanded in French by a Swiss colonel. In 1868, the Zouave Regiment consisted of 4,592 people, of which more than 1,900 were Dutch, more than 1,300 were French, and others were from surrounding countries (including Austrians), and even Catholics from South America and North America came. Even more bizarrely, there was once a person from the Qing Empire who joined.

Such an army was even more complex than the internal situation of the Austro-Hungarian army. One could imagine what would happen when commanding it.

In addition, there was a Palatine Guard, formed by Pope Pius IX to patrol the city of Rome. They were just volunteers, without military pay, and could only receive allowances for maintaining military uniforms and ceremonial equipment, and their numbers were extremely limited.

Previously, there were also French troops co-defending in the Papal States. France deployed about four thousand troops in the Papal States, and these four thousand troops were the main military force maintaining the existence of the Papal States.

The withdrawal of French troops triggered a chain reaction. Some of the Papal States’ own soldiers also resigned. The French were gone, and they couldn’t face the Kingdom of Italy’s army themselves! After all, their origins were relatively mixed, and they also had homelands. There was no need to be buried with the Papal States. It was okay to assist the French army before.

The more he thought about it, the more panicked Pius IX became, so he hurriedly asked someone to invite the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s special envoy, Freud.

…

Soon, Freud, at the embassy, was invited to Pius IX by a bishop.

“Your Excellency Freud! After yesterday’s statement, I always felt something was wrong, and I was very uneasy. Your country verbally said it would guarantee the independence of the Papal States, but you wouldn’t just give me verbal support! You must know that the Kingdom of Italy is sharpening its knives, and the military strength of the Papal States cannot resist the Kingdom of Italy alone.”

Freud smiled knowingly. He had been waiting for Pius IX to ask this question. Yesterday, when he met Pius IX, the nearly desperate Pius IX had grasped at him like a drowning man grabbing a straw.

He had just made some requests, and Pius IX had readily agreed, but now Pius IX had come to his senses. Without an army, how could Austria support the Papal States?

“Your Holiness, you don’t have to worry about this.” Freud said unhurriedly.

“I… I’m not too worried, but Rome is the holy land of all believers, and your country’s people are also children of God. The ambition of the Kingdom of Italy is known to the world. I am racking my brains for all the people who are devoted to God.”

As Pope, although the Papal States had declined, he was theoretically still the most honorable person in Europe (if the Patriarch of Russia didn’t exist, it would be even better). Naturally, he couldn’t show humility to other countries. In other words, the Pope’s request for Austro-Hungarian intervention was not a request, but the obligation of Austria-Hungary as a Catholic country. He should get what he wanted while standing tall.

“Your Holiness, you actually want to talk about the army, right! To this, I can only say that the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy will not succeed. Our Austro-Hungarian Empire has already made a plan. Next, you just need to act according to our Austro-Hungarian Empire’s arrangements.” Freud said.

“A plan…” Pius IX seized the key word, but this plan only said that it would not allow the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy to succeed. The conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy referred to the annexation of the Papal States, but how to operate it was not clear.

“Your Excellency Freud, how does the Austro-Hungarian Empire plan to crack the conspiracy of the Kingdom of Italy? If it’s just threatening Italy in Venice and Lombardy, it won’t work. Even if you have some victories there, the Papal States will probably no longer exist.”

Pius IX immediately thought of Venice and Lombardy, because Austro-Hungarian intervention in Italy could only be considered from the east. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire won, it might be able to make Italy spit out the Papal States, achieving the goal of Italy not being able to annex the Papal States.

But in the middle of this, the Papal States would be equivalent to being destroyed once, and his own safety would be difficult to say. The Kingdom of Italy had two ways to deal with his identity, influence in Italy, and appeal in Europe. One was imprisonment, which was a better outcome, and the other was to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots. After all, countries didn’t have much fear of religion now, and anything could happen during the war. Afterwards, the Kingdom of Italy could find a scapegoat to quell public opinion in various countries. Anyway, the dead couldn’t speak, and the dead here referred to himself. Pius IX didn’t want to gamble on what the Kingdom of Italy would choose.

“How could that be! Your Holiness, the reason why our Austro-Hungarian Empire immediately found you after the French troops withdrew to discuss the security of the Papal States is that you should have thought that our Austro-Hungarian Empire had already predicted the trend of the Franco-Prussian War. Since we contacted you at the first time, we naturally have our own way to maintain the existence of the Papal States. I assure you that the Kingdom of Italy cannot attack Rome, not even once.”

Hearing Freud say this, Pius IX thought it was true. Where did this Austro-Hungarian Empire get the news that the French would withdraw? Didn’t this mean that any disturbance in Rome was under the constant surveillance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire?

Moreover, Freud dared to say this, he must have his confidence. What could it be? Pius IX began to think.

Suddenly, Pius IX realized. Since the Austro-Hungarian Empire paid so much attention to the Papal States and placed spies here, then the Kingdom of Italy should also have Austro-Hungarian spies.

Italian unification had only been a few years, and before that, there were the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Kingdom of Naples, and a number of other countries. Could it be that the Austro-Hungarian Empire was preparing to instigate the opponents of these countries annexed by the Kingdom of Italy to jump out and revolt to restore their countries after the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Italy, dismembering the Kingdom of Italy.

The more he thought about it, the more Pius IX felt that the possibility was extremely high. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had been cultivating in the Italian region for many years and had many allies. Although the Kingdom of Sardinia had withdrawn these Austro-Hungarian allies from the surface, their accumulated energy over the years could not be underestimated.

Pius IX, who thought he understood the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s plan, finally felt relieved. This trick was too ruthless. The Kingdom of Italy had no good way to deal with it at all, unless it was military suppression. But Italy must first defeat the Austro-Hungarian army, otherwise, where would it find so many troops to deal with those forces that opposed Italian unification? The Papal States’ army could also deal with the Italian Kingdom, which was short of troops, so naturally, it would be temporarily worry-free.

In fact, Pius IX was just thinking too much. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire had the ability to instigate those people in Italy, Italy would not have been able to unify at all. And the so-called Austro-Hungarian spies that Pius IX imagined were actually just Ernst, the troublemaker.

This time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s intervention in the Kingdom of Italy did not have any advanced methods at all, it was just a pure violent solution.

Chapter 261: Threat

Pure violence is war. The reason Freud did not disclose the fact that Austria had already formed an army and that it existed within the Papal States was because the Papal States were unilaterally transparent to the Kingdom of Italy.

Contrary to what Pius IX suspected, the intelligence system of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Italian region, if not nonexistent, was practically so.

The Kingdom of Italy, however, could easily infiltrate the Papal States and learn about the specific situation there. The Papal States were a theocracy. Being a religious state, it naturally couldn’t prevent believers from coming to worship. Moreover, the citizens of the Papal States were also Italians, residing deep within Italy, making it impossible to cut off the flow of people and commerce.

In this situation, the Kingdom of Italy could easily obtain the information it wanted by bribing some people within the Papal States, or simply send people into the Papal States, and the Papal States would have no way to verify the identities of these people.

“Mr. Freud, I think I understand your country’s intentions. I can only say that your methods are very good, very good indeed! Hahaha,” Pius IX said with a hearty laugh, believing he had grasped the truth.

Pius IX’s words greatly frustrated Freud. Could it be that Pius IX had guessed the existence of the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force?

If he guessed, he guessed. It didn’t really matter anyway. As long as Pius IX didn’t reveal it, there wouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Freud said, “Your Holiness! It is enough to understand implicitly. It’s best not to mention this matter to others. I myself am still not very confident in certain people within the Papal States. You just need to prepare the Papal States’ army and do your best to fight against the Kingdom of Italy. Leave the rest to us.”

“No problem. The Papal States’ army is not strong in combat, but its loyalty can be trusted. Next, I will personally call on more people of insight to join the army and fight against the Kingdom of Italy,” Pius IX said.

The loyalty of the Papal States’ army was quite good, at least they wouldn’t be polite when it came to dealing harshly with Italians, as most of its members came from countries and regions outside of Italy.

…

After two days of discussion, the Kingdom of Italy reached a consensus. They could no longer delay and had to strike the Papal States with a heavy blow.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s intervention was seen by the Kingdom of Italy’s high command as a sign that Pius IX was at his wit’s end. It must be that Pius IX had taken the initiative to cozy up to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, begging them to interfere in Italy’s unification.

With the French gone, Pius IX knew that the Papal States could not stop the Kingdom of Italy’s actions, so he was eager to find a replacement country, and there was no better choice than the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Emanuel II analyzed, “The only threat in this war is the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire sends troops to interfere, there are only two possible directions: one is by land, through the Venice and Lombardy regions; the other is by sea, where our eastern territory may be shelled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy. Therefore, we must be prepared for both.”

“Our naval strength is not as good as the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s, but the difference is not too great. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s advantage lies in having more advanced top-tier warships than us, but we have more ships. Temporarily transferring the western navy to the eastern sea, combined with the army, can effectively defend against the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy’s harassment of the east coast,” the Minister of the Navy said.

If possible, the navy would of course like to have more funding, but the Battle of Lissa was too much of a failure. At that time, the Italian navy clearly had an advantage in ships over the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was unacceptable to the Kingdom of Italy. The Kingdom of Italy’s finances could not withstand the navy’s spending like that.

Army General Raffaele Cadorna said, “The Venice region must be heavily defended. We only need to prepare thirty thousand troops to attack the Papal States, but on the eastern front, our opponent is the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Even with Prussia and Russia exerting pressure, it will not be easy to fight against the Austro-Hungarian Empire without one hundred thousand troops. At the same time, we have only had Venice for a short time. It has been influenced by Austria for too long, so we should also be wary of some opponents among the local residents. Therefore, in the front lines of Venice and Lombardy, the troop size should ideally be above one hundred and fifty thousand.”

This was based on a defensive perspective. The area where Italy bordered the Austro-Hungarian Empire was not very large, and the northern part was relatively rugged due to the presence of the Alps, with only the southern coastal area connected by a narrow plain, so one hundred and fifty thousand people were enough to cope with the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s offensive.

“As for the troops attacking the Papal States, of the thirty thousand, our government will provide twenty-five thousand, and the rest will be organized by Garibaldi to participate as volunteers.”

“Yes, we can’t let Garibaldi control too many troops. This person’s thinking is very unstable, and we still need to be wary of him,” Emanuel II affirmed.

Although Garibaldi was very capable, he was not on the same side as the Italian government. He was more inclined to liberalist ideas and was considered a righteous man fighting for liberalism.

The Kingdom of Italy had never trusted him, and judging from his personal experience, the Kingdom of Italy’s actions were understandable.

Garibaldi’s thinking was indeed very erratic. Historically, as a troublesome enemy of France, Garibaldi supported France in the Franco-Prussian War and organized volunteers to join the French army against Prussia.

“Your Majesty, don’t worry. The main force in this attack on the Papal States will naturally be led by the kingdom. We won’t let him take all the credit,” the Minister of the Army said.

…

The Kingdom of Italy’s army began to quietly gather towards the Venice and Lombardy regions. Large-scale military movements naturally attracted the attention of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire pretended not to see it, allowing the Italians to complete all these actions. The Italians were also observing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army in the border area was the same as usual, without any movement.

This emboldened the Kingdom of Italy. This confirmed the guess that the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army was being held back by Prussia and Tsarist Russia and could not be mobilized. Therefore, after completing the troop deployment, the Venice region was almost “as solid as a rock.” The Italian government believed that now was the time to solve the Papal States issue.

Although the Papal States and the Austro-Hungarian Empire had previously issued a joint statement, the Italians were now certain that the Austro-Hungarian Empire could not enter the Kingdom of Italy to interfere with Italy’s unification, so there was nothing to say.

On August 16th, the Kingdom of Italy issued an ultimatum to the Papal States, demanding that the Pope give up resistance and that the Papal States peacefully merge into Italy.

With the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Pius IX flatly refused. At this time, the Papal States’ army, after Pius IX’s expansion, had reached about fifteen thousand people, still capable of fighting.

The Kingdom of Italy’s threat to the Papal States quickly received a response from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After being authorized by the empire, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador directly threatened in the Italian Royal Palace, “The Papal States has never belonged to Italy, and Italy has never been a separate country. On the contrary, historically, the Papal States has a much longer history than the Kingdom of Italy, and Italy is merely a regional concept. If the Kingdom of Italy is stubborn and insists on attacking the Papal States, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will definitely not stand idly by.”

Chapter 262: British and Russian Attitudes

The Austro-Hungarian ambassador’s words successfully infuriated the upper echelons of the Kingdom of Italy, especially the House of Savoy, because he completely denied the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Italy’s existence.

Since the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Italian region had been in a state of division for over a thousand years. Apart from the Papal States, most of its territory had been ruled by countries such as France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. For example, Corsica belonged to the Italian region, but it was French territory.

Napoleon’s sudden rise awakened the national consciousness of the German region, and at the same time shaped the national consciousness of the Italian region. In essence, it was a group of local feudal nobles banding together for warmth, because France under Napoleon’s rule was a relatively progressive force at the time.

Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian ambassador’s words were like adding fuel to the fire, and the already strained relations between the two countries completely fell into a state of irreconcilable conflict.

“Your Excellency Christian, are you prepared to take responsibility for your words? The Kingdom of Italy will absolutely not accept your country’s humiliation,” Emmanuel II said.

“Of course, my meaning is the meaning of the Empire, unless the Kingdom of Italy promises to forever abandon its ambition to seize the independent authority of the Papal States, otherwise our Austro-Hungarian Empire will not sit idly by,” Christian responded.

“Very well! Our Kingdom of Italy will never compromise. No one can stop the Italian nation’s determination to unify.”

“We shall see!”

There was no point in further discussion, and the two sides broke up unhappily. The Kingdom of Italy immediately began preparing strategic deployments to deal with Austro-Hungarian intervention, and at the same time, Italy urgently sought help from the British Embassy.

Florence, British Embassy.

“Ambassador Johnson, you must help Italy this time. If Italy is invaded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the resulting turmoil in the European landscape will definitely not be a good thing for your country,” Italian Foreign Minister Giuseppe said.

Johnson was conflicted about this matter. He said to Giuseppe, “If your country gives up its demands for unification with the Papal States, Great Britain can guarantee that the Austro-Hungarian Empire will not dare to invade Italy.”

In Johnson’s view, Italy didn’t need to fall out with the Austro-Hungarian Empire over a mere Papal States. Now was not a good time for Italian unification. Although Britain itself supported Italian unification, it was a special period. The Franco-Prussian War was still going on, and it seemed that France and Prussia were evenly matched. The French were not as invincible as they had boasted before the war, and Prussia’s strength was also surprising.

In order to maintain the balance of power on the continent, Britain had to focus its main energy on France and Prussia, rather than Italy, a secondary region. Moreover, the Austrian Empire had been hit hard in recent years, while Tsarist Russia in the east had recovered under the reforms of Alexander II. Therefore, Britain did not want the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be further weakened.

“We are unable to divert our energy to support Italy because of the war between France and Prussia, so your country should not clash with the Austro-Hungarian Empire at this time.”

Johnson’s words were unacceptable to Giuseppe. Italy’s yearning for Rome was beyond words. An Italy without Rome was incomplete, just like a France without Paris, which was unacceptable to Italian nationalists.

“Does your country intend to sit idly by and watch the Holy Roman Empire reappear!” Giuseppe questioned.

“Of course not, but as I said, my country currently has neither the energy nor the plans to intervene in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so I once again solemnly warn you on behalf of Great Britain, it is best not to act rashly,” Johnson said seriously. As for the so-called reappearance of the Holy Roman Empire, that was pure nonsense.

If the Austro-Hungarian Empire really had the ability to make the Holy Roman Empire reappear, then Britain would naturally try its best to suppress it. However, this was impossible. From the moment the Austrian Empire became the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was already destined that Austria had lost its dominance over the German region.

A Lesser Germany led by Prussia was possible, and Britain was happy to see it. A Greater Germany had become an illusion, unless Prussia and Austria put aside their past grievances and united, but how was that possible? Two tigers cannot share a mountain, especially since there was also a Kingdom of Hungary within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Giuseppe returned disappointed. Without the support of the British, the Kingdom of Italy decided to act on its own. After all, if they didn’t take the Papal States this time, there might really be no chance in the future. The Papal States’ geographical location was right in the center of Italy, north and south, and it was a place that the Kingdom of Italy absolutely could not give up.

On August 23rd, seeing that the Papal States ignored the demands of the Kingdom of Italy, Italy officially declared war on the Papal States. Immediately, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Papal States also declared war on Italy.

In an instant, public opinion on the European continent was in an uproar. They hadn’t finished eating the melon of the Franco-Prussian War, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy were fighting again. This was really exciting.

The most confused were the Russians. Alexander II urgently convened a meeting to discuss the changes in the European situation.

“Why did the Austro-Hungarian Empire suddenly declare war on Italy? Aren’t their troops in the east guarding against us and Prussia!” Alexander II asked his subordinates in confusion.

The Foreign Minister said, “The essence of this matter is that the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot tolerate Italy’s complete unification. Italian unification will greatly threaten the security of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the conflict between the two countries is irreconcilable.”

The Minister of the Army also said, “We have not found any large-scale military movements in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s border areas, and there has been no major change in the number of their troops. Perhaps the Austro-Hungarian Empire believes that it does not need to use its main forces to deal with an opponent like Italy.”

“Is that so? That’s a pity!” Alexander II sighed somewhat.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s border troops had not changed, which meant that Russia also had little chance to intervene in the war between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was clearly guarding against the Russians.

Was there really no change? Naturally, that was impossible. Rather, it had been completed as early as a few months ago. After all, Prussia and Russia would not believe that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had predicted the direction of the Franco-Prussian War before the Franco-Prussian War and prepared to attack the Kingdom of Italy.

Now, on the borders of Prussia, Russia, and Austria, the troops of both Prussia and Austria have been greatly reduced. Prussia directly transferred a portion of its troops, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire replaced its elite troops with ordinary troops, which is why there was no change in the number of troops in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

“Even so, it’s a good thing for us. I don’t believe that the Austro-Hungarian Empire can easily defeat Italy without using its full strength. It’s best if Italy can drag the Austro-Hungarian Empire into a quagmire of war. Then, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which has no way to solve the Italian problem, will inevitably compromise with us,” the Russian Foreign Minister said.

As for supporting Italy, forget about it. Tsarist Russia and Italy were both notoriously poor countries, especially the current Tsarist Russian government, which still had a large amount of debt to pay off. The serfdom reform was actually the government giving money to buy the garbage land in the hands of local nobles and landlords and distributing it to the serfs. Although the results did not seem significant in the later period, the government debt was increasing. As for expecting the serfs who obtained the land to repay the debt, there was no result. Under the joint operation of Tsarist Russian local officials and landlords, many of these “farmers” went bankrupt directly. The money was taken away by the local officials, and the serfs still existed in another way. The only contribution was to promote industrial and urban development.

Moreover, if Tsarist Russia really intended to take action, it would not choose the troublesome opponent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Ottoman Empire next door was Tsarist Russia’s primary target, just like East Africa would not attack Mozambique. There was still a large amount of unclaimed land inland, and there was no need to clash with other colonialists.

Everyone knew about Tsarist Russia’s financial situation. This was also the reason why the Kingdom of Italy sought help from the British. Of course, the British could not directly send troops. From the beginning, the Kingdom of Italy was aiming for money, but Italy already owed Britain a lot of debt, and this war was unprofitable for Britain and had no strategic need, which led to the failure of Italy’s idea.

Prussia and France were focused on fighting, and Britain and Russia remained indifferent. The Italo-Austrian War started in a way that was similar to the Franco-Prussian War, with most countries choosing to remain temporarily neutral. The difference was that the Austro-Hungarian Empire played the role of the French before the war, similarly not allowing the enemy to complete unification, similarly issuing war threats in advance, and similarly a great power confronting a small country.

Chapter 263: Playing the Long Game

The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s declaration of war on Italy was undoubtedly terrible news for Napoleon III, who was already embroiled in war.

Napoleon III said wearily to his French generals, “Now it’s certain. The Austrians won’t be taking any action against Prussia while we’re at war with them. This also means we’ll be facing even more Prussian troops.”

This news was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the French army. Before the war, France had underestimated Prussia, but after fighting began, France found itself caught in Prussia’s endless human wave tactics.

Currently, the French were already at a disadvantage. The Rhine Army had been passively defending, while MacMahon’s forces in the south had completely fallen behind, with the risk of collapse at any moment. The Fifth Army, sent to support them, had achieved nothing. Although they had inflicted heavy losses on the Prussian Fifth Army with a surprise attack, the arrival of the Hechingen Brigade and Robert’s Third Brigade to support Saverne resulted in a stalemate in the Saverne area.

With no breakthrough on the battlefield, Napoleon III’s hopes for the Austro-Hungarian Empire grew stronger. This stemmed from the Austro-Prussian War. Some Austrians did indeed harbor a desire for revenge against Prussia. If the Austrian Empire still existed, the Austrians might have actually launched a sneak attack on Prussia. But now it was the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and furthermore, Russia supported Prussia.

“Your Majesty, we can’t count on the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Those Italians are simply brainless. They actually declared war on the Papal States despite the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s strong statement. We shouldn’t have withdrawn our troops from the Papal States in the first place…”

History cannot be rewritten. If history could really be changed, the thing Napoleon III would most want to do right now would be to give the Austrian Empire a hand during the Austro-Prussian War.

Unlike Napoleon III’s gloomy mood, the Prussian high command was overjoyed when they heard that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had declared war on Italy. They suddenly understood.

“Now, we finally understand the reason for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s military movements. They’ve been eyeing Italy for a long time. This time, Italy walked right into the barrel of a gun. The fate of Italy next, I’m afraid…”

“That’s good. We don’t have to worry about the Austro-Hungarian Empire stabbing us in the back. We can go all out against the French. As for the Kingdom of Italy, who cares whether they live or die!”

…

Italian-Austrian border.

The Isonzo River defense line was divided into two layers. The lower reaches of the Isonzo River ran north-south and was the only place in the area that was conducive to defense. Therefore, Italy would not give up the west bank of the Isonzo River. However, the terrain on the west bank of the Isonzo River was lower than the east bank, making it vulnerable to bombardment by Austro-Hungarian artillery. Therefore, Italy had set up a second line of defense twenty kilometers west of the Isonzo River.

“Boom… Boom… Boom…”

The Italian prediction was correct. On the day the war broke out, the Austrian artillery units deployed on the Bainsizza Plateau and the Karst Plateau on the east bank began shelling the Italian positions on the opposite bank.

At this time, Italy had two main defensive focuses: the Northern Line of defense, relying on the Alps in the north, and the Southern Line of defense, arranged along the west bank of the Isonzo River in the south.

The Italian side had about one hundred and fifty thousand troops, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire had only eighty thousand, including twenty thousand from the Kingdom of Hungary. Both sides had mobilized their main forces.

Venice and Lombardy were essential to Austria-Hungary. In addition to their important geographical location and port conditions, economic and historical reasons also prompted the Austrian government to actively promote this war. As for Hungary, they wanted to gain some benefits. As long as Austria did not attack the German region, Hungary would wholeheartedly support attacks on Italy and Russia.

On the highlands on the east bank of the Isonzo River, Archduke Albrecht of Austria-Hungary looked through his binoculars, satisfied with the results of the Austro-Hungarian artillery units.

Albrecht was a famous general of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the son of Archduke Charles, a famous general of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the Napoleonic era. From 1869, he served as the Inspector General of the Austro-Hungarian Army, focusing on the development of industry and railways; establishing a short-term military service system to train more reserve soldiers and expand war potential; equipping the troops and further improving new weapons; and establishing a sound staff system.

On June 20, 1870, the Franco-Prussian War broke out. To prevent him from raising troops to take revenge, Prussia awarded him the title of Prussian Field Marshal and the Order of Saint George. He was one of the Austrians mentioned earlier who harbored ill intentions towards Prussia.

In the original timeline, Albrecht should now be in France helping them deal with Prussia, but in this timeline, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already determined its strategy to attack Italy, so Franz appointed him as the supreme commander of the war against Italy.

As the shells fell, the first line of defense built by the Italians quickly turned into a pile of rubble. In fact, Italy also knew that the first line of defense was within the range of Austro-Hungarian artillery, so it was not built with much care. The reason for not directly abandoning this place was to delay the Austro-Hungarian army to prepare more time to reinforce the second line of defense.

“Marshal! Why don’t we take advantage of the artillery cover to attack the Italian army? The Italians are already suppressed by our artillery and can’t even lift their heads. Moreover, we have built solid bridgehead positions in Tolmin and Gorizia on the west bank of the Isonzo River. The troops should be able to cross the river directly!” An Austro-Hungarian general asked, puzzled.

“This war is not the time to strike yet. We must make the Italians realize the seriousness of the problem, and at the same time give Italy the illusion that they can win, so as to mobilize more troops to the eastern front, so that we can wipe them out in one fell swoop. Attacking now can indeed quickly defeat the Italians, but scaring the Italians would not be good,” Archduke Albrecht said contemptuously.

It wasn’t that Albrecht was arrogant. The reason why Albrecht was a famous European general was that his strongest record to date was when he commanded eighty thousand Austrian troops to defeat one hundred and twenty thousand Italian troops commanded by Emmanuel II during the last Italian-Austrian war.

Therefore, the one hundred and fifty thousand men of the Kingdom of Italy stationed on the eastern front were really not enough to look at in Albrecht’s eyes. Although he still had eighty thousand men in his hands this time, they were all elite troops of the empire.

“Marshal, do you want the Kingdom of Italy to continue reinforcing the front line?”

“That’s right. If the Italians know that their opponent is me again, they will definitely continue to increase their stakes on the front line, so we must give the Kingdom of Italy time to prepare.”

“But, Marshal, this time Italy is not the attacking party! If Italy relies on fortifications to resist, even if we win this time, I am afraid it will not be as easy as last time.”

“Of course I know this. My purpose is to completely beat Italy into submission, so that it can never become an enemy of the empire again. To severely damage Italy, we must gather more troops to the front line, otherwise it will be very troublesome to clean them up one by one after we enter Italy. To avoid subsequent resistance from Italy, we must eliminate most of its vital forces on the front line in one fell swoop.”

Of course, there was another purpose that Albrecht did not mention, which was to attract as many Italian troops as possible to the Venice and Lombardy regions, so as to provide favorable conditions for the Austrian troops lurking in Rome.

Why didn’t the Italians dare to act rashly when the French garrison was in Rome? In addition to France’s strength and proximity to the Papal States (Corsica), another non-negligible reason was that Rome was not far from Florence, the current capital of Italy.

If he could make good use of this surprise force lurking in the Papal States, Albrecht would definitely let the Kingdom of Italy know what a surprise was.

In fact, Albrecht’s plan was being realized. After figuring out the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s front-line commander and approximate strength, the Kingdom of Italy’s subsequent mobilization of troops was continuously rushing towards Venice from the rear. The Italians were building a third line of defense, and the third line of defense was near the city of Venice.

Because of the last war, Emmanuel II was deeply impressed, or rather, somewhat fearful, of Albrecht’s command ability. One hundred and fifty thousand troops were too unsafe, even if Italy was on the defensive side.

Chapter 264: The Great Venetian Escape

The Venice port docks were teeming with people.

“Don’t push, don’t push! Everyone line up! Register your information first, then you can get your number and board the ship. No cutting in line! We’ll be here for several days, so there’s no need to rush!” An East African immigration officer shouted through a loudspeaker from atop a wooden crate.

With Austria-Hungary declaring war on Italy, the confused souls in the Venice region who hadn’t yet boarded finally woke up – war was coming!

In reality, the smart ones had already been finding ways to escape this place after discovering that the Kingdom of Italy was reinforcing the Venice and Lombardy regions with troops.

Based on past experience, most people with connections chose to flee to Austria-Hungary or the Italian heartland, or simply seek refuge in France or Switzerland.

But this year was different from previous years. The East African Kingdom and the Hechingen Consortium had planned ahead, and many Italian ports already had ships bound for East Africa waiting.

Ordinary people avoiding war also meant unemployment. To get through this period, they either had to rely on relatives and friends, or find a job in a peaceful location.

Among these people, the workers in the Venice region were better off, as they had a skill. And now, with European industrialization accelerating, many places were short of workers. The unlucky ones were the farmers. Many people only knew how to farm their entire lives. In the past, when war broke out, a few people had relatives abroad they could turn to, but most people could only stay where they were, to be weeded out by the war.

East Africa had been recruiting immigrants in Italy for some time, but the results were usually mediocre, because Italian citizens had many options. There were large numbers of Italian immigrants in North and South America. Now that war had broken out, the people of the Venice region didn’t care about the whys and wherefores, and blindly chose the ships going to East Africa. Besides being free, the main reason was that Hechingen had the most immigrant ships in this area.

“What’s your name? Where in Venice are you from? Be specific, down to the village or town. Do you have any relatives with you? What’s your occupation? Do you have any special skills?”

“Sir, my name is Thomas. I’m from Timostto village, east of Venice. My wife and two daughters are with me. As for my occupation, I’m just a farmer. Would you count fishing as a special skill?”

“Of course!” the staff member replied.

He then wrote “Farmer, part-time fisherman” in the occupation column.

“This is your number. Take it and bring your family back here. See that yellow sign over there? Gather there, and someone will take you to the ship!” The staff member handed Thomas a yellow card with the number 3303 on it.

“Sir! Excuse me…”

“Don’t ask questions now! Talk to the team leader later. I’m only responsible for registration here. Hurry up! There are many people waiting in line behind you!” the staff member urged.

“Okay, sir, sorry!” Thomas said apologetically, and turned to fetch his family with the number card.

Thomas struggled through the crowd, turned a few corners, and finally saw his wife and daughters under a street lamp.

“Jenny, I’m back! I got the ship pass! Look!”

“Honey, there’s only one pass. Don’t the children and I need one?”

“The immigration recruiter told me that we can go to the assembly point with this pass and our family, so one pass should be enough.”

The wife took the card and wanted to see if there were any markings on it, but there was only a bunch of German on it, which she couldn’t understand.

“Maybe this is a family pass. I saw that many people got passes that were different colors from ours, but everyone with families got yellow ones.”

Thomas scratched his head and said, “Maybe that’s it! I wanted to ask, but there were too many people, and the staff member was a little impatient. He said we could ask the team leader after we gathered at the designated location.”

As he spoke, he pointed to the three-meter-high yellow sign erected on the dock. There were other colored signs not far away.

“Mommy, Daddy, where are we going? There are so many people here,” Thomas’s younger daughter, little Jenny, asked.

Thomas crouched down and said to little Jenny, “We’re going to a very far away place, and we’re going to take a big ship, across the sea. It’s called East Africa, and that’s where our home will be from now on.”

“What about our old home?”

“Our old home is gone.”

“Why?”

“Because there…” Thomas didn’t know how to describe the cruelty of war to his daughter for a moment.

His wife, Jenny, came to the rescue and said, “Because two big bad guys broke into our old home, so it’s not suitable for us to live there anymore. We’re going to live in a new place.”

“Then why doesn’t Daddy beat them up, so we don’t have to change homes!”

The couple fell silent.

…

“Don’t push, everyone be quiet!” Mars, an employee of the Venice Shipyard, began to maintain order among the boarding personnel.

“Before boarding, let me introduce myself. I’m the person in charge of the immigrants on this ship. You can call me Mars. You can ask me any questions you have during the voyage.” Mars said loudly in broken Italian.

“Before that, I want to warn you first. The place you are going to is East Africa, a country with order and the rule of law. So, some lazy, idle people can get off the ship now. Don’t regret it when you get to East Africa. To be honest, the public security there is stricter than in Europe, and there is a lack of entertainment venues, no casinos, no taverns, so gamblers and drunkards can get off the ship now. At the same time, East Africa does not currently belong to a free market, and there is no cash transaction, so thieves and robbers can get off the ship in advance. There is no room for you to play there.”

Mars’s words worked. Several families withdrew, and they were all couples without children. It seemed that they planned to “start a business” in East Africa, but Mars’s words blocked their expectations for East Africa. Then they should go to America and Argentina!

After these people withdrew, no one else withdrew.

At this time, someone in the crowd asked, “Mr. Mars, why does East Africa sound like a prison in your description?”

Mars said calmly, “East Africa is a country ruled by law, and the law serves the interests of the majority. At the same time, the enforcement of laws in East Africa is much stricter than in Europe. Of course, such an environment is a good place for ordinary people. As long as you abide by the law, are honest and hardworking, you will naturally live a comfortable life. We just don’t welcome those who are lazy, have poor self-control, or like to take ‘shortcuts’.”

“I don’t care about these things. I just want to know if we and our families can get enough to eat when we get to East Africa. We don’t care if it’s hard or tiring,” someone asked the question they were most concerned about.

“As long as you are willing to work, you can get food anywhere. I can tell you clearly that East Africa is short of manpower, so you don’t have to worry about work, it just depends on whether you can accept it.”

“Can I understand what the main jobs in East Africa are?”

“Generally speaking, it’s farming, which is similar to what many of you have been doing for generations. Of course, you can also sign up to join the army. The army’s benefits are better. If you have skills that East Africa needs, you can also apply to the government for a corresponding job.”

“Sir, you said earlier that East Africa has no currency. How do we deal with the cash we brought from Europe?”

“East Africa also has banks. You can deposit your money or exchange it for East Africa’s unique shopping vouchers, which can be used to buy some daily necessities.”

…

Mars answered some questions from the immigrants in detail. Finally, Mars gave these people one last choice. If they felt that East Africa was not suitable for their families, they could get off the ship.

This time, no one chose to withdraw. From Mars’s words, these people obtained a lot of useful information. The most important thing was that the quality of life for most people going to East Africa was not much different from that in Europe. It was just that life was more monotonous compared to Europe, but they didn’t care. The prosperity of Europe had little to do with these rural underclass people anyway.

The immigrants who had been screened a second time were thus absorbed by the East African Kingdom. According to statistics, the Italian-Austrian war caused Italy to have about 300,000 more emigrants than in previous years, 90% of whom went to East Africa, with the most from the Venice region.

Chapter 265: Pre-War Preparations

In the days following the outbreak of war, Archduke Albrecht was not in a hurry to attack, but he still had to put on a show.

Albrecht did not intend to have his troops charge directly on the main battlefield, because he himself was afraid that Italy would not be able to withstand a single charge. Therefore, he ordered the Austrian army outside the Alpine defense line to feign an attack from the north, giving the Italians the illusion that the Austro-Hungarian Empire intended to break through from the north.

This trick worked well. The northern defense line was much longer than the southern one, but the roads were not easy to travel, and it was difficult for personnel and supplies to pass through.

However, behind the northern defense line was not only Venice, but also Lombardy, while the southern defense line was short and only in the narrow plain east of Venice. But Archduke Albrecht’s aura of a famous general forced the Italians to pay attention, in case Albrecht really intended to catch Italy off guard from the north!

Therefore, when the Austrian army made slight movements, Italy began to strengthen its forces in the north. Relying on the Alps, the Italian reinforcement of these areas actually put pressure on its own logistics.

In addition, doing so had the benefit of further dispersing Italian forces, which meant that the Kingdom of Italy had to draw more troops from the rear.

……

About ten kilometers southwest of the Papal State’s city of Rome, this was where the Austro-Hungarian army was stationed.

Antonio and other Austro-Hungarian soldiers were taking off the Italian peasant clothes they had been wearing for nearly two months.

To facilitate troop training, they had previously been disguised as Italian farmers. Although this place was already very remote, there was a risk of information being leaked if discovered by someone with ulterior motives.

Having just changed into the uniforms smuggled in from the sea, Antonio, the regimental commander of the Third Regiment of the Fourth Brigade of the Second Division of the Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force, complained to the brigade commander while fastening the last button of his imperial uniform: “Brigade commander, if I hadn’t put on my uniform again, I would have suspected that I had really become an old Italian farmer! Look at the calluses on my hands from holding a gun; they’ve turned into hands for holding farm tools!”

“Heh heh, as your brigade commander, wasn’t I also working in the fields with you? What’s there to complain about? Besides, the way you were farming, if real farmers saw it, they’d probably chase you with their shoe soles, you brute who only knows how to use brute force,” the Fourth Brigade commander said to his subordinate.

“You have the nerve to talk about me, Brigade commander? You’re not much better. You can’t even till the soil properly. Your plot of land is the ugliest in the nearby fields,” Antonio retorted.

“Farming isn’t about appearances; it’s about how much you can harvest. Although we’re not good at farming, our value is reflected on the battlefield. Whether our efforts over the past two months will bear fruit depends on our performance in battle.”

The Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force naturally couldn’t conduct proper military training in the Italian region. They hadn’t even been issued firearms before. In order to prevent these soldiers from becoming useless, General Karl had actually driven them and the officers of the Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force into the fields to work, mainly to prevent muscle relaxation and mental slackness.

As for marksmanship, there was not much to worry about. These were all good soldiers selected from the Austro-Hungarian army, the most militarily skilled group. Even if they didn’t handle firearms for several months, they wouldn’t become rusty.

Antonio pretended not to hear what the brigade commander said, muttering, “I wonder if the corn I worked so hard to plant will sprout.”

“Don’t even think about it. Those seeds were just for show. Did you really think you’d become a farmer after planting crops for two days?”

……

Currently, the number of Austro-Hungarian troops in this area had reached more than ten thousand, double the number from two months ago.

In order to hide so many troops in the Papal States, the Austro-Hungarian Empire rented a large farm around here. In its previous life, this place was the site of a sports center outside Rome, but now it was a large wasteland, so the price was very cheap. As for the farm owner, he was a nobleman living in Rome.

The conditions here were not too bad. There were some slopes, the land was much more barren than the surrounding area, and there were no large rivers nearby, so water was relatively scarce. It was still possible to grow some grain, but the yield was pitifully low, so it was mostly left abandoned.

A merchant from Austria rented such a large piece of wasteland for a high price, which made the landowner very happy.

Someone was actually willing to spend money to invest in agriculture here, which was definitely crazy. However, this did not arouse his suspicion. He speculated that the Austrian merchant might have rented the place in a daze, after all, he was a foreign “friend” who didn’t know much about the local situation, which was reasonable.

Then the farm owner turned around and took the land rent paid by the Austro-Hungarian Empire to live it up in Rome.

“Is everyone here?”

The supreme commander of the Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant General Karl, appeared before everyone at this time, his glasses still on, his hands behind his back, holding the map.

“Reporting, General, the troops are assembled!”

“Very good. Next, we will give the Italians a fierce stab in their heart. This time, we are deep behind enemy lines, and our situation is undoubtedly dangerous. Are you afraid!”

“To die for the Empire!”

“Don’t say such discouraging words. I want you all to live. I also hope you can parade with me in Florence!”

“Hahaha…” General Karl’s words caused everyone to burst into laughter.

After the laughter finally stopped, General Karl immediately changed his expression, his experienced face serious, and said, “Alright, let’s get down to business. According to intelligence from the Italian high command, more than thirty thousand troops from the Kingdom of Italy are heading towards the Rome area, led by Garibaldi, the self-proclaimed hero of the Italians. Although there is a suspicion of boasting, his ability is still much stronger than that of a group of Italian Kingdom officers, so he is a worthy opponent. Currently, it seems that the Papal States, except for Rome, have no real resistance to the Kingdom of Italy’s army, so the enemy will soon arrive in Rome, probably tonight. If we want to parade in Florence, we must first defeat this Italian army.”

“General, are we going to enter Rome to relieve the troops?”

“No, after the Papal States’ army fights with the Kingdom of Italy’s army led by Garibaldi and others, we will be responsible for a sneak attack.”

“What if the Papal States’ army surrenders directly?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The least likely person in Italy to surrender is Pius IX. The main force of the Roman army is also composed of foreigners from France, Switzerland, and other countries, so they will not collapse with a single blow. Our people will tell Pius IX this alone, to prevent the news from leaking out before the battle.”

Raising his left hand, looking at the time on his watch, General Karl said, “It’s almost afternoon. Let the cooks start cooking and take out our best stored supplies. Let’s have a good meal today! So we have the strength to catch the Italians off guard tonight!”

“Yes, General!” the subordinates happily replied.

Chapter 266: Rome’s Second Liberation

While the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force was actively preparing for war, the joint liberation army of the Kingdom of Italy’s army and Garibaldi’s volunteer army was advancing towards Rome with unstoppable momentum, now only about twenty kilometers away from the city.

“We haven’t encountered any resistance along the way. It seems that the Italian people and soldiers within the Papal States also support our actions. With their support, this trip to Rome will easily solve the final problem,” Italian Kingdom General Cadorna said optimistically to Garibaldi.

Garibaldi did not refute, but he was keenly aware that the lack of significant resistance was not due to Pius IX’s benevolence, but rather because he had concentrated all his forces in Rome. Therefore, he said, “Unification is the common desire of the entire Italian nation, but our real enemy has not yet appeared. Only Rome, the location of the Pope, is the last stumbling block to Italian unification, and the base of the last remnants on the road to Italian unification. Only by taking Rome can our cause be considered complete!”

“Yes, you’re right, but our army will easily crush them,” Cadorna said confidently.

In Italy, a region known for its unpredictable combat effectiveness, the Kingdom of Sardinia was considered the most militarily powerful, or rather, the governments of the unified Italian states were too incompetent.

Therefore, facing the Papal States alone, Cadorna was certain that the final piece of the great Italian unification would be completed by him today, and he would be recorded in Italian history.

Coincidentally, on August 30th, the day Garibaldi and Cadorna arrived in Rome, French Emperor Napoleon III also retreated to the Sedan area, where Prussian troops had already gathered. The Hechingen Brigade was also about to participate in its last war in the German region. Because the Hechingen Brigade had suffered significant losses in previous battles, with nearly one-fifth of its soldiers wounded, Ernst planned to withdraw them after completing the final blow to France, leaving the rest to be completed by Prussia itself.

…

Rome.

At this moment, Pius IX was very anxious, pacing back and forth in his palace, because he had received intelligence that the Italian Kingdom’s army was about to arrive at the city.

However, his anticipation from a few days ago, that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would ignite conflict throughout Italy, had not materialized. This meant that, apart from the Austro-Hungarian army in northeastern Italy, which was not making any major moves, the Papal States was now fighting alone.

Could it be that he had been played by the Austro-Hungarian Empire! Thinking back carefully, the Austro-Hungarian envoy did not mention the specific plans of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in his conversation with Freud that day. Could it be that the Austro-Hungarian Empire only wanted him to take the fall for them?

The more Pius IX thought about it, the angrier he became, and he also felt fear. Coupled with the sweltering weather, Pius IX lost his composure and hurriedly ordered his subordinates, “Quickly, invite the Austro-Hungarian envoy Freud over here!”

Soon, Freud leisurely arrived at Pius IX’s palace. Seeing Freud, Pius IX seemed to have grabbed a lifeline.

“Your Excellency Freud! You’ve finally come!” he said excitedly, grabbing Freud’s arm.

“Your Majesty, what do you need me for?” Freud asked, looking at the anxious Pius IX.

What’s going on? He’s still pretending at this point! Pius IX felt like he was being played.

He questioned sorrowfully, “Is this what your country calls a good deed? Don’t you recognize it!”

“?” Freud looked confused.

Pius IX continued, “The situation of various countries (other Italian kingdom nobles who were annexed) jointly resisting the Kingdom of Italy that we agreed upon, why hasn’t it appeared? Didn’t you confidently say a few days ago that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would solve everything, and let me prepare with peace of mind? In the end, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is just using us as a disposable pawn. Does faith no longer have appeal! The Lord will not let you treacherous people be redeemed…”

“Ah!” How did it get to God? And what’s this about various countries jointly resisting Italy? I didn’t say that!

Freud asked with a bewildered expression, “Your Holiness! What do you mean? And what countries are you talking about? Did you secretly contact other countries? Is it Spain?”

Pius IX said angrily, “Didn’t the Austro-Hungarian Empire plan for the nobles of the various countries who were unwilling after being annexed by the Kingdom of Italy to jointly resist the Kingdom of Italy? What, are you pretending to be confused now?”

“That’s not true! Who told you that? Why don’t I, the Austro-Hungarian envoy, know that the Empire has this plan?” Freud retorted, suspecting that someone had impersonated an Austro-Hungarian official to deceive Pius IX.

“It was, it was…” Pius IX suddenly stopped before he could say “you”!

In that instant, he suddenly remembered that Freud didn’t seem to have said those words to him. It was all something he had imagined a few days ago.

The scene was a bit awkward. Pius IX tried to calm himself down and stammered, “Oh! Look at my temper, I must have been disturbed by the hot weather, causing some memory confusion. I’m really sorry, Your Excellency Freud, you must be laughing at me.”

“It’s alright, the situation has been tense recently, so that might be a factor. Your Holiness has been working too hard, so it’s understandable that your thoughts are affected!” Freud smoothed things over.

Having come to his senses, Pius IX carefully recalled the content of his conversation with Freud that day, and he still found an anomaly.

That day, he was just indulging in wild thoughts, so what was Freud affirming? At the time, he had specifically instructed not to tell his subordinates about this matter, so what exactly was the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s trump card?

“Your Excellency Freud, I just received intelligence that the Italian Kingdom’s army is about to arrive at Rome. What is the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s trump card that you mentioned a few days ago? Now is the critical moment for the survival of the Papal States, can you tell me?”

“Ah! Didn’t you guess it a few days ago?” Freud asked with some surprise.

“Uh, I now realize that my guess may be different from your country’s…”

“Then, allow me to keep you in suspense. You’ll know when the war starts, Your Majesty, so there’s no need to worry for now,” Freud finally understood what was going on. It turned out that this Pius IX had made wild guesses and then blamed it on him.

Pius IX became anxious, “Your Excellency Freud, the situation is very critical now. The Kingdom of Italy is about to attack Rome, how can you expect me to be at ease?…” Just as Pius IX was about to continue.

“Boom… Boom… Boom…”

The sound of artillery came from outside the city.

The Italian army had begun its attack.

“Your Majesty, since you want to know our Austro-Hungarian Empire’s trump card, why not come with me to the front lines and take a look?” Freud said.

“Uh, let’s forget about that! I still need to be here in Rome to oversee things,” Pius IX said evasively.

Freud smiled knowingly and said, “In that case, why doesn’t Your Holiness have a cup of coffee with us here and wait for the outcome of the war together?”

Freud was using him as a hostage to reassure Pius IX. If he wasn’t planning to run, then he must have some preparations.

Looking at Freud, who was sitting tight, Pius IX lowered his guard a little. If Freud tried to leave on some pretext at this time, Pius IX could be sure that he had been tricked by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

…

Inside the defenses of Rome, the Papal States army, composed of believers from various countries, was exchanging fire with the Italian Kingdom’s army outside the city.

Garibaldi and others had just tried to use the slogan of Italian unification to awaken the soldiers and civilians in Rome, urging them to give up resistance and peacefully unify Rome.

However, the Papal States army, after Pius IX’s generous spending, simply ignored Garibaldi’s attempts to persuade them to surrender. Moreover, because there were so many foreigners, who would sympathize with Italy’s fate?

The response to Garibaldi was a bullet fired by a Dutchman, which almost hit Garibaldi himself. After the unsuccessful communication, the Kingdom of Italy had no choice but to use artillery to enlighten these ungrateful Papal States soldiers.

The two sides exchanged artillery fire. Relying on cover and city walls, the smaller Papal States army fought back and forth with the Italian Kingdom’s army.

“Boom… Boom… Boom…”

Although it had been reinforced before the war, Rome, which had not suffered from war for a long time, was still severely damaged, and small gaps were opened in some places.

However, Garibaldi and others did not dare to let their soldiers rush up directly. Compared to history, the Kingdom of Italy had halved the number of troops attacking Rome in order to deal with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so they had to use them sparingly.

“Continue the artillery bombardment. After the defenses of Rome have larger breaches, our people will charge in,” Garibaldi said to Cadorna.

“Yes, artillery, prepare!” Cadorna ordered the Kingdom’s artillery units.

…

The sound of artillery was the signal.

The well-fed Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force had already begun to advance towards Rome when Garibaldi and others arrived. Upon hearing the sound of artillery, Lieutenant General Karl divided the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s expeditionary force into two groups, rapidly heading towards Rome from the east and west.

“Today, we will join forces with the Roman garrison to attack the Italian army from both sides, leaving them with no way out,” Lieutenant General Karl said fiercely.

At this time, the Italians, who were focused on attacking Rome, obviously did not know that a surprise force was encircling them from the south.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire had indeed done a good job in maintaining secrecy, even their partner Pius IX did not know that this Austro-Hungarian army existed right under his nose.

With the bombardment of artillery fire, time came to five o’clock in the afternoon. Garibaldi felt that the time was almost right, and some parts of Rome had already collapsed.

He said to Cadorna, “We can begin!”

“Attack!” After receiving Garibaldi’s confirmation, Cadorna gave the order.

In order to boost morale, Garibaldi, as always, personally led the team, with the Italian volunteer army as the vanguard, launching a general offensive against Rome.

At this time, many of the Papal States soldiers on the city walls were already planning to retreat, but the special nature of the Papal States also played a role. As Pius IX said, did faith really have no appeal?

Of course it did. Pious believers did not plan to retreat with the temporarily hired Italian soldiers. They wanted to defend Rome and fight the Kingdom of Italy to the death.

The two sides engaged in a bloody battle in the city walls and fortifications, but with their numerical advantage, the Kingdom of Italy gradually gained the upper hand.

The believers retreated into the city, trying to resist stubbornly with the help of streets and buildings, while the Italian army, led by Garibaldi’s support corps, finally entered Rome.

Now, the “overall situation” in Rome was set. Garibaldi shouted excitedly, “Warriors fighting for Italian freedom! We are back! This is Rome, the homeland of us Italians.”

Just as Garibaldi was preparing to completely erase the Papal States from the map of Italy, the sound of gunfire suddenly came from behind him - the Austro-Hungarian Empire had arrived!

…

The Italian Kingdom’s army, which had rushed into Rome, had not yet reacted when they were shot in the back.

Lieutenant General Karl led the rapidly marching Austro-Hungarian Empire’s expeditionary force, arriving at a critical moment. It happened that the Italian army was entering the city from outside, and with the fighting still going on in front, the Italian Kingdom’s army did not detect the enemy behind them in time.

However, Garibaldi, who was at the forefront, was the first to react. The sound of gunfire and artillery was wrong!

Unfortunately, it was too late. The spirited Austro-Hungarian elite attacked from behind, and the Italian Kingdom’s army was turned into a sandwich by the Roman garrison and the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force, and was unable to effectively counterattack in the narrow area.

Cadorna, who was startled by the Austro-Hungarian army, stumbled and crawled to Garibaldi’s side.

He cried, “It’s over, Mr. Garibaldi! It’s all over!”

Garibaldi was already panting from the previous battle, his chest rising and falling sharply with his breath.

With his resolute hands gripping the gun in his hand, he said calmly, “No, it’s not over yet. As long as I’m alive, I must fight to the last moment. The enemy can destroy my body, but the will of Italian freedom will never be extinguished.”

With that, Garibaldi ignored Cadorna and looked at the teammates who had been following him, saying, “Brothers, we’ve fallen today, are you afraid! Next, we may be meeting our comrades who sacrificed before!”

“Mr. Garibaldi, we are not afraid, we fight for freedom!”

“Good, fight for freedom! Let’s charge one last time!”

Garibaldi’s volunteer corps ignored the Roman garrison and turned to launch an attack on the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army. Even though the Papal States army behind them was still attacking, at this moment, Garibaldi and his comrades only had hatred for the Austro-Hungarian invaders in their hearts.

“Bang… Bang… Bang…”

The Italian Kingdom’s army, caught in a pincer attack, surrendered directly under Cadorna’s leadership, while Garibaldi, the hero of Italy, and his comrades fell in a pool of blood.

Rome was captured twice today, the first time by the Kingdom of Italy, and the second time by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For the Kingdom of Italy, it was liberated once, and for the Papal States, it was liberated once.

Chapter 267: Individual Battlefields

“Marshal, news from Rome! Lieutenant General Karl has defeated the Kingdom of Italy’s forces attacking the Papal States. They are preparing to counterattack Florence!” An intelligence officer rushed to Archduke Albrecht’s headquarters with a telegram. Albrecht took the telegram and confirmed its contents.

“Excellent! Issue my order: cross the river and launch a full-scale offensive!” Archduke Albrecht exclaimed excitedly. “Now we’ll see what Emmanuel II chooses to do. If he withdraws his troops, the front lines will be in turmoil. If he doesn’t, the expeditionary force can strike directly at Florence. Hahaha!” Albrecht burst into loud laughter.

As for the Kingdom of Italy urgently recruiting another batch of personnel to defend Florence, that was certainly feasible, but the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force was the empire’s most elite troops, selected from the best of the best. How could they be resisted by a rabble that had just put down their hoes and been hastily organized by the Kingdom of Italy?

Moreover, it was still unknown how many farmers the Kingdom of Italy could mobilize. If the number was too small, it would be of little use.

The reason Albrecht had been holding back these past few days, waiting, was for news from Rome. This time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had three battlefields with the Kingdom of Italy: the Eastern Front, Rome, and the naval theater at sea.

The easiest way to break the deadlock was in Rome, so after the telegram from Rome arrived, Albrecht no longer hesitated.

With the order issued, the Austro-Hungarian army, which had long been itching for action, advanced through the forward positions on the west bank of the Isonzo River, heading towards the Italian Isonzo River defense line, which had long been reduced to ruins by artillery fire. Soon, the first line of Italian defense was completely destroyed.

…

On the same day that the Austro-Hungarian Empire launched a full-scale offensive against the Kingdom of Italy, the Battle of Sedan also broke out. Prussia mobilized 248 infantry battalions, 189 cavalry battalions, and more than 800 artillery pieces, totaling over 200,000 men, to attack the French army of only 120,000 men. Napoleon III’s situation was even more precarious than in history.

“Your Majesty, the Prussian artillery fire is too fierce! Our artillery is completely ineffective against them!”

“Your Majesty, just now, Marshal MacMahon was hit by shrapnel from a shell! Marshal MacMahon’s condition is very bad.”

“Our troops are suffering heavy casualties…”

Bad news poured into the bunker where Napoleon III was located, and a sense of despair spread among the French troops.

At this time, William I and Bismarck stood on a small hill in the distance, watching the troops attack the French positions with satisfaction.

“Those are Bavarian troops. Although they have a decent number, their organization is too poor. They need more training in the future.”

“The Hechingen Brigade is performing well, young and full of vigor, but unfortunately, there are too few of them.”

“Baden and Württemberg are too weak. As expected, they have been spoiled by not experiencing war for too long. However, the officers’ command level is still online, but the ordinary soldiers are not up to par.”

“Our army is generally qualified, but the French are still quite tenacious and technically sound. Unfortunately, there can only be one victor.”

William I commented on the troops in the distance.

“Your Majesty, if there are no accidents, the kingdom’s victory is assured this time, and the unification of Germany will have cleared the final obstacle,” Bismarck said, standing behind William I.

“Yes. By the way, I heard that the Hechingen Brigade will withdraw from the war afterward?”

“Yes, the Hechingen Brigade is, after all, an army composed of students. Other armies can be replenished, but the Hechingen Brigade cannot do so. Therefore, Prince Ernst decided to arrange for the Hechingen Brigade to return for rest and reorganization after the Battle of Sedan,” Moltke explained.

“That’s fine, but it’s basically certain that France is on the verge of defeat. Other states are planning to go to Paris to get a piece of the pie. The Bavarian follow-up troops have already set off. It’s a pity that the Hechingen Brigade is withdrawing at this time,” William I said.

According to the morality of most armies in this era, it was basically certain that a disaster was about to befall French soil. Even the French army itself was no exception. In fact, some French stragglers had already embarked on the fast track to “getting rich” in their own country, and military discipline had completely deteriorated, while their emperor was trapped in Sedan, unable to move an inch.

…

While the European battlefield was in full swing, the East African campaign, which had sounded the horn of war the earliest, was progressing extremely slowly, mainly because the long supply lines and poor transportation hindered East Africa’s expansion.

The first to complete its mission was the Southwest Army, with only a thousand men. Its destination was the Okavango Delta in present-day Botswana, close to Zambia, so the distance was not too far, only a hundred kilometers southwest across the Zambezi River.

Botswana, located in the Kalahari Basin, has a predominantly tropical desert climate, with deserts accounting for 70 percent of its land, especially in the west, which is even more barren than Somalia.

The Kalahari Desert is a peculiar desert because it is covered with plants, mostly succulents and shrubs, with some trees in the east and north.

Because it still rains here during the rainy season, it is extremely dry at other times. The Kalahari Desert is too vast, covering an area of approximately 600,000 square kilometers. In fact, looking at the population of Botswana and Namibia in the previous life, one can know how difficult it is to survive here. The combined land area of the two countries is more than 1.3 million square kilometers, but they have only five million people, while Burundi, with an area of less than 30,000 square kilometers, has more than ten million people. Therefore, East Africa abandoned the exploration of the desert interior when making decisions.

The area near Zimbabwe in the east still has some ecological value, but that area is to be conquered by the South Route Army, and further south is South Africa.

“There are so many mosquitoes here!” an East African soldier complained.

Even after spending so much time in Africa, it was rare to see a place like the Okavango Delta where mosquitoes were almost carrying people away.

“It’s mainly because this place is full of swamps, and the water environment isn’t very good either. Although there are also many mosquitoes near the Great Lakes region, it’s still too exaggerated here.” As he spoke, Karl took his hat and began to swat the mosquitoes around him.

“Stop complaining and hurry up and build the houses. So, let’s hurry up and cut down trees! Otherwise, if we continue to camp, I feel like all our blood will be sucked dry.”

“It’s not that exaggerated! But the marching tents really can’t stop those mosquitoes. Yesterday, they bit me a few times even through the rainproof cloth. Fortunately, it’s not too hot now (the Southern Hemisphere is in the transition from winter to spring, but the latitude here is relatively low, so there will still be mosquitoes), otherwise, it would be really deadly.”

Chapter 268: “Patriot” Beef and Potato Stew

European public opinion was quite lively on September 2nd, because on this day, France’s Napoleon III surrendered. The news of Napoleon III’s surrender directly caused a sensation throughout Europe. Napoleon III ordered a ceasefire after the Battle of Sedan.

In the Battle of Sedan, the French army suffered 17,000 casualties and 21,000 were captured. The Prussian army reported 2,300 dead, 5,000 wounded, and 700 captured or missing.

Newspapers from various countries rushed to report the news. A few hours later, Viennese newspapers also followed suit, extensively reporting the results of the war. However, compared to the news of France’s defeat, the Austro-Hungarian public was clearly more interested in the progress of their own army. Everyone was anxiously awaiting the results of the war in Italy.

At this time, Archduke Albrecht was leading the Imperial army, stepping over the Italians’ second line of defense and approaching the city of Venice. The Italian second line of defense was not as solid as the Isonzo River line. Although the Isonzo River line was not in a good location, with the Italian side being lower in elevation, providing an advantage to the Austro-Hungarian artillery, it was the border between the two countries. After Italy annexed the Venice region, they built the Isonzo River line. The second line of defense, however, was completely improvised and had no cover to rely on.

Faced with the Austro-Hungarian army’s offensive, the second line of defense quickly collapsed. In order to preserve the strength of their forces, the Italian commander had no choice but to order the troops to retreat into the city of Venice, where they joined forces with the Italian Royal Army gathered in Venice to resist the Austro-Hungarian army with the help of Venice’s fortifications and buildings.

…

“Tell me, why is there an Austro-Hungarian army in Rome? What are your intelligence departments doing? More than ten thousand people right under your noses and you didn’t notice? If this force wasn’t in Rome but in Florence, wouldn’t we have been wiped out by the Austro-Hungarian Empire?” Emmanuel II angrily questioned his subordinates.

Just yesterday, Emmanuel II received the news of the failed Allied attack on Rome. At that time, Emmanuel II was completely stunned! Did the Papal States have this kind of combat power? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

The good news was that the Papal States army was still weak. The bad news was that the army that defeated Italy was the Austro-Hungarian army.

And the even worse news was that the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force was currently organizing its troops to advance towards Florence. At the same time, the Papal States army, under the instructions of General Karl, was attacking the Italian coastal defense forces on the east coast.

This was not difficult for the Papal States army, because the Austro-Hungarian navy would cooperate with their actions. More than thirty thousand Austro-Hungarian landing troops had already departed from Trieste, heading towards the Italian east coast.

After suppressing his anger slightly, Emmanuel II asked, “Is there still time for us to transfer some of the troops going to Venice back to reinforce Florence?”

“This, it’s difficult! Because the main force is currently in Venice and can’t be spared. However, we can try to find a way from the troops stationed on the French border, but I don’t know if we’ll make it in time.”

“Your Majesty, I think it would be better for us to evacuate Florence first and return to Turin. That wouldn’t be a bad idea,” said a former Sardinian Kingdom official.

Before the Kingdom of Italy, Turin was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia. After initially unifying the Italian region with the help of Napoleon III, the newly formed Kingdom of Italy established its capital in Florence.

“Fool! The newspapers are already reporting the news of the failed recapture of Rome. If we retreat from Florence back to Turin, what will the people of the whole country think? What will the soldiers on the front lines think? If we can’t even defend the capital, what will we use to resist the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this aggressor?” Emmanuel II scolded angrily.

Afterwards, Emmanuel II struggled for a long time and said, “Let the border troops guarding against France hurry back to reinforce us. Immediately mobilize from Florence and the surrounding areas. I don’t care what methods you use, at least assemble a force of fifty thousand men. Before the reinforcements arrive, you must stop the enemy from Rome outside of Florence.”

…

France, Marseille.

“The failure at the front is not terrible. Although the Emperor has surrendered, we, the French people, will not yield. As a patriot, I am willing to donate a batch of supplies to the government free of charge. I hope they will not compromise with Prussia…” Count Medina gave his speech at the entrance of the Marseille City Hall, stating his position of defending his country.

Warm applause came from the surroundings. Count Medina’s remarks gained the strong favor of the Marseille masses.

At the same time, a reporter from the Marseille Daily quietly photographed this scene from a distance. This photo would appear everywhere in France tomorrow, at least in southern France.

After performing for the public for so long, Count Medina could finally rest. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. At this time, the officials of the city hall gathered around.

“Count Medina, thank you for your support, but unfortunately, we are also in a difficult position. After all, the Emperor has already surrendered, and we still need to wait for news from the central government, so these supplies may not be able to be disposed of for the time being,” the mayor of Marseille said.

“It doesn’t matter, I understand your difficulties, but our soldiers are still on the front lines. Sending these supplies over is also a form of support for them. No matter what, they are all children of France…” Medina said.

“If they are supplies for the troops, that’s fine. We will send these supplies directly to the hands of the soldiers on the front lines in the name of the citizens of Marseille, not in the name of the government.”

Count Medina’s patriot persona was well-crafted, and now his opinions were fully respected by the Marseille city government. This was psychological respect.

As for the supplies, they were from a Franco-German joint venture, a French “national” brand, mainly food and medicine, as well as some daily necessities.

As a partner, Count Medina also had some shares, so he wanted to make a name for these products.

For example, the “Patriot” beef and potato stew. Would you like to know more?

…

In the evening, Leopold, who had completed this mission, began to report the situation in Hechingen to Ernst.

“The Hechingen Brigade suffered more than seven hundred casualties this time, with the number of deaths reaching one hundred and thirty-two. Due to the situation at the front, we can only cremate their bodies on the spot. The ashes will be brought back with the troops. His Majesty (Wilhelm I) is asking if the Hechingen Brigade would consider participating in the upcoming war.”

After two battles, the Hechingen Brigade could be considered a European war elite, especially the Battle of Vionville, which was a relatively classic battle in the Franco-Prussian War. The Hechingen Brigade showed a slightly higher level of professionalism than the French army (Hechingen Brigade ≥ French Army ≥ Prussia > Bavaria > North German Confederation > Württemberg > Baden). Therefore, Wilhelm I was still very interested in this small unit.

“Bring them back!” Ernst only replied to Leopold with this sentence in the telegram.

There was no need for the Hechingen Brigade to participate in the later stages of the war. After all, the French Emperor had surrendered, and the war was practically over.

And with the Battle of Sedan as the dividing line, the war between Germany and France had changed from a just war of defending the country to a war of aggression, so Ernst did not want to participate.

Moreover, the purpose of training the Hechingen Brigade had already been achieved. There was no need to make them make unnecessary sacrifices. As for the so-called “spoils of war” of the Franco-Prussian War, it was actually just various states looting civilians in prosperous France. Ernst didn’t care about that little bit of wealth. Another point was that he didn’t want the Hechingen Brigade to learn bad habits from those state troops. Once military discipline was broken, it would be complicated to correct it. In the future, the Hechingen Brigade would be the foundation for the military transformation of East Africa.

Through war bonds, the Hechingen Bank was already making a fortune. As soon as the Battle of Sedan ended, the London bond market was already packed with people, and the Hechingen Consortium had already bought a quarter of it at a low price before the war.

“Tom! Is there any open space near the castle?”

“Your Highness, it’s probably not easy to find. Apart from the mountains and forests, there is only some flat land within the castle area.”

“Then clear a piece of open space from the hillside. I want to bury the remains of those who died in battle nearby. They all sacrificed for the Hohenzollern family,” Ernst said.

It was good to bury them near Hohenzollern Castle. This place was relatively remote. Apart from the lonely Hohenzollern Castle on the top of the mountain, there were no residents nearby, so there was no need to worry about anyone disturbing the rest of the deceased.

Ernst brought most of them from the Far East to Europe, and the rest were basically European orphans. It could be said that all the soldiers of the Hechingen Brigade were alone in the world.

And they didn’t need to participate in the Franco-Prussian War in the first place, but Ernst made the choice, and they did as they were told, so Ernst had to consider their affairs after death.

Chapter 269: Great Zimbabwe Ruins

The South Road Army of East Africa, their destination was to conquer the Matabele Plateau, and the arrival of the South Road Army was undoubtedly a disaster for the local natives.

With the Portuguese in the east and the Boers in the south, all that was left was the barren land in the west—the Kalahari Basin and other black African nations to the north. But with the East African expedition, they were completely surrounded by colonizers.

If it were like usual, just a few hundred, at most a thousand armed colonists, the natives of Zimbabwe could still cope. But the entire South Road Army numbered more than twenty thousand, which was too much for the natives.

Great Zimbabwe Ruins.

A platoon of the South Road Army was stationed here, responsible for setting up a supply transit station to ensure the smooth flow of logistics.

“This is a ghost town, but it’s all built of stone, and the height is not bad. It’s really rare in Africa. But why did the local natives abandon it?” Platoon Leader De Meyer wondered.

“Well, it’s hard to say. It’s not necessarily that the natives built it independently. It could also be an Arab idea,” the deputy platoon leader said.

“I don’t see it that way!” A voice came from nearby. A middle-aged man with a backpack and a cane was followed by a black man, helping him carry his luggage.

“Who are you? Why are you here? Why are you speaking German?” Meider looked warily at the unexpected visitor, raising the gun in his hand at the same time.

“Don’t be nervous, friend. I am a German geographer, Karl Mauch, here to study the culture of the natives. This is a servant I hired,” Karl Mauch explained.

Hearing the man’s self-introduction, Meider lowered his guard slightly. He said, “A German, that’s great! This is the first time I’ve seen a German in the interior of Africa other than the East African Kingdom. Where in Germany are you from?”

“Sir, I am a Saxon, from Dresden. Have you heard of it?” Karl Mauch said.

Meider finally lowered his gun. He walked up to Karl Mauch, extended his hand, and said, “Hello, Mr. Mauch. I’m also from Germany, formerly from Württemberg.”

“Judging by your attire?” Karl Mauch said, looking at the East African Kingdom’s military uniform. Although the style was very similar to that of the German regions, there were still some different elements.

“East African Kingdom Army.”

“East African Kingdom? I’ve never heard of this country before?” Mauch said curiously. Besides, it sounded like the name of an African country!

“Mr. Mauch, how long have you been in Africa?” Meider asked, not answering immediately.

“Not long, only two or three years.”

“Then no wonder. Haven’t you been back to Europe in these years?”

Karl Mauch shook his head and said, “Not really. I’m here surveying historical sites, like this stone city you’re in. Because it’s difficult to collect useful information, and this site is quite old, I’ve been staying here.”

“I see!” Meider suddenly understood. “Actually, Mr. Mauch, your news here is a bit behind. The East African Kingdom is a kingdom established by us Germans in Africa, and it was only established a few months ago.”

“Uh, aren’t overseas territories all colonies? I thought it was a colony of Prussia or Austria-Hungary!”

“The East African Kingdom was established by the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Hechingen is a state in southern Germany, you should know that!”

“I’ve only heard of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, I don’t really know much about it.”

“Our king’s surname is Hohenzollern.”

“I see, the Hohenzollern family makes sense. But it’s really rare for Germans to establish a country in Africa. But I’ve been active here for a while, how come I haven’t seen you before!”

“That’s because this place has only recently been incorporated into the territory of the East African Kingdom. Currently, apart from the army, no immigrants have moved here yet,” Meider explained.

The East African army of more than twenty thousand people looked intimidating, but scattered over an area of more than five hundred thousand square kilometers, it couldn’t even make a ripple. So it was normal that Karl Mauch hadn’t encountered other East African troops before.

“Then your East Africa should be quite large! This is the interior of Africa, the Portuguese are to the east, I landed from the port there, the Boers are to the south, you can only come from the north.”

“It should be very large. It takes more than ten days just to get here from the newly established Southern Border Province of East Africa.”

In fact, most East Africans have no idea how large East Africa is, and even Ernst can’t be sure, because the territory of East Africa is constantly changing.

Southern Border Province? Karl Mauch heard another piece of information. This East African Kingdom had divided administrative regions.

“I wonder if you have any unique insights into this site?” Meider asked at this time, bringing the topic back to Karl Mauch’s appearance.

“Yes, I personally think that this large area of stone buildings has a European style, and it may have come from Europe. You see, there are no roofs here, and they are all built with gray granite stones using ingenious techniques. Some stones have even been carved. The tall stone walls on the mountain are clearly European-style buildings.” Karl Mauch said, hearing Meider’s question.

“That… is indeed a novel point of view!” Meider commented. “But I would say that this thing was probably made by the African natives themselves, at most it has something to do with the Arabs, and it’s impossible to have anything to do with Europe.”

Hearing Meider refute his point of view, Karl Mauch said, “What is your opinion?”

“Although this site is not bad in scale, it is too crude. And the carving marks you mentioned, in my opinion, are skills that even primitive savages would have. I have seen many natives, some of their stone spears are very good, made by hand by striking stones. Moreover, this is just a bunch of stones forming a circle. It used to include houses. Building houses with stones is not a difficult thing, and European architecture would not be so simple.”

“What you said makes sense, but I don’t think the African natives have the ability to build such a huge project. I have been to many places in Africa. Such large-scale stone ruins only exist in North Africa. The entire sub-Saharan region only has these stone cities distributed sparsely. Moreover, I have investigated the surrounding natives, and they have no such technical heritage. So these buildings could not have been completed by the natives.”

…

The stone ruins that the two were arguing about are actually the famous Great Zimbabwe Ruins of the previous life. There are more than two hundred ruins of the same style in the Zimbabwe region, and each one is called “Zimbabwe” by the local natives. Who built them has always been a matter of controversy.

In his previous life, Karl Mauch was the first to make this miracle public. Although it is called a miracle and is on the World Heritage List, to Ernst, this thing is not worth the price at all. It is just that Africa (excluding North Africa) really has no historical and cultural heritage to boast about, so the so-called Great Zimbabwe Ruins became the “best of a bad bunch.”

Apart from Australia, sub-Saharan Africa is the most culturally barren region in the world. Even playing with stones, the Native Americans are far better than sub-Saharan Africa.

Chapter 270: The Loyal and Patriotic Venetian Merchant

To Ernst, the Great Zimbabwe ruins were just a pile of stones with no technical sophistication. Like the Egyptian pyramids, discussing any cultural value was nonsense.

Because these civilizations were completely extinct. Ancient Egypt’s own civilization was first destroyed politically by Rome, and later completely erased by the Arabs.

The Great Zimbabwe ruins, on the other hand, left no traces in the river of history. Similar examples in the world include Machu Picchu in South America, but it can be confirmed that Machu Picchu was the work of the Indians.

Whether Great Zimbabwe was the work of African natives themselves was even questioned by Europeans, because the surrounding natives themselves had no technical inheritance of these ruins, and even did not know their origin.

As a result, early Europeans frantically linked the Great Zimbabwe ruins with the treasures of Solomon. In the 21st century, when no evidence could be found to prove who built it, it was classified as built by natives based on the principle of proximity.

In fact, according to Ernst’s thinking, it doesn’t matter who built it. All stone-built ruins in the world are the product of great effort, belonging to the category of wonders. Ancient slave monarchs must have liked building wonders.

Because Ernst himself also likes wonders, but due to the limited conditions in East Africa, he has not implemented it yet. Ernst doesn’t know if most boys liked playing with mud when they were young, but he liked it quite a bit when he was a kid.

…

The Great Zimbabwe ruins, as a transit point, are a microcosm of East Africa’s invasion of the Matabele Plateau, and did not even have much interaction with the local natives.

The army’s advance proceeded entirely according to its own rhythm. The destination of the Southern Route Army was the Limpopo River, not to clash with the local natives, but it would be a different story if any ignorant natives blocked the way.

A regiment of the Southern Route Army’s vanguard had just casually wiped out a native tribe that was courting death. After the battle, Regiment Adjutant Linde pointed to the map and said, “The Limpopo River is on the southern edge of the Matabele Plateau. Beyond the Limpopo River to the south, not far away is the sphere of influence of the Boers. The task assigned by the higher-ups is to control the Limpopo River line and block the possibility of the Boers moving north.”

Looking at the map, Regiment Commander Habur said with some incomprehension, “Why does the Kingdom want to keep Mozambique? If you include Angola, East Africa is surrounded by them on both sides, especially Mozambique, which is like Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula embedded in Spain.”

Linde said, “This should be the Kingdom’s strategic consideration. Last year, the British clashed with the Portuguese in southern Mozambique, attempting to seize land in southern Mozambique, but failed. So the Portuguese still have some value to the Kingdom. If we cripple the Portuguese at this time, it is very likely that the British will take advantage of the situation. I also support this point. Mozambique is too narrow and long. If we attack from south to north, the battle line will be too long and time-consuming, and the British may simultaneously take advantage of the fire in Mozambique from the south. In the future, when we gain a firm foothold on the Matabele Plateau, we can support from the west and monopolize Mozambique, instead of splitting it equally with the British.”

“These British guys are really greedy. They already have so many colonies, and they still don’t want to share some of the spoils with others!” Habur said indignantly.

Linde just smiled slightly. People are greedy, and so is East Africa. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a Third War of Conquest. These militarily occupied lands, it is conceivable, will be the Kingdom’s liabilities for a long time to come. Apart from military spending, no effective development will be achieved.

The southwest (Zambia) has only just entered the development stage, and other newly occupied areas will definitely take time later.

In Africa, land claims are basically equal to a waste of paper. Anyone can shout slogans. For example, in the Congo (Kinshasa) of the previous life, Britain, Portugal, and France all claimed it as their sphere of influence, but in reality, it was picked up by the Belgians, because none of the three countries made actual investments in the area.

Effective occupation is the right way. For example, the Kingdom of Portugal is not even worthy to carry shoes for Britain, but in Mozambique, the British are powerless against the Portuguese colony. And the basic condition for effective occupation is the existence of military force.

…

Italian region.

With the help of Venice’s city defenses, the Italians really resisted the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s offensive. In fact, this should be the norm in war.

Because the first two lines of defense were too perfunctory, the Italians themselves felt unreliable, and they didn’t fight very hard. The Austro-Hungarian Empire used a little force, and the Italian army gave up.

This also led to most of the Italian army on the Eastern Front gathering at the Venice defense line. Currently, out of the two hundred and fifty thousand troops of the Kingdom of Italy on the Eastern Front, one hundred and eighty thousand are concentrated in Venice and the surrounding areas.

With the army concentrated, and many of them being defeated soldiers who retreated from the first two lines of defense, the security in Venice can be imagined.

“Mr. Lyon, I wonder what brings you here!” Raffaele Cadorna, the highest commander in the Italian headquarters, asked Lyon, the head of the delegation sent by the Venice City Government.

“General Cadorna, on behalf of the Venice City Government, I express my solemn protest to you. Can you restrain your soldiers? They have caused many serious security incidents in the city, and countless minor cases. They have already aroused the public outrage of the citizens of Venice!”

After Raffaele Cadorna heard Lyon’s intention, he personally brought a chair for Lyon and said, “Mr. Lyon, please sit down and tell me slowly. Go and make a cup of coffee for Mr. Lyon,” Raffaele Cadorna said to the adjutant.

After stabilizing Lyon, Raffaele Cadorna slowly opened his mouth and said, “Mr. Lyon, I will order them to implement this matter and immediately implement strict control throughout the city, but it is best for the citizens not to go out on the streets, because the current situation of the army is relatively complicated. Due to the hasty retreat the day before yesterday, many troops are relatively chaotic. We are still reorganizing, and during this period we cannot effectively restrain the troops.”

Military control is actually a one-size-fits-all approach, forcibly separating the army and civilians. This is the only good way Raffaele Cadorna can think of.

Raffaele Cadorna was also very helpless. The front-line troops retreated too quickly, and many troops were in chaos, because the army commander and division commander ran too fast, and as a result, the lower-level troops followed suit, causing many troops where platoon leaders could not find company commanders, and company commanders could not find battalion commanders…

This is also because the Kingdom of Italy was established for too short a time, and the temporary expansion of the army caused many officers to be unqualified. Military generals and nobles from the annexed kingdoms also mixed into the army of the Kingdom of Italy. Now, although the size of the army of the Kingdom of Italy is much larger than during the Kingdom of Sardinia, its combat effectiveness and command ability have declined by a level.

“In that case, I wonder if it will affect the normal operation of the factories,” Lyon asked.

“Of course not. Businesses can operate as usual, but it is best to manage the workers within the factory area.”

“Then what about the other business activities of the enterprises? For example, food procurement, and other activities of the citizens. They can’t just stay at home and starve to death without going out!”

“This will be left to your city government to operate. You can organize temporary armed forces to maintain the operation of the city. The distribution of drinking water and food for residents will also be temporarily managed by you. If this doesn’t work…”

Just as Raffaele Cadorna wanted to say that if the Venice City Government did not agree, then he would have to cancel military control, but some soldiers committing crimes would still be unavoidable if residents and the army were mixed together in a short period of time. Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Lyon.

“No problem, leave it to our Venice City Government! General Raffaele Cadorna, you are truly a brave, resourceful, and responsible general.”

“Ah! You agreed!”

“Of course, it is excusable for the citizens to stay at home temporarily with the comfort of us public servants. The citizens will understand, after all, it’s all the fault of the damned Austro-Hungarian invaders,” Lyon said righteously.

“Then thank you so much for your understanding!” Raffaele Cadorna said with emotion, unaware that he had caused a catastrophe.

The Venice government is still reasonable and willing to fully cooperate with the Kingdom to resist the Austro-Hungarian invaders, which is truly reliable.

And Raffaele Cadorna didn’t know that Lyon, while serving as the deputy mayor of the Venice City Hall, was also one of the largest suppliers of salt products and other goods in Venice.

Chapter 271: New Naval Base Location

As the saying goes, strike the snake at its seven inches. On the Eastern Front, the Italian army had amassed two hundred and fifty thousand troops, while Archduke Albrecht only had eighty thousand. So, it was normal that he couldn’t push through Venice.

However, once a breakthrough was made in the war, Archduke Albrecht wanted a situation where everything bloomed. On the Eastern Front, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s ability to hold its own against the Kingdom of Italy with fewer people was already a victory. Next, it would depend on whether the Austro-Hungarian navy could open up a new situation and create a new battlefield.

……

Adriatic Sea.

A massive fleet was speeding across the sea, led by the Austro-Hungarian naval fleet departing from Fiume (now Rijeka, Croatia).

“It’s our turn to strike back this time! I’ve always regretted not taking advantage of our victory to counterattack the Italian navy last time. This time, we must make the Italian navy recognize the progress of the Imperial Navy once again!” Wilhelm von Tegetthoff said confidently to his subordinates while standing on the deck.

“This time, we will definitely secure victory!”

“Long live the Empire!…”

This was the confidence boost that the name Wilhelm von Tegetthoff brought to the Austro-Hungarian navy.

After the victory at the Battle of Lissa, Wilhelm von Tegetthoff became a hero of Austria. Franz urged him to go south to the Dalmatian coast to ensure the development of naval bases in the region.

Unlike in history, this time Wilhelm von Tegetthoff carried out a comprehensive and systematic upgrade of the military bases on the Dalmatian coast. This was because in the original timeline, in 1867, he carried out a sorrowful mission: to transport the remains of his benefactor, Emperor Maximilian, who had been executed by Benito Juárez, back to his homeland in Mexico.

Now, Maximilian I was alive and well, and had become the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, which meant that Wilhelm von Tegetthoff’s time to build military bases on the Dalmatian coast was not delayed. Moreover, the two had even exchanged some ideas on the future development of the navy.

In 1868, he became the Minister of the Navy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a member of the Military Committee, and a member of the Upper House of Parliament, and was ennobled as a baron. He vigorously promoted the comprehensive reform of the Austro-Hungarian navy.

After two years of development, the Austro-Hungarian navy rapidly narrowed the gap with the Italian navy in terms of ships, becoming much stronger than in history.

Among other things, because East Africa had scavenged two old ships from the Austro-Hungarian navy, the Austro-Hungarian navy took the opportunity to add two new warships under this pretext, and Franz agreed. After all, he was cleaning up after his younger brother, Archduke Ferdinand. Although Ernst paid a token amount, it was basically a free gift.

Unfortunately, however, the two new Austro-Hungarian warships were still lying in the Trieste shipyard, having just completed the deck laying, and could not participate in this battle.

“Report, Italian warships have been spotted in the northwest direction.”

“Let the Lissa move closer!”

Austria began building the Lissa ironclad in 1867. The Lissa adopted the newly emerged central battery design, with a displacement of 7,000 tons, meeting the standards of a first-class ironclad of that year. The Lissa was the ancestor of the Austro-Hungarian battleships, and now it was Wilhelm von Tegetthoff’s flagship.

Compared to the triumphant Austro-Hungarian navy, the Italian navy on the opposite side was having a more frustrating time. Although Italy had acquired Venice as a new naval base in the last war, significant budget cuts had led to a tight financial situation for the Italian navy in recent times.

Starting in 1869, the Kingdom of Italy, gradually emerging from the shadow of the Battle of Lissa, finally planned to begin a naval expansion program.

Because the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 restored the strategic importance of the Mediterranean. Italy also needed a strong fleet to protect its interests and safeguard its trade routes in the region. However, before the plan could be formulated, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Italy.

This was another huge blow to the Italian navy. If the war between the two countries could have been delayed for a few years, until they had completed their upgrades, how great that would have been!

“Report, General, an Austro-Hungarian naval fleet has appeared twenty-four degrees southeast. They are speeding towards us!”

……

East Africa, Indian Ocean waters.

Just as the Austro-Hungarian navy was about to clash with the Italian navy, the East African Royal Navy was organizing a cross-sea training exercise, which was being conducted in the East African coastal waters between Bagamoyo and Pemba Island.

“This is Jishui City (now Chake-Chake, Tanzania)! But this name is a bit strange. Did the natives give it this name?” Ferdinand, the commander of the East African navy, asked, looking at the small town before him.

“It used to be called Chake-Chake, a town in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. But the name Jishui City was personally given by His Highness Ernst. We don’t know the specific meaning.” Mayor Leander of Jishui City replied.

A transliterated name would of course sound rather strange. Jishui, a river that once existed, was Ernst’s slight remembrance of his hometown in his previous life.

“Putting aside everything else, the port conditions here are not bad. It should be good if it’s renovated.” Archduke Ferdinand said.

“Jishui City is the capital of Pemba Island, but there are currently only over two thousand immigrants. The entire island only has over ten thousand people, so it won’t be easy to renovate this place.” Leander replied.

“Uh, hasn’t the government allocated slaves for you to use?”

“Because this place was seized from the Zanzibaris, in order to maintain stability, a comprehensive cleanup of the entire Pemba Island was carried out at that time. All the Zanzibaris on Pemba Island were packed up and returned to the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Let alone renovating the port, no one is even harvesting the mature cloves on the island.”

Pemba Island is a place where cloves are abundant. In his previous life, the clove production here accounted for 40% of the world’s total, and together with Zanzibar Island, it accounted for more than 70%.

“I see! But Pemba Island has such good conditions, it’s very suitable as a naval base. It would be a pity not to utilize the ports on Pemba Island.” Archduke Ferdinand said.

Ferdinand had already studied the terrain of Pemba Island. The entire island is mainly composed of hills and plains, and the coastline is winding, with many bays that have the conditions to become ports, mainly concentrated on the west coast. The west coast of the island faces away from the Indian Ocean, so the bays are calm, and at the same time, it faces the East African mainland and the ports of Mombasa and Tanga, forming mutual support. Therefore, it is very suitable to build a naval base here.

“If it’s for a naval base, I can recommend a location for you to use directly. The infrastructure there is complete, but there are not many people.” Leander said after hearing Ferdinand’s words.

“Oh, where is it?”

“Mkoani in the south of Pemba Island. It is basically a ghost town now, but it used to be a port used by the Sultanate of Zanzibar to connect the main island and Pemba Island. Later, after we took over Pemba Island, Mkoani was no longer used to contact Zanzibar Island, and the residents there were also repatriated to Zanzibar Island. But the port has been empty, and it hasn’t been taken care of for more than two years, so I’m afraid it’s a bit dilapidated.”

“Mkoani! The conditions there are indeed good.” Hearing this name, Ferdinand really had some impression. Mkoani is in the southwest of Pemba Island. Ferdinand passed by there when he was on the ship, but as Leander said, it was basically a ghost town, with thousands of houses, but only two hundred East African immigrant families living there.

“If it is used as a naval base, it is indeed good, and you can use the existing facilities there, and the problem of housing is directly solved.” Ferdinand thought.

What are you still hesitating about? It’s decided. Mkoani will be the location of East Africa’s second naval base in the future.

Chapter 272: Adriatic Sea Battle

Archduke Ferdinand’s idea was quickly relayed to Constantine. It was easy enough to allocate a portion of the immigrants from Dar es Salaam to Mkuni to complete the cleanup work on the city that had been abandoned for two years.

As long as it didn’t cost him money, Constantine was quite generous. Soon, more than two thousand immigrants were assigned to Mkuni, which would temporarily become the most populous city on Pemba Island and the second-largest naval port in East Africa.

…

Meanwhile, on the Adriatic Sea, the Austro-Hungarian Navy was engaged in battle with the Royal Italian Navy. The location of the sea battle was not far from the Republic of San Marino on the Apennine Peninsula. On the coast, people could already hear the faint sounds of gunfire.

On the sea.

“Load ammunition, aim.” With the commander’s methodical instructions, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers completed each step in an orderly manner.

“Fire!”

With a “boom,” the naval gun emitted thick black smoke, and the shell flew straight towards the Italian Navy ship.

Unfortunately, the first shot missed, landing in the sea near the enemy ship, but it did allow the Austro-Hungarian Navy to find the correct angle.

The firing of the cannon brought a huge impact, causing the entire ship to shake, but the Austro-Hungarian Navy soldiers seemed unaffected.

After the reforms of Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had significantly improved its military skills in the past two years compared to the Battle of Lissa.

“Damn it, the Austro-Hungarian new-style warships have strengthened their firepower again, and their completion rate is also very high. They almost succeeded just now. Return fire!”

The Italians also began firing at the Austro-Hungarian ships. After the lesson of the previous Battle of Lissa, although the Italian Navy’s funding was greatly reduced, the Italian Navy put a lot of effort into its soldiers and command system.

During the Battle of Lissa, the Italian Navy was composed of the navies of five countries, so the command was chaotic, and the naval soldiers were of uneven quality. The troops were relatively disorganized, which was an important reason for the Italian Navy’s failure despite having a great advantage.

Although the current Italian Navy had completed what it perceived as a comprehensive upgrade, the Austro-Hungarian Navy had also made considerable progress, especially in the use of new technologies and the training of soldiers’ professional skills.

Soon, the results of the training of the two countries’ naval soldiers were reflected. This time, Italy finally achieved overall coordination and unity, and the cooperation between the various ships was also good.

However, it was still a notch below the Austro-Hungarian Navy, especially in shooting accuracy, where the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s shipboard guns were clearly more accurate.

“General, our flank has been hit by Austro-Hungarian naval guns!”

“The enemy is changing formation. Their ships are closing in.” At this time, the Italian commander noticed the change in the Austrian Navy. “It’s a ‘V’ wedge formation. Wilhelm von Tegetthoff wants to repeat the same trick!”

“Let our ships also form a ‘V’ wedge formation to meet them head-on,” the Italian commander ordered.

On the other side.

“Heh! Naive.” Wilhelm von Tegetthoff said disdainfully as he saw the Italian Navy imitating them in his binoculars.

“Let the first squadron disengage immediately, cut diagonally from the left, and the second squadron follow immediately. We’ll charge straight through,” Wilhelm von Tegetthoff ordered.

Soon, the Italians noticed the Austro-Hungarian change again. Almost in an instant, the Austro-Hungarian Navy fleet formation changed again, while the Italian ships were still gathering.

Seeing the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s change, the Italian Navy commander was very puzzled: “What’s going on with the Austro-Hungarians!”

“That was our formation last time!” a careful Italian commander said.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy, like the Italian Navy in the Battle of Lissa, turned into three squadrons, encircling the Italian Navy.

“This time, we must give full play to our maneuverability. Compared with the last time, our strength has improved a lot. In terms of equipment, we are basically on par with Italy. Each ship must attack the Italians in an orderly and flexible manner under the command of the flagship,” Wilhelm von Tegetthoff said to his subordinates.

“Commander-in-Chief Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, why don’t you use your famous ‘V’ wedge formation, but instead use this common squadron formation to attack the Italian Navy?” an Austro-Hungarian naval general asked for advice.

“‘V’ wedge formation has never been my forte. It was just a method I used to deal with the numerous Italian ships when the Austro-Hungarian Navy was at a disadvantage, mainly to avoid being defeated one by one by the Italian fleet, which had a numerical advantage at the time, especially to ensure the safety of those backward ships. If you review the Battle of Lissa, you will find that I put the backward ships and small ships at the tail of the ‘V’ to avoid them suffering losses, because they could not have won in a frontal attack at that time.”

“Then can’t the Italian side do the same this time?”

Wilhelm von Tegetthoff shook his head and said, “The Italian commander at the time, Persano, did not make good use of his advantages, and his command errors gave me the opportunity to seize it. The Italian fleet’s coordination was improper, causing the ships to fight on their own. As long as we don’t make the same mistakes, the three squadrons can cooperate with each other and inflict heavy damage on the Italian Navy.”

As the two men spoke, the ships of both sides had made contact.

“Fire!”

Almost simultaneously, both sides opened fire, and huge waves were blasted out of the sea.

“First squadron, go around to the rear. Second squadron, attack the Italian Navy’s flank. We’ll go around to the Italian Navy’s right,” Wilhelm von Tegetthoff ordered.

Under the command of the Lissa, the Austro-Hungarian fleet divided into three parts, directly avoiding the Italian Navy’s frontal charge.

And just now, the Italian Navy, seemingly understanding Wilhelm von Tegetthoff’s intentions, was heading towards the second squadron in a V-shape, trying to cut off the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

The Italian ship Cesare issued instructions, and the entire Italian fleet shifted to the left of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

At this time, the disadvantage of the V-shape had become apparent, because the formation limited its turning, and there were only three directions: left, right, or straight ahead.

However, the well-trained Austro-Hungarian Navy, under the command of Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, did not give the Italians a chance to confront them head-on.

Except for the third squadron where the Lissa was located, the first two squadrons turned sharply to the left, giving the impression of fleeing.

But in an instant, the Austro-Hungarian Navy turned sharply to the right again, attacking the left side of the Italian Navy, and at this time the third squadron also went around to the right side of the Italian Navy.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy and the Italian Navy fleet instantly became three parallel lines.

“Damn it!” the Italian commander cursed angrily.

At this time, he suddenly woke up, but it was too late. Although he had caught the tail of the Austro-Hungarian second squadron, the three Austro-Hungarian squadrons had completed the encirclement of the Italian Navy.

“Fire!” The Italian Navy, trapped in the middle of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, soon became a sitting duck.

“Accelerate and sail, we break out of the encirclement, return fire,” the Italian commander ordered.

At this time, there were no enemies in front of the Italian Navy, so as long as they ran fast, they could still break the siege, but how could Wilhelm von Tegetthoff give them a chance?

“The third squadron charges towards the middle of the Italian Navy, led by the Lissa.”

The Lissa, where Wilhelm von Tegetthoff was located, instantly led the third fleet towards the center of the Royal Italian Navy.

Although most of the front part of the Italian Navy had broken through, most of it was still firmly held by the Austro-Hungarians due to the Lissa’s and the third squadron’s desperate attack.

At this time, the first and second squadrons also joined the melee, with the second squadron heading towards the head of the Italian Navy.

And the Italian Navy ships in front, wanting to turn around and return to support the rear, to make a final resistance, were caught by the second squadron in the gap of their turning, and directly accelerated and rammed into them.

In an instant, the Cesare’s hull suffered a violent impact, and the Italian commander-in-chief almost lost his footing in the face of the sudden huge impact.

At this time, he had realized that the Italian Navy had completely lost the opportunity to win. Now there were two paths in front of him, either fight to the death with the Austro-Hungarian Navy, the result of which would most likely be complete annihilation, or surrender, but he would definitely not escape punishment when he returned to Italy. Although the Battle of Lissa was also a great defeat, the commander Persano had much more clout than him.

Just as he was still struggling in his mind, the Austro-Hungarian ship Ferdinand rammed in from the left again.

Surrender! The fear of death instantly cut off the Italian commander’s thoughts of dying for his country. Anyway, the overall situation of the Kingdom of Italy was over, so why should he be buried with Italy? But he had to quickly find a good next employer.

Chapter 273: Chaos Ensues

Just as the Ferdinand was preparing to attack, the Caesar raised a white flag, leaving the Austro-Hungarian navy completely bewildered.

With the surrender of the Caesar, the other ships also gave up resisting. The Battle of the Adriatic Sea was completely over, and naval dominance of the Adriatic Sea fell entirely into the hands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

At this point, the Italian navy had already had three capital ships sunk. Since they had surrendered, the Austro-Hungarian navy, which had been merciless just moments before, began rescuing people from the sea.

With the threat from the sea eliminated, the fifty thousand troops who had been prepared in the Port of Trieste were about to set off. They would be transported along with merchant ships to the east coast of Italy to open a third battlefield, and together with the Papal States’ forces, they would seize the eastern part of the Kingdom of Italy.

…

Inside the city of Venice.

The sounds of artillery fire rose and fell, which was truly unbearable for the residents of the city. Death could come at any moment, and it was all down to luck.

At a supply distribution point, the citizens of Venice were following the city government’s arrangements to purchase grain and daily necessities.

Several temporarily hired armed personnel were responsible for maintaining order.

“Mr. Aros, the price of this flour is too high! It’s twice as expensive as yesterday.”

“Just tell me if you want it or not! Now, because of the war, the whole city is short of food, and what about the hundreds of thousands of royal troops? Where does their food come from? Isn’t it requisitioned from the Venice region? This grain is what we risked our lives to collect from the countryside.” Aros impatiently rebuked the crowd.

“That’s not right! Mr. Aros, this Pisa-brand flour isn’t a product of Venice. Did you collect it from the Venetian countryside too?” A citizen pointed to the cheap flour imported from East Africa and asked.

“Of course, it’s from previous stock. This is all that’s left.”

“Venice is a port city, after all. The sea routes haven’t been cut off, have they? There were still ships entering and leaving the docks this morning. How could there be a shortage of food?”

“There are ships, yes, but they’re not carrying grain. Now there’s fighting at sea, and the enemy doesn’t care what you’re doing. They destroy anything they see, so only the boldest dare to risk it.” Aros explained.

In reality, Aros was talking nonsense. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had not blockaded the Adriatic Sea at all.

“Mr. Aros, could it be a little cheaper? After the war broke out, the factory where I worked shut down, and I haven’t received any wages at all.”

“Take it or leave it. If you don’t buy it, there are plenty of others who will. In times of war, it’s always good to have some grain stored up.”

“Mr. Aros! We’re willing to pay, but why is this Pisa-brand flour the same price as the other flours? It’s usually the cheapest!”

“The market is short of goods now. Don’t think Pisa was cheap before; now it’s in high demand. Besides, it’s just flour! How much difference can there be in taste? Maybe you’ll even like it!” Aros explained.

Some people in the crowd were still dissatisfied. Aros didn’t indulge them. He took out a pen and, in full view of everyone, crossed out the original price and raised it another twenty percent.

Aros said arrogantly, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. The whole city is short of goods now, and you’re still picking and choosing. I now announce that the price will increase every twelve hours. If you want to spend less money, pay up quickly, or you won’t even have a chance to regret it later.”

As soon as Aros said this, sure enough, everyone stopped hesitating. It was best to grab a batch of grain and store it up first, and the more the better.

Although the price was very expensive for the residents of Venice, it was really “conscientious” in their eyes. This wasn’t because Aros was kind-hearted, but because his competitors were even more unscrupulous. Aros wasn’t a pure Italian grain merchant; he had only started in this business last year, when East Africa was vigorously promoting the export of cheap grain, and he saw a business opportunity. So he vigorously imported cheap grain from East Africa through the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then sold it in the Italian region.

Since the city government meeting five days ago, where the decision to seal off the city was passed, the big shots in the city government had divided up Venice and allowed their respective families and businesses to monopolize the profits in their respective areas.

Aros’s family was responsible for the western part of the city. In addition to the workers in his own company and Aros’s family’s thugs, all the residents were managed in this area and their freedom was restricted.

As for the citizens’ complaints, the Venetian big shots had long since come up with a plan to pass the buck, and the scapegoat was none other than General Raffaele Cadorna, the supreme commander of the Italian royal army.

So they told the citizens of Venice: Because of the war, General Raffaele Cadorna has declared martial law in the whole city, and residents are not allowed to go out on the streets at will. They must wait for notification from the military or a permit issued by the government, that is, a pass, before they can move freely.

As for how to get a permit, you can apply at government outlets, and it will be approved, but the process is quite slow, and there are time limits. Is there a way to get a pass quickly? Yes, you can pay money to a designated place to buy one. If the money is in place, it will be approved immediately.

If you are caught without a pass, you will be treated as a spy, either paying a fine or going to “re-education” for a month.

This, of course, aroused the dissatisfaction of the citizens of Venice, but the citizens also blamed the Italian military. As for the city government, they were “helpless,” after all. No matter how powerful the city government was, it couldn’t go against the will of General Raffaele Cadorna, who held hundreds of thousands of troops in his hands. It was all at the direction of General Raffaele Cadorna.

…

Florence.

The Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force launched an attack here three days ago, but with the help of the city walls and the temporarily formed army resistance, the Emmanuel II government waited for the arrival of reinforcements from the west. Seeing that things could not be done, Lieutenant General Karl led the expeditionary force away.

However, after the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force attacked Florence, the entire Kingdom of Italy was now in a state of panic. The appearance of the enemy in the capital was a major blow to the entire Kingdom of Italy. Fortunately, the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force was small in number and had few heavy weapons, so it did not capture Florence. Otherwise, the war could have ended early with the defeat of the Kingdom of Italy.

Because of this incident, Emmanuel II now attached even greater importance to the defense of Florence. The newly transferred border guards from the Italian-French border were responsible for the city’s defense. As for the border area, France was already struggling to protect itself, so there was no need for troops to guard it.

And where did the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force, which failed to capture Florence, go?

The answer is the original Kingdom of Sardinia, the base of the Italian royal family. Lieutenant General Karl led his troops to wreak havoc in the territory of the original Kingdom of Sardinia, especially factories and cities. The entire Kingdom of Sardinia was thrown into chaos by the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force, but the Kingdom of Italy was powerless against the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force. They were also afraid that this was a diversionary tactic by the Austro-Hungarian expeditionary force, and what if the army left Florence and they attacked again?

Chapter 274: First Contact

The Kingdom of Italy was being driven to distraction by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and France was not faring much better. However, compared to the Italian government, the actions of the newly established French Third Republic were despicable.

The French National Defense Government attempted to collude with Prussia to prevent the continued development of the revolutionary movement and had already begun secret negotiations with Bismarck. At this time, under pressure from the French people, although they dragged their feet for a long time, they were forced to take measures to strengthen the defenses of Paris, but the German army advanced towards Paris as if entering an unpopulated land.

……

Southeast Botswana.

“The other side of the river is Boer territory!” Jacob said, looking at the gently flowing Limpopo River.

The Limpopo River was the destination of this southern expedition. It originates near Johannesburg in South Africa, then loops northwest in the Botswana region, before bending eastward and flowing into the Indian Ocean.

The entire river is divided into three sections: the upper reaches have small tributaries with little water, mostly intermittent rivers; the middle reaches cut through the mountainous edge of the South African plateau, with many waterfalls, rapids, and shallows; the lower reaches are rivers in a plain area.

Mozambique in the lower reaches was not the target of the East African Kingdom. The East African Expeditionary Force watered their horses on the banks of the middle and upper reaches of the river. The Limpopo River could serve as a natural geographical boundary.

In reality, the East African Kingdom was using the Limpopo River to separate what would be Botswana and Zimbabwe in a previous life from Boer influence.

“Yes, Boer farms. Although most of it is wasteland, they have divided up a large area. If the Limpopo River hadn’t blocked their expansion, we wouldn’t have the chance to occupy it,” Staff Officer Bohr replied.

“It’s not that they can’t cross the river, but that it’s not necessary. These Boers have too few people, and it becomes more arid and barren the further west you go. Plus, with the threat from the British, they can’t afford to spread their forces too thin, so the population is mainly concentrated in the east.”

“The country the Boers have established on the other side is called the Transvaal Republic. It was formed in 1849 from the merger of several small Boer states. To the south, there is also the Orange Free State Republic, another Boer country. The two countries are separated by the Vaal River (the largest tributary of the Orange River north of the Orange River).”

“Although the Boers are mainly descendants of the Dutch, there are also many German immigrants, but they are mostly older Germans.”

The term “older Germans” specifically refers to Germans who immigrated from the German regions to various parts of the world before 1865, because the East African colonial team landed in Dar es Salaam in 1865.

From 1865 onwards, German immigration gradually shifted towards East Africa, so much so that now, more than eighty percent of German immigrants each year become East Africans.

The main reason for making this distinction is that East Africa is a country where German culture is dominant, and the overseas countries to which Germans immigrated before 1865, excluding colonies, were all non-German countries.

This was the case with the Germans in the Transvaal Republic, which made it easier for the East African Kingdom to obtain the intelligence it wanted in the two Boer republics.

The Boers’ language is mainly Dutch, which is also their only written language. Although Dutch is relatively close to German, like a regional dialect, it is still difficult for people in East Africa to understand Dutch unless they are immigrants from the North German region, because the official language of East Africa is a South German dialect, which is different from the North German dialect. In general, the East African language is closest to Bavarian, as is Austrian.

Therefore, East Africa mainly obtained intelligence from their fellow Germans in the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State Republic.

The Boers did not notice this. If the Boers had reversed the operation, it would not have been impossible to gather intelligence on East Africa, but they could only obtain limited information in the two free ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. And the worst thing was that neither of the Boer republics had access to the sea.

Just as Jacob and Bohr were talking, a group of people suddenly appeared on the other side of the river.

“Are you sure they are Germans?” Vincent asked his subordinate.

“Yes, their attire is very similar to that of the Prussian army, except for the hats, which are a little different. I served in the Prussian army back in the day, so I can tell at a glance,” Barkhausen replied.

“That’s unlikely! You can’t just say that the Prussian army has appeared in Africa in full force, and in our western interior. Did they fly here?”

Vincent, a native Boer, had lived in the South African region since childhood. His understanding of Europe mostly came from his parents’ stories or news brought by new immigrants.

Barkhausen was a Prussian immigrant from the German region who lived on Vincent’s father, old Vincent’s, farm.

Therefore, Barkhausen was considered by the East Africans to be an older German. He had come to South Africa ten years ago and was not very clear about the current situation in Europe, let alone the glorious achievements of Prussia’s invasion of France.

“That may be true, but you can’t fake that uniform. It’s unlikely that the British would be wearing that here,” Barkhausen said.

“It’s better to go over and ask. Since they might be Germans, I’ll leave it to you,” Vincent said to Barkhausen.

“No problem,” Barkhausen replied.

Soon.

Barkhausen drove his horse to the riverbank and began to cross the river under the watchful eyes of the East African soldiers. Because Vincent and his group were only a few people, and Barkhausen was unarmed, they let him pass.

Rainfall in Botswana was not abundant, and it was the dry season. The water in the upper reaches of the Limpopo River was very shallow, so Barkhausen and his horse easily crossed the river.

“Where are you from?” Barkhausen asked in German.

“East African Kingdom Army, Fifteenth Division, Twenty-third Regiment, Third Cavalry Company. I am Staff Officer Bohr.”

“I have never heard of the East African Kingdom, but looking at your attire and listening to your accent, you should be from the German region! What is your relationship with Prussia?” Barkhausen asked.

“The East African Kingdom, like Prussia, is an independent country. We are not Prussians, but we are all part of the German nation.”

Barkhausen was relieved to hear “German.” He dismounted and walked closer, saying, “Hello, I am also German, from Prussia, but I came to South Africa in 1851, so I don’t know much about the current situation in Europe. Could you tell me more about the East African Kingdom?”

Barkhausen couldn’t imagine what connection the East African Kingdom could have with Germany. However, given the fragmented state of Germany, the emergence of a new country was not impossible. He just didn’t know why, if it was a German country, they were in South Africa. And the name East Africa obviously meant East Africa, which had nothing to do with Germany. Barkhausen was full of question marks.

“You are Prussian? Good, I am from the Kingdom of Württemberg. My name is Jacob, and I am the commander of this company.”

“So you really are fellow countrymen, that’s great. Commander Jacob, I wonder how you came to this place?”

Bohr then spoke up and asked, “You should be from the Transvaal Republic on the other side!”

“Yes, if you go by location, the other side of the river is our boss’s ranch. We were hunting here today and saw you, so he sent me over to ask.”

“Well, that makes it easier. You can go back and tell your boss that this side of the river will belong to the East African Kingdom from now on. You’d better spread the word to those acquaintances on the other side so that there won’t be any misunderstandings in the future.”

“Ah!” Barkhausen was completely stunned. Wasn’t this unclaimed land? As soon as he crossed the river, it became part of the so-called East African Kingdom!

“The East African Kingdom is just what you think it means. It’s just that because of geography, our country uses this name. And when you go back, tell the people of the Transvaal Republic not to be clever. We have deployed tens of thousands of troops along the Limpopo River. Of course, the East African Kingdom has no intention of offending the Transvaal Republic. You can treat us as border guards,” Jacob explained.

“But this is South Africa!” Barkhausen had realized that this was a new country, and most likely a colony established by Germans. But how was East Africa connected to this place?

“Hehe, you should have known when you heard the name East African Kingdom that we expanded here from East Africa, thousands of miles away. As for South Africa, once it is incorporated into the East African territory, it will naturally belong to East Africa,” Jacob said.

“I see!” Barkhausen said, but he was actually even more confused, because he didn’t know exactly where East Africa was. Although he had received compulsory education and had seen a world map as a child, there was no country called East Africa on the world map at that time, nor was there a Transvaal Republic, of course.

……

Barkhausen returned to the other side of the river with a bewildered expression. Vincent quickly asked, “Did you figure it out?”

“Yes, boss, but not very clearly.”

“What do you mean?”

“They are indeed Germans, but they say they are from the East African Kingdom Army.”

“East African Kingdom?”

“Yes, I don’t know how to explain it to you. It should be a new country. Just now, they told me that the other side of the river is now their country’s territory!”

“Huh! On what basis?” Vincent questioned. Because he had few people, he had not developed to the west, but he actually assumed that the land west of the Limpopo River also belonged to him.

“They said the East African Kingdom has deployed tens of thousands of so-called East African Army troops along the river,” Barkhausen said.

“Tens of thousands of people? That’s unlikely!”

“I don’t know if it’s possible, but boss, those hundreds of cavalrymen on the other side of the river are not fake, so it’s best not to be impulsive!”

Chapter 275: Southern Boundary

Hearing Barkhausen say this, Vincent had to calm down. Thinking about it now, it was a real loss. He should have included the land across the river into his farm back then. At the time, he thought there was no one to the west anyway, and he could develop it later when he had enough manpower on the farm. As a result, this so-called “East African Kingdom” took advantage of the situation.

As for the Khoisan people and other natives living on the west bank of the Limpopo River, they were not considered “people” in the Transvaal Republic. Boer farms mostly relied on black slave labor. Although East Africa also used slaves, there were no explicit regulations in East Africa. In official East African documents, the natives were “laborers of unknown nationality,” and this was indeed the case. Most African natives had no concept of a nation; they only remembered which tribe they once belonged to.

Both East Africa and the Transvaal Republic had slaves, but there were differences in their use. For the sake of governance, ordinary people in East Africa still had to work, but the Boers were different. With slaves, who would farm the land themselves? Vincent’s farm was the same; the white people just had to control the force and suppress the slaves at any time.

“Well, Barkhausen, since the people on the other side are Germans, could their appearance here mean they want to attack our Transvaal Republic?” After calming down, Vincent began to worry.

“This, boss, it’s hard to say. But according to them, as long as we don’t cross the border, that is, don’t cross the river, they won’t cause us any trouble.”

“Is that so? That’s good then.” Vincent breathed a sigh of relief. Vincent was mainly afraid that these Germans would be like the British, wanting to completely exterminate the Boers.

In fact, at this time, the Boers were extremely afraid of the British; otherwise, they wouldn’t have fled directly from the Cape Colony, crossed the Orange River and the Drakensberg Mountains, and re-established their country.

In 1834, the British promulgated regulations in Cape Town abolishing slavery, which had a huge impact on the Boer economy, which was mainly based on slave farms. To escape the high pressure of British policies, the Boers left the Cape Colony and migrated deep into the South African interior.

This is why the Boers arrived later than the Portuguese in Mozambique, but were able to penetrate deep into the African interior; to put it bluntly, they were forced by the British.

The British only used policy pressure to make the Boers willingly leave the Cape Colony, which ultimately showed their timidity.

It wasn’t until the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit, where 77 of the 247 British soldiers were killed and 157 were wounded, while the Boer militia only suffered 2 deaths and 4 injuries, that the Boers clearly saw the true nature of the British colonists. Only then did the Boers dare to directly oppose the British, which led to the outbreak of the Second Boer War.

To be honest, if the East African Kingdom wasn’t named this way, but was instead a colony of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is estimated that the Boers would also be afraid.

In reality, the East African Kingdom posed a far greater threat to the Boers than the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a great power, it didn’t fare as well overseas as the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Even the time it established diplomatic relations with the Far Eastern power was almost the same as East Africa, and the Austro-Hungarian ambassador to the Far East also served as the ambassador to Japan and Siam, with his office located in Tokyo, Japan.

However, the Boers were unaware of this. If Barkhausen wasn’t German, Vincent might have mistaken the suddenly appearing East African army for British troops.

“Boss, it’s better to inform the government about this matter. Don’t rely on our own strength to think about things that may or may not happen. Just this cavalry unit alone is probably difficult for the entire Transvaal Republic to handle, not to mention they said there are tens of thousands of troops on the other side of the river,” Barkhausen reminded him.

Barkhausen’s words were not an exaggeration. Just looking at the East African Kingdom Army’s uniform clothing and weapons, it was clear that they were a regular army, while the Transvaal Republic’s regular army only numbered a few thousand.

The entire population of the Transvaal Republic was only over two hundred thousand, and with other Boer states, it was still close to four hundred thousand, while East Africa had already sent thirty thousand troops south.

Of course, the data cannot be calculated this way. Although the Boers had fewer troops, ordinary people also carried guns. For example, on Vincent’s farm, all male white people were issued firearms, and these were all militia sources in times of war. As for the combat effectiveness of the militia, the British had already provided the answer.

This is also why Ernst didn’t plan to attack the Boers. If the Boers played guerrilla warfare with East Africa, not only would they not get the land in South Africa, but they might also disrupt East Africa’s control over Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The Transvaal Republic was sparsely populated, and the Boers all had horses. In the blink of an eye, they might disappear without a trace. Therefore, to deal with the Boers, one had to learn from the British and send more people.

Of course, these people referred to armed immigrants, not the simple troops like the British. Every stronghold opened by immigrants would erode their living space, and finally solving the Boer problem would not be a problem.

As for the Second Boer War, the British sent 450,000 troops, which was enough, even exceeding the number of Boers. However, 450,000 full-time soldiers were playing hide-and-seek with the Boers in the South African interior, and the military expenditure alone was astronomical, which only the wealthy British could afford.

“You’re right. Since we can encounter East African Kingdom troops here, there must be more in the north. So, what these German East Africans said about tens of thousands of troops is very likely to be true,” Vincent analyzed.

The Limpopo River is more than a thousand kilometers long. Excluding the section in the Portuguese colony, there are still nearly six or seven hundred kilometers. If the East African Kingdom is deploying defenses along the Limpopo River, there should be more people deployed in the north, because his location is already very close to the source of the Limpopo River.

(Image: Vincent’s Farm - Location in red font)

Soon, Vincent reported the news of the East African Army appearing on the west bank of the Crocodile River (Limpopo River) to the government.

Not only Vincent, but also other Boers whose farms were close to the Limpopo River did the same. The unfamiliar force of the East African Kingdom entered the eyes of the Transvaal Republic for the first time.

The Transvaal Republic could only analyze the information of this new force through the fragmented reports of the reporters. The conclusion was pessimistic. The number of East African troops marching south alone made the Transvaal Republic’s leaders dare not act rashly. The good news was that East Africa was currently not interested in the Transvaal Republic.

East Africa’s defense of the Limpopo River was basically complete. The total number of troops stationed along the Limpopo River was more than fifteen thousand, and more than ten thousand were on the Mozambique border.

With the help of the army, East Africa completely blocked any possibility for the Portuguese and Boers to continue expanding into the African interior in advance, unless they declared war on the East African Kingdom.

As for whether they would overestimate themselves and declare war on East Africa, it was really hard to say, especially Mozambique, which did not have a clear geographical boundary with East Africa. There was a high possibility of conflict between the two sides in the future.

Chapter 276: “Old Friends”

In the previous life, within the Central African Republic, the Azande Plateau.

M’brès, a fortress built according to the terrain, looked very simple, casually piled up with stones. However, passing through this place was not easy. It might not be a case of “one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot pass,” but deploying a platoon was certainly possible. If a few machine guns were set up, perhaps seventy percent of African countries in the previous life would have no way to get through.

This was a military stronghold built by the East African Northern Route Army. Now, a large group of African natives were passing through here with their belongings.

Compared to the Southern Route Army, the Northern Route Army’s battlefield could be said to be quite lively. The Northern Route Army passed through southern South Sudan and the Azande Plateau.

The Azande Plateau is located in central Africa, between the Congo Basin, the Chad Basin, and the Upper Nile Basin, serving as a watershed for the three. The central part of the plateau is an east-west ridge-like mountain range, more than 800 kilometers long, with many passes forming vital north-south transportation routes.

In the previous life, the Central African Republic, located here, was aptly named. If the internal economy of Africa were developed, the Central African Republic could at least get the title of “crossroads of Africa.” Even without considering the economic value, the military value of the Azande Plateau was very high. From here, East Africa and West Africa, the two regions with the best agricultural conditions in Africa, could be directly threatened.

The conditions of the Azande Plateau itself were also not bad. The temperature and rainfall were slightly higher than in East Africa. If Ernst were to position it, it would be similar to the Nanyang Basin.

Both have prominent strategic positions, are vital north-south transportation hubs, and have gemstone distribution. The Central African Republic has diamonds, and Nanyang has the largest reserves of andalusite in Asia, with kyanite and rutile ranking first in China. Nanyang City in the basin is also famous at home and abroad for its jade carving industry, and is one of the three major jade carving towns in the Far East. Both places are rich in gold, abundant in forestry resources, and have rich arable land resources, as well as oil and radioactive mineral distribution.

Having said so much, in other words, the resource endowments of both are relatively average, suitable for developing agriculture, but from a strategic point of view, they are both indispensable parts of their respective regions.

The mineral resources of the Central African Republic look good, with gold and diamonds, but these two are too common in sub-Saharan Africa, almost all within the current territory of East Africa. Other minerals besides oil have little value, mainly because the quantity is not enough. For example, iron ore, the iron ore reserves in other parts of East Africa are measured in hundreds of millions of tons, while the Central African Republic has millions of tons. Putting the Central African Republic in the context of the entire Africa or the world, it is definitely a poor mineral country.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that the resources have not been fully explored.

…

Looking at the endless stream of people, Rhodes, a platoon leader of the East African Army, said, “These Burundians are really unlucky. They should have gone a little further west back then, otherwise they wouldn’t be suffering a second time now.”

“Hehe, according to our frontline intelligence personnel, among these eight native kingdoms, only the former Buganda Kingdom ran the furthest. It is said that they have re-established their kingdom near a large lake area in the southwest, and they seem to have contacted Ottoman merchants in Libya through caravans, purchased a lot of firearms, and have already opened up the situation.” Vice Platoon Leader West said.

The large lake that West was talking about refers to Lake Chad. Migrating from the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) to Lake Chad, such a long distance was indeed difficult for the Buganda people, but now the benefits are also reflected, that is, they don’t have to carry out a second migration like the other native countries in the Great Lakes region.

“Musat I had some strategic vision. During the Northwest Campaign, he wanted to run west, and his eldest son, that idiot who defected to the Egyptians, has been missing since then, and will probably never appear again.”

Musat I was the king of Buganda who ran away at the time, and took a different path from the Buganda prince at the time.

The Buganda prince did receive preferential treatment from the local officials of Sudan when he first arrived in Egypt, but after East Africa cleaned up the Buganda population, his united front value was gone. With the Buganda people gone, the so-called Buganda prince naturally became useless. After looting all the treasures he had brought, the Egyptians drove him into the Sahara Desert to fend for himself.

“The Northwest Eight Kingdoms are doing well, but some of the local natives who were defeated by them are stupid. When they see our army, the people of the Northwest Eight Kingdoms directly surrender or run away, but they still dare to oppose us.”

“Although the Northwest Eight Kingdoms are the defeated generals of our East Africa, their own strength is not weak. They are still crushing these native tribes when they arrive at the Azande Plateau.”

Just as the two were talking, the people of the Burundi Kingdom had already passed through this place. A black man walking at the end came forward to say goodbye to Rhodes and West.

“Mr. Rhodes, Mr. West, thank you for your care!” The black man said.

“Hehehe, you’re welcome, Chief Romrom. Your Burundi Kingdom is an old friend of ours. It’s quite emotional to meet an old acquaintance here. This time you are going west, as your friend, I will give you a piece of advice. It is best to go as far as possible, along the direction where the sun sets, keep walking. If you encounter other people like us with weapons in their hands, don’t panic and immediately turn around and go northwest.” As he spoke, Rhodes patted the gun in his hand.

Rhodes participated in the Northwest Campaign, which was the first conquest war, and fought against the Burundians, so he said that he was an “old friend” of the Burundians, and at the same time gave a small suggestion to the new king of the Burundi Kingdom.

Rhodes’s suggestion was well-intentioned, but it frightened Romrom. He asked, “Are there your people in the east?”

“Of course not, but almost. But they may be more difficult to deal with than us East Africans. You just need to understand that if you encounter them, just run, and be sure to run northwest. But don’t worry too much, you won’t encounter them unless you get to the edge of the sea.”

What Rhodes was talking about were the other colonizers on the west coast of Africa, which was a kind reminder, and the northwest direction referred to the hinterland of West Africa.

“Mr. Rhodes, thank you for your reminder. I will take my people directly to the northwest afterwards, goodbye!” This was Romrom’s answer, and he did indeed do so later. The Burundi Kingdom, which had moved west again, moved to the southwest region of Niger in the previous life, from an East African country to a West African country.

In the last war, the Burundi Kingdom had already been destroyed, but its remnants gathered on the Azande Plateau, and then selected the third son of the former king to become the new king of the Burundi Kingdom, that is, Romrom.

At the age of 16, Romrom led the Burundians across the grasslands of the eastern Azande Plateau, plundering women and wealth, and the Burundi Kingdom prospered again.

But the good times did not last long. Before the Burundi Kingdom planned to enjoy it, the East Africans came again. Having experienced the destruction of the country, Romrom knew that the Burundi Kingdom was not an opponent of the East African Kingdom, so he directly negotiated with the Northern Route Army of the East African Kingdom. He could directly give up the land, but he had to give the Burundi Kingdom time.

The East African Kingdom agreed, and this led to the scene of the Burundians migrating from here. In addition to Burundi, the other native kingdoms that fled from the Great Lakes region to the Azande Plateau were the same.

Therefore, the Northern Route Army area looked very lively, a scene of a large-scale relocation of natives, and these black people were also following the route their ancestors took to spread throughout Africa, and returning to their homeland in West Africa.

The migration of these kingdoms will also cause huge historical changes in West Africa. For example, Burundi, Rwanda, and Buganda have all become West African countries, which Ernst thought was very interesting, and he wondered what the development trajectory of these three countries would be like after they arrived in West Africa.

Chapter 277: The Caged Bird Transformed

First Township, Sweet Royal Palace.

Yarman reported the latest war developments to Constantine: “Your Majesty, the southern and northern war fronts are nearing completion. The southern front has successfully advanced to the north bank of the Limpopo River, and the natives in the north have basically withdrawn on their own.”

Constantine paused with the pen in his hand and said, “What about the western front?”

“The western front is still advancing. Due to the numerous rivers, it hasn’t ended yet, but it’s almost there, nearly reaching the Kwango River basin.”

Constantine stood up and looked at the map of East Africa behind him.

(Image)

“In the blink of an eye, the war is about to end. I just wonder how the European war will develop. The French have lost their momentum, and the Italians are still stubbornly holding on. But even if the war ends, the future of Europe will inevitably be even more turbulent.” Constantine sighed.

Although Europe was fighting to the death, Constantine had long been accustomed to it. He had never seen the European war cease in his lifetime. The East African map before him looked so pleasing to the eye; it was all the Hohenzollern family’s property.

……

Kingdom of Italy.

After the Italian Royal Navy surrendered, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s 50,000 ground troops easily arrived on the east coast of the Kingdom of Italy aboard troop carriers.

Subsequently, with the cooperation of the Papal State’s army, the Kingdom of Italy’s territory was directly cut off at the waist by the Allied forces, severing Naples and Sicily’s land connection with the north.

The Neapolitan restoration organization then launched a rebellion, led by Francesco II, the last monarch of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

After Italy unified the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Francesco II went into exile in Rome. Naturally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire would not abandon such a useful pawn.

At the same time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire launched a frenzied retaliation against the non-aristocratic bourgeoisie in Italy. It could be said that before the Kingdom of Italy appeared, most of Italy was under the direct or indirect rule of the Austrian Empire. Without these people acting as internal support, how could the Kingdom of Sardinia have unified Italy so easily?

Under the planning of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Naples was the first to be restored, and those former allies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire also returned to power and began to take over the government.

The future of the restored Kingdom of Naples was indeed worrying, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire didn’t care.

Now, Franz only wanted the result of Naples regaining its independence. As long as Italy was not unified, everything else was a minor problem.

It wasn’t that Franz was petty, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire was, after all, not the Austrian Empire. Now Franz only wanted to swallow Venice and transform it into a German region.

This terrible idea was proposed by Ernst just two days ago.

“Austria cannot lose Venice. Venice’s importance is related to Austria’s future. With Hungary, a rebellious traitor, and a group of other ethnic separatist forces eager to move, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is at risk of disintegration at any time, so Austria must strengthen its own power.” Ernst, who had just returned to Schönbrunn Palace from Hechingen, said to Franz.

“Take advantage of this war to seize Venice, find a way to reduce the Italian population, and then inject German immigrants into the area, which will greatly alleviate the trend of Venice regaining its independence in the future.”

“That’s easier said than done, but if I had so many Germans, the Austrian Empire wouldn’t have become what it is today. Can you spare some of the German immigrants from East Africa for me?” Franz was a little angry. Ernst was completely talking without understanding the difficulties. Everyone knew the solution, but solving the problem was extremely difficult.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire had Germans emigrating every year. Where could he find so many Germans to replace the blood of Venice?

“The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s population outflow is not because the Hungarians and Slavs are too fertile? The more people there are, the fewer job opportunities for Germans. And Austria is already relatively economically developed. Once job opportunities are squeezed, ordinary Germans will naturally seek a way out.” Ernst said, “This war, the Kingdom of Italy is doomed to lose anyway. Take advantage of the present to quickly transport the Italians from the Venetian countryside out. We in East Africa can suffer a little loss and help Austria accomplish this. Afterwards, we will compensate with machines. After the war, Austria can distribute these lands to soldiers. With land, Austrian soldiers will naturally increase the number of Germans. Anyway, the final result depends on your choice.”

Ernst’s calculations were right in Franz’s face. East Africa was going to hollow out Venice to develop East Africa, and even called it helping Austria.

“You, never mind, but what you said does make sense. Although a large population in the Venice region is a wealth, if they are not Germans, then it is a debt for the empire.” Franz said, “But can East Africa digest so many Italians? Aren’t you afraid they will cause trouble for you when they go to East Africa?”

“Hehe, do you really think we are letting them go to Africa for tourism? Once they go to Africa, they will be in a place where no one can hear them even if they shout to the heavens or the earth.” Ernst said coldly.

“You don’t want to turn them into slaves, do you!” Franz said with some suspicion.

“Naturally not, but now there is an industry in East Africa that urgently needs Venetian industrial workers to help complete, so we need this group of people.” Ernst said frankly. As for whether they were slaves, that would have to be discussed carefully. If they accepted East African values, then they would naturally be one of us (Germans). If they didn’t accept, then they would be the object of elimination.

“What industry?” Franz asked curiously.

“Naturally, it’s the textile industry. Most of the immigrants in East Africa have gone to farm, and in the industrial field, it’s basically zero, so we need a group of skilled workers.”

Ernst had always wanted to engage in the textile industry in Africa, but people were precious to East Africa. In order to effectively occupy East Africa, most of the immigrants were arranged to farm and join the army.

Taking this opportunity to plunder people from Venice could effectively alleviate the problem of insufficient population in East Africa. Ernst naturally wouldn’t dare to provoke France, but he certainly had the guts to fleece Italy.

The Venice region, plus the rural population, was close to a million. Ernst wasn’t greedy, and he still had the ability to eat about 400,000 in one go. Adding the Italians who had previously immigrated to East Africa, it would be at most 500,000, which wasn’t too difficult for East Africa, which had a population of nearly four million.

Excluding the personnel responsible for reclaiming farmland, the remaining urban immigrants could directly create two industrial cities in East Africa. In fact, Ernst and Franz understated one industry, which was shipbuilding.

East Africa’s sea area had been wasted all along, which was indeed not a good solution. A large amount of marine fishery resources were wasted in vain. It should be known that the sea area near Somalia was a world-famous seasonal fishing ground.

“It’s not that easy to engage in the textile industry. The raw materials are the problem, but since you want to try, you can indeed give it a try.” Franz said.

Raw materials were a minor problem for East Africa. East Africa’s cotton fields had already begun to be harvested, and Ernst also planned to expand the cotton planting area on this basis.

As for other problems, what was lacking now was manpower and equipment, both of which Ernst planned to directly steal from Venice.

Chapter 278: Over Three Thousand Kilometers

In the former Democratic Republic of Congo, southwest, on the banks of the Kwango River.

Commander Merkel of the Western Route Army, leading the East African Army and Msiri’s auxiliary forces, had successfully arrived here.

The Kwango River is a tributary of the Congo River, originating in the Lunda Plateau in Angola and flowing into the Kasai River before entering the Congo River.

The Kasai River is the largest tributary on the left bank of the Congo River. Its main tributaries from upstream to downstream include the Sankuru River, the Shwembe River, the Tshikapa River, the Kwilu River, and the Kwango River. This area has a dense network of waterways, a large drop in elevation, and abundant water resources.

The Kasai River’s main tributaries from upstream to downstream include the Sankuru River, the Shwembe River, the Tshikapa River, the Kwilu River, and the Kwango River.

The Kwango River was the border river between the former Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. Now, East Africa is using it as its national border, with the Kingdom of Kongo and the Angolan colony’s sphere of influence on the opposite side.

“Now that we control the right bank of the Kwango River, our journey will end here. Thank you, Your Excellency Msiri, for your cooperation. East Africa will provide you and your people with relocation assistance as agreed upon in advance.”

With that, Merkel held a pencil and traced a red line along the Kwango River on the map. Several north-south rivers were also marked in this way, and the Kwango River was the last one.

Msiri was prepared for this, and he didn’t mind. However, there was something he had to say, “Your Excellency Merkel, all of this is fine, but could the Kingdom of East Africa provide me with a little more liquor and tobacco?”

Under the deliberate cultivation of the Kingdom of East Africa, Msiri had ultimately fallen into the trap of becoming an alcoholic and a chain smoker.

“Of course, no problem! Mr. Msiri, this is easy to handle. We can give you a batch for free, but after that, you’ll have to pay for it.”

“Naturally, there’s no problem,” Msiri replied.

What East Africa wanted in terms of money was actually precious metals, animal furs, and some specialty products. In short, anything of value could be exchanged. For Msiri, this was a minor issue.

“Your Excellency Merkel, I don’t know where you plan to settle us?” Although Msiri knew that East Africa had arranged a route for his kingdom, he didn’t know the specific location, only that it was in the north.

“Look!” Merkel spread out the map and said to Msiri, “Here is East Africa, and our current location is here, while your kingdom will be in this location. You will go east all the way until you reach this lake (Tanganyika), then take a boat to Bujumbura. From there, you will turn northwest and finally cross the northern territory of East Africa to arrive here. We in East Africa call this place Cameroon.”

Seeing the large circle that Merkel drew on the map, Msiri was somewhat stunned. This was not the relocation he had imagined! The distance was too far!

In Africa, it is common for indigenous kingdoms and tribes to relocate. Msiri’s Yeke Kingdom had migrated westward because of East Africa’s expansion.

However, the usual relocation of indigenous people is a move from their original area to a nearby area. The relocation route that Merkel announced to Msiri directly bypassed the Congo rainforest and took a large detour.

Although Msiri was unfamiliar with maps, he had been following Merkel these days and had seen him fiddling with maps from time to time, so he knew some basic concepts.

Msiri had once asked Merkel where his kingdom was, and Merkel pointed to a spot on the map, a place the size of a fingertip, which was the entire territory of his kingdom. Compared to that, East Africa and the Yeke Kingdom were like a palm, and now East Africa’s area was even larger.

Seeing that Msiri was a little worried, Merkel comforted him, “The distance is a bit long, but it’s not a big deal. It’s just over three thousand kilometers! There are waterways in the middle, so it won’t take too much time.”

Msiri didn’t know how long over three thousand kilometers was, but he knew that the line Merkel drew, just looking at it on the map, could circle the Yeke Kingdom many times.

Forget it, since East Africa is paying for the food along the way, I won’t worry about such a long journey. Msiri then asked, “Cameroon, what’s the environment like there?”

“It’s similar to here, maybe a little more rain, but otherwise there’s not much difference. Moreover, the indigenous forces there are very weak. You can still be king and dominate there,” Merkel replied.

Msiri asked somewhat suspiciously, “If that’s the case, why doesn’t East Africa take that place?”

“Heh heh heh, East Africa is already at its limit. We have a lot of land that hasn’t been developed yet, and we don’t have time to manage such a distant place. And I’m not afraid to tell you, East Africa’s current goal is to clear out the local natives. As for what means we use, that’s hard to say. If you hadn’t had a good attitude and cooperated well, you might have ended up like the natives we wiped out before. So, migrating to the north is a good place to go. Once you get there, we won’t be able to control you,” Merkel said.

Although the words were a bit harsh, they were all true. Msiri pondered for a moment and felt that his initial decision to be a pragmatist was the right one.

Msiri confirmed again, “Mr. Merkel, are the natives there really weak? You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“Of course not, Your Excellency Msiri. You have traded in the East African savanna before, so you should know the state of those tribes in the East African savanna back then. To be honest, the kingdom you created is a symbol of civilization compared to them. The situation in Cameroon is similar to the former East African savanna. Plus, you have firearms in your hands, while those natives are still using spears and bows and arrows. Don’t tell me you can’t beat those natives with your muskets.”

“So that’s how it is. If my army goes there, it should be easy to gain a foothold. No, I should say become their new ruler.” After knowing the state of those natives, Msiri became more confident.

Msiri had a firearms unit of a thousand men, plus the ordinary armed forces of the Yeke Kingdom, several thousand people. This strength could indeed crush the local natives of Cameroon.

“Mr. Merkel, I have one last question!”

“What is it?”

“That is, if my kingdom moves into this so-called Cameroon, how will we obtain your goods in the future?”

Msiri looked at the map and found that the Cameroon referred to by the Kingdom of East Africa was a considerable distance from East Africa, even separated.

Merkel said, “That’s easy. When the time comes, you can send a trade caravan and report to our border personnel. We, the Kingdom of East Africa, welcome trade! Oh, right, don’t forget to mention your own name. After all, you are a person who has contributed to East Africa. Maybe you can get a discount.”

Unlike East Africa’s closed coastal areas, the Kingdom of East Africa also promotes free trade inland. Compared to the natives, East Africa is an industrial country compared to an agricultural country. Relying on the small commodities produced by the Black Hegen Consortium, they can obtain various resources needed by East Africa from the African chiefs.

Chapter 279: Somali Bananas

The Western Route Army’s occupation of the right bank of the Kouango River also signified the end of the Third East African Conquest War. Currently, East Africa could be considered to have eaten its fill.

With the military objectives completed, East Africa’s focus shifted from war to national development. Now, East Africa needed to digest the fruits of this war while preparing for the future global situation.

Currently, in Europe, the Franco-Prussian War and the Italo-Austrian War were still ongoing. As for the Franco-Prussian War, Ernst, having seen the script, already knew the ending. The main uncertainty lay with how Italy would change things.

October 3, 1870.

Hohenzollern Castle.

Under the electric light, Ernst was studying the collected geographical data of Somalia. He used a pencil to make corrections and additions to the East African map beside him. East Africa’s territories in Somalia mainly consisted of the Northern Province and the Jubaland Province.

Designating the Northern Province and the Jubaland Province as planned development zones, Ernst positioned the two provinces to vigorously develop cash crop cultivation and animal husbandry.

In reality, Somalia was not purely a desert country. Fifteen percent of its land area was covered by forests, and a similar area was grassland. Especially the two provinces of East Africa, whose coverage area not only included Somalia but also encompassed most of what was southeastern Ethiopia in his previous life.

As for food crop cultivation, that would be left to other regions. Somalia’s arable land resources were relatively scarce within East Africa, as were water resources, so it was more cost-effective to grow cash crops.

First, the cultivation of frankincense and myrrh would be increased. There was no worry about selling these two items. The Somali region historically abounded in spices and was now the world’s main producer of frankincense and myrrh, hence its nickname “Land of Spices.” Frankincense and myrrh were the local flagship products, accounting for more than half of the world’s production.

Then there was animal husbandry. The most important product of Somali animal husbandry was mainly camels. In his previous life, Somalia had the largest number of camels in the world, followed by cattle and sheep. East Africa did not have a large demand for camels, but they could be sold to North Africa and the Middle East.

Frankincense and myrrh cultivation and camel breeding could be considered Somalia’s traditional advantageous industries. On this basis, Ernst planned to turn Somalia into East Africa’s cotton and banana planting base.

Speaking of banana cultivation, this was definitely a new field. There were many banana trees in East Africa, but large-scale cultivation had never taken shape, so they were not commercialized, but rather ordinary fruits for East African residents.

The bananas produced in Somalia in his previous life had an excellent taste, with a vanilla-cream flavor, and were known as the “sweetest bananas in the world.” Somalia also earned the reputation of “Banana Kingdom” because of this.

Currently, Somalia’s banana cultivation industry was basically a blank slate. In his previous life, Somali banana cultivation began during the Italian colonial period in the 1920s. In the fertile land of southern Somalia, the Italians built more than two hundred banana plantations.

Italy’s banana cultivation industry was very successful, and bananas quickly became one of the staple foods of Somalis, which can be eaten with rice or pasta, or as a pre-dinner fruit. From the dietary habits of Somalis, it can be seen that Italy had a profound impact on the banana cultivation industry in Somalia.

Later, when warlords in various parts of Somalia fought like cats and dogs, they would also prioritize seizing banana plantations. Therefore, the banana industry was very important to Somalia. Of course, those Somali warlords had no chance to seize banana plantations now. The Northern Province and the Jubaland Province of East Africa did not have a single local.

Thinking of this, Ernst said, “Tom, contact agricultural experts in Europe, preferably those skilled in banana cultivation techniques, and ask if any are willing to develop in East Africa. Also, find more professional information on banana cultivation. We need data to support the economic development of the Somali region.”

“Yes, Your Highness! But I have a question. Isn’t Somalia a desert? Is it suitable for growing bananas there?” Tom asked curiously.

“It is a desert climate, but not entirely desert. There are oases in the deserts of Egypt! And I don’t need to tell you how fertile the Nile River is. Although the Shebelle River and the Jubba River in Somalia are not as good as the Nile River, they are not too bad. They can both provide irrigation water for the two banks. As long as there is a water source, the desert is a minor matter.”

“I see. But, Your Highness, why do you have to grow bananas in Somalia? Aren’t there many of them in other areas of East Africa?” Tom asked strangely.

Bananas are very common in Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region, which is very suitable for banana cultivation. In previous-life documentaries, Africans used bicycles to transport bananas in the Great Lakes countries. For example, the “national dish” of Uganda is banana rice, and the “national drink” Waragi is also brewed with bananas. The famous Old Debiao is a banana transporter in Burundi. Bananas are the staple food of many Africans, so the bicycles of Old Debiaos are not carrying fruit, but life.

“Those places have good bananas, but they can’t compare with Somalia in terms of distance. We want to target the European market, and the transportation of products is a big problem, especially agricultural products such as bananas and melons. Somalia’s location is very good because the Suez Canal has been opened, so it is close to Europe, and there are ports that can be used directly,” Ernst explained.

The main banana-producing area of Somalia, Afgooye, is only more than thirty kilometers away from Mogadishu, and Mogadishu Port is very convenient to the Middle East and Europe, especially in terms of distance, it has much more advantages than Southeast Asia and the Americas, which produce similar products. With this locational advantage, as long as bananas are grown, it is difficult not to make a fortune.

The history of banana cultivation in Africa is very long, and it is the only region that can compete with Southeast Asia and the Americas in the banana cultivation industry.

“Now, I heard that Americans also want to engage in banana cultivation in Latin America, so we will focus on doing business in Europe and the Middle East,” Ernst said.

The American banana cultivation industry also started around this time, but the Americans planted on islands in Latin America and the Caribbean, not in the United States. East Africa planted on its own territory. If slaves are not used, it will definitely not be like the Americans, causing public outrage.

“In terms of cost, our East African banana production may be slightly higher than that of the United States, but for tropical crops such as bananas, preservation and transportation are the biggest problems if they are generally used for export. Compared with the Americans, the entire Middle East and European markets are open to us.”

At this time, Tom asked, “Your Highness, listening to what you said, planting bananas in Somalia does have its advantages, but can’t Europe’s banana imports also be introduced from West Africa? Spain, Britain, and France are doing this.”

“Heh heh heh, of course I know this, but that is the Atlantic coast, but Europe is very large, especially Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Ottoman Empire, Tsarist Russia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are all our markets,” Ernst said.

Especially Tsarist Russia, a cold country, lacks tropical products the most. In fact, India is quite close to Tsarist Russia, but the problem is that the heart of Tsarist Russia is in Eastern Europe. East Africa has a greater transportation advantage by using the Suez Canal and finally reaching Tsarist Russian ports through the Black Sea.

Chapter 280: The Bagamoyo Shipyard and the Culture War

Bagamoyo.

South of the East African naval base, on the south bank of the Little Rhine River, a new construction site is taking shape: the Bagamoyo Shipyard is being planned and built.

The factory area has already been completed. Based on the model of the Venice Arsenal, combined with the geographical conditions of Bagamoyo Port, an East African shipyard of equal scale is being constructed.

The Bagamoyo Shipyard is currently the largest project actively introduced by East Africa, aimed at enhancing East Africa’s independent ship manufacturing capabilities.

Berstel, a technician from the Venice Arsenal, is introducing the project to Konstantin.

“The main reason for moving the Venice Arsenal to Bagamoyo is to avoid crowding the operational space of Dar es Salaam Port. Although Dar es Salaam’s conditions and infrastructure are stronger than Bagamoyo’s, Dar es Salaam, as an open port, occupies an important position in the East African economy. East Africa’s import and export capacity is mainly concentrated in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. From the current perspective, it is not impossible to build shipbuilding industries in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, but considering the future development of various East African ports, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specifically instructed that the shipyard should be located in a non-free port area. Among the non-free ports, only Bagamoyo and Mogadishu have the best conditions, but Mogadishu is located too far north, and the Somali climate causes a lack of relevant raw materials there.”

The shipbuilding industry is still relatively dependent on wood, and Mogadishu, as an oasis city, is at a disadvantage in terms of raw materials.

“Bagamoyo itself has excellent conditions, with good water depth. Zanzibar Island on the opposite side offsets most of the sea breeze, and like Dar es Salaam, it is located in the leeward bay area of the mainland. All these conditions give Bagamoyo Port the potential to be no less than Venice,” Berstel said eloquently.

Berstel is an Austrian, a technician from the Trieste shipyard. He previously studied at the Venice Arsenal. After the Hechingen Consortium opened a Trieste branch of the Venice Arsenal, he was appointed as the factory director.

The East African shipbuilding industry is roughly divided into two systems: one is the inland shipbuilding industry relying on lakes and rivers, typically the Mwanza Shipyard along the Great Lakes, the Kigoma Shipyard on Lake Tanganyika, and the Karonga Shipyard on the shores of Lake Malawi.

The other is the coastal shipbuilding industry, which is just starting. After listening to the advice of Navy Commander Ferdinand, East Africa established two small ship repair yards in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa respectively. Their main business, in addition to providing maintenance for ships along the way, also includes the production of small wooden fishing boats.

These two small ship repair yards were actually rebuilt on the basis of the original Zanzibar Sultanate shipyard. The technology system originated from Arabia, but the shipbuilding center of Zanzibar is actually on Zanzibar Island, mainly because Zanzibar’s control over the coast was too short.

Another city in East Africa with shipbuilding capabilities is Mogadishu. As a port with a long history along the Indian Ocean, Mogadishu has certain shipbuilding capabilities, but it is completely behind in technology.

Taking advantage of the outbreak of the Austro-Italian War, Ernst planned to replicate the Hechingen Shipyard of Venice to East Africa. The panic caused by the war helped the shipyard workers to actively choose to develop in East Africa.

“After the Bagamoyo Shipyard is completed, does it mean that East Africa can independently develop in the manufacture of seagoing ships?” Konstantin asked.

“That depends on how you understand it. For example, now, the design, planning, and construction of the shipyard are completely done by our own people. Does this count as independent and autonomous? But in terms of hardware, the East African shipbuilding industry is completely unable to meet the conditions for independent autonomy,” Berstel said. “For example, steam power systems and important parts will definitely need to be imported. Even if the Bagamoyo Shipyard is completed, it can only complete the construction of the hull separately, so it is essentially a large ship assembly plant.”

Berstel continued: “Currently, the completion of the Bagamoyo Shipyard is still a milestone for the East African shipbuilding industry. First solve the problem of having something, and then the missing industrial chain will gradually be filled. Bagamoyo is a large place, and in the future, a related industry of shipbuilding will be formed here, centered on the Bagamoyo Shipyard.”

“So that’s how it is!” Konstantin exclaimed. “After the Bagamoyo Shipyard is completed, what level will the ships it produces be in the world?”

“Unfortunately, Your Majesty, technically, it is estimated to be two generations behind. In fact, the Venice Arsenal itself is slightly behind its peers in technology due to the decline of Venice. Now, shipbuilding has once again been greatly improved in terms of technological progress due to the emergence of ironclad ships, so the shipbuilding technology introduced by Bagamoyo will definitely lag behind the European mainland.”

The Bagamoyo Shipyard is said to be a replica of the Venice Arsenal, but in reality, it is just taking the machines from the Venice Arsenal, assembling them in Bagamoyo, and putting them back into production. The original Venice Arsenal will introduce new equipment and technology to upgrade its industry.

The opening of the Suez Canal and the resurgence of the Mediterranean economy is an inevitable trend, and Venice, the most dazzling port city on the Mediterranean coast in the past, will also usher in a second spring, so improving the shipbuilding level of the Hechingen Venice Arsenal has become important.

This is one of the reasons why Ernst built the Bagamoyo Shipyard: eliminating the backward technology and equipment of the Venice Arsenal to East Africa is advanced technology for East Africa, and the Venice Arsenal can also complete industrial upgrading, which is beneficial to both.

At the same time, by migrating most of the Italian workers from the Venice Arsenal to East Africa, Ernst can recruit more Germans from Austria to work in Venice, which is tantamount to helping Austria control Venice.

In addition to Ernst’s previous poisonous plan, the population of the villages around the city of Venice was emptied, and then the areas outside the city of Venice became Austrians, isolating the city of Venice, which is dominated by Italians, from the countryside.

The probability of the Italian rural areas, which are separated from the city, being influenced by Venice is greatly reduced, because culture will consciously concentrate in the city and then radiate out.

If they cannot receive the radiation of Venetian Italian culture, Austria can slowly assimilate the farmers in the Veneto region through education and other means, provided that the right of interpretation of the local rural gentry is broken, and then ideological indoctrination is carried out on the Italian old farmers. Not to say one hundred percent, most Italians will slowly become Austrians.

It is a general trend for the countryside to supplement the urban population. Slowly, the Italians in the city of Venice will be replaced by the surrounding Austrian country people due to fertility problems. In this way, from the upper to the lower levels, the Germans’ right to speak can be gradually strengthened. As for the middle class, the backbone of Italian culture, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will try to get them to leave Venice. After all, the Kingdom of Italy cannot but accept these true Italian patriots. As for those who are stubborn and do not want to leave, East Africa can take over. Ernst doesn’t care about this. If they behave well in East Africa, they can be saved. If not, an Alaskan snow package will be arranged.

Of course, this is just a hypothesis. Whether it can be completed depends on comprehensive factors. For example, if the Kingdom of Italy reclaims Venice in the future, this process will be interrupted, but the possibility is very low.

There is another purpose in doing this, which is to block the spread of Italian culture within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Italian culture along the Adriatic Sea is very strong, and these areas happen to be the Austrian coast. The connecting center of Venice is broken, and slowly the Italian culture on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea will also decline. Next, we will start to solve the cultural imprint of the Slavs (mainly Croatians and Slovenians). At least the ethnic conflicts in the Austrian region can be greatly alleviated.

This is essentially a culture war. Ernst, as the proposer, feels that if things are done, future generations of Austrians must thank him. Of course, according to his previous life experience, the so-called bleeding-heart liberals in postmodern society will definitely criticize his “evil deeds” if they know about it, just like some people among the Saxons enjoy the blessings brought by their ancestors through exploitation and colonization, and then overthrow the statues of Victoria.

If they really repent of the evils of colonialism, in Ernst’s view, these people should first cut off their food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and live the lives of poor people in Africa. After all, everything they enjoy is the legacy of the British colonial system. Do they really think that working less than eight hours a day and still living comfortably is the result of technological progress! That is just the result of the country’s capital trying to plunder wealth from other countries. The colonial era is far from over, but it has been replaced by more hidden economic colonialism.

Chapter 281: Labor Export

Of course, this was purely Ernst’s personal opinion. From his perspective, having lived two lives, what he couldn’t empathize with the most were the various so-called “organizations” of his previous life, or rather, the “minority” who shouted the loudest slogans. Most ordinary people are silent. In reality, when ordinary people become a “mute” group, they will choose the “minority” according to their own preferences, and ultimately the unified values will become fragmented, and social order will collapse.

Maintaining social order and stability is also the foundation of the East African assimilation policy. Once ordinary people’s basic needs of food, clothing, housing, and transportation are met, they will naturally slowly integrate into the East African group. Everyone is busy with life and has no time to think too much, which is the best state for the ruling Hohenzollern royal family.

Otherwise, according to conventional colonial methods, the East African kingdom should be squeezing the indigenous people to the limit to support the immigrant population, following the path of Britain and France.

…

“Starting this year, make it clear to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and let Said reduce the number of slave trades, preferably turning ‘slave trade’ into history within five years.” Ernst said to his father on the phone.

Constantine was a little surprised, “Uh, that might be difficult to handle! The slave trade is an important industry of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Letting them give it up, I’m afraid…”

Ernst said, “The slave trade is already becoming more and more difficult to do. Britain and France have been cracking down on the traditional slave trade. Zanzibar’s industry is already in its twilight years. Just yesterday, two Zanzibar slave ships were seized by the British. So, we are preventing them from continuing to do so for their own good. Otherwise, if the British really find a pretext for war, are we going to help or not?”

As a de facto vassal state of East Africa, Ernst does not want other forces to interfere in Zanzibar. It is very close to Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo, so there is no room for error.

“The British are not to be feared, Ernst. The kingdom’s size has reached the first in Africa. We are not afraid of the British in this region.” As a proud German aristocrat, Constantine felt that his son overestimated the British.

“Father, I am not afraid of the British, but it is not necessary to have a conflict with the British now. The British can waste their national power, but our East Africa is not yet strong enough. If we have a conflict with the British now, one thing is certain, that is, it will slow down the development speed of East Africa. Just the blockade of maritime trade will be very difficult for us,” Ernst explained.

“Well, you’re right, but would the British turn against us for a Zanzibar?”

“Nothing is absolute. East Africa has taken so many advantages, and it will inevitably arouse the dissatisfaction of Britain and other colonial countries in the future. It just hasn’t broken out yet. Once the European economy suffers, they will definitely swarm out and resolve internal conflicts around the world through expansion, and Africa is a very good piece of fat,” Ernst said.

Constantine thought carefully and realized that this was indeed the case. East Africa’s size is at the level of the Netherlands and Portugal in Europe, and it is not enough to be awe-inspiring. Moreover, his family has occupied so much land. If the news is exposed, it may really cause trouble.

In fact, East Africa will not be able to hide for long. The third war of conquest launched by East Africa is about to break into the British colonies in three directions. Sooner or later, the British will realize that a monster has appeared in Africa.

“In that case, what are your thoughts?” Constantine asked.

“From this year to the next ten years, the most important thing for us in East Africa is to first build up the military industry, achieve independent production of weapons, and ensure the seven million square kilometers of East African territory, while being able to cope with enemies in multiple directions. After the Franco-Prussian War, I will transfer the Berlin arsenal to East African territory, as well as the Austrian artillery factory. Rifles and artillery are the first two things to establish production lines in East Africa,” Ernst said.

“Well, that’s right.”

“In addition to this, it is to digest the land annexed this time and last time within ten years, especially the Matabeleland Plateau in the south, which has the highest priority. There are a lot of iron and coal there, which are the most important resources for industrial development.”

Constantine asked doubtfully, “Are you sure? How come I don’t know about this?”

Ernst naturally learned it from his memories of his previous life, but he certainly couldn’t say that, “This is the preliminary investigation that I sent people to do at the beginning. It has not been verified yet, but since there is a possibility, we must make full preparations.”

“Forget it, we’re getting off topic. Let’s continue to talk about the Sultanate of Zanzibar!” Constantine said, “If we push too hard on the slave trade, will it have a negative effect? What if they turn to the British?”

“We need to make it clear to them that it is Britain and France that are banning slavery, not East Africa. We are just giving friendly reminders. If the Little Said government is very resistant to this matter, then we will not forcibly interfere. But if they insist on their own way and the British really seize the handle, you tell him that we East Africa will destroy the Sultanate of Zanzibar first, after all, Zanzibar Island is related to the security of the East African coast.”

Constantine laughed loudly, “Hahaha, I thought you had a change of heart, but I didn’t expect you to have this idea. You’re really something, but the slave issue is not just Zanzibar’s own issue, it is also related to East Africa. We are the suppliers.”

“We are the suppliers, but the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s set of slave trade methods is too bad, and it is time to keep up with the times. We in East Africa also have our own immigrant ships. In fact, the environment is not much better than slave ships. If the people of Zanzibar want to continue doing slave business, no, it is labor business, they must also upgrade their industry,” Ernst said.

After going around for a long time, it was not to abolish the slave trade in Zanzibar, but to adopt a more concealed method.

“Let the Little Said government change the identity of the slave traders and become labor export companies, and at the same time improve the living environment of the slave ships, at least let these slaves look a bit human before they go to the Middle East, so that is also considered playing a gray area,” Ernst said.

“It’s really a bit superfluous. If the British really intend to attack our East Africa, they can find an excuse at will.”

“I’m just taking precautions. If the British are unyielding, then there is no way. We have made compromises in advance. If the British are really unreasonable, then we will smash all the British colonies in Africa to pieces,” Ernst said gloomily.

Ernst currently does not want to have a conflict with the British, but if the British really cause trouble for East Africa, East Africa is not a lamb to be slaughtered.

“Well, very good, this is the spirit that our Hohenzollern family should have. Peace needs force as a backing, and fear can only cede land and seek peace,” Constantine said with satisfaction.

Chapter 282: The “Progress” of the Zanzibar Sultanate

October 17, 1870.

Zanzibar Island, House of Wonders.

The House of Wonders stands at the western end of Stone Town and is part of the Sultan’s Palace. This magnificent building has 40 large columns, under each of which 60 black slaves were buried alive.

Old Said died last year, and with the support of the East African Kingdom, Little Said became the new monarch of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Little Said has a clear understanding of his capabilities, which is to maintain the political status quo of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

“Envoy Lemons, what does your country mean by this! We Zanzibaris rely on the slave trade to barely make a living. If the slave trade is abolished, to be honest, I personally don’t care, but the ministers and merchants below will not agree. If I agree to your country’s conditions, I might as well step down,” Little Said complained to Lemons, the East African envoy to Zanzibar.

“Your Excellency Said, please do not misunderstand. It is not the East African Kingdom forcing Zanzibar to abolish the slave trade. This matter is essentially for the sake of Zanzibar.”

Taking a sip of coffee from an oriental teacup imported from the Far East by the Zanzibar royal family, Lemons continued to analyze unhurriedly: “Now the efforts of Europe to ban the slave trade are increasing, especially the United Kingdom and France, they are the enforcers. Our East Africa doesn’t really care about slaves, but we can’t control European public opinion. Your country should have felt it these years. The British have recently been increasing their efforts to check the slave trade in the Indian Ocean.”

Little Said sighed and said: “We also know this, but the huge profits of the slave trade will not be given up by the people below. This is related to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Zanzibaris. Even I, as the monarch, cannot control the thoughts of my subjects. If I go against the thoughts of the people, my reign will be over!”

“Your Excellency Said, don’t worry. Generally speaking, East Africa is still very clear about the national conditions of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and we will not embarrass your country. We in East Africa have prepared a plan for you regarding this matter,” Lemons said.

“Oh! I wonder what good methods your country has?” Said asked curiously.

“First of all, the slave trade definitely cannot continue to exist. Find a time recently to announce the abolition of the legality of the slave trade, and first announce the abolition of the slave system from the legal level of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.”

“This matter can be done, but is it just doing it in name?”

“Of course not! Since we want to abolish the slave trade, we naturally have to put on a full show. Of course, I don’t mean to really abolish the slave trade, but to make the methods of the slave trade more high-end and concealed,” Lemons explained.

“I don’t know how to operate it specifically!” After hearing that Lemons didn’t really want Zanzibar to abolish the slave system, Little Said felt a little relieved.

“The first point has already been said, abolish the slave system at the legal level, so that the Zanzibar regime is not considered a slave-owning country in law. Next is to package the original slave trade. The slave trade has been resisted by various countries, but employing workers is legal. All slave trade groups under the control of the Sultanate of Zanzibar must replace the slave trade with legitimate labor export companies, and emphasize in foreign exchanges and commercial activities that they are ‘domestic laborers’ going abroad to earn foreign exchange.”

“If it’s just like this, Mr. Lemons, don’t worry, we can still do it,” Little Said said.

Lemons shook his head and said: “Things are not that simple. Since it is labor export, then slave ships will no longer exist. You must improve the living conditions of ‘labor’ transport ships. We don’t force you to do too well, at least make it look decent. These ‘laborers’ must have relatively decent clothes before going to the Middle East, and they must have a certain amount of activity space, and they can no longer be squeezed into narrow shelves like goods.”

Hearing this, Little Said was in trouble: “Mr. Lemons, not to mention anything else, the cost of clothes alone is not a small amount, not to mention giving slaves more space, the number of slaves on a ship will also decrease, and less money will be made. The slave merchants will not agree.”

Lemons said: “Clothes can also be reused. Just give the slaves a set of clothes from Zanzibar to the destination, take them off after arriving at the destination, and they can be used again next time. It doesn’t cost much money. As for the reduction in the amount of slaves transported and less money earned, it’s still better than being caught by other countries and not being able to do business, right!”

“You are right about this, but the slave trade is a spontaneous behavior of merchants, and they also have to calculate costs. I am afraid that many people will not implement it well, especially the system of our Sultanate of Zanzibar, which leads us to not have too much restraint on these merchants,” Little Said said.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar is lucky to receive a little tax from these slave traders, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar itself participates in the slave trade. The royal family is the beneficiary of the slave trade, which means that the high-level officials of the Sultanate of Zanzibar are the largest slave traders in the Indian Ocean.

Lemons said with a smile: “Your Excellency Said, as long as the Sultanate of Zanzibar can supervise its citizens to implement it, the slave trade is a profitable industry, and you earn a lot. Buying clothes for slaves doesn’t cost much. We in East Africa can help you with this and provide mechanically produced clothing at only the cost price.”

“That’s what you say, but Zanzibari citizens are flexible. They can be Zanzibari citizens, but they can also be Omani citizens, or even Ottoman citizens. It is difficult for us to define their identities. How can we supervise them?” Little Said asked rhetorically.

“This matter is easy to handle. Learn from East Africa to establish a household registration system to determine the identity of Zanzibari citizens. If you don’t agree to become a Zanzibari citizen, we won’t force it, but if something happens, you can push the responsibility to other countries, Oman, Ottoman, anything is fine. But to be clear, we will assist you in this household registration system, don’t think about playing tricks,” Lemons said.

“Household registration system?”

“Yes, issuing identity documents to residents can effectively identify the behavior of your Zanzibari citizens at sea.”

“I estimate that the ministers will not agree to implement it,” Little Said shook his head and said. He didn’t think his subordinates would accept this suggestion.

“You have to implement it even if you don’t want to. This is the will of the East African Kingdom. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of these plans, we, the East African Kingdom, will strengthen the garrison in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. At the same time, because of the British ship seizure incident a few days ago, we believe that the current situation in the Sultanate of Zanzibar is somewhat dangerous. For the strategic security of the East African Kingdom, the defense of the Sultanate of Zanzibar will also be incorporated into the East African Kingdom’s military defense system.”

After saying so much, East Africa’s true intention is revealed. Zanzibar Island is related to the strategic security of the East African coast, so it is naturally impossible to let Zanzibar Island remain outside the East African defense system.

Little Said’s face was a little ugly, but he endured it. In fact, East Africa has always had a garrison in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and it is near the palace, with only a few hundred people, but Little Said would not joke about his own safety.

“I wonder how your country plans to strengthen the Zanzibar garrison?”

“The important ports and strategic locations of Zanzibar Island are all within this plan. We will increase the number of troops to 3,000, and the artillery and other things will also be taken over by the East African artillery unit,” Lemons announced East Africa’s decision.

“Then… okay! We fully accept the decision of the East African Kingdom,” Little Said finally couldn’t be tough.

Lemons patted Little Said on the shoulder with a smile and said: “You don’t have to worry. East Africa is strengthening Zanzibar’s defense mainly to deal with countries outside the region, not targeting the Sultanate of Zanzibar itself. Old Said used to be an old friend of our East Africa. We in East Africa still support the rule of the Zanzibar royal family.”

Lemons gave Little Said a reassurance, which can be regarded as a verbal promise that the Sultanate of Zanzibar will continue to exist.

…

October 21, 1870.

After Lemons “friendly” persuaded the ministers in Zanzibar, the Sultanate of Zanzibar agreed to all the requirements of the East African Kingdom.

On the same day, the Sultanate of Zanzibar issued legal provisions, completely announcing the abolition of the slave system to the outside world. All slaves gained free status. At the same time, the Sultanate of Zanzibar no longer engaged in the slave trade and prohibited official and private slave trade activities in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

At the same time, East Africa also began to plan the defense work of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, incorporating Zanzibar Island into the East African defense system, increasing the garrison on Zanzibar Island, and rebuilding the defense works of the port.

As for the slaves of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, after gaining freedom, they signed employment agreements with their former masters. At the same time, a large number of registered “labor companies” appeared in the Sultanate of Zanzibar the next day, nominally providing labor services for the Middle East and other regions.

Chapter 283: Theresian Military Academy

Although the Sultanate of Zanzibar only nominally abolished the slave trade, being able to end it at the legal level was still a form of progress.

……

Hechingen.

Early morning in Hechingen, on the hillside below Hohenzollern Castle, a large open space had been temporarily cleared, surrounded by green trees.

“Fire!”

“Bang…Bang…Bang!”

“Present arms!”

The entire faculty, staff, and students of the Hechingen Military Academy, along with Leopold, held a memorial ceremony for the students who had sacrificed themselves on the Franco-Prussian battlefield. Principal Ernst personally erected a monument and offered earth for the fallen students who had participated in the war.

“Today is a sad day for us, because our excellent students, your close comrades-in-arms, have had their lives taken by war. They sacrificed themselves on the road to German unification. The academy will not forget your contributions, nor will the Hohenzollern family. You are worthy of your honor as soldiers, your courage…” Ernst delivered a eulogy, giving the fallen students the highest praise.

“Alright, everyone, go down the mountain! You still have more important tasks ahead of you. The days ahead are long!” Ernst said after the memorial ceremony.

“Yes, Principal!”

“By the way, Heinrich, stay behind.”

……

Hohenzollern Castle.

Ernst, Leopold, and Heinrich were sitting in the living room.

“Heinrich, where is your family from?” Ernst asked.

“Naturally, from Hechingen.”

“I’m talking about before you came to Europe.”

“Then it should be Laiyang County.”

“Hmm, that’s a county under Yantai, right? It’s good that you remember where you came from, but in the future, remember that you are now a German. Your ancestors came from the Far East.”

“Yes, Principal, I will remember it clearly.” Heinrich replied powerfully.

Leopold, on the other hand, asked curiously, “Where is Laiyang? You know about it, Ernst.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of it. You also know that Hechingen has business dealings with the Far East, so I know a little about some cities in the Far East.”

Leopold changed the subject, “Never mind, we’re getting off topic. Let’s summarize the results on the battlefield! Your students performed very well in this war, especially Heinrich, who commanded very well. Compared to the Prussian army, the Hechingen Brigade, which has undergone professional education, performed very well.”

“Yes, that’s for sure. People who have received military education are generally stronger than ordinary people. It’s just that they haven’t received military education for long enough, otherwise they would have performed even better.” Ernst agreed.

“Then what are you planning to do with them next?” Leopold asked curiously.

“I applied to Emperor Franz, and I’m planning to select a group of students from this batch to study at the Theresian Military Academy in Austria.”

“Theresian! That’s Austria’s most important military command academy. It only recruits about two hundred people each year. How many places did Emperor Franz give you?” Leopold asked curiously.

“Thirty, not many, but it’s easier to get in than the Berlin Military Academy.” Ernst said.

Originally, Konstantin used connections to get the Berlin Military Academy to recruit two students from the Hechingen Military Academy. This time, Ernst himself got Franz to agree to give the Hechingen Military Academy thirty places.

The Theresian Military Academy was founded on December 15, 1751, and is one of the oldest military academies in the world. It recruits one hundred noble students and one hundred ordinary students each year, so Franz was indeed very generous to give Ernst more than thirty places.

Top military academies in both countries, such as the Berlin Military Academy and the Theresian Military Academy, are related to the highest military secrets of Prussia and Austria, and represent the direction of military command in both countries, so it is indeed not easy to arrange for students to enter.

“Thirty is still too few! Even Austrians don’t get this treatment.” Leopold severely despised Ernst.

“What is this? These thirty people are very likely to be related to the future development direction of East African military affairs, and also mean Austria’s influence on East Africa in the future. It’s just a matter of each getting what they need.”

Leopold revealed, “Hehe, if only it were that easy. But your identity as a Habsburg family son-in-law does come in handy.”

Ernst ignored Leopold’s teasing and instead turned to Heinrich and said, “I’m preparing to give you one of these thirty places. When you go there, you must study hard and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of the Prussian and Austrian military philosophies. In the future, I plan to establish a military academy in East Africa, and you are currently the candidate for principal.”

“Me, Principal? Why not pick Erich! His grades are better than mine!”

Ernst said, “There’s no need to be so humble. General Moltke has already taken a liking to Erich. He is very likely to stay in Prussia or the German Empire in the future. It’s good to develop in Prussia. As for you, will you feel wronged if you go to East Africa in the future?”

Heinrich shook his head and said, “Of course not. From the day I arrived in Hechingen, I swore to be forever loyal to the Hohenzollern family. I will do whatever you ask me to do, Principal, without any complaints.”

Leopold, who was listening from the side, exclaimed, “Very good, Heinrich. Just for those words, you can come to me for help if you encounter any trouble in Europe in the future.”

“Thank you, Your Highness Leopold!”

“We’ve been through thick and thin together, so there’s no need to be so polite.” Leopold replied.

At this time, Ernst said, “Leopold, I still have to thank you this time for leading these kids on a tour of the battlefield.”

Leopold laughed loudly, “Hahaha, I was originally planning to participate in this war, but I couldn’t find an opportunity before. You can be said to have fulfilled my dream, and the Hechingen Brigade performed very well. It was very comfortable to command on the battlefield. I can be considered to have commanded a remarkable battle in this war. After the Battle of Dybbol, I can be considered a well-known general.”

Ernst said, “You can’t say that. Since you helped me, I have to show something in return. A favor on the battlefield is a big deal. I don’t know if you are interested in colonies? I can help you Sigmaringen get a piece of land.”

Leopold was a little surprised, “Colonies! In Africa?”

“Yes!” Ernst got up and took out a map from the drawer behind him.

He spread the map on the table and pointed to western Central Africa, “This location, we can help you complete the occupation in advance, if you are interested.”

Leopold shook his head and said, “Let’s forget it! Sigmaringen is actually short of funds now. Most of the family’s funds have been invested in Romania. Even if you give me a colony for free, we won’t be able to develop it.”

Ernst said, “That’s a pity! But this promise is always valid. You can contact me directly in the future if you have this idea.”

Chapter 284: A Series of Stratagems

“Should the other members of this batch of trainees be sent to East Africa? Now that the war in East Africa is over, the army can be reorganized.” Ernst thought to himself after seeing Heinrich and Leopold off.

It would be a good opportunity to retire some of the older German mercenary officers.

…

The war in East Africa had ended, but the war in Europe was not over. Prussia was making rapid advances within France. The most elite French army corps surrendered without a fight on October 27, 1870, after being besieged in Metz for seventy-two days.

Meanwhile, on the Austro-Hungarian side, Lieutenant General Karl was leading his troops on a wandering campaign in northern Italy, even stirring up trouble in the Lombardy region, forcing the Lombardy front-line troops to divide their forces to prevent a sneak attack from behind.

This allowed Archduke Albrecht to seize the opportunity to cut off the connection between the Lombardy army and the Venetian army. Venice was surrounded by Austro-Hungarian troops. The imperial army, under the command of Archduke Albrecht, slowly wore down the energy of the Venetian defenders. The entire city of Venice slowly fell to the brink of collapse due to the blockade, especially the citizens, who were suffering from poverty and hardship.

“Fulton, we’re about to run out of food completely. This might be our last supper!” Lisa said to her husband with a worried look on her face.

Fulton looked at the pot of porridge made from flour paste on the table and didn’t know what to say.

Lisa continued, “Since the war started, food prices have increased thirteenfold, and even then, supply can’t meet demand. No one has any food at home anymore. The Ellery family sold their house a week ago. If they can’t raise more money, they’ll probably starve to death.”

“Alas, this damned war!” Fulton sighed, “I’ll think of something. Maybe I can get Mr. Martin to advance some of my wages.”

Martin was Fulton’s boss, running a textile factory. He was the same Martin who had sold his shipyard to the Hechingen Consortium.

Martin had invested the cash paid by the Hechingen Consortium in the textile industry, taking advantage of the great opportunity of Venice joining Italy. He made a fortune by exporting textiles to southern Italy through the unified market.

As a result, at the end of 1869, with the opening of the Suez Canal, the shipbuilding industry in Venice showed signs of revival. Martin felt a little regretful that he had sold his shipyard. However, a few months later, the war broke out, and the shipbuilding industry came to a standstill. On the contrary, the textile factory made a lot of money because of the army’s orders. Martin couldn’t help but marvel at his good luck.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

The door of Fulton’s house was knocked.

“Who is it so late?” Fulton asked.

“Mr. Fulton, it’s Murray.”

“Oh, it’s Murray? What’s the matter?” Fulton asked.

“Mr. Fulton, I’ve come to say goodbye.” Murray said with a wry smile.

“Say goodbye? You’re leaving Venice!”

“Yes, my family is preparing to go to East Africa.”

“That’s impossible!” Fulton said in surprise, “Isn’t it martial law now? How can you leave Venice?”

Murray smiled bitterly, “Heh heh! You overestimate the integrity of the Venetian bureaucrats. As long as you spend more money, they can satisfy all your needs.”

“Of course, I know that, but even if you can spend money to move freely, how can you get out of Venice? The outside is full of Austro-Hungarian troops, and the sea is also blockaded by the Austro-Hungarian navy.”

“I also got the news from Mr. Winston. You know, he used to be my boss. His company went bankrupt. He’s preparing to leave Venice for Paraguay, and then move to the United States. He told me that there are still ships that can travel on the sea now, but only the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company’s ships can enter and leave Venice at will. It is said that they are backed by Prussian capital, so the Austro-Hungarian navy lets them pass.”

“Is that the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company that was recruiting people in Venice before the war?”

“Yes.”

“I thought they had stopped operating!”

“Heh heh, I thought so too, but because of the previous martial law, the news was actually blocked. If it weren’t for Mr. Winston, I would still be kept in the dark.”

“Which wharf are they at?”

Murray said, “It’s in the Hechingen Shipyard. That’s their factory area, so it’s relatively closed. If I had known things would turn out like this, I should have left with my family and those country folks.”

“If your family goes to East Africa, how can you be sure you can find a job, and the fare is not cheap!”

“There’s no need to worry about that. I asked yesterday. You don’t have to pay to go to East Africa or Paraguay, but we can’t decide where to go.”

“What’s the difference between East Africa and Paraguay?”

“There shouldn’t be any difference! But Mr. Winston said that Paraguay might have more choices, but for poor people like us, it’s the same wherever we go.”

The reason why the Hechingen Consortium would help Paraguay transport people has to be traced back to the Paraguayan War that ended at the beginning of the year.

On February 27, 1870, Lopez was surrounded, but he refused to surrender and ordered his mother and sisters to be executed. On March 1, he was captured by Brazilian troops. Lopez shouted, “I will live and die with my country!” Then, the Brazilian soldiers beheaded him with broadswords, and then the Brazilian soldiers buried him randomly in the jungle. So far, the Paraguayan War has completely ended.

The new Paraguayan government, which took over the regime, faced a devastated Paraguay. The biggest problem was the lack of population. In addition to the large loss of adult males caused by the war, there was also East Africa, the old schemer, which absorbed a large number of Paraguayan people during the war.

In the end, the population was counted, and only 130,000 people remained in Paraguay, which was simply a catastrophe for Paraguay.

This was not the end. At that time, East Africa did not stop, and as a result, the new Paraguayan government came to the door. Faced with the Paraguayan government’s cry for help, the international impact of this matter was not very good after all, so Ernst agreed to help Paraguay restore its population.

As for where the new population came from, East Africa naturally could not return the people, so it could only continue to draw from Venice.

Originally, East Africa could not completely digest the Venetian immigrants, so it simply sent the immigrants who were screened out by East Africa and did not meet the East African standards to Paraguay.

Of course, this good thing also had to be done with Austria-Hungary. Were they not afraid that there were too many Italian people in the Venice area? Now everyone will send the Italians to South America together.

This is also the reason why Archduke Albrecht’s progress is slow. Austria-Hungary is organizing a large number of agricultural people in the occupied areas and sending them to South America, including Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.

According to Paraguay’s current population structure, Paraguay alone can digest one hundred thousand Italian single young men. Of course, the number cannot be just that. Austria-Hungary is already eager to transport a large number of people from the Venice area to South America. Paraguay may be able to restore its pre-war level.

It is very difficult for the current Austria-Hungary to transport hundreds of thousands of people out, but East Africa can help, provided that all East African immigration ships are suspended and only serve the Venice area, so Austria-Hungary has to pay East Africa, and at this time, the imperial treasury needs to allocate funds.

Of course, Paraguay is not without a price. East Africa is not doing charity. Together with Austria-Hungary, they divided up Paraguay’s economic interests, including a large number of land and mineral resource development rights.

However, these cannot be realized, so it is still a losing business. The bulk is still Austria-Hungary. After all, the Venice area still has the largest rural population, but Austria-Hungary is willing to be the sucker. In order to gain Hungarian support and pass this huge financial allocation, Austria-Hungary promised to cede part of Lombardy in western Venice to Hungary, but there is a prerequisite, that is, there must be no Italians on the land.

This is another poisonous scheme. If Hungary wants to take over the land of Lombardy, it must transport Hungarians there. However, compared to the developed economy of Lombardy, the Hungarian nobles are still willing to do so. As for the life and death of the Italians, they don’t care, and they have no psychological burden to expel them all to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

As for the Kingdom of Sardinia, in fact, in order to avoid the war, some people have begun to take the initiative to go to France and the Americas. The French Republican government, under the advice of Count Medina, organized these Italians who fled from Italy and transported them to the front line to serve as cannon fodder, hindering the Prussian offensive speed.

Chapter 285: Berlin—Mauser Factory

Inside the Hechingen Factory in Berlin.

Factory Director Mayne was demonstrating the performance of two rifles to Ernst. On the table were the Prussian army’s Dreyse needle gun and the Chassepot rifle captured on the battlefield.

Mayne picked up the Chassepot rifle and explained to Ernst, “The French use the Chassepot rifle. It borrows many successful features from the Dreyse needle gun. It also uses a rotating bolt action, firing pin ignition, and paper cartridges. However, compared to the former, it is slightly better. For example, the locking system. The Dreyse needle gun has a problem: it’s not airtight and leaks gas. This greatly affects the effectiveness of the gunpowder and, in turn, the initial velocity of the bullet.”

“The Chassepot rifle has been improved to address this problem. It replaces the hollow bolt of the Dreyse with a solid one and adds a rubber sealing ring to the top of the bolt. When the bullet is fired, the high temperature generated by the burning gunpowder expands the rubber, and the entire chamber is well sealed. With improved sealing, the initial velocity is also increased, and the range is also increased. Another example is the primer of the bullet. The primer of the Dreyse bullet is located in the middle of the bullet, so the firing pin must be very thin and long; if it’s too short, it won’t reach. The primer of the Chassepot bullet has been changed to the tail of the bullet, so the firing pin does not need to be very long, and the failure rate is greatly reduced.”

“The various performances of the Dreyse needle gun in the war have shown that it is completely outdated. Therefore, we originally planned to retire a production line after the war, but all this will have to wait until Prussia’s new rifle is determined before we can completely replace them.” Mayne, the director of the Hechingen Factory in Berlin, said this to Ernst, who came to inspect.

“Well, then retire this Dreyse production line! You now have a new task, which is to focus your efforts on the development of new firearms. This time I have contacted collaborators for you.” Ernst said directly after listening.

Ernst planned to directly transport this outdated Dreyse rifle production line to East Africa. Outdated as it is, it still has a good market in Africa.

Mayne asked curiously, “I wonder which of our colleagues Your Highness has found as a collaborator?”

“Have you heard of the Mauser brothers from the Kingdom of Württemberg?” Ernst asked with some curiosity.

“So it’s them! I really know them, mainly because I used to communicate with their father, Andreas Mauser, of the Oberndorf Royal Württemberg Arms Factory. Andreas Mauser is a famous gun manufacturer, but he has a lot of children.” Mayne said, “I heard that his two youngest sons have indeed followed in their father’s footsteps, but Your Highness, I don’t think two young people can achieve much. They seem to have just been kicked out by their partners a few days ago. They wouldn’t have fooled you, would they!”

This matter has to start with the Mauser brothers’ family. As the descendants of a gun-making family, the Mauser brothers should have had a good life since childhood, but their family was a bit special. Old Mauser had as many as thirteen sons, so life was very tight.

During their youth, the Mauser brothers had to work as odd-job men in the Württemberg Arms Factory in Oberndorf to barely make a living. However, the Mauser brothers were indeed daring and capable. As early as before the Franco-Prussian War, they had tried to make some improvements to the Dreyse needle gun, but the Württemberg Arms Factory went bankrupt a few years ago.

The unemployed Mauser brothers were forced to work in the Norris Arms Factory. In the Norris Arms Factory, there was a “big shot,” Samuel Norris, who was the European representative of the famous American firearms company, Remington. In the Norris Arms Factory, Samuel and the Mauser brothers “hit it off right away.” Based on the Chassepot rifle, they integrated the Mauser brothers’ improved technology for the Dreyse needle gun and jointly designed the “Mauser-Norris” rifle, and applied for a U.S. patent. Just when the Mauser brothers finally felt that their moment of glory had arrived, Samuel tore up the cooperation contract and kicked the Mauser brothers away. The Mauser brothers had to return to their hometown and build a handicraft workshop.

The Americans did all sorts of bad things, but it also benefited Ernst. Just as the Mauser brothers were declining, Ernst found the location of their small workshop in Oberndorf, Württemberg, through various inquiries and proposed a cooperation idea.

For an invitation from a crown prince, the Mauser brothers certainly had no reason to refuse. They agreed to cooperate with the Hechingen Factory, but the name of their small workshop, “Mauser Factory,” had to be retained. This was their last insistence.

Ernst didn’t care about this. Anyway, the Hechingen Factory in Berlin would become the center of firearms research and development in the German region in the future, so it would be fine to rename it “Berlin—Mauser Factory.”

As for East Africa, well, it has no research and development capabilities. To be honest, if the Hechingen Factory were really moved to East Africa, it would be ruined. The production line is fine; it only requires workers to operate. Without Europe’s good research environment and talent reserves, firearms research and development simply cannot be done.

Therefore, East Africa can at most continue to be a processing factory. As for research and development, it still has to be placed in Germany. Only when East African education develops in the future can the research and development functions be moved back to East African territory.

At the same time, Ernst could not give up the Prussian arms market, so the new “Berlin—Mauser Factory” had to continue to produce equipment for the German army.

“Mayne, don’t say that. In fact, young people always have their own ideas, and I feel that the Mauser brothers’ ‘Mauser-Norris’ is not bad. Let them improve it on this basis. I think the new rifle will be very good. Now we just need to give the two young people a chance.” Ernst said, “Moreover, we do not have the ability to research and develop firearms. This is a fact. The Hechingen Factory is just a foundry, and the Mauser brothers have mature plans. After all, their previous achievements were almost adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

Before the development of the “Mauser-Norris Rifle,” the Dreyse needle gun improved by the Mauser brothers had been noticed by the Austro-Hungarian War Department, but in the end, it was not adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Mayne said, “Okay! Your Highness, if you really think so, I don’t object, but firearms research and development is a matter that needs to be taken seriously. If we go down the wrong path, the market will not wait for us.”

“Heh heh heh, don’t worry! Even if the market doesn’t recognize it, it doesn’t matter. The East African kingdom can support the new rifle. Even if no other countries order it, we will place orders ourselves.” Ernst said.

In fact, the reason why Ernst was so confident was that the Mauser brothers’ firearm design was already mature. They had completed the preliminary design of the Mauser Model 1871 rifle in their previous life in 1869. Now, as long as they have a more advanced and complete working environment, they can make the final improvements to the Mauser Model 1871 rifle.

The performance of this gun is basically certain not to be too bad, so East Africa will not fail if they place an order after it is developed.

“Since that’s the case, then I won’t say anything more, but Your Highness! Do you understand firearms?” Mayne asked curiously.

“Of course not.” Ernst said, “I’m just relying on my intuition.”

Chapter 286: Worker Transfer

Ernst’s casual remark only made Meien feel somewhat amused. He didn’t understand firearms and yet casually placed bets on this. However, since the boss insisted, there wasn’t much he could say. He would strictly supervise the results of the Mauser brothers. If there was anything inappropriate, he would reject their proposal. This was his duty as the factory director.

Although Meien didn’t know much about firearm design, because he lacked imagination, he had a persistent scrutiny of firearms. Or rather, his rigor and rigidity were the reasons he became the factory director.

“Your Highness, if their design proposal has flaws, I will not let them pass,” Meien said.

Ernst said, “Mr. Meien, that’s where your help is needed. I believe your twenty-plus years of experience can help them complete the final step.”

Meien said, “For your sake, I will give them this chance. If they really have talent, I will strongly support them.”

……

Far East, Jiaozhou Textile Factory.

“East African Textile Factory, recruiting workers, excellent benefits, all-inclusive food and accommodation, can bring the whole family to live in East Africa. This is a good opportunity. Anyone who wants to go can raise their hand,” Factory Director Carlton said to all the employees at the staff meeting.

However, no one raised their hand in the meeting hall. Although the Jiaozhou Textile Factory’s benefits were not very good, they were stable, so the employees did not want to develop in East Africa, thousands of miles away.

“Since no one wants to go, then we can only draw lots to pick people. This is a task assigned from above. If you are all unwilling to go to East Africa voluntarily, then we can only rely on luck. Those who are selected will take their whole family to East Africa, or they can resign in advance,” Carlton said.

Carlton’s words caused a commotion among the factory workers. Now everyone was afraid. East Africa was unfamiliar and distant to them. Who knew what would happen if they really went there? It would be impossible to come back then.

An employee mustered his courage and asked, “Factory Director Carlton! Why do we have to go to East Africa?”

Carlton said, “Naturally, East Africa is short of people, especially textile workers. You also know that the investor of the Jiaozhou Textile Factory is the House of Hexingen, and the House of Hexingen is also the ruler of the East African Kingdom. So it is the factory’s decision, and also the kingdom’s intention.”

“Can the treatment in East Africa be guaranteed? Once we leave the country, we will be utterly helpless!” someone questioned.

Carlton said with a smile, “You mean your treatment here can be guaranteed? Actually, you don’t have to go too far. To the north, Yantai also has British-invested factories. You can go and inquire about how the British treat Chinese employees, but your officials didn’t even fart. Similarly, Jiaozhou is the same. To put it bluntly, the treatment at the Jiaozhou Textile Factory is above standard compared to similar enterprises in the Far East. It is only because His Highness Ernst is kind-hearted that he gives you such good treatment.”

Carlton’s words left the employees below speechless. The fact was the fact. Here, the least lacking thing was manpower. Moreover, Carlton was a foreigner, someone that even the officials had to bow down to. So if they really wanted to bully them, they would really be bullied.

Looking at the silent workers, Carlton said, “After going to East Africa, you will become East African citizens. East Africa is a country with sound laws, and the laws will protect your rights. Or rather, at least everyone is equal before the law. You don’t have to worry too much about the security in East Africa. The most important thing is that prices in East Africa are very stable and cheap, unlike here where they fluctuate greatly. With the same salary, the cost of living in East Africa is lower. What’s more, the salary in East Africa is higher than in the Far East.”

“Factory Director Carlton, since the treatment is so good, why don’t you recruit workers from your own country, but instead recruit people from us, who are so far away?”

Carlton said, “This treatment is very generous for you, but for our people, it is taken for granted, so naturally it is not very attractive. They are more enthusiastic about engaging in other industries, so we recruit workers in the Far East. Similarly, the construction of the Jiaozhou Textile Factory is also for this reason, because your wages are low.”

Carlton spoke bluntly, but that was the situation in this era. Not to mention wages, some people who could eat two meals a day were considered well-off families.

“Alright, after saying so much, has anyone changed their mind and wants to go to East Africa voluntarily? Don’t worry, your value is not that high. When you get to East Africa, you will still be engaged in the textile industry.”

Carlton looked at the unenthusiastic employees and said helplessly, “Since that’s the case, then we can only draw lots. This is very fair to you. The lucky ones go to East Africa, and the unlucky ones continue to stay in the factory.”

In the end, Carlton selected more than three thousand people from the factory by drawing lots, even though they were unwilling to go to East Africa.

“Factory Director Carlton, we can bring our whole family to East Africa, is this true?”

“Of course, and we can guarantee their work and accommodation.”

“Ah! There’s such a good thing, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

The employees originally thought that only they would have work when they went there, so they could only support their whole family by themselves, which was no different from the Far East. Carlton didn’t say just now that the workers’ relatives would also have food and accommodation and be assigned work when they went there.

“Ah! Didn’t I say that? I thought you all knew?” Carlton said somewhat bewilderedly, “After all, this is common sense in East Africa.”

Carlton was indeed from East Africa, so he automatically brought the Far East into East Africa.

Hearing that their families would also have work when they went to East Africa, the workers who were frowning just now turned to ecstasy. Going to East Africa was not a bad thing.

“But there is something I want to make clear first, unless your family members have special skills, such as carpenters, bricklayers… otherwise, when you get to East Africa, you can only be ordinary farmers,” Carlton said, looking at the workers who were talking to each other.

But the employees didn’t care. The current situation was that some people couldn’t even become farmers if they wanted to. Even if they were tenant farmers for landlords, they might have to pay them back.

“Factory Director Carlton, is being a farmer in East Africa the same as here?”

Carlton shook his head and said, “Not quite the same. On the contrary, it’s a bit like being a worker, and you also get paid.”

“Also all-inclusive food and accommodation?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good, our family is not afraid of hardship, we can still work in East Africa.”

……

The East African Kingdom recruited textile workers from the Far East to offset the Italian textile workers. The newly planned textile factory was in Nairobi, and the influx of a large number of Italians almost turned it into an Italian city, so East Africa needed to use immigrants from other regions to dilute the Italian workers.

Therefore, some of the employees of the Jiaozhou Textile Factory were transferred by East Africa to be mixed with the Italian workers in the factory.

Chapter 287: Fleeing Westward

Angola, Matala.

West of Matala was the Kingdom of Lunda. The Kingdom of Lunda had not been completely wiped out by East Africa because it straddled both sides of the Kwango River. East Africa only seized the land on the east bank.

The main body of the Kingdom of Lunda was originally on the west bank of the Kwango River, so most of the Lunda people fled directly to the west bank of the Kwango River after encountering the East African army. The Kingdom of Lunda did not suffer much loss this time.

To the west of the Kingdom of Lunda, Matala was one of the Portuguese’s most inland colonies in Angola.

As a Portuguese colonial stronghold, it didn’t have any special mineral resources. Mainly, the land was flat and rainfall was abundant, so the Portuguese built extensive plantations in Matala, mainly growing palm trees and coffee.

The plantations in Matala were mainly composed of two: the northern plantation, whose owner was Oliveira, and the southern plantation, whose owner was called Yadros. At this moment, the two men were riding horses, inspecting the plantation together.

Native slaves in the plantation were working hard in the fields. They were branded, wore shackles, and were watched by a white overseer every forty or fifty people.

Under the scorching sun, the white overseer used a long whip to lash the hard-working native slaves at any time to cheer them up. If anyone slacked off, the consequences would be disastrous.

On both sides of the road, there were simple wooden crosses, about two meters high. The crosses were wrapped with hemp ropes. The wind and sun-baked crosses were all black, as if stained with oil. However, upon closer inspection, it could be vaguely discovered that they were not pure black wooden crosses. The original color of the crosses could be guessed from the back of the crosses, which were originally yellow wooden stakes.

The black oily dirt was actually the result of native blood repeatedly staining them red, and then being exposed to wind and sun for many years.

The cross was the instrument of torture in the plantation, specially used to deal with lazy and disobedient slaves, and occasionally used to establish authority.

The people of the Matala plantation would tie the slaves to be punished to the cross and whip them. Those with serious crimes would be hung on it for two or three days.

Oliveira, riding on his horse, asked Yadros, “Yadros, have you noticed recently? The number of natives seems to be increasing. These days, natives often pass by our plantation. I drove away three groups yesterday.”

“That’s true. I don’t know what’s going on in the Kingdom of Lunda. Could it be that there’s turmoil in their country?”

“Very likely. These Lunda tribal natives often attack each other. Maybe it’s another tribal war drama.”

“I don’t think so. Even if the Kingdom of Lunda is turbulent, they shouldn’t be heading west! They know Angola very well. Do they really see this place as paradise!”

“That’s right. In the past, natives only fled east from our side, but these days they’re running this way from within Lunda. It’s too abnormal! Could there be something even more terrifying than us?”

“Something that makes the natives not even afraid of us, and makes them come to Matala from the east, must be something extremely terrifying.”

At this time, Yadros guessed, “What madness has seized these natives, causing them to come here in large numbers from the west? Could there be a plague in the west!”

Thinking of this, Oliveira and Yadros immediately felt a shiver. Plague was not uncommon in the Angolan colony. If that were the case, everyone would be in danger.

“We should be cautious about this matter. Let’s send someone to grab a few natives from those people and find out what’s going on.”

…

Following the orders of the two slave owners, the plantation’s armed forces quickly went to the area around the plantation to capture suspicious natives. Soon, they captured a few healthy-looking natives from the fleeing natives.

“Why are you running here in large numbers from the east?” the plantation’s translator asked.

“Gulu gulu gulu…”

After listening for a long time, the translator said, “Mr. Oliveira, the accents of these natives are a little different from those of the Kingdom of Lunda. It’s not easy to translate what they’re saying! But some of the words are similar.”

Oliveira said, “They’re not from the Kingdom of Lunda! Did you find out where they came from?”

“He said they were driven from the west by a group of strangers. They passed through the land of the Kingdom of Lunda in the middle, but the Lunda people didn’t take them in, so they crossed the Kingdom of Lunda to get here. However, the group that drove them away were dressed like us, so they would bypass our plantation.”

“Dressed like us? We haven’t had any major operations recently!” Oliveira said to Yadros.

“Of course not. The governor’s office hasn’t issued any orders either. And even if the colonial government has any major actions, it’s impossible to bypass us. My place is the westernmost part of Angola!” Yadros said, “So it must be someone else. But to cause such a big commotion, it must not be an ordinary force. This makes me think of a suspicious object.”

“Hmm!”

“Could it be something done by the Mozambique colony? They’re dressed like us, and they’re in the east. It’s very likely to be the Mozambique colony,” Yadros analyzed.

Oliveira said, “That’s impossible. The Mozambique colony is on the east coast. It’s too far away.”

“Remember what the caravan that passed by last year said? A German force appeared in the east and occupied the Kingdom of Kazembe. Do you think it could be them?”

“But how do you explain the fact that they’re dressed like us?”

“Maybe the natives can’t tell the difference between us and the Germans. They probably see us Europeans the same way we can’t tell the difference between them natives.”

Oliveira didn’t want to guess. He said to the translator, “Let these natives carefully describe any significant features of the group they encountered.”

The translator started working again. Soon, all the captured natives were questioned.

The translator shook his head and said to Oliveira, “Mr. Oliveira, in fact, none of these people have seen what that group looks like. They just followed the tribe to run away. They only heard people say that a group of white-faced monsters came from the west, and they eat people. According to them, many tribes have suffered, so they fled from the west under the leadership of their chief.”

“Where is their chief?”

“Uh, it is said that their chief was among the people who were shot dead by our people.” the translator said.

After asking for a long time, he didn’t get the answer he wanted. Oliveira said angrily, “Drag them out and nail them to the cross.”

They dared to say that they were “man-eating white-faced monsters.” Although Oliveira knew that these natives were referring to people from other forces, he felt implicated.

At this time, Yadros said, “It seems that if we want to get accurate information, we still have to start with the Kingdom of Lunda. Why don’t we send someone to the Kingdom of Lunda to ask their king.”

“We have no choice but to do so.” Oliveira said.

Chapter 288: New Nairobi Citizens

The delayed nature of information meant that the Portuguese in Angola were not yet aware of the East African expansion. The two regions were separated by only the last barrier, and the eastern East African territory was now completely connected to Mozambique.

…

Nairobi,

The word “Nairobi” means “a place of coolness.” It is a modern, garden-style city, lush with greenery and blooming flowers, clean, and tranquil, making it an ideal tourist destination for escaping the heat.

These favorable climatic conditions were one of the reasons why Ernst chose this location for the textile factory. In an era without air conditioning, Nairobi’s environment could provide workers with a better working environment.

Nairobi’s climate is more accurately described as perpetually spring-like. The coolness is relative to the tropical regions. Of course, compared to the summers in Europe and the Far East, Nairobi is also cooler. The main thing is that Nairobi maintains this temperature year-round.

“Welcome everyone to Nairobi. Nairobi may not be as bustling as Venice, but it’s not too bad either. Considering the current urban construction scale of Nairobi, its development is already rapid. Because this city is only two years old, I hope that after becoming Nairobi citizens, you will actively contribute to the construction of Nairobi. Only when our city is better built can everyone live and work here more happily.” Nairobi Mayor Jose said to the first batch of Venetian immigrants.

The Venetian immigrants were looking around, observing the so-called city that was about to become their new home.

“In terms of cityscape alone, it’s indeed not bad, but the architecture is relatively monotonous. It doesn’t have the dazzling beauty of Venice, nor the artistic atmosphere of Venice. Moreover, the city is too small, feeling like a small town in the Venetian countryside, and the climate is a bit dry.”

“It’s not bad. At least it’s not as bad as we imagined. I thought the East African government would abandon us in the wilderness! At least there’s infrastructure here, and I feel the environment is good. I just couldn’t stand the humid environment of Venice. Also, the temperature in East Africa is really comfortable. It was hotter in Mombasa, and Europe always says that Africa has high temperatures, but it’s not like that here.”

“It’s indeed a bit different from what we imagined Africa to be. It seems that the conditions here are even better than in Egypt. So many people can live in that pile of sand in Egypt, and this place is clearly much more livable.”

“Look, those black laborers, are they East African slaves?”

“Most likely. I heard that colonies use black slaves, especially in Africa, where there’s no shortage of black people. But I did see some black people in Mombasa, there are just more here.”

The reason why there are more black people here in Nairobi than in Mombasa is because the East African government temporarily gathered them from the surrounding villages to solve the housing problem for these Venetian immigrants. The first phase of the planned three thousand housing units has been completed.

“Compared to the black people, I’m more interested in these yellow people. Their living conditions here seem to be quite good. I just don’t know if they’re easy to get along with.”

While the Venetian immigrants were observing the living conditions of the East African people, the Nairobi citizens were also observing these Venetians. This was the first time since Nairobi was built that such a large-scale immigration had arrived in Nairobi at the same time.

The Venetian immigrants were fiercely discussing everything about Nairobi, and everything here made them feel novel.

At this time, Nairobi Mayor Jose said: “Because you are new to East Africa, your meals will be temporarily provided in the cafeteria for the first month. After a month, you will have to support your families with your own wages. As long as you are willing to work hard in the factory, it is not difficult to survive in East Africa. The prices of industrial products in East Africa may be slightly higher, but food prices are very cheap. Now, do you have any questions you would like to ask?”

“Respected Mr. Mayor! Where will we be staying tonight?”

The Mayor of Nairobi pointed to the northeast, “Do you see where those black people are working? The newly built houses to the west, that’s where you will be living.”

“How do we solve the problem of drinking water and cooking?”

“For drinking water, you can fetch water from the nearby wells. For washing clothes, go to the river. As for cooking, you can build your own stoves or ovens, or you can choose to eat in the cafeteria, but you will have to pay after the first month of free meals.”

“Mr. Mayor, what are our working hours?”

“Ten hours a day, overtime pay is calculated separately, six days a week.”

“Excuse me, where do we worship?” an immigrant asked.

The Mayor of Nairobi replied: “Of course, in your own home. There is no church here. If you are willing to build one yourself, we will support you, but you need to put in the effort to complete it.”

“Oh! Heavens? The lack of a church is terrible.”

“Don’t complain. In fact, the immigrants before you lived very well without a church. And if you are really devout, you can completely worship at home. As long as you have God in your heart, God will naturally bless you. Devotion is not about whether there is a church or not. Does having a church guarantee the protection of God? There are many churches in Europe, but Europe is now ravaged by war. You came to East Africa because of the war.” Jose said.

As a Protestant, Jose emphasized justification by faith. After arriving in East Africa and encountering so many Chinese people who did not believe in God, Jose was even more shocked. Now Jose’s own thinking is somewhat shaken, or rather, he’s just given up.

“Alright, after saying so much, now prepare the information you registered in Mombasa. We will distribute housing according to the information. Everyone, take your luggage and follow the staff.” Jose commanded.

Soon, the new eastern district of Nairobi was crowded with people. They didn’t have much luggage, but most of them were with their families.

“Don’t push, learn to queue up first. If anyone pushes forward recklessly again, don’t blame me for not reminding you. Police, maintain order.” Looking at the surging crowd, Mayor Jose said, “Everyone, line up properly. Staff, register them.”

“Bring the files over!”

“Mr. Abbott, there are four people in your family in total, you, your wife, a son, and a daughter, is that correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Here are four houses, numbered one, three, five, and eight. Choose one yourself.”

“Uh, are there any differences between them?”

“No, just different locations.”

“Then I’ll choose three.”

“Okay, very good, homeowner Abbott, family members four, wife Jenny, son Andrew, daughter Angelina. Seventh Community, number two hundred and three.” The registrar recorded, “This is your house number, please wait a moment, a staff member will take you and your family to your residence.”

“Next”…

Soon, four families were gathered.

“You four families, come with me.” An East African policeman said.

The group followed the policeman for an unknown amount of time, arriving at an empty street.

“Do you see this sign?” He pointed to the sign at the street corner, “The seven here means Seventh Street, and the area you are in is Seventh Community. The first house on the left is the Mavister family’s, the third is the Andre family’s, the fifth is the Abbott family’s, and the eighth is the Repp family’s. Bring me the registration slips you just received!”

The East African policeman took the four slips from the four people, took out glue from his pocket, and came to the front of the four houses. There was a reserved blank square on the right side of the door frame. He pasted the slips on them in order. This was a simple house number, recording the basic information of each immigrant family.

“Now you can move in!”

At this time, Abbott asked: “Sir, I have another question, why are our houses not next to each other in order? Why is there space in between?”

The policeman explained: “Because there will be other immigrants moving in here in the future, they just haven’t arrived yet.”

In fact, the empty houses were reserved for immigrants from the Far East and Germany. Two, four, and seven were planned to be given to immigrants from the Far East, and six were given to immigrants from the German region.

This would just allow these immigrants to fully integrate together and avoid the emergence of immigrants from a single region or ethnicity living in one place.

“If you walk straight to the end of the street, you will find the office of the Seventh Street Police Station. If you have any trouble in the future, you can come to me. There is also a government bulletin board where you can check the latest East African policies and government notices. To fetch water, go to Fourth Street and Fifth Street, there are two wells respectively. To wash clothes, go to the river in the north of the city. As for the public cafeteria, it is at the end of the street, the largest building. Your meals will be provided there these days. There are toilets behind the street. It is not allowed to defecate or urinate anywhere in East Africa, and it is not allowed to discharge sewage or wastewater at will. They must all be poured into the drainage ditch behind the toilet…”

Chapter 289: Teaching

The Abbott family finally moved into this East African-style residence. These houses were very different from those in the Venice region, and had more characteristics of German architecture.

The Abbotts didn’t have much luggage, just one suitcase. The suitcase was filled with clothes, and they had no other possessions. Even the few clothes they had looked incomplete, covered in patches.

“This house looks decent. It has a bedroom and a kitchen. Andrew, you take the first bedroom on the left. Angelina, you take the second one on the left. Your mother and I will take the bedroom on the right.”

The space in the house was much larger than Abbott had imagined. One of the smaller rooms, if he wasn’t mistaken, would be the future kitchen. The area was relatively small, but a chimney opening had been reserved. Other than that, it was empty. This was probably why the policeman said they could choose their own stove.

As for the toilet, they would have to use the public toilet outside. In fact, some Venetians had not yet experienced East Africa’s strict hygiene standards.

The East African policeman had only mentioned it briefly, because he had too many things to do today, and many more immigrants were waiting for him to arrange housing for them.

The sanitary conditions of 18th-century Venetians were not much better than in other regions. All domestic and industrial wastewater was discharged directly into the river.

And their drinking water came from the thousands of wells within the city of Venice, which put them on the same starting line as East Africa.

Not to mention now, even before Ernst transmigrated in his previous life, public toilets in Italy were scarce. Even paid toilets were hard to find, and they were not cheap, and taxes had to be paid. Even in the 21st century, a considerable number of Europeans would find a corner to relieve themselves. Of course, most European homes in his previous life were equipped with toilets, but it was inconvenient when going out.

East Africa currently cannot afford to equip every household with a toilet due to economic problems. That requires a complete underground drainage system. Only the First Town, as Constantine’s current residence, has been extensively renovated by Ernst, with running water throughout the city and a complete sewage system established.

Therefore, East Africa is really focusing on developing public toilets, the kind of side-by-side “dry toilets” from Ernst’s elementary school days.

This is also convenient for collecting and processing feces, which is then used to fertilize farmland. This aspect is generally done by “professional” people from the Far East.

Europe can use fallow periods, extensive cultivation, and other methods to restore soil fertility, but the national conditions in the Far East are different. The utilization of manure has reached its extreme.

Of course, this is not the main reason. In fact, in ancient Far East, before the Ming Dynasty, most of the time the land was sparsely populated. The fact that manure could increase grain production is the real reason why the Far East mastered this “technology.”

Evening.

The Nairobi government staff, who had been busy all day, began to guide the new immigrants to the cafeteria for dinner. The Abbott family and others also came to the East African cafeteria under the leadership of the policeman during the day.

“My name is Hayden. I’m Austrian, and I’ll be the police officer in this district from now on. I also handle many other tasks, which means you can come to me to solve most of the problems you encounter. If I can’t solve it, then you can seek help from professional government departments.” The administration of the East African Kingdom is so simple and crude. The lack of relevant management personnel has led to the police taking on many functions.

Hayden continued, “I’ll take you to the cafeteria for dinner in a moment, but I want to say one thing in advance. The East African cafeteria is good in every way, but one thing is very uncomfortable, and that is that the tableware provided is not very friendly to us Europeans. If you brought your own tableware from Europe, it’s best to have it ready.”

The Abbotts and others did not quite understand what Hayden meant by this. Tableware? As long as they have it, it doesn’t matter if the quality is a little poor.

However, soon, the people who arrived at the cafeteria understood what Hayden meant. They looked at the chopsticks standing upside down in the bamboo tubes.

Hayden picked up a pair and began to demonstrate how to use them. “Like this, and like this… Isn’t it simple?”

As he spoke, Hayden looked at the bewildered expressions on everyone’s faces and secretly smiled. Seeing them experience what he had experienced, he felt much happier.

“Of course, if you can’t learn, I can tell you a trick. Put them together and just shovel the food into your mouth from the bowl. Now let’s go line up to get food.”

In the cafeteria, the staple food for dinner today was mainly flatbread and rice. Now, the cafeteria staff in East Africa have discovered that making rice is much easier to handle than flour, which requires kneading the dough, and it is also easier to control the heat. Wash it once, put it in a pot, and wait for the steam to evaporate. Therefore, the cafeteria staff, in order to save trouble, have begun to replace flour products with rice on a large scale. As for why flatbread still exists, that is their own work meal.

The main dish was beef stew with potatoes. On the first day, immigrants must be given a good meal to soothe their homesickness.

In addition, many fruits were specially prepared, but the quantity was limited, and each person could only receive a small portion.

Hayden, holding a rice bowl, had the cafeteria staff fill a large bowl of rice, and the others followed suit.

“Okay, now let’s go back to the table. Now it’s the practical part.”

“Look, if you use chopsticks skillfully like me, you can pick up vegetables, you can also scoop up a mouthful of rice, or you can pick up a whole piece of fruit and put them in your mouth. Isn’t it very convenient? Of course, this is a bit difficult for you. You just need to hold the bowl up to your mouth and use chopsticks to shovel the food into your mouth.” Hayden said in a showy tone.

So everyone began a clumsy and embarrassing eating journey.

“Mr. Hayden! Who invented this torture device? This thing is simply an anti-human utensil.” Rep asked from the side of the long table.

“That’s because you haven’t seen how convenient it is for people who know how to use chopsticks. Although it’s a bit difficult to learn at first, once you learn it, it can completely replace cutlery such as knives and forks. For example, I can easily pick up even spaghetti, and this thing is easy to produce, the materials are simple, and it’s easy to clean.”

“Mr. Hayden, is this white thing rice?”

“Yes, how does it taste?”

“It tastes a little better than potato paste, but if I had a choice, it would be bread.”

“Bread is very good, but East Africa is rich in rice, especially the Great Lakes region west of Nairobi, where all the rice is grown.”

“The beef stew with potatoes tastes really good!”

“You guys came at a good time. East Africa’s animal husbandry has already developed, so you can eat this beef meal. When we came, we could only eat the meat of all kinds of strange animals, like lions and crocodiles. Later, the government banned it.”

“Why?”

“The government said that wild animals are prone to parasites and other unclean things in their bodies, and the most feared thing in East Africa is contracting diseases. Therefore, hygiene management is very strict. You should have heard that diseases are rampant in Africa, and the reason why East Africa is thriving is because of the emphasis on hygiene.” Hayden said.

“Speaking of hygiene, I almost forgot. After you go back, you are not allowed to drink any water source other than well water, otherwise you will have diarrhea. Your water bottles have not arrived yet, and they should be shipped over in a few days. At that time, even well water must be boiled before drinking. That is, the conditions are not good now that you have just arrived. In the future, if you are found drinking raw water, you will be fined…”

Hayden carefully explained the various regulations and laws of East Africa, as well as life tips, to these immigrants at the dinner table, so that they could adapt to the East African living environment as soon as possible.

Chapter 290: Long-Staple Cotton

This time, the entire city of Nairobi plans to relocate eighty thousand people. Adding the existing twenty thousand, it will almost break through one hundred thousand, and is expected to become the first major city in East Africa to exceed a population of one hundred thousand.

The planned industry supporting such a large population in Nairobi is the textile industry. The main cash crop grown in the agricultural areas around Nairobi is cotton.

At the same time, in order to broaden the variety of products, East Africa plans to introduce Egyptian cotton for cultivation in the upstream areas of rivers in Somalia. Egyptian cotton, also known as Egyptian long-staple cotton, has a long-standing reputation in the world and is known as “white gold.”

Egyptian cotton originated in the South Asian subcontinent and prefers high temperatures and abundant rainfall. Tropical grasslands, temperate and tropical monsoon regions are most suitable for its growth. With the development of irrigation technology, cotton cultivation worldwide is increasingly concentrated in arid regions with irrigation conditions.

However, the highest quality product is the Egyptian long-staple cotton improved by the Egyptians. The East African Kingdom plans to directly introduce Egyptian varieties of long-staple cotton for cultivation.

The Nile Delta and the banks of the Nile River in Egypt ensure that cotton cultivation will not lack water due to the presence of the Nile. The moisture content of the soil is always consistent, the humidity is constant at about 60%, and the temperature is constantly high. Sunlight and rainfall are very suitable for cotton growth, making it a perfect natural cotton irrigation system, a typical case of being blessed by nature.

When searching for similar environments worldwide, Somalia is second to none. Although it does not have the support of the world’s longest river, the Shebelle and Juba Rivers are both major African rivers.

Especially the Shebelle River, which is most similar to the Nile River in terms of natural conditions. They both flow from tropical grassland climate zones to tropical deserts, forming irrigation areas in the downstream.

Currently, Egypt is the world’s largest producer of long-staple cotton. During the era of Muhammad Ali, he vigorously developed water conservancy, dredging old canals, excavating 20 new canals, building nearly 30 dams, promoting improved waterwheels, experimenting with steam drainage and irrigation machines, and introducing new crops and varieties. The famous Egyptian long-staple cotton was promoted during this period. Cotton exports increased from 944 bales in 1821 to more than 250,000 bales in 1849. Cotton cultivation provided convenience for the development of the Egyptian cotton textile industry, and the development of the textile industry provided the Muhammad Ali government with a large amount of funds to open more modern factories.

Of course, Egypt’s economic system has now been completely destroyed by the British, especially the cotton textile industry. As the world’s factory, Britain’s main industry is textiles, so the original cotton textile industries in its colonies of India and Egypt were destroyed, turning them into single sources of cheap raw materials.

In other words, Egyptians are now growing cotton for the British. The textile industry established during Muhammad Ali’s era no longer exists.

East Africa’s cultivation of long-staple cotton, in addition to its rich economic benefits, also relies on the markets of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the German region. They are not suitable for long-staple cotton cultivation, so East Africa has a natural advantage in this regard, and will not conflict with their local textile industries, because the positioning is different. The characteristics of long-staple cotton determine that it mainly targets the high-end consumer market.

Therefore, Ernst’s plan is to build several new long-staple cotton planting bases in the Northern Province and Juba Province of Somalia.

Finally, after these cottons are harvested, they are transferred to Nairobi, processed, and then exported to the Middle East and Europe.

The Venetian textile industry has a long history and was the most important textile center in medieval Europe, so the workers who migrated to Nairobi have no technical problems.

At the same time, Nairobi is also located near the livestock production area in northern East Africa. East Africa plans to raise a large number of sheep on the Kenyan grasslands.

While promoting Nairobi to become the cotton textile center of East Africa, it will also become the wool textile center of East Africa. Ernst even plans to introduce silk technology from the Far East and build a silk industry center in Kisumu City in the Great Lakes region, together with Nairobi and Mombasa, to form a light industrial manufacturing center in East Africa.

Currently, due to the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s plan for Franz to cooperate with the Hechingen royal family to develop the Kenya region has been delayed, so East Africa can only develop the Kenya region independently for the time being.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has not been without help in the development of Kenya. A large number of farmers in the Venice region landed at Mtwara Port with immigration ships, and then sailed upstream from the Ruvuma River, passed through a section of land, reached Lake Malawi, then changed ships, and then reached the west bank of Lake Malawi, and then poured into the Zambia region.

The citizens of Venice trapped in the city by the Austro-Hungarian Empire were imported by East Africa to various cities in the east, mostly to promote the development of East African handicrafts, such as glass manufacturing, textile industry, and ironware manufacturing.

Most of these Venetian citizens are workers, so they have certain skills and are divided up by various cities in East Africa. Although their Italian cultural attributes are relatively deep, especially in Nairobi, the city will inevitably enter a stage of negative population growth when it develops to a certain stage, and the rural areas of East Africa will only have a single German cultural population by then, so the cities in their areas are destined to be assimilated by the Germans.

Through the Italian-Austrian War, the number of Italian immigrants in East Africa is expected to approach Slavic immigrants this year. In addition to a small number from the Balkan Peninsula, most of the Slavic immigrants come from Tsarist Russia. The Slavs within the Austro-Hungarian Empire are classified as Germans when East Africa conducts statistics, mainly Slovenians and Croatians from the previous life. They are deeply influenced by German culture, and there is not much difference in their lives from Austrians, except for language and religion. East Africa has been promoting German communication and deliberately de-emphasizing religion.

Nairobi itself currently has more than twenty thousand German-speaking people, so there is no major problem in terms of assimilation. After subsequent Far Eastern immigrants and Italian immigrants live together, they will inevitably have language communication problems. Italian and Far Eastern languages cannot communicate directly, and German will automatically become the bridge for this communication.

In short, Nairobi, a small city originally inconspicuous in East Africa, will become an important industrial city in East Africa after sucking the lifeblood of Venice.

Now Ernst only needs to wait until Austria captures Venice, and then plunder the mechanical equipment of Venice to East Africa for free, completing a kind of robber-style industrial transfer.

The staff of the Hechingen Consortium have already made arrangements with the Austrian military. The Hechingen Bank helps the Austrian soldiers realize the “gadgets” they seized, and they are responsible for transporting these “gadgets” to the dock.

The price is not high, after all, these soldiers cannot take these mechanical equipment as spoils of war. East Africa only needs to pay the handling fee.

As for the business owners and landlords of Venice, a large part of them have been sentenced to death by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Most of them were previously opposed to Austrian rule and colluded with the Kingdom of Sardinia. They either fled abroad or were exiled, and their land and assets will be confiscated by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition to paying rewards to the imperial soldiers, it will also be used to settle a large number of Austrians.

Chapter 291: “Theft Nation”

East Africa, Walonga Province.

“Hey, Maurice, look quickly, there’s a snake in the tree ahead!” An East African soldier shouted.

“Paul, you’ve been bitten! There’s no saving you! Drag him away and bury him.”

“Maurice, you bastard, that’s not a funny joke. I’m just stating a fact.” Paul cursed at his comrade.

“Alright, stop arguing, where’s the snake?” The squad leader asked.

“Squad leader, look at the fork in the tree on the left front. My eyesight is top-notch. I spotted that green guy hiding under the leaves at a glance.”

Following the direction Paul pointed, the squad leader saw the snake clearly. He fixed his bayonet onto his rifle, lifted the rifle by the butt, and gently poked. A green African tree snake fell from above to the ground. Startled, the African tree snake disappeared from sight in a flash.

“Good thing it wasn’t a mamba, otherwise it would have been a bit troublesome to deal with.” The squad leader said.

African tree snakes are rear-fanged venomous snakes with low venom output and inefficient venom injection, so they are less dangerous. Of course, since they are venomous snakes, the East African soldiers still chose to handle them with caution.

As for mambas, they are common venomous snakes in East Africa, with the black mamba being the most famous. However, black mambas generally live in grasslands.

The reason why East African soldiers feared black mambas was not because of their toxicity, but because of their aggressive nature.

Other African snakes generally don’t attack people unless provoked, but black mambas are the type that chase after people to bite them. Moreover, catching black mambas in East Africa requires great skill, as their speed is too fast compared to other snakes. The East African green mamba, which also belongs to the mamba genus, does not have the extreme temperament of the black mamba.

As for toxicity, the mortality rate of venomous snakes was very high in this era. If bitten, one was basically at the mercy of fate.

East Africa was not without action. In Mombasa, venomous snake researchers and biology experts had been hired to establish a research institute specializing in the study of African venomous snakes such as the black mamba and the puff adder, to develop antivenom.

…

Hechingen, Hohenzollern Castle.

“Your Highness, why don’t we directly import medical talent from Europe, instead of going through the extra step of getting them from the East? I heard them say that Eastern medicine is more like medieval witchcraft.”

Tom didn’t understand Ernst’s recent move to bring in medical talent from the East. It wasn’t that Tom was against it, but the project cost money. Since it involved spending money, it should be done carefully. However, Ernst’s ideas were sometimes far-fetched, so Tom felt it was best to confirm things.

In fact, East Africa had previously acquired medical knowledge from all over the world, but it hadn’t cost much money, and it was even obtained for free. This time, Ernst was going to spend a lot of money to recruit medical talent, books, and effective prescriptions from the Far East.

“Tom, the reasoning is simple. In the East, there may be people who swindle and deceive under the guise of traditional Chinese medicine, but there are also many who have been systematically passed down for more than three thousand years. It has undergone a longer period of testing than European medicine, and the historical records left by Easterners in terms of culture are richer, while most of our parchment scrolls are used to record the Bible.”

The existence of Eastern medicine certainly wasn’t just for that short period, but Ernst had his own judgment. The time when a large number of practical documents appeared in the Far East was during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, which was when they were recorded and disseminated in the form of bamboo slips. In particular, with the rise of private schools, a large number of intellectuals (including medical talent) wrote books and established theories, systematically clarifying the experiences of their predecessors, while boldly innovating. The large number of bamboo slips that survived allowed the entire medical system to be continuously inherited and developed in written form, rather than being passed down orally.

Errors may certainly exist, but more of the effects were tested in that land. If something didn’t work, it would have been eliminated long ago.

The decline of Eastern medicine actually occurred before the Ming Dynasty. By the Ming Dynasty, medicine had already begun to enter a stage of sticking to conventions. After the Western Industrial Revolution developed to a certain stage, which was around this time, modern medicine appeared and surpassed it.

That is, in Ernst’s time, chemistry and biology had already begun to exert their strength, preparing to kick traditional medicine off its throne.

However, Ernst didn’t dare to experiment with current European medicine. You never know if what they develop is poison or antidote, especially since various drugs are often used as “panaceas.”

“However, Your Highness, how can you guarantee that the people we recruit from the Far East are not swindlers? We don’t understand Eastern medicine.” Tom asked curiously.

“This matter is simple. We just need to let their government provide us with convenience. Let Ambassador Richard personally discuss this matter with their top leaders. With official endorsement, I believe this matter will be simpler. It would be best to have exchanges with their Imperial Hospital. Also, let our people acquire their medical prescriptions and related books in the Far East, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.”

With official cooperation, at least a large number of charlatans can be screened out.

Ernst’s little plan was working perfectly. His purpose in doing so was to steal medical formulas from various countries in the Far East and then apply for patents in the West. Ernst would rather East Africa eat this meal than let Japan and South Korea profit.

Anyway, East Africa is a country of immigrants. In theory, the achievements of the ancestors of Far Eastern immigrants are also the achievements of East African ancestors. What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is still mine. There’s no need to feel guilty in this regard. Everyone knows that East Africa has a short history, and East Africa won’t shamelessly register historical naming rights.

Ernst continued, “In this Far East medical introduction plan, we must also pay attention to one thing: we must be wary of those quack doctors who use opium to cure all diseases. Don’t let them mix into East Africa.”

“Your Highness, the biggest problem with this work is that our people don’t understand Eastern medicine.” Tom said.

“So we need to start more from the official level, and we also need to have our own judgment. Some mistakes don’t matter. When East African medicine develops in the future, we can then screen out the correct ones from these collected treasures.” Ernst said.

This is like a high-multiplier game. If you can find a top-notch prescription like XX White Medicine, it’s a huge profit. If you can’t find it, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, it won’t be a loss overall.

Of course, Ernst will also invest in modern medical research in the future. As for now, he will first pick up ready-made ones from traditional medicine.

Therefore, East Africa can only promote traditional medicine on a large scale at present, and Ernst chooses to believe in Eastern medicine for traditional medicine. As for East Africa’s modern medicine, the education system has not yet developed, so there is no way to develop it, or rather, it is not as good as developing it in Europe. After all, Europe has talent, technology, and the most complete equipment.

In the early stage, Ernst vigorously promoted Eastern medicine in East Africa and registered its traditional medicine patents, so that later the Far Eastern countries privately gave East Africa the nickname “Theft Nation.” The most upset was Japan, because East Africa also registered a large number of Japan’s unique traditional medical achievements. As for Korea, they claimed that East African medicine was developed based on Korean traditional medicine, and the source of East African medicine was Korea, which they were quite proud of.

East Africans certainly wouldn’t agree, especially the East African “old traditional Chinese medicine practitioners,” who repeatedly emphasized that this was the achievement of our Eastern ancestors, and East Africa has the right to inherit it.

Chapter 292: The Advanced Tax Farming System

Regarding how to develop the Matabeleland Plateau (Zimbabwe), the first step was to increase the local population’s activity. Therefore, the East African government convened a government meeting on this matter.

Of course, it was mostly government personnel brainstorming, with Constantin and Ernst ultimately making the final decisions.

Von der Leyen: “Economically speaking, the Matabeleland Plateau is currently a blank slate. Apart from the military, there is no population. However, there are a significant number of local natives. We can first utilize these natives to develop some of the local resources. Moreover, the Matabeleland Plateau is very far from East Africa, separated by Zambia. Therefore, considering only land transportation, developing the Matabeleland Plateau is too far, and administrative management is also very inconvenient. In this regard, I propose communicating with Mozambique to allow them to open up a seaport. If we can use maritime transportation, it will greatly improve the environment of the Matabeleland Plateau.”

Jarmann: “For security reasons, the Portuguese in Mozambique are unlikely to agree to this request. So, it’s best not to have too much hope for Mozambique.”

Swete: “Solving the communication problem is the right way forward. The telegraph lines in the Zambia region are almost completed to the Southern Frontier Province. Upon completion, we should immediately extend the telegraph lines directly from Zambia into the Matabeleland Plateau. This way, we can maintain timely contact with the local garrison, make quick decisions, and respond to emergencies and potential risks.”

Constantin said: “We can consider the native economy. The Matabeleland Plateau is already in a colonial state, so we can use the garrison to get these natives active first, let them roughly clear the land and plant some crops, preferably high-yield potatoes and cassava. This way, the land can be initially developed, and it will be much easier for immigrants to take over the developed land later. As for transportation issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should contact Mozambique first and communicate with them. If they are unwilling to provide a seaport, it doesn’t matter. We will develop the Matabeleland Plateau step by step ourselves. Also, after completing the Zambia trunk line, immediately invest in the construction of the Matabeleland Plateau section. The Zambia branch line can be delayed for a while.”

Swete: “Your Majesty, speaking of transportation issues, we cannot forget to level the roads in the Matabeleland Plateau and Zambia region, especially the construction of bridges over the Zambezi River and many Congo River tributaries. In some river sections, we also need boats to assist in the orderly flow of traffic.”

Von der Leyen: “We have experience in this area. We are just about to mobilize and organize the local natives to develop agriculture, and transportation infrastructure construction can be carried out simultaneously. During the busy farming season, they can work in the fields, and during the off-season, we can organize the natives to build bridges and pave roads. Agricultural development can solve the natives’ food problem. As long as we manage the grain distribution well, we can temporarily turn the natives into East African hired workers. When we no longer need them, it will be easy to kick them aside.”

Felix: “Managing the natives is not an easy task, especially in undeveloped areas, which are generally sparsely populated. Our troops are scattered on them like sesame seeds. Therefore, we should use the tribal chiefs to assist East African rule before the immigrant population is complete. I have an idea. In addition to military suppression as a tough measure, we can also control the natives through economic means, at least to reduce some of the native resistance. That is, we can use industrial products to improve the quality of life of these tribal leaders, making them indulge in extravagance and enjoyment. This way, they cannot do without East African industrial products, and we use industrial products to exchange for grain outside of taxes. We use this grain to invest in transportation construction, forming a closed loop that can greatly improve management efficiency.”

East Africa also taxes the natives, especially in newly annexed areas. Most of them are in this form, which is why East Africa can minimize local native resistance.

The taxes East Africa collects from the natives are more like the Ottoman tax farming system. Under strong military suppression, most native regimes and tribes temporarily accept the management of the East African government in the form of affiliated forces. Then, East Africa prioritizes ensuring the interests of the native ruling class, splitting the tax revenue with these people fifty-fifty. However, all the work is done by the native rulers, and East Africa only needs to share the money.

Temporarily supporting the continued existence of these native regimes greatly reduces the chances of East Africa facing native resistance in the vast area east of the Kwango River and north of the Limpopo River. Of course, if any native forces do not accept even this “advanced” tax farming system, East Africa will not be soft-hearted and will directly suppress them to set an example.

Under the principle of killing the chicken to scare the monkey, other native kingdoms and tribes unconditionally support East Africa’s tax farming system. Those who recognize the times are wise, and the leaders of these native forces can also enjoy better treatment than before.

Because most native forces are in the stage of slavery, with extremely low levels of productivity, East Africa’s tax farming system actually has feudal characteristics.

At the same time, with the assistance of technology promotion, these natives are forced to enter the agricultural era and settle down. This way, taxes can be collected, and the original native rulers can also enjoy the supply of tax revenue after the increase in productivity. The living standards of the native leaders are improved, and they no longer organize native resistance to East African rule.

Of course, the native ruling class is now enjoying the dividends. Over time, they will definitely not be satisfied with this. After all, the temptation to monopolize tax revenue is much stronger than splitting it fifty-fifty with East Africa.

However, East Africa has long considered this point. When the natives are dissatisfied with East African rule, it is almost the time when East Africa will clear the local population to free up living space for East African immigrants.

Constantin: “Under the tax farming system, these native ruling classes will also accumulate a large amount of grain. We can use industrial products to buy it back from them and then hire natives to transform infrastructure during the off-season. The improved infrastructure will provide convenience for East African garrisons and immigrants, further strengthening our ruling ability in the area. After the immigrant population reaches a certain level, we will take action against these natives. Felix, is that what you mean?”

Felix: “Yes, Your Majesty!”

Felix’s strategy is very good. As for whether the natives will obediently accept East Africa’s arrangements, it is inevitable.

Under the East African tax farming system, apart from the share that East Africa takes away through military strength, the native leaders actually take the lion’s share. They will collect more taxes from their own forces in the name of the East African government.

The output left to the native slaves and commoners may only be enough for them to barely survive. East Africa uses industrial products to obtain the resources controlled by the slave owners and chiefs and invests them in the off-season. These natives will have to accept East African employment in order to eat better.

Because East Africa has confiscated the grasslands and forests, not allowing the native lower classes to hunt, they can only rely on farming to support themselves. The heavy tax pressure forces these natives to take on more work to support themselves.

In fact, at the beginning of the forced implementation of the tax farming system, the happiest people were the native slave class. Originally, they were working for the slave owners for nothing, but now they can have a share of their own harvest. Although it is pitifully small, it greatly satisfies the needs of these slaves spiritually.

This reduces the resistance of the slaves. The slave owners, who reluctantly accepted the tax farming system, also found that their rule became more stable. Due to the increased enthusiasm of the slaves, their own income also greatly increased.

The most important thing is that later, through the East African industrial product exchange program, they can enjoy the convenience of industrial products, and their quality of life can continue to be greatly improved.

East Africa can use the tax farming system to reduce native resistance, complete infrastructure construction, reduce garrison costs, and finally, after the immigrant population comes up, it can turn its back on them without any burden and confiscate the land, roads, and houses developed by the natives.

Therefore, the current tax farming system is satisfactory to the native lower class, the ruling class, and East Africa. Everyone thinks their future is bright.

Chapter 293: Entering the Pass!

The tax farming system, a relic dug out of the garbage heap, was a brand new version for the natives south of the Sahara who had never seen anything like it.

Of course, this was only being implemented in the newly occupied territories. In areas like Zambia and the Azande Plateau, which were close to East Africa, East Africa was still playing the old game of orderly restructuring. Especially with the European war going on, East Africa had a surplus of immigrants to implement this.

The Zambian government organs had already been established, with each region being managed by high-ranking officials, and there was no need to compromise with the native forces. The Azande Plateau was a bit later, because East Africa was not very active in developing it, but the Azande Plateau was close to the Great Lakes region, so it was easy to control. Plus, a large number of natives had been cleared out before, so it didn’t require too much effort.

…

Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika).

Mpulungu Port, a small fishing port at the southernmost tip of Lake Soro. Under the guidance of the East African Kingdom, Msiri finally arrived here with his core of three thousand soldiers and civilians.

Before Msiri arrived, East Africa had gathered tens of thousands of natives here. Small shacks were densely packed along the southern shore of Lake Soro, quite a sight to behold.

“Guide Kabri, why are there so many black people gathered here?” Msiri asked, looking at the black people gathered on the shore.

Kabri: “Your Excellency Msiri, they are a gift from the East African Kingdom. After all, there are many native forces where you are going, so population is also urgently needed. Most of these are East African natives who speak Swahili, understand your language, and can accept your command. I believe you can use them to organize a powerful army, and then become a hegemon in West Africa.”

Was there really such a good thing? Msiri couldn’t believe that the East Africans were so kind as to give him people for free. Wouldn’t it be better to keep them to create wealth for themselves?

Kabri continued: “Your Excellency Msiri, don’t underestimate these people. They have all been trained by East Africa, have strong organizational skills, and have a lot of experience in agriculture. Most of them came from farms. If you take them to West Africa, you can continue to have them grow food and accumulate your personal wealth.”

Kabri’s words basically cleared up the doubts. These were East Africa’s “laborers,” that is, slaves. Now that these slaves were reaching retirement age, and Zanzibar couldn’t recruit so many “laborers,” and they also had to be selective in their recruitment, as Ottoman clients were very strict about the quality of slaves, they had no choice but to let them hitch a ride with Msiri to West Africa.

As for whether they would engage in agriculture, that was uncertain. There were also quite a few who built bridges and houses for East Africa. In any case, they were all engaged in high-intensity work for East Africa.

Under these high-intensity projects in East Africa, these natives looked bright and shiny, but in reality, they were extremely depleted. If they were lucky, they could only be used for a few more years before they might lose their ability to work due to accumulated overwork. East Africa would naturally not be the one to take over this burden.

East African ranches and the raising of cattle and horses were expanding rapidly. These cattle and horses could replace most of the natives, and when the cattle and horses reached a certain age, the East Africans could slaughter them for meat, and the bones could be used to make soup. These natives had no such use, and it was impossible to find a pit to bury them, which would be too troublesome. If they were left to rot in the wilderness, it could also cause epidemics. So, taking advantage of the present, they were sending away these older natives, or those with diseases and hidden injuries, which was a win-win situation for both sides.

Msiri: “I wonder what kind of food they can grow!”

Kabri: “There are many. Basically, they have experience with most of East Africa’s crops, rice, wheat, bananas, potatoes…”

Msiri couldn’t wait to go forward to check on the situation of these gifted natives. He wanted to make sure that these East Africans were really so kind. He randomly came to some natives and said in Swahili, “Stand up.”

Then, he looked around at a few people and found that there were no major problems. They had all their arms and legs, and there was no swelling on their bodies. They also had a body of strong muscles. Good heavens! They were even stronger than some of the slaves in his tribe.

This had to do with the East African diet. Although the slaves had a large workload, they ate mostly cassava and corn, but the quantity was large and filling, and it was also the food they grew themselves. Cassava, in particular, was drought-resistant, tolerant of barren land, high-yielding, and could be harvested all year round.

As long as East Africa set aside a large area of wasteland for these natives to grow cassava, it could basically meet the food needs of these slaves, without delaying East Africa’s own crop production.

Msiri ordered: “Take a few steps first and let me see.”

Several natives who had been “trained” by East Africa for many years immediately took a few steps according to Msiri’s order. After all, this “big shot” was standing with the East Africans, and they dared not disobey orders, fearing that it would lead to beatings. The most terrible torture was solitary confinement.

Msiri then had these natives do some difficult exercises. After repeated experiments, Msiri found that the East Africans had really not deceived him. The quality of these natives was very good, and they were generally very healthy.

Msiri said very satisfied: “Mr. Kabri, thank you very much for East Africa’s gift. These people are very good.”

“Hahaha, of course, Your Excellency Msiri, you are our friend in East Africa. We in East Africa have always been very generous to our friends.” Kabri laughed, and then silently added in his heart, “That’s a lie!”

People are a consumable, especially those who have been engaged in heavy physical labor for many years. The same was true of the slaves of the East African Kingdom. Although they ate a lot, their nutrition was relatively simple, and they had been greatly depleted by long-term heavy physical labor and being kept in captivity by East Africa.

These slaves who were given to Msiri were all sent to Msiri at the right time, after East Africa deduced their service time based on the lifespan of European railway workers.

Although East African slaves did not engage in railway work, their workload was more than that of European railway workers, and they were all engaged in heavy physical activities. They were sent to Msiri when they were in their best condition, which made them seem energetic and in good shape.

In fact, after going to West Africa with Msiri, if they continued to engage in heavy physical labor, they would definitely collapse at some point. Of course, if Msiri didn’t do this and slowly recuperated, they might live a long time.

For example, Msiri’s army usually didn’t train much, basically relying on firepower to suppress native opponents, and followed Msiri in eating and drinking well. They were definitely the most well-off group among the African natives.

However, if Msiri really planned to take these East African slaves to West Africa to farm, the result might be different. The risk of these slaves dying suddenly at the same time was very high.

However, according to the East African government’s speculation, Msiri would not do this, because Msiri’s regime had a characteristic, which was to plunder the wealth of other tribes and kingdoms. As the saying goes, “The enemy stores grain, I store guns. The enemy is my granary.” This was what Msiri was best at.

In fact, East Africa’s judgment was correct. At this time, Msiri had already planned in his heart to use this batch of slaves sent by East Africa to organize a regular combat force to make a big splash in West Africa.

A regular combat force was one that did not use firearms. The use of firearms was a privilege only for Msiri’s confidants.

The advantage of Msiri’s reusing these East African slaves was obvious. Everyone spoke Swahili, so they were fellow villagers, his own people. Moreover, these slaves were all strong and healthy, and they were all adult males. When they went to West Africa, they could let those West Africans who had never seen the world see the combat power of the East African Bantu people.

To summarize Msiri’s thinking in two words: “Entering the Pass.” Msiri’s all-black “Eight Banner” elite soldiers would go to West Africa together to earn generations of wealth and glory.

Of course, Msiri also noticed that the population East Africa sent him were all “strong men,” without a single woman. But thinking about it, women were the wealth of war, and East Africa would definitely not give them away casually. This didn’t matter, he could just rob the local people when he went to West Africa.

This was a misunderstanding on Msiri’s part. There were no children or women among East Africa’s slaves. They had long been driven to the northwest by East Africa.

However, Msiri’s little thought of going to West Africa to rob women was a lucky hit. The native women and children driven out by East Africa did mostly go there, but now they were the assets of various tribes and kingdoms in West Africa.

Chapter 294: Anda Watches

On Lake Tanganyika, boats made in East Africa and canoes seized from the natives carried Msiri’s people, setting off in a mighty flotilla across the seemingly endless lake, beneath which lay water over five hundred meters deep.

Msiri himself rode in a large, man-powered boat designed by the Kigoma shipyard, its sailors rowing towards the north.

…

On the banks of the Limpopo River.

Several small wooden boats drifted along the gently flowing river towards East African territory.

“Mr. Uris, what goods do you have today?” Van der Merwe asked, addressing the East African merchant Uris as he stepped ashore.

Uris: “Mr. Van der Merwe, you’re here early today! You’ve come at just the right time. A batch of Anda watches arrived from Dar es Salaam recently. Would you like to take a look?”

Van der Merwe: “Certainly, but I don’t think I’ve heard of Anda watches before. Are they a new European product?”

Uris: “Of course. They’re genuine Swiss-made, using the latest European technology.”

Van der Merwe: “Swiss-made? Really? I haven’t heard of that brand among Swiss watches.”

Uris: “That’s because they’re using the newest production techniques. It’s a new company; not everyone has the guts to do that.”

Van der Merwe: “Can the quality be guaranteed?”

Uris: “Rest assured. Although it’s a new company, the designers are well-known professionals hired from Switzerland at great expense. The parts are ground with precision industrial techniques, resulting in minimal error and an extremely low failure rate. What do you think? Would you like to consider it? There aren’t many this time, only 30 pieces.”

Van der Merwe: “Let me see the goods first.”

Uris carefully took a delicate little box from his satchel, opened the clasp, and removed a wristwatch.

Van der Merwe: “Why does this watch look like this!”

Uris: “Mr. Van der Merwe, this is called a wristwatch. It’s different from a pocket watch. You see, you put your wrist through here and adjust this buckle to wear it on your wrist. It’s very convenient.”

Pocket watches were still all the rage in Europe, so Uris completely understood that a country bumpkin like Van der Merwe had never seen a wristwatch.

In his previous life, there was much debate and controversy about when the world’s first wristwatch appeared, with many different claims. But in this timeline, the Anda watch from the Hechengen Consortium was the first mass-produced wristwatch.

In his previous life, Ernst had heard one theory about the origin of the wristwatch: during the Boer War in the 18th century, some soldiers tied pocket watches to their wrists to coordinate with allied forces. This clock tied to the wrist gradually became a necessary accessory in the war, and its status was cemented during World War One.

Van der Merwe: “A watch worn on the wrist? It’s certainly novel, but isn’t it a bit redundant compared to a pocket watch? I still think a pocket watch is more comfortable in a pocket.”

Uris flattered him, “Mr. Van der Merwe, think about it. You Transvaalers are gentlemen on horseback. If you want to check the time on horseback, you have to take out a pocket watch, which is extremely inconvenient. But the Anda watch is different. Look, when I raise my hand like this and put it in front of me, my sleeve automatically retracts, and the wristwatch is revealed. That way, you can check the time. Isn’t that convenient and elegant! And our watchband is made of high-quality calfskin and can be adjusted to fit your wrist. It’s extremely comfortable to wear. Otherwise, I wouldn’t wear it every day.” Uris showed Van der Merwe his watch.

Van der Merwe’s eyes lit up when he saw the silver watch on Uris’s wrist. It was quite handsome!

The luster of the metal, combined with the exquisite craftsmanship and the gorgeous strap…

“Mr. Uris! Why is the strap on your watch metal and not made of leather?”

Uris said with some pride: “Oh, you’re talking about that! My Anda watch is a high-end product, worn by slightly higher-status people in Europe. I can get this high-end product because of my advantage as a distributor. But my Anda watch is nothing in Europe. The dignitaries in Europe wear at least Anda gold watches. The royal family and the great nobles have custom-made watches. I was lucky enough to see one. It was made entirely of gems and pure gold and had patterns designed by famous artists, carved by Europe’s top engravers, and assembled with components by the most famous watch experts. Plus, the advertising slogan, ‘You can easily own time, but you cannot easily own an Anda watch,’ just looking at it made me feel like my soul was sublimated.”

Hearing Uris say this, Van der Merwe felt even more eager. He knew that he would probably not be able to keep his wallet today, but oh money, I really need an Anda watch.

Van der Merwe: “Can I try it on, Mr. Uris!”

“Of course, no problem, Mr. Van der Merwe!” Uris said generously, and he was about to hand the Anda watch he was holding to Van der Merwe.

Seeing Uris handing over the leather strap, Van der Merwe quickly said, “Mr. Uris, I think you misunderstood. I was talking about the one on your wrist.”

Uris: “Ah! Is that so.”

To be honest, Uris was a little reluctant. As he said, his silver watch was hard-earned and could be said to be the most valuable thing on his body. But for the sake of the Transvaal market, he would do it! Once he did business with all the Boers, what watch couldn’t he afford?

He hardened his heart and carefully took off his wristwatch, saying, “So that’s what you meant, Mr. Van der Merwe. I wasn’t willing to show this watch to others easily, but since you’re my old friend, I’ll… let you experience it!”

Van der Merwe took the still-warm Anda watch and, under Uris’s guidance, put it on his wrist, imitating Uris’s movements to experience it for himself.

“Very good, the experience is really comfortable, and the craftsmanship is truly ingenious…” Van der Merwe admired.

Uris: “Of course. Don’t underestimate Anda just because it’s a new brand. It’s the watch used by the Austrian and Prussian royal families. Crown Prince Rudolf wears one on his wrist every day.”

The natural choice for brand ambassadors was European royalty. Although Archduke Franz Ferdinand wasn’t interested in wristwatches, even when given them as gifts, and often left them in drawers, Ernst had no choice but to have Rudolf do it. The Hohenzollern family members wore them more often. The Prussian royal family was the most receptive because Wilhelm I wanted to try promoting wristwatches among army officers, mainly because they made it easier to check the time.

The same was true in East Africa, but the watches in East Africa were issued. Officials and the military were the priority groups.

Hearing that European nobles and royalty were wearing these watches, Van der Merwe was even more tempted. Just showing it off in Transvaal would satisfy him.

Van der Merwe: “Mr. Uris, would you be willing to part with your watch!”

Uris: “Ah! Well…”

Van der Merwe: “Thirty pounds. That’s the highest price I can offer. I don’t have much money with me today.”

Uris: “Deal!”

Although his watch was expensive, and he liked it very much, having spent eighteen pounds on it in Europe, there was nothing to hesitate about with the price Van der Merwe was offering.

Van der Merwe looked at the remaining watches in Uris’s hand and asked, “How much are the cheapest of these watches?”

Uris: “Not much, four pounds each.” He couldn’t miss the opportunity to rip off a sucker. The actual factory price was two pounds.

Van der Merwe: “That’s not expensive at all. I’ll take them all!”

“?”

Doing business with the Boers was really easy, Uris mused. This much money was enough for him to spend a long time in the wealthy district of Vienna.

Uris said with a smile, “Mr. Van der Merwe, you are indeed a man of taste. I believe your business will grow bigger and bigger in Transvaal.”

Van der Merwe laughed loudly, “Hahaha, of course.”

Van der Merwe had already planned to price these watches at six pounds each in the Boer region. The farming Boer community had a high consumption capacity.

Van der Merwe: “Mr. Uris, next time you bring goods, bring more silver watches. Don’t worry about the money!”

Uris replied, “No problem!”

Chapter 295: Rejection

The smooth progress of the trade between the two parties was due to the East African government creating a favorable trading environment. This was a trade hub planned by the East African government on the banks of the Limpopo River.

Next to the trade hub was the East African garrison. With military deterrence in place, naturally no petty thieves dared to cause trouble here, unless they could first defeat the East African army.

Tariffs were non-existent. Most of the goods sold by the East African side were their own products. Moreover, if taxes were levied in Africa, the Limpopo River couldn’t stop merchants’ desire for money. Both sides were always capable of starting a smuggling business on the sparsely populated banks of the Limpopo River.

At the last East African government meeting, one of the ways the East African government decided to increase popularity in the Matabeleland Plateau was through trade, not only with the natives, but also with the Boers and the Portuguese. So, this was part of the plan.

Just as Van der Merwe and Joris finished their transaction and were about to leave, Leon, the head of the Baines Drift trading market, suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He promptly stopped Van der Merwe, who was about to leave, and said, “Mr. Van der Merwe, please hold on!”

“Oh, it’s you, Manager Leon,” Van der Merwe said. “Is there anything I can do for you, Manager Leon?”

Leon said, “Mr. Van der Merwe, the thing is, to be honest, your ships are still too small. How much cargo can you load like that? So, I suggest you get some bigger ships. It would also facilitate trade between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Transvaal Republic.”

Van der Merwe said, “That’s what I’d like to do too, but I’m just a small merchant, and there wasn’t much business on the Limpopo River before. It’s already pretty good that I can temporarily get a few small boats.”

Leon glanced at the goods on the small boats. They really weren’t carrying much. Most of the people who followed Van der Merwe bought industrial products. The sales of East Africa’s locally produced agricultural products were very dismal. The main thing that sold was cashews.

Leon said, “Mr. Van der Merwe, if possible, you can get involved in this kind of industry. We in East Africa generally don’t lack industrial products, but we have a large shortage of cattle, sheep, and horses. Your small boats can’t carry that much cargo.”

After hearing Leon’s hint, Van der Merwe said, “Of course, no problem. This isn’t something that can’t be done. By the way, can cattle, sheep, and horses offset the money?”

Leon said, “You can talk to me directly about this. In a while, the Black Hingen Bank will build a branch here. Our East African government will directly purchase live cattle, sheep, and horses.”

Van der Merwe said, “That’s great! Looking forward to our next cooperation.”

Leon said, “Happy to cooperate.”

Van der Merwe’s small caravan sailed towards the Transvaal Republic. Looking at the trading market that had become somewhat deserted again after they left.

Leon said, “We still haven’t made a name for ourselves. I wonder if the Transvaal Republic government is deliberately doing this.”

“Hehe, Mr. Leon, you’re probably overthinking it. Everything is difficult at the beginning. The infrastructure at Baines Drift isn’t perfect yet, so it’s normal that not many people come. Moreover, the number of people with spending power in the Transvaal Republic is small. Even if everyone has some spare money, they can’t all come to Baines Drift to spend it. It’s already pretty good to have developed a regular customer like Van der Merwe. How Baines Drift develops next will depend on comparing it with other trading markets to know the result,” Joris said from the side.

Leon said, “You’re right, this can’t be rushed. By the way, Mr. Joris, how was your harvest today?”

Joris said, “Not bad. Next time I go to Dar es Salaam to stock up, I can send more money home.”

Leon said, “That’s great! Congratulations!”

Joris laughed loudly and said, “How about a barbecue tonight?”

Leon said, “You’re treating?”

“Of course, Mr. Leon.”

…

Mozambique.

Maputo.

“Your Excellency Governor, East Africa has sent people to Mozambique!”

Governor: “What do they want?”

“According to the East Africans, they want to borrow a port in our south.”

Governor: “Hehe, have the East Africans lost their minds? We don’t even give the British face, why do they think we would open a port to them?”

“But Your Excellency Governor, if East Africa really wants to attack us under this pretext, I’m afraid we will be very passive, after all, the border between us is too long now.”

Governor: “You think too highly of East Africa. They are just a colony formed by a group of German immigrants, and not colonies of Prussia and Austria. What do they have to fight against the Kingdom of Portugal? Let them go back! We will not open a port to them, not even one. Once this precedent is set, they will become even more greedy.”

“Shouldn’t we talk to them first?”

Governor: “What’s there to talk about? They’re just a small, self-absorbed country in a remote area. It’s already good enough that we haven’t asked them to open their ports to us. Hurry up and send them away.”

“Yes, Your Excellency Governor!”

The new Governor of Mozambique, Cabral, who looked down on East Africa, rejected East Africa’s request in this way. The East African diplomats didn’t even get to meet him in person.

Cabral was a retired general of the Portuguese Army. The reason why he was sent to Mozambique by the kingdom was to clean up the mess left by the previous governor.

The previous Malawi campaign was too disastrous, and some people in the colony reported that the previous governor was nepotistic, engaged in family businesses, embezzled colonial assets, and suppressed patriots. Therefore, under an order from the Portuguese mainland, the previous governor went back home to continue enjoying himself.

Upon taking office, Cabral was extremely dissatisfied with Mozambique’s military strength. The military preparedness was lax to an appalling degree, and the military expenses had been embezzled by the previous governor’s cronies.

Therefore, Cabral, who came from the army, carried out a large-scale reorganization of the Mozambican colonial army. First, he purged those who were sycophantic and mediocre from the army, and then directly wrote to the Portuguese central government, accusing the colonial army of its corruption and the previous governor of his crimes. He successfully obtained a batch of firearms and funds, replaced the colonial army’s outdated equipment, and made up for the arrears in military pay.

Judging from Cabral’s actions, he was still a relatively capable person, but his personality was a bit too straightforward.

Of course, this was also one of the reasons why he was assigned to Mozambique. The Portuguese military didn’t like him very much, but the government thought that such an upright person was perfect to send to Mozambique to clean up the mess left by the previous governor when they were choosing the Governor of Mozambique.

After the reorganization, the morale of the Mozambican army greatly increased. Just the fact that Cabral paid the military salaries made people very happy, and they couldn’t wait to die for Cabral.

Cabral personally led the team and re-conquered the Kingdom of Malawi. With his excellent military skills, he finally completely conquered the Kingdom of Malawi a month ago and placed it under the administration of Mozambique.

Although it was insignificant compared to East Africa’s exaggerated expansion speed, Cabral didn’t think so. He only felt that it was completely the incompetence of the previous governor that allowed East Africa to take advantage of the situation.

After all, he had just arrived in Mozambique. If the previous governor had been him, Mozambique would have invaded the African interior long ago.

Although the previous governor was very unbearable, he still did some practical things. For example, although the Malawi campaign was a disastrous defeat, it had greatly depleted the strength of the natives before. If it hadn’t been for the flash floods that caused heavy losses to the main force, they might have been able to take down the Kingdom of Malawi by force. So Cabral was picking up the pieces, of course, we cannot deny his achievements in reorganizing and improving the strength of the Mozambican army.

Chapter 296: Taking Venice

“I’m sorry, everyone, Mozambique is very sensitive about this matter and will not open its ports. This concerns Mozambique’s security.”

“So, there’s no room for negotiation? We only hope that your country can provide ports for economic development. Personnel can operate entirely under your supervision and will not involve your country’s security.”

The Mozambican representative shook his head and said, “Please return. This is the governor’s decision.”

The East African diplomats looked at each other. It seemed that Mozambique’s new governor was indeed not easy to deal with. However, there was nothing they could do. Since this was the case, they could only go back and report the situation first.

Mozambique’s disagreement with the port lease issue was not unexpected for the East African government. They never really expected Mozambique to agree; it was purely a try-it-and-see attitude.

Putting themselves in their shoes, if a country currently asked East Africa to open its markets, East Africa itself would not agree. Of course, leasing a port and opening a market are definitely different, but the principle is the same.

East Africa completely understood the Portuguese, after all, the British had pulled a similar trick on them before, and they would definitely not let down their guard.

…

In the blink of an eye, it was December.

Archduke Albrecht, the supreme commander of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, finally began the final battle against the Kingdom of Italy. Continuing to drag it out was definitely not a solution. Venice had been besieged for months, and a large portion of the population had already left, some to East Africa, some to South America, and some fleeing to the surrounding areas. Now that the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s objectives had been largely achieved, the war could not be dragged out to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

“Attack on all fronts!”

As the order was issued, the entire Italy once again returned to a scene of artillery fire. Heavy artillery, transferred from the rear of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, fiercely bombarded Venice’s city defenses, and the pressure on the Venetian defenders increased sharply.

On the same day, the Austro-Hungarian coalition forces in the Lombardy region also launched a large-scale offensive towards Lombardy. The expeditionary force, which had circled back to the Papal States to rest, along with the Papal States’ army, also steadily advanced towards Florence for the second time.

The Kingdom of Naples did not engage in large-scale operations, mainly to guard against Sicily to the south. The Sicilians were not interested in the Kingdom of Naples and did not want to restore the former Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, just living together.

Due to the internal instability of the Kingdom of Naples, it did not join the war, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire agreed.

Although Sicily was still under the rule of the Kingdom of Italy, as long as the Kingdom of Naples and the Papal States existed, their contact could only rely on the Mediterranean Sea. Even if this exclave did not secede from the Kingdom of Italy in the future, the possibility of demanding autonomy was extremely high.

In the months that the Austro-Hungarian Empire paused its offensive, the Kingdom of Italy was not without preparation. Apart from dealing with the annoying fly that was the expeditionary force, the Kingdom of Italy was generally able to maintain order.

Taking advantage of this gap, Emmanuel II once again sought help from the British. This time, the British did not refuse, and a large amount of military aid flowed towards Italy. The British did not want the Austro-Hungarian Empire to easily defeat Italy. The Franco-Prussian War was a foregone conclusion, unless another Napoleon-like figure emerged to save France from its crisis, but the chances were extremely low. Therefore, the British began to free up their hands to contain the expansion of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Italy.

“The Austro-Hungarian Empire is not as terrifying as imagined. Their previous achievements were only due to a sudden launch after a long period of planning, which led to our heavy losses in the early stages. However, based on the results of the battles between the two sides in the past few months, we can clearly see the progress of the kingdom’s soldiers,” said the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Italy.

The progress of the Italian Kingdom’s military strength was an objective fact, but it was also a fact that the Austro-Hungarian Empire did not exert its full strength in the previous months.

This created a very interesting result. Although in the Venice region, the Italian side was losing soldiers and land every day, the Italian military was indeed reporting frequent victories.

Especially after Venice was besieged, it still confidently assured the kingdom, “The Austro-Hungarian Empire is at the end of its rope. With Venice’s fortifications, we can completely hold Venice, this bridgehead, without losing it.”

The reason why the Italian military reported this way was that they had not been hurt enough yet. Before, except for the beginning of the war, the intensity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s offensive quickly decreased, allowing the Italian main force to slowly contract and finally squeeze into the small city of Venice.

At the same time, the Kingdom of Italy, with the help of British aid, organized another one hundred thousand troops in the rear. Therefore, the judgment of various countries on this war was that the Austro-Hungarian Empire might not win. Although the overall strength of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was stronger, with the support of the British, Italy might be able to complete a counter-offensive.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire at this time was not the Austro-Hungarian Empire of World War One in the previous life. Its army and navy generals were not the kind of昏聩无能之辈 [incompetent and fatuous people], but two world-renowned generals recognized by everyone, Archduke Albrecht and Wilhelm von Tegetthoff.

Therefore, the strength of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army at this time was still online among the great powers, and it would not be so difficult to fight even Serbia like in the previous life.

While Albrecht was increasing the intensity for the Italian Kingdom’s army on land, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy also began to harass the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as the mainland.

The restoration of the Kingdom of Naples ensured that it had a place to dock and resupply in the western waters of Italy.

The Kingdom of Italy felt the pressure from the beginning of Albrecht’s final battle, and multiple fronts began to sound the alarm. Venice, this solid bridgehead, was not as solid as they imagined.

Under multiple rounds of artillery bombardment, Venice’s defenses were quickly breached, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire entered the Venice region and began street fighting with the Italian army.

Under normal circumstances, as the side fighting on its own territory, Italy should have an advantage in the street fighting in Venice.

But this time it was different, because the Italian army’s enemy was not only the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army, but also the local citizens of Venice.

After the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army entered Venice, it immediately received the support of the Venetian people, who led the way, assisted in combat, and shot the Italian army in the back.

As for why the Venetians did this, it was because the Venetian people had long been忍无可忍 [reached the end of their rope] with the so-called Kingdom of Italy.

The Venetian dignitaries took the opportunity to make a fortune from the national crisis in Venice, and after they had been acting recklessly in Venice for several months, they blamed it all on the Italian army.

The small city of Venice was crowded with nearly one hundred thousand Italian troops, which consumed a huge amount of food in itself. Coupled with the government’s exploitation, the Venetian citizens could be said to be collapsing day by day.

Before the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army had invaded, it was still okay, but the moment the Austro-Hungarian Empire entered Venice, the people’s anger that had been suppressed for several months completely erupted.

With the assistance of the Venetian citizens, the Austro-Hungarian Empire instead gained the upper hand in the street fighting. The Italian army’s morale, which was already low after being stabbed in the back, collapsed instantly. Venice was completely captured on the very first day.

Chapter 297: Army Blood Transfusion

While Italy was engulfed in war, Trieste, right next to Venice, presented a different picture. The transfer of military supplies after the outbreak of war, and the enormous demand it spurred, allowed Trieste to reap a substantial war dividend.

A host of factories, including the Hechingen Food Processing Enterprise, ramped up production of military supplies, which were then shipped to Venice and the Papal States.

Ships came and went in Trieste’s harbor, and the docks were bustling. However, a large area was cordoned off from the crowds.

Graduates of the Hechingen Military Academy, having arrived from the Hechingen area, were about to set sail for East Africa.

With the exception of the thirty members who were heading to the Theresian Military Academy in Austria for advanced studies, all the other graduates were here.

Ernst personally came to see off the Hechingen students who were about to go to East Africa. He didn’t hold any elaborate ceremony; instead, he just said a few more words on the dock before they boarded the ship.

Ernst: “After you get to East Africa, your goal is to raise the level of theoretical learning in the East African army by one notch and accelerate the modernization of the troops. Of course, you shouldn’t underestimate the level of the East African army. Many of them have fought quite a few battles. Although it’s not a military power like France, the difficulty may not be less than the Franco-Prussian War. The East African army not only faces hostile indigenous forces, but also has to cope with a harsh environment, which is something you can’t experience in Europe. Sometimes the roads for marching may be opened up temporarily, and the indigenous forces are very flexible. In the blink of an eye, they may disappear from the sight of the East African soldiers into the mountains and forests. The enemy suddenly disappears, and they also break up into smaller units. Do you think the East African army should chase them or not? So the East African army is very experienced in dealing with guerrilla tactics, which is very different from the large-scale operations in Europe. You have to learn to adapt to local conditions when you go there. Don’t be superstitious about the knowledge in books. You have to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the various enemies that East Africa may face. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.”

Students: “Yes, Headmaster!”

Ernst waved his hand and said, “Go! Start a new journey.”

Amidst the roar of the steamship, the Class of ’70 graduates of the Hechingen Military Academy boarded the ship one after another. They were about to carry out a transformation of the East African Kingdom’s army.

Dealing with indigenous people all day long, the combat effectiveness of the East African army is inevitably affected by them. If they suddenly go to war with a country with slightly more modern experience, it may cause the East African army to suddenly suffer a brain freeze.

Therefore, the Hechingen graduates who participated in the Franco-Prussian War were going to carry out a major reform of the main force of the East African Kingdom’s army, accelerating the East African army’s understanding of modern warfare.

As for the non-main force troops, that was not necessary. If it weren’t for the fact that East Africa’s land area was too large, the transportation was poor, there were many internal indigenous forces, and there were many surrounding forces, putting great pressure on national defense, Ernst would have wanted to cut them off now.

Compared with the population, East Africa’s current military strength is excessive, reaching the level of Europe. In fact, hundreds of thousands of troops in Africa is quite an explosive presence, only Egypt has this level.

Traveling on ships flying the Austrian flag, this was the second time that some of the Hechingen students had crossed the ocean, and some were students from the German mainland.

…

East Africa, First Township.

East African Minister of Defense Yahlmann reported to Constantine on the work content of East African retirees.

Yahlmann: “Your Majesty, this is the list of officers who voluntarily retired this time, a total of four hundred and seven people. The lowest rank is platoon leader, and the highest rank is commander of the Twenty-third Division. A large part of them are old people from the colonial era.”

The old people from the colonial era were the mercenary groups hired by the Hechingen Consortium at the beginning, and Yahlmann was the leader of the mercenary group at that time.

Constantine took the list and looked at it. In addition to the elderly, some were injured, and a small part were for other reasons.

Constantine: “For those original members of the mercenary group who want to return to Germany to retire, carefully calculate their wages and bonuses over the years, so that they can live a comfortable life when they return to Europe. I will personally provide them with some bonuses. If they want to stay in East Africa, we also welcome their families to settle here. As for the disabled veterans, arrange some local jobs for them.”

The mercenary group itself came to East Africa for money. Most of them were retired soldiers from various German countries, so they were generally older. A representative example is Yahlmann himself.

Most of their families are in Europe, their roots are in Germany, so many plan to leave East Africa and return to Germany after earning enough money. After all, they have worked hard all their lives and should enjoy themselves.

Yahlmann actually had this idea, but Constantine and Ernst did not intend to let him retire. In order to stabilize Yahlmann, Yahlmann’s family was arranged to live in the First Township separately.

After listening to Constantine’s decision, Yahlmann replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, we will carefully verify it according to the files next.”

Arranging for officers to retire is to make room for the upcoming Hechingen Military Academy graduates. For the two years before this class of Hechingen Military Academy, no military talents had been provided to East Africa because the crash courses were suspended.

After all, the normal school system is three years, and the time when this class of Hechingen Military Academy resumed the normal school system was three years ago.

Relying solely on officers’ voluntary retirement, the positions are definitely not enough, so East Africa had previously asked a group of incompetent people with negative combat records to leave the army and transfer them to other jobs. Through these two actions, a large number of officers were dismissed.

Therefore, East Africa is still relatively short of military talents in general, not only high-end military talents, but also low-end military talents. This class of Hechingen Military Academy graduates will fill these gaps.

Yahlmann: “Your Majesty, there is one more thing. Our diplomats were driven back from Mozambique. I heard that they didn’t even see the new Governor-General of Mozambique.”

Constantine: “Oh! Do you have any specific information about this person?”

Yahlmann: “We learned from merchants in Maputo that this person came from the military. He was a general in the Portuguese mainland army. He is not very tactful. According to rumors, he was squeezed out by the military, so he was sent to Mozambique by the government. I heard that his military ability is not bad. He just arrived in Mozambique and led the army to defeat the remaining forces of the Kingdom of Malawi.”

Constantine: “If this is the case, we must be careful about this person. Let the troops stationed on the border of Mozambique be vigilant and report in time if there is any unusual movement in Mozambique.”

The new Governor-General of Mozambique does not seem easy to deal with, and East Africa has to consider whether this Cabral will go crazy and challenge East Africa. Because Mozambique is surrounded by East African territory, Mozambique must be very worried from a security perspective. East Africa’s expansion speed is too terrifying, it is simply a replica of Tsarist Russia. West Africa and North Africa are fine, but Southeast Africa is completely under the pressure of East African expansion.

Chapter 298: Banana Plantation

Northern Province.

The agricultural development plan relying on the Shebelle River began to unfold. Somalia’s arable land was relatively limited compared to other areas in East Africa. In addition, this area had been deeply influenced by Arab culture, so the land development rate was still good, with most of it being cultivated land, eliminating the need to start from scratch.

In the early morning, the temperature was still relatively low, or rather, cool, so the farmers of the Northern Province, organized by the village chiefs, set out early to work in the fields.

The rising sun rose from the east bank of the Shebelle River, and the red glow reflected on the wide river surface. There was a sandbar in the center of the river, which bent southward with the river’s flow. The farmland distributed on both sides of the Shebelle River looked pleasing to the eye, somewhat resembling the scenery along the Nile River.

Northern Province, Baal Village.

Yakri, a banana planting expert from Jamaica, began to guide the planning of the banana plantation downstream of the Shebelle River.

The banana variety introduced to East Africa was the “Gros Michel banana,” popular in the Caribbean. This banana variety was very sweet, but with a rich flavor.

Ernst himself did not particularly like sweetness, but people of this era did, especially in Europe and America, and “sweet” was considered a kind of affordable luxury for people of this time.

The Gros Michel banana itself had a high sugar content, and the climate of the Somali region further enhanced the sweetness of the banana. Ernst could imagine how cloyingly sweet the grown “Gros Michel banana” would be, but Europeans loved this taste.

Moreover, its skin was thick, suitable for long-term storage and long-distance transportation, which was also a reason for the Gros Michel banana’s popularity.

Yakri himself was born into a Jamaican farming family, so he had considerable experience in Gros Michel banana cultivation.

Yahn, the village chief of Baal Village, asked, “Mr. Yakri, is it really possible to grow bananas in this area?”

Yakri said, “As long as you ensure sufficient irrigation water, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The main thing is to look at the local temperature. Somalia’s temperature is similar to that of the Caribbean. So there is no problem in this regard. Moreover, Somalia has a large daily temperature range due to the desert, which is beneficial to the accumulation of sugar in local crops, which helps to improve their quality. In the future, sales will definitely have a good market.”

Yahn: “I’m really sorry, but I’m originally from Hungary, and I’ve never seen a desert or oasis since I was a child, so I have some doubts about this.”

Yakri: “Of course, there is no big problem. In fact, if I hadn’t received an education, I might have the same idea as you. I still have to thank my father for sending me to study in France back then, which is why I am where I am today.”

Although Yakri came from a Jamaican farming family, he was not an ordinary farmer. His father was a local white farm owner, which was why he had the ability to study in Europe.

Yahn: “Mr. Yakri, are there any differences between banana cultivation in Somalia and Jamaica?”

Yakri: “In Jamaica, banana cultivation requires good drainage. Although both places are suitable for planting, the climate in Somalia is very different from that in Jamaica, so you don’t have to pay too much attention to this. The tropical desert climate in Somalia has little impact on the growth of Somali bananas in terms of rainfall, and it can even supplement them.”

Yahn: “Does that mean the drainage system is optional?”

Yakri: “That’s pretty much what I mean. After all, it’s hard for me to imagine the same torrential rain here as in Jamaica, especially when hurricanes come, turning Jamaican farms upside down. But the climate in Somalia is very stable, with little rain and drought, and irrigation also depends on the water from the Shebelle River.”

Yahn: “We still have to build canals to divert river water for irrigation. We can’t carry buckets to fetch water little by little. We still have to divert the river water through canals.”

Yakri: “If you are willing, of course you can do that.”

The soil in Somalia was relatively loose, so this matter was not troublesome. The villagers of Baal Village began to build canals along the planned plantation drawings on the west bank of the Shebelle River.

Irrigation can replenish the irrigation water in the fields, and when drainage is needed, it can flow back to the Shebelle River along the canal, although this probability is very small.

Like Baal Village, crisscrossing canals began to appear on both sides of the Shebelle River. The lower reaches of the Shebelle River seemed to have taken root, and these small canals penetrated deep into the Benadir Plain like capillaries.

The Benadir Plain and the Mozambique Plain are the only two strictly defined plains in Africa. Other areas are called depressions, basins, and river deltas.

The lower reaches of the Shebelle River and the Jubba River are both within the Benadir Plain, with a total area of approximately two hundred seventy thousand square kilometers.

There was no place in the entire Benadir Plain that planted food crops. All the land with irrigation conditions was used by East Africa to grow cash crops, including the original cultivated land of the Geledi Sultanate, which was transformed by East Africa into banana plantations and frankincense and myrrh planting bases.

“The Northern Province and Jubba Province do not need to grow food crops. There is limited arable land here, and the rainfall is insufficient. The local ecology is very fragile. Rather than growing food on a large scale and consuming the water from the Shebelle River and the Jubba River, it is better to grow cash crops with higher economic value on a small scale. Food can be transported from the south.” This was Ernst’s explanation to Constantine when he designed the agricultural development plan for the two provinces.

Another important reason was to use this measure to contain the two northern provinces economically and agriculturally, making it impossible for them to get rid of their dependence on the core areas of East Africa.

The crops that can be grown in Somalia can also be grown in other areas of East Africa, but there are differences in yield and quality. Somalia has no obvious advantages, or rather, each has its own advantages. Therefore, Somalia has no agricultural products that East Africa must have, while the Somali region cannot do without East Africa’s food supply. Even if the entire Somali region is converted to growing food, it will be difficult to achieve food self-sufficiency under the tropical desert climate. Because the current agricultural structure in Somalia has been finalized, it is basically impossible to switch to growing food crops in a short period of time.

As for environmental protection, although Somalia’s ecology is relatively fragile, Somalia, with two large rivers, is much stronger than most areas in the Middle East and North Africa. However, limited development of land in the Somali region can indeed prevent desertification from intensifying.

At present, Somalia’s arable land potential has not been fully exploited, and the East African government’s plan is only to increase it by 20% on the basis of the original developed land, which is also an important reason why the development of the Somali region is much less difficult than other regions.

Developing such a small amount of land is obviously different from East Africa’s approach in other regions. It is to avoid excessive damage to vegetation and oases. It is easy to turn wasteland into cultivated land, but it is difficult to restore cultivated land after it becomes a desert.

Baal Village was not far from Mogadishu, and East Africa’s banana producing areas were mostly concentrated in the nearby area. The villagers were busy from morning to night, leveling and repairing the land of the former Geledi Sultanate, while repairing water conservancy facilities, striving to restore local agricultural production as soon as possible.

Chapter 299: Preemptive Strike

Zanzibar Island.

A little over a month after the East African government demanded that Zanzibar abolish slavery, a group of unexpected visitors once again graced the Zanzibar Palace.

A steam merchant ship flying the British flag docked at Zanzibar Island. The people on the shore were not surprised by this. Zanzibar’s location meant that merchant ships from almost all countries sailing in the Indian Ocean could appear here, of course, that was before the Suez Canal was opened. Now, the vast majority of ships go through the Suez Canal.

However, the people of Zanzibar had not forgotten the grand scene of merchant ships from various countries docking in Zanzibar in the past, so the appearance of a British merchant ship was not out of place.

After the merchant ship docked, a group of people disembarked, but their purpose was not for trade or resupply. They went directly to the port’s administration office.

“Are you an official of the Zanzibar Sultanate?”

“Yes, I am Amani, the person in charge of the port.”

“Good, I am the special envoy of the British Empire, here to visit your Sultan. Please inform him.”

Hearing the purpose of the visitors, the Zanzibar official dared not neglect them. He said, “Sir! Please wait a moment.” After saying that, he turned around and gave a few instructions to his subordinates, then took a carriage to the palace to report the situation.

“Hello, I am Akaram, the deputy manager of the Zanzibar Sultanate port. May I ask how to address you, sir?” Akaram, who stayed behind to receive the British special envoy, asked politely.

Edward ignored the Zanzibar official. He looked around at the situation of the Zanzibar port. Because the Zanzibar Sultanate undertook East African trade, it did not decline due to the opening of the Suez Canal. It was still very prosperous, with people coming and going on the streets, and many ships in the port. But Edward’s focus was not here.

When landing at the port, Edward noticed that the Zanzibar port seemed to have more things than when he passed through here ten years ago.

Edward: “That flag, if I remember correctly, should be a European flag! Why is it erected together with the flag of the Zanzibar Sultanate?”

Akaram: “That is the flag of the East African Kingdom. The East African Kingdom is a friendly country of our Zanzibar Sultanate, so their flag is erected together with our flag.”

Edward said nonchalantly, “Oh! So that’s how it is. I’ve also heard people mention that a new country has appeared in East Africa, but because I’m in India all year round, the news isn’t very well-informed. This is the first time I’ve seen their flag.”

Akaram: “Sir, the ruler of the East African Kingdom is a member of the famous Hohenzollern family of Europe. Their monarch is Prince Constantine of the former Kingdom of Prussia!”

Edward: “I see. It seems that East Africa has changed a lot in recent years! Germans have even opened up a colony here. What kind of relationship do they have with you? For example, what specific business do you do?”

Akaram: “Mainly agricultural product transactions. The East African Kingdom is rich in rice and wheat, as well as sisal and other special products.”

“Pfft!” Hearing Akaram’s words, Edward couldn’t help but laugh. “The Germans are indeed still good at farming. I heard that there are many Germans in the Americas who are also like that.”

Edward was not interested in this East African Kingdom. It was just a small country celebrating itself in a corner that even the British Empire didn’t want.

“Ten years apart, the army of your Zanzibar Sultanate seems to be much more standardized. It seems to have introduced European characteristics. Are those gun emplacements? They are well-built. They used to be very dilapidated, and there were only a few small cannons.”

Akaram said nervously, sweating, “Mr. Edward, those are actually the East African Kingdom’s army, and the gun emplacements were also built by them.”

Edward: “Oh! Zanzibar is so good that it’s wearing the same pants as the so-called East African Kingdom? Even entrusting them to defend your own port.”

Akaram could only laugh awkwardly, “That’s right. After all, East Africa is a friendly country of Zanzibar. We… we trust our ‘friends’ more.”

Of course, the Zanzibar Sultanate did not want to hand over its national defense to East Africa, but the situation was stronger than people, so it could only obey East Africa’s arrangements. If they were obedient, the East African Kingdom would at least give them some soup to drink. If they were disobedient, East Africa could destroy Zanzibar right now. It was like a mute eating coptis chinensis, unable to express their suffering.

Edward said sarcastically, “Then the relationship between your two countries is really good. If only the Indians had the same awareness as your country!”

At this time, Amani had returned.

“Special Envoy, His Majesty the Sultan has agreed to meet you. Please come with me.”

……

When Amani took Edward to the Zanzibar Palace, a figure quickly headed towards the East African Kingdom’s embassy.

This person was a member of the East African army stationed at the Zanzibar port. Amani not only reported the news to the Sultan, but also reported the news to the East African army at the port.

East African Embassy in Zanzibar.

“Mr. Lemons! A British ship landed on Zanzibar Island just now. A group of British people came down and claimed to be British diplomats. Then they requested to go to the Zanzibar Sultan’s Palace. The Zanzibar people who came forward did not dare to refuse. They should have arrived at the palace by now!”

Lemons: “Oh! Is it a warship?”

“No, it’s not. If it were a warship, our army would have intercepted them after they landed.”

East Africa has troops stationed at the port of Zanzibar Island, but the East African troops generally do not interfere with the Zanzibar Sultanate’s trade activities, so the army did not intercept the British from landing. If the British had come in a warship, East Africa would definitely have questioned their purpose.

Lemons: “Ah! Is that so! It seems that the British are open to communication this time. Let’s go, let’s go to the Zanzibar Palace to take a look.”

……

Zanzibar Palace.

Said the younger had already made preparations, setting up tea in the palace to welcome the arrival of the British special envoy.

“Sultan Said, I am Edward, the special envoy and plenipotentiary minister of the British Empire’s Indian colony of Mumbai to Zanzibar!” Edward, dressed in a suit, introduced himself arrogantly to Said the younger.

Said the younger asked with a smile, “I wonder what brings Your Excellency to the Zanzibar Sultanate!”

Edward: “Just last month, we intercepted a slave trading ship from your country heading to the Ottomans, and two months before that there were two more. We have repeatedly warned your country that as an important country along the Indian Ocean, it still has such heinous behavior, which is shameful. So I am here this time on behalf of Britain and the civilized world to demand that the Zanzibar Sultanate immediately stop the backward practice of slave trade, which violates humanity and freedom.”

Edward immediately stood on the moral high ground and criticized the Zanzibar Sultanate.

Said the younger’s smile froze a little. Recalling what the East Africans had said last time about the British possibly using this as an excuse to interfere with Zanzibar, he didn’t quite believe it at the time, thinking that it was just a reason that the East Africans had randomly found in order to obtain the right to station troops in the Zanzibar Sultanate. Now it seemed that the East Africans were still kind. They really didn’t fool him. Fortunately, East Africa had warned him before, otherwise he would have really fallen for it today.

Composing himself, Said the younger said with a smile, “Special Envoy Edward, what are you talking about! Our Zanzibar Sultanate is also a member of the civilized world.”

Edward: “Your country still wants to quibble? From the founding of the Zanzibar Sultanate, it has been a country that relied on the slave trade to get rich. In recent decades, the slave trade in the Indian Ocean has become increasingly rampant because of your actions.”

Said the younger: “Your country can’t slander us at will. We admit that the black history of the slave trade existed, but your country back then…”

Edward flatly denied, “We have long abandoned this sinful business. Now the British Empire is a promoter of opposing the slave trade, and is the embodiment of justice.”

Said the younger: “Uh! Actually, our Zanzibar Sultanate is also opposed to the slave trade, and selling slaves in Zanzibar is also illegal.”

Edward: “Nonsense, if the Zanzibar Sultanate was really like this, would we have been able to catch evidence?”

Said the younger said with some pride, “Your country doesn’t know, but after I came to power, I actively promoted the abolition of slavery in the Zanzibar Sultanate. Just a month ago, we completely legislated to ban the slave trade. Any slave trading activity is illegal in the Zanzibar Sultanate, and is punishable by death. Your country’s visit this time is completely unnecessary. We Zanzibaris have solved this matter ourselves!”

Edward was dumbfounded. What the hell? I just arrived and you’re telling me that the Zanzibar Sultanate has abolished slavery and banned the slave trade!

He asked unwillingly, “You’re not making up a lie temporarily because you’re afraid of me, are you!”

Said the younger: “Of course not. We just promulgated the law last month, and it’s still posted on the bulletin boards throughout the country! You can completely verify it, and you can also ask around on the street. I can personally accompany you to verify it.”

Edward was about to speak when someone clamored at the door, “Do you know who I am? If your Sultan knows that you’re blocking me outside, you won’t be able to bear the consequences…”

Edward was a little displeased, but Said was very pleasantly surprised when he heard the voice.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency Edward, it seems that there are other guests visiting today. I’m disturbing you, I’m sorry. I’ll go see who is so bold as to make a loud noise in the palace.”

At this time, the guard was listening to Lemons scolding him with grievance. How could he, a small guard, have provoked him?

“Who is making a loud noise?” Said the younger came out and pretended to ask loudly.

But he excitedly went forward to greet Lemons and said in a low voice, “Mr. Lemons, you’re here? The British…”

Lemons said with a smile, “I will help you with this matter. Let’s go in first.”

Before leaving, Lemons took out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to the guard, saying, “You did a good job just now, don’t worry, take it!”

After saying that, he turned around and returned to the palace with Said. Edward was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.

Said the younger: “Special Envoy Edward, I’m really sorry. This is the East African Minister, Mr. Lemons. There was some misunderstanding with the guard just now.”

Edward: “Forget it, I won’t pursue this matter. Let’s continue talking about the slave trade.”

“Slave trade?” Lemons, who was next to him, acted like a drama queen, “Your Majesty the Sultan, hasn’t our country strictly prohibited your country from abolishing the slave trade?”

“Ah, oh, that’s right, but Special Envoy Edward may not be aware of this…” Said the younger cooperated and repeated the content of the conversation with Edward just now.

Lemons: “So that’s how it is. In my opinion, it’s completely a misunderstanding. However, Special Envoy Edward is after all doing it out of good intentions, but your country’s time to repent is relatively late, so it caused Special Envoy Edward to be unclear about this matter. I think Special Envoy Edward has traveled a long way and must have wasted a lot of effort, especially India, which is the jewel of the British Empire. And Edward came from Mumbai just for this small matter, which is obviously not worth the loss. Sultan Said should still show some appreciation!”

Finally, under Lemons’ mediation, Said the younger spent a large sum of money to buy peace. As for Edward, he let the matter go for the sake of money. Anyway, Zanzibar had indeed abolished the slave trade in law, so he could also report back. But Edward still reminded him, “Your Majesty the Sultan, it’s better to be careful with your country’s trade at sea. If you are found to continue selling slaves…”

Said: “Special Envoy Edward, if it is really a slave trading ship, then it is definitely not the work of Zanzibaris. Your country can sink them at any time.”

Anyway, Said’s own slave ships had been transformed into “labor” export ships, with complete procedures, and the living environment of the “laborers” had also been greatly improved, and there was no big difference in appearance from ordinary immigrant ships.

Chapter 300: Plunder

The appearance of the British was quickly reported to Leimons, which aroused Constantine’s concern. According to the British character of not getting up early without profit, they must have something planned. At the very least, it shows that the British still attach some importance to Zanzibar Island. Regardless of whether this inference is correct, Constantine decided to strengthen the vigilance of the coastal areas.

……

Venice Port.

After capturing Venice, Albrecht did not stay for long. Now he wanted to strike while the iron was hot and completely defeat the Kingdom of Italy, so he quickly marched westward. A brigade of the second-line troops took over Venice.

Lieutenant General Yadmonsto, who took over Venice, began to screen and expel the forces in Venice according to the imperial order, especially those who betrayed Austria.

Before Venice was captured, a large number of people had already fled. Austria could only target the industries they could not take away and the people who were related to them.

Venice Wharf.

A scene of peace and prosperity reappeared, with boxes of all sizes being transported by Austro-Hungarian soldiers through various means.

The boxes were of various sizes, the large ones were pulled by cars, and the small ones could be carried directly by one person.

These boxes were transported from various factories and enterprises in Venice that were under military control. The mechanical identification personnel of the Hechingen Consortium confirmed the function, use, and value of the machinery in the factories, packed them into wooden boxes, and then hired Austrian soldiers as porters.

“Be careful, if this thing is bumped, it is very likely to be scrapped, then our loss will be great, we will not pay!” Adro, a staff member of the Hechingen Consortium, said to the Austrian soldier.

Will: “Don’t worry, sir! You have told us so many times, we will definitely be careful, after all, no one has a problem with money.”

Adro: “That’s not necessarily true. Some idiots messed things up yesterday.”

Will: “I am different from them. I have always been serious and careful in doing things. Before coming in, I specially found a flatbed truck to transport this guy in smoothly.”

Adro: “That’s good. See the red circle marked with red paint in the upper left corner of the box? When you encounter this kind of box, you must be careful. Our workers will check it later. This is a precision part. If it is damaged, it will be rejected. Now you move it to warehouse number one.”

Two Austrian soldiers unloaded the box from the flatbed truck and carefully moved them onto the ship.

In front of warehouse number one, they were stopped. The staff member opened the box with a key. He carefully checked it. The box contained a set of gear components, and he recorded it with a pen.

“Okay, you put it on the pile of red boxes on the right side of the warehouse. This is the receipt. You can exchange it for cash with it.”

Will and his comrades were very happy. With this money, they could go to a tavern to have a good time.

……

Inside the Venice City Government.

Anthony, the manager of the Hechingen Bank’s Venice branch, was meeting with General Yadmonsto. There were also documents left by the Venice City Government on the table. Now no Italians can be seen in the Venice City Government, and the Austrians have returned here as if they were coming home.

Anthony sat opposite Yadmonsto and said politely: “General Yadmonsto, I am Anthony, the manager of the Hechingen Bank’s Venice branch. This time I am entrusted by my superiors.” Then he said with a smile: “I am here to thank you for your support. General Yadmonsto, this is a token of our appreciation.”

After speaking, Anthony took out a Hechingen Bank check from his black briefcase and handed it to Yadmonsto. Yadmonsto took the check and saw the amount on it. He said happily: “Hahaha, we are all our own people, you are really too polite. This is just a small effort, a small effort!”

Anthony: “General Yadmonsto, you don’t have to be so polite. This is what you deserve.”

Yadmonsto nodded and said: “If that’s the case, if your company likes the equipment in that factory, you can tell us, I guarantee you can get it, the price is negotiable.”

Now all the industries in Venice are under the supervision of Yadmonsto, so he still has some say in this regard. As long as he lets his soldiers open a hole, it can basically be sold.

Anthony: “That’s not necessary. The equipment in these seized factories is enough for our needs. After all, some of the equipment in other factories is too old, and some have been damaged due to the war. Moreover, we must also consider leaving a way out for the locals, otherwise, it would not be good if history repeats itself like the Italians. The anger of the citizens of Venice is very terrifying.”

Yadmonsto: “That’s a pity. I thought you would take everything! But Mr. Anthony, are you really not going to buy more? Now the price is dirt cheap.”

That is naturally impossible. The Hechingen Consortium had already set its sights on the good things before the war, and the list had already been made, and they are being transported now.

Moreover, Yadmonsto is a little greedy. In fact, the Hechingen Consortium can get the things they want by spending less money through his subordinates. After all, the soldiers have to sell their stolen goods to the Hechingen Bank, which is beneficial to both parties.

For the development of the Nairobi textile industry, East Africa emptied three large local textile factories from Venice. The population of Nairobi is not as large as that of Venice, or rather, the two are not on the same level at all, so some industries are enough for Nairobi’s development.

Now some of the Venetian textile workers are already in Nairobi, plus the textile workers from the Far East immigrants, a complete textile industry system can be re-established in East Africa.

Under the looting of East Africa, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, the population and industry of Venice have suffered major losses. However, the wealth of Venice is mainly concentrated in the hands of the original rich, so it has little impact on ordinary people. Before Austria-Hungary invaded, most people were already penniless. On the contrary, East Africa plundered a large number of people, reducing the employment pressure of the remaining population, so it is really hard to say what is right and wrong.

Chapter 301: Austrian Commercial Delegation

Moving Venice lock, stock, and barrel was definitely out of the question. It was too big of a move, and Ernst wouldn’t agree to it, nor would Austria-Hungary. What East Africa was doing was simply moving the jobs of the Venetian workers who had migrated to East Africa to East Africa itself.

In reality, a large portion of Venetians who came to East Africa went to participate in the great cause of land reclamation. Therefore, Nairobi didn’t need a massive industrial base, but a specialized one.

At the same time, Ernst’s original goal was to turn Venice into Austrian territory, preventing it from becoming landlocked in the future, not to force the remaining Venetians to revolt and seek autonomy and independence from Austria.

East Africa wasn’t worried about Germany becoming landlocked, because most of Germany’s access to the sea was concentrated in the Baltic Sea. If Britain and France wanted to contain Germany’s access to East Africa, they could either block the German navy in the Baltic Sea, or cut off the Strait of Gibraltar, forcing them to go around the west coast of Africa, which would be a much longer distance.

Austria-Hungary’s access to East Africa mainly relied on the Suez Canal. Although there was a risk of it being cut off, both Austria-Hungary and East Africa had the ability to retaliate. Moreover, the Suez Canal was related to the interests of the vast majority of countries and regions along the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and maintaining the smooth and safe operation of the Suez Canal was not just East Africa’s concern.

……

Mombasa.

Mombasa was particularly lively today. The welcoming ceremony, held by the city hall, took place at the pier. Many government officials, including East African Finance Minister Von der Leyen, participated in the welcoming ceremony.

A ship flying the flag of Austria-Hungary was docked at the pier. Stepping off the ship was the Austrian commercial delegation.

Von der Leyen stepped forward and said, “Welcome everyone to East Africa! I am the East African Finance Minister, Von der Leyen.”

“Minister Von der Leyen, hello! I am the head of the Austrian commercial delegation, Wolfgang.”

While speaking, Wolfgang sized up the environment of Mombasa. His first impression was that it was uniform and orderly, or rather, rigid and lacking character. There was not a single piece of garbage or sewage on the streets, and the city seemed relatively empty. This was mainly because the roads were wide and the buildings were not concentrated.

Seeing Wolfgang looking around, Von der Leyen said, “Mr. Wolfgang, what is your first impression of Mombasa? I can answer any questions you may have.”

Wolfgang said, “Mombasa is quite good. Before coming, I had imagined countless times what East Africa would be like, but just Mombasa alone has exceeded my expectations.”

Von der Leyen said, “Mombasa is almost a city rebuilt from scratch. We are committed to bringing German culture to the African region, so please don’t be shy in East Africa. It’s almost like being back home.”

The Austrian commercial delegation agreed with this point. Everyone was German, so naturally they appreciated it.

Wolfgang said, “Minister Von der Leyen, although Mombasa looks quite good, why are your roads so wide and the buildings so far apart, making it seem so empty? Wouldn’t this be a huge waste?”

Wolfgang had been to many places in Europe. Currently, in many European countries, the roads were generally narrow, with high pedestrian traffic, and the buildings emphasized utilization. In his opinion, Mombasa was built somewhat extravagantly.

Von der Leyen said, “On the one hand, East Africa is sparsely populated and land resources are not very scarce. Secondly, East African cities pay more attention to the living environment. You see, although the buildings are relatively spread out, there is also a lot of greenery. According to our East African saying, this is called a garden city. At the same time, it is convenient to match the city’s supporting facilities, such as drainage systems and reserved tap water pipes, street lights, warning signs, and other spaces. Mombasa’s economic capacity is currently limited, so the relevant facilities are not perfect, but we refer to the advantages of other cities to reserve enough space for Mombasa’s future development. As for the roads being wide, the pedestrians and goods on the streets are orderly according to the right-hand traffic rules, so the traffic efficiency is also very good. It is definitely excessive at the moment, but when Mombasa’s population increases in the future, there will be no need to re-plan.”

Wolfgang believed Von der Leyen’s explanation to a certain extent. At least it showed that the East African government had a long-term vision. But he chose not to give the remaining seven points, because current European cities had not reached the level Von der Leyen described, so East Africa was even further behind. This was a huge administrative waste, all show and no substance.

Wolfgang said, “Although what you said makes some sense, East Africa does not have a large population. How many years do you plan to realize this city becoming what you said, thirty years, forty years, or even longer?”

Von der Leyen said, “Currently, the population of Mombasa has already reached a scale of 60,000, second only to Dar es Salaam. You have to know that it has only been a little over three years since we Germans developed this city. This is still the effect after expelling the local Zanzibaris. In other words, we have only relied on immigration to make Mombasa and other cities comparable to Europe in terms of population, so the future development of Mombasa is definitely very promising.”

Sixty thousand people is not a lot for this city, but it is now 1870. The population of Berlin is only about seven or eight hundred thousand, and Vienna is about five or six hundred thousand.

Of course, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa have special circumstances. They are the two largest transit ports in East Africa, so the scale of employment can support so many people gathering. Just providing services for passing ships and sailors has created a large number of jobs. Now that Nairobi is expanded, it will also form a “large” city with a population of over 50,000, or even 100,000.

The third largest city in East Africa is currently Mbeya, and the fourth is Mwanza. They will also be reduced to the fourth and fifth positions due to the sudden rise of Nairobi. This is the power of policy.

Although East African cities seem to be able to reach European levels, the current population of East African cities is mostly at the level of towns, basically the provincial capitals. Among the provincial capitals, only Mombasa currently has a population of over 50,000.

After listening to Von der Leyen’s words, Wolfgang also became interested in East Africa. He asked, “If you look at it this way, the development of Mombasa is still commendable. After all, turning a colonial city into a modern German-style city is quite an achievement. I want to know what the current urban population scale of East Africa is?”

Population, especially urban population size, means labor and market. If East Africa has both of these, plus East Africa’s resources, all that’s missing is entrepreneurial investment.

Although the Austrian commercial delegation was commissioned by the royal family, everyone mainly came to make money. That is, out of respect for His Majesty the Emperor, they would travel thousands of miles to East Africa for inspection.

Von der Leyen did not directly answer Wolfgang’s question, but said, “Currently, the population of East Africa is mainly concentrated in agriculture and rural areas. The urban population is not prominent. But we are planning the Northern Industrial Belt, that is, the industrial belt with Mombasa, Nairobi, and Kisumu as nodes. The population of these three cities alone reaches about 100,000. Among them, due to the results of the Venice region war, many experienced workers will immigrate to East Africa, and the population of Nairobi will exceed 100,000. In addition, along this industrial belt, there are also many villages distributed, with a regional population of about 600,000.”

Von der Leyen did not reveal the specific strength of the entire East Africa, but only repeated the population size of Kenya to the delegation.

Without Von der Leyen’s excessive description, just the number of 600,000 made many people feel itchy. The current population of Greece is only 1.45 million, and southern Kenya not only has a relatively sufficient population, but also rich resources.

Von der Leyen continued, “In addition, we are planning a large-scale cotton planting base in the north, not ordinary cotton, but long-staple cotton. The quality may be somewhat different from Egypt, but it will not be too bad. At the same time, there are large-scale farms in the north, and the agricultural foundation in southern Kenya is also relatively good. Sorghum, wheat, corn, and millet are all planted, including the coffee plantations in South Prussia Province where Nairobi is located.”

This is the agricultural foundation of the Northern Industrial Belt, with abundant raw materials, and Austrian merchants can also rely on these products to invest in related industries that they are optimistic about.

Wolfgang said, “In this regard, East Africa does have its own advantages. After all, your land resources are abundant and you are located in the tropics, but I would like to know about the local medical conditions separately.”

Wolfgang spoke his mind. He had heard that the African environment was harsh and there were many diseases. That was not a question of whether or not to invest, but a question of whether or not to risk one’s life.

Von der Leyen said, “Mr. Wolfgang, you don’t have to worry about this. We in East Africa invest a lot in medical care, and through hygiene and environmental improvements, population attrition has been reduced to an extremely low level. In this regard, it can be said to be far lower than other regions at the same latitude, very close to European standards. Look at me, I came to East Africa four years ago. Many of our government officials, including army officers, have stayed in East Africa for at least three years.”

Even if Von der Leyen didn’t say so, the living environment in East Africa is actually better than most regions at the same latitude. After all, most of East Africa is located in the tropical highlands, which is very livable. In addition, East Africa’s vigorous publicity and mandatory enforcement of hygiene, as well as the large-scale killing of mosquitoes, although people other than Ernst were unclear about the principle due to the low level of technology, it vaguely reduced the chance of disease outbreaks in East Africa.

Not to mention that in the current era, Europe may not be able to do much about diseases. As far as Ernst knew, during the World Expo in Vienna in 1872 in his previous life, there was a large-scale epidemic of cholera, causing thousands of deaths. This was still Vienna.

The characteristic of East Africa’s dispersed population distribution, coupled with an effective monitoring system, also means that diseases cannot spread on a large scale in East Africa. The East African Minister of Health is a powerful figure, ranking among the top five in the government, which shows East Africa’s emphasis in this regard. The officials who rely on the health, medical, and disease prevention and control system are also not a few in the East African administrative staff. The subsequent deployment of the telegraph system in East Africa will further enhance the possibility of East Africa blocking the spread of infectious diseases.

Chapter 302: Continuation of the Inspection Tour

Hearing this, Wolfgang and the others were slightly relieved. What Von der Leyen said was true. At least from the perspective of Mombasa, the environment was not much different from other cities in the Middle East. The interior was hard to say, but if East Africa, which had recruited so many immigrants, were to suffer large-scale disease outbreaks all the time, it would not be able to bear the losses. Immigrants also require a great deal of investment.

Wolfgang: “Ms. Von der Leyen, compared to Mombasa and the cities you mentioned, such as Nairobi, why aren’t you attracting investment in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in East Africa?”

Von der Leyen: “Dar es Salaam is currently the largest city in East Africa, mainly due to historical reasons. It was originally the most important stronghold of Zanzibar on the mainland, so it was developed early. To be precise, it is close to Zanzibar Island, which is the main body of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. However, after the establishment of the East African Kingdom, Dar es Salaam no longer has this advantage. The main body of East Africa is the mainland, and Dar es Salaam is only an important port in East Africa. Its conditions are slightly worse than those of Mombasa.”

Wolfgang: “How so?”

Von der Leyen: “First of all, Mombasa is in the north of East Africa. The distance from Europe and the Far East to Mombasa is shorter than that to Dar es Salaam. I think you understand what this means, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal. Dar es Salaam is like Venice after the decline of the Mediterranean, replaced by ports along the Atlantic coast, and its status has further declined. Another point is that the economic structure of western Dar es Salaam is relatively simple, mainly based on planting food crops, so unless you are engaged in grain trade, it is not as advantageous as the Mombasa radiation area. Only sisal processing can be considered a relatively advantageous industry, but this is mainly handled by Tanga. I believe your country has no advantage in investing in the sisal industry.”

Von der Leyen was right. The Austro-Hungarian Empire does not produce sisal, so its experience and technology in this area are not as good as those of East Africa, even though East Africa’s sisal industry has only been developing for a few years.

Wolfgang: “Transportation is indeed a big problem, especially ports. With the opening of the Suez Canal, to be honest, the ports along the East African coast are deviating from the main shipping lanes. Only ports like Mombasa, which are close to Europe, have some advantages.”

From the perspective of maritime transportation alone, fortunately Africa is close to the Eurasian continent. If it were like South America, then East Africa would be mostly useless. The same goes for North America. If it were Oceania, it would be a hellish start. Of course, considering factors such as economy and resources, the situation is very different. For example, Australia is now similar in status to Siberia, but in the future, due to its abundant mineral resources, it will become a highly sought-after place.

Von der Leyen: “Are you planning to visit the specific situation of Mombasa next, so that you will have a more intuitive feeling?”

Wolfgang: “We couldn’t ask for more.”

Von der Leyen gestured, and officials from the Mombasa Municipal Government began to lead everyone around the Mombasa city area.

As a free port, Mombasa is divided into two areas. What the inspection team saw just now was the open area, so in addition to East Africans, you can also see many foreign sailors and merchants. The commercial atmosphere is very strong, with taverns, casinos, and shops of all kinds, and even Japanese-style “entertainment” venues, whose service personnel are mostly from Japan.

To the west of the open area is the real face of the East African city. Compared with the open area, it is very dilapidated. Most of it is residential areas, including administrative organs such as the Municipal Government. There are far fewer pedestrians on the street, which makes it seem very empty.

“Most citizens mainly work in the east, so at this time of day, the western urban area is a bit empty. It will be much better in the morning and evening, which is the time for commuting to and from work,” Von der Leyen explained.

Wolfgang: “Are there many police in East Africa? We’ve seen quite a few along the way.”

Von der Leyen: “This is also an important means of maintaining order in East Africa. After all, public security is an important part of the living environment. Good public security requires not only public education, but also supervision. But don’t worry, the East African Police Department is not simply a violent organ, but mainly a convenient organ that provides services to citizens. In addition to fighting crime, it also helps citizens with directions, promotes traffic safety and laws and regulations, and improves the quality of life and sense of security for the public.”

Compared with Europe, there are indeed more police in East Africa. It is best to strictly control crimes, including petty theft, even though the crime rate in East Africa is very low.

However, the most profound impression that East Africans currently have of the police is that there are huge fines, including traffic violations, public urination and defecation, littering… all kinds of trivial matters. In En斯特’s words, this is a necessary means to cultivate the quality of East African residents. The effect is not yet apparent, but in the future, when East Africans develop good habits, its power will be revealed. This is not making a mountain out of a molehill. The vast majority of East African immigrants come from rural areas. They need to adapt to the urban living environment, and cities have more rules than rural areas. It takes too long to educate these people through education, but punishment can make them grow quickly.

After passing an intersection, a group of black-skinned workers appeared in front of everyone, dredging the sewers.

Von der Leyen said: “In addition to normal people, there are still a certain number of black slaves in East Africa. We will use the corresponding number of black laborers according to the project situation, including if you build a factory in East Africa, you will also use a part of the black people in the future to reduce costs. This is one of the benefits that East Africa provides to investors. As long as you pay a small amount of material costs, you can get the desired factory building.”

Wolfgang: “Including using them as workers!”

Von der Leyen: “That’s not the case. They can only be regarded as a supplement to some of the labor force in East Africa. The main workers are still East African residents.”

Wolfgang: “Why not just use all black slaves? That would be even lower cost!”

Von der Leyen: “This is related to East Africa’s assimilation policy. Over-reliance on black slaves may cause backlash. We don’t want to be like the United States and have a black race in the future.”

Chapter 303: Malawi Lake Heavy Industrial Zone

Overall, the city of Mombasa left a good impression on the Austrian commercial delegation. The most important thing for overseas investment is stability, and East Africa excels in that. Although the delegation felt that East Africa’s use of Black people was somewhat conservative, East Africa’s size was sufficient for them to invest there.

Currently, the head of the delegation, Wolfgang, plans to invest in a few small factories in East Africa to test the waters. Other members generally have the same idea. They still harbor doubts about East African politics. East Africa’s typical feudal monarchy system coupled with extreme conservatism makes them somewhat concerned about the business environment.

…

While Wolfgang and others were inspecting the north, the area east of Lake Malawi in the south, which was planned for Austrian development, was being ignored.

Firstly, the location is too remote, deep inland in East Africa. Although the Northern Industrial Zone is planned for the Great Lakes region, the port of Mombasa has unparalleled advantages that the area around Lake Malawi cannot match. The only port in the south, Mtwara, cannot compare to Mombasa in scale.

Moreover, East Africa’s transportation situation clearly indicates that products manufactured in this area are difficult to transport by sea. They can only rely on East African government procurement, meaning they are entirely dependent on the domestic market, which is too uncertain.

Secondly, the already proven coal and iron resources here cannot impress Austria-Hungary and are not very attractive to investors. After all, the Balkan Peninsula is nearby, so there is no need to travel across the ocean to develop in East Africa. Without investment, the Hechingen Consortium has no choice but to take over themselves.

Finally, East Africa’s positioning of the area near Lake Malawi as a heavy industry development zone also clashes with the Austrians’ thinking. As everyone knows, light industry has the characteristics of small investment, short cycles, and quick returns, which heavy industry cannot match. Therefore, capital prefers to invest in light industry.

Therefore, industrial development near Lake Malawi can only be carried out by East Africa itself. The Hechingen Consortium has virtually no experience in this area. Although East Africa also has related industries, they are all stuck at the handicraft workshop stage.

Only the coal mining in Mbeya has initially reached the level of some small-scale European coal mines. With the previous replacement of related equipment, production is steadily increasing.

In the field of heavy industry, not to mention East Africa, even the European part of the Hechingen Consortium does not have much experience. At this time, they can only complete the investment in the area by throwing money at it.

Fortunately, the Hechingen Consortium now has ample funds. They made a fortune just by buying bonds from the Franco-Prussian War. So, Ernst used the old trick of acquiring a small steel company in the Saar region and shipping it to East Africa as a package.

This steel company originally started out relying on a small iron mine in the Saar region, but the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War disrupted normal production order, broke the capital chain, and eventually led to bankruptcy.

Ernst took advantage of the situation to take over this small but capable steel company. At the same time, he extended invitations to local workers who were temporarily unemployed. In the end, only over a hundred employees were willing to leave the Saar region and develop in East Africa, most of whom were Germans.

After three months of turnover, the workers were basically in place. In order to improve the efficiency of iron ore resource development, Ernst simply purchased brand new production equipment directly from Austria.

At the same time, Ernst acquired a steel plant in Kapfenberg, Austria. After the merger of the two companies, it was renamed the East African United Steel Company. In this way, East Africa’s own steel industry had a difficult start. The Hechingen Consortium also began to venture into heavy industry production from fields such as scientific research, light industry, shipbuilding, and trade.

East Africa attaches great importance to the development of the area near Lake Malawi. After all, this is Tanzania’s only region with both coal and iron resources, and having coal and iron is the foundation for industrialization.

Regarding the development of the Lake Malawi area, Ernst specifically spoke with Constantine.

Ernst: “Heavy industry requires two conditions: one is the supply of raw materials, and the other is the support of sufficient national funds. East Africa itself already has these, and the Lake Malawi area is located in the hinterland of East Africa, and the environment is relatively safe, so there are no major problems with investment and development.”

Although Mozambique is south of the Lake Malawi area, East Africa can completely ignore it. If it were the Kingdom of Portugal itself, East Africa might pay more attention, but that’s all. East Africa’s size has reached the level of mainland Portugal. The only difference is that its capital is weaker compared to Portugal, but the Portuguese capital is scattered in private hands, while East Africa’s is mostly concentrated in the government’s hands.

Constantine: “Now it can be confirmed that the Austrians are completely uninterested in investing in the Lake Malawi area. Von der Leyen’s telegram yesterday made it very clear. Even for the Northern Industrial Zone, they prefer to invest in Mombasa and have little interest in the inland. If the Nairobi development plan weren’t so attractive, they probably wouldn’t have moved at all.”

Ernst: “I expected this a long time ago, but it’s not a big deal. The Lake Malawi Industrial Zone does have inherent shortcomings, especially East Africa’s transportation conditions. We can only rely on ourselves to support its development. Since they have invested in Mombasa, as long as we provide them with convenience and help them make more money, they will gradually increase their investment in the Northern Industrial Belt under the drive of profit.”

Constantine: “So what specific plans do you have for the Lake Malawi area?”

Ernst: “The Lake Malawi area is positioned as a heavy industry base, but it can only meet the needs of East Africa’s initial industrial development. In the future, with the development of East Africa, East Africa’s heavy industry base will definitely move to the Matabeleland Plateau. Therefore, what we need to do in the Lake Malawi area is to cultivate talents and reserve technology, laying the foundation for the future development of the Matabeleland Plateau. At the same time, the Lake Malawi area connects Tanganyika and Zambia, making it better to radiate the inland areas from here, strengthen East Africa’s control over the inland, rely on the heavy industry in the Lake Malawi area to develop related industries in the surrounding areas, drive inland development, and reduce East Africa’s dependence on coastal cities. After all, the coast is not a peaceful area and is always vulnerable to threats from the sea. Our East African navy is not strong enough to deal with maritime enemies, so we must develop the inland, even if it is for security reasons.”

As mentioned earlier, the East African army can leave the navy in the dust. Once inland, the East African army fears no challenge. The situation on the ocean is complex. Mozambique’s naval power alone is not weaker than East Africa’s, not to mention the maritime power Portugal behind it.

Ernst: “Steel production is the most direct reflection of a country’s comprehensive strength. Only when East Africa implements self-sufficiency in steel production can it have the ability to undertake more industries. The current difficulty for the Hechingen Consortium in transferring to East Africa lies in the lack of infrastructure and industry. If the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone is completed, I can transfer at least one-third of the group’s industries to East African territory within three years.”

Heavy industry provides the main means of production for the material and technical foundation. The products of the Hechingen Consortium’s enterprises are developed relying on the heavy industry of Germany and Austria. Parts and technology come from both. Only when East Africa solves this problem first can it undertake the industrial transfer of the Hechingen Consortium.

The current foundation of heavy industry is the steel industry. Only when steel production increases can related industries be developed.

Constantine: “In the end, it’s still a transportation problem. With transportation, everything will be easier. The railway construction problem should also be put on the agenda. I heard that the progress of the First Railway is slow. I don’t know if it will be successful.”

Ernst: “The main problem is the lack of technical accumulation. Vienna Energy and Power Company is cooperating with Austria, but both lack experience and technology in wide-gauge locomotives. So, they haven’t even managed to get a prototype locomotive yet. I will reconsider this. Anyway, the First Railway is an experimental railway. It’s fine to overturn and rebuild it later.”

It’s not that East Africa can’t build a wide-gauge locomotive, but that even if it is built, it cannot be compared with locomotives of other gauge standards, and there are many defects. The first-mover advantage in technology is indeed not so easy to solve.

Ernst doesn’t intend to waste time on this. It’s better to use the existing railway standards, at least to avoid many detours. East Africa’s development is not waiting for anyone.

However, this attempt cannot be said to be without gains. Vienna Energy and Power Company has also explored many new technologies in cooperation with Austria, which can be applied to East African railways. At the same time, it has given Vienna Energy and Power Company mature ideas for locomotive research and development, so there will be no technical difficulties in realizing the localization of East African railways in the future.

Currently, the suggestions from various Austrian railway companies to East Africa are to directly adopt mature railway standards. They mainly promote 1435mm, followed by meter gauge, and even 760mm. These are all railway gauges that exist in Austria-Hungary itself, and the technology is mature.

Austria-Hungary itself does not have a unified railway standard, so the suggestions given to Ernst are mixed, but they mainly promote their own technology.

Ernst is interested in promoting 760mm. This narrow gauge is suitable for operation in mountainous and mining areas and can be introduced to the current mining areas in the Lake Malawi area to increase the transportation of coal and iron ore. However, East Africa’s railway standards are mainly selected from 1435mm and above.

Regarding this aspect, the railway gauges operated in his previous life that meet this standard mainly include three types: 1435mm is the standard gauge, with the most operating countries; 1524mm is mainly used in Eastern Europe, Russia, Mongolia, and other countries; and finally, 1676mm is implemented in India, Argentina, Chile, and other countries.

1676mm and 1524mm are not actually unified. For example, Portugal’s 1665mm and Spain’s 1674mm are only slightly different, while 1524mm also has 1520mm.

For example, for meter gauge, some countries use integers, which is 1000mm, while others use 1067mm.

There is also the 1600mm railway that exists in Brazil, Australia, and Ireland as an alternative.

By adopting the above railways, East African railways will not be isolated in the future, because there will always be countries with the same railway standards as East Africa.

Chapter 304: Mediation

As the Austro-Hungarian Empire exerted its strength on multiple fronts, Italy quickly found itself unable to withstand the pressure. By the end of 1870, Austro-Hungarian troops had crossed Venice and Lombardy, advancing towards the territory of the former Kingdom of Sardinia.

Seeing that the Kingdom of Italy was on the verge of collapse, the British were compelled to step in and urgently mediate. After contacting the Russians, representatives from Britain, Prussia, and France were dispatched. On January 3rd, 1871, the Italian and Austro-Hungarian sides began negotiations for a ceasefire in Birmingham, England.

Birmingham.

Italian diplomat Gamor: “The Austro-Hungarian Empire has openly launched a war of aggression against the Kingdom of Italy, causing enormous losses to the Kingdom of Italy. The Austro-Hungarian Empire must completely withdraw its troops from the Kingdom of Italy and compensate the Kingdom of Italy for its losses.”

“Pfft!” Austrian Foreign Minister Friedrich couldn’t help but laugh. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Italy had conquered Vienna!

Friedrich: “The ability to turn black into white is truly your forte. In reality, who is responsible for the war has been clear from the very beginning. Despite the repeated emphasis from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy insisted on attacking the sovereign Papal States, which is intolerable for any Catholic nation. And the Kingdom of Italy, or rather, the Kingdom of Sardinia, has always been a warmonger. Therefore, the Kingdom of Sardinia must pay the price for its actions!”

Gamor: “The Kingdom of Sardinia has always shouldered the mission of unifying the Italian region, so our actions are supported by the entire Italian region. This is what the people want, not warmongering.”

Friedrich: “Oh! What the people want, how interesting. The scene I see is not what the people want. The military and civilians of the Papal States, together with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, oppose the invasion of the Kingdom of Sardinia. At the same time, in the Venetian region, the citizens of Venice are actively cooperating with the Austro-Hungarian army to suppress the Sardinian troops within the city. And then there’s the restoration of the Kingdom of Naples. All of this shows that the emergence of the Kingdom of Italy is a mistake. You are just forcibly piecing everyone together using violence.”

Gamor: “All of this is the work of your Austro-Hungarian Empire behind the scenes. You are colluding with the enemies of the Italian people for your own selfish desires, opposing the unification of Italy.”

Friedrich: “Mr. Gamor, you can’t just say whatever you want. It’s clearly your own actions that are unpopular, which led the Papal States to invite Austro-Hungarian military intervention to stop the Kingdom of Sardinia’s invasion. Before that, our Austro-Hungarian Empire had always maintained restraint, but the Kingdom of Sardinia ignored the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s warnings for its own selfish desires, which ultimately led to the war.”

Gamor: “Hmph! Then how do you explain the Austro-Hungarian troops appearing in Rome? The Papal States are separated from the Austrian mainland by the Adriatic Sea and the Kingdom of Italy, but the sudden appearance of Austro-Hungarian troops in Rome proves that you had been planning this for a long time, digging a hole and waiting for Italy to jump in.”

“Hahaha!” Friedrich laughed heartily. “You yourself said it was a hole, but if your Kingdom of Sardinia wasn’t so greedy, who could force you to jump into it? Besides, the Austro-Hungarian troops were invited by His Holiness the Pope to protect the safety of the Papal States in place of France. From both law and reason, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has not overstepped its bounds.”

The Italian and Austro-Hungarian sides engaged in a heated debate over who was the righteous party in the war.

“Alright, stop arguing!” British Foreign Secretary Earl Granville terminated the speeches of both sides. “I called you here to solve problems, not to argue. The Italian issue has seriously affected regional stability, so both sides should first state their desired outcomes. We are not discussing right and wrong, but rather striving for a better chance at peace.”

Gamor: “The Kingdom of Italy’s attitude is consistent. The Austro-Hungarian Empire must unconditionally withdraw its troops from areas including Venice and Lombardy, and no longer interfere in Italy’s internal affairs. This is the bottom line for our Kingdom of Italy.”

Friedrich: “Hmph, the war has reached this point, and you still want to simply walk away. You’re really dreaming if you think it’s that easy. If all small countries provoke large countries like this, can they just say sorry afterwards and no longer be held responsible?”

Earl Granville reminded him: “Your Excellency Friedrich, let’s discuss these words later. First, state the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s demands for a ceasefire.”

Friedrich: “As the initiator of the war, the Kingdom of Italy must be punished. The Kingdom of Sardinia does not have the conditions to unify Italy, so the Kingdom of Italy should change its name back to the Kingdom of Sardinia, and recognize the independence of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. At the same time, guarantee to never launch another invasion against the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. Finally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will reclaim the regions of Venice and Lombardy.”

“That’s impossible!” Gamor said sternly. “Our Kingdom of Italy will absolutely not agree.”

Earl Granville also said: “Your country’s demands are too harsh, and the Venice and Lombardy regions are considered Italian territory, inhabited by Italians. So, Your Excellency Friedrich, your country should come up with a different plan!”

As a Briton, Earl Granville naturally did not want to see the Austro-Hungarian Empire continue to strengthen, so he said this.

Friedrich sneered: “Venice and Lombardy were originally the inherent territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ten years ago. As for the Italians living there, if the Kingdom of Sardinia wants them, we can give them to you. Also, if just because different ethnic groups live in the same area, you can divide the country, then I think Ireland and Scotland…”

Friedrich did not continue, but Earl Granville understood what he meant.

Earl Granville was somewhat displeased: “We are only discussing the Italian issue today, let’s not discuss unnecessary topics. As for the Venice and Lombardy issue, let’s put it aside for now and discuss the issue of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.”

Gamor: “The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies no longer exists. The current regime in the Kingdom of Naples is also illegitimate.”

Friedrich: “That’s not up to you to decide. The Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily are both countries with a long history, and their monarchs are also the original monarchs of the two countries. Therefore, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies should exist independently.”

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is composed of the Kingdom of Sicily and the Kingdom of Naples. Now the Kingdom of Naples belongs to the Austro-Hungarian side, while the island of Sicily, where the original Kingdom of Sicily was located, is under the rule of the Kingdom of Italy. The Austro-Hungarian Empire naturally hopes to strengthen the power of Naples.

Earl Granville said: “Since this point is also controversial, let’s skip it for now.”

Chapter 305: The Birmingham Peace Agreement

Next, the point of contention between the two sides was the restoration of the Papal States to their pre-war territorial status. The Papal States were located in the central Apennine Peninsula, and restoring their previous territory would effectively bisect Italy.

Friedrich: “The status of the Papal States is transcendent, but the Kingdom of Italy has continuously nibbled away at the Papal States’ territory through various conspiracies and tricks. We should place the Papal States in a special position. The Papal States do not participate in international affairs, but no country shall invade the Papal States. Otherwise, the invader is an enemy of God, and anyone has the right to eliminate them.”

In other words, to turn the Papal States into a decorative vase, or a permanently neutral country. This would have no impact on other countries, but any forces within Italy that wanted unification would be affected, like a fishbone stuck in their throat.

Of course, Gamor opposed this: “The Kingdom of Italy does not recognize the existence of the Papal States. It is merely a puppet of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

Friedrich: “Even being a puppet is better than being destroyed by an evil country like Sardinia! Is this how your Kingdom of Sardinia treats the Pope, and how you treat God?”

Once religious issues were involved, the Austro-Hungarian Empire gained an advantage, after all, the Papal States still had some influence among believers worldwide.

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Earl Granville said: “Alright, since there are disagreements, let’s analyze and discuss each point one by one.”

The ideal state for Austria-Hungary was to dismember Italy and at the same time recover the Venice-Lombardy region, while the ideas of the Kingdom of Italy were no longer important. Now it depended on the attitudes of Britain and Russia.

Britain had interests in the Kingdom of Sardinia, so it hoped to maintain the integrity of the Kingdom of Italy, but expecting Austria-Hungary to cease hostilities and allow Italy to unify was impossible. The British themselves would not send lobsterbacks ashore to fight Austria-Hungary, especially now that Italy’s defeat was certain. The best course of action was to let the Russians play the villain.

So Earl Granville said to the Russian Foreign Minister: “Your Excellency Gorchakov, what are your views on this matter?”

Gorchakov: “I don’t have many opinions, but I believe that the integrity and unification of the Kingdom of Italy should be respected, and we also support the independence and autonomy of the Kingdom of Naples.”

Supporting everything was also opposing everything. Gorchakov did not mention the Papal States. Considering his faith, Gorchakov would not say good things about the Papal States. It would be best if it quickly collapsed, and then the Orthodox Church would gain the voice of Christianity.

The reason for expressing goodwill towards the Kingdom of Naples was naturally because the independence of the Kingdom of Naples was basically a foregone conclusion, unless a country really went to war with Austria-Hungary. This country could be Britain, France, or even Prussia, but definitely not Russia.

Although Russia was very angry at the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was impossible to fight Austria-Hungary for Italy, especially now that the Kingdom of Italy was practically dead in name only, and the Kingdom of Naples had been restored. The value of the Kingdom of Italy had also greatly decreased. A complete Italy could barely contain Austria-Hungary, but a third of Italy could only be beaten by Austria-Hungary. Even if Russia sent troops now, it would most likely not change the situation in Italy. At most, it would inflict some blows on Hungary and Czechoslovakia in the east. If Russia did this, Austria would probably be pleasantly surprised. One of the foundations for the continued existence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the existence of Russia. Even if it succeeded, the final results would not fall into its own hands, but would be a free gift for the British.

Therefore, interfering in Italy was a thankless task for Russia. Gorchakov was not at all interested in the British provocation. If Italy was to be truly helped, it would depend on the attitude of the British.

Seeing that Gorchakov was not interested in the Kingdom of Italy, Earl Granville had no choice. It just so happened that France had been crippled and was temporarily unable to do anything in the Italian region. It was impossible for Britain to do it alone!

Earl Granville was clear that Austria-Hungary had become the biggest winner this time, it was just a question of how big the win would be. Since he couldn’t stop Austria-Hungary, he would try to minimize Austria-Hungary’s gains as much as possible.

Earl Granville: “The Kingdom of Italy bears a lot of responsibility for this war, but Austria-Hungary is not without responsibility either. The war could have been completely avoided. I think it would be best for both of your countries to take a step back, after all, the outcome of the war is already very clear at this point.”

Saying this, Earl Granville, on behalf of Britain, acknowledged that Austria-Hungary had won this war, but still wanted to try to win something for the Kingdom of Italy.

Friedrich: “We can make concessions, but at most, Sicily can continue to remain within the Kingdom of Italy, but that’s it.”

The people of Sicily originally opposed the rule of the Kingdom of Naples, so this could be given up. If Austria-Hungary hadn’t instigated it and put pressure on the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Naples wouldn’t have taken over this hot potato.

Gamor: “Austria-Hungary has no sincerity for peace. Sicily was originally under our control, so it cannot be considered a condition for negotiation.”

Friedrich: “Heh, the initiative to change the war situation is now in our hands. If we want to further dismember Italy, no one can stop us.”

Friedrich’s words aroused opposition from Britain and Russia, but they also realized that if the Kingdom of Italy did not surrender, then perhaps even the Kingdom of Sardinia might cease to exist. Although the situation in Italy was already very bad, it still had an overall advantage compared to the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples.

Earl Granville said: “Venice can return to Austria-Hungary, but Lombardy cannot. The Kingdom of Naples will no longer merge with Sicily and will never restore the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The Papal States will remain unchanged.”

Friedrich: “Lombardy must return to Austria-Hungary, and the Papal States’ demand to take back its eastern territory is reasonable.”

Gamor: “No! Lombardy and Venice are both inseparable territories of the Kingdom of Italy. We firmly oppose Austria-Hungary’s hegemony and aggression.”

Friedrich spread his hands and said: “Earl Granville, you have seen it. It’s not that we Austria-Hungary don’t want to negotiate. Since the Italians have made their choice, don’t blame us for continuing the war!”

Earl Granville threatened Gamor with a cold face: “Italy, as the initiator of the war, should accept punishment. Don’t continue to be ungrateful.”

Earl Granville essentially still wanted to maintain the Kingdom of Italy, but Italy also had to cooperate with him. Italy had lost this time, and if Italy hadn’t performed so badly on the battlefield, Britain wouldn’t have been so passive. Therefore, Italy could only accept British mediation and accept the results of the defeat.

Earl Granville said to Friedrich: “Venice can be given to your country, but Lombardy must not return to Austria. This is Britain’s bottom line.”

Friedrich bargained: “Lombardy does not have to completely return to Austria-Hungary, but the eastern third must accept Austro-Hungarian rule.”

This was a promise of benefits to the Hungarians, so it had to be obtained. Earl Granville carefully considered it and agreed to this point.

Thus, with the consultation of Britain and Austria, the Italian-Austrian War ended. Austria-Hungary acquired Venice and one-third of Lombardy, the Papal States recovered its eastern Adriatic coastal territory, and the Kingdom of Naples became independent and gained international recognition.

As for the Kingdom of Italy, under the threat of the British, it was forced to sign the peace agreement. The British essentially preserved the Kingdom of Italy. Sardinia, the island of Sardinia, Sicily, and most of Lombardy remained within the Kingdom of Italy, and its overall strength in the Italian region was still the strongest.

The meeting place was in Birmingham, England, so the “1871 Peace Agreement between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire” is also known as the “Birmingham Peace Agreement.”

Chapter 306: Handing Over Mayotte Island

On the Indian Ocean, a fleet sailed south along the east coast of Africa, a flag with a German eagle fluttering in the sea breeze. This flag was the famous Prussian Black Eagle, which could be traced back to the Frankish kingdom and ancient Rome.

As Germany grew stronger, the Black Eagle flag became very widespread, almost becoming one of the representative symbols of the German Empire.

However, the Black Eagle flag was not unique to Prussia. For example, the flag of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was also a Black Eagle flag, and this fleet flying the flag of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was the East African Navy under the command of Archduke Ferdinand.

The East African Navy usually flew the East African flag for daily training and outings, but today was a special day, so the East African royal family took out the flag of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen again and hoisted it on the East African Navy, mainly for fear of triggering a certain world power.

On the deck, Archduke Ferdinand was talking to a young man. This young man was Prussian Navy Captain Brommel, who was specially commissioned by the Prussian government to come to East Africa to help East Africa take over the French colony of Mayotte.

Archduke Ferdinand: “Brommel, Prussia’s unification of Germany is now a certainty. I think your Prussian Navy will definitely usher in a major development next. How many warships does your naval department plan to build?”

Brommel: “Your Highness, please don’t make fun of me. Our naval department has always been undervalued in the kingdom. Even if we unify, we will probably be suppressed by the army. In comparison, I still envy the East African Navy you lead. Although the hardware is not very good, its status is much higher than ours.”

So far, the Federal Navy (Prussian Navy) is still subordinate to the Federal Army (Prussian Army) and has not been separated from the army. The East African Navy, from its inception, has been a military branch with equal status to the East African Army, although the East African Navy led by Archduke Ferdinand is far smaller than the army.

Archduke Ferdinand said in a Versailles tone: “It’s just a name. It doesn’t mean that His Majesty the King will arrange more funds and ships for us.”

Brommel: “At least the starting point of the East African Navy is much higher than that of the Prussian Navy, and the future potential is also good.”

The Prussian Navy originated in 1815. After the victory of the Anti-French Alliance, Sweden ceded Western Pomerania to Prussia. After that, Prussia took over Western Pomerania and also took over the Pomeranian Navy left by Sweden. This was a navy composed of militia, with six unusable 65-ton single-masted gunboats and two naval officers. Prussia selected Lieutenant Dietrich Johann Lange from the two remaining naval officers and made him Prussia’s first naval officer.

Archduke Ferdinand: “Haha, that’s all in the past. Any great power’s development cannot avoid the navy. A rising star like Prussia cannot avoid the navy issue either. At least you are much more promising than Austria-Hungary.”

Brommel shook his head and said: “That’s not necessarily true! Austria-Hungary has regained Venice, and its naval power will inevitably rise to a new level.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Although Venice is important, the Austro-Hungarian Navy is still trapped in the Adriatic Sea. Whether it can have further expansion in the Mediterranean is still unknown. However, a unified Germany can still work hard in the Atlantic.”

Brommel nodded and said: “Prussia does have an advantage in this regard, but it is only compared to Austria-Hungary. The navies of both countries are limited by terrain. On the other hand, East Africa does not have this defect.”

Archduke Ferdinand shook his head and said: “Although East Africa’s coastline has some advantages compared to Germany and Austria-Hungary, our naval power is limited by national strength, which is much worse than you. Having a sea without defense is the worst.”

Brommel: “But no country would come all the way to the Indian Ocean to attack East Africa, right? There are no naval powers around the Indian Ocean, so your self-defense capabilities are sufficient, and this will be even more so as the East African Navy develops slowly in the future.”

Ferdinand: “Although there are no great powers around, there are colonies of great powers, and even the Egyptian Navy is stronger than us.”

Although he said so, Ferdinand was still very comfortable as the commander-in-chief of the navy. Although Constantine and Ernst initially drew a pie in the sky, this pie was not empty. Just half a month ago, Ernst had promised that after the Bagamoyo Shipyard was completed, the Venice Shipyard would give priority to building two new steam warships for the navy. It was not that they did not trust the Bagamoyo Shipyard, but that the Venice Shipyard had more advantages in this regard.

Although the Bagamoyo Shipyard was built by replicating the Venice Shipyard, it could not replicate the complete industrial chain of the Venice region. The Venice Shipyard could not get rid of the Venetians working independently, and the Bagamoyo Shipyard was even more impossible. Many parts and core technologies needed to be imported from Europe, so it was better to build East African naval ships in Venice, which was also lower in cost. As for the Bagamoyo Shipyard, it would first accumulate experience in the field of civilian ships.

……

“Commander-in-chief! Mayotte Island is ahead. We have arrived at our destination.” A guard reported to Archduke Ferdinand.

“Enter the port!” Ferdinand ordered.

At this time, the people of the French colony of Mayotte also saw the flag of the East African Navy fleet.

“It’s the Prussian Navy.”

The Black Eagle flag played its role at this time. The French did not know much about the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, so they believed that the fleet in front of them was the Prussian Navy that came to take over.

Soon, Archduke Ferdinand and Captain Brommel landed on Mayotte Island. At this time, the French Mayotte government had been waiting for a long time.

Two months ago, they received an order from the Republican government that Mayotte Island was ceded to Prussia due to France’s defeat. Although they were very reluctant, there was no way. Mayotte Island was not of great value to France. Even when Prussia mentioned Mayotte Island, most of the Republican government officials had never heard of the name of this colony. Finally, after clarifying that it was just a small island near Madagascar, the French government simply gave the ownership of the island to Prussia.

Mainly because Mayotte Island was too remote, especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, its value was basically zero. There was also Madagascar next to it, so it didn’t matter if Prussia took it away.

“I am Arthur, the person in charge of Mayotte Island.”

“Prussian Navy Captain Brommel.” Brommel stepped forward and said.

Arthur: “Captain Brommel, all the officials of Mayotte Island are here. According to the requirements of the French central government, we will transfer Mayotte Island to your country, but according to the agreement between the two countries, your country must ensure the safety of our personnel, and at the same time ensure the safety of our property, and must not prevent our personnel from transferring personnel and assets during the evacuation period.”

Brommel: “Of course!”

After a simple handover ceremony, Mayotte Island completely fell into the hands of the East African Kingdom Navy. Ferdinand found that the French had evacuated very cleanly. Except for the houses that could not be destroyed in time, they did not leave anything that could be taken away to East Africa, including the blacks on the island who were taken away by the French.

In order to develop Mayotte Island, France had specially introduced a large number of blacks from Reunion, so the blacks on Mayotte Island were important labor and assets of the French, and the French did not want to give them to the Prussians cheaply. But this was also good, saving East Africa a lot of trouble.

This handover ceremony was conducted with Prussia, so Captain Brommel traveled across the ocean to go through the motions. Then, according to the agreement between the Prussian royal family and the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, the ownership of this island fell into the hands of East Africa.

The meaning of Captain Brommel’s existence was to let the French know that the island was taken away by Prussia. As for the subsequent handling of Mayotte Island, that was Prussia’s own business, and it had nothing to do with France even if it was blown up.

The East African Kingdom did not personally take over, considering the face of France. After all, France could admit that it was unlucky to lose to Prussia, because its strength was not as good as others! But if East Africa directly took Mayotte Island, the nature would be different. How dare a “colony” come to humiliate France.

Mayotte Island was a trophy, so it could not be directly handed over to East Africa, but had to go through Prussia first.

Chapter 307: The Birth of Germany

While taking over Mayotte Island, East Africa was also eyeing the four main islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, Mohéli, and numerous smaller islands near Mayotte. Among them, the Sultan of Anjouan was the nominal ruler of the Comoros Islands. The Kingdom of East Africa planned to have a heart-to-heart with the Sultan of Anjouan, sending some of his people to the Sultanate of Zanzibar, so that in the future, the Comoros Islands would become East Africa’s Comoros Islands.

Now was definitely not the time, as the immigrants had not yet arrived, so the East African Navy was responsible for stabilizing the Sultan of Anjouan first.

After Mayotte Island was stabilized, the East African Navy immediately headed towards Anjouan Island. Under the cordial visit of Archduke Ferdinand and the East African Navy, the Sultan of Anjouan immediately signed a treaty with East Africa, and the Comoros Islands became a protectorate of East Africa.

At this time, Anjouan Island had actually lost its rule over the other three islands, but East Africa was only seeking legitimacy and an excuse to suppress the natives on the remaining two islands, Grande Comore and Mohéli, in the name of the Sultan of Anjouan.

The Comoros Islands had a mixed population. Except for Mayotte Island, which was completely controlled by East Africa, the other three islands were composed of African blacks, Arabs, and Malays, with the Arabs in a dominant position, and Arab culture was prevalent on the islands.

Fortunately, the tropical rainforest climate of the Comoros Islands meant a small population, making it not too difficult for East Africa to control.

…

On January 18, 1871, Wilhelm I announced his assumption of the throne as Emperor of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in Paris.

Just at the end of last year, with the momentum of the Franco-Prussian War, the four southern German states officially joined the German Confederation, and the German region had completed its unification.

The southern German region has always been one of the most economically developed regions in Germany, so the strength of Germany after annexing the southern German region actually had an effect greater than the sum of its parts. The Kingdom of Bavaria alone possessed a strength that most European countries could not underestimate.

With Wilhelm I announcing the establishment of the German Empire in Versailles, Germany as a whole appeared in human history for the first time.

The newly established German Empire had a population of over 40 million (historically 41 million) and a territory of 610,000 square kilometers, making it the most powerful country on the European continent, surpassing France in one fell swoop.

Germany possessed the most powerful army in Europe, recognized at the time, and a vast territory. Its strength was far beyond what Prussia or Austria could compare to before.

When Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary heard the news of the establishment of the German Empire, his heart was filled with mixed feelings. This also meant that Austria had completely lost its influence over the German region, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire had to change its course. On the contrary, the Hungarian side was very happy. With the unification of Germany, Austria would no longer be able to use the German region to suppress Hungary.

The Kingdom of East Africa expressed congratulations on the establishment of the German Empire, but that was all. If Germany had announced its establishment in Berlin, Ernst might have gone to join in the fun, but in Paris, it was better not to go, so as not to attract hatred to East Africa.

At the time of German unification, the population of East Africa had also reached 4.7 million, of which the number of Germans (including newborns) who immigrated from Germany and Austria-Hungary alone reached more than 1.8 million. Together with Germanized Slavs (Croatians, Slovenians) and ethnic intermarriages (Paraguayans, Chinese, Germans, etc.), the pan-Germanic population was 4.45 million. The remaining 200,000 immigrants included newly introduced Italians, Russians, Chinese, etc.

There was no doubt that East Africa as a whole was a German country, the third largest German country after Germany and Austria-Hungary. Luxembourg and Liechtenstein were insignificant in size.

At the same time, the Kingdom of East Africa’s land area (including the Royal Territory of Alaska) was second only to the United Kingdom (including Canada, Australia, and other colonies), Tsarist Russia, the Far East, and the United States, making it the fifth largest country in the world.

East Africa had not announced its specific land area to the international community. Although it had contact with other colonists in many regions, land and colonies could not be equated in this era. Therefore, in the impression of most countries, East Africa was still limited to the east coast of East Africa, the mainland part of the former Sultanate of Zanzibar. These countries and regions did not include Mozambique and parts of Austria.

Mozambique truly felt the pressure from East Africa, while the Austrians at least knew that East Africa had completed the conquest of the Kenya and Tanganyika regions. Otherwise, how could East Africa have opened up investment in the Kenya region?

The Kingdom of East Africa, possessing a vast territory and millions of people, was now in a period where it needed to develop in a low-key manner. Only by completely controlling the Zimbabwe and Zambia regions could the Kingdom of East Africa appear on the international stage.

Therefore, starting in 1871, East Africa began to change its previous aggressive expansion path, and had no further expansion plans other than Mayotte Island.

On the border, the Kingdom of East Africa also began to act modestly, vigorously developing trade relations with the Boers and Portuguese, avoiding armed conflict.

At the same time, Ernst began to prepare for the transfer of some of the Hechingen Consortium’s industries to East Africa. The Hechingen Consortium had developed into one of the world’s top consortia today, with the entire Kingdom of East Africa as its backyard. At the same time, it had a voice in Germany and Austria-Hungary, and had industrial distribution in other parts of Europe. Therefore, the Hechingen Consortium had developed to the point of being richer than many countries. Even a little bit of what trickled down was enough for East Africa to digest for a long time.

The core of the Hechingen Consortium was the Hechingen Bank. In addition to the enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium, under Ernst’s command, the Hechingen Bank held shares in many emerging enterprises in Germany and Austria-Hungary, mainly concentrated in the fields of electricity, military industry, food, and machinery.

A typical example was the Škoda factory (1869) founded by Count Škoda in Bohemia, in which the Hechingen Bank held 17 percent of the shares. At this time, the Škoda factory was just a machine factory, and Count Škoda was puzzled by the investment from the Hechingen Bank.

Most of the emerging companies in the European electricity sector had investments from the Hechingen Bank. The food industry was completed through monopoly. The tropical cash crops produced in East Africa were mainly sold to Central and Eastern Europe, so many newly established food factories in Central and Eastern Europe had the backing of the Hechingen Consortium. There was no way around it, Africa had a huge advantage in distance compared to its Southeast Asian and American counterparts. Once East Africa’s coffee, tea, rubber, and other industries matured, they would further squeeze the original market.

At the same time, the Hechingen Bank invested in the oil industry in eastern Austria-Hungary and Romania. Especially in Romania, Carol I gave the green light, almost allowing the Hechingen Bank to dominate the Romanian oil sector.

East Africa and the Hechingen Consortium, as the industries of the Hechingen royal family, developed very rapidly. East Africa, as a country, implemented a typical high-volume, low-profit export strategy, concentrated in the agricultural sector.

The Hechingen Consortium was concentrated in finance, light industry, and high-tech fields, with high profit margins and a large scale.

What East Africa lacked most at the moment was heavy industry. Neither of them had much experience in this area and needed further exploration. Without heavy industry, it would be impossible to provide basic industrial production materials. The main body of the Hechingen Consortium would not be able to break away from Europe, and East Africa and the Hechingen Consortium would not be able to form a unified super political and economic entity. Therefore, developing heavy industry was the primary goal of the current Kingdom of East Africa.

Chapter 308: Infiltration

London, England.

At a small eatery on a street corner in London’s affluent district, a handsome man dressed as an English gentleman entered a shop called “Indian Flavor Snacks.”

His appearance immediately attracted attention. With his high nose, deep-set eyes, and thick golden hair, his profound gaze was somewhat out of sync with the style of current British youth.

Although his face looked young, perhaps only seventeen or eighteen years old, every move he made imitated the behavior of old English gentlemen, standard and extremely elegant.

This made some of the young ladies dining there exclaim in regret. Such a handsome man, yet every action seemed old-fashioned, as if their own old father had suddenly appeared before them, mercilessly crushing the “sweet romance” fantasies of those with love on the brain.

The young man ignored the gazes of the young ladies and walked straight towards the counter, his cane tapping the wooden floor with a powerful and rhythmic sound.

He politely asked the waiter, “Good sir! Do you happen to sell Stargazy pie here?”

The waiter was also young, with a somewhat boyish appearance. He claimed to be from the Indian region, but his Eastern face indicated that he was lying. However, the diners didn’t care. People came here to eat partly because the “Indian” cuisine was very “authentic,” especially the “ecstasy crispy balls,” which were most popular. Topped with cheese, cream, and honey, the British people who ate them all praised them.

Another reason was that this “Indian” restaurant was very unique. It was said that most of the ingredients came from India, especially the various secret spices, which had a rich flavor. There was also Ganges water specially transported from the Ganges River in India to London. According to the restaurant staff, Ganges water was equivalent to holy water in India, which could cleanse the soul and help the British ascend to heaven after death. There was no derogatory meaning. For the British Puritans, their piety deserved such blessings.

Finally, most of the people who dined here were young talents from the wealthy district, especially the well-padded rich young ladies. Compared with the greasy British chefs, the waiters in this restaurant were indeed generally more handsome, and most of the service staff were young, handsome men with Eastern and Western faces, which was novel and eye-catching.

“I’m sorry, we are an Indian restaurant.”

“That’s a pity. Don’t you have curry chicken either?”

“Do you want sweet or savory curry chicken?”

“I want it clean and hygienic.”

The two spoke one sentence after another at the counter, and a small note was slipped into the young gentleman’s pocket.

“Enjoy your meal!”

“Thank you!”

……

Evening, 214 Thames Street, London.

The man who appeared in the restaurant during the day was talking to another man, who was the owner of “Indian Flavor Snacks.”

“Mr. Charles, this is a summary of the content of the English Parliament in December this year, mainly focusing on the popularization of law and the Italian-Austrian wars. In addition, Ireland is a matter of concern as it is half of Britain, but Ireland is not independent after all, so it can only be regarded as an internal affair of Britain.” The snack shop owner handed over a thick stack of documents.

He continued, “In this year’s internal meetings of the British government, South America is still the top priority for colonial work. The Suez Canal was also mentioned, but there is almost no major focus on Africa.”

The man called “Richard” asked, “Is the source of the information reliable?”

“We bribed a member of parliament in the Abergavenny region of England. He has a very close personal relationship with the current Secretary of State, so he is very clear about the internal affairs of Britain.”

“Did you leave any traces?”

“Don’t worry, we hired a Frenchman to work for us under the name of American businessmen. Our people claimed that they were interested in the British government’s policies in order to develop the British market.”

“Frenchman? Is he reliable?”

“We have never regarded him as one of our own, so we have always maintained single-line contact. He doesn’t know our true identity.”

“You still have to be careful not to arouse his suspicion. After all, he is a Frenchman in England. What if he suddenly has a brainwave and betrays us?”

“Hehe, no, we know his situation very well. He was brought here from France by his father when he was young. His father married a British stepmother, but soon his father died suddenly for unknown reasons. The stepmother and another man joined forces to swallow the family property, and he was kicked out of the house by the two. Later, he became a ‘London street urchin’ and has been hanging out with gangsters since he was a child, so he hates the British extremely. Later, under our packaging, he pretended to be an American nouveau riche and specialized in communicating with dignitaries and nobles to steal British government intelligence. Now he can’t get rid of this extravagant life. Once he leaves us, he will fall back into the streets.”

“Well, that’s good, but you have to be careful in everything. After all, he’s not one of our own, so you still have to be vigilant.” The man called “Richard” said.

Then, he sat on the sofa and began to read the information. The whole living room fell into silence, and only the second hand ticked in the clock.

After looking at it, the time reached late at night. “Richard” finally put down the information in his hand.

He nonchalantly took a brazier, threw the information in, and then found a candle to light it. The room was instantly lit up. It was winter in London, so the burning fire added some warmth to the cold room.

“Richard” said, “Continue to pay close attention to the movements of the British government, and also pay attention to the folk newspapers and public opinion. If there are any topics about the kingdom, report them in time.”

“Well, don’t worry, some of our people have infiltrated many small newspapers, and one has become the editor-in-chief of The Times. If there is any relevant content, we will get the source of information as soon as possible.”

“Very good. What the kingdom needs now is a stable development environment, so it’s best not to attract the attention of other countries, especially the attention of the people here. We can’t interfere at the government level at present, but we must grasp the public opinion, even if we spend more money, we can’t let the workers in the slums of London know that there is an East African kingdom in the world. It’s best to find more writers to describe Africa as terrifying as possible, so that London citizens know that no one, not even ghosts, goes to that broken place in Africa. Focus on making up rumors of terrible diseases, even the Black Death.”

The power of public opinion can be manipulated, especially in capitalist countries. As long as you are willing to spend money, you can set the pace. The East African government is also willing to spend more money to let the British know that Africa is not a good place, so you should not come here.

Although the London citizens in the slums cannot directly participate in British national affairs, the workers’ strike movement in recent years has forced the British government to make changes and grant the working class the right to vote in 1867.

In other words, the importance of public opinion will become greater and greater in the future, which is related to the election votes of the British parliamentarians, which will make it easier for the East African government to infiltrate.

That’s how “free” countries are. Capital controls public opinion, and public opinion involves votes, which will eventually affect politics. Therefore, whoever has the most capital can run rampant in the “free” national system. This is the reason why American capital in the previous life could find its own interest representatives in all “capitalist” countries.

However, the current era version has not been updated to that extent. After all, without the tempering of opponents with different ideologies, it allows national capital like East Africa to run rampant in the three countries of Britain, the United States, and France, which can be regarded as exploiting the loopholes in the version.

Of course, we must not ignore the power of workers and small citizens. They still have to go to war for Britain, so we should promote the harsh climate of Africa and subconsciously tell these people not to be fooled by the British government in the future. Going to Africa is tantamount to sending them to their deaths. Can they beat the natives and diseases? Let’s increase the intensity for the British recruitment department in the future!

Chapter 309: Private Intelligence Organization

“Richard,” whose real name was actually Augusta, was one of the heads of the British branch of the Hechingen Consortium’s Business Intelligence Department’s covert network.

The Hechingen Consortium’s Business Intelligence Department was established in 1866. Initially, its function was indeed only to collect business intelligence for Ernst’s reference.

Later, with the development of the consortium and the East African colonies, it also began to search for national and regional intelligence. Ernst directly separated a portion of the people in the Hechingen Consortium’s Intelligence Department to form a covert network. In name, they were commercial intelligence collectors for the group, but in reality, they were Ernst’s private spy organization.

Most of its members were selected from the Hechingen Military Academy, received professional training, and had a high degree of loyalty. The disadvantage was that they were generally young, which was why Augusta and others were relatively inexperienced.

The Hechingen Consortium’s Business Intelligence Department’s covert network does not currently belong to the East African government, but is a private intelligence organization under Ernst’s name. Within East Africa, it is registered with departments such as the National Audit Office to monitor the state of East African national operations. Even Konstantin is unaware of the existence of this organization.

Although the covert network is currently under Ernst’s personal leadership, it will inevitably be integrated into East African state organs in the future, serving as the predecessor of East Africa’s national security department.

Abroad, the Hechingen Consortium’s Business Intelligence Department’s covert network mainly exists in countries with elected governments such as Britain, the United States, and France. After all, the members of the covert network have relatively little experience, so it is easier to carry out work in these countries with less strict controls and slowly accumulate the work experience of intelligence personnel.

Dictatorial countries with strong governments like East Africa are not suitable for espionage activities, as it is easy to be exposed, provided that the national organ system has not collapsed. Old countries like the Far East and the Austro-Hungarian Empire can be infiltrated to the point of becoming sieves.

Fortunately, Ernst’s intelligence agencies currently have limited capabilities and mainly operate in countries that may pose a threat to East Africa. Britain, the United States, Portugal, and France are the priorities.

Among them, Britain, Portugal, and France have colonies in Africa, while the United States is looking for trade markets everywhere under British suppression. Therefore, East Africa is not very welcoming to American merchants, just as the United States is actively developing in the Far East. American merchants also have a relatively clear understanding of the situation in the Far East and Japan through trade. East Africa is such a large country, and it wants to keep it a secret for as long as possible, so it naturally does not want to deal with Americans. Even the American merchants’ attempt to establish a trading location in Zanzibar was rejected by East Africa.

In this era, the United States is still the United States, not the American superpower of the previous life, but a pitiful creature under Britain and France, so its image is packaged very well. American merchants are indeed doing business on Zanzibar Island under the banner of fair and free trade, but Ernst chose to refuse.

American merchants operating in the Indian Ocean concluded that East Africa is a very closed country, but this is understandable. A German overseas colony, without the help of its mother country, naturally has to be vigilant. Anyway, apart from Austrians, they have not yet seen the East African government being friendly to any other country’s merchants.

Actually, there are some, namely the merchants of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The Sultanate of Zanzibar is East Africa’s little brother, so East Africa is naturally at ease. At the same time, a large share of East Africa’s import and export trade is conducted through the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and the markets in the Middle East and along the Indian Ocean also rely on the Sultanate of Zanzibar to open up.

……

Dar es Salaam City.

Three Hechingen ocean-going ships carrying Dreyse gun production machines eliminated from the Berlin Hechingen Arsenal began to unload. The East African government organized a large number of carriages and manpower to receive the goods at the port.

“This batch of machines is relatively new, having only been used for four or five years. Compared with the machines in the East African arsenal, they are very advanced and more complete. The parts are sealed in boxes. Do not open the seals before reaching the destination, and do not let rainwater get on them or seep into the parts in the boxes,” Weisent, the accompanying technician, said to Bryce, the East African government official who came to take over.

Bryce: “Don’t worry, we have prepared enough rainproof cloth and rope to ensure that this batch of machines will not be exposed to rain before reaching the destination.”

Weisent: “Also, it is best not to be too bumpy on the road. Although this batch of machines is not so valuable, it would be bad if the transportation caused damage.”

Bryce: “No problem. We had experience transporting a batch of mining equipment to Mbeya City before. We send people to maintain the roads from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya City every month. Unless we encounter extreme weather, the road conditions can generally be guaranteed.”

Weisent: “These are not the main points. I want to know how the factory construction is going?”

Bryce: “I don’t know about that, but there should be no problem. After all, the government will definitely consider the factory issue. At least they should be able to complete the construction on your way here. Mbeya City has no shortage of manpower, and they have the ability to build several factories by working overtime. There is telegraph communication, so they must have received the news two months ago.”

East Africa’s infrastructure level is not bad, especially for large projects. There are about ten million natives living in East Africa, too many to the point that East Africa is now too lazy to count them. At least the low-level labor force is in a state of oversupply.

Excluding the old, weak, sick, and disabled, that is also millions of laborers, but the natives have extremely short lifespans, and basically there are no very old people.

Ernst was lucky. This time, the planning of the Mbeya Arsenal coincided with a good time. The Prussian government intends to eliminate the outdated Dreyse rifles. With the unification of Germany, military products will naturally be unified to Prussian standards, which has led to many German military industrial enterprises facing the problem of changing careers. Those who are lucky are incorporated by Prussia, and those who are not can only go bankrupt, especially the German states, many of which have their own military industries. Although they are mainly small workshops, some of their equipment is still good, but the scale is relatively small.

Therefore, a pile of machinery and equipment can be bought almost at the price of scrap iron. By piecing them together, Ernst has managed to put together a complete weapons production chain.

Although the Berlin Hechingen Arsenal produces guns, the parts are mainly purchased, and these states have complete gun parts and accessories production workshops.

After acquiring a large pile of various weapon production machines and equipment, as long as they are reassembled and produced in East Africa, basically most of the weapons that Europe can currently produce, plus the steel from Mbeya City, can be independently completed by East Africa.

Including pistols, bayonets, daggers, small artillery, and other weapons that East Africa cannot produce, have been equipped by East Africa in this purchase.

Although the output may be unsatisfactory due to the low production efficiency of manual workshops and the large gap in steel production capacity, East Africa’s weapons and equipment autonomy has taken an important step.

Chapter 310: Aiding Africa

It was impossible to concentrate all weapon production in Mbeya alone. That would give Mbeya too much industry compared to other East African cities, and such a concentration of industry would inevitably lead to the birth of a large city.

Mbeya, as a transportation hub connecting Lake Sorel (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi, as well as Tanganyika and Zambia, already had a high development ceiling. Furthermore, it was rich in local resources, especially minerals. Even if Mbeya itself had few resources, its convenient transportation could integrate resources from the Lake Malawi area and Zambia. Combined with its pleasant climate, it had the natural foundation of a large city.

Undeniably, large cities have many advantages, especially in terms of industrial collaboration. However, Ernst himself did not like big cities.

Overpopulated cities are not really livable, while underpopulation leads to insufficient resource utilization or inability to support the development of certain industries.

In his previous life, Ernst defined a world-class metropolis as having a population of over five million in the urban area. Currently, the entire population of East Africa did not even reach five million, so he was being a bit overly concerned.

However, East Africa’s population was growing rapidly. Even at the normal African growth rate of his previous life, the eastern highlands alone would exceed one hundred million in the 21st century. In the future, East Africa would have the capacity to produce cities with populations of five million.

Therefore, Ernst’s plan for Mbeya was to develop in collaboration with the surrounding areas. Mbeya should maximize its function as a transportation hub, not only serving as the overall transportation hub for East African countries, but also extending the benefits of transportation to the entire Southern Saltzburg Province and the western part of the Sea Lake Province.

The goal was to fully mobilize the development of the entire Lake Malawi industrial zone, rather than having one city dominate. To put it bluntly, it was to promote the cluster-style development of small and medium-sized cities in the Lake Malawi industrial zone.

In this way, the future population and industries of the region would not all be concentrated in Mbeya, while still facilitating industrial collaboration. Of course, the prerequisite was to improve local transportation infrastructure.

……

The Far East.

For the aged empire of the Far East, today was truly a remarkable day. Richard, the East African Kingdom’s ambassador to the Far East, requested the Qing government to learn the Far East’s “advanced” medical skills. At the same time, he hoped that the Qing government would send medical personnel to “aid” the East African Kingdom.

Inside the Forbidden City.

Yixin: “Reporting to Your Majesty, yesterday, Ambassador Richard of the East African Kingdom in Africa requested medical assistance from our Celestial Dynasty. He stated that the people of Africa are suffering, wild beasts roam, and droughts and floods are endless, leading to widespread epidemics and starvation, with the danger of widespread death and the collapse of the nation. Therefore, he requests that Celestial Dynasty doctors go to East Africa to resist epidemics, and also wishes to send government students to China to study our Celestial Dynasty medicine to avoid the danger of national demise.”

Yixin was one of the three grand ministers of the Zongli Yamen, which was the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” established in the late Qing Dynasty. Therefore, Richard’s communication of the East African government’s political intentions to the Far East government was generally handled by Yixin first.

The Tongzhi Emperor was immediately interested upon hearing this. He had never heard of Western barbarians admiring the Celestial Dynasty before. The Far East imperial court had long been beaten into submission by the British and French, and the British and French had always been domineering, naturally not giving the East any good face, let alone respecting Eastern culture.

Tongzhi: “Is this East Africa the new country that came to establish an embassy last year?”

Yixin: “Precisely.”

Tongzhi: “These Western countries have always been arrogant, despising education and not respecting sages. Their sudden humble request for guidance, could it be some kind of conspiracy?”

Yixin: “May Your Majesty be aware that this East African Kingdom is somewhat different from the Western countries. Its country is located west of the Lesser Western Ocean (Indian Ocean), formed by merging the original Murawa (Somalia) and Manbasa (Kenya). This place was reached by Zheng He’s fleet in the previous dynasty, and is not the location of genuine Western countries. Its monarch is a Prussian prince from the West, who crossed the ocean to establish a country.”

Tongzhi: “Oh! So this East African Kingdom can be considered a country established overseas by a Prussian prince?”

Yixin: “Precisely. Prussia is a strong military power in the West, and also has an ambassador stationed in the Celestial Dynasty.”

To be honest, Yixin was quite embarrassed in this regard. He himself was a Qing Dynasty prince, and his status could be compared to Constantine. This Prussian prince establishing a country overseas, wasn’t he putting himself on the spot?

Tongzhi, unaware of Yixin’s thoughts, said: “Prussia, I know, is a small country east of France. I have heard that its people are fond of fighting and fierce, with universal conscription. This Prussian prince is naturally skilled in martial arts, no wonder.”

As it happened, the news of Prussia defeating France and German unification had not yet reached the Far East, so the Tongzhi Emperor and his ministers still believed that Prussia was a precarious small country bordering France. After all, they had heard of Napoleon’s reputation.

Tongzhi continued: “This East African Kingdom does not seek help from Prussia, but instead seeks help from us. What does this mean?”

Yixin: “As I said before, Prussia is militaristic, using the strength of a small country to support a large army, naturally its economy is declining and the people are suffering, how can it support overseas territories.”

Tongzhi: “That makes sense, but after all, this East Africa has inherited some of Prussia’s true skills, it can’t be that bad!”

What Yixin said earlier was too terrifying, with wild beasts, droughts, floods, and epidemics, this East Africa would be finished sooner or later!

Yixin explained: “The East African Kingdom’s territory was originally barren land, with little civilization. Its monarch was originally a military man, and certainly does not know how to govern a country. Therefore, he admires the prosperity of the Celestial Dynasty’s culture, which is very different from the Western barbarians such as Britain and France.”

In other words, East Africa was originally a barren land, a wasteland in terms of culture and heritage. Coupled with Constantine, a military man governing the country, not being good at management, East Africa was not a legitimate Western country, so it was understandable for them to learn from us.

It must be said, Yixin still had some knowledge. Even Europeans might not know East Africa so well.

His summary was good, although somewhat biased, it objectively described the situation before the establishment of the East African Kingdom. But as for admiring the Celestial Dynasty, Ernst was just trying to get something for free, so he specifically instructed Richard to lower his face a bit.

Richard was originally a businessman, so he had mastered the art of speaking to people as people and speaking to ghosts as ghosts without being taught. He really pretended to look like the African continent was doomed sooner or later, and the Qing Dynasty officials should quickly help them.

The Tongzhi Emperor was overjoyed. The current Far East Empire was truly the most aggrieved. Ten years ago, the Anglo-French allied forces approached the capital, and the Xianfeng Emperor fled to Rehe, shattering the last vanity of the Qing Dynasty, which led to the smooth implementation of the Westernization Movement.

At this time, if any country flattered them, it could allow the rulers of the “Celestial Dynasty” who had lost their dignity to regain some sense of superiority.

Although this East African Kingdom was not a genuine Western country, it was half Western. The East African Kingdom learning from them was equivalent to Western countries learning from them.

Tongzhi: “Since the East African Kingdom has requests from the Celestial Dynasty, we cannot lose the Celestial Dynasty’s demeanor. Allow the East African Kingdom to send government students (international students) to study at the Imperial Hospital, and at the same time recruit one hundred doctors from the common people to save the suffering land of East Africa and promote the Celestial Dynasty’s great grace.”

Tongzhi was generous, taking the initiative to provide medical assistance to East Africa, without any consideration of profit. With the official endorsement of the Qing government, the East African Kingdom was not polite. While cooperating with the Far East government, it vigorously absorbed medical experience from the Far East’s civilian population and recruited civilian medical talents.

Although the medical system in the Far East was not very developed at this time, it was about the same as the rest of the world. Especially since the Far East had a large population, there were always medical personnel who were not doing well. Under Ernst’s instructions, the East African embassy first recruited medical talents from the civilian population, and then requested the Qing government to screen these doctors, so as not to bring some quacks to East Africa to cheat people.

This aid to Africa was a complete public relations project for the Qing government, so they did not dare to be careless. If they really sent charlatans to Africa, and they harmed people, and it was publicized by East Africa, how would the Great Qing fare internationally in the future.

Chapter 311: The Kingdom of Italy’s Thoughts

Most of the existing official medical personnel in East Africa came from the East. Only Constantine brought a German private doctor team. Some of the other immigrants were “doctors” from Europe, but most of these people were quacks, using the old Western medicine techniques from the Middle Ages. After all, they came from rural areas, and most of them relied on ancestral traditions. They would readily use axes and cleavers, perform invasive surgeries, and without sterilization. Who could stand that?

Doctors were still the most scarce profession in East Africa. Most patients relied on fate, and many people had their own folk remedies. They didn’t know if they would work, but they would just try them. Fortunately, people in this era were used to it.

The East African government built a total of one hundred and eight clinics, but no hospitals. There were two hundred and eighty-five registered doctors, and a snake venom research institute was the pinnacle of East African medical care.

Overall, East Africa’s medical resources were extremely scarce. The silver lining was that East Africa was very suitable for growing herbs, and some traditions among the natives were mastered by the East Africans.

For example, after being bitten by a black mamba, the East African natives would find a plant with a peculiar appearance from the surroundings, mash it into a paste, apply it to the wound, and then wait to die.

Although this was somewhat laughable, the natives firmly believed in it, which shows that the natives also had their own medicine, at least it could play a role in psychological comfort.

Of course, this was a failed case. There were also many successful cases, mostly prescriptions that could reduce inflammation, stop bleeding, and relieve pain. After all, the natives had been fighting wits and courage with the beasts of East Africa for hundreds of years, and they inevitably suffered minor injuries, so they had summed up a set of systematic medical experience. In essence, it still belonged to the state where witch doctors and doctors were not separated, but they could always get some results by chance.

…

After Austria obtained Venice, it immediately launched a final purge of the area. A large number of intellectuals, merchants, and nobles fled to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Compared to Hungary in eastern Lombardy, Austria’s behavior was somewhat more refined.

Lombardy, as the wealthiest region in all of Italy, allowed the Hungarian nobles to taste great benefits. Although they knew that the Austrians were using Hungary as a shield, if the Italians wanted to recover their lost territory, they would have to attack Lombardy first. However, Hungary didn’t care. What level was Italy? Even if Hungary was poor, it was still a member of the great powers, with a powerful motherland behind it.

Although Austria also drove out Italians, most people had a stable destination because East Africa took them in. Hungary was not so polite to Lombardy. It directly expelled the Italians within its borders according to the agreement, and then migrated a large number of Hungarian people from the empire’s mainland to achieve cuckoo’s nest occupation. This time, the Hungarian government did its best, after all, Lombardy alone could accommodate many of its own noble children.

The actions of Austria and Hungary directly led to the emergence of many refugee groups within the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States. Naples was also affected.

At this time, the Kingdom of East Africa could appear as a good person. As a major agricultural country, East Africa’s grain production capacity was far surplus. Even with a large amount of exports every year, there was still some surplus.

After all, in the European grain market, East Africa could not act recklessly. Cutting off someone’s financial path was like killing their parents. East Africa could only try to develop some differentiated products to expand grain sales. The food processing industry under Black Hecheng was like this.

This time in Italy, there was no need to worry so much. Hundreds of thousands of refugees poured in, and all Italian countries were affected. If the food problem of these people was not solved, people would die.

Florence.

Since the defeat in the war, Emmanuel II had been frowning all day, and his whole person had aged a lot. This time, the Kingdom of Italy lost both its wife and its army. Nearly half of its territory was lost, and the Kingdom of Italy was beaten back to its original state. But the more this was the case, the more the Kingdom of Italy could not do without him, so he had to continue to support it.

Emmanuel II asked the Minister of Agriculture with a worried face: “Has the grain problem not been solved yet?”

The Minister of Agriculture said helplessly: “This time we lost a lot of land in the Po River Plain, and we also lost the grain producing areas in southern Italy. In addition, the kingdom’s grain output was originally far lower than that of European countries, and now it is even more unsustainable.”

Emmanuel II: “Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs think of a way to ask other countries for help?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Your Majesty, the Spanish royal family is willing to give us some free aid, but that is only a drop in the bucket. The internal situation in Spain is not very good, and Prince Amadeo has no way. Germany and France have reduced grain production due to the war, so the price of grain has risen throughout Europe.”

Emmanuel II: “Is there no solution? You must know that hundreds of thousands of refugees from Lombardy and Venice will starve if they don’t get food, and their final spearhead will definitely point to the government.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Your Majesty, there is actually good news. The Kingdom of East Africa is willing to sell us a large amount of grain at a low price, but it is mainly rice and corn.”

Emmanuel II: “The Kingdom of East Africa? Is that the country that was established last year?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Exactly, Your Majesty, the Kingdom of East Africa was founded in East Africa by Prince Constantine of Black Hecheng, Prussia.”

Emmanuel II said: “This Kingdom of East Africa has not appeared for long, right? Do they have the ability to undertake such a large amount of grain exports?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Your Majesty may not know, but in fact, the volume of grain trade between East Africa and us has been steadily increasing in recent years. Before the establishment of the Kingdom of East Africa, the East African colonies had always been grain exporting regions.”

Emmanuel II: “The territory of this Kingdom of East Africa is in Africa, right? Is Africa so rich?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “The climate conditions in Africa are poor, and diseases are rampant, but there should still be no shortage of land. After all, the African continent is vast, and it was originally a place for producing black slaves, so there is not a lack of labor. It is estimated that this is the reason why the Kingdom of East Africa became a grain exporting country as soon as it was established.”

Emmanuel II: “Do you mean that the Kingdom of East Africa realizes land development by exploiting the natives of East Africa, planting a large amount of grain, and creating huge wealth for the Kingdom of East Africa?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I think that’s how it is. Black people eat less, work more, are strong, and don’t need money. It’s hard for Prince Constantine not to make a fortune.”

Emmanuel II suddenly became interested: “What do you say about us opening up a colony in Africa to solve Italy’s food problem?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was not optimistic: “Developing overseas colonies is a way, but Italy lacks experience in this area, and our finances are a big problem now.”

Speaking of financial problems, Emmanuel II was also in trouble. The Italian government itself owed a large amount of debt to the United Kingdom. If it weren’t for fear that Italy would not be able to repay the debt, the United Kingdom would not care about the life and death of the Italians, mediate the war, and try to maintain the main body of Italy. Even the newly restored Kingdom of Naples was forced to inherit part of the debt owed by the Kingdom of Sardinia to repay the British.

In addition, in this war, Italy also lost Venice and one-third of Lombardy, which were all important places for finance and taxation. In comparison, the Kingdom of Naples was not so important. Although Naples had a large area and a large population, its economy was not good. Although it paid more taxes, the Kingdom of Italy spent more financially here. Now getting rid of this burden may not be a bad thing.

Emmanuel II: “In this case, let’s still spend the money where it counts. First, import grain from East Africa. As long as the price is low enough, no matter what rice or corn, it is important to appease the refugees first. As for opening up colonies, we will think about it when we recover.”

The Kingdom of Italy had no choice but to go to overseas colonies. Anyway, Italy’s conditions in this regard were not bad, and it was not like they had no experience at all. The Mediterranean Sea was also a sea, and Sardinia and Sicily were both ruled through sea routes. It was just that this time they ran further and colonized further places. Relying on the mainland, it was impossible to support so many people.

Chapter 312: Swords Point at the Abyssinian Empire

The road to unification for the Kingdom of Italy was completely blocked, and it even lost a considerable amount of territory. However, its population did not decrease on a corresponding scale, so the Kingdom of Italy had to find a way out, and right now, colonization was the only path left.

Inspired by the East African Kingdom, Emmanuel II also planned to open up a colony in Africa, mainly to solve the food shortage problem of the Kingdom of Italy.

Although temporarily burdened by financial constraints, unable to start immediately, Emmanuel II still ordered people to start collecting information on Africa.

There wasn’t that much information on Africa, and his subordinates quickly collected the general data and reported to Emmanuel II.

“Your Majesty, the entire African coast is almost sparsely distributed with the forces of various countries. Among them, West Africa has the best conditions, with England, France, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands all having a presence there. North Africa is the closest to us in terms of distance, but it is mostly desert and does not have large-scale arable land. Some oasis areas are controlled by France and the Ottoman Empire. East Africa is dominated by the East African Kingdom and Portuguese Mozambique. South Africa is the British Cape Town colony, and its climate is most similar to that of mainland Italy, but we cannot afford to provoke the British.”

Listening to his subordinates’ report, Emmanuel II frowned and said, “It seems that the competition in Africa is also very fierce! I thought it was truly a barren land. I didn’t expect that so many European forces already exist there.”

“Your Majesty, the main reason is that other countries have a greater first-mover advantage. Even the small Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen within Prussia can go to Africa to seize large areas of territory, so the strength of the African natives is evident. Moreover, although these countries have strongholds in Africa, except for the East African Kingdom and Portugal, the Boers have hardly developed the African interior on a large scale. We still have many opportunities.”

Hearing this, Emmanuel II was relieved: “Then do you have any general direction?”

“Your Majesty, after carefully analyzing the information on the African region and the intelligence from the past two years, we believe that the Abyssinian Empire on the Red Sea coast is a better place for the constitution of our Kingdom of Italy.”

Emmanuel II asked: “The Abyssinian Empire? What are its advantages?”

“Your Majesty, first of all, Abyssinia is located on the Red Sea coast, adjacent to the Suez Canal, which provides convenience for us to conquer this place.”

Emmanuel II: “Then isn’t North Africa closer to us!”

“Alas! Your Majesty, if it were the original Kingdom of Italy, we might still be able to develop in North Africa, but now we have been greatly weakened. Currently, the weakest in North Africa is the Ottoman Empire, which we also cannot afford to offend. Although the Ottoman Empire is weakening, its size is huge. When we were still strong, we might not have feared the Ottomans, but now that we have lost nearly half of our territory, what do we have to compete with the Ottomans? Furthermore, if we really have a conflict with the Ottomans now, I am afraid that Franz of Austria would laugh in his dreams at night. Both of our countries face the mortal enemy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so both sides should maintain good relations and jointly deal with the threat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, that is the right path.”

The Kingdom of Italy faces the danger of national subjugation from the ambitious Austro-Hungarian Empire, while the European territory of the Ottoman Empire is threatened by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The two countries can be said to be in the same boat. Although the Ottomans also have a sworn enemy for generations—Tsarist Russia—the Kingdom of Italy also has France to the west. Historically, France has also been a great threat to Italy.

“Secondly, which is the second point I want to say, the Abyssinian Empire has a large amount of arable land. In this regard, North Africa is far inferior to the Abyssinian Empire, and what our Kingdom of Italy needs most now is arable land. The arable land of the Abyssinian Empire is readily available. Their land has been developed for thousands of years, unlike other regions in Africa, which have uncertainties. As long as we can suppress the Abyssinian Empire by force, then we can definitely continuously import food to the mainland.”

The agricultural conditions on the Ethiopian Plateau are indeed good. If it weren’t for the excessive altitude, nearly a thousand meters higher than the East African Plateau, and the excessive level of civilization, Ernst would have been tempted. High altitude also has its advantages. The terrain of the Ethiopian Plateau affects and intercepts rain, with an average annual rainfall of between 1200mm and 1600mm, known as the water tower of East Africa.

Especially the southwestern part of the Ethiopian Plateau occupied by the East African Kingdom, the rainfall remains above 1300mm all year round, forming a unique rainy high-mountain plateau climate zone.

Of course, it is worth noting that in this space-time, the Abyssinian Empire cannot be equated with the Ethiopian Plateau. In the previous life, Ethiopia, as an independent country, exclusively occupied the Ethiopian Plateau, but now it is jointly owned by the Abyssinian Empire and the East African Kingdom. However, the main body of the Ethiopian Plateau is still within the Abyssinian Empire, and East Africa only occupies the southwest, while the southeast is a relatively arid plain area.

The agricultural area of the Abyssinian Empire is concentrated in the northwestern region of the Ethiopian Plateau, which is also the foundation of the Abyssinian Empire, making it an agricultural country like Egypt. The middle Sudan region is mainly nomadic, and only a small agricultural zone exists relying on the confluence of the White and Blue Nile rivers, and it just so happens that its water volume depends on the Blue Nile River originating from the Ethiopian Plateau.

Emmanuel II: “In that case, the national strength of the Abyssinian Empire should not be bad. Are you sure it won’t be a tough nut to crack!”

“Your Majesty, rest assured, we naturally considered this aspect when selecting this area. This is also the last point we want to emphasize. The national strength of the Abyssinian Empire is not worth mentioning. Three years ago, the British broke through the capital of the Abyssinian Empire with very few troops. Its emperor committed suicide due to defeat, and the Abyssinian Empire immediately fell into a state of division. At the same time, Egypt in the north also has conflicts with the Abyssinian Empire. The two sides fought fiercely in the Sudan region. Now is the weakest period in the history of the Abyssinian Empire.”

As a local power, the Abyssinian Empire has several vassal states in the Sudan region, which is also the reason for the conflict between Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire. However, Egypt’s rule over Sudan is relatively weak, and the transportation is relatively poor, causing Egypt, despite its strong national power, to have no way to deal with the divided Abyssinian Empire.

During the Ali era, the Egyptian expedition to Sudan was stopped in northern Sudan due to the harsh desert environment, and Ali’s conquest of Sudan was limited to northern Sudan, implementing a similar loose rule over Sudan as the Ottomans did over Egypt.

After listening, Emmanuel II was very satisfied: “Sure enough, natives are natives. We can’t beat Austria, but I don’t believe we can’t deal with the Abyssinian Empire. What the British can do, we can definitely do.”

Subsequently, Emmanuel II began to prepare the Kingdom of Italy’s plan to invade and colonize Abyssinia. The colonial department of the Kingdom of Italy also began to be established. Abyssinia, as an opponent, is large enough, has a large population, and has excellent agricultural conditions. All of this is what the Kingdom of Italy needs. Now, domestic industry and commerce need a market due to the independence of the Kingdom of Naples, and the surplus population caused by the war also needs land. There is nothing more tempting than invading the Abyssinian Empire.

The various forces of the kingdom also actively supported Emmanuel II’s decision. After experiencing the disastrous defeat of the Second Italian-Austrian War, whoever wants the great ideal of unifying Italy can have it. The Kingdom of Italy is scared anyway. A weak opponent like Abyssinia is the preferred target of our Kingdom of Italy.

Chapter 313: Bootleg “Stuttgart”

Hechingen.

As a small town, Hechingen has developed fairly smoothly in recent years. However, local residents have also suddenly realized that their connection with the original Hechingen royal family is becoming more and more distant. The old King Constantine has traveled far across the ocean, and the young Crown Prince is also rarely in the territory. Even when he returns, he mostly resides directly in the castle, and Hohenzollern Castle is like the outskirts of the outskirts to the town of Hechingen, not even in the same place.

However, because Prussia took over the order, the local citizens have gradually become accustomed to this life, which should now be called Germany. On the day Germany was founded, the people of Hechingen spontaneously held a ceremony to celebrate this historic moment for the German nation.

Now, Ernst, this wanderer, has finally returned, and has even made the rare appearance in the town. The massive complex of buildings being renovated in the academy area seems out of place with the small and crowded streets of Hechingen. Such a building might not be so conspicuous if it were in Stuttgart.

However, because of the Hechingen Military Academy, most of the buildings here are built according to the scale of German universities, and are even larger in scale. In comparison, other nearby schools are somewhat lacking.

Ernst looked at the Hechingen Military Academy, which he had created with his own hands, and said with emotion, “The Hechingen Military Academy has completed its historical mission in Hechingen. From now on, this place will be converted into a university exclusively for East African students to learn advanced German knowledge and technology!”

East Africa currently has no plans to build its own university. One reason is the lack of teaching staff, and the other is the lack of student enrollment. Therefore, it is better for East African higher education to remain in Europe. After all, talents who can serve as university teachers in this era are in high demand everywhere, and naturally they are unwilling to develop in East Africa, a place no different from exile.

As for the issue of student enrollment, the first batch of East African primary school students will graduate in half a year, and the construction of East African secondary education can be put on the agenda.

Tom: “Does Your Highness mean that this place will be converted into an ordinary German university in the future?”

Ernst nodded and said, “Yes, not only will the Hechingen Military Academy site be converted into a university, but other schools will also be integrated and converted into German universities. What name do you think is good?”

Next to the Hechingen Military Academy are three middle schools founded by the Hechingen royal family. Together with the Hechingen Military Academy, they form a large academic district next to the town of Hechingen, almost the same size as the town of Hechingen.

Tom guessed, “Your Highness, are you planning to turn this place into a base for foreign students from the kingdom?”

Ernst: “Yes. Although Hechingen is a bit secluded, it is not too far from Stuttgart. It is a good place to run a school here. It allows people to relax and study quietly, while not being too isolated from the world.”

To be honest, it would be better to locate the university in a city to attract more students, but the students in the Hechingen area come from East Africa, so this is not an issue. The main issue is whether it can attract teachers.

Adults and young people are different. Young people are more eager for big cities, while adults prefer either the hustle and bustle of the city or the seclusion of the countryside.

And the environment in Hechingen is not bad, and the school facilities left by the Hechingen Military Academy are extremely complete, even somewhat over-standard. There are also no major problems with transportation. Stuttgart is a transportation hub city in southwestern Germany. After German unification, the railways here will definitely be further repaired and strengthened, and it only takes half a day to transfer from Stuttgart to Hechingen. Hechingen will inevitably be connected to the railway system. The important reason why Hohenzollern Castle can become a military fortress is because it controls the traffic arteries through the Black Forest to the Neckar Valley.

The north-south thoroughfare.

Tom: “Your Highness, you are planning to cultivate talents for the kingdom. In that case, why not establish a normal college? And in my opinion, Hechingen’s reputation mainly relies on the Hechingen Bank, but the people in the German region do not know much about this small place. Why not use the name of Stuttgart? After all, Stuttgart is a well-known big city in Germany.”

German people, and even European people, all know the name of Hechingen Bank, but they don’t really know that Hechingen was originally just a place name. Some people even mistakenly think that Hechingen is a person’s name, after all, many European companies are named after people.

Ernst: “Heh heh, you mean Stuttgart Normal University?”

If Stuttgart Normal University is used as the name, it is indeed very impressive. Stuttgart has a relatively high status in Germany. This can indeed mislead many teachers who come to apply for jobs, who originally thought that the work location was in a big city, but after arriving at the destination, they find that it is just a rural area a little close to Stuttgart.

It’s a bit similar to Lanzhou University in my previous life. Hearing the name, it seems to be in the urban area of Lanzhou, but in fact, the largest campus is more than 40 kilometers away from the urban area. Coincidentally, Hechingen is also more than 40 kilometers away from Stuttgart.

Tom: “Your Highness, Germans with a little knowledge know Stuttgart, and even though Hechingen was once an independent country, it was just an unknown small country ranked at the bottom of the many German states. If we want to attract teachers, we must use some small tricks.”

Ernst: “Then let’s just do two! One Stuttgart Normal University, and one Stuttgart University of Technology.”

After saying that, Ernst himself laughed shamelessly. If the citizens of Stuttgart knew in the future that their city was being used to name a school in Hechingen, they would be extremely shocked.

The conversation between the master and servant revealed the purpose of Ernst’s return this time, that is, the Hechingen Military Academy is about to be moved to East Africa. As a bogus military school in Germany, returning to East Africa means it will be the officially certified highest military academy.

The reason why the Hechingen Military Academy was established in Germany before was that the East African colonies had just started, and could not afford the construction of the Hechingen Military Academy. Now the East African kingdom certainly has this ability, so naturally it is necessary to move the cradle of East African military talents, the Hechingen Military Academy, back to East Africa.

After the Hechingen Military Academy moves away, the original site will be vacant, and Ernst will naturally use it. It has only been built for a few years, the buildings are still new, and the facilities are no worse than those of the University of Berlin. Such a good place should not be abandoned.

East Africa will definitely send students to Germany and Austria to study in the future, and it is just right to integrate the several schools in Hechingen to become a talent training base for East Africa.

Here, local German teachers can be recruited to teach. They may be reluctant to go to East Africa, but Hechingen is different. The conditions here are not bad, it is close to home, and the cost of living is low.

Another advantage of building a university in Hechingen is that it is convenient for East Africa to manage the students. If they are too scattered, they may be cultivating talents for Germany for nothing.

These students will all return to East Africa in the future to build East Africa. If they are sent to various schools in Germany to study, East Africa will not be able to monitor their movements in time. It is impossible to go to each school to arrest people. This is an unavoidable problem. East Africa’s backwardness is a reality, and high-end talents generally like to flow to developed regions.

And by establishing a university in Hechingen, it is difficult for them to come into contact with the big cities in Germany. This is still the former base of the Hechingen royal family. As for the subjects needed by East Africa, it can be solved by hiring relevant teachers.

Chapter 314: Trade and Conflict

The town of Bodele in Turkana Province of the East African Kingdom is one of the northernmost towns in Turkana Province, and it is also a trading market set up by the East African Kingdom.

Early in the morning, Bodele opens for business.

Abyssinian caravans from all over southern Abyssinia, carrying horses, cattle, sheep, camels, and some agricultural specialties raised by the Abyssinians, come to Bodele Town to trade.

“Today, my store has a total of one hundred and fifty rifles, with excellent performance. Open bidding, highest bidder wins.” As a store specializing in arms announced its products.

Instantly, everyone began to compete for the price.

“I offer thirty Abyssinian horses.” A merchant from the Tigray region of northern Abyssinia, Bubuyawis, said.

Abyssinian horses are a specialty of Abyssinia, and Turkana Province in East Africa also produces them.

His bid scared away many small Abyssinian caravans who intended to buy. Northern Abyssinia is the core area of the Abyssinian Empire, and the Tigray region is the birthplace of the Abyssinian Empire. Several ruling families of the Abyssinian Empire are rooted in the Tigray region, and Bubuyawis is a member of the Zagwe family in the Tigray region.

Just as Bubuyawis thought he had secured the goods, a discordant voice suddenly came, “Heh heh heh, you northerners want to ride on our heads too? Our Anlie family offers thirty Abyssinian horses, plus a camel.”

This was a merchant from the Amhara southern region of the Abyssinian Empire named Audley Kevin. Obviously, Audley Kevin was also determined to get these guns.

Bubuyawis took a closer look and realized it was an “old rival,” and sarcastically said without politeness: “So it’s a small family from Amhara. What level are you to compare with our Zagwe family? Our Zagwe family is one of the top three families in the empire. I’ll add ten Amhara donkeys, and these guns are mine.”

The East African merchant was stunned, and then asked, “Mr. Bubuyawis, are you talking about ten donkeys?”

Bubuyawis: “Yes, ten donkeys, but ten Amhara donkeys, still as stupid as the Anlie family.”

“You…” Audley Kevin’s blood pressure soared instantly, “Okay, okay, so that’s how we’re playing? I’ll also add ten lame camels from the Tigray Zagwe family.”

East African merchant: “Uh! Mr. Audley Kevin, disabled livestock will be discounted.”

Obviously, Audley Kevin didn’t really want to use lame camels for the transaction, but just to humiliate the Zagwe family. The East African merchant misunderstood his meaning, but Audley Kevin was very happy.

Audley Kevin: “You’re right, lame camels should be discounted. I just said that Zagwe lame camels aren’t worth the price! Hahaha…”

“You bastard…” Bubuyawis, who was counter-satirized, was enraged and went up to start a free fight with Audley Kevin.

Quick-witted East African staff hurriedly tried to pull the two apart, but both sides obviously refused to give up, and a group of people fought together.

Seeing that he couldn’t stop the fight, the shop owner had to blow the warning whistle. With a sharp trailing “whee” sound.

The East African mounted police of Bodele Town came upon hearing the news. More than a dozen steeds came from outside the market, wielding sticks to drive away the Abyssinian merchants who were fighting in a group.

Soon.

“Everyone shut up, this is a public place, not a place to fight,” Bodele Police Chief Cruz said angrily.

At this time, the fighting parties had already squatted in a row, listening to Cruz’s lecture, surrounded by Abyssinian onlookers, it was rare to see these big families being embarrassed, it was really interesting.

“Bodele is a fair trading market, everything depends on money, not who is strong can be arrogant, you should feel fortunate that it’s me who came, not the border guards, otherwise they won’t indulge you, now return to the transaction, no more fighting, otherwise I will definitely let you know how powerful our East African police are, everyone else disperse, continue trading.”

After stabilizing the normal order of the market, Cruz left, leaving only Bubuyawis and Audley Kevin glaring at each other, but they no longer dared to act rashly, the East African police batons really hurt when they hit the body.

In the end, Audley Kevin won the batch of guns with thirty horses, plus eleven “Zagwe lame” camels.

But when leaving the city, Bubuyawis said fiercely: “Bastard! When you get to Abyssinia, you better pray nothing happens!”

Audley Kevin said with a smug look: “Do you really think this is Tigray? I’m waiting for your revenge.”

Audley Kevin’s confidence came from the guns he had just obtained. With weapons in hand and the caravan being experts who had been in Abyssinia for many years, he was naturally not afraid.

……

North of Bodele Town is Negemet, the southernmost city of the Abyssinian Empire. East Africa has a good relationship with the Abyssinian Empire. The two sides have almost no major conflicts of interest, which is why Bodele was established as a trading market.

Although the expansion of East Africa into the Ethiopian Highlands was met with vigilance by forces within the Abyssinian Empire, it was only that.

East Africa has never really invaded Abyssinia from beginning to end, so there is no conflict or contradiction to speak of, at most, the southern neighbor has changed from black natives to white people, which naturally aroused the vigilance of the southern rulers of Abyssinia. After all, the four countries of Britain, France, Italy, and Egypt are eyeing the Abyssinian Empire along the Red Sea coast, and there is the precedent of the British invasion, so it is impossible to let the Abyssinians relax their vigilance.

That’s right, the Italians also briefly owned a “colony” along the Red Sea coast, namely the port of Assab in northern Djibouti. In 1869, Giuseppe Sapeto’s private colonial company, the Rubattino Company, signed an agreement with the tribal chiefs of Assab on the Red Sea coast, purchasing the port of Assab, but Egypt opposed this and sent troops to occupy Assab, and Italy’s colonization of Assab was temporarily frustrated.

So now Italy has no colonies in Africa, but the Rubattino Company has not completely withdrawn from the port of Assab, and is still looking for opportunities to make a comeback. Now they have encountered a good opportunity, the Kingdom of Italy is deliberately invading the Abyssinian Empire, so it needs a landing port, and along the Red Sea coast, only the Rubattino Company is considered Italian, so the Kingdom of Italy government has recruited the Rubattino Company, ten years earlier than in history, but now the port of Assab is still in Egyptian hands, and it still needs to be considered in the long term.

From the port of Assab that the Kingdom of Italy is plotting, it can be seen that almost all forces are fiercely competing near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Formerly centered on Djibouti, in the middle is the French Somaliland colony, in the southeast is the British Somaliland colony, in the north is the Egyptian sphere of influence mixed with the Italian civil colonial group in the Bay of Assab, and in the west is the Abyssinian Empire, in the southwest there is also the East African Kingdom’s Dire Dawa military town, plus the remnants of the Ottoman Empire, a small area of tens of thousands of square kilometers on the west coast of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is crowded with countries and tribes, and the source of all this is the opening of the Suez Canal.

The most aggrieved are undoubtedly the Abyssinian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, one is surrounded into a landlocked country, and the other, although the nominal owner of the area, has in reality seen Egypt, thanks to the arrival of the Albanian strongman Muhammad Ali, long since secede from the Ottoman Empire, while inheriting most of its assets west of the Sinai Peninsula.

Interestingly, Eritrea was seized by the Ottoman Empire at its peak from the Abyssinian Empire in 1557, and is now Egyptian territory, which is one of the reasons why Egypt has a bad relationship with the Abyssinian Empire. Coupled with the interests dispute between the two sides in the Sudan region, it is simply adding hatred to hatred, and when the British invaded the Abyssinian Empire before, Egypt took the opportunity to loot the Abyssinian Empire.

East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire do not have territorial conflicts. Although East Africa occupies the southern part of Ethiopia in its previous life, the Abyssinian Empire has not ruled here. The time when southern Ethiopia in its previous life was incorporated into the Abyssinian Empire was during the reign of Menelik II from 1872 to 1896. It was also Menelik II who moved the capital south to Addis Ababa in the central Ethiopian Highlands in 1886. The most powerful force in the Abyssinian Empire now is Yohannes IV, supported by the British. Menelik II is now the King of Shoa (equivalent to a conquered vassal state of the Abyssinian Empire).

Chapter 315: Clearing the Stock

Let’s return to the Bodele trading market. While Bubuyawis and Oudley Kevin were engaged in a fierce fight on their way back to the Abyssinian Empire.

A Negemete caravan slowly entered Bodele Town, and Lawrens, the company commander of the Bodele Town border guard, greeted them warmly.

Lawrens: “Mr. Yan Reid, you’ve arrived very early today!”

Yan Reid: “Hahaha, Mr. Lawrens, you’re too kind. The weather is good today, and I think this foreshadows a new level of cooperation between us.”

Unlike other caravans that rushed to Bodele Town early to “snap up” goods, the Yan Reid caravan was obviously much later. However, East Africa’s attitude towards the Yan Reid caravan was clearly different, and even the border guards took the initiative to greet them.

Lawrens: “Mr. Yan Reid, as far as I know, a new batch of firearms has arrived today. People from your capital, Tigray and Amhara regions, bought a batch in advance this morning. But don’t worry, we’ve kept the good stuff for you.”

Yan Reid quickly expressed his gratitude upon hearing the exclusive information provided by Lawrens: “Thank you for the intelligence, my friend. These northerners are too ambitious. They already monopolize the empire’s arms trade in the east, and now they want to get involved in the south. They are truly greedy fellows.”

Yan Reid criticized the unethical behavior of his peers. Before the opening of the market in East Africa, Abyssinian Empire trade activities were concentrated along the Red Sea coast. Cities in the inland south, such as Negemete, naturally did not enjoy these dividends. As for the north, there were also trade routes, but the relationship between northern Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire was extremely poor, and trade between the two was minimal.

Lawrens: “Mr. Yan Reid, don’t be angry. There’s always more business to be done. Besides, we in East Africa are on your Negemete’s side. With the support of East Africa, you will eventually have the ability to compete with those big players.”

Just as the British supported Yohannes IV, the East African kingdom was also looking for its own representatives of interests within the Abyssinian Empire. The local forces in the south of the Abyssinian Empire, led by the city of Negemete, were the targets of East Africa’s wooing.

The south of the Abyssinian Empire was far less developed than the north and the east, and it had little influence within the empire. But now things were different. The British had shattered the entire Abyssinian Empire in one war, and now the local forces of the Abyssinian Empire were divided and ruled by warlords. In order to protect their own interests, the various forces in the south of Abyssinia were also eyeing the imperial throne, and they supported Nat Horg, the former southern commander of the empire, as their spokesperson.

Speaking of Nat Horg, his story is quite dramatic. He was also a member of a large family from the Tigray region, and he was sent to the south by the former Emperor Tewodros II of the Abyssinian Empire. He was a general appointed by Tewodros II to guard against East Africa. However, after Tewodros II was defeated and committed suicide, the empire disintegrated. Under the recommendation of various forces in the south, Nat Horg also became one of the powerful contenders for the imperial throne.

As for why the southern forces nominated Nat Horg as their representative, it was because of his identity as a member of the Solomonic dynasty. The Solomonic dynasty was equivalent to the current imperial family of the Abyssinian Empire, and he was more easily accepted by the whole country.

And the backers of the various forces in the south were the East African kingdom. In other words, Nat Horg had gone from being a general who guarded against the invasion of the East African kingdom to one of the contenders for the pinnacle of power in the Abyssinian Empire with the support of East Africa.

…

Under Lawrens’ personal guidance, Yan Reid’s men came to the military supply store in Bodele Town. Unlike the treatment Bubuyawis and Oudley Kevin received before, they were taken to the backyard of the military supply store, where boxes of neatly arranged military supplies had already been stacked.

Lawrens found a crowbar and personally opened a box. The wooden box painted with green paint still had a strong smell, and from the smell, it could be known that this batch of goods was very “new”. After opening it, rows of shiny flintlock guns were neatly placed in the straw. Lawrens took out one and handed it to Yan Reid.

Lawrens: “This is the M1809 front-loading smoothbore musket that was once equipped by the Prussian regular army. It can be said to be famous in Europe. Look at these parts, they still maintain their luster, and their reliability is still trustworthy.”

Lawrens himself felt a little embarrassed saying this. It was really difficult for the East African government to dig out such antiques for sale.

Not many of these rifles were equipped by Prussia at that time, because the Prussian army was restricted to a very small scale during Napoleon’s rule in France. The fact that East Africa could find such antique goods could only mean that it was really cheap, basically collected from Prussian arms depots at the price of scrap iron.

After serving in the hands of East African militias for a few years, these guns were, to put it bluntly, more than half a century old, much older than Lawrens.

Obviously, this batch of old guns looked pretty good, but that was after being refurbished and repainted in the East African arsenal.

Although Lawrens knew the truth, he still shamelessly said: “The age may be a little long, but the advantage is that it is stable. After all, the Prussian army, as a strong army in Europe, has very high requirements for the production of its weapons. Moreover, they are uniformly standardized, which facilitates parts replacement and maintenance, and is definitely much stronger than the weapons we sell to the northerners.”

The sources of rifles in the Abyssinian Empire were mixed, basically old antiques sold by various countries, and the quality varied. Some were even broken. It was rare to find someone like East Africa who refurbished them before selling them.

Therefore, Yan Reid was very satisfied with the appearance of this batch of guns. He asked: “Mr. Lawrens, can I check a few other boxes?”

Lawrens: “Of course, no problem!” Saying that, he handed over the crowbar in his hand.

After all, only one box had been opened, and Yan Reid didn’t dare to be careless. What if this box was a showpiece specially prepared by East Africa? That would be a big loss.

Obviously, as Yan Reid randomly inspected a few boxes, they were all of the same quality. He said with satisfaction: “Mr. Lawrens, I am very satisfied with this batch of goods, but I still need to test it in actual combat at the end!”

Lawrens: “You can go to the shooting range of our border guards in the suburbs. The terrain there is very open.”

Finally, Yan Reid personally tested the power of this batch of rifles in the suburbs of Bodele, and it reached the upper-middle level of the Abyssinian Empire army’s firearms force.

Yan Reid: “We are very satisfied. We can pay now, with gold and silver coins or livestock!”

Lawrens: “Anything is fine, my friend, whichever is convenient for you!”

In the end, Yan Reid exchanged the last batch of Ottoman silver coins he had at the Black Hingen Bank. These silver coins were obtained when he used to do business with Ottoman merchants along the Red Sea coast, but now that Egypt was at war with Abyssinia, trade between the two countries had almost stopped, and Ottoman silver coins had depreciated severely in Abyssinia, so Yan Reid was eager to get rid of them.

The East African side didn’t care. These Ottoman silver coins could still flow back to the Ottoman Empire through the Sultanate of Zanzibar. After all, Abyssinia was a landlocked country, but East Africa was not.

At the same time, this also meant that the influence of the Ottoman Empire on the Abyssinian Empire’s finances was disintegrating, and the hard currencies that were taking over were the pound sterling, the franc, and the financial notes issued by the Black Hingen Bank on behalf of East Africa.

After all, the Abyssinian Empire was a large country with a population of nearly ten million, and the temptation of this market was not small. At the same time, for East Africa, the Abyssinian Empire was not like the West African natives who only had “gold” that was worth some trade value, and had almost no purchasing power.

East Africa was also eager to exchange the antique guns in its hands. With the installation of the Dreyse needle gun production line, East Africa was about to completely bid farewell to the front-loading flintlock gun, and the war-torn Abyssinian Empire was a good sucker.

Chapter 316: Rhine Shield

Speaking of financial bonds for trade between East Africa and Abyssinia, these were special bonds issued by the Hechingen Bank under the supervision of the East African government, specifically for use in the East African region and functioning as currency.

Currently, the East African government is considering issuing its own currency, and Ernst is busy with this matter.

March 14, 1871.

Led by Ernst, the East African Kingdom’s delegation, with the consent of the Swedish royal family, officially began its inspection of the Swedish Mint. The members were mostly employees of the Hechingen Bank.

Wayne, the Governor of the Swedish Bank, was responsible for the reception: “The earliest banknotes in Europe were issued by our bank in 1661, opening the era of paper money in Europe. However, at that time, the issuance of banknotes was only a supplement due to the insufficient quantity of metal currency, and not as a true currency. Our mint not only has a long history and rich experience, but also has always been at the forefront of Europe in the application of new technologies.”

Wayne first introduced the Swedish Bank’s experience in this area. In 17th-century Sweden, currency transactions mainly relied on coins. In 1661, King Charles XI Gustav of Sweden decided to introduce banknotes as a legal form of currency. These banknotes were issued by the government and backed by gold to ensure their value and credibility. The Swedish banknotes became the first officially issued banknotes in European history. They were then called “official bank notes,” similar to the current East African financial bonds, but East Africa itself does not produce metal currency.

Wayne: “The main components of these Swedish Krona in front of you are cotton fiber, a small amount of hemp fiber, and a large amount of wood pulp.”

Krona comes from the Latin word for “crown.”

Ernst: “In East Africa, we generally use cotton, high-quality sisal, and a small amount of wood pulp for banknotes.”

Wayne: “Oh! Is that so? I don’t know much about sisal. Sweden itself has no shortage of wood, and we even need to import a lot of cotton.”

Ernst took the opportunity to promote sisal from East Africa: “Sisal is a long fiber with characteristics such as high strength, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, and fast moisture absorption and release. The paper made from it has obvious advantages, not only strong but also easy to store and fold, and has a strong sense of comfort. It is one of the main raw materials for our Hechingen Bank to make financial bonds.”

Wayne: “Then what about its price and output?”

Ernst: “The characteristic of sisal is its high yield. Generally, the yield per acre is about three tons in a normal year, but it is only suitable for growing in tropical and subtropical regions. East Africa is entirely in the tropical region and has surpassed Mexico, the origin of sisal, to become the world’s largest sisal producer.”

Wayne: “Oh! But we can use wood pulp. If sisal is cheap, we can purchase some to increase the quality of banknotes.”

Ernst immediately said: “There is no problem in this regard. We have a sisal processing plant in Hamburg, which is used to produce raw materials for ship cables. If you need it, you can go directly to Hamburg to purchase it, and we can give you a five percent discount.”

This is not because Ernst is stingy, but because East African sisal is indeed very popular. However, East Africa will not refuse if there are more buyers. According to market demand, the planting area can continue to be expanded!

Wayne: “Hahaha, if that’s the case, we will send technicians and purchasing staff to investigate.”

Next, Wayne led Ernst and his party to continue to observe the mechanical equipment in the Swedish Mint.

Wayne: “This printing machine equipment was specially ordered from the United Kingdom. Of course, due to the level of manufacturing, Sweden is still somewhat lacking in this regard, but the design is completely our own, so it can be considered our own brand. Such precision can also be achieved in France and Prussia, but the British quoted the lowest price at the beginning, so we used the design drawings to complete the manufacture of this set of printing equipment in London, and then transported it back to Sweden for debugging.”

Ernst: “Then what level is it equivalent to?”

Wayne: “There is almost nothing more advanced than it, but if you want a set, you will definitely have to modify some of the internal structure, such as the molds, which must be redesigned, after all, each set of banknotes is different, and the anti-counterfeiting technology is also different for each customer. Of course, there are very few such customers now. Many countries are still manufacturing and using coins.”

Wayne’s last sentence hit the nail on the head, which is why Ernst traveled thousands of miles across the sea to Sweden.

If the Austro-Hungarian Empire had mature technology, Ernst would definitely have prioritized cooperation with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire was still using coins as currency and had no experience in this area. In addition, the Hechingen royal family had a good relationship with the Swedish royal family, so he chose Sweden.

As for why he didn’t choose Germany, it was because Germany’s banknote technology was almost the same as that of the Hechingen Bank. The financial bonds issued by the Hechingen Bank were developed by making full use of German technology and talent. Moreover, Germany’s currency system is very complex and has not yet unified its currency. Like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, metal coins are popular. Although many states have banknotes, the entire empire still mainly circulates metal currency. This time, the Hechingen Bank mainly came to learn Sweden’s banknote anti-counterfeiting technology. After all, Swedish banknotes have been used for a long time, and they have accumulated sufficient experience in this area.

As the saying goes, for every foot the devil advances, the priest advances ten. Anti-counterfeiting technology is developed through constant competition. Sweden has been competing for hundreds of years and has encountered problems that some other countries have not encountered.

East Africa does not need to worry too much about anti-counterfeiting technology. After all, most people in East Africa cannot even count to five, let alone such a difficult task as counterfeiting currency.

However, the next currency of East Africa will be different from the financial bonds that only exist in East Africa. It will enter the international community, mainly Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so anti-counterfeiting technology cannot be sloppy.

The Hechingen Bank has also accumulated experience in manufacturing banknotes through the issuance of financial bonds and has its own unique skills, but it has only been two or three years, which is definitely not comparable to countries like Sweden that have developed banknote technology for two or three hundred years. Therefore, this trip to Sweden is to make up for the last shortcoming - experience.

Most of the members of the delegation were technicians from the Hechingen Bank. This time, they came to introduce Sweden’s advanced technology and experience, and then combine it with their own banknote technology to launch the East African Kingdom’s own currency with a strong alliance.

The East African currency project has been established, and the name is “Rhine Shield,” but it is very different from the Rhine Shield currently in circulation in the German region.

First of all, the East African “Rhine Shield” is a banknote, while the European Rhine Shield is a gold and silver coin.

Secondly, the denominations of the East African “Rhine Shield” are one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred, and five hundred (shields).

Shield, like Krona, is a unit, but shield means “gold coin,” while Rhine is the name of the currency.

Finally, the East African “Rhine Shield” will use Constantine’s “beautified portrait” as the front figure pattern. Because Constantine’s hairstyle is really a bit indescribable, Ernst personally decided to use Constantine’s half-length military uniform portrait as a template, so that he could cover his hair with the unique pointed hat of the German armies.

At the same time, the back of the currency will uniformly use Hohenzollern Castle as the pattern, plus the coat of arms and other symbols with the Hohenzollern family’s colors. The anchor is gold, 1 pound is equivalent to 30 East African “Rhine Shields,” and one East African “Rhine Shield” is equal to 0.22 grams of gold. There is no need to worry about gold reserves. East Africa has gold mines in the Great Lakes region, and in the hinterland, development is very safe. At the same time, the Hechingen Bank has built many vaults in Europe.

The currency of East Africa is called “Rhine Shield,” and there is no other name. However, in order to distinguish it from the Rhine Shield circulating in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and other regions internationally, merchants and financial institutions will add the word “East African” in front of it as a qualifier. This situation continued until the Austro-Hungarian Empire stopped producing Rhine Shields at the end of the 19th century, when Rhine Shield became the unique currency name of the East African Kingdom.

Chapter 317: “The Eastern African-Egyptian Border Demarcation Agreement”

March 14, 1871.

On the same day that Ernst visited Sweden, East Africa and Egypt officially signed the “Eastern African Kingdom and Egypt Border Demarcation Agreement,” defining the border between the two countries.

Starting in 1870, the Egyptian Sudan region began to notice a sharp increase in the number of East Africans in the inland areas. Earlier, Khartoum had learned from the Bugandan Grand Prince, who had fled to Sudan, that the Kingdom of Buganda had been destroyed by East Africa.

However, around 1868, after East Africa had completed the integration of the former Kingdom of Buganda, it began to explore the Upper Nile Basin downstream along the Nile River. The Upper Nile Basin has a dense network of waterways and rivers, and the East Africans, traveling in small boats, sailed almost unimpeded along the main stream of the White Nile all the way to the Gezira Plain in Sudan.

At this time, East Africa was still a colony, mainly conducting surveying and statistics of the rivers in Sudan. However, during the Third War of Conquest, East Africa took the opportunity to occupy the entire Upper Nile Basin in order to connect the territory of the Azande Plateau and the Ethiopian Plateau.

It was roughly the entire territory of South Sudan in its previous life. The conquest of South Sudan was simpler than East Africa had anticipated. The Turkana Province and the Great Lakes Province could be reached by boat, and it only took East Africa a little over ten days to open up the entire territory of South Sudan.

Then East Africa officially bordered Egypt. The sudden appearance of East African troops gave Egypt an unexpected surprise.

Egypt was naturally very nervous about the sudden appearance of East Africa, especially in the Khartoum region, which is the core area of Sudan. The Gezira Plain, south of Khartoum, is located between the Blue Nile and the White Nile, nearly 250 kilometers long and more than 120 kilometers wide. The terrain is flat, sloping gently from southeast to northwest, and the soil is deep and fertile, making it the most important irrigated agricultural area in Sudan.

If the Gezira Plain were lost, Egypt’s rule in Sudan would be completely abolished. Although other areas have a larger land area, they are like the deserts on both sides of the Egyptian Nile, belonging to ineffective territory with almost no utilization value.

Therefore, the Egyptian government urgently sent diplomats to the East African-controlled areas to prevent the Eastern African Kingdom from moving north through negotiations. Although Egypt was not necessarily weaker than East Africa in terms of strength, it was naturally a bit timid in the face of Europeans. In addition, Egypt was in conflict with the Abyssinian Empire in the south. In order to avoid fighting on two fronts, Egypt had no choice but to negotiate with East Africa in a low-key manner.

Faced with Egypt’s active request for negotiations, East Africa naturally wanted to get a good deal. Ernst spent a whole day studying the map of the border between the two countries and finally offered a very sincere price.

The negotiation location was in Egypt, in the southernmost river port city on the Nile River—Kosti. Kosti is on the left bank of the White Nile, 260 kilometers from Khartoum. It is a distribution center for cotton, gum arabic, livestock, fish, and grains. It is a hub for water and land transportation, and a major port on the White Nile. Material exchanges between Khartoum, Al-Ubayyid, and Juba all pass through here.

Responsible for signing the agreement were Rahman, a high-ranking official in the Khartoum region of Egypt, and Miles, the temporary envoy of the Eastern African Kingdom to Egypt, and the first envoy to Egypt.

Kosti.

Miles: “Mr. Rahman, this is the final resolution plan of our Eastern African Kingdom for the border between the two countries. If the Egyptian side still cannot accept it, then we can only express our regret.”

Rahman: “?!!!”

Rahman felt threatened, but for the sake of Egypt’s interests, he still suppressed his impulse and took the drawings from Miles’ hand to look at them.

“Mr. Miles, I want to state in advance that the Darfur Sultanate is an independent country and is not under our control in Egypt,” Rahman said speechlessly to Miles.

These East Africans just drew lines randomly without even figuring out the territory of Egypt. How bizarre.

Miles: “Ah! I thought the Darfur region was also under your control! You just said it was the Darfur Sultanate, right!”

Rahman: “Yes, Your Excellency Miles, the Darfur Sultanate has always been an independent country. It just has some trade relations with us and is nominally our vassal state, but it is too far away from us, so we in Egypt cannot make decisions for the Darfur Sultanate.”

Miles nodded and said, “I see. What about the Kordofan region?”

Rahman: “The Kingdom of Kordofan was actually also established by the Fur people. If Your Excellency is interested in Kordofan, we can cooperate. The south belongs to you, but the north belongs to Egypt.”

Unlike the highly independent Darfur Sultanate, the Kingdom of Kordofan was truly a younger brother of Sudan. In fact, when Sudan was still an independent country, it had plotted against Kordofan. The Sudanese kingdom at that time fought against the Abyssinian Empire and the Kingdom of Kordofan for many years.

Miles: “You mean this Kingdom of Kordofan is your vassal state?”

Rahman: “Theoretically, that’s the case, but the Fur people of Kordofan resist us relatively strongly, so we have only occupied part of the territory of the Kingdom of Kordofan.”

Especially the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, which Rahman wanted to throw to East Africa, the Nuba people living there resisted Sudan the most.

Miles didn’t know this. He always thought that the entire north of the Eastern African Kingdom was Sudanese territory. It seemed that he had been delayed by the information provided by the kingdom. Ernst had an inescapable responsibility for this matter.

Miles said, “In that case, since both of these countries are your Egyptian vassal states, you still have some rights. You unilaterally sell them to us, and we in East Africa will solve the rest ourselves.”

Rahman: “Is it according to the map?”

Miles: “That’s right.”

Rahman: “Okay, but we can only hand over the suzerain power of the two regions to you in the name of Egypt. You will have to solve the rest yourselves.”

Rahman didn’t care about the life or death of the Darfur Sultanate and the Kingdom of Kordofan. It was like being generous with other people’s property! But next, Rahman had to argue with the Eastern African Kingdom properly.

Rahman: “Your Excellency, we don’t care about the above two countries, but it’s too much for you to include the southern Gezira Plain into your territory! This has been our Egyptian territory since ancient times.”

Miles: “But when our East African troops went north, there were no residents here, and we didn’t see any resistance from your troops, nor were there any signs indicating that this was Egyptian territory.”

Rahman: “The southern Gezira Plain has always been the default Egyptian territory by all parties. Although we have no troops stationed there, even the Abyssinian Empire would not dare to arbitrarily declare sovereignty over this place.”

Miles: “I see. However, we in East Africa are newcomers and don’t understand. Moreover, this is not our responsibility. If you Egyptians had put up a few road signs there, there wouldn’t have been this misunderstanding.”

Misunderstandings did not exist. The Eastern African Kingdom was forcing Egypt to make concessions in other areas by occupying the southern Gezira Plain.

The importance of the Gezira Plain to the Sudan region is equivalent to the importance of the land along the Nile River to Egypt.

Rahman: “Since that’s the case, now that our misunderstanding has been resolved, can your country withdraw from the southern Gezira Plain?”

Miles: “Of course, but in order to ensure the safety of the Nile River waterway, we must retain some land in the western region.”

Rahman: “This…”

Miles: “We don’t ask for much, mainly along the White Nile. We are not greedy for the Blue Nile.”

Then Miles took out a pen and drew a north-south line on the original southern Gezira Plain in front of Rahman.

Miles: “Most of the eastern region still belongs to you. We only want this small piece in the west.”

Seeing that Miles only wanted a small area, Rahman finally breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay, that’s reasonable.”

Miles: “Then sign it! There will be no conflicts of interest between the two sides in the future.”

So, Rahman signed his name on the agreement, but he didn’t know that this agreement also completely announced that the oil resources in the Sudan region were almost saying goodbye to Egypt.

Roughly ninety-nine percent of the oil fields were all划入into the Eastern African Kingdom’s area, truly only leaving a drop of soup for Egypt in the future.

According to the agreement: the Nuba Mountains south of the Sudanese city of Al-Ubayyid are the boundary. The area south of it, including the Nuba Mountains, belongs to East Africa, and the area north of it belongs to Egypt.

According to the agreement, the southern Kordofan Plateau and the southern Darfur Plateau, and parts of the southwestern Gezira Plain were划入into the Eastern African Kingdom.

That is to say, the three regions of South Kordofan State, East Darfur State, and South Darfur State in northern Sudan in its previous life were all划入into East Africa, and parts of southwestern Blue Nile State were划入into East Africa.

Except for the southwestern Gezira Plain, which truly belonged to Egypt, the remaining land was in the hands of the Darfur Sultanate and the Kingdom of Kordofan respectively. East Africa still had to conquer these two countries.

But by excluding Egypt, the strongest country in the region, in advance, without Egyptian intervention, it was not difficult for East Africa to敲打beat down the Darfur Sultanate and the Kingdom of Kordofan.

Chapter 318: Juba Town

March is the dry season in South Sudan. The scorching weather bakes the land of Juba Town (formerly Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to distinguish it from Juba Province in Somalia).

Juba Town is a small village on the west bank of the White Nile, and also the most “prosperous” area in South Sudan at present. It used to be a stronghold for the Ottoman Empire to spread religion and hunt slaves. Later, the Ottoman Empire withdrew due to Egypt, that rebellious vassal. Slowly, the area became inhabited by natives. Before the natives could enjoy a few good days, the East Africans arrived.

At this time, Andre, the mayor of Juba Town, was hiding in the shade of a tree, desperately fanning himself, trying to cool down.

Andre said to Levens, the military commander of Juba Town, “This place isn’t too far from Great Lakes Province, but I didn’t expect the weather to be so hot. It’s practically killing people!”

Levens: “Don’t worry, in a little over a month, the rainy season will arrive here, and it will be cooler then.”

Although he said so, Levens knew in his heart that this was just a comforting remark. Even during the rainy season, the temperature in South Sudan would not improve much.

The climate of South Sudan is simply excellent compared to neighboring North Sudan. Although it is close to the Sahara Desert, more than ninety-five percent of South Sudan’s land is humid and semi-humid. However, due to its low altitude, it is hotter here than the East African highlands, even hotter than the East African coast. During the hottest times, the daytime temperature often breaks forty degrees Celsius, and it is humid heat, a stark contrast to the dry heat of the Sahara Desert.

Levens continued, “Now we’re lying here, not doing much work every day, just directing the black slaves to work. What more could you want? This is much better than being an ordinary villager in Great Lakes Province.”

Andre: “I fought for this mayor position myself. Besides, I reckon I’m the worst-off mayor in all of East Africa. If you take away the hundred or so soldiers under your command, our town probably can’t even match the population of a single village in the east.”

Levens: “Heh, don’t be ungrateful. You probably saw the immigration team that passed through here a few days ago. There were only forty-odd people in their group, even fewer than we have here. If nothing unexpected happens, they will eventually be under your leadership!”

The immigrants Levens was talking about were headed to an area about forty kilometers west of Juba Town. Unlike Juba Town, which was a remnant stronghold of the Ottoman Empire, that place was simply a native village, so it would most likely be developed into a village.

Andre: “Forty or fifty kilometers away, it takes at least two or three days just to send a message. So, they’re on their own.”

While the two were chatting, black natives, under the guns of East African soldiers, had cleared another batch of vegetation, basically felling trees and weeds with stone tools.

Under this inefficient productivity, the development of Juba Town was progressing extremely slowly. So far, it was still in the land preparation stage, relying on more than two thousand slaves captured from the local area, slowly clearing vegetation and picking up stones from the fields.

With the continuous labor of the slaves day and night, the scale of arable land in Juba Town was now more than six times larger than when East Africa first took over the area. The natives had also been replaced several times to achieve today’s results.

The slaves piled the stones to one side. As for the trees and weeds, they were gathered together after clearing, and then, after two or three days of exposure to the sun, the East Africans would set them on fire. After the thick smoke cleared, a large amount of ash was left behind, and the East African immigrants would then spread the ash into the fields.

While the natives were developing the land, they could also drive away the animals living here in advance, especially snakes, clearing obstacles for the East African immigrants’ subsequent agricultural production and ensuring the safety of the East Africans.

The land reclamation in South Sudan revealed a strong primitive style. It was true “slash-and-burn” agriculture. Because of the lack of sufficient iron tools, the land reclamation in South Sudan could only rely on slaves. Local slaves were almost inexhaustible. Every once in a while, the East African Army would go out for a period of time, following the Nile River to capture a new batch of slaves to replenish the losses.

Only East African immigrants could use iron tools for work. The supply of ironware was currently prioritized for the Zambia and Zimbabwe regions in southern East Africa, so the South Sudanese blacks could only suffer for now.

Andre: “We need to open up another seven hundred acres of land before the rainy season arrives, otherwise it will be difficult to manage when the rain comes. So, we still need to work overtime to complete the project in the next month.”

Just as Andre was planning the next work tasks for Juba Town, a black man who had been working for five hours under the scorching sun of more than thirty degrees Celsius suddenly blacked out and fell into the field.

The East African soldiers went forward to check. He was still breathing, probably suffering from heatstroke. Then they dragged him to a nearby puddle to cool him down. The East African soldiers were already used to such scenes.

Abundant rainfall and water from the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) created large areas of wetlands, swamps, and forests in the upper reaches of the White Nile.

Obviously, such a climate environment in South Sudan, coupled with sufficient water sources, was most suitable for rice cultivation, meeting all the conditions for rice cultivation.

Of course, the premise was to develop the land, and this step was the most difficult. If South Sudan were located in East Asia, it might have been developed long ago.

But this was Africa. For thousands of years, the local natives had not developed an agricultural civilization. Instead, Sudan and Egypt in the neighboring Sahara Desert, as well as the Abyssinians on the plateau, had unlocked the agricultural technology tree.

And the agricultural conditions in South Sudan were clearly the best among these places, but the locals only knew how to be nomadic, wasting water, heat, and land resources.

Especially in the past, South Sudan needed to import fruits and vegetables, which was simply a disgrace among African countries. It was understandable if the efficiency of food crop cultivation was not good, but it was shocking that fruits and vegetables also needed to be imported.

Now, South Sudan’s forests are full of wild fruits of all kinds, more than can be eaten, but in the twenty-first century, they needed to be imported.

The inefficient agricultural development model doomed South Sudan to not develop in the past, or rather, the love of laziness and aversion to work made South Sudan have a treasure mountain but waste it. Various armed groups fought fiercely for oil fields, and then they could sit back and collect money from foreigners.

But this money was directly spent on buying food, weapons, and luxury goods. South Sudan’s hydropower, infrastructure, and roads made no progress at all. South Sudan, an oil-producing country, was among the worst-off poor countries in Africa. And South Sudan not only had oil, but also abundant other resources.

To be honest, South Sudan complained every day when it had not separated from Sudan, saying that the exploitation by the northern Arabs caused South Sudan to not develop. As a result, after independence, it was busy fighting almost every day, more chaotic than neighboring Sudan, and the living standards of ordinary people were even worse than before independence.

In Africa, the only place that could be compared to South Sudan was Somalia, which was plagued by warlord conflicts. Now it could basically be determined that the two countries that were rated as failed states by the international community in the past would no longer exist, which could be considered a good thing done by East Africa.

Chapter 319: Headquarters Relocation

In places like South Sudan, the East African government’s plan is to first scatter some people to ensure it remains under East African control. As for land development, they’ll take it step by step, slowly depleting resources using a large number of laborers. South Sudan can be considered the most difficult area to develop within East African territory, aside from the tropical rainforest climate, so for now, it’s being set aside, with a focus on developing other regions.

…

March 21, 1871.

Sweden.

After several days of investigation, Hechengen Bank finally reached an agreement with the Swedish Bank. Hechengen Bank invested heavily to purchase a complete set of printing equipment and related technologies from the Swedish Bank.

After supplementing anti-counterfeiting measures and other technologies, Hechengen Bank will assemble and produce the first set of East African Kingdom currency in Mbeya.

Along with the birth of East Africa’s first currency, the following changes will also occur: Hechengen Bank’s headquarters will move to Dar es Salaam, and the East African Central Bank will be established in First Town. To this end, upon returning to Germany, Ernst held a high-level meeting in Berlin, the current location of Hechengen Bank’s headquarters, to discuss the relocation of the bank’s headquarters.

Ernst: “Today! I want to emphasize that the headquarters relocation is a must. The Hechengen Consortium itself is a multinational group. Although the conditions in East Africa may be slightly worse than in Germany and Austria-Hungary, it is the power base of the Hechengen royal family. Also, I myself will be going to East Africa soon, so for the future and development of the bank, the headquarters must go to East Africa with me.”

As Ernst expected, many people looked distressed when he made this decision.

So, Ernst continued, “This matter is closely related to you, so you can raise any opinions you have. Davis, I think you seem to have the most opinions, so let’s start with your views!”

Davis, having been singled out, had no choice but to say, “Your Highness, I personally oppose the relocation of the headquarters. You must know that the scale of Hechengen Bank is such that one move affects the whole body, let alone the headquarters, which is the brain. Just the relocation of data and information is a difficult task.”

Ernst affirmed, “You’re right, the headquarters is the brain of the bank. It is precisely because of its importance that it must be in a safer environment, and I believe East Africa is that safer environment. Don’t you think?”

For Ernst, East Africa was definitely safe. The nearly two hundred thousand army in East Africa was the source of his confidence, and most importantly, they all obeyed the Hechengen royal family.

“As for the impact on work progress and the relocation of data and information, it is indeed a bit difficult, so I will give you time to prepare. The time limit is one year, which is enough for you to sort out all the data that needs to be moved. At the same time, to avoid too much workload, we will design two sub-centers in Berlin and Vienna to share the work of the headquarters, mainly delegating some European business. The headquarters will mainly be responsible for command and decision-making.” Ernst continued.

Davis: “Your Highness, if the headquarters moves to East Africa, how can we ensure smooth communication? Commercial information is the most important thing for us, and I’m afraid it will be more troublesome in East Africa!”

Ernst: “Don’t worry about this. East Africa’s information network is not backward. It is connected to the entire European telegraph network. Moreover, while Hechengen Bank’s headquarters is moving to East Africa, we will separately build a dedicated submarine telegraph line to facilitate communication between the bank’s headquarters and its various European subsidiaries.”

The telegraph network from East Africa to Europe is actually in a state of overcapacity, because there is almost no civilian use, and it will not crowd the lines, so even without laying new submarine cables, the East African telegraph lines are sufficient for Hechengen Bank’s headquarters to use.

Technical Director Mars: “Your Highness, it doesn’t really matter to me where I work, but many of us have families in Germany, so…”

Ernst: “This problem is easy to solve. First of all, everyone who goes to East Africa will be issued citizenship by the East African government, and will also be provided with a free house. You can choose to bring your family to live there. If you want to leave your family in Europe, you can, it’s entirely up to you. In addition to your salary, you will receive a monthly meal allowance and free medical insurance.”

Mars: “Your Highness, how will the education problem be solved! I have three sons, so education is something I value more.”

Ernst promised, “Around the new headquarters, we will hire famous European teachers to establish special schools for employees’ children, including elementary and middle schools. As for university, that’s up to you, after all, your children can live independently when they are in university, so you can rest assured!”

“Your Highness, I heard that the weather in Africa is very hot…”

“That’s a generalization. Many places in East Africa are cooler than Europe, and the climate is pleasant all year round, very livable. Don’t worry about this.”

“Mosquitoes and diseases…”

“A comprehensive medical system for employees will be established. We will build the best hospital in East Africa around the new headquarters, hiring European doctors, so you don’t have to worry about this. As for mosquitoes, they are rare in East African cities. Even if there are any, you can get through it by relying on mosquito coils and mosquito nets.”

In addition to building a Western hospital, a traditional Chinese medicine hospital will also be built, but Ernst believes that the employees will prefer the Western hospital, even if Western medicine is currently very unreliable, but Europeans are into this.

As for the mosquito problem, it is still rare in East African cities. The East African government regularly eliminates mosquito breeding environments, so there is not too much to worry about. As for any stragglers, relying on mosquito repellent methods such as mosquito coils is perfectly fine.

“Your Highness, one last question, we would prefer to be able to return to Europe from time to time.”

“No problem, I will arrange dedicated ships to make it easy for you to return to Europe at any time for family visits, business trips, and other private matters.”

The vast majority of Hechengen Bank employees are unwilling to work in East Africa, so East Africa must ensure that these employees maintain contact with Europe, so as to appease their emotions and continue to create value for the Hechengen royal family.

Ernst: “Okay, it seems you don’t have any more objections to moving the headquarters to East Africa?”

Ernst has proposed solutions based on the needs of the employees. Although working in East Africa is a bit remote, they have won a lot of benefits, so no one objects anymore.

Ernst: “Very good, then this matter is settled. Next, let’s discuss the issue of where to set up the headquarters. I have information on the cities with the best conditions in East Africa for your reference. Take a look, and the city with the most support will be the new headquarters of Hechengen Bank in the future.”

The cities Ernst gave were Mombasa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, First Town, Bagamoyo, and Mbeya. Finally, after heated discussions among the employees, Nairobi won with its most favorable climatic conditions.

Even in the hottest months, the temperature in Nairobi does not exceed thirty degrees Celsius, and is generally around twenty degrees Celsius. Twenty-nine degrees Celsius is considered hot, and at other times it is only ten degrees Celsius. Although the transportation here may be a bit poor, this temperature and climate are simply heaven for Hechengen Bank employees. After all, the summer temperature in Berlin can easily exceed thirty degrees Celsius, and a fireplace is needed for heating in winter, which is a bit extreme for Hechengen Bank employees. So choosing Nairobi is no problem, the infrastructure there is relatively complete, and there are many Germans and Italians living there, so there is no need to worry about any inconveniences in life.

They really overthought it. East Africans have their own unique living habits. To sum it up, the government has as many rules as hairs on a cow, but most of the Hechengen Bank employees are highly educated and of high quality. Many of the rules set by the East African government may just be their daily habits, so they may be more accustomed to the East African way of life.

Chapter 320: Double Standards

The Black Herington Bank is the most central component of the Black Herington Consortium, or rather, its backbone. Many of its large subsidiaries are branches extending from this backbone, surrounded by numerous leaves, including the business partners, raw material suppliers, sales terminals, and small companies and enterprises invested in by the Black Herington Bank. The headquarters of the Black Herington Bank is the brain of the consortium.

It’s definitely impossible to move the main body of the consortium to East Africa. Currently, East Africa cannot support the development of such a world-class consortium. However, the bank headquarters can be moved to East African territory first. As long as communication is smooth, it can continue to direct the operation of the entire consortium.

……

Ernst: “Let’s settle this matter first. Next! We’ll discuss the second matter, regarding the textile industry. This sector is managed by Kleissen, right?”

Kleissen: “Yes, Your Highness.”

Ernst: “Tell everyone about the situation of the textile industry last year and this year.”

Kleissen: “No problem, Your Highness. The development of the textile industry is excellent this year, especially with the outbreak of war last year, which created a large wave of production capacity. We received a large number of orders in Germany and Austria-Hungary. Especially the abundant and cheap labor in the Far East and the high efficiency of the new factories have allowed us to share the pressure of European factories, and we were among the first in the industry to free up machines and workers to ensure a continuous and stable supply of military orders.

The military has always been the best customer. Germany alone expanded its army by a million troops in the North German region last year, while before that, the size of the North German Federal Army was about six hundred thousand. In the Italo-Austrian War, Austria also recruited two hundred thousand troops from the rear in the later stages of the war. Adding in the South German states at the time, the Franco-Prussian War and the Italo-Austrian War, these two wars contributed nearly a million military personnel to the market. And a soldier needs more than one set of clothes for changes, plus these two wars almost spanned from summer to winter, so the supply of winter clothing was extremely large. However, in the later stages of the war, the production capacity of other competitor factories also increased, which diverted some orders from our subsidiaries and invested factories.

We made a fortune relying on low production costs, sufficient production capacity, and first-mover advantage in military uniforms alone.

And everyone needs to pay attention, in addition to military uniforms, we have also profited greatly from related products such as bedding, sheets, backpacks, and military boots. Of course, compared to our best financial and investment businesses, it’s still far behind.”

The last sentence is basically nonsense. The Black Herington Bank’s best business is definitely finance. Plus, it ate up nearly a third of the benefits from the Franco-Prussian War and the Italo-Austrian War, and the profits were astronomical, almost tripling the size of the Black Herington Consortium compared to before the war.

Ernst concluded: “The textile industry is a highly profitable industry. Currently, the consortium’s textile industry can be divided into two major categories according to equity. The first category is our wholly-owned enterprises and factories, and the second category is textile enterprises invested in the United States and Europe (mainly the bank obtains profits through loans). I won’t discuss the second category for now. We’ll mainly talk about our own enterprises.

Currently, the textile industry is mainly concentrated in the Black Herington Daily Necessities Company, and is managed by the Black Herington Daily Necessities Company on our behalf. This is the same as the food processing industry in the beginning. The size of the textile industry has now reached the conditions for independent operation, so for the convenience of management, I have decided to separate the textile industry from the Black Herington Daily Necessities Company and establish a new textile industry group, making it a subordinate enterprise directly led by the Black Herington Bank. What are your thoughts?”

Their thoughts were that they had no thoughts. Everyone unanimously supported the boss’s decision. The textile industry should have been separated from the Black Herington Daily Necessities Company long ago.

From the time the Far East textile factory was built, the production capacity of the Black Herington Consortium’s textile industry reached a first-class level. Coupled with the Nairobi textile factory currently under construction, the Black Herington Consortium occupies a considerable voice in the world textile industry.

Second only to the four major Far East countries of Britain, the United States, France, and the Far East, ranking fifth in the world. The previous fifth in the world was the Kingdom of Italy, but the textile industry of the Kingdom of Italy suffered heavy losses in the war, losing Venice and some industrially developed areas such as Lombardy, as well as the domestic market of Naples.

The reason for comparing with countries is that the Black Herington Consortium itself exclusively occupies the textile market of the Kingdom of East Africa, and at the same time occupies a certain market share in the textile industries of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, and other countries.

As for the four major Far East countries of Britain, the United States, France, and the Far East, they themselves are huge in size, with large populations, and at the same time possess huge raw material supply areas.

The most typical is the United States. The scale of the Southern cotton plantations is huge, and after combining with the industry in the North, the local production capacity has increased rapidly.

There is nothing to say about Britain. Holding the trump card of India is enough. France is also an old-fashioned power, and Napoleon III is also good at developing the economy, so the size of the textile industry is firmly in the top five in the world.

The Far East is huge in size, and it can reach the top few in the world just by relying on handicrafts. In addition, its coastal areas have been improving in efficiency in recent years due to the Westernization Movement and the construction of a large number of government-run factories. However, due to the government-run nature, the management is relatively rigid, and the equipment is updated far less than the British, French, and East African factories that invested in China during the same period.

Currently, the largest and most advanced in the Far East is the Jiaozhou Textile Factory, and the Jiaozhou Textile Factory is considered an East African industry. After all, the East African Consulate in Jiaozhou comes forward to negotiate with local officials in Jiaozhou.

In addition to the above countries, Belgium, as well as the rapidly developing Japan, Austria-Hungary and Germany, and Tsarist Russia are also relatively strong in the textile industry. However, the textile industries of Austria-Hungary and Germany have a lot of overlap with the textile industry under the Black Herington Consortium.

In short, the world as a whole is in extreme prosperity in 1871. Even Paraguay, a country almost destroyed by war, is recovering with the support of a steady stream of Italian immigrants.

The Kingdom of Italy and France are relatively miserable, but compared to the Kingdom of Italy’s current national mess, although northern France suffered huge losses due to the defeat, the south, led by Marseille, developed well.

Northern France will not be stable next. Just as Ernst was holding a meeting, the citizens of Paris, as an old district, are about to lead the world again. Today is March 21st, and there are seven days left.

Of course, Ernst knew the significance of this movement, but he didn’t take it to heart. It’s like African natives suddenly being pulled from primitive society into capitalist society. They can’t run capitalism well. Instead, a slave kingdom society is more suitable for the current African natives. It’s a kind of progress to first understand the slave kingdom. A feudal kingdom is too advanced for African natives. Suddenly being pulled into capitalist society by colonists will inevitably distort the scriptures and turn it into African-style tribal capitalism.

East Africa does the same. It never transforms African tribes and kingdoms. If they are destroyed, they are destroyed. If they are not destroyed, they go to West Africa to continue to maintain the status quo. It is naturally best to cooperate with East Africa. As long as you pay for weapons and industrial products, it doesn’t matter whether you are a tribe, slave owner, king, or just a village chief.

In a word, East Africa does not interfere in the internal affairs of the natives. Those who should be slave owners continue to be slave owners, those who should be chiefs continue to be chiefs, and those who should be kings continue to be kings, provided that they cannot be hostile to East Africa or conflict with East African interests.

Well, thinking about it this way, the natives around East Africa are indeed a bit difficult, it all depends on the conscience of the Kingdom of East Africa, but from the moment Ernst engaged in colonial activities, he indicated that he did not have such a thing.

Chapter 321: Kitui Coal Mine

Nairobi City.

After months of transshipment, the machinery transported from the Venice area was finally reassembled, and as the boiler was ignited, the roar of the machines echoed in Nairobi City.

The Austrian business delegation that had come to East Africa stopped in Mombasa, temporarily uninterested in inland development. However, a very few adventurous merchants were willing to go further inland to Nairobi and Kisumu to complete their inspection tasks.

Therefore, they chose to leave the delegation and, after discussing with the East African government, were accompanied by officials from Nairobi and Kisumu to complete their inspection tasks.

The Austrian businessman, Ramoscato, was very interested in Nairobi City, the textile city planned and under construction in East Africa.

Nairobi City Mayor Valejo: “Mr. Ramoscato, you see, we didn’t lie to you! Nairobi City can develop in a very short time. Now, Nairobi has completed its initial industrialization. This is the textile industrial park built by Hechingen Daily Necessities Company. More than five thousand people have already started working in the textile industry. After more machinery and equipment arrive, Nairobi’s textile industry will be further improved, and the number of textile workers will also increase.”

Currently, the textile sector has not yet been separated from Hechingen Daily Necessities Company, so the investment is completed by Hechingen Daily Necessities Company.

Ramoscato: “Yes! Your efficiency in East Africa is indeed very high, but I would like to know how you guarantee the energy supply for the industrial development of this city.”

This is particularly important for Ramoscato. East Africa certainly has the ability to develop the textile industry, but he needs to carefully examine the cost. Ramoscato doesn’t know much about East Africa, so he needs to obtain effective information from the East African government.

Valejo: “You don’t have to worry about that. Currently, Nairobi’s energy supply mainly relies on coal resources from Mbeya City. The transportation cost is indeed relatively high, but according to information from the central government, we have recently discovered a coal mine near Kitui Town, between Nairobi East and Mombasa. Preliminary exploration shows that the reserves are on the scale of one million tons, which is enough to guarantee the energy needs of Nairobi and Mombasa.”

The coal mine near Kitui is definitely more than just that. The reserves already proven by the geological exploration personnel hired by East Africa are over forty million tons, but the Kitui area still has considerable potential, and it is predicted that its coal reserves will exceed the scale of one hundred million tons. Not only coal resources, but as East Africa increases investment in the Northern Industrial Belt and the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, more and more resources are being discovered. In southeastern Kenya, south of Kitui, the East African government has discovered iron ore, and its reserves are currently being estimated.

Kitui is just in the middle of Mombasa and Nairobi, closer to Nairobi, and will give priority to supplying the Nairobi area. As for Mombasa, it will choose to import some coal resources from British Indian colonies and the Middle East by sea.

Ramoscato: “Then when we came, why didn’t we see that Kitui Town on the road?”

Ramoscato took a carriage all the way from Mombasa to Nairobi, and didn’t find any towns in between.

Valejo: “The coal mine in Kitui Town was only discovered recently, so Kitui Town is not large in scale and still maintains the scale of the original village. Because coal resources were discovered, it was exceptionally promoted to a township a month ago. Plus, the road you took is south of Kitui Town, some distance away from Kitui Town, which is why you didn’t see it.”

Ramoscato: “Well, can I go and take a look?”

Ramoscato still needs to go to Kitui Town to confirm it in person. Whether there is coal or not, it will be clear at a glance if you go to the local area to see if there are any mines.

Valejo: “Of course you can, but it takes three days to travel from Nairobi to Kitui Town, which is a hundred kilometers away. The conditions there are currently relatively poor, so you should consider it carefully first.”

Ramoscato: “It doesn’t matter. For me, it’s better to personally confirm anything about myself, otherwise I won’t be able to sleep at night.”

Since Ramoscato said so, Valejo didn’t try to persuade him anymore. He was just worried that Ramoscato wouldn’t be able to adapt to the environment of Kitui Town. Although it was said to have been upgraded from a village to a town, Kitui was only temporarily established as a village before. Kitui is a relatively water-scarce place, so initially there were only a dozen herding families. East Africa developed it very late, and local conditions were very poor.

Valejo: “Okay then, but this matter should be considered after you have inspected Nairobi City. At that time, we will send someone to take you to see the situation in Kitui Town.”

Next, Valejo took Ramoscato to continue wandering around the Nairobi urban area. The Nairobi urban area is not large, mainly divided into three parts: a West District, an East District, and a Textile Industrial Park.

The first two are residential areas. The East District is the earliest place of residence for Nairobi immigrants, while the West District is the residence of new immigrants.

The population structure of the East District is relatively balanced, while the West District reveals a strong Italian lifestyle. Obviously, the residents of the water city have not yet adapted to this East African inland plateau life.

Venice has heavy humidity, while Nairobi is dry. Because the atmosphere is relatively thin, the sunshine is also relatively bright.

Ramoscato was obviously more curious about the West District than the East District. As a native-born Austrian, it was not the first time he had seen so many Italians. He had been to Trieste, where there were many Italian residents, also living with Germans, but there were not so many Orientals. The West District combines the three major characteristics of Germany, Italy, and the Orient.

Ramoscato asked curiously: “How many Germans are there in the West District?”

Valejo: “We have about seven thousand Germans, more than forty thousand Italians, and more than thirty thousand Orientals.”

This data is definitely problematic, because all ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian Empire who immigrate to East Africa will be counted as Germans, so the real number of Germans that Ramoscato thinks should be around two thousand. However, Valejo will not reveal this to him.

Ramoscato, unaware of the truth, continued to ask: “Most of the German residents should be from Austria, right!”

Valejo: “Yes, mainly from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and a considerable number are from the Saar and Lorraine regions of Germany.”

Ramoscato: “You have indeed done a good job in immigration. When I was inspecting rural areas in Austria and Hungary, I saw many organizations recruiting immigrants to East Africa. So, over the years, how many immigrants have you East Africans recruited in the Austro-Hungarian Empire?”

Valejo shook his head and said: “I don’t know, I’m just a small mayor and don’t know the overall data of the kingdom. But according to the situation in Nairobi, I would say that the number of immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire is conservatively over five hundred thousand, not counting German immigrants.”

Just as Valejo said, he was not clear about the overall immigration data of the kingdom, so the estimated number of immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire was too conservative. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, as the second largest source of immigrants to the East African kingdom after the Far East, had long exceeded one million in number, and the number of German immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire was second only to the South German states.

Chapter 322: Inspecting the City of Dodoma

After a preliminary investigation, Ramoscato felt that Nairobi had good potential. According to his ideas, perhaps he could develop some businesses other than textiles here. Of course, it would be even better if it was determined that there was a coal mine in Kitui. The most important thing was that, apart from the East African government, Nairobi had no competitors of its own. Most of his colleagues were crowded in Mombasa.

…

On March 28th, the dissatisfaction of the citizens of Paris erupted. The armed citizens of Paris seized control of Paris, determined to draw a clear line with the traitorous French government. On the same day, King Constantine of East Africa began his inspection of the inland city of Dodoma.

As the capital of Tanzania in his previous life, Dodoma’s position in East Africa can be summarized as “a transportation hub and a strategic location for military strategists.” Conversely, it was just ordinary, with nothing to brag about.

The truth was also true. Even in his previous life as the capital of Tanzania, Dodoma could not compete with Dar es Salaam. The president spent more time in Dar es Salaam than in Dodoma, and many government agencies were unwilling to move to Dodoma. The nominal capital of Dodoma was more like a satellite city of Dar es Salaam.

The reason why Dodoma was able to become the capital of Tanzania was that it was located in the geometric center of Tanzanian territory. However, the geometric center of the East African Kingdom’s territory was now in Mbeya. Dodoma’s position in East Africa was as a transportation hub, but there were far more transportation hubs of the same level as Dodoma in East Africa than just Dodoma.

Currently, Dodoma serves as the capital of the Plateau Province and is also the agricultural trade and commodity distribution center of the Plateau Province. The Plateau Province mainly develops agriculture and animal husbandry, and has a population of only twenty thousand people (excluding natives). Among the earliest developed cities in East Africa, its development is not outstanding.

The local average annual rainfall is between four hundred and six hundred millimeters, which is a low-lying area for rainfall on the East African plateau. The rainfall in the southeast, northwest, and all directions is higher than here.

Therefore, the savanna climate is very obvious, and animal husbandry is relatively developed. The main crops are drought-resistant crops such as wheat, corn, sesame, potatoes, and cotton.

The reason why Constantine came to Dodoma for inspection was mainly to feel the difference between the inland plateau climate zone of East Africa and the coastal areas.

After arriving in Dodoma, Constantine and his party did not rush to the city, but observed the local agricultural development accompanied by local officials.

Constantine: “Compared with First Town, Dodoma is indeed cooler in climate. Is this the case in all plateau areas of East Africa?”

Swete: “Yes, Your Majesty. I have been to many areas in East Africa. All plateau areas have this climate. However, Dodoma has far less rainfall than other plateau areas, which is also a shortcoming of Dodoma’s agricultural development.”

Goodrian, a senior official of the Plateau Province, added: “Although the rainfall is low, this has also created a difference between Dodoma and the entire Plateau Province and other agricultural areas in East Africa. The cool and dry weather has made the Plateau Province the largest potato producing province in the country. At the same time, the quality of crops such as wheat in the Plateau Province is also relatively excellent. The animal husbandry in the Plateau Province is also the most developed area in East Africa.”

Senior official Goodrian was quite experienced in planting potatoes. Goodrian came from the rural area of Lower Saxony in Germany, which is also one of the main potato producing areas in Germany.

Regarding animal husbandry, the Plateau Province has obvious advantages. Although the area cannot be compared with the pastures in northern East Africa, the rainfall conditions are generally better than the northern pastures (mainly Eastern Province, Turkana Province, and Juba Province). It is also stronger than the northern pastures in terms of national livestock output. However, the northern pastures have more advantages in meat exports. Relying on Mombasa and Kismayu ports, they can easily export to consumer areas such as Europe and the Middle East with the help of maritime transportation.

Constantine: “The climate here is indeed very similar to that of the Prussian region.”

Goodrian: “Yes, Your Majesty. The average annual temperature in Lower Saxony and the Plateau is around 17 degrees Celsius. However, the Plateau Province is more balanced. There is no winter or summer here, and the temperature does not change much throughout the year. However, the daily temperature difference is greater than that of Lower Saxony. The rainfall of the two is similar, but the Lower Saxony region is more balanced than the Plateau Province.”

Constantine: “So the problem of precipitation cannot be ignored. The precipitation in East Africa is inherently more unstable than in Germany, and the water conservancy facilities are far behind. To further improve the agricultural production conditions in East Africa, we must build water conservancy projects.”

Swete: “We have been actively promoting this. Infrastructure construction is one of the government’s most concerned issues every year. Almost whenever we have time, we will organize slaves from various places to build canals and farmland irrigation systems.”

Constantine: “Yes, in addition, we must dig more reservoirs to store the rainfall during the rainy season to ensure agricultural and domestic water use during the dry season.”

Swete: “Your Majesty, this is a huge project, and there are currently technical problems. We can only rely on manpower to complete it bit by bit.”

Constantine: “There is no need to rush this matter. Generations of people will do it, and there will always be a day when it can be completed.”

After observing the local agricultural development, the group entered the city of Dodoma.

The scale here is much smaller than that of First Town, and the buildings and roads are also relatively backward, but it still maintains the clean and tidy characteristics of East African cities. Even though many roads are still gravel roads, they are very flat, and there are no dead branches or leaves in the drainage ditches on both sides, which shows that there are people who clean them regularly.

Goodrian: “Dodoma connects Central Province, Mbeya, Kigoma, Mwanza, and Arusha. The transportation is convenient and fast. Except for the road to Arusha, which is under construction, the road conditions to other areas are good.”

The road from Dodoma to Arusha only started construction at the end of last year, mainly because the capital of Kilimanjaro Province (formerly Northern Plateau Province) in the northern part of the Plateau Province changed from Karatu to Arusha.

Constantine: “Dodoma is very important as one of the transportation hubs in the Tanganyika region. Your Plateau Province must always ensure the smooth flow of the main roads in the province.”

Goodrian: “Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured about this. We organize personnel to inspect the roads every day.”

Afterwards, Constantine visited ordinary residents’ homes in Dodoma. As an agricultural trade and commodity distribution center, most of the citizens of Dodoma rely on this for employment.

Agricultural products from the Plateau Province and the more inland Hohenzollern Province are transshipped here, and then transported to Dar es Salaam for export.

Kilimanjaro Province in the north relies on Tanga Port, and most of the provinces further north rely on Mombasa Port. Among them, the provinces along the Great Lakes first concentrate their agricultural products in Kisumu through lake transportation, then pass through Nairobi, and finally export them in Mombasa.

In the south, including areas such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, the products are transshipped in Karonga in South Salzburg, then transported through Lake Malawi to Sea Lake Province, and finally reach Mtwara Port for export via the Rufuma River.

Many of East Africa’s major trade routes do not pass through Dodoma, which is why Dodoma is said to be a transportation hub, but not a very important one.

Chapter 323: The Great Ndebele Uprising

Constantine’s inspection of Dodoma, aside from his curiosity about the East African plateau, was also motivated by the need to supervise local work. However, Constantine’s leisurely inspection in Dodoma did not last long.

April 2nd, 1871.

A telegram from Lusaka reached Constantine, informing him that the natives of the Matabeleland Plateau had launched an uprising against the rule of the East African Kingdom.

After reading the telegram, Constantine’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth and said to Schwitt: “It seems we have been too lenient with the natives of the Matabeleland Plateau. After suppressing this rebellion, we must let the local Ndebele people know what true colonialism is!”

Generally speaking, the East African Kingdom rarely paid much attention to black people’s resistance. Most natives, armed with extremely primitive weapons, could hardly inflict any casualties on the East African army. Even if there were resistance movements, they were only small-scale. However, the Matabeleland uprising was different. It could almost be said that the entire Matabeleland Plateau (roughly the entire territory of Zimbabwe in the previous life) was in rebellion, and the main force behind the rebellion was the Ndebele people.

The Ndebele people are a branch of the Zulu people. They are not native residents of Zimbabwe, but rather foreigners who entered Zimbabwe after 1837 and enslaved the local natives.

They originally lived in the Zulu Kingdom, and their leader was Mzilikazi, a general under the Zulu King Shaka. Around 1822, when Mzilikazi led his army on a northern expedition, he broke away from Shaka due to disagreements. He led his troops to the Transvaal, conquering various Sotho and Tswana tribes along the way.

From 1836 to 1837, due to attacks by the Boers, they were eventually forced to leave the Transvaal. The Ndebele people crossed the Limpopo River, conquered the Shona people, occupied the vast area between the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers, established the Matabele Kingdom, and established their capital in Bulawayo.

Therefore, the state established by the Ndebele people, like Prussia, relied on the military to rise to power. Its ruling class, like the Junkers of Prussia, were military aristocrats, and its social organization was also divided according to military needs.

Men were divided into four categories. The first category, called “amatitshi,” were young boys who had not reached the age of conscription. They herded livestock and received preliminary military training. The second category, called “amajaha,” were unmarried warriors. Warriors had to perform meritorious service in battle in order to marry. The third category, called “amantutu,” were married warriors. The fourth category, called “induna,” were military officers.

The social structure of the Ndebele people destined them to have a very strong martial spirit, and the Ndebele people had also fought against the Boers and the Portuguese, and were not the kind of uncivilized natives.

The reason why East Africa was able to quickly seize the Matabeleland Plateau was that it seized an opportunity. In 1868, the first leader of the Ndebele people, Mzilikazi, died. In 1869, the entire Matabele Kingdom fell into a period of chaos over the succession to the throne. It was not until 1870 that Mzilikazi’s son, Lobengula, inherited the throne. The East African Kingdom invaded the Matabeleland Plateau when the Ndebele people were greatly weakened.

Constantine: “Schwitt, since you’re here, what do you think we should do to suppress this large-scale rebellion!”

As the Chief of the General Staff of the East African Army, Schwitt analyzed: “Your Majesty, at this time, the military force we can mobilize is mainly the border defense force in South Salzburg Province on the shore of Lake Malawi. The military force within Zambia cannot be changed at will, and our troops in the Matabeleland Plateau are mainly concentrated on the border with Transvaal and Mozambique. Due to limited information, they may not even be aware of this rebellion, and at the same time, they dare not act rashly due to their border defense duties.”

Zambia, as the hinterland of East Africa, does not actually have a very strong military force, only enough to suppress the local natives, mainly militia. Therefore, it definitely cannot be mobilized at will, lest the Matabeleland Plateau is not settled, but instead causes instability in the Zambia region.

East Africa’s rule in Zambia is different from its indirect rule in the Zimbabwe region. It is a harsh suppression-style rule, relying on the East African plateau as a large rear area. East Africa is not afraid of the local natives in Zambia rebelling, and can support the local area from the East African plateau at any time.

Zimbabwe is different. East Africa adopted a policy of indirect rule there, that is, fully granting power to the local native ruling class to temporarily maintain local stability. After digesting Zambia, the East African Kingdom would transform it.

As a result, it now seems that this set of indirect rule has completely failed. This is also the reason why Constantine is very angry. The Ndebele uprising is simply a slap in his face. In areas of harsh rule, the natives are not a threat, but in areas where East Africa is slightly more amiable, these natives do not give the East African Kingdom any face at all. This is the so-called “spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Schwitt continued: “The troops we have stationed in the Lake Malawi area are used to guard against the Portuguese. Their mobility and equipment are among the best, so going south to the Matabeleland Plateau in time can quickly suppress the local rebellion. After information is communicated, the border troops on the Matabeleland Plateau can also actively cooperate in the suppression.”

The Ndebele uprising broke out almost instantly because its central government still existed. Its monarch, Lobengula, should have completed the integration of various forces within the kingdom at this time. In addition, East Africa’s military strength in the Matabeleland Plateau was restrained by Mozambique and Transvaal on the border, and it was not very strong inland, so Lobengula was able to take advantage of the situation.

Lobengula was a relatively promising monarch. Historically, after Lobengula ascended the throne, he continued to strengthen the military organization of the Matabele Kingdom and attached importance to army building. He recruited soldiers from the conquered areas to supplement his army. At the same time, he imitated the Zulu military training methods, purchased new firearms, and improved the combat effectiveness of his troops. He also encouraged intermarriage between his own tribe and other tribes, and maintained the original social structure of the conquered areas.

In this timeline, the emergence of the East African Kingdom interrupted his development trajectory. However, it now seems that even if history has changed, Lobengula still relies on his talent to remain a respected and admired leader of the Ndebele people.

After all, the East African Kingdom had never encountered anyone who could organize such a large-scale uprising. Lobengula is the first native to make the East African Kingdom take notice.

However, Constantine has already decided that this man cannot be spared. The Great Ndebele Uprising also sounded an alarm for Constantine, reminding him that the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was incorporated into Prussia because of a popular uprising.

Constantine: “Schwitt, this time you will personally suppress the rebellion. I have the following requirements, remember them. First, you must capture this terrorist, Lobengula. I want him alive or dead. Second, after the war, all the Ndebele people must be captured for me. I want to turn them all into slaves. Third, all those who persist in resisting will be executed on the spot. Finally, no more natives will be allowed to collude with each other. We will divide them into regions and rule them separately.”

Constantine was determined to capture the entire Ndebele tribe and bring them to the East African plateau for the most brutal rule, so that they would know the consequences of offending him.

At the same time, the Great Ndebele Uprising also gave him a warning that the natives must not be allowed to form an absolute core. Next, the East African Kingdom will destroy the central governments of all native forces within its borders to prevent the Great Ndebele Uprising from recurring.

For the East African government, the Great Ndebele Uprising was a large-scale rebellion, and the first time East Africa had encountered a large-scale, organized, and premeditated rebellion by natives, so it had to strike hard.

Chapter 324: Zhuhai Trading Zone

The Ndebele people’s rebellion spoiled Constantine’s good mood for continuing to tour Dodoma. If it were a native uprising in other regions, Constantine himself would have considered it a matter of course. After all, the natives were just less civilized, not stupid, and knew how to resist.

However, East Africa had given the Ndebele people enough face in Zimbabwe, belonging to a co-governance of the Matabeleland with the Ndebele people, because both East Africa and the Ndebele people were invaders to the local Shona people. The Shona people accounted for more than eighty percent of the population of Matabeleland.

Just as the British would use Indians in Africa, the East African government planned to use the Ndebele people as Indians, supporting them to suppress the local Shona people. As a result, it seemed that they tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it.

However, although the Ndebele rebellion was large in scale, it was not enough to be feared by the East African Kingdom. The Ndebele people rose through military force, and so did the East African Kingdom, and the total number of Ndebele people was not much more than the East African army in Zimbabwe.

It had only been forty or fifty years since they developed from the Zulu Kingdom to the Matabeleland. After decades of intermarriage and development with the local Shona people, the entire ethnic group, including mixed-race people, was at most only a scale of hundreds of thousands.

For the Shona people, the Ndebele army was invincible with ten thousand soldiers, but the Ndebele people could not even defeat the Boers, so East Africa did not take the Ndebele people too seriously.

However, in order to punish the Ndebele people for not appreciating their kindness, Constantine had already decided to send the entire Ndebele tribe to dig canals in eastern East Africa for ten years.

…

April 3, 1871.

The Zhuhai Trading Zone is located in the coastal area east of Tangjia Town, Xiangshan County, Guangzhou Prefecture, on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary, facing Qi’ao Island across the sea. It is a trading port established in Xiangshan County by East Africa according to the “Two East Treaty” after the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Far East.

At that time, there was no Zhuhai city yet. East Africa came here earlier than Jiaozhou, but its development was much later than Jiaozhou.

There was no special reason. In Jiaozhou, East Africa only needed to settle the local officials, and then they could do whatever they wanted. However, in Xiangshan, it was a bit difficult to settle the officials alone. After all, the locals were well-informed. To the south was the Portuguese colony of Macau, and there were also British activities in the area.

After East Africa finally managed to scare the Qing government into obtaining local privileges, they encountered the powerful local clan – the Tang family.

Tang is a major surname in the local area. The Tang clan of Tangjiawan in Zhuhai can be traced back to 1205. During the Song Dynasty, Tang Jujun led his family from Zhuji Lane in Nanxiong (now within Shaoguan) to Fuyong in Xiangshan (now Tangjiawan, Zhuhai). Tang Jujun, also known as Shaoyao, was the ninth-generation descendant of Tang Jie, the prime minister of the Song Dynasty, and the ancestor of the Tang clan in Tangjiawan.

The Tang surname, if not calling the wind and rain in the local area, can also be considered to have the final say, so that the East African government wanted to work here, it had to greet the Xiangshan officials and discuss with the person in charge of the Tang family.

The Tang family was more wary of the East African Kingdom setting up a trading port here. After all, with the Portuguese as a lesson, no one could guarantee that the East Africans would not take over the nest.

The Tang family itself had great energy within the Qing government. The rise of Tang Tingshu, Tang Tingzhi, Tang Tinggeng, Tang Jichang, Tang Qiaoqing and other Tang comprador, the economic strength of the Tang family was further enhanced, and the clan property and temple property increased sharply.

Take Tang Tingshu as an example. He is one of the folk representatives of the Far East Westernization Movement and has a good relationship with Li Hongzhang. His achievements include founding China’s first civilian enterprise, China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, founding the first coal mine, Kaiping Mining Bureau, founding the first large-scale insurance company, Renjihe Insurance Company, presiding over the construction of the first railway, Tangxu Railway (Tangshan Xugezhuang), presiding over the drilling of the first oil well, and presiding over the laying of China’s first telegraph line, etc. Including the famous “The Chinese Mail” in the modern Far East was also founded by him. He is one of the “Four Great Compradors” in the late Qing Dynasty in the Far East.

Now Tang Tingshu is still working under the British, serving as the chief comprador of Jardine Matheson, with considerable assets and numerous investments. And he is only one of the more representative figures in the Tang family in the business world, so it is very inconvenient for the East African Xiangshan Consulate to carry out its work here.

For example, land, without the Tang family’s permission, East Africa could not buy it at all. Then the Xiangshan Consulate protested to the Xiangshan County Government, but they were in the same gang, and kept delaying without replying. At the same time, they privately forced the local people not to have business dealings and normal exchanges with East African merchants and officials. Very well, so that’s how you want to play it, huh?

So on March 7 this year, a company of the East African Kingdom was sent to land in Tangjiawan. This was the first time the East African Kingdom had stationed troops in a foreign country.

Although there were East African armed personnel in Jiaozhou, at least in name they were not East African troops. East Africa also respected the local officials, after all, they cooperated well, so they should be given some respect.

East Africa’s dispatch of troops to Xiangshan alarmed Mei Qizhao, the then Governor of Guangzhou, who came specially from Guangzhou to mediate the matter.

Xiangshan County Government Office.

Mei Qizhao rebuked the Magistrate of Xiangshan: “Look at the good things you have done? You have to argue with the foreigners, aren’t you afraid of a diplomatic incident?”

The Magistrate of Xiangshan stammered: “Land is freely traded, we can’t interfere, and the people don’t want to deal with foreigners, we can’t ask too much…”

Mei Qizhao: “Alright, stop quibbling. I still understand the virtues of the local clans. How many benefits have you taken from the Tang family?”

The Magistrate of Xiangshan: “This, this official’s character…”

Mei Qizhao: “Humph! If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it. Currently, the country is in a period of great change. The imperial court intends to innovate, learning Western techniques to control the barbarians. We need time for peaceful development. Once you provoke trouble and undermine the national plan, can you bear the responsibility?”

The Magistrate of Xiangshan: “Then what is your opinion, sir?”

Mei Qizhao: “You will prepare generous gifts and go with me to apologize to Consul Huesmus later. As for the Tang family, warn them not to provoke the foreigners. If a conflict really occurs and causes a diplomatic incident, be careful that your official hats will not be preserved.”

The Magistrate of Xiangshan said with shame: “This official will do it now.”

…

Tangjiawan Town.

Mei Qizhao: “Consul Huesmus, this matter is all a misunderstanding. The local people were once deceived by the Portuguese, so they have some misunderstandings about your country. I apologize to your country on behalf of the local people.”

Huesmus: “Alright, our East African Kingdom didn’t want to make a big deal out of this matter, but the Tang family, as the local spokesperson, has been obstructing our normal trade and scaring the local people, prohibiting them from dealing with our merchants. I think they should be severely punished.”

Mei Qizhao: “Ahem, ahem!”

The Tang Clan Leader: “Consul Huesmus, this matter is entirely a misunderstanding. It’s all because I was not in the clan for a while, and went out on official business. Now that things have come to this, I also feel deeply ashamed. For your country’s leasing land to build ports and trade, our Tang family is absolutely supportive!”

Huesmus was about to speak.

The Tang Clan Leader suddenly threw out a HSBC bank check and handed it over: “This is a small token of our Tang family’s appreciation, and I hope your envoy will accept it with a smile to resolve the misunderstanding between the two countries.”

Huesmus took the check without showing any emotion, and then said: “The misunderstanding is not important, but the matter of the land…”

The Tang Clan Leader: “Lease, lease!”

After saying that, he asked someone to bring a map and pointed to the southeast of Tangjiawan: “This is the best place for the Tangjiawan port. We fully support your country’s development of this place.”

Huesmus: “Very good. Your Excellency Mei Qizhao, we hope that Guangzhou Prefecture can provide more convenience for East Africa’s development of this place. After the commercial port is built here, we will definitely guarantee fair trade.”

Mei Qizhao: “That’s natural, Consul Huesmus. I will try my best to promote it to business people in Guangzhou. But Consul Huesmus, the misunderstanding has been resolved, the troops of your country…”

Huesmus: “Don’t worry, we are just acting in accordance with the treaty with your country, and naturally we will not do anything out of line. This is the spirit of the contract, and you must also abide by it, otherwise it will be bad if something like this happens again.”

Mei Qizhao: “Certainly, certainly.”

Under the military threat of East Africa, the Zhuhai Trading Zone was finally established smoothly, mainly responsible for exporting East African industrial products and grain to the Pearl River Basin, while importing the products needed by East Africa.

Chapter 325: Supporters of the Ndebele People

The Zhuhai Special Economic Zone is somewhat different from what it was in my previous life. The reason for establishing the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone was to attract investment from Macao, Portugal, and other regions into the mainland.

The East African government doesn’t have this consideration. They simply want a piece of the pie in the Far East Southern market. The reason for choosing Zhuhai is that the good locations in the south were already occupied by the British and French.

Tangjiawan is backed by Xiangshan County. The current Xiangshan County is roughly equivalent to Zhongshan and Zhuhai in my previous life, so its potential is still believable.

This belief is just Ernst’s own belief. In reality, his own people don’t quite understand. The current Xiangshan is just an inland county town, and the coastline is basically all mudflats. For example, Tangjiawan, which East Africa is leasing to build a port, only has a few small fishing villages on the coast. To engage in trade there, all the infrastructure needs to be funded and built by themselves.

But that’s how trade was in this era. It’s only been twenty-odd years since the Qing government opened up the coast. The good locations were long taken by Britain and France. Only places like Guangzhou and Shanghai, with their superior geographical locations, could connect to the interior through the Pearl River and Yangtze River waterways, places that everyone coveted but no one could monopolize.

Look at Germany in my previous life. They arrived late and could only choose Jiaozhou in the north as their base. To open up the interior, Germany had to painstakingly build railways, but before they could even warm them up, the Japanese took advantage of them.

…

East Africa, Matabeleland Plateau.

Lobengula still has some real skills. By integrating the various military leaders of the Ndebele people under his command, the Ndebele people, with almost everyone a soldier, forcibly built a rebel army of fifty thousand men. At the same time, there were one hundred thousand auxiliary troops composed of the Shona people.

They seized the transportation hubs set up by East Africa in the interior. In an instant, the material transportation channels that East Africa had built along the way during its southern expedition were cut off. If these channels cannot be opened up in time, the East African army on the border will fall into a state of food shortage after a long time.

The Swede personally went to South Salzburg Province to organize a suppression army of more than five thousand people, heading south along the Luangwa River. At the same time, he sent cavalry to notify the border troops on the Matabeleland Plateau to cooperate in suppressing the rebellion from the east, west, and south directions.

Bulawayo.

The capital of the Matabele Kingdom, Lobengula’s base camp.

The Kingdom’s Prime Minister is reporting the uprising situation to Lobengula: “Your Majesty, our military leaders in various places have completed their tasks, destroying a total of seventy-eight East African strongholds and eliminating more than ten thousand enemies.”

Obviously, this battle report is fake news. If East Africa really had more than ten thousand people in the interior of the Matabeleland Plateau, then the Ndebele rebellion would not have had a chance to launch.

The strongholds set up by East Africa in Matabeleland mainly maintain grain transportation and commercial roads. Each place has a maximum of twenty or thirty people, and some even have only single digits.

However, Lobengula was in a great mood and didn’t delve too deeply into this data. It’s human nature to exaggerate military achievements, anyway, the effect he wanted was achieved.

Lobengula: “Very good, order them to make persistent efforts. We must drive all the East Africans out of the Matabele Kingdom once and for all.”

Lobengula is extremely ambitious. In order to seize the throne, he has also been fighting in all directions for a long time to conquer disobedient subjects.

Just as he had subdued all forces and ascended to the throne, the East Africans arrived. At that time, Lobengula couldn’t figure out the true strength of the East Africans, and the kingdom was in a weak period due to turmoil, so he could only watch the East African army enter the Matabele Kingdom.

The mighty East African Southern Route Army did scare Lobengula at the time, but he soon discovered that the main force of East Africa was mainly confronting the Portuguese and Boers in the east and south directions.

At the same time, the East African Kingdom sent envoys to make Lobengula submit to the East African Kingdom. Why share when you can have it all, and even have to pay tribute? This is unacceptable to Lobengula.

Lobengula said to his subordinates: “The reason why these white skins can defeat the brave Ndebele warriors is entirely due to the advantage of firearms. Now we have also organized our own firearms troops. As long as we defeat the East Africans entrenched in the south, our Matabele Kingdom will be able to achieve final victory.”

As a branch of the Zulu people, the Ndebele people are no strangers to firearms. They suffered a great loss at the hands of the Boers, so after the former King Mzilikazi led his people to move to Zimbabwe, he actively contacted the Portuguese to purchase firearms and build his own firearms troops.

After Lobengula succeeded to the throne, it was even more so, but the supplier changed from the Portuguese to the Boers, their enemy.

Although the Portuguese Governor of Mozambique doesn’t particularly like East Africa, East Africa’s strength is indeed worthy of respect. Without local support, it’s best not to start a war with the East Africans, as that would only benefit the British in the south.

The Boers are different. They naturally welcome the Ndebele people who come to trade with gold. As for the East African Kingdom, is your gold more important!

Before, the Boers would definitely have given the Ndebele people, who were carrying gold bricks through the market, a good lesson. However, the arrival of the Germans made the Boers feel threatened.

But asking the Boers to fight the Germans themselves, just thinking about it makes the Boers feel guilty. However, if the Ndebele people come to their door, then the Boers have a way to test the power of the Germans.

The Boers smuggled weapons to the Matabele Kingdom, and the Boers’ firearms were purchased from British merchants. Then the Boers sneaked across the Limpopo River and traded with the Ndebele people in the dense forests on both sides.

In just three months, the Boers imported five thousand muskets to the Ndebele people, mostly weapons retired from the British army after the Crimean War.

In the past, the Boers would definitely not have supported the Ndebele people so much, after all, they also coveted the land north of the Limpopo River.

However, now that the north bank of the Limpopo River has become the territory of the East African Kingdom, it has cut off the direction of the Boers’ expansion. Then the Ndebele people have changed from enemies to pawns that can be used. Anyway, the Ndebele people are harming the East African Kingdom, and they can still extract gold from them. Killing two birds with one stone, why not.

Five thousand firearms are Lobengula’s confidence. Together with the original one thousand firearms troops, he can organize six thousand firearms troops. With the remaining one hundred thousand troops, it seems that he has a better chance of winning.

Lobengula was obviously misled by the Boers, thinking that the East African Kingdom, like the Boers, was a white man who relied on the advantage of firearms to grab land everywhere in Africa but had few people.

But this situation only exists in Zimbabwe. The immigrant population of East Africa in Zambia is much larger than the entire Ndebele tribe in Zimbabwe.

It’s just that due to distance, the development of Zimbabwe is relatively lagging behind, so there are fewer people, which gives Lobengula an illusion.

Although there are a lot of East African troops in Zimbabwe, they don’t grow their own food. As long as he cuts off their food supply, they won’t last a month and will surrender due to starvation.

Chapter 326: The “Central Canal” Project

What Constantine said about putting the Endebele people to work digging a canal in the east was not just talk. It was a massive project for which geological surveys had already been completed and that was ready to begin construction.

The East African government named this project the “Central Canal” project, mainly to connect the three major rivers in the Central Province and develop their shipping value.

These three major rivers, from north to south, are the Wami River, the Little Rhine River (Ruvu River), and the Rufiji River.

Among them, the Wami-Little Rhine River extends from the semi-arid Dodoma region to the inland swamps of the Morogoro region, all the way to the coastal city, and finally to the Bagamoyo area, with a basin area of approximately 62,000 square kilometers. The Wami River basin covers about 43,000 square kilometers, and the Little Rhine River basin covers about 18,000 square kilometers. There are about twelve lakes in the basin with an area greater than 0.1 square kilometers, and the famous Morogoro National Park and Saadani National Park of Tanzania in his previous life are also located in this basin.

In its previous life, this basin was a relatively developed area in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, and Dodoma, the capital, are both located in this basin.

Similarly, it is also the most developed area in East Africa today. The first town, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, three of the top ten cities in East Africa, and Dodoma, the capital of the Plateau Province, are all located here, so the future development potential is huge.

The Rufiji River basin was the largest basin in Tanzania in its previous life, with a basin area of approximately 177,400 square kilometers, accounting for one-fifth of the total area of the country. The Rufiji River is also the largest river in Tanzania. This basin provides approximately 25% of Tanzania’s renewable water resources. In addition, the altitude of this basin ranges from 0 meters in the Indian Ocean to approximately 3,000 meters in the mountainous area of the Mbeya region, and the climate varies from the tropical humid east to the temperate southern highlands.

The river sections that East Africa wants to develop are mainly concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of these three rivers, in areas with relatively flat terrain, that is, the eastern coastal plains.

After the completion of the project, it will cover an area of approximately 70,000 square kilometers in the three river basins. The canal can be used to transport people and goods, opening up the vital channels of transportation in the Central Province.

……

May 3, 871.

Kivett Palace.

Vaskov, an Austrian hydraulic engineer and the chief designer of the canal project, introduced the construction plan of the “Central Canal” project to Constantine and East African officials on the sand table.

Vaskov: “Currently, our plan is to build a forty-seven kilometer long canal from the upper reaches of the Little Rhine River to connect the middle reaches of the Rufiji River, and then connect the Rufiji River through Lake Nazca in eastern Mpanga. In this way, the water of the Rufiji River can naturally flow into the Little Rhine River along the terrain.”

Constantine: “Mr. Vaskov, looking at the sand table, there are two rivers flowing into the upper reaches of Lake Nazca. Shouldn’t the terrain here slope from northwest to southeast? Shouldn’t the water of the Little Rhine River flow into the Rufiji River?”

Vaskov gestured at the sand table and said, “Your Majesty, the area through which the Rufiji River flows is generally higher than the Little Rhine River. The terrain of the Little Rhine River basin is relatively special. The northwest is the extension of the East African Plateau, and the Rufiji River basin in the south is also higher than the Little Rhine basin, so the Little Rhine River is generally a low-lying area in East Africa.

However, as you said, the terrain in the upper reaches of Lake Nazca clearly slopes from northwest to southeast. After all, it is common knowledge that water flows downhill. However, east of Lake Nazca, this terrain has reversed, encountering the lower-lying Little Rhine basin. The area where Lake Nazca is located is like a highland, becoming a watershed between the Little Rhine River and the Rufiji River.

Therefore, we only need to open a gap in the northeast direction of Lake Nazca, and then solve this problem by digging a channel to introduce water from this highland into the Little Rhine River plain.”

Everyone looked at the place where Vaskov’s finger was pointing. The effect displayed on the sand table was a whole piece of plain, but in fact, after Vaskov personally conducted an on-site inspection, he found that although this was a plain, there was also a certain elevation difference.

Constantine: “In other words, the terrain here does not hinder the canal excavation work?”

Vaskov: “That’s right. Compared with Austria, the elevation difference here is nothing at all. We only need to dig the channel from Lake Nazca in the south to the Little Rhine River plain one or two meters deeper to ensure the normal operation of the canal. A distance of about three kilometers, the amount of work will not increase too much.”

Constantine: “Then deepen it.”

Anyway, the natives are digging the canal, and Constantine doesn’t feel bad about using them at all.

Vaskov continued, “The above is the southern line project of the Central Canal, which mainly connects the Rufiji River and the Little Rhine River. Regarding the northern line project, connecting the Little Rhine River and the Wami River, there are now two plans, and Your Majesty needs to make a decision.”

Constantine: “Tell me about them first.”

Vaskov: “The first plan is to build a channel along the coast in the lower reaches of the two rivers, so that the purpose of connecting the Little Rhine River and the Wami River can be achieved. However, in this case, it will be parallel to the sea transportation route, and the distance between the two is too close (refer to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal). The advantage is that the construction difficulty is low.”

Constantine: “What about the second plan?”

Vaskov: “The second plan is inland, near Morogoro, to dig a northwest-southeast canal, using the elevation difference to connect the Little Rhine River and the Wami River. However, this route must be built along the plain area on the east side of the Uluguru Mountains, and the length is almost twice that of the first plan. The amount of work is large, and the technical requirements are also higher.”

Constantine asked, “Can the technical requirements be met?”

In this regard, Vaskov was full of confidence: “Your Majesty, I have rich experience in Austria. I believe you also know the terrain of Austria. The terrain conditions there are far more complicated than the eastern coastal plain of East Africa. Building a canal in this area is like building a canal in Hungary. There is not much difficulty or challenge. However, from an economic point of view, I prefer Plan One. After all, the east is more developed, and the canal length is shorter, and the construction cost is also lower.”

Constantine: “This matter cannot focus on the present. Although the eastern cities are relatively mature at the moment, with the development of East Africa, the inland development speed is also very fast. As for the two plans, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Can we build two canals at the same time?”

Vaskov: “Theoretically, it is feasible, but in this way, the cost of building the canal will be high, and a lot of manpower will be needed to fill it.”

Vaskov’s words translated to mean that they should be prepared for a large number of people to die due to the doubling of the project.

“Heh heh heh!” Constantine sneered: “Don’t worry about this matter. I have already prepared a large amount of manpower for the construction of the canal. However, it will take time for them to get here. We can first complete the construction of the canal section with the lowest difficulty and the smallest amount of work.”

Vaskov didn’t care about this. East Africa certainly didn’t lack slaves. He said, “The easiest is the first plan to connect the Wami River and the Little Rhine River. As for the smallest amount of work, it is the canal connecting the Little Rhine River and the Rufiji River. If you consider it from a comprehensive perspective, then the canal from the Rufiji River to the Little Rhine River best meets your requirements.”

Constantine: “Then first build the canal from the Rufiji River to the Little Rhine River. The subsequent canal from the Wami River to the Little Rhine River will be considered after the manpower arrives.”

The Central Canal project is approximately one hundred and eighty kilometers long in total, and is divided into three sections, about the same length as the Suez Canal, connecting the Little Rhine River, the Wami River, and the Rufiji River.

Among them, the downstream canal from the Wami River to the Little Rhine River is called Canal No. 1, the upstream canal from the Wami River to the Little Rhine River is called Canal No. 2, and the upstream canal from Lake Nazca in the middle reaches of the Rufiji River to the Little Rhine River is called Canal No. 3.

Among the three sections of the canal, the latter two sections of the canal flow to the Little Rhine River. After completion, in addition to improving shipping conditions, it can also provide irrigation water to the areas along the route, further enhancing the development potential of the three river basins.

Chapter 327: Heading South

The geographical conditions of East Africa do not lend themselves to rivers with high shipping value. One reason is the terrain; all large rivers pass through areas with significant elevation changes. The other is the climate; rivers experience large seasonal variations.

However, the construction of a canal in the Central Province avoids the above two problems. The terrain within the Central Province is relatively flat, and natural rivers have navigational value. Although the rivers in the Central Province are also seasonal, even in the dry season, rainfall is sufficient.

For example, the Uluguru Mountains, one of the sources of the Wami River and the Little Rhine River, has an astonishing average annual rainfall of over 3000mm. The Uluguru Mountains are actually the eastern extension of the East African plateau. The sudden rise in terrain intercepts most of the water vapor from the Indian Ocean, which is why the rainfall in Dodoma, west of the Uluguru Mountains, drops sharply.

The Rufiji River is even more exaggerated. Its source comes from the mountains along Lake Malawi, and it flows through a large area. At the same time, it is strengthened once in the middle reaches, and the rainfall in the downstream catchment area is also very large.

…

After half a month of marching, Swiet, personally leading the South Salzburg Province border guards and some militia, formed a large army to suppress the rebellion and took Bulawayo, the capital of the Matabele Kingdom, directly along the Luangwa River.

The Ndebele people along the way were unable to resist the aggressive South Salzburg Province border guards. The South Salzburg army was used to deal with the Portuguese army, ensuring the strategic corridor connecting the Tanganyika region and the Katanga Plateau in East Africa. They were regular East African troops, and their combat effectiveness was naturally not bad. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Three months ago, graduates from the Hechingen Military Academy who had participated in the Franco-Prussian War were incorporated into various main East African forces after arriving in East Africa to reorganize and train them.

The South Salzburg border guards were one of them. The South Salzburg Province border guards were all equipped with Dreyse needle guns and eighteen light mobile artillery pieces. Their strength on paper was explosive in the sub-Saharan region.

This era was still the era of rifles and artillery. Although the Dreyse needle gun was already outdated in Europe, this was only in relation to the major military powers of Europe. Even with its many shortcomings in the Franco-Prussian War, many European countries did not have it, such as the Kingdom of Portugal. East Africa’s equipment with Dreyse needle guns was simply excessive for Mozambique, a colony of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Swiet asked Kasos, the guide beside him, “How many kilometers are left to reach Bulawayo?”

“Reporting, Chief of General Staff, after crossing the small river ahead, there are about forty kilometers left,” Kasos replied.

Swiet: “Are you sure we can wade directly across this river?”

Kasos: “Yes, even in the rainy season, the river’s depth will not exceed fifty centimeters, and the deepest point is only about one meter. We used to cross the river frequently, so we are very familiar with it.”

Kasos was one of the survivors who escaped from the Ndebele rebellion. When some East African strongholds realized that the Ndebele riots were developing, they knew things were not good and ran away in advance. This was especially true for strongholds with fewer people. Facing hundreds or thousands of Ndebele people, it would be strange not to run.

However, there were conditions for running away. Communication strongholds with horses were fine, but armed personnel in strongholds without horses could only compete with the Ndebele people in leg strength.

The advantage of East African armed personnel was their endurance, while the African natives had strong short-distance bursts of speed. The natives of Zimbabwe were different from the natives of the East African plateau; they were not good at running because they were half a step into agricultural and pastoral civilization. All of this was due to the Ndebele people.

The Ndebele people came from the Zulu Kingdom and had more knowledge. The Shona people they enslaved were already relatively civilized among the African natives. The Shona people lived by agriculture and animal husbandry and had mastered crude iron smelting and refining techniques.

The Matabele Kingdom under Ndebele rule further strengthened the agricultural and pastoral attributes of the Zimbabwe region. The Ndebele people learned from the Boers and built pastures and farmland in the Zimbabwe region, becoming landlords themselves.

Natives engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry did not need to rely on hunting for a living like the East African Bantu tribes, so they did not need to chase prey all day long, and their long-distance running ability was not strong.

The East African troops, including the militia, had all received training. In addition, everyone’s physical fitness was good in this era, so the two sides mainly competed in understanding the terrain and endurance. East African armed personnel were not at a disadvantage in terms of physical strength.

Kasos relied on his amazing perseverance and long-term activity in this area, and his understanding of the terrain, to escape from the Ndebele encirclement.

With Kasos, this living map, Swiet’s actions became much more convenient.

He ordered, “Pass down the order, the entire army prepares to cross the river.”

Fortunately, the natives did not understand military tactics. If they had even a little military knowledge, they would have ambushed on the riverbank and attacked the East African army halfway across. The East African army would have suffered heavy losses. Unfortunately, many natives could not even count five fingers, so the East African army smoothly penetrated deeper into the Matabele Plateau.

Some Ndebele people certainly had knowledge, but they were all concentrated in the capital. Knowledgeable people had to serve Lobengula first.

The prime minister appointed by Lobengula was the most knowledgeable person among the natives, capable of the simplest mathematical operations. His father was a Swahili merchant, so he had learned some rudimentary mathematical knowledge.

Basically, the tax work of the Matabele Kingdom was monopolized by his family. Lobengula and the Ndebele leaders were mostly brutes who only knew how to use violence, so the delicate work of managing the country had to be done by his family.

The benefits were also obvious. As long as the basic needs of the Ndebele people were met, most of the remaining taxes went into the prime minister’s family’s pockets.

The Ndebele people relied on the Shona people for support. Twenty percent of the wealth created by the Shona people went into the prime minister’s pocket through taxation, and Lobengula had no idea about this. He only knew that as long as he controlled the army, his rule would be as solid as a rock.

So, as long as the prime minister could get money to support his expansion of the army and upgrade equipment, he could continue to be the “King of Kings.” As for who the prime minister took the money from, that did not matter. Therefore, the monarch and ministers of the Matabele Kingdom were mutually supportive.

Bulawayo.

The East African army was attacking from the north, and Lobengula had received the news. Looking at the northern military leaders who had retreated from the front line and were kneeling on the ground begging for help, Lobengula was furious. These old men were only causing him trouble.

Lobengula: “Look at the way you are! When I told you to obey the central government’s orders in the past, you all shirked responsibility. When you encounter white people, you are as timid as mice. You have simply disgraced our Ndebele warriors. Now you dare to come and see me.”

“Great ‘King of Kings,’ it’s not that we didn’t try hard, but the enemy’s equipment is too powerful. They are like the Boers, equipped with many firearms, and they also have artillery. No matter how brave our warriors are, they cannot fight against flesh and blood with bows, arrows, and spears.”

Lobengula: “Alright, stop talking. Failure is failure. Don’t make excuses. I only look at the results, not excuses. When my father led you to fight the Boers in the past, our weapons were also inferior, but we still fought well. Now you don’t even want to resist. You must have been drained by wine and women, and you have forgotten our Ndebele military traditions.”

Faced with Lobengula’s accusations, the military leaders, all nearing fifty, remained silent. Ah, yes, yes, yes! Everything you said is right. Anyway, we have already escaped. You can’t possibly chop us all up out of respect for the old king, right?

Chapter 328: Foreign Powers

As a new city, the Ndebele capital, Bulawayo, had not even been established as long as many cities in the East African Kingdom.

Lobengula and his father, Mzilikazi, used a large number of slaves to build their capital. Although the city was not large, it revealed a combination of Arab and European architectural features everywhere.

On the one hand, the Arabs had a profound influence on the east coast of Africa, which even the Zulus in the south could not avoid, and the Ndebele, as a branch of the Zulus, were no exception.

On the other hand, the Ndebele learned from their old rivals, the Boers. However, when the Boers occupied the Transvaal, they did not have so much effort and manpower to build luxurious buildings, and they were basically simple fortresses in Dutch or German-French styles.

The Ndebele fully absorbed the Boers’ experience and built shooting ports, towers and other facilities in their capital, turning the entire capital into a small military fortress, which had the same effect as Hohenzollern Castle. This also conformed to the militaristic characteristics of the Ndebele people.

At this time, Lobengula was inspecting his army outside the castle. More than six thousand Ndebele warriors equipped with firearms brought a visual effect that was absolutely shocking.

They wore traditional Zulu costumes like primitive tribes, but carried muskets as tall as a person, with barbarism and “civilization” contrasting each other.

In addition to their own people equipped with “advanced” weapons, more than ten thousand Shona auxiliary troops also participated in the parade. Although the number of auxiliary troops was far more than this, they were scattered throughout the Matabele Kingdom, and Bulawayo alone could not support so many people.

Lobengula was quite satisfied with the Ndebele warriors who were full of fighting spirit, and had a sense of pleasure that all the heroes in the world were within his grasp.

Lobengula asked the head of the Boer advisory group beside him, “Mr. Wiggins, what do you think of my subordinates? How do they compare to the East African Kingdom now?”

Wiggins laughed confidently and said, “Haha, Your Majesty, don’t worry. The Ndebele warriors are brave and warlike. Now they are equipped with firearms and trained by us Boers. They can definitely inflict heavy damage on the East African Kingdom.”

Wiggins was the chief instructor sent by the Transvaal Republic to the Matabele Kingdom to help Lobengula train Ndebele warriors in the use of firearms.

After all, the firearms were sold to the Matabele Kingdom by the Transvaal Republic, so it was natural to provide customers with a one-stop service. Otherwise, it would be a big joke if the Ndebele warriors used firearms as spears and launched a death charge against the colonial soldiers of East Africa, only to be riddled with holes.

Lobengula ordered, “The exercise officially begins!”

The Ndebele warriors, divided into several square formations, began to fill their muskets with ammunition in a decent manner, then raised them flat and took turns shooting at a row of wooden stakes that had been set up in advance.

“Bang… bang… bang…”

The fragile wooden stakes were directly smashed to pieces.

“Good, good, very good!” Lobengula praised the power of the muskets in front of him.

Lobengula: “With this batch of muskets, the East Africans will definitely be sent back without return.”

…

A fast horse galloped across the grassland, heading towards the border troops of South Salzburg Province.

“I have important military information to report.”

Soon, the scout was brought to Swet.

“Report, Chief of General Staff! We encountered the troops of the Southern Route Army in the southeast. They are converging with us.”

“Which unit of the Southern Route Army are they?”

“The Second Brigade of the Southern Route Army, they have been active here these days, suppressing the indigenous rebellion.”

Swet said with satisfaction: “Very good, it seems that the Southern Route Army has almost quelled the rebellions in the south and east. We will stay here first and wait for them, and let the soldiers rest by the way.”

The South Salzburg border troops marched rapidly from the vicinity of Lake Malawi to the interior of the Matabele Plateau, mainly to fight the main force of the Ndebele, which was the Matabele Kingdom’s headquarters headed by Bulawayo.

As for suppressing rebellions in local areas, they naturally had no intention to pay attention to them, and mainly handed them over to the Southern Route Army to carry out from the east and south directions.

After about twenty minutes, a troop appeared on the horizon, which was the Second Brigade of the East African Southern Route Army.

Second Brigade Commander Yan Reid: “Chief of General Staff!”

Swet: “Very good, where did you come from!”

“Chief of General Staff, our brigade was originally stationed on the north bank of the Limpopo River, and came all the way from the southeast to the northwest according to the King’s order.”

“That is to say, the indigenous rebellions in the southeast region have been suppressed almost?”

“Yes, Chief of General Staff, but some remnants of the Ndebele people have escaped, so we chased them all the way here.”

“You did a good job!” Swet praised.

Yan Reid: “By the way, Chief of General Staff, our troops have important military information to report to you.”

Swet: “What military information?”

“Chief of General Staff, please wait a moment.” Yan Reid turned to his subordinates and said, “Bring our prisoners and the things we seized!”

Soon, several white men were brought up, along with a cattle cart covered with tarpaulin.

Yan Reid lifted the tarpaulin, and boxes of goods were stacked on it. However, after seeing the style of the boxes, Swet immediately guessed what was inside.

“These are munitions?”

“Yes, Chief of General Staff, and they are munitions provided by the Boers to the Ndebele people.”

“Well, these Boers are really daring!”

Yan Reid said, “Chief of General Staff, next, you should interrogate these Boers. I’m afraid you will know what really big things they have done.”

Swet immediately understood that this matter was probably not as simple as it seemed.

He came to the Boer prisoners and asked, “Are you from the Transvaal Republic?”

One of the Boers answered in German, “Yes, may I ask who you are?”

“I am Swet, Chief of General Staff of the East African Kingdom Army!”

Hearing that he was a high-ranking official in East Africa, the Boer immediately said, “Sir, this is all a misunderstanding.”

“Humph, don’t play tricks. We have already obtained intelligence from the Ndebele people. If you cooperate well and confess your crimes voluntarily, otherwise…” Yan Reid interrupted from the side.

“Alas, now that things have come to this, we can confess everything you want to know, but I have one request, that is, you must guarantee our safety.” The Boer said, seeing that he had been exposed.

Swet: “Of course, I will ask you to answer next, and we will definitely guarantee your safety. The first question, what is your purpose here?”

Boer: “We were authorized by the President to come and trade with the Ndebele people. As you can see, we are transporting munitions to the Ndebele people. The main reason is that the Ndebele people trade with gold, and incidentally weaken your country’s strength.”

Swet: “How many weapons have you transported to the Ndebele people in total?”

“I don’t know this, but the number should be quite large, at least several thousand muskets, and a large amount of gunpowder…”

Ten minutes later.

Swet: “Okay, we will keep our promise, but next you will have to be wronged to be guests in East Africa!”

The Boer prisoners easily betrayed all the intelligence of the Transvaal Republic they knew to East Africa, because he knew that East Africa would not let him return to the Transvaal Republic.

Swet said to his subordinates, “Humph, the Transvaal Republic is really generous, providing both guns and people. They really don’t take our East Africa seriously. We will settle the score with them after we solve the Ndebele people!”

Chapter 329: Behind the Current Version

The battle between the East African Army and the Matabele Kingdom’s forces took place east of Bulawayo. The East African side consisted of the South Salzburg Province Border Guard and parts of the 2nd Brigade of the Southern Route Army, totaling over six thousand men. The Matabele Kingdom had a total force of over sixteen thousand, including over ten thousand Shona auxiliary troops.

Sweyte, using his binoculars, observed the Matabele Kingdom’s army and commented, “It seems the Matabele Kingdom is making a last stand. But the fact that they’ve chosen to fight us head-on is quite interesting!”

The most troublesome tactic of the natives for the East African army was guerrilla warfare. Therefore, the East African army had extensive experience in counter-guerrilla warfare in Africa. However, the East African Kingdom certainly preferred its enemies to fight them fair and square rather than acting like sneaky backstabbers.

The Ndebele people’s reason for choosing a frontal assault was straightforward: they didn’t have a good understanding of how to use firearms, especially commanding such a large-scale firearm unit, and had to rely on Boer instructors to do it.

The Boers didn’t have any significant large-scale command experience either. They also played guerrilla warfare, and they were more flexible with cavalry support.

Without relevant experience, they simply copied what was available. The Boer instructors directly took the British Lobsterbacks’ “line infantry tactics” and applied them to the Ndebele people.

The British still had some prestige. After all, they were the world’s leading power, and the British Lobsterbacks had no match in the colonies with their “line infantry tactics.”

The formal name for line infantry tactics is linear tactics. The emergence of linear tactics was a last resort due to the level of firearms at the time, mainly to ensure lethality. To maximize the firepower of flintlock guns, the three-rank volley fire tactic was also created. The name alone indicates the deployment of this tactic.

However, the officers of the East African Kingdom’s army facing them, especially the South Salzburg Province Border Guard, were students from the Hechingen Military Academy who had participated in the Franco-Prussian War.

In the Franco-Prussian War, line infantry tactics were already behind the times, so these Hechingen Military Academy students had mastered the more advanced skirmish line tactics. Skirmish line tactics had already appeared in the Napoleonic era, but large-scale application occurred in the Franco-Prussian War. The Prussian Dreyse needle gun was far inferior to the French army in terms of performance and accuracy, so this tactic was commonly used to avoid French firepower suppression.

When the East African Kingdom fought the natives, the natives basically collapsed at the first encounter, so the East African Kingdom was often most troubled by capturing these scattered fleeing soldiers after the battle. As a result, the East African Army often had to spread out its forces, so skirmish line tactics were further strengthened in East Africa.

Lobengula: “Mr. Wiggins, are we just going to charge straight ahead like this? Don’t we need cover?”

Wiggins: “Your Majesty, you must trust my judgment. You must know that this is the tactic used by the army of the most powerful country in the world, the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Don’t think that standing in a row like this seems rigid, but imagine, when these firearms fire at the same time, they will form a dense wall of fire, and any enemy will be utterly destroyed in front of it.”

Lobengula was relieved. He had heard of the Kingdom of Great Britain, or rather, any country in the world that was not very isolated knew the prestige of the British Empire, which was the well-deserved world hegemon, and even the powerful Boers were no match for it.

Wiggins: “Your Majesty, let the Shona auxiliary troops charge in the front first, and we will consume some of the East Africans’ ammunition.”

“No problem!” Lobengula replied.

So, more than ten thousand Shona auxiliary troops were driven by the Ndebele supervisory team towards the East African army.

These poor Shona people didn’t even have decent weapons. Most of them held only simply trimmed wooden sticks, some of which hadn’t even had the bark peeled off, and it was clear that they were made from hastily felled trees. Only the front throwers were equipped with the Ndebele’s discarded spears as ranged weapons.

After the Ndebele people were equipped with firearms, the spear, a disposable primitive weapon, was naturally eliminated. However, the Ndebele people didn’t completely trust firearms. They disassembled their original weapons, melted all the ironware, and remade them into melee machetes, which they wore on their waists. At the same time, they did not discard the most important shields of the Zulu people, carrying them on their backs for emergencies.

The Ndebele people’s equipment can be said to be quite good in the whole of Africa, which is in stark contrast to the Shona auxiliary troops who use sticks as weapons.

“The enemy is moving, but is Lobengula joking? Is he planning to send these people to their deaths!” Sweyte said, seeing the Shona auxiliary troops with sticks and spears as weapons.

“Chief of General Staff, the Shona people are just consumables in Lobengula’s eyes. He is not worried about the lives of the Shona people at all. Lobengula must want to use the Shona auxiliary troops to consume a wave of our ammunition first.”

Sweyte sneered, “Then it depends on whether they can withstand it. Someone, push the artillery to the front and indiscriminately bombard the enemy’s formation.”

Subsequently, eighteen small-caliber artillery pieces were pushed to the front. The commander gave an order, “Boom… Boom… Boom…”

The shells fell brightly into the formation of the Shona auxiliary troops. Sure enough, the power of the artillery instantly disintegrated the will of the Shona auxiliary troops. Artillery was very effective in disintegrating the natives’ desire to fight, and it was a trick that the East Africans repeatedly used in their colonial expansion in Africa. No matter how tough the stubble was, they could not overcome their fear of artillery.

For the Shona auxiliary troops, today was a terrible day. Driven by the Ndebele people, the Shona people were certainly unwilling from a psychological point of view. However, for the numerous Shona people, the Ndebele people were an invincible existence, and recently the Ndebele people had mastered a terrible weapon (firearm) that could kill people invisibly, so the Shona auxiliary troops were even more afraid to resist the rule and leadership of the Ndebele people.

However, the enemies on the opposite side were even more terrifying. They pushed more than a dozen hollowed-out circular “tree stumps,” facing the round holes of the “tree stumps” towards themselves from a distance. Then, an ear-splitting roar resounded through the sky. The place that was hit instantly became a river of blood, and even dozens of meters away could feel a heat wave. This “thunder from the sky” was a punishment from the gods. How could mortals fight against the gods?

The Shona auxiliary troops directly collapsed. Some fled in all directions, and some lay on the ground, chanting words and praying for the gods to forgive them. Even when the Ndebele supervisory team opened fire, the Shona auxiliary troops remained indifferent.

“These Shona people are really useless!” Lobengula cursed angrily in the rear, “Mr. Wiggins, the East Africans have artillery, what should we do?”

Lobengula still knew about artillery. Although this kind of thing was not common in Africa, it did not prevent Lobengula from seeing it in the hands of the Boers.

Wiggins: “Don’t worry, Your Majesty, the East Africans came in a hurry, and they certainly don’t have much ammunition. We will compete with them after their ammunition is exhausted.”

At this time, Wiggins was actually not sure. Who knew how much ammunition the East Africans had prepared? If the situation was not good later, he would still leave.

Sweyte: “Okay, the Shona auxiliary troops are already useless. There is no need to waste ammunition. Stop firing and press on with the whole army.”

With Sweyte’s order, the East Africans stopped shelling, but began to advance.

Wiggins: “Your Majesty, the East Africans are attacking directly. Next, when the East Africans enter a range of two hundred meters, we can shoot directly.”

However, Wiggins’s plan was wrong. The overall advance of the East African army was not to act as cannon fodder. The Dreyse needle guns equipped by the South Salzburg Province Border Guard had twice the range of the Ndebele’s rifles, and their accuracy was much higher.

Wiggins had been in South Africa for many years and did not understand the current development of European military affairs. The equipment level of the South Salzburg Province Border Guard was second only to the armies of world powers such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia.

Chapter 330: Running Away

As the East African army advanced step by step, the distance between the two armies was only about five hundred meters.

Wiggins was still waiting for the East Africans to enter his firing range, but the East African army wouldn’t give him that chance, because this distance was already within the firing range of the Dreyse rifle.

The maximum range of the Dreyse rifle was about six hundred meters, while the range limit of the rifles equipped by the Ndebele people could only reach three hundred meters. At a distance of five hundred meters, the Dreyse rifle could already exert about sixty percent of its power, which was enough.

“Fire!” With the order from the East African commanders.

The East African army suddenly launched an attack, and the sound of Dreyse rifles broke the oppressive silence between the two sides.

“Bang… bang… bang…”

Wiggins was caught off guard by the sudden firing of the East Africans, “What’s going on? These East Africans…”

Before he could finish speaking, some of the Ndebele soldiers in the front row had already been hit and fell in large numbers. At this time, the Ndebele warriors were also stunned by the sudden firing of the East Africans. Some of them, without orders, instinctively began to fire at the East African army. This was a stress response triggered by the warning of danger.

However, the East African army’s preemptive firing, coupled with the fall of their teammates, made the Ndebele warriors, who had received brief training from the Boers, a little flustered, making frequent mistakes. Some soldiers in the second row even nervously fired a shot directly at their surviving comrades in front.

“You…”

The Ndebele warrior, shot in the back by his own man, fell unwillingly into the pool of blood, his eyes wide open.

The entire Ndebele camp fell into chaos, with shouts, wails, and gunshots mixed together.

Wiggins was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted, “Damn it, who told you to shoot? Stop firing!”

The Ndebele people’s firing now couldn’t hurt a hair on the East Africans’ heads. At most, it would just let the East African army hear a bang.

Braving the gunfire, Wiggins shouted to Lobengula, “Your Majesty, there’s something wrong with the East Africans’ equipment! Their rifles have a longer range, we must change our tactics immediately.”

Lobengula’s face was already green with anger, and he rebuked, “Didn’t you say that as long as the East Africans came to our door, we could defeat them with firearms? Why did they open fire before reaching the designated area, and even cause us harm?”

Wiggins: “Your Majesty, there is something wrong with the East Africans’ equipment. They must have ordered more advanced weapons from Europe. I didn’t figure this out, the responsibility is mine, but now is not the time to pursue responsibility, we must respond to the enemy’s attack.”

Lobengula said in a panic, “What should we do now? Retreat?”

Lobengula was really desperate. Even a fool knew that the East Africans’ weapons were different from the “scrap iron” he bought with gold. They couldn’t even reach the enemy’s clothes, so how could they fight?

Wiggins: “No, Your Majesty, let our people charge forward with their firearms. We definitely have more people than the East Africans. It doesn’t matter if some die, as long as we charge halfway, the firearms in our hands can counterattack the East Africans. We’ll fight the East Africans in close combat!”

Retreat was impossible. Once they retreated, the morale of the army would not be stable. At that time, his side would not be retreating, but collapsing. Wiggins was sure that as soon as he ordered a retreat, these natives would run faster than anyone else. At that time, even the command would collapse. Now, trying to break into the East African side might still turn defeat into victory by relying on the advantage in numbers.

What do you mean it doesn’t matter if some die! Although very angry, Lobengula had no good way, so he could only try Wiggins’ method, “All troops attack! Warriors of the kingdom, follow my steps and defeat these East Africans.”

Lobengula took the lead in the charge to boost morale, temporarily stabilizing the Ndebele people’s military morale. Now they could only fight with their backs to the river.

“Kill!”

Lobengula raised the Arabian scimitar in his hand and led the charge towards the East African army, with the Ndebele warriors closely following behind.

But the East African army had already seen through the Ndebele people’s plan.

“Artillery ready! Fire!”

“Boom… boom… boom…”

The shells bombarded the Ndebele camp, greatly weakening the Ndebele people’s desire to fight. However, the Ndebele people, as the “fighting” ethnic group among the natives, still did not collapse. With Lobengula taking the lead as an example, it still had an effect on boosting morale. Even the king was risking his life, why not die for him.

Seeing that the Ndebele people could still attack normally, Swete ordered, “Cavalry ready!”

The East African cavalry, who had been waiting for a long time, drew their sabers and stepped forward to prepare for battle.

The South Salzburg border troops were equipped with two cavalry companies, which were not large in scale, but made the South Salzburg border almost fully equipped with infantry, artillery, and cavalry, the three army branches.

The weapons of the East African cavalry were not exactly the same as those in Europe. In addition to the Prussian-style Dreyse carbine specially used for cavalry, the cold weapons equipped by the East African cavalry were East African straight swords.

The East African straight sword was a modified version of the ring-pommel knife of the Han Dynasty. Its basic functions were similar to those of the Han knife. It had a single-edged blade, a thick back, and a certain curvature, but the overall visual appearance was relatively straight. It was mainly used for chopping and stabbing.

The blade was 1.12 meters long, and the handle was wrapped with hemp woven fabric, using the moisture-absorbing and sweat-wicking characteristics of hemp to facilitate grip. The diameter of the knife ring was equal to the width of the handle. At the same time, a metal buckle was added to the scabbard to facilitate hanging it on the waist.

The final design of the East African straight sword was entirely based on Ernst’s personal preferences. He himself had a Han knife inlaid with gold and cold jade that was specially made at a high price as a private collection.

Although the East African cavalry’s use of straight swords was influenced by Ernst’s personal subjectivity, the straight sword was indeed unexpectedly accepted and loved by the East African cavalry. The main reason was that the enemies faced by East Africa almost never included cavalry of the same scale, so there was no need for weapons such as lances.

More of the East African cavalry’s actual combat cases involved rushing into the natives who were running around with straight swords, capturing young and strong laborers. The Dreyse carbine was only used when it was necessary to annihilate the enemy and carry out medium and long-range shooting.

The East African straight sword was light and easy to master, which could ensure the safety of the slaves. If they were crippled, the slaves would have no value.

Swete: “Cavalry attack!”

The cavalry kicked their warhorses with spurs. As the East African cavalry moved out, a cloud of dust immediately rose on the battlefield, and the sound of horses’ hooves rumbled.

“Kill!”

The bright East African straight swords shone in the sun. The warhorses ran for a distance and collided with the Ndebele people who were charging in the front.

Three to four hundred kilograms brushed past the Ndebele warriors, but what followed was the gleaming East African straight sword.

With a slash of the blade, blood instantly spurted out from the Ndebele people, splattering all over the ground.

Lobengula was not hit by the East African cavalry’s straight sword, but it was even more tragic. A warhorse directly knocked him to the ground, and then the horse’s hooves trampled over him mercilessly.

Lobengula, a nearly two-hundred-pound Ndebele strongman, couldn’t catch his breath, felt a heat in his chest, and then passed out, not knowing whether it was because of the impact or the trampling.

Two cavalry companies rushed into the Ndebele people’s camp, completely disrupting the Ndebele people’s attack.

With the blessing of warhorses, the East African cavalry slashed and killed wantonly in the crowd. The Ndebele people completely lost command, and the outer soldiers had already begun to collapse.

Swete also ordered at this time, “Everyone, full-scale attack!”

The East African army all pressed up and joined the battlefield. The battlefield directly turned into a slaughterhouse. The smell of blood mixed with gunpowder and dust permeated the battlefield. On the outskirts of Bulawayo, the bodies of the Ndebele people were increasing.

No one knew when, but Wiggins and several Boer instructors had secretly taken advantage of the Ndebele people’s inattention and detoured to the rear of the battlefield.

“It’s over! It’s all over!” At this time, Wiggins said to several Boer instructors, “We must evacuate immediately. The Ndebele people are doomed to defeat, we can’t fall into the hands of the East Africans.”

“What about the Ndebele people? Should we call them?”

“Let them die! Now we have to run away. While they can still resist the East Africans for a while, let’s go!” Wiggins urged.

Better a dead friend than a dead me, Wiggins directly chose to betray the Ndebele people.

“Let’s go get the horses first, go directly to the west, then detour to the southwest, and finally turn back to the Transvaal.” Wiggins commanded.

So the group hurried towards their residence in Bulawayo, where the horses they brought from the Transvaal were kept.

Chapter 331: No Escape

“Reporting to the Chief of the General Staff, we have eliminated a total of three thousand enemies, captured over ten thousand prisoners, including Lobengula and other high-ranking Ndebele figures, and seized six thousand firearms.”

Lobengula was lucky. He was severely wounded, but he didn’t die. He woke up while the East Africans were clearing the battlefield.

Tewodros: “Immediately organize manpower to cremate these bodies to prevent an epidemic, and bring Lobengula here.”

“Yes, Chief of the General Staff!”

Soon, two East African soldiers carried a stretcher to Tewodros. Lying on it was the monarch of the Matabele Kingdom—Lobengula.

Although he hadn’t died, Lobengula had broken five ribs. Considering the current medical conditions, his fate was uncertain.

Tewodros: “You are the king of the Matabele Kingdom?”

Lobengula lay on the stretcher, looking at the young white man who was much thinner than himself, and weakly replied, “Yes, I am the ‘King of Kings’ of the Matabele Kingdom.”

This wasn’t Lobengula putting on airs. The native kings were essentially chiefs, and many chiefs submitted to Lobengula and accepted his rule, making him indeed a “King of Kings”!

Tewodros didn’t care about that. No matter how impressive he was, he was still a defeated foe, and previously a tributary state of East Africa. He continued, “Why did you launch this rebellion?”

Lobengula chuckled, “Hahaha, rebellion? The Matabele Kingdom and East Africa were always two separate countries. We were simply resisting invaders!”

Tewodros: “Heh, you’re really trying to paint a pretty picture. As far as I know, you Ndebele people were just a foreign tribe that invaded the Matabele Plateau from South Africa a few decades ago, enslaving the local Shona people.”

Lobengula scoffed, “They willingly accepted the rule of the great ‘King of Kings.’ I was chosen by the gods to resist you white men.”

Tewodros wasn’t white, but from the Far East. However, in Lobengula’s eyes, they were all the same. As long as they were whiter than the Zulu, they were white men.

Tewodros stopped trying to correct Lobengula’s stubbornness. He said, “Our East African Kingdom didn’t actually interfere much in your administration. We even allowed you to keep your army, but this is what we got in return. Because of the actions of you Ndebele people, many so-called ‘Kings of Kings’ like you will lose their power. And all of this is because of you. With your own actions, you have changed the East African Kingdom’s policy towards the natives.”

Lobengula: “There can only be one ‘King of Kings,’ and that is the great Lobengula!”

Tewodros interrupted, “Alright, I’m going to ask you a question. Who provided your firearms and gunpowder?”

Tewodros’s question suddenly dawned on Lobengula.

He said with red eyes, “It’s all that bastard Wiggins’ fault. You must catch him!”

In Lobengula’s view, his current predicament was entirely caused by Wiggins. They sold him a pile of “scrap iron” and, knowing that the East Africans’ weapons were more advanced, they still encouraged him to test the East African Kingdom.

Tewodros: “Wiggins!”

Lobengula: “That’s right, it’s all his fault, that despicable Boer.”

Tewodros said to his subordinates, “Go and find out where this Wiggins is.”

“Yes, Chief of the General Staff!”

Soon, under the questioning of the East African army, Wiggins and the Boer advisory group he led came to light.

Tewodros: “He ran away?”

“Yes, Chief of the General Staff. The owner of the hotel they were staying at said they left an hour ago, and they escaped on horseback.”

Tewodros: “Have our scouts pursue them. We can’t let them go easily.”

“Yes!”

…

At this time, Wiggins and his party were already galloping away, having escaped Bulawayo and heading west at full speed.

“Finally escaped!” Wiggins exclaimed.

“Mr. Wiggins, if the East Africans find out about our existence, will they send people to chase us?”

Wiggins: “What are you afraid of? Even if East Africa knows about our existence, they won’t be able to catch up with us. The Matabele Kingdom is so big, the chances of us encountering East African troops are small. Besides, we’re doing the opposite. The East Africans won’t expect us to go west.”

Wiggins was clever. Before withdrawing from Bulawayo, he deliberately ran east for a distance. After running out of sight of the Ndebele civilians, he bypassed Bulawayo and went west.

East Africa was indeed fooled. They followed the clues provided by the Ndebele civilians and pursued east, actually heading in the completely opposite direction from Wiggins and his party.

But would it really be so!

Where Wiggins and others couldn’t see, a small East African patrol team was coming in their direction.

This unit didn’t belong to the Southern Route Army, but to the Southwestern Army operating in Botswana. The Southwestern Army had very few people, but it governed most of Botswana’s land. It regularly sent several patrol teams to check whether there were any suspicious forces in the territory, and at the same time, it was responsible for surveying the Botswana area.

As for why they appeared in the Matabele Kingdom, it was completely an accident. The Matabele Kingdom didn’t have a clear border, and Lobengula had almost completely drawn away the forces west of Bulawayo to fight against East Africa.

In fact, there weren’t many Ndebele people west of Bulawayo. After all, the western climate was relatively arid, and further west was the Kalahari Desert.

The Ndebele people’s support for Bulawayo created a vacuum in the west, which naturally aroused the vigilance of the Southwestern Army patrol team, so they chose to come and investigate this anomaly.

The Southwestern Army and the Southern Route Army weren’t in the same system, so they didn’t know about the Ndebele rebellion. They also didn’t receive Tewodros’s orders. There were too few people, and Tewodros was too lazy to mobilize the Southwestern Army.

The patrol team quickly ran into Wiggins and his party.

“Mr. Wiggins! Look, those are East African pursuers. Damn it, how are they faster than us!”

In the distance, the Southwestern Army patrol team was also wary of Wiggins and his party. After all, their clothes made it clear that they weren’t their own people.

Wiggins: “Don’t be afraid. There aren’t many of them. Let’s strike first and kill them.”

Because it was a patrol team, there were only seven people, while Wiggins and his party had thirteen, giving them the advantage.

So Wiggins led the Boer instructors and charged towards the patrol team.

“It’s the enemy! Prepare for battle!”

Seeing Wiggins and his party suddenly accelerating, the patrol team leader immediately realized that the visitors weren’t friendly.

“Draw your sabers. Don’t use guns to exchange fire with the enemy.” The patrol leader immediately ordered.

The enemy outnumbered them, so they couldn’t be careless. One mistake could lead to the annihilation of the entire army, so the decision was important. The patrol leader thought that shooting accuracy on horseback would be greatly reduced. If the other party didn’t receive regular military training, it would be difficult to hit them with a gun on horseback, so it was better to use knives and engage the enemy in close combat.

This had a gambling element, after all, no one knew what Wiggins and others’ equestrian archery skills were like, but it soon became clear.

“Damn it, these East Africans are running left and right, making it impossible to aim.”

“They’re charging over!”

“Turn around!”

Unfortunately, it was too late. Just like dealing with natives, the East African patrol team rode on horseback and took advantage of the gap when Wiggins and his party wanted to turn around, easily catching up.

They kicked their horses hard, and the spurs made the warhorses accelerate instantly. Then they raised their sabers and slashed at the enemies who were already level with them.

Wiggins instinctively dodged and fell off his horse, then was captured, while the other Boers were either killed or captured.

May 28, 1871.

The Boer criminal, Wiggins, was captured. East Africa had obtained solid evidence that the Boers supported the Ndebele rebellion.

Chapter 332: Rice Seeds

The East African government was very displeased with the Boers’ covert support for the Ndebele people. Many, including the hawkish faction led by Constantine, wanted to launch an immediate attack on the Transvaal Republic.

However, Ernst stopped them.

Ernst: “We must severely punish the Boers for their actions, but now is not the time for us to act. Imagine if we push them too hard and force them to turn to Britain, we will be in a difficult position. So, even if we are going to attack the Boers, we must finish the job in one go, eliminating the Transvaal Republic with lightning speed, giving them no chance to react.”

Ernst’s consideration was based on historical precedent. In history, the Boers, unable to cope with the pressure from the Zulu Kingdom, had actively turned to the British for help, even though the British supported the Zulus behind the scenes.

Later, everyone knew the result. A large number of diamonds and gold mines were discovered in the Boers’ territory. As the owners of this land, the Boers certainly wanted to keep it all to themselves.

But the British just wanted to take it for free. The Boers were naturally dissatisfied, feeling, “How can you be so selfish!” So, there was the Second Boer War, which was ultimately a dispute over interests.

Although the Boers resisted the British, they knew what to choose when faced with a threat. Although Britain was not exactly a benevolent ruler, an extremely feudal and autocratic country like East Africa posed a more fatal threat to the Transvaal Republic.

In the end, the decision of the East African Kingdom was to first prepare for war. Once everything was ready, they would suddenly accuse the Transvaal Republic at the end of the year, and then directly launch a blitzkrieg against the Transvaal Republic, giving them no time to react. As for the evidence in East Africa’s hands, it should not be revealed now to avoid alerting the enemy. When the time comes, this pretext for declaring war will be enough. The essence of the matter is whether East Africa wants to do it or not.

So, after some deliberation by the East African government, they first transferred troops to the Matabeleland Plateau. Secondly, they chose to turn a blind eye to the Boers’ support for the Ndebele people, and continued to increase trade with the Boer Republic to paralyze the Boer ruling class. At the same time, they increased infiltration and intelligence gathering in the Boer Kingdom through trade and contact with Germans and other groups within the Boer population.

……

June, the rice harvest season near the Great Lakes, arrived. The rice harvest time in the Great Lakes region is not uniform, but it is mainly concentrated in the second half of the year, from June to December.

Currently, the Great Lakes region is an important rice-growing area in East Africa. Its rice planting scale has exceeded the eastern coastal plains, becoming the largest rice-growing base in East Africa.

Like the coast, the Great Lakes region has abundant rainfall and sufficient heat. Unlike the East African coastal plains, this area has a high altitude, and the temperature near the Great Lakes is relatively cool. In Uganda, the temperature may drop below ten degrees Celsius at night.

Therefore, the rice varieties planted near the Great Lakes are different from the indica rice of the East African coastal plains. Instead, they are japonica rice from East Asia. The advantage of japonica rice compared to indica rice is that it is more cold-resistant and suitable for planting in mid-to-high latitudes.

East Africa’s choice of rice seed location in the Great Lakes region may be unexpected. After carefully selecting from many regions in the Far East, they found the Far Eastern northern rice variety that was most similar to the East African Great Lakes region.

The climate in the Great Lakes region is definitely different from that in the Far Eastern north, but the summer temperature in some areas of the Far Eastern north is relatively similar to that in the Great Lakes region. The difference is that the Great Lakes region has more abundant rainfall and different soil quality.

However, rice is very sensitive to temperature, especially low temperatures. The temperature on the East African plateau is almost ten degrees Celsius lower than on the East African coast. Therefore, the summer temperature at such latitudes in the Far East is more similar to that of the Great Lakes region.

In fact, Liaodong is also a good place, but East Africa does not have corresponding strongholds in Liaodong. The Qing government also attaches great importance to the Dragon Rising Land, so they chose to take seeds in the north.

“Currently, the best-growing variety is this rice variety from a place called Shanxi in the Far East. It is adapted to the environment of the Great Lakes region, especially in farmland with higher altitudes, its growth is better. When I was researching rice planting in Xida Lake Province last year, I found that the total rice yield there was relatively high,” East African rice researcher Marcos said to the government officials of Beida Lake Province.

A high-ranking official of Beida Lake Province, Brazesgin, asked, “Mr. Marcos, does that mean that next year we should actively promote the planting of this rice variety on a large scale in the province?”

Marcos: “Yes, if you are pursuing higher yields and quality. However, what I mean is that we should still keep some experimental fields for other varieties. Perhaps in the future, with the development of technology, there may be breakthroughs, especially in terms of preventing and controlling pests and diseases, so that we can find replacements at any time.”

Brazesgin: “Then what do you think is the difference between the rice we plant here and the rice in the East African coastal plains?”

Marcos: “Because of the temperature, the growing season for rice here is longer than in the coastal plains. The amount of sunlight is similar, but the diurnal temperature range here is greater. Based on my previous experience observing in the Far East, the rice produced in this way has a fuller taste. However, the East African coast plants Indian long-grain rice, which is very different from the rice in the Great Lakes region. The taste of Indian rice varieties is certainly not bad, but it all depends on personal eating habits and preferences.”

Brazesgin asked for advice: “Can you be more specific?”

Marcos: “For example, pilaf is popular in the Middle East and India, while steamed rice is popular in the Far East. The two sides have different pursuits in their diets.”

Brazesgin: “Can I understand it this way: the rice in our Great Lakes region is more suitable for the Far Eastern market, while the rice in the East African coastal provinces is more suitable for the Middle Eastern and Indian markets?”

Marcos: “That’s about right. Think about the Middle Easterners’ and Indians’ habit of grabbing food with their hands. Long-grain rice is more suitable because it is not easy to stick to their hands. The rice produced from rice seeds in the East Asian region has relatively more moisture after cooking and a soft and glutinous taste, but it is very unfriendly to nations that do not use tableware, and it is also hotter to handle.”

Marcos, as one of the few rice agriculture experts in East Africa, can be said to be only a half-baked expert. After all, the Germans really do not have relevant talents in this area.

Before East Africa hired him as a rice researcher, he was just an intern at the East African Tropical Agriculture Research Institute. His research direction was not rice, and he was a latecomer to the field.

Therefore, his ability is very limited. He can only observe the growth of each rice variety, summarize experience, and finally record the data for the East African government to refer to.

The East African Kingdom adopted a policy of using whatever was available. They did not have the talent to research breeding and hybridization, so the rice was all imported from mature varieties from foreign countries, and then planted in East Africa. Finally, they compared which one had a high yield and which one had good quality, and then promoted it on a large scale in the area, which can be regarded as adapting to local conditions.

Chapter 333: Triangular Alliance

Planting japonica rice in the Great Lakes region was not only to consider the temperature difference compared to the East African coastal plains, but also to enhance competitiveness in the international market.

Markets like the Far East, Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia have vastly different requirements for rice compared to the Middle East and India.

The current state of the international grain market is becoming increasingly competitive. With the addition of East African grain production, coupled with expanded production in grain-producing regions like the United States, Australia, Canada, and Tsarist Russia.

It is now certain that global grain production capacity is in surplus, even earlier than in my previous life. What sustains this surplus is the rapid industrial development of various countries. The whole world is currently in a state of extreme prosperity before the economic crisis. Everyone is blindly investing in production, because everything seems to be making money. Once the economic bubble is burst, an economic crisis will inevitably erupt within a year or two.

To mitigate risks, Ernst’s next goals are to optimize East African industries, develop the internal East African market, dispose of non-performing assets in Europe, and further strengthen East Africa’s economic barriers to separate it from the world market.

In reality, East Africa has always been economically detached from the world market. As a nation owned by a consortium, all of East Africa’s foreign trade must pass through the Hechingen Consortium, acting as a “connector.” Therefore, East Africa’s foreign trade is not directly integrated with the world market.

As a result, a global economic crisis would have a very limited impact on East Africa, a purely agricultural country, and might even have beneficial effects. This can be seen in the Far East, which became the hottest period for industrial investment during the global economic crisis.

Although beneficial to East Africa, an economic crisis would affect how much profit the Hechingen Consortium makes, since most of its assets are in Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Because of East Africa’s meddling, Ernst is unsure when the economic crisis in this timeline will suddenly erupt.

Historically, it was early in 1873, but signs had already appeared at the end of 1872, mainly because American railway production could no longer keep up. However, the crisis first erupted in Austria-Hungary, while the epicenter was in the United States.

…

July, 1871.

Due to Nairobi’s construction in East Africa, some industrial workers were drawn from the Far East. Coupled with the reduction in orders caused by the end of two wars in Europe, some of the Jiaozhou textile industry’s machines were idled. Reducing the production capacity of the Jiaozhou textile industry was inevitable.

This capacity reduction targeted the textile industry in the Far East invested in by the Hechingen Consortium. In fact, due to worker emigration, the cotton textile production capacity in Jiaozhou had already been reduced. The Hechingen Consortium was mainly selling off the surplus machines after the capacity reduction.

Jiaozhou Textile Factory.

Levins, the sales representative of the Jiaozhou Textile Factory: “Mr. Qiao! Take a look at these machines. They have been running for less than two years and can be used as new equipment. Even in the next few decades, they will not be eliminated by the market. Before you, Japanese companies have already expressed their intention to buy, but we still decided to keep most of these machines in the Far East.”

Selling the machines to Japan is impossible. These machines were ordered at the most advanced level in the world at the time, and they are still top-tier now.

Due to reforms, Japan’s textile industry has made great progress. Ernst does not want to help Japan improve its level of mechanization. Continuing to be a sweatshop is the best choice for Japan.

Currently, the West has a technological blockade against the East, mainly a blockade on advanced machinery. Even if machinery is exported, it is only some technologically backward machinery that is about to be eliminated. The machines at the Jiaozhou Textile Factory were imported from England by the Hechingen Consortium in the name of Germany (Prussia), so there were no obstacles at the time. The British manufacturers did not expect the Hechingen Consortium to assemble and build a factory in the Far East.

Qiao Zhiyong: “Mr. Levins! Although the machinery in your factory looks very new, these machines are, after all, second-hand, and the price is too high!”

Levins shook his head and said: “Mr. Qiao, I want to popularize some concepts for you. These machines are top-notch even in Europe, and their production efficiency is very high. If you have the ability to go to England for inspection, you will find that many textile companies in England have not even applied them and are still using more backward machines. Therefore, this batch of machines that we plan to sell is completely priceless in the Far East. If you miss this opportunity, it will be a loss for you and even your country.”

Qiao Zhiyong: “Alas, that’s true, but I’m doing small business and have no experience in this area, so I have to bear huge risks!”

Believe you, and I’ll believe anything!

The Jiaozhou Textile Factory has its own considerations when looking for a buyer. Merchants without sufficient economic strength are not qualified to come here to see the goods.

There are a group of commercial tycoons in the South who are capable of taking over, but they have close ties with British capital. The Hechingen Consortium does not even give them a chance to enter the door. To put it bluntly, that’s called aiding the enemy.

As a large consortium representing German capital, Hechingen is one of the competitors of British capital in the international market, especially after the unification of Germany.

Qiao Zhiyong, as a commercial tycoon in the northern region, represents the most powerful Shanxi merchants in the North.

The representative business of Shanxi merchants is Piaohao, which in the West is equivalent to opening a bank. It is a half-counterpart to Hechingen Bank, and its strength is naturally very strong.

Most importantly, it is not influenced by other foreign countries and is a commercial group native to the Far East, a partner that Hechingen Bank can cooperate with.

The Shanxi merchants’ base camp is mainly in the Northwest region dominated by Shanxi and Shaanxi, as well as Inner and Outer Mongolia. Their commercial scope does not overlap with that of the Hechingen Consortium. The commercial scope currently developed by the Hechingen Consortium is mainly concentrated in North China, and at most radiates to northern Anhui, eastern Henan, and southern Zhili. This is already the limit. After all, the North does not have such a dense network of waterways as the South, and there is also British and French competition in nearby Yantai.

If the Hechingen Consortium and the Shanxi merchants establish a cooperative relationship, the Hechingen Consortium and East Africa can use the Shanxi merchants’ commercial channels to cover their business to the hinterland of the Northwest Far East.

Levins: “Mr. Qiao, you are a discerning person. Don’t care about such small profits. Just imagine, if you get these machines, you can use the population market and resources in your northern hinterland of the Far East to create a cotton textile enterprise comparable to the South. According to our understanding, northern and northwestern regions of your country are suitable for cotton planting.”

While the two were negotiating, in the next workshop, the Jiaozhou Textile Factory was also negotiating with Hu Xueyan, the representative of the Anhui merchants.

That’s right, this time the Hechingen Consortium is trying to get the best of both worlds, because the Jiaozhou Textile Factory is going to reduce its production capacity by half, and as the largest textile factory in the Far East, half of its production capacity is not a small amount.

East Africa is not a powerful country. It relies entirely on pulling the tiger skin of Germany to have a considerable influence in the Far East. It is good enough to occupy a place in the North.

To further develop in the Far East, it must have agents and partners. The Shanxi merchants and the Anhui merchants, as the two major commercial groups in the Far East, have the economic strength to cooperate with East Africa.

Although the two major commercial groups seem to be thriving now, they are actually in very dangerous situations. As two representatives of Far Eastern commerce, they also face competition from foreign capital.

This time, delineating their respective spheres of influence with Hechingen, an outsider, can reduce internal friction between the three parties and avoid other countries’ capital taking advantage of the situation.

Everyone is a competitor of capital from countries such as England, France, and the United States, so it is necessary to stick together for warmth. If the three parties combine, they can stabilize the independence of the regional economies within their respective commercial scopes. Of course, if competitors open a breakthrough through war, that is another matter.

Take the Anhui merchants, for example. Their geographical location is very dangerous. The Jianghuai River basin is where British capital already has a bridgehead. The entire Yangtze River coast is not very safe.

The Anhui merchants still have some resistance, such as Hu Xueyan, who historically fought against foreign capital and was eventually destroyed by the joint suppression of the domestic bureaucratic group and foreign forces.

Chapter 334: The Triangular Alliance (Continued)

The triangular business alliance that the H兴根 Consortium intended to form was actually the same principle as local supermarkets forming an alliance to resist foreign competitors.

To be honest, the other two parties might not have sincerely wanted to cooperate with the H兴根 Consortium, especially the Jin merchants. H兴根 Bank’s business in North China was actually originally within their sphere of influence. However, the Jin merchants’ base camp was far away, and their influence on local officials in North China was weak. They did not have the power of local magnates like those in Zhuhai. Of the four classes of society—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—the Jin merchants were the most traditional “merchants.” Perhaps they still had some say in Shanxi, but it was not effective in North China.

The H兴根 Consortium’s willingness to cooperate was definitely a good thing for the Jin merchants. Qiao Zhiyong was the first to propose: “Cooperation is possible, but we must delineate our respective areas in advance. The boundaries must be clearly defined, and then no one can cross the line.”

Anthony, the general manager of H兴根 Bank in the Far East, said: “Of course, there is no problem. However, we must also emphasize that after delineating our respective areas, in the future, all three parties in the north must give priority to purchasing goods from our allies. For example, for grain, industrial products, and so on, you should give priority to purchasing from us, and we should also give priority to considering your two companies when importing products from the north.”

Hu Xueyan asked: “What if the quality of your bank’s goods is problematic?”

Anthony replied: “There is no problem with the products of our H兴根 Consortium. Of course, talk is cheap. We can set uniform standards for this matter and classify the goods according to quality. Good products will naturally have higher prices, and poor-quality products will naturally have lower prices. We will send professional personnel to each other and establish a unified organization to supervise.”

Qiao Zhiyong and Hu Xueyan exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

Qiao Zhiyong said: “Then this organization will also be our three-party liaison center. Where should the headquarters be located?”

Anthony said: “Jiaozhou, Xuzhou, and Kaifeng are three locations to choose from. The specific location is mainly for you to discuss, but it can only be in these three cities.”

Qiao Zhiyong said: “Then choose Kaifeng! After all, our three families are relatively close to here.”

Hu Xueyan said: “Kaifeng is acceptable, but I prefer Xuzhou.”

Anthony said: “Then it will be Kaifeng. This will be the headquarters for the three-party cooperation and contact. It can be built next to the East African Kingdom’s consulate in Kaifeng, which will also facilitate our communication and cooperation.”

Hu Xueyan said: “There is also the issue of demarcation. In recent years, your expansion in the Far East has been too fast, which is very unfriendly to us.”

Anthony said: “Don’t be impatient, Mr. Hu. We are obtaining the market through normal trade with the permission of your country’s officials. After all, people will actively choose goods that are good and cheap.”

Hu Xueyan said: “However, if you continue to expand at the current rate, will you eventually cross the Huai River and reach the Yangtze River? Then our Hui merchants will be reduced to mere names. Mr. Anthony, do you call this cooperation?!”

You think too highly of me! This was Anthony’s thought. If East Africa really had such strength, there would be no business for the three countries of Britain, France, and the United States.

Anthony said: “Let’s delineate the commercial boundaries according to the current respective areas! However, Mr. Hu Xueyan, I want to remind you that your biggest enemy is probably the British. Our H兴根 Bank is not stupid enough to compete with the British in the Yangtze River basin. Although Germany has two world powers, they have no influence in the Far East. Like our H兴根 Bank, we must keep a low profile in the Far East.”

That’s truly keeping a low profile. The places East Africa chose were all those that the British did not like. For example, in the north, H兴根 Bank’s business extended in a crescent shape around the southern part of the Yimeng Mountains and into the Central Plains. The same was true in the south, with only a small coastal area in Zhuhai, without entering the southern inland heartland.

Hu Xueyan asked: “Thank you for your reminder, but does your bank belong to Prussia or Austria-Hungary, or the rarely mentioned East African Kingdom?”

Rarely mentioned, indeed very interesting. After all, the East African Kingdom had only been established for a year, and perhaps not many people in Europe knew about it. Don’t think that it was reported in the newspapers when it was founded. As long as you glance at Africa, you will skip it directly.

Anthony said: “H兴根 Bank is a German national enterprise and naturally belongs to the entire German nation, including the three countries you mentioned. Therefore, H兴根 Bank is not an enterprise limited to a certain country.”

Hu Xueyan said: “Hehe, Mr. Anthony, don’t be offended. I’m just curious about your bank.”

Anthony said: “There is no need to be like this. In fact, our information is public. It’s just an ordinary bank in Europe.”

Qiao Zhiyong asked: “Mr. Anthony, I wonder if we can send people to Europe to investigate your company’s operating model?”

Qiao Zhiyong had long been interested in this so-called bank of the Westerners. Although money houses were similar, they were definitely two different things.

Anthony said: “Mr. Qiao, if you are interested in the banking industry, there is no need to refer to H兴根 Bank, because H兴根 Bank is not purely a bank. If you are interested, we can arrange for you to go to the Netherlands to investigate. It is the place with the most intense commercial atmosphere in Europe, and it is also the place where the financial industry is the purest.”

Qiao Zhiyong said: “Oh! The Netherlands.”

Anthony said: “Isn’t it unexpected? In fact, many modern financial concepts were invented by the Dutch first. The Netherlands is also one of the most economically developed regions in Europe.”

Qiao Zhiyong said: “I’m sorry to make you laugh. I personally spend more time in the mid-western Far East, and I don’t know much about overseas countries. I’ve only heard of England and France, or because of the past few years…”

Anthony said: “Mr. Qiao, you don’t have to be polite. If you really want to understand European countries, you can send people to study. Our H兴根 Bank is willing to support you and avoid some detours.”

Qiao Zhiyong said: “Then thank you so much!”

The imperial court uses the strategy of learning from the barbarians to control the barbarians, and the Jin merchants should also take action. As early as when competing with H兴根 Bank, Qiao Zhiyong discovered that the operating model of Western banks was more competitive. For example, with the interest of this bank, more people who go to deposit money benefit. Where is the bank’s profit point?

Hu Xueyan asked: “I wonder if we can also send people to Europe to study!”

Anthony said: “Of course, there is no problem, but we only give you suggestions. The specific choice is up to you.”

Since the three families are allies, it is necessary to let these two traditional merchant groups keep up with the times, which will also facilitate cooperation with the H兴根 Consortium.

Learning some Western rules is also beneficial to avoid being deceived by capital from other countries in the future. The Far East government cannot be relied upon, and they can only rely on their own efforts. Even Anthony himself sympathized with the two colleagues. If H兴根 Bank has something to do, it can ask the governments of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the East African Kingdom for help, which can generally solve the problem. On the contrary, they have to guard against “their own people.”

Chapter 335: Pig Farming

June 12th, 871.

East African Kingdom, First Township, Luvo Village.

A tragedy was unfolding at the village entrance. Anyone passing by Luvo Village at this moment would be met with heart-wrenching howls of pain.

All the villagers of Luvo Village had gathered at the entrance to watch the spectacle. Some, who hadn’t seen such a scene in years, were thoroughly enjoying it, while others, who had never witnessed anything like this before, gasped in shock.

The white villagers, in particular, were deeply affected, having never seen anything like it. They were both shocked and felt a tightness in their lower bodies, as if they were experiencing it themselves.

“My God, is he really a veterinarian? He looks more like a butcher, and his equipment looks very different from ordinary knives, more like a flattened spoon. Is this some kind of Eastern secret art, Andre?” Yuris asked his Eastern neighbor, who was also the village’s security captain.

“According to your European logic, yes, treating pigs is what a veterinarian does! After all, this is part of surgery. I think castrating pigs should also be considered surgery, right? That castration knife should be a type of scalpel,” Andre explained to Yuris as best he could.

Yuris: “But these pigs are healthy! They don’t look sick. What’s the point of this?”

Andre: “Healthy? Have you ever eaten pork?”

Yuris: “Of course!”

Andre: “Good, I saw your pork when I was in Germany. It definitely had a stronger flavor than Far Eastern pork, and it was the kind that couldn’t be washed clean no matter how hard you tried.”

Andre was a graduate of the Black Hingen School and was sent to East Africa before he even attended junior high school, so he had some knowledge.

Andre: “So you don’t castrate piglets when you raise pigs?”

Yuris: “Of course not, no one in Europe does that. Is there some trick to it?”

Andre explained to Yuris: “Let me tell you, after these piglets are castrated, their meat grows faster and doesn’t have a boar taint. If they aren’t castrated, the pork produced will have a strong, unpleasant smell.”

Yuris was somewhat skeptical: “Is that really true?”

Andre: “Why would I lie to you? This is all experience that our ancestors have accumulated! After all, everything exists for a reason. It’s just that your ancestors haven’t discovered that castrated pork is more delicious.”

Yuris: “I see! So that means the castrated pig won’t have a boar taint when it grows up?”

Europeans also eat pork, but they don’t castrate pigs during breeding. This makes the pork taste very strong, so secondary processing is very important. Most Europeans don’t know how to handle pork very well and usually use spices to mask the smell.

Although East Africa is one of the spice-producing countries, the planting area is not large, and spices are mainly for export. East African commoners don’t need spices, that’s Ernst’s opinion.

So how to solve the problem of the strong smell of pork? Naturally, the profession of pig castrator was introduced to castrate piglets. However, according to Western standards, a pig castrator is definitely a veterinarian.

He looked like a butcher, but he was actually a veterinarian in East Africa. He stood there like a mountain. Two villagers handed him a piglet, and he lifted the piglet’s leg with one hand, holding it firmly.

He casually took a disinfected castration knife from a porcelain bowl filled with alcohol, and chanted, “Hands cleave a path between life and death, a knife cuts off the root of right and wrong.”

In an instant, he made a swift cut to the piglet’s testicles, and the two testicles fell into the prepared bowl.

Only then did the piglet react, crying out in pain. The veterinarian used a needle and thread to sew it up simply, sprinkled some powder on the wound, and the castration surgery was completed. The crowd on both sides watched closely.

“Alright, does your village have any more piglets? If you need any more castrated, send them over quickly, I’m in a hurry to go to the next village!” the veterinarian said.

Veterinarians are scarce in East Africa, and even fewer know how to castrate pigs, so most of them are mobile workers. According to government arrangements, they follow a fixed route to castrate pigs in their assigned areas.

“No more, no more, the government only issued these piglets!”

The piglets were distributed to the villages by the East African government for free to increase the meat consumption of East African residents and to consume the surplus grain production.

In East Africa, the breeding industry is divided into agricultural area breeding and pastoral area breeding. Pastoral area breeding is easy to understand, while agricultural area breeding is mainly based on intensive farming, with feed accounting for the majority.

Previously, East Africa mainly raised labor-intensive livestock such as cattle and horses. Now the output of cattle and horses has increased to a certain extent, but they are mainly used for labor and transportation. Some of the northern pastures are also used for export, but very little is distributed to the bowls of East African people.

Compared with other regions, East Africa’s pastures are actually far inferior, only slightly better than Australia.

Europe, North and South America all have humid grasslands that are most suitable for pasture growth, while East Africa’s humid areas are rainforests, and the grasslands are divided into rainy and dry seasons. During the dry season, pasture will decrease, which is not conducive to grazing.

Therefore, East Africa has always emphasized both pasture breeding and agricultural area breeding, but agricultural area breeding is relatively scattered, with smaller units, but the volume is not much different from pasture breeding.

At the same time, agricultural area breeding is naturally more suitable for grain feeding: chickens, ducks, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Among them, pork is very suitable for increasing East Africa’s meat production. First of all, it only takes about half a year for a pig to grow from birth to slaughter, and it has a strong reproductive capacity. Secondly, pigs are omnivores and not picky eaters at all. A large number of agricultural by-products can be used as pig feed. Relatively speaking, the cost of raising pigs is lower than the cost of raising other animals.

In East Africa, there are a large number of tuber crops and other crops specially planted for black slaves. These crops that do not require much effort to manage are not troublesome to plant, and the yield is extremely high, which can be used as pig feed.

Europeans have no major differences with the Far East in their choice of meat. Everyone originally used pork as the most important source of meat, and only those influenced by Arab culture do not eat pork.

The Germans have a great enthusiasm for eating pork, which is reflected in the production of various sausages. However, in the current era, everyone is happy to be able to eat enough, and they are not so particular about it. They just throw it in the pot, cook it, and it’s done.

This time, the East African Kingdom imported a total of 200,000 breeding pigs, mainly for pilot promotion in the Central Province, Coastal Province, Great Lakes Province, and South Salzburg Province, raising them in villages, that is, not engaging in large-scale breeding.

Large-scale breeding is high-risk and requires a lot of technology. A careless mistake can lead to total annihilation, especially intensive farming. With so many livestock raised together, hygiene problems are difficult to solve.

Chapter 336: East African Cuisine?

Promoting pig farming is a very suitable path for East Africa. Ernst intends to make pork one of the main meats consumed in East Africa in the future.

As for beef and mutton, East African ranching has higher risks than other countries in this regard. Ranches in other countries, such as the United States, Argentina, Europe, and Asia, are almost all located in mid-to-high latitudes with relatively mild climates. The areas between 40 and 50 degrees north and south latitude are even known as the “Golden Grassland Belt.”

The African grasslands, on the other hand, stretch along the equator, forming a unique savanna. The main problem plaguing East African ranching is pests and diseases, with the tsetse fly being a particularly difficult obstacle to overcome. The solution to dealing with tsetse flies is manual management and maintenance.

Tsetse flies are mainly distributed in humid and hot rainforests, river valleys, and similar environments. This is why East African ranches are established in northern Kenya and the Plateau Province, two regions with scarce rainfall and dry climates. The most suitable place for large-scale ranching in Africa is actually South Africa, which is located at the highest latitude on the continent.

Of course, there is no need to think of tsetse flies as too terrifying. They are not unique to Africa. In fact, they also exist in the Middle East and North Africa. However, Arabs are obviously less affected by tsetse flies than Africans, which is related to hygiene conditions. Many natives are too lazy to even shoo away flies crawling on their bodies, let alone care for their livestock.

However, due to the uniqueness of the African tropical savanna, it is indeed not conducive to cattle and sheep breeding, not in terms of quantity, but in terms of quality. For example, when it comes to the beef produced, people will definitely prefer to buy better quality meat, and North and South American and European beef will definitely be more competitive in the international market.

In the previous world, due to the dominance of Western discourse, people had the illusion that Westerners drink wine with steak and Americans eat fried chicken and hamburgers all day long.

This is a misrepresentation created by public opinion. For example, Westerners also eat pork chops, but the Far East doesn’t promote it, probably because the taste isn’t very good.

In his previous life, chicken consumption was the highest among meats in the United States, but American capitalists also raised pigs and added harmful substances to increase the lean meat ratio. However, Americans rarely eat pork, mainly using it for export.

Currently, pork and lamb still firmly hold the top spot for meat consumption among European commoners. Even in the 21st century, this remains the case. North and South America are completely different from Europe due to their developed animal husbandry.

So why has pork consumption in Europe as a whole gradually been replaced by beef, with steak almost becoming a representative food of high-end Western material life?

The fundamental reason is that Europeans have too few ways to process pork. First of all, in terms of breeding, pork from uncastrated pigs has a strong boar taint.

Secondly, the ways of preparing pork are too monotonous. In Ernst’s view, the reason why Germany has become the European country that loves pork the most is the production of sausages, bacon, smoked meat, and ham, which turns pork into a palatable delicacy.

German sausages are the most famous in the world. Germans love to eat sausages, and there are no fewer than a hundred ways to make them. They are generally divided into three types: grilled sausages, boiled sausages, and raw sausages. Nuremberg sausages, curry sausages, smoked dark beer sausages, Vienna sausages, and blood sausages are all sausage recipes created by Germans.

If Far Eastern sausages are introduced on this basis, the picture will definitely be very beautiful. Ernst in his previous life was very fond of Sichuan-style sausages, mainly because Ernst himself liked spicy food. If you don’t like spicy food, how about trying Cantonese sausages with a sweet taste?

Regarding pork recipes, the Far East also has a great weapon, which is “braised” products. This can be said to be a Far Eastern specialty.

Braised products are also good for making military rations and canned food. Ernst’s food factory has experience in this area. During the Italian-Austrian War, the Vienna Food Factory launched two flavors of braised beef and pork, which received very good feedback from the front lines. However, due to the small production volume, they later became almost exclusively supplied to Austrian officers.

In terms of taste, this kind of military ration can directly kill British corned beef, but the shelf life is only one year, and the production cost of canned food is high, so the production volume is small.

The main reason is that the army cannot rely on canned food to maintain its meals. Most of the army still has to cook, and canned food is only used in emergencies.

However, the army’s meals in this era completely depend on the skills of the cooks, which can almost be described as appalling.

Military canned food, especially military canned food produced in Hechingen, makes it very easy to conquer the taste buds of the Austrian army.

Currently, the Vienna Food Factory and the Berlin Food Factory are increasing their efforts to research and develop (copying Far Eastern braised products) new products. Copying is almost commonplace for Hechingen food companies.

As a member of the great food nation in his previous life, would Ernst honestly invest in researching and developing delicious food? Most of the research and development funds of Hechingen food companies are invested in how to “store” food.

As for the taste of the food, they can just copy it directly, anyway, there are many things that Europeans have never seen before.

In addition to braised products, there is also the diversity of East African folk cooking methods. European folk cooking of pork is mainly based on frying and grilling, but East Africa is different. Frying, grilling, deep-frying, steaming, and stewing are all available. East African foodies with the means have already arranged them.

East Africa has a relatively diverse immigrant population, but only the Far Eastern and Italian immigrants really know how to eat, and they have high demands on the enjoyment of food. The rich products of East Africa give them room to play.

Among them, deep-frying is very characteristic of East Africa. East African cooking oil is mainly vegetable oil, and East Africa has a diverse selection of vegetable oils. Sesame oil is of the best quality, after all, it is the most suitable place in the world to grow sesame. Africa has a huge advantage in this regard. Butter is completely extinct in East Africa, or rather, it has never appeared.

East African breeding is mainly focused on beef cattle, and milk production is not considered at all. The lack of raw materials naturally leads to low butter production. Only pastoral areas may have a small number of immigrants who make their own butter.

Only the First Town has a batch of Dutch dairy cows, which have become a special supply for the First Town, but it is not suitable for large-scale promotion. As the capital, the First Town enjoys endless privileges.

In his previous life, there was a saying about the world’s three major cuisines, namely Chinese cuisine, French cuisine, and Turkish cuisine. Without considering taste, but only in terms of influence, there should also be British-Indian curry masala cuisine, Japanese cuisine, and American fast food.

East Africa has Chinese cuisine, mainly Shandong cuisine, and European cuisine, mainly Italian cuisine.

However, no one is promoting it, which leads to the East African cuisine not being systematic. Ernst is very willing to have an East African cuisine that brings together the advantages of various cuisines in the world.

Taking the four major cuisines of Chinese cuisine as a base, adding German dietary characteristics, and finally integrating the best parts of various cuisines in the world.

East Africa has natural advantages. Except for the lack of cold-zone ingredients, most of them can be replicated. However, it seems that there is no delicious food in the cold zone, pickled auk? Surströmming?

Chapter 337: Fellow Countrymen from America

Promoting East African cuisine couldn’t be rushed. Ernst needed to handle it personally. However, he was still in Europe, so it had to be put on hold until he reached East Africa.

…

July 12, 1871.

New York, America.

The United States after the Civil War was experiencing unprecedented prosperity. This was what Jonathan, the North American General Manager of Hexingen Bank, had witnessed in the past three years.

Hexingen Bank had landed in North America three years ago. Actually, there was a North American business liaison office even earlier, but that was before Hexingen Bank existed, when Ernst was just starting out in Berlin. It wasn’t until Hexingen Bank was established and expanded that it officially landed on this fertile land.

“Another immigrant ship?” Jonathan said while strolling along the beach with his wife.

His wife, Angelina, replied, “Probably Italians. There have been a lot of Italians coming to America recently. For a while, it seemed like Italians were landing in New York every day. Looks like things aren’t going so well in the Kingdom of Italy.”

Jonathan chuckled. “Heh heh heh, they deserve it. How could they possibly have a good outcome after provoking us Germans?”

As a German, Jonathan automatically considered the Austro-Hungarian Empire as the homeland of the Germans. Now there was a second choice—Germany. However, in the past, most people abroad still flew the flag of Austria, as the Austrian Empire was then a top-tier power.

Angelina said, “Jonathan, it’s fine to say these things at home, but don’t say them outside. If someone with ulterior motives hears you, it could cause trouble.”

Jonathan replied, “I know, dear. But, it’s just the two of us here, that’s why I’m saying it.”

Angelina was mainly worried that Jonathan’s words would be heard by the Italian immigrant community, causing unnecessary trouble. The Italian immigrant community in the United States was notorious, a mix of revolutionaries and gangsters. Recently, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had forced the Kingdom of Italy to expel a large number of “patriots,” so the Italian immigrants in America were quite spirited.

New York was the first stop for many Italian immigrants, and there were many Italian groups there to meet the ships and recruit people, so it was best to be careful on the streets. There were probably some formidable individuals in the crowd. The most famous gangs in America were now almost entirely controlled by Italians.

Before the rise of the Italian mafia, the main gang groups in America were Irish. From 1845 to 1850, Ireland experienced the Great Famine, and millions of Irish refugees poured into the United States. These people who fled not only had American citizenship, but the American government also arranged jobs for them.

At that time, it was the early days of American democracy, and the separation of powers had just been established. Any new immigrant had the right to vote, so these Irish were the main target for American politicians to win over. Initially, politicians bribed these Irish by finding them jobs and arranging citizenship, but as competition intensified, corrupt politicians also demanded that they attack their opponents, and of course, the methods became diverse. Kidnapping, extortion, intimidation, and other evil deeds were committed, and the Irish henchmen cultivated by these politicians became the first gangs in America.

But now the Irish were outdated. Compared to the low-level Irish gangs, the Italian mafia were mostly veterans who had been through many battles. They had strict discipline and organized structures, and were more popular with employers.

With Ernst’s encouragement, the Italian mafia’s business development in the United States was further boosted.

Paraguay, as a small country, couldn’t accommodate many Italian immigrants, and most were Venetians. Although South American countries like Argentina also welcomed Italian immigrants, more Italians ultimately went to the United States, mainly because the Italian immigrant base in the United States was large, and calling on friends and relatives could always have some effect.

Italian refugees contacted relatives in the United States, inquired about the situation, and then sold their belongings to come to America.

For penniless Italian refugees, what awaited them in America was not paradise, but the “love” of their fellow countrymen.

…

At the pier, the crowd was a sea of people. The immigrant ship finally docked. Many Italians were dizzy from seasickness, some had not eaten for a long time, and their bodies were weak. But the shipowner was already impatiently urging people to leave.

“Hey, you paupers! You’ve arrived in America, freedom is here, paradise is here, so hurry up and get off my ship.”

“Don’t dawdle! Are you still asleep? Hurry up and take your luggage and get out!”

“Hey, hey, don’t die on my ship. If you’re going to die, die in the sea. Sailor, drag him down.”

Finally, after an hour, the shipowner had driven everyone off the ship.

“Captain Mooney! This is some of the shipping fee that our chamber of commerce has collected, thank you for your kindness in rescuing so many Italian people.”

“Hahaha, Mr. Babur, you’re too kind! This is what I should do!”

Mooney, who had been fierce just now, seemed to have changed his face, smiling at Babur, completely lacking the impatience he had shown to the Italians earlier. After all, Babur was the one giving him money.

Babur was one of the representatives of the Italians in New York. The reason they paid shipowners like Mooney was because three months ago, they had received news of a shocking incident.

Some black-hearted shipowners, in order to make more money, threw the Italians bound for America into the open sea, gave them a few small boats, and then left them to fend for themselves, rushing to pick up the next batch.

As a result, survivors were rescued by passing merchant ships, and the incident was reported in the newspapers. Seeing their compatriots suffering such a disaster, Italian patriots in America came up with a solution: raise funds to pay the shipowners, so that for every batch of Italians they brought to America, they could receive an extra income.

The requirement was that all the Italians had to be alive and the ship had to be full to receive the money. Under this incentive, such incidents were finally prevented.

The patriots certainly didn’t have that much funding, because they also had to support the Italian unification cause, which was very expensive. So the main sponsors were the Italian mafia.

And the Italian mafia now needed manpower to develop their business in the United States, so the Italians who had just disembarked once again felt the enthusiasm of their “fellow countrymen.”

“Hey, brother, you must be starving! I happen to have some bread and water here.”

“Really… thank you so much, sir!”

“Eat slowly, don’t choke, here’s some water!”

A little later.

“Where in Italy are you from?”

“Lombardy!”

“That’s a great place. I used to be in Sicily, and I heard that Lombardy is the best place in Italy.”

“Unfortunately, it isn’t anymore. The war destroyed it.”

“Don’t be sad, brother. Now that you’ve come to America, everything will be better!”

“I hope so!”

“Brother, are you coming to America to join relatives?”

“My family all died in Italy.”

“My condolences!”

“It’s okay, I’ve gotten over it these days, especially on the ship. I felt like I was going to die, but when I set foot on land, I felt that it was good to be alive!”

“Then you’re all alone. Do you have a place to live, a job, how will you make a living in America?”

“This…”

“Sigh, I knew it. You’re just like the others, rushing to America without a clue. You should at least find out the situation and prepare before coming!”

“Then what should I do?”

“Hehe, luckily you met me. Our company is hiring, and the boss is also Italian. Are you interested in joining us?”

“Really?”

“Of course. Look at this suit I’m wearing. You can’t imagine that I used to be a refugee from the poorest region of Italy! In America, as long as you dare to think and work hard, there are plenty of opportunities to get rich!”

Seeing that he was still hesitant, the man continued, “Don’t worry, a fellow countryman wouldn’t cheat another fellow countryman. I’m only helping you because we’re both Italian.”

Chapter 338: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

For ordinary people, being recruited by the Italian mafia at the docks might seem like a good deal. Although a bit dangerous, the待遇待遇待遇 of mafia members wasn’t bad, and they could even use their status to bully ordinary citizens, giving them a sense of vanity. However, there was no way the Italian mafia could absorb such a large influx of Italian immigrants!

At this point, the Italian mafia demonstrated what it meant to be professional. The United States was currently engaged in a massive expansion of its railway system and the development of the West, both of which required a large workforce. The Italian mafia seized this opportunity to get involved in various construction projects.

It was also easy for Italians to take over projects. If you didn’t let them work, you wouldn’t be able to start construction normally. They would send people to make trouble every other day, to see who would give in first.

With no other choice, most bosses chose to settle the matter peacefully. However, while they could give the work to the Italians, it had to be done well, or they would still find someone to deal with them if they got angry.

The Italian mafia couldn’t conjure people out of thin air, so recruiting people in Italy was extremely important. This was why the Italian mafia was willing to pay for the immigrants’ passage.

Since the end of the American Civil War, half of all steel produced in the United States had been used to manufacture rails, ushering in the golden age of American railways. New York seized this opportunity and experienced rapid development.

New York, also known as New Amsterdam, was discovered relatively late, so its development started later. In 1524, the Italian Giovanni da Verrazzano, with the support of the French King, discovered New York Harbor. He sailed into the New York harbor area aboard the Dauphine, declared the area to be French territory, and named it New Angoulême. He became the first European to visit New York in recorded history, so the relationship between Italians and New York has deep roots.

After American independence, New York developed rapidly. In 1790, New York surpassed Philadelphia to become the largest city in the United States. In 1800, only about 9% of foreign goods entered the United States through the Port of New York. In 1825, the Erie Canal opened, and New York became a distribution center for goods. By 1860, the proportion of foreign goods had jumped to 62%. At the same time, New York’s population exceeded one million, making it the largest emerging city in the world at that time. Now, New York has caught up with the railway development boom and is expected to develop even further.

Grand Central Terminal in New York is a representative symbol of New York’s railway development. It was built with funding from the railway tycoon Vanderbilt.

He inherited his father’s fortune in 1877 and then massively expanded the New York Central Railroad network, purchasing the Chicago and North Western Railway, the Chicago, New York and St. Louis Railroad, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway. Grand Central Terminal was one of his masterpieces.

The construction of Grand Central Terminal is a microcosm of the expansion of American railways. After completion, it could accommodate fifteen thousand passengers. The completed Grand Central Terminal became a landmark building in Manhattan and the largest single building in North America.

Italians played a significant role in the construction of Grand Central Terminal. Currently, Italy is the largest source of immigrants to the United States. Although the overall number and quality of immigrants to the United States are far inferior to what they were in the previous life, it is not too bad. Italians and Slavs have filled the vacancies left by the Germans.

The Hechengen Consortium bribed newspapers in the German region to provide objective descriptions of German-Americans in the United States, dispelling the desire of most German immigrants to go to the United States, and instead choosing East Africa.

Although they don’t know much about East Africa either, they understand the ways of the nobility. The appeal of the Hechengen royal family and the great nobles is there, and it is not comparable to the American upstarts.

Of course, the United States, as a land of opportunity, is still attractive to many Germans with rebellious spirits. These people are like those who insist on going to northern Myanmar to make a fortune, and they scoff at the Hechengen Consortium’s objective descriptions of the United States.

What “hell on earth”? That’s because I haven’t been there yet. If I go to the United States, I can make a fortune with the “skills” I honed in Germany. I heard that the rich in the United States are all generous “good people.” If I kidnap a few of them, won’t we get rich and then return home in glory?

If you ask them how they know, they will say that people from my village who went there are all rich now. They asked me to go at the time, but I didn’t go, and now I regret it so much.

These people who don’t know what’s good for them only believe their own “reliable inside information,” so let them go. Anyway, no one is stopping them. Whether they can even find food to eat in the United States is a problem, because their predecessors have already blocked the road, and they are obviously not as united as the Italians.

From Italy to North America, there are both revolutionaries and mafia organizations, and their organizational skills are much stronger than those of the Germans.

They formed various construction companies and then recruited people as “workers” to provide paid, cheap labor services, or outsourcing, to American individuals and businesses.

Grand Central Terminal, which is currently under construction in New York this year, uses a large number of Italian laborers. The status of Italians in the United States is only slightly higher than that of Chinese, Indians, and blacks. Except for the large number of blacks, Italians are the most numerous, so the status of Italians is extremely limited. Most Italians can only engage in low-end jobs recognized by American society, such as cooks, carpenters, and construction workers.

Anyway, they have no human rights. Most of them are used to death. If they want to resist, they must first pass the mafia. As partners of the capitalists, mafia members will help manage their compatriots and prevent them from causing trouble.

Although there is a risk of sudden death under high-intensity work, it is better than starving to death in Italy. Even if the working conditions in Europe are not necessarily better than in the United States, although the social status may be a little lower, most Italians are used to it. Moreover, there are no creatures like blacks in Europe to set them off. As long as someone else is having a worse time than me, then I will at least have some comfort in my heart.

Overall, Italian immigrants are satisfied with their lives in the United States, and the Italian mafia is even more satisfied. They can’t make enough money. American businesses and capitalists are also satisfied. Italians are cheap, and the mafia keeps them in line and prevents them from causing trouble. Italians are also more diligent than Indians and blacks, and the management cost is low. Who wouldn’t like such a labor force?

Moreover, the Italians do not have a strong motherland as their backing. Italy has now returned to a state of disunity, so their status cannot be high. They only benefit from being European, which is why their status is slightly higher than that of Chinese, Indians, and blacks.

In fact, the immigrants who first came to Italy had a relatively high status and were accepted by American society. At that time, Italian immigrants were mainly small merchants, and laborers accounted for less than one-seventh.

But in recent years, especially in the last two years, a large number of Italians have poured in, and most of them are ordinary people with no skills. Even if they are given opportunities, they can only engage in low-end jobs. In addition, Italian mafia gangs have opened up branches in the United States, causing a great decline in American social security, a surge in crime rates, and Italian immigrant communities are even more slums within slums. All of this has greatly lowered the image and status of the Italian immigrant community in the United States.

The culprits are actually the American government, the Italian mafia, the Kingdom of Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Ernst. It is the joint promotion of these five forces that has caused this situation.

According to normal immigration procedures, even if a war breaks out, Italian immigrants to the United States should not be so不堪不堪不堪. However, Ernst screened many high-quality immigrants to East Africa and Paraguay in advance, so it would be strange if the Italian immigrants who went to the United States were any good.

Chapter 339: Increased Investment

New York, North American branch of the Black Herington Bank.

“Mr. Jonathan! This is an important letter from headquarters, please take a look.”

“Hmm, bring it to me!”

Jonathan took the letter and glanced at the envelope.

“You can leave first. Until I give the order, no one is to enter.”

“Yes, Director.”

After his subordinate left, Jonathan carefully opened the envelope and began to read.

Soon, Jonathan’s expression became somewhat surprised, even incredulous. Was this headquarters’ decision? Had they gone mad! If they did this, how much money would they lose?

As for headquarters’ risk assessment, Jonathan didn’t quite believe it. According to the current situation in the United States, Jonathan felt that its economy was just getting started. Although the social order in the United States was a bit chaotic, even bad publicity is still publicity. Chaos could also promote economic vitality, at least indicating that local policies were very relaxed. Just like those Italians who engaged in black market industries in the United States, they could still create value for American society.

For example, in his previous life, the American drug addicts and the market they created supported at least a million Mexicans, making a huge contribution to balancing US-Mexico trade. Although drugs are extremely harmful, it doesn’t stop them from being an industry. A gray market industry is still an industry, and it still has value. This is inevitable under the capitalist market value system.

Although most of the wealth is taken away by a few people, as long as it stays in the United States, it belongs to the United States. They are not stupid. In the United States, money can solve ninety-nine percent of the problems and symbolizes social status, which is much more comfortable than staying in the Old World, where nobles are everywhere.

However, although Jonathan didn’t understand, he was prepared to do as he was told. After all, he was just an employee!

After destroying the letter, Jonathan began to hold a meeting.

Jonathan: “From now on, we will further relax restrictions. We are preparing to make a big splash in the United States and contribute to promoting the prosperity of American society!”

The situation in the United States is exceptionally good, and everything makes money, but the Black Herington Bank’s review mechanism is very unfriendly to some traditional industries.

Now, according to headquarters’ instructions, Jonathan was going to relax these restrictions, which meant that a large amount of new capital was about to be injected into the American market.

“As long as we can be sure that we can make a lot of money, it doesn’t matter if the risk is greater. We must carry out the bank’s business with this goal in mind before the end of this year!”

The Black Herington Bank’s North American branch’s largest investment in the United States was in the technology sector, mainly the electricity industry. Now, it was going to enter all industries.

Like all American banks, no matter what it is, as long as it makes money, I’ll invest in this project!

However, this investment would only last for six months. Starting next year, the North American branch’s goal was to sell these temporarily hyped-up projects at high prices. When is a high price? This question was difficult to figure out, but once headquarters’ time was up, they would sell.

Jonathan did not reveal this matter to his subordinates, which was also what Jonathan did not understand the most. What if the prices of these assets continued to rise after they were sold? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss!

…

Not only in the United States, but also in the Far East, the Black Herington Consortium was also increasing its investment. However, the anchored industries were mainly aimed at the Far East’s domestic market, rather than export industries. The common people in the Far East also had huge demands. The Black Herington Consortium cooperated with Shanxi merchants and Anhui merchants to jointly develop the northern market in the Far East.

Undeniably, the Black Herington Consortium’s investment would cause many traditional handicrafts to go bankrupt, and Qiao Zhiyong, the leader of the Shanxi merchants, intended to learn from the Western banking model to transform the Shanxi merchants’ remittance shops, which would accelerate this situation.

When they learn the Western banking model, they will inevitably come into contact with new things internationally, which is precisely what the Shanxi merchants lack. The Shanxi merchants went from prosperity to sudden decline, essentially due to a lack of international vision.

Historically, during the glorious period of the Shanxi merchants’ development, Western capitalism was also booming. However, when the Shanxi merchants dealt with Russia, they were not interested in their large-scale machine production. When trading with European ships, they seemed to only be interested in the goods they needed, and it was difficult for anything else to catch their eye. They were eager for quick success and stuck in their ways, not realizing that they were becoming disconnected from the global environment. They were too lazy to learn new technologies and were reluctant to invest the money they had worked so hard to earn in new machinery and equipment, only caring about immediate interests by buying houses and land.

However, the emergence of the Black Herington Bank as a competitor directly snatched the Shanxi merchants’ territory in eastern North China in a very short period of time, allowing Qiao Zhiyong to see the huge crisis facing the Shanxi merchants.

They couldn’t even compete with Westerners in normal commercial activities. If the Shanxi merchants continued to stick to their old ways, the northern market would sooner or later be swallowed up by the Black Herington Bank.

As for the Qing government, which had close ties with the Shanxi merchants, it could not save the Shanxi merchants. Faced with Westerners, the Qing government had also tried to close its doors and protect its domestic market, but it obviously failed under the Westerners’ powerful ships and cannons.

The rapid expansion of the Black Herington Consortium in the north was proof of this. After all, the Black Herington Consortium was backed by two world powers and an “empire” not known to the world. Germany’s power alone was enough to make the Qing government fear it, as it was an entity that had defeated France on its own.

With the Black Herington Consortium’s driving force, German merchants had truly formed the potential to compete with Britain, France, and the United States in the Far East.

Currently, other countries in the Far East were only staying in coastal areas and areas with convenient transportation, but the Black Herington Consortium had forcibly overcome the inconvenience of inland transportation and entered its hinterland.

The reason why the Black Herington Consortium could do this was very simple. One reason was that the transportation in the Yimeng Mountain area of southern Shandong was inconvenient. Since ancient times, the economy here had not been very good. Although northern Jiangsu was a vast plain, it had also suffered from the flooding of the Yellow River until the Yellow River changed its course drastically during the Xianfeng period, ending the centuries-old water disasters in the northern Jiangsu area.

However, when the Yellow River drastically changed its course during the Xianfeng period, it coincided with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement and the Nian Rebellion. Military affairs were tense, and there was no time to manage the Yellow River. Yang Yizeng, the Governor-General of the Southern River, submitted a memorial to the Qing court, suggesting that “the blocking and construction be postponed.”

In other words, they were giving up, which led to more frequent and severe Yellow River floods in Shandong. The towns on both sides of the Ji River in Shandong declined as a result, represented by Qidong County.

The source of abundant immigrants in East Africa has also been found. In other words, the Black Herington Consortium’s sphere of influence in North China was originally an economic depression of the Qing Dynasty.

Even in the twenty-first century, northern Jiangsu is still a fault zone in the eastern coastal area, with development far less than the south. There is only one large port, Lianyungang, and its development is not very ideal (compared to southern Jiangsu and eastern Shandong).

Today, the city with the best economy within the Black Herington Consortium’s economic sphere of influence is Kaifeng, which is also the only provincial capital. However, east of Kaifeng all the way to the coast is basically a devastated area with both natural and man-made disasters. Naturally, this kind of place cannot attract Western forces other than the Black Herington Consortium. After all, other regions are much stronger than here in terms of conditions.

Chapter 340: The Huaihai Economic Zone

To say that the economic zone planned by the Hechingen Consortium in the Far East, encompassing southern Shandong, northern Jiangsu, eastern Henan, and northern Anhui, was an economic backwater was really just a result of the combined effect of natural and man-made disasters over the years.

Man-made disasters were definitely the main factor. After all, since the Yellow River changed its course during the Song Dynasty, its estuary had been in northern Jiangsu, and the impact of flooding had always been present. However, thanks to the Grand Canal, this area had been one of the most economically prosperous regions from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

And the early Qing Dynasty, like all unified dynasties, had the ability to manage the Yellow River. Now, choosing to do nothing, coupled with the rise of maritime transport, its decline became inevitable.

But by the time the Hechingen Consortium landed here, the Yellow River had already changed its course for twenty years, and the floods had receded. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement and the Nian Rebellion had also been suppressed. It was considered a good window for development, and the Hechingen Consortium had gotten lucky.

Without the successive natural and man-made disasters, it would not have been easy for the Hechingen Consortium to enter this area. While the floods and wars caused great destruction, they also destroyed the local feudal economic system.

Take Huai’an Prefecture, for example. This was originally an important base for Huizhou merchants, second only to Yangzhou, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was seized by the Hechingen Consortium. Actually, it wasn’t really seizing. The Huizhou merchants were currently shifting their focus to Songjiang Prefecture. The Yellow River changing its course, the Grand Canal falling into disuse, Huai’an lost its function as a north-south shipping hub. With the rise of maritime transport and the entry of cheap foreign goods from the sea, it was inevitable that Huizhou merchants would abandon this place. The Hechingen Consortium only played the role of delivering the final blow, causing the Huizhou merchants to completely abandon this place. Haizhou Prefecture, Xuzhou Prefecture, Jining Prefecture, Yanzhou Prefecture, Sizhou Prefecture, Fengyang Prefecture… suffered the same fate as Huai’an.

Basically, it overlapped with the area of Nian Rebellion activity. In 1855, the Yellow River breached its banks (east of Kaifeng), and a large number of victims in southern Shandong, northern Anhui, and northern Jiangsu were displaced and joined the Nian Rebellion, reaching a climax. North and south of the Huai River, the Nian Rebellion was everywhere. The Nian Rebellion was active because the local economy was destroyed and the people lost their source of income.

Ernst himself had previously been enthusiastic about the East African immigration cause and had not noticed that the area covered by the Hechingen Consortium was the “Huaihai Province” envisioned by netizens on the Internet in his previous life. It was only when the Hechingen Consortium prepared to invest heavily in the Far East to cope with the economic crisis that he realized it.

When Ernst invested in an area, he liked to plan the region. The typical examples were the East African Northern Industrial Belt and the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone. Atypical examples included the investment areas centered on the three cities of Berlin, Vienna, and Trieste. As for the United States, it was entirely for the money. Wherever the profits were high, the funds flowed there. Investing in the Far East, naturally, could not be entirely for economic benefits. It was mixed with Ernst’s personal feelings. On the premise of not violating interests, he could help if he could. Anyway, it was win-win cooperation, and neither side would lose out.

…

Yanzhou Prefecture, Zaozhuang.

At this time, Zaozhuang was a village under the jurisdiction of Yixian County in Yanzhou Prefecture. Yixian County has a long history. Saying Yixian County might be unfamiliar, but the name Lanling is more famous.

Although in Ernst’s previous life, Zaozhuang City, Yixian County, and Lanling were not considered the same by the local population, the approximate location was this area.

“Your Excellency Chen, I hope your government will provide more convenience for my bank’s investment here in the future,” said Mark, the head of the Yanzhou branch of the Hechingen Bank.

“Hehe, rest assured, your bank. Your bank has come from afar to invest in the Far East. As the saying goes, guests come from afar, and my great Celestial Empire naturally has a demeanor to not let petty people delay your bank’s affairs!” Chen Shijie, the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner representing the Qing government, responded with a smile.

But in his heart, he didn’t think so. If the Hechingen Consortium hadn’t resorted to trickery, who would have bothered to come here and deal with this group of foreigners?

The Hechingen Consortium’s investment in the Far East naturally could not bypass the local government. The Qing government’s nature was to yield to strength but not to weakness, so the East African government came forward and obtained a “sword of authority” in the capital before starting large-scale development in the Far East.

The East African government naturally didn’t have such great influence. In reality, it was a joint effort by German and Austro-Hungarian merchant groups, demanding that the Qing government lift restrictions in the name of East Africa, Germany, and Austria-Hungary.

Germany and Austria-Hungary were being represented. This matter was mainly led by the East African government. Germany was very busy and had no time to care about overseas affairs. They were studying how to prevent France from ever recovering. The Austro-Hungarian minister was even working in Japan and was not stationed in the Far East.

The Hechingen Consortium was a German consortium. Coupled with other German merchants doing business in the Far East, it naturally represented the interests of Germany. So this time, the Prussian minister was invited out by the Hechingen Consortium again.

An East African ambassador, a German minister, and a German merchant group represented the entire German merchants (including Austria-Hungary) in the Far East, putting pressure on the Qing government. This matter was naturally resolved. Two of the world’s great powers were involved, and the Qing government naturally did not dare to neglect it. The psychological shadow caused by Britain and France last time was still in their minds. Not to mention Britain and France, just Tsarist Russia in the north, one great power, was difficult for the Qing government to deal with.

In addition, this economic cooperation led by East Africa, although it had elements of coercion, gave the Qing government enough face, allowing it to invest 50% and collect taxes. Although it had no management authority, the profits and taxes were indispensable.

As for how much money the imperial court was willing to invest, it completely depended on its financial strength. In the end, the stingy Qing court did not invest, but instead allowed Huizhou merchants with semi-official status to invest 30%, and the remaining 20% was invested by Shanxi merchants to jointly develop the “Huaihai Economic Zone.”

The Huaihai Economic Zone spans four provinces. The region is rich in coal resources, especially in southwestern Shandong and northern Anhui, where there are large coal mines. The whole world is in the steam age, and the Far East market is huge, so developing coal mines is a profitable business.

Zaozhuang is the first place the Hechingen Consortium wants to invest in. The textile industry, the easiest industry to get started with, has been determined to be in Jiaozhou. The Huaihai area is relatively rich in coal resources, and the Hechingen Consortium plans to develop its coal resources in Zaozhuang first.

It is not far from Weishan Lake, which is relatively convenient for transportation. The remaining start-up capital will be provided by the Hechingen Bank, but the construction will be taken over by an Austrian coal mining company. At the same time, equipment will be introduced from Germany, so the interests of East Africa, Germany, and Austria will all be taken care of.

But the name Zaozhuang is a bit stingy. The current Zaozhuang is just a small town the size of a village (due to the impact of East African immigration causing local population loss). It is better to take the ancient name Lanling as the name of the new city. As for the existing Lanling Town, it can only be said sorry.

The planned Lanling City will replace the original Zaozhuang Town and become a new industrial city relying on the coal mining industry.

The importance of the coal mining industry to industrialization in this era is self-evident. After the Lanling City coal mine is developed, relying on Weishan Lake and using river transportation, it can radiate the entire Huaihai Economic Zone.

Lanling City is just a starting point. Subsequently, the coal mines in Jining, Linyi, Huaibei, Zibo, Heze… and even the coal mines in Huainan area of Anhui Province may be developed.

At the same time, the Qing government will organize manpower to sort out and dredge the roads, transportation, and canals in the Huaihai Economic Zone. The grain needed for these projects will be provided to the Qing government by East Africa at cost price, and both parties will share the future benefits.

The tax system in the Huaihai Economic Zone was also required by East Africa to be unified. Imitating the German Customs Union, some exorbitant taxes were abolished, and local protectionism was reduced to ensure the free flow of people and logistics in the entire Huaihai Economic Zone.

The central government of the Qing government was happy to see this happen. The local tax system had already been corrupted, but it was not easy for them, as rulers, to make major changes. It was not bad to let the Kingdom of East Africa be the villain.

Of course, the Qing government also had to guard against East Africa. This was also the reason why Chen Shijie, the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, personally came forward. He was originally a staff member of Zeng Guofan and participated in the suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement and the Nian Rebellion. So this time, under the requirements of the central government, he was responsible for monitoring the Kingdom of East Africa. The two sides carried out cooperation in an atmosphere of mutual distrust.

Chapter 341: Democratic Elections

The Heisingen Consortium increased its investments in North America and the Far East, which correspondingly reduced its capital investment in East Africa. The real reason, however, was that East Africa was digesting the fruits of previous investments. Investment in East Africa was mainly concentrated in the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone and the Northern Industrial Zone.

The Lake Malawi Industrial Zone was solely funded by the Heisingen Consortium, but it would still take some time for the heavy industries in the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone to go into production.

The construction of the factory buildings alone took a lot of time, not to mention the larger-scale infrastructure construction. The Lake Malawi coast happens to be one of the areas with the worst geographical conditions in East Africa, with many mountains, so road construction was relatively difficult, requiring detours around rugged terrain, which greatly increased construction costs.

After all of this was completed, the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone would still need new immigrants to fill it. Industry needs workers, but at this stage, the overall number of immigrants to East Africa is declining.

In particular, the number of German immigrants has sharply decreased. Without a sufficient number of German immigrants, the introduction of immigrants from other ethnic groups must be cautious.

In this regard, East Africa is stepping up its efforts to develop the potential of Hungary, after all, the Magyars of the Kingdom of Hungary account for only five percent of the Hungarian population.

This stems from the unique concept of the Magyar nobility. Due to the overabundance of Hungarian nobles, numbering as many as six hundred thousand (plus the newly ennobled Lombards), the Magyar nobles easily and automatically regard themselves as a group. They expel the commoners in the Hungarian countryside from their ethnicity, declaring: “Only landowners are true Magyars!”

Nationalism was prevalent in the 19th century, but Hungarian nationalism was not pure. Hungary can be said to be a region that wears the cloak of nationalism while resolutely defending the interests of conservatives. It can be said that it is using the guise of nationalism to protect its own interests.

If that is the case, can Austria assimilate these rural commoners? The answer is no. Although the Austro-Hungarian Empire actively promoted compulsory education in an attempt to strengthen national identity.

It had some effect, but not much, because schools within Hungary taught Magyar. In other words, compulsory education cannot change the status quo of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but will instead accelerate Hungarian national identity. Therefore, East Africa is now rushing to send those Hungarian commoners to East Africa before the Austro-Hungarian Empire popularizes compulsory education.

Although Hungarian immigrants are more inclined towards Hungary in their cognition, at least geographically, everything will no longer be a problem once they arrive in East Africa. Changing ethnicity is a simple and crude matter.

However, most Hungarian immigrants only speak Magyar, which is indeed a problem, so they cannot be gathered together separately.

These Hungarian immigrants cannot be used to fill sparsely populated areas such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, but they can be used to supplement the population of eastern East Africa.

After so long of development in eastern East Africa, the popularization of German has been quite complete. The German-speaking environment forces other ethnic groups to learn German. This is inevitable. It is really difficult to move forward without German, and even life becomes a problem.

Generally speaking, it only takes two or three months for everyone to learn German through the German-speaking environment. Even the most stubborn person can grind it out in half a year to a year.

Hungarian immigrants are used to fill the east, and East Africa can free up German immigrants to consolidate construction work in areas such as Zimbabwe.

The Kingdom of East Africa, angered by being tricked by the Ndebele people, instructed the Shona people to capture all the Ndebele people who had enslaved them in the past and send them to the Central Province to dig canals.

Although the Ndebele people were punished, the development of the area by the Kingdom of East Africa was also put on the agenda, and co-governance with the natives completely became a thing of the past.

But how should the larger number of Shona people be dealt with? The Kingdom of East Africa decided to engage in some crooked ways to gradually deplete the local natives without causing fierce resistance.

First of all, the Shona people were forcibly divided into more than one hundred and fifty large tribes according to region, with approximately ten thousand people in each large tribe. This was their largest unit, so that they would not form a new core.

Then, East Africa sent more than one hundred soldiers to each large tribe, that is, a company, to be responsible for the stability of the large tribe within its jurisdiction. In this way, East Africa has a well-organized combat force in the area where each large native tribe exists, which can attack or defend, and will not be suddenly annihilated by the natives as before. Even if they fall into a disadvantage, they can wait for reinforcements.

Secondly, the Shona people are directly ruled, just like the Ndebele people. They themselves are the local rulers, rather than sharing power.

As for how to ensure that these natives accept the rule peacefully, while at the same time orderly reducing the number of natives, East Africa also came up with a poisonous plan, which is the election system.

East Africa, in the name of the gods, requires each large Shona tribe to offer one hundred slaves as tribute, and who becomes a slave needs to be carefully considered. If the Kingdom of East Africa directly designates the slave candidates, it will definitely cause the Shona people to be united against the enemy, and the contradiction will ultimately point to East Africa.

Therefore, East Africa does not forcibly designate who is a slave, but allows the Shona people to elect the slaves themselves. These natives, who were temporarily brought together by East Africa with force, are already full of contradictions, so they will definitely be very active in voting for those who have conflicts with them to be slaves.

“Procedural democracy!” “Mob rule!”

The “lucky ones” who are “elected” will contribute to the development of East Africa. As for the remaining natives, don’t worry, the main theme is “everyone can be a dragon,” and everyone has a chance.

This trick is very vicious, forcibly transferring the contradictions to different groups of Shona people, causing them to fall into infighting.

At the same time, East Africa does not extract many slaves each time, only about one percent, which will make most natives have a fluke mentality, just like pedestrians crossing the road, so many people do it, it is impossible for a traffic accident to happen to me.

In the end, East Africa draws fifteen thousand slaves from Zimbabwe every three months, and the Shona population of Zimbabwe is currently only nearly two million (modern Zimbabwe has approximately sixteen million people). It will not take long for Zimbabwe to turn from black to white. These fifteen thousand slaves are then used to support construction projects throughout East Africa.

Such a good “strategy” cannot be enjoyed by Zimbabwe alone, but must be implemented in all native-inhabited areas of East Africa.

While continuously exporting black people from Zimbabwe, new immigrants from East Africa are constantly imported into the Zimbabwe region to consolidate East African rule.

There are only two million Shona people in Zimbabwe, which seems to be a relatively small population, but it is actually in the upper-middle level in Africa. Zimbabwe has a total area of more than three hundred thousand square kilometers, close to four hundred thousand square kilometers, and has little rainfall. In such a “small” area, there are as many as two million natives (including the Ndebele people), and the population density is much higher than that of the East African grasslands in the beginning.

Chapter 342: The Glass Industry

South Salzburg Province, Mbeya City.

“Opening the kiln!” A shout rang out.

The workers, who had been waiting beside the kiln, used iron bars to pry open the kiln mouth, and a surge of heat poured out.

“Quick, see how it is!”

Urged on by the factory director, fully equipped workers entered the kiln and began to move the newly fired porcelain. The weather in Mbeya was around 17 degrees Celsius, so even wearing cotton clothes outside wasn’t too hot, but entering the kiln immediately brought a rush of heat.

After a moment of hesitation, the saggars were carefully removed by the workers. With everyone watching expectantly, the master craftsman began to crack open the saggars.

“Alas! What a pity, the bottom of this one is stuck to the saggar. Next!”

A bad start. So the next saggar was opened.

“This glaze is not up to standard. Next!”

In the end, all the saggars were opened, and the results were disappointing. The yield was only fifteen percent, and the quality of the finished products was poor, the workmanship was rough, and the inner bottom circle was unglazed, making them aesthetically unappealing. However, this result was already in line with everyone’s expectations.

“It’s the first time! This result is already very good. Don’t be discouraged, everyone. Continue to improve the process. I believe our Mbeya Ceramics Factory will lead the kingdom’s ceramics manufacturing in the future,” the mayor of Mbeya City comforted.

The porcelain produced by the Mbeya Ceramics Factory is coarse porcelain, that is, porcelain for the common people. Porcelain in Constantine’s palace is all imported from the Far East.

The Mbeya City area is rich in kaolin resources. According to preliminary surveys by the East African government, there are about three million tons. It was a byproduct of searching for coal mines. This is also the reason why East Africa’s first porcelain factory was located in Mbeya City.

In East Africa, the main civilian utensils are wooden or pottery products. Porcelain is definitely a rare commodity.

Excluding the porcelain in the royal court, East African porcelain is mainly distributed in the coastal areas of East Africa, from Mogadishu to Mtwara, and even in the hinterland of Zimbabwe.

However, almost all of these porcelains are products from the Far East, which have only flowed into East Africa along trade routes. Therefore, the porcelain fired by the Mbeya City Ceramics Factory can be regarded as the first batch of African-made porcelain.

East Africa’s porcelain technology mainly comes from Yixian County, Yanzhou in the Far East. Each batch of immigrants to East Africa has a basic file, so special attention is paid to professional talents.

In fact, porcelain firing is no longer a secret in Europe, and there are many porcelain factories, but the initial East African immigrants were mainly rural people from the German region and the Far East.

European porcelain was not for ordinary people, and its popularity was far less than that of the Far East, so the technical workers of the Mbeya Ceramics Factory are mainly from the Far East.

Among them, Qicun Village in Yixian County is the main source. Qicun Village has a long history of pottery making. The pottery industry flourished in the Tang Dynasty and reached its peak in the Yuan Dynasty, presenting a prosperous scene of every household having a kiln and every family making pottery, which has continued to this day.

That is to say, many locals make a living from this. Taking advantage of the East African immigration boom, many people from Qicun Village have also come to East Africa. Currently, about 30% of the people in the Mbeya Ceramics Factory are from Qicun Village.

Although Qicun Village has a long history of firing ceramics, it is not very famous, after all, it mainly produces folk products.

If technical requirements are needed, East Africa can completely send people to Jingdezhen to learn, or obtain technology from Europe, but there is no need.

The establishment of the Mbeya Ceramics Factory can be regarded as a special permission from Ernst. After all, the needs of East African residents can be met with wooden and pottery utensils. Firing a little coarse porcelain is enough to enrich the products in East African franchise stores. As for mid-to-high-end porcelain products, they can be directly imported. There is no need to develop the porcelain industry in East Africa on a large scale at present.

Of course, the main reason is, who will buy the porcelain produced? Not to mention competing with the Far East, it is unlikely to compete with European countries. If it is produced and no money is made, there is naturally no motivation to promote it.

Currently, East Africa is mainly promoting the glass manufacturing industry, because a large number of Venetians have entered East Africa, which provides convenience for East Africa to develop the glass manufacturing industry.

Venetian glass manufacturing is world-renowned. Just imagine, if East Africa had many immigrants from Jingdezhen, East Africa would definitely promote the development of the porcelain industry.

Of course, Jingdezhen is only a more representative porcelain production area in the Far East, and Ernst does not need to only focus on Jingdezhen. Glass is superior because there is a huge demand in East Africa.

First of all, glass can also be used to make utensils, overlapping with the functions of porcelain, but the windows used in East African buildings must use glass. When Kivite Palace was built, a large amount of glass was imported from Europe for decoration.

It is a bit unreasonable to rely on imports even for the glass in the royal palace. What’s more, the demand for glass in many East African government buildings is not small, as well as civilian houses.

Although East African houses have been unified into German architectural styles, there is basically no lighting. The windows are basically whole pieces of wood, which are opened during the day to let sunlight in, and closed at night to prevent mosquitoes from entering. It may be a bit extravagant to equip East African residents with glass windows, but small pieces of colored glaze tiles can still be arranged.

In addition to the demand for glass windows, East Africa also considered the needs of future East African scientific research. Although East Africa does not currently have scientific research capabilities, it will step on this path sooner or later, and experimental equipment, such as test tubes, lenses, etc., all require glass.

The East African glass industry is mainly located in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Songea. In addition to professional workers from Venice, the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company under the Hechingen Consortium was instructed by Ernst to set up a technical team to study the large-scale production of glass.

The most important thing is to overcome the production process of flat glass. For this reason, Hechingen Daily Necessities Company has reached cooperation agreements with many German universities.

This is also a layout for the future automobile industry. The earliest cars did not have windshields. To resist harsh weather, insects, and flying leaves and dust on the road, drivers and passengers usually used goggles.

Although the development of flat glass may not necessarily be applied to automobiles first, after all, glass is a dangerous and fragile product, and it is very dangerous to use it rashly on automobiles, but it will always be used.

As for when to install glass on cars, it depends on market needs. When people are no longer satisfied with cars without windshields, the Hechingen Consortium can take the lead in launching car glass. Technology is like squeezing toothpaste, squeezing every last penny out of other people’s wallets.

Of course, now is fantasy time. The Hechingen Consortium has neither flat glass nor cars. To realize these two things, they need to continue to work hard.

Speaking of which, Benz is still improving the engine, striving to miniaturize the engine and increase its power.

The chassis has a rough goal under Ernst’s instruction, but how to operate it and the mechanical structure design are still far away. Optimistically, it will take several years for the Hechingen Consortium to launch the first practical car.

As for why it takes so long, it is to make the car quite perfect when it is launched. More complex processes and lower production costs will make copycats explode in place, avoiding the car structure being too simple, and ordinary people can imitate it by hand.

In addition, there is another reason, which is to wait for East Africa for a few years. The automobile industry must start from East Africa. If this flagship product is first produced in East Africa, it will be of great use in enhancing East Africa’s international influence in the future, and at the same time, it can lay the foundation for the East African kingdom’s first-mover advantage in the automobile industry.

Chapter 343: Military Farming

Due to preparations for war, the East African government decided to slow down development in the Zambia region and prioritize the Zimbabwe region.

First, a telegraph line would be built from South Salzburg Province to Zimbabwe. This dedicated line, different from the South Salzburg to Lusaka telegraph line, would run directly from South Salzburg Province to the north bank of the Limpopo River, and then extend along the north bank of the Limpopo River in both directions, ensuring that the central government could understand the front-line situation at any time.

Secondly, the local Shona people would be organized to build a simple north-south highway to ensure the smooth operation of front-line food, weapons, personnel, and so on.

At the same time, the East African Kingdom would build a series of fortifications within Zimbabwe. Although the possibility of the Boers pushing back was extremely low, any possibility had to be prepared for in advance.

Among them, Bulawayo, the original capital of the Matabele Kingdom, would continue to function as a military fortress and bear the important task of ensuring the safety of the grain supply line.

Finally, the military farming work in the Zimbabwe region would be accelerated. This time, the East African government seized the land originally belonging to the Ndebele people for its own use. The Shona people within the territory were still a “property-less” class, and East Africa, as the landlord, naturally had the right to tax the Shona people for using its land.

However, the situation in Africa is well known. It is impossible to get black people to engage in agricultural production honestly without taking some special measures.

The Shona people, freed from the restraints of the Ndebele people, could maintain their livelihoods by relying on the ubiquitous wild animals, which was very inconsistent with “East African values.”

If everyone goes to catch wild animals, who will develop the land! East Africa immediately announced that all animals in Zimbabwe belonged to the government, and “illegal” hunting was prohibited. The legal basis was naturally that the land belonged to East Africa, and everything on the land, including the Shona people themselves, was the property of the East African Kingdom.

As for what constituted illegal hunting, it was any hunting activity carried out by black people in Zimbabwe without the permission of the East African government. If discovered, they would immediately become slaves.

As for the Shona people who had lived here for hundreds of years, who said that just because you came early, the land ownership is yours? Anyway, the East African Kingdom seized the land from the Ndebele people, so even if we discuss land ownership, it should be the Ndebele people who talk about it. Unfortunately, they have already embarked on the road to excavating the Central Canal, and nine deaths out of ten are unavoidable.

East Africa’s military farming in Zimbabwe mainly solved the problem of food supply for the front line. East Africa estimated that the force to be used against the Boers would be fifty thousand, plus the border troops guarding against the Portuguese and the more than ten thousand troops maintaining local security. The entire Zimbabwe region would have at least seventy thousand soldiers detached from production.

If the food for supporting seventy thousand troops relied solely on transportation from the rear, it would definitely be a disaster, mainly because the transportation system could not bear it. Therefore, it was necessary to carry out military farming locally in Zimbabwe to solve most of the food supply problem nearby.

Ernst could imagine the scene of the natives farming. In his previous life, he had seen some locals engaged in agricultural production in Tanzania, which was quite rough. Basically, they would just scatter the seeds in the ground and then ignore them.

In the end, the grain yield was indeed terrible, but Africans are more open-minded. It is enough for them to be able to feed themselves. Although they are a bit lazy, they really don’t compete at all. In the East, this is called not striving for progress.

Of course, a lack of scientific concepts is also an important reason. The Tanzanian government also tried to go to the countryside to break local feudal superstitions, but it didn’t work much.

Most people reject science, and even if they are not full, they do not accept chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or hybrid rice and other high-yield crops, which are difficult to promote.

Even so, Tanzania can be regarded as a model country among African countries. The government is relatively responsible and the regime is relatively stable, which is far superior to its peers.

This also shows that the aid from the Far East still has some effect. In fact, people in the Far East in his previous life always misunderstood a concept, that is, they confused East African countries with West African countries and South African countries.

As everyone knows, West Africa is the territory of France. Even in the 21st century, France still has the final say in West Africa.

South Africa is British territory, especially the Cape Town area. The British have been developing it for a long time, and even after South Africa’s independence, Britain still has an important influence on the country. South Africa then influences Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia through its economy.

East Africa is more special. Although they are all Black Africa, East Africa was a German and Portuguese colony for a long time. During the First World War, Germany led the East African natives to see how useless the so-called British Empire was, and Portugal’s performance in various colonies after the Second World War was also embarrassing. It was taught by India, Indonesia, and even Angola, without any dignity.

This has led to East African countries performing relatively better than West African and South African countries after independence, and they are also more opposed to the West.

In his previous life, one of the contradictions caused by marketing accounts was that most of the countries that opposed the Far East’s restoration of its seat in the United Nations were African countries. In fact, a closer look at the list would reveal that all the African countries that opposed it were West African and South African countries.

According to cynical people: “This is the so-called black brotherhood!”

In fact, the Far East has never established a relatively friendly relationship with West African and South African countries, just like Japan and South Korea, what autonomy do two dogs have?

The countries that the Far East aided in the early days were mainly East Africa, and the African countries that supported the vote were mainly North Africa and East Africa.

After all, when West African countries and South African countries vote, West Africa has to see how Daddy France decides. France’s approach is very cunning. Half of the West African countries voted against it, and half voted in favor, so that it would not offend the United States or the Far East.

As for the three South African countries (South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland), all of them were against it, and Nyasaland (Malawi) was also against it. The remaining countries affected by South Africa all abstained. South Africa (white) is a loyal lackey of the United States, just like Australia and Canada.

From this, it can be seen that Africa is not a whole, but when people in the Far East discuss Africa, they always treat them as a whole.

Ernst’s experience of living in Africa gave him a different view of East Africa. At least he had met many East Africans with good personalities. Of course, there were also some people who specifically disliked Chinese people. It was a mixed bag, so this is generally why Ernst would not choose to drive East Africans to extinction.

However, in order to avoid trouble, it is better to let them leave East Africa in the end, which is friendly to everyone.

Speaking of Zimbabwe, even under the supervision of the East African Kingdom, the grain yield of the Shona people is probably terrible, but the grain planted by two million people, no matter how low the yield, can greatly alleviate the pressure on food supply.

In addition to military considerations, the most important thing about military farming in Zimbabwe is to open up the fields. Many Ndebele landlords used to engage in animal husbandry, so there are not many farmlands in Zimbabwe.

Let the Shona people open up the land first, and it will be easier to transform it when subsequent immigrants take over the fields. Land reclamation is a technical job. The slash-and-burn land reclamation method of the natives can only be used in the early stage. In the later stage, the transformation of the fields still needs to be completed by immigrants.

Chapter 344: Indian Ocean Metropolis - Dar es Salaam

August.

Dar es Salaam.

Today, Dar es Salaam is as bustling as ever, although most ships choose to travel directly to the Far East via the Suez Canal, posing a serious challenge to the strategic position of the East African coast.

However, the Suez Canal has also shortened the distance between Europe and the East African coast. Coupled with the launch of ships under the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company, the East African coastal route continues to thrive.

With the help of five fulcrums: the Far East, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, and East Africa, the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company has developed into one of the world’s leading shipping companies.

Grain, industrial raw materials, industrial products, and immigration are the four major businesses that support the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company in becoming the largest shipping company in Germany and even the world. It owns four independent large-scale shipyards (including the Trieste Shipyard, the Hamburg Shipyard, the Venice Shipyard, and the newly put into operation Bagamoyo Shipyard), with seventy-three ocean-going vessels and two hundred and fifty-four sailing ships, with a total tonnage exceeding that of most countries.

Although the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company should be split into two parts, one belonging to Germany and the other to Austria, its real service target is East Africa.

The field of civilian ships in East Africa is basically zero, so the Hechingen Royal Enterprise dominates, belonging to an overdeveloped large-scale monopoly organization.

Most of the world’s monopoly enterprises are just taking shape, such as the American Standard Oil Company, which was established last year. Its complete outbreak will be after the economic crisis of 1873 in the original history. The Hechingen Consortium, because it monopolizes East Africa and also monopolizes German trade with the Far East, has become the most unique existence today.

In fact, the Hechingen Consortium has a predecessor, namely the British East India Company, which is similar to the Hechingen Consortium, but the Hechingen Consortium is more comprehensive.

From its establishment to the present, the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company has not actually made much money, and sometimes even loses money. On the one hand, it is constantly investing funds to build and acquire ships, and on the other hand, it often operates at a loss due to the immigration needs of East Africa.

However, without a doubt, without the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company, there would be no Kingdom of East Africa today, and even East Africa’s ability to become a German commercial leader in the Far East is due to the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company.

A large number of German merchants have connected with the Far Eastern government through the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company, and German capital has developed rapidly in the north of the Far East.

After all, the Hechingen Consortium also has a local East Africa to develop, and its main energy is also placed in East Africa, and the Far East market will fall sooner or later, so it is better for its own people to control the market.

Among them, Austrian merchants are the most active. Thinking of this, Ernst gets angry. When they were asked to invest in East Africa, they were all stingy. They only invested in a few small factories in the Northern Industrial Belt, and they were mainly distributed in Mombasa. Only one medium-sized textile enterprise settled in Nairobi. East Africa’s fantasy of the Northern Industrial Belt being driven by Austria is basically dead in name, and the Hechingen Consortium took over in the end.

But their attitude immediately changed towards the Far East. Everyone knows that the Far East is a good place, but unfortunately the Austrian government does not have the ability, energy, or willingness to support its own merchants in the Far East.

Therefore, after East Africa gained a firm foothold in the Far East, many Austrian merchants gathered around the Hechingen Consortium. When they need official support, they will first choose the East African Embassy. After all, their own minister is in Japan, and they can’t even see his shadow.

The same is true for Germans. Although Germany attaches importance to the Far East, its interests in the Far East are too small, so it is difficult to compete with Britain, France, the United States, and even the Netherlands.

In the Far East, many Germans are from the original northern German states, and their strength is scattered. Only now that Germany is unified can they be considered a whole.

This is also the reason why the Hechingen Consortium has become the commercial leader of the three countries in the Far East. The foreign capital injected into the Huaihai Economic Zone is also jointly funded by the commercial groups of the three countries.

The actual proportion of the Hechingen Consortium is less than 20%, of which the Far Eastern government and its folk groups account for 40%, and the rest is divided by Austria and Germany, about 45%. Austrian merchants alone account for more than 30%, making them the largest investment group in the Huaihai Economic Zone.

Under the Westernization Movement, the Far Eastern government is also actively investing in state-owned enterprises, but they are basically concentrated along the Yangtze River and the southeast coast, while the north has to engage in the “Huaihai Economic Zone” under the pressure of the Kingdom of East Africa.

In fact, the best conditions in the north are in the Zhili area, and its economy, population, and transportation are more advantageous than the Huaihai Economic Zone, but it is an important area for the imperial family, and even Britain and France cannot squeeze in now.

…

With the completion of the city renovation, the entire city of Dar es Salaam has been renewed. Although many merchant ships no longer pass through Dar es Salaam due to changes in the world’s main shipping routes, some sailors and merchants active along the Indian Ocean still choose to spend money in Dar es Salaam due to consumption inertia, and even call friends to come to Dar es Salaam to spend money.

In addition to the beautiful environment, the most important thing is that the infrastructure is the most complete. The Dar es Salaam Casino has won unanimous praise from gamblers for its fair and just reputation. Gambling here can avoid being ripped off, and at the same time, the responsible attitude of the police station guarantees the personal safety of most winners.

Personal needs can also be greatly satisfied. Japanese hostess clubs and foot massage parlors are everywhere, but it is hard to say whether they are legitimate or not.

The only regret is that it does not sell spiritual contraband here, but sailors can carry it themselves. As long as it is within the foreign commercial area (original open area) and not spread to East Africans, no one will care.

There is a saying in my previous life: “The most profitable industries are written in the constitution.” Dar es Salaam is involved in two of the most profitable industries at once.

In addition to the above industries, the barber industry in Dar es Salaam is unique in the Indian Ocean. After Ernst awakened, he deeply felt the backwardness of the European barber industry, so he specially developed a manual hair clipper, which is also one of the only two patents registered by Ernst himself (Gillette razor).

East Africa has to clean and disinfect immigrants who land every day, including taking care of their hair.

Therefore, East African barbers are experienced, coupled with the blessing of advanced tools, making the barber industry in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa very developed. And the sailors on the Indian Ocean, every time they come to East Africa to spend money, will specifically go to the barbershop to take care of their hair and beards.

The barbers of Dar es Salaam have become recognized as world-class stylists by sailors in the Indian Ocean, and their professionalism far exceeds that of Europe and the United States.

At the same time, Dar es Salaam is also the commodity capital of the Indian Ocean coast, where a complete range of goods are gathered, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

People from the French colony of Madagascar, the British colony of Cape Town, the Portuguese colony of Mozambique, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar and other surrounding areas and countries will choose to go to Dar es Salaam or Mombasa for shopping.

The catering, hotel, and hotel services in Dar es Salaam are also the most top-notch and high-quality along the entire Indian Ocean coast.

Gathering Eastern and Western cuisine, all European-style buildings, complete and top-notch living environment, and elegant service attract many wealthy Arab merchants and colonial officials to gather here.

Taverns are also one of the most popular places in Dar es Salaam, with white wine, yellow wine, red wine, and East African-style banana beer, etc. Dar es Salaam’s white wine includes vodka from cold regions, as well as Fenjiu and Huadiao wine (Nuerhong, Zhuangyuanhong) from the East, as well as brandy and whiskey… The red wine mainly supplied is Austrian and South German brands, while there are fewer types of beer.

With a complete range of wines and numerous taverns, Dar es Salaam has become a veritable wine capital along the Indian Ocean.

However, this has also increased the frequency of police dispatches and the workload of East African health security personnel. Drunks and wine bottles and barrels everywhere are also a characteristic of Dar es Salaam.

The quality of tourists who come to Dar es Salaam to spend money is generally low. Garbage dumps can be seen everywhere, and no one cares about them. Fruit peels, wine bottles, and other garbage are thrown on the streets. The density of public toilets in East African cities is the highest in the world, but littering and defecating everywhere cannot be stopped.

Because it is a foreign commercial area, the East African government cannot forcibly stop it. After all, they are all here to contribute to the East African economy. As long as they are willing to spend money, they are “masters”, so they can only trouble the health security personnel.

Fortunately, Dar es Salaam is located on the coast, and the roads are paved with straight slabs of stone. Perfect drainage systems have been built on both sides of the road. As long as there is a heavy rain, dirt and dust will flow into the sea along the drainage system.

Therefore, there will be no residual smell on the streets, and fresh air is the norm. In addition, the city’s greening is well done, so even if the quality of tourists is low, Dar es Salaam has still become a garden city along the Indian Ocean.

In addition to these, Dar es Salaam is also the communication center of the Indian Ocean, mainly serving Europeans in the western Indian Ocean. In Dar es Salaam, they can use telegrams to contact their families in Europe faster and cheaper.

The most outrageous thing is that the colony of Mozambique also uses the East African telegraph system to communicate with mainland Portugal. Although the telegram fee is very expensive, it is still much cheaper and more convenient than relying on sea ship communication.

The above advantages are only part of Dar es Salaam, such as it is also the financial center, trade center, and shipping center of the Indian Ocean…

Combining the above conditions, Dar es Salaam, with a permanent population of only more than 80,000, has become the most developed city along the Indian Ocean.

And Dar es Salaam’s becoming the most developed city along the Indian Ocean is inseparable from its geographical advantages.

For example, Dar es Salaam’s main competitor is Mombasa. Compared with Mombasa, Dar es Salaam is across the sea from the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Arab merchants are relatively wealthy and have outstanding spending power, and the various European colonies south of the Kingdom of East Africa are also closest to Dar es Salaam, and their spending is also concentrated in Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam can be said to be the only global commercial city in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is also an important financial and tax center for the East African government.

Chapter 345: Aid Delegation

Outside the port of Dar es Salaam, a Far Eastern ship was entering the harbor, and the people on board were curiously gazing at the city of Dar es Salaam.

The houses were neatly arranged, carriages and horses crisscrossed the streets, the roads were flat and wide, the harbor was filled with ships of all sizes, and the docks were bustling with people.

“Brother Shi Yan! I feel like the imperial court has been deceived! This East Africa seems peaceful and prosperous, with no signs of natural disasters or human suffering!” An De, the deputy envoy of the Far Eastern government’s aid delegation to the East African Kingdom, said furtively.

Li Ge also looked surprised, but he said, “Brother Houdu, perhaps it’s just because this is the area the East African Kingdom uses as a facade. We haven’t seen other parts of East Africa yet, so we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. We’ll ask the East African interpreter (translator) later and we’ll know the answer.”

So the two of them found Aryan, the translator from the East African embassy not far away. Li Ge said, “Mr. Aryan! I have a question to ask, I wonder if you can answer it.”

To be honest, Li Ge didn’t think much of Aryan. After all, Aryan didn’t look like a Westerner at all, but rather had a Central Plains appearance. His Mandarin also had a Shandong accent. Judging from his language, he seemed to be a bumpkin from some remote corner of the country, but he was actually a legitimate citizen of the East African Kingdom.

Isn’t this a complete “traitor”! In the eyes of Far Eastern officials, the East African Kingdom was just a bunch of uncivilized Germanic barbarians who were extremely unreasonable. They talked about cooperation but actually resorted to threats of force at the drop of a hat. And Aryan, working for the East African Kingdom and even changing his nationality, was a person who had forgotten his ancestors. Therefore, Li Ge and others usually didn’t interact with Aryan except for official business.

In reality, they misunderstood Aryan. Although Aryan was indeed from Shandong, he was also a “high-achieving student” who had received a modern education in Hechingen.

Aryan had read a lot of books and was quite cultured, especially fond of Hegel’s Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences. Aryan’s education was all Germanized, but he knew nothing about Far Eastern culture (mainly books), and couldn’t even write Chinese characters.

After all, the students accepted by the Hechingen school were mostly orphans. Before arriving in Hechingen, Aryan had never read a book and didn’t even have a name. From childhood to adulthood, he only had one nickname in the village: “Big Ox.”

Because Aryan had no Far Eastern education experience, he naturally couldn’t show off his literary knowledge to Li Ge and others, nor would he use flowery language when speaking. In addition, after his German was translated, he almost used the original Shandong dialect to communicate with the Far Easterners, so it was indeed a bit strange.

But the root cause was that Li Ge and others didn’t know German. If they were fluent in German, they would find that Aryan not only spoke fluent “Hechingen accent,” but also had refined manners. This was the barrier between two different languages, and a person proficient in both languages and cultures was needed to act as a bridge to break down this barrier.

Aryan: “What questions do you have? Just ask!”

Li Ge: “We have come to your country at the invitation of your government. Has our ship arrived in the East African Kingdom?”

Aryan: “Yes! Look at the flag on the port, it’s the Kingdom’s lion shield flag.”

Li Ge: “Then this East Africa seems to be slightly different from what your ambassador described! Your ambassador told us that East Africa’s people were destitute and plagued by epidemics. I see this city of Dar es Salaam as quite prosperous, why is it so different? Everyone seems to be living in peace and contentment, not like there’s a major epidemic happening?”

As the head of the aid delegation, Li Ge thought he was coming to this wild land of East Africa to help East Africa fight the plague and provide aid. This ship was also mostly filled with doctors organized by the Far Eastern government to provide free medical care in East Africa. But just looking at the situation in Dar es Salaam, Li Ge felt that it should be the Far East that needed to be aided, not East Africa.

Aryan: “Hmm! Is that what Ambassador Richard said? Then I don’t know. But I don’t know if what Ambassador Richard said is correct. I myself don’t really know much about East Africa.”

Li Ge: “Aren’t you East African? How can you say you don’t know much about East Africa?”

Aryan: “Actually, I used to study in Southern Germany, so I haven’t been to East Africa itself. I lived in the Principality of Hechingen under the Kingdom of Prussia in what is now Germany for a while. After graduating, I was directly transferred back to the Far East and have been working on clerical work at the East African Kingdom’s embassy in the Far East.”

Li Ge was very confused by Aryan’s words. Southern Germany, Germany, Prussia, Principality of Hechingen, East African Kingdom, with so many nouns, where exactly was Aryan from? Li Ge himself knew about Prussia and East Africa.

Li Ge: “Mr. Aryan! Are you East African or not?”

Aryan: “I am German.”

Li Ge: “Then what relationship does the East African Kingdom have with you?”

Aryan: “My nationality is East African Kingdom.”

Li Ge: “…”

Aryan: “This is also my first time in East Africa. Actually, I’m also very interested in East Africa. Why don’t you two explore it with me?”

Li Ge: “…”

Soon, Li Ge and Aryan’s group dragged their luggage ashore.

The aid delegation, like Liu姥姥 entering the Grand View Garden, began to browse the city of Dar es Salaam (the foreign commercial district). It was so special here. White people, yellow people, and black people were everywhere. Various different costumes were also very distinctive, especially some Arabs who were completely covered in white robes, which opened the eyes of the aid delegation.

Everyone had seen Western clothing before. Aryan, this “fake foreigner,” was wearing it. But they had never seen full-body white cloth. This easily reminded people of…

Li Ge: “Mr. Aryan, why are some people wearing full-body white robes and white turbans?”

Aryan: “They are Arabs, generally distributed in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and Persia. There are many Arabs dressed like this.”

After leaving the Strait of Malacca, the ship had not stopped, and went straight to Dar es Salaam, so Li Ge and others were seeing Arabs for the first time in East Africa.

Aryan continued, “The Arabs once established a great empire spanning three continents, monopolizing trade between the East and the West. Currently, the Ottoman Empire is considered the successor to the Arab Empire.”

Li Ge: “Then why are they covered in white cloth?”

Aryan: “This is their lifestyle. Just like how people in tropical regions don’t need to wear cotton clothes, Arabs live in the desert, where the sun is scorching and the temperature can reach forty or fifty degrees Celsius during the day. White can better reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption.”

Li Ge and others then realized that it wasn’t because someone in their family had passed away. This was their custom. Li Ge almost thought this was evidence of the East African Kingdom’s epidemic! After all, so many people “wearing mourning clothes” were likely caused by the epidemic. Fortunately, he asked Aryan first, otherwise the misunderstanding would have been great.

Actually, Aryan didn’t care about any misunderstandings. He wouldn’t care even if that was really how the Arabs were.

The group continued to browse Dar es Salaam. After walking for half a day, Aryan finally said, “It seems there’s nothing else to see!” He pointed to the “No Entry” sign in front.

“What’s that?”

“No entry ahead, which means there’s no road.”

“But isn’t that still a street and buildings?”

“I’ll go ask.”

So Aryan walked forward. A policeman was guarding here.

“Sir! May I ask why there is a ‘No Entry’ sign here?”

“Beyond here is the West District of Dar es Salaam, which is not open to foreigners…”

After a long time, Aryan finally understood that Dar es Salaam was divided into a foreign commercial district and a West District, and foreigners could only move around in the foreign commercial district.

Aryan: “Actually, I am a diplomatic official of the East African Kingdom stationed in the Far Eastern government. May I ask where the Dar es Salaam municipal government offices are? I need to contact the Kingdom because I have been working in the Far East and am not familiar with East Africa.”

Police officer: “Go back from here, turn left at the first intersection, and you will see the foreign commercial district police station and tax bureau and other government agencies.”

Aryan: “Oh! Thank you very much for your help.”

Chapter 346: Immigration Transit Point

A Far East Aid Mission?

Upon hearing that the aid mission was from the Far East, the staff at the Dar es Salaam City Government looked blank.

The staff member said to Aryan in German, “Sir! We are unaware of any Far East Aid Mission. There is no related information on the work schedule.”

Aryan said, “This matter is actually led by the East African embassy in the Far East, but you also know that there are no telegraph lines connecting East Africa to the Far East, so the news travels back slowly, resulting in the awkward situation of the people arriving before the message. This is my work permit, which can prove what I am saying.”

Actually, even without the work permit, the city government staff believed what Aryan said. A yellow-skinned person who spoke such good German, plus his East African uniform-style work suit, all indicated that he was an East African German.

East African Germans are a unique phenomenon in the world. Their main characteristic is being a mix of yellow and white. And someone like Aryan, wearing a suit, would be at least a teacher in East Africa.

In East Africa, all the white people know a concept: that among the yellow-skinned people, there is a group that is the direct line of the royal family, with considerable power in the government and military. These are mainly students from institutions such as the Hechingen Military Academy, who receive an education that is all about loyalty to the monarch and love for the country, and are highly trusted by the Crown Prince.

This has resulted in yellow-skinned people having influence and real power from the central government to the grassroots level. Although they are still somewhat inferior compared to pure Germans, they are far superior to Slavs, Italians, Paraguayans…

On the surface, it looks like a dual monarchy like Austria-Hungary, but the core is completely different, because the East African Kingdom has realized the “Manchu-Han unity” similar to what the Far Eastern ruling nation advocated, but instead it is “German-Chinese unity.”

And it is even more thorough, realizing intermarriage between various ethnic groups. The number of combined families accounts for the majority of East Africa. From the second generation of East Africans onwards, there is no so-called race theory. To put it bluntly, everyone is mixed.

If you were to look for the most similar example to East Africa in history, it would be the Hui people formed by the fusion of Mongols, Chinese, and some descendants of Muslims in the Far East during the Yuan Dynasty.

The only difference is that one uses religious fusion, while the other relies on German cultural identity to fuse. And what is German culture? First and foremost is the German language. Everyone speaking German has already left Austria-Hungary, which cannot unify its language, in the dust. In addition, in East Africa, everyone’s living environment is basically the same, and gradually a unified worldview will form.

Staff member: “This matter is not something I can decide. I need to report it to my supervisor first. Please wait a moment.”

Aryan: “Okay, but how long will it take?”

Staff member: “It will be done soon.”

Half an hour later.

Dar es Salaam City Immigration Department: “Mr. Aryan, we are from the Dar es Salaam City Immigration Department. According to instructions from above, please stay in Dar es Salaam for a few days. The central government will send someone to pick you up in three days.”

Aryan: “That’s no problem, but how will our food and lodging be resolved?”

Immigration Department: “We have vacated some of the immigration transit dormitories. You can stay there for a short period of time. You can eat in the cafeteria. If you have any needs, you can also talk to our people. We are professionals.”

Aryan: “Then thank you for your trouble!”

Immigration Department: “You’re welcome. We receive tens of thousands of immigrants every year. These are minor issues.”

So Aryan walked out of the municipal service hall and began to explain the situation to Li Ge and the others who were waiting outside.

Aryan: “…So, we will probably be staying at the immigration point for a few days. I’m not very clear about the situation there, but we have contacted the central government, and they will send someone to pick us up, which shows that they still value you very much.”

Li Ge: “Mr. Aryan, I have a question that I really have to ask. Why didn’t your country arrange for us in advance! Why does it seem so rushed now?”

Aryan: “This matter does have some responsibility on the part of our embassy, but it is more of a procedural error. Moreover, we did not expect your government to be so concerned about East Africa and take the initiative to send people to East Africa to provide assistance. As a result, Ambassador Richard did not have a response plan at the time.”

Originally, the East African Kingdom only hoped that the Far Eastern government could provide some convenience, allowing East Africa to collect prescriptions, learn medical technology, and recruit medical personnel in the Far East.

Unexpectedly, they were so generous, taking the initiative to organize an official medical team to provide free medical services in East Africa at their own expense. Ambassador Richard naturally couldn’t let them wait too long. Where could he find such a good thing? What if they waited too long and didn’t go to East Africa? You have to know that it takes at least half a month to transmit news to East Africa, so Richard made a decisive decision and let them set sail.

After hearing Aryan’s explanation, Li Ge and the others calmed down their resentment. It was a misunderstanding, otherwise he would have really thought that the Germans were deliberately neglecting the Celestial Dynasty!

Li Ge: “I see. Before we came to East Africa, we had already prepared ourselves mentally and would not be too demanding on food and lodging.”

Aryan: “It’s good that you can understand!”

Subsequently, under the arrangement of the Immigration Department, dockworkers carried everyone’s luggage onto hired carriages, and then everyone went to the immigration transit point.

Li Ge and the others curiously looked at the carriages they were riding in. The appearance of this Western-style carriage was very strange, something that could not be seen in the Far East. However, it felt quite comfortable to sit in, without too much bumpiness, a better experience than Eastern carriages, but a little worse than sedan chairs.

There were windows on the carriage, and you could see the scenery outside the window. The houses, streets, and pedestrians all receded. Even though they had seen the street scene of Dar es Salaam before, they still felt a sense of novelty, especially those three- to five-story “tall” buildings, simple and solemn, with various shapes, and the poles (gas street lamps) that could be seen everywhere on the street, not knowing what they were used for, and even installed glazed tiles, square and square, somewhat like lanterns.

After driving for an unknown amount of time, the carriage was suddenly stopped. It turned out that they had encountered another checkpoint, the same as the one that had blocked their group before. Several East African policemen were standing guard here with live ammunition, but there seemed to be no buildings in front, just a road laid in the countryside, not knowing where it led.

Dar es Salaam seemed to come to an abrupt end here. To the north was a prosperous scene, while to the south, all the buildings suddenly disappeared, returning to the wilderness.

“Brother Shi Yan! Why have we suddenly arrived in the wilderness? These Germans wouldn’t…” An De said.

“Don’t think nonsense. If Westerners really wanted to attack, they wouldn’t pay attention to any etiquette or morality. There are people stationed here, so the front should be an important place!” Li Ge comforted himself.

At this time, the police had already checked the Immigration Department’s documents, “Let them pass!”

The carriage began to go to an unknown place. The suburbs of Dar es Salaam were deserted, with weeds and trees everywhere. The plants were very different from those in the Far East. After an unknown amount of time, the carriage stopped again.

Aryan came over to announce, “We’re here!”

Only then did Li Ge and the others get out of the carriage. Looking ahead, it was clearly a large camp, with rows of houses, uniform and orderly, completely different from the houses in Dar es Salaam.

In Li Ge and the others’ eyes, this place was like the courtyards in the capital, orderly, but even more regular, and mostly in rows.

The Immigration Department staff introduced, “This is the immigration transit point. Those houses are dormitories for immigrants, which can accommodate up to two thousand people at the same time. We have prepared dormitories for you in Area 23, along with separate public bathrooms and public toilets for your use. You can eat in the management cafeteria with our staff.”

Afterwards, the Immigration Department staff took Li Ge and his party to see their rooms.

“Each room here can accommodate eight people, but considering that you are distinguished guests, we have arranged for four people to live in one room. You can choose the upper and lower bunks as you like. The environment is simple, but very clean. We will send people to help you clean it every day.”

This was considered preferential treatment. In fact, the hygiene of the immigration transit point is generally taken care of by the immigrants themselves. The Immigration Department is only responsible for checking regularly every day, but Li Ge and the others were VIPs, so the treatment was different.

“There are a lot of mosquitoes in East Africa, so we will provide you with mosquito coils and mosquito nets, but the mosquito nets need to be allocated, so tonight you will have to make do with just using mosquito coils. Each room is equipped with tables and chairs, which you can use if you need to organize documents.”

“Also, the temperature may drop quickly at night, so we have prepared clean bedding for you. The logistics warehouse will send it over later. You can ask me if you have any other questions.”

“That’s all!” Li Ge and the others said.

These conditions were much better than they had imagined. According to some people in the Far Eastern government, East Africa was almost described as hell on earth, but now it seems that “hearing is false, seeing is believing, the ancients did not deceive me!”

But this East African Kingdom now seems to be much better than most places in the Far East. How did they have the nerve to ask the imperial court for help!

Along the way, Li Ge and the others discovered that East Africa was not only prosperous and lively, but they also did not see a single dilapidated place. The people were also living and working in peace and contentment, and they could not see the so-called epidemic rampant scene at all. If that were the case, not to mention that nine out of ten houses would be empty, but everyone should be panic-stricken.

However, this also put Li Ge and An De at ease. As the chief and deputy envoys of the aid mission, the two were actually “scapegoats” pushed out by the Far Eastern government, and even temporarily promoted in a hurry.

The medical team led by the two was actually a temporary group of folk doctors from the Zhili region who were kept in the dark, unlike Li Ge and An De, who could have “inside information” from colleagues and know the “true face” of East Africa.

Although the East African Kingdom is regarded by the Far Eastern government as a “barbaric country” created by German warriors, the East African Kingdom sent an ambassador-level diplomat to the Far Eastern government, which is a special existence among Western countries, and is the only Western country that “admires” the medical skills of the Celestial Dynasty, which greatly satisfies the Far Eastern government’s vanity, so reciprocity is necessary.

But to really let the big shots come to East Africa, they were ten thousand times unwilling. After all, even the British Minister said that Africa was a barren land rampant with malaria, so there was definitely no escape from that. Who would go to East Africa to die.

Therefore, Li Ge and An De, who were of low status and had no background, were arranged to be envoys to the East African Kingdom. That being said, Li Ge and An De themselves were not bad. Both of them were Juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations at the provincial level) from poor families born in the north.

Chapter 347: Dinner is Served

District Twenty-Three, Dormitory 013

While Li Ge and Ander were observing East Africa, the accompanying medical team wasn’t idle either. What they saw and heard in Dar es Salaam today truly opened their eyes.

Li Ji, while making his bed, said, “The imperial court didn’t deceive us after all. This so-called East African Kingdom is indeed not much different from what they described. It has a feeling of orderly houses and interconnected fields, as described by Tao Yuanming. Especially the urban construction is truly eye-opening and quite pleasant.”

“Nay, nay! Brother Anren, in my opinion, this East African Kingdom is mostly inhabited by uncivilized people. Their attire is all strange and outlandish. I wonder if you noticed during the day, there are many Chinese people on the streets and alleys, even their queues have been cut off, leaving short hair less than an inch long, almost like monks. Aren’t they afraid of going to the Yellow Springs and letting down their ancestors!”

“Yuan Ye! I’m not saying this to you, but this isn’t the Far East, but a foreign land, a land of Western barbarians. Their races are vastly different from our Celestial Dynasty. It’s also because our knowledge is limited, and we don’t know what people overseas look like. Today, I’ve finally seen it. It’s truly as the rumors say, with golden hair and blue eyes like Rakshasas, and also completely dark skin, like the Kunlun slaves of old. There are also those who resemble us Chinese, as you said, but they may not be people from our Central Plains! We’ve also seen many similar-looking barbarians in the Strait of Malacca and Annam.”

“Brother Anren, I definitely won’t be mistaken. Although these Germans speak gibberish, I happened to hear two people talking by the roadside at the end of the line today. They were speaking Chinese, and it was Northern dialect. As someone from Daming Prefecture, I wouldn’t mishear that!”

“My two virtuous brothers, regarding this point, I might know the reason.” A person next to them suddenly said, “You also know that I’m from Jinan Prefecture. Although I rarely go outside Jinan City, I still go to the countryside for free clinics every once in a while. Coincidentally, once when I was in the countryside, I happened to encounter someone promoting a paradise overseas in the village where I was giving free clinics. Many people were deceived and went with him. At the time, I only thought he was a swindler, but now that I’ve arrived in East Africa, I suddenly understand. That person’s clothing and appearance are exactly the same as many residents of Dar es Salaam today. So, this so-called ‘paradise overseas’ is referring to the East African Kingdom, and the places those people went to are precisely here!”

Yuan Ye: “So, those people are also citizens of my Central Plains!”

“Most likely. I think many people in this East African Kingdom are very likely Chinese who have migrated overseas.”

Yuan Ye: “If they are citizens of my China, yet they shave their heads and change their clothes, learning from foreign barbarians, it’s simply… simply…”

“Brother Zhengmu (Yuan Ye), there’s no need to be too harsh. Maybe they were forced by the barbarians. After all, it’s their territory. Although the barbarians don’t understand education, they have their own rules. Perhaps they just don’t like the queue of the Celestial Dynasty!”

Yuan Ye: “Even so, they shouldn’t… alas! Our bodies and hair are received from our parents. Sinful, sinful!”

Li Ji: “Yuan Ye, I have to say a few words about this. Although the Western barbarians are bad in a thousand ways, they should have some advantages. For example, their ingenious skills are much more advanced than ours. And in recent years, everyone has actually been very clear in their hearts that the country’s situation is worrying! First, there was the Taiping Rebellion, then the Nian Rebellion rose up, and externally, there were Western countries invading from the sea. Natural disasters are even more frequent, with droughts and floods from time to time. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the people are living in misery.”

Yuan Ye: “Brother Anren, I admit that the Celestial Dynasty is facing some difficulties now, but natural disasters and man-made calamities will eventually pass. Now the imperial court is rebuilding its military, the internal strife has been eliminated, and resisting foreign enemies outside the country is just around the corner.”

Li Ji: “That’s true, but how long is ‘just around the corner’ that you speak of? The imperial court can afford to wait, but the common people can’t afford to wait. If they don’t have food to eat for a few days, they won’t be able to survive. Faced with the difficulties of survival, they won’t pay attention to ethics, principles, or righteousness. Instead, they will first want to survive. This East African Kingdom, let alone solving most of their problems, just giving them food to eat, I’m afraid many people would be willing to go through fire and water.”

“Alas, forget it, let’s not talk about these things. Everyone knows what the state of the country is like. However, the spirit of my China is to be indomitable and constantly strive for self-improvement. I believe that one day it will reappear the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties.”

“Well said!” The other three people in the dormitory said.

Knock, knock, knock… a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

“Someone’s here! I’ll open the door.”

Li Ji opened the door and saw a young man standing in front of the door. It was an employee of the East African Immigration Department.

“Dinner is served, everyone! I’m here to take you to the cafeteria for dinner.”

“Oh, thank you, young brother. We’ll be right there, just wait a moment.” Li Ji said politely.

The four people put down what they were doing and followed the young man to the Immigration Department’s public cafeteria.

On the way, Li Ji began to ask the Immigration Department employee, “Young brother, may I ask how to address you?”

“My German name is Hans Zhou, and my Chinese name is Zhou Mo.”

Li Ji: “Young brother Zhou Mo, how do you have a foreigner’s name?”

Hans Zhou: “What foreigner? I am now German.”

Li Ji: “Alright, alright, German. Then how did you come to the East African Kingdom? And how did you become German? Judging from your accent, you should be from the Henan-Shandong area, right?”

Hans Zhou: “My hometown is indeed in Shandong, but I eventually immigrated to East Africa, so naturally I became German.”

Li Ji: “Uh… I mean, is there no threshold for becoming German? Won’t they look down on you?”

Hans Zhou: “What threshold! After I came to East Africa, I automatically became German! As for discrimination, why would there be? Our East African Kingdom values equality for all and doesn’t promote that kind of thing.”

Black person: “★※ァ(○Д○)”

Li Ji: “Then, really, there won’t be any differences because of lifestyle habits?”

Hans Zhou: “Everyone comes from a poor background, so where would we have the energy to think about these things? Thanks to the great kindness of His Majesty Constantine and Crown Prince Ernst, we have a way to survive in East Africa. Naturally, we are united, loving, and as close as family.”

They were truly as close as family. For example, Hans Zhou’s wife was a Slavic girl. Hans Zhou said this with great confidence.

Hans Zhou asked, “By the way, sir, you are also from the Far East, right? What do you do?”

Li Ji: “We are doctors from the Far East.”

Hans Zhou: “So you’re doctors! No wonder the supervisor said to be polite to you. So that’s the reason. I thought you weren’t ordinary immigrants.”

Li Ji quickly explained, “We are not immigrants, but are sent by the Far Eastern government to support the East African Kingdom.”

Hans Zhou: “It’s all the same, it’s all the same. Our East African Kingdom greatly respects doctors and teachers, especially doctors, who are very rare in East Africa.”

Li Ji: “Oh! Are there few doctors in your East African Kingdom? I know in the capital that Western countries also have their own doctors, called Western medicine, who are especially good at surgery.”

Hans Zhou: “I haven’t seen or heard much about Western medicine. We only have the title of doctor in East Africa. However, I heard that the military doctors in the army are better at surgery, but they only know simple procedures such as disinfection and bandaging.”

Hearing this, Li Ji became interested: “Then what is the difference between your doctors here and the doctors in the Far East?”

Hans Zhou: “It doesn’t seem to be much different. The doctors in the Dar es Salaam City Hospital are also immigrants from the Far East. They also boil medicine and prescribe prescriptions, that kind of thing.”

So they were colleagues from the motherland. This made Li Ji somewhat disappointed: “Then there are no real Western doctors?”

Hans Zhou: “The so-called Western doctors you’re talking about wouldn’t be specifically referring to white doctors from Europe, right?”

Li Ji: “It should be, no, it is white doctors.”

Hans Zhou: “I haven’t seen this kind of doctor, but I heard that the doctors in the royal palace should be the Western doctors you’re talking about.”

Li Ji: “Could this be the imperial physicians of the East African Kingdom!”

Hans Zhou: “I’m not sure, I just heard about it. After all, I’ve only been to the Dar es Salaam City Hospital.”

Li Ji: “Does ‘hospital’ mean the same as ‘medical clinic’?”

Hans Zhou: “A hospital is where doctors stay. It’s much bigger than the medical clinics in the Far East, with three whole floors and hundreds of rooms all belonging to the hospital.”

Hundreds of rooms! Li Ji and the others were somewhat surprised. How big would that be? Perhaps only the Imperial Hospital in the Forbidden City could compare! However, Li Ji didn’t have time to think more because the cafeteria had arrived.

There were a total of four cafeterias at the immigration transit point, the smallest of which was the Immigration Department’s employee cafeteria.

Entering the door was the hall, and the hall had a hundred or so dining tables, divided into three rows. In order to provide catering services to the aid team, they specially staggered the dining time with the employees. Today, the sky had already darkened, and the members of the aid team were already hungry.

“Everyone, please line up first, then collect your tableware, and then choose your dishes and staple food…” the staff arranged.

However, one person had already started getting food, and it was none other than the translator assigned to the aid team by the East African Embassy, Aryan.

After all, Aryan was a student at the Schwarzenbergen School and had eaten in the cafeteria for several months, so he was very familiar with the process.

Aryan: “Oh, can you choose your own food? I thought it would be directly assigned!”

“It was assigned at the beginning, but now the conditions are better! So there are more types of food.”

Aryan: “I see, then give me two breads, a serving of green pepper pork, and what is that soup over there?”

“Tomato, onion, and beef soup.”

“Italian style?”

“You guessed right. An Italian chef came a few days ago, and he made this soup.”

“Haha, I saw it in Trieste, but I haven’t eaten it. Give me a small bowl.”

“Alright!”

Aryan chose his dishes and sat down at the table with his food tray to enjoy dinner. His actions served as an example for the people of the aid team, who followed him, taking their trays and starting to get food.

Li Ge: “The food that ordinary people in this East African Kingdom eat is really not bad! There are many varieties, and there’s meat.”

Ander: “Yes! Back then, when I was studying, I wouldn’t say my family was destitute, but it was just two pickles to go with a bowl of millet porridge. Only occasionally during festivals could I eat two eggs. Later, after I passed the county-level imperial exam, my family’s conditions began to improve, and only after I passed the provincial-level imperial exam did I have the opportunity to enjoy myself.”

Li Ge: “Alas, who says it isn’t so? No pain, no gain.”

In front of a table in the corner of the wall.

Li Ji said to his three roommates, “The food in this East African Kingdom is too good! I consider myself to have a high income in the Far East, but I wouldn’t dare to be so extravagant with food. I’m usually frugal, but ordinary people in this East African Kingdom can eat big fish and big meat.”

Doctors have always had a high income, so Li Ji said this, but Li Ji’s economic conditions wouldn’t allow him to eat big fish and big meat every day. Usually, he would add some lard to season the food.

The living standards of East Africans are certainly not so exaggerated, but because of the special nature of the aid team, they have such a rich meal. Medical talents, of course, have different treatment.

As for why Aryan, this foodie, didn’t notice, it was entirely because of his life experience. During his time at the Schwarzenbergen School, Ernst naturally wouldn’t mistreat them in terms of food. However, the Schwarzenbergen School imitated the Schwarzenbergen School in order to maintain discipline. Generally, students were not allowed to choose their own food. They ate whatever was made that day, but the dishes were a combination of meat and vegetables, and the nutrition was complete.

Later, as soon as Aryan graduated, he was sent to work at the East African Embassy in the Far East because of his excellent grades, and the food at the East African Embassy was definitely first-class. Diplomatic personnel already belonged to officials, and their treatment was naturally not bad.

Chapter 348: Urbanization Rate

“Beep… beep… beep…”

A sharp whistle shattered the tranquility of the early morning, wandering back and forth in the immigrant transit point. The piercing sound woke up the immigrants who were sound asleep.

Room 23,013.

Yuan Ye, who was fast asleep, suddenly sat up in bed: “What’s going on?”

At this time, Li Ji also woke up. He rubbed his sleepy eyes: “What’s with all the racket so early in the morning? And that sound is coming from a whistle, right? But it’s just too awful.”

Just as everyone was complaining, the whistle finally subsided, but then a melodious sound floated over faintly from a distance.

“Dong… dong… dong…”

This was the sound from the Dar es Salaam city clock tower. When the Dar es Salaam city clock tower rang, it meant it was exactly six o’clock in the morning in East Africa.

However, the Dar es Salaam city clock tower could only be heard in the immigrant transit point when people were awake. This was also why the East African Immigration Department used whistles to wake people up.

In the immigrant residential area, separated from Li Ji and the others, employees of the East African Immigration Department were providing wake-up services to the immigrants.

Along the corridor, they used batons to knock on the doors one by one, “Bang, bang, bang…” The wooden doors looked like they would be blown open at any moment.

“Get up! Don’t sleep! Get up and wash up quickly, or you’ll miss the meal time!”

They shouted the message once in German, and then once in Chinese. The originally lazy immigrants quickly put on their clothes and got out of bed when they heard about meal time. No one could stop the immigrants’ enthusiasm for food.

Ordinary people in this era had plenty of opportunities to sleep in. Most of the East African immigrants came from rural areas, maintaining the habit of working at sunrise and resting at sunset, so their sleep was still good.

How to fill their stomachs was the big problem. It could be said that once the seeds were planted, the rest was up to God. Favorable weather meant they could barely make a living, and even a slight disaster would lead to famine.

Europe was a little better. If they encountered famine, they could go to the factory to avoid starvation. Most people in the Far East could only flee from the famine.

Of course, the situation in Europe was not much better. In 1871, the urbanization rate in Germany was only about 30.6 percent, France was 31 percent, and Austria-Hungary was 25 percent. And this was just the urbanization rate.

The level of urbanization was even lower, because most towns relied on agricultural production. A considerable number of townspeople were still engaged in the primary industry, just living in the towns. Hechingen was like this. If the year was bad, many people also faced the risk of bankruptcy.

The British lived the most comfortably in this era. Their domestic urbanization level exceeded 60 percent, and industry had become their economic mainstay. In recent years, due to increased agricultural production in East Africa, North America, and Tsarist Russia, international grain prices continued to decline, and food prices in industrial countries were quite stable, and even had a downward trend.

In 1871, the urbanization rate in East Africa was 17.3 percent, exceeding the world average level (the world’s urbanization rate was 12 percent). This was considered a high level among agricultural countries. During the same period, the urbanization rate in the United States was about 25 percent, higher than East Africa. Tsarist Russia was about 11 percent, lower than East Africa, while the urbanization rate in the Far East, the world’s most populous country, was only about 4 percent.

The reason why East Africa’s urbanization rate was relatively high was simple. First of all, the population was small, and there were many immigrants. In order to accelerate the integration of various ethnic groups, East Africa tended to concentrate the population and prevent single ethnic groups from living together. This was a policy consideration.

Secondly, East Africa’s agricultural development paid more attention to collaboration, so the population was relatively concentrated. Before the establishment of the East African colony, East Africa was truly a barren land. There were more wild animals than people. In such an environment, without a certain number of people on the reclaimed land, it would be reclaimed by nature in less than three months.

Therefore, East African agriculture had a kind of national system flavor. It required the central government to uniformly dispatch resources. Clearing wild animals sometimes required mobilizing militia organizations, or even the army. Moreover, there were still many indigenous regimes here.

Finally, the Hechingen Consortium had also established many industries in East Africa in recent years. The newly built Bagamoyo Shipyard alone had more than two thousand workers, and the sisal industry had more than five thousand workers employed.

However, the above reasons can only be said to be not the most important. The main reason why East Africa’s urbanization rate was relatively high was that the huge number of black people were not counted in the East African population.

The black population was almost more than four times the East African immigrant population. This was still the result after East Africa drove away many black people.

This also made the lives of East Africans relatively monotonous, but the standard of living was not bad in the world. After all, there were mines, land, and exploitable people (black people), coupled with corporate governance, which avoided the bankruptcy of small farmers. Even if grain production in a certain area was reduced, the loss could be spread out from other areas through the allocation of grain.

What’s more, East Africa originally had multiple grain harvests a year, generally more than two seasons. This factor was very important.

For example, the reason why the population and industry in the Far East accelerated to gather in the south after the Song Dynasty was the same. Even if the south suffered a disaster, it could be replanted in time, so as not to have a complete crop failure like the north, and there was no need to worry about the risk of freezing to death in winter without encountering extreme weather.

East Africa went a step further. The climate difference in the entire region was not large. Although precipitation was also seasonal, it was enough, and there was no extreme weather in the Far East. The overall grain output would not fluctuate much (excluding the continuous reclamation factors).

In his previous life, the Far East divided the quality of cultivated land into 15 grades, of which the best land was mainly distributed in the south. The top three in terms of overall cultivated land quality were the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, South China, and Jiangnan. An important factor was that the southern cultivated land had more heat and three harvests a year. The middle grades were mainly distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan, Shanxi and other regions. Although the black soil in the three northeastern provinces was fertile and the grain quality was high, insufficient heat was a big problem. It can only be said that there are gains and losses.

In the words of agricultural experts: “The black soil in the Northeast can produce oil with a squeeze, but due to light and water conditions, it can only be harvested once a year, which is a congenital deficiency. No matter what technology is used, the yield per mu of rice is only more than one ton, and the yield of corn is also more than one ton. This can only be a single-yield champion, a single-season champion. The grade of cultivated land quality is based on the annual output, and the south with three harvests a year has more advantages.”

If according to this standard of the Far East in his previous life, most of the cultivated land in East Africa belonged to the upper-middle level, and the Great Lakes region was excellent, so East Africa was destined to be a major agricultural country.

Although the immigrants’ enthusiasm for getting out of bed was mobilized for the sake of food, the Immigration Department, which has always attached importance to order and hygiene, had to increase the difficulty for them.

“Tidy up all the bedding! Don’t pile things up randomly. Someone will come to check later. If anyone dares to be sloppy, don’t blame me for not reminding you. You will bear the consequences!”

“What’s going on in your room 041? There’s so much dust on the ground. Clean it up quickly, otherwise you won’t have dinner.”

“Whose clothes are these, number 8856? They were just issued a few days ago! Smell this, is this appropriate? Go wash them clean quickly!”

…

The hustle and bustle of the hygiene inspection quickly attracted the attention of the aid group members. They only heard a roar in the immigrant residential area, and the noise of the immigrants washing up.

Ander: “Brother Shiyan! It’s so noisy in the east! And it seems like someone is reprimanding. Both bird language (German) and Chinese are being used. East Africa wouldn’t be abusing immigrants, would it?”

Li Ge: “Brother Houdu, let me go and ask to find out!”

So Li Ge walked towards the house where the guide arranged for them by the East African Immigration Department lived.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Who is it? Up so early?”

“…” Li Ge was a little dazed, because the other party spoke German.

After a while, the door was opened. Seeing Li Ge standing outside the door, the guide remembered that these people couldn’t speak German.

Guide: “Mr. Li Ge! What’s the matter?”

Li Ge: “Oh, it’s like this, why is it so noisy in the eastern residential area in the morning?”

“You’re just asking about this? It actually has nothing to do with you. Those are all new immigrants. They naturally have to accept East African education, otherwise it will be difficult to adapt to the East African living environment. If there’s nothing else, you can continue to sleep! Don’t worry about them.”

Li Ge: “It’s not that bad. We’re just curious. Can we go over there and take a look?”

“Ah! What’s so good about over there? They’re just people with two eyes and one nose, but if you’re really curious, you can go and see, but come back quickly, don’t forget to eat then.”

Li Ge: “No problem, I’m really sorry to bother you.”

“Not at all! I’m here to provide you with consulting services. Ah…” The guide yawned and said: “I’ll go wash up first. You can make your own decisions if you have anything to do! Just don’t leave the immigrant transit point.” After saying that, the guide turned around and went back to the house to find a towel and toothbrush.

Li Ge came back with the news: “Brother Houdu, let’s go, let’s go see what’s going on over there!”

Ander: “Brother Shiyan, is this allowed?”

Li Ge: “No problem, I’ve already asked. As long as we don’t leave the immigrant transit point, we can move freely.”

Ander: “Then let’s go together!”

So the two went to the place where the immigrants lived. This was the first time the two had seen East African immigrants, the fresh ones. There was nothing to see about the immigrants who had settled in East Africa for many years in Dar es Salaam.

The immigrants lived in the east, which was very lively with people coming and going. Now everyone was busy washing up and cleaning.

Many people had towels around their necks and toothbrushes in their hands to wash up in the public bathroom. There were also people folding quilts and sweeping the floor.

Li Ge and Ander noticed that it was very crowded here, but orderly. Eight people lived in a small dormitory, but it was not dirty or messy, probably because the immigrants didn’t have much luggage.

Li Ge: “Houdu! I feel like this is not an immigrant point, but a military camp!”

Ander: “Indeed, their uniform clothing style, if I remember correctly, is the same as the East African military and police uniforms, but there are slight differences in colors and other details!”

Li Ge: “Also, have you noticed that the image of the immigrants here is also very different from that of the residents of Da City? They are generally a little thin.”

This was inevitable, especially for immigrants from the Far East. If Li Ge and others had seen the immigrants who had just disembarked, they would have been almost like they were half dead. Most of the immigrants in the immigrant transit point had been recuperating for a while, so it was good to have their current mental state.

Chapter 349: Wasting Resources on Military Expansion

Andre: “Before coming to East Africa, I asked merchants familiar with the Europeans for information. They told me that the European countries are constantly at war with each other, especially in the German region, where numerous states are constantly fighting. Prussia is the most prone to military expansion among them. I heard that they had a ‘Soldier King’ in their history, and many of their monarchs are like that. Take the current Wilhelm I, for example. During his reign, he first launched a war against his northern neighbor, the Kingdom of Denmark, and now he is competing with France for dominance. I wonder who will ultimately win.”

Li Ge: “This Prussia sounds a bit like the tyrannical Qin Dynasty! Without benevolent governance, I fear it will perish after the second generation!”

Andre: “Brother Shi Yan! Be careful what you say. The East African Kingdom where we are now has some connection with this Prussia. It would be troublesome if someone with ulterior motives heard you!”

Li Ge: “What do you mean?”

“You might think that the so-called East African Kingdom has nothing to do with Prussia, but in fact, they are family. King Constantine of this East African Kingdom was originally a prince of the Prussian royal family. They are both Prussian royalty.”

Li Ge: “I see. However, one is in Europe, and the other is in Africa. The connection between the two countries is probably not that close. One or two generations might be okay, but it will be hard to say in the future.”

Li Ge meant that the relationship between the East African Kingdom and Prussia was like brothers separating their families. No matter what it’s like now, they will each live their own lives in the future.

Andre: “That may be so, but the two countries’ systems and culture are probably very similar. This Prussia wastes resources on military expansion, and the East African Kingdom is probably just as bad.”

Li Ge: “Only after coming to East Africa did I realize that the rumors are not false, but an objective description. The saying goes, ‘A country, however large, will perish through warfare.’ This East Africa is a small country, yet you can see soldiers everywhere. The people of such a country must be living unhappy lives.”

Andre shook his head and said, “Brother Shi Yan, I’m afraid you’re being a bit absolute. ‘A country, however large, will perish through warfare,’ but there is also a saying, ‘Though the world is at peace, forgetting war is dangerous.’ Isn’t that the predicament we in the Far East are facing now? Besides, nothing is absolute. We can’t say that a country is wrong just because it has many soldiers.”

Li Ge: “This is the experience passed down by our ancestors!”

Andre: “Prussia’s geographical location is too dangerous. If it weren’t for universal conscription, it would be at risk of being destroyed at any time. The Western barbarians don’t cultivate virtue. As the saying goes, ‘There are no righteous wars in the Spring and Autumn period.’ The European countries are currently stuck in the state we were in thousands of years ago. So, Prussia’s current approach may be the best for it.”

Li Ge: “Is East Africa the same as Prussia? Prussia is in a place contested by all sides, but the East African Kingdom is unlikely to be in such a situation! The saying goes, ‘Competing for the Central Plains,’ which means that all sides wanting to expand must take the Central Plains, because no one can bypass the middle. The East African Kingdom, judging by its name, is located in the eastern part of the African continent. It is obviously not a place contested by all sides. Is it necessary to maintain so many troops!”

Andre: “Tell me, is it possible that this East African Kingdom is the invading party, so it has a large number of troops? Look, King Constantine is from Prussia, and our ancient books record that this place was the territory of the ancient Kunlun slaves. Zheng He of the previous dynasty visited this place, but how many Kunlun slaves did you and I see in Dar es Salaam yesterday?”

Li Ge: “That… it seems like there weren’t many.”

Andre: “That’s right. Moreover, this East African Kingdom is recruiting immigrants from our East. So, how does the East African Kingdom feed so many immigrants?”

Li Ge: “It must have enough food.”

Andre: “That’s right. Food cannot appear out of thin air, but grows from the soil. And this soil is on the land. So, where did Constantine, a European, get the land?”

Li Ge: “Are you saying, he seized it!”

Andre: “Isn’t that so! It’s unlikely that the natives invited him over. So, what are the East African Kingdom’s troops used for? It goes without saying.”

Li Ge: “Truly barbarians!”

At this time, Ernst in Vienna sneezed: “Who is talking bad about me!”

Andre: “Prussia is surrounded by powerful countries, but there are no powerful countries around the East African Kingdom. So, when the Germans arrived in East Africa, their army was not used for self-defense, but to seize land. According to the Westerners, the world is divided into five continents. Our Celestial Dynasty has such a vast territory, but it is only one country on the Asian continent. The African continent must also be vast, so the East African Kingdom’s wolfish ambitions are exposed, or rather, undisguised.”

Li Ge: “Yes, that makes sense. But how many troops does East Africa have, how large is its population, how large is its area, and are there similar regimes around it? After all, Constantine can’t be the only smart one. Other Western countries should also be interested in the African continent!”

Andre: “It’s hard to say. How could we have access to these things? We are merely catching a glimpse of the leopard through a tube in Dar es Salaam. Unless the East African Kingdom is willing to tell others these data, I don’t think any government would be so stupid. If I were the East African Kingdom’s government, I would definitely not reveal these data and make a fortune in silence. As for whether there are similar regimes around East Africa, there certainly are. There is the Sultanate of Zanzibar across the sea. I heard sailors say on the ship that the East African Kingdom seized part of its mainland territory from it.”

Li Ge guessed: “And Great Britain. I think Great Britain should also have territory in Africa. Aren’t they known as the ‘empire on which the sun never sets’? So, they should have many colonies in Africa, and France is probably the same.”

Looking at the prosperity of Dar es Salaam, Li Ge and Andre couldn’t believe that other colonizers would turn a blind eye to such a good place.

Andre: “Perhaps this is also the reason why the East African Kingdom is desperately expanding its army. Britain and France are world powers. If they really come to Africa to compete, what can East Africa use to resist? It can only rely on universal conscription to gain a foothold.”

Obviously, the two misunderstood East Africa, mistaking immigrants for East African soldiers. Although the East African army is large, it is not that exaggerated. After all, with a territory of more than seven million square kilometers, there is indeed a need for it.

Chapter 350: A New Player in Africa

Just as the Far East Aid Mission was staying in Dar es Salaam, new changes were taking place on the African continent.

May 13, 1871.

After securing the support of the British, the Kingdom of Italy embarked on the road to repaying its debts. However, the Kingdom of Italy was so poor that it only had debts left, so it could only transfer the debts through colonization.

An infantry division of the Kingdom of Italy landed at the port of Assab on the Red Sea coast, and the Italian government officially began its colonial path.

This was very important for the Kingdom of Italy. If it could not alleviate the anger of the people through the colonial route, the Kingdom of Italy could explode at any time.

Port of Assab.

After a simple intimidation, on the morning of May 13, the government of the Kingdom of Italy drove the Egyptians out of the city of Assab.

After all, Eritrea was too far away from the Egyptian mainland. Dealing with colonial groups like the Rubattino Company was easy for the Egyptian garrison in Assab, but when the army of the Kingdom of Italy landed, the Assab garrison immediately gave up its defense. The entire Assab garrison only had a battalion of troops, which was a clear disadvantage against a division of Italian troops.

And the worst thing was that the Rubattino Company in the city and at the docks launched a rebellion at the right time, occupying a series of important facilities including the docks, buying valuable time for the landing of the army of the Kingdom of Italy.

The First Division of the Italian Kingdom’s Abyssinian Expeditionary Force won its first battle, seizing this important stronghold from Egypt.

After the First Division entered the city of Assab, Rubattino Company boss Sapeto personally came to greet them: “General Samuel, hello, I am Giuseppe Sapeto, the boss of the Rubattino Company!”

Samuel, commander of the First Division: “Mr. Giuseppe Sapeto, thank you for your support of the motherland. The Italian people will not forget your功劳(gong lao - meritorious service/contribution)!”

Samuel was the most outstanding general in the Italian-Austrian War. He rose all the way from company commander to brigade commander through military exploits. He did not lose a single battle from the beginning to the end of the war, but because of the incompetence of his allies, the Kingdom of Italy still failed.

After the war, when the Italian Royal Army reviewed the war, it found that Samuel, a general from a civilian background, was much stronger than those aristocratic Italian officers who just drew their salaries and did nothing. Although almost all the senior officers of the army were of aristocratic origin, it did not prevent them from attributing Italy’s failure to the enemy being too strong. And facing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, why could Samuel achieve such outstanding results?

That’s right! Why? It certainly wasn’t because the Italian Royal Army was incompetent. After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a top world power, so it was normal for the Kingdom of Italy to be unable to defeat it.

As for Samuel, he could continue to win because he was a natural military talent like Archduke Albrecht. By exaggerating the enemy and exalting his colleagues, the army could get rid of its own guilt.

Sapeto: “No, General Samuel, compared to you, you are the real hero of the Kingdom of Italy. It’s a pity you appeared too late. If you had become a senior general earlier, you would have been able to lead the Kingdom of Italy to victory!”

Sapeto was not flattering him. He really thought so. After being packaged by the Italian Royal Army, Samuel was already a national hero of Italy, used to save the last bit of pitiful self-esteem of the Italian people.

Samuel: “No, no, Mr. Sapeto, for Italy to get out of the crisis, all Italians need to work together. We can’t lose anyone. I’m just a slightly luckier Italian. But the fate of our entire country is not as lucky as mine. This is painful for every Italian, so we should unite and fight together against Italy’s tragic fate!”

Samuel had always been a humble person in front of outsiders, so he had been unknown before the war came.

He was not good at promoting himself, which was very unfriendly to his promotion path. If it was in peacetime, he would definitely not have risen to prominence, but he happened to encounter war, and it was at the most tragic time for the Kingdom of Italy.

The reason why Samuel was able to sit in the position of company commander before the outbreak of the war was because of his talent and learning. His junior high school education allowed him to automatically become a company commander when Italy expanded its army.

Although he came from a common family, Samuel’s family was not very poor, and was even somewhat well-off, which was why he was able to complete his junior high school education.

Although Samuel was touted as a famous general, there were elements of packaging by the Italian army, but he had real skills himself.

When fighting against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was generally cautious. In a situation where the enemy was strong and we were weak, he would never take risks easily, but once he discovered a flaw in the Austro-Hungarian army, he would immediately tear at the enemy like a lion, and at the same time, quickly slip away before the enemy’s reinforcements arrived, never lingering in battle.

Sapeto was somewhat suspicious of Samuel’s abilities: “In fact, the British only used a very small number of colonial troops to divide the Abyssinian Empire, and the emperor committed suicide, so Abyssinia is not strong, or rather, very weak.”

Samuel shook his head and said: “We must not underestimate any opponent, even if they are natives. Just like in Europe, before the war, no one would have thought that Prussia could easily defeat the powerful France. If we don’t pay enough attention to the enemy and attack rashly, we will only leave flaws and be defeated by the enemy. This is the experience I learned from the Austro-Hungarian army!”

Sapeto was somewhat skeptical of Samuel’s ability: “Actually, the British only used a very small number of colonial troops to make the Abyssinian Empire fall apart, and the emperor committed suicide, so Abyssinia is not strong, or rather, very weak.”

Samuel: “The British can do it, but that doesn’t mean Italy can do it, because the purposes of our two countries are different. The reason why the British launched the war was to show off their power, while we Italians are doing it for the survival space of the entire nation. There is an essential difference. The wars launched by the British will only allow the ambitious people of the Abyssinian Empire to cooperate with them to bring down their own emperor, while the purpose of our Italian nation is to obtain land. For the Abyssinian Empire, this means taking their lives. They will unite and fight against us throughout Ethiopia, even if they fight to the last person. So we must not be careless in every step we take. We must not have a setback in Abyssinia. Italy has bet its future fate here.”

Samuel was very clear that the Italian Kingdom’s invasion of Abyssinia was essentially different from that of the British. The British were simply for hegemony, while Italy was simply carrying out an extermination campaign against the “enemy,” emptying the land to support the Italian mainland.

The Italian Kingdom had to design every step carefully next, and must not let the Abyssinian Empire discover its true intentions, to ensure that the Abyssinian Empire remained divided and unable to unite, so that the Italian Kingdom could defeat the forces of the Abyssinian Empire one by one.

Chapter 351: The Past

Samuel: “When in unfamiliar surroundings, one must be even more careful, especially in Eritrea. During the day, we can easily overpower the natives, but what about at night? Then we face the risk of having our supply lines cut and being ambushed.”

Sapetoo believed he had finally figured out why the Kingdom of Italy failed in the Italo-Austrian War. If even the Kingdom’s “military geniuses” were so timid, how could they possibly stand against the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire?

So Sapetoo said with some contempt, “Ha ha ha, General! You overestimate the Abyssinians. Do you think they can fight against a fully armed Italian army with just spears?”

Seeing Sapetoo’s blind optimism, Samuel shook his head and said, “Mr. Sapetoo, you couldn’t be more wrong if you think that way!”

Sapetoo: “What is your insightful opinion, General?”

Samuel: “Do you know how I made my name in the war?”

Sapetoo shook his head.

Samuel recalled, “When I first enlisted, the Kingdom was facing the threat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the conscription was very rushed. My company, you could say, was made up of a group of farmers who had just put down their hoes. They couldn’t even tell left from right, and they were completely clueless about military commands. And I myself was a greenhorn, knowing next to nothing about military affairs. Do you think such an army had any hope against the well-trained Austro-Hungarian Empire?”

Sapetoo shook his head, saying definitively, “No.”

He himself had actually served in the military, so he knew a thing or two about these things. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have retired and come to Eritrea to engage in colonization.

Samuel continued, “That’s not even the worst part. Even the dumbest person knows how to advance and retreat on the battlefield. A farmer with a weapon in his hand can put pressure on the enemy, even if he can’t aim accurately. But do you know what? Only half of the people in my company were issued rifles, and some were even using antiques left over from the Napoleonic era. But even those antiques were a luxury for some. During training, everyone had to take turns using them until it was time to go to the front lines. Then, a batch of rifles was brought back from the front lines, but they were riddled with problems, and some were simply unusable. For a greenhorn like me, it was a complete disaster.”

Sapetoo said in disbelief, “The Kingdom couldn’t possibly be unable to equip its soldiers with rifles!”

Samuel: “That’s what I thought too, but it really happened to me. When I reported this problem to my superiors, the pig-headed, fat-brained battalion commander told me that the Kingdom was unprepared for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s sneak attack. But in reality, our mobilization had already begun before Austria-Hungary declared war. Austria-Hungary hadn’t even attacked yet at that time.”

Sapetoo cursed angrily, “These damned corrupt officials! After all these decades! They still haven’t improved at all! It was the same when I was in the military. But back then, it wasn’t as bad as not having any guns at all. Instead, they embezzled the soldiers’ funds. I bet your rifles probably never even left the factory and were just written off in the books!”

Samuel: “Heh heh, I bet most of the soldiers didn’t receive the military expenses for the Italo-Austrian War, except for those who died. And there was a shortage of funds after the war, so payments were constantly delayed. And this was even when Austria-Hungary didn’t demand reparations from Italy.”

After hearing this, Sapetoo changed his opinion of Samuel. He respectfully asked Samuel, “General, in that case, how did you defeat the Austro-Hungarian army?”

“Simple, sneak attacks!”

“Sneak attacks!”

Samuel: “Yes, it’s not very honorable, but it’s my winning strategy. After all, when the Kingdom of Italy’s survival is at stake, you don’t need to think too much about the choice of tactics.”

In this era, European countries fought wars by promoting the so-called chivalry, defeating the enemy in a fair and square manner. Although in actual wars, some people always broke the rules, the most typical were the students of the Black Hinggen Military Academy who were keen on “sneak attacks” and “guerrilla warfare.” This had a lot to do with the textbooks they studied. A large number of Eastern military classics were added to the textbooks to broaden the horizons of the Black Hinggen Military Academy students. But everyone mainly fought on the main battlefield.

Samuel: “The enemies I faced in my area were mainly the combined forces of the Austrian and Hungarian kingdoms. I knew that the soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were well-trained, but many of their units were organized according to ethnicity. In this way, Austria certainly couldn’t achieve perfection in command. They would definitely make mistakes often, and the performance of the Austro-Hungarian army also confirmed my idea.”

“The Austro-Hungarian army often had units that made illogical moves, which gave me opportunities. In the early days, because of the inferior equipment, the troops I led often launched attacks on the Austro-Hungarian Empire at night. Taking advantage of the darkness, we sneaked up to the Austro-Hungarian army and actively engaged them in close combat. The Austrians’ Werndl rifles were very advanced, not only faster to load and fire, but also far more accurate than ours. Not to mention the Werndl rifle, even the Hungarian Lorenz rifle was more advanced than the junk we had in our hands. And they also had artillery of various calibers to support them. So I knew that close combat was the only way to compete with the Austro-Hungarian army.”

Sapetoo: “That is indeed the only way, otherwise…”

Samuel: “Otherwise, we would suffer huge casualties and not inflict the same damage on the enemy, unless we used several times the superior force, using more lives to fill the gap, and only then could we possibly exchange for an insignificant victory. But the Austro-Hungarian Empire was already larger than us in size, so continuing like this would only become more and more disadvantageous for the Kingdom of Italy. This was also the lesson I learned from my first battle with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

“General, you have also failed!”

“It can’t be considered a failure, it’s just that I lacked experience in my first time on the battlefield, which caused some losses. After seeing that things couldn’t be done, I changed my strategy in time. In fact, we didn’t have much action at all. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s artillery simply didn’t give us the opportunity to launch a large-scale offensive.”

“Then how did you deal with the enemy’s artillery fire?”

“Using the terrain, we retreated in an orderly manner, not engaging the Austro-Hungarian Empire head-on during the day, and then getting back at them at night.”

“Then how do you deal with orders from above! What if they don’t let you retreat and tell you to resist to the end?”

Samuel laughed when he heard Sapetoo’s words, “Ha ha ha, you expect orders from above! In reality, the Italian army has always been in retreat. The command system has long been gone. Everyone is running for their lives. My earliest battalion commander disappeared when the war broke out. But they don’t know that the faster they run, the easier it is for the Austro-Hungarian army to wipe them out. Seeing Italy shrink back before the battle, the Austro-Hungarian army’s morale soared. So when I commanded the troops, I never synchronized with friendly forces. Even if we had to run away, we couldn’t let the Austro-Hungarian army seize the opportunity and make the pursuers hesitate.”

“If the command system fails, how do you get ammunition and other supplies?”

Samuel: “To put it bluntly, the Kingdom’s supplies to the cannon fodder troops were completely non-existent. So my troops mainly relied on capturing the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s weapons to fight. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Werndl rifles were much more reliable than the weapons we produced ourselves… This is also why I don’t underestimate the Abyssinian Empire. When I faced the powerful Austro-Hungarian army, I also used a lot of cold weapons. In melee combat, a machete is more reliable than the Kingdom’s antique rifles. I can deal with the Austro-Hungarian army in this way, so why can’t the natives use the same methods to deal with me!”

Samuel was familiar with this set of tactics. He didn’t believe that the Abyssinian Empire, an empire with thousands of years of history and tens of millions of people, didn’t have someone like him.

After listening to Samuel’s experience, Sapetoo was in awe of the young general in front of him, “General Samuel, you are a true soldier!”

Samuel sighed, “I’m just doing what a soldier should do, not the military genius they say I am.”

Samuel remained humble, but Sapetoo admired this young man even more, “Your Excellency General, I was also a soldier of the Kingdom. After retiring, I have achieved some success in Eritrea and am quite familiar with the local area. From now on, I will fully support and cooperate with all your orders.”

Samuel: “Mr. Sapetoo, thank you for your support. I really need someone like you with experience in Eritrea.”

So Samuel began to ask Sapetoo about all aspects of the Abyssinian Empire, as well as the situation of the surrounding forces.

Sapetoo: “Speaking of the Abyssinian Empire’s surroundings, because of the opening of the Suez Canal, there are indeed many new forces nearby. In addition to us Italians, there are also the British and French, Egypt and the Ottoman Empire. Besides that, there is the East African Kingdom in the south. The East African Kingdom should belong to the Germans’ sphere of influence.”

Samuel: “The East African Kingdom? The one related to Austria!”

Samuel remembered that when the East African Kingdom was established last year, the first to support it was the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Austria in the Austro-Hungarian Empire was German.

“There is some relationship, but it’s not a big problem. As long as we don’t provoke them, it doesn’t matter. The monarch of this East African Kingdom is Prince Constantine of the Hohenzollern family, so I think they should have a better relationship with Germany. And Prussia has a good relationship with our Kingdom of Italy. If we communicate well, maybe they can provide us with some help.”

Samuel: “That’s good. I’m just worried that if they are in the same group as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they will hinder our actions.”

In fact, East Africa didn’t have the leisure to pay attention to the Kingdom of Italy. Even if Italy turned the Abyssinian Empire upside down, it didn’t matter. The Boers were the top priority of the East African Kingdom’s attention.

Later, Samuel asked Sapetoo for a lot of information, covering all aspects of the Abyssinian Empire, but Sapetoo, who couldn’t even handle the Port of Assab, didn’t know much about Abyssinia.

Samuel: “We still know too little about the Abyssinian Empire. In this way, let’s start with intelligence. After thoroughly studying the Abyssinian Empire, we will formulate a reliable plan. The future of the Kingdom does not allow us to make mistakes.”

Chapter 352: The Sea Coachman of the Indian Ocean

Although the enemies were just natives, Samuel still maintained a serious attitude. Knowing yourself and your enemy leads to victory in every battle. Samuel knew his own troops quite well, but he didn’t yet have a complete picture of the enemy, so it was important to start with intelligence gathering to understand them.

However, before preparing to gather intelligence on the Abyssinian Empire, Samuel had two things to do first.

One was to solve the housing problem for the troops. This wasn’t difficult. Although the city of Assab was small, it could still accommodate his division if they squeezed in. The first batch of the Kingdom of Italy’s expeditionary force, the First Division, only had a total of three thousand men, not a large scale.

With the help of the existing infrastructure of the Port of Assab, and by building some more houses, the housing problem could be solved. The question was, where to find building materials?

Samuel looked at the barren desert outside the city. He could forget about wood; he couldn’t even see a few blades of grass. Most of the buildings in Assab were mud houses. The tropical desert climate meant there was no need to worry about rain.

If you disregarded its strategic value close to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Port of Assab had only a little commercial value. It was one of the commercial strongholds of the Arabs, but the Arab merchants only used it as a place to rest. A large number of people created a big problem with water consumption.

Fortunately, it was close to the Ethiopian Highlands. Although the rainwater from the Ethiopian Highlands didn’t flow here, it could replenish the groundwater here along the terrain, so groundwater resources were still relatively abundant. They just needed to dig more wells.

“Mr. Sapeto, how do you and your company employees usually solve the supply problem?” Samuel asked. This was the second problem Samuel had to face.

The population of Eritrea was mainly concentrated in the northern mountains and their hilly areas, where the terrain could block some rainwater. Some areas even had abundant rainfall like the Ethiopian Highlands, but the coastal plains were even drier than Somalia.

The eastern lowlands of southern Eritrea, where the Port of Assab was located, were even more severely affected. Opposite was the arid Arabian Peninsula. The northeast trade winds brought dry monsoons from the Arabian Desert, and the southwest monsoon from the Indian Ocean (the southeast trade winds crossed the equator and changed direction due to the Coriolis effect) was intercepted by the rising Ethiopian Highlands, taking away most of the moisture.

In addition, the terrain of the eastern lowlands around Assab couldn’t retain even the remaining moisture, making the area around Assab a truly barren land.

Barren land was an exaggerated term, but it was an objective description of Assab and its surroundings. Even the most arid Somali region of the East African kingdoms had tropical savannas and two large rivers passing through it, while the Assab region had nothing.

Sapeto: “The most important thing about the Port of Assab is its strategic location. It is one of the good ports near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, but it is far worse than the Somali region to the south. The climate in the south is much better than here, especially the British protectorate in Somaliland, which can even produce some grain. Assab can only obtain grain through external trade.”

Samuel: “So you usually buy grain?”

Sapeto: “Yes, especially when we first arrived. Our company bought grain from Arab Yemeni caravans. At that time, the Suez Canal had just been opened. Although European ships passed through here, most of them wouldn’t stop here, but would go directly to the Far East.”

Samuel: “If we rely on buying grain, the burden will be heavy. The kingdom wants me to find a way to raise grain locally as much as possible to reduce the pressure on domestic supplies. I haven’t even touched the border of the Abyssinian Empire yet. How can I solve this problem?”

Sapeto: “General Samuel, I do have a solution, but it’s only a temporary fix. It can greatly alleviate the army’s grain supply problem in the early stages.”

Samuel quickly asked: “What is the solution?”

Sapeto: “You can order grain from the Sultanate of Zanzibar.”

Samuel: “The Sultanate of Zanzibar?”

Sapeto: “Yes, maybe you haven’t heard of this country in Europe, but it is quite famous in the Indian Ocean. It was originally an independent country formed on the island of Zanzibar in eastern Tanganyika after the collapse of the Omani Empire, which was once the hegemon of the Indian Ocean. At its strongest, it radiated throughout the western Indian Ocean region. Later, its continental territory was taken over by the Kingdom of Germany.”

Samuel: “What does this have to do with us! The kingdom’s goal is to solve the army’s grain supply problem with as little money as possible, or even without spending any money. If we still have to pay to buy it, it’s better to spend the money at home and give the kingdom’s farmers more income.”

Sapeto: “General, this is a matter of money. The kingdom is now in economic difficulty, and what it lacks most is money and grain. Zanzibar merchants can provide the cheapest grain in the entire Indian Ocean region, and they can also deliver it to your door, which can save a lot of money.”

Samuel: “You just said that the Sultanate of Zanzibar is just an island nation, right? An island nation supplies the cheapest grain along the entire Indian Ocean coast?”

It wasn’t that Samuel doubted it. He had seen the map of Africa. He knew that the Sultanate of Zanzibar was not large, and now it had lost part of its mainland. Unless Zanzibar had mastered the technology of growing grain in the sea and had its own grain planting base, it could reduce the price of grain to be cheaper than India, but that was obviously impossible.

The price of grain in India was not cheap. Although India had the best conditions for growing grain along the Indian Ocean coast, there were too many Indians, and the British masters couldn’t let them starve to death. In addition, the level of productivity in this era was low. India’s grain production could at most supply the British mainland, and then export a small amount. To make money, the British were more enthusiastic about growing cash crops in India, such as tea, jute, and cotton.

During the East India Company’s rule, tea gardens occupied a large amount of cultivated land. After the American Civil War ended, the British even promoted large-scale cotton plantations in India to replace the southern plantations in the United States, so in the past two years, India’s grain output had further declined.

Sapeto: “General, don’t misunderstand. Although the Sultanate of Zanzibar is not large and its grain output is small, the Sultanate of Zanzibar is backed by the Germans. German farmers are good at farming in the East African kingdoms. In the past two years, the Sultanate of Zanzibar has been the most active in the Indian Ocean grain trade. They mainly rely on ships to sell East African grain to various parts of the Indian Ocean coast, especially rice in North Africa and the Middle East, most of which is supplied by the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s commercial fleet. Since last year, our company has also started buying grain from Zanzibar Sultanate merchants.”

Samuel: “Rice, but I’m afraid the soldiers won’t be used to it.”

Sapeto: “Cheap is the truth. Like my company, in order to make a profit, we naturally have to purchase cheap grain. Maybe the employees won’t be used to it at first, but they will get used to it if they eat it more often. Besides, General, you only need to solve the initial grain supply problem. The Abyssinian Empire can produce wheat. Once the kingdom occupies the Abyssinian Empire, it can grow wheat on a large scale.”

Samuel: “What about the price?”

Sapeto: “The grain price plus the shipping price is always cheaper than shipping it from home. Moreover, the kingdom is now short of grain at home and imports a lot of Black Heringen Food Company’s grain. In fact, most of Black Heringen Food Company’s grain is imported from East Africa, not from Germany and Hungary as they advertise. Only I know this kind of trick. I went back to Italy the year before last and found a Black Heringen Ocean Trading Company ship entering the Mediterranean Sea from the Suez Canal and unloading directly in La Spezia, Italy. It was that cheap flour that was very popular in Italy, but the place of origin on the packaging was written as Hungary.”

Samuel: “Then can we buy flour directly from the East African kingdoms! After all, Italian pasta and pizza are more in line with our tastes.”

Sapeto: “General, the price of East African rice is twenty percent cheaper than flour.”

Samuel was silent for a moment and said: “Then let’s choose rice! The soldiers will get used to it, but why don’t we buy directly from the East African kingdoms, but instead pay an extra fee from the Sultanate of Zanzibar?”

Sapeto: “The reason is very simple. East Africa doesn’t have enough ships. They can only focus on the European market. The Sultanate of Zanzibar has gathered a large number of Arab merchants. I estimate that Arab ships registered in the Sultanate of Zanzibar now account for more than fifty percent of the entire western Indian Ocean. They all carry out trade under the banner of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Zanzibar merchants are now called the sea coachmen of the western Indian Ocean.”

Chapter 353: Next Stop

The Sultanate of Zanzibar became the “coachman of the sea” in the Western Indian Ocean, mainly benefiting from the emerging commodity supply market of the East African Kingdom. Not only that, East African immigrants would also rent ships from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, mainly targeting female immigrants in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. As for German and Far Eastern immigrants, they were handled by the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company, and Dutch ships were occasionally hired when the shipping capacity was insufficient.

The Sultanate of Zanzibar originally made its fortune through the slave trade, so it was very experienced in transporting people. As long as it was a region with the same faith, it was a source of goods, such as India (partially), the Dutch East Indies, Central Asia, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire, where Arab merchants were present.

Although the slave trade in the Sultanate of Zanzibar has declined very rapidly in the past two years due to increasing risks, the East African Kingdom can easily keep the Sultanate of Zanzibar well-fed with just a little bit of resources revealed from its hands.

So much so that Said the Younger often complained to his father in private, wondering why he hadn’t developed East Africa back then, letting the Germans take advantage for nothing. However, Said the Younger could only think about it. Without sufficient population and scientific reserves, developing Africa would only lead to death. And the Sultanate of Zanzibar lacked both of these. You can’t expect millions of black people to develop Africa. The Arabs have been doing this for hundreds of years, and they have only achieved some success in the coastal areas (Somalia).

The advanced “hygiene” concept of the East African Kingdom alone was already ahead of its time. The establishment of the East African Kingdom can be exaggeratedly said to be a country “boiled out” by boiling water. Just the fact of not drinking raw water has increased the survival rate of East African immigrants in Africa several times.

Having said that, Said the Younger is quite satisfied with the current situation. Although the East African Kingdom is a bit strict with the Sultanate of Zanzibar, managing this and that, it will also share a portion of the benefits with the Sultanate of Zanzibar when there are advantages, at least indicating that it has no intention of “killing the donkey after it has done its work.” Even the East African military stationed on Zanzibar Island has helped the Sultanate of Zanzibar suppress rebellions of its own black slaves. During Constantine’s reign, Said the Younger felt that he could rest easy.

…

For the sake of money, Samuel had to change his mind: “Okay! For the sake of the lira (currency of the Kingdom of Italy), it has to be this way. However, Mr. Sapeto, can you ask them to give us some discounts? After all, the amount of grain we are ordering next is not small.”

Sapeto said with some helplessness: “I’m afraid that’s a bit difficult. The Sultanate of Zanzibar has always followed the path of small profits and quick turnover. However, I can try to help you. I just don’t know if the Zanzibari grain merchant who cooperates with my company has the capacity to supply so much grain.”

Samuel had no choice. The finances of the Kingdom of Italy were on the verge of collapse at any time. The failure of the war resulted in the loss of nearly half of its territory and population, which also meant the loss of collateral for the Kingdom of Italy to borrow money from the British.

Fortunately, Italy borrowed enough, and the British were also afraid of their investment going down the drain, so they (physically) persuaded Egypt to open a gap to allow Italy to have a springboard in Eritrea to attack the Abyssinian Empire.

The Egyptians were certainly unwilling. This was also the reason why the Egyptians did not actively withdraw before the Italian troops landed at the port of Assab, in case the Italians didn’t come!

However, the Egyptians were disappointed. As soon as Italy arrived, it sent a division of troops. Although Italy was weak in Europe and was severely weakened by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, its population was still larger than Egypt’s, and its industrial level was far ahead of Egypt’s. Especially the Italian Navy, even though the Adriatic Sea Navy was almost completely wiped out (part of it was inherited by the Kingdom of Naples), the remaining naval strength was still above average in the world.

However, the Egyptian government did not react much. In addition to British pressure, the main reason was that the Assab region was indeed not very important to Egypt.

The entire Suez Canal is within Egypt, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is completely dispensable to Egypt. Moreover, there are two big shots, Britain and France, near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Egypt is very uncomfortable in Assab itself.

Egypt’s occupation of Assab was originally for the need to打击打the Ottoman Empire, its nominal suzerain. Currently, Egypt has conflicts with the Abyssinian Empire, so Assab also has some strategic value. However, Italy is obviously also aiming at the Abyssinian Empire, so it doesn’t matter if the Assab region is left to the Italians. If the Italians and the Abyssinian Empire fight, the dispute between Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire in the Sudan region may end with the Abyssinian Empire bowing its head and making concessions.

Samuel: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Sapeto! The Kingdom will not forget your contribution.”

Sapeto: “General, as an Italian, this is what I should do.”

…

Dar es Salaam City.

After waiting for three days, the people from the East African Central Government finally arrived. Today, Li Ge and others can leave the immigrant transit point and head to the capital of the East African Kingdom, First Town City.

Aryan: “Mr. Li Ge, do you think First Town City will be more prosperous, lively, and spectacular than Dar es Salaam City?”

You’re asking me! Are you out of your mind!

Li Ge said speechlessly: “Mr. Aryan, you are an East African, don’t you know anything about your own country!”

Aryan: “Didn’t I say before! Although I am a citizen of the East African Kingdom, this is also my first time coming to East Africa.”

Li Ge was very helpless. How could the East African Kingdom send such a person to the Far East as a diplomat, who doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own country? How can he ensure the diplomatic connection between the East African Kingdom and the Far East?

However, Li Ge still guessed: “According to common sense, the capital of a country must be the most prosperous and have the most national spirit, so your capital should also be more prosperous than Dar es Salaam City!”

Li Ge’s words made some sense, but when it comes to prosperity in the East African Kingdom, the first place of Dar es Salaam City cannot be shaken. First Town City can only be said to be the most developed city in East Africa.

Developed and prosperous are different. First Town is developed in that its infrastructure is the best in East Africa. Even Dar es Salaam City is far inferior to First Town in this regard. At the same time, First Town is far more advanced than Dar es Salaam City in terms of medical care, education, and construction. When Dar es Salaam City is built, the East African government will consider cost issues, but First Town, as the capital, does not have this consideration. Almost all the things that are essential in European cities exist in First Town. For example, one-third of Dar es Salaam City does not have running water, let alone high-tech products such as electric lights.

Dar es Salaam City is prosperous because of its excellent business environment, active economy, and frequent foreign exchanges, while First Town, as a political center, appears more stable, and the city is not as active as Dar es Salaam City, but more serious and quiet. For example, Dar es Salaam City is still bustling with people late at night, while at this time in First Town City, most people are already asleep.

However, the difference between First Town City and Dar es Salaam City still needs to be experienced in person to truly understand the different charms of the two cities.

The people in the carriage were all imagining what First Town City would be like as the capital of East Africa, even though they didn’t even know that First Town City was only fifty kilometers away from Dar es Salaam City.

Chapter 354: Telegraph

The carriage traveled along the smooth, wide highway leading to the First Township, without the slightest bump. Through the window, the East African highway construction impressed the members of the Far East Aid Mission.

Li Ge asked Vilics, who had been sent by the First Township government to pick them up, “Mr. Vilics, what are those lines hanging on the wooden poles along the road, spaced at intervals?”

Since Vilics was Austrian, Aryan had to translate for them.

Aryan: “Those are telegraph wires for communication. They connect Dar es Salaam and the First Township.”

Li Ge: “Communication? Just with those two wires!”

Aryan: “Yes, that’s the magic of science. It might be hard for you to understand if I explain it, but you just need to know that with these cables, news from Europe can reach East Africa in a single day.”

Li Ge suspected Aryan was questioning his intelligence. If he didn’t explain the principles, how would he know how those two wires worked?

Li Ge: “Mr. Aryan, I know that you Westerners have many innovations in technology. You can build steamships, advanced guns and cannons, and industrial products for various purposes. In this aspect, you may be a little more advanced than the Far East, but it’s just that we didn’t pay much attention to scientific research before.”

Aryan: “Of course, I know that, Mr. Li Ge. I used to be from the Far East myself, so I understand this quite well. The Far East is indeed quite backward in this regard. Not to mention the general public’s understanding of science, even many officials may find something like the telegraph unbelievable.”

The educational level in the Far East is certainly far behind the German region now. After all, universal compulsory education is something that only the German region is doing in the entire world.

Aryan then explained the general operating principles of the telegraph to Li Ge, who listened in a daze. This was indeed a bit mind-boggling for Li Ge, who had only read the Four Books and Five Classics.

Li Ge: “Are you saying you created lightning and use it to transmit messages?”

Aryan: “That’s not lightning, just ordinary electricity. With current technology, no one can control lightning. Its energy is too powerful and uncontrollable.”

Li Ge: “Then aren’t you saying that a generator can create light… electricity?”

Aryan: “Electricity already exists in nature. European scientists have studied electricity itself and converted it into energy, and that energy is a magnetic field.”

“Magnetic field?” Li Ge heard another new term, but still found it difficult to understand. In Li Ge’s view, lightning was the “wrath of heaven,” and these foreign devils were simply blasphemous to try to control it.

In fact, there have been countless talented people with scientific spirit in the Far East since ancient times, unlike Li Ge, who was so superstitious about the unity of heaven and man.

For example, the “Huainanzi” of the Han Dynasty believed that “the interaction of yin and yang produces thunder, and agitation produces lightning.” Although the “Huainanzi” has no basis for its understanding of thunder and lightning, it shows the ancients’ dialectical thinking about thunder and lightning, rather than blindly believing in Confucianism’s theory of the unity of heaven and man.

Written in the Warring States period, the “Guliang Zhuan” recorded even earlier: “The interaction of yin and yang, feeling and becoming thunder, agitation and becoming lightning.”

Yin and yang correspond exactly to positive and negative charges. Just thinking about it makes one’s hair stand on end. After all, even in ancient times with such low scientific and technological levels, the ancients could have such cognition. Even if it’s just a coincidence, it’s awe-inspiring. But, is it really just a coincidence!

Aryan: “Mr. Li Ge, actually, you don’t need to be surprised. The Far East also has things like telegraphs now, but you may not know it.”

Li Ge: “The Far East also has them?”

Aryan: “Yes, the telegraph lines from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Nagasaki to Shanghai, laid by Britain, Norway, Tsarist Russia, and Denmark at the beginning of this year, are estimated to be completed soon. Blackhingen Electric Company is also planning a telegraph line from Shanghai to Jiaozhou.”

Aryan knew about this because he was one of the people in charge of coordinating this matter at the time. It was really not easy to find a German translator in the Far East, so the Blackhingen Consortium often borrowed people from the East African Embassy.

When Aryan and the aid mission left the Far East, the submarine cable from Shanghai to Jiaozhou had already begun to be laid. At that time, it would be directly connected to the telegraph lines of the “Great Northern Telegraph Company of Denmark,” led by Denmark, so East Africa could also contact the Far East through telegraph in the future.

It’s just that the news has to be transferred from Europe, which adds a procedure, but it doesn’t matter much. The “Great Northern Telegraph Company of Denmark” is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Although it has multinational capital background, it is still a Danish company.

Only the high-level officials of the Far East government and some local dignitaries know about the laying of telegraph lines in the Far East. A small person like Li Ge really doesn’t know.

In fact, the Far East government is still opposed to foreign companies laying telegraph lines in the Far East, but the situation is stronger than people, so they turn a blind eye. Among them, the Blackhingen Consortium is the most excessive, directly clamoring to attract Austrian merchants to invest in the telegraph network centered on Xuzhou in the Huaihai Economic Zone. Many countries and regions in Europe have not yet fully popularized telegraphs, so this approach is a bit ahead of its time.

If this network is built, it is still uncertain whether it can be profitable in the early stage, because the current Huaihai Economic Zone is considered an economically backward area in the Far East, with only a large number of poor people. Many of them cannot afford the cost of telegraphs, or do not have this concept of consumption, unless the Huaihai Economic Zone develops and the telegraph, this new thing, is also known to people.

Although the Huaihai Economic Zone was proposed by East Africa, East Africa itself does not invest much in the local area. The bulk of the investment is from Austrian merchants brought in by East Africa. Many factories they invest in and build can drive local development in the future, but no one knows how many years it will take for the economy to develop here.

However, the difficulty is not too great. After all, the investment excludes the interference of local government factors. As long as no foreigners come to make trouble, there will basically be no major problems. And the Huaihai Economic Zone represents the two world powers of Germany and Austria, even Britain, France, and Russia must act according to their capabilities.

This is a sure-win deal, it just takes time. Whether it can be profitable in the early stage depends on whether Xuzhou, a strategic location for military strategists and a north-south transportation hub, can bear the function of its hub city.

However, judging from the investment enthusiasm of Austrian merchants, they are more optimistic about this project. The times are developing, and telegraphs will definitely be popularized all over the world. Although the average consumption level in the Far East is not high, the volume is large enough, and Xuzhou is located in the center of the Central Plains, Zhili, Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu. The communication center of these areas is Xuzhou. Therefore, building a telegraph company in Xuzhou should, most likely, probably, be profitable!

The Blackhingen Consortium is only taking the lead in this matter, and the specific implementation is still up to the German Far East Chamber of Commerce Alliance to decide.

The focus of the Blackhingen Consortium is on how to strengthen the connection between East Africa and the Far East. The initially conceived Xuzhou Telegraph Company is only an inland information exchange node, and also pays more attention to profitability. The external communication node of the Huaihai Economic Zone is in Jiaozhou, the only good port in the entire Huaihai Economic Zone, which is also the background for the laying of the Shanghai-Jiaozhou telegraph line.

Chapter 355: Anka Village

Evening.

The convoy traveled about twenty kilometers before stopping. The group lodged in a village in East Africa, with the village chief arranging for them to stay at the village’s post station.

Although Dar es Salaam was not too far from First Town, the journey was not very fast, considering the special nature of these “talents.”

As evening approached, the villagers had already begun to light fires and cook. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, and the sunset painted a dazzling red sea across the sky. The vast, clear fields were bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

“What a soul-stirring scene!” Arian exclaimed, unable to help himself.

This was the first time the aid delegation had seen the East African countryside since arriving in East Africa. During the day, after leaving Dar es Salaam, they had seen nothing but wilderness along the road. Occasionally, animals appeared on either side of the road, confirming the rumors of the East African kingdom’s desolation. Now, they finally saw fertile fields and villages.

Not to sound like I’m bragging, but East Africa was sparsely populated to an appalling degree. In particular, the East African environment made most of the East African kingdom suitable for human habitation, so the villages and towns were relatively scattered. Between these villages and towns were large tracts of undeveloped land, possibly forests or grasslands, so it was inevitable that animals would grow quickly.

East Africa couldn’t possibly do nothing but hunt down these wild animals every day, so they simply gave up, as long as they ensured the safety of the area near the settlements.

It was reminiscent of Australia being surrounded by millions of kangaroos. However, East Africa was still much better off than Australia and Canada, which were of similar size at the time, especially with the continuous large-scale increase in the number of immigrants.

Australia had vast desert areas, and Canada was mainly located in the frigid zone. The areas suitable for human survival simply could not compare with East Africa.

The Far East and the United States had natural conditions comparable to East Africa, but East Africa was still superior in terms of land resources, especially with arable land potential exceeding both countries.

Anka Village, where the aid delegation was lodging, was an important node on the highway from First Town to Dar es Salaam. It was located right in the center of the highway, with a large flow of goods and people. The facilities were relatively complete, with more than one post station. Sometimes, immigrants and transport teams heading inland would stop here for a rest.

The continuous inland migration was also the reason why the eastern coastal areas of East Africa, although developed earlier, had a relatively slow population growth rate. The East African interior was like a bottomless pit, digesting the immigrants who came to East Africa. Anka Village was such a village, responsible for providing convenience to immigrants heading inland, in addition to its agricultural development work.

Anka Village was a large village, with more than a thousand households. The size of the village was larger than many provincial capitals in the East African kingdom’s Zambian region, and it had a larger population.

It was more like a town than a village. The highway passed through the south of Anka Village, and the north of the village was Anka Village’s farmland.

The fields were planted entirely with rice. It was already harvest season, and most of the golden rice had been harvested. Stacks of straw formed after harvesting were everywhere.

This was also the first time many members of the aid delegation had seen rice, after all, the members of the aid delegation were all northerners, and most had never seen rice.

Anka Village’s first impression on the aid delegation was still clean and tidy. At the same time, the village’s planning was very rigid, almost like an immigrant transit point, as if it had been measured out with a straight line. The difference was that Anka Village had a stronger atmosphere of life.

Arian: “This looks quite similar to the Far East, especially many of the adobe houses are exactly the same as in the Far East. The only difference is that there are many German-style public buildings in the village.”

Robert: “During the early colonial construction, due to insufficient brick and cement production, many of the houses built when the villages were first formed were relatively crude. Now, with the improvement of the kingdom’s building materials production capacity, at least in the Central Province, we have begun to renovate the original adobe houses. It is expected that next year all the residents of our village will be able to live in safer, more spacious and comfortable new houses.”

Anka Village’s village chief, Robert, was among the first batch of German immigrants to arrive in East Africa. In fact, he was one of the original mercenary members, and had participated in the battle against the Sultanate of Zanzibar. However, Robert was now retired. As an old German, he was older than the original mercenary commander, Yarmann.

With the increasing development of the East African colony, Robert believed that East Africa was a place with great potential, so he did not choose to return to Germany to retire like his other comrades. Instead, he let his children come to East Africa, and the family started a new life in East Africa.

Robert’s rich experience and his long-term work in East Africa made him very familiar with the entire Anka Village and even some of the history of the East African colonial period.

Arian: “His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have always attached importance to people’s livelihood. Although East Africa may not be very rich, the living standards of ordinary people are much higher than in other parts of the world.”

Robert: “This is also the reason why I chose to stay in East Africa. The world is turbulent, especially Europe. There have been too many wars in the history of the German region, so I believe that there will still be major wars in Europe in the future, and war is one of the biggest disasters for us ordinary people. In addition to war factors, I completely believe in the credibility of His Highness Ernst. The promises he made to us old people at the beginning have basically been fulfilled.”

The old people Robert was talking about were the mercenaries who opened up the first colonial territory in East Africa. Ernst personally sent them on the ships to East Africa. At that time, Ernst’s promises to them, including wages, bonuses and pensions, were all paid in full, and he would also provide some assistance and care to their families in Germany every year, so Robert completely trusted Ernst.

And Ernst was so young, the future of the East African kingdom under his rule for the next few decades must be bright. As for the more distant future, he would be dead by then anyway. Robert entrusted his remaining life and the future of his descendants to the East African kingdom.

It wasn’t that Robert was naive, but that most German civilians in this era still had relatively high trust in nobles, especially nobles with good reputations, who would be loved by the people, especially in rural areas. For example, in Austria-Hungary, although there were many ethnic conflicts, the vast majority of people still supported the Habsburg royal family, regardless of their ethnicity.

Chapter 356: Railway

The next day, after resting for a night, the group had a simple meal in the Anka Village canteen and continued on their way. As the carriage moved, Anka Village gradually faded from view.

Slowly, the farmland and plantations also came to an abrupt end, and the landscape reverted to a desolate savanna. The straight, gravel road laid out on the wilderness seemed particularly out of place against the surrounding wilderness. This feeling was like a subway station built in the middle of a field, making people feel isolated.

They traveled for an unknown amount of time when a long object suddenly appeared on the south side of the road. From a distance, it looked like a river lying on the horizon extending east and west, but it was raised above the ground and very regular, suggesting it was something man-made.

As the carriage continued forward, the group felt more and more that the object was unusual. It gradually approached the road, getting closer and closer, and seemed to have no end.

When the structure finally ran parallel to the road, the group could see its full appearance. Two roadbeds paved with crushed stones, running parallel to each other, were about a dozen meters wide. On the stones were placed thick, trimmed wooden beams, on which were what appeared to be large iron bars covered in red rust.

The group began to discuss, “What is that thing?”

Arian began to explain to them, “That is a railway.”

“Railway?”

“Yes, a type of transportation track, like a road, that can transport people and goods. However, it is not horse-drawn carriages that travel on it, but steam-powered locomotives. The locomotives pull freight cars behind them. You just need to know that it is a type of road.”

“Mr. Arian! That thing called a railway, the iron bars on it must be the source of its name, right? But can a vehicle really run on it?”

Arian: “Yes, but those are not called iron bars, but rails. You should be familiar with tracks; they are common in some mines. However, they used to be wooden tracks, and they were used to transport minerals in mine carts. Later, the British took the lead in improving this type of track and applying it to land, which led to the formation of railways. In the Far East, there are also things based on a similar principle, but those are concave, with the wheel ruts running inside (Qin Dynasty roads), while railways are convex, with wheels specially designed to fit between the two rails.”

“What are the wooden beams and crushed stones under the rails for? Can’t they just be laid directly on the ground?”

“Those wooden beams are called sleepers, and the stones laid underneath are called ballast. Their purpose is to withstand the pressure of the rails, because steam locomotives are quite heavy. If there is nothing underneath to support the rails, the rails will cut into the soil like a knife through tofu.”

“I see, now we understand!”

Arian continued, “Not only that, but the ballast also serves to cushion shocks, stabilize the roadbed, reduce noise, and quickly drain water.”

“How much pig iron is needed for this type of road?”

Arian: “I’m not sure, but it’s a lot. These railways are often measured in kilometers, and many railways in Europe and America are measured in thousands of kilometers.”

Arian’s words caused everyone to gasp in amazement, unable to imagine how much iron would be consumed by something called a railway.

By 1870, the total length of railways in the world had exceeded 210,000 kilometers, with the United States and Germany being emerging forces in railway construction. Britain and France maintained steady progress, and the relatively backward Austro-Hungarian Empire and Tsarist Russia also saw significant development in railways.

These sixty kilometers of the East African First Railway are nothing compared to the rest of the world, even lagging behind many colonies. Moreover, the First Railway has not yet been opened to traffic since its completion, having been idle for some time.

Therefore, someone noticed this and asked, “Mr. Arian! Why haven’t we seen the steam locomotives you mentioned running on it?”

“I’ll ask Mr. Willicks about that first.” Then Arian turned and spoke to Willicks in German.

After a while.

“Okay, now I have a general idea of the situation. The East African Kingdom’s railway has technical shortcomings because its standards are different from most countries in the world. This has resulted in the railway in front of us, which East Africa calls the First Railway, waiting for a locomotive to be developed after its completion. However, Mr. Alex just told me that the finished locomotive has completed its final testing in Austria and will be officially shipped from Austria to East Africa next month for trial operation.”

In the end, Hecheng Vienna Energy and Power Company persuaded Ernst to maintain the original plan. After all, everyone had worked so hard for so long and was about to see results, so how could he change his mind so easily?

Where is Austria! Everyone didn’t know, but according to Arian, this railway is currently just for show.

“Mr. Arian, the function of this railway sounds no different from a road. Why do you bother to build a railway that is not worth the effort? I think it would be better to build more roads with this spare money.”

Arian: “Then you are very wrong. Railways and roads are very different. Let me explain it this way. The carriages we are currently using rely on horses to provide power, and horses consume grain, need to eat, drink, excrete, and sleep, and their physical strength is also consumed along the way, and they don’t pull much. But railways don’t have so many problems. The locomotives running on the railway rely on steam engines to provide power. You should all have seen how powerful steam engines are, and steam engines only need people to constantly add coal to the boiler to generate power continuously.”

Everyone had come to East Africa by ship, so they had seen the large chimneys of steamships.

“Mr. Arian, like the big chimney on the ship!”

Arian: “Yes, that’s the thing. Just like boiling water will cause steam to push the lid of a kettle, these water vapors will form high pressure in a closed space, repeatedly pushing the piston to move. The piston drives gears and crankshafts, and finally makes the wheels turn. If you have seen the steam engines used for production in textile factories, you can probably understand its operating principle more intuitively.”

Textile factories were indeed the easiest places to come into contact with steam engines, especially in the Far East. In fact, the first railway in the Far East was built in 1865 by the British capitalist Durand outside Xuanwu Gate in Beijing. The British wanted to gain the recognition of the Qing government by “running a strange little car on the railway at a very fast speed.” However, this railway not only did not receive praise, but also aroused the panic of the Qing rulers. Therefore, Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the commander of the infantry to dismantle it on the grounds of “losing my defenses, harming my fields and houses, and hindering my feng shui.” China’s first railway died in this way.

This railway existed for a very short time, so many people had not seen it. On the other hand, there were many textile factories in the Far East, after all, they did not bring as much shock as railways.

The first time most people saw machines powered by steam engines in factories, they would exclaim, “Exquisite craftsmanship.” If they saw a steam locomotive for the first time, it would cause fear. The British writer Dickens had very complex feelings about railways. He admired the great power of railways, but also feared this uncontrollable force. In “Dombey and Son,” Dickens described the powerful destructive power of railways by recording the changes in “Stagg’s Gardens”: “Traces of earthquakes can be seen everywhere.” Using “earthquake” as a metaphor vividly shows the sense of destruction brought about by railway construction, and also implies the lasting damage that is difficult to restore after the disaster. The author also used negative words such as “shaky,” “messy,” “mixed,” and “dilapidated” to make readers feel the sense of fragmentation and chaos brought about by railway construction, giving people a huge visual and psychological impact.

Chapter 357: Soja

In fact, East Africa will also face this problem. Many people in East Africa have never seen trains. Some will inevitably feel fear when they first see such steel monsters. This requires the government to educate and appease the people along the railway line to solve the problem.

“Look quickly!”

Outside the car window, a team of railway workers was working. At this time, the railway changed, branching off to the south, and workers could be seen laying tracks.

“Mr. Aryan! Didn’t you say the railway was completed? What are they doing?”

Aryan was a little annoyed. These people had seen so little and were always questioning him. So, he said impatiently, “It is completed! And it’s been completed for months. This is what East African government officials said themselves. And this is obviously a branch line under construction. I think you should know what a branch line is? After a road is built, doesn’t it connect to other places? Your Far East avenues also have small roads connecting them, right!”

Obviously, they didn’t notice Aryan’s displeasure and continued to ask, “Then where does this branch line lead?”

This time, Aryan ignored them. He was also visiting the Kingdom of East Africa for the first time. They asked him about everything. How would he know where a railway branch line leads! As mentioned before, although Aryan’s nationality was East African, he had only been to Europe and the Far East before. He didn’t know anything about East Africa itself. Besides, he wasn’t involved in geography or railways, just a small clerk in the East African Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was good enough that he knew the general idea. These Far East doctors were really looking for trouble. What does this have to do with you?

The branch line deviated from the main line to the south.

Out of sight of the group, a large construction site was underway. This was the destination of the branch line – “Soja.” Soja is located directly south of Bagamoyo, southwest of Dar es Salaam, and southeast of First Town, with the four points forming a diamond shape.

After the renovation of Dar es Salaam, the huge construction team was not disbanded or sent elsewhere, but was uniformly transferred to Soja, which is thirty-six kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam in a straight line.

That’s right, Soja is the latest city planned by Ernst. Soja’s geographical location cannot be said to be very good, but it is definitely not bad. It is some distance from the First Railway, but the First Railway will later build a branch line to connect here.

Although the purpose of Soja City is unknown, its specifications are very high. Ernst specially invited royal designers from Vienna to plan and design Soja City. Soja City refers to Vienna and focuses on building a “garden city.” This positioning is different from First Town, Dar es Salaam, and Bagamoyo.

No one knows what Ernst wants to do. Even Konstantin doesn’t know what his son’s purpose is in building this city, but there is no major problem with building a new city, so everyone doesn’t care too much.

On the construction site.

“Mr. Lawrence, according to the drawings, a flower bed is to be built here, but isn’t this specification too wasteful in terms of area?”

Lawrence: “Just do as I tell you. The flower bed is built for aesthetics. You see, this is exactly a Y-shaped fork in the road, and a three-story building will be built directly in front of the fork, and a huge flower bed will be built in the middle of this fork, which can be used as a buffer, and the high-rise buildings on all three sides can see this flower bed, which gives people a sense of security and makes people pleasing to the eye.”

While Lawrence was teaching his subordinates, workers on the construction site were excavating the city’s sewers. Soja City’s drainage facilities are designed to be even more developed than those of Dar es Salaam.

Soja City is designed to accommodate a small population of about fifty thousand people, but its infrastructure is the same as that of Dar es Salaam, while the new city of Dar es Salaam can accommodate about one hundred and fifty thousand people.

Moreover, the architecture of Soja City is also more exquisite in design. Many buildings even use the same elements as Schönbrunn Palace in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Fountains, squares, flower beds, and woodlands can be seen everywhere. It is actually a French garden like Schönbrunn Palace.

After educating his assistant, Lawrence asked his partner, “Mr. Dres, what do you think we should use as a symbol of this work of art?”

Dres is also a designer of Soja City. The difference between him and Lawrence is that Lawrence is better at classicism, while Lawrence is inclined to modernity and pays more attention to the convenience of life in urban design.

Dres: “A landmark can play a finishing touch to every cultured city, so we should design a German-style logo to reflect the connotation of Soja City.”

“Connotation, but what is the connotation of Soja City!” Dres’s words aroused Lawrence’s contemplation.

Berlin has the Brandenburg Gate, Paris has the Arc de Triomphe, Vienna has St. Stephen’s Cathedral, England has Big Ben, and New York’s Statue of Liberty are all memorable, injecting soul into the city image. So what is the soul of Soja City?

First of all, Soja is an East African city, and secondly, East Africa is a German country, so Soja should have these two characteristics.

Dres: “How about we build a fountain square to reflect the artistic features of Soja City?”

Lawrence: “It’s a bit difficult for a square to become famous. It must be built large enough to attract people’s attention, and the scale of Soja City is obviously not matched by a large square. I think it’s better to create a large sculpture to impress people.”

Dres: “Sculptures won’t work. I thought about this at the beginning. The design requirements are too high. We must invite master-level figures, and this is not good for either of us. Although Soja City is located in Africa, it is also a rare work of art.”

For Dres, mastering the design of a city is an extraordinary achievement, even if it is in Africa. After all, how many people can obtain the design rights of an entire city!

Lawrence: “It’s not easy to highlight the design features of Soja City and increase our value. Soja City can be said to be the most perfect of the many cities I have designed. It is completely a dream city conceived on a blank slate. Alas, why didn’t a European city invite us to design it! Even if it was a second-tier city that invited us.”

Lawrence said with some emotion that if Soja City were in Europe, more people would see the city he designed, which would greatly increase his commercial value and popularity.

Unfortunately, Soja City is built in East Africa, a godforsaken place. Even after it is built, who will live here? Lawrence and Dres both believe that Soja City is just Ernst’s toy. Now that one-third of Soja City has been completed, no one has moved in except for the construction team and designers.

Chapter 358: War Preparations

While the construction of Soja City was underway, the Central Canal project was also in full swing. The Ndebele people were organized and divided into two groups to excavate the canal. Coupled with the construction of the Lake Malawi industrial zone and the Northern industrial belt during the same period, the eastern part of the East African Kingdom was developing rapidly.

As these projects commenced, the army in the Zimbabwe area had already begun military training, primarily focused on how to capture roaming Boers in the wild.

“Faced with the Kingdom’s superior forces and powerful firepower, the Boers will not confront us head-on. They will be like cockroaches, crawling into dark corners, possibly attacking you suddenly from anywhere. At this point, your enemy is no longer a backward native wielding a spear, but a Boer with some military experience and access to firearms. If we encounter Boers using such tactics, how should we respond?”

As the instructor asked, the soldiers below began to discuss. Many had witnessed guerrilla warfare, but it was previously employed by natives. The tactics were effective, but without advanced weapons, it was basically suicide. Faced with native ambushes, East African soldiers could usually respond calmly.

The natives who used guerrilla tactics were already among the more intelligent in the African region. Most natives were defeated by East Africa without knowing why, or simply couldn’t organize resistance. The vast difference in weaponry made it difficult for the average native to even consider resisting.

“First, divide and conquer. Guerrilla warfare, guerrilla warfare, a method of fighting that involves striking from all directions. Therefore, we must confine the enemy to a specific area, preventing them from striking from all directions.

Second, cut off communication between the Boers, ensuring that Boer soldiers within the jurisdiction cannot obtain any supplies from Boer villages, cutting off their food and water sources, making it impossible for them to survive in the wild.

Finally, remember not to pursue desperate foes too closely. Don’t fall into the Boers’ trap and be ambushed. As long as we defend the settlements and regularly sweep the area within our jurisdiction, the Boers’ last chance of survival will disappear.”

This was essentially East Africa’s battle plan: quickly deploy troops, seize Boer cities and villages, and then deal with the counterattacks of any who slipped through the net.

The Transvaal Republic established by the Boers was quite unique, so East Africa had to take over its national government in a very short period, which placed very high demands on the capabilities of the East African Kingdom’s army.

First, there had to be detailed maps to guide the army. To this end, the East African Kingdom disguised people as German merchants or explorers and sent them from the east into the Boer settlements to conduct a detailed exploration of the Transvaal Republic, supplementing the maps at every location.

These maps were then shipped back to the East African Kingdom and compiled by the Hechingen Military Academy, which consolidated the intelligence and unified it onto military maps, marking the Transvaal’s terrain, rivers, forests, swamps, and so on.

At the same time, all cities and towns in the Transvaal Republic were drawn on the map with feasible routes. As long as the East African Kingdom’s military officers marched according to the instructions on the map, they could occupy the entire Transvaal Republic in a very short time.

However, this assumed that the Boers would not resist, which was clearly impossible. Even if the East African Kingdom launched a surprise attack, the Transvaal Republic’s depth was still relatively large for the East African army.

“When dealing with the Boers, we must also be wary of external countries, including the Orange Free State and the British Cape Colony, taking advantage of the situation. Our people must react quickly and take the entire Transvaal Republic within a month or so. By the time the news reaches Cape Town, the British will be powerless to do anything about it. As for whether we effectively occupy it, that doesn’t matter. We just need to let the British know that the East African Kingdom has annexed the Transvaal Republic.”

The operation against the Transvaal Republic had to be carried out with lightning speed, which placed considerable demands on the East African army. To improve the soldiers’ physical fitness, the army’s food was improved, and the amount of training was increased to ensure that the troops could march more than forty kilometers per day.

From the southernmost to the northernmost point of the Transvaal Republic, the straight-line distance is approximately five hundred kilometers. As long as the East African army can achieve the amount of training they usually do, then it is possible to advance from the north to the south of the Transvaal Republic within a month.

Regarding the attitude towards the Boers, the East African Kingdom’s decision was to retain the good and discard the bad. There was also the Orange Free State to the south of the Transvaal Republic, which would allow Boers who were dissatisfied with East African rule to choose to go there.

In fact, the current Transvaal Republic is extremely poor. The climate in the Transvaal Republic is dry and hot, and the land is barren. The Boers can only make a living by running ranches. This is how the Boers have supported their families for generations, but it inevitably suffers from a simple economic structure and a weak economic base.

The country does not have a single modern industrial enterprise, nor has it built even an inch of railway. In 1866, the Transvaal Republic’s total annual fiscal revenue was only 66,000 pounds, and the Boers’ national treasury had only nine shillings and twelve pence, less than one pound.

The reason why the Transvaal Republic has been able to continue to exist as a country is because of its solidarity. The government stipulates that any male citizen of the Transvaal who is sixteen years old can apply to the state for the allocation of two thousand four hundred hectares of land in return. These Boers are required to pay taxes to the state, and in times of war, they must serve as soldiers for the country. Land means pastures, and conquering more land means more pastures, so the Boers are constantly fighting with black tribes inside and outside the country.

The Boers’ biggest enemy is the Zulu Kingdom. The Zulus and the Boers forged a bitter feud in the Battle of Blood River. But the Zulus are different from ordinary black native tribes. The Zulus are not only brave and skilled warriors, but they have also surpassed the form of primitive tribes in organizational structure and established their own kingdom, capable of large-scale operations.

The Ndebele regime previously eliminated by East Africa was a branch of the Zulus, and its capabilities were indeed remarkable among all the natives encountered by East Africa. The most cunning thing about the Zulus is that they are good at using diplomatic means, using the contradictions between the Boers and the British to sow discord. This is how the Ndebele were able to get support from the Boers.

However, the Transvaal Republic is now facing imminent disaster without realizing it. East Africa is not like the British. The British are best at deceptive tactics when acquiring colonies (the Transvaal Republic joined Britain in 1876 because it was deceived), while the East African Kingdom, like the Prussian barbarians, has always advocated force.

Chapter 359: Now that you’re here, you’re not leaving!

While Zimbabwe was busily preparing for war, the central government of the Kingdom received the Far East aid delegation, and Constantine personally met with the members of the delegation.

Li Ge: “…Under the instructions of the Emperor, the Far East government has dispatched Li Ge and Ande as the chief and deputy envoys, respectfully greeting His Majesty King Constantine.”

After listening to the lengthy self-introduction, Constantine understood that Li Ge and Ande were not doctors, but officials of the Far East Empire. Only the one hundred and three people behind them were doctors from the Far East.

Constantine immediately had an idea: “Your country is concerned about the development of medical services in East Africa, which is a good thing. Since this is the case, we must also show our appreciation. Although your country has diplomatic relations with ours, it has never established an embassy in our country, which is unequal in the international community. Why don’t you two stay in East Africa as envoys of the Qing Empire to be responsible for contacting the diplomatic affairs between the two countries?”

Constantine’s words directly frightened Li Ge and Ande. This “foreign barbarian king” Constantine was trying to take their lives!

Originally, Li Ge and Ande’s mission to East Africa was despised by some people as: “Unable to serve the living, how can they serve ghosts? Why go to the land of their parents?” This was the general attitude of the Far East bureaucracy, otherwise, they would not have sent Li Ge and Ande, two minor scholars who were not even considered formal officials, to East Africa as candidates. Historically, it was not until the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875) that the Qing government officially sent diplomatic envoys to Western countries.

Li Ge and Ande were of low status and had little influence, so naturally they could not disobey the opinions of their superiors. However, from the moment they were sent to East Africa, it meant that their official careers were completely cut off in the future.

Now, Constantine directly appointed them as Far East ambassadors to be stationed in East Africa. If this matter were to be reported back to the country, Li Ge and Ande had a premonition that the title of traitor would fall on their heads.

Leaving aside this matter, just the fact that Constantine, a foreign monarch, bypassed the Qing government and directly appointed them as Far East ambassadors, would the Emperor and all the civil and military officials let them go!

Li Ge and Ande hurriedly begged for mercy: “Your Majesty King Constantine, this matter is absolutely impossible!”

Constantine: “Oh! Why?”

Li Ge said with a mournful face: “We two are originally officials of the Far East, with a sovereign and father above us. The Far East values moral principles and ethics most. If the sovereign is unjust, a subject may defect to another country. If we two were to serve as officials in East Africa, where would we place our Celestial Dynasty and the Emperor’s dignity? We fear we would have no face to face our elders in our hometown, and we can only show our determination by dying, refusing to serve.”

Li Ge spoke a lot in a literary style, and it took the East African translators a long time to figure out the general meaning.

Constantine then understood that he had misunderstood the situation. These Far East scholar-officials were heavily influenced by Confucianism, which was very different from the Western way of thinking.

Constantine said: “You two don’t need to be like this. What I mean is that our country will negotiate with your Emperor and ask him to agree to send diplomatic personnel to East Africa. If your Emperor agrees, you two will most likely be able to take on this task. If your Emperor does not agree, then just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Don’t think that the East African Kingdom was quite formal when it was founded in Europe. In reality, no country has established an embassy in East Africa to this day. In the eyes of countries such as England and France, the so-called East African Kingdom is just a colony established overseas by members of the Prussian royal family (German royal family), a small trick of the Hohenzollern family. Who would send diplomatic personnel to a colony to establish an embassy!

Especially when the East African Kingdom was first established, Prussia was just a small Kingdom of Prussia. The so-called East African Kingdom had a terrible image in the eyes of outsiders, and its status was even inferior to the neighboring Portuguese colony of Mozambique. Mozambique had a history of hundreds of years, while the East African Kingdom was less than a year old (not including the colonial period). No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look like a proper country, at best it’s just bullying African natives who don’t have firearms.

Not to mention countries like England and France, even Austria and Prussia, which have the best relations with East Africa, don’t take East Africa very seriously. Others may just look down on the East African Kingdom, but they will still give the East African Kingdom a little face because of Prussia and Austria. The governments of Austria and Prussia really don’t look up to the East African Kingdom at all.

Even the status of Constantine, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, is more valuable than the so-called King of East Africa. Although the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen is small, it is a genuine European principality, recognized by the European aristocracy. The East African Kingdom is just like the Emperor of India title of the British King in the future, just a show. If someone mentions the British King, Europeans will be in awe, but mentioning the Emperor of India will cause laughter.

For example, Archduke Ferdinand, who served as the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy, is still a laughing stock in Austria to this day, but everyone doesn’t say it for the sake of His Majesty the Emperor. Franz is also very embarrassed, but it’s better for his younger brother to retire in East Africa than to go to that broken place in Mexico.

In fact, since learning that their Emperor had not died, the royalists in Mexico had gone to Austria to beg Ferdinand to come out of retirement again, or at least establish a government in exile, so that everyone could earn some subsidies in Austria. Franz certainly wouldn’t agree. Choosing the lesser of two evils, plus Ferdinand was doing well in East Africa, and could occasionally go home to visit through the Suez Canal, so letting Ferdinand stay in East Africa was not a bad thing. As for Ferdinand wanting to make a career in East Africa, everyone just watched for fun.

Ferdinand: Don’t underestimate a middle-aged man!

The East African Navy is developing very quickly. It is a pity that there are no ironclad ships, but this year there will be two new steam-powered warships built by the Bagamoyo Shipyard to be commissioned. Together with the two warships of the Zanzibar Sultanate that have been refitted, Ferdinand will have eight steam-powered sailing warships under his command by next year.

In short, East Africa is now a diplomatic desert. There are many unilaterally established embassies, but they are not very useful, and sometimes it is not as effective as the Hohenzollern Bank.

Of course, this is also related to the short time since the establishment of the East African Kingdom, but it is not that no country plans to establish an embassy in East Africa.

This country is Paraguay, which was badly tricked by Ernst. After the baptism of war, Paraguay has completely become a ruin. Coupled with the massive loss of population, it is even difficult to maintain government stability. Moreover, the Paraguayan government is close to Argentina, which makes the Paraguayan government even more worried. Paraguay and Argentina both came from the Spanish Rio de la Plata colony. Being of the same origin is the most suspicious. Brazil just wants to beat itself up, but Argentina may really annex itself.

Therefore, Paraguay urgently needs to find a backer in the international community. In addition, East Africa has caught a handle on Paraguayan immigrants. With the contact of East Africa, Paraguay has taken a fancy to the Austro-Hungarian Empire behind East Africa.

Although the East African Kingdom is not very useful in this process, it is a contact person. Therefore, the Paraguayan government intends to establish an embassy in East Africa, but the Paraguayan embassy has not yet been built, mainly because the Paraguayan government has not yet selected diplomatic personnel.

As for whether Paraguay or the Far East will establish the first embassy in East Africa, it depends on who is more active. Diplomacy is such a thing, anyway, the current East African Kingdom is not in a hurry. It is a good thing that no one pays attention to East Africa. If a country really pays attention to East Africa, it may be like a weasel visiting a hen, with no good intentions.

In fact, there is a country that really wants to establish an embassy in East Africa, but East Africa has not agreed, and that is the Zanzibar Sultanate. Don’t you know what your status is! In East Africa’s view, being able to establish a legation in Stone Town (the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate) is giving the Zanzibar Sultanate face. The Zanzibar Sultanate is to the East African Kingdom what Japan was to the United States in its previous life. Taking care of you in business is a matter of reassurance. If we weren’t reassured, we would have blown you to smithereens.

Hearing Constantine’s arrangement, Li Ge and Ande’s hanging hearts were slightly relieved, but their hearts were still extremely bitter. Constantine’s negotiation with the Far East government will definitely mention the two of them. Even if this Far East ambassador really falls on the two of them, their future prospects will probably be bleak. They might as well join East Africa and bring their families from the Far East. They are also afraid that their families will be gossiped about in the Far East.

Li Ge and Ande were originally from poor backgrounds and had no connections. There were not many people in their families, and it was really a blessing from their ancestors that they were able to pass the imperial examination. As a result, before they could enjoy it, they were sent to this barbarian land of East Africa.

Constantine did not know that his casual decision made the two of them feel like they were sitting on pins and needles. In fact, Constantine simply wanted to separate Li Ge and Ande from those Far East doctors. These two were officials from the Far East, and those doctors must also be under their management. This would not do, the doctors belonged to East Africa.

So Constantine said: “This matter is settled. I will personally write a letter to your monarch later and praise you two. Alas, the Far East is indeed a country with a long civilization. The subjects are so loyal to their monarch. I think we should vigorously promote this in East Africa in the future.”

This was Constantine’s sincere words. Europe was such a small place with so many countries. If a subject was really dissatisfied with the monarch, he would really defect to the opposing camp. Looking at the subordinates of the Eastern monarchs, they would even die to preserve the face of their own monarch. The East African Kingdom, as an autocratic country, naturally wanted such “loyal and patriotic” people.

In fact, Europe has too short a history of civilization. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in the Far East, talents also roamed among the countries, emphasizing that if one place doesn’t keep me, I can find another place to stay. The use of Jin talents by Chu is the same principle.

Constantine continued: “The Ministry of Health should do a good job in receiving them. You must come up with a good plan for these doctors from the Far East, so that they feel like they are at home in East Africa and promote the development of medical services in East Africa.”

Minister of Health Berled understood and said: “Yes, Your Majesty, we just lack many independent hospital directors, and we can arrange for these doctors to take up positions.”

The doctors from the Far East could not understand the conversation between the two, and did not know that their group had been regarded as their own by the East African Kingdom. What free clinic? That doesn’t exist. They are all doctors of East African nationality, and they will continue to shine and generate heat for the medical cause of the East African Kingdom in the future.

As for their families in the Far East, it is not a big problem. Naturally, someone will arrange for them to reunite in East Africa in the future. Once you come to East Africa, you can’t leave.

Chapter 360: Arrangements

The East African monarch and his ministers communicated entirely in German, leaving the Far East aid delegation completely in the dark about what they were saying. This made them very nervous, as their fate was entirely in the hands of others.

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide): “There are two main aspects to the arrangements for the doctors. The first is to gather them together. In our Ministry of Health’s experience, traditional Chinese medicine is a system, and introducing a system requires building a framework. This framework cannot be completed by one or two doctors alone. It requires a group of authoritative and highly capable people to work together.

We in East Africa already have a group of doctors from the Far East, but their professionalism is often insufficient. They have a special term in the Far East called ‘土郎中’ (tǔ láng zhōng), which refers to people who practice medicine in rural areas.

Many of them come from families that have been practicing medicine for generations, so they have ancestral skills and secret recipes for treating patients. Although they may not have a doctor’s license, they can still treat illnesses and save lives, and even cure many difficult and complicated diseases. They are experienced and have seen a lot of patients.

However, because of the way knowledge is passed down through oral instruction, there are bound to be deviations in the theory. It is even possible that extremely serious knowledge gaps can occur due to family changes. This has led us to discover that some doctors use different prescriptions and treatments when dealing with the same disease. These deviations can be good or bad, and are extremely unstable.

Therefore, the kingdom should formulate unified standards for traditional Chinese medicine. On the one hand, doctors with real talent and learning should lead the formulation of the standards. On the other hand, practical cases should be used as reference to continuously improve and correct this system.”

Health Minister 贝尔莱德 (Bellreide) has been dealing with Far Eastern doctors for many years. Traditional Chinese medicine has a complete theoretical system, and its uniqueness lies in the holistic view of “harmony between man and nature” and “correspondence between man and nature,” as well as treatment based on syndrome differentiation.

This theory is very attractive to 贝尔莱德 (Bellreide), so he believes that traditional Chinese medicine focuses on unity and coordination, while Western medicine is good at targeted treatment. This is mainly reflected in the fact that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes conditioning and does not excessively rely on drugs, giving full play to the body’s functions, while Western medicine relies too much on drugs and surgery in this regard. If these two systems were put together for 贝尔莱德 (Bellreide) to choose from, he would definitely choose to believe in traditional Chinese medicine, because it has a higher margin for error.

康斯坦丁 (Constantine): “What you said makes sense, but our European medicine also has its merits.” What exactly? 康斯坦丁 (Constantine) couldn’t say. Where exactly are its merits?

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide) helped him clear up his doubts: “European medicine is good at surgery, especially in the military, where it has a clear effect on treating trauma. However, traditional Chinese medicine is not bad in this regard either. For example, when dealing with fractures, I have personally seen Far Eastern doctors who are skilled in a bone-setting treatment that is stable, accurate, skillful, and fast. They use skill and apply multiple consecutive techniques to quickly and accurately reset the bone, reducing the patient’s pain and avoiding the drawbacks of surgery that can leave scars. Unfortunately, there is currently only one such doctor in the kingdom. I believe there are other doctors in the Far East who know this technique. I wonder if there are any among this group of people.”

The Far Eastern orthopedic doctor that 贝尔格莱德 (Belgrade) is talking about currently works in the First Hospital of the First Town. After all, when such talents are discovered, they are definitely given priority in supplying the kingdom’s political center. The East African government has specially arranged for more than a dozen apprentices for him, hoping that this technique can be inherited and developed in East Africa.

In this era, Europe mainly relies on plaster casts to deal with fractures, but some fundamental problems cannot be solved: even though the broken bone looks like it has been set properly, when the plaster is removed, the bone is either grown crookedly or is a different length than before!

Therefore, East Africa is ahead of its time in combining Far Eastern bone-setting techniques with European plaster casts. This combination of Chinese and Western medicine has become a unique treatment method in East Africa and is one of the current medical paradigms in East Africa.

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide) continued: “At the same time, when dealing with common cases such as malaria, the application of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can also accelerate the patient’s recovery. This has been verified by a large number of real cases. Therefore, combining Far Eastern and European medical skills is definitely beneficial to the development of the kingdom’s medical cause. Not only that, but industrial development is also beneficial to our standardization, mainly in the formulation of unified standards for medical equipment and devices. In this regard, East Africa has a natural advantage.”

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide)’s words were not nonsense. Currently, in the field of scalpels, 黑兴根 (Hechingen) Daily Products Company, famous for producing Gillette razors, has absolute authority in the production of scalpels. Replaceable quick blades are definitely a powerful weapon when used in surgery. Unfortunately, only East Africa has fully promoted them. Many European doctors still prefer scalpels that can be used repeatedly. Scalpels can be sharpened and used again. After all, the scalpel blades produced by 黑兴根 (Hechingen) Daily Products Company cost more money. Scalpels are not razors, and there is no fear of scratching the face.

At this time, 康斯坦丁 (Constantine) suddenly thought that there is another relatively popular medical system in East Africa. The existence of European medicine in East Africa is very normal, after all, the Kingdom of East Africa is also a “Germanic country.” Traditional Chinese medicine was vigorously promoted by his son, but in the coastal areas of East Africa, including the First Town, there are still a large number of Arab doctors.

Arab medicine is also quite famous. The ancient Arab Empire spanned three continents and absorbed medical knowledge from the Far East, ancient Rome, India, Persia, Europe, Egypt, and other regions. It also produced the great work “The Canon of Medicine,” which can even be said to have laid the foundation for European medicine. Most of the Arab doctors in East Africa come from the Sultanate of Zanzibar. In particular, there are dozens of Arab medical clinics in Dar es Salaam, providing medical services to tourists and merchants.

So 康斯坦丁 (Constantine) suddenly had a whimsical idea and said: “贝尔莱德 (Bellreide), can we organize an exchange between court physicians (Western medicine), Far Eastern doctors, and Arab doctors to promote the development of East Africa’s medical cause?”

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide): “Of course, Your Majesty, but this matter will have to wait. I think we should first let the Far Eastern doctors become familiar with German so that there is a possibility of communication between the three parties.”

After all, among the three medical systems, Arab doctors and Germanic doctors have a lot in common, but traditional Chinese medicine is completely unique. Many medical terms and theories can be overwhelming. If there is no mutual understanding of language, then it is basically like a deaf person listening to opera.

康斯坦丁 (Constantine) thought it made sense. Everyone should first integrate in East Africa for a period of time and then consider this matter in the future. So he said: “Okay! Let’s put this matter on hold for now. Continue.”

贝尔莱德 (Bellreide) continued: “I just said there are two aspects. The first is to gather them together, and the second is to disperse them. To spread medicine, we must cultivate talents. There are two ways to cultivate medical talents: apprenticeship and academies. According to the current situation in the Kingdom of East Africa, I think we can increase the promotion of the apprenticeship system. East Africa has a shortage of medical resources, especially doctors. We can disperse some of these doctors to various parts of East Africa to provide medical services, and at the same time arrange for students to follow them to learn. It is best to have East African children who are bilingual to follow up and learn. Medical academies can also be prepared, but medical academies can only be fixed in one place, so the number of patients will be limited, and more emphasis will be placed on theoretical learning, lacking clinical experience, but suitable for producing doctors in large quantities.”

康斯坦丁 (Constantine): “You are right. Currently, the apprenticeship system is still the mainstream in Europe, but academies are also clearly the general trend. In this matter, we in East Africa can take two approaches and proceed simultaneously.”

So, in the conversation between the monarch and his ministers, the fate of this group of Far Eastern doctors was decided. They will be divided into two groups. One group will guide the formulation of East African traditional Chinese medicine standards and the establishment of medical academies, and the other group will establish a number of clinics in various parts of East Africa, driving the development of local medical services through the apprenticeship system.

Chapter 361: K-001

In the following month, East Africa began to fully utilize the Far East Aid Group. To make people willing to work, you need to understand the art of offering incentives. The Kingdom of East Africa could offer decent terms. Besides basic living security, they also offered high salaries, but all in the form of Rhine thalers, which only circulated within East Africa. Earn in East Africa, spend in East Africa; don’t even think about taking a single thaler home.

At the same time, these doctors were given East African professional titles, making them essentially civil servants in the medical field. Li Ge and Ander could only watch helplessly at the East African government’s actions, with no way to intervene.

With East Africa’s vigorous efforts to win them over, quite a few people were tempted. However, most still hoped to return to the Far East. Doctors are a high-paying profession everywhere, and their lives weren’t bad. Moreover, most doctors from the Far East were relatively educated, and their desire to settle down in their homeland was even stronger.

East Africa understood this point, but it didn’t matter. There would always be a steady stream of talent from the Far East coming to the Kingdom of East Africa to fill these vacancies, until the day East African medicine was fully developed.

…

September 13, 1871.

King Constantine personally visited Dar es Salaam. After years of development, the transportation pressure on Dar es Salaam had become increasingly heavy.

Therefore, as early as three years before the reconstruction of Dar es Salaam, East Africa had opened a new port seven kilometers southeast of the original port to share the burden on the old port.

This new port was mainly used for the import and export of East Africa’s bulk commodities, immigration, and important imported equipment, while the old port was mainly responsible for receiving foreign ships that needed to dock in Dar es Salaam.

This was also the reason why the Dar es Salaam immigration transit point was moved from the urban area of Dar es Salaam to the southern suburbs. It was more convenient for immigrants to go to the immigration transit point after landing at the new port of Dar es Salaam, which also helped with management.

Previously, after immigrants landed in Dar es Salaam, they mixed with the residents of the urban area, and their temporary residences were also restricted by the old city, scattered here and there, which was not only inconvenient to manage but also affected the city’s appearance and the pleasant mood of consumers.

Immigrants had already spent a long time on ships, and most of them were from poor backgrounds, so it was conceivable that their appearance and grooming were not very pleasing when they landed in East Africa.

Although the consumers passing through Dar es Salaam were also people who had been drifting at sea for many years and didn’t look much better themselves, they had money! They could go months without showering or washing, their clothes caked with grime, but they were lenient with themselves and strict with others, and couldn’t stand the disheveled appearance of the immigrants. Therefore, a good city appearance helped the Kingdom of East Africa empty the wallets of foreign sailors.

Of course, the function of the new port also showed that it could be used to conceal some of the Kingdom of East Africa’s development data. Dar es Salaam was a mixed bag, with merchants from all countries gathered there, and who knew if there were any “interested parties” among them.

And today, Constantine personally arrived at the new port of Dar es Salaam to attend the opening ceremony of East Africa’s first railway.

Just three days ago, a steam-powered locomotive, jointly built by Hechingen Vienna Energy and Power Company and the Austrian Royal Railway Company, arrived in East Africa, along with six matching carriages, including one passenger carriage and five freight carriages.

It took a full two days to transport this big guy from the dock to the station. The Dar es Salaam Railway Station was built in the suburbs three kilometers southwest of Dar es Salaam. To get this big guy to the station, East African railway workers repeatedly reinforced the roads along the way.

The Dar es Salaam Railway Station looked very simple. Besides the platform and signs, there was only a small, single-story building covering an area of more than thirty square meters.

Technicians from Hechingen Vienna Energy and Power Company introduced East Africa’s first train to Constantine on the platform.

“Your Majesty, this train was jointly designed and built by Hechingen Vienna Energy and Power Company and the Franz-Oriental Emperor Railway Company of the Austrian Royal Family. It adopts many cutting-edge technologies of the current era. After half a year of technical verification, it was assembled by skilled Austrian locomotive production workers. After leaving the factory, it underwent three months of trial operation in Austria. It can fully meet the current needs of East Africa. Also, under the instructions of His Highness Ernst, this train is named after you and numbered K-001.”

Constantine asked, “If it’s in the mountains, can it still operate normally? The elevation difference between the East African plateau and the coastal plain is relatively large.”

“Your Majesty, this locomotive has undergone extensive experiments in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Our team specifically built experimental tracks in the Alps. Its speed and climbing ability have reached the world average. We also have data on East Africa’s geographical conditions, and the difficulty is far less than that of Austria. Austria is a mountainous country, so many mountain railways have been built in the past two years. Although the altitude of the East African plateau is also very high, there are many places where the transition from the plateau to the plain is gradual, and the overall slope is much lower.”

There are some differences between plateaus and mountains. Africa is a plateau continent, the highest of all continents. This geological structure is not conducive to crustal movement and the formation of mountains. Accordingly, the East African terrain is mainly gentle plateaus, lacking tall mountains.

Therefore, East Africa does not have the abrupt geological structures like the Brazilian coastal shield that block transportation. The East African coastal plain, according to the official East African statement, is a plain, but in reality, only the area close to the coastline has an altitude below 200 meters. Most of the area in between transitions from 200 meters to 1000 meters. By the time you reach the edge of the East African plateau, the difference in altitude between the two is not that great.

This is because the altitude of the East African plateau is between 1000 and 2000 meters, with an average altitude of about 1200 meters. Mountains like Mount Kilimanjaro, which are more than 5800 meters high, are mainly affected by the East African Rift Valley.

Its essence is caused by volcanic activity. Its formation began about 750,000 years ago, initially composed of three large volcanic craters: Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi.

There are many volcanoes in East Africa, but most have passed their active period and are mainly extinct and dormant volcanoes. Although the volcanic earthquake zone caused by the East African Rift Valley is very large, it is completely child’s play compared to the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The incidence of earthquakes and volcanoes in East Africa is not even as high as in Italy. At least, Ernst had never heard of any major volcanic or earthquake events in Africa in his previous life. Earthquakes occur frequently, but they are not very strong, with the vast majority not exceeding magnitude 6.

Ernst remembered an earthquake near Lake Tanganyika in Africa when he was there. The data measured by the United States at the time was 6.8 magnitude, and the data measured by France was 7.5 magnitude. Apart from a few individual casualties, the damage caused was almost negligible, or even non-existent.

Overall, except for the area near the East African Rift Valley, East Africa generally doesn’t have to worry about natural disasters such as volcanoes and earthquakes. The geological conditions are generally relatively stable. Instead, more consideration should be given to factors such as heavy rain and floods when building railways.

Furthermore, East Africa is sparsely populated, and areas that are not conducive to railway construction can be completely bypassed, so there is not much difficulty.

Chapter 362: The First Railway Master Plan

K is the initial of Konstantin’s name, and 001 has no special meaning, it just means “first.” The first train is named “Konstantin,” and subsequent steam locomotives imported into East Africa will not be renamed unless there are special circumstances. They will all use K- as the beginning of their numbers, such as the K-002 locomotive currently being shipped to Dar es Salaam.

Looking at the simple environment of the Dar es Salaam railway station, Konstantin instructed the Dar es Salaam municipal government: “As an excellent port, Dar es Salaam undertakes approximately 35 percent of East Africa’s import and export trade. With the development of the times, railway construction is an inevitable trend, and the future expansion of the First Railway is also imperative. At the very least, build the necessary buildings such as warehouses to solve the problem of cargo storage. Also, a road can be built from the city center to the railway station. The existence of the new port should not isolate the old port from connecting to the railway. An additional security checkpoint can be added when leaving the city to screen for suspicious people or goods.”

Currently, the newly opened First Railway cannot achieve the connection between the East African interior and the coast, but this is only because the First Railway has only completed its initial plan. As early as when designing the First Railway, Ernst had considered its future development.

That is to draw on the plan of the previous life’s Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and on this basis, extend the First Railway from Dar es Salaam to the Zimbabwe region.

The most difficult project is crossing the Zambezi River, which requires building a solid bridge across the river. And the Zambezi River is not the only river encountered in the area through which the First Railway passes.

In its previous life, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway built 320 bridges, dug 26 tunnels, crossed two countries, cost more than 900 million, took nearly 8 years, and finally nearly 70 people from the Far East gave their lives for it. One can imagine how much manpower and resources such a railway cost at that time.

If East Africa wants to build this railway, the difficulty will only be greater, because including the Zimbabwe section, the total length of the railway will exceed two thousand kilometers, hundreds of kilometers longer than the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and crossing the Zambezi River will make the difficulty rise sharply.

However, the East African Kingdom has huge advantages in building the First Railway compared to Tanzania and Zambia in its previous life. One is land. The East African Kingdom does not have difficulties in requisitioning land. Although Africa in its previous life was very backward, it learned the system of private land ownership very well, coupled with large and small tribes, which greatly delayed the construction period of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

Secondly, the East African Kingdom does not need to consider casualties when building the First Railway. Casualties are just a number for the East African government. Single digits or five digits do not matter to East Africa. And countless projects in history have proved that as long as you are willing to throw lives into it, nothing is impossible.

Finally, and most importantly, the East African Kingdom is a major agricultural country, and a major grain exporter. This advantage is unmatched by most African countries in its previous life.

As everyone knows, the best agricultural area in Africa is East Africa, but in its previous life, Tanzania and other countries barely managed to achieve self-sufficiency in grain. Railway construction requires a lot of labor, which will reduce the original agricultural production population. However, when Tanzania built the railway, its agricultural production efficiency did not increase out of thin air, and the pressure on grain supply was even greater.

When Tsarist Russia built the Siberian Railway in its previous life, the period with the most workers was only close to ninety thousand. At the same time, the construction difficulty of the Siberian Railway was much higher than that of the First Railway. Russia’s long winter alone destined the Siberian Railway to become one of the most difficult railways to build in the world. East Africa can guarantee construction throughout the year, and the number of workers depends entirely on the mood of the East African government. With grain in hand, one doesn’t panic.

At the same time, the First Railway is not very long. Even if the Transvaal Republic is resolved later and the First Railway is extended to the Transvaal, its length will only reach about one-third of the Siberian Railway.

And the construction environment of the First Railway is also better than that of the Siberian Railway. The Siberian Railway has to pass through permafrost sections, which corresponds to the swamp sections in East Africa. Dealing with swamps is much easier than dealing with permafrost.

In fact, comparing the First Railway with the Siberian Railway is a bit of an overstatement. The First Railway is not worthy of carrying shoes for the Siberian Railway. It should be compared with the Canadian Pacific Railway of the same period.

Canada began as an independent country in 1867. In 1871, British Columbia, located on the west coast, was tempted to join the federation on the condition that a transcontinental railway be built within 10 years to connect it with eastern Canada.

Canada built railways using the same routine as the Americans, that is, to be fast, economical, and efficient. Therefore, Chinese laborers became the primary choice, accounting for about 4-6% of the total labor force (historically 5-9%).

This is the same routine as in northern Myanmar. Although East Africa secretly played tricks in the Far East, publicizing the encounters of Chinese laborers in the Americas, the Canadians were thick-skinned. They hired some Far Eastern merchants to set up labor agencies in British Columbia, specializing in recruiting Far Eastern compatriots to work as railway builders (true history), saying it with great detail, and specifically looking for acquaintances. Everyone is a relative, so how could they deceive you! Therefore, the success rate is quite high.

However, these are all stories for later. Currently, both Canada’s Pacific Railway and East Africa’s First Railway are still only on paper. East Africa is a little ahead, after all, the section from First Town to Dar es Salaam has been completed.

At the beginning, the idea of the First Railway was to replicate the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, but after occupying Zimbabwe, this plan was expanded. If the war against the Boers goes smoothly later, then the South Africa section will also be added. In the end, it should reach about three thousand kilometers, which is more than a thousand kilometers shorter than the Canadian Pacific Railway.

The Canadian Pacific Railway has to cross the Rocky Mountains, but the eastern terrain is mainly plains, so the difficulty is comparable to the First Railway. The main problem it faces is similar to Russia, which is the long winter.

The similarity between East Africa and Canada is that they are both sparsely populated, but East Africa has a large number of native black people, which saves East Africa a lot of effort, and does not need to go to the Far East, India and Italy to recruit people like Canada.

Moreover, even without counting the black people, the population of East Africa is larger than that of Canada, but the population of Canada is more concentrated, mainly distributed in what is now southern Canada (at this time, northern Canada still belongs to no man’s land).

At the same time, the total economic volume of the East African Kingdom is also higher than that of Canada. This is on the premise that the wealth of the Hexingen Consortium is not counted. The East African Kingdom has already achieved success.

The agricultural conditions of the East African Kingdom are better than those of Canada. The export of tropical cash crops is particularly developed, almost monopolizing more than 40% of the entire German region and more than 20% of Eastern Europe, and is still expanding its advantages. In addition, grain exports far exceed Canada, and the export of mineral resources is not much different between the two, mainly because East Africa internally digests a large part.

That is to say, the overall economic level of East Africa far exceeds that of Canada. Without relying on the support of the Hexingen Consortium, East Africa itself has long had the economic ability to build railways, but it is necessary to borrow from financial institutions with East Africa’s resources and industries as collateral. This is the basic procedure for railway construction in all contemporary countries.

As the Hexingen royal family, the rulers of the East African Kingdom, certainly do not want foreign (except Austrian) capital to enter from the perspective of national security. They can completely digest it themselves. Therefore, the construction funds for the First Railway are first borrowed from the Hexingen Bank to the East African government, and then repaid through the economic benefits brought by the First Railway in the future, realizing a left-hand-to-right-hand transaction, with no profits leaking out.

Chapter 363: A Million Acres of Rubber Plantation

“Huff… Huff… Huff…”

White steam billowed from the engine’s cylinders beneath the train, like a thick fog assaulting both sides of the tracks. Parts of the locomotive began to whir, emitting a tick-tock sound. With a final release of pressure, the chimney, which had been emitting wisps of smoke, suddenly erupted with a thick plume of black smoke.

A massive cloud of white steam shot skyward from beside the chimney, followed by a sharp whistle, “Whoo… Whoo… Whoo…” like the shriek of a monster.

Those standing guard along the railway were startled awake by the deafening sound. The engine gave one last burst of exhaust before the wheels began to turn, the chimney working at full capacity, pushing out puffs of black smoke with a “whoosh” from the towering black stack.

“Clang-clang… Clang-clang… Clang-clang…” The Constantine began to move along the rails, its massive steel wheels making a tremendous racket as they rolled over the tracks.

The train pulled out of Dar es Salaam’s train station, accelerating towards the First Township train station.

“Your Majesty, the Constantine’s top speed is fifty-seven kilometers per hour, but for the stability and comfort of this trip, we will proceed towards First Township at a speed of forty kilometers per hour,” a technician in the carriage explained to Constantine.

Constantine glanced at his wristwatch and said, “So, we should be back in First Township in an hour and a half?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Constantine’s carriage was custom-made in Austria. The interior was quite luxurious, much like those of other European monarchs. A highlight was the lighting throughout the carriage, as well as the latest coffee maker from Hechingen Daily Goods Company installed in the pantry, all electrically powered by a small internal combustion engine. When the carriage was manufactured, the Austrian craftsmen thought it was a special train for the Habsburg royal family.

The train sped across the East African plains, the scenery blurring past the windows. As it passed near villages, it drew the attention of East African farmers.

“Morse, look! There’s a huge monster running on that thing called a railway…”

This was the first time many East Africans had ever seen a train, even the Austrian immigrants. Immigrants who came to East Africa had certainly traveled on large ships, but not necessarily on trains. Even if there were train stations in Trieste, they may not have personally encountered them.

The train passing through the countryside certainly gave most residents along the route a feeling of shock. However, they would become numb to the trains that raced past them almost daily in the future. For most people now, it was a completely exhilarating feeling. Even Africa had trains! Was Africa still Africa?

The impact was enormous, completely changing the image and status of the East African kingdom in the residents’ minds. The vast majority of people came to East Africa because they were desperate, hoping to make a living. The various rumors about Africa on the European continent were stereotypes in the minds of European immigrants. Now, these stereotypes were shattered by the train. It wasn’t that the African continent was bad, but that it was a matter of people.

In comparison, the Far Eastern immigrants were a little better off. At least before the East African kingdom recruited people, they had no idea Africa existed. Those with some knowledge might have heard of Joseon, Japan, and Annam, and further afield, Siam and India. Only sailors, pirate merchants, Far Eastern officials, and very knowledgeable people who had been at sea for many years might know about Africa.

…

Hessen Province and Mitumba Province are mainly located between Lake Sorel (Lake Tanganyika) and the Congo River, with the Mitumba Mountains running through both provinces.

These two provinces were incorporated into the East African kingdom relatively early, half a year earlier than Zambia and the western highlands. However, the total population of the two provinces only reached over seventy thousand people, less than that of Dar es Salaam alone. This was not because the conditions here were poor, but because the priority of the Zimbabwe and Zambia regions was higher.

For example, the most developed Katanga Province (part), South Kivu Province, and North Kivu Province (all) of the former Democratic Republic of the Congo are within the scope of these two provinces.

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot be described as poor in the entire African region, but as extremely poor. Although it is rich in mineral resources, its level of development is ten streets behind Tanzania, which is separated by a lake, and even Rwanda, a small agricultural country with no resources, can occupy its territory for a long time. Rwanda mainly coveted the Congo’s rich mineral resources, and this area is precisely the border between the current East African Hessen Province and Mitumba Province.

Not only that, Uganda, Burundi, Chad, Namibia… all have ambitions for the Congo. In other words, even a dog could slap the Congo twice.

Of course, this is also related to the Congo’s terrain. The central Congo Basin, with its endless rainforest, is like a large no-man’s land, while the Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, is in a small corner in the southwest. Coupled with backward transportation and execution, it basically has little control over the eastern territory.

The vast majority of the Congo’s mineral resources in its previous life are now all concentrated within the territory of the East African kingdom, the most famous being the copper mines of the Katanga Plateau.

Hessen Province and Mitumba Province are also extremely rich in mineral resources, but given the current transportation conditions and population size of the two provinces, it is unknown when these mineral resources will be able to be developed.

Since mineral resources cannot be developed, the economic development of the two provinces has returned to the old path of the East African kingdom, developing agricultural resources.

In order to make full use of the population, climate, and terrain of the two provinces, Ernst decided to build the largest rubber plantation in the East African kingdom there.

As early as before, East Africa had already planted rubber trees near the Great Lakes region, but the scale was not large, at least Ernst felt it was not very large. Therefore, starting this year, Ernst planned to expand the rubber planting area in Hessen Province and Mitumba Province.

The most suitable places for planting rubber trees in the East African kingdom are here and the southern Ethiopian Highlands, and the vicinity of the Mitumba Mountains is clearly more advantageous than the southern Ethiopian Highlands.

It is close to the Congo Basin and is also the windward slope of the Atlantic water vapor, with the most abundant precipitation resources. At the same time, the equator passes through the territory, and the temperature is much higher than the Ethiopian Highlands (mainly affected by altitude).

Rubber trees are most afraid of drought and cold, which is why most areas of the East African Highlands are not suitable for rubber planting, with precipitation being the main factor. At the same time, the most suitable range for rubber planting in the world is approximately between 17 degrees north and south latitude.

In its previous life, there was only one special place, that is, the Far East successfully planted rubber trees on a large scale in the area of 18 to 24 degrees north latitude, overturning the myth of the “forbidden zone” of rubber planting.

Among the areas in East Africa where rubber can be planted, Hessen Province has the most superior conditions, because it has the lowest terrain, and the northern end is already part of the Congo Basin, mainly with plains terrain, and there is a large area of rainforest, which is very suitable for rubber planting.

According to the rubber planting experience accumulated by East Africa, if the entire population of Hessen Province and Mitumba Province is used to plant rubber, it can reach a maximum of two million acres.

This is an ideal state, so Ernst halved the task and planned to first open up a million acres of rubber plantation in the two provinces.

This task is absolutely achievable. On average, each person only needs to take care of fourteen acres of rubber forest, about four hundred to six hundred trees. Ernst does not need them to participate in grain production. Under the current state of surplus grain in East Africa, it can be supplied by the neighboring Great Lakes region.

The rubber market is huge, and there is no need to be afraid of planting too much. Anyway, it is just a pile of trees, and the maturity period of rubber trees is at least six years. Planning ahead now will save a lot of trouble in the future. It is better to let the trees wait for the market than to let the market wait for the trees.

Chapter 364: Burning

October 8th, 1873.

On the far western shore of the Atlantic, on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes, it was already late at night, but unusually, the entire city was still awake.

Under the gaze of Odyssey, the manager of the Black Herington Bank’s Chicago branch, along with his staff and the citizens of Chicago’s West Side.

Chicago, nicknamed the “Windy City,” was now a sea of fire everywhere except the West Side. The fire illuminated the sky, and buildings collapsed into the flames from time to time, with fireballs soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing.

Countless Chicago citizens poured into the West Side from other areas, with cries, roars, and sounds of looting filling the air.

As a result, the Black Herington Bank’s Chicago branch had to strengthen its security, with security guards patrolling the bank’s surroundings with guns.

Standing on the third floor of the bank, looking out over the city center, which had been completely engulfed in flames, including Chicago’s business center, where various American banks and other financial institutions were concentrated.

The misfortune of his peers made Odyssey, the manager of the Black Herington Bank’s Chicago branch, exclaim, “Oh, God bless! Fortunately, Chicago’s real estate prices saved us.”

The Black Herington Bank’s Chicago branch was unique, built in a relatively underdeveloped area of Chicago. As a result, the main building of the Black Herington Chicago branch stood out like a crane among chickens, towering over a cluster of shacks no more than two stories high, allowing Manager Odyssey to leisurely observe the fire in downtown Chicago.

The city of Chicago is located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, on the Five Great Lakes Plain. It was originally a hunting ground for Native Americans. When the city was founded in 1834, its population was less than 1,000. Due to the westward expansion of the United States, Chicago, still a remote town, developed rapidly after the Civil War.

With the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, the exploitation of forests and iron mines, and the connection of canals and railways, the city of Chicago, in just a few decades, reached a population of 350,000. It was also the largest meat trading market in the United States and even the world, with the reputation of being the “world’s slaughterhouse.”

Chicago’s development was enough to make the cities of the East African kingdom feel ashamed. The combined population of the three cities in the Central Province (First Town City, Dar es Salaam City, Bagamoyo City) barely reached half of Chicago’s. As the first choice for immigrants worldwide, the United States had this appeal, gathering immigrants from various countries, including England, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Germany… including Italy, Chinese, Indians, and the lowest-status blacks at this time.

As early as 1865, Black Herington Bank had started operations in Chicago, but the development of the Black Herington Chicago branch could only be described as mediocre. It was far from the central business district of downtown Chicago, which was very unfavorable for employees to conduct business.

Many businessmen and Chicago citizens would choose to conduct business in the city center, but as Black Herington Bank flourished in Europe, Black Herington Bank’s reputation in North America also greatly improved. Even with a somewhat unfavorable location, more people chose to take out loans at the Chicago branch.

Regarding this terrible location, the Chicago branch had considered moving to a better location, but it was rejected by the New York North American headquarters.

The reason given by the New York North American headquarters was simple: land prices in the West Side were much cheaper than in the city center, so they could save money here.

However, this argument was clearly untenable. After purchasing a large area of land in the West Side, Black Herington Bank carried out a large-scale reconstruction, and the cost of the reconstruction was enough to buy a good location in the city center.

Moreover, Black Herington Bank’s North American headquarters was not short of money at all. As the second largest economy after Europe, Black Herington Bank’s development here was also rapid, even more successful than in Europe. Here, Black Herington Bank fully demonstrated the financial attributes of a bank.

To show its financial strength and gain the trust of depositors, the New York North American headquarters built an extremely luxurious seven-story reinforced concrete building with elevators in Manhattan.

The North American part of Black Herington Bank mainly did business with Germans. In the United States, Germans were a large group, and Germans generally had a high level of education and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, just like the fraud industry that permeated the entire United States. Making counterfeit money, falsifying accounts, issuing fake certificates, and high-end financial fraud were almost certainly done mostly by Germans.

These industries, of course, benefited from having a certain level of education or technical skills, and German immigrants with compulsory education had a natural advantage. Italians, on the other hand, could only do rough work like being in the mafia.

Moreover, Germans had another characteristic: those who made a little money wanted to return to their hometown to show off. As a result, many wealthy German businessmen and rich people liked to deposit their money in Black Herington Bank. In addition to feeling familiar, it was convenient to take Black Herington Bank’s checks directly to Europe for exchange after returning to Germany. Ordinary Germans were also the same, directly choosing Black Herington Bank when remitting money to their families, which could save a lot of trouble, such as language barriers.

Relying solely on the Germans in the United States, Black Herington Bank had a great advantage in development, especially in German-speaking communities. In 1860, there were more than 250 German-language newspapers and periodicals in the United States. Whether in large cities or communities, wherever there were Germans, there were German-language newspapers and magazines. By 1871, eighty percent of non-English publications in the United States were German-language newspapers.

Therefore, Germans in the United States were quite powerful during this period, especially after the unification of Germany. Even if the United States wanted to promote assimilation policies, it had to think twice.

In short, Black Herington Bank was not short of money at all, and other city banks at the same time as the Chicago branch were also built in luxurious business districts. Only the Chicago branch was an exception.

This counterintuitive decision made Odyssey very angry at the time. High real estate prices were just an excuse. The people at the New York headquarters must have had their heads kicked by a donkey.

Today, Odyssey, on the other hand, praised the New York headquarters and expressed deep sympathy for the tragic experiences of his usually arrogant Chicago peers, to the point that he drank a few more glasses tonight.

When the Chicago branch was built, the first thing they did was to tear down the surrounding wooden plank roads and replace them all with brick and stone structures. Most of Chicago’s buildings were built with wood from the forests of Wisconsin, and even its roads and sidewalks were built with wooden planks. Cheap wood allowed Chicagoans to squander it at will, and most of the city housed poor immigrants in dilapidated shacks, and even the homes of wealthier citizens were often built of wood. As a result, the price of brick and stone building materials was much higher in Chicago than in other cities when the Chicago branch was built, after all, the demand was small and the production scale could not be increased.

Chicago had not seen a drop of rain since July of this year. In early September, the city’s most famous newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, criticized the city for being made up of “fire traps,” adding that many buildings “are fake and shingled,” but this still did not arouse people’s vigilance.

By today, Chicago suddenly burst into flames, and at the same time, many places around Chicago also experienced forest fires. As for the cause of the fire, it is no longer known.

Chapter 365: Deceptive Immigration

The great fire burned for a full two days and two nights, until a torrential downpour finally extinguished the terrifying blaze. However, two-thirds of downtown Chicago was completely reduced to scorched earth. Hotels, commercial buildings, opera houses, banks, and post office buildings were all swallowed by the flames.

Charred corpses were visible everywhere on the streets, but many more of the dead were burned beyond recognition. Some, in a panic to escape the fire, fled to the shores of Lake Michigan, only to drown. Lake Michigan was filled with floating corpses. The streets near the Black Hering Bank’s Chicago branch were packed with disaster victims.

To prevent an epidemic, bank employees disinfected the area around the bank for two weeks, while also establishing refugee settlements in the vicinity.

Although the Chicago branch was not located in the city center, it had spent more money on land and buildings, making it the largest bank in Chicago in terms of area. The surrounding area, like East Africa itself, had open spaces used for landscaping.

“Director, this is a telegram from New York headquarters!” The secretary interrupted Odyssey, who was in a good mood and drinking tea in his office.

Odyssey: “Their news travels fast, doesn’t it?”

Although most communications in Chicago were disrupted, communications in the West Side had been restored. Besides the West Side, the stockyards on the south side of Chicago, most of the city’s railroads, and the wharves, mills, and lumberyards along the Chicago River were unaffected by the fire.

Odyssey took the telegram and read it. He frowned and said, “Sigh, there’s never a moment of peace. And how come I didn’t know there was an East African Immigration Office in Chicago? Have you heard of it?”

The secretary shook his head and said, “Director, if you haven’t heard of it, there’s no way I would have.”

Odyssey: “Forget it, no use dwelling on it. New York headquarters wants us to cooperate with the Immigration Office’s work. But immigrating from America to other regions… it feels like a fantasy!”

Odyssey didn’t doubt whether it could succeed. The Chicago fire had wiped out the life savings of many Chicagoans.

Now the streets were full of refugees. If no one took care of them soon, even getting a meal would be a problem. In fact, this was already happening. Robberies in the West Side had not stopped since yesterday. Relying on the American government was like hoping for a miracle from God himself. Right now, the ones fighting on the front lines of the Chicago rescue effort were self-organized aid groups and churches formed by Chicago citizens.

It was not surprising that the East African Immigration Office appeared in America. Besides Germany and Austria, the country with the most Germans was the United States. Although East Africa had diverted some, the German population in the United States in 1870 still reached more than seven million (historically more than eight million). About eighty percent of them immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 1870. At this time, the total population of the United States was just over thirty-six million (historically more than thirty-eight million).

At that time, the entire population of East Africa was about seven million. Newborns and immigrants from other ethnic groups accounted for a large number. It was certain that there were more Germans in the United States than in the German nation of East Africa.

Moreover, the Germans in the United States were more authentic than the Germans in East Africa. Although there were some “watered down” versions from places like Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they were still better than East Africa, a country that called a stag a horse. Calling a stag a horse is an exaggeration. In reality, East Africa was changing the German identity from blood ties to cultural identity.

Soon, with the cooperation of the Chicago branch, the East African Immigration Office began operations in Chicago.

“Hey, brother, where are you from?”

“?”

“I mean, are you interested in developing somewhere else? We specialize in finding jobs for the unemployed.”

“Really, sir!” The Chicago citizen’s eyes lit up at the mention of work.

“Ahem, of course. It’s just that the job location isn’t in Chicago. You need to go to another place.”

“It doesn’t matter, sir. Look at this scorched earth. The owner of the restaurant where I worked is probably just a pile of ashes now. I really don’t know what to do! My home is gone too, boo hoo…” As he spoke, the man burst into tears.

Those who heard it were saddened, and those who listened wept.

“Sigh, don’t worry, it’s all in the past. You can always start over. What’s with a grown man crying like that!”

“It’s easy for you to say. I came to America from Europe when I was only fifteen years old. I finally saved up a little money, and now it’s all gone!”

“Brother, you were destined to have this tribulation. Didn’t Jesus get nailed to the cross? Now, God bless you, you’ve met me! I’ll take you to a good place. The conditions aren’t worse than Chicago. It just lacks entertainment and life is a bit monotonous. But for sufferers like us, as long as we work hard, we can do well.”

When the man heard him say this, he immediately thought of the West. “You wouldn’t be recommending a job in the West, would you! I’m telling you, I’m a little timid, and I heard the West is very chaotic. I don’t want to be a cowboy or…”

“Don’t worry, would I cheat you? Even dogs don’t go to the American West. The job I’m recommending is far from Chicago, but it’s very stable, even more stable than Chicago.”

“This…”

Seeing that he was still hesitant, the Immigration Office employee said, “Don’t worry, we’re going by water, on today’s ship, going east through the canal.”

This sentence was very misleading. Going by water meant they definitely weren’t going to the West. To go to the West, you usually had to go by land, either by carriage or by railway. The man thought the Immigration Office employee was going to arrange a job for him in New York or another city.

“Okay then! Are we leaving now!”

He was very straightforward. Now he really had nothing left but his life.

Immigration Office: “Of course, just follow me!” One person conned was one person conned.

Over the next few days, the Immigration Office recruited people in Chicago. Although Germans were the main target, they couldn’t be sure. They could only rely on the Immigration Office employees to judge based on appearance, clothing, and accent.

The Immigration Office also conveniently packed up the Chinese who survived the Chicago fire. Chinese Americans were easy to identify, with their queues, you could recognize them with one look.

The Immigration Office employees communicated one by one in broken Far Eastern language: “Nǐ hǎo, xū yào gōngzuò me!” (Need work?)

Most of the Chinese immigrants were low-level laborers with no other choice. They didn’t care if they were being deceived. They had already been deceived into coming to America, what else was there to fear!

There were quite a few Chinese in Chicago. Some were lost in the fire, but the number of victims counted by the Americans was only three hundred, not including the Chinese, Italians, Indians, blacks, and some people without relatives or friends. And as a country of immigrants, there were too many people without relatives or friends in America.

So it was difficult to know exactly how many people died in the Chicago fire. However, Odyssey, the director of the Chicago branch, believed the number could be over ten thousand. The bodies carried out of the city center alone numbered more than three hundred, not to mention those burned to ashes, drowned, or trampled to death…

The disorder after the Chicago fire emboldened the people from the Immigration Office. Besides the Chinese, they would deceive anyone onto the ship, regardless of whether they were German or not. They would take them directly to New York, then send them to the sea ship. Before boarding the ship, according to the Immigration Office, they were going to the South. However, the Immigration Office’s answer was ambiguous. These immigrants assumed it was the American South. As for which South, that was up to the Immigration Office. East Africa was located in the Southern Hemisphere! Those who understood, understood.

Once they were deceived onto the sea ship, they were taken over by the armed personnel of the East African Kingdom. The enthusiastic countrymen instantly turned into strict soldiers, even causing concern among many real Germans. Were they here to conscript soldiers? A large part of the German immigrants to America had run to America to escape military service and war. So, with these immigrants feeling apprehensive, ships sailed from New York to East Africa.

All of this was done quietly. After all, under the noses of the Americans, it was not easy for the East African government to openly bring people to East Africa. The Immigration Office used all sorts of means to deceive people, but never said they were going to East Africa.

The quality of these immigrants might not be as good as the immigrants from the German regions, but they were still what East Africa needed. Among them were many railway workers, just in time for East Africa’s upcoming railway construction.

Not only in the United States, but in fact, the East African Immigration Office had landed throughout the Americas. Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were all targets of the East African Kingdom.

Most of the Germans who immigrated to the Americas were low-level commoners. There were many who were doing very poorly. If they were not doing well, it meant they could be exploited. The East African Kingdom didn’t need their abilities. As long as you spoke German and could watch over slaves in East Africa and honestly farm the land, you were a good immigrant.

Chapter 366: “Reciprocity”

“According to news from New York, more than two thousand people departed from Chicago on the first day. In the coming days, the number of immigrants may exceed ten thousand. Based on the current situation in Chicago, we should be able to tap into the potential of tens of thousands of immigrants…”

“Well, alright Thomas. There are many Germans in North America, an existence we cannot ignore. The people in the Immigration Department need to learn to delve deeper into the American grassroots, especially the rural areas and port cities of America, which require close attention. Ideally, we should be able to persuade some immigrants to return from America as soon as they arrive.”

“Your Highness, does ‘persuade to return’ mean back to Europe?”

“Anywhere is fine! It’s just best if they don’t stay in America. Of course, your people in the Immigration Department must act according to their capabilities and not arouse the suspicion of the Americans.”

“Your Highness, rest assured on this point! The American government is virtually non-existent. Our people shouldn’t encounter any problems.”

“I’m not talking about the American government, but the American people, especially the American consortiums. They are the real masters behind America. What do you think the consequences would be if they discovered this immigration matter?”

Thomas immediately understood. The American government may seem harmless on the surface, but provoking the interest groups behind them would be a major problem. The outbreak of the Civil War was essentially a war launched by the Northern capitalists to plunder the labor, raw materials, and markets of the Southern slave owners. Especially their insatiable greed for labor. America’s need is endless, and East Africa’s emigration from America is completely undermining America’s foundation.

However, thinking of labor, Thomas suddenly had an idea. He said to Ernst, “Your Highness, can we reinstate the American slave trade?”

Hearing Thomas say this, Ernst immediately understood: “You mean black people!”

“That’s right, Your Highness. Since we are recruiting immigrants in America, it would be impolite not to return the favor. East Africa may not have much else, but it has plenty of black people. Can we try importing black people into America to replace the white people we are digging out of America? This way, we can also conceal our theft of people from America.”

Ernst affirmed, “Good idea, but how do we achieve it? How do we bypass the slave trade? That’s a big problem!”

In fact, Ernst had wanted to do this for a long time, but he didn’t have the ability back then. Now that Thomas brought it up, Ernst thought it was worth a try.

Thomas did not directly answer this question, but instead asked, “Your Highness, have you heard of the country of Haiti?”

“Of course, a small country in the Caribbean!”

Ernst had certainly heard of Haiti. In his previous life, it was a country where the people were so hungry they ate dirt. At the same time, it was a model capitalist democratic country, with a system and laws exactly like the American beacon. The only difference was that Haiti had too many people and was not as vast as America.

However, that was in the 21st century. The current Haiti still had relatively good conditions. Although it was also poor, its population had not yet reached the exaggerated levels of his previous life. The resources on the island could still sustain the Haitian people, at least not to the point of eating dirt.

Haiti was once known as the Pearl of the Antilles and was the richest colony in the world. In the 1750s, Haiti provided 50% of France’s gross national product. The sugar, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, and indigo produced were continuously transported to France, refined, processed, and sold throughout Europe, creating unimaginable wealth.

With such conditions, Haiti did not develop. In addition to its own reasons, the main reason was the long-term blockade by the international community.

After the revolution of 1804, Haiti became the first black republic. At this time, the United States and Britain were still slave-owning countries. The international community considered Haiti’s free slave country model to be a dangerous precedent, fearing that it would cause other slave-owning countries to follow suit, and boycotted Haitian goods, plunging the Haitian economy into chaos.

The Haitian government was eager to be recognized by France and the Europeans. France naturally refused to recognize it unless it received land as compensation. Finally, in 1838, Haitian President Boyer accepted a debt of 150 million francs to pay this indemnity.

This debt plus interest plagued the Haitian economy for more than 80 years, and historically was not paid off until 1922. The huge debt made it impossible for Haiti to build infrastructure such as roads, water supply, sewage treatment, and electricity.

At the time, 150 million francs was an astronomical figure. This debt was spread among the newly independent Haitian people, who numbered only three to four hundred thousand, which was close to an average debt of four hundred francs per person. At that time, the wages of workers in Paris, the capital of France, were only about three francs a day.

Today, Haiti is still paying off its debts. Coupled with a government that is as rotten as mud, Haiti is rapidly transforming from the Pearl of the Antilles into the “cesspool” country of his previous life.

Thomas: “Your Highness, you are truly a knowledgeable person. You have even heard of such a small country as Haiti.”

Ernst: “Alright, stop flattering me. Since you mentioned Haiti, do you want to stir up trouble in this country?”

Thomas: “Yes, Your Highness. Didn’t we just say that we want to import black people into America? Haiti is a very good springboard.”

Ernst asked, “Then why not Cuba or Mexico, countries that are closer to America?”

“The reason is very simple, Your Highness. Haiti is a black country, while Cuba and Mexico are not. And most importantly, the Haitian government is corrupt enough. From what I understand, as long as you give money, there is nothing that cannot be done in Haiti,” Thomas replied.

Ernst: “So you want to make a fuss in Haiti using these two points!”

Thomas: “Yes, it is more difficult to directly import black people into America, as that would attract the attention of international anti-slave trade organizations and countries, which would be extremely detrimental to East Africa. Therefore, if we want to import black people into America, we must put a cloak on the slave trade and prevent the international community from finding fault. Haiti’s identity as a black country is very advantageous.

First of all, Haiti is a black country, so it is natural for Haiti to introduce black immigrants, and no one can question it. Secondly, Haiti has legally abolished the slave system, although slaves have only become free slaves, which is the same as East Africa’s “laborers.” Therefore, selling slaves to Haiti will not attract the attention of the international community, because Haiti itself does not have “slaves.” Finally, Haiti has economic difficulties, and we can import black people into Haiti under the banner of trade and aid.

In this way, East Africa will be on an invincible footing in terms of morality. Even if other countries discover it, they cannot accuse us.”

Ernst: “You are right, but how do you get the Haitian government to willingly take over the black people from East Africa? And what does this have to do with importing black people into America?”

“Your Highness, don’t be impatient. Let me finish. The method of getting Haiti to take over black people is very simple. First, we can bribe the highest ruler in Haiti, give him a sum of money every year, and have him sign a decree agreeing to immigration from Africa. The Haitian government is unstable, so we can pay a deposit on an annual basis. Whoever is the President of Haiti, the money will be given to him.

Not only that, if this road doesn’t work, we can also bribe the officials of the Haitian customs to allow East Africa to import people into Haiti. The customs certificate can also allow us to legally import black people into Haiti.

If the customs still doesn’t work, we can continue to look for other government departments in Haiti. There are endless reasons to use. The entire Haitian government is a sieve, leaking everywhere, and it is impossible to prevent us from importing black people into Haiti.

However, based on my judgment of the Haitian government’s integrity, the Haitian president has never been a person of high moral character, so bribing the president is enough to achieve this.”

Ernst praised, “Very good, what you say is true. I have no doubts about the Haitian government’s integrity.”

Thomas continued, “After opening the door to importing black people into Haiti, we can directly help the Haitian government establish an embassy in East Africa, specializing in issuing Haitian identity documents. Then, we in East Africa can turn the population that needs to be cleared out of East Africa into Haitian citizens, so that East Africa will be completely unrelated to the slave trade.

However, to be on the safe side, I have another plan, which is to disguise these ‘Haitians’ as sailors and workers on ships, add some grain, and send these ‘Haitians’ to the Republic of Haiti under the banner of caring about the Haitian famine and helping the Haitian people.”

Ernst: “That doesn’t matter. It’s still cost-effective to send away the natives by wasting a little grain.”

That is, Ernst thinks it’s cost-effective. In fact, most countries and colonies currently feel that there is a shortage of labor. For example, France’s various colonies are thinking of importing more black slaves. However, they generally just grab them from the surrounding areas.

However, Thomas’s so-called plan to aid Haiti is too damaging. The little grain that East Africa sends is probably not enough for the East African natives sent to Haiti to digest. Whether it is helping Haiti overcome the famine or exacerbating the famine needs to be carefully considered.

Thomas: “Finally, and most importantly, Haiti will not be able to support so many people.”

Ernst expressed doubt. In his previous life, Haiti relied on eating dirt to support more than ten million people. Now, Haiti’s population is almost pitifully small and can fully bear it. Besides, there is another Dominican Republic next door that can share the pressure, but Ernst didn’t say it, he waited for Thomas to finish.

Thomas: “The Haitian government will not care about the lives of these people. These people will inevitably overflow, and we must help Haiti establish a channel for population overflow. This channel is the Caribbean Sea, and the end point is the plantations in the southern United States. Contact the original owners of those plantations, and they will actively absorb these people for their own benefit.”

This is true. The Southern slave owners, although they have been severely weakened by the Northern capitalists, are still unconvinced. Especially the emancipation of black slaves has caused the Southern slave owners to lose a lot of benefits, so there are still not enough black slaves in America. If there were enough, everyone wouldn’t have to fight for them, and the Civil War would be greatly avoided.

The reason why there are not enough slaves in America is still the anti-slave trade led by Britain and France, which is essentially a restriction on the late-developing countries like America that rely on slaves to get rich. The proof is that they prohibit the slave trade, but there are a large number of slaves in their own colonies, which is a typical double standard.

If East Africa can open up a black people transport line from East Africa to Haiti, and then to America, then the Southern plantation owners will definitely take over.

Because America itself can have a say in the Caribbean Sea. If it is only to send black people from Haiti to the American mainland, there is no difficulty at all, and even the freight will not cost much.

Then, these plantation owners will sign a twenty or thirty-year employment contract with these black people, which is basically the same as “black slaves.” They can be fired directly after they are used up, and these black people will eventually flow to all parts of the United States.

Although in this way, East Africa will have to bear the bulk of the cost of transporting black people, and there will be no income, and even have to pay money to enter, but Ernst is willing to bear such costs.

Chapter 367: Ironclad Warship

Ernst: “Excellent. Handle this matter personally. First, settle things with the Haitians, then help them get in touch with the Americans. This is something beneficial to all three parties, but don’t expose our identity. The contact person should preferably be French.”

Thomas understood immediately: “Rest assured, Your Highness! It’s through French slave trader channels, and has nothing to do with East Africa. After all, everyone knows Haiti used to be a French colony.”

White Americans today can’t even imagine the “Black Lives Matter” movement that would arise in a future life. After all, the idea of slaves turning the tables and becoming masters is unimaginable to white Americans of this era.

If the Southern plantation owners knew the situation their descendants would face in the future, they would definitely choose to fight the war to the bitter end. As long as I don’t implement social reforms, black people will never be able to turn the tables.

History is always so interesting. For example, the Mamluks, who once ruled Egypt, were also slaves introduced into Egypt, who later became the masters of Egypt. Now, all of Egypt is stamped with the Mamluk mark. If it weren’t for Ali, this parachuted Albanian, the Mamluks would still be ruling Egypt.

The fall of Rome was the same, replaced by the Germanic barbarians of the past, who still wave the banner of Rome every day, swindling and deceiving.

Ernst isn’t disparaging black people, but at least the black people and Jewish people in America are the best at acting. Both use the banner of racial discrimination to seek special privileges, while trying to morally blackmail the entire world, as if the whole world owes them something.

All the black people remaining on the African continent are objects of Ernst’s vigilance. Ernst had previously only driven the black people to West Africa, but now it seems that this is still not safe enough.

The fertility rate of these people in modern society is too terrifying, unless they are all wiped out, but modern society prides itself on being a civilized society, and there is actually a large group of sanctimonious hypocrites. The Arabs, whose customs are still “pure,” would not encounter this problem. Therefore, how to prevent black people from turning against and devouring the country he establishes must be carefully considered.

“Fight fire with fire!” Ernst said to himself.

“Your Highness, what did you say?” Thomas asked.

Ernst: “It’s nothing. Go and take care of things!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Just now, a new idea formed in Ernst’s mind. Black people are good at having children, right! It’s actually not a big deal. In fact, before the advent of industrial civilization, all races were good at having children.

For example, in a past life, the Arabs, who continued to maintain their traditions, maintained a very high birth rate, and with the oil business, they forcibly expanded the total number of their citizens several times over in the desert.

Then Ernst only needs to set up some backward countries on the African continent to separate them between the black people and East Africa, and he can solve the black counter-current.

If possible, East Africa can also direct these countries from behind to engage in some aggressive wars to further compress the living space of the black people. According to the experience of a past life, this trick is completely feasible. The international community often turns a blind eye to conflicts on the African continent, and African leaders often use colonial history to threaten Europe and the United States, and the effect is not bad.

Thinking of this, Ernst felt that this plan was very good. When the time is right in the future, it can be implemented. It is not possible now. First, we must meet the immigration needs of East Africa itself.

“Knock, knock, knock…” At this moment, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

Ernst: “Come in!”

The person who came was Tom, the current butler of Hohenzollern Castle.

Tom: “Your Highness, the Trieste ship schedule has been arranged. You can go to East Africa at any time.”

Ernst: “Good, Tom. After I go to East Africa, I’ll leave the affairs of the house to you. First, help me grasp the affairs in Europe.”

Tom: “Rest assured, Your Highness. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west. Even if you ask me to die immediately, I will have no complaints.”

Ernst: “What death or anything? Your family has served Hechingen for generations. I trust you.”

His words sounded good, but in reality, could Tom betray the Hechingen royal family? Ernst just needed a trusted person to stay in Europe to facilitate his supervision of the operation of the Hechingen Consortium. The actual control was still at the Hechingen Bank headquarters, which had moved to East Africa. In Eastern terms, Tom was the imperial envoy appointed by Ernst.

Tom: “Your Highness, also, the Ferdinand class ironclad warship that you asked me to check on the way in Trieste, which is being built by Austria-Hungary, is currently 30 percent complete.”

Ernst: “Very good. I think when it appears in front of my father-in-law, he will definitely have face.”

A few months ago, Ernst promised to add two sailing warships to the East African Navy led by Ferdinand to stabilize Ferdinand’s mentality and let him see that he was doing a promising job. What Emperor of the Mexican government-in-exile? Get out of here quickly. Is being the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy more valuable?

Mexico is to the United States as the Sultanate of Zanzibar is to East Africa. In Ernst’s view, the status of the Mexican emperor is like that of the Sultan of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. What’s good about being a puppet?

If Mexico can really be independent and autonomous, then Ernst certainly wouldn’t say that, and there’s even a very small chance that he’d encourage his father-in-law to jump into the pit in Mexico. Now Mexico has become America’s urinal, with no value at all. Going there will only cause trouble.

However, all of this has nothing to do with the Ferdinand class ironclad warship that Ernst built with his own money. The Ferdinand class is related to Ernst’s marriage, and Ernst will be married in two years.

Thinking about Ferdinand’s sneaky visits to Austria-Hungary every time, afraid of being discovered and looking humble, Ernst felt a little sorry for his tool… ah, no, his father-in-law.

And at that time, the wedding will be held in Vienna, and Archduke Ferdinand will definitely be there. Those are all old acquaintances of Ferdinand from various countries’ nobility. Just thinking about it makes it socially awkward.

Isn’t this Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico? Where have you been all these years? Why haven’t we heard from you? Is it true that you were taken to the execution ground? Although the guests won’t say that, Ferdinand himself must have some misgivings in his heart.

However, if someone really asks Ferdinand what he has been doing recently, it is still possible. Commander-in-chief of the East African Navy! What is that?

At this time, the Ferdinand class ironclad warship, a big guy with a displacement of 7,200 tons, will be useful, plus six 283mm large-caliber Krupp-produced naval guns, powerful deterrent force, and most importantly, named after Ferdinand himself, can help Ferdinand save some face.

At least it proves that the East African Navy still has strength. Currently, the main force of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, the SMS Lissa, also has a displacement of only 7,000 tons. When the Ferdinand class is completed, the East African Navy’s prestige will be maxed out.

In fact, after the victory of the Italian-Austrian War, the Austro-Hungarian Navy also thought about building a commemorative warship like the SMS Lissa, while increasing naval strength, but unfortunately, Austria-Hungary really had no money, or rather, the Hungarian government did not agree to allocate funds.

Although the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s plan was finally approved, it was compromised and postponed for a few years. They could only envy the East African Navy’s big spending.

However, all of this was done without Archduke Ferdinand’s knowledge. The poor Archduke Ferdinand was still complacent about extorting two wooden sailing steam warships from Ernst.

Chapter 368: Interlude

Before Ernst departed for Trieste, he still had many matters to attend to and many people to bid farewell to, including Prince Karl of Sigmaringen, Prince Leopold, the Prussian Royal Family, the Württemberg Royal Family… So it wasn’t a matter of just leaving whenever he wanted; he still had to finish these things.

…

Half a year ago.

The Far East, Japan.

“Mr. Harano Morishita, your monkeys are indeed quite unique in appearance. They seem short and stocky among monkeys, which aligns very well with Darwin’s theory of evolution. Is it the environment of the Japanese islands that has cultivated monkeys that enjoy hot springs? I’d like to understand this.”

“Uh, Rosensanth, Darwin is…?”

“A European biologist.”

“Yoshi, a scientist?”

“Yes, and a great British biologist, very authoritative in academic circles. I used to disagree with Darwin, but after coming to Japan, I realized Darwin is correct. You can’t find monkeys that enjoy hot springs like the Japanese monkeys in other countries.”

It felt like an insult! But as soon as Harano Morishita heard that Darwin was British, he immediately transformed into a sycophant, saying, “Rosensanth, your Great Britain is truly the greatest country in the world.”

Although Rosensanth’s so-called “London accent” had a strong German flavor, Harano Morishita, with his broken Japanese-English, couldn’t tell at all.

Rosensanth laughed heartily and said, “Not at all, not at all. Although we British have achieved a little in culture, we still can’t compare to countries like Germany, France, and Russia. Do you know what Britain relies on to be the world’s hegemon?”

Harano Morishita was quite curious, so he asked, “Please enlighten me.”

“Nothing else but mastering the ocean. Those familiar with history know that every world hegemon in the last few hundred years has achieved it by mastering the ocean. Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands are all examples of this.”

“Yoshi, Rosensanth, you are absolutely right! We Japanese must learn more from Britain!” Harano Morishita said this, but in his heart, he was thinking, “Build more warships, and perhaps we can replace them in the future.”

Rosensanth: “Yes, what’s the use of learning culture? We British succeeded through barbaric means. The French, known for their romance and literature, can only be played by Britain in the palm of its hand, wasting a great opportunity and losing the chance to compete with Britain. Therefore, all workers and farmers who dare to cause trouble and oppose national policies should be given a comprehensive blow to prevent them from causing a huge waste of social resources.”

As a large landowner, Harano Morishita deeply agreed: “Yes, I feel the same way. The farmers in the Japanese countryside have been too unreasonable lately. Can’t they understand the government’s difficulties? The country is in overall difficulty now. Even I have cut back on expenses and changed to three dishes and one soup a day, and they still want to rebel. They are simply worse than uncivilized monkeys. For this kind of waste, we should resolutely strike them down. Only when Japan is strong can everyone have a bright future.”

Rosensanth: “Alright, let’s not talk about these things anymore. Mr. Harano Morishita, can you help me find a few Japanese people, preferably both men and women? I want to show the world the local customs of Japan.”

“Of course, no problem!” Harano Morishita agreed readily upon hearing Rosensanth’s request. This Rosensanth was a British journalist who came to Hokkaido to promote Japan, and he had to give Japan a good image.

After a while, Harano Morishita brought over some oddballs from who knows where, generally between one meter thirty and one meter fifty in height. However, looking at Harano Morishita, who was only one meter sixty-three, Rosensanth instantly felt it was reasonable.

“Mr. Harano Morishita, can you catch a monkey and shake hands with it? I want you to be friendly so that it can show the theme of Japanese people living in harmony with nature.”

“Yoshi, of course, no problem! Rosensanth.” Harano Morishita said excitedly. This was to show the excellent character of the Japanese people!

Soon, thanks to the efforts of the servants, a female monkey was brought to Harano Morishita. Harano Morishita, following Rosensanth’s instructions, stood in front of the hot spring, grabbed the female monkey’s paw, and made a handshake gesture. It had to be said that the female monkey, which should have been half a meter tall, didn’t look out of place standing with Harano Morishita, especially with the four Japanese people behind them who were even shorter than Harano Morishita.

“Mr. Harano Morishita, don’t keep a straight face, smile.”

Harano Morishita was deeply influenced by Bushido and usually kept a straight face, only showing a forced smile that was worse than crying when talking to Rosensanth, the “British man.”

And Harano Morishita lived up to expectations. His smile was beyond description; “earth-shattering and tear-jerking” might be more appropriate.

“Very good, keep that expression.” Rosensanth, who had expected this, said with satisfaction, “Wait, I’m going to take the picture now, don’t make any more changes.”

With a “click,” Harano Morishita’s expression was clearly captured under the exposure. The female monkey, not knowing what had startled it, bared its teeth, which was also captured in the photo.

“Alright, Mr. Harano Morishita, you are indeed a photogenic person. I think the citizens of London will love your kind and amiable samurai image.”

“Yoshi, Rosensanth, thank you for coming all the way to Japan to promote Japan’s international image.”

“Not at all, not at all, Mr. Harano Morishita, you are too kind. This is what I should do. Long live Anglo-Japanese friendship!”

“You’re absolutely right! Rosensanth, but can I take a look at that thing called a camera!”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Mr. Harano Morishita. This instrument belongs to the company, and according to the regulations, it cannot be lent out. It’s very precious.”

“Then what about the photo you mentioned!”

Rosensanth said with a regretful expression, “There’s no way to see it now. It can only be developed after returning to London.”

Harano Morishita was a little disappointed that he couldn’t see his photo, but he asked again, “Rosensanth, which newspaper is yours? A friend of mine will be going to England on business soon, and I’d like him to bring me back a copy.”

Rosensanth said with a strange expression, “No problem, our newspaper is very influential in England. Remember it well, The Sun. You can buy it in every city in England.”

“Yoshi, thank you very much.”

The Sun was a newspaper invested in by Black Hering Bank. When it was first launched in London, it was unanimously condemned by British society because the newspaper was in serious conflict with the conservative social atmosphere in Britain. Facts proved that engaging in color was not a sustainable path, so The Sun embarked on a borderline route.

Although playing on the edge made it impossible for whistleblowers to seize The Sun’s weaknesses, people from all walks of life in Britain still righteously boycotted The Sun, so The Sun became the number one in sales in Britain that year.

May 8, 1871.

The new issue of The Sun was published, on the streets of London.

“Sir! Would you like a copy of The Times! Or The Guardian.” The newsboy said, sizing up the old gentleman in front of him. According to his judgment, this kind of old gentleman liked to discuss national affairs the most.

“Give me the latest The Sun, thank you.” The old gentleman said, trying to lower his voice, after all, it wouldn’t be good to be heard by acquaintances on the street.

“Uh, okay, sir.” The newsboy handed the old gentleman today’s copy of The Sun.

The old gentleman looked around, found that no one was paying attention, took the newspaper neatly, folded it up, put it in his clothes, and took it home to enjoy.

Back home.

He closed the door tightly, lay on the sofa, took out the newspaper he bought, and said, “Let me criticize it properly… Hmm, these legs… The world is going downhill!”

Soon, after a pleasant physical and mental experience, the old gentleman slowly turned over a page to see today’s news.

The Versailles army began shelling the Paris city defenses. “Good job, these Frenchmen should be left to kill each other.”

Soon, he noticed a picture at the bottom of the newspaper, with the caption, “Japan’s love of hot spring customs may originate from Japanese macaques, Darwin may be the biggest winner.” What the hell is this? Looking so scary, the old gentleman spat fiercely at Harano Morishita in the photo, but The Sun’s writing style has always been so improper, he didn’t feel strange.

Several months later, Harano Morishita, who was spat on by countless London citizens, also received The Sun sent back from London by a friend. When he learned that The Sun was a color newspaper, Harano Morishita’s face turned green with anger.

“Ba ga ya lu…” (roughly translates to “You idiot…”)

Years later, Harano Morishita’s story was spread by a friend with a tight mouth, and Harano Morishita died depressed. Before his death, he said to his grandson, “In the future… be sure to kill more British people…”

Chapter 369: Farewell

Ernst was completely unaware of Rosens’s actions. If Ernst had known that such a talented person existed under his command, he would have rewarded him handsomely. At this moment, Ernst finally finished his visit to Germany and took a train from Berlin towards Austria. Ernst booked two carriages, one for himself and the other for security personnel and his think tank.

“Your Highness, your tea.”

“Hmm, put it aside. Be careful not to spill the tea on the table and wet the manuscripts.” The train chugged along, and the bumps were strong. This was commonplace for Ernst, who often traveled by train.

“Your Highness, why do you have to personally deal with the Boer issue? You know, it’s thousands of kilometers from Dar es Salaam to the Matabeleland Plateau (Zimbabwe), and you may not be used to the African environment.”

Ernst: “It doesn’t matter. I know Africa pretty well, especially East Africa. It’s like coming home.”

His subordinate just thought Ernst was boasting. In reality, Ernst had been to many countries in West Africa and South Africa, not just East Africa, but he hadn’t stayed long.

“Your Highness, the main thing is that you haven’t been to Africa. Studying maps every day probably won’t give you a direct feel for all aspects of Africa. The African environment is not as good as Europe.”

To say nothing else, the two-dimensional map in Ernst’s hand wasn’t very intuitive, but Ernst used it without any unfamiliarity. In his previous life, he had thoroughly studied the terrain of East Africa.

The first thing Ernst had to do in East Africa this time was to command the war against the Boers. By the time he arrived at the Matabeleland Plateau, it would be around the beginning of the year, just in time for the war.

The idea was “I command, I am present.” Ernst’s presence on the Matabeleland Plateau was for the same reason. This matter was just a bit hard, and there couldn’t be any danger. Ernst wasn’t going to charge into battle at the front. He was mainly responsible for supervising the battle and making on-the-spot decisions on some major strategic events.

That was the extent of the importance attached to the war against the Boers. First of all, the Boer regime was a white regime, which was completely different from the enemies that East Africa had faced in the past. Eliminating ten thousand indigenous forces was not as shocking to the people of East Africa as eliminating a small white country.

At the same time, the situation in the Transvaal Republic was very complicated. The Zulu Kingdom of black people, the Orange Free State, which had the same origin as the Transvaal Republic, the British, and Mozambique all needed attention. Among them, Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, was in the south, not far from the forces of these countries, so the strength of Mozambique could not be underestimated.

Maputo and Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal Republic, were both near 25 degrees south latitude, so the core of Portuguese Mozambique’s colony was directly west of the battlefield area designated by East Africa.

The situation was very different in the northern part of Mozambique, which bordered East Africa. This was also the reason why Mozambique could only watch the Germans annex East Africa without being able to do anything. Mozambique was distributed in a narrow strip from north to south, stretching for two thousand kilometers, which was exactly the distance from Maputo to the northernmost tip of Mozambique.

In the southern region, led by Maputo, the situation was very different. The Portuguese dared to strike hard against the British, who were plotting to seize Mozambique. Even if the British moved a little to the south, Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, could be in danger. The two sides were separated by only the Zulu Kingdom.

In addition to the above forces that needed attention, there was also the Kingdom of Swaziland, an indigenous kingdom, in the eastern part of the Transvaal Republic.

After three days of travel, Ernst and his party arrived in Vienna. Here, Ernst was preparing to say goodbye to Rudolf. This had been agreed upon beforehand. After Rudolf learned that Ernst was going to East Africa, he wanted to see his older brother off.

The train slowly slowed down and entered the Vienna train station, preparing to complete maintenance and other work in Vienna. In addition, Vienna was a major station, so the stop would be longer.

Ernst got off the train. Rudolf was already waiting here: “Ernst, here.”

“Rudolf, did you tell the Emperor when you came over?”

“Of course he doesn’t know. He and Mother have been arguing again recently, so I sneaked out.”

“Ah! Aren’t you afraid that Emperor Franz will settle the score with you later?” Ernst was worried for him, but he was the instigator, so it was difficult to lecture him.

“At most, I’ll get a beating. I’m not afraid. Compared to being stuck in the palace, I think it’s more fun outside.” Now Rudolf had completely turned into a naughty kid, trying every means to escape the palace every day, and Franz couldn’t keep an eye on him every day. Franz also had a lot to do, and he was overwhelmed by the recent German-Austrian-Russian alliance.

In fact, Rudolf had spent most of his time under the care of his mother and grandmother, and was less influenced by Franz. Only later, when his mother and grandmother broke up, was he completely taken in by his grandmother.

If Rudolf had always been under the care of Empress Elisabeth, it could at least be said that he would have lived happily, because Empress Elisabeth herself was a restless person and was not strict with her children.

Later, Ernst took Rudolf to Berlin under the pretext of taking him to Prussia to study. In Berlin, Rudolf finally found a confidant, namely Wilhelm II, who was in the same boat.

Wilhelm II’s source of pain came from his mother, Princess Victoria. Princess Victoria and Empress Elisabeth were similar, both were isolated in the court. The only difference was that Victoria had a good husband, Crown Prince Frederick, and Victoria had a good relationship.

Because his mother felt guilty about his physical defects, she constantly asked Wilhelm II to strengthen his exercise, which led to a very bad relationship with his mother. Because his mother came from the British royal family, she often instilled in him the concept of British supremacy and insisted on calling him by his English name. This also made Wilhelm II have a very complex emotion towards Britain since he was a child, which also affected his future foreign policy towards Britain.

Therefore, Wilhelm II’s childhood experience can be said to be similar to Rudolf’s. The two later took different paths, but from the results, Wilhelm II was obviously more optimistic than Rudolf in terms of personality, which was very worthy of Rudolf’s reference.

“Forget it, I’m afraid I won’t be back from Africa for a year or two, so I won’t have an excuse to take you out to play. You have to take care of yourself, don’t argue with your father too much. If you were in his position, you would probably understand his difficulties.

Don’t think that Hungary is anything good. They are just a small group of people using the entire Hungary as a bargaining chip to threaten your father to compromise and make concessions in order to gain privileges. In fact, your father also hopes that all ethnic groups can live in harmony and it would be best if they could integrate. But the Hungarian nobles also know this, and they will not let it go. Instead, they will oppose Austria in every way to continue to maintain this state. Do you believe it? And Austria cannot do without Hungary.

Losing Hungary will trigger a chain reaction. Czechoslovakia, Croatia, Slovenia… will all do the same. Austria will immediately fall from the position of the top power. Anyone who is in your father’s position will be in a dilemma.”

Rudolf: “I know this. Friedrich (Wilhelm II) also told me about this. He also sees the Hungarian issue this way. I used to think that the Hungarian issue was just a national issue.”

A promising youngster! Ernst nodded and said: “Very good. Sometimes it’s good to be clear about political matters in your heart. You don’t have to worry too much now. You have a long way to go. Anyway, your father is there to support you, so you don’t have to express any opinions. Just do everything according to your father’s ideas.”

Franz’s standby time was quite long. The history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was basically the history of Franz’s reign. Rudolf didn’t need to worry at all.

“Okay, the train is about to leave. I’ll say goodbye to you here!” Ernst said.

Rudolf: “Okay, see you in two years.”

Chapter 370: (Subscription Not Required)

At the Trieste Royal Shipyard, Ernst personally inspected the “Archduke Ferdinand,” which was indeed a large vessel for its time.

Ernst himself didn’t know much about ships, but he wasn’t worried about being swindled by the Austrians. Technicians from the Hechingen Trieste Shipyard were also involved in the supervision. This ship was to be Ferdinand’s flagship in the future, and no one would dare offend the Emperor’s brother. Seeing the Archduke Ferdinand rapidly taking shape, Ernst was very satisfied. “Let’s go!”

This time, Ernst was taking a lot of things to East Africa, including many items from his collection at Hohenzollern Castle, mostly antiques and cultural relics.

In Europe, Ernst had picked up quite a few good deals, mostly cultural relics bought from British and French soldiers returning home, especially calligraphy and paintings. These were things that foreigners couldn’t appreciate, and forgery of calligraphy and paintings was less likely, as the West currently lacked the technical expertise.

Among Ernst’s collection, “Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies” was bought for less than two shillings, which was considered a “high price.”

The British and French soldiers had no idea of the value of these rich cultural relics and mostly sold them as spoils of war. Ernst bought them wholesale, and he currently had over four hundred paintings alone.

He had even more books, a typical example being the “Yongle Encyclopedia.” Ernst had about five hundred volumes, bought by the pound.

However, Ernst’s own cultural attainment wasn’t high enough to fully appreciate them, but he knew that anything that came from the Old Summer Palace and the Forbidden City couldn’t be bad.

Most of the French cultural relics ended up in Ernst’s hands, thanks to the internationalist spirit of the people in the old revolutionary base areas.

Compared to the British army, which was accustomed to expeditions, invasions, and looting, the French army, also “triumphantly” returning home, received quite different “treatment” in France.

On the one hand, French newspapers and media were mostly happy to publicly disclose these “spoils” obtained from the Old Summer Palace, and related information was everywhere. The “inside story” of these “spoils” and the invasion war often surfaced.

On the other hand, a considerable number of French people felt ashamed and angry about the French army’s looting and criticized it. Among them, the most famous criticism came from the famous French writer and literary giant Victor Hugo, who called the Old Summer Palace the “Chinese Versailles + Louvre + French National Library,” an unparalleled treasure of human civilization, and the actions of General Montauban, the commander of the looting French army, a barbaric act of destroying human civilization, a shameful act that disgraced France.

Regarding the “spoils” from the looting of the Old Summer Palace, French public opinion was divided and confronted, and the resulting social impact was also divided.

On the one hand, newspapers and media continued to report in depth on all aspects of information, leaving behind a wealth of historical documents with considerable research value.

On the other hand, French officers and soldiers returning home successively auctioned off the “spoils” to cash them in, unwilling to keep these controversial “souvenirs,” resulting in a large number of auctions and auction catalogs.

Ernst took the opportunity to acquire a batch, mostly Qing court utensils, but these fancy things didn’t really appeal to Ernst’s aesthetic sense.

Especially cloisonné enamel, which was liked not only by the Qing court but also by foreigners, but Ernst felt it was inferior to his Ru ware.

Moreover, this stuff was much more expensive than Ru ware. Ernst found that the fancier the cultural relics at the auction, the higher the price.

Those objects made according to ancient Far Eastern aesthetics, which were relatively simple and unadorned, were not valued by the British and French robbers.

Because they really didn’t know the value of the goods now. There were some who did, and they were the Japanese who took advantage of the fire to loot. However, in this timeline, the Japanese didn’t buy many cultural relics from the British and French. Most of them were taken by the Hechingen Bank.

Historically, from 1931 to 1945 alone, Japan transported 1,879 boxes of cultural heritage from the Far East. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Japan itself statistically took away 3.6 million cultural relics from the Far East, not including the “spoils” inherited by the descendants of Japanese war criminals from their ancestors.

The Tokyo National Museum also houses a large number of Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, such as “Li Bai Walking and Singing,” “Snowy Landscape,” “The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo,” Wang Xizhi’s authentic “Seventeen Letters”… Japan even shamelessly listed these national treasure-level cultural relics as part of their 150th anniversary exhibition. The Japanese, a dog-like nation, are never redeemable.

…

“You must handle these paintings and calligraphy carefully. Also, send someone to inspect them regularly on the ship every day, and don’t let the rats gnaw on these works of art.”

The subordinate said with a sweat: “Your Highness, don’t worry, the rats won’t bother with the iron boxes for no reason.”

“You’re right, but you still have to be careful. Many of the things inside are to be placed in the museum. Even a little damage will detract from the appearance.”

In addition to antiques and cultural relics, Ernst brought the most books, a full thirty thousand sets, to fill the empty National Library. The National Library was not built in the first established town, but in the new city of “Soga.”

In terms of culture, East Africa as a whole is relatively indifferent. Apparently due to inertia, East Africans don’t like to read very much, even the Germans who have received compulsory education are the same.

After all, compulsory education is an obligation, not a right of the Germans. The original purpose of popularizing compulsory education was to cultivate qualified soldiers and patriotic citizens.

Ernst himself doesn’t care much about this. Adults have fixed ways of thinking, and Ernst is happy for these people to keep their thinking unchanged. Besides, the audience of the Soga National Library is not ordinary people.

Chapter 371: Business

Cultural relics are one of the carriers of culture, and culture is precisely what emerging countries like East Africa lack most. Not to mention the United States, a country with a short history, even Russia is the same.

Russia’s history is not short, but it is very awkward, always unable to avoid the Mongol Empire and the Golden Horde, and it is constantly ridiculed by the Western world, with threats to revoke its European citizenship at any time.

Therefore, historical nihilism is rampant in Russia. The Tsarist era denied the Mongols, the Soviet era denied the Tsarist era, and Russia denied the Soviet era. In this way, Russia is forever wandering between Europe and Asia, unable to find a sense of belonging for its own country. The entire Slavic nation is like this. If the Slavs can find their own cultural confidence, it will definitely be a force that can change the world.

The similarity between the East African Kingdom and Russia lies in the participation of both Caucasian and Asian races. Nearly half of East Africa’s population comes from the Far East. Ernst certainly would not deny this history, otherwise how would he explain the origin of the Asian race within the East African Kingdom? He couldn’t possibly tell the descendants of East Africa that their ancestors sprang from stones.

Currently, the complete Germanization of the East African Kingdom is a necessary means for consolidating political power. At the same time, the center of the world is indeed in Europe, and East Africa needs to lean towards Europe. Identifying as a German state allows for better participation in international affairs. Moreover, German is a cultural concept. German doesn’t necessarily have to be in Europe, just like the United States being in the Americas doesn’t prevent it from being an English-speaking country.

Therefore, Ernst himself believes that the East African Kingdom is a country formed by the fusion of Germans and Chinese. Then the East African Kingdom has reason to inherit the heritage of both cultures.

Therefore, Ernst’s private collection will also remain in East Africa in the future. This is a valuable cultural asset of the East African Kingdom, and no one can deny the fact that the descendants of the East African Kingdom have Chinese blood, just like those Chinese in Southeast Asia, they are still descendants of the Yellow Emperor.

Ernst’s actions also have another consideration, which is that the German historical culture itself is not deep enough. The formation of the German concept is primarily attributed to the glorious history of the Holy Roman Empire in Europe, and secondly to Napoleon the Great, who completely forced the entire German people into a cultural identity.

But how long did the Holy Roman Empire last? Even pushing back to the Roman era, the ancestors of the Germans were just a group of barbarians in the forests.

German history before the Germanic people destroyed Rome is a blank slate, no different from the natives in Africa today. At this time, Far Eastern civilization had already entered its heyday. Combining Far Eastern civilization with German history can just be pieced together, so that East Africans can also say that they have five thousand years of history.

The history of ancestors is also the history of one’s own nation. East Africa is born to be the inheritor of two civilizations. Ernst has no burden in his heart about this matter.

…

While Ernst was still dawdling in the Port of Trieste, Immigration Commissioner Thomas had already arrived in Haiti.

The shipping routes from Europe to North America are very dense, so there is no need to worry about insufficient flights.

A group of white people landing in Port-au-Prince did not attract much attention. Port-au-Prince is the capital, political, economic, and cultural center, and the largest port city of the Republic of Haiti, located on the Cul-de-Sac Plain near the southeastern shore of the Gulf of Gonâve.

In 1843, an earthquake destroyed the Haitian capital, Cap-Haïtien, and Port-au-Prince was destroyed by a fire. Therefore, the current Port-au-Prince has been renovated, but it is clearly not comparable to the port it once was, and is in a state of being patched up and barely functional.

The current Haitian president is Nissage Saget, who is also a troublemaker, because he supported France in the Franco-Prussian War, which led to dissatisfaction from Germany. So Germany demanded compensation of 3,000 pounds and sent two warships to Port-au-Prince to demonstrate. Haiti was forced to give Germany compensation. Now Nissage Saget is in a state of anxiety, trying to quell the anger of the Haitian people because of this matter.

In the three years before Nissage Saget, Haiti had already changed two presidents. The first was Fabre Geffrard. Fabre Geffrard can be said to be the only “wise ruler” in Haitian history, and can even be said to be a president that Haiti has never had before or since.

He did a lot of practical things during his reign, and his rule was recognized as the best time Haiti had. However, in the late period of his rule, he returned to his old ways, amending the constitution, increasing his salary, buying two plantations for himself, and adding to the funds invested in the army and hospitals, as well as personal luxury goods.

In the later period of Geffrard’s rule, his subordinates repeatedly attempted to launch military coups to overthrow his rule, but they were basically unsuccessful. But three years ago, in 1867, he was forced to step down and exiled by the rebel Sylvain Salnave, who attempted to replace him, after serving for eight years.

Sylvain Salnave was completely a foolish ruler. Soon after Salnave took office as president, rebellions broke out in Haiti, and peasant uprisings continued. Salnave took this opportunity to continuously suppress the opposition, amend the constitution, increase his power, and make himself president for life, and then he was overthrown again.

In short, the history of Haiti is a mess, and the current president, Nissage Saget, is likely to fall at any time.

But Thomas didn’t care. Such Haiti is what East Africa hopes to see. Based on the current situation in Haiti, Thomas believes that there is no need to waste money on the Haitian president.

So after many inquiries, he found the Chelos family in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Chelos family is a local high-caste family, so their strength is good. Since the Haitian ruler is likely to be overthrown at any time, it is better to cooperate with this kind of deeply rooted family.

High caste. Thomas was shocked when he heard about it. Thomas previously thought that this system was a patent of the Indians, but he didn’t expect Haiti to have it as well. But it doesn’t matter. Haiti is a democratic republic that has produced several emperors, so it is a basic operation.

The Chelos family is a high-caste family of mixed black and white descent. The previous family elder, Old Chelos, was a meritorious official who followed the founding father.

Old Chelos was different from other meritorious officials. He was not very interested in Haiti’s leadership position and only wanted to make money wholeheartedly. Therefore, Old Chelos has survived several generations of Haitian presidents and emperors. The Haitian leaders before the previous Haitian President Geffrard were all his former comrades-in-arms. Old Chelos passed away in 1863. Currently, his eldest son, Young Chelos, manages the family.

In the Chelos family’s manor, Young Chelos received Thomas.

“Clan Chief Chelos, hello! As soon as I arrived in your esteemed territory, I heard of your great name. I heard that in Port-au-Prince, the Chelos family is a force to be reckoned with.”

Young Chelos: “Sir, who are you?”

Thomas: “I am a merchant from France. You can call me Medina.”

Thomas himself speaks multiple languages, which is one of the reasons why he can become the Director of the East African Immigration Department.

France! Hearing the name of the former suzerain state aroused Young Chelos’s vigilance, and Chelos felt that Thomas’s French was a bit strange. However, Young Chelos did not show it: “So it’s France. My great-grandmother was French, and I also studied in France. I am still very familiar with French. Where are you from in France, sir? Why does your accent sound a bit strange? And what brings you to our Chelos family?”

Thomas: “So you are also half French, that’s great. I am from northeastern France, close to Belgium, so I have a bit of a Dutch accent.”

Young Chelos: “I see.” That explains it. It should be like a dialect. Young Chelos’s great-grandmother was from southern France, and her spoken language was somewhat different from the Parisian French he learned.

Thomas continued: “I came here this time because I have a business deal that I hope your family can accept.”

Young Chelos: “I wonder what kind of business?”

Thomas: “Slave trading!”

“Cough cough cough…” Young Chelos was shocked by Thomas’s words, but he quickly recovered, “That won’t do, Mr. Medina. The international community has long abolished the slave trade. If Haiti participates in the slave trade, then Haiti will not have a good time.”

Young Chelos even suspected that this was a conspiracy by the French, a specially set bait, entrapment.

Thomas: “Mr. Chelos, you don’t have to worry. I am just a slave trader, and all I pursue is profit. As long as the Chelos family provides some convenience for my fleet to land in Port-au-Prince, we will not have too much involvement with your family for the rest.”

Young Chelos tentatively asked: “Mr. Thomas, you should be from the French government, right!”

Thomas was surprised. How did he get linked to the French government? He shook his head and said: “How is that possible? What is the state of France now? I believe you should have heard of it. The Republicans and Monarchists are arguing like cats and dogs in the parliament. They don’t have that energy. We merchants can’t wait for Britain and France to be in chaos, so that business at sea will be easier to do.”

Young Chelos nodded. That’s right. France is quite chaotic now. How can they have the time to care about other countries? Besides, the slave trade was done by the French. He can completely pretend not to know. Anyway, Haiti is in this state, and there is no order to speak of. It is reasonable for slave traders to use Haiti as a base.

However, in that case, he has to make a good profit. So Young Chelos said: “If that’s the case, then it’s okay, but Haitian lives matter too. Our Chelos family requires a fee per person.”

What? A fee per person! That price would be astronomical! Who would cooperate with you with that kind of money!

Thomas said: “Charging per person is too much. We only do one-off deals and don’t consider the quantity. At most, we will pay annually.”

Young Chelos: “Mr. Medina, I said just now that Haitian lives matter too, and there are not many Haitians to begin with. Isn’t it right to charge per person? Our family can also provide you with slave hunting services.”

So that’s how it is. It seems that Young Chelos thinks that he is going to buy and sell Haitians as slaves. It’s his own fault for not making it clear just now.

Thomas: “Mr. Chelos, you misunderstood. We don’t want Haitians.”

Young Chelos was a little confused: “You don’t want Haitians, then how are you going to do the slave trade! Can you find black people from other places!”

Thomas: “You’re right. Our French colonies are in Africa, so the source of goods is also Africa.”

Young Chelos: “Then what are you doing in Haiti? Haiti is dirt poor. It’s impossible for them to have money to buy black slaves!”

Thomas: “Mr. Chelos, our market is the United States, and Haiti is a transit station. You should understand that, right!”

Young Chelos: “Then what can Haiti provide for your slave trade? It would be more convenient to pull them directly to the United States, right!”

Thomas: “This requires considering market factors. We can’t possibly find buyers directly, but need to slowly contact American customers, especially those plantation owners, and then let them choose the goods.”

Young Chelos: “Then you mean that Haiti is dispensable in this link?”

Thomas: “Of course not. Actually, I am just starting out in this business, so I don’t know much about the American market.”

Hearing that Thomas was a novice, Young Chelos instantly became interested: “Then can you guarantee that you can find buyers?”

He took the bait. Thomas had inquired before that the Chelos family was involved in the human trafficking business. Isn’t this perfect!

Thomas sighed: “Alas, actually I have been active in the colonies before, and I have only heard that the slave trade is more profitable. Africa has nothing else, but there are many black people, so I am also looking for ways to see if I can get rich by the slave trade.”

Young Chelos: “Then you dare to do this business without finding a way!”

Thomas: “I was also fooled by a friend. He said that he had connections in the United States, but there has been no news for the past two months. I can only come over from the colony in person to take a look, and then I found that Haiti is in a good location, right in between the Americas and Africa, so I landed to take a look, and then I found that this country is a bit chaotic, so I hope to find a powerful family to be a partner.”

Young Chelos: “And then you found the Chelos family. Mr. Medina, I have to say, you are very lucky. We do have a way to make money, but I don’t know how much goods you have?”

Thomas’s eyes lit up: “Really! That’s great. Not to mention anything else, we have a lot of goods, more than the entire Haiti.”

You want to empty the colony! Young Chelos said: “A few million sounds like a lot at first, but it depends on whether you can transport them to Haiti. I dare not say anything else, but even if you transport 10,000 people to Haiti every day, we have the ability to send them to the United States. It’s just a matter of small profits but quick turnover. We can sell them in a few hundred days.”

That’s of course impossible. If there was that kind of transportation capacity, East Africa wouldn’t have spent so many years immigrating millions of people to East Africa.

Thomas: “How about this, we can still manage a few thousand people a month. After we make money, we can buy more ships and transport more people over.”

Young Chelos: “Aren’t you afraid of being seized by the British and French navies!”

Thomas: “Mr. Chelos, that depends on you!”

Young Chelos: “Depends on me?”

Thomas: “What if these people are not slaves, but Haitians?”

Young Chelos’s mind turned quickly, and he instantly understood Thomas’s intention: “You mean to disguise your black slaves as Haitians? That’s a good idea.”

The business that Young Chelos does himself is similar to this, but in the form of a labor company, so he instantly understood “Medina’s” meaning. The two have the same goal by different routes.

Thomas: “But the Haitian identity still needs a lot of trouble from you.”

Young Chelos: “Identity! What identity do Haitians need?”

Thomas: “Don’t you have passports or something?”

Young Chelos: “We really don’t have that thing, but if you need it, we can have it.”

Haiti doesn’t even have passports! But thinking about it, Haiti gained independence from France early, so it didn’t catch up. Thomas: “Then please issue some proof or something, so that we can also ensure the stability of the goods.”

Young Chelos: “No problem, proof is just a piece of waste paper. I can have the presidential palace complete it.”

Thomas: “Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Chapter 372: Reaching Africa Again

Port of Dar es Salaam.

Ernst stepped onto this land once more, his heart filled with complex emotions. “It’s different now!” It truly was different. The Dar es Salaam of his previous life was completely unlike the Dar es Salaam of today.

In his previous life, Ernst’s first stop in East Africa was Dar es Salaam. Back then, as the most developed city in Tanzania, it wasn’t much different from the cities of most developed countries around the world.

The majority of African countries were actually like this. Although very backward, they always had one or two impressive big cities as windows, not too different from the rest of the world. However, their urbanization rate was very low, and the rural areas were in terrible condition. Some places shouldn’t even be considered rural; they were more like reservations for indigenous people, living like primitive humans.

Dar es Salaam was a typical example. Ernst’s initial impression of the place in his previous life was of sunshine, beaches, coconut trees, a modern port, and modern high-rise buildings. Although it was a little inferior to Nairobi and Mombasa, it was still quite good by global standards.

Of course, Tanzania was far from comparable to the modernized Far East. Even an eighteenth-tier small county town in the Far East would be considered a large city in Europe. Therefore, the most prosperous Dar es Salaam in Tanzania could only be compared to a county town in the Far East. In his previous life, the urbanization rate in the Far East had already approached seventy percent. Coupled with exaggerated infrastructure construction, even the most sparsely populated areas like Tibet had excellent urban construction.

The current Dar es Salaam was completely different. If Ernst had to find a city that resembled it most, it would probably be Trieste in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

It was around nine o’clock in the morning, and Dar es Salaam was quite lively. Passing ships brought economic prosperity, surpassing even Trieste.

“Your Highness, the urban construction of Dar es Salaam is quite good. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought I hadn’t left Africa.”

Ernst leaned on the railing of the ship, gazing at Dar es Salaam, and replied, “This shows that our efforts over the years have yielded results. If the potential of East Africa can be developed in the future, it won’t be any worse than Europe.”

Even replacing Europe was not impossible! Ernst added silently in his heart. This wasn’t just empty talk, but a real possibility.

What were the shortcomings of Africa compared to Europe in his previous life? It wasn’t population, nor resources, nor even the system. Africa had a larger population than Europe, Europe itself was very lacking in resources, especially after excluding Russia. Ernst didn’t even value the system that much. Africa had experimented with almost all the system models in the world, and both the United States and the Soviet Union promoted their own supposedly advanced systems here. But Africa remained backward, so the problem facing Africa was an economic one.

Spreading out a world map, one could see that Africa was almost parallel to Europe. Europe’s advantage over Africa was that it was almost on the same latitude as North America and Asia, while the only places on the same latitude as Africa were South America, competing with Africa for who was more backward, the not-so-large Oceania (Australia), and the fragmented Southeast Asia. To be blunt, Southeast Asia, although fragmented, was the most promising region.

As for the countries and regions in the northern Indian Ocean, they were all future competitors of Africa, with India being the most significant. In the future, it would be inevitable for East Africa to strike at India. Its location and size were the biggest threat to East Africa’s control of the Indian Ocean.

Africa had one thing in common with Europe, which was sharing the same Indian Ocean route to Asia. Whoever could control this route could basically grasp the world’s largest wealth code.

East Africa was surrounded by no strong countries, only colonies that could be of great use, and India was the most threatening colony, the biggest obstacle on the way to controlling the Indian Ocean route.

Assuming that Africa could develop, then this most important trade route, the Indian Ocean route, would be driven by Africa, and the impact on Europe would definitely be enormous, no less impactful than the impact of the new sea route on the Mediterranean economy before the opening of the Suez Canal.

However, because Africa was the world’s lowest economic zone in his previous life, Africa’s foreign trade was far from comparable to Europe’s. Europe’s location was not as good as Africa’s. Africa faced the Eastern trade route directly, while Europe still needed the Suez Canal, needed Cape Town, and couldn’t bypass Africa. Otherwise, it could only rely on land, or take the longer route of the Pacific Ocean.

The prerequisite for leveraging this locational advantage was that Africa’s economic size could be compared to Europe’s, even if it only reached half the level of Europe, it would be enough to stimulate it.

However, all of this was a relatively distant matter for Africa now. For now, it was better to lay the foundation for the East African Kingdom, and there would be hope in the future.

Ernst’s fleet passed along the coast of Dar es Salaam city, but did not enter the port, instead heading towards the new port in the southeast direction of Dar es Salaam.

The main function of the new port of Dar es Salaam was to share the pressure of the old port. This was considered the East African Kingdom’s own port, so the new port had a small population, but the port area was larger than the old port, and the facilities were more complete and well-organized.

Soon the fleet entered the new port. The East African government had already prepared vehicles and horses to wait for Ernst, mainly to transport Ernst’s “treasures.”

The people on the dock were mainly port management personnel. Ernst’s visit to East Africa was relatively low-key, and there was no welcome ceremony.

“If I remember correctly, this location should have been the area of the Dar es Salaam Grand Mosque and a university in my previous life,” Ernst muttered to himself. Ernst judged this based on an island opposite the port. That island was a beach attraction in his previous life, so Ernst remembered it very clearly.

“Your Highness, welcome to Dar es Salaam. I am the manager of the new port, the regional head of Hechingen Overseas Trading Company in Dar es Salaam, Mokes.”

So it was his subordinate’s subordinate.

Ernst: “Very good. Next, you organize personnel to be responsible for unloading the things from the ship. Among them, the things on the ‘Oriental Star’ and ‘Chris Star’ must be handled carefully. They are not big items, but be sure to be careful. If you knock off a corner, I will hold you accountable!”

Mokes said with embarrassment, “Yes, Your Highness!”

After two days of busy work, all the items were finally moved down.

“Your Highness, should these things be taken to the railway station or directly by road?”

Ernst asked, “Is the railway to Soga completed?”

“Your Highness, the railway branch line to Soga has also been completed, but Soga has not yet been fully constructed.”

Ernst: “That doesn’t matter. We will go to Soga first, put some things there, and then go to the First Township.”

It didn’t matter that Soga City was not completed. Ernst knew that the National Library being built there had been completed. It was one of the earliest buildings in Soga, and one of the Soga city buildings that Ernst focused on.

Ernst was going there to put the books he brought this time in the Soga National Library. These books covered a wide range of subjects, including astronomy, geography, biology, mathematics, chemistry, physics… In addition to the books that could be bought on the market, there were also some books that were difficult to find on the market, copied from the libraries of various German universities.

Chapter 373: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

It didn’t take long to reach Soga via the First Railway. Ernst and his party arrived before nightfall. Soga was still under construction. The southern district had already been completed, and the National Library was being built in the south-central area of Soga.

The Soga National Library was even larger than the Habsburg Imperial Library of Austria, the largest in the German region. It was also mainly in the Baroque style, covering an area of 5 hectares and a total construction area of 39,500 square meters. The thirty thousand sets of books Ernst brought this time weren’t even enough to fill a tooth gap.

Ernst attached great importance to the planning of Soga. Currently, the three cities of the Central Province, First Town, Dar es Salaam, and Bagamoyo, formed a strategic triangle. However, Dar es Salaam was geographically located relatively far south from Bagamoyo and First Town, so looking at the map, Dar es Salaam always felt like it had an empty space directly west of it.

First Town was the political and cultural center of East Africa, Dar es Salaam was the economic center of the Central Province, and Bagamoyo was the shipbuilding center of East Africa, each with its own strengths. Therefore, Ernst felt that the Central Province lacked a research center, which was the fundamental reason for the construction of Soga City.

Although Soga City was not needed now, building it first would prevent East Africa from being caught off guard when recruiting talent in the future. Although East Africa’s education had not caught up, the economic crisis was imminent. Ernst believed that East Africa could recruit some talent to develop in East Africa during the economic crisis.

Soga would play the role of settling talent. Ernst believed that science and technology could only play a greater role when concentrated. Scientists and inventors living in the same city could exchange ideas, spark inspiration, and correct mistakes at any time.

Therefore, the construction of Soga was carried out according to the highest standards, no less than the capital, First Town, to make the talent who came to live in East Africa feel at home.

First of all, the living environment. Soga could be fully described as a garden city. Parks of all sizes were distributed throughout the city, and because it was located in the tropics, Soga would be full of flowers and lush greenery all year round.

The climate was nothing special, but it was stable, without winter, hovering between spring and summer. During the rainy season, one had to cope with heavy rain that could occur at any time, but the drainage facilities were quite complete, and it was close to the sea, so there was no need to worry too much.

Road construction was carried out to the highest standards. Currently, it was mainly brick and stone roads, but the width reached later standards. Green belts were also used, making the amount of work huge, to facilitate future replacement with asphalt roads. This was the main road, and there were also specially designed pedestrian walkways. Ernst even reserved motorcycle lanes, but the construction workers did not know the purpose of designing an extra lane. The pedestrian walkway could be explained, but the motorcycle lane was no different from the roads in most European cities.

Current European road design was very rough, just one road, with pedestrians, carriages, and livestock all squeezed together, not divided in detail, and the roads were not wide. Even Paris and London did not have such exaggerated urban road construction as East Africa. In the eyes of the designers, it was completely extravagant waste, which was why Soga City was called Ernst’s big toy.

Secondly, Soga City was very convenient for talent concentration. After the railway opened, it was only less than half an hour away from Dar es Salaam, which was conducive to their travel between Europe and East Africa.

This was very important. If they were not talents cultivated in East Africa itself, then they would have a great need to travel around the world, including returning home to visit relatives, foreign academic exchanges, business trips, and even leaving East Africa after finding the next job. Ernst could not tie them to East Africa with ropes.

Taking advantage of the economic crisis, when the employment environment was not ideal, the first choice of the talent recruited was certainly not East Africa, but they had to develop in East Africa due to the pressure of life.

Whether East Africa could keep their hearts still depended on East Africa’s sincerity. After all, Africa was originally synonymous with backwardness, and talent always flowed to economically developed regions.

Here, Ernst thought that Hefei in his previous life did a very good job, trying hard to keep the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, which was a very important decision. According to the layout of Far Eastern education in his previous life, Anhui had no advantages, after all, it was next to Jinling. The role of Jinling was to concentrate educational resources in the region, which was the same as Xi’an and Wuhan.

Ernst was very satisfied with the urban construction of Soga. This was a very important step, so he asked his subordinates: “If you were to choose to live in Soga, would you consider it?”

“Your Highness, if we only consider the environment and transportation, then I think Europe and the entire world cannot find a city far superior to Soga. However, whether Soga can attract people to settle down must first consider the employment problem. Without work, there is no source of income, and no one will stay here. Secondly, it is the hardware facilities of a city. Soga has done a good job in this regard, even somewhat excessively wasteful, but wider roads are not a bad thing. Then there is the climate, which is not bad in Soga. Finally, living in a place requires considering the city’s commercial environment, safety, entertainment facilities, overall civic atmosphere, and urban culture.”

Ernst was very satisfied with this answer. He then asked: “Then do you think Soga has any shortcomings?”

“If there are shortcomings, we can’t see anything now. After all, this city is still an empty city. What it is like needs to be reflected after people come in and live for a while. However, Your Highness, what is the purpose of you building this city? I have always been unable to understand this matter.”

Ernst: “You will know this question in two years. I can only say that Soga City is of great use to East Africa, and I noticed the problem of excessive waste in your evaluation of the construction of Soga City. What I want to say is that urban development is changing rapidly. It seems that Soga is a bit ahead of its time now, but it may not be in the future. Think about Paris, it used to be like this. At that time, many Parisians thought that Napoleon III’s large-scale construction was for face, and there were indeed reasons for this, but the current Paris is a model for transformation all over the world. And I think Paris may be replaced by some cities in North America in another twenty or thirty years. It doesn’t matter if the starting point of Soga City’s construction is higher.”

“What Your Highness said is also true. Anyway, the natives of Africa can’t be used up at all. It doesn’t matter if we do more large-scale projects. Moreover, this is not Europe. European cities have long been built, and any changes must be considered more than in East Africa. And East Africa is a blank sheet of paper, and imagination can be realized more freely.”

The construction of Soga City was greatly helped by the natives. This city was built in a very short time, which was much more difficult than the urban transformation of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam still retained many previous buildings, including the Zanzibar Palace, which was converted into a luxury hotel, while Soga was completely a new city built on flat ground.

Thinking of this, Ernst suddenly felt a little bit of pain in his conscience. Before, he didn’t see it in Europe and didn’t bother him, but when he arrived in Africa, he became sentimental. He tried to suppress the “sympathy” in his heart.

Ernst said: “The construction of East Africa cannot be separated from the natives. The rational use of the natives is very important for East Africa. We don’t have to be like the United States and kill the Indians. Some natives have reached the age limit, and we must find a good next home for them. After all, they have worked for East Africa for so many years, whether it is farming, working on construction sites, or digging canals and building roads, they have also taught them some ways to survive in modern society. They can also find some partners to survive after leaving East Africa in the future.”

“Your Highness, you are still too kind, but this is also the difference between our German nation and the beasts in North America.” He said with a rather proud expression.

What are you proud of! The pot calling the kettle black! At least East Africa has fifty steps less! However, Ernst did not say much. This was the era. Even if East Africa took fifty steps less, it would be much stronger than the Americans. It could not be compared to the United States in terms of goodness, but the United States was better in terms of being bad.

Chapter 374: Lively South Africa

“The Zulus are coming! Muster up quickly!”

“Wooo…”

It was hard to say how many times this month Andries, the general of the Transvaal Republic, had roared in anger.

This time it was a small force from the Zulu Kingdom attacking again. They were also armed with firearms, just like the Ndebele people, and launching attacks against the Boers.

By the time the Boers had finally assembled, a horn sounded from the opposite side, and the well-trained Zulu army began to retreat.

Andries could only watch helplessly as the Zulu army withdrew. He wanted to pursue, but no one dared to give the order, because the Zulus on the other side were a bunch of treacherous natives who were definitely up to no good.

For the Boers, life was getting increasingly difficult. The main problem was the growing pressure on national defense. The small Zulu Kingdom was becoming increasingly provocative, and with the British on the sidelines, the Boers found it difficult to inflict any serious damage on the Zulu Kingdom, and even fought more and more conservatively.

The hatred between the Boers and the Zulus could be said to have been established from the moment they met. In fact, neither of them were the masters of this land. The Boers moved north, while the Zulus moved south, and the two forces met head-on in the Natal region.

The original masters of the Natal region were the Ndebele people, who had been completely defeated by East Africa. The Ndebele and the Zulus shared the same origin, but due to the invasion of the Zulu Kingdom, the two sides engaged in a bloody battle in the Natal region.

The outcome was still uncertain, but at this time, the Boers moving north delivered a fatal blow to the Ndebele people.

The Boers moving north had to face the Ndebele people bordering the Cape Colony, but a series of attacks went smoothly.

Not long after the start of the war, they joined forces with the Ndebele’s hostile tribes and launched a daring sneak attack on their capital, plundering many of the old, weak, women, children, and livestock.

The Ndebele king was at war with the Zulu Kingdom at the time, and was disheartened by this sudden blow. He simply led his entire clan, old and young, across the Limpopo River to the north to avoid being attacked from both sides by the Zulus and the Boers.

This is the reason for the establishment of the Matabele Kingdom in Zimbabwe. Compared with the Zulus and the Boers, the Ndebele people were definitely the most unlucky. And the Ndebele’s Matabele Kingdom had just begun to flourish when it encountered the East African Kingdom moving south, which dealt the Ndebele people the final blow, and the entire tribe became prisoners.

After the Ndebele people took the initiative to withdraw, the Boer colonists established the first colony in the Natal region on the land left by the Ndebele people, and appointed governors, militia commanders, and other positions.

Natal Governor Retief also wrote to Dingane, the king of the Zulu Kingdom to the north, asking him to allow the Boers to open farms and settle on land near the Zulu border. Dingane replied that if Retief could help the Zulus recover the 700 cattle stolen by nomads, he would agree to the Boers’ request.

Subsequently, Retief helped the Zulu king recover the lost cattle as agreed, and the latter did sign a land resettlement treaty with the governor in the capital, Mgungundlovu. But at the celebration banquet, the Zulu king suddenly turned hostile and ordered the guards to disarm Retief and his guards, and all of them were stabbed to death with short spears.

The Zulu field army, which had been waiting for an opportunity, also immediately moved out and launched a full-scale attack on the Boer colony that had not yet gained a firm foothold. All Boer farms and fortresses were destroyed, and several camps were attacked at night, and even the only port of Durban was captured. About five hundred women, children, and elderly people were killed, making the remaining survivors feel insecure and wait in their camps, not daring to go out to fight.

In this critical moment, the Boer farmers wrote to Piet Retief, the militia commander of the Cape Colony, asking him to take on the responsibility of leading the Boers against the Zulu Kingdom and lead the Boer militia remaining in the Cape to support the Natal region.

At this time, an internal strife broke out in the Zulu Kingdom. Dingane’s brother, Mpande, fearing that the other party would harm him, led 17,000 soldiers to establish his own power. This allowed Pretorius to concentrate on dealing with Dingane, while treating Mpande as a war ally and supporting him.

The two sides fought a decisive battle at the Ncome River. Pretorius’s men carried one old-fashioned naval gun and one land gun, and repelled every wave of attack by constantly firing grapeshot.

A small number of Zulus tried to bypass the Ncome River and attack the wagon fort from behind, but they were also subjected to continuous fire from the colonial forces.

Because the Boers often relied on meat obtained from hunting to support black slaves, almost everyone was a sharpshooter. Even the servants who followed them had a high level of marksmanship.

In addition, the range of the rifle itself was twice that of the Zulu spear, killing batches of black warriors who rushed forward into the Ncome River.

As the battle progressed to dusk, the Boers’ ammunition was basically exhausted. Pretorius, in a desperate gamble, led 300 Boer cavalrymen to launch a counter-charge against the Zulus.

Under the leadership of Pretorius, the exhausted Zulu black warriors were killed and scattered by the Boers’ fierce charge, and could no longer organize an effective offensive.

More Zulu warriors were driven into the Ncome River and killed, even staining the entire Ncome River red with blood, creating the so-called “Battle of Blood River,” a battle recorded in history.

In the end, 3,000 people fell on the battlefield, while only 1 Boer colonist was killed. The Zulu Kingdom, which had always been arrogant, could only leave in frustration.

The Battle of Blood River also determined the ownership of the Natal region. The Zulu Kingdom, which had once been in a completely dominant position, began to fall into a passive position.

The Boer wagon train arrived at the capital of the Zulu Kingdom and found that Dingane had already led the entire city’s soldiers and civilians to abandon the city in a hurry and flee north. They supported Zulu Prince Mpande to ascend the throne as king, and allowed the Boers to settle in the Natal region, and also had to pay Pretorius 10,000 kilograms of ivory as compensation. Then, they led their troops to pursue the fleeing King Dingane, forcing him to be killed by his guards after fleeing into the Swaziland region.

However, the Boers’ good days did not last long. Although they defeated the Zulu Kingdom, the British took a fancy to the Natal colony.

The British invaded the Natalia Republic on the grounds that the Boers had violated the rights of the Zulus. In 1843, the defeated Boers once again moved inland, finally breaking through the Zulu Kingdom’s defenses, and establishing the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State in 1852.

When two tigers fight, the British benefit. And with the support of the British, the Zulus began to get rid of their disadvantage and frequently launched counterattacks against the Transvaal Republic.

The Transvaal Republic was harassed by the Zulu Kingdom almost every day. Small battles never stopped. The main force of the Transvaal Republic’s army had to be concentrated in the southeast to resist the Zulu Kingdom’s provocations.

As for the huge East African Kingdom to the north, at first the Transvaal Republic was also taken aback by the newly arrived Germans, but after such a long time of getting along, they found that the Germans had no intention of taking action, but instead engaged in trade with them, and slowly lowered their guard. However, deep down, the Boers were still afraid that the Germans would be the same as the English beasts, so they supported the Ndebele people, who had been defeated by them in the past, and this also laid the groundwork for their own demise.

Chapter 375: The Security Situation of First Township

After staying in Soja City for two days, Ernst finally arrived at First Township, where Constantine personally led his ministers to welcome him.

Seeing his old father safe and sound in Africa, even looking somewhat well, Ernst instantly felt a sense of belonging: “Father!”

Constantine: “Ernst, you’ve finally arrived!”

Ernst: “Father, how are you doing in Africa?”

Constantine: “It’s alright. Apart from not being able to see my old friends in Europe, there’s not much difference.”

Ernst: “That’s good. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to adapt to the East African environment.”

Although the climate and environment in East Africa are good, even very livable, the problem of acclimatization is a difficult one even in later generations.

In his previous life, Ernst had experienced it himself. As a native northerner, he went to university in the south, and the first month was like hell. Ernst, who rarely got sick, had a constant stream of colds and fevers. Later, after getting used to the south, Ernst realized that this might be what the ancients called acclimatization. Thinking of the humidity in the south, that might be the problem.

However, the experience in the south was not a bad thing for Ernst. Frequent travel between the north and south meant that Ernst didn’t feel any difficulty when he later went to work in East Africa. The climate difference in East Africa was nothing compared to the climate differences between the north and south of the Far East.

In his previous life, what he worried about most in Africa was disease and war. Fortunately, the overall situation in East Africa was relatively stable compared to the rest of Africa. Disease, however, was something that was difficult to prevent. The vast majority of Africans sneered at hygiene and science, which made them carriers of many diseases, especially AIDS. In Africa, if you couldn’t control your pants, you could easily get infected at any time.

But now, because of Ernst’s measures, diseases in East Africa have been reduced to a very low level, even more livable than Europe and Asia, which are traditionally livable places.

In fact, historical patterns are like this. Initially, the most suitable places for humans to live were Egypt, Babylon, the Indus River, and the Yellow River, agricultural areas with slightly arid climates, loose soil, and easy access to irrigation water.

When productivity increased relatively, human habitable areas began to expand to humid areas. Europe, the Ganges Plain, and the Yangtze River Basin were all developed.

In the industrial age, human habitable areas expanded to the frigid zone. Germany’s Ruhr area, Russia, the Northeast, Canada, and the Great Lakes region were all places with high latitudes.

And by the 21st century, humans began to advance into the tropics. Brazil, Southeast Asia, and Africa began to develop, and traditional countries were also developing internally towards the south. The American Great Lakes region became the Rust Belt, the Northeast declined, the Ruhr area declined, and the Russian population flowed out of Siberia…

Overall, humans have a trend of expanding from the equator to the polar regions and then flowing back to the equator. Of course, the most livable areas for humans are still the low and middle latitudes of the north and south.

And Africa’s unique plateau terrain makes East Africa a rare livable area in the tropics. Ernst is only accelerating this process.

So Ernst was more worried that Constantine would not be able to adapt to the East African environment. It seems that most people can adapt, which is a good thing for East Africa.

Other important East African officials also came forward to pay their respects. The East African upper echelons are actually no strangers to the Crown Prince, who has been remotely commanding from Europe for many years. The East African upper echelons are divided into three main categories: first, mercenaries, whom Ernst had met in Europe; second, students of the Hechingen Military Academy, who are Ernst’s direct subordinates; and third, employees of the Hechingen Consortium.

Except for the mercenaries, who had less direct contact with Ernst, the others were familiar with Ernst. Moreover, the mercenary group was originally a minority. After Ernst communicated with the East African officials one by one, he moved into the Swete Palace.

The old butler, Keno, asked about his son’s situation: “Your Highness, I wonder how Tom is doing in Europe?”

Ernst: “Uncle Keno, don’t worry, Tom has always been my right-hand man. Now he is supervising the operation of the consortium in Europe for me.”

Keno: “That’s good. I was always worried that he would cause you trouble.”

Ernst: “Of course not. Tom is like a brother to me, and it’s only right to take care of him.”

Hearing Ernst say this, Keno was relieved. Serving the Hechingen royal family is the responsibility of his family for generations, and it is also a secure job.

Afterwards, Ernst’s “treasures” and luggage began to be registered under Keno’s arrangement and placed in the Kiwete Palace in an orderly manner.

The Kiwete Palace is not much larger than Hohenzollern Castle, which was built on a mountain. The overall style is also relatively similar, looking more like a military fortress, belonging to not forgetting the original intention.

However, Kiwete Palace does not conform to Ernst’s image of a political center. After all, it is not the Middle Ages, and monarchs of all sizes live in castles to guard against possible wars at any time.

The construction of Kiwete Palace initially considered that First Township was not far from the sea, so safety had to be taken into account. The capital that is most similar to First Township in the world should be Beiping in the Far East.

Beiping has Tianjin卫 to defend the sea, and at the same time, the Shandong Peninsula and the Liaodong Peninsula are in hand on both ends of the Bohai Sea, which can contain the invading enemy at any time. This situation is very beneficial to the defense of Beiping, but the Far East Navy is weak, and the land warfare is also not good, making such a good natural geographical defense line useless.

First Township is located on the southeast bank of the Little Rhine River. To the east, Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam form a mutual support, and the enemy must take any of the two cities before attacking First Township.

But this is also quite difficult, because the military control of Zanzibar Island is in the hands of East Africa, and the strait between Zanzibar Island and the East African mainland is only less than fifty kilometers away.

The coastal defense guns deployed by the East African Kingdom on both sides of the strait can just block the entire strait, and without entering the strait, attacking Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam is empty talk. In addition, the main base of the East African Navy is in Bagamoyo, which can counterattack at any time. In this situation, it is basically impossible for ordinary people to rely on the navy to land around First Township.

As the offshore defense system originally designed by Ernst becomes more and more perfect, the East African coast, especially around the Central Province, can be described as impregnable. As long as the East African garrison does not act foolishly, according to the war level of this era, it is basically impossible to attack First Township from the sea. Of course, if the United Kingdom, the world’s number one navy, presses on with all its assets, it may still be possible.

This reflects the importance of Zanzibar Island. Without Zanzibar Island, East Africa would definitely not be able to do this, so Zanzibar Island must be incorporated into the territory of East Africa in the future.

There are not too many security concerns in First Township, but it can only be the temporary capital of East Africa. This is the result of the continuous expansion of the East African Kingdom. If East Africa only controls the land of the former East African Federation (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi), then there is not much problem in establishing the capital in First Township.

But the East African Kingdom has crossed the border and expanded to Central Africa, South Africa, and even the edge of North Africa. In order to maintain national unity and drive national development in the future, East Africa must move its capital, with Zambia and southern Congo having the highest probability.

East Africa is not like the United States and the Far East, where the economic center is concentrated in the east, or Russia, where it is concentrated in the west, nor is it like the narrow area of the British mainland. Therefore, the future capital of East Africa must be a region that can connect most of East Africa and has convenient transportation. The climate difference in East African territory is not large, and resources are relatively evenly distributed. The conditions in various regions are not much different, that is, the east has maritime advantages, but East Africa is likely to be a two-ocean country in the future, so it is most appropriate to build the future capital in the geometric center area of East African territory.

Chapter 376: War Council

On Ernst’s second day in the First Township, there was nothing particularly special to do. The main task was to preside over the matter of launching a war against the Boers. The Boers had to be fought; there was no other reason, purely for East African strategic considerations.

If their land was not swallowed up at this time, the future opportunity would involve facing not just the Boers, but the British.

Secondly, East Africa had no choice but to use force against the Boers. There was nothing to discuss between the two sides. The Boers could surrender to the British, but they would absolutely not surrender to East Africa, unless East Africa granted them extremely special privileges, which the East African government would not agree to.

In the Swet Palace, Ernst discussed the war against the Boers with the army generals.

Ernst: “This war is different from the past. Besides the opponent changing from black people to white people, we also have to face a very prominent problem, that is, the Transvaal Republic is too far away from East Africa’s current core area. Last time, when the Ndebele people rebelled, we could mobilize troops from South Salzburg Province to suppress them, but this time we don’t have this advantage when fighting the Boers.

Therefore, the war against the Boers must be fast, a thunderous strike. We must take the land of the Transvaal Republic in one go, and may even face forces other than the Transvaal Republic, such as Orange, Zulu, and even the British Natal Colony.

So the Southern Army faces not only the Boers as an enemy, but also potential enemies. If this war is delayed even slightly, it is very likely that the Zulus and the British will take advantage of it, which is not what I want to see.”

The actual situation was also like this. As long as East Africa’s war against the Boers was slightly delayed, the Zulu Kingdom and the British Natal Colony would definitely not give up this great opportunity to expand into the Transvaal Republic.

On the sand table, Swet pointed to the area in the lower right of the Kingdom of Swaziland and said: “Your Highness, according to the news sent back by our intelligence personnel a few days ago, the main force of the Transvaal Republic is still confronting the Zulu Kingdom in the eastern part of the Transvaal Republic. Although the Zulu Kingdom has a small territory and a small population, it is extremely warlike, almost to the level of universal conscription. Although they were defeated by the Boers in the past, since the arrival of the British, their King Mpande has chosen to improve relations with the British and jointly exclude the Boers.”

Previously, the Zulu Kingdom actually had a good relationship with the Boers, but it was only a superficial relationship. The Zulu Kingdom’s hatred for the Boers can be said to have reached its peak, so as soon as the British came, the Zulus leaned towards the British.

Swet continued: “Currently, there are not many troops of the Boers on the south bank of the Limpopo River. This is our opportunity. As long as we take multiple measures at the same time, it will not be difficult for us to quickly sweep most of the Transvaal Republic’s territory. The main resistance to the war will definitely be in the later stages. On the one hand, the main force of the Boers will return to aid, and on the other hand, there is the relationship between the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic. They will definitely not sit idly by. Even the Boers in the British Natal Colony will support the Transvaal Republic, and it is very likely to attract the attention of the British.”

In addition to the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, there were actually other Boer states and regions, such as New Griqualand, as well as the Natal Colony and West Griqualand under British rule, whose residents were mostly Boers. There were also a large number of Boers in Cape Town.

Ernst nodded and said: “So we must be prepared for multi-faceted operations. This war is not only aimed at the Boers. In my opinion, the Zulu Kingdom also has no need to exist. We can’t afford to provoke the British, but we are not afraid of the British forces in South Africa. If they want to interfere in East Africa’s territorial expansion this time, then drive them back!”

Ernst almost gritted his teeth when he said the last sentence. If there were no British in this Africa, East Africa would not have to restrain its ambitions in fear all the time. Even now, East Africa is not afraid of any challenges in terms of size, but it still lives in the shadow of the British.

It wasn’t that Ernst overestimated the British, but that the British strength was just like that. To East Africa in this era, it was like the Far East facing the United States in his previous life. This kind of pressure was conceivable for the East African kingdom.

Even the British in this era were more difficult to deal with than the United States in his previous life, because there was no so-called morality in this era. The British could really do whatever they wanted except in the controlled areas of other great powers, and no one would say anything even if they carried out genocide.

If East Africa did not rely on its own strength and wanted to survive in this era, it could only cling to the thighs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany. But East Africa must never do this unless it was absolutely necessary. It was easy to invite a god but difficult to send him away. If you want to rely on other countries to help resolve the crisis, you must pay the price, and Franz and Wilhelm I were both extremely realistic monarchs, not fools like Peter III.

Ernst’s words also brought a trace of gloom to the army generals’ minds. Britain! After all, it was a mountain that East Africa could not avoid. If Ernst was only worried that the British blockade would cause East Africa’s development to stagnate, then the generals were simply somewhat fearful of the British.

That was the world hegemon. The land powers of Europe could laugh at the British lobster soldiers, but countries outside Europe were not qualified to do so. Back then, the United States wanted to test whether the old father was still capable of fighting, but the White House was burned down as a result.

The British have also had quite brilliant achievements in the world in recent years, especially after the expedition to the Far East. Basically, no one outside Europe and the United States is their match.

However, in order not to affect morale next, Ernst said: “Of course, we don’t need to worry too much about the possible intervention of the British. In this land of Africa, East Africa’s strength is one of the best. The British are not as terrible as the propaganda says. More than ten years ago, the British suffered a crushing defeat in Afghanistan. This was still with the British relying on the Indian colony, and the British Cape Town colony is far worse than India.”

Ernst’s words still had some effect. Over the years, with successive victories in Africa, East African generals were not only not humble, but even a little arrogant. It was good to use the British to suppress their sharpness. Next, the East African generals would only be more cautious about the British as a potential opponent. This was both respect for the enemy and responsibility for themselves.

This Boer War must be fought, even if the enemy is really strong, East Africa must try it. In Ernst’s initial plan, East Africa should at least control all the land north of the Vaal River, a tributary of the Orange River, so that East Africa can control most of the coal and iron mines in South Africa, which are essential for industrial development. Gold mines are just a gift in Ernst’s eyes.

The Vaal River is the boundary between the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State. Beyond the Vaal River, the minerals in Orange are mainly diamonds. Diamonds are also high-value minerals, but East Africa is not short of them either.

The Zulu Kingdom is home to large deposits of coal, which is why Ernst included the Zulu Kingdom in this operation.

Chapter 377: Progress in Italy

While matters concerning the Boer War were being discussed in East Africa, the Italians had taken the initiative and completed the first phase of their invasion of the Abyssinian Empire. Samuel, leading the Italian expeditionary force, captured Dessie, an important city in the eastern part of the Abyssinian Empire.

The flag of the Kingdom of Italy flying over Dessie sparked a new wave of turmoil within the Abyssinian Empire, with princes and ministers in the capital attacking each other.

The Kingdom of Shewa: “It is all because of the central government’s stupidity that allowed the European white skins to invade the empire’s territory. They must be held responsible for this act of national humiliation and loss of power!”

The Tigray lords and ministers: “Bastards, it’s clearly because you’ve been opposing us at every turn, paying lip service to the central government’s decisions, that the enemy found an opportunity. The fall of Dessie is inseparable from you!”

The most important feudal separatist kingdoms in Abyssinia were Tigray in the north and Shewa in the south. In addition, several important provinces such as Gojjam, Wollo, and Semien were also completely independent.

Later, Tewodros II unified these regions, recentralizing the Abyssinian Empire. However, this did not last long, as Tewodros II was eliminated by the British.

The aforementioned areas then re-formed into separatist forces. Prince Kassa of Tigray ascended to the throne first, being crowned Yohannes IV in the ancient city of Aksum.

However, Yohannes IV’s title of emperor is currently very hollow. He rose to power by stabbing Tewodros II in the back and currying favor with the British. Even though he is a descendant of the Solomonic dynasty, he cannot win the support of the people.

Moreover, he makes enemies everywhere and has conflicts with various forces at home and abroad, especially the opposition led by the Kingdom of Shewa in the south, who are at odds with him. At the same time, his contradictions with Egypt are prominent, and they often engage in large-scale battles.

In reality, Yohannes IV is quite capable, especially in military affairs. Historically, he should have already defeated the Kingdom of Shewa and subdued the various forces within the country during this period.

However, the presence of East Africa as a troublemaker changed history. Originally, the British supported Yohannes IV with a batch of firearms and ammunition before they left.

However, because the Kingdom of East Africa exported military supplies to various forces within the Abyssinian Empire, his advantage in weapons was offset.

Especially in the southern tribal areas, which now directly ignore orders. Although they still outwardly support the central government, they remain unmoved by any of its commands.

And Yohannes IV’s main competitor, the Kingdom of Shewa, has also re-emerged, contradicting him at every turn.

When the Italian expeditionary force attacked Dessie, all forces in the Abyssinian Empire demanded a counterattack against Italy, but no force sent troops.

Among them, only the warlords in the northeast and the Kingdom of Shewa had the ability to support Dessie in the immediate vicinity. However, they feared that if they sent troops forward, Yohannes IV would attack their base camps from behind, so everyone chose to stand by and watch.

The Kingdom of Italy’s victory this time can be said to have taken advantage of favorable timing, geographical advantages, and popular support. First of all, under the coordination of the Rubattino Company, East Africa’s cheap rice entered the port of Assab directly through the Red Sea.

Although rice does not quite suit the taste of Italian soldiers, it is cheap, and the originally insufficient military expenditure instantly had a surplus.

Moreover, compared with flour, rice is easier to process and carry. Each soldier can carry a little, and it will not turn into a paste like flour when it encounters rain.

With sufficient military rations, Samuel, who had been planning for a long time, immediately organized troops to launch an attack on the Abyssinian Empire.

Through intelligence analysis of the Abyssinian Empire, Samuel concluded that if the Kingdom of Italy wanted to occupy the Abyssinian Empire at the smallest cost, it should avoid its main force and try not to touch its economic center in the northern region. Instead, it should focus on the southeast of Ethiopia.

Dessie is the node on the north-south dividing line of the Italian invasion of the Abyssinian Empire that Samuel envisioned. South of Dessie all the way to Addis Ababa, the vast area is the weakest point of the entire Abyssinian Empire.

Moreover, Dessie is located in the river valley area in the east of the Ethiopian plateau. The terrain limits make it a strategic location connecting the northeast and south of Ethiopia.

Controlling Dessie allows a small force to block the main force of Ethiopia in the north, which is very important for Samuel, who has limited troops.

Whether Dessie can be defended after its occupation, Samuel believes it should be feasible, because the Abyssinian Empire is still in a state of division. The north is also restrained by Egypt, diverting the energy of the Abyssinian northern warlords. Abyssinia will inevitably not be able to concentrate its forces to launch an attack on his troops.

At the same time, Samuel’s plan has another important factor, namely the distribution of ethnic groups within the Abyssinian Empire. The Abyssinian Empire can be roughly divided into three parts: the Eastern Orthodox region in the north, the Arab region in the east, and the southern tribal region adjacent to the Turkana Province of East Africa.

The area that Samuel’s spearhead is pointing at is mainly the Arab region, and the Arab religion has always been at odds with the Eastern Orthodox region. In the thousand-year history of the Abyssinian Empire, it has been fighting against the Arabs. When it was strong, it controlled the Red Sea coast and even extended its reach to the Arabian Peninsula. When it was weak, it was driven back to the plateau by the Arabs. Now is when the Abyssinian Empire is in a weak state.

As for the southern tribal region, it has always been a vassal of the Abyssinian Empire, equivalent to the existence of barbarians. After East Africa cleared the black indigenous forces in the southern Ethiopian plateau, the lack of fresh blood injected into the southern tribes was greatly weakened. This area has always been an important source of slaves for the Abyssinian Empire.

Losing a large number of slaves also means that the southern tribes have lost an important source of income, and their voice in the empire has been further lost. However, East Africa’s support for the southern tribes in arms deals has made no one dare to underestimate them.

Compared with the northern forces, the biggest disadvantage of the southern tribes is that they are more scattered and lack a unified core, so the southern tribes are not very enthusiastic about participating in imperial affairs.

Samuel’s plan to first take the southeastern region of Abyssinia is quite conservative. This has never been the focus of attention of the Abyssinian Empire. The Abyssinian Empire has been actively expanding to the north and northeast.

The north is Egypt, and the northeast is the Red Sea. The origin of Abyssinia and Egypt can be traced back to the Nubian Empire. In the era of the Eastern Roman Empire, the predecessor of the Abyssinian Empire, the Aksumite Empire, combined with Egypt and Nubia. At the same time, Eastern Orthodox Christianity also flowed into the Abyssinian Empire and became its mainstream religious belief. In this way, Ethiopia in its previous life can actually be regarded as one of the successors of the Roman Empire. If it were not for its long history and cultural self-confidence unlike the Slavs, Western Europeans, and Turks, it could also compete to be a “Black Rome.”

The Red Sea coast has always been the place that the Abyssinian Empire has been thinking about. Every time the Abyssinian Empire is strong, it will try to take back the Red Sea from the Arabs. Only with the Red Sea in hand can the Abyssinian Empire become a regional hegemon. For this reason, the competition between the Abyssinian Empire and the Arabs has never stopped.

And the area that Samuel is trying to seize was not considered the core area of the Abyssinian Empire before Menelik II moved the capital to Addis Ababa. It has a sparse population and sufficient arable land, which is very suitable for the kingdom to settle immigrants.

Chapter 378: Having One’s Own Path

Samuel, according to his designed plan, calmly performed surgery on the Abyssinian Empire, attempting to leverage the empire’s internal divisions to carve out a territory of approximately sixty to seventy thousand square kilometers from its southeastern region.

This area contains about a quarter of Ethiopia’s prime farmland from his previous life, which is currently completely undeveloped.

“General! This is a telegram from the homeland.”

The signalman delivered the telegram from Italy, having arrived by ship to Dessie, and handed it to Samuel.

Samuel frowned throughout the entire reading of the telegram.

The owner of the Rubattino Company, Sapeto, noticed Samuel’s expression and inquired, “General! What orders has the government issued?”

Samuel shook his head and said, “Nothing like that, but some people back home think my current actions are too cautious and not aggressive enough against a native country like the Abyssinian Empire.”

Sapeto found it hard to contain himself. He said, “Don’t they know how much they’ve skimped on military spending? We spent two or three months just trying to ensure the troops had food with limited funds, and now we’re being accused of being too cautious!”

Samuel: “That’s not a big deal. I expected some people back home to get restless, especially after we took Dessie.”

Although Samuel only gained a firm foothold in the Abyssinian Empire after occupying Dessie, the vast territory between the Port of Assab and Dessie, including the land north of the East African Rift Valley (the area south of it belonging to the Dire Dawa military garrison in East Africa), had already been incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. This land consists mainly of deserts and some grasslands, but its area reaches more than fifty thousand square kilometers.

The current area of the Kingdom of Italy is only over two hundred thousand square kilometers, and the figure of Samuel’s occupied area alone is enough to excite most people, although much of it is uninhabitable wasteland.

Sapeto: “It seems they’ve forgotten the lessons of the Italo-Austrian War. They rashly started the war without understanding the movements of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and were met head-on by the elite Austro-Hungarian troops. The Abyssinian Empire is not the kind of entity that collapses at the first blow, as they imagine.”

These past few months, Sapeto had followed Samuel and gained some insight, realizing how difficult the warriors armed with Arab doctrines were to deal with, and the more backward the region, the more difficult the Arabs were. Fortunately, General Samuel was resourceful and handled things properly. Every decision could predict the natives’ movements, crushing their conspiracies one by one. Ambushes and guerrilla warfare were useless against Samuel; instead, they suffered losses. During the day, Samuel’s troops would mobilize, besiege villages, and even carry out extermination activities. Samuel didn’t care about resistance fighters or civilians; he only knew that the soil on which the guerrillas depended for survival was these villages rooted in the desert.

Although the Abyssinian Empire is mainly Orthodox Christian, it must be quite strong to have fought with the Arabs for so many years. Even the Ottoman Empire at its peak could not defeat the divided Abyssinian Empire.

Samuel: “There’s nothing we can do about that. The information I received is that the kingdom may send troops from the north to attack the Abyssinian Empire in the future. They have already negotiated with Egypt, with the British guaranteeing passage through northern Eritrea (Latin for Red Sea; the Italian name for the area, meaning the land along the Red Sea) to attack the Abyssinian Empire.”

Sapeto laughed directly: “They want to attack the Tigray region directly!”

Samuel was also infected and laughed, teasingly saying, “Perhaps they don’t even know what Tigray is.”

As the core of Abyssinia, the Tigray region has always been the most economically developed and militarily abundant region of the Abyssinian Empire. The capital, Axum, is also located there. Before becoming Emperor, Yohannes IV was the commander-in-chief of the northern fortress, responsible for northern defense and dealing with Egyptian troops year-round.

Therefore, Tigray concentrates a large population and army of the Abyssinian Empire, which is why Samuel avoided the wealthier north and placed his bets on the south.

The biggest threat to Samuel was the Kingdom of Shewa on the southern shore of Lake Tana (the largest lake in the Ethiopian Highlands) within the western Abyssinian Empire, but the Kingdom of Shewa and the north restrained each other. They were also afraid of the north taking the opportunity to move south, so they chose passive defense.

Historically, the Kingdom of Shewa was originally an ally of the Kingdom of Italy. Menelik II was able to successfully unify the country with Italy’s great help, but in the end, Menelik II gave Italy a crushing defeat, causing Italy to lose face in Europe.

But in this world, the Kingdom of Shewa does not have this opportunity. Italy has come to seize land, and with a clear goal, it is impossible to support its enemies.

Now, the attitude of the Kingdom of Shewa, or rather Menelik II, towards the Italian invaders is: “I will not attack unless attacked.” Of course, it would be even better if Italy could fight with Yohannes IV’s northern army, so that he could reap the benefits and finally unify the entire Abyssinian Empire, driving out the Italians and restoring the empire’s glory.

However, Menelik II has encountered Samuel, and his plan is destined to fail. Samuel will not be foolish enough to fight Yohannes IV. In the Italo-Austrian War, the most experience he learned was not to underestimate any opponent, and even if he wanted to solve the opponent, he should adopt a method of starting with the easy and then the difficult. Therefore, his victories can all find a common point, which is that every time the Austro-Hungarian army failed, it started with the Hungarian army.

And the easiest part of the entire Abyssinian Empire to get started with is the southeastern region. Here, the forces are mixed, and no strong warlord has formed, which means that there is no faction that can unite the local Abyssinians. If he cuts off the local connection with the north, it will completely become a leaderless place.

Samuel said to Sapeto, “No matter who the kingdom wants to send to the Abyssinian Empire to get a share of the pie, we don’t need to pay attention to them. Since the kingdom has chosen to open a new battlefield in the north, it has nothing to do with us. We can ignore any non-local transfer orders.”

Samuel was also angry in his heart. He knew too well the nature of those aristocratic bureaucrats. Now they see that he has achieved some success and think they can do it again.

Samuel continued to speculate, “The commander of the kingdom’s new troops must be a guy with a background. These kinds of people are most likely to abuse their authority. We’d better ignore them and find various reasons to prevaricate. Anyway, with our strength facing the heavily defended Abyssinian Empire north of Dessie, it’s normal if we can’t get through. The kingdom can’t find any reason to say we’re not trying our best.”

Sapeto looked approving. Now he agreed with Samuel one hundred percent, because Samuel was always “right.”

It can’t be said that Samuel was outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. He had also suffered a lot during the Italo-Austrian War, often being tricked by his superiors and colleagues. It was agreed that his troops would hold on for a while, and reinforcements would arrive immediately, but not to mention reinforcements, the officers in the rear had already run away with their teams, and colleagues often stood by and watched without helping.

After several experiences, Samuel understood a truth, that is, not a single word of the superiors and colleagues could be believed, even if the pie was drawn well, he had to find a reason to shirk it.

The consequence of doing so was that Samuel was very unpopular with his colleagues during the war, and he was not liked by his superiors, but it also avoided being dragged into the pit by pig teammates.

The strength of Samuel’s troops was also preserved, and occasionally they could launch a counterattack against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When the war ended, Italy searched the entire army and could only find Samuel, the only undefeated general. The aristocratic generals could only pinch their noses and shape Samuel into a rising star in the army. Samuel could only say that it all depended on the contrast of his peers.

So this time, Samuel did not intend to participate in the kingdom’s opening of a new battlefield. Samuel even planned to collect taxes in his jurisdiction and recruit Italian immigrants to supplement his army.

Based on his experience, if he did not cooperate with his colleagues’ actions, they would definitely try to make things difficult for him. Although his colleagues were very incompetent, they had good fathers, and they were a gang.

In this case, he was afraid that he would not see a penny of the already skimped military expenses in the future. He had encountered this situation in Italy, but fortunately, he was fighting in Italy, and he could replenish troops locally, and the food and grass completely depended on the donations of the neighboring Hungarian allies.

In the unfamiliar Abyssinian Empire, he still had to rely on himself. From the day Samuel rose to prominence, he could say without any burden that his success was the result of his own efforts.

Chapter 379: Golden Leaf

February 3rd, 872.

Harare, Zimbabwe.

Ernst was leading his command staff to the front lines. While passing through Harare, the former capital of Zimbabwe, he happened to see the tobacco planted in the fields, lush and verdant, displaying a vibrant vitality.

Ernst had been on the road these past few days, so he decided to rest here for a while and also inspect the construction work in the Zimbabwe region.

The mayor of Harare, Lai Aka, respectfully introduced, “Your Highness, this is the tobacco planting area planned by the Hechingen Tobacco Company in Zimbabwe this year. We have already expanded the planting scale in various regions of Zimbabwe this year. When the time comes, the Hechingen Tobacco production base will be completely moved from northern East Africa to Zambia and Zimbabwe, especially Zimbabwe, which will be dedicated to high-end tobacco production.”

Seeing his policies being implemented so well, Ernst was very pleased. When it comes to Zimbabwe’s most famous crops, tobacco is definitely on the list.

In his previous life, Zimbabwe was a major tobacco exporting country in the world. Zimbabweans once said, “Tobacco is to Zimbabwe what gold is to South Africa – if Johannesburg is a capital built on gold mines, then Harare is definitely benefiting from tobacco.”

Ernst knew that Zimbabwean tobacco leaves were not rare, because in his previous life, he had met a friend from the Far East Tobacco Company while on a business trip to Zimbabwe.

Ernst himself found it difficult to understand why the Far East Tobacco Company was bidding for tobacco in Zimbabwe, because he had always thought that the Far East was a major tobacco producing country. Did they still need to import this kind of thing?

The most outrageous thing was not the import itself, but that Zimbabwean tobacco needed to be auctioned. At the Harare tobacco auction, countries bid against each other, and the highest bidder won.

Later, with the introduction of an employee of the Far East Tobacco Company, Ernst learned why Zimbabwean tobacco leaves were so sought after, and even needed to be auctioned.

First of all, it’s the quality. Zimbabwean tobacco leaves have a rich aroma and high maturity, and are one of the typical representatives of high-quality tobacco leaves in the world. They have the characteristics of mellow aroma, unique burnt-sweet taste, moderate strength, and mild irritation. In addition to their excellent taste, Zimbabwean flue-cured tobacco leaves are also known for their low chemical residues and relative healthiness.

High quality is not enough, the yield must also be sufficient. Zimbabwe is located between 15 degrees 33 minutes and 22 degrees 24 minutes south latitude, with an annual rainfall of between six hundred and eight hundred millimeters, and nearly sixty percent of the rainfall is concentrated in the tobacco growing season. This is the most suitable weather for high-quality tobacco leaf growth, possessing irreplaceable sunlight, rain, and climate that are most suitable for flue-cured tobacco growth.

At the same time, Zimbabwe has unique granite sandy loam tobacco fields at the same latitude as the rest of the world, which are particularly suitable for the cultivation of tobacco crops, making Zimbabwe known as the world’s “golden tobacco field.” The tobacco leaves grown are soft and golden in color, and are also known as “golden tobacco leaves,” which are widely used as the main raw material for high-end cigarettes.

Since Zimbabwean tobacco leaves are so good, why don’t more people know about them? When it comes to cigars, everyone knows Cuba, but in the field of flue-cured tobacco, the status of Zimbabwean golden leaf is the same as that of Cuban cigars, especially since the vast majority of smokers in the world’s largest flue-cured tobacco consuming country have probably never heard of it.

In fact, in his previous life, the Far East was the largest importer of Zimbabwean tobacco leaves. All the high-quality cigarettes sold by the Far East national tobacco company, in terms of tobacco leaf selection, in addition to tobacco from the Yunnan region, only selected high-quality tobacco leaves from the Zimbabwe region as raw material matrix. In other words, it is very likely that the cigarette in your hand now contains Zimbabwean tobacco.

In his previous life, Zimbabwean tobacco was introduced from the United States. Even in the worst years of relations between the two countries, almost all high-end American brands of cigarettes had to be mixed with a certain proportion of Zimbabwean tobacco, because this high-end tobacco with a unique burnt-sweet aroma was a guarantee of quality and taste.

Zimbabwean tobacco leaves are of excellent quality and also expensive. Even in the three high-end cigarette consumption markets of Europe, America, and China, they can only be mixed with Zimbabwean tobacco leaves in proportion, and are reluctant to use it 100%. The status of Zimbabwean tobacco leaves in the world is evident.

However, these advantages are not the reason why Hechingen Tobacco Company chose to grow tobacco on a large scale in Zimbabwe. The tobacco growing area in northern East Africa was already sufficient to guarantee the tobacco supply.

However, under the influence of the East African immigration policy, Ernst intentionally accelerated this process, so he promoted the migration of some agricultural population to the interior, and tobacco growers were the first batch.

Ernst certainly knew the benefits of Zimbabwe producing tobacco, but no matter how great it was touted earlier, there was no way to avoid the fact that this year was the first time Zimbabwe had grown tobacco, and no one knew what the finished product would be like. However, the result would not be too bad. After the technical staff of Hechingen Tobacco Company conducted research, they also agreed that Zimbabwe was more suitable for tobacco cultivation than other regions in East Africa. The worst quality of tobacco here after the harvest would be higher than the world average level. As long as it was cultivated and bred for a few more years, it could completely reach the world’s best tobacco grade.

Thinking of this, Ernst suddenly had an idea. He said to Lai Aka, the mayor of Harare, “This year, the tobacco farmers here will have to work a little harder. If you have any difficulties, talk to the government. If there is not enough labor, apply for more slaves. Harare is the current and future tobacco cultivation base of the East African Kingdom. I plan to set up a tobacco factory in Harare in the future, specializing in creating the Harare tobacco brand, so you must ensure the priority of tobacco cultivation.”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s arrangement, Lai Aka quickly said, “Your Highness, don’t worry, I will definitely ensure that tobacco cultivation in the Harare area is the top priority of all residents of Harare.”

Very good. Establishing a tobacco company in East Africa was entirely due to Ernst’s quirky sense of humor, mainly in the name. Ernst planned to borrow the name of the Henan local cigarette brand “Golden Leaf” from his previous life as the trademark for the new product.

Zimbabwean tobacco leaves are called “golden tobacco leaves,” which can also be translated as Zimbabwe’s “Golden Leaf.” Isn’t this a coincidence! Moreover, Golden Leaf does not have a place name meaning, directly indicating the quality of Zimbabwean tobacco leaves.

If it is matched with a nouveau riche gold trademark and launched on the market, it will definitely make people’s eyes light up. Ernst plans to directly use the “Golden Leaf” produced in Zimbabwe as a mid-to-high-end product and launch it to East Africa and Europe.

This can also be separated from the current low-end cigarette market of Hechingen Tobacco Company. Because the source of Hechingen Tobacco Company’s goods in the previous years came from countries such as the Netherlands, the overall cigarette quality and taste were not very high. To make mid-to-high-end products, you have to pay more costs and buy slightly better quality tobacco leaves at higher prices.

This situation was greatly improved when the East African tobacco fields were gradually opened up and harvested. However, the previous reputation could not be revived. That is, by using the convenience of industrial production and lowering the price of cigarettes, it was possible to seize a large market from those traditional tobacco merchants, mainly low-income consumer groups such as the army, workers, and farmers.

Now, East Africa’s tobacco production is sufficient, and maintaining the price advantage of Hechingen Tobacco Company’s low-cost cigarette brands is not a problem. It can also add Zimbabwean tobacco leaves to flavor and improve the taste. When East Africa’s “Golden Leaf” is put into production, Hechingen Tobacco Company will also have a place in the mid-to-high-end market.

Chapter 380: Night Talk

Night, Harare.

The temperature dropped quickly. Ernst added a coat. The African weather, how should he put it, felt somewhat familiar to Ernst.

Ernst didn’t particularly like the coastal climate of Africa, but in his previous life, Dar es Salaam, the most developed city in Tanzania, happened to be located on the coast. Although there were inland areas with decent development, their infrastructure and modern amenities were somewhat lacking.

Therefore, Ernst preferred being dispatched by the company to capitals of inland countries like Nairobi and Harare. They had everything one could want, except the internet was a bit lacking, and the climate was nice. However, most of the time, Ernst’s activities were concentrated in rural areas, after all, construction, especially road and bridge building, often involved working in the wilderness.

Walking on a rural road in Harare, Ernst said, “Sivete.”

“Yes, Headmaster!” Sivete, out of habit, snapped to attention, straightening his body to answer, as if he had returned to his student days.

Ernst said, “Don’t be so tense. You’ve been in the army for a while now. I want to understand the actual situation of our troops.”

Although Ernst oversaw the overall situation, he couldn’t rely on his own imagination to know what was happening with the troops. Sivete, as a major commander in the East African Army and someone who had participated in several battles, had the right to speak on the matter.

Sivete respectfully said, “Yes, Headmaster! But what aspects would you like to know about?”

Ernst thought for a moment. “Let’s start with the grassroots situation of the troops! Especially the soldiers’ living conditions and morale, we can talk about anything.”

Sivete: “Alright, I’ll talk about some of my personal observations. At the grassroots level, the situation of the troops is generally satisfactory. When we first arrived in Africa, the army was based on mercenaries. From top to bottom, our army was almost indistinguishable from the Prussian army. As the army expanded and the number of personnel increased, some of the bad habits of the Prussian army, or rather, problems that armies all over the world couldn’t avoid, also emerged in the East African army. At first, I thought it was a problem with the officers, but as the number of Blackingen Military Academy students increased in the army, I realized that academic education was also an important factor.

Although our troops have a relatively high level of education, the education level of immigrants from other regions besides the German-speaking areas is quite low. This means that even after the quality of our military commanders improves, they still can’t smoothly command the army. And even the German immigrant soldiers who have received compulsory education have uneven levels of education.”

Ernst nodded and said, “This is unavoidable. I actually thought about this when I sent the mercenary team to East Africa. The East African Army, based on this foundation, will definitely not be a strictly disciplined army.”

Sivete interrupted, “Headmaster, actually, the mercenary team has military discipline, but it still implements Prussian-style ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ education, using corporal punishment to restrain the soldiers.”

Ernst: “Of course I know that. I’m quite familiar with the Prussian army, but military discipline isn’t just about the battlefield. It includes all aspects. For example, the Prussian army is considered to be strictly disciplined among the European armies, but they still can’t get rid of looting after battles.”

Sivete: “Headmaster, that’s unavoidable. It’s human nature. But East Africa has done a good job in this regard. At least the relationship between the military and the civilians is still harmonious.”

Ernst: “Heh, that’s a matter of organizational structure. The wars in East Africa all take place in native residential areas, and since East Africa isn’t a free market, there’s no place to dispose of even the captured materials, so the soldiers aren’t very eager for spoils of war.”

Hearing Ernst say this, Sivete was a little confused. “Headmaster, isn’t that a good thing?”

Ernst shook his head and said, “East Africa is my experimental field. I’m the farmer cultivating this land. If you want the crops to grow well, what do you think you need to do?”

Sivete: “Turn the soil, fertilize, weed and control pests!”

Ernst: “You see, turning the soil is changing the soil structure. East Africa’s land is definitely not the best in the world, so we’re taking various methods to change East Africa’s agricultural facilities to enable large-scale development of East Africa’s land.

Fertilizing is the nutrients that the crops themselves need. The crops are the people of East Africa. There are two options for how a farmer treats the crops. One is to ignore them, but you can still harvest. Although this is easy, the grain yield will be reduced. The other is to try to meet the needs of the grain as much as possible, which can result in a bumper harvest, but the supply of fertilizer cannot be cut off.

Finally, there’s weeding and pest control. So what are the weeds and pests of East Africa? In my opinion, anything that might prevent East Africa from becoming a world power is, not only external, but also internal.”

Tonight, the moon and stars are especially dazzling.

Ernst, standing in the stark white moonlight, said, “And this principle also applies to the army. The importance of the army is self-evident, and it’s not an exaggeration to describe it as the cornerstone of the country. The country is a powerful machine, and its source of power is the army. Maintaining the stability and invincibility of the army is very important for East Africa.”

After listening to Ernst say so much, Sivete understood somewhat. “Headmaster, do you mean to reform the army!”

Ernst: “There’s no rush for that. Let’s wait until after the war against the Boers is over. After defeating the Boers, we may usher in a long period of true peace!”

If this war ends, Ernst doesn’t plan to wage any more foreign wars for a long time to come. Although he had this idea before, he couldn’t resist the temptation each time, and East Africa’s territory has expanded several times as a result.

After eliminating the Transvaal Republic of the Boers, East Africa will have filled all its shortcomings. At least in the African region, South Africa is the most resource-rich, except for West Africa. West Africa’s advantage is oil, while South Africa’s is abundant coal mines.

Having resources is not enough, they must be developed. Ernst believes that East Africa is currently too weak, not in terms of the army, but economically. More than three-quarters of the region has not been basically developed, such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, the plateaus in northwestern Zambia, the Okavango River basin, the Azande Plateau, the White Nile basin, the west side of the Mitumba Mountains, and then there’s South Africa.

Having vast land and abundant resources has been achieved, and agricultural development has also been achieved in East Africa. Ernst now wants to develop in the direction of an industrial country.

Now the opportunity is ripe, and East Africa’s size can support industrial development. This is what Ernst urgently needs to solve. If the great powers recover from the economic crisis, East Africa will face a wide variety of complex enemies. How to ensure East Africa’s independence and autonomy when the great powers carve up the world is the most important thing Ernst needs to consider at present.

The East African Kingdom is somewhat similar to Tsarist Russia, with the entire economy concentrated in one place, but Siberia in Tsarist Russia doesn’t have many natives who can threaten its rule.

The East African Kingdom has a large number of natives within its borders. To prevent them from becoming collaborators, the East African army must maintain an invincible posture, and modern warfare relies on industry.

Chapter 381: National Gift

North bank of the Limpopo River.

“Mr. Wiggins! Thank you for your hard work these past few months. We have prepared a small boat for you. Once you cross the river, you can return to the Transvaal Republic. This is a letter that we hope you will deliver to your country’s president.” An East African warrior handed Wiggins a letter and said.

Wiggins, whose spirits were flagging, said in disbelief, “You’re really going to let me go!”

Having been escorted to the Limpopo River by two East African soldiers, Wiggins had thought the East African Kingdom was going to execute him. He had been under house arrest in East Africa for so many days, and no one had spoken to him. Even the strongest heart couldn’t take that kind of torment. Wiggins knew what he had done. The East African Kingdom would be justified in shooting him a hundred times over.

“Of course, Mr. Wiggins. Although we don’t particularly like your character, your sentence is up, and you do have some use. Can’t you serve as a messenger between our two countries? We hope you can convey our friendship to your government.”

Reinvigorated by his freedom, Wiggins hurriedly responded, “No problem! I will definitely deliver the letter to the president!”

An East African soldier waved his hand and said, “Then please go back quickly! Remember not to do such shady things again in the future!”

Wiggins put the letter in his pocket. Seeing that the East African soldiers were really going to let him go, he nodded vigorously and said, “Today I swear to God that I will never set foot on the land of the East African Kingdom again.”

Under the gaze of the East African soldiers, Wiggins boarded the small boat and rowed towards the opposite bank of the river. After Wiggins crossed the river, he was certain that the East Africans had kept their promise and hadn’t shot him in the back. However, he needed to find a Boer farm nearby to send him back to Pretoria.

Thus, in complete ignorance, Wiggins carried the “Declaration of War” towards Pretoria. This was the national gift that the East African Kingdom was sending to the Transvaal Republic.

The “Declaration of War” declared that the East African Kingdom was entering a state of war with the Transvaal Republic on the grounds that the Transvaal Republic supported the Ndebele people in launching a secret rebellion within East Africa to subvert the East African Kingdom’s government.

Wiggins would never have imagined that he was carrying such a thing in his arms. As a result, when the East African army invaded the Transvaal Republic, he was still on his way to the Transvaal.

…

Bulawayo.

Crown Prince Ernst of the East African Kingdom personally inspected the East African combat troops training here. After more than ten days of forced marches and exposure to the sun and wind, Ernst’s complexion, which had been somewhat fair when he first arrived in East Africa from Europe, had completely turned bronze. “The East African sun is really good for people!” Ernst thought to himself.

“Your Highness, the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Brigade of the 331st Division of the East African Mountain Troops requests your inspection!” A short, stocky man saluted Ernst.

Ernst returned the salute.

The East African Mountain Troops were a special unit that Ernst had prepared for the Zulus. Most of its members came from German immigrants from the Alps and immigrants from the remote Guangxi and Shandong Yimeng Mountains in the Far East.

A major reason why the Boers had not been able to wipe out the Zulus was the presence of the Drakensberg Mountains. It was difficult for the Boer cavalry to operate in mountainous terrain.

Therefore, as early as after East Africa occupied the Azande Plateau, it established a mountain unit in the complex terrain of the Azande Plateau to deal with battles in mountainous terrain.

When selecting mountain troops, Ernst specifically chose soldiers from Guangxi as a priority. First of all, people in Guangxi are more valiant. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement, the later Guangxi warlords, and the performance in the War of Resistance Against Japan all proved that people in Guangxi are more capable fighters.

The Guangxi wolf soldiers have been famous since the Ming Dynasty. One reason is that the folk customs are fierce. Guangxi has always been far from the political center, and the influence of Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism is weak. Ernst does not belittle Confucianism, but the castration of the Far Eastern national spirit by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism after the Song Dynasty is indeed outrageous.

The Han Dynasty also respected Confucianism, but the scholar-bureaucrat class could say things like, “Wherever the sun and moon shine, it is Han land; wherever the rivers flow, they are Han subjects.” In Ernst’s view, this was the peak of national spirit, even if it was extremely shameless in the eyes of foreigners.

Especially in the 19th century world, so-called benevolence, righteousness, and morality were useless. The great powers did not talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality. The European colonists, starting with the Portuguese, were a group of swindlers with weapons, who cheated the Indians out of everything they had, including their underwear.

As a later generation, the East African Kingdom is actually an inheritor of colonialism. In its attitude towards the natives, it is firmly centered on interests: land, resources, and the natives’ possession of treasures is their own undoing.

It’s just that Ernst, as a person who has lived two lives, has a longer-term perspective and knows that colonialism will backfire. Therefore, he is more thorough in cutting the grass and eliminating the roots to avoid East Africa from going down the wrong path of being colonized and backfiring in the future. Although this matter is unavoidable, East Africa must be more conservative.

The special geographical environment of Guangxi has shaped the Guangxi people’s spirit of not being afraid of hardship and being tenacious. There is nothing to say about this. Before the level of productivity develops to a certain extent, and before the plains become green deserts, the mountains will never be worse than the plains. Most of the uprisings in the Far East also originated in the mountains.

Finally, and most importantly, the climate of Guangxi is most similar to that of East Africa. Guangxi’s latitude has already reached the tropics, and there is a large population. Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom originated here, Guangxi was not particularly affected. The areas mainly affected by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement were Jiangxi, southern Anhui, and Huijing, which were almost turned into white land and have not recovered yet.

Therefore, Ernst has no psychological burden in recruiting immigrants from Guangxi. According to the current living standards in East Africa, going from Guangxi to East Africa is considered getting rich.

Following the mountain troops were the East African artillery units. The East African artillery prefers small-caliber cannons. Using these things in Africa is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. This time, in order to deal with the Boers, Ernst concentrated 30% of East Africa’s artillery in Bulawayo.

The Boers’ most famous tactic is to form a circle with ox carts as a protective barrier against the enemy. Since they have firearms in their hands, artillery is essential to deal with this formation. One shell is enough to destroy the Boers’ ox cart formation.

Finally, the East African cavalry units were reviewed. This was also the first time East Africa had used cavalry on a large scale. The Boers are a people of the horse, and the best way to deal with cavalry is with cavalry. After so much development, the East African cavalry is now quite impressive.

In addition, the East African troops attacking the Transvaal Republic were still mainly infantry. However, the East African infantry was different from the past in that they were using machine guns for the first time.

Machine guns appeared as early as the American Civil War. East Africa also had them, but they were not prominent in East Africa’s previous wars. Thinking about it, this makes sense. East Africa’s previous enemies were all natives, and there was no need for such advanced weapons as machine guns. It would be a waste of bullets! The main reason why the East African infantry used machine guns on a large scale this time was to deal with the Boer cavalry.

To deal with the Boers, Ernst can be said to have been planning for a long time. From the day he took action against Zimbabwe, Ernst knew that there would be a war between East Germany (East Africa and the Transvaal Republic). After all, he is a person who cannot resist temptation.

The reason why this review was held in Bulawayo instead of on the banks of the Limpopo River was to avoid arousing the Boers’ suspicion. Before Ernst arrived here, the East African Army had conducted several military exercises with the Transvaal Republic as the imaginary enemy. Even the release of Wiggins was done on a carefully selected section of the Limpopo River to prevent him from spying on the East African Kingdom’s ambitions.

After the review, Ernst ordered, “Move out! Destination: Transvaal Republic!”

Chapter 382: Crossing the River

The East African Army was divided into three routes heading south. Among them, Merkel’s 411th and 412th Divisions advanced south from Botswana, pushing along the Limpopo River all the way to the Orange River line. This area was formerly the British Bechuanaland Protectorate and is now a “no man’s land.”

Felix’s 512th and 331st Divisions advanced south along the eastern side of the Drakensberg Mountains, with their destination being the Kingdom of Swaziland in the south.

Ernst and Swet’s 111th, 123rd, 511th, 513th, and 514th Divisions were the main force attacking the Transvaal Republic, launching offensives against the Transvaal Republic from the western side of the Drakensberg Mountains and the western bank of the upper reaches of the Limpopo River.

Under the cover of night, the East African Army began crossing the long Limpopo River. As the boundary line between East Africa and the Transvaal Republic, the Limpopo River was long enough that the limited number of Boers only deployed a few sentries at some important crossings.

The East African Army bypassed these crossings and entered the territory of the Transvaal Republic from other sections of the river. Under the moonlight, Ernst, in full military uniform, stood on a tall black horse by the river, waiting for the main force to pass.

The army built several temporary pontoon bridges on the river, greatly speeding up the crossing. People, horses, and weapons passed over the banks of the Limpopo River.

However, the East African army was still relatively cautious. Everyone was focused, preventing themselves from falling into the river, because the Limpopo River also had the reputation of being the Crocodile River. Although it had been cleaned up once before, who knew if there were any stragglers.

Swet: “Principal, it seems that the Boers really don’t have much defense against us. Our reconnaissance cavalry reports that there isn’t a ghost to be seen for miles around.”

Ernst: “That’s for sure. You have to know that the Transvaal Republic plus the Orange Free State, the area is not considered a small country in the world, and the total population is only close to four hundred thousand. This shows how sparsely populated it is here.”

Swet: “Yes, if the Transvaal Republic launched an attack on our Matabeleland Plateau region, they would actually encounter the same situation as our army.”

East Africa has fewer people in Zimbabwe than the Transvaal Republic, but the proportion of full-time soldiers is very large. On the other hand, the Transvaal Republic mainly relies on militia armed forces, who are usually herders and only gather when war comes.

The point where East Africa attacked the Transvaal Republic happened to be where the main Boer force was fighting the Zulu Kingdom on the east side. If the Boers wanted to resist East Africa, they had to re-enlist the militia.

If troops were transferred from the eastern front, it would not only be too late, but the Zulus might seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack into the Transvaal Republic.

The troops crossed the river smoothly. Apart from some unlucky fellows who fell into the water, there were no casualties.

Ernst ordered: “Let the militia prepare. Tomorrow, during the day, let them cross the river, launch an attack on the enemy in the crossing area, take over the crossing, and open up the supply channel.”

The militia had to deal with the Boer troops in the crossing area, which was actually more appropriate to describe as border guards. The Boers on the south bank of the Limpopo River were in units of squads, and they simply did not pose a threat to the East African militia.

The reason why the East African main force did not choose to attack the Transvaal Republic from the original crossing was to avoid alarming the enemy. Although the Transvaal Republic’s forces deployed along the Limpopo River line were almost negligible, there were many Boer business people in the crossing area due to trade.

If East Africa directly attacked the Transvaal Republic from the front, some of these people would definitely slip through the net and return to Pretoria to report the news.

And Transvaal merchants are generally equipped with cattle and horses, and they can return to the capital Pretoria quickly. If the Transvaal Republic gets wind of it, it will inevitably organize a counterattack earlier, which is unfavorable to East Africa. Therefore, the East African main force crossed the river first, and the enemies along the river area were handed over to the militia armed forces. In front of the East African militia, they could not make any waves.

Swet: “Your Highness, the troops have completed crossing the river. Please give your next instructions!”

Ernst: “Continue to execute according to the plan. Taking Pretoria as the center, the 123rd Division will be the vanguard, controlling the Boer farms along the way. The 111th Division will advance towards Pretoria. The 511th and 513th Divisions will move south, advancing to the Vaal River line to prevent the Orange Free State from supporting the Transvaal Republic. The 514th Division will move south along the Drakensberg Mountains, joining Felix’s troops in the south to prevent the main Boer force from returning to aid.”

In this way, the East African Army formed a posture of cross-attack, completing the attack on a group of Boer settlements, including Pretoria, from the west and north.

The Transvaal Republic does not have many cities, and it is even questionable whether they can be considered cities. Even the political center, Pretoria, is actually at the level of a town in East Africa (some provincial capitals and administrative district centers in East Africa are towns), which is much stronger than Harare, which Ernst passed through, but much worse than Bulawayo.

Because it is mainly engaged in animal husbandry, the Boer population is mainly concentrated in farms in rural areas. East Africa does not need to control all of them, as long as they cut off their connection with Pretoria, the Boers can become headless flies.

Of course, for the sake of caution, East Africa still has to control some farms. Even if they are headless flies, they can still bump into people if they fly around randomly.

Controlling these farms is not a big problem in actual operation. The first step is to differentiate the Germans, Dutch, and French among the Boers, and let the Germans, as well as the Dutch and French who are willing to submit to East African rule, temporarily take charge of the farms.

Not all the people in the Boer farms are farmers. Those hired and civilians are the targets of East Africa’s efforts, because under East African rule, their living conditions actually do not change much. In addition, although the Boers are a new nation after integration, they still mainly use Dutch in language. Compared with German, Dutch is like Mandarin Chinese and Henan dialect, Shandong dialect… in the previous life, which is smaller than Cantonese, Wu dialect…

Most areas of northern Germany can communicate with the Netherlands without obstacles. The Low German-speaking area (the language of the northern German region) does not stop abruptly at the border between Germany and the Netherlands, but extends to the eastern Netherlands. Therefore, as a German dialect, Low German is also used by many people in the eastern region of the Netherlands near Germany. Even the South German dialect has many common words with Dutch. The Habsburgs also ruled the Netherlands.

And East Africa’s unique political and economic structure can guarantee some of their privileges, or rather, not privileges, because all East African citizens enjoy this part of the power equally.

On the one hand, East Africa is increasing its efforts to enslave and striving to bring more natives under management. On the other hand, East Africa is actively abolishing the slave system and exporting domestic black slaves.

The entire Kingdom of East Africa is built on the oppression of slaves, so all East African citizens are actually privileged classes. If this country did not have twenty million black people to bear the burden, it would have disintegrated long ago. After East Africa incorporates the land of the Boers and Zulus into its territory, it is foreseeable that the number of black people in East Africa will increase again.

Therefore, there is no problem for East Africa to appease the Boers who know the times, but this does not include the large farmers. From the moment the East African Army stepped into the Transvaal Republic, it was digging at their foundations. If the British invaded, the Boers could still bargain with the British. The biggest advantage of the British is that they are good at using dull knives, which can guarantee your current interests, but in the end, they will take them back through various means. And if this method fails, the British will break their defense and tear off their hypocritical faces.

This is the commonality of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. They are good at burying mines for “allies,” “cooperators,” and “friends” without realizing it, and detonating them when they need them. As for the promises they made, just treat them as if I farted. When did the Anglo-Saxons become synonymous with integrity?

Now East Africa is different, showing the style of Prussian barbarians everywhere. What cooperation? Are you worthy? Get out of here! Of course, East Africa also admits to bullying the weak and fearing the strong, provided that there are tough bones on the African continent.

Chapter 383: Introduction

While Ernst was commanding the front lines, Constantine was fulfilling his role as a useful tool in the rear. Enriching East Africa’s industries had always been a cause Ernst pushed forward, and agriculture, as East Africa’s advantageous industry, was a top priority. The agricultural products in East Africa that had achieved large-scale planting and export could be counted on one hand. Sisal, cloves, and pyrethrum were undoubtedly popular products, with sisal consistently topping the list of East Africa’s exported tropical economic crops.

However, these economic crops could only be considered relatively niche or specialized. The promotion of pyrethrum was greatly related to the mosquito repellent products launched by Hechingen Daily Products Company. East Africa also actively cultivated pyrethrum, making significant contributions to preventing mosquito-borne diseases in East Africa.

As for those well-known and widely marketed economic crops, most had not yet entered the market. For example, the first batch of coffee planting in East Africa was in 1867, and only now could a small amount be harvested, so it was not yet a profitable project. Rubber was introduced in 1868, and other non-native economic crops were basically introduced after 1865.

These introduced economic crops, with their relatively long growth cycles, were currently in the pure investment phase, with no profit value.

Tea, however, was a type of economic crop that had already entered the production stage. East Africa attempted to promote its native black tea products to Central and Eastern Europe, but encountered serious problems.

“Your Majesty, these are the tea leaves we brought back from the East. This time, we selected a total of 23 excellent varieties, mainly green tea, with some black tea as well. At the same time, we have introduced a group of ‘professional’ tea makers who can better contribute to the development of East African tea,” Minister of Agriculture Wiggins introduced the achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture to Constantine.

The East African Ministry of Agriculture was in an awkward position. Wiggins, as a native-born, fallen Austrian aristocrat, found it very difficult to develop agriculture in this tropical region of Africa. East Africa was a major rice-producing country, and Wiggins had never even seen rice before coming to East Africa. Fortunately, the “wise and mighty” Prince Ernst pointed him in the direction of seeking knowledge from the East. The introduction of Far Eastern rice varieties was carried out under Wiggins’ leadership.

Wiggins had once asked Ernst why they didn’t learn from India, since India’s agricultural conditions were not bad, and it was also a country with a long history, and should be a leader in planting, especially in the field of tropical crop planting.

Ernst’s answer was that precisely because of this, they couldn’t learn from India. As a British colony, although India had become the world’s highest-yielding rice region, its technology all came from Europe. The British had built a large number of new water conservancy facilities in India and applied many new technologies, which East Africa also had. Modern agricultural technology could be directly imported from Europe.

As for the remaining economic crops, the British didn’t have much technical expertise. For example, they were heavily involved in cotton, poppy, and tea cultivation in India, which were the three economic crops in which Britain invested the most in India.

There was nothing to say about cotton cultivation, it was entirely for the needs of British industry. But in terms of planting technology, the best were the former slave owners of the southern plantations in the United States. Opium was a sinister and crooked thing that East Africa prohibited. Tea, on the other hand, was stolen by India from the Far East.

Moreover, the lower-class Indians who believed in Hinduism were very casual and sloppy in their work. Especially the Indians under British rule, they took these personality traits to the extreme, just like the black laborers in East Africa who would slack off as much as possible under the hands of East Africans. They were already lazy, and if you drove them with a whip, they would be even less motivated. What could you learn from them?

Of course, Ernst was not disparaging the indigenous people of India and Africa, but that the entire tropical region was like this, especially living in a hot and humid environment, not to mention activities, sometimes even eating was unappetizing.

This also reflected the climatic advantages of East Africa. Don’t think that the East African natives were not diligent, in fact, Ernst in his previous life compared the black people he had seen, and the East African black people were the most down-to-earth and hardworking. And the East African country that gave the best impression was Ethiopia, which had been destroyed by Ernst. Of course, Ernst mainly came to this conclusion after comparing it with Nigeria in West Africa. Ernst hadn’t been to many other West African countries and didn’t know much about them.

This was also related to economic and educational issues. South Africa was very good in the early days, but it had been declining. After the black rulers came to power, they fully aligned with the United States, and learned the essence of “zero-dollar shopping”. Ernst was very disgusted with this social atmosphere of unearned gains. Don’t mention colonial exploitation, Tanzania’s economy was much worse than South Africa’s, and it was not even ranked among the top in Africa in terms of economic conditions. But Ernst had seen Tanzanian farmers who couldn’t even afford to eat, and they were not like South Africans. You should know that South Africa was a major agricultural country, and its level of mechanization was even higher than China’s.

As for what to learn in the Far East, it was natural to learn traditional planting experience, technology, and agricultural product processing technology. In this regard, Far Eastern farmers were indeed the best.

Ernst was not praising, but rather, putting aside his Far Eastern identity from his previous life, he was stating the facts. The characteristic of Far Eastern agriculture was intensive cultivation, maximizing the use of the land’s fertility, and maintaining and restoring soil fertility through various means.

This had already been reflected in East African agricultural production. In Europe and the United States, fallowing was popular, but this rarely occurred in East Africa, because the base of farmers from the Far East in East Africa was large, so the land cultivation methods were also mainly based on the methods they were familiar with.

The only difference was that the land developed in East Africa was originally fertile land with excellent climate, water conservancy, and soil conditions. Many areas could be used as arable land, but Ernst had not developed them on a large scale. For example, Tanzania, Ernst currently did not plan to expand the scale of arable land, but instead turned to developing new cultivated land in the inland areas.

Furthermore, Far Eastern farmers were very good at accumulating agricultural experience. Although the landlord class mostly did not engage in production, their written summaries of Far Eastern agricultural experience were quite complete. Also, the Far Eastern government was a typical pro-agricultural government, and encouraging agriculture and sericulture was an age-old tradition, which made traditional agriculture in the Far East quite developed.

Ernst used the word “developed” to describe it, and the focus was on the word “traditional”. He didn’t really want Wiggins to copy the Far Eastern model, but mainly wanted him to learn from it. Even if East Africa borrowed one-tenth of the excellent experience, it would be of great benefit.

And this time, the introduction of Far Eastern tea varieties was personally led by Wiggins, who went deep into several tea-producing areas in the Far East to carefully select them.

Wiggins said to Constantine, “There are many types of tea in the Far East. Anhui Province alone has hundreds of types of tea, but my time is limited, so I can only select a few important tea-producing provinces for investigation. Among them, because Anhui and Jiangsu tea-producing areas are close to our ‘Huaihai Economic Zone’, they were the focus of my investigation. Later, I heard that the black tea in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian, was also very good, so I went to Fujian on the way back. This time, the tea varieties were mainly obtained from these three provinces.”

Originally, Wiggins was also very interested in Zhejiang tea, especially West Lake Dragon Well, but he heard that the real West Lake Dragon Well only had a dozen tea trees, and they were supplied to the royal family. The Far Eastern officials were watching them very closely. Not to mention those dozen tea trees, even the surrounding tea leaves were treasured. So he gave up on that. In addition to quality, Wiggins also valued yield, and he really didn’t have time. Otherwise, he would have liked to go deep inland to the two lakes region to take a look.

The difficulty encountered in East African tea exports was that the varieties came from India, so they couldn’t compete with British tea merchants, because the taste was the same, or even inferior. Moreover, India had a large planting scale, high yield, and low labor costs. This market was completely monopolized by them, unless East Africa “lost money” to do business.

And East Africa was indeed doing this. East African tea exports to Germany were basically half-selling and half-giving away. Fortunately, East Africa’s labor costs were equivalent to no cost, barely earning a little German Mark, Taylor, and Austrian Rhine Shield to recover the costs.

Therefore, this time Wiggins went to the Far East to select tea varieties in order to open up the European market. The first step was to introduce green tea, and compete differently from the black tea popular in the European market. Black tea was popular in Europe, an important reason was that the taste of green tea introduced from the Far East in the early days was not as good as black tea. This was because the Far East was too far from Europe, and the aroma of green tea would dissipate if stored for a long time, while black tea was the opposite. East Africa would not have this concern. East Africa was not far from Europe, and the use of steam on ships made the current ship speed incomparable to the old ships that transported tea from Portugal hundreds of years ago.

Another method that the Hechingen Consortium was best at was smearing opponents. At that time, they would create a theory of tea authenticity in Europe to start a war, and increase the popularity of green tea. The green tea, not to mention how it tasted, was generally more pleasing to the eye than black tea. They would also create some oriental allusions to increase its sophistication, and then supply it to the European court, which would open the door to the high-end market. The Hechingen Consortium was experienced in this area.

Of course, East Africa would not give up the black tea market. This time, Wiggins brought back several Far Eastern black tea varieties to plant in Africa, and broaden the taste of European black tea. Different people have different tastes, and there will always be consumers who don’t like Indian black tea, and prefer the East African taste.

Although drinking tea will form a habit,

Chapter 384: Entrusted with a Mission in a Time of Crisis

“You bastard, you still have the nerve to come back alive!” Little Pretorius slapped Wiggins, who had fled from East Africa, across the face.

As the president of the Transvaal Republic, Little Pretorius should have already retired from his position this year. However, the sudden invasion by East Africa forced him to remain in office.

As the eldest son of Andries Pretorius, the leader who guided the Boers in the Great Trek, Little Pretorius held unmatched prestige among the Boers. He once simultaneously served as the leader of both the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, advocating for the unification of the two countries. However, his methods were too crude, or rather, the distribution of spoils was uneven, so he did not succeed.

A bright red handprint remained on Wiggins’ face, the burning pain slightly throbbing. However, facing Little Pretorius, he didn’t dare to even breathe loudly.

“Mr. President, it’s all a conspiracy by the East Africans. They didn’t tell me that the letter was a declaration of war, and they handed it to me very casually. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to lull me into carelessness. Then, they ambushed the Transvaal while I was delivering the letter. So, the East Africans have always harbored sinister intentions, and this was all part of their plan!” Wiggins said.

“Hmph, it’s useless to say more now. Because of your negligence, we’ve lost at least several days of reaction time. Now, the East Africans are rapidly advancing towards Pretoria from the banks of the Limpopo River, and we have no way to mobilize troops to stop them. Such a great responsibility cannot be excused with just a sentence about the East Africans’ conspiracy!”

Although Little Pretorius now wished he could drag Wiggins, this useless fellow who does more harm than good, out and shoot him, he didn’t do so. In the end, this matter was due to his own planning and secret support for the Ndebele rebellion. As a result, not only did it not cause any losses to East Africa, but it also left a handle for them. However, the Kingdom of East Africa was too unreasonable. Just because of this, they wanted to invade the Transvaal. No matter what, he had to take the main responsibility for this matter.

Just as Little Pretorius was considering how to deal with Wiggins, the door to the president’s office was pushed open. “Report, Mr. President! Latest news, the East Africans have captured Pietersburg and are now less than a hundred miles from Pretoria!”

Little Pretorius was shocked and exclaimed, “Damn it, when did Pietersburg fall? And when can the main force fighting the Zulus in the east return to support Pretoria?”

“Mr. President, Pietersburg fell three days ago. Our men rode two horses to death to bring this news back as quickly as possible. As for our army, there is still no news from them. It is estimated that they are being held up by the Zulus and cannot break free for the time being.”

“Damn it!” Little Pretorius angrily slammed his hand on the table. After calming down, Little Pretorius thought and said to the government officials with a gloomy face, “Do you have any way to stop the East Africans?”

The Transvaal Republic government officials in the office looked at each other.

“Mr. President, forgive me for speaking frankly, but now our Transvaal is like a lamb to the slaughter in front of East Africa. Especially after the fall of Pietersburg, there is no barrier in front of Pretoria. The main reason for this is that we underestimated the East Africans’ sinister intentions. We should have deployed more troops on the south bank of the Limpopo River, otherwise, we wouldn’t be so passive like today.”

“Yes, Mr. President, the militiamen in Pietersburg were almost the only army we could mobilize besides the troops fighting the Zulus. Now they have all become prisoners. It is too late to carry out another round of mobilization within the Transvaal Republic. The East Africans will not give us this time.”

The officials chattered, but no one could give an answer. Little Pretorius’s back teeth were almost crushed as he looked at these good-for-nothing officials.

“Enough! If you can’t come up with a plan, then listen to my arrangements. The Transvaal Republic cannot be lost. It is the hard work of my father and all the Boers, and it is our homeland. It is definitely impossible to organize a counterattack in the Transvaal now. I have decided to send someone to the Orange Free State to seek reinforcements, and we must hold Pretoria and fight the East Africans to the death!”

Although the Orange Free State is not as large as the Transvaal Republic, its population is now much larger than that of the Transvaal. All of this is due to the development of the Kimberley diamond mine and the fact that the Orange Free State is closer to Cape Town. The first stop for the Boers from Cape Town to move north is the Orange Free State.

Now, East Africa has invaded the Transvaal in three routes, and most of the territory has been lost. If we want to stop the resistance, there are only two ways: one is to recall the troops fighting the Zulus to defend and the other is to seek help from our close brother, the Orange Free State.

The first one is obviously too late. After Little Pretorius received the news that East Africa was attacking the Transvaal Republic, he urged the main force of the Boers to return to support almost every day, but the distance between Pretoria and the border of the Zulu Kingdom is very far, and it takes at least a week for the news to reach.

Even without the interference of the Zulus, it would be impossible to return to support Pretoria in less than ten and a half days. This is under ideal conditions. If it is not ideal, then the main force will be held back by the Zulus and will not be able to withdraw from the front line. And the Transvaal Republic, without the main force, is like a person without arms when fighting the East Africans, and can only be beaten unilaterally.

“Mr. President, there is no better way now. However, you have to go to the Orange Free State for help in person. Only your prestige can unite all the Boers and regain our homeland.”

This is not flattery, but the truth. As the descendant of a Boer hero, Little Pretorius, like Napoleon III, can enjoy the political assets left by his father. Old Pretorius is the god of war in the eyes of the Boers, and is able to constantly lead the Boers to victory.

Little Pretorius could only sigh and said, “Okay, only I can handle this matter. However, the government must also go south with me. We must continue to preside over the struggle against the East African invaders in the south. However, Pretoria, as the capital and military stronghold, must leave someone to resist the East African invasion. Who among you will stay?”

This was a death sentence question. All the Boer officials took a step back. Pretoria could not be defended at all. At least from the news from Pietersburg, the strength shown by the East African army should not be underestimated.

“Mr. President, let me do it!” At this moment, a voice came. Everyone looked and it was actually Wiggins!

“You?”

“Yes, President, I know that holding Pretoria is a luxury, but the East African invasion itself was caused by my mistake, so I am willing to bear the consequences. But when I think of being shot by my own people, it is better to fight the East Africans to the death. If I am going to die, I will die on the battlefield, so I implore the President to give me this opportunity!” Wiggins said.

Little Pretorius did not answer Wiggins, but asked everyone again, “Is there anyone willing to stay in Pretoria?”

No one answered.

“Alas, okay! Wiggins, this opportunity is given to you. In fact, you don’t have to defend Pretoria to the death, as long as you can inflict heavy damage on the East Africans.”

Wiggins shook his head and said, “I have already made up my mind to live and die with Pretoria.”

No one doubted Wiggins’s ability. In fact, sending Wiggins to act as a military advisor to the Ndebele people was because of Wiggins’s military ability. He was a good hand at fighting the Zulus. Although the Ndebele people, with him as an advisor, were defeated by East Africa, this was not Wiggins’s fault. After all, he was just an advisor, not the real commander.

Chapter 385: Incitement

Immediately, Little Pretorius appointed Wiggins as the garrison commander of Pretoria, but Wiggins needed to recruit the soldiers himself because Little Pretorius had not organized many people to respond to the East African invasion, and he didn’t have many soldiers at his disposal.

Little Pretorius said to Wiggins, who was basically a commander without troops, “At this critical moment for the nation, many citizens still don’t quite understand the ways of the Germans. In fact, from the moment they invaded the Transvaal Republic, I knew they weren’t to be trifled with. The Germans are invading Transvaal solely for land, but some citizens naively believe that it’s just a change of rulers, and they choose not to resist, allowing the Germans to invade. In the future, they will regret their choice today.”

In reality, some Boers didn’t really care about the so-called East African invasion. Weren’t the East Africans just Germans? What was there to fear? Most Boers weren’t actually averse to German rule. The Boers were mainly composed of white immigrants from Holland, Germany, and France, and they felt some kinship with the Germans.

Of course, if the Boer farmers knew the policies of the East African Kingdom, they would definitely, as Little Pretorius said, curse the East Africans, “Damn Prussian barbarians!”

Currently, East Africa’s battle objective is to control the entire Transvaal Republic, and the Boer farmers haven’t yet experienced the East African Kingdom’s ruling style and methods. Therefore, many ignorant Boers even actively welcome the “royal army.” Before long, they will become the most staunch anti-East Africans.

Wiggins said, “Mr. President, since you have entrusted Pretoria to me, I will definitely defend it to the last moment. However, I need manpower in return. Even if it’s not much, it must be enough to complete the initial conscription and mobilization, using the full strength of Pretoria to fight against the East African bandits!”

Little Pretorius nodded and said, “Okay, but I can only leave you with one squad of men.”

Wiggins said, “That’s enough!”

Wiggins’s view was the same as Little Pretorius’s. East Africa wasn’t here to help the Boers with poverty alleviation. If they simply wanted to rule the Transvaal Republic, they wouldn’t have needed to start a war. They could have negotiated first and then fought.

If Ernst knew about Wiggins’s idea, he would definitely scoff at it. Negotiating first and then fighting sounds nice, but it’s hard to say whether the Boers would negotiate with the British or with East Africa. The East African Kingdom didn’t have that much prestige. To make the Boers submit through negotiation, they could completely play the British and East Africa against each other, or even choose neither and continue to be autonomous. Ernst’s attack on the Transvaal Republic was meant to prevent the Boers from making any reactions. At that time, the Boers would have no right to choose. That’s how war is; the winner takes all.

After transferring the administrative authority of Pretoria, Little Pretorius led a group of his supporters south to the Orange Free State, while Wiggins, who had been appointed in a crisis, prepared to carry out a general mobilization in Pretoria to resist the East African army in this area.

Wiggins, who now held the military and political power of Pretoria alone, first faced the problem of conscription. Therefore, he first launched a public opinion offensive against the citizens of Pretoria. The town of Pretoria was in a state of panic. Everyone was familiar with war, but no one knew what the discipline of the opposing army was like, or how they would treat civilians. So Wiggins used rumors to make the people of Pretoria re-evaluate the East African Kingdom.

“Citizens of Pretoria! You may not know much about the so-called East African Kingdom, but I believe some of you definitely know about Prussia. The East African Kingdom is a soldier’s kingdom that is even more barbaric and practices a reign of terror than Prussia. As a Boer who once served time in an East African Kingdom prison, I can tell you some things about the East African Kingdom ‘as they really are’.”

As expected, Wiggins’s words sparked heated discussions among the citizens of Pretoria.

“Harred! Your ancestors were Prussians, you should know what Prussia is like, right?” Willett, a descendant of the Dutch, asked his neighbor.

“Willett, you’ve asked the right person. My grandfather fled from Prussia to Africa. He told me that under Prussian rule, people really weren’t treated as human beings. They were constantly waging wars and conscripting soldiers from the common people, and the discipline of the troops was extremely poor. Aristocratic officers often embezzled food and used sticks to educate the soldiers below…”

Harred enumerated the crimes of Prussia. In fact, these were all true. In the era of Harred’s grandfather, Prussian rule was like that. It wasn’t the Germany of today, nor was it the reformed Prussia. In the era of Harred’s grandfather, many German immigrants chose to leave for various reasons. The former German regions were indeed not livable. Who could endure years of war and taxation?

Willett said, “Oh my god? That’s terrible. We must never let Transvaal become such a country!”

At this time, Wiggins, who was giving the speech, continued, “At the same time that I was captured by the vicious East Africans, I also noticed their composition and way of life. The entire East African Kingdom is a large military camp. There are no so-called free people. Everyone must accept the sanctions of strict laws and accept the rule of the East African Kingdom like sheep. And the king of the East African Kingdom is a member of the Prussian Hohenzollern family…”

Wiggins spoke with great conviction, but in reality, he had never been in contact with the civilians of East Africa. Moreover, in order to prevent him from stealing intelligence, the East African Kingdom imprisoned him in the palace in Bulawayo, not allowing him to contact anyone. Therefore, Wiggins’s understanding of East African rule was based on conjecture, exaggeration, and slander.

However, the Boers below believed that what Wiggins said must be true. After all, many Boers on the scene had ancestors who really came from Prussia, and Wiggins’s statement matched the Prussian image in the mouths of their grandfathers.

Seeing that the emotions of the masses had been stirred up, Wiggins said, “Then can everyone allow the East African tyrant to impose that outdated European monarchical autocracy on us!”

“Of course not!”

“Then can you allow the East African Kingdom to turn beautiful Pretoria into a gloomy and terrifying military camp!”

“No, we won’t allow it! Down with the East African invaders! Long live the Transvaal Republic!”

……

Wiggins achieved his conscription cause by mobilizing the emotions of the people. It seems that it has been completed. Citizens of Pretoria enthusiastically joined the army, allowing Wiggins to put together an army of more than two thousand people.

Next, what gave Wiggins a headache was how to defeat the East Africans. Pretoria was originally a defensive town, so it was considered easy to defend and difficult to attack. The defense difficulty was not high. If Pretoria could be used well, then holding out until reinforcements arrived would not be difficult.

Based on the situation of the East African Army during the Ndebele uprising last time, Wiggins began to conduct targeted education for his subordinates, weakening the image of the East African Army. “Although the East African Army imitates Prussia everywhere, they have not learned the essence. They are just empty shells. In the battle between the Ndebele and the Germans, the performance of the East African army was such that any European instructor would shake his head. It was full of loopholes. The reason why they were able to achieve victory was entirely due to advanced weapons. In addition, the Ndebele lacked training, and many people did not know how to operate firearms. The weapons we provided became fire sticks in their hands. This is the reason for the Ndebele’s failure.”

In Wiggins’s mouth, the East African Army was vulnerable. As long as they encountered a slightly experienced army, they would be defeated. The Boers, if not a battle-hardened army, were often at odds with the Zulu Kingdom in the east, so the advantage was on their side. With the help of the terrain and buildings of Pretoria, they would give East Africa a head-on blow.

Chapter 386: On the Verge of the City

Less than sixty kilometers from Pretoria, there was a river the Boers called the Moretele River. The East African Army’s 111th Division, 123rd Division, and 514th Division were camped and resting on the north bank of the Moretele River.

After more than ten days of high-intensity marching, the East African soldiers were generally exhausted. Even Ernst, who was riding a horse, was finding it difficult. Coupled with a battle with a small Boer force in Pietersburg, the East African Army needed to rest and wait for the supply convoys.

The battle of Pietersburg wasn’t even an appetizer for the East African Army. The Boer forces didn’t even amount to five hundred men, and their weapons were more backward than those of the East African Army. The East Africans sent out a single cavalry battalion and routed these Boers.

At night, a gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness. From the army camp on the banks of the Moretele River came bursts of song:

“Beside the stream in the Rhine village,

Above the golden wheat fields,

The young eagles soar freely.

Who will pack my bags for me,

Who will dress me in this uniform,

Forever I will remember the gentle girl from my hometown.

The Rhine is my beautiful home,

Who can forget their lovely home…”

The East African soldiers kept time to the sound of the zither (an Austrian traditional instrument), sitting around the campfire and singing in unison. Everyone wore a smile on their face during this rare moment of leisure. This was a party organized by the East African soldiers themselves to relieve boredom.

Hearing the songs of the East African soldiers, Ernst unconsciously relaxed his brow and the corners of his mouth turned up. He hadn’t heard such simple songs in a long time!

In Germany, Ernst rarely went to rural areas outside of Hechingen. He had attended many high-end concerts, after all, it was an indispensable part of aristocratic life. Ernst had never experienced songs with this kind of German rural and military style in either of his lives.

Seeing that His Highness was interested, Swet explained from the side, “East African soldiers have created many military songs. This tradition has existed since the first colonial town was established. Tracing it back further, it goes to the German states. Most of the first mercenary teams came from the armies of various German states, so we in East Africa inevitably were influenced by this. At the same time, in army camps lacking entertainment, songs from all over Germany quickly became popular. Some people with a little musical talent began to try to create music and could write many songs with simple lyrics that were popular in the army.”

Ernst said, “These are valuable cultural treasures of the Kingdom of East Africa. When the war is over, have the court musicians collect these songs.”

As the chorus ended, the next program was very surprising, at least it was very surprising to Ernst.

“For the next program, please welcome artists from the East to bring us the Eastern opera – ‘The Story of the Three Kingdoms’.”

There was a burst of applause. It seemed to have a wide audience. Many soldiers from Germany seemed to be looking forward to it, which made Ernst a little curious. Could the Germans understand it?

Then a familiar piece of music that made Ernst’s scalp tingle sounded. It was a tune played on a Chinese lute (willow lute), which clearly had the characteristics of Eastern opera.

Ernst had no contact with opera, but he had heard Henan opera, Huangmei opera, and Qu opera. It wasn’t that Ernst liked it, but his grandmother liked to listen to opera when he was a child, and he listened along with her. He especially listened to the story of the Yang family the most.

The next development was even more unexpected for Ernst. As the prelude ended, the man holding the Chinese lute opened his mouth to sing, but he was actually singing in German?

Because it was in German, Ernst could understand it. It was the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the three heroes battling Lü Bu, good heavens! The most outrageous thing was that he even rhymed it! Rhyming in German! Ernst was so surprised that he exclaimed directly, “A talent! No, a genius!”

Ernst had never imagined that someone would sing opera in a “foreign” language and it would sound good. Compared to Ernst’s overreaction, the soldiers sitting around the campfire listened with relish. It was unknown whether it was because the story of the Three Kingdoms, a story from the Far East with exotic customs, was fascinating, or whether the unique Eastern singing style was more attractive.

Ernst: “Swet, when the party is over, have someone investigate the details of the person who knows Eastern opera.”

“Yes, Principal,” Swet responded.

Swet had already guessed why the principal was so surprised just now. To be honest, he was like this the first time he saw Eastern opera sung in German. It was very strange, but he didn’t think much about it at the time. Because of the diversity of East African immigrants, it was not uncommon for strange things to appear. This was not an isolated case in East Africa, but a huge number of examples piled together. Although East Africa could make the entire East Africa and Germany indistinguishable in terms of hardware, culture was something that the East African government could not control. At most, it could only play a guiding role, such as the promotion of German, which was very successful.

…

After resting, the East African army continued to advance. Two days later, Pretoria appeared before Ernst.

Ernst, riding on his horse, took out the binoculars pinned to his waist and carefully observed the urban construction of Pretoria, calculating in his mind.

Ernst: “As the capital of the Transvaal Republic, Pretoria is basically on par with our First Town in terms of scale. It can be considered a well-developed city in Africa.”

Swet: “Principal, the Transvaal Republic doesn’t have many people in total, not even as many as our Central Province, and that’s even without us fully developing the Central Province.”

The population of the Transvaal Republic was estimated to be at the level of only a little over one hundred thousand. After all, there were no population statistics like those in East Africa, so it was difficult to assess. However, in the Second Boer War in history, the population of the Transvaal Republic plus the Orange Free State was only around four hundred and forty thousand, and that was in 1899. So the population of the Transvaal Republic now certainly would not exceed two hundred thousand, and a little over one hundred thousand should be more likely.

If the Boer population now exceeded two hundred thousand, then according to their level of universal conscription, they would not have been bullied into such a state by the small Zulu Kingdom.

And the scale of Pretoria, judging from a distance, was similar to that of First Town, so it should not exceed thirty thousand people. The three divisions under Ernst’s command had a total of more than twenty-three thousand people, which meant that taking Pretoria would be very easy.

So Ernst said, “Start preparing for battle. Let the 514th Division launch a probing attack on Pretoria first!”

The 514th Division belonged to the second-line troops of East Africa, but it was currently also a regular army, one level higher than the militia. The 123rd Division was a cavalry mobile force, mainly responsible for mobile field operations. Attacking cities was not its strength. It was mainly to deal with the Boer cavalry. The unit dispatched from Pietersburg before was a subordinate unit of the 123rd Division.

As for the 111th Division, like the 123rd Division, it belonged to the elite troops of East Africa, but the 111th Division was an all-rounder. It was the second infantry division in the East African sequence. The first was the 101st Division, the Royal Guard Division. Although the Royal Guard Division was called a division, it should actually be called a corps. Its total strength reached thirty thousand people and was responsible for the defense of the entire Central Province. Among them, Bagamoyo City and Dar es Salaam City, the gateways to First Town, were its defense focus.

To deal with Pretoria, Ernst planned to test the waters with the 514th Division first. The 514th Division was one of the old foundations of the Southern Route Army, and it was also the weakest in combat power among the Southern Route Army. As for the other troops of the Southern Route Army, they were responsible for other strategic directions.

For example, the 511th Division and the 513th Division were attacking the Transvaal from Botswana on the west bank of the Limpopo River, while the three divisions personally led by Ernst were attacking the Transvaal from Zimbabwe on the north bank of the Limpopo River.

The middle and upper reaches of the Limpopo River present an almost horseshoe-shaped large bend, surrounding the west and north sides of the Transvaal Republic’s territory in the middle. This was also the posture of the East African troops attacking the Transvaal this time. In fact, there were also two divisions led by Felix on the east side. Although Felix’s troops also passed through the Transvaal Republic, Felix’s troops were mainly heading towards the Kingdom of Swaziland. The Kingdom of Swaziland was built on the eastern slope of the Drakensberg Mountains and had mountain combat requirements, so the 331st Division, the only mountain division in East Africa, was also in Felix’s hands.

Chapter 387: First Encounter

Before the East African army arrived, Wiggins, who had taken over Pretoria, made some major changes to Pretoria’s city defense system within three days. He not only temporarily heightened and reinforced the city walls, but also dug trenches around Pretoria.

Although the Transvaal Republic Boers did not have a large population, they had a considerable number of black slaves. Therefore, Wiggins did not care about the lives or deaths of the black slaves. He organized a large number of slaves and quickly solved the problem of Pretoria’s military construction in a short period of time.

At this time, the entire Pretoria had less than ten thousand Boers, because Little Pretorius had taken away a considerable number, and some residents saw that the president had run away, so they followed suit.

Fortunately, Wiggins launched “patriotic” education in time, forcibly keeping the remaining people. Facing the huge scale of the East African army, while Wiggins only had two thousand white soldiers in his hands, it was necessary to supplement the army with black slaves. Although this was somewhat risky, Wiggins still selected more than ten thousand black people to join the army, temporarily issued them guns, and promised to give them freedom after the war.

Thanks to the experience of assisting the Ndebele people last time, the Boers had stored a batch of munitions, which Wiggins distributed to the black slaves.

The black slaves and Boers were mixed together, with the Boers mainly responsible for commanding. To give these patriotic youths some war experience, Wiggins made everyone an officer, assigning a few slaves to every three people, which greatly boosted the Boers’ combat enthusiasm.

Playing the patriotism card, Wiggins called his troops the “Youth Patriotic Army,” which was very much in line with the persona of his troops. Old hands would never join Wiggins’ troops; many had already fled to the Orange Free State or even directly back to Cape Town.

“The East Africans are nothing to fear. Don’t be fooled by their numbers and fancy uniforms. In reality, they are just all show and no substance. As long as we don’t make any big mistakes, holding Pretoria will not be a problem.” Wiggins worked hard to enlighten his troops.

This was necessary. Before, Wiggins had belittled the East African Kingdom’s army, but when the East Africans approached the city, the pressure came. So Wiggins had to stabilize the troops’ morale first.

Fortunately, he had filled the troops with black slaves, otherwise the gap between the two sides would have been too great. Now, in terms of numbers, the gap between the two sides did not seem large. Although the East African soldiers were more numerous, the Boers were on the defensive. Wiggins calculated in his heart that this made it a fifty-fifty situation with East Africa.

At this time, the East African 514th Division had already set out, swaggering towards Pretoria. As a second-line unit, the 514th Division did not have much of an advantage over the Boers in terms of equipment.

“The East Africans don’t seem to have improved much. Everyone pay attention, don’t open fire yet. Wait until the East Africans are 300 meters away from the trenches before starting to shoot. When the East Africans are only 200 meters away from the trenches, the people on the city wall will fire.” Wiggins commanded in an orderly manner.

Based on his experience from the Ndebele uprising last time, Wiggins decided not to confront the East Africans head-on this time, but to rely on the trenches and city to hold firm.

Wiggins’ designed defense line could be divided into two levels. The trenches were the first level, where the vast majority of black slave soldiers were assigned, along with some Boer commanders. Wiggins didn’t ask for much; just being able to fire at the East African army was enough. Plus, the sense of security brought by the presence of fortifications would prevent them from collapsing psychologically easily.

The Boers and a small number of black slaves were distributed on the second level, which was the city wall. This allowed them to have a commanding view, cover their own people in the trenches, and at the same time supervise the battle to prevent the soldiers in the trenches from fleeing.

Wiggins stood on the city wall, with a clear view of the battlefield situation. When the vanguard of the 514th Division had entered the range specified by Wiggins, he began to fire on the East African army.

“Crawl forward, find cover nearby, and attack Pretoria!”

Faced with the Boer’s firepower suppression, the 514th Division could only passively fire back. Although equipped with Dreyse needle guns, the enemy had the support of fortifications and city walls, which made it difficult for the 514th Division on the open ground to launch an effective counterattack. Instead, they were restricted everywhere, and their formation was disrupted, but overall they still maintained their offensive posture.

To be honest, the performance of the 514th Division was not satisfactory. In addition to making mistakes and having rigid command, only their courage was commendable.

Ernst looked at the distorted 514th Division troops and said, “This is not what I expected!”

Swete responded from the side: “Principal, the 514th Division has no problem fighting in coordination with brother units, but letting them attack a city alone is a bit of a stretch. First of all, their military officers are not professional. Because of the priority of ensuring the First Military Region, the Hechingen Military Academy students who participated in the Franco-Prussian War last time have all been added to the kingdom’s elite troops. The other five military regions, except for the Third Military Region’s mountain troops, which have been improved due to their special nature, have not changed much. The 514th Division commander was previously just a company commander in the Kingdom of Württemberg, and it is indeed a bit difficult for him to command a division’s worth of troops.

Secondly, the 514th Division used to fight against natives, and natives rarely have fortifications, let alone defensive works like trenches. Therefore, the 514th Division soldiers have almost never faced a European-style fortress city like Pretoria.

Finally, and most importantly, the 514th Division lacks heavy weapons and professional siege equipment. A skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice, so this situation is expected.”

“Okay, no need to make excuses. The 514th Division just doesn’t have the military quality. Before, our troops always fought against blacks without any technical content. Although our army enjoyed the fighting, it didn’t serve to train them. Once we encounter the same type of troops, it is very likely that we will make no progress like today.” Ernst continued, “Those who are near vermilion get stained red, and those who are near ink get stained black. The situation of the 514th Division must also represent the situation of the other military regions except for the First Military Region. Even if those troops have some strength, I am afraid they are not much stronger than the 514th Division as a whole.”

Swete: “Principal, you are right, but in Africa, it is difficult for us to find some strong opponents to use as a benchmark.”

Ernst: “Then let’s take the world as the standard. We shouldn’t limit our vision to Europe and Africa. Any valuable case is worth our reference, such as the battle between Afghanistan and the British. Why can Afghanistan win with weakness? Why is the performance of the Far East army uneven? These are all things our army needs to study.

In the future, East Africa is likely to be in a long period of peace. Does that mean that the army cannot progress because of peace! We must learn to actively improve our military quality in order to become an invincible army.”

The East African Army takes Germany as its teacher, so it has a strong German style, but always fighting against natives means that its ability is destined to not be trained. Prussia became the now recognized world’s number one army by fighting in Europe, a place full of monsters. The situation around East Africa is that there is a lack of strong enemies on land, so it is impossible to have endless wars like Prussia, and the opponents are not bad either.

Chapter 388: Changing the Guard

Without heavy firepower cover, the 514th Division could only advance slowly, at a snail’s pace, seeking cover while returning fire. The East African Army and the Pretoria garrison were just going through the motions.

This greatly pleased Wiggins, who said to the “Young Patriots”: “I told you the Germans are no good. Who did they think they were up against this time? Some primitive people like the Ndebele!”

The patriotic youths of Pretoria also relaxed from their initial tension. After all, they were facing Germans. The German region was the cockpit of Europe, and with the added image of Prussia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, no one doubted the Germans’ combat effectiveness. Moreover, the enemy was numerous, while their side had only two thousand men (not counting the natives). Before the war, they were inevitably a little nervous. Now, seeing that the 514th Division was nothing special, they suddenly felt like they were back in the game.

Ernst summarized from the rear: “A unit like the 514th Division is better at bullying natives armed with cold weapons in the open grasslands. They don’t look like an army at all when dealing with fortifications, fortresses, and cities. Fortunately, the Boers helped us test the weaknesses of our army!”

Of course, the natives were not incapable of building cities, but their cities were quite primitive. Leaving aside the Ndebele, who abandoned their cities and chose to fight in the East African wilderness, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which benefited from infighting and allowed East Africa to take advantage, the most difficult thing the East African Kingdom encountered in Africa was the primitive city walls built by several native kingdoms in the Great Lakes region.

These cities were, to put it bluntly, just piles of stones, with no aesthetic appeal. They might be used to defend against beasts and surrounding tribes, but they were useless against slightly more civilized forces. The only large-scale city building independently built by black people in sub-Saharan Africa was the Great Zimbabwe Ruins.

The walls of Pretoria were built temporarily before the war. Wiggins used a mixture of bricks, stones, and mud to connect the houses and buildings on the outskirts of Pretoria to form an earthen wall. Fortunately, it hadn’t rained in Pretoria these days, otherwise, this temporary wall would likely have collapsed. Although it was a temporary structure, it had everything: loopholes, gun emplacements, and machine gun bunkers. The thickness was also sufficient to withstand two or three rounds of shelling.

However, so far, Wiggins had not used cannons and machine guns, these advanced weapons, because he knew that the East Africans also had cannons. Last time, during the Ndebele uprising, the East Africans’ small-caliber cannons played a big role.

The Boers had few cannons, but their caliber and power were much greater than the East Africans’ small-caliber cannons. The only drawback was their poor mobility; they could not be moved at will and could only be used for defense and siege.

Logically speaking, the Boers wouldn’t need such weapons to deal with other Boers. What the Boers purchased these cannons to deal with was self-evident: the British Cape Colony.

“Commander, let’s give the Germans under the city a few shells to taste!” a Boer soldier suggested.

Wiggins waved his hand and said: “You don’t understand. Now the Germans are only probing. Although there are many troops in front of us, they are not their main force. They haven’t even used cannons yet, which means they didn’t take us seriously from the start. Now that their vanguard troops can’t make progress, the troops behind them will definitely not be idle. That’s when our cannons will show their power.”

“Commander, since the enemy also has cannons, how powerful are their cannons?”

Wiggins: “Don’t worry, the cannons equipped by the Germans in East Africa are very weak and not numerous.”

This was normal. In the past, apart from coastal defense guns, which East Africa valued more, the cannons equipped by the army were more like symbolic weapons. Rifles were enough to deal with the natives, and cannons were only used to deal with those fearless African natives, to打击 their morale. Therefore, the East African Army was not equipped with many cannons. For example, the entire Southern Route Army had only a dozen or so, and bottom-tier units like the 514th and 514th Divisions didn’t even have one. Only the 511th and 512th Divisions were equipped with artillery.

And the 514th Division, without cannons, naturally could not shell Pretoria to break the deadlock. Of course, war is not to say that having stronger firepower will definitely lead to victory. The 514th Division was obviously not adapted to siege warfare, so they were unprepared for their first encounter with a city, to the point of being at a loss.

So Ernst ordered: “Let the 514th Division withdraw. It’s time to test the capabilities of the newly formed 111th Division.”

As Ernst’s order was issued, the 514th Division began to retreat, which made the Boers very happy. Some even ridiculed that the Germans were nothing special. Only Wiggins felt a little heavy in his heart. The East African Kingdom had not even launched a large-scale offensive and had already withdrawn its troops. Although Pretoria had been transformed by him and could be fought, it was not as impregnable as he had said to stabilize the morale of the army. On the contrary, it was full of flaws.

After all, Wiggins knew very well how good the defensive works built in just a few days were. As long as the East African army had charged without regard for the cost, they could definitely have broken through, losing at most a hundred or so men to reach the edge of Pretoria. Obviously, the East African army didn’t want to pay even such a small price, which meant they had better means and ways to attack.

The newly formed 111th Division, one of the main forces of East Africa, was transformed from a framework of officers composed of students from the Hechingen Military Academy who had participated in the Franco-Prussian War. These officers were typical academics, and not comparable to the Hechingen students who were trained in crash courses before.

For example, the Chief of the General Staff of the East African Army, Swiet, came from a crash course. He couldn’t compare with these Hechingen students who studied for three years when it came to theory.

The most commendable thing was that these students had all seen blood. They had fought against the world’s number one army, the French Army, more than a year ago, and had won. With their battle record, they were confident when reorganizing the 111th Division in the Tanganyika region.

The equipment of the 111th Division was also greatly improved. Except for the fact that its cannons were much inferior to those of the Prussian army, it had almost no weaknesses.

As the 111th Division entered the field, the 111th Division Commander, Chris, began to direct the troops to operate. Compared to the 514th Division, the command of the 111th Division was significantly smoother. After dividing their respective areas of responsibility, the various units began to work in an orderly manner.

The 111th Division did not use artillery right away. Instead, after estimating a safe distance, they used small units to approach the Pretoria defensive works. This distance was about four hundred and fifty meters, because the Boers’ weapons were mixed, with varying ranges. However, the 111th Division calculated based on the Dreyse needle gun they used that there was almost no impact at around four hundred and fifty meters.

After building a preliminary defensive position at four hundred and fifty meters, the engineers began to work. They used engineer shovels and hoes to dig tunnels to advance forward.

Wiggins stood on the walls of Pretoria and also saw the East African Army’s movements. As dust was thrown from both sides of the tunnels, the East African engineers soon disappeared from sight.

“The Germans want to use trenches to advance!”

At this time, Wiggins hesitated. Rifles definitely couldn’t attack the East African Army at this distance. If he used cannons, he could bomb the East African forward positions, but the East African artillery hadn’t entered the field yet. Wiggins still wanted to save his limited shells to restrain the East African Army. That meant he could only send people out of the positions to actively attack the East African forward positions!

“Pass my order, the Third Battalion will leave the trenches and actively attack the East African positions to interrupt their construction work! We can’t let the Germans’ conspiracy succeed.”

Subsequently, the Transvaal army, which was ninety percent black, had to leave the trenches and launch an attack on East African positions under the coercion of Boer officers.

“Charge, all of you charge! Bastards, what are you waiting for? Do you want to die!” A Boer officer kicked a hesitant black man in the butt. The black man had no choice but to pick up his rifle and charge towards the East African positions.

Although the black men had weapons, they did not dare to resist the Boers, because before the war, Wiggins had deliberately shown them the shock and awe of the Gatling gun. The dark muzzle of the machine gun was now pointed at them.

Chapter 389: Handover

The Blacks were forced to launch a death charge towards the East African positions, wielding a motley collection of weapons, heading straight for the 111th Division.

“Fire!” As the frontline commander of the 111th Division gave the order, the East African army aimed and pulled the triggers. “Bang… bang… bang…” The crisscrossing and rhythmic gunfire rained down on the Blacks, and a swathe of them immediately fell.

Because the 111th Division had a good foundation to begin with, coupled with long-term training, their marksmanship was generally excellent, which was a disaster for the Blacks on the opposite side.

Five hundred meters was not too far, but for the Blacks, it was a sorrowful road of no return. However, the East African soldiers’ marksmanship clearly could not scare them, because although rifles were terrifying, their deterrent power could not compare to the machine guns that Wiggins had shown them before the battle.

You must know that Wiggins had personally selected more than twenty slaves to stand in front of the machine guns, so that the rest of the slaves could see what it meant to have flesh and blood flying everywhere in an instant. That scene had almost become the Blacks’ nightmare. Compared to being torn to pieces, having only one more hole in your body was obviously much better. Although they were all doomed to die, at least they could keep their whole body intact, which should, perhaps, possibly reduce the pain of the soul after death.

Even though the Blacks were fearless, no one could break through the firepower network formed by the East African Dreyse rifles. As expected, all the Blacks who joined the charge fell. However, it was unclear whether any were lying on the ground pretending to be dead.

“Engineers, continue working, don’t worry about anything else!” After destroying the attacking Blacks, the frontline commanders of the East African 111th Division ordered.

Wiggins also saw the results of the battle from the city wall and only said, “Not worth much.”

However, Wiggins did not choose to continue this meaningless attack. Just one round had scrapped hundreds of Blacks. This was supposed to be the East African army’s fate, and he was the defending side.

However, he couldn’t do nothing, he still had to scare the East African army, so Wiggins ordered, “Third battery, point a cannon at the German positions and fire a shot for me!”

The eight-pound cannon, which had been loaded with ammunition long ago, fired a shot at the East African position. The frontline soldiers of the 111th Division, who were staring at the city wall, felt that something was wrong when they saw the Boers adjusting the position of the muzzle. Fortunately, the trenches beside them were already taking shape, so they entered the trenches to take cover.

“Boom… bang…”

A thick smoke of various colors rose behind the soldiers of the 111th Division, and the original flat ground became a huge crater, covering the East African soldiers in the trenches next to the crater with dirt.

“The Boers are using artillery, let’s give them a taste of their own medicine!” Chris said through gritted teeth, “Artillery, get ready!”

The division was equipped with a total of sixty-seven cannons, all three-pounders, which were also relatively common cannons in European armies in the past. However, countries such as Prussia no longer used them on a large scale. The reason why East Africa continued to use three-pounders was mainly for ease of transportation. Only two horses were needed to pull this type of cannon around.

As the artillery of the 111th Division moved out, sixty-seven cannons began to set up artillery positions at a distance of three thousand meters.

Division Commander: “Fire!”

“Boom…”

In an instant, Wiggins seemed to see more than a dozen fires flying towards him: “Take cover!”

“Bang…”

The shells landed on the city walls or the streets and buildings of Pretoria, and more than a dozen places, including the city walls, were damaged to varying degrees.

“Damn it! When did the East African Kingdom get so many cannons?” Wiggins cursed after surviving the disaster.

In fact, the 123rd Cavalry Division was also equipped with artillery, but Ernst did not let them play. The East African army’s attack on Pretoria was like a cat toying with a mouse, not using its full strength.

“Commander, should we return fire at the Germans?”

Wiggins said with a gloomy face, “Aim the shells at the East African artillery positions and fire!”

Thus, the Pretoria artillery, with only five cannons, began a barrage against the East African army artillery. Wiggins and the Boers hid in the shelters prepared before the war.

Although the Boers’ cannons were powerful, the East African artillery technology was better. The East African artillery was constantly trained, while the Boer artillery rarely used their own cannons. Apart from being more expensive, the main reason was that there were few application scenarios. After all, apart from East Africa, no other country’s army had attacked Pretoria, the heartland of the Transvaal Republic. The last time these cannons were used may have been a few years ago, and they had been gathering dust ever since.

The Boer artillery had almost become a decoration, so naturally their technology was not as good as the East African artillery. As the East African artillery continued to adjust, a shell accurately landed near the Boer cannons. With a loud “boom,” the thick barrel and the base fell towards the bottom of the city, smashing a pit at the foot of the city wall.

It was not that the East African artillery was powerful, but that the shoddy construction could not withstand the test. The side facing outwards collapsed, and the cannons placed on it were brought down with it.

This made Wiggins very annoyed, but what was even more annoying was that his own shells had run out. After all, they had been decorations for many years, so he had not bought many shells. But the shells were gone, and the East African artillery had not lost a single hair. This was the most infuriating thing.

“Commander, what do we do next?”

“What to do! We can only fight to the death. Tell everyone to get ready. From now on, we will not waste a single bullet. All bullets are loaded, bayonets are ready, and all machine gun positions are set up. When the East African army touches our faces, we will fight them directly!” Wiggins said.

The East African artillery fire continued, and Pretoria was soon riddled with holes. Many places on the so-called city walls had collapsed, and there were huge gaps, but Wiggins still chose to resist to the end.

After an unknown amount of time, the artillery fire finally stopped. Wiggins was overjoyed: “Brothers! The East Africans have run out of shells!”

However, before he could be happy, he found that while the East Africans were shelling Pretoria, the East African engineers had unknowingly dug the tunnels to less than a hundred meters away from the Boer trenches.

“The people on the city wall, set up the machine guns, all the muzzles should pay attention to the position of the East African tunnels, and cooperate with the brothers in the trenches. As soon as the East Africans show their heads, give them a good beating!”

So the Boers watched helplessly as the tunnels dug by the East African engineers got closer and closer to Pretoria, one hundred meters, ninety meters, eighty meters… forty meters.

The Boers thought that the Germans would continue digging until they were right in front of them, but the East African engineers suddenly stopped, and no soil was turned out of the tunnels.

Just when the Boers didn’t know what the East Africans wanted to do, the East African engineers were exhausted at this time. They followed the tunnels back to where they came from.

“Commander, the passage has been dug!”

“Very good, let the throwers prepare, and the artillery prepare to suppress the Boer firepower on the city wall,” said Chris, commander of the 114th Division.

So, when the Boers, who had been waiting for a while and saw no movement from the East Africans, were about to lower their guard, something flew out of the tunnels towards the trenches built by the Boers.

A Black saw something emitting white smoke flying into his pit. What was this? Before he could think, “bang,” he was sent away by a grenade, without any pain.

The Blacks next to him also suffered heavy casualties. It was better to die directly, but those who were not dead were also missing arms and legs and could only wait for death.

Thus, in the Boer trenches after being baptized by East African grenades, it instantly became a mess. At this time, the Blacks had completely lost control. They ran out of the trenches in panic and fled everywhere, completely ignoring the Boer commands. Even firing guns was useless. At this time, the East African artillery began to exert its power again, and the East African vanguard also pressed up. Thousands of Blacks crawled and ran towards the city of Pretoria, even if Wiggins personally operated a machine gun to fire at the Blacks, it was useless.

“It’s over! It’s all over!” Wiggins slumped on the ground. Without the Blacks as cannon fodder, the remaining Boers could not resist the East African army at all.

Soon, the East African army climbed onto the city walls of Pretoria, which were only more than two meters high, and planted the East African lion flag on them.

“Commander! The East Africans are attacking! What do we do?”

Wiggins looked at the young men around him and said, “We lost, but it’s all my fault. I harmed you. You guys run away quickly!”

“Then what about you, Commander!”

“Don’t worry about me! Go.” Wiggins pushed them away and said, “I am destined to be a loser, so let me stay here…”

After sending away the soldiers around him, Wiggins took out a pistol from his pocket, looked at it, and then held it against his chin: “Goodbye! Transvaal.”

Bang…

Chapter 390: Persuasion to Leave

The fall of Pretoria signified the virtual demise of the Transvaal Republic. Little Pretorius and the Transvaal Republic government officials fled to the Orange Free State. The only remaining uncertainty was the whereabouts of the main Boer force fighting the Zulu Kingdom.

This reminded Ernst of King Wu’s campaign against Zhou. The Shang dynasty’s downfall was also due to its main force being occupied with suppressing the Eastern Yi, preventing their timely return. The hastily assembled slave army defected on the battlefield, leaving the Shang king powerless and forcing him to immolate himself.

Therefore, ensuring a military force loyal to the royal family within the capital is crucial, ready to respond to sudden crises. This was the original intention behind the establishment of the 101st Guards Division.

Of course, the Transvaal’s slave troops were generally adequate. Even after collapsing, they did not take the opportunity to settle scores with the Boers, but instead scattered and fled.

After occupying Pretoria, the East African Army gathered the citizens of Pretoria in the Transvaal Republic’s parliament and announced the disposition of the Transvaal Republic to the Boers of Pretoria.

“The East African Kingdom is a monarchical autocratic state that aspires to order and justice. It does not welcome any individuals or forces that oppose the monarchy, do not support East African national policies, or hold unfriendly attitudes towards the East African Kingdom. Within the East African Kingdom, all races are equal under the law and will not enjoy any privileges. East African land is owned by the state…” Swart was still speaking, but the Boers below had already erupted in an uproar.

Monarchical autocracy was not a problem and could be accepted, but abolishing slavery was a major issue for the Boers. Without slaves, who would work their farms? Of course, it wasn’t impossible, but the clause that East African land was owned by the state was cutting off their means of survival!

Someone shouted from below: “The Transvaal Republic does not welcome you invaders! Get out of our land!”

Ernst, who was listening in, greatly admired his courage. He rose from his chair and said to the Boers: “Who was shouting just now? Trying to be a hero? If you can stand up voluntarily instead of hiding in the crowd and raging impotently, then I will respect you as a real man.”

After waiting for a moment and seeing no one come forward, Ernst said: “From today onwards, the Transvaal Republic no longer exists in the world. This is the land of the East African Kingdom.

As for those who are dissatisfied with the East African Kingdom, you can choose to leave. We will not make things difficult for those who leave voluntarily. You can take your assets and property and leave East African land. If you want revenge, you are welcome at any time. In fact, East Africa has no conflict with the former Transvaal Republic, and even had a good relationship.

The cause of all this is your president. He should not have supported the Ndebele rebellion. This is like someone supporting your enemies, the Zulu Kingdom, or your slave rebellion. Therefore, this East African war is legitimate, reasonable, and just. As for your losses, they should be entirely attributed to the reckless actions of your democratically elected president.”

Although Ernst’s words were sophistry, the end result would be the same regardless of whether the Boers supported the Ndebele people or not, but the pretext for war was indeed delivered by Little Pretorius himself.

Some Boers who lacked independent thinking listened to Ernst’s words and believed it was their president’s fault because Ernst’s example was apt.

The Zulus were the Boers’ greatest enemy before East Africa invaded the Transvaal Republic. If a force really supported the Zulus, the Boers would definitely not agree if they put themselves in the other’s shoes.

Of course, most Boers were clear that this was just the East African Kingdom trying to shift the blame. The Boers’ biggest enemy now was the East African Kingdom, not the Zulus.

“Excuse me, sir, who are you?” A Boer asked, unwilling to give up.

“I am the Crown Prince of the East African Kingdom, Ernst.”

“Your Highness Ernst, supporting the Ndebele people was all President Pretorius’s fault. It has nothing to do with us…”

Ernst: “Since Little Pretorius is the president you elected, his actions naturally represent the Transvaal Republic. Little Pretorius tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice, and lost to East Africa. The loser naturally has to pay the price.”

The defeated party either cedes territory and pays reparations, or suffers national subjugation and racial extermination. This is the main theme of this era. Don’t think that just because you are from the European continent you can be exempt. The colonial powers in West Africa are already fighting like cats and dogs.

East Africa’s measure of allowing the Boers to take away their property and move out of East African territory is only slightly less inhumane than the British in Cape Town, but it is not that the British in Cape Town are more conscientious, but that there are more Boers in British Cape Town and some compromises must be made. East Africa does not need to be so hypocritical. With military strength, these Boers will not be able to make waves.

Ernst said: “Alright, this matter is not worth negotiating. We welcome residents who are willing to stay in the East African Kingdom and live according to the East African way of life. Those who are unwilling, please leave. But I must warn you, do not cause trouble. Otherwise, the East African Army is not joking. And I am not afraid to tell you that we used a full force of more than fifty thousand troops to invade the Transvaal this time. So I hope some people will listen to good advice and not insist on going their own way.”

Ernst’s words worked as expected. The Boers of Pretoria already understood that the situation was irreversible. The number of East African Army soldiers alone was an insurmountable mountain. Even if the Transvaal Republic gathered all the men in the country, it would be about the same number. The problem is, after removing the elderly and children, how many would be left? There was simply no way to resist the East African Kingdom.

Some of the large Boer farmers had already fled with Little Pretorius. The remaining farmers were also planning to go to the Orange Free State.

The Transvaal and Orange Free State implemented a large land ownership system. A few families could occupy land the size of a town. After the Boer farmers moved into the new area, the first thing they did was to rush to enclose land, divide boundaries, and name the natural landmarks of the boundaries: streams, forests, or hills.

The Boer parliament then issued certificates of land ownership. Because the land enclosed was too vast, some land was left unattended for decades after being enclosed, leaving it barren.

Therefore, there were not many Boer farmers. Enclosing land also required strength. Civilians did not have the ability to develop the land and also had to face threats from the Zulus and other indigenous people. Many Boers had to band together to form militias, which made the Boer population of the Transvaal and Orange Free State concentrated, saving the East African Army a lot of effort. If they were really scattered here and there, it would be very busy.

After the East African Kingdom’s kind persuasion, almost all of the Boers chose to leave. Very few Boers chose to stay. Those who were unwilling to leave and chose to join East Africa were basically propertyless Germans.

Boer is just a flexible term. They call themselves Afrikaners, but immigrants from the Netherlands, Britain, France, and various German states are all included. After Britain colonized Cape Town, some British immigrants broke away from the Boers and returned to the embrace of the British. The same is true for the Germans who joined East Africa. This group of Germans has been purified, so there is no need to worry about any trouble in the future after joining East Africa.

Chapter 391: Lambs to the Slaughter

The Kingdom of Swaziland, an insignificant little country. Even historically, when Britain turned it into a semi-colony in 1907, the British generally did so for only two reasons: either they couldn’t swallow it whole, or it truly had no value. The Kingdom of Swaziland fell into the latter category.

But now, the Swazi people were having a run of bad luck. As the saying goes, trouble comes from the sky while you sit at home. A group of troops from who-knows-where directly launched a surprise attack on the Kingdom of Swaziland.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is just a small country with a population of tens of thousands. Despite its small area and population, Swaziland is actually located in one of the most densely populated regions of Africa.

In the 19th century, the entire African population was only over ninety million. Egypt (including Sudan) and the Ethiopian Empire accounted for more than twenty million, and the East African kingdoms plus Black Africans accounted for more than twenty-seven million. These three countries alone accounted for almost half of Africa’s population. If you also exclude North African countries like Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, the population of other regions of Africa was probably only around forty million. This shows how sparsely populated Africa was, especially sub-Saharan Africa.

This is mainly because the Black African civilization, which originated in West Africa, was too underdeveloped. As a result, after they spread to the entire region, they remained in the primitive social stage. Population growth in primitive societies is basically constant; although many are born, many also die.

Therefore, the environment has a great impact on the African population. The Nile River bank in Egypt, the Great Lakes region of East Africa, the Ethiopian Empire, West Africa, the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, the Lake Malawi region, and the northeastern region of South Africa are currently the most densely populated areas in Africa.

Swaziland is located in the northeastern region of South Africa, next to the Portuguese colony of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, the Zulu Kingdom, the British colony of Natal, the Transvaal Republic, and the buffer state between East Africa and Mozambique—the Gaza Empire (an indigenous state).

Swaziland is less than one hundred kilometers away from Maputo. After East Africa occupies this place, it can pose a direct threat to the capital of Mozambique.

The King of Swaziland was standing next to Felix at this time, introducing the situation of the Kingdom of Swaziland to Felix.

“To the east of my country is the Portuguese territory, and to the southeast are the barbarians of the Zulu Kingdom. In previous years, the west was occupied by the Boers. Because the land is barren and the terrain is complex, people generally don’t come to our Kingdom of Swaziland.”

It must be said that the Swazi people are quite easygoing. They share the same origin as the Zulu people, but their personalities are completely different. After encountering the East African army, they directly chose to surrender without any hesitation.

This made Felix very helpless. He originally thought that even a small indigenous country should put up a fight and provide some excitement, but they didn’t resist at all.

Felix said, “Yes, I am very clear about this. This place is indeed not very suitable for human habitation.”

However, this is not a reason for the Kingdom of Swaziland to continue to exist. East Africa’s strategic intention this time is very obvious: to control the Transvaal and the Zulu Kingdom, and the location of the Kingdom of Swaziland is just at the key point for East Africa to move south.

“Regarding your attitude, it should be unique in the entire Africa, so I will report the handling of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom and strive for some good conditions for you,” Felix said.

How to deal with the Kingdom of Swaziland is indeed a difficult problem. They are so cooperative, so of course, you can’t be too rude. Let the Crown Prince worry about this matter in the future!

Just then, a messenger suddenly came to report: “Commander-in-chief, our people have discovered an unknown armed force in the southeast direction. They are heading towards Swaziland.”

Felix asked, “Unknown armed force! What’s the situation?”

“It’s a white armed force, but I don’t know if it’s Portuguese or Boer.”

“How many people are there?”

“There should be three or four thousand people.”

Felix turned to the King of Swaziland and asked, “Has your Swaziland recently offended anyone?”

“How is that possible, General! Our Kingdom of Swaziland has always loved peace.”

Of course, the King of Swaziland said this with his mouth, but he didn’t think so in his heart. The main reason is that Swaziland has too few people and poor military strength, otherwise, they would have left this broken place long ago.

The Kingdom of Swaziland has been staying in this place since the 16th century, without the opportunity to expand outwards. The main reason is that their blood brothers, the Zulu people, are too good at fighting and are all desperate lunatics. As for the indigenous kingdoms to the north, they are all “great powers” to the Swazi people.

Felix said to the messenger, “Let our people stop them. If they are Portuguese, then invite their officers to come and talk. If they are Boers, then fight them directly.”

If you don’t ask proactively, it may be difficult to tell who is who. The Portuguese and Boer armed forces don’t look much different from the outside.

At this time, the Boers on the mountainside were also confused. There are other forces here! Wasn’t it said that Swaziland is a Black African kingdom!

So both sides carefully looked at each other. At this time, someone had already recognized the East African military uniform. This is probably the East African who invaded the Transvaal.

“Who are you?” an East African soldier shouted.

When the Transvaal Republic soldier on the opposite side heard this,

“It’s German, it seems to be East African!”

“What should we do now!”

The Boer commander said, “Ignore them, let’s go back the way we came for now.”

At this time, Felix’s messenger had arrived, “Brigadier General Belke, the commander said that if the opposite side is Boer, keep them here.”

Although it has not been figured out whether the opposite side is Boer, seeing the opposite side wanting to run away made Belke unable to sit still.

“Pass down my military order, don’t let the Boers on the opposite side run away!”

Currently, Belke only has one brigade of troops in his hands, but the Boers are tired from traveling and climbing mountains, which is extremely physically demanding. It is just right for the East African Army to wait for work at leisure.

As the bugle sounded, the Second Brigade of the Mountain Division came out like a fierce tiger. Belke took the lead and led the troops directly towards the Boers.

This made the Boers, who originally wanted to sneak away, instantly find themselves in a dilemma. Coupled with the terrain restrictions of the mountain road, they could not disperse. Retreat turned into a rout, and trampling was unavoidable. The entire army was in chaos. On the other hand, the East African Army took advantage of its high-to-low advantage, and the Mountain Division was obviously more adapted to this terrain, walking like flying on the Drakensberg mountain road. In less than two hours, the East African Mountain Division ended the battle, and the main force of the Boers was captured.

Felix, who heard the sound of the battle, also led his troops over and asked the captured Boer commander, “Are you the main force of the Transvaal Republic?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then why are you in Swaziland?”

“Alas, because Pretoria urgently summoned my troops to return to defend, the Zulu Kingdom noticed our abnormality. So the Zulu sent heavy troops to encircle and suppress us. Although we tried hard to get rid of the Zulu, we couldn’t find a breakthrough. In the end, we had no choice but to pass through the Kingdom of Swaziland and then return to the Transvaal.”

After hearing this, Felix couldn’t help but laugh unkindly. They didn’t manage to borrow the road, but instead, like lambs to the slaughter, they delivered military merits to him for nothing.

Chapter 392: Strategic Security

The Vet River is a tributary on the right bank of the Vaal River, which is a northern tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. The confluence of the lower reaches of the Vet River and the Vaal River is the site of the former South African Bloemhof Dam. The upper reaches of the river are the important Transvaal city of Winburg, which also serves as the boundary river between the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State.

Winburg is situated on the plain in the middle of the Vet River (the upper reaches of the Vet River are Y-shaped). It was one of the Boer republics established by the elder Pretorius. In 1852, it merged with the Transvaal Republic along with other Boer colonies such as the Lydenburg Republic, and became the southernmost city of the Transvaal Republic.

The East African 513th Division occupied it a few days ago. After losing Pretoria, the command system of the Transvaal Republic was completely out of control, which made the East African occupation of the Transvaal Republic very smooth.

“After taking Winburg, the area north of the Vet River will be completely in the hands of East Africa. The area south of the Vet River is the Orange Free State. According to the Crown Prince’s order, after our division occupies Winburg, we will control the northern bank of the Vet River with Winburg as the center. Unless the Orange Free State actively provokes us, the East African army will no longer cross the Vet River to fight.” Kerry Rhodes, the commander of the 513th Division, said to his subordinates, pointing at the map.

After occupying Winburg, East Africa’s combat mission against the Transvaal Republic was basically completed, or rather, Ernst’s strategic intentions were initially achieved. The initial purpose of attacking the Transvaal Republic was to let the gold mines on both sides of the Vaal River lie rotten in the ground. After East Africa controlled the Vet River, ninety-nine percent of the gold mine distribution area fell into the hands of East Africa. As long as East Africa prohibits the development of the land north of the Vet River and south of Pretoria, these gold mines will not be discovered, and Johannesburg, as it was in the previous life, will not appear.

The reason for prohibiting the development of this area is also readily available, because it is located deep inside the South African plateau, and Lesotho blocks the water vapor from the Indian Ocean, making it very dry, with barren land and a fragile ecological environment.

East Africa can completely use the excuse of protecting the environment to prohibit any individuals or forces from developing this area. Ernst plans to establish a natural ecological reserve here similar to the Serengeti.

East Africa is not very interested in the Orange Free State across the river. On the one hand, the Kingdom of East Africa declared war on the pretext of the Transvaal Republic supporting the Ndebele rebellion of En. However, the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State are two different countries, so there is no excuse to declare war on the Orange Free State.

Although the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic are like brothers, their interests are not completely aligned. Previously, the younger Pretorius tried to promote the merger of the two countries, but was rejected by the Orange Free State.

Ernst believes that the Orange Free State can be wooed. Ernst has no hostility towards the Boer states, but there are conflicts with the Transvaal Republic in terms of interests and national security.

On the other hand, the Kingdom of East Africa needs the Orange Free State to act as a buffer zone between East Africa and the British Cape Colony. Because the Kimberley diamond mine has been discovered and developed, the British have real interests in the Orange Free State, and the British cannot allow East Africa to annex the Orange Free State.

On the contrary, Ernst will never allow the Transvaal Republic to continue to exist. The existence of this country will be a huge disaster in the future. In the previous life, it was because of the discovery of the Witwatersrand gold mines and other gold mines that the British became unprecedentedly active in exploring South Africa.

The British increased their military presence and colonial efforts in South Africa, which led to the formation of the South African colony in the previous life. South Africa directly became the colony with the largest number of white people south of the Sahara. The number of Boers alone may reach six to seven hundred thousand. Including the British, Irish, Indians… the number of white people in South Africa can easily exceed one million, which will pose a huge threat to East African national security.

After East Africa occupied the Transvaal Republic, South Africa, in addition to the strategic position of Cape Town, only has the diamond mine interests of Orange. However, East Africa does not lack diamonds, and even has the world’s largest reserves.

Relying only on diamond mines, the Orange Free State, as a landlocked country, cannot complete industrialization. What’s more, the Orange Free State also lacks water, and its future development potential is also locked, even not as good as Mongolia in the previous life.

At the same time, with the advancement of the Kingdom of East Africa’s policies, a large number of Boers from the Transvaal Republic are actively migrating to the Orange Free State, which can greatly strengthen the Boer forces in the Orange Free State.

According to the population growth rate of the two Boer republics in the previous life, the population of the Orange Free State will definitely exceed four hundred thousand, allowing the Orange Free State to be fully developed, and at least become a good agricultural country, unlike the two Boer republics in the previous life, which were both mediocre.

In this way, the size of the Orange Free State can be similar to that of some small European countries, so that it will not be easily annexed by the British.

Although it is certain that the Orange Free State will not have a good impression of East Africa because of East Africa’s invasion of the Transvaal Republic, and may even directly turn to the British.

However, Ernst hopes that the Boers will have a superficial harmony with the British as in the previous life, and eventually conflict. This is inevitable, after all, the only valuable diamond mine in Orange is in the hands of the British, unless the British drive the Boers out of the Orange Free State like East Africa drove the Boers out of the Transvaal Republic, but the British cannot do this.

Finally, East Africa’s annexation of the Transvaal Republic can also ensure its strategic security, because the gold mining area falls into the hands of East Africa, and the British cannot promote the 2C plan as in the previous life. In addition to the lack of interest attraction, in terms of strength, even the South African colony after annexing the Orange Free State is unable to compete with the Kingdom of East Africa. The economic center of South Africa in the previous life was in the northeast, but now it is East African territory.

Not only the 2C plan, but even the French 2S plan is completely impossible. The first big mountain that the great powers have to overcome in dividing Africa is the Kingdom of East Africa, which has completely established itself in Africa.

It is impossible to deal with a centralized emerging country like the Kingdom of East Africa by relying solely on the British and French forces, unless they dare to use the energy they use to deal with other countries on the European continent on the Kingdom of East Africa.

The Kingdom of East Africa is not dead either, and can also win over Germany (Austria) to balance Britain and France, it is nothing more than the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen ceding more benefits.

Besides, given the relationship between Britain and France, unless it is a world war, they will not be on the same page at all, and even the relationship between the two countries in Africa may be very bad.

The existence of the Kingdom of East Africa means that there is not much blue ocean to develop in East Africa and South Africa. At present, the only area in Africa with large tracts of unclaimed land and good conditions is West Africa.

As long as the Kingdom of East Africa develops steadily and is strong enough, then after 1880, countries will only be able to fight fiercely in West Africa. The competitive pressure in West Africa will be unprecedentedly strong, and it just so happens that Britain and France now have colonies in West Africa, so it is natural to conquer West Africa. At the same time, it can be predicted that other regions in the future, such as South America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, will also face a more violent colonial storm.

Chapter 393: Civilian Conflict in East Anglia

The war in East Africa against the Transvaal Republic had ended, but the war in the South African region continued. First, the 123rd Cavalry Division and the 514th Infantry Division in Pretoria joined forces with Felix’s troops to launch a war against the Zulu Kingdom.

Conquering the Zulu Kingdom would not only provide abundant coal resources, but more importantly, it would secure its eastern sea outlet. The port of Richards Bay, a major coal export port in South Africa in his previous life, was lying in ruins there.

Taking this port was of great significance for East Africa to ensure the security of its southern territory. After acquiring the Transvaal, the East African Kingdom became a long and narrow strip from north to south. The distance from the core area of East Africa (the former East African Federation) to South Africa was too long. After conquering the Zulu Kingdom, East Africa could use the port of Richards Bay to complete the deployment of personnel and materials through maritime transport.

In the East African-controlled territory of South Africa, Ernst did not intend to develop large-scale planting, but to develop large ranches similar to those in northern Kenya for grazing.

The difference between this place and northern Kenya is that the temperature is lower, it is already subtropical, and the climate is cooler, which is considered the best pasture resource in East Africa’s hands.

At the same time, Ernst also considered that in the future, this place would rely on abundant mineral resources to develop industry. However, industrial development cannot be separated from water resources, but South Africa’s annual rainfall is even worse than Zimbabwe’s, especially in the hinterland, and the fluctuation is relatively large. In some extreme years, it may only be more than 400 millimeters.

Water consumption is nothing more than residential water, agricultural water, and industrial water, of which agricultural water consumption is the largest. If large-scale planting is carried out in South Africa, it can be determined that agricultural water alone will not be enough.

Furthermore, East Africa does not need to engage in planting in South Africa at all. First, there is no demand for it. Currently, East Africa’s grain production capacity is surplus. Second, East Africa’s arable land resources are too abundant. Tanzania alone has 44 million hectares of arable land resources, which is 660 million mu, almost 30% of India’s arable land, and most of them are multiple-cropping plots a year. As a result, Ernst does not intend to develop those arable lands in Tanzania that are of poor quality or not conducive to irrigation.

In the future, South Africa’s grain can be imported from the north, so that the limited water resources in East African South Africa can be applied to industrial development.

The importance of water resources to industry can be referred to Shandong Province in his previous life. Shandong is a major industrial province, and traditional industries such as chemical industry, steel, and coal account for about 70% of the industrial proportion. The excessive industrial structure has also made Shandong’s energy consumption level rank among the top in the country.

However, Shandong’s industrial water consumption is only a little more than 10% of that of Jiangsu, which is also a major industrial province, which seriously restricts Shandong’s industrial development. In addition, Shandong is also a major agricultural province, so Shandong’s agricultural and industrial water competition is fierce, or rather, they are competing for water. The little water in the Yellow River must be used sparingly.

East African South Africa is also facing this problem. Ernst’s solution is that South Africa does not develop water-consuming agriculture, so there will be no water crisis in the future, and even water resources will be surplus, because Ernst does not quite believe that the future industrial scale in East African South Africa can reach the level of Shandong in the twenty-first century. For other things, just the population size of 100 million in Shandong is unlikely to be achieved in East African South Africa in the future. It is more realistic for the entire East African Kingdom to have a population of over 100 million.

If large-scale planting is not developed locally, East African South Africa must rely on other regions of East Africa to dispatch grain, and sea transportation is the lowest cost, which reflects the importance of the port of Richards Bay.

The conditions of the port of Richards Bay are no less than those of the port of Durban in the south, but because of the Zulu Kingdom, the port of Richards Bay has not been developed, so the East African Kingdom needs to build it.

Now the port of Durban is the political and economic center of the British Natal colony, and East Africa does not yet have the courage to touch the British Empire’s whiskers.

In addition to the war against the Zulu Kingdom just beginning, the second is the East African conquest war south of the Kalahari Desert and north of the Orange River.

This area is currently a no man’s land, and there are not many natives, so Merkel’s troops are advancing very smoothly, and they have not encountered any difficulties in the early stage.

However, after approaching the Orange River, the East African army still had a little conflict with the British Cape Town colony.

“Halt! Who are you?”

The vanguard of the 411th Division of the East African Army, the 7th Regiment, was blocked by a group of militiamen. The commander of the 7th Regiment, Nardovich, was a hot-tempered man and did not indulge these people.

Nardovich’s name has a Slavic flavor. In fact, he is a Croat from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, the East African Kingdom considers the Germanized Slavs of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be within the scope of Germans, so Nardovich’s career is relatively smooth with his military achievements.

Nardovich asked, riding on his warhorse: “Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?”

“This is the land of the Griqualand Republic. If you take another step forward, you will be trespassing!” a Boer militiaman said.

Damn it, how many republics have these Boers established! Nardovich complained in his heart. In fact, Nardovich did not know that there was another New Griqualand Republic in the east, which means that the Boers had established two Griqualand Republics.

With military orders in hand, Nardovich didn’t care what republic you were. Nardovich turned the tables and asked: “What the hell is the Griqualand Republic! I’ve never even heard of it. The entire area north of the Orange River is the land of us Germans. Why are you appearing on our German territory?”

Nardovich’s words made the Boer militiamen confused, because very coincidentally, many of these Boer militiamen were descendants of immigrants from the German region. If Nardovich said it was East African land, the Boer militiamen would definitely object.

However, Nardovich said that this was German land. Does that mean that these Boers from the German region are Germans?

It can also be seen here the national identity shaped by Nardovich under the cultural assimilation of East Africa. Although he is a genuine Croat, there is not much difference in cultural life from the Austrians of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, the Austrians of the Austro-Hungarian Empire could not admit that Croats are Germans, but Nardovich, after arriving in East Africa, attached great importance to his identity as a “German.”

It is understandable that the Boers are entangled in their identity. After all, the concept of Boers has not been around for too long. For example, after the British seized the Cape Town colony, many British descendants of Boers became British, which made Germans and French people an important part of the Boers.

However, after hesitating for a while, the Boer militiamen reacted: “No matter who you are, this is the territory of the Griqualand Republic.”

Nardovich: “Heh, Griqualand, I believe no one in the international community has ever heard of this country. Your behavior is stealing the territory of the East African Kingdom. If you surrender to us East Africa now, we can let bygones be bygones and guarantee your safety at the same time.”

Nardovich’s words let the Griqualand militiamen hear a new term, the East African Kingdom. However, they were not afraid. What East African Kingdom? They had never heard of it, and it was not the same as the Griqualand Republic!

Indeed, it is different. The Griqualand Republic is not like the East African Kingdom, which made a special announcement in Europe when it was established. Maybe they don’t know East Africa, but they know the existence of the East African Kingdom. As for the Griqualand Republic, if you ask in Europe now, most people will think it is a chiefdom or tribal state in a remote area.

Of course, the biggest confidence of the Griqualand militiamen does not lie in whether the East African Kingdom is a self-congratulatory country like Griqualand, but in the fact that the Griqualand Republic has already voted to voluntarily join the British Cape Town colony since last year. Behind them are the British. With such a background, who would be so blind as to provoke them?

Chapter 394: Tough

Boer militiaman captain: “General, you may not know that the Griqualand Republic is already part of the British Cape Colony. If you withdraw from the territory of the Griqualand Republic now, we can pretend that nothing happened.”

Naldovich’s face darkened: “Are you threatening the great East African Kingdom?”

“We don’t mean that. We are just stating a fact. After all, the British have the final say in the Griqualand Republic now. If your country wants to annex Griqualand, I believe the British will be the ones who are nervous, not us.”

The words were rough, but the meaning was correct. The Griqualand Republic was now equivalent to a local government of the Cape Colony, with the power of decision in the hands of Cape Town. Griqualand could at most fight for some privileges.

This made Naldovich very embarrassed. Just as Naldovich didn’t know how to deal with the matter, the main force also caught up from the rear.

“Naldovich, what happened? Why did your troops stop here and not continue to advance!” Griffin, the commander of the Second Brigade and Naldovich’s superior, came over and asked.

“Reporting to the Brigade Commander! We encountered a little trouble…” Naldovich repeated the situation to Griffin.

Griffin: “I see. You don’t have to worry about this matter. I’ll take care of it.”

After speaking, Griffin came to the Boer militiamen: “Are you soldiers of the so-called Griqualand Republic?”

Seeing the increase in the number of opponents, this gave the Boer militiamen considerable pressure. The Boer militiaman captain took a deep breath, and then said neither humble nor arrogant: “Yes, General, we are militiamen of the Griqualand Republic.”

Griffin: “Very good. Whether you represent Griqualand or Cape Town, this is not something a small fry like you can participate in. So I advise you to lay down your weapons and surrender to our army on the spot. Of course, you can also choose to resist. I, Griffin, never make things difficult for people.”

What Griqualand? Even if the Cape Colony was involved, Griffin didn’t care. At worst, they would fight a battle. Now the whole world knew that the German Army was the best in the world. As a German country, the East African Kingdom was naturally not bad in this regard.

This was Griffin’s true state of mind. Prussia defeated France, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire defeated Italy. The inspiration of the entire German nationalism also affected East Africa. In addition, the East African Kingdom had been crushing weaker opponents in Africa and had not suffered a defeat so far, so it was inevitable that they were somewhat inflated.

Griffin came up and demanded that the Griqualand militiamen lay down their weapons, and the Boer militiamen of the Griqualand Republic looked at each other.

“What are you still doing? Put down your weapons.” At this time, the militia captain said: “Your Excellency, General, we give up resistance, but we must ensure our personal safety.”

Seeing that Griffin was obviously a tough nut to crack, even tougher than the previous Naldovich, this made the Boer militiaman captain realize that the British could not scare this East African Kingdom that had sprung up from nowhere.

To be honest, from the moment he saw the arrival of the East African main force, he knew that the initiative in this matter was completely in the hands of the East African Kingdom. The strength shown by the East African Kingdom at present was actually enough to compete with Cape Town.

The opposite side was not militiamen like themselves, who were non-professional soldiers, but regular troops like those on the European continent. This could be seen from the equipment and uniforms.

The military power of the Cape Colony was mainly composed of militia forces similar to Griqualand. Although Cape Town also had British regular troops, the number was not large. In the eyes of ordinary people, militiamen were difficult to compete with well-trained regular troops.

Furthermore, he only had a dozen or so brothers under his command, while the other side had thousands. Not to mention thousands, even if the other side only had a dozen, he would have to carefully consider it, unless he was out of his mind to choose to confront the East African Kingdom.

Under the Boer militiaman captain’s reprimand, the Boer militiamen voluntarily handed over their weapons to the East African Kingdom Army.

“Very good, you are a smart man. You can go wherever you want next. Our people will not make things difficult for you anymore.” After confiscating the Boer militiamen’s weapons, Griffin said.

Griffin didn’t care about the whereabouts of these militiamen. It didn’t matter whether they went back to report or stayed where they were. The East African Army didn’t provide food.

Turning his head, Griffin said to Naldovich: “Now the troops continue to advance. Don’t stop until you reach the Orange River. This is the strategic bottom line set by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Naldovich said: “Brigade Commander, what if we encounter resistance from the Griqualand Republic or the Cape Colony again?”

Griffin: “What are you afraid of! Are you holding a fire stick in your hand? Whoever obstructs us, you use the Dreyse in your hand to persuade them, understand?”

Naldovich shuddered and gave a military salute: “Yes, I guarantee to complete the mission!”

Thus, under the gaze of the disarmed Boer militiamen, the East African Army continued to advance towards the Orange River, raising bursts of dust wherever the troops passed.

After the East African Army had completely left, the Boer militiamen asked: “Captain, what do we do now?”

“What else can we do? Of course, go back.”

“But we don’t even have guns…”

“What are you afraid of! You saw the scene just now. The other side had thousands of people, and they were regular troops, all with murderous looks in their eyes. With your thin arms and legs, you still want to cause trouble for them!”

“Of course not, isn’t that courting death?”

“So it’s impossible to do. The responsibility for this matter is not ours. Even if the president comes, there is no way. The next thing is for those big shots above to consider. They are the ones who will have a headache.”

The Griqualand Republic was just a small Boer country. In fact, the population was about the same as a slightly larger town in East Africa, far from being comparable to the truly Boer countries of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. East Africa could destroy it with just a regiment of troops. Whether the Griqualand Republic could continue to exist was a big question.

Don’t look at the Griqualand Republic joining the Cape Colony. In fact, it has no value to Cape Town.

Griqualand is located on the southern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The Orange Free State and Transvaal to the east face the problem of water shortage, but it is only a water shortage. Some drought-resistant crops can still be planted. The land of the Griqualand Republic, water resources are precious wealth. That little rainfall can only be used to water the pastures, and there are no conditions for engaging in planting.

The Cape Colony accepted the Griqualand Republic entirely because Griqualand took the initiative to give it away for free. After taking over the Griqualand Republic, the Cape Colony discovered that the Griqualand Republic was actually a pit, mainly because their government’s debt problem was very serious. The reason why Griqualand gave it away for free was because the government was in financial difficulties and could not continue, so they wanted the Cape Colony to be the sucker.

Chapter 395: Playing the Rogue

Of the Boer Republics, only the Orange Free State had relatively abundant finances. Although the Kimberley diamond mines were mostly taken by the British, at least some scraps were left over.

The Griqualand Republic actually had abundant resources, but they hadn’t been explored. Furthermore, Griqualand’s harsh climate and sparse population meant that even if mineral resources were discovered, they would be unable to develop them. Without mining, the only industry Griqualand Republic could engage in was nomadic pastoralism. As a result, Griqualand Republic was destined to have a low economic level, even worse than some Arab countries with similarly poor natural conditions.

A few days later, under the noses of the British and the Griqualand Republic’s upper echelons, Merkel incorporated the territory of the Griqualand Republic into the East African Kingdom.

This stunned the administrative personnel sent to Griqualand by the Cape Town Colony, because the East African Army moved too quickly. The British only reacted after East Africa blockaded the Orange River.

After being reported through the ranks, Johnson, the highest-ranking official of the British Cape Town Colony in Griqualand, met Merkel.

“Mr. Merkel, this action of your East African Kingdom is a blatant act of aggression. Griqualand is already the territory of the British Empire. Does your East African Kingdom intend to provoke the majesty of the British Empire?” Johnson questioned Merkel as soon as he saw him.

Hearing Johnson say this, Merkel actually felt quite uncertain. It wasn’t that he feared the British, but rather that East Africa was indeed in the wrong on this matter.

“Mr. Johnson, please calm down. In reality, we did not intentionally offend your country. I will apologize to you first.”

Seeing Merkel’s good attitude, Johnson then said, “Well, that’s more like it. But next, immediately withdraw your troops from Griqualand, and I can pretend this never happened.”

“Withdraw troops?” Merkel chuckled. How could he spit out something he had already eaten? He said to Johnson with a smile, “Mr. Johnson, I’m afraid this cannot be as you wish. Our East African Kingdom cannot possibly withdraw troops from the Orange River line!”

Hearing this, Johnson felt extremely insulted, but when he thought about the East African Kingdom’s military strength, he calmed down again. There was a fact he had to face.

That was that the Cape Town Colony could not possibly send troops to rescue him. Not to mention that Cape Town didn’t have many troops to begin with, more importantly, it wasn’t worth organizing an army to retake Griqualand.

However, as an official of the British Empire, with the world’s number one power standing behind him, Johnson believed that the East African Kingdom wouldn’t dare to do anything to him.

He retorted to Merkel, “What? Does your East African Kingdom want to challenge the Empire, and test whether the Empire’s martial spirit is sufficient?”

Merkel didn’t take the bait, but instead said to Johnson, “East Africa is a peace-loving country, and of course has no intention of offending Britain. However, the matter of withdrawing troops is not something that a small, low-ranking officer like me can decide. This requires an order from the central government. I will promptly send the message back to the country for the central government to decide.”

Of course, this wasn’t the reason. In fact, Ernst was currently in Pretoria, and it wouldn’t take a few days for a messenger to get the news to the Crown Prince.

However, Merkel didn’t want the British to know this. He needed to find a reason for East Africa to stay put, and then East Africa would take administrative measures to drive away the merchants and residents of the Griqualand Republic, completely turning Griqualand into the territory of the East African Kingdom.

This was easy to solve. First, abolish the slavery system, and second, impose heavy taxes on the Griqualand people, forcing them to voluntarily move to the Orange Free State.

This was the “hawk taming” tactic. If the Griqualand people didn’t take the usual path and actively provoked the East African Army, that would be even better. It would be exactly what Merkel wanted, and he could directly and violently expel the Griqualand people.

Once the Griqualand Republic was completely destroyed, the British accusations against the East African Kingdom would naturally cease to exist. You say East Africa invaded the Griqualand Republic? I don’t see any so-called Griqualand Republic. This land has been our German people’s territory since ancient times.

Merkel dared to do this because he had confidence. After spending many years in Africa, he had gained a more thorough understanding of Africa.

That was that, apart from the East African Kingdom, there was no opponent in sub-Saharan Africa that was worth the East African Kingdom’s full effort.

The British were certainly not weak, but Merkel didn’t believe that the British would go to war with the East African Kingdom for the sake of a small Griqualand. Could the British mobilize a large army from other regions to conquer East Africa?

The East African Kingdom was not a country like Egypt or Abyssinia, which seemed powerful but shattered at the first touch. The British really couldn’t do anything about the East African Kingdom, which had already gained a foothold in Africa, on land.

Even if the British blockaded East Africa’s coastline and cut off its foreign trade, that wouldn’t work now. Ernst used to be afraid of this move, because the East African Kingdom didn’t have enough population, and the early stages of the colony had to rely on the Hechingen Consortium to provide blood transfusions to maintain operations. The food, seeds, livestock, tools, and weapons needed to develop the East African colony in the early stages all needed to be imported from Germany and other parts of the world.

Now, the East African Kingdom could completely rely on the African continent to achieve independence and self-reliance. Relying on a population of nearly seven million, it had achieved internal circulation, with a strong agricultural industry and a barely self-sufficient handicraft industry system, especially in the military industry, where the East African Army was basically on par with Europe.

The mainstream weapons of the army were nothing more than two types: guns and artillery. The Dreyse needle gun and small-caliber artillery equipped by the East African Army were not bad, and were first-class in Africa. The most important thing was that East Africa could now produce and sell these two things on its own.

East Africa was not lacking in large-caliber artillery either. Although it couldn’t produce it, East Africa had enough stockpiles, and could deploy the large-caliber artillery near the coastline for use at any time. This wasn’t a big deal. The artillery in East African ports adopted a saturated defense and counterattack strategy to deal with enemies at sea. From the day the East African Kingdom gained access to the sea, Ernst knew that the biggest threat to East Africa in the future would come from the sea, so the number of artillery pieces on the coastline was actually excessive. The number of coastal artillery in East Africa even exceeded the number of coastal defense guns that the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself had around the Adriatic Sea, allowing Austrian military industrial enterprises to make a lot of money.

However, this was also a strategy implemented by the Hechingen Consortium in Europe. As one of the world’s top grain merchants, the Hechingen Consortium had to make some compromises and sacrifices to gain a foothold in Germany and Austria, otherwise the Junker nobles and Hungarian nobles would not allow the Hechingen Consortium’s food companies to exist.

In fact, the Hechingen Consortium’s food companies were one of the largest buyers of agricultural products in Germany and Austria. For example, the wine industry in the two countries in recent years was promoted and developed by the Hechingen Consortium, encouraging landowners in the two countries to grow more cash crops, so that East Africa’s cheap grain could logically fill the gap, and both sides could profit in the end. The only one who was hurt was Tsarist Russia. The entire market was too competitive. Although Tsarist Russia had tens of millions of gray livestock, the gray livestock were not as cost-effective as East Africa’s more than twenty million black slaves.

Neither East Africa nor the Hechingen Consortium would be paralyzed by British sanctions, so East Africa had no weaknesses. The icy and snowy Alaska was a burden, but the British might not have thought of it, because Ernst himself often forgot that the Hechingen royal family still had this territory.

In short, East Africa’s national strength gave Merkel the confidence to play the rogue, and East Africa didn’t care even if the other party was Britain.

Merkel’s unyielding attitude made Johnson feel difficult, but after calming down and thinking carefully, Johnson became even less calm.

At this time, he realized, the East African Kingdom, the East African Kingdom, since it was the East African Kingdom, how did they come to South Africa?

Also, East Africa mobilized so many troops just to deal with a small Griqualand Republic, so what was the overall strength of the East African Kingdom? It was terrifying to think about!

Johnson suddenly realized that he had noticed something extraordinary. This matter must be reported to Cape Town and even London, but for now, he must first escape from Griqualand.

Chapter 396: Speculation

Realizing this, Johnson no longer dwelled on the minor matter of East Africa’s invasion of Griqualand. Griqualand was just a small, economically weak place. When the Cape Town colonial government sent him here, he felt like he was being exiled. Now, he was just returning to Cape Town.

“Lord Merke, let’s put this matter aside for now. I must return to Cape Town to report the situation. The final decision on how to handle the issue of Griqualand’s ownership will depend on the bigwigs in the Cape Town government. So, I won’t engage in any pointless arguments with you here,” Johnson said to Merke.

Merke: “Of course, nothing is absolute. Sometimes, a misunderstanding can be resolved if both sides sit down and talk frankly. Perhaps it can even defuse the crisis before it becomes a problem.”

“Yes, nothing is off the table. This is beneficial for both of us. So, I hope you can do us a favor on our return journey and not make things difficult for us,” Johnson responded.

“Naturally.” Merke said to his adjutant, “Arrange a team to escort Mr. Johnson and his team to the other side of the Orange River.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Then, Merke said to Johnson, “By the way, Mr. Johnson, I must state in advance that our people can only escort you and your team to the Orange River. Once you cross the Orange River, it’s no longer under our jurisdiction.”

“Hehe, thank you for your reminder, General. However, the other side of the Orange River is definitely a safer place. I trust my own people.”

Johnson gave Merke a heads-up in advance, all for his own safety. Of course, Merke wouldn’t do anything to Johnson. After all, he was an official of the British Empire. If something really happened to him on East African soil, it would be a provocation to the face of the ascendant British Empire.

Johnson was eager to return to Cape Town to report the news. In reality, the Cape Town colony understood the situation even better than Johnson. The large-scale military operations launched by the East African Kingdom in South Africa were impossible to miss, even for a blind man.

Even more nervous than the British were the Portuguese. Among the white powers, the Portuguese colony of Mozambique had the best understanding of the East African Kingdom.

The sudden appearance of Felix’s army in the Kingdom of Swaziland genuinely startled the Mozambique colony.

As the capital of the Mozambique colony, Maputo, was right next to the Kingdom of Swaziland, any movement in the Kingdom of Swaziland would naturally not escape the notice of the Mozambique colony.

The Mozambique colonial government also knew that East Africa had been causing trouble inland, but after all, there were several native countries in between, so they only had a general understanding of the situation, such as the major event of the East African annexation of the Matabele Kingdom.

However, the Matabele Kingdom was still some distance away from the Mozambique colony. In particular, the several countries formed after the split of the Monomotapa Kingdom acted as a buffer zone between East Africa and Mozambique, which gave Mozambique some sense of security.

However, after the East African Kingdom occupied Swaziland, it meant that southern Mozambique and East Africa were directly connected, and the East African Kingdom formed a three-sided encirclement of the Mozambique colony.

However, the governor of Mozambique, who had some understanding of East Africa’s military strength during this period, already knew that the military strength of the East African Kingdom was not something Mozambique could contend with. Even Portugal itself probably couldn’t do much about the Germans, so they chose to lie flat. As long as the East African Kingdom did not attack Mozambique, they would pretend not to see anything.

The military strength of East Africa had always been a mystery to Mozambique, but it was definitely strong. Mozambique could roughly deduce the war strength of the East African Kingdom by establishing military strongholds on both sides of the border. The northern East Africa alone deployed approximately several thousand to ten thousand troops on the East Mozambique border, and this was only a part of the troops that the East African Kingdom used to defend against Mozambique, so the exact number of troops in East Africa was completely unknown.

…

Cape Town.

“According to feedback from merchants returning from the Transvaal, the number of troops deployed by the East African Kingdom this time should be on the scale of tens of thousands. Not only that, but the Natal colony has also sent a message that a new force is fighting the Zulu Kingdom. It’s not the previous Boers. The attire is very similar to that of the armies of the German region. The scale should also be quite large. If there are no accidents, the enemy facing the Zulus is also the East African Kingdom army. Counting it all together, the army deployed by the East African Kingdom this time is likely to be around twenty to thirty thousand.”

After listening to his subordinate’s report, Henry Barkly, the governor of the Cape Town colony, said with a solemn expression: “As far as I know, this East African Kingdom should be in the Tanganyika region north of the Portuguese Mozambique colony. Its territory covers the Zanzibar Sultanate and part of the inland, but now it seems that we know too little about the East African Kingdom.”

Henry Barkly walked to a very abstract map of Africa and said: “Look, this is Tanganyika, and this is Mozambique. This time, the East African Kingdom’s army arrived in South Africa from the inland area, which means that they have bypassed Mozambique and occupied a lot of land in the African interior, so that they can reach South Africa directly from East Africa on land.”

The Cape Town colony’s panoramic map of Africa was very crude, with only the general outline of Africa and detailed information on the coastal areas. The middle was a large blank area.

According to the normal historical trajectory, there should have been many European explorers going deep into the African interior during this era to explore African mountains and rivers to fill in the empty parts in the middle, but this process was interrupted by the East African Kingdom.

The East African Kingdom began to prohibit explorers from Europe from entering since the colonial period. As for those who were fearless of death, East Africa satisfied them by letting them disappear passively. After all, Africa is a dangerous place, and small accidents are not surprising at all.

Therefore, the map in Henry Barkly’s hand basically couldn’t provide him with any useful information. He could only speculate that the East African Kingdom had occupied a lot of land next to the Mozambique colony.

Although Henry Barkly didn’t know how much land East Africa had occupied, or how they conquered it, he knew how long Mozambique was.

Mozambique’s coastline is about two thousand six hundred kilometers long, and the distance that East Africa has to travel to bypass Mozambique to reach South Africa should be about the same number.

However, Henry Barkly was more inclined to believe that the East African Kingdom used waterways to expand all the way from East Africa to South Africa.

“Between East Africa and South Africa, there is likely to be a north-south river that allows the Germans to use ships to achieve rapid military mobilization and material replenishment. Otherwise, I don’t believe they can quickly expand from the East African coastal area to South Africa.”

What Henry Barkly said was not entirely wrong. East Africa did have a river that satisfied Henry Barkly’s guess, that is, the Luangwa River. However, the Luangwa River is only a tributary of the Zambezi River, and at most it reaches the Zambezi River, but it cannot directly reach South Africa. Moreover, although East Africa also engages in shipping on the Luangwa River, the shipping routes on the Luangwa River are not continuous, but exist as independent sections.

Chapter 397: Prussia is Playing a Grand Game

The speed of human migration is quite fast. East Africa is merely accelerating this process, provided there is a sufficient population for East Africa to draw upon. This is precisely what Henry Barkly couldn’t imagine. Hence, he proposed the north-south river hypothesis.

Without knowing the population of the East African kingdom, he referenced the immigration speed of the Cape Colony and concluded that the East African kingdom couldn’t have a large population. After all, the East African kingdom had only been established for less than two years. Even if you go back further, including the colonial period, it’s only been a few years. In such a short time, East Africa having a few hundred thousand people at most would already be impressive.

In this regard, Henry Barkly couldn’t imagine or understand the enormous help a national system provides for immigration. East African immigration has been operating at a loss for so many years, importing people from Europe and the Far East into East Africa regardless of cost.

This kind of immigration strategy, completely led by the government, is also unique in Western world history. Of course, the East African great migration isn’t entirely unprecedented. For example, the Far East has had this tradition since ancient times, a typical example being the great Hongwu migration in the early Ming Dynasty, and the “Huguang fills Sichuan” in the early Qing Dynasty… The difference lies in the fact that East Africa’s migration is maritime, while the Far East’s is land-based.

The speed of immigration in the United States is also terrifying, but that is based on the United States’ uniquely superior conditions. Moreover, the United States is currently a typical small government, and immigration is entirely driven by private capital.

As for whether East Africa can muster tens of thousands of troops from a population of a few hundred thousand, it’s entirely possible. Most immigrants are single adult males, naturally excellent soldiers. Coupled with the consistent conscription capabilities of the German states, this isn’t difficult for the East African kingdom.

Henry Barkly: “In any case, the appearance of Germans in South Africa is a bad thing for us. Their presence in the north will hinder our future expansion northward.”

“Governor, should we stop the East African kingdom?” his subordinate suggested.

Henry Barkly: “Stop them? How? Fight a war with the East African kingdom?”

“It’s not impossible.”

“Hmph, utterly foolish!” Henry Barkly scolded angrily, “The Germans were able to quickly gain a foothold in Africa and expand to South Africa. What do you think they relied on? Force. I ask you, if our Cape Colony wanted to eliminate the Transvaal Republic, could we do it as easily and comfortably as the Germans?”

This question stumped his subordinate.

Henry Barkly continued, “There must be many professional soldiers retired from Prussia among the Germans in the East African kingdom. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to form a regular army similar to Prussia’s. If we’re talking about the navy, Britain is invincible in the world, but Prussia is currently number one in the world in terms of the army. And the East African kingdom must also have many soldiers retired from various German states. Their army should be a complete imitation of the German army, rebuilt in Africa.”

Henry Barkly even suspected that all of this was secretly orchestrated by Prussia. Prussia had already unified Germany and become a member of the world’s top great powers club. And how could Germany, as a world power, not be tempted by owning large colonies?

Henry Barkly continued to speculate about when the Germans in the East African kingdom began their colonial activities in Africa. Wasn’t it after Wilhelm I and Bismarck became the new leaders of the country!

“The East African kingdom didn’t appear out of thin air, and the time it appeared as a colony coincides with the time Wilhelm I and Bismarck came to power…”

“Governor! Are you saying that the East African kingdom is a chess piece that Wilhelm I and Bismarck planted in Africa years ago?”

“It’s not impossible! Think about it, Bismarck, such a genius political figure, is best at planning ahead. Looking back now, every step of Prussia’s unification of Germany is inseparable from Bismarck’s strategies. And Germany’s lack of colonies is inconsistent with Germany’s current status. And the East African kingdom was established by the Hohenzollern family. Are these all coincidences? If the East African kingdom is really a chess piece that Bismarck planted in Africa years ago, then it’s too terrifying.”

Henry Barkly’s guess was agreed upon by his subordinates: “Governor, I think so too. Colonial costs are very high, especially for colonies like East Africa that build large-scale armies. And if they want to maintain this military scale, apart from the existence of gold mines, they can only rely on a major power to support them. Currently, there are no large gold mines known to exist in Africa. Then the establishment of the East African kingdom should be inseparable from Prussia.”

Henry Barkly: “It seems that Wilhelm I and Bismarck are playing a grand game. From the beginning of their reign, they had already set the development path of Prussia and are realizing it step by step. And the East African kingdom is an important step in this grand game. Imagine, if the East African kingdom is really Prussia’s proxy in Africa, coupled with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then the entire German nation can spread from Europe to the African continent, and may even cut off the east-west trade route.”

Under the chilling realization, Henry Barkly became uneasy: “We must contact London and let them test Germany. If the facts are really as we guessed, then it’s too terrifying.”

Henry Barkly is no longer concerned about the East African kingdom’s problem. He believes that the East African kingdom is just a pawn in Bismarck’s hand. He should strike at Prussia, the chess player.

While Henry Barkly and his subordinates were discussing the relationship between the East African kingdom and Prussia, Johnson also crossed the Orange River and headed towards Cape Town.

He wanted to bring the news of Griqualand’s annexation by East Africa to the governor as soon as possible. Griqualand’s incorporation into Cape Town was one of Henry Barkly’s major achievements since he became governor of South Africa.

Henry Barkly has always regarded integrating South Africa and incorporating several Boer republics into the Cape Colony as an important goal during his tenure. The Griqualand Republic was the first step in this goal. As a result, the Transvaal Republic is gone, and Griqualand, which had already been swallowed by Cape Town, has been hijacked by the East African kingdom.

Henry Barkly’s mood can be imagined. Coupled with the East African kingdom’s unspeakable relationship with Prussia, Henry Barkly has reason to believe that this is a prelude to Germany squeezing the British Empire’s power out of the African continent.

More than ten days later, Johnson finally arrived in Cape Town. He described the situation in Griqualand to Henry Barkly, and Henry Barkly’s face turned even darker.

Henry Barkly: “This is definitely a provocation to our British Empire. I will immediately report to London, demanding that Prussia abandon this provocative behavior and withdraw from Griqualand and other places, and compensate us for our losses.”

This time, Henry Barkly was really angry. Griqualand was one of his political achievements, but it was destroyed by the German barbarians. When have British Empire officials suffered such grievances?

Griqualand Republic, no matter what, is part of the Cape Colony, which is British territory. The loss of territory, when has such a thing happened in British history?

Therefore, Henry Barkly absolutely does not allow such a thing to happen in his hands. However, given that the East African kingdom is supported by Germans and has strong military strength, this is not something that the Cape Colony can solve. Therefore, Henry Barkly intends to let London handle this matter directly.

Chapter 398: Even a Dog Gets Slapped Twice

Ernst didn’t know that Cape Town was preparing to interfere in East Africa, and was planning to start with Germany right away. However, Ernst knew before the war that East Africa and Cape Town wouldn’t end well, but the British wishful thinking of starting with Germany to intervene in East Africa was just that.

This time, East Africa’s strategic goal was to use mountains and rivers as boundaries, occupy some easily defended areas, and seize South Africa’s mining areas for itself. Many places in South Africa with mountains and rivers had British influence, a typical example being the Griqualand Republic, but the Griqualand Republic was north of the Orange River.

If the Griqualand Republic were south of the Orange River, East Africa probably wouldn’t have annexed it, as it would be difficult to defend and easily become a bleeding wound.

Secondly, there was the border between the Zulu Kingdom and the Natal Colony, which also lacked a clear demarcation. This was easy to understand, as the British previously believed they had the upper hand. In Africa, at least in South Africa, they had no rivals. If they signed border treaties with these natives, not to mention whether these natives were qualified, it would also hinder their expansion advantages.

As a result, the East African Kingdom was now the same as Britain, and East Africa didn’t care about this either. From the colonial era to the present, East Africa had only signed a border treaty with Egypt.

Firstly, Egypt’s strategic location was important, with a long history, and closely watched by major powers. Secondly, the area where Egypt and East Africa bordered was Sudan, which was mainly desert climate, with only a little arable land in the Gezira Plain, which was not conducive to troop advancement. Thirdly, Egypt itself was not weak.

At least East Africa believed that Egypt had the strength to sit at the negotiating table. However, even so, Egypt was still at a disadvantage when it finally signed a treaty with East Africa, ceding some “worthless land” with oil in Sudan to East Africa.

…

Without stopping in Pretoria for long, shortly after the 123rd Division supported Felix’s war against the Zulu Kingdom, the 514th Division, which had rested for a few days, was dispatched again. This time, the 514th Division’s destination was the Kingdom of Basutoland, which was the Kingdom of Lesotho in its previous life.

In South Africa now, you could say that even a dog would get slapped twice by East Africa. The Kingdom of Lesotho was about to take this slap from East Africa.

The reason for East Africa hitting Lesotho was quite simple. Lesotho was the highest country in South Africa, and also South Africa’s water tower. Many rivers in South Africa originated here, such as the Orange River, some tributaries of the Vaal River, and the Tugela River, which flows into the Indian Ocean.

In its previous life, the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Africa had a well-known water diversion project, which was to divert water from Lesotho to solve the industrial water problem in Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa.

At the same time, the Kingdom of Basutoland happened to be the watershed of the Orange River and the Tugela River, so Ernst planned to swallow the northern part of the Kingdom of Basutoland.

This would help East Africa to construct a defense line based on the Tugela River, the Feeder River (a tributary of the Orange River), Champagne Castle, the Vaal River, and the Orange River, with the Kingdom of Lesotho as the center.

(Image)

Ernst called this defense line the Southern Defense Line. The main target of the Southern Defense Line was the Cape Town Colony.

East Africa had offended all the forces in South Africa, including the Boers, Swazi, Zulu, Basotho, Griqua (Boers), and British.

However, East Africa had to restrain its ambitions and not be too rude to Cape Town. So far, the conflict between East Africa and Cape Town was at most a clash. If they really attacked Cape Town, it would not be a clash, but a declaration of war against Britain.

Although the Griqualand Republic was part of the Cape Town Colony, it was not important. Basutoland was also a British protectorate, but East Africa did not intend to erase it directly from the map, but chose to leave half of it.

These two main conflict areas were lower-level areas of the Cape Town Colony, not the main body of Cape Town. Only the Natal Colony in the southeast belonged to one of the core colonies.

The East African Kingdom’s actions against these two regions were two different concepts from attacking Cape Town. Cape Town was Britain’s son, and these two were grandsons, and the British mainland could not control these two regions, mainly Cape Town was responsible for managing them on behalf of Britain.

The Cape Town Colony could actually be seen as an independent country. Although it was part of the British Empire, it had a certain degree of autonomy. Its main power institution was the Cape Town National Assembly, composed of locals, but the head was the British Queen, and the actual administrative head was the British Commissioner to South Africa, who also served as the Governor of Cape Town, namely Henry Barkly. In addition, with the presence of British troops in Cape Town, Britain could now firmly control South Africa.

This configuration was actually similar to Australia, a little worse than Canada, because in 1867 the British Parliament passed the British North America Act, making Canada a British dominion close to an independent sovereign state.

In fact, if the East African Kingdom had not intervened, the white people of the Cape Colony would have been able to obtain autonomy this year, and then they could have set up a cabinet responsible to the parliament, realizing true autonomy.

And now, the white people of Cape Town had to reconsider the necessity of striving for autonomy before. Obtaining autonomy itself was the Cape Town whites’ desire for more rights, while reducing obligations, relying on the importance of the Cape Town Colony to force the British mainland to compromise.

But after the enemy of East Africa came, the contradiction of the white people in Cape Town shifted from the central government in London and the local government in Cape Town to the contradiction between Cape Town and East Africa.

Without the protection of the British Empire, how could the Cape Town Colony resist the East African Kingdom, which had stronger military strength? Therefore, the local white forces in the Cape Town Colony now needed to bow their heads to London, which might not be a bad thing for the British government.

…

The East African Kingdom’s war against the Zulu Kingdom and Lesotho was almost simultaneous. The Zulu Kingdom was the most difficult place to fight, but after the East African cavalry division joined the battle, the situation improved greatly.

In open areas, the cavalry division could easily handle the Zulu Kingdom, and the Zulu Kingdom wanted to retreat to complex terrain but could not get rid of the pursuit of the East African mountain division.

This made the Zulu Kingdom very headache. The reason why the Zulu Kingdom could fight back and forth with the Boers was largely due to the terrain advantage.

However, the soldiers of the East African mountain division were all from mountainous areas, which made them walk like flying in the Drakensberg Mountains, even more advantageous than the Zulu people living here.

The Zulu Kingdom actually only arrived here a few decades ago and established the kingdom. Before that, the Khoisan people lived here. The entire South Africa was previously the territory of the Khoisan people. Now the Khoisan people are mainly distributed in Cape Town and the East African Kingdom, as well as Namibia in its previous life, with only about a few hundred thousand people left.

The Khoisan people belong to an independent ethnic group, with yellowish skin. Because of the Bantu people moving south (including the Zulu people), the Khoisan people in eastern South Africa are now mixed-race (the maternal line is Khoisan), so they are darker than the natives of the Dutch East Indies.

It can be said that on the land of South Africa today, except for the Khoisan people, all are invaders, and the Zulu people are no exception. Even the history of the Zulu people in South Africa is almost the same period as the Boers.

In addition, the Zulu people are also nomadic people, and they do not often run to the mountains, so their understanding of the terrain is just so-so.

The Zulu people besieged by the East African army had to continue to flee to more complex mountainous areas, because although the East African mountain division was difficult to deal with, the cavalry unit was even more difficult to deal with. On the plains, it was basically a dead end.

On June 8, 1872, the last resisting army of the Zulu Kingdom was forced by the East African Army into the Champagne Castle on the left side of the Tugela River Valley, but the East African Army continued to pursue until the remnants of the Zulu Kingdom entered the Natal Colony from Champagne Castle. The Zulu Kingdom was destroyed.

On June 12, 1872, East Africa raided Maseru, the capital of the Kingdom of Basutoland (Lesotho) (located on the south side of the Tugela River Valley). The Kingdom of Basutoland was forced to move its capital to Quthing, on the south side of the Orange River Valley. The Kingdom of Basutoland asked the British for help.

On June 14, 1872, the exiled government of the Transvaal Republic arrived in Cape Town, and Little Pretorius sought to restore the country.

Chapter 399: Still Need to Ask Daddy

The series of wars launched by the East African Kingdom in South Africa kept the Cape Town Colony busy from May to July. Due to delays in transportation and information, news reached Cape Town more than ten days late. Therefore, the fighting along the southern defense line in East Africa ended in June, but Cape Town only learned in July that Basutoland was half-crippled and the Zulu Kingdom was destroyed.

Cape Town Colonial Council.

“Gentlemen! This is the latest news from north of the Orange River. According to reports from the Natal Colony, a remnant of the Zulu Kingdom has fled into the Natal Colony, probably half a month ago. They say their king was killed in battle, and their entire country was lost. Almost at the same time, the Germans attacked Basutoland, and the German also occupied Maseru, the capital of Basutoland. The Basotho people were forced to move south. Now, we will hold a secret ballot on the proposal from February this year to form a Cape Town responsible cabinet.” Said Ong Olsson, Speaker of the Cape Town Colonial Council.

Subsequently, the members of the Cape Town Council began the voting process. Fifteen minutes later.

“One vote against, two votes against… The result of this vote is that the establishment of a responsible cabinet in Cape Town is unanimously rejected.”

Along with Ong Olsson’s announcement of the voting results, thunderous applause erupted in the hall. A crucial step towards Cape Town’s autonomy was completely thwarted by the East African Kingdom’s invasion of South Africa.

Ong Olsson: “Now, let’s invite His Excellency the Governor to introduce the current situation of the East African Kingdom’s invasion of South Africa.”

Henry Barkly was extremely satisfied with the outcome of this meeting. The Germans had been a great help, but he still needed to strongly criticize the East African Kingdom to make the Cape Town councilors realize the seriousness of the problem.

Henry Barkly: “Gentlemen, I believe you have all learned, to varying degrees, about the East African Kingdom’s invasion of South Africa through various channels. Some gentlemen have even become victims of this war. All indications show that the East African Kingdom is a highly aggressive nation, with a warlike gene in its bones, just like Prussia.

Starting in March, the East African Kingdom suddenly launched an attack on the Transvaal Republic. With the Transvaal Republic completely unprepared, it took them less than a month to complete the occupation of the Transvaal Republic. Shortly thereafter, the East African Kingdom invaded the Griqualand Republic without any pretext for war. Almost at the same time, the Kingdom of Swaziland fell, and the main force of the Transvaal Republic was defeated. Next were the Zulu Kingdom and the Basutoland Kingdom.

In less than four months, the East African Kingdom has destroyed three sovereign states and occupied half of the Basutoland Kingdom’s territory.”

Henry Barkly’s words made the councilors fall into deep thought. It was too fast!

“Governor, I would like to know where this East African Kingdom came from? Why haven’t we heard of this country before?”

Henry Barkly: “This is a very good question. It is because of our intelligence lag that this major error occurred. We did not realize the harm of the East African Kingdom, which allowed the East African Kingdom to rampage in South Africa. I can briefly introduce the specific situation of the East African Kingdom to everyone.

The East African Kingdom originated from the former East African colony, which was established by the Germans in the Tanganyika region. The Germans began to operate in the Tanganyika region around 1865, but the specific time of their landing is unknown, and how they developed in East Africa is also unknown.

However, we learned from the Portuguese that in 1867, the Sultanate of Zanzibar became a protectorate of East Africa due to its defeat in war. East Africa therefore inherited the continental part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s territory. The current cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were incorporated into East Africa at that time.

At the same time, the Portuguese are also facing fierce competition from the Germans. According to the Portuguese, the East African Kingdom has deployed approximately several thousand troops on its border. At the same time, East Africa has eliminated many indigenous countries, including the Kingdom of Malawi, the Kingdom of Kazembe, and the Kingdom of Matabele.”

A councilor interrupted: “Governor, we only want to know how many troops East Africa currently has in South Africa, how many troops they can mobilize, whether they harbor ambitions towards the Cape Town Colony, and what to do if they suddenly launch an attack on Cape Town.”

This question stumped Henry Barkly: “Well, these questions, how should I put it! According to our investigation, the estimated strength of East Africa in South Africa should be between thirty thousand and fifty thousand.”

Henry Barkly’s words were not finished when they caused an uproar among the members of the Cape Town Council.

“Good heavens! Thirty thousand to fifty thousand people? That’s enough to fight a low-intensity war in Europe.”

“Cape Town (city) doesn’t even have that many people this year. Our population statistics in 1865 showed that at that time, Cape Town had 15,118 white people, 13,065 colored people and Asians, and 274 indigenous black people. Even if we add the surrounding suburbs now, it’s probably only about the same as the number of East African troops.”

“Why did the Germans of the East African Kingdom suddenly appear silently in South Africa? The government should explain this!”

“We don’t even understand the information about the East African Kingdom and have to obtain it from the Portuguese. This is too ironic.”

“Don’t comment without knowing the whole picture.”

“Beat that bastard in front to death!”

…

“Silence, silence! Please listen to the Governor finish speaking!” Ong Olsson maintained order in the hall.

Henry Barkly also said at this time: “Everyone, there is no need to panic. Although the Germans are very powerful, our British Empire is the world’s number one. Under the protection of the British Empire, even Germany and Austria have to think twice, let alone the small East African Kingdom. However, even so, we must still be vigilant about the ambitions of the East African Kingdom.

For example, the Griqualand Republic is already our territory of Cape Town, but the East African Kingdom has not given us a reply to this day, showing no sincerity in returning the Griqualand Republic. I think perhaps the East African Kingdom only regards Griqualand as a small country, so it doesn’t care, but they are only separated from our Kimberley diamond mine by a river.

This is a great threat to us, but fortunately, the East Africans do not know the existence of the Kimberley diamond mine, so they have not crossed the river to take the diamond mine for themselves.”

“Damn it, don’t we have any means to counter the Germans? Governor! Where does all the tax we pay every year go? Why is our army not reacting at all?”

Henry Barkly: “This councilor, please watch your words. We must note that only the navy is relatively combat-effective among the local troops in Cape Town, but the navy cannot run inland to fight.

Secondly, our army, I believe you also know that they cannot even be called an army, and the number of people is pitifully small. If you are willing to contribute the mercenaries in your hands, perhaps you will still have a chance to fight the East African Kingdom, or if everyone had not been holding back military spending in previous years, I believe London would have sent more troops over.”

Henry Barkly’s proposal was of course impossible to pass. Want money? Forget it. Everyone came to Cape Town to make a fortune. Cape Town is not a good place either. It’s just about running farms and mining. Income is not much, and expenses are high. Where is the energy to support military construction?

Furthermore, even if military expenses are paid, it will be skimmed off by London. How many troops are sent over depends entirely on London’s conscience, and London’s conscience is no conscience. Everyone has always wanted autonomy just to pay less tax! Now, because of the threat of the Germans, not causing trouble is already progress.

After arguing back and forth, no one could come up with a better solution. Since this is the case, it is still necessary to ask London for help. In any case, Cape Town’s ability is not enough to cope with the East African Kingdom.

Chapter 400: Non-Aggression Pact

Cape Town still had to wait to send messages to London, but East Africa wouldn’t stand still waiting for the British to make their move. Currently, the East African Army had completed all its tasks, and the next step was to wrap things up and secure the gains.

Ernst: “Now, we need to stabilize the Orange Free State first and foremost, and prevent them from having unrealistic ideas. After this war, the Orange Free State is the strongest in all of South Africa besides Cape Town. We need to send negotiators to the Orange Free State, first to determine the border, and at the same time, express our goodwill to the Orange Free State.”

“Your Highness, the situation regarding Griqualand West is a bit complicated. How should we express our position on this?”

Ernst: “Emphasize the low value of Griqualand West. We definitely have to give the British some face, but it’s impossible for us to withdraw from Griqualand West. Order Moltke to strengthen the military strength opposite Kimberley, station at least a brigade on the other side of the Vaal River, conduct a small exercise, fire a few cannons, and put some pressure on Cape Town, forcing them to compromise proactively.”

“Your Highness, won’t this provoke the British to target us in the future!”

Ernst: “It doesn’t matter. The British can’t do anything to us. We won’t be focusing on expansion in the future anyway. We’ll slowly digest the gains we’ve made and wait for the dust to settle before talking about anything else.”

Rather than saying that Ernst was being patient, it was more like East Africa had eaten its fill this time. Being greedy again could really cause a collapse. South Africa and East Africa were still separated by Zimbabwe, and the long supply line was a heavy burden for the Kingdom of East Africa. However, the good news was that the Zimbabwean telegraph line was being extended in this direction. Once the telegraph line was set up in South Africa, communication and command wouldn’t be as awkward as they were now.

…

Orange Free State, Bloemfontein.

When the allied Transvaal Republic was attacked by the Kingdom of East Africa, the government of the Orange Free State originally wanted to send troops to help, but East Africa’s astonishing achievements forced the government of the Orange Free State to reconsider this matter.

The Transvaal Republic fell too quickly. The main reason was that the Transvaal Republic did not inflict too many losses on the East African Army. Therefore, after assessing its own strength, the government of the Orange Free State concluded that the Orange Free State did not have the ability to deal with the Kingdom of East Africa.

However, the Orange Free State still carried out an emergency mobilization, preparing to respond to an invasion by the Kingdom of East Africa at any time. Fortunately, after the East African Army occupied Winburg, it did not choose to move south, but began to build strongholds along the Vet River, seemingly not intending to attack. Subsequently, Swete, representing Ernst, was sent to the Orange Free State to dispel the hostility between the two countries, or rather, the Orange Free State’s vigilance towards East Africa.

Swete: “President Brand, hello, I am Swete, the special envoy of the Kingdom of East Africa. I am here specifically to discuss security issues between our two countries with your esteemed nation.”

Brand questioned: “Hello, Mr. Swete, I wonder what your Kingdom of East Africa intends to achieve by stirring up trouble in South Africa this time?”

Swete said straightforwardly: “Nothing more than benefits and the strategic security of the Kingdom of East Africa.”

“Security? East Africa’s military strength has already been demonstrated in the South African region. Is there a more threatening existence than you?” Brand said.

Swete said: “That’s for sure. We really don’t take the other forces in South Africa, including the Orange Free State, seriously, but no country in this world can turn a blind eye to the existence of the British.”

Indeed, you Germans and the British are not good people, Brand cursed inwardly.

“Your Kingdom of East Africa is so far away from the British, are you still worried about the British? If we are really talking about guarding against the British, I am afraid that we, the Orange Free State, should be the most anxious.”

The Orange Free State was the country closest to the Cape Town colony. After the Bloemfontein Convention, Britain had already recognized the independence of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic, but with the development of Kimberley’s mineral resources, the British once again had designs on the Orange Free State.

As a result, the British had not yet settled down, and now the Germans had come from the north. This was really too difficult for the Orange Free State.

“It’s different. We are not optimistic about the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State stopping the British from expanding in South Africa. After all, the Zulu Kingdom alone has caused the Transvaal Republic a lot of headaches. The most hateful thing is that the Transvaal Republic is still supporting indigenous forces to rebel within our Kingdom of East Africa. This is a matter of crossing the line. No country will tolerate such provocation.”

Damn Little Pretorius! Brand cursed inwardly. It was all this guy’s fault, but as an ally, Brand still had to say a good word for the Transvaal Republic: “Mr. Swete, Little Pretorius is just a fool who relies on his father’s influence and has no real ability. His actions should be discussed separately from the Transvaal Republic.”

“Alright, you don’t need to tell us about this. It is impossible for the Transvaal Republic to be restored. The victor is king, and the loser is the villain. Now the Transvaal Republic is the spoils of war of our Kingdom of East Africa, so it is naturally impossible to hand it over,” Swete said.

Brand: “Then what exactly is your purpose in coming to the Orange Free State?”

Swete said: “The meaning of our Kingdom of East Africa is very simple, that is, the two countries sign a non-aggression treaty. The kingdom is actually not very interested in the Orange Free State. We also need a buffer country as a buffer zone between the Kingdom of East Africa and the Cape Town colony. Of course, the premise is that you cannot rely on Cape Town, otherwise we will definitely not sit idly by.”

“Hehe, is your country always so domineering?” Brand said with a sneer.

Swete: “If I said no, you definitely wouldn’t believe it, but our Kingdom of East Africa has always valued promises and never easily breaks them.”

Brand said: “But how can you guarantee that you have no ambitions for the Orange Free State?”

“Hahaha, Mr. President, you are being petty! If our Kingdom of East Africa says it is not interested in the Orange Free State, then it is really not interested. I will reveal a number to you, and you will know if I am lying. This time, our Kingdom of East Africa has dispatched nearly sixty thousand troops in total, and that is without organizing indigenous cannon fodder,” Swete said.

War maniacs!

“Since your Kingdom of East Africa has dispatched so many troops and occupied so many places, and still says that it is not interested in the Orange Free State, isn’t that self-contradictory?”

“Mr. President, believe that in these days, many former citizens of the Transvaal Republic have fled into your country, this is a fact, right!”

“Of course I know about this.”

“Then you say that our Kingdom of East Africa drove these people out of their original land, will they resent East Africa?”

“This…”

“The answer is yes. If it were you, would you put these people in a country that might be hostile to you?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s right, these people who have arrived in the Orange Free State have actually strengthened your power, and they will be a firm force against East Africa. Why do you think East Africa would do this?”

“This…”

Brand couldn’t answer. Swete then said: “The essence of driving these Boers to the Orange Free State is to strengthen your power, and to put it bluntly, the Orange Free State has nothing that is worth coveting by the Kingdom of East Africa. To put it even more bluntly, our army is fully capable of destroying the Transvaal Republic and then destroying you. Currently, the main force of East Africa is still in Pretoria, and there is no intention of dispatching it at all. The kingdom’s army along the Vet River is enough for you to handle.”

After Swete’s “reasonable” persuasion, Brand also understood the situation. It was not that the Kingdom of East Africa was afraid of being defeated in the Orange Free State, but that they simply did not care about the Orange Free State. The gap between the strengths of the two sides was too great.

“Okay, Mr. Swete, what does your country want us to do?”

Swete: “I have already said it, sign an agreement to ensure the independent and autonomous status of the Orange Free State, and do not favor either the Kingdom of East Africa or the Cape Town colony. Apart from that, East Africa has no additional requirements.”

This made Brand breathe a sigh of relief. It was considered a good condition, and it did not harm the interests of the Orange Free State. Thus, East Africa and the Orange Free State signed a “Non-Aggression Treaty” for a period of thirty years.

Chapter 401: Rejected

July 22nd, 1872.

London.

British Prime Minister Gladstone had been feeling quite pleased with himself lately. Everything was progressing smoothly. Last year, he had presided over the British national education reform, establishing government-funded, non-religious primary schools to improve the cultural level of workers in order to support industrialists in competing in the international market.

In the same year, he implemented civil service reform, establishing a low-cost government that could both improve administrative efficiency and save money, in order to use more funds for economic development. This year, he also completed the reform of the British Army, adapting it to a short-term conscription system.

In addition, the international situation had improved. Their mortal enemy, France, had been dragged down by Prussia. The current British Empire wasn’t just doing well, but the situation was overwhelmingly positive.

Just then, the secretary came in, disrupting Gladstone’s good mood: “Prime Minister, this is an urgent letter from the Cape Town colony!”

“Cape Town! What urgent matters could they possibly have?” Gladstone asked, puzzled.

“Uh, Prime Minister, please read the contents of the letter before making a judgment,” the secretary replied.

So, Gladstone read it with a skeptical attitude. He really couldn’t imagine what urgent matters Cape Town could encounter. As an important part of the British Empire’s colonies, no one with any sense would dare to provoke Cape Town now. After all, France was no longer qualified to compete with Britain for hegemony. Although Germany had become the overlord of continental Europe, its navy was a joke among the great powers, posing no threat to Britain. Finally, there were Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia, two giants with feet of clay, not worth mentioning.

Excluding the great powers, the only country that dared to challenge the British Empire should be the rebellious son, America. But the British knew that America was just all talk and no action, only able to shout at Britain across the Atlantic.

“Where is the East African Kingdom?” Gladstone asked, puzzled, after reading the letter.

The secretary replied, “Prime Minister, have you forgotten about Prince Constantine of Prussia going to Africa to become king the year before last? It was a laughingstock in the newspapers for a while!”

Gladstone said, “Now that you mention it, I remember. I even joked at the time that the Hohenzollern family had no ambition, actually running to Africa to become kings and dominate.”

Although Ernst bought the headlines, making the East African Kingdom famous at the time, the reputation wasn’t very good. Africa, you know how it is. If the Franco-Prussian War hadn’t broken out next, this would definitely have become a laughingstock for most people for a while.

“Hmm, but is the East African Kingdom so overbearing now that it can bully Cape Town? Fifty thousand troops isn’t that many, is it? Why is Cape Town so nervous!” Gladstone asked, puzzled.

Gladstone didn’t think that East Africa’s fifty thousand troops would have any impact on Cape Town, because he thought along conventional lines, believing that East Africa used black people to form its troops.

This kind of thing was too common in the colonies. If possible, Britain could easily organize an army of millions in India using local people. Cape Town didn’t have many white people, but it had quite a few black people. How could it not be able to raise an army of hundreds of thousands?

Thinking of this, Gladstone became angry: “Let Cape Town solve this matter themselves. It’s too embarrassing to be afraid of a small African country. Wouldn’t America have turned upside down long ago with so many black people? Are we supposed to go to Prussia and say, ‘Your colony is too powerful, threatening the safety of our Cape Town?’ If they don’t even have the confidence to beat black people, is that reasonable?”

Gladstone continued, “Reply to Sir Henry Barkly, don’t send this kind of thing to London in the future, unless the Germans personally come down and fight in Cape Town. I don’t believe they’ve degenerated to the point where they can be bullied even by natives. Don’t even think about me losing face and begging Bismarck because of this.”

What Gladstone said also made sense. With the German navy’s level, it was probably on par with the Royal Navy stationed in the Cape Town colony. Moreover, the Germans couldn’t possibly cross the Atlantic to Africa to die.

Of course, the main reason Gladstone was so angry was that the British Empire couldn’t afford to lose face, and he, as the Prime Minister of the Empire, couldn’t afford to lose face either. To ask him to beg Bismarck for the sake of Cape Town’s interests? The people of Cape Town were out of their minds. The world’s hegemon begging a former little brother?

“Yes, Prime Minister!”

The secretary also thought so. The East African Kingdom was just a native country that had just been listed last year, while the British Cape Town colony had undergone hundreds of years of development (plus the Dutch), the region with the largest white population in Africa (Europe). If a century-old colony was weaker than a newly born native country, that would be too disgraceful.

Gladstone rejected the Cape Town colony’s request for help, not because Gladstone thought Cape Town was unimportant, but because he didn’t think Cape Town was in danger. The only countries with the strength to dare to eat the Cape Town colony under Britain’s nose were other great powers. The problem was that the British Royal Navy was now dominant, and no one dared to cause trouble for the British overseas.

……

South Africa.

Ernst: “Now that we and the Portuguese are neighbors to the south, it would be too much to not pay them a visit. Otherwise, it would be bad if we really scared the Mozambique colony.”

After pacifying the forces in South Africa, especially the Orange Free State, the southern defense line of the East African Kingdom was as solid as a rock. Don’t look down on the small area of the Orange Free State. It now has nearly half of South Africa’s white population (excluding the East African Army). Especially the strengthened version of the Orange Free State, Ernst believes that it can say no to East Africa and Cape Town.

But the Cape Town colony doesn’t seem to be doing anything, with no reaction at all. So Ernst plans to have Felix, who pacified the Zulu Kingdom, lead a team to Portugal for exchanges (demonstrations).

There’s no other way. Although the Mozambique colony has more areas bordering East Africa to the north, Mozambique’s center of gravity is in Maputo Bay. The action of force is mutual. Mozambique is worried that the East African Kingdom will threaten its capital, and the East African Kingdom is equally worried that the Portuguese will sneak attack South Africa!

Ernst: “No need to bring too many people, a dozen or so is enough. The Portuguese are startled birds now. As long as we put in a little effort, they might explode.”

Ernst was telling the truth. On this land of South Africa, the arrival of the East African Kingdom has made people panic. Especially the large-scale military mobilization of the East African Kingdom, and a series of dazzling wars, have made the local forces tremble with fear, afraid that the East African Kingdom will suddenly attack them one day.

Moreover, it’s one thing for the East African Kingdom to be strong militarily, but they don’t play by the rules. Looking at the several countries that East Africa has eliminated, they all declared war without warning. This kind of neighbor is a worrisome existence no matter where they are.

Tsarist Russia is a representative example, but Tsarist Russia has to follow European rules when fighting in Europe. The East African Kingdom, on the other hand, is completely like a rogue. This is also related to the ecological environment of the colonies. In all the world’s colonies, especially in Africa, the emphasis is on not playing by the rules, swindling, killing, and arson. Various colonial groups can fight like cats and dogs, and use all kinds of crooked tricks. A country like the East African Kingdom, which purely relies on force to solve problems, can be considered a clean stream in Africa.

Chapter 402: Compromise

“Shell loaded!”

“Aim at the target point, ready, fire!”

Boom… With a deafening roar, billowing black smoke spewed from the cannon barrel, the immense recoil causing the artillery piece to jolt up from the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The target, hastily constructed from earth and stone on the banks of the Vaal River, was instantly blown to smithereens.

But it didn’t end there. The Third Brigade was equipped with a total of eleven artillery pieces, the entire 511th Division’s arsenal. As the first cannon fired, the others followed suit, pounding the destroyed target’s remains. When the dust settled, the original pile of earth and stone, over a meter high, had been reduced to a deep crater.

“Third Cavalry Company, advance!”

More than two hundred warhorses thundered across the open field. As their speed increased, the cavalrymen drew their Dreyse carbines, swiftly loaded ammunition while on horseback, then brought their horses to a sudden halt, aimed, and fired towards the Vaal River, each movement fluid and unbroken.

Subsequently, various units of the Third Brigade, following the pre-war headquarters’ imagined enemy scenarios, conducted a series of tactical demonstrations: advancing, retreating, counterattacking. The units coordinated with each other, showcasing the Third Brigade’s inter-unit synergy. The exercise lasted for four hours, finally ending when the midday sun was high in the sky and the mess call sounded.

Across the river, the British, Boers, and natives had been watching the East African Kingdom’s performance.

The British mine owners stood at a distance, observing through binoculars and discussing the significance of the East African Kingdom’s exercise.

“Oh, my God! The Germans are making a show of force against us!”

“But you must admit they appear to be a well-trained army. No wonder the Germans were able to quickly complete the offensive in many places in South Africa, and finally achieve victory.”

“If it weren’t for those yellow-skinned people in the German army, I would suspect that these Germans are actually the Prussian army disguised as the East African Kingdom’s forces, fighting against the Boers and the Zulu Kingdom.”

“Gentlemen, what should we do now? Does the East African Kingdom really intend to attack Kimberley!”

“We absolutely cannot let the Germans cross the river, but who can stop them? Their military strength is considerable. Even if we brought the Royal Navy from Cape Town inland, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be able to do anything about the Germans.”

“In that case, we can only force Cape Town to negotiate with the Germans. Putting aside what would happen if war broke out, my mines cannot stop working for even a day, that means we will earn much less money, and, if the result is terrible, we may lose everything. Once the war starts, who will have the right to Kimberley in the end is not certain.”

“If this were India, I believe the Empire would not fear any challenge, but the Cape Colony cannot compare with India, not to mention Canada and Australia. Our population is too small.”

“And the terrain of Cape Town is not conducive to our army’s defense. The east is better, where we can land troops with the help of ports, but Kimberley is located in the heart of the South African plateau. Even if we wait for the army to come from the east, it will be too late.”

The terrain of the Cape Colony was indeed very unfriendly, especially for the British, because the edge of the South African plateau is a large escarpment that stretches for two thousand kilometers.

(Image)

This special geographical structure is similar to the Brazilian Shield, but the situation is slightly better than Brazil because the South African plateau has a longer history. After hundreds of millions of years of development, some areas along the coast have been eroded by seawater, rivers, rainwater, and wind for a long time, and narrow plains have gradually formed. Cape Town (city) is built on such a plain.

The Drakensberg Mountains in the east are part of this great escarpment, but the Drakensberg Mountains have many gaps and many good ports, so transportation is still acceptable.

The situation of Cape Town (city) leading to the inland is hard to describe. Not only is it restricted by the terrain, but the part connected to the South African plateau in the north is also the very arid Great Karoo Basin, which belongs to a semi-desert arid climate zone. The rainfall is between 100 millimeters and 400 millimeters, which is extremely unstable. Years with lack of rain are even drier than the Kalahari Desert. There is almost no population, and only some goats and sheep can be grazed. However, because of the existence of the South African Great Escarpment, the rivers here can receive water from the high mountains, and limited irrigated agricultural land can be developed along the rivers.

(Image)

In short, it is extremely difficult for the Cape Colony to develop inland. East Africa is the opposite. East Africa is expanding from the inland to the coast, and the East African Plateau and the South African Plateau are almost connected, without too much terrain obstacles. Therefore, Cape Town can only watch East Africa expand recklessly in the inland without any way to stop it, but the root cause is that Cape Town has too few people to support more troops and explore the inland areas.

“The worst thing now is that the Germans are only a river away from us, and the Kimberley mining area is the most valuable piece of cake in the entire South Africa. We cannot afford to lose Kimberley.”

“We must unite and reach an agreement between Cape Town and East Africa. Losing some worthless land is not a big deal. Although Griqualand West has a large area, it is useless land. There is no population and the climate conditions are not good. It doesn’t matter if we give it to the East African Kingdom, as long as the East African Kingdom promises to never have any ideas about Kimberley. I think this is understandable for our common interests.”

His words were recognized by the Kimberley mine owners. So far, there are more than thirty companies in the Kimberley mining area, which have developed diamonds worth about 350,000 pounds, and it is also the largest source of tax revenue for the Cape Colony.

But this is only the limit of the mine owners, far from the limit of the Kimberley mining area. As investment increases, the Kimberley diamond production is increasing exponentially. What is buried underground is white money. The mine owners and the companies established based on diamonds still lack manpower. At present, the Kimberley mining area has less than ten thousand people, which seriously restricts the development of Kimberley.

As long as the population increases, how much can the diamonds in the Kimberley mining area be developed? Millions of pounds, even tens of millions of pounds.

In contrast, the total annual income of the United Kingdom in the early 19th century was 230 million pounds, and the income of the nobles was 3.1 million pounds. The value of Kimberley is self-evident, so Kimberley cannot be lost. The business owners and mine owners in the Kimberley area will not choose to go to war with the East African Kingdom for their own interests.

Soon, Cape Town Governor Henry Barkly received letters from the British nobles and capitalists behind the Kimberley mining area, roughly meaning: “Ensure the safety of the diamond mining area. As for the Griqualand West Republic, just throw it away, otherwise your governorship will come to an end. Quickly negotiate peace with the East African Kingdom to avoid expanding the conflict.”

This made Henry Barkly very depressed. He wrote in his diary: “For the sake of immediate interests, the politicians and capitalists in London have not realized what abandoning the fight against the East African Kingdom means for the future of Britain! If the East African Kingdom gains a foothold in South Africa, even if Cape Town is not annexed in the future, it can only become its vassal. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time. Within fifty years, the seeds they have sown will definitely bear bitter fruit…”

Subsequently, the Cape Colony signed a non-aggression agreement with East Africa. The agreement stated that the East African Kingdom must cease all military operations in South Africa and guarantee never to invade the territory of the Cape Colony. The two sides were bounded by the Orange River.

After the agreement was signed, the East African Army on the border had to withdraw, and only a small number of border troops were allowed to exist. As a reciprocal condition, the Cape Colony did the same.

Finally, regarding the issue of the Griqualand West Republic, the East African Kingdom paid to purchase it as compensation for the Cape Colony. Paying to purchase the Griqualand West Republic was a matter of face. East Africa symbolically paid 3,000 pounds.

The residents of the Griqualand West Republic were then packaged and sent to the Cape Colony by East Africa, just in time to provide labor for the Kimberley mining area.

Chapter 403: Divestment

For Ernst, it was a good thing that Cape Town took the initiative to compromise. Now he could extricate himself from South Africa and focus on something more important.

In October, Ernst did not return to First Town but went directly to Nairobi.

The Hechingen Investment factory in Nairobi had been fully constructed and put into full production. At the same time, the Hechingen Bank headquarters had also moved there, carving out a new location in Nairobi solely to house the bank’s headquarters, complete with a luxurious infrastructure configuration.

“How are the investments in North America going?” This was the first question Ernst asked upon arriving at the Hechingen Bank headquarters.

“Your Highness, we have already begun the eleventh round of asset sales. We still have thirty percent of fixed, high-quality investments on hand, which has allowed us to recover a large amount of capital and make a substantial profit. However, based on the current economic situation in North America, we are essentially still losing out. The assets we disposed of are continuing to appreciate, and the entire market is red hot.”

Ernst nodded and said, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew. We can’t have all the good things for ourselves. How is the situation in Europe?”

“According to your instructions, we have not sold as many assets in Europe as in North America, but we have made more money. Because of the good reputation built by the various brands under the Hechingen Consortium, many people are willing to take over at high prices. For example, the supermarket sector, even those in poorly located, unprofitable areas, are highly sought after. However, Your Highness, many of these buyers hope that we will authorize them to continue using the previous names.”

Ernst shook his head and said, “That won’t do. We can continue to provide supply channels, even without taking a cut, but they cannot use our registered brand names. This is a matter of credibility. Of course, we can introduce them to franchise-style brands.”

The supply channel is the most important support for the survival of the various supermarket brands under the Hechingen Consortium. As an all-rounder in the light and electrical industries, the Hechingen Consortium operates extensively and is the only super-giant in all of Germany. The heavy industry has just started, but the major heavy industry investments are deployed in East Africa. As for Europe and North America, the Hechingen Consortium cannot squeeze in.

The rich industrial chain enables the supermarkets under the Hechingen Consortium to obtain a wide variety of goods. Most importantly, East African agricultural products can also be sold through supermarket channels.

Who knows how many companies and corporations will go bankrupt in this economic crisis. The Hechingen Consortium cannot get involved with them.

Ernst continued, “Also, start clearing out the bank’s bad debts now. Take advantage of the hot market to sell off all risky assets. Next, raise our lending threshold and reject all companies with operational problems and unrealistic projects. All branches should start recovering funds to ensure that there are no problems with deposit reserves.”

“Your Highness, our bank may earn a lot less money this way.”

“Just do as I say. Any company that wants to operate for a long time cannot turn a blind eye to its own problems. Blindly pursuing short-term profits and choosing to ignore risks will not last. It damages the long-term health of the company, and the previously accumulated reputation must be rebuilt, which is also a huge waste.”

Under Ernst’s series of operations, the Hechingen Consortium sold off everything it could and continued to streamline. However, this also brought some negative effects. Because many industries were sold, some investors and depositors believed that Hechingen Bank had operational risks, most likely problems with the capital chain. Otherwise, why would it sell so many “excellent” assets? The current market has brought unprecedented confidence to the world. Even selling air can make a lot of money as long as it is well-advertised, and the Hechingen Consortium’s reverse operation is completely contrary to the mainstream.

Therefore, many investors and depositors turned to investing their money in other banks or the currently booming railway industry. Hechingen Bank ushered in a small run, but it came and went quickly. Hechingen Bank originally had abundant cash flow, and with the sale of a large number of assets, it recovered a large amount of capital and was completely fearless.

Subsequently, Hechingen Bank refuted these unfounded smears: The bank is currently optimizing its investment structure and there is no so-called operational risk.

However, the effect of the clarification was not very good. In Germany, thanks to years of accumulated reputation and the media and newspapers controlled by the consortium, it stabilized depositors’ confidence, but in other regions, it was not as effective.

In particular, Hechingen Bank’s competitors did everything possible to smear Hechingen Bank. Several financial institutions in London rated Hechingen Bank as a high-risk enterprise.

The Sun, which is wholly owned by Hechingen Bank, issued a statement to refute the rumors, but Londoners believed it even more. Everyone knows what The Sun is all about, right? It’s okay to engage in sensationalism and borderline content, but you’re not qualified to talk about finance.

However, as the center of the financial empire, London has countless banks and financial institutions, and the Hechingen Consortium does not have much market share here.

Some blindly following depositors, seeing their money being exchanged, the claim of a broken capital chain disappeared, and they deposited the money again. This is also good, some fixed deposits can reduce the interest paid by Hechingen Bank because they were exchanged.

This small storm did not affect Ernst at all. After giving instructions to Hechingen Bank, Ernst visited several textile factories in Nairobi.

“Your Highness, our current investment in the textile industry in Nairobi can meet about seventy percent of East Africa’s demand. The remaining thirty percent is provided by factories in the Far East. Factories in the German region have already been transferred. However, factories in the Far East account for the majority of exports to Europe. Labor costs play a big role. If we had not split up the textile factories in the Far East, we would definitely have obtained more profits.”

Overall, the textile factory invested by the Hechingen Consortium in Jiaozhou, Far East, was split into three parts. One part was sold to Jin merchants and Hui merchants, one part continued to operate, using cost advantages to export to East Africa and Germany, and one part was moved to Nairobi.

The Far East market is indeed very attractive. First, it is large in scale and has a lot of demand, but the profit is not as good as Europe. Second, the cost of living is extremely low, its human resources are too abundant, and raw materials are also quite abundant. Third, there are fewer troubles. As a foreign-funded enterprise, the Jiaozhou textile factory is not affected by bureaucracy. This can be seen from the Jin merchants and Hui merchants. When they operate, local officials take a cut in addition to taxes. As for the Jiaozhou textile factory, these problems are entrusted to the consulate to handle, and no one dares to make trouble for the East African consulate.

By the way, the business environment of the Huaihai Economic Zone and the Zhuhai Commercial Zone has been improved. For example, the famous modern national enterprise in the Far East in the textbooks of the previous life, Jichanglong Silk Reeling Factory, has been rebuilt from Nanhai County in the Zhuhai Commercial Zone.

Chen Qiyuan, the owner of Jichanglong Silk Reeling Factory, originally built a factory in his hometown of Nanhai County in history, but he died before he could succeed, and was jointly strangled by local people, bureaucrats, and gentry. He was not appreciated by both sides. Fortunately, Chen Qiyuan was outstanding in his ability to operate Jichanglong Silk Reeling Factory in such a difficult environment and compete with foreign companies.

This life is different. In the Zhuhai Commercial Zone, most of the economic discourse power is in the hands of the Xiangshan Consulate. The local gentry and bureaucrats have been beaten by East Africa once, and Guangzhou Prefecture is also closely watching the local bureaucrats, and does not want the last conflict to repeat itself.

At the same time, settling in the Zhuhai Commercial Zone can also obtain preferential policies from the Kingdom of East Africa, mainly because loans are more convenient. The Far East market is an area that Hechingen Bank attaches great importance to, second only to East Africa and Europe, and on the same level as North America.

Ernst is not afraid of a thunderstorm. The Far East is completely a traditional agricultural country, and the impact of this economic crisis is more beneficial than harmful. Adding more investment will not lose money.

This has resulted in the current Hechingen Bank contracting around the world, with East Africa and the Far East being the only regions where investment is being added.

Chapter 404: Getting Filthy Rich

September 3rd, 1872.

11 Wall Street, America.

The New York Stock Exchange, having just moved to its new address on Wall Street last year, boasted the newest, largest, and most luxurious trading building in the world at this time.

In recent years, the United States, after experiencing the Civil War, ushered in unprecedented prosperity with the railway economy, the great development of the West, and the great industrial development of the East.

Capital from various countries poured into this hot land like crazy. Foreign capital alone accounted for half of the investment in railways in the United States. More than six thousand miles of railways were built from 1865 to 1871, which was more than one hundred times that of East Africa during the same period. Moreover, the railway companies planned to build more than nine times the railway mileage in 1872 compared to 1865. The enthusiasm for railway investment was unprecedented, and a large amount of funds were injected into railway investment through the New York Stock Exchange.

Railway construction also drove the demand for steel, coal, and oil. A large number of factories were built, even blindly and crazily. The demand of the entire market was as greedy and endless as a black hole.

“Boss, someone is selling twelve percent of the Auror Railway Company’s stock. This stock has been rising for the past few months. Should we follow up and buy it?” Jack asked his boss, Smith.

Smith: “Of course, Jack, buy it all for me.”

Jack: “Boss, the problem is that if we buy it all, our funds will probably be drained!”

Smith: “Jack, now railway stocks are hard to come by. If we buy it, we can just sit and wait, and we don’t have to do anything. Dollars will flow into our pockets continuously, so don’t be afraid. Cowards can’t make a fortune. Go all in quickly, don’t let others get ahead of us. Time is money!”

Jack: “Yes, boss.”

Although Smith urged him very tightly, he was still one step late and only grabbed twenty percent of the shares, which made Smith a little annoyed.

He roared with red eyes: “Jack, you listen to me. From now on, keep an eye on the stock market changes for me. As long as someone sells railway stocks, buy them for me without asking for instructions until all our funds are used up. If you grab it, there will be a big bonus this month. If you don’t grab it, I’ll deduct your salary!”

“Yes, boss!”

Soon Smith got his wish. He didn’t know which “idiot” sold another batch of railway stocks, and Jack quickly seized the opportunity and bought them all.

In the following days, railway companies’ stocks were sold one after another, but the numbers were not large and did not attract attention. The fierce bidding sounds in the exchange were endless, and the Hechingen Consortium sold all the railway stocks in its hands.

“Our investment assets in North America a year ago have almost increased nearly tenfold, but now it seems that this is far from the limit of North America. Now these asset prices are still growing, it’s really a pity!” The employees of the North American branch of Hechingen Bank discussed.

In order to get a piece of the pie, Ernst used a total of 40 million pounds in investment in North America. This was almost 80% of the profits of the Hechingen Consortium in the Franco-Prussian War. After taking a turn in the American stock market, it has now become 380 million pounds, which is 11.4 billion East African Rhine Thalers. Because the current silver price has not depreciated, this money can be converted into about 1.1 billion taels of silver, which is about eight times the indemnity of the Treaty of Shimonoseki (considering the depreciation of silver at the time of the Treaty of Shimonoseki). Therefore, the United States, as the world’s second largest economy after the United Kingdom at that time, was indeed wealthy.

In addition to the profits in North America, Ernst also sold a large number of assets in Europe. This money added up to about 80 million pounds, which is completely incomparable to North America.

However, this is related to the fact that the main body of the Hechingen Consortium is in Europe. Most of the European enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium are high-quality assets, which are completely different from the “high-quality industries” hyped up in North America. For example, the American Auror Railway Company was only established last year, and its total number of employees was only more than thirty. Then, through a large amount of capital injection from the Hechingen Consortium, it recruited troops and horses and won the railway project from Philadelphia to New York. The company’s market value soared a hundred times. Subsequently, Hechingen Bank gradually looked for someone to take over in the stock market. When Hechingen Bank completely sold all the stocks in its hands at a high price, the railway only completed the construction of one station.

Although Ernst made a lot of money in the financial market, it is not all of his wealth. The huge Hechingen Consortium is the real big player. Several large enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium are among the top 500 in the world in later generations, and Hechingen Bank is among the top few.

Currently, the Hechingen royal family is one of the strong contenders for the world’s richest man, because no one knows the background of those ancient families, such as the famous Rothschild family. A group of royal families and nobles in Europe cannot be underestimated. The current richest man on the surface is Rockefeller in the United States, with a net worth of more than one billion US dollars, but Rockefeller can no longer be regarded as the same level of existence as Ernst.

Ernst also has the political entity of the East African Kingdom under his command, which is completely impossible to estimate the value of. In 1871, the fiscal revenue of the East African Kingdom government was more than 7 million East African Rhine Thalers, about 800,000 taels of silver.

This amount of money is not much, but it does not mean anything. For example, most of the factories in East Africa do not pay taxes, except for Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, which are the two main sources of tax revenue for the East African government. This is related to its foreign trade.

However, the fiscal revenue of 800,000 taels of silver is about 16% of the fiscal revenue of the Japanese government during the same period, which is not a small amount, because the population of East Africa during the same period was close to 7 million, while Japan had a population of more than 38 million. The population of East Africa is 18% of that of Japan.

The Japanese government has invested in a large number of industries, coupled with the wealth accumulated over thousands of years, it is normal for the fiscal revenue per capita to be higher than that of East Africa.

Of course, the East African Kingdom also has more than 23 million indigenous people (including South Africa), but most of the indigenous people are currently in a free-range state, mainly concentrated in the western part of the kingdom and the South African region. Only more than 9 million indigenous people are used as production tools for the East African Kingdom to drive.

The wealth they create cannot be specifically reflected in money, such as using them as substitutes for cattle, horses and other livestock for farming, collaborative labor, road construction, and water conservancy facilities.

These are all purely human input. Their contributions to the East African Kingdom will be distributed to the East African people. For example, the land in East Africa is developed according to the total number of people. The grain produced per mu in East Africa requires more human resources than other countries. Especially in labor-intensive industries such as plantations and rice, East Africa needs more than one person’s labor to create the value created by one person in other agricultural countries of the same type, but East Africa still calculates and counts according to one person.

The overall productivity level of East Africa can be said to be relatively backward, even somewhat low, but the difficulties faced by the East African Kingdom are also much more than those of other countries. Taking land as an example, the land development in East Africa is completely a process from scratch, which requires a lot of investment and is difficult to see results in the short term, while other agricultural countries are already developed and familiar land, with a long operating time and stable output.

The number of livestock in East Africa is also far less than that of agricultural countries in the same era. It is impossible to immediately evolve from a human empire into a mule and horse empire. It will take several years or even decades to meet the needs of the East African Kingdom. This is a hard injury in the entire Africa. There are no domesticated local livestock that can be used by the East African Kingdom. A large number of imports and introductions are needed.

The lack of agricultural tools is also reflected in the fact that a large number of basic agricultural tools need to be imported, such as hoes, shovels, iron plows, etc. need to be imported from Germany in large quantities. It is not that East Africa cannot produce them by itself, but the production capacity is limited and the quality is unreliable.

There are still many problems in East Africa, but East Africa, including the colonial period, is only seven years old, so it cannot be too demanding.

Chapter 405: Behind the Canal

October 4th, 872.

King Constantine arrived in the Third Township to inspect the canal project. The Third Township, as the former capital of the East African Region during the colonial period (Upper Coastal District), still held the advantage of being the second largest city in Coastal Province, second only to Tanga, the provincial capital and port city.

With the Ndebele people being collectively escorted from all over East Africa to the Central Province, the excavation of the Central Canal had been underway for some time. Among them, Canal Number One, which connected the Little Rhine River with the lower reaches of the Wami River, had the fastest progress.

Canal Number One started in the Third Township (Kitonga), less than eight kilometers from the First Township, and ended at the village of Mvomero on the Wami River.

Since the administrative division adjustment in East Africa, the gap between the Third Township, once on par with the First Township, had widened rapidly. In the future, it was very likely to become part of the First Township, just like the Second Township (Rufvo).

The development direction of the First Township was also the same, mainly focusing on the west and north, choosing to develop in a different direction from Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo.

“The total length of Canal Number One is forty-four kilometers, the channel width is twenty meters, and the depth is six meters. It requires clearing more than five million cubic meters of earth and stone. The total number of laborers is fifty thousand. According to the current construction progress, it should be completed within six months,” the person in charge of Canal Number One introduced to Constantine.

Constantine didn’t have much of a concept of these numbers, but he knew that the Suez Canal took ten years to build, so he asked, “The East African canal is being constructed in three sections simultaneously. You said at the time that the length of the Central Canal would be comparable to the Suez Canal after completion, but as far as I know, the Suez Canal took ten years to build. Why does our canal only take a few months?”

The engineer replied, “Your Majesty, the Central Canal is only comparable to the Suez Canal in length, but the other data is far different. Taking the width as an example, our canal is designed to be twenty meters wide, while the Suez Canal is more than two hundred meters wide, ten times ours. At the same time, the depth of the Suez Canal is more than twice that of the Central Canal, so the total amount of earth and stone that the Suez Canal needs to clear is at least twenty times ours. Moreover, this is only the data for Canal Number One. Canals Number Two and Number Three will definitely have to make some concessions due to the terrain, and the width and depth will not reach this standard.”

So that was the case. However, Constantine still thought the construction speed was too fast. He asked, “Will such high-intensity work be too much for the laborers to bear?”

“Your Majesty, our team has fully calculated it. Each laborer needs to complete at least five cubic meters of earth and stone clearing work every day, which is not difficult for laborers who are skilled in using shovels and hoes to dig soil. Some strong laborers can even complete ten cubic meters of clearing work a day, so fifty thousand people can complete at least two hundred and fifty thousand cubic meters of work a day.”

Constantine: “Won’t they get injured or sick? I’ve heard that many people died digging the Suez Canal.”

“Your Majesty, if you understand the excavation of the Suez Canal in detail, you will know the reason.

The construction of the Suez Canal did not treat Egyptian laborers as human beings at all, but completely as disposable consumables. The Suez Canal crosses the desert area, which is not only unbearably hot but also extremely short of water. A large number of laborers were dying of thirst every day, which is unimaginable for us.

And they were unwilling to supply drinking water, so you can imagine how much worse the food conditions were. The amount of food that the Suez Canal Company provided to the laborers every day was not enough to fill a child’s stomach. The laborers were in a state of hunger for a long time while doing high-intensity labor. If people didn’t die under these conditions, it would be a miracle. Egypt paid one hundred and twenty thousand lives to build the Suez Canal, an average of seven hundred and eighty-three deaths per kilometer.”

Constantine: “So what are our conditions in this regard?”

Although the canal project was Constantine’s idea, the specific operation was carried out by Ernst, so Constantine didn’t know much about the specific situation of the canal.

“We have enough drinking water, and we will use alum to simply purify the drinking water in advance.

We have also done a good job in terms of diet, allocating food according to the contribution rate. Even the natives with the lowest contribution rate can get the amount of food they need for a day.”

As he spoke, the engineer took Constantine to see the construction site’s cafeteria. The cafeteria was divided into two parts, one was the dining area for East African citizens (mainly supervisors), and the other was the dining area for native laborers.

The supervisor’s cafeteria was nothing special, basically the same as the East African public cafeteria, except that the building conditions were much worse, after all, it was a temporary construction site.

The native cafeteria was very novel. Don’t even think about tables and chairs, it was just a huge open space where people could find a place to eat.

“What is being cooked in this pot?” Constantine asked, pointing to the糊糊-like (hú hú - paste-like) thing in the pot.

The cook: “Cassava fried rice.”

“Fried rice!” If he hadn’t been told, Constantine would have thought it was porridge or something, but it smelled quite fragrant.

Constantine: “What method did you use to fry these things so fragrantly?”

The cook: “Your Majesty, the main thing is to add a lot of oil after the pot is hot, and add a little spice to give it a base flavor, pour in the soaked cassava, and finally add salt.”

“I see! But isn’t it a bit too much?” Constantine felt a little distressed, this was all money!

The engineer on the side said, “The food for the native laborers can’t be too bad. This is what Prince Ernst specifically ordered. He specifically instructed to use a lot of salt and oil to make the natives grow stronger, because these laborers will be sold to other countries in the future.”

“That’s good, make the most of everything. Then it’s understandable to eat better.” Constantine instantly changed his face. Pigs have to be fattened before they are sold, so the cost of feed is unavoidable.

“Do they only eat this kind of thing every day?”

“Your Majesty, of course not. There are also corn, soybeans, and other rotations, and occasionally vegetable and fish soup is provided once on weekends.”

Some of the East African native laborers don’t eat very badly, and their living standards are even better than those of most countries in the world. As far as the native laborers who are digging the Central Canal are concerned, their quality of life far exceeds that of ordinary Japanese people. As for East African citizens, although their income is not high, their quality of life can be compared to that of the United Kingdom and the United States.

In fact, the quality of life of the colonizers in the colonies is not too bad. Taking neighboring Mozambique as an example, the Portuguese certainly don’t have to worry about food, clothing, housing, and transportation. They mainly want to earn more money and then spend it back in their home country. Although the East African Kingdom has become an independent country, it has too many black people, and it is essentially a semi-colonial country. East African Kingdom citizens are also sucking blood from the natives.

Under these conditions, the reason why the East African economy has not improved much is mainly because East Africa has made a lot of long-term investments, with input exceeding output, and the results will not be reflected until more than ten years later.

The Central Canal is a typical example. There are not many ships on the entire Little Rhine River, and East African inland water transportation is basically zero. The natural waterways have not been effectively utilized. The Central Canal will be idle for at least a few years after it is developed, and profits will have to be considered at least ten years later.

Fortunately, native laborers don’t need to be paid wages. It is enough to maintain their basic survival needs, and this part is borne by the East African government. Although there is no agricultural tax in East Africa, the grain output is completely distributed by the state, and East Africa’s arable land resources are higher than those of most countries. This makes East Africa’s grain output still very considerable even with relatively low productivity. The government only needs to take out a part to meet the needs of the native laborers. After deducting the needs of East African citizens and the basic needs of native laborers, the remaining grain can still be exported in large quantities.

At present, the international grain production capacity is seriously surplus. If exports may be hindered, the East African Kingdom cannot continue to give its citizens higher distribution standards, which would easily make people lazy and be detrimental to social operation.

Therefore, there will be more and more projects like the Central Canal in the future. Instead of letting the grain rot in the warehouse, it is better to take it out to implement various large-scale projects and major infrastructure projects. This is not easy to achieve in other countries, because under a market economy, the bottom layer at least enjoys a certain degree of bargaining power, but the chips are not many.

East Africa, a monarchical autocracy even more extreme than Prussia, doesn’t need to consider this at all. As long as it maintains the size of its army and constantly exerts high-pressure rule over the natives, East Africa will have free labor that it can exploit for more than ten years.

Chapter 406: Black Industry Chain

The Number One Canal was being constructed in three sections. The Third Township jurisdiction had already excavated three kilometers. Because it was located on the alluvial plain between the Wami River and the lower reaches of the Little Rhine River, the soil here was relatively loose and the soil layer was thick, with few rocks, making it easy. The Number Two and Number Three Canals would not be like this. The Number Two and Number Three Canals were closer to the alluvial fan plain at the foot of the mountains, and would inevitably encounter some boulders and gravel deposited there.

To ensure the excavation of the Number One Canal, Ernst purchased 60,000 high-quality iron shovels and hoes at a high price from a factory affiliated with the Hechingen Daily Necessities Company of Germany.

Purchasing from his own company was not cost-effective in terms of price, but the quality could be absolutely guaranteed. Currently, German goods were mostly knock-offs and crudely made, but the enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium were a cut above in this regard.

Because Ernst valued standards, the Hechingen Consortium’s companies also customized relatively strict unified enterprise production standards, with superior quality, but low prices were unlikely.

Companies like Hechingen Daily Necessities Company that seriously made products could not avoid being copied, but Hechingen Daily Necessities Company also had countermeasures.

In addition to finding ways to improve trademarks, the most effective means was to have its own exclusive stores, and this was the meaning of the existence of the Hechingen-affiliated supermarkets and stores. As long as the tools purchased in these authorized stores and supermarkets were basically genuine. If you were greedy for cheapness and bought fakes elsewhere, you couldn’t blame the enterprises under the Hechingen Consortium.

Of course, according to the current income level of European workers and farmers, the first choice was definitely low prices. Even if the goods were a little worse, they could automatically adapt, reinforce them in a blacksmith shop, and patch them up for another three years.

Because Hechingen Daily Necessities Company did not have much market share in the European low-price market, and the mid-to-high-end product market was not as large as the low-end market, the production of mid-to-high-end products would be partially digested by the East African Kingdom.

As a semi-planned economy, East Africa was relatively picky about product quality. There was not much variety, but the materials were solid and durable.

As the saying goes, “sharpening your tools makes good work.” If East Africa, a land that had not been developed for hundreds of millions of years, didn’t use some advanced tools, the difficulty of development would be too high.

…

The excavated earth from the canal was directly piled on both sides of the waterway. Laborers pushed wheelbarrows to dump the soil on the riverbanks, and then the laborers on the riverbanks leveled it.

Constantine personally went down to the riverbed to inspect the working conditions of the laborers, which made his bodyguards feel as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They tried to surround Constantine in the middle, while maintaining a certain distance to prevent affecting the King’s senses.

The supervisors were also cautious, and even took out their guns to prevent accidents at any time. Constantine did not notify them in advance that he was coming, so they did not know what important person was coming. Caution was the right approach.

Constantine said, “Everyone, don’t be nervous. My safety can be taken care of by the guards. You continue to work as usual!”

The King had spoken, and the person in charge of the canal signaled to the supervisors, so they continued to busy themselves with supervising the laborers.

“The clothes of these laborers, look very similar to…” Constantine asked uncertainly, seeing that the clothes worn by the laborers were somewhat familiar.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The old models have been discontinued, but the machinery has not been retired, so it is specially used to produce short-sleeved shirts and shorts for these laborers.”

The old models referred to the simple Prussian military uniforms that each East African immigrant had a set of. They were no longer produced and distributed for free. East African citizens could now use Rhine Shields to purchase new styles of work clothes in exclusive stores.

However, Ernst retained those machines and specialized in producing clothes for the native laborers. After all, under the clear sky of East Africa, they couldn’t let them work naked, it would be too indecent.

Paying some costs was not a waste. Now, the slave trade was being investigated tightly, and one of the characteristics of traditional slave ships was that the slaves had no clothes.

In this way, the inspection ships of countries such as Britain and France could identify whether it was illegal slave trading by seeing if the slaves were naked. The clothes issued by East Africa to the native laborers could then play a role.

At the same time, these clothes could also help American buyers save a lot of trouble, without spending more money or wasting cloth. As soon as they arrived at their destination, they could be pulled to the farm to work.

After cooperating with Haiti, the East African Kingdom’s own slave trade was very prosperous. The slaves sold by East Africa had all had “work experience” in East Africa, some even mastered multiple skills, and the prices were even lower than in the era of the slave trade. Sometimes, some defective slaves were even given away in batches as gifts, which made the Southern planters quite satisfied.

What was even more satisfying was that the Haitian government issued labor certificates to the slaves, which allowed the Southern planters to bypass the federal government’s laws and continue to legally own slaves.

Not only that, but they also became second-hand dealers, providing cheap labor services to factory owners in the North. After three to five years of domestication in East Africa, the obedience of the black slaves was no worse than that of the Chinese, Indians, or Italians from the Far East, and the price was even cheaper, further boosting the current railway construction in the United States and Canada.

In the East African Immigration Department, a strange institution was even set up separately - the Haitian Immigration Bureau. This Haitian Immigration Bureau was a genuine Haitian official institution, but it did not exist in Haiti itself. After all, there were no restrictions on going to Haiti from all over the world except for the sea.

The East African government would issue a complete set of certificates to the slaves transported to the Americas, and arrange for them to have specialized English and French bilingual documents.

The reason was also very legitimate, that was, the Haitian government announced a talent introduction plan in January of this year, using the excuse that the Haitian government was recruiting immigrants from all over the world for the sake of its own economic development. After this plan was announced, no other regions or countries except Africa have responded so far.

Has Haiti’s economy developed? The answer was that it had indeed developed, and at a high speed. The Haitian government and all parties could get a share of the slave trade, and even ordinary Haitians could benefit. As long as they were willing to spend a little money, they could solve their marriage problems and obtain their own slaves at the same time.

This made ordinary Haitians also have the ability to develop more land, provided that they could suppress slave revolts. At this time, the East African government could provide services again, buying slaves and giving away guns.

With the equipment of Dreyse rifles, how to deal with the old-fashioned rifles became a problem, and now the East African Army was about to eliminate the Dreyse rifles, those antiques were even more useless.

With the supply of guns and a stable supply of slaves, Haitian plantations could operate again. The Haitians used the same methods that the French had used on them in the past on the slaves they bought from East Africa. Slave plantations reappeared on Haitian soil. These East African blacks were not their compatriots, so they could squeeze them hard (Haitian blacks mainly came from West Africa).

In order to take care of Haiti’s slave trade, Ernst recently planned to give some of East Africa’s old ships to Haiti for free, including two Zanzibar sailing warships serving in the navy.

After all, East Africa could solve the slave transportation from East Africa to Haiti, but the transportation from Haiti to the United States could only be solved by the Haitians themselves. Obviously, Haiti’s weak transportation capacity could hardly solve this problem alone.

Relying solely on the ships gifted by East Africa was not enough. The East African government specially discussed (ordered) with the Sultanate of Zanzibar to let the Sultanate of Zanzibar scrap some of its old ships that were no longer needed. Over the years, the Sultanate of Zanzibar had also made a fortune relying on East Africa.

With money, the merchants of the Sultanate of Zanzibar had also replaced many new ships. As for the old ships, they were useless anyway, so they were sent to Haiti together with the ships of the Zanzibar Sultanate Navy.

As the East African Kingdom’s control over the Sultanate of Zanzibar deepened, there was no need for the Sultanate of Zanzibar to keep its navy. Excluding the two warships that East Africa had taken from the Sultanate of Zanzibar back then, the Zanzibar Sultanate Navy still had twelve warships. This was because the East African Kingdom only took the warships from the mainland part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, while the Zanzibar Island part was not affected.

Chapter 407: Military Reform

Constantine chose to return after only spending half a day in the Third Township. The Third Township was very close to the First Township, so Constantine returned to the First Township city that evening, without wasting much time.

At this time, Ernst had also returned to the First Township from Nairobi. He had made a small profit in the Americas, which made Ernst intend to give the East African Army a small upgrade.

The first step was to eliminate the Dreyse needle gun from the army. The Dreyse needle gun had already been proven to be comprehensively outdated in the Franco-Prussian War. Prussia began to look for new guns after the war.

Similar to history, the Mauser rifle also participated in the bidding this time. The Mauser 1871 rifle’s prototype and ammunition system won in the comparison and selection tests against the Bavarian M1869 Werder rifle, the Swiss Martini rifle, and the Vetterli rifle.

On December 2, 1871, Prussia ordered 2,500 for trial use. On March 22, 1872, Wilhelm I approved the mass production of the M1871 rifle. However, the order was not given to Mauser, but to other manufacturers with better equipment capabilities.

Although they didn’t get a large order, there was no need to rush. It was just right to establish a new production line in East Africa, first to meet the needs of the East African Army.

The second issue was the reduction of troops. This time, Ernst planned to further compress the number of troops. Currently, Ernst had no intention of continuing to use troops externally, so there was no need to retain so many troops as before.

The East African Army currently has more than two hundred thousand people. After discussion between Ernst and the Ministry of Defense, it was believed that the current military threat to the East African Kingdom on land was not significant. It was only necessary to maintain around one hundred and fifty thousand, which could not only respond to sudden outbreaks of war in various directions at any time, but also quickly complete military mobilization within the kingdom to prevent black riots in various places.

Before Ernst arrived in East Africa, the East African Army had already completed one expansion, mainly to accommodate the graduates of the former Hechingen Military Academy, and the military system was changed at that time.

Because East Africa expanded too quickly, the old military regions were no longer suitable for East Africa. After annexing the Zimbabwe region, East Africa divided East Africa into five new major military regions according to region to deal with potential enemies in different directions on land.

The former Tanzanian territory was the Central Military Region; the original Kenya and Ethiopia; the Somali region was the Northern Military Region; the former South Sudan and the Central African Republic were the Nile River Military Region; the area west of Lake Tanganyika including Congo, Zambia, Angola, and Namibia was the Western Military Region; and finally, Zimbabwe was the Southern Military Region. Because East Africa occupied a large area of land in South Africa, the Southern Military Region needed to expand its scope, while the other military regions remained unchanged.

After the troop reduction, the number of East African Army personnel is as follows:

▼Central Military Region:

01 Guards Division: 30,000 (stationed in the Central Province, with the division headquarters located in the First Township city)

1st Division: 12,000 (division headquarters located in Mbeya city)

2nd Division: 12,000 (deployed along the Ruvuma River line to deal with the Portuguese in Mozambique, with the division headquarters located in Songea city.)

21st Cavalry Division: 5,000 (division headquarters located in the First Township city)

22nd Cavalry Division: 5,000 (division headquarters located in Dodoma city)

23rd Cavalry Division: 5,000 (division headquarters located in Mbeya)

Among them, the three cavalry divisions and the 111th Division belong to mobile and field forces.

▼Northern Military Region:

11th Division: 12,000 (Turkana Province, guarding against the Abyssinian Empire and the Italians in the southeastern part of the Abyssinian Empire)

12th Division: 12,000 (Northern Province, mainly dealing with the British, French, and Italian colonies in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait)

▼Nile River Military Region:

311th Division: 8,000 (Nile River Basin, mainly dealing with the Sudanese region of Egypt)

331st Mountain Division: 12,000 (Azande Plateau, controlling the gateway from West Africa to East Africa, preventing West African indigenous forces and colonists from entering East Africa)

▼Western Military Region:

411th Division: 5,000 (Hessen and Mitumba Province)

412th Division: 5,000 (Zambia region)

413th Division: 8,000 (Southern Congo Basin, guarding against the Portuguese Angolan colony and the Kingdom of Congo)

414th Division: 8,000 (Eastern Angola, guarding against the Portuguese Angolan colony)

415th Division: 5,000 (Okavango River Basin, i.e., the northeastern territory of Namibia in its previous life)

▼Southern Military Region:

511th Division: 8,000 (Transvaal Republic, guarding against the Orange Free State, Cape Colony, and the Kingdom of Lesotho.)

512th Division: 8,000 (Zulu Kingdom, guarding against the British Natal Colony and the Kingdom of Lesotho)

513th Division: 5,000 (Zimbabwe region)

514th Division: 5,000 (the former British Bechuanaland Protectorate, guarding against the Orange Free State and the Cape Colony)

A total of 170,000 people.

……

The divisions of the East African Army are divided into three levels. The Guards Division is still a unique existence, guarding the capital, with a full complement of 30,000 people.

A first-level division has a full complement of 12,000 people, mainly deployed in areas with high defense pressure, or within Tanzania. For example, the two divisions in the Northern Military Region are first-level divisions to deal with the Abyssinian Empire and the forces of Britain, France, and Italy in the Red Sea.

A second-level division has a full complement of 8,000 people, generally deployed in border areas, facing slightly weaker enemies. For example, Cape Town in South Africa is assessed by East Africa as having relatively weak war strength.

A third-level division has a full complement of 5,000 people, generally deployed in less important or less militarily pressured areas.

However, the cavalry division also has 5,000 people, but as a special arm, the cavalry division also belongs to the first-level division. Currently, the three cavalry divisions in East Africa are all located in the Tanganyika region. The 111th Division is also relatively special. There is no major defense pressure in its location. It mainly serves as a mobile force, and like the cavalry division, it can provide timely support to other areas at any time.

After the reorganization of the above troops, the number of East African Army personnel will be reduced to about two percent of the total population (excluding natives).

Two percent is not very low. For example, the number of German standing troops is currently maintained at about one point six percent of the total population, so theoretically, the East African Kingdom is more militaristic than Prussia.

After the troop reduction, Ernst also plans to replenish the equipment of the East African Army, such as various artillery pieces, machine guns, etc… to completely Prussianize the army’s equipment.

In addition to equipment and changes in the army, Ernst plans to further strengthen the East African defense industry to ensure that military logistics can be self-produced and self-sold.

The first step is to poach people from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and even other countries, and hire a group of experts with high salaries to continuously improve the manufacturing process of the existing East African armories. The second step is to integrate the East African Kingdom’s armories, expand their scale, and further increase production capacity. Finally, the goal is to achieve the localization of weapons and equipment, and even export them.

As for the soon-to-be-eliminated Dreyse needle gun production line, Ernst plans to keep only a small part of it. The rest will be sold to buyers. After all, it hasn’t been used for many years, and it would be a pity to abandon it directly.

Ernst’s first plan is to sell it to the Far East, because the Far East currently does not have independent production capacity and mainly relies on purchases. It just so happens that there are iron factories and coal mines invested by East Africa in the Huaihai Economic Zone, which have a certain foundation, and it is not a big problem to use them to support this production line.

Chapter 408: The Executioner Goes Online

In March of 1871, Leopold II said to his cabinet members: “Belgium is small in area and lacks resources. At the same time, we are caught between great powers. If we Belgians want to gain a foothold in this era, we must have our own vast colonies!”

King Leopold II of Belgium had dreamed of a great power since he was a child, but Belgium’s size made it difficult to realize his ideas, so Leopold II believed that Belgium’s way out lay in colonies.

By 1872, East Africa had achieved unprecedented victory in South Africa. This news made Leopold II, who had been paying attention to Africa since he came to power, completely unable to sit still.

Leopold II: “The Kingdom of East Africa! Who among you knows about it?”

Huh? The ministers looked at each other, and no one knew the specific situation of the Kingdom of East Africa. Even if everyone knew the name, they had only heard of it.

Looking at these ministers, Leopold II said with disappointment, “I have always emphasized that the future of our Belgium lies in colonies, but you just treat my words as water off a duck’s back.”

“Your Majesty, it’s not that we don’t care about this matter, it’s just that colonization is extremely expensive. If it’s not a rich colony, there’s no value in occupying it.”

Leopold II: “That statement is nonsense! Any land has its value, but only wise people can discover it. The only two people in this world who are as wise as me are Prince Hohenzollern-Hechingen-Constantine.”

“I have detailed information about the Kingdom of East Africa here. This is the data I obtained through various investigations. Since 1865, the Hechingen royal family has begun to colonize East Africa. By this year, the land area of the Kingdom of East Africa in Africa is likely to be around several million square kilometers. From Somalia to South Africa, and even Central and West Africa, you can see the presence of the Kingdom of East Africa’s army.”

Leopold II had long harbored ambitions for Africa, so after ascending the throne in 1865, he began to send expeditions to investigate the overall situation in Africa.

“What does this mean? It means that Hechingen, a small German country with no autonomy and a population of only tens of thousands, has transformed into a superpower with millions of square kilometers of land in just eight years.”

“The population of Mombasa Port in the Kingdom of East Africa alone exceeds that of the Principality of Hechingen. According to data from March of this year, more than a hundred ships enter and leave Mombasa Port every day, mainly ocean-going ships.”

This data is true, because East Africa currently only has Mombasa and Dar es Salaam ports to handle the export of East Africa’s bulk goods, and the two ports are originally located on traditional shipping routes, so the scale of imports and exports is relatively large.

However, Ernst really couldn’t imagine that Leopold II would send someone to Mombasa to keep an eye on the development of East Africa.

“If you don’t know about the Kingdom of East Africa, then you should know about Hechingen Bank, right?”

“Why has Hechingen Bank been able to develop into a leading bank in the German region in just a few years? I believe that the resources of the Kingdom of East Africa have provided great assistance to the Hechingen royal family. Africa represents enormous wealth that has not yet been divided. Even a small country like the Principality of Hechingen can get such a big piece of the pie in Africa. Belgium’s size is hundreds of times that of the Principality of Hechingen, and we should acquire a vast area of land in Africa.”

This statement is a bit inappropriate. East Africa did play a role in the rapid development of Hechingen Bank, but it did not contribute as much as Leopold II described. The main reason was that Ernst always made the right bets, especially during the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, the Austro-Italian War, and the current craze for railway economics in Europe and America, which completely established Hechingen Bank’s position as the largest bank in Germany. Overall, it rose by making war profits. The Kingdom of East Africa itself did not contribute much to Hechingen Bank.

“So we should take action in Africa immediately, otherwise we will only be able to eat leftovers behind the Kingdom of East Africa.”

Originally, Leopold II was a relatively cautious person. After all, it was not easy to grab such a large colony as the Congo from the hands of many great powers in his previous life. Without extraordinary means, such an achievement could not be achieved.

When Leopold II conquered Africa in his previous life, it coincided with the time when European countries also turned their attention to the African continent. Belgium’s entry was quite late, and it did not start taking actual action until 1876.

Now, with the stimulation of the Kingdom of East Africa, Leopold II completely couldn’t hold back, especially the fact that the Kingdom of East Africa forced the Cape Town colony to compromise in South Africa, which completely became the fuse.

Cape Town was the colony of the British. East Africa had only been developing for less than ten years and had the ability to make an old colony like Cape Town compromise, which was too legendary.

The Cape Town colony’s compromise had already been shelved by the Cape Town colony, after all, it was too embarrassing, but it could not hide from Leopold II, who had been paying attention to the movements of East Africa.

Leopold II’s understanding of East Africa and his special attention to it started with Archduke Ferdinand (Maximilian I).

Archduke Ferdinand’s wife, Princess Charlotte, was Leopold II’s sister. When Archduke Ferdinand encountered difficulties in Mexico, Charlotte sought help from various European countries, and naturally would not let go of her mother country, Belgium. At that time, she also asked her brother Leopold II for help.

Leopold II had only been on the throne for a short time, and Belgium was just a small country. How could it have the ability to intervene in Mexico, which was thousands of miles away? According to the size of the two countries, it was more like Mexico intervening in Belgium.

So Leopold II simply turned a blind eye and told his sister to go to the Habsburgs for trouble. In any case, Emperor Franz was more effective than himself, the monarch of a small country.

As a result, at that time, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was unable to interfere in the Mexican political situation due to the Austro-Prussian War. Even sending someone to rescue Archduke Ferdinand would be of no avail. The main reason was that Archduke Ferdinand himself did not want to return to Austria in disgrace.

At that time, Archduke Ferdinand was a stubborn mule, and he even wanted to learn from Emperor Chongzhen and die generously, but Ernst directly rescued him to Africa by rough means, for which he was depressed for a while.

Leopold II naturally knew the inside story. When his sister happily told him that Archduke Ferdinand was not dead, he thought that the Habsburg family had taken action. He did not expect that his sister’s son-in-law had solved the matter.

In addition, the Hechingen royal family also took the path of colonizing Africa, so this made Leopold II quite interested in the East African colony. It was not bad to have Hechingen, a small country (compared to Belgium), explore the way for him.

As a result, this exploration was extraordinary. In a few years, the Kingdom of East Africa had developed from a small place in East Africa into a superpower with millions of square kilometers of land. Leopold II did not know how many people there were, but according to the actions of Mombasa City, Dar es Salaam City, and the East African Army in South Africa, Leopold II guessed that there should be a million people.

Leopold II did not doubt the Kingdom of East Africa’s ability to recruit immigrants. He had specifically investigated this. After all, the Principality of Hechingen in Europe was just a small town with a population of about ten thousand. Without a population, how could the Hechingen royal family colonize Africa?

Then, Leopold II sent people to observe the two East African window cities, Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa City, and then came to the conclusion that a large number of Germans and Far Easterners were introduced.

Germans are easy to explain. The German region has always been the region with the most severe population outflow in Europe, so it is not surprising that East Africa can attract many Germans.

However, Belgium does not have as many people as Germany, so Leopold II prepared to learn from Ernst and introduce Far Easterners as tools for his colonization of Africa. There are many Far Easterners in the East African Army.

After all, the Kingdom of East Africa has already provided the answer, so he just needs to copy it. To control barbarians with barbarians, it is most appropriate to use Far Easterners to suppress blacks, and Belgium can sit back and enjoy the benefits.

Thinking of this, Leopold II said: “What the Principality of Hechingen can do, we Belgium should do even better. Look at how rich the Hechingen royal family has become now? Our Belgium has more than three million people, and our industrial and agricultural level is not bad in Europe. The Principality of Hechingen is just a small vassal state under Prussia, so we must also learn from the Kingdom of East Africa and create a second Belgium in Africa. Now, you quickly come up with a plan for me. Time waits for no one.”

Chapter 409: Belgian Congo

Regarding the matter of colonizing Africa, there was actually no unified thinking within Belgium beforehand, which caused Leopold II to waste a lot of time and energy persuading the parliament.

Now, Leopold II’s example of the East African Kingdom did indeed put the opponents in a difficult position. Even the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, with its poor conditions, could grab such a large piece of land in Africa, and Belgium’s size was only greater.

The nobles were quite familiar with each other. In recent years, the Hohenzollern family had undoubtedly been the most prominent among the nobility. First, the Prussian royal family unified Germany, transforming from a kingdom into an empire. Second, the Sigmaringen branch obtained Romania. Finally, there was the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, which made a fortune and established the East African Kingdom.

Although the East African Kingdom did not have a high status, after all, Africa was not a good place, the wealth obtained by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family was extremely enviable.

However, Leopold II’s request for the cabinet to come up with a plan was clearly overestimating his subordinates. Although the ministers had been lectured by His Majesty the King before, they only listened to it as a joke and had no contingency plan at all.

Leopold II then said, “Hmph, I knew this would happen. Since you can’t come up with a plan, then you will have to listen to me.”

Saying that, Leopold II ordered the servants to bring the map of Africa and said, “This is the map of Africa. The red area is France, the blue area is Portugal, the gray area is Spain, the green area is England, the black area is East Africa… The remaining areas are the places we can choose.”

At this glance, everyone immediately felt that the competition seemed very fierce.

Leopold II explained, “Colonial maps are often quite vague. In some places, various countries may not really control them, but only have verbal claims. In reality, it still depends on who has the stronger fist.”

Hearing that it was about strength, the Belgian ministers retreated, “Your Majesty, if that’s the case, wouldn’t our risk of colonizing Africa be very high? Apart from the East African Kingdom, none of the countries on this map are easy to provoke.”

Leopold II confidently revealed, “Then you are completely wrong. The country you absolutely cannot provoke in Africa right now is precisely the East African Kingdom. Not long ago, the East African Kingdom and the British Cape Colony had a small dispute in South Africa, and the British ultimately chose to back down, forced to cede a territory of more than one hundred thousand square kilometers.”

As expected, Leopold II’s words aroused the ministers’ doubts.

“That’s impossible! Your Majesty, the British would not suffer such a loss.”

“That’s right, it has always been Britain invading other countries’ territories, and it is impossible for others to bite back. If it were France before, it might be possible, but now no country can challenge Britain.”

“Moreover, if such a thing happened, it would be an international scandal, no less than the major event of Britain’s defeat in Afghanistan before. The British newspapers haven’t reported it. How did Your Majesty know about it?”

…

The ministers spoke all at once, unanimously believing that Leopold II was talking nonsense. If this happened in other regions, it would be easier to accept, but Africa is the most backward region in the world, without even a decent civilization. What could the East African Kingdom, built in Africa, use to compete with the British!

Leopold II knocked on the table and said, “Silence, look at what you look like now! Does my status require me to deceive you? Although this matter is quite unbelievable, it is true. My information was obtained with money from officials in Cape Town, and it was also confirmed by Charlotte (the Princess).”

Although Ernst implemented a policy of isolation, East Africa could not possibly not have external exchanges. The Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were examples.

As European nobles, they had a large number of relatives and friends, and received many letters every year, but they were usually not major events.

Archduke Ferdinand was reluctant to contact his old acquaintances before he achieved success. Even if there was communication, it was mainly for necessary greetings.

As for Princess Charlotte, she did not have her husband’s concerns, but her social circle was generally the noblewomen of Europe, and they would not discuss political matters at all. Moreover, Charlotte had almost sent her husband to meet his maker because she was too concerned about politics, so she was even more reluctant to talk about politics with her sisters now.

Only Leopold II, as her brother, had asked her about the situation in East Africa, but Charlotte did not know too much, except for some major events that everyone in East Africa knew.

And the East African Kingdom’s war in South Africa was such a major event. After all, this was the first time that South Africa had defeated a country with a white government (the Transvaal Republic), which was a very exciting event for the East African Kingdom. Almost every bulletin board detailed the achievements of the East African Army in this battle.

Leopold II continued, “The East African Kingdom dispatched tens of thousands of troops this time, and defeated several small countries in South Africa like sweeping away fallen leaves in the autumn wind. This is their confidence.”

“Tens of thousands of troops!”

Leopold II: “That’s right, tens of thousands of troops. This is the fundamental reason why the East African Kingdom can make the British bow their heads.”

“But, Your Majesty, I must remind you that the cost of tens of thousands of troops is not a small amount. Our domestic defense pressure is already very high. If we send troops separately for colonizing Africa, I am afraid it will not be worth the loss!”

Leopold II: “Alright, what does this have to do with our national defense? To be honest, anyone in Belgium’s position would have a headache. If either Germany or France has any ideas, Belgium may become a battlefield. With our national strength, unless we mobilize the whole country, we can’t hope to stay out of it. And precisely because of our terrible geographical environment, we should break out of Europe and strengthen our national strength through colonization.

Moreover, we don’t need to send too many troops to Africa at once. I have studied the situation of all colonies in Africa, and basically no country’s colony develops its army as vigorously as East Africa. This is something we can learn from.”

Ernst had made developing the army the top priority from the beginning of the East African colony, and now it has proven to be a very correct decision. The army is the foundation for the East African Kingdom to gain a foothold in Africa and even the world.

After listening to Leopold II’s explanation, a minister asked, “Your Majesty, where should we start? Where should we land in Africa?”

Leopold II pointed to the Congo River on the map and said, “We will start from the mouth of the Congo River and colonize inland along the north of the Congo River.”

“Your Majesty, isn’t that the territory of the Portuguese?”

Leopold II shook his head and said, “No, the area north of the mouth of the Congo River is a small African country called the Kingdom of Kongo. The Portuguese did establish strongholds here before, but they were destroyed by the Kingdom of Kongo, and that was already last century. This place is currently unclaimed. Besides, the south bank of the Congo River is not the territory of the Portuguese either. It is the land of the Kongo Kingdom. If it weren’t for considering the Portuguese’s feelings, I would have directly chosen to invade the Kongo Kingdom.”

“Your Majesty, France seems to have a colony here too.” Someone pointed to the red area north of the Congo River.

This red area is the coastal area of Gabon in the previous life, where the French have been colonizing for decades.

Leopold II said, “That’s normal. The French have a lot of colonies.”

“Will we run into the French?”

Leopold II said, “Don’t worry, we just need to take the lead in developing inland. The French have so many colonies, but we only want this one piece. They won’t pose a threat to us.”

What Leopold II wanted to obtain in Africa was actually the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) in his previous life, that is, French Congo.

Now is a very good time. Belgium does not need to go to the Congo rainforest to develop colonies like in the previous life, and does not need to worry about the problem of the estuary. There are only a few indigenous countries here now, and with Belgium’s strength, it is easy to take this place.

As for the Congo rainforest, although it is very large, it is not really valuable and the climate is harsh. In the previous life, Belgium was able to obtain benefits from the Congo because it continuously developed inland. The Congo colony had already reached Daruanda and Burundi in East Africa to the west.

After Leopold II and a group of ministers reached a consensus, the Kingdom of Belgium officially embarked on the grand cause of colonizing Africa. Although the colonial area is very different from the previous life, it is still called the Congo colony.

Chapter 410: The Naval Problem

This time, Leopold II’s actions are happening several years earlier than in history. Plus, the establishment of the East African Kingdom has already given him a template, so he’s not as hesitant as he was in his previous life. It’s basically certain that the establishment of the Belgian Congo won’t be difficult.

(Image)

The area of the Belgian Congo is roughly the entire territory of the former Congo (Brazzaville), plus the Luanda region of former Angola, most of Gabon, and small parts of southern Cameroon, eastern Guinea, and the western Central African region.

The area is at least six hundred thousand square kilometers. As for how much the Kingdom of Belgium can actually get, it depends on how many resources Belgium is willing to invest.

The only factor threatening the Belgian Congo is France, but it’s certain that France won’t cause trouble for Belgium in the next few years. They might even try to win Belgium over. People grow, and so do countries.

After being soundly thrashed by Prussia, the foreign policy pursued by France during the era of Napoleon III had to change. If they didn’t find allies, they might really be destroyed next time. And Belgium, located between Germany and France, was one of the targets France wanted to win over.

Besides, the idea of France threatening Belgian colonies is less convincing than France threatening mainland Belgium. After losing Lorraine and Alsace, France also lost the coal and iron ore deposits there, as well as the largest cotton producing area and the second largest steel and timber producing area. After losing Lorraine and Alsace, the closest coal and steel producing areas to France were in Belgium. Most importantly, nearly half of the Belgian population spoke French.

As for Portugal’s traditional colony in the Congo River basin—Portuguese Angola—the Belgian government simply chose to ignore it.

Portugal is no longer the world’s leading maritime power it once was, and Portugal’s decline wasn’t a slow, gradual decline, but an avalanche. Currently, Portugal’s population, economy, industrial level, and other aspects are all inferior to Belgium’s.

Although Belgium hasn’t been independent for many years, Belgium was previously part of the Netherlands. Even so, the Netherlands is still a maritime force to be reckoned with.

The East African Kingdom also poses a certain threat to Belgium. The westernmost part of East Africa controls the capital of the former Central African Republic, Bangui. The Ubangi River below Bangui is navigable year-round, meaning that East Africa actually controls all of the Congo Basin region east of the Ubangi River.

Although the East African Kingdom hasn’t engaged in colonization within the Congo rainforest region, East African patrol boats cruise the Ubangi and Congo Rivers, all the way to Kinshasa, the capital of the former Democratic Republic of Congo.

Leopold II naturally knew this, so he wisely made the Ubangi River the boundary between the Belgian Congo and the East African Kingdom.

Most importantly, Leopold II really understood how to handle people. After making his plan to colonize the Belgian Congo, he specifically conveyed the message to the East African Kingdom through his sister, Princess Charlotte. Therefore, Leopold II’s plan quickly reached Constantine and Ernst.

For this matter, Archduke Ferdinand specifically took leave to accompany Princess Charlotte from Bagamoyo to First Town.

Archduke Ferdinand: “This is a letter from Charlotte’s brother, King Leopold II of Belgium. Belgium plans to colonize inland from the West African coast. Will this threaten the strategic security of the East African Kingdom?”

The term “strategic security” has special significance for the East African Kingdom. Looking at the series of expansionist wars launched by East Africa, they are all inseparable from the term “strategic security.” Countless African forces have suffered unwarranted disasters because of this term. It seems that under the influence of the East African Kingdom, Archduke Ferdinand understands the essence of “strategic security.”

It’s understandable that Archduke Ferdinand considers issues from the perspective of the East African Kingdom. Besides his identity as the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy, he supports any expansionist behavior of East Africa.

Every piece of land that the East African Kingdom takes represents progress in the strength of the East African Kingdom, and his daughter is the future mistress of the East African Kingdom, so Archduke Ferdinand now considers the interests of East Africa first when thinking about problems.

Ernst didn’t answer his father-in-law immediately, but first carefully read the letter sent by Leopold II. Leopold II even thoughtfully attached a conceptual map of the “Belgian Congo.”

Ernst exclaimed: “His Majesty Leopold is truly a natural-born genius at colonization. He is very good at maneuvering. He can perfectly avoid the spheres of influence of our East Africa and other countries, and find a path for Belgium.”

On the map, Leopold II used a red pen to strictly control the “Belgian Congo” on the west bank of the Ubangi River.

Although Ernst wasn’t interested in the Congo rainforest, East Africa had already effectively controlled the Congo rainforest since it occupied the Azande Plateau.

This is all thanks to the Congo River and its tributaries. East Africa controls the upper reaches of the Congo River and many of its tributaries, which puts the entire Congo rainforest into the East African Kingdom’s pocket.

Controlling the upper reaches of rivers allows one to gain strategic initiative. The environment of the Congo rainforest means that development can only be done along the rivers. Any other forces entering here are within the firing range of the East African Kingdom.

Archduke Ferdinand said: “Ernst, do you mean to let Belgium expand on the West African coast?”

Ernst nodded and said: “Since Belgium has this idea, we don’t need to object. In fact, even if Belgium doesn’t occupy it, it would be difficult for us in East Africa to flex our muscles in Central and West Africa. The Congo rainforest is a natural barrier. We are already struggling to occupy the Azande Plateau, and even the closer White Nile basin hasn’t been effectively developed yet. Although the Congo rainforest is large, it can’t accommodate many people, which is also a disadvantage. With this energy, we might as well think of ways to accelerate the integration of South Africa with East Africa.”

Constantine also said at this time: “Ernst is right. We have just occupied so much land in South Africa, and the territory has increased a lot. South Africa is obviously more important than Central and West Africa in terms of climate and importance.”

The East African Kingdom is, after all, a small to medium-sized country with a large area and population. Its energy is limited, so it must have self-awareness. The so-called “bite off more than you can chew” means that eating too much can really kill you.

Ernst changed the subject and said: “Father-in-law, speaking of controlling South Africa, we currently have a plan that requires your assistance.”

Archduke Ferdinand asked: “What plan?”

Ernst explained: “Since we destroyed the Zulu Kingdom, we have corresponding access to the sea on the coast of South Africa. For the needs of controlling South Africa, we plan to build a port in the coastal area of the former Zulu Kingdom.”

Ernst took out a map from the drawer, placed it on the table, and pointed to Richards Bay in the former South Africa: “This is a bay within the former Zulu Kingdom. Our people have surveyed it and found it very suitable for building a port. Because of the need to develop and control South Africa, I plan to build a port for both military and civilian use here.”

Archduke Ferdinand said: “You want the navy to control it?”

Ernst said affirmatively: “Yes.”

This made Archduke Ferdinand very embarrassed. He said: “Ernst, I think you should be very clear about the situation of the East African Navy. You’re not deliberately making things difficult for me, are you?”

Speaking of the naval problem, Archduke Ferdinand instantly became angry. The development of the East African Navy in recent years is actually not slow, after all, the East African Navy had no foundation before, but as the former commander of the Austrian Navy, the current East African Navy is not to Ferdinand’s liking at all.

It’s no wonder Archduke Ferdinand said this, the East African Navy is really too pitiful, with a total of eight main battleships and thirteen gunboats.

Among them, the two warships of the Zanzibar Sultanate are even inferior to the merchant ships of the East African Kingdom. The two sailing warships scrounged from the Austro-Hungarian Navy are also decades-old antiques. The other four newly built ones are barely passable, but they are also wooden hulls. With the rise of ironclad ships, they are also about to become obsolete.

As for the giant ironclad ship “Archduke Ferdinand,” funded by Ernst, it is still lying in the Trieste Royal Shipyard, and will not be completed until March next year. The most important thing is that Archduke Ferdinand himself doesn’t know about the existence of this warship.

Archduke Ferdinand continued: “The East African coastline is more than two thousand kilometers long, and it all depends on these few warships to maintain it. We also have to be responsible for the defense of Mayotte Island in the Mozambique Channel. It’s already completely insufficient. If you add South Africa, I don’t even dare to think about how these few ships should be divided. Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”

Archduke Ferdinand’s question of conscience caused Constantine and Princess Charlotte to burst into laughter. Ernst is indeed a bit unkind in this regard.

Ernst said calmly: “Father-in-law, I am of course very clear about the situation of the East African Navy. It has indeed been a bit difficult for you these years, but the conditions were not allowed before. Now I have made some pocket money in North America, so I am planning to add some new ships to the East African Navy.”

Chapter 411: Ferdinand Naval Academy

Hearing this, Ferdinand was immediately interested: “How much do you plan to add?”

Ernst: “According to East Africa’s development path, we won’t invest too much in the military in the next few years, but the navy is an exception. Given the increasingly severe maritime defense pressure on East Africa, I plan to build the East African navy into the ninth strongest naval force in the world before 1880, second only to Britain, France, the United States, Russia, Spain, Austria (Ottoman) Austro-Hungary, and Germany.”

Apart from the countries Ernst mentioned, the Netherlands currently ranks ninth, and Italy ranks tenth. Before the Italo-Austrian War, Italy ranked fifth.

The Ottoman Empire’s naval strength should not be underestimated, because from 1860, Ottoman Sultan Abdulmejid was vigorously developing the navy, purchasing multiple ironclad ships.

Spain is like a lean camel being bigger than a horse; it has never fallen out of the ranks of the world’s naval powers, much stronger than neighboring Portugal.

No East Asian countries made the list. The only two countries in East Asia with the ability to develop naval power, the Far East, haven’t started yet, and Japan is relatively poor and doesn’t have the money to vigorously develop its navy.

The East African Kingdom also doesn’t have money, but Ernst is richer than a country and has cash in hand because of the sale of a large number of industries.

So Ernst said with confidence: “We won’t buy too many either. I think seven ironclad ships is a more appropriate number, enough to deal with the current maritime defense situation facing the East African navy.”

“How many? Are you sure it’s not traditional wooden warships? But ironclad ships!” Archduke Ferdinand immediately couldn’t sit still, afraid that Ernst was tricking him.

Ernst said: “Of course, they are ironclad ships, but I want to state in advance that the tonnage of this batch of ironclad ships should be around three thousand tons. As for giant ironclad ships of more than five thousand tons, I only plan to build two. Top ironclad ships of more than seven thousand tons are currently not under consideration.”

After hearing Ernst’s reply, Ferdinand said somewhat stutteringly: “Good, good, good…” He needed to calm down first.

Constantine was also a little surprised. He suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with his son. Was this still the Ernst who used to be so stingy with the navy! So he said: “Ernst, if you really plan to do this, it’s not a small expense. Just the purchase of warships alone is an astronomical figure.”

Ernst signaled his father not to worry: “Father, this time I’m really not just drawing a pie. We have plenty of funds.”

Constantine asked: “What exactly did you do in North America? You didn’t rob the US treasury, did you!”

Ernst said with a smile: “If I really robbed the US treasury, I would dare to try for the position of the world’s number one navy.”

Ernst changed the subject: “And don’t think too much, this money is the naval expenditure for the next seven years, that is, a total investment of more than two hundred million East African Rhine Thalers over seven years. Funds are limited, so I still need you, father-in-law, to make more use of your Austrian connections.”

Two hundred million East African Rhine Thalers is roughly equivalent to nearly seven million British pounds, while the British Royal Navy’s annual expenditure in 1870 reached nine million British pounds.

Averaged over seven years, that means East Africa will invest about one million British pounds annually in naval construction over the next seven years.

But in reality, the East African government also allocates funds to the East African navy separately. It’s just that the East African government, like the Japanese government, is a poor devil, so this money isn’t much, but it’s more than enough to pay the East African navy’s salaries and improve their food.

Archduke Ferdinand, who had confirmed that he wasn’t dreaming, nodded seriously and said: “Leave this matter to me! With this money, I guarantee to build a strong navy for you.”

For Archduke Ferdinand, this was truly a battle of wealth. As long as the money was in place, the East African navy’s funding would immediately reach the same level as the Austro-Hungarian navy.

Although there was no shortage of funding, the Austro-Hungarian navy’s advantage over the East African navy lay in its solid foundation, complete industrial system, complete talent training system, and rich experience.

So Archduke Ferdinand said: “Having money can indeed do a lot of things, but there is still a problem in front of us that must be solved, and that is a professional naval education system.”

Ernst agreed with this very much. This was indeed East Africa’s biggest shortcoming, so he asked Archduke Ferdinand for advice: “Father-in-law, why don’t you tell me your thoughts.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “The East African Kingdom has absolutely no foundation in this area, so it must introduce a complete naval education system from Europe, build naval schools, and cultivate professional naval talents. My idea is to build a complete naval education system on Pemba Island.”

“Pemba Island! That is indeed a good place.”

“Yes, Pemba Island can better simulate the naval combat environment, the place is also large, the supply is convenient, and there are existing military bases to facilitate students’ practical operations…”

Pemba Island reminded Ernst of the Etajima Naval Academy in Japanese movies in his previous life, which is currently still called the Japanese Naval Academy.

Speaking of Japan establishing a naval school, it was actually a rather helpless thing, because at this time, Japanese naval students were rejected everywhere, the specific reason is unknown, it may be due to race.

But the East African Kingdom has no such concerns. Since Archduke Ferdinand created the East African navy, the East African government has organized students to study at the Austrian Royal Naval Academy every year.

Not to mention Archduke Ferdinand, even for the sake of Constantine and Ernst, other European countries will also recruit East African students, at least countries that used to have good relations with the Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen are fine.

However, Archduke Ferdinand still believes that East Africa should have its own naval training system, which also fits Ernst’s idea of independence and self-reliance!

It’s just that Ernst didn’t pay much attention to the navy before, so he didn’t think of this matter. Now that Archduke Ferdinand mentioned it, then just implement it together.

Ernst: “Okay, I’ll have to trouble you for the specific operations. The funding for the construction of the naval school will be funded separately by me and will not be drawn from the previous ship purchase funds.”

“No problem, in terms of teacher resources, I think with my connections, I can poach a lot of outstanding talents from Austria.”

Ernst and Archduke Ferdinand reached a consensus on poaching from Austria, which is actually a good thing for Austria.

The Austrian navy has always been neglected. Although it won against Italy before and recovered the Venice region, the Austro-Hungarian navy’s funding has not increased (historically, it was reduced during this period).

An important task of the Austro-Hungarian navy is to suppress the Italian navy. Now that Italian unification is impossible, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is even less motivated to invest in the navy. For this reason, the Imperial Navy Commander Wilhelm von Tegetthoff is quite worried. (History has changed, Wilhelm von Tegetthoff did not die young.)

This is also an important reason why the Austrian navy accepted the order for the “Archduke Ferdinand” ship. If they don’t have the money to build warships themselves, it’s better to build them for East Africa, so that they can accumulate experience and prevent Austria’s warship construction capabilities from being lost. At the same time, they can experiment with new technologies, which they can’t use now because they don’t have the money, but they won’t be without when they need it in the future.

For top warships like the “Archduke Ferdinand” ship, countries generally don’t sell them easily, after all, it involves military secrets, of course, more money is another matter.

But selling it to East Africa is completely without this concern. First of all, the relationship between the two countries is close, secondly, East Africa does not have this ability temporarily, and finally, Archduke Ferdinand is, after all, the Emperor’s brother, and also the former old leader of the navy.

Archduke Ferdinand: “Then let’s talk about the last thing, what should this naval school be named?”

Ernst: “Just use your name, Ferdinand Naval Academy, after all, the East African navy was established under your leadership, father-in-law.”

Ernst told the truth, there are few top talents in the world who are more suitable for developing the navy than Archduke Ferdinand. Archduke Ferdinand’s re-employment in the East African Kingdom navy has indeed helped him a lot.

Without Archduke Ferdinand, the development of the East African navy would definitely be difficult. For example, the Beiyang Fleet in the Far East was tricked by the British into taking many detours during its establishment, spending more money and not getting things done.

“Ferdinand Naval Academy!”

Hearing the name Ernst gave, Archduke Ferdinand was obviously very happy, which can be regarded as recognition of his achievements over the years.

Chapter 412: Buying and Building in Combination

After discussing the naming of the naval academy, the construction of the Ferdinand Naval Academy was settled. Like the Hechingen Military Academy, Ernst also served as its honorary president.

Prince Constantine said, “Ernst, are you getting addicted to being a president?”

“Father, you misunderstand me. Although my personal military skills aren’t great, my specialty lies in the ideological construction of the campus.”

Although Ernst didn’t often participate in teaching, he considered himself uniquely suited to ideological construction, after all, he had received this kind of education since he was a child.

“Vigorously developing the navy is a necessary measure for the Kingdom of East Africa at present. The East African Navy has become East Africa’s fatal weakness, which leads to the possibility of East Africa being threatened by the sea being far higher than by land.

In comparison, the East African Army faces less pressure in terms of national defense, because the East African Army has developed into the largest in Africa. To put it bluntly, unless a country uses all its strength, no country can defeat East Africa in the African interior.

As for the navy, our weaknesses are very obvious. There are not enough personnel and not enough ships. As long as another country sends a fleet, it may sink the entire East African Navy. Therefore, developing a navy sufficient to protect East Africa’s coastal waters is our primary goal now,” Ernst said bluntly.

The development of the East African Navy is imminent. Of course, Ernst wouldn’t expand the navy to an exaggerated extent. Mainly, as Archduke Ferdinand said, what East Africa lacks is a system, not just strong ships and powerful guns. Even if you buy more ships, if there is no system to maintain them, they are just a pile of scrap iron.

Constantine: “The naval issue is a long and arduous task that cannot be accomplished overnight. Even a strong country like Germany, without decades of development, cannot suddenly develop its navy. Therefore, we, the Kingdom of East Africa, only need to proceed step by step and manage the African region in a down-to-earth manner.”

Germany’s size is much more exaggerated than East Africa’s. In addition to the advantage in area, East Africa’s various data are far inferior to Germany’s. But now Constantine is quite satisfied. At least the two can be compared. The Principality of Hechingen simply didn’t have this qualification before.

However, the Kingdom of East Africa is definitely not worry-free. First of all, East Africa has in fact become the world’s largest exporter of slaves, which runs counter to the increasingly powerful international abolitionist movement.

In Ernst’s view, the abolitionist movement is just crocodile tears, extremely hypocritical, and only good for deceiving the “bleeding hearts” of Europe.

The real reason is that with the development of British industry, the slave trade is no longer profitable. In the past, British industry was completely dependent on the slave trade. Industrial products had to rely on slave ships to be sold all over the world.

Now, with the improvement of productivity and product quality, the British no longer need to forcibly sell their products through the slave trade. Instead, they have embarked on the road of promoting free trade. In fact, once the British encounter setbacks, they will relapse into their old ways. The Opium War is an example.

In his previous life, there were many examples of European and American countries resorting to desperate measures. For example, in the automotive field, when they make money, it is free trade. When others make money, it is dumping, and they launch anti-dumping investigations.

You can only enter the market if others are willing to open it to you, or forcibly open other people’s markets like in the colonial era. Otherwise, why would Europe and America be able to exploit the whole world and live a life of superior human rights? In fact, before Ernst’s time-travel, Europe had already embarked on the old path. It was becoming increasingly difficult to exploit the world, so they started to think of ways to deal with their own citizens’ pensions and other welfare benefits.

As for the United States, it has always followed the path of suppressing domestic residents with foreign immigrants. The Latino population has been exploited to the extreme, and the bottom-level “rednecks” are suffering unspeakably. Old industrial areas and old-fashioned rural areas are declining beyond recognition.

The slave trade is also the same. The bulk of the profits were actually snatched away by later participants, so Britain and France “morally” improved and transformed from slave traders into “noble gentlemen” who opposed the slave trade.

East Africa is one of these latecomers. Now, because the world economy is booming, the great powers such as Britain and France will not bother to haggle with the Kingdom of East Africa. But once the economy encounters a downturn, they will inevitably return to the path of expansion.

North America and South America, the two traditional colonial areas, have begun to break away from the control of the great powers after hundreds of years of development. Therefore, Africa is the next preferred target for the great powers.

In this undercurrent that has already begun to show signs, if the Kingdom of East Africa wants to stay out of it, it must develop its own navy to keep the enemy out of the country.

Ernst continued, “Regarding the purchase of warships, I will need your help, Father-in-law. In addition, we don’t need to consider small warships for the time being.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Of course, this is my duty. But small warships are also an indispensable part of the navy. What are your thoughts on this?”

Ernst explained, “My plan is for the four shipyards under Hechingen to design and build these small warships, to accumulate talent and technology for East Africa’s independent shipbuilding.”

It is completely fine to hand over the construction of small self-use warships to Hechingen’s own shipyards. In fact, with sufficient funds, it is also feasible to undertake the construction of some large warships.

However, Ernst didn’t dare to gamble. It is very common for private enterprises to manufacture warships in Europe. Even the mighty British Navy follows the path of military-civilian integration.

However, Hechingen’s shipyards have no experience in building military ships, especially in some advanced technologies.

As for the wooden warships that East Africa had previously manufactured itself, the technology came from the Venice Shipyard. The Venice Shipyard had experience in building ships for the Venetian Navy during the age of sailing warships, and the other three shipyards replicated the technology of the Venice Shipyard.

But with the rise of steam power and ironclad ships, the Venice Shipyard has actually declined. It was only after Ernst’s investment that it began to restart its research on steam power.

Ernst continued, “The Bagamoyo Shipyard will undertake most of the work this time. We can introduce more technology from Europe, but we need to vigorously train workers.”

Most of the workers at the Bagamoyo Shipyard are immigrants from the German and Italian regions, with only a few immigrants from the Far East.

This is also a characteristic of East Africa. In fact, in factories that require some technical skills, the workers are mainly immigrants from the German region.

Immigrants from the German region have received basic education, so they are more suitable as industrial workers. Some immigrants from the Far East can’t even distinguish between left and right, and can’t count to five. It is really difficult for them to enter the factory.

Of course, this situation is also changing. East Africa’s first generation of elementary school students graduated last year, which is one of the reasons why East Africa can send students to Germany and Austria-Hungary.

In this regard, East Africa has some advantages over the Far East. There is no language barrier. The first batch of official students from the Far East will also go to Germany and the United States this year, a total of fifty people, thirty of whom will go to Germany and Austria-Hungary under the recommendation of the East African Embassy.

The East African Embassy’s reason is also very sufficient. You are a feudal monarchical country, and you don’t send students to Germany and Austria, which are also monarchies, but choose the United States. I really don’t know what you are thinking. You deserve to have your Great Qing Dynasty collapse.

East Africa’s first batch of students was five hundred. This number is not large, because not many people brought their families to East Africa in the early colonial era. Moreover, East Africa itself has its own educational base in Germany. The schools in the Principality of Hechingen maintain a scale of more than 20,000 people every year (including orphans from Europe and the German region).

Chapter 413: The Binary System Secondary School

After discussing the naval issues, the main responsibility still fell to Archduke Ferdinand, the person in charge of the navy, while Constantine was responsible for coordinating resources.

Ernst, on the other hand, was to preside over the upcoming government education conference, because the first graduating class of primary school students in East Africa meant that the construction of public secondary schools was also on the agenda.

“Currently, East Africa has completed the universalization of basic primary education, and the first class of students has graduated. This is a good thing for the kingdom. However, compared to other countries in the world, our education system is incomplete, especially higher education. This means that unless students are selected by the state due to their outstanding grades and can participate in further education and training, there is an important question of how to deal with the remaining students,” said Dyke Herraaf, the Minister of Education, at the meeting.

Ernst: “Secondary school education is different from primary school education. It requires higher-level teachers. Currently, we cannot equip ourselves with the relevant personnel. We may have to wait a few more years, so the students and teachers must endure hardship first. We can concentrate the students first and establish boarding schools in towns or cities. At the same time, we can change the small class teaching system of primary school to a large class teaching system, and then change it back when teachers are no longer scarce.”

This was actually the state Ernst experienced when he went to school in the countryside in his previous life. Only townships and above had secondary schools, and it was rare for villages to have secondary schools. After East Africa popularized primary education, almost every village had a primary school, but secondary schools could not be as widespread as primary schools.

This was mainly Ernst’s fault, because in the early stages of talent cultivation, resources had to be tilted towards the military and the government, which led to the intellectuals cultivated in Hechingen being almost all crash courses. It was fine to deal with primary school, but the teachers needed for secondary school could not be so casual. It would be impossible to meet the standards without several years of cultivating knowledge reserves.

Secondary schools in this era were not divided into junior high school and high school like in later generations. In the mid-19th century, the beginnings of high schools appeared in Europe, generally as preparatory schools for universities.

Ernst did not plan to engage in high school education either. Two systems were completely unnecessary. This required strengthening the learning time of East African secondary schools, because there were more things to learn, so that they could better connect with European universities.

Ernst continued: “Secondary school education cannot be muddled through like primary school. We can fool ourselves, but European universities will not accept such students. For secondary school education, we must strengthen management and enhance subject learning, especially the choice of liberal arts courses. At the same time, after the primary school graduation exam, we will implement the diversion of students. The top 20 percent of students will enter liberal arts secondary schools, and the remaining students will enter vocational secondary schools.”

Liberal arts secondary schools are similar to the combination of junior high school and high school in his previous life, while vocational secondary schools are similar to technical secondary schools. Currently, European universities do not recruit students from vocational secondary schools. Having said that, in reality, even attending vocational secondary schools in this era was not something ordinary families could afford.

Ernst, an outstanding talent who had received a complete nine-year compulsory education, planned to take East Africa to the next level in one step, and incidentally make secondary school education an important part of East Africa’s compulsory education.

Ernst concluded: “East Africa’s compulsory education should be divided into two stages. The first is universal primary education, which every East African child must be forced to accept, with a duration of five years. The second is a binary system of secondary education, which is also universal, but the difference is that students with excellent grades prepare for in-depth university studies, while students with average grades prepare to enter society, also with a duration of five years.”

Letting secondary school students with average grades enter society directly after graduation was not because Ernst did not value education, but because that was the characteristic of the current era.

For example, in Belgium in 1842, the proportion of child laborers (aged 5-9) employed by a cotton mill was 1%. Historically, by 1879, the number of child laborers in this age group had risen to 9%. The proportion of older child laborers (aged 10-14) reached 34% in 1859.

Of course, countries like Belgium were a bit special. After all, Leopold II was indeed a model of a benevolent monarch in Belgium, and he did achieve some success in industrializing Belgium, but the price of brutal industrialization was the entry of Belgian women and children into factories and mines.

Prussia was more special. Although Prussia promoted compulsory education, which allowed school-age children to complete their primary school studies, the original intention was rather strange, because the entry of child laborers into factories led to insufficient reserves for the army. Prussia issued the first modern worker protection law out of military considerations, stipulating that child laborers under the age of 10 should not be employed, and those under the age of 16 should not work more than 16 hours. Well, it was very much in line with the Prussian militaristic style, but no matter what, the result was good.

Of course, Germany was loose before, and each state had its own laws. After Prussia unified Germany, Bismarck began to work on German legislation, promoting Prussian law to the entire Germany, while improving the previous laws and regulations.

In comparison, the children of East Africa were relatively happy. The Kingdom of East Africa had formulated strict laws since the colonial era, prohibiting children under the age of seven from participating in social labor, and children over the age of seven must participate in compulsory education.

East African primary school was a five-year system. When they graduated, they were at least twelve years old. Those with excellent grades or who completed their studies early could also be nominated by teachers to participate in the kingdom’s twice-yearly unified special recruitment examination, and then go to Europe to study.

Therefore, although the first batch of East African official students studying abroad was only five hundred people, in fact, a very small number of students had already gone abroad to study in advance during the previous special recruitment, but the number was only forty-three people. This group of people was the legendary geniuses. Excluding this group of people, three hundred and seventeen of the remaining eight hundred and sixty-two people directly entered the Hechingen Military Academy.

The rest were some students who, due to physical fitness or gender (girls) and other reasons, could not directly enter the Hechingen Military Academy, so they needed to repeat a grade in the First Town Primary School. After the First Town Secondary School was completed, they would enter secondary school, and it would be a liberal arts secondary school. This was considered a special treatment during a special period.

The total number of the first graduating class of East African primary school students was one thousand four hundred and five. This was the data for the entire Kingdom of East Africa.

This was also easy to understand. East Africa generally screened immigrants in the Far East. Immigrants under the age of fifteen could not immigrate to East Africa alone (those with families were not counted), after all, ordinary people could not withstand the wind and waves at sea.

This situation changed dramatically as the establishment time of East African colonies accumulated, because the number of immigrants to the Kingdom of East Africa increased greatly, coupled with the explosion of the birth rate, East African schools would probably be overcrowded in a few years.

After the East African primary school students graduated, they would enter the equally five-year secondary school to continue their education. When they graduated, they would be seventeen years old, which Ernst considered a reasonable age.

East Africa raised them to adulthood, and then it was entirely up to them. From the national level, the East African government had fully fulfilled its responsibilities.

Ernst continued: “In essence, the secondary school education we are implementing is still poor education, so unified examinations will inevitably sacrifice diversity. Therefore, we cannot ignore some students who are severely unbalanced but extremely excellent in certain subjects. The government can conduct special investigations on these students, organize national single-subject examinations, extract these students, and establish a special type of school. However, this type of school should be located in cities or large towns, which is also our preferential treatment for special talents.”

Chapter 414: New Hamburg Bay

November 12th, 1872.

East African Navy Lieutenant Commander Julian and East African port designer Royavis traveled to Richards Bay aboard two naval warships. Julian was a proper Austrian Navy man. Because Richards Bay was too far from East Africa, Archduke Ferdinand could not personally oversee things, so he appointed Julian to go.

Julian stood on the bow deck, full of vigor, watching his small “fleet” brave the waves on the sea. This was a completely new feeling that he could never experience in the Adriatic Sea. Thick black smoke drifted northward with the sea breeze.

The navy should be able to roam freely on the ocean, not be cooped up in a big bathtub like the Austrian Navy in the Adriatic Sea. However, Julian still felt somewhat unsatisfied. It would be even better if he could command an ironclad ship, which would better reflect the romance of a soldier on the sea.

Richards Bay is located on the east coast of South Africa, with Maputo to the north and Durban to the south. The defense pressure on East Africa here can be imagined.

Therefore, Archduke Ferdinand assigned the two warships currently in active service in the East African Kingdom to Julian’s command. This was definitely a pleasant surprise for Julian, who was just starting out.

He couldn’t even become a captain in the Austrian Navy, but in East Africa, he not only got promoted, but also directly took control of two warships.

Of course, the most important thing was that the East African Navy never defaulted on wages, and the benefits were better than in Austria. Although the salary was lower than in the Austrian Navy, the cost of living in East Africa was much lower than in Austria.

The East African Navy had a total of eight main warships, two of which were to be decommissioned and sent to Haiti, meaning that the East African Kingdom actually only had six warships available.

The two warships under Julian’s command were previously retired from the Austrian Navy to East Africa, so they could be considered old partners, and he was not unfamiliar with them.

If he had previously assigned two warships to defend South Africa, Archduke Ferdinand would definitely have felt the pinch. However, since East Africa was going to purchase new ships, Archduke Ferdinand became generous. If the new warships had not yet arrived, he would have sent the entire East African Navy to South Africa without objection.

However, because East Africa occupied this area, the name Richards Bay did not exist. Instead, it was called New Hamburg Bay by the East African Kingdom, and the port that East Africa planned to build here was also called New Hamburg Port.

The reason why New Hamburg Port differed in name from ports such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa was that it was entirely built by the East African Kingdom and had no historical baggage. Hamburg had an important position in German history, especially during the Hanseatic League period.

The Zulus, as nomadic people who migrated from the interior, had no concept of ports at all, leaving the entire coastline of the Zulu Kingdom in a desolate state.

Royavis said, “New Hamburg Port is positioned as a dual-use port for military and civilian purposes. According to the geographical conditions of New Hamburg Bay, we can set up two ports. We can build a civilian port at the mouth of the bay and a military port in the southern hinterland, so that the military port can achieve double insurance.”

The shape of New Hamburg Bay is approximately trumpet-shaped, but there are two narrow areas. One is the width of the bay mouth, which is about eight hundred meters, and the other is a narrow opening of about five hundred meters along the channel inward. This width is not wide, but it is better than the conditions of Durban Port, which has a bay mouth of only about four hundred meters.

Moreover, this layout naturally divides New Hamburg Port into inner and outer ports. Durban Port in its previous life also had this layout, but the inner and outer ports of Durban Port were realized by building dikes on both sides.

Julian said, “Wouldn’t it be better to put the military port at the mouth of the bay? Putting it inside feels unnecessary, and I feel that the north side of the inner port also has good construction conditions, even better than the two locations you selected. Why not take advantage of it?”

Royavis said, “Because it’s not necessary. Before coming here, I talked to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince separately. Actually, I also wanted to choose the north side of the inner port as the port construction area at first, but the Crown Prince told me that South Africa is not the focus of East Africa’s construction at present, so there is no need to pursue an excessively large port. It’s enough to be sufficient.”

Ernst considered that New Hamburg Port might become East Africa’s largest coal and mineral export port in the future, so he reserved space in advance.

New Hamburg Port was called Richards Bay (or Richards Bay Port) in its previous life, and it is one of the world’s largest coal export ports. In its previous life, South Africa produced more than two hundred million tons of coal annually, and most of the coal exports were completed through New Hamburg Port. Currently, only Ernst knows about the existence of huge coal mines in South Africa.

Ernst does not intend to develop the coal mines in South Africa at present. The coal mines in East Africa (mainly Tanganyika and Kenya) are currently sufficient. The role of New Hamburg Port is to facilitate the export of materials from East Africa to South Africa and save costs.

Because South Africa is adjacent to the British Cape Colony and Natal Colony, this is also the area with the greatest defense pressure on East Africa. A certain number of troops will be maintained here for a long time, and the consumption of the army is indispensable. Maritime transport is obviously the most economical and practical mode of transportation, while the cost of land transportation is very high, unless Zimbabwe is developed and agriculture is developed, and materials are exported to South Africa nearby.

Julian said, “If that’s the case, then it makes sense, but our current trouble is that it’s too desolate here, and we can’t even see a shadow of a person.”

Royavis said, “Because the Zulus generally live in the interior, they don’t consider the coast. Having lived in East Africa for so long, I have never seen a black fisherman except for some black people who believe in Arab religion in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. But don’t worry about the port construction problem. The army in South Africa will assist us. They have a large number of slaves in their hands now.”

The East African Army stationed in the former Zulu Kingdom is mainly deployed north of the Tugela River, facing the British Natal Colony across the river, while the South African Army Headquarters is located in Pretoria.

Julian said, “The map shows that there are two large lakes in the north and south of New Hamburg Port. I wonder if we can make use of them.”

Royavis said, “The lake in the south is unlikely. In fact, it is a large swamp with very shallow water. The one in the north is possible. Its area even exceeds New Hamburg Bay. The best thing is that there is a natural river channel connected to New Hamburg Bay.”

In fact, in its previous life, the population of Richards Bay was mainly distributed along the banks of the northern Great Lake. As for the natural river channel, only some modifications are needed to better connect it with New Hamburg Port.

The river channel connecting the lake mouth is only seven meters wide, and only needs to be widened by about eight hundred meters, and the width of the river channel below is more than twenty meters, and the downstream is more than one hundred meters wide. If it can be used well, it will greatly enhance the value of New Hamburg Port.

Julian said, “Speaking of which, the lakes in South Africa are indeed quite strange. These lakes are not small in area and are distributed close to the coastline. There are three large lakes around New Hamburg Port alone, and further north there is also Lake St. Lucia, which is more than three hundred square kilometers, and is also distributed close to the coastline.”

This series of lakes is strung together like a pearl necklace next to the South African coastline. The lake closest to the sea is even less than two kilometers away. Displayed on the map, the middle land part is like a thin line, which is exactly the opposite of the coral reef island chain on the East African coast.

Chapter 415: In Trieste

The construction of New Hamburg Port was even more difficult than the construction of Mtwara Port in East Africa. Not only was it far from East Africa, lacking relevant population and industrial support, but the amount of engineering required was also much larger than that of Mtwara Port. Therefore, the construction of New Hamburg Port had to prioritize the construction of the naval port.

While New Hamburg Port was being planned in East Africa, Archduke Ferdinand arrived in Austria and disembarked at the Port of Trieste as if he knew the way.

At the Royal Shipyard, Ferdinand asked with interest, “Is that giant ironclad the new main battleship of the Austrian Navy? What is its tonnage? How does it compare to the Lissa?”

The engineer said somewhat dejectedly, “If only it were a warship of the Austrian Navy. However, according to the Navy, they have no new shipbuilding plans. This ship was commissioned by a foreign country. We don’t know which country it is. This ship has a displacement of more than two hundred tons more than the Lissa, and its technology is more advanced than the Lissa.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Didn’t Austria regain Venice? Now that control of the Adriatic Sea is back in Austrian hands, and this naval victory is no less significant than the Battle of Lissa, why are there no new warship construction plans?”

The engineer said, “Alas, it is precisely because we fought even better than last time that the Navy captured many ships from the former Italian Adriatic Fleet. After allocating some to the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples, the rest were incorporated into the Imperial Navy. This led the Hungarian Parliament to believe that the Navy no longer needed new ships, so they refused to allocate funds. Not only that, but they also demanded a reduction in naval funding. Fortunately, General Tegetthoff argued strongly against it, which prevented a tragedy from happening.”

Archduke Ferdinand sighed, “Is the Imperial Navy in such dire straits now? It’s not even as good as when I was the naval commander?”

The engineer said with a smile, “Actually, since the end of our war with Prussia, imperial power has been divided in two. Any expenditure requires joint consultation between Austria and Hungary. This has no impact on the economy, but it’s not good for military industries that require financial support. In fact, it’s not just the Navy; the Army is also having a hard time. You know, our country’s land defense pressure is not small, and they even have objections to the Army’s military spending, let alone the Navy.”

Archduke Ferdinand then said, “Well, it seems that the internal contradictions of the empire are becoming more acute. Franz is really having a hard time.”

The engineer said, “Your Highness, I also believe that this kind of contradiction will not benefit Austria in any way. The empire’s decision-making efficiency is already lower than that of other countries, and it’s even worse since the implementation of the dual monarchy. This generation is still alright; everyone understands the principle of living under the same roof, but the next generation may completely lose control.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Then what do you think the empire should do now?”

Engineer: “There are only two ways. The first is to sit and wait for the contradictions to completely erupt without doing anything. The second is to directly expose the contradictions and carry out reforms in advance. However, neither of these methods is a good idea. The first method is a slow death, while the second method is likely to cause the empire to die prematurely.”

Archduke Ferdinand did not think so. Having stayed in East Africa for a long time, the style of the East African government had also deeply influenced Archduke Ferdinand.

“Actually, if you ask me, the second method can still be tried. Sometimes a fight can solve many problems. As for the issue of losing control, unless there is foreign interference, but given the current environment in continental Europe, the probability of this happening is negligible.”

Engineer: “Heh heh heh, only Your Highness has the confidence to say such things. We wouldn’t dare to think that way.”

In the engineer’s view, Archduke Ferdinand was speaking from a position of privilege. The importance of Hungary to the empire was self-evident. Without Hungary, the empire would be nothing.

If Archduke Ferdinand knew what the engineer was thinking, he would probably disagree. If a civil war really broke out, Austria would not be the one to suffer.

Currently, the Austrian army, under the leadership of Albrecht, still had a relatively strong martial spirit. In addition, Austria’s natural terrain suppressed Hungary. If the Hungarian nobles really caused trouble, they would definitely not get any benefits. If Archduke Ferdinand were in charge, he would rather fight this battle. Anyway, Hungary has a large area, and it could be split up or even kicked out.

However, Archduke Ferdinand was just thinking about it. If he were in Franz’s position, he probably wouldn’t be much better off. However, this was a much bigger change than before. Previously, in Austria and Mexico, Archduke Ferdinand had always acted as a peacemaker and compromiser.

Later, it proved that kindness would only be seen as weakness, and ambitious people would not care whether you were truly kind or not. If you reached that position, you were destined to be an enemy.

Of course, the most important thing was that Archduke Ferdinand had seen Ernst’s methods of dealing with the natives in East Africa and realized that no one in this world was indispensable. For example, the African natives. What Ernst did was to keep the land but not the people. Similarly, the Hungarians’ role for Austria might not be that important.

“Alright, let’s not talk about these things. I want to know if the shipyard has any vacancies available recently?” Archduke Ferdinand began to talk about business.

Engineer: “Speaking of vacancies, there really aren’t any. Although the Navy has no orders, there are quite a few orders for civilian merchant ships!”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Not a single vacancy? Is the merchant ship business booming recently?”

Engineer: “That’s right. The economy is too good now, and maritime transport is developing rapidly. Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal, the old fleets along the Mediterranean coast have been revived, so everyone is rushing to build new ships.”

Archduke Ferdinand asked, “How long will it take for you to have a vacancy?”

The engineer replied leisurely, “Under the circumstances of our factory, it should be two years from now.”

“Two years from now!”

“Yes, recently a group of Austrian merchants also purchased several ships. I heard that they want to participate in the Far East trade, but I don’t think their decision is a good one. After all, Hechingen Overseas Trading Company is the real deep pockets. I heard that in recent years, most of the business from the Far East to the German region has been monopolized by Hechingen Overseas Trading Company’s merchant ships.”

Ferdinand had a headache: “Are the conditions in other shipyards the same as yours?”

“Pretty much. Since Italy was defeated, most of the business has been monopolized by us and French shipyards. If the technical requirements are not high, you can also go to Italy. After all, although Italy is not doing well as a country, its shipbuilding industry is still good.”

Because of the two failures in the Adriatic Sea, the Italian shipbuilding industry was indeed questioned to some extent. Of course, the main reason was that the Kingdom of Italy suffered huge economic losses due to the war, and the restoration of the Kingdom of Naples also took away a lot of industries.

“So going to Italy is also feasible?”

“It’s hard to say. I heard that they have a serious brain drain, and many technicians have gone abroad. Our shipyard has several technicians from Italy. Many shipyards there have gone bankrupt.”

Archduke Ferdinand also knew about this. The Bagamoyo Shipyard had recruited many Italians at that time.

In this case, Archduke Ferdinand really couldn’t think of where to solve the warship procurement problem for a while. The reason why he came to the Austrian Royal Shipyard was mainly to get as much free stuff as possible and reduce costs, so as to save more expenses for the Navy, but he had to have the opportunity to do so.

Helplessly, Archduke Ferdinand had to contact Ernst in East Africa through the dedicated telephone line installed at Ernst’s residence in Trieste to explain the situation.

Ernst: “There’s no need to rush about this. You can wait until their giant ironclad is completed before ordering. It should be around March next year.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Ernst, how did you know that there is an ironclad in the Trieste Royal Shipyard?”

Ernst quickly explained, “Uh, after all, my company has a lot of business dealings with the Royal Shipyard, so it’s normal to know. I knew this before I came to East Africa.”

Chapter 416: Different Positioning

Regarding the procurement of warships for East Africa, Ernst himself would not engage in any losing deals. Grand Duke Ferdinand’s visit to Austria was mainly to add East Africa’s desired products to the shopping cart first.

Ernst, on the other hand, would wait until the economic crisis erupted before starting the procurement work. Due to historical changes, Ernst was unsure when this global crisis would break out, but the cyclical nature of economic crises determined that this crisis would definitely erupt within the current time frame.

So Ernst continued to say to Grand Duke Ferdinand, “The matter of purchasing warships cannot be rushed. We can wait since there are no immediate vacancies. After all, my requirement is to complete the expansion of the East African Navy before 1880, which is seven years of ample time. This means my father-in-law will have to work harder, doing more work on the selection of warships.

We cannot blindly order warships produced by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Instead, we must make more demands based on the characteristics of East African waters. All of these require thorough argumentation. Father-in-law, you can discuss this issue more with your former subordinates, now high-ranking officials in the Austrian Navy. After all, the situation in East African waters is different from the Adriatic Sea, which also means that the strategic positioning of the two navies will be somewhat different.”

The Austro-Hungarian Navy was blockaded in the Adriatic Sea by the Strait of Otranto. Even if it could break out of the Adriatic Sea, it would next encounter the Mediterranean Sea. Although the Mediterranean Sea is large, it is still a closed sea area. At the same time, the strength of the British and French in the Mediterranean is still stronger than that of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

Of course, this geographical condition also has advantages. The Austro-Hungarian Navy cannot get out, and it is difficult for other countries’ navies to enter. Previously, the biggest threat to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, the Royal Italian Navy, completely said goodbye to the Adriatic Sea after losing Venice and the coastal areas of the Papal States and the Kingdom of Naples. The greatest threat to the Imperial Navy no longer existed.

Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian Navy is not strategically proactive. Its ship designs are more inclined to defense and counterattack. Defeating the Italian Navy under the command of excellent generals was a completely unexpected surprise. Therefore, the strategic and tactical vision of the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s high command can currently be guaranteed.

If they were to discuss the development direction of the East African Navy, it would be of great benefit to the Kingdom of East Africa. The scenario faced by the East African Navy is completely different from that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although Ernst emphasized the establishment of a defensive navy, East Africa directly faces the vast Indian Ocean. Therefore, the East African Navy should naturally be more proactive in strategy and tactics. It is impossible to simply wait for the enemy to come to our doorstep.

Grand Duke Ferdinand: “Alright! What you said makes sense. I was a bit impatient. After all, the current East African Navy is really embarrassing. It seems that I am not composed enough.”

As the former Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Navy, falling to the Commander-in-Chief of the East African Navy, the difference is indeed too great. Most people would probably give up on themselves directly. However, Grand Duke Ferdinand is different, because the setback in Mexico hit him even harder. Now that he has changed tracks and returned to the naval path, Grand Duke Ferdinand is actually somewhat eager to try, especially after East Africa proposed expanding the navy. Ferdinand couldn’t wait for the East African Navy to directly surpass its old employer, at least in terms of scale.

Ferdinand continued, “In fact, for warship procurement, we don’t need to focus solely on Austria. Other countries can also be considered. France and Britain are also good choices.”

Ernst: “That’s true, but I personally think it’s better for the navy’s standards to be more uniform. After all, our navy and the Austrian Navy are of the same lineage. This also facilitates logistical support and technical integration.”

Saying this was just lip service. Ernst’s continued support for the Austrian shipbuilding industry was not entirely from an economic perspective, but more from the perspective of military needs and politics.

After all, the East African Navy can make demands on Austria, and it can also make demands on French and British shipyards, completely allowing them to build ships according to East African standards.

In this era, the most cost-effective ships, especially warship dealers, are definitely the first choice of Britain. The quality is absolutely guaranteed, and military products are not something that can be used just to get by.

However, from a personal emotional standpoint, Ernst felt that if he let the British earn this money, it would be more painful than killing himself. Ernst is most active in three things: anti-British, screwing over the Americans, and resisting the Japanese.

So in the upcoming economic crisis, Ernst certainly hoped that Britain would suffer the greatest possible losses. If he sent them orders, wouldn’t that be providing them with resources to fight against him!

As for France, France, like Britain, poses a significant threat to East Africa. Both are top players on the African continent and are naturally incompatible with the Kingdom of East Africa.

Furthermore, it’s not like we don’t have our own goods. There’s no need to let foreigners earn the money. This “we” refers to the entire German cultural sphere.

Among them, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is Ernst’s most trusted partner. The characteristic of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is that it is strong but not strong enough. Its industry, economy, diplomacy, military, and a series of other fields are all top-notch in the world, but it cannot use its full strength.

From the naval perspective, although the Austro-Hungarian Navy is not valued, its strength is not bad. In the two most recent world-class naval battles, the Austro-Hungarian Navy performed well.

The development of Austria’s shipbuilding industry, although the Hechingen Consortium put in a lot of effort, even without the Hechingen Consortium’s efforts, Austria’s current shipbuilding industry is still world-class, which Germany currently cannot match.

What the Austro-Hungarian Navy lacks is the cost of trial and error. If the navy wants to improve, it must pay the cost of trial and error. For wealthy households like the British Navy, even if they go down the wrong path, they can turn around in time, but the Austro-Hungarian Navy cannot.

Ernst is willing to share some of this trial and error cost for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, because if the Austro-Hungarian shipbuilding industry is strong, it means that the East African shipbuilding industry is strong. Two of the four shipyards of the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company are located within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Moreover, cooperating with a country like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ernst can put two hundred hearts in his stomach with one hundred hearts. Not to mention that the two families have a close relationship, even if the Austro-Hungarian Empire wants to interfere in East Africa’s development, it is powerless.

Germany is a bit lacking. Although both families are Hohenzollern, there are some conflicts in national interests. Wilhelm I and Bismarck are still in power, and they pay more attention to international relations and cooperation.

Looking at Germany before World War One in his previous life, under the drive of the entire national interest group, it eventually embarked on the path of colonizing Africa, and ultimately could only use force to break the order of the entire world under the encirclement of Britain and France.

Now East Africa exclusively occupies a small third of Africa. It’s really possible that some people in Germany have ulterior motives towards East Africa. This is a threat at the level of national interests.

After all, German industry and commerce also need markets and raw material producing areas. This is not something that Wilhelm I and Bismarck can suppress. Germany has France on its left and Tsarist Russia on its right, neither of which are easy to deal with. There is not much room for maneuver. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is a bit stronger. The hot potato of the Balkan Peninsula is next to it, and after obtaining the Balkan Peninsula, there is a great possibility of realizing the revival of the Eastern Roman Empire, although this is also the goal of Tsarist Russia, but both feel that they have a greater chance of winning.

Grand Duke Ferdinand: “Since you think so, then I won’t say anything. This will reduce the East African Navy’s room for choice, but we can still play the foreign card and make Austro-Hungarian companies give us more concessions.”

Ernst exclaimed, “Father-in-law, you are still professional. I really didn’t think of this level before.”

In a declining economy, companies all over the world are having a hard time, and the pursuit of orders will become more intense. If East Africa uses this as a bargaining chip, Austrian ship companies will definitely give further discounts.

Originally, the money I invested in the navy might only be enough in normal years. If I take advantage of the economic crisis and add the means of waiting for a better price, then the funding will instantly become abundant.

Of course, under the economic crisis, the great powers will definitely not do nothing. Generally, they will actively expand their military strength, solve employment problems, and be ready for war to shift the crisis at any time. For example, the American Civil War was caused by the American economic crisis of 1857.

It seems that I still have to be vigilant about this kind of change, especially the construction of the army cannot be relaxed. However, it seems that there is no need to make any major changes to the current East African Army. I can only optimize some details on the current basis.

Chapter 417: Cook’s Vehicle

What else could be optimized in the army? The first thing that came to Ernst’s mind was the food situation for the East African soldiers. When fighting in South Africa, Ernst noticed that the East African army was still using the traditional method of cooking with buried pots, and carrying marching pots with the troops was quite common.

This method couldn’t be said to be bad, of course, but it had considerable limitations. After all, relying on a single marching pot was indeed convenient, but it inevitably required compromises on the variety of dishes.

When war breaks out, the quality of food can affect morale at any time. The ancients knew the principles of feasting soldiers before battle and demoralizing the enemy’s army. Giving soldiers a good meal before a battle can obviously calm their fear of war and boost morale.

After discussing some details with Archduke Ferdinand, Ernst began to investigate the East African army’s catering situation. He approached senior army officials and the heads of the army’s logistics department to discuss the matter.

Ernst said directly, “I want to understand what problems our troops have exposed in terms of soldiers’ catering during past wars. You can bring up some of the problems that soldiers complain about in their daily lives.”

“Your Highness, in terms of army food, our East African army shouldn’t have any major problems overall! We dare not say that we are world-leading in terms of material supply, but we are definitely among the best. We don’t know much about other countries, but we are definitely stronger than Austria and Prussia,” the Minister of Logistics said.

Ernst: “Of course I know this, after all, I presided over the formulation of the standards. But nothing can be perfect, especially when facing emergencies. For example, in the South African battlefield this time, I was also at the front line. Our supplies were abundant, but due to transportation problems, they may not have been distributed to various troops in time. This shows that we have not done our job better. This problem exists, and so do other problems, so we cannot turn a blind eye to it.”

The East African Kingdom’s army food standards were benchmarked against Prussia, and were stronger than Prussia, on the same level as France, and lower than Britain. Of course, this was only the case in terms of food expenses. If we look at the development of various countries, East Africa was completely exceeding the standard.

For example, in Prussia before, the monthly salary of a Prussian soldier was about forty-eight groschen (two thalers), but it should be noted that Prussian soldiers did not eat for free, but had to pay for food and accommodation, and also pay taxes when purchasing supplies.

Of course, the army has its special nature, so Prussian soldiers enjoy tax-free privileges when buying bread, but this is limited to bread. In addition, meat, vegetables, salt and tobacco, which are essential, still have to be handled by the soldiers themselves. The drinks they can consider are clear water, cold milk, light beer and substitute coffee. As for hot drinks such as tea and chocolate, they are completely a pipe dream.

The level of the Prussian army has been greatly improved now, but with Prussia’s huge army size, this improvement is also limited.

Moreover, Ernst put a lot of effort into this improvement. Among them, the price of German tobacco was brought down by Ernst. Currently, the German army cannot do without cigarettes. With the large-scale planting of East African tobacco, a large amount of cheap tobacco also poured into the German region, breaking the foreign monopoly. At the same time, because the Hechingen Consortium actively developed overseas trade, many things that were rare or not produced at all in Germany became more and more common.

For example, the luxury food – bananas. After being put into production in East Africa, a batch was immediately sent by express ship to supply the Prussian and Austrian armies free of charge.

This has always been the Hechingen Consortium’s tradition of supporting the army. The army is both a good customer and the best publicity tool. The soldiers from all over the world are worth the Hechingen Consortium’s strong support.

This era has no television, radio, or internet, and people do not move around frequently. The army and newspapers are the best platforms for civilians to learn about new things.

Taking the Prussian army as an example, the Prussian army has a scale of about six hundred thousand. If each person is given one, six hundred thousand people will know about this high-quality product, Somali bananas. And these six hundred thousand people will inevitably introduce the delicious food they enjoyed in the army to their hometown people when they return home. This is a rare topic of conversation, and Somali bananas can be widely promoted among the civilian class.

Speaking of the army’s meals, compared with the armies of the great powers, the East African army’s soldiers’ wages are not high, but their food, clothing, housing and transportation are free.

At the same time, because East Africa is located in a tropical region, this makes the East African army destined not to lack vegetables and fruit supplies. In fact, when East Africa’s animal husbandry develops, meat, dairy products, and eggs will also be the same. And East Africa is a major tobacco producer, so cigarettes are almost standard equipment for the East African army, so the East African army’s food will not be too bad at all.

However, this is only in theory. The actual operation is not like this. First of all, East Africa’s land area is too large, the transportation lines are extremely long, and the transportation conditions are very backward.

In addition, the areas initially developed by the East African Kingdom are concentrated in the east, which makes it possible for the troops of the Central Military Region and the Northern Military Region to meet the East African army’s dietary standards set by Ernst during peacetime, while the other three military regions cannot enjoy this treatment. This situation certainly cannot be reversed in a short period of time, so Ernst has to use his brains in other aspects.

Ernst: “Let’s not talk about other things first. Taking hot food as an example, our army has a lot of room for improvement. When I was at the front line in South Africa, the soldiers were still using large pots to boil various pastes, and each time they had to build temporary stoves, wasting a lot of time. I know that there is now a special cook’s vehicle in the Prussian army. I think this thing is very good, and we should adopt it. This has great advantages for the army’s field marching.”

In 1853, Kant Lamford of Bavaria, Germany, put boilers and other things on four-wheeled carriages. Since then, the army’s equipment has included cook’s vehicles.

However, the current cook’s vehicle can only be regarded as a new thing and has not been popularized. Countries will start to specialize in the development of cook’s vehicles and distribute them to troops around the twentieth century.

Felix said: “Your Highness, we have actually never seen the cook’s vehicle you mentioned. I have served in the Prussian army for many years and have always used large pots to cook.”

Ernst: “This is normal. Its principle is very simple, that is, to install the stove on a carriage, which can be pulled away at any time. However, I think this thing still has a lot of room for transformation.”

As he said this, Ernst suddenly became interested in being a teacher. He simply asked someone to find paper and pen and began to design it himself.

“First of all, this kind of military dining car must take into account convenience, so two more wheels should be installed. Considering the road conditions in East Africa, these wheels should be larger, but not too bulky. The frame must also be lightweight, so a wooden frame would be more suitable. Of course, for firmness, it can withstand bumps, and it can be reinforced with iron sheets and iron fasteners.”

“Cough cough cough… Your Highness, will there be a problem with using a wooden frame! This is a thing used to burn fire.”

“Hehe, do you think I would make such a low-level mistake! The frame is wooden, but it doesn’t mean that the part that is in contact with the stove is also wooden. We can use sealed earth as an insulating material.”

As he said this, Ernst began to design (plagiarize) the stove. As the drawing gradually took shape, it became clear that Ernst’s drawing was plagiarized from a simple earthen stove in the Far East in his previous life, which was generally made of iron drums.

(Picture)

“Your Highness, why is the middle designed to be round?”

According to Felix’s idea, the stove should of course be square, because the main fuels now are firewood and loose coal, and the ash has to be removed after burning.

Ernst: “This is specially designed by me to place something called honeycomb coal. It can greatly improve the combustion efficiency of coal and can continue to burn for half a day. When using it, open the lower pull-out vent to strengthen the flame above, which can be used to heat food. When not in use, put on a hot water kettle to continuously produce hot water, and other fuels can also be used…”

Ernst did not elaborate on what honeycomb coal is, after all, many of his subordinates were big-headed soldiers who did not study hard in elementary school. They would not understand the scientific principles if he told them, as long as they let them try it directly after the finished product is completed.

Chapter 418: Apprentice

In the end, the field kitchen vehicle was designed with two stoves, roughly square in shape, and could be pulled by a single horse, or pushed and pulled by two people. It was somewhat similar to the Prussian field kitchen vehicle, but vastly different.

(Image: Prussian version of World War I)

This field kitchen vehicle, after Ernst’s modifications, had its weight greatly reduced. At the same time, because it only had two wheels, its adaptability to East African roads or wilderness was strengthened. However, because it only had two wheels, it required two retractable supports when stationary.

There was no dedicated oven or coffee stove. In fact, the current prototype Prussian field kitchen vehicle wouldn’t have an oven either. After all, it’s not needed for burning porridge. Efficiency is key on the battlefield. Baking food is a complex process and could also face a shortage of clean drinking water, as flour products need water for kneading.

As for those World War I military ration reviews from my previous life, it’s best to take them with a grain of salt. The army could never eat those fancy-looking things every day. Using them for emergencies is understandable.

Hot food is the effective guarantee for improving the army’s combat effectiveness. No one can stand constantly hiding in trenches and gnawing on cold bread.

Ernst’s two stoves could be equipped with different cooking utensils: a cylindrical rice steamer, a curved iron wok, two griddles, and two large kettles.

This could basically meet the army’s needs. Of course, the shortcomings of this field kitchen vehicle were also very obvious, namely, it couldn’t solve the problem of smoke, which could reveal its position.

However, the main application of the field kitchen vehicle was to facilitate the East African Army’s march. For example, this time the 111th and 123rd Divisions traversed more than two thousand kilometers from East Africa to South Africa, and as East Africa was their home base, there was no combat requirement along the way, so the above problem did not exist.

Moreover, the chimney problem wasn’t unsolvable, it was just currently unsolvable. There was a lot of room for future improvement.

Ernst looked at his designed field kitchen vehicle and was generally satisfied. He had to thank the roadside snack carts from his previous life for providing rich inspiration.

Ernst: “For the army, so-called details determine success or failure. In addition to considering combat needs, we must also consider issues from the perspective of army life. Sometimes, non-combat attrition in a war can be much greater than the war itself.”

This was especially evident in the East African Army. The East African Army had not encountered strong enemies, and the intensity of the war was not high. Instead, non-combat attrition losses were higher than war losses.

“Of course, I am not advocating hedonism. The army is for fighting, for defending the country, not for enjoying comfort. Therefore, training must not be relaxed, and the harsh war environment must be simulated frequently. As for improving the soldiers’ living environment, this is also necessary. The two are not in conflict.”

…

January 17, 1873.

While Ernst was working to improve the army’s logistical support, the East African Arsenal also welcomed new equipment. For this reason, the Mauser brothers came to East Africa from Germany to guide the installation of the Mauser rifle production line.

Wilhelm Mauser: “The 1873 Mauser rifle, which is currently the 1871 rifle equipped by Germany, has greatly improved in range and accuracy compared to the Dreyse rifle. The German army has also adopted our plan, but the Ministry of Defense mainly gives orders to some established arsenals for production. We cannot supply the German army in large quantities due to production capacity issues.”

The 1871 Mauser rifle was called the 1873 rifle in East Africa due to the difference in equipment time compared to Germany.

Ernst: “I understand this matter. Our arsenal in Germany was just a small factory that Prussia was going to eliminate. It was never a major customer of the Prussian army’s military supplies. I personally think it’s enough to get some orders from the German army.”

The Hechingen Consortium, as one of the German army’s suppliers, was more focused on food, clothing, and daily necessities. As for military supplies, not to mention Krupp, a symbolic enterprise of the German army, even some medium-sized enterprises were much stronger than East Africa. This was just how things worked. It was already good enough that they allowed the Hechingen Consortium to enter the German army’s supply system. The Hechingen Consortium couldn’t break the rules.

At that time, Konstantin was still serving in the Prussian army, plus the Hohenzollern surname, which was one of the reasons why the Hechingen Consortium was able to enter the field.

Ernst: “Now that you’ve come to East Africa, I happen to have a request. I hope you won’t refuse.”

The Mauser brothers didn’t dare to be presumptuous in front of their boss and quickly said: “Your Highness, you are too polite. Without your patronage, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As for requests, that’s what we should do. We will naturally do our best to complete them.”

Ernst said: “It’s not a big deal. I just hope you can bring along some newcomers. Of course, I’m not talking about internal company personnel, but students I’ve specially cultivated in the Hechingen area. Let them give you a hand.”

So that’s what it was, just taking on apprentices! The Mauser brothers had also come up this way, but they mainly learned their craft from their father for a longer period of time. Isn’t this just a matter of you saying the word? The elder brother, Wilhelm Mauser, said: “As long as Your Highness says the word, we will never hoard our knowledge.”

Ernst nodded and said: “That’s good. They are all young children, and some of them are not very proficient in German, so you have to be more considerate.”

The apprentices Ernst arranged for the Mauser brothers were students from the Hechingen school. There weren’t many, just five, but Ernst thought five was enough. Two of them were from the Far East.

Currently, few of the students Ernst had cultivated had entered universities in the German region. They were all exceptionally gifted geniuses. Not to mention universities, even secondary schools in the German region were difficult to enter unless you threw money at it. Ernst wouldn’t be a sucker for that. It wasn’t a small amount of money. The actual educational quality of the secondary school Ernst established in Hechingen couldn’t be compared with other secondary schools in Germany, because secondary education was currently elite education.

Aside from universities, the best way to learn top-level knowledge was to be an apprentice to weapon development experts like the Mauser brothers. The apprenticeship system was very common in Europe now, so Ernst’s request wasn’t excessive. The most important thing was that the students could learn something.

The Mauser brothers also had secondary school educations, but this wasn’t the main reason they became weapon development experts. It was more influenced by their family background.

Therefore, the assistants Ernst equipped for the Mauser brothers were also students from the Hechingen secondary school, so there wouldn’t be too many obstacles in learning. The main thing was to accumulate experience and learn design ideas.

Whether they would succeed was hard to say, but if they did, East Africa would make a fortune. If not, they could also serve as professional technicians in the East African Arsenal.

Ernst continued: “The environment in Germany is definitely better in the work field, but East Africa is not bad either, especially the East African Army, which is your strong backing. Some data on firearms and weapons can also provide you with rich first-hand information. Germany is located between the temperate and cold zones, while East Africa is located between the subtropical and tropical zones. The rich application scenarios are of great benefit to weapon development, so you can come to East Africa more often.”

Wilhelm Mauser: “Your Highness, rest assured, we will definitely consider East African factors more in firearm development.”

Both sides maintained a tacit understanding and did not mention the matter of permanently residing in East Africa. The environment in East Africa was a big problem and could not attract high-end talent to settle down. This environment referred more to the overall environment. The degree of development in East Africa was not high, especially the more livable inland areas, which had not been effectively developed. Ernst didn’t dare to let them stay on the coast for too long. Although Dar es Salaam was one of the most prosperous cities in the tropics, the climate was somewhat hot and inferior to Germany. The inland climate of East Africa was stronger than Germany, but the infrastructure couldn’t keep up.

Chapter 419: Crisis Erupts

February 3rd, 1873.

Vienna, Austria.

For Austrians, the entire year of 1872 was unforgettable. Like other countries around the world, Austria experienced unprecedented prosperity. Furthermore, Austria’s victory over Italy, regaining Venice, made Austrians even happier.

The dual victories, economic and military, boosted the confidence of any nation’s people. The overheated economy created numerous job opportunities, and the outbreak of war initiated military conscription. Under these circumstances, Austrians were less enthusiastic about emigrating overseas.

This was directly reflected in the number of Austrians immigrating to East Africa in 1872, which plummeted to less than five thousand. Because the Austrian government intended to introduce German populations into Venice, immigration shifted from East Africa to cities and Venice.

Since 1848, the only major setback Austrians had faced was the defeat in the Austro-Prussian War, being kicked out of the German territories by Prussia.

However, Austria’s economy was not affected in the slightest. Austria’s industrialization was slower than France and Prussia, but it was also developing rapidly.

The construction of railways was a direct manifestation of this economic situation. From 1859 to 1872, over seven thousand kilometers of railways were built throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The data may not be as impressive as other major powers, but it was still astonishing. This period was also the phase of railway privatization in Austria.

However, all of this took a turn at the end of 1872. At the end of 1872, seventy-six railway companies in the Austro-Hungarian Empire defaulted on their bonds. Among the three hundred and eighty-four listed railway companies, two hundred and seventy-nine had no dividends to distribute.

But railway stocks continued to rise, and the market was full of praise, giving enthusiastic investors the illusion that they would miss out if they didn’t grab them.

Bad news arrived in February.

On February 4th, the Barclay Railway Company defaulted.

On February 5th, the Cooke Railway Company defaulted.

On February 6th, Kenyonks Bank defaulted.

On February 7th, all railway stocks plummeted. Then, under the gaze of investors, stock prices on the Vienna Stock Exchange cascaded like a waterfall. That night, many gamblers climbed onto rooftops.

Vienna Court.

“Your Majesty, according to statistics, over four hundred million guilders evaporated from the Vienna Stock Exchange in a single day. Countless investors were ruined overnight. Preliminary statistics show that seventeen people committed suicide yesterday. What follows is a complete paralysis of credit and the suspension of securities trading. Austria’s economic winter is coming.”

Franz listened to the Finance Minister’s report with a blank expression. As a mature emperor, Franz was noticeably more composed.

Franz asked directly, “To what extent will this crisis affect the empire?”

“We are not clear at the moment, but the impact may be even greater than in 1848, because the scale of this crisis is significantly larger. Except for a few state-owned enterprises, the entire railway industry faces the risk of paralysis, and the crisis is now spreading from railways to other sectors.”

1848 was a terrible number for Franz. At that time, the Habsburgs were almost overthrown, and Franz ascended the throne amidst turmoil. In the following decade or so, Austria’s development was also quite unfavorable. Only recently had it reversed its decline. Before he could enjoy a few comfortable days, an economic crisis broke out again.

In fact, it is not surprising that the capitalist economic crisis broke out first in Austria. Economic crises are like a game of passing the buck. In recent years, with the increasing degree of industrialization in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was inevitable that the Austro-Hungarian Empire would experience the cyclical nature of capitalist development.

The prosperity before the economic crisis was a typical case of data fabrication and living beyond one’s means. The financial market and stock market were abnormally distorted, remaining at high levels for a long time.

The economic crisis of 1873 was a far-reaching global economic crisis. This crisis first broke out in industrialized countries and then spread to other countries. Any country that joined the world market would be affected first.

Those unaffected were regions such as the Far East and South America. Originally, Africa was also unaffected in history, but due to the variable of the East African Kingdom, it would now be affected as well. The East African Kingdom was not large, but it represented nearly a third of Africa. Coupled with North African countries such as Egypt, this economic crisis was unavoidable.

As for why Austria became the first place to erupt, it was entirely due to the national conditions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s industrialization was already a step behind other countries, and the development of its financial industry was also relatively chaotic. In addition, the dualistic political system of the Austro-Hungarian Empire inevitably led to poorer regulation of the financial industry compared to other countries.

Capitalists in other countries could still band together before the storm, first fooling the retail investors and then safely withdrawing. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had numerous ethnic groups and even more factions, so Austrian capitalists were less ethical, lacking communication, and suspicious of each other due to vicious competition. This led to the Vienna Stock Exchange being the first to explode, “better a dead friend than a poor me!”

Although the economies of various countries had problems, everyone was cheating. Whoever’s deception was better would have their crisis erupt later. Obviously, the acting skills of Vienna’s banks and entrepreneurs were not as good as those of the old foxes in countries like England, France, and the United States.

With the outbreak of the economic crisis in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Hechingen Group’s business was bound to be affected first. It was certain that East African grain exports would suffer, because this crisis was accompanied by a strong agricultural crisis.

International grain prices were already fiercely competitive due to the output of newly developed land in North America, Tsarist Russia, and Australia. Coupled with the boost from the new player, the East African Kingdom, this agricultural crisis would be even more massive.

On the day the Vienna Stock Exchange exploded, Ernst received the news. On the same day, all enterprises under the Hechingen banner began to lower product prices, becoming the first to join the dumping war.

It should be noted that the Hechingen Group’s food companies not only did business in East Africa, but also in Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, being the largest grain distributor in the entire German region. Therefore, the dumping by the Hechingen Group’s enterprises was not just a matter for the East African Kingdom, but the Hechingen Group dragging the agricultural products of East Africa, Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire into dumping together.

East Africa, Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were all important grain-producing countries internationally. From the moment the Hechingen Group launched the grain dumping war, huge amounts of cheap agricultural products from the three countries flooded into Europe all at once.

At the same time, East Africa also stepped up its efforts to negotiate (order) with the Sultanate of Zanzibar, exporting grain to the entire Arab region and parts of Southeast Asia through the Sultanate of Zanzibar’s channels.

The Hechingen Group caught the world off guard at the first moment of the crisis, and international grain prices were directly blown out.

Ernst was confident about this. Even if other countries wanted to settle accounts, they would have to involve Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Junkers and Hungarian landlords were actually passively becoming beneficiaries. Obviously, this was impossible. As for the exacerbation of the food crisis, that was exactly what Ernst wanted to see, because East Africa was not a free economic market, and the crisis would not have any negative impact on East Africa.

Although the sharp drop in grain prices would lead to Ernst earning less money, it was good to be able to make money now. If it was any later, it would not be a question of making money, but of not being able to sell even at a loss, unless it was really given away for free.

In fact, as long as the grain exported from East Africa could be sold for even a penny, the Hechingen Group could get a penny of profit. This was the result of East Africa’s special economic system.

From the moment the grain was shipped out of East Africa, it was decoupled from the East African Kingdom and directly assigned to the Hechingen Group. The labor and production costs paid for these grains were almost non-existent, because grain was not given economic value within East Africa. The land was seized, the labor force directly free-rode on indigenous laborers, and East African farmers only needed to maintain basic food and clothing needs, but their needs were not worth mentioning compared to the benefits they created for the Hechingen royal family.

Chapter 420: Solid as Mount Tai

“I can’t see a single ray of hope!”

Klein roared in anguish, then collapsed in the trading hall. The surrounding staff looked at Klein with sympathy, but everyone was having a hard time these days, so no one stepped forward to say a word of comfort. Such things had become commonplace.

Klein issued a soul-searching question: “Who can save us now?”

The answer was no one. The stock market was inherently a high-risk gamble, and the risks naturally had to be borne by the shareholders themselves. From the day the exchange was established, it had pushed the responsibility away completely, just like the warning printed on cigarette packs: “Smoking is harmful to your health.”

Of course, a stock market crash would also have a significant and huge negative impact on the Austro-Hungarian economy. Proactive government action could still reduce some losses.

If it were Germany, a country with extremely strong government execution capabilities, it might be possible. But forget about Austria-Hungary. In terms of economic policy, Austria-Hungary’s financial situation had always been unstable, and its economy was characterized by imbalances and protectionist tendencies, typically between Austria and Hungary.

Now the real big capitalists in Austria were trying to shift the crisis outwards, and neighboring Hungary was one of their targets. Similarly, the great nobles of Hungary also wanted to sell their grain as quickly as possible. You want to dump industrial products on me, and I want to dump agricultural products on you! Both sides raised tariffs.

As for the central government, it could only stare blankly. Even its usual finances were difficult, so there was no way it could have money to rescue the market. Now the banks themselves were struggling to survive, and there was nowhere to borrow money.

Meanwhile, at the Vienna branch of Hechingen Bank.

“Director Nageins, your bank is the only one with the ability to come up with extra funds in this economic crisis. You can’t just stand by and watch us die!”

“Mr. Seles, I’m really sorry. The entire Vienna banking industry is in a state of panic. We are just barely maintaining operations to ensure the safety of our depositors’ accounts, so we are powerless at this time.”

“Director Nageins, we have a long-standing relationship. My company just has a small problem with its cash flow. It doesn’t need much, just three hundred and fifty thousand crowns to get through the crisis.”

“Three hundred and fifty thousand crowns is not a small amount, and it’s not something I can move around casually. Mr. Seles, if you listen to my advice, you should sell all your factories at a low price as soon as possible! The business you do is highly tied to the railway industry. According to the current market situation, you’ll lose more money for every day you keep them. Don’t even think about orders anymore. I estimate your customers can’t even come up with the penalty for breach of contract.”

“Alas, I actually want to sell, but I can’t get a good price right now, and no one will take over.”

“Then there’s nothing I can do. Declaring bankruptcy is better than holding on until you die. Employees who don’t get paid will cause trouble.”

Seles was also a capable person, and he could still see at a glance that Hechingen Bank was operating well even in the midst of the storm.

In fact, this was not difficult. As long as you inquired from various sources, you could still find clues. Other banks were laying off employees or just giving up, while Hechingen Bank was sitting back and watching the situation unfold.

The staff of Hechingen Bank also showed no signs of panic, standing out from the crowd of their peers. This showed that Hechingen Bank was confident, and what could give them this confidence could only be sufficient funds and a healthy operating state.

Of course, Hechingen Bank could be so carefree entirely because of its previous efforts. If time were turned back a few months, it would have been the opposite.

At that time, Hechingen Bank carefully reviewed the problems it faced and promptly cleared all possible risks. After all, Hechingen Bank could only be considered a novice among the European banks, and there were many areas where it lacked experience.

Hechingen Bank rectified itself, streamlined its personnel and organization, lowered deposit interest rates, raised the threshold for loan applications, and sold off non-performing assets, which caused a lot of noise at the time.

Many customers therefore turned to other banks and financial institutions, but they completely regretted it after the economic crisis broke out, and Seles was one of them.

Therefore, Nageins was unmoved by Seles’s request. Of course, even without this incident, Nageins would not have considered their relationship.

“Alright, Mr. Seles, it’s better to rely on yourself than to rely on others. You should just pray for your own good fortune!”

Seles still wanted to try to persuade him: “……”

However, Nageins directly said to his assistant: “Andy, see him out.”

After Seles was escorted away, Andy said: “Director, affected by the crisis, our bank’s business seems to be not very good recently. I don’t know how long this crisis will last.”

Nageins said: “Hehe, don’t worry, it’s just a market winter. Does winter mean that people don’t go out at all because it’s snowing! The economy will still operate, but it just won’t be as hot as before. We just need to do our own thing well. Moreover, we have accumulated enough credit in this crisis. It will be obvious who customers choose next time. Maybe our business will be even easier to do later because our competitors are being eliminated one after another.”

“Oh, right, Director, here is a telegram from headquarters that just arrived. Headquarters requires all branches to continue to lower deposit interest rates by one to two percentage points.”

Nageins leisurely drank his coffee and said: “Then announce it tomorrow morning! Now that other banks and companies are going bankrupt, there’s really no need to continue to maintain such high interest rates.”

In fact, Hechingen Bank’s deposit interest rate was already maintained at a fairly low level after the last adjustment. Continuing to lower it by one percentage point would basically mean that depositors could ignore the interest they earned from their deposits.

After all, customer loss, corporate bankruptcy, worker unemployment… a series of chain reactions led to the banking industry not making much money now, or even losing money. It was normal to reduce the profit sharing for depositors. Although interest rates were reduced, it was still much better than losing everything. They should be happy to still have interest.

In the evening.

Wiggins got off work and just as he left the bank door, he saw the employees of his old rival, Cruz Bank, arguing with depositors with worried faces.

Wiggins moved a little closer and listened carefully to what the crowd was saying:

“Everyone, don’t be anxious. It’s time to get off work now, and we’re going to close!”

“Bastards, we haven’t withdrawn our money yet, and you’re already thinking about getting off work. Aren’t you treating us like fools?”

“That’s right, if we don’t get our money today, we won’t let you leave.”

“I heard that the railway company went bankrupt, causing you to be unable to recover your debts and your cash flow has been cut off. Are you still trying to trick everyone into going bankrupt with you?”

“Return our deposits!”

“Give us our money back!”

……

Looking at this lively scene, Nageins clicked his tongue and said: “What turbulent times!”

Hechingen Bank was sure of victory, but because of the economic winter, everyone’s enthusiasm for saving money had also decreased. Hechingen Bank was also affected, and many depositors took their money out. However, this had no impact on the slimmed-down Hechingen Bank. Hechingen Bank had experienced this once a few months ago, when the economy was still very hot and there were many people willing to take over, and it actually made a lot of money. Now, Hechingen Bank’s depositors were decreasing due to the drag of the entire industry. This situation was only temporary. After a while, everyone would realize who was the real winner in the crisis.

Chapter 421: The East African Great Railway Plan

February 22, 1873.

Svet Palace.

Ernst convened all the senior executives of the East African government and the East African Railway Company to discuss the construction of the East African railway. Taking advantage of the economic crisis, East Africa’s railway construction could also begin.

At the meeting, Ernst described the preliminary construction blueprint for the East African railway in detail:

“This planned railway is divided into four parts. One is the extension of the First Railway, which will be renamed the ‘Central Railway’ after completion. It will be used to connect the East African coast, the East African Plateau, the Katanga Plateau, the Lunda Plateau, the Matabeleland Plateau, and the South African Plateau.”

“The Central Railway will be ‘T’ shaped, with a total length of more than four thousand six hundred kilometers. It will start from Dar es Salaam, pass through First Town, Mbeya, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, Harare, Bulawayo, and Pretoria.”

“The second is the ‘Northern Railway’, with a total length of more than one thousand kilometers. It will start from Mombasa, pass through Nairobi, and end at Kisumu.”

“After the completion of the two railways, the total length of the East African railway will be approximately five thousand six hundred kilometers, effectively connecting the East African territory. The Central Railway will undertake cross-regional passenger and freight exchanges between the eastern, western, and southern regions of East Africa. The Northern Railway will undertake the task of connecting the Great Lakes region with the coast.”

(Picture)

Ernst said to the chief technical consultant of the East African Railway Company, “Mr. Nording, please describe the specific construction conditions and plans in detail, and feel free to speak up if there are any difficulties!”

So Nording said, “Gentlemen, before the construction of the First Railway, we conducted a survey of the railway lines within East Africa, spending nearly three years selecting relevant routes, trying to avoid complex terrain. However, some swamps and wetlands along the route are unavoidable, which is the biggest problem facing the Central Railway. In comparison, the Northern Railway does not have this problem.”

“Let me briefly use the American Pacific Railway as an example. The Pacific Railway has a total length of approximately three thousand kilometers, while the planned length of our Central Railway far exceeds the Pacific Railway. At the same time, the amount of construction work per unit distance is also higher than the Pacific Railway.”

The amount of construction work was Ernst’s own doing, because Ernst believed that the construction of the East African railway this time seized the best sections within the entire East African Kingdom (avoiding mountainous sections and not requiring the development of tunnels). In the future, it will almost certainly be the main artery of the East African railway, so he simply built a three-track railway, while Europe and the United States mostly used single-track and double-track railways during the same period.

“Taking the industrial base of the two countries as an example, the United States has a complete industrial system, which can almost completely meet all the needs of railway production, while East Africa has zero foundation in this regard, and cannot even complete the most basic rail production.”

This means that the construction of the East African railway still depends on imports. However, East Africa calculated that importing is currently cheaper than East Africa producing it itself. This is definitely not the case normally, but after the economic crisis broke out in Europe and the United States, a large amount of surplus railway capacity just met East Africa’s appetite. Now Ernst is waiting for the European and American railway industries to completely hit rock bottom before preparing to take action.

So Ernst added from the side, “Everyone doesn’t need to worry about this problem. Next, we will purchase a large number of related materials from Europe. Currently, Austria and Germany have abundant surplus steel capacity that can completely meet the needs of the East African railway. Even if the German region is not enough, there are also Britain, France, and the United States…”

Nording: “Your Highness, this is just one item. Next is the problem of the lack of skilled workers. Perhaps black people can solve more than eighty-five percent of the needs, but some technologies cannot be solved by black people and require professional railway workers to complete.”

Ernst: “This is not a problem either. I can tell everyone a clear message, that is, Austria is currently experiencing a serious economic crisis, and more than a dozen railway companies have gone bankrupt, and this number is still climbing. At the same time, the economic crisis will spread to other industrialized countries, especially the United States, Germany, and France, which have also overbuilt railways in recent years. This also means that many railway workers are unemployed. I have already telegraphed Austrian companies to recruit a large number of experienced railway workers. After they arrive in East Africa, they can effectively solve this problem.”

Nording: “Then regarding the construction period, according to your request, Your Highness, to complete the construction of the Central Railway and Northern Railway trunk lines within three years, after comparing the Pacific Railway data, we believe that at least more than sixty thousand workers are needed.”

The Pacific Railway took a total of four years from construction to completion, and the total number of workers was maintained at around fifteen thousand.

This time, the construction length of the Central Railway in the East African Kingdom alone will exceed the Pacific Railway by nearly one thousand five hundred kilometers. Adding the Northern Railway, the amount of work is almost twice that of the Pacific Railway, and the conditions in the East African Kingdom are far worse than those in the United States, especially in terms of transportation. In addition, the construction period is short, so a large amount of manpower is needed to fill it.

Ernst: “Don’t worry about this. In order to support the railway construction work, the government will collect one hundred thousand indigenous laborers from various places to complete this work.”

One hundred thousand indigenous laborers sounds like a lot, but in reality, it is not as many as the number of laborers digging the Central Canal in East Africa. The Central Canal currently has more than two hundred and fifty thousand workers. In this regard, it has not yet exceeded the Suez Canal. Egypt paid a price of one hundred and twenty thousand lives for the construction of the Suez Canal. The East African Kingdom is still far from that!

This shows that the amount of work for railways and canals is completely incomparable. However, the advantage of canals is that the technical difficulty is not high. Digging soil is a task that even an ancient monarch like Emperor Yang of Sui could command and complete thousands of years ago. However, the Suez Canal still maintains such a high casualty rate thousands of years later, which can only be said that the French who presided over the construction of the canal really treated the lives of Egyptians as livestock, no, worse than livestock.

Although the East African Kingdom is more conscientious than the French, it is only limited to treating black people as livestock. Livestock also need to eat fodder, and they don’t want to avoid paying for this fodder like the French.

One hundred thousand indigenous railway workers is completely enough for East Africa. You should know that in the Far East in the 1930s, there were only two hundred and thirty thousand railway workers in the entire country. The Russian Siberian Railway used a total of ninety thousand workers, and the total length of the Siberian Railway is nearly ten thousand kilometers, almost twice the current railway construction plan of the East African Kingdom, and it is still the most difficult construction area of frozen soil. That is to say, the difficulty of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in the Far East in the future is higher than that of the Siberian Railway (high altitude, lack of oxygen, and frozen soil). At least the construction conditions of the Siberian Railway are much better in summer.

Overall, everyone found that the only problem with the construction of the East African railway was the weak industrial base, and everything else was a minor problem.

So Ernst continued, “While building the railway, we must also take the opportunity to complete the initial industrialization of East Africa. Before 1880, we can achieve complete autonomy and get rid of our dependence on German and Austrian steel demand.”

This is also an important reason why Ernst requires the completion of the Central Railway construction within three years, because if East Africa wants to develop industry, it can take the opportunity to develop the coal and iron mines in Zimbabwe, and all of this requires railway support. The number of coal and iron ore resources on the East African Plateau is still too small. As for South Africa, we still have to wait a while. That location is the border of East Africa. Without absolute strength, it is better not to develop it first.

Moreover, after developing Zimbabwe, East Africa’s control over the territory can be raised to a higher level, and its control over the south and west will be greatly strengthened, so that it will not be top-heavy like it is now, relying only on the army to maintain regional security.

Chapter 422: Railways and Copper Mines

Compared to Zimbabwe, the Katanga Plateau (Zambia, southern Congo) is actually at the heart of East Africa, but its mineral resources are somewhat specialized. Copper reserves are among the best in the world, while other mineral resources are insignificant compared to copper.

Even so, the coal and iron resources in the Katanga region are still considerably stronger than those in eastern East Africa, although they are also concentrated in the area bordering Zimbabwe. This distribution shows that most of the coal and iron resources of the East African kingdom are naturally concentrated in the southern African region.

Just like the British said during World War I in my previous life, the Germans’ colonies were just worthless land. Later, the overall development level of East Africa also lagged behind North Africa, West Africa, and South Africa, being only slightly better than Central Africa.

Therefore, Ernst said, “While building the central railway, we must also develop the Katanga region simultaneously, achieving economic integration with the eastern region before the Matabeleland Plateau (Zimbabwe) and narrowing the gap between the two regions.”

“Among them, the copper resources in the Katanga region are the focus of our development, to form a core competitiveness based on copper mining.”

“I believe everyone is familiar with the importance of copper. Currently, it is the second largest consumed metal in the world after steel, and it is also a resource where East Africa has an advantage.”

“The development and utilization of copper mines cannot be separated from railway support. Our demand for copper is huge, so the construction of the central railway is of great significance for the development of copper mines in the Katanga region.”

In original history, from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Europe was the main supplier of copper mines in the world, but Europe’s demand for copper was not actually that large. However, this situation changed at the end of the 19th century.

That is, copper, as one of the main industrial materials for common conductors of electric current, greatly increased the world’s demand for copper. This was closely related to the invention and use of electricity and the rapid development of the electrical appliance industry during the Second Industrial Revolution. The shift in the world’s copper supply position from Europe to the United States precisely illustrates that, as a major country in the Second Industrial Revolution, the high-speed development of the United States’ copper smelting industry and electrical appliance manufacturing industry as a whole was higher than that of Europe.

However, this situation changed because of Ernst’s appearance. The rapid development of the Hechingen Electric Power Company accelerated the European’s attention to the huge economic value of copper mines.

Currently, the price of copper mines in Europe has risen, which is too unfriendly to Hechingen Electric Power Company, so now is the time to develop East African copper mines and the electricity industry.

Moreover, in the field of electricity, this new world industrial track, East Africa’s conditions are not bad, which is all the confidence that the Katanga region’s copper mines give Ernst.

Not to mention other things, just the production of optical cables and power cables has a huge market, especially now that countries are vigorously developing and promoting technological products such as submarine cables, telegraphs, telephones, and electric lights. The production of wires and cables requires copper and rubber, which is naturally prepared for East Africa!

Of course, this is a railway construction conference, so Ernst does not need to specifically elaborate on the prospects of the electricity industry to the people at the meeting.

However, Ernst has already planned to develop the electricity industry in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa first, because with the existence of Hechingen Electric Power Company, there is no shortage of personnel, technology, and funds, only a shortage of mines, which all depends on the railway to achieve.

The reason why the electricity industry is chosen on the coast is mainly because the electricity industry is a high-tech industry, which is highly dependent on technology, talent, and the market.

East Africa does not lack technology, but talent needs to be introduced from Europe and the United States, and Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are the two most attractive cities in East Africa in this regard.

The market is divided into domestic and foreign markets. Currently, the domestic market in East Africa is narrow and mainly distributed in the east, so the East African electricity industry mainly relies on the European market. Hechingen Electric Power Company already has European sales channels in this regard. What East Africa needs to do is to export East African electricity products to Europe by sea.

This is also the reason why Ernst is currently laying out the electricity industry in the eastern coastal area of East Africa. The biggest advantage of eastern East Africa lies in sea transportation and the best agricultural conditions in all of Africa. However, in the era of industrialization, excellent agricultural conditions may not be transformed into a competitive advantage, just like the relationship between Austria and Hungary.

However, Ernst does not think that East Africa’s conditions are poor. It only needs a good overall environment. According to the experience of his previous life’s country, regions with scarce mineral resources can still achieve high-speed development through international division of labor and cooperation, and the convenience of sea transportation is the basis of this condition.

For example, in the Far East, the distribution of resources, coal and iron mines, as well as oil and natural gas, are mostly concentrated in the north (including the northeast and northwest), while the south (including the southwest) has extremely strong advantages in transportation conditions. This transportation advantage is built on developed sea transportation and inland river transportation.

A golden waterway can cover the entire Yangtze River basin (except for Tibet), and the economic synergy ability far exceeds other regions.

Of course, the north also has a coastline, but the north only has a few good ports, and it also faces the problem of winter freezing and inability to navigate, and the hinterland economy is narrow (or rather, it is not smooth, and the radiation range is too small). If the port conditions in the north of the Far East were placed in other countries, they would be top-notch.

For example, East Africa, if East Africa had the conditions of the north of the Far East, Ernst would wake up laughing in his dreams. The harbor conditions in East Africa are actually very poor in the world, but they are definitely better than those in Central Africa, South Africa, and West Africa.

North Africa surrounds the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, while East Africa relies on the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean waterway is undoubtedly the most important in the world economy, even in the twenty-first century.

The advantage of Central and West Africa is the Atlantic Ocean, but the Atlantic Ocean can actually be divided into two parts, north and south. Africa is mainly connected to the South Atlantic, and the opposite side of the South Atlantic is South America, which can only be said to be brothers in misfortune. It is best not to have too much fantasy in terms of economy, unless one can develop to open up the Ren and Du channels of shipping in the South Atlantic, but from the perspective of previous life history, the two have been competing to see who has a lower limit.

Thus, trade between the two was not frequent in the previous life, but formed a shipping trade centered on Europe and the Far East, and both continents were at the bottom of the international division of labor, and the output products were highly competitive. If it is a top strategic resource such as oil, that’s fine, but it is mainly unimportant minerals and agricultural products.

The problem facing East Africa is that there is a certain deviation from the international main shipping lane, which is also the problem facing the Far East in the previous life. From this perspective, India is in the center position and has the most superior conditions. If India rises, it can rely on the Indian Ocean and the Arab region before the Age of Discovery to complete the monopoly of East-West trade.

How serious is this problem! It can be assumed that if the Far East and India were to switch positions, the world hegemon would immediately change from the United States to the Far East.

Controlling the center of world shipping, any sanctions will not pose a threat to the Far East. What is strangling the development of the Far East is raw materials and markets, and the foundation of international raw materials and markets is sea transportation.

As for other regions along the Indian Ocean, they do not have the conditions of India. The natural conditions of Arab countries are too poor to engage in industry. Southeast Asia is too fragmented, East Africa’s location is somewhat biased, and Australia can be directly ignored.

Therefore, in Ernst’s industrial blueprint, eastern East Africa is the vanguard for developing an export-oriented economy, and the industry that can currently realize this vanguard is the electricity industry. Leaving aside industry, East Africa’s foreign trade mainly relies on agriculture, especially the export of tropical cash crops.

Chapter 423: Military Industry Sales

Far East.

Upon receiving the telegram from the homeland, Richard quickly met with high-ranking officials of the Far East government and began promoting the weapons production line.

Richard went directly to Li Hongzhang, the Grand Scholar of the Far East and Governor-General of Zhili at the time, and cut straight to the chase, “Your Excellency Li, just tell me if you want it or not!”

Li Hongzhang was not ignorant of military affairs; in fact, he was quite knowledgeable about them and well-informed about events in the West. He examined the Dreyse needle-gun sample that Richard had brought and said, “The craftsmanship is indeed excellent. However, Ambassador Richard, if I remember correctly, this Dreyse needle-gun didn’t perform very well in the Franco-Prussian War, so…”

You’re actually finding fault! Richard was a little unconvinced, so he said, “You’re right, what you said is true. The Dreyse needle-gun’s performance wasn’t perfect, but it’s more than adequate for the current situation, especially in the Far East. Moreover, as far as I know, many of your top military enterprises are still producing extremely outdated muzzle-loading rifles. This Dreyse needle-gun production line is far more advanced than those rifles. This was proven in the Italo-Austrian War a few years ago. Take the 1853 Enfield rifles produced by the Jinling Arsenal, for example; they are completely products of a bygone era.”

“Ambassador Richard, the reasoning is sound, but we don’t currently have a need for this, or rather, we don’t have any new procurement plans.”

Li Hongzhang had seen many instances of foreigners trying to sell their weapons to the Qing government. Generally speaking, the words of foreigners were not very trustworthy, and besides, the imperial court was truly short of funds right now.

Richard was not in a hurry. He said, “Your Excellency Li, don’t rush to a conclusion on this matter. Once you know the price, I believe you will definitely be interested. The entire Dreyse needle-gun production line only costs 110,000 taels of silver. This price is absolutely a great value. This isn’t just ordinary weaponry; it’s a weapons production line. I can tell you that after acquiring this production line, it can completely meet the needs of your army.”

This price was indeed not expensive. This production line, running at full capacity, could almost meet the entire needs of the Far East. After all, the East African army, before the downsizing, maintained a force of around two hundred thousand, plus seven hundred thousand militia and police, all using Dreyse needle-guns produced in East Africa itself. At this time, the Far East’s standing army was only maintained at around eight hundred thousand, so East Africa actually had more.

Of course, militia and police in East Africa certainly couldn’t be considered standing armed forces, but their combat effectiveness couldn’t be underestimated either. In suppressing the natives, they were East Africa’s absolute main force. With so many natives and such a large land area, it was necessary to maintain such a large military force.

Richard’s words did indeed startle Li Hongzhang. He inquired, “Your country really only wants one hundred and ten thousand taels?”

The Jinling Arsenal, as the largest military factory in the Far East, had an annual budget of only about one hundred thousand taels, and its production capacity was extremely limited.

Richard: “That’s naturally the case. Moreover, although this production line has been used in East Africa, we only acquired it a few years ago. You can still use it for a long time after you get it. It’s absolutely a great value.”

Li Hongzhang thought for a moment and asked, “That may be so, but we don’t need so many production lines. Can your country make it cheaper if we buy fewer?”

Richard shook his head and said, “That won’t do. We’re selling the whole package deal. Either we sell it all, or we don’t sell any of it. Besides, this kind of business is already being done at a loss. East Africa is only making a bit of money for shipping costs, so the price can’t be reduced any further.”

It was indeed a loss-making business. Ernst had spent much more money to buy this production line in the first place, and it had to be shipped from Europe to East Africa, and now it had to be shipped from East Africa to the Far East.

But all of this was necessary. Ernst attached great importance to the development of East Africa’s military strength. Some things had to be done even if it meant losing money. When the Dreyse needle-gun became outdated, it was inevitable that it would be replaced, even if it hadn’t been in service in the East African kingdom for very long.

Of course, Ernst only planned to sell about sixty percent of the production lines this time, because the Dreyse weapons production lines, after some integration, could still be used to produce Mauser rifles. The Mauser rifle was initially a product of the Mauser brothers upgrading and modifying the Dreyse needle-gun, so there was no problem producing Mauser rifles after the modification, but many parts had to be re-manufactured.

Li Hongzhang had no choice but to give up when he heard Richard say this. What the man said made sense; the price was so low, so some requirements were inevitable.

However, he still had to make sure that this Kingdom of East Africa wasn’t making fun of him. After all, the Far East Army was nominally the largest army in the world. Did a small German colony really have the strength to meet the needs of the Far East army?

So Li Hongzhang probed, “Is your country really capable of providing so much machinery and equipment? If it were Prussia or Austria, that wouldn’t be a problem, since their armies are indeed large. But as for East Africa…”

As exchanges between the Far East and East Africa deepened, the Far East actually had a more “profound” understanding of East Africa, which was to understand East Africa as a colony like India.

At first, the Kingdom of East Africa had indeed frightened the Far East, because at that time, East Africa was playing the German card, mentioning Prussia and Austria-Hungary, making it seem like it was representing both countries. And these two countries were no less powerful than Britain, France, and Russia.

In fact, that was indeed the case at the time. Wasn’t the Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen part of Prussia? At that time, East Africa was still the Hohenzollern royal family’s territory, so it was no problem for East Africa to say it was Prussia. But after East Africa became an independent country, it no longer mentioned Prussia and Austria-Hungary so frequently, and instead referred to itself more often with the general concepts of East Africa or Germany.

As for why Germany was a general concept, it was because Germany was too broad. Germany could say it was German, Austria could also say so, and even Luxembourg could say so. Liechtenstein could also say so, and East Africa could naturally say so as well. Just say, aren’t these countries German countries!

Of course, East Africa belonged to Germany culturally, and its racial makeup was mixed, but that didn’t prevent East Africa from calling itself a German country.

Perhaps some Germans, such as extreme nationalists like Adolf, if they understood the national conditions of East Africa in depth and knew how the Kingdom of East Africa was constituted, would probably not recognize the German identity of the citizens of the Kingdom of East Africa.

This wouldn’t change anything. East Africa insisted that it was German, and that’s what it was. At least the German and Austrian governments would definitely have to acknowledge it. Excluding the Hohenzollern royal family factor, both countries would need East Africa for their own interests in the future.

Richard said, “Hehe, don’t worry about that. You can ask your country’s ambassador to East Africa, Mr. Li Ge, directly about whether East Africa has the strength. There’s a saying in the Far East: ‘To see the whole leopard through a spot.’ Mr. Li Ge should be able to serve as the person who sees the leopard.”

Li Ge! If Richard hadn’t mentioned it, Li Hongzhang would have forgotten that the Qing Empire had such a person in East Africa. At first, Li Ge was sent to supervise the East African aid delegation, but Li Ge never returned. A few months later, the King of East Africa, some Constantine, sent a letter recommending Li Ge as the Far East’s ambassador to East Africa. At that time, the Far East government had to grin and bear it, because they had never encountered this situation before. Moreover, Constantine was, after all, a foreign king, and Li Ge was just a licentiate, that is, a prospective official, not even one of their own. And no unlucky person was willing to go to East Africa to ask about the situation, in case they were detained like Li Ge!

In fact, there was no problem with Li Hongzhang’s doubts. East Africa couldn’t possibly shout to the world that it actually had a million-strong army. Except for Cape Town and Mozambique, which knew that the Kingdom of East Africa had at least tens of thousands of troops, other countries, including Germany, thought that East Africa was at most an ordinary colony, and a very ordinary colonial country at that.

Chapter 424: Flight

The final deal was struck. Both sides reached a consensus: payment upon delivery. Thus, they only needed to wait for the East African ships to land. The Far East officials would inspect the goods in Jiaozhou Bay and then make the payment.

The Dreyse needle gun was difficult to position in the market. It was indeed the world’s first widely adopted military breech-loading rifle, but times were changing. Countries were developing or had already equipped themselves with more advanced rifles.

The market for the Dreyse rifle was limited to backward regions, and Africa naturally fell into this category. However, Ernst would never sell his own noose in Africa. That left only the Far East and South America as independent markets.

In the Far East, only the Far East Empire met East Africa’s requirements. Other regions were either colonies of other countries or couldn’t afford the money. That was the helplessness of small countries. Of course, Japan was an exception. If it was just an arms deal, Ernst might consider getting involved. But military industry was out of the question.

…

Night shrouded the entire Black African continent. Apart from the faint spots of light scattered in the cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, which never slept, there was not a single gleam to be seen.

The same was true of Bulawayo, deep in the heart of the East African kingdom. Outside the native village of Bakola, in the outskirts of Bulawayo, hundreds of bright eyes peered around.

“Klaruru, has everyone gathered?”

“Chief, I notified every household. Everyone is here!”

“Did we alert the Germans?”

“Rest assured, the Germans never leave the castle at night. They only patrol the surroundings during the day. As soon as it gets dark, they retreat into the castle on the dot.”

“Good. I’ve called everyone out today, and I believe you all know the reason! Just yesterday, the Germans came to demand more people again.”

“Damn Germans! According to the usual schedule, they should come in a while. It’s not time yet, but they’re already here to grab people. We’ve lost too many people since last year: Bak, Momoyus, Karlrugu…” Klaruru couldn’t do math, but he clearly remembered the names of everyone in the village.

Logically speaking, East Africa should draw lots at the end of the month to conscript laborers. But now East Africa needed more labor, so they issued the task ahead of schedule. As a result, the natives of Zimbabwe completely erupted.

However, having seen what happened to the Ndebele people, the Shona people didn’t think they could cope with East Africa. Moreover, the large tribes of the Shona people were divided by East Africa into small regions, so they couldn’t coordinate.

Thus, small village units like Bakola could only save themselves. They couldn’t win a fight, so they could only choose to flee.

“Chief, which way should we run?”

“The Germans have forces in the north and south, so we can only run west!”

The natives didn’t have specific logical analysis skills, but they knew that the Germans came from the north and went south, so there were people from the East African kingdom in the north and south.

As for why not choose the east, it was because Germans often came to Bulawayo from the east to replenish supplies. After all, it was the former capital of the Matabele kingdom, so East Africa continued to use it as a transit station for supplies within Zimbabwe.

“But the west… the environment there is very harsh. Warriors from the tribe went west to chase prey before. They said it was even drier than Bakola.”

“Dryness is a good thing. Dryness means there definitely aren’t many Germans there. So we should do the opposite.”

And so, after determining the direction, the natives of Bakola village fled overnight. The journey was smooth at first, because, as they predicted, East Africa couldn’t possibly deploy many people in the Kalahari Basin.

While the East African kingdom was conscripting laborers for railway construction, the Zimbabwe region, which suffered the most from East African exploitation, was the first to buckle. East Africa was practically fleecing a sheep dry.

The population of Zimbabwe was already small, less than a million people in the entire region (3,690,000 in 1960). As a result, East Africa wanted to grab about one hundred thousand laborers from Zimbabwe for a single project. No one could stand that.

Before this, East Africa had been transferring people from Zimbabwe to various places every month to serve East Africa, which was called “blood tax.” Moreover, East Africa didn’t return them. They exported them for foreign sales. This form of one-way traffic completely frightened the Shona people, and various rumors arose within the Shona community.

This time, East Africa’s “blood tax” directly frightened the Shona people and became the fuse for the great Shona exodus. They began to plan to escape from Zimbabwe to areas where there were no white people.

Thus, starting in March, hundreds of large and small “defections” of the Shona people occurred. Almost ninety percent of the Shona people participated in the defection.

Like rain, they slowly converged from several villages into a large river of tens of thousands of people, rampaging across the grasslands. The animal populations on the grasslands provided them with food along the way.

The African grasslands saw the spectacular sight of animal herds and native groups fleeing. At its peak, more than three hundred thousand people fled in four directions: southeast, northwest. By the time East Africa reacted, it was too late to stop them, because East Africa was severely short of manpower in Zimbabwe.

So the entire Zimbabwe was like a leaky pocket, with a large number of natives fleeing. The most were in the east, near Mozambique and several native kingdoms, at least about one hundred thousand.

East Africa intercepted about one hundred thousand, directly gathering enough workers for the railway construction this time. As for the natives who escaped, some entered Mozambique, some flowed into the Kalahari Basin, and the rest, who were relatively stupid, entered other areas of East Africa. Only a very few escaped along the Okavango River into Namibia and Angola.

The Zimbabwe native “defection” incident. The “blood tax” was only part of the reason. Overall, East Africa was also quite inhumane in other aspects. For example, they forced the natives to stay on the land and engage in fixed agriculture. This was very difficult for the Shona people, who lived by hunting and herding. They had neither the relevant technology nor experience, so the grain output was pitifully low. Moreover, agriculture was extremely tedious physical labor. Hunting, although dangerous, was indeed more free.

This “defection” incident made the East African kingdom realize that it was necessary to relocate the natives of Zimbabwe on a large scale and prevent them from getting close to Mozambique.

No one would believe it if East Africa said it had no ill intentions towards Mozambique. It was just that East Africa wasn’t ready to annex Mozambique yet.

Mozambique (including several native kingdoms) already had a large number of natives, about two million. If East Africa annexed Mozambique in the future, it would definitely have to cleanse the local natives.

The escape of Zimbabwe natives into Mozambique meant loss of control, which would increase the future cleansing costs. If the natives really escaped into the area west of Angola, East Africa would be happy to see it happen. It just couldn’t let them into Mozambique, the fat meat in East Africa’s plate.

As for the Angola colony, why East Africa wasn’t worried was because if this group of natives could escape to Angola, they could continue to escape to West Africa in the future. Unlike Mozambique, which was completely surrounded by East Africa on three sides, with only the sea to the east, East Africa’s means of reducing the number of natives was still mainly expulsion. It couldn’t possibly drive them directly into the sea.

Chapter 425: Expanding the Market

“It seems we need to hire more workers! Our sales staff is clearly insufficient. I didn’t expect to encounter this situation after the economic crisis broke out,” said the head of human resources at the Austrian Hechingen Tobacco Company.

As a tobacco giant that has only recently risen to prominence in recent years, the Hechingen Tobacco Company is experiencing an economic crisis for the first time, so it lacks some experience.

“That’s right. Market research shows that after the economic crisis broke out, workers’ unemployment pressure and cost of living pressure have greatly increased. The social environment is also becoming increasingly depressed, and the uncertainty about future expectations has greatly increased people’s demand for tobacco and alcohol, especially the sales of cheap tobacco and alcohol products. Now, as long as we have enough cheap raw materials to produce enough low-priced products, we can earn more.”

“However, we should focus more on setting up sales outlets, especially mobile street stalls, rather than professional salespeople. Smokers don’t want someone buzzing around their ears like a fly at this time.”

“That’s right. The social atmosphere is not very good now. If we hire professional salespeople, I’m afraid it will have the opposite effect.”

Salespeople are definitely a job that easily causes resentment. In normal times, when the economy is good and everyone is more tolerant, it’s okay, but now the mood of the whole society is not very stable, and those salespeople with mediocre eloquence will only cause conflict.

After the economic crisis, the Austrian Hechingen Tobacco Company had a very comfortable life. The demand for cigarettes from idle Austrians who were spiritually empty clearly increased. This situation was the same as that of Hechingen’s distillery, especially the cheapest vodka, which saw a surge in sales.

Before the economic crisis broke out, the employees of the Hechingen Tobacco Company were quite panicked, because all walks of life were laying off employees and cutting salaries, and wailing was everywhere, fearing that their company would follow in their footsteps.

There was still an impact. The emergence of a large number of unemployed people did lower labor costs, especially for jobs without technical content, where competition was very fierce. This forced company employees to put in more effort than usual and work hard, fearing that their jobs would be snatched away. Now, having a stable job is better than anything else.

Of course, the company would not lay off employees at will. After all, experienced employees are more experienced. However, the company also welcomes competition. Some old-timers who used to be good at slacking off have begun to actively devote themselves to work, which has greatly improved the efficiency of the Hechingen Tobacco Company.

“Since we have our own tobacco production area, we have realized how profitable tobacco is. The price of raw materials that foreigners sold to us before was too high.”

“You can’t say that. Tobacco growing areas are concentrated in the tropics and subtropics and require a lot of investment. However, many tobacco production areas are colonies, and the labor costs in the colonies can be almost ignored. If these colonies did not exist, then the price of tobacco on the market before would be considered reasonable.”

“We don’t care about colonies or anything. We buy from whoever has cheaper and better quality raw materials.”

“You can’t say that. Now our raw materials are actually delivered from East Africa for free. We don’t have to compare prices and haggle over every penny like before.”

“Heh heh heh, this is exactly our advantage. The company is still expanding production in Africa. In a few years, we will really be able to lead our peers by a large margin. But unfortunately, the experience of our tobacco farmers in East Africa in tobacco cultivation is obviously much less than that of other traditional tobacco production areas, so the taste of the tobacco is relatively worse than that of other tobacco production areas.”

“There is no need to worry about this at all. East Africa has a large enough area and a large enough scale of tobacco fields. Moreover, we have been growing tobacco for a while now, and the taste and yield have been greatly improved. Moreover, ordinary people generally don’t know much about the taste. They will only think that the taste of the Hechingen cigarette brand is getting better and better, which is a great thing for us.”

“In recent years, with the production of tobacco in East Africa, our raw materials have been completely freed from the constraints of tobacco giants in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. When the Matabeleland Plateau tobacco officially enters the market next year, I believe our business will reach a new level.”

“Well, this is a sample of golden leaf produced from the Matabeleland Plateau. Let me show it to you.” As he said that, he distributed a pack of golden leaf in his hand.

The packaging of the sample is a charming yellow, which looks extremely eye-catching, plus the golden golden leaf trademark, leaving a deep impression.

As the manager distributed the cigarettes from the cigarette case, everyone carefully examined the so-called “high-end goods.”

“Manager, can I open it and take a look?”

“Of course, it’s okay to try it directly. You can describe the taste carefully.”

The company’s old smokers were not polite. They took out a lighter and lit a cigarette, and the entire conference room immediately became smoky.

Under normal circumstances, smoking is prohibited in the company for safety reasons, mainly for fear of causing a fire. As for the problem that smoking is harmful to health, I’m sorry, people now don’t have this concept.

“The taste feels very mellow, the aftertaste is very strong, and the aroma seems to be too strong. I think this kind of tobacco should be mixed with other tobacco, and the effect will be better.”

“With this taste, I feel that we can use it to produce cigars separately! In fact, the taste of cigars is just like this. This can greatly enhance the competitiveness of our high-end products.”

“Cigars are a field that we have never been in contact with, and I heard that the manufacturing process of cigars is very complicated and cannot be mass-produced mechanically like cigarettes, so the cost is much higher than that of cigarettes.”

“In fact, we don’t have to do this at all. People on the market only recognize Cuban cigars, and although the tobacco leaves of the Matabeleland Plateau are also very high-quality, they are not well-known. The most important thing for our company to do is to package the brand, such as Golden Leaf, and make it a perfect high-end product, so that ordinary people are familiar with the Golden Leaf brand.”

“In essence, we still need to use high-end products to drive the sales of low-end products. An ordinary person usually does not have access to high-end products, which will give them the illusion that this thing must be good. Then we can use the brand effect brought by high-end products to promote the sales of low-end products.”

For products of the same quality and price, ordinary people naturally trust big factories and famous brands more.

“Then increase advertising investment?”

“Of course we have to do this, but not now, at least until we get through the economic crisis. Now consumers don’t have the leisure to pay attention to advertising. At present, we still have to increase market sales efforts, especially with lower prices.”

Although the tobacco industry has been affected by the economic crisis, it has shown unprecedented hot sales, but apart from the Hechingen Tobacco Company, other tobacco companies are not very happy.

The main reason is that the Hechingen Tobacco Company, this old schemer, has absorbed a large amount of the market with its independent supply and low-priced raw materials. Originally, everyone didn’t need to compete, but now they have to start competing internally.

Chapter 426: Return to Europe

May 7th, 1873.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, not even having warmed his seat in East Africa, was about to return to Europe. This time, Ernst was traveling on the merchant ship “Lion,” with the entire fleet converted from armed merchant vessels.

He was also bringing a battalion of the Royal Guard to Austria. This battalion’s role would be similar to that of a ceremonial guard, composed of hand-picked, impressive elites from the Guard.

Regardless of their military skills, their looks and physique were top-notch. A good horse deserves a good saddle. East Africa had specially prepared the finest tailors to create high-quality, handmade uniforms for them.

The battalion sent by the Guard actually consisted of three thousand men, mainly infantry and cavalry. However, Ernst didn’t need to bring horses to Austria. He could discuss the matter with the Austrian army and borrow their horses.

Before parting, Constantine said with some regret, “I won’t be going to Vienna this time. However, the prestige of our Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family cannot be lost. This is also a good opportunity to promote East Africa. At the very least, we must let the Austrians know that East Africa is not a weak nation. Spending a bit more money is unavoidable. Don’t be stingy.”

“Rest assured, Father! Besides commercial negotiations, the main purpose of this trip to Vienna is to marry Karina. After all, it’s a major life event, and I personally won’t be perfunctory about it,” Ernst readily agreed.

Ernst had always been reasonable and justified in his spending, or rather, he didn’t care for ostentation and was more practical. This was what Constantine was worried about.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem. A thrifty heir is certainly more reassuring than a spendthrift. However, European nobles are all about competition and face. Ernst’s personality clearly stood out among the nobility.

Constantine misunderstood Ernst in this regard. Ernst wasn’t stingy with money, but rather believed in using resources wisely. And East Africa was Ernst’s blade.

If East Africa developed, even if Ernst dressed in rags, the European nobles would have to “respect” him. This was the confidence brought by national strength. Therefore, compared to hosting parties in Europe and building connections, Ernst preferred to spend money on improving East Africa’s national strength.

Moreover, Ernst’s social circle was actually more focused on the Prussian royal family, the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family (including Romania), the Austrian royal family, and the Swedish royal family. The topics discussed in this top-tier aristocratic circle generally couldn’t be measured by money (unless you were super rich).

Constantine: “Alright, I’m just reminding you. After all, I really can’t get away to Vienna for your wedding this time. I’m just a little worried.”

Constantine and Ernst, one of them always had to stay in East Africa to oversee things, so Constantine couldn’t attend his son’s wedding in Vienna. This matter mainly relied on Archduke Ferdinand (Maximilian I) to handle.

Therefore, this wedding was divided into two parts, one in Austria and one in East Africa. In reality, it was being held twice. The First City had already included the Crown Prince’s wedding in its work schedule.

“Woo…” As the “Lion” sounded its crisp whistle, the East African Kingdom’s state visit delegation officially set off for Austria.

State visit delegation, not a wedding delegation, because Ernst had other tasks. Ernst would be staying in Europe for at least half a year this time, with the wedding scheduled for the end of the year.

Before the wedding, Ernst was mainly responsible for scavenging for East Africa in Europe, including various types of factories, equipment, and steel and other materials needed for East Africa’s railway construction.

With the outbreak of the economic crisis, a large number of factories in the German region went bankrupt, and production machines were piled up in warehouses and factories, unattended, with prices plummeting. In particular, steel, coal, and railway companies suffered the most, and these were precisely what the current East African Kingdom needed most.

It was the turn of spring and summer, and the Somali Current began to form and continuously strengthen. The surface seawater along the East African coast flowed from low latitudes to high latitudes, that is, from the equator to the north, coupled with the northward movement of the trade wind belt.

Therefore, at this time, the journey from East Africa to the Red Sea was smooth sailing, greatly shortening Ernst’s journey. In just a few days, Ernst’s fleet sailed from Dar es Salaam to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea behind it were relatively enclosed, so there were no major storms, and the journey was relatively smooth.

May 22nd, 1873.

The East African fleet arrived in Trieste.

Back in Trieste, Ernst felt a sense of emotion. The current Trieste was clearly more desolate than last year, with much less traffic. It seemed that Austria’s economic situation was very bad.

As Ernst led the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium to launch a dumping war, a large number of goods flooded the market, accelerating the spread of the Austro-Hungarian economic crisis to neighboring countries.

It was even more intense than in history. In the timeline without Ernst’s intervention, the Austro-Hungarian economic crisis was also the first to break out, but because the 19th century was not as closely connected as the 21st century, and the world market had not yet taken shape, the crisis did not affect other countries in a short period of time when it broke out in one country.

Before the economic crisis of 1873, economic crises even only broke out in certain countries, and that country was generally Britain. After 1873, economic crises began to ravage the entire world. By the beginning of the 20th century, after the world market was finally formed, the most powerful and profound economic crisis in the history of capitalism, the Great Depression of 1929, would break out. The world’s solution to the Great Depression of 1929 was to start World War I and World War II.

It was clear that countries around the world were not yet so extreme in 1873, because the world economy was not yet so closely integrated. The current solution for countries was to increase tariffs, create tariff barriers, and protect national capital.

At the same time, there were still a large number of backward regions in the world that had not yet been developed, or rather, had not been controlled by the great powers. These regions were good places to transfer the crisis.

However, the great powers had not yet reached that point, or rather, had not reacted yet. The social problems caused by the economic crisis tied up most of the energy of the governments of various countries.

Specifically, it meant rectifying their respective financial markets, eliminating small and medium-sized enterprises with weak competitiveness and serious problems, and nationalizing railways. In the end, it was all about solving the employment problem.

Because of the dumping of goods by Germany and Austria, European countries had now begun to levy high tariffs. Only Britain was somewhat hesitant. After all, Britain’s situation was special. In the past, Britain had always been in a surplus position in terms of economy, so the group advocating free economy had a great influence.

Now, the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Austria and other countries had successively carried out industrialization, and European countries no longer relied on Britain as much as in the past and had developed their own industries, so Britain’s overproduction was more serious than in the past, making the crisis have its depth and long-term nature.

After the East African fleet arrived at the port of Trieste, even an army disembarking from the ship did not attract the attention of others, only a few Austrian officers who came to take charge of the reception.

“Your Highness Prince Ernst! Welcome to Austria!”

“Yes, hello.”

Ernst just greeted them perfunctorily, his attention focused on the port of Trieste.

Several long queues lined up in the port of Trieste, all unemployed workers looking for employment opportunities. Ernst noticed that it was his own companies or institutions that were recruiting.

Because the sign at the end of the long queue read: “East African Railway Company, recruiting 250 people, railway workers preferred.”

“Hohenzollern-Hechingen Tobacco Company (Trieste), 12 employees, no academic qualifications required.”

“East African Immigration Department, immigrate to East Africa to solve employment problems, stay away from the risk of unemployment, family immigration preferred.”

Ernst asked the Austrian officers, “Is the economic situation in Austria as bleak as it is in Trieste?”

“Uh, actually, we don’t feel it very much. We usually stay in the army. If it weren’t for being responsible for receiving you today, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have left the barracks.”

Ernst said, “Alright! Next, the main thing is to arrange the people I brought. Part of them are from the East African Army. This time, I want to take them to Vienna, and I need you to arrange a dedicated train.”

“This is also the purpose of our coming here. The superiors have already arranged the route in advance. The railway pressure is not as great as before, so this matter is still very easy to solve.”

This was inevitable. In addition to the economic recession leading to a sharp decline in railway passenger traffic, the main reason was that Venice diverted part of Trieste’s traffic. In the past two years, taking advantage of the railway construction boom, Austria had also built two railways to connect and control Venice, but fortunately the railways were completed before the economic crisis.

This made Trieste’s position as Austria’s largest port somewhat threatened, but the massive loss of talent and industry in Venice made it basically impossible for Venice to surpass Trieste again.

Chapter 427: Prince Hermann

After arranging the army’s movements, Ernst’s first stop in Trieste was the Royal Shipyard, where he met Archduke Ferdinand.

“Ernst! What brings you to Trieste so suddenly?” Archduke Ferdinand was somewhat surprised by Ernst’s arrival.

“Father-in-law, I’m just here to prepare for the wedding in advance! Of course, before the wedding, I’m also taking the opportunity to come to Europe to purchase factories and machinery.”

“Heh heh!” Archduke Ferdinand sneered. The second half of the sentence was the truth. As for preparing for the wedding, it wouldn’t matter if he came a few months later.

“Alright, I won’t argue with you. Since you’re here, you can take a look at the ship we’re building.”

As Ernst had predicted a few months ago, due to the impact of the Great Depression, many orders had been defaulted on, leaving empty berths.

“The ironclad being built in the dock in front of you is one I carefully selected from many proposals. It hasn’t been named yet. It has a displacement of six thousand nine hundred and ninety-odd tons. I followed your requirements and didn’t build it to seven thousand tons or more.”

This made Ernst feel a little dumbfounded. What he had said at the time was two ships with a displacement of five thousand tons or more, and not to consider those with a displacement of seven thousand tons or more. Ferdinand had really stuck to the line and built a warship with a displacement of six thousand nine hundred and ninety-odd tons.

“Actually, if you could build warships of seven thousand tons or more for the same price, I personally wouldn’t object, as long as it doesn’t exceed the budget. However, if other countries see this ship, it might trigger a naval arms race,” Ernst said.

The displacement of this ship was almost the same as that of a seven-thousand-ton class. Adding the Archduke Ferdinand, which was being tested, that would be two top-notch warships. People who didn’t know the situation might suspect that the Austro-Hungarian Empire had designs on the Mediterranean!

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? If that’s the case, this budget could barely manage an ironclad of seven thousand tons. The price of shipbuilding is much lower than before. It’s a loss that this is a warship; civilian ships are even cheaper.”

Ernst said directly, “Actually, this ship is not much different from seven thousand tons. If you add some weapons, wouldn’t it directly exceed that?”

“Almost, almost,” Archduke Ferdinand said perfunctorily, “The design of this ship refers to the British’s latest Devastation-class ironclad. However, the Devastation-class ironclad has a displacement of more than thirteen thousand tons, while our ironclad only has about half of that. Alas, the British are indeed rich and powerful.”

The Devastation-class ironclad was the first all-steam-powered ironclad in Britain. Currently, other ironclads had several towering masts with huge sails hanging on them, and densely packed broadside muzzle-loading guns arranged inside the deck. The Devastation only had two chimneys. The Archduke Ferdinand, for example, was powered by both sails and steam.

So Ernst asked, “Is this ironclad all-steam-powered like the British Devastation?”

Archduke Ferdinand replied, “Of course not. Our research on steam engines is not as advanced as the British, so for the sake of stability, we still use traditional dual power.”

The British were indeed powerful in this regard. Not to mention the Devastation, even the East African main warship, the Archduke Ferdinand, was one or two thousand tons lighter than other active British ironclads.

“Ernst, don’t look at the fact that it is still traditional power. In fact, it can be faster than the British Devastation in terms of speed, and the technology is also less difficult,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

“Uh, it’s still just a shadow in the dock. How can you determine the speed?”

“Of course, it’s based on the Austrian ironclad of more than seven thousand two hundred tons that was just completed. It’s also traditional dual power. It was tested half a month ago, which provided parameters for our ironclad. Both use the same type of steam boiler.”

“Oh! I see. You’re talking about the Archduke Ferdinand-class ironclad, right? It was just launched last month,” Ernst said meaningfully.

These words were a bit harsh to Archduke Ferdinand. What Archduke Ferdinand? Wasn’t that his name! Of course, there were quite a few Archdukes Ferdinand in Austrian history, so it might just be in memory of someone with the same name.

But thinking about it, Archduke Ferdinand felt that something was wrong. How did Ernst know the name of the Austrian navy’s ship?

“Are you talking about the Austrian navy’s ironclad?”

Seeing that Archduke Ferdinand still didn’t understand, Ernst smiled unkindly. He said to his father-in-law, “Of course, it’s the East African Kingdom’s navy’s first ironclad, the Archduke Ferdinand, which was just launched at the Royal Shipyard in Trieste last month.”

What is called a surprise! No, it would be more appropriate to describe it as a shock.

At this time, Archduke Ferdinand’s brain was spinning rapidly, rewinding time, and then he suddenly realized that he had been tricked?

A few months ago, Ernst had hinted, or rather, mentioned unintentionally, that a month ago, when the so-called “Archduke Ferdinand” was launched, he, the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy, had also visited the Archduke Ferdinand to observe.

Archduke Ferdinand was strange at the time. When the Austrian navy’s new ship was launched, apart from Tegetthoff, the Austrian naval commander-in-chief, why were there no big figures present? And why didn’t this ironclad have a name? After all, this was the most advanced “Austrian” warship in terms of tonnage, surpassing the Lissa. Thinking back to the strange look Tegetthoff gave him at the time.

“Good you! I’m the only clown!”

Hahaha…

“What are you laughing at?”

Ernst held back and said, “Ahem, um… Father-in-law, there’s nothing strange about this. The main reason is that you are, after all, the soul of our East African Navy, so we can’t be stingy!”

Archduke Ferdinand: “That’s no reason to hide it from me. To be honest, I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that the ironclad was our own. I would have been even happier if you had told me earlier.”

“No, I’m still a little unwilling. When that ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ returns, I must experience it again. This time, I must experience it as the owner,” Archduke Ferdinand said somewhat unwillingly.

Last month, Archduke Ferdinand was quite envious of the Archduke Ferdinand ironclad. Now that he thought about it, he was actually envious of himself.

Ernst said on the side, “Yes, only a top-notch warship like the Archduke Ferdinand is worthy of your position as commander-in-chief of the East African Navy.”

“Alright, the ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ hasn’t returned to port yet, so I can’t even go on board. Let’s continue to talk about this ironclad that is being built. What should we name it!” Ferdinand interrupted.

Ernst thought for a moment and said, “Why not use the name of a famous person from the German region!”

“Who do you think would be a good name?”

Ernst said, “Prince Hermann.”

“Your grandfather?”

“Yes, after all, in the Second Battle of Bassano, my great-grandfather repelled Napoleon together under the command of Marshal Alvinzi.”

In fact, in the Second Battle of Bassano, both the French and Austrian armies suffered heavy losses. This battle took place two months after the more famous First Battle of Bassano, and it is worth mentioning that this was also the first combat defeat Napoleon suffered in his military career.

Ernst’s grandfather, Prince Hermann of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, was actually one of the former Austrian military commanders, serving as a marshal in the Austrian army.

Further back, Prince Joseph Frederick William of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, who was Ernst’s grandfather’s uncle (inherited the title by his nephew), was also a field marshal of the Holy Roman Empire.

In general, the Hechingen royal family once served the Habsburgs, which ended this tradition after being incorporated into Prussia.

Chapter 428: Discussion

To be honest, whether Hermann counts as a German celebrity is debatable, but he certainly qualifies. However, it’s a bit of a stretch. He’s more like a local celebrity. Considering the size of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, he’d be a county-level celebrity. If it weren’t for the title of principality, probably not many Germans would know much about him. But that doesn’t matter. After all, he’s Ernst’s grandfather. His own family has to promote him. Not only with this naming, but also with future biographies and various cultural works to beautify the history of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family.

“Ernst, taking advantage of the current shipbuilding industry slump, I think the plan you made before was a bit too conservative. For example, this pseudo-seven-thousand-ton ironclad ship would have been incredibly expensive before. Now I’ve managed to get it for the manufacturing price of a five-thousand-ton ship. So I suggest you buy two more.”

“Father-in-law, as I said before, the budget is still the same. If you have the ability to buy a few more ships based on my original procurement plan, I have no objections. You can handle this matter. Our East African Navy still has a lot of homework to do. Things like troop transports, supply ships, frigates, training ships… we’re short of all of them. We need to procure ships according to East Africa’s national conditions and actual needs, not for show or to look good.”

“Increasing the funding a little isn’t a big problem. You have to realize that although East Africa’s coastline is only over two thousand kilometers long, the actual area we need to cover is more than that. Think about it, after occupying New Hamburg Bay in South Africa, our navy actually has a foothold in the south. Combined with the Comoros Islands, the sea area we actually need to control extends from East Africa all the way to South Africa, traversing the entire Mozambique Channel. That is to say, the sea area that East Africa actually needs to rule is more than four thousand kilometers long from north to south.”

Archduke Ferdinand directly ignored Mozambique, which was stuck in the middle. If he had said this before, Archduke Ferdinand would definitely have considered it carefully, because at that time the East African Navy was really just an empty shell. But now, haven’t times changed! Once the East African Navy’s ship purchase plan is completed, the dominance of the Western Indian Ocean is guaranteed. Although there are no decent navies in the Western Indian Ocean except for Britain and France.

“Then how much do you plan to add? Also, the most fundamental problem of our East African Navy is not the lack of powerful ships and cannons, but the lack of relevant naval talent. Without operators, even the most advanced warships are just big targets on the sea.”

Ernst’s words brought Archduke Ferdinand back to reality. The navy is a system, not just about equipment. Wasn’t the Italian Royal Navy strong before? Why did it suffer two crushing defeats at the hands of Austria? Fundamentally, it was the difference in the quality of personnel.

After sobering up, Archduke Ferdinand carefully considered it: “You’re right. It seems that what we need most now is personnel training. I need to make some serious plans on how to provide the East African Navy with sufficient talent in a relatively short period of time.”

Being overly ambitious isn’t necessarily wrong. In fact, East Africa’s annexation of the Transvaal Republic was like biting off more than it could chew. Zimbabwe hadn’t even been digested, and then war broke out again. Fortunately, East Africa gambled and won. The Transvaal Republic hadn’t yet developed into the kind of entity that was good at guerrilla warfare and had the strength to make things difficult for powerful countries. Mainly because the population was too small and concentrated, and the Boers were not united and did not reach a consensus in the first place. If this war hadn’t gone so smoothly, not to mention whether they could acquire South Africa, even Zimbabwe might have suffered a backlash.

“In this regard, I still need your cooperation. We not only need to send naval students to Austria, but also to Germany and the Netherlands. If we only rely on our Habsburg family’s connections to stuff people into the Austrian naval education system, we won’t be able to stuff in many. Your Hohenzollern family should also contribute in this regard. I believe that if Constantine personally takes action, the Prussian Navy can also absorb a portion. Although the Prussian Navy is not as good as the Austrian Navy, it can still train basic personnel.”

Ernst nodded: “In this regard, we can discuss it with the German and Swedish royal families. Although the navies of these two countries are not top-notch, they are not bad in the world. As for the Netherlands, it will be a bit difficult, but there are still many things to learn from the Dutch shipbuilding industry. We also lack technical personnel to maintain warships.”

Sending people to the Netherlands to learn how to repair ships is understandable. The Dutch shipbuilding industry has always been good, with a solid foundation. In fact, the Dutch navy is not good, mainly because of funding problems, but the civilian ship technology is also remarkable in Europe.

As for Austria’s naval education system, it is actually one of the best in Europe, but it cannot meet East Africa’s needs, or rather, East Africa is a bit behind.

For example, the Royal Mechanical Academy is also an important training base for Austrian naval talents, but East Africa does not have people with this kind of academic qualification to connect with studying abroad, so East Africa can only stuff people into the Royal Naval Academy, the Royal Schiffskadettenlehranstalt, the Royal Naval Academy, and the second-tier naval schools.

Austria’s own training system is enough for its own use. If East Africa is included, it will not be enough at all. However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire also has accelerated naval education, but accelerated naval education also recruits middle school students as a foundation, and then educates them. East Africa does not allocate the few middle school students it trains every year. Without a certain cultural foundation, it is still difficult to be a navy.

“Regarding the issue of naval personnel training, I actually have an idea. We East Africa plans to establish a naval academy (Ferdinand Naval Academy). The biggest problem at present is the issue of teachers. East Africa is in urgent need of naval teachers, but poaching people from Austria is not very smooth. The main reason is that some Austrian naval school lecturers can’t bring themselves to work in East Africa. So we should find another way to solve this problem, that is, to cooperate with Austrian naval schools to run schools. Lecturers from Austrian naval schools can also serve as lecturers at the Ferdinand Naval Academy. I can personally act as a lobbyist to negotiate with various naval schools in Austria.” Ferdinand suggested.

“Of course, there’s no problem. If you have an idea, just do it. We can give them the best treatment in terms of funding.” Ernst replied.

It is indeed a bit difficult to ask people to teach in East Africa, but no one will refuse money. The lecturers and instructors of the Austrian Naval Academy are actually not short of money. Even if the economic recession affects them, that is, government appropriations may be delayed, but this does not affect their wages. They are already high-income earners, and as long as they don’t spend money extravagantly on weekdays, they will definitely have some savings.

Moreover, in the case of cooperative education, the main negotiation target of East Africa is the academy, not direct dialogue with teachers as before. If the academy agrees, then teachers generally have to obey the arrangement.

Seeing that it was getting late, Ernst also began to say goodbye to Archduke Ferdinand.

“Are you going directly to Vienna next?”

“Yes, there are still many things to do. The first stop is far away in Vienna, mainly to discuss the railway issue with Emperor Franz. After arranging Austria, I will go directly to Germany, where there are many good assets waiting to be harvested.”

Chapter 429: Weak Foundation

On the train from Trieste to Vienna, Ernst browsed the Austrian countryside from his private carriage. Green wheat fields stretched along both sides of the railway, with farmers hurrying along the country lanes, ox carts dragging goods, and the occasional village appearing.

The scene in the Austrian countryside was practically indistinguishable from the Middle Ages. If it weren’t for sitting on the train, one might not even realize it, so much so that every time Ernst rode a train, he felt a sense of temporal dislocation.

Rapid development leads to the situation Ernst encountered. The powerful driving force brought about by the Industrial Revolution was actively changing European society, and the same thing was happening in the more remote East Africa.

…

With the railway workers in place, the East African railway project officially began. Indigenous railway laborers were divided into more than twenty groups to repair the railway line.

Opening mountains when encountering mountains, and building bridges when encountering water, under the command of technicians, the railway line was gradually cleared.

The northern side of the Muchinga Mountains was a key area to be overcome by the East African railway, as there was a swamp that the railway could not bypass.

The East African government’s approach was also very simple and crude: using a large number of black people to manually dredge the area. Thousands of black people, under the threat of rifles, used various containers to drain the water from the swamp.

“In addition to a large number of hippos and crocodiles, the swamp also harbors other dangers, such as venomous snakes. These creatures pose a deadly threat to our workers, so this kind of work can only be done by the natives.”

“This swamp can only be cleared manually. If we follow the normal engineering speed, it will probably take several months to clean it up. Therefore, we must seize the time and complete this section of work before the rainy season arrives, to prevent it from being refilled by rainwater after the rainy season.”

Therefore, in order to prevent accidents, the East Africans forced the natives to work day and night, trying to complete the clearing of the swamp area within two and a half months.

For the construction of the central railway, there were many similar things, such as cutting down virgin forests to make room for the railway, and clearing boulders and other obstacles.

At the starting point of the railway, the first railway extension section, a large number of raw materials were pulled inland by the flesh and blood of the natives. The thousand-pound rails were all transported manually, and a slight carelessness could easily cause fatal injuries to the workers.

At the same time, in order to ensure the construction of the railway, East Africa built three cement plants, twenty-three logging yards and quarries along the line, and a new steel plant in the Kalabari area of Zambia.

In 1873, East Africa’s annual steel production was 240,000 tons. After the Kalabari steel plant was put into operation, East Africa’s steel production would exceed 300,000 tons.

In fact, after the Mbeya steel plant was upgraded, its annual output increased to more than 80,000 tons, which could meet a large part of East Africa’s needs.

The total steel demand for the East African railway is about eight million tons, and in 1873, Germany’s total steel production was about three to four million tons, so importing some steel from Germany and Austria can save East Africa a lot of money.

East Africa’s steel production is actually among the top in the world, but compared with that, coal production is somewhat insufficient, only about 1.5 million tons, while Germany at the same time was at 27 million tons, and the United Kingdom and the United States even exceeded 100 million tons.

However, due to the impact of the economic crisis, the steel and coal production capacity of various countries will suffer large-scale shrinkage in the future. In contrast, East Africa will enter a stage of rapid growth.

In addition to the large demand for steel for railway construction, the demand from East African shipyards is also relatively large. Although the Bagamoyo shipyard cannot build ironclad ships of thousands of tons, it has also received orders for more than a dozen gunboats under Ernst’s influence, and the tonnage of East African gunboats is generally 400 tons and above.

Inland shipyards should not be ignored either. By 1873, the number of inland shipyards in East Africa had expanded to 37. Apart from a few large lakes, the demand in the Zambezi River and Congo River basins was the most vigorous.

Leaving aside the two industries of railways and shipbuilding, East Africa will introduce a series of factories in the future, and the demand for steel will be in a relatively strong stage.

These are some basic data of East Africa before the railway construction. After the railway is completed, the construction of the Southern Industrial Zone (Zimbabwe) and the development of the Zambian copper mining industry will reflect the real level of economic development during the economic crisis.

In fact, Ernst also wanted to learn from the Five-Year Industrial Plan and take advantage of the economic crisis to make East Africa take off, but this was completely impossible for East Africa.

Ordinary people look at the Five-Year Plan and feel like they could do it themselves, but in fact, there are only two examples of the Five-Year Plan, one is Tsarist Russia, and the other is the Far East. The First Five-Year Plan of Tsarist Russia started in 1928, and the First Five-Year Plan of the Far East started in 1953.

In textbooks, it seems that as soon as the First Five-Year Plan was completed, the two countries got rid of their agricultural country status. After the completion of the Second Five-Year Plan, the Soviet Union directly jumped to become an important industrial country in the world.

In fact, in the era of Tsarist Russia, Tsarist Russia already had a complete industrial system. For example, now, Tsarist Russia is already the fifth largest textile country in the world, with tens of thousands of kilometers of railways, more than 3,000 factories, and before the Soviet Union, it reached nearly 10,000 factories and more than 3 million workers.

The current Tsarist Russia is already one of the great powers. How backward can it be? It can only be said that the Soviet Union completely stimulated the potential of Tsarist Russia, making Tsarist Russia the closest to the world’s number one in history.

The industrial level of the Far East is poor, but during the Westernization Movement, a batch of military industrial enterprises and state-owned enterprises were built. During the Beiyang period and the Republic of China, a batch of private capital was also developed. By 1953, there were actually a group of professionals locally. With the support of the Soviet Union, it barely achieved preliminary industrialization.

Ernst can be sure that the foundation of the Far East in 1953 must be much better than the current foundation of the Kingdom of East Africa, and the leadership is also much more capable than the Kingdom of East Africa, and the First Five-Year Plan of the Far East is still relatively difficult to achieve.

Therefore, under the current conditions in East Africa, the total number of factories is more than 170, and most of them are mainly low-tech, crude processing and manufacturing industries. The education level of the people is completely unable to support industrial development.

Planned economy is mainly reflected in the word “plan”. Formulating plans and executing plans are extremely testing of a country’s execution ability. If Ernst wants to engage in a Five-Year Plan, the first problem he faces is how to solve the talent problem, which requires high-quality talents to execute.

The Kingdom of East Africa’s development of agriculture can still barely keep up with the level of bureaucratic ability, but if it is engaged in industry, it will be quite difficult for them. As for the current existing industry in East Africa, it is all realized by talents overflowing from the German region. The management of the Hechingen factory are all excavated and hired from Germany and Austria. In the end, the problem is still the lack of capable people.

Chapter 430: Guests

Despite what was said, it didn’t mean Ernst would do nothing. Since the education and training system wasn’t established yet, he would separate research and learning first, which could also lay the groundwork for the future.

The so-called research meant the East African government would invest in establishing official scientific research institutions, gathering talents with higher education and elites in the scientific field to East Africa to engage in theoretical and practical scientific research.

In a few years, after East Africa completed the construction of its secondary education system, corresponding universities would be established. At that time, these talents gathered in East Africa could continue to shine. In general, it was about attracting and retaining talent in East Africa first.

…

June 7, 1873.

Soga City.

The Soga Municipal Government was officially established at the beginning of this year, becoming one of the cities under the jurisdiction of Central Province. However, the newly established Soga City seemed very deserted. Although there were people maintaining the city’s sanitation and order, the main lack of popularity made the whole city lack vitality.

Soga East Railway Station.

A brand-new train slowly entered the station, but only a few people in suits got off the train.

A young man, carrying a leather suitcase, introduced to the people around him: “Professor Kurland, we have arrived at our destination. This is Soga City in East Africa.”

Kurland looked around, unable to imagine that this was the legendary Africa. He could understand when he landed in Dar es Salaam, because port cities around the world were similar, and it was acceptable that Dar es Salaam was a bit more prosperous. But after boarding the East African train, Kurland felt a little incredible. After arriving in Soga City, Kurland had not yet recovered from the shock.

“Mr. Branco, you really didn’t deceive me! This is really Africa?”

“Of course, Professor Kurland, this is Africa. Although it is indeed a bit unbelievable, I must say that the development of the Kingdom of East Africa is at an incredible speed. It has completely emerged from a blank slate in just a few years.”

“I don’t know much about geography, but I used to know something about the local customs of the East African region from books. But after actually arriving in East Africa, I think those books are completely outdated!” Professor Kurland said.

Kurland’s impression of East Africa should have been full of exotic customs, Arabs’ camels, white robes, grasslands, and all kinds of strange beasts.

But so far, the scene Kurland had seen was European-style buildings, large tracts of fertile land, a complete road and irrigation system, and the bustling Dar es Salaam. If he hadn’t traveled thousands of miles by boat, Kurland would have suspected that he hadn’t left Germany yet.

Branco said with some pride: “Although the Kingdom of East Africa was established relatively late, its style is based on the standards of the German region, fully absorbing the excellent culture of Germany and Austria to build a new home for Germans.”

However, this sentence did not resonate with Professor Kurland. He had already learned about the Kingdom of East Africa in Dar es Salaam. Although it was also a German country, many of its citizens were pseudo-Germans.

This kind of thing was only peculiar to the Kingdom of East Africa. If it were in Germany, Poles would be Poles, and Frenchmen would be Frenchmen. Even if they moved to Germany, their identity would not change in a short time.

But the Kingdom of East Africa was completely different. It seemed that apart from the relatively low status of black people, he hadn’t seen any difference between other people.

With doubts, Professor Kurland asked: “Mr. Branco, I see that there are many faces in East Africa that do not have the characteristics of the German region, and even the skin color is somewhat different.”

Branco said bluntly: “There is nothing strange about this. The Kingdom of East Africa was actually a colony before. It is normal to attract people from all over the world to develop the colony. In East Africa, as long as you recognize German culture, you are naturally a German. Of course, as you said, the status of black people is indeed low, but this is a very helpless thing. If we Germans want to develop, we must go out of Germany. Every year, Germany is one of the countries in Europe with the most population loss. Instead of letting them go to countries with other cultures, it is better to go to a German country.”

Colonies, in this era, there was nothing to be ashamed of mentioning. As for Germany’s population loss, it had always been the most serious. Even without the existence of the Kingdom of East Africa, Germany would still lose nearly one million people in these years. For example, this year, Germany’s outflow of immigrants is still the first in Europe, and the second is the Kingdom of Italy.

Professor Kurland: “Well! That’s true. We Germans do have a serious problem with population outflow.”

Branco: “That’s right, so the existence of East Africa is important to the entire German region.”

As they spoke, the group had already walked out of the station. At this time, Professor Kurland and others noticed something was wrong.

“Mr. Branco! Why does the city feel so empty and quiet?”

Branco replied: “Professor Kurland, that’s because Soga is just a new city, so not many people have moved in yet, so it will naturally appear empty. But don’t worry, Soga is just sparsely populated now, not without people. Look, the city’s roads are very clean, that’s because the staff cleans them every day.”

“Will such a small number of people affect life? Such as shops, taverns, entertainment…”

“You don’t have to worry about this at all. The government has already arranged a series of essential places and institutions such as shops. As long as Dar es Salaam has it, this place won’t be much worse. It’s just that Soga, as a city of technology, we pay more attention to a good environment and quality of life.”

Branco introduced, and then took Kurland and others on a public carriage, which surprised the coachman: “Gentlemen, you are the first passengers I have encountered since I started operating!”

Kurland asked the coachman: “Sir, if there are no customers, how do you make a living?”

Coachman: “You don’t understand East Africa. You should be new here too. In East Africa, work is arranged by the government, and we naturally receive a salary from the government.”

Kurland: “What is your monthly salary?”

Coachman: “My monthly salary is about twenty-five Rheinthalers.”

This shocked Kurland a little: “Twenty-five Rheinthalers!”

The coachman can get so much salary a month!

Seeing Kurland’s shocked expression, Branco knew he had misunderstood and explained to Kurland in time: “The Kingdom of East Africa has its own currency, also called the Rheinthaler, but the East African Rheinthaler is different from the European Rheinthaler. Its value is much lower than the French franc.”

“So that’s how it is!” After hearing Branco’s words, Kurland suddenly understood. It would be really terrible if it was twenty-five European Rheinthalers a month.

“Is twenty-five East African Rheinthalers enough to spend?”

“Of course, it is no problem to ensure the basic needs of an ordinary family. The price of food is not very expensive in East Africa.”

This salary level is actually similar to that of British workers, not much lower, so it is relatively easy to support a family.

Chapter 431: Residence

Kurland and his group first had to report to the city hall. After registering at the city hall, Kurland and several agricultural experts each received a property in Soga City.

Although he got a property for free, Kurland asked with some concern, “This house really doesn’t cost any money? What about its quality?”

“Rest assured about that. Distributing housing is a very common practice in East Africa. As high-quality talents introduced by the East African government, you will also enjoy better treatment than ordinary immigrants and even officials.”

Seeing is believing. Soon after, Branco took them to see their new homes.

“Each house has an area of 140 square meters, with three bedrooms, one living room, two bathrooms, and one kitchen, plus a small garden. Soga City is also a garden city. You see, in addition to the gardens in every household, there are also things called green belts on both sides of the road. This is a unique product of our East African cities.”

However, Kurland’s focus was obviously not here. He asked Branco, “I always feel that your application of land is a bit too generous. The pedestrian path in front of the house is fine, but wasn’t the road we came on just now too wasteful? I used to live in Landshut, and I have also been to Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, and other cities. To be honest, Soga’s roads are a bit ridiculously wide. It’s understandable that Dar es Salaam has a lot of people, but Soga doesn’t have many people. The utilization rate is too low.”

Branco didn’t seem to mind, saying, “It’s not a big problem if the roads are a bit wider. As for the low utilization rate, more and more people will come to Soga in the future. There’s no need to worry about that. After all, cities are developing, and the roads in European countries are also much wider than before, although the improvement is not significant.”

Even so, Professor Kurland still said, “You are a bit too urbanized.”

While speaking, Kurland also noticed that the streetlights in Soga seemed to be electric lights, which also surprised Kurland.

“I am increasingly suspecting that the Kingdom of East Africa is not an African country. You have even popularized electric lights in the city. I’m afraid only the capitals of various countries can do this.”

“Electric lights are also a rare commodity in East Africa. Only the capital and Soga have achieved full coverage. Cities like Mombasa and Dar es Salaam only use a small portion. As for other cities, inland, only Nairobi and Mbeya, two industrial cities, have electric lights. In other areas, perhaps only a few government agencies will use them.”

Branco opened the door and brought Brand’s luggage into the house.

It can be seen that the quality of these houses is very good, without any cutting corners. He had only looked at the outside just now, but the inside had everything it needed.

“Completely solid wood furniture, but considering your preferences, we have only prepared a few basic pieces of furniture: a desk, two chairs, and a bed. If you have any needs, everyone can go to the furniture store to get what they like.”

“Each room has an electric light. This is a pull-wire switch, but I must remind you that using electricity is very dangerous. Do not modify the circuit at will, or touch wires and circuits with wet things, including metal and your hands. If there is a problem, go to the power bureau to find professionals to repair or modify it.”

This kind of popular science is very necessary. The Second Industrial Revolution has just begun. As a new thing in the Second Industrial Revolution, electricity is still relatively unfamiliar to many people in this era.

“The living room actually has a mezzanine. This can be used to place desks and bookshelves, facing the balcony, so the lighting is very good.”

“Here is the bathroom, equipped with a faucet, sink, flush toilet, and bathtub, with 24-hour water supply.”

“Kitchen, we didn’t decorate it too much. Like the furniture, you can decorate it according to your own ideas. However, Soga City also has a public cafeteria, which can solve the problem of eating. The bad news is that you have to pay, but the good news is that the price is very cheap, and the chef’s skills are quite good. Currently, the public cafeteria is configured according to a scale of seven hundred people. Because there are not many people in Soga, only one is in use, in the northwest corner of this block.”

“There are a total of three bedrooms. You can bring your family from Europe to live here, otherwise, living in such a big house alone will really feel a bit empty.”

Brand was very satisfied with the living environment here, but he soon thought of a problem, which was the communication with Europe.

“Does Soga City have a telegraph office?”

Branco: “Of course, Professor Brand. The telegraph office, shops, cafeteria, etc. are all in the northwest of the community. The telegraph here can directly contact Europe.”

“That’s great. I think I can call my family and friends over in a while,” Brand said.

This is also great for East Africa. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. As a biologist, Brand’s circle is destined not to be unknown.

However, Brand also said that he would have to wait for a while, because he is currently in the stage of investigating East Africa. The most important thing is that he has not carefully investigated the working environment.

Soon, Branco dispelled his doubts.

“Here is the East African Rice Research Institute. The location is a bit remote. This is because the experimental site is different from general scientific research, so it is chosen in the suburbs. However, it is not far from your residence, only less than two kilometers away. The government will distribute East African traffic rules information sheets and transportation to relevant personnel.”

What kind of transportation! The answer is bicycles. Bicycles are not rare things, but Hechingen Daily Necessities Company does not produce them on a large scale, but takes the luxury route. The main reason is that East African rubber has not yet been mass-produced. The rubber used in European bicycles is imported from Brazil, and Brazil’s rubber production is actually not high. As for Southeast Asia, there is not even a shadow of rubber now. Historically, it was not until after 1876 that the British began to introduce rubber to Southeast Asia. Currently, the only country in the world that grows on a large scale and prepares for commercial rubber production is East Africa.

Moreover, the bicycles produced by Hechingen Daily Necessities Company are relatively strange. Their tires are solid and only used for shock absorption. This makes bicycles relatively easy to use on flat ground, but much worse for off-road, which makes bicycles a novel thing completely enjoyed by the rich and nobles, because the practicality is too poor.

Hollow inflatable rubber tires, of course, also exist. The Hechingen Consortium has applied for a technology patent, but Ernst does not want to promote it on a large scale now, mainly because he does not want Brazil to earn this money. Brazilian rubber is now a monopoly market, and the pricing power of raw materials is not in the hands of the Hechingen Consortium.

However, this situation will change this year, because the rubber in the Great Lakes region is ready for production. In addition to the Great Lakes region, there are actually several small rubber planting areas in East Africa at the same time, mainly distributed in the rainy areas where Turkana Province and the coastal plains and plateaus meet.

As for the larger tropical rainforest production area, that is, the west side of the Mitumba Mountains, because the planting time is relatively late, it will take a few more years. However, the output of the Great Lakes region and several small production areas is enough to meet the needs of the global natural rubber market.

Hechingen has not released bicycle technology production in Europe, but adopts the form of squeezing toothpaste, constantly innovating in appearance and decoration. After all, bicycles are now playthings for nobles, and the more luxurious they look, the better.

When East African rubber matures, the company also plans to invest in East Africa to build a batch of factories centered around the rubber industry, and bicycle tires are one of them.

Branco continued: “Of course, this distance is actually not far, and it doesn’t take long to walk, and there are also public carriages available.”

“In addition to these, there is a library in the city center. Some non-special materials can be consulted there. Because it has just been completed, the collection is not very rich, but it is constantly being supplemented.”

Chapter 432: Three Channels

July, 873.

After more than half a year of hard work, the first section of the Central Canal was fully completed, taking nearly four months longer than the East African government’s planned construction period.

This was a last resort, because it was really difficult to fully motivate the natives. In the original historical context, the period with the highest labor efficiency among sub-Saharan Africans was during the Westerners’ slave plantation era.

After the African regions gained independence one after another, black countries generally fell into a trend of precipitous decline in productivity. Because without anyone to restrain them, they would return to the unrestrained ways of the primitive society era.

This is not unique to Africa. In fact, India and Southeast Asia are also like this. Although the actions of the colonizers are unforgivable, in completely colonized areas, their work efficiency may be the highest in history.

East Africa’s “laborers” also face this problem. Even with whips and corporal punishment, these “laborers” are only barely brought up to the level of normal dawdling workers.

Because too much beating actually made these “laborers” resistant, triggering Stockholm Syndrome. The “laborers” became obedient and docile, but they also learned to slack off as much as possible while “enjoying” themselves.

Sometimes, whether work is done diligently cannot be seen with the naked eye, especially for work like digging earth. It is impossible for East African supervisors to use scales to measure whether each shovel of earth from the “laborers” meets the standard.

In fact, East Africa really did this, but using a random inspection method. The supervisors were responsible for visually inspecting the amount of work done by the natives. If the supervisor felt that a worker was slacking off, they would stop the work and measure the amount of earth dug up by the native’s shovel.

An effective method is still the reward and punishment mechanism, with “laborers” supervising “laborers,” and implementing a bottom-elimination system for work groups.

If a work group is continuously in the bottom three in performance for three consecutive days, they will be given priority to be sold to the United States and other regions. Conversely, if a work group ranks first for three days, they will receive the highest quality “laborer” meal, which will continue until the next group takes first place.

This also created a vicious cycle. The “laborers” who were already diligent obtained a better standard of living, ate more, were fuller, had more meat, and worked even harder. The first place was likely to remain in first place, while other groups had to avoid falling into the bottom three.

The reason was the fear of the unknown. They didn’t know where their compatriots taken away by the Germans would be sent! How the Germans would punish them! Whether they would be eaten by the Germans!

Although eating people was nonsense, that’s what the natives were privately making up. In addition to the cannibalism theory, there were also theories about being shot, drowned in a lake, skinned alive…

It made East Africa a completely “terrifying” country. This was completely unnecessary worry. Ernst didn’t have any strange habit of wearing special leather shoes.

Although the rumors were outrageous, East Africa was happy to see it happen. Obviously, the efficiency of the “laborers” had greatly improved. As for those eliminated “laborers,” they had already boarded ocean-going ships and left East Africa, this place of turmoil.

Affected by the economic depression, East Africa’s “slave” business was also affected to a certain extent, but good goods are not hard to sell, just like the Ottoman Empire’s purchasing power was still very strong.

American plantation owners, due to the decline in international agricultural product prices caused by the agricultural crisis, began to tighten their belts, massively abandon fields and reduce production, and at the same time massively lay off agricultural workers.

However, although many ordinary agricultural workers were laid off, the imported “East African native laborers” were not among them. As a substitute for slaves, the cost of “East African native laborers” was actually lower.

After all, buying and selling slaves also costs money. In the past slave trade era, the unscrupulous slave traders would not pay for the capture, food, drink, accommodation, and shipping costs of these slaves from Africa to the Americas. These costs would eventually fall on the plantation owners, so the price of slaves was not cheap.

The demand of plantation owners for buying slaves lies in the fact that these slaves can create long-term income for the plantation, and then earn back the cost of buying slaves with principal and interest.

“East African native laborers” are different. Before the economic crisis, East Africa symbolically charged some fees. After the economic crisis broke out, in order to continue to stabilize the American market, East Africa began to subsidize the slave trade.

This subsidy is issued according to the number of “immigrants.” The first destination country for the East African Kingdom to export natives is Haiti. The more natives Haiti accepts, the more money it makes. As for how Haiti arranges these natives, East Africa doesn’t care.

Excluding the shipping capacity, manpower, and rations that East Africa paid for exporting natives, East Africa also needs to pay Haiti an additional 200,000 East African Rhine marks every year. This amount of money is not a small amount for Haiti.

Or rather, it is not a small amount for the Haitian family forces. At the same time, after they receive the “immigrants,” they can also replenish them to the plantations, or resell them to the United States. If they really want to do a cost-free business, they can be even more extreme and treat these “immigrants”…

In its previous life, Haiti had a population of over ten million. Now, Haiti’s population is less than a million. Even if all the East African natives were immigrated here, it would be acceptable to the rulers of Haiti. After all, there is also the Dominican Republic next to Haiti, which can also share part of the population.

Of course, the East African Kingdom will not use trafficking methods for natives with relatively high work enthusiasm, but East Africa cannot let them stay in East Africa for a lifetime.

East Africa’s approach is to extend the working years of these more active natives in East Africa, and then, once the term is up, send them to the Msiri regime in West Africa and other native forces expelled by East Africa.

Msiri is, after all, an East African. He needs manpower to gain a foothold in West Africa, and the more the better. This is also one of the destinations for East African natives.

Overall, after the “laborers” retire in East Africa, there are three main destinations: one is Central Asia, then the Caribbean coast, and finally West Africa.

Of these three destinations, Central Asia is not a good place for “laborers,” because the Arabs have special methods to make them lose their ability to reproduce.

The Caribbean coast depends on luck. If they go to the United States, there is some humanity. If they are left in Haiti, they may never be able to turn themselves around for generations.

If they are arranged to the territory of the benevolent East African rulers who fled to West Africa, it is a mixed bag. The good aspect is that the “laborers” sent by East Africa are high-quality laborers in West Africa. Even if they only farm, they can create wealth for people like Msiri. Therefore, these “laborers” have two ways to re-employment in West Africa: one is farming, and the other is joining the army.

Compared to West Africans, the East African native monarchs believe that natives of the same race are more reliable. Moreover, as foreign invaders, they are originally unpopular in West Africa, and conflicts are commonplace. The natives exported by East Africa can just support them in confronting the local chiefs of West Africa.

Therefore, slave exports have also exacerbated conflicts in the West African region, but the impact of conflicts on West Africa is not significant overall, at least not in terms of population.

Because in addition to exporting laborers, what East Africa really mainly exports to West Africa are women and children among the natives. Without women, the East African natives cannot grow. This is one of East Africa’s hidden national policies.

After all, East Africa’s ability to export “laborers” is limited, averaging only two to three hundred thousand per year (excluding those who leave voluntarily and those who flee). If one day East Africa is suddenly targeted and the slave trade is canceled by the international community, and all the black people are stuck in their hands and cannot be exported, and all that is left are male black people, they will not have the ability to reproduce asexually. They will naturally die out in just one generation.

In fact, East Africa did not engage in “massacre,” but the number of “laborers” lost in the local area every year is not a small number. Therefore, destroying corpses and eliminating traces has always been the finishing work that Ernst has to do.

It is definitely not okay to just bury them anywhere like in North America. East Africa generally cremates them and then buries them nearby.

Once they are turned to ashes, no descendants will be able to recognize them. After all, in East Africa, people are cremated after death, mainly to prevent the outbreak of diseases. This is one of the current political correctnesses in East Africa.

However, this is also within the acceptable range for East African immigrants. People who can come to East Africa to make a living are not in bad health, and they are relatively young, and they have several decades to live.

In fact, Ernst himself does not support cremation in terms of emotion, after all, he would not choose to cremate himself after death, but the current sanitary conditions in East Africa are really too poor, especially the medical technology is backward, and it is reasonable to be too cautious.

Anyway, it will not be too late to cancel it in twenty or thirty years. By that time, East Africa’s medical level will also reach a new level.

Chapter 433: The Little Strengthen Governance Project

As it turns out, work is never truly finished. After a brief respite of a few days, the “laborers” of the Number One Canal were once again transferred from East Africa to the Little Rhine River to improve the river’s course.

The matter of improving the Little Rhine River’s course dates back two months.

“Your Majesty, this year alone, there have been fifteen instances of flooding along the Little Rhine River, inundating over thirteen thousand acres of fertile farmland. Because our villages are generally built some distance from the riverbanks, we haven’t suffered too much damage. However, river water still encroached upon three villages during the minor rainy season, and these are just the statistics from the end of last year to March of this year.”

Constantine asked, “As far as I know, the farmland in East Africa is all prime land, carefully selected by experienced farmers. The Central Province hasn’t expanded its planting area in the past two years, and the rainfall hasn’t been significantly different from normal years. How could there still be flood disasters?”

“Your Majesty, we consulted experts in water conservancy about this matter, and their explanation is that the condition of the Little Rhine River is bound to cause such problems.”

“What condition?”

“Generally speaking, it’s due to a problem that all rivers in the world have, which is that river water is affected by the, uh, Coriolis force (deflecting force of the Earth’s rotation), and then it will be deflected. Our Little Rhine River in East Africa is affected by this force and will deflect to the left bank. Over time, it has become extremely winding, and water flowing through a winding river channel is naturally not as easy to flow out as a straight river channel. So sometimes, when the rainfall is heavy, the river water easily overflows.”

The Minister of Agriculture tried his best to explain the problem of the Little Rhine River with his level of knowledge, fully demonstrating the worrying ability of East Africa’s Minister of Agriculture, with his elementary school education, in national governance.

“Uh, okay! So what you mean is that our river is relatively winding, so the water flow is not smooth and it easily changes course, right?” Constantine summarized.

“More or less, more or less.”

Thus, the matter became clear.

The rivers of East Africa are very different from the rivers in other regions of the world. It’s fine for those larger rivers, such as the Nile, the Zambezi, the Congo, the Limpopo… East Africa has a bit of each.

These rivers are all ranked among the best in the world, but East Africa’s economy is not deeply tied to these rivers. On the one hand, the outlets to the sea are not in East African hands, and on the other hand, even if East Africa had these river outlets, they wouldn’t be of much use to East Africa at present.

The Nile is a bit better, with both a huge and fertile delta and the excellent port of Alexandria, but the area it flows through is mainly desert, making it Egypt’s well-deserved mother river.

However, there are many waterfalls in Egypt and Sudan, which makes the Nile’s shipping value almost negligible for East Africa. If it were possible to reach the Mediterranean directly from South Sudan, Ernst wouldn’t mind launching a war for it. The same goes for Egypt. If the Nile didn’t have these waterfalls blocking it, its territory wouldn’t have only extended to northern Sudan for thousands of years.

The Congo River is even more so. Although the navigable area is large, it is limited to the tropical rainforest area of the Congo Basin, which is a green desert, only slightly better than a desert. The most deadly thing is that the Congo River’s outlet to the sea is a waterfall, making it less valuable than the Nile.

The problem with the Zambezi River is the same. Only the section of the river in Mozambique can directly reach the sea. The Zambezi River is most famous for its canyons, rapids, and waterfalls.

The Limpopo River is slightly smaller in scale compared to the previous rivers, and it is also considered one of the larger rivers in the world, but the problem is the same as the Zambezi River.

East Africa also has a border river with Cape Town—the Orange River. The area through which the Orange River flows is basically uninhabited desert and mountains, and the water volume is not good either.

In short, there isn’t one that is worth mentioning. After excluding these world-famous rivers from his previous life, the most valuable rivers for shipping in East Africa at present are the small and medium-sized rivers along the East African coast.

The Little Rhine River is one of the most typical of these, and small rivers will encounter a very serious problem, which is that the river channel is not wide enough and is also very winding.

The Little Rhine River cannot be described as having a winding course; almost every hundred meters or so, there is a large bend, and this is almost a characteristic of the entire Little Rhine River. It is more appropriate to describe it as having eighteen bends in a mountain road.

(Image: The straight-line distance of the river section in the image is about ten kilometers.)

In fact, this state of the Little Rhine River is the norm for all natural rivers in the world, but the rivers of East Africa are more outrageous. For thousands of years, no agricultural civilization has been born, which has resulted in almost no water conservancy projects existing in sub-Saharan Africa, and the repair of river channels is naturally non-existent.

And most rivers of the same level in Europe and the Far East have been artificially repaired, and at least the main river sections are very straight.

If it is a non-artificially repaired river, it can of course also be relatively straight, because the river itself can also cut corners and straighten its course, but this kind of river generally has a large flow, which can achieve the effect of using brute force to overcome all obstacles, making the river surface wide and the river channel relatively straight.

For example, the Yellow River in the Far East, which has a small water volume, has an average width of more than five hundred meters, and the Yangtze River has an average width of more than nine hundred meters. The Rhine River in Europe has an average width of more than three hundred meters, and the Danube River is even known as the Amazon of Europe, with an average width of more than one thousand six hundred meters in the middle section.

And the Little Rhine River, except for the river channel in the estuary area being over one hundred meters wide, most of the river sections are only about twenty meters wide, with an average width of no more than forty meters. It’s bad enough that the river surface is narrow, but the Little Rhine River also has too many bends.

This greatly limits the development potential of the Little Rhine River, and also poses a certain threat to agriculture and residences along the coast. In normal years, it’s fine, but if it encounters extreme years with a surge in precipitation, it would have to give East Africa a real hard time.

Therefore, for this situation of the Little Rhine River, Constantine, after discussing it with Ernst, the father and son decided to take strong action against the Little Rhine River.

This is the Little Rhine River Governance Strengthening Project, referred to as the “Little Strengthen Governance Project,” which includes a full set of one-stop services for more than one hundred and fifty kilometers along the Little Rhine River.

Including dredging and widening the river channel, reinforcing the river embankment, artificially cutting corners and straightening the entire line of the Little Rhine River flowing through the plains area, and comprehensively upgrading the agricultural irrigation system along the line.

After the completion of the project, the river surface of the Little Rhine River will be raised to a level of more than fifty meters, greatly improving the flood discharge and navigation capacity of the Little Rhine River during the rainy season, ensuring the safety of farmland, villages, and cities along the line, and most importantly, ensuring the safety of the capital’s First Town.

The Little Rhine River has an obvious flood season, so the project is mainly carried out during the dry season when the river flow is at its lowest. The difficulty of the project is relatively average, but the amount of work is relatively huge.

In addition to the Little Rhine River, rivers along the East African coast such as the Ruvuma River, the Rufiji River, and the Tana River (rivers in Kenya) more or less have these problems.

On the other hand, the Juba River and the Shebelle River have slightly better conditions, because these two rivers mainly flow through desert areas, and the river channel is shaped relatively ideally, but the economic value of the areas through which these two rivers flow is relatively low.

According to Ernst’s idea, of course, it is to carry out major repairs, taking advantage of the fact that East Africa still has sufficient cheap “labor” to seize the time to complete these projects in one go, benefiting East Africa for generations to come.

Chapter 434: Far Ahead

Artificial intervention in natural rivers can lead to some ecological and environmental damage, as well as unpredictable disasters caused by changes in the river’s characteristics.

Such things do indeed have real-world examples. However, Ernst doesn’t think so. This is a matter of trade-offs. If the benefits gained through artificial intervention outweigh the disadvantages, then the East African government must do it.

Under natural conditions, rivers are always curved due to the influence of the Coriolis effect. However, the degree of curvature of a river will not continue to increase indefinitely. When the curvature reaches a certain point, the river’s flow rate will slow down, and sediment will easily accumulate. So, what changes will occur if a meandering river is artificially straightened?

Because the river channel is straightened without any buffer, floods are likely to occur. Straightening the river channel reduces the watershed area, which in turn reduces the utilization rate of river water. Places that originally used surface water for drinking and irrigation will have to use groundwater instead. Furthermore, the reduction in watershed area also reduces the downward infiltration of river water, lowering soil water retention and causing water shortages in many areas, which will greatly affect the survival of plants, animals, and humans.

Secondly, this can also easily promote the development of water eutrophication. The channelization of the riverbed is often accompanied by a drop in the groundwater level, leading to a general reduction in hygrophytic plants in the natural environment. Subsequently, some natural environments along the river that are related to the river also gradually disappear, such as the evolution of forests on alluvial soil into hardwood forests. After a natural river bend is artificially straightened, it will still gradually revert to a river bend.

Ernst agrees with this twenty-first-century argument, but these problems are not without solutions. It’s like how Taoism advocates “governing by non-action.” Ordinary people think it makes a lot of sense, but some people only focus on the words “non-action.” If you really choose “non-action” and do nothing, then that is truly foolish and stupid.

Regarding these problems, Ernst’s solution is to follow nature and transform East Africa in terms of overall patterns, making East Africa more livable.

While in Europe on business, Ernst took the time to formulate several general directions for the river modification of the East African coastal plain and conveyed them to Constantine via telegram:

“First, river modification should be based on the original rivers. For example, we should straighten bends, but the overall river cannot deviate from the original location of the river channel to prevent excessive changes in underground water sources.”

“Second, widening the river channel will inevitably erode the vegetation on both sides of the river. While widening the river channel, we must simultaneously transplant new vegetation on both banks to prevent river erosion of the surrounding soil and siltation of the new river channel.”

“Third, during the process of modifying the river channel, we should try to avoid damage to the original riverbed and minimize the killing of fish and other organisms in the river.”

“Fourth, urban sewers should avoid directly discharging sewage into rivers and other inland natural water bodies. Instead, new pipelines should be built to directly discharge into the sea.”

“Fifth, for the wetlands reduced after straightening the river bends, we should build more small and medium-sized reservoirs along the line to regulate river flow and facilitate agricultural water security.”

“Sixth, try not to destroy the river network. The construction of canals and changes in river channels will inevitably block the connection between some streams and large rivers. With a responsible attitude towards the future, we must re-establish these connections to prevent rainwater from being unable to flow into the river channels and into the sea during the rainy season.”

A total of six points, which is a relatively general guiding opinion. For this reason, Constantine specifically called to ask, “Ernst, aren’t your six suggestions a bit too much?”

It is normal that Constantine cannot understand. Most people’s thinking in this era is like this. There is no concept of ecology and pollution.

Ernst: “Father, just do this according to my instructions. I don’t expect perfection. It would be great if you could do seventy or eighty percent. I’m just offering suggestions, not making rigid rules.”

Feeling that it was still a bit vague, Ernst began to find examples to convince Constantine.

“Industry in this era is developing in a rough and unrefined way. Not many people pay attention to environmental issues because people are not aware of the harm caused by environmental damage. In Europe, the most typical example is London.”

“London is currently one of the most industrially developed cities in the world, but the damage to London’s environment caused by the black smoke and sewage discharged by factories is visible to the naked eye. The black smoke is easier to deal with; when the wind blows, it blows all over the world. But even so, London is still ‘the Fog City,’ which shows that the power of nature cannot directly purify London’s air. These black fumes are absorbed by the human body and are bound to be harmful. Although I can’t provide any scientific evidence, the lifespan and illnesses of workers living in the most polluted areas cannot be faked.”

“Secondly, industrial wastewater is directly discharged into the Thames River. The entire Thames River is a large open sewer, and a large part of London’s domestic water comes from the Thames River. Can this kind of water be good to drink? Especially the land near the sewage outlets in the industrial area is barren. Even grass can’t survive, let alone people. Moreover, this sewage containing various impurities is not managed in any way, directly polluting the land along the coast. Land recovery is very difficult, even impossible.”

“Furthermore, urban development must be people-oriented, but the environment in European cities is far inferior to that of the countryside. I believe you will have a very intuitive feeling when comparing Hechingen and Stuttgart.”

“East Africa is certainly not rejecting industrialization, but rather sustainable and long-term development. If we do things right from the beginning, the cost of governance and correction in the future will be lower.”

Now, the Little Rhine River has the same status to East Africa as the Thames has to England. The capitals of both countries are along the river, so Ernst is also very concerned about the governance of the Little Rhine River.

However, the plan for governing the Little Rhine River is only suitable for coastal areas, which are not far from the sea. East Africa can directly connect the sewage discharge ditches to the sea through engineering construction.

Ernst had already experimented with this when building the city of Soga, constructing a separate sewage discharge pipeline system extending to the sea.

The domestic sewage of First Town (there is basically no industry in First Town) is currently directly discharged into the Little Rhine River. Ernst also plans to connect the underground sewer system of First Town to the Soga city network, and finally discharge it into the sea near the coast of Dar es Salaam.

The cities in the Central Province are close to the sea, so they can do this. Cities inland, such as Nairobi and Mbeya, still discharge sewage into rivers and lakes, and finally flow into the sea through the rivers.

Protecting the ecological environment is indeed a bit ahead of the times, but Ernst believes that since he has the ability, he should take the initiative to promote it in East Africa.

Doing so is nothing more than paying more in terms of labor and material costs, and the cheapest thing in East Africa is labor. If there is consumption of materials, there must also be production, which can further improve East Africa’s level of industrialization.

The value of the Little Rhine River and other rivers is mainly reflected in shipping, irrigation, and water supply. Although it is easy to directly discharge sewage into these rivers, it is not necessary.

It’s only because First Town is not an industrial city. Otherwise, those downstream farmers who rely on the water of the Little Rhine for irrigation would inevitably suffer irreversible pollution.

The compromises and concessions that East Africa is making now to protect the environment will, when looking back in the twenty-first century, make East Africans grateful for Ernst’s long-term vision.

Chapter 435: Steel and Population

“Your Highness, we have integrated a total of seventeen steel companies in the German region, including three large steel companies and the rest being small and medium-sized enterprises. Classified by country, there are eight steel companies from Austria-Hungary, seven from Germany, and two from Luxembourg.”

Since 1870, Luxembourg began to exploit its domestic iron ore resources on a large scale and vigorously developed its steel industry based on the Thomas steelmaking process, making great progress. The two large steel companies acquired by East Africa were from Luxembourg, and another large steel company came from the Ruhr area.

In 1873, Germany’s industrial development reached an unprecedented peak. In just a few years, its steel mills soared from the original 920 to 1,720, and pig iron production more than doubled, reaching 2 million tons. Therefore, the steel companies Ernst dug away were just a drop in the bucket for Germany.

During the economic crisis, a large number of steel companies in the entire German region went bankrupt, generally small and medium-sized enterprises. Large enterprises had higher risk resistance capabilities, which is why two of the large steel companies acquired by the Hechingen Consortium were Luxembourg companies.

“As of August, we have recruited a total of more than 34,000 steelworkers from the Austro-Hungarian region to immigrate to East Africa. As per your request, Czechs account for more than 13,000, and the rest are mostly Slovenians and Croatians.”

“Too few, still too few!” Ernst said with some dissatisfaction.

“Your Highness, the main reason is the lack of transportation capacity. This year, the number of merchant ships we invested in the Americas accounts for almost 5%, and 25% of the transportation capacity is invested in rail transport. Our own merchant ships are not enough now, and even with cooperation with the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Naples, it still cannot meet so much demand.”

Ernst pondered for a moment: “Well, in that case, it seems we can only use the last resort.”

The so-called last resort is to hire British merchant ships, which is also a last resort.

The Hechingen Overseas Trading Company is currently the largest shipping company in the world, with more than 1,000 large merchant ships. This is because the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company is said to be a private enterprise, but it actually monopolizes the entire trade of East Africa, while also being involved in trade with the Americas, Europe, and the Far East.

Although the Hechingen’s merchant ships are quite large, they are no match for the British. In the early 19th century alone, the British Royal Navy had about 1,000 warships of various types. The number is a little smaller now, because the British Royal Navy is in the process of being re-equipped. Ironclad ships are launched every year, and there is no need to pile up wooden warships, but rather focus on tonnage.

And the British civilian shipping sector is even more outstanding. In the 19th century, Britain was a veritable ship empire, producing more than 80% of the world’s ships and owning about half of the world’s fleet.

East Africa cannot catch up even if it takes out all its assets. If it were not for the emergence of ironclad ships, the navies of various countries would not even have the opportunity to challenge the British Navy.

Ernst then instructed: “However, when doing business with the British, don’t talk to those big companies, but talk to those small companies or even individual operators. At the same time, look around the Mediterranean coast in addition to Britain. No matter which country it is, as long as the price is lower than the British, we can talk.”

Shipping prices are generally the lowest in Britain, but now it is a time of economic crisis, and there will always be exceptions.

The Hechingen Consortium’s own fleet is a little lacking in this regard. Some necessary positions cannot be replaced, but the cleaning staff and cooks on the ships can be done by Chinese people, mainly because they are cheap.

“How are the steel orders currently?” Ernst asked.

“We have negotiated a deal with the Austrian government for 300,000 tons of steel per year, but Austria’s output is too low. This aspect is mainly Germany’s output is relatively high. The Ruhr area alone has reached an order of 400,000 tons per year. Adding our own company’s production capacity, we should be able to import 1.1 million tons of steel to East Africa per year.”

“Our steel production capacity, in addition to Luxembourg and the Ruhr area, is mainly concentrated in the Czech region and the Slovenian region.”

The steel companies acquired by Ernst, after completing the capital injection, took the opportunity to expand, so their strength has been greatly supplemented.

Among them, Luxembourg and the Ruhr area are key production areas, one is rich in iron ore, and the other is rich in coal mines. The Czech Republic is a little worse, and Slovenia is entirely because of Trieste, a good port closest to East Africa.

Of course, East Africa itself must also bear part of the steel production. Steel plants must be built separately for this purpose. The good news is that Ernst is not short of technicians and steelworkers at all, so there is no technical problem in building steel plants in East Africa.

However, East Africa obviously cannot absorb so many steelworkers. Some of them come to East Africa mainly to fill the population, and they do not need to engage in steel production. The greatest possibility is to arrange them to go inland to reclaim wasteland.

Cross-industry employment is not a big problem. European countries have only been industrialized for a few years. Many workers are from rural backgrounds. It is impossible to say that they do not know how to farm.

“Taking advantage of this economic depression, we must absorb the unemployed and agricultural population in Austria and its surrounding areas within the Austro-Hungarian Empire on a large scale, focusing on those non-Germans. As for the Germans, let’s leave them to the Austro-Hungarian Empire!” Ernst emphasized.

It is really not easy for the Habsburg family. The Slavic (Czech, Slovak, Polish, Slovenian, Croatian, Serbian…) population plus the Latino (Romanian and Italian) population account for more than half, and the Austrians and Hungarians together cannot make up half.

Ernst cannot change the population structure of the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire, but it is possible to change Austria and its surrounding areas.

There are two places that Ernst believes have the greatest impact on Austria, one is the Czech region, and the other is Slovenia. The Czech Republic means industry, and Slovenia represents the port.

The main target of this recruitment of immigrants is the non-Germans in these two places. As for where East Africa will absorb Germans from this time, in addition to Germany being the focus, the largest source country is the United States.

Ernst’s immigration recruitment strategy in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ernst would definitely not do this before, but times have changed.

In the past, East Africa was in urgent need of German-speaking people, and it was a case of beggars can’t be choosers in Austria. Now East Africa is not short of them. Through nearly ten years of efforts, German has basically become the unified language of East Africa.

East Africa’s population data has not been counted in the past two years, but Ernst estimates that the current population of East Africa should be around eight million to nine million, and the German-speaking population is at least over seven million.

As for the new immigrants who do not speak German, put them in the melting pot of East Africa, and they can basically become like Germans through the language environment within a year. If they are too stupid, there is no way.

Once the language is unified, the matter of cultural identity is basically a trivial matter. Now East Africa can choose its favorite “high-quality” immigrants from all over the world.

However, there is no need to do this during the economic crisis. There are unemployed people everywhere in Europe and the United States. According to historical records in the United States, the unemployed population exceeds three million. This is just an estimated number, and the real number must be more than this.

Germany and Austria-Hungary must have no shortage of unemployed people. Ernst is sure that the number of unemployed people in Germany is more than that in the United States, because Germany’s current population is above that of the United States.

Even without the economic crisis, Germany’s outflow of population is the highest in the world, which also shows that Germany’s unemployment rate is high in normal times, and it must be even higher after the economic crisis. Judging from the land area of the two countries alone, Germany, with its small area, cannot have more means to deal with the crisis than the United States.

Historically, the reversal of Germany’s population outflow had to wait until the end of the 19th century, that is, after 1893, so Germany still has great potential.

Currently, East Africa’s focus on absorbing immigrants from Germany has shifted from southwestern Germany to northeastern Germany. In addition to the industrial development in the southwest (mainly driven by Lorraine and Alsace, which promoted the development of the steel and textile industries), which has absorbed a large number of people, there is also the fact that East Africa has absorbed it for ten years, and there is basically no overpopulation in the southwest. On the contrary, the East Prussia region has a serious overpopulation due to its backward level of industrial development and its focus on agriculture.

Chapter 436: Malicious Competition

While East Africa was managing the Little Rhine River, Vienna was also widening the Danube River. However, unlike East Africa, which was managing the river for the sake of management, Vienna’s reason was more specific: to prepare for the 1873 World’s Fair held in Vienna, making it a prestige project.

The World’s Fair started in May, but Ernst didn’t join the crowds. On one hand, his schedule was quite full, and on the other hand, the Vienna World’s Fair was too chaotic.

Although Ernst hadn’t been involved before, the Hechingen Consortium actively participated in the World’s Fair as a showcase for global commodities.

The Hechingen Consortium’s exhibits were divided into three categories: “European technology and industrial products, East African specialties, and trade goods from the Far East that the Hechingen Consortium participated in trading.”

The technology and industrial products were mainly the products of various companies under the Hechingen Consortium, focusing on electricity, light industry, and medicine.

East African specialties mainly focused on East Africa’s cash crops. This was East Africa’s high-quality industry, while grain agriculture and dairy farming were strong industries in Europe and the United States.

Therefore, under the influence of the economic crisis, East Africa’s exports of commercial grain to Europe had almost stagnated, retaining its advantage only in the Middle East and North Africa, regions unsuitable for agricultural development.

In contrast, tropical cash crops were completely different. If only cash crops were considered, the United States was also quite strong, but most of the United States is in the cool temperate zone, with some subtropical climate, but no tropical climate at all (it had not yet annexed Hawaii).

If possible, Ernst had, of course, considered Hawaii, but only in passing. This place was not like Alaska, a land of ice and snow, and it was located in the center of the North Pacific, with an overly prominent strategic position. Not to mention the United States, even Japan, Canada, the Far Eastern Empire, Britain, and Tsarist Russia would not give East Africa a chance.

East Africa could block Alaska and delay its development, but it could not use the same trick on Hawaii. It was a stopover point for passing ships, unavoidable. However, sometimes thinking about it was fine; it wouldn’t hurt.

In addition, East Africa’s main competitors in tropical cash crops were the Caribbean islands. The main development area of the Caribbean islands was the sugar industry. For various reasons, Western colonists clearly paid more attention to the Caribbean coast than to South America, such as Haiti and Cuba.

South America was somewhat lacking. Ernst believed this might be because the South American sovereign states were not as strong, and the South American countries were stronger after independence. Countries like Brazil and Argentina had large areas and considerable populations, making them difficult to control.

The Caribbean’s advantages lay in its fertile land, abundant rainfall, and location on the transportation route between North and South America, not far from Europe.

East Africa’s advantage over the Caribbean lay in its proximity to Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe, and the two markets of Central Asia. At the same time, it had higher organizational capacity and production efficiency, a larger land area, and focused on planning in planting, fully leveraging its advantages.

At the same time, East Africa’s geographical environment was more diverse than the Caribbean region. Tropical rainforest climate, tropical savanna climate, tropical desert climate, alpine plateau climate, and other tropical climate types were all available. Moreover, the tropical savanna climate had extremely large internal differences, divided into plateau climate types (East African Plateau), plain climate types (East African Coastal Plain), rainy climate (Great Lakes region), dry climate (South Africa), two-rainy-season climate, single-rainy-season climate, long-rainy-season climate, and short-rainy-season climate.

Therefore, although East Africa was mainly tropical savanna climate, the detailed breakdown from the temperature and precipitation levels created vast differences in East Africa’s savanna regions, providing a richer space for the development of different crops.

At this Vienna World’s Fair, the Hechingen Consortium’s main East African specialties included sisal, cloves, Somali bananas, mosquito coils (pyrethrum), asparagus fern (a type of fruit), East African gum (gum arabic), tea, coffee, East African rubber, and other two hundred and thirty-seven kinds of large-scale cultivated tropical cash crops.

There were also horn specimens of East African Ankole-Watusi cattle, lion skins, ivory, crocodile leather goods, and other forty kinds of animal specialties. African teak, African mahogany, African red walnut, and other seventeen kinds of high-quality wood carving samples.

Some interesting scenes also occurred at the expo:

“Why does your so-called East African rubber look exactly like our Brazilian exhibits?”

“Don’t make slanderous accusations. This is a rubber tree species that our company discovered in the East African kingdom. It is a native, high-quality rubber tree species discovered after delving deep into the African interior.”

Under the suspicious gaze of the Brazilian exhibitors, the Hechingen company employee said righteously: “Africa is an unexplored continent. It’s not surprising to discover anything.”

Others didn’t care whether East Africa’s rubber tree species were stolen or not. They directly asked for prices, buying from whoever was cheaper. Although East Africa’s rubber planting started late, its planting volume was larger than Brazil’s, so it was very competitive.

In the banana exhibition area.

For the sake of malicious competition, the Hechingen Consortium specifically put American bananas alongside East African bananas for comparison. Everyone could taste the difference between the two bananas, and the origins of the two bananas were clearly labeled.

“Thin skin, thick flesh, big and sweet, leading the industry.”

“Irrigated by the high-quality Shebelle River water originating from the Ethiopian Plateau, nurtured by twelve hours of sunshine, carefully cared for by farmers, one-on-one tutoring for each person and each tree, better quality, sweeter taste, richer aroma.”

Faced with the malicious competition from East African Somali bananas, the Caribbean region, especially the American Boston Fruit Company, was very unconvinced.

“You must have selected the worst products from the Caribbean region to compare with your best bananas. We don’t accept this!”

“Whether you accept it or not, the facts speak for themselves. Only after everyone tastes them can they feel which banana is the king of bananas!”

“Then we can’t use the samples you provide for comparison. Use the bananas we brought from the place of origin. We are fully confident of winning.”

So, with the support of a crowd of onlookers, a banana competition was launched on the spot.

“On the left are Somali bananas from East Africa, and on the right are bananas from the Caribbean region. What do the two bananas taste like? It still depends on everyone’s vote. Everyone can participate.”

So a tasting event began. Hechingen employees also thoughtfully prepared drinking water for everyone to rinse their mouths to prevent flavor mixing.

“Well, overall, both bananas taste good, but I personally think Somali bananas are sweeter.”

“Regardless of the sweetness, just looking at the color and freshness, I think Somali bananas look better.”

Finally, there was a comment from a heavyweight figure. Carol I, who came from Romania to participate in the conference, said after carefully tasting the two bananas: “Without being biased, Somali bananas are the clear winner.”

Indeed, without being biased. Many kings came to this World’s Fair, such as William I, Alexander II, Francesco II of the Kingdom of Naples, etc. Carol I really just happened to be there to see the excitement and then participated in the event. Although they were relatives, Ernst would not have specifically asked Carol I to be a shill to promote bananas.

So at this World’s Fair, Somali bananas were named “World’s Sweetest Banana.” Out of jealousy for the development of the United States over the years, British newspapers sourly slandered: “American banana products, like American industrial products, are developed by plagiarism and shoddy goods…” fully demonstrating the old father’s concern for his rebellious son.

Chapter 437: Cholera and Shady Dealings

Cutthroat competition is inevitable, and it’s a very common occurrence during economic crises, not even worth mentioning. Some countries, when faced with economic downturns, have long prepared for war. Ernst won’t name names.

Since 1870, East Africa had already begun to shift its focus away from food crops and vigorously support the development of cash crops. Essentially, East Africa’s food crops were already sufficient to support national development, and the continuous decline in grain prices indeed offered little profit. Food production security is particularly important to a country, which is why East Africa had always strongly supported food production while reducing support for cash crops.

Besides the monarchs of various countries showing their support at this exposition, many European countries also participated. For example, the King of Persia, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, traveled a long distance to meet, using the “Vienna World’s Fair” as an excuse, but his real purpose was to see Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi). This quickly became a laughing matter among the monarchs.

The World’s Fair is a good opportunity to show one’s face, but Ernst had no interest in participating, mainly because of the sudden outbreak of cholera in Vienna.

The transmission routes of cholera are mainly through water sources and bacteria. Ernst naturally knows this very well, but he doesn’t need to shout it to the world. He doesn’t understand these things himself, and no one would believe him if he said it. It’s enough to promote it within the company and in East Africa itself.

Facts proved that this cholera outbreak was not an isolated case. India, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the United States, and Europe were all severely affected. For example, Maxim Gorky’s father died of cholera this year.

On the contrary, East Africa seemed out of place in this global cholera epidemic, after all, East Africa is currently the most hygiene-conscious country in the world.

In addition to this reason, East Africa’s closed-off nature also hindered the spread of foreign diseases in East Africa. As a country of immigrants, East Africa has maintained measures for disinfecting and isolating foreign immigrants in port areas for many years, and foreign epidemics at most affect the coastal areas of East Africa.

The 19th century is often called the “Cholera Century,” and cholera became the “world disease of the 19th century,” so according to later generations’ perspective, there was no habitable place in the world in the 19th century.

East Africa did not experience cholera outbreaks because of drinking boiled water and paying attention to hygiene, but East Africa has many other diseases. Over the years, “malaria,” this old friend, has accompanied East Africa for the longest and most frequent time.

Eliminating malaria requires the efforts of generations. Currently, East Africa has become accustomed to coexisting with “malaria,” but although malaria is the main epidemic disease in East Africa, the actual outbreak rate is far lower than other countries at the same latitude, and is at the same level as temperate countries, lower than subtropical and tropical regions.

Just like the Soviet Union used national power to combat the cold in Siberia, East Africa also used national power to make great efforts in the field of hygiene.

Mosquitoes and flies are called “the most useless things” in the Kingdom of East Africa, and the power of the Ministry of Health extends from the central government to the grassroots level, becoming one of the most important departments in East Africa.

The current East African health undertakings can be said to be completely different from those in Africa in the previous life. In the 21st century, Africa is the region with the most severe cholera in the world, but now, during this period when cholera is most severe in the world, East Africa is the lowest.

One country (region) is an exception, that is India, which has not escaped almost every global cholera pandemic, and all have been severely affected. This remains the case in the 21st century, and can be considered one of India’s stubborn ailments.

The support of numerous monarchs, the cholera epidemic, and the economic crisis have all cast a shadow over this Vienna World’s Fair, but still can’t stop people’s enthusiasm for this grand event.

In fact, the biggest negative impact on this Vienna World’s Fair was the random price increases by Vienna’s hotel and restaurant owners. No matter how high the enthusiasm, it can’t withstand the rapid draining of wallets. Some people who came to Vienna to participate in the exhibition with great interest, after enjoying the “preferential treatment” of Vienna’s unscrupulous merchants, fled Vienna one after another.

“At this exposition, East Africa won a total of four hundred and forty-one awards, just one more than the United States, ranking eleventh in the world. The United States and Turkey are tied for twelfth. However, the official personnel sent by the Far East government, that Englishman Bowra, protested to us, saying that we stole their awards.”

“Hmm, why?” Ernst asked.

“Your Highness, some of our East African exhibits originated in the Far East, so there are many similarities, which is why the dispute arose.”

“So that’s the matter! Ignore him!” Ernst said.

It is easy to understand why there are exhibits in the East African exhibition area that overlap with the Far East, because some of East Africa’s products do originate in the Far East, such as tea and handicrafts. So many Far Eastern immigrants have moved to East Africa, and some skills have also been passed on to East Africa.

Let Bowra protest if he wants to. Ernst is sure that no one will pay attention to him, because many of the judges at this World’s Fair are “our own people.”

If the exhibits of East Africa and the Far East are the same, then the judges will definitely award the prize to East Africa. In fact, the victims are not only the Far East, Japan and Korea are also victims. Ernst has scoured a lot of good things from the two countries.

If some of the crafts and products of the Far East were unintentionally brought to East Africa by immigrants and developed, then Japan and Korea were directly copied and pasted by the East African government through active planning.

As for why only Bowra protested to East Africa, it is because he, as an Englishman, naturally looks down on East Africa’s behavior.

In fact, the Japanese personnel participating in the conference were almost grinding their back teeth, but out of fear of the West, they dared not express it, focusing on forbearance.

“Mr. Koizumi! Look at this exhibit, it is clearly our Great Japanese Yosegi Zaiku (marquetry), now it’s changed to a name, something like Zimbabwean wood art, and it appears here in a grand manner, and they even say it is a technique mastered by Zimbabwean indigenous tribes. This is clearly shameless plagiarism, and the most hateful thing is that their exhibits have won awards, but our Yosegi Zaiku has not gained anything.”

“Mr. Kure, maybe it’s really just a coincidence, after all, the world is so big, some things are just so incredible.”

“Mr. Koizumi, don’t deceive yourself. Is Yosegi Zaiku a coincidence? Then is the folding fan also a coincidence? The style of this East African folding fan is obviously Japanese style, they even bothered to modify the paintings on it! And if I am not mistaken, the material is our unique Japanese texture, they may have even bought the fans directly from Japan, and then changed the name to participate in the exhibition.”

This is a misunderstanding of East Africa. How could they not change some things? East Africa would not bring exhibits that have no value for mass production to participate in the exhibition. East Africa will only bring exhibits that have a market to participate in the exhibition.

Is there any shady dealings in this World’s Fair? The answer is yes, and the shady dealings are very big. More than ninety percent of East African exhibits have won awards, even surpassing the United States. This kind of thing is impossible without shady dealings.

As for why Austria is so biased towards East Africa, it is because Ernst is now a distinguished guest of the Austrian government. Solving the problem of steel surplus alone has greatly relieved the pressure on the Austrian government.

For this reason, the Austrian government and the Habsburg family have awarded Constantine and Ernst many medals and honors, and the Hechingen company has received many similar titles.

Therefore, it is understandable that the judges at the World’s Fair are biased towards East Africa. In fact, the Hechingen Consortium has won more than seven hundred awards at the World’s Fair. This part is not counted under the Kingdom of East Africa, but is counted as the exhibits of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Austria ranks first with more than six thousand awards, and Prussia also ranks second with more than five thousand five hundred awards (historically, Austria 5991, Prussia 5066).

Austria being able to be number one explains a lot, so it is understandable that the Kingdom of East Africa can get a piece of the pie.

Chapter 438: Countdown

“Hmm, why do I feel like you look no different in this outfit than you usually do? Nothing stands out!” Archduke Ferdinand said, scrutinizing Ernst.

Because Constantine was stationed in East Africa, Archduke Ferdinand was mainly in charge of handling the wedding arrangements.

“Looking no different than usual is one of the biggest highlights. Doesn’t that perfectly illustrate that my everyday fashion sense is up to par?” Ernst said, standing in front of the mirror.

Ernst usually wore a suit every day and almost never wore other clothes, so putting on a formal suit didn’t make him look much different.

It wasn’t that Ernst particularly liked suits, but rather that the clothes of this era were not as comfortable as those of his previous life. Suits were the most fitting. Of course, military uniforms were also comfortable to wear, but Ernst wasn’t commanding troops, so there was no need for him to wear them. He had only worn them for a period of time when he commanded operations in South Africa.

Wearing his groom’s attire, Ernst’s looks were still acceptable, which was enough. After all, appearance was never the primary consideration in a marriage alliance. In terms of politics, economy, status, and strength, Ernst was an excellent choice for the Habsburg family.

If it were Franz’s daughter getting married, the Habsburg family would definitely be very picky, but Archduke Ferdinand’s daughter naturally wasn’t given as much importance.

Therefore, the international community’s reaction to this marriage was actually quite ordinary. In Austria, however, the publicity was quite thorough because 1873 had been filled with a series of unfortunate events and bad news, keeping the Habsburg family and the Austrian government extremely busy.

Now, Princess Karolina’s wedding was a rare happy occasion, a good way to end the tragic year of 1873.

To organize this wedding, Ernst was willing to spend money. This was Ernst’s first marriage in two lifetimes, so he was indulging in extravagance for once.

To prepare for the wedding, Vienna, which had just finished hosting the World Exposition, continued to maintain its police force to ensure the security of the capital. The streets remained clean and tidy.

Colored lights from the Hechingen Electric Company were arranged on the streets of Vienna, ready to dazzle the citizens of Vienna at night.

The armed forces of East Africa had also completed their training in the military camps near Vienna. This was one of the biggest highlights of the wedding, fully demonstrating the national power of the Kingdom of East Africa.

In Europe, although it didn’t outwardly resemble the multi-nation state of his previous life (mainly Austria-Hungary, Yugoslavia, and the collapse of the Soviet Union), the actual number of countries was even greater.

For example, the German Empire was full of states, and although they had lost their sovereignty, the names of the states were still retained. The same was true within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Three kingdoms, seven duchies, one principality, and one region and one province each. It was just that Franz held many positions concurrently, so the Habsburg family was the bond that maintained the empire.

Of course, the fact that these states had their current status within the Austro-Hungarian Empire was inseparable from the efforts of their ancestors. They had all been loyal supporters of the Habsburg family in the past, such as Hungary. They only opposed Austria, but not the Habsburg family.

Of course, the current Habsburg family was different from the previous Habsburg family. The current Habsburg family should more accurately be called the Habsburg-Lorraine family.

On October 20, 1740, the original Habsburg family line became extinct. At that time, the eldest princess of the Habsburg family, Maria Theresa, inherited the titles of Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia and Hungary. Her husband, Duke Francis of Lorraine, failed to be elected Holy Roman Emperor, meaning that the paternal line of the current Habsburg family was the Lorraine family.

The Lorraine family’s contribution to the Habsburg family may have been to improve the Habsburg family’s genes, so the Austro-Hungarian royal family members all looked fairly decent.

More than a dozen German royal family members and princes had explicitly stated that they would attend Ernst’s wedding. In addition to countries outside the territory, countries like Sweden, Romania, Russia, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium would all send representatives. There were even more people from Austria, where the wedding was being held. However, apart from Franz, no major country’s monarch personally attended. Many crown princes from various countries came, such as Crown Prince Frederick from Prussia and Crown Prince Alexander III from Tsarist Russia.

A noble wedding was an important social platform and a not-so-important political communication platform. The crown princes of the three countries, who had already secretly formed an alliance, gathered together to exchange pleasantries. Rudolf was the youngest of the three.

Frankly speaking, only Frederick’s abilities were definitely not a problem. As an important participant in imperial politics, he had assisted Wilhelm I for many years and had deep roots in the Prussian bureaucracy and army.

Alexander III was much worse. He was not originally in line to be crown prince, but his elder brother Nicholas fell off his horse and died of a serious illness in 1865, so Alexander III became the first in line to the throne.

As for the youngest Rudolf, he was in an even more miserable situation. Only Ernst knew that Rudolf’s position as crown prince was still a long way off.

Although young, Rudolf was not at all inferior to the other two imperial crown princes. They engaged in heated discussions on the issue of the world situation.

“Currently, the most powerful countries in the world are Great Britain and France. The international order they have established is still in effect. Although our three countries are not weak, our geographical locations are in a very awkward state,” Alexander III said eloquently.

“In the end, it’s a matter of geopolitics. The European continent is too narrow, and we happen to be located in the heart of Europe. The room for maneuver here is far less broad than the entire world, but the oceans have already been controlled by Great Britain and France. In this respect, even the Americans have more advantages than us, but the Americans are currently being suppressed by Great Britain and dare not act rashly. But once someone unties the Americans, then the United States will become the enemy of the entire Europe!” Rudolf immediately pinned a label on the United States, and no one knew who had influenced him.

At this time, the seasoned veteran Frederick finally spoke: “Hahaha, today is Ernst’s wedding day, so let’s not discuss these topics. Changes in the international order have both their own laws and unexpected events. These issues are still far away from us.”

“Furthermore, the relationship between our three countries should not be affected by foreign public opinion. We only have a chance if we point our guns outward, so unity is very important. None of us can dominate Europe alone, because Great Britain, France, and other countries do not want to see any imbalance of power among our three countries.”

Although he said so, Frederick was actually the only one of the three who was deeply involved in international affairs. He was very clear that the current size of the German, Austrian, and Russian Empires was already the limit that Great Britain and France could tolerate. Anyone who wanted to go further would have to solve the problem with their fists.

Frederick concluded: “In a harsh external environment, there is no point in competition between us, so we must put aside our differences and stick together for warmth.”

Frederick also hoped that there would be less conflict between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Tsarist Russia. Although the Balkans were important, it was even more important to be wary of a fight between the snipe and the clam, benefiting the fisherman. Although Alexander III and Rudolf were only crown princes of their respective countries now, Frederick hoped that they would remember what he said today when they became emperors in the future.

Chapter 439: A Diamond in the Rough Gets Married

When the wedding day arrived, Prince Karl from Sigmaringen took over the duties of Archduke Ferdinand, who had to return to his daughter, Karina.

November 3rd, 1873.

The wedding was scheduled for ten in the morning, and the location was the St. Augustine’s Church, a place where members of the Habsburg family were baptized and married. Historically, Empress Maria Theresa was married there.

Because the Hechingen royal family had relocated to East Africa, the wedding couldn’t completely follow European customs. After all, the Hechingen royal family couldn’t really invite so many dignitaries to East Africa. It wasn’t that they lacked the capacity to host them, but the mere mention of “Africa” was enough to scare away a crowd.

Ernst found the wedding carriage somewhat amusing. It looked like the pumpkin carriage from the illustrations of Grimm’s fairy tales he had seen in his previous life. Although Ernst knew this was normal in the West, his aesthetic sense naturally retained the style of his previous life.

“Karina!” Ernst gallantly invited Karina into the wedding carriage, and then the carriage slowly moved forward.

Although still quite young, Karina had a mind of her own and was generally satisfied with Ernst. This was in line with the reality that political marriages weren’t about love. If you were familiar with your marriage partner, that was a bonus. Besides, Ernst wasn’t an ugly duckling; his appearance was unremarkable, without any flaws.

The honor guard was composed jointly of East African and Austrian soldiers. Restricted by tradition, the East African soldiers were dressed in particularly gaudy attire, with bright red uniforms that completely failed to highlight the demeanor of East African soldiers.

However, they would have a separate opportunity to perform in the afternoon, when they would all change into East African military dress uniforms to give the citizens of Vienna a “Fuhrer”-esque shock. You could say the “Fuhrer” was no good at this or that, but his aesthetic sense for the military definitely conformed to the public’s stereotypical image of serious soldiers.

The wedding carriage passed through the city, with crowds surging on both sides, cheering and celebrating. This wedding had indeed stirred up the enthusiasm of the citizens.

Subsequently, the carriage arrived at St. Augustine’s Church. As the guests arrived, accompanied by classical and elegant music, the wedding officially began. The newlyweds began to complete the complex ceremony under the gaze of everyone. Despite multiple rehearsals, Ernst was still a little nervous, so much so that he seemed a bit dull-witted as he was manipulated by the Catholic bishop.

In theory, Ernst was also a Catholic, but that was just in theory. In reality, Ernst was an atheist.

But today was his wedding, so he would give “God Almighty” some face. Ernst followed the Austrian aristocratic wedding procedure and performed a whole set of prayer gestures (crossing himself).

Then Princess Charlotte placed her daughter’s hand in Ernst’s. The 23-year-old Ernst and the 16-year-old Karina looked quite well-matched together, at least there wasn’t too much difference in appearance.

Not only Ernst was nervous, Karina was too. The two of them stumbled a bit as they said their wedding vows: “I sincerely beg God not to let me leave you, or to let me follow behind you, because wherever you go, I will go. Because of your stay, I stay. The people you love will become the people I love, and your Lord will become my Lord. Where you die, I will be buried with you there. Perhaps the Lord requires me to do more, but no matter what happens, you will be by my side…”

“Now, Prince Ernst, please place the ring on Princess Karina’s hand,” the cardinal said.

As someone who had terrible luck, Ernst had no shortage of low-grade gems like diamonds. When Ernst took out the “blue diamond ring,” the eyes of all the women in the audience were focused on it. It was that vulgar; the highlight of aristocratic weddings was nothing more than comparison, a competition of wealth and power.

As early as the fifteenth century, Archduke Maximilian of Austria made an unwavering declaration of love to Mary with a diamond wedding ring. This was the advice given to him by his confidants at the time, and Maximilian took it, which is why this ritual exists. It is said to have been passed down for hundreds of years.

Ernst’s diamond ring was entirely carved from a single natural diamond. The ring face maintained its basic shape and was simply trimmed and rounded, so it looked natural, weighing a total of 21 carats and shining with a dazzling blue light under the lights.

This blue diamond was discovered in a diamond mine southeast of the Great Lakes region. The designer of the diamond ring called it the “Blue Heart.”

Princess Charlotte said to her husband, Archduke Ferdinand: “Dear, when we return to East Africa, ask Ernst if he has any more of these blue diamonds. They look so beautiful, especially that dazzling blue halo. I want one too!”

Archduke Ferdinand: “…”

…

In the afternoon, after the banquet, Ernst, the straight-laced man of steel, was finally able to start the military parade he had been longing for. He excitedly said to Karina, “Karina, believe me, the East African army will definitely give people a different viewing experience.”

Karina: “…”

“Brother Ernst! It seems you really like the army?” Karina suspected that her husband was a war maniac.

“No, Karina, I just think it’s cool.”

“…”

Of course Ernst liked the army, but this was something that had been destined since Ernst was a child in his previous life. He had almost no resistance to disciplined troops. It was a hobby, just like a businessman likes money, unable to extricate himself.

Soon, after the float parade, the East African honor guard appeared.

The East African military dress uniform was mainly black, supplemented by gold and red as decorations. If it was pure black, it would not look refreshing enough (refer to the Soviet and German armies).

Three thousand people were divided into ten formations, the first three of which were cavalry. The horses were rented from the Austrian army.

“Da… da… da!” The cavalry horses stepped with light and brisk steps, quickly passing through the somewhat narrow streets of Vienna. The infantry formation followed closely behind, their military boots falling on the ground rhythmically, making rhythmic sounds.

As soon as the East African military formation appeared, it attracted everyone’s attention, not only the citizens of Vienna, but also the nobles from various European countries. Among them, Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia was particularly interested in the East African army.

“The attire looks completely different from the armies of European countries. I saw the attire of the Hechingen Military Academy during the Franco-Prussian War. It was indeed somewhat different from Prussia, but the East African army is obviously different from the clothing of the Hechingen Military Academy.”

Everyone in Prussia knew that the Hechingen royal family had established a military academy in Hechingen to train military talent for the colonization of Africa, so Frederick thought that the clothing of the East African army would be somewhat similar to that of the Hechingen Military Academy!

Alexander III said, “But this design is indeed eye-catching. Look at their military uniforms, they also have an obvious waist-cinching design, which can make the soldiers look more upright.”

As for Rudolf, he didn’t speak, but seeing the East African army being so cool, he felt a sense of honor.

Unlike the young people, Franz said to Carol I, “Novelty for the sake of novelty. This kind of clothing must be uncomfortable to wear, and the colors are not bright enough.”

“This design is very distinctive, but I am more interested in their military steps. It’s like they were measured with a ruler, so neat and uniform, and that rebellious head-up movement, is that an African characteristic?” Carol I said with a smile on the side.

From the perspective of the citizens of Vienna, they felt some pressure from the army in front of them. First of all, black inherently gives people this impression. Secondly, the heavy sounds made by the East African army with each step on the cobblestone street gave people a sense of impact. The cheering crowd from before became silent because of the appearance of the East African army, and the atmosphere was somewhat depressing.

But the surprise was yet to come. As the formation passed in front of the stands where Ernst and Karina were.

The East African soldiers, carrying Dreyse rifles on their shoulders, made a rifle-shaking movement, and the bright bayonets were held in front of their chests.

“One two three four!”

“Long live the Crown Prince and Princess!”

“Bayonet drill! This feels right!” Ernst said to Karina with a smile.

Karina: “…” Right now, she just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Chapter 440: So Beautiful, Vienna!

This military parade did have some effect overall. Ernst underestimated the conservatism of people in this era. In the eyes of the older generation, the East African Army’s dress uniform was too much of a break from tradition.

Actually, the military uniforms of this era weren’t bad-looking, even quite gorgeous. However, this gorgeousness was generally only highlighted by officers. The quality of the uniforms for ordinary soldiers was somewhat uneven. The East African Army was relatively uniform overall, and in terms of appearance, it didn’t really break through much. It even seemed a bit less majestic because it got rid of the tall top hat that was characteristic of European military uniforms.

In other words, European military uniforms still retained the characteristics of the cold weapon era, while the East African Army was transitioning towards the Second World War era of his previous life, paying more attention to practicality. If compared individually, East Africa was a little lacking in artistry, but this set of dress uniforms for East Africa was very suitable for team appearances, focusing on a solemn and imposing sense of oppression.

After a moment of silence, enthusiastic applause rang out on both sides of the streets of Vienna. The East African Army wasn’t the Austrian army, so naturally it wouldn’t receive cheers, but the strict discipline displayed by the East African Army won the praise of the vast majority of Vienna’s citizens.

“The Kingdom of East Africa has Prussian-like warmongering genes flowing in its bones. I guess this is a tradition of the Hohenzollern family!” one citizen commented.

It wouldn’t be accurate to say that East Africa is as warlike as Prussia, because there are yellow faces in the East African Army, so they aren’t even Germans. Therefore, the influence of the Hechingen royal family must be added. Since the Hechingen royal family is also named Hohenzollern, then the East African army must also be influenced by the Hohenzollerns.

“Uh, how do you know the Kingdom of East Africa is warlike? Just based on a performance-like military parade!”

“It’s easy to infer. You can see it from some details. Look at the eyes of the East African soldiers. I’ve seen that kind of look before. Only soldiers who have seen blood can naturally show it. You don’t need to refute me. I also participated in the Kingdom’s army back then, and I was fortunate enough to experience a few wars, so I have a very keen sense for soldiers.”

As the Kingdom’s elite, the soldiers of the East African Guards were selected from various units, so it’s not surprising that they had experienced war. Although the natives didn’t have an advantage in weapons, they could still give the East African army a lesson.

“Secondly, look at their rifles. It’s obvious they’re not new. Although they’re well-maintained, even refurbished, you can tell at a glance that they’ve been through many wars.”

This is very normal. East Africa’s Dreyse rifle production line has been dismantled and sent to the Far East, so only a small part has been retained to maintain operations. Therefore, the soldiers participating in the parade are still using old guns. After returning to East Africa, they should be equipped with the 1873 Mauser rifle. In addition, the high-intensity training of the Guards, even without participating in wars, will cause great damage to the guns.

Here, it must be emphasized that the East African Kingdom’s army has a complete and not small-scale military industry system that conforms to the trends of the times. First of all, because the weapons of this era are not as outrageous as those of his previous life, the technical difficulty is low, and there are few types of weapons, so East Africa also has the ability and technology to engage in military manufacturing.

Secondly, although Ernst has always claimed that East Africa is backward and the education level of its residents is low, in reality, the education level of East African residents is among the highest in the world, with a literacy rate of over twenty percent, and a so-called semi-literate population accounting for over forty percent. That is to say, according to the standards of the era, the proportion of truly illiterate people in East Africa does not exceed forty percent, so East Africa does not lack basic worker reserves, which has also created conditions for East Africa to establish its own military industry system.

The reason for this situation is mainly due to the benefits of compulsory education in the German region. The proportion of East African residents who actually come from the German region (the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire is considered the German region) is about forty-five percent, of which South Germans and Austrians account for the majority, and a small part are Hungarians and Slavs.

In 1870, the illiteracy rate in Germany was only two percent, so there were basically no illiterate South Germans who immigrated to East Africa. The level of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was much worse (still as high as twenty-two percent during the First World War), but the level of compulsory education in Austria was still very high.

As for semi-literacy, it was the result of East Africa’s compulsory promotion of German. To unify the language, it was necessary to give non-German immigrants lessons, and lessons inevitably involved teaching vocabulary and grammar, so many immigrants, even if they couldn’t write completely, could understand some German articles.

Of course, literacy rate does not mean a high level of culture. East Africa currently focuses on promoting the language. Subjects like mathematics, physics, and chemistry are still far behind.

Moreover, learning is like rowing upstream; if you don’t advance, you retreat. Even German residents who have received complete compulsory education, if they don’t go to factories to tighten screws or construction sites to move bricks, then the current agricultural application scenarios are not enough to support their digestion of knowledge. Looking at traditional experience is enough.

So many Germans enter society, and within a few months, they may forget the little elementary school education they had. In addition, compulsory education is also uneven. The economic development levels of various regions in Germany are different, and some places lack excellent teachers, so the teaching quality is worrying.

At the same time, East Africa also equates the various Slavic ethnic groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire who immigrated to East Africa with Germans, which also causes East Africa’s literacy rate not to be linked to the German population, but rather to be lower than the German population level.

Finally, and most importantly, East Africa is truly vast and rich in resources, which provides basic conditions for the development of East Africa’s military industry.

The current core area of East Africa (cultivated land), which is the former East African Federation area, has an area of more than one million two hundred thousand square kilometers, which is almost the sum of the areas of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In terms of resources, Germany and Austria have an outrageous amount of iron ore and coal, which is the foundation for the two countries to become world powers. Steel and energy symbolize national power.

The coal in East Africa, combined with Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Botswana, can barely surpass the two countries. The coal reserves in other regions can only be compared with the Austro-Hungarian Empire alone, but if it can be compared with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, East Africa will win.

This also means that relying solely on the resources of eastern East Africa, East Africa can reach the industrial level of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so East Africa is not stingy in the development of resources needed for military industry.

In the future, more intense competition will be needed, and it can be done by relying on South Africa, one of the world’s top five mineral countries in his previous life.

And if East Africa wants to control and develop the coal and iron resources in the south, it must wait until the Central Railway is completed. After the Central Railway is completed, the strength of the Kingdom of East Africa will reach a new level.

After the military parade, there was nothing much to see, at least Ernst wasn’t interested, but Carina hadn’t had enough.

“Brother Ernst, I heard there’s a light show tonight. Can you tell me how good it is? Is it as amazing as the advertisements say?”

“Well, it should be pretty dazzling!” Ernst said somewhat perfunctorily.

Ernst really didn’t know what to say about the light show. It was his arrangement, but mainly for advertising. With this light show as a demonstration, if other cities hold any celebrations and activities, it won’t have any face if they don’t do something similar. In this way, Hechingen Electric Company can reap a large number of orders, just like the “City That Never Sleeps” he did last time.

As for how dazzling the light show is, Ernst certainly can’t feel it, because it’s far worse compared to his previous life, so time-travel has also reduced a lot of fun for Ernst.

Evening, eight o’clock.

The sky has completely darkened.

As Vienna Hechingen Electric Company started the power, the colorful lights and light boxes on the streets and alleys lit up together, and the entire Vienna instantly became brightly lit, colorful and dazzling.

“So beautiful, Vienna!”

Chapter 441: Returning Home

Ernst and his party were not staying in Vienna for long. They had to return to East Africa for their next engagement. This trip to Europe could be considered a complete success.

During this European trip, Ernst gained a lot. The Hechingen Consortium merged with two hundred and forty German companies, including several banks and large enterprises. At the same time, East Africa planned to introduce forty-three large factories of various types, mainly focusing on steel, coal, copper smelting and processing, non-ferrous metal smelting, and shipbuilding.

They also purchased a large amount of equipment to technically upgrade East Africa’s existing enterprises and factories, improving productivity levels. In addition, East Africa and Germany and Austria finalized nearly one million tons of steel orders to ensure the construction of East African railways. East Africa’s orders almost single-handedly saved the steel industries of Germany and Austria.

In reality, for Germany and Austria, at least for Southern Germany and Austria, the economic crisis was not as severe as it had been in his previous life. Both regions were the most industrially developed in various countries, mainly facing the problem of surplus agricultural population.

And to solve the problem of surplus agricultural population, East Africa was naturally taking action on the side, so this problem no longer existed. The unemployment rate in both regions had been maintained at a low level. Although the economic crisis led to overcapacity, it did not have much impact on ordinary people because of the outflow of population. Anyway, if you lost your job, you could go to East Africa! There was always a way out.

The steel consumption for the East African railway project was more than eight million tons, of which nearly two million tons would be provided by Europe. East Africa could then produce and purchase the rest itself.

Taking advantage of this economic crisis, Ernst planned to increase East Africa’s annual steel production to at least six hundred thousand tons next year, mainly by increasing the development of the Lake Malawi industrial zone.

The Lake Malawi industrial zone is currently the only large-scale coal and iron production area in East Africa with the capacity for large-scale development. Zimbabwe must wait until the railway construction is completed, so it will take at least a few more years.

Port of Trieste.

“Our own East African ironclad!” Archduke Ferdinand said to his family with some pride. When they came, they were still on sailing warships, but now they were going back with a significant upgrade.

The eyes of the Austro-Hungarian Navy next to him were filled with helplessness and envy.

“Alas, a dignified world power, we are now probably not even as good as Africa. In the future, the East African Navy may surpass us.”

“Isn’t it just an ironclad? Although this ironclad is indeed more powerful than our Lissa, it was also made by Austria, the essence of Austrian shipbuilding.”

“Let’s hope so! If the Imperial Council does not increase military spending, the future of the Imperial Navy can only be described as bleak.”

The Austro-Hungarian Navy’s statement was actually an exaggeration, mainly a complaint about the empire’s lack of attention to the navy. The East African Navy still had a long way to go!

“Alright, father-in-law, let’s set off quickly!” Ernst urged from the side.

As the East African flag was raised on the Ferdinand, the ownership of this ironclad was publicly displayed for the first time.

However, Ferdinand was still somewhat unsatisfied: “It would be even more perfect if we could have a few more!”

The Ferdinand was considered a behemoth in the Mediterranean, so the East African fleet, led by the Ferdinand ironclad, was indeed a bit eye-catching on the way back, attracting the attention of the British when passing through the Suez Canal.

“Is that the ship that Austria built the year before last?”

“It seems we guessed wrong from the beginning. This ironclad was not prepared for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. It was originally intended to be sold to the East Africans.”

Because of their stationing on the Suez Canal, the British army here was quite familiar with the Kingdom of East Africa. Besides British and Austro-Hungarian ships, the most ships passing through the Suez Canal were East African ships.

“This ironclad is top-notch in other countries, but that’s about it.” The British Empire was still full of confidence.

“However, it is somewhat illogical for a colony like the Kingdom of East Africa to buy such a large ship.”

“Heh heh, the commander-in-chief of the East African Navy is Archduke Ferdinand, who was once the Emperor of Mexico. The Kingdom of East Africa also has the support of the Hechingen Bank, so you can’t simply consider it a colony when looking at the problem, but look at the financial resources. India can also afford such warships, but under the protection of the Royal Navy, they don’t need to do so.”

“Speaking of Hechingen, I really want to know how much money the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company can make every year. They run back and forth in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean all year round, mostly transporting agricultural products and minerals. Is it really that profitable to grow crops in Africa?”

“Making money is definitely making money, but the risks of growing crops are also very high. Ordinary people are not qualified to play this high-end game. The initial investment is deadly. If you can’t make a profit in the short term, capital will not be interested, after all, there are too many businesses that make money quickly.”

“Heh heh, are you talking about stocks! The stocks I bought last year all plummeted. Fortunately, I didn’t invest too much…”

While the British were talking, the East African fleet had already floated past, heading towards the Red Sea.

Ernst was introducing the situation in East Africa to Carina, mainly to dispel rumors.

“Carina, East Africa is not as barren as rumored, at least the area where we live is not much different from Europe.”

“Does East Africa really have cannibalistic tribes?”

“This… I can only say that they did exist before, but they no longer do.”

The existence of cannibalistic tribes is not a rumor. Such primitive tribal societies in Africa cannot be judged by the moral standards of the current era.

“Have you ever seen cannibals?”

“Of course not. I haven’t been in East Africa for very long myself. How could I have seen cannibals? I saw all this in the compiled information.”

Ernst had not encountered cannibals, but East African soldiers who had explored inland had encountered them, and there had been many battles.

“Does East Africa have malaria?”

“You even know about malaria!”

“My grandmother told me, she said that Africa is full of plagues. If she had known that the Hechingen royal family was going to move to Africa, she would never have chosen you as her grandson-in-law.”

“That’s pure slander. The environment in East Africa is extremely good. If you don’t believe me, you can ask your parents. They live in East Africa for a long time. I can’t say anything else, but East Africa is definitely not as dangerous as the rumors in Europe.”

Princess Charlotte laughed loudly: “East Africa is indeed not dangerous, but the inland areas are hard to say. The coast is very good.”

Ernst: “Not just the coast. With more people, the living environment can be improved. Take the Far East as an example. There is a place in the Far East called Lingnan, which was used exclusively for exiling criminals in ancient times. The environment there was similar to Africa before, and it was not suitable for living, but with the development of generations of people, it is now one of the densely populated areas in the Far East. Our East Africa has actually achieved a similar effect after nearly ten years of exploration and transformation.”

This was not because East Africa was so capable, but because the environment in East Africa was definitely easier to transform than Lingnan in the past. First of all, East Africa’s terrain is flat and transportation is convenient. Secondly, grasslands are easier to develop than forests. Finally, human productivity has undergone earth-shattering changes due to the industrial revolution, and the ability to transform nature has been greatly enhanced. Finally, there is also Ernst’s wise and divine guidance, many mature experiences and theories have greatly avoided East Africa from taking detours.

Chapter 442: The East African Threat

East Africa’s geographical location often gives people a feeling of being overlooked. This is the inertia of thought caused by empiricism. Under this mindset, no one takes Africa seriously. The most typical example is the United States today.

The United States has a very advantageous geographical location and top-notch conditions in all aspects. However, even though the United States’ development is second only to Great Britain, its position in the world is very mismatched. The political influence of the United States is limited to the Americas. Countries like Mexico and a host of small Caribbean nations basically revolve around the United States.

Because in the general impression, the Americas have never produced a world-influential power. For example, in the Black Ship Incident, the Americans opened Japan’s national door, but the Japanese navy learned from the British, and the army learned from the Prussians, but not from the Americans.

The American army is weak, which is basically the consensus of most people. However, given the size and land area of the United States, theoretically, the American army should be much stronger than the British army. The reason why the American army has not developed is entirely because Mexico and Canada are too pathetic.

If a power as strong as the United States cannot put pressure on the current Europe, then the small East Africa naturally does not have much presence.

However, the fact that Europe cannot feel the development of East Africa does not mean that the countries and colonies around East Africa cannot feel it.

When the Archduke Ferdinand sailed through the waters of Dar es Salaam, it was seen by the Portuguese who were spending time there.

As neighbors, the Mozambique colony is most concerned about the development of the East African Kingdom. They specially sent people to Dar es Salaam to monitor and collect relevant information.

“Is that… an East African warship?”

Looking at the East African flag flying on the Archduke Ferdinand, the Portuguese said in disbelief.

“If it’s really an East African ironclad, then we’re in big trouble! This level of ironclad would be difficult to deal with even if the kingdom’s own navy came!”

After East Africa annexed northern South Africa, Mozambique realized that it was truly surrounded by the East African Kingdom. It borders East Africa on three sides on land, and although the east is the ocean, the East African navy has also begun patrolling (actually, it is the naval ships being transferred to New Hamburg).

Previously, the strength of the East African navy, although not weak in the Indian Ocean region, was considered by the Mozambique colony to be insufficient to threaten itself.

But if a top-notch ironclad like the Archduke Ferdinand joins, then the situation is different.

“This situation must be reported to the governor. If it is really an ironclad purchased by East Africa, then the strength of the East African Kingdom is too terrifying!”

They already felt that they couldn’t win on land. If they also lost their advantage at sea, Mozambique would probably become a piece of meat on the East African Kingdom’s lips.

After Brazil’s independence, the two most important colonies for Portugal were in Africa, one was Mozambique, and the other was Angola. Previously, there were two potential threats around Mozambique, one was Britain, and the other was East Africa. Now, only East Africa remains as a threat.

“In recent years, the Germans have developed too fast. I heard that the Angola colony also borders East Africa, which means that the Atlantic coast is no longer safe for us Portuguese.”

“They have further taken the Transvaal Republic and the Zulu Kingdom. This kind of situation is no different from snatching food from the British lion’s mouth.”

“Moreover, this ironclad, if it is really a warship of the East African Kingdom, shows that East Africa still has the ability to buy other warships from Europe. From visual observation of the displacement of this ironclad, it is estimated to be over five thousand tons, and may even reach seven thousand tons. The cost of this kind of ironclad is not cheap. If East Africa can afford this level of ironclad, then they definitely have the ability to buy some slightly smaller ironclads.”

“There is no need to doubt. In recent years, East Africa has purchased a lot of coastal defense gunboats, indicating that East Africa is gradually building its own maritime power. The Germans’ ambition is not only satisfied with the African continent, but also the western Indian Ocean.”

“East Africa is destroying the balance of the African continent, but those European countries cannot see this. Someone must suppress the development of East Africa, otherwise it will be another United States in the future. Will the Germans then have to engage in an African version of the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ like the Americans?”

The Portuguese are completely talking without any skin in the game. The achievements East Africa has made today are not obtained through charity. Moreover, East Africa’s starting point is far worse than Portugal’s.

Before East Africa, Portugal had already opened up the trade route between Angola and Mozambique. As long as the Portuguese had a bit of ambition, East Africa would not have overtaken them and occupied the interior of Africa.

Speaking of threats, East Africa still feels that Portugal threatens East African security! You have Angola and Mozambique, one in the east and one in the west, sandwiching East Africa in the middle.

If Portugal had valued the development of Mozambique and Angola and strengthened the strength of the two colonies during these years of East African development, then the situation would have been reversed.

But everyone knows what Portugal is like domestically. They are ruthless in taking money from the colonies, but forget about supporting the colonies. They can’t even afford to pay salaries at home!

But the Portuguese don’t think so. Your East African development is a threat to us. It’s not normal for me not to vigorously develop the colonies. Who treats the colonies as their own to develop!

“In recent days, more and more ships have been arriving in East Africa from Europe, carrying mainly steel, indicating that East Africa is undergoing large-scale development and construction. Once East Africa stops construction, it also means that they have completely digested the interior of Africa.”

“What is East Africa doing with so much steel?”

“I guess it’s for railways.”

“Railways? Is that possible?”

“As long as your ears are normal, you can hear the train whistle in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam. That is the unique sound of a train. Although East Africa is very closed, we can still infer from this that the East African Kingdom has railways. I dare say that this is the only country with railways in sub-Saharan Africa.”

“Moreover, the country with the most crazy railway development in Europe in recent years is Germany. The application of railways in the military has been fully verified in the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War. Therefore, it is completely reasonable for the East African Kingdom to value railways. The most important thing is that only railways can consume so much steel.”

“How will the East African railways be built?”

“We can infer from the territory of East Africa. Others don’t know the territory of East Africa, but we can guess a rough idea. The East African Kingdom previously occupied the Transvaal and the Zulu Kingdom. The distance from East Africa to South Africa is at least two thousand kilometers. What kind of transportation do you think can closely connect the two places?”

“Are you paying for it?”

“Yes!”

“Idiot, do you think Africa is the Americas and Europe! You want to connect East Africa and South Africa with it. Don’t you know how expensive this thing is? And build such a long railway for the natives to use? How long will it take to recover the cost! Centuries!”

“In my opinion, it would be impressive enough if East Africa builds some railways in the coastal areas. They still want to connect East Africa and South Africa. Unless the Black Hegen royal family really wants to do charity, the problem is that not many countries can withstand such a test for charity. The problem of money alone is not easy to solve, unless they can persuade families like the Rothschilds to invest, but are they stupid! Unless East Africa has gold.”

In fact, East Africa really has gold, but East Africa’s gold is either not developed, or it is not put into the international market when it is developed. The noses of international capital are as sensitive as dogs. If a large amount of gold flows into the market and is cashed out, the source can be quickly traced.

Therefore, East Africa’s current exports are mainly agricultural products. If you let Europeans pan for gold, they will be more excited than anyone else, and they will swim over at their own expense. If you want them to farm, they will not choose Africa. This is the benefit of Africa’s bad reputation, the experience summarized by countless explorers with blood and tears for hundreds of years.

Chapter 443: Biding Our Time

Ernst and his entourage disembarked at the New Port of Dar es Salaam and then transferred to a train to the First Township. At this time, the First Railway was already quite busy.

As part of the Central Railway, the First Railway was responsible for continuously transporting railway construction materials purchased from overseas to the front lines of railway construction.

In addition, the New Port area of Dar es Salaam has been greatly developed. A series of steel processing plants have been built here, and East Africa’s independently built locomotive factory has also been established in the New Port area.

Towering chimneys rose from the ground one after another in the New Port. A large number of industries provided employment and settled many residents, causing the prosperity of the New Port area to approach the economic open zone of Dar es Salaam. Because the two places are closely connected, some uninformed merchant ships often mistake the New Port for the original Dar es Salaam Port. For this reason, the East African Navy has also begun to increase its efforts to guide the merchant ships to correctly enter the old port.

Although the good development of the New Port can be seen with the naked eye, the specific data cannot really be obtained by them. This can also be regarded as a way for East Africa to hinder the spread of information.

East Africa has passed the stage of developing as if walking on thin ice. Next is to bide our time and make a fortune in silence, a way of thinking Ernst is most familiar with.

“It’s much more prosperous than when I left!” Ferdinand exclaimed from the side.

Ernst said from the side: “This is all thanks to the construction of the Central Railway. There are only three focal points for the construction of the Central Railway: one is the Lake Malawi industrial area, one is the starting point of Dar es Salaam, and the other is the terminal New Hamburg Port. The construction of New Hamburg Port will take time, so we can only develop the New Port of Dar es Salaam first, which has a good foundation.”

The steel needed for railway construction comes from two sources: one is purchased from abroad, and the other is produced by East Africa itself. Currently, the only two places in East Africa that can independently produce steel are the Lake Malawi industrial area and the Northern Industrial Belt. The Northern Industrial Belt is responsible for the construction of the Northern Railway, while the larger Central Railway can only rely on the Lake Malawi industrial area.

The conditions for East Africa to establish the Lake Malawi industrial area were extremely poor, mainly referring to the transportation conditions.

All large equipment relied on manpower and horses, and the road conditions in the Lake Malawi industrial area were not good. It was only in recent years, with the increase in East Africa’s cement production capacity, that the transportation conditions in the Lake Malawi industrial area began to improve.

In fact, the Lake Malawi industrial area is a strategic industrial area. At that time, Ernst considered that in case the East African coast was lost, the Hechingen royal family could still retreat inland to lead the counterattack.

Therefore, although Mbeya is located deep inland, its development is not inferior to the coastal cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. It was cultivated as a secondary capital.

However, with the increase in East Africa’s national strength, this consideration has now ended, but Mbeya’s position as the center of East Africa’s heavy industry has been established, and it will continue to maintain this advantage until the heavy industry in the Zimbabwe area develops.

The current development difficulties in Zimbabwe are similar to the difficulties in the Lake Malawi industrial area, that is, inconvenient transportation, which is even more serious than in the Lake Malawi industrial area. The Lake Malawi industrial area can still rely on the downstream shipping of the Ruvuma River to reduce part of the journey, but Zimbabwe does not have this condition at all. Therefore, without a railway, Zimbabwe’s role cannot be fully utilized.

Karina, who had just arrived in East Africa, said from the side: “It seems that East Africa is developing well. In terms of cities, except for the smaller population, there is not much difference from Austria.”

“It’s not right to compare it this way. Take Vienna, for example. With a population of over five hundred thousand, it can almost be directly compared with some small countries. The economic value of Vienna alone may be higher than the economic value created by the entire East Africa. Therefore, we in East Africa are still far behind Austria,” Ernst explained from the side.

Ernst’s explanation actually separated the value created by the Hechingen Consortium in East Africa from East Africa. With the Hechingen Consortium, East Africa is like having a cheat code. Without the Hechingen Consortium, the Kingdom of East Africa is actually a colony with a large area.

“Just be happy! Such a good place has not been targeted by others, allowing you to take advantage of the loopholes. What do you think would happen if Austria avoided competing with Prussia and chose to develop Africa?” Archduke Ferdinand suddenly had a whim.

“Nothing would happen. If Austria were to develop Africa, I bet it would only develop to the level of the neighboring Portuguese. Colonial development requires courage, and to develop Africa to the level of East Africa today requires cost-intensive investment in the early stage and a willingness to operate at a loss for a long time. Moreover, just having financial investment is not enough. At the same time, it requires strong organizational skills, which Austria lacks.”

“Moreover, Austria is not like me, an individual business. Its every move will attract the attention of European countries. If Austria personally takes action, other countries will not remain indifferent. At least Britain and France will not sit idly by.”

Ernst calls himself an individual business, which is actually an exaggeration, but colonial companies and individuals independently carrying out colonial activities overseas are actually the norm in this era.

For example, many British colonies came about this way. India was developed by the East India Company and then taken over by Britain.

Historically, many German colonies came about this way. The East African colony and the Southwest African colony were both developed by private companies, which then requested protection from the home country and were finally incorporated into the German colonial system.

The biggest difference between Ernst’s development of Africa and those colonial merchants, companies, and teams is that he really treats East Africa as his own family’s property and takes a long-term development route. In this regard, Belgium’s Leopold II is somewhat similar to Ernst.

However, Leopold II’s ultimate goal was to make money from Africa, which is very different from Ernst’s idea of building an independent country. It can only be said that everyone’s pursuits are different.

Of course, this is also related to the different starting points of each person. From Ernst’s perspective, the Principality of Hechingen is just a small town. Even if Germany did not collapse as in history, Ernst would at most be a mayor in Germany. Therefore, instead of struggling in Germany, it is better to venture into Africa. Only Ernst, who has lived and worked in Africa, can understand how good the natural conditions in Africa are. This is something that people in this era cannot see.

For example, if you let other European nobles choose, they would definitely rather be nobles in Europe than chiefs in Africa. Small nobles may think differently, but their economic strength cannot compare with that of large nobles like Ernst.

“Well, no matter what, developing in East Africa is better than when I was emperor in Mexico. Sitting in that position, it seemed glamorous, but in reality, I was just a puppet manipulated by various forces. Even if I wanted to achieve something, I was not understood and was hindered by all parties. East Africa is like a blank sheet of paper, and you can scribble on it as you like. Maybe this is the difference between starting your own business and working for others.” What Archduke Ferdinand said about working for others is actually working for Napoleon III and various forces in Mexico.

“That’s because the Mexicans are blind. In fact, if the Mexicans do not get rid of their dependence on the United States, they will suffer in the future. Now the Americans are still pretending, but that’s because the power of Britain, France, and other countries has not withdrawn from the Americas. Once these forces that balance the United States withdraw, the United States will show its fangs. At that time, the entire Americas will only be playthings of the Americans, and they will not even have the opportunity to play both sides.”

Currently, the reputation of the Americans in the Americas is quite good. How good does the Monroe Doctrine sound? The Americas for the Americans, which really boosts the morale of North and South American countries. You European colonists should get out of here as soon as possible. Once it is really realized, they will never have a chance again.

Of course, Ernst said this to comfort Archduke Ferdinand. Archduke Ferdinand’s ability is actually not bad, but he is too naive and too weak. He really wants to develop Mexico, but the Mexicans only want to fight for power and profit, so the emperor must be overthrown first.

After all, the idea of Mexican politicians is that I can do it too, but the Mexicans have proved with hundreds of years of facts that they really can’t.

Chapter 444: Arriving Home

In First Town, everyone received a warm welcome. This was the second time such a scene had occurred; the last time was when Constantine came to East Africa. Although Ernst had also been to First Town before, he had hurriedly participated in the Southern Front.

This time was different. The Crown Prince’s wedding had to be a grand affair. Ernst and Karina, arriving in First Town for the first time, went through the motions of “getting married again” in First Town.

However, compared to Vienna, East Africa didn’t have as many distinguished guests. After simply accepting the blessings of their subordinates, the family gathered at the Swet Palace.

“Karina, I don’t have anything particularly good to give you. This is a crown I had made in Europe. Consider it a welcoming gift,” Constantine said with a smile, instructing his attendant to present the crown to Karina.

His son was finally married, and the next step was to have a grandson to inherit the great land conquered by the Hohenzollern-Hechingen dynasty. This was especially important to Constantine. Aristocratic education made European nobles pay particular attention to their families, even more than themselves.

Although Constantine and Ernst were both from the Hohenzollern family, Hechingen was a branch parallel to the Prussian royal family and the Sigmaringen royal family under the Hohenzollern family. Therefore, it was in line with Constantine’s idea to carry forward the Hechingen royal line. And what does it mean to carry it forward? Naturally, it means a thriving family, with both power and wealth. Now that they had power and wealth, all that was missing was people.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Karina replied respectfully.

This was a manifestation of the Habsburg family’s, or rather, Empress Sophie’s, education.

“Put it on and see how it looks!” Ernst took the crown and placed it on Karina’s head. With the crown, she looked even more radiant.

Married women in European royal families can wear crowns. Of course, that’s not quite right. These things are directly linked to women, so it’s more appropriate to call them women’s crowns. According to Ernst’s understanding, they’re pretty much the same as hair clips, serving a decorative purpose.

East African crowns are never stingy with the application of gemstones. “Precious” diamonds can only serve as a base, and other gemstones give it vitality.

Princess Charlotte’s eyes were glued to the Crown Princess’s crown. There was no helping it. East Africa had no shortage of various gemstones, so much so that even Kenya, a relatively resource-scarce place, was rich in various gemstones. Fortunately, East Africa implemented a closed planned economy.

Otherwise, East Africans might have run off to dig for “stones.” This was probably the reality of some colonies. How much is the export value of grain? And it doesn’t have scarcity. Therefore, colonizers are more enthusiastic about high-profit industries. Gemstones and other things that are highly profitable and popular in the international market are also the focus of colonial development.

Being ambitious but incompetent and not supporting basic industries ultimately rewards colonizers and compradors with high profits, but the bad consequences fall on the common people at the bottom. Without a good and healthy agricultural base, even some countries with excellent natural conditions cannot even feed their people.

Brazil in his previous life was a good example. In most people’s minds, Brazilians are very poor, especially Brazil’s slums are world-famous.

But Brazil is actually very strong, with quite good agriculture and industry. Brazil’s arable land area is 1.2 billion acres, and crops can be harvested three times a year. Water and heat resources are excellent, and the population is only over 200 million. Brazil’s total grain output has reached more than 200 million tons, which is equivalent to each person being able to get 1 ton of grain per year, far exceeding a certain Eastern country, approaching the United States. The superior agriculture has also made Brazil one of the world’s largest net exporters of grain, the world’s largest producer and exporter of coffee and sugar cane, and the second largest producer and exporter of soybeans. In theory, Brazilians should have no problem eating their fill.

But fifty percent of Brazilians don’t get enough to eat, which can actually be seen from Brazil’s outrageous urbanization rate. Brazil’s urbanization rate is as high as eighty-five percent or more. The problem is that Brazil’s industrial volume is simply not enough to support such a large population. As a result, many people in Brazil flow into gray and black industries, and gangs are rampant in Brazil.

But Brazil’s industry is not enough to support Brazilian employment, but Brazil’s industrial volume is also among the top ten in the world, and there is also an independent aircraft manufacturing industry.

In the 21st century, countries that can occupy a certain market share in the civil aircraft manufacturing industry are, in Ernst’s view, quite powerful.

In the end, the wealth created by Brazil is not shared by the common people at all, and the polarization is too serious.

Therefore, Ernst believes that for national development, agriculture is the foundation of stability, industry is the source of strength, and commerce is the path to wealth. Stabilizing the country and its existence is definitely agriculture. Doing a good job in agricultural production and distribution is what many late-developing countries should do first.

Doing a good job in agriculture can strongly support industrial development and reduce dependence on foreign capital. Taking East Africa as an example, East Africa’s development is super-fast. If it only relied on agriculture, East Africa could still develop, but the speed would not be so fast. And the accelerator of East Africa’s development is the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium.

The Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium is a kind of “foreign” capital for East Africa. It is the overflow of productivity in the German region. Borrowing money for development is the norm in the international community. Ernst is also playing the trick of moving money from his left hand to his right hand, but after a round of capital flow, East Africa’s industry has developed.

As for the issue that commerce is the path to wealth, it is also easy to understand. Wealth is relative. If I have one more dollar than you, then I am richer than you. Therefore, the purpose of commerce is to put other people’s money into your own pocket.

Ernst believes that there are three main categories of putting other people’s money into your own pocket: first, robbery; second, fraud; and third, trade. Robbery is colonialism, fraud is the financial industry, and trade is developing export trade.

East Africa is involved in all three categories. Colonialism is the foundation of East Africa’s founding. More than 20 million black people are the target of East Africa’s looting. East Africa does not have the conditions to engage in the financial industry, but the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Bank is doing it. During this economic crisis, the assets of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Bank have soared, and it is cutting the leeks of Europe and the United States. There is no need to say more about export trade.

Thinking about it this way, Ernst suddenly felt that he was a bit ruthless. He didn’t know how many people were implicated in the development of East Africa. But then he thought that if he didn’t take the money, it would be swallowed up by Jewish capital and other capital and used by them for “lending.” It would be better for him to take it to develop Africa!

Ernst’s divergent thinking on the side aroused Constantine’s dissatisfaction: “Ernst, don’t be dazed. Today is not an ordinary day. There are not so many national affairs for you to think about!”

“Uh, Father, you’re right. I was just a little fascinated by Karina!” Ernst said quickly, thinking on his feet.

This made Karina a little shy, but this was normal. When nobles meet, they praise each other.

“Well, it’s best if that’s the case,” Constantine said.

“Your Highness, why don’t you and your wife simply move to First Town to live? After all, there are still too few acquaintances in East Africa. Karina doesn’t have any playmates in East Africa, so you parents should spend more time with her,” Constantine suggested to Archduke Ferdinand and his wife.

Archduke Ferdinand lived in Bagamoyo for a long time due to work reasons, because at that time, the East African Navy was just starting out, and Archduke Ferdinand was the only one who knew the ropes. Now that the framework of the East African Navy has been set up, and there is support from the Austrian Navy, there is no need to do everything personally. Moreover, Constantine considered that Archduke Ferdinand and his wife left their daughter in Schönbrunn Palace in order to go to Mexico, and now letting their family reunite is also a way to make up for it.

“Of course, after handling the naval affairs for a while, Charlotte and I will move here,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

Chapter 445: Locust Plague and Profiteering

After the honeymoon, Ernst had quite a few affairs to deal with. The construction progress of the railways and factories was generally fine, while Konstantin was responsible for supervising the canal and river renovations.

“Your Highness, this is a telegram from the Northern Province. According to local government sources, a locust plague has broken out in the neighboring Sultanate of Wasanqali.”

Ernst took the telegram and read it. “This matter, huh! Let me see, hmm, desert locusts, old friends.”

Calling them old friends was not an exaggeration. Ernst had dealt with these desert locusts in his previous life. Of course, the main reason was the excessive hype on the internet, which made it seem like these locusts were incurable, leaving Ernst, who was working in Tanzania at the time, speechless.

One of the most ridiculous rumors was in two thousand and twenty: African desert locusts crossed the Red Sea, invaded India, and might enter the Far East.

Never mind whether desert locusts could adapt to the environment of the Far East, the source of that locust plague was actually the Arabian Peninsula. However, unscrupulous media used pictures and text of Kenya and Somalia, misleading people into thinking that the locust plague had crossed the Red Sea from Africa to reach India.

That locust plague did cross the Red Sea, but it jumped from the Arabian Peninsula to Somalia and Kenya. In fact, the blame should be placed on the Arabian region. The source of the locust plague was in the Rub’ al Khali Desert, which belongs to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. Among them, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as Middle Eastern oil tycoons, did not play their part at all. Coupled with the civil unrest in Yemen at the time, pesticides were not sprayed in time, resulting in a secondary breeding of locusts, ultimately forming a once-in-a-century locust plague. Africa was instead the victim.

Somalia was already suffering from famine, and the locust plague made it even worse. In contrast, Kenya’s situation was slightly better, but the locust plague caused far greater harm to the two countries than to the Arabian Peninsula, adding insult to injury to already impoverished families.

Just from the name, you can tell the activity area of desert locusts. Desert locusts mainly inhabit desert and semi-desert areas. To expand, the areas that may be threatened are the areas where desert and grassland meet. Of course, if there is a large-scale outbreak, the area that can be affected is even wider, but it is only an impact, not necessarily a disaster.

This range is roughly the entire North Africa (Sahara Desert), the Red Sea coast, the Arabian Peninsula, and the arid regions of the northwestern Indian subcontinent (present-day India), and the Horn of Africa.

The regions in East Africa that may encounter desert locust invasions are Turkana Province (Ethiopian Plateau), Northern Province and Jubaland Province (Somalia), Eastern Province and South Prussia Province (Kenya), Uganda and South Sudan, and parts of Tanzania.

“Parts of the region” is very telling. Why parts of the region? Because it is the border area, or the intersection of semi-humid and semi-arid areas.

In other words, desert locusts are not adapted to the more humid climate of the south. In fact, this is also the case. However, even so, the area in East Africa that may be affected exceeds one million square kilometers (mainly desert and semi-arid desert, arid grassland), so preventive measures must be taken.

“Notify the Ministry of Agriculture and instruct the pest control centers in the northern regions to take preventive measures to avoid the spread of the disaster and reduce the impact on our East Africa. In particular, the Eastern Province and South Prussia Province must be strictly guarded and make use of our population advantage to avoid major disasters.”

East Africa is unable to solve the problem of desert locusts, at least it is currently unable to solve it, and can only try to avoid it as much as possible.

In fact, Ernst does have a complete solution, but it is of no use, mainly because East Africa has too few people in the Somalia region.

The most effective way to deal with locusts is nothing more than advanced technology, which East Africa is powerless to do. The second is people power, mobilizing the masses to eliminate the locust plague through various means.

However, East Africa has a total population of only over three hundred thousand in the Somalia region, while the desert area is hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. The area where desert locusts live is the desert. It is impossible to let all of our people go into the desert to destroy the locust breeding grounds, which is simply unrealistic.

Finally, there is biological control. This method is not a solution at all. The difference between desert locusts and other locusts is that they are active in the desert. Raising chickens and ducks is ineffective. Who raises chickens and ducks in the desert!

Similarly, other creatures have difficulty surviving in the desert, so introducing other creatures to control locusts is not realistic. Once desert locusts become rampant, there is really no effective way to control them except for technological means.

Of course, East Africa is not doing nothing. Somalia has a small population, but Kenya has quite a few, especially in the more densely populated southern region. Moreover, southern Kenya is an important cotton and coffee producing area in East Africa, so it is still necessary to actively mobilize local forces to prevent locusts from invading.

Monitor the locust invasion path and carry out artificial intervention in the locust breeding area, such as plowing, burning, and irrigating with water.

In fact, after locusts enter the East African plateau, they will not become a major threat. Geography and environment will block most of the locusts.

For example, desert locusts are extremely dependent on wind direction. They generally fly with the wind, and most of East Africa is under the control of the southeast trade winds, so desert locusts have to fly against the wind to enter the East African plateau.

Not only that, as the terrain of the East African plateau rises, the temperature also drops. Desert locusts like high temperatures, especially temperatures above forty degrees Celsius, which are the fastest for breeding. This is also why desert locusts do not invade mid-to-high latitude regions (such as Europe).

Therefore, after desert locusts break out in northern East Africa, most of them will be biased towards the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent (India) with the southwest monsoon.

This time, the locusts broke out in northern Somalia, so East Africa only needs to do a good job in preventing Kenya, an important agricultural production area. As for the Somali region belonging to East Africa, it depends on fate.

The possible consequence is nothing more than the price of Somali bananas imported by Europe rising. It will be fine to plant them again after the disaster. Anyway, the climate is the same all year round. With the irrigation of the Shebelle River and the Juba River, they can be replanted at any time.

“Next, do a good job in food scheduling to ensure food security in the Somalia region. Also, let our people contact Zanzibar merchants. If this locust plague expands to the Middle East, we must fill the gap as soon as possible and seize the grain market.”

If the Middle East is affected by the disaster, it is definitely good news for East Africa. If every locust plague can achieve this effect, Ernst would be happy for this kind of “good thing” to happen every year. A little disaster in East Africa is nothing.

Because Ernst has not vigorously developed agriculture in northern East Africa, eighty percent of the grain in the Somalia region is transported from the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Without too much investment, there is naturally not much loss. Although the banana planting industry in Somalia is very important to Somalia, other regions in East Africa can also grow it, and it is not irreplaceable.

East Africa’s agricultural production areas can currently be divided into three main areas: the East African Plateau wheat growing area, the coastal rice growing area, and the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes region is a multi-functional growing area where everything is grown.

Next are Zambia, Zimbabwe, Turkana Province, then the Northern Pasture, the rubber plantation area of the Mitumba Mountains, and finally Somalia (Northern Province and Jubaland Province).

Basically, important grain producing areas and cash crop producing areas will not be affected by locust plagues. If it were in a free economy country, it would definitely not be able to withstand this level of disaster.

But the Kingdom of East Africa is not a free economy country. The losses suffered by unilaterally affected areas are underwritten by the state, so farmers will not go bankrupt, and if they do not go bankrupt, there will be no unrest.

But the Middle East is different. Once it suffers huge agricultural losses, the Ottoman Empire and Egypt and other colonies will have a headache.

Ernst even impiously hopes that this locust plague can severely damage the wheat producing areas in northwestern India (mainly present-day Pakistan), so that East Africa can occupy more of the grain market.

Of course, this kind of thinking is just thinking. A once-in-a-century locust plague is not so easy to encounter.

Chapter 446: Disaster Situation

As a neighbor of East Africa, the Wasangali Sultanate is located in the Macohill coastal region along the Gulf of Aden. Compared to its eastern neighbor, the Majerteen Sultanate, the Wasangali Sultanate is relatively fortunate.

To ensure so-called national defense security, East Africa incorporated part of the southern territory of the Majerteen Sultanate into East Africa in 1869. The Wasangali Sultanate escaped this fate because its territory was too small. If East Africa were to truly consider taking action against the Wasangali Sultanate, it would be a war of annihilation, not a territorial cession. Currently, East Africa has no urgent need for the Gulf of Aden.

As for the Majerteen Sultanate, whose territory was seized, it could only swallow its bitterness and remain silent.

Occupying the coast of the Gulf of Aden would only make East Africa appear particularly prominent in the region, without actually bringing any benefits.

Unlike the Geledi Sultanate, which has the Shebelle and Jubba rivers and the oases along their banks to develop, the Wasangali Sultanate and the Majerteen Sultanate have no decent land to speak of.

Moreover, the Majerteen Sultanate is, after all, nominally a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, so East Africa still has some use for it, as it is an important link in maintaining East Africa’s trade system with the Middle East.

Border between East Africa and the Wasangali Sultanate.

Tens of thousands of locusts are breeding rapidly. Starting in April, the Somali Desert experienced a rare rainfall. This rainfall made the Somali Desert appear green, which is unusual, but it became a breeding ground for desert locusts.

Unlike other locusts, each outbreak of desert locusts is almost always accompanied by abnormal rainfall in desert areas, while locusts in other areas are more likely to appear after droughts.

In essence, there is no difference between desert locusts and locusts in other regions, except that the climate in desert areas is special, and it is usually arid all year round, so rainfall that turns the desert green provides them with more abundant food.

From this point of view, desert locusts are far less harmful to agriculture than their counterparts in other regions. The activity areas of other locusts are originally agricultural areas, and once a disaster occurs, it will inevitably cause serious losses.

However, the areas where desert locusts are active originally have little agriculture, but the people in the areas where desert locusts are active are definitely the worst off.

With barren land and underdeveloped agriculture, and with the desert locusts wreaking havoc, it is basically equivalent to no harvest, and there are no substitutes.

Dealing with locust plagues requires a unified country to rob Peter to pay Paul, at least to ensure that the lives of people in disaster areas can continue. Obviously, the fragmented Ottoman Empire cannot do this.

But East Africa is different. East Africa’s wall is so thick that it is not afraid of suffering this little loss.

“The locusts have already flown over. According to orders from the higher-level government, we cannot sit idly by. We must conduct key inspections along the Shebelle River and in some oasis areas for potential locust invasion areas, and destroy locust egg-laying areas to prevent secondary locust breeding and threatening southern pastures and farms.” The Northern Province Pest and Disease Control Center conveyed the order to lower-level agencies.

Subsequently, the Northern Province government began to organize the public to eliminate desert locusts staying in the Northern Province.

“This banana plantation is finished. The leaves have been gnawed bare, and the stalks have been eaten to pieces.”

“Forget about that for now, set it on fire!”

Desert locusts have a very strong migration ability, and can fly more than one hundred and fifty kilometers in a day with the wind, but because the southwest monsoon prevails in northern East Africa, the speed cannot be so fast.

By the time the desert locusts flew to the Shebelle River basin, several days had passed, and the northward desert locusts had already crossed the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden into Yemen, heading towards Oman and the Qajar Dynasty (Iran).

Don’t underestimate the difference of a few days. Desert locusts only live for a few months. This time is enough for East Africa to turn over the river beaches and wastelands where locusts may lay eggs.

Because the locust plague broke out in the Wasangali Sultanate, East Africa has no control over the locusts flying in from neighboring countries.

However, northern East Africa itself is also a desert locust activity area. The local locusts are still in a normal, harmless state in East Africa.

Once the locusts from the Wasangali Sultanate enter East Africa and mix with them, they will turn the locusts in East Africa into gregarious, harmful locusts.

Therefore, this locust eradication operation is actually divided into two parts: one is to eliminate local locusts in the bud, and the other is to reduce the number of foreign locusts hatching in East Africa.

In May, with the implementation of the locust eradication operation in the Shebelle River basin, at least 30% of the locusts were prevented from moving south, at the cost of a 40% reduction in banana production in the Shebelle River basin due to the locust plague and the delay in construction caused by the locust eradication activities. In mid-May, the Jubba River basin, which had been waiting in full battle array, carried out a major cleansing of the remaining locusts, and the scale of the locusts was reduced by another 40%. By the time the locusts entered the northern pastoral area, they had become an arrow at the end of its flight. The northern pastoral area suffered only minor damage, and the locusts basically stopped at the edge of the southern Kenyan highlands.

Protecting the northern pastures is very important to East Africa. Currently, the northern pastures are East Africa’s largest source of livestock. The horses and cattle produced there support engineering and farmland construction throughout the country, and it is also an important base for East Africa to export live cattle to the Arab region.

“After this locust plague, we must step up the opening of new pastures in the former Transvaal Republic to share the risk,” Ernst said at a government meeting.

Pastoral farming in places like South Africa and the Northern Pastures is different from European dairy farming. Dairy farming is an agricultural region type that has developed around cities and is close to the market, while pastoral farming is located in vast grasslands far from cities and markets.

In his previous life, the main countries for pastoral farming were the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

From this point, we can also see the advantages of South Africa in developing pastoral farming. In fact, the Boers were engaged in this industry.

The climate of the South African grasslands is actually more similar to the Pampas grasslands of Argentina (due to latitude), and it is not as susceptible to locusts as the Northern Pastures, making it a natural high-quality grazing area.

Of course, South Africa’s biggest advantage over the Northern Pastures is that it is suitable for raising sheep. South Africa was the world’s fourth largest wool exporter in its previous life.

East Africa is still blank in the field of wool textiles, which is a good development point. At the end of the 18th century, Merino sheep were introduced to the Cape of Good Hope, and Cape Town became the first region to start producing exquisite clothing. Since then, Cape Town has developed a famous wool industry.

Later, South Africa became known for its unique “South African wool.” This wool is a general term for wool produced in South Africa, and is known for several different finenesses. South African wool is less elastic than Australian wool, making it an ideal fiber for making shawls and socks. Therefore, the world’s demand for South African wool is quite high, making South Africa a strong and stable wool industry in its previous life.

Introducing Merino sheep is not a difficult task. In fact, Germany, the Soviet Union, and the Far East all introduced this breed in his previous life, and formed Merino sheep breeds with their own local characteristics.

After East Africa cleaned up the Transvaal Republic, most of the Boers took their livestock to the Orange Free State.

If East Africa wants to rebuild pastures in South Africa, it needs ships to transfer livestock from the Northern Pastures to South Africa for replenishment, so that it can regain its scale advantage in a short period of time.

Of course, it is not to say that there are no livestock in South Africa. Although East Africa did not rob the Boers, the Zulus did not let them go. All the cattle and sheep raised by the Zulus were confiscated, and the Zulus were also incorporated into the “labor” category by East Africa, becoming part of the means of production, used to develop New Hamburg Port.

When New Hamburg Port is completed, railway construction and livestock imports from the Northern Pastures can be carried out simultaneously in New Hamburg Port.

Chapter 447: Casual Chat

Nairobi.

The citizens of Nairobi, who had been on high alert for the locust plague, eventually discovered that all their preparations had been for nothing. As a result, the government disbanded the locust control teams on the spot and restored normal production order.

This left the citizens of Nairobi somewhat disappointed. Why hadn’t the locusts arrived? They had thought they could stretch their muscles a bit!

If Ernst knew what the citizens of Nairobi were really thinking, he would surely spit blood. You truly don’t know the cost of living until you’re in charge!

“I heard the locust plague was supposed to come here? We’ve been preparing for so many days, but we haven’t seen anything. Is it fake news?” Stephan said with his Italian-tinged German.

“Haven’t there been more locusts these past few days? So, there must be a locust plague. It’s just that I heard the government intercepted it. The Northern Province and the Jubaland Province have been severely affected, and the pastoral areas have also been attacked. The workers who delivered the cotton a few days ago said that the northernmost cotton-producing areas also suffered a little loss.”

“Having been in Africa for so long, I thought there wouldn’t be any disasters here! It seems this isn’t some paradise after all.”

“It’s still better than Italy. Italy has so many wars, and life is hard. It’s much more comfortable in East Africa. You complete your work step by step, and you don’t have to worry about making a living. Besides, is there any way to avoid locust plagues? The Far East, the Americas, Europe, and even Russia are threatened by locust plagues,” Chris said as he skillfully pulled the spinning thread.

“Chris is right. Fortunately, the government extinguished the locust plague in time, otherwise it would have been too terrible if it had really flooded over. I encountered it when I was in the Far East! You guys probably haven’t suffered. I dare say that life here is something I never even dreamed of before. When the Yellow River changed its course, my hometown was a disaster area, and the following year there was a locust plague, a dark mass of them…” Aodebiao Meng said from the side.

“It’s all the same, it’s all the same. Italy is also tough! It’s just that we have more ways out. We can run to other countries. You guys just can’t run away.”

“You have to have connections for that. My cousin ran away during the war, but he was somehow caught and thrown into the Italian barracks, and then he went to the battlefield. I haven’t heard from him since. I don’t know how he is now.”

“I’m afraid his chances aren’t good. The Kingdom of Italy fought shamefully. I heard they were constantly being chased and beaten by our Austria.”

“Ahem, ahem, what do you mean ‘your Austria’? We are all citizens of the Kingdom of East Africa now. Besides, Italy’s failure was due to incompetent officers. It has nothing to do with the soldiers below. Moreover, my ancestors weren’t Italian. Venice was once part of the Holy Roman Empire! My father’s uncle’s cousin is still German! So, I also have half German blood.”

“…”

“If that’s the case, then I count too. My wife’s grandmother’s mother is also German, so I also count as German.”

“…”

“Alright, stop arguing. We’ve already registered. You can’t escape from being German even if you want to! East Africa is a place where you can only enter and not leave. Fortunately, life here is pretty good, it’s just too boring.”

“Hehe, Stephan, you should be happy! You got rid of all your bad habits from Italy in East Africa, which is a good thing. It’s better for everyone to live a good life than to be a hoodlum like before.”

“Let’s not talk about these things. We’ve agreed to play soccer with the Second Factory next Sunday. Who’s going to watch?”

“I don’t have time. My wife said I’m not allowed to go anywhere this weekend, not even fishing, alas!”

“I say it’s better to marry an Eastern wife. They are much more virtuous than Italian women.”

“Cut it out! Look how pitiful Aodebiao is, controlled to death by his wife. I say East India is the best. I heard that you can marry four wives there as long as you have money.”

“My urine is yellow, let me wake him up first.”

……

“The factory workers are so lively!” The director of the Nairobi Cotton Textile Factory No. 1, Clayson, exclaimed, “It seems I need to give them more responsibilities this week.”

“Hahaha, Director, I believe those young men will thank you!”

As the light industrial center of the inland area, Nairobi’s population has already exceeded 100,000 this year. It briefly became the largest city in East Africa for a few months last year, but it was quickly surpassed by Mombasa, Mbeya, and Dar es Salaam.

The reason why Nairobi was able to become the largest city in East Africa in its previous life was that it developed early, giving it a clear first-mover advantage. In the early days, it benefited from the British construction of the Uganda Railway. By the time of independence, Nairobi’s infrastructure was far ahead of the surrounding countries. Coupled with Kenya’s long-term peaceful situation, Nairobi effectively absorbed the surrounding population and industries. The food processing industry and other industrial fields were ahead of the frequently turbulent Ethiopian countries.

This is actually easy to understand. It is easier for rich people to make money than ordinary people. Kenya, which developed first, is a rich person compared to the surrounding countries.

Kenya’s industrial products may not be able to compete internationally, but they still have obvious advantages compared to the surrounding countries. This has resulted in a situation where some countries rich in mineral resources are not developing as well as Kenya.

By the 21st century, after Tanzania and Ethiopia showed a trend of catching up with the help of a certain major country, Kenya discovered oil again. So, Kenya’s fate in its previous life was not bad, at least it was doing well in the East African region.

This life does not have this opportunity. Although the Northern Railway is planned to pass through Nairobi, Nairobi’s development ceiling is only an important city, and it is impossible to reach the level of the largest city in East Africa.

In particular, East Africa is building a larger Central Railway while building the Northern Railway, which makes Tanzania’s infrastructure conditions no worse than Kenya’s, and even more advantageous.

Not to mention compared with Tanzania, even the coastal Mombasa is stealing the limelight from Nairobi. After three renovations, Mombasa has the prototype of an international port, and its development is changing rapidly thanks to foreign trade.

Although the upper limit is not high, Nairobi’s lower limit has also been improved by the Kingdom of East Africa. No matter how bad it is, it will not be too bad.

The textile industry may not be so profitable in the 21st century, but now it is the 19th century, and it belongs to the top-quality industries like railways, steel, and coal, and the textile industry is still a light industry.

Coupled with the construction of the Northern Railway, the agricultural development around Nairobi, the mineral development, and the agricultural product distribution center in the Great Lakes region, all indicate that Nairobi’s future potential far exceeds that of its previous life.

Of course, Ernst’s development of Nairobi is just incidental. The ultimate goal is to open up the connection channel between the Great Lakes region and Mombasa.

For Ernst, the importance of the Great Lakes region is equivalent to the importance of the Sichuan Basin to the Far East. It is an important area to ensure East Africa’s agriculture, water sources, and minerals, a proper East African version of the Land of Abundance. The Great Lakes region is excellent in all aspects, the only drawback is that it is far from the port (seaport), so this part can only be solved by railway.

The potential of the Great Lakes region has not yet been fully exploited, but it is already the most important agricultural and mining (mainly precious metal development) area in East Africa.

The next area with the ability to surpass the Great Lakes region in agriculture is the Zambian and southern Congolese regions in the hinterland of East Africa, but the current level of development is too low.

However, from the current agricultural development in East Africa, Tanzania is still far ahead, but Tanzania’s hydrothermal conditions are not as good as those in the Great Lakes region and the Zambian and southern Congolese regions.

Of course, it is not right to compare in this way. The land area of the Great Lakes region is not as large as the other two. The Great Lakes alone occupy nearly 70,000 square kilometers, and the overlapping area between the Great Lakes region and Tanzania accounts for a quarter of the land area of the Great Lakes region.

Zambia and southern Congo do not have those ridiculously large lakes on the East African plateau, but the water resources are not less at all. Zambia alone accounts for 25% of the surface water resources in southern Africa, and groundwater accounts for one-third of southeastern Africa. The river network is dense, which can be called the “Jiangnan Water Village” of East Africa, but if the Zambezi River is the boundary, it is actually more appropriate to say “Hebei Water Village”.

In fact, the Great Lakes region is also the same. Rivers flow into the Great Lakes from all four directions, east, west, north, and south, replenishing the lake water. The only outflow channel is the White Nile.

The Great Lakes, Zambia, southern Congo, and Tanzania are actually located in the central area of East Africa. The terrain is similar to that of the Far East, but the precipitation is similar to that of the Far East. The development of agriculture occupies the right time and place, and the East African immigrant population is the last piece of the puzzle.

Chapter 448: 1874 Administrative Divisions

In 1874, East Africa’s investment in agriculture was not particularly active. Apart from expanding inland planting areas, no other policies were implemented.

As of April this year, the immigrant population in the Zambia region had exceeded five hundred thousand, distributed throughout the region in the form of villages and towns. Together with the southern Congo highlands, the total population was around eight hundred thousand.

During the same period, the population of Zimbabwe had just exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand. Although the population was not large, the growth rate was the fastest.

Apart from these three regions, the total population growth in other areas was around three hundred thousand. This included South Africa, the eastern highlands of Angola, the White Nile basin, the Azande Plateau, and the Okavango River Delta. Among these, the immigrants in South Africa and the eastern highlands of Angola were mainly to consolidate the border. Areas without this need, such as the Okavango River Delta, only saw an increase of just over three thousand people.

“A complete immigration route has formed from the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mtwara to Mbeya. Immigrants are diverted in the Southern Salzburg Province, through land and Lake Malawi. This is an important reason for the rapid population growth in the Zambezi River basin and the southern Congo River basin.”

“During the same period, the level of agricultural development on both the north and south banks of the Zambezi River has significantly improved. In addition to the stable increase in the planting area of the two main food crops, rice and wheat, tobacco is an important cash crop, and the development speed of sisal and other crops is also relatively prominent.”

“The population growth in the inland areas has also added a lot of trouble to our work, mainly reflected in administrative efficiency. First, the provincial administrative divisions north of the Zambezi River, including the Congo River basin, are too dense, but the population is not large enough, resulting in serious waste. Second, the administrative management south of the Zambezi River is relatively chaotic, with too many military management zones, and it is difficult to coordinate and dispatch with towns as their respective core.”

This is mainly because the Zimbabwe region does not have provincial administrative divisions and is still managed according to the previous military regions. Furthermore, Harare and Bulawayo have each formed regional municipal administrative units.

“Not only that, but our eastern region is also facing this problem. The previous provincial administrative units were too numerous, but now it seems that the development gap between many provinces is too large to support their independent development, and the level of industrial and agricultural development is relatively low.”

It was time for another change in the administrative map of the Kingdom of East Africa. In fact, since East Africa occupied South Africa, East Africa’s administrative divisions had become completely outdated.

This was mainly reflected in the inland areas of Africa, where East Africa exercised a general rule over the western, southwestern, and southern directions in the form of military regions.

Initially, military control was implemented because there was not much population in the inland areas of East Africa. Apart from the army, most were indigenous people, and it was necessary to adopt a high-pressure military rule to deal with the natives.

Now, however, the situation was different. In some areas, the population ratio had already shifted towards immigrants. For example, in Zimbabwe, with East Africa’s policy of extraction and relocation of the local population, the immigrant population accounted for nearly nineteen percent.

And some provinces in eastern East Africa had overlapping functions or were unnecessary to establish as provinces, such as the Coastal Province and the Kilimanjaro Province.

After government research and discussion, Ernst finally decided that East Africa’s new administrative divisions for 1874 would be officially released.

The new administrative divisions divided East Africa into twenty-six provinces, the same as before. However, this administrative division change included the entire East African territory, and many provinces were merged, such as the six provinces in the Zambia region being merged into two provinces.

(Original administrative division map):

The changed East African provinces are as follows:

The four northern provinces remain unchanged (including the Northern Province, Turkana Province, Juba Province, and Great Lakes Province).

Three new provinces are added in the northwest: Nile Province (South Sudan), New Bavaria Province (eastern Azande Plateau), and West Azande Province (western Azande Plateau).

The West Great Lakes Province remains unchanged.

In the former Kenya region, the East Great Lakes Province is abolished and merged into the South Prussia Province, with the provincial capital set in Nairobi.

Within Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro Province is abolished, the Coastal Province is abolished, and they are merged into the Central Province, Eastern Province, and Highland Province respectively. The provincial capital of the Coastal Province, Tanga, is merged into the Central Province.

The South Great Lakes Province and the Hohenzollern Province are merged into the Highland Province. The original Highland Province and the southern part of the Hohenzollern Province are merged into the Southern Salzburg Province. Parts of the eastern part of the original Highland Province (mainly the river source area) are merged into the Central Province. The Sea Lake Province in southern Tanzania is renamed New Württemberg Province.

In addition to these provincial changes, the area of the Serengeti Nature Reserve is expanded, and parts of the original Kilimanjaro Province and the South Great Lakes Province are划入 (equivalent to a no-man’s land).

In the Mitumba Mountains, the Mitumba Province is abolished and merged into the Hesse Province to facilitate the unified management and dispatch of rubber plantation areas. At the same time, this area is also an important mineral area in East Africa (including copper mines and tungsten mines, etc.).

The Western Province, Southern Border Province, East Katanga Province, West Katanga Province, West Highland Province, and Walunga Province in the Zambia and southern Congo highlands are integrated into the Schwabia Province in the north and the Hohenzollern Province in the south.

It should be noted here that the original Hohenzollern Province east of Lake Soden was abolished, but Ernst newly established a province of the same name in Zambia. The same treatment is given to the (New) Southern Border Province, but more on this province later.

In the west, the Congo River basin establishes a Congo Province. The Danube Province is established on the Kwango Plateau in the western Congo Province. The Zambezi Province is established at the source of the Zambezi River on the Lunda Plateau. The Letania Province is established in the upper and middle reaches of the Okavango River (taken from Austria-Hungary).

In the south, the Lorraine Province is established in the Kalahari Basin, centered on the inland delta of the Okavango River.

The Matabeleland Province is established in the Zimbabwe region. The New Baden Province is established in the former British Bechuanaland (mainly British Bechuanaland).

The former Transvaal Republic and the Kingdom of Swaziland establish the Hechingen Province.

A new Southern Border Province is established at the junction of the former Zulu Kingdom, parts of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the Orange Free State.

At the same time, Ernst thoughtfully designated the arid grassland south of Pretoria as the Limpopo River Nature Reserve for the time being, to cover the gold mining area.

This administrative division also abolished the separate administrative division status of Pemba Island, Zanzibar Island, and Mafia Island. Pemba Island and Mafia Island were changed from provincial administrative units to part of the Central Province. Zanzibar Island was even incorporated into the Central Province as an affiliated country.

The main reason is that these three islands are now too small compared to the territory of East Africa, but their location cannot be ignored, so they are simply incorporated into the Central Province to facilitate the construction of military defenses.

At the same time, the Comoros Islands are upgraded to municipal administrative units, mainly for the East African Navy to dock and replenish supplies, serving as a naval base.

(New administrative division map)

At the same time, in the new administrative divisions, East Africa does not pay much attention to the planning of the west. This is not because East Africa does not value it, but rather shows that East Africa attaches great importance to the area. The East African government is very clear that East Africa has only stopped expanding at present, and the final shape of the territory has not been completed, so the western territory may change at any time.

At the same time, in this administrative division, the Highland Province as a whole has been strengthened. The actual reason is that the development of the area was not ideal before. Apart from the original South Great Lakes Province, which developed fairly well, the original Hohenzollern Province and the Highland Province did not improve much.

The Southern Border Province and the New Baden Province in South Africa are mainly used to guard against the threat of the Cape Town colony. Therefore, the Southern Border Province is distributed in a narrow east-west direction, and the New Baden Province is to more effectively control the north bank of the Orange River. The significance of changing the Transvaal Republic to the Hechingen Province goes without saying.

Similarly, the province names related to the Hechingen royal family are the (New) Hohenzollern Province and the Schwabia Province established in Zambia and the southern Congo highlands.

Because the Principality of Hechingen was formerly part of the Duchy of Swabia, the Swabia region has extraordinary significance for Germany. The nobles of Württemberg, the Principality of Hechingen, the Principality of Sigmaringen, and the Swabia administrative region of Bavaria all belong to the Swabian nobles.

The Habsburg family and the Hohenzollern family, which emerged from the Swabia region, have influenced and dominated the history of the entire German nation.

Chapter 449: Ambition

The most important function of this administrative division reform was to rely on the central railway to carry out a reasonable industrial layout in the inland areas. Therefore, Zambia, the southern Congo Plateau (Katanga Plateau), and Zimbabwe were divided into three provinces.

The main industry of Swabia Province is copper mine development. In addition to copper mines, there are also cobalt, tin, and uranium mines. Gold mining areas are distributed in Hesse Province. Its population is mainly distributed in the southern savanna area, while the north is tropical rainforest.

Compared with the Katanga Province of Congo in its previous life, the actual area of the East African Swabia Province has become smaller, but its mineral resources still account for more than 60 percent of Congo’s total.

In its previous life, the resources of Katanga Province in Congo, such as cobalt and uranium mines, were actually controlled by the Americans. The cobalt resources of Katanga Province accounted for 70 percent of the world’s total, uranium (uranium 238) accounted for 60 percent of the world’s total, tin accounted for 10 percent of the world’s total, and copper accounted for about 8 percent. (The data from various institutions are inconsistent, just for reference.)

This kind of resource endowment led to constant conflicts in the Katanga region in its previous life. Britain, the United States, Belgium, and Russia all supported forces in the area, and even Rwanda got involved.

The resource endowment of Hohenzollern Province is not bad either. It is located in the middle, with convenient north-south transportation, and can undertake resource interaction between the two provinces of Swabia and Matabeleland in the north and south.

Matabeleland Province, that is, Zimbabwe’s resources, the most famous of which is the Great Zimbabwe ruins, which runs north-south through the central area of Zimbabwe and basically coincides with the central railway.

This is the main reason why the central railway was built from Harare to Bulawayo, instead of taking a shortcut, and at the same time abandoning the route along Victoria Falls that the British took in its previous life, and instead building a bridge across the river from the east bank of the Kariba Dam in its previous life.

In this regard, Ernst fully drew on his previous life’s experience. For example, the Kariba Dam, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world, has a normal water storage level of 487.79 meters and a dead water level of 475.5 meters at the Kariba Hydropower Station on the northern bank of Zambia. The maximum reservoir capacity is 185 billion cubic meters, and the regulating reservoir capacity below the normal water storage level is 60.85 billion cubic meters, which is shared by Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a reference, the total reservoir capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the Far East, is only 39.3 billion cubic meters.

Ernst wants to replicate this super project of the Kariba Dam in East Africa, but East Africa currently does not have the ability and conditions.

So the Kariba Dam remained on Ernst’s little notebook, waiting for the conditions to mature in the future before construction.

In its previous life, the Kariba Dam was more than two hundred kilometers long from east to west, so the central railway as a whole shifted eastward by more than two hundred kilometers, which made the central railway from Lusaka to Harare to Bulawayo basically a large triangle.

However, because of Pretoria, the central railway is generally relatively straight, and at the same time, it can take care of the (large) cities along the line, and the utilization rate is still relatively high.

Once the central railway is completed, East Africa will be able to activate the inland economy in one fell swoop, and incidentally develop the new port of Hamburg in the south.

Ernst plans to postpone the development of the original Transvaal Republic, and the original Zulu Kingdom (Southern Frontier Province) is not needed. The Zulu Kingdom is mainly based on coal, and it also has the convenience of ports.

Therefore, developing the coal resources of the Drakensberg Mountains is an important project. After the coal mines here are developed, they can be directly shipped to East Africa by sea to support the industrial development of the eastern coast of East Africa. Coastal cities such as Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, Mombasa, and Mtwara can directly benefit from this.

After all, the United Kingdom’s most abundant resource is coal. The local coal resources are abundant enough, plus the colonies. It can be said that coal is the cheapest mineral for the British. If they even covet this little coal resource in the Southern Frontier Province (the original Zulu Kingdom), Ernst is very willing to teach them a lesson.

At present, with the continuation of the economic crisis, the countdown to the division of the world has also begun. In fact, Italy and Belgium have already taken action.

The Italians have consolidated their control over the southeast of the Abyssinian Empire, and under the influence of the economic crisis, the Kingdom of Italy has bet its national fortune on the Abyssinian Empire.

Leopold II of Belgium also used his previous life’s expertise, using various means to deceive the Congolese natives west of the Ubangi River, and has already obtained local sovereignty.

Two countries have entered the game, but other major powers have not yet taken any action. An important reason is that they have not yet felt the pressure from their competitors.

The existence of the East African Kingdom has largely alleviated the economic crisis in the German region. Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are generally doing well in the economic crisis, while the United States, which is the most severely affected by the crisis, is suffering a more severe crisis than in history.

Because most factories in Germany maintain basic operations, coupled with the Hechingen Consortium’s competition with the United States (mainly in the power industry), American steel, electricity, and other products have difficulty opening up sales in Europe. At the same time, American agricultural products have also suffered more severe competition than in the original history, especially crops such as grain and tobacco. On the contrary, because of the high unemployment rate and uncertain future, tobacco sales have soared in the local area.

However, this crisis in the United States is not as serious as imagined, because East Africa has absorbed part of the unemployed population in the United States.

The East African Immigration Bureau recruits a large number of unemployed German workers and farmers in the German-American community in the United States, and even advertises through newspapers in the German-American community. Many German workers went to East Africa on East African slave ships.

As for why there are still German farmers in the German communities in the cities, this is also the fault of the East African Kingdom. Under the agricultural crisis, Southern plantations in the United States have reduced costs and reduced expenses in order to cope with the economic crisis. Therefore, a large number of extremely cheap blacks have replaced the white farm workers originally hired by the plantations.

Black laborers do not need wages at all, because their contracts are directly linked to the Haitian government as “workers,” that is, labor dispatch workers.

In theory, their wages are issued by the Haitian government, and American plantation owners have no obligation or responsibility to pay these “laborers” wages. They only need to guarantee their three meals a day.

Plantation owners have no shortage of food. Now the warehouses are piled high with grain and cannot be sold. It is not bad to use it to raise obedient “slaves.”

Moreover, these slaves are completely legal, and the federal government and courts cannot find any fault with them. It is also easy to deal with these slaves when they are old or disabled, because there are many blacks in society due to the American emancipation of slaves. Just release them into society when they are not needed.

A large number of new-style black slaves poured into Southern plantations, and the lives of the white people at the bottom were naturally even more difficult, which also affected the white farm workers.

And the United States’ huge German population, the United States’ main source of workers, and also the main force of unemployment, was absorbed by East Africa.

In the first three months of 1874 alone, more than 200,000 German-Americans went to East Africa, surpassing Germany and Austria to become the largest source country for German immigrants in East Africa.

Europe and the United States are so competitive, so the Far East market is attracting worldwide attention. The Far East has greatly digested the overcapacity caused by this economic crisis.

Compared with the relative restraint of Europe and the United States, Japan directly chose to attack Danwan Island in the Far East, but under the intervention of the Danwan Island higher-level government (Fujian), which learned of the news in advance, it was directly beaten to a pulp.

The consulate guard company of the East African Kingdom in the Zhuhai commercial district gained an unexpected fortune, but also suffered considerable casualties. German mercenaries are famous all over the world. In other words, Ernst’s ancestors also did mercenary business. This kind of thing is not uncommon in Europe.

As the vanguard of colonizing and developing Africa, Ernst is not prepared to remain indifferent in this wave of dividing the world. In addition to consolidating the achievements made in Africa, East Africa also intends to go further in Africa. At the same time, when the East African navy is initially established, Ernst’s long-awaited Indian Ocean can also begin to take action. Moreover, not only the Indian Ocean, but also the Pacific Ocean, Ernst is also prepared to test the waters to see if he can fish in troubled waters.

Chapter 450: Population Crisis

Bolstered by the economic crisis, East Africa welcomed a rare wave of immigration. In East Africa, this immigration wave specifically referred to German immigrants, not others. If East Africa truly opened up its immigration policies, the population growth rate would be terrifying.

Therefore, in 1874, East Africa once again went against the grain and further raised the immigration threshold, making the health screening of immigrants even stricter. Don’t underestimate the health screening indicator; this single item could filter out a large number of immigrants who did not meet Ernst’s expectations.

The 19th century was actually an era of darkness and development coexisting. People in the Far East in the 21st century felt that the West was very chaotic due to its drug problems, but the 19th century was truly chaotic because drugs were not a problem then; they were a common occurrence.

Ernst could feel this in his previous life in Africa. The living conditions of Africans were not much different from those in regions outside of modern Europe and the United States.

Drug addicts were common on the streets of Africa, in almost many African cities, and they were not as particular as Americans, using high-tech manufacturing or importing from Mexico. Cough syrup, glue, and aviation fuel could all be used.

In the 19th century, there weren’t so many fancy things. Opium and chemical drugs were rampant, and with no regulatory system, it was very convenient for ordinary people to buy them.

Therefore, after East Africa tightened its health screening, it could immediately filter out 20% of the immigrants. Of course, it wasn’t just drug problems, but also other indicators.

In reality, anyone in Ernst’s position would feel fear at the surge in immigrants. You might not feel it for a day or two, but after a long time, you would find that the immigration policies you initially set were still somewhat rough.

East Africa’s population growth rate was too fast, faster than any other country in the world. Taking the United States, another immigrant country, as an example, the United States had a population of only five million in 1800, but by 1850 it had more than quadrupled, reaching over twenty-three million.

According to this population trend in the United States, if East Africa implemented the same population system as the United States, then by the end of the 19th century, East Africa’s population would be at least forty million.

However, East Africa was clearly different from the United States. East Africans had a significantly higher fertility rate than Americans, and the public’s desire to have children would not change much for at least the next thirty years.

Ernst didn’t even need to think much about this. In the 21st century, many older generations in rural areas of the Far East still maintained the idea that “more sons bring more blessings.” Ernst’s parents were the same. East Africa, as an agricultural country, would continue to maintain its social thinking for a long time even if it became an industrial country in a very short period.

Most industrialized countries will experience a population explosion in the early stages of industrialization. This may not happen in East Africa because East Africa’s population growth has already exploded and it has a relatively rudimentary industrial system.

Therefore, even if productivity and medical levels improve, East Africa’s population growth will not suddenly increase significantly again.

This is because the current birth rate in East Africa is already the limit, which is related to East Africa’s social distribution issues. Although the wealth of the Hohenzollern royal family and the national finances are two separate systems.

The Hohenzollern royal family’s capital is the main force in East Africa’s construction, and although the national fiscal revenue is small, the expenditure burden is also relatively light.

Although it is called a planned economy, there are actually only a few state-owned enterprises with small-scale factories. The country’s agricultural tax revenue is its largest source of income.

Agricultural tax should not be underestimated. East Africa is not an ordinary agricultural country; it is considered a major agricultural country. Agricultural tax is higher than the fiscal revenue of many countries in the world.

Therefore, the fiscal revenue of the Kingdom of East Africa is not small compared to many countries, and the majority of the fiscal revenue is used to support East Africa’s newborn population.

Including food, clothing, housing, transportation, and education, these major items have enabled East Africa’s population to grow wildly and recklessly in the past ten years. Therefore, Ernst plans to terminate this support plan in 1875. If the people of East Africa continue to have children like this, the country will not be able to afford it.

Moreover, the current population of East Africa is a mystery. It has been three years since the last population data was collected. It’s not that East Africa is neglecting it, but that statistics are difficult to be as detailed as before. The data you collect today may be overturned tomorrow due to the increase in the number of newborns. If population data is collected every year, the statisticians in East Africa will be exhausted.

Of course, stopping newborn subsidies cannot be done on a whim. The policy changes must first be spread throughout East Africa, so that people don’t continue to have children without knowing about the policy changes.

“East Africa’s population growth rate has exceeded expectations, so starting next year, except for education, which will remain free, all other types of birth support will be reduced and stopped. Some families in East Africa already have seven or eight children, and some even have more than ten (this belongs to family immigration). If this phenomenon becomes common in East Africa, what will the population of East Africa be in twenty years? A large number of newborns have become a burden on East Africa, so we must now bring East Africa’s population growth rate back to a normal level and reduce government intervention and guidance,” Ernst said at the East Africa Population Conference.

After Ernst finished speaking, others also engaged in heated discussions.

“Your Highness, although our country has a high birth rate, the survival rate should not reach that level.”

“That’s true, but our newborn survival rate is not low, even higher than some backward areas. Even if the number of newborns in a family does not reach the level of seven or eight, at least four or five should be there, and this is not the limit. East Africa has only been a kingdom for ten years since it was a colony, and the population base has already been cultivated. What will happen in the next ten years?”

“This does not include immigrants. The number of immigrants is also quite large. Our immigration scale is on the same level as the United States, especially with this economic crisis, I am afraid that more than a million people will flow into East Africa.”

“So, not only newborn subsidies, but also immigrant populations should be restricted. East Africa is relatively empty now, but we cannot blindly import people in order to develop East Africa. No matter how much land there is, it is limited.”

“There is also the issue of national ideology. As an immigrant country, our national ideology in East Africa is not yet solid. The continuous influx of foreign populations will dilute the efforts we have made before.”

There were those who opposed, and there were those who supported, but the reasons of the supporters were not very convincing.

After all, the Kingdom of East Africa is not going to implement birth control; it is just stopping birth subsidies. No one is stopping you from having children if you want to, but you have to see if your salary is enough. If you are willing to tighten your belt and have children, you can continue, but in East Africa, abandonment is a serious crime, so you must live within your means and consider carefully.

“Okay, that’s settled then. There are still five months left. You must notify all levels of government and notify every household of this policy change. Newborns born next year and in the future will no longer enjoy government subsidies. Of course, those who are pregnant this year must be counted accurately. The next five months are the last window period.”

At the government’s daily work meeting in 1874, East Africa’s population policy changed, which actually shows that East Africa does not need immigration and can still complete self-renewal and meet East Africa’s construction needs.

The population of the Kingdom of East Africa is no longer a national weakness, and East Africa’s pursuit of population has also begun to transition from quantity to quality.

Although the population in the western inland areas is still insufficient, the population in the eastern areas has reached the conditions to meet the overflow. With immigration work still ongoing, digesting the western inland areas is only a matter of time.

Chapter 451: Population (Continued)

The first large-scale immigration to East Africa (not including mercenaries) was in 1865. After that, the number of immigrants rose sharply, and with the increase in East African transport capacity, the scale became larger and larger.

In other words, the first batch of immigrants to East Africa had settled there for nine years, and the nature of East African immigration has led to an explosive growth in the current East African population.

This can be compared to the German regions, where the fertility rate is currently quite high. East Africa is even higher because it bears the cost of raising children, which is not possible in the German regions.

German land resources have been divided up by nobles and landlords, and with the development of capitalist agriculture, the pursuit is no longer labor and occupancy rates, but profitability as the primary task.

Although the nature of land in East Africa is also private ownership, Ernst’s previous focus was on giving East African citizens relatively good treatment. One aspect of this was the hope that East African residents would have more children, as many as they could, with the state bearing most of the cost of raising them.

East African citizens, without the burden of raising children, naturally had as many as they could, especially in the absence of contraception concepts and methods.

Basically, if you are healthy, the birth rate will not be low, and with a very low infant mortality rate (compared to other countries), the population of East Africa will eventually increase exponentially.

Under low productivity levels, most of these costs are ultimately borne by the Black population, and the Black population of East Africa is twenty million, of which nearly ten million are the labor force.

So, East Africa is not feeling too much pressure at the moment, but the rate at which East Africa is reducing its Black population is also quite fast. If East Africa wants to continue playing this game in the future, then this part of the cost can only be passed on to new immigrants.

However, new immigrants will continue to have children in the future, which will create a vicious cycle. Ernst himself is an advocate of population advantage theory, and he once said that a population size like India’s would inevitably lead to a great power.

If East African immigrants are allowed to reproduce without restraint, a family will only have two laborers, but may have to feed more than a dozen mouths. It is unrealistic to expect them to work like horses. Of course, this may be a bit too idealistic. A conservative estimate would be seven or eight mouths.

In addition to the birth rate, immigration is also a problem. The current normal immigration level to East Africa is about two hundred and fifty thousand per month, with more than four hundred ships (including rented ships and slave ships) serving East African immigration.

Over the course of a year, the number of immigrants to East Africa is about three million. If we go up to 1880, that’s another ten million new immigrants.

It should be noted here that although the East African government does not count the native population, it still counts the number of immigrants each year. The number of immigrants is what it is, and will not change due to the birth rate.

This is just the immigrant population. In reality, it now only takes ten days to travel by ship from the Far East and Europe to East Africa. These immigrants will not take more than three months to settle down after entering East Africa. After settling down, the new immigrants join the ranks of childbearing. Well, it is indeed a bit difficult.

This is the ideal state of immigration. In reality, the reality is the ideal situation. The economic crisis has created opportunities for East Africa. Even the United States, a purely immigrant country, has people immigrating to East Africa. The situation in other parts of the world can be imagined.

East African immigration is led by the government. Immigration agencies have been established in various European countries, East Asia, and South America. Therefore, the East African Immigration Department is the world’s largest and most systematic immigration organization, and also the world’s second-largest slave trader.

In fact, in the current world, except for Arab and Indian men, and Black people, other countries are the target of the East African Immigration Department, in order to meet East African immigration needs.

Take Germany as an example. The total population of southern Germany, which has been bled by East Africa for many years, has not decreased significantly, but it has not increased either. Therefore, East Africa’s absorption of immigrants does not cause any loss to various countries.

After all, after the Industrial Revolution, the world’s population has exploded to more than 1.27 billion, and the number of East African immigrants does not even make up a fraction of that.

Of course, East Africa has its own national conditions here, so many situations are very different from the way those immigrant countries in the Americas absorb immigrants.

Immigration is generally a spontaneous act of the people, and the difficulty of intercontinental immigration is quite difficult for the people of this era.

The ship tickets for American immigrants are mainly paid by various companies and enterprises that lack people, and then deducted from the immigrants’ wages. These things are basically written clearly in the contract, while East Africa directly waives the ship tickets. In the choice between the two, East Africa has the advantage. After all, the United States calculates the cost of ship tickets so clearly. Do you still want to go to the United States to make a fortune? Do you really think there is gold everywhere!

Secondly, East Africa’s marketing methods are different. East Africa’s immigration advertisements focus on demonstration, based on the lower classes, and then pulling people back to their hometowns. East Africa really dares to do this. The United States can only make up stories in newspapers and engage in fraud.

Finally, East African immigration is not limited to white people. It focuses on both the Far East and Europe. In this way, East Africa is in a buyer’s market. Here, the Far East does not refer to a national concept, but to the true meaning of the Far East.

Of course, in addition to these normal methods, East Africa will also use some off-the-table tricks, that is, to report some of the real situations of American immigrants in European newspapers as they are.

The United States does have a higher upper limit for development, but most people are still self-aware. For example, German farmers know their own weight. Compared with the fantasy of getting rich in the United States, East Africa’s conditions are more in line with them.

Secondly, special attention should be paid to the East African education system. The education system plays a major role in reducing the cost of raising children for the people. With the development of the middle school system, people born in East Africa spend ten years in school. The most important thing is that East African schools also provide a lunch.

Combining all of this, the total population of East Africa will break through at least thirty million in 1880. The specific data will have to wait until the population census is restarted. It may even break through forty million.

The fertility of human beings in agricultural societies cannot be ignored, and East Africa is an agricultural country with industrial attributes.

As for restricting immigration, it is better to say it is screening immigrants. This was originally East Africa’s initial immigration policy, mainly targeting drug addicts. East Africa does not care about minor problems such as malnutrition.

Moreover, this increase in immigration restrictions is mainly aimed at German immigrants in the United States. After all, the United States is a stronghold of liberalism. As an autocratic monarchy, East Africa naturally wants to prevent some of the “decadent” ideas of the United States from flowing into East Africa. Apart from the United States, the entire Americas is like this. There is not a single monarchy. How can East Africa rest assured?

Moreover, on the whole, East Africa’s investment in immigration has actually increased. For example, East Africa is very welcome to female immigrants. The last East African statistics showed that the proportion of women was close to forty-seven percent. A large part of these women can come to East Africa because money was spent. Even Indian and Muslim women are popular in East Africa, except for Black women, of course.

The problem of overpopulation is not unique to East Africa, and the social atmosphere of the nineteenth century gave East Africa the convenience of buying and selling “**”. After all, in most regions, men have to inherit the family business, and women’s status is low, and even become commodities.

And the wool comes from the sheep. The money that East Africa spends to redeem women is naturally repaid by the bachelors of East Africa through work. In the early days, it was even used as a reward mechanism to mobilize the enthusiasm of immigrants.

Chapter 452: East African Railway Network

In the blink of an eye, it was 1875. The new population policy in East Africa did indeed cause some controversy among the people, but it was generally acceptable.

This was because even with the government reducing spending in this area, the cost of raising children in East Africa was still among the lowest in the world. East Africa also couldn’t adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, so the birth subsidy still existed, but it only covered the first three children. After that, people had to rely on their own efforts.

In 1875, the section of the Central Railway from Dar es Salaam to Mbeya was basically completed, the Northern Railway was completely finished, and the Little Rhine River renovation project was eighty percent complete. The Central Canal was completely finished.

The Little Rhine River renovation project was no easier than building a canal. Its workload even exceeded that of the canal project. The Little Rhine River project not only focused on the Little Rhine itself, but also considered the changes in rivers throughout the entire basin and the East African farmland irrigation system. At the same time, hydrological conditions also had to be taken into account, especially during the flood season, when work was very difficult due to heavy rain and rapid river currents, which often caused delays.

However, after the renovation, the middle and lower reaches of the Little Rhine River finally resembled European rivers to some extent, changing its natural state of thousands of years.

New Hamburg Port had also been completed. Currently, with New Hamburg City and Mbeya City as starting points, the southern section of the Central Railway had started construction in two segments, greatly accelerating the construction speed of the Central Railway.

“Now, most of the projects have been completed or are about to be completed. Only the Central Railway is the last tough nut to crack. However, with the completion of the Dar es Salaam to Mbeya section, steel from the coast can be transported to the front end by rail. There is no problem for the Central Railway to be completed next year, except for the western section. The southern section can be completely opened this year, connecting the line from Lusaka to Bulawayo.”

This immigration included many railway construction workers, so it greatly accelerated the construction speed of the East African railway. Moreover, with the increase in steel production in the Lake Malawi industrial zone and the commissioning of various supporting factories, the construction cost of the East African railway was greatly reduced.

“Ernst, with the reduction in workload, many slaves are entering a period of rest. What should we do now? Continue building railways or engage in other projects?” Konstantin asked.

“The railway can continue to be built, but the railway construction should be slowed down for now. We should first use the railway to promote immigration inland.”

The East African railway, in modern terms, was purely a losing business. Although the East African interior was not completely uninhabited, it was sparsely populated.

Therefore, now that the railway is completed, the land along the railway can also be developed. Now, a portion of the population in eastern East Africa must be diverted to the interior.

So Ernst said, “We can now develop the land we previously occupied in the Kingdom of Malawi on a large scale. We can use the Central Railway to send immigrants and some eastern residents mixed together to the South Salzburg Province.”

The territory of the Kingdom of Malawi was on the west bank of Lake Malawi. A few years ago, it was divided between East Africa and Mozambique. Malawi was called Nyasaland by the British in its previous life and was rich in crops such as tobacco, coffee, tea, cotton, and sugarcane, with an annual rainfall of between 1,000 and 1,500 millimeters.

It also has a variety of mineral deposits, including rare earths, titanium ore, bauxite, uranium ore, corundum, pyrite, limestone, coal, graphite, as well as gems, gold, and diamonds.

East Africa occupied most of the land of the Kingdom of Malawi, mainly the Northern Region and Central Region of the former Republic of Malawi (Malawi has a total of three regions). The Northern Region is mainly mountainous, the Central Region is a plateau, and the Southern Region is mainly composed of plateaus and lowlands.

The Central Plateau area is the focus of East Africa’s development, connecting it to the Luangwa River basin.

“In terms of railways, this year we will plan another southern railway starting from Mtwara Port and directly reaching the Lake Malawi industrial zone to solve the transportation problems of New Württemberg Province.”

The transportation of New Württemberg Province can be divided into three categories: first, sea transportation, namely Mtwara Port; second, highways, which are the main form of transportation used by the former Sea Lake Province, now New Württemberg Province, to connect cities within the province; and third, river transportation, mainly relying on the Ruvuma River.

The transportation of New Württemberg Province is very complete, and the western part belongs to the Lake Malawi industrial zone (the rest belongs to South Salzburg Province).

However, there is a huge shortcoming in the transportation of New Württemberg Province, that is, the seaport of Mtwara and the Ruvuma River are not connected. Mtwara is a separate bay port, which makes the goods of New Württemberg Province need an extra road transfer procedure.

“The southern railway should not overlap with the Ruvuma River, but should be more to the north, better radiating the inland areas. To do this, the location of Mtwara is somewhat too far south, so I plan to build a new port in the bay more than one hundred and sixty kilometers northwest of Mtwara as the starting point of the southern railway.”

The bay that Ernst was talking about is the former Kilwa Masoko Port in Tanzania, which is also an important seaport in Tanzania. Now it doesn’t even have a name. What Kilwa Masoko, might as well rename it Soko Port!

“Let’s call it Soko for now. Soko Port is geographically more inclined to the Central Province, in the middle of the Rufiji River and the Ruvuma River. The inland is just a blank space. If a railway is developed, it will be of great benefit to the development of New Württemberg Province.”

The economic center of New Württemberg Province is in the south, starting with the Lower Coastal Area, and then the Sea Lake Province, all developing close to the Ruvuma River. Therefore, New Württemberg Province inherited this characteristic.

This makes the area between the Central Province and New Württemberg Province extremely empty. There is not even a decent city. Agricultural development is good, but inconvenient transportation is also a big problem. The processing and export of agricultural products are very inconvenient.

If the southern railway passes through here, it can solve this problem well, and it can also open up a transportation line directly from the Lake Malawi industrial zone to the ocean.

The Lake Malawi industrial zone is currently divided into two parts, one is the north shore, centered on Mbeya City, and the other is the east shore, centered on Songea.

Songea used to be the capital of the East Malawi Lake District in the East African colony. Now it is the heavy industry center of New Württemberg Province, and the end point of the southern railway is Songea City.

The cities in East Africa are actually a concept of prefecture-level cities in the East in their previous life, which are different from European cities. They belong to local administrative offices, so the scope of Songea City has always extended to Lake Malawi, and the end point of the railway is also on Lake Malawi.

Ernst continued, “In addition to the southern railway, the Central Railway also has supporting branch line projects. A branch line will be separated from Dodoma City, passing through Mbeya City along the Great Lakes region, and finally reaching Bujumbura in the West Great Lakes Province. In this way, we East Africa can form a relatively primary railway network.”

Although it is said to be a branch line, Ernst still intends to build it according to the standard of the Central Railway main line.

(Schematic diagram)

If these two railways are built, it will be another thousand kilometers, and the total mileage of the East African railway will reach more than seven thousand kilometers.

Through the map, it can also be seen that the East African railway has realized the linkage of Lake Malawi, Lake Sören (Tanganyika) and the Great Lake (Victoria). With the help of these three natural lakes, East Africa’s transportation has directly opened up the Ren and Du meridians.

Building railways in East Africa is indeed more troublesome than in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Any railway will exceed five hundred kilometers, but this kind of happy trouble cannot be enjoyed by countries without a vast territory.

Chapter 453: Loan

While development in East Africa was in full swing, other regions of the world were not peaceful. It could be said that East Africa’s stable development benefited from the Far Eastern Empire shouldering most of the pressure. Britain, Russia, and Japan, as if they had agreed, were invading the Far Eastern Empire from three directions: the southwest, northwest, and western Pacific.

East Africa’s size was not small on the world stage, but Europe did not have a deep understanding of it. The Far East, on the other hand, was impossible to hide.

France did not join this time because it was digesting the fruits of the Second Franco-Vietnamese War (1873 to 1874). On March 15, 1874, France signed the Second Treaty of Saigon with Cochinchina, stipulating that French troops would maintain order in the areas ruled by the Nguyen Dynasty; Vietnam recognized France’s indisputable control over Cochinchina; and French people were allowed to use the Red River as a channel for trading with the southwest of the Far Eastern Empire.

Africa, as the last territory invaded by Europeans, could still lie dormant for a while. It was clear that the entire Far East region was more attractive to the great powers than other regions, even Africa (excluding North Africa).

Japan’s probing at Egg Bay Island had already been thwarted last year, but Ernst could not intervene in the crises in the northwest and southwest, as both were deep in the Far Eastern interior.

In the southwest, the British had not yet launched their operations. If nothing unexpected happened, a crisis would erupt next month.

The northwest was actually an old problem, having broken out as early as 1864, but the Far Eastern government had internal disputes over coastal defense versus border defense. This dispute lasted for ten years, such high efficiency.

This year, the Far Eastern government finally resolved to solve the northwest problem and recover the lost territories, but after the decision was made, no one was willing to pay.

The empire’s finances were riddled with holes. The national army was owed over thirty million taels in pay, and the financial and tax centers were controlled by local forces such as the Xiang and Huai armies, which made it difficult for Zuo Jigao, who was actively advocating for war and defending the country.

May, 1875.

Black Herington Bank (Kaifeng).

As the capital of a province, Kaifeng was still relatively prosperous in this era. It was also the easternmost end of the Huaihai Economic Zone and a key area for Black Herington Bank’s inland business. It was also a place for Shanxi merchants, Anhui merchants, and the Black Herington Consortium to negotiate.

Today, representatives of the two merchant guilds had come to Kaifeng to discuss matters with Mayweather, the head of Black Herington Bank’s Central Plains region. However, they had brought someone with them.

“Mr. Mayweather, this is an important official from our Far Eastern government, Lord Zuo Jigao. Today’s visit is actually to ask for a favor!”

Mayweather, thinking they were there to discuss business, smiled and said, “Easy to say, easy to say. As long as it’s not too difficult, I’m happy to help.”

Qiao Zhiyong said, “To be honest, we’re here to raise military funds. I’m sure your bank has heard something about it.”

Mayweather’s eyes lit up. “Haddes, serve tea to these distinguished guests!”

It wasn’t just that he had heard something about it. In fact, all the major banks operating in the Far East knew about it. But why did Zuo Jigao come to Black Herington Bank? This was thanks to Black Herington Bank’s two commercial allies.

Zuo Jigao had a good relationship with Hu Xueyan, and since he was working in the northwest, he inevitably had dealings with Qiao Zhiyong. So, on their recommendation, he came to Kaifeng with them.

Zuo Jigao said, “Mr. Mayweather, we’re borrowing this time to deal with the separatist forces in the northwest. The journey is long, and the environment is harsh, so this battle may be difficult…”

Mayweather interrupted, “Lord Zuo, just say how much you want to borrow!”

So straightforward? Zuo Jigao extended five fingers to see what kind of strength this Black Herington Bank had. Zuo Jigao had also been to HSBC before, after all, HSBC had a bigger reputation and had been operating in the Far East for longer.

“Five million taels of silver?”

“If your bank can’t come up with that much money in a short time, it’s okay. We can contact other people.”

“Haha, you’re joking. Five million taels isn’t much for us. I’m just wondering if that’s too little for you? You have to know that the Russians are behind the separatist forces in the northwest.”

“Can your bank lend more money? I asked HSBC before, and they said it would take some work to come up with that much money. It’s not a small amount.”

“Haha, don’t say five million taels, we can lend out twenty million taels, but twenty million taels may not all be silver.”

“Pounds sterling would also be acceptable.”

“No, it’s East African Rhine thalers, also a national currency.”

Hu Xueyan explained from the side, “The Rhine thaler is a paper currency issued by the Kingdom of East Africa. One tael of silver is equal to five Rhine thalers.”

“Is this currency reliable?”

“It can be directly exchanged for gold at Black Herington Bank.”

“!”

Mayweather said, “Lord Zuo, don’t worry. The East African Rhine thaler is not widely circulated in the world, but it is indeed a genuine currency issued by the Kingdom of East Africa, backed by gold, and the value is very stable.”

“Wouldn’t it be troublesome to buy supplies with this currency?”

“Don’t worry, just tell us what you need. Black Herington Bank can provide it all, whether it’s military rations, uniforms, or armaments. We can even hire European military instructors.”

“This…” It seemed they lacked everything.

Regardless of the rest, he would first see what conditions Black Herington Bank could offer. Zuo Jigao put aside the thoughts in his head and said, “Suppose, and I mean suppose, our government borrows ten million taels from your bank, what conditions would you offer?”

Mayweather didn’t take the bait. “That depends on what price your country can offer?”

Zuo Jigao tentatively said, “My expectation is no more than five!”

“Deal!” Mayweather said directly.

“…” Had he offered too much?

“Of course…”

As expected, there were still conditions. Zuo Jigao had guessed that Westerners would not agree to him so easily. Currently, according to the market price for international loans, the interest rate was about four percent. He had only raised it a little, and probably no one would agree casually.

He only heard Mayweather continue, “We can lend to your country, but the corresponding purchase of military rations should all be handed over to our bank, and we should also take a portion of the armaments.” Mayweather, the manager of Black Herington Bank’s Kaifeng branch, said.

Zuo Jigao said, “Does your bank also run a grain business?”

Hu Xueyan explained from the side, “Lord Zuo, Black Herington Bank may seem like a money shop, but it’s actually a top Western consortium with many businesses. It’s a well-known bank in the German region.”

Zuo Jigao said, “But this war is far in the northwest. Do you have the ability to transport grain to the front lines?”

Mayweather said, “This is easy to handle. We have a mature commercial route that can go directly from East Africa to Jiaozhou, and finally reach Kaifeng by land. The rest is what you need to consider.”

Qiao Zhiyong on the side said, “We can handle this. We can absolutely guarantee no problems from Henan to the northwest.”

The commercial alliance wasn’t just talk. In fact, even without this war, Shanxi merchants would still be hauling grain from the Huaihai Economic Zone to the northwest.

Zuo Jigao said, “Let’s not talk about the grain problem, I’m afraid about the armaments!”

Mayweather said, “Haha, Lord Zuo, don’t worry, we’re also quite good at the arms business. Whether it’s German or Austrian weapons, we can get them as long as we have money. We have cheap ones too, like the outdated Dreyse rifles. We still have a lot in stock. If you want more advanced rifles, we have those too. We have a source for Prussia’s most advanced Mauser rifles.”

Good heavens! Li Hongzhang had just gotten a batch of ninety percent new Dreyse rifle production lines from the Germans a while ago, and in the blink of an eye, they had become outdated rifles?

Feeling that this wasn’t enough, Mayweather added fuel to the fire and said, “As everyone knows, your country’s equipment is mainly British. Although Britain is strong, it’s more reflected in its navy. When it comes to the army, we Germans are the best in the world. Even the French army, which used to be called the best in the world, was defeated by us Germans.”

The fact that France had lost to Germany would probably be on the Germans’ lips for decades to come.

“These are all easy to solve, but what other conditions does your bank have?”

“Besides these, we need to see sincerity in the collateral. After all, this is a high-risk investment. Friendship is friendship, business is business. We can’t recklessly lend without collateral.”

“Besides these, there are really no other additional requirements?”

Mayweather shook his head and said, “No.”

It wasn’t that Mayweather didn’t want to, but he had orders from above. This time, they couldn’t charge too high an interest rate on the Far Eastern Empire. Although there were other banks undercutting the price, according to Mayweather’s psychological expectations, the interest rate should have been at least around seven percent.

Five percent was also good, there was still profit to be made. An interest rate of four percent was already a lot in the market, and generally people wouldn’t borrow unless they were in an emergency. Black Herington Bank’s business in the entire Far East region was similar to HSBC’s, so they also operated in high-interest loans. For example, in Japan and Korea, borrowing was possible, and if they couldn’t repay, they could use population and resources to offset the debt.

It was impossible to try to get out of paying. Black Herington Bank had three countries behind it. Ordinary countries didn’t have the guts to do that, and East Africa also had the ability to collect debts by force. They couldn’t deal with Europe, but they couldn’t deal with you?

Chapter 454: Military Exercise

June, 1875.

Mikumi area, Central Province, Kingdom of East Africa.

Mikumi is a transitional zone between the plateau and plains of the Central Province, where mountains, hills, and plains converge, and forests and grasslands connect.

The rainy season has just ended, the soil is still very moist, and a hazy mist permeates the mountains and forests. The Central Railway passes through this area, like a steel dragon slowly disappearing from the coastal plains into the East African plateau.

On both sides of the railway are East African villages and fertile fields. However, this year the villagers witnessed a good show. The Royal Army held a large-scale military exercise in Mikumi. Starting at five in the morning, the rumbling of artillery and gunfire broke the tranquility of the area. Smoke could even be seen rising from the hillside in the cultivated fields of the plains.

With the help of the railway, the East African Guards Division rapidly deployed troops to the Mikumi area. Their opponent was the Southern Military Region, which had fought against the Boers in the south. The two sides launched a major battle in the Mikumi area.

“Blue Army Third Combat Squad, the enemy has entered the jungle, do not act rashly. Enter in squad formation, maintain combat distance, and do not be defeated one by one!”

“Twenty-five degrees to the left, there is unusual movement in the bushes, potential enemies may be lurking.”

“Grenades ready!”

As a smoke grenade ignited, the Blue Army Third Combat Squad was enveloped in a fog.

The referee following the Third Combat Squad judged: “Hit by a Red Army attack, the blast point is directly in the center, casualty loss assessed at forty percent of personnel.”

“This is unfair! Grenades don’t have that much power in real combat! This is a fix!”

“The exercise headquarters stipulates that the damage range of small explosive devices is widened by two meters. This is not just for you, but for all participating troops, so the penalty is valid!”

“That’s still not right. Since it’s a casualty, not everyone would be killed! The wounded can still fight. In the western rainforest, our grenades had that effect on the natives. Even with close-range explosions, the natives’ survival rate was still high, and they still had combat capability.”

“Heh, this exercise is based on the most brutal standards. If we say you’re a casualty, you’re considered dead. We’re not considering wounded status. Moreover, being wounded in a harsh environment is basically a death sentence. The enemy won’t give you a chance, so every decision must be made carefully. Any small detail can be the key to victory or defeat in war.”

The Blue Army soldier still said somewhat unconvinced: “Then since we’re dead, are we just lying here now?”

“Yes, now hand over your life tags to me. You can wait for the exercise to end. The remaining survivors will continue to participate in the battle.”

After the referee and others left, the Blue Army soldiers who had been “killed” said somewhat unconvinced: “Our position was exposed just now purely by accident. We usually hide pretty well. Now that there’s a military referee with us, we’re restricted and can’t let loose at all.”

“Damn it, the referee might have given us away. Is he a spy sent by the Red Army?”

“Impossible. The referees for this exercise are from other military regions. There can’t be any favoritism. Take us, for example. Who here is convinced by the so-called Guards Division? So the exercise referees might actually be inclined towards us.”

“Let’s not talk about the referee issue. We really have a lot of problems with this tactical exercise. Damn it, it makes me angry just thinking about it. So many people hiding in such a small patch of bushes is bound to cause problems. I was the first to hide here. Couldn’t you guys have gone somewhere else to hide?”

“Isn’t this the only good spot? So everyone tacitly chose this spot. Other places are too open!”

“So we didn’t lose unfairly. Next time we have to retreat separately…”

While the Blue Army soldiers were summarizing their experiences, the Red Army soldiers’ captain was also very dissatisfied: “Look at the way you guys are! Luckily I spotted the enemy’s movement just now, or we’d be waiting to be ambushed! Next time we enter the jungle, we have to scout ahead. If we encounter a well-trained army, we’ll definitely suffer!”

……

The soldiers had different opinions on the exercise, and the exercise headquarters was already in an uproar.

“Lian Nade, how can you be so smug? Look at your equipment, and look at our equipment. If you ask me, compared to your Guards Division, our troops are like stepchildren.”

“Ke Li Ao Li, don’t make slanderous accusations. The Guards Division may indeed have some advantages in terms of weapons, but our ability to gain an advantage is also the result of our efforts. Furthermore, the Guards Division also faces considerable restrictions. All kinds of high-quality terrain were assigned to you from the beginning, and you are still the defending side, so the gap between the two sides is not that big.”

“Not that big? Your 12-pound cannons are too shameless! They were originally 6-pound cannons, but they’re counted as 12-pound cannons, and they can even be counted as 24-pound cannons. Our 3-pound cannons are still 3-pound cannons. And the number of machine guns is more than ten times ours. I won’t even count these. The set number of bullets and other basic parameters are all lower than yours. How can we fight this kind of battle!”

“Heh, there’s no way around it. This time, our Red Army is simulating a European military power. The gap in equipment between the East African army and the European army is that big. Besides, many of our heavy equipment can’t发挥 (fāhuī - exert, bring into play) their full effect. The road conditions here are so poor that light artillery is more flexible than heavy artillery.”

The exercise headquarters’ commander-in-chief, Si Wei Te, said: “Alright, stop arguing. This exercise is a pre-run, to see what mistakes would occur if we, at East Africa’s level, were to confront European powers. So the equipment gap is so outrageous. Our army must demand the highest standards of itself, and be able to发挥 (fāhuī - exert, bring into play) its strength even when in desperate situations.”

“Chief of Staff, I understand this point, but I really can’t figure it out. Which European country has the ability to deploy such a large-scale army in East Africa, and equip it with so many weapons? I’m afraid even the British can’t do it, right?”

“Perhaps this is difficult for the powers, but the powers’ strength is beyond doubt, especially those naval and land powers in Europe. If they really use their full national strength to deal with East Africa, then we will definitely be very uncomfortable.”

“That’s right, we can’t underestimate the enemy, especially the powers. Not to mention using their full national strength, some powers only need to use one-third of their strength to give us a headache. A million troops may not be possible, but they still have the ability to deploy hundreds of thousands of troops to Africa.” En Si Te walked into the headquarters and said.

“Your Highness!” The men gave En Si Te a military salute.

En Si Te waved his hand and said: “Alright, sit down! I took some time to come to the exercise area to inspect. You continue your work. What is the current situation of the exercise?”

Si Wei Te said: “Reporting to Your Highness, the exercise has not yet ended, but judging from the exercise situation, the Red Army has a greater advantage. The Blue Army is having some difficulty dealing with the Red Army’s attack.”

“Well, after the exercise, the Red Army should summarize its experiences more. The Red Army is more representative of the true level of our East African army. The Guards Division is, after all, somewhat special. So the problems faced by the Red Army are also the problems that East Africa may encounter. We are on the defensive in Africa, so we must be fully prepared.”

“Your Highness, is it really possible for Europe to invade Africa!”

“I can give you an accurate answer. It is certain. Now all countries are eager to make a move. In the Far East, multiple major powers are launching aggression against the East. South America is also full of conflicts. Moreover, this economic crisis has far-reaching effects. Unlike the previous British-style economic crisis, almost all European industrial countries have been affected. In order to shift the crisis, they will inevitably launch more intense disputes than before. This time, it is not one place or one country, but the whole world.”

“Can East Africa’s size not avoid it?”

“Unavoidable! Africa being targeted is only a matter of time. Moreover, Italy, Belgium, and France have already taken action. If other countries also enter the fray, East Africa will definitely not be able to stay out of it. So, in order to prevent the fate of other backward countries from falling on our heads, we must be more ruthless and more powerful than the enemy. Only the strong can be respected. So the purpose of the military exercise is to let our army adapt to the pressure of East Africa’s potential enemies under this major crisis.”

Chapter 455: Pointing the Sword at Southeast Asia

The purpose of exercises is to prevent problems before they occur. For East Africa, the actual defense pressure isn’t as great as other countries, but it’s easy for other countries to make things difficult for East Africa.

Ernst, who made an appearance at the exercises, quickly took the train back. He came to inspect to show his importance to the military, but he had more important things to do.

July, 1875.

Bagamoyo Port.

“This time, our fleet’s mission is to depart from East Africa, pass through the Strait of Malacca, go through Kalimantan Island, and finally arrive in the Far East to pay state visits to various countries in the Far East,” Archduke Ferdinand said to the naval officers.

This made the Austrian young officers very excited. After all, this mission was quite rare, and they might not have encountered such an opportunity even in Austria before.

There are many Austrian officers in the East African Navy, which is understandable, after all, the structure of the East African Navy was built by them and Archduke Ferdinand.

The East African Navy is no longer the rookie it once was. With the help of the Austrian Navy, it has developed quite well, especially after two new ironclad ships were commissioned last month, the number of East African ironclad ships directly reached three.

As for why the first naval voyage chose the Far East, it was to show off… no, it was to promote national prestige.

This time, they borrowed such a large sum of money in the Far East to support the Far Eastern Empire’s war against Tsarist Russia. Although the interest rate was not low, Ernst was also afraid that the Far Eastern Empire would treat people differently and play the rogue card.

The probability of this happening is actually close to zero. The Far Eastern Empire has always valued face the most. Although more than ten million taels is a lot, it is not impossible to repay. In fact, in history, the Far Eastern Empire repaid eight million taels to HSBC the following year, with an interest of more than three million taels, recouping the investment in one year.

So, urging for debt is just an excuse. The real purpose of the East African Navy is to explore the route to the East.

Ernst has been coveting the East for more than a day or two. Of course, this East mainly refers to the Indian Ocean, plus the Southeast Asian region. For East Africa, everything east of the continent is the East.

Although the Indian Ocean is important, there are only a few islands in the center of the ocean, which are controlled by Britain and France. Moreover, with the commissioning of East African Navy ironclad ships and the control of islands, the western Indian Ocean is actually East Africa’s backyard. Therefore, in Ernst’s eyes, the Southeast Asian region is truly important.

The position of the Strait of Malacca alone is irreplaceable, of course, this is not something East Africa can covet now, but there are many islands in Southeast Asia!

Among the many islands in Southeast Asia, the East Indies (referring to Indonesia here), Kalimantan Island (Borneo), the Philippine Islands, and Sumatra Island are all existences that cannot be ignored (in fact, the above islands all belong to the East Indies), as well as a pile of small islands with relatively important locations.

Among these islands, the most influential is the Netherlands, followed by Britain, then Spain, and finally Portugal (East Timor). Kalimantan Island is already an area that Ernst has set his sights on. The main countries on Kalimantan Island are the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Sarawak, and seven republics including Lanfang.

The Dutch have three territories on Kalimantan Island, located in the northwest and south of Kalimantan respectively. In the middle of the Dutch colony is the Lanfang Republic.

The Lanfang Republic can also be called the Lanfang Company, or the Lanfang Great Confederation Republic, which is a Chinese country. It was established as early as 1777 and is mainly composed of Chinese who went south during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

The ruling class of the Lanfang Republic is actually very strange. It claims to be the first republic in Asia, but it is actually jointly ruled by local Chinese families. The organizational form is more like a group like the East India Company.

These are not important to Ernst. He simply likes the geographical conditions of Kalimantan Island. Southeast Asia is the “crossroads” of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and Kalimantan Island is the “crossroads” of Southeast Asia.

Ernst said to his father-in-law: “This voyage, we must regard the Lanfang Republic as a key area. This is likely to be our first colony in the East Indies in the future. Therefore, the navy can appropriately make demands on the Lanfang Republic this time, to lay the foundation for our next step to expand our economic and political influence on the Lanfang Republic.”

You have to pinch the soft persimmon. The Lanfang Republic is the soft persimmon in Ernst’s eyes, and it is a relatively familiar soft persimmon.

With this navy as a guarantee, the Lanfang Republic would not dare not give East Africa face. After all, the Lanfang Republic has not been doing well in the Southeast Asian region in recent years, which is also the predicament faced by various countries in Southeast Asia.

Archduke Ferdinand asked: “You value this Lanfang Republic so much because it is a Chinese country?”

This was the question in Archduke Ferdinand’s heart, so he took this opportunity to ask it. After all, Ernst’s various behaviors showed that his emphasis on Chinese people was second only to Germans.

“There are factors in this regard, because I have quite a lot of research on Chinese history and understand Chinese people better, but this is not the main factor. The fundamental reason is that the Lanfang Republic is an independent country. This is very important to East Africa. We don’t need to conflict with other European countries now, and if we don’t conflict with other countries, and we still want to have a place in the East Indies, we can only attack those ownerless lands or independent countries. Father-in-law, do you think a colony with a development foundation is valuable, or an ownerless land is valuable?”

“Of course, it is a colony with a development foundation.”

“That’s right. Before our industrial revolution, the Chinese had always mastered the most advanced civilization in the East. Seres was one of the four major powers in the world during the ancient Roman era, and when Rome did not exist, the Chinese were already the most powerful civilization in the world, far more powerful than Greece and Egypt. The Lanfang Republic, as a Chinese-led country, its residents are actually synonymous with advanced productivity in the Southeast Asian region. Of course, I am talking about before the industrial revolution.”

“Chinese people are indeed very disciplined, and hardworking and brave,” Archduke Ferdinand said, referring to the Chinese sailors in the navy.

“That’s right. In fact, the areas in East Asia that are influenced by Chinese civilization are similar, but the Southeast Asian region happens to be not included. The time they accepted civilization may be the time when European colonists colonized, and the efficiency is not much higher than that of African natives.”

Industrialization and colonial rule emphasize efficiency. The soil of the Southeast Asian islands is barren (except for islands covered by volcanic ash such as Java), and the development of civilization is not ideal. Therefore, bringing the natives into industrial civilization is as difficult as Africa.

Therefore, a Chinese-led country like the Lanfang Republic is an ideal area for colonization. In fact, judging from the development status of Malaysian Chinese in later generations, this is also the case. They are definitely high-quality objects to be ruled.

Moreover, the Lanfang Republic is now considered an independent country. East Africa can first penetrate economically for a few years, and then it can naturally be included in East Africa’s sphere of influence without conflicting with other colonists. If there is a conflict, it is not afraid. The one who has the ability to threaten the Lanfang Republic is the Dutch. Would Ernst be afraid of the Dutch?

Moreover, Ernst regards the Lanfang Republic as a key area for naturalization, and there is another reason, that is, it can integrate local Chinese forces to resist other colonist counterparts.

After all, East Africa’s overseas radiation capacity is not strong, and it does not have the advantages of countries such as the Netherlands in Southeast Asia. To put it this way, there are many ownerless lands in Southeast Asia, but occupying these ownerless lands is of no value to East Africa now. Even if East Africa plants flags in some ownerless lands, the Netherlands and other countries can directly ignore it.

Therefore, East Africa needs a fulcrum to intervene in Southeast Asian affairs, and the best object for this fulcrum is the Lanfang Republic. Everyone is considered half their own people, and cooperation is more convenient.

Although I don’t know whether the Lanfang Republic agrees psychologically, Ernst believes that they will agree under the threat of the East African Navy.

Furthermore, the requirements of the East African Kingdom are not excessive. It is just to request the power of trade and investment, which is relatively easy to accept.

As for a few years later, it will be logical to request the stationing of troops. Anyway, with the Dutch threat on the side, the Lanfang Republic may take the initiative to request East Africa to station troops. With the stationing of troops, the remaining things will be easier to handle. Comprehensively promote German education and German civilization in the Lanfang Republic, and completely turn the Lanfang Republic into East Africa’s strategic fulcrum in the Southeast Asian region.

In Ernst’s opinion, everything is a matter of course. After all, Singapore in his previous life could use English as an official language, so it is feasible to promote German in the Lanfang Republic.

Chapter 456: Imperialism

July 23rd, 1875.

A deep-sea fleet composed of seven East African warships arrived at the Lanfang Republic and landed at Sanyang Estuary. Archduke Ferdinand remarked, “Among the islands of Southeast Asia, this place is indeed developing quite well!”

As far as the eye could see, there were fertile fields, somewhat reminiscent of the agricultural landscapes of coastal East Africa. This shattered Archduke Ferdinand’s preconceived notions about the newly established Southeast Asian territories, which he had formed during his journey through the Strait of Malacca.

The Strait of Malacca was indeed narrow, but its shores were formed by the large islands of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, resulting in vast land areas. However, aside from a few cities (which Ferdinand considered to be rural villages), the areas on both sides of the Strait of Malacca were mostly sparsely populated and covered in dense rainforest.

The Lanfang Republic, however, was completely different. The East African fleet had initially arrived at Bangxia, a northern city of the Lanfang Republic, but the capital, Dongwanlu, was in the south, so the fleet sailed south along the coastline.

Along the way, Ferdinand finally witnessed firsthand the construction achievements of a country ruled purely by Chinese people. Lanfang’s agriculture and mining industries were highly developed, especially its agricultural development, which could be considered the most advanced in Southeast Asia. This comparison made Ernst’s claim that the indigenous people of Southeast Asia were largely useless seem quite reasonable.

In fact, history had already proven this. The Dutch, who had the most thorough understanding of the Lanfang Republic in its original historical context, as High Commissioner H. G. de Jonge witnessed the final history of the Chinese companies in Western Borneo: “The era of the Chinese in Borneo’s history, even the era of Borneo’s prosperity, is gone forever. The local gold mining industry has been replaced by large-scale modern enterprises run by Europeans, but the peak of mining during the Chinese era is no more; agriculture has also declined sharply due to the large-scale return of Chinese immigrants to the Far East.”

Therefore, Ernst’s statement that the Lanfang Republic represented the highest productivity in Southeast Asia was not unfounded. In reality, the Dutch annexation of the Lanfang Republic was indeed a terrible move.

What did the Lanfang Republic rely on for its own development? Ultimately, it was a matter of people. After the Dutch drove out the Chinese, the Lanfang Republic declined from that point onward. Currently, the Lanfang Republic itself is subject to Dutch interference, and its so-called “President” is a puppet under Dutch control.

The arrival of the East African fleet at Sanyang Estuary clearly caused a stir. The steel behemoths were quite shocking to the locals who had never seen ironclad warships.

“What is that, a ship?”

“A warship!”

Dutch merchants doing business in the Sanyang Estuary area recognized the ironclad warships, and the more knowledgeable ones even recognized the flag of the East African Kingdom on the warships.

“How did the Germans suddenly arrive in Lanfang? What do they want?”

Archduke Ferdinand was not here for “friendly” exchanges. Under the “cordial” greeting of the East African Navy, the Chinese leader of Sanyang Estuary hurriedly came to pay his respects. He had no choice, as the other party’s troops had already landed.

“May I ask where you come from, and what is the purpose of your visit to my Lanfang?”

This opening remark left Ferdinand somewhat dumbfounded, as he couldn’t understand a word. He had thought that with his knowledge of some Mandarin, he would be able to communicate with the other party to some extent, but it seemed he had overestimated himself!

In terms of language learning, the Habsburg family dared to claim the top spot, and no one would dare to challenge them. Being unable to speak several languages in the Habsburg-ruled territories was considered disqualifying for the ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Franz himself could fluently use eight languages of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In this regard, Archduke Ferdinand was not to be outdone, and his experiences were even more remarkable than Franz himself. Having lived in Europe, America, and Africa, he knew even more languages.

There were many Chinese people in the East African Navy, and although they all spoke German, Archduke Ferdinand had specifically learned Mandarin. In just three months, Ferdinand could communicate with the Chinese sailors without using German, which was very beneficial for him to control the navy. After all, the population of East Africa was diverse, and people of some ethnic groups would secretly communicate in their native languages.

Fortunately, East Africa had dispersed and separated them in advance, so that apart from German itself, no other language could challenge German’s dominant position in East Africa.

Ferdinand learned Northern Mandarin, or more accurately “National Language,” which was the official standard language of the Far East at the time. However, the Lanfang Republic spoke Hakka and Teochew dialects, which was beyond Archduke Ferdinand’s capabilities.

Fortunately, there were many southerners among the East African sailors, who were recruited from Zhuhai and were excellent swimmers, just as the mountain divisions recruited soldiers from Guangxi. With a translator, the two sides could finally communicate normally.

“We are from the Kingdom of East Africa…”

Through the translator’s communication, the leader of Sanyang Estuary finally understood the purpose of the East Africans, but this was beyond his authority.

“Your Excellency Archduke Ferdinand, this matter is not something that a mere local official like myself can decide. Please allow me to notify the President-General first, and then the President-General will make a decision.”

“Since you cannot make the decision, then there is no need to talk. We will personally go to Dongwanlu to negotiate with your country’s ruler!” Archduke Ferdinand said.

“This…”

However, looking at the menacing army behind Archduke Ferdinand, and the imposing battleships, the leader of Sanyang Estuary swallowed his words.

Although the capital of the Lanfang Republic, Dongwanlu, was further inland than Sanyang Estuary, it was actually not far from the coast. Therefore, it took Archduke Ferdinand two days to reach the capital of the Lanfang Republic.

In the nineteenth century, the population of the Lanfang Republic was approximately one million, with the Chinese population alone accounting for more than five hundred thousand. This was after the gold mines were depleted and the number of miners had decreased by half. However, most of the Chinese miners had gone to the Kingdom of Sarawak.

Therefore, the Lanfang Republic was not sparsely populated. In fact, its population density was higher than that of many regions in East Africa. The city of Pontianak alone had a population of two to three hundred thousand. Dongwanlu, as the political center of Lanfang, had a population of over ten thousand.

Currently, although the Lanfang Republic maintains its independent state status, it unilaterally claims to be a tributary state of the Great Qing, and in reality, it has to pay a portion of its taxes to the Dutch as protection fees. Its President-General, Liu Asheng, is also a product of the compromise between the Chinese and the Dutch, and can be considered a semi-puppet regime.

The Lanfang Republic is actually quite chaotic, with some like Liu Asheng colluding with the Dutch, and others insisting on fighting against the Dutch.

This is not important to East Africa. The purpose of this East African naval expedition is to force the Liu family to fully open the doors of the Lanfang Republic. As long as the Dongwanlu government signs the agreement, East African commercial organizations will immediately launch an economic invasion of the Lanfang Republic.

In fact, East Africa already has economic trade with the Lanfang Republic. This is not surprising, as British and Americans also do business with the Lanfang Republic. However, East Africa’s trade with the Lanfang Republic mainly relies on Zanzibar merchants. This time, they are personally taking the stage.

Dongwanlu has two intersecting streets that form a cross, each a quarter of a mile long, which are very wide. The houses along the streets are neat and beautiful, but there are so few people that it resembles an American town after a cholera outbreak. The houses are empty, which is the result of the depletion of local mineral resources.

Therefore, when Archduke Ferdinand led his troops into Dongwanlu, the Dongwanlu government was completely unable to stop them.

The entire population of Dongwanlu was just over ten thousand, while Ferdinand brought more than two thousand troops ashore. Therefore, the Dongwanlu government had no confidence in resisting.

The Chinese forces along the way did not dare to resist either, because everyone was not clear about what these outsiders were doing. As long as they did not threaten their own interests, no one would stick their neck out.

Of course, the Dutch were another matter. The Dutch had accumulated a certain “reputation” in the Lanfang Republic over the years, and everyone knew that they were coming for them.

On the contrary, they were not familiar with this East African army with its mixed yellow and white faces, and they were relatively unfamiliar. In addition, the East African Navy was well-equipped and uniformly dressed, clearly a regular army, completely different from the Dutch’s semi-bandit attire (mercenaries). At first glance, they were not to be trifled with.

Archduke Ferdinand arrived in Dongwanlu without any obstruction, and after meeting the so-called President-General in Dongwanlu, he directly presented East Africa’s wish list: “Your Excellency Liu Asheng, these are all the demands of our Kingdom of East Africa. If your country accepts our friendship, then we in East Africa are willing to have friendly exchanges with your country.”

With a gun pointed at his head, the President-General, who was called a “traitor” by the local Chinese hardliners, signed the friendly trade agreement without even looking at it carefully.

The main reason was that there seemed to be no way not to sign it, and the Kingdom of East Africa did not directly demand tribute from Lanfang like the Dutch, so it was acceptable.

The Kingdom of East Africa does not need to be greedy for that small amount of money for the time being. The goal is to occupy this place in the long term, so it mainly focuses on commerce, recruiting armed forces, immigration, and investment. It will first cultivate pro-East African forces locally, and then swallow this fragmented country in one bite in the future.

The politics of the Lanfang Republic are so bizarre. In addition to the Lanfang Company, there are other Chinese companies, but the Lanfang Company is the strongest, equivalent to a “hegemon,” and can be more convincing.

This so-called “negotiation” was actually a show of force and intimidation, completely different from East Africa’s approach in Africa and Europe.

In Africa, East Africa does not need to intimidate. It has always been straightforward, and disobedient natives are directly suppressed, without even the right to negotiate.

Therefore, with this “friendly visit” to the Lanfang Republic, East Africa showed the face of a typical colonizer for the first time, indulging in a taste of “imperialism.”

Chapter 457: Planting the Flag and Claiming Territory

With the East Wanlu government settled, the next to enter the Lanfang Republic was the Hei Xinggen Consortium. After leaving more than three hundred armed troops in the Lanfang Republic, Archduke Ferdinand took the fleet eastward.

These three hundred armed men did not stay in East Wanlu, but continued to the southern Lanfang Republic city of Pontianak.

East Wanlu was built on the west bank of the Wanlu River, a tributary on the right bank of the Kun River (Kapuas River), while Pontianak is located at the mouth of the Kun River, a good port and the largest city on Kalimantan Island, mainly inhabited by Chinese.

East Wanlu and Pontianak are about twenty to thirty kilometers apart in a straight line, so the two cities are still different. East Wanlu became the capital because of gold mines; it was where the Lanfang Kingdom (Company) started.

Pontianak, on the other hand, relies on convenient transportation conditions to develop into the most economically successful city in the entire Kalimantan Island. Here, the East African armed forces made contact with the Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce.

…

“Is that Balabac Island ahead? It seems to be another desolate area, similar to Sumatra! Find a place to dock and go over.” Archduke Ferdinand looked at the environment of Balabac Island with binoculars.

Balabac Island should theoretically belong to the Spanish Philippines colony, guarding the Balabac Strait, with Kalimantan Island to the west and the Philippine Islands to the east.

However, East Africa does not recognize this kind of default territory, because Balabac Island is really a desolate area, as Ferdinand said.

In the 21st century of the previous life, the total population of Balabac Island was only over fifteen thousand, and the main products were shells and coconuts. Now, apart from a small number of indigenous tribes, there is really no one on Balabac Island.

This island has no economic value at all, and its strategic position is not fully reflected. After all, both Kalimantan Island and the Philippine Islands are relatively backward areas.

The strategic value of Balabac Island will not be realized until the Americans establish a military base here in later generations. In fact, the purpose of the United States in establishing a military base is to make the Far Eastern power uncomfortable in the South China Sea. Of course, there is also the reason why the economic development of Southeast Asia is good in later generations, which makes Southeast Asia have a certain position in the world economic map, at least stronger than Africa.

Archduke Ferdinand took the fleet to a place where they could land, preparing to spend the night here and casually planted the East African flag on the beach.

“From today, this is the territory of our East African Kingdom!”

In this way, the East African Kingdom had its first colony in the South Seas region. In fact, it is not right to call it a colony. There are not even a few people on Balabac Island. Colonization, colonization, must have people to colonize.

In the following days, Archduke Ferdinand led the navy to build a simple military fortress at the landing site, leaving twenty to thirty people and some supplies to prepare to go north.

It is not possible not to leave supplies. Balabac Island has no economic foundation at all. The whole island is a tropical rainforest. They can’t let the people who stay behind eat only coconuts to satisfy their hunger.

Occupying Balabac Island is so simple and unadorned. There are many such unclaimed lands in the Pacific Ocean. In his previous life, Germany planted flags on uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean like East Africa, and obtained a large number of overseas colonies, such as Nauru Island in the German Marshall Islands Protectorate in his previous life.

Ernst knew that Nauru had rich guano resources, but the East African Navy’s first voyage was not there. The East African Navy needed to make up a lot of lessons, so they first used Balabac Island to practice.

The so-called “biting off more than one can chew,” East Africa does not have the ability to circle islands on a large scale in the Pacific. Taking Balabac Island as an example, it belongs to the Palawan Islands in the Philippines.

In later generations, this should belong to the Philippines, which is now the Spanish East Indies, but having a claim is useless. It may take forever for the Spanish to discover the Germans on Balabac Island, because the population of these islands is too sparse. Discovering the Germans on Balabac Island is probably as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, and even if they find them, the Spanish will not care. Balabac Island has nothing but rainforest.

Like Nauru Island, it was the British who discovered Nauru Island, but it was not until 1888 that Germany included Nauru Island in its German colony among a pile of scraps. At that time, no one knew the value of the guano (phosphate) on the island. Without guano, Nauru Island would probably remain unknown forever.

Balabac Island does not even have guano, so what is the significance of East Africa occupying Balabac Island? In addition to training the navy, the most important thing is to use it as a springboard. To the east is Mindanao Island in the Philippines, to the north is Palawan Island, to the west is Kalimantan Island, and to the northwest is the South China Sea. To the northwest of Balabac Island are a bunch of islands in the South China Sea belonging to the Far Eastern Empire.

“The supplies left behind are enough for you to stay here for three months. After we arrive in Zhuhai, we will send information back to the country. Save the ammunition. In case you encounter savages, you will be prepared.”

Savages are real savages. There are also savages distributed in the Congo rainforest in East Africa. They are different from ordinary natives. No matter how backward the natives are, they still have tribal civilizations. Savages can’t even get into tribes.

“This location, if you want to explore the interior of the island, it is best to go together, but if there is no major situation, don’t go deep. Rainforest areas generally have swamps or dangerous creatures. Although I don’t know if Balabac Island has them, it is better to be careful.”

Before boarding the ship, Archduke Ferdinand carefully instructed the soldiers who were left behind. This is indeed a more difficult task.

The difficulty of survival in the tropical rainforest is probably only slightly stronger than in northern Siberia. Fortunately, Balabac Island is not large, otherwise the transportation problem alone would be enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

The difference between rainforests and ordinary forests is that the water accumulation is deep. This is also an important reason why rainforests are difficult to develop. After all, it is the rainy season all year round, and it may rain at any time. Even the set of burning mountains with fire will not work.

The situation on Balabac Island is better. It is smaller, and it is easier to drain rainwater into the sea. If it is a large island like Papua New Guinea, large-scale wetlands and swamps will be produced.

In fact, this can be seen from the neighboring Kalimantan Island, but Kalimantan Island still has a relatively large population, and the level of civilization is also higher.

…

After spending eight days, Archduke Ferdinand finally arrived at the Zhuhai port area of the Far Eastern Empire with the fleet. Archduke Ferdinand finally had the opportunity to see the largest existing ancient civilization in the world.

“The agriculture in the Far East is very developed, and the urban population is comparable to that of Europe. If you consider its area and population, then the potential of this country is indeed too great.”

Archduke Ferdinand made a relatively high evaluation when he first arrived in the Far East, but there was indeed one thing that made him very uncomfortable, that is, the strange hairstyle of the Far Eastern Empire.

“Your Highness, there is actually no need to be surprised. The history of the Far Eastern Empire is very long, but our Western understanding of the Far Eastern Empire is only limited to the stereotype of the Qing Dynasty. In fact, it can be seen from ancient Far Eastern paintings that they did not keep this hairstyle more than two hundred years ago.”

“I know this. Ernst has many Far Eastern paintings in his collection, but people can only feel it by going deep into the environment. I have seen their image in books before, but after coming to the Far East, I found that this experience can only be understood but not expressed in words.”

Archduke Ferdinand felt that he could only describe it with the word “strange,” without any derogatory meaning. In East Africa, the most popular hairstyle for men is a buzz cut, so apart from skin color, Ferdinand felt that the East Asian immigrants in East Africa were not much different from Europeans, and looked very energetic, but the Far Eastern Empire gave him the feeling of malnutrition, sallow and thin, even less energetic than East African blacks.

This is certain. Before the Germans colonized them, blacks relied on abundant natural resources to live their lives. They had no worries. When they were hungry, they hunted, gathered wild fruits, and could also engage in activities, dance, and draw tattoos.

With a rich supply of meat, plus eating well, sleeping well, and having no worries, how could their mental state be bad? On the contrary, after the Germans came, their mental state declined rapidly.

Chapter 458: Pacific “Pearl”

Archduke Ferdinand received a warm welcome in the East Asia region, which was not difficult to understand. Archduke Ferdinand’s most important identity was, in fact, Archduke of Austria, the younger brother of Emperor Franz. This status, even without the added bonus of the East African fleet, would be treated with courtesy by various East Asian countries.

The East African Navy also took the opportunity to complete its visit, showing its face in the East Asia region and letting East Asians know that there was a country called East Africa in the world. After all, in this era, there were only a few countries that could sail ironclad ships to East Asia.

Having completed this visit, the East African Navy could turn back. However, Archduke Ferdinand believed that he should take a look at Alaska. After replenishing supplies in East Asia, he headed to the Alaskan Royal Territory.

…

Alaskan Royal Territory.

As the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Royal Family’s overseas territory, the total population was over ninety thousand, of which the army alone numbered as high as thirty thousand. It was a region truly controlled by the military. Moreover, this state of affairs might continue for a long time, until the East African Navy really had the ability to enforce the law across the ocean.

The population of the Alaskan Royal Territory was mainly distributed in the southern temperate marine climate zone. In terms of climate type, it was the same as Western Europe, but in reality, the difference was very large.

Southern Alaska had lower temperatures than Western Europe, and at the same time, extremely high precipitation, with annual rainfall exceeding 1500 millimeters. The reason for this situation was that Alaska was dominated by mountainous terrain, while Western Europe had vast plains. The terrain uplifted, and water vapor was more likely to condense and form rainfall.

“Years ago, I transited here to East Africa. Now, revisiting this old place is truly full of emotion!”

Archduke Ferdinand would never forget the day he was stuffed into a sack, carried on horseback, and the bumpy ride directly made Ferdinand faint at the time. When he opened his eyes again, he had already woken up on a ship to Alaska, so Alaska was considered the place where Archduke Ferdinand’s fate turned.

In August in Alaska, the temperature was around ten degrees Celsius, generally cool, and the coastal areas were full of life.

Alaska’s agriculture was mainly based on potatoes and wheat, so a large number of developed farmlands could be seen near the settlements in Alaska. The development of these farmlands was not as easy as in East Africa, because the main residents of the Alaskan Royal Territory were immigrants, and there was no cheap labor like the “laborers” in East Africa to use.

The Alaskan Royal Territory did have some Eskimos, but their numbers were almost negligible, and the Eskimos lived in a snowy environment, with almost no interaction with the residents of the Royal Territory.

In this way, the development of the Royal Territory could only be completed by the immigrants themselves, so the efficiency was not as good as in East Africa, but it also gave some popularity to the sparsely populated Alaskan Royal Territory.

At the same time, Alaska’s fishery resources were also relatively rich, so Alaska’s fishing industry was also very developed. This was different from the situation in East Africa, where the ships in East Africa were almost entirely Ernst’s private fleet, while the fishing boats in Alaska were built by the Alaskan immigrants themselves.

Because fishery resources were an important source of livelihood for the residents of the Alaskan Royal Territory, civilian ships were very common in Alaska, and almost every household had a small fishing boat.

The civilian shipbuilding industry in the Alaskan Royal Territory was more developed than in East Africa itself. Of course, this development only referred to the level of activity. In reality, the fishing boat technology in the Alaskan Royal Territory was not high. It was okay to go out to fish, but there were no other capabilities.

The coastal areas of the Alaskan Royal Territory were well developed, but Alaska was not enthusiastic about the development of the interior. In addition to not developing it themselves, they also had to prevent outsiders from entering Alaska. From the establishment of the Royal Territory to this year, the Alaskan Royal Guard had driven away more than twenty foreign expeditions that wanted to enter Alaska.

Some people wanted to take advantage of Alaska, but most of them were civil groups, so that the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Royal Family’s largest investment in Alaska was in the military, which resulted in the number of troops in Alaska accounting for thirty percent of the total population.

This was also a last resort. As the weakest force in the region, they could only constantly put technology points into the military. However, the defense pressure of the Alaskan Royal Territory was mainly at sea, so the Alaskan Royal Territory had a small fleet, mainly composed of small gunboats, used to expel illegal Canadian and American fishing boats and prevent them from landing in Alaska.

Of course, the Alaskan Royal Territory was relatively restrained. As long as it was not the nearshore area of the Alaskan Royal Territory, they generally turned a blind eye. The Alaskan Royal Territory had no opinion on fishing in the “high seas.”

After all, if these foreign fishing boats were really not allowed to get some seafood in the Gulf of Alaska, then these foreign fishing boats themselves were not easy to mess with. They also had their own interest groups behind them, but that was all.

Every step of the Alaskan Royal Territory must be careful and cautious, but there was no need to worry too much. The United States and Canada were not too interested in Alaska. In addition to the good armed forces in Alaska, there were also correct decisions. At the beginning, a piece of land was left for the Russians at the southernmost end, so that other countries in North America had to pass through Russian territory first if they wanted to invade the Alaskan Royal Territory from land.

Without passing through Russian territory, they could only enter Alaska from the interior, but the interior of Alaska was already rugged, coupled with the perennial snow, the difficulty of passing through such a harsh climate was no different from the German winter offensive against Siberia.

Therefore, it was an impossible task to organize a certain scale of troops to attack the Alaskan Royal Territory through the interior. The main threat was still at sea.

However, with the East African fleet circling the Gulf of Alaska, ordinary people really could not underestimate the strength of the Alaskan Royal Territory.

In September, Archduke Ferdinand inspected the situation in various parts of the Alaskan Royal Territory.

“The Alaskan Royal Territory needs more advanced communication equipment. If possible, it is best to lay a telegraph line directly to the Jiaozhou area.”

“The area of the Alaskan Royal Territory is too large. Even if the population is mainly distributed in the south, the southern territory is too much for ninety thousand people. The interval between each settlement is too large, so it is best to connect these settlements with telegraphs to facilitate the unified management of the Alaskan Royal Territory Military Region.”

“Connecting to the telegraph line in the Far East can increase East Africa’s control over the Alaskan Royal Territory. It is too slow to rely on mail ships to transmit messages.”

This was the suggestion given by Archduke Ferdinand after the inspection. In fact, if conditions permitted, Ferdinand would have liked to set up a sub-fleet of the navy in the Alaskan Royal Territory.

The Alaskan Royal Guard had its own separate naval system. This was because the Alaskan Royal Territory did not belong to the Kingdom of East Africa, but only to the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Royal Family. In theory, it was on the same level as East Africa. There was nothing strange about this. To this day, Constantine was still the monarch of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Principality! If he wanted to, Constantine could go back to Prussia and continue to be his own prince, but there was no need now.

“At the same time, the navy of the Alaskan Royal Territory should be merged with our Kingdom’s navy, so that they can also receive more systematic naval training, and can effectively cooperate to ensure East Africa’s global interests.”

No matter how small a mosquito is, it is still meat. Archduke Ferdinand was very interested in the navy of the Alaskan Royal Territory. This small navy, which mainly used small gunboats as the main combat ships, was not very useful now, but it was hard to say in the future, because the Alaskan region had many excellent harbors and controlled the Bering Strait, so Archduke Ferdinand believed that its strategic value would be of great use in the future.

Moreover, the Alaskan Royal Territory was very likely to be the largest territory of East Africa in the Eastern Pacific in the future, so it was no exaggeration to call it the “pearl” of East Africa in the Eastern Pacific.

Chapter 459: Work Conference

Starting in 1876, the completion of the Zambezi River railway bridge on the East African Central Railway allowed trains to directly reach the Zimbabwe region. To develop the inland areas, East Africa began to build East African versions of agricultural cooperatives along the Central Railway as its main artery.

“This year, we plan to build more than fifteen hundred new-style agricultural cooperatives along the railway line in the Zimbabwe region to promote the development of the inland areas,” the Minister of Agriculture said at the government work conference.

Agricultural cooperatives are not a business model unique to the East. Such organizations exist in regions with well-developed small farms and family farms, such as France and Germany. In essence, they are trade union-type organizations formed spontaneously by farmers.

In his previous life, French law stipulated: “Agricultural cooperatives and their cooperative alliances are a special type of enterprise different from civil and commercial enterprises. They have independent legal person rights and full civil rights.” Agricultural cooperatives are variable capital enterprises.

The agricultural cooperatives in East Africa are different from those in France in his previous life because the East African agricultural cooperatives are dominated by the power of the East African government and are semi-political and economic organizations, and the land is still not privatized, but is allocated and used by the kingdom.

The main functions of the East African agricultural cooperatives are to provide scientific guidance on planting, provide improved seeds, grain purchase, storage, livestock and slave management and distribution, agricultural tool maintenance and management, and also to organize agricultural engineering construction.

The East African agricultural cooperatives are subordinate to the East African grassroots government, but the specific guidance is completed by the East African Agricultural Corporation, which is the upstream of the East African agricultural industry chain.

The East African Agricultural Corporation only exists in East Africa, but it is connected to the Hechingen Consortium industrial cluster in Germany and Austria, providing raw materials and basic agricultural products for these Hechingen-related enterprises. At the same time, it maintains contact with many commercial groups and dominates East Africa’s grain export work.

Its main business is still procurement and sales, so the East African Agricultural Corporation is a super agricultural monopoly organization similar to a syndicate. The difference from syndicate enterprises is that it is too large and is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of East African agricultural products in the global market. This competition is not a competition between enterprises, but a competition at the national level. It is a powerful weapon for East African grain to compete with the United States and Russia. The strength of those grain producers in the United States is indeed strong, but they appear like scattered soldiers in front of the East African Agricultural Corporation.

Of course, although the East African Agricultural Corporation is huge, it still relies on the Hechingen Consortium’s food companies, supermarket channels, and large and small distributors in Europe for external output. Therefore, you basically don’t hear the name of the East African Agricultural Corporation outside of East Africa.

In this way, the East African Agricultural Corporation has a certain conflict with the powers of the Ministry of Agriculture, but for the current East Africa, it is still more suitable for East Africa’s national conditions.

The personnel of the Agricultural Corporation are composed of more professional personnel, while the Ministry of Agriculture’s role in promoting East African agricultural development is not as good as that of the Agricultural Corporation because of the low level of education.

“Regarding the construction of new villages, our suggestion is to open up some more tobacco fields. Just recently, the German government announced a tobacco monopoly, which is not good for tobacco profits. More taxes will have to be paid. Therefore, in order to better monopolize the German market, we must lower the cost of East African tobacco products and maintain our advantage in the German region.”

Bismarck promoted a new bill to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the German government, but this was a blow to the Hechingen Consortium. The tobacco tax was already relatively high, and now that Germany has a tobacco monopoly, an additional fee will have to be paid to purchase a sales license.

However, no matter how dissatisfied they are, they can only hold it back. The market is controlled by the German government, and the power of the German government is different from that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Hechingen Consortium could use public opinion to force the Austro-Hungarian central government to compromise. Obviously, the more centralized Germany cannot be achieved by the Hechingen Consortium.

However, this is acceptable for East Africa, mainly because East African tobacco can be sold to Germany. The consumption capacity of the East African local tobacco market is not small, but it is obviously not as attractive as the German market. The more important role of local tobacco consumption is to recover currency.

“In recent years, countries have increased tariffs, especially import tariffs on steel and agriculture. We are not worried about being a steel importing country. The biggest blow to us is the substantial increase in agricultural tariffs by various countries.”

Ernst said: “Grain consumption still needs to be done locally. Now the development of the inland areas requires a large amount of grain to support it. While increasing the inland population, we must increase this year’s recruitment of slaves to the inland areas to build roads, water conservancy and a series of other projects for the newly added areas. At the same time, I plan to develop a batch of mines along the Zimbabwe railway line. The mines can also consume a batch of grain.”

It is not terrible to have a surplus of grain production. If there is a surplus, we will engage in projects. This kind of thing can never be completed. There are still large areas of undeveloped land in the inland areas, and these require manpower to do. Development requires food, so the extra grain can be consumed.

As for using the surplus grain to improve the living standards of the East African people, ha, dream on! To put it bluntly, this is indeed not conducive to the East African people’s struggle. East Africa is competitive, but not as competitive as other countries. If we give the people some benefits, then they will really lie flat.

The most typical example is Argentina in his previous life. The people just want to take welfare with peace of mind, and politicians use this as a means of campaigning. No one is focused on working or building. However, Argentina was not developed in the first place, so the welfare policy can only be maintained by borrowing money. Without industrial support, the debt will eventually explode, and the country will become lifeless.

Of course, this is just an exaggerated and one-sided statement. There are too many problems in a country like Argentina. In short, the Argentine government has created a social atmosphere that is not conducive to struggle. Politicians and the people are playing an extremely abstract game, maintaining the continued sailing of Argentina’s broken ship.

However, Argentina does have the conditions to slack off. The agricultural conditions are superior to those of the United States, and the population is not large. If it really cannot maintain the basic cost of living for the people, then the military government will take power, and the game can continue, forever in reincarnation. This set of tactics is actually the routine of all backward countries, especially in South America and Africa.

As a new country, East Africa is actually developing well. The Hechingen royal family does not need to collude with those low-energy “insects.” Taking advantage of the current chaos in the international system, there is a complete opportunity to become a chess player on the international chessboard.

Don’t look at the fact that there are so many great powers in this era, but it is precisely because there are many great powers that the distribution of accounts is uneven, and other countries have greater opportunities. For example, Japan can seize the opportunity to become one of them. Isn’t this a kind of multi-polarization?

East Africa’s conditions may not be top-notch, but they are much stronger than the likes of Italy and Japan, and the potential is much stronger than other powers besides the United States and Russia.

“We must make full use of the inland iron ore and coal resources to continue to increase East Africa’s steel production capacity, and reach at least one million tons by 1880.”

Chapter 460: Conflict

Since the Age of Exploration, commercial prosperity has been inextricably linked to ports. Good ports can better promote economic development, and populations gather along the coast. The Industrial Revolution brought the rise of railway transportation, greatly improving land transportation capabilities, allowing inland areas to also develop.

However, the limitations of this development are far greater than those of maritime transport. Railway construction is constrained by various factors, which has also caused disputes between regions. The areas through which railways pass can drive regional economic development and even directly create new cities, but if the railway does not pass through, even ancient cities may decline as a result.

“In many parts of East Africa, railways came before settlements. These villages and towns formed along the railways are likely to continue to prosper if the railways do not decline in the future.”

“Moreover, railway construction has increased East Africa’s transportation efficiency by more than threefold. Previously, we needed a lot of manpower and livestock to transport goods to the seaport areas. Now, inland areas only need to transport goods to the nearest railway station, and then the goods can be exported to the seaport by rail.”

“East Africa’s railway construction was a loss-making business from the beginning. Investments were made without considering returns, but now we have seen the benefits of this investment, that is, the rapid development of inland areas and the narrowing of the gap between the eastern and western regions of the kingdom, which is of positive significance for the kingdom’s rule.”

……

“Since 1875, we have found that the German government’s targeting of our enterprises has become significantly stronger, especially those enterprises named Hechingen, which have been subjected to significantly more difficulties. Obviously, in the eyes of the German government, we have become a piece of fat, and the Bismarck government obviously turns a blind eye to our demands.”

“Bismarck represents the Junker group behind Germany. The wild growth of our Hechingen in Germany in recent years has obviously stimulated the Junker landlords.”

“And just yesterday, someone in the German parliament proposed to increase tariffs on agricultural products, with agricultural products from our East African kingdom being the focus.”

Constantine and Ernst listened silently to their subordinates’ reports. Obviously, the Germans were getting restless!

Ernst: “Father, see! I said that the Hohenzollern surname cannot be our umbrella. When we chose to develop in East Africa, we had actually completely separated from the original group and become their competitors.”

The group Ernst is referring to is the Junker aristocracy. The business scope of the Junker aristocracy cannot be said to be completely consistent with the Hechingen Consortium, but it is not far off.

And the market is that if I eat one more share, you eat one less share. Obviously, the size of the Hechingen Consortium is too large, and its market share is too large, which seriously threatens the business of the Junker aristocrats.

Constantine: “I just communicated with Wilhelm I by telegram this year, and he assured me that he would not make things difficult for the East African kingdom!”

Ernst: “The Prussian royal family and the Prussian government should be viewed separately. Their interests are not consistent, and the Prussian royal family is fundamentally subordinate to the will of the state. This is the basis of their existence.”

Constantine: “Then what to do now?”

Ernst: “There is no good way, we can only gradually withdraw investment from Germany and transfer the money to other regions.”

The Hechingen Consortium is not East Africa after all, so East Africa can’t do anything about the Hechingen Consortium being targeted. However, just like Jewish capital, capital has no motherland. If I’m not wanted here, I’ll be wanted somewhere else.

Constantine: “Then where do you plan to invest the money?”

Ernst: “The Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Far East, and Argentina, these three regions.”

East Africa was not mentioned, but East Africa has always been the Hechingen Consortium’s biggest drain. The Austro-Hungarian market is actually not bad, with weak political centralization, but the more this is the case, the less capital is restricted by the government. The Rothschild family is doing very well in Austria. There is no need to say more about the Far East. The market is huge, and the cooperation with East Africa is also very deep, especially after the East African fleet visited, they are even more polite. Argentina has good prospects, at least it can follow behind the United States and Britain and get a share of the pie.

Constantine sighed: “Alas, let’s do it this way!”

As the instructions from the headquarters of Hechingen Bank were issued, some funds in Germany flowed to other countries. In order to cope with Germany’s act of fleecing the sheep, East Africa also prepared to stop purchasing German steel after the contract expired and instead increase purchases from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The outflow of large amounts of funds caused a small-scale panic in the capital market, but now it is the Great Depression, and this panic spread instantly, eventually triggering a new round of crisis.

The German government, which had just recovered, immediately felt the pressure. With the loss of large amounts of funds from the German market, the unemployment rate rose again.

Wilhelm I asked: “What’s going on? Wasn’t the economy just starting to pick up?”

Bismarck said confidently: “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Now it is an economic crisis, so it is not a big deal for some twists and turns to occur. Everything is under control.”

That’s what he said, but in reality, the Hechingen Consortium mainly withdrew from the German agricultural investment market, and coincidentally, someone took over the business left by the Hechingen Consortium right after the Hechingen Consortium withdrew.

However, these businesses are not so easy to take over. In the past, the Hechingen Consortium cooperated with them, so it would leave a certain share for the Junker aristocrats to help them sell their products in the international market.

Now there is no need for that. Many sales channels built by the Hechingen Consortium, especially the supermarket system, can use more agricultural products from East Africa to replace them.

It is best for the Junker aristocrats to have their own sales channels to sell their goods, otherwise the losses will definitely be not small. Ernst will no longer show mercy. Of course, the Junker aristocrats are not monolithic either.

After an unpleasant incident with the Prussian Junker aristocracy, the Hechingen Consortium strengthened its cooperative relationship with the nobles in the South German region. Baden, Württemberg, and Bavaria have all benefited.

Germany is, after all, a federal system, especially the states in the South German region, which enjoy relatively full autonomy, at least economically. It is better to divide the opponents by winning over one group and attacking another.

The competition between Germany and the Hechingen Consortium mainly takes place in the grain market, and other aspects are not very intense. Junker aristocrat is just a general term for German aristocrats.

For example, in the industrial field, the competition between the Hechingen Consortium and the Junkers is not fierce, because the Hechingen Consortium focuses on light industry and emerging industrial fields, while the industrial Junker aristocrats are concentrated in the heavy industry field. The two sides are developing in different directions.

However, the Hechingen Consortium tends to favor East Africa in agriculture, which will inevitably conflict with the landlord Junker aristocrats, even if the Hechingen Consortium has already made concessions, but this is far from meeting the psychological expectations of the agricultural Junker aristocrats.

The Hechingen Consortium is not afraid of such competition. The Hechingen Consortium’s main investments in Germany are in channels and food processing, and it does not necessarily have to rely on landlord Junker aristocrats. In modern terms, the landlord Junkers are located downstream of the industrial chain.

However, food processing enterprises also belong to real industries, and real industries are easily managed and controlled, which is obviously not as flexible as the financial industry, so transferring food processing enterprises to East Africa is also imminent.

East Africa actually has a primary food processing system, but mid-to-high-end processing and production are mainly in Germany and Austria. Now that it has suffered setbacks in Germany, it is also convenient for Ernst to transfer food processing enterprises to East Africa.

Chapter 461: Friedrich

If you were to ask who was most annoyed by the Hechengen Consortium’s increased investment in Austria-Hungary, the answer would be the Jewish financial groups, especially the Rothschild family.

There was a saying in Austria-Hungary: “Austria has an Emperor Ferdinand and a King Solomon.” In 1848, Solomon referred to the Rothschild family, which had already completely controlled the economy and finance of the Austrian Empire at that time.

The Austrian government was extremely dependent on Jewish capital, but all this changed with the rise of the Hechengen Consortium. The two sides engaged in fierce competition in the financial industry in the German region. With the impact of the economic crisis, the Hechengen Consortium currently held the dominant position.

Economic crises are uncontrollable, so even the experienced Rothschild family could not avoid losses. Under normal circumstances, with their strong capital, they could suffer losses and still profit by buying low. However, this time they encountered the well-funded Hechengen Consortium.

The Hechengen Consortium used the substantial funds accumulated before the economic crisis to aggressively acquire companies during the crisis, especially in emerging industrial sectors. After all, Ernst knew that the economic crisis of 1873 would last too long, and the prospects for traditional industrial sectors were not clear.

At the same time, the construction of the East African Railway greatly helped the Austrian government maintain stability, which was much better than the Jewish capital’s ugly behavior during the economic crisis.

Coupled with the Habsburg family and other nobles favoring the Hechengen Consortium, the Hechengen Consortium successfully squeezed out the Jewish financial groups and became the largest capital group in Austria-Hungary.

However, Jewish capital still held an advantageous position in countries such as England, the United States, and France. The Hechengen Consortium only held a dominant position in the German region. Moreover, there were many factions within the Jewish capital, so they could not do anything about the Hechengen Consortium.

In reality, Jewish capital was not as powerful as people imagined. European countries actually treated Jews more as cash cows. No matter how strong the capital was, it could not match the guns held by the European aristocratic groups.

If the Jewish community truly wanted to control the world’s discourse, they would have no chance unless the United States completely became the world’s hegemon.

European writers have actually incisively described the true nature of Jews: for example, “Shylock” in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and “Old Grandet” in Balzac’s “Eugénie Grandet.”

European writers such as Shakespeare and Balzac, regardless of their positions, were literary masters who could see through social phenomena and discover human nature. Therefore, their descriptions of Jewish merchants were very much in line with social reality.

Of course, this only applied to those unscrupulous Jewish merchants who were unkind to the rich. However, the vast majority of Jews were unscrupulous merchants. But aside from the merchant group, Ernst’s evaluation of Jews was still very positive, especially those thinkers and scientists. Facts proved that Jewish minds were indeed useful in other fields, but using them in business and politics was a crooked path.

However, this only shows that Jews are more suitable for scientific and theoretical research. After all, the level of education among Jews is currently the highest in the world.

Ernst believed that if Black people enjoyed a full set of education, they could also produce many “geniuses” who would illuminate human history, but they simply did not have the opportunity. There must be deviations in human intelligence, but these deviations are reflected in all of humanity, rather than being distinguished by ethnicity and race.

If we really distinguish according to these things, Jews are just the “inferior race” in Adolf’s mouth, not much better than Black people.

In more traditional countries, Jews actually cannot become a major force. However, the United States is precisely the most untraditional country. If there had been no two world wars and the European aristocracy’s discourse power had not declined, then the general anti-Semitic social atmosphere in Europe would probably not have changed much.

In Ernst’s view, although the economy is the foundation of politics, politics is clearly above economics. Ernst was most familiar with this situation. In his previous life, rich people did seem very powerful, but they had no advantage in front of the “nobility.”

Except for American-style democratic countries, where the top-level design is controlled by a group of businessmen, and American politicians are restricted to death. A strong president like Roosevelt can only appear once, while people like Lincoln and Kennedy are the norm.

…

The Sveti Palace in March was full of flowers.

The Sveti Palace combines the characteristics of Hohenzollern Castle and Schönbrunn Palace, so its construction has both the solemnity of Hohenzollern Castle and the brightness and openness of Schönbrunn Palace.

Inside the palace, a family was gathered around a new life. Ernst’s first son was born.

“Little baby, look at Mommy!” Ernst said with a silly smile while holding the little prince towards Carina. The little prince couldn’t open his eyes yet. Ernst kissed Carina on the head: “Thank you, dear!”

Carina lay weakly on the bed, but with a faint smile on her face: “Baby, our little baby.”

Ernst squeezed his wife’s hand and joked, “He is destined to become the future Great Chief of East Africa from birth.”

Constantine and Ferdinand on the side were already dissatisfied: “What Great Chief of East Africa? Let this (great) grandfather hold him first.”

In the end, Constantine took the lead in hugging his grandson and scolded: “My grandson is the heir of the Hohenzollern (Hechengen) family, the glory of the Germans. How can he be compared with those African barbarians? The name East African Kingdom is too ugly, it’s better to change it sometime!”

Constantine, who doted on his grandson, didn’t want his grandson to bear the title of African chief. He didn’t mind being a monarch of the East African Kingdom himself, but his grandson couldn’t.

Ernst said obediently, “Change it, but wait two years first. I think it’s more appropriate to change the country name in 1880.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Why 1880?”

“Because according to my expectations, our East African Kingdom will be founded in 1880!”

“Founded?”

Ernst nodded and said, “The East African Kingdom has actually been implementing a policy of isolation, but I have never said it. We have almost no contact with other countries, especially folk exchanges are almost cut off. This is because East Africa used to be a weak colony, and it needed time to develop and could not enter the vision of big countries. But with Europe’s increasing attention to Africa and the increase in East Africa’s size, East Africa no longer has the basic conditions to continue hiding.”

Archduke Ferdinand said, “That’s an interesting statement!”

Ernst’s approach was indeed different from the mainstream thinking mode of European nobles, which also explained the strangeness of a series of East African policies.

“Okay, what are you discussing politics at this time? Quickly give our little baby a name!” Constantine said with some dissatisfaction.

So the family began to discuss the little prince’s name again, but what name to choose was more complicated.

“Let’s call him Friedrich!” Constantine finally decided.

“Friedrich?”

“Yes, our ancestor Friedrich III, put the word Hohen in front of the Zollern family, making the later Hohenzollern family flourish in Europe. I also hope that little Friedrich will bring the Hohenzollern family to a new level in the future!”

In 1185, Friedrich III, then Count of Zollern, married Sophia, the daughter of Count Conrad II of Nuremberg. In 1192, Conrad II died without children. Friedrich III then inherited the County of Nuremberg. After he ruled the two counties of Zollern and Nuremberg, his power greatly increased. The Zollern family then added “Hohen,” meaning “noble,” and became known as the Hohenzollern family.

Ernst also agreed with the name Friedrich, because in his impression, people named Friedrich were generally capable. As for the high rate of repeated names, there was no way, because the name repetition rate in Europe was higher than one hundred percent.

Friedrich is called Frederick in German, meaning “peace, ruler,” so people who could be called Friedrich in the past were generally rich or noble.

To celebrate the birth of the prince, East Africa had a seven-day holiday. Every city in East Africa held celebrations to pray for the little prince. Little Friedrich was loved by the people of the whole country as soon as he was born.

To commemorate the birth of little Friedrich, Ernst ordered another top-notch ironclad ship from Austria-Hungary and named it after Friedrich.

Chapter 462: The Crisis Triggered by Germany: The Wolf is Coming!

April, 1876.

Germany, suffering from a new round of economic crisis, was clearly somewhat dissatisfied, especially those Junker nobles who had tried to profit from the situation, only to end up losing their shirt.

In the Imperial Diet, a Prussian representative stated, “The fundamental reason for this new round of economic crisis in Germany is that we lack the vast colonies and population of countries like Britain and France to absorb our agricultural and industrial products. Similarly, we don’t have the vast territory and abundant resources of the United States to offset the crisis. Therefore, Germany, as an important political force in the world, must possess its own colonies. It’s unreasonable that Germany’s current international standing isn’t matched by corresponding colonies.”

This statement from the Prussian representative reflected the mindset of the Prussian Junker nobles during this economic crisis. It proves that ordinary people, when faced with adversity, tend to blame the environment before looking for problems within themselves.

However, the overall environment was indeed unfavorable to Germany, leading the Prussian nobles to firmly believe that the crisis was caused by a lack of colonies.

Bismarck was furious at the Prussian representative’s words. He felt betrayed! In Bismarck’s view, using administrative means to pressure domestic enterprises was already incorrect. However, the Junker nobles had promised him that if he bankrupted the Berlin Agricultural Company, they would support him. Now that they had messed things up themselves, they wanted to weasel out of the deal?

This infuriated Bismarck. However, as a rational politician, he suppressed his anger and humbly said, “Although Germany is now unified, our crisis hasn’t been resolved. The French are constantly thinking of revenge, and we need to balance our relations with Britain, Russia, and Austria. If we lose our international credibility due to irrational behavior, Germany will be in extreme danger.”

Bismarck’s foreign policy and Ernst’s foreign policy were remarkably similar, both aiming to weaken their negative image on the international stage.

The difference was that Germany was located in the heart of continental Europe, a hotspot of hotspots, making it impossible to escape the international community. East Africa, on the other hand, was located in Africa, about which many people, especially Europeans, knew very little.

Therefore, Germany certainly couldn’t remain aloof like East Africa. Any disputes on the European continent had to be carefully controlled to avoid disaster. Bismarck’s idea was to disguise Germany, this ferocious tiger, as harmless, waiting until Germany was strong enough to seize continental hegemony in one fell swoop.

However, the interest groups in Germany, especially the Prussian nobles who had been enjoying smooth sailing in recent years, inevitably became somewhat arrogant.

After all, there were only two major powers ahead of Germany: Britain and France. France had already been defeated by Germany once, which boosted their confidence. Now, only Britain remained ahead of Germany. Currently, Germany was certainly unable to challenge Britain. The British Royal Navy was like a mountain looming over the heads of all countries in the world, unshakeable.

“Prime Minister, I agree that the current international order is unfavorable to us, but this disadvantage is essentially caused by a lack of colonies. The British and French mainland may not be much stronger than us, but their strongest support comes from their colonies, which can continuously supply their mainland, allowing them to mobilize countless people and resources to gain an advantage in war against us.”

Bismarck retorted, “Then what do you want our government to do? Go overseas and compete with Britain and France for colonies? Currently, all the valuable land in the overseas world has been divided up by Britain and France. Their colonial activities have lasted for centuries. Countries like Portugal and Spain have even had hundreds of years of overseas colonial history. So, what advantages do we have over these colonial powers that have been rooted overseas for so long?”

“Moreover, our navy is very weak. Germany’s waters are quite enclosed. Whether we can even get out of the Atlantic is a question. In this situation, the navy will inevitably be unable to effectively support colonial development. Even if we develop colonies overseas, I’m afraid we’ll just be doing the work for others.”

“Finally, let’s talk about the issue of colonial management. It’s well known that colonization involves risks and requires significant investment. The wealthy areas have already been occupied by countries like Britain and France. How much can we gain from investing in those worthless lands overseas? Are we going to acquire a bunch of perpetually loss-making lands to maintain the empire’s prestige? Or do you believe that Germany is now the best in the world and can fearlessly challenge other countries and launch wars against those traditional colonial powers?”

Bismarck’s barrage of questions left the German representatives speechless. The navy representatives wanted to retort, but after looking at their own strength, they decided to give up. The army chose to watch the show, thinking, “Anyway, we have the advantage. The navy won’t amount to much.”

However, this didn’t satisfy the Junker nobles represented by the Prussian representatives. They had suffered heavy losses in this new economic crisis. In the previous round of economic crisis, the plummeting grain prices had already caused them to lose money. This time, they saw that the Berlin Agricultural Company (an agricultural sales and processing enterprise under the Hechingen Consortium) was doing quite well. However, the agricultural company charged fees. It couldn’t possibly do charity and purchase grain for free. So, this money was still borne by the Junker nobles. Of course, the Junker nobles, who had been charged an extra fee, felt unbalanced. Their income wasn’t high to begin with, and now they had to pay a handling fee. They wanted to bring down the Berlin Agricultural Company and do the sales themselves. In the end, the Berlin Agricultural Company went bankrupt! But the sales problem of their own agricultural products became even more serious.

This was inevitable. The Berlin Agricultural Company went bankrupt, but the sales channels built by the Hechingen Consortium were still controlled by their own people. They simply transferred the business of the Berlin Agricultural Company to the Munich Agricultural Company. “If the Prussian landlords don’t welcome us, we’ll do business in Bavaria. And don’t think that the world stops turning without Prussia.” The only bargaining chip the Prussian landlords had was land. Did the Hechingen Consortium lack that?

Moreover, Bavaria’s position in Germany was very special. As the second largest state after Prussia, and as a Catholic region, the heart of Bavaria was well known. The Prussian Junkers couldn’t do anything about the Munich Agricultural Company.

In the Imperial Diet, the Bavarian representatives gave the Prussians a hard time, saying, “We fully support Prime Minister Bismarck. Peace is the most important thing for Germany. We should maintain long-term peace, at least guarantee long-term peace in Europe. Therefore, we shouldn’t engage in conflicts with other countries.”

Most of the representatives from the South German states also adopted the same attitude. Besides being somewhat at odds with Prussia, the main reason was that they really didn’t want to get involved in war, because the South German region was always the victim of every war.

Although the South German region wasn’t enthusiastic, it didn’t affect the overall situation. If Prussia couldn’t even settle the Diet, would it still be called unified?

In fact, the ones who could truly control the situation in the Imperial Diet were Wilhelm I and Bismarck. Although Wilhelm I had some small thoughts, he generally supported Bismarck, because facts always proved that Bismarck was right.

In the battle of wits and courage between Bismarck and the Junkers, Bismarck gained the upper hand, because many Junkers also supported him, plus the support of the South German region. The German radicals were suppressed. However, as a compromise, Bismarck decided to open a small door, allowing non-governmental German forces to participate in overseas colonial strategies first.

In other words, Germany still embarked on the path of overseas expansion. “Non-governmental” meant colonial companies or groups. In reality, the colonies that Germany acquired in its previous life were first completed by colonial companies, and then taken over by the government.

However, at the moment, Bismarck believed that he was just going through the motions. He didn’t sincerely want to compete with countries like Britain and France overseas. He would let those radicals complete this task themselves. Anyway, the government wouldn’t spend much money.

Chapter 463: Choosing Sides

The German parliament was in session, and nothing could be kept secret anymore. At least, Britain and France already knew that there was a faction within Germany that had designs on their overseas colonies.

As Bismarck said, the current German government couldn’t be bothered with those worthless lands. Worthless lands were nothing more than islands in Africa and the Pacific. The good places, including India, the Indochina Peninsula, the Caribbean coast, the Middle East, North Africa, and Australia, were all under the control of Britain and France.

Latin America was a special case. It was now considered an independent continent, not anyone’s colony, at most a semi-economic colony of Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States.

Latin America was mostly former Spanish and Portuguese colonies. After the Spanish and Portuguese colonial forces were driven out, a power vacuum emerged. European colonial powers such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands attempted to fill this void, but they were met with strong opposition from the United States and the original colonial powers, Spain and Portugal.

In 1823, the United States issued the Monroe Doctrine, declaring that “America is for Americans,” opposing European colonization and interference in American affairs. Britain, France, and other countries were wary of the combined power of these three nations, so they did not forcibly divide the region. By the time the United States’ national strength grew rapidly in the 19th century, the European powers no longer had the strength to divide it.

Now, with Bismarck in power, Germany could suppress the colonialists, but Bismarck was, after all, just a Prime Minister, and could only represent the current government.

Hohenzollern Castle.

“Councilor Klein, thank you very much for the information. This is a small token of our appreciation, please accept it.” Tom skillfully took out a red envelope and stuffed it into Klein’s hand.

“Haha, you’re too kind. It was just a small favor. But rest assured, Mr. Thomas, I will keep an eye out for any useful information!” Klein happily stuffed the red envelope into his pocket and said, “Give my regards to His Majesty the King!”

“No problem!”

After seeing Klein off, Tom carefully sorted out the contents of the parliamentary session and sent it to East Africa via telegraph.

Hechingen, as part of the Hohenzollern Province of the Kingdom of Prussia, naturally had close ties between its local councilors and the Hechingen royal family.

In fact, if Constantine hadn’t gone to East Africa, the Principality of Hechingen would certainly have had a seat in the upper house of the Imperial Parliament.

But it didn’t matter. With Sigmaringen next door in the Imperial Parliament, the Hechingen royal family could get news of any developments. By the same token, if the Hechingen royal family could get news, then the contents of this meeting would basically be known to other countries as well.

This also reflects the reason why East Africa had been unknown for ten years. East Africa simply didn’t have a parliament, so there was basically no risk of information leaks.

Moreover, Europe’s exploration of Africa was very slow. Before Ernst colonized East Africa, European exploration of sub-Saharan Africa was almost limited to coastal areas and rivers such as the Nile.

(Image: Map of explored areas of Africa in 1901. Red indicates well-known areas, only North Africa and the Nile River in Egypt. Blue indicates coastal areas and some rivers, relatively well-known. Gray areas are completely unexplored.)

East Africa soon received the message from Tom.

Constantine asked, “It seems that after German unification, they are also trying to exert their influence in the world. At least some people are not satisfied with the current situation. What should we do?”

Ernst said, “Taking advantage of this warship deal with Austria-Hungary, we should solidify relations between the two countries. Now we should choose a side!”

Constantine: “Choose Austria-Hungary?”

Ernst: “Yes, East Africa needs allies, and there is no one more suitable than Austria-Hungary.”

Ferdinand: “I’m afraid some people within Austria-Hungary won’t think East Africa is qualified to be their ally.”

After all, the status of African countries in the eyes of Europeans is indeed too low, almost on par with Antarctica.

Ernst said with a smile, “We don’t care what some people within Austria-Hungary think. We just want to use the name of Austria-Hungary to avoid a lot of trouble.”

Rather than an ally, Ernst wanted to secure a protectorate status under Austria-Hungary for East Africa. Of course, not the kind of protectorate Zanzibar was.

But this was not easy. It was impossible to only want benefits, so Ernst also planned to give Austria-Hungary some advantages. The specific advantages would depend on East Africa’s bargaining chips.

Ferdinand volunteered: “Leave this to me!”

“No problem!” Ernst said. Indeed, there was no one more suitable than Archduke Ferdinand.

…

In May, Archduke Ferdinand went to Austria under the guise of inspecting the Friedrich ironclad battleship, and stopped by Schönbrunn Palace.

“What? An alliance?” Even Franz, who was usually serious, was shocked by his brother’s remarks. “Do you know what you’re talking about?”

“What’s so surprising about that! The Kingdom of Hechingen and the Austro-Hungarian Empire forming an alliance, in my opinion, is a match made in heaven.”

“When did you change your name? Aren’t you called the Kingdom of East Africa anymore?”

“The name East Africa is no longer appropriate. Now the number of Germans in the kingdom has reached the ten million level, so it’s not strange that we changed to a German name.”

“Did you count the blacks in the population?” Franz asked rhetorically.

“Blacks are not qualified to be our citizens. If we add the blacks, East Africa’s population would be over thirty million.”

However, Franz remained skeptical: “You can fool others, but don’t fool yourself, my dear brother. Even within the Empire, there are only over ten million Germans. Is it possible that there are over ten million Germans in a region in Africa?”

Ferdinand said, “It depends on how you define Germans. Without counting new births, East Africa’s true German population is about close to four million, of which South Germany contributed more than one and a half million, and Austria-Hungary, North Germany, and the United States contributed about two and a half million.”

“Is this data reliable?”

“In 1870, Germany’s population was about forty million, and the German region has always been the region with the most population outflow in Europe, especially after economic crises.”

“Are you sure you didn’t add Slavic and other ethnic groups?”

“If you add Slavs and other Europeans, it’s probably between forty and fifty percent, and most of the Slavs are Slovenians, Croatians, and Serbians.”

Franz’s eyelids twitched. They were digging people from Austria-Hungary! If you count these Slavs from Austria-Hungary, East Africa has taken at least two million people from Austria-Hungary. But that’s also good. No wonder Slovenian and Croatian nationalists have not been active in recent years.

“Even with the Slavs, the population shouldn’t be over ten million.”

“Aren’t there nearly half of the immigrants from the Far East! The two sides together are exactly ten million.”

“Aren’t you afraid that such a country will collapse?” Franz raised his question.

“Worry more about Austria-Hungary, brother! Compared to East Africa’s population problem, Austria-Hungary’s problem is really serious. Germans only account for more than twenty percent, and these ethnic groups all have their own historical identities. The crisis of division is always hanging over your empire!”

The problem of Austria-Hungary was a long-standing problem. The Habsburg family’s set of loyalty to the Emperor was obviously unable to cope with the rise of nationalism, unless Austria-Hungary could create a new ethnicity that could encompass all ethnic groups.

“The Empire’s problems are indeed impossible to solve, so you also choose to go this way?”

Archduke Ferdinand shook his head and said, “Ethnic integration, East Africa is a purely immigrant country, and the Hechingen royal family, as the ruler of this country, has more power than any monarch in European history, so extremely tough assimilation policies have been carried out in East Africa. As long as the next generation grows up, there will be no more cognitive problems.”

“Then is it still German?”

“Who knows! If Austria-Hungary could do the same, I believe you would choose the same. The Habsburg family doesn’t care about the source of the people, because that’s how we built the Austrian Empire before, but now some of them, especially the Slavs, in Napoleon’s conspiratorial thinking, identify themselves by ethnicity, severing their relationship with the Empire, but leaving the Empire has no benefit for them except to establish their own country.”

Building more Slavic countries is not as good as one Austria-Hungary. Later history also proved this point. Austria-Hungary can become a major force in Europe and even the world, with both the dignity of a great power and the freedom of ordinary people, while the later fragmented Balkan countries cannot even get the freedom of ordinary people.

It may be that life under the rule of Austria-Hungary is indeed very unsatisfactory now, but it is definitely much happier than other countries.

Chapter 464: Persuasion

For the time being, Franz took Ferdinand’s words at face value, but he couldn’t easily agree to let the Austro-Hungarian Empire protect East Africa, even if East Africa sent his younger brother over.

“Population does not equal national power. Although East Africa’s land area is not small, it doesn’t change the fact that East Africa is a small country,” Franz said.

There was nothing wrong with this statement. In the current world, having population and land doesn’t automatically qualify a country as a major power. If that were the case, the Far East and India should be at the top of the list.

Franz’s impression of East Africa’s territory was still based on previous information. Even with East Africa’s unrestricted expansion in recent years, it was, at most, over three million square kilometers.

This was a stereotype. In Franz’s view, there were other players in Africa, such as Portugal, Britain, and France. They wouldn’t just sit back and watch East Africa eat all the meat. Moreover, even if the natives were largely useless, it would probably take time for East Africa to digest them. The United States didn’t even complete the massacre of Native Americans within ten years. In fact, Americans are still persecuting the surviving Native Americans in the West.

“East Africa as a whole is indeed not a strong country, and its geographical location is not particularly important, but our East Africa’s strategic position is very important to the Austro-Hungarian Empire!” Ferdinand said. “The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s naval power is in the Mediterranean, and can even be said to only radiate the eastern Mediterranean region. Now, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Indian Ocean. Control of the Suez Canal is in the hands of Britain and France, which is also a development dilemma for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy. But if we look at the map, East Africa is south of the Suez Canal, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is north of the Suez Canal. If our two navies join forces, do you know what that means?”

What did it mean? It meant that the Suez Canal would be sandwiched between the two navies, which was equivalent to indirectly controlling the Suez Canal. But did the East African navy have the strength to do that?

The answer was yes, at least on paper. Others might not be clear about the strength of the East African navy, but the Austro-Hungarian navy certainly knew. Most of East Africa’s ships were ordered from Austria. In fact, in the comparison of strength between the two countries, the East African naval power was already the closest to the Austrian navy’s standards.

Currently, East Africa’s main battle ironclad fleet consisted of three ships, far less than the Austro-Hungarian navy, but there were three more under construction, and one had already begun design. In addition, the East African navy was about to order a top-tier ironclad ship with a displacement of seven thousand five hundred tons. By this time next year, the number of active ironclad ships in East Africa would reach six. By 1880, East Africa would have an Indian Ocean fleet comparable in size to the Austro-Hungarian navy.

The current number of ironclad ships in the Austrian navy was ten, two of which were seized from the Italian navy. Thanks to East African orders, the Austro-Hungarian navy also began construction of two new ironclad ships last year, so this number would increase to twelve next year. By 1880, the number of Austro-Hungarian ironclad ships would probably remain around fifteen.

By 1880, the number of ironclad ships in East Africa would not exceed that of the Austro-Hungarian navy. Even with Ferdinand’s proposal, East Africa added a new ironclad ship. Including the Friedrich ironclad ship, East Africa would only have nine ironclad ships. And it was unknown whether the Austro-Hungarian Empire would have new shipbuilding needs in the next few years. Of course, most of the Austro-Hungarian navy’s ships were old, with seven ironclad ships having served before the Battle of Lissa.

However, the East African navy’s paper strength was not bad, but its core was far inferior to that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lacking a complete naval training system, and a severe shortage of experienced sailors and senior naval officers.

Although the Austrian navy provided support in this area, the naval officers sent to East Africa were unpopular newcomers with no experience in commanding naval battles. As for Archduke Ferdinand, he had maxed out his naval construction skills, but no one knew how much command ability he actually possessed.

Therefore, as an emerging force, the specific combat effectiveness of the East African navy was unknown. The investment in equipment in recent years had been huge, but talent couldn’t keep up. However, relying solely on equipment data, it could already be compared to the Beiyang Fleet in terms of intimidation.

“Well, the East African navy’s strength has indeed grown well in recent years. Even I am somewhat envious and jealous. If we cooperate in terms of the navy, they do have the strength to match the Imperial Navy.”

At the thought of the East African navy’s development, Franz had to admit that the Hechingen royal family was truly rich and willing to spend money. Perhaps only the British Royal Navy could surpass the East African navy.

In fact, the Austro-Hungarian navy initially considered selling its old ships to East Africa and building new ones itself, but East Africa was a buyer’s market, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire couldn’t control East Africa. Moreover, Ernst didn’t really want to take over those “antiques.”

In order to cope with the great powers, Ernst had forcibly built the East African navy in a short period of time with money. The naval quality was already not high, and if the equipment was also poor, then the situation of the East African navy would be embarrassing.

Moreover, Ernst mainly wanted to use this batch of purchased warships to cope for twenty or thirty years, dragging the time to the twentieth century. Only new ships could satisfy this.

East Africa could place orders with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as with Britain, France, Italy, and even Germany and Tsarist Russia.

In fact, Ernst’s own shipyards could also build ironclad ships with a little more effort. With large investments over the years and the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company feeding them, the four major shipyards had accumulated rich experience in building large ships. Among them, the local Bagamoyo Shipyard had already begun to test the waters, attempting to build East Africa’s first domestically produced ironclad ship, although its displacement was only a mere two thousand five hundred tons.

“However, our desire for the ocean is not strong. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s location is naturally unfavorable for competing for maritime hegemony. Because you are my brother, I am not afraid of you laughing at me. Even the struggle for continental hegemony has actually been abandoned by the Empire, because we lost Germany, so there is no longer this opportunity. Now the Empire is like a large ship drifting on the sea, but as the helmsman of this ship, I don’t know where to steer it. I can only try to appease the sailors and let this ship continue to move forward!”

This was the first time Ferdinand had heard Franz express such pessimistic emotions. He said, “Franz, actually you have done very well. In fact, the problems of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were planted long ago by the Empire’s predecessors. They could not have imagined the impact of such strong national emotions on the Empire today. It can only be said that the times have abandoned the Empire. By the time you took control of this country, it was already difficult to turn around.”

Hearing Ferdinand’s comfort, Franz was very happy. This younger brother, who had once caused him headaches and worries, was now beginning to understand him!

However, Ferdinand changed the subject and said, “However, precisely because of this, the Empire should join forces with East Africa, especially Austria. We have made too many concessions to Hungary in recent years. If other ethnic groups follow Hungary’s successful example, then the future fate of the Empire will only be disintegration. And when the Empire no longer exists, it means that the Habsburg family is also in a dangerous situation.”

“Can we solve this dilemma by forming an alliance with East Africa?”

“Of course not!” Archduke Ferdinand affirmed. “But we have the ability to digest some of the Empire’s destabilizing factors.”

Ferdinand took a sip of tea and continued, “In fact, East Africa has been implementing a plan to avoid the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, focusing on weakening the risk of independence in some important areas around Austria through East Africa’s immigration strategy.”

Ferdinand’s words aroused Franz’s interest. East Africa interfering in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s internal affairs? It felt like a fantasy.

“This plan has no written documents, but the effect has already been reflected, which is to improve the population of Slovenia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. Since the economic crisis of 1873, we have been systematically immigrating from the above-mentioned areas, focusing on the Slavs in the three regions, mainly unemployed workers and farmers, and introducing them to East Africa, weakening the nationalistic sentiments and foundations of the three regions.”

“Actually, do you remember who was the culprit in the previous Italo-Austrian War?”

“Ernst!”

“It was him. His fundamental purpose was still to strengthen the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s strength, especially to stabilize the people’s hearts in the Empire.”

“But the Empire took the risk in this matter, and Ernst also made a lot of money in the war.”

“But the final choice was in your hands, wasn’t it? You were tempted, and you bet right. Italy didn’t have time to digest its own national power, and France happened to be entangled by Prussia. The Austro-Hungarian Empire took back its lost territory, and the glory of the Empire seemed to return!”

The Italo-Austrian War was a shot in the arm for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s public confidence, proving that the old empire was still sharp.

Ferdinand continued, “Including this economic crisis, I don’t need to say more about the role of the Hechingen Consortium in stabilizing the Empire’s economy. The steel orders alone ensured that the Empire’s economy did not completely collapse.”

After hearing Ferdinand’s words, Franz realized that he seemed to have received a lot of care from Ernst.

“Why the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Germany is clearly stronger!” Franz asked his last question.

This made Archduke Ferdinand a little embarrassed. “Ahem, you have already said that Germany is very strong now, but that is precisely not the cooperative partner that East Africa desires, because the basis of cooperation is mutual need, and more importantly, equal strength. It is obvious that the German government is somewhat too strong. East Africa is definitely not as comfortable cooperating with such a country as it is with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.” The implication was that the Austro-Hungarian Empire posed no threat to East Africa.

Franz’s face turned dark after hearing this. “Leave as soon as you finish your tea!”

“What about the alliance?”

“Wait for my news.”

Chapter 465: Quasi-Alliance Relationship

After dismissing Ferdinand, Franz summoned his staff to discuss the necessity of forming an alliance with East Africa. However, as a precaution, he decided to first discuss it with the Austrian government.

“Why should we form an alliance with an African country? Are we trying to become a laughingstock for the rest of Europe! Frankly, even allying with the infidels in the Middle East would sound better than joining hands with an African nation, except for Egypt, of course,” said the Austrian Prime Minister.

“But as far as I know, the Hohenzollern royal family of the East African Kingdom wields considerable influence within the Empire. They control important sectors of the imperial economy, such as railways, steel, grain, and electricity, which are crucial for stabilizing the kingdom’s economy and political stability. If we don’t choose East Africa, it will inevitably affect our relationship with the Hohenzollern royal family. Moreover, we also have our own tangible interests in East Africa, so we have a basis for cooperation,” the Minister of Finance retorted.

“If the Empire unites with East Africa, I believe the Hungarian government will be the first to object!” the Prime Minister said.

Franz agreed, saying, “That’s why I called you here. Cooperating with East Africa is indeed detrimental to our international reputation. Furthermore, if we form an alliance with East Africa, will it affect the international situation? Will countries like Britain and France misjudge us as having designs on Africa, leading to excessive reactions?”

“Your Majesty, that is bound to happen. Every move of the Empire is watched by other countries. If we show interest in East Africa, it will likely trigger a chain reaction. The problem is that we don’t really have any intention or ability to colonize Africa, which is completely contrary to our core focus on Europe,” the Prime Minister replied affirmatively.

“Well, the growing strength of the East African Kingdom cannot be underestimated, especially in terms of its navy. The Hohenzollern royal family has ordered many warships from Austria, and because of Princess Karina, the two royal families actually have a pretty good relationship.”

“But that doesn’t prove anything. Relations between countries are still based on national interests. What benefits can we gain from an alliance with East Africa?” the Prime Minister asked rhetorically.

Franz said, “We know too little about East Africa. Its location dictates that it has never been valued by Europe. But what is East Africa’s overall strength? How much control does the Hohenzollern royal family have over Africa?”

“Your Majesty! Don’t you know?” In the Prime Minister’s view, the Hohenzollern royal family and the Habsburg royal family are related by marriage, so the royal family should be very clear about the national conditions of East Africa. After all, the commander of the East African navy is one of their own.

Franz shook his head and said, “I might have had a rough understanding of East Africa’s situation a few years ago. At that time, East Africa already had a certain size, but now too much time has passed.”

“Judging from the East African Kingdom’s ability to purchase steel and warships from Austria-Hungary, East Africa’s national strength should not be bad,” the Minister of Finance analyzed.

“That’s different. The wealth of the Hohenzollern royal family and East Africa should be viewed separately. Take the navy, for example. If the Rothschild family were willing to do so, I believe they would also have the strength to build their own private navy. Many nouveau riche in America probably have this ability,” the Prime Minister denied. In fact, in the Prime Minister’s eyes, the Hohenzollern royal family is also like this nouveau riche, but the Hohenzollern royal family is, after all, a traditional noble family, so it is somewhat different.

Moreover, to understand why the Hohenzollern royal family is so rich, one only needs to look at the enterprises established by the Hohenzollern royal family in the German region. The Hohenzollern Bank alone is richer than many countries.

Regarding the wealth of the Hohenzollern royal family, many nobles are actually envious or even jealous, but that’s all. First, the rules between nobles cannot be broken. Second, the Hohenzollern Consortium is not a dead thing. Its size is too large, and a single move affects the whole body, concerning the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers.

The difference between the Hohenzollern Consortium and Jewish capital is that it really values industry. While these industries create value for the Hohenzollern royal family, they also create value for both Germany and Austria. Therefore, to move the Hohenzollern Consortium, one must first cut oneself, and Austria-Hungary obviously cannot accept this approach. Any slight disturbance could injure this ancient empire to the bone, and no noble wants to see 1848 repeated.

“So, the root of the matter is still the Hohenzollern royal family. It is no exaggeration to say that East Africa is the private property of the Hohenzollern royal family. The question is whether we choose to cooperate with the Hohenzollern royal family.”

The Minister of Finance said, “I personally support cooperation, because cooperation with East Africa helps stabilize the Empire’s economy. I believe the Imperial Navy also shares this attitude. Without East Africa’s orders, the navy’s two ironclad ships would not have materialized out of thin air.”

The Prime Minister said, “Cooperation with East Africa is indeed beneficial to us, but East Africa’s abnormal pursuit of imperial protection clearly means they need something from the Empire. And there must be a reason for the Hohenzollern royal family to do this. What is their reason?”

Franz was stunned by this question. That’s right! Why didn’t the Hohenzollern royal family make this request before? Now that they have developed, why have they changed their attitude instead?

The Prime Minister continued, “This time, it is the East African Kingdom seeking cooperation, which means they have encountered a threat they cannot cope with… Britain, France, or other countries with influence in Africa!”

“Very likely, East Africa clearly wants us to be a shield to prevent external threats!”

“If that’s the case, it makes sense!”

“Then should we do it? What if it really is Britain, France, or other countries with designs on Africa? Will we be dragged into the water?”

Franz also fell silent. If what the Prime Minister said is true, it is indeed a difficult decision.

East Africa certainly faces such threats, but not as serious as the Austrian ministers imagined. This is a misjudgment caused by improper intelligence.

“Is there a way to maintain a friendly relationship with the Hohenzollern royal family without being dragged into the water?” Franz decided to make his subordinates think harder.

After thinking for a while, the Minister of Finance said, “If that’s the case, we might be able to engage in limited cooperation, wooing East Africa while ensuring that we don’t get caught up in the mess that is Africa.”

“How do you mean, limited cooperation?”

“We don’t cooperate with East Africa in the name of the Empire, but only in the name of the Austrian government. Austria cannot fully represent the Empire, so when East Africa conflicts with other countries, the Empire can stand by and watch. After all, Hungary’s attitude also determines the direction of the Empire, and the Hohenzollern royal family can’t say anything.”

The Austrian Minister of Finance’s idea was that Austria gets the benefits, and Hungary takes the blame.

“Ahem, don’t say anything that is not conducive to unity in the future. However, your Austrian government can handle the matter of forming an alliance with East Africa separately,” Franz said.

The Prime Minister said, “If that’s the case, it is indeed a feasible plan. We, Austria, will negotiate with East Africa separately, but it does not represent the overall attitude of the Empire.”

…

June 1876.

The Austrian government separately signed the “Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance between the Hohenzollern Kingdom and the Austrian Kingdom” with the East African Kingdom, and the two sides formed a quasi-alliance.

The Austrian government’s actions aroused dissatisfaction from the Hungarian side. What are you doing? Why didn’t you discuss it with me?

The Austrian Prime Minister said to the Hungarian Prime Minister, “This is out of the needs of Austria’s economic development. Commercial groups within Austria and East Africa have non-negligible common interests.”

Hungary: “Then why is this treaty you signed a quasi-alliance treaty? Just sign an economic treaty!”

“The Austrian government has its own plans in this regard. The content of the treaty is limited to the Austrian Kingdom and will not have any negative impact on Hungary.”

“In other words, the content of the treaty does not represent the will of the Empire!”

“Of course. If it represented the Empire, then we would definitely have to discuss it with you!” the Austrian Prime Minister said with a laugh.

This answer was relatively satisfactory to the Hungarian side. The Hungarian side mainly wanted to prevent the Austrian government from representing the Empire as a whole. What would be the difference between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the former Austrian Empire!

If it was just Austria’s separate diplomatic activities with other countries, Hungary would not react too much. After all, Hungary also has its own diplomatic department.

In fact, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has three governments: the central government, the Austrian government, and the Hungarian government. Austria and Hungary have a certain degree of autonomy, so Austria can bypass Hungary and engage in a strange form of alliance with East Africa. Therefore, the two sides are allied, but not completely allied.

Chapter 466: Attitudes of Various Nations

Whether or not a true alliance exists is not important to East Africa, because if they really encounter an enemy, it’s not something Austria-Hungary can handle anyway. After all, the only countries that can disregard Austria-Hungary’s opinion are the great powers.

“I think this matter is letting Austria off a little too easy!” Ferdinand said, very dissatisfied with the outcome of the negotiations.

“Don’t worry, our goal has been achieved. Even if it’s just Austria, it has a deterrent effect on ordinary countries. Although Austria-Hungary is a mess internally, in the eyes of others, Austria is Austria-Hungary,” Ernst said to his father-in-law.

Just as Ernst said, the news of East Africa’s “alliance” with Austria still caused some reaction in the eyes of other European countries.

British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli paid particular attention to Austria’s actions: “This treaty between the Austrian government and East Africa shows that Austria-Hungary has designs on Africa!”

“There may be reasons for this. After all, there are not many ways to shift the blame under economic depression, and the importance of colonies is even more prominent,” the Foreign Secretary said.

“We cannot sit idly by and watch Austria’s actions. Also, how is the intelligence gathering on the Kingdom of East Africa going? I didn’t expect them to cozy up to Austria-Hungary first.”

Benjamin Disraeli was very different from his predecessor, Gladstone. As the leader of the Conservative Party, he was an active advocate and defender of British colonial imperialism, vigorously promoting foreign aggression and colonial expansion policies.

Moreover, it is worth noting that Benjamin Disraeli himself was a Jew, so his relationship with Jewish consortia, especially the British Rothschild family, was quite close.

In 1875, the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha, encountered a financial crisis and planned to sell his canal shares. But the French were not satisfied and wanted to lower the price further. After Benjamin Disraeli heard the news, he secretly borrowed money from the Rothschild family overnight and bought all the Egyptian government’s shares at a low price of 4 million pounds (accounting for about 45% of all canal shares). Adding some small shares, Britain controlled the lifeline of maritime transport between East and West.

Therefore, this British Prime Minister, who had a very good relationship with the Rothschild family, had no good feelings for the Hechingen royal family behind East Africa.

However, the good news is that the focus of this British Prime Minister is still India. In 1876, the focus of his foreign policy was to continue strengthening the relationship between India and the British mainland, and to promote Queen Victoria as the Empress of India, thereby promoting the British Empire from a verbal habit to a textual “empire.”

Therefore, in recent years, for the sake of the security of the Indian colony, the British government has strengthened its aggression against the surrounding areas, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran, with India as the core. The secondary direction of Benjamin Disraeli’s colonial empire was to invade the entire Africa, using South Africa as a springboard.

The importance of India is self-evident. As for why the British government suddenly attached importance to Africa, the actual reason is that the colonial strategy in other regions was not smooth.

Britain was originally the world’s number one colonial country, but the greed of the British is endless. After the colonial activities in the Americas were barely completed, looking at the whole world, only the African continent still had vast lands that had not been divided.

Because of India, Britain does not have the energy to “take care” of Africa yet, but the Benjamin Disraeli government has begun to investigate the forces in Africa to facilitate the next invasion process.

And East Africa happens to be stuck in front of Britain’s most important colony in Africa (Egypt is a semi-colony).

“We sent twelve expeditions last year, trying to explore the African interior. Our actions in West Africa were relatively smooth, but we encountered trouble in Southern Africa. The Kingdom of East Africa prohibits any individuals or forces from entering the Kingdom of East Africa for exploration activities, so five expeditions were expelled, and one is missing.”

It is worth noting that this time the British exploration of the African interior started from their own colonies, namely the British Gold Coast in West Africa and the Cape Town colony in South Africa.

Progress in West Africa was relatively smooth, but Southern Africa suffered setbacks. The Kingdom of East Africa, which controlled the north bank of the Orange River, tightly blocked the border, giving the British no chance.

Benjamin Disraeli cursed: “Gladstone, that bastard, shouldn’t have sat idly by and watched the Kingdom of East Africa annex the Transvaal Republic.”

“Prime Minister, we know too little about East Africa. Let’s not easily jump in. Although the Transvaal Republic has been annexed by the Germans, the Orange Free State is still there. We should first find an opportunity to incorporate the Orange Free State into Cape Town. The diamond resources of the Orange Free State are also a valuable asset for the empire.”

Benjamin Disraeli: “Of course, I know this. First, find someone to lobby the government of the Orange Free State to let the Orange Free State join. Also, intelligence work on East Africa must be strengthened. We must find out the population and land size of East Africa. Austria’s abnormal behavior shows that the Kingdom of East Africa is definitely not simple.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

……

Berlin.

Wilhelm I was also somewhat interested in Austria’s behavior of eating alone.

Wilhelm I: “Austria still has the leisure to exert influence in Africa. Could it be that Africa is really profitable!”

Bismarck: “That’s impossible, Your Majesty. According to my speculation, the main reason why Austria and East Africa signed a treaty is that the high-level relations between the two countries are relatively friendly. The Hechingen royal family just wants to find a meat shield to ensure the security of their country. This is the way of survival for many small countries in the world.”

Wilhelm I: “But in that case, Prince Constantine should come to us. After all, the Principality of Hechingen is also part of the empire.”

Bismarck: “Your Majesty, to put it bluntly, the choice of the Hechingen royal family is the most appropriate in my opinion. Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world power closest to East Africa is Austria-Hungary. They are only separated by the Suez Canal. The navy of Austria-Hungary is also stronger than ours, so if I were to choose, I would definitely choose Austria-Hungary. After all, Prussia cannot go from the Baltic Sea to the North Atlantic and then to the Mediterranean Sea, and then enter the Indian Ocean to take care of East Africa. Moreover, the people of East Africa are Germans, with the same origin and culture as Germany, and culturally they are more inclined to Catholicism. The Hechingen royal family was originally closer to Austria-Hungary in history, only briefly having a honeymoon period with Prussia after the Revolution of 1848.”

Wilhelm I: “What you said is indeed true. The imperial navy is in an awkward position. Although the Austro-Hungarian navy is not very good either, the Mediterranean is obviously much wider than the Baltic Sea.”

Bismarck continued: “It doesn’t matter if Austria-Hungary influences East Africa, we can influence Austria-Hungary. Anyway, the current Austrian Prime Minister is pro-German.”

……

Compared to Britain and Germany, France was not interested in East Africa at all. France even believed that East Africa’s alliance with Austria was beneficial to its own African strategy.

France’s strategic focus is in North Africa and West Africa, so there is no conflict of interest with East Africa. Moreover, it is not bad for the Kingdom of East Africa to make things difficult for the British, saving the British from making small moves in West Africa. The two sides are actually real competitors in West Africa.

As for East Africa’s willingness to ally with Austria, France doesn’t mind. Does Austria still want to create a triple monarchy empire? As long as it doesn’t cooperate with Prussia, its sworn enemy, the French government doesn’t have much opinion.

Russia: “East Africa? Never heard of it. As long as it’s not the Balkans.”

Portugal: “……”

Chapter 467: Observation

Besides the Orange River, the Tugela River also serves as a geographical boundary between East Africa and the Cape Colony. The Tugela River flows from Lesotho into the Indian Ocean.

The Tugela River is quite wide, with swift currents. The world-renowned Tugela Falls stands on the Tugela River. The river water plunges from the great cliffs of the Drakensberg Mountains, forming a waterfall complex with a drop of nine hundred and forty-four meters, second only to Angel Falls in terms of drop, ranking second in the world.

Therefore, the Tugela River basin has extremely steep terrain, which provides excellent assistance to the defense of East Africa.

North of the Tugela River, the construction of New Hamburg Port has been completed, and its scale is rapidly approaching the two ports of Maputo and Durban, becoming one of the three most prosperous cities in the region.

Observation ships from the British Natal Colony wandered outside New Hamburg Port, observing this familiar yet unfamiliar emerging port. An East African warship followed vigilantly behind, preventing the British from playing any tricks.

However, the British were not fools either. As a dual-use military and civilian port, New Hamburg Port has strong defensive capabilities. In addition to the naval base, the mobile artillery platforms erected at the port entrance alone can serve as a strategic pass, impenetrable to ten thousand men.

“Judging from the outside, the structure of this new port is similar to that of Durban Port, both being trumpet-shaped with a small mouth and a large belly, very suitable for use as a naval base. Why didn’t our people pay attention to it back then? Instead, we let the Germans get it cheap?”

“Mr. Wilkes, this question is easy to answer, because we have Durban Port, and Durban Port has much better natural conditions than this harbor.”

“But looking at the construction of the two ports, I haven’t found any shortcomings in the German’s New Hamburg Port compared to Durban Port.”

“The natural conditions of New Hamburg Port were originally inferior to those of Durban Port, but East Africa has invested a lot in this area, especially with the rapid population growth, which makes East Africa’s ability to transform Durban Port very strong, thus overcoming the local unfavorable conditions.”

The current population of New Hamburg Port is around thirty thousand, but including the Zulu people, it is around seventy thousand. East Africa has invested heavily in New Hamburg Port, especially the railway construction, which makes this new city extremely busy.

“The Germans’ infrastructure construction capabilities are quite good. We also saw the coastline situation in the Zulu Kingdom a few years ago. At that time, the so-called ‘New Hamburg Port’ was just a deserted bay, far inferior to Durban Port, and the southern part of this port was still a swamp, so the port siltation was very serious. But with the Germans’ transformation, in a few years, New Hamburg Port will definitely surpass Durban and become the most prosperous city in the region.”

The swampy area in the south of the port has been transformed by East Africa. Through the arduous efforts of more than twenty thousand Zulu people, it took three years to create three square kilometers of deep-water area for New Hamburg Port.

The canal connecting the lake in the north has also been completed, which greatly improves the conditions of New Hamburg Port. The usable area is already far larger than Durban Port, and this is not the limit of New Hamburg Port. There is still a lake with an area of five square kilometers south of the southern wetland, which East Africa has not yet developed.

Wilkes said with some dissatisfaction: “Are the Germans reproductive machines? If America can’t hold them, they still want to occupy Africa!”

“Mr. Wilkes, the development of the Kingdom of East Africa is inseparable from the explosive growth of the population in the German region. In the last war, they were able to mobilize tens of thousands of troops, which shows that the Kingdom of East Africa has at least hundreds of thousands of people in its territory. However, the population of New Hamburg Port alone is about tens of thousands, and as far as I know, the population of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa will only be higher. Moreover, East Africa has other ports, which shows that East Africa may have at least hundreds of thousands of people in the coastal areas alone.”

As an old sailor who has been active along the coast of the Indian Ocean for many years, Enlai is quite clear about the ports along the coast of East Africa, especially the two free ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Enlai believes that the population of these two port cities may exceed one hundred thousand, which is almost the same level as some large European ports.

Wilkes felt that the situation was very serious after hearing this. If this is the case, then East Africa can also attack the South African region from the inland. The total white population of East Africa is likely to exceed one million. Although one million people is not a large number, that is compared to Europe. In Africa, I am afraid that only Egypt and some North African traditional white countries have a white population stronger than the Kingdom of East Africa.

Enlai said: “However, things may not be as extreme as we think. A large part of the population of East Africa is Asian. I have contacted half of the residents in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa who are East Asians, so East Africa is not as scary as we think.”

“Is that so?” Wilkes said after hearing this: “If the Kingdom of East Africa uses yellow people to fill the ranks internally, then it is easy to explain.”

It’s not that Wilkes is discriminating against East Asians, but the Far Eastern Empire has been too disappointing in recent years. Through wars in recent decades, Britain has completely established confidence in the Far Eastern Empire, so it gives the British the illusion that East Asians are vulnerable. One Englishman can defeat a thousand, and a few warships can easily make the Far Eastern Empire admit defeat. If half of the population of East Africa is East Asian, then the problem is “not big.”

Of course, it is not only aimed at East Asia. The British also look down on the fighting power of South Asians. The cost of British colonization of India is pitifully low.

Wilkes, an investigator from mainland Britain, did not conduct any prior investigation at all. Half of the Chinese immigrants in the East African army are serving, and the Chinese have made important contributions to East Africa’s previous wars of aggression, including the previous war in South Africa.

Of course, it is only natural that the British do not pay attention to it. The South African War was mainly a war between the Germans and the Boers. The Transvaal Republic was so weak that the British only thought it was natural. After all, the Boers’ mother country, the Netherlands, did not dare to make a fuss in front of Germany. It was not like they were going to fight East Africa themselves. If they did, they would definitely let the Germans know what the power of the world hegemon is.

Wilkes said arrogantly: “In the end, it is still the race that is not good. Black people are the lowest in this world. Even countries like India are much stronger than black people. Therefore, the Germans have picked up a big bargain. While we do not pay attention to Africa, they are massively enclosing land in Africa. But their good days are coming to an end. When the Empire completes the affairs of the Indian periphery and the Orange Free State, we will let East Africa know who is the most powerful among the colonizers. This is something that those German landlubbers cannot imagine.”

Population and size do have a certain effect, but the British do not buy this argument. Countries like India, the Far East, and even the United States have suffered greatly at the hands of the British.

In the first few years after the founding of the United States, Britain imposed a trade embargo on the United States. At one point, only ships under sixty tons were allowed to leave the port. It was not until the United States broke the deadlock by developing Pacific trade and doing business with the Far Eastern Empire.

However, the Americans are not kind either. Before long, they also engaged in unfair competition through opium, just like their biological father, the British. The Far Eastern Empire found it difficult to distinguish between the British and the Americans. Many American merchants made a fortune through opium, especially merchants in the Boston area.

Speaking of trade embargoes, this is what Ernst was most worried about before. Now the East African Navy has taken initial shape and has a certain ability to fight back. However, in order to avoid being targeted next, there was the previous trip to Austria by Archduke Ferdinand.

The British trade embargo against the United States was the result of cooperation from Spain, France, and other countries. Therefore, East Africa cannot allow other countries to cooperate with British actions. Therefore, it is very necessary to bring Austria-Hungary into the water. Any country that targets East Africa must consider the attitude of Austria-Hungary.

Although Austria-Hungary’s attitude is ambiguous, having an attitude is better than having no attitude. Moreover, the education Ernst received also told him that he must not rely too much on others. If he can be independent and autonomous, he must be independent and autonomous.

Chapter 468: Southwest Africa

East African warships were closely following the British survey vessel. The British ship was like an annoying fly, hovering around the waters near New Hamburg, making the East African navy even angrier because they couldn’t just swat the fly dead.

In fact, it wasn’t just New Hamburg. Recently, British ships had been doing similar things near all of East Africa’s ports, especially the two open ports, which the British had carefully assessed.

“The economic open zones that the Kingdom of East Africa speaks of are already quite prosperous. This is practically a miniature version of London and Paris. Although the population isn’t as large as those two capitals, it’s developed enough, with a strong atmosphere of commerce and service industries. Many ships stop at these two ports along the way and enjoy the services provided by the East Africans.”

“The population of the two cities is a mix of Caucasians and Asians. We haven’t obtained any valuable information from the local residents, but through indirect questioning, we can tell that the Kingdom of East Africa is different from the African countries we imagined. It’s both orderly and not backward. The Hechingen royal family from Prussia rules here, and the royal family has a very high reputation among the people.”

“Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are already on par with European port cities. Large European-style buildings have been built along the East African coast, making the East African coast completely different from what it was a decade ago. The Germans have completely replaced the Arabs and become the undisputed overlords of the area. Except for the Transvaal and the Zulu Kingdom, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which was still on the map a few years ago, has completely become a province of East Africa, and most of the Somali coast has also been annexed by the Germans.”

“The Portuguese once divided the shores of Lake Malawi with East Africa. The inland areas are basically monopolized by the Kingdom of East Africa. The Kingdom of East Africa’s land area is very likely to exceed one and a half million square miles.”

“However, we don’t have a clear understanding of how much land East Africa actually occupies inland, because we haven’t found any presence of the Kingdom of East Africa on the west coast. This shows that East Africa hasn’t yet ventured into the west coast. If we want to further understand the territorial extent of East Africa, we must send an expedition from the west to investigate. However, the west coast of Africa is the colony of Angola. If we want to bypass the Portuguese, we can only enter from the southern desert area, which wouldn’t be an easy task for us.”

As Britain began to explore Africa, the veil over East Africa was gradually being lifted, and even just a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg had already given Britain a great shock.

Benjamin: “The containment of East Africa is already inevitable. If we let East Africa develop, will it monopolize Africa like the United States?”

Chancellor of the Exchequer: “Prime Minister, we can’t be impulsive right now. Although the Kingdom of East Africa has some potential, it’s far from being a threat. Africa isn’t a fertile land like the United States, and we also have to consider the attitudes of Austria-Hungary and Germany. These two countries are very likely to have provided a huge amount of help for the development of East Africa.”

He refused to believe that East Africa could develop like this on its own. After all, Britain had rich colonial experience. The difficulty of colonial development was closely related to the population. Apart from gold mines, population was an important indicator of a wealthy colony.

Places like the Philippines and India were built up with population. Africa, on the other hand, was a typical area with vast land and sparse population. Without a sufficient population, the value of a colony was greatly reduced. At the same time, vast land and sparse population were not conducive to governance, unless you were really going there to do charity.

Benjamin: “In any case, we must put East Africa on the work agenda after we have dealt with the Indian affairs.”

Benjamin’s idea was good, but Ernst didn’t believe that Benjamin would have the opportunity to focus on East Africa, because Tsarist Russia hadn’t yet taken action. The Tenth Russo-Turkish War was already showing signs. If the British could really ignore the risks and choose to fight East Africa to the death in Africa, then Ernst would believe that Benjamin was a real man.

Regardless of the British’s thoughts, East Africa still had to eat without British interference. After the British’s unusual actions were compiled and sent to Ernst, Ernst convened military personnel and began to discuss East Africa’s new expansion plan.

“We have already achieved good results along the Indian Ocean coast, but for East Africa, we have never had our own foothold in the Atlantic. The importance of the Atlantic is self-evident, so this time I plan to set my sights on the Skeleton Coast between Angola and the Orange River.”

The Skeleton Coast refers to the coastal area of Namibia. The earliest Portuguese sailors called this long coastline of Namibia the “Coast of Hell.” Here, Ernst uses the Skeleton Coast to refer to the entire coastal area of Namibia.

“Your Highness, if we want to advance into the Skeleton Coast, we must overcome geographical disadvantages. Almost all of Southwest Africa is desert. This is different from the Somali region. In the Somali region, we can control Somalia along the oases and with the help of camels. The conditions in Southwest Africa are far inferior to those in Somalia.”

“Yes, but I don’t intend to carry out large-scale actual occupation of the southwest, but rather to focus on occupying some areas to cut off other countries’ opportunities to colonize Southwest Africa.”

In his previous life, the large and arid Namib Desert made Namibia one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Namibia’s 1,600-kilometer coastline is basically covered by the Namib Desert.

Therefore, during the hundreds of years that the west coast of Africa served as the main European route to Asia, no colonizers had any ideas about Southwest Africa. The Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch all landed here, took a look, and then left.

It wasn’t until 1884 that the Germans took the coastal area of Southwest Africa as their colony. Southwest Africa wasn’t a good place, but the poor Germans entered the game too late, so they didn’t even let go of this desert.

“Our control over Southwest Africa mainly focuses on three areas: one is the area bordering the Portuguese, one is the mouth of the Orange River, and the third is Walvis Bay in the central part of Southwest Africa.”

East Africa is not far from Southwest Africa, and a part of East Africa’s west territory is actually considered the Southwest African region, mainly the highlands of Southwest Africa, the Okavango River Basin, which is the Letania Province.

The Okavango River originates in what was Angola in his previous life, passes through Namibia, and is finally swallowed by the Kalahari Desert in Botswana.

However, Letania Province is mainly on the east bank of the Okavango River (now northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola). East Africa has not carried out large-scale exploration and development in the west.

Southwest Africa is not a small place. Including the Kalahari Desert, it is estimated that seven or eight hundred thousand square kilometers of land are uninhabited, so it is not easy for East Africa to occupy it.

The main problem is that transportation is more difficult. After all, the desert area is vast, and it is different from the desert in Somalia. There are too few people here, and there are no human settlements that can supply materials.

If there are no surprises, the Orange River line is actually the easiest area to occupy. You can advance all the way west along the Orange River, and at the same time, the Orange River can solve the water source problem.

For other areas of Southwest Africa, Ernst’s idea this time is to advance by both land and sea, penetrating deep into Southwest Africa on land while building strongholds along the coast of Southwest Africa through maritime transport.

Chapter 469: Walvis Bay

March, 1877.

On the west coast of Africa, four ships quietly detached from a slave ship convoy traveling from East Africa to North America, and they sailed towards a bay.

Walvis Bay has a rather unique formation. A narrow channel extends into the Atlantic Ocean, making the entire bay look like an arm reaching out. The bay’s opening faces north, making Walvis Bay easily recognizable. Basically, any ship passing through here could identify it.

In fact, in 1487, the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias (one of the initiators of the Age of Discovery) discovered Walvis Bay. Before the 18th century, the Dutch also explored this area, but nothing came of it. Therefore, Walvis Bay was in a prominent location, but it did not receive much attention.

“This is Walvis Bay, the only deep-water port between Angola and South Africa. After our measurements, most of the waters should be less than fifteen meters deep, and the bay’s exit is nearly ten kilometers wide. It certainly has the conditions to build a good deep-water port!”

However, these data did not reassure the East African sailors, because on the land east of the bay was a vast white desert, with only a few scattered green plants visible.

“No wonder His Highness said the conditions here are poor. The land is still a desert, somewhat similar to Mogadishu.”

“It’s far worse than Mogadishu. Mogadishu is an oasis, but here there is no large river like the Shebelle River to nourish the banks.”

If viewed purely from a tourism perspective, the scenery of Walvis Bay is remarkable. The pure white beaches meet the azure sea, giving people a refreshing feeling. But no matter how beautiful it is, it does not change the fact that this place is a desert.

Andre kicked the animal bones on the shore of Walvis Bay and said, “We may have to spend a little more effort to find a water source here. I wonder when the people from Letania Province will be able to open up a supply channel.”

Benefiting from the construction of the East African Central Railway, cargo transportation is now much more convenient, but this is only relative to the inland areas of East Africa. There is a westward extension of the Central Railway, but it is closer to Angola. The vast desert in the southwest makes East Africa temporarily uninterested in building a similar railway in the south. Therefore, supplies from the rear cannot be directly transported here by rail, and must be transferred through Letania Province.

Letania Province is located in a plateau area. If supplies are to be transported from Letania to Walvis Bay, they must pass through hundreds of kilometers of desert, which is also a difficulty for East Africa in occupying Namibia.

In fact, Letania Province is in the northeast of Namibia, but it is already the best land route for East Africa to Namibia. The due east direction, closer to Walvis Bay, is a desert area stretching for thousands of kilometers. The Namib Desert is almost connected to the Kalahari Desert.

“Now we will divide into two groups of twenty teams to survey within a twenty-kilometer radius. The first group is responsible for finding areas around that may have groundwater. The second group will go around to see if there are any oases or rivers. The most important thing now is to find drinking water. We must conserve the drinking water on the ship,” said Captain Chris.

East Africa is relatively experienced in finding water in arid areas. Africa itself has many arid areas, so this is an essential skill for some East Africans, and these skills were learned from African natives and Arabs.

Soon, the crew determined a dozen places where water sources might exist based on the characteristics of vegetation distribution. However, after digging several meters deep, the results were not satisfactory.

However, when one door shuts, another opens. While no results were obtained in Walvis Bay in the evening, good news came from the personnel exploring the north.

“We found an oasis about twenty kilometers to the north. It is a relatively large river, and the conditions on both sides of the river are very good, giving rise to a relatively wide vegetation belt.”

This river is the Swakop River, one of the important rivers in Namibia in its previous life. It originates from the mountains in the interior and flows through the Namib Desert in the lower reaches. However, the water volume is not very stable, and sometimes it may become a dry riverbed due to less water coming from the upper reaches.

In its previous life, Swakopmund, the most important port of German Southwest Africa, was in this location. After all, Swakopmund was not as famous as Walvis Bay, so Ernst did not remember it for a while. However, Swakopmund was also a relatively well-known tourist destination in Namibia in its previous life, especially famous for its German architecture.

Historically, the Germans established Swakopmund in 1892 and became the ruling center of the German Southwest Africa colony. During the German occupation, it was the main port of Southwest Africa. Later, Swakopmund was replaced by Walvis Bay due to continuous silting.

Therefore, Swakopmund in this period obviously has better natural conditions for building a port than Walvis Bay, which puts the East Africans in a dilemma.

“Captain, the oasis area in the north is obviously in better condition than Walvis Bay. At least the drinking water problem can be solved, but Walvis Bay is a place that His Highness personally ordered us to seize. What should we do?”

Chris thought for a moment: “Why choose? We have a lot of people. Why not simply establish strongholds in both places? The two places are not too far apart. Even if we really can’t find water here, we can transport it from the north.”

However, Chris’s idea soon changed, because after digging more than ten meters down, water came out!

“Water is coming out! Water is coming out!”

Chris hurried to the outlet and looked at the clear well water seeping from the ground: “Quickly find some materials from the ship to support the wellhead and prevent the sand from burying the well.”

Because the surface is a desert, the sand is still flowing down the dug pit, so the sailors found wooden boards and made a simple partition to separate the sand and the well, and built a wooden well cover.

“Now that the water problem is solved, we have the conditions to build a stronghold in Walvis Bay. Do we still need to set up a stronghold in the north!”

“Of course, that place is not far from Walvis Bay, so we must have it in our hands, otherwise what if the enemy takes advantage of it in the future?”

In fact, Walvis Bay was a British colony in its previous life, so there must be groundwater. The British are not gods and need to drink water.

In German Southwest Africa in its previous life, the Walvis Bay port was an enclave of the British South African colony in German Southwest Africa. It was not until the end of the 20th century that South Africa returned Walvis Bay to Namibia under the pressure of international public opinion.

Walvis Bay is definitely a special place. Its sea conditions are much better than Swakopmund in the north. Although Swakopmund has relatively abundant freshwater resources, it faces the Atlantic Ocean directly to the east without natural geographical barriers. At the same time, Walvis Bay is the only deep-water port on the two-thousand-kilometer coastline of Southwest Africa, so both places are relatively important to East Africa.

Two months later, Letania Province finally made contact with the sailors heading to Walvis Bay, and East Africa’s construction here finally began.

Before this, the East African government had already learned about the existence of the Swakop River north of Walvis Bay through the news brought back by the returning slave ships.

Regarding the two places, the East African government decided to develop them simultaneously. Soon a fortress appeared in Walvis Bay. Regarding the name of the Walvis Bay port, it is still called Walvis Bay. Ernst thinks the name is very appropriate.

The two strongholds built by East Africa at Walvis Bay and the Swakop River estuary were soon discovered by the Cape Town colony. Of course, what the Cape Town colony noticed first was East Africa’s expansion on the north bank of the Orange River.

This caused considerable dissatisfaction in the Cape Town colony, because they also had their eyes on Walvis Bay and originally planned to occupy it next year, but East Africa beat them to it (the British colonized Walvis Bay in 1878).

There were even unpleasant scenes. The Governor of East Africa sent people to Walvis Bay for inspection, but the uninhabited area in their memory was now a military fortress, which made the British who came from Cape Town in a dilemma. In the end, they had no choice but to return to Cape Town to report to the Governor.

Chapter 470: Orange Free State Joins Britain

East Africa’s actions made Cape Town very anxious, but currently, it had no way to face the behemoth of East Africa with its own strength alone. However, Cape Town didn’t need to be too upset. East Africa wasn’t intentionally targeting Cape Town. In fact, the Portuguese in Angola also felt apprehensive.

The Province of Leutwein was far from Walvis Bay, separated by a vast desert region, but the climate conditions in the area where the Province of Leutwein bordered Namibia and Angola were not bad! This could be seen from the map of Namibia. Basically, Namibia’s important rivers were distributed in the north.

Although these rivers were mainly seasonal rivers, the plateau area in the north was quite large, and the rainfall could barely reach five hundred millimeters.

Although there were also plateaus in the southern region, there were also mountains. These mountains were the reason why it was inconvenient for East Africa to directly invade Namibia from the east.

Just imagine, after finally crossing the Kalahari Desert, you are met with continuous high mountains. After crossing the high mountain plateau, it is still a desert. This kind of despair cannot be overcome by willpower alone. That is why East Africa adopted a combined sea and land approach when colonizing Namibia.

In the plateau area west of the Province of Leutwein, in Namibia in its previous life, it was called Ovamboland, which was the country’s most important agricultural area. It could grow self-sufficient food crops such as millet, sorghum, and tubers, and was home to thirty percent of the country’s population.

This area was so important to Namibia that it was said that Namibia’s food self-sufficiency rate was only about twenty percent, and most of this twenty percent was contributed by Ovamboland.

No wonder the Portuguese didn’t like Namibia. This piece of land was indeed a genuine bad piece of land, but this was only considered from the perspective of colonization costs.

For East Africa, the value of Namibia was different. The importance of the ocean was self-evident, and if Namibia was seized, East Africa could immediately become a two-ocean country.

As for Namibia’s climate being too harsh, it was not a problem for East Africa. East Africa itself had enough agricultural land and did not need to add more, just like the initial positioning of the South African region, there was no need to vigorously develop planting.

April, 1877.

East Africa simultaneously planned the Congo rainforest area. The Ubangi River inland river unit was established to conduct routine patrols of the Congo River and the Ubangi River. This also indicated that East Africa had completely incorporated the Congo Basin east of the Ubangi River into its own territory.

East Africa generally presented an offensive state in the west. With the addition of railways, East Africa’s transportation capacity was greatly improved, especially the western section of the Central Railway, which directly approached the Angolan colony and stopped abruptly inland, forming a feeling of a dead-end railway.

As for why the western section of the Central Railway was built like this, it could be said that everyone knew what it was for, which was one of the manifestations of plotting against the Angolan colony.

…

May, 1877.

Bloemfontein.

Under the persuasion of the British, the Orange Free State held a final vote on whether to join the Cape Town colony.

“Voting results, one thousand three hundred and eight votes in favor, two hundred and thirty votes against, four hundred and fifteen abstentions, I announce that the Orange Free State will be dissolved from today and automatically join Cape Town.”

President Brand personally dissolved the last Boer republic, so that the South African region completely changed from a three-way force to a two-tiger confrontation.

In fact, President Brand was also very helpless. He personally hoped that the Orange Free State Republic would continue to be retained, but if he really did so, the Orange Free State might have a civil war the next day, so merging with the Cape Town colony was a poison that Brand had to swallow in his eyes.

Apart from the Boers, the only remaining force in South Africa was the Kingdom of Lesotho, but the Kingdom of Lesotho was robbed by the British at the beginning of the year and declared its demise. This was also in line with the British character. After all, the Kingdom of Lesotho, which had been beaten to pieces by East Africa, had no value at all. As the Orange Free State was also incorporated into Cape Town, the United Kingdom initially unified southern South Africa.

In the Orange Free State, the negative votes represented the unwillingness to collude with the British. Perhaps East Africa was not a good thing, but Britain was definitely a bad seed. As for the abstainers, most of them did not want to be involved in the dispute between the British and the Germans. In their view, the Orange Free State should remain neutral.

These people were generally locals of the Orange Free State, but the opposition and abstention factions were weak. More Boers, especially those who had been driven to the Orange Free State by East Africa, hated East Africa to the core. Under the influence of their emotions, most of the people of the Orange Free State also harbored hatred for East Africa.

Under the bewitchment of the British, the Orange Free State unhesitatingly threw itself into the arms of the British Cape Town colony and became a part of the Cape Town colony.

In the situation of being between a rock and a hard place, Britain was obviously more deterrent than East Africa, and the Orange Free State was quite clear about what East Africa had done in the Transvaal Republic before, and they were also afraid of following in the footsteps of the Transvaal Republic.

British Cape Town Envoy Laynard: “The Boers have made the right choice. From today onwards, you are all my dear brothers. We will jointly defend the peaceful order of South Africa.”

The British also spent a lot of money to win over the Boers. In order to reach an agreement with the Boers, the British generously stated that the diamond mines in the Orange River could be divided equally with the Boers, of course, due to the needs of national defense pressure, they would temporarily manage it on their behalf to maintain military expenditure, and then return that part to the Boers after three years.

At the same time, the British also promised to waive the previous debts of the two countries, which was very important to Orange. The Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic were about the same, and their financial income was basically in a state of deficit, so they borrowed a lot of money from the British. After all, it was impossible for the Boers to borrow money from the Zulus and other natives.

For the Boers, Cape Town Governor Henry Barkley also offered a price, promising the Boers the same status as British citizens, the United Kingdom respected the rights of the Boers, and guaranteed that the private property of the Boers was sacred and inviolable.

Of course, if Ernst knew about the British’s promise to the Boers, he would definitely sneer at it. A leopard can’t change its spots, and so is the British’s promise.

Moreover, the British’s deception this time was almost the same as in its previous life. They didn’t even come up with any substantial benefits, just shouted slogans, and with the help of the anti-East African sentiment of the Transvaal Republic immigrants in the Orange Free State, they brought the Orange Free State into their sphere of influence.

This was almost inevitable. The Transvaal Republic originally had more population than the Orange Free State. After East Africa drove them away, a large number of Transvaalers poured into the Orange Free State, and quickly gained a voice in the Orange Free State by virtue of their population advantage. With the support of the British behind them, the original Boer power in the Orange Free State was emptied.

East Africa can be said to have dug a hole for itself. However, expelling the Boers of the Transvaal Republic was the best choice for East Africa. It would be a real time bomb if Ernst really kept the Boers in East Africa.

The Boers had initially formed their own national ideology, which was contrary to East Africa’s Germanization. It would cost too much to transform the Boers, and it might not be effective, so it was better to let them leave. Although East Africa knew that this group of Boers might become enemies in the future, it had to do so.

Chapter 471: Loophole

In the South African region, the British were showing increasingly strong ambitions of aggression, and this was true of virtually all notable powers around East Africa.

Portugal’s actions in its two colonies were also accelerating. The Mozambique colony was intensifying its attacks on several indigenous kingdoms within its borders, and in Angola, the invasion of the Kingdom of Kongo in the north was also escalating.

The Belgians had already gained a firm foothold along the coast, while incorporating the Anku Kingdom (an indigenous kingdom on the west bank of the Ubangi River) into their protectorate.

Italy was also making relatively smooth progress. They now posed a serious threat to the safety of the Abyssinian Empire, forcing all factions within the Abyssinian Empire to cease their disputes and jointly confront the threat from the Kingdom of Italy.

Even Egypt had launched a war against the Darfur Sultanate, attempting to bring this vassal state of the Ottoman Empire under its rule.

In other regions of Africa, the French, Spanish, and Dutch were also actively expanding in the African region. And during the expansion of these countries’ colonial activities, they would all encounter an undeniable presence: East Africa.

At the National Defense Conference, Minister of Defense Jahlmann summarized the recent national defense and security situation in and around East Africa:

“In February of 1876, a Dutch colonial ship attempted to land in Jessena Bay, east of Nonvadu, in the coastal area of New Württemberg Province. It was discovered by residents of Nonvadu Town, and we expelled this group of Dutch attempting to enter East Africa illegally.”

“In August of 1876, West Azande Province reported that a six-man French expedition had been discovered in the west. They claimed to have been separated from the main force and unintentionally entered West Azande Province.”

“In November of 1876, an expedition from the British Natal Colony secretly crossed the Tugela River and was discovered and expelled by us. At the same time, there were several British forces attempting to sneak into our territory across the Orange River.”

“In 1877, this year, we encountered British ships during our colonial activities in Southwest Africa.”

“Also in May of this year, the Cape Colony merged with the Orange Free State, and the buffer zone between us and the Cape has completely disappeared.”

“At the same time, there are indications that the British forces in Djibouti are also showing signs of activity. They may have designs on the Emirate of Harar near British Somaliland.”

“The Portuguese are also restless. We have had several small-scale conflicts with civilian colonial groups from Angola in Southwest Africa.”

…

The above are only the incidents discovered in East Africa in the past two years. There are probably more that have not been discovered, which is also very frustrating. East Africa’s territory is too vast, with the Congo rainforest area alone exceeding ten million square kilometers. If Southwest Africa is included, it reaches over eleven million square kilometers.

Moreover, many areas of East Africa’s borders with other countries are deserts, rainforests, or rivers and mountains that are not suitable for human habitation. The population is sparse, and it is difficult to detect foreign forces infiltrating.

Not to mention those areas of East Africa that were occupied relatively late or have poor natural conditions, the eastern coastal areas of East Africa also face this problem. For example, the Dutch entered Jessena Bay, and thirteen days had passed by the time East Africa discovered it.

Jessena Bay is a bay of considerable size (for East Africa), located about fifty kilometers south of Soko Port.

East Africa’s ports are developed to a limited extent, focusing on the development of several important ports, so it is easy to overlook the importance of some bays with less favorable conditions.

This allowed the Dutch to seize the opportunity, because from the sea, Jessena Bay really looks like a no-man’s-land. East Africa has not developed it at all, so it remains in its most primitive state.

In fact, the first to discover the Dutch activity here were East African ships heading south to New Hamburg Port to transport rails, but it did not attract attention, because the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company and the East African government are not part of the same system.

In the eyes of the shipping company’s crew, the Dutch in Jessena Bay might be “our own people,” after all, the government would not notify them in advance when developing new ports.

Just like Soko Port, which is currently under construction, was newly established entirely because of the southern railway planned by East Africa, and ordinary people would not have the leisure to approach and take a look at “wild” bays like Jessena Bay.

The Dutch were ultimately discovered in a rather dramatic way. If they had stayed honestly along the coast, they might have really remained undocumented for a while. But what were the Dutch here to do? They were here to colonize, so after landing, the Dutch colonial group marched inland, wanting to capture some black slaves to build a base in Jessena.

As a result, after penetrating more than ten kilometers inland, they finally saw signs of human habitation. Not just signs of human habitation, but thanks to East Africa’s construction, the appearance of large tracts of fertile land and German-style villages immediately made the Dutch feel ominous.

The East African farmers working in the fields also noticed the abnormality of this group of “outsiders.” They were wearing messy clothes and carrying weapons, and it was clear at a glance that they were not respectable people.

Subsequently, the Nonvadu Town Police Station mobilized collectively and intercepted these illegal intruders. East African police are basically veterans retired from the army, and many villagers are also militia, so they quickly and fearlessly surrounded this group of a hundred or so Dutch.

After interrogation by the Nonvadu Police Station, the identity of this group of Dutch was also revealed. They had no Dutch government background, but were just a small colonial company registered in the Netherlands. Because it was established recently, they were not familiar with the forces in Africa, and as a result, they plunged headfirst into East African territory.

Ernst said at the National Defense Security Conference: “The Jessena Bay incident shows that our security considerations for the coast are not sufficient, especially for some natural bays that have not yet been developed and utilized. Fortunately, this time it was just a civilian colonial group. If a country uses this loophole to launch an attack on East Africa, the consequences would be disastrous. Therefore, we must investigate all the bays along the East African coast, register all the bays that can be developed and applied, and develop and utilize them immediately. Even if they cannot be developed and utilized immediately, we must first establish military facilities and station military personnel. The navy must make coastal patrols routine, and coastal telegraphs must also be laid to prevent this farce from happening again.”

In fact, there is a telegraph line along the East African coast, but this line stops abruptly in Dar es Salaam, and the northern part continues to the border of the Northern Province. There is also a telegraph in the south, but it does not follow the coastal area, because East Africa does not have many port cities on the southern coast of Tanganyika, only Mtwara and Soko Port, and Soko Port is still a newly built port. The telegraph connecting Mtwara and Dar es Salaam is completed through the former capital of Lower Coastal District, Luenroda, which is inland, so there is no need for this line to pass through the southern coastal area.

Although the conditions of the bays on the East African continent are very poor (excluding islands, and compared to large countries of the same size, there is a lack of world-class natural deep-water ports), the number is not small, especially natural small bays.

These small bays have always been in a state of neglect. In addition, East Africa wants to “close the country,” so it cannot invest too much in the coast. Therefore, the East African coast in this era is almost the same as the coast of the Far Eastern Empire.

The offshore defense system that Ernst previously set up did not consider these natural small bays, but focused on the ports developed by East Africa. After all, most of the East African coast was truly barren at that time. Now it seems that these small bays must also be utilized. In fact, Jessena Bay is not considered a small bay, but the lack of population and economy has kept it deserted. Ernst did not expect that someone would land here at that time, and even if he had considered it at the time, he would not have had the ability to manage it.

Chapter 472: Preparing for War

In 1877, East Africa’s primary military task was to increase its security investment in the South African region. Around East Africa, only the Cape Town Colony had the capability to launch a modern large-scale war with over ten thousand troops.

Especially after the Cape Town Colony merged with the Orange Free State, Britain gained access to excellent Boer soldiers, particularly those who were originally from the Transvaal Republic.

If sufficient military expenditure and weaponry were available, the British could assemble a fighting force of tens of thousands in the former Orange Free State region.

East Africa quietly increased its army size in South Africa to around fifty thousand. Due to the East Cape Agreement after the last war, East Africa had reduced its troop numbers in the border region. Therefore, this time, East Africa deployed three divisions centered on New Hamburg Port, Windburg, and Sesheke (belonging to the former Griqualand area), while also deploying an elite division and two cavalry divisions within Hechingen Province (the former Transvaal Republic).

At the same time, military fortifications were strengthened along the Orange River and Tugela River. In the South African region, East Africa newly constructed over two hundred military fortresses of various sizes, following the European model.

“We must prepare for a long-term war. Each military stronghold must be prepared for storing food, water, and ammunition. Conduct detailed surveys of the surrounding terrain and maintain good communication with other combat units,” Ernst instructed the senior army generals.

“Your Highness, is Cape Town really going to dare launch a war against us?”

Ernst replied, “We can only say it’s possible, because the choice is not ours. I have no designs on Cape Town. I just don’t know if the British have any designs on East Africa.”

“But that area of South Africa, apart from the surroundings of Cape Town and Natal, frankly, doesn’t have much value. The climate isn’t as humid as other regions either. Would the British start a war with us for that worthless land!”

Ernst: “That depends on the specific standards. No matter how poor the land in South Africa is, is it worse than Australia and Canada? The British can swallow the deserts of Australia and the snowy forests of Canada, let alone the rich grasslands of South Africa.”

Of course, Ernst’s statement was somewhat biased. The British only developed the areas with favorable conditions in Australia and Canada. As for the deserts and ice fields, they were seized opportunistically. There was no threat around them, so there was no need to send people to garrison them, which naturally wouldn’t create an additional burden. Seizing a piece of land just by shouting was a good deal that even an idiot would do.

“Moreover, the significance of South Africa is different. The importance of Cape Town to Britain won’t be disregarded just because the Suez Canal has opened. It’s still an important strategic stronghold. Therefore, even if the British mainland doesn’t care, I believe Cape Town itself will value any force that can threaten it.”

Britain’s four colonies, India, Canada, Australia, and Cape Town, all had a certain degree of autonomy. The local British immigrants also had their own interests. In order to increase their power and wealth, they were relatively active in expanding outwards, a typical example being the Indian colony firing on all cylinders in Asia.

The existence of East Africa itself was a threat to Cape Town. Moreover, East Africa now also threatened Egypt and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Therefore, Ernst didn’t believe that the British would let East Africa off the hook. It was just a matter of time. All East Africa could do was prepare for war.

Preparation was one thing, but it was still hard to say whether the British would take action themselves. And even if the British chose to act, whether they would fight a small or large-scale war, where they would strike from, and how long they would fight for, couldn’t be confirmed.

Therefore, the extent of East Africa’s mobilization this time wasn’t too great. What Ernst sought was that if the Cape Town region suddenly launched an attack on East Africa, East Africa must first stabilize the front line, and then engage in a war of attrition with the British.

Completely falling out with Britain was something that no country could do in this era. Take the United States as an example, the United States is now large enough and its industry is developed enough, and it is separated from Europe by an Atlantic Ocean, but it can only act like a grandson in front of Britain and France.

If Ernst really wanted to offend Britain to the death, unless Germany and Austria intervened, but that was just talking about opposing Britain. If it was a world war, relying on Germany and Austria alone wouldn’t be enough, unless another great power joined the camp.

At present, although East Africa has a large land area, it is still far behind other great powers in other aspects, maybe at the level of two Belgiums.

“If war comes, our response strategy is neither too aggressive nor too weak, turning a short-term war into a long-term war, consuming the enemy’s national power while also striving for international status.”

International status is earned through fighting. Although making friends can also win respect, in the face of national interests, feelings have no persuasive power. Even relatives can turn against each other for the sake of profit, so only strength is the ultimate truth. Even if others are stubborn, their bodies are honest.

In his previous life, the Boers used the Boer War to show Germany the weakness of the British. Although later facts proved that Britain was still sharp, it forcibly buried Germany’s European hegemony with its powerful national strength, but Britain also lost its status as a world hegemon.

“If war is inevitable, I hope the outbreak location is South Africa. We are not afraid of fighting a war of attrition, especially in the South African region.”

Although South Africa is important, and its resources are particularly abundant, it cannot change the fact that South Africa is currently a blank slate in East Africa’s territory, with almost no industry or agriculture. Therefore, if South Africa becomes a battlefield, Ernst doesn’t feel bad, because the enemy has almost no way to strike East Africa’s industry, agriculture, and cities in the South African region.

With the Orange Free State gone, South Africa is East Africa’s own buffer zone. Within this area, East Africa can let go and compete with the invaders without worrying about civilian issues, after all, there are not many immigrants in the entire South Africa.

As long as South Africa is not lost, East Africa can continuously supply the battlefield from the rear through the Central Railway.

In fact, East Africa could also accumulate a big wave, raise an army of millions, and directly push down Cape Town, but this doesn’t meet Ernst’s expectations. Not to mention the huge war costs that East Africa would have to bear, delaying East Africa’s development. This is also not conducive to consuming the British energy. If the British are scared away and the battlefield is shifted from land to sea, it would be a dimensional strike against East Africa.

Therefore, if the two countries break out into war, Ernst’s goal is to give the British army an illusion, that is, I can win! As long as the parliament allocates more military expenditure, every day can be a victory report.

At the same time, East Africa can also use the war to improve and test the strength of the East African army. To be honest, Ernst has always doubted the combat effectiveness of the East African army, because East Africa has fought too many easy battles and has not fought against truly powerful enemies.

And the British are a good target. If it were the armies of Germany, France, Russia, and Austria, they would all be worth East Africa’s full effort. If it were the British army, the degree of importance would definitely drop a level. The British army, which is strong but not strong enough, is a high-quality whetstone.

Of course, the ability of war to promote the economy cannot be underestimated. If war breaks out, East Africa’s industry can also revolve around the war, testing East Africa’s industrial system management capabilities, especially the development of the military industry.

Of course, Ernst is not a war maniac. If the two countries don’t break out into war, that’s the best. For East Africa, peaceful development is the best choice. East Africa’s land and population, as long as they accumulate slowly, will definitely become a world power in just a few decades, but East Africa has been swept into the vortex of world change, and the choice is not in East Africa’s hands.

Therefore, Ernst finally concluded: “We will not attack unless we are attacked; if we are attacked, we will certainly retaliate. We East Africa have no hostility towards Britain (that’s a lie), but if war breaks out, the advantage will definitely be on our side.”

Chapter 473: The New Governor’s Troubles

The scent of gunpowder permeated the world, and the atmosphere of war grew increasingly thick. The major powers weren’t quite at each other’s throats, but the backward countries and colonies were suffering terribly.

East Africa, too, was preparing to cope in this atmosphere. The intensity of its naval and land military exercises had greatly increased, and national military training had resumed. The navy, in particular, had recruited a batch of high-quality sailors from East African secondary schools, and officers trained at the Ferdinand Naval Academy were beginning to board ships for training.

December, 1877.

The East African Navy launched a large-scale military exercise in the waters off Mozambique and near New Hamburg Port. A total of twenty-five warships participated, including five main battle ironclads, eighteen gunboats, and two wooden sailing warships. It is worth mentioning that five of the gunboats were masterpieces from the Bagamoyo Shipyard, belonging to East Africa’s domestically produced vessels.

The number of East African ironclads had increased to five, and another new ship was scheduled to be received from Austria early next year. To better organize this exercise, the East African Navy concentrated most of its forces in the waters near New Hamburg Port.

This location was close to both the British Natal Colony and the Portuguese Mozambique capital, Maputo, effectively showcasing the strength of the East African Navy.

As the East African fleet conducted exercises in the waters off the two countries’ colonies, the strength of the East African Navy was basically revealed. Within the Mozambique Channel, the East African Navy launched a series of military operations against hypothetical enemies.

The East African Navy exercise became one of the highlights in the western Indian Ocean, quickly attracting passing ships. The new Portuguese Governor of Mozambique, Leiford, was one of the spectators. He came to East Africa with a mission from the homeland, but he didn’t expect to encounter such a daunting challenge upon his arrival in Africa.

Standing on the ship, Leiford stared intently at the East African naval exercise area through binoculars, saying, “The East African Navy has become one of the strongest forces in the Indian Ocean region. When did they develop such a navy?” Leiford asked.

“The East African Navy didn’t suddenly appear, but it has indeed developed at a rapid pace in recent years. A few years ago, they were still equipping the Sultanate of Zanzibar, now Zanzibar Province, with antique warships. But in recent years, they’ve been like firecrackers, commissioning several ironclads in succession.”

Leiford said with some jealousy and pessimism, “I’m afraid even our homeland navy wouldn’t be able to defeat the East African Navy!”

The Portuguese Navy had been having a miserable time in recent years. In 1875, the Portuguese Navy ordered an ironclad from the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company in England, naming it the Vasco da Gama. This was also Portugal’s only ironclad.

The Vasco da Gama had a total displacement of 2,384 tons, almost on par with East Africa’s first domestically built ironclad. Moreover, this ironclad had just been launched, and its official commissioning would probably have to wait until next year.

Leiford: “This East African Navy is the naval power of the so-called Hechingen Kingdom. Then why is East Africa able to build a navy of this size, but we can’t, even though we’re both colonizing?”

“Governor, you’re new here and probably don’t understand. Behind East Africa stands the Hechingen Consortium from the German region. The boss of the Hechingen Consortium is the Hechingen royal family, so a large amount of their funds are provided by the Hechingen royal family. If they relied solely on colonial revenue, they would probably have gone bankrupt long ago and would never have been able to develop to today’s scale, unless they controlled a gold mine. But to this day, we haven’t heard of any gold mines in East Africa.”

Leiford: “Let’s not talk about the navy for now. Why hasn’t our colony expansion been successful in recent years? We’ve been in Mozambique for hundreds of years, but the Germans have overtaken us.”

“Governor, you can’t blame us for that. Colonial development requires capital injection to develop. Of course, relying on East Africa’s human-wave tactics is also an option, but we don’t have either, so naturally we can’t expand inland in Africa as the Germans do.”

Leiford: “As far as I know, the revenue from the Mozambique colony is quite good, isn’t it? How can there be no money for development?”

The subordinate looked at this spoiled young master resentfully and said, “The revenue from the Mozambique colony is indeed good, but the kingdom takes away most of it, so naturally it can’t develop itself. Moreover, centuries of rule have made it impossible for us to squeeze much more out of these natives. And these natives aren’t easy to deal with. They’ve now learned to resist. Suppressing native riots also requires funds and disrupts production, leading to reduced revenue.”

The natives of Mozambique are very different from the natives under East African rule because they have experienced hundreds of years of colonial history, so their resistance is much stronger than that of the East African natives. Moreover, the living standards of the East African natives are also higher than those of the Mozambique natives, so they wouldn’t risk their lives against East Africa. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to resist East Africa’s state machinery. The East African immigrant population (excluding births) exceeds half the number of natives, so the natives don’t have a numerical advantage over East Africa.

Leiford: “You just said that East Africa is relying on human-wave tactics to expand in Africa. What is the population of East Africa?”

“It’s not clear, but a rough estimate is that the immigrant population of East Africa may be over a million.”

At this time, Leiford realized that he was starting in hell! It was nothing like the rumors that Africa was an undeveloped continent and that he could gain political achievements by simply incorporating unclaimed land into the kingdom’s territory.

Leiford: “Where did they get so many people?”

“Of course, they’re Germans, and also people from the Far East. According to our experience in Dar es Salaam, the Germans should be about the same as the people from the Far East. Maybe there are also a small number of other races. I know a hotel waitress who is Italian.”

“Aren’t they afraid of malaria by importing people into Africa like this?”

“Governor, the fact is that the emergence of quinine has been able to solve the problem of malaria very well. However, East Africa must have some other way to reduce the probability of malaria outbreaks, because we haven’t heard of any large-scale malaria outbreaks in East Africa, but we often have them here.”

This news made Leiford even more depressed. Good heavens! Not only can he not get political achievements, but he may also be threatened by malaria. Can he go home now?

As if seeing through Leiford’s thoughts, the subordinate said, “Governor, you don’t need to worry too much. In fact, malaria is only a small problem. Since quinine became available, most patients can basically recover on their own, and the price of quinine is not high now. Neighboring East Africa is one of the major quinine producing countries.”

Leiford: “East Africa has the advantage everywhere. No wonder the previous governor was mediocre. In this environment, even if His Majesty the King personally governed Mozambique, there would be no way. And yet, those old geezers back home still want us to exert our strength in Africa?”

Leiford’s appointment as the new governor was due to the Portuguese Kingdom’s dissatisfaction with the inaction of the previous governor. Especially after the outbreak of the economic crisis, Portugal’s economic situation can be described as a broken bowl being thrown, completely rotten. Therefore, obtaining fresh blood from the colonies became particularly important. The Portuguese government looked left and right, and only Africa was still “promising,” especially Angola and Mozambique, which were Portugal’s most important and strongest colonies.

Now that European countries are stepping up their colonial expansion, Portugal is not willing to be left behind. After all, its ability to have a say in Europe depends on this colonial meal.

As for the existence of the East African Kingdom, the Portuguese homeland chose to turn a blind eye. They still looked at Africa with habitual thinking. Portugal had never been afraid of anyone on the road to colonization, and even dared to challenge the British. Therefore, they didn’t take this African chieftaincy of East Africa seriously.

But only someone like Leiford, who actually came to Mozambique, could directly feel the gap. The East African Navy alone could sink the current kingdom’s homeland navy. As for the army, who would dare to doubt the combat effectiveness of the Germans?

Chapter 474: Discussion

Leiford’s pessimism ultimately boiled down to money. The homeland would only bleed Mozambique dry, so Mozambique could never invest funds into local development like East Africa did. Even if they didn’t have money, the Portuguese homeland couldn’t provide Mozambique with other beneficial support to reduce colonial costs, thus blocking all avenues for increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

The East African naval exercise made the new Governor-General of Mozambique somewhat realize the reality, while the British Natal colony’s attitude towards the East African exercise was a lukewarm “Understood.”

The East African navy did pose a certain threat, but the British were not afraid of this threat. In 1877, Britain had nearly one hundred and eighty main warships. The East African navy was like an ant in front of the British Royal Navy.

Of course, this ant was still somewhat threatening in the Western Indian Ocean region, because the Royal Navy was a global force and could not concentrate in one place to crush this ant.

“What are the Germans trying to do? A demonstration? If they dared to do this in India, Cape Town, and the Red Sea, I would admire them, but to conduct such a meaningless exercise in Natal is to think too highly of us! Even Cape Town would probably let the Germans know what the world’s number one navy is.”

The Natal colony was, after all, just a small colony centered around the port of Durban, and there was a big gap between it and a large colony like Cape Town. Therefore, the Governor of Natal colony looked down on East Africa’s actions. It was like two people fighting, but someone ran to the enemy’s house to intimidate their children.

East Africa’s purpose was not simply to show off its muscles, but more to express an attitude to the outside world: that East Africa was different from other countries in the region. Colonizers were not fools; they also had to screen their targets. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing to run into a tough nut to crack. This kind of thing was common in the world.

And the East African navy was the best window to show East Africa’s spirit and national governance ability. The navy’s good development showed that its own government’s organizational ability was not too bad, and countries with strong organizational ability were generally the hardest bones for colonizers to gnaw on.

As for the land, the East African army should not come out to wander around. To be honest, the East African army was also considered a second or third-rate strong army in Europe, at most a little worse than the great powers’ armies. It would be bad if it scared the surrounding forces.

Overall, the East African naval exercise still had some effect. At least it let the British know that East Africa had a fleet that looked pretty good. If they didn’t use a lot of money, it would be extremely difficult to colonize East Africa. However, what the British were most wary of was which side East Africa was on.

After more than half a year of investigation, Benjamin obtained relatively comprehensive information, and the British government had a clearer understanding of the area of the East African colony.

“From the Somali Desert in the northeast to the Namib Desert in Southwest Africa, it just so happens that we can draw a diagonal line across the African continent towards the equatorial region. This diagonal area can already be clearly identified as the territory of the Kingdom of East Africa. This is almost the territorial form of the Kingdom of East Africa. Adding the two colonies of the Portuguese on the left and right just shows that the East African territory is diagonal. Therefore, we estimate that the area of this diagonal region is at least seven million square kilometers. Good heavens! The number alone is terrifying. There are not many countries in the world larger than East Africa.”

Benjamin: “A large area does not mean it is useful. There are deserts in Australia, ice fields in Canada, and rainforests in Brazil, so in the end, it depends on the effective land. What do you think is the effective land of East Africa?”

“Prime Minister, this is difficult to describe, but it is certain that most of the area in Southwest Africa is worthless desert area, and the northeastern region of East Africa is also a large desert area. These two areas are probably nearly two million square kilometers. And there should also be rainforests like those in Brazil, but it is difficult to analyze the specific area, but one thing is certain, that is, the scale of African development should not be large. If Africa is to be completely developed like the Americas, it will probably take hundreds of years.”

“It shouldn’t be thought of that way. The development of the Americas was constrained by a shortage of manpower, so there was a slave trade for hundreds of years, but Africa is different. It is originally the home of black slaves. I mean, what if East Africans use black people to develop Africa?”

“Wishful thinking. If black people were really that useful, then it wouldn’t be the Germans’ turn to pick up this bargain. You really should communicate more with black people. I dare say that except for a very few exceptions, the vast majority of black people are so stupid that they can’t do anything well, and they are not as reliable as machines. Machines will not riot, but black people will. I think the black people in East Africa are the same. They are very likely to resist East African colonization like the Indians.”

You can say that the Indians are weak, but their determination to resist aggression is still good. It’s just a pity that the Indians do not have a unified core force to fight against the despicable white colonizers.

The United States took more than one hundred years to massacre the Indians, so the Kingdom of East Africa will encounter black resisters when it wants to expand its colonization in East Africa.

However, he did not realize that there were not many black people in East Africa, or rather, there were too many Germans in East Africa. The black people’s resistance in front of East Africa had been completely disintegrated, so the status of black people in East Africa was that of slaves who were not obtained through buying and selling.

Of course, no matter how large Africa is, national strength is not determined by area alone, especially for immigrant countries. Brazil and Argentina have such good natural conditions, but they have become so rotten. Therefore, the Benjamin government does not think that East Africa’s national strength will be higher than that of those countries in the Americas.

As for the special case of the United States, East Africa cannot imitate it. The title of “Land Chosen by God” does have some truth, but even so, it took the United States a hundred years to develop into one of the great powers. Therefore, the Benjamin government does not think that East Africa has this potential.

So East Africa itself is not worth too much attention, but whether there is support from the German and Austrian governments behind East Africa. If the two countries are not interested in overseas colonies, Benjamin himself would not believe it for anything.

“The Hechingen royal family, like the Prussian royal family, is also the Hohenzollern family, and the two families are quite close, the same as the Sigmaringen family in Romania. I even think that in addition to Germany, the countries led by the Hohenzollern family may all be premeditated, that is, to form a network of national relations through family ties, so East Africa must be in cahoots with Germany.”

“Maldos, your idea is not valid at all, because our intelligence investigation shows that East Africa is obviously closer to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially the alliance treaty signed by both sides, which shows that East Africa has sided with the Austro-Hungarian Empire when choosing a camp, rather than Germany. The same is true at the economic level. East Africa’s trading partner is also the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ranking first, which can be seen from the destination of merchant ships.”

Benjamin: “East Africa is a very special existence. Maybe it is not a colony of Germany or Austria, and it is not impossible.”

In the past, Britain’s perception of East Africa was that this country might have been created by Prussia. After all, the surname Hohenzollern could explain many things, but East Africa’s subsequent behavior was not like this. Instead, East Africa became closer to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Chapter 475: Making a Move

The British government calculated the strength of East Africa, and the more they calculated, the more they realized they had no good way to deal with it. Although not large in size, it was a behemoth in its own little corner of Africa.

After all, apart from Cape Town and North Africa, Africa couldn’t find another force that could compete with East Africa in terms of white population. Moreover, East Africa was composed of Germans, and although not purely so, their cultural identity naturally leaned towards Germany.

What did this mean for Britain? Germany alone was enough of a headache for Britain, and adding Austria-Hungary, the influence of the Germans was enough to change the entire world. If East Africa were allowed to act as a raw material supply base for these two industrial powers, Britain’s position as a hegemon would be greatly threatened.

Thinking of this, Benjamin said with a solemn expression, “East Africa is no ordinary country. Such a privately-owned colonial company that monopolizes millions of square kilometers in Africa severely undermines regional peace and stability. As the maintainers of world order, we cannot continue to allow East Africa to develop unchecked. We must strike with a heavy hand!”

Benjamin clearly defined East Africa as a private colonial group like the British East India Company. The British East India Company’s glory was based on occupying India, but the Indian colony was only three million square kilometers. The Kingdom of East Africa was more than twice the size of India (according to the British government). The Kingdom of East Africa might not have land as superior as India, nor a population as rich, but a country with such a large land area would one day accumulate a large population and become a force sufficient to influence the world’s landscape. Not to mention influencing the world’s landscape, the situation in the western Indian Ocean had already changed.

Benjamin continued seriously, “We can find proxies in other regions of the world to deal with potential enemies that are difficult for us to overcome, and achieve strategic balance. But in Africa, are there any opponents that can match East Africa?”

“Moreover, the ambitions of the Kingdom of East Africa go far beyond this. They are still expanding. Their presence has already appeared on the east coast of the Atlantic, and Southwest Africa is about to fall into their hands. And Africa still has vast inland areas with great potential. Now, East Africa has seven million square kilometers of territory, and tomorrow it may be ten million square kilometers. Will they dominate Africa in the future?”

Speaking to this point, Benjamin himself suddenly realized that he had a trace of fear towards East Africa, but he tried to calm down.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, “Prime Minister, perhaps the situation is not as serious as we think. Although East Africa has a large land area, I think East Africa’s potential is at most at the level of Canada and Australia. We ourselves also have colonies in Africa, and the conditions are definitely much better than in Africa. The Gold Coast and Cape Town are the most valuable lands in Africa, but to be honest, the importance of these two colonies to the British Empire is not prominent in the entire system, especially their economic value is not high. Therefore, East Africa cannot develop with land alone. Development in Africa is definitely a difficult task.”

Whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer received money from East Africa is another matter. The main reason was that the government really had no money now. The navy, this money-guzzling beast, had its budget increasing year by year. Coupled with the economic crisis, government spending was already high. Furthermore, Britain’s spending in South Asia took up a lot of energy. Now the Russians were becoming increasingly restless, showing signs of wanting to break through the blockade. Russia was not a country like East Africa, whose development was questionable, but a real threat with the strength to break Britain’s hegemony. This threat was even greater than that of the Germans.

“Now the reforms in Tsarist Russia have been completed, and Alexander II is also a wise ruler. The threat of Tsarist Russia should obviously be placed first. Although Germany is developing rapidly, the French are watching from the side. Austria-Hungary also has conflicting interests with Tsarist Russia, but Tsarist Russia is clearly the biggest threat in Central Asia and the Far East, even directly related to the security of India.”

East Africa’s naval strength was good, but Britain completely disregarded it. Relying solely on the Royal Navy’s forces in India, they had the ability to tightly restrict East Africa. Tsarist Russia was different. Tsarist Russia’s strategic direction was land, which was precisely Britain’s weakness.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s words did not make Benjamin feel relaxed, but rather heavier. Russia, the United States, Germany, the Far East counting as half, and East Africa barely counting as half, these countries had all developed very well in recent years. Correspondingly, the voice of Britain and France, the two maintainers of world order, was being challenged.

Benjamin lamented, “There are more and more competitors, and the cost of maintaining the empire’s position is getting higher and higher. It’s really overwhelming!”

He changed the subject and said, “However, the more this is the case, the more we cannot turn a blind eye to the existence of East Africa. We cannot add new challengers to the empire. You all think of a way, how should we nip East Africa in the bud?”

If Ernst heard these words, he would probably laugh to death. Saying “in the bud” was not wrong. In Ernst’s view, East Africa was indeed very fragile, but after years of secret development, East Africa also had a whole set of capabilities to deal with crises, barely counting as a giant baby. If Britain wanted to completely strangle East Africa, low investment would not work. High investment would require considering the risk of being attacked at home by other countries.

Benjamin’s words made everyone feel a little embarrassed. What were East Africa’s weaknesses? If Ernst were to say, it would be trade. Cutting off East Africa’s foreign trade would be truly painful for them.

But the British fell into a mental trap. Did East Africa have foreign trade? The answer was definitely yes, but the problem was that East Africa’s trade system was more like an extension of German-Austrian trade. It relied on the trade systems of the two countries, disguised as German capital being exported abroad. Therefore, the British could feel the competition from German-Austrian, especially German, goods, but they didn’t really feel anything about East Africa.

In essence, East Africa was a colony of Germany and Austria, except that this colony had its own independent thoughts. Economically, East Africa sacrificed huge profits to Germany and Austria, but these benefits were distributed through the Hechingen Consortium. They were transferred from East Africa to the Hechingen Consortium, and the Hechingen Consortium was indeed part of German capital. The wealth created by this capital in the German region did benefit the common people, the government, and the commercial groups closely related to Hechingen capital.

The Foreign Secretary asked in a timely manner, “East Africa is a very closed country, completely a puppet of Germany and Austria, not connected to the world market. We sometimes don’t even feel the existence of East Africa as a country. This feeling is like the Far Eastern Empire before we forcibly opened its doors. But the rulers of East Africa are the Hechingen royal family, pure German nobles. Why are they doing this? Operating a colony requires considering the cost. Does the Hechingen royal family really want to build a medieval feudal monarchy only in Africa!”

The effect of isolationism was reflected here. East Africa could peek at the world’s movements through the window, while other countries were completely in the dark about East Africa. Of course, not everyone was ignorant of East Africa. A very small number of Austrian merchants who invested in East Africa had a clear understanding of East Africa, but they did not publicize it, because East Africa’s economic system was too heretical in their view, completely contrary to capitalist economics. Moreover, they were afraid that the Austrian government would follow suit and learn East Africa’s ways.

East Africa’s economic system was quite complex, but in this economic system, the monarch was undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary, followed by East Africa’s nobles and bureaucratic groups, and finally the common people. There was simply no place for capitalists. Moreover, this model seemed to be applied quite well by East Africa, so they tacitly did not talk about East Africa’s national conditions. What if the Habsburg family also did this? Who could bear it! And this was not impossible, such as the nationalization of railways in Austria-Hungary during the economic crisis.

Of course, conversely, East Africa could also be described as a medieval serfdom country. The problem was that serfdom was not what Austrian merchants wanted to see either, so East Africa should just play this game in its own little corner! As long as it didn’t go out and mess with others, and as long as cooperation with East Africa could make money, no one was willing to give up this benefit of eating alone.

Well, East Africa’s components were indeed complex: feudalism, monarchy, autocracy, serfdom, state-owned economy, collective economy, monopoly capital, everything was gathered together. This was also a helpless choice. According to the historical process, autocratic monarchs should be thrown into the garbage heap of history, but Ernst’s position could not be wrong, so he could only copy a little from other systems. In the end, East Africa became a hodgepodge.

Benjamin: “If East Africa is really a closed country like the Far East that doesn’t listen to reason, then we can only use force to solve East Africa and force them to open up!”

This was truly a last resort. No one knew what the ultimate demands of a country like East Africa were, so they could only use the Far East, which was most similar to East Africa, as an analogy. Benjamin assumed that East Africa wanted to engage in a self-sufficient economic model like the former Far Eastern Empire. Thinking about it this way, the two really had many things in common, including racial similarities.

“But should we declare war on East Africa?”

“Of course not. We don’t know the combat effectiveness of the East African army, so we can’t act rashly. How about this, aren’t the Portuguese colonies right on both sides of East Africa? Let’s let Portugal test the waters first. If East Africa is just a paper tiger! Then we will dismember it.”

“Prime Minister, but the combat effectiveness of the Portuguese… I don’t know if the East African army is a paper tiger, but the Portuguese must be paper tigers!”

“It doesn’t matter. If Portugal can’t do it, don’t we still have us? We’ll pull the French to act together, provide some support to Portugal, and arm the two Portuguese colonies! I believe the French are capable of training the army, especially since they lost to the Germans last time. This is a good opportunity for them to compete with the Germans again in the colonies.”

Chapter 476: Higher Education

It’s perfectly logical for the British to want to use Portugal as a pawn to probe East Africa. Portugal’s colonial territory isn’t small, and it happens to be on both sides of East Africa, so there’s an unavoidable geopolitical conflict between East Africa and the Portuguese. No one would believe that East Africa has no designs on Portugal’s two colonies.

However, whether the British can persuade the Portuguese to be their cat’s paw is another matter entirely. At least, the new Governor of Mozambique, Leford, has some apprehension towards East Africa. East Africa is unaware of the British scheme. For East Africa, every country around it, except for Belgium, which has been in contact, is a suspicious entity.

…

1877, Soga City.

King Constantine personally attended the opening ceremonies of the National Agricultural College and the Soga Normal School in this city of technology in East Africa.

The National Agricultural College is the first university planned by East Africa. Besides agriculture being East Africa’s leading industry, East Africa has more agronomists than other scientists, making it easier to put together.

The Soga Normal School is a more specialized school. It’s not a university, but it’s a level higher than East African middle schools, specializing in training primary and secondary school teachers for East Africa. Its teachers also come from a special source: the normal school talent that East Africa cultivated itself in the Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. However, it can barely be classified as higher education.

Constantine: “Mr. Angros, I’m very pleased that you can contribute to agricultural education in East Africa!”

“Your Majesty, I didn’t expect you to attend in person. I’m truly honored,” Angros said, feeling flattered.

Constantine said with a smile, “Our Kingdom of East Africa is a country that respects science, and therefore respects scientific researchers.”

Angros is one of the students of Johann Heinrich von Thünen. Johann Heinrich von Thünen was a famous German agronomist, a student of Albrecht Thaer, who was the founder of modern agricultural management and is known as the founder of modern agronomy.

So, although Angros is not famous, his professionalism is definitely sufficient, because his teacher and grand-teacher are the top figures in the German agricultural world.

In 1804, Albrecht Thaer established Prussia’s first agricultural school. Fifteen years later, in 1819, the Prussian Kingdom government granted the school the title of Royal Agricultural University.

Therefore, as Albrecht Thaer’s grand-student, it is reasonable for Angros to establish East Africa’s first agricultural university in East Africa.

However, compared to Prussia’s Royal Agricultural University, East Africa’s National Agricultural College is more low-key in name: a college!

However, this also fits Ernst’s expectations for East African universities. Universities focus on theoretical level construction, and East Africa is obviously not at that level yet. Currently, East Africa can only follow behind European and American countries to learn and does not have the foundation for broad theoretical creation.

Moreover, Ernst doesn’t think that colleges should be inferior to universities. This is a term that has been stigmatized by some countries in his previous life. For example, the universities of applied sciences in Germany and the Soviet Union were very strong.

Admittedly, colleges have more limitations than comprehensive universities. After all, the name shows that they are limited to professional fields. East Africa’s National Agricultural College is like that. It doesn’t set up all kinds of disciplines like colleges in the Far East in his previous life, but is limited to higher education schools in agricultural disciplines. It is destined to be one of the authorities in the field of agricultural education in East Africa in the future.

This is the same principle as the Hohenzollern Military Academy. The Hohenzollern Military Academy is actually also a vocational school, but its specialty is military.

Comprehensive universities are very good, but East Africa shouldn’t think about those unnecessary things now. It should first cultivate higher-level talents before it has the ability to build world-class comprehensive universities.

“The National Agricultural College covers an area of more than three thousand acres, has more than two hundred teachers and staff, currently has a collection of one hundred and sixty thousand books, and has designed thirteen majors including agronomy, animal husbandry, agrochemistry, and plant pathology. This year, it has enrolled more than seven hundred students.”

“These students are among the top students in East Africa. Perhaps their knowledge reserve is worse than that of Europe, but their learning ability is definitely the top, and they are one in a million,” Constantine said.

As for the most outstanding students in East Africa, East Africa cannot accommodate them in this small temple. In 1877, the top two thousand students in the East African college entrance examination have been sent to Germany, Austria, and other countries for publicly funded study according to East Africa’s needs.

The destination of East African students studying abroad is very particular. The most important thing is that it must be a monarchy. However, this restriction does not hinder East Africa much. Excluding those “free” countries, East Africa has quite a few choices, especially since the higher education in Germany and Austria is also world-class.

In addition to Germany and Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom are all regions that East Africa can choose from. However, except for Sweden, Germany, and Austria, there are very few students in other regions. After all, two thousand people are not enough for Germany alone.

It is worth noting that these two thousand students are not all of East Africa’s students studying abroad. Because East Africa currently has its own talent training base overseas, the total number of East African students abroad is about seven thousand.

Those East African students who were originally abroad receive the education of the country where they are located and participate in the enrollment exams of the schools where they are located. The students sent out from East Africa are mainly those who have signed agreements with various governments, including Germany and Austria, as well as Sweden and Belgium, which have friendly relations with East Africa.

In other words, regardless of their grades in East Africa, the above three countries have reserved a certain number of places for East African students in various universities, which is equivalent to guaranteed admission.

However, East Africa cannot ruin its own reputation, so it is very careful in selecting students studying abroad. In addition to the unified examination, they must also undergo two re-examinations, and at the same time, these students will undergo two months of training before going abroad.

The training mainly focuses on the local customs of the country where they are located, and corrects the etiquette habits of East African students so that they can better integrate into the learning environment in the country where they are located.

Students studying abroad are the face of a country, especially in a closed country like East Africa. Except for employees of the Hohenzollern Group and government personnel, students studying abroad can be said to be the first major group in East Africa to come into contact with the world. Their qualities abroad represent the first impression of the overall qualities of East African students overseas.

Constantine attended the opening ceremonies of the two schools in Soga City, and Ernst was not idle either. In addition to Soga City, the First Town also planned a National Medical College.

This is also understandable. If you want to say which city has the highest level of medical care in East Africa, the capital must be the best. After all, this is the political center of East Africa, so based on this advantage, East Africa’s first medical university was established in the First Town.

In addition to these three schools, East Africa has no other new schools this year, because there are not many middle school graduates in East Africa in the past two years.

East Africa sends two thousand students abroad, while the three universities in East Africa combined have only more than one thousand eight hundred students. The number of students studying abroad even exceeds the number of people receiving higher education locally, which shows the level of education in East Africa.

If we really want to expand university-level education on a large scale, we have to wait at least another ten years. So now Ernst’s plan is to add a university every two or three years, and then consider building a large number of colleges and universities on a large scale after more than ten years.

Chapter 477: Li Ji’s Sense of Responsibility

First Town City, National Higher Medical College.

Ernst was inspecting the new school, with school leaders introducing the school’s situation, accompanied by personnel from the Ministry of Health.

“Your Highness! Why isn’t our expertise involved in this so-called medical school? I believe our skills aren’t that bad!”

“Hmm, and you are?” Ernst looked somewhat puzzled at the person who suddenly raised this question.

“This is Mr. Li Ji, a member of the former Far East Medical Team, now serving as a consultant in the East African Ministry of Health,” Minister of Health Belgrade said.

“No wonder! Mr. Li Ji, you can raise any questions you have. If they can be resolved, I will naturally help you.”

Li Ji said, “The contributions of Far Eastern medicine to East Africa in recent years have been obvious to all. Although we can’t confidently say it’s necessarily better than your Western medicine, the results are definitely not bad. But why hasn’t this school adopted any Far Eastern medicine at all?”

So that’s the issue? Ernst smiled and reassured him, “Mr. Li Ji, do you understand medicine?”

Li Ji: “Of course, it’s my livelihood.”

Ernst: “Then can you use science to explain the principles of Far Eastern medicine?”

Li Ji: “This… Your Highness, you’re making things difficult for me. The origins of our Far Eastern medicine are completely different from Western medicine, so naturally, it can’t be linked to so-called science.”

Having stayed in East Africa for a long time, Li Ji also knew what science was: a complete set of theories. But Li Ji couldn’t forcibly use yin and yang and the five elements to correspond to Western so-called science.

Ernst shook his head and said, “You’ve misunderstood the concept. Actually, neither Western nor Eastern medicine had a scientific concept at the beginning. Both are experiential knowledge summarized from primitive shamanism. And in terms of its state, traditional Western medicine even retains more religious elements, such as the concept of ‘qi,’ raven masks, and talk of evil spirits. But now, a new medical system has emerged in the West.”

The concept of “qi” wasn’t something Ernst made up. It was the theoretical basis of bloodletting therapy. Europe had long followed the medical theories of Galen, a physician from ancient Greece. Galen’s theory held that life came from “qi,” so he believed that blood flowed from the heart to all parts of the body, rather than circulating. It was precisely because of this that Galen didn’t believe that the amount of blood in the human body was limited, and thus invented bloodletting therapy. This fallacy cost many people their lives.

“This new medical system started with Harvey. Harvey not only proved the theory of blood circulation through experiments, but he also pioneered the research methods of modern physiology and medicine. Of course, there may be controversy in what I’m saying. European doctors may not agree, and they may take Hippocrates of ancient Greece as the origin. This is actually confusing concepts, forcibly binding modern medicine with traditional Western medicine. If you ask them to explain blood circulation, they would probably think it’s a fantasy.”

This was also the West’s old trick: always finding an omnipotent master from ancient Greece. In fact, this was a means of reform under the guise of antiquity, forced by traditional forces. Of course, it was also possible to add some historical color and increase historical heritage. But East Africa didn’t go for this. Ernst said that Harvey was the father of modern medicine, then Harvey would be the father of modern medicine in East Africa, even if he was British, just as East Africa couldn’t deny Newton, nor would it deny Harvey.

Ernst’s words left Li Ji’s mind in a muddle. What blood circulation theory? What Hippocrates…

Seeing Li Ji and the others looking confused, Ernst could only explain it this way: “In short, a new force is rising in medicine, and it is burying all traditional medicine. These traditional medicines, no matter where in the world, are facing a crisis, unless you can also use science to explain parts of traditional medicine. But obviously, you can’t do that now.”

“Then how should we understand this science?”

“Observation, hypothesis, experimentation, verification, application, and summarization,” Ernst said.

“…” Li Ji thought the Crown Prince would have some profound insights, but he didn’t expect it to be just this? So he said, “But Your Highness, this doesn’t seem to conflict with Eastern traditional medicine. We also observe, hypothesize, and as for experiments, we also have them, which is the issue of clinical practice. Finally, verification, application, and summarization.”

Ernst thought to himself that it seemed that traditional Chinese medicine did indeed come about this way. No wonder it was so hard to kill and could continue to be popular. That made it even easier to solve the problem.

He said to Li Ji, “You see, since the core of Eastern traditional medicine is the same as modern medicine, then you, as practitioners of Eastern medicine, should combine Eastern medicine with modern medicine to form a new Eastern medical system.”

Ernst continued, “I know that in the East, some self-proclaimed medical masters are outrageous. They may not have any skill at all and only know how to deceive people. But as soon as you question them, they use metaphysical things to explain the problem. What medicine is like must have convincing evidence. For example, the masters of modern medicine, they all use experiments to verify their theories. Of course, limited by the development of science and technology, their experiments may also be wrong, but at this stage, that is the truth. If you practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine can use evidence and experiments to reconstruct the theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine, then I will build a special school of traditional Chinese medicine.”

Ernst’s request could be said to be quite difficult for Li Ji. Currently, Li Ji could be said to be the official representative of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa. But to maintain the status of traditional Chinese medicine, he had to burn his boats and use so-called experiments and evidence to prove the importance of traditional Chinese medicine.

But these practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa were only second-rate even in the Far East. It was difficult to conduct theoretical research, let alone science, which they had never been exposed to. In this regard, the Far East Empire was still too conscientious and didn’t send those pure swindlers to East Africa.

Li Ji: “Your Highness means that traditional Chinese medicine must be reformed?”

Ernst: “That depends on your own choice. I can only say that East Africa only recognizes science. If you can prove in the future that traditional Chinese medicine is scientific, then we will naturally promote its development. Otherwise, it can only be eliminated by modern medicine, just like traditional Western medicine.”

Ernst’s words made Li Ji feel a deep sense of crisis. He wasn’t feeling a crisis about the status of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa, but about the status of traditional Chinese medicine around the world. East Africa was, after all, a foreign country. Would the Far East, the motherland of traditional Chinese medicine, also be replaced by so-called modern medicine? If this really happened, then he and his disciples and descendants of traditional Chinese medicine would be too useless!

No, traditional Chinese medicine must have new breakthroughs in the new era. Traditional Chinese medicine couldn’t die in his hands. Li Ji suddenly felt endless pressure and a sense of responsibility on his shoulders, and at the same time, a sense of excitement. He certainly wasn’t a top-notch practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, but if traditional Chinese medicine could turn the tide in his hands and be revived under the impact of the new era, what kind of glory would that be?

“Your Highness, we know what to do!” Li Ji said seriously.

From this moment on, East African traditional Chinese medicine took a different path, namely, the path of combining traditional Chinese medicine with science. However, this path was also the most difficult. Li Ji and his fellow scholars of traditional Chinese medicine were only second-rate in the Far East. Therefore, they had to continue to study the traditional Chinese medicine path, and also study so-called science.

Therefore, it was destined that Li Ji’s generation couldn’t complete the construction of a new scientific system of traditional Chinese medicine, but it would take generations of joint efforts to catch up. This formed a new modern medical system with traditional Chinese medicine characteristics, which was essentially the same as modern medicine, but with Eastern cultural characteristics, becoming a part of the East African medical system.

Chapter 478: Intelligence from Maputo

Ernst was giving them a chance, mainly depending on whether they could seize it. Traditional Chinese medicine does indeed play a significant supporting role in East Africa, but that’s only because the advantages of modern medicine haven’t been fully established yet.

This isn’t just the case in the East; it’s the same in the West. Western traditional medicine remains mainstream in Europe, and modern medicine even has a higher mortality rate than Western traditional medicine. After all, Western traditional medicine has also developed for thousands of years. Whether it’s useful or not is another question, but if it kills people right away, it has no reason to exist.

Meanwhile, the newly emerging modern medicine seems very vigorous. If it weren’t for his past life’s experience, Ernst would even suspect that modern medicine was some kind of black magic.

If modern medicine is unreliable, then one can only rely on tradition, and among traditional medicines, only traditional Chinese medicine is the most systematic, with the longest history of inheritance, and the richest experience. Regardless of anything else, traditional Chinese medicine’s ability to regulate and recuperate is definitely extremely strong.

However, if East Africa wants to develop, traditional medicine will eventually decline. Therefore, East Africa will only bet on modern medicine. The traditional Chinese medicine that is currently widely popular in East Africa can only serve as a transitional measure.

…

Only a few days remained until 1878. The Far East Empire had recovered the Southern Xinjiang region ahead of schedule, which was a major event internationally.

In the East, Tsarist Russia ran into a wall, but on the Western front, Tsarist Russia was progressing quite smoothly, inflicting significant blows on its longtime enemy, the Ottoman Empire. And overall, Tsarist Russia was successful, still gaining some benefits in the negotiations.

In fact, the Eastern battlefield can only be considered a small part of Tsarist Russia’s overall strategy in Central Asia and Southeastern Europe (the Balkans), and it was completed through proxies. In the West, Tsarist Russia took action itself.

Under Tsarist Russia’s powerful military deterrence, East Africa was completely incomparable to Britain. The Benjamin government could only focus its energy on the Russians.

Some changes also occurred in the Mozambique colony. Some British ships appeared in Mozambique, but the people who disembarked from the ships were French. These were all reported back to the mainland by East African intelligence personnel in Maputo.

East Africa’s intelligence network in Maputo has a long history, having been completed when East Africa was still a colony. After all, Mozambique wasn’t as closed off as the Kingdom of East Africa, and merchants from various countries were still conducting trade activities in Mozambique.

“According to the information we received from our informants in Maputo, there were French military officers on the British ships, and they appeared at the Governor’s residence. We don’t know the specific content of their discussions, but the contact person is said to be an Englishman.”

Ernst: “Okay, I understand. Continue to observe the changes in Mozambique. We need to be wary of the Portuguese.”

Constantine: “Could it be that Portugal’s two colonies dare to challenge us?”

Ernst: “Father, it’s not a matter of challenging or not, but that Portugal has no choice. They also know that East Africa can’t allow two tumors to grow on its body. The more they fear, the more they will resist. Obviously, they didn’t have this courage on their own before. It seems that the British have given them confidence.”

Hearing the word “British,” Constantine became serious: “The British want to use Portugal to deal with us!”

“More accurately, it’s a test. The British aren’t clear about our strength. They can’t act rashly, so they need a pawn to test how much strength East Africa really has. If East Africa has difficulty dealing with even Mozambique, I think the British will personally enter the game next.”

Constantine tapped the table with his index finger and said: “How will they deal with East Africa? Through war?”

Ernst: “That’s the only means. Of course, cutting off East Africa’s foreign trade is also possible, but in that case, we can also fight to the death with Britain. I don’t know how things are in Cape Town, but we can still control the Mandeb Strait. All of this depends on how strong East Africa’s land military is, which is exactly what the British are unsure of.”

Constantine: “If war breaks out, then we may have to fight on two fronts, because Portugal’s colonies are just on the left and right, or even four fronts, which means the British are involved, in the direction of Cape Town, and also considering the maritime aspect.”

Ernst: “So this requires us to grasp the degree well, and not let Portugal have unrealistic ideas.”

Constantine: “Do you plan to deter the Portuguese by demonstrating military strength?”

Ernst shook his head and said: “No, we still have to fight, because we also want to take this opportunity to adjust East Africa’s territory. Not to mention Angola, Mozambique’s location is too unfriendly to us.”

Constantine: “Then what do you plan to do?”

Ernst: “Take steady steps, neither overdoing it nor failing to achieve constant victories. It’s best to give the Portuguese the illusion that they see hope of victory, but they’re just a little short.”

This made Constantine confused: “Why not just take the Portuguese colonies directly? We should be able to do it in one step, right?”

Ernst: “Swallowing these two colonies in one gulp is indeed very tempting, but we have to consider the international community’s thoughts. If East Africa performs too prominently, I’m afraid France may personally enter the game.”

If East Africa is too strong, it may not be good news for countries with interests in Africa. What if East Africa really unifies the African continent?

Constantine nodded and said: “If that’s the case, it makes sense, but how do you plan to deal with Portugal?”

Ernst: “We’ll take some areas from Mozambique and Angola, but not completely destroy the two colonies, leaving them some opportunities, of course, provided that the British can stand it.”

“What do you mean?”

Ernst: “If the British don’t directly participate in the war, then we won’t completely annex the Portuguese colonies. If the British participate in the war, then after the war, we’ll annex the two colonies. Britain is the big fish, and we have to find a way to lure the British out.”

“What does this have to do with the Portuguese colonies?”

Ernst: “If war breaks out between Portugal and East Africa, the process and result of the war will be the bait. If we want the British to take the bait, the bait must be tempting. That’s why I don’t require Portugal to be crippled in one battle. Moreover, even if the British enter the game, they need preparation time. Relying solely on Cape Town, they’re not confident. So they’re very likely to protect the Portuguese, and we can’t be beaten for nothing. Portugal must pay the price, and I think losing half of its colonies is reasonable. The remaining colonies Portugal will definitely be unwilling to accept, and will regroup its forces. And the British will also have confidence in fighting East Africa because of the war process, then we will use our full strength.”

Constantine: “What if the two countries don’t follow your script?”

Ernst: “That doesn’t matter. Anyway, these two pieces of fat are right next to our mouths. We can eat them whenever we want. My purpose is still to target the British, just like the American Revolutionary War. East Africa also needs such a victory to completely consolidate East Africa’s national identity and international status.”

So East Africa can’t scare the British. What if the British don’t dare to come directly? Moreover, even if they come head-on, if East Africa fought too well before, I’m afraid the British will increase their attention and take it seriously. A serious Britain is no joke. Ernst still hopes that the British will treat East Africa with the same attitude they treated Afghanistan and the Boers in his previous life.

However, these are just guesses. Whether the Portuguese have the courage is still unknown, and before the Portuguese make a decision, East Africa doesn’t seem to be able to do anything.

Chapter 479: Cattle and Horse Empire

Early in 1878.

Central Province, Kidatu Village Agricultural Cooperative.

Rovis, the village chief of Kidatu Village, announced the new policy to the villagers: “Alright, settle down now, everyone. I have good news for you. The new policy issued by the government has been communicated. According to the Kingdom’s instructions, our country will resolve the issue of slavery within the next thirty years. To adapt to changes in the international community, we should currently promote the replacement of slaves with large livestock such as cattle and horses. According to the township government’s documents, our Kidatu Village has been allocated two hundred and thirty-six head of cattle for farmland, to replace cultivating slaves.”

Remy: “Village Chief, what’s so good about that? Isn’t it just replacing slaves with livestock? Besides, slaves can do some rough work in addition to farming, which is much better than livestock!”

“Remy, what do you know? No matter how useful slaves are, it won’t last. Our East African situation is special, so we have to temporarily use slaves as a tool to improve East African productivity. However, slavery is not allowed by the international community and will inevitably be eliminated. Moreover, no matter how capable slaves are, their efficiency cannot compare with large livestock, and there is also the possibility of riots.”

Remy muttered: “I think black people are very useful. Besides, can’t we suppress the little black people?”

“Hehe, the United States thought the same way back then. Now the problem is that the black slaves in the United States have been liberated. In the future, black people will definitely have a very important impact on American society. Whether it is good or bad is unknown, but we cannot allow the situation in the United States to happen in East Africa. The Mamluks of Egypt are an example of slaves turning themselves into masters. I don’t want the Kingdom to encounter this kind of historical situation in the future, so don’t always think about exploiting others and being lazy. True happiness ultimately comes from one’s own creation. Exploitation is not sustainable.”

The fact that Rovis could say such things clearly distinguished him from the average people of East Africa. In fact, he was one of the first people to receive Black Hingen education, and his basic cultural literacy was very high. That’s why he’s the village chief!

Replacing slaves does have a certain impact on East African production. After all, compared to livestock, humans are currently the highest form of productivity. They can complete many difficult tasks that animals cannot comprehend in their entire lives.

“Village Chief, it seems that these cattle correspond to the labor force in our village. Is each person allocated one?”

“What good things are you thinking about? Do you know how to raise cattle? In other words, have you ever been in contact with cattle before? What if they die?”

Rovis’s words are very objective. Not many ordinary people in East Africa have ever been in contact with cattle, whether they are Eastern or Western immigrants.

The Far Eastern immigrants who come to East Africa are truly the poorest class. If they really had a cow, they wouldn’t have come to East Africa to make a living. Not to mention cattle, it’s questionable whether they can even scrape together a piece of farm equipment. And European immigrants don’t have a clear understanding of the role of cattle, because ox-plowing was not popular in Europe before. The United States is the white country that truly uses cattle on a large scale. The main tasks of cattle in Europe are transportation and providing dairy products and beef.

Furthermore, raising cattle is a technical job, and the cost of raising cattle is currently not affordable with the wages of ordinary people in East Africa.

Rovis: “The cattle will be uniformly raised by the cooperative and cultivated by specialized personnel. Like the slaves before, they can only be used upon application. According to the Kingdom’s regulations, separate pastures and sites will be allocated.”

The tropical savanna climate is a natural large pasture, but East Africa is not taking the Argentine route, so many lands are used as cultivated land. In fact, the cost of animal husbandry is lower, after all, there is no need to cultivate, nor to transform the soil, and even no need to build large-scale intensive water conservancy facilities.

East African agriculture calls itself small-scale agriculture, but it is completely different from small-scale agriculture. The division of labor and cooperation is quite strong, and it has the nature of capitalist agriculture. In fact, it is more like the Soviet Union, but now there is no such country as the Soviet Union. There is no communist country template in the world, so there is no reference for the East African agricultural model. Therefore, the most similar model to East Africa is the serfdom of Europe. The means of production are concentrated in the hands of the serf owners, but the difference in East Africa is that there is only one serf owner. Ernst does not expect East African agriculture to create huge economic value, and farmers are relatively free. However, there are also serfs in the true sense in East Africa, that is, black cultivating slaves.

“It is a general trend for livestock to replace slaves. This trend is not only in our village, but will be promoted throughout East Africa in the next few years. Now Central Province is a pilot area,” Rovis said to the villagers.

Of course, the current promotion of livestock in rural areas in East Africa is not to be popularized immediately, but only to be promoted in planting areas. Economic crop plantations and the like will still retain a certain number of slaves.

The main driving force for East Africa to promote livestock to the countryside is that after more than ten years of development, East Africa’s two major pastures have cultivated a considerable scale of livestock, especially the northern pastoral area and the plateau pastoral area. Now the scale of livestock in these two places has reached the level of tens of millions of heads, which provides a basis for East Africa to transform the backward productivity of rural areas.

Tens of millions of heads is actually not a large number for East Africa, because one state of Texas in the United States has more than fifty million head of cattle. This is only the number of cattle in one state in the western United States, while East Africa counts both cattle and horses. Therefore, East Africa still has a long way to go compared with those strong animal husbandry countries.

“Village Chief, since livestock are going to replace slaves, what will these slaves be used for? Will they be sold?”

Rovis said: “Who knows about this! Anyway, the Kingdom will naturally find a way to deal with it, so we don’t have to worry about it!”

Selling them is impossible. Currently, there is no slave market large enough to swallow so many slaves in one gulp. For example, the Ottoman Empire’s previous procurement volume has decreased, after all, they are busy fighting with Tsarist Russia and their funds are not very abundant.

For this reason, East Africa has specially reduced prices to engage in promotional activities, subsidizing Zanzibar Arab ship merchants, giving a subsidy for sending out a ship of slaves. As for where they are sent, East Africa does not care. In this way, the Ottoman Empire has a large number of black livestock to compete with Tsarist Russia’s gray livestock in a short period of time, and the black livestock also need to eat. East Africa’s grain sales have been revitalized again. After all, the Ottoman Empire has stopped purchasing grain from Tsarist Russia, and this market has been vacated.

Therefore, in the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, the Ottoman Empire fought very badly in the Balkans, but the losses in the Asian part were not as great as in history. The Caucasus region is the most prominent. The Ottoman Empire even formed a black legion to fight against Tsarist Russia.

This is also related to the Ottoman Empire’s and East Africa’s population trade. East Africa has bought a lot of white races in the Caucasus region, especially women. The forced migration of these people to East Africa is naturally not smooth. The locals will also resist, which is exactly what the Ottoman Empire wants. Therefore, it attacks other ethnic groups in the area with heavy blows, and the vacated land naturally goes to the Ottoman nobles. And the Ottoman nobles need population to develop these lands, and black slaves have become high-quality labor, and the Ottoman Empire has the means to control black slaves, and is not afraid of black slaves taking over the nest.

Therefore, in the Caucasus region, in just over ten years, the number of black people in the Caucasus region has increased to more than 300,000, working for the Ottoman nobles. Once the war breaks out, the Ottoman masters will incorporate these black slaves into the army and play human wave tactics with Tsarist Russia. Therefore, the Tenth Russo-Turkish War may not end as easily as it did in history. As long as the black people are not completely dead, the Ottoman Empire will have the ability to continue fighting. Of course, the filling speed of black people cannot be so fast, which also puts demands on the logistics of the Ottoman Empire.

Without the intervention of countries such as Britain, the Ottoman Empire still has the desire to continue fighting. As for the situation in the Balkan Peninsula being so bad, there is no way. There are rebels everywhere in the Balkan Peninsula, and it is impossible for the Ottomans to exert force locally. For example, Romania, controlled by Sigmaringen, can actually be regarded as an independent country, but it is still under the name of the Ottoman Empire, which is the same as Egypt at the moment. Taking advantage of the Tenth Russo-Turkish War, it will take the opportunity to completely break away from the Ottoman Empire.

Chapter 480: Anglo-French Conspiracy

As the largest customer for East African slaves, the Ottoman Empire had a strong demand. This wasn’t a matter of liking it or not, but rather the price of East African slaves was too low. No one could resist such low-price enticement. Even some commoners in the Ottoman Empire could afford them. Therefore, in the eyes of the Ottomans, slaves were cheaper than livestock. They also required less food than livestock, making them very suitable for large-scale adoption.

However, the Ottoman Empire had a surplus of black people, so much so that they could be used as expendable resources in wars against Tsarist Russia. This was a headache for the Russians, but fortunately, the combat effectiveness of the black people was not high.

The advantage of East African black slaves was that they were very suitable for being organized and used on a large scale. This was the norm for slave life in East Africa. Therefore, the Ottomans could easily organize the black slaves after taking over. Even if they were just a rabble, gathering them together could greatly reduce the pressure on the Ottoman Empire’s regular army.

…

Mozambique colony.

“Governor-General Leford! This is what you call an army?” The French instructor said with disbelief as he looked at the armed forces of Mozambique.

The entire Mozambican army in front of him consisted of only a little over one thousand four hundred people, and they didn’t seem much more advanced than a medieval army. According to the French instructor, Delesse, some islands in the Indian Ocean were probably stronger than Mozambique’s regular army.

However, if Delesse had seen the state of the Portuguese mainland army, he would probably understand why the Mozambican army was in such a terrible condition.

Like Britain, Portugal also focused on naval development. Now the Portuguese navy has declined severely, and the army is even more insignificant.

The good news is that Spain, next door to Portugal, is also in bad shape, so the defense pressure is not great. The former Iberian Peninsula double heroes continue to maintain a stable balance.

Leford said somewhat awkwardly: “Most colonial armies are like this. For example, some of your French colonies may not be stronger than us.”

“This is not a question of strength. I heard that the East African army has at least tens of thousands of people and can fight against white forces like the Boers. This means that Mozambique is facing enemies with strength similar to some weak European countries. However, the military strength of weak European countries cannot be ignored in Africa. You have so few regular troops, poor training, and even worse equipment. How can you compete with East Africa in this situation? It’s no wonder East Africa can suppress you and expand wildly. It’s obvious that you have too little military investment in the colony.”

Leford: “This is all the fault of the previous governors. They really didn’t invest much in the military, but this is also related to the fact that the homeland doesn’t pay much attention to colonial development. We don’t get much funding, so the army can only barely get by.”

Delesse: “Okay, now Portugal must first find a way to expand the number of troops. To be honest, this kind of army has neither quantity nor quality. It’s no wonder the Germans, as latecomers, can gain such a big advantage in Africa.”

While saying this, Delesse was actually thinking, these Portuguese are not good either, huh? It’s really benefiting the Germans. If I had known the situation in the Portuguese colony, France might as well have occupied East Africa in the first place.

Of course, Delesse was a bit presumptuous. The Portuguese colonial power should be viewed separately. The regular army has few people and poor combat effectiveness, but the power structure of the colony is actually scattered in the hands of various forces, including colonial companies, merchants, planters, and mine owners. The private armed forces of these forces are also an important part of the Mozambique colony, but they are not subject to the jurisdiction of the kingdom.

Leford: “But where can we find so many soldiers? If we had this ability, the Germans wouldn’t be so arrogant in East Africa!”

Delesse: “The least lacking thing in Africa is black people, so we can use black people to form an army that is enough to compete with East Africa.”

“That won’t work!” Leford objected: “If we use black people to form an army, isn’t that like the wolf giving its teeth to the sheep? What if they learn to use firearms and turn around to deal with us?”

Leford raised a very realistic issue. Mozambique can control such a large area of land and manage so many black people because of its weapon advantage. Apart from that, it’s hard to say how much more advanced Portugal is than the black people. As a monarchy, Portugal may not be much stronger than some indigenous African kingdoms.

Delesse: “Governor-General, do you have any other options now? If you don’t use black people, where can you find so many soldiers? Moreover, the threat of black people is in the future. Your biggest threat now is the Germans in East Africa. As long as you solve the biggest enemy, the Germans, everything else is a minor problem.”

Leford: “But even if Mozambique doesn’t lack black people, we also lack weapons and equipment. As far as I know, the German army is equipped with Delesse rifles and Mauser rifles, which are all active equipment of the German army. The gap between us is too big.”

“Well, that is indeed a problem!” Delesse said: “But you don’t need to worry too much. We will help you solve the weapon problem. Moreover, black people don’t need too advanced weapons and equipment. We and Britain can provide you with rifles and ammunition for fifty thousand people, mainly Enfield and Minié rifles.”

“Do we have to pay?” Leford asked a key question.

“No, this batch of weapons is jointly provided by us and Britain.” Delesse said: “But you have to solve the food problem yourself.”

In fact, the British had already paid for the purchase of weapons. Britain was quite concerned about dealing with East Africa.

The British are well aware of Portugal’s strength. Relying on Portugal alone, they may capsize in the hands of the Germans, so it is necessary to improve the Portuguese combat effectiveness.

Although the assistance provided by the British is not too great, the British believe that Mozambique does not need too good weapons. It is enough to fight a battle with East Africa to test the true strength of East Africa. As long as East Africa shows a slight weakness, Cape Town can act without the Portuguese.

“Even so, the gap between us and the Germans is still too big. Not to mention the difference in weapons, it is also a question of whether black people can fight!”

“Governor-General, you are too conservative. Although the combat effectiveness of black people is not good, the East African Kingdom’s army is not all Germans. They also use a large number of Far Easterners, so you are only about the same.” Delesse said based on his experience.

It’s no wonder Delesse is underestimating the enemy. Although France lost to Germany, France believes that its loss to Germany last time was completely an accident. After all, France didn’t even complete its mobilization last time, and the overall quality shown by France in the last war was stronger than that of Germany. These are the conclusions France reached when summarizing the reasons for its failure.

In addition, the East African army consists of a large number of Far Easterners. The Far Eastern Empire’s record in recent years has been really unbearable, so Delesse inevitably feels a little arrogant towards the East African army mixed with Far Eastern immigrants.

Delesse said: “This time we will personally train your troops to ensure that the combat effectiveness of the troops is developed in a short period of time. With the advanced experience of the French army, Mozambique will definitely be able to compete with East Africa.”

France’s active participation in Britain’s plan against the East African Kingdom is inseparable from considerations of interest. In fact, East Africa, as a German colony, is already enough to make France unhappy. The French now have a full hatred for the Germans, but they can’t afford to offend Germany, so it’s not bad to vent their anger on East Africa.

Moreover, if the Germans can be made to stumble in East Africa, France may have the opportunity to infiltrate the East African region in the future, making the French colonial map more complete.

Chapter 481: Playing Along

To strengthen Mozambique’s military power, the British and French planned to have the Mozambican colony use local Black people to form a military force. Although the Portuguese were unwilling, they could accept it, given the highly expansionist regime of East Africa on their flank.

East Africa’s image in Southern Africa was almost no different from that of Tsarist Russia in Europe. However, Tsarist Russia was a bit more advanced. Tsarist Russia was also like that in the Asian region, so its international image was well-known globally. East Africa, at best, had some presence in Southern Africa, but it wasn’t effective in West or North Africa. For example, Egypt had a pretty good impression of the East African government, but other countries, apart from those defunct regimes driven to North Africa by East Africa, generally weren’t even aware of East Africa’s existence.

Mozambique using Black people to form an army actually suited its national conditions. This had to do with the Portuguese colonial methods. The Portuguese colonization was different from the British. The Portuguese couldn’t control their trousers and couldn’t be as ruthless as the Anglo-Saxons. Therefore, the Mozambican colony, like Brazil, had a large number of mixed-race descendants with Portuguese fathers and African indigenous mothers.

These mixed-race descendants were an effective means of ensuring control over the colony even after Portugal’s national strength declined. After all, to be honest, Portugal’s current national strength was probably not much different from that of some small countries in East Asia. Ernst even suspected that Portugal was no match for the Kingdom of Italy.

After being weakened by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Kingdom of Italy was now huddled in the northwest of the Apennine Peninsula, plus a few Italian islands, but its population and industry still exceeded Portugal’s.

Therefore, if Mozambique chose soldiers from among the Black people, it would definitely also select from the mixed-race descendants. The number of mixed-race descendants was greater than that of pure Portuguese, and everyone jointly attacked the interests of pure Black people. These mixed-race descendants related to the Portuguese were originally part of the ruling class of the Mozambican colony, but the upper echelons were controlled by Portuguese whites. If the mixed-race people had an army, this pattern might change, which was what Leiford was worried about.

March, 1878.

South Salzburg Province.

While Britain, France, and Mozambique were colluding together, the Kingdom of East Africa tacitly prepared countermeasures. The two sides secretly engaged in a military competition. Mozambique formed a Black army, and East Africa was also forming a Black Legion.

You heard right. East Africa also planned to organize a military force composed of Black people, but East Africa’s purpose in forming a Black Legion was clearly different from Portugal’s.

While East Africa was carrying out livestock substitution for Black slaves in eastern East Africa, some of the replaced Black people were transported by East Africa via railway to South Salzburg Province, east of Lake Malawi, for organization and training.

Seeing the Germans actually handing out firearms to them made these Black people feel a little unbelievable, because they knew that the Germans were able to ride roughshod over them because of this “magic weapon”.

However, even with the magic weapon in hand, the Black people still did not dare to resist the Germans. The fear established in the hearts of these Black people through day-to-day exploitation in East Africa could not be broken in a short time.

Of course, they weren’t wrong in thinking that. Even with the weapons provided by East Africa, they couldn’t turn the tables. A gun without bullets was no different from a fire poker.

However, their mentality might be different after they actually went to the battlefield and saw blood. Black people were like this in their previous lives, especially in the German East Africa region. Under the leadership of the Germans, the Black soldiers of German East Africa overcame their fear of white people and made the Anglo-Portuguese-Belgian Allied Forces of the time lose face.

This was also the problem that the Mozambicans worried about when forming a Black army. If Black people were given modern weapons, it was very likely to break the impression that white people were invincible in the minds of Black people.

However, East Africa was not worried about this at all. This time, the Black armed forces were also a disposable item in East Africa. After they were used up, East Africa would immediately arrange boat tickets to the Americas for them. Even if they became a scourge in the future, they wouldn’t be able to find East Africa.

Looking at the army composed of more than five thousand Black soldiers in front of him, it was truly a dark mass, and it really had the appearance of African national soldiers from his previous life, just lacking a beret.

Ernst said with satisfaction: “If our army deliberately puts on an act with the Portuguese, it will seem very unrealistic. Therefore, in order to give the Portuguese the illusion of meeting their match, I think we should make it more realistic. Therefore, the Black Legion has the necessity of existence.”

John Sebastian, the commander of the 111th Division, stood aside and asked with some concern: “Your Highness, is this really okay? I personally doubt the combat effectiveness of the Black people. What if they become a flaw on the battlefield and drag our regular troops down with them?”

Ernst: “What are you worried about? The Portuguese will definitely also use Black people to form an army. Their colonies don’t have that many white people to squander. Even if they really spend a lot of money to transfer troops from their homeland, Black auxiliary troops will definitely be indispensable. So, are you afraid of not having an advantage using Black people against Black people?”

They really didn’t have an advantage, because the equipment of the East African Black Legion was worse than the equipment that Portugal prepared for the Black people. In order to form the Black Legion, East Africa confiscated a large number of flintlock guns used by the militia, which were much worse than the Minié rifles and Enfield rifles used by Portugal.

This was something Ernst couldn’t know, because at this time, France and Britain were only transporting these unsalable military supplies from their warehouses to Mozambique and Angola to equip Black soldiers. It was impossible for East African intelligence personnel to immediately learn of the news and send it back to East Africa.

Moreover, even if they knew, East Africa would still choose to equip the Black Legion with outdated flintlock guns. Ernst wanted the East African army to fight poorly. He certainly couldn’t let the regular army do it. If the acting became real, there would be no place to cry, so it was better to let the Black Legion complete this task.

Ernst: “Our army can be considered to have been tempered by countless wars. Although the strength of the opponents is not very good, the spirit and quality of the army have been cultivated. Even dealing with some European armies is not a problem. Therefore, if we let the army defend its strength and confront Portugal, I am afraid that the Portuguese will feel despair, which is not what I want to see. Therefore, using the Black Legion to fight against Portugal can make this play a good one.”

John Sebastian: “If you say that, it’s true! I feel that the 111th Division alone can kill its way through Mozambique. Occupation may be a bit difficult, after all, there are not enough people, but for destruction, plowing Mozambique several times over would be no problem.”

John Sebastian understood the strength of the Mozambican army in the past. To be honest, the combat effectiveness of the Mozambican army was probably on the same level as the East African militia, but there were too many East African militias. Even using the militia to fight against the Portuguese was a bit of bullying.

Ernst: “So, this time to deal with the Portuguese, the main force is not you. Let the second-line troops and the Black Legion press on the front line. You are only responsible for following behind to stabilize the situation and avoid accidents.”

East Africa’s idea was to have the Black Legion press on the front line, the second-line troops responsible for supervising the battle, and the elite troops at the very back to prevent a rollover. This was a double insurance policy. Unless the Portuguese could summon a large fireball spell, it was impossible for East Africa to lose with this configuration.

Ernst: “There will be more Black people gathering later. This time, we will first organize sixty thousand Black troops and see how the Portuguese respond.”

Sixty thousand Black troops, but firearms could only be provided for forty thousand people. This was still after East Africa rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find these antiques. The remaining Black people could only use cold weapons. It was impossible for East Africa to really give the Black people any good equipment, not even the already outdated Dreyse needle gun.

Chapter 482: Bosnia

In March of 1878.

While the Russo-Turkish War was still ongoing, Austria-Hungary, according to its previous agreement with Tsarist Russia, sent troops into Sarajevo as the Ottoman Empire’s rule over the Balkan Peninsula teetered. This was the bargaining chip Tsarist Russia had used to keep Austria-Hungary neutral in the war.

Because of the disruption in East Africa, Tsarist Russia’s expansion in the Central Asian steppes and West Asia was not as smooth as in history. Therefore, Tsarist Russia, worried about Austria-Hungary suddenly changing its mind, had to use the Bosnian region in advance to buy off Austria-Hungary.

The Bosnian region, that is, the Bosnia and Herzegovina of the previous life, or Bosnia for short, can be said to be one of the most turbulent regions in Europe in the previous life, especially the capital Sarajevo, which is most famous as the trigger for the outbreak of World War I.

In fact, in Ernst’s view, the Bosnian region is not a good place, but it is located at the intersection of civilizational conflicts, the forefront of conflicts between Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Islam, and can be said to have gathered the cultural elements of turbulence.

Even in the 21st century of the previous life, although Bosnia and Herzegovina is ostensibly peaceful, Ernst believes that as long as someone stirs up trouble here, it can still fall into chaos at any time, just like in history, because Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous life was an even more abstract country than the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. It has two entities (Bosnia, Herzegovina), three presidents (one from each of the three major religious groups), and two capitals (Banja Luka, Sarajevo).

As Austria-Hungary militarily occupied Bosnia, the Hechingen Consortium followed closely behind, acquiring large tracts of land in the region.

During the Ottoman Empire’s rule, most of the land in the Bosnian region was in the hands of the Timar class (equivalent to European feudal lords).

However, the Timar system was very different from the Western European fief system. The Ottoman Empire was not as fragmented as Europe, and its centralization was stronger, so the power of the lords was also restricted by the central government.

For example, regarding land, the Ottoman Empire stipulated that, except for a strictly defined small portion, the territory could not be inherited. The lords should allocate most of the territory to the peasants for hereditary cultivation and could not confiscate it at will. The land operated by the lords themselves could not exceed the peasants’ allotments, and taxes were also supervised by the Ottoman Empire.

With the cessation of the Ottoman Empire’s military expansion, the Timar class could not profit from war, and the imperial ruling class became corrupt. The Timar class could only maintain its income by exploiting the lower-level people, so the restrictive decrees and supervisory system for the Timar became a dead letter.

In the second half of the 17th century, the process of real estate concentration accelerated. The Timar class expanded its land holdings through various means, not limited to developing private fields, using various means to bankrupt the lower-level people, and recovering lower-level land.

Therefore, the Hechingen Consortium’s land acquisition operation in Bosnia went quite smoothly, with thirty percent of the arable land in the entire Bosnian region being acquired by the Hechingen Consortium.

Of course, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire’s rule in the area was not the real reason why the Hechingen Consortium’s actions were so smooth, but rather that the Hechingen Consortium’s competitors looked down on the Bosnian region.

Mountainous areas account for more than forty percent of Bosnia’s national area, hills account for about twenty percent, and plains account for only five percent. In addition, nearly thirty percent of the area is karst landforms, so Bosnia is definitely a bad land in Europe, very similar to Guizhou in the Far East, but the plain area of Guizhou can also account for about seven percent of the province, and Guizhou’s area is more than three times that of Bosnia.

Therefore, after Austria-Hungary militarily occupied this area, almost only the Hechingen Consortium was interested in it among the commercial forces within Austria-Hungary.

Through cooperation with the Austria-Hungarian military, the Hechingen Consortium easily bought the land from the Timar class at low prices. Moreover, in order to force the Timar class to give in, the Hechingen Consortium actively incited the local chaotic situation.

Various rumors were spread, such as Austria-Hungary wanting to purge the upper echelons of Islam and confiscate the land of heretics, which stirred up a hornet’s nest. A large number of Timar lords (the title of Timar lords) began to sell their land and return to the Ottoman homeland.

As for resistance, that was impossible. The Ottomans were still at war with Tsarist Russia and had no energy to take care of them. Most of the Balkan Peninsula was cut off by Tsarist Russia and the Balkan countries. Bosnia was an isolated island and could only be slaughtered.

However, the Hechingen Consortium’s methods aroused dissatisfaction from the Austria-Hungarian military. The Austria-Hungarian military representative Ronaldinho quickly came to question them: “Mr. Berck! Is it your people who are spreading rumors everywhere in Bosnia? Saying things like purges? More than thirty large-scale riots have occurred locally because of this rumor, causing us considerable trouble!”

Purges were definitely going to happen, but according to Austria-Hungary’s intentions, they would definitely be carried out in a low-key manner. After all, Austria-Hungary’s occupation of Bosnia was too easy, and the local forces were still relatively strong, so it should be done step by step.

Berck pretended to be innocent and said: “General Ronaldinho, how is this possible? Our Bosnia Agricultural Development Company is a law-abiding and good enterprise. How could we destroy local unity and peace?”

Ronaldinho: “Hmph, don’t think I’m easy to fool. You must have dared to do this for the sake of land acquisition!”

Berck: “Your Excellency, General, this is just your imagination. You have to produce evidence when you speak. Although our Bosnia Agricultural Development Company is the beneficiary, there is no need to do this. Maybe it’s just that there happen to be Ottoman resistance elements who don’t want Austria-Hungary to liberate the local people, so they deliberately made trouble and spread these words that are not conducive to unity.”

As he spoke, Berck took out a letter and said: “Your Excellency, General, this letter was entrusted to us by your father. Please make a decision after reading it.”

The upright and unyielding Ronaldinho took the letter, read it for a while, and, unsurprisingly, changed his face and said: “Since they are hostile elements of the Ottomans, then spreading rumors makes sense. These heretics should indeed be severely打击 (dǎ jī - suppressed/attacked).”

Berck took the opportunity to say: “Not only that, but for the sake of the empire’s interests, we must also transform the local people, and we cannot let the Bosnian people fail to recognize their position. What do you think, Your Excellency, General!”

Ronaldinho was a little unsure what Berck meant by this sentence: “Mr. Berck, whose intention is this sentence of yours?”

Berck: “Of course, it is the intention of fellow Germans. Don’t you think that the number of Germans in the empire is too small? This is very unfavorable to the stability of the empire.”

Ronaldinho: “Mr. Berck! Who exactly is behind you?”

Berck: “General Ronaldinho, some words only represent my personal opinion. I am just saying it, and it does not represent anyone. These words are only limited to you and me.”

Of course, Ronaldinho didn’t believe Berck’s nonsense. Berck’s Bosnia Agricultural Development Company definitely had a big background. After all, there were very limited domestic forces that could acquire land on such a large scale in Bosnia, but what Berck said still made some sense. The unstable factor in the empire was that there were too few Germans.

He pressed on and asked: “Mr. Berck, what you said makes sense, but there are only Slavs in the Bosnian region. Germans cannot appear out of thin air…”

Berck: “Of course, but who said that there are only Slavs in the Bosnian region? I clearly saw many Germans who were forced to become Slavs under the coercion of the Ottomans. As long as we help them restore their identity, they will naturally return to the German nation. The Bosnian region has been imperial territory since ancient times, but the people have been deceived because foreign races篡改 (cuàn gǎi - tampered with) history.”

Berck’s words made Ronaldinho even more convinced that Berck’s identity was not just a businessman.

In fact, Berck is backed by the Hechingen Consortium, and the Hechingen Consortium’s actions in the Bosnian region are simply a prelude to an attempt to transform Bosnia into a Germanized region. As long as they control the local economic foundation, then changes at the cultural level may not be impossible to change.

For example, the Ottoman Empire’s assimilation methods were very effective. Through taxation and other means, Islamic believers now account for the majority in the Bosnian region.

This has to mention that the Austria-Hungarian government’s response to nationalism is too limited. There is also Hungary in the government as an obstacle, so there are many things that the Austria-Hungarian government cannot do. Since the Austria-Hungarian Empire cannot do it, it can only let the private sector do it.

The Bosnian region has a small population due to its poor economy and undeveloped agriculture, which also creates conditions for the Hechingen Consortium to transform the local area. As long as the set of methods used in East Africa is used in the Bosnian region, it will be of great benefit to maintaining Austria-Hungarian rule.

In the previous life, Austria-Hungary militarily occupied the Bosnian region for more than twenty years, but in the end, Serbia gained the advantage. Ernst was very dissatisfied with this result. Of course, Ernst would not say that Franz was too incompetent. Being in his position, there were indeed too many constraints.

Chapter 483: A New Ethnicity

The Black Herington Consortium’s intervention in the Bosnian region garnered little attention. Military occupation didn’t necessarily mean the Austro-Hungarian Empire was incorporating the area into its rule. Historically, the idea of Austria-Hungary annexing Bosnia was a matter from the early 20th century.

The main reason for this lack of interest was insufficient profit. Bosnia lacked resources, and while it had relatively abundant coal reserves, the local transportation was extremely underdeveloped, making exploitation difficult.

In almost any era, Bosnia was one of the poorest regions in the Balkans, so it didn’t really have much economic value. For example, due to the impact of the agricultural crisis, there were almost zero merchants willing to invest in agricultural development in Bosnia.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire valued Bosnia, but not for economic reasons. The main reason was that it used to be the Ottoman Empire’s forward base for threatening Austria and Europe from the north.

Sarajevo was the northern military stronghold established by the Ottoman Empire, which gradually developed into the most important city in Bosnia.

Even if the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted to provide economic support to Bosnia, it wouldn’t be possible. After all, who would pay for it was a major problem. Hungary certainly wouldn’t contribute a penny. Even the Black Herington Consortium’s entry into Bosnia wasn’t for poverty alleviation, but for political purposes.

As for extracting economic benefits from the area, Ernst hadn’t even considered such a thing. Bosnia’s conditions were simply too poor. Just breaking even would be considered a success.

Ferdinand: “So, the main purpose of your investment in the Bosnian region is to change the local population. But that’s not easy. After all, even the Austro-Hungarian government couldn’t accomplish that. It’s even more impossible for just an agricultural company to do it, right!”

Ernst: “Our investment in Bosnia isn’t really for local development. The focus is on changing the local people’s sense of identity. Things like faith and ethnic identity are indeed headaches for various countries, but they’re insignificant compared to economic interests. Why could the Ottoman Empire transform the local Slavs? In the end, it was for economic reasons. Not following the Ottoman Empire meant being destined to be poor, which is much more terrifying than any faith.”

Ferdinand: “So, how do you plan to handle this?”

Ernst: “We now control thirty percent of the arable land in Bosnia. Bosnia is a completely agricultural region, with agriculture accounting for nearly one hundred percent of the economy. So, we control the economic lifeline of Bosnia. That means we can easily decide the fate of the Slavs in Bosnia.”

“First, the Black Herington Consortium will violently reduce the local Muslim population. The basis for this is to make it unprofitable for the local Muslims.”

Ferdinand: “Do you mean forcing Muslims to convert through the allocation of land use rights?”

Ernst shook his head and said, “Not like that, but a reduction in the literal sense!”

“You’re crazy!” Archduke Ferdinand said in disbelief, “Aren’t you afraid of a local rebellion?”

“Even if Bosnia rebels, it won’t affect our East Africa. This is just an experiment. And what I mean by a literal reduction isn’t slaughter, but forcing the locals to leave. Anyway, Bosnia has a great geographical location, making it easy to find work anywhere. If agriculture can’t support a family, most locals will have to try their luck outside.”

Ferdinand: “What if the local people insist on resisting? If you embarrass Franz, I believe he will directly question you.”

Ernst: “So, we need to win over one faction and attack two. We’ll turn the local Croatians into our own people. Serbians and Muslims are the targets we want to expel. Serbians can go to Serbia, or come to East Africa. Muslims can go to any Arab region, but they can’t stay here.”

“However, just Croatians aren’t beneficial to Austria-Hungary’s rule over the area. I’m afraid it will exacerbate the weight of Croatians in the future empire. One Hungary is enough of a headache for Austria, do you want another Greater Croatia?”

“You misunderstand, Father-in-law.” Ernst said, “The people I’m talking about winning over are those who abandon their Croatian identity. They already believe in Catholicism, so we’ll economically bind them to the Black Herington Consortium. There’s one prerequisite: they must join the German ethnicity.”

Ferdinand was still a little worried and said, “Things aren’t that easy. Ethnic imprints are hard to erase.”

“So, we must actively promote cultural transformation of the locals. The faith and habits of the local Croatians are actually the closest to the Germans, especially the Catholic Germans.”

“Plus, the local Croatians have always been at the bottom of the ruling class. Except for religious figures, they basically have no education, which provides us with conditions to tamper with the local Croatian history.”

This piqued Ferdinand’s interest: “How do you plan to tamper with the local people’s history?”

“We can completely claim that the locals are Germans who entered Bosnia from southern Germany in the Middle Ages. They had to give up their ancestral identity under the coercion of the Ottoman Empire. And this history was cut off because of the Ottoman Empire’s cover-up. Now that Bosnia has returned to Germany, it’s natural to recognize their ancestors.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “Who are you trying to fool?”

“As long as we can make the local people willingly be fooled, we’ll be successful.” Ernst said shamelessly.

“How could they believe that? Just rely on your propaganda? The locals aren’t fools. They know how their families came to be, right!”

Ernst: “As long as we have enough ideas, we’re not afraid that the locals won’t comply.”

“What kind of crooked ideas do you have?”

Ernst: “Everything emphasizes evidence, and we can completely forge evidence. For example, there probably weren’t many people from southern Germany who flowed into Bosnia, but we can make it up ourselves.”

This is easy to do. After all, the Black Herington Principality can provide evidence. Many Herington people went to Bosnia to live because of war or famine. Forging some ancient books isn’t difficult. Moreover, the locals’ education level is so low that they’ll believe whatever others say. Even if they don’t believe it, they’ll choose to believe it to avoid being affected. As long as lies are told often enough, someone will believe them. After a few generations, it will become history. After all, even the Bible can be used as a historical basis, so Ernst’s approach isn’t excessive.

Ernst continued, “Secondly, we’ll smear the Ottoman Empire and even the entire Arab region. After we control the local public opinion, we can belittle the Ottoman Empire to make the locals actively wash away their relationship with the Ottoman Empire.”

This trick is actually regional discrimination. The power of regional discrimination is too great. As long as it’s properly operated, it can become a good cultural weapon.

Moreover, the mutual slander between the Western world and the Arab region has been going on all the time. Ernst is just doing this as a matter of course.

“Then, reshape the ethnic identity of the local new generation through education.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “I don’t really understand this. Do you want to promote compulsory education in Bosnia?”

Ernst: “Not really, but to promote corporate education. If you become an employee of the Bosnian Agricultural Development Company and can make a living, then the employees of the Bosnian Agricultural Development Company must send their children to corporate schools to receive thorough German education.”

The Bosnian Agricultural Development Company now controls 30% of the arable land in Bosnia, so 30% of Bosnians must rely on the Bosnian Agricultural Company to survive. Therefore, converting and accepting German education are necessary conditions.

Moreover, the proportion of arable land occupied by the Bosnian Agricultural Development Company will continue to rise. In Ernst’s plan, he will carry out long-term grain dumping in the area to force local farmers into bankruptcy, and finally collect more land into the hands of the Bosnian Agricultural Development Company.

“Your plan is indeed good, but the problem is that Catholics only account for two or three percent of the local population.” Ferdinand said.

Ernst: “My plan certainly includes Serbians and Muslims. As long as they are willing to actively abandon their Orthodox and Muslim faiths and identities other than German, they can stay in the Bosnian region. The same is true for Catholic Croatians. Croatians are just the easiest to transform, but they must also give up their Croatian identity to integrate into our German family, otherwise their lives will be no different from the infidels under Ottoman rule.”

“What if the local forces resist fiercely and don’t cooperate?”

“Isn’t there still the Austro-Hungarian army to help? We’ve already established a good relationship with the local garrison. As long as they favor us in our actions against the local resistance forces.”

“Relying on the army alone may not be enough.”

“So, I have one last trick, which is the same as in East Africa, to inject water into the Bosnian region and change the local population structure through foreign immigrants.”

“Are you planning to migrate Germans to Bosnia?”

“Not limited to Germans, but also Far Easterners. After all, we don’t have enough Germans even for our own East Africa.”

“Migrating Far Easterners to the Bosnian region? Are you sure you don’t want to cause public outrage?”

“We also need thugs. These things must have a sufficient population to do. The Austro-Hungarian army isn’t convenient to do this, we can do it. We want to make those Bosnians who are unwilling to give up their foreign and infidel identities as helpless as the East African natives!”

Of course, Ernst also had an idea, which was to turn Bosnia into a region within the Austro-Hungarian Empire that naturally leaned towards East Africa. Therefore, sending them some Orientals to intermarry would help East Africa exert influence in the local area in the future. After all, the population structure of East Africa will be dominated by mixed-race people in the future, so the pure German region may not regard East Africa as its own people. Adding some color to the Austro-Hungarian Empire will help East African Germans exert their influence in the future.

Ernst’s ideas are not limited to this. In the Lanfang Republic, Ernst plans to implement measures opposite to those in Bosnia, by introducing white people to make it a mixed-race country dominated by German culture.

It just so happens that the population of the Bosnian region can be filled into East Africa and the Lanfang Republic. In this way, mixed-race German descendants can form three fulcrums in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and may even develop a new ethnic group spanning three continents with global influence in the future.

Chapter 484: Training

As a mixed-race country, East Africa faces an awkward problem in the future: a lack of historical and cultural foundation.

A historical and cultural foundation is actually very important. Take the East Asian cultural sphere, the Arab cultural sphere, and the Turkic cultural sphere as examples. They represent influence and political interests, all connected through historical and cultural attributes.

So, how should East Africa position its cultural roots in the future? Can it only lean towards Germany or the Far East in terms of historical culture? This is definitely not what Ernst wants.

East Africa has its own interests and will have its own values and core interests in the future. Ernst certainly has special feelings for Germany and the Far East, but East Africa has in fact become independent from these two civilizations.

As the saying goes, a single tree does not make a forest. If East Africa wants to expand its historical and cultural influence, it cannot be dominated by German and Far Eastern cultures. Therefore, it should now actively expand cultural regions with similar attributes to East Africa.

In Ernst’s view, Bosnia and the Lanfang Republic are two good experimental zones. If these two regions are transformed into populations and cultural attributes similar to East Africa, then in the future, they will naturally lean towards East Africa emotionally.

For example, the current Lanfang Republic is a purely Chinese country, and its culture and emotions are bound to lean towards the Far East, rather than the half-German, half-Chinese East Africa. But if East Africa transforms the population attributes of the Lanfang Republic to be the same as its own, then in the future, the Lanfang Republic will inevitably lean towards East Africa.

East Africa has always regarded the Indian Ocean direction as its core maritime interest in the future, with Southeast Asia as the focus. According to the history of the previous life, the Far East is very likely to be East Africa’s competitor or challenger, a point that the United States and Britain have deeply experienced.

Similarly, East Africa also values the German region, including Germany and Austria, especially at present. It is very important for East Africa to have two big brothers standing in front, but East Africa’s importance to these two countries is not very obvious.

In the eyes of the two countries, East Africa’s position is the same as the British view of Canada and Australia. Do they really think they are worthy of being compared with the natives!

Therefore, Ernst’s mixing things up in Bosnia has a very important purpose, which is to bury a mine in the sphere of influence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Bosnia does not yet belong to the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). This mine is the mixed-race population. If the Austro-Hungarian Empire has no designs on Bosnia in the future, this mine will never work. Conversely, the Austro-Hungarian Empire will have a handle in East Africa’s hands.

Even if the Austro-Hungarian Empire really doesn’t eat this sugar-coated bullet of Bosnia, East Africa will have planted a nail in the Balkans. The importance of the Balkan Peninsula is self-evident, and it will benefit East Africa in any case.

Bosnia and the Lanfang Republic are only the first step for East Africa. In the future, more regions will be transformed by East Africa. Of course, the prerequisite is to first pass the hurdle of Britain and France.

……

Maputo.

The Portuguese watched the training results of the French with great interest. On the open space, a hundred black people were squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads, their upper body clothes stripped off.

Smack… smack… smack…

On the training ground in Maputo, French instructor Wilson whipped disobedient African soldiers hard with a riding crop, relentlessly spurring them on, leaving streaks of blood on the black men’s bare backs.

“Damn it, do we really have to be nannies for these black devils to learn to obey orders? They can’t even learn the simplest formation.”

Wilson was going crazy. The results of two months of training had completely collapsed him. At first, Wilson could be said to be full of confidence. As an excellent French instructor, he had trained many troublemakers and fools in France. No matter how difficult the French soldiers were, they would become excellent soldiers in his hands within a month.

Then he was sent to Mozambique. According to Wilson’s idea, black people are also people. Even if they are worse, they can’t be worse than mules in the army.

Three days later, Wilson realized he was wrong. A week later, Wilson realized he might have taken on an extraordinary task. A month later, Wilson gave up and no longer pursued the goal of turning these black people into French soldiers. Now Wilson has completely collapsed.

The French instructors were very angry about training black people, because the black people’s cultural level was too low. Not to mention complex training, they couldn’t even do simple training.

However, the French instructors were not careful enough. This is a realistic problem faced by the armies of many backward regions. Of course, it must be admitted that some African natives are too backward.

Black soldiers in tribal civilizations, due to the level of civilization development, even their languages have not matured. Many basic concepts that are normal in the eyes of later generations do not exist.

Organizational ability can be said to be almost non-existent. Of course, Ernst has to say something fair. It’s not the black people’s fault, but the French instructors have gone in the wrong direction. In fact, black people can also cooperate in combat, especially in the collaboration of a few people. The specific manifestation is hunting. Several black people can leave an indelible shadow on the animals on the grassland with primitive bows and arrows and spears.

As for a slightly larger number of people, black people are indeed not very good, because in this era, many black tribes have only a dozen people as the norm. Due to the low level of productivity, a region can only support so many people. Black people will split themselves like lions according to the number of prey. The vast majority of black people do not practice agriculture, nor have they developed nomadic attributes.

Therefore, the forces that black people can develop into primitive national forms are considered top-level civilized countries in Africa, representing advanced productive forces. However, these primitive forms of countries are actually not large in scale. At most, they are super-large tribes. The core areas of many countries may only be a city or village. As for the large area on the map, it is all falsely marked. Many independent small tribes are included. From Ernst’s perspective, these black civilizations are stuck at the level of the Yanhuang tribes in the Far East thousands of years ago.

The Yanhuang tribe was a tribal alliance. Yanhuang was equivalent to the overlord among the tribes, but the tribes below could still be regarded as independent units. Those countries in Africa actually played the role of tribal overlords. In fact, calling them tribal overlords is an exaggeration. Many of them do not have that appeal. At most, their ability to resist risks is stronger than ordinary tribes.

In the past, when the East African Army was still a colonial army, mercenaries and commanders of the Black Hingen Military Academy also had a headache for the new army formed by immigrants.

Many people can’t distinguish between left and right is the norm, and they don’t have a clear perception of direction. But strangely enough, many people are not sensitive to the left and right directions, but can clearly distinguish between east, south, west, and north.

Compared with the French’s expectations for the black troops, East Africa does not have such high requirements for the black legions. After all, many East African natives are the kind that even Far Eastern instructors in the previous life could not teach by hand. Ernst does not believe that the East African Army has the ability to train the black legions into normal troops.

However, black people are not all trash that the French and East Africa face. In fact, the black people in Abyssinia and North Africa are very capable of fighting. As a result, the Arab Empire and Europe have incorporated black people from North Africa into their armies. Abyssinia was once the overlord of the Red Sea and fought a thousand-year war with the Arabs. In the past, Nubia in the Sudan region also counterattacked Egypt. Therefore, a competitive atmosphere is conducive to the development of civilization.

In order to quickly form combat effectiveness among these black people, East Africa’s education model is very simple. They are taught to pull the trigger after filling ammunition, and accept the instructions to move forward and backward. As for running ugly, moving ugly, and not aiming accurately, none of these are problems.

Chapter 485: War Game

While training the Black Africans, the East African army generals were also analyzing Mozambique’s strategic intentions.

Yalman: “Based on our intelligence analysis of Mozambique, we can confirm that Mozambique’s army is currently concentrated in the south. A large number of Black Africans are being trained, the exact number is unknown, but it should be no less than 30,000. More than 10,000 are in Maputo alone.”

Sveit analyzed: “We can guess how many troops Mozambique will organize based on the maximum capacity. According to the density of our East African natives in the past, Mozambique’s population should be over two million. It is possible for Portugal to organize hundreds of thousands of troops, but they clearly don’t have the strength. The issue of weapons and equipment cannot be resolved. However, if they are pushed into a corner, they should be able to muster over ten thousand people. With the help of Britain and France, tens of thousands of relatively well-equipped Black African troops should be able to be formed, but their combat effectiveness may not be very high. The Portuguese themselves should also be able to field a few thousand troops.”

Felix: “Mozambique borders East Africa on three sides, so they have three directions from which they can attack us: the Southern Frontier Province, Matabeleland Province, and the northern Malawi Lake and Ruvuma River line. If we assume that Portugal mobilizes 50,000 troops, then they only have the ability to attack in one direction.”

Sveit: “Our defense system along the Ruvuma River line is very complete. For more than a decade, we have always regarded the Ruvuma River as the default border between the two sides, so the riverside fortifications are very well done. If Mozambique uses Black Africans as the main force to attack the Ruvuma River line, it would be absolutely foolish.”

Merk: “I don’t see it that way. The Ruvuma River defense line relies on river and lake troops. In this regard, the capabilities of our river and lake troops are actually very limited, such as not being able to cover the middle and upper reaches, and the Ruvuma River is very long, especially in the west. The Ruvuma River does not extend all the way to Lake Malawi, so there is this big gap.”

Sveit: “But correspondingly, the Portuguese have no advantage on the Ruvuma River line. They have almost no development on the south bank of the Ruvuma River. We have river and lake troops as support on the Ruvuma River. They probably can’t even put together enough ferries, unless they temporarily make a batch to cross the river.”

Yalman: “Do you think the possibility of the Southern Frontier Province and Hekingen Province being attacked is high?”

“Very likely. These two places are too close to Maputo. I believe the Portuguese will put the most pressure on these two provinces.”

“Hekingen Province has the Drakensberg Mountains as a barrier, which has natural geographical advantages. The Portuguese should not focus on Hekingen Province, so the military strength in the Southern Frontier Province should be strengthened. Our military defense focus in the Southern Frontier Province is on the Tugela River line in the south, mainly to deal with the British. The northern line is indeed not given enough importance.”

“If Portugal really attacks the Southern Frontier Province, then they can only go south along the coastal plain. This section is relatively narrow. Adding another brigade should be enough. Our strategic goal cannot be to take Maputo from the beginning, otherwise the Portuguese may surrender directly, so the northern line of the Southern Frontier Province should focus on defense.”

……

While East Africa was formulating its operational strategy against Portugal, the two good elder brothers, Britain and France, were also helping Portugal with advice. However, compared to the composure of the East African army, the military personnel of Britain and France were very distressed.

“Mozambique’s terrain is very unfavorable for defense. It can be said that the two ends are heavy and the middle is light. It is easy to be cut off in the middle. However, whether East Africa can cut it off from the middle depends on the strength of East Africa’s interior and how East Africa’s troops are deployed.”

“East Africa’s troops are mainly concentrated in two areas, one in the south and one in the north. The number and strength of the East African troops on the opposite bank of the Ruvuma River should be the strongest, followed by the south. East Africa’s military strength in South Africa is not bad either. They have a natural sense of fear towards Cape Town.” British instructor Johnson said triumphantly.

It is easy to understand why the British made this judgment, because East Africa does deploy its troops in this way. The area north of the Ruvuma River is the absolute core area of East Africa, and East Africa has also put a lot of effort into deploying military forces in South Africa to prevent British forces from moving north.

Johnson said: “So although East Africa has many troops, there are more areas to defend. They have been contained by us for at least 50% of their military strength. If it weren’t for your Portuguese inaction, East Africa would not have expanded so quickly.”

The French instructor was very unhappy with the British guy’s smug look, but the Portuguese were indeed too incompetent. They had been in Africa for hundreds of years, relying on their old capital to make a living, and as a result, they were bullied by the up-and-coming Germans. It was too embarrassing.

This is a case of “standing and talking doesn’t hurt your back”. If Portugal really had the courage and strength to expand wildly in Africa, then today it would probably be Britain, France, and Germany joining forces to deal with Portugal.

As for why Portugal has not made much progress in Africa, this cannot really be blamed on the governments of the two colonies. In the past, the Portuguese kingdom’s favorite son was Brazil, and the main investment was also in Brazil. But who would have thought that Brazil would directly become independent?

After losing Brazil, the Portuguese government was extremely chaotic internally and had no energy to deal with foreign affairs in a unified manner. Self-consumption was extremely serious, and it squeezed the remaining colonies dry. Moreover, the aftermath of Brazil’s independence was that the Portuguese government became even more wary of investing in colonies. What if it was all for naught again?

Compared to East Africa, which regarded East Africa as its homeland for development, Mozambique and Angola naturally did not develop as well. East Africa’s development was a continuous investment, regardless of cost, while the development of Mozambique and Angola was actually restricted, and the homeland had to extract blood from the two places, because the domestic economy was not good, and the landlord’s family had no surplus grain either.

“So in these two areas, I think we can only focus on defense in the north. Our goal is to attack and dismember East Africa. It is too unrealistic to eliminate East Africa. It is better to focus on South Africa as the main direction of attack.”

Johnson’s thinking also took into account that he wanted to use the Portuguese to consume East Africa’s strength in South Africa. After all, Cape Town was still watching eagerly on the sidelines!

The French saw through the British’s little thoughts and said: “You said before that East Africa has a large military investment in South Africa. I don’t think it is appropriate to make Portugal focus on this area for attack.”

Mozambique Governor Leiford agreed very much and said: “Colonel Clement is right. East Africa has a large number of people. If we mainly invest our military strength in the direction of South Africa, I am afraid it will be detrimental to us, so we cannot put all our eggs in one basket.”

The existence of the Southern Frontier Province does greatly threaten the security of Maputo, but if Portugal removes this nail, then it will be neighbors with the British. It is better to let East Africa stay there! Just as the British themselves said, they contain East Africa’s energy, so East Africa cannot wholeheartedly deal with Portugal in the Southern Frontier Province.

This is a multiple-choice question. The problem is that both answers have advantages and disadvantages. However, in Leiford’s view, the threat from Britain is greater than that from East Africa. To deal with East Africa, Portugal can choose Britain and France to check and balance it. Who will check and balance the British? Rely on France? I am afraid they will sell Portugal in exchange for Britain’s concessions to them in other areas, such as West Africa.

Although East Africa’s threat to Mozambique is imminent, to be honest, East Africa has been really good to Mozambique these years. It has never done anything excessive. On the contrary, Britain has a previous record.

East Africa’s mistake was that its strength expanded too quickly, scaring the Portuguese. Moreover, this time Britain and France guaranteed that even if Portugal was defeated, they would not allow East Africa to swallow Mozambique and Angola. If East Africa insisted on going its own way, the two countries would jointly put pressure on East Africa. Therefore, having a bottom line is the real reason why the Portuguese dare to “pull chestnuts out of the fire”. If they win, Mozambique will make a lot of money, and it may even be possible to connect Angola and Mozambique into one piece, which would not be much worse than the Brazilian colony back then. If they lose, they will not lose everything and can still keep the Mozambique and Angola colonies.

Johnson was very unhappy that his plan could not be realized and said: “Then what is your opinion?”

Clement: “I think we should adopt a defensive posture in both the north and south directions, especially in Maputo. Although it is very close to East Africa’s southern colony, it is impossible for East Africa to capture Maputo at all. I dare say that Maputo’s defense is one of the best areas in the entire Africa. Without heavy weapons and a large number of troops, it is basically impossible to take it down.”

It is not that Clement is praising the Portuguese, but he is stating the facts. Maputo is indeed the most difficult fortress to break through in the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Perhaps only Cape Town, a century-old city, can compete with Maputo in the entire sub-Saharan Africa.

“What if East Africa attacks from the sea? East Africa’s naval strength is not bad. They bought almost a whole set of navy from the Austrians.”

“This requires the cooperation of our two countries’ navies. No matter how strong East Africa’s naval strength is, can it be stronger than our two countries? We must first issue a military ultimatum prohibiting any naval forces in the Indian Ocean from interfering in this war.”

This is to tie one of East Africa’s hands and fight Portugal. However, if Britain and France speak, Ernst has to admit that it is indeed very powerful. The East African navy cannot withstand the joint efforts of the world’s first and second navies.

Clement continued: “Our main focus of attack should be in the center, attacking East Africa’s hinterland. This is Mozambique’s weakness, or in other words, East Africa’s weakness. We should defend and wait for the opportunity in the north and south, contain East Africa’s main force, and quickly cut off the connection between the north and south of the East African kingdom in the middle. Angola and Mozambique will meet in the central region of East Africa, so that the southern part of East Africa will also become an enclave. In this way, the threat of East Africa will be greatly reduced.”

If Clement’s plan succeeds, then East Africa will lose the central area dominated by Zimbabwe and Zambia. After the connection with the east is cut off, South Africa and Southwest Africa will become lambs to be slaughtered. East Africa may really become “East Africa” and return to ten years ago.

However, this is just an ideal state. Not to mention that Britain, France, and Portugal misjudge East Africa’s true military strength, they also ignore the existence of a war killer in East Africa. In the last Franco-Prussian War, the French failed because of Prussia’s railway construction. The French once again ignored this issue. East Africa has a large artery in the interior that can support the weak links on the battlefield with the central railway at any time.

Chapter 486: Diplomatic Pressure

The Central Railway cuts through the Matabeleland Plateau, hidden in the back of East Africa. Although the Portuguese knew of the existence of railways in East Africa, they never imagined that East Africa would extend the railway inland.

This again involved their blind spot, because a railway without passenger or freight traffic is a money-losing proposition, and given Africa’s population density and level of economic development, the payback period would be too long. Or rather, no one was willing to believe that an African country had such strength.

“After cutting East Africa in half, Portugal takes the middle part of the territory, and we can declare a truce. Relying solely on Portugal’s strength, it is still difficult to compete with East Africa.” Clément also understood the principle of knowing when to stop. However, even with such a result, East Africa would not accept it.

If East Africa knew what the French were thinking, they would definitely retort, “Dream on!” As if the territory is yours to divide as you please! And it’s the middle part of East Africa’s territory. Even if it’s ceding territory as indemnity, it starts from the edges, not cutting straight through the middle.

Moreover, Clément was engaging in wishful thinking. The French were used to throwing their weight around in the colonies, thinking that East Africa was also a pushover like the French colonies. Fortunately, France was only playing the role of a slandering villain this time. If they really got involved, East Africa would definitely knock out a few of their teeth.

……

Schönbrunn Palace.

“Your Majesty, this morning the British diplomat revealed to us that Portugal and East Africa are about to break out in war, and advised us not to intervene lightly.”

“Hmm!” Franz said, very annoyed, “Since when did the British start meddling in our affairs? They say don’t intervene, and we don’t intervene?”

Franz had no idea that Portugal and East Africa might break out in war, because East Africa hadn’t revealed any information to him beforehand. As a result, he learned about it from the British. But the British attitude made Franz very unhappy. Everyone is a leader of the world order, and at least Austria-Hungary doesn’t think it’s much worse than Britain. Britain still wants to order him around!

“Your Majesty, the British behavior precisely illustrates their degree of importance to Africa, or rather, the degree of importance to East Africa. East Africa is clearly threatening British interests, which is why they are so targeting East Africa.”

Franz: “Hmph, does Britain think we can control East Africa? And their attitude is simply too arrogant.”

“There’s no help for it. In reality, the British control the Suez Canal and have a strong naval force in the Mediterranean, making it easy to cut off the connection between us and East Africa. And the Imperial Navy is naturally insufficient to challenge Britain, so Britain tells us not to intervene, and there’s really nothing we can do.”

This is why Austria-Hungary’s desire for overseas colonies is not strong. Although its naval strength is not weak, it is blocked in the Adriatic Sea. If overseas colonies are established, the navy has no ability to protect them, and it is easy to have connections cut off by countries such as Britain and France.

Of course, if Austria-Hungary learned from Germany in its previous life and picked up scraps as its own colonies, it wouldn’t be impossible, but Austria-Hungary obviously pays more attention to cost issues. The more worthless land you take, the more money you lose. After all, colonies also require governance costs. If the colony’s income is not high, are you expecting the mainland to subsidize it every year?

The reason why East Africa was able to carve out a large piece of territory in Africa was due to hard work and opportunity, seizing the window of opportunity, and then expanding step by step to this day. Although the local economy has improved greatly thanks to East Africa’s efforts, there are always people who are jealous and want to pick the peaches after the fruits have been grown with effort.

“The more you say that, the more I want to see the British get their comeuppance. What do you think we should do to support East Africa?” Franz asked.

“Your Majesty, do we really want to offend the British for the sake of East Africa?”

“What do you mean ‘offend the British for the sake of East Africa’? I just can’t swallow this anger. Does that mean you’ll do whatever the British say? You’re not a subordinate government of Britain!”

“But, we really have no way to support East Africa. East Africa’s geographical location, no, to be precise, our geographical location is naturally limited to only playing a role in Europe. East Africa is beyond the reach of the Imperial Army. As long as the British want to, we can’t even send a single ship of supplies to East Africa.”

It is indeed difficult for the British to verbally threaten Austria-Hungary. Both sides are world powers, and there is no superior or inferior status. However, Britain’s strength is indeed higher than that of Austria-Hungary, so the British dare to threaten Austria-Hungary on the East Africa issue. As for why they are threatening Austria-Hungary, it is because of the quasi-alliance treaty between East Africa and Austria.

A quasi-alliance is not an alliance, but from an outsider’s perspective, the meaning is completely different. The British believe that East Africa is Austria-Hungary’s little brother. If you want to knock on someone else’s little brother, you must first settle the other party’s big brother.

Of course, out of “respect” for Austria-Hungary, the British will not participate directly, but will let Portugal and East Africa have a one-on-one challenge, which seems very fair, but unfortunately, Britain and France are biased. Britain, on the one hand, does not allow Austria-Hungary to intervene, and on the other hand, gives Portugal a lot of military assistance.

“Moreover, we don’t seem to have anything to support East Africa with. East Africa’s weapon system seems to be more similar to Germany’s. Only the artillery is the same as ours.”

Military assistance must first choose weapons and equipment, but it is obvious that East Africa has a self-contained weapon supply system. East Africa can also be self-sufficient in other aspects. Austria-Hungary really doesn’t know how to assist East Africa.

Franz had no choice but to personally find the East African ambassador to Austria-Hungary to ask what East Africa was planning: “Britain is preparing to attack you. Didn’t you get any news at all?”

“Your Majesty, we are very clear that Britain and France are trying to use Portugal as a proxy to wage a war with East Africa, attempting to weaken East Africa.”

“France is also involved? Moreover, since you know that war is about to break out, how can you still sit still?” Franz asked, looking at the calm East African ambassador.

“Your Majesty, as long as the British do not personally participate in the African battlefield, we in East Africa are confident of defeating the Portuguese. Even if the British participate, we are still confident of confronting the British.”

Franz: “…”

Now Franz feels that East Africa and Prussia are really carved out of the same mold. Is the Hohenzollern surname the culprit that makes Prussia go further and further down the road of resolving problems with force?

Seeing that Franz didn’t quite believe it, the East African ambassador had no choice but to say: “We in East Africa have more than 200,000 well-trained soldiers, all equipped with new Mauser rifles, and machine guns and artillery are also relatively complete. This military force is definitely the best in Africa, so East Africa is not afraid of war threats. Strength is the real reason why East Africa can be so calm.”

East Africa used to have Egypt in front of it, but since the Dreyse needle gun era, East Africa has actually been the de facto number one military in Africa, especially after making up for the shortcoming of the navy, Egypt is no longer comparable to East Africa.

Franz: “Are you sure you didn’t count the militia armed forces as well? Without professional soldiers as the framework, that kind of temporary assembled army is of little use.”

“Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we wouldn’t lie. In fact, Archduke Ferdinand is very clear about East Africa’s military strength. If Your Majesty is not at ease, you can directly send a telegram to inquire.”

East Africa used to hide a lot of things, but now there is no need to. After all, once the war starts, East Africa’s strength will be revealed, and there is no need to deliberately hide it.

Chapter 487: Tete City

Franz: “So, you East Africans believe that you can rely on your own strength to deal with Portugal, and even the backing of Britain and France?”

The number of troops does not represent combat power, especially in this era. The records of the Ottoman Empire, the Far East, and India, these populous countries, show that the human wave tactic is not necessarily useful. Of course, Prussia has also proved with facts that piling up the number of troops still has some effect, but the premise is a modernized army.

“Your Majesty, in short, Portugal is definitely no match for East Africa. Of course, we also hope that the Austro-Hungarian Empire can give us some diplomatic support,” the East African ambassador said.

“Then how do you want us to support you diplomatically?”

“We hope that your country can exert some diplomatic pressure on Britain and France. War can be fought, but the other side cannot send naval forces to support the Portuguese. If Britain and France do this, we will also take countermeasures.”

This piqued Franz’s interest: “You’re going to counter two world-class powers? What bargaining chips do you have in hand?”

The East African ambassador: “The British and French colonies in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the British Cape Town colony, and the French colony in Madagascar are all next to the Kingdom of East Africa. We have the ability to enter these three regions at any time and inflict huge losses on Britain and France.”

Franz’s eyelids twitched, and he said with some excitement: “If you do that, I believe Britain and France will go crazy. They might fight you to the death.”

If the East African plan succeeds, it will instantly cut off the connection between Europe and Asia, unless Britain and France take a detour from North America or take the traditional Eurasian trade route, which will only benefit the United States and Russia.

Of course, if East Africa can really do it, other major powers in the world will definitely not stand idly by. Germany, Tsarist Russia, and the United States all harbor ulterior motives towards Britain and France. Only the Austro-Hungarian Empire is in a rather awkward position now, with poor geographical conditions, poor national cohesion, and the inability to fully utilize its national strength.

Franz: “If you really succeed, the world situation may face unpredictable risks, so we will complete the communication with Britain and France. Everyone has a bottom line, and we won’t tear each other apart.”

Franz is more worried about the instability of the international situation, especially when the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not fully prepared. East Africa’s plan is indeed too bold, but it is best not to do it now, so we cannot really let Britain and France fight with East Africa. The intensity of the war must be controlled, and Franz does not think that East Africa’s plan is wishful thinking. It may be of great use in the future, so it is better not to use it directly. Maybe the Austro-Hungarian Empire can use it itself next time.

“Your Majesty, relying on you alone may not attract the attention of Britain and France. Why not bring Germany and Russia into the mix?” the East African ambassador suggested.

“We will of course consider Germany, but Russia? Russia is still at war. What they are most worried about now is that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has designs on the Balkan Peninsula, so our relationship with the Russians is very complicated.”

“If only the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany are enough, that would be two against two. We can balance the power of Britain and France. The rest depends on East Africa and Portugal themselves!” Franz said.

Whether East Africa is worth supporting depends on whether East Africa has strategic value. Everything depends on its military strength.

If it can defeat Portugal this time, then East Africa will have some status in the international community. At least its popularity can reach the level of countries like Mexico and Brazil. If it cannot even defeat Portugal, then the colony is just a colony, and it has no face to show up in the international community.

…

In May of 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, France, and Britain exchanged views in Paris on the issue of East Africa and Portugal. That is, the scale of the war must be controlled, and third countries must not personally participate. The final result depends entirely on the performance of the East African and Portuguese sides in the war.

East Africa still did not participate in this meeting, or rather, it was a closed-door meeting of the four major powers. However, the most nervous was Tsarist Russia, which thought that the other four countries wanted to join forces to trick it, after all, Tsarist Russia had already achieved good results in the Russo-Turkish War.

Tsarist Russia’s thinking was not wrong. In fact, the four countries’ attitude towards the Russo-Turkish War was that it could be ended. The Balkan Peninsula had already become independent, and Tsarist Russia had also occupied part of the Ottoman Caucasus region, so the other four hooligans believed that the Russians could stop now.

No one wants Tsarist Russia to hit the Ottoman Empire too hard, which is not conducive to regional stability. Maintaining a certain strength in the Ottoman Empire helps Britain and France to contain Germany, Austria, and Russia.

…

The meeting was held, but Britain and France did not give a definite answer as to when the war would start. They could not let Portugal declare war on East Africa first.

Portugal’s strength is weaker than East Africa’s. It would be foolish to fight East Africa head-on, so Portugal may be able to gain the initiative in the war by launching a surprise attack.

Soon, according to the previous plan, the troops in Portuguese Angola and Mozambique were mobilized, and East African intelligence personnel also stepped up their efforts to find possible breakthrough points for Portugal.

Soon, through the analysis of abnormal data of Portuguese coastal ships, East Africa discovered that the Zambezi River line was the most likely military front for the Portuguese, especially Tete City on the right bank of the Zambezi River, which gathered a lot of troops and supplies.

Tete City is an important city of Portugal in Mozambique, the capital of Tete Province in Mozambique in its previous life. Tete was built in 1531 and was once a stronghold for Portuguese colonists to expand into the African interior, a center for industry, mining, and transportation. Before the Portuguese colonial era, Tete was the center of Swahili commercial activities.

Tete City is located along the Zambezi River and was formerly the center of Mozambique’s gold and ivory trade, but this center has been declining since the rise of East Africa and the interruption of inland trade routes.

The rise of Tete is mainly due to shipping. It is the starting point of the Zambezi River’s downstream route. The downstream section of the Zambezi River starts here and reaches the Indian Ocean directly after more than two hundred kilometers. The convenience of water and land transportation makes it naturally conducive to commercial development.

The convenience of transportation has also strengthened Mozambique’s emphasis on Tete, especially after Clement’s plan was put forward, Tete has become a strategic pillar of Mozambique.

“If we defeat East Africa from the center, we cannot let go of the natural barrier of the Zambezi River. If we control the southern line of the Zambezi River, we can separate East Africa from north to south. The next step is to cut off the land passage north of Lake Malawi to divide East Africa into three parts.”

“Tete is the forward station for our army, ready to move westward along here, but are you sure there are no problems with your map?” Clement asked.

The Portuguese’s map of the African interior is actually a map of inland trade routes developed by some caravans in the past. It also marks the various tribes along the route, which were all customers of Portuguese merchants in the past.

However, the quality of these maps is very poor, and the mapping is also very unprofessional. After all, since the rise of East Africa, the commercial activities of the Portuguese in the interior have been prohibited, and the survey work in the local area has been forced to stop. Many of these maps are old goods from more than ten years ago. If nothing else, many of them may have expired, because East Africa is too ruthless to the natives in the interior, especially in the Zimbabwe region.

East Africa closed the trade routes, and Portuguese merchants turned to trade at the trading ports designated by the Kingdom of East Africa. However, the trading location is at the mouth of the Ruvuma River, so Portugal is now ignorant of the situation in the African interior.

Chapter 488: Intelligence Warfare

Tete is over a hundred kilometers away from the closest East African military outpost, but the Portuguese troop movements in the Tete area had already been discovered by East African reconnaissance cavalry.

“It seems the Portuguese are planning to use Tete as a breakthrough point to attack us. We need to get this news back to Songo quickly.”

Songo is upstream from Tete, a military outpost established by East Africa on the banks of the Zambezi River, located just over twenty kilometers downstream from the future site of the Cahora Bassa Dam.

There is an intelligence asymmetry between East Africa and Mozambique. Because of East Africa’s isolationist policies, it is extremely difficult for Mozambique to enter East Africa to scout for information, while it is very easy for East Africa to obtain intelligence from Mozambique.

First of all, Mozambican intelligence personnel might be intercepted by East African border military outposts, checkpoints, or border troops as soon as they reach the border. If they are lucky enough to enter East African territory, they then face the problem of supplying provisions.

If their wilderness survival skills are maxed out, they can continue to venture deeper, but they will then encounter an awkward situation regarding their identity. East Africa implements a household registration system. Without identification or relevant documents, they risk being discovered if they encounter villages or East Africans. And if they avoid settlements, they will have to keep company with African wild animals.

In short, the difficulty of entering East Africa to obtain intelligence can be said to be the highest of any country in the world.

Of course, Portugal had obtained some information in the past, namely when East Africa initially occupied Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe).

However, at that time, East Africa had not yet developed Matabeleland Province. Apart from geographical information, the Portuguese could not obtain any other useful intelligence.

Moreover, gathering intelligence in East Africa is a high-risk profession. In the early days, the actions of Portuguese intelligence personnel were relatively easy, but after the population of East Africa in Matabeleland Province increased, Mozambique’s intelligence personnel suffered losses of more than thirty percent. Later, Portugal no longer sent intelligence personnel to East Africa because the attrition rate was too high, and no one was willing to go to their death. East Africa also pretended to know nothing. The African continent is full of dangers, and it is plausible that Mozambique’s intelligence personnel were carried off by wild animals.

But in the eyes of East Africa, Mozambique is almost completely transparent. East Africa, relying on its reconnaissance cavalry, can freely enter and leave Mozambican territory, and the Mozambican colony has no means of retaliation, mainly due to a lack of manpower.

Therefore, in recent years, East Africa has frequently crossed the border into Mozambique, especially the northern part of Mozambique, which has been almost completely infiltrated by East Africa.

When East Africa sensed the abnormality in Mozambique, cross-border reconnaissance became even more frequent. The reconnaissance cavalry of the Songo outpost penetrated a hundred kilometers deep under this background, directly to Tete to obtain intelligence.

At this time, the Portuguese stationed in Tete were completely unaware that their actions had been discovered by East Africa. The sudden influx of tens of thousands of troops into Tete caused chaos. The black troops were a disorganized mess. Because Tete was only a declining commercial outpost, it did not have large-scale housing or the capacity to suddenly support so many troops.

All the black troops could only be stationed outside the city. The area outside Tete had completely turned into a noisy “marketplace.” East African reconnaissance cavalry could easily spot the abnormality in Tete from afar.

“Did someone just ride a horse and look at us over there?” A black soldier asked his companion, pointing to a small mound where the East African reconnaissance cavalry had just been.

“Oh! Maybe? Didn’t pay much attention. Maybe it was a white man coming to inspect.”

“Who cares! It has nothing to do with us anyway,” another soldier said.

In this way, the East African reconnaissance cavalry swaggered away under the eyes of the black soldiers, and not a single black soldier thought that the people opposite them might be enemy scouts, nor did anyone think to report this to the Portuguese in the city.

That’s right, the Portuguese are all in Tete now. Calling Tete a city is actually flattering it. Tete is more like a large fortress. Two thousand white Portuguese soldiers are gathered in the city for leisure and entertainment.

Smoking, drinking, playing cards, the city even has brothels opened by Portuguese merchants. Swahili girls dance on the stage, and the Portuguese drunkards below cheer.

Dares, the president of the Tete Chamber of Commerce, said, “Haha, gentlemen, you must be exhausted from your long journey. Tete is not a big place, so our capabilities are limited. We can only entertain you with these simple meals.”

Clément lit an East African cigar purchased in Dar es Salaam, took a puff, and said with his legs crossed, “President Dares, you do business here, not far from East Africa. You should know a lot about East Africa, right?”

Dares, with a beer belly, said, “General, you misunderstand me. Although Tete is only a hundred li or so away from East Africa, I really don’t know what the interior of East Africa is like. Since the Germans occupied the interior, they cut off our original commercial routes, and many of the original caravans left. People like me rely on the resources around Tete to do some small business.”

Clément: “I see. Then East Africa has clearly infringed on your commercial interests. Why don’t you resist?”

Dares: “General, you don’t know this, but although East Africa has cut off the trade routes, they have developed several commercial ports in the north. Caravans can go to the north to get goods and then sell them all over the world. So only people like me who originally earned service fees from the caravans have suffered relatively large losses. So not everyone hates East Africa. Besides, the German military strength is very strong. I, a small businessman, dare not offend them.”

Clément: “Oh, are you very clear about the strength of the German army?”

Dares shook his head and said, “I don’t know that. I just compare the strength of our commercial armed forces in Mozambique with the Germans. They are real armies. Our commercial armed forces are at most small-scale skirmishes.”

Clément: “Then you should know roughly how many German troops are in the area of Tete bordering East Africa, right?”

Dares: “I can infer this. As far as I know, there is a German military outpost about a hundred kilometers northwest along the Zambezi River.”

Clément: “How big is that outpost? What is its troop strength?”

Dares: “The scale is not large. The troop strength may be around two or three hundred people. This outpost was established about three years ago.”

The military outpost that Dares mentioned is the Songo outpost. East Africa’s establishment of an outpost in Songo is also very particular. Tete is actually located on a plateau with an altitude of five hundred meters. To the east is the Amotize Basin, and to the west is the Zambezi Basin.

East Africa’s Songo outpost happens to be on the same small plateau as Tete, but Songo is at the western end of the plateau. Songo and Tete also have something in common, that is, they control the Zambezi River as it flows through the plateau section, but the two places are east and west, Songo in the west, and Tete in the east. East Africa’s purpose in building a military outpost in Songo is to confront Tete and block the Portuguese from advancing westward.

Dares: “General, I don’t know if this information is useful to you?”

“Haha.” Clément laughed and said, “Of course, Mr. Dares, this information will be of great use to us in fighting East Africa. When we return victoriously in the future, we will definitely take good care of your business again.”

After learning that East Africa only has two hundred troops in Songo, Clément seemed very relaxed. This time, on his suggestion, Portugal adopted a strategy of undeclared war, emphasizing a surprise attack to catch East Africa off guard.

Once he takes the Songo outpost and quickly controls the south bank of the Zambezi River, the East Africans will be at a strategic disadvantage. The East African troops are mainly concentrated in the north and south. By controlling the Zambezi River, the East African main forces in the north and south will lose contact. Then, they can concentrate on dealing with the East African army in the south. As for the German army in the north, they only need to watch the Zambezi River and hold them back. Moreover, this time there is also a force heading towards Lake Malawi. As long as they cut off the land route between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, East Africa will not be able to provide timely support.

Lake Tanganyika, also known as East Africa’s Lake Solent, is known to the Portuguese, but they do not know that Lake Tanganyika is also the source of the Nile. In the past, Portuguese explorers operated from south to north, so they did not know much about Lake Tanganyika. They only knew that there was a large lake north of Lake Malawi, and its area was likely not smaller than Lake Malawi.

Chapter 489: War is War, Trade is Trade

If the Portuguese really managed to occupy the land passage between Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi, it would indeed have an impact on East Africa, as it is the only way for the East African Central Railway to enter the interior.

However, occupying this area is quite difficult. It is home to Mbeya, East Africa’s heavy industrial base city, three large arsenals, and the base of the 111th Division. Lake Malawi is also one of the three major bases of the East African River and Lake Force, and the Black Legion formed by East Africa is also training on the eastern shore of Lake Malawi.

East Africa controls all the advantages of water and land transportation, and logistical support is also quite convenient. If Portugal can break through the East African army from Lake Malawi and the surrounding areas, then there is no need for East Africa to exist.

……

Clément had the idea of raiding the Songo stronghold, but the reality was that his idea could not be implemented immediately.

“Why haven’t your Portuguese supplies been delivered to the front line yet? Isn’t the section of the Zambezi River from the estuary to Tete navigable?”

Being laughed at by an international friend, the Portuguese general Cavendak was also embarrassed. He comforted Clément and said, “We have no experience in this kind of large-scale war, so the Mozambican logistics system has basically no experience in supplying large-scale material transfers. We are currently mobilizing ships from all over Mozambique, and we believe that the materials should be delivered to Tete in a timely manner within half a month.”

The Mozambique colony has been peaceful for a long time. A war with a thousand people is considered a major war in the Mozambique colony. The last time there was a major war of this scale was when the southern part of the Malawi Kingdom was annexed. In fact, it was just using firearms to bully indigenous tribes with very rudimentary cold weapons.

At other times, the main threat faced by the Portuguese came from the sea, so naval battles were more frequent and more experienced than land wars.

Therefore, this war against the Kingdom of East Africa did exceed the expectations of the Mozambican government. They had no experience in dealing with this kind of military mobilization of tens of thousands of people, and coupled with the hasty preparation time, logistics naturally could not keep up.

It would have been better not to comfort him, but Clément was furious after being comforted: “Half a month? The supplies we brought ourselves are only enough to last for a week, and this doesn’t even include ammunition reserves. Are you planning to have our soldiers launch an attack on East Africa on an empty stomach!”

Cavendak: “This…is not impossible. Anyway, we can attack inland first, and the supplies should be delivered soon.”

Clément: “What about those troop carriers that brought us here? Can’t they deliver the supplies?”

Cavendak was ashamed: “Those ships were all temporarily rented from passing merchants. After the money was paid, they dispersed. The time and money it would take to gather them again is beyond what the Mozambique colony can afford.”

In order to send 30,000 people to Tete City in one go, the Mozambique colony could only temporarily rent merchant ships to transport these 30,000 people from southern Mozambique to central Mozambique.

The cost of this kind of temporary rental ship is not cheap, and you must also beg the passing ships. Only some empty ships are willing to accept it. As for where the empty ships come from, they are generally ships that unload goods in Mozambique, mainly Arab merchant ships.

And many of these Arab merchant ships are ships of Arabs from Zanzibar Province. Their main business is to bring consumer goods from East Africa to Mozambique to earn the price difference.

Mozambique has no manufacturing industry and needs to import everything, and East Africa’s cheap goods are the first choice for local Portuguese and tribal chiefs. In addition to Arab merchants actively selling, the Portuguese in Mozambique will also directly purchase goods at ports or Dar es Salaam.

Cavendak continued: “The cost of renting ships is three times higher than usual, and it is not certain that anyone will be willing to do it, so we can only requisition local ships to reduce costs, but it takes time to organize them in the large and small rivers of Mozambique, and our food must also be transported from the interior of Mozambique through them.”

Of course, one thing Cavendak didn’t say was that Mozambique also imported grain from East Africa, mainly because Portuguese white soldiers needed flour to make bread and other staple foods, and East Africa was the closest flour-producing area to Mozambique.

The Mozambique colony is mainly based on plantations, and is not actively engaged in food crop cultivation. The most suitable food crop for Mozambique is rice, which is obviously not to the taste of the Portuguese, and the Portuguese have no experience in rice cultivation.

Fortunately, the population of Mozambique is mainly black, and blacks don’t care what they eat. Cassava, bananas, etc. are all acceptable, but it is impossible for whites to eat these.

Eating them occasionally is okay, but staple foods still rely on imports, especially since the price of grain in East Africa is very cheap, and Mozambican merchants and planters are even less motivated to grow food crops.

Clément: “Okay, your local government is too useless. Since you can’t get enough ships, use black people to send food and ammunition to the front line. I want to see the full amount of supplies within a week.”

Cavendak: “General Clément, don’t worry, I will report to Maputo.”

Clément said seriously: “General Cavendak, I said it is a requirement, and it is a requirement that you must meet, not simply reporting to Maputo. No matter what method Maputo uses, I only want military supplies, and they must be delivered to Tete within a week.”

Clément already understood that the Mozambique colonial government was unreliable and inefficient. It deserved to be beaten badly by East Africa. Moreover, Clément knew through this incident that if he didn’t put pressure on the Mozambique colonial government, they would not only be inefficient, but also likely to be corrupt.

Even the French army, with its high efficiency, could not avoid corruption problems, and the bureaucrats of the Mozambique colony were probably even more so. Therefore, Clément continued: “When you write to Maputo, you must specifically order, in my name, that I will not accept a gram less of the supplies I want.”

Cavendak nodded quickly and said: “No problem!”

Cavendak also knew the virtues of the rear bureaucrats. Anyway, this time it was Clément, this Frenchman, who asked the rear government to restrain itself, and it had nothing to do with him, so he was not afraid of offending people.

After Clément finished speaking, he leaned back in his chair, unhurriedly lit a cigar, and smoked it leisurely.

Seeing this, Cavendak asked: “General Clément, are we really going to wait until the supplies are delivered before launching an attack on East Africa?”

Clément: “What’s the rush? How about this, let’s send a small force to take down the East African Songo military stronghold first, and the main force will wait behind. Once the supplies are delivered to Tete, we will launch a large-scale offensive.”

An army marches on its stomach. Clément would not launch an attack without sufficient military supplies. After all, his side was not familiar with the specific situation in the East African interior, and might even get lost relying on the Portuguese’s simple maps. What if they stumbled into the enemy’s trap?

Moreover, Clément was not at ease with the black soldiers under his command. Desertion had always been a problem. Fortunately, only a few ran away every day. Clément did not dare to demand too much from an army in this state, and everything was based on stability.

Cavendak: “How many people should we send to occupy Songo?”

Clément: “Just a thousand people! The Songo stronghold only has two or three hundred people. Three or four times the strength should be enough to take down the Songo stronghold.”

In Clément’s view, the combat effectiveness of East Africa’s border troops, especially small military strongholds like Songo, should not be very high.

Although the combat effectiveness of black soldiers is questionable, after training by French instructors, they should be able to fight against the armies of colonial countries like East Africa.

Moreover, he was attacking with a numerical advantage this time, with more than three times the superior force, so he should not fail to take down even a small border stronghold.

Chapter 490: An Oddball Commander

A small force of over a thousand men should, in theory, have been able to reach Songo quickly. After all, the distance from Tete to Songo was only about a hundred kilometers, which would take three or four days at most.

However, the slow marching speed of the black soldiers drove the accompanying French instructor, Lieutenant Cree, to his wit’s end. They dragged their feet all the way, and hadn’t arrived after a full four days. Keep in mind that Mozambique was currently in its dry season, and marching across the dry savanna wasn’t particularly difficult.

However, the Portuguese officer was very satisfied with this marching speed. In his opinion, a forced march was completely unnecessary. Songo was just a small stronghold, and Portugal had launched an undeclared war. He didn’t think the East Africans could have prepared in advance, so taking it slow was fine. After all, walking a dozen kilometers a day was considered up to par.

Cree, riding on horseback, said to the Portuguese commander, “Captain Rhode, can’t we get the troops to speed up? We’re going to war, not on a picnic.”

Rhode, lying lazily in a simple sedan chair carried by black men, said, “Lieutenant Cree, what’s the rush? Anyway, the Germans are there, they’re not going to run away. They couldn’t possibly know about our operation in advance.”

Cree: “What if German scouts discover us? Then this operation will probably be ruined!”

“You’re overthinking it, Lieutenant Cree. We haven’t even seen a shadow of the Germans these past few days. They won’t discover our operation in advance.”

“But…” Cree wanted to say more.

Rhode interrupted impatiently, “How about this, we’ll march for an extra half an hour each day. No, twenty minutes at most. That’s our limit. Too much is as bad as too little. It wouldn’t be wise to face the Germans with exhausted troops. My main goal is to have the troops engage the Germans in a better state of mind.”

Cree looked at this useless fellow helplessly, speechless. Today, the Portuguese had shown him what true procrastination was. Cree had seen his share of dawdlers, but such an oddball like this Portuguese was rare indeed.

France was helping Mozambique train its army, but before the war started, the Mozambican government parachuted in a batch of Portuguese officers.

Well, “parachuted” wasn’t quite right. It should be said that it had been decided in advance, but none of these Portuguese officers could be seen during training. They only took command of the army when the war began.

Cree really wanted to give a piece of his mind to the bureaucrats of the Mozambican colonial government. Didn’t they care about these mediocre talents?

In reality, the Mozambican government was powerless. The Mozambique colony usually didn’t have many troops. Many officers were temporarily promoted from former white rank-and-file soldiers. Rhode was one of them.

Therefore, the abilities of many officers were questionable, and they didn’t want to receive French training like the black soldiers. Their military capabilities were probably inferior to those of the black soldiers.

However, the Mozambique colony was unwilling to hand over the army completely to the French. They couldn’t give the French military power, in case they pulled a fast one. That’s why these white officers, who lacked military ability and couldn’t endure hardship, came into being.

Take Rhode, for example. This guy had over eighty-five kilograms of fat and couldn’t even ride a horse. He relied on black men to carry him all the way, and before that, he was just a security guard in Maputo.

Of course, not all Portuguese were incompetent. For example, the all-white troops in Tete were the true elite of Mozambique. Many were mercenaries or retired army soldiers from mainland Portugal. Their abilities were quite good. Most of these people were troops from mainland Portugal supporting Mozambique.

However, even if they were elite, they were elite by Mozambican standards. The top soldiers in Mozambique were concentrated in the navy stationed there.

The Mozambican navy was also in an awkward position. Strictly speaking, they had no connection to the Mozambican colonial government, but were directly under the jurisdiction of the Royal Navy. Therefore, in this war between Portugal and East Africa, they stood by and watched. Of course, the reason of preventing East Africa from attacking Mozambique from the sea was also valid, although they were indeed no match for the East African navy.

The current Kingdom of Portugal couldn’t afford a large-scale army. In fact, many colonies relied on private armies, that is, civilian colonial armed forces, to maintain appearances. The Portuguese government couldn’t necessarily mobilize them. If these civilian colonial groups were of one mind with the government, they might actually cause some trouble for the East African army.

This was why East Africa was so confident in Mozambique’s military strength. The Portuguese could organize a sizable black army in a short period of time, but officers weren’t so easy to train. Even with the French acting as advisors, France only sent a consultant group of dozens of people to assist the Portuguese. Even if they took full command of the Portuguese army, they couldn’t manage so many troops.

After dawdling for six days, the Portuguese advance force led by Rhode finally saw the Songo stronghold.

Rhode pretended to take out his binoculars and observed for a while, then said to Cree, “Lieutenant Cree, what should we do next?”

Cree: “…”

Rhode wasn’t pretending at all. He really didn’t know how to take the Songo stronghold, because it was a little different from the military fortress he had imagined.

From a distance, the Songo military stronghold was about three meters high and about three or four hundred meters long. There were also ditches around it, serving as moats. Cree didn’t see any water, so he determined that there were probably spikes or other defensive measures inside.

The scale of the Songo stronghold was also larger than Cree had imagined. This was probably why Rhode was at a loss, because according to Rhode’s experience in Mozambique, no one would usually build a military stronghold so large. After all, Songo wasn’t a key area.

Tete was important because of its location as a land and water transportation hub, and it used to be a gathering place for merchants, so it was built relatively strong and large. This was acceptable. How could Songo be built almost as small as Tete?

Tete was an important city in northern Mozambique, while Songo was just an ordinary military stronghold between East Africa and Mozambique. The strategic importance of the two was incomparable.

Cree: “It seems a bit difficult! We underestimated the Germans’ construction capabilities. With this kind of military fortress, you probably don’t need two or three hundred people, even a hundred people can hold us off for quite a while!”

“Uh, you don’t have a solution either?” Rhode asked.

Cree was speechless. If French troops encountered this situation, they would have bombarded it with artillery long ago. Even if there was no artillery, there would be corresponding siege equipment. But the Mozambican army didn’t have these conditions!

Cree: “We can only cut down trees and make siege equipment first. At least we have to build a batch of ladders to cross the trenches and walls of the Songo stronghold. Otherwise, even if we rush to the city with a numerical advantage, we won’t be able to enter the city and take the Songo stronghold. Instead, we can only become targets for the East Africans and die in vain.”

Hearing that he didn’t have to start fighting immediately, Rhode breathed a sigh of relief: “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Lieutenant Cree. I’ve never seen any siege equipment, so I still have to rely on you to command those black devils to complete this task.”

Cree was really about to be infuriated by this Portuguese pig! “Lieutenant Cree” this and “Lieutenant Cree” that, as if a superior was ordering a subordinate. The problem was, could a Portuguese African colonial backwater captain like you compare to a French lieutenant?

Before the war had even begun, Cree had fallen into deep despair about this war between Mozambique and East Africa. Unless the Kingdom of East Africa could also find a pig like Rhode to be their opponent, but that shouldn’t be possible! The probability of simultaneously gathering “Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix” should not be high, Cree thought truthfully.

Chapter 491: Failed Offensive

And so, the East African Army at the Songo military stronghold watched the Portuguese bustling about outside the city, while the Mozambican army was once again hampered by its own black soldiers. Perhaps the French had taught them how to make siege equipment during their training!

It wasn’t that Africans were incapable of making ladders, but this skill depended on the region. For example, natives in tropical rainforest areas would build their nests in trees, and wooden ladders were essential tools. Some more developed native kingdoms also had similar needs and could make simple wooden ladders.

However, these ladders were usually made by carving out a concave surface from a single log or by binding with grass ropes. Ladders with mortise and tenon structures or fixed with iron nails were almost nonexistent. Therefore, the ladders made by Africans were not suitable for siege warfare. Using such ladders for the strenuous activity of attacking a city would likely result in their own people falling head over heels, much to the amusement of the East African Army.

The natives in the East African region were even worse. Most of them lived in savanna areas, building their dwellings with plant fibers and woven strips or mud. These were often circular huts or square mud houses less than two meters high. They had no need to climb up and down, so even the simplest climbing tool like a ladder was not used.

Cree could only curse and personally guide the construction, which wasted a lot of effort, and it took half a day to produce just over twenty ladders.

Seeing the darkening sky, Rhodes suggested, “Lieutenant Cree, why don’t we work on it tomorrow? We might have to spend the night here tonight.”

Cree was quite dissatisfied, saying, “No matter what, we must finish the ladders tonight and launch the attack first thing tomorrow morning!”

As for the East African Army, they were simply watching the spectacle, with no intention of disturbing the Portuguese. Due to intelligence, the Songo military stronghold had long known that this place might become the front line of the battle.

After the reconnaissance cavalry obtained intelligence from outside Tete, they sent the information to the Songo stronghold in just two days. Despite its small size, the Songo stronghold had a telegraph installed, and the message was immediately sent to Harare, the capital of Matabeleland Province.

The defense of Matabeleland Province was mainly under the jurisdiction of the 512th Division, so the 512th Division headquarters immediately ordered a company of soldiers to be sent to support the Songo stronghold. Just one day before the Portuguese finally arrived at Songo, the first batch of reinforcements from Songo arrived.

Therefore, the current number of troops in the Songo stronghold had actually reached more than five hundred, not less than expected.

The 512th Division Commander ordered, “Hold the enemy first, use weapons and ammunition freely. The main force will arrive in three days. Do not take the initiative to attack. It is best to hold the Portuguese there.”

The order issued by the 512th Division to the Songo garrison was to delay the Portuguese. Even though the current East African Army was fully capable of eliminating the Portuguese vanguard outside the city, East Africa remained inactive.

As for the so-called main force, it was being transferred from South Salzburg Province to the Zambezi Railway Bridge via the Central Railway, and it was expected to arrive at the Songo stronghold in three or four days. This was the opponent carefully selected by East Africa for the Portuguese army.

The black legion formed by East Africa could be put to use, but because the direction of Mozambique’s attack was uncertain before, the black legion had been staying in South Salzburg Province. If the war suddenly broke out, East Africa could also use the Central Railway to quickly deploy to various sections.

So, more than thirty thousand black men, like pigs, were stuffed by the East African Army into train carriages supporting the inland areas, sent to the Zambezi River Central Railway Bridge, and then advanced along the Zambezi River all the way to the downstream Songo area.

The remaining black troops were waiting by the shore of Lake Malawi, waiting for Mozambican soldiers to walk right into their trap.

The Songo garrison looked at the Portuguese who were still busy and ridiculed, “It’s getting dark, why haven’t the Portuguese attacked yet?”

“Is this what the Portuguese Royal Army is like? They plan to capture the Songo stronghold without any preparation, relying on willpower?”

The Mozambican vanguard was really too shabby. They didn’t have heavy weapons, and they didn’t even prepare siege equipment. They had to wait until they arrived at Songo to start making it. This made the Songo garrison, who had prepared for several days, feel very surprised. Did they really think they were here for a picnic?

“Company Commander, why don’t we take advantage of the present and open the door to kill them? The Portuguese black soldiers don’t seem to have any experience at all. What combat power does this kind of army have? And they have too few people.”

“I also want to solve these Portuguese people immediately, but the superior has issued an order, only allowing us to defend, not to attack.”

“Then we just wait for the Portuguese to attack, that’s too passive.”

“What’s passive about it? Now we have fortifications and cover. As long as Songo Fort is not lost, the initiative of the war is in our hands. Are you afraid that these few Portuguese troops can turn the world upside down?”

“Company Commander, our four machine guns can give the Portuguese a head-on blow and let them know that times have changed,” the machine gunner said.

The Songo stronghold originally had two machine guns. With the arrival of a company from the 512th Division, there were two more machine guns.

“Put all the machine guns away, don’t let the Portuguese see them! What if you scare the Portuguese? Absolutely cannot use them unless absolutely necessary.”

East Africa’s machine guns were popularized to lower-level units earlier than heavy artillery, so that even the company of the 512th Division used machine guns. If these four machine guns were used together, the Mozambican vanguard would not be enough to consume.

Therefore, in order to prevent the Portuguese from being frightened and not daring to increase their bets, the Songo stronghold had already removed the machine guns from the city wall before the Portuguese came.

“Our stage is prepared for the black soldiers behind. If the Portuguese are scared away, there will be no war to fight.”

Machine guns are used to deal with infantry, especially infantry without countermeasures, which is almost like cutting leeks. Therefore, the Portuguese must be given the illusion that the East African Army’s equipment is similar to theirs.

In fact, the two are still far apart. First of all, East Africa belongs to the defensive counter-offensive style of play, so it has an advantage in terrain. Secondly, the Mauser and Dreyse rifles equipped by the East African Army are a dimensional strike against the Mozambican colonial army, even if East Africa does not use heavy weapons.

After waiting all night, the Portuguese finally began to attack the Songo stronghold. As expected by the garrison, the weapons equipped by the Portuguese army were relatively backward, so they could barely compete with the Dreyse rifles at a four-six ratio, and were completely suppressed by the Mauser rifles.

Taking advantage of the city of Songo, high above, coupled with the range advantage, the Songo garrison completely suppressed the Portuguese army trying to charge.

Cree: “The Third Company continues to charge, get close to the Songo stronghold.”

However, because of the previous lesson, the black soldiers who were being driven forward, just after starting, carried the ladders and lay motionless on the ground. In addition, the East African gunfire continued, making Cree think they were dead. As a result, when the East African gunfire weakened slightly, these black soldiers lying on the ground jumped up and down and actually advanced a lot.

As a result, the East African commander ordered: “When you see the enemy lying down, don’t hesitate, give me two or three more shots.”

These feigning death tactics are only effective the first time. Later, the corpses lying on the ground may be shot again, which makes the Portuguese army’s black soldiers try to retreat.

Cree held a rifle and supervised the battle from the rear, saying: “Don’t stop, charge forward, those who retreat will die!”

As he spoke, he picked up his rifle and shot directly at the black soldiers who were trying to run away. For strongholds like Songo, one must succeed in one go, so the spread of fear of war cannot be allowed.

However, the black soldiers did not give Cree any face. The rhythm was disrupted, and the back became timid. Several tentative attacks failed, but nearly a hundred people had already been lost.

Cree had to order the attack to stop. He said to Rhodes: “We need heavy firepower, or the East Africans take the initiative to go out of the city to fight, otherwise there is no chance to break through Songo. Even if we can break through by luck, I am afraid our people will be wiped out.”

Chapter 492: Static Warfare

Klee had no way to deal with the Songo Fortress, because the entire Songo Fortress was like a turtle shell, and the East African Army was like a turtle retracting its head, refusing to come out and fight. The two sides were locked in a stalemate.

This made Klee, who had only fought prosperous battles in the French army before, very annoyed. He had never suffered such treatment before, but he resented the Portuguese in Mozambique even more. A colony was just a colony, unable to amount to anything.

The inexperienced Klee finally understood why colonial countries and regions were so vulnerable in the face of Westerners. It wasn’t just a matter of equipment; the people and the system were also a big problem.

The Portuguese were already so useless, yet they could still firmly control such a large area of land. One could imagine how weak the original indigenous regimes were.

However, the performance of the East African Army was indeed impressive, especially the level of the fortress and military equipment. Although it was also a colony, it was far superior to the Portuguese in front of him.

So Klee muttered to himself: colonies are also divided into different grades. The United States, which has become independent and developed rapidly, should belong to the first tier. After all, its size and economy make it a solid world power. India should belong to the second tier. Without India, the British would not have been able to suppress France. Similarly, Brazil also belongs to this level. Portugal, which lost Brazil, is no longer considered a powerful country in Klee’s eyes. Australia and Canada, including France’s own Algeria, should belong to the third tier. East Africa should also belong to this tier. As for the colonies that are just waiting to die, Cape Town can barely be counted, but Cape Town is suppressed by East Africa, so it cannot exert its full strength.

Klee’s classification standard was very interesting, because the United States, Brazil, and East Africa were already independent countries. Therefore, in Klee’s eyes, all regions outside of Europe were equated with colonies. This was the arrogance of old Europe.

Of course, if Ernst knew Klee’s thoughts, he would also agree. Although the three countries are already independent, they are not actually independent economically and still depend on old Europe for their livelihood. Only the United States and East Africa can watch themselves develop, but once they are expelled from the global community by old Europe, their development will be very unsatisfactory.

After two consecutive days of ineffective attacks, Klee was very depressed, but Rhodes watched the show from the sidelines without any concern.

Klee: “Captain, I’m afraid I can’t break through the Songo stronghold on my own. Do you have any good ideas?”

Rhodes: “What? Are we not fighting anymore! If you ask me, I would definitely let these blacks keep charging. We and the Germans keep consuming each other. Anyway, we don’t feel bad about the loss of blacks.”

Klee was speechless: “If our strength was ten times that of the enemy, it would be okay to play like this. Moreover, although black people’s lives are cheap, they cannot be wasted at will. You must know that it is not easy for us to train these black people with all our efforts. It is easy to send them to their deaths right away, but it will be difficult to replenish them later. We don’t have that much time to train another batch of black people.”

It seemed that in the eyes of the Portuguese, the black soldiers they had worked so hard to train were just cannon fodder, which made Klee a little discouraged.

Although there was no problem in saying that, in Klee’s view, the black people trained by the French were also high-level cannon fodder, and could not be compared with those who had not been trained. Wouldn’t that be denying the French training?

Rhodes didn’t care: “Anyway, we just need to have sufficient reasons. It is inherently difficult to take down the Songo Fortress without heavy weapons. Who knew that East Africa would build a turtle shell in this barren land? Without heavy weapons, we can only rely on human lives to fill it. Black people are inherently inferior. They can’t learn the skills of European soldiers. After all, there are many white people on the German side, so it is understandable that the war has been delayed to this point. It is also understandable that we can’t produce any results.”

Rhodes’s remarks were obviously intended to slack off, but on second thought, this Portuguese man, Rhodes, seemed to have been slacking off since the outbreak of the war.

Klee asked curiously: “Captain Rhodes, you are Portuguese, and Mozambique is your Portuguese colony. If this war fails and you lose Mozambique, aren’t you sad?”

Rhodes looked at Klee, who had always looked down on him, suddenly asking sincerely. He waved his hand and said, “What does that have to do with me? I was just a small security officer in Maputo before, doing the work of a policeman. I was suddenly promoted to an officer, so naturally I am not as professional as Mr. Klee, a professional soldier. Furthermore, being a soldier in Portugal is just a job for me. Since it is a job, it can be replaced. If Mozambique is lost, it is lost. I can just go to other places to find another job. I used to be a shoemaker in my hometown. I won’t starve to death with a craft. In fact, I haven’t earned much money in Mozambique compared to being a shoemaker before. I was just tricked into coming to Mozambique.”

Klee: “You should be able to be a landlord in Mozambique! Your land was all stolen from the black people. Even if you can’t be a big landlord, you should be able to be a small landlord.”

Rhodes: “What’s the use? As I said before, my family has been shoemakers for generations. I wouldn’t know how to farm anyway. Furthermore, can the land in Mozambique be compared to Europe? Where can the grain grown be sold? And I don’t have the capital or the technology to develop the land.”

Most of the land in Europe is developed and cultivated, while most of the land in Mozambique is raw. In the first two years, the harvest is good thanks to the natural fertility of the land formed over thousands of years, but it won’t work later. However, developing new land is quite difficult.

Moreover, Mozambique has a characteristic, that is, it has a long history and is almost one of the earliest African colonies. Therefore, most of the land in Mozambique is owned, especially after East Africa cut off Mozambique’s expansion path. In recent years, new immigrants to Mozambique have had no chance to get a piece of the pie.

Klee: “I heard that the wages in the colonies are relatively high. You shouldn’t be living so miserably, right?”

Rhodes: “Whether it’s miserable or not is not up to you to say, but up to the high-level officials in the colony. Although our income is higher, it’s not much higher than working in a factory in Europe. And don’t you spend money? The prices here are much more expensive than in Europe. Besides, earning money in the colony is also risking your life.”

Although Rhodes’s salary was just a few coins, the salaries of hundreds of thousands of Rhodes were very considerable. This money was also a major expense for the Mozambique colonial government. Therefore, going to the colony is to earn money, but some people also try to empty Rhodes’s wallet.

Of course, not everyone is like Rhodes, just waiting to die, but there are many who are similar to Rhodes, especially sailors, who are the most willing to spend money. The economic prosperity of the open areas of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa depends on the consumption of passing merchant ships and sailors. If the money is not spent, there may really be nowhere to spend it. After all, the sea is a dangerous place. In addition, sailors have a broader vision and more knowledge, so they are more open-minded. Money is just an external thing, so it is more practical to spend it.

After listening to Rhodes’s personal experience, Klee suddenly felt that this Portuguese man who had been a hindrance to him all the way was not so annoying.

Klee: “You’re right. Anyway, we have enough reasons to push the responsibility off, so let’s not do useless work. Let’s slowly wear down East Africa.”

Rhodes was very pleased that a young man had been brought onto the right path by him. What’s so good about fighting and killing?

So Portugal and East Africa started garbage time in Songo. The two sides tacitly fired two shots when nothing was happening, just two shots to make a sound. Later, the Portuguese saw that East Africa was really sitting still, just shrinking in the Songo Fortress, and simply stopped firing their guns, just staring at each other face to face, playing a game of static warfare.

However, the East African Army was not learning from the Portuguese to slack off, but was holding back anger in their hearts. If the commander hadn’t been suppressing them, they would have rushed out to wipe out the enemy long ago.

Chapter 493: Naval Showdown

While East Africa and Mozambique were engaged in preliminary skirmishes, the waters of the Western Indian Ocean were also far from calm. Although a tacit agreement among the four powers limited the outbreak of naval warfare, warships from various nations still converged in the area.

Primarily, Britain and France wanted to support Portugal. If a naval war truly erupted, the Portuguese navy would undoubtedly be crushed by East Africa’s.

As for the promise by both sides not to engage in naval warfare, that was hard to say if things got desperate. Britain and France had to monitor the East African navy, so they dispatched five ironclad warships to patrol the Western Indian Ocean.

Britain sent four of them in one go, and France contributed one. Of course, this number wasn’t much for Britain and France, but it did have a certain deterrent effect on East Africa. Sometimes, a great power only needs to show its hand.

“Portugal hasn’t added any new ships in recent years. The only ironclad warship was just commissioned, and they probably haven’t had time to train properly. The fleet in a remote colony like Mozambique uses outdated sailing warships. Although they have more ships than East Africa, their combat power is far inferior. It’s a matter of quality,” said Commodore Beron of the French Navy.

British Rear Admiral Frank stated, “That’s true, but the overall quality of Portuguese sailors should be better than East Africa’s. Many are veteran sailors who have spent years at sea. The East African navy has only been established for a few years, so they are definitely not as good as traditional maritime powers in this regard.”

This was the conclusion reached by Britain and France after observing the Portuguese and East African naval fleets. Although the Portuguese navy’s equipment was poor, they were indeed skilled in ship handling, and their experience in dealing with crises was certainly greater. However, the gap between ironclad warships and sailing warships was far too great to be bridged by personnel experience, so no one believed that the Portuguese navy was a match for the young East African navy.

From the 1830s onwards, when ironclad warships first appeared, they were often used as commerce raiders, but their initial and primary purpose was still to fight other ships of the same type. This continued until the arms race to build ironclad warships ended. Many countries used ironclad warships to protect large merchant fleets or control colonies far from their home countries, or perhaps both.

However, only the British and French navies could currently achieve this level. The other countries were barely managing. Russia and Austria-Hungary lacked the motivation to develop due to limitations in their sea areas. Germany had not yet embarked on a path of frenzied shipbuilding. The United States and the Far Eastern navy were about the same.

The current state of the United States Navy was so poor. The United States wouldn’t truly value naval development until after 1881. The current strength of the United States Navy was even inferior to that of the Far Eastern empire, and it was surpassed by small countries like Denmark and Chile.

In fact, the United States Navy had briefly exploded in strength during the Civil War. The North built ships on a large scale to blockade the South’s sea lanes, while the South engaged in armed smuggling to break the naval blockade. By the end of the war, the United States Navy had more than 700 sailing warships of various types and five ironclad warships, a top-tier asset.

However, this massive fleet disappeared with the end of the war. The Americans sold most of the 700 warships to merchants, who converted them into merchant ships. Although some ironclad warships and fast warships were retained during this disarmament, these warships were left to be gradually corroded by the passage of time due to a long-term lack of maintenance and upkeep.

This again cannot avoid the advantage of the United States’ geographical location. Without defense pressure, the United States did not have the motivation to develop its navy. Compared to the navy, the United States Army was even more pitiful, with only tens of thousands of soldiers.

So it’s understandable that the United States Army and Navy in its previous life always tried to get funding from Congress in various ways. They were too tight during peacetime.

In contrast to the United States’ path, East Africa, also a large country in terms of land area, had a much stronger sense of crisis than the United States, so the number of troops was always maintained at a relatively high level.

For example, in expanding its territory, the United States relied mainly on militias to exterminate Native Americans, while East Africa relied mainly on the army, supplemented by militias, to capture black people. Especially after the scale of the East African army reached a certain level, the reliance on militias became almost negligible.

Including East Africa’s industry, it also prioritized the development of military industry. The army and navy have achieved self-sufficiency in equipment to a certain extent, and the defense industry does not rely on others.

In recent years, the East African Navy has been relatively special, because East Africa’s shipbuilding industry cannot meet the needs of the local navy. It mainly purchases from Austria-Hungary, but as the technology of the Bagamoyo Shipyard matures, the East African Navy will soon transition to independent development.

Of course, the most important reason is that the current naval scale is completely sufficient, which is the real reason. If it were to develop vigorously again, the British would jump up and down.

Moreover, the technology of warships is also being upgraded quickly. During this special period, if East Africa purchases warships on a large scale, then at some point in the future, the East African Navy will have to retire this batch of warships at the same time. After all, the lifespan of ironclad warships is not very high. Perhaps these main naval warships will be replaced by the end of this century, so the current East African Navy can develop gradually.

Anyway, East Africa is currently focused on territorial defense and does not have much demand for sea power. Holding the home front is victory. Even so, East Africa is considered to be naturally gifted, and its naval development is rapid, but it is not much for East Africa’s territorial waters.

In response to the joint naval exercises of the British, French, and Portuguese navies, East Africa could not turn a deaf ear, and also held a joint maritime exercise with Austria-Hungary and Germany.

After all, at the Four-Power Conference, Austria-Hungary and Germany were biased towards East Africa, so as the big brothers, the navies of the two countries also had to support East Africa. East Africa dispatched five ironclad warships, Austria-Hungary two, and Germany one. Currently, the naval strength of the three countries is not very different. Austria-Hungary ranks first, East Africa second, and Germany third.

So the Prussian naval commander who came to East Africa for the exercise was quite embarrassed. According to the national strength of the three countries, it is obvious that Germany should rank first, but it is okay for Austria-Hungary to be strong, after all, Austria-Hungary has a first-mover advantage. As a result, the strength of the East African Navy is also stronger than that of the German Navy, which is unreasonable.

In fact, whether the German Navy can develop vigorously depends entirely on whether the current German government wants to invest in it. Obviously, Germany’s demand in this regard is still not high.

Spee said with some envy to his Austro-Hungarian and East African colleagues, “The empire still doesn’t pay enough attention to the navy, so much so that even East Africa has surpassed Germany. The status of the Imperial Navy is obviously not matched with Germany’s status.”

Austro-Hungarian Navy Vice Admiral Claire comforted him, “Actually, the Austro-Hungarian Navy is the most pitiful of the three. At least your development speed has been fast in recent years, and new warships are launched almost every year. The number of new ships in the Austro-Hungarian Navy is obviously not as good as yours.”

The words of the Austro-Hungarian and German navies made Archduke Ferdinand a little proud, but he also humbly expressed, “East Africa’s geographical location is very bad. Although the importance of the Western Indian Ocean route has declined due to the opening of the Suez Canal, it is still an area that navies of various countries need to pay attention to, and you have a terrain advantage. Our east is the ocean, so we face greater pressure from maritime threats.”

Archduke Ferdinand’s words were truly a humblebrag. The phrase “East Africa’s geographical location is bad” made people very unhappy. Is it more difficult than Germany and Austria being sandwiched in the middle of the European continent? And facing the ocean directly is an advantage for naval development.

But not all of your East African territory faces the ocean directly! For example, Pemba Island and Zanzibar Island, Mafia Island, the Comoros Islands, and a number of small islands and reefs can play a role in protecting the country. These are much stronger than Germany and Austria.

Chapter 494: False Intelligence

“The British and French navies haven’t made any unusual movements, but judging by the current atmosphere, they are indeed paying attention to developments in East Africa, even to the point of joining forces to support Portugal.”

“There’s nothing our navy can do to interfere in that regard. The final outcome will depend on how the land war in East Africa goes. But with British and French support, can East Africa really handle it?”

Facing his colleague’s question, Archduke Ferdinand smiled without saying a word. He didn’t answer the question, knowing that East Africa’s strongest force was their army.

……

The strongest army in Archduke Ferdinand’s opinion finally met up with the Mozambique army in Songo. The waiting game didn’t last long, because the main force of East Africa arrived ahead of schedule.

Just one day prior, the main force of East Africa arrived at the Songo fortress ahead of the main force of the Mozambique colonial army. The sudden arrival of tens of thousands of troops at the front lines was quite a commotion.

This greatly startled the Portuguese vanguard, who had still hoped to delay. Cree had assumed that his own army would arrive first no matter what, but East Africa completed its assembly first, which he found very puzzling.

He frowned and said, “East Africa’s response is so fast? Or did they already have a large-scale force nearby that could come and support us in time?”

Portugal had carefully planned this war for months, originally intending to create a breakthrough in the central region by surprise, but now that the main force of East Africa had arrived, this plan was likely to fall through.

However, Cree was completely baffled as to why the East African reinforcements arrived at the front line so quickly. After all, Cree couldn’t have clairvoyance to see the Central Railway operating in the East African rear.

Rhodes saw the sudden arrival of the East African troops and said nervously, “The enemy reinforcements have arrived. We must retreat quickly, otherwise Colonel Clement will only be collecting our corpses when he arrives later!”

With the situation stronger than any individual, Cree had to change his usual style and ordered the troops to retreat eastward towards Tete.

His stern face looked like it could squeeze out water as he said, “This is not a place to stay for long. Let’s join up with the main force first and see what Colonel Clement plans to do!”

Rhodes’ unit, which had been as slow as a turtle when advancing, turned out to be good at running away, retreating more than forty kilometers in one day, and running head-on into the main force led by Clement.

“Why are you back? Was the Songo stronghold taken? I didn’t order you to retreat, did I? Cree, explain to me what exactly is going on?” Clement questioned sternly.

There was only one reason for the vanguard to retreat, and that was that the battle was unfavorable, leading to failure. However, Clement still held a glimmer of hope, after all, Songo was just a small stronghold, it shouldn’t be impossible to take it down!

Cree looked at Clement somewhat awkwardly, and said with a forced smile, “Sir! The Songo stronghold is not a small stronghold at all. Its area is not much smaller than Tete, and its defense facilities are obviously more complete than Tete. The most hateful thing is that Songo stronghold does not have only two or three hundred people as the Portuguese merchants said, but at least five hundred or more. It is impossible to break through Songo stronghold without heavy firepower weapons. We were deceived by false intelligence.”

What Cree said was the truth, but Clement didn’t completely believe it. He continued to ask, “What does this have to do with your sudden retreat? I wouldn’t blame you for not being able to capture the Songo stronghold in a short time, but you could have stayed in place and waited for us to arrive to solve the problem. Why did you run away? And judging from the situation of your troops, you haven’t suffered many casualties?”

Rhodes complained, “General Clement, if we didn’t run away, I’m afraid all these brothers would have been lost in the Songo stronghold.”

Clement was a little disbelieving, “Even if, as you said, East Africa has at least five hundred people in the Songo stronghold, it shouldn’t have made you retreat, right?”

Cree: “Sir, the main force of East Africa arrived at the Songo stronghold ahead of schedule, so I had to order the troops to retreat.”

“Reinforcements?” Hearing this news, Clement was a little uneasy. He asked anxiously, “How many troops did East Africa send? Are they all gathered at the Songo fortress?”

Like Cree, Clement immediately thought about the question of why the East African reinforcements arrived at the front line so quickly.

Then he heard Cree say, “Judging from the noise, the East African reinforcements are at least ten thousand strong, and the Songo stronghold may not even be able to hold them all, so this subordinate is incompetent and can only run away with the troops first.”

Clement saw that what Cree said didn’t seem like a lie, so he said, “Alright, if what you said is true, then it’s still excusable. I’ll spare your unit from punishment this time, but next time, don’t move easily without my orders. Before I give the order, you are not allowed to surrender or retreat, even if you have to fight to the last man.”

……

While Portugal was encountering trouble, the East African side was also a little overwhelmed. The carrying capacity of the Songo stronghold was not strong, and it could only accommodate a thousand people at most. As a result, East Africa directly transported more than thirty thousand people from the rear, which greatly exceeded the limit of the Songo stronghold.

Merkel: “We are new here, so it’s better to be cautious. After all, black people make up the majority of the troops, and I’m afraid they won’t be able to keep up with the pace, so we must first let them adapt to the unfamiliar environment, and we can’t let them drag our own people down.”

This was also one of the reasons why the main force of East Africa did not immediately annihilate the Portuguese vanguard after arriving at the front line. Through several months of training, East Africa also knew the details of the Black Legion. Their organizational ability was too different from that of the East African Army. Especially when tens of thousands of black people were gathered together, the overall coordination was even more difficult, or more accurately, it was a disaster.

In fact, before the battle even broke out, the Black Legion was already in chaos. The entire camp became a marketplace like the one outside Tete before. If a war broke out, there would be even less order, and some Black Legion soldiers might even defect and run away.

However, the East African blacks were still more efficient than the Portuguese black troops. After all, East Africa often organized black slaves to participate in production activities and engineering construction, so even if they couldn’t be incorporated into the army to strictly enforce orders and prohibitions, they could still maintain an overall formation without dispersing.

As for why these black people, who usually had some order, tended to collapse when they arrived at the Songo stronghold, like the Portuguese troops, the East African Black Legion had not experienced large-scale forced march training. Therefore, the black legion that had just arrived at the Songo stronghold looked exhausted, with all kinds of postures, and was very tired.

Therefore, the Black Legion, which had consumed a lot of physical strength and energy, was naturally not as comfortable as it was during the usual low-intensity training. This also shows that East Africa had no intention of training them into qualified soldiers at all. Looking at the East African regular army, they were still very energetic and disciplined when they arrived at the Songo stronghold with these black people. After all, long-distance training is a necessary training subject.

Merkel continued, “Prepare the machine guns first. If any black soldiers dare to retreat during combat, let them know the consequences.”

Machine guns are indeed a good thing, but this war is mainly about using black people and Mozambique to wear each other down, so the main role of East Africa’s machine guns is actually to deal with the black legion in their hands. They only need to rush forward without thinking after the front-line commander gives the order. Retreating means first eating the bullets of the East African Army. As for casualties, that is not within the scope of East Africa’s consideration, it is just a string of cold numbers for East Africa.

Chapter 495: Preparing a Counterattack

Having those two old foxes, England and France, watching him did put some pressure on Ernst. However, East Africa’s strength lay in having Germany and Austria as its big brothers, so England and France couldn’t go too far. Of course, relying on others was not as good as relying on oneself. Germany and Austria favoring East Africa was a matter of goodwill. If East Africa couldn’t stand on its own two feet, then everything would be in vain. So, in the final analysis, strength spoke volumes.

However, East Africa actually entered the international community’s view because of this war. Although East Africa had existed for over a decade, it had always acted in a low-key manner, like an invisible person.

This time, England and France’s targeting, coupled with East Africa’s one-on-one fight with Portugal, suddenly shifted the attention of other countries in the world to Africa.

As the popularity suddenly increased, everyone suddenly discovered that there were quite a few countries eyeing Africa. In addition to the naturally gifted East Africa, even small countries like Italy and Belgium had their own colonies in Africa.

Poor Italy, a great power in its previous life, was tricked by Ernst into becoming a small regional country on the Apennine Peninsula in this life. However, East Africa and Italy actually had a good relationship.

This was all thanks to East Africa’s assistance in Italy’s colonial endeavors in the Abyssinian Empire. After all, Italy, like the von Hechingen royal family back then, was also engaging in colonial undertakings for the first time, so it lacked experience.

And the Abyssinian Empire was not a small country. Although East Africa looked down on it, the Abyssinian Empire’s size in the world was not small. It had a population of ten million and a long history, but like the Far East and the Ottomans, it had declined in modern times.

Ernst kept the Abyssinian Empire because the Abyssinian Empire’s skin color was lighter than that of sub-Saharan Africa, which he could barely accept. Moreover, annexing the Abyssinian Empire was not easy. East Africa had over ten million square kilometers of land, with nearly thirty million natives. Even with more than twenty million given away or half-sold over a dozen years, the Abyssinian Empire alone had a population of over ten million. Moreover, Abyssinia was not a cultural desert; it had its own culture and history and frequent foreign exchanges. East Africa could not possibly replicate the methods used against purely black people on the Abyssinian Empire.

The most important point was that after the Abyssinian Empire was defeated by the British in the last war, it became a British protectorate. The new emperor was supported by the British. In short, attacking the Abyssinian Empire was a thankless task.

But Italy was different. Italy was actually pro-British. After the Italo-Austrian War, it was caught between Austria and France, and a large part of its territory was lost, so it could only return to the embrace of its British daddy.

Then Italy colonized the Abyssinian Empire, and since both were pro-British countries, Britain did not interfere. After all, Italy’s importance and closeness were higher than that of the Abyssinian Empire.

However, the abandoned Abyssinian Empire also lived up to expectations. Its relationship with Britain was not close to begin with. Last time, when it became a British protectorate, it was forced to be a son. Britain fought a battle and left, so it still had autonomy.

Britain chose to watch coldly, so Abyssinia chose to develop relations with East Africa and Egypt to obtain support. Although Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire were age-old enemies, Egypt did not want to see the Abyssinian Empire occupied by Italy, an outsider. In the eyes of the Egyptians, the threat of European countries was far greater than that of the Abyssinian Empire.

As for East Africa, it naturally played both sides, discussing arms trade with the Abyssinian Empire and grain trade with Italy. Of course, the weapons sold to the Abyssinian Empire were not considered advanced.

However, with the support of East Africa and Egypt, the Abyssinian Empire stubbornly resisted the attack of Italy, an industrial country, and a stalemate formed between the two sides on the Northern Ethiopian Plateau.

Italy and Belgium had quietly occupied colonies in Africa, and other countries also had ideas. For example, the Kingdom of Naples had designs on Libya, and Germany had also established colonial strongholds in Central and West Africa, but with France causing trouble, Germany’s colonial endeavors were not smooth.

Traditional colonial powers such as the Netherlands and Spain also began to defend their colonies strictly. Through the East African-Portuguese War, these old colonial powers quickly realized that a new round of colonial fever had arrived.

The Netherlands’ colonies were mainly in the East Indies and South America. Facing competition from countries such as England, France, Portugal, and Spain, Spain had to deal with competition from the United States and other countries. However, Spain was large and could still put on a brave face. It had great value in attracting allies. England, France, Germany, Austria, and other countries had good relations with Spain, only the United States was still harboring evil intentions, but it did not dare to act rashly.

Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula was tragic. With East Africa as its neighbor, it was destined to have a bad time. Moreover, Portugal’s own strength was not good, and its colonies were even less valued by East Africa.

Constantine rarely came to see the progress of the war. Constantine had been busy with water conservancy construction recently, so he did not know much about the progress of the war. The East African-Portuguese War did not affect Constantine’s enthusiasm for farming, because he knew that East Africa’s strength could not be shaken by a weak country like Portugal.

Constantine: “What is the war situation now? Has the Portuguese offensive direction been determined?”

Ernst: “Father, you’re here. I have been paying attention to the war situation. The Portuguese offensive focus has been figured out by us. Their troops are mainly concentrated in Lake Malawi and the Zambezi River basin. It seems they want to cut off our connection with the interior.”

Constantine stared at the map and frowned, saying: “The area between Lake Malawi and Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika) is indeed a weak point. Are you confident in defending it?”

Ernst: “Don’t worry, Father. The troops we have deployed here are the kingdom’s elite. Lake Malawi is also under our control. If the Portuguese want to get here, they must advance from the west bank of Lake Malawi. We have deployed heavy troops there, plus the terrain advantage, we guarantee that not even a fly can fly over.”

“Well, but you can’t be careless. By the way, you just said that the Portuguese also have a route heading for the Zambezi River. There’s no carelessness there, right?” Constantine reminded.

“As early as when the Portuguese arrived in Tete, we obtained intelligence. With the help of the Central Railway, our troops have already arrived at the front line of the Songo stronghold and are resting there now. The subsequent war results will depend on the feedback from the front line.”

“Will there be any impact if it fails?” Constantine asked.

“It’s okay. Our first wave of troops mainly consists of black people. Even if they don’t fight well, our regular troops can make up for it in time. The 512th Division is already on standby in the rear and can take over the battlefield at any time.”

Constantine: “You’re really using the black legion as cannon fodder?”

Ernst said lightly: “As long as they can be used to consume the Portuguese, I don’t have high expectations or requirements for them. Now that all the troops have arrived at the front line, we can start pushing the war forward according to our rhythm at any time.”

Having determined the Portuguese’s offensive direction and thinking, East Africa could also launch a counterattack against the Portuguese.

“Now it can be determined that the Portuguese’s preparations south of the Rovuma River are very lax. We use the black people to hold back the main Portuguese force in the northwest direction, and the troops on the Rovuma River line can now go south.”

Ernst had long wanted to get rid of the temporary border line of the Rovuma River. Seeing the Portuguese’s posture, it seemed that they also planned to abandon this place. So, taking advantage of this war, Ernst planned to completely take down northern Mozambique, including the coast of Lake Malawi, so that East Africa could exclusively enjoy the three great lakes.

Chapter 496: Engagement

With the East African Central Government issuing orders, the East African border troops also began to stir. The Zambezi River basin became the first battlefield to erupt.

Inside the Songwe stronghold, Merkel said to a group of East African army generals, “The Portuguese arrived yesterday. They are stationed one kilometer outside the Songwe stronghold and seem to be planning to engage us in the open.”

However, Merkel was wrong. Because the offensive and defensive positions had shifted, the Portuguese side, especially the French commander Clément, was actually unwilling to continue taking the initiative to attack.

After the Songwe stronghold received a large number of reinforcements, Clément knew that the chance of capturing the Songwe stronghold was slim. If they could not capture the Songwe stronghold, they would not be able to successfully occupy the south bank of the Zambezi River as planned.

However, Clément could not easily let the troops retreat or be transferred back to Tete, in case East Africa took the opportunity to pursue them, which would be disastrous.

So Clément said to the Portuguese generals, “We can’t go back. Frankly speaking, every city in Mozambique is very important, such as Tete. It is the only Portuguese immigrant settlement within two hundred kilometers. Of course, it would be great if we prioritized saving Tete, but that would mean losing most of the territory to the west.”

“So what do we do now?” someone asked.

Clément: “We must use the narrow passages of the western plateau to block the East Africans in the western section of the plateau. This will also prevent them from crossing our line of sight and attacking the Portuguese rear.”

The Portuguese chose this option out of desperation. The advance troops led by Rhodes and Cree failed to remove the nail in the coffin that was the Songwe stronghold, resulting in the loss of the initiative on the battlefield. The Portuguese army could only build temporary fortifications, and in order to prevent the East African army from attacking, they had to build the camp two and a half miles away.

However, the temporary fortifications were definitely not as good as the Songwe stronghold, which had been built by East Africa for several years. They were too rushed, and they did not even collect enough stone materials. The defensive capabilities were definitely not very good, but it was better than nothing.

Clément: “I know you have concerns. We are not going to fight East Africa head-on. We are just trying to see if we can delay East Africa. If it is impossible, we will retreat to Tete.”

When the Mozambican army was in action, East Africa gave the black troops a final education to prevent them from making mistakes, but it was impossible not to make mistakes.

“Line up in the way you were taught during training. Line up in three rows. Don’t stand around randomly, and don’t leave too much space in the middle.”

Because of the black people’s queuing problems, soldiers from the 512th Division had to personally correct the black people’s mistakes. Although they had received intensive training in South Salzburg Province, many black people had forgotten the combat skills taught by East Africa.

In fact, East Africa’s teaching of these black legions in South Salzburg Province was half-baked, probably due to language communication barriers, so the training always had many loopholes.

This required experienced East African soldiers to correct them. As for why they were experienced, it was because the regular army had completely said goodbye to flintlock guns, especially the new recruits, who probably had never even seen them. Therefore, the black legions equipped with a large number of old-fashioned firearms had to be educated by those veteran soldiers.

“Advance slowly, don’t run, and don’t be too slow. Don’t look back when facing the enemy, otherwise our machine guns won’t be merciful.”

…

While the reinforcements supporting the Songwe stronghold were resting, Clément led the team back to the front of the Songwe stronghold. Clément was now in a dilemma. East Africa’s troop deployment had been completed, and his plan had failed, but he could not retreat.

Clément: “Let’s have a go with East Africa. I believe that after destroying these East African reinforcements and the Songwe stronghold, East Africa should not have any troops in the interior to hinder our plan.”

In the end, Clément was still unwilling to give up and wanted to give it a try. In his opinion, the number of defenders in the Songwe stronghold had reached a level similar to his own, so Clément believed that East Africa should not be able to produce more troops.

Without further ado, let’s get started. This time, East Africa took the initiative to launch a tentative attack. The East African black legion was at the forefront. It must be said that the pre-war corrections prevented the black legion from becoming chaotic and steadily approached. Because of the weapons, the volley fire tactics reappeared on the African continent.

Under the command of white officers, the black troops lined up in three rows and opened fire on the Mozambican army in an orderly manner, but the error was quite large. After one round, few Mozambican soldiers fell to the ground.

Seeing this scene, Clément and others discovered that the weapons and equipment used by the East African black legion were somewhat backward, which greatly relieved Clément. He had always heard that there were no black people in the East African army. Now it seems that it was a complete lie. There were tens of thousands of East African black people in front of him. Therefore, East Africa was no different from other colonies and still needed running dogs.

Clément: “The Songwe stronghold cannot accommodate so many troops, so they must also fight outside the city. This is our chance.”

Courtesy demands reciprocity. East Africa took the lead in opening fire, and Mozambique could not stand idly by. The black soldiers on both sides began to shoot at each other, but compared to the East African side, the Portuguese black soldiers were more organized in combat.

“The East African rifles don’t shoot far. They are still using primitive muzzle-loading flintlock guns.” The Portuguese officers were delighted to discover that Portugal had a great advantage in this regard, but East Africa had more ammunition.

“Let the cavalry squadron come out from the rear and put some pressure on the Portuguese from the flanks!” Seeing that the black legion was somewhat颓势, the commander of the 512th Division, who was watching the battle from the Songwe stronghold, ordered.

…

The same situation was staged on the east bank of Lake Malawi and the Zambezi River basin. Two main forces of Mozambique were held back by East Africa using black troops.

The two sides had their own victories and losses in the two places, but they all completed the engagement through black troops. The East African army did not actually join the battle, but watched the show from the rear.

However, the East African army did have a big move in the north. On the Ruvuma River, hundreds of small boats of East Africa, carrying East African soldiers, began to cross the river. As in the previous case, there was no development on the south bank of the river, so it was still wilderness dotted with large and small tribes.

“Now our brigade is divided into three directions, and we will go deep into the interior of Mozambique. The enemy does not have a large-scale army deployment in this area, so they are more likely to play tricks on us. The terrain here is complex and the vegetation is dense. Be prepared to deal with attacks from small enemy units.”

East Africa’s tactical arrangement for this kind of sparsely populated area suitable for guerrilla warfare is to be steady and step-by-step. At the same time, this is the area that East Africa is focusing on, so it cannot capsize in the gutter.

Ernst was very worried about guerrilla tactics, so he has been letting the East African army study this aspect of tactics to prevent being defeated by guerrilla warfare.

However, it did have results. Portugal had a total of more than three hundred armed men in the north, which was insignificant to East Africa, but the local black tribes were quite unfriendly to the East African invasion.

Because many East African natives fled into northern Mozambique in those years, East Africa was notorious in the area, so the black tribes resisted desperately, which did cause a lot of trouble for the East African army.

To this end, East Africa carried out a massacre in the area, and did not show mercy to the indigenous tribes that participated in the resistance. Those who did not participate were driven to the south, and a large number of indigenous tribes fled into southern Mozambique.

Chapter 497: Preparing to Mediate

Just as Ernst thought, the Portuguese army was bogged down in three directions, with East Africa unscrupulously swallowing Mozambican territory in the north.

At this point, the Portuguese felt something was amiss. Their forces were not small this time, yet East Africa could still spare troops to deal with them from different directions. The British and French thought the same, so how many troops did East Africa actually have?

Due to the outbreak of the East African-Portuguese War, East Africa had gradually expanded its army to more than three hundred thousand, of which more than seventy thousand were black soldiers.

Because East Africa deliberately sent the black legions to their deaths, the black legions did not fight very hard. Those who shared the same attitude were the black soldiers in the opposing Mozambican army, so these two groups of slackers actually fought to a standstill.

Clément was extremely irritable: “These idiots, they can’t beat East Africa even with weapons more advanced than theirs?”

He could also see that the black soldiers were slacking off. East Africa didn’t care about the black soldiers slacking off, but Clément did, because apart from the black army, Mozambique had no other forces to rely on, unless Portugal transferred troops from the mainland. But if Portugal had that ability, East Africa wouldn’t exist in the first place.

While Mozambique was gradually being nibbled away by East Africa, the western front was also not peaceful. Like Mozambique, Angola also joined the war against East Africa.

But Angola was not as lucky as Mozambique, because it encountered East Africa’s regular army, the 411th and 412th Divisions.

So, unlike the eastern front where both sides were just shooting, the two East African infantry divisions showed the Angolan colony what modern warfare was like.

The Mauser rifles were more advanced than the rifles that Britain and France supported Portugal with, and the two infantry divisions spent artillery, machine guns, and grenades lavishly on the Portuguese.

Therefore, after the Angolan army, supported by Britain and France, entered East Africa, they were immediately stunned. Was this the level of an African country? They don’t play fair!

“How is our communication with the mainland? Have they replied?” the Governor-General of Angola roared.

“Your Excellency, as far as I know, the Germans are probably heading towards Luanda. It’s too late for us to ask the mainland for help now!”

“Damn it, is Mozambique their only beloved son? Angola is clearly much more important to the mainland than Mozambique.”

It wasn’t that the Portuguese mainland was slow to reply, but rather that the west coast of Africa was too backward and still relied on ships to send letters. On the east coast, because East Africa had laid submarine cables, messages could be sent directly back to Europe. Foreigners could also pay to use this line in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Therefore, although East Africa was at war with Mozambique, Mozambique could also use East Africa’s telegrams to contact the Portuguese mainland and report the battle situation to Portugal at any time.

Mozambique was now in a defensive state, but the messages they sent to the mainland were mostly boastful, with a sense of being in control. Perhaps they had slowly regained their confidence from fighting too many battles with the black legions.

The East African black legion and the Mozambican army were equally useless, but the casualty rate of the East African black legion was higher than that of the Mozambican army.

Angola, on the other hand, encountered the East African regular army as soon as they came up, so their treatment was different. The East African army entered as if there was no one there.

The British and French did not pay as much attention to Angola as they did to Mozambique, for some unknown reason. However, one thing was certain, and that was that the British were definitely doing it on purpose.

The French probably felt that they were stronger in West Africa, while the core of East Africa was in East Africa, so weakening East Africa was France’s goal. As for Southwest Africa on the west coast, it held no attraction for the French at all. Of course, this was due to the deceptive nature of East Africa’s former name.

The actual land area of East Africa had broken through the regional limitations of East Africa. South Africa, Central Africa, and Southwest Africa all had a bit of it. East Africa was not exclusively occupied by East Africa. There were still several forces in the northeast, and as for the southeast, only Mozambique remained as an eyesore.

In the past, Mozambique could help East Africa conceal its inland expansion, but since East Africa broke through to the west coast, the approximate territorial scope of East Africa was no longer a secret, so keeping Mozambique was of no value at all.

However, the British naturally knew how much East Africa disliked Mozambique, so they wanted to keep Mozambique as a fishbone stuck in East Africa’s throat.

The reason why Britain and France valued Mozambique was ultimately because Mozambique had a great restraining effect on East Africa, while Angola in the west was not capable of that. East Africa’s economic center was distributed in the east, so Britain and France believed that even if Angola occupied East Africa’s western territory, it would not weaken East Africa’s strength.

Therefore, East Africa was not polite to Angola at all, and the difference in treatment was obvious. If the Governor-General of Angola knew that he was being targeted for this reason, he would probably be angered to death.

Just as the Governor-General of Angola was feeling depressed, he suddenly heard gunshots outside the city. He quickly asked: “What’s going on?”

“Reporting to the Governor-General, the Germans are attacking. What should we do now?”

“First, hold Luanda and don’t let the Germans enter the city. Prepare ships, we’re heading north!”

With the cooperation of the two East African army divisions, Luanda, the capital of Angola, was captured that day. In fact, as the political center of Angola, Luanda’s defense should have been good, but Luanda, as a coastal fortress, made a fatal mistake, that was, for a long time, their enemies had come from the Atlantic Ocean, so artillery and other things were concentrated in the western coastal area, but the east of the city lacked defensive measures. After all, the era when inland natives held spears and bows and arrows was over. Now, eastern Angola was occupied by Germans, not primitive people.

The occupation of Luanda meant that the Angolan colony was basically finished, but the Governor-General of Angola had already escaped by boat to Cabinda to continue resisting.

The loss of the Angolan colony was a major blow to Portugal. Mozambique’s situation was slightly better.

After East Africa occupied northern Mozambique, the Portuguese army was sandwiched between Lake Malawi and the Tete region by East African troops.

However, Mozambique had expected this, because they had voluntarily abandoned the northern region. Although Mozambique was not as large as East Africa, it still had more than six hundred thousand square kilometers, while Portugal’s mainland only had about ninety thousand square kilometers.

Therefore, Mozambique was also sparsely populated, with even fewer white people, and the undeveloped northern region was basically a blank slate. If East Africa hadn’t risen in those years, Mozambique wouldn’t even have wanted to send that army of more than three hundred people to the north.

So now that East Africa occupied the north, the Portuguese had thought of this before the war, and they didn’t feel much about it.

However, the problem that the Mozambican government was more anxious about now was that the number of troops was too small. East Africa was putting pressure on Mozambique from all directions, and even the troops in South Africa had begun to mobilize, which made Governor-General Leford very worried.

Portugal definitely couldn’t win, but the British weren’t worried at all. Instead, they began to summarize East Africa’s strength.

“We still underestimated East Africa’s strength. So far, we can confirm that East Africa’s participation in the war is at least seventy thousand, and it is possible that East Africa mobilized nearly one hundred thousand troops for this war. This data is twice as much as the last time East Africa invaded South Africa, and we have also observed that the East African army is not all white and yellow people, but also has many black people.”

“If we add the western front, they will definitely have to fight Angola, then the number of East African troops participating in the battle will definitely exceed one hundred thousand.”

“If we want Cape Town to expand northward, we need at least one hundred thousand or more combat troops. This is not difficult, but I don’t know which has higher combat effectiveness, Indians or Africans.”

“Let’s mediate the war first! Portugal is doomed to lose. We must protect Portugal’s strength in Africa. If East Africa really swallows Angola and Mozambique, the price we pay to negotiate with the Germans to spit it out will be much higher.”

Chapter 498: Peace Talks

“Mediation?” Ernst was only slightly surprised, but immediately said, as expected, “Things are developing pretty much as we anticipated. It’s just that the war situation isn’t even clear yet, and the British are already getting restless.”

Constantine asked with some concern, “Are we really going to make peace with Portugal?”

In Constantine’s view, Angola and Mozambique were already meat at their lips. It would be too painful to spit them out at this point.

Ernst knew what Constantine was thinking. He himself wanted to swallow Portugal’s two colonies in one gulp, but now was clearly not the time.

“We definitely won’t be able to swallow Portugal’s two colonies in one go this time. If it were just a dispute between us and Portugal, that would naturally be fine, but this war is actually about the conflict between us and Britain. So, the British will definitely protect Portugal’s two colonies. They need to use the Portuguese to contain East Africa’s development.”

When Constantine heard his son say this, he understood the logic behind the issue, but he was indeed a little unwilling. “We can’t let the Portuguese off this time. We have to make them bleed heavily, so that other countries know that there are consequences for provoking us, even if the British are backing them.”

Ernst agreed with this. The British wanted to stop the war at this time, which was fine with East Africa, but if the Portuguese didn’t give him satisfactory compensation, things wouldn’t just go according to what the British said.

“From both colonies, we’ll at least carve off a large piece of land, and we can’t favor one over the other, so that East African territory looks more balanced.” Ernst was determined to discipline Portugal.

…

Soon, East Africa agreed to the war mediation, which surprised the British. Being accustomed to being domineering, according to British thinking, they would definitely state their conditions first and then accept mediation. As the dominant party, didn’t East Africa have its own demands?

That was naturally impossible. It was just that the initiative was in East Africa’s hands. Whether or not to stop the war completely depended on East Africa’s wishes. What couldn’t be obtained on the battlefield shouldn’t even be thought about at the negotiating table. So, East Africa was prepared to state its conditions during the negotiations, a completely confident display.

Soon, East Africa and Portugal, under the supervision of Britain, France, Germany, and Austria, began negotiations in Dar es Salaam.

The negotiation venue was the former Zanzibar Palace, but it had long been transformed into a place for Dar es Salaam to receive foreign guests.

“We want all of Angola and half of Mozambique!” East African Army Chief of Staff, Swet, immediately gave Portugal a stern warning.

In fact, according to East Africa’s war progress, most of Angola was still in Portuguese hands, but important areas, including the capital Luanda, had fallen into East African hands. Apart from Cabinda, the rest were mostly Portuguese plantation owners and mine owners in Angola. These remaining forces were completely insignificant in East Africa’s eyes. After all, the Angolan government had fled to Cabinda, so these civilian forces couldn’t possibly compete with East Africa.

“General Swet, you East Africans are going too far. We cannot agree to your East African conditions. Angola is an inseparable part of the Kingdom of Portugal,” Portuguese representative, Yadis, protested.

In his view, East Africa’s demands were completely unacceptable. Angola and Mozambique could be said to be the two most important of Portugal’s current colonies, and they were indispensable. East Africa came up and wanted to seize Angola and half of Mozambique. How could Portugal bear it?

British representative, Hull, also sided with Portugal at this time, saying, “East Africa’s demands are indeed excessive. The war has not ended, and the outcome is still uncertain. Perhaps the Portuguese can turn defeat into victory.”

The representatives of the countries participating in the negotiations had a new understanding of the shamelessness of the British. Portugal was half-dead. Still thinking of turning the tables? Unless Napoleon was reincarnated.

Swet ignored Hull’s shameless remarks and said, “The strength of East Africa is actually very clear to everyone present. If we want to erase Portugal’s two colonies from the map by force, it’s only a matter of time. Being able to participate in negotiations is only for the sake of the international community.”

Without British and French interference, East Africa would not be in the mood to play this game with Portugal. It would have sent regular troops to take the two colonies in one fell swoop long ago.

Hull said, “Although Angola and Mozambique were wrong first, they shouldn’t be treated so harshly. The two sides should best return to the pre-war state!”

What a load of bull! Swet said with a smile, “If you make a mistake, you have to bear the consequences. What’s more, the Portuguese clearly had premeditated designs on East African territory. This time, the Portuguese army has clearly exceeded its capacity. As far as I know, the Mozambique army used to have only a few thousand people at most, but before this war, it suddenly expanded to a scale of sixty to seventy thousand. It is obvious that it has received assistance from foreign forces.”

Swet’s meaningful words made Britain and France lose face. Weren’t foreign forces referring to them?

However, Britain and France had thick skins. They would not say that they interfered in the East African-Portuguese war. Hull said, “Portugal is, after all, an old power, and it still has strength. As for the Portuguese colonies strengthening their armed forces, it is completely understandable. After all, someone next door is eyeing Portugal’s two colonies.”

Hearing Hull’s words, the corners of Swet’s mouth twitched. East Africa did have ill intentions towards Portugal’s two colonies, but this war was not provoked by East Africa. Instead, Mozambique handed the excuse for war to East Africa.

“East Africa is a peace-loving country. We have always developed friendly relations with neighboring countries. However, this time, Portugal provoked us first, and some countries launched wars without declaring them, which is not worthy of the label of civilized countries at all. This kind of behavior will only be ridiculed.”

Swet’s words made the Portuguese representative very embarrassed, but Portugal was indeed embarrassing this time. The sneak attack didn’t even beat East Africa. If this war wasn’t handled well, Portugal would probably replace Italy as the new joke in the international community.

Yadis said, “We were indeed wrong in this war, but it was all a misunderstanding…” Yadis didn’t know how to continue making up the story, so he could only use misunderstanding to cover up his embarrassment.

“Okay, everyone takes a step back this time. Portugal made a mistake first, so of course it should be punished, but it shouldn’t be too harsh on Portugal. Everyone combines their opinions and then decides on the compensation.” The French acted as peacemakers.

The German and Austrian representatives naturally spoke for East Africa, believing that Portugal should bear the consequences for its mistakes. Otherwise, where would international justice be? East Africa didn’t know if there was national justice, but if the strength was strong enough, then what was said was naturally international justice.

Finally, after several rounds of bargaining, East Africa received the following compensation: one-third of the territory in southern Angola and the land north of the Zambezi River in Mozambique.

Although Britain and France wanted to preserve Portugal’s two colonies, Portugal fought too badly in this war, so that Britain and France had no way to negotiate with the Germans.

Moreover, during the negotiations, East Africa launched several large-scale war operations, constantly putting pressure on Portugal, which made Portugal very uncomfortable. In the end, it had to cede land for peace. Otherwise, the two colonies might really become history.

Losing so much territory, Portugal’s heart was bleeding, and it hated East Africa even more. Although Portugal provoked first this time, it stood more firmly on the British side.

Chapter 499: A Rush to Establish Diplomatic Relations

“The East Portuguese War ended so anticlimactically, which fully demonstrates that Portugal is simply not in the same league as East Africa. This is like Mexico in relation to the United States. We can see that a regional hegemonic nation, similar to the United States in North America, is rapidly rising in Africa. If no one curbs the development of East Africa, then Africa will become Africa for Africans.” - The Times

Regarding the statement “Africa for Africans,” a reporter from The Sun conducted an exclusive interview with Will, the East African ambassador to Germany.

“Ambassador Will, recently The Times commented that Africa will become Africa for Africans. Is this ‘Africans’ referring to East Africa?”

Will: “We object to this statement. East Africa has never said anything like ‘Africa is for Africans.’ In fact, we can see that East Africa’s influence in Africa is limited to itself. North Africa is the traditional sphere of influence of the Arabs, the most influential country in West Africa is France, and Britain’s strength in South Africa is also considerable. In addition, countries such as Spain, Italy, and Belgium are all involved in Africa. This shows that Africa is currently diverse, not ‘Africa for Africans’ as some people say. I would like to ask, who are the Africans? Who represents the Africans? Germany cannot, France cannot, and the Arabs cannot. Therefore, ‘Africa for Africans’ is just an empty anxiety.”

Will’s interview received widespread attention in Europe because East Africa had previously maintained a very low profile in Europe. However, the East Portuguese War was the first time that the entire European society became interested in East Africa as an African nation.

The old colonial power Portugal lost face this time, and the Portuguese domestic public opinion’s criticism of East Africa and the current government was quite sharp.

As if to cooperate with The Times, the mainstream Portuguese media portrayed East Africa as the biggest threat to Africa.

After all, Portugal lost a lot of face this time. Portugal was heartbroken by Brazil’s independence. In the past, Portugal could understand failing to compete with Spain, the Netherlands, and Britain, but being defeated by an African country and ceding territory for peace was simply a great humiliation.

The current Portuguese government fell as a result, and the new prime minister emphasized that he would recover the lost territory through various means and announced sanctions against East Africa.

The more Portugal jumped, the less East Africa took Portugal seriously. Sanction East Africa? Simply laughable. While East Africa treated Portugal as a clown, other countries began to delve into the reasons behind Portugal’s embarrassment.

What followed was an assessment of East Africa’s national strength. Because East Africa practiced isolationism, the East African navy was the most direct manifestation of East Africa’s national strength on the surface.

Then everyone was surprised to find that the East African navy had unknowingly risen to seventh place in the world, only behind the Austro-Hungarian Empire and above Germany. The army could only be guessed by various countries, but according to the East Portuguese War, it could be inferred that East Africa had at least two hundred thousand troops.

Therefore, from a military point of view, East Africa can be considered a world power. It is not clear how strong it is, but it is definitely above Portugal.

What followed was the rhetoric of the East African threat theory. In fact, the East African threat theory had existed for a long time. This argument began to appear after East Africa occupied South Africa, but most of it was suppressed by the media controlled by the Hexingen Consortium.

As for “Africa for Africans,” East Africa would not be so stupid as to say such a thing, because who doesn’t know that Africans generally refer to black people? East Africa would not rush to expel itself from German nationality.

However, the sour comments from The Times and the Portuguese media also show the true mentality of Britain and Portugal. The East Portuguese War can be said to have been ended by Britain forcibly holding down Portugal. Britain knew one thing, that is, East Africa had not yet exerted its full strength, but Portugal’s two colonies had exhausted all their potential.

The direct consequence of the East Portuguese War was that some countries began to seek to develop friendly relations with East Africa, among which Italy and Belgium were the most active. Both countries’ colonies were next to East Africa, so for the sake of their own interests, they had to have a good relationship with East Africa.

As a result, Italy and Belgium sent diplomatic personnel to Dar es Salaam to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations with East Africa. This was the first time that a European country had taken the initiative to establish diplomatic relations with East Africa. The Dutch also sent diplomatic officials to discuss the matter with East Africa later.

In fact, East Africa had diplomatic relations with these three countries, but it was similar to the German Chamber of Commerce established in the Far East Empire during the East African colonial period, but it was just a step further after the East Portuguese War.

The Netherlands had a good relationship with East Africa and had many cooperations. In addition, the Netherlands may have also noticed East Africa’s actions on the island of Kalimantan, so it needed a timely and formal consultation platform to prevent conflicts between the two countries.

The area of the Lanfang Republic was not large, and it did not matter if it was given to East Africa, but there were also Dutch colonies next to it. If there was a conflict between the two countries, it now seemed that East Africa really had the ability to cut off the Netherlands’ connection with the Dutch East Indies.

Of course, East Africa welcomed these friendly countries, but the embassy area planned by East Africa was不得不吐槽(a phrase meaning “couldn’t help but complain”).

The embassy area planned by East Africa was in Dar es Salaam, not the capital First Town, but East Africa was considered relatively sincere. The explanation to various countries was that Dar es Salaam was the most prosperous city in East Africa, and the construction level of First Town was too backward to provide corresponding services. Dar es Salaam

The level of commerce and service industries in First Town was indeed not as prosperous as that of Dar es Salaam, but it was not as unbearable as East Africa described.

However, Ernst considered it from a realistic point of view. East Africa’s relationship with these countries was not good enough to allow them to move to the East African capital. As a highly centralized country, officials in First Town knew more intelligence and were at risk of being bought off, so it was better to place the diplomatic personnel of these countries in Dar es Salaam.

Anyway, Dar es Salaam was not far from First Town, only less than an hour by train, and there was also telegraph communication.

In addition to these countries with real interests in East Africa, there were also some countries that simply had a good relationship with the Hexingen royal family or East Africa, so they established embassies in East Africa.

Ernst established the embassies of these countries in First Town, including Germany, Austria, the newly independent Romania, Sweden, the Far East Empire, Paraguay, etc.

Of course, the Far East Empire embassy was more special. It was hard to say what the relationship with East Africa was, but for the Far East Empire, East Africa was definitely a country with a relatively good relationship among all countries, at least it was easier to talk to.

In fact, East Africa also had a third type of embassy area, which was the Zanzibar Island embassy area. The countries stationed in the Zanzibar Island embassy area included the Ottoman Empire, the United States, Japan, and other countries.

Therefore, East Africa’s diplomatic construction was seriously mixed with Ernst’s personal feelings, which also reflected the unparalleled control and influence of the Hexingen royal family over East Africa as an autocratic monarchy.

East Africa’s three embassy areas also reflected the differences in East African diplomacy. Those in First Town were definitely friends of East Africa, Dar es Salaam was a friendly country, and Zanzibar Island was a hodgepodge.

This kind of embassy division also had confidentiality arrangements. For example, Ernst did not want to reveal East Africa’s mixed economic system. With the Paris Commune in front, East Africa did not want to be associated with it. Although the two were not the same thing at all, many policy-related things had too high a “repetition rate,” and it would not be good for people with ulterior motives to use it for interpretation. Moreover, whether it was monarchical autocracy, class autocracy, or even the slave system, it seemed that it was not very popular in various countries. East Africa was indeed too reactionary.

Chapter 500: German Ambassador

First Town City, riding on the coattails of the East Portuguese War, Germany also took the opportunity to send diplomatic officials to be stationed in First Town City.

After more than a decade of development, First Town City is no longer the small town it once was, but has become an elegant, civilized, and prosperous emerging city.

It has both classical European style and the atmosphere of a modern city. In appearance, it is not much different from European cities, but the convenient life brought about by the Industrial Revolution is evident everywhere in First Town City. Ernst is not someone who compromises on life, so he pays great attention to the planning of First Town City.

Walking on the streets of First Town City, Klein felt a myriad of emotions. He felt that his previous understanding of African countries had been subverted.

“Alas, I didn’t expect East Africa to develop so well. Looking at the planning and population, it should be more prosperous than Stuttgart! If you add Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, it feels like there is not much difference from Germany.”

Von der Leyen glanced at Klein, the German ambassador to East Africa, with suspicion. He felt that Klein’s words had a hidden meaning!

“Haha, Mr. Klein, you are joking. How can East Africa compare to Germany? East Africa’s coastal areas are developing quite well, and the cities are newly built in recent years, so they look good. Due to convenient transportation, the population is also larger, but a large population does not mean anything. Besides, Germany’s population is already larger than East Africa’s. The gap between East Africa and Germany is in all aspects.”

Klein did not think so. Recently, he also visited Dar es Salaam and Soja near First Town City. As far as he knew, Bagamoyo was not far from First Town City either. Ships from Bagamoyo could be seen in the canal north of First Town City, so East African cities had a trend of cluster development, which reminded Klein of the Ruhr area in Germany.

Of course, these cities in East Africa cannot be compared with the Ruhr area. The Ruhr area has twenty or thirty towns and cities, and the degree of industrialization is quite high.

These cities in East Africa mainly occupy the advantages of policy and transportation. First Town City and Soja are both supported by policies, and Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam are excellent ports on the East African coast.

In fact, Dar es Salaam should be divided into two cities according to East Africa’s division, one in the south and one in the north. The northern part, which is the original Dar es Salaam city, focuses on commerce and service industries, while the southern part focuses on industry and manufacturing. So, to be precise, there are currently five cities near First Town City as the center, and there is also Zanzibar Island across the sea.

The biggest shortcoming of the East African coastal area is the lack of resources, but the convenience of sea transportation offsets this disadvantage. Goods from the inland will also be gathered and distributed here, so the development is not bad.

“Mr. Von der Leyen, you are too polite. East Africa started developing too late. I think it is quite good to be able to do this. Some small countries in Europe may not be developing as well as East Africa,” Klein said.

Klein realized how great it would have been if Germany had valued the colonization of East Africa back then! However, Germany was not unified at that time, so naturally it had no time to engage in overseas colonization. Austria actually had the conditions to do so, but Austria’s energy was dragged down by Prussia. Only the Hechingen royal family had the foresight, but fortunately, East Africans are also Germans, so they are one of us, which is better than leaving it to Britain and France.

Unified Germany has only begun to pay attention to the importance of colonies in the past two years, mainly due to the influence of the general environment. Other powers are causing trouble all over the world, but Germany is staying in Europe without any action.

Germany’s industry has developed rapidly, and its strength is not what it used to be, so it is naturally not very satisfied with the current international situation. However, Prime Minister Bismarck is a person who can hold his breath, and Ernst admires this very much.

The current Germany is somewhat like the Far Eastern Empire that was suppressed by the United States in his previous life. It seems like the rising sun, but in reality, the problems are quite big.

Germany’s difficulty lies in its disadvantageous geographical environment. France and Russia are both top-tier powers, so it is difficult for Germany to maneuver in Europe, and there is almost no room for expansion. The Far Eastern Empire’s disadvantage lies in the fact that world energy and minerals are controlled by the United States. If the Far Eastern Empire had solved the energy and mineral problems in its previous life, it would not have been afraid of the United States’ suppression at all.

The current world hegemony is in the hands of the British, but the British hegemony is very limited. Tsarist Russia and France both have the ability to challenge British hegemony. Germany and Austria are slightly weaker, but Germany’s industrial development is rapid, and Austria-Hungary can continue to live off its past glory. Spain is half-dead but can still maintain the dignity of a great power. The United States, East Africa, the Far Eastern Empire, and the Ottoman Empire can all live well by relying on their size.

The East Portuguese War actually established East Africa’s international status. Although Portugal is not strong, none of the countries ahead of it are weak.

So Klein said: “In the future, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and East Africa, our three countries represent the influence of Germans in the world. Germany has the strongest national strength, Austria-Hungary is also not bad, and East Africa has good potential. If the three countries unite, they can change the world’s discourse power.”

Von der Leyen poured a bucket of cold water on Klein when he heard his confident words: “I hope to see that day come, but it is probably impossible to achieve now. Without twenty or thirty years, the world格局 cannot have too much change. Just Britain is pressing us so hard that we can’t breathe. Unless Britain completely declines, everything is just fantasy.”

Von der Leyen’s words also woke up Klein. Britain is indeed an insurmountable mountain. The current Britain is at its peak, and there is no sign of decline at all. Instead, it is becoming more and more majestic.

Klein said: “Britain is indeed strong. At least the British have the final say on the ocean. No one can challenge Britain’s position. We can only accumulate strength first and wait for the British to have problems themselves.”

Von der Leyen struck again: “Not only Britain, but for you Germans, there are also France and Tsarist Russia. These countries do not want to see Germany rise.”

In fact, Von der Leyen also wanted to include Austria-Hungary, after all, if Germany is too strong, it is not a good thing for some people within Austria-Hungary. However, this kind of thing is not easy to say. In the past, Austria had a bad relationship with Prussia because of the competition for the rights of Germany, so now that Austria is out of the game, it naturally has no intention of causing trouble for Prussia. Hungary has become Austria’s biggest concern instead.

Klein then talked a lot with Von der Leyen, but they all revealed one meaning, that is, the idea of a German-Austrian-East African alliance.

According to Klein’s meaning, East Africa’s current strength is not bad, so naturally he wants East Africa to stand on Germany’s side, but East Africa does not buy into this now. East Africa has not even digested itself yet, and is not too concerned about international affairs.

Now, as long as East Africa develops steadily for twenty or thirty years, it can completely secure its position as a world power. There is no benefit for East Africa to participate in international disputes for no reason.

Therefore, East Africa does not have too many ideas about taking sides. Don’t look at Britain coveting East Africa, as long as Britain does not actively launch a war against East Africa, then East Africa does not want to pay attention to Britain too much, and even if Britain launches a war against East Africa, East Africa is not afraid.

At this stage, East Africa and the United States are very similar. They are not too interested in international affairs. Of course, the United States is a little more ambitious than East Africa, such as the United States’ influence and control over the Americas, its greed is very strong.

East Africa does have its own interests in the Indian Ocean, but Ernst only laid out the Lanfang Republic, and did not create a Monroe Doctrine like the United States, so East Africa is still relatively honest now. As for how East Africa’s more than ten million square kilometers of land came about, it was naturally incorporated into East Africa’s territory after the national strength rose. In the final analysis, it is still strength, so as long as East Africa focuses on improving its national strength, it will be able to seize the initiative in future changes in the international situation. Ernst thinks Bismarck also had this plan, but later Wilhelm II did not have Bismarck’s patience.

Chapter 501: Four Seas, Two Lakes, and Two Inland Areas

“On March 2, 1498, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama led a fleet to India, passing through ‘Mozambique Port’ and receiving a friendly reception from the local Sultan. The Sultan’s name was Muza al-Arabi, which the Portuguese heard as ‘Mozambique,’ which is also the origin of the name of Mozambique. Mozambique still exists today, but the origin of the Mozambique colony, Mozambique Port, is in our hands. I wonder what the Portuguese in the city think.”

East African Navy Major Roerde said triumphantly to his subordinates. Mozambique Port, like the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is actually an island near the coast. Mombasa in East Africa is very similar to Mozambique Port.

Ernst didn’t quite understand this. The Arabs seemed to like occupying islands off the coast of East Africa, so why didn’t they go further in the direction of the mainland!

To say that these islands are more livable than the mainland is definitely nonsense. Basically, the islands off the coast of East Africa are more humid and hot, and not ideal settlements. However, these islands did facilitate control of the Indian Ocean trade routes in the past.

However, Mozambique Port is already in a period of rapid decline. This is due to the decline of the slave trade and the opening of the Suez Canal, so the economic value of Mozambique Port has plummeted. However, the navy has taken a fancy to this place and it has been transformed into a new naval base.

The Dutch once fought with the Portuguese for this place, so fairly solid military defenses were built on the island of Mozambique. Without too much sorting out, the East African Navy can move in with their bags.

Ernst is not very interested in developing Mozambique Island. Several bays in northern Mozambique, which East Africa occupied this time, have better conditions for building ports than Mozambique Island.

The most important of these are Nacala and Pemba. These two areas are actually barren bays now, but in his previous life, they surpassed Mozambique Island to become the third and fifth largest ports in Mozambique. As for Mozambique Island, it was not even ranked among the many ports in Mozambique in the twentieth century.

Nacala Port is located at the southern end of Bengo Island in northern Mozambique and has the best deep-water port in the southern African region. It is a large port with a channel eight hundred meters wide and sixty meters deep.

Pemba Port can actually be called Pemba Port, the same name as Pemba Island in East Africa. In fact, the bay where Pemba Port is located is called Pemba Bay.

Pemba Port developed very late in the Portuguese colonial era in his previous life, starting in 1904, and later developed into a port called Porto Amelia, the same name as the Americas, so the name Pemba Port was just given by Ernst.

Pemba Port was ranked fifth in Mozambique in his previous life. In fact, Ernst believes that Pemba Port’s ranking can be adjusted upwards.

Because the conditions here are not bad in Africa. It is just that Mozambique’s economy was too backward in his previous life, urbanization was low, trade demand was weak, and there were many ports, so it was not fully developed.

If this port were placed in the Far East, it should be able to develop into a super port, not inferior to Jiaozhou.

First of all, the area of Pemba Bay is not much different from that of Jiaozhou Bay, slightly smaller, but the conditions in the bay are much better than those of Jiaozhou Bay, and the water conditions are better than those of Jiaozhou Bay. The two have relatively similar shapes of inland bays, with small mouths and large bellies.

Moreover, the economic hinterland of Pemba Port is wider than that of Jiaozhou. The inland of Shandong has mountains that shield the connection between Jiaozhou and the inland economy, while Pemba Port extends westward to Lake Malawi, which is a plateau plain.

The only pity is that Nacala Port and Pemba Port have a competitive relationship, which makes it difficult for Ernst to choose which port to focus on developing.

This is like the competitive relationship between Lianyungang and Jiaozhou. Of course, Lianyungang’s economy and scale are indeed not as good as Jiaozhou.

But these two ports in East Africa are still wasteland. If they are allowed to develop freely, it is impossible to see who is good and who is bad.

The problem is that East Africa is currently a country that attaches great importance to planning, and it is impossible to let the two places develop freely. Therefore, which of these two ports can rise first completely depends on how Ernst positions these two ports.

For example, the First Township was just a small town attached to Dar es Salaam in his previous life, but now it has become the political hub of East Africa.

However, Ernst didn’t think for too long. He suddenly realized that he could develop Nacala and Pemba into twin cities. Ernst was mainly afraid of causing waste of resources, but thinking about the development speed of East Africa, his worries were superfluous.

In the future, the economic center of East Africa will definitely be the eastern region, so the coastal economy cannot decline. Next, as long as East Africa does a good job in immigration, the economic volume of northern Mozambique will naturally increase.

The Central Province now has the prototype of a urban agglomeration, so Mozambique can also develop in this way. In his previous life, the Far East had three economic zones: the Bohai Rim, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta. Eastern East Africa can also develop similar coastal economic zones.

In Ernst’s view, this can also be done after taking Maputo in the future. With the help of South Africa’s mineral resources and the transportation conditions of southern ports such as Maputo and New Hamburg Port, it will be equivalent to the South African version of the Pearl River Delta.

In the middle is the central urban agglomeration led by Pemba Port and Nacala Port, playing the role of the Yangtze River Delta. If the Zambezi River’s navigation capacity is not too poor, Ernst would definitely not do this.

In fact, Ernst’s envisioned coastal urban agglomeration also takes into account many factors. For example, the environmental carrying capacity of northern East Africa is too poor. Otherwise, Ernst would definitely focus on developing Mombasa. Now Mombasa’s development relies on the Northern Industrial Belt and the linkage development of Nairobi and the Great Lakes region. In the future, Mombasa will become a large northern city, but it will definitely not develop a urban cluster.

The three places selected by Ernst have common points, that is, there are many ports, the terrain is flat, the economic hinterland is large, the climatic conditions are good, the comprehensive conditions are good, and they can accommodate the development of multiple cities.

Of course, according to the above advantages, Angola can also plan one in the future. These are the settings for coastal cities, and there must be inland ones. The conditions in the Great Lakes region are good, and Lake Malawi can also do this. Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe) is definitely the same routine, and Swabia Province and Hohenzollern Province can also develop together (Zambia and southern Congo).

Ernst calls this layout the economic East Africa economic pattern of four seas, two lakes, and two inland areas: four coastal urban agglomerations, two lakeside economic groups, and two inland urban agglomerations.

In fact, Africa (within the East African region) in Ernst’s previous life was almost this pattern. The biggest difference is that South Africa is gone.

In his previous life, South Africa was the most economically developed region in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the former Transvaal Republic, the area centered on Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Ernst actually included this area into Zimbabwe and the eastern coast (mainly southern Mozambique), making it a raw material supply base for the industrial development of the two places.

As for why not vigorously develop local industry, in the final analysis, the local water resources are relatively scarce, the ecological environment is fragile, and over-development may cause the Kalahari Desert to expand eastward. Ernst does not want to take the road of draining the pond to get all the fish.

Ernst is not an environmentalist, but Ernst is quite vigilant about desertification, especially in grassland areas, which are most likely to become deserts due to human development.

The mining industry is already relatively water-intensive. If industry is developed locally, the demand for water will be too high. In his previous life, South Africa carried out a south-to-north water transfer project to alleviate the water problem here, diverting water from Lesotho. East Africa does not have this need at all. East Africa has a vast land area and has much more selectivity than South Africa.

Chapter 502: Lanfang Overseas Province

Besides northern Mozambique, East Africa also obtained a third of the land in southern Angola. Ernst had no intention of developing it immediately.

Angola is on the Atlantic coast, which means it’s not as easy to intervene in as the Indian Ocean. East Africa can flex its naval strength in the Indian Ocean, but the Atlantic is a bit lacking. It’s impossible to split the naval forces; what if the British double-cross them?

Ernst’s worries were definitely not unfounded. Although Ernst disliked Britain, he had to admit that Britain was a very pragmatic country. Of course, you could also say they were unscrupulous. To achieve their goals, they didn’t care about appearances. Otherwise, they couldn’t have become a world power. After all, Britain is such a tiny place; without some dirty tricks, they wouldn’t be able to manipulate countries like Germany, France, Austria, Russia, and the United States.

In the past, Ernst certainly wasn’t qualified to say Britain was a tiny place, but now East Africa’s size certainly qualified him to say such things.

Cape Town was still in British hands. The British had a strong presence in the Atlantic. Saint Helena, where Napoleon was once imprisoned, wasn’t far from Angola. The British home fleet could also easily sail south. So, if the East African navy dispersed its forces to the Atlantic, Britain had the strength to wipe out the East African Atlantic fleet.

Moreover, Britain had the motive to do so. East Africa had at least become an enemy of Britain.

Therefore, Ernst was uneasy about dispersing his limited naval forces to the Atlantic. The Indian Ocean was different. The overall strength of the East African navy wasn’t too bad, but it could only fully exert its strength in one sea area.

The configuration of the East African navy was similar to that of Austria-Hungary and Germany, but the activity areas of those two countries’ navies were very narrow, even pitiful. So, their naval strength seemed to have a surplus. East Africa was different. The Indian Ocean was too vast, and it was already struggling to protect its eastern coast. If the Atlantic was added, East Africa’s meager navy wouldn’t be enough.

Of course, Ernst had another reason for not developing Angola, which was that the land Portugal ceded to East Africa wasn’t in very good condition. After all, it was in southern Angola, and its natural conditions were similar to Namibia’s. It wasn’t a good place for development.

…

Kalimantan Island, Lanfang Republic.

Pontianak Port was the largest port in the Lanfang Republic. East Africa already had a military presence in Pontianak, but today two East African merchant ships landed a battalion of troops here, officially declaring the Lanfang Republic as a colony of East Africa.

After the truce with Portugal, East Africa now had time to free up its hands to digest the Lanfang Republic. Of course, the main reason was that after communicating with the Dutch, the Dutch had given up on the Lanfang Republic in exchange for East Africa’s recognition of the surrounding Dutch colonies. In other words, the Dutch and East Africa had divided their respective spheres of influence on Kalimantan Island. Ernst was also sensible and respected the existing interests of the Dutch in the Lanfang Republic.

In Pontianak Port, Wilt, the first governor of the Black Hechen Kingdom’s Lanfang Overseas Province, officially took office. The Lanfang Overseas Province wasn’t the first colony of the Black Hechen royal family; Alaska was. But Alaska belonged to the royal family’s territory and wasn’t under the jurisdiction of the Black Hechen (East Africa) Kingdom. After all, a cunning rabbit has three burrows, and the Black Hechen royal family also needed a backup plan.

Watching the East African flag slowly rise next to the original Lanfang Republic flag, the “Hakka” flag, Wilt felt very happy. From today onwards, he was also the head of a province.

Because of its special geographical location, the Lanfang Overseas Province didn’t have the position of “High Official” but instead appointed a governor. The governor’s power was slightly greater than that of a High Official. For example, the Lanfang governor had half of the military command.

In the end, Ernst still liked centralization and didn’t feel comfortable giving the Lanfang Republic too much autonomy. Therefore, the Lanfang Republic directly became an overseas province of East Africa, rather than an ordinary colony. Becoming a province meant it was the same as other provinces in East Africa, which meant it was family.

Of course, the main reason was that the Lanfang Overseas Province wasn’t large in area or population, so joining East Africa didn’t face much resistance. The Lanfang Republic’s former province, the Lanfang Republic, at its peak, only covered the northwest of Kalimantan Island. After several weakenings by the Dutch, the Lanfang Republic could only be considered an insignificant small country on Kalimantan Island.

If the Lanfang Republic truly dominated the entire Kalimantan Island, then Ernst would definitely not give Lanfang the qualification of an overseas province.

Speaking of the Lanfang Republic, there was also an interesting feature, which was that it had its own colony, Nanyang – Dayak.

Dayak was a country established by the indigenous people of Kalimantan Island, located in the eastern interior of the Lanfang Republic. According to the original Lanfang Republic, it was a tributary state, but in East African standards, it was a colony. Dayak was also incorporated into the newly established Lanfang Overseas Province.

As for whether these indigenous people were willing or not, they had no say in the matter. East Africa wasn’t as easy to talk to as the Lanfang Republic.

In the past, Dayak could still maneuver between the Lanfang Republic and the Dutch, but now East Africa had reached a deal with the Dutch, so Dayak no longer needed to exist.

The countries on Kalimantan Island can be divided into three categories according to their beliefs. First, there were the Hakka, which was the original Han Chinese belief, mainly the Chinese community on Kalimantan Island. Ernst knew that this certainly wasn’t a religion or belief, but only the East was so special. Second, there were Christians, mainly the Dutch. Finally, there were Muslims. Most of the countries on Kalimantan Island were Muslim.

This Dayak also belonged to Islam, which, for East Africa, where Catholicism was the mainstream folk religion, was a heretical country, and there was no psychological burden to eliminate it.

It even fit the European mindset. The Dutch were committed to spreading Christianity on Kalimantan Island. After all, the mainstream religion of the Netherlands was similar to that of East Africa. Especially in the Dutch colonies, Catholicism ranked first, followed by Protestantism. East Africa was the same, followed by other religions. Because of Zanzibar Island, East Africa also had a group of Muslims.

However, the Muslims in East Africa were special. East Africa allowed them to exist because it coveted commercial trade with Arab countries. These Arabs actually had very flexible nationalities.

Because Zanzibar Island was formerly a territory of the Omani Empire, the Arabs on Zanzibar Island could also be citizens of the Omani Empire or other Arab countries.

In reality, this was also the case. After East Africa designated Zanzibar Island as a province, many Arabs from the former Sultanate of Zanzibar returned to Oman. After all, Islam had no status in East Africa. However, because of trade, most of them still remained in Zanzibar Island as sojourners.

However, East Africa and the Arab community had a tacit understanding, which was that East Africa currently had no intention of expelling them. As for when to expel them, it depended on East Africa’s thoughts. The initiative was in East Africa’s hands. Because Zanzibar Island’s taxation, finance, military, and other rights had already been taken back by East Africa, East Africa only needed to make some moves in policy to drive away the Arabs. Then, these people would only be able to return to the Arab world. After all, they had some small family wealth, and it was more comfortable to be a superior person in Oman than to be a second-class citizen in East Africa. As for stubbornly refusing to leave, there were East African troops to negotiate with them, so there was no such possibility.

As for the treatment of Dayak, which was also a Muslim country, East Africa planned to relocate its residents to East Africa to assimilate them. As a tributary state of the Lanfang Republic, Dayak was even less able to negotiate terms with East Africa. Moreover, the residents of Dayak were mainly Malays, and as long as they weren’t black, Ernst could still accept them.

Chapter 503: Meddling

East Africa established a provincial government in Pontianak and, with the assistance of the military, took control of various affairs in Pontianak. Pontianak had the semblance of a provincial capital, but East Africa’s actions drew the attention of the East Mandor government.

The situation was awkward. Although the Lanfang Overseas Province had been established, the Lanfang Republic still existed. After all, East Africa had negotiated with the Netherlands, not with the Lanfang Republic. Therefore, the Lanfang Republic was completely unaware of the matter and was inexplicably replaced, which naturally made them uncomfortable and even caused panic within the Lanfang Company.

East Mandor.

“Are you saying that those Germans want to pull a fast one and take over completely?” Liu Asheng said with some annoyance after hearing the report from his subordinate.

“Your Excellency, the President, it’s almost certain. Our people were directly disarmed by the Germans. There was nothing I could do at the time. Might makes right. With a gun pointed at my head, I had no choice but to swallow my pride and come back to report.”

Liu Asheng felt a little better hearing Liu Aman say that, after all, his subordinate was considered loyal, which was a good thing. However, what Liu Asheng didn’t know was that Liu Aman was mainly unaware of the background of these Germans. If they were Dutch, Liu Aman would probably have surrendered the city directly. If he knew Liu Aman’s little schemes, Liu Asheng would be furious.

Liu Asheng asked with some curiosity, “How did the Germans take the city so easily? Didn’t you put up any resistance?”

“Your Excellency, the President, you know that the Germans left a small team in Pontianak last time they came. This time, they colluded with Germans from overseas, and we were caught completely off guard.”

“What about the Dutch in Pontianak? Did they not react?” Liu Asheng continued to ask.

As a puppet regime, the Dutch had considerable influence within the Lanfang Republic. After all, Liu Asheng was supported by them. Therefore, the Dutch also attached great importance to Pontianak, the largest city in the Lanfang Republic.

Hearing Liu Asheng mention the Dutch, Liu Aman became angry. He said dejectedly, “We were probably sold out by the Dutch. I saw the Dutch supervisor of Pontianak chatting happily with the Germans, and then they directly left by boat. It’s obvious they were in cahoots.”

Liu Aman’s words made Liu Asheng very angry. “How could they do this? I’ve been doing my best in the matters they’ve entrusted to me all these years, and they just sell us out!”

Liu Aman looked at his cousin and said with a wry smile, “In the eyes of the Dutch, we’re just dogs. Now that the master wants to sell the dog, does he need to ask the dog’s opinion?”

Liu Asheng felt a little embarrassed hearing his cousin say that. It sounded too harsh. How were they the Dutch’s dogs?

“Aman, I know that people outside haven’t been saying good things about me all these years, but you have to understand me! I work for the Dutch mainly for the sake of family interests. Otherwise, how could our Liu family gain control of the Lanfang Company? Without control, you wouldn’t be able to be the city lord of Pontianak.”

“Cousin, I know, but the situation has changed! It’s obvious that the Dutch are very polite to the Germans, for one of two reasons: either the Dutch are afraid of the Germans, or the Germans have given the Dutch benefits. But no matter what, we can’t change the fact that the Germans are becoming powerful in Lanfang.”

This was also what Liu Asheng was worried about. Although the Dutch had always been ambitious towards Lanfang, he and the Dutch had a cooperative relationship, and there was at least some friendship between them. Now that the Germans had come, they had occupied Pontianak without even consulting him, which was disrespectful.

“Alright, I remember these Germans are from that East African Kingdom. It must be a European country, probably similar to the Netherlands. So, send someone to Pontianak to visit the German officials, to find out their purpose. If things are not going well, it’s best to prioritize ensuring the Liu family’s position and interests in Lanfang,” Liu Asheng instructed.

The Germans didn’t come to him, but he had to go. He had to find out the Germans’ intentions. If the Germans’ demands were the same as the Dutch, then it would be easy. Being a dog for anyone was still being a dog, it was just changing masters.

Liu Asheng’s calculations were good, but East Africa naturally knew his little thoughts. It was precisely because they knew that East Africa had not notified Liu Asheng’s family regime.

Ernst’s emphasis on the Lanfang Republic was self-evident, as he had directly treated it as an overseas province of East Africa. Naturally, he would not allow family forces like Liu Asheng to continue to exist.

Meanwhile, Governor Welt, who had just gained a foothold in Pontianak, was unaware of the small government’s plans in East Mandor. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t care. At this time, he was busy clearing obstacles for East Africa to completely control the Lanfang Overseas Province.

“Your Excellency, Governor, we have investigated that there are a total of thirteen brothels and more than thirty opium dens in Pontianak, as well as more than forty other illegal organizations. If we start transforming Pontianak now, it may not be so easy.”

Speaking of brothels, East Africa actually had them too, and they were legal. As for why the brothels in the Lanfang Republic were illegal, there were naturally some differences from East Africa.

The performers in East African brothels were all non-citizens, and there were strict rules and regulations, subject to the supervision of the East African government.

The brothels in the Lanfang Republic were all private enterprises, and the management was very chaotic. Moreover, after Lanfang became an overseas province of East Africa, the Chinese performers in these brothels were naturally also citizens of East Africa. No matter how unorthodox the East African kingdom’s system was, Ernst treated East African citizens equally, treating them as human beings. Therefore, Ernst naturally could not tolerate such things.

Ernst hated opium dens even more. Although he himself was involved in this kind of business, it was all outsourced to Arab merchants and only allowed to be sold to foreigners passing through East Africa.

Welt said seriously, “It seems that these criminal gangs in Pontianak are quite large. If we don’t take strong measures, I’m afraid we won’t be able to take them down.”

Welt was one of the German orphans adopted by the Principality of Schwarzhagen. He received a proper Schwarzhagen education from an early age, so his values were very upright. It was because of this background that Ernst sent him to Lanfang as governor.

“Your Excellency, Governor, shall we take action against them now?”

Welt waved his hand and said, “Now is not a good time. If we make too much noise in Pontianak, it will cause fierce resistance in other areas of Lanfang. Only after the local army arrives and we completely control Lanfang by force can we talk about transformation.”

East Africa was only controlling Pontianak at this time. Areas other than Pontianak were still in a state of free range, so Welt did not want to cause unrest in other areas due to drastic reforms. It would not be too late to take action after the military took over other areas.

Welt continued, “Continue your investigation, mainly in areas outside of Pontianak. Investigate the various forces in the original Lanfang province to facilitate the military’s follow-up work.”

“Yes, Your Excellency, Governor!”

The various forces in the Lanfang Republic would never have imagined that East Africa would play it this way. After all, brothels and opium dens were normal existences in their eyes. This was a characteristic of the times. Only East Africa was relatively unconventional. Therefore, when East African officials sent people to investigate their industries, they were actually quite cooperative. They thought that East Africa only wanted to collect taxes, but they did not expect that East Africa wanted to ban these black industries.

Of course, it was not a complete ban. As long as they were rectified in accordance with East African policies, they could still reopen. As for whether it was legal or not, it was up to East Africa to decide. Official recognition was naturally legal. For example, with geishas, East Africa only said that they could not use their own citizens, so natives of other countries on the island could also be used. Japanese workers in Nanyang were also an option!

Chapter 504: Borrowing People

April, 1879.

Bujumbura, West Great Lakes Province.

Bujumbura, as the capital of West Great Lakes Province, was built on the shores of Lake Sōren (Lake Tanganyika). March and April marked the beginning of the long rainy season.

This year’s rainfall was particularly heavy. Bujumbura’s annual rainfall was usually between 800mm and 1000mm, but this year it exceeded 2000mm, with some areas even surpassing 3000mm. The torrential river water mostly flowed into Lake Sōren through the river channels, but in many areas, the river water couldn’t keep up with the rate of rainfall accumulation, flooding vast tracts of farmland on both banks.

This caused great concern for Nakin, a high-ranking official of West Great Lakes Province. He frowned and said, “This year’s rainfall in West Great Lakes Province is excessively abundant. We have received reports from many places that in the western region near Hessen Province, the rainfall even reached one hundred and thirty millimeters in a single day. The rainfall in most parts of the province has exceeded peak values. This year’s grain production plan for the entire province will likely be severely damaged.”

West Great Lakes Province consisted of the entirety of present-day Burundi and Rwanda, as well as parts of Tanzania, Uganda, and Congo. Therefore, the flood disaster in West Great Lakes Province affected a wide area. The provincial capital, Bujumbura, was not as severely affected, relatively speaking. Other regions, especially those with high rainfall, suffered greater losses.

However, Bujumbura’s “not severe” was only in comparison to other places within West Great Lakes Province. Bujumbura was actually located in a region where rainfall was usually less abundant. Now that even Bujumbura had been hit by the disaster, the situation in other areas was imaginable.

“Your Excellency, there’s nothing we can do about it. Natural disasters are uncontrollable. We can only try to minimize the losses, dredge the river channels throughout the province to prevent the floodwaters from inundating more farmland, and begin implementing disaster relief and rescue efforts within the province,” the assistant said.

The assistant’s words brought Nakin’s thoughts back to problem-solving. He said with a wry smile, “Yes! Now is not the time to complain. Immediately organize personnel to collect statistics on the disaster situation. Grain depots in various places should be prepared to provide disaster relief at any time. The health department should not be careless either. As the saying goes, a major disaster is always followed by a major epidemic. Do a good job of disinfection…”

Nakin methodically arranged the disaster relief tasks. As a province with abundant rainfall, West Great Lakes Province experienced such years of abnormally increased rainfall every few years, so they had seen it all before and had rich experience in dealing with it.

Correspondingly, North Great Lakes Province, South Prussia Province, and Highlands Province, the provinces surrounding the Great Lakes region, were also affected by the heavy rain. However, a little more rain in these areas was not a bad thing, especially in Highlands Province, where rainfall was usually scarce. Now that the floodwaters had arrived, the animals on the Galenseti grasslands were living even better.

With the Great Lakes region suffering overall, a reduction in grain production this year was inevitable. The news quickly reached the central government.

Ernst: “The Great Lakes region is the second largest grain production base in East Africa. The disaster in the Great Lakes region will have a significant impact on the national grain output this year. It seems we need to accelerate the engineering transformation of the Great Lakes region.”

In recent years, due to the construction of water conservancy projects in the coastal plains, especially in the Central Province, many water conservancy projects have been built, including the excavation of canals, the transformation of farmland irrigation systems, river channel management, and the construction of reservoirs, which have greatly stabilized and improved grain production in the coastal plains, ensuring stable harvests regardless of drought or flood, surpassing the Great Lakes region and returning to the top position.

Constantine: “Are you planning to apply the same measures used in the coastal areas to the Great Lakes region?”

Ernst: “The natural conditions of the Great Lakes region are inherently much better than those of the coastal plains, even superior to those of France. What it lacks is infrastructure. Otherwise, the agricultural development level of the Great Lakes region should exceed that of France.”

When it comes to agriculture, France is truly far ahead. Although the United States is also strong, American agriculture is very extensive and relies more on a vast area of arable land. In terms of average level, France is more excellent. In particular, France’s arable land was not seized from the Native Americans like in the United States, and the living standards of French farmers are generally higher.

East Africa’s land, like that of the United States, was acquired through questionable means, and its agricultural development is not as good as either. Fortunately, East Africa’s location in the tropics gives it an advantage, making its tropical agricultural economy developed and avoiding competition with many temperate countries. The only regions that can compete with East Africa are Brazil and Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia has not yet fully developed, and Brazil is relatively turbulent and chaotic, lacking the political stability of East Africa.

Of course, Brazil’s first-mover advantage cannot be ignored, but East Africa is rapidly closing the gap. East Africa’s means of narrowing the gap is to build water conservancy projects.

Water conservancy projects can be large or small. East Africa can solve this problem according to its own needs, while Brazil may be able to cope with small water conservancy projects, but its capacity for large-scale water conservancy projects is far inferior to that of East Africa. After all, the Brazilian government is not as strong as the East African government. Large-scale water conservancy projects cannot avoid occupying land, making it too difficult for the Brazilian government to buy out those large landowners.

Ernst said to Constantine, “Now that the government doesn’t have any major tasks to do, and many areas in the interior have not been developed, let’s take advantage of this opportunity to carry out large-scale water conservancy projects throughout the country, following the coastal plain water conservancy project construction model.”

Constantine pondered for a moment and said, “That’s a rather large undertaking!”

Ernst: “Father, it doesn’t matter. I’m not thinking of completing it all at once. After all, the level of development in Africa is really too low, probably only better than Oceania among the world’s continents. While we still have a relatively large number of black people at our disposal, we should carry out more large-scale projects to narrow the gap with other continents.”

The vast majority of regions within East Africa can be said to have entered agricultural society for the first time after being incorporated into East Africa. Many places can be said to maintain the original appearance of the Earth, so the difficulties East Africa faces in developing land are very arduous.

However, East Africa’s natural conditions are relatively excellent. As long as these lands are developed, they can produce good agricultural returns, so in Ernst’s view, it is a surefire profitable business.

However, if East Africa wants to catch up with those regions that have been developing for thousands or hundreds of years in a short period of time, it must make huge sacrifices. Fortunately, East Africa has a large black population, and East Africa can transfer these negative factors to the black people. If Ernst hadn’t come from later generations and knew that colonialism would backfire, Ernst would have really wanted to keep these black people forever as objects of exploitation.

Constantine: “Alright, now that you’ve decided, go ahead and implement it!”

Ernst nodded and then went to arrange the matter. With the experience of coastal water conservancy projects, this time Ernst directly sought help from the two old brothers, Germany and Austria.

Housing construction and water conservancy projects also require professional talent. This time, Ernst plans to build water conservancy projects throughout the country, and the talent gap is not small. So he simply borrowed some manpower from Germany and Austria to guide the construction of water conservancy projects throughout East Africa.

The governments of Germany and Austria directly agreed to East Africa’s request for help. Lending some manpower was not a big problem, and it could be considered as doing East Africa a favor.

Thus, with the coordination of the two governments, East Africa hired more than two hundred technical experts in water conservancy from the two countries at once to guide the construction of water conservancy projects in East Africa.

This time, Ernst plans to launch a saturated attack on water conservancy construction, taking the path that other countries have taken for hundreds of years in twenty years, paving the way for East Africa’s agricultural development.

Chapter 505: Speeding Things Up

East Africa also had experts in water conservancy, but their numbers were small, and their expertise was not as high as that of Germany and Austria. Therefore, with the support of these talents, East Africa could complete the national water conservancy project more easily.

“Your Highness! Isn’t your plan a bit crazy? East Africa’s area is too vast. If we build East Africa’s water conservancy facilities according to your requirements, and in such a short period of time, can you bear it?”

It was no wonder the German experts were suspicious. The few circles Ernst casually drew on the map looked larger than the areas of Germany and Austria combined. These were all the main agricultural areas of East Africa.

Ernst explained, “You don’t have to worry about this. Our human resources are abundant and can support such a long-term national construction project.”

“Well! Your Highness, please allow me to ask, are the citizens of East Africa so resilient?”

Ernst: “You misunderstand. In Africa, the cheapest labor is black people. The main force in this project is also black people, so you can rest assured and do it.”

After listening to Ernst’s words, the German water conservancy experts curled their lips and said in their hearts, “So he’s a slave trader!”

Ernst didn’t know the slander in their hearts, and wouldn’t care even if he did. As long as he could build East Africa better, what did it matter if he bore these bad names himself?

Moreover, things like water conservancy construction are easily both good and bad. For example, the Sui and Tang Grand Canal. Everyone admits that Emperor Yang of Sui was a tyrant, and the Sui and Tang Grand Canal was indeed a waste of manpower and resources, but the Sui and Tang Grand Canal was enough to make Emperor Yang of Sui an emperor for all time.

Ernst didn’t plan to build a super canal of more than two thousand kilometers at all, but was completely aimed at improving agricultural production and construction.

However, the German experts were not wrong to call East Africa a slave trader. As two countries without many overseas colonies, Germany and Austria-Hungary had no chance to be slave traders even if they wanted to.

After arranging these experts, Ernst, the world’s largest slave owner, began to solve the problem of the black army cultivated during the last East Portuguese war.

Although the East Portuguese war was not long, it lasted for half a year. By the end of the war, East Africa had cultivated more than ninety thousand black soldiers.

Ernst originally planned to send these unstable factors directly to the Americas, but when it came to the operation, he encountered a small problem.

“Your Highness, after our training, many of these black people have learned a word or two of German. If the Americans notice, it will be a big joke.”

“Do the Americans care about this? And they probably won’t be discovered if they know a word or two of German!”

“The main thing is our customer base. Many of them are farm owners operating in the western United States, and many are of German descent. Before, the black people we sent there, they reflected that the slaves sold by East Africa had a bit of a German accent. Fortunately, they turned a blind eye, but this batch of black people has received military training and knows some professional military terms, which may be a problem…”

Ernst nodded after listening and said, “This is indeed a problem. It seems that I have to carry out some cultural transformation on these natives.”

Ernst’s words made his subordinates very confused: “Your Highness, what are your thoughts?”

“Don’t disband the black legion yet. Find them an English teacher, teach them English for a month, and then send them to the United States. This method can be used for other slaves who are determined to be sold to the United States in the future.”

“Uh, Your Highness, I have to say that your method is too bad!”

“Hehe, remember, the first sentence to teach them is MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Ernst said with wicked humor.

The subordinate listened to Ernst’s arrangement with a strange expression, but what the hell was making America great again?

And how to make America great again, relying on the black people sent from East Africa to North America? But when you think about it, the rapid development of the United States is really inseparable from black people. It is no exaggeration to say that black people have made the United States. The same is true for East Africa. Without the contribution of East African black people, East Africa could not have developed so quickly.

Seeing that he was lost in thought, Ernst said, “Black people are excellent resources, but these excellent resources should go to where they should go. Reasonable things placed in unmatched places are garbage, so to maximize the role of black people, we still have to send them to the United States to do it.”

The subordinate didn’t know what Ernst meant by this sentence, but his focus was on the word garbage.

Black people are indeed high-quality labor resources in this era. After all, they have been commercialized, and their advantages are obvious compared to other races. Colonies of various countries are also vying to introduce them, and only countries like East Africa and Argentina dislike the large number of black people.

Like the French in West Africa, they need a lot of labor to develop plantations, so the slave trade still exists in Africa. Now a slave trade route has formed within Africa, that is, black people from East Africa are sent to West Africa through the M’Siri government and other West African black forces, and then sold to French white planters.

“We want to add some help to the westward movement in the United States. I heard that there are few people there, so we will send them more labor. After all, the price is affordable and the quality is good. The Americans should really thank me in the future,” Ernst said with malicious intent.

Of course, the United States alone certainly cannot eat it all. South American countries are also East Africa’s main slave market. Ernst wants to see the future world’s melting pot of races develop further.

In Ernst’s view, it would be a victory for East Africa if American farm owners and business owners bought fewer modern production tools and more black people. Therefore, even if he lost money every year by transporting black people to the United States, Ernst would be willing to do so.

First set a small goal, to increase the number of black people in the United States to twenty percent. Compared with East Africa, this is indeed a small goal. The number of black people in East Africa is estimated to be between forty and fifty percent.

In 1879, the proportion of black people in the United States was about fifteen percent. To increase the proportion of black people in the United States to twenty percent, at least three million more black people need to be imported into the United States.

With the addition of three million black people, the total number of black people in the United States should be able to exceed ten million. At that time, the total population of the United States should be between fifty million and sixty million. The number of black people in East Africa will also drop by one level, and the total number of black people in the two countries is likely to be the same.

Ernst’s idea for black people is to use them to delay the development of the United States, and it is best to reduce the number of European immigrants to the United States. After all, black people in the United States now have no right to education, which means that these black people can only work in low-end industries.

As long as the United States does not take the same measures against black people as it did against Native Americans, Ernst believes that the future United States will develop according to the path he expects, and even more violently than in his previous life.

Thinking of this, Ernst ordered, “This year, we will withdraw twenty percent of the ships in the Far East immigration business and invest them in the American immigration transportation route. I want to speed up the development of the United States.”

Chapter 506: Undying Evil Intentions

After the East Portuguese War, East Africa seemed to return to normal. However, letting East Africa escape unscathed so easily was clearly not in line with Britain’s dark-hearted style. The British Prime Minister, Benjamin, felt that Britain had been defeated by East Africa this time, which was unacceptable to his proud self.

“East Africa’s climate has matured. It seems that solving East Africa with force, or even weakening it, is impossible. On the contrary, it has allowed East Africa to advance further,” Benjamin said with some frustration.

After the East Portuguese War, East Africa’s momentum seemed to have risen, and many countries began to communicate with East Africa. The British saw this as well. Could this be considered trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait!

“Prime Minister, we intervened in Africa one step later than the Germans. If the previous government had been able to contain East Africa before it annexed the Transvaal Republic, the situation in Africa would probably not have deteriorated to this point.”

“Hmph, after all, no one would have thought that our Great British Empire would one day set its sights on Africa. After the invention of quinine, we should have taken the opportunity to intervene in Africa.”

“This is caused by historical inertia. Before the invention of quinine, only the Portuguese were engaged in colonization in Africa. For hundreds of years, malaria hindered our exploration of the African interior. Perhaps it was because the time was too long that everyone ignored Africa, allowing the Germans to pick up the leak.”

The invention of quinine was in 1826. Britain or other countries did not need to enter Africa too early. Even if they had entered Africa on a large scale in the mid-19th century, Ernst would not have had a chance.

Of course, the British Empire, at the height of its power, would not have thought that one day it would covet Africa. The earlier Portuguese colonial empire also could not have imagined that its descendants would decline to this point.

However, according to Ernst, all of this stemmed from greed. Britain has so many colonies, yet it is still eyeing this rotten land in Africa. It is truly unkind. It would be better for me to bear these pains myself.

Benjamin: “Now, think of a way, how should we deal with East Africa? We cannot do much with war in the short term. Can we use other means to curb East Africa’s development?”

“Prime Minister, if we exclude war, our ways to curb East Africa are nothing more than political and economic means. Politically, we must isolate East Africa, cut off its connection with other countries, and at the very least, pull in the countries surrounding East Africa to prevent East Africa from growing further. Economically, we must impose sanctions on East Africa, cut off its foreign trade and exchanges, and hinder its development. However, these measures can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. East Africa’s territory is too large. If it only relies on its own resources, it can probably live well.”

Benjamin nodded and said, “Your idea coincides with mine. I also see that it is impossible for us to take down East Africa directly this time. After all, they are not colonies like India, so now we can only limit East Africa’s further development, and then take action against East Africa after we are ready.”

Benjamin’s idea was to weaken East Africa’s strength as much as possible, and then take military action against East Africa. Although East Africa’s war record against Portugal looked good this time, it was not enough to make Benjamin give up.

With India as a base, Britain could continue to strengthen the military power of Cape Town. East Africa’s army has Germans, and Britain can also recruit troops from its homeland. Therefore, with the mainland plus India, Britain can also play the “zerg rush” strategy. Historically, Britain could send four hundred thousand troops in the Boer War, and it can still do so in this timeline. Therefore, Britain is not worried about not being able to defeat East Africa militarily, but the price to pay is a bit high.

Benjamin: “That’s it! First, contact the countries around East Africa to form an anti-East Africa alliance. At the same time, we will impose economic sanctions on East Africa and cut off its foreign trade.”

As the British government reached a consensus, the British Foreign Office also began to investigate and contact the countries surrounding East Africa.

However, there are only a few forces around East Africa. It is certain that Portugal is tied to Britain, so Britain decided to further strengthen Portugal’s strength.

In fact, Portugal had already come to the door. This war with East Africa was completely instigated by the British, which resulted in Portugal ceding land and paying reparations. Portugal believes that Britain bears a great responsibility.

“Ambassador Williams, you can’t just let go. This time, we Portuguese have suffered a great loss! We are completely wading through muddy waters for you. Your pre-war guarantees have not been implemented, which has caused us Portuguese to lose face internationally.”

“Duke Verus, you are too wronged by us. What we said before the war was to guarantee the existence of Portugal’s two African colonies, but we did not say to guarantee the integrity of Portugal’s two African colonies. Moreover, if we had not stopped the war in time, you would not even be able to keep most of the remaining colonies.”

“Ambassador Williams, you were clearly misleading us before, setting up linguistic traps for us, and now you are going back on your word. You are too unkind. Are your country’s diplomats all villains who handle affairs?”

“Ahem, Duke Verus, you’d better pay attention to your words. Our country’s diplomats are all qualified. As for your misunderstanding of our intentions, it can only show that your country’s diplomats’ professional skills need to be improved.”

Seeing that Verus was obviously unconvinced, the guilty Williams had to appease him: “Although this war has caused you some trouble, with our help, you still retained the essential colonies! Anyway, the loss is not too great. As far as I know, you have not developed southern Angola and northern Mozambique much, and there are not many people there. Moreover, how can we allow others to snore beside our bed? East Africa will sooner or later have evil intentions towards your country’s colonies. We are just revealing East Africa’s wolfish ambitions in advance.”

What is called a certain amount of trouble? Duke Verus’s mouth twitched. The previous government collapsed directly because of this incident. The negative impact of the East Portuguese War on Portugal was too great.

“Ambassador, no matter what, we Portuguese are the victims, and it is inseparable from your country. You must be responsible for us.”

“Alas! You are right, Duke Verus. As a responsible and responsible country, the British Empire will not abandon Portugal. This time, I am here with the authorization of Prime Minister Benjamin to discuss with your country how to deal with East Africa.”

Hearing about dealing with East Africa, Verus immediately became alarmed: “You still want us to fight a war with East Africa!”

“How is that possible? We don’t have this idea in the short term…”

Verus interrupted: “Then it is impossible for us to face the East Africans alone.”

“Of course, we are friends with you! Last time, we misjudged the strength of East Africa. The failure of intelligence led to the failure of the war. So this time, we are here with sincerity. Not only will we fight side by side with you in the future, but we will also provide you with the best weapons.”

In the end, the British still want to put Portugal back on their chariot. As for providing advanced equipment, it is based on the British belief that the last military assistance to Portugal was not strong enough, which led to the failure of the war. This time, Britain plans to provide its ally in Africa with advanced military weapons, including artillery and machine guns.

In the British view, the last war was just a test of East Africa. The British military observation group believes that it fully understands the military strength of East Africa, so be prepared, and next time it will definitely defeat East Africa.

The combat effectiveness of the Portuguese Mozambique colony is also remarkable. If Angola had not been in emergency, Mozambique could have continued to fight, at least for a few months.

Chapter 507: Playing Both Sides

Having learned a lesson from the previous experience, Portugal was much more cautious. Therefore, Duke Verus asked, “Are you still trying to get us to test the waters? Portugal can’t afford any more setbacks!”

Williams said, “Rest assured, this time we can sign a treaty. If there’s another war, Britain will definitely get involved. Portugal just needs to follow our lead. You can reclaim your lost territories and even go further. All the British Empire wants is to nip this potential threat in East Africa in the bud, preventing it from becoming another United States or Brazil.”

Williams specifically mentioned Brazil, which made Verus understand the British intentions. East Africa was too large, to the point where it might become a strong nation in the African region. This was something a global hegemon like Britain was unwilling to see. If one or two colonies became emerging powers, wouldn’t Britain’s colonies also follow suit and become independent countries, like India! Or Australia and Canada, for example.

Just like in his previous life, under the United States’ political and military prowess, many countries tormented to the point of death by the U.S. seemed to be reborn from the ashes. Not only did they not develop according to American thinking, but they further threatened American hegemony.

In the Middle East, Iran was also a headache for the United States, and the rise of Iran was caused by the United States itself. Iran indeed had a trend of resurgence. Ernst wasn’t just talking nonsense. Just look at the growing influence of Iranian factions in Arab countries, and it’s clear at a glance. Iran didn’t have the same appeal as Egypt, but Ernst believed that the small groups supported by Iran were more combat-effective than the Arab countries as a whole.

As for the negative evaluations of Iran in the media, just take a look. If Iran were really that bad, it wouldn’t have so many followers in the Middle East, something that Saudi Arabia couldn’t buy with money.

Iran could be said to be the last hope of Arab civilization in the entire Middle East, having forged its own path of development and completed industrialization. The key point was that it wasn’t supported by the West, but rather developed under the Western world’s blockade.

Besides the above two countries, the last one, looking at the overall situation, was the most powerful challenger to Western hegemony, the Far Eastern Empire.

The above three countries formed three significant forces in the World Island that the United States couldn’t underestimate. In Ernst’s view, it was the existence of these three countries that prevented the United States, a country located in the Americas, from truly controlling the World Island.

As for other countries, like India, there wasn’t much to say. Indian politicians were very skilled in governing the country and adept at maneuvering in the diplomatic arena, but they lacked the kind of arrogant aura needed to lead the world.

The Far East, Russia, and Iran were different in this respect. They had always been operators on the Eurasian continent. The Far East and Iran had a solid historical foundation, and their ancestors had been among the leaders of Eurasia. As for Russia, it had also shown its dominance, inciting half the world to confront the United States.

As for whether what Ernst said made sense, just look at the attitudes of successive world hegemons towards Afghanistan, and you’ll know. They certainly knew this point. That place, Afghanistan, probably had worse natural conditions than even northern Myanmar. As for becoming the graveyard of empires, it was nothing more than the location of Afghanistan.

Of course, this was just Ernst’s personal opinion. Ernst believed that the countries that had broken free from the Western mindset and developed well were the above three.

…

After pacifying Portugal, the next power Britain approached was Belgium. Now, Belgium had gained a firm foothold in the Congo, especially with the assistance of East Africa. Ernst had to admit that he and Leopold II were somewhat birds of a feather.

However, the British didn’t know about the relationship between Belgium and East Africa, so Britain wanted to pull Belgium into the camp surrounding East Africa.

The British couldn’t help but worry. East Africa’s expansion momentum was too fast, and it might enter the West African region. The location of the Belgian Congo colony happened to be adjacent to East Africa, making it the only leverage Britain could find.

As for France, the strongest power in West Africa, France was now being held back by Germany. The establishment of East Africa gave Germany a template, so Germany also wanted to try to take such a large territory in Africa, and the only place with conditions as good as East Africa was West Africa.

As an enemy, France naturally tried every means to disrupt the Germans, but this also prevented France from fully investing its energy in colonizing West Africa.

The same was true for Italy. Italy and the Abyssinian Empire had formed a balance of power, so looking around East Africa, only Belgium was relatively leisurely.

Belgium, Brussels.

“Your Majesty, we in Britain are here with sincerity. East Africa’s expansion is too fast. The Germans’ ultimate goal is the entire Africa. You will eventually clash with East Africa.”

Just like the African savanna, African wildlife can move freely, which leads to the entire African wildlife seeming to be carved from the same mold. Britain also believed that East Africa had the ambition to annex the entire sub-Saharan Africa. After all, under the same climate conditions and natural conditions, it was easy to integrate a civilization. The British certainly didn’t believe it before, but East Africa had already ruled most of southern Africa, so this possibility really existed.

Leopold II pretended to be surprised and said, “Is it really as Ambassador Claire says? East Africa shouldn’t be so ruthless!”

“Hehe, Your Majesty, how do you think East Africa got millions of square kilometers of land? Did the Africans next door give it to them?”

Leopold pretended to be solemn and said, “Then I wonder what your country plans to do?”

Claire repeated the same set of words she had said to Portugal to Leopold II. A subtle smile flashed in the eyes of this old fox, Leopold II, but his expression remained unchanged, as if he had really taken Britain’s words to heart.

Leopold II said, “Rest assured, your country, we will cooperate with this matter. As long as Belgium is here, East Africa will definitely not be able to go north. We will stop East Africa, but if East Africa bypasses Belgium, then we will be powerless.”

Claire wasn’t very satisfied with Leopold II’s words. Claire said, “That’s not enough. Although the Congo rainforest isn’t very valuable, it has a large area. If you have the mind, you can take the Congo Basin.”

Leopold II pretended to be troubled and said, “The Congo rainforest is not easy to enter. We lack weapons and ships…”

“We will try our best to give your country assistance in this regard. As long as your country can stop East Africa, we can give your country preferential treatment in weapons transactions.”

Leopold II seemed to have made a big decision and said, “Alright! Then I can only try my best.”

In fact, Leopold II was very satisfied with extorting a sum from Britain. As for antagonizing East Africa, Leopold II had no such intention.

After sending Claire away, Leopold II immediately sold out the British. He sent the news of Britain’s wooing of Belgium to East Africa.

As for the East African threat, that was none of Belgium’s business. East Africa had contributed a lot to Belgium’s early colonial construction and provided a lot of support, so Leopold II was very relieved about East Africa, because he knew that East Africa’s goal could never be Belgium.

In addition to the very good relationship between the two royal families, East Africa could help Belgium colonize the Congo, which meant that East Africa had no intentions for the region. After all, Leopold II was clear about East Africa’s strength in the Ubangi River. It could be said that Belgium’s ability to colonize the Congo was tacitly approved by East Africa.

Leopold II, like in his previous life, balanced the relationship between East Africa and Britain, playing both sides. Taking British weapons and East African grain, he turned around and continued to expand to the west and north. Wouldn’t life be better?

Chapter 508: Economic Sanctions

Leopold II, that double-crossing bastard, tipped off East Africa, which allowed East Africa to understand the British intentions. It seems East Africa is quite attractive to the British.

Following communication with Leopold II, the British also contacted Italy, Abyssinia, Egypt, and even the Kingdom of Imerina across the Mozambique Channel, engaging in some friendly exchanges with them.

A rudimentary encirclement, formed from all directions, was taking shape. However, anyone with eyes could see that this encirclement was both effective and ineffective.

Especially the northern countries, whose attitude towards East Africa was ambiguous. The only country truly following Britain’s lead was Portugal. Besides, even if other countries genuinely joined Britain in blockading East Africa, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish much. It was like when Britain blockaded America; America just turned to the Pacific Ocean and easily neutralized the British tactics.

East Africa didn’t need to learn from America. The East African navy was quite capable in the Indian Ocean and could maintain East Africa’s trade. The Royal Navy posed a significant threat, but its forces were also relatively dispersed.

Moreover, America’s location made it even more susceptible to sanctions than East Africa. After all, America was far from the center of the international market (Europe), while East Africa was near the core of the world’s shipping lanes. Although there was some deviation, it also made blockading East Africa very difficult. Even if the sea route was blocked, there was still land access.

The British even went after the Kingdom of Imerina, which was quite telling. It showed that the British were grasping at straws in their attempts to encircle East Africa.

In July 1879, the British government passed a sanctions bill against East Africa, imposing sanctions on East African agricultural products, especially tropical agricultural exports. It also prohibited British and colonial companies from exporting technology and machinery to East Africa and banned the purchase of East African mineral and industrial products.

The British sanctions bill quickly reached East Africa via telegraph.

“Sanction us? What’s the British justification?” Ernst asked curiously.

“Your Highness, according to the British themselves, East Africa has violated the so-called principle of free trade.”

“Heh, what kind of excuse is that? Why don’t the British go talk about free trade with other countries?” Ernst said dismissively. “The more the enemy opposes us, the more it proves we’re doing the right thing. We must not give the British a chance to interfere in East Africa.”

The British version of free trade was, to put it nicely, unilateral free trade, turning East Africa into a source of raw materials and a dumping ground for British goods. Even Germany and Austria didn’t receive that treatment, so Britain could forget about it. Ernst wasn’t a comprador who relied on the British for a living.

“Your Highness, the British sanctions do pose a bit of a threat, especially in the agricultural sector. The British market is not to be underestimated.”

Although Ernst said he looked down on Britain and wasn’t very interested in developing trade with them, Britain was, after all, the largest country in the world by area, and its population was second only to the Far Eastern Empire. Therefore, East Africa inevitably had trade relations with Britain and its colonies. Moreover, the British had high consumption levels and were generous spenders, making them a good market. So, facing British sanctions, Ernst had to think carefully about how to deal with them.

“We should put more effort into the British colonies, especially India and Australia, which are far from the British mainland but have large economies. Perhaps the British mainland will strictly enforce the laws, but I don’t believe their colonies are that conscientious.”

“Your Highness, in reality, we are competitors with India, especially in the agricultural sector.”

“I know that. I just want to use internal British channels. There are no airtight walls in the world. Britain is too large, and its global empire is very dispersed, so we can find a breakthrough.”

East African tropical agricultural products hold an important position worldwide, especially due to the scale of planting, which makes East African agricultural products very competitive. East Africa can squeeze out competitors by reducing profits, or it can earn hard-earned money by giving concessions to partners.

“We are only significantly affected by British sanctions in the agricultural sector, but this is within my expectations. Britain can only sanction East African agricultural products. We have too little contact with Britain in other areas.”

This was probably one of the reasons why Britain was unhappy with East Africa. East Africa’s abundant resources and population were benefiting Germany and Austria, while Britain wasn’t getting a piece of the pie.

Britain didn’t know the exact population of East Africa, but with East Africa’s large land area, the black population was definitely not small, probably tens of millions. As for resources, there was nothing to say. East Africa was too large, so there couldn’t be a shortage of minerals.

Since the Crown Prince wasn’t worried, he didn’t have anything to worry about either. In fact, the Black Hering Cartel had plenty of ways to circumvent British sanctions; it was just a bit more complicated.

“Your Highness, how should we officially respond to the British sanctions?”

“Respond to what? We’re not begging the British. Let them sanction if they want!”

Ernst wasn’t afraid at all. Unlike the United States in his previous life, although the world market had formed thanks to the efforts of Britain and other countries, the current world market wasn’t a one-man show.

In his previous life, American economic sanctions were fatal to many countries. The countries that could withstand economic sanctions were all formidable powers.

Now, if the British wanted to economically sanction East Africa, they could only do so through war. Other methods would be ineffective against East Africa.

East Africa could be self-sufficient in energy and minerals; Germany could provide funds and technology; and in terms of markets, East Africa didn’t have much interaction with Britain in the first place. Although it would suffer some losses, it wouldn’t affect East Africa’s development.

Britain’s only unique advantage was the technological accumulation from the First Industrial Revolution, including textile machinery and steam engines. East Africa might be somewhat affected in these areas, but East Africa could also purchase the machinery and technology it wanted through third-party countries.

The Second Industrial Revolution was not yet sufficient to replace the influence of the First Industrial Revolution, especially in the field of power. Whether it was vehicles on land or ships at sea, factory production couldn’t do without steam engines. Therefore, Britain could continue to enjoy the dividends of the First Industrial Revolution and remain in the position of world hegemon for a few more decades.

Thinking of this, Ernst felt that East Africa couldn’t be too hasty. The initiative was in the hands of the British, and the British were full of bad ideas, so he had to stabilize the situation first. As long as East Africa itself didn’t have any problems, the British interference wouldn’t work. He wasn’t afraid of Britain trying to outlast East Africa. The first to be unable to bear it would definitely be Britain itself. After all, there were several countries eyeing Britain’s position, while East Africa was only a newcomer.

In other words, East Africa was only a potential threat, while other countries were already a thorn in Britain’s side. Britain couldn’t focus on Africa for long.

Thinking of this, Ernst said, “It seems it’s time to show weakness, but how can we disguise ourselves as harmless?”

Disguising oneself as weak could indeed paralyze the enemy. Ernst knew that the United States had done a good job of disguising itself. After all, the United States didn’t even want an army now. Wasn’t that harmless?

East Africa couldn’t do that. The United States had a democratic system, so even if it was beaten to pieces, it could form a consensus, so Britain couldn’t do anything about the United States. If East Africa dared to disarm itself, East Africa might still exist, but the rule of the Black Hering royal family would definitely be over.

Since they couldn’t compromise on military matters, they could only think of ways to influence international public opinion. How about spreading the East Africa collapse theory? That probably wouldn’t work. To collapse, you had to rise first. Like Haiti in his previous life, collapse might be a good thing. The collapse theory wasn’t suitable for East Africa. If they used the beggar-thy-neighbor strategy, it might be good. After all, better to let a friend die than oneself. The United States and other countries should help East Africa share some of the heat.

Chapter 509: Getting Started

No sooner had Britain given East Africa a lesson than Germany came knocking. However, the Germans clearly didn’t want to upset the British; at this time, relations between the two countries were superficially maintained quite well.

“Your Majesty Constantine, do you require assistance from Germany? We have heard about Britain’s sanctions against East Africa, which are not very conducive to your country’s development,” Ambassador Klein asked.

“Thank you for your country’s concern. If there is a need, we will not stand on ceremony,” Constantine declined Germany’s good intentions.

In reality, East Africa truly didn’t have much to ask for at the moment. If it were a decade or so ago, East Africa certainly wouldn’t have this attitude. But times have changed.

This made Klein feel all the more regretful. If Germany had been able to provide assistance in the early stages of East Africa’s founding, it might have brought Germany a powerful ally in the future. Of course, Germany would have preferred a puppet regime, but East Africa clearly had its own interests and didn’t want to be a lackey of other countries.

East Africa’s start has been quite good. After lying low for more than a decade, it has reappeared on the international stage, no longer the weak East Africa of the past.

…

Southern District of Dar es Salaam.

“Woo…”

As the train pulled into the station, stevedores began unloading resources transported from the interior, piling them onto oxcarts, and then heading towards the industrial park.

The vast majority of these materials were either directly exported from the industrial zone in the new port, processed and then exported, or consumed by East Africa itself.

Therefore, towering chimneys stood in the southern district of Dar es Salaam, billowing black smoke polluting the African sky, obscuring the sun, and industrial wastewater flowed into the sea through pipes. The seawater at the discharge outlets was acrid and pungent. The entire southern district of Dar es Salaam was like cyberpunk from cultural works of the previous life, full of violent aesthetics.

It looked quite spectacular, but the environmental damage was too great. Fortunately, First Township had no industry, otherwise, Ernst would definitely have to move with this level of pollution.

The director of the Dar es Salaam Cable Factory No. 2, Stephen, was very pleased to see truckloads of copper ore being pulled into the warehouse. This meant that Factory No. 2 could also start production.

“Since the end of the East Portuguese War, the Central Railway has resumed operation, and now copper ore can be continuously transported from the interior to Dar es Salaam. This year, we can finally further expand the scale of production.”

“In the past, affected by the war, raw materials were given priority to Factory No. 1. Now, our Factory No. 2 can finally benefit from the railway as well.”

During the East Portuguese War, the Central Railway was requisitioned by the military, which had an impact on East Africa’s production. Among them, copper ore, rubber, and tobacco were the three major categories that were most affected.

Copper ore and rubber are important raw materials for cable production, so the Central Railway’s priority support for the military would definitely restrict the development of the electricity industry. However, the Central Railway had relatively high specifications and could operate for both military and economic needs at the same time, but the number of train cars was a bit tight.

Now that the war is over and transport capacity has been restored, copper and rubber are abundant, and the expansion of the Dar es Salaam Phase II Cable Factory has also begun.

Adhering to the principle of not putting all eggs in one basket, two new cable factories have also been added in Mbeya and Lubumbashi. One cable factory is controlled by the East African National Power Company, and three are controlled by the Hechingen Power Company. East Africa’s power manufacturing sector is quietly getting started. These four cable factories are all distributed along the Central Railway.

“Our current market supply is mainly divided into two parts: the Far East and domestic. As for the foreign market, the quality of our products is not yet sufficient to support exports. The yield rate is worse than in the German region.”

In fact, East Africa’s cable production capacity is not even enough for its own use, but it is better to prioritize meeting customer needs than using it for itself.

Therefore, although the quality of East African cables is a bit poor, they can still be sold at a good price, especially in economically underdeveloped regions. They don’t need high-end products and prioritize price.

Medium and high-end power manufacturing is mainly distributed in the United States and Germany.

Although Ernst has Hechingen Power Company and has many factories and research and development departments in Germany and Austria, it is impossible to directly move them to East Africa.

Therefore, industries with low technical content or those that are not suitable for Germany and Austria are placed in East Africa first. Cable production is one such example, after all, East Africa has more advantages in raw material production.

The main materials for cables are nothing more than copper and aluminum. Now the price of aluminum is still not low, so cheap copper ore is the preferred choice.

Of course, Ernst knows that electrolytic aluminum can greatly reduce the production cost of aluminum, but the price of electricity is not cheap now either.

The power industry as a high-end technology industry is no joke. It’s not like the previous life, where power plants were rare. The first power plant in the previous life was built in 1882, so electricity is simply not abundant now, and can even be said to be extremely scarce. As the saying goes, things are valued for their scarcity, and with a shortage of electricity, the price of electricity is naturally expensive.

Therefore, investing in electricity is definitely a high-input, high-risk industry. This may also be the reason why countries such as Britain and France have been surpassed in the electricity sector.

Just like the early promotion of electric vehicles in the previous life, it was also extremely difficult. No one can predict the speed of technological development, especially many entrepreneurs who specialize in business and may not have any foresight about the scientific outlook on development.

Of course, once someone makes a breakthrough and achieves results, then capital is the most ruthless, and they will quickly occupy the new market. This is how Hechingen Power Company developed.

“To support the development of enterprises, the government plans to expand investment in the electricity industry in East Africa, including communications, lighting, etc., and plans to connect telegraphs to various cities and some important towns, and to upgrade the lighting systems in Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and Nairobi.”

“This can be considered as us actively cultivating the domestic electricity market. East Africa’s consumption demand is actually not strong, and it has been in a state of deflation for a long time. However, doing so in the early stage will not be a big problem. East Africa, from a colony to the present, in just over a decade, even if the market is opened up, it is impossible to cultivate a larger consumer market than other countries in the world, so all this still depends on government promotion.”

In East Africa, the richest is the Hechingen royal family, followed by the East African government. As for the wealth gap between other people, it is really not that big, so the development of the electricity industry must rely on the joint efforts of the Hechingen Consortium and the East African government.

For example, the problem of electricity demand. The common people of East Africa definitely cannot afford it and do not have the desire to consume it. They go to bed early and get up early, living a healthy life. In the end, it is because there are no rich forms of entertainment.

“Government agencies and factories, as well as post offices, are the major consumers of electricity in East Africa. We will first popularize electricity supply to them, followed by cities, especially Soga and First Township, which must be the first to achieve electrification.”

Soga is East Africa’s science and technology city, so there is no problem in prioritizing the popularization of good things, which can also reflect the Hechingen royal family’s emphasis on scientific talents. As for First Township, that is a political need, and other cities will depend on their economic strength.

According to economic strength, the four cities are Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Nairobi, and Mombasa. Of course, some strategic locations can also be deployed in advance, mainly in the field of communications, to facilitate East Africa’s monitoring of the surrounding environment, especially to guard against Portugal and Britain, such as New Hamburg in the southernmost part of East Africa.

Chapter 510: Giving Britain Something to Do

Ernst’s mind raced, and he began to set a trap for the victim. East Africa had a natural advantage in this regard.

He picked up the phone on the desk and dialed directly: “Get me the National Security Bureau. Get the Director of the National Security Bureau here… Yes, report to the palace immediately. I’ll be waiting for you in my office.”

Before long, the Director of the East African National Security Bureau arrived in a flurry after receiving the summons. To Gro, a personal summons from His Highness meant something important was happening.

As a new department established only a few years ago, the National Security Bureau had little influence in East Africa and was a relatively unknown organization.

Although it had “National Defense” in its name, it had no connection to the military. The military had its own intelligence department, mainly used to collect military-related information. The East African National Security Bureau, on the other hand, was a purely espionage organization, used to carry out covert activities against foreign countries.

Soon, a rather young officer arrived at Kiviet Palace. Since it was a “defense department,” he was wearing a military uniform.

“Gro, you’re here. Have a seat.”

“Yes, Principal!”

Gro saluted and sat down, saying with a serious expression: “Principal, what are your instructions this time? Just give the order!”

Ernst took a sip of tea and said: “It’s nothing major. I think you know about the recent British suppression of us.”

“Yes, Principal. As you instructed, our department has been focusing on intelligence work in the United Kingdom and the United States. Therefore, I have personally overseen the progress of the British sanctions bill and their efforts to collude with our surrounding forces, to prevent any important information from being missed.”

“Then you should know why I’ve called you here, right?”

“Is the Principal preparing to retaliate against Britain?”

“Not quite. We don’t have the ability to fall out with Britain, so that’s why I’m looking for you. Some things can’t be solved openly.”

Gro sat upright on the sofa, thinking about Ernst’s words: “Does the Principal mean to secretly create trouble for the British, so they don’t have time to pay attention to East Africa?”

“Very good. It seems you already know what I mean. I don’t want Britain to always focus on East Africa. There are many regions more important to Britain than East Africa. The British are too idle.”

“So that’s what it is! I wonder how you plan to intervene, what effect you want to achieve, and whether we need to use our British personnel!”

“No need. Some chess pieces are not easy to place, and we can’t waste them. They need to play a role at a critical moment. We might not even use them for several years. This time, we’ll mainly think of ways from the perspective of public opinion, so we only need to use the most peripheral personnel. I need you to find a few members of parliament in Britain who pay attention to regions other than East Africa, and have them speak out, preferably starting with the Afghan War or South America, expressing their opinions, and giving Britain something to do, to divert the British government’s attention.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be enough to make Britain change its tune. The words of a few members of parliament are not enough to change the British government’s mind.”

“Well, you have a point. So, I’ll have the newspaper follow up on your actions and create momentum for them. After you arrange the list of members of parliament, remember to send me a copy, and I’ll publish their statements through the media.”

Gro thought, is it that simple?

“Principal, that’s not enough to achieve our goal, is it?”

Ernst nodded and said: “Of course, that’s only one aspect. What I’m going to say next is the key. Since we just mentioned Afghanistan and South America, it’s naturally related to these two regions.”

“Is the Principal talking about the two wars?”

In 1879, there were two major wars involving the British: the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the War of the Pacific, also known as the Guano War or the Saltpeter War.

“Yes, the British are now focused on these two wars. However, Afghanistan is obviously more important to Britain, after all, Britain is personally involved. The War of the Pacific also has a good impact, just like last time when Britain instigated Portugal to confront us, this time Britain is supporting Chile behind the scenes.”

It seemed that Britain had its own strategic deployments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. However, East Africa was too large, and the Portuguese couldn’t shake it at all, preventing Britain from succeeding.

As for Afghanistan and South America, they were more miserable. In the early stages, British military operations in Afghanistan were quite smooth, but Ernst knew that the Afghan people would soon make the British experience the feeling of being surrounded by enemies on all sides. Occupying cities was not a viable strategy in Afghanistan.

In South America, three small countries were fighting fiercely for saltpeter. The armies of the three countries even used cold weapons such as bows and arrows in combat. Just like the Paraguayan War, it was another means for Britain to try to strengthen its control over South America.

“So, you must make full use of these two wars to make Britain shift its attention to these two places. South America is now in the heat of battle, but Afghanistan is now calm, so I’m allocating a sum of money to you to stir up the situation in Afghanistan.”

Ernst’s ultimate goal was still Afghanistan. As for the War of the Pacific, it was just a side benefit. Anyway, it was also good material to add some fun for British citizens.

With more news about the two wars, there would naturally be less news about East Africa, and the British government would also be influenced by public opinion, giving priority to the two wars.

“Principal, do you mean we should intervene in the Afghan War?”

Ernst shook his head and said: “Not us, but Tsarist Russia, Persia, or Afghanistan. Only it has nothing to do with us, understand?”

“Yes, Principal, but after all, we don’t have any forces that we can use in Afghanistan. I’m afraid this matter will be quite difficult.”

“I know this is not easy, but money can solve many things. Coincidentally, we left a lot of weapons during the last war, so let’s donate them to the Afghan people! Your department is responsible for sending this batch of weapons to the British, but you have to find a way to clean this batch of weapons of any connection with East Africa, so that others can’t catch us with any evidence.”

“I understand, Your Highness. We can use Arab merchants to do this. As for the weapons, we don’t need to send them all over. We’ll select some common versions, so that the enemy can’t find any connection with Germany, and finally put the blame on the countries surrounding Afghanistan.”

Gro spoke his thoughts, and Ernst added: “Our people had better use Russian to handle this matter, absolutely not German. Let’s put on a full show. Anyway, Russia originally planned to intervene in the war, so it seems reasonable.”

“I understand, Principal. This operation is entirely planned by the Russians and has nothing to do with other countries. Other countries naturally include East Africa, especially East Africa.”

“Yes, not bad. Also, remember one thing, you have to think of your own way for transportation. We can’t intervene. Think of a way from Zanzibar, so that people can’t find out that the weapons are flowing out of East Africa.”

Without Ernst’s intervention, the Afghans would still launch a resistance against the British in a few months, but Ernst wanted to bring this matter forward a bit. As long as Afghanistan was in chaos, Britain’s attention would only be focused on Afghanistan. After all, it was the real British army fighting in Afghanistan, not proxies like Portugal and Chile.

Thinking of this, Ernst finally urged: “The sooner this matter is done, the better. Of course, you can’t be impatient. The first goal is still to be safe, even if the mission fails, it can’t have any connection with East Africa.”

Chapter 511: Blood Transfusion

Golden sand drifted and swirled on the ancient Silk Road. On the parched bed of an ancient river, an Arabian caravan braved the scorching sun, heading towards the distance.

A hundred or so camels plodded forward, step by step, seemingly without a trace of fatigue, while the merchants on their backs complained incessantly.

“Mr. Andreilov, why didn’t you ship these weapons to Afghanistan through Russia? Why did you have to sneak them to the Afghans this way? To be honest, if it weren’t for Uncle Aimaiti’s extensive experience, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to find our way along this trade route.”

The man called “Andreilov,” riding on a camel, spoke to the caravan leader in fluent Russian: “Mr. Faruq, this is a secret operation. You should know that we Russians and the British are not on good terms. However, both Britain and Russia are world powers, so although there are conflicts, they can’t be out in the open. I’m only telling you this because I consider you a friend. Please don’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”

Hearing Andreilov call him a friend made Faruq very happy. Faruq, wearing a small square hat, smiled and said, “Of course, Mr. Andreilov, a word to the wise is sufficient. We absolutely won’t reveal your affairs. You can rest assured about our caravan. We’ve been doing business in this area for years and value our reputation above all else. Lying is something Allah dislikes.”

It wasn’t that Faruq was on particularly good terms with Andreilov. After a few days of interaction, Faruq found that Andreilov respected his faith, unlike the Russians he had dealt with in the past.

“Mr. Andreilov, your accent doesn’t sound like the Russian I usually hear,” Faruq asked.

Hearing this, the fledgling “Andreilov” suddenly felt a tightening in his heart, but he still pretended to be calm and asked, “Mr. Faruq, how did you know?”

“I often deal with you Russians and am very familiar with the Russian language. It’s just that your accent is different from those Russian merchants.”

Hearing this, “Andreilov” understood what was going on in an instant and breathed a sigh of relief.

He chuckled and explained, “I’m from Saint Petersburg, so my accent might be a little different from the Russians in the south.”

“Oh, I see. I know Russia is also a vast country, so it’s understandable that there are differences in language between different regions, just like our Arab religion. There are big differences in accent in each region.”

Hearing this, “Andreilov” was completely relieved. It seemed that Faruq accepted his explanation. However, his spoken language was indeed a Saint Petersburg accent. After all, Saint Petersburg was the capital of Russia during this period.

However, Faruq’s words also served as a warning to “Andreilov,” that is, secret agents abroad should learn more dialects. When he returned to Saint Petersburg, he would report this to his superiors, otherwise, it would be bad if colleagues were exposed due to accent issues in the future.

Faruq didn’t know that his unintentional words had inadvertently helped an intelligence organization correct a shortcoming. However, it couldn’t be said that the East African National Defense Security Bureau was unprofessional. After all, it had only been established for a few years, and it would be a problem if there were no problems.

Just like the British Military Intelligence Section Six during World War II, it was a typical case of not learning from past mistakes. However, the level of the British Military Intelligence Section Six was still acceptable, of course, all thanks to the contrast from their German colleagues. Later, when they encountered the Soviet Union, the British intelligence agencies became monkeys, and the monkey trainer was the KGB.

As a German, Ernst certainly didn’t want the East African intelligence department to learn from Germany, so the East African intelligence department was developing towards professionalization and institutionalization from the beginning.

Of course, when Ernst was developing the intelligence department, he also hoped that the East African intelligence department would learn from the German army, that is, not to interfere in politics.

Although Germany was militaristic, it was more of a militaristic national culture. The German stubbornness was reflected in this. The army only did army affairs and could not participate in government affairs, and the government could not interfere with the army.

However, the entire German national system was developed around the army, so the German army did not need to conflict with the government, after all, they were all their own people. In comparison, Japan’s was the real militarism, with subordinates rebelling against superiors, truly highlighting extreme thinking everywhere.

Compared with Germany, the East African army had less power. Although Ernst claimed to be learning from German militarism, the government would not serve the military everywhere like Germany.

The East African bureaucracy was more like the Soviet bureaucracy, but the relationship between the military and the government was not bad. Many veterans were arranged to work in the government every year, especially in the early days of East Africa, a large part of the administrative staff came from the military.

If East Africa also learned from Germany, then the army would have to at least double. Although the number of non-black people in East Africa was definitely not as large as in Germany, the population structure was younger, and there were so many black people as tools of production, so the burden was relatively small, just like the ancient nomadic regimes in the Far East, which generally relied on the Han people to farm, while their own people engaged in military affairs. Black people also played this role. In fact, all countries were like this.

It’s just that East Africa had a large number of exploitable people, and even more so than other countries. Black people in East Africa had no human rights or status, and resistance was useless. Ernst had many shortcomings, but he was ruthless enough, after all, being a saint would cost him.

Ernst himself often felt that East African blacks were relatively easy to govern. Although they were a bit stupid, they didn’t understand any tactics. Of course, this was mainly related to their horizons and had little to do with their intelligence.

East Africa had colonized Africa for too short a time. These black people were completely unable to cope with the dimensional reduction strike of colonizers who were two dimensions higher. And after they came into contact with and learned the thinking and methods of the colonizers, East Africa sent them away again, cutting off their chances of revenge in East Africa. Let them go and cause trouble for other countries!

After traveling for two days, “Andreilov” and his party finally arrived at a small place called Yazdan on the western border of Afghanistan. However, this was not “Andreilov’s” final destination.

The Shindand region in the east was “Andreilov’s” target. The Shindand Valley was one of the few good places in Afghanistan. For a country like Afghanistan, being able to grow food was good land, especially since the Shindand Plain had a large area.

Shindand was an important area in western Afghanistan. The main thing was that it was very far from Kabul. Britain now nominally occupied Afghanistan, but it did not actually occupy most areas, let alone the remote Shindand.

In his previous life, the Afghan religious regime was active here, so the Shindand area was very hostile to the British invaders.

“Andreilov’s” mission this time was to provide blood transfusions to the Afghan resistance organizations through the local armed forces in Shindand, and to embarrass the British.

After entering Shindand, a merchant who had been doing business here for many years received “Andreilov.” This person naturally had nothing to do with East Africa, but he had business dealings with Zanzibar merchants. It had to be said that Zanzibar merchants were very resourceful and their business had reached remote areas such as Afghanistan. However, this was not an exception. Backed by East Africa, it was difficult for Zanzibar merchants not to get rich. East Africa had goods, and Zanzibar merchants had channels. The two sides could be considered a win-win cooperation.

This was also the reason why Zanzibar merchants were willing to act as vanguards for East Africa. Furthermore, the Zanzibar merchant community shared the same faith as Afghanistan, so supporting their brothers in resisting aggression was morally justifiable. They could make money on the one hand, and build good relationships with the local forces in Afghanistan on the other. They were naturally willing to do this cost-effective business.

Furthermore, East Africa had no interest demands on Afghanistan, which would not make the cooperation between the two sides feel difficult, and this matter was easy to handle.

Chapter 512: Providing a Stage for the Russians

Sixty-some kilometers north of Kabul lies a small village.

A group of Afghan resistance organizations is gathered here. Before the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the Russians were allies of Afghanistan. Afghanistan and Tsarist Russia formed an alliance in July of last year, but in November of the same year, Britain invaded Afghanistan.

Clearly, Russia had no deterrent effect on Britain, or rather, Britain attached extreme importance to Afghanistan, to prevent Russia from entering the Indian Ocean, even the slightest possibility had to be nipped in the bud.

This is the same as the United States in its previous life. Everyone knows Russia’s breakthrough points: one is the Middle East and the Black Sea, and the other is the Indian Ocean.

If Tsarist Russia could really open a passage to the Indian Ocean, then Tsarist Russia’s geopolitical influence would be, without exaggeration, invincible. Although Tsarist Russia’s land area is already so large that it is invincible, without the ocean, Tsarist Russia would never be able to obtain the world hegemony it longs for.

Since the Age of Exploration, the ocean has been almost synonymous with trade. Controlling the ocean naturally leads to becoming a world hegemon. This position is something that the former “gendarme of Europe,” Russia, and the former continental hegemon, France, could only dream of. Therefore, obtaining continental hegemony cannot compare to the value of Britain’s maritime hegemony. Maritime hegemony is equivalent to world hegemony. Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands deeply understand this. Of course, France also held it for a few years, but France never had the overwhelming advantage that those maritime hegemons had.

Of course, the struggle between sea power and land power shows that land power is still relatively competitive, but Ernst does not believe that land power can compete with sea power, unless a centralized empire controlling the Eurasian continent emerges, then there might be a glimmer of hope.

Leaving aside whether this empire can emerge, even if it does, its sphere of influence would only be in Europe, Asia, and Africa, after all, the land is divided by the ocean.

And a maritime hegemon like Britain can interfere in global affairs through the ocean. Wherever British warships sail, that is Britain’s sphere of influence.

So it is understandable that the British are so targeted towards Tsarist Russia. If Ernst were British, he would definitely want to trap Tsarist Russia in the inland. Of course, as long as Ernst is not Russian, he will definitely support trapping Tsarist Russia in the inland.

Russia’s territory is already equivalent to exclusively occupying a continent. Only the United States, East Africa, and the Far Eastern Empire can compare with Russia. If most of Russia’s territory were not in a bad environment, then only Britain, with its vast colonies, could steadily suppress Russia.

This time, Russia watched its ally being annexed by Britain with its own eyes, and was extremely unhappy, but the Russo-Turkish War lasted even longer than in history, forcing Russia to just glare at the British.

To the point that even simple support for Afghanistan was impossible. It could only symbolically send a few military instructors and a small amount of weapons to Afghanistan to support the Afghan opposition forces in fighting Britain.

The main reason is that the Russo-Turkish War is consuming a lot, so weapons supply is prioritized for the Russo-Turkish battlefield, and Russia’s industrial and logistical capabilities are already strained just dealing with the Russo-Turkish War.

Therefore, the weapons provided by East Africa greatly relieved the urgent needs of the Afghan resistance forces. Although these weapons are relatively backward, they are quite satisfactory for Afghanistan, a country with zero industrial base.

So today, Ilya, a Russian military instructor stationed in Afghanistan, was surprised to find that the Afghans had somehow acquired a batch of weapons.

He found Mullah, the leader of the Afghan resistance organization, and asked, “Where did you get this batch of weapons?”

Mullah was not averse to this Russian who was supporting Afghanistan against Britain. He said to Ilya, “It is said that international friends sent the weapons from Persia, but they are unwilling to reveal their identities.”

Persia? But Ilya didn’t think the Persians had the guts to give Afghanistan support, after all, the British are not easy to mess with, and they would be finished if they got burned.

“Persia is unlikely, after all, they are scared to death of the British, they shouldn’t have the guts. Do you know who sent this batch of weapons?”

“Mr. Ilya, it was indeed an Arab businessman who provided us with sponsorship. According to him, these weapons were most likely provided by you Russians.”

Hmm! This made Ilya incredulous: “That’s impossible. If it was weapons provided by us Russians, how could I not know? And if it was domestic support, their person in charge should have met with me, not through a third party, right?”

Mullah scratched his head and said, “I don’t know the specific situation, but that Arab businessman said it was the Russians, because the leader who sent this batch of equipment to him was from your Russia, and supposedly from Saint Petersburg.”

Sensing something was amiss, Ilya asked somewhat seriously, “Could someone be impersonating them?”

Mullah: “Probably not! That businessman also does business with your people all year round, so if someone is impersonating a Russian, he should be able to tell.”

“So that’s how it is? Am I just being paranoid?” Ilya was a little confused.

At this time, Mullah said, “Mr. Ilya, you don’t have to dwell on this issue. The forces that provide us with weapons must be friends of the Afghan people, or at least enemies of the British. And we just happen to lack weapons, so this matter is beneficial to us.”

Hearing Mullah say this, Ilya also felt that he was splitting hairs. Anyway, his mission is to cause trouble for the British, and this batch of weapons and equipment can just improve the combat effectiveness of the resistance organization. The British should be the ones with a headache.

“Mr. Mullah, you are right, it can’t be the British being so kind as to send us equipment.”

Speaking of the British, Ilya suddenly surprisingly discovered that there were quite a few British weapons mixed in with this batch of weapons.

“This is an Enfield? And a French Martini, this is a German Dreyse, and all kinds of flintlock guns.”

This discovery aroused Ilya’s great interest. He rummaged through the pile of weapons and found that the source of this batch of weapons was quite mixed, with weapons and equipment from various countries, but mainly German, British, and French weapons, with very few Russian ones.

So Ilya analyzed that there were two possibilities. One is that this batch of weapons may really have been provided by Arab countries, after all, the source is too mixed, it feels like second-hand goods temporarily purchased from various European countries and pieced together. The second is that this batch of weapons was provided by Russia, because Russian guns are the least in this batch of guns, which is very suspicious. Could it really be that some domestic force is supplying Afghanistan, but doesn’t want to reveal its identity.

The second guess is not impossible, but Ilya is more inclined to the first, because if the country supports Afghanistan, there is no need to be so secretive.

In fact, this batch of weapons is the equipment of the East African Black Legion that has just been retired from the East Portuguese War, plus some captured Portuguese equipment, that is, the weapons provided by Britain and France.

Of course, the East African intelligence department was extra careful and specifically mixed in some weapons from other countries. Many countries have a share.

“This batch of weapons doesn’t look very new. Can it be used to deal with the British? Will the failure rate be too high?”

Ilya stopped dwelling on the source of the weapons, but instead began to nitpick about the quality of this batch of weapons.

But Mullah said very satisfied: “This doesn’t matter to us. With this batch of weapons, plus our brave warriors, we will definitely give the British a heavy blow.”

Chapter 513: Decision

This time, to set the stage for the Russians, East Africa was not stingy, and successively sent enough arms to equip 30,000 people to Afghanistan. This was no small sum, because the British also had a garrison of about thirty to forty thousand in Afghanistan at the time. Since the Afghan authorities had already surrendered, some were withdrawn, but there were still about thirty thousand or so.

These thirty thousand did not include the Indian auxiliary troops, which were the British army’s own flesh and blood. Although this son seemed to have little human rights at home, the British were not stingy with their own people.

The British army usually looks pitiful, but that depends on who you compare it to. Compared with its own Royal Navy, the funding is naturally a drop in the bucket, but compared with the armies of other countries in the world, the British army still has a good face, at least in terms of weapons and equipment, it is at the same level as several top powers. Therefore, the British army is pretending to be poor like the foolish son of a wealthy family. The treatment of the armies of other countries may really not be as high as that of the British.

Therefore, the British army is ridiculed for its poor level, but it can also join forces with France to wrestle with Tsarist Russia in Crimea. So, there is no problem in playing support, as long as they are not the main force, just like the Boer War and the Afghan War in the previous life, they lost all face.

Because of East Africa, the First Boer War that should have happened did not happen. Ernst doesn’t know if the British and Boers will have another one. Currently, the Orange Free State, which has just been incorporated into Cape Town, is still in its honeymoon period with the British. East Africa has no way to intervene.

However, Ernst believes that the Boer War will still happen. After all, the British rely on sweet talk, but their hands have already reached into the Boers’ pockets. This is like an old scumbag deceiving a simple little girl and not wanting to take responsibility.

In addition, with the return of Boers from the Transvaal Republic to Orange, the overall strength of the Orange Free State is still strong. After all, the Boers have a large base in Cape Town. Ernst’s expulsion of the Boers in the Transvaal Republic can be regarded as planting a landmine in Cape Town.

…

Looking at the suddenly “wealthy” Afghan resistance army, Ilya’s heart was indeed half happy and half worried. He was happy that there was now enough equipment, although some of it was backward, but it could still be used. He was worried that the backer behind Afghanistan had not provided much ammunition.

Looking at the sentimental Ilya, Murati asked, “Mr. Ilya, now that there is enough equipment, why do you not seem very satisfied?”

Ilya shared his worries with Murati and said, “Although there are enough weapons, how can the ammunition problem be solved? We can’t just fight one battle! That way, even if we win, without ammunition replenishment, the British can still counterattack successfully.”

Murati was not too worried. He said to Ilya, “If there is no ammunition, we can rely on capture, and we can use indigenous methods to manufacture gunpowder. As long as we aim accurately, we can save some.”

Compared with the Tsarist Russian army, which was used to a life of wealth, the Afghans are not picky eaters. The gunpowder problem is not big. Even guns can be made by hand. They carried out large-scale manual repairs on East African guns.

Because it was free support, East Africa would naturally not check the gun problems for Afghanistan, let alone repair them. Although East Africa has this ability, Ernst believes that the Afghans do not need it.

Ilya also thought that Murati’s statement about capture made some sense, because in addition to muzzle-loading flintlock guns, the most East Africa provided were British Enfields, which happened to be the same model as the British army.

“Moreover, we can rely on manual manufacturing of gunpowder weapons in Afghanistan. The British do not have this ability. Their weapons and supplies must be transported from the rear, so we can find a way to swallow these weapons and supplies.”

Ilya also felt that this plan was reliable. The British invasion of Afghanistan was said to be no better than trekking over mountains and ridges, passing through the Khyber, Kurram, and Bolan Passes to enter Afghanistan. This shows the complexity of the Afghan terrain. Therefore, it is definitely not easy for the British to transport supplies from India to Afghanistan. Not to mention the high cost, the risk is also high.

Thinking of the desperate mountain roads in Afghanistan, Ilya said excitedly, “Chief Murati, you are a genius. We can use the terrain advantage to ambush the British supply lines, which is definitely very beneficial to your restoration of Afghanistan.”

Murati had a different opinion: “No, our primary goal is still Kabul. Only when the flames of war in Kabul reignite will the Afghan patriots who are dissatisfied with the British invasion take action. If it is just a small fight, it will not hurt the British.”

Ilya said seriously, “Are you sure your target is directly Kabul? Kabul is not easy to attack. We have only accumulated so many troops who can use firearms in these few months. What if they are exhausted?”

“But, we still want to drive the British out of our country as soon as possible!” Murati said firmly.

As for fighting the British for too long, Murati was not at ease. Murati was not worried about the British, but about his partner—Russia!

British colonization of Afghanistan is indeed the primary problem, but Murati does not think that Russia is a good bird either.

Moreover, the Russians are more supportive in words. If it were not for the support of “patriotic” wealthy businessmen, the resistance organization would not even be able to raise enough weapons. The Russians sent a few people to make Afghanistan fight the British to the death, and then pick the peaches after both the British and Afghanistan were hurt! Afghanistan is right next to Russia, so it has to be guarded against.

Murati is a man of some foresight. His perception of both Britain and Russia is not very good, and he also knows that relying on the power of others is not feasible.

Of course, in order to prevent Ilya from being unhappy, Murati added, “Of course, when we concentrate most of our forces to attack Kabul, we can also instigate the brothers in the south to harass the British supply lines.”

However, Murati was a little worried. After knowing that Murati wanted to attack Kabul, Ilya felt that this method seemed quite good!

Don’t get me wrong, Ilya thinks it’s good not because it’s beneficial to Afghanistan, but because it’s beneficial to his career. This is still related to Ilya’s mission.

The order Ilya received was to make trouble for the British, not necessarily to help the Afghans achieve victory, because Russia did not believe that Afghanistan had the ability to defeat Britain, especially when it was concentrating on dealing with the Ottoman Empire and was unable to take care of Afghanistan.

To make trouble for the British, then a problem in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, must be the most eye-catching. If there is a problem in Kabul, then the country will soon know.

If we follow our own plan and attack the British supply lines, although it is more stable, it is not conducive to our own fame!

The Afghans attack Kabul, regardless of whether they can succeed or not, as the person in charge of the area near Kabul, Ilya’s resume can be added with a thick stroke, maybe he can be promoted and transferred back to the country.

After all, the task is to make trouble, not to defeat the British. There is no bigger trouble than attacking the Afghan capital. He is making a profit no matter what.

So Ilya immediately changed his tune and said, “Chief Murati, you are right. Kabul is the political center of Afghanistan. Only by attacking and recovering it can we inspire people more. Therefore, we should take the recovery of Kabul as the primary goal, and other things can be put aside for now.”

Chapter 514: The Kabul Uprising

On the morning of July 4th, 1879, the British Governor-General of Kabul, Afghanistan, was holding a rally in the square, touting the so-called friendly relations between the two countries. Many key members of the puppet government were present.

“…Britain will bring the dawn of the civilized world to Afghanistan, allowing Afghanistan to take a big step forward in modernization… Britain is a friend of the Afghan people, and the friendship between our two countries is as solid as a rock, unbreakable.”

The British Governor-General of Kabul had just finished his speech when members of the puppet government took the lead in applauding. The atmosphere on the scene seemed quite harmonious. If it weren’t for the numb gazes of most of the people in the square, one would really think that the relationship between the two countries was as friendly as the British claimed.

However, among the citizens of Kabul, many people had fierce expressions on their faces. The British Governor-General of Kabul certainly noticed this, but he was in a very good mood and didn’t plan to argue with these troublemakers. As long as the Afghan authorities were loyal to Britain, the overall situation was set. The power of the people was worthless.

“Abraham, are you ready? We’ll be responsible for causing the riot and drawing the guards over. You’re responsible for cracking the Brit’s skull.”

“Leave it to me! Fight for Allah!”

Said a young Afghan man with a firm gaze.

Soon, chaos suddenly erupted in the southwest corner of the square, which made the British Governor-General of Kabul very unhappy. He signaled the guards to quell the troublemakers.

He then walked towards the Mayor of Kabul and said with a gloomy expression, “It seems that not all Afghans are our friends. Some hostile elements are trying to sabotage the friendship between our two countries, but these clumsy methods are really not worth mentioning.”

The Mayor of Kabul sensed the Brit’s dissatisfaction, but this incident did make him lose face. He said with a flattering expression, “They are just some bugs, hiding in the dark. They don’t dare to show their faces, so they instigate young people to make trouble. Young people are always easily misled, but this does not hinder our friendship with your country. In the next few days, the government will send people to cleanse some hostile elements in Kabul. Don’t worry, we will definitely make them pay the price.”

That’s what he said, but in his heart, he was thinking that this action must have been carried out by one of his political enemies. It seemed that he had to crack down on his “loyal” subordinates.

While the two were talking, a young man walked towards them in an unusual manner. At this time, everyone’s attention was focused on the conflict in the southwest corner, and no one noticed Abraham.

When he was only a dozen meters away from the two, as if sensing something, the British Governor-General of Kabul suddenly became vigilant. He looked down from the podium and saw Abraham.

Abraham had already separated from the crowd, so he stood out, which made the British Governor-General of Kabul’s heart ring alarm bells.

Abraham also noticed the gaze of the British Governor-General of Kabul. The two looked at each other and were both stunned. Not good!

Abraham quickly pulled a revolver from his robe and pulled the trigger at the British Governor-General of Kabul.

The British Governor-General of Kabul was not an ordinary person. After realizing the danger, he pulled the Mayor of Kabul beside him.

This left the Mayor of Kabul, who had not noticed anything unusual, looking confused. Just as he was wondering what the British Governor-General of Kabul wanted to do.

He heard a gunshot, someone was trying to assassinate him!

At this time, the British Governor-General of Kabul had already pulled him in front of him, and with a flexible move, he scurried to a safe position behind the Mayor of Kabul’s body.

Abraham’s first shot directly hit the Mayor of Kabul, who was pulled in front of the British Governor-General of Kabul to block the bullet. Seeing that he had not hit the Brit, Abraham did not hesitate, quickly found the location of the British Governor-General of Kabul, and wanted to send this Brit to hell.

But at this time, he had already lost the best opportunity for assassination. He fired five shots in a row, three of which were caught by the Mayor of Kabul.

The Mayor of Kabul didn’t have time to think, and immediately fainted, losing consciousness, and probably wouldn’t wake up.

The British guards and Afghan soldiers who were maintaining order at the scene had already returned to support at this time. They rushed to Abraham in a few steps, pounced on Abraham, and pressed Abraham firmly to the ground.

Knowing that he could not escape death, Abraham shouted with all his strength, “For freedom, for Afghanistan, Allah is the greatest!”

The British Governor-General of Kabul, who was still in shock, realized that his whole body was soaked in cold sweat, and his legs were so weak that he could not stand.

Several British guards hurried forward to support the Governor-General and helped the Governor-General to a safe location, fearing that there would be follow-up attacks.

At this time, the Afghan resistance organization in the city, hearing the gunshots, knew that Abraham had acted. Although they didn’t know if the Brit was dead or not, they still launched a rebellion.

At this time, gunfire erupted in the city of Kabul, and the grand Kabul Uprising began!

The Governor of Kabul, who had calmed down, immediately realized that something was wrong when he heard the chaotic gunfire! He quickly organized his troops to prepare for suppression.

The entire city of Kabul was in chaos. Hundreds of insurgents ambushed in Kabul exchanged fire with the British army and the puppet army in the city. The resistance organization that had arrived outside the city of Afghanistan a few days earlier also began to attack the city.

The two sides, along with the citizens of Kabul, started a chaotic battle, but the Afghan insurgents in the city were weak after all, and were quickly forced into the residential area, where the two sides began a fierce street battle.

The Afghan resistance organization outside the city was also exchanging fire with the British on the city wall, but because the British Governor-General of Kabul had escaped,

The British were not flustered. The backbone was still there, so the British Governor-General of Kabul quickly stabilized the morale of the army and launched a counterattack against the Afghan resistance organization.

The battle in the city lasted from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon before it ended, but sporadic gunshots could still be heard.

After the battle in the city was resolved, the British could concentrate all their efforts to deal with the Afghan resistance organization outside the city. The Afghan resistance organization, seeing the fearless spirit, consumed a lot of British troops, but because of the lack of heavy weapons, there was no way to deal with the British garrison in Kabul.

Seeing that things could not be done, Ilya said, “Let’s retreat quickly! If we don’t take Kabul in time, and the British troops from other areas come to support us, we may be surrounded. By then, we won’t be able to leave even if we want to. It’s four o’clock now, and there are still a few hours before dark. Let’s retreat quickly.”

Ilya considered that the British probably wouldn’t dare to chase after dark, after all, the British were unfamiliar with the place and wouldn’t dare to wander around, so it was best to retreat first.

Murati said angrily, “It’s a pity to miss this opportunity!”

Ilya comforted him, “We have already dealt a heavy blow to the British. We can fight back next time. With us taking the lead, other armed forces will also take action, and it will be easier to liberate Afghanistan. What we need to do now is to preserve the main force of the army, and we can’t lose it here.”

Murati was not someone who would not listen to advice. He also knew that if he didn’t retreat, he wouldn’t be able to leave later. Anyway, Kabul could not be taken down today.

“Let’s go!”

When they came, there were more than three thousand people, and now there were only more than one thousand left, hundreds of whom were lost in Kabul. After all, it was the capital of Afghanistan, so the number of British troops was relatively large. With the assistance of the puppet army, it was indeed unlikely that the resistance organization could take Kabul with so few people.

If the Governor of Kabul had died, there would have been some chance to deal with the leaderless British, but the Governor of Kabul managed to escape by virtue of his excellent escape skills.

Chapter 515: Dog Eat Dog

The next day.

The British Governor-General in Kabul stared with a grim face at the British soldiers’ corpses collected yesterday, along with an even greater number of puppet troops.

“How many people died yesterday?”

“Only three hundred and eighty-five of our men died, with a total of two thousand four hundred and seven casualties. About two hundred Afghan government soldiers died, with roughly five hundred casualties.”

“How is it that our losses are so much greater than the Afghan government army’s?” the Governor-General asked in astonishment.

He wouldn’t care how many Afghan government soldiers died, but he was deeply troubled by the deaths of so many soldiers of the British Empire. Moreover, the Afghan government army’s casualties were actually lower than the British army’s?

Knowing the Governor-General’s doubts and eager to shirk responsibility, a British military commander quickly said, “Your Excellency, it is very clear that the Afghan government army didn’t put in their full effort. They may have sympathized with those terrorist militants during the battle, or perhaps they were afraid of dying, so they didn’t fight with all their might.”

This was certainly the case. After all, the government army was now seen as a puppet force by everyone in Afghanistan, assisting the British in suppressing the Afghan people. Of course, these government soldiers were just trying to earn a living and had no need to fight to the death for the British Empire’s hegemony.

The Kabul Governor-General sighed and said, “We lost so many people this time. Fortunately, Kabul wasn’t lost, or it would be difficult to explain back home!”

The deaths of over three hundred people were definitely a major defeat for the British army. In the Zulu War of the previous world, the British only lost a little over one thousand three hundred men. Moreover, Afghan resistance organizations in various regions would likely be eager to make trouble, and the casualty figures would continue to rise.

“Your Excellency, the rebels colluded with internal personnel, which caught us off guard. Many soldiers didn’t have time to react, and our numerical advantage wasn’t obvious. The Afghan government army was also putting on an act, forcing us to rely on our own men to fight the terrorist militants. That’s why the casualty figures were so high this time.”

The British military strength in Kabul was actually not large, because Afghanistan had not been completely conquered by the British. The central government had surrendered, but local forces were not necessarily of one mind with the central government, and most chose to wait and see.

Some forces in remote areas even claimed that the Afghan central government was selling out the country and was therefore an illegal government, choosing to establish their own independent entities. This forced the main British forces to be dispersed throughout the region to deter Afghan opposition forces.

If the main British forces had been concentrated in Kabul, Mutilla wouldn’t have dared to choose Kabul as a target, even if he had ten times the courage.

The British were still good fighters. After the initial chaos, they quickly regrouped and entered a combat state, preventing Kabul from falling into enemy hands. Otherwise, the Governor-General in Kabul would have been in big trouble.

In reality, his trouble was already significant, so the British Governor-General in Kabul began to worry about the aftermath and prepare for an even greater storm.

However, if the British Governor-General in Kabul knew that his counterpart in another timeline was killed by the Kabul insurgents, he might feel some comfort.

“Immediately conduct a thorough investigation of suspicious individuals in the city. Impose a three-day curfew throughout the city, and arrest anyone who doesn’t cooperate. I don’t want yesterday’s events to be repeated.”

Although the British army had already conducted a city-wide search after yesterday’s battle, the Governor-General, having experienced the assassination, was still apprehensive.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he added, “Oh, right, the Mayor of Kabul bravely sacrificed himself yesterday. Let his family choose someone to replace him!”

The Mayor of Kabul, who had served as a scapegoat, might feel gratified that the Governor-General still remembered him, at least the Governor-General was still decent and hadn’t forgotten his sacrifice.

“Notify the armies in all regions to strengthen their defenses and not allow Afghan resistance organizations to exploit any weaknesses. Also, has the identity of yesterday’s bandits been confirmed?”

“It has been confirmed. Their leader is called Mutilla, a former religious leader in Kabul. He disappeared after we occupied Kabul. I didn’t expect him to join a terrorist militant organization.”

“We must capture this terrorist called Mutilla. I want to hang him on the walls of Kabul.”

…

News of Kabul couldn’t be kept secret. After all, so many people had died, and it had happened in Kabul. Moreover, with rebellions, as long as someone fires the first shot, others will follow. A single spark, as they say, can start a prairie fire.

Sure enough, as expected, many riots broke out in southern Afghanistan, causing the British army stationed in Afghanistan a great headache. Moreover, the terrain of Afghanistan made it difficult for the British army to operate. The riot areas couldn’t be suppressed in a timely manner, and Afghanistan was instantly engulfed in flames, completely reversing the favorable situation.

The Governor-General in Kabul had no choice but to request assistance from his home country and summon more troops. After all, Afghanistan was already in their grasp, and spitting it out would be too embarrassing and unacceptable. Britain could only choose to continue its involvement.

10 Downing Street.

The Benjamin government also had to focus its attention on Afghanistan. They had suffered a loss in East Africa last year, and if Afghanistan couldn’t be suppressed, then what was the point of colonialism?

Benjamin was a proponent of colonialism. The Treaty of Gandamak signed between Afghanistan and Britain in the middle of the year was one of the greatest achievements of his current term. It hadn’t even been two months, and the achievement was about to slip away again. Naturally, he couldn’t let it go.

“What’s the situation in Afghanistan now? How could it suddenly take a turn for the worse?”

“Prime Minister, the situation in Afghanistan is still under control, but due to the adverse effects of the Kabul riot, many small fries have jumped out again. The Governor-General in Kabul reported to us that the terrain in Afghanistan is fragmented and the area is large, requiring more troops to ensure local stability.”

“Hmph, how dare he say that? He should have been killed by the rebels!”

“Prime Minister, please calm down. He had no choice. Afghanistan is indeed difficult to rule. Otherwise, the rebels wouldn’t have received weapons support.”

“Hmm, speaking of weapons support, where did the rebels’ weapons come from?”

“We believe the most likely suspect is Russia. They are closest to Afghanistan and were previously allies of Afghanistan.”

“Are you sure? Why didn’t the Russians stop us when we entered Afghanistan, and only started doing this after we occupied Afghanistan?”

“Prime Minister, you forgot that the Russians had to deal with the Ottomans at the time, so they naturally had to curry favor with us. Now it’s different. Russia and the Ottoman Empire are deadlocked, and it’s very likely that the two sides will compromise. Moreover, Bismarck wants to mediate, and the Russians may have already started contacting the Germans, intending to end the war. With the Russians having free time, they will naturally want to cause us trouble.”

“Could this just be your speculation?”

“Our people found something when confiscating the rebels’ weapons. The Afghan rebels have a wide variety of weapons, and they even managed to get a lot of our weapons, but there are very few Russian weapons. This is very abnormal, so it is very likely that the Russians are secretly supporting Afghanistan, but because the Russo-Turkish War hasn’t ended, they don’t want to offend us, so they can only play tricks behind our backs.”

Benjamin thought about it carefully, and this was indeed possible. The Russians were definitely unhappy that Britain had easily occupied Afghanistan, but due to their own reasons, they couldn’t fully support Afghanistan, so they secretly provided support to the local Afghans.

“What you said is very likely. In that case, we can’t let the Russians be too relaxed. They always cause trouble for us when they are idle. If they really get involved in Afghanistan at this time, our previous efforts might be in vain.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Contact the Ottoman Empire and ruin the chance of peace talks. We will provide some assistance to the Ottomans and let them continue to wear down Russia. As long as we keep Russia tied down in a state of war, they won’t have the leisure to poke their noses into other people’s business.”

Benjamin also ordered, “As for Afghanistan, summon more Indian troops from India, and also disperse a portion of the Cape Town army to enter Afghanistan to fight. We must not let Afghanistan fall into chaos.”

While Britain was discussing how to make trouble for Russia, Ilya’s report on the Kabul uprising was also sent back to his country. After all, as the planner and commander, his contribution was very great. Of course, as a lone wolf, he didn’t actually have much say in the Afghan resistance organization and could only give Mutilla suggestions. However, this didn’t affect him exaggerating his role in his report to his country.

The Tsarist Russian government quickly replied to Ilya, increasing its efforts to continue making trouble for the British, and also providing a batch of weapons to support Ilya’s say in the resistance organization.

With the help of East Africa, Britain and Russia started their dog-eat-dog days ahead of schedule. Even some of the troops in Cape Town used to deal with East Africa were transferred away. It was impossible for Britain to cause trouble for East Africa in the short term.

Chapter 516: Patriotic Education

“You did very well this time, successfully advancing the conflict between Britain and Afghanistan. This is beneficial to us. Those who contributed to this operation will be strictly rewarded according to the reward and punishment system. Of course, I personally will give you some extra bonuses.”

Ernst praised the special agents who instigated the Afghan operation at the Quirinal Palace. At the same time, the agents who received the rewards felt quite comfortable.

“Continue to work hard. Of course, don’t be too proud. Review this operation to identify any shortcomings and accumulate richer experience for the future.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After the commendation meeting, Ernst began to focus on the East African water conservancy construction project. This is a large-scale national project, mobilizing millions of people, so it is necessary to prevent errors.

Now Ernst is tied to this national project and cannot get away in a short time until it is on the right track.

…

Mbeya City.

February in Mbeya is very dry. Students from Mbeya City Second Middle School participate in regular practical courses organized by the school.

However, instead of sitting in the classroom listening to the teacher, they participate in labor on farms arranged by the government.

Yarck, the homeroom teacher of Class Four in the third grade, took all the students in the class to live in the workers’ dormitory of the Third State-Owned Farm in Mbeya City.

After Yarck assigned the accommodation, he said to all the students in the class: “Today’s practical course will be led by Uncle Cade, who is very experienced. In the next week, he will lead you to understand the things that need attention when farming. You must study hard…”

As Yarck finished speaking, the students applauded to welcome Cade, the head of the practical activity farm.

Cade was not timid in the face of these students. He stood generously in front of the students and introduced himself: “I am the head of the Third State-Owned Farm. I am very happy to communicate and learn with you young people here. Because you are not the first batch of students I have led, I will receive students from the Second Middle School every year to participate in practical activities on our farm, so everyone does not need to be restrained. You can ask me directly if you have any questions.”

Every class has a few troublemakers, and Class Four in the third grade is no exception. As soon as Cade finished speaking, someone asked the homeroom teacher:

“Teacher, we don’t need to be taught how to farm, right! We all know this. We often help our families with farm work at home.”

“Student Roald, this is an activity organized by the school and arranged by the government. It is a task for national vocational middle schools. It’s not that you know how to do it, so you don’t have to come. The theme of this activity is diligence and practice. Its essence is to allow everyone to better experience the hardship and fun of work, and also to accumulate your life experience.”

Vocational middle schools mainly cultivate students’ practical and hands-on abilities, while academic middle schools pay more attention to cultural literacy. However, academic middle schools cannot avoid practical courses, but they have very few opportunities.

At this time, Cade also interjected: “Of course, we also considered the purpose of letting you experience new things. As a government industry, the Third State-Owned Farm has relatively considerable investment, and it also represents more advanced productivity, so it can greatly broaden your horizons.”

The Third State-Owned Farm in Mbeya City, as a state-owned enterprise, has much higher investment than ordinary farms, basically on par with Western countries, introducing advanced production technology and experience.

However, East African farms also have backward aspects, that is, the large-scale use of black slaves. This is unavoidable. For example, for work such as cotton picking, using black slaves is the best choice.

After Cade finished speaking, he took the students of Class Four in the third grade to visit the farm. Not to mention anything else, the area of the state-owned farm is quite large, and it not only plants a single crop, but also has its own pasture and processing workshop. If you add a castle, it is almost no different from a medieval European manor.

Many black laborers work here. As the object of exploitation in East Africa, the treatment of black laborers is naturally very poor. However, the new generation that grew up in East Africa has long been accustomed to this slave system.

It was only the year before last that Mbeya City implemented a policy of replacing black laborers with livestock, and then black laborers in small and medium-sized farms were replaced, but large farms and mines still retained many black laborers.

He pointed to the black slaves working on a large scale and said: “Your fathers were forced to come to East Africa in difficult circumstances, just like myself. This world is relatively cruel. I don’t say that East Africa is stronger than other countries, but it is definitely a good place, so you must also contribute to East Africa in the future to avoid the decline of the country, otherwise these people will be a lesson.”

Cade’s words are cruel, and the black people’s experience is also worthy of sympathy, but for these teenagers, there is not much impact, after all, black slaves are too common in East Africa, so they may naturally think that this is reasonable.

However, the black laborers’ experience also planted a seed in their hearts, that is, backwardness means being beaten. If East Africa declines, some people may become slaves like these black people.

The reason for saying some people is that, according to Ernst’s understanding, the exploiters also have smart people. They will divide the exploited. The bottom layer must be the exploited in the traditional sense, and the people who are bought off, although exploited by the upper level, can exploit their own lower level.

This is the pyramid structure of human society. East Africa also has a pyramid. The House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is at the top, then the nobles and bureaucrats, then the East African citizens, and finally the black slaves in East Africa.

As for the black people working in the fields, they are completely unaware that they are being used by East Africa as patriotic material. They just numbly complete their work, which is also a good thing for them. Sometimes the more knowledge and experience you have, the more troubles you have.

If people from the twenty-first century fell into the situation of black slaves, they might collapse, but these black people are somewhat “happy to endure it”, because East Africa has given them a stable environment, and life is a little better than before when they were precarious.

The only regret may be that basic physiological needs cannot be met. The task of curbing the growth of the black population has caused a serious imbalance in the male-to-female ratio of the East African black population. Basically, there are no female black people in eastern and central East Africa, and there are a small number of female black people in western and southern East Africa.

However, physiological needs can be tolerated. East Africa only needs a few years of youth from these two or three generations of black people, and will return their freedom to them, so just endure it for a few years. When they get to free America, they can do whatever they want. Anyway, the United States has openly abolished black slavery.

Currently, East Africa also needs these black people to contribute to the development of East Africa. If it were not for the existence of black laborers, the projects that Ernst is doing in East Africa would not be easy to complete, and it is very likely that they would fall into the same situation as Latin America.

This unique “patriotic” education class is very simple and crude. It is to show the living conditions of the oppressed groups in East Africa to establish ideas for the younger generation in East Africa.

As for whether they will be affected, the effect is actually very clear. As native East Africans, the new generation of young people have their own considerations. From their standpoint, the land under their feet was snatched from the black people by their fathers, so they naturally have to stand on the side of East Africa.

As for Ernst, the culprit, he actually has no burden in his heart. Without himself, it would be cheaper for other European colonizers, so it is better for him to be the villain. Moreover, although Ernst is not a good person, he has a bottom line in his heart and will not engage in massacres at will.

Chapter 517: Surplus

“Large-scale mechanization is the direction we envision for future agricultural development, and while current steam-powered farm machinery is quite cumbersome and inefficient, we can still see the importance of mechanization.”

During Cade’s explanation, a steam-powered tractor was demonstrating plowing.

In the 1830s, people had already begun to study using steam vehicles to pull agricultural implements for field operations. Various countries were researching tractors, and East Africa was no exception, although East Africa’s path had diverged from other countries.

However, the steam-powered vehicles that countries around the world could currently build were like small locomotives. Even if they didn’t get stuck in the field, they would compact the soil considerably.

The leading country in the field of steam tractors was England. They had already managed to make steam tractors relatively small, but the high cost meant that only large farms could afford such agricultural implements.

The Third State-Owned Farm in Mbeya was a large farm. After all, anything with the words “state-owned” attached to it was generally not small in scale, and East Africa was no exception.

However, not all regions in East Africa were as wealthy as Mbeya, able to afford such a large iron lump. As one of the four major cities in East Africa and a heavy industrial base, Mbeya was very interested in tractors.

Ernst established the East African Tractor Research Institute in Mbeya. The tractor at the Third State-Owned Farm was actually purchased by East Africa as a reference for tractor research and development.

However, the Mbeya Tractor Research Institute was mostly just copying, drawing on the tractor blueprints researched by the Hechingen Energy and Power Company.

While Cade was explaining, the children around him were already chattering non-stop about the topic of tractors.

“This thing is amazing! It’s like a locomotive. My home isn’t far from the central railway. I see that the structure of the locomotive is very similar to this thing called a tractor. But the locomotive can pull so many things, this tractor is used for plowing, so its power should also be very strong.”

“His big wheels are completely made of steel! Look, the places where the wheels have passed have been pressed with two marks.”

“How many cows do you think his power is comparable to?”

“That’s not the key. The main thing is that I think it’s easier to manage. After all, it’s a machine. It can operate for a long time and doesn’t need to eat or sleep, just put coal in the boiler.”

Students at the Practical Science School also had to study physics, so it was not difficult to understand such mechanical products, but steam tractors could indeed bring a huge spiritual shock.

Especially the huge noise, the gears and crankshafts and the boiler crackling when operating, the movement is not very fast, as if it is an old guy who is about to fall apart at any time.

Ernst was not very interested in this kind of steampunk product, but the students in East Africa were quite excited to see such a real thing up close.

“I want to be a tractor driver in the future, it must be quite cool to drive this thing.”

“Then you have to work hard and strive to work in our state-owned farm in the future.” Cade said with a smile.

After giving the children encouragement, Cade changed the subject and said: “Currently, for East Africa, driving a tractor is not an easy task. As far as I know, there are only twenty-three tractors in the country, and all twenty-three tractors were purchased from various countries.”

“Our industrial strength in East Africa is very poor, so we don’t have the ability to produce this kind of machinery. Of course, most countries are also like this. This is the sorrow of an agricultural country.”

Ernst did not agree with this point. Ernst knew that there was an agricultural country that was doing quite well in this era, that is, Argentina, but East Africa and Argentina took different routes. Argentina’s immigration speed was quite slow, and now it only had about two million people. You must know that Argentina’s arable land area is not small, so Argentina is truly sparsely populated. With Argentina’s population size, Belgium is considered a strong country to Argentina.

Cade continued: “So you must study hard and manufacture your own tractors for East Africa in the future, so that this expensive and bulky guy can be cheap and miniaturized, and contribute to East Africa in the future.”

“Ah! Uncle Cade, let’s not talk about studying, we are still good friends.”

No wonder the students of the Second Middle School complained. Although East Africa does not discriminate against Practical Science Schools, it must be admitted that the source of students in Practical Science Schools is very poor, and most of them are leftovers from liberal arts middle schools.

The First Middle School of Mbeya is a liberal arts middle school. In the high school entrance examination, the last admitted student of the First Middle School was also higher than that of the Second Middle School.

The gap between the two is also reflected in the college entrance examination admission rate. Practical Science Schools can also participate in the college entrance examination, but the admission quota is only about one-tenth.

Of course, the East African college entrance examination is not the only way out. East Africa also has a recommendation-style examination, in which various schools recommend outstanding students to participate in special examinations, but in the final analysis, it still depends on academic performance, which is somewhat like the various competitions in the previous life.

Therefore, the students of the Second Middle School can be sure that they must have been at the middle level in elementary school. In middle school, with the educational level of East Africa, few have good learning abilities.

As for why it is the middle level, it is because there is also the Third Middle School at the bottom. The Third Middle School is a Practical Science School like the Second Middle School, but the teaching staff is far inferior to the Second Middle School, and it cannot be compared with the First Middle School. This point, if you simply understand the Practical Science School as the vocational secondary school of the previous life, it is easy to understand. However, Ernst had more high schools than vocational secondary schools in his previous life, while in East Africa, there were more Practical Science Schools than liberal arts middle schools.

However, even for liberal arts middle schools, it is not easy to go to university. The number of universities in East Africa is extremely small, and it is quite unmatched with the number of middle schools in East Africa. After all, East African middle schools have been included in the scope of compulsory education, which means that East African students have the opportunity and obligation to go to middle school, but universities are not like this.

However, Ernst is not worried about this at all. The middle school level is enough for East African students to make a living on their own after graduation. After all, a middle school diploma is considered a highly educated talent in this era.

Ernst even felt that in a few years, the number of East African middle school graduates (relative to other countries) was likely to spill over into Germany and Austria, just like the students of the Far Eastern Empire in his previous life spilled over into European and American countries.

As the saying goes, knowledge is power, especially in Germany, where the Second Industrial Revolution is booming, and its demand for talent is also quite strong.

If East African middle school students participate in the recruitment of German factories, they will definitely have a considerable advantage. Although East Africa’s overall teaching quality is very poor due to the popularization of middle school education, those who have attended middle school are much better than those who have attended elementary school in terms of employment.

It just depends on the students’ psychological expectations for employment after graduation. Middle school students can at least get a management position in German factories.

Therefore, East Africa’s education system is out of touch with the world. The level of higher education in Europe and the United States may far exceed East Africa, and East Africa’s elementary education cannot keep up with the level of Germany and Austria, but East Africa can completely win by quantity in middle school education.

The consequence of doing so is that East African middle school education will cause a surplus in the early stage. After all, the upward channel is narrow, and very few can go to university. They may engage in the same work as their parents after graduating from middle school, and even have no chance to work as factory workers, and can only engage in agriculture, because East Africa is just an agricultural country.

At the same time, East Africa has to bear huge education expenditures in the early stage. This is also the reason why Ernst is not in a hurry to pack up and send the blacks away. Ernst needs the blacks to bear this part of the cost for East Africa.

The benefits will be reflected in the future. First of all, the overall national quality of East Africa will definitely far exceed other countries in the future. East African middle school students are definitely senior talents in the Far Eastern Empire, where illiteracy is rampant in this era, and they are not bad in Europe and the United States.

Secondly, East Africa’s industry will definitely grow explosively in the future. After all, talents have begun to accumulate, and at the same time as industrial development, the requirements for education have also greatly increased. Now elementary school education can meet the needs of the times, but one day elementary school education will depreciate.

Ernst believes that the popularization of compulsory education in Germany has made Germany’s development so dazzling. Later, the Soviet Union also took this path, so East Africa is just taking it a step further on the basis of the development experience of these countries.

Chapter 518: Proceeding Step by Step

After introducing the farm’s situation, looking at the energetic young people before him, Cade thought rather unkindly in his heart, “Young people are full of energy, but they’re in for a rough time next.”

Because it was the first day, the Third State-Owned Farm mainly arranged accommodation and other matters for these students, but starting tomorrow, they would truly have to go to the fields to work.

The next day.

“Today your task is to weed. As you can see, this plot of land is not small, but according to previous years’ arrangements, you will not be allocated other farm tools today. See the hoe in my hand? You can only use hoes to till the land.”

However, the young people of East Africa were not ignorant of crops. Some would help their families with farm work, and they were quite skilled in using hoes.

However, the plots of land on the Third State-Owned Farm were not small-scale. They were very large, so for them, it was also a task of considerable magnitude.

Soon, everyone enthusiastically swung their hoes. Mbeya was at a relatively high altitude, so the weather was not too hot, which was not too stressful for everyone, except that the sun was a bit harsh.

As time passed, the practical course, which had initially excited the students of the Second Middle School, now left them somewhat listless. However, collective labor made it easier to get through this tedious work, but when lunchtime arrived, it gave the students a headache.

“Ah! It’s all flatbread and pickles.”

It wasn’t that the East African students were being pretentious. East Africa’s latitude ensures that the temperature is not too low throughout the year, and with sufficient water, plants can grow year-round, even though East Africa only has rainy and dry seasons.

This leads to the variety and yield of vegetables being quite high in East Africa. Not to mention vegetables, even delicate plants like flowers are very suitable for growing in East Africa.

Therefore, East Africans may not have as high a level of meat consumption as some countries for the time being, but they definitely have enough vegetables. And the Chinese immigrant community in East Africa has brought the wok to East Africa, so stir-frying is also quite popular.

Speaking of which, Ernst felt that Europeans ate relatively simply, which had a lot to do with their cooking methods, or rather, they were more primitive: pan-frying, grilling, deep-frying, or just throwing everything into a pot for a stew. Apart from deep-frying being a bit more advanced, other methods seem to be innate to civilized humans around the world.

Moreover, stir-frying is very suitable for processing vegetable plants. For example, in India, their mainstream eating habit is to make vegetables and other ingredients into a paste, or Western vegetable salads are compromises made due to the lack of stir-frying.

As if hearing the students’ complaints, Cade said, “Because this course is to make you understand the hardship of labor and the difficulty of life, just like the land you are cultivating today, the output throughout the year is only wheat, and this wheat eventually becomes the flatbread in your hands.”

“Uncle Cade, but we East Africa doesn’t lack food, does it?”

“Of course we know this, but East Africa is a special case. There are still many countries in the world where people can only dream of having enough to eat. You can go back and ask your parents. Most of them, unless they were fleeing war, immigrated to East Africa because they couldn’t get enough to eat. So, you can’t be complacent just because life is good in East Africa now.”

Only by comparison can the quality of life in East Africa be more directly reflected. However, the countries surrounding East Africa do not have the conditions to compare with East Africa. Those black people are still in the hunting and gathering stage.

So Cade continued, “Don’t look down on just flatbread and pickles here. In fact, being able to eat these may not be easy for ordinary people in some countries. You have come at a good time and haven’t suffered much. Take me, for example. I used to only be able to eat porridge made from corn, and I often couldn’t get enough. Some Far Eastern immigrants were even worse. Many of them even ate tree bark and grass roots.”

Cade’s words made the students of the Second Middle School thoughtful. In fact, the vast majority of the second generation in East Africa have parents who came from hard times, so they will also tell them about their previous lives.

Of course, when they first arrived in East Africa, life was not necessarily easy. They could only maintain basic food and clothing and had to face the threat of disease. This is also the reason why Ernst did not personally go to East Africa in the early days. It was only after East Africa was developed that he moved the Black Herington royal family to East Africa. Therefore, after more than ten years of development, after the productivity of East Africa exploded, the average quality of life of East Africans was greatly improved.

Looking at the thoughtful students, Cade was very pleased. In fact, the mentality of East Africans, at least ordinary people, is very simple and honest.

As the saying goes, poverty breeds cunning, and wealth breeds conscience. Whether in Europe, America, or the Far East, poor people must be careful and calculating in their lives. In a society like East Africa, the bottom people are definitely not too rich, and they are not too poor either, so competition is not fierce enough. Instead, everyone does not need to calculate too much in their lives, and the whole society is relatively harmonious.

Of course, the development of East Africa is bound to embark on the road of competition and involution, otherwise, it will not be able to compete with other countries in the future. As for now, the conditions are not yet mature.

The main force of the population in East Africa, that is, the first-generation immigrants, are in their prime. Although they are physically strong, their cultural quality is quite low, even the bureaucratic group in East Africa is the same.

Therefore, East Africa’s national policies and direction are almost entirely controlled by the Black Herington royal family, because only the Black Herington royal family has the experience of national governance.

However, the Black Herington royal family was previously only a small royal family in Germany and did not have the experience of governing a super-large country like East Africa.

Therefore, this requires the East African regime to explore for a long time. In other words, East Africa is an extremely immature country. If you want this country to quickly have the ability to self-update and optimize, you must liberalize controls and allow fierce competition within East Africa.

Ernst will not implement this, because if East Africa is in ancient times, then doing so does not matter. Now is the era of imperialism. External troubles outweigh internal troubles, so Ernst does not want East Africa to be turbulent and self-consuming, giving potential enemies such as Britain an opportunity to take advantage of.

Therefore, from the beginning, East Africa has grasped the army in its hands and used the army to complete national construction. After all, one of the characteristics of the army is that it is relatively easy to manage. It’s just that East Africa is not as dependent on the army as Prussia. After each breakthrough of the army’s restrictions, Ernst began to consolidate military power again.

However, all of this is gradual. Ernst can always keep the number of troops within a relatively reasonable range.

In the early days, East Africa managed the East African people through the army. In the early days, East Africa was actually a military camp, forming the later highly centralized East Africa.

This makes the major policies of East Africa top-down, rather than bottom-up like democratic countries such as Britain, France, and the United States.

However, it is not quite correct to say that countries such as Britain, France, and the United States are democratic. The people that Ernst understands are the people at the very bottom, while the people in Europe are more in line with the Roman citizen state in ancient Roman times.

This can be seen from the electoral system in Europe and the United States. In this era, European and American countries have not yet evolved to the point where all citizens have the right to vote.

Taking the United Kingdom in the previous life as an example, after 1866, the United Kingdom achieved universal suffrage for adult men by 1885 through two parliamentary reforms. And the universal suffrage for adult men in the United Kingdom was the result of multiple workers’ struggles before.

And East Africa currently does not need any so-called elections. The scale of the East African working class is not large, the level of education of the people is also temporarily at a low level, and the people’s desire for political demands is not high.

Ernst will naturally not promote this kind of thing. After all, he is an aristocrat and will only follow up after everything is ripe. Now, the people of East Africa only need to obey the arrangements of the royal family.

Of course, Ernst also understands the principle that the general trend cannot be violated. If he were reborn in ancient times, he would be too lazy to engage in any reforms, so in the future, the development of East Africa must be grasped well and conform to the development of the times.

Chapter 519: A Million Black Slaves

In the following days, the students of Second Middle School continued to participate in labor. According to the schedule, the East African practical courses were divided into three categories: manual labor, machinery, and industry, each lasting one day, two days, and half a day, respectively.

Manual labor was the kind of work done by East African black slaves, using relatively primitive tools to carry out a series of agricultural activities, mainly relying on human power to complete.

Machinery mainly involved using oxen and horses, or hand tools. These could greatly save human resources, but still relied mainly on human power.

Finally, there was industry, which was agriculture in the mechanized age. Currently, no country in the world has achieved agricultural mechanization, so this aspect could only rely on imagination.

In other words, the last half-day course was still a theory class, and students had to go home for vacation in the afternoon, so it was arranged this way.

In the afternoon, the students first returned to school, and then the teachers summarized the activity.

“The practical course actually corresponds to the order of development of productivity levels, reflecting the significant improvement of agricultural production efficiency through technological development…”

The goal was to let East African students personally experience the benefits of technological development and cultivate their interest in science and technology. Of course, Ernst’s expectation was that East African society as a whole would revere science.

Currently, East Africans are not actually enthusiastic about science, especially the older generation and new immigrants. Many of them come from backward regions or religious countries, so compared to things like science, they may be more inclined to believe in gods and ghosts.

…

Just as the students of Second Middle School were enjoying their practical courses on the farm, the East African water conservancy construction project was also underway throughout the country, and Mbeya was no exception.

Mbeya is located on the northern shore of Lake Malawi, so Mbeya could not avoid this nationally coordinated water conservancy construction project.

In the agricultural area south of Mbeya, tens of thousands of black people were building three canals that extended all the way to the suburbs of Mbeya.

German water conservancy expert Stephan looked at the tens of thousands of black people digging the canals and sighed, “East Africa, as the homeland of black people, has now been conquered by Germany, and the amazing amount of engineering in East Africa is all placed on these huge numbers of black people. I think the East African Central Railway was also built in this way!”

His colleague Richard said, “Building the railway actually doesn’t require that many workers. Of course, if you add the related industries, the number would definitely be higher. But as far as I know, in previous years, East Africa’s steel was mainly imported from us and Austria-Hungary, including a large number of rails. Originally, those were orders from major railway companies before the economic crisis, but after the economic crisis broke out, they were all sold cheaply to East Africa.”

Stephan: “You’re right. In fact, the number of railway workers is completely incomparable to this national water conservancy construction project in East Africa. I heard that they plan to use millions of black people to complete this plan. That is indeed a bit crazy, but aren’t they afraid of black people rebelling?”

Richard: “You haven’t been in East Africa long enough. In fact, your understanding of East Africa is limited to the surface. In fact, the immigrant population of East Africa is definitely not as small as the outside world guesses. I have worked in many places in East Africa. Many areas actually have a considerable number of people, such as the several well-known cities in East Africa. But more of East Africa’s population lives in rural areas. I suspect that East Africa’s population is at least eight million or more, maybe even over ten million. That number is not small even in Europe.”

Stephan: “Are you saying that doesn’t include black people?”

Richard: “Of course. So East Africa has enough white people to suppress black people. If these black people revolt, they have no chance to overthrow the result of being enslaved.”

Stephan: “So, East Africa is a society that oppresses black people across the board? Everyone is evil?”

Richard: “Just like the American black people back then.”

Stephan: “No, it’s very different from the United States. American black people have already been liberated.”

Richard: “You’re wrong about that. The liberation of American black people was a gift from the white people. Without Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, those black slaves would not have been able to confront the Southern plantation owners, let alone gain freedom. East Africa’s attitude towards slaves is completely different from that of the United States. Everyone here takes it for granted that they enjoy the value created by black people.”

Stephan: “This is related to the social atmosphere of East Africa. Most of the immigrants introduced to East Africa are people who have not broken away from feudal-era thinking. This leads to them not having the slightest interest in so-called freedom, democracy, and universal love. They only obey the orders of monarchs and emperors, which is the Black Hohenzollern royal family, the current rulers of East Africa. I dare say that East Africa is currently the most autocratic and feudal country in the world.”

Richard joked, “Do you want to be East Africa’s Voltaire?”

Stephan: “Heh, I’m not that great. I just want to take the salary paid by East Africa and live a carefree life in Europe in the future. If I had to live in East Africa under this system, I probably wouldn’t want to.”

Richard: “You’re right. Unless you’re East African, if you’ve seen the prosperity of European countries, most intellectuals would probably prefer to develop in Europe.”

This water conservancy construction project has currently mobilized more than seven hundred thousand black slaves nationwide. Mbeya is also updating the irrigation facilities along the coast of Lake Malawi.

East Africa’s three major lakes, although large in area and abundant in freshwater resources, are not easy to utilize their rich water resources.

These lakes are already located in relatively low-lying areas. Because of the proximity, water diversion along the coast is relatively simple, but it is not possible in remote areas. This can be considered a kind of trouble when resources are concentrated in one place.

Sufficient water resources are certainly a good thing, but you can’t just look at the average. The three major lakes occupy the vast majority of East Africa’s freshwater resources, and in this era, there are no water pumps or plastic water pipes, which means that good resources are not easy to develop.

Therefore, in order to make full use of lake water sources, it is necessary to set up water lifting facilities and irrigation canals. There are three major categories of water lifting settings: manual labor, steam engines, and windmills. Irrigation canals are not so easy to build either. These canals run from low to high, so they must be widened and deepened in the opposite direction.

Manual labor is not considered in East Africa because the efficiency is too low. As for steam engines, that is, steam-powered water pumps, East Africa cannot equip them all due to price and fuel reasons. Moreover, this kind of thing is more suitable for extracting groundwater in arid areas, so East Africa still chooses to build windmills on a large scale.

The three major lakes originally had their own river basins, so the river systems that flow into the three major lakes can also be utilized.

In fact, these rivers also conflict with East Africa’s irrigation projects. Rivers flow from high to low, and East Africa’s three major lake irrigation systems mainly want to use the lake water of the three major lakes as a backup water source during the dry season. The three major lakes are originally low-lying areas, so East Africa’s construction of an irrigation system is equivalent to introducing the lake water from the low-lying areas into the high-lying farmland.

Most of the reservoirs that Ernst saw in his previous life were built in high places. When water was needed, the floodgates were opened directly, utilizing the terrain difference.

The three major lakes are originally low-lying areas in the region, so it is impossible to use this terrain difference for irrigation. Therefore, the German water conservancy expert’s suggestion is to build irrigation channels, extending from the lakes to the inland. As the terrain rises, the depth of the channel construction is also strengthened, so that these lake water can be transported inland.

To put it bluntly, it is to dig an artificial canal network along the coast of the three major lakes, so you can imagine how huge the amount of work is. East Africa’s millions of black laborers invested in water conservancy construction without even making a ripple.

Once Ernst’s plan is completed, Ernst himself can be said to be Sui Yangdi reborn, even surpassing Sui Yangdi’s achievements, but Ernst doesn’t have to worry that his ending will be the same as Sui Yangdi’s.

After all, the main reason why Emperor Yang of Sui lost his throne in the end was that he was at odds with the aristocratic families and unable to suppress peasant uprisings, while East Africa is supported by immigrants. The East African black people can only suffer first, anyway, there is no result in resisting.

Chapter 520: Power Plant

Compared to Ernst’s grasp of the overall situation, Constantine focused more on the details in East Africa. The father and son, one broad and one meticulous, kept a close eye on their family assets in East Africa.

Because his son was recently focused on water conservancy construction, Constantine was able to shoulder more responsibility and inspect their family businesses all over East Africa.

“Is the construction of this power plant imitating the Berlin train station power plant?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, but saying it’s an imitation is not entirely accurate. The Berlin power plant is a product of several years ago. Ours uses new technology, and the scale of First Township’s train station is much smaller than that of Berlin’s train station, so the construction difficulty is not that great.”

The power supply system of Berlin train station was jointly developed and constructed by Hechingen Power and Siemens, and it was also the world’s first power plant.

The scale of First Township’s train station is definitely not comparable to that of Berlin’s train station. After all, Berlin has a much larger population and economy than First Township. Berlin is the center of Germany, a large city with a population of one million.

“In addition to supplying power to the First Township train station, our power plant will also provide power supply services to the surrounding areas in the future. After all, the station is a node of railway transportation and is destined to be linked to the local economy and industry.”

In theory, this power plant in East Africa should be a commercial power plant, different from the political power plants previously built in East Africa. However, there is essentially no pure commerce in East Africa. After all, except for royal enterprises, most are state-owned enterprises. Therefore, the asset nature of the Second Power Plant in First Township is different from that of commercial power plants in Europe.

“Is that so? As far as I know, the power generation of power plants is very limited now. Apart from telegraphs and electric lights, it seems that there are not many large-scale application scenarios.”

“Your Majesty, science and technology are constantly developing, and many other electrical products are being developed. However, electrical products are very expensive after all, and the general public cannot afford them, so only nobles and merchants will consume them for face or to improve their quality of life.”

“Then, like before, is your power plant still losing money?”

Constantine’s words made the manager of the Second Power Plant speechless. It was like hitting a sore spot, but who told him this was His Majesty the King!

“Your Majesty, with the development of the times, the power industry will sooner or later enter every household. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also saw this point, so he strongly supports the development of the power industry. However, the situation in East Africa is special. There are not as many wealthy people as in Europe and the United States, so the promotion of power development must rely on administrative power.”

Speaking of his son, Constantine thought about it carefully and didn’t say anything. Although his son spent money lavishly, his vision was still good. Taking the power industry as an example, everyone with a discerning eye knows that this is a promising industry. However, the power industry can only make a difference in the high-end market now. The low-end market also requires ordinary people to be able to afford it.

“According to you, this power plant of yours will provide services to the surrounding areas in the future. Can it supply enough? And what industries will consume so much electricity?” Constantine asked.

Because the power industry is a new industry and is extremely immature, the power generation efficiency is also quite low. Taking First Township as an example, there was already a power plant before, which, in addition to supplying power to government agencies, at most supplied power to street lights for two hours at night.

To put it exaggeratedly, apart from telegraphs, electricity at most supplied power to a few light bulbs to maintain the face of the East African capital.

Even this power industry in First Township is considered relatively developed. There are only a dozen cities in East Africa with electricity, and only First Township and Soja City have the most complete power facilities.

“Your Majesty, the main reason is this. Although First Township is the capital, it is impossible for it to have no industry at all in the future. According to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s arrangement, some light industries with less pollution will be developed around the railway in the future. Our power plant does not generate much electricity, but it is more than enough to provide lighting services to several factories.”

Ernst plans to engage in a little light industry in First Township. There are three main modes of transportation in First Township: the Central Railway, followed by highways, and finally the Central Canal.

In fact, it might be better to engage in industry in the canal area, which can solve problems such as water source and transportation. However, Ernst plans to put these industries in Bagamoyo City.

Because the location of First Township, to be honest, was created by Ernst himself. In his previous life, it was just a small town around Dar es Salaam, and it didn’t have any advantages. However, Ernst made it the capital, and found that there were no shortcomings, so he was too lazy to move.

As for Bagamoyo City, it still has some historical background from ancient times to the present. Of course, Ernst demolished the ancient Arab city ruins in Bagamoyo more than ten years ago, and now it looks like a completely new city.

Bagamoyo originally had no advantage in the competition with Dar es Salaam, but since the opening of the Central Canal, coupled with the dredging project of the Little Rhine River, Bagamoyo’s status has become important at once.

Bagamoyo was originally a seaport. After the Little Rhine River was transformed, coupled with the Central Canal, ships in Bagamoyo can directly reach the interior of East Africa until the edge of the plateau area.

This kind of water transportation advantage can radiate the entire Central Province and can be used as a bridgehead for the economic development of the entire Central Province. As for Dar es Salaam’s task, it is to be responsible for the import and export needs of the former Zambia and Zimbabwe through the Central Railway.

Dar es Salaam can be simply compared to Tianjin, and Bagamoyo is Tangshan, but First Township cannot gather so many industries like Beijing.

In addition, Soja City shares some of the cultural, educational, and technological functions of First Township. First Township mainly bears administrative functions, somewhat similar to Melbourne, Australia.

Therefore, Ernst arranged the cities in the Central Province clearly, with clear division of labor and coordinated development. In this way, among the cities in the Central Province with the greatest potential in the future, Ernst is most optimistic about Soja City besides Dar es Salaam. However, if Soja City wants to develop, it may have to wait until East Africa’s education and technology develop to highlight it.

Hearing about factories, Constantine became interested and asked, “What type of factories are they? First Township doesn’t have any resources.”

“It should be the processing and manufacturing industry. I know there are two non-staple food processing plants that have begun to select sites and plan construction nearby, and there is also a paper mill. The scale of the food processing plant is not large, mainly responsible for providing non-staple food products to First Township. As for the paper mill, it is easy to understand. After all, First Township is the capital, so the demand for paper must be not small.”

Constantine nodded. This is certain. The food processing plant is easy to understand. After all, it is the capital, and the consumption capacity is stronger than many regions. First Township cannot lack the demand for paper. The main reason is that national official documents are not a small amount, and archives are even more important. In the past, East Africa’s paper mainly relied on imports from foreign countries. Now, although the demand has decreased a lot because some paper mills have been built in the country, it still needs to import a lot.

“Papermaking pollutes water a lot. Will Ernst agree to this?”

“Your Majesty, don’t worry. The drainage system connecting First Township and Soja City has already been completed. At that time, the sewage will be discharged directly into the sea through separate drainage pipes, which will not affect the soil and water source.”

The pollution that Ernst is mainly worried about is air pollution, which is difficult to control. Water pollution can be avoided, that is, letting the waste water flow into the Indian Ocean through pipes. Anyway, First Township is very close to the Indian Ocean, and the sewage pipes in First Township are built with cement and bricks, so the sewage will not directly contact the soil.

Chapter 521: Application

Bulawayo, once the capital of the Matabele Kingdom and now the second largest city in the Matabeleland South province of East Africa, is developing very rapidly.

The basic conditions here were already good, and the Central Railway passing through here has created excellent transportation conditions for its development.

In its previous life, Bulawayo was known for its industry and was the largest manufacturing center in Zimbabwe. Including steelmaking, machinery manufacturing, food, textiles, fertilizers, daily-use chemicals and other industrial sectors, this configuration shows Bulawayo’s economic position in Zimbabwe, after all, industry is quite rare for African countries.

The most important factors in casting Bulawayo into Zimbabwe’s industrial position are historical heritage, transportation advantages, and abundant mineral resources.

After East Africa occupied Bulawayo, it inherited most of Bulawayo’s assets. However, the main assets left by the Ndebele people in the area were houses, which solved the housing needs of East Africa’s early population resettlement. As for the Ndebele treasury, it had already been handed over to the East African treasury, mainly gold and other precious metals and gems. There were other things, but East Africa didn’t care for them.

The whole world has the same preference for gold, and so do the Ndebele people. The Matabele Kingdom’s treasury was also the largest harvest since East Africa colonized Africa, after all, the Matabele Kingdom had a large area and accumulated a lot of wealth.

In the past, East Africa also eliminated many indigenous countries, but most of them did not accumulate as much wealth as Zimbabwe, which has a long history, and some of them migrated as a country, taking away the wealth accumulated over generations, such as the Msiri regime, and the countries in the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) region in the past.

The history of Zimbabwe is fragmented, but this does not affect the Ndebele people who later conquered the area from inheriting the legacy of the Shona ancestors from the Shona people. After all, the forces that were able to build the Great Zimbabwe ruins must have been regional hegemons in their era.

As for whether the Great Zimbabwe ruins were built by the Shona people, Ernst believes that the Shona people must have participated. Just like Egypt, although it has been conquered many times, the race is still the same race. It will not change because of a change in culture, unless it is like the United States and East Africa, engaging in massacres or replacing the population.

“Bulawayo has abundant coal resources, and compared with Mbeya, the biggest advantage here is that the terrain is flat and open. The rainfall is a little worse, but this also provides conditions for cotton planting, so in addition to being suitable for the development of the steel industry, Bulawayo is also suitable for engaging in textile industries like Nairobi.”

“Mayor Roan, do you mean you envy Nairobi?”

“Hehe, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Nairobi is the ‘City of Textiles’. We started late in Bulawayo, but we also want to work hard and make progress!”

“This still needs us to investigate before drawing a conclusion. After all, we can’t just build textile enterprises here based on your one-sided statement. After all, Bulawayo’s development is not slow, and having the steel industry, which is a highly sought-after commodity, is something that many cities can’t get even if they ask for it.”

Bulawayo’s steel industry is mainly steelmaking, which is inseparable from the rich coal and iron ore resources of Matabeleland South province.

The reason why Bulawayo focuses on the steelmaking industry is mainly to pave the way for the stainless steel industry. After all, East Africa is the country with the largest reserves of chromite in the world, and Matabeleland South province has the second largest reserves of chromite after Hechingen province. If these two provinces are singled out, they are the first and second in the world respectively.

The main product of chromite is chromium, which is one of the main raw materials for stainless steel, and East Africa also has a lot of other minerals such as manganese ore and nickel ore.

Of course, East Africa has not yet developed the stainless steel industry. In his previous life, the British metallurgist Harry Brearley invented stainless steel in 1912, so there is no stainless steel now. As for Ernst, of course he knows about stainless steel. Stainless steel originated from Brearley’s discovery of ferrochrome alloy (stainless steel). Ernst knows the answer directly, but in order to interfere with history as little as possible, Ernst does not intend to let stainless steel come out ahead of time, only experimenting with it at the Bulawayo Metal Research Institute.

East Africa has almost 90% of the world’s chromite reserves, so East Africa is not worried about other countries surpassing East Africa in this regard in the future, just like the Far East Empire’s tungsten mines. The stainless steel market will not escape from East Africa’s hands in the future, so Ernst is not in a hurry to develop it.

“This year, the Ministry of Agriculture has conducted experimental demonstrations in our Bulawayo City, and has opened up three cotton experimental fields in the Bulawayo District, all of which have achieved good results. We are just waiting for the harvest to analyze the cotton samples. Let’s not talk about what the final result will be, but this land is definitely suitable for cotton planting. The cotton fields are growing very well.”

“Is that so? Then it means that the Ministry of Agriculture should have some arrangements for Bulawayo. Mayor Roan, you don’t need to ask us for help, right?”

“It’s not the same. The Ministry of Agriculture can’t manage the construction of factories. They just think that the environment near Bulawayo is suitable for cotton planting, and they can’t ensure that cotton textile factories will be located in Bulawayo, so this matter still needs to be asked for help from your industrial departments! Furthermore, the textile industry is a big industry. Nairobi alone certainly can’t handle it. We in Bulawayo are willing to help them share a part of it.”

The size of the textile industry is naturally quite large. The British textile industry is a pillar industry, and East Africa’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, so Nairobi’s output really can’t keep up.

So Mayor Roan continued: “You see, our Bulawayo City is suitable for planting cotton, and the industrial base is also good, and the transportation conditions are also like this. East Africa’s industry is now concentrated in the eastern region, inland, especially the south. It will definitely be developed on a large scale in the future, so population growth is inevitable, and demand will definitely increase greatly, so building a textile factory in Bulawayo is definitely very beneficial.”

“This is not something we can decide, but we will submit your suggestions to the higher authorities, but I want to remind you first, if you want to build a textile factory, you must first solve the raw material and personnel problems. I am not too worried about the personnel aspect. The higher authorities will definitely consider it, and it is very likely that personnel will be transferred from Nairobi to support you. The raw material problem is more tricky. You have to discuss it with the Ministry of Agriculture and rapidly expand the cotton planting area.”

“You are right, our municipal government will give priority to this aspect. If the cotton quality of this year’s experimental fields is up to standard, we will apply to plant on a large scale to the west of Bulawayo next year, and strive to solve the cotton production problem in a short time.”

“Hehe, aren’t you afraid that you will blindly expand the planting area at that time, and the factory will not be approved, causing serious waste?”

“Then you underestimate me too much. I have already inquired with the East African Import and Export Trading Company in advance. Even if a factory is not built in Bulawayo, they can still eat up the cotton production. On the one hand, domestic demand is large. East Africa also imported several batches of cotton from the Far East this year. On the other hand, foreign demand is also high, such as Germany and Austria-Hungary. The land area itself is not high, and the population is large, so the market is also relatively large.”

“It seems that Mayor Roan has made full preparations, so I won’t persuade you anymore. According to what you said, the probability of success is very high. I guess your position as mayor can be moved up at that time.”

“Haha, I’ll take your good words. If it really works out, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Chapter 522: Great Power Goalkeeper

End of 1879.

The small rainy season that should have arrived was late in coming. Unsurprisingly, this triggered a drought in eastern East Africa, affecting two important agricultural areas: the coastal plains and the dryland farming areas of the East African plateau.

The Great Lakes region was not significantly affected. Benefiting from its geographical location, it could still enjoy some residual moisture from the Congo Basin. Moreover, the Great Lakes region was already rich in water resources, so the impact was minimal.

“This rainy season is late for special reasons, so we must do a good job in water allocation. At the same time, reservoir water release should be carried out in a timely manner to ensure the steady progress of agricultural work.”

“According to local reports, five eastern provinces will be affected, including Central Province, Eastern Province, New Württemberg Province, Plateau Province, and South Salzburg Province. Therefore, the drought will affect a wide area. Some areas in the west and south will also be affected, but because the west and south were developed later and are sparsely populated, the impact is not very significant.”

Faced with the drought, East Africa was able to respond calmly, and the entire state apparatus operated smoothly. It was just that the drought covered a large area, which aroused great attention from the central government.

After more than ten years of development, excluding the black population, East Africa’s population has reached the level of a normal country, with a clear distinction from sparsely populated countries such as Australia, Canada, and Argentina.

Brazil is also considered sparsely populated, but at least it has more than ten million people, so it is still reasonable. East Africa is exaggerated. Just the immigrant population in the Tanganyika region alone exceeds ten million, not to mention the newly added indigenous population.

Therefore, East Africa is no longer in the same league as the aforementioned countries in terms of size. Of course, because East Africa’s territorial expansion is too rapid, the population is still unbalanced with the land.

However, national populations are generally compared horizontally. East Africa’s population is already a solid population power compared to the vast majority of countries in the world.

As 1880 approached, the work of East African governments at all levels also intensified. In Ernst’s mind, 1880 was an important historical node. Therefore, in order to understand East Africa’s national conditions, the population census, which had been suspended for several years, was restarted in September of this year.

For a dual great power like East Africa, with both a large population and a large territory, Ernst’s expectation was that East Africa should develop better than Japan and Spain.

Although Japan is not yet a great power, it is developing rapidly through the Meiji Restoration. Moreover, Japan’s first-mover advantage is much stronger than East Africa’s. The main problem is population. Japan was originally a populous country, while East Africa spent a lot of time and money to migrate people from other countries.

After all, no value can be created without a population. The East African colony was almost at the same time as the Meiji Restoration. At that time, East Africa was a blank slate, and it had not even fully controlled Tanganyika.

Therefore, Japan at that time could be said to have already run in the front section of the track, while East Africa had just started. Except for the land area, Japan was stronger than East Africa in all aspects at that time.

Looking at the development of the two countries after more than ten years, East Africa has made up for most of its shortcomings and has surpassed Japan in some fields.

Taking railways as an example, East Africa’s railway mileage in 1879 was approaching ten thousand kilometers, while Japan only had about fifteen hundred kilometers.

In terms of minerals such as steel and coal, East Africa will not bully Japan on this point. Japan cannot conjure minerals out of the ground out of thin air.

The scarcity of resources is also an important reason why Japan’s railway mileage is far less than that of East Africa. In order to build more than one thousand kilometers of railways, Ernst could imagine the state of austerity throughout Japan.

Japan in 1879 was still an agricultural country, with more than eighty percent of its fiscal revenue relying on agricultural expenditures. East Africa’s situation was slightly better, with the Hechingen Consortium conquering and plundering abroad. Of course, the Hechingen Consortium cannot be regarded as purely East African assets.

In addition to agriculture, Japan’s biggest bet is on the textile industry, especially the silk industry, which is Japan’s main export product. Finally, it mainly relies on overseas labor. Japanese people working around the world continuously support Japan’s development. As for Japan’s mining industry, it can almost be ignored.

In the end, Japan is doing some hard labor, but Ernst quite admires this spirit. To be honest, the living conditions of Japanese people are probably not even as good as those of black people in East Africa.

East Africa’s industrial focus is on agriculture, mining, and emerging industries such as electricity. East Africa and Japan are different in developing agriculture.

Japan is squeezing the value of land and farmers to the limit, using the meager income from agriculture to support the development of industry and commerce. Therefore, the investment in agriculture is far less than the value it extracts.

East Africa’s development of agriculture involves considerable investment and is truly treated as a pillar industry. After all, with such good land and environmental resources, East Africa has reason to do so. Of course, Ernst also has some ideas about agricultural hegemony in his mind. It certainly cannot be reflected now, but at least it can get a share of the pie in the future.

East Africa is still in its infancy in emerging industries such as electricity. Ernst has been paving the way for East Africa, mainly through education and talent introduction. This aspect is not yet apparent.

There is no need to say more about the mining industry. East Africa is following the German path, vigorously supporting heavy industry, which has enabled East Africa’s steel production to exceed one million tons.

Of course, the biggest gap between the two countries is still in military strength. East Africa’s defense force has actually reached the level of a great power. Especially after defeating Portugal, no country dares to underestimate East Africa’s military strength.

Although Japan is relatively militaristic, even if they sell everything, they cannot catch up with East Africa’s military level. The East African navy alone is something Japan looks up to.

East Africa can be said to be far ahead of Japan in all aspects except for population. In fact, East Africa also has an advantage in terms of population. After all, black lives also matter. East Africa’s twenty million black people have made important contributions to East Africa’s development.

Ernst’s comparison with Japan is also a helpless move. In this era, there are almost no emerging countries that can be compared with East Africa’s development. East Africa has not yet reached the level of Germany and the United States. Italy, the straggler, is divided into four parts due to Ernst’s reasons. Other countries such as Belgium and Romania are pitifully small in size.

The countries closest to East Africa in terms of national strength should actually be the Ottoman Empire and Spain. Ernst personally believes that the Ottoman Empire’s military strength is stronger than Spain’s. After all, the Ottoman Empire’s performance in the Tenth Russo-Turkish War was still very impressive. Spain did not have much impressive performance at the end of the century, but the geopolitical situation facing the Ottoman Empire is much worse than Spain’s, but it does not affect the Ottoman Empire’s status as a great power.

Spain’s strength is more reflected in the ocean and colonies, and the mainland is not bad, belonging to the middle level in Europe.

In addition to these countries, the countries ahead of East Africa are nothing more than Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Austria, the United States, plus a Far Eastern Empire. Ernst is not praising the Far Eastern Empire because of his previous life as a Far Easterner, but the Far Eastern Empire is indeed an extremely influential great power in this era. Apart from the above great powers, the Far Eastern Empire really has this strength.

It’s just that the Far Eastern Empire cannot exert its own strength. The Qing government is timid and afraid for its own rule. On the one hand, it vigorously supports the development of military industry, but on the other hand, it does not dare to invest too much in the military. After all, the Qing government’s Eight Banner system has become useless, and it strictly guards against the Han people. Its foreign military affairs are always hesitant, so it naturally loses repeatedly. However, many wars are actually fought well in the early stages, but once capable people emerge, they will be restricted.

Therefore, through comparison with various countries in the world, Ernst believes that East Africa’s national strength should be exactly between the great powers and non-great power countries. Without Italy, the position of great power goalkeeper is Spain, and East Africa should be ranked below Spain.

Chapter 523: Drought

According to this reasoning, East Africa is something of a pseudo-great power. It can be considered a great power in front of ordinary countries, but not when facing those countries at the top.

This situation is similar to the Far Eastern Empire of my previous life. In reality, the Far Eastern Empire and the United States can be seen as two new superpowers in opposition, a unique tier of countries. However, the Far Eastern Empire has not met the standards in some metrics.

…

December 3, 1879.

“Your Highness, according to our records, the total number of immigrants to East Africa is over fourteen million six hundred thousand, and the number of Black people registered as slaves is over thirteen million.”

“These are only a portion of what is recorded in the archives, and can be used as reference data for East Africa’s population. Of course, there are significant discrepancies with the actual population data of East Africa, such as newly born people and population losses due to disease and war, which are not included in the statistics.”

“Moreover, there are many omissions and errors in the records, because some archives have been damaged for various reasons due to their age, which has made our work more difficult.”

In this way, Ernst had a rough understanding of East Africa’s population data. The number of immigrants alone reached about fifteen million. Then, East Africa’s final population, not counting Black people, should be one to two times that, roughly between thirty million and over forty million.

As for the number of Black people, it cannot be ignored either. The number of Black people counted a few years ago was twenty-two million. East Africa has sent out about three million in recent years, so the current number of Black people in East Africa should be close to, but not quite, twenty million.

Among these less than twenty million Black people, there are thirteen million Black “laborers” registered in East Africa, further illustrating the essence of East Africa as a slave empire.

Ernst asked, “When will your statistics be completed approximately?”

“It will take until about March of next year, because the workload is still quite large. We need the cooperation of governments at all levels, and we need a lot of calculation and review before we can get the final result,” said Von der Leyen.

Population statistics are not an easy task. The population data that Von der Leyen previously provided to Ernst was the easiest to obtain, after all, East Africa keeps records of how many immigrants arrive in East Africa, and how many slaves East Africa gathers and sells each time.

This is the same as keeping accounts. East Africa also has ledgers, with rough calculations of East Africa’s population. After all, the number of immigrants and slaves is fixed, so East Africa promptly adds the number of immigrants received each time to the total.

However, this method can only count the number of immigrants who come to East Africa. What happens after arriving in East Africa is less clear. After all, immigrating to East Africa is risky. A considerable number of people die unexpectedly after arriving in East Africa due to acclimatization, disease, and other reasons.

“Well, don’t rush your work, but it must be accurate, especially when counting the population. Strictly prevent some people from playing tricks and concealing people,” Ernst emphasized.

In a country like East Africa, it is not impossible for the phenomenon of concealing people to exist. Concealing people is actually having unregistered residents. In fact, the most unregistered residents are likely to be Black people. East Africa is a slave-owning country, enjoying the benefits of slavery, and it is inevitable that some places will secretly increase the number of slaves for local development, or to be lazy. These slaves are “laborers” not recognized by the East African government, and are illegal.

“Yes, we will pay attention to this matter, Your Highness.”

Ernst took a sip of tea and said, “Don’t worry about offending people. If they are Black people, then it means the problem is not big. However, for the sake of fairness, those hidden Black people should be redistributed by the government.”

This is the difference between the local government and the central government. Local governments take some excessive actions to complete tasks and for their own interests, while the central government must severely crack down on this phenomenon.

However, Ernst is more tolerant of the local government’s concealment of Black slaves, and can let bygones be bygones, because Black people have no human rights and can only blame themselves for their bad luck.

“How far has the drought developed now?” Ernst then asked.

“The drought in the eastern coastal plains is currently within our controllable range. It is just that the situation in the highland dryland farming areas is not very good, but because the crops planted are mainly drought-resistant crops, the situation is not too bad.”

Von der Leyen continued, “In the coastal plains grain-producing areas, thanks to the construction of water conservancy facilities in recent years, the reservoirs and irrigation systems we have built have played a huge role in drought resistance. Fortunately, we filled the large and small reservoirs with water during the long rainy season, so we can now ensure timely agricultural irrigation work.”

“However, because the long rainy season is followed by the dry season, we also have water demand. The dry season after the long rainy season lasts about four to five months. During this period, the reservoirs have been releasing water, and the reservoir capacity has decreased by about 20%.”

“When the short rainy season comes, the reservoirs will have about 60% to 70% of their capacity due to water use and losses. After all, the drought situation is special this time, so it has brought some pressure to our work, but as long as we persevere until March next year, the situation should be greatly alleviated.”

“As for the highland grain-producing areas, the biggest problem is that the construction of water conservancy has led to some confusion in water use, so the situation is worse than in the eastern coastal plains.”

The construction of water conservancy projects will inevitably affect the original natural form and have a certain impact on the wetland ecosystems of rivers and lakes. This is also the reason why the problem in the highland grain-producing areas is greater than the problem in the eastern coastal plains.

However, to transform the environment of East Africa, we naturally cannot be too concerned about some details of gains and losses. If we remain unchanged, then there is no need for human society to exist. We might as well return to the trees and be monkeys.

So Ernst said to his subordinates, “Water conservancy construction will definitely have some negative impact on us in the short term, but the overall benefits after completion are what I really value. Therefore, water conservancy construction must be steadily promoted, which may even affect the development of East African agriculture for the next hundred years.”

Von der Leyen felt a little confused by Ernst’s words. Water conservancy construction is naturally a good thing. Why does it sound like there are disadvantages in His Highness’s opinion?

After all, they are not thinking about problems in the same era. Ernst’s idea of considering environmental issues would naturally be somewhat out of place in the 19th century. The humans of the 19th century were quite confident, and the belief that “man can conquer nature” was firmly imprinted in their minds. This was the huge impact of the Industrial Revolution on human thinking.

In fact, in the 20th century, humans began to think about how to coexist harmoniously with nature again, because conquering nature is an unattainable thing. It is useless to rely on believing that “man can conquer nature”. The more technology develops, the more humans discover their own insignificance in the face of nature.

But in the 21st century, the crooked path of “environmentalism” appeared again. Of course, Ernst is referring to extreme environmentalism. People used to believe in science, but many people in the 21st century have begun to question science.

Therefore, social thinking will adapt to the development of the times, and the human mind is not as strong as imagined. When the overall society encounters a slight setback, it is easy to go down an extreme path.

The 19th century was an era of great development. At least in the Western world, human psychology was satisfied, and at the same time confident and optimistic. In this way, some problems and drawbacks that may exist in the future are easily overlooked, and Ernst is to check for omissions and fill in the gaps in East Africa of this era.

Chapter 524: Happiness

First Town City National Defense Force 101st General Hospital.

The National Defense Force 101st General Hospital is the most well-equipped medical institution in East Africa in terms of facilities and personnel. Just hearing the name inspires awe. After all, in East Africa’s environment of honoring veterans, the military enjoys generous benefits, so a hospital associated with the military naturally inspires considerable confidence.

In fact, the National Defense Force 101st General Hospital also serves as the royal hospital. Ernst didn’t directly create a royal hospital because the East African National Defense Force isn’t called the Royal Army either. Of course, there is a Royal Army, which is the Royal Guard, but nominally it still belongs to the National Defense Force.

It’s worth mentioning that since the Little Rhine River renovation and the canal opening, the Royal Guard also has its own naval force, but it’s essentially a river and lake unit, importing several quite advanced inland river vessels from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to serve as its backbone.

If the Austro-Hungarian navy’s capabilities were considerably far behind the British Royal Navy, the situation is reversed for inland river forces. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s land area was much larger than Britain’s, and it was located in the center of Europe, with rivers of extremely high shipping value such as the Rhine, Danube, and Leitha, so the demand for inland water forces was quite high.

The Danube and Rhine are both trans-boundary rivers. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had many rivers like these, so inland water forces were naturally indispensable and occupied an important position in national defense, with considerable funding.

These few inland river vessels introduced by East Africa are also at an advanced level internationally. Used in conjunction with East Africa’s own built inland river vessels and coastal fortifications, plus the Little Rhine River’s outlet being at Bagamoyo Port, the headquarters of the East African Navy, the water power from Bagamoyo to First Town City is quite strong, truly as solid as a rock.

The National Defense Force 101st General Hospital, bearing the responsibilities of the royal family and the military, naturally doesn’t allow just anyone to enter. Therefore, there is also the First Town City First People’s Hospital in First Town City, serving the “common people.” However, how this “common people” is defined is a matter of opinion. Nevertheless, the medical level of the First People’s Hospital is not worse than the National Defense Force 101st General Hospital, making them the twin stars of East African medical institutions.

Undertaking royal medical services, the National Defense Force 101st General Hospital naturally isn’t a place where just anyone in the military can enter. However, since it bears the name of the National Defense Force, there are several branch hospitals under the general hospital specifically serving the military.

Today is an important day for the National Defense Force 101st General Hospital. Besides the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s family personally visiting, there is also an important experimental achievement to be carried out at the National Defense Force 101st General Hospital, and the Crown Prince is also quite concerned about it.

On the third floor of the hospital, Ernst and his family of three are waiting in a service room specially reserved for the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family for the little prince’s physical examination report.

“Look at this little fellow, he must have inherited your beauty, growing up so cute!” Ernst teased, hugging the sleepy Prince Friedrich.

Karina said somewhat shyly, “I didn’t expect you to be so glib.”

Women are all susceptible to praise. Seeing Karina’s ostensible dislike, the corners of her mouth were actually harder to suppress than a Kalashnikov rifle.

This made Ernst feel very novel. Karina had been by Empress Sophie’s side since she was a child, so she was relatively serious in character. When she first arrived in East Africa, she mostly had fake smiles. According to Karina, that was aristocratic etiquette.

At first, Ernst wasn’t used to it. After all, she was someone close to him. Although Constantine was a great noble, because he only had Ernst as a son, he was quite doting and didn’t demand much of him. So, since Ernst’s awakening, he has remained as carefree as he was in his previous life.

Seeing Ernst staring at her made Karina blush, and she said angrily, “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, I just feel like you’re a bit cute when you’re lively,” Ernst said, having mastered the skill of coaxing his wife after marriage without a teacher.

“So skilled, have you said this to other girls before?”

“How could I? Don’t you understand me? I’m so busy every day, where would I have that free time?”

Speaking of being busy, Karina understood her husband. After all, such a large family business in East Africa was mainly created by Ernst himself.

In the past, Ernst would have been the founding emperor, but Ernst doesn’t have any pursuit of such vain fame. He would rather let his old father be happy.

“You’ve been busy with that water conservancy construction lately. Will it be too tiring?” Karina said with some heartache.

Although it was a political marriage, Ernst had already met Karina, and it was a matter of mutual consent, so their married life was very happy, and they quickly developed feelings.

“Water conservancy construction, I am indeed paying more attention to it. After all, no country can avoid this problem, especially agricultural countries. But don’t worry, after a while, when the people below get on the right track, I won’t have to stare at it every day.”

Ernst was telling the truth. In his previous life, he was in civil engineering in Africa, so he has a lot of experience in engineering construction. Ernst is no stranger to East Africa’s urban construction, roads and bridges, water conservancy, and other infrastructure. This can be said to be Ernst’s most proficient field.

It was precisely because Ernst was often on business trips to Africa in his previous life that he knew the situation in Africa like the back of his hand, which played a huge role in the development of East Africa.

East Africa’s projects all pay considerable attention to quality, which is similar to the Soviet Union. After all, East Africa is also a planned economy system.

Plus Ernst, this civil engineer, is even more attentive to East Africa’s engineering construction. Many of them are long-term plans for East Africa’s future, so he keeps a close eye on them.

Ernst looked at his wife, who had been worried just now, and said, “When I’m free, let’s give Friedrich a few more younger brothers and sisters.”

Karina, who had just been concerned about Ernst, immediately showed a surprised expression: “Ah! How did it get back to me again?”

Seeing Ernst felt a little distressed. He took out one hand and held Karina’s, explaining, “I know this is a bit embarrassing, but this is our responsibility. The Hohenzollern-Hechingen line has been a single seedling for three generations, so I don’t want such a large family business in East Africa to benefit others in the future.”

It’s not that Karina dislikes having children, it’s just that it’s a bit sudden, but she also thinks that Ernst is right. East Africa’s development has definitely reached the point of being a great power, and of course it should be passed on to her descendants.

She said shyly, “I’ll listen to you.”

Ernst looked at his understanding wife, put the poor Friedrich aside, and hugged his wife sweetly. He felt extremely fortunate for Empress Sophie’s education. As for independent women, Ernst doesn’t like them very much. If they are too independent, then they will calculate too clearly. The feelings of a family always require someone to compromise. After all, feelings are mutual. Being calculating is more likely to lead to unhappiness. Franz and Princess Sissi are examples.

Ernst and Karina are both relatively traditional people, so they get along. This is the same as Karina’s parents. However, Karina’s parents were both able to make a lot of trouble. Now they have both calmed down, so they are still living happily. The word happiness is the most difficult for aristocratic families.

Karina’s mother, Princess Charlotte, is a love brain. Although she is a little vain, her love for Archduke Ferdinand is unwavering. Although Archduke Ferdinand was a bit indecisive when he was young, he is very responsible, conscientious in his work, and very respectful to Princess Charlotte.

As for Constantine, he is definitely a devoted person. He raised his son alone and did not remarry. Now he is wholeheartedly assisting his son in building East Africa. Ernst is also a relatively filial person, and the relationship between father and son is harmonious.

Therefore, although Ernst’s family has a prominent status, it is not much different from ordinary families. Ernst enjoys this family atmosphere.

Chapter 525: Serum

Inside the 101st General Hospital of the National Defense Force, first floor.

“How is it? What’s the patient’s current condition?”

“The condition has stabilized. We can now confirm that he is out of danger. The specific effects still require long-term observation, but we can confirm that the Mamba snake serum has an excellent effect on Mamba snake bites.”

“Excellent! This shows that the snake venom serum can indeed be included in the latest medical research achievements.”

Soon, this joy was also learned by Ernst upstairs.

“Your Highness, this is Prince Friedrich’s physical examination report. The Prince is in good health and has no problems.”

“Also, the clinical results of the snake venom serum have just come out. The snake venom serum has been proven to have an excellent effect on poisonous snake bites.”

Hearing that the snake venom serum had been researched, Ernst became interested. He said to his wife, “Would you like to come with me to take a look?”

Karina agreed immediately.

Soon, news came that the Crown Prince and Princess were coming to inspect, and the guards entered the scene in advance to prepare for any accidents.

Ernst and his wife arrived on the first floor and, under the guidance of medical personnel, met the researchers from the East African Snake Venom Serum Research Institute.

The researchers took a vial of medicine from a small cabinet and handed it to Ernst for viewing.

“This thing is the snake venom serum?”

Ernst held a small sealed vial and examined it carefully. Inside was a powdered medicine.

“Yes, Your Highness. Following the ideas you provided, we have cultivated it for several years and finally purified a relatively reliable snake venom serum, which has an excellent effect on snakes of the Mamba genus.”

“However, snake venom serum also has many drawbacks. The biggest problem is that it is difficult to preserve. Preserving snake venom serum requires a freezer, and there are very few cities with this condition. Secondly, snake venom serum is only effective against Mamba snakes. It can only relieve the effects of other snake venom bites, or it may not work at all.”

Freezers were indeed hard to come by. Only the 101st General Hospital of the National Defense Force, with its ample funding, could afford one.

The manager of the Hechingen Electric Power Company, Linde, was one of the inventors of the refrigerator in his previous life. He invented the first household refrigerator in 1879, and this year happens to be 1879. In fact, with financial support, Linde completed all the experiments for the refrigerator in 1875.

So Ernst said to the researchers at the Snake Venom Research Institute, “Don’t worry about preserving the snake venom serum. Hechingen Electric Power Company has already made a technological breakthrough in this area. Freezers, this new thing, will become popular in East Africa in the future. Now freezers are relatively expensive and uncommon, but in two or three years, major hospitals in East Africa should be able to popularize them.”

Karina rolled her eyes at Ernst. Karina was quite familiar with refrigerators because there was one installed in the Qivitt Palace.

Ernst had experienced the 21st century and naturally missed many household appliances, so the Qivitt Palace was the palace with the most widespread application of electrical appliances in the world.

And East Africa, with its relatively hot climate, naturally needed new things like refrigerators and electric fans. In fact, refrigeration machines already existed, and air conditioners were also on the way.

So Karina had seen many actual household appliances and did not doubt Ernst’s words at all. As the most advanced technological products, the rich had already started using them.

Hearing Ernst’s guarantee, the researchers at the Snake Venom Research Institute naturally believed him, but they also asked, “Your Highness, if that’s the case, can our Snake Venom Research Institute also apply for a few units?”

Ernst: “Yes, you can submit a report to the Ministry of Science and Technology then, and I will approve it.”

The biggest obstacle to the popularization of refrigerators is actually the problem of electricity supply. The First Township, as the capital, certainly has no problems. The other major cities in East Africa can also use them, but those areas without electricity can only use generators.

Ernst continued, “You must not slack off. In addition to Mamba snakes, there are other venomous snakes in East Africa. You must also speed up the research on their toxicity and serum. Not only in East Africa, but also in other regions, you can start research. We will use the snake species in the overseas province of Lanfang and the Zhuhai Commercial District in the Far East as related research.”

“Of course, you don’t have to worry about funding. Overseas merchant ships will provide you with snake samples.”

Ernst was quite willing to invest in this research. The investment is large, and the return is fast. In this era, if you are bitten by a poisonous snake, you really have a slim chance of survival. Therefore, after the antivenom is developed, it will definitely be a big market.

Of course, based on the principle of prioritizing good things for our own people, Ernst first thought of East Africa, the overseas province of Lanfang, and the Zhuhai Commercial District.

These three places are also high-incidence areas for poisonous snake bites. Places like the Alaskan royal territory and the Huaihai Economic Zone are not within Ernst’s scope of consideration for the time being. Later, if a separate company is established, it will definitely open up the European and American markets.

At the same time, considering the contribution of the Snake Venom Research Institute, Ernst felt that East Africa could also have a medical award or something.

This is also very promising. After all, East Africa has been trying to attract advanced talents, but the effect is not significant. If some scientific awards are held in East Africa, it will also promote East Africa’s preferential treatment of scientific talents in relevant scientific circles.

For example, the famous German medical scientist Rudolf Virchow, Ernst is quite envious. He is a world-renowned cell biologist and has a lot of research on diseases such as leukemia and osteosarcoma. He is one of the founders of modern pathology. The most important thing is that this national treasure-level figure is still alive. Rudolf Virchow was born in 1821 and historically lived until 1902.

It is certainly impossible to get him from Germany, but if he can stay in East Africa for a few days and give a few lectures, Ernst feels that East Africa will have made a big profit.

Thinking of this, Ernst believes that the medical award is very promising, so he said to the researchers at the Snake Venom Research Institute, “I plan to establish an award in East Africa for people who have contributed to world medicine. It is estimated that it will be at the beginning of next year. You will definitely be able to win the award at that time. Your research institute should remember to participate.”

Hearing this, the researchers at the Snake Venom Research Institute were all beaming with joy. This can be considered a success.

The reason for choosing the beginning of the year is because East Africa is about to celebrate the New Year. East Africa has a super long holiday of one month at the end of the year. Considering the special national conditions of East Africa, Christmas and the Chinese New Year are together, and the two important festivals are combined, so it will be so long. Of course, not everyone has this treatment, but this is definitely a benefit for researchers.

Now the researchers at the East African Snake Venom Research Institute are already designated winners. This is not a shady deal, but the only medical achievement that East Africa can offer is probably the snake venom serum. Without competitors, they can naturally be designated winners in advance.

Moreover, snake venom serum research is extremely important for East Africa, a tropical country. Poisonous snake bites have always been one of the major culprits of unnatural deaths in East Africa.

Regardless of its contribution to human society and its influence, or the economic value behind it, winning the award is appropriate.

If there was a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in this era, Ernst believes that snake venom serum research is a strong candidate, but Nobel is still alive and well and naturally has no time to engage in any scientific awards.

Chapter 526: Beacon of Civilization

“Ernst!”

Just as Ernst returned home and was heading to his office, his father, who had just returned from Bagamoyo, stopped him.

“What is it, Father?”

“Yesterday, I went to Bagamoyo. Walking around, I was pleased to see the development of East African cities. However, I heard in the newspaper that Chicago is constructing a skyscraper several dozen meters high, planning to complete it in the next few years. I want to know if we in East Africa can also build one. East African cities are almost identical to European cities, lacking any unique characteristics.”

Ernst knew immediately what his father was getting at. If he wasn’t mistaken, the high-rise Constantine mentioned was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago—the world’s first skyscraper.

“Father, I think the buildings in East Africa are fine as they are. There’s no need to blindly pursue height. Besides, East African buildings are also aesthetically pleasing and artistic.”

“What do you know? I just feel that East Africa lacks an eye-catching landmark. Isn’t Chicago building some kind of high-rise to grab attention? That reminded me. And New York has a bunch of clunky buildings, too, after the Statue of Liberty. A bunch of nouveau riche.”

Listening to the old man’s sour tone, Ernst couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

“What are you laughing at? I’m asking you a question!”

“Alright, I pretty much understand what you mean, Father. You just want to build a landmark, right? Tell me your specific ideas, and if it’s feasible, I’ll definitely make it happen for you.”

For Ernst, Constantine’s happiness was all that mattered. Spending a little money was no big deal. Did Ernst lack money? Of course, he did, but wealthy people like Ernst lacked large sums of money, while building a spectacle was just small change.

Of course, some spectacles were incredibly expensive, even capable of hindering a nation’s development. Ernst and Constantine weren’t the kind of people who indulged in excessive pleasure, so they both had a sense of proportion.

Sure enough, Constantine’s mood improved greatly after hearing Ernst’s words. He seriously began to consider it: “We definitely can’t learn from those nouveau riche in America.”

After careful consideration, he said, “First of all, our building should have extremely high artistic and aesthetic value. It can’t be inferior to other countries, otherwise, building it would be the same as not building it. Secondly, it must have historical and cultural elements. This point must be distinguished from those American upstarts. Finally, it’s best to have some practicality, and the price should preferably not be too high.”

Constantine’s requirements didn’t seem high, but in reality, they were quite demanding, especially the second one, historical and cultural elements. This was precisely what East Africa lacked, falling short compared to most countries.

Ernst thought carefully. The most representative thing in East Africa was probably the lions on the savanna, which was likely most people’s first impression of Africa.

This was considered when designing the East African flag. After so many years of development, East Africa had been a learner, with no innovation in the cultural field. What was unique was its natural heritage. Black people had some of their own civilizations, but they were not very refined.

So Ernst said, “What East Africa lacks most is historical and cultural depth. So why not take the perspective of world civilization, mixed with some unique East African cultural symbols as a reference?”

Constantine nodded, “That’s true. Then how about adding national history?”

According to Constantine’s idea, although East Africa’s history was quite short, it had also developed for more than a decade. Moreover, a country with such a large area would surely leave a significant mark on human history in the future.

However, Ernst didn’t think so. Wasn’t East Africa’s national history just the history of a feudal slave society? This was precisely East Africa’s biggest stain, to the point that Ernst hadn’t even established an East African National Day, as it would be as ironic as Thanksgiving.

In the future, after all East African black people disappeared and the slave system was abolished, Ernst planned to separate the future East Africa from the current East African Kingdom. The Kingdom was a slave society, and that couldn’t be changed. The Empire could be a brand new empire.

So Ernst shook his head and said, “That’s not necessary. I’m not too optimistic about the national history aspect. Our East African system doesn’t conform to mainstream international opinion. Starting from this aspect might attract some criticism.”

Feudal autocracy, slavery, restricted markets… these were all negative terms, so it was better to take the perspective of world civilization to create the main body of this landmark building.

Ernst’s words also awakened Constantine: “You’re right, there are indeed these concerns.”

Even Constantine felt that his own East Africa seemed to be all black, with no advantages. In reality, there were advantages, namely the national strength and royal status built up through these stains.

Seeing his father’s mood somewhat low, Ernst comforted him, “Taking the perspective of world civilization may not be a bad thing for us. We say it’s themed around world civilization, but as long as this landmark is ultimately located in East Africa, it belongs to East Africa, and no one can move it away.”

“That’s right? You’re still the one with the flexible mind. I almost fell into a mental trap.” Constantine realized.

Culture belonged to the world, but ultimately it depended on the region. For example, the Great Wall of China stood on the land of the Far East, so it was primarily the Far Eastern Empire’s, and secondarily the world’s.

Similarly, anything built on East African land was inextricably linked to East Africa, and it could also use the righteousness of world civilization to forcibly bind East Africa to world civilization.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Ernst.

“Father, how about we build a lighthouse!”

“A lighthouse?”

“Yes.”

“A lighthouse? I feel like there’s nothing new about that?”

Lighthouses were too common, especially after the West entered the Age of Exploration.

East Africa had built many lighthouses, especially as East Africa had opened up many new ports. In terms of size alone, some were even among the top in the world.

After all, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were considered world-class ports. Although they couldn’t compare to cities like New York and London with populations of millions, cities with populations of hundreds of thousands were not too common in this era. Moreover, the population of Dar es Salaam, including the old and new districts, had exceeded two hundred thousand, and was expected to reach over three hundred thousand in the next few years.

“Lighthouses are common landmarks, especially for port cities. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, so this material can be greatly utilized as long as it’s built well.”

“Then what do you want to do? Choose Mombasa or Dar es Salaam?” Constantine asked.

Lighthouses were naturally built in ports. Landmarks were for people to see, so Constantine naturally thought of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, the only two East African international ports that showcased the national character of East Africa.

“Let’s choose Dar es Salaam! Mombasa is still a bit lacking in climate.”

In his previous life, Mombasa’s development was definitely stronger than Dar es Salaam’s, but in this life, it was reversed. Especially after the Central Railway was completed ahead of schedule, Dar es Salaam’s development was far ahead, with other cities in the Central Province as support.

“This time, let’s build a ‘Beacon of Civilization’!”

“Beacon of Civilization?”

This name wasn’t bad, Constantine thought to himself.

In fact, the name “Beacon of Civilization” was what Ernst thought of in a flash of inspiration. In his previous life, the West always liked to tout the United States as a beacon of civilization.

What if East Africa really had a “Beacon of Civilization”? Ernst felt it was very interesting to think about. If anyone mentioned the concept of a beacon of civilization again, they couldn’t avoid East Africa’s “Beacon of Civilization.” However, unlike the symbolic beacon of civilization, East Africa’s was truly a lighthouse, in the physical sense. Could this be considered a deliberate imitation?

Chapter 527: East African (Indian) Trade

Now that the location for the landmark was decided, East Africa quickly solicited designs from European architects and selected the one that pleased the father and son the most.

“A beacon of civilization, a clean one hundred meters. This height is sufficient for most ships on the Indian Ocean to see it. A statue of the Goddess of Peace will adorn the spire, with four lion sculptures carved into the base of the tower, representing East African elements, and the Earth as the highest point, allowing for future…”

After reviewing the design, Ernst was quite satisfied with the work. The height didn’t have any particular hidden meaning, or rather, one hundred meters itself was a good symbolic number. It wasn’t too difficult to build, and in this era, a one-hundred-meter building was a breakthrough in itself.

Currently, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the tallest building in the world, is just over one hundred meters tall, and it won’t be surpassed until next year by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

The Goddess of Peace statue, the Germans will certainly like this element; the Brandenburg Gate features a statue of the Goddess of Peace.

Lions and the Earth; this incorporates both East African and global elements, making the beacon of civilization truly deserving of its name.

…

Southern Border Province.

The border between East Africa and Cape Town.

As tense as ever, Hans and Charlie, East African border guards, began their patrol, preventing enemies from infiltrating East African territory.

“Hey, Hans, it seems like the British have reduced their numbers recently. Are they letting their guard down?”

Charlie was unaware of the British forces in Cape Town being sent to support the Afghan front. Such top-secret military information was only known to the big shots in East Africa.

Actually, it wasn’t much of a secret, but East African border soldiers had no way of knowing. However, Charlie had visually observed the reduction in British troops on the border.

“Why think so much? Anyway, we haven’t received any operational plans to invade Cape Town. Whether the other side reduces or increases their numbers is unimportant to us,” Hans said with some pride.

Hans’s words were clearly a bit of a boast. Of course, as a German and serving in the East African Defense Force, an army with many years of undefeated record, especially in the army, his confidence was even stronger.

The German army is the best in the world, so the East African army is naturally the best in Africa. In this era, the overall honor of Germans existed as a nationality rather than a nation.

Because there were too many German states, but only one German nation, the Germans in East Africa naturally shared in the glory of the German army being the best in the world.

“You’re right, but these British guys are quite annoying. They must have encountered some trouble, hehe.” Charlie chuckled somewhat unkindly.

The laughter traveled across the barbed wire to the ears of Leta, a British soldier on the other side. He glared at the presumptuous German.

As a British soldier, he naturally knew why the Cape Town army had been reduced. Many of his comrades had gone to Afghanistan to suppress the uprising.

Seeing the unpleasant expression on Leta’s face, Charlie laughed even more happily. In reality, they were all old acquaintances. If Charlie knew English, he might even chat with Leta for a few words.

“Hahaha…”

Even happier than the East African border soldiers were the border merchants who had just completed a transaction.

“Mr. Max, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you!”

“The pleasure is all mine!”

Dujin counted the pounds in his hand, quite satisfied with the transaction. Max, seeking higher profits, resold goods from East Africa to Cape Town, making even more money and feeling equally pleased.

Learn from past mistakes.

Clearly, British merchants didn’t have this awareness.

The last time East Africa annexed the Transvaal Republic, it all started with East Africa’s border trade with the Transvaal Republic.

The British, after annexing the Orange Free State, naturally learned this information from the Boers of the former Transvaal Republic who had fled to the Orange Free State.

In addition, Britain had already imposed economic sanctions on East Africa, naturally prohibiting its merchants from doing business with East Africa.

But in Cape Town and East Africa, the ban was like a blank piece of paper, selectively ignored by both East African and British merchants.

Especially after the opening of the Central Railway, the trade volume between East Africa and Cape Town had more than tripled in recent years. East African goods were directly exchanged for pounds, becoming part of East Africa’s national treasury.

The pound was a very stable hard currency. Although East Africa and Britain couldn’t trade normally, East Africa had plenty of ways to spend these pounds, exchanging them for the materials they wanted.

The British mainland didn’t actually have many resources that East Africa needed. Instead, it was the British colonies that had many raw materials that East Africa needed to import. Of course, East Africa didn’t lack most of these raw materials, but Britain offered better value for money.

For example, East African coastal cities imported coal, iron ore, and timber in bulk from India as raw materials for industrial development, and in turn, dumped industrial products such as steel to India through Zanzibar merchants.

The trade volume between East Africa and India increased year by year. Britain’s sanctions against East Africa had no effect, but instead caused British companies to lose many orders from East Africa.

Britain restricted India’s industrial development, making India’s economy dependent on the export of raw materials and British industrial products.

India’s economy depended on raw material exports, so British colonial officials inevitably exported more raw materials in order to generate revenue. Previously, there were no buyers, but after the emergence of East Africa, the country with the highest level of consumption in the Indian Ocean region, the two naturally “flirted” and colluded together.

East Africa, with its low commodity prices, imported industrial products to India, and these officials resold them to wealthy Indian groups, creating a perfect closed loop.

As for the sanctions law, that was Britain’s sanctions law. What does it have to do with my great India? The Empress of India is Victoria? Well, okay! It’s still related.

But when the shiny banknotes flowed into the pockets of Indian officials, they felt at ease. As for treason, that didn’t exist. After all, the pound was printed with the image of the great Queen Victoria.

Indian colonial officials were typical double-dippers. The bulk of the funds from East Africa’s import of Indian ore and resources flowed into their pockets, and they could also squeeze a fortune from the Indians by selling East African industrial products to them.

And the cost was nothing more than the sweat and blood of the Indians, and the cheapest thing in India was human life, so where could you find such a good thing?

East Africa, Germany, and the United States can be said to be Britain’s biggest enemies in industrial development. The former relied on trade with British colonies to develop smoothly, while the latter two stole Britain’s wealth through counterfeit products.

And Britain’s labor costs were relatively high, and island prices were also relatively high. Actually, British prices weren’t too high, but they were clearly incomparable to continental countries.

Therefore, Britain’s industry being surpassed by late-developing industrial countries was an irreversible trend. It would be better to vigorously develop the financial industry. After all, the world’s commercial channels were now in British hands.

East Africa’s ability to steal India’s market was due to its advantageous location. Although Britain was India’s suzerain state, this didn’t change the fact that the distance from the British mainland to India was about twice the distance from East Africa. And the industrial country closest to India was East Africa.

And India was the largest economic entity in Britain’s colonial map, so East Africa naturally couldn’t turn a blind eye to the existence of the Indian market and tried every means to develop the Indian market.

Under the dual attack of transportation advantages and cost advantages, import and export trade between India and East Africa became an important part of East Africa’s foreign trade, and may even exceed East Africa’s trade volume with the Far East Empire.

Chapter 528: Keeping Up with the Times

“This group of lunatics!”

“Free clinic?”

“Free of charge?”

It was simply shocking. In reality, good doctors, regardless of their background, are all the same. The East has a fine tradition of free clinics, and the West also has saints who treat illnesses without charging money. There are always good people among doctors, but the free clinics of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa have become institutionalized. This kind of charitable behavior evoked a variety of feelings in the German doctors: disdain, jealousy, admiration, and emotion… the list goes on.

The traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in East Africa didn’t care about the German doctors’ opinions. Right now, they just wanted to stand up for traditional Chinese medicine and not let the heritage of their ancestors be lost. Not only could it not be lost, but it also had to be promoted.

In order to promote traditional Chinese medicine, the East African Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, led by Li Ge, was established. Of course, it was reported to Ernst beforehand. It was only because of Ernst that it was able to pass through, otherwise it would have been difficult to succeed in a country with German culture. For example, Ernst would definitely not approve of those miscellaneous medical schools in India.

The East African traditional Chinese medicine practitioners going to the countryside for free clinics was a spontaneous act, and the East African government was quite supportive. East Africa was short of talent, and doctors were a scarce resource in any era.

“President Li, are you still reading that book ‘Cell Biology’?”

“Yes, Elder Wei! Whether we admit it or not, those tiny organisms under the microscope are objectively real. We traditional Chinese medicine practitioners can’t pretend we don’t see them. The development of the times allows us to better understand this world, so traditional Chinese medicine should make up for its shortcomings and carry forward this knowledge.”

“What you say is true. I was truly shocked when I saw cells and microorganisms on our skin through a microscope in that kind of laboratory. It impacted my worldview. It’s just that I’m getting old, otherwise I would definitely join you in exploring new paths for traditional Chinese medicine.”

“Hehe, you only say that. In reality, you’re more anxious than anyone else. I saw you holding that Western medicine anatomy book and reading it all night a few days ago.”

Exposed, Wei Jin didn’t say anything. As a traditional old doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, he also had some integrity. Of course, after being exposed to Western science in East Africa, Wei Jin was greatly shocked and also worried about the development of traditional Chinese medicine. The so-called learning from the strengths of the enemy to defeat the enemy, Wei Jin also planned to seek a way out for the development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Li Ge is considered one of the founders of the new traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa. They originally had relatively mature medical experience in the Far East. Their level might not be top-notch, but they were also in the first tier. After all, the Far East Empire also valued face and couldn’t send any shoddy products to East Africa. Of course, this was also the result of East Africa’s warning, otherwise, according to the Far East Empire’s bureaucratic nature, they might really send some swindlers to East Africa to fool them. Unfortunately, Ernst knew them too well.

“Elder Wei, you don’t have to have any psychological burden. The tasks on our shoulders are heavy. Learning is not a shameful thing. The career we are engaged in has unlimited potential in the future.”

“I know this. You also know that I am good at surgery. After seeing the Westerners’ research on the structure of the human body, I realized that we are indeed too far behind. They can even draw every blood vessel quite clearly. This is very similar to our meridians, but in terms of rigor, we lack some. And treating diseases is originally a serious matter. As the saying goes, a miss is as good as a mile.”

No wonder Wei Jin constantly mentioned Westerners. In reality, since boarding the pirate ship that was East Africa, he couldn’t get off even if he wanted to. Returning to the Far East would still be criticized by some old scholars, so he simply brought his family to East Africa to live. Here, doctors are a respected profession and have some social status.

Of course, some habits from the Far East cannot be changed. After all, he is old, and some things are relatively stubborn. Unlike Li Ge, for the development of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa, he took East African citizenship with peace of mind and even gave himself a German name, which was just his name’s pinyin, reversed, with the given name first and the family name last, to facilitate activities in East Africa.

“Li Ge, I heard that you have been working on that so-called reform of traditional Chinese medicine preparations recently. How is it going? Is it effective?”

“So-so! In reality, traditional Chinese medicine is still best suited for direct boiling, but now is the era of industrialization. If traditional Chinese medicine wants to enter the market in the future, it must also go through this process, so I am also thinking about making traditional Chinese medicine into small pills or plasters.”

“Will it affect the effect of traditional Chinese medicine?”

“There will definitely be an impact. There are good and bad aspects. Some have better effects after being made into preparations, while others are useless. However, there are many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, so there is no fear of messing around. We can just find treasures from the prescriptions passed down by our ancestors. No other medicine can compare to us in this regard.” Li Ge said smugly.

“Moreover, you don’t know, there are many treasures there with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. When I mentioned prescriptions to him, he took me to see his collection of books. Do you know what? Many of them are rare editions of royal medical classics and ancient traditional Chinese medicine books from past dynasties! Just those books are enough for me to explore for a while.”

“The Crown Prince is also interested in traditional Chinese medicine?”

“It’s hard to say, but his collection of Eastern classics and antiques is truly dazzling. There are two warehouses just for medical books.”

This wasn’t Ernst wasting resources. His books are all collectibles and antiques, so the storage requirements are high. Naturally, they can’t be placed on bookshelves like ordinary libraries. There must also be professionals to maintain them to prevent damage from insects, rodents, and other pests.

“Since the Crown Prince treasures these ancient books so much, will he let you flip through them casually?”

“Of course not, but the Crown Prince also said that books are for people to read and are a medium for transmitting knowledge, so he specifically asked me to find someone to transcribe them, hoping to help us.”

Of course, Ernst hoped that the East African medical cause could develop. And Li Ge and his group of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners brought their own food and invested in the new traditional Chinese medicine cause, so naturally he had to support them. Anyway, East Africa wouldn’t lose out, and with the assistance of Li Ge and others, East Africa registered a large number of pharmaceutical patents.

Now East African traditional Chinese medicine is walking on two legs. One is the innovative path led by Li Ge, and the other is the conservative faction that is unwilling to accept reality.

But Ernst didn’t care. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Li Ge’s new traditional Chinese medicine is basically a modern transformation of traditional Chinese medicine combined with modern science. The problems encountered are actually the same as those of modern medicine. The initial road is bumpy, but it is much smoother than the transformation of Western traditional medicine to modern medicine.

After all, there are too many written records of traditional Chinese medicine. Even if only ten percent of them are useful, Western traditional medicine cannot compare.

The development of Western modern medicine in East Africa is currently smooth sailing, but because of the short time in East Africa, it is more focused on clinical trials.

As for theoretical innovation and scientific research, it is mainly carried out in Europe. After the laboratories and research institutes in Europe have results, they will experiment with the results in East Africa. East Africa has a large black population, so it is still easy to find patients as experimental subjects for drug testing.

It is precisely because of this that the clinical medicine of Western modern medicine in East Africa can develop rapidly. After all, there are many experimental materials. Of course, not only Western modern medicine, but other medicines have also benefited from this.

It can be said that blacks have made important contributions to the development of the East African medical cause, playing the role of white mice, and they are much more reliable than white mice.

Of course, it cannot be said that East Africa is cruel. Drug testing and surgery are not necessarily bad for blacks, especially in this era. If the natives of West Africa are injured or sick, they can basically only wait to die. It is impossible to have someone treat them.

This is like India in the previous life. They certainly knew that the West regarded India as a drug testing factory, but they still enjoyed it. This kind of thing is voluntary.

Chapter 529: Applying to Return Home

Romania.

As a newly independent nation from the Ottoman Empire, the former Grand Duke of Romania has now been elevated to King of Romania, namely Carol I.

In the economic structure of the Kingdom of Romania, oil is an important industrial project. Apart from this, Romania is almost no different from other agricultural countries.

In the newly developed oilfield area, the Romanian Petroleum Development Company has opened three new oil wells and built a refinery using the latest technology here, developing more petroleum by-products based on Romanian oil refining.

The so-called Romanian Petroleum Development Company is also Ernst’s industry, and it is Ernst’s grip on the layout of oil resources. Of course, Romania’s oil resources are not as many as imagined, but it is indeed a good place for novices to level up. In other words, East Africa is cultivating its own future oil workers in Romania.

Before the Hechengen Consortium entered the market, Romania’s oil development and utilization were actually small-scale, and the production methods were extremely backward, completely relying on manual excavation of well pits for production.

After the Hechengen Consortium invested, Romanian oil development embarked on a fast track. Initially, Hechengen simply imported a large number of machines from the United States to increase production.

The American oil industry is almost completely monopolized by Rockefeller, forming the Standard Oil Company, which occupies about ninety percent of the American oil market, and this number will further expand to ninety-five percent next year.

Unlike the United States, Europe is a region lacking oil. Of course, Ernst is referring to Western Europe. Eastern Europe is different. Tsarist Russia has considerable oil resources. Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire both have oil distribution, including some oil reserves in partitioned Poland. Tsarist Russia has resources but no industry, which is the opposite of Western Europe.

Moreover, the market demand for oil is actually not very high. For example, Romania’s oil consumption is about 30,000 tons per year, which can be said to be pitifully low. More than 10,000 tons of this are purchased by East Africa.

In the nineteenth century, the use of oil was mainly concentrated in lighting and medicine. Ernst heard that Americans use oil to treat rheumatism, but he has never seen it.

As for East Africa’s import of oil, it is mainly for the use of East African machinery and river and lake fleet ships.

East Africa’s oil reserves are quite considerable, especially in the Nile Basin area, the Great Lakes region, and the northern region dominated by Lake Turkana.

However, Ernst does not intend to develop these oil resources now, especially the oil resources in the Nile Basin.

That is the oil-producing area of North and South Sudan in his previous life, close to the border line, and the northern border line is the semi-colonial Egypt, and the United Kingdom behind Egypt, just like the resources of South Africa are not developed for the time being, Ernst does not want to have conflicts with the United Kingdom because of resource development.

Of course, the British may not like the small profit of oil. The gold mines in South Africa are fatal to the British, but the British are typical of harming others and not benefiting themselves. What if they just want to make trouble! So it’s better to be prepared.

Moreover, the Romanian Petroleum Development Company is enough for Ernst to toss about. After future technology and personnel are cultivated, East Africa can directly use it. After all, the Romanian royal family and the Hechengen royal family are one family. The Hohenzollerns are all on the same side, so there is no need to worry about the Romanian government holding East Africa by the neck.

“Oh, are you all going back to East Africa?” the manager of the Romanian Petroleum Development Company asked the East African apprentices.

“Yes, manager, you also know that we came to Europe as students. Isn’t it the end of the year? So we plan to ask for leave to go back to East Africa to visit our families.”

“That’s right, you have been working here for two or three years. I understand your feelings, but you can’t all go back! Someone has to stay and guard the post. How about this, you go back to your country in three batches. Only after the first batch returns can the second batch return to East Africa, and then after the second batch returns, the third batch can go to East Africa.”

The manager certainly wouldn’t let people go, but he couldn’t let them all return to East Africa, so he came up with this idea.

“Manager, we were assigned by the government to work in Romania. But I want to know if the government intends to keep us in Romania forever?”

It’s no wonder they would think wildly. Since being sent to Romania to study and work, East Africa has not let them go back. If the time is too long, they might become Romanians.

“Hehe, you don’t have to worry about this. If we really didn’t care about you, would I approve your leave to go back to visit relatives? In fact, you should understand that the oil industry is an industry favored by the country, but domestic development is late and infrastructure conditions are poor, so there is no place for you to use your talents. Now studying oil extraction and refining technology in Romania is the best choice for you.”

Now going back to East Africa, these oil apprentices have no place to use their talents. East Africa does not plan to develop the oil industry in advance. Without the oil industry, there is naturally no need for oil workers. Therefore, it is what the country needs for these apprentices to stay in Romania and continue to accumulate experience, and at the same time create value for the Hechengen Consortium.

“You are the pillars of the country’s future oil industry. The country will naturally not let go easily. Of course, you don’t have to be nervous. Just study and work hard as usual. And we don’t interfere with your private lives. It is also possible to marry and have children in Romania, but I want to remind you that you will still have to return to East Africa in the future, so you must tell the local girls when you are in love, don’t make a mess when the time comes.”

Oil industry workers, especially East African nationals in the Romanian Petroleum Development Company, are mostly middle and high-level or technical personnel, and belong to high-income groups in Romania.

Therefore, it is still easy for employees of the Romanian Petroleum Development Company to solve the problem of being single. Furthermore, East Africa encourages its own people to take advantage of other countries, after all, the problem of gender imbalance in East Africa has always existed, so if they can marry local girls in their spare time, East Africa supports it, killing two birds with one stone.

The manager’s words amused this group of high-spirited young men, who looked like lustful pigs. He was speechless and said, “What do you look like, if you want to solve the problem of being single with this look, the local girls would have run away long ago.”

“Take advantage of this time to go home, visit your relatives, and remember to come back to work as soon as possible. Next time, you can only contact us by telegram.”

“Yes, manager.”

East Africans working overseas generally calculate their return home by year. After all, going to sea in this era is a troublesome matter, so it is indeed difficult for the Romanian Petroleum Development Company to give so many employees leave.

Of course, because of the particularity of the Romanian Petroleum Development Company, the company will let its employees return home to rest for a period of time.

The oil industry can be said to be a long-term job, and it is no problem to do it for ten or eight years, so the Romanian Petroleum Development Company encourages its employees to settle down in Romania.

Chapter 530: Juba Comprehensive Training Base

Juba City, the capital of the Nile River Province.

Recently, Juba City has seen significant activity, namely the influx of large-scale workers and indentured laborers. Of course, the most conspicuous is the army, with the East African 311th Division moving into the area.

Anyone unaware might think a major battle was brewing, but it’s clearly a normal troop movement. After all, Juba is in the rear; if there were to be a war, it should be in the north or east. The north is Egypt, and the east is the Abyssinian Empire. However, even if East Africa were at war with these two countries, there would be no need to station troops in Juba.

The so-called Nile River Province is what was previously South Sudan plus parts of Sudan. In recent years, the Nile River Province’s development has been unremarkable.

First, there’s the issue of terrain. As a basin amidst the East African highlands, the Nile River Province isn’t exactly a habitable area.

It’s already located in the tropics, and in tropical regions, habitable areas are the opposite of those in temperate and frigid zones. Mountainous and highland areas with cooler climates are more suitable for human survival.

The most typical example in the previous life was Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. In this timeline, because of East Africa’s existence, Brazil naturally can’t hog all the limelight, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Brazilian Highlands are a good place.

So, East Africa, a tropical country with mostly highland terrain, is a rare good place. In fact, this is the case. Several major countries in the tropics in the previous life were all highland countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico…

Indonesia might be a bit special, but the population is definitely concentrated in the highlands and mountains. This can be seen from the population difference between islands like Java and Kalimantan.

The Nile River Province is located in the tropics and is also a basin, so it’s quite hot and humid. This stifling “cooking” environment might not be better than the desert areas to the north.

Although the northern desert is hot, it’s dry. The southern Nile River Province is like a large pot filled with water, steaming buns, like a sauna. Going into a sauna occasionally is fine, but living inside is another story.

Ernst even believes that the northern Nile River Province might have greater development advantages than the south in the future. The first is oil, and the second is the part of the Gezira Plain that East Africa brazenly seized from Sudan, which is as fertile as the Nile River banks in Egypt. The area isn’t large, but it’s easy, convenient, and worry-free to develop. In fact, the population of the Nile River Province is now mainly distributed in the northernmost Gezira Plain.

Of course, most of the Gezira Plain is within Sudan (Egypt). East Africa isn’t one to push things too far. Anyway, they’ve already occupied the oil fields, so there’s no need to include Sudan in their territory, provided that Egypt doesn’t set its sights on East Africa. However, Egypt is currently in such a sorry state that it wouldn’t dare to provoke East Africa.

In the past, Egypt was quite a strong country, especially during the Muhammad Ali era, almost inheriting the Ottoman Empire’s position as the overlord of the Arab world. If it weren’t for the meddling of Britain and France behind the scenes, the spokesperson for the Arab world would have changed long ago.

Such a good place as the Gezira Plain is naturally used to grow grain. Ernst has planned two types of agriculture here: one is wheat, and the other is Egyptian long-staple cotton.

Wheat is originally a product of the Arab region. Although the Gezira Plain belongs to East Africa, its climate isn’t different from most of the Arab region.

The long-staple cotton business is quite good, after all, the quality of cotton in the German region isn’t as good as that in East Africa. East Africa also has long-staple cotton, this “soft gold”, which is naturally in high demand. Therefore, East Africa’s cotton planting area is also growing, mostly sold to the German region.

Otherwise, Bulawayo in Matabeleland Province wouldn’t have taken a fancy to this business. The textile industry has great potential, which is exactly what East Africa and the German region lack.

The development of the cotton textile industry in the German region is limited by raw materials, so they focus on heavy industry and railways, while East Africa needs to develop military industry and heavy industry, and its policies are similar to those in the German region.

This mainly depends on Ernst’s ideas. Ernst definitely prefers heavy industry and manufacturing, and these two industries are closely related to the military industry, so the East African central government will also lean towards these industries in terms of policy.

The central government’s energy is limited, so the local governments naturally have more room to develop light industry. Therefore, if Bulawayo can seize the opportunity, Ernst is willing to give them a push.

This is also related to Ernst’s industrial layout. Bulawayo is located deep inland, and if it can develop well, it will be conducive to the balanced development of East Africa’s industries.

Of course, it’s undeniable that Bulawayo’s ability to make a splash in the textile industry in Africa in the previous life is inseparable from the quality of local cotton. Although it’s not as good as top-quality cotton, it’s also a high-quality product, especially suitable for making jeans. Jeans made of Zimbabwean cotton are also very popular. In the previous life, most of Zimbabwe’s cotton was sold to Europe and the United States, so its strength shouldn’t be underestimated.

Back to the Nile River Province, the climate in the north is significantly different from that in the south, so the crops in the tropical savanna area in the south are also completely different.

As mentioned before, the Nile River Province is a basin surrounded by the Azande Highlands, the East African Highlands, and the Ethiopian Highlands. These three highlands are areas with abundant rainfall, so large and small rivers flow from the highlands into the Nile River Province. The only river flowing out of the Nile River Province is the Nile River, so the Nile River Province has vast swamps and wetlands due to poor drainage.

The main food crop in the Nile River Province is naturally rice, plus various plantation agriculture, but the area isn’t as open as the highland areas.

This is still due to too many rivers and swamps. To develop South Sudan on a large scale, one can’t avoid rivers and wetlands, but East Africa has no such intention, because East Africa has enough land, and it’s quite abundant, so there’s no need to compete with the swamps.

After the 311th Division moved in, Juba underwent earth-shaking changes, mainly due to the construction of a large number of military facilities. What the citizens of Juba felt most was the establishment of a large number of military restricted areas.

Many places were marked with wooden signs, with the words “Military Area, No Entry” written in large letters in paint.

At the same time, a no-entry sign was thoughtfully drawn on the wooden sign. The East Africans are quite familiar with the blood-red cross pattern.

The reason behind East Africa’s large-scale actions is to build a super-large training ground centered on Juba City.

Training grounds are certainly not unfamiliar. Well-known examples from the previous life include the U.S. Army’s Fort Irwin National Training Center, the Russian 42nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Training Center, and the Far East Empire’s Zhurihe.

The Juba Comprehensive Training Base built by East Africa in Juba is not fundamentally different from these training grounds.

It’s just that the conditions here are more complex, with highlands, mountains, plains (basins), rivers, lakes, swamps, deserts (sandy areas), jungles, grasslands… It can be said to be fully covered.

The Nile River Province is a typical sparsely populated area in East Africa, at least its development potential is not high before oil development, and it’s very suitable for military training.

East Africa is the country that attaches the most importance to tropical warfare, and tropical warfare cannot avoid several tropical climate types. There are not many areas like Juba and its surrounding areas that gather various tropical climate types, and even if there are, they are not as large as here. Even if the entire East African army trains here, it can be deployed.

The most important training subjects for East Africa here are tropical jungle warfare, amphibious operations, and mountain training.

These can be said to be the three most common types of tropical warfare, and East Africa focuses on these three combat modes, and its intentions are very simple, that is, to go to the Nanyang region.

East Africa has already gained a firm foothold in the Lanfang Overseas Province, and Ernst regards the future Nanyang as an important part of East Africa’s world strategy.

Moreover, fighting in the tropics is not easy. The lesson of the United States in the Vietnamese jungle in the previous life has always been a warning to Ernst. East Africa naturally wants East Africa to adapt to this combat mode in advance.

Moreover, East Africa itself is a tropical country, with a vast national area, diverse climate types, and complex terrain. The national defense needs are also diverse, which is why Ernst built the Juba Comprehensive Training Base.

Chapter 531: Garrison City

“So this wall is considered built? No other procedures?”

“Yes, at least I guess that’s what they’re doing. They’ve already built a lot, so this low wall is probably built the same way.”

“Sigh, don’t you think this is such a waste? They only built the framework of the houses. At first, I thought they were going to move a lot of immigrants from Juba! But after all that fuss, they just built so many things that look good but are useless. It’s such a waste of good cement and bricks.”

“They built those buildings, but we haven’t seen any follow-up.”

For the citizens of Juba, the military built a strange place south of the city. What was so strange about it? They spent a lot of manpower, material resources, and money to build a bunch of uninhabitable houses.

At first, the citizens of Juba who participated in the construction thought that Juba was going to expand, because East Africa has been developing rapidly in recent years, and the number and area of cities are also increasing. Urban development is quite good.

After all, Juba Province is the capital of the Nile River Province, so it is not impossible to expand and arrange for immigrants.

However, the 311th Division, which caused a great stir, ended up building a bunch of unfinished products in the south of the city, which were impossible to live in. But the 311th Division did not move away either.

The so-called unfinished products actually look more like a newly built city near Juba, except that this city is extremely strange.

This is the urban terrain simulation field of the Juba Integrated Training Base, which is a training ground used by East Africa to study urban warfare and street fighting.

It is said to be south of Juba, but it is actually more than ten kilometers southwest of Juba, with even a tropical jungle in between.

“This urban simulation field is built in the form of Eastern and Western cities. We have set up application scenarios such as slums, ordinary residences, ruins, and special buildings to study our army’s response plans in complex urban terrain situations.”

The 311th Division is quite clear about this urban simulation field near Juba. This place is used to deduce and train urban warfare tactics.

Since East Africa was established so recently and does not have any decaying cities, it can only build this urban simulation field directly near Juba, which has become a wasteful act in the mouths of some Juba citizens.

It is equivalent to directly building a city, but without any output and uninhabitable. Isn’t this a stalled project!

The urban simulation field, which seems to be stalled but is actually completed, is of course not uninhabitable, but it has barracks and other military facilities inside, which have nothing to do with civilian use. If you regard this place as a garrison city, it is very reasonable.

Even in order to deeply simulate the urban environment, railway stations and ports were built here, but they are all just for show.

After all, Juba is such a remote area that it is not connected to the East African railway network. The railway station is just for decoration, and so is the port. There are no rivers nearby.

East Africa will naturally build railways here in the future, but there are no plans to do so in the short term. Moreover, because it is a military area, only a branch line will be built from Juba to here.

In the future, military mobilization will require railways. Although it is called the Juba Integrated Training Base, its area spans three provinces (Nile River Province, New Bavaria Province, and Great Lakes Province), a super training ground of more than 20,000 square kilometers.

This area is even larger than many small countries. Of course, East Africa cannot use it all. The currently planned military development zone area is 2,000 square kilometers.

This training ground is closest to Juba, the capital of the Nile River Province, so it is called the Juba Integrated Training Base.

If there is really any relationship with Juba, it is that Juba helped during the construction. After all, it is the capital of a province, so it contributed a lot during the construction of the Juba Training Base.

This is not without benefits for Juba. In the future, when East African troops train here, they will definitely give priority to the Nile River Province for material procurement and the like.

“The Ministry of Defense’s arrangement for the 311th Division is to supervise the construction here first to prevent workers from running away, especially the blacks. The Nile River Province is sparsely populated and has a complex environment. If the workers run away, it will be difficult to find them. It took several years to clear the blacks in the Nile River Province, and there are still some fish that slipped through the net in the province. So when you are building, keep an eye on the blacks for me.”

This is the same as the Congo rainforest area of East Africa. East Africa has no idea how many people live inside. The natives in the rainforest may only be a small village of a dozen people, and their distribution is extremely scattered. Therefore, East Africa has not ended its screening of wild blacks.

“Please rest assured, superiors. Even if they want to escape, they don’t pose much of a threat. After all, population reproduction is a matter for men and women. The black laborers we supervise are all male. Even if they run away, they have no way to reproduce. They will be gone after one generation. Moreover, the environment in the Nile River Province is so harsh that they may not be able to survive if they escape.”

“Your division can handle this matter as you see fit. I won’t say any more.”

“Lieutenant General Roland, will our division stay here after completing the construction?” the 311th Division Commander asked.

“I can’t give you a clear answer for the time being, but it is highly likely that you will not have to return to your previous garrison. After all, so many military facilities have been built, and people will definitely need to stay behind to take care of them on a daily basis. Moreover, this place is called the Juba Integrated Training Base, so the higher-ups naturally intend to build this place into a training ground for the East African Army. So this place will be quite lively in the future. Other brother units will probably come here to train as well.”

“That’s true. If this training base is judged solely on its scale, it is probably the largest in the world. It can accommodate the entire national army training here together.”

“Don’t even think about that in the short term. Troop deployments are not that easy. In the future, a railway must be connected here. Otherwise, no troops will be willing to walk here. It’s just that you are close, so we let your division supervise the construction and move the garrison here. This can be considered getting the first opportunity.”

The 11th Division was originally stationed in New Bavaria Province, which is the eastern part of the Azande Plateau. The climate may be better in the original garrison, but the facility construction is not as good as the Juba Integrated Training Base.

The harsh climatic conditions of the Nile River Province happen to be one of the important reasons why East Africa placed the training base here.

The army is not a game, but a force of iron and blood. Therefore, cultivating the army’s spirit of hard work and struggle is essential.

To be honest, the highland areas of East Africa are actually comfortable nests. They are warm in winter and cool in summer. After solving the backwardness problem, they are quite comfortable and livable areas.

The hot and humid environment of the Nile River Province can naturally increase the intensity for the East African army and temper their willpower. You don’t need much training to make people sweat.

This is exactly what Ernst wants. In the future, East African soldiers will inevitably fight in tropical regions, so resistance to humidity and heat is one of the essential skills of the East African Army.

Chapter 532: Scheming for Ryukyu

“So this is East Africa. It looks quite prosperous, similar to Jiaozhou.”

“It’s more accurate to say that parts of Jiaozhou’s architecture were built by Germans, so Jiaozhou should be like Germany.”

“East Africa defeated Portugal and can be considered one of the strong countries, so you all need to be careful and not provoke trouble for no reason.”

“Yes, sir.”

It was obvious that this was a group of Far Easterners who had landed in Dar es Salaam. They had queues behind their heads, making them extremely recognizable, and coupled with their official uniforms, it was hard not to recognize them.

Some of the common people in the Far East were all too familiar with this set of clothes. Some even seemed to recall the past, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

“What are these fancy dressed dogs doing in our Great East Africa?”

A white immigrant asked curiously, “Glaede, this seems like the image of Far Easterners I used to see in European newspapers. Were you like this before?”

Glaede hurriedly shook his head and denied, “I wasn’t like them before. Look at their clothes, although peculiar, they are quite gorgeous. Such clothes are obviously not something ordinary people can afford, and only officials can wear them. We commoners wouldn’t dare to overstep.”

“In this regard, it’s actually similar for everyone. In your East, it’s said that nobles can advance through exams, which is very good.”

“In Germany, you can also change your fate by joining the army, and in my opinion, joining the army has a much lower barrier than taking exams. I used to be illiterate, while you have received education.”

East African people were already used to communicating in German, so the Far Eastern officials couldn’t understand what they were saying. Of course, the translator could understand, but he didn’t think it was necessary to tell these Eastern officials.

This time, the Far Eastern government wasn’t just going through the motions like last time. They were genuinely communicating with East Africa because East Africa had gained international recognition by defeating Portugal, and its influence in the Far East, especially in the North, was increasing. Therefore, communication with East Africa was also forced onto the agenda. This time, they were here to investigate the national conditions of East Africa.

Portugal, in the end, wasn’t really that strong. After all, their battle record wasn’t good. They were evenly matched with Africans and Arabs, and they weren’t outstanding in Latin America, but their influence in the Far East was not weak.

For example, the colony of Portuguese Macau can be considered the earliest colony of the great powers in the Far East. A good hero doesn’t mention his past bravery, but Portugal was really brave back then.

Moreover, the Portuguese were good at bluffing. They were very good at leveraging power overseas. If East Africa wasn’t too strong, they might have succeeded in their last plan with Britain.

After all, they were all from the same area. Other countries might not understand what Portugal was like, but the Germans were clear.

The Far East was simply scared by the West. The fear was imprinted in their bones. Of course, this was related to the social atmosphere of the Far East. The Japanese, for example, were typically respectful on the surface, but actually quite bold in their hearts. Japan was prevalent with militarism, so they dared to challenge strong countries.

After all, they could commit ritual suicide. They were so ruthless to themselves, so they would be even more ruthless to outsiders.

Now, Japan seemed relatively clear-headed, acting like a grandson in front of Western countries. Ernst wasn’t saying that Japan had self-awareness, but they were definitely crazy enough.

To make Japan behave, they needed a good beating so they could truly recognize their position. The national character of each country could be reflected anyway.

For example, Germany’s crude diplomatic skills were largely inseparable from Germany’s admiration of force, while Austria was the opposite. They had strong diplomatic talent, but their military capabilities were just so-so.

However, Austria now had a talent gap in its diplomatic level, while Germany had produced a genius strategist like Bismarck. The two had actually reversed.

So, nothing is absolute. If Austria had a Bismarck-like figure, they might be able to stand up again.

Of course, East Africa was still learning from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in diplomacy, not Germany. Germany had Bismarck, but that was just a flash in the pan, relying on personal talent. Austria’s diplomatic ability was more in line with the experience of most countries with a long history, with sophisticated methods.

Speaking of sophisticated methods, the Far Eastern Empire was the real old fox, with the most experience, but now the Far Eastern Empire’s diplomacy was too old-fashioned, and it couldn’t exert any effect at all.

Especially since they hadn’t changed their thinking, the West was now the rule-maker, and Eastern wisdom couldn’t adapt to this Western diplomatic rule at all.

If they could thoroughly understand the Western rules, the Far East could play the Western countries to death. Ernst wasn’t talking nonsense. In his previous life, the United States had even broken down, and didn’t recognize things like the spirit of contract.

The country with the highest level of diplomacy in this era was Britain. Diplomacy was linked to national power. The stronger the comprehensive national power, the greater the diplomatic maneuvering space, and the greater the space for diplomatic officials to play. After all, a clever woman can’t cook without rice. A weak country has no diplomacy, it’s not just talk.

Like Britain, it could repeatedly fail in diplomacy, but rely on its strong comprehensive national power to bail it out. If other weak countries failed in diplomacy, they might be directly gone. Afghanistan was an example, allying with Tsarist Russia and being directly swallowed by Britain.

In a nutshell, diplomacy is very important, but the ultimate determinant of the upper limit of diplomatic level is comprehensive national power. The stronger the national power, the higher the diplomatic upper limit. Diplomatic level is also a reflection of comprehensive national power.

So many countries kiss Britain’s ass, who told them to be the world hegemon! Just like so many countries followed the United States in his previous life, waving flags and shouting.

Of course, East Africa was following Germany and Austria, so it didn’t have to give Britain too much face. This also shows that Britain’s status as a world hegemon in this era was far less stable than the United States’ hegemon status in his previous life.

The Far Eastern Empire couldn’t learn from East Africa. East Africa at least had Germany and Austria as helpers. The Far Eastern Empire was surrounded by wolves, Britain, France, Japan, and Russia, all with wild ambitions. The only ones who still listened to the Far East might be Korea and Ryukyu.

But according to Ernst’s understanding, Ryukyu would probably be gone next year. East Africa couldn’t manage the Ryukyu affair, it was too far from East Africa, but next year the East African navy could fish in troubled waters and reap some benefits.

It wasn’t that he had his eye on the Ryukyu Islands, but it was just a convenient move. East Africa had been wanting to open up a stable route from East Africa to Alaska, so it needed to establish some islands as strongholds in the Pacific region to establish a connection between East Africa and Alaska.

In Southeast Asia, East Africa had the Lanfang Overseas Province as a stronghold, which was also within the range of the East African Navy, but the East African Navy was too far from Alaska, separated by two oceans, and only the line from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean to Alaska was the most stable.

Therefore, East Africa planned to find some islands in the Pacific region in 1880 as future East African overseas colonies to ensure East Africa’s maritime interests. After all, the East African Navy was in the top ten in the world, so it wasn’t excessive to have a few colonies.

The southern islands of the Ryukyu Islands were within East Africa’s plan. In addition, East Africa had the good Huaihai Economic Zone and Zhuhai Commercial Zone in the Far Eastern Empire, and East Africa’s commercial needs in the Far East, so it was also necessary to have its own base in the Asia-Pacific region to escort East Africa’s maritime trade route to the Far East and Alaska.

Chapter 533: Perilous as a Stack of Eggs

Putting aside the matter of overseas colonies, now that the Far Eastern Empire had sent people for exchange and observation, East Africa naturally couldn’t be impolite.

However, Ernst felt that East Africa had nothing worth observing. The way East Africa came to be was difficult for other countries to replicate. One of the biggest characteristics was that East Africa still hadn’t escaped its colonial essence.

East Africa, from beginning to end, never had any so-called independence. It was a country that directly evolved from a colony. Other independent countries, like the United States and Brazil, bear the mark of their former suzerain states, but East Africa has no former suzerain state, of course, the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen doesn’t count. In fact, after the Hohenzollern royal family moved to Africa, the so-called Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was further weakened.

Of course, the reduced influence doesn’t mean the Hohenzollern royal family gave up this right. Anyway, there’s no problem with a monarch holding multiple titles. The Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen is at least considered a “marquisate” level, so it’s understandable that the King of East Africa concurrently holds the title of Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and maybe there will be a time when it can be used.

For example, there’s no burden when communicating with Germany. The status of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen is very special in Germany. It’s both one of the German states and part of the Kingdom of Prussia. This is very different from other German states, such as the Kingdom of Württemberg, which is a German state, but not part of the Kingdom of Prussia.

In fact, the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, the Kingdom of East Africa, and the Alaskan Royal Territory are theoretically at the same level.

They are all countries ruled by the Hohenzollern royal family, or the Hohenzollern-Hechingen branch of the Hohenzollern family. Of course, the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen is a nominal rule, while the latter two are actual rule.

Therefore, the Kingdom of East Africa is a very peculiar existence for Germany, or rather, Prussia. Countries have different degrees of closeness, and the position of East Africa is very intriguing.

However, it’s never wrong to win them over. The two countries are related in terms of culture, history, politics, and economy.

“In fact, East Africa is different from most countries in the world. It’s a country that evolved from a colony, and it’s still evolving, not yet finalized. For example, we still have a slave system, and our national conditions are special, but foreign exchanges are smooth, but it requires an extra procedure, which needs to be mediated by the German region.” Leider, the director of the Dar es Salaam Municipal Bureau of Culture, who came to receive the Far Eastern delegation, said to these guests.

Leider’s straightforward introduction directly confused the Far Eastern delegation. What’s going on? We’re just here to take a look, don’t think we’re here to learn from East Africa!

In fact, the Far Eastern Empire delegation did have this little thought before, to learn the enemy’s strengths to defeat the enemy! East Africa, as a late-developing country, can naturally be used for reference.

However, East Africa’s approach is absolutely impossible for other countries to replicate. First of all, there’s the point of closing the country to the outside world. East Africa still learned this from the Far East!

East Africa can play closed-doorism, but the Far East currently doesn’t have this condition, and East Africa’s closed-doorism can draw nutrients from the German region, while the Far Eastern Empire can only be bled by other countries.

Of course, after the country is opened, it’s easier to be bled by the great powers, but it’s also gradually adapting and growing in an environment of being beaten.

Of course, closing the country to the outside world is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, at any time, policies are changed according to the situation.

Why did the Qing government engage in closed-doorism? It’s inseparable from the anti-Qing elements overseas. At the same time, the Far Eastern Empire’s way of thinking has always been bound by Confucianism, but Confucianism has lost its vitality and is unwilling to accept change.

Confucianism can naturally adapt to the development of the times. After all, extreme religions such as Christianity can develop new annotations that adapt to the development of capitalism, and even have factions such as Latin American liberation theology.

But the Confucianism of the Qing Dynasty was like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, without the slightest intention of repentance. Confucianism has always been developing and changing, but this development and change stopped abruptly after the Qing Dynasty.

Losing the ability to innovate naturally leads to the road of decline, and Confucianism is unwilling to give way to new ideas. Its position can be said to have been forcibly promoted, and it even has a tendency to evolve into a religion, called “Confucianism.” Its virtue doesn’t match its position, so it’s no wonder it was severely liquidated later.

East Africa doesn’t have this kind of trouble. It just copies the achievements of its predecessors. East Africa hasn’t formed a force that can confront the royal family, so the direction of East Africa’s development is controlled by Ernst.

And Ernst’s desire for control is extremely strong. In his opinion, he can’t control what East Africa will be like in the future. While his energy is still abundant, it must develop according to his wishes.

“Your Excellency Leider, you are being too modest. I have heard that you Germans are generally more straightforward. Every country has something to learn from, so there is no need to belittle yourself. Moreover, your East Africa is developing rapidly, which makes us very envious.”

Leider wasn’t being modest, he was just telling the truth, so he explained: “East Africa is the same as the United States of America. Our two countries are developed through slavery, and at the same time have a large amount of undeveloped land. These two points are not available to your Far East, so I am not being modest, but East Africa really has no value for you to refer to. It’s better to go directly to Europe and the Ottoman Empire to investigate.”

Leider sincerely suggested this. East Africa and the United States are countries drawn on blank paper, without forming complex relationships of interest.

The Far Eastern Empire has a long history, with complex domestic forces and deeply rooted interest groups. Their way of change is nothing more than two kinds: one is to cut flesh from top to bottom to protect themselves, or to be passively overthrown and rebuilt.

It’s not that Ernst looks down on the Qing government, but their knives dare not cut themselves, or no one is willing to pay the price.

It’s like the greedy monkey in the story: a large nut or fruit is placed in a sturdy bottle with a small mouth. The monkey puts its hand in to grab it, and then can’t get its hand out. As long as it puts down the nut, it can get its hand out, but the monkey refuses to give up, dragging the big bottle around and then being captured alive.

But it’s undeniable that East Africa, a country without historical heritage, is extremely fragile, so Ernst created a closed-door policy. If East Africa suffers from external cultural and ideological invasion, it may directly kneel, which can be seen from other colonial countries.

Ernst’s responsibility is to shield East Africa from the wind and rain of his previous life, and only when East Africa’s size is sufficient to protect itself can it develop independently.

It’s like a chip. If you don’t change the track, if the latecomer wants to deal with the suppression of the firstcomer, you must first protect the domestic market to survive.

Ernst knows how unstable East Africa’s system is. It may even die suddenly more than the rigid Soviet Union. And under the premise of ensuring the rule of the Hohenzollern royal family, maintaining the stability of East Africa requires at least fifty years to gradually improve East Africa’s political system through troubleshooting.

That is, the so-called cultural self-confidence and system self-confidence. Only when someone believes in this model can they continue to replenish fresh blood to this model and complete self-innovation.

So East Africa seems to be very large, but in fact it is quite fragile. Relying only on the army and force cannot maintain the long-term stability of the regime.

What’s more, Ernst is not a saint. He must always focus on the interests of the Hohenzollern royal family, which puts higher demands on East Africa’s political system. A careless move will lead to eternal doom.

Chapter 534: The Struggle for Ports in the Western Indian Ocean

“Starting from February of this year, ships on the British and other countries’ East African routes are advised to dock at Durban or Maputo as much as possible. The government has cooperated with eleven major international shipping companies to ensure the safety of British and other countries’ citizens’ property in response to potential regional conflicts.”

“The British Madim Construction Company plans to invest 120,000 pounds in the first phase of the Maputo port project to improve the service level and docking capacity of Maputo port for passing ships. Maputo is expected to become a first-class emerging port in the African region, replacing Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in the region, and building the most first-class world-class seaport in ‘East Africa’.”

At the end of 1879, Britain had already shifted its attention to Afghanistan, but it did not forget to dig a hole for East Africa. Unable to rely on military means, it naturally wanted to make up for it economically.

It can be said without a doubt that Dar es Salaam and Mombasa monopolize 70 percent of the remaining value of the eastern African shipping routes, after removing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Moreover, the new New Hamburg port is also planning to follow the model of the two open ports, and the infrastructure of New Hamburg port already has the ability to compete with Maputo and Durban, and there is a trend to surpass them.

Originally, Britain wanted to bring the French into the fold, because the French colony of Madagascar also had considerable influence in the Mozambique Channel.

But the French did not fall for it. East Africa has no direct conflict of interest with France. As long as East Africa does not have any ideas about Madagascar, then everyone has a basis for cooperation.

France does have a record of aiding the Americans against the British, so it is good that the French did not provide support to East Africa. Of course, it is impossible for France to have too good a relationship with East Africa, for one reason: East Africa is a German country, and Germany is France’s biggest enemy, and the relationship between East Africa and Germany is a major obstacle to the relationship between East Africa and France.

Of course, in the end, it is still a matter of interests. France cannot gain anything in East Africa. Even if it acts as a thug for Britain, the benefits will eventually fall into the hands of the British. With this energy, it is better to build West Africa into France’s own “East Africa.” The sudden emergence of East Africa has set a template for France, which is the West African version of France.

“There is direct competition between New Hamburg Port and Maputo and Durban. Therefore, in response to this British plan, we should focus on developing the geographical advantages of New Hamburg Port and build it into an excellent port in the southern African region to differentiate the advantages of Maputo and Durban.”

Investing in colonies is actually a burden for many suzerain states, especially for the potentially loss-making projects of Maputo and Durban.

East Africa does not have this concern when building New Hamburg Port. After all, the South African region can take advantage of New Hamburg Port to drive the development of East Africa in all aspects in the region, including population, industry, wool textile industry, and mining industry.

After all, it is East African territory, and it will be developed sooner or later, so the early losses do not matter. In the end, it is always more beneficial than harmful to East Africa.

“Although the British said they want to develop Maputo and Durban to differentiate the economic value of our East African ports, judging from the actual actions of the British, their main goal is to focus on supporting Maputo.”

“Maputo should be considered the port with the highest upper limit in South Africa. Its scale and natural conditions are better than other ports, so this is also the reason why Britain supports Maputo.”

“Another reason is that if Britain invests in Maputo, then Portugal, the suzerain state of Mozambique, will definitely follow up with investment, which can share part of the funds for building the port. Now Britain’s energy is concentrated in Afghanistan, and it also has to spend money in other regions of the world, so joint development of Maputo Port with Portugal is the most cost-effective solution.”

“The British plan can indeed have a certain impact on our economy, but port construction takes time. In the short term, Maputo and Durban cannot pose a threat to East African ports.”

“We are still confident that the dominant position of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa cannot be replaced by other ports.”

The economic hinterland of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa is quite vast, and the economic hinterland of New Hamburg Port can also reach the original Transvaal Republic hinterland, so Maputo and Durban cannot surpass East Africa even after they are built.

The main function of the two ports of Maputo and Durban is to provide services to passing ships, but some ships’ destinations are Africa, and they need African resources and commodities. This is something that Maputo and Durban cannot compare with.

For example, animal leather, ivory, and mineral resources, etc., East Africa has a vast area and is easier to obtain, and the cost is much lower than that of Britain and Portugal. Moreover, the East African railway system can transport these resources from the inland to the East African port area.

This is the confidence of East African ports in competing with foreign ports such as Maputo. Moreover, the construction level of East African ports such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa is ten years ahead of Maputo and Durban. Without high investment, there is no possibility for Maputo to replace Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Another point is the historical reason. Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are evergreen trees on the Western Indian Ocean route. They have been important port cities in Africa since ancient times. Only Mogadishu can compare, but the environment of Mogadishu is limited by the desert, so its development is far inferior to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Many ships and sailors who have been in the Western Indian Ocean route for many years are undoubtedly more familiar with Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Although Dar es Salaam and Mombasa have developed rapidly in recent years, it can be said that they have undergone earth-shaking changes compared with ten years ago, but this change is benign for passing ships. The service level has been improved, the port’s hardware facilities are more complete, and the types of goods are more complete and the quantity is larger.

“We cannot allow Britain and Portugal to do such things that harm others and do not benefit themselves. Since they want to compete with us, then we should also express something. In the north, we have Mogadishu, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and in the south, we have New Hamburg Port. Then the central Soko Port can also be opened to foreign ships. Now the railway from Soko to Lake Malawi has also been completed, so it can undertake some functions.” Ernst finally decided.

Dar es Salaam and Mombasa have more than ten years of experience as open ports, and the experience accumulation is quite rich, so the model of these two ports can also be applied to other ports in East Africa.

East Africa will be open in the future, and the establishment of the two new ports of New Hamburg Port and Soko Port is in line with this trend.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to walk one step at a time. You have to grasp the rhythm well, and you have to control the initiative from closing the country to opening up the country in East Africa’s own hands.

Instead of being forcibly opened by the British and other powers, in fact, if East Africa does not engage in this closed-door policy, Britain will not react so strongly to East Africa.

In fact, the United States and Germany at the same time took a similar path to East Africa. The two countries are not free markets, but high tariff barriers to deal with countries such as Britain and France.

But the United States and Germany have already risen, and Britain cannot suppress them, so it can only pinch East Africa, this “soft persimmon” first.

The real soft persimmon is actually countries like Brazil. If they open their doors wide from the beginning, then East Africa will become a place where demons dance wildly, and there is a risk of being controlled by foreign capital.

Under East Africa’s closed policy, East Africa’s various policies can be steadily promoted without being interfered by foreign forces. Under this protection, East Africa may indeed find it difficult to compete with foreign countries when it opens up in the future, but it will not die suddenly. As long as it does not die suddenly, East Africa has the possibility of becoming a world power.

Chapter 535: A Backward Agricultural Nation

Port construction requires a long period of preparation and will affect operations in the short term, so the British plan is not feasible for the time being. Moreover, Ernst was thinking, rather uncharitably, that the British would painstakingly build the Maputo port, only for it to eventually benefit East Africa.

Similarly, the British and Portuguese were thinking the same way about East Africa’s ports eventually becoming their own assets. In any case, the risks were quite high.

…

The year was 1880.

The East African census continued, and rough population data for East Africa was available. In 1879, the total population of immigrants and new births in East Africa was approximately 34,720,000, while the number of Black people was 19,620,000.

Adding the two together, the total population of East Africa was around 54 million, exceeding that of the United States, Germany, and a host of other countries.

Of course, East African Black people are generally not counted as part of the population, but they have made a huge contribution to the construction of East Africa, which cannot be erased.

East Africa’s population (including Black people) exceeded 50 million, which meets the definition of a populous country from Ernst’s previous life. It also made it the fourth most populous country in the world, after only the Far Eastern Empire, the British Empire, and Tsarist Russia.

If the Black people were removed, East Africa’s total population would still exceed that of Japan, and be comparable to the total population of Austria-Hungary, slightly lower than Germany. The current population of East Africa is sufficient to compete with the major countries of the world.

“The average life expectancy of most people in this era is relatively short. The average life expectancy worldwide is about thirty to forty years. Although we in East Africa have actively played a role in continuously reducing the pressure on the population, the average life expectancy has only reached the standard of about thirty-five years, which is basically the world average level,” the Minister of Health, Berleide, reported to the government.

“The main reason for the high mortality rate in East Africa is still disease. Our Ministry of Health is the most qualified to speak on this point, especially regarding the immigrant population in East Africa. Many people accumulated some hidden injuries in their early years, and then they experience the torment of the sea when they arrive in East Africa. Finally, they may contract diseases such as malaria, so it is indeed common for people to die young. However, we are no different from other countries in this regard.”

“We lack medical resources, especially doctors, which are quite scarce. However, we have prepared a relatively sufficient supply of some essential medicines with uniform standards, such as quinine and anti-inflammatory drugs. In particular, traditional Chinese medicine has provided strong support for the early national construction of East Africa, meeting the needs of grassroots medical staff and patients.”

“East Africa’s birth rate has also reached a new high, but it is accompanied by a high infant mortality rate. The good news is that East Africa’s climate is stable, and there are generally no major accidents during childbirth. The bad news is that we lack children’s vaccines and other measures to improve the survival rate of newborns.”

Berleide was being a bit greedy on this point. The vast majority of countries in the world do not have the conditions to provide such protection for newborns, let alone East Africa, a country that severely lacks medical talent.

“The population of East Africa as a whole is young, which is more advantageous than most countries in the world. In particular, the large number of Black people has shared most of the losses in the country’s major projects. This is a major prerequisite for ensuring social stability and the health of citizens in East Africa.”

“However, the downward trend in the number of Black people has also slowed down. One reason is that we have implemented many important projects, retaining a considerable portion of the Black population. The second reason is the decline in external demand. After a long period of economic crisis, the consumption levels of many countries have declined.”

“In recent years, the Black population has actually decreased by more than four million. It should be noted that we occupied part of Portuguese territory last year. According to normal patterns, the Black population should have increased, but the overall number of Black people in East Africa is still greatly reduced. However, compared to our previous methods of directly driving away and reducing the number of Black people through war and other means, the efficiency has become lower.”

“Now the demand for Black people in East Africa has increased, especially for national projects. There is only one way we can develop the country’s land in a short period of time, and that is to fill it with human lives. These human lives cannot be you or me, and even less so the people of East Africa, so it can only be Black people.”

“Therefore, many of these Black people cannot be sold, but will die directly on the land of East Africa, so we must also prepare for this, especially cremation and other procedures are essential.”

This is not considered destroying evidence, after all, ordinary East African people are also cremated after death, which is mandatory by the health department.

“The national agricultural population accounts for more than eighty-five percent, and the total population of industry, commerce, military, transportation, and other sectors is less than five million, which shows that East Africa is still a backward agricultural country.”

“Last year, agricultural tax revenue accounted for about eighty percent of government fiscal revenue, and with the increase in population, inland development, agricultural tool improvements, and increased production efficiency, there is still room for further improvement in East Africa’s agricultural tax revenue.”

“In national fiscal revenue, especially in the export-oriented economy, the export of tropical cash crops contributes more than sixty percent. However, accordingly, we also encounter some problems, one is logistics, and the other is storage. Many cash crops, especially fruits and vegetables, require shorter times and better storage and preservation technology.”

“In the national economic statistics for 1879 (excluding the Hechingen Consortium), heavy industry accounted for seventy-five percent of the national industry, especially steel and railways, which made extremely high contributions, while driving the development of the mining industry and other industries. The development of light industry has been slow, and it is still dominated by traditional handicraft workshops.”

East Africa seems to be following the old path of the Soviet Union, but in the current environment, there are no negative effects. The proportion of heavy industry is only too large in the proportion of East African industry, but in fact, East Africa is an agricultural country. As long as the process of East Africa transforming from an agricultural country to an industrial country still exists, then everything is within control.

“Therefore, in summary, after fifteen years of development, East Africa has entered a new stage. We are already considered a normal country, and the population deficiency has been filled. However, we have also encountered new problems, that is, the problem of East Africa, as a backward agricultural country, actively seeking to transform into an industrial country.”

East Africa’s so-called normal country is just like the vast majority of countries in the world. East Africa has taken fifteen years to achieve this. Although slavery still exists, this problem will definitely be resolved within the next twenty or thirty years.

In addition to East Africa’s various measures, the most important thing is that East African Black people cannot live that long. The average life expectancy of Black people is only twenty-something, less than thirty years old, so even if East Africa does nothing now, Black people will naturally die out in more than twenty years.

Facts have proved that people’s lower limits will continue to decrease. At first, Ernst was still relatively naive, thinking about sending Black people out of East Africa, so that they would die in other countries. Now, in order to meet the demand for population dividends for development, East Africa has abandoned most of its fig leaf.

The number of Black people dying in East Africa is increasing year by year, especially in large-scale construction projects, which are almost entirely completed by manpower, and medical care cannot keep up, so the mortality rate of Black people remains at a high level.

But entering the end of the century, Ernst still wants to put more burden on the Black people in East Africa, especially the development and construction of projects in some harsh areas, which need to be piled up with the blood and sweat of these people.

For example, the transportation and other projects in the mountainous areas of Hesse Province are now completed using cheap Black people, which will save a large amount of time in the future.

Some projects must be completed by manual labor, so while the labor cost in East Africa is the lowest now, most of the infrastructure should be arranged, and in the future, only gaps need to be filled and daily maintenance is needed.

Chapter 536: Spy

First Town City Railway Station.

“Woo…” A long whistle sounded, and a luxurious train slowly entered the platform. Having received advance notice, the railway station had been placed under martial law.

This was the second time the First Town City Railway Station had been placed under martial law. The last time was when Prince Constantine personally visited East Africa, so the passengers on the train were clearly important figures.

As the train came to a smooth stop in front of the platform, police officers personally opened the doors. A group of people emerged from the train, but the highlight was an old man in good spirits – Prince Karl Anton.

“Play the music!” As the chief conductor of the East African Military Band gave the order, the East African national anthem began to play. The East African Military Band was no longer a makeshift outfit, so the majestic music sounded rhythmic, and the mistake of the last time welcoming Prince Constantine did not occur.

Looking at the magnificent First Town City Railway Station, Karl Anton was still somewhat dazed. The impact on him was quite significant. The Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family never had this kind of prestige when they were in Europe. Now he was convinced that the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family had truly prospered!

In fact, from the moment he landed in Dar es Salaam, Karl Anton had already realized the vast territory the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family had carved out in Africa.

Dar es Salaam could be considered a medium-to-large city even in Europe. Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen combined could not compare to Dar es Salaam alone, and Dar es Salaam was only a small piece of the East African map.

And from Dar es Salaam to First Town City, Karl Anton had also witnessed the East African countryside. As the earliest developed area of East Africa, the countryside of the Central Province was no different from most areas of Europe, and its level had even reached or surpassed the average level of Germany.

German agriculture was considered top-notch in Europe at the time. The Junker landowners invested heavily in agriculture, and the level of agriculture in the Central Province of East Africa was also top-notch.

Especially in terms of water conservancy construction, the crisscrossing rivers and canals, and the scattered lakes and reservoirs, had made the Central Province a veritable land of fish and rice.

At the same time, the rural construction of the Central Province was also quite reasonable. Farmland, villages, houses, were orderly and well-planned. Rural roads were flat and well-developed, cattle and sheep were in abundance, and transportation such as ox carts and horse-drawn carriages was well-developed.

The level of development of a country can be seen from its countryside. Obviously, the rural construction of East Africa (Central Province) is among the most agriculturally developed in the world.

And as the most developed province in East Africa, one thing must be noted, that is, the area of the Central Province is about one hundred and eighty thousand square kilometers, which is larger than the area of many medium-sized European countries, so after the agricultural development of the Central Province, it can reach the level of a general European country.

The area of the Central Province alone is almost twice that of Portugal. It’s just that the population of the Central Province is not as large as Portugal’s, so Portugal has no reason to complain about losing to East Africa. The strength of the Central Province alone can be compared with mainland Portugal, and Mozambique, as a colony, cannot compete with East Africa.

At present, apart from a few top-ranked great powers, most countries in the world still rely on agriculture for food. The level of agricultural development determines the wealth of most countries. This is especially true for Argentina and the United States. Indian agriculture, under the construction of the British, is also quite good, but most of the profits from Indian agriculture are also divided by the British and Indian princes and nobles, and the lives of the lower-level people are very difficult.

Agriculture in Germany and Austria-Hungary is relatively developed, but Germany has limited land area and a large population, so under the general trend of rapid population growth, many people have to leave their homes and seek survival opportunities, which is also the biggest boost to the rapid population growth in East Africa.

As for the population of East Africa, although it has reached more than thirty million, this population size in East Africa also made Ernst understand why the Far Eastern Empire would have a strong Han and prosperous Tang dynasty, especially the historical records of the Tang dynasty where people did not pick up lost items and doors were not closed at night.

East Africa is in this state. Of course, there is a big difference between East Africa and the Tang dynasty, that is, East Africa is a slave-owning country. The existence of the slave system does make East Africa very comfortable, and the citizens of the ancient Roman Empire should have a deep understanding of this.

Of course, East African citizens are not highly enlightened, but they have money and nowhere to spend it. The areas bordering East Africa are generally much more backward than East Africa, so theft, robbery and other criminal behaviors have no market in East Africa, and there is no place to sell stolen goods.

However, it is impossible for East Africa to have no problems at all. In fact, in the open areas, there are still economic crimes. As long as there is contact with the world, some people will naturally be bought.

In the open areas, British and Portuguese intelligence personnel are frequent visitors. Generally, they contact East African civilians or local officials through consumption and use money to buy off East African citizens.

And the open area is also a port, so there are many ships from various countries, which can arrange for traitors who sell East African national intelligence to escape from East Africa.

Last year, the East African police cracked four spy cases in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, most of whom were white.

This is not surprising. White people have a wider contact with the world than Chinese people, especially in Europe, where there are many countries.

East Africa can satisfy the basic needs of most people, but some people’s pursuit is to get rich. Obviously, East Africa does not have as many opportunities as the United States.

And Britain and Portugal can provide them with the opportunity to leave East Africa, and can also arrange for them to have their own nationality, so they can get rich and run away. In this case, some people will definitely take the risk.

Of course, British and Portuguese intelligence personnel also have times when they are frustrated. When they encounter vigilant East African civilians, they report them, so East Africa has discovered some traitors.

As for foreign spies, there is really no good way to sanction them. Most of them are mobile criminals, staying in the open area for a short time as merchants and sailors. If they are caught, there will be people to protect them. As long as they insist that they have not engaged in espionage activities, East Africa cannot approve the arrest in the absence of evidence.

These people are very cunning. They obtain intelligence through cash transactions and only give verbal promises to traitors, so East Africa can only supervise its own fools more.

The reason for saying this is that the British are not doing charity either. In most cases, they will not fulfill their promises, or will not fulfill all their promises, and most of the people they contact are ordinary East Africans, even if they are officials, they are not high enough, so it is difficult to obtain valuable intelligence.

In this case, most East African traitors can only get a small amount of cash. As for nationality, don’t even think about it. If they get on a pirate ship, they will probably be thrown into the sea by the British halfway. In this way, the money will return to the British and continue the next transaction.

In short, smart people generally will not be fooled, and fools are fooled, and they have no use value. If they have no use value, the British will not keep these freeloaders. It is their best destination to feed the sharks in the sea.

East Africa’s intelligence work is not easy to do. This is the consensus of British intelligence personnel. East Africa is too closed. Even East African citizens in the open areas are managed very strictly, even more strictly than East African citizens in the interior.

In this respect, East Africa is similar to North Korea in its previous life. Some state-run hotels in North Korea receive foreign tourists, and those service personnel are strictly managed, and East Africa is also the same. Service personnel in the open areas must undergo strict review every day.

Chapter 537: The Seventies of the Past

“Prince Karl! Welcome to East Africa,” Constantine said, stepping forward.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty Constantine. You are as spirited as ever.”

Prince Karl gave Constantine a hug. His address to Constantine had also been upgraded, now that Constantine was a king.

“Uncle Karl!”

“Haha, Ernst, it’s been a few years. You’ve become even more mature!”

The Sigmaringen royal family still placed great importance on the Hohenzollern-Hechingen, as the saying goes, “Don’t forget your friends when you become rich and powerful.” The relationship between Hechingen and Sigmaringen was just like that.

“Leopold, is he still in Germany?”

“Yes, he still holds an important position in the German army. This old fellow is paving the way for him, so that Sigmaringen can ensure three footholds in Romania, Germany, and Africa.”

The achievements of the Hechingen royal family in Africa had made Sigmaringen completely restless. Therefore, at the invitation of the Hechingen royal family, Prince Karl personally came to East Africa to discuss matters related to Sigmaringen’s colonization of Africa.

Unlike the Hechingen royal family, Prince Karl’s sons were all relatively old, so there was no need for him to stand up for Ernst, who had no foundation in Germany, as Constantine had done in the past. Therefore, Prince Karl came directly to East Africa this time, while the heir Leopold ensured Sigmaringen’s position and influence in Germany.

Germany was still Sigmaringen’s fallback. If the African colonization plan failed, they could retreat back there. Sigmaringen’s confidence in colonizing Africa came from Romania.

“Let’s go back to the palace first and get you settled in. After all, the climate in East Africa is different from that in Germany, especially this season, so you should adapt first,” Constantine said to Prince Karl.

Germany was still in winter, while East Africa, near the equator, was relatively hot, so it was necessary to take it easy upon arrival.

However, this kind of climate in Africa was quite suitable for elderly people like Constantine and Prince Karl to retire, because old people like warmth, and East Africa met this condition.

It was like elderly people in the Far East like to retire in Panzhihua, or elderly people in the United States migrate south from the northeastern regions.

Prince Karl and Constantine and his son then took a carriage to the Swete Palace, and Prince Karl finally saw the political center of this vast East African nation.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the First Township is no different from Berlin and Vienna when we were young. At that time, there were not many cities in the German region with a population of over one hundred thousand. I want to know what the population of the First Township is now?”

“The population of the First Township is about one hundred and fifty thousand. If calculated according to household registration, it should be just over one hundred thousand,” Ernst answered Prince Karl’s question. He was more familiar with the data.

“When I came, I landed in Dar es Salaam. I heard that Dar es Salaam is the largest city in East Africa. I don’t know if that’s true?”

“Uncle Karl, if you include the new city, then it certainly is. Dar es Salaam has two urban areas, and the total population of the city is about three hundred thousand.”

“It seems that the number of people you have migrated over the years must be very exaggerated. I haven’t seen many black people. I thought it would be at least like the United States!”

Constantine: “Old friend, now East Africa is considered a large country in the world, whether in terms of land area or population, so it’s not an exaggeration to have a few large cities. As for black people, there are quite a few in East Africa, but our attitude towards black people is different from that of the United States, so it is not easy to see black people in the Central Province.”

The various construction projects in the Central Province had long been completed, so there were no major projects for the time being. In addition, the Central Province was the first to promote the policy of replacing slaves with livestock, so now only in the Dar es Salaam slave market could more black people be seen.

More than one hundred thousand black soldiers left over from the last East Portuguese War had not yet been sold. Among them, the Ottoman Empire had the most orders, which could be directly pulled to the front line for use, about fifty to sixty thousand, and two to three thousand were sent to the United States.

Constantine’s words made Prince Karl understand that the non-black population of East Africa must be quite large, otherwise East Africa would not be able to avoid using black people.

East Africa certainly used black slaves, but black slaves were now mainly concentrated in other regions, contributing to East Africa’s agriculture and infrastructure. However, even if the Central Province alone completed the de-enslavement of black people, it would be a considerable progress.

“Can you reveal the population you have immigrated to East Africa over the years?”

Prince Karl still wanted to figure this out. He wouldn’t feel comfortable if he didn’t ask. However, the population of East Africa had always been a top-level state secret, so Constantine glanced at Ernst and asked him to answer the question.

Ernst understood and said, “Uncle Karl, we don’t have detailed statistics in this regard, but it should be on the scale of several million, possibly exceeding seven or eight million. After all, East Africa has been immigrating for more than ten years, and we have only recently begun to count population data, so we are not very familiar with this aspect.”

The complete population census will take another two or three months to complete, but the total number has already been calculated. Now it is the statistics of regions and other population data, that is, characteristics and details.

It was not that Ernst deliberately concealed it from Prince Karl, but that the fewer people who knew about this kind of thing, the better. If it spread out that the population of East Africa had reached more than thirty million, close to thirty-five million, I am afraid that many people would not be able to sleep. If the black population was added, this data would directly break through the fifty million mark.

Although Ernst provided Prince Karl with a greatly discounted false data, this data still shocked Prince Karl.

Seven or eight million would be considered a medium-sized population country in Europe. After all, a population of over ten million would be considered a large country in Europe, and a population of seven or eight million had already exceeded most European countries.

“You have now surpassed Bavaria? That’s incredible!”

The population of Bavaria should be between four million and six million, but it certainly did not exceed six million, so seven or eight million was indeed more than the population of Bavaria.

“We have also caught up with a good time in recent years. One is that the birth rate in the German region and Europe has greatly increased, and the economic crisis happened to catch up in the past few years, so we seized the opportunity to get a large number of people from Europe.”

The actual data was definitely more than that. During the entire economic crisis, East Africa immigrated about six to seven million people from all over the world. It is worth mentioning that the economic crisis of 1873 has not yet completely ended, but the impact is not as great as it was at the beginning. The center of the economic crisis is now Britain. According to the original transmission path, it broke out in Austria, then developed in Germany, the United States suffered the most, and Britain finished.

Although the economic crisis in Europe has largely ended, the economy is still in a state of depression compared to before. According to previous life experience, this state of depression may continue until the beginning of the twentieth century, and is also known as chronic economic depression.

The biggest beneficiary of this long-term depression was East Africa, which had prepared in advance. It not only introduced a large number of people and mechanical equipment, but the biggest achievement was the construction of a basic national defense military industry, the East African railway network, shipbuilding industry, power industry, steel industry, and the completion of a large number of infrastructure construction, as well as the purchase of a powerful East African Navy.

It is worth mentioning that the introduction of a large number of talents in East Africa was also completed through the economic crisis. The bankruptcy of a large number of companies and enterprises in Europe and the United States provided an opportunity for the development of East Africa. This is also the reason why East Africa’s power industry and other fields can start.

The entire 1870s was also the fastest decade of development in East Africa, almost pulling sub-Saharan Africa, a region with absolutely no industrial or agricultural base, directly into an agricultural society and the most basic industrial society.

This is not a leap from zero to one, but a direct leap from zero to two point five, that is, from primitive society directly across the feudal agricultural society to the transitional stage of primary industrial society, omitting the intermediate slave society and feudal society.

Of course, East Africa also has a slave system and a feudal system, and primitive society actually exists in the west. The current East Africa can be completely called a living fossil of human society, and can fully examine the various stages of human society.

Chapter 538: The Hohenzollern Version of the “Scramble for Africa”

“Uncle Karl, look at this area, it’s Lake Chad. Just from the map, you can see how vast its waters are. It’s no exaggeration to say that among African lakes, it’s probably second only to the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and Lake Soren (Lake Tanganyika).”

Lake Chad hasn’t dried up like it will in later years. Its water area is probably around 30,000 to 40,000 square kilometers (the lake area expands rapidly during the rainy season), so it’s very conspicuous on the East African-made map of Africa.

Prince Karl is indeed very envious. Anyone would be tempted by such a huge lake. Lakes and rivers represent civilization, especially a lake this big bordering the Sahara Desert.

“Ernst, does this so-called ‘Lake Chad’ really exist?”

It’s no wonder Prince Karl would ask. In fact, Lake Chad was discovered as early as the early 19th century, but the speed of map updates and dissemination couldn’t keep up. It’s only recently that European countries have begun large-scale exploration of Africa.

But unfortunately, East Africa alone occupies nearly a third of Africa. Even two-thirds of Africa only has the West African region with more development value. Although the down-and-out families of North Africa have declined along with the Arab and Ottoman Empires, even a dilapidated ship has three pounds of nails. Cultural imprints are not easy to erase, which is one of the reasons why Algeria gained independence from France in its previous life.

“Uncle Karl, rest assured. If you’re talking about which country knows Africa best, it’s definitely East Africa. In fact, the British discovered Lake Chad in 1822, to investigate the relationship between the Niger River and Lake Chad. Later, our expedition team also went to the area for investigation, and the data is more detailed.”

To be precise, the first European to discover Lake Chad was a Scotsman. Lake Chad and the Niger River have virtually no direct connection. On the contrary, in ancient times, Lake Chad was one of the sources of the Nile River. At that time, Lake Chad was even larger than the current Caspian Sea.

Ernst continued to introduce to Prince Karl: “The entire Chad region, the north is indeed not a good place, with an arid climate and vast deserts, but the southern grasslands are similar to many areas of East Africa, with rainfall between 500 and 1,200 millimeters, which is very suitable for agricultural development. Although the climate in the north is a bit worse, there are no competitors. If possible, you can occupy as much land as you want, you won’t lose out anyway. After all, the Arab Empire was also born in the vast sandy lands of the Arabian Peninsula.”

It’s definitely not pure desert. There are also many grain-producing areas on the Arabian Peninsula, but with a large population, it’s definitely not enough. The north-central Chad region is roughly the same situation.

“To the east or south is the Cameroon region. You can also consider these places. To the northwest, Darfur is an Arab country. If you want it, you have to do it yourself. The Darfur people should be more difficult to deal with than the black people in the south.”

“We can send troops to clear Chad and parts of Cameroon for you as a forward base for colonization. You only need to steadily advance westward and northward.”

With a wave of his hand, Ernst gave nearly two million square kilometers of land to Sigmaringen, which made the experienced Prince Karl unconsciously breathe faster.

Too generous? Or rather, rough. This is the charm of immigration. Unlike Europe, where they might fight to the death for the land of a single village.

Of course, East Africa only said that it would help Sigmaringen establish a base. This base is the land of the former Wadai Empire.

The Wadai Empire was a sultanate established by Abbasid dynasty nobles. In fact, many countries bordering East Africa in the north and west are sultanates, that is, Arab countries, except that the Chad and Cameroon regions, including Darfur, are Arab countries dominated by black people.

Those original sultanates have long ceased to exist. The culprit is East Africa. Back then, East Africa expelled the black kingdoms in its western territory, and they all passed through here to West Africa.

Such a large-scale population migration is bound to conflict with the local indigenous countries. Maybe they can resist after a round of migration, but the black people expelled from East Africa continuously pass through this area, and many countries have long been destroyed. After all, the black people expelled from East Africa are not weak, and they need supplies for such a long journey, so the locals suffered.

Ernst’s so-called sending troops to help Sigmaringen is actually just a formality. The black forces near East Africa’s periphery are actually very few.

Prince Karl: “But although this territory is large, it’s too far from the ocean, making it very inconvenient to manage.”

The distance from the Indian Ocean coast to Chad is indeed not short. It would be more convenient from the Atlantic direction. That’s what France did in its previous life, but among the German states in the world, the most powerful in the Atlantic is Germany. The German navy doesn’t even have enough for its own coastal waters, so the South Atlantic has become the sphere of influence of Britain and France.

Of course, Germany is now symbolically engaged in colonization in West Africa, but because France is strong in the area, it is naturally difficult to achieve anything. However, Germany has indeed brought a lot of trouble to French West African colonization.

The reason is still because of East Africa. East Africa swallowed the two most important German colonies in Africa in its previous life (German East Africa and German Southwest Africa), so in this life, Germany has more energy to invest in West African colonization.

“Uncle Karl, you don’t have to worry about this. We can provide you with assistance. The northern railway all the way to the Great Lakes region can provide you with transportation capacity. The remaining journey to the Chad region is also under our control. On the contrary, in the South Atlantic direction, our naval strength is too weak to compete with other countries.”

Not to mention Britain and France, East Africa’s maritime strength in the South Atlantic is not even as good as Portugal. The reason why East Africa was able to launch an attack on Angola was entirely due to the inland area, supporting the front line through railways and highways.

Therefore, if Sigmaringen wants to colonize Chad and the surrounding areas, it is best to go through the East African interior. Of course, railway fees must also be paid, and they can also earn some money from Romania to subsidize the East African economy. In addition, Sigmaringen will definitely need a large number of people to colonize Chad through East Africa, so East Africa will provide services for their food, drink, and accommodation.

Clear accounts between close brothers. East Africa’s support for Sigmaringen is already very generous. After all, others don’t have the opportunity to use the East African railway.

Anyway, Prince Karl is very satisfied, and even thinks that his family has made a big profit. East Africa is giving them a colony for free, and it has considerable potential. Of course, the remaining problems need to be solved by themselves.

“Well, I will discuss this with Leopold and the others.”

In addition to its own strength, Sigmaringen’s biggest reliance is East Africa and Romania. East Africa has cleared the territory, and the rest mainly depends on itself and Romania.

However, Ernst reminded: “The family and the country must be distinguished. In fact, the military pressure of colonizing the Chad region is not great. It’s nothing more than needing population and materials. We in East Africa can provide these at cost price. Therefore, I suggest that Sigmaringen and Romania colonize these areas separately, especially Darfur can be thrown to the Romanian army to clean up, and southern Chad is best controlled by yourselves.”

Although the monarch of Romania is Carol I, Romania is not Carol I’s private property, so it is best to use Romania for the Sigmaringen royal family’s service under the guise of public interest.

That is, Sigmaringen and Romania cooperate to colonize Chad and the surrounding areas, otherwise Sigmaringen’s own strength is quite difficult.

“You can also provide population?”

“Of course, but we can only provide Far Eastern Chinese. As for white people, you can only rely on yourselves to recruit in Romania and the surrounding areas.”

East Africa has absorbed the surplus German population in Europe in recent years, especially Germany. Now that the economic crisis is over, the German economy has started to develop again. Although affected by the “Long Depression,” employment is guaranteed. After all, the people who used to compete with them for jobs have already gone to East Africa, especially the farmers in East Prussia who went bankrupt due to the agricultural crisis.

Therefore, the German immigration wave to the United States in the 1880s in history is impossible to appear, and in the 1870s, the United States itself was in an economic crisis, so it did not absorb German immigrants. This is equivalent to nearly twenty years of German immigrants in the original history going to East Africa.

Therefore, the possibility of Sigmaringen recruiting German immigrants on a large scale from Germany is close to zero. East Africa itself cannot recruit them.

So they can only think of ways from Romania and other countries. East Africa can provide Far Eastern immigrants. In fact, the number of Far Eastern immigrants to East Africa has also decreased significantly recently. The immigrant tickets to East Africa are even in a state of short supply.

Because an important point in East Africa’s immigration policy is population hedging. Now that German people cannot be recruited, the meaning of hedging is lost.

Therefore, many ships in East Africa have begun to turn to serving the black trade, mainly providing cheap labor services to the Americas. That is to say, the peak of immigration in East Africa has ended, and it is now transitioning to a normal immigration country.

And East Africa’s immigration policy in the past ten years has led to three results. One is the large-scale development and development of East Africa, alleviating the economic crisis in the German region, alleviating the contradiction between people and land in the Far East, and providing a large amount of black labor for the development of the United States. Correspondingly, the number of white immigrants in the United States has decreased relatively.

The United States is a capitalist country, and capital will calculate. Compared with going to Europe to advertise and paying for ship fares, it is obvious that the black people in the southern plantations are more cost-effective.

As for the slave trade, the northern factory owners cannot see it. After all, the black people flowing out of the South are free, maybe they are a little older, but they are obedient, easy to manage, and even better than before. As for plundering black people from the plantation owners again, American society does not want to fight another civil war.

Ernst is giving Sigmaringen land and people, naturally not out of generosity, but to build a black isolation zone to completely isolate the black people of West Africa from East Africa in the future.

In the northwest, there is already the Belgian Congo, and in the northeast, there is the Italian Ethiopia. Only the middle hole needs to be filled.

With the support of East Africa, Sigmaringen’s colonization of Central Africa (Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and parts of Sudan) is likely to succeed.

And Germany may also get one or two colonies in West Africa. After all, Germany had colonies such as Togoland (Togo), Cameroon, and even Gabon (a product of the Franco-German competition for Morocco) in its previous life.

Then the three direct lines of the Hohenzollern family will all have their own spheres of influence in Africa, and the Hohenzollern family’s reputation as “African Chieftains” will be established.

Chapter 539: Neighborly Discussions

“Uncle Karl, you should stay in First Town City for now. Developing a colony takes time, especially in Africa, which requires extra caution. So it’s good for you to stay in First Town City to contact Leopold and the others, and also to supervise the progress of the colony.”

Inviting Prince Karl to stay in First Town City was the right thing to do. It wouldn’t be right to send a seventy-year-old man to Chad alone.

Chad is truly a desolate place now, with more wild animals than people. This is because of the arrival of East Africa, which caused a large number of black forces to flee westward. In Africa, it’s a typical tug-of-war between humans and wildlife. The space left by the blacks, not occupied by East Africa, was reclaimed by those wild animals.

Therefore, the East African border troops are more likely to go to Chad for a large-scale hunt than to clash with black forces.

In fact, as the population of East Africa increases, East Africa’s wildlife resources have also been greatly affected. So this time, the army’s trip to Chad can also make a small fortune, especially in ivory and leather.

Ernst continued, “Colonial development is not something that can be achieved overnight, especially in Africa. A little carelessness can lead to complete failure. After all, there are examples of failed colonization in Africa. However, as long as we follow the East African experience and repeat it in Chad, it shouldn’t be too difficult. We can send relevant experts to provide you with guarantees.”

The so-called experts are old East Africans who have lived in East Africa for a long time. They have experienced the process of East African colonies from scratch, encountered various difficulties, and finally overcame them, so their experience is absolutely rich.

In fact, there are two East African divisions stationed next to Chad. These troops can help the future Sigmaringen solve most of the problems.

The army has always been at the forefront of East African colonial expansion, and the East African army on the border has experience in dealing with various risks. At the same time, the army is also one of the bases for cultivating East African talents.

In the army, in addition to learning to march and fight, they also come into contact with various new things, especially machinery and technology. At the same time, East African military camps are also places to improve literacy rates.

At the same time, the East African army has a certain amount of medical experience. Basically, every soldier knows a little bit, and they are quite skilled in simple bandaging and disinfection skills.

Therefore, if Sigmaringen encounters any problems, asking the East African army for help can solve most of them, whether it is fighting or living.

“Ernst, how long do you think it will take if we want to build a colony in Chad and incorporate the area you mentioned into Sigmaringen, or even go further?”

Ernst thought for a moment and replied, “If it’s just to establish colonial order, like a general colony, it will only take a few years. You don’t even need many colonists. A few thousand people are enough to establish colonial rule in Africa.”

In his previous life, the German colony of German East Africa only had a few thousand Germans, but they controlled nearly a million square kilometers of land. But obviously, this kind of colonial rule was not stable and was not enough to cope with the competition from British and other African colonizers.

Ernst’s approach of directly using a zerg rush tactic, a human wave tactic, in Africa is unconventional. After all, Ernst’s initial goal was to seize land and build a country, not to simply plunder Africa’s wealth.

So Ernst said, “If Sigmaringen’s colony wants to develop and go further, it’s best to follow the same path as East Africa. The natives are absolutely unreliable, and they will pose a risk of rebellion in the future.”

“And to be honest, the future of African colonization is not worse than developing in Europe. Take East Africa as an example. After it was developed, we in East Africa relied on local resources to build a great power. If it were in Europe, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen would not have this opportunity.”

“African land is very easy to acquire now, but now is also the last window of opportunity, especially in Central and West Africa. The competition is much more intense than when we colonized East Africa. However, their colonization is carried out from the west coast of Africa to the inland, so the inland is Sigmaringen’s breakthrough point.”

When East Africa was engaged in colonization, only the French were the most active in the entire Africa. East Africa had no competitors. The Sultanate of Zanzibar made a great contribution to this.

If it were a few decades earlier, during the heyday of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, it would have been really difficult to establish the East African colony. At that time, the Sultanate of Zanzibar dared to take risks, so seizing the opportunity is very important.

“Now various countries are fighting for territory in West Africa. Correspondingly, their energy is tied up in the coastal areas, and it is not easy to explore inland. So Uncle Karl, you’d better complete the construction of the colonial framework within a few years. A few years later, you may not even get a sip of soup.”

“Moreover, this land has an area of more than two million square kilometers. When the population develops in the future, if you fight for it, you may be able to obtain an outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean, which is much more potential than in Romania.”

The climate and environment of Romania are of course better than Chad as a whole, but the southern part of Chad and the Cameroon region are no less than Romania in all aspects.

Although the northern part of Chad and Darfur have a dry climate, they are rich in mineral and oil resources. Most of Chad’s mineral deposits are distributed in the north.

Romania is best known for its oil resources, which can be said to be Germany’s oil depot during World War II. The most important resource in Chad is also oil. Of course, for France in its previous life, Chad’s uranium mines were also very important.

So Chad has considerable potential. The main thing is that the area is large enough. The current Romania did not annex a large part of Hungarian land like in its previous life, so Chad alone is almost ten times the size of the current Romanian territory, and the area suitable for farming in southern Chad is larger than the entire area of Romania.

“No problem, according to your meaning, now we just go there to stake out territory, and then consolidate our advantages in the local area in the next few years, right?”

“Yes, Uncle Karl, now it’s about acting quickly, and getting there first. You don’t have to worry about the population. Even if you can’t really attract people in Europe, we will definitely have enough people from the Far East.”

Ernst’s purpose is to squeeze the living space of African blacks through immigration. White or yellow people don’t matter, as long as they can separate East and West African blacks. To build this kind of isolation zone, a large population is necessary.

History has proven that simple physical isolation zones are not effective. The Great Wall could not resist the invasion of northern nomadic peoples, the North American border wall could not stop the northward march of Latin Americans, and the barbed wire on the Myanmar border could not stop people from throwing themselves into the net.

So the best way is to establish a buffer zone, and there is no better choice than a country with the same culture. Sigmaringen’s colony will definitely adopt German as the only official language in the future, just like East Africa, and the cultures are naturally similar. Sigmaringen also has the best relationship with the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family, and there is no conflict of interest.

Therefore, it is greatly beneficial to East Africa’s future for Sigmaringen to create a colonial country in northern East Africa. At least the kind of Arab and black refugee waves that occurred in Europe in the previous life are unlikely to happen in East Africa. After all, East Africa is not the United States, constantly messing up the countries around it.

As the saying goes, “He who touches pitch shall be defiled.” The United States has turned the Americas into a quagmire, and it will of course be backlashed and polluted. The problems of drugs and illegal immigration are like this.

These two problems have no impact on American capitalists and politicians, but it goes without saying how harmful they are to the most basic American people.

So Ernst doesn’t want the countries around East Africa to be too messed up in the future. This is the same as society. A good neighbor is always comforting, and a bad neighbor is probably like the countries around the Far East Empire. But even so, the Far East Empire has to maintain fragile neighborly relations, after all, wars in the surrounding areas also affect the Far East Empire’s economy and investment environment.

Ernst doesn’t want to be neighbors with black countries for the same reason. Not to mention that many black countries have insufficient governance levels, some blacks in West Africa originally have feuds with East Africa, and many of them were driven out by East Africa, so it’s better not to be too close.

Chapter 540: Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs

Colonization is a step-by-step process. Without four or five years, Sigmaringen cannot possibly gain a firm foothold in the area. With the success of East African pearls and jade as a precedent, Prince Karl doesn’t want to simply engage in traditional colonization. New-style colonization is all the rage now.

Of course, this unconventional colonization method also depends on the colonizer’s strength. For example, the Hohenzollern Prussian lineage would not follow the path of Hechingen and Sigmaringen. After all, Germany itself is a top-tier great power.

Hechingen and Sigmaringen are minor principalities that can’t even be ranked in Europe, so building their own countries in Africa is clearly more attractive. After all, the two families have already reached their ceiling in Europe. As for taking the path of commerce like Ernst or joining the military like Sigmaringen, that requires considerable wisdom.

…

Nairobi City.

“Director, we have investigated thoroughly. Number 202, 13th Street, Second District, is the location of the Italian Cultural Education School.”

“Hmm, these Italians are really cunning, putting an illegal educational organization in a residential building, thinking they can escape our watchful eyes.”

“Director, when will we start the arrest operation?”

“Don’t rush. I’ll coordinate with the Education Bureau and the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs first, then formulate an arrest plan. So, continue surveillance and don’t leak any information.”

“Yes, Director, I’ll make arrangements in the next few days.”

In the evening, the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs, the Nairobi Police Department, and the Nairobi City Education Bureau reached a consensus on cracking down on illegal cultural dissemination.

“The central government attaches great importance to the fields of culture and religion. There are many former Italians in Nairobi, but they are now Germans. When the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds. So, it’s normal for some ungrateful people to be bewitched. Maintaining the dominant position of German culture is our joint responsibility that we cannot relax.”

It’s not that East Africa doesn’t allow the existence of multiculturalism. After all, East Africa is quite diverse in terms of customs. The government mainly focuses on guidance.

However, purposefully spreading other cultures in East Africa and establishing educational institutions to illegally disseminate languages other than German crosses East Africa’s bottom line.

Language is the most unshakeable position in all of East Africa’s soft power fields. As long as the language is unified, many cultures that depend on the language will naturally dissolve.

“So, the government is very concerned about Nairobi. No other city gathers as many Italians as Nairobi. Next, we will stay in Nairobi for a period of time until the cleanup is completed.”

This meeting was clearly led by the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs, with the police system cooperating. As for the education system, it was just there to make up the numbers.

The next day.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Who is it!”

“Mr. Oscar, hello, I’m Hans from the City Police Department.”

“Officer Hans, what can I do for you?”

“Hehe, Mr. Oscar, you don’t have to pretend. Your operation of an illegal educational institution has been exposed. What? Do you want us to come in and take a look ourselves?”

“This…”

While Oscar was hesitating, Hans signaled his subordinates to control him, and then said, “Don’t be nervous, Mr. Oscar. Your matter can be big or small. If you cooperate with our work, we won’t make things too difficult for you.”

Hearing this, Oscar indeed gave up the desire to resist. His behavior is at most illegal, not criminal. After all, his Italian Cultural Education School is a completely non-profit organization.

Even so, East African law explicitly prohibits running schools without a license, and East Africa will naturally not issue licenses for educational institutions that disseminate languages other than German. So, Oscar’s behavior of knowingly violating the law would be punished with a large fine in other countries, but given the income of East African citizens, the East African government would not rely on this method to increase revenue.

Hans walked into Oscar’s house. There were more than a dozen small tables that he had somehow acquired, and a dozen children were sitting at them. These were clearly Oscar’s students.

The police still have a relatively large deterrent effect on elementary school students. After all, disobedient children are often threatened by their parents with statements like “If you don’t behave, I’ll have the police arrest you.”

Looking at the dozen pairs of somewhat nervous eyes, Hans coughed and tried to appear kind and approachable, saying, “Hello, children!”

“Hello, Police Uncle.”

“Good, very good. Do you have classes here every day?”

“We only study here for three hours after school.”

“What do you usually study?”

“Italian language and culture.”

“Really? What have you learned?”

“Italian history, geography, literature, and art…”

Hans noticed the handwritten textbooks on the desks.

“Can I take a look?”

“No problem!”

Hans opened these simple textbooks. These textbooks should all be handwritten by Oscar himself. It must be said that Oscar’s ability is not bad.

He even cut out many pictures of Italian architecture from the East African National Newspaper and pasted them on these textbooks, with detailed annotations in Italian. If Oscar were in Italy, he would definitely be a good teacher. Unfortunately, this is East Africa.

After reading these teaching materials, Hans got up and said, “Okay, from today on, you don’t have to come here for classes anymore.”

“Why, Police Uncle?”

“Aren’t you already going to school? The knowledge you learn at school is completely enough. There’s no need to study these things. Play with your friends or do other things after school.”

“Police Uncle, but my parents won’t agree.”

Children are of course more focused on playing, especially when many children of the same age are running wild outside, while they are still in school, they will naturally feel a little unhappy.

“It doesn’t matter. After you go back, tell your parents that the school is closed. Police Uncle said that this is illegal schooling. Don’t send your children to this kind of place next time, or Police Uncle will talk to you personally.”

“Is that really okay?”

“What, you don’t believe Uncle? As long as you explain it clearly to your parents, they won’t blame you.”

Hans looked at the sky and then asked, “Do your parents usually pick you up, or do you go home by yourselves?”

“Of course, we go home by ourselves!”

“My mom will pick me up…”

You can trust East Africa’s security. There are few countries safer than East Africa in this era. However, Hans still had to arrange for people to send these little kids to their doorsteps.

As for Oscar, he had already been taken back to the station at this time.

“Mr. Oscar, you should know why we arrested you, right!”

Oscar sighed and said, “Of course.”

“Then why do you still knowingly break the law?”

“Hehe, I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. This may conflict with East African law, but after all, I am Italian, so passing on Italian culture is very important to me.”

“Mr. Oscar, you need to be clear that East Africa is not Italy, and citizens who have taken East African citizenship are no longer Italian. Your statement is completely untenable. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Italy, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Papal States still exist. They haven’t been destroyed. Spreading Italian culture is naturally the responsibility of Italy. Has a ‘German’ helping others been approved by the countries on the Italian peninsula?”

This question indeed stumped Oscar. However, as a cultured person, Oscar also knew the reason why East Africa was doing this. If he were German, he would definitely promote his own national culture. Wait! He seems to be “German” now!

Looking at the smiling Oscar, the interrogator didn’t make things difficult for him: “Mr. Oscar, because you are a first-time offender, we will not pursue your responsibility. However, we have arranged a new job for you in Kisumu City. We hope you can live happily in Kisumu City.”

East Africa did not punish Oscar, but changed his work location from Nairobi to Kisumu City. As the early capital of the East African region, Kisumu City was built earlier than Nairobi, the current capital of South Prussian Province. Therefore, Kisumu City is full of German and Chinese immigrants. Oscar will have no chance to open an Italian language school there in the future.

The Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs stayed in Nairobi for three months. With the cooperation of the Nairobi police, in addition to sealing up three illegal educational institutions, they also cracked down on twelve “cult” organizations.

After all, the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs carries the word “religious.” Compared with illegal teaching, cracking down on religious institutions that are opened and run arbitrarily and illegal missionary activities is an important function of this department.

There are also churches in East Africa, but their superior management department is the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs, not the Roman Curia on the Italian peninsula, which is very different from European countries.

Chapter 541: Dare You Do It Again Next Time

Religious issues are a persistent headache in other countries, but East Africa doesn’t have such concerns because it was built on secular power from the very beginning.

Moreover, this land of East Africa previously only had Arab Islam and some indigenous witch doctors. Witch doctors could also be considered priests. The indigenous people had a low level of development, and even if there was a state, it was still comprised of a large number of tribes and independent villages. These countless small units each had their own gods and spirits they believed in.

Therefore, it was impossible to form a unified faith. In Ernst’s understanding, religion is a social group with a strict organizational structure and a unified program. So, those scattered indigenous beliefs in East Africa simply didn’t meet the requirements of a religion.

If a religion existed in Africa, then that force’s strength would definitely not be weak. The simplest example is the Abyssinian Empire, whose Christian faith was the “Coptic Church.” This sect is similar to Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but influenced by the Eastern Roman Empire, it is closer to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Religious forces can suppress social contradictions and hold society together. This is a characteristic of many theocratic regimes, so religious countries can easily develop and grow stronger.

Sub-Saharan Africa clearly does not have such religious forces. Otherwise, relying on religious power in Sub-Saharan Africa could definitely develop a relatively strong centralized regime.

East Africa, as a feudal slave kingdom, is not only wary of “reactionary” ideas such as freedom and democracy, but also wary of backward thinking such as religion and anti-science, even though East Africa’s system already looks very reactionary and backward.

This is a matter of opinion. The Eastern lords even called the Qin state a “Rong-Di” (barbarian tribe)! It’s not that Ernst is belittling the Qin state. The Qin state was very strong at the time, but it was indeed not a normal country. To a large extent, the Qin state’s success was based on military plunder of the six Eastern states. This is very similar to Germany today. After all, other countries say the Prussians are barbarians, but are the Prussian barbarians backward? In all respects, Prussia is not backward today, and is even quite successful.

Prussia’s military system, in the eyes of other countries, is no different from the Qin state’s “tyranny.” So, these are all prejudices. Without the rise of Prussia, Germany might still be bullied by powerful countries such as France.

Returning to the issue of religion, contemporary Western missionaries can be said to be quite fanatical, and even the barren lands of Africa have their presence.

The South Sudan region under East African control once had European missionaries. That was during the Ottoman era, but it can be seen that Christian missionary activities in Africa were not smooth, and could not even form a competitive relationship with Arab Islam.

Large-scale conversion in Africa only occurred after European colonists massively invaded Africa. But now, East Africa’s emergence directly restricts the missionary activities throughout Southern Africa in the original history.

This restriction is the East African Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs. In East Africa, it is very difficult to become a clergyman. You need to pass strict examinations. Even if you become a formal clergyman, it is difficult to have room to maneuver, because the East African government stipulates that clergymen can only preach in churches. If they leave the area, it is against the law. For example, if they try to recruit people into the religion on the street, the law enforcement agencies can directly arrest them. In addition, all activities of the church must be reported to the government, including gatherings, celebrations, etc.

What makes orthodox religious people most dissatisfied is probably East Africa’s so-called “freedom” of religious belief policy, which leads to non-believers being able to thrive in East Africa.

The biggest feature of religion in East Africa is that there is no church. They are all based on regional churches as units, and are not subordinate to each other. The superiors of these churches are the local Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs. Without a church, those churches are just scattered troops with very little say.

In fact, Constantine, Karina, Archduke Ferdinand, and Princess Charlotte are all relatively devout Catholics.

However, Ernst himself has no feeling for religion. Although he is a “reborn person,” he does not attribute his rebirth to any gods or anything like that, because his rebirth mode is that he just closes his eyes and opens them again and restarts.

“When in doubt, quantum mechanics.” This is Ernst’s attitude. Since they are both ethereal things, it is more likely to be space-time cracks, space-time tunnels, parallel universes, and other incomprehensible things.

Moreover, he has a very simple logic. He did not believe in any religion or ghosts and gods in his previous life. Assuming that supernatural mysterious forces exist, it is impossible for them to let someone like him be reborn. If there is reincarnation, then hell is the place for unbelievers like him.

Of course, in order to appear more sociable, Ernst’s image outside is naturally that of a Catholic believer. But discerning people can see from East Africa’s religious policies that Ernst’s purity as a Catholic believer is very suspicious.

The East African Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs is not only active in Nairobi City, it is a national institution, and is at the same level as the East African National Security Bureau and the East African Immigration Department. It is a powerful agency.

Therefore, this time the East African government is not targeting Nairobi City, but has such actions throughout the country. It’s just that the three cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Dar es Salaam are key areas.

“This time, our department has banned and destroyed one hundred and twenty-three illegal religious organizations and individuals nationwide, investigated and dealt with three officials who sheltered them, fifteen illegal school institutions and illegal assembly organizations, and arrested twenty-three people.”

The report from the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs showed East Africa’s powerful crackdown this year on hostile elements that threaten East Africa’s cultural and ideological sphere.

It also shows that East Africa’s current society is generally stable, because these things in the report are all small problems relative to the entire country of East Africa.

For example, the “individuals” mentioned in the report on illegal religious organizations and individuals shows that many cases may only be individual behavior. Before they even began to brew and sprout, they were strangled by East Africa, so they did not become a major issue.

Constantine: “Ernst, do you have some prejudice against religion? If it was just a German language problem, I could understand, but you are too cautious about religion.”

Constantine was not accusing, but did not quite understand. After all, some of Ernst’s policies were too shocking and always out of step with mainstream society.

Ernst understood his father’s feelings, but considering his father’s identity as a Catholic believer, he followed Constantine’s words and said: “Father, that’s not the case. Restricting these forces more will not do us any harm. After all, God himself does not want some fame-seeking and world-stealing people to do bad things in East Africa in his name.”

Ernst’s words were like saying nothing. Whether there is prejudice or not is relative. Even if Ernst himself really has no prejudice, his attitude is also prejudiced in the eyes of devout believers.

So Ernst turned to Wali, the Director-General of the Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs, and said: “You did a good job this year. Keep up the good work.”

This showed Ernst’s attitude towards East African religious affairs: Dare you do it again next time!

“Yes, Your Highness!” Wali, who had received affirmation, replied without hesitation.

Wali didn’t care about any religion. Even if Jehovah came down to earth, his own Prince’s words were more effective. A firm atheistic attitude was one of the important reasons why he was able to sit firmly in this position. As for the other reason, it was loyalty to the Crown Prince.

Chapter 542: Begetting a Fleet

“Father-in-law, how is the navy work going lately? Have you encountered any troubles?” Ernst asked, taking a sip of tea.

Today, Archduke Ferdinand and Princess Charlotte, as usual, came to First Township to see their daughter and grandson.

Karina is a model of a virtuous wife and loving mother, inheriting all the advantages of Empress Sophie, managing the household in an orderly manner. Of course, Empress Sophie was also famous for her terrible mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict with Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi).

In fact, Empress Sophie’s strong personality was related to her family environment. Franz’s throne was inherited from his uncle, Ferdinand I, and he ascended the throne during an uprising.

Therefore, Empress Sophie’s involvement in politics was partly due to ambition and partly due to helplessness. Ambition is not a bad thing, after all, mothers generally hope that their sons will be successful, so she was extremely strict with Franz. Helplessness stemmed from the fact that Franz was too young when he came to power, so he needed Empress Sophie to help maintain the stability of the political situation.

After all, she was called “the only man in the court” by contemporaries, which shows Empress Sophie’s political skills and abilities.

Karina doesn’t have these concerns. East Africa is basically Ernst’s one-man show, and the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is not complicated. Before, there were only Ernst and Constantine, so Karina doesn’t have any troublesome mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts. It’s good to be Ernst’s capable assistant.

In fact, Empress Sophie seemed very strong, which was related to the relatively weak personalities of her husband and son. Since Franz got older, he improved a lot.

Of course, Franz was a relatively rigid person, so he didn’t mediate family conflicts, which was one of the reasons for the Habsburg court’s troubles. Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) was also more active, so naturally, they couldn’t get along.

Ernst’s family situation is much simpler. With Karina’s help, he can relax a bit. Constantine is also very relieved about his son and daughter-in-law, and Ferdinand and his wife are very satisfied with their son-in-law, Ernst. The family is harmonious and happy.

Ferdinand held his grandson. Over the years, his big beard had been shaved off, and he looked younger and more energetic than before. He often came to the palace with Princess Charlotte to see his grandson, making little Friedrich in his arms giggle.

“Recently, the navy work is not very busy. Mainly, the manpower has come up, so my work doesn’t have to be as busy as before. I’m even thinking about retiring in a few years and finding some hobbies to do.”

East Africa’s naval talent training system is now relatively sound. In addition to the well-run military academy, many students who went to the Austro-Hungarian naval school have returned, greatly relieving Ferdinand’s pressure.

Of course, the East African Navy is still in a state of vigorous development. Although there are no plans to add new ships recently, the base construction has been very effective.

Especially with the addition of the Lanfang Overseas Province, the East African Navy’s scope of activity has expanded to the entire Indian Ocean region, no longer limited to the western Indian Ocean.

However, the Lanfang Overseas Province is quite far from East Africa, so the East African main fleet will not be stationed there.

Fortunately, the immigration business has declined recently, leaving many empty ships, so armed merchant ships have been modified to become the main fleet of the Lanfang Overseas Province Navy. In Southeast Asia, although it cannot compare with countries such as Britain and France, it is more than enough compared to a group of countries such as the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

Now is the age of ironclad ships. Small countries can no longer keep up with the trend of the times. After all, their national strength is limited, and it is common to buy rather than build. The East African Navy is generally bought, but fortunately, there are two ships built by themselves, but the cost performance is not high. However, in order to cultivate East Africa’s shipbuilding industry, it is worth spending more money.

“Ernst, the navy has expanded very quickly in recent years, and the ships seem to be slightly insufficient. I wonder what your opinion is?”

Ferdinand just mentioned it casually. After all, as the commander-in-chief of the navy, it is his duty to ask for funding. As for whether Ernst gives it or not, it all depends on Ernst’s own ideas.

“Recently, there are many projects in East Africa, and construction is going on everywhere. Taking the navy as an example, it is also building bases on a large scale, so the military expenditure is less.”

Not to mention the navy, even the army is tossing around. The scale of the Juba comprehensive training base is so large that it costs a lot of money.

The navy invests more in bases. After all, East Africa’s coastline is relatively straight compared to other countries, so there are relatively few usable harbors. East Africa needs to carry out artificial transformation in this regard.

Anyway, there are not many profitable projects. Only an economic system like East Africa can afford it. Of course, it is losing money now, but it will create a continuous stream of income for East Africa in the future. It is necessary to take advantage of the extremely low labor costs now to carry out large-scale construction in East Africa.

Otherwise, there will be no such good group to exploit when the black slaves are used up. The slave system is said to be good when used, provided that you don’t belong to the slave camp.

“Then you really don’t plan to add new warships? The technology iteration has been quite fast in recent years.”

“Warships still need to be added, but we will build them ourselves, and we don’t need to build too many. Now that the immigration volume has decreased, I will allocate a few more armed merchant ships to temporarily support the navy.”

“Bagamoyo Shipyard?”

“Father-in-law, you also live in Bagamoyo, so you should believe in the strength of your own shipyard. Haven’t you had shipbuilding experience before? Practice makes perfect. In the future, we will be able to realize the complete autonomy of the naval military industry.”

The shipbuilding industry is a long-cycle investment industry. You must never think about getting fat in one bite, and you must not be afraid to try.

East Africa’s foundation is already much better than many countries in the world, so Ernst naturally strongly supports supporting its own shipbuilding industry since it has the conditions.

Archduke Ferdinand: “I understand. After all, I also support the autonomy of equipment. However, coastal defense is not a child’s play. There is no problem in temporarily relying on procurement to support some needs.”

“Father-in-law, don’t worry, I have thought about it. When Karina is pregnant with her second child, I will buy an advanced capital ship. The same will be true in the future until East Africa’s military shipbuilding industry is completely developed.”

Karina said angrily, “You!”

Archduke Ferdinand looked at the small movements between his son-in-law and daughter and joked, “What if the next child is twins?”

“Hehe, then buy two ships, you can’t favor one over the other!”

Hearing Ernst’s words, Archduke Ferdinand really hoped that the next child would be twins. Although Ernst’s words were a bit out of tune just now, he always fulfills the promises he makes.

Princess Charlotte said speechlessly, “You just like to joke like that. Wouldn’t that mean having children every year and buying new ships? What if Karina has a dozen children? Would you just bring back a fleet?”

Ernst smiled without saying a word. He held Karina’s little hand to cool Karina’s blushing face. As for fleets, Ernst’s financial resources can still create them, but there is no need.

East Africa’s naval strength is just right now. Feeding too much will easily spoil it. One of the reasons why the American shipbuilding industry declined in the previous life was that too many Liberty ships were built during World War II. Holding the idea that they could still be used, many shipping companies no longer placed new orders. Shipyards could not get new orders, and finally, the technology iteration could not keep up with other countries, and the American civilian shipbuilding industry declined.

To give an inappropriate example, the Far East’s money football in the previous life was also like this, but the development of football is really related to the national conditions. After all, there is the path of the college entrance examination. Most parents will not let their children choose football. It is much safer to sit in the classroom. Competitive sports are not a joke.

Chapter 543: The Southern Ryukyu Islands

“Father-in-law, the navy recently transferred three ironclad ships. I plan to acquire a colony in the Far East.”

“Oh? You have an idea?”

The Far East is definitely the most tempting area in the colonial era. The Huaihai Economic Zone and Zhuhai Trading Area in East Africa are important markets for the Hechingen Consortium, but these two areas can only be considered economic colonies.

There’s nothing special to say about economic colonialism. Even in the 21st century, it’s the most common form, like aiding Africa, which is actually a type of economic colonialism.

Colony, colony, naturally it’s about making the people in the area create value for capital outside the area. East Africa isn’t exactly a saint either. If there were no profits to be made in the Far East, they wouldn’t have developed regional economic zones like the Huaihai Economic Zone and Zhuhai Trading Area.

The global trade system led by the United States in my previous life was the highest manifestation of economic colonialism. After all, the definition of a colony is a country or region that has been deprived of its political and economic independence by capitalist countries and is controlled and plundered by them. America’s group of allied lackeys are all this type.

In fact, compared to this kind of economic colonialism, East Africa itself is more like a traditional colonial country in the strict sense, except that East Africa doesn’t have a suzerain state. The nearly twenty million black slaves in East Africa are proof of this.

Ernst took a map from the drawer and spread it out on the table. It was a map of the Far East sea area.

“Father-in-law, you went to the Far East last time, so you should be familiar with it?” Ernst said, pointing to the location of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

“I have some impression, but it’s not easy to take that place.”

Archduke Ferdinand knew that the composition of this so-called Ryukyu Kingdom was very complex, with both the Far East Empire and Japan having interests there.

“Yes, so my goal isn’t the entire Ryukyu Islands, but the Southern Ryukyu Islands in the south.”

The Southern Ryukyu Islands, known as the Sakishima Islands in Japan, are also the southernmost island group of the Ryukyu Islands, consisting of the Miyako Islands and the Yaeyama Islands.

These names are relatively unfamiliar, but the geographical term Miyako Strait should be familiar to people who paid attention to the news in my previous life. The Southern Ryukyu Islands are located on the south side of the Miyako Strait and are an important base for controlling the Miyako Strait.

“Last year, there was a dispute between the Far East Empire and Japan in the Ryukyu Islands area, right?” Archduke Ferdinand asked.

At the end of 1879, Japan decided to depose the Ryukyu King and establish Okinawa Prefecture. As the nominal suzerain state of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Far East Empire naturally strongly opposed this.

So Japan retreated and proposed a division of the Ryukyu Islands, with the Southern Ryukyu Islands ceded to the Far East Empire, and the central and northern Ryukyu Islands belonging to Japan. The condition was that the Far East Empire would add a clause to the friendship treaty that Japan was the most-favored nation. The Qing government naturally disagreed. During this period, the Far East was not polite to Japan, thinking that just by trying to break away from Asia and join Europe, they could really become Western devils. The two countries were deadlocked, so the area became a disputed area with undetermined sovereignty.

In fact, until the 21st century, the Southern Ryukyu Islands were part of the Far East Empire’s territory. This was clearly stated in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. Japan’s occupation was illegal.

Ernst thought it would be better for East Africa to take this advantage. Now the Far East Empire and the Japanese navy are not yet significant forces, and East Africa can just force its way in.

So Ernst said to Archduke Ferdinand, “It doesn’t matter. When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Let’s directly get the economic privileges of the area from the Far East government first, and then plan for the area to become a colony at the end of the year.”

This is also a common tactic for East African colonization. The Lanfang Overseas Province became East African territory in this way. However, Ernst does not intend to let the Southern Ryukyu Islands directly become East African territory, but rather to become an East African colony.

As for why wait until the end of 1880, it’s because historically, that was when Japan completely abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom.

At that time, East Africa could establish a dependency in the Southern Ryukyu Islands at the same time. The Far East Empire and Japan would not be able to find a reason to object. After all, the Ryukyu Kingdom would have been destroyed. Even if they objected, it would be ineffective, because their naval strength was not good enough. The East African navy had already shown its face in the Far East countries once before.

Of course, Ernst also gave the Far East Empire enough face by obtaining the right to rule the area from them. After all, they couldn’t defend it anyway. This would be equivalent to the territory still nominally belonging to the Far East Empire, but in reality, it would be an East African colony.

As for whether this place can return to the Far East Empire in the future, it depends on whether the Far East Empire can revive. If its strength becomes strong, East Africa would have no way to refuse to leave in later generations.

In fact, the Southern Ryukyu Islands are of important value to the Far East Empire and Japan. Japan values sea power and also has great ambitions. The location of the Southern Ryukyu Islands is very important to both countries.

East Africa obtaining the Southern Ryukyu Islands would simply provide material supply, ship maintenance, and troop stationing for the East Africa-Lanfang-Alaska route, or the Far East Empire route.

In fact, the coast of the Far East Empire can also do this, but Ernst doesn’t want to station troops in the Far East Empire, as that would really turn the Far East Empire into his own colony.

The Southern Ryukyu Islands are not small in area, and the products are relatively rich. In later generations, they could support more than one hundred thousand people. In this era, it’s only a scale of ten thousand people, so it’s convenient for East Africa to occupy.

“Since you have a plan, I naturally won’t object, but it’s not easy to gain a foothold here. Relying on diplomatic operations can only obtain nominal governance rights.”

In fact, even “governance rights” is not accurate; it should be called “trusteeship rights.” East Africa is proposing to the Far East to administer the area on its behalf. This is not important to East Africa, but it is very important to the Far East Empire, because it involves territorial issues. Even if it still nominally belongs to them, it will look better on the surface. When one has too many debts, one doesn’t worry about more.

In fact, the reason why the Far East Empire is arguing with Japan is that it has been closed off for too long. Only forty years have passed since 1840. The Far East Empire’s shipbuilding industry, ports, navy, and sailors can be said to be all new. For example, Jiaozhou Port was built with the help of the Hechingen Consortium. Otherwise, the Far East Empire would not have been taken advantage of by the Japanese.

The Far East Empire’s progress in maritime affairs is not even as good as East Africa’s. East Africa was established only twenty or thirty years later than the Far East Empire opened its doors. Moreover, the Far East’s doors were opened step by step. Many bays were abandoned before. To put it bluntly, they were forced open bit by bit by British and French warships, and this process was not achieved overnight. Historically, it continued until the Boxer Protocol.

Therefore, many ports in the Far East in later generations have not even been developed yet. Only the treaty ports that foreign countries forced the Far East Empire to open have modern ports.

Of course, it’s not to say that many ports did not exist in a closed-off state, but they did not receive development without official endorsement. After all, so many Chinese who went to Southeast Asia could not have swum there.

Although East Africa started later, it has the technical support of the German region, the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s navy, the expansion of the Hechingen Consortium’s overseas trade, the expansion of East African immigration and slave trade, overseas colonization, and the construction of East African ports, etc., which have made the maritime industry of East Africa, a large land country, develop relatively prosperously, at least without holding it back.

East Africa is also closed off, but East Africa has always been engaged in maritime affairs. It just does not allow foreign forces to directly participate in East African maritime trade. East Africa’s pile of newly built ports are for its own commercial ships and navy to use. It is a one-way valve structure of closed-off, rather than the Far East Empire’s closed-off where it does not go out itself.

Chapter 544: The Kui River Arch Dam

Planning a colony is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires preparation. However, to prevent unforeseen changes, the sooner you start, the better. Colonialism is all about being shameless: grab it first, and the rest is easier to sort out later.

This is basically the routine of most colonists, especially the great powers who are most adept at presenting a fait accompli. Faced with the colonists’ strength, others could only grit their teeth and accept it.

…

Farabana Village is a village in the northern part of Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe).

With East Africa’s focus on developing Matabeleland Province, the province has gained a more populated feel. Of course, given East Africa’s national conditions, it still seems very spacious, with villages spaced relatively far apart.

However, the opposite is true around cities. As a more advanced system, cities require more division of labor and cooperation, so the villages near cities are more closely packed.

Although East Africa is vast and sparsely populated, road construction has not been neglected at all, so transportation is relatively convenient. If it were five or six years ago, there wouldn’t even be a dirt road, which would be truly difficult. However, East Africa is fortunate in that it is mainly savanna climate, making development not too difficult, especially suitable for cavalry activities.

East Africa now has a decent number of horses, about eight hundred thousand, but compared to East Africa’s vast grassland area, that number is still far from enough, especially compared to Mexico and Brazil, which have similar climates.

Mexico and Brazil both have tropical savanna climates, but the area of tropical savanna climate is not as large as East Africa’s. However, Mexico and Brazil have the second and third largest horse populations in the Americas, respectively, with the United States being first.

The number of horses in East Africa is not in the same league as the number of cattle, which is related to East Africa’s agricultural policy.

Currently, East Africa mainly promotes ox-plowing. After all, horses were introduced from the Eurasian region and are not yet very adaptable to the African climate. East Africa is also actively cultivating its own native horse breeds, and directly imported a batch from Mexico and Brazil when cultivating native horse breeds.

Cattle are easier to raise than horses, and raising cattle is cheaper than raising horses. Plowing is an endurance activity, and continuous high-intensity plowing during the planting season causes horses to lose weight quickly, while cattle, as long as they are supplemented with enough fodder and some grains, have very strong endurance.

At the same time, East Africa’s immigrant nature also requires East Africa to vigorously promote plowing cattle, because cattle are easier to control than horses. As the saying goes, “lead the ox by the nose,” while controlling horses is not so easy. Horses are more delicate and have fierce temperaments, requiring good care and management, which requires a larger investment. Of course, the speed of horses gives them important military attributes.

Many immigrants in East Africa, in terms of the previous life, are “dirt poor” class, and cattle and horses are valuable property of landlords and aristocratic masters. Rich peasants and owner-farmers may be able to afford them, but those people would not come to East Africa.

Therefore, the vast majority of East African immigrants have no experience in operating large livestock for farming. Fortunately, East Africa has collective agriculture, and there are people who can use and raise plowing cattle. By sharing them, they can barely manage, which is not a difficult problem, and gradually the others will learn.

Farabana Village is deep inland, and the policy of replacing slaves with livestock has not been fully implemented here, but it has caught up with the large-scale outbreak of animal husbandry in East Africa, and some have been allocated, to be used together with slaves.

The level of rural construction in Matabeleland is certainly not as good as that of the Central Province, but the conditions are no worse than in other regions.

The main reason is that the policies are catching up. Matabeleland Province is positioned as an industrial province, so the East African government has invested heavily here. Three steel plants have been built, and they are all next to the central railway, making resource scheduling convenient.

The distribution of resources in Matabeleland Province is very interesting, that is, along the central railway, which is the ore belt distributed in the central location of Matabeleland Province. Therefore, the opening of the central railway directly opened up the two main channels of industrial development in Matabeleland Province.

Relying on the three steel plants, the development of other industries in Matabeleland is also relatively good in East Africa. For example, agricultural tools do not need to be transferred from other provinces.

East Africa’s main minerals are very concentrated, but there are small mines in other areas, but they are not counted. East Africa’s industrial investment tends to build large factories, so industrial distribution is based on region, and steel in some areas without large mines needs to be transferred from other provinces.

In other words, East Africa’s resource utilization is insufficient, but this also has benefits. Small mines and workshops have no advantages in terms of technology, and the utilization rate is relatively low. Moreover, East Africa lacks professional talents, and running large enterprises is more conducive to national management.

June is the dry season in Matabeleland Province, and East Africa’s water conservancy project construction is also relatively prosperous before the rainy season.

There is also a small water conservancy project under construction in the Farabana Village area, which is the Kui River Arch Dam project.

The Kui River Arch Dam is a dam used to intercept river water, but its function is not to cut off the river, but to build a dam of moderate height in the riverbed. During the dry season, the river water will not flow away in vain, and during the rainy season, the rising river water will flood the dam and flow into the tributaries of the Zambezi River. Its function is similar to that of a reservoir, but it does not prevent the river from flowing.

“The Kui River Arch Dam project is a project valued by the higher-level government. The Kui River is an important irrigation river in Chishangu Town. After three months of hard work, I announce that the Kui River Arch Dam is officially completed.” The mayor of Chishangu Town personally came here to慰问(wèi wèn - express sympathy and solicitude for) the front-line engineering staff.

“In the future, during the dry season, the water of the Kui River can ensure that most of it remains in the river channel, and everyone can use water more conveniently during the dry season. At the same time, the Kui River Arch Dam can also serve as a bridge to facilitate everyone’s travel.”

“During the rainy season, the river water will overflow from here. If there is an emergency, you can also pass through here, but if the river water is too strong, you must pay attention to safety and do not try it easily.”

“Chief Hans, your village should pay special attention to every November, when the rainy season is coming. The river water rises as soon as it rises. Be sure to pay attention to the children in the village and do not let them play near here. Not only that, the government’s Kui River area must pay attention to safety.”

Hans: “Don’t worry! Mayor, I will pay attention even if you don’t say it. I have also been in the army and know the rainy season in East Africa very well. I usually respond to the call of the higher authorities and have educated these new immigrants a lot. I know what to do.”

“Then I’m relieved. The flood in the river during the rainy season is no joke. Before, Bumisil Village was repairing the river channel, and several black slaves were washed away because of the sudden water from the upper reaches. Fortunately, they were black slaves, otherwise the punishment would be indispensable.”

Hans: “Don’t worry, I will pay attention.”

“One more thing, this Kui River Arch Dam is built in your village, so the future management will be handed over to you. If you find any major problems, report them in time. If you can solve small problems, solve them yourself. The city and town will come to check the project quality from time to time, and there must be no major mistakes.”

What the mayor of Chishangu Town said seems very serious, but that’s all it is. East Africa’s projects are all made of genuine materials. This Kui River Arch Dam will not have any problems for every ten or eight years. If it is properly maintained, it is normal to use it for hundreds of years.

As for the inspection by the higher-level government, no one will run to Farabana Village, a small place, for no reason. Moreover, the mayor of Chishangu Town also said that the inspection is irregular. This irregularity may be once a year or once every few years.

However, the Kui River Arch Dam affects the entire Kui River. Although the Kui River is a very inconspicuous small river, it has an important impact on agriculture in Chishangu Town. It is not just a matter for Farabana Village itself. This is also the reason why the mayor of Chishangu Town attaches importance to this project.

Chapter 545: Orphans

There are many projects like the Kui River Arch Dam in East Africa. Some of the projects, large and small, are progressing quickly, while others have a heavy workload and therefore a long construction period.

In fact, there are not many so-called large-scale projects in East Africa. Instead, they are made up of countless small projects combined together. Not to mention other things, many large rivers in East Africa have not been developed. After all, developing these rivers requires profound astronomical and geographical knowledge, and East Africa lacks professional talents in this area.

Without professional talents to supervise, it is easy for major problems to occur. For example, with reservoirs, a miscalculation or substandard technology can lead to the risk of a dam break. Therefore, the reservoirs built in East Africa are mainly medium and small-sized reservoirs, so even if there are losses, they will not be very large and can be corrected in time.

…

Hengshui.

Yangjia Village.

“Fugui, I’m entrusting all these children to you. These are all orphans from the village, poor souls. You must take good care of them!”

“Uncle Yang, don’t worry! You don’t know my character? I was always an honest man in the village.” Yang Fugui said cheerfully to his third uncle.

“Heh, an honest man. If you were really honest, you wouldn’t have run off to that East Africa of yours. I’ve heard that it’s a white man’s world there. Look at you, you don’t even have a queue anymore. It’s a good thing you’re working for the foreigners, otherwise you would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago.”

“Uncle Yang, I don’t like hearing that. What do you mean, a white man’s world? We are legitimate citizens of the Kingdom of East Africa. Do you understand what a citizen is? It means we are part of the Kingdom of East Africa, just like you are subjects of the Great Qing Empire.”

“It’s all the same, it’s all the same. Isn’t it just making a living in a different place? What’s so great about it? Aren’t you still being controlled by foreign masters?”

“The difference is huge. We Germans overseas have a pretty good status. For example, in this Great Qing Empire, ordinary people are polite when they see me in this outfit and appearance. It’s only because you’re my third uncle that you dare to put on airs in front of me.”

Yang Fugui is a typical example of a “small man” who has become successful, but this is not difficult to understand. It is not obvious at all in East Africa, but it is fully revealed in the Far East. After all, East Africa is full of immigrants, and everyone is equal below the nobility.

And there are also a number of nobles conferred in East Africa, but Ernst has always strictly controlled them. To date, there are only a few hundred people, and it is more like an honorary title, but the social status gained by becoming a noble is quite high. Most of the East African nobles come from the military and the Black Herington Consortium, or talents who serve East Africa, such as Earl Yarmann, Earl Felix, and Earl Swete, who all came from the military… Benz, Lenoir, the Mauser brothers, and a group of scientists and inventors also hold East African titles.

In addition to this type of newly conferred nobility, there is also a traditional nobility in East Africa. The Principality of Black Herington was once an independent country, and in addition to Ernst and his son, there were also some nobles who served the Black Herington royal family. The characteristic of this type of nobility is that they are recognized by East Africa and also recognized in Germany, which has a higher gold content, provided it is at the same level.

However, no merit, no reward. It is not easy for these old nobles who followed the Black Herington royal family to climb up, because when the Principality of Black Herington merged into Prussia, many capable people had already followed Prussia. Many of those who have been following the Black Herington royal family are mediocre, and many are unwilling to come to East Africa to suffer, preferring to stay in Germany and live their lives.

Of course, East African laws state that East Africa is a country where everyone is equal, and there is no emphasis on the difference between nobles and commoners, but the existence of the noble system is a tacit acknowledgement.

“I won’t talk to you about these things. I want to ask you clearly, after these little guys go to East Africa, how will your Kingdom of East Africa arrange them? It’s not like what some people are saying, cutting out their hearts and livers, is it!”

Uncle Yang’s words made the several seven- or eight-year-old children next to him feel a shiver in their hearts.

“Uncle Yang, don’t listen to those people’s nonsense. I’ve already told you what East Africa is like. It’s simply a paradise. Our king is kind-hearted and is giving these children a chance to go to East Africa for further education.”

“Heh, do you think I believe that? All crows are black under the sun. Foreign emperors are rushing to take care of you outsiders. There’s no such good thing in the world.”

“If you ask me, you’re just too stubborn. If you had listened to me back then and let those people in the village go to East Africa, that would have been great. Look at what I eat and wear, it’s like celebrating the New Year every day.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I suddenly remember. Weren’t you always recruiting people before? Why have you suddenly stopped recruiting, and instead are just looking for orphans?”

Yang Fugui: “Heh, Uncle, it’s too late now. The requirements for recruiting people in East Africa have been raised. I heard that many large ships running the sea lanes have already been withdrawn.”

Immigration has always been a major expense for East Africa. After exhausting the population potential of the German region, the recruitment of people from other regions has also been relaxed. Many of the ships used by East Africa to pull immigrants have been transformed to serve East Africa’s commercial interests.

“By the way, you haven’t said how these little guys will be arranged! And what do you mean by further education?”

“I’m not very clear about the ins and outs of this, after all, you know I don’t have much ink in my belly. I can only speak German, not write it. I’m still illiterate when I get to East Africa. But according to the superiors, these children will be sent to school when they get to East Africa to study, and in the future they will serve East Africa.”

It was easy to understand why East Africa didn’t recruit orphans in the Far East before, because East Africa used to be dirt poor and needed young and strong laborers to reclaim land in East Africa and create value immediately. After all, East Africa is not a nursery, but a colony.

Now that East Africa’s population has increased and land development has been completed very well, the East African government’s fiscal revenue has been improved. In addition, the demand for immigration has decreased, and it is now able to support orphans.

The number of orphans in Germany is only so many, and the schools in the Principality of Black Herington simply cannot accommodate them, let alone the countless orphans in this era in the Far East.

“School?” This once again exceeded Uncle Yang’s range of knowledge.

“You can think of it as a private school, like those who take the children’s examinations to become scholars.”

“Could it be that East Africa wants these children to become officials in the future?”

“That’s thinking too much. Schools are a very common thing in East Africa. Even young children can go. My three children are in school!”

“What are the benefits? They can’t take the imperial examinations.”

“I don’t know, but reading is always a good thing! And in East Africa, reading is a must. If you don’t let your children read, you will be imprisoned.”

“Isn’t that forcing children to study?”

“That’s the idea, but I heard from colleagues from Europe that they do the same in their hometowns, it’s called compulsory education. All children must go to school, otherwise they will be fined, or they will be imprisoned. We in East Africa have gone straight to the point. There is no such thing as a fine. If you don’t let your children read, you go straight to jail.”

Yang Fugui didn’t know what the use of reading was. At least he couldn’t see any use in East Africa. On the contrary, being able to read and write overseas is very meaningful. As a citizen of East Africa, what Yang Fugui said overseas refers to countries outside of East Africa, and the Far East Empire is also included.

“Anyway, Uncle Yang, don’t worry, the lives of these little guys in East Africa will be better than they are here.”

“Ah, that’s true. Our village has limited ability and can’t afford to raise them. Then let them go out with you and make a living. Maybe it’s a way out.”

Chapter 546: Permission

Beijing.

“Your Excellency Li, you are aware that East Africa’s economic interests in the Far East are growing, especially with the construction of numerous factories and facilities by German merchants in the Far East. Simultaneously, the demand for trade between East Africa and the Far Eastern Empire is increasing. Therefore, we hope to establish a transit station in your country’s dependency, Ryukyu, to ensure the safety of East African ships and facilitate trade between our two countries.” The East African ambassador stated bluntly to Li Hongzhang.

At this time, Li Hongzhang was indeed troubled by the issue of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, or rather, the entire Ryukyu Islands, especially the undisguised ambition of Japan, that short, squat, rebellious nation, towards the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Li Hongzhang sighed and said, “Ambassador Richard, it’s not that I don’t want to help you solve the problem. The situation in the Ryukyu Kingdom is quite complex, especially with Japan disregarding international rules, directly invading the Ryukyu Kingdom, and illegally manipulating Ryukyu politics. To be honest, we can no longer call the shots for the Ryukyu Kingdom government.”

“I heard that Japan only occupies the central and northern parts of Ryukyu, and they don’t control the southern region. Therefore, we don’t care about Japan’s and Ryukyu’s attitudes. As long as your country nods in agreement, that’s all that matters.”

Li Hongzhang looked at Richard with a suspicious expression. Ryukyu was a hotbed of trouble, and East Africa wanted to jump right in.

“Your country truly has the demeanor of a great power, but I still advise you to think twice. Japan has always been an ungrateful wretch, and they are narrow-minded. If your country builds a special economic zone in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, I’m afraid they might really cause you trouble.”

Richard said nonchalantly, “Your Excellency Li is also the head of the Imperial Navy. I think you are clear about the strength of our East African Navy. In the face of absolute strength, Japan is nothing more than a clown. If they dare to offend Germany, the navies of the three countries will dare to patrol Edo.”

East Africa has never fought alone in the Far East. The commercial interests of Germany and Austria in the Far East are largely protected by East Africa.

This was not an exaggeration. The influence of the German and Austrian navies on the Far Eastern Empire was very weak, after all, the two important transportation routes of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea were firmly controlled by the British Royal Navy.

East Africa was different. The only thing that could block the connection between East Africa and the Far East was the Strait of Malacca. The Strait of Malacca was controlled by the British, but the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Cape Town were also restrained by East Africa.

Both sides had leverage in their hands, so the British could not go too far against East Africa. If East Africa really went for a do-or-die strategy with Britain, India would be in a very dangerous situation.

India was Britain’s Achilles’ heel. Even if East Africa cut off the connection between India and the British mainland for a short time, it could trigger a major change in the world格局.

After all, Britain had more than just East Africa as its enemy. If East Africa did this, other countries were likely to follow suit. Even if the probability was small, it was unacceptable to Britain. For India, Britain’s attitude was that it must be foolproof.

Hearing that East Africa was once again using Germany and Austria as a shield, Li Hongzhang felt very complicated, recalling the history of being deceived by East Africa.

When East Africa was still an insignificant colony, it used Germany as a shield to swindle a lot of special privileges from the Far Eastern Empire.

As the Far Eastern Empire’s understanding of East Africa deepened, it realized that it had been deceived. At that time, East Africa could not represent Germany at all. The so-called Black Hohenzollern Principality was an insignificant existence in Germany, and the Hohenzollern surname was also deceptive, causing the Tongzhi Emperor to mistakenly believe that the Black Hohenzollern royal family was similar to the princes of the Far East and could represent the Prussian government.

After so many years, the Far Eastern Empire realized that it had been played by East Africa because of its lack of understanding of Western culture and politics.

However, with the development of East Africa in recent years, especially after defeating Portugal and its naval strength entering the top ten in the world, the Far Eastern Empire could only grit its teeth and accept it.

Of course, although East Africa was not very ethical, its relationship with the Far Eastern Empire was good. After all, East Africa was not like Britain and other countries. Other colonial countries were really excessive towards the Far Eastern Empire.

East Africa, after all, only took advantage of the Far Eastern Empire’s lack of understanding of the West, so this blame could only be borne by its own diplomatic personnel. The Far Eastern Empire’s modern diplomacy started very late. The earliest students were sent out in the 1870s, and East Africa’s fraudulent behavior further stimulated the Far Eastern Empire’s exploration and understanding of the Western world.

What if other Western countries tried to take advantage of them and succeeded? That would be too shameful. However, after being scammed by East Africa, the Far Eastern Empire had a much greater understanding of Greece, Portugal, Belgium, Italy… and other small countries.

Poor Portugal was directly classified as a small country because of the East Portuguese War. In the future, it would not be easy for Portuguese merchants to swindle and deceive in the Far Eastern Empire.

“Ambassador Richard, we can allow your country to develop the Southern Ryukyu Islands, but correspondingly, your country will have to bear the trouble with Japan.”

Li Hongzhang really had no choice. His own navy had not yet grown up. Of course, there was another important reason, that was, the navy was his lifeline and he could not afford to lose it. It was better to let East Africa and Japan fight like dogs.

“Hahaha, no problem. As long as your country agrees, we will take care of the rest. We will definitely not make things difficult for your country.”

East Africa acted quickly. Although it would take some time for their ironclad ships to arrive, East Africa had many merchant ships in the Far East. After obtaining permission from the Far Eastern Empire, they openly transported troops and supplies to the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

The troops were easy to explain. To survive in the Far Eastern Empire, you had to have security personnel. Local forces and bureaucrats were not pushovers. Ernst knew them very well. You couldn’t be polite when cooperating with them, or you wouldn’t even have bones left.

East Africa’s excuse was at least not problematic, to protect East Africa’s commercial interests in the Far East, so they needed to find an island in the Pacific region as an economic development zone.

In other words, a colony similar to a concession. The Ryukyu Kingdom was only a dependency of the Far East after all, and had not been given too much attention by the Far Eastern Empire.

Of course, the main reason was that East Africa had no prior record. Although it had established two special economic zones in the Far East, they were only to facilitate East Africa’s business and investment, and to avoid competition with other countries. East Africa had some special privileges in these two special economic zones, but other important rights were still in the hands of the Far Eastern Empire. Only in economic matters did the Far Eastern Empire have to consult with East Africa.

This time, the Far Eastern Empire thought that East Africa’s model for the Southern Ryukyu Islands was the same as the two special economic zones, and it could also make Japan wary.

However, neither the Far Eastern Empire nor Japan could have imagined that East Africa was aiming for the right to rule the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and wanted to build it into a dependent territory of East Africa.

The East African government directly telegraphed the merchant ships in the Zhuhai trade zone to go to the Southern Ryukyu Islands to start building military bases. The East African army and navy would directly move in in the future.

When Japan reacted, East Africa’s ironclad fleet would have already sailed over. Japan in this era had not yet become arrogant and would still act like a grandson in front of foreigners.

In fact, the Southern Ryukyu Islands were not that close to Japan. Otherwise, given Japan’s character, they would not have been arguing with the Far Eastern Empire. Although East Africa was far from the Southern Ryukyu Islands, with the help of the Far Eastern Empire and the Lanfang Overseas Province, it was not too difficult to control the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

Chapter 547: Landing

The Southern Ryukyu Islands.

The first batch of ships departed from the Zhuhai trading zone and arrived in the Southern Ryukyu Islands in a matter of days. After all, the Zhuhai trading zone was relatively small; the support from the Huaihai Economic Zone would be the main force.

Even so, East Africa still dispatched five of its own armed merchant ships from the Zhuhai trading zone to the Southern Ryukyu Islands, along with more than three hundred armed personnel, preparing to be stationed permanently in the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

The Southern Ryukyu Islands are actually not that far from the Zhuhai trading zone, as they are located just east of Egg Bay Island.

Therefore, East Africa prepared a large amount of supplies and ammunition. Since they were going to establish a colony, they would do it properly in one go, deploying the troops first.

The total population of the Southern Ryukyu Islands is just over ten thousand, so three hundred East African soldiers are enough to deal with most threats. In the Far East Empire, these armed personnel were security personnel of the Black Hering Group. Once they left the Far East Empire’s mainland, they reverted to their true identities. East Africa would continue to increase its troops in the future. Ernst planned to initially deploy at least three thousand troops in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, with Miyako Island and Ishigaki Island being the key defense areas.

“This place is already the best residence on the island and has been requisitioned by us. However, it’s completely insufficient for our needs, so we need to quickly build some shacks and make do for now. Besides the islanders, there are also some pirates and Japanese people on the island that are worth noting.”

Pirates were as common as dirt in the 19th century, especially in the South Seas and the Caribbean. There were also pirates in the waters near East Africa, but not many, because there were not many islands around East Africa, and most of them were controlled by East Africa. Before the establishment of East Africa, the pirates in the East African waters were mainly Portuguese and Arabs (including Swahili people). As for pure black forces capable of building relatively large ships, that was the former Somalia, which had already been incorporated into East Africa.

In recent years, with the rise of the East African Navy, the pirates’ living space has become even smaller, and they can only use Madagascar and Mozambique as bases, which has greatly improved the security of the eastern East African shipping lanes.

Relatively speaking, the number of pirates in the Red Sea area has increased sharply, after all, most ships choose to go through the Suez Canal after it opened.

“Don’t worry about the Japanese for now. We’ll drive them away after we gain a firm foothold on Miyako Island. As for the pirates, we’ll wipe them out as soon as the troops are settled. However, considering that some islands are also inhabited by islanders, we’ll issue a notice in a few days to persuade some islanders with a conscience to surrender.”

At the same time as East Africa landed on Miyako Island, Japanese intelligence personnel on Miyako Island also discovered this fleet, as did the people of the Far East Empire in the Southern Ryukyu Islands. The personnel stationed by the Far East Empire in the Southern Ryukyu Islands were mainly military instructors, organizing the locals to resist the Japanese invasion. As a loyal vassal state in the past, the Ryukyu Islands naturally also had loyal supporters of the Far East Empire.

A Japanese-style house on Miyako Island.

“Mr. Kohara, I know the origin of the people on the other side. They are not from the Far East Empire, but Germans.”

“Nan’ni, are you sure?”

“I’m sure I’m not mistaken. The flag they’re flying has a Western lion on it. I don’t know which country it is specifically, but the ships have the flag of the German Far East Trading Company on them. All five ships have it.”

“Germans, possibly from Germany, or Austria-Hungary, or that East African Kingdom, but what are they doing in the Sakishima Islands (Southern Ryukyu Islands)?”

As mentioned before, the Southern Ryukyu Islands only have significant strategic value to the Far East Empire and Japan. As for economic benefits, forget about it. There isn’t much land, and they can only grow some rice, other tropical fruits, and vegetables.

And the East-West trade routes mainly go through the Egg Bay Island Strait. Generally, people don’t come to the Southern Ryukyu Islands to engage in trade. The entire Southern Ryukyu Islands has a population of just over twenty thousand. Even in my previous life, it barely reached one hundred thousand, which shows how remote it is.

With no large areas of land for cultivation and no developed trade, the population of the Southern Ryukyu Islands cannot be large.

And the Southern Ryukyu Islands are close to Egg Bay Island, so in my previous life, this was also Japan’s springboard for occupying Egg Bay Island, and also an important chain for blockading the Far East Empire.

As for East Africa occupying the Southern Ryukyu Islands, it’s purely for connecting Alaska, and also to provide convenience for East African ships in the Far East.

This can be considered an indirect interruption of Japan’s plan for Egg Bay Island, but now East Africa is simply not something Japan can mess with, and they can only swallow their unhappiness.

Moreover, East Africa is not the United States. There is no barrier between Japan and the United States. East Africa and Japan are separated by the Strait of Malacca. Japan poses no threat to the East African mainland. Of course, if Japan can really enter the South Seas region like in my previous life, then that’s another story. The nature of the Lanfang Overseas Province seems to be similar to that of Hawaii.

“Nono’ki, we must quickly send the news back to our country. These Germans definitely have ulterior motives in coming here.”

“Yes, sir. But Mr. Kohara, they are Germans after all. If they really have ideas about the Sakishima Islands, what will happen to our Great Japanese Empire?”

“This matter is not something you or I can decide, but it is indeed a variable. I only hope that the Germans only intend to stay here for a short time.”

Nono’ki shook his head and said, “I think it’s difficult. About two to three thousand of them have come, all fully armed. They are now unloading goods from the ships and have already met with local Ryukyu officials. According to our informants, the Germans seem to have obtained permission from the Far East Empire, so they are going to develop this place.”

“Develop?”

“It should be economic, but I feel it’s unlikely. The Sakishima Islands have no resources. Even if they colonize, it’s not very cost-effective here.”

“Then it may be a strategic need!” Kohara said.

“Strategic?”

“The Germans have few colonies, and the good colonies have already been divided up by other countries, so the Germans can only pick up the remaining colonies from Britain and France, and the Sakishima Islands may be in this category.”

“The Germans have few colonies? That East African Kingdom is said to have encircled most of Africa’s land, even the British and Portuguese are envious.”

“Hehe, Mr. Nono’ki, East Africa doesn’t count as a colony, but a country like the United States when it became independent. If East Africa were really a colony of Germany or Austria-Hungary, then there would be another superpower in the world on par with Britain and France. But it is precisely because of this that East Africa escaped a disaster. No country wants to see Germany or Austria-Hungary have such a large overseas colony.”

“Hmph, it’s really cheap for the Germans. That African area is not small. Why didn’t Britain and France take a fancy to it back then!”

“Isn’t it because of malaria? Quinine made colonizing Africa possible, but traditional colonial powers like Britain and France didn’t seize this window, allowing East Africa to take advantage of the loophole.”

“Mr. Kohara, in my opinion, the Germans must have other tricks to establish a country in Africa. Although East Africa benefited from the convenience of quinine, the East African Kingdom has been around for so many years, and we haven’t seen other European countries make such rapid progress in other areas of Africa.”

East Africa certainly has its own unique skills, but these skills are generally not learned by ordinary people, that is, crazy immigration, and the German region and the Far East Empire just happen to be areas where the population is exploding and growing wildly.

In East Africa, immigrants represent farmers, workers, and the army. With enough immigrants, there is the East Africa of today. Currently, East Africa is also enjoying the national dividend brought by a large population.

Chapter 548: East African History Lesson

East Africa had no intention of paying attention to the Japanese. Anyway, the legal basis had already been obtained from the Far Eastern Empire, so stationing troops to protect its economic interests in the area was perfectly reasonable. As for the Japanese causing trouble or protesting, those were just insignificant matters.

……

First Township.

Otto High School.

“Today, we will continue to study ancient world history. By learning from history, we can understand rise and fall, so history is a required course for every East African middle school student.”

The importance of history is self-evident, especially for a country like East Africa. As everyone knows, East Africa has no history, so East Africa has to promote ancient world history.

East Africa’s development over the past ten years or so has been full of dark history of colonialism and slavery, so it is not something to be shared with outsiders now.

However, Ernst did not intend to hide it. In Ernst’s view, it is better to guide than to block. In the future, as East Africa exists longer, it can compile its own set of mainstream history as official endorsement.

Americans wouldn’t write about the massacre of Native Americans in their national education history textbooks. Ernst would dare to write about the persecution of black people in East African history textbooks. Anyway, Ernst would be almost gone by then, and he wouldn’t care much about that infamy.

“The Three Kingdoms were unified, merging into the Jin Dynasty, but the Jin Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty… which eventually led to the Uprising of the Five Barbarian Tribes. This is very similar to the Roman Empire in the West at that time. Therefore, the extravagance and comparison of the ruling class were important reasons for the demise of both countries.”

“So, the best state for a country should be a healthy and upward overall social atmosphere, where everyone is willing to take on social responsibilities and perform their respective duties…”

The teacher was talking to himself on the podium, and some students had already started arguing.

“The fall of the Jin Dynasty cannot be separated from the enfeoffment system. The War of the Eight Princes was bound to happen sooner or later, exhausting the entire Western Jin Dynasty’s population, food, and strength, and then being destroyed by foreign tribes. They destroyed themselves before being destroyed by foreign tribes, so internal strife was the root cause, and foreign invasion was the result.”

“In the early Western Jin Dynasty, the Hu people began to migrate on a large scale from the surrounding areas to China, so ethnic policy is very important. Like the Jin Dynasty, it did not complete ethnic integration. If East Africa does not have intermarriage, cultural assimilation, and unified language, then it will definitely encounter the same fate as the Jin Dynasty in the future.”

“Our ethnic problem in East Africa should mainly be black people. If there are too many black people, it may cause the same result.”

“You’re worrying unnecessarily. There used to be many black people in First Township, but can you see them now? This shows that the number of black people is constantly decreasing.”

“Wouldn’t that be too cruel?”

“Hehe, those who are not of our race must have different hearts. Look at how well the Jin Dynasty treated foreigners! In the end, didn’t they still turn their knives against the people of the Jin Dynasty?”

“I think we should physically reduce the number of black people, and learn from the Anglo-Saxons.”

“Ahem, actually, speaking of the fall of the Roman Empire, it seems that the Germanic people also contributed, and the Germanic orthodoxy seems to be us Germans.”

“Civilization is about creation and destruction. If East Africa does not want to go down the path of destruction, it should strictly guard against foreign ethnic problems.”

East African students don’t feel embarrassed at all when talking about ethnic issues. Thanks to East Africa’s propaganda and policies, these native East African children get along very well. After all, many people grew up together, or their parents are one white and one Asian, making mixed-race children very common in East Africa.

Purebred Germans and Chinese have become a minority. At least, that’s the case reflected in the East African new generation. In this era, if you can find a wife with sweet talk, you are indeed capable, but such people are in the minority, especially the group of older men in East Africa, many of whom are rural men with clumsy mouths. If East Africa doesn’t help them think of a way, they may really be single for life in East Africa, so most marriages in East Africa are arranged by the state.

And arranged marriages do not have the right to be picky. In order to accelerate East African ethnic integration, East Africa must resort to this strategy. In fact, this is not a sensational thing. Now it is the 19th century, an era that is both culturally conservative and open, and the social atmosphere in East Africa is more conservative than in most countries.

“Okay, that’s it for today’s history class. This week’s assignment is to write a reflection on today’s class, an argumentative essay, no less than five hundred words, no upper limit, and you have to present it on stage next Monday.”

As soon as they heard the assignment, there was a wail from below the podium. If Ernst knew, he would definitely despise these guys who had never experienced the sea of exercises. If it weren’t for East Africa’s limited financial resources and the fact that paper is relatively precious in this era, Ernst would definitely ask the Ministry of Education to print more exercise books.

But then again, the knowledge in the textbooks is indeed enough for East African students to learn. Exams and exercise books are just to strengthen their mastery of knowledge points and their ability to respond to problems.

This belongs to pure talent. Those with good brains can naturally find solutions easily. Ordinary people can also understand after seeing more and knowing more. Only those with dull brains need to repeatedly practice.

Therefore, East Africa’s relatively relaxed teaching environment makes it easier to screen out geniuses, hardworking students, and those who are interested.

East Africa’s compulsory education focuses on screening, not improving, because East Africa’s universalization of secondary education is already ahead of all countries in the world. The overall improvement is the highest, which can cope with future international talent competition and has advantages, but it will only be reflected many years later. Now it is the stage of cultivation, and it takes time to blossom and bear fruit.

Improvement is a thankless task. For example, the education in the Far East in its previous life can be said to be the best in the world. Don’t think that there are many talents who go abroad and don’t return, but in fact, for the huge student population in the Far East, it is only a drop in the bucket.

After all, there are only so many positions that match academic qualifications, but the Far Eastern education system has cultivated an excess number of college students, and the domestic employment level cannot meet their needs.

As for why overseas students seem to be more successful, that is actually an illusion. Foreign capitalists are not fools, they also want to pick the best from the international students, and the group of students from the Far East who can study abroad are already quite capable. In addition, with the West’s centuries of accumulation, it is naturally not easy to surpass.

For example, machine tools are becoming more and more precise, like chickens laying eggs and eggs hatching chickens. The advantages of developed countries far outweigh those of developing countries. Even the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan cannot compare with those old European countries, because their history is not as long as Europe’s. Europe, as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, has innate advantages there.

The high-end machine tool industry is basically controlled by European countries, such as Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain… For pursuers like the Far Eastern Empire, unless they can find a new path and change the track, they can only follow.

Moreover, selecting outstanding talents is also the most in line with East Africa’s national conditions. East Africa’s resources in higher education and high-tech fields are not as good as those of the old powers, and can even be described as scarce. Without these as support, East Africa’s education is one radish, one hole, so naturally it must be left to those who are capable.

Chapter 549: Bicycle Industry

The history lessons in East Africa mainly focus on two categories: Far East history and the history of Rome and the Holy Roman Empire.

This isn’t intentional. After all, ancient world history is primarily the history of Eurasia, plus North Africa. East Africa certainly won’t deliberately lecture on the history of the Arab region, and Indian history is best listened to as mythology.

German history is quite lacking. It can indeed be linked to the ancient Germanic people, but the ancient Germanic people were pure barbarians to Rome. Moreover, countries like England, France, Germany, and Austria are all related to the ancient Germanic people, since the Western Roman Empire was destroyed by them. So, it’s better to directly graft the history of the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire together.

However, none of this has anything to do with East Africa. East Africa only needs the experiences and lessons behind history to prevent future historical nihilism or pseudo-historical theories from becoming popular.

Learning from history is not difficult for people from the Far East in their previous lives. They can occasionally draw lessons from it when encountering problems in life. However, it is very difficult for many countries that lack history.

Of course, some countries deliberately conceal history to cover up national crimes. They will still follow the old path at some point in the future because their descendants have not accepted the correct historical values, and repeating the same mistakes is inevitable.

This is why Ernst will not deny East Africa’s colonial history in the future. Merit is merit, and demerit is demerit. Anyway, just give future East African descendants enough warning.

Just like the modern history of humiliation of the Far East Empire, it is also an important reason why the Far East Empire can shine in the 21st century. At least it lets them know the principle that backwardness invites aggression.

The development path of East Africa is too smooth, without encountering major setbacks, which may create illusions for East African citizens in the future. Therefore, it is good to learn from other people’s history and constantly remind them.

Take the Soviet Union, for example. In Ernst’s view, its early development was too smooth, and later, when it slightly failed to meet expectations, the entire country collapsed.

When the Soviet Union disintegrated, it had almost no shortcomings. Even if its economy was poor, it was much stronger than most countries at the same time. However, it was abandoned by all its citizens. The Far East is different. At the same time, the Far East Empire’s economy was so poor that it was not even as good as some African countries, but it survived the most turbulent 1990s.

…

“Your Royal Highness, this is a bicycle equipped with the latest hollow rubber tires. After using hollow tires, the weight of the bicycle is greatly reduced, and the difficulty of riding is greatly reduced. It is also more convenient to use, and most importantly, it is more comfortable.”

The biggest improvement of hollow rubber tires to bicycles is comfort. It doesn’t matter if you ride on the hardened flat roads of East Africa with solid tires before, but outside the First Town and Soga City, the road conditions are complicated. According to the road conditions in East Africa, the original bicycles could shake out kidney stones.

Amidst the surprised expressions of the crowd, Ernst rode the East African-made high-bar bicycle and circled the fountain a few times.

“Feels good, the performance can indeed meet basic needs, although it is still very bulky.”

Ernst said it was bulky, but in fact, it indirectly showed that it was made of genuine materials. With the sturdiness of this frame, it is easy to carry hundreds of pounds of goods.

In the history of the previous life, it was not until 1889 that the Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop invented pneumatic hollow tires, while East Africa’s hollow tire research began as early as 1876.

Today, East Africa’s rubber industry is booming and has replaced Brazil as the world’s largest rubber producer, so it has put a lot of effort into researching the application of rubber.

Ball bearings, seats, pedals, handlebars, and even bicycle back seats and other important parts have been improved and applied under Ernst’s guidance. Hollow tires have filled the last gap, and bicycles can be fully promoted in the future.

“The bicycle industry has great prospects in East Africa and is also very important to the world. The application fields are also very wide, so I plan to vigorously support this industry,” Ernst said.

In fact, the Hechengen Daily Necessities Company under the Hechengen Consortium is the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, but in the past, bicycles were purely for the enjoyment of the rich, and the market was very narrow. Now that it is completely improved, it can be promoted regardless of gender, age, or wealth disparity. Of course, if you are too poor, you definitely cannot afford it, but most European wage earners should be able to save money to buy one.

As for East Africans, they can also own one if they save enough money, and some groups can directly get allocated one, such as Soga City, the new city in East Africa.

Of course, this scenario refers to after the industrial chain is built, which may take several years.

So Ernst said: “Mbeya, Harare, Bulawayo, Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and Bagamoyo can build factories in advance. These inland cities mainly supply East Africa, and port cities will also take into account export demand in the future.”

Exports are naturally aimed at countries with backward industries such as the Arab region and the Far East Empire. As for Europe, the Hechengen Consortium can expand its bicycle factories in the German region.

Ernst is indeed making a big move this time. Seven cities mean seven bicycle factories, and the production of bicycle parts is related to many related industries, such as chains, hollow steel pipes, tires, etc., which require investment and design. This requires the construction of a large number of factories and enterprises.

You must know that in the 1980s, the Far East Empire in the previous life only had more than 60 bicycle production enterprises. Of course, these production enterprises must be of considerable scale, and East Africa naturally wants to take the road of large factories.

The bicycle industry is currently dominated by small workshops. Most of these things with little demand are completed by hand, and many parts are manufactured by themselves. This is why Hechengen Daily Necessities Company can become the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer.

The investment is large, but as long as the construction is completed, relying on the advantages of production costs and market acceptance, East Africa will be able to earn the money back in the future. In Ernst’s impression, bicycles have always been best-selling products.

“The military can also order a batch at that time. I think bicycles have great application scenarios in the military.”

Military applications? Could it be for sending letters or transporting supplies, reconnaissance, etc.?

People in this era do not know how the army uses bicycles. The above two guesses are of course possible, but horses can completely handle it in East Africa.

Ernst mainly believes that bicycles can be used to build a rapid reaction force, especially in some areas with complex terrain, such as Southeast Asia.

The most famous bicycle unit is the Silver Wheel Unit of the little devils during World War II. Because of the rainforest climate in Southeast Asia, the roads are muddy, and tanks and vehicles are not easy to travel, so the Japanese army equipped some attacking troops with bicycles to pursue the retreating Allied forces. Bicycles played a good role in the attack on the Malay Peninsula, and were even jokingly called “Eastern Blitzkrieg”.

As a tropical country, and possessing overseas provinces such as Lanfang with Nanyang islands, Ernst feels that bicycle units can play a great role in the tropical rainforest areas of Nanyang, which coincides with East Africa’s policy of emphasizing combat training in tropical climates such as tropical rainforests.

“The army may have some special needs for bicycles. This aspect can also be studied, such as folding bicycles, or tricycles with cargo boxes. Not only the military, but also the people may have this need.”

Ernst suddenly thought of tricycles, and even “donkey carts” (tricycles with the carriage in front), which can be used to facilitate the transportation of goods.

Although Ode Biao can also pull a lot of goods with a two-wheeled bicycle, the application form of tricycles is more extensive. This is still a very common street transportation tool in the Far East even in the 21st century, but many have been replaced by electric tricycles.

Chapter 550: Old Comrades Catching Up

Mbeya City was the first to take action. Because of its early development, Mbeya City’s industrial system is the most complete in all of East Africa.

“Director Kavendi, this is Mr. Kremers, a German technical expert, and his team. They are responsible for developing a new bearing design this time. Take a look, this is the sample.”

A small bearing part was placed on the table. This is a bearing used on bicycles, purely handmade.

“This is not easy to process, is it?” Kavendi said, playing with the bicycle bearing in his hand.

“Hehe, the bearings used on bicycles are produced by your factory. This one is just a little smaller, so your factory can definitely produce it.”

“Oh, Director Leiden, don’t talk nonsense. Don’t you know the situation of our factory? We were only taught by experts holding our hands back then. As soon as the factory was built, they withdrew. We stumbled along for half a year before we got on the right track. Now those guys can really be considered skilled, but they have limited education and are completely unaccustomed to new technologies. Our factory went to great lengths to barely keep up with the Dar es Salaam Bearing Factory No. 1.”

Speaking of Dar es Salaam Bearing Factory No. 1, Kavendi suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said, “Oh, that’s not right? You can just go directly to Dar es Salaam Bearing Factory No. 1, why come to us? We have to go to Dar es Salaam Bearing Factory No. 1 every year to learn!”

“I knew you were going to shirk responsibility. I know you don’t have much education and are afraid of not being able to take responsibility, but so many years have passed, and Mbeya Bearing Factory No. 3 has developed the best in your hands. Even Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 can’t compare. I absolutely believe in your ability. Besides, you are the director, you are in charge of management, it’s not like I’m asking you to be a technician, what are you afraid of?”

“You also know that I’m just an administrator. I treasure those with a little knowledge, but what’s the use of me treasuring them? The highest education level in the factory is elementary school. There isn’t even a middle school graduate. They can only do rough work. Last year, when we went to Dar es Salaam Factory No. 1, they held a technology exhibition and said that our technology was a full ten years behind Germany. Ten years ago, the machines in our factory were the most advanced.”

Don’t think that compulsory education is basically universal in East Africa now, but East Africa cannot achieve compulsory education in one step. The Hope Project had such a large investment and still took decades. The number of schools built in East Africa every year is also fixed.

Moreover, the quality of many middle schools is quite poor, especially rural middle schools. Many teachers may only be able to teach according to the textbook. They don’t even know how to do some of the problems themselves. Most of the students who can learn in this environment are the smart ones who can understand the textbook themselves.

As an important industrial city, Mbeya City has good education quality, but Bearing Factory No. 3 cannot get any middle school students. They are basically all taken by Factory No. 1.

However, in recent years, the performance of Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 has not been as good as Factory No. 3 under Kavendi, so the municipal government will definitely give Factory No. 3 more support next time.

So Director Leiden said, “I know the difficulties of your factory. Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 have changed several directors in recent years, and there is also policy support, but the city is very dissatisfied with them. Middle school students will definitely be given priority to your factory next year.”

Sure enough, hearing this, Kavendi instantly beamed with joy, “You should have said so earlier. What I lack under my command are talented people.”

“I knew you wouldn’t do anything without seeing the benefit. Last year, the city asked you to transfer to Factory No. 1 to be the director, why didn’t you go? The conditions in Factory No. 1 are much better than those in Factory No. 3.”

“Oh, class monitor, don’t you understand me? I’m just nostalgic. I couldn’t bear to part with our old comrades when I retired!”

Kavendi and Leiden both served in the East African Army, so the two were comrades-in-arms and had a life-and-death friendship. Although East Africa’s main opponent at that time was still the tribes on the grasslands, there wasn’t much danger on the battlefield, but the conditions in East Africa at that time were also the most difficult. There weren’t even decent roads. The East African Army often lived in the open air, and they suffered from all kinds of diseases. They were in the same boat and supported each other, so naturally their relationship was much better.

“Hehe, the army now is not the same as it was back then. Not only are the barracks built beautifully, but all kinds of facilities are also first-class, not inferior to the municipal government. The living is also comfortable, but the intensity of training has been strengthened a lot, so it’s hard to say whether it’s good or bad. I can’t stand the training of those recruits now, but the food in the East African army should be the best now, with the most oil and water, and the physical strength can keep up.”

Although the East African Army had the Blackingen Military Academy and retired German soldiers as its backbone, it could not change the characteristics of the old-fashioned East African Army at that time.

After all, the conditions in East Africa at that time were really poor, so Ernst could not follow the rules and immediately turn the East African army into a disciplined “iron army.”

Now that the conditions are better, especially for the East African Army, Ernst can be sure that the treatment is the highest among the armies of all countries, of course, this is without considering wages.

With excellent conditions, the army naturally cannot be as accommodating as before. Major reforms have been carried out on the East African army, especially the training and discipline have been greatly improved, and the army’s faith has also been strengthened, loyalty to the monarch and patriotism, and obedience to orders.

“You don’t have contact with the army. The situation in the army now is really hard to describe, especially for us old roughnecks, we absolutely can’t stand it.”

“What’s the situation?”

“The army is now very strict about hygiene.”

“Hmm! What’s so strange about that? Weren’t we also quite hygienic back then?”

Kavendi felt that his old comrade was making a fuss. When he immigrated to East Africa, he realized the importance East Africa attached to hygiene. As soon as he landed, he got a haircut, took a bath, and changed into new clothes. Later, when he was assigned to the army, hygiene became even more important, because there were always people supervising in the army. He was woken up early in the morning to brush his teeth, wash his face, and fold his quilt. In the evening, he had to go to the pool to wash his clothes.

“Hahaha, what we did back then is nothing compared to now. Now the army requires the quilts to be folded neatly, saying that they must be square, without any upturned edges or wrinkles. I went to the military camp to visit, and the instructor was measuring there with a ruler. If it didn’t meet the requirements, the quilt would be thrown into the toilet.”

“Isn’t it about hygiene? The toilet is so dirty.”

“The toilet has changed now. The floor is made of cement, smooth and clean. It is cleaned every day. You don’t know, the floor has to be wiped so shiny that it can be used as a mirror, without any odor.”

“There are also requirements for the placement of items. They cannot be misplaced at all. Someone checks every day. The towel must be folded into a square shape and placed on the edge of the basin. The army is now also equipped with toothpaste, which is specially used to clean the mouth. Toothbrushes and water cups must be placed in a fixed position in the basin without any errors. Storage cabinets are also equipped, so the clothes must be neatly arranged…”

Kavendi listened with relish to his old comrade describing the new changes in the army. Of course, the industrial development of Mbeya City can provide such excellent conditions for the local garrison. In some backward areas, life is still difficult.

The hardest life should be for the troops in the west, especially in the tropical rainforest climate zone. The environment is already poor, the facilities are not perfect, and it is far from the developed areas of East Africa, and the transportation is not convenient.

Chapter 551: To Be Tested by Time

Nile River Province.

Rowenard Village.

A group of people in white coats surrounded several houses in Rowenard Village. Many people wanted to watch, but they were driven far away by the city police.

A long cordon line surrounded the houses marked with red paint. The people in white coats were fully armed, wearing masks and gloves, holding pliers in their hands, picking and choosing.

A policeman in full military green shouted to the villagers of Rowenard Village in front of him: “Don’t get close. It’s best not to get close to these houses within this week. Next, we are going to burn these houses, so everyone better not watch the excitement, and be careful of accidental injuries.”

At this time, another policeman said: “Also, one last time, does anyone in the village have any personal belongings of the infected hidden? You better think carefully, don’t be greedy for small gains. I want to remind you that the virus is infectious, but we are not sure of its transmission route, so it is best to be foolproof.”

At this time, the villagers shouted: “Don’t worry, officer, we know how to deal with the plague. We dare not take the belongings of the dead. Who would risk their lives for that little bit of gain?”

“Very good, it’s best if there isn’t any.”

In fact, in this small village in the western Nile River Province, there is simply nothing valuable worth coveting. Moreover, most of the immigrants’ items are distributed by East Africa and are accounted for. It can be roughly determined whether anything is missing. Just like what the police said before, asking this is just to ensure foolproofness, which is a necessary procedure.

Faced with the sudden plague, some villagers were relatively panicked, while some old immigrants were more calm and composed. They have experienced this kind of thing many times and have experience. Rowenard Village is a new immigrant village, so a small number of old immigrants are mixed in as leaders to help the new immigrants adapt to the East African environment as soon as possible.

Of course, it is an exaggeration to say that they are completely calm. Not to mention these old immigrants, even the staff of the disease center who work all year round cannot have no thoughts, but since things have already happened, everyone can only tacitly maintain a stable mindset, after all, panic cannot solve the problem.

There are also truly fearless people, or rather, people who are already numb, that is, some policemen and Claire from the Grussegen City Disease Center. Most of the East African police are military professionals, so death is nothing to them. Claire is simply used to seeing it.

“Mr. Claire, all the belongings of the infected have been collected, and we have filled the houses with firewood, straw, and other flammable materials.”

“Set it on fire!” Claire, who was used to seeing life and death, said ruthlessly, ignoring the crowd behind him who were in low spirits.

Soon, houses were engulfed in flames, and thick smoke stained the sky. Under the firelight, there seemed to be the wailing of wandering souls.

“Director Claire, the most likely source of this disease is eating raw wild animals. According to our investigation, it is very likely to be monkeys.”

“Are there any relevant clues?”

“It mainly relies on the villagers’ retelling. They said that a villager named Tie Li hunted monkeys in the eastern forest privately to satisfy his cravings.”

“Monkeys? Even if this person is craving something, he doesn’t need to stare at monkeys, right? There are so many wild animals, lions, leopards, wildebeests, zebras…” Claire counted them all, “So many animals, but he insists on targeting monkeys.”

“This may be related to a legendary food in the Far East, which is monkey brains, but this Li obviously doesn’t know how to handle this kind of ingredient, so it led to this accident. Of course, this is just our speculation, and it is not certain whether it is due to hunting and eating wild animals.”

Many infectious diseases in East Africa can be said to appear without head or tail, and it is difficult to determine the source. Malaria is easy to judge, 90% is caused by mosquito bites.

“Monkey brains?” This made Claire feel a little speechless. If it were any other animal, or if the ingredients were cooked, this kind of thing might not have happened.

In the early days of East African development, when solving the food problem, it was inevitable to attack East African wild animals, but East Africa mostly chose zebras and wildebeests, and was very wary of many inexplicable wild animals.

Claire said to the villagers: “This unknown source of infection is very likely because your villagers violated the regulations and hunted wild monkeys for their appetite, and they didn’t clean them properly. And I want to know how you could eat something with blood. It’s not like you can’t get meat, so this Li didn’t die unjustly at all. If he died alone, that would be fine, but his five neighbors followed and became unlucky.”

He turned to his assistant and said: “Have the people who had contact with the deceased these past few days been taken care of?”

“They have been quarantined, and no problems have been found so far.”

“Very good, be sure to keep them locked up. If there are no symptoms within a week, then there is no major problem. As for Rowenard Village, it is best not to have direct contact with the outside world for this month.”

“The city government has already decided to send living supplies to a flat ground two li away from the village. We can go and receive them every three days. We don’t have to worry about food and drink here.”

“Yes, this is what our disease center discussed with the city before. You young people don’t need to worry too much. You’ll get used to it after seeing big storms.” Claire comforted his team members.

If you walk by the river often, how can you not get your feet wet? Claire has experienced many life and death situations, but he is luckier than many people and has survived safely to this day.

“In fact, diseases are not that scary. It’s like drawing lots, and the odds of winning are very low. I haven’t heard of a large-scale disease outbreak in recent years, so you don’t need to worry about your future. I believe your future will definitely be more comfortable than mine.”

“Director Claire, have you ever experienced a major infectious disease outbreak?”

“I’ve only experienced it once, that was in Kampala City back then. As for the others, I’ve only heard about them. There used to be more of this kind of thing in East Africa, but many of them were controlled in time and didn’t develop into major disasters. The scale is not very eye-catching in Europe. For example, an infectious disease of the scale of the Vienna plague last time has not occurred in East Africa, or rather, has not had the opportunity to occur.”

“Director Claire, we have only been in East Africa for a few years, but East Africa is indeed very different from what is described in Europe. This is even the most unique part of East Africa. Other regions of Africa and East Africa can be said to be completely two worlds. Do you know the specific reason?”

Claire shook his head and said: “I don’t know either, but I personally think that an important reason why East Africa has become the safest place in Africa is the mandatory promotion of hygienic habits, such as water filtration, boiling water, cooking food thoroughly, cleaning, cleaning clothes, and bathing, etc. The large and small details greatly protect the safety of East African citizens. Although there are many rules, after testing, these measures are very likely to really be effective.”

“I don’t know what the principle is, but for example, the measure of driving away mosquitoes seems to have greatly reduced the number of malaria cases in East Africa, even lower than some temperate regions and countries.”

“These are not things we can think of, but paying attention to hygiene can indeed effectively improve the quality of life, maybe only some lazy people don’t like it.”

Claire chatted with his team members. For the next two or three weeks, they would stay in Rowenard Village, because after they entered the village, they also belonged to possible infected people. After all, there are no testing instruments, so they can only rely on time to test whether they are safe, and they can only leave it to time.

Chapter 552: The Past

No one was supervising Claire and his group’s self-isolation. However, East Africa wasn’t worried about the people of Rovinaad Village running around. As a relatively underdeveloped area, the Nile Province not only had a small population, but its transportation was also very backward. Running around could very well lead to death.

Rovinaad Village only had one road leading to the city, and this road wasn’t even built by East Africa, but rather was originally made by the Black people themselves. One can imagine how poor the road conditions were. Of course, it’s not that East Africa didn’t want to build roads, but rather that Rovinaad Village was a new immigrant village, and East Africa hadn’t had time to take care of it yet.

There is a necessary prerequisite for building a road, and that is that the road is for people to walk on. Therefore, the area where Rovinaad Village is located originally had no inhabitants, so there was no need to build a road. It’s not like the road would be built for animals to walk on!

In fact, Rovinaad Village is not an isolated case. East Africa develops inland every year, and there are many newly built villages. These villages lack everything, including infrastructure such as roads.

Of course, there are some exceptions, such as being assigned next to an existing highway or railway. For example, many immigrants in Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe) live along both sides of the Central Railway.

“Seeing this place really makes me miss the days when I first arrived in East Africa, but the new immigrants have it much better than we did back then.” Claire said with emotion to his assistant while temporarily residing in Rovinaad Village.

The state of Rovinaad Village was very similar to the second place he stayed when he first came to East Africa. He landed in Mombasa, and later went to a village next to Kisumu. At that time, the conditions in East Africa were very poor. Even Mombasa wasn’t that great, only considered an unremarkable African port.

Now Mombasa is developed, and its infrastructure construction is better than most ports in the world. This is related to the development time of Mombasa. Mombasa’s development time was later, so the buildings are newer, the planning is more reasonable, and the infrastructure is more advanced.

Not to mention Mombasa, even Kisumu has developed very well. If only looking at urban construction, it is on par with many small and medium-sized cities in Europe. In short, eastern East Africa is no longer what it used to be.

It is difficult to find a model as backward as the original East Africa. These new immigrant settlements in the west are still possible, but these new immigrant settlements are in much better condition than when Claire first arrived in East Africa. This is because East Africa’s productivity has improved.

“Director, did you live in rooms like this when you first arrived in East Africa?” the assistant asked.

Claire shook his head and said, “The conditions in rural East Africa were worse than in Rovinaad Village back then, but overall there wasn’t much difference. How did you guys get from Mombasa to Kisumu? How long did it take?”

“Of course, we took the train, it took about three days!”

“You see, you now have railways and highways to choose from. Back then, I could only rely on walking. I stopped and went along the way, and it took a whole month to cover the same distance. After you arrived in Kisumu, you transferred to waterway and took a boat, right?” Claire asked rhetorically.

“Of course.”

“You see, the immigrants at that time didn’t have this benefit. They could only continue inland along the shores of the Great Lakes. Fortunately, I was assigned early and stopped near Kisumu. Later immigrants suffered even more than I did. Only a few were assigned to stay in the east, and most of the rest still had to fill the interior.”

Claire continued with a sigh, “Especially when there were no railways, I can’t imagine how much suffering the people of Hohenzollern Province and Swabia Province (Zambia and southern Congo) endured on the road at that time. That was a journey of thousands of kilometers at every turn.”

In fact, it wasn’t as exaggerated as Claire said. Although later immigrants spent more time traveling inland, the coastal areas had already been developed by then and could provide supplies, which made East Africa’s immigration cause much more convenient.

Although Claire only said a few simple sentences, the assistant had already imagined how difficult the days in East Africa were back then.

Seeing him a little lost in thought, Claire smiled and said, “However, the more you experience East Africa’s rapid development, the more you can feel the development potential of this country. In the past, Europe’s descriptions of Africa were actually quite reasonable, but you newcomers haven’t experienced it. By the time you set foot on this land of East Africa, it has completely transformed.”

The assistant nodded in agreement and said, “Yes, Director, I arrived in East Africa in 1876. At that time, Mombasa was already quite prosperous. At that time, I felt that Mombasa was no different from those prosperous cities in Europe, and it was even more advanced and pleasing to the eye.”

This is inevitable. Every city in East Africa is reasonably designed and planned, so it avoids many of the shortcomings of European cities. This is most vividly reflected in urban architecture and roads.

Of course, East Africa’s cities also have their own shortcomings, that is, there are not many of them. In fact, this is also normal. Many administrative cities in East Africa are not cities in the strict sense. A true city must be an administrative city.

And when comparing East African cities with European cities, you certainly can’t compare administrative cities with European cities. An administrative city is a type of administrative district level. Even if it is just a village, if the East African government sets it as the seat of the administrative city government, then it can also be called a city.

The superior city of Rovinaad Village is such a situation. Of course, East Africa would not really be so poor as to really take a village as the seat of the city government. The seat of the superior city government of Rovinaad Village is a township. The total population of the city plus the attached villages is only more than four thousand people. This is also the current population situation of the Nile Province.

Claire said, “So the development of East Africa is changing with each passing day. Don’t look at Rovinaad Village as just a small village now. In the future, it may become the administrative center of the surrounding area. The lowest limit is also a township, because it is considered a relatively early developed village in the Nile Province, and I used to be in the east. When I was in the east, I saw many villages gradually develop into towns. Take the First Town City as an example. It was just an inconspicuous colonial stronghold at the beginning, but now it has directly become the capital.”

“The most typical example is Nairobi City, which was originally a wasteland, but now it has become the textile center of East Africa, with a population of hundreds of thousands.”

“There are many places that have made such a comeback. Rovinaad Village also has such potential, because it started relatively early in the Nile Province, and the Nile Province is so empty. You must know that the area of the Nile Province is larger than the area of many European countries, so Rovinaad Village has unlimited potential in the future.”

East Africa’s immigrant settlements do not like to gather together. For example, in the early colonial era, many cities in East Africa had already begun to develop, but they were distributed throughout what was then Tanganyika.

At that time, there was a consideration of land enclosure. Ernst’s city-encircling-the-countryside plan, or the immigrant-encircling-the-natives plan, was used to suppress the native forces while opening up territory for East Africa. This also dragged down the development of the two port cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, because limited resources were divided equally among more and more inland cities.

However, the benefits were later reflected. After the development of many inland cities and villages, a large amount of resources in turn helped the development of coastal cities, enabling East African coastal cities to participate in world trade and fuel the agricultural economic crisis last time.

Chapter 553: Utterly Impartial

The development of a port city cannot be separated from the strong support of its economic hinterland. Otherwise, no matter how superior the port conditions are, it will be difficult to have a better development ceiling.

For example, the Port of Maputo in Mozambique has quite good natural conditions. Maputo is located near the southern entrance of the Mozambique Channel, with a superior geographical location. Therefore, the Portuguese established a colonial stronghold in Maputo. Subsequently, with the development of history, Maputo gradually became the capital of Portuguese Mozambique.

However, this port city, which had been developed by the Portuguese for hundreds of years, was overtaken by the Port of New Hamburg in a very short period of time, and the gap quickly widened. Although Maputo and Natal are now receiving large investments, it is even more difficult to catch up.

Because the large-scale investment in New Hamburg Port by East Africa is definitely key, but relying on the southern section of the Central Railway, the economic hinterland of New Hamburg Port City includes South Frontier Province, Lorraine Province, Southern Matabeleland Province, and New Württemberg Province (formerly the Zulu Kingdom, Transvaal Republic, Southern Zimbabwe, Botswana, and British Bechuanaland).

The direct gap between these three ports is thus reflected. If Maputo does not merge into East Africa in the future, it can only be subservient to New Hamburg Port City.

Therefore, the development of port cities in East Africa is inseparable from the support of inland cities. Conversely, port cities also import necessary conditions for development such as funds, technology, and manpower to the inland.

Mutual support, this kind of overall social atmosphere, is something Ernst likes very much. As for interest disputes, there are not so many messy things in East Africa at present. After all, East Africa does provide an outlet for immigrants from Eurasia, basically meeting psychological expectations. As a big government country, the development of East African countries is inseparable from the guidance of the dictatorial and autocratic government led by Ernst.

This is in line with the requirements of the East African people. They can’t wait for the government to manage this and manage that, because before coming to East Africa, more than ninety percent of them were feudal peasants who scraped a living from the land, without their own opinions. If they were allowed to manage the country themselves, it would be chaotic for hundreds of years first, and it would probably take a long time to cultivate qualified talents for managing the country.

While Claire and others were self-isolating, the East African government was not really letting things drift. Grussegen City was also discussing the epidemic problem in Rowenad Village.

The total population of Grussegen City is more than one thousand three hundred people, with seven villages of various sizes below it. In fact, Grussegen City may be just a slightly larger village in this era, but Grussegen City has almost everything that other towns have.

Therefore, Claire, as the director of the city’s disease prevention and control center, can be regarded as holding a high position and wielding great power. Otherwise, he would not have come from the eastern to the western region to suffer a second time. He has seen the development of East Africa, so he is also very optimistic about the development potential of the west.

“Mayor, this is the letter sent back by Director Claire. We have disinfected the letter. Please read the specific content yourself.”

Morgwell, the mayor of Grussegen City, carefully read the letter sent back by Claire.

After a short while, he said, “Director Claire has said that the current situation in Rowenad Village is good, and there are no signs of the epidemic spreading. However, as a precaution, he will have to stay there for a while, so let us be prepared.”

“Mayor, should we seal off Rowenad Village?”

“There is no need to seal it off. If Rowenad Village really hadn’t been brought under control, that would be another matter. But now we have Director Claire’s guarantee, don’t we? He used to be very experienced in the east, so just trust his advice.”

However, Morgwell changed the subject and said, “Of course, we can’t do nothing. How about this, send two policemen to guard the road from Rowenad Village to the city. If someone really runs over here privately, we can notify the city in time.”

“Mayor, isn’t two people a bit too few?”

“I have naturally considered this point. Our city has a small population and insufficient police force. Moreover, we sent two police officers to Rowenad Village to direct things earlier. If we had enough personnel, I would definitely want to seal off Rowenad Village first. So, do as much as you are capable of. We can just send two people to monitor it.”

“Alas, that’s true. Our Grussegen City hasn’t been established for long, and we lack everything, especially population. It would be great if there were more people. So, it’s still you, Mayor, who is amazing, being able to lead our Grussegen City to flourish in this situation.”

“Stop flattering me. I know my own capabilities. My task is to follow the example and develop Grussegen City according to the model of other regions. As for you, I will remember your merits and punish your mistakes. If you really want to develop well in the future, put away your petty thoughts and honestly solve the problems of Grussegen City.”

“Mayor, you are right to criticize.”

“By the way, the issue of food and supplies for Rowenad Village cannot be ignored. The first batch of grain has not yet been harvested, and we still have to rely on the province to allocate it. Prepare the portion for Rowenad Village. As the saying goes, with food in hand, one’s heart is at ease. Now that the people in Rowenad Village are settled, continue to let them stay in the village honestly.”

“Send it directly to Rowenad Village?”

“Wasn’t a material receiving station designed in the beginning? Pack your things well, and don’t let wild animals run off with them.”

East Africa can be considered to have become a doctor after a long illness. They are quite experienced in dealing with epidemics. The material receiving station was designed in advance. In fact, it is a small house in the middle of Rowenad Village and Grussegen City. It is usually not used, but it is used when there is an epidemic.

“By the way, remember to do a good job of disinfection every time you go, especially at the material receiving station. You can’t be careless.”

“Understood, Mayor. Are there any other instructions?”

Morgwell thought carefully, and he really remembered one thing. He said, “I almost forgot. Director Claire mentioned in his letter earlier that the cause of this epidemic is likely to be caused by hunting and eating wild animals. These people really don’t listen. We told them before that East African animals cannot be disposed of at will. Now it’s good, they lost their lives and left us with a mess.”

“That’s right, they really don’t take the government’s words seriously. When they encounter problems, we still have to deal with them in the end.” The subordinate hurriedly followed Morgwell’s words.

“Well, this shows that our publicity work is not in place. Otherwise, this incident could have been avoided with a high degree of probability. How about this, since this kind of thing happened in Rowenad Village, we will take Rowenad Village as a typical example and carry out a publicity and education campaign throughout the city, so that they know that no regulation is set casually without a reason. Without rules, there can be no order.”

“Yes, Mayor. But should the other villages below also be arranged like this?”

“Yes, except for Rowenad Village, all other villages that belong to our city must carry out this education. As for Rowenad Village, I believe that they will have the deepest feelings after this lesson. A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit, is more useful than any education.”

Morgwell thought for a while and then said, “Also, report the work to the province after this epidemic is over. Whatever there is, write whatever there is. Don’t think about fooling around. We just need to do our own work.”

“This…”

“I’m not worried, what are you afraid of? Even if there is a problem, I am the first person responsible. Furthermore, the cause of this epidemic is not necessarily due to errors in our work. Our follow-up work is also in place.”

“Mayor, you are truly utterly impartial…”

Chapter 554: The Eastern Jewish Conflict Behind the Scenes

Mogville had no time to listen to such flattery; he had too many things to do. After all, Grussegen City was a new district, and there were too many problems to solve.

After two months of preparation, the East African Navy finally had its supplies ready and was preparing to set sail for the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

“Father-in-law, why do you have to go to sea yourself this time? You have so many people under you now. There’s no need to do everything yourself. The sea is dangerous. What if something happens to you? I won’t be able to explain it to Carina!”

“That’s right, Father, listen to Ernst and stay here. You are the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, so you should stay in the homeland to oversee things. The Southern Ryukyu Islands are not that important. There’s no need for you to make a trip yourself. Besides, Mom and I both want you to be safe and sound,” Carina said, acting spoiled.

“Uh… I just saw that Ernst seemed to attach great importance to the Southern Ryukyu Islands, so I decided to personally help him with the trip.”

As soon as Archduke Ferdinand finished speaking, Carina glared “fiercely” at her husband. It’s all your fault!

Ernst quickly shirked responsibility, saying, “Father-in-law, you can’t wrong me. Who said I attach great importance to the Southern Ryukyu Islands? These islands are just icing on the cake for me. It’s not like I can’t live without them. I wouldn’t even bat an eye if they disappeared tomorrow.”

Ferdinand looked at Ernst suspiciously and said, “If you don’t value them, why prepare so many supplies, and even a few heavy cannons, just for a few worthless islands? Even Mayotte (one of the Comoros Islands, East African territory) didn’t get this treatment back then, did it?”

Ernst said, “Hey, just because of these things, you’re judging that I value the Southern Ryukyu Islands?”

“Isn’t that so? The weapons and supplies you’ve prepared clearly indicate that you plan to hold the Southern Ryukyu Islands for a long time, and the level of equipment is quite high. Even the Lanfang Overseas Province doesn’t have this kind of treatment,” Ferdinand retorted.

“Father-in-law, actually, this is a misunderstanding. The reason I prepared so many things for the Southern Ryukyu Islands has nothing to do with whether the Southern Ryukyu Islands are important or not. Turning the Southern Ryukyu Islands into an East African forward base in the Pacific is just a side effect.”

Ferdinand looked disbelieving. Who are you trying to fool? Whether you value something or not depends on your actions. Even if Ernst really doesn’t value them, the Far Eastern Empire and Japan, who have ideas about the Southern Ryukyu Islands, will definitely think Ernst values them. With warships and garrisons, if you don’t value them, who are you trying to fool!

“Sigh, Father-in-law, don’t give me that look. I’m really not trying to fool you. The Southern Ryukyu Islands are just a dispensable point on my strategic map. They are so far away from East Africa, and they have no economic value at all. They don’t have much strategic value for us either. After all, that location is just asking for trouble for ourselves. It’s a thankless task.”

“You also know it’s a thankless task, which further proves that you have ideas about the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Just like East Africa, colonizing East Africa was also a thankless task back then, but you still did it, didn’t you? Now that East Africa is developing so rapidly, you’ve made a huge profit.”

“How can the Southern Ryukyu Islands be compared to East Africa? The two are not on the same level at all. There’s too much difference between them. Just the area of East Africa alone is more than ten million square kilometers. Even if it’s all bad land, it’s still valuable. Just digging up some minerals will basically pay for itself. The Southern Ryukyu Islands have nothing. Land, population, resources, economy, military value… nothing that makes people look at them highly.”

Archduke Ferdinand said, “If that’s what you say, why are you still stationing troops in the Southern Ryukyu Islands? It’s almost more than in the Lanfang Overseas Province.”

“Father-in-law, I’m stationing troops in the Southern Ryukyu Islands to guard against petty people. Although the Southern Ryukyu Islands have no value, since I’ve already taken them, I can’t just let them go. It’s like I have a piece of cake in my hand, but I eat so much meat and fish every day that I don’t need this piece of cake. But now there’s a beggar who wants to eat this piece of cake. I can give up this piece of cake, but he can’t steal it. Otherwise, I’ll knock his teeth out.”

Archduke Ferdinand stared at his son-in-law with a suspicious look. “The petty person and beggar you’re talking about wouldn’t be Japan, would they?”

“Hehehe, Father-in-law, you know me best.”

“Why do you have such an attitude towards Japan?” Archduke Ferdinand asked. In fact, Carina also wanted to know.

The two of them actually had a good impression of Japan. This was actually a misunderstanding, which was loving the house and its crow. Everyone in East Africa knew that the Crown Prince was friendly to the Far East, and that naturally included the Germans in East Africa.

The Far East is a geographical term in Europe, and the concept is very broad. This Far East naturally includes the Far Eastern Empire, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. As for Mongolia, one of the five countries of East Asia, it is still territory of the Far Eastern Empire. With Ernst stirring things up, no one knows what will happen in the future.

“Japan’s character is very extreme. Don’t think they’re hiding it well now. In fact, they’re full of bad intentions. The Far Eastern Empire should feel this the most deeply. In short, they are a treacherous nation, comparable to the Jews. However, the Japanese methods are different from the Jews, but they achieve the same goal by different routes.”

Ernst explained to his wife and father-in-law. This statement was very vicious. In this era, the Jews’ reputation was not exactly hated by everyone, but it was certainly infamous, unlike in his previous life when Europe and America were like lapdogs in front of Jewish power. But it’s understandable. The Jews have the support of the United States and control world opinion. The power of opinion in “democratic” countries is self-evident, as it is related to power.

In capitalist countries, the industries that Jews engage in allow them to maximize their influence and power, because they represent the most powerful capital groups in Europe and America, and they are multinational organizations. But this doesn’t work in the Arab world and the Far Eastern Empire. If they tried that, the local forces would beat the Jews to a pulp.

Europeans dug their own graves, just like the Far Eastern Empire emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce. Europeans were the same, so Jews could only engage in industries that European nobles previously looked down upon, which was commerce.

When the capitalist era arrived and commerce developed, the power of the Jews naturally expanded, and the more free and democratic a country was, the more it could not escape the control of the Jews.

Ernst, as a reborn person, was actually one of the obstacles to the Jewish consortium, because Ernst himself was also engaged in commerce. The rise of the Hechingen Consortium directly poked the Rothschild family’s nest in the German region.

The Rothschild family could do nothing about the Hechingen Consortium, because Ernst himself was also part of the German aristocratic class. With Ernst, one of their own, restraining the Jews in the financial field, the German nobles were happy to see it happen. The German nobles focused on controlling the military, so they were more dependent on the support of Jewish consortia, but they looked down on the Jews.

Although Ernst could not completely eliminate the Jewish consortium, the nobles, as the ruling class, were naturally happy to see him restrain the Jewish consortium.

Of course, this was only in the German region. The Jews’ main base was now in Britain and America. As for the German attitude towards the Jews, Adolf had already given the conclusion in his previous life.

Japan’s industrial and commercial capital came from Britain, and a large part of Britain’s capital came from Jewish merchants. Therefore, the conflict between East and Japan inevitably had Jews playing an important role behind the scenes.

And not only in Japan, but also in the Far Eastern Empire. The competition between East African and Jewish capital also existed in the Far Eastern Empire, but East Africa and the Far Eastern Empire were in a semi-cooperative relationship, and they focused on investing in the industrial field. Jewish capital in the Far East mainly relied on the national power of Britain, competing with German merchant groups and trading companies such as HSBC, especially in the financial field. Hechingen Bank was a direct competitor to other trading companies.

Ernst looked down on the Qing government, but there was one thing that Ernst still appreciated about the Qing government’s thinking, which was that the Qing government valued industry, especially investment in heavy industry and military industry. This was much better than the democratic government in his previous life, which was willing to act as a comprador, destroying national capital and industry.

Although the Qing government collapsed due to incompetence, it did leave some assets, especially the military industry, unlike some governments that took the national treasury and all foreign exchange before they died, using the savings of four hundred million people for decades to develop a small place that was not as good as Japan and South Korea. Ernst would definitely spit on such a government a few times.

Chapter 555: Humiliation

“Alright, everyone, now that we’ve rounded you all up, you can go back to Japan!”

On the beaches of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, over one hundred and thirty Japanese residents, identified by East Africa, were gathered together by the East African Army. The East African Army, with an air of arrogance, announced their handling of these Japanese people, displaying the arrogance of Western countries to the fullest.

“Officer! We are law-abiding citizens!”

“I don’t care if you’re law-abiding or not. This is the decision of the East African government. If you don’t like it, go feed the fish in the ocean!”

The words of the East African Army turned the faces of the Japanese residents purple with anger.

“Baka yarou, this is outrageous…” A Japanese man dressed as a samurai made a gesture to draw the samurai sword from his waist.

“Bang.”

After a gunshot, all the Japanese people became quiet.

“Heh, I’d like to see who’s so thick-headed that they want to test if our guns are fast enough.”

Ogawa Masaru, the intelligence chief in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, cursed “idiot” inwardly, and stepped forward with a shriveled smile that was more like a grimace.

“May I ask how to address you, sir?”

“Christian.”

“Mr. Christian, we have lived here for a long time. You can’t just drive us back because we are Japanese, right? That’s unreasonable! Moreover, there are Qing people on the island, why don’t you drive them away? This is discrimination,” Ogawa Masaru provoked.

“Hmm, who are you?”

“I am Ogawa Masaru, a merchant of the Great Japanese Empire.”

“You can also speak Chinese?”

“As a merchant, it is normal to speak multiple languages, because most of the people who come and go to the Sakishima Islands are Chinese merchants, so it is normal to know some Chinese.”

“Hmm, you also speak Hokkien. It seems you are indeed good at business. You must have earned a lot, right?”

While saying this, the East African officer, Christian, had already judged Ogawa Masaru as an illegal element who sold stolen goods for pirates. Of course, this would definitely be illegal in East Africa, but in Ryukyu, it remained to be seen.

“Haha, how is that possible? There is no big business in the Sakishima Islands. We usually just make ends meet.”

Hearing the term “Sakishima Islands” again, the East African officer Christian’s voice suddenly rose a lot: “Hmm, what Sakishima Islands? It’s the Southern Ryukyu Islands! You better pay attention, this is our official East African name.”

This made Ogawa Masaru’s teeth itch with hatred. He thought to himself that Christian had better not fall into his hands, otherwise he would definitely let him know what it meant to live worse than death.

But he still forced a smile and said, “Okay, Southern Ryukyu Islands it is.”

The situation was stronger than him, so he had to be pragmatic.

Christian: “You just asked why we treat the Japanese differently. I can answer this question properly. Because this place was originally the territory of the Far Eastern Empire, so naturally we don’t need to drive away these locals.”

Christian’s words made Ogawa Masaru’s eyes darken. This sentence clearly defined the relationship between the Southern Ryukyu Islands and Japan. Of course, it could also be regarded as East Africa denying Japan’s so-called ownership of the Sakishima Islands. Coupled with East Africa’s previous humiliation and contempt for Japan, Ogawa Masaru felt a deep sense of humiliation.

“Sir, the Southern Ryukyu Islands were originally the territory of the Ryukyu Kingdom. How can they be considered the territory of the Far Eastern Empire? These are two different things.”

“Then where are the people of the Ryukyu Kingdom? I heard that the Ryukyu Kingdom seems to have been destroyed by your government! Furthermore, the Ryukyu Kingdom was also a vassal state of the Far Eastern Empire, so naturally it is also the territory of the Far Eastern Empire.”

“Even assuming that the Sakishima Islands are the territory of the Far Eastern Empire, what does it have to do with your country?” Ogawa Masaru questioned, trying to suppress the anger in his heart.

“Of course it has something to do with us, because the Far Eastern Empire has transferred the administrative rights of the Southern Ryukyu Islands to East Africa, so now the jurisdiction of the Southern Ryukyu Islands is in the hands of East Africa.”

Good! Christian’s explanation made Ogawa Masaru even more angry. This was not a transfer of administrative rights at all, but a situation where the Far Eastern Empire was forced by East Africa’s coercion and inducement to give the Southern Ryukyu Islands to East Africa as a colony.

A good move to divert the trouble eastward, Ogawa Masaru thought to himself. But this also made him feel more unbalanced, because last year Japan and the Far Eastern Empire proposed a division of the Ryukyu Islands, but the Far Eastern Empire did not accept it.

Ogawa Masaru admitted that the Japanese side had not yet digested the central and northern parts of the Ryukyu Islands, and the so-called division was just a delaying tactic. As a result, now that East Africa had taken over the Southern Ryukyu Islands, it would be difficult for Japan to pay attention to the Southern Ryukyu Islands again.

Although East Africa is not a European country, it is a country established by Germans. He knows too well what kind of virtue these Westerners have.

It is hard for anyone to be willing to have the fat meat at their mouth suddenly snatched away by a country stronger than themselves. In fact, the Far Eastern Empire is also very powerful, but the Japanese are not afraid because they know too much about the Far East.

East Africa is different. East Africa is also a newly emerging country, and its naval strength is strong. At the same time, it is a German country and has close relations with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. No matter how you look at it, it is not easy to mess with. East Africa is indeed not easy to mess with in Africa, but it is a bit lacking overseas, and Africa’s strength in various continents is only one level stronger than the desolate Oceania and the penguins’ Antarctica.

Although Africa is weak, it does not mean that East Africa is weak, but Africa’s overall strength is the upper limit of East Africa, and the two are in a relationship of inclusion and being included.

“Very well, Mr. Christian, I think we will meet again soon!” Ogawa Masaru said.

Ogawa Masaru believed that the Empire would not give up the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and East Africa was so far away from the Southern Ryukyu Islands, so the Japanese government still had room to maneuver. Therefore, he believed that it would not be long before he could return.

“Oh, is that so! But I hope you can return to Japan safely first,” Christian said indifferently.

“Hehe, thank you for your kind words.”

……

Ogawa Masaru did not return to Japan, but went to the Northern Ryukyu Islands to report the fact that East Africa had invaded and occupied the Southern Ryukyu Islands to the Okinawa Prefectural Government, and embellished the description of East Africa’s humiliation of the “Great” Japanese Empire.

Soon this information was sent back to Japan, arousing the indignation of the Japanese government. The pirate chieftain emperor was furious, and the military department demanded with righteous indignation that East Africa be expelled by force. Some people also opposed, saying that Japan should not offend Western countries now, but should endure it first and then find a way to get back at them in the future.

The two sides argued endlessly, and finally decided to adopt the old method, first protesting to the East African government, and at the same time the navy would blockade the Southern Ryukyu Islands, forcing the East Africans to submit and voluntarily withdraw from the Southern Ryukyu Islands without causing major casualties.

As for going to war with East Africa, or causing major casualties, these are things that Japan does not dare to do at present, because Japan’s strength is really not good now, and it cannot even raise enough steel to build warships. How can it compete with East Africa, which ranks among the top ten in the world in naval strength?

As for winning by being weak, the possibility is too small. The current Japanese navy has finally saved a little fortune, and it does not dare to gamble.

However, if the naval strength is weak, civilian ships can be used to feign collisions. Japan’s civilian shipbuilding industry is relatively prosperous. The quality of the large and small ships cannot be guaranteed, but there are enough of them. Ants can kill elephants if there are enough of them. Of course, Japan’s purpose is to interfere with East Africa’s rule over the Southern Ryukyu Islands and add to their colonization costs. It is a fantasy to really want to bite the East African navy to death.

Chapter 556: Spitting Blood from Anger

The Japanese government were people of action. Once they decided to make trouble for East Africa, they prepared to implement their plan. However, considering the disparity between the two countries, they had to use subtle means to force East Africa to compromise.

East African Embassy in Edo.

“Envoy Kade, from this moment on, I, representing the government of the Great Japanese Empire, express my stern protest against your country’s encroachment upon our southern territory. Your country’s actions constitute an illegal occupation of the territory of the Great Japanese Empire, a serious violation of international morality, and are condemned by the international community.”

Kade was not afraid at all: “Hehe, protest if you like. However, I think your Japanese government is overreacting. After all, the Southern Ryukyu Islands are a transaction between us and the Far East Empire. What does it have to do with you, these small island nations?”

Kade emphasized the words “small island nations.” To mention the Great Japanese Empire in front of him! How big was it? Russia, America, East Africa, with such vast territories, none of them called themselves “great.” On the contrary, these small countries, obsessed with face, had to add the word “great,” only to become a laughingstock.

Kade’s few words infuriated the Japanese diplomat. This made him even more convinced of what Obara had said before. However, he was used to it. White people had always been arrogant. Otherwise, Japan wouldn’t have shamelessly pursued “leaving Asia and joining Europe,” which was, in fact, envying this feeling and wishing to replace it.

Other white people said even harsher things! For example, the Japanese were often ridiculed by white people for their short stature. Therefore, East Africa’s verbal humiliation didn’t bother him much.

Of course, this was just a Japanese diplomat. If it were other Japanese, they would probably have drawn their swords and fought Kade to the death. When it came to humiliation, the Japanese were willing to risk their lives.

“Your Excellency, Envoy, matters concerning territory cannot be taken lightly. Moreover, the entire Okinawa Islands have been our Japanese territory since ancient times…”

Before he could finish speaking, Kade said, “That’s just right. The Okinawa Islands are your territory, we acknowledge that. However, our East African maps only show the Ryukyu Islands. The Ryukyu Islands and the Okinawa Islands are not related, so you should stop making trouble unreasonably.”

Kade’s ability to infuriate people was definitely top-notch. He was pretending to be ignorant while fully understanding. However, diplomacy was originally about verbal dexterity. Sometimes, sophistry was a good tactic.

“You…” The Japanese diplomat almost couldn’t catch his breath. The East African diplomats were truly vulgar and lacked any cultural refinement. In all his years, he had never seen such a brazen person.

He was actually right. The East African diplomats were indeed like this because East Africa lacked professional diplomatic personnel. East Africa’s own diplomatic talents were still studying in Austria!

Suppressing the anger in his heart, the Japanese official said, “Your country has repeatedly provoked the Great Japanese Empire. Are you not afraid of harming the relations between our two countries? There are no small matters in diplomacy, so I can tolerate it for now. But if you continue to make things difficult, don’t regret it.”

Kade found it somewhat interesting. He said, “Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare. I only hope that Your Excellency can act impartially and not delay your country’s interests. A dispute between two countries is not beneficial to either side and will only benefit a third party.”

Hearing the Japanese official say this, Kade lost his desire to continue teasing him because this person was impervious to reason and not fun to provoke. So he became serious, completely different from before, and actually looked like a diplomat.

“You said you hope I act impartially. Good, then let’s discuss the principles carefully and see who is in the wrong. How about it?”

“That would be excellent. If my side is not justified, then the matter of the Sakishima Islands and Japan… I will have nothing to do with it!”

The Japanese played a trick here, saying “I” instead of the Japanese government. If he really fell into East Africa’s trap due to his own words and actions, then he would be a sinner of Japan. But using “I” was different. If something happened, he could bear it alone. At worst, he would commit seppuku to honor His Imperial Majesty and gain a reputation for integrity.

Kade had heard the unspoken words “Japanese government” just now. It seemed that this little Japanese had no sincerity. However, Kade didn’t mind talking to him anyway. It didn’t matter if they couldn’t reach an agreement.

“You said that the Southern Ryukyu Islands are your territory. What evidence do you have?”

“Your Excellency, the Ryukyu Islands have been the territory of our Great Japanese Empire since ancient times. This is verifiable. They originally paid tribute to our country and there are official letters to prove it.”

“Then bring the official letters for me to see?”

“This…” The Japanese official realized that he might not have checked the calendar before going out today, only to encounter this jinx, Kade. How unlucky! If only he had let his colleague do this job.

Regardless of whether the official letters of the Ryukyu Kingdom existed, he was sure that if he presented the official letters, Kade would dare to destroy the evidence in front of him. Based on his previous interactions, this German was a brute and most likely capable of doing such a thing.

At the same time, he severely despised the Germans in his heart. As expected, they were all uncivilized barbarians who only managed to become a powerful country by sheer luck. As for this East Africa, it was just a bunch of savages in Africa, which made him even more disgusted.

Europe was Europe, but even within Europe, there were different classes. Various countries looked down on each other. For example, France, which was the most powerful in the cultural field, used to be powerful militarily as well. In the eyes of the French, Prussia was a barbaric existence. And because of the cultural discourse, whoever France said was a barbarian was naturally a barbarian.

Actually, the Prussian barbarians were not so bad. Russia was simply expelled from Europe by the European Union. And there was the current gang of Vikings in Northern Europe, including England, in this category. Anyway, Europe also despised each other. France seemed impeccable, but other countries also poked at the French’s sore spot by belittling Napoleon’s lineage.

In the future, there might be rhetoric like “the last man in France” to insult France. This was led by the United States, and the reason why the United States belittled France was nothing more than a struggle for cultural discourse.

In this era, France was the top of culture. They set the standards for art. It was just that in the era of the survival of the fittest, cultural weapons were not so useful.

The Japanese official now agreed with the French’s judgment of Germany. In fact, Germany was implicated by East Africa, but East Africa was full of Germans, and Germany was the representative of the current German countries, so it was caught in the crossfire.

“Hehe, you can’t produce them, can you! Let alone whether the official letters are forged by you, we also have them. The Far East Empire has many official letters from the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it has been a fact for thousands of years. There is an ancient saying in the Far East Empire, ‘hide your head in the sand.’ Your Japanese government’s behavior is like that. And the most shameless thing is that you have already destroyed their country, and you still have the nerve to mention official letters. I have never seen such a brazen and morally corrupt country. East Africa is ashamed to be associated with such a country. It would make us a laughingstock in the international community…”

“You, you… Pfft…” Attacked by Kade’s barrage of words, the Japanese diplomat spat blood directly and fainted.

Chapter 557: Shadows in Edo

The Japanese diplomat went in standing up straight, but came out horizontally, and was immediately sent to the hospital. At this moment, Carde was still unaware of the trouble he had caused, because he couldn’t imagine how crazy these Japanese, who usually bowed and scraped before him, could be.

“Damn Germans! Did they hit someone? Why was Lord Tsuruta Ichiro carried out?”

“It must have been the Germans who laid hands on Lord Tsuruta Ichiro. Lord Tsuruta Ichiro is usually very healthy, but he suffered an accident at the East African embassy. There must be something fishy about this.”

“We must seek justice for Tsuruta Ichiro. We can’t let this go.”

“Bakayaro! This is too much! Damn Germans…”

The Japanese rabble outside the East African embassy in Edo started endlessly speculating about being victimized, believing that East Africa must have bullied Kuroda Ichiro.

This was actually understandable, because the news of East Africa “occupying” the “Sakishima Islands” had already been published in Edo’s newspapers, which was undoubtedly a great blow to the “self-esteem” of the Japanese rabble.

Of course, while there were indignant Japanese rabble, there were also Japanese citizens who watched with cold eyes, especially some farmers who had come to Edo from the countryside to make a living. Compared to these Edo citizens who lived comfortably, or at least didn’t have to worry about filling their stomachs, national righteousness had nothing to do with them. Some even gloated.

In any case, the Japanese outside the East African embassy had a variety of mindsets, but there were quite a few who were truly extreme, after all, Japan’s current national education was quite extreme.

In the crowd, several people wearing hats carefully observed the emotions of the Edo people. They were hidden in the crowd, and looked no different from the Japanese. Of course, if they stood side by side, it would be immediately obvious that they were much taller.

“It seems you were right. The people of this country are too extreme, so we should act sooner rather than later.”

“Too many eyes and ears here. Let’s meet at the usual place tonight.”

Night.

After scouting the perimeter of the embassy and finding no one watching, the young men from the daytime entered the East African embassy.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Who is it?”

Awakened by the knocking, Carde became vigilant. He was wearing pajamas, and tiptoed to the drawer, opened it, and took out a pistol from inside, holding it behind his back.

He remembered that the embassy had been locked long ago. Someone suddenly knocking on the door now was clearly not a good person. Although there were other employees at the embassy, they had already gone to sleep or left work.

“Minister Carde, it’s us, friendlies.”

Hearing German made Carde relax a little, but the German was clearly not from his embassy staff.

“Who are you?”

“We are from the East African National Defense Security Bureau.”

Carde had heard of the East African National Defense Security Bureau, but didn’t know exactly what the department did. Because it was related to national defense, it was probably a subordinate department of the military.

It was only because Carde wasn’t in the military system that he wouldn’t think the East African National Defense Security Bureau had anything to do with the East African Defense Forces. He might even be very annoyed by this department flaunting the name of the Defense Forces to swindle and deceive.

The East African National Defense Security Bureau belonged to the secret front, so naturally it couldn’t put its business on display. In addition, the East African National Defense Security Bureau was established late, so it wasn’t well known.

Carde happened to know of this department’s existence, mainly because he had seen the department’s office once and asked about it casually, but no one knew the department’s functions.

Coupled with the deceptive nature of the word “national defense,” it was linked to things like military intelligence. The East African National Defense Security Bureau naturally also spied on military intelligence, but it had far more functions than the military’s intelligence department, and its business scope was very wide.

The British were still in Afghanistan, struggling and overwhelmed, and this was due in no small part to the East African National Defense Security Bureau stirring up trouble. Afghanistan was also living up to expectations. The regular army was indeed weak, but the irregular forces were fully armed, and had completely lost Britain’s face in the mountains of Afghanistan.

However, this matter hadn’t been made public. Not being able to eliminate even an Afghan local armed force, and in a colony that they had previously annexed, the British were keeping the news tightly under wraps. Only the Russians were very happy to take over the East African National Defense Security Bureau’s operation, adding fuel to the fire to have Afghanistan wear down the British.

The British wanted to cover up the news, but the Russians were right next to Afghanistan, so this matter couldn’t be hidden from the Russians. It just so happened that the Russians had suffered a setback in the Ottoman Empire, so misery loves company. The British shouldn’t think they could have it easy either, who told them that the Ottoman Empire had the British backing them up.

Of course, the prerequisite was that the East African National Defense Security Bureau had laid a good foundation in Afghanistan, giving the Afghans a stage to perform. Only if they had value would the Russians add fuel to the fire, otherwise they would be just like the Afghan puppet army, and any investment would be a complete loss.

The East African National Defense Security Bureau’s operations in Japan were much easier than in Afghanistan. For foreign intelligence work, the first thing to emphasize was appearance. Although East Africa couldn’t be as inclusive as the melting pot of races in South America, it had all sorts of faces.

Just like in his previous life, when Japan surveyed the terrain of the Far East and explored the human geography in detail, the East African National Defense Security Bureau was doing the same thing in Japan.

As for dealing with the Japanese government, white people had to come forward. In any case, it was difficult for the Japanese to tell which European country they were from. East Africa could make up whatever it wanted, especially small countries like Montenegro, which had never dealt with Japan. With the help of the East African National Defense Security Bureau, they even did some “business.” Even the Montenegrin Merchants Association in Japan was entirely staffed by East Africans.

East Africa’s understanding of Japan was quite complete, anyway. Among all countries, Japan’s branch performance was considered top-notch.

As for East Africa’s homeland, the German region, East Africa didn’t need to invest so many resources. Ernst himself could solve a lot of the intelligence on Germany and Austria-Hungary. This was thanks to the relationships between nobles. East Africa mainly obtained commercial intelligence in Germany, after all, the Hohenzollern Consortium needed the help of the German region to develop.

After checking the documents, Carde’s suspicion lessened a lot.

“I don’t know, what is the purpose of your National Defense Security Bureau’s visit in the middle of the night? And without my permission, isn’t that too much?”

“Minister Carde, you’re overthinking it. Although we are different departments, we are both overseas, and mutual support is still very necessary. We came here today to remind you that Japanese public sentiment is very unfriendly to East Africa. You’d better make plans early, and it would be best to strengthen your armed forces.”

“Hmm! You mean the Japanese dare to come to our door to provoke us?”

“That’s hard to say. The Japanese have had cases of storming the British embassy before. This conflict between East Africa and Japan may be more intense than last time, after all, it involves land…”

“This, they shouldn’t dare, right?”

“That’s hard to say. Their government may not dare, but the courage of civilian forces is still very great, and the Japanese may also push out someone to take responsibility, completely absolving themselves of responsibility.”

“I will consider what you said, but I still need to communicate with the homeland.”

“Understood.”

The National Defense Security Bureau was just a brother department, after all, it couldn’t control the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so it was just giving Carde a reminder. If something really happened, the National Defense Security Bureau couldn’t be blamed.

Chapter 558: Shifting the Blame

Kade still listened to the advice of the East African National Security Bureau, because the reply he received from the homeland was to pay attention to safety. This sentence was just for his reference and leaned towards the judgment of the National Security Bureau.

Kade tapped the table with his hand, thought for a moment, and felt it was better to be cautious. He called his assistant, “Yuri, go recruit some mercenaries. We need to strengthen the security of the embassy. Remember, no locals!”

“Mr. Kade, do you mean anyone except the Japanese is okay?”

“Yes, but be strict in your selection. Don’t let them collapse when faced with a big scene. You can pay them a higher salary in the short term.”

“No problem, just wait for my good news!” Yuri said, and then went to the dock to see if there were any sailors who wanted to earn extra money.

While East Africa was strengthening the security of its embassy, someone really wanted to cause trouble for the East African embassy, but it wasn’t the Japanese government, but a group of young students.

“Matsushita-kun, those Germans have gone too far this time, bullying us with their power. We must retaliate!” Higashihonda Den’ya said through gritted teeth.

“Higashihonda Den’ya-kun, don’t let hatred blind you. The East African matter will naturally be resolved by the government. We are just a group of students, so it’s better not to cause trouble for the country, and don’t make things difficult for Matsushita-kun.” Kuni Nitojo, a member of the group, said rationally.

“Kuni Nitojo, you bastard, are you scared by the Germans? You’re really losing face for our Great Japanese Empire. A true samurai should not lose his dignity and should be willing to sacrifice himself for the empire.”

“Heh, you brainless brute, are you planning to storm the East African embassy? Your life is yours to throw away, but do you know how much trouble it will cause the empire if East Africa pursues the matter later!”

“The government is full of mediocre talents. Have you forgotten that your father’s position was replaced by a noble’s family member some time ago? These people are in power to cause trouble for the Great Japanese Empire and His Majesty the Emperor. So, in my opinion, they are the biggest cancer in all of Japan. Therefore, relying on the government is not as good as our Third High Self-Study Society waking up the sleeping citizens.”

The two were at a stalemate. At this time, the president of the Edo Third High Self-Study Society, Matsushita, slammed the table hard and said sternly, “Enough! Do you still have me as your president in your eyes? If you want to argue, go outside and argue. Don’t disgrace our Edo Men’s Third High School Self-Help Research Club.”

Seeing the president get angry, the two stopped and looked at each other unhappily, then said to the president, “Sorry for the trouble.”

Matsushita looked at his subordinates’ performance with satisfaction, and then opened his mouth and said, “The humiliation that the Germans have inflicted on our Great Japanese Empire this time cannot be easily dismissed. They must pay the price, especially since this matter concerns the ownership of the Sakishima Islands!”

Matsushita’s words made Higashihonda Den’ya, who advocated causing trouble for East Africa, very proud. He glanced at Kuni Nitojo arrogantly, as if he had won.

Matsushita naturally saw this in his eyes. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, very satisfied. Then he changed the subject and said, “Of course, what Kuni Nitojo-kun said also makes sense. As the saying goes, if you’re not in the position, you don’t make plans for it. We are all middle school students, so we should naturally focus on our studies, and political matters should be left to the country.”

Hearing this, Kuni Nitojo also felt satisfied, but this was equivalent to repeating what the two had said before, and the problem was still not resolved.

“President, what do you think we should do?”

Matsushita: “Of course, we should participate. Whether from the perspective of the country or the individual, I think this is an opportunity. Of course, we must pay attention to methods. We can’t be the ones to take the lead. We should find a scapegoat.”

“President, what do you mean by this? Does patriotism need a scapegoat?”

“Idiot! Our identities are humble. If we take the lead, we might succeed, but who will protect us? And Higashihonda Den’ya-kun, I understand your little thoughts. It’s nothing more than fame and fortune. There’s nothing shameful about that. If you can succeed in this operation, you can indeed become a respected person throughout Japan, but the premise is that you can bear the consequences.”

After pouring himself a cup of tea, Matsushita continued, “We can give this opportunity to First High, but we can’t let our people instigate it. We have to let the people from Second High do it. In the end, no matter who takes the lead, we have to support them. The first position has great benefits, but the risk is also the highest. The second position has the risk of being implicated. The third position can both profit and become famous, and at the same time, the government cannot pursue it.”

…

An Edo student movement was thus launched.

Under the leadership of Edo City First High, students from more than a dozen middle schools marched outside the East African embassy.

“Resist the invaders, get out of Japan!”

“East Africans, get out!”

“Resist…” They originally wanted to say German goods, but it seemed that East Africa was not Germany, but East Africa didn’t seem to have any products exported to Japan.

East Africa exported many goods to Japan, but ordinary people couldn’t access them, or they wouldn’t recognize them even if they did, such as rice. In this era, it was still mainly sold in bulk, buying as much as you weighed. The labels in the rice stores wouldn’t say East African rice, they were all sold directly as tropical rice.

Kade looked angrily at the Edo students holding banners and protest signs outside the gate and asked the people behind him, “What are the Japanese police doing? How can they allow these troublemakers to make trouble in the embassy area!”

The embassy area where the East African embassy was located was not just the East African embassy, but also the embassies of other countries. The Japanese government was obviously playing with fire. If an accident happened, it would offend people.

More and more people gathered, and the entire street where the embassy was located began to be overcrowded. The large iron gate of the East African embassy creaked.

“Quickly find someone to hold it up, don’t let them break the gate! And the security department, if anyone breaks in, beat them hard! You must stop them.”

The embassies of other countries on the street seemed to be watching a good show, because the banners that the Edo students had previously made had already targeted East Africa, so they didn’t want to interfere.

In a corner, the people from the East African National Security Bureau had already begun to distribute the action.

“This is a good opportunity. We will go in and instigate the crowd later, but don’t use the East African flag. Many people are here to join in the fun. You have to arouse the emotions of these people and then lead them to the embassies of various countries. Don’t target the students. It’s best to target those illiterate people who don’t recognize the flags of various countries. Be smart, and if you see something wrong, evacuate quickly. Don’t really get yourself trapped!”

Afterwards, the people from the National Security Bureau squeezed into the crowd with difficulty. Karl came to an embassy. Now the entire street was crowded and chaotic. At this time, Karl found himself squeezed in front of the British embassy, and the gate of the British embassy had already been closed.

It seemed there was no chance. They had a similar experience last time, so it seemed they had experience. Karl could only continue to look for a target.

“Huh?” Karl found that the door of the Russian embassy was open. At this time, he also found his teammate. The two looked at each other.

“It’s here, everyone rush in! Tenno Heika Banzai!” Karl shouted.

“What?” The passersby didn’t know what was going on and were pushed forward by Karl, who was mixed in the crowd. Now it was a situation of people pushing people, and everyone didn’t know who was pushing them.

But with the blessing of “Tenno Heika Banzai!”, the Japanese people didn’t want to use their brains at all. Many people didn’t recognize any national flags at all. After all, this era was not the later generations.

Under the planning of the East African National Security Bureau, a large number of ignorant people were pushed into the Tsarist Russian embassy. At this time, the people behind also came in.

If you have experience in queuing, you will instinctively follow the people in front of you. In addition, the East African National Security Bureau deliberately misled people loudly, and many people were guided into the Tsarist Russian embassy, which stunned the melon-eating Tsarist Russian staff.

But it was too late. The blind crowd didn’t know what to do after entering the Tsarist Russian embassy. Some people simply started petty theft. With the leadership of these people, others became bolder and began to steal things in the Tsarist Russian embassy.

With so many people, it was difficult for the police to find the thieves, so the angry Edo people began to act recklessly in the Tsarist Russian embassy. Some people took the opportunity to kick the Tsarist Russian staff. These were white people, so the Russians who were attacked in the chaos were beaten half to death.

Chapter 559: Framing

The national sentiment in Japan was running wild. They were burning, looting, and smashing – all the means short of murder were being employed. Originally, they intended to use these tactics on East Africa, but unfortunately, the East African National Security Bureau led them astray. The East African National Security Bureau retreated immediately after causing trouble, as being caught on the spot would have been disastrous.

“Bang.”

The bustling Russian embassy instantly fell silent, everyone stunned.

A gunshot rang out, and a soldier from the Russian embassy had fired, killing a Japanese rioter on the spot. This incident could no longer be resolved peacefully.

“You bunch of thugs! We will demand an explanation from your Emperor! This is an insult to the great Russia!”

But before he could finish speaking, the Japanese became even angrier. “The Germans are killing people! The Germans are killing people!” Of course, some were shouting that the Russians were killing people, but the former cry was much louder. They had completely confused the two.

Meanwhile, the crowd outside the East African embassy, mainly the students, were bewildered. They had also heard the gunshot and the cry of “The Germans are killing people!” But the East African embassy’s gates hadn’t opened. How were the Germans killing people?

Of course, no one said that Germans had to be East Africans, nor did anyone say that Germans had to stay inside the embassy.

Hearing the gunshot, many people went towards the sound. Intense curiosity drove them, and although there was potential danger, it didn’t scare the Japanese. If no one stopped them, naturally some would push forward to see what was happening.

Here, the Japanese police who had disappeared from the streets were to blame. The embassy district could be considered important, so security was usually good. But today, the police had disappeared.

The Japanese police hadn’t disappeared without a reason. They had been waiting for the right moment. When the gunshot rang out in the embassy district, some knew that things had escalated.

At this moment, Japanese police officers came rushing from all directions to evacuate the crowds from the embassy district. As the police arrived, the agents of the East African National Security Bureau brushed past them.

“Clear out, all non-essential personnel! Don’t stand around causing trouble!”

The crowded conditions made it difficult for the Japanese police to enter the scene, so they had to clear some of the people from the perimeter first.

At the same time, they also wanted to know what was happening inside the embassy district. If East Africans had killed Japanese citizens, that would be perfect. Then the international opinion would lean in Japan’s favor.

Of course, these Japanese police officers weren’t privy to that level of planning. But they had been suddenly transferred away in the morning, and they had a feeling that something big was going to happen today – that the higher-ups were planning something!

Under the Japanese police’s baton education, naturally no one dared to cause trouble. When they reached the core of the conflict, they were dumbfounded.

“This… this is the Russian embassy?” one officer asked uncertainly.

At this moment, the Russian embassy was a mess. Glass shards were scattered everywhere, and tables and sofas were in disarray. Some had wanted to move things, but they couldn’t squeeze through the crowd, so they simply grabbed small items to make their escape easier. Furniture was overturned, the floor was covered in footprints, and even the walls were blackened by fire set by someone.

And most importantly, a group of injured people were lying or sitting inside the embassy. A Japanese corpse lay in the hall, a bullet hole clearly visible in its chest.

“What happened here?” The Japanese police were somewhat stunned. Suddenly, he realized something was wrong!

“Quick, don’t let them escape! Arrest everyone!”

“Sir, arrest who?”

“Of course, the troublemakers! Someone is dead now, and it’s a Russian. This is a big deal!”

“There were too many people just now! Unless we block off the entire street, and even then, many people have probably already run away. We don’t have enough manpower.”

The Japanese police officer, who was called “Chief,” said with a grim face, “Get me the manpower to block off the entire street! Arrest as many as you can now! If the suspects get away, you’ll be responsible if anything happens.”

“I can’t afford to be responsible.”

“Then hurry up and go arrest people!” He kicked his subordinate in the butt as he spoke.

“Yes, sir.”

At this moment, a Russian man climbed up from the ground. Seeing that the Japanese police had dispersed the danger, he stood up and said, “Who’s in charge here!”

The little devil who had been acting tough with his subordinates immediately stepped forward with a smile and said, “That would be me.”

“You are?”

“Aida Noza, Chief of the Roppongi Police Station in Edo City.”

Hearing that he was the police chief, the Russian slapped Aida Noza directly in the face and cursed angrily, “You bunch of bastards! Hurry up and rescue Minister Chersky! If something happens to His Excellency the Minister, none of you will have a good time!”

Having been slapped, Aida Noza dared not to be angry and spoke obsequiously, “It was our dereliction of duty. We are sorry, Your Excellency!”

As a result, he received another slap.

“I’m telling you to save people, not apologize! Minister Chersky was hit by the rioters just now and is still unconscious. Quickly find him and send him to the hospital!”

“Yes, sir.”

Ignoring the swelling pain on his face, Aida Noza hastily directed his subordinates to rescue Chersky.

“He’s still breathing, good, good.”

“Chief, there are too many people outside. I’m afraid it will be difficult to get him to the hospital.”

Aida Noza said with a dark face, “His Excellency the Minister’s life is the most important thing now. Even if the crowd is packed tighter than rice balls, you must squeeze out a path for me! Beat anyone who obstructs you severely!”

“Yes, sir.”

After a busy day, the Japanese police, having gathered most of the police force in Edo, arrested more than fifty thousand people at the scene. The prisons and detention centers were overcrowded.

Meanwhile, the faces of the high-ranking police officials were so gloomy that water could be squeezed out of them.

“Bakayaro! Why is the East African embassy completely unscathed, but they charged into the Russian embassy instead? Can’t these idiots distinguish flags? If they haven’t seen the East African flag, they should at least recognize the Russian flag, right?”

The subordinates dared not speak, listening to the reprimand of the Chief of the Edo Police Department.

“How is Minister Chersky now?”

“He’s fine. He was just bumped a few times, stepped on a few times, and has some bruises on his face.”

Slap, a crisp sound rang out.

“Damn it! If Minister Chersky is killed, then all of you idiots here, including me! None of us will be able to escape punishment! And the fact that Minister Chersky was injured in the face is already a very serious diplomatic incident!”

“Chief, I don’t think this is the fault of our police department. This time, it wasn’t caused by our dereliction of duty, but by the demands of the military and the government. It was already too late when we arrived at the scene, so the blame shouldn’t be borne by our police department.”

“Hmph, you think I don’t know? The problem is that from the moment they stormed into the Russian embassy, we have a share in this mess.”

Speaking of this, the Chief of the Edo Police Department was also furious. The orders were issued by superiors, but he knew that he was very likely to be made the scapegoat, because the Russians would definitely make trouble for the Edo police. After all, the security of the embassy district was usually maintained by the police. Even if the Japanese government was just putting on a show, they would take him, the person primarily responsible, as an example.

“Those damn students, they ruin more than they accomplish. They can’t even distinguish between East Africa and Russia. Fine, you guys quickly find the ‘culprits’, otherwise…”

“Captain, the scene was too chaotic at the time, and it’s impossible to find the real culprits. Even if we can find the culprits, it will probably take a long time. By then, the Russian government will have already launched an attack!”

“If there are no culprits, then pin the blame on the ringleaders. Even if they weren’t the culprits, they are now!”

“But, Chief, this time the leaders are from Edo’s First Boys’ High School, where all the students are rich and powerful…”

“I don’t care. Someone has to share our pressure in this matter. These children of powerful families are perfect. So find more of them. There’s safety in numbers.”

This was a blatant act of framing, but the Chief of the Edo Police Department felt at ease. If he had to bear the responsibility alone, he would probably become a scapegoat. If he involved more children of powerful families, then things would be much easier.

Chapter 560: Press Conference

“The Russians’ losses are actually not that great. Because the rescue was timely, their minister, Chersky, is safe and sound. However, it’s certain that almost everyone suffered some superficial injuries. The Russian embassy was completely wrecked by the Japanese mob. This mainly concerns Russia’s international image. Such an embarrassing incident will make it extremely difficult for the Japanese government to simply smooth things over. Therefore, Russia will definitely bleed Japan dry.”

The people from the East African National Defense Security Bureau summarized the gains and losses of this operation. From the moment they led the Japanese into the Russian embassy, it indicated that this operation was quite successful.

“Other countries in the embassy area are also very dissatisfied with Japan. They are also taking this opportunity to make things difficult for Japan, or rather, extort them. Our East African embassy is one of them.” After saying this, the agents of the National Defense Security Bureau themselves were amused. It was indeed a bit funny.

As for other countries making things difficult for Japan, it’s easy to understand. The Japanese police “disappeared” from the streets in the embassy area and allowed the protest march to storm into the embassy district, which naturally made the foreign diplomats stationed there unhappy.

This was clearly a means for the Japanese government to eliminate dissidents. Even if there had been a few police officers on the scene to maintain order that day, the situation could have been greatly improved.

Even if Japan and East Africa have conflicts, other countries would be unhappy about Japan instigating its citizens to attack embassies and holding demonstrations or other activities in the embassy area without the consent of various governments. If they use this trick against East Africa today, will they use it on themselves in the future?

Moreover, the Japanese made a mistake this time. Not only did they fail to deal with East Africa, but they also caused the Russians to suffer an undeserved disaster.

However, the Russians are probably secretly overjoyed. They can’t miss this kind of opportunity that’s delivered to their door. Even if they can’t get the Japanese government to cede territory, they will get a large amount of compensation.

While Russia and other countries are making trouble for Japan, East Africa is responsible for fanning the flames from the sidelines. Especially Minister Kader, the main target of the Japanese, became even more disgusted with the Japanese government after hearing about the Russian minister’s experience. If the Russian embassy hadn’t taken the hit this time, the East African embassy would definitely have suffered the consequences.

Moreover, Minister Kader is certain that Japan will not compensate for the losses caused by the attack on the East African embassy. They might even take this opportunity to make things difficult for East Africa on the issue of the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

Thinking of this, Minister Kader spat and said, “Those dogs, their bellies are full of bad intentions.”

An agent from the National Defense Security Bureau said to Minister Kader, “Your Excellency, when you meet with the other countries later, why not take the opportunity to propose that the embassy area be jointly supervised and managed by all countries, on the grounds that the Japanese police are untrustworthy and that the safety of foreign diplomats is at stake? It would be best to turn this place into a lawless zone detached from Japan.”

“Are you talking about a concession?”

“Hehe, you can understand it that way. Japan was originally targeting us this time, so there’s no need to be too polite to them. Moreover, we need to continue to increase pressure on the Japanese government and divert their attention until the main force of the naval expeditionary fleet arrives in the Southern Ryukyu Islands.”

Japan will definitely not agree to rebuild a concession, which is a humiliating and country-compromising thing. Of course, East Africa is just trying to make trouble for Japan. Who told Japan to have a dirty backside and not be able to guarantee the safety of foreign diplomats in the embassy area? Now Minister Chersky is still recuperating in the hospital! This is a typical case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.

While the East African National Defense Security Bureau and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were working together for the first time, racking their brains on how to make trouble for the Japanese government, everyone within the Japanese government was also on tenterhooks, especially the planners and executors who attempted to force East Africa to submit using civilian power this time.

As expected, the Edo Police Department became the first responsible party. Of course, this was done for the governments of other countries to see.

The Chief of the Edo Police Department attended the press conference and bowed ninety degrees to apologize to the various countries, demonstrating the rich atmosphere of Japan’s artisan culture.

“This riot was caused by a mistake in the scheduling of time off for the police department’s staff. As the head of the Edo Police Department, I am deeply sorry and willing to pay the price for my dereliction of duty. I will personally pay for the medical expenses of Minister Chersky and other injured personnel, and resign as the Chief of the Police Department after properly handling this incident, so that other virtuous people can hold this position…”

Reporter: “May I ask, Chief Nabe Masayoshi, what is the real reason for this diplomatic incident that occurred in the embassy area? Some people say that this incident was entirely orchestrated by the Japanese government, that the Japanese government is the mastermind. What do you think? And I would like to ask if this is related to the conflict between the two countries in the Northeast Asian region.”

“This is completely slander. We and Russia are friendly neighbors separated only by a strip of water. As for the so-called conflict in the Northeast Asian region, that is an inaccurate interpretation of the facts. The cooperative relationship between the two countries in Northeast Asia is greater than the competition.”

“Chief Nabe Masayoshi, there are rumors that Japan was originally targeting East Africa in this diplomatic incident, but because the people did not recognize the East African flag, they attacked the Russian embassy instead. I don’t know if this news is true.”

“Mr. Reporter, our Japanese government did not participate in anything this time, so we are not aware of this action. Naturally, there is no such thing as targeting East Africa. Moreover, you shouldn’t believe the truth or falsehood of rumors.”

“Chief Nabe Masayoshi, since the Japanese government did not participate, who is the culprit of this diplomatic incident?”

“We don’t know exactly who the specific perpetrator of this diplomatic incident is because the scene was chaotic at the time. However, we have identified the suspects and will announce the progress of this case to the outside world after Minister Chersky identifies the perpetrator.”

“Chief Nabe Masayoshi, what is the ultimate goal of the suspect?”

The Chief of the Edo Police Department did not directly answer this question, but said, “Their identities are mainly students, but most of them were bewitched by others. Young people inevitably make mistakes. After all, they have not yet entered society, so they lack relevant experience and are easily used and instigated by people with ulterior motives.”

“Then do you mean that the instigator of this diplomatic incident is a student from Edo City?”

“Of course, I don’t mean that. In fact, these student groups can only be considered a coerced part, only accessories. After all, most students wouldn’t be so ignorant as to not even recognize the Russian flag.”

Although the Chief of the Edo Police Department wants to use the students to help him share the pressure, he can’t confirm their guilt, so the reason for being instigated is very good. He has already defined these troublemaking students as accessories. As long as they are given some verbal warnings, that will be enough.

However, he wants to turn the page like this, but the reporters don’t agree: “Chief Nabe Masayoshi just said that they couldn’t distinguish the national flag, does that imply that your country was planning to target another country before, but accidentally injured the Russian embassy?”

“…”

At this time, Nabe Masayoshi realized that he had slipped up, and then this reporter seized the opportunity.

“That’s purely fictitious. We have no intention of targeting any country. As for the spontaneous behavior of the people, it has nothing to do with our government!”

“Oh, that’s not right! Just now, Chief Nabe Masayoshi said that the students were instigated by others, which means that someone planned the action. But now it has become a spontaneous behavior of the people. This contradictory rhetoric is very much in line with my impression of the Edo City bureaucrats’ tendency to talk nonsense.”

“Pfft…” A burst of laughter came from the venue. This reporter stabbed the Chief of the Edo Police Department hard in his heart.

Chapter 561: The Navy Arrives

The press conference was very unpleasant, at least for the Japanese. The reporters, however, were in high spirits, having unearthed a lot of news material, especially since this diplomatic incident was an international event.

The Japanese had originally wanted to play a trick on East Africa and gain international sympathy, but they ended up shooting themselves in the foot. Furthermore, Tsarist Russia and Japan were natural enemies, especially given the disputes between the two countries in Northeast Asia.

This meant that one of Japan’s two strategies against East Africa had failed. They could only rely on their own strength to confront East Africa and force them out of the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Now, the Japanese even regretted their dispute with the Far East Empire over the Ryukyu Islands. They would have been more at ease if the Southern Ryukyu Islands had remained in the hands of the Far East Empire!

Zhuhai Trading Zone.

“In the next few days, warships will be docking here. Our port will serve as a pre-war command center, fully cooperating with the nation in striking the Japanese pirates in the eastern sea and protecting the national interests of East Africa.”

Because the development of the Southern Ryukyu Islands was backward, sparsely populated, and lacked infrastructure, it did not have the capacity to support a large-scale war.

Therefore, the Zhuhai Trading Zone, backed by the Far East Empire, became the temporary command base for the East African Navy. Here, the East African Navy could fully mobilize the resources available in the Far East. Compared to the Huaihai Economic Zone, the Zhuhai Trading Zone was much weaker, but its location was closest to the Southern Ryukyu Islands, allowing it to support the front lines at any time.

Moreover, the Zhuhai Trading Zone was surrounded by commercially developed areas. Here, money could solve most material problems.

Of course, another reason was the consideration that local telegrams could be used to contact East Africa proper at any time, which was of great importance for East Africa to grasp the overall situation.

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

The East African small fleet officially arrived in Zhuhai, consisting of a total of three ironclad ships, two wooden sailing steam sloops, five armored gunboats, and twelve other ships carrying supplies.

Gunboats were called mosquito boats in the current Beiyang Navy and were the main combat ships of the Beiyang Navy. In the East African Navy, they could only serve as auxiliary combat ships. Despite being called mosquito boats, their displacement could reach about a thousand tons, much smaller than ironclad ships, and were called small ironclad ships.

Therefore, the strength of these small ironclad ships was definitely not as good as real ironclad ships, but they were still a level stronger than traditional wooden sailing warships.

Such a fleet was already a force to be reckoned with in the Far East. Apart from the Far East and Japan, no other country was qualified to compare. And this fleet was about a quarter of the strength of the East African Navy, which was the strength of a top ten navy in the world.

“General Glais! Welcome to the Zhuhai Trading Zone. As required by the homeland, we will fully cooperate with the navy’s work in the coming period.”

“What is the situation in the Southern Ryukyu Islands waters now? Is the construction progressing smoothly?” Glais asked directly.

“General, the construction progress in the Southern Ryukyu Islands is currently slow, even just getting started, and the situation is not very good!”

Glais asked, “Why? What difficulties have you encountered?”

“General, the area of the Southern Ryukyu Islands is not small, and the distance between the main islands within the archipelago is also very large, so communication between them is difficult, which also means that the construction is twice as difficult. If it were just one island, we could combine the equipment and fortifications, but the dispersion of the Southern Ryukyu Islands means that we must set up the same configuration on each island.”

Glais thought about it carefully and realized that it was true. East Africa’s demand for the Southern Ryukyu Islands was to occupy them completely, without leaving a single island to other forces, and each of these isolated islands needed a set of equipment.

The person in charge of the Zhuhai Trading Zone continued, “The shortage of labor is also a major factor, even the main factor. Although the Southern Ryukyu Islands also lack other things, we can ship them from the homeland and the Far East, but the population is not enough. After statistics, the entire Southern Ryukyu Islands have more than seventeen thousand three hundred people. These people are not even comparable to the number of black people in any random project in Africa, not to mention the elderly, weak, women, and children among them, and those who are malnourished.”

Although East African black people were backward, they were much richer than the islanders in the Pacific. One reason was the small population, and the other was the abundance of resources, living by hunting and having plenty of meat.

Like Japan, even having enough rice was a luxury. Many people could only choose to join the army to eat polished rice. The people of the Southern Ryukyu Islands were even poorer than Japan. Even so, they had to pay heavy taxes to the Ryukyu Kingdom every year, a large part of which was handed over to Japan. Therefore, the islanders of the Southern Ryukyu Islands hated Japan quite a bit, which was also an important reason why Japan annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom but did not take the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

In comparison, the Far East Empire seemed amiable. After all, as the nominal suzerain state, the Far East Empire paid more attention to face than Japan. Japan even exploited the Southern Ryukyu Islands, a place that could not be poorer, so naturally, it was unpopular.

East Africa’s rule over Ryukyu naturally had other plans, which was to immigrate all the local people to East Africa and completely turn the Southern Ryukyu Islands into a solid military fortress in the Pacific.

As for farming in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, it would be fine to grow vegetables and fruits to provide convenience for the troops, but grain crops were not planned to be grown anyway. They would all be turned into vegetable gardens, orchards, and small pastures to meet the diversified needs of the local garrison. Grain could be directly pulled from the homeland.

East Africa needed immigrants, and the island nations in the Pacific, without exception, were all poor, with no poorest, only poorer. Leaving them in the local area would not only occupy resources but also make it difficult to create value. Of course, Nauru Island, a place blessed by God, was an exception.

Islands generally have no economic value, which is why various countries avoided many islands in the Pacific when colonizing. In his previous life, Germany occupied a bunch of islands in the Pacific as colonies, which was basically no different from “poverty alleviation.”

For example, the German colony of Papua New Guinea Island was still using the airports, farms, and highways left by Germany in the last century in the twenty-first century.

The minerals on Nauru Island itself were also the result of hundreds of millions of years of accumulation by those birds. In the industrial age, even that could not withstand more than ten years of development, and resources were increasingly depleted.

“General Glais, in addition to these objective reasons, the factor hindering our development of the Southern Ryukyu Islands is the destruction by the Japanese.”

“Hmm! Did the Japanese Navy dispatch ships?”

“Not exactly, but Japan dispatched many fishing boats to harass our transport ships in the waters of the Southern Ryukyu Islands. In the ten days or so before your arrival, they had been blocking our ships from landing in the relevant waters. Fortunately, we had left enough supplies and provisions on the island before. If you had arrived a month later, the garrison on the island would have had to compromise and withdraw.”

“How many ships do they have? What is their strength?”

“About a hundred or so every day, passing through the Miyako Strait from the Northern Ryukyu Islands, and then competing with our ships in the name of fishing. Although we have mostly large ships, ants can kill an elephant. They can afford to lose those small sampans, but our fleet cannot keep drifting at sea.”

“Well, don’t worry. Once my troops are familiar with the environment, we will cut off the Miyako Strait. If the Japanese are still不死心 [die-hearted; unwilling to give up], then we will retaliate against Japanese merchant ships in the Far East waters. Then we’ll see who can’t hold on any longer!”

Chapter 562: World Powers

Naha City, north of the Miyako Strait.

Naha was the political center of the Ryukyu Kingdom and is now the seat of the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. Looking at the sea routes, it is a maritime hub connecting Manila, Honshu, and Hawaii, three important areas.

Therefore, Naha’s economy and commerce are still quite good, of course, this is in comparison to the entire Ryukyu Islands. Compared with cities in other countries in the region, Naha is far behind.

Recently, many ships have appeared in the harbor of Naha, and every period of time they go south to the Miyako Strait to plunder ships from East Africa.

Early in the morning, a Japanese officer was lecturing armed personnel dressed as fishermen.

“The Empire cannot be humiliated. The moment you board the small boat, you must remember that you are fighting for the Empire and for His Majesty the Emperor.”

Japan currently does not want to completely offend East Africa, but it cannot save face and is unwilling to lose the opportunity to invade and occupy the southern Ryukyu Islands for nothing, so it allows the navy to dress up as fishermen and intercept East African ships.

The Japanese “fishermen” in front of them were fanatical and excited, eager to be loyal to the Empire and the Emperor. Although the sea was rough and the East African ships were larger, small fishing boats could capsize at any time if they collided, and die at sea, but under the influence of “loyalty to the Emperor and love for the country,” no one flinched.

These people shouted loudly and excitedly: “Long live the Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

The naval officer was very satisfied with the results of his education. He waved his hand and said, “Depart!”

The Pacific Ocean was clear and cloudless, and the Miyako Strait was very wide. A large group of fishing boats came from Naha City to the south, which was quite spectacular.

“The Japanese armed fishing boats are here again!” Sharp-eyed East African garrison troops discovered these Japanese fishing boats through binoculars.

Watching the Japanese armed fishing boats swaggering and domineering in the waters of the southern Ryukyu Islands, the East African garrison had no way to deal with them for the time being, mainly because they lacked ships.

However, the Japanese did not dare to approach the land. East Africa’s coastal defense guns had already been deployed, so relying on the land, the East African army was not afraid of these Japanese landing. If these Japanese abandoned their ships and landed, it would be a good thing.

But now everyone knows that the Japanese are just besieging without attacking. After all, the southern Ryukyu Islands are so big and the grain yield is very low, so as long as they are besieged for a long time, the grain and supplies on the island will be exhausted sooner or later.

While the East African island garrison was wary of the Japanese’s petty actions, the laborers on the island were also discussing recent changes in their lives.

As mentioned before, the southern Ryukyu Islands are sparsely populated, so many of the laborers needed for East Africa’s projects on the islands are directly hired from the Far East.

Now that Japan has surrounded the southern Ryukyu Islands, these laborers are also stranded on the island and accompanied by the East African garrison.

“These damn Japs are really punctual every day, just in time for meal time. I hope they move faster today and don’t spoil my mood for eating.”

The person who said this was not an East African soldier, but Liu Dazhuang, a laborer hired by East Africa from the Far East, who is now helping to build military camps on the southern Ryukyu Islands.

“Dazhuang, what are we eating today?”

“How would I know? Aren’t you quite familiar with Captain Wang? He must know what we’re eating today.”

“Hehe, I just made friends with Brother Wang because we’re from the same hometown, but actually we’re far apart! We’re not even from the same prefecture.”

“If you ask me what we’re eating, it’s nothing more than those few things: sweet potatoes, soybeans, and seafood. I actually miss the vegetables and beef from before. These days, the Japs have blocked the supply ships outside, and we’re relying entirely on the previous stock on the island to support us. The food standards have dropped a lot, and they’ve even started rationing.” Luo Wen complained.

“Damn, the Japs are really bastards. It was so comfortable to come here as a worker, but since they appeared, the good days are gone forever.”

“You don’t have to worry too much about this. I heard Captain Wang say that Japan is not to be feared. East Africa is a Western country. The Japanese did a ‘leaving Asia and joining Europe’ thing, just wanting to be Westerners, because Westerners are stronger than them, and East Africa is Western by nature, so its strength is naturally above Japan.”

“A-San, what kind of official is Captain Wang in East Africa? And how can he be an official for foreigners? I heard that he was also a farmer from your place before.”

“I asked about this before. This East Africa, although it is also a Western country, it is not exactly a Western country.”

“Huh, so roundabout? Is this East Africa really Western or not!”

“Hehe, listen to me, East Africa is indeed Western, no, according to Brother Wang, it was established by Germans, and Germans are also part of Westerners, but Westerners are just a big concept, they are not a group.”

“Dazhuang, aren’t Westerners a group? I thought they all came from the same place!”

“Let me explain it to you like this, you should understand. For example, the Far East, there is our Far East Empire, Korea, Ryukyu, Japan, and a large number of other countries. Germans are about the same in the West, for example, Tsarist Russia, France, and England, who are flaunting their power in the Far East, are all Western countries, but they don’t get along with each other.”

“Then is this German as powerful as England and France?”

“Of course, Captain Wang told me that Germans have established many countries, but the three most famous are Germany, Austria-Hungary, and finally our employer, the Kingdom of East Africa. These three countries are quite extraordinary, especially the first two, which are top world powers. East Africa should not be bad, but its strength is not as strong as the first two.”

“Dazhuang, what are top world powers?”

“Top world powers are the most powerful countries in the world, and they determine the fate of the world.”

“Is our Far East Empire a power?”

“The size of the Far East Empire definitely counts as a power, but its military strength is too poor, so it’s not very useful to have this title.”

“Does the whole world listen to them? But we haven’t even heard of Germany and Austria-Hungary before, are they that powerful?”

“That’s because their influence is not in our area, but in Europe. Europe, you know? Westerners are from that place. Germany and Austria-Hungary are strong in Europe, so they are also strong in the world, because Europe is the most powerful continent in the modern world.”

“Didn’t you say that the powers determine the fate of the world?”

“Yes! I didn’t deny it. Look at England, France, and Tsarist Russia, aren’t they all bullying us? Brother Wang said that our Far East Empire is stronger than many countries, but its strength cannot be compared with the top world powers, so whether it is a power or not mainly depends on strength. If the strength reaches a certain level, it can naturally become a power.”

“What about East Africa?”

“East Africa should also count, right? Brother Wang didn’t tell me, but I heard that East Africa’s military strength can rank among the top ten in the world, but other aspects are much worse.”

“It’s enough to have strong military strength. If we had this strength, how could we let Westerners bully us!”

“Hehe, this is also what Brother Wang told me. East Africa is watching its military strength become a powerful country step by step, but we have a saying in the East called ‘exhausting the people with military force.’ It is also easy for countries that only develop military strength to have problems, and top world powers are the most top-notch in the world in all aspects, including economy, military strength, population, and a large number of other conditions combined to form a world power.”

Chapter 563: A Helping Hand

In the 19th century, the transmission of news was extremely inconvenient, so the citizens of the Far Eastern Empire had a very rudimentary understanding of the world situation. Many people couldn’t distinguish between England, France, Germany, and so on.

Their knowledge of the world’s powerful nations was mostly hearsay. Many countries were lumped together as “foreigners.” The West was naturally the “Western foreigners,” and the East was essentially Japan, naturally called “Eastern foreigners.” Of course, due to historical reasons, Japan had its own nicknames within the Far Eastern Empire, such as “Land of Dwarfs,” or “Fusang.”

The Far Eastern workers hired in East Africa naturally couldn’t distinguish between so many countries. They simply followed the East African garrison and referred to Japan as “little devils” and the like.

The derogatory term “devils” was not exclusive to Japan. All those who had invaded the Far Eastern Empire had a share in it: “Western devils,” “English devils,” “French devils.” Only Japan deserved the “little” devil designation.

In this era, translation was a chaotic affair. East Africa, influenced by Ernst, had a unified translation table for external use, available to diplomatic personnel.

The workers on the Southern Ryukyu Islands rarely discussed “national affairs” during their breaks, and today’s lunch was ready.

Because of the manpower shortage, East Africa treated these Far Eastern workers fairly well, allowing them to share the cafeteria with the East African garrison.

Running cafeterias was a major feature of East Africa, playing an important role in the East African national system: immigrant cafeterias, government office cafeterias, school cafeterias, military cafeterias…

After the East African army took over the Southern Ryukyu Islands, they naturally continued to promote this fine tradition, but the facilities on the Southern Ryukyu Islands were not complete.

The cafeteria was also very simple. After requisitioning several civilian houses, they broke ground, demolished and rebuilt, using bricks and earth to build it. The Miyako Island military cafeteria could accommodate five hundred people at a time. The dining tables were simply constructed from uniform wooden planks.

The buildings on the Southern Ryukyu Islands were mainly wooden structures, which had good earthquake resistance, and the materials were easy to obtain. However, for military considerations, East Africa transformed them into brick and stone structures, which had better fire resistance and solidity, at the cost of sacrificing earthquake resistance.

The Southern Ryukyu Islands probably had many earthquake opportunities, but in this situation, East African officials believed that the possibility of the Southern Ryukyu Islands encountering war was higher.

“You’re in luck today! Because of your good performance on the project, Governor Lucar specifically ordered a batch of canned military rations from the warehouse to be given to you as a treat. They’re all top-quality beef stew with potatoes and braised pork. Usually, only the troops get this kind of treatment.”

Before the meal, Wang, who was mentioned by Dazhuang, also known as Andrei, the platoon leader of the East African Army, revealed to everyone.

It was not surprising that Andrei was called Brother Wang. His original name was Wang Sanjin. He had served in the East African Army for seven years and was considered a veteran. Now he was transferred back to the Far East.

When he came back, he almost forgot how to speak Chinese. He only remembered the language of his family after becoming familiar with Dazhuang and other Far Eastern laborers.

Dazhuang said, “Brother Wang, these military rations must be very precious, right? I saw that you were reluctant to use them yourselves before, and only took them out after there was a shortage of supplies.”

Andrei said, “Hey, military rations are a kind of wartime food. Actually, they’re no different from ordinary food, except they last longer. There are a lot of these things in the East African army. There’s nothing rare about them. It’s easy to get tired of eating them. If the Japanese hadn’t played tricks, causing a shortage of supplies now, we’d just be making do. It would be better to cook meals in a pot like before.”

Andrei said it casually, but in the eyes of the laborers, it was quite a humblebrag. Canned food was actually not cheap, and the cost was relatively high. It was only because of the special location of the Southern Ryukyu Islands that East Africa had previously stockpiled a large amount of canned food for emergencies.

“Wow, this canned food tastes pretty good. It has meat and oil, and they’re willing to put in salt. It’s filling. Brother Wang, you soldiers really live a good life.”

“Hehe, that’s natural. Just look at this military uniform I’m wearing. Life can’t be bad. In the East African army, honor is very high, and the food is also top-notch. The life you used to live was good if you could get a meal with some oil in it. We have real big fish and big meat, and the rice we eat is refined rice and flour processed in factories. We can also eat fruit. Life is pretty good.”

Although Andrei had said these boastful words before, he couldn’t help but arouse everyone’s envy. This was the fairy-tale life they were pursuing!

“Brother Wang, not to mention anything else, if you can become a general in East Africa, your ability is unquestionable!” Dazhuang complimented.

Andrei quickly stopped him and said, “What general? Don’t talk nonsense. I’m just a small platoon leader, a tiny official. I only manage a few dozen people. Remember to call me Officer Andrei. The only general in the entire Southern Ryukyu Islands is the governor, who is a major general. Don’t get me in trouble.”

“Brother Wang, how did you become an official of the Westerners? We see that you have a lot of Westerners under your command?”

Andrei chuckled and said, “It’s simple. Naturally, I performed well in the army, so I was promoted. You call me Brother Wang, so I will naturally take care of you. Don’t mention that word ‘Westerners’ in front of other people in the future. That word is not a good word in the Far East. Don’t think that our East African army doesn’t know. Many people in East Africa used to be from the Far East, so be careful what you say.”

“Then Brother Wang, wouldn’t those of you who ran to East Africa also become East African citizens?”

“What you say is right. This has to do with nationality. Nationality is like a family tree. The family tree identifies which family you belong to, and nationality is what identifies which country you belong to. Like me, I have East African nationality, so I am naturally an East African. You are called Far Easterners. If we divide according to ethnicity, I am now German, and you are Han.”

“Brother Wang, tell me the truth, can you become German if you go to East Africa? Can they trust you to work under them?”

“That’s nonsense. If they didn’t consider me one of their own, how could I be this platoon leader? In East Africa, everyone is equal, except for the blacks, of course.”

“Brother Wang, what are blacks? Very dark people?”

“Hehe, you haven’t seen the world, but what you said is very correct. Blacks are very dark people. Let me put it this way, only their teeth are white. If they don’t show their teeth after dark, you can’t see them. You’ve seen charcoal, right? It’s like that, their skin is black all over.” Andrei shared his knowledge with them very proudly.

“Uh, Brother Wang, are there really people that dark?”

“What’s so strange about that? Haven’t you seen white people? Some of them have blonde hair and blue eyes! There are many strange people in the world. For example, on the coast of East Africa, you can see Arabs wrapped in white robes. The brown people of South Asia look like they haven’t been washed clean…”

Andrei shared his experiences, knowledge, and overseas anecdotes with these workers like telling stories. At the same time, East Africa in his mouth became a paradise on earth, making people yearn for it.

“If you had gone to East Africa by sea back then, you would have been able to make a name for yourselves after so many years, and you wouldn’t have to suffer here. But it’s not too late now. Although the threshold for becoming an East African citizen has been raised, as long as you perform well, I, your brother, will write you a letter of recommendation, and you can go to East Africa to enjoy yourselves.”

Andrei was a kind-hearted person, but he couldn’t just randomly stuff people into East Africa, so he reminded these fellow villagers to perform well on the project so that he would have the opportunity to make it happen.

Chapter 564: Benefactor

“Brother Wang, is this true? We can also go to East Africa and be as successful as you?”

Andre felt a little lightheaded upon hearing this, enjoying the feeling of being admired and standing out from the crowd. However, he also knew his own limitations, so he said, “Successful? I wouldn’t say that. I’m just a commoner in East Africa, only living a relatively carefree life this past year in the Far East. In reality, I’m nothing special in East Africa.”

“Brother Wang, our aspirations aren’t high. We just want to have enough to eat and drink and marry a wife. That would be a complete life for us. Unlike you, who are so capable and already an official of some sort. As the saying goes, there’s a difference between officials and commoners, so you don’t need to be modest. We’re genuinely envious of you.”

Heh, if Andre’s subordinates heard this, they would definitely be dismissive. He’s just a platoon leader! You’d think he was the commander of the military region! But these Far Eastern workers’ flattery really hit the spot for Andre.

He said generously, “Don’t worry, things definitely won’t be bad when you go to East Africa. I can’t guarantee anything else, but you definitely won’t have to worry about food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Everyone’s putting in the effort, and East Africa has always been generous in this regard.”

“We absolutely believe you on this point. We’ve been working here for so many days, and the food is more abundant than during the New Year in the past. Your soldiers are all strong and healthy, clearly not lacking in meat and oil.”

Andre said, “Heh, that’s natural. I said before that the military’s treatment in East Africa is definitely first-class. Have you heard of ranches? That is, a large piece of land where crops aren’t planted, only grass, and then a large number of cattle and other livestock are raised. My unit used to have several ranches, specifically to supply the troops with meat.”

“Wow, that land only grows grass and can’t grow crops, right? No one should be willing to use fertile land to raise livestock, unless they’re rich and have a lot of land.”

Andre shook his head and explained, “The land is good land. In my opinion, the land in those ranches is just as good as, if not better than, the land in the Far East. But East Africa has a lot of land, so there’s no need to use it all to grow grain. It’s fine to use it to raise livestock.”

While they were talking, it was time for dinner. Canned stewed fish. The island has no shortage of seafood, but eating it every day can get boring. So, after eating it for three months, everyone is no longer very interested in seafood.

Of course, this is just the mindset of the East African garrison. Laborers are very content. Many of them come from the mainland, and seafood is still meat. Paired with East African processed rice and flour, life is much better than eating chaff and wild herbs in the past. Moreover, many people in the Far East don’t even have the right to eat chaff and wild herbs. Everyone is used to hard times, so they are very satisfied now.

Looking at the workers around him who were wolfing down their food, Andre originally felt a little bored with today’s meal, but seeing others eating so heartily made his appetite pick up a bit, and he started eating from his military mess kit.

After eating, there was some time to digest. Andre took the opportunity to tell these workers about his thoughts, “If you are really interested in developing in East Africa, I, as someone who’s been there, will give you another suggestion. After this construction is completed, you should be able to save some money. You should first take this money back to the Far East and make some arrangements. I think you were probably in difficult circumstances at home to come here to work, and you probably haven’t married a wife yet. Why not take the wages, go back to your hometown, get married, and then contact me to go to East Africa as a family to develop.”

East Africa has a very good reputation in the Far East and naturally won’t deduct workers’ wages. Moreover, the treatment is much better than locally. They have made a small fortune working under Andre in East Africa for the past few months, which is enough to marry a wife. The more chaotic the times, the cheaper life is. Sometimes a mouthful of food can be exchanged for a wife, so Andre’s words are very feasible.

“Brother Wang, can’t we marry a wife in East Africa?”

“Of course you can in East Africa, but you have to wait. You’re all getting older, can you afford to wait? Moreover, women in East Africa are precious. Who would look at you if you don’t have the ability? So, I suggest you get married in the Far East first, and then go to East Africa to develop. Of course, another reason is that the immigration threshold has increased a lot now, and family immigration is more likely to succeed.”

“Then Brother Wang, you’ve been in East Africa for so long, are you married?”

Andre shook his head and said, “Not yet.”

“Brother, you’re such a capable person and you’re not married yet? Is the competition in East Africa that intense?”

Andre said, “Heh, it’s not that I can’t marry a wife, it’s just that I’ve been in East Africa for too long and my standards are high. Of course, another point is that I went to East Africa relatively late and didn’t catch the good times.”

“Brother Wang, what kind of woman do you want to marry? I think my younger sister is good, gentle and considerate, and works hard. Do you want her?”

Andre said with a smile, “I appreciate your kindness, but I want to find a white wife. This will be of great help to my development in the military or after I transfer to another job in the future.”

As soon as Andre said this, everyone understood. He wanted to find a foreign wife. But the more Andre said this, the more the workers admired Andre.

“Of course, if you are picky and want to find a foreign wife, it’s not impossible, but East Africa now is not what it was a few years ago. There are not so many opportunities, and when you go to East Africa, the development of East Africa may have changed greatly.”

East African policy supports marriage between Germans and Chinese. This is also the reason why Andre wants to find a white wife. Now, everyone with discerning eyes knows that mixed-race descendants will be the most popular in East Africa in the future, especially in terms of promotion and welfare. There are many implicit policies. Whether Andre develops in the military or transfers to a government agency or state-owned enterprise after retirement, having a white wife will make things smoother.

“Brother, what do children born to foreign women look like? Have you seen them?”

“Heh, of course. Many of the new generation in East Africa are mixed-race. As for their appearance, it naturally combines the characteristics of both parents. There isn’t much change, the beautiful ones are still beautiful, and the ugly ones are still ugly.”

“Can you have three wives and four concubines in East Africa?”

Hmm! Andre glanced at the person who asked the question in surprise and said, “Li San, can’t you tell? You usually don’t have much ability, but your imagination is quite rich. You still want three wives and four concubines, preparing for the blessings of all women?”

“Look at what you’re saying, Brother Wang, I’m just curious. After all, isn’t this how rich people are?”

“Hmph, that’s in the Far East. It’s different when you go to East Africa. Not only in East Africa, but in the entire Western world, there is no such thing as three wives and four concubines. You can only marry one, even the king is the same.”

“Then aren’t they afraid of having no descendants!”

“They don’t seem to care as much about this as we do in the Far East. Of course, someone will definitely consider the continuation of the family, but they have their own rules. Speaking of this, I’ll give you a reminder. In other countries, especially East Africa, you must abide by the law and not do bad things. In East Africa, your record follows you for life, and it will also affect the future of your descendants. So, if you go to East Africa, you must be honest and law-abiding.”

“Thank you for your teachings, Brother. It’s just that there’s no wine or tea, otherwise we would definitely offer you a toast.”

The laborers were truly grateful to Andre. In other words, Andre was the benefactor they had encountered. With the help of a benefactor and by seizing the opportunity, their future lives would be much better.

Chapter 565: Naval Cooperation

“For the next two weeks, the navy needs to adapt to the climate here, quickly restore combat effectiveness. At the same time, this may be the first actual combat experienced by the East African Navy since its establishment, so everyone should be serious and treat it with utmost care.”

The East African naval fleet, docked in the Zhuhai trade zone, began acclimatization training here. Although the East African waters are vast, it was the first time they had come to the Far East and carried out combat missions.

The East African Navy was actually very unaccustomed to training near Zhuhai. Of course, the Far Eastern Empire, as the host, was also unaccustomed. However, given the poor strength of the Guangdong Fleet, which was responsible for naval affairs in the area, they could only turn a blind eye.

In the Far Eastern naval sequence, there were four major fleets: the Beiyang, Nanyang, Fujian, and Guangdong Fleets. Among them, the Beiyang Fleet was the most famous and was the Far Eastern Empire’s favorite. This was easy to understand, as the Beiyang Fleet was responsible for the defense of the entire northern sea area, and the Far Eastern Empire’s political center, the important area around the capital, was on the coast of the Bohai Sea. Given the Qing government’s vigilance against the south, the Beiyang Fleet naturally received the greatest support.

The Nanyang Fleet was somewhat misnamed. Of course, this misnomer only applied to the literal meaning. Although the Nanyang Fleet had “Nanyang” in its name, its base was actually on the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In Ernst’s eyes, “Nanyang” in this era naturally referred to the waters of Southeast Asia and the East Indies.

The Nanyang Fleet’s main equipment was manufactured by the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and the Fuzhou Shipbuilding Bureau, with a small amount purchased from Britain and Germany. Whether in terms of tonnage, equipment, personnel, or strength, the Nanyang Fleet was far inferior to the Beiyang Fleet, but its strength was second only to the Beiyang Fleet.

Before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the first two fleets had always been the top two in terms of strength in the Far Eastern navy. However, in terms of history, the Fujian Fleet had the earliest history and the highest degree of localization, and was under the control of the Fuzhou Shipbuilding Bureau.

As for the Guangdong Fleet, which ranked last, it was the weakest and smallest in scale, and like the Nanyang Fleet, it was not very well-known. At this time, the Guangdong Fleet had more than a dozen ships, with a total displacement of several thousand tons, less than ten thousand tons. An East African top-class ironclad ship alone displaced more than seven thousand tons, making the gap between the two navies clear at a glance.

The “Partridge” leading the East African Navy this time did not have a very high displacement, but it also reached more than six thousand eight hundred tons. The other two ironclad ships also had a displacement of more than five thousand tons. The tonnage of the three ironclad ships alone exceeded the sum of all the main ships of the Guangdong Fleet.

The Guangdong Fleet appeared somewhat dwarfed in front of this East African expeditionary fleet. Moreover, the most advanced main ships of the Guangdong Fleet were still sailing warships. Even the gunboats brought by East Africa this time could cause these ships to be wrecked.

The Guangdong Fleet would probably have to wait until after 1882 for its next development. The latest main ships currently in service were still old products from before 1868.

“Captain Luo, I hope you will communicate more with your country’s naval department after you return this time. During this joint naval exercise between the two countries, I hope your country will provide more convenience. Our main purpose this time is for the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and we will not do dirty things like the Portuguese did when they seized nests.”

The East African Navy’s rest and training within the Far Eastern Empire’s waters could not be handled arbitrarily. After all, this was someone else’s territorial waters. Therefore, East Africa found an excuse, using the joint naval exercises between the two countries and the fight against pirates as a reason to enter the Far East.

This was also something that could not be helped. According to East Africa’s plan, after the harbors of the Southern Ryukyu Islands were repaired, the future base of East Africa’s own Pacific Fleet could be placed in the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Now, the Southern Ryukyu Islands did not have this capability. The harbor level of the Southern Ryukyu Islands was still stuck in ancient times and needed large-scale reconstruction. East Africa had not even completed the land facilities of the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

“General Glais, you are too polite. We still believe in your country’s credibility. However, I will also be frank here. Our requirements are not high. We just hope that the conflict between your country and Japan will not involve our country.”

“You can rest assured about this. East Africa will naturally be fully responsible for the conflict with Japan. Even if an accident occurs, we will not blame your country. Now that you can provide convenience for us to rest and dock here temporarily, East Africa has already accepted this favor. We are naturally not ungrateful villains,” Glais assured Luo Yijun.

“Haha, then I wish you a smooth operation this time.”

Although he said so, Luo Yijun did not think so in his heart. In his opinion, Japan was not a good thing, and East Africa was not a good person either. However, in this era when wolves and dogs were in power, East Africa was not so repulsive.

It would be best if East Africa and Japan were both losers! At the very least, East Africa should cripple the Japanese navy. This was Luo Yijun’s true thought.

The threat of Japan, this evil neighbor, was obviously far greater than that of East Africa. After all, East Africa was very far away from the Far East, only a little closer than the European and American countries.

This was easy to see from the globe. If you faced the Pacific Ocean, you would not be able to see the Far East and the American mainland. If you faced the Indian Ocean, you could basically include most of the Far East and East Africa. As for Europe, the land distance was closer to the Far East than East Africa, but the sea distance was much worse than East Africa.

“Captain Luo, don’t think that what I said is empty talk. This time you have helped our country. Next time, we can make up for it in the naval aspect. For example, in terms of personnel training and warship and weapon procurement, our country can help. At least we have a very good relationship with the Austro-Hungarian and German navies.”

“Okay, if there is such an opportunity, I hope the two sides can cooperate again.” This time, Luo Yijun did not decline.

In fact, this opportunity would come soon. Historically, after 1880, in addition to the Far Eastern Empire and Germany, the navies of the United States, Japan, and others would usher in a major development.

However, Ernst was not sure whether Japan could keep up this time, because the emergence of East Africa had changed the fate of many countries. For example, Japan’s most valuable industry at present was the silk industry. Although the development was very good, it was definitely not as good as in the original history.

Because of the investment of East African and German merchants in the Far East, the Far Eastern Empire’s development in the textile industry was much stronger than in the original history, especially with the participation of large commercial groups such as the Jin merchants and the Hui merchants.

The Far Eastern Empire government mainly developed heavy industry and military industry. Relatively speaking, the light industry, mainly the textile industry, was developed by private forces. At this time, the role of the Huaihai Economic Zone and the Zhuhai Trade Zone was revealed, that was, there were fewer troubles. Many Far Eastern merchants also invested in the two economic zones, and they borrowed money from the Black Heringen Bank, which created a win-win situation.

The loser was Japan, the Far Eastern competitor. East Africa had taken nearly ten million immigrants from the Far East in recent years, and these surplus populations were shared, and the Far East had more energy to develop industry.

For example, land, with fewer people, naturally more land could be used to invest in industry. The Far Eastern textile industry would inevitably compete with Japan, a country with equally cheap labor, and it would be more advantageous. East Africa could provide the Far East with some raw materials and machines, as well as funds, and even provide a part of the market.

Of course, Japan could also borrow money from Britain to develop, but Britain could not change Japan’s innate defect of small land area. If Australia or Canada were given to Japan, maybe with the diligence and humble learning of Japan in this era, it might really be possible to counterattack, but this kind of whimsical idea could only be thought about.

Chapter 566: Comparison

All in all, Japan’s national condition is inherently deficient. If it relies solely on its own resources for development, the level it can reach is quite limited.

However, this isn’t an absolute statement. National development is closely related to its own resource endowment, but ultimately, national governance depends on human factors.

And Japan happens to have great potential in human governance. First, it is good at learning from the strong after experiencing shame, and second, Japan has a large enough population. A large population always has its advantages, depending on how it is transformed, turning the population from a burden into wealth.

For example, Japan’s raw silk industry is very competitive internationally because its labor costs are too low, and the Japanese can endure hardship, work diligently, and the government doesn’t hold them back, vigorously supporting industrial and commercial development. Therefore, Britain and the United States are naturally willing to invest in such a country, and at the same time, they can contain the Far Eastern Empire.

Similarly, a large number of Japanese people go abroad to work, bringing a large amount of remittances to Japan.

Remittances are crucial for national development, especially for countries with extremely surplus populations, like Egypt, the Philippines, and Bangladesh in my previous life. Remittances are one of the important sources of national income. If they rely solely on their own country to provide jobs, it will inevitably lead to a large number of displaced people.

In addition to low-end industries, especially labor-intensive industries, Japan has inherent advantages. Japan also values education and science, which is extremely rare in this era. This provides a foundation for Japan’s future industrial upgrading. Therefore, Japan’s becoming the only great power in Asia decades later is also the result of its own efforts.

“General Glass, I would like to ask, if Japan really goes to war with you, as the supreme commander of East Africa, what are your chances of winning?” Luo Yijun asked curiously.

Although East Africa has many Chinese, it can only be considered a semi-Western country, but it is also a Western country. And now that the West is powerful, East Africa’s strength is not top-notch among Western countries, but it is not weak either. Therefore, Luo Yijun is very interested in knowing what kind of sparks will fly between this “ordinary” Western country and Japan, the second strongest power in the Far East.

Glass was not arrogant. He knew a lot about the Japanese navy. Although it was not strong, it could still compete with his fleet if it mobilized the whole country.

So he said somewhat modestly, or rather conservatively, “About forty-sixty! Of course, we are sixty, and the Japanese navy is forty. However, the navy is the most unpredictable military branch, and it is easy for accidents that subvert common sense to happen, after all, the sea is quite dangerous.

According to your Far Eastern Empire’s saying, fighting pays attention to the opportune time, advantageous terrain, and popular support. I can be sure that the opportune time and advantageous terrain are not on our side. Our East African navy is new here, so naturally we are not very familiar with the waters here.

So the only thing the East African navy can compare with the Japanese navy is popular support. We have some advantages in popular support, but I am not very clear about the situation on the Japanese side.”

Hearing Glass, a German, talk about Eastern culture made Luo Yijun quite proud. It is always a pleasant thing for one’s own culture to be recognized by other countries.

He said, “I didn’t expect the general to have quite a bit of research on Far Eastern culture. You are right, our Eastern sages summarized the three aspects of opportune time, advantageous terrain, and popular support, which summarize the three decisive factors of war. I just don’t know what advantages your country’s navy has in terms of popular support?”

Glass didn’t beat around the bush and said bluntly, “This has to be said in three aspects. First, which is generally recognized, is that our navy’s ships and equipment are a notch stronger than Japan’s.

Secondly, we have to talk about the officers. The advantage of East Africa in this regard is that the commander-in-chief is Archduke Ferdinand, the former commander-in-chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy. The other officers are either from the Austro-Hungarian Navy or, like me, have studied at the Austrian Naval Academy.

In addition to the officers, we have to talk about the sailors. Our sailors are more educated than the Japanese, which is very beneficial for the mastery and command of ships. After so many years of development, the minimum education level in the navy is now elementary school.”

In his previous life, the Japanese did not fully popularize compulsory education until 1907, which is completely incomparable to East Africa today. East Africa also borrowed the advantages of Germany’s popularization of compulsory education. There are not many professional teachers, but it is still easy to popularize teachers who can teach according to the book.

This is easy to understand. There are quite a few pure Germans in East Africa, and Germans have basically gone to school. East African immigrants are mainly young people, so most Germans have not yet returned their knowledge.

Speaking of this, Ernst is quite grateful to the German countries for their great kindness. The effect of promoting compulsory education on Germany is self-evident. In history, the United States ate this part of Germany’s dividend. So many knowledgeable immigrants went to the United States to develop, and it was difficult for the United States not to develop.

And now, with Ernst’s interception, these people have benefited East Africa and added bricks and tiles to East African construction.

Although most of them are only elementary school students, there are still five or six million pure German immigrants in East Africa, which is several million elementary school students. Coupled with East Africa’s literacy campaign and education popularization, as long as it develops step by step, East Africa will definitely have unlimited prospects in the future.

In this regard, the United States is a bit worrying. So many high-quality immigrants have been intercepted by East Africa, and so many black people have been stuffed in. Ernst shudders just thinking about it. Although there are many black people in East Africa, in an era when the average life expectancy is only thirty-five, after thirty or forty years, East Africa will not have this problem.

Ernst used to have a little conscience and thought about finding a way out for the black people, sending them out after a few years, but now he is completely immune. Once the bottom line is broken, there is no bottom line.

Black people represent economic interests, especially for East Africa. Among the nearly fifty million people, black people account for half, so at least a large part of East Africa’s national economy is created by black people.

Especially East Africa’s tropical economic crops, coffee, cotton, rubber, etc., many of which need to be completed by black people, saving East Africa a lot of labor costs.

In the face of huge economic benefits, the East African government even wants to introduce more black people, but this was rejected by Ernst.

East Africa’s huge number of elementary school students also means that the army and navy are not short of high-quality soldiers, especially the navy, a high-tech military branch.

Even middle school education is very common in the East African navy, and there are also many college students. The Japanese navy is far from being comparable to East Africa in this regard.

After all, even if Japan popularizes compulsory education, it cannot avoid the situation of a clever woman cannot cook without rice. The knowledge of compulsory education needs to be learned in Europe, and a large amount of education funds are invested in international students, and studying abroad is relatively expensive. East Africa does not have this problem, because the Hexingen royal family has its own schools and fiefs in Europe, which can save a lot of costs, plus the number of people with elementary school education in East Africa is large enough.

Moreover, as a militaristic country, Japan invests a lot of money in industry and military fields, and education funds are actually very limited compared with other countries, so it will not show results until half a century after Japan popularizes compulsory education.

Chapter 567: Electrical Engineering Technical School

Mbeya City.

A brand new building was completed in the city center. The three-story red brick structure was no less impressive than the city hall itself, and looked very grand. Many people came to observe the ceremony today, including representatives from the Central Ministry of Industry and many important figures from the Mbeya City government.

Amidst the crackling of firecrackers and thunderous applause, the completion ceremony was perfectly executed. The hundred or so people present then stopped and began to tour the building with today’s guests.

Leading the way was Karls, the designer of the building. He led the group, enthusiastically introducing his masterpiece: “The entire building has more than one hundred rooms, including more than eighty classrooms, which can accommodate thousands of students at a time.”

As he spoke, he went to the wall of a classroom and knocked on it a few times: “The bricks we used are all top-grade red bricks fired by the Mbeya City First Brick Factory. The entire building is mainly reddish-brown from the outside. If you stand in front of the school in the morning, you can see the spectacular sight of the sun rising from the red building, which is very pleasing to the eye. This is a unique design that I personally measured and calculated extensively.”

“Mbeya City is near the equator. Have you heard of the equator?” Looking at the blank faces of the crowd, Karls realized that he had asked a pointless question. He cursed inwardly at their ignorance, and then continued: “Never mind the equator, I’ll put it simply.”

“In Europe, North America, and the Far East, those countries are on the back of the Earth, and sunlight shines from south to north. You should all be aware of this. So, these areas are called the Northern Hemisphere.”

“Mr. Karls, do you mean that we originally lived in the north of the Earth, the part on top of the globe, right?”

“That’s right, that’s the idea. Let me demonstrate. Let’s assume this fist in my left hand is the globe, and my right hand is the sun. Now, I put them together. Which part of the globe, which part of my left hand, will the sunlight shine on?”

“It must be the center point of your left hand.”

If Ernst heard this answer, he would definitely be very satisfied. This answer, which seems meaningless in later generations, reflects a rather significant social problem.

It may sound ridiculous, but ordinary people in East Africa can distinguish between left and right. Don’t underestimate this problem; even in the twenty-first century, some people make jokes about left and right.

Ernst had personal experience with this. For example, when he was in university, during military training, there would be one or two confused people who made jokes because they couldn’t react to left and right.

Left and right is a conceptual issue. In agricultural societies, few people consider this issue because it is unlikely to be used. As for direction, “this,” “that,” plus the four cardinal directions can solve all problems.

This is evident in rural areas of the Far East. Take farming, for example. Throughout history, the governments of the Far Eastern empires have encouraged agriculture. Encouraging agriculture is a broad concept; simply put, it is teaching people how to farm.

Take Ernst, the university student, for example. If you asked him to farm, he really wouldn’t know how, even though he came from a rural background. He had been in school all his life and had not received systematic inheritance from his family.

Ernst’s approach to farming in East Africa relies heavily on professional agricultural talent, supplemented by some knowledge from later generations, and that’s it.

Returning to the topic of distinguishing between left and right, this is just a simple logical problem that is easy to learn if you put your mind to it. There’s nothing special about it, after all, there are only two options: left or right.

East Africans’ sensitivity to left and right benefits from East Africa’s long-standing national military education, which has been forcibly instilled. This has led to a high degree of discipline among East African citizens and widespread knowledge of military-related topics.

Karls nodded and said: “That’s right. You see, the light emitted by the sun shines directly on the center point, then the sunlight on the upper and lower sides naturally shines obliquely on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is also why most houses in the Northern Hemisphere face south; it’s a matter of lighting.

Think about it, if the sunlight shines directly on the center point of my left hand, then a circle drawn around this center point is the equator. The sunlight near the equator shines directly down.

So, houses in the equatorial region are not easily lit if they have a roof. Of course, this has advantages and disadvantages. Poor lighting is a disadvantage, but the equatorial region has high temperatures, so having shady areas is also cooler.

Therefore, when constructing the main building of the Electrical Engineering Technical School, I also considered this issue. I improved the internal materials of the teaching building and selected bright materials to make the entire classroom appear bright and transparent.

In addition, I increased the size of the windows and used more openwork designs to allow more light to easily enter, while also making it easier to ventilate.”

Karls spoke eloquently. Although most of his audience didn’t understand what Karls was talking about, they felt extremely satisfied.

Indeed, Karls’ words sounded profound and impressive to everyone. Direct sunlight, the equator, openwork technology, and so on – they didn’t understand any of it, but they felt that Karls was very knowledgeable.

Afterward, Karls led everyone to introduce the entire school in detail, including the main building, dormitories, laboratories, and the playground.

Although everyone’s education level was not high, they had basic aesthetic sense. They were quite satisfied with the construction of the Mbeya City Electrical Engineering Technical School. After all, with such a beautiful and comfortable campus, studying here must be a pleasure. Going to school is indeed good.

After Karls, the designer, introduced the campus, the people from the Ministry of Industry also began to discuss the significant meaning of the Mbeya City Electrical Engineering Technical School with the leaders of Mbeya City.

“Mayor Enle, I must tell you in advance that the state generally attaches great importance to projects that can be placed in Mbeya City. This time, the central government has placed this Electrical Engineering Technical School in Mbeya City, so you must pay attention to it. The electrical power industry is a new industry that the state values most. These teachers are professional talents transferred from the European Hechingen Power Company, who are in short supply even in Europe. You must also pay special attention to them and treat them like treasures. If anything goes wrong, and the higher-ups investigate, you will be letting down the state’s cultivation.”

“Don’t worry, Director Hern, we know how much the state supports the electrical power industry. Since it is an industry personally overseen by the royal family, Mbeya City also welcomes and highly values it. We will definitely give these European talents the highest level of courtesy.”

“That would naturally be the best. The current task of the Electrical Engineering Technical School is to cultivate qualified electrical engineers for East Africa to maintain and develop the electrical power industry in East Africa. Your Mbeya City is the vanguard of East African industry, and you cannot fall behind in this regard.”

“Director Hern, rest assured, we will definitely fully support the central government’s decisions in the emerging field of electrical power. Last year, we already expanded the copper smelter and cable factory, relying on inland copper and rubber resources, as well as our city’s own coal, iron, and other resources, to bet on the new track of the electrical power industry.”

“Well, this is also an important reason why the central government placed the Electrical Engineering Technical School in Mbeya City. Mbeya City has an advantage over coastal cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in terms of distance from key resource production areas, and it can radiate in both east and west directions.

And let me mention one thing: don’t underestimate the importance of this industry to your city. Your city is currently the most important heavy industry base in East Africa, but the future is uncertain. After all, when discussing resource advantages, Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe) is stronger than you. Our industry has already discovered that the coal, iron, and other resources there are richer than yours in many areas of Matabeleland Province.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Director Hern.”

East Africa’s future heavy industry policy will definitely prioritize Matabeleland Province. This is certain. Currently, industry still relies mainly on raw material production areas; factories are built where the mines are.

Chapter 568: A Livable City

Technical schools train skilled workers, and electrical technical schools train electricians. The aim of the Mbeya City Electrical Technical School is to cultivate qualified electricians for East Africa.

In this era, electricians are an extremely scarce trade. As an emerging industry, very few cities worldwide have widespread electricity. Even most European cities are still in the age of oil lamps and gas lamps, so naturally, there aren’t many electricians.

Mbeya City has hired over thirty experienced European electricians as teachers for the Mbeya City Electrical Technical School. After all, the electricity industry hasn’t been around for many years, so the value of these veteran electricians is self-evident.

“Teachers, the school opening will be in two or three months, and the entire school is relatively empty. Personnel and equipment are not yet complete, so I suggest you don’t live at the school just yet. The city government has arranged housing for you in the city center. You can focus on preparing your lessons, and then return to the school in September,” said Rodman, the Director of the Municipal Education Bureau.

“Director Rodman, I am Adri Ross, formerly an employee of the Hechingen Electric Company. I would like to know if the dormitory is habitable now. I would like to live in the dormitory first.”

“Ah! Mr. Adri Ross, why do you want to live in the dormitory? Currently, the dormitory is not habitable, not because the living facilities are incomplete, but because there is no activity in the dormitory except for the administrator, so if you are not very brave, you might be afraid to live alone in the dormitory.”

Hearing Rodman’s description, Adri Ross shivered. Too much emptiness can indeed cause discomfort.

So he quickly explained, “I mainly don’t want to travel back and forth. I remember the house you allocated to me is some distance from the school, so I was wondering if I could live directly in the dormitory, which would save a lot of time.”

Director Rodman understood, “I see, that’s the reason. But Mr. Adri Ross, rest assured, as a teacher, you can naturally apply for faculty housing at the school. You can raise this issue with the school after the opening. Anyway, there is still some time before the opening. You can first take care of your new residence in the city center. But Mr. Adri Ross, out of curiosity, I would also like to ask, did you not bring your family this time?”

Adri Ross: “You guessed correctly, I did not bring my family to East Africa. After all, things haven’t settled down yet, so naturally I wouldn’t let my family come over. This is one of the reasons why I want to live in the dormitory.”

Hearing this, Rodman didn’t ask any further questions. He knew that Adri Ross was not young, and since he worked for the Hechingen Electric Company, he must have some savings. He probably started a family in Europe long ago. If he brought his family to East Africa, he wouldn’t be so desperate to live in the dormitory.

“Adri Ross, I really envy you. I wish I could live in the dormitory too!” a colleague said to Adri Ross.

“Oh, Mr. Kafee, are you also in East Africa alone?”

“Not really, I came with my wife. But don’t laugh at me, my wife is actually afraid that I will mess around alone in East Africa, so she insisted on coming with me to keep an eye on me. Alas, from this, you should know what kind of life I usually lead.”

Rodman and others laughed unkindly at this gentleman’s words. Rodman comforted him, “This shows that your wife cares about you. After all, outsiders don’t understand the specific situation in East Africa. East Africa is not that chaotic.”

“Hehe, thank you, Director Rodman, for your understanding, but you don’t understand my wife. Her desire for control is too strong. I regret it very much now. I was too naive before and was tricked by her!”

Everyone didn’t speak this time. After all, it involved private life, and everyone had only just met, so they couldn’t really believe that his wife was a calculating person just from his words. As for being tricked, well, it’s hard to say! It’s also difficult to judge, but since they are married, there is naturally no question of trickery.

“Hehe, gentlemen, don’t be too depressed. Today is your first time in Mbeya City, so we have specially prepared a banquet for you at the hotel, starting at seven o’clock in the evening. You can bring your families. As for the location of the hotel, you can just ask around, because Mbeya City only has one hotel, located on the west side of the municipal government.”

“Ah, the entire Mbeya City only has one hotel? Then if someone is just passing through Mbeya City and needs accommodation, what will they do? Can it handle the business?”

“You don’t know this, but ordinary people in East Africa usually stay in postal stations when they are on business trips, which are equivalent to inns. They used to be under the jurisdiction of the Postal Department, but now they are independent and specialize in providing temporary accommodation.”

Rodman’s words puzzled everyone, but it was normal for them not to know much about East Africa since they were new here. This group of people first landed in Dar es Salaam, which on the surface is almost no different from European cities, quite prosperous with bright lights and bustling activity, but Mbeya City, located deep inland, is very different.

“Mbeya City not only has only one hotel, but also has very limited other entertainment venues, but there are many pubs and restaurants.”

“What about casinos and brothels?”

“None.”

“Ah! Are you all saints in East Africa?”

“Hehe, I’m talking about the legal ones. I don’t know about the illegal ones, but the illegal ones are probably hard to find, after all, the risk is high.”

“Then life in East Africa is too boring!”

“Not necessarily. Although there is no gambling, drugs, or prostitution, East Africa has many other entertainment options, such as football matches, horse racing, and vacations on Lake Malawi, etc.”

“Football matches?”

“East Africa attaches great importance to sports, and the most popular sport is football. There is a football stadium in the suburbs of Mbeya City that can accommodate more than twenty thousand people, and Mbeya City only has a population of about one hundred and sixty thousand. You should know how popular football is. Moreover, there are more than a dozen football fields of all sizes in Mbeya City, and there are more than twenty registered professional teams, and even more amateur teams.”

“What is horse racing?”

“Horse racing is a relatively large gathering, starting in December every year and lasting for half a month, mainly focusing on horse racing, polo, and shopping.”

“Is Lake Malawi the large lake on the East African map?”

“Yes, Europe probably can’t find a freshwater lake larger than Lake Malawi. Mbeya City is located on the north bank of Lake Malawi, so vacationing and traveling to Lake Malawi is the most enjoyable activity for the people of Mbeya. There, families can camp out, fish, taste the most famous fish soup of Lake Malawi, and have barbecues. The most distinctive activities are boating and swimming. Because Lake Malawi is large, the scenery along the coast is almost indistinguishable from the sea, so many citizens of Mbeya like to vacation there.”

“Sounds not bad.”

“Of course. If you live in Mbeya City for a long time, you will truly fall in love with this city. It is most appropriate to describe Mbeya City as having a spring-like climate all year round and picturesque scenery. I dare say that the vast majority of cities in the world may not be more livable than Mbeya City. Moreover, Mbeya City’s most proud aspect is its extremely low crime rate. East Africa attaches great importance to public security, and the quality of residents is relatively high.”

Chapter 569: Insubordination

“Reporting, General! Ahead is Miyako Island. We’ve detected a large number of vessels loitering in the area. They should be the Japanese ‘pirate ships’!”

The Japanese call them fishing boats, so as the enemy, the East African government naturally has to define them as pirate ships roaming the waters of the Southern Ryukyu Islands. This makes fighting them more justifiable. Both sides have impure motives, but they both like to act like a prostitute setting up a memorial arch.

“Sound a warning shot and begin to drive them away,” ordered Glais.

They didn’t start fighting directly out of respect for Japan’s strength. After all, East Africa was a guest from afar and wasn’t arrogant enough to act recklessly in the Far East.

Subsequently, the sailors in the main gun room of the East African ironclad “Partridge” began to adjust the angle of the cannons, firing three shells into the sky above Miyako Island.

“Boom…”

The shells fell along a parabolic trajectory into the sea, the explosions creating huge waves that surged in all directions.

The impact point of the “Partridge’s” ironclad shells was less than eight hundred meters away from two Japanese “pirate ships.” One of the smaller fishing boats was almost capsized by the oncoming waves, its hull tilting nearly ninety degrees. The six sailors on board struggled to rescue it, barely preventing the fishing boat from overturning.

Glais, who was holding binoculars, naturally saw this scene. “It seems the other party isn’t ordinary. They’re likely fishermen disguised as Japanese navy!”

“Why do you say that, General?”

Glais explained, “The shells exploded so close just now, but the people on that small boat weren’t afraid. They cooperated and handled the situation extremely well. They stabilized the hull in a very short time under extreme conditions. It’s clear that ordinary fishermen couldn’t do that.”

“General, are you saying these fishermen are all Japanese soldiers in disguise?”

“It’s highly likely. But regardless of whether they’re Japanese soldiers or not, if they don’t know what’s good for them and actively leave, then we’ll just leave them all to sink!” Glais ordered.

At this moment, the Japanese soldiers who were praised by Glais for their “fearlessness” were not so calm in their hearts. At the moment of the shell explosion, their bodies were drenched in cold sweat, and their faces were pale. Fortunately, their usual training had taken effect, and they hadn’t lost their composure, thus saving their lives.

“Damn it, the East Africans are going too far!” This time, Japan’s supreme commander, Ozawa Jisaburo, cursed angrily.

In fact, when the East African fleet appeared, the Japanese naturally discovered its presence, especially the East African’s bright flag, which the Japanese naturally recognized.

However, the East African ironclad was very unsportsmanlike, opening fire when it was still far from the Japanese fleet. This made Ozawa Jisaburo’s heart hang in his throat at the time. If they had aimed at his command ship, he might have been finished.

Ozawa Jisaburo’s command ship was only a sailing ship with a displacement of more than five hundred tons, naturally unable to withstand a single blow from an East African main ironclad.

Fortunately, East Africa didn’t want to start a dispute right away and only threatened with artillery fire, but this also put great pressure on the Japanese fleet.

“Commander, it should be the East African Navy. The enemy has the upper hand right now, and they’ve already fired a warning shot. They probably want us to leave voluntarily. What should we do?”

“The East Africans are unsportsmanlike! We’re just some fishing boats, and they actually sent a naval fleet to interfere in the Sakishima Islands affairs. The great powers are acting too domineering,” Ozawa Jisaburo said with great dissatisfaction.

At this time, East Africa was still very unfamiliar to Japan, but Japan still instinctively categorized East Africa as one of the great powers. Although East Africa chose to hide its strength, the naval aspect couldn’t be hidden. As a naval power, East Africa enjoyed the treatment it deserved in the Far East, especially since Archduke Ferdinand had previously led the entire East African Navy on a visit to the Far East, and many Asian countries knew the strength of the East African Navy.

Of course, the East African Navy hadn’t been deliberately hiding its strength. The navy’s biggest task was deterrence, to prevent overseas forces from coveting East Africa. If the East African Navy wasn’t strong enough, wouldn’t the East African coast become a backyard for the great powers to come and go as they pleased, just like other countries?

Therefore, Ozawa Jisaburo didn’t dare to underestimate the East African Navy. He gritted his teeth and said, “Conflict with the East African Navy now is tantamount to hitting a rock with an egg. Although we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the empire, the difference in strength between the two sides is too great, and the empire has difficulty cultivating a navy. We can’t let our fine sons of the Yamato nation sacrifice themselves here in vain!”

“Commander… are you willing to accept this?”

“Damn it, we should have taken the initiative to seize the islands before East Africa gained a foothold, or we wouldn’t have today’s trouble!” Ozawa Jisaburo said unhappily.

“This isn’t your fault, but rather the misjudgment of those in the military. After all, no one would have thought that East Africa would send an entire fleet for a few islands tens of thousands of miles away!”

The Southern Ryukyu Islands were indeed dispensable to East Africa, and the cost of sending a fleet was quite high. East Africa probably wouldn’t recover the cost for decades to come, and there was also a garrison stationed here, which was a bottomless pit, almost only taking in and not giving out. Of course, from a strategic point of view, it couldn’t be said that East Africa was losing money. Having a foothold in the Western Pacific allowed it to better intervene in and safeguard East African interests in the Far East.

“Commander, now isn’t the time to discuss right and wrong. We must quickly transmit the intelligence back to the mainland and then make plans. Even if we retreat now, the military won’t pursue the matter, after all, the enemy’s strength is too great.”

“Alright, order a retreat!”

Subsequently, the Japanese command ship issued instructions to the Japanese fishing boats present, ordering them to withdraw from the waters of the Southern Ryukyu Islands and return to Naha via flag signals and horns.

These Japanese fishermen were originally disguised, so after receiving the instructions, they naturally began to withdraw in an orderly manner. But would things really go so smoothly?

“I said these so-called fishermen are disguised as Japanese professional soldiers. Look, they can still receive instructions and withdraw in an orderly manner. Ordinary fishing boat teams can’t achieve such tacit understanding!” Glais said happily after seeing the Japanese retreating.

“General, I’m afraid not necessarily. Look at their left wing, aren’t they making small moves!”

Glais looked in the direction his subordinate pointed and, sure enough, a Japanese force was not acting according to Ozawa Jisaburo’s instructions, but instead doing the exact opposite.

Ozawa Jisaburo also noticed the abnormality of his subordinates. “The left side is under Takayoshi Morita, right! What’s wrong with them? Hurry up and call them back! How can they misunderstand the instructions!”

“Commander, Takayoshi Morita has always been blindly arrogant and has always paid lip service to your words. I’m afraid he just doesn’t want to follow your orders. The military horn can be mistaken, but the flag signal can’t be misread!”

“Damn it, if his uncle hadn’t stuffed him to me, I wouldn’t even want to look at him. This time, he’s openly disobeying military orders. If it causes irreparable losses, I will never forgive him.”

“Commander, should we care about him, after all, he’s one of us?”

“Hmph, those who disregard the interests of the empire and disobey orders, no one is allowed to pay attention to him. At the same time, issue an order to his people, they must retreat, regardless of Takayoshi Morita’s orders.”

With Ozawa Jisaburo’s overriding order, some of Takayoshi Morita’s men did ultimately choose to withdraw, while Takayoshi Morita still had more than twenty ships under his command.

Ozawa Jisaburo had roughly guessed what that bastard Takayoshi Morita was going to do, but he was at sea now. If Takayoshi Morita was obsessed, then let that rich second generation go to his death.

Chapter 570: Surrender!

Koushou Morita, the number two figure in the Japanese forces, was currently in a furious rage on his ship.

“That bastard Ozawa Seiji, he is a disgrace to the Empire! To surrender without a fight is an unforgivable crime. It’s an insult to the soldiers of the Empire! He has ruined the spirit of Bushido! And those traitors, ungrateful wretches…”

As Ozawa Seiji had said, Koushou Morita was a reckless and brainless man. However, Koushou Morita’s personality was very popular in the current Japanese social environment, especially since he had a high-ranking uncle to look after him.

In fact, East Africa and Japanese society had some similarities. Both were countries with a strong militaristic atmosphere, where a straightforward personality made it easier to get ahead.

Of course, Japan was too extreme, far exceeding East Africa, and even Prussia. Perhaps the island nation’s geography shaped its character.

“Report, Commander! Ozawa Seiji’s single order has already cost us a third of our men. The difference in strength between us and East Africa is too great now. How should we respond?”

Hearing his subordinate’s question, Koushou Morita was also depressed. He said, “Although the East African fleet is powerful, we had opportunities to outsmart them before. After all, we have enough numbers. Although they are all fishing boats and merchant ships, we have enough cannons. If we find an opportunity to get close to the East African fleet, we will definitely be able to inflict heavy damage on them. It’s all Ozawa Seiji’s fault for surrendering without a fight…”

“Commander, the East African navy probably won’t let us get close, right? I think Ozawa Seiji also thought of this, so he gave up resisting and chose to retreat first.”

“Alright, there’s no need to defend that guy Ozawa Seiji. He’s always disliked me. Now it’s obvious he’s settling personal scores. I’m the second-in-command of the fleet, and he didn’t even discuss the retreat with me. He’s clearly not giving me any face.”

Koushou Morita was truly arrogant. He and Ozawa Seiji were, after all, in a superior-subordinate relationship. As his superior, Ozawa Seiji could naturally decide all matters of the fleet. Even if there was a problem, it was Ozawa Seiji’s responsibility and had nothing to do with Koushou Morita. He only needed to be responsible for executing orders to be considered qualified.

However, Koushou Morita obviously didn’t think so. He said to his subordinates, “I had already planned it out. Our strength is very weak, and anyone with eyes can see that. The East African navy naturally knows this as well, so the enemy will be careless. At this time, we can feign surrender to the East African navy. They will most likely believe it. Then, taking advantage of the surrender, we can get close to the East African fleet.

As long as we can get close to the East African navy, our goal will be achieved. Although the East African navy has powerful ships and cannons, their ships are large and difficult to maneuver. So, at close range, our small ships can more easily take the initiative.

If we operate well, we can even quickly penetrate into the East African fleet and surround several of their ships. At this time, even if we open fire or ram them, the East Africans won’t be able to react.

We may suffer heavy losses, but we can kill one thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of our own. And East Africa will lose advanced ironclad ships, so we will be making a great profit. At this time, the East African fleet will have nowhere to escape. After all, this is the Pacific Ocean, not the Indian Ocean. Even if their ships are damaged, it will be difficult to find a place to repair them.”

Koushou Morita did have some ability. What he said was true. If East African warships were damaged in the Far East, repairs would indeed be a major problem. If they sank, they could basically be declared scrapped.

In the Far East, probably only Japan and the Far Eastern Empire could repair ironclad ships, with the Far Eastern Empire being the most likely, because some of their technology came from Germany.

East Africa’s ironclad ship technology mainly came from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There was some connection between the two, but the Far Eastern Empire’s shipyards lacked experience in repairing giant ironclad ships, which was a fatal flaw.

Not to mention the Far East, even East Africa itself might not have this ability. Although the Bagamoyo Shipyard had the ability to manufacture ironclad ships, renovation was a completely different matter. This was a matter of cost. It was better to build new warships than to renovate old ones!

East Africa now had six shipyards of various sizes. The Bagamoyo Shipyard had the highest status, with independent design and construction experience for ironclad ships, but East Africa excelled at building gunboats.

Gunboats were really practical. They could be used for coastal defense, and they could also enter East African rivers to carry out missions. Moreover, they were cheap and technologically mature, making them the first choice for many poor and weak countries, or countries that did not pursue a large navy, such as Japan, the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Far Eastern Empire. Even the great powers would use them in large numbers as a substitute for ironclad ships.

Of course, the Far Eastern Empire was deceived by the British. The Far Eastern Empire’s maritime conditions were only slightly worse than those of the United States, and the demand was quite high. Although gunboats were cheap, they could not guarantee the interests of the Far Eastern Empire.

The United States was isolated overseas and had no opponents. The Far Eastern Empire was different. To the south were the colonial forces of Britain and France, to the north was Tsarist Russia, and to the east were Japan and the United States. Without a gun in hand, it was just a fat piece of meat in the eyes of others. Later, the Beiyang Fleet did have some deterrent power, but Japan, which knew the Far Eastern government best, saw through the Beiyang Fleet’s weaknesses at a glance, tore off its superficial fig leaf, and finally there was the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers.

Therefore, the navy was the most powerful military branch in this era. Of course, this did not apply to countries without oceans, such as the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany.

East Africa had a long coastline and was a country bordering two oceans, so developing a large navy was essential. This was an important sword for East Africa’s national defense security.

Japan, as an island nation, was naturally the same. However, in the previous life, Japan’s development of a million-strong army and one hundred million “jade碎” (willing to die for the emperor) was indeed crazy. If the British had this spirit, they would have swept through Germany long ago. Of course, the British were not as stupid as the Japanese. As an island nation, Britain knew its own position very well, which was to vigorously develop the navy. The conflict between the Japanese army and navy was a legacy of history. From the beginning, the army represented the independent faction of Japanese politics.

Koushou Morita: “Now that Ozawa Seiji has taken the main force away, I only have twenty-three ships in my hand, and half of them are small fishing boats that are not very useful. This will definitely not cause trouble for the East African navy, and it also means that we may be completely annihilated.”

“Then, Commander, what are your plans now?”

“It’s impossible to give up halfway! Otherwise, Ozawa Seiji will definitely laugh at me. We can only take a risk now and see if we can drag the East African navy down with us.”

“…” The subordinate didn’t say anything. Now he felt that his commander was a little crazy.

“Don’t look at me like that. There’s no turning back! We don’t seek to severely damage the East African fleet, but if we catch them off guard, we can still damage those three ironclad ships.”

“Commander, what’s next?”

“If we succeed, of course, we will find an opportunity to evacuate, but we can’t go to the Miyako Strait. Instead, we will use the gaps between several islands in the southern Ryukyu Islands to detour and get rid of them before heading north back to our country.”

Koushou Morita’s words gave his subordinate some confidence. Even if there was a one-in-a-thousand chance of survival, it was much better than dying honorably. And even if they died honorably, they would be worthy of the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor’s cultivation.

“We’ll do this first… and then this…”

“Yes, Commander!”

Then, all the ships under Koushou Morita’s command raised white flags. White flags represent surrender, which is reflected in both Eastern and Western cultures. Therefore, the East African navy also initially judged what these little devils with abnormal behavior were up to.

Chapter 571: Blockading the Miyako Strait

“General, the Japanese on the opposite side are raising a white flag. Are they surrendering?” General Glais’s adjutant, Morse, looked with some surprise at the twenty-odd small boats that remained.

Glais scoffed, “Heh, they’re not pretending anymore. What fisherman raises a white flag to a warship? It would have been better if they had just left earlier, that would have further confirmed their identities.”

Morse said, “Does that mean the Japanese really want to surrender now?”

Glais shook his head. “Don’t jump to conclusions. If it’s a surrender, then the ones who retreated earlier must be the main force of the Japanese. The ones who stayed behind are only a very small part. Think carefully, why didn’t they stay with the main force?”

“Maybe they want to stay and negotiate. After all, we have a rough idea of the Japanese’s intentions. They’re certainly not giving up easily. It’s impossible for them to abandon their interests in the Southern Ryukyu Islands just because we arrived.”

Glais: “Impossible. If it were negotiations, there would be no need to withdraw at the beginning. It wouldn’t be too late to retreat if the negotiations failed.”

He didn’t know that Japanese soldiers had a tradition of subordinates challenging superiors, so he couldn’t quite understand Takayoshi Morita’s intentions.

“Then should we let them on board and see what they want to do?” Morse asked.

“Hmm,” Glais thought so too. After all, the advantage was on his side, and he wasn’t worried about the other side playing any tricks. At the same time, Glais also wanted to know what the opposing commander was planning.

So Glais ordered, “Send out a communication boat and let our people approach them…”

When he said “approach,” a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Glais. “Approach, approach…” He seemed to have thought of something.

“Wait a minute, Morse, do you think those small fishing boats can pose a threat to us?” Glais asked Morse.

“General, of course not. Unless we stand still and don’t fight back, letting them bombard us. Moreover, their cannons are only a threat to merchant ships. We are armored cruisers. Even if they hit a critical part of the ship, I’m afraid they can’t cause us immediate damage. We would have sunk them long before that.”

“You’re right, but cannons are unreasonable, and we can’t afford any risk. If we capsize in a ditch, we’ll become the laughingstock of the world!” Glais said seriously.

Morse heard the hidden meaning in Glais’s words, so he asked, “General, have you noticed something?”

Glais didn’t answer the question directly, but instead asked, “Do you think the Japanese have a way to make us stand still and be beaten, as you said, or have no way to counter them?”

Morse knew that Glais wouldn’t speak without purpose. If he said that, there must be something he hadn’t considered, so he also pondered.

Soon he had an idea: “General, are you saying the Japanese might be feigning surrender?”

Glais saw that Morse had followed his train of thought and said with satisfaction, “That’s right. Our warships are indeed advanced, but as the saying goes, a small boat is easy to turn around, so that’s our disadvantage, and it’s the Japanese’s advantage instead.”

Morse continued, “So if the Japanese get close to our ship, our reaction speed may not be as fast as their small boats, and that’s our weakness. Especially if they get close to us, our weapons won’t be able to be used against them, and it may even cause friendly fire.”

Glais: “Isn’t this a bold guess? You know, the success rate of this kind of thing is probably only one percent. Do you think the Japanese would really dare to do this?”

This was almost like suicide. Even if they could cause damage to the ironclad ships, the other East African warships could make up for it. East Africa might suffer losses, but the other side would definitely be annihilated.

“This is not a question of you die or I die, but a question of the price paid being disproportionate. In my opinion, even if we lose one ship in the fleet, it’s much more of a loss than the other side being completely wiped out. Even the most backward sailing warship is a proper warship, and these Japanese ships are all temporarily converted from fishing boats and merchant ships,” Morse said.

Since East Africa annexed the Sultanate of Zanzibar, the Zanzibar shipyard naturally became East Africa’s property, and the Zanzibar Navy was completely incorporated into the East African Navy. Therefore, the East African Navy still retains many sailing warships. These ships may be a bit backward compared to other countries, but they still have some advantages over declining maritime powers like Portugal. The Omani Navy’s main opponent was Portugal back then. With the support of new technologies, it has been revived. Of course, wooden ships are now a sunset industry, but they can train a group of skilled workers, which is a good thing for East Africa.

This is also the reason why there are two sailing warships in this expeditionary fleet. Although they are sailing warships, they are also equipped with many new technologies, so it is naturally impossible to let the Japanese scheme against them.

“Then, General Glais, what should we do? Accept the Japanese surrender or how to accept it?”

“Of course, we have to accept it, but we have to give them hope while ruthlessly crushing it. Of course, if they don’t have that intention, that’s best, otherwise, let them sink forever to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean!” Glais said fiercely.

Soon, the East African communication boat was lowered, and then it negotiated with Takayoshi Morita’s people: “We accept your surrender, but according to the East African Navy Regulations, you can only stop in the area five hundred meters away.”

Takayoshi Morita thought carefully. This distance was not very good, but it was not too bad. Moreover, his main goal was to catch East Africa off guard. East Africa shouldn’t have thought that he would be so bold as to use small fishing boats to challenge East Africa’s large warships.

So he said, “I agree to the conditions of surrender, but I also have a request, that is, to have a direct meeting with your supreme commander.”

“You are not qualified!”

“This is my identification. I am Takayoshi Morita, a lieutenant commander in the Japanese Navy. Don’t worry, I’m alone. I’ll go with you on your small boat. Our boats will not follow.”

“Alright! But we have to keep the identification first.”

“No problem!”

Then Takayoshi Morita followed the East African sailors onto the “Partridge” bound vessel. Before leaving, he signaled his subordinate, Nakaida Jiro, with his eyes to act according to plan.

Takayoshi Morita risked his life to continue to paralyze the East African Navy. After all, no one would joke about their own life.

But Takayoshi Morita didn’t notice that after he boarded the boat and sailed for a while, the East African Navy also began to move. Gunboats began to approach the “Partridge,” and the other two ironclad ships began to disperse to both sides.

Nakaida Jiro was the first to discover East Africa’s unusual movements, but now that the commander had left with East Africa, he could only bite the bullet and continue to act according to plan, while trying to convince himself that the East Africans could not have seen through their plan.

The Japanese also began to maneuver their boats to approach the “Partridge,” but the target changed from three parallel ironclad ships to gunboats.

After East Africa completed its deployment, Takayoshi Morita also discovered East Africa’s weakness. Under the East African sailor’s strange smile, he knew that things were bad.

At this time, the Japanese fleet had already begun to move. They began to accelerate towards the “Partridge,” but the East African gunboats seemed to have known their movements and met the Japanese ships head-on, and stood in front of the “Partridge.”

The two sides opened fire almost at the same time. The Japanese small boats were no match for the East African gunboats. Although some shells hit, they were basically blocked by the gunboats.

Takayoshi Morita, knowing that the plan had been exposed, was ashen-faced and could only watch his subordinates being sent to the underworld one by one by East Africa’s cannons.

“The Japanese Navy attacked the East African Navy by surprise, a fait accompli. I order the Miyako Strait to be blockaded from today, prohibiting Japanese ships from entering!” Glais said excitedly.

Chapter 572: Ceasefire Line

Blockading the Miyako Strait was not difficult for East Africa. The East African expeditionary fleet could accomplish it. At that time, the Miyako Strait was not a very busy shipping lane, so making trouble for Japanese ships trying to pass through the Miyako Strait every day became routine for the East African navy. There were bound to be some that slipped through the net during these patrols, and those that were caught could only pay a large sum in taxes to East Africa, or have their ships impounded.

Under the protection and escort of the East African navy, the construction situation of the southern Ryukyu Islands, which had almost been interrupted, also changed greatly. Especially on Miyako Island, the northernmost island, East Africa began to expand and repair its port after restoring shipping with parts of the Far East mainland.

This time, the East African fleet certainly couldn’t keep floating at sea, especially the three ironclad ships, which would definitely return to East Africa. However, gunboats and other ships for other purposes would remain in the southern Ryukyu Islands for defense.

“Now, you Japanese war criminals, seventeen of your ships have been sunk by us. The remaining creatures, most of whom have surrendered, no longer have the arrogance of the past. However, you can be proud enough that you were defeated by our East African navy.”

Under the scorching sun, the East African navy lectured the captured Japanese sailors. Not all Japanese ships were sunk by the East African navy. In addition, the East African navy rescued many people who had fallen into the water in a timely manner. These Japanese sailors were “evidence” for East Africa of the Japanese navy’s disguised fishermen attack.

The East African garrison and workers on Miyako Island also watched with great interest as the navy drilled the Japanese prisoners in the scorching sun.

“The death penalty can be waived, but the living penalty cannot be escaped. From today onwards, you will start building prisons. I believe you will be proud of this new job, after all, you can personally participate in the enthusiastic cause of building prisons to imprison yourselves.”

The instructor’s words were undeniably vicious, making these Japanese build prisons to imprison themselves. However, criminals have no human rights, especially criminals who attempted to attack East African troops, who are war criminals and even less welcome.

Of course, East Africa’s decision to have these war criminals build prisons also had practical considerations. Naturally, there were prisons on Miyako Island before, but they did not meet East African standards. Moreover, East Africa has now arrested more than one hundred prisoners, and the small prison left over from the Ryukyu Kingdom cannot accommodate so many people at all.

Moreover, the East African instructor’s sentence “The death penalty can be waived, but the living penalty cannot be escaped” remains to be considered. If the Japanese government does not care about their life or death, then they may really lose their lives, mainly depending on whether Japan is willing to provide chips.

However, according to East Africa’s thinking, it is estimated that only big fish like Takashio Morita may be redeemed, after all, his uncle is a high-ranking official in the Japanese government, and his family still has some influence in Japanese politics.

Moreover, Takashio Morita’s behavior is still relatively admired in Japan. As long as it is packaged, it can become a “hero who defends national interests” in public opinion. After all, the feat of fishing boats fighting against large warships is indeed quite shocking.

The situation of East Africa blockading the Miyako Strait was naturally quickly reported to the Japanese government by those “victim” merchant ships and fishing boats. In fact, before that, Ozawa Seiji had already passed the news of the East African fleet arriving in the Miyako Strait to the Japanese government, but he did not expect that East Africa would dare to blockade the Miyako Strait.

So the Japanese government quickly approached the East African embassy and asked Kader: “Envoy Kader, does East Africa’s blockade of the Miyako Strait mean that you want to declare war on our Great Japanese Empire! The Miyako Strait is a natural sea passage and a fishing ground that our coastal people have managed for generations. Your country’s behavior is too domineering!”

Kader: “The information I received is not like this. We have conclusive evidence that your Japanese are using active-duty soldiers disguised as fishermen to harass and rob our East African merchant ships. East Africa is just retaliating in kind. Your country’s navy is doing the work of pirates under the name of the navy, and now you are coming to make false accusations. Our blockade of the Miyako Strait is considered light. In my opinion, cutting off your eastern shipping lanes is not an excessive punishment!”

“Envoy Kader, don’t make false accusations. The Imperial Navy could not possibly disguise themselves as fishermen to attack merchant ships. As for any evidence, it must be something you fabricated out of thin air.”

“Hmph, we have both human and material evidence. As for you not admitting it and wanting to deny it, we naturally have no way to deal with shameless countries. But unless you publicly apologize and compensate East Africa for its losses, don’t expect our country to easily lift the blockade.”

Envoy Kader can be considered to be breathing a sigh of relief now. Kader remembers the previous embassy attack incident very clearly. No one wants to be schemed against, and now he feels very comfortable in his heart to be able to embarrass the Japanese government, with a feeling of revenge.

The Japanese diplomat said with a gloomy face: “Your country’s conditions are too harsh, we will never agree. Moreover, the Sakishima Islands and the Miyako Strait are our country’s inalienable interests. It is extremely uneconomical for your country to waste time with us. I dare to guarantee that this will be a bottomless pit for you. As long as thirty million Japanese people still exist, they will not ignore the loss of territory.”

Kader: “Tsk, tsk, tsk, don’t say it so righteously. Don’t think that we East Africans don’t understand history. The entire Ryukyu Islands has nothing to do with Japan. Even if it is not an independent country, it is a vassal state of the Far East Empire. Your Japan also paid tribute to the Far East Empire in the Han Dynasty. In that case, your so-called thirty million people might as well jump into the Pacific Ocean and return the land to the Far East Empire.”

Envoy Kader is sophistry, but what he said makes some sense. Of course, the most important thing is that he can satirize Japan’s shameless behavior.

Of course, East Africa is not far behind in terms of shamelessness. After all, the land was snatched from the hands of black people, and black people were enslaved. It is a typical ruthless country. However, East Africa’s shamelessness is visible and never denied. Japan is covering it up and wants to establish a moral high ground.

The Japanese diplomat was very annoyed when he heard Kader’s sarcasm, but when he thought that the enemy was strong and he was weak now, he could only swallow his anger and said: “Then Envoy Kader, what exactly are your country’s conditions?”

Kader: “This matter is actually easy to talk about. Didn’t you previously want to have a so-called division of the Ryukyu Islands with the Far East Empire? Now our East Africa can be considered to have helped you implement this plan. Instead, your Japan wants to go back on its word. I don’t think you should bother anymore. The two countries should use the Miyako Strait as the boundary and completely divide the Ryukyu Islands into two.”

East Africa has no desire for the northern Ryukyu Islands, so the division is acceptable, and Japan could previously propose to divide the Ryukyu Islands with the Far East, which shows that they can also accept this plan.

Of course, the wolfish ambitions of the Japanese cannot be hidden, but East Africa does not care much now. Without ten years of development, Japan will not easily start a war, so as long as the two countries temporarily reach an agreement this time, East Africa can slowly manage the southern Ryukyu Islands. As for what will happen in the future, the Miyako Strait will simply become a temporary ceasefire line.

Chapter 573: The Land and Sea Dispute

“I am very sorry, Minister Kade, my rank is too low to make such a promise. Moreover, the Sakishima Islands are not as simple as just a few islands; they concern the security of the Miyako Strait and maritime territory issues. Therefore, I cannot give you an answer now and must report to the government,” the Japanese diplomat said.

As Kade said, Japan could indeed forgo obtaining the Southern Ryukyu Islands for now, because Japan had not previously sworn sovereignty over them. Instead, they had reached a compromise with the Far Eastern Empire, creating a strange and awkward division.

This made Japan psychologically believe that the Ryukyu Islands could be used as a bargaining chip, rather than insisting that they were its own territory.

Therefore, the Japanese diplomat was quite tempted by Kade’s proposal, but now that the matter had escalated, it was not easy to resolve. Could they really fight a war with East Africa for the Southern Ryukyu Islands?

If East Africa were truly a weak country, that would be one thing, but East Africa happened to have a reputation as a strong country that was not to be trifled with. After all, East Africa had previously had such serious conflicts with Britain and Portugal. Putting themselves in East Africa’s shoes, the Japanese absolutely could not be as calm and composed as East Africa.

Of course, East Africa had Germany, especially Austria-Hungary, backing it up, which was an unavoidable and important factor. This was also something that made the Japanese envious and jealous. This kind of “even the chickens and dogs rise to heaven” sense of achievement was indeed rare and hard to come by.

The three German powers were like three brothers. Of course, only Germany was relatively orthodox, but it was only relatively orthodox. After all, Prussia was not originally part of Germany, and Germans accounted for less than thirty percent of the population of Austria-Hungary. East Africa was even more outrageous; even if all the white people were counted as Germans, it would only be fifty percent. However, considering East Africa’s comprehensive Germanization and the fact that more than seventy percent of the eligible population intermarried, East Africa’s claim to be a German state was more convincing than Austria-Hungary’s.

East Africa was more like the Austrian Empire before. The Austrian Empire, led by Austrians, participated in the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire without any sense of incongruity. East Africa was now in a similar situation, and it had already cut off the hidden dangers of future national independence.

In short, none of the three German states could essentially represent Germany. Everyone was mixed with other ethnic groups. East Africa was the most outrageous, directly hybridizing the races. But now everyone identified as German, and what maintained the relationship between the three countries was culture and the aristocratic class.

The most important of these was the aristocratic class. The relationship between the rulers was the main reason for maintaining East Africa’s German culture. For example, the largest ethnic group in the United States was German, but the United States was a thoroughly English-speaking country.

“Alright then, but I hope your government can give me an answer quickly. After all, my personal time is also valuable, and I don’t want to waste my breath on this kind of thing,” Kade said.

In Kade’s view, Japan did not need to fight East Africa to the death for the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Even if East Africa did not intervene, wasn’t there still the Far East? It wouldn’t be Japan’s turn to take advantage of this situation anyway.

After all, at this time, the Far Eastern Empire still had a say in the Far East region. The main reason Japan was able to become a great power in its previous life was due to two wars: the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War.

Now, although Japan was jumping up and down in the Far East, plotting against the Ryukyu Islands, the Korean Peninsula, and the Far Eastern Empire, it had no achievements to show for it.

East Africa, on the other hand, was different. Many of the countries that had fought against East Africa had been destroyed. Some might say that Africans were not good fighters, but East Africa was able to occupy such a large area of land, and its war organization skills definitely conformed to people’s stereotypes of Germans.

In addition, East Africa had defeated the Transvaal Republic and the Kingdom of Portugal, which were also white regimes, so East Africa’s strength was considered at least a military power in the eyes of other countries.

Therefore, East African nationals had a psychological sense of superiority over Japan, which was inseparable from the influence of the European civilization-centric theory of this era. In addition, Japan itself was very admiring of the strong and had the ideal of “leaving Asia and entering Europe.” Japan had a strong filter for all Western countries. Japan faced East Africa, or rather all white countries, with a relatively blind attitude, just like many Westerners in later generations blindly and arrogantly believed in American-style freedom and democracy.

Freedom is freedom, but there is absolutely no freedom without money. Democracy was something that the United States shouldered after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was indeed very democratic, and this was indeed the case in terms of the system. However, people have selfish desires and a tendency to blindly follow, so that Soviet-style democracy was unsustainable, unless everyone in the Soviet Union was a saint, selfless and impartial, which was obviously impossible.

The 19th century was the era of white people. Even white people’s farts smelled good. The Japanese couldn’t help but take a few more breaths of the black smoke from the chimneys of the industrial era. Therefore, a country like East Africa, especially one with important connections to two world powers, would not be ostracized overseas, even if it was not respected for its strength.

Therefore, in the eyes of Japanese officials, Minister Kade was extremely arrogant, but the Japanese did not think that this arrogance was rude. On the contrary, it was taken for granted, a manifestation of confidence in one’s own strength.

“Of course, we also do not want a real conflict with East Africa. We hope that the two countries can take a step back and seek a solution that everyone can accept, putting aside the dispute.”

Kade: “It had better be so.”

Soon, the Japanese government began to discuss the Southern Ryukyu Islands, or the Sakishima Islands as Japan called them.

“The Sakishima Islands must not be given away. East Africa is not the Far Eastern Empire. If we give them to East Africa now, it will not be easy to get them back in the future.”

“Eita Shoji, I understand your feelings, but the current situation is that the enemy is strong and we are weak. We must face the gap in strength between the two sides, and the Sakishima Islands are not worth betting our national fortune on.”

“Councilor Yamamoto is right. The East African Navy is one of the top ten most powerful navies in the world, and we may not be able to win even if we concentrate the power of the whole country. It is not worth using the fate of the Imperial Navy for the ownership of the Sakishima Islands,” said a member of the naval department.

The Japanese Navy did not want to fight the East African Navy to the death, because the East African Navy’s paper data was very strong, and the Japanese Navy had no confidence in defeating the East African Navy.

Moreover, what would they gain even if they won? This was the issue that the Japanese Navy valued most. Even if Japan could win, there was a one hundred percent probability that it would be a pyrrhic victory. Most of the East African Navy’s forces were in the Indian Ocean. Even if the East African Navy in the Southern Ryukyu Islands was annihilated, it would not cause too much damage to East Africa.

The East African Navy had a strong ability to withstand pressure, but the Japanese Navy was not like that, because the Japanese Navy had a competitor, which was the Japanese Army. If the Japanese Navy suffered huge losses, wouldn’t the “idiots” in the Army ride on their heads and shit for the next ten years? This was what the Japanese Navy could not accept the most.

The spokesperson for the Army Department saw through the Navy’s thoughts and provoked, “It seems that some people only know how to take the money of the Empire’s taxpayers and enjoy coffee and Western food, but cannot guarantee the Empire’s interests. I think it would be better to hand over the Navy’s funding to us for management, so that it can be used for proper purposes.”

“Tsuruo Ichiro, you are slandering us. The Imperial Navy’s funding is pitifully small. Look at our ships, they are two generations behind East Africa’s. This is the reason why the Empire cannot deal with East Africa in the Sakishima Islands today. Are we supposed to consume East Africa with fishing boats like Takao Morita? And without our Navy, your Army would only be able to bully people at home. Opening up territory still depends on our Navy. So in my opinion, your Army is the most useless department and should have its military spending reduced, so that the Empire can supply a few more warships.”

Chapter 574: Backing Down

“Hmph, you in the navy only benefit from the funding advantage. Our army soldiers are like livestock, eating at best coarse grains. You only know how to enjoy yourselves every day. Even if we don’t talk about the navy’s equipment, if the food was the same as the army’s, we wouldn’t be so hostile towards you!”

That’s what he said, but in reality, the dispute between the army and the navy was still about power within the government. The army’s predecessor was the Satsuma Domain, and the navy’s predecessor was the Choshu Domain. Ancient Japan was like the Warring States period, with different states attacking each other. The Satsuma and Choshu Domains were important forces in the Meiji Restoration, and they united to deal with the more powerful shogunate, but after forming the new government, the previous conflicts still existed.

In addition, the Japanese Emperor didn’t want his subordinates to be too united, because Japan had the soil for revolution. If they also learned from France and sent the monarch to the guillotine, the imperial family would be in trouble. Therefore, the Emperor, as the supreme ruler, actually hoped that his subordinates would not unite, and that they would fight to the death.

The conflict between the Japanese army and navy also involved the struggle between the English and German national models. The Japanese army naturally learned from the German path, because Germany, like Japan, was fragmented before, and both countries were latecomers. Coupled with Germany’s inspirational experience of defeating France, it could be said that it was the country the Japanese admired most.

Needless to say, the Japanese navy’s model was naturally the world’s number one, England, including all aspects of the British navy, even to the point of obsession.

For example, the Etajima Naval Academy even imported bricks from England for its construction, which was very magical. Ernst guessed there were three possibilities: First, the Japanese worship of the British navy was so deeply rooted that they wanted to be completely consistent in every detail.

Second, it was to facilitate the embezzlement of certain people. The Japanese government was efficient, but didn’t care much about corruption, after all, Japan had two privileged classes: the imperial family and the Kazoku (the Japanese nobility).

Third, it was to curry favor with the British. This was also possible. Japan wanted to learn from the British navy, so it had to pay a price, after all, Britain wasn’t Japan’s biological father.

The third point is easy to understand. In this era, nothing can be done without connections. For example, the construction of the East African navy was so smooth, naturally thanks to the connection between the East African government and the Austrian government, and with Archduke Ferdinand acting as a bridge. Archduke Ferdinand was the former leader of the Austro-Hungarian navy, so the Austro-Hungarian navy wouldn’t hold back when teaching the East African navy.

The Japanese navy didn’t have this kind of relationship. Not to mention Japan, the Far East Empire’s naval construction largely depended on Britain, but Britain treated them like a sucker, swindling a lot of money. This was also the reason why the Far East Empire navy retreated and chose to cooperate with Germany.

Japan, unlike the Far East Empire, didn’t stand on ceremony and was willing to be obsequious in front of Britain, like a good dog, so that Britain could support Japan with more confidence. However, this Japanese dog would bite its master, giving Britain a hard lesson in Southeast Asia in the previous life.

So, the Japanese navy importing bricks from England is understandable. Of course, Japan also got what it wanted, which was the maritime hegemony in the Western Pacific later on. Japan’s so-called Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was actually completed, but the enemy’s strength was too great, resulting in Japan’s sphere existing for only an extremely short time.

In the previous life, the Japanese navy achieved brilliant achievements, but it’s hard to say in this timeline, because the rise of East Africa has caused great changes in history.

For example, right now, the East African navy has successively taken the Lanfang Overseas Province (northwest of Kalimantan Island) and the Southern Ryukyu Islands in the Western Pacific. Especially the Southern Ryukyu Islands, which is equivalent to driving a nail into the area.

The Japanese navy can continue to go south as in the previous life, but because of the existence of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, the risk has greatly increased. To avoid this risk, they would have to invade Egg Bay Island, but because of East Africa’s interference, it’s unknown whether Egg Bay Island can be taken as easily as in the previous life.

This involves a very important factor, which is the economy. Although Japan’s development in this timeline is also very rapid, its economy is far inferior to Ernst’s previous life, so Japan’s financial resources are even more strained than in the previous life. This is also an important reason why the Japanese navy’s strength is inferior to the East African Expeditionary Fleet.

In the previous life, the Japanese navy at this stage would never have only a quarter of the strength of the East African navy. It’s all because of a lack of money. Japan’s two most profitable industries, one is agriculture, mainly due to the large quantity, which is a characteristic of all agricultural countries, and the other is the raw silk industry, both of which have been weakened to varying degrees because of East Africa. Even if it’s blood money, it’s even harder to earn.

Therefore, the Japanese navy wished they could tear a yen in half to spend it. Although the navy lives more comfortably than the army, it pales in comparison to other countries. Therefore, in the eyes of the Japanese navy, the army simply doesn’t know the cost of living, and now the army is still slandering them, so naturally they can’t accept it for nothing.

“Tsuruo Ichiro, the navy is a money-burning service, and the soldiers’ training is entirely at sea, constantly suffering from turbulence. Sometimes, on long journeys, they have to experience different weather changes, unlike you army ‘idiots’, who are fine as long as you stay on land, so it’s necessary to ensure adequate nutrition.

Moreover, naval warships are inherently expensive. Considering domestic development, we haven’t ordered new warships for a long time. Compared with other countries, our strength is naturally far inferior. Now, Japan’s enemies all come from overseas, so our pressure is much greater than the army’s. You still want to reduce the navy’s funding, you’re really ignorant.”

Tsuruo Ichiro retorted: “Japan’s security doesn’t necessarily have to be protected by your navy. We can still repel the enemy outside the country.”

“Heh, are you going to chop enemy ironclad ships with a knife? Or do you want to scare away enemies coming on giant ships with rifles and cannons?”

“Hmph, our army can also have its own warships. We can completely break away from you and go it alone. Isn’t it just changing the battlefield from land to sea? The enemy is still flesh and blood. As long as we dare to fight, there’s nothing to be afraid of!”

The Japanese army building warships isn’t a joke, because they might actually do it, especially during wartime. But now the Japanese government is still rational, and the conflict between the army and navy hasn’t intensified to that point.

Therefore, everyone just treats Tsuruo Ichiro’s words as a joke, listening to it is enough. Only a madman would do that.

“Alright, today’s meeting isn’t to listen to you two bickering, but to solve the Sakishima Islands issue!”

“There’s nothing to discuss. At this time, we can only choose to endure, unless we really go to war with East Africa, but whether we go to war or not, we’re the ones who will suffer.”

“East Africa’s attitude is extremely tough. For a few small islands thousands of miles away, they sent their fleet to the Far East. This shows that they will never easily give up the Sakishima Islands. This can also be heard from the East African diplomats. Minister Cade’s words are full of hidden barbs, so our hope of forcing East Africa to submit is very slim.”

“In the end, it’s still because our national strength isn’t as strong as East Africa’s. When the Japanese navy develops in the future, we will definitely take back the Sakishima Islands!”

In short, the Japanese government chose to yield to East Africa, especially since Japan’s means of threatening and intimidating East Africa had no effect, and they couldn’t afford the consequences of war right now, so they could only choose to compromise.

Chapter 575: Reaching a Consensus

Japan wanted to be tough, but the gap in strength forced them to bow their heads. Thus, Minister Kader once again received Japanese diplomatic officials.

Kader greeted Kudo Yasu, the Japanese diplomat from the previous meeting, with a smile. Looking at Kudo Yasu’s gloomy face, Kader felt delighted. “Mr. Kudo, we meet again.”

“Indeed! Minister Kader, you have achieved your wish this time. Congratulations,” Kudo Yasu said through gritted teeth.

“Hahaha, not at all! So, does your government agree with our proposal?” Kader asked.

Kudo Yasu sighed and said, “Yes, our Japanese government, considering the friendship between our two countries, has decided to concede on the issue of the Sakishima Islands.”

Kader emphasized, “The Southern Ryukyu Islands.”

“Regardless of the name, this is our bottom line. Otherwise, it will be difficult to explain to our people. Moreover, after reaching this consensus, I’m afraid I will become a sinner in Japan, and my career will be affected.”

Kudo Yasu said this, but it’s highly likely he won’t be working in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs anymore. After all, giving up the Southern Ryukyu Islands will definitely mean being idle at home for a while, then transferring to another department to continue working. After all, he can’t be held solely responsible for the Japanese government’s decision, especially since he hasn’t committed any fundamental errors.

Kader understood the subtext in Kudo Yasu’s words and didn’t pay too much attention to it. This was the difference in national power, and it had nothing to do with diplomacy. After all, diplomacy requires national strength as support; otherwise, he would be the one in an embarrassing situation today.

However, out of professional ethics, he still comforted him: “Mr. Kudo Yasu, you don’t need to worry too much. We are all diplomats and know that diplomacy is not easy. I believe the Japanese government will not mistreat you. After all, it was unavoidable; it’s not your fault.”

Crying crocodile tears, Kudo Yasu thought to himself, but he still picked up the conversation and said, “Hehe, I’m not a pessimistic person either. Minister Kader, you don’t need to comfort me. However, we are not making such a big concession without conditions.”

“As long as the conditions are not too excessive, we can consider them. So, Mr. Kudo Yasu, you might as well state them first, and then we can discuss them,” Kader said. He had already gotten what he wanted, so naturally, he had to save face for the other party.

Kudo Yasu didn’t act coy. Diplomacy is no small matter and cannot be mixed with personal feelings. Of course, the key to diplomacy is “communication,” so it’s the same as making friends. As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes, so playing the emotional card is essential.

“The main demands of our Japanese government are the following three points. First, the name of the Sakishima Islands will not be changed by our side. The Sakishima Islands have an inseparable historical and cultural exchange with Japan, so this name must be retained.”

This was understandable. East Africa had essentially snatched a piece of meat from Japan’s mouth, so they were naturally not very willing. However, Kader wouldn’t agree so easily.

He said to Kudo Yasu, “The name issue can be viewed separately. We don’t care if you want to use this name yourselves. However, East Africa will continue to use the name Southern Ryukyu Islands. After all, this is the original name of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, passed down by the Ryukyu Kingdom itself.”

Regarding the place names of the Ryukyu Kingdom, that was naturally the standard of the Far East Empire. However, these vassal states of the Far East Empire were originally within the same cultural sphere, and their legitimacy came from the investiture of the Far East Empire, such as Korea, Annam, and Japan. This was a thorough manifestation of Sinicization. The opposite examples are terms like Rong Di, Man Yi, and Tartars, which are not good words.

On the contrary, for those countries that accepted the investiture of the Far East Empire, or those recognized by the Far East Empire, the Far East Empire would translate them according to the process of faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance.

As for the vassal states of the Far East Empire, it was a case of willing buyer, willing seller in terms of naming. Therefore, the translation of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s name followed the rules of the Far East Empire, and there was nothing to criticize. East Africa was also directly arranging the name according to regional traditions. Of course, it was more for Ernst’s convenience in remembering. For example, with the Southern Ryukyu Islands, Ernst could directly pinpoint its approximate location. If you say Sakishima Islands, Ernst would be at a loss.

Kudo Yasu said somewhat helplessly, “Can’t even such a small request be fulfilled?”

Kader: “Anyway, everyone will call it what they want; it’s not internationally recognized. For example, the official name of the Netherlands is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but other countries habitually call it Holland. So, this issue is insignificant and doesn’t need to become a point of contention between the two sides. At worst, both names can be used in the agreement.”

Kudo Yasu: “Okay, we can barely accept this result. Let’s talk about the second point, which is that sovereignty over the Miyako Strait must belong to us.”

If the first request was a bonus, the second request was Japan’s real purpose. What are the two major strategic roles of the Southern Ryukyu Islands?

First, they are an important part of the first island chain connecting Egg Bay Island, forming a blockade against the Far East Empire’s mainland. Second, they control the Miyako Strait, an important maritime passage.

Of course, this strait doesn’t actually have much use for East Africa. The Miyako Strait is not a narrow area like the Mandeb Strait; on the contrary, it is quite wide. Moreover, apart from the Miyako Strait, the entire first island chain looks very tight, but in reality, it leaks everywhere, and there are quite a few locations to choose from. Therefore, the so-called first island chain created by the United States in its previous life had quite a few loopholes. If you really want to block the Far East Empire, unless you use a sufficient number of naval forces to fill these gaps, but the United States cannot concentrate global American naval power to confront the Far East Empire to the death. Moreover, this is a bad move in the twenty-first century; after all, it is very cost-effective to use missiles to hit warships. What the United States truly uses to control the Far East Empire is the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz, but the United States doesn’t have the final say on the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran is not one to be trifled with.

So, Kader said, “The issue of sovereignty over the Miyako Strait can be discussed, but East Africa must have the right of free passage and enjoy the right of free development at the same time.”

Kader’s method was still compromise. The nominal title can be given to Japan, but East Africa must also enjoy the actual benefits.

Kudo Yasu pondered for a moment and then said, “Okay.”

East Africa was already staying in the Southern Ryukyu Islands and not leaving, so even if Japan wanted to monopolize the Miyako Strait, it was actually impossible. However, holding sovereignty in Japan’s hands would still allow them to grasp the initiative.

As for the initiative, it was naturally the initiative in war. Japan was not generous enough to give the Southern Ryukyu Islands to East Africa. Now, East Africa was powerful, so they had to make concessions. In the future, when Japan becomes strong, they will still take it back.

Kudo Yasu: “The following is the third point. This last point is mainly about public opinion. We have given up the Southern Ryukyu Islands, but it is difficult to explain to the people. Therefore, the issue of sovereignty over the Southern Ryukyu Islands should be temporarily shelved and defined as an area with undetermined sovereignty.”

“There’s no need for that. The sovereignty of the Southern Ryukyu Islands belongs to the Far East Empire. We have negotiated this with the Far East Empire and signed an agreement. We are only managing this place on their behalf.” East Africa’s intervention in the Southern Ryukyu Islands was originally under the name of the Far East Empire, so there was no dispute on this point. If there was a dispute, it would be between Japan and the Far East Empire.

Therefore, Kader didn’t intend to get entangled in this issue, and Japan was happy to do so. After all, the Far East Empire was easier to deal with than East Africa.

Chapter 576: Ginseng Cultivation

The two sides signed an agreement, which was not made public at Japan’s strong request. East Africa was well aware of Japan’s intentions, which were that they hadn’t given up their covetous desires. However, as long as East Africa managed the Southern Ryukyu Islands well, Japan would have to pay a price if they wanted to snatch them away again.

……

Hohenzollern Province.

Although East Africa lacked the strength to develop the pharmaceutical industry, it still tried its best to develop traditional Chinese medicine based on its own characteristics and advantages, or rather, to reduce the treatment costs of traditional Chinese medicine.

This was a topic about getting something for nothing. The West focused on patents, while the Far East didn’t have this concept. Of course, it couldn’t be said that doctors in the Far East were generous. Many of these skills were passed down through families and apprenticeships, which was actually quite selfish and carried the risk of being lost. Of course, it was understandable, as it was a skill to make a living.

Moreover, the Far East might not have placed much importance on medical development. This could be seen from their social status. Doctors and lawyers were very important professions in the United States in his previous life, but both were money-grubbing industries.

And 19th-century medicine was all about “my fate is in my own hands,” but its efficacy was hard for Ernst to trust, so he usually paid great attention to his health and tried to reduce the risk of getting sick.

Currently, East African medicine needed a founding figure to drive modern medicine, or a complete system to form spontaneously, or advanced equipment and new methods to promote its development, but East Africa did not have any of these three conditions.

The traditional Chinese medicine system was relatively mature, and it would not be possible to break through the new Chinese medicine in a day or two, nor could it have any significant impact on East Africa’s current medical system.

Therefore, East Africa could only vigorously develop the medicinal material planting industry on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. No matter which ancient medical system, it could not be separated from the support of medicinal materials, and East Africa was the same now.

Europeans and Americans in this era had no interest in traditional Chinese medicine, so they directly demonized it. Japan was speeding along the road of “leaving Asia and entering Europe,” so no one except East Africa had any crooked ideas about traditional Chinese medicine, and the Far Eastern Empire was now very numb to this aspect.

After all, Europe and the United States looked down on it, to the point that they themselves had some doubts about their traditional industries, and many formal practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine were increasingly being questioned.

Speaking of getting Chinese herbal medicine for free, although the Far East did not have patents, planting Chinese herbal medicine was a technical job, and East Africa needed to import most of the Chinese herbal medicine from the Far East.

Chinese herbal medicine was mainly based on herbs. Although East Africa was mainly a tropical savanna climate, there were many kinds of herbs, but Africans had a very low level of development of herbs.

Therefore, East Africa’s local herbs mainly took the medicine of the Arabs in Africa as a starting point, inheriting and absorbing the medical traditions of the Swahili people and the Arabs on the southern edge of the northern Sahara Desert.

Black people actually had their own witch doctor system, but the black forces that had been completely controlled by East Africa naturally announced the demise of their witch doctor system. Although black people existed, African witch doctors were different. Even the most backward Africa had knowledge barriers.

Before East Africa colonized it, the original black forces in East Africa were not highly developed, and medicine was naturally the same, and it had to be tied to talk of ghosts and gods.

This made curing diseases a metaphysical problem. If it was cured, it meant that the gods had not abandoned their people. If it was not cured, it meant that their hearts were not pious enough, so they were abandoned by the gods. This also solved the problem of medical disputes.

Even if death was really caused by treatment errors, the ruling class had already pushed the responsibility to the gods. If there was a problem, it was because your heart was not pure, and it had nothing to do with their treatment.

African witch doctors belonged to the ruling class, because most of these so-called doctors were tribal chiefs, priests, or other high-level officials.

Of course, this kind of deceptive method also required technical content. Ghosts and gods could not always take the blame, and lies would be exposed one day.

This witch doctor system was generally more harmful than beneficial to East Africa, because it mainly remained in the primitive social stage, and the version was too backward.

The most mature traditional medicine development was Far Eastern medicine and Arabic medicine. One had a long heritage and was becoming increasingly complete, and the other took advantage of its geographical location, where East and West met, so it could draw on the strengths of many schools.

East Africa chose traditional Chinese medicine, so it naturally had to use Chinese medicinal materials, but most of the Chinese medicinal materials did not have the growing environment in East Africa, or it was not possible to promote them at present, so it needed a large amount of expenditure to import them from the Far East, but this was much lower than the cost of many Western medicines with unknown side effects.

The effect of trial planting and promotion of Chinese herbal medicine in East Africa was not obvious, especially some commonly used medicinal materials, such as the ginseng of the all-purpose oil.

Hohenzollern Province was one of the ginseng trial planting bases, mainly in shady river valleys.

“This ginseng planted in the shady mountains can indeed mature, but I don’t know how the quality and efficacy compare with the Far Eastern Empire?”

“At present, we have selected a total of four ginseng planting bases in the country. Now, from the finished products, the ginseng in Hesse Province grows the best, is the largest, and is most in line with the characteristics of Far Eastern ginseng. Of course, we still need to further observe the specific efficacy, and we need more samples and clinical trials.”

“Hesse Province mainly relies on the mountainous terrain. Although the quality of the finished products is excellent, it is not suitable for large-scale promotion. I think we should try planting it in the South African Plateau in the southernmost part of East Africa.”

“Kels, what are your thoughts?”

“I mainly consider it from the perspective of light. I heard that the area most suitable for ginseng planting in the Far East is at a relatively high latitude, and the highest latitude in our East Africa is the three southern provinces, which already belong to the subtropics.”

“You are being a bit presumptuous. Although the temperature of the South African Plateau is suitable, it does not meet the characteristics of being humid, and ginseng likes a humid environment.”

“Of course I know this, so I suggest choosing the location in the former Kingdom of Swaziland, where the rainfall should be relatively abundant, and there are relatively large plateaus.”

“But many of us have not been to Swaziland and don’t know if what you said is true?”

“Of course, don’t you know me? What good would it do me to lie to you? Now Swaziland is a prefecture-level city, and the indigenous population has basically been relocated. The population is very small, but there are troops stationed around it to guard against the Portuguese, so there is absolutely no problem with safety.”

“Then Kels, how about I give you this task? You take a team to Swaziland for a trial first, and then report the results in stages.”

“Dean, I can’t do it. You know me. Although I like plants, my education level is limited. It’s definitely not okay for me to lead a team, unless you send Mars to me as an assistant.”

Mars said with a smile: “If I go to Swaziland, then I will be the team leader. How can it be your turn? And I have to go to Hesse Province for inspection in a few days, so the task will still fall on you.”

“But I really have no experience!”

Dean: “Kels, don’t worry. Actually, you just need to do what you do here every day again in Swaziland. How about this? Houtu has a new intern who has returned from studying in Europe. I will send him to you then. With his assistance, I believe you will have no problem!”

Kels said helplessly: “I can only do this.”

Chapter 577: Wrapping Up

The Chinese herbal medicine cultivation institute doesn’t have any fancy techniques for selecting ginseng production sites. The overall environment in East Africa tends towards tropical, with the characteristic of high altitude, and some special areas, such as high mountain river valleys and basins, have some differences.

Therefore, whether ginseng is suitable for local cultivation cannot be determined by theory alone, but requires more practice. Relying on armchair theorizing is ultimately undesirable. Theoretical research can only provide the Chinese herbal medicine cultivation institute with a general direction. Specific problems still need to be solved and analyzed through local practice.

…

First Township.

Ernst was handling official business as usual.

“Your Highness, we have signed an agreement with the Japanese government according to your requirements. At the request of the Japanese side, this is a secret agreement. Please take a look and see if there are any omissions or areas you are not satisfied with.”

The subordinate directly handed Ernst a whole book of agreements regarding the Southern Ryukyu Islands, accurately named: “East-Japan Agreement on the Division of the Southern Ryukyu Islands and the Miyako Strait.”

Ernst unhurriedly opened the book and began to read it. This was a major issue involving territory and sovereignty, and he couldn’t be careless.

First was the outline, then the main text, all of which had been determined by East Africa and Japan, clause by clause. Of course, the Far East Empire’s opinions were also attached for reference, after all, East Africa was borrowing a hen to lay eggs.

Then there was a very precise atlas of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, using pens, rulers, and detailed data to mark the East African Southern Ryukyu Islands area, including a portion of the Miyako Strait that was also划入 into the Southern Ryukyu Islands sea area.

The main text plus pictures totaled two hundred and twenty-three articles, clarifying the achievements of this East African expeditionary fleet, and also East Africa’s first victory in overseas competition through military coercion.

As for the Lanfang Overseas Province, it could basically be said that the Netherlands sold it to East Africa, so the situation between the two was different.

After Ernst read it, he handed the agreement back to his subordinate and said, “Yes, well done. Next, let the military speed up the construction work on the Southern Ryukyu Islands. In order to prevent the situation of being surrounded by fishing boats from happening again, a batch of grain and ammunition must be stockpiled on the island, and it must be properly managed so that it can be used in battle.

At least it can last for three months. Water storage facilities and other facilities should also be built more. Freshwater resources in the Pacific Ocean are still very valuable. Our East African experts can go to the local area to investigate and prescribe the right medicine.”

When it comes to the research of drinking water, East African experts still have some tricks, because during the East African colonial period, they attached importance to this work, after all, this involved Ernst’s plan to successfully colonize Africa.

Drinking water resources in the Southern Ryukyu Islands are relatively tight, and a large part comes from rainwater, so in the case of supplying troops, it is necessary to treat the water sources in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and purifying water resources is East Africa’s specialty.

“Your Highness, the communication problem of the Southern Ryukyu Islands also needs to be solved. So far, there is not a single telegram connecting to the outside world on the island, which has added a lot of trouble to our previous work.”

“Yes, this is indeed a problem. The telegram from the Southern Ryukyu Islands should be connected to Fujian Province, and then connected to our East Africa through the Far East Empire’s telegram network, especially Miyako Island. Miyako Island is the outpost of the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and we can obtain intelligence in a timely manner.”

Now most of the Far East’s telegraph companies are private enterprises, especially in the northern provinces, with East Africa’s connection, German companies led by Siemens and Herington Electric occupy an absolute advantage.

But it is limited to this. As for the Zhuhai Trading Area, the area is too small, but there is a saying that what is concentrated is the essence. East Africa only has this one economic development zone in the Pearl River Delta, and the natural configuration is quite complete.

In the past, the total population of the Zhuhai Trading Area was only over ten thousand, and most of them lived in villages. There was only one Xiangshan County nearby. Now the Zhuhai Trading Area has developed into a prosperous city with a population of more than eighty thousand. Many German and Austro-Hungarian merchant ships will stop here for rest and reorganization, and then go north to Jiaozhou.

There are also those who directly set up factories, companies, and shops in the trading area. The most famous here is the raw silk industry, which is mainly sold to the German region and East Africa, but East Africa’s orders are very small, and most of them are official purchases.

In fact, raw silk is a very popular product in East Africa, and you need to queue up to buy it. After all, it is very comfortable to wear silk products in East Africa during the day, breathable, cool and smooth, and you can wear it all year round, after all, East Africa has no winter.

Therefore, East African nationals have a great demand for raw silk. It is not that East Africa has no substitutes, but they are not as popular as raw silk. Although wages in East Africa are not high, the corresponding prices are also low, and silk in East Africa is a light luxury product.

East Africa and the German region have the same approach, and they are not very interested in developing light industry, especially the textile industry, which is barely enough, because the labor cost in the Far East is lower.

The Zhuhai Trading Area has naturally become a center of the raw silk industry in the Far East. Food, clothing, housing, and transportation are essential, and clothing is a high-consumption product. Even if East Africa buys only one set per person, there will be more than 30 million sets of demand, so this market is very considerable. This is also why the textile industry has become the world’s second largest industry after agriculture in this era, and it is also the most important industry in the industrial field.

Although the Zhuhai Trading Area is prosperous, it is some distance away from the Southern Ryukyu Islands, so it is more cost-effective for East Africa to connect the Southern Ryukyu Islands to the telegram through Fujian Province.

“Your Highness, Fujian Province in the Far East includes Egg Island. Do we need to transfer through Egg Island?” The subordinate suddenly asked a very critical question.

Only then did Ernst realize that Egg Island is now part of Fujian. Influenced by his previous life, he always easily regarded Egg Island as a separate province.

So Ernst said, “No, let’s just lay the telegram through submarine cables to Fuzhou.”

As the provincial capital, Fuzhou already had telegrams as early as 1876. The Herington Consortium also has a telegram branch in Fuzhou, so the Southern Ryukyu Islands telegram is transferred to Zhuhai through Fuzhou, and finally connected to the international general submarine cable through Guangzhou, directly to India and then to Europe, and can go back to East Africa.

After all, it is impossible for East Africa to build a submarine cable directly from East Africa to the Far East to transmit information at the moment, which is too uneconomical.

There is no need to worry about security issues. The international general cable is naturally used by everyone. East Africa is not worried about anyone tampering with it, but it needs to pay a fee.

Next, Ernst said a few more words, mainly to urge the people below to speed up the construction of the defense works on the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and build the Southern Ryukyu Islands into East Africa’s steel claws in the Western Pacific. After all, the Japanese have always had ambitions for the Southern Ryukyu Islands, and they want to prevent the Japanese from jumping over the wall. As for the future, if Japan really wants to seize the Southern Ryukyu Islands by force, then East Africa will also lose a big tooth, knowing that this piece of fat is not so easy to eat. After discussing the arrangements for the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

“Also, those gunboats should be left in the Southern Ryukyu Islands, which can also be regarded as an important armed force of the navy in the Pacific, and temporarily regarded as the base of the future East African Pacific Fleet.”

“Your Highness, the Lanfang Overseas Province is obviously more important than the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Why not put the Lanfang Overseas Province and the Southern Ryukyu Islands together?”

“The Nanyang region where the Lanfang Overseas Province is located is more valuable to us than the Pacific Ocean, so it is regarded as a separate strategic region.”

Nanyang actually belongs to the Pacific region, but the importance of Nanyang to East Africa is obviously more important than all Pacific regions other than Nanyang. This is the direction that East Africa will focus on in the future.

Chapter 578: Water Conservancy Construction Issues

After arranging matters related to the Southern Ryukyu Islands, this matter could basically be considered concluded. As for whether Japan would break its word, there was no need to worry about that for the time being. East Africa withdrew its ironclad ships and some vessels from the Southern Ryukyu Islands, but it also left behind a small fleet mainly composed of gunboats.

This fleet didn’t have strong offensive capabilities, but it could still protect itself in the Western Pacific. Previously, the Southern Ryukyu Islands were besieged because they lacked the cooperation of relevant ships.

East Africa had deployed gun emplacements on the Southern Ryukyu Islands, but their operational range was also limited, preventing them from actively attacking or ensuring the safety of East African merchant ships. Now, with this small fleet, that concern was gone.

……

With the matter of the Southern Ryukyu Islands settled, the vigorous water conservancy construction underway in East Africa caused another wave of discussion.

“Your Royal Highness, with the implementation of our country’s large-scale water conservancy construction projects, conditions in many regions have been greatly improved, but this has also created some new problems.” Loire, the Minister of Water Resources, reported to Ernst.

Ernst knew it shouldn’t be a major problem. Man-made modifications to nature have both advantages and disadvantages, but overall, the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Of course, one cannot ignore some minor issues because of this; some things should be taken seriously.

At the same time, Ernst only oversaw the broad direction and indeed needed his subordinates to constantly report on the progress of the projects and the problems encountered during the projects.

So Ernst said, “Feel free to tell me what the problems are.”

Then Loire continued, “First of all, the construction of some medium and large reservoirs may include original residential settlements and agricultural land into the改造区域 [gaizao quyu - renovation zone/area slated for redevelopment], and conflicts will occur between the two. Therefore, it is necessary to relocate the people from the original land to other places, or exchange new land to replace the farmland that will be replaced by the project.”

This problem is actually easy to understand. East Africa’s water conservancy construction mainly considers two aspects: one is to provide convenience to East Africa and meet the region’s water needs, and the other, more important point, is to ensure scientific and rational development.

As for how to scientifically and rationally develop East Africa’s water resources, it is necessary to consider various factors such as timing, geographical advantages, and human factors.

East Africa’s terrain is what it is, so water conservancy projects must prioritize terrain. Moreover, East Africa’s previous immigration considerations were not in place, and many immigrants were directly distributed along water sources. Now that East Africa is transforming these water sources, it will definitely affect the already settled people.

So Ernst thought for a moment and said, “The project must continue, after all, most water conservancy projects will continuously create wealth for the next ten years, or even hundreds of years. While it is still relatively easy to modify now, it is necessary to correct it in a timely manner and not leave the trouble to future generations. We must take a long-term view and not be timid. Of course, the people must also be properly arranged. We cannot stand directly on the opposite side of the people because of the national plan. Do a good job of coordination, and over time, they will naturally understand the government’s good intentions.”

“Your Highness, we naturally consider it this way as well, but apart from this matter, the opposite is true. Some land that originally had no population settlement or development, but happened to be transformed into habitable areas due to water conservancy construction, should we carry out unified planning for these areas and then fill them with immigrants?”

This involves the opposite side of East Africa’s water conservancy construction. This water conservancy construction in East Africa is a top-down movement, rather than spontaneously formed by local people or the government. Therefore, the site selection of many water conservancy projects is determined by water conservancy experts after inspecting East Africa to determine what is reasonable.

Among them, there are some areas that East Africa has not yet developed, nor has it immigrated to, or areas that were previously unsuitable for immigration, but are naturally suitable for new water conservancy due to other factors.

Therefore, this has caused some of East Africa’s project sites to be in “uninhabited” areas. For example, if a place in East Africa is short of water, so East Africa has not developed it before, but there is a river nearby, and there happens to be a gully next to this river. After diverting water, the nearby area can be transformed into an area suitable for farming or other purposes, which makes the local area suitable for people to live and cultivate.

Thinking of this, Ernst said, “Let’s not worry about the issue of immigration for now, but make plans after these projects are completed. This is like inviting guests to dinner. Preparing more tables and chairs is beneficial to East Africa. When more guests come, we can arrange them. If the guests don’t come, we can also deal with it calmly.”

Of course, there is one more point that Ernst didn’t say, that is, the main force in the construction of these projects in East Africa, the main force, is still Black people. It doesn’t matter if more Black people are “sacrificed” for these projects that don’t show immediate results, but Ernst doesn’t need to say this.

In addition, these projects will not be idle for too long after completion. East Africa’s population is still growing rapidly, and these areas that have been artificially transformed by East Africa will naturally be filled in the future.

Ernst continued, “Moreover, immigration is a major project, especially immigration caused by large-scale projects, which will also put pressure on East Africa’s current administrative management. Therefore, you must grasp the degree in the middle and not be too extreme. Wait until the government has free time in the future to solve these problems in one go.”

The national water conservancy construction involves a population of more than one million. If you count the Black people, it is several million. This workload is not easy for the East African government.

Moreover, the East African government has many things to do recently, including new industries, water conservancy construction, port renovation, and the recently concluded East Africa-Japan Southern Ryukyu Islands conflict, all of which have involved most of East Africa’s energy.

The end of the year is approaching, catching up with Christmas and New Year’s Day. Many government departments also have to take holidays. Before the holidays, they have to complete their work and have year-end summaries, so the East African government is under considerable pressure, and it is not suitable to add pressure to government personnel now.

Loire said, “Understood, Your Highness. The main reason is that the workload of the Ministry of Water Resources is too large. This water conservancy construction involves the entire country. Any instruction from our high-level officials concerns the changes of more than 30 million people across the country, and this is the case in both cities and rural areas. In addition, the water conservancy department is also short of manpower, so it is more difficult to deal with.”

In the end, East Africa has taken too big a step this time. A national water conservancy construction project directly involves a key population of two to three million, so it would be strange if there were no problems.

Moreover, water conservancy construction is a professional issue, and East Africa happens to lack professional talents, so government departments are also quite struggling to deal with it.

However, Ernst is quite satisfied with the government’s efficiency and ability. East Africa is only a new country with a history of no more than ten years, and only a dozen years including the colonial period. Being able to do this, East Africa’s officials can be said to have overfulfilled their tasks.

However, Ernst is more accustomed to it, but other officials don’t think so. Ernst lived in an atmosphere of a national system in his previous life. The country is like a person. As long as the overall stability is guaranteed, there is no problem. As for setbacks, that is the norm. Every country will have problems, but whether a country is healthy depends on its ability to respond to crises.

East Africa is a new country, so many problems have not yet emerged. As long as it doesn’t die suddenly like the Soviet Union, then East Africa is a normal country.

Chapter 579: The East African Model

“Also, immigration should still focus on Matabeleland Province in the interior, so we cannot make any major changes in the overall direction, especially regarding immigration to the eastern region, which is still too high compared to other regions.”

Ernst said this, but in reality, the population of the eastern region was not that large. Even excluding the arid areas of Somalia and Kenya, the east still had nearly two million square kilometers of land. With this amount, the eastern population of less than twenty million seemed very sparse.

“Matabeleland Province is an industrial province, so the demand for industrial workers is very strong. However, because Matabeleland Province is located inland, its population is relatively small, and the immigration market is currently sluggish. Therefore, the government must exercise its subjective initiative in job allocation to achieve the radiation and diffusion of the East African population from the east to the interior and other regions as much as possible.”

A large government is more convenient in this regard. The East African government controls national resources and uses these resource advantages to deploy its citizens. This is very similar to the Soviet Union in his previous life, where jobs were set up in Siberia, and people had to go whether they wanted to or not.

And Matabeleland Province, as a key industrial and agricultural province developed by East Africa, also has the most job opportunities, so there are many positions available.

The only drawback of Matabeleland Province is that transportation is a major weakness. Although the railway passes through Matabeleland Province, the cost of railway transportation is higher than that of water transportation, and the overall development of inland river transportation in East Africa has inherent shortcomings. This cannot be changed through manpower and policy, but lake transportation is developing very prosperously. The transportation development of the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria), Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, and Lake Turkana are all good.

Speaking of East African railways, only one thousand five hundred kilometers were newly built this year, mainly because the East African government has done too many things this year, so the development funding for the railway department is also much lower than before.

However, Ernst believes this is a good thing. East African railways, like the navy, were built in a very short time by throwing money at them. This kind of “trying to get fat with one bite” approach is not sustainable.

As a late-developing country, East Africa actually has quite limited funds. However, because East Africa is vast and rich in resources, and the population is nearly fifty million (including Black people), the current fiscal revenue is also very considerable, at least more abundant than most countries in the world.

This is still because Ernst is very restrained. A large number of state-owned enterprises have been established in East Africa, instead of just thinking about making money. This is significantly different from the royal enterprises. Royal enterprises are the private enterprises of the Hohenzollern family, and are no different from most countries in the world, with the purpose of making profits. Although they sometimes help East Africa, the accounts are also calculated separately.

In recent years, Ernst has put a lot of energy into East Africa, so the development of the Hechingen Consortium has also focused on stability. However, the Hechingen Consortium has developed to the upper limit that an enterprise can reach. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as “the livelihood of a million transport workers depends on it.”

Now, the main role of the Hechingen Consortium is still investment and channel control. It is the connection point between East Africa and the German region for technology, capital, talent, and markets.

Especially at the technical level, East Africa has not encountered technical barriers so far, and the Hechingen Consortium has played a significant role because the Hechingen Consortium holds a large number of patents.

Now, East Africa’s development is that high-end industries are not easy to enter, and it is still tackling low-to-medium-end industries. Of course, East Africa is also laying out some emerging industries in advance, especially the electricity and automobile industries that Ernst is optimistic about.

However, one should not bite off more than one can chew. The automobile industry has not yet appeared, and Ernst is only letting Hechingen Energy and Power Company continue to make technological breakthroughs and constantly accumulate experience.

Of course, if possible, Ernst would definitely like to launch the electricity and automobile industries at the same time, but the prerequisite is sufficient funds, and East Africa does not have this condition right now. There are too many places to spend money, so Ernst can only focus on improving East Africa’s infrastructure conditions first.

“To get rich, build roads first, have fewer children, and plant more trees.” This is the development experience of the Far East in his previous life, so Ernst is also continuing this approach. Moreover, Ernst believes that doing a good job in supporting services first will make the future development of the automobile industry in East Africa smoother.

As for when the East African automobile industry will be launched, Ernst decided to wait until the truck technology is relatively mature before promoting it in East Africa. As for automobiles, factories should still be built in Europe.

Trucks and tractors are very helpful in improving productivity, while automobiles were completely luxury goods when they first appeared. Their practical function was not very prominent, and they served the rich and powerful more.

Therefore, if East Africa first engages in automobiles, Ernst does not think it is very cost-effective. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. East Africa can promote the automobile industry on a small scale, mainly to meet government and foreign trade needs.

Of course, Ernst also has a small calculation here, which is “brand”. Ernst has the experience of his previous life, so he attaches great importance to the brand effect. Although East Africa will not vigorously develop the automobile industry for the time being, it must first occupy the “throne”.

Just imagine, when it comes to the “centennial automobile” brand in the twenty-first century, you will feel that the level and temperament will be sublimated all of a sudden. And automobiles are a commodity that is very easy to compare, and both ordinary people and the rich can afford to consume them. Therefore, even if East Africa does not put all its energy into the automobile industry now, it must first make a name for itself.

So Ernst is thinking that the world’s first commercial automobile must be assembled and produced in East Africa, winning the title of world’s first.

As for test vehicles, the Hechingen Consortium has already made them in Europe, but it is still working hard to improve performance and reduce costs, so that it can directly occupy the market when it is launched, and at the same time directly widen the gap with future competitors.

In addition to these reasons, East Africa is also not suitable for the promotion of commercial automobiles. East Africa’s current economic system is a semi-planned economy, and planned economies are sometimes relatively slow to respond to changes in market demand, which is not conducive to the upgrading and development of the automobile industry.

As for developing the automobile industry in Europe, there is no problem with this, except that the money is being made by the Hechingen Consortium.

As for East Africa, the main focus is still on improving productivity, so many investments do not consider cost issues too much. They are used for the time being, and this development model is still very suitable for East Africa.

East Africa is actually similar to a weakened version of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet model has significant advantages in developing heavy industry. East Africa has also deeply realized this. East Africa does not have to worry about problems with this model until the Third Technological Revolution.

And a major difference between the East African and Soviet economic models is that East Africa attaches great importance to import and export trade, and is a complementary economic development model that complements each other’s strengths.

This is also in the 19th century. In the 19th century, there was no so-called bipolar pattern or one superpower and many strong powers, but a diversified world pattern that the early Far Eastern Empire had always pursued in his previous life.

Therefore, East Africa does not need to take sides and can move between various forces without worrying about being hanged on one tree. For example, although Japan has been targeted by East Africa, it can choose to cooperate with Britain and the United States. Tsarist Russia can also move between Britain, the United States, Germany, and Austria.

East Africa is also the same, except that East Africa strategically cooperates with the Far Eastern Empire at the same time. Although the Far Eastern Empire has many shortcomings, it is large in size and has many advantages, so countries all over the world are greedy for the fat meat of the Far Eastern Empire that is sizzling with oil.

It’s just that East Africa can put down its posture, or rather, is more willing to exchange sincerity for sincerity, and has achieved advantages in the Far Eastern Empire that other powers do not have. After all, sensible people know to choose the former between asking for food while standing and asking for food while kneeling. Countries that cooperate with East Africa feel more comfortable than other countries.

This is also a shortcoming of the East African economic system, which is very similar to the Soviet Union, except that Ernst does not have the habit of spending money lavishly. East Africa must not lose a single cent that it should earn. Even close brothers must settle accounts clearly, even if East Africa and Germany and Austria have such close relations.

The Soviet Union did not understand this principle. Later, almost none of the countries that split from the Soviet Union or the Soviet camp had anything good to say about the Soviet Union, but did the Soviet Union really not pay anything? On the contrary, the Soviet Union’s contribution to its allies and member states was huge.

Chapter 580: Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory Number One

Dar es Salaam City.

“Director Mori, how are your factory’s results this year?”

“Reporting, Director Waltz, this year our production capacity has increased by nearly seven percent compared to last year, and foreign trade orders have increased by about three percent, especially the increase in goods from the Far East and other regions has been relatively rapid.”

“Tell me specifically, why are your factory’s results so good this year?”

“There are mainly two aspects. One is that this year we recruited many middle school graduates. They have high academic qualifications, strong learning abilities, and are easy to train, which has greatly alleviated the pressure of our labor shortage. This has solved the embarrassing situation of having no one available in the factory before. The other aspect is that our workers’ skills become more and more proficient over time.”

“Well, that’s right. If the problem of people is solved, it is reasonable for production capacity to increase. But has your machine problem been solved? Is it sufficient?”

“Most of our machines are directly shipped from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, mainly provided by Hechingen Electric Company or Siemens. The construction of the factory was also mostly directed by people sent by Hechingen Electric Company, so in terms of equipment, we have not encountered any resistance. As for the machines, there is no need to worry. There is still one production line that we have not used. We will continue to recruit people this year!”

Waltz nodded and said, “That is to say, your factory’s production machines and equipment are actually surplus. Then why don’t you now supplement the corresponding workers? Are ordinary workers not good enough? Do you have to find middle school students?”

“Director Waltz, it’s not that our factory has high requirements, but that the Ministry of Industry requires it. Because our factory involves foreign trade, the Ministry of Industry also has high requirements for Factory Number One, so we cannot be sloppy in the selection of workers. We don’t need many workers with middle school education, but we definitely need some, because we have to ensure product quality.”

“What’s the trick to that?”

“Let me put it this way, production equipment requires a lot of professional knowledge. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to understand the instruction manual, let alone operate the machine. Moreover, you must have a certain reserve of physics and chemistry knowledge. Otherwise, when the factory’s technicians and workers explain where the problem is, if the other party doesn’t understand, wouldn’t that be like casting pearls before swine, a waste of time!”

Waltz then understood. He said to Mori, “That is to say, without a certain amount of cultural knowledge, you can’t operate these machines?”

Mori shook his head and said, “It’s not that simple. Not only must you have a certain level of knowledge and culture, but you must also have some understanding of electricity and physics. Of course, you don’t need to understand it too deeply. After all, the problems encountered in production are very different from those in learning. For example, our factory mainly serves these big, clumsy mechanical equipment, and students can’t come into contact with these mechanical equipment in textbooks.”

Waltz agreed with this very much. “I also went to elementary school in Germany, and I have some understanding of learning. It is indeed not easy, but it can broaden your horizons. The most important thing is to learn to write and read, which is of great help in life. But since coming to East Africa, I have almost returned all the knowledge I had before.”

Mori said, “Hehe, Director Waltz, the things learned in middle school are very different from those in elementary school. Moreover, many East African middle school students have practical courses. Several schools, such as City Number One Middle School and Number Two Middle School, have internship quotas at my factory every year, so their ability to adapt to new things is much stronger than those of us who are older.”

“Yes, ah! In this day and age, things are changing too fast. Trains, ships, large factories, our generation is fortunate enough to witness the rapid development of both Germany and East Africa. I used to be from Hanover. Director Mori, where is your home?”

Mori replied, “I am from Baden, in southern Germany.”

“Then Director Mori probably, like me, has witnessed the rapid development of Germany and East Africa?”

Mori denied, “That’s not the case. Before immigrating to East Africa, my family had been farmers for generations. I myself had never been to the city. Later, there was a drought one year, and the grain harvest was poor, so my family followed the trend and joined the ranks of immigrants to East Africa. So I really haven’t seen the development of German industry in the German region.”

This made Waltz feel surprised. He said to Mori, “Then how did you become the director in East Africa later?”

Mori explained, “I used to be in the army, but I have one advantage, that is, I am eager to learn. Later, the army recommended me to study at school. Director Waltz, do you know about international students?”

Waltz said, “Of course I know that, so you were sent to Germany at public expense to study, and then you rose to become the director?”

Mori said, “It’s not that simple. The main reason is that I made several contributions on the battlefield. Later, I was injured and couldn’t do strenuous exercise, so I had to retire. But because of my strong learning ability, the army helped me apply for a study abroad quota.”

Waltz said, “Then were you directly assigned to be the director after graduation?”

Mori said, “There were definitely some twists and turns in the middle. The main thing is that I later interned at Hechingen Electric Company for a period of time. After returning to East Africa, with my military experience and internship experience at Hechingen Electric Company, the higher-ups gave me this director position.”

Mori said it very easily, but these things all show that his file experience is relatively brilliant. To be recommended by the army to study abroad, the merits are generally not small, and Mori can become the director, indicating that he served in East Africa very early.

In this regard, Waltz believes that it is very likely that Mori was already a military officer of some kind in the army during the colonial era, otherwise it would be impossible to become the director of Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory Number One.

So Waltz said to Mori, “Director Mori, what was your position in the army before?”

Mori said, “I was a battalion commander when I retired that year.”

Waltz said, “That’s right. Then your comrades must not be simple either.”

Mori did not speak, just smiled. East African officers are definitely not simple, even after retirement. It’s just that he was able to become the director of Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory Number One, and there was a lot of luck involved, but he was indeed much luckier than many East Africans.

After learning about some of Mori’s private privacy issues, Waltz’s attitude towards Mori changed greatly. He said to Mori, “Director Mori, you also know that Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory Number One is a national key enterprise that is registered by the Ministry of Industry and the province. It’s just that most of the production capacity is given priority to local use, and foreign exports are somewhat inferior. Recently, our Ministry of Foreign Trade has a large order in the Far East, which requires a batch of submarine cables. The higher-ups require us to use our independently produced products. I, your brother, am here this time for this matter.”

Mori said, “Then how much do you need?”

Waltz said, “The quantity is relatively large. The main thing is to lay a submarine cable in the Far East. The distance is definitely not short, and the material quality is required, so your production task next year will be very heavy.”

Chapter 581: “Locomotives”

Waltz was talking about the submarine cable from the Southern Ryukyu Islands to Fuzhou. The straight-line distance from Miyako Island to Fuzhou is close to seven hundred kilometers, so the workload and consumption are enormous. Therefore, the task assigned to the Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory No. 1 was very large.

Mori: “Submarine cables are indeed not simple, and the quality requirements are even higher. After all, the situation in the sea is complex, and ordinary cables cannot withstand it. But if you could give me some parameters, let me in on it, our factory can also prepare mentally. I wonder how long this Far East submarine cable will be?”

Waltz: “Hey, it’s not a secret. Didn’t we in East Africa have a conflict with the Far East and Japan some time ago? It’s a group of islands in the Pacific on the map. Our navy heard that they even had a fight there, so we can consider it our territory. But it’s too far from East Africa, so the higher-ups definitely want to solve the communication problem there.”

Mori roughly understood after hearing this. Don’t think Mori was a country bumpkin from Germany; he had read quite a few books. Using the cultural level of this era, he was “knowledgeable in astronomy and geography.”

This is not an exaggeration, because the simplest books that Mori could access in the East African army were East African textbooks, and East African textbooks included history and geography.

Mori: “If the Southern Ryukyu Islands are connected to telegraphs, it will definitely not be a small project. As far as I know, this archipelago is at least several hundred kilometers away from the Far Eastern mainland. So, I will use a ruler to estimate how far this archipelago is from the Far Eastern mainland, so that I can arrange next year’s production tasks. I don’t want to fight unprepared battles.”

Waltz: “There’s no need to be so troublesome. The Southern Ryukyu Islands are about six or seven hundred kilometers away from the Far Eastern mainland. You can produce at least five hundred kilometers in length as a guarantee, and there will be no problem. You can just make up the difference later.”

Mori: “This telegraph is not simple. It seems that the Southern Ryukyu Islands are of unusual significance to the country, so surely other factories have also received tasks, right?”

Waltz nodded and said, “You’re right. A total of more than a dozen factories are participating in this production task, and some European companies are also bidding. The factories in East Africa that have received tasks are mainly in Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Tanga, and Mombasa, because they are close to the sea, which makes production easier.”

Mori: “Then this can be considered a big move. We have never taken on such a big job before. The submarine cables that East Africa laid itself in the past were all imported from Europe. Three or four years ago, the submarine cable from Pemba Island to Bagamoyo was still shipped from factories in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

Waltz: “If you don’t import from Europe, do you expect them to grow out of the ground? I remember your factory was one of the first cable factories in East Africa. It was established three or four years ago. At that time, you probably couldn’t even figure out how the machines worked, right?”

Mori: “You’re right. At that time, only I and two technicians in the factory knew how to operate the machines. We had to teach everything. And at that time, all the raw materials were imported from overseas. We just made do with minor repairs.”

When the first batch of cable factories in East Africa were established, they couldn’t even gather enough raw materials. At that time, the railway had only been open to traffic for a short time, so the inland copper mines had not been developed yet. Therefore, most of the copper mines were imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then processed along the coast of East Africa.

As for coal and rubber, East Africa did not lack them. East Africa’s coal mines were close to the coast. As for rubber, it completely benefited from East Africa being the world’s largest rubber producer. The second largest is Brazil. Brazil’s advantage in rubber is its proximity to the coast, especially the Amazon plain. With the Amazon River, shipping is very convenient, and the collected rubber can be directly loaded onto ships and transported all over the world.

East Africa is much worse in this regard. East Africa’s main rubber production area is in the eastern Congo Basin. The Congo River is also not very useful. The outlet to the sea downstream is a series of waterfalls, so it can only be transported to the eastern coast by land, which is more time-consuming and laborious.

However, East Africa also has other areas of rubber production that can be substituted, especially in the area where the eastern coastal plains and plateaus meet, where rainfall is relatively abundant, and it can be directly transported to Dar es Salaam via the Central Railway.

In comparison, Mombasa’s advantage is that the Northern Railway and the Great Lakes shipping can transport rubber from the Great Lakes region and Hesse Province to the east. The disadvantage is that Mombasa is far from East Africa’s copper production areas.

Therefore, the development of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa is like two locomotives, neither giving way to the other. It is not a problem to say they are locomotives. The most important two railways in East Africa, the Central Railway and the Northern Railway, start from Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, of course, there is also New Hamburg to the south of the Central Railway.

As the saying goes, a train runs fast, all thanks to the locomotive. Dar es Salaam and Mombasa play the role of locomotives. As for New Hamburg, after all, it has been around for too short a time, and its foundation cannot be compared with these two old cities. The future is uncertain.

However, Ernst does not think that New Hamburg will surpass the two old predecessors, and it is even questionable whether it can be among the top three coastal cities.

This involves the Maputo Port that Ernst has been thinking about. However, Maputo Port is still in the hands of the Portuguese. When East Africa really uses means to take it over, I don’t know when it will be. At that time, New Hamburg will have developed for many years, and the first-mover advantage is obvious.

For example, the southern section of the Central Railway, if Maputo were in East Africa’s hands, it would definitely be built towards Maputo, but now it is a foregone conclusion, and New Hamburg has taken the lead.

The driving effect of railways on the economy is quite obvious, especially the Central Railway, which is a main line. There may be no railway lines in East Africa in the future that can surpass the Central Railway. After all, when Ernst designed this line, it can be said that he coordinated the most essential areas of East Africa.

On the Central Railway, the more well-known African national capitals in his previous life include Dodoma (capital of Tanzania), Lusaka (capital of Zambia), Harare (capital of Zimbabwe), as well as Dar es Salaam and Pretoria, which have served as capitals; a number of important African cities, such as Mbeya, Bulawayo, and Lubumbashi.

The route basically covers most of East Africa’s mineral production areas, cities, and villages, so East African cities that can be related to the Central Railway will have a high starting point for future development.

And New Hamburg, as a sea-land transportation hub, coupled with the rich mineral resources of the former Transvaal Republic and the Zulu Kingdom, if its future can be developed rationally, it can compete with Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. However, it depends on whether the leadership of New Hamburg will be strong in the future.

As for now, the first echelon of East African city economies only includes Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mbeya, and Nairobi.

If New Hamburg wants to be on an equal footing with these cities, it depends on subsequent development. However, it should not be difficult to surpass Mbeya and Nairobi in the future, it is just a matter of time, because New Hamburg is in South Africa, guarding resources that are difficult for the two cities to reach.

As for Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, it is almost impossible to be surpassed. These two cities have the most superior conditions in East Africa and are related to the large regional economy of East Africa. However, Dar es Salaam is more advantageous overall, after all, Dar es Salaam has other cities around it to help, while Mombasa can only band together with Nairobi and Tanga for warmth.

Chapter 582: Geographical Divisions

While Waltz and Morley were talking, vehicles of all sizes were going in and out of the Dar es Salaam State-Owned Cable Factory. At this time, most of the vehicles were still powered by manpower and animals, and they could not carry much cargo at a time.

Fortunately, the Dar es Salaam Railway Station was not far from the Dar es Salaam State-Owned Cable Factory, making it easy to transport goods in and out. The real difficulty lay in the origin of the raw materials.

The copper and rubber for the Dar es Salaam State-Owned Cable Factory came from inland, mainly concentrated in the Hohenzollern Province, Swabia Province, and Hesse Province. As for coal, they could get a quota from the city.

The Hohenzollern Province and Swabia Province were both connected by railways, but Hesse Province was very different. Hesse Province was also on the west side of the Mitumba Mountains, on the eastern edge of the Congo Basin, with a large elevation difference, making transportation not very convenient.

Therefore, as the main rubber-producing area in East Africa, Hesse Province faced great inconvenience in transporting rubber after harvesting. Hesse Province was also a major resource province in East Africa, with a large distribution of mineral resources such as copper, coal, iron, tungsten, etc. At the same time, the area was also one of the most important forestry provinces in East Africa, backed by the Congo Rainforest and the Mitumba Mountains, with extremely rich forestry resources.

Currently, there were only a few resource-rich provinces that could steadily surpass Hesse Province, namely Hechingen Province (formerly the Transvaal Republic), Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe), Southern Frontier Province (southern Transvaal Republic and the former Zulu Kingdom, Swaziland Kingdom), Nile Province (South Sudan), New Baden Province (Botswana), Hohenzollern Province (Zambia), and Swabia Province (southern Congo Plateau).

Among these, Hechingen Province and Matabeleland Province were in a league of their own, with mineral resources that could rival most countries in the world.

For example, if Hechingen Province were considered a country, its mineral value in its previous life would have placed it in the top ten in the world. In its previous life, most of South Africa’s mineral resources were concentrated in this area, and South Africa was the fifth largest mineral country in the world.

There is not much to say about Matabeleland Province either. Although Zimbabwe’s currency is famous, Zimbabwe’s industry is relatively developed in Africa. Moreover, Zimbabwe is a landlocked country, so the reason for this outcome is naturally inseparable from Zimbabwe’s rich mineral resources.

In fact, Hechingen Province was also in this situation in its previous life. Johannesburg, the most economically developed city in South Africa, was located within Hechingen Province. However, due to Ernst’s lack of development in Hechingen Province, East Africa did not have the city of Johannesburg.

After all, Johannesburg made its fortune by relying on gold mines. South Africa’s gold mines were too dazzling, and East Africa did not want to get into trouble because of it.

These few resource-rich provinces are added to the provinces with relatively rich mineral resources such as Southern Salzburg Province, New Württemberg Province, and Lorraine Province.

It can be seen that the top ten provinces in East Africa in terms of mineral resource value are basically distributed in the central and southern parts of East Africa. The only northern province to enter the list is Nile Province (South Sudan), mainly due to oil.

The northern part of East Africa is mainly divided by plateaus. The areas north of the East African Plateau and the South African Plateau belong to the north, including Northern Province, Juba Province, Turkana Province, Nile Province, New Bavaria Province, Eastern Azande Province, and most of its own Congo Rainforest area (formerly Somalia, southern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, most of Congo, etc.).

The two major plateau areas north of the Zambezi River, the East African Plateau and the Katanga Plateau, are collectively referred to as the Central Great Plateau in East Africa, which is the central region of East Africa, including the eastern coastal plains (formerly Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, southern Congo, etc.).

The provinces south of the Zambezi River are the southern part of East Africa. This is a way of dividing East Africa geographically.

Among them, plateaus are an important dividing standard, and the Zambezi River is an important geographical marker for dividing plateaus, because the difference between the two sides of the Zambezi River is actually not very large, and it is not a geographical dividing line with obvious differences in climate characteristics on both sides like the Huai River.

Of course, there is also a very commonly used geographical division standard in East Africa, which mainly uses the degree of economic development and development as a reference.

According to this standard, East Africa is mainly divided into five parts: east, inland, west, south, and north.

According to this standard, the eastern region has a very wide distribution. The area east of the East African Rift Valley, mainly composed of the Nile River, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi, is the eastern part of East Africa, generally referring to the area in East Africa that was developed earlier, has a denser population, and is more economically developed.

According to this standard, Somalia is also considered part of the east, but Somalia is also the north at the same time. However, there is no need to dwell on this point. The locals in Somalia definitely identify more with the east, because the east represents greater development in East Africa.

The inland mainly refers to the four provinces that are currently being developed: Hohenzollern Province, Hesse Province, Swabia Province, and Matabeleland Province, which is the geographical center of East Africa.

The southern range has been reduced a lot, mainly referring to the former South Africa and Botswana.

The northern boundary is vague, but it generally refers to the provinces in the tropical desert and tropical grassland intersection zone, except that the Congo Rainforest is not included.

The west basically refers to the provinces and regions that have not been developed, and is also the most underdeveloped and least habitable area in East Africa, mainly the former Namibia.

Regardless of which of the above two geographical division standards is used, Hesse Province belongs to the central region. Of course, people in the eastern region can collectively refer to the west as the western region, which is the same as how the northeastern people of the Far East Empire call the area south of the Shanhaiguan Pass the south.

Hesse Province is an important resource province in East Africa, and the most important industry at present is the rubber industry. However, due to various reasons, transportation in Hesse Province is very inconvenient.

This increases the production costs of the East African electricity industry and other industries, such as tires for bicycles and horse-drawn carriages.

To transport the rubber out of Hesse Province, one can basically only rely on the so-called “roads” of Hesse Province. The roads in other parts of East Africa are still acceptable.

Hesse Province not only has a relatively rugged terrain, but also has a lot of rainfall, so its road conditions can be 100% certain to be one of the worst areas in East Africa.

Of course, although the road conditions in Hesse Province are poor, they are not as bad as in Africa in its previous life, because the East African government ensures that its roads are effectively maintained every year.

However, this is also very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Hesse Province basically has to maintain its roads every once in a while. It takes as little as two or three days and no more than a week to repair the roads, because after a heavy rain, horse-drawn carriages will leave deep tire marks on them, and after a few more vehicles pass, deep puddles will form.

The most worry-free way to solve the road problem in Hesse Province in the future is to harden the roads in Hesse Province. This is relatively easy to solve, which is to use cement to rebuild the roads in Hesse Province.

However, there is a large shortage of cement in East Africa. In recent years, government investment has been in other projects, and the demand for cement has always exceeded the supply, so the road hardening plan in Hesse Province has not been implemented.

However, with the development of industries such as electricity, the demand for the rubber industry has greatly increased, and the poor transportation conditions in Hesse Province will inevitably be improved.

In its previous life, most rubber-producing countries had the advantage of being close to the ocean, making sea transportation convenient. However, East Africa’s rubber-producing area is located inland, so the inland transportation in Hesse Province must be improved. Otherwise, the rubber produced in East Africa may not be able to compete with other international rubber-producing areas, after all, there is an additional transportation cost.

Ernst does not expect East African rubber to be cheaper than Southeast Asia and Brazil, but domestic use in East Africa must be cheaper than imports. Of course, the rubber industry has always been profitable, and the demand for rubber is increasing every year, so the possibility of losing money is very small.

Chapter 583: Grades of Tropical Savanna

In the Quivida Palace, Ernst was also planning how to improve the transportation situation in Hesse Province. This time, it wasn’t Ernst who brought it up, but rather it was mentioned during a conversation with Prince Karl.

With East Africa’s help, Sigmaringen had already gained a firm foothold in Africa. So, at the end of the year, Ernst came to Prince Karl to inquire about the construction of Sigmaringen’s colonies in Africa.

Because of the relationship between the two families, Ernst’s family and Prince Karl got along very harmoniously. Even when discussing colonial affairs, it was as casual as chatting about family matters.

Ernst: “Uncle Karl, how are your colonies doing now?”

“Currently, progress is very smooth. Thanks to your help, we have already immigrated over forty thousand people to Chad, which was unimaginable for me before!” Prince Karl exclaimed.

Ernst smiled without saying a word. During the peak of East African immigration, from 1874 to 1875, East Africa immigrated nearly four million people in just two years. In normal years, the immigrant population could reach around one million. Now, immigration has plummeted, but it is still no less than three hundred thousand per year. Therefore, the number of immigrants to Sigmaringen is just a drop in the bucket for East Africa.

After taking a sip of tea, Ernst asked, “Have you managed to control the territory we planned for you?”

Prince Karl said excitedly, “Of course! A full two million square kilometers of land! Who wouldn’t be tempted? Anyway, we have already controlled many important areas. Other forces should not be able to squeeze in now!”

Ernst understood the joy of frantically seizing land in Africa. He said, “When you have a firm foothold in Chad in the future, you can continue to develop westward. After all, the outlet to the sea is in the west. Then it will be the next India. Of course, India’s area is only over three million square kilometers.”

Of course, Ernst was only referring to the area. India’s conditions were too good. There was almost no bad land. Even arid land like Pakistan could support over one hundred million people with the Indus River in the future.

However, when he thought that places like Somalia in his previous life could support over ten million people, he seemed to understand.

The advantage of India compared to East Africa is that the tropical monsoon climate has almost twice the rainfall of East Africa. The annual rainfall of the tropical monsoon climate is 1500 to 2000mm; the annual rainfall of the tropical savanna climate is only 750 to 1000mm. This difference is very obvious. However, Ernst believes that the rainfall of the tropical savanna is at just the right threshold.

The main countries with the same type of climate distribution as East Africa are Brazil, Mexico, and Australia. In his previous life, except for Mexico, which mainly focused on drug cultivation, the other two had very good agricultural development.

Brazil goes without saying. Brazil’s urbanization rate is close to ninety percent, and only ten percent of the people live in rural areas, which is less than the rural population in Europe and the United States. This also shows the degree of Brazil’s agricultural development. As for Brazil’s hunger problem, it is entirely caused by distribution.

Australia’s agricultural conditions are not very good. It can be said to be the worst of the regions, because deserts and semi-deserts account for nearly forty percent of the country’s area. Over seventy percent of the entire continent is in arid or semi-arid zones.

Among them, Australia’s most important wheat-producing area, the Murray-Darling Basin, has a subtropical grassland climate with low rainfall. Most of its area has an annual rainfall of only two hundred to five hundred millimeters. This level is worse than most areas of East Africa. Even the Matabeleland province (Zimbabwe), which East Africa claims to have relatively little rainfall, can reach more than seven hundred millimeters in most areas, and the most arid west can reach four hundred millimeters.

In East Africa’s desert areas, the Kalahari Desert and the Namib Desert can sometimes reach two to three hundred millimeters of rainfall.

Of course, there is a big difference between East Africa’s tropical savanna climate and Australia’s tropical savanna climate. East Africa’s tropical savanna climate is caused by the plateau terrain, while Australia’s tropical savanna climate is distributed in the plains.

The main reason for the low rainfall in Australia’s tropical savanna climate is the obstruction of eastern moisture by the Great Dividing Range and the influence of subtropical high pressure.

Most of East Africa’s territory is between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, while half of Australia’s tropical savanna climate is south of the Tropic of Capricorn. As for the tropical savanna climate in northern Australia, most of it is used for raising cattle and sheep.

Of course, Ernst believes that the reason why Australia’s climate is so arid is its location on the continent, neither too far north nor too far south, which means it is severely affected by subtropical high pressure.

Subtropical high pressure is a descending airflow belt, which is not conducive to rainfall. It is generally distributed around 30 degrees north and south latitude, that is, between 20 degrees and 40 degrees north latitude, which just covers most of Australia.

East Africa’s South African territory is also roughly in this area. Places like Botswana and Namibia are extremely arid areas. It’s just that Africa’s terrain is relatively narrow and distributed from north to south. Otherwise, a super-large desert would definitely form in the south. Even so, the desert and semi-desert area in southwestern Africa has reached nearly one million square kilometers.

A negative example is the Sahara Desert near 30 degrees north latitude. Egypt is at this latitude. Most of East Africa’s territory just avoids the subtropical high-pressure belts in the north and south.

Of course, the main reason for saying so much is to highlight the superiority of East Africa’s climate. Tropical savanna climates are also divided into different grades. Just because the name is the same doesn’t mean the conditions are the same. Brazil’s climate is good, but its most livable tropical highland climate is less than half of Africa’s. Therefore, East Africa is stronger than these countries in terms of climate conditions and land area.

Prince Karl: “In this year’s immigration, East Africa directly sent us more than thirty thousand people. Our Sigmaringen worked ourselves to death in Europe to recruit only three thousand people.”

This made Ernst chuckle unkindly in his heart. However, he still advised, “Uncle Karl, don’t focus on immigrants from the German region. You should think more about Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Germany’s industrial development has reached a new stage. There is basically no population outflow. Now, people from other regions are coming to Germany to work. Therefore, it is more realistic to recruit immigrants from the backward areas of Central and Eastern Europe.”

Of course, there was another reason Ernst didn’t mention, which was that East Africa had the most German immigration agencies. With East Africa’s presence, it was difficult for anyone to compete with East Africa.

Prince Karl: “Alas, that’s true. If it had been a few years earlier, we wouldn’t have been so passive, especially during the economic crisis. There were quite a few people who suddenly lost their jobs at that time.”

However, Ernst didn’t think so. The most important reason why Sigmaringen can immigrate to Africa on a large scale now is East Africa’s support. A few years ago, East Africa itself didn’t have enough people, so it was impossible to share even a sip of soup with others.

Without East Africa’s help, Sigmaringen would at most immigrate a few thousand people to Africa. This is the current situation of most African colonies, except for East Africa and Italy, two oddballs.

East Africa is taking the path of human wave tactics, using immigrants to develop Africa. Italy’s colonization of Africa is a forced move to alleviate domestic population pressure. According to the East African National Defense Security Bureau’s investigation, Italy has now immigrated more than three hundred thousand people to Ethiopia. In just a few years, it has completed the immigration achievements of Cape Town in hundreds of years.

Therefore, Italian African colonies are now the third largest colony (country) in terms of white population, after North African Arabs. The first is naturally East Africa, and the second is Cape Town. Most other colonies are insignificant. Some countries’ colonies may only have dozens or hundreds of white people. A number exceeding ten thousand is considered a major power.

Chapter 584: The Hessen Railway Vision

“Ernst, a question occurred to me. Recently, while transferring immigrants to Chad, I wanted to know when you plan to extend the Northern Railway to the Great Lakes region, or rather, build a super railway running east to west,” Prince Carl inquired.

This was related to Prince Carl’s work. He was currently mainly responsible for transporting immigrants to Sigmaringen’s Chad colony, so he needed to use the Northern Railway.

While the Northern Railway was long, its length was limited. It stopped abruptly after extending to the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) region.

Chad was only halfway to Mombasa. The remaining distance had to be covered on land by foot or animal-powered vehicles.

This was naturally very unpleasant. And this was just for population migration. If you added pots and pans, firearms, ammunition, and other items needed for colonization, the long journey was quite a headache. That’s why Prince Carl asked Ernst about the railway issue.

“Uncle Carl, I have certainly considered such a plan, but it is not necessary to implement it. The main development in the Great Lakes region is along the shores of the Great Lakes, with the lakes as the core, radiating to all sides. Therefore, our East African Northern Railway was only built to Kisumu. The remaining distance can be covered by shipping for now,” Ernst explained.

However, Ernst’s explanation was pretty much the original reason for building the Northern Railway, and it didn’t satisfy Prince Carl.

“Transshipment in Kisumu is indeed not difficult for transportation along the Great Lakes, but East Africa has a large area! Your territory doesn’t stop at the Great Lakes region,” Prince Carl advised.

“Uncle Carl, there is indeed a long distance further west, but there is no need to build a railway there at present,” Ernst replied.

“Hmm, why?”

“First, let me say that the current focus of development in East Africa is in the three central provinces, namely Matabeleland Province, Hohenzollern Province, and Swabia Province, which are the highlands south of the Congo rainforest. Therefore, East Africa’s resources must be tilted towards the south.

Of course, this is not the main issue. The extension of the Northern Railway doesn’t need to be carried out now. Railway construction requires traffic, which can be people or goods. The northern provinces don’t have many people, and as for goods, there are no other needs besides grain. Like the Southern Central Railway, it can not only transport grain but also bear the task of transporting bulk minerals,” Ernst answered.

East Africa has never been the most concerned about cost issues, but it will not fail to consider them. In Ernst’s view, the Northern Railway is currently sufficient. Extending it further west is certainly necessary, but it doesn’t need to be launched now. Waiting a few years would be better.

Ernst believed that the western and northern provinces of the Great Lakes region are not currently of high development value and are sparsely populated, so there is no need to build a railway.

As for Hessen Province, it is worth considering. The most important thing for Hessen Province to East Africa is rubber, and the rubber industry has broad prospects. However, Ernst did not think that the Northern Railway was a good choice for transporting rubber from Hessen Province.

So Ernst continued to say to Prince Carl: “Uncle Carl, railways in East Africa are inherently a loss-making business. The construction of the Central Railway and the Northern Railway can be said to have cost a fortune, and now extending the Northern Railway will not actually bring tangible benefits to East Africa.

However, the railway issue you mentioned has reminded me of the transportation problem in Hessen Province. Several industries in East Africa now need rubber from Hessen Province as a basic material.

And the transportation conditions in Hessen Province are quite terrible. I didn’t think about solving this problem through railways before. Generally, after the railway is built, the possibility of it being interfered with by nature is also the smallest. After all, it operates on a fixed track, and the fixed track has to be laid with a roadbed.”

Ernst said this also considering the railway’s characteristic of being highly adaptable to the environment. A thick layer of gravel has to be laid under the railway, the roadbed is very high, and with good drainage and other facilities, it is easier to maintain than a highway.

Prince Carl: “Wouldn’t that be great? You can build the Northern Railway all the way to Hessen Province. Although this option is not as good as building the railway to Azande in the north, it is still acceptable.”

Ernst shook his head and said: “No, on the contrary, I think that solving the transportation problem in Hessen Province, especially the transportation of strategic products like rubber, has nothing to do with the Northern Railway, but is closely related to the Central Railway.”

Prince Carl: “Why do you say that?”

Ernst replied: “It’s mainly related to East Africa’s industrial layout. The rubber production in the Great Lakes region is enough to meet the needs of Nairobi and Mombasa downstream, while the cities and factories in the south need a larger quantity because there are more cities and factories in the south.

Furthermore, Hessen Province is distributed along the Mitumba Mountains in the north and south. It is naturally easier for us to build railways along this direction, with the smallest changes in contour lines, making railway construction the easiest. Moreover, this can take care of most areas within Hessen Province.

Conversely, if we extend the Northern Railway, we need to cross the Mitumba Mountains, and then we still have to build the railway in Hessen Province according to the north-south distribution, which is equivalent to doubling the amount of work, and the result is the same. This is a waste.”

Prince Carl: “Not really! If you extend the Northern Railway and then connect the railway in Hessen Province with the Central Railway, the Northern Railway can be connected to the Central Railway network, which is a good thing for East Africa.”

Ernst: “But that would double the price, and we won’t need it in a short time, so it’s enough to build a northern extension of the Central Railway directly, I think.”

According to Ernst’s vision, if the construction is completed, then East Africa’s Central Railway will change from the original “T” shape to a “cross” shape.

That is to say, the Central Railway can be directly connected to the navigable area in the middle reaches of the Congo River, solving the problem of difficult rubber transportation in Hessen Province, and at the same time solving the development problem within the Congo rainforest.

Of course, the development Ernst refers to is not really engaging in economic construction in the Congo rainforest, but to facilitate the East African government to send troops to investigate the interior of the rainforest, try to drive away the hidden natives inside, or to facilitate the transportation of East African materials and build some military strongholds to prevent other forces from entering East Africa.

If this section of railway in Hessen Province is completed, the transportation cost of East African rubber in the future will be reduced, which will be of great benefit to the development of East Africa’s industries. At the same time, it will also be conducive to the development of mineral resources in Hessen Province. Other than anything else, the strategic mineral - tungsten - is worth East Africa building this railway, but this is considered from the perspective of the future development of military industrial enterprises.

After the completion of the Hessen Province railway, the title of the East African crossroads of the Central Railway can also be implemented. When the time comes, a “star” shaped railway pattern can be formed, which is of great significance for driving the economic development of the heart of East Africa.

Chapter 585: An Era of Transformation

Ernst and Prince Karl revealed some of their opinions regarding the construction of the Hesse Province railway. However, this idea is currently impossible to implement. Don’t think that the Hesse Province railway only passes through Hesse Province and then connects to Swabia Province, but its engineering difficulty is definitely the highest that East Africa has ever encountered.

Because the area it passes through is the area with the most abundant rainfall in East Africa, and it transitions from the Katanga Plateau to the Congo Basin, with a large drop in elevation, which also adds to the difficulty of railway construction. Moreover, the area is densely covered with wetlands and forests, and the difficulties to overcome are even greater.

Therefore, Ernst said to Prince Karl, “The difficulties encountered in building this railway will definitely be the most serious in the history of East African railway construction. I estimate that without tens of thousands of casualties, it will be difficult to complete. Therefore, the planning and construction of this railway must be carefully considered.”

Prince Karl also agreed with this point. There is no precedent for building such a long railway in the tropical rainforest in this era. Of course, Hesse Province is on the eastern edge of the Congo Basin, and its environment is not as similar to the heart of the Congo rainforest. Because the lower half of Hesse Province also has mountains and plateaus, the main difficulties that the Hesse Province railway has to overcome are terrain and topography.

Ernst continued, “Regarding the northern railway extension you mentioned, I also have this intention, but it will definitely not be considered in the next few years. In the future, it will definitely be connected to the Central Railway.”

Ernst’s idea is very simple. After the Hesse Province railway is completed, the Central Railway will complete the “four links” of “reaching out in all directions.” But before that, the Central Railway and the Northern Railway were completely two independent parts.

After the Hesse Province railway is built, the Northern Railway can be connected to the Hesse Province railway to the west, so that the Central Railway and the Northern Railway can be connected to each other, which is conducive to strengthening the connection between various parts of East Africa.

However, Ernst thought of more than just this. The Northern Railway is very similar to the Uganda Railway built by the British in his previous life, but it is not as long as the Uganda Railway. If the Northern Railway is connected to the Hesse Province railway in the future.

Then a northern branch line can be opened to the north, the Azande Plateau, to integrate the Central African Republic and East African transportation in later generations.

In this way, the so-called Northern Railway can be more worthy of its name. Before East Africa did not have such a large land area as it does today, it was understandable to call it the Northern Railway.

Now, on the vast territory of East Africa, the Northern Railway has become the “Northeast” Railway, and the Northern Railway seems a bit unworthy of its name.

Of course, this is just Ernst’s personal idea, but Prince Karl also has his own ideas. He said to Ernst, “What you said just now is indeed very reasonable. It seems that East Africa does not have a great need for the construction of the Northern Railway at present. I originally didn’t want to force it, but Sigmaringen is now colonizing Chad and can only pass through East Africa. You also know this.”

Prince Karl’s intention is basically revealed when he said this.

East Africa does not pay attention to the Northern Railway, but Sigmaringen needs this railway to add bricks and tiles to Sigmaringen’s colonial cause.

Because Sigmaringen does not have a seaport on the Atlantic coast, all personnel and materials need to be transported through East Africa to Chad, and the Northern Railway is now only half a section, which greatly increases Sigmaringen’s colonial costs.

From Mombasa to Chad, the distance is more than two thousand kilometers, and it takes almost three months for personnel and materials to travel back and forth. The food, drink, and accommodation for these three months are all within East Africa.

This is a realistic factor, and Sigmaringen must also consider future development factors. Unlike in Europe, Sigmaringen’s greatest reliance in Europe is naturally Germany, but in Africa, it is impossible to have a power stronger than East Africa.

Therefore, Sigmaringen’s future must be tied to East Africa, and if the Northern Railway can be extended to Chad, then the connection between Sigmaringen and East Africa will naturally be closer.

“Of course, I know this is a bit of a tall order. After all, railway construction, especially the construction of railways thousands of kilometers long, is not a small project for any country. However, the Northern Railway is indeed important to Sigmaringen, and you should be very clear about this. So, if East Africa intends to build the Northern Railway, be sure to notify us in advance so that we can also contribute.” Prince Karl said with some regret.

In fact, Prince Karl also knew in his heart that Ernst would definitely carry out further construction of the Northern Railway. After all, the Azande Plateau, the Great Lakes region, and the Nile Basin all need this railway to drive the economic development of northern East Africa, and of course, to consolidate national security.

That’s why he mentioned the Northern Railway this time, to test Ernst’s intentions. If it were before, Prince Karl would definitely not have such ambitions.

But he has been in East Africa for more than half a year, and the more he understands East Africa, the more it stimulates the colonial enthusiasm in his heart.

The more shocked he is in East Africa, the more he places his hopes on the Chad colony. Not to mention becoming like East Africa, even if it only develops into one-twentieth of East Africa’s national power, it is much more potential than the one-third acre of land in Romania.

Prince Karl’s biggest trip to East Africa this year was to take a train and inspect East Africa’s construction along the Central Railway.

Not to mention how East Africa is developing, just the journey of more than three thousand kilometers opened his eyes. It took him two weeks to travel from the port of Dar es Salaam to New Hamburg, the southernmost part of East Africa.

He stayed in cities such as Mbeya and Harare in the middle. Now the development of the inland areas is comparable to some backward areas in Europe. Of course, the backward areas referred to are Romania. The only thing Romania can be stronger than the inland of East Africa is the large population density.

And the inland of East Africa is like this, not to mention the eastern region, which can be compared with most European countries. Except for the vast land and sparse population, there is not much difference.

And if we really want to talk about vast land and sparse population, the national conditions of Tsarist Russia, the United States, and East Africa are similar. If East Africa includes blacks, the population is also 50 million, while the population of Tsarist Russia is more than 100 million, and the land area is twice that of East Africa. The population happens to be twice that of East Africa, so the population density of East Africa is comparable to that of Tsarist Russia, and the effective land area of East Africa is obviously much larger than that of Tsarist Russia.

The population of the United States is slightly smaller than that of East Africa, and the land area is also slightly smaller than that of East Africa. Although East Africa has nearly three million square kilometers more than the United States, it is almost the same if the tropical rainforest is removed, because East Africa has not yet clearly defined the Congo Basin as East African territory, it can only be regarded as a territory, or a sphere of influence.

Therefore, the population density of East Africa today is actually similar to that of the United States and Russia. The only difference is that these two countries developed hundreds of years earlier than East Africa.

The gap of these hundreds of years is naturally not so easy to surpass. Just talking about roads, East Africa cannot expect to catch up with the accumulation of hundreds of years in just ten years.

However, East Africa is not without the opportunity to catch up. For example, paved roads are the future development trend of roads. Now all countries in the world and East Africa are at the same starting line. After the automobile industry rises, the road development in East Africa will also be at the same starting point as other countries.

The same is true for the industrial aspect. Now is the time when the Second Industrial Revolution is rising. Although East Africa is more than ten years later than other countries, it is also considered to have gotten on the bus halfway, and is at the same starting line as emerging countries such as Japan.

In short, this is an era of transformation. As long as East Africa seizes the opportunity, it can soar into the sky in the future. Ernst has laid a good foundation for East Africa’s basic foundation.

Chapter 586: Enticing a Joint Venture

“Uncle Karl, if you are interested in supporting the future construction of the Northern Railway, I have a win-win solution here. It can avoid delaying the construction schedule of other projects in East Africa, and it can also allow the extension of the Northern Railway to start early, opening up the connection between East Africa and the Chad colony as soon as possible, adding bricks and mortar to the colonial cause of the Sigmaringen family,” Ernst said.

Prince Karl was indeed intrigued, and he asked, “I wonder what this method is?”

Ernst was not embarrassed, and said generously, “Uncle Karl, you also know that railway construction is not actually that difficult, it’s just a matter of money. Just like the United States and Germany before, capitalists were frantically building railways, and a lot of hot money poured in, so the railways in these two countries grew blindly and rapidly every year, eventually causing the economic crisis of 1873.”

“I naturally know this, but the economic crisis is now over, and the railway market has returned to normal. Germany’s development is now more gradual. Before I came to East Africa, the crisis had greatly eased, and social development was very rapid.”

In fact, the world economy was still in a slump, far less than before the crisis, but society is constantly developing, and it is impossible to really stagnate. Although Germany’s development speed has slowed down a bit, it is very optimistic compared to other countries of the same era.

Moreover, like Prince Karl and other older generations, they are knowledgeable and experienced. Although economic development was rapid before the economic crisis, they knew that this was not the norm.

Ernst continued, “So, if East Africa wants to build railways ahead of schedule, it only needs to solve the funding problem. However, the East African government’s expenditures have been very large in recent years, so there is no extra money to support the development of two railways at the same time.”

What Ernst said was not wrong. The East African government’s finances have never been abundant, but there has never been a government in the world with enough money to spend.

For example, in recent years, the East African government’s fiscal revenue has been much stronger than most countries in the world. After all, it is the wealth created by 50 million people. The East African government can obtain considerable income from taxes alone, and East Africa also has a number of state-owned enterprises, and the income of these enterprises is also very rich.

Therefore, if East Africa wants to build two railways at the same time now, there may be financial pressure, but it is not that it cannot really afford to build them. Instead, it wants to spend the money where it is most effective. The Azande Plateau on the extension of the Northern Railway is not of high value to East Africa at present, so it is not cost-effective to build it. It would be better to build more branch railways in Matabeleland Province to make full use of the mineral resources of Matabeleland Province and develop inland industry.

Ernst has a kind of obsession, that is, he hopes that the inland and coastal areas will develop in a balanced way. In his previous life, the Far East could not do this, but East Africa and the Far East have different national conditions after all.

One is that the inland climate of East Africa is better than the coast. In tropical countries like East Africa, the cooler the climate, the more popular it is. Temperate countries like to go to warmer areas, which is also an important reason for the southward migration of the population in China, the United States, and Russia in later generations.

For example, the Far Eastern Empire, the population in the Northeast region flows to the south, the population in the Northeast region of the United States migrates to the “Sun Belt” in the south, and Russia is even more so.

Therefore, the climatic advantage of the East African inland is still more conducive to the balanced development of East Africa. Most areas of East Africa are tropical savanna climates, which are conducive to the balanced distribution of the population.

The second is that the resources in the East African inland are far better than those on the coast, and the inland resources are rich in variety, especially in Matabeleland Province and Hechingen Province. The resources of these two provinces can almost meet most industrial needs. The only thing lacking is oil.

However, the two most important oil resource provinces in East Africa are also inland, namely the Nile Province and the Great Lakes Province (Uganda).

The resource conditions in the East African inland make the lower limit of future inland development very high, and can form a favorable competition with the coast.

The only advantage of the coast compared to the inland is sea transportation, but this advantage is enough. The advantages and disadvantages of both sides are evenly matched.

However, Prince Karl doesn’t know much about these things. After all, he only sees the appearance of East Africa. Only Ernst and a few East African senior officials know how East Africa is actually developing.

Prince Karl asked, “So, you mean that as long as the funding problem is solved, the Northern Railway can start construction ahead of schedule?”

Ernst nodded, his meaning was very clear. He said, “If Sigmaringen can invest a part, then we East Africa can grit our teeth and tighten our belts to realize the extension of the Northern Railway ahead of schedule.”

This made Prince Karl very embarrassed. If the extension of the Northern Railway is to be realized, it will be at least more than a thousand kilometers long, which is not a difficult task for a big country like East Africa, but it is extremely difficult for Sigmaringen.

Now, investing in the Chad colony alone has cost a lot of money, but it has obtained nearly two million square kilometers of land, which is indeed cost-effective, and it can be seen that the money will come back, but investing in railways is uncertain.

So Prince Karl said with some embarrassment, “Ernst, you also know that our Sigmaringen is the same as your Hechingen before. Although we are a great noble family, we actually don’t have much money.”

This is true. Great noble families like Hechingen and Sigmaringen are not uncommon in Europe, although they are not everywhere. Sigmaringen and Hechingen were both traditional military nobles before, developing in the army. Nobles are more about personal connections, martial power and authority, and social status. As for financial resources, they are really not as good as capitalists.

“Uncle Karl, Sigmaringen naturally cannot afford so much money, but Sigmaringen also has Romania. Romania is also a country, and its energy is no less than many countries.”

Ernst’s idea is to use Carol I. In fact, today’s Romania is a purely small and weak country. In his previous life, Romania was quite strong, and it developed after swallowing Hungarian territory.

But even so, Romania is much stronger than Sigmaringen, a principality only the size of a township. There are also many rich people, and Carol I, as the monarch of Romania, led Romania to independence from the Ottoman Empire, and his reputation is still good.

“But although the ruler of Romania is your cousin, our family cannot control the wealth of Romania,” Prince Karl said.

Ernst: “My meaning is to issue bonds in the name of the Romanian royal family. If Sigmaringen wants to develop Chad, it cannot rely on its own strength alone. It must have the support of Romania.”

Ernst deeply understands this point. If East Africa were looking at the original Hechingen royal family’s assets, it would have lost everything long ago. The greatest contribution of the East African colony is the financial resources of the Hechingen Consortium.

Prince Karl: “The problem is, how do we repay the debt?”

“This is easy to handle, Uncle Karl. You can’t look at the problem with the old way of thinking now. You now have nearly two million square kilometers of land in your hands. There must be a lot of mineral resources in these two million square kilometers of land. Just use mineral resources to repay the debt. And this is also the reason why I asked you to invest in the Northern Railway. If you want to sell these mineral resources, you must rely on the railway. The sooner the extension of the Northern Railway is completed, the sooner you can become rich by relying on mineral resources. Correspondingly, with mineral resources, you can attract investment and further strengthen colonial construction.”

Prince Karl listened carefully to Ernst’s words, and also thought it made sense. Thinking about it this way, the Northern Railway is indeed very important to Sigmaringen. If investing in this railway seems to be very cost-effective.

Chapter 587: East Africa’s “Westward Expansion”

Sigmaringen was a good deal, and East Africa was also a good deal. East Africa itself was not high in terms of material costs and labor costs. A large part of the railway construction before was freeloading on the global surplus steel production during the economic crisis of 1873.

Now, large and small steel plants in East Africa have been put into production, and it is no problem to meet their own needs. As for labor costs, the construction of this railway is nothing compared to the current water conservancy project construction.

East Africa took advantage of the decade of the seventies to complete the relevant layout of industries such as steel and railways. It should be said that it is already on the same level as Russia in these two fields. The quantity is sufficient, but the quality is relatively rough.

And in East Africa, if you want to get things done, money is one aspect, and material allocation is also one aspect. With an annual output of one million tons of steel, East African state-owned enterprises, East African Steel and East African Railway, have become trust enterprises in various fields.

At the same time, the steel output of the United Kingdom and the United States was more than one million three hundred thousand tons, which was lower than before the economic crisis. The economic crisis of 1873 led to the bankruptcy of at least one-third of the steel companies in the two countries, and now the economy continues to be sluggish.

East Africa, on the other hand, experienced a period of savage development throughout the seventies, acquiring a large number of bankrupt European and American steel companies and production machines. Through the national system and Ernst’s understanding of East Africa’s mineral resources, the entire East African steel industry grew rapidly and occupied an important share in the world.

The most direct beneficiaries are East Africa’s military industry and railway enterprises. As for the demand for steel in other fields, it is also extremely strong. Typically, in the seventies, East Africa’s agricultural machinery reached a new level in terms of materials and quality, which promoted the further release of East Africa’s agricultural productivity and laid the foundation for various projects in East Africa.

As the seventies ended and the East African railway industry got on the right track, the actual demand for steel weakened, and more steel production capacity further entered other fields, and could even be exported to the international market.

Therefore, the current steel production in East Africa is actually surplus compared with other countries. If East Africa were a free market country, the East African steel industry would definitely undergo large-scale bankruptcy and reorganization. However, East Africa has always implemented a planned economy, resulting in East Africa’s overall national state still being in a state of deflation.

In fact, in 1880, the American Westward Expansion had basically ended, and East Africa was completing its own Westward Expansion. The inland areas are being developed, and it is expected that by 1890, the central region of East Africa, mainly Matabeleland Province, Hohenzollern Province, and Swabia Province, will reach the development level of the eastern region today.

East Africa’s Westward Expansion is very different from that of the United States. First of all, in terms of industry, the American Westward Expansion was mainly based on agricultural development, while East Africa focused more on industry.

As mentioned earlier, most of East Africa’s mineral resources are distributed in the central region, so most of East Africa’s industrial investment in recent years has been in the inland areas, the most prominent of which are steel, railways, copper mines and other metallurgical industries.

The United States is completely different. The resources in the western United States are obviously not comparable to those in the northeastern United States, so the most iconic products of the American Westward Expansion are cowboys and farms. Of course, the crazy railway construction is also the same. Previously, the United States built five railways between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the same time. During the same period, East Africa only had one central railway, which was considered half of a transoceanic railway (because it did not complete the connection to the Atlantic Ocean due to Portuguese Angola).

Of course, the construction time of the East African railway was a little later than that of the American railway, and the economic crisis of 1873 was the dividing line. Although the United States seemed to be in a mess after the economic crisis, the economic contraction was still a considerable amount. In other words, the economic data was seriously virtualized, and the stock market and investment market raised the value of the railway to a position it should not have been in.

Conversely, the railway output value of East Africa is more objective and real, because the East African government does not need to raise the value of the railway.

Another reason why East Africa’s Westward Expansion focuses on industry is that agriculture in the east has been relatively complete and developed. Before the Westward Expansion, the grain production capacity in eastern East Africa was already quite considerable in the world.

On the other hand, the industry in eastern East Africa was not developed before, and the important reason for the rise of coastal industrial cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa was due to the momentum of the Westward Expansion.

Before this, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were still cities, but their development was not prominent in industry, but rather as national commodity distribution centers and service industry centers.

After the completion of the Central Railway and the Northern Railway, they left rich industrial assets to the two cities, such as the railway locomotive manufacturing center, which remained in the east, because this is the starting point of the two major railways in East Africa.

But this is only the industrial investment that East Africa must make in the early stage. After the completion of the two major railways, East Africa’s industrial investment focus immediately shifted to the central region, and the improvement of transportation conditions provided conditions for the industrial development of the three central provinces.

The industrial layout of this era is still oriented by the origin of raw materials, rather than the market of later generations, which is particularly obvious in the steel and other industrial and mining industries.

This is also an important reason why East Africa and Japan started industrializing at the same time, but East Africa was able to quickly widen the gap with Japan, so that Japan could not even see the back of East Africa. Japan is poor in mineral resources, and a clever woman cannot cook without rice.

Secondly, the East African version of the Westward Expansion is completely led by the East African government, while the government only plays a guiding role in the American Westward Expansion, and basically does not intervene afterwards.

Therefore, the inland development of East Africa is purposeful, planned, and progressive, while the United States is a barbaric, disorderly, chaotic, and fiercely competitive development path.

In contrast, the East African government army clears inland threats, the government orderly guides and arranges immigrants, and rationally arranges industries, with almost no twists and turns in the middle.

The western United States, on the other hand, initially faced a lack of police force, armed groups attacking each other, wanton massacres of Native Americans, and chaotic scenes such as frequent robberies and vendettas, with a kind of vibrant scenery of gang rule.

However, this development model in the United States naturally has advantages and disadvantages. There are many disadvantages, but there are also many advantages. In the early stage, the government basically does not need to invest. The United States is a typical small government, and even tax collection is difficult, and it does not have abundant funds in its hands, so it can only rely on private forces.

After all, the history of armed taxation in the United States is only a short period of less than twenty years. The National Revenue Agency was established in 1862 to raise war funds during the Civil War, and was quickly abandoned after the war.

Furthermore, the fierce competition in the American Westward Expansion also represents opportunities, especially for ordinary people. Ruthlessness can accumulate huge amounts of wealth in a short period of time, creating a large number of people who get rich first. There are not a few such groups. Large and small banks and train robberies do not know how many American rich people have been created.

In comparison, East Africa is very stingy. The East African government has put in a lot of effort, and naturally takes away a lot of wealth and income, only satisfying the basic needs of immigrants.

The East African government is also a typical powerful state machine. Under the violent armed forces of the army and police, it is difficult for East Africa to have a breeding ground for crime, and the East African people who have been screened are also typical small-scale farmers and workers who are easy to rule.

Two development paths, the benevolent see benevolence, and the wise see wisdom. However, all roads lead to Rome. The western United States and East Africa have been effectively developed, but the American Westward Expansion lasted for hundreds of years, while East Africa only lasted for less than ten years.

Although East Africa’s Westward Expansion focuses on the industrial field, East Africa’s overall level of industrialization is not high, and agricultural investment still occupies the main position.

Chapter 588: Harare Tobacco Factory

While Crown Prince Ernst was busy wrapping up the year-end government work, King Constantine of East Africa, after playing with his grandchildren, recently went out to inspect work, or perhaps to relax.

As he got older, he preferred to go out and about, and it was better for his son to handle the troublesome matters of government affairs. Of course, the improved transportation conditions in East Africa provided Constantine with the conditions to go out. In the past, Constantine could only travel within the Central Province, but now he can go to more distant places.

For example, this time, he took a special car along the East African Central Railway and came directly to Harare, the up-and-coming city of East Africa.

As the capital of Matabeleland Province, Harare is located near 18 degrees south latitude. Most East African cities are in the southern hemisphere.

It is now summer in the southern hemisphere, but the temperature in Harare is only 23 degrees Celsius, and the weather is cloudy, similar to the First Township, so there is no need to worry about changes in weather and temperature.

Therefore, East Africa is a very suitable place for retirement, with no severe heat in summer and no severe cold in winter, and spring all year round. Of course, the prerequisite is that the infrastructure conditions are complete, otherwise it will be very inconvenient for elderly people like Constantine.

In his previous life, Harare was a relatively well-known summer resort in the world, and many East African cities have this title.

“Currently, our city of Harare has become the largest domestic tobacco distribution market in East Africa. The tobacco factory is one of the pillar industries of Harare. The daily tobacco trading volume is more than 1,000 tons. In the whole country, only Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, two open ports, can compare with Harare.

However, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam mainly focus on the international market, while Harare can represent the level of domestic tobacco consumption and the popularity of East African tobacco in the international market. This year, Harare has opened up more than 10,000 acres of new tobacco fields, but it is still in short supply.” The director of the Harare Tobacco Factory enthusiastically introduced the prospects of the Harare tobacco industry to Constantine.

“Harare’s tobacco has already made a name for itself, especially in the German region. I heard that Matabeleland tobacco has been following a high-end route from the beginning. Now, many cigarettes in the German region add Matabeleland tobacco leaves to enhance the aromatic substances, to increase flavor and taste,” Constantine said insightfully.

The representative of Matabeleland tobacco leaves is “Golden Leaf”, which from the beginning was aimed at the high-end cigarette market, first in the German market, and then from Germany to Eastern Europe, or from East Africa to the Far East.

The German route to Eastern Europe takes advantage of the Western European industrial powers’ admiration for these semi-industrialized or agricultural countries, coupled with the excellent quality of East African tobacco products themselves, so it is very popular.

The export to the Far East is because there is the largest independent market in the world outside of Britain and the United States. Britain and its large family of colonies boycott East African goods, while the United States itself is a major tobacco country, and the Caribbean countries and Latin America to the south also produce tobacco.

Therefore, East Africa’s market has always been in five major blocks: Germany, Eastern Europe, Arab regions, the Far East, and others.

The trade volume between the Far East and East Africa is not bad, but tobacco is not in this category, because the Far East itself also has areas suitable for tobacco cultivation, and the Huaihai Commercial Zone is in this category.

The biggest boost to East Africa’s economy is actually Eastern Europe and Arab countries. For these countries, East Africa’s products are very competitive.

First of all, Eastern European countries are at high latitudes and lack tropical cash crops, while East Africa is the closest tropical cash crop production area to Eastern Europe. A large part of East Africa’s fruits, vegetables, and cash crops are digested by Eastern European countries, led by Tsarist Russia.

Although Germany is a major buyer of East African agricultural products, Germany’s exports to East Africa are also considerable, especially industrial products and equipment.

Tsarist Russia, which has the highest degree of industrialization in Eastern Europe, actually only surpasses East Africa in terms of product categories, but their geographical location also has a large demand for tropical cash crops, so East Africa’s exports to Tsarist Russia are much larger than its imports.

For example, Somalia is the closest banana production area to Eastern European countries, so importing from East Africa is almost the only option.

Although Somalia has a dry climate, it is large enough, and with the irrigation of the Juba and Shebelle rivers, banana production is very considerable, and it can supply the European market in large quantities, and already has the strength to compete with the Caribbean island nations.

As for the Arab countries, in addition to being close to them, East Africa also enjoys “equal” treatment from East Africa. Just like Latin American countries now think that the United States is very “just, free, and democratic”, now the United States is striving for freedom for the Americas and fighting against the “great villains” of Britain and France. In the eyes of Arab countries, East Africa is also like this, which is very ironic.

Moreover, the environment in Arab countries is relatively harsh, and they lack almost everything, and now oil has not been discovered, so East African cheap goods are very popular in the Arab region.

Therefore, Arab countries and the Far Eastern Empire are not only markets for East African agricultural products, but also important markets for East African industrial products.

Returning to tobacco, East Africa is the closest tobacco production area to them. Large quantity, high quality, and low price are the characteristics of East African tobacco.

Moreover, the tobacco exported by East Africa is packaged by the Heckingen Tobacco Company, which looks very high-end and is very popular because of its unique industrial elegance.

This era is different from later generations. Everyone is particularly obsessed with industrial products. Being able to use industrial products is a symbol of a high-quality life, including food.

The director of the Harare Tobacco Factory responded to Constantine: “That’s right, Your Majesty. After several years of cultivation, Harare tobacco has not only been guaranteed in quality, but is also researching new varieties, further increasing tobacco production while ensuring tobacco quality.”

“Your factory looks very large in scale. This is also my first time visiting a tobacco factory,” Constantine said.

The director of the Harare Tobacco Factory said with great pride: “Your Majesty, our factory was completely designed by architects and tobacco process designers hired by Heckingen Tobacco Company from Europe, so the factory building looks very grand and elegant, and the working environment is very comfortable. Every machine or room is scientifically and reasonably laid out to achieve the optimal solution, so workers can achieve maximum efficiency in an orderly manner, greatly increasing the production of our Harare Tobacco Factory.”

As he spoke, he came to the conveyor belt and said: “Our raw materials are stacked by workers, and then enter the next process through machine operation. The entire factory is clean and tidy, and everyone performs their duties and works according to the process. In this atmosphere, more than 800 people are orderly and not chaotic, which is inseparable from the fact that our factory was arranged by experts from the beginning.”

“Of course, we will also encounter some practical problems. For example, the design of our factory was a bit conservative at the beginning, which has caused it to be a bit tight now, so we are adding new equipment. This will require opening up new workshops, and the original pattern will be disrupted. Also, European technology iterates very quickly, and I don’t know how many years our equipment will be behind.”

This worry is a bit unnecessary, because Heckingen Tobacco Company in the tobacco industry is a monopoly group, controlling most of the German, East African, and Eastern European tobacco, and also controlling upstream technology.

Even if tobacco production equipment is updated and iterated in the future, it will not affect Heckingen Tobacco Company. It can maintain its oligopoly position in the industry and maintain its technological advantages through various means.

As the boss, Ernst will definitely not allow Heckingen Tobacco Company to hold East Africa back technologically.

It sounds strange, but there is indeed room for operation, because Harare Tobacco Factory is a state-owned enterprise, while Heckingen Tobacco Company is a private enterprise. Harare Tobacco Factory is responsible for the production end, while Heckingen Tobacco Company is responsible for research and development and sales.

Therefore, the two are in a cooperative relationship, but the initiative is in the hands of Heckingen Tobacco Company, and Harare Tobacco Factory is only responsible for the processing field in the production end. For example, tobacco planting is under the jurisdiction of the agricultural department.

Chapter 589: Prosperous New City

“Well, it seems you understand the factory’s situation as its director. Now is the era of science and technology, and what we lack in East Africa are intellectuals. So, we still need to listen to the experts. However, there’s a saying that blindly believing in books is worse than having no books at all. Theoretical research inevitably clashes with reality. Therefore, our East African factories must integrate with reality and focus on production in a down-to-earth manner.”

Constantine’s forte was still military affairs. He didn’t understand enterprise management, especially in East African state-owned enterprises, so he didn’t give blind orders, only offering words of encouragement.

Of course, Constantine thought this way because he was influenced by the overall environment of East Africa. Previously, he had come into contact with similar enterprises. Prussia, as a big-government advocate, had many state-run factories, mainly in military industries, most notably in railway nationalization and other aspects.

It was just that East Africa had too many state-owned enterprises. East Africa still had many private enterprises. In the east, there were many enterprises invested in by German merchants, but East Africa had stricter management, so the number of investments was not that high.

These private enterprises accounted for a very small proportion of the East African economy, but they could not be ignored. Moreover, accepting East Africa’s rules and regulations meant that these merchants wanted to wholeheartedly engage in real industries. East Africa did not discriminate against merchants, but only had more restrictions. East Africa still welcomed legitimate merchants who were willing to accept East African rules.

The director of the Harare City Tobacco Factory was naturally very happy to hear Constantine’s words. After all, it was difficult to get affirmation from a big leader, and this was the first time the King had inspected Matabeleland Province. So, he respectfully said, “We will definitely continue to work hard and strive to contribute our strength to the country’s economic development!”

Afterward, Constantine left the tobacco factory amidst the crowd’s initial indifference turning into obsequiousness. His mode of transportation was a luxurious carriage brought by a special train.

Through the car window, Constantine once again surveyed the urban construction of Harare City. Because Constantine’s visit to Harare City was not deliberately publicized, the roads were not closed, and the streets were as busy as usual.

Of course, Constantine’s motorcade still attracted the attention of pedestrians. After all, there were mounted police clearing the way, and Constantine’s motorcade was very long, so it was obvious that a big figure was coming.

As for how big, the citizens of Harare City couldn’t guess. It couldn’t possibly be His Majesty the King himself! Because there was no precedent for this in East Africa.

Constantine watched the bustling crowds on both sides with interest through the car window. Because East African city road planning was relatively wide, even if Constantine’s motorcade occupied the west side of the main road, both sides could still be used normally by citizens and vehicles.

Harare City had a total population of about one hundred and sixty thousand people, catching up with a group of old cities in a very short period of time, so it was called a newly rich city.

As the sub-center of Matabeleland Province and the former capital of the Matabele Kingdom, Bulawayo also had a population of over one hundred thousand. The scale of the two cities’ populations could give a glimpse of the extent of East Africa’s support for Matabeleland Province.

“Your Majesty, according to the itinerary, next we will visit the Harare City Chromium Factory, then the Steel Factory, as well as a newly built arsenal, and the Harare City Locomotive Manufacturing Factory,” said old butler Cade.

The area around Harare City has abundant chromium ore resources. Chromium ore is found sixty kilometers from the city, so it is one of the centers of East African ferrochrome smelting, and is considered one of Harare City’s characteristic industries.

Of course, Harare City also has gold mines. Unlike chromium mines, East Africa has no plans to develop new gold mines for the time being. After all, there are enough gold mines in the east. Even Ernst himself wanted to know how many gold mines existed under this land in East Africa.

As for the arsenal, it is easy to explain. East Africa’s military industry will definitely be laid out in Matabeleland Province, because this is East Africa’s hinterland and rear. In the future, some confidential institutions and factories may also be laid out in inland areas such as Matabeleland Province.

The steel factory and locomotive manufacturing factory are relatively conventional factories in East Africa. After all, Harare is an important node city along the central railway line. Cities like First Town and Soja, which are also along the railway line, are relatively inactive and have not laid out related industries because these two cities have different positioning.

The above are just some of Harare City’s key industries, but there are even more supporting factories and facilities surrounding these industries.

For example, at the chromium mine factory, Constantine would at most take a look at the periphery and meet with the leadership and workers inside the factory, while Constantine would not have time to inspect other processing plants surrounding the chromium mine factory.

Constantine’s trip to Harare City was his first in-depth understanding of the development situation in the East African hinterland. So far, Constantine was quite satisfied with the construction of Harare City.

Harare City, as a new city designed and planned before construction, is very different from the East African cities in the east. Although the eastern cities have only been built for a few years, they have at least developed roughly during the colonial era.

At that time, East Africa did not have extra money and energy to invite European architects to plan East African cities, so those early cities had some meaning of spontaneous development.

Moreover, in that era, European architects were not at ease to come to East Africa to engage in design. At that time, East Africa was still a primitive area in the stereotype of Europeans.

With the rise of a series of coastal cities in East Africa, the neat and prosperous city appearance, and developed trade, a group of businessmen were attracted to order goods or enjoy services in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, and East Africa’s reputation also spread with these businessmen, thereby improving.

After all, East Africa’s service is first-class. There are not many places along the Indian Ocean that are stronger than East Africa. Of course, there are also disadvantages, that is, East Africa’s security is too good, and it is a bit difficult to play at a higher level. Most people on the sea are bold and pay more attention to enjoyment.

Even so, more merchants and sailors come to East African coastal cities, because there are not many pickpockets here, the police force is sufficient, and safety is very important for many people.

With a good reputation, East Africa can take advantage of the situation to recruit some talents from Europe. Under this background, the urban construction of Harare City is completely different from the past.

After the expert team conducted on-the-spot investigations, it took more than half a year to design before the groundbreaking of the Harare City construction project.

Harare City focuses most on underground drainage systems and roads, the construction of civil infrastructure such as drinking water pipelines, and reserves space for subsequent urban transformation.

Like other cities, Harare City also pays attention to environmental issues. There are many parks and green plants in the city, making the entire city full of vitality.

However, Ernst has not conducted an on-the-spot investigation. The last time he came to Harare City was when he was on a business trip here in his previous life. In his previous life, Harare was known as “Little Paris of Africa”, “City of Sunshine”, and “City of Flowering Trees”.

The city center is indeed very beautiful, but Harare has also been rated as one of the “most unsuitable cities to live in the world”.

This is not contradictory. Many countries abroad have slums and rich areas, and Harare is the same. Moreover, security problems are very poor regardless of whether they are developed or not, but many African countries do not even have a little order.

However, these have nothing to do with the current Harare City. In his previous life, Harare inherited British culture and architecture. In this life, it is completely Germanized in the hands of East Africa, so there is no comparability at all when put together.

Chapter 590: Showing Concern

“Welcome Your Majesty to inspect our factory!”

The director of the Harare Chrome Mine, along with his leadership team, personally greeted Constantine’s arrival. At Constantine’s request, the chrome mine continued to operate and did not shut down just because the King was visiting.

Black smoke and the constant stream of transport vehicles indicated the busyness of this factory located in the suburbs. The workers had been notified beforehand and worked even harder than usual.

In Constantine’s view, the scale of this factory was much smaller than the tobacco factory, which did not align with his perception of industrial and mining enterprises.

Therefore, Constantine asked Grenin, a high-ranking official from Matabeleland Province who was accompanying him: “Why is the tobacco factory so much larger than the chrome mine, and the equipment as well?”

“Your Majesty, this is due to demand. The most valuable industry in our Matabeleland Province is probably the tobacco industry. This isn’t just in terms of scale, but also net profit. The total output value of tobacco in Matabeleland Province accounts for about thirty percent of East Africa’s total, which is not a small number, and it still has growth potential. Benefiting from the unique and superior conditions of our province, this proportion may increase to more than sixty percent in the future.”

Grenin continued, “And Harare, as the tobacco processing center of Matabeleland Province, undertakes an important task. Our city supplies almost forty-six percent of East Africa’s tobacco exports.”

Constantine seemed to understand and asked, “You mean the market determines the scale of Harare’s tobacco factory?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Demand determines the scale of investment, otherwise everything is just castles in the air. Moreover, the tobacco factory is now under the jurisdiction of the industrial department, and we mainly play a supervisory and auxiliary role.”

Constantine stopped dwelling on this issue, but he still felt that the scale of the chrome mine was too small, so he mentioned, “What are the main application areas of chrome now? Why is it on my itinerary? Is this resource important?”

It was no wonder Constantine kept asking questions. The element chromium was discovered in 1797, not much older than Constantine himself, and its applications were generally not something ordinary people would encounter.

Grenin: “This question should be answered by professionals. We are not clear, so Director Hearn, would you please answer?”

Hearn, the director of the chrome mine, stepped forward and explained, “Your Majesty, the application of chromium is indeed not very common. It is generally used to produce compounds, which is a bit high-end. Only professionals usually come into contact with it, so it is normal for ordinary people not to have heard of it. I can briefly explain it.

It was first discovered by the French chemist Vauquelin in red lead ore in the Siberian region of Russia. Later, he used charcoal to reduce chromic anhydride and first separated metallic chromium. In the same year, chromite was discovered, and most of the chrome ore in East Africa exists in the form of chromite, and it is one of Harare’s advantageous resources.

For example, the ore we use in our factory to extract chromium mainly comes from a small mine southwest of the city. For the entire chromite reserves in Harare, it can only be regarded as a drop in the bucket, but it is enough for our production needs and use.

Of course, the most widely used industrial application is as a tanning agent for leather production, or to increase the hardness of alloys. I have only heard about this aspect. The specific research seems to be done by the Mbeya Metal Research Institute.”

Constantine was very satisfied with this explanation, because he roughly knew that this thing was very important when he heard about the leather industry.

Now leather is a very important material, in all fields, because there are not many substitutes, especially for cold regions like Russia or Northern Europe.

The situation in East Africa is much better because East Africa is located in the tropics, but the leather industry in East Africa is also not small, especially during the colonial era. Leather exports were an important source of income for East Africa, and like ivory and other East African products, it contributed to the early development of East Africa.

Now, after several purges of wildlife in East Africa, the number of wild animals has decreased a lot, but correspondingly, East Africa’s animal husbandry has also developed, so the leather business has become bigger and bigger. Of course, the main highlight is still the word “leather.” East Africa’s leather industry is developing very well.

Constantine: “That was an answer to the first question. Then why is it on my itinerary?”

Grenin could answer this question, which the director of the chrome mine, Hearn, did not know: “Your Majesty, the industries you are inspecting are arranged according to the key projects and enterprises in our province. Don’t look at the small scale of the chrome mine, but its ranking is in the first echelon. The most important thing is that this factory was specially mentioned by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Of course, Ernst had paid attention to it. After all, East Africa’s chrome ore resources are advantageous resources, so it is reasonable to make arrangements in advance. However, Ernst also had concerns, that is, the “chrome plating” process has not yet appeared, or rather, the price of electricity in East Africa is not cheap, so there is no need to develop it in advance.

In addition, chrome ore smelting is originally a highly polluting industry, so after comprehensively considering various factors, Ernst does not intend to vigorously develop related industries.

Anyway, chromite is mainly distributed in East Africa, and it will not run away in the future, so as long as we continue to make breakthroughs in research, improve the efficiency of use, improve production technology, and solve pollution treatment problems, it will not be too late to make plans.

Hearn also said, “The use of chromium in the industrial field is not yet widespread, but with the progress of the times and knowledge of physics, chemistry, etc., it may inspire great use in the future, and Harare is just providing a temporary foothold for this industry, providing reference data, and we do have relevant needs.”

“Okay! Let’s go into the factory for a visit. You just need to keep these professional issues in mind,” Constantine said.

Afterward, Constantine began to focus on communicating with the grassroots workers in the factory to understand their living and working conditions.

Although Constantine had visited the tobacco factory before, the work intensity of the tobacco factory was not very high, so Constantine did not pay much attention to this aspect.

“How much is your monthly salary?”

“Forty-five Rhine thalers, but I got overtime pay last month, so it was forty-seven Rhine thalers in total.”

“Is that enough to live on?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. There are currently five people in my family, my wife and I, plus three children, one just six years old, one four years old, and one just born. They don’t eat much, and we have a lot left over every month.”

“Six years old, then he should be going to school soon!”

“Yes, Your Majesty, according to the law, compulsory education must be received at the age of seven.”

“What do you think of compulsory education?”

“I am quite satisfied. Isn’t the government always promoting it! Knowledge is power. I haven’t read many books, but I think this sentence makes a lot of sense. At least it is very useful to be able to do accounts, write letters, or read newspapers, and the school also provides a meal, which further reduces our burden.”

“Well, reading is definitely good. Just like in East Africa, many things need to be taught by knowledgeable people. The factory design, materials, and mechanical equipment of your factory are all the crystallization of knowledge. When industry develops in the future, more intellectuals will be needed to participate in national construction.”

Constantine chatted with the workers in the factory about everything under the sun, showing concern for them, a model of a benevolent ruler, while the reporters from the official newspapers were also writing furiously. After the material was recorded, it would be disseminated through the newspapers to shape the image of the royal family’s charity.

Chapter 591: The Journey Home

Constantine’s inspection tour of Matabeleland Province didn’t last more than a few days. He had to return to the First Township to celebrate the New Year with his family. This trip to Matabeleland Province essentially stopped at Harare.

As he boarded the special train, Constantine said with some regret, “This time was too rushed. It would have been nice to see Bulawayo!”

“Your Majesty, Bulawayo can wait until next year. Now that we have the railway, visiting these cities isn’t a problem. Besides Bulawayo, the only city in the south worth visiting is New Hamburg Port City. However, New Hamburg Port City was built entirely according to the model of cities like Dar es Salaam, so it’s much the same and lacks any unique features.”

That was what Butler Cade said. In reality, New Hamburg Port City was very different from many ports in East Africa, because the bay of New Hamburg Port City had three port areas, including a naval port, and was divided into inner and outer harbors. If one were to take a boat tour of New Hamburg Port City, they would discover and appreciate its unique layout.

As for Cade’s statement about it being built according to the model of coastal cities like Dar es Salaam, that wasn’t wrong either, but it was more about the standards being the same, reflected in the city’s infrastructure and living facilities.

“Cade, how is Hechingen Province, that is, the former Transvaal Republic’s capital, Pretoria, doing now? I don’t seem to have heard any news about it,” Constantine asked.

Before East Africa occupied the South African region, Pretoria was definitely one of the top cities in the South African region. Only Cape Town was a level above Pretoria. Now that there was no news at all, Constantine was quite curious.

Cade: “Pretoria is now entirely a South African military stronghold. It doesn’t have any unique economic development. In recent years, the population growth in Hechingen Province, Southern Frontier Province, and New Baden Province is far less than that of the adjacent Matabeleland Province. On the other hand, the army has increased a lot. The only thing that has been developed is probably New Hamburg Port City on the coast, and that’s only because of the construction of the Central Railway.”

“Didn’t I hear that Ernst planned to raise sheep in South Africa? What’s the result now?”

“Animal husbandry takes time. We spent a full decade improving East Africa’s animal husbandry to barely catch up with other countries, and East Africa’s land area is more than ten times that of ordinary countries, so the scale of our animal husbandry is not large in proportion, but rather small. The same is true for sheep farming. It’s only being carried out in the Southern Frontier Province.”

Hearing this, Constantine felt a bit small-minded and said, “Only the Southern Frontier Province? Is the scale a bit small?”

Cade smiled when he heard this. He said to Constantine, “Your Majesty, the Southern Frontier Province is not small at all. You’ve been in East Africa for too long, so you’re used to looking at things from the perspective of a large country. An East African province is larger than many European countries. If you compare it separately, it’s on par with some medium-sized countries, so the grazing industry in the Southern Frontier Province alone may be stronger than many countries. After all, other countries have to consider the issue of food crop cultivation and can’t use all their land for grazing.”

Hearing Cade’s words, Constantine suddenly realized that his way of thinking and what he was doing were indeed different. In Europe, apart from serving the Prussian army, he was at most focused on his own fiefdom’s industries.

And the Principality of Hechingen, to put it bluntly, was a township. Sometimes Constantine even worried about the small amount of land in the villages under his jurisdiction. But after arriving in East Africa, he became numb to dealing with land areas of tens of thousands of square kilometers. For example, this trip to Harare was under the guise of inspecting Matabeleland Province, and Matabeleland Province alone was more than three hundred thousand square kilometers, almost half the size of Germany.

When Constantine first arrived in East Africa, East Africa’s territory was only limited to the area around the East African Plateau, but it was also two or three times the size of Germany. In recent years, it has continued to expand its territory, and East Africa has become one of the largest countries in the world.

It takes time for land to be converted into national power, but reaching that size is also very satisfying, fulfilling Constantine’s great vanity. The only shortcoming was that he couldn’t brag about his achievements to his old partners in Europe like he used to.

Cade continued, “Of course, the Southern Frontier Province is only carrying out development work in the eastern region. The western region bordering the former Orange Free State has not been developed, and the eastern region is not just raising sheep. It also has some agriculture, which is not much different from other eastern regions, except that the north mainly raises livestock such as cattle, horses, and pigs. This is also to consider the reason for staggering industrial competition. New Hamburg Port City is now busy building a wool textile center and forming two centers of the East African textile industry with Nairobi in the north. Moreover, I heard that Bulawayo is also actively promoting the goal of a central textile center, and it’s a two-pronged approach. The western region where Bulawayo is located has a relatively dry climate, so it’s suitable for cotton cultivation and sheep raising.”

Raising cattle and raising sheep are very different, but cattle are obviously more picky. Looking at the world’s high-quality pastures, Europe and Argentina, among other regions, have high-quality grasslands. The temperate maritime climate of Northern Europe and the subtropical grassland climate of Argentina are reflected in the cool climate and lush vegetation, so they mainly raise cattle.

Areas with relatively dry climates are suitable for raising sheep, typically including the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia, the northwestern region of the Far East Empire, and so on. Many areas of the South African Plateau have limited rainfall and a relatively dry climate, so raising sheep is very suitable.

Of course, South Africa is also suitable for raising cattle. Cattle and sheep are the same as people, they all like a climate that is warm in winter and cool in summer. The vast plateau areas of East Africa meet this characteristic.

The former Transvaal Republic, or rather, the Boers, chose to raise cattle because of their habits and the market. Many Boers came from the Netherlands, Germany, and France. These countries themselves mainly raised cattle in their animal husbandry, so they continued the traditional practice after immigrating to South Africa, and the Boers’ export market was still Europe. Europe and the United States are the regions with the highest beef consumption in the world.

In comparison, East Africa is still a bit lacking in this regard, but East Africa’s animal husbandry is also mainly cattle. However, East Africa’s animal husbandry has been developing for too short a time, and it will take time for East African civilians to eat beef.

As for raising sheep, in addition to the aforementioned wool textile industry, the export value of mutton itself is also quite high. East Africa is very close to the Arab region and Central Asia, and the consumption of mutton in the Arab and Central Asian regions is considerable.

While Constantine and Cade were talking, the special train had already entered East Africa’s largest railway bridge, the Zambezi River Railway Bridge.

The Zambezi River Railway Bridge is one of the well-known projects built by East Africa. It is entirely constructed of steel, and the steel used was imported from Europe during the economic crisis of 1873, so it didn’t cost much.

Although East Africa has the Nile River and the Congo River, these world-class rivers, the Zambezi River is obviously much more important to East Africa than the former two rivers.

Because the Zambezi River is very likely to become a world-class river unique to East Africa in the future, and the southern bank of the lower reaches is still controlled by the Portuguese.

As for the Congo River, although East Africa accounts for the majority, the Congo River passes through the tropical rainforest area, and its economic value is not high.

The Nile River is a bit better than the Congo River, but the natural conditions and economic value within its scope are far inferior to the Zambezi River Basin.

Finally, there is the relatively unknown Orange River. The Orange River, as a boundary river, has never been valued, and the conditions in the region are quite bad. Only the upstream, that is, the land on both sides of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, has some value and is suitable for human habitation.

Of course, none of East Africa’s rivers are very satisfactory to Ernst. East Africa’s river basins are also fragmented, and their contribution to boosting East Africa’s economy is far less than that of other rivers of the same level in the world.

The only relatively promising hydropower resources are not easy to develop now, but this is also a good thing for East Africa. Humans have a relatively strong desire to explore large river basins, such as the source of the Nile River.

East Africa lacks large rivers leading to the interior, which hinders the colonial process of other colonizers in Africa. On the other hand, the Niger River, which has better conditions, has accelerated the conquest progress of Western colonizers.

Chapter 592: Inspecting Bagamoyo

Constantine was still on his way back, so Ernst planned to use this interval to go and take a look at the city of Bagamoyo.

“Karina, I’m going to the Bagamoyo shipyard today. I should be back tomorrow. You stay home today and have your mother spend more time with you. If you need anything, just tell the servants. If you feel unwell, call the doctor…”

Ernst meticulously rambled on and on. Now that Karina was pregnant with their second child, otherwise he would really want to take Karina with him to Bagamoyo to stroll around and relax. However, going to Bagamoyo required traveling by water, so Ernst was not at ease.

“Alright, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m not a child, and the palace has everything. There are so many servants to order around. But when do you think we can go see Grandmother? She calls often, and little Friedrich hasn’t even met her. Grandmother likes him very much,” Karina asked.

Karina had been raised by Empress Dowager Sophie since she was a child, and their relationship was very deep. But since coming to East Africa, she hadn’t been able to see her grandmother, only able to contact her by phone to alleviate some of her longing.

“Father-in-law occasionally goes to Austria to see Grandmother. She’s still in good health, and your younger brother Rudolf and your uncle are also doing well, so don’t worry too much. I’ll accompany you back to visit them next year,” Ernst promised.

In reality, the Austrian royal family had a lot of troubles, but many of them were related to Franz. Little Rudolf often contacted Ernst, which could be considered someone to confide in. No one cared about psychological problems in this era, so Ernst and his wife had to worry about Rudolf’s mental health.

As for Franz, although his love life was not smooth, his mentality was definitely good enough. Otherwise, with so much trouble in his previous life, he wouldn’t have lived so long.

In this life, since his younger brother Archduke Ferdinand hadn’t been shot by a Mexican, Ferdinand still often went back to bicker with him, making his life much better than in his previous life.

Maintaining contact with the Austrian royal family also helped the development of relations between the two countries. The relationship between the two families was already very good, but after all, East Africa and Europe were separated by the ocean, so communication was not very convenient. Ernst often visited the Austrian palace when he was in Europe.

Thinking this way, Ernst felt that he couldn’t favor one over the other. There were many nobles and royals in Europe who had good relations with the Hechingen royal family, so he could just meet them along the way to connect and foster relationships.

So Ernst said, “At that time, we can also go back to Europe to visit other countries that have good relations with East Africa. If you have any little sisters you want to see, you can say so in advance, so you don’t get caught off guard.”

Karina: “I don’t actually have many friends. Most of them are in Vienna. We can just have a simple gathering then, and bring little Friedrich to meet them.”

Karina grew up in the Austrian court, so most of the friends she made were children of Austrian nobles. After all, ordinary people didn’t have the ability to enter the Austro-Hungarian imperial palace.

“Of course, no problem. But considering your due date, we probably won’t be able to go to Europe until the second half of next year. There will also be state visits at that time, so it will definitely be more tiring, since there will be more social engagements,” Ernst reminded.

“These are nothing. Before coming to East Africa, I was used to it. On the contrary, there are not many nobles in East Africa, and there are not so many rules, which is very different from Europe,” Karina said.

The couple chatted for a while, and then Ernst prepared to leave.

Because he was traveling by water, he had to wait for a boat at the pier in the northern part of First Town City. The pier was not far from the city center. The north bank of the Little Rhine River was Third Town, which had now merged with First Town City, so the banks of the Little Rhine River were still relatively prosperous.

Ernst was riding a gunboat from the Guards Division, so it was very fast. It would only take two or three hours to reach Bagamoyo City.

Although First Town City was connected by the Central Railway, which only took less than an hour, waterways had obvious freight advantages compared to railways, so the economic ties between First Town and Bagamoyo City were even closer.

At noon, Ernst arrived in Bagamoyo City. Although Bagamoyo was not as good as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, it played a pivotal role in the East African shipbuilding industry due to the development of shipbuilding.

Of course, the most important thing was that the main naval base was here. Ernst first came to the navy to see Ferdinand, but was told that Archduke Ferdinand was now at the Ferdinand Naval Academy on Pemba Island, so he had to visit the base construction accompanied by other naval personnel.

“Bagamoyo City is the gateway to First Town City, the outlet of the Little Rhine River. Our construction here can be described as impregnable. The navy and the Guards Division have heavy troops stationed here. No invading enemy can launch an attack on the nearby waters through the ocean.”

“Yes, I understand this. How are the navy’s new ships this year?” Ernst asked.

“This year, the Bagamoyo shipyard completed the construction plan for three gunboats. As for the latest three thousand ton displacement armored cruiser, it will probably take more time. We estimate that it can be completed and launched into service at the beginning of the year after next.”

The shipbuilding technology of the Bagamoyo shipyard was improving day by day. Now they were striving for a three thousand ton displacement level. Higher values should also be achievable, but they chose a more stable plan.

“The Bagamoyo shipyard still needs to accumulate experience. This is what East Africa lacks. At the same time, we are not very good in the fields of technology and research and development. There is also a lack of relevant talents locally, but it should be fine in ten or twenty years. You don’t have to be too impatient,” Ernst said.

“Independence and self-reliance has always been the goal of the East African Navy. We still need to learn from the navies of other powerful countries, and at the same time try to keep up with the pace of other countries to avoid falling behind. But this is not very difficult for us. We have already achieved the independent production of some weapons and equipment, and the imitation work is also going smoothly.”

If the East African Navy wanted to be independent and self-reliant, it could not avoid the inevitable path of copying. As for independent research and development, this greatly increased the requirements for talent, and at the same time, it was related to the layout of related industries. Without a strong industry, there could be no strong independent navy. Relying on buying all the time could solve problems in the short term, but the ambition of the East African Navy would naturally not stop there.

After seeing the navy, Ernst began to inspect Bagamoyo’s civilian shipyard.

As the center of East Africa’s shipbuilding industry, Bagamoyo now has thirteen shipbuilding companies, most of which are state-owned enterprises, with only two private enterprises, belonging to Hechingen Ocean Trade Company.

Therefore, Bagamoyo’s shipbuilding industry is first-class in East Africa. As for the shipbuilding strength of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, it is not bad, but they have too many functions to be responsible for and cannot devote themselves wholeheartedly to the shipbuilding industry.

On the contrary, Bagamoyo City can free up space to develop the shipbuilding industry because it does not have too many economic development burdens, and East Africa’s shipbuilding industry cannot be supported by private forces, so the effort comes from either the government or the Hechingen Consortium.

This undoubtedly limited the activity of East Africa’s shipbuilding industry, but the benefits were also very obvious. The government and the Hechingen Consortium could make full use of their huge resource advantages and concentrate them to support the initial development of East Africa’s shipbuilding industry.

Chapter 593: The Barltikum Shipyard

The first civilian shipyard Ernst visited was called the Barltikum Shipyard. According to the person in charge, Barltikum was a small town in the East Frisian Islands off the northern coast of Germany, which was the origin of the shipyard’s name.

In East Africa, especially the eastern part, there were many place names with suffixes like “-gen,” “-den,” and “-burg,” similar to the southern German region. The East African government rarely named places this way.

But it wasn’t entirely absent. For example, the original Ruvuma River was the border between East Africa and the Portuguese colony of Angola, and there were many military strongholds there, so there were many places with the suffix “-burg.”

Many place names in East Africa were directly copied and pasted from Germany, so it was not surprising that the Barltikum Shipyard used such a name.

“Your Highness, our Barltikum Shipyard specializes in small and medium-sized fishing boats. We are one of the top shipyards in East Africa in this field. We can produce about forty fishing boats a year, with a total tonnage of over two thousand tons, mainly for the fishermen between the Pemba Channel and the Zanzibar Channel.”

The ship hulls Ernst saw in the shipyard were indeed not very large, so this output was considerable, because the civilian shipbuilding sector in East Africa was not very prosperous to begin with.

This could be seen from the dietary habits of East Africans. Although East Africa had a vast sea area, the demand for seafood did not match the East African population. If East Africa was a landlocked country, it would be understandable, but East Africa was indeed a country bordering two oceans.

In contrast, the shipbuilding industry in the inland lake areas of East Africa was very developed, especially in the Great Lakes region. The area near the Great Lakes was an important grain production base and a production area for cash crops such as rubber in East Africa. The export volume was large, and ships were needed to transport them, and then transferred to railway transportation in Kisumu, and transported to cities along the Northern Railway or directly exported in Mombasa.

Alternatively, they could be transported to cities along the Central Railway through branch lines in Mwanza, mainly targeting the domestic market. As for exporting in Dar es Salaam, it was not cost-effective, unless it was to Australia or South America, where Dar es Salaam had an advantage, but Australia in this era was just a large prison, and South American products were similar to East Africa’s, so there was more competition between the two.

“Last year, the total number of registered ships along the coast of East Africa exceeded seven thousand. This is the result of more than ten years of accumulation, but it is still far from being a major maritime power,” said the person in charge of the Barltikum Shipyard.

Of course, this data did not include the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company, nor the number of merchant ships on Zanzibar Island. Adding the two together, the number of East African sea ships would still exceed ten thousand. Many of the ships on Zanzibar Island flew the flags of countries such as Oman, and the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company had even more disguises for its ships.

“Well, the exploration of the sea cannot be separated from ships as tools, and the shipbuilding industry is also part of East Africa’s national strength. You must guard against arrogance and rashness, be down-to-earth, take one step at a time in technology, overcome difficulties, and accumulate valuable experience for the East African shipbuilding industry,” Ernst encouraged.

The Barltikum Shipyard ranked in the middle among East African shipbuilding enterprises. The leader of the East African shipbuilding industry was the Bagamoyo Shipyard, and the leader in the field of civilian ships was the two shipyards under the Hechingen Overseas Trading Company.

Therefore, many of the technologies of the Barltikum Shipyard were the result of spillovers from the former few companies, and East African shipbuilding technology came from Europe. Barltikum’s technology had been transferred once, so it was not very advanced.

“Your Highness, we also want to make some progress in this area, but unfortunately, we are not strong enough. We only have three technicians in our factory, all of whom were hired from Austria at high prices. The rest are experienced old shipwrights, but their experience has been passed down through generations. They are more than capable of maintaining the status quo, but lack innovation, so it is really difficult for us to engage in technology. We can barely keep up with the pace by honestly imitating.”

Ernst: “You don’t need to worry about this. Everything is difficult at the beginning. The development of the shipbuilding industry in East Africa has not been many years. Now the framework has been built, which is progress. First, thoroughly understand the technology in your hands. In the future, when there are more talents, there will be no problem. Don’t think about biting off more than you can chew.”

To talk about the difficulties of the Barltikum Shipyard, the first few years when the factory was just built were really difficult, after all, it was starting from scratch. Now, even if it is not rich, it is much stronger than most shipyards.

Because it is a state-owned enterprise, the Barltikum Shipyard and other enterprises have been able to enjoy government financial allocations in recent years, so the development is still very good, at least in terms of worker welfare and treatment.

“The shipbuilding industry has undergone earth-shaking changes in recent decades, mainly due to the great development of power and materials, so you must also adapt to this change. As far as I know, sixty percent of the core equipment in your factory is imported from Europe. You can start with the simpler ones. Even if you can’t replicate them, at least understand the principles, and it is best to develop the advantages and disadvantages to fill your own shortcomings.”

It was indeed difficult to ask the Barltikum Shipyard to develop and design on its own, but the current technological barriers were not very high.

For example, James Watt, the improver of the steam engine, was an engineer from a working-class background. Although East Africa now lacks high-level talents, there are still some talents with secondary school education, who have also received relatively modern knowledge.

Like many employees of the Barltikum Shipyard, in addition to skilled shipbuilders, many newly recruited employees and apprentices have secondary school education, and the worst is primary school education. If they can combine knowledge and work, they can also discover and solve many problems, which is just a matter of probability.

Afterwards, Ernst went to several other shipyards. The Bagamoyo Shipyard included not only sea ships, but also ships used in inland rivers, after all, Bagamoyo City was located at the mouth of the Little Rhine River.

Ernst was particularly interested in a military shipyard, which was affiliated to the Bagamoyo Shipyard and was a subordinate unit of the Bagamoyo Shipyard. It was studying submarines, but there were no finished products yet.

The role of submarines in the military field goes without saying. It is now the 1880s, which is just an important window period for submarine research and development, because other countries do not pay much attention to the role of submarines.

East Africa’s start in this field is not too late. Currently, the experimental machine can dive to about five or six meters. If research and development efforts are increased now, can it achieve a corner overtaking!

Ernst plans to separate submarine research and development and make it a key project of the East African Navy, and to dig up more talents from the German region. Moreover, East Africa also has natural experimental bases.

Lake Soren (Tanganyika) is very suitable as a place for submarine research and development. Its average depth exceeds five hundred meters, and its maximum depth exceeds one thousand four hundred and seventy meters, second only to Lake Baikal, and Lake Baikal is an important nuclear submarine experimental base for the Soviet Union.

In addition to the depth being slightly worse than Lake Baikal, all other conditions of Lake Soren are above Lake Baikal. After all, Lake Baikal in Siberia relies entirely on the Siberian Railway for external connections, while the area where Lake Soren is located is the hinterland of East Africa, and the future infrastructure will not be bad. The nearby Kigoma, Bujumbura, and Mbeya are all important cities in East Africa, and Mbeya is currently the center of heavy industry in East Africa, which can provide support for submarine research at any time.

Chapter 594: Contradiction

Ernst only stayed in Bagamoyo for one day before returning to First Town. However, he traveled by water on the way there and by road on the way back. The road from Bagamoyo to First Town wasn’t more comfortable than the waterway, but it was considered smooth enough.

……

Orange Free State.

For the Boers of Orange, or rather, the Boers of the former Orange Free State, life these days was very difficult.

On the one hand, none of the British promises had been fulfilled. On the other hand, a large number of Boers from the former Transvaal Republic were crowding out their own resources.

“The British didn’t say this at the beginning. Not only did they not solve Orange’s financial problems, but they also kept raising tax rates in Orange. We’ve all been deceived, and now the British won’t admit it!”

“The so-called investments and dividends have not materialized, and they keep recruiting people to work in their diamond mines with very low wages. That land and those minerals were originally ours, these damned robbers.”

“And those damned Transvaalers, we kindly received this group of paupers in the beginning, and now they turn around and become dogs for the British to deal with us. We were really blind to accept these ungrateful wretches.”

With the migration of the original Transvaal Boers to the Orange Free State, the social structure of the local Boers changed immediately.

Although the two countries were related by marriage, after a long period of contact, conflicts arose. This was naturally fueled by the British. The British were already wary of the Boers and naturally did not want the Boers under their rule to be united.

The Boers of Transvaal were an object that could be won over for the British, while the Boers of Orange were naturally the object of suppression.

Because the Boers of Transvaal were driven from the territory of the original Transvaal Republic by East Africa, and the British were also outsiders for the Orange Free State, the Orange people had a sense of self-importance, that they were the masters of this land.

Obviously, the Transvaalers and the British did not think so, so the Transvaal restoration organization joined forces with the British.

“These Transvaalers are all ungrateful wretches who can’t be satisfied. We gave up houses and lent them land to help them through the most difficult days. Now they want to turn around and take over, they really don’t know what’s good for them.”

“And if they obediently reintegrated into Orange, that would be fine, but they have to shout slogans of recovering lost territory and rebuilding Transvaal every day to ask for supplies and donations, they are insatiable.”

“Do you think their so-called restoration slogan is used to deceive us? They are not aiming at East Africa at all, but are using it to deal with us?” Someone boldly speculated.

“It shouldn’t be possible. I think the restoration army’s training is still quite decent. Obviously, they want to compare with the East African Army. Dealing with us would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

“That’s not necessarily true! East Africa is not the East Africa it used to be. They could gather tens of thousands of troops to attack Transvaal before, and then they fought against Portugal and defeated the Portuguese. The mobilization of troops between the two sides is at least more than two hundred thousand. And you think about how many people there used to be in Transvaal? Only about two hundred thousand, even if children and old people are included, it would probably only be enough to fill the gaps for East Africa.”

“That’s right, now the whole world knows that East Africa is the strongest country in Africa. The navy alone has at least tens of thousands of people in service, and the army should maintain at least one hundred thousand. Even if all the Boers are added together, they are probably not enough for one round against the East African army, let alone the restoration army with only three thousand people.”

“East Africa only needs to take out one-tenth of its army to wipe out the entire restoration army. The number and equipment of the restoration army have no chance of winning compared with the East African Army. So I say that the so-called restoration army is a joint effort by the Transvaalers and the British to exploit the people of the original Orange Free State.”

It is no wonder that the Orange people think so. Saying slogans too much will make people tired of listening. The Transvaalers sound good, but you should take action! East Africa is right there, instead of going to East Africa for revenge, they ask the Orange people for alms every day, so the Orange people look down on the Transvaalers.

Of course, the Transvaalers originally wanted to fight East Africa and take back their land, but the British and the Orange people did not support them before.

After all, the Orange people had no grievances with East Africa and did not want to offend East Africa, while the British were worried about not killing the snake and suffering the consequences. East Africa’s wings are now hard, and ordinary attacks cannot cause damage at all, so the British have always wanted to accumulate a big one, but the Afghans came to make trouble again, so it has not been carried out.

The British had previously taken the initiative to support the Transvaal restoration army, but now they are finding excuses to spread the funding to the Orange Free State. After all, the British are now in no mood to cause trouble for East Africa, but they do not want to disband the Transvaal restoration army, so they can only let the Orange Free State support them first.

This is also the reason why the Orange Free State has been constantly increasing taxes in recent years. After all, there is an extra army to support, and you certainly can’t count on the poor Orange treasury, and the British occupy the diamond mines but don’t contribute a penny, which makes the original Orange people feel even more unbalanced.

“We Orange have let the wolf into the house. I personally have no objection to helping the Transvaalers, but I don’t want our help to see no return, but to be taken for granted, and even be asked for more in return. And under the guise of brotherly affection, they act as the lackeys of the former enemies.”

Before the appearance of East Africa, the enemies of the Boers, besides the natives, were naturally the British. East Africa is certainly not a good thing, but the British whom the Transvaal restoration army is loyal to can be regarded as sworn enemies.

Moreover, the Orange people do not have much dislike for East Africa, after all, East Africa is harming Transvaal, not Orange.

On the contrary, the Transvaalers who moved south do not know how to be grateful and oppose the Orange people everywhere, crowding out a large amount of social resources.

Of course, the mere increase in taxes has already caused the Orange people to complain. Now, with the end of the British war in Afghanistan, there are rumors that the Transvaal restoration army will recruit troops, which is naturally a good thing.

But the problem is that after several years of getting along, the Orange people already know that the British are tightfisted misers. The money for the Transvaal restoration army to recruit troops will definitely be taken from the Orange people’s hands.

And it is already quite difficult to support an army of more than three thousand people, because these three thousand troops are fully armed and trained according to the standards of the British mainland gentlemen soldiers.

The cost of “coffee” alone is not a small expense, and the British are very cunning. They import cheap coffee from Zanzibar merchants and then take kickbacks, so the consumption of the Transvaal restoration army cannot be low.

Chapter 595: Incitement

While the Orange people privately criticized the so-called Transvaal Restoration Army, the Transvaal Restoration Army’s daily “intensive training” also began.

In Bloemfontein, a newly established “Transvaal Republic Provisional Government” was set up, and Little Pretorius was the president of the new government.

Little Pretorius, who had been idle in Cape Town for a long time, was finally invited out again by the British to become the leader of the resistance organization of the former Transvaal Republic.

The first thing Little Pretorius did after arriving in Bloemfontein was to gather his old subordinates and hold a banquet in Bloemfontein.

“Gentlemen, we are all victims of the East African invasion. The East Africans have deprived us Transvaal people of our most important property, which is land. East Africa simply relied on advanced weapons and a large army to launch a sneak attack, which forced the dissolution of the Transvaal Republic.

But we Transvaal people will not be easily defeated. Even in Orange, we can still unite and twist ourselves into a rope again to fight against the East African invaders and eventually take back the property that belongs to us,” Little Pretorius announced at the banquet.

Little Pretorius’s words were not particularly insightful, but they still resonated with everyone, because the provisional government was still composed of the former key members of the Transvaal Republic, who were also the biggest victims of the East African invasion of the Transvaal Republic.

They were originally large farmers and landowners. Although East Africa allowed them to transfer assets, the most important asset for them, namely the land within the Transvaal Republic, was taken away by East Africa.

Therefore, they only had resentment towards East Africa in their hearts. Now that the British provided a platform to bring them back together, the Transvaal Republic Provisional Government became the group that hated East Africa the most in the world.

“Damn East Africans!”

“We must drive the East Africans out of the Transvaal, take back the land of our Transvaal people, and recover our homeland!”

“The Transvaal people will never yield…”

Little Pretorius was very satisfied with everyone’s performance. At least on the surface, everyone was relatively active.

Little Pretorius returned to the podium, raised his arm, and gestured, saying, “Everyone, please be quiet for a moment. I know that you are all loyal and unwavering patriots, but it is undeniable that our enemy’s strength is too great compared to ours.

The East Africans have an army of hundreds of thousands of people, while all of us Boers together number only several hundred thousand. Therefore, dealing with East Africa cannot be solved by shouting slogans, but requires every one of us Boers to do our best.”

“President Pretorius, then what do you say we should do?”

Little Pretorius was very satisfied with this question. He said confidently, “Thanks to my efforts, the British Cape Town colonial government is willing to provide support and assistance for the great cause of the Transvaal restoration, and we also have the Portuguese, who are also victims, as allies. This reverses our unfavorable situation against East Africa. Now, let us invite representatives from our friendly British and Portuguese nations to come to the stage to speak.”

Subsequently, the British Governor of the Orange Free State colony and officials from the Portuguese Mozambique colony stepped onto the stage amidst applause.

Everyone came together out of hatred for East Africa, or rather, conflicts of interest, so they had a lot of empathy and unanimously condemned the East African militarists.

“East Africa is not an invincible force. Although East Africa has a vast territory, it is precisely because of this that East Africa’s power is extremely dispersed. Therefore, if we go to war with East Africa, it will only be regional, not the entire East Africa, so everyone doesn’t have to worry about East Africa’s paper data at all.” The British Governor in Bloemfontein came up and proposed his own advantages.

As East Africa appeared in the international community, some specific data about East Africa could not be concealed, such as the Central Railway deep in the hinterland of East Africa, and some inland commodity information of East Africa.

The British used various information from areas such as Dar es Salaam to basically summarize the approximate strength of East Africa.

Even a rough map of East Africa was obtained by the British. For example, many cities could not be hidden unless they did not export goods.

For example, the tobacco from Harare could be traced in Dar es Salaam to East Africa’s Harare, and that it was transported to Dar es Salaam by rail.

In this way, the British knew that there was a city in East Africa called Harare, and that the city’s external connections were completed by rail, and that it was definitely suitable for tobacco cultivation.

To further know the specific location of Harare, it was necessary to indirectly obtain more useful information.

For example, if it is known that Harare is a provincial capital and a city along the railway line, then it can be roughly determined that Harare is within the former Matabele Kingdom.

Any more specific information was impossible to obtain, because ordinary people could not access detailed railway distribution maps, and even East African railway employees could not obtain the national railway distribution map of East Africa.

And the name of Harare was completely given by Ernst, and no one knew the specific meaning. There were many cities in East Africa named by Ernst for his own convenience.

This increased the difficulty for the British to obtain intelligence. It was difficult to obtain intelligence directly from East Africa, so they could only indirectly extract East African information from other sources, including history, culture, geography, economy, and other aspects.

For example, from the export volume of East African coffee, the minimum area of East African coffee planting could be estimated, while cultural and historical aspects were more difficult, because East Africa had no history or culture.

Moreover, East Africa did not inherit the culture of the natives, which was very different from Portuguese Mozambique. Many place names in Mozambique came from the natives, while East Africa did not have this habit, so comparing the original maps of the East African interior drawn by the Portuguese with the current East African maps was like comparing apples and oranges.

The military strength of East Africa was the easiest to judge, because East Africa had stationed troops in the areas bordering Cape Town and Mozambique all year round, and the number had never been less than 50,000.

After learning that there were railways in the East African interior, it was necessary to continue to increase the strength of the East African military, because the railways could mobilize the rear forces at any time, so if the two countries were to clash, seizing the East African railway must be taken as a new military objective.

It was precisely because he was clear about this that the Governor in Bloemfontein wanted to encourage his allies, and to hide the information obtained by the British, in case the Boers and Portuguese were frightened, who would act as his thugs.

“East Africa’s strength is not terrible. We will continue to provide Transvaal and Mozambique with the latest weapons and equipment support from the British Army, so that East Africa’s weapon advantage will be offset, and the combat effectiveness of both sides will be on the same level. What is tested is everyone’s courage, and I believe that everyone will be able to unite against the East Africans.”

The Governor in Bloemfontein encouraged the Boers as much as possible, because he knew how much aid the British could provide to the Boers, which completely depended on how much money the Boers could pay. Of course, the British would not be stingy, after all, they had to give the Boers some sweeteners.

Let the Boers and Portuguese know that behind them stood the world’s number one power - Great Britain. And East Africa was just a newly emerging country, its strength might be a little stronger, but it was not to be feared.

This was the same principle as the United States supporting Western Europe against the Soviet Union, or supporting Japan and South Korea to fight against the Far Eastern Empire, simply giving some benefits to let other countries act as pawns.

According to the economic size of the United States in its previous life and its right to allocate global resources, it naturally wanted to support whoever it wanted to support, and as long as the puppet government was not too incompetent, the economy could be revived.

Chapter 596: Sense of Oppression

Ernst wasn’t flattering; this was a fact. It was like the tribute the Song Dynasty paid to the Khitans. If it were given to a country the size of Korea, it would be a huge income.

The American Marshall Plan and the Soviet Union’s Warsaw Pact served the same purpose, but the two countries were too strong at the time, so they could lead a bunch of countries to prosperity.

The Far Eastern Empire of the 21st century also used this trick to win over other countries, especially Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries and Africa. From this point of view, the current behavior of East Africa is just a reverse version of the Far Eastern Empire, but both are anchored to the South Seas as a springboard.

It’s just that East Africa’s strength is limited now. The only ones who have truly become rich by relying on East African handouts are Zanzibar merchants, but Zanzibar has been localized by East Africa, so the performance is not obvious. If Zanzibar were still an independent country, it would be no different from countries like Japan and South Korea.

This is related to trade. If the United States did not open up global market channels to Japan, Japan’s proud automobile industry would not be able to export to Europe and the United States, let alone put together processed parts, after all, Japan’s domestic resources are scarce.

Therefore, even when Japan was the second largest economy in the world, it could only bow down to the United States. Zanzibar is the same. Losing the supply channels of East Africa, decline is instantaneous.

If it were before 1869, before the Suez Canal was opened, Zanzibar, as a must-pass place looking at West Indian Ocean trade, could still struggle to survive. But after the Suez Canal was opened, Zanzibar’s status declined sharply.

Of course, after the opening of the Suez Canal, the economy of the East African coast is now even more active, which is all thanks to East Africa.

Because East Africa’s development of Africa has made East Africa an emerging source of raw materials and a market, and it has participated in world trade, which has formed a hedge between shipping south of the Sahara and the Suez Canal.

Moreover, the opening of the Suez Canal further enhanced economic exchanges between East Africa and Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and Southern Europe, which can be regarded as mutually beneficial.

If it were the Africa of the previous life, let alone participating in world trade, they couldn’t even drink the leftover swill, at most licking a few licks of the bowl wall.

In the previous life, except for South Africa and North Africa, which had a little industry, the central region did not even develop agriculture. Agricultural countries can save some money no matter how hard they work, while African agricultural exports can only rely on ivory, leather, or some specialties.

This kind of export is actually a byproduct of hunting and gathering in primitive society, used to exchange some money from other civilizations in the world to spend.

Although East Africa cannot be said to be developed, it has complete industry and agriculture, a large size, and large scale, and carries out intensive production according to market demand, plus the army escorts it, so it can participate in world trade.

In comparison, East Africa is not comparable to the Orange Free State or even the entire Cape Colony. The only thing the Cape Colony can offer is diamonds and agriculture and animal husbandry on a general scale.

As a colony of the British Empire, the agriculture and animal husbandry of the Cape Colony are nothing to boast about, because there are too many British colonies. If Transvaal were still there, it would naturally be different. It could take off just by relying on gold, but now Transvaal is East African territory, and East Africa does not develop it, making large areas of land barren and the economic value further declining.

Without the backing of gold and mineral resources, there is not much use value. The Transvaal restoration organization can only rely on a burst of anti-East African enthusiasm to please the British, because the Transvaal people have nothing but hatred.

Of course, the British don’t see it that way. What is the most valuable thing left by the Transvaal Republic? Without knowing the existence of gold, it is naturally the population of Transvaal. In Africa, population is definitely a valuable resource, just like the French often went inland to capture or buy blacks from tribes for colonial development.

East Africa is like a well-fed man who doesn’t know the hunger of a starving man, eating his fill from the world’s two major population overflow areas, barely a third full, but in comparison, other African colonies are starving.

Of course, this is related to East Africa’s immigration philosophy. In this era, except for East Africa and Argentina, black slaves are definitely the most popular immigrant group, and compared with the black slave trade, the number of immigrants from India and the Far Eastern Empire, which have the largest populations in the world, is very insufficient.

In British colonies, they are also relatively xenophobic. In areas such as Australia and Canada, where the control is slightly stronger, there are very few blacks. Of course, this is also related to the late development of the two places. They did not catch up with the prosperous era of the black slave trade. The development of Canada and Australia almost started at the same time as East Africa, and when East Africa was established, the black slave trade almost stopped, but East Africa extended the life of the black slave trade.

Although the Cape Colony is also in Africa, there are not many blacks, otherwise it would not have formed a scale of nearly one million Boers and other whites.

Britain has always had the tradition of taking in various separatist and independent forces and rebels, so as an enemy of East Africa, Britain naturally pays more attention to the Transvaal people.

Although some of the Transvaal people in the Orange Free State have become Orange people by visiting relatives and friends, more have not integrated into the Orange Free State. This part of the population is also more than one hundred thousand.

A nation of more than one hundred thousand people who are hostile to East Africa is the best weapon for Britain to deal with East Africa. Although Mozambique has a larger population, the last East Portuguese war made Britain understand a truth, that is, black auxiliary troops are not reliable, and whites are more reliable.

Therefore, the Governor stationed in Bloemfontein continued to fool them: “After the Transvaal Republic recovers its lost land, it should naturally restore all the rights it enjoys as an independent country, and Britain will guarantee the security of the Transvaal Republic after its restoration.”

The focus is on after the restoration, which is a pie in the sky. Of course, the Governor of Bloemfontein’s promise is also very attractive, one is to guarantee the interests of the ruling class of the original Transvaal Republic, and the other is to guarantee the security of the Transvaal Republic “after its restoration.”

Britain will definitely not provide security services for free. The Transvaal Republic after its restoration will definitely have to comprehensively lean towards Britain in terms of economy, politics, and military affairs, so that the new Transvaal government will become a comprador class and serve Britain.

In addition, the result of the successful restoration of the Transvaal Republic is definitely that East Africa loses a large area of land in the south, and East Africa’s strength will be weakened. Britain can re-establish a strategic buffer zone between East Africa and Cape Town with the initiative in its own hands to ensure the security of the Cape Colony.

For Britain, an independent country like East Africa is very eye-catching. In Britain’s global strategic pattern, the first country to get rid of Britain besides Europe was the United States, and the Far Eastern Empire was a tough nut to crack.

In other regions, Britain has always been in an advantageous position, but the emergence of East Africa has made the areas in Africa that Britain originally liked become castles in the air.

There are French forces in West Africa and North Africa. Britain originally planned to acquire South Africa, but now most of it is in the hands of East Africa. Britain can tolerate an East Africa that dominates the East African plateau.

But East Africa’s hands are stretched too far, and Britain does not have the arrogance of its previous life. Their minimum requirement is that East African forces retreat north of Lake Malawi.

This is the same as someone in the previous life wanting to split the United States or Russia into several countries. The land area directly presented can bring pressure to people.

Just like Tsarist Russia in the 19th century, more than twenty million square kilometers of land could bring a sense of oppression even to Britain, the world’s hegemon.

Chapter 597: Decayed Military Discipline

East Africa’s territory isn’t as exaggerated as Tsarist Russia’s is now, but the effect it presents on the map is still quite astonishing, like a knife cutting off half of Africa.

Fortunately, countries in the equatorial region appear smaller on maps due to visual effects, so East Africa’s more than ten million square kilometers of land looks about the same size as the approximately seven million square kilometers of the United States. Of course, this is also related to the fact that data measurement in this era cannot be too precise, especially in the interior of the African continent, where few non-Black people set foot, except within East Africa.

Many Europeans can only guess about the situation in the African interior, and many adventure novels describe Africa using mysterious and exotic elements.

…

While the Transvaal people were seeking to restore their country, the garrison in East Africa’s southern border province hadn’t been idle these past few years.

The forward military positions constructed around the Vaal River, with Winburg as the center, were basically completed, mainly consisting of bunker complexes.

East Africa’s defense strategy against the Orange Free State was clearly different from that against Mozambique. Conflicts between Mozambique and East Africa were considered normal. Although East Africa was the victor, the Portuguese weren’t overly resentful towards East Africa.

As a former colonial power, Portugal has a much stronger heart than most countries, or, like some old empires, it doesn’t seek progress.

East Africa basically acquired the colonies of Mozambique through war, in a fair and square manner, so the Portuguese have a somewhat apathetic attitude towards East Africa. If it weren’t for British support behind them, some Portuguese would have wanted to sell their remaining two African colonies.

But the Transvaal was different. Although East Africa also seized the Transvaal through war, the excuse was ridiculous. In other words, the Transvaal was at fault, but not deserving of death. East Africa directly destroying their country was somewhat unjustifiable.

Moreover, East Africa didn’t completely eliminate the threat, allowing the Transvaal people to preserve their strength, which provided conditions for the Transvaal people to counterattack.

Of course, Ernst didn’t spare the Transvaal people out of kindness. His intention was to keep the Transvaal people around to provoke East Africa at some point in the future. After all, keeping a country north of the Orange River made the southern part of East Africa look indented, which wasn’t aesthetically pleasing.

Furthermore, Ernst didn’t want to accept the Transvaal people as East African citizens, as this would cause big trouble, especially the conflict between the political systems of the two countries. Most of East Africa’s land was state-owned, while the land in the Orange was owned by large landowners. Ernst didn’t plan to implement a system of separate northern and southern dynasties, so naturally he wouldn’t keep this hidden danger.

Finally, Ernst also wanted to try to divide the Boers. Now it seems the effect is quite good. At least in the Orange Free State, two groups have emerged: the Orange people and the Transvaal people.

The conflict between the two sides lies in the fact that the Orange people look down on the Transvaal people. After all, the Transvaal people are the losers, having even lost their own country. Moreover, a large number of Transvaal people poured into the Orange Free State, crowding out most of the original Orange people’s social resources, acting as British lackeys and causing the Orange people to lose a lot of rights. Also, the Orange people oppose conflict with East Africa.

The biggest two points of disagreement between the two brotherly peoples are their attitudes towards Britain and East Africa.

East Africa is easy to understand. Now that East Africa is powerful, the Orange people naturally don’t want to offend East Africa. There is no hatred between the two countries. The Transvaal people are the opposite and want to drag the Orange people into the water.

As for the attitude towards Britain, it’s quite interesting. When the Transvaal Republic still existed, the Orange Free State actually had a better relationship with Britain, implementing a policy of appeasement, while the Transvaal Republic was relatively anti-British because it was farther away from Cape Town, separated by the Orange Free State.

Now the two are reversed. The Orange people are anti-British, while the Transvaal people have a friendly relationship with Britain, because the Transvaal people are outsiders relative to the Orange people, and this identity is similar to that of the British.

Therefore, the British side uses this point to rule the Orange Free State, just like Britain used a large number of Indian Sepoys in Africa in its past life. Now the Transvaal Restoration Army is the equivalent of a puppet army among the Boers.

The Transvaal Restoration Army, not to mention petty theft, is also good at doing evil. In just a few months since its establishment, it has completely ruined its reputation in Bloemfontein, becoming a universally hated existence. The most bizarre thing is that most of them come from the former Transvaal Republic, so they still engage in regional discrimination in Bloemfontein.

This kind of behavior can be described as biting the hand that feeds you. It’s a version of the farmer and the snake. So these refugees can’t just be taken in casually, even if they are brotherly peoples.

The decayed military discipline of the Transvaal Restoration Army is not at all unusual in this era, and can even be said to be a matter of course. The East African army is instead a refreshing stream, or rather, a heresy, in this era.

A large part of the Transvaal Restoration Army’s military expenses needs to be raised by themselves, and the most important part of that is taxation. With British support, the Transvaal Provisional Government can levy war taxes in the Orange Free State to build the army.

This didn’t exist in the former Orange Free State or Transvaal Republic. In the past, the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republic implemented a system of universal conscription.

In other words, there was no standing army in peacetime, and troops were only conscripted in large numbers during wartime. Without a standing army in peacetime, there was naturally no need to consider the issue of military discipline.

But now, with the Transvaal Restoration Army, a standing army, the Orange Free State has once again experienced what it feels like to be “combed” by soldiers.

The Orange people in Bloemfontein are increasingly dissatisfied with the Transvaal people, while the British are happy to see this happen and mediate from it, enjoying the pleasure of balanced power.

Although the Transvaal Restoration Army has decayed military discipline, East Africa will not underestimate this reactionary armed force.

Many of the Transvaal Restoration Army are veterans of hundreds of battles who have fought against the Zulus or East Africa. They have courage and daring. With the systematic training provided by the British Army and the advanced weapons and equipment, their combat effectiveness may be better than expected.

East Africa’s knowledge of the existence of the Transvaal Restoration Army is related to East Africa’s pervasive intelligence system. The East African National Security Bureau has been infiltrating the Orange Free State in recent years.

The Orange Free State is surrounded by East Africa on three sides, so specially trained agents can easily sneak into the Orange Free State. Most of them enter the Orange Free State under the guise of British or Boers from Cape Town to develop.

And in this era, not many countries have established professional intelligence agencies, especially a country with such crude governance as the Orange Free State.

Therefore, it is easy for East Africans to infiltrate the Orange Free State to steal intelligence, but the speed of intelligence transmission is not fast due to the Orange Free State’s backward transportation and external communication methods.

Even so, the Transvaal Restoration Army and the Transvaal Provisional Government have been understood by East Africa to a great extent. After all, the Transvaal Restoration Army is “extorting and extorting” on the streets of Bloemfontein every day like street thugs, making it difficult not to attract attention. As for the Transvaal Provisional Government, it is also established in a very conspicuous location in Bloemfontein.

Moreover, they launch “national salvation mobilization conferences” at every turn, lobbying the upper class of the entire Orange Free State, or soliciting “donations” from citizens on the street.

The actions of the Transvaal Provisional Government and the Restoration Army can be said to be completely in the hands of the East African National Security Bureau.

Chapter 598: New Year

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Day in East Africa again.

“Whoosh…”

In the central square of First Town, neatly arranged fireworks were lit one after another, then bloomed instantly in the dark sky. Many citizens gathered with their families to admire the dazzling fireworks.

First Town, free from industrial pollution, had a very pure sky, with bright stars. The fireworks blended into the deep sky and the Milky Way, making for a pleasing sight.

The only regret was the lack of the crackling sounds of firecrackers, which slightly diminished the atmosphere. However, for the East African people, whose lives were relatively monotonous, being able to enjoy fireworks on New Year’s Day was enough to satisfy them.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a fireworks display during the New Year in East Africa. It seems that the country’s economy is getting better and better. East Africa used to lack everything, but now there are so many different things!”

Fireworks technology in Europe was introduced from the Far East during the Mongol Empire’s westward expansion and quickly became popular in Europe. Production began in the Italian region in the 16th century, and after hundreds of years of development, it was no longer a novelty.

The history of fireworks production in East Africa is very short, having only been introduced in 1878. After two years of development, it began to take shape. This is why many old immigrants were filled with emotion after watching the fireworks display.

East Africa only has one fireworks factory, located in Mbeya, because fireworks are not widely used in East Africa. Apart from government procurement, almost no private individuals would buy them, and fireworks are generally only useful during festivals and celebrations.

Therefore, there is only one factory in Mbeya, but it supplies the entire East African nation’s demand for fireworks. If you want the fireworks industry to develop, unless residents’ incomes increase, or East Africa liberalizes economic controls.

On this night, dozens of cities in East Africa held fireworks displays, including First Town, Soga, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Mombasa, Mbeya, Nairobi, Harare…all the relatively strong cities in East Africa had fireworks shows.

The relatively strong cities in East Africa are primarily the capital, various provincial capitals, and economically developed cities.

These cities prepared fireworks in advance. Mbeya is located in a relatively central position in East Africa and is an important transportation hub, making supply convenient.

As for cities and villages that were not strong enough, there were also related celebrations organized by the public and the government. Of course, more families gathered for New Year’s Eve dinner. There are many mixed-race families in East Africa, so they celebrate the New Year in a proper manner.

Compared to Christmas five days ago, New Year’s Day seemed more festive and lively, and it was easier to release the stress of the whole year.

This is easy to understand. Christmas is a religious holiday, and religious believers in the 19th century were relatively devout, so the atmosphere of Christmas was more solemn.

It is worth mentioning that the East African New Year holiday is connected to Christmas, because East Africa does not have obvious seasons, so the East African government officially designated January 1st as the New Year.

In the West, Christmas is the most representative and important holiday, while in the Far East Empire, it is the Spring Festival. East Africa does not have a spring season, so the Chinese Spring Festival has become the New Year. However, later generations in the Far East Empire also have the translation habit of calling the East African New Year the “East African Spring Festival,” although the time is different, the meaning remains the same.

The happiest during the New Year holiday should be the students in East Africa, because most of East Africa is in summer at this time, so the winter vacation in the Far East Empire has become a summer vacation in East Africa. In addition, a small half of East Africa’s territory is north of the equator, so it is also a winter vacation.

Regional differences make the East African New Year very special, but overall, the East African government still follows the traditions of immigrants to formulate and establish the New Year’s time.

For example, the New Year of the Abyssinian Empire is very different from that of East Africa. Their New Year is in the transition period between the rainy and dry seasons, which is in September.

East Africa cannot learn from the Abyssinian Empire, because East Africa’s geographical environment is too special, and the rainy season varies across the country. Even the distribution of the territory causes different seasons.

For example, Tanganyika has two rainy seasons, and the temperature in the East African highlands and plains is inconsistent. Some high-altitude areas can even reach zero degrees Celsius in winter and require wearing cotton clothes to get through the winter.

Of course, the so-called winter in most parts of East Africa is generally in June and July, and it overlaps with the dry season. The lowest temperature is at night, so it feels relatively dry and cold, but not enough to freeze to death.

The royal family also followed local customs. Ernst’s family, his parents-in-law, and Prince Carl spent the New Year in the palace. The New Year’s Eve dinner was very lavish, with as many as a hundred dishes.

Especially Chinese food, which was varied and diverse in flavor. As for German food, it relied more on sausages, with various German-style sausages propping up the reputation of German cuisine.

However, European nobles highly admire French cuisine, so the royal table is also indispensable to the gorgeous French cuisine.

Ernst used the word gorgeous to describe it, rather than the taste, because many French foods are sweet, which does not suit Ernst’s eating habits. Constantine and others like to eat it.

The Swet Palace and First Town were brightly lit, putting a lot of pressure on East Africa’s power supply system.

Of course, the Swet Palace’s electricity is uninterrupted at night, but today, basically all the lights in all the rooms and halls that could be lit were turned on.

Civilians naturally cannot be as extravagant as the royal family, but they also prepared a lot of New Year’s goods to reward themselves for a year of hard work.

With the construction of railways and highways, goods and specialties from many regions, and even imported products, are more likely to appear in East African stores, so the value of the currency in the hands of East African citizens is also increasing due to the diversification of choices.

For example, meat was supplied in large quantities in 1880, thanks to the great development of animal husbandry in East Africa, especially the national beef supply has been greatly increased, and some meat products that were previously rare in East Africa have also begun to appear, including chicken, duck, goose, pig, sheep, etc.

The diversification of grain choices is even richer. In addition to common staple foods such as rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans, millet, sorghum, potatoes, etc. are also very common. East Africans have many choices in staple foods.

The same is true for beverages. Coffee, tea, and various types of alcoholic beverages have also entered the daily lives of East African civilians. At present, East Africa’s tea and coffee have been planted on a large scale, and there is no problem in meeting domestic demand. As for alcoholic beverages, there are many kinds of homemade fruit wines and grain wines.

Other things, such as tobacco, clothing, and various handmade small commodities are also becoming increasingly abundant. East Africa’s living standards have been comprehensively improved in the areas of clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

All of this is due to East Africa’s increasingly完善industrial system, not only industry, but also handicrafts, agriculture, especially the development of traditional handicrafts, which provides East Africa with many indispensable types of goods.

The work in East Africa throughout 1880 was still busy, with the development of various large-scale projects, industrial layout, inland development, etc., so it is true that 1880 was relatively hard.

The whole of East Africa was filled with joy, but there were also some groups that continued to be ignored, that is, the vast black population of East Africa. The suffering of East Africa was not reduced by a single point, but the happiness of East Africa had nothing to do with them.

In the midst of East Africa’s myriad lights, black people could only stay in dark shacks and fall asleep peacefully. However, the East African New Year was not without its benefits for black people. Many East African nationals were on vacation, and projects were temporarily suspended, so black laborers could also get a temporary respite.

Chapter 599: The World’s “First”

The New Year and Christmas in East Africa are quite lively, but in Ernst’s impression, these two festivals must be set off by snow to feel more atmospheric. At this time, most areas of East Africa are at their hottest, making the feeling of celebrating New Year and Christmas in summer very awkward.

The arrival of the New Year also signifies the passing of 1880 in East Africa. The entire East Africa operates like a precise machine, maintaining its operation without any deviation. In the blink of an eye, East Africans are busy again, continuing to participate in the construction of the East African nation.

East Africans are relatively miserable in this regard. Other regions have long winters, which also means they can rest for a long time. East Africa has little difference between the four seasons, which is the climate capitalists like, representing year-round sustainable exploitation.

…

“This is a car?” Constantine exclaimed.

In front of the Swet Royal Palace square, one of the world’s first cars was assembled. Thanks to the long-term research and development of the Hechingen Consortium and some of Ernst’s whimsical ideas, East Africa’s first car was already very advanced when it rolled off the production line. Specifically, it had a front windshield and a canopy, rather than an open-top three-wheeled vehicle.

The reason it was “one of” is because the Hechingen Consortium simultaneously prepared one car each in Germany, Austria, and East Africa. That is to say, there were a total of three of the world’s first cars.

The purpose of doing this was so that Germany, Austria, and East Africa could simultaneously promote that the first car was born in their own country, which would be beneficial for expanding sales.

Because the automotive industry cannot develop without market support, and Germany and Austria-Hungary are mature markets with a large number of nobles and wealthy people who can afford cars.

Moreover, the first cars in the three countries were all presented to the royal families of the three countries by subsidiaries of the Hechingen Consortium. Cars are luxury goods, so they must be promoted with the help of the nobility, and the royal family is undoubtedly the most prestigious brand, especially the royal families of the two major world powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary.

“Father, this is definitely a product that transcends the times. The automotive industry will become the greatest industry in the world, replacing the current horse-drawn carriages and becoming a product that will enter every household in the future,” Ernst said proudly.

“You said before that cars can run without relying on animal power. Does this car also burn coal?”

“Of course not. The fuel for cars is gasoline, and gasoline is processed from petroleum. The world’s largest oil producer is currently the United States, but we also have a presence in Romania.”

Quite a few people in the United States have become wealthy by relying on oil, especially in the western regions where there are many oil fields. The uneven distribution of oil resources also means that East Africa’s domestic oil production may not be very ideal in the future.

This is also something that cannot be helped, but East Africa also has advantages, that is, it is very close to the world’s most important oil-producing area, the Persian Gulf coast. Therefore, as long as the East African navy is not too weak in the future, it will be basically impossible to use oil to threaten East Africa.

Moreover, East Africa is not far from North Africa and West Africa, two important oil-producing areas, so Ernst is not too nervous about East Africa’s future energy problems.

Moreover, East Africa’s domestic oil can meet East Africa’s basic needs, at least it can meet the needs of the East African army in the future, so that it will not lack oil like Germany during World War II. At the same time, East Africa also has a presence in Kalimantan Island, a South Seas oil-producing area, although the oil-producing area is not within the Lanfang Overseas Province. The East African royal family also has the Alaskan royal territory, which is also an oil-producing area.

Therefore, East Africa can basically guarantee East Africa’s national energy security through military force in the world’s major oil-producing areas, unlike the Far Eastern Empire. If it did not have the Strait of Malacca, the Far Eastern Empire’s energy security would be greatly improved. East Africa, as a country bordering two oceans, does not have such hidden dangers.

In fact, according to Ernst’s idea, it would be best to drive a stake into the Persian Gulf coast, so that East Africa’s future energy security would be foolproof, but East Africa has not found this opportunity.

The Persian Gulf coast now belongs to the four countries of the Ottoman Empire, Persia, Oman, and Great Britain, so it is still quite difficult for East Africa to intervene.

However, the oil in the Persian Gulf is still an unknown existence. Many future oil-rich countries are still struggling to make a living by nomadic herding and pearl diving. It would not be an exaggeration to say that they are impoverished. No one would have thought that this place would be exceptionally prosperous in the 21st century because of oil, so Ernst has always been covetous of this place.

As the fuel was replenished, the driver ignited the engine, and the world’s first car began to run smoothly on the Swet Royal Palace square.

“It’s moving, without the smoke of a steam engine!” everyone exclaimed.

The black smoke constantly emitted from the car’s exhaust pipe was automatically ignored by everyone, because it was completely insignificant compared to the smoke from a steam engine.

As the car accelerated, it eventually reached a running speed of thirty kilometers per hour, drawing cheers from the East African personnel present.

East African official media reporters recorded this historical moment, writing on paper: “A horseless carriage, truly achieving incredible movement…”

At the same time in Berlin and Vienna, related performances were also being held, but they were more lively than in East Africa.

The Hechingen Consortium deliberately designed the car launch events in the three countries to be held at the same time. It just so happened that Germany, Austria-Hungary, and East Africa were roughly in the vicinity of Eastern European Time Zone 2, so the timing was about the same.

The three countries can all claim to the outside world that the world’s first car was born in their own country, which is very interesting, but it will take some time to discover this.

“In addition to building a portion of state-owned automobile factories in East Africa, Hechingen Bank will also invest in several private automobile factories. The former will be used to meet domestic demand, while the latter will focus on the international market,” Ernst said to Constantine.

“What’s the difference in doing so?” Constantine asked.

“The difference is huge, because our domestic car market is very narrow. The vast majority of people cannot afford such luxury goods, so it is foreseeable that car demand can only be met through government official vehicles, or those highly paid technical personnel. Such people are always in the minority.

The export part is where we make the bulk of our profits. Although many countries in the world are poor, there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor, and there are many wealthy people, such as in the Far Eastern Empire. Therefore, this part should be handed over to the thrifty Hechingen Consortium to complete. If it were a state-owned enterprise, they would not consider costs and profits, so let them eat up the domestic market. The international market requires professionals to operate.” Ernst said.

The development of the automotive industry needs to be regulated by the market. It is not impossible to rely on state-owned enterprises to implement it through administrative means, but the flexibility is definitely not as good as that of private enterprises without a moral bottom line. This statement may not be entirely correct, but if state-owned enterprises want to compete with private enterprises in this field, the management must be the top professionals.

“Since you are optimistic about the automotive industry, why don’t we build factories directly in East Africa and share a piece of the pie with Germany and Austria?”

“This is because we do not have the ability to eat alone. Our industrial system is not perfect, and many parts need to be imported. Moreover, even if they are domestically produced parts, the overall quality is still very different from that of Germany and Austria. This is also why I require some car companies to be state-owned enterprises. The orders of state-owned enterprises can at least guarantee the development of other industries in East Africa, otherwise they will not be able to compete internationally, and the cost performance is too low,” Ernst explained.

Chapter 600: Attempt

After the car had been running around the square for a while, Ernst’s family members all took turns test-driving this new type of transportation.

The personnel in charge of the vehicle’s operation, dressed in suits and leather shoes, trotted to the car door, smoothly opened it, and then invited Constantine into the rear compartment.

“Your Majesty, please be seated securely!”

Constantine carefully examined the interior. The space inside the compartment was rather cramped, far less spacious than a horse-drawn carriage. The seats took up a lot of room. The seats were made of hard leather sofas, which were quite comfortable to lean against.

However, the temperature inside the compartment wasn’t very pleasant, so the sunroof was opened to ventilate the air.

This type of vehicle had been researched by Hechingen Energy and Power Company for almost ten years, so it was already quite refined when it was launched, including the power system.

In his previous life, Karl’s first car had a top speed of only twelve kilometers per hour, while a horse-drawn carriage generally had a speed of sixteen kilometers per hour. Hechingen Energy and Power Company’s product, honed over ten years, especially the royal special edition, could reach a top speed of thirty kilometers per hour, more than double that.

The technological barriers built into it also ensured that Hechingen Energy and Power Company could maintain its position as the world’s number one for a long time.

As the car started, Constantine felt the extraordinary nature of this vehicle. The top speed of thirty kilometers per hour was more than twice as fast as a horse-drawn carriage, and it could run continuously until the fuel ran out. Of course, for safety reasons, the speed was generally maintained at twenty kilometers per hour, but it was already quite fast.

The cool breeze coming through the car windows and sunroof also made the interior cooler. The hollow tires and the smooth road surface made the car run very smoothly.

After Constantine, others also began to try this new type of transportation, especially Archduke Ferdinand, who was the most excited. Princess Charlotte was also the same. The couple asked the driver to accelerate to the maximum to experience the thrill of racing.

Finally, Karina was with Ernst. Karina was currently pregnant, so to prevent accidents, Ernst asked the driver to reduce the speed to ten kilometers per hour.

“Will this vehicle replace horse-drawn carriages in the future?” Karina asked.

“Of course, but it will take a long time to develop. The production cost is too high now. Apart from the great nobles and big capitalists, ordinary people simply can’t afford it,” Ernst replied.

In fact, the cars promoted by the three German countries were not the earliest prototypes. The truly meaningful “car” was indeed driven by a steam engine. In 1804, French army engineer Cugnot manufactured the first car driven by a steam engine. So from 1804 to 1880, steam cars were worthy of the name, but no one would buy this kind of transportation to serve as a status symbol.

Before the emergence of fuel-powered cars, it was the golden age of steam cars, but due to the defects of steam engines, such as the difficulty of boiling water and stalling in harsh cold weather, and the difficulty of braking the car itself, steam cars were gradually eliminated, or rather, this kind of steam car could not be promoted at all.

And the cars in East Africa, a more accurate name is fuel-powered vehicles, but these are not problems, just like a power bank is essentially a battery, but it is also correct to call it a mobile power source.

Ernst continued, “Karina, don’t think this car is comfortable to sit in and has a good appearance. In fact, only the royal families of the three countries each own one. The finished cars that are really going to be launched on the market are actually quite simple. Of course, as long as the price is right, you can also enjoy a fully equipped service.”

As a person from later generations, the royal car products promoted by Ernst are basically similar to the cars of his previous life, at least in appearance.

But if you want to develop the car as an industry, you must consider the market’s affordability. Just like the special cars for the royal families of the three countries, in terms of the development level of this era, they are similar to the rockets of the 21st century. There are people who can afford rockets in the 21st century, but the number is very small.

And the current cars are also the same, even the backward steam cars are the same, so if East Africa wants to develop the automobile industry, it must lower the price of cars and be compatible with the market.

And the simplest way is to reduce the configuration. Currently, Hechingen Energy and Power Company plans to launch cars with a maximum speed of fifteen kilometers per hour, which is the limit that many top engines on the market can reach.

Just like squeezing toothpaste, Hechingen Energy and Power Company, as a pioneer and giant in the field of internal combustion engines, has more powerful technology in its hands, and even the engines of the royal special edition cars are not the most advanced.

Because the first element that royal vehicles need to consider is safety, so the engine is also based on stability as the highest standard, which is similar to the requirements of military products.

In addition to reducing the configuration in terms of speed, the commercial vehicles launched by Hechingen Energy and Power Company also have to reduce the configuration in terms of parts, decoration, and comfort.

In the end, the commercial models facing the mass market are probably only one level stronger than the first car invented by Karl in his previous life.

In this way, the lowest configuration model is still an open-top three-wheeled car, even so, only the rich class can afford it, and they can also customize higher configuration vehicles according to their own economic strength.

And East Africa, or rather the Hechingen Consortium, can occupy an important position in the low, medium, and high industries with its technical advantages, and even be said to be in a monopoly position.

As for changing lanes and bypassing the technical barriers of the Hechingen Consortium, it is basically impossible, or threatening East Africa with the market is also impossible, because Ernst’s layout of the automobile industry is carried out simultaneously in the three countries of Germany, Austria, and East Africa.

In this way, the embarrassment of Japanese hydrogen energy vehicles in the previous life will not appear on East Africa’s head. Germany and Austria are the world’s top powers, and East Africa is also a relatively low-ranked power, so it can escort the German automobile industry. This is also the reason why Ernst pulled the two countries of Austria and Germany into the water.

Moreover, other countries can also copy the automobile industry. Although the profit is not as good as that of the Hechingen Consortium, it is not impossible to produce it, but the high-end market will definitely be monopolized by the Hechingen Consortium for a long time.

As a promising emerging industry, the automobile industry is a high-end commodity from the very beginning, and the Hechingen Consortium is equivalent to mastering the essence of the essence.

This situation can be referred to as follows: In the previous life, Africans who could own a car were not ordinary people, while Americans were thinking about what car brand to choose.

Karina understood the meaning of Ernst’s words. She said, “That is to say, this car is like the transoceanic international telephone you made before, and there is no way to promote it on a large scale?”

In order to command Africa in Europe, Ernst spent huge sums of money to create a transoceanic telephone, which has not yet recovered its costs, let alone promoted it.

But cars are different after all, so Ernst said, “The cost of a car is very limited, unless you use real gold and silver to build the body and parts, and the prospects of the automobile industry are very broad. I believe it will not be easily replaced in the future, so your worries are somewhat reasonable, but it will not reach that level.”

Fuel vehicles were still enduring in the twenty-first century, and it is only the nineteenth century now, so the automobile industry has at least a century and a half of prosperity. Even before Ernst’s time travel, the so-called development of new energy vehicles was just like that. For example, in many countries rich in oil resources, new energy vehicles are difficult to replace fuel vehicles, such as Canada, Russia, and the Middle East.

New energy vehicles need abundant electricity to support them, and charging is not as convenient as refueling. Take many countries in Africa as an example, electricity has not been popularized, let alone electric cars.

Chapter 601: Prospects and Crises in the Rubber Plantation Industry

“The development path of the automotive industry is long, and we in East Africa are only at the stage of blindly imitating. Perhaps the only major component we can export is tires!” Ernst sighed.

The so-called tires are rubber tires. Both Germany and Austria rely on imports for rubber, so rubber production and processing is one of East Africa’s core industries, just like sisal. However, sisal also has other production areas in the world, but East Africa is the most suitable for sisal growth.

East Africa’s rubber processing industry has only just started for a few years, but East Africa, or rather the Hohenzollern Consortium, holds the patent for hollow inflatable tires. Moreover, East Africa’s biggest advantage now is that rubber production is largely monopolized by East Africa, which is the result of Ernst’s advance planning.

It will take time for South American countries to react, after all, expanding production and building new plantations requires a lot of effort and time.

In fact, it was only after East African rubber could be exported on a large scale that South American rubber producing areas, especially Brazil, discovered East Africa’s big move, because East Africa had concealed it so well before, that they were caught off guard.

This is one of the effects of East Africa’s isolationist policy. East Africa’s rubber producing areas are almost all inland. Even the closest coastal plain producing areas are two or three hundred kilometers away from the Indian Ocean, and other countries cannot enter East Africa to investigate. Therefore, before East Africa’s first batch of rubber exports, no one knew that East Africa had surpassed Brazil to become the world’s largest rubber planting country.

The Brazilian government did not react much to this matter, because only a few years after East Africa secretly introduced rubber tree species, the British copied East Africa’s behavior, and now Southeast Asia is also conducting small-scale trials.

The British behavior is aboveboard, and when the British were conducting trials, East Africa’s first rubber producing area - the Great Lakes region - was already ready for harvest, and several other rubber producing areas in East Africa were also developed, including the largest rubber producing area - the Hesse Province planting area (the tropical rainforest planting area on the western slope of the Mitumba Mountains).

Brazil naturally did not dare to accuse Britain, but was very depressed that East Africa “suddenly” became the number one rubber exporting country. Previously, Brazil’s supervision of rubber was not strict, after all, the Brazilian government inherited from Portugal, with low administrative efficiency and serious internal corruption. Under such national conditions, it was impossible for Brazil to block the export of rubber seeds.

Moreover, it is not necessary now. East Africa and Southeast Asia have planted rubber, and East Africa is even more excessive, quietly replacing Brazil as the world’s largest rubber producer. Now it is impossible for the Brazilian government to block it even if they wanted to.

The only thing they can do is to expand the planting area and compete with East Africa, and in the future, they will also have to compete with Southeast Asia, which can be described as having a rough fate.

Moreover, even if the Brazilian government wants to do something now, I am afraid it can only survive for twenty years, because if there are no accidents, the entire South American rubber plantation industry will be wiped out in the future.

Ernst knew that in his previous life, South America would lose its entire rubber production industry in the early 20th century due to rubber leaf blight, falling from occupying more than 90% of the world’s share to less than 1%.

Now Brazil’s rubber plantation industry is not so down and out. Although East Africa has seized most of the market, it can still maintain about 15%.

Because the rubber industry previously belonged to Brazil’s monopoly pattern, there was not much motivation to expand production, after all, they could wait for a higher price. At the same time, East Africa’s rubber planting was tightly covered, so they were caught off guard and defeated by East Africa’s rubber plantation industry.

This is also related to the population gap between the two countries. East Africa now has more than 50 million people (including black people), and there were also a large number of black people for East Africa to use before. East Africa has consumed at least ten million black people in these years, and there were tens of millions of black people in the eastern region alone.

While Brazil has a national population of only over ten million, so East Africa has a large amount of cheap labor to use, while Brazil does not have such good luck, but Brazil is better than in the same period in previous history.

Brazil’s abolition movement in his previous life was in 1888. He doesn’t know when Brazil will promote this reform in this life, but because of the expansion of East Africa’s export of “labor” business, Brazil has become a beneficiary, and is East Africa’s largest black recipient country in the Americas.

Although the United States is rich, it still has to cover up. East Africa’s black “laborers” still need to be transferred through third-party countries such as Haiti, while East Africa can directly pull black “laborers” to Rio de Janeiro and send them away.

So it is said that East Africa actually imported a large amount of cheap labor to Brazil, especially after East Africa’s own immigration decreased, the original immigrant ships were used to develop the American business. As for Argentina, like East Africa, they are not interested in black people.

Speaking back to dealing with rubber leaf blight, the preparation East Africa can make is to collect wild rubber tree varieties in South America in advance as a rubber tree species gene reserve.

In his previous life, rubber leaf blight came fiercely, and even Brazil’s wild rubber varieties were not spared, but Ernst believes that these wild rubber tree species must be of great use.

Therefore, East Africa basically completed this task in the few years after the first batch of rubber seeds was introduced, unless there are undiscovered tree species deep in the Amazon rainforest.

The specific time period for the outbreak of rubber leaf blight in South America in his previous life should be around 1905. Of course, this is just the time when there was the first written record, so the time when rubber leaf blight appeared should be around 1900.

But it is impossible to be earlier, just like the later Southeast Asian rubber tree species also came from South America, but were spared.

The destructiveness of rubber leaf blight to the rubber industry is similar to the destructiveness of banana wilt to the Gros Michel banana. There is no good treatment method, only geographical isolation.

Therefore, East Africa’s several rubber producing areas and East Africa’s many banana producing areas will be directly isolated from South America in the future.

The Gros Michel banana has been massively extinct, and there are Cavendish bananas as substitutes. The substitutes for rubber trees are not so easy to find. The simplest way is to wait for future genetic modification, or use synthetic rubber.

For genetic modification, what East Africa can do is to retain more wild rubber tree varieties, so that other rubber tree varieties will not be wiped out in the future along with the Brazilian rubber plantation industry.

Moreover, East Africa must also be prepared to prevent the tragedy of the Brazilian rubber plantation industry from happening to East Africa. Regarding this, Ernst plans to manage East Africa’s four major rubber producing areas separately in the next twenty years, without direct intervention from each other.

Just like the Thai government in his previous life prohibited airplanes from rubber leaf blight areas in South America from directly entering, to ensure the safety of the Thai rubber plantation industry.

East Africa must not only eliminate contact between domestic rubber planting areas and South America, but also cut off direct contact between the four major domestic producing areas.

East Africa’s four major rubber producing areas, in order of planting scale, are: Hesse Province producing area, Great Lakes area producing area, Lake Turkana area producing area (southern Ethiopian plateau), and eastern coastal plain producing area.

These producing areas are not directly adjacent, and are separated by a long distance, so it is convenient for East Africa to put its “eggs” in different baskets.

In addition, East Africa’s banana planting industry must also take relevant measures. Banana wilt is also a big trouble, so Ernst hopes that the Gros Michel banana can persist in East Africa until the 21st century.

Chapter 602: Husband and Wife Conversation

In the previous life, the rubber planting industry had always been in a tepid state. Of course, it was more restricted by conditions. In other words, this economic crop was quite delicate and difficult to take care of, and it was limited by region, making it high-risk.

However, market demand was huge, and it was always in a state of short supply. In Ernst’s view, even if the planting scale was expanded tenfold, it could be swallowed by the market because its performance was too superior and it could replace many materials.

Karina found Ernst’s thinking to be very jumpy and interesting. She said, “Even the tire business, I think it should be able to be done very big. After all, this kind of hollow inflatable tire can be applied to many vehicles. Even if carriages are replaced with hollow inflatable tires, that would be an astronomical figure.”

Ernst held Karina’s small hand and squeezed it, saying, “That’s natural. The mainstream wheels used on vehicles in the future, if there are no accidents, many will be replaced with hollow inflatable tires. They are easy to replace and repair, improve vehicle stability, and enhance vehicle comfort… There are many advantages. And there are so many carriages in Europe. This market alone represents an astronomical economic value. Although carriages will be eliminated by automobiles in the future, this time may last for at least thirty years.”

The time Ernst mentioned was extremely conservative. Even in the twenty-first century, animal-powered vehicles would not be replaced. The number of cars owned in many countries was very touching. In some countries and regions in Africa, even an eighteenth-hand car could be used as a taxi.

Of course, Ernst was mainly talking about rural areas. When he was working in Africa, there were still many cars in African cities.

But this was just the appearance, because many people who went to work in Africa were basically in the cities, and the urbanization rate in Africa was very low. The vast majority of the population lived in the countryside, and there were even many tribes in a primitive social state.

However, many people in the Far East Empire still had relatively heavy stereotypes about Africa. Simply using gross domestic product as a standard, many African countries are actually doing better than some Southeast Asian countries. Also, South America and Africa are actually about the same, but it always feels like South America is richer than Africa. This may be because South America has a behemoth country like Brazil, while Nigeria, which has a larger economy in Africa, has a much smaller land area than Brazil, but its population is actually similar to Brazil, both just over two hundred million.

Karina was very happy to hear Ernst’s recognition of her, so she continued to ask, “Then when do you think cars will replace carriages and become a very common thing on the streets!”

Ernst thought carefully. It was hard to predict in East Africa, because if he predicted it, it might seem a bit arrogant. He could calculate it according to his previous life.

“The popularization of cars in Europe and the United States should be faster. I think in the twenties of the next century, cars should be seen in many big cities, especially in several great powers,” Ernst replied.

But Karina was not completely satisfied with this answer. After all, she was now the Crown Princess of East Africa, so she wanted to hear Ernst’s prediction for East Africa even more.

“Darling, what about our East Africa?”

Seeing that Karina was interested, Ernst had no choice but to say, “An industry should be relatively mature after developing for thirty or forty years. Now East Africa can be considered to have seized the opportunity and taken the lead in the automobile industry. So our East Africa should develop fairly well in the automobile industry in the future, even surpassing some European countries.”

“Then what is the specific time?”

Ernst raised his eyebrows and said speechlessly, “If I knew the specific time, I wouldn’t be human. However, our East African economy is special, and the development speed of the early automobile industry should be very fast.”

East Africa has many economic restrictions, is not very flexible, and is not suitable for diversified development. However, it has a lot of resources to mobilize and strong coordination capabilities, which is very suitable for stacking production. Anyway, people in the 19th century are not very particular about aesthetics, and industrial products pay more attention to quality. This is a relatively friendly market environment for East Africa.

And like East African companies, many products will not cut corners. This is the characteristic of a publicly owned economy. Of course, the world cannot be all black and white, but there is white in black and black in white, so there must be cutting corners, but most of them are caused by employees’ sloppy operations.

“I plan to build several factories along the coast first, specializing in automobile manufacturing. The factories in Europe have already been prepared, and many parts suppliers have also been found. So East Africa is still one step behind Germany, but this is also something that cannot be helped. After all, our industrial base is too weak compared to the German region, so we can only take it step by step.”

Karina: “Then why not build a factory in Mbeya? I heard you say that Mbeya’s industrial base should be the best in East Africa, right?”

Although Karina is the Crown Princess, she also knows East Africa’s national conditions very well, because East Africa does not have as many nobles and relatives as Europe, and there are very few banquets and social events, so sometimes Karina also helps Ernst deal with some documents.

“That’s right, but the automobile industry is relatively broad. Many of our parts need to be imported from Europe, so building a factory on the coast has a geographical advantage. As for Mbeya, it can participate, but it is mainly responsible for the supply of some parts, such as tires. This is Mbeya’s advantage.

As for the development of the inland automobile industry, this will have to wait until East Africa has independent design and research and development capabilities before making a decision. We can only accept the technology spillover from the German region to get a share of the automobile industry. It is very difficult for the East African automobile industry to get rid of German companies and develop independently, and it will take many detours.”

Without professional talents, there is no innovation and research and development capabilities. Even if the East African automobile industry is directly copied from the German region, it can only temporarily alleviate the problem and cause great waste. So it is better to be on the coast, which facilitates technical exchanges and cooperative development between East Africa and the German region, and then develop the inland automobile manufacturing industry when the time is right.

“And I have other ideas. You have only seen the sample of the car. In fact, I value tractors and trucks more. These two things have no less impact on East Africa’s industrial and agricultural production than railways. After all, cars are a bit flashy now.”

Karina knew about tractors. Steam tractors were a relatively popular new thing in Europe, but they were only popular because there were no better alternatives. As for trucks, Karina had no concept at all, so she asked, “What is a truck?”

“You can think of it as a larger version of a car, or imagine it as a carriage or ox cart with a bucket. Carriages for carrying people are very luxurious and have compartments, while animal-powered vehicles for carrying goods are not so particular. Trucks are about the same function, except that their power source is similar to that of cars. As long as you add fuel, you can carry goods, and the load capacity is very large. Although it is not as good as railways, it is more flexible than railways. It does not need rails and can run on flat ground. It also has a strong military function and can be used to transport soldiers or weapons and military supplies. In short, it is a very important thing.”

Karina had a general idea, but the specific effect would not be known until the finished product came out in the future. Unlike tractors, steam tractors looked very similar to later tractors and could be used as a visual reference.

Chapter 603: The Energy Problem

Ernst was outlining a general development path, and naturally, adjustments would be made based on the specific circumstances of East Africa. In fact, when it came to the development of the automotive industry, a new problem inevitably arose: road construction.

Now that automobiles were appearing, the construction of roads in East Africa had to be put on the agenda. In the past, East Africa had built many roads, especially in the east, where the road density was already comparable to some European countries.

However, the standards of these roads were very low. There were gravel roads, dirt roads, roads paved with cinders, as well as brick and stone roads, or concrete roads.

Over eighty percent of the wilderness and countryside in East Africa consisted of dirt roads. Some road surfaces were compacted, and villages near industrial areas had cinder roads, with a small number of gravel roads.

Cities mainly used brick and stone roads, including cobblestone streets. Industrial areas generally had concrete roads, but even in cities with average economic levels, dirt roads existed, especially in some western cities where infrastructure was severely lacking.

However, the east might not be much better. Although the road quality in the east surpassed the European average, the current road conditions in Europe were also nothing to write home about; everyone was in the same boat.

And now that automobiles had arrived, the global road network would have to change to accommodate the future development of the automotive industry.

In Ernst’s own opinion, the high degree of compatibility between hardened road surfaces and rubber tires was a major driving force for road development. The two complemented each other perfectly and were indispensable. If classic wooden or iron tires were used on hardened roads, Ernst couldn’t stand the thought of the noise alone.

Although hardened road surfaces were the future trend, Ernst was not in a hurry to implement them immediately in East Africa. On the one hand, the amount of construction required in East Africa was currently too large, and many water conservancy projects were in the stage of requiring manpower. On the other hand, time was needed for preparation.

Moreover, besides roads, the most pressing issue for East Africa to solve was the fuel problem. The development of East Africa’s domestic oil industry should also be put on the agenda.

In any case, some of the local oil resources should be developed to suppress the price of imported oil. After carefully considering the oil-producing regions of Africa in his previous life.

Ernst planned to first explore and develop the oil and gas resources of Lake Turkana. This was akin to thinking about the solution process with the answer already in hand.

The oil resources of Lake Turkana were neither abundant nor scarce, but at least several hundred million barrels of reserves existed. This amount of oil would definitely not be enough in later generations, but in this era, it was definitely enough for East Africa’s initial use.

During World War I and World War II, Romania’s oil production was only between seven and ten million tons per year. This was under the circumstances of wartime production surges. Therefore, the oil from Lake Turkana, combined with imported oil, would be enough for East Africa’s initial use for at least forty to fifty years.

Currently, there were only a few oil-producing countries, and their production was pitifully small. Therefore, East Africa did not need to directly develop the oil resources of Uganda or South Sudan.

In fact, East Africa had already signed many supply agreements with American oil giants such as Rockefeller. It had also directly established a presence in the European oil industry within Romania, Austria-Hungary, and Tsarist Russia to cultivate the professional workers and technicians needed by East Africa.

However, these measures were only temporary solutions. East Africa’s overall oil resources could not be considered scarce, but they were not abundant either. To ensure East Africa’s energy security, Angola would definitely have to be completely taken in the future, especially the Luanda region in northern Congo.

If the Luanda region could be taken, East Africa’s oil reserves would be considered relatively considerable even in the 21st century. The oil resource potential in eastern East Africa was also great, and it was enough for initial development.

The oil reserves in Africa were in the middle to upper range compared to other continents, and were mainly distributed in the northern region, especially North Africa and West Africa, which was not very favorable for the current East Africa.

East Africa’s oil resources were also concentrated in the northern region, including the Nile Basin and the east. As for northern Angola, it was currently under the control of the Portuguese.

In addition to these oil resources readily available to East Africa, there was also Alaska, which was considered a royal asset. However, Alaska was located far overseas, and Ernst did not want it to develop too early. If Alaska’s gold and oil resources were discovered, it was very likely to attract the covetous eyes of Japan, Tsarist Russia, Canada (Britain), and the United States.

To put it bluntly, it was only because the Far Eastern Empire’s strength was currently insufficient, otherwise it would also be included among those eyeing Alaska. The entire North Pacific region, excluding Southeast Asia, had few small countries.

Therefore, before East Africa could provide military security support to Alaska, it was better for the Alaska region to continue developing in a low-key manner.

However, developing the oil resources of Lake Turkana was not so easy. Although Ernst was certain that oil resources existed in Lake Turkana, it was hard to say whether it could be done technically.

However, according to Ernst’s thinking, the difficulty should not be particularly high. Romanian oil was located on the coast of the Black Sea, and although Lake Turkana was just a saltwater lake, its area was not small. The two should still have similarities.

Therefore, resource exploration of Lake Turkana could begin now. Top experts would definitely have to be invited to implement this, and it would be best if it could be closely integrated with East Africa’s national defense security.

At the same time, Ernst also thought of Germany’s coal-to-oil technology during World War II. This was also a good idea. East Africa’s coal resources were relatively abundant, especially in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Although the latter two did not reach the level of South Africa, they were still quite considerable.

After all, in his previous life, South Africa’s coal resources could compete with Australia, Russia, India, Brazil, and others in the international market.

There was also the biofuel of later generations. Although East Africa’s corn production was far less than that of the United States, the planting area was not small. Therefore, both of these directions could be considered.

Thinking of this, Ernst also thought of East Africa’s abundant natural gas resources. Natural gas could replace oil resources to a certain extent, and natural gas resources were quite abundant in East Africa and not scarce domestically, including the east, where large amounts of natural gas resources were distributed.

Based on his previous life’s experience, natural gas was particularly focused on household fuel and industrial production. Although its role in the transportation sector was not as great as that of oil, it was a good supplement to the application of oil in other fields.

The most important thing was that natural gas was a clean energy source, which could also play a good role in environmental protection. Therefore, the development and utilization of natural gas resources should be valued by East Africa. The more time passed, the more attention would be paid to natural gas as a clean energy source.

Finally, there was nuclear energy. It might be too early to talk about the use of nuclear energy now, and Ernst was not even sure if he could live to see that day.

However, East Africa had obvious advantages in this regard, and Ernst even had a general idea of the future layout of East Africa’s nuclear energy industry.

That was to place it in Southwest Africa. First, Southwest Africa was sparsely populated, so even if an accident occurred, it would not have a major impact on East Africa. At worst, the waste could be discharged directly into the Atlantic Ocean like the British. East Africa mainly relied on the Indian Ocean, so doing so would be learning from the rogues of Britain, the United States, and Japan in later generations. Second, Southwest Africa was originally an important uranium-producing area in the world, and some rivers even carried radioactive elements eroded from the upstream mountains. Third, Southwest Africa was conducive to the layout of national defense security and had strong concealment. Situations like the German nuclear factory being bombed during World War II were unlikely to happen in East Africa.

Chapter 604: The People Live in Utter Misery

February, 1881, Orange Free State.

In the streets of Bloemfontein, groups of three to five Commando soldiers began visiting shops and residences.

“Bang, bang, bang…”

The door of Grien’s shoe repair shop was being pounded on, the small wooden door shaking precariously, as if it would explode at any moment. But no one paid any attention, and an uninformed person might have thought the shop was closed for the day.

“Master, should we open the door?” Grien’s apprentice asked cautiously from inside the shop.

“Open my foot! These money-grubbing bastards come to collect fees every other day. What good can come of their visit? Business is getting harder and harder!” Grien cursed angrily in a low voice.

“Master, you want to pretend we’re not here, but I don’t think it’ll be that easy. Judging by the behavior of those mad dogs outside, I dare say they won’t give up easily. As the saying goes, you can dodge the first day, but you can’t dodge the fifteenth. If they don’t get the money this morning, they’ll definitely come again this afternoon. If not today, then tomorrow, until they get the money.”

“Alas, what can we do? These flesh-eating, bone-swallowing dogs! Orange has really had eight lifetimes of bad luck. We took in these ungrateful wretches, and now these damn beggars actually think they’re the masters of Orange. If we hadn’t taken them in, they would have starved to death long ago. And East Africa, why didn’t they kill off all these wolves in sheep’s clothing back then? Bah!” Grien let loose a torrent of pent-up frustration, pouring out all his innermost thoughts.

The apprentice said somewhat慌张道:“Master, be careful what you say! They’re everywhere outside!”

“What’s there to be afraid of? You wouldn’t inform on me, would you?”

“Master, you wound me! I’m a victim too! They’re not just asking you for money. No one in Bloemfontein can escape this calamity. I hate them to death too!” The apprentice quickly pledged his loyalty.

The Transvaal Commando showed no favoritism when it came to being inhuman, so Grien’s apprentice had no good feelings towards them either.

“Hmph, these bastards, why don’t they ask those Englishmen for money? Everyone knows the British make a fortune selling diamonds. They bully the weak and fear the strong!” Grien said.

At this time, the Commando soldiers outside lost their patience and shouted a threat into the house: “Grien, we know you’re home. If you don’t open the door, we’ll force our way in. We won’t compensate you for your little wooden door then!”

To protect his shop door and prevent additional losses, Grien had no choice but to open the door and face them.

“Grien, I thought you’d died in there!” Seeing Grien open the door, the Commando soldier said haughtily. After months of dealing with each other, they were old acquaintances, so their words were not polite.

“Gentlemen, what brings you here?”

“Hmph, why did you pretend you weren’t home when we knocked? Were you afraid we’d eat you?”

Isn’t that what you’re doing? Grien thought to himself, but he dared not say it out loud, especially when facing these bandit soldiers.

“Gentlemen, you wrong me. My shoe repair shop is a small business. I don’t get many customers normally, and business is especially bad this year, so I’ve been thinking of closing down. That’s why I’m open less often now!” Grien excused himself.

“Hmph, who cares about your business? We’re here to collect payment today, just like yesterday. Seven pence and we’ll be on our way!”

“Didn’t you collect fees yesterday? Why are you here again today?”

“Stop talking nonsense. This is the government’s intention. We’re just carrying out the government’s orders. Besides, yesterday’s was a public security maintenance fee, and today’s is a war protection fee. There’s a fundamental difference between the two.

The public security maintenance fee is to ensure you’re not disturbed while doing business in Bloemfontein. Our Commando can also help you clear the streets of hooligans and petty criminals. As for the war protection fee, it’s war funds to prevent the Germans from invading the Orange Free State from the south. The two have completely different uses.”

Protection, my foot! Although I don’t know what East Africa is like, life under the rule of these British running dogs is really difficult.

As an opposing force, the British naturally demonized East Africa in their propaganda, and the early effects were very significant. Because of the cooperation of the Transvaal people, this group of exiled slaves, they naturally added fuel to the fire of the British slander against East Africa. Now that there was confirmation, the people of Orange initially had a very bad impression of East Africa.

But lies are always exposed, especially when you’ve been with the British and Transvaal people for a long time. The people of Orange discovered that much of the propaganda about East Africa was false.

This was easy to find out. The people of Orange also went to the East African coast to do business. These overseas merchants naturally shared their experiences with everyone upon their return. At least the East African coastal areas left a deep impression on them: safe and orderly, low prices, and suitable for living.

“Gentlemen, please have mercy. My business really isn’t making any money. Last month, the busiest month of the year, I earned seventy percent less than in previous years. This month, I might lose everything!”

“Hmph, that only shows you’re a bad businessman. What does that have to do with us? If you want to complain, blame your parents for not giving you a good brain. If you don’t have a good brain for business, you’re bound to lose money.”

Hearing the Commando soldier’s inhuman words, Grien had no choice but to continue to beg for mercy: “Alas, gentlemen, could you please give me a few days’ grace? I’ll make up the difference when I earn some money!”

“That won’t do. This is a task assigned by the higher-ups. If we give you a few days’ grace, who will give us grace?”

Grien: “But you just collected money yesterday. You shouldn’t be short of money recently!”

“Yesterday was yesterday, and today is today. Who doesn’t know that the army is a big spender? We risked our lives to join the army for your safety. It’s only right and proper that you pay. It’s just a different division of labor.”

Pull the other one! Grien thought to himself. Who doesn’t know you’re just a bunch of thugs in military uniforms? You used to be street ruffians, or refugees from Transvaal.

“Even if you’re burning money, you can’t just fleece us poor sheep! The British merchants are the ones with real money. They do big business. If you’re short of money, wouldn’t it be better to ask the British? They’re doing business in Orange. Isn’t your army their ‘protector’?” Grien said sarcastically.

“Hey, watch your mouth! Say that again in the same tone and I’ll shoot you!”

“Officer, don’t be angry. I was just joking!” Grien quickly said with a smile.

“Hmph, even if Jesus himself came, you wouldn’t escape this calamity today. Just for what you said just now, it’ll cost you three extra pence. Besides, how can those British masters be the same as you? Do you think they haven’t supported the army? See this gun? A Lee-Enfield, standard-issue rifle for the regular British army. Did you really think it fell from the sky? It’s all thanks to the support of those British masters. We’re just collecting a little money from you. They’re providing equipment!”

Grien was amused and angered. Who doesn’t know you’re in cahoots with the British? But as a small businessman, Grien had no choice but to continue to swallow his anger.

There were countless people like Grien being extorted, but everyone was running a small business and dared not express their dissatisfaction. But as time went on, the resentment in their hearts grew day by day.

Chapter 605: The Orange Uprising

The Orange people of Bloemfontein were easy to talk to, but that didn’t mean the Orange people in the countryside were the same as those in the city.

Due to the similar economies of the Orange Free State and the former Transvaal Republic, most Orange Free Staters lived in the countryside.

And the Orange people in the countryside were dependent on the large landowners, so they were no easier to manage than those in the city. Moreover, the large influx of Transvaalers had further strengthened the power of the Transvaal countryside.

Meanwhile, the Transvaal Provisional Government also had its eye on the Orange countryside, and its henchmen, the Transvaal Restoration Army, began to “go to the countryside.”

In towns like Bloemfontein, the Transvaal Restoration Army had a relatively easy time, but outside the city, they ran into a brick wall.

Bosrand Village, west of Bloemfontein.

A team of Transvaal Restoration Army cavalrymen attempted to enter Bosrand Village to carry out tax collection activities.

“What! Tax collection?” Karim, the village chief of Bosrand Village, looked at these unwelcome guests with amusement.

“Chief Karim, this is an order from the Bloemfontein Governor’s Office, so we hope you can understand the government’s difficulties.”

In front of Karim, these Transvaal Restoration Army soldiers did not dare to be arrogant, because there were twenty or thirty people next to Karim glaring at them with weapons.

“This is a joke. I’ve lived in Orange for so many years and never paid taxes. You’re the first to dare ask me for money.”

Karim was not joking. The two Boer countries, like the United States before, had no tax collection department at all, so Karim’s grandfather’s generation had never paid taxes.

“Times have changed, Chief Karim. Orange was ruled by us Boers before, but now everyone is under British rule, so the laws and other aspects naturally follow the British! So you can’t look at the present with the old traditions.”

“Bah, I didn’t agree to merge into Cape Town in the first place. Our Orange Free State was completely betrayed by a bunch of cowards. Now, as expected, the British have turned their backs. I’m telling you, not a penny of this so-called tax will be paid.” Karim said firmly.

“Chief Karim, I advise you to honestly hand over the money. The British are much stronger than us Boers!”

“Heh, the British are indeed strong, but it depends on where they are. The Orange Free State could have had more autonomy, but if it weren’t for you Transvaalers acting as accomplices and willingly being the dogs of the British, there wouldn’t be so much trouble now!”

“Captain!”

As expected, under Karim’s ridicule, some Restoration Army soldiers were very angry, because the vast majority of the Restoration Army were Transvaalers, so they looked at their captain, hoping to teach this old Orange codger a lesson.

But the Restoration Army captain did not do so. The civilian power of the Orange Free State was not weak, especially in the countryside, where they had their own spontaneously formed armed forces. He only had a dozen men under his command, so he didn’t want to fall out with this old guy Karim now.

If they fell out now, his group would probably be finished today. Not to mention the twenty or thirty militiamen around Karim, they could continue to call people from the village. If they were surrounded, he would definitely not have a good outcome today.

This was the benefit of the universal conscription system, and the reason why East Africa was able to easily take the Transvaal Republic was entirely due to its numerical advantage.

East Africa’s army alone was almost a quarter of the Transvaal Republic’s total population, and they showed no mercy from the start, giving the Transvaal Republic no time to prepare, so the Transvaal Republic was naturally unable to cope.

Now Karim’s situation in dealing with the Restoration Army was completely different. The Restoration Army had only barely reached a scale of more than six thousand people after three months of expansion.

And there were not a few villages in the Orange Free State. Bosrand Village, where Karim was located, was one of them. Most of these villages were mainly Orange people, while Transvaalers were more in towns and mines, so they could gain the trust of the British and use them to contain the Orange people.

In the cities, the British were biased, so the Transvaalers could do whatever they wanted, but the countryside was a different story. The Orange people had long been dissatisfied with the British’s differential treatment, and the villages were colluding with each other, wanting to drive the British and their lackeys out of the Orange Free State.

So Karim continued to shout: “Hmph, you Transvaalers, you still want to collect taxes, you’re really tired of living. It’s much more comfortable to stay in Bloemfontein. Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have weapons. If you dare to come to Bosrand Village again, I’ll definitely let you see blood.”

“Okay, very good, Chief Karim, it seems you have made your choice. I hope you won’t regret what you said today. Let’s go!” The captain of the Transvaal Restoration Army had no choice but to order a retreat.

Then this squad of the Restoration Army entered the village arrogantly, and now they could only retreat to Bloemfontein in disgrace. Of course, they didn’t care. They would report back to the government and then come back to make trouble for Bosrand Village.

It wasn’t just Bosrand Village. Today, many villages around Bloemfontein staged this scene, but the choices of each village were different. Some were as tough as Karim, while others, because they still attracted the encirclement and suppression of the large army in Bloemfontein, chose to swallow their anger. There were also some villages where bloodshed occurred, but the Transvaal Restoration Army mainly suffered losses.

And Karim would not sit still and wait for death. Today, he had offended the Restoration Army in Bloemfontein, so these Orange people began a nationwide collusion.

The large landowners in various parts of Orange began to exchange letters, including the original Orange rulers in the city who had long been emptied by the Transvaalers, who also began to stir, preparing to cooperate with the actions of the countryside to regain control of cities such as Bloemfontein.

February 28, 1881.

The Orange Bloemfontein city councilors and Orange citizens, unwilling to be deprived of their power, took the lead in firing the first shot to overthrow the joint tyranny of the British and Transvaalers.

The angry Orange people stormed police stations, barracks, puppet parliamentary governments, and the Transvaal Provisional Government.

The Orange people looted the Transvaalers and British, but soon, under the suppression of the Transvaal Restoration Army, the Orange resistance was declared a failure. The Transvaal Provisional Government took over Bloemfontein and retaliated against the Orange people in the city, and many Orange people who participated in the riots were executed.

In March, the countryside of Orange announced the establishment of a new Orange Free State government, and defined the British and Transvaalers as invaders. The two sides officially formed a confrontation.

The Cape Town government gave support to the Transvaal Republic, carried out encirclement and suppression of the Orange people, and promised to give part of the Orange people’s land to the Transvaal Republic after suppressing the rebellion.

East Africa also received news of the outbreak of civil war in the Orange Free State. In addition to the intelligence from the National Defense Security Bureau, there was also the reason that the new Orange government sent people across the border to East Africa for help.

Faced with this sudden situation, the East African government had to make a decision immediately, whether to support the Orange people, and how to support the Orange people, and what benefits East Africa could obtain.

From the border to the East African central government, there was telegraph communication, so the East African government received the news on March 12. At this time, the Orange people had already had several firefights with the Anglo-Transvaal Allied Forces.

Although the Orange people had the advantage of terrain, their supplies and ammunition were consumed quickly. Without external support, it would be difficult to fight against the Anglo-Transvaal Allied Forces.

Chapter 606: Regret

The news from the Orange Free State couldn’t be kept from East Africa. After all, East Africa has never been a country that was content to stay put, even though Ernst has always emphasized keeping a low profile.

However, East Africa’s actions in recent years haven’t seemed low-key to other countries. It’s just that East Africa has always been cautious in its publicity, not boasting about its gains everywhere. So, it seems lukewarm internationally, without much buzz usually, but when the world’s countries and patterns are discussed, it can still show its face.

It’s like a student in a class who doesn’t stand out, doesn’t make much noise, but participates in everything to some extent.

Ernst: “The fundamental reason for the outbreak of civil war in the Orange Free State is the further intensification of the conflict between the Orange people and the Transvaal people. Of course, the British are undoubtedly stirring up trouble, but this also just shows that even people of the same ethnicity may not be able to get along harmoniously, especially since the Orange people and the Transvaal people are too calculating with each other.”

Constantine: “That makes some sense, but the Orange people and the Transvaal people were originally the same ethnicity, both Boers. If the British weren’t on the sidelines, they probably wouldn’t have split into two new ethnic concepts. According to the normal course of development, the Orange Free State should have absorbed the people of the Transvaal Republic. Now, it has turned into a tragic case of infighting, which is also a warning to us in East Africa.”

“Our national conditions in East Africa are different. The most important national policy is intermarriage. After immigrants from various countries form new families, their ethnic attributes are weakened.

After all, considering the problem from the perspective of ordinary people, they generally prioritize their small family before the larger one. Compared with family, concepts like ethnicity and country come later.

So, to create an effect like the Orange Free State within East Africa, you would have to tear apart countless small families, and that is obviously impossible,” Ernst said.

Ethnic integration focuses on the word “integration.” East Africa has achieved integration through intermarriage, which is the simplest and most direct method, and it saves worry and effort.

Of course, relatively speaking, when the country is stable, families will give up many things, but that has nothing to do with the East African government. After all, in the 19th century, being able to start a family and career was enough to satisfy most people.

“But from this incident, it seems that the British are as cunning as ever, still liking to use inciting conflict to maintain their rule,” Constantine said with some emotion.

The British method of ruling the Orange Free State is no different from their method of ruling India. In India, they used the conflict between Hinduism and Islam to prevent India from uniting. In the Orange Free State, they replaced it with the Orange people and the Transvaal people.

This bomb can be said to have been buried by the British long ago. As for Ernst having similar ideas at the beginning, he couldn’t make decisions for the Orange people. As a result, the Orange people have suffered a great loss.

However, Ernst is happy to see it happen. This is definitely good news for East Africa. The Transvaal people have a bad relationship with East Africa, and by the way, the entire Boer nation’s relationship with East Africa has dropped to freezing point, which puts pressure on East Africa’s southern national defense.

Now that the Orange people and the Transvaal people have broken up, the Boers have also split. As long as East Africa operates properly, the Boer banner will lose its effect.

Not only will East Africa benefit, but the Cape Colony probably has the same idea. There are many Boers in the Cape Colony. In the past, with the existence of two independent countries, the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, the Boers in the Cape Colony were given united front value.

The British had to give the Boers a lot of rights in the Cape Colony. Now that the Transvaal Republic has been destroyed by East Africa, and the Orange people have broken with the Transvaal people.

The Boers in the Cape Colony have lost their support. After all, the Orange people and the Transvaal people can only choose one.

Of course, they can also choose to be neutral, but as the number of British immigrants increases, it becomes increasingly difficult for the Boers in the Cape Colony to compete with the British government. Without the help of the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, it becomes much easier for the British to deal with them.

Of course, the British may not have thought so much at the beginning. They are just doing it according to their traditional way of thinking.

This is like the crude diplomatic level of Tsarist Russia, which likes to use force to solve problems. This is the traditional Russian way of thinking at work.

More simply, this is the influence of national character on national character. Obviously, Ernst’s love for keeping a low profile and hiding his abilities is influenced by the national character of his previous life.

In fact, it is a matter of values, not necessarily agreed upon by everyone, but agreed upon by the vast majority of people, just like Western countries advocate freedom, the Soviet Union advocated democracy, and the social values of the Far East Empire are the same.

Constantine was indifferent to these things. As an old-era aristocrat, especially a German aristocrat, he still preferred to focus on military strength. European aristocrats naturally valued military affairs.

So, he said, “This time, with the civil war in the Orange Free State, should we look for an opportunity to intervene? This is a good opportunity to annex the Orange Free State. This way, we can completely isolate the Cape Colony south of the Orange River, which would greatly help reduce the pressure on national defense.”

Putting aside other aspects, taking the Orange Free State would greatly reduce the border line between East Africa and the Cape Colony. Reducing the border line would also allow for an appropriate reduction in troop deployment. Although the Orange River is not a natural barrier, it has a certain defensive function, so it can greatly save East Africa’s military expenditure.

Ernst reassured him, “This matter can’t be rushed. Although we have ideas about the Orange Free State, the Orange Free State is, after all, a British colony. So, this matter must be carefully considered. And most importantly, once we enter the fray, it will break the barrier between the Orange people and the Transvaal people. They will definitely join hands again to deal with us as a threat, which would be a loss greater than the gain for us.”

The key point is the latter part. In the eyes of the Orange people, the Transvaal people and the British are no good, and the Germans in East Africa are not good either.

After all, everyone is mixing in Africa, and they know quite a bit about East Africa. East Africa even enjoys the nickname “Tsarist Russia” of Africa. More than ten million square kilometers of land were not given away by the natives for nothing.

It’s just that the Orange people have no choice now and can only hope to cooperate with East Africa. The Orange Free State is surrounded by East Africa on three sides and the Cape Colony on one side. It is completely landlocked, so there is no other way to obtain external support.

Moreover, East Africa’s reputation is actually not bad, especially in the countries bordering East Africa to the north, which have a good impression of East Africa. The countries to the south, as victims, naturally mostly have no good impression of East Africa.

However, East Africa and the Orange Free State are an exception. After years of contact, the Orange people’s impression of East Africa has greatly changed. As the Orange Free State’s largest land neighbor and powerful country, East Africa has stationed troops on the border, but has never taken too many transgressive actions.

This is very rare, because the Orange people know that East Africa has the full strength to annex the Orange, but they have not done so, which shows that East Africa values international morality and credibility.

This has also made the Orange people regret their initial choice. If they had known that East Africa was not as rapacious as the Transvaal people described, they would not have agreed to join the Cape Colony.

Chapter 607: A Circuitous Route

“Providing assistance to the Orange people is acceptable, but we shouldn’t rush forward eagerly. Instead, we need to discuss terms with them. Of course, considering the industries the Orange people are involved in, we can engage in symbolic cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry,” Ernst said to Constantine.

“You’re right. Now that the Orange people are trapped inland and have offended the British, they can’t contact the outside world, and their trade will definitely be affected. Only we can provide them with relevant assistance,” Constantine said, agreeing wholeheartedly.

This is probably the sorrow of landlocked countries. Ernst was reminded of the Abyssinian Empire in the north, which, like in his previous life, remained a landlocked nation.

And of Abyssinia’s three neighbors, Italy and Egypt had poor relations with Abyssinia, so Abyssinia’s trade could only be completed through cooperation with East Africa.

Although some tribes within the Egyptian Sudan had good relations with Abyssinia, their traditional trade routes mostly passed through the Sahara Desert and headed west, so they couldn’t solve Abyssinia’s problems.

Abyssinia was, after all, a country with a population of ten million, and such a large economy couldn’t be supported by North African trade, especially with its poor relations with Egypt.

As for traditional trade routes, the Red Sea was completely blocked by Egypt and Italy, leaving only cooperation with the East African kingdom to the south.

East Africa could profit as an intermediary. Although East Africa had some previous conflicts of interest with Abyssinia, especially the annexation of some Abyssinian vassal states in the south, compared to Egypt and Italy, which threatened Abyssinia’s core areas, East Africa seemed much more agreeable.

Vassal states, after all, are not entirely one family, just like the relationship between the Far Eastern Empire and its tributary states. Moreover, Abyssinia’s relationship with its vassal states was not as close as that of tributary states.

Tributary states have a sense of cultural identity, while Abyssinia’s relationship with its vassal states was more about military conquest, without much emotional investment.

“For the Orange people, we should provide as many neutral weapons as possible, without strong East African characteristics. At the same time, trade with the Orange people should be mainly in kind. We should focus on providing the Orange people with more support in terms of food and military supplies,” Ernst continued.

The Boers are mainly engaged in animal husbandry, which is convenient, easy, and profitable. They are not enthusiastic about farming, which is a hard slog.

Moreover, the Orange Free State is currently in a state of internal strife, and production will definitely be severely affected. Therefore, support for the Orange people should not be limited to weapons and ammunition.

Of course, East Africa is more concerned that it doesn’t have that many weapons to support the Orange people right now. As for the active weapons and equipment of the East African army, they cannot be used for export, especially to their neighbors, because East Africa is not just greedy for the Orange Free State’s market, but also covets the Orange itself.

“Then which country’s equipment are you going to provide to the Orange people, British or French?” Constantine asked.

As for Germany, Constantine didn’t mention it, because German weapons, if not completely identical to East African weapons, could be said to be from the same mold. If they provided German weapons, it would be better to directly export East Africa’s own weapons.

Ernst gave Constantine an unexpected answer: “We will provide the Orange people with weapons from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

“Why?”

“No matter what the outcome, the British will know that we provided the Orange people with weapons. After all, no one else has this ability. Moreover, our military cooperation with the Austro-Hungarian Empire is very frequent, and there are many suppliers in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, making it easy to obtain goods.

Moreover, we East Africa can compatibly produce some of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s weapons and ammunition, and provide the Orange people with after-sales maintenance services, while the bulk still needs to be imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In this way, the Orange people’s weapon imports and exports will be completely in our hands, unless they replace all the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s weapons in the future, but they don’t have the financial resources to do so,” Ernst explained.

Constantine raised a new question: “In that case, why don’t we directly export East African-made weapons?”

Ernst: “Because the Orange people are fighting the British and the Transvaal people, they will definitely not fight a losing battle. They will mostly adopt guerrilla tactics. Now the Orange people’s enemies are first the British-German allied forces, and in the future, it is likely to be us. One characteristic of guerrilla warfare is that it is difficult to defend against, attacking the enemy’s supply lines, which also makes it easier for the other side to seize supplies from the enemy. In case the Orange people clash with us in the future, we need to avoid this point, and using Austro-Hungarian weapons will completely eliminate this concern.”

The process of how Austro-Hungarian weapons are exported to the Orange Free State is completely controlled by East Africa. In this way, if the Orange people survive the offensive of the British-German allied forces in the future, then the Orange people can only continue to rely on East Africa as their supply channel.

In this way, it is similar to using East African weapons, and it can also make the Orange people slightly lower their guard. After all, directly using East African weapons is no different from becoming a military vassal of East Africa.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire is, after all, a third-party country, so at least on the surface, it can make the Orange people feel more at ease. Of course, this is only on the surface. When the Orange people really rely on Austro-Hungarian weapons, they will find that they can’t get around East Africa, and even bullets need to be provided by East Africa.

East Africa, on the other hand, can completely control the Orange people’s military through intermediary channels. After all, the initiative to cut off the Orange people’s weapon supply is completely in East Africa’s hands.

In this way, even if East Africa becomes an enemy of the Orange people in the future, it can cut off their weapon supply at any time, and they can subdue the enemy without fighting.

Unless the Orange people reconcile with the British and continue to supply weapons through the British, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire is, after all, in the same camp as East Africa, and East Africa can completely interfere.

If the British provide the Orange people with their own weapons to replace Austro-Hungarian weapons, this involves the Orange people’s entire military system, including usage experience, maintenance systems, etc. In short, it is not that easy. This is the same as how India could not directly get rid of its dependence on Russian-made weapons in his previous life.

Moreover, according to the current relationship between the Orange people and the British, there is basically no possibility of reconciliation between the two, unless East Africa really takes action to annex the Orange Free State now, then the enemy of all three parties will instantly become East Africa.

This is also the reason why Ernst is not in a hurry to take action against the Orange Free State. First, let the three parties fight to the death, and it is best to maximize the hatred, so that the difficulty of East Africa’s invasion of the Orange Free State in the future can be greatly reduced.

After all, after this lesson, the Boers will definitely be divided in the future, and they will not be able to work together, and the gaps in their hearts will increase with time.

Moreover, in the eyes of the Orange people, this internal strife was completely caused by the betrayal of the Transvaal people. There is a saying that a traitor is more hateful than an enemy. At that time, the Orange people’s perception of the Transvaal people will definitely be worse than that of the British and East Africa.

In this way, it will be more convenient for East Africa to assimilate the region in the future. Of course, East Africa will definitely take other measures to further erase the Boer people as a previously existing community.

Chapter 608: Meeting

The Vet River is the natural border between East Africa and the Orange Free State. Besides Winburg, an important transportation hub, there are many military strongholds along the entire Vet River, and Fort Tennyson is one of them.

Fort Tennyson is located on the north bank of the Vet River. It was originally a farm named Tennyson in Transvaal. After the East African Defense Force built fortifications here, it was renamed Fort Tennyson. It is only seventy-nine kilometers away from Bloemfontein, and its strategic position is quite prominent.

East Africa’s proximity to the capital of the Orange Free State is one of the main reasons why the Orange people were initially wary of East Africa. However, the Orange Free State is not very large, and Bloemfontein is located almost in the center of the country, so there is no need to move the capital.

This is because none of the four directions, east, south, west, and north, are good options. To the west is Kimberley, which plays an important role in the economy of the Orange Free State, with diamond revenue alone being quite substantial.

However, control of this source of wealth is in the hands of the British, who only give the Orange government a token rent each year.

Moreover, the Vaal River is west of Kimberley, which is very close to East Africa’s New Baden Province (British Bechuanaland), so going west is subject to the dual threat of Britain and East Africa.

To the east is the original territory of Lesotho, now an important part of East Africa’s Southern Frontier Province, which is also heavily guarded by East Africa. The South African plateau has flat terrain, and mountainous areas like Lesotho are strategically important in many places.

To the south is the Cape Colony. The Orange people originally relied on the British, so naturally they would not go that way again.

The Orange people’s intention was to use the British as a shield to protect their own interests and avoid the tragedy of the Transvaal Republic being repeated on themselves.

However, facts have proved that the Orange people were somewhat wishful thinking. The main reason was that they misjudged the brotherly affection between themselves and the Transvaal people. The Transvaal people’s complaints about the Orange people were mainly that the Orange people did not support the Transvaal people’s northern expedition.

The contradiction between the two was exploited by the British. The Transvaal people wanted to go on a northern expedition and had to rely on the British. At the same time, the Transvaal people, like the British, were outsiders relative to the Orange people, so the two had a basis for cooperation. They flirted with each other and naturally became partners in crime.

Ernst was naturally very interested in this kind of ungrateful plot. Of course, the main reason was that it was beneficial to East Africa. Dividing the Orange people and the Transvaal people was entirely beneficial to East Africa’s plan for the Orange Free State.

Fort Tennyson became a place for East Africa and the Orange people to communicate. The Vet River is only a dozen meters wide. With the East African Defense Force turning a blind eye, the Orange people could easily bring goods over.

In fact, even without this civil strife in the Orange Free State, Orange merchants would not give up cooperation with East Africa.

Not to mention that Orange merchants already had a good impression of East Africa, even the Transvaal people and the British, who had a bad relationship with East Africa, their merchant groups would not refuse such a large source of raw materials and a market like East Africa.

As for the conflicts between the Transvaal people and the British with East Africa, they had little to do with them. They would side with whoever offered them benefits. As long as East Africa could make them rich, they would not hesitate to sell out their national interests.

It’s just that now that the Orange Free State has broken out in civil strife, the trade with East Africa, which used to be secretive, can now be more unscrupulous due to the chaotic situation.

In mid-March, the East African Defense Force on the border received orders to show goodwill to the Orange people, but the preparations were carried out until April. After all, the Orange people’s uprising was a sudden event, and East Africa did not have a relevant plan.

Therefore, the relevant assistance was delayed for some time, but East Africa did not do nothing. After the government meeting, the East African Defense Force provided some convenience to the Orange people in terms of ammunition and shells.

The Orange people’s weapons came from various sources. They did not have a relevant military industry, so they relied on imports, including some weapons and equipment imported from the German region.

Therefore, East Africa could provide some German-standard weapons and ammunition. Although it could not meet the needs of the Orange people, it could solve their urgent needs.

These ammunition were mainly allocated by the front-line East African Defense Force from their own ammunition reserves for the Orange people to use.

“General Herbart, thank you very much for East Africa’s help. We can only deal with the British and the traitors because of you. However, the ammunition your country provided last time is only enough for one-sixth of our troops to use, and that’s with considerable savings. Moreover, we don’t have many German-made weapons in Orange, and the wear and tear is quite high. Can your country provide more guns?” Judley, the representative of the Orange people, asked Herbart, the military commander of Fort Tennyson.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Judley. We know your difficulties, but you also have to understand our difficulties in East Africa. It’s not that we in East Africa don’t want to help you Orange people, but this happened too suddenly. We had to report to the government first, and this took a lot of time.

The government just sent a telegram agreeing to help you, but you also know that this is the border, and the core of our East Africa is in the east, so the preparations are simply insufficient.

Finally, the Ministry of Defense ordered us to allocate some weapons and ammunition from the reserves of our garrison troops to support the Orange people’s cause of fighting for freedom. These weapons and ammunition are used by our active troops, which shows the efforts we have made,” Herbart explained to Judley.

Judley said with a worried face: “It’s not that I want to make things difficult for your country, but the war has now entered a very difficult situation. Although we Orange people are brave and good at fighting, it is difficult to change the situation in one fell swoop in the face of the endless firepower advantage of the Anglo-German coalition forces. We don’t have much supplies in our hands. Now that the war has been going on for a month, even with your country’s previous support, there is little left. If this continues, the previous preparations may be in vain.”

Herbart had foreseen this, because the Orange people’s uprising was too childish. Of course, this is also related to the national conditions of the Boer countries.

The Boer countries do not have strong state organs, and the Orange Free State is even more so. The reason why this uprising was launched was the result of mutual collusion between local landlords.

They are all equal, not subordinate, so overall they are still fighting on their own. Fortunately, the number of opponents of the Orange people is not large, otherwise this uprising would have been suppressed long ago, instead of developing to the entire Orange Free State.

However, the Transvaal people still have advantages over the Orange people. First of all, there is Piet Joubert, a representative figure who can unite the old ministers of the former Transvaal Republic and form the Provisional Government of the Transvaal Republic. They also have a standing armed force, the Transvaal Restoration Army.

The central government of the Orange Free State was emptied by the British and the Transvaal people. Most of the officials of the original Orange Free State government were placed under house arrest in Bloemfontein by the Provisional Government of the Transvaal Republic and became decorations.

Therefore, the Orange resistance forces can only be composed of local Orange forces who are dissatisfied with the British and the Transvaal people. However, local forces are limited after all and cannot control the overall situation and confront the Anglo-German coalition forces.

The Orange local armed forces in the north are better. They are backed by East Africa and can more easily obtain material support, while many forces in the south are simply still in the wait-and-see stage.

This is why the Orange people are eager to ask East Africa for help. To open up the situation, East Africa’s support is indispensable, otherwise they will definitely be liquidated by the British and the Transvaal people later.

Chapter 609: Improvement

Helbert understood Yudley’s predicament very well, so he consoled him, “You don’t need to worry about that. The higher-ups have already prepared the supplies. They should arrive in two or three days. So, just come back in three days.”

Buying weapons from Austria-Hungary at this time would definitely be too late. However, East Africa could still scrape together a batch of Austrian-Hungarian weapons to provide to the Orange people.

After all, East Africa was such a large country, it would definitely purchase a small amount of foreign military equipment. This was the case in many countries, and what was considered a “small amount” for East Africa might not be for Orange.

The Orange people didn’t need too many rifles and ammunition right now, at least that’s how it seemed to East Africa, because the Orange people didn’t have a large army. Before East Africa, wars in Africa were usually kept below ten thousand people. Especially after the arrival of the colonizers, even wars with a thousand people were considered large-scale.

It was East Africa and the Italians who disrupted the regional balance, causing the wars in sub-Saharan Africa to escalate to over ten thousand people. Especially during the East African colonial era, it was a case of everyone being a soldier, often mobilizing armed forces of over one hundred thousand to clear out the indigenous forces in the African interior.

On the contrary, after the army became professionalized, such a grand scene no longer existed. However, East Africa’s mobilization capabilities were further strengthened. It’s just that more mobilization mechanisms were used for national infrastructure construction and other aspects, which could be considered military reform for the people. Conversely, it could also be people reform for the military. Of course, the fundamental reason was that East Africa now had a relatively sufficient population and no longer needed to frequently mobilize to the extreme.

Although Helbert said so, Yudley was still not at ease. He said, “This matter is of great importance, so I can stay here for a few days. I can send someone back with the news, so that all parties won’t be in a flurry.”

Helbert agreed with Yudley’s words. If it were him, he certainly wouldn’t want to make a wasted trip, so he said, “That’s fine, but Tenissenburg is a military stronghold after all, so you can’t stay here. Fortunately, there are trading posts built outside the city, so you can stay there for a few days!”

There were very few civilians in Tenissenburg, and most of them were military dependents or personnel serving the army. Therefore, it was a typical military fortress, or “military city,” in the Southern Frontier Province, so it was naturally not good for outsiders like Yudley to stay in the city for long.

The trading posts were built outside the city and were places for East Africa to conduct trade with the Orange Free State. East Africa certainly couldn’t sell goods in the Orange Free State, after all, the British and the Transvaal people prohibited East Africans from entering.

But they couldn’t stop their own merchants from crossing the border to East Africa to do business, so the trading posts were equivalent to official trading places built by East Africa on the banks of the Vet River.

Yudley said, “That’s natural. My task is to receive the military equipment. I’m very satisfied to have received your affirmative answer, General.”

After saying that, Yudley slowly left Tenissenburg with his subordinates, forming a clear contrast with his hurried arrival.

The reasons for this result were nothing more than two points. First, he had now received confirmation from East Africa, and his task should be able to be completed smoothly. He was just afraid that East Africa would procrastinate and dangle the Orange people.

Second, the military equipment would not be delivered for a few days, so he was not in a hurry to return now, and he became idle.

And once he was idle, Yudley began to observe Tenissenburg. He hadn’t paid much attention to it when he came in before, after all, he was in a hurry at the time and didn’t have the leisure for that. Now that he paid close attention, Yudley had a psychological understanding of how East Africa was able to defeat the original Transvaal Republic.

This so-called Tenissenburg was very similar to medieval European castles, but there were also great differences. However, it was clear at a glance that many defensive measures had been added to deal with modern warfare.

There shouldn’t be many people in the city. After all, although Tenissenburg was very important, it was only a stronghold on East Africa’s Vet River defense line in the Southern Frontier Province, so the number of troops assigned was not very large.

And this “not very large” was in relation to East Africa. Compared to the Orange Free State, it was a large number. Tenissenburg should have a few thousand people, most of whom were soldiers.

It should be known that before the outbreak of internal strife in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal Restoration Army only had more than six thousand people. It should have increased a lot now, probably close to ten thousand, but this was a lot for the Transvaal people.

After being destroyed, the Transvaal people had a population of about one hundred thousand in recent years, and ten thousand people was more than one-tenth of the population.

The Orange people were a little better, with a population of only around two hundred thousand, which was the result of absorbing some of the Transvaal people. However, the Orange Free State had not established a standing army before, so the Transvaal people had caught up later.

Yudley said to his subordinates with great envy, “East Africa has strong military strength, inheriting the martial spirit of the German region, and is strictly disciplined. No wonder it was able to destroy the pack of white-eyed wolves in Transvaal in a very short time!”

“Mr. Yudley, the East African army should be on par with Europe. Unlike our Orange, we didn’t pay much attention to this aspect before, so we are relatively backward,” the subordinate responded.

Yudley shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. To build a strong army, you need the support of national strength. Look at the army organized by the Transvaal people, with lax military discipline, only knowing how to fight when they have the upper hand. They don’t have the spirit of East African soldiers.”

Of course, compared to the Transvaal people, the Orange people’s armed forces were even more undisciplined, and even lacked organization. However, it was impossible for Yudley to say bad things about his own people, so he could only keep belittling and mocking the Transvaal people.

The current good military discipline of the East African army was actually built on multiple reorganizations and rectifications.

At least during the East African invasion of the Transvaal Republic, the East African army at that time was probably not much better, and was only on par with Europe.

Now, in terms of military discipline alone, probably only the German army could be compared with East Africa. This was the result of East Africa’s increased national strength.

The East African government now had relatively abundant financial income without relying on looting and exploiting the natives, so it also had the confidence to correct the bad habits of the troops.

In recent years, the East African National Defense Force had a larger scale of immigrants and a rapid increase in the number of citizens. However, the number of army troops had not increased much compared to the colonial period.

The important link in this was to comprehensively transform and upgrade the East African army, replacing the people who were just making up the numbers in the army.

The East African navy did not have this requirement, because the navy was established relatively late, so the relevant systems were more complete, and the navy had a high threshold, with educational requirements for entering the navy, so the quality of soldiers was higher than that of the army from the beginning.

Of course, the treatment of the East African army now was much higher than before, because there were now discipline and learning requirements for entering the army, as well as restraining personality and hard training, so more support must be provided in terms of welfare.

On the other hand, the current living standards of East African citizens were much higher than before, and the army was inherently a more dangerous profession for the people, so the East African government must also improve the treatment of the East African army.

Not to mention other things, in terms of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, the East African army was much better than the civilians. Education and medical care had high rates of coverage, and even the future path and prospects after demobilization were broader.

Chapter 610: Military Advisory Group

Otto City, capital of Hechengen Province.

This city used to be called “Pretoria,” a city once proudly held by the Boers, used to commemorate the Boer hero, old Pretorius.

East Africa naturally couldn’t keep this city with its distinct individual heroism. East Africa certainly respects heroes, but old Pretorius represents the Boer heroes.

It could even be said to be the faith of the Transvaalers. Keeping this name would mean leaving room for fantasy for the Transvaalers. East Africa would certainly not give the enemy this illusion.

As an important hub of the East African Central Railway, Otto City connects the north and south of East Africa, and is the hub city of the central and southern lines of the Central Railway.

More than thirty trains pass through Otto City every day, many of which go to New Hamburg Port City, connecting the economies of Matabeleland Province and the Southern Frontier Province.

The trains that terminate in Otto City mostly undertake military functions, transporting military supplies from northern East Africa to the border.

This time, East Africa’s support for the Orange people’s military needs was among them. The supplies for the Orange people were not a big burden for East Africa, because even without the Orange people’s request for assistance, East Africa still provides tens of thousands of troops in the South African region with daily necessities, food, and weapons and ammunition every year through the Central Railway.

“Sergeant Delaney, there are a total of five freight cars, which are the military supplies provided to Orange this time, including one thousand three hundred rifles, two hundred and fifty boxes of ammunition, and five three-pound cannons, seventy shells… In addition, there are compasses, telescopes, etc. This is a detailed list. After you have checked everything, please have your person in charge sign for receipt,” said the logistics personnel responsible for escorting the supplies.

After confirming that everything was correct, the Southern Military Region of the National Defense Force received the supplies and quickly moved them from the train to wagons.

Although East African tires have just been put on the international market, East Africa, especially the military, had already completed the transformation and upgrading of vehicles.

“These supplies were exchanged for livestock by the Orange people, and now we are officially handing over these livestock to you!”

The quartermaster responsible for the handover twitched the corner of his mouth, and said speechlessly, “These Orange people are really giving us trouble. So many livestock are not very convenient to transport even by rail. It might be better if they were exchanged for other things.”

“Haha, the Orange people are not stupid. For them, livestock is the least valuable thing. Other things, such as gold, diamonds, and even pounds and other currencies, are the most important to them,” Delaney laughed.

“That’s also true. Just like farmers have to turn their harvested grain into cash, workers have to wait for their wages, and factory owners have to sell their goods, everyone is thinking about making money. The Orange people also want to exchange their livestock for things that are useful to them, and the essence is still for wealth, and gold and other hard currencies are like that, so they naturally don’t want to exchange with us in East Africa,” the quartermaster agreed.

“The conflict between the Orange people, the Transvaalers, and the British is, in the final analysis, to protect their own interests. For the Orange people, their wealth is still considerable, but the British are emptying their pockets, so the Orange people have to resist,” Delaney said.

Delaney completely sympathized with the Orange people, without prejudice, after all, everyone for themselves, and the devil take the hindmost.

When the supplies were being handed over, a group of people also got off the train in the rear carriage, but unlike the freight cars in front, it was a passenger car.

The group of very young officers who got off the train were, on average, only in their twenties.

Delaney also noticed the special nature of this group of young officers. At least in terms of temperament, they were very different from the grassroots troops. They looked like European aristocratic soldiers, and that arrogant temperament was naturally exuded.

“Who are they?”

The quartermaster curled his lips and said, “Students who graduated from the Austro-Hungarian Officer School. Most of them have just graduated from school and have not experienced much actual combat, but they have a bright future as soon as they graduate. Having culture is an advantage.”

“Then what are they doing in South Africa? Shouldn’t they first go to the grassroots troops in the north to gain experience?”

“They are different from the students of the Hechengen Military Academy. The level of the Austro-Hungarian Military Academy is definitely higher than ours in East Africa. As far as I know, the person leading them is a graduate of the Theresa Military Academy in Vienna. Being able to graduate from there means that the gold content is top military talent recognized even in Europe.”

“They won’t be assigned to our Southern Military Region, will they!”

“Hehe, don’t think too much. This time they are going to the Orange Free State to gain experience. They are considered a military observation group, and are also responsible for helping the Orange people teach the use of Austro-Hungarian weapons.”

During the conversation between the two, the so-called “observation group,” that is, the East African military advisory group stationed in the Orange Free State, had already lined up.

The leader, Korey, graduated from the Theresa Military Academy, and many others were also graduates of other military academies in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Thanks to the agreement between East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a large number of East African students can enter the Austro-Hungarian Empire to study. If East Africa’s education was not weak, a large number of exchange students might have been born. Now East Africa can only freeload, after all, no European student would be stupid enough to study in East Africa. Not to mention Europe, even students from the Far East Empire are not interested in East Africa.

However, East Africa does not need to introduce international students from the Far East Empire. If East Africa introduces them, they are likely to become their own people.

“This is Otto City, the last big city on our route. Next, we will report to the border troops first, and then the officers there will arrange for us to cross the river. So the next journey will not be easy. At least until Winburg, we may not get effective rest,” Korey said seriously to the members of the advisory group.

“This mission requires going deep into the war zone, so don’t take it lightly. I know that many of you are elites who have undergone professional military training, but you have not been exposed to real battlefields after all. You may not agree with what I am saying, but this mission is very dangerous. It is not just empty talk, but to participate in the war, practice and learn. Only after tempering and testing can you become truly excellent soldiers,” said Colonel William, who was arranged by the East African Ministry of National Defense.

“Colonel William, I heard that you are a graduate of the Hechengen Military Academy. Have you experienced war? Have you only bullied natives!” a troublemaker said.

“Hehe, I am indeed a graduate of the Hechengen Military Academy. The Hechengen Military Academy may not be well-known, but I want to tell you that the students of our Hechengen Military Academy have contributed to East Africa’s more than ten million square kilometers of land. A large number of outstanding East African military talents come from the Hechengen Military Academy.

As for the issue of bullying natives that you mentioned, it is indeed not honorable to win with advanced weapons, but war only talks about victory or defeat.

Also, I myself, as a student of the Hechengen Military Academy, participated in the Franco-Prussian War. I believe you should also know that the Hechengen Brigade, representing the Hechengen Principality, had some small achievements in the war. Secondly, I also participated in East Africa’s war against the Portuguese colony of Mozambique and fought against the Portuguese,” William said.

Just participating in the Franco-Prussian War is enough for William to show off. The Franco-Prussian War is considered one of the most valuable large-scale wars in the 19th century, directly changing the European landscape and having a significant impact on the world process.

Chapter 611: Infiltrating the Interior

“Our most important goal in the Orange Free State this time is to observe, learn, and think more, especially to analyze the tactics of the Orange and Transvaal people. Now, the domestic politics of East Africa are stable, and there are no battles to fight. However, the military academy students who entered the army before can constantly hone themselves through small-scale wars.”

In recent years, East Africa has indeed been much more peaceful than before. Although there were no major battles in the past, there were many small ones, and correspondingly, the opportunities for actual combat have also decreased a lot.

This is also the reason why East Africa sent people to the Orange Free State to study this time. Of course, there is another layer of meaning, which is to observe and learn the tactics of the Orange and Transvaal people.

In this way, if East Africa enters the Orange Free State next time, it can achieve knowing the enemy and knowing yourself, and you will never be defeated.

Colonel William continued: “Of course, learning and practice are one aspect, but more importantly, we must first ensure our own safety. We must make reasonable use of our third-country status, only do what consultants should do, and not overstep the mark. If we encounter uncontrollable dangers, there is nothing to be ashamed of in surrendering. However, we must not expose our East African nationality. Remember, from now on, you are all people of Austria-Hungary.”

If the other party knows that this group of officers are East Africans, I am afraid that the Transvaal people will do something irrational. Instead, changing to the identity of other countries will be much better.

Colonel William saw that he had said almost everything, so he said: “Depart!”

After a few days, the military advisory group arrived at the largest military fortress on the South African border, Vryburg. This is an important transportation hub between the Orange Free State and East Africa. In the past, the Transvaal people built many roads through this place.

“The scale of Vryburg should be similar to that of some cities, but after all, it is on the border, so it is given more military attributes. This is rare in East African cities. Other cities are either far from the border, or their scale does not reach Vryburg’s, or their military function is greater than their economic value.”

“Although the military value of Vryburg is greater than its economic value for East Africa, the economic value of Vryburg cannot be ignored. After all, this is an area with developed transportation and a transportation hub connecting various parts of South Africa, so its economy is a little stronger than some inland cities in East Africa.”

“You young people spend money lavishly, but if you need anything, Vryburg is also easy to solve. Most of the goods are available here in Vryburg. It is a distribution center for East African commodities to the outside world, but in the past, the Orange and Transvaal people, and even the British, were doing it secretly. Now that the war has broken out, they are much more open and aboveboard.”

Marnas, the military commander of Vryburg and the supreme commander of the Vaal River defense line, introduced to the members of the East African military advisory group stationed in the Orange Free State.

“In the future, if you encounter any difficulties, you must contact us as soon as possible. Vryburg’s military strength is very strong, and no one can ignore our existence, so don’t be embarrassed to borrow strength when you should.”

“General Marnas, what should we pay attention to after we go to the Orange Free State? You have been on the front line in the south for many years and should be very familiar with the Orange Free State, so I hope you can give us some advice.” Colonel William asked.

General Marnas said very kindly to William: “When you go to the Orange Free State, the most important thing is not to overstep the mark, especially not to deal with the Transvaal ruffians, even if you use a disguised identity. They are a bunch of local ruffians who are completely unreasonable.

Don’t take it lightly. Even professional intelligence personnel may fall into their hands, because the other party is completely unreasonable and will also kill innocent people to claim credit. Although the probability of you encountering this kind of thing is not high, it is still better to be careful. This is the personal experience of our intelligence personnel.

Don’t relax your vigilance against the Orange people either. Although we are partners, the Orange people may not have a good impression of East Africa, especially some of them are still former Transvaal people. Don’t leave your back to them, or you won’t even know if you’ve been made a scapegoat.

Also, be sure to remember not to expose your identity as East Africans. It just so happens that I heard that you all graduated from Austria-Hungary, so it is very suitable to disguise yourselves as Austria-Hungarian personnel.”

“General Marnas, don’t worry! We have stayed in Austria-Hungary for several years, and even real Austria-Hungarian people may not be able to tell the difference between our true and false identities.”

Marnas was amused, and he said: “There are quite a few former Austria-Hungarian people in East Africa, and the difference between Austria and other German regions is not too big in itself.”

It is precisely because of this that German (including East African) businessmen are very flexible in the world. They can change several nationalities at will without worrying about being exposed.

Afterwards, Marnas began to introduce them to the guide who would lead them to the Orange Free State this time.

“This is Mr. Marshall from the Orange Free State. He is currently the military commander in Vredefort in the northern Orange Free State. This time, he will lead you to Vredefort to carry out your mission.”

Everyone looked strangely at General Marnas and this Mr. Marshall. Is it okay to conspire so loudly in front of the Orange people?

Seeming to see their concerns, General Marnas continued: “Don’t misunderstand. The main purpose of going to the Orange Free State this time is to serve as consultants, so you just need to do your job diligently. Moreover, we have told the Orange people that because the weapons and equipment come from Austria-Hungary, we will hire Austrian-Hungarian military personnel as consultants. This is also your excuse for going to the Orange Free State.”

After saying that, Marnas glanced at Marshall. Marshall understood and said: “After you arrive in the Orange Free State, I will be the supreme commander. I will assign you tasks and send you to various factions of the Orange people. All intelligence or information can be sent to the only Chinese restaurant on the street in Vredefort Town. Give the letter to the service staff. I will explain the details to you on the way.

If you encounter other troubles, such as being captured or injured, contact me directly. I am usually stationed in Vredefort Town.”

General Marnas added: “Mr. Marshall is an agent of the East African National Security Bureau, so you can rest assured that he is definitely one of our own. The East African National Security Bureau belongs to the hidden front, so it is normal that you have never heard of it. So I can tell you the truth. Secondly, in the Orange Free State, our most active personnel are the personnel of the National Security Bureau, who have an intelligence network covering the entire Orange Free State, so you can ask Mr. Marshall for help during your mission in the Orange Free State.”

It must be said that Marshall is also a talent. Most other East African agents who infiltrate the Orange Free State do so through identities such as merchants and immigrants.

And Marshall is the only example of someone who has mixed into the high-level of the Orange people. Of course, the Orange people are too scattered now, so anyone who is a character can be considered high-level. Various military ranks are mass-produced, with commanders and generals everywhere, and anyone with a gun in their hand can occupy territory and become king.

Vredefort Town, where Marshall is located, is an important military town in the northern Orange region, so Marshall has a very high status among the Orange people. However, Marshall’s true identity is indeed East African, which is probably something that the people of Vredefort Town would never have imagined.

Chapter 612: Food Festival

The East African military advisory group, along with the military supplies aiding the Orange people, were sent to the Orange Free State. After all, the East African military advisory group’s ostensible identity was that of after-sales personnel from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there to service weapons purchased by the Orange people.

This after-sales service for weapons was a perfectly normal operation, conforming to international arms trade procedures and facilitating East Africa’s intervention in the Orange Free State’s internal strife.

If they were to openly act under the East African banner in the Orange Free State, it would be embarrassing for both sides. Although the British and the Transvaal people knew that East Africa would definitely come in to stir the pot, as long as they didn’t tear away this fig leaf, everyone could still be “friends” on the surface.

While the periphery of East Africa was in a dire situation, the First Township was holding the first East African National Food Festival, forming a stark contrast to the raging flames of war in the Orange Free State.

Fortunately, East Africa didn’t have a national news broadcast, or it would definitely be used for comparison. Of course, East Africa didn’t have a national news broadcast, but it didn’t lack newspapers, so there would definitely be a section dedicated to promoting the food festival.

“Based on the experience from the various regional competitions last year, our food-related reports should focus on Nairobi. East Africans are most particular about food, and Nairobi is the most discerning and critical region in all of East Africa when it comes to food. Therefore, we need to allocate more space in this issue to Nairobi,” Mark, the president of the East African News Agency, instructed his subordinates.

“President, rest assured, we understand. After all, many immigrants in Nairobi come from the Venice region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as well as immigrants from the Far East. Both sides have their own unique pursuits when it comes to food, which is famous throughout the country. We will definitely pay attention to it!”

President Mark, a true Saxon, agreed with this point, because Germans were too rough when it came to food and lacked talent.

“Yes, Leon is right. Italians are more particular about ingredients and emphasize techniques and procedures, while being unwilling to accept modifications to traditional Italian cuisine. The Far Easterners pay great attention to the freshness of ingredients and pursue a rich taste with numerous cooking methods. In East Africa, the culinary scene appears to be a three-way split, but in reality, it’s a battle between two strong forces.”

The “three-way split” naturally included German cuisine, but German cuisine was very limited, especially in the 19th century. As for the famous German sausages, ordinary people generally couldn’t afford meat sausages, and more often consumed mixed offal sausages with vegetables, which were far inferior in taste. However, for German commoners who hadn’t eaten much good food, it was already quite good.

German sauerkraut was quite famous, but East Africans didn’t like it. After all, sauerkraut was good for stimulating appetite, but East Africa was in the tropics, with a constant supply of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. With better options, the demand for sauerkraut was very small. However, some people still pickled sauerkraut according to tradition, which was good for changing the taste occasionally.

All in all, German cuisine simply couldn’t compete with Italian or Far Eastern cuisine. Of course, an important reason for this characteristic was that many Italian immigrants in East Africa came from the Venice region.

The Venice region was a relatively wealthy area of Italy, and a traditional commercial center in the Mediterranean region. It was also located near the Po River Plain in Italy, and the Alps were in the north. As the saying goes, those who live near the mountains live off the mountains, and those who live near the sea live off the sea. Venice had everything, and even if it was lacking, it could be imported.

Therefore, the living standards of the people in the Venice region were stronger than those in Germany and the Far East. If it weren’t for war, no one would choose to leave their hometown and develop in East Africa.

Mark continued, “This food festival is a very good news source. Combined with the conflict in the Orange Free State in the south, our newspaper sales should be good this month, so everyone be proactive.”

East Africa didn’t lack news, but national competitions like the National Food Festival were rare. This was also an important reason why Mark actively promoted the food festival.

“Alright, meeting adjourned!” Mark said.

Next, the reporters from the East African News Agency began to take action. The final stop of the competition was set in the First Township, so it was still very convenient.

Today was Sunday, so there were many people on the street. Everyone was usually busy with work, so they naturally had to spend time with their families on their days off, such as going shopping.

“The topic of the first round of the competition is to use the ingredients provided by the official, with no specific restrictions. Show your strengths and make your signature dishes, which will then be evaluated by the judges and the public,” the host announced.

The competition was held on the streets of Saint Antonio Avenue, so there were many people watching. As for the police maintaining order on site, it was to prevent stampedes.

“Mr. Rolls, you are the winner of the Nairobi competition and one of the popular candidates to win this year’s food festival. What food are you going to make today?” Rocks, a reporter from the East African News Agency, asked.

Rolls replied, “Because of the official provision of ingredients, it has reduced my choices somewhat, but the official provides a lot of ingredients, which gives me more choices. There is fresh beef here, and I plan to use this beef as a base, combined with carrots, onions, various spices and seasonings to make a beef soup.”

“Then who do you think is the biggest threat to you today?”

“Mr. Wahl,” Rolls replied without hesitation.

“As far as I know, Mr. Wahl is also very good at Italian cuisine. You both come from the Venice region. Why do you think he is your biggest threat?”

“It’s because he and I both come from Venice, so the similarity of our dishes may be the greatest, so I put him first,” Rolls said his reason.

“Yes, Mr. Wahl is one of the winners of the Mombasa competition, and his strength should also be very strong,” reporter Rocks agreed with Rolls’ statement.

Although Nairobi was East Africa’s famous “foodie” city, the strength of the contestants from Mombasa and Dar es Salaam must not be bad either.

On the one hand, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam were the two leading economic regions in East Africa, and there were basically no shortcomings in various fields. This was even more evident in the catering industry.

Mombasa and Dar es Salaam were the windows of East Africa’s foreign economy, and there were also the most foreigners, with many restaurants and hotels. The catering industry in the entire East Africa was a cut above other cities.

In these two cities, Chinese, French, Italian, Indian, Arabic… the world’s mainstream cuisines can be found.

So if you really want to choose the food city of East Africa, it must be selected from Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and Nairobi is actually famous for its foodies, so Nairobi is more suitable for being a judge.

On the other hand, the population of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam was not on the same level as Nairobi. Only Mbeya could be compared with Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

As for Nairobi’s textile industry, it also exists in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and these two cities also have other industries.

With a large population, the competition is relatively greater. In addition, the economic vitality of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam is stronger than that of Nairobi, so the catering industry in the two cities is stronger than that of Nairobi.

As for Mbeya, which is deep inland, it is much worse than the other three cities in terms of catering. On the contrary, East Africa’s future technology city, Soja, and the capital, the First Township, can be compared with it.

Soja has high income and strong consumption power. At the same time, the East African government, or rather Ernst, attaches importance to the treatment of professional talents, and the First Township, as the capital of East Africa, cannot be bad in this regard.

Chapter 613: Work Report

The first East African Food Festival was quite informal, and the dishes were also very ordinary, with almost no innovation. However, the East African government’s purpose was more to promote food safety awareness through this food festival.

This can be seen from the ingredients provided by the East African government, most of which are very common ingredients in East Africa.

At the same time, so-called “nutrition” experts were brought in to popularize science to the people of East Africa, just like Western capitalists “hyping up” desserts. In the mouths of East African “experts,” it became that sugar intake must be moderate, and excessive sugar intake may lead to… a long list of diseases.

This is in stark contrast to the blind pursuit of sugar by media and interest groups around the world in the 19th century. In fact, East Africa’s sugar crop cultivation industry is not particularly exaggerated compared to countries at the same latitude, but it is foreseeable that East Africa’s sugar production will reach a quite exaggerated level in the future.

Ernst simply doesn’t want East Africa to become a country like the United States, with excessive sugar intake, so he is setting a tone for them in advance.

Anyway, expanding planting will continue, because the demand for sugar is very strong worldwide, large-scale planting is also profitable, and industrial production will also consume a large part of it, such as the military industry.

If he couldn’t keep making things up, Ernst would even like to come up with an East African National Dietary Guidelines to guide the dietary habits of East African citizens.

However, the East African Food Festival is, after all, the first one, and the content and procedures are simple, but it has attracted widespread attention.

The people of East Africa have no choice but to pay attention, after all, their important way to understand East African news is through newspapers, government announcements, or hearsay.

In fact, Ernst doesn’t care much about this food festival, but Constantine and Prince Karl are very interested.

And Ernst is now listening to the government’s work report on the achievements and effects of East Africa’s water conservancy construction over the past fifteen years.

“From 1865 to last year, in fifteen years, we in East Africa have repaired a total of more than 23,000 kilometers of river channels, of which local projects account for more than 80%, high-standard projects account for about 20%, and more than 60% were completed within five years, greatly improving domestic river navigation, irrigation, and flood control conditions.”

“We have built and reinforced more than 5,780 kilometers of river embankments, with a construction volume of 300 million cubic meters of earthwork, excavated 763 kilometers of canals, built 1.8 million small-scale water conservancy projects, and built 27 large-scale water conservancy projects with benefits of more than 10,000 acres.”

“The effective and fully irrigated area of cultivated land nationwide has increased to 35 million hectares, mainly concentrated in the Great Lakes region, coastal plain production areas, inland plateau production areas, and parts of Matabeleland Province.”

Effective and full are the key points. If these two qualifiers are removed, the scale of developed cultivated land in East Africa will double. However, many of the remaining cultivated land may still be relying on the weather due to imperfect water conservancy facilities.

East Africa’s large-scale development, for the African continent that has been missing classes for thousands of years, still has a long way to go. The United States, also a major agricultural country, has spent hundreds of years to achieve today’s agricultural achievements, and it is impossible for East Africa to complete the road that other countries have taken hundreds or even thousands of years to complete in just over a decade.

“Last year, the national average yield per mu of grain in irrigated areas increased by about 31 catties compared to ten years ago, which is about 247 catties, and the construction of water conservancy facilities played an important role in this.”

The increase in grain production is certainly related to the construction of water conservancy projects in East Africa, but it is not the only factor, including the promotion of scientific planting techniques, the improvement of agricultural tool performance, and the result of East Africa overcoming various setbacks and setting things right.

After all, East Africa is a completely unfamiliar land for East Africans. The climate, soil, and precipitation of this land are completely different from those of Eurasia.

The simplest example is the time, size, and frequency of the rainy season in various parts of East Africa, which require exploration by the East African government, agricultural experts, meteorological experts, farmers, and other parties.

In the early days, East Africa often experienced reduced production and crop failures due to misjudging the time or scale of the rainy season, and it took East Africans more than ten years to clearly understand the patterns and changes.

Water conservancy construction is the stabilizer and catalyst of East Africa’s agricultural development, reducing the impact of the natural environment on agriculture and making important contributions to improving East Africa’s stable and increased grain production.

“In addition to food crops, cash crop planting areas have also benefited greatly. Last year, the newly added cash crop area was 1.3 million hectares, and the national cash crop planting area reached more than 23 million hectares. With the advancement of water conservancy facilities construction, more places can become fertile land in the future, especially in the northern and inland plateau production areas.”

“Moreover, with the improvement of water conservancy facilities, some land that could only be planted once or twice a year in the past can be planted once more, so the increase in grain planting area in East Africa in recent years has not been large, but it can keep up with the population growth rate.”

“And as of 1880, we still have greater room to adjust and build East Africa’s water conservancy infrastructure, especially in the past three years, the field of water conservancy construction in East Africa has been effectively developed, more than the previous ten years combined, and with the passage of time, it is optimistically estimated that we will definitely be able to complete the task of basic farmland and water conservancy construction projects in East Africa within ten years.”

Well, Ernst is quite satisfied with this speed. It is not easy for a young country like East Africa to achieve this effect.

As for the ten years mentioned by his subordinates, that is just to lay a general foundation. With the passage of time and the advancement of technology, all the goals that East Africa is currently seeking will definitely undergo tremendous changes.

Ernst: “The national water conservancy construction project has just gotten on the right track, but with the accumulation of the previous ten years, the conditions in East Africa are much better than before, which is why we can further transform the natural environment of East Africa.”

After all, world-class large-scale projects such as East Africa’s water conservancy construction require extremely large amounts of manpower, materials, and financial resources, and at the same time require sufficient preparation time.

In terms of manpower, one is that East Africa has achieved “registration of households” for black people, making up for the major gap in slave labor, and the other is the vigorous growth of East Africa’s immigrant population. If East Africa’s immigrant population is still at the million level, even if East Africa concentrates its national strength and only does this one thing, it will be extremely difficult.

After East Africa’s immigrant population exceeds the ten million level, East Africa can truly concentrate its efforts on major events, such as achieving the simultaneous development of East Africa in multiple fields while ensuring agricultural planting.

Agricultural development has provided a guarantee for East Africa to launch large-scale national projects. Otherwise, East Africa would not be able to solve the problem of labor rations alone. At the same time, agricultural development has solved a large part of East Africa’s funding gap.

At the same time, East Africa’s various projects have in turn supported the development and value of East African agriculture. These have all been completed in the past ten years.

And the accumulation of these ten years has enabled East Africa to complete the breakthrough from quantitative change to qualitative change. As mentioned in the report, the amount of water conservancy construction projects in East Africa in the past three years is more than the amount accumulated in the previous ten years.

Moreover, it is now growing at a considerable rate every year, rapidly filling the gap in East Africa in this field, making the popularization rate of East Africa’s water conservancy facilities reach the standards of normal countries, and even surpassing many countries in South America.

Chapter 614: Nikola Tesla

With the strong support of East Africa, Soja City has developed steadily in recent years. Rapid development is unlikely. The houses built by the East African government have not yet been fully allocated, and only three blocks have been filled, mostly with workers and service personnel maintaining the city’s operations.

However, this is normal. East Africa is not well-known in the international community. Scientific researchers from various countries either choose to work in their own countries or join the “Five Rogues”: England, Germany, France, Austria, and Russia. Alternatively, they go to entrepreneurial havens like the United States.

Therefore, as of 1881, Soja City had only attracted just over a thousand scientific researchers and experts. Anyone with a university degree from Europe could be recruited by East Africa.

There is still a big difference between East African students studying abroad and them. East African students studying abroad have government-allocated quotas, which can be considered a shortcut, and it is hard to say whether they will become successful.

However, according to East Africa’s current level of science and technology, the group of students studying abroad is very likely to become the backbone of East Africa in the future.

This can be judged from the students studying abroad in the Far East Empire. The number of students from the Far East Empire is much smaller than that of East Africa, even only a fraction of East Africa’s, but a large number of outstanding talents have also emerged. Of course, this is from Ernst’s perspective in his previous life.

Compared with Soja City’s lukewarm talent introduction plan, four universities have been established, adding popularity to Soja City.

Among them, the East African National Electric Power University is the most eye-catching. The East African National Electric Power University is the only university in East Africa that can be compared with other European universities in terms of strength.

This is mainly reflected in the teaching staff of the East African National Electric Power University. Backed by the Hechingen Electric Power Company, the East African National Electric Power University does not lack teachers.

Because the Hechingen Electric Power Company itself is one of the world’s giants in the field of electric power, and it has gathered a group of top electrical experts of this era.

Therefore, with the support of Hechingen Electric Power Company, the East African National Electric Power University can easily hire experts and scholars in the field of electric power in Europe to carry out teaching work.

Among them, the young scholar Nikola Tesla is one of them. Tesla is currently an unknown figure in Europe.

However, he has received extraordinary treatment in East Africa, but of course, he has also lost his freedom. His family has moved to Soja City. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be tied to East Africa in the future.

As for how Tesla was brought into East Africa’s fold, there is nothing particularly noteworthy to say.

Tesla is a Croatian from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the most powerful electric power company in the Austro-Hungarian Empire is the Hechingen Electric Power Company.

Unlike Germany, where Siemens and Hechingen Electric Power Company compete on an equal footing, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is dominated by Hechingen Electric Power Company.

Therefore, students and scholars in related fields in the Austro-Hungarian Empire inevitably have to deal with Hechingen Electric Power Company.

So the young Tesla naturally got in touch with Hechingen Electric Power Company. That was in 1875, when he entered the Graz University of Technology in Austria to study physics, mathematics, and mechanics, and achieved excellent results, and obtained a scholarship from the Austrian “Military Frontier Authority”.

Under the guidance of Professor Poeschl, who lectured on theoretical and experimental physics, Tesla was attracted to electricity, but in the second academic year, the “Military Frontier Authority” revoked the scholarship, and Tesla faced the crisis of dropping out. After all, Tesla’s family was not wealthy. Of course, this is only relative. If the tuition problem cannot be solved, he can only go to Prague University, which has lower tuition fees.

Of course, this is just the history of the previous life. This time and space has changed. As an excellent student under Professor Poeschl, after learning about his predicament.

Professor Poeschl recommended him to the Vienna branch of Hechingen Electric Power Company, and he obtained a scholarship.

However, the condition is naturally that he will be bought by East Africa in the future. This is a common measure used by East Africa to attract talents.

Therefore, Tesla, who had excellent grades, directly entered East Africa’s talent introduction list after graduation, and Ernst personally reviewed the talent introduction list every year.

Because there are indeed not many scientific researchers who develop in East Africa, it does not take Ernst too much effort, and Ernst saw Tesla’s name at a glance on the list. Naturally, this young graduate who had just started out became the focus of the East African government, directly entering the East African National Electric Power University as a professor, and was equipped with a laboratory and assistants, which was definitely flattered for Tesla.

And Ernst did not take any other actions except to give Tesla the green light. After all, the road has been paved now, and whether Tesla can achieve the achievements of his previous life completely depends on fate.

In addition to teaching in East Africa, Tesla is more focused on researching alternating current. During his studies at the Graz University of Technology, he had already begun to think about machines that could replace direct current motors.

So after arriving in East Africa, after applying for and “easily” obtaining the approval of the East African government, he began to realize his original idea.

“Good morning, Mr. Tesla, are you still researching your alternating current?”

“Yes, Professor Kyle. I think alternating current will be promoted on a large scale like direct current in the future. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, but having one more choice is also good for East Africa.”

“The current direction or current magnitude of direct current is constant, while the current of alternating current changes differently with time. The applications of both in society are very common. A typical application of direct current is batteries. With batteries, many electrical appliances can participate in operation.”

“Alternating current also has a benefit, which is that it can be boosted or reduced in voltage, which is beneficial for transmission, and the power generation efficiency is higher, and the equipment used for production is simpler and more convenient. Relatively speaking, direct current does not have obvious advantages in these aspects. Moreover, it is also very convenient to convert it to direct current. It is much more troublesome to convert direct current to alternating current.”

“Now factories use direct current to generate electricity, but direct current is easily dissipated in the process of transmitting electricity through wires, and the efficiency is also very poor. Direct current systems require a power station in every square mile, and because the loss during transmission is too large, the transmission distance is also very limited.

The alternating current system uses thinner wires, higher voltage, less transmission loss, longer transmission distance, lower facility investment, and cheaper electricity prices. Obviously, alternating current has more advantages. East Africa has a vast land area and has a need for long-distance power transmission, so my project has received strong support from the government, and they have also equipped me with the best laboratory and assistants.”

Professor Kyle, as a botanist, does not understand so much, but still raised a question: “That is to say, you have opened up a new path on the traditional basis, is that what you mean?”

“That’s not the case. At most, new branches grow on the trunk of a big tree. In essence, we are still continuing to move forward on the shoulders of our predecessors,” Tesla said modestly.

“But I still want to remind you that direct current has been used for nearly a hundred years after all, and I am afraid it will not be so easily replaced by your alternating current.”

Tesla said: “Since 1660, when the German scientist Otto von Guericke manufactured the first electrostatic generator, which was hailed as the”father of modern electricity,” humans officially began to study electricity. Until now, electricity has become an emerging industry that can promote social progress, and its importance is no less than the invention and improvement of the steam engine, so the research on electricity is endless.”

Chapter 615: Alternating Current

As Tesla spoke about the history of electricity development, his eyes seemed to shine. This was like reciting his own family history, as Tesla was an academic superstar.

Professor Kyle said, “Heh, let’s hope so. But now I have to hurry to class, so you go ahead and keep busy!”

He wasn’t there to listen to Tesla lecture on physics. Then, he rode the bicycle newly issued by the East African government towards the school.

Watching Professor Kyle ride away, Tesla chuckled. After getting to know each other during this time, Professor Kyle was a good neighbor, and the two could be considered friends despite the age difference.

“Mom, I’m leaving!”

“Okay, come back early.”

Tesla greeted his mother, who was busy tending the garden, and then slowly headed to school.

Tesla’s father had passed away last year, so his mother was the most important person in the family. His father was a priest in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and his mother was also the daughter of an Eastern Orthodox priest. Therefore, Tesla’s parents had hoped that Tesla would also become a priest.

However, Tesla still embarked on the path of a scientist. This may have been related to other inventor relatives in the family, but more importantly, Tesla’s parents wanted him to become a priest after graduation, but he himself wanted to be an engineer.

Just as Tesla was finishing high school, he contracted cholera and was bedridden for nine months without recovering. During his serious illness, Tesla begged his father to let him study engineering. His father agreed to send him to the Polytechnic Institute after he recovered. Tesla eventually recovered successfully.

That cholera outbreak was during the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873. At that time, it was severe in areas other than Vienna in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including many parts of Europe. Tesla was one of the unlucky ones.

East African National University of Electricity.

Tesla rode his bicycle into the school gate. Many students greeted him because Tesla was a relatively well-known figure in the school.

Mainly because he was too young, but he had already become a professor and was carrying important projects. However, no one questioned Tesla’s achievements, because within a year of arriving in East Africa, Tesla, who couldn’t stand being idle, had made a huge breakthrough in the research of alternating current motors. After communicating with the bigwigs of Blackhingen Electric Company, he gained affirmation and appreciation. Even the principal, Linde, recognized his research.

However, people were not very enthusiastic about whether East Africa would use alternating current to replace direct current in the future, mainly because the entire power system in East Africa was based on direct current.

To overthrow and rebuild it would be a considerable undertaking. Although East Africa was somewhat behind Europe, this was not the case in the field of electricity. Therefore, in the era of direct current, East Africa also had a certain say. In the eyes of many people, there was no need to promote the illusory alternating current.

After all, alternating current was still lying in Tesla’s laboratory, and it would take some time to be applied. Moreover, East Africa was currently using direct current nationwide, and it would take a lot of effort to modify it.

However, Ernst will definitely vigorously promote alternating current in East Africa. This is the experience of his previous life, especially the experience given to him by the Far East Empire.

It has already been said before that one of the characteristics of alternating current is that it is suitable for long-distance power transmission, and the other is that the requirements for components are low.

Both of these points are very important for East Africa. East Africa is vast, and any railway can easily reach thousands of kilometers, which is equivalent to the national amount of many countries in a year.

And this vast territory also means that East Africa has a need for long-distance power transmission. The current way people solve power supply is to build more power plants nearby, which is too costly.

As for the power transmission market, it is not very broad, but Ernst knows that this is only the case at present, just like the West-East Electricity Transmission project of the Far East Empire in his previous life.

East Africa will also have such a demand in the future. One is that the areas with the richest hydropower resources in East Africa are in the Congo Basin in the west and the intersection of the Katanga Plateau and other central plateaus.

Also, if East Africa develops nuclear power in the future, the preferred location will definitely be in southwestern Africa, which are all sparsely populated areas.

Not to mention these, just talking about thermal power, East Africa’s coal resources are mainly distributed in the south, so the future power distribution in East Africa must be uneven, and East Africa’s power transmission demand is very broad.

Of course, East Africa can also learn from Europe in its previous life and generate electricity through oil and natural gas, but this is mainly implemented in the eastern region, and oil resources generally need to be imported. East Africa’s oil reserves are not yet luxurious enough to be used for power generation.

Furthermore, in terms of component production, East Africa’s parts processing is inherently inferior to other countries in the world. Of course, this other mainly refers to several top powers, so reducing the standard for components is beneficial to the current East African industry.

Moreover, alternating current is a new track. The fact that alternating current was able to unify the world in its previous life proves its superiority. Anyway, before Ernst transmigrated, alternating current still suppressed direct current. It is only the nineteenth century now, so choosing the alternating current route does not require considering other issues for at least a hundred years.

Of course, East Africa’s voltage will also change accordingly, but from a cost perspective, the 220V power supply standard is definitely more advanced than 110V. This is an indisputable fact. If a 110V power supply line wants to supply the same amount of electricity as a 220V line, the wire must be thicker, and electrical appliances with the same wattage are also larger than 220V.

East Africa will definitely have to sacrifice some costs in the early stage of changing the standard, but it is not worth mentioning compared to the costs saved in the later stage.

Because the global electricity market is still very small, in fact, the United States in its previous life also considered switching to 220 volts, but at that time, 110 volts had basically become popular. Forcing a change would eliminate a large number of in-service electrical appliances and equipment, causing great waste, and the cost would be extremely high, so it really couldn’t be easily changed. East Africa does not have this concern now.

In the final analysis, what capital considers is the issue of profit. Alternating current can save a lot of costs in the current era environment, which is the most important thing for capital.

What’s more, compared to direct current, which is easily lost during transmission, alternating current offers a better user experience. As direct current is lost during transmission, the farther away from the power plant, the dimmer the light bulbs become. Alternating current is easy to boost, so the power supply is more stable.

As for the future promotion of alternating current, with the existence of Blackhingen Company, it will be easy to solve this problem. In its previous life, the successful commercial use of alternating current in Europe was due to the dominance of the German AEG company, which held a monopoly position in Europe at the time. Now, Blackhingen Electric Company can play the same role.

This is also of great benefit to European countries. After using alternating current, the amount of copper that can be saved each year is enough to recover the cost.

The wires are still mainly copper, and Europe’s copper is not as abundant as East Africa and the United States, so being able to save it is very important for Europe.

Moreover, the fact that alternating current has low requirements for component quality and technology has already determined its market advantage over direct current.

Chapter 616: Traces

Soutpan is a salt pan area within the Orange Free State. As the internal conflict in the Orange Free State escalated, both sides engaged in fierce fighting throughout the region.

However, the Orange people, like weeds, stubbornly resisted the joint offensive of the British and the Transvaal people.

Although the Orange people’s performance against the Transvaal Restoration Army was initially poor, with the arrival of weapons and equipment, improved logistical support, the integration of militias, and the accumulation of war experience, the Orange people had emerged from their predicament and could now fight the Transvaal people on equal footing.

“Report, Captain, we have discovered traces of the enemy’s grain transport team near Florisbad.”

“Is the source of the information reliable?”

“We learned about it from the villagers of Florisbad. A man named Valsharnu reported it.”

“Hmm, has his identity been confirmed?”

“Yes, this Valsharnu is indeed a villager from Florisbad. We have verified this with the local villagers and the village chief.”

“Bring him here. I have some questions to ask him.”

Soon, a shifty-eyed man was brought before Branca. His eyes darted around the Restoration Army’s garrison, his movements cautious. It was clear at a glance that he was plotting something.

Branca saw that he showed no fear, so he asked with a stern face, “You are Valsharnu?”

“Yes, sir!” Valsharnu replied respectfully.

“I see you’re quite bold, aren’t you? Most people would feel uneasy entering a military camp, but you seem quite interested in this place?” Branca questioned.

Valsharnu quickly waved his hand in denial. “Sir, don’t flatter me. I’m just curious about the military camp. After all, it’s my first time here. As for being bold, that might be true. I’ve never been afraid of anything since I was a kid.”

“Bang!” Branca slammed the pistol he was carrying on his waist onto the table. “Aren’t you afraid of this either?”

Valsharnu looked at it, swallowed, and said, “It wouldn’t be good if that thing went off!”

Branca noticed Valsharnu’s small detail and thought to himself, it seems this Valsharnu is really quite bold. Anyone else facing his pressure would probably be somewhat flustered, but Valsharnu adjusted his mindset in just a moment.

However, this also increased Branca’s vigilance towards Valsharnu, but he did not show it and continued to question him.

“How did you discover the traces of the white bandits? And why are you the only one in your village who discovered it and reported it to us?”

“Sir, I accidentally overheard the white bandits in the village plotting their route. It was around May. I got drunk and passed out outside. You know how cold the nights are in South Africa as winter approaches, so I was woken up by the cold. I shook my head and wanted to hurry home to sleep. As a result, I saw that the Ramos family’s oil lamp was still lit.” Valsharnu said with great emotion.

“And then you wanted to eavesdrop by the wall?”

“Of course not. Although I’m a loafer in the village, I don’t have the habit of eavesdropping.”

“Then why did you deliberately go to the Ramos family to inquire about information?”

“Sir, I’m wronged! I didn’t do it on purpose. It was almost dawn when I sobered up, and the whole village was pitch black at that time. Only the Ramos family’s light was on, and that’s not the key point. Several people in his family seemed to be arguing about something. Wasn’t I just curious about what conflicts they had, so I went closer to listen?”

Branca nodded. Gossip is human nature. This reason made sense.

“Then what did you hear?”

Valsharnu suddenly said with some excitement, “I really discovered an incredible secret, that is, the village chief’s third son, De Kiewiet, joined the white bandits. He and several people in the village are plotting some kind of action route.”

Branca noticed Valsharnu’s sudden emotion and asked, “Do you have a conflict with this De Kiewiet?”

“Hehe.” Valsharnu said somewhat embarrassedly, “It’s not a big conflict. It’s just that this person is too pretentious and has belittled me in front of others.”

“That’s it?”

“Sir, a scholar will die for his honor, and besides, I haven’t provoked him. So the problem must be with him. Even if I really commit murder and arson, it has nothing to do with him. Furthermore, although I’m not a good person, I’m not a bad person either, am I? My parents didn’t educate me before they died. Why should a second-generation rich kid relying on his village chief’s son’s identity comment on me…”

Uh, looking at Valsharnu’s indignant appearance, Branca really didn’t know what to say. Now he was sure that this Valsharnu simply disliked De Kiewiet and was retaliating wantonly.

“Okay, let’s not talk about these personal grievances. Continue talking about the white bandits.” Branca interrupted Valsharnu’s tirade.

“Wasn’t I paying attention to their abnormality? I secretly watched De Kiewiet for a few days, and as a result, I happened to discover the white bandits’ route.”

“Where is the location?”

“Soutpan, southwest of the village. It’s full of salt lakes, and there are usually no people there. But it is indeed a good place. If it weren’t for a stroke of luck, I really wouldn’t have discovered it.”

“Do people in your village usually not go to this Soutpan either?”

“Hey, not even a blade of grass grows there, so people in the village generally don’t go there. Even for grazing, they definitely choose places with good water and grass.”

Branca asked his subordinates, “Have you verified it?”

“Captain, we went there to take a look. Soutpan is a large salt lake, and there are many small salt lakes around it. Usually, no one passes through there, but we found many vehicle tracks there, so we can confirm that convoys often come and go from there. According to the density of the tracks, it should have been going on for two or three months.”

Branca turned to Valsharnu and asked, “Are you sure they will still pass through there?”

“Of course, sir. I’ve been watching for a month. They pass through there once a week. De Kiewiet often takes food and water there, presumably to provide them with convenience, but I didn’t investigate too closely, because I was afraid of getting into trouble.”

“Hmm, you mean they pass through Soutpan once a week?”

“Sir, I can be sure of this. They will definitely appear on Thursday or Friday afternoons. At that time, as long as you send someone to watch that guy De Kiewiet, he will definitely take people and things there.”

“Wilson, you are responsible for keeping an eye on that De Kiewiet this Thursday or Friday. Don’t let him notice anything unusual. We finally caught the Orange people’s transport convoy, so we must not let them go!” Branca instructed his subordinates.

“As for you, Valsharnu, has anyone discovered that you came to the military camp, especially people from your village?” Branca turned and asked.

“Sir, don’t worry about that. I usually don’t stay at home in the village. Sometimes I go to other villages to hang out and meet my drinking buddies, so it won’t be a big deal if I disappear for a while. They won’t remember me if they don’t see me.”

“That’s good. You stay here for the next few days. If the information is accurate, I will apply to the government to help you get a reward. You can have money or an official position, whichever you want.” Branca promised.

Hearing that he might become an official, Valsharnu’s eyes lit up and said, “It must be accurate. I wouldn’t dare to fabricate anything to deceive you, sir, even if I had ten heads!”

Chapter 617: Action

The official position that could be promised to Valshanu certainly wouldn’t be high, and it might not even be an official position at all, just a title to manage people.

Now, the Transvaal people and the Orange people were at odds, but in reality, the Transvaal people were even more short-handed than the Orange people, because the Orange people were scattered throughout the countryside. This meant that it would be very difficult for the Transvaal people to completely wipe out the Orange people’s armed forces. After all, if the Orange people’s armed forces burrowed into some remote corner, they would be really hard to find.

Therefore, the Transvaal people also needed to find Orange traitors to act as their lackeys, especially scoundrels or local bullies like Valshanu, because these people were generally in gangs and didn’t care about their reputation.

The Transvaal people’s current goal was to control villages and compress the living space of the Orange people’s armed forces. As long as they cut off the connection between the two, things would be much easier.

As for wanting to solve the problem once and for all, that was definitely impossible, because in addition to the support of the grassroots people, the Orange people also had East Africa as external aid.

Therefore, as long as East Africa’s military aid continued, the Orange people could continue to resist. In fact, East Africa’s existence was even more important, because the Orange people themselves had no way to produce weapons.

As if seeing through Valshanu’s thoughts, Branca said, “Don’t have too many ideas. If you choose to be a village official, it’s very likely that it will only be in the Florisbad area, or you’ll go to other places to do tax work. If I were you, I would most likely choose to take the money and be done with it. Although it might not be much, earning a bit is earning a bit, and the risk is smaller.”

Branca’s reminder was definitely well-intentioned, because he knew that people like Valshanu were not too bad in essence, and there was a fundamental difference between them and local bullies.

Valshanu didn’t think so. Instead, he continued to ask, “If this matter is successful, then is it highly likely that Florisbad will be under my control?”

Seeing that he was not giving up, Branca stopped trying to persuade him and said, “In theory, that should be the case. After all, the son of your original village chief is suspected of colluding with the enemy, so you will most likely replace his position.”

Valshanu said happily, “Then what’s there to choose? I’ll be satisfied as long as I can be powerful in the village.”

“Heh, aren’t you afraid that the White Commandoes will cause you trouble? You must know that Florisbad is now considered the front line and is not very safe.” Branca asked rhetorically.

“Hey, what’s that? Could they be more powerful than you? I know that you officers are backed by the British, so the White Commandoes have no chance of winning at all.” Valshanu was even more confident than Branca.

Although he was a Transvaal officer, it was precisely because of this that Branca knew how difficult the Orange people’s armed forces were to deal with.

As for the British, they did help the Transvaal Restoration Army a lot, but it didn’t have much effect. The main force was still the Transvaal people themselves, unless the British sent more troops to the Orange Free State to control the situation.

However, it was clear that the British had no intention of doing so now. After all, the Transvaal people were using this gun with ease, so there was no need for their own people to come and be cannon fodder, unless the situation really got out of control.

And now, with the British funding, the Transvaal Restoration Army was clearly at an advantage, so the British were sitting tight, fishing from a platform, and the disturbing factor of East Africa could be completely ignored.

East Africa could only engage in some small tricks in secret. As for openly interfering in the affairs of the Orange Free State, that would be no different from declaring war on Britain, and obviously East Africa didn’t have the guts to do that. So, after confirming that East Africa would not enter the fray, there was no need for Britain to personally enter the fray.

Two days later.

“Company Commander, De Kiewiet is acting suspiciously. Our people have quietly followed him. What do we do now?”

“A golden opportunity is hard to come by, we must not lose it. Immediately gather the troops. We should be more than capable of dealing with a transport convoy.” Branca said.

At this time, Valshanu took the opportunity to say, “Company Commander Branca, let me lead the way for you! After all, I’m very familiar with that place.”

Staying in the Transvaal army camp for these two days had really suffocated Valshanu. The main thing was that he couldn’t drink enough alcohol.

As a dumping ground for East African industrial products, the price of alcohol in the entire Cape Colony was also quite cheap, especially in border areas like Florisbad, which were not far from East Africa.

Every little bit helps, and the per capita consumption power of the Orange Free State people was more than one level higher than that of the natives, so East Africa was very willing to do this kind of low-profit, high-volume business, which made the price of imported goods in the Orange Free State relatively cheap.

In fact, the Transvaal Restoration Army had a relatively sufficient supply of alcohol, mainly whiskey, but the cost of transporting it from the British mainland or the rear was too high. In addition, the army had strict management requirements for alcohol, especially for field companies like the one led by Branca, which moved frequently, so the supply could not be effectively connected.

Of course, there were other reasons, which involved corruption, which was not a problem that small figures like Branca could touch.

Not to mention Branca, even the president of the Transvaal Republic’s provisional government, Little Pretorius, probably had to turn a blind eye to this problem.

The British logistics department might be a little more lenient to their own people, but were the Transvaal people their own people? Of course not, so taking a little more seemed justified. Moreover, in addition to the British pulling strings, there were also many dishonest people within the Transvaal government itself.

This feeling of wanting to drink but not being able to enjoy it to the fullest was what Valshanu couldn’t stand the most, so he had long wanted to leave the Transvaal army camp. It was just that Branca was worried that he would leak secrets, so he had been keeping him locked up, making him scratch his head in anxiety.

This time, Branca did not refuse Valshanu. In order not to alert the enemy, his own people did not dare to go to the vicinity of Zoutpansdrift in a high-profile manner to scout, mainly because they were afraid that De Kiewiet and others would discover them. Therefore, letting Valshanu lead the way would be more conducive to his side taking fewer detours.

“Very good. After the troops are ready, you will take the lead and walk in front. If we can catch them this time, it will be a great achievement.” Branca said to Valshanu.

“Yes, sir!” Valshanu imitated Branca and said to him.

Soon, Branca’s company, led by Valshanu, headed towards the Zoutpansdrift salt pan.

It must be said that De Kiewiet had no vigilance. It was estimated that he didn’t expect the people in the village to eavesdrop in the middle of the night, leading to the leak of secrets.

After all, Florisbad village was a small place with very shallow knowledge, and De Kiewiet was not a professional intelligence officer, so with careful planning against carelessness, it was easy for the Transvaal people to catch him.

Even if this young man had a little vigilance, the Transvaal Restoration Army’s tracking would not have been successful this time, or it would have been possible to discover Valshanu, this petty person, a month earlier.

Of course, this was also related to De Kiewiet’s background. In Florisbad village, he was the village chief’s son, and he usually had his father, such a powerful figure, to support him, so his personality was naturally more carefree.

If it were someone from the East African National Defense Security Bureau, the conspiracy would not have been discovered by a scoundrel like Valshanu at all. After all, no East African National Defense Security Bureau agent would do such an unreliable thing as conspiring loudly with an oil lamp lit in the middle of the night unless their brains were rusted.

Chapter 618: Conscience

“Report, Captain! We’ve located the target in the northeast corner of the Zoutpans Salt Pan!”

“How many are there approximately? Did you alert them?”

“Around fifty people, with a total of five large carts. Also present are five villagers from Florisbad, led by De Klerk, the village chief’s youngest son. They’re not very vigilant, so our scouts shouldn’t have been detected. They’re still keeping an eye on them.”

“Excellent. Wilson, take your platoon and circle around the left edge of the Zoutpans Salt Pan to cut off their retreat. Rawls, you take the second platoon and set up an ambush from the direction they came from. I want you to reach your positions within twenty minutes. After twenty minutes, start closing in on their location.” Blanca began to assign the combat tasks.

“Yes, Captain!” Wilson and Rawls replied.

Then, the two men led their respective forces towards the two directions. As for the southwest, it was the Zoutpans Salt Pan. Unless the enemy was truly desperate and tried to escape there, it would be difficult to survive in such a harsh environment, so there was no need to send extra troops to defend it.

“Van Schalkwyk!” Blanca then called out.

Van Schalkwyk responded, “Here, sir! What are your orders?”

“Lead the way now. There might be a battle soon. Are you afraid? You can stay here if you want. No need to force yourself.”

“Uh, Captain, I think I’ll stay here! After all, I’m somewhat familiar with De Klerk and a few of the villagers. It’ll avoid any awkwardness later.” Van Schalkwyk still felt a little guilty. Besides, a possible battle meant danger. There was no need for him to push himself forward. It wouldn’t be good if he got caught in the crossfire.

“That’s fine then. Christine, you stay here and take care of Van Schalkwyk. Ensure his safety. If there’s an emergency, take him to Bloemfontein and report the situation here!” Blanca still planned to have someone watch over Van Schalkwyk.

“Don’t worry, Captain, I’ll definitely protect Mr. Van Schalkwyk’s safety.”

“Alright, then you two wait for us here.”

Afterwards, Blanca led the remaining men towards the Orange Free State transport convoy.

At this time, De Klerk was chatting idly with the Orange Free State resistance fighters, unaware that danger was approaching.

“Roux, what are you transporting this time?”

“The same as usual, mainly food supplies. But this time, we also have this!” Roux held out his hand and made a finger-gun gesture. Roux was relatively trusting of De Klerk. They were all on the same side, and De Klerk had been providing assistance near Florisbad for the past few months.

De Klerk understood and said, “With these supplies, the front lines will definitely be able to give the Transvaalers a serious lesson.”

“That’s right. This batch is from Austria-Hungary. I heard it was directly taken from their armories, brand new stuff, not like the old relics we have.”

“Aren’t they giving you guys a few too?”

“Sigh, even the front-line troops haven’t fully received them yet. Don’t even mention us logistics personnel. But we’ll definitely be equipped with them later. It’s just a matter of time.”

The Orange Free State resistance army was basically a makeshift organization, so its organization and communication were far inferior to the Transvaal Republican Army. The Transvaal Republican Army had the British Army as its guide, and was even a replica of the British Army model, so it learned from the British Army in all aspects. The Orange Free State resistance army could only be considered an alliance of guerrillas and local militias.

The East African military advisory group only provided reference opinions to these guerrillas or local militias. As for helping the Orange people organize any battles or tactics, forget about it, because the Orange people simply didn’t have a unified organization, but rather various factions huddling together for warmth.

Correspondingly, the East African military advisory group would not care about transportation matters like this. They just reminded the Orange people to be careful.

However, it was clear that not everyone took the good advice to heart, or rather, they simply didn’t have that awareness.

Roux, the leader of this supply convoy, was one such person. After all, this route had been used for several months without incident, so everyone became more complacent.

Of course, as a paramilitary personnel, Roux was relatively cautious, but this caution was only when passing through areas controlled by the Transvaalers.

The Zoutpans was indeed a special place, because the environment near the Zoutpans Salt Pan was relatively harsh, so neither the Transvaalers nor the Orange people paid much attention to this place. Even the nearest village, Florisbad, rarely had anyone come here.

This further weakened Roux’s vigilance. In addition, De Klerk from Florisbad was watching over things, so they could receive advance warning of any disturbances.

However, Roux was a little too trusting of De Klerk. Roux was a paramilitary personnel of the Orange Free State resistance army, which meant he was officially enlisted. De Klerk could only be considered a friendly person who harbored goodwill towards the Orange Free State resistance army.

He had not received any formal training and was immature, so he didn’t even notice that Van Schalkwyk had appeared in the village, and he didn’t realize that he had been followed these past few days.

Just as the two were talking, Blanca also led her troops closer. A large group of people suddenly appeared, and Roux realized that something was wrong.

“Not good, Captain! It’s the Transvaalers!”

“De Klerk, what’s going on?” Roux questioned.

De Klerk also looked quite innocent and said, “I don’t know! But, shouldn’t we find a chance to retreat now?”

Roux didn’t have time to think too much and began to direct the convoy to retreat.

In order not to alert the enemy, Blanca’s men came on foot, so there was still room for maneuvering.

When Blanca saw the Boers trying to escape, she naturally wouldn’t let the credit slip through her fingers.

“Pursue!”

The two sides began exchanging fire back and forth, but soon, Roux’s plan fell through.

Because the two platoons that Blanca had sent out earlier had also arrived. After all, they had circled around the back, so it took them a little longer to get there.

Once Blanca’s men were all together, it was not something that Roux and his few dozen men could handle. Being attacked from both sides, they had no choice but to surrender.

As the victor, Blanca walked to the front of the convoy and commanded, “Open the tarpaulins!”

Then, five large carts revealed sacks of burlap bags. Blanca took a dagger and stabbed a bag, then pulled out the dagger, which had yellowish-white flour on the blade.

“Is this all there is?”

Faced with Blanca’s question, Roux ignored her and only asked resentfully, “How did you find us?”

“Hehe, don’t worry, it definitely wasn’t this guy. It was a thug from their village who accidentally discovered you.” As the victor, Blanca didn’t need to make things difficult for her opponent.

The suspected De Klerk was equally unwilling. He gritted his teeth and said, “Who in the village betrayed me? Can this officer let me die knowing why?”

Blanca shook her head and said, “What you should be concerned about now isn’t this question, but the consequences of what you’ve done. You should know that the village chief of Florisbad is your father, and you have two older brothers above you.”

De Klerk: “What I’ve done has nothing to do with my family. It was all my own free will.”

“Why?”

“Because we are free and proud Orange people!” De Klerk said righteously.

“Hehe, I hope you’ll be just as tough in the future. But I really won’t make things difficult for you. After all, you’re just an ordinary person.”

“Officer, may I ask how to address you?”

“Blanca.”

“Mr. Blanca, you are a Transvaaler with a conscience.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but we do have things we’ve done wrong, but we also have our own difficulties that force us to do so. After all, you can’t understand the feeling of losing your home and family.”

Chapter 619: Spoils

“Lieutenant, there’s something under this vehicle!” A soldier, who was counting the goods on the side, reported to Blanckart.

“What is it?”

“Packed in wooden crates, looks like the kind used specifically for military supplies.”

Blanckart walked over to take a look. He said to Romon, “Now that you’ve been captured, don’t try to be clever. Explain everything you know clearly. I won’t allow this to happen a second time.”

Seeing this, Romon had no choice but to say, “There are indeed some military supplies here. They were all transported from Bultfontein towards Bothaville. But don’t think too much of it. Our line is just a small branch, so there aren’t many important supplies.”

Blanckart didn’t have the patience to listen to Romon’s explanation. He had his subordinates pry open the wooden crate, and then took out a Vornwandel rifle from it.

“This rifle looks brand new, never been used, and it’s been maintained quite well. You can even get your hands on this kind of goods!”

“With money, everything is possible. Similarly, we can also spend money to get British rifles, and from the mine owners in Kimberley.” Speaking of this, Romon revealed a smug smile.

“Hmph, let’s not talk about the British for now. This batch of weapons must have been provided by East Africa. After all, you came from Bultfontein, which is our controlled area. Did you just waltz right through?”

“Hehe, ‘waltz right through’ is an exaggeration, but the officers in Bultfontein are easier to deal with than you. Like I said before, there’s nothing that money can’t solve. To be honest, it’s really rare to see someone like you in the Transvaal Republican Army.” Romon said sarcastically. Of course, his target of sarcasm was the Transvaal Republican Army, not Blanckart personally.

“I’ll take that as a compliment!” Blanckart said unhappily.

Being interrupted by Romon like this, he also felt like he had boarded a pirate ship. Although he knew before that the Transvaal Republican Army’s discipline was far from ideal, psychologically speaking, most armies of this era were like that.

But seeing “one of their own” betraying national interests and providing convenience to the enemy like this still opened Blanckart’s eyes. If this was the case, Blanckart was not optimistic about the prospects of this war.

Because the Transvaal Republican Army couldn’t possibly really block the connection between the Orange Free State and East Africa. Even if all the men, women, old, and young of the Transvaal went into battle, they couldn’t do it. What’s more, there were already scoundrels among the Transvaalers, including the British, their biggest financial backer, who were very unreliable.

The Orange Free State bordered East Africa on three sides. In the north and west, the Transvaalers might be able to intervene a little. The west, especially the northwest, was completely controlled by the Orange Free State. If East Africa wholeheartedly supported the Orange Free State, then the Transvaal might not be able to organize anything.

And in Kimberley, a major town in the southwest, the British had more power than the Transvaalers, but those mine owners and merchants clearly chose profit.

Seeing Blanckart’s gloomy expression, Romon laughed and said, “Regretting it now! That’s why I said you might as well have pretended you didn’t see us. The final result of this war will definitely be our victory.”

“Hmph, I admit there are quite a few scoundrels in the Transvaal Republican Army, but I’m afraid the people of the Orange Free State are not much better. This can be seen from the advance of the battle lines, so everyone is about the same.” Blanckart retorted.

Although he also felt ashamed of the performance of the Transvaal Republican Army and the British, he was now a member of it, so he still had to defend it.

Moreover, what Blanckart said was true. The performance of the Transvaal Republican Army and the Orange Free State Commandos was really about the same. It was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Corruption was serious within the Transvaal Republican Army. The Orange Free State Commandos might be better in this regard, but their leaderless state was, in Blanckart’s view, even more dangerous than the Transvaal Republican Army, and they could easily be defeated one by one.

After that, Blanckart was too lazy to argue with Romon. He ordered, “Collect all the bodies and bury them. Reload the grain and military supplies onto the vehicles. We’re going back.”

On the way, Blanckart and his party encountered Walharnu and Dikewen, who were still at the original location. Dikewen knew immediately who had leaked the news.

“Walharnu, you bastard, I have no grievances with you! Why did you want to harm me?”

“Dikewen, it’s meaningless to say that. How is it that I wanted to harm you? It was clearly you who wanted to collude with the white bandits, and isn’t that the truth? You still have the nerve to question me!”

“Hmph, I never thought there would be such a petty person in the village. I admit defeat this time.”

“Don’t say things so harshly. Our relationship wasn’t good to begin with. An arrogant person like you looks down on me. So don’t think that everyone will indulge you like your father and your two brothers. You had to get involved in military affairs for no reason. Now you’re suffering the consequences!”

“You…” Dikewen didn’t expect Walharnu to say this. It was even more painful than killing him.

“What ‘you’? Now see how you clean up this mess. You’ll definitely be charged with colluding with bandits. See how you face your father. And if your family is implicated, the villagers will laugh at you!”

“Hmph, do you think everyone in the village is like you, a hoodlum? Everyone is usually very good.”

“Hehe, isn’t that because your father is the village chief? If I had a village chief father before, then the villagers would definitely only say good things to me!”

“Would you believe that? With your personality and style of doing things.”

“Whether I believe it or not doesn’t matter. Anyway, I can handle being talked about behind my back. But you, I don’t know if you can even survive this time. Otherwise, you would definitely see another side of the villagers.”

The two argued back and forth.

Blanckart had to step in and stop them. “Stop arguing, both of you. You can argue enough when we get back later. Also, this is a very serious matter. Dikewen, don’t be young and impulsive. Cooperate with our work properly, and maybe you can get a reduced sentence.”

“Thank you, but I’m just a small pawn. I really don’t have access to too many military secrets. If you want to get any useful information from me, I’m afraid it will be extremely difficult.” Dikewen could only answer truthfully to Blanckart’s well-intentioned advice.

“You’re not even a small pawn. Someone like me is.” Romon quipped from the side.

In the following days, Blanckart sent people to send the news back to Bloemfontein. Then, Bloemfontein sent people to Florisbad Village to verify the situation.

Blanckart and his company were credited with a major achievement. Walharnu was appointed as the new village chief of Florisbad Village by the Transvaalers as he wished. As for Dikewen’s father, after a massive hemorrhage, he still managed to save his son’s life. Romon was taken back by the people from Bloemfontein.

Bloemfontein planned to thoroughly investigate Romon’s line this time, to find out to what extent the Orange Free State Commandos and East Africa were involved in the arms trade, so as to carry out the next strategic deployment.

Although Romon was just a small pawn, he had been doing it for a full five months, so a large amount of supplies had passed through his hands, and he had traveled through a wide area and interacted with many people. Therefore, the Transvaalers could still obtain a lot of high-quality intelligence, which could provide a reference for the Transvaal’s small court in Bloemfontein.

Chapter 620: Proceeding Step by Step

“Humph, these East Africans are truly detestable! Look at this gun; the oil on it is brand new, and the rifling isn’t worn at all. It’s clearly a brand-new piece, and they’re willing to give it to those hick ‘white bandits.’”

Little Pretorius cursed angrily after seeing the gun samples brought by Branca. The rest were intercepted by Branca for expanding his troops.

“Mr. President, the East African border troops use Mauser rifles, while this is clearly a Voenrdel rifle used by the Austro-Hungarian forces. However, given the relationship between East Africa and Austria-Hungary, it’s incredibly easy for East Africa to obtain these rifles. It’s just that they clearly have concerns about directly intervening in our conflict with the Orange, so they’re not openly providing the Orange with their own country’s weapons,” Little Pretorius’s aide analyzed.

“This is obviously a good thing for us. It shows that the East Africans still have a sense of fear towards the British. Otherwise, the weapons on the battlefield would probably be standard East African models by now. Although East African weapons are of slightly lower quality than those made in the German region, the corresponding logistics, costs, and spare parts are much easier to obtain than importing from Europe.”

“Furthermore, East Africa’s choice to use Austro-Hungarian weapons to support the Orange adds another layer of procedure. It has to pass through East Africa, cross the ocean, then be transshipped at the port to land, and finally sent inland by rail. This consumes a lot of time, so there will inevitably be problems with supply. As long as we fight fast enough and well enough, the Orange’s logistics system will definitely have problems.”

Little Pretorius wasn’t happy at all. What did “fight fast enough and well enough” mean? The overall performance of the Transvaal Republican Army certainly didn’t meet that standard.

He interrupted, “What’s the overall situation on the front lines now? What’s the radius of effect of our army’s controlled areas?”

“Brandfort to the north of Bloemfontein, Berlin to the northeast, Thaba Nchu to the east, the banks of the Caledon River to the south, as well as Zoutpan to the northwest, and Bosrand to the west have all been taken by us, effectively guaranteeing our control over Bloemfontein and its strategic security. The major dangers near Bloemfontein no longer exist,” Republican Army Commander Mielieka reported to Little Pretorius.

This result greatly satisfied the Transvaal dignitaries present. It meant that a safe zone of over three hundred kilometers around Bloemfontein had been established. Leaving aside the military significance, the guarantee of their own personal safety was enough to make people happy.

“In addition to our success in Bloemfontein, we have also newly occupied Bothaville, Piet Retief, Reitzburg and other cities and military fortresses, further compressing the Orange’s living space, and greatly expanding the Transvaal people’s homeland…”

“Ahem, General Mielieka, don’t say things that are not conducive to unity,” Little Pretorius interrupted.

Although the Transvaal people were really doing this, tearing off the fig leaf would make him lose face. Just like the official definition of the Orange Free State Resistance Army by the Transvaal Republican Army was “white bandits,” they absolutely couldn’t clearly distinguish between the Orange and Transvaal people, which was very detrimental to attracting those Orange forces who were watching or taking a neutral stance.

Moreover, for Little Pretorius personally, he had no prejudice against the Orange people, and even hoped that the two families would be like close brothers, because his father was Old Pretorius, the Boers’ recognized hero, and his father participated in the establishment of both Transvaal and Orange, and even played a leading role.

Unfortunately, Little Pretorius was now in this position, and he was somewhat unable to control himself. Above him was the British overlord, and below him were a group of old ministers and officials from Transvaal. Both sides were pushing him to lead the Transvaal people to separate from the Orange people. All Little Pretorius could do was delay this trend as much as possible.

For example, Mielieka wasn’t interested in uniting the Orange people, but rather in military victories, which would greatly help his personal prestige and expand his power in the army.

“Under the guidance of British advisor Charles, we have adopted a strategy of proceeding step by step. Through these three months of offensives, we have gained a large area of base areas. The ‘white bandits’ can no longer pose a serious threat to us, and the balance of war is naturally tilting towards our side.”

After receiving the president’s instructions, Mielieka still changed the Orange Free State Resistance Army to the term “white bandits,” although the two were essentially the same thing.

“Well, you’ve done a good job. Now we just need to gradually compress the ‘white bandits’’ living space. The most important thing is to cut off their connection with the East Africans, and then this war can be considered truly over,” Little Pretorius said.

However, his words made Mielieka silent. If it was easy to gradually expand Transvaal’s occupied territory, then cutting off the connection between East Africa and the Orange people was a tall order.

So Mielieka still chose to bring up this difficult problem and be honest with the government officials: “It’s too difficult to cut off the connection between East Africa and the ‘white bandits.’ It’s not that I’m exaggerating the enemy’s strength, but who has a way to solve the fact that the Orange Free State is surrounded by East Africa on three sides?”

East Africa was like a mountain, pressing down on everyone present. If it weren’t for the British Cape Colony behind them, perhaps everyone would have found a way to migrate south long ago, just like the Boers moved north in the face of the British threat.

Now the Transvaal people had no choice. They couldn’t reconcile with East Africa, and neither could East Africa, so they could only choose to serve Britain.

And this choice was indeed the best option for the Transvaal people. At least now everyone had returned to the center of political power, although it was obtained by watching a cuckoo occupy the magpie’s nest.

So when it came to interests, there were no so-called Boers, only Transvaal people and Orange people. As for the great cause of national restoration.

Perhaps some people still didn’t forget their original intentions, but more old foxes knew that the goal was basically impossible to achieve unless East Africa suddenly disintegrated, and the probability of that was very small. Even if East Africa disintegrated, the local forces left behind by East Africa would fill the vacuum, and there would still be no opportunity for the Transvaal people.

Of course, it wasn’t completely without a chance, and that was if the British took action, but most people were no longer optimistic about the British and East African dispute in South Africa.

Britain’s global power and structure could easily suppress East Africa, but in Africa, this one-third of an acre of land, the British encountered the same predicament as they did in North America when facing the Americans.

All of Britain’s African colonies couldn’t shake the foundation of East Africa. Of course, if they could support forces like Egypt or the Abyssinian Empire, that would be possible. These two forces had enough population and were adjacent to East Africa.

But obviously, Britain couldn’t do that. Now Britain controlled the Suez Canal and the Red Sea coast. How could they create trouble for themselves?

And although the existence of East Africa disrupted Britain’s strategic deployment plan in Africa, it didn’t threaten Britain’s core interests. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Cape Town were still in British hands. As for colonizing Africa, it wasn’t that important to Britain.

Now Britain was the world’s leading colonial power, controlling the vast majority of the best colonies. Of course, the more colonies, the better. If they couldn’t get them, there wasn’t much regret.

The main reason why Britain was hostile to East Africa now was simply because East Africa’s territory was too large, and the land area also represented potential, but no one would think that East Africa’s potential could compare to the United States. East Africa was more like an enlarged version of Brazil.

Chapter 621: The Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan

Regarding the Orange Free State, East Africa held the strategic initiative, so there was no need to rush. Moreover, now that East Africa’s base was larger, there were more national affairs to attend to, so there was no need to pay too much attention to the Orange Free State.

As for the strategic position of the Orange Free State, East Africa controlled the Vaal River and the Lesotho Highlands, so the advantage was obvious. Ernst also did not pay much attention to the Orange Free State, maintaining aid to the Orange people and letting them continue their internal strife with the Transvaal people.

…

First Town City.

“Your Royal Highness, this is the ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’ proposed by the governments of Northern Province and Jubaland Province. Last year, the export of fruits and vegetables from Northern Province and Jubaland Province to Europe increased by five point eight percent year-on-year, so the two provinces want to vigorously develop plantation industries on this basis as the key pillar industries of the two provinces.”

“Well, although the climate and environment in the Somali region are a bit poor, every cloud has a silver lining, which has instead led to the development of Somali’s unique agriculture.”

Ernst naturally knew the advantages and disadvantages of the Somali region. If it were in his previous life, there would probably be few regions in the world more chaotic than Somalia.

Somalia under East African rule was completely different. In fact, for a long time in ancient times, the Somali region was a relatively prosperous region in Africa.

The population capacity here was reasonable, neither too much nor too little, and commerce and handicrafts were particularly prosperous. At the same time, it was one of the regional centers of sea and land commerce.

“Your Highness, should this plan be approved?”

“Let me take a look first!” Ernst did not express his position immediately, but picked up the document and read it: Vigorously develop the plantation economy, transform the two river waterways, develop the shipping industry, upgrade ports, river-sea combined transportation, and expand Eurasian market business.

“Interesting!” Ernst said, looking at the proposals of the two provincial governments, “It seems that the governments of Northern Province and Jubaland Province have done a lot of homework. Do you think we should agree to this project?”

“Of course, Your Highness, I think this plan is very feasible. In recent years, the foreign export trade of the two provinces has been very prosperous, second only to the Eastern Province and the Central Province among the coastal provinces, bringing huge economic benefits to the kingdom, so personally, I support this plan.”

Ernst affirmed, “That’s right, East Africa has many large projects these years, but not many of them are profitable. The investment is large, the cycle is long, and it is difficult to see results in the short term. The plan of Northern Province and Jubaland Province is completely the opposite.

First, let’s talk about the amount of work. Although it seems large, it is actually just a systematic optimization on the original basis. For example, the two points on transportation, one is inland river transportation, and the other is sea transportation.

Northern Province and Jubaland Province have two natural large rivers, the Shebelle River and the Jubba River, respectively, and the ports are also ready-made, just expanding on the original basis.

Although the lower reaches of the Shebelle River and the Jubba River flow through arid areas, the water from the Ethiopian Plateau in the upper reaches is abundant, and the lower reaches are mainly plains, and the river channel is very stable, which is suitable for the development of inland river transportation.

Moreover, the fruit industry is the advantageous industry of the two provinces. In terms of transportation, it is the closest tropical agricultural production area to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, so the success rate of this river-sea combined transportation is very high.”

The Somali region is the closest place in East Africa to the main shipping route on the north coast of the Indian Ocean. With this advantage, the economy of the Somali region has continued to grow in recent years.

That is, the Somali coast is mainly a tropical desert climate, otherwise this would definitely be one of the most outstanding regions in East Africa.

Of course, the most important product competitiveness is that tropical fruits and vegetables are a regional industry. Many tropical products in Europe can only be imported from other regions.

For tropical specialties such as tropical fruits and vegetables that are not easy to preserve and easily deteriorate, the Somali region is the best choice for European people to consume them. This irreplaceability has also made East African tropical agricultural products dominate Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and it is unshakable.

Unless East Africa courts death itself, this industry can continue to bring benefits to East Africa, and East Africa is not Somalia in its previous life, so there is no need to worry about this.

…

Mogadishu Port.

Mogadishu, under East African rule, is the most important port and economic city in Northern Province, and was set as the new provincial capital of Northern Province in the last administrative division adjustment.

In recent years, the plantation economy of Mogadishu has ushered in great development, and new plantations have been continuously opened up along the Shebelle River.

At the same time, it has driven the shipping development of the Shebelle River, especially various small boats, competing with thousands of sails on the Shebelle River, especially in the Mogadishu section. Various goods, mainly fruits, are piled up in the port, and then transferred to seaports for transportation to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

In fact, the Arabian Peninsula is not far from Somalia, but the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula is a subtropical desert climate, and only the southern part is a tropical desert climate, which is the same as the Somali region.

However, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula does not have large rivers such as the Shebelle River and the Jubba River, so the agricultural development conditions are far inferior to those of the East African Somali region, and there will be no great development of the Somali tropical agricultural industry.

East Africa has only carried out one renovation and upgrade of Mogadishu Port, so in recent years, with the construction of other coastal ports in East Africa, Mogadishu Port has obviously lagged behind other ports.

This is not the key. With the opening up of inland plantations, the export of goods from the Somali region has increased significantly, which has resulted in insufficient carrying capacity of the original Mogadishu Port.

Therefore, the Northern Provincial Government put the transformation of Mogadishu Port as an important goal in the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan”.

Mogadishu Port relies on the Shebelle River, and its economic hinterland is narrow and distributed in a strip shape. The development of oasis plantation industry is prominent. This economic zone basically accounts for about ninety-six percent of the economic share of Northern Province. Mogadishu alone accounts for thirty-five percent of the economic share in Northern Province.

“The central government has agreed to our and Jubaland Province’s ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’, so Mogadishu City, as the center of this plan, will be used as a key demonstration area, and the expansion project of Mogadishu Port can also be put on the agenda.”

“Official, the focus of the expansion of Mogadishu Port is still on the labor force issue. Earlier, our Northern Province has sent away the last batch of black laborers and became the first black-free province in East Africa, but correspondingly, the labor shortage has also increased. Most of the people in the province also have their own jobs, especially agriculture, which is a high-intensity job such as plantation, so the province may not be able to provide too much labor for the upgrading and transformation of Mogadishu Port.”

“Don’t worry about this. Since we have the support of the central government, we can apply to the above for a construction team. I heard that the construction of Mombasa Port and Dar es Salaam Port a few years ago was completed by professional construction teams.”

“If we upgrade and transform the original port, will it delay the berthing of ships and export trade?”

“That’s also a problem, so we must speed up the progress of the project, or construct in sections, so as to ensure the normal operation of the port as much as possible.”

“In this case, the number of workers required cannot be too small, so we need more manpower, and the same is true for tools. The most important thing is that the design work of Mogadishu Port should be carried out first. We need professionals to arrange the construction according to the sea conditions near Mogadishu.”

“In addition, we should also arrange the cargo collection and distribution, order quantity, and ship service during the construction period in advance to avoid all the work being squeezed together and causing chaos.”

Chapter 622: The Prospect of Somali Fisheries

“Besides the tropical fruit and vegetable cultivation industry, the Northern Province and the Jubaland Province have coastlines stretching over one thousand three hundred kilometers, yet the development of our fishery resources accounts for less than one percent of the economy. This is a huge waste, and the development of fishery resources should be put on the agenda,” said Rohlmann Kalin, a senior official of the Northern Province, to the Mayor of Mogadishu.

Developing the fishery resources of the Somali waters has always been something Rohlmann Kalin has been thinking about. Rohlmann Kalin himself is from Monfalcone, a coastal town in Austria, so he has a strong sense of belonging to the ocean.

Klanis, the Mayor of Mogadishu, also agreed with this point. Mogadishu in East Africa is originally a comprehensive port, and fishing is one of the important economic sources of Mogadishu. However, in recent years, more resources of Mogadishu Port have been used for foreign trade ships.

“Your Excellency, the development of fishery resources requires necessary facilities such as fishing boats, and in this regard, our Mogadishu is obviously insufficient, especially in terms of resources. We may naturally be unsuitable for developing industry,” Klanis said.

Mogadishu’s water source mainly relies on the Shebelle River, but most of the Shebelle River water is used for agricultural irrigation. Ernst did not intend to develop industry in the Somali region from the beginning. Moreover, under the status of the Northern Province as a frontier province, East Africa is even less likely to build important industries here, unless it is agricultural product processing industry directly extended from agriculture.

In addition to the shortage of water resources, other resources in Somalia are also relatively scarce. For example, the forest coverage rate is only about fifteen percent, and it is mainly distributed in the Ethiopian mountainous areas bordering the Turkana Province, which is at a lower level in East Africa.

Now it is the end of the nineteenth century. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the world’s ships were mainly driven by natural wind and human power, and the main shipbuilding material was wood.

Even now, the wooden shipbuilding industry still firmly occupies the main position in the shipbuilding industry. A large amount of steel is more used in warships or shipping companies with strong strength, while the wooden shipbuilding industry is more concentrated in small and medium-sized ships, and Somalia’s forestry resources obviously cannot support the development of the traditional wooden shipbuilding industry.

As for the emerging shipbuilding industry, the Somali region also faces the problem of insufficient resources such as coal and iron. This is not to say that Somalia lacks mines, but that it is not worth developing by the East African government at this stage.

Many areas of Somalia are deserts, and mining development originally faces environmental problems. This is not to worry about damaging the environment, but to solve problems such as water shortage. The distribution of minerals will not be the same as the population of the Somali region, concentrated along the two rivers (Shebelle River and Juba River).

Of course, coastal Somalia can also learn from the experience of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, importing iron ore or coal from the Middle East or India to develop industry, but this goes back to the previous policy of restricting industrial development in the Somali region.

Therefore, if the Somali region wants to solve the problem of industrial development, it can only focus on agriculture and develop agricultural product processing industry and food industry.

Agriculture also has great development value. For example, Argentina, whose economy is very prosperous, relies on agriculture and animal husbandry. With the support of British capital, Argentina’s railways, industry, etc. have been rapidly developed, and these are all developed around agriculture and animal husbandry and serve it.

In the late 19th century, with the surge in international market demand for wool and the development of refrigeration technology, Argentina’s agricultural products such as wool, beef, and wheat were exported to Europe and the United States, and the export volume continued to climb, making Argentina one of the world’s main agricultural product exporters.

In its previous life, Argentina relied on its strong agriculture and had become the world’s seventh largest economic power and the fifth largest exporting power by the beginning of the 20th century, with a wealth even exceeding that of the United States.

And Argentina under the influence of East Africa will naturally not develop to the scale of its previous life. From the perspective of population alone, Argentina in its previous life was the second largest European immigration destination after the United States, but with East Africa, Argentina can only rank third. From 1865 to 1880, the immigrant population was only close to five hundred thousand, mainly from countries such as Italy.

As for the German immigrants, basically more than sixty percent of them were taken by East Africa during this period. This is mainly because East Africa could not absorb most of the immigrant population in the early days. The economic crisis in 1873 was a turning point. East Africa officially replaced the United States as the world’s largest immigration destination, with German and Chinese immigrants contributing more than sixty percent.

In other words, Argentina and the United States, at least several million immigrant populations were intercepted by East Africa, especially the United States, at least more than two million potential German immigrant populations were digested by East Africa.

However, this does not affect the overall economic development of Argentina. The foundation of Argentina’s economic development is still its unique geographical conditions. It is a natural agricultural and animal husbandry power, and its railway development is not much worse than that of East Africa, at least in terms of density, it leads East Africa.

The conditions in the Somali region are naturally impossible to compare with Argentina, but the irreplaceable location advantage is unmatched by Argentina. In the entire East Africa, it belongs to the first echelon, that is, it is close to the main sea lanes of the two major world markets of Europe and Asia. Regardless of whether there is a Suez Canal or not, it cannot bypass the Somali region.

“The coastlines of Jubaland Province and Northern Province are long and have world-class high-quality natural fishing grounds. Although they cannot be compared with the top world fishing grounds, if you put aside those fishing grounds, the Somali coast ranks firmly in the second echelon. The coast is rich in various fish, especially tuna, mackerel, anchovy, sardine, and shark. These are gifts from God to our East Africa. Therefore, the development of fishery resources in the Northern Province should be put on the agenda as soon as possible. Mogadishu, as the provincial capital and the largest port city in the Northern Province, should put more effort into enriching the local industry as much as possible,” said Rohlmann Kalin.

Klanis: “On this point, our Mogadishu City can only say that we will do our best, but now there are too many restrictions, especially the tasks to be completed around the ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’ are too many, and funds cannot be effectively guaranteed.”

Rohlmann Kalin: “You don’t need to worry too much about this. The provincial government is applying to the central government for a new round of investment promotion in Mogadishu. We will focus on negotiating with the Austrian government and organizing Austrian businessmen to visit Mogadishu.

However, the central government is still discussing. The focus of this ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’ is on related infrastructure construction. I think the improvement of infrastructure level should be attractive to the Austrian business community, so you should complete the infrastructure problem in an orderly manner first.

As the saying goes, opportunity favors the prepared mind. You have to be strong to strike iron. Only when our Northern Province is improved in hardware and services, can others see our potential and feel at ease to invest.

Therefore, in addition to improving infrastructure construction, Mogadishu City should put the construction of a harmonious business environment in the first place, and build confidence for future investors in Mogadishu.”

Since the provincial government could not get money from the central government, it could only find ways to start from introducing foreign investment. In this regard, the Northern Industrial Zone of East Africa and the three coastal open ports that have already been formed have given a demonstration.

Austrian businessmen are particularly keen to invest in the three coastal cities of Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and New Hamburg, while Mogadishu only obtained opening qualifications last year.

The rich fishery resources in the Somali waters are an important bait for Mogadishu to attract foreign investment. This is also related to the issue of commercial channels, which the Northern Provincial Government cannot solve naturally, and this requires Austrian capital to complete, so that they can expand the relevant market. The Northern Province itself has a small market and cannot solve this problem. As for the domestic market, this involves transportation issues.

Somalia’s transportation mainly relies on two rivers and sea transportation, so it is distributed horizontally and is not directly connected to the vast inland areas of East Africa, so it cannot compete with Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and New Hamburg.

Chapter 623: Mogadishu Port Renovation

With the implementation of the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan,” Mogadishu in the Northern Province and Kismayo in the Jubba Province were the first to take action.

Mogadishu Port is the most important port in the Northern Province, while Kismayo is the outlet of the Jubba River, giving it a greater advantage in river-sea transportation than Mogadishu.

In its previous life, Kismayo’s main export was bananas, along with livestock, leather, canned food, etc. It had a modern slaughterhouse and relatively large meat and fish canning factories, as well as small-scale industries such as leather making.

Under East African rule, Kismayo still focused on banana exports. Compared to Kismayo, Mogadishu also had a relatively prosperous cotton industry. The Shebelle River basin is also an important high-quality long-staple cotton production area in East Africa.

East Africa’s long-staple cotton production areas are mainly divided into three major areas: the Shebelle River basin in the Northern Province, the Jubba River basin in the Jubba Province, and the White Nile downstream production area in the Nile Province.

In this situation, all three locations have cotton ginning processing, and then transport the semi-finished products to textile industry centers such as Nairobi, Mombasa, and Dar es Salaam for further processing to meet local East African demand.

Alternatively, they can be directly exported as raw materials. The market demand for long-staple cotton is very strong, so there is no need to worry about the market. These cottons are mainly sold to Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe, which injects fresh blood into the relatively developed textile industries of Germany and Austria, further enhancing the competitiveness of their products.

Bananas and cotton are industries strongly promoted by the East African government, while Somalia’s renowned animal husbandry has shrunk, and other characteristic industries have also developed, among which the leather industry is very popular.

This is related to East Africa’s national conditions. In addition to abundant animal resources, East Africa should be the country with the largest number of crocodiles in the world, almost all over the country’s rivers and lakes.

The Shebelle River and the Jubba River are also like this. In the southern part of Mogadishu, that is, the lower reaches of the Shebelle River, there are many lakes and swamps and other wetland systems, with a large number of crocodiles. The number of crocodiles in the entire Shebelle River basin is probably more than the entire population of the Northern Province, which provides sufficient raw materials for the leather industry in Mogadishu.

In its previous life, crocodile intestines were a precious dish for Somalis to entertain guests, and crocodile taming performances were one of the most attractive activities for tourists in Mogadishu. At the same time, Mogadishu enjoyed the reputation of “Crocodile Kingdom.”

However, as mentioned before, crocodiles are basically distributed throughout East Africa, so Somalia’s crocodile leather industry is not very prominent in East Africa. For example, the Limpopo River in southern East Africa is also known as the “Crocodile River.”

However, the Somali region occupies a location advantage, the distance advantage from the Asia-Europe main shipping lane, making it an important crocodile leather export market. Not only does East Africa sell outwards, but also European and Asian merchants come specifically to purchase.

Mogadishu Port and Kismayo Port under East African rule have both undergone a renovation. The hardware has been upgraded, but the relative commercial trade is far worse than before, which is related to East Africa’s isolationist policy.

Mogadishu, an important regional trade center, was forced to interrupt its development due to East Africa’s conquest of the Geledi Sultanate, which also meant that the original economic foundation of the Somali region no longer existed.

The decline of Mogadishu and other coastal cities in Somalia in recent years has also accelerated the development of coastal cities in southern East Africa such as Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

Now that Mombasa and Dar es Salaam have developed, Mogadishu and other port cities can also receive more assistance from the East African government.

In August, the East African government transferred the first batch of more than two hundred construction team members from the south, most of whom were port design and construction personnel serving the East African government.

They began to survey and plan the two ports of Mogadishu and Kismayo, making initial preparations for upgrading the port capabilities of Mogadishu and Kismayo.

“Mogadishu Port is still at the level of the old port of the former Geledi Sultanate. Although it has been repaired and maintained, there has been no essential change. It is just a superficial change. It can only be said that it has restored the basic functions of the port when it was first built, but there has been no substantial improvement.

With the development of the Shebelle River basin and the increase in population in the future, the export trade of the Northern Province will further expand. Therefore, the expansion of Mogadishu Port should involve large-scale demolition and reconstruction of the old port area, and re-planning of functional zoning,” said Roland Windisch, the Austrian engineer and chief designer of the Mogadishu Port renovation project, to Mogadishu municipal government officials after surveying Mogadishu Port.

“Designer Roland Windisch, if the facilities in the port are demolished on a large scale, I am afraid it will affect Mogadishu’s foreign trade situation, so can this problem be avoided!”

Roland Windisch said: “If this is the case, then we can only open a new port in the south of Mogadishu. This will allow us to complete the port expansion on time without delaying short-term commercial activities. However, this will change the urban layout of Mogadishu, because opening a new port area will require more supporting infrastructure, and industries will also change with the port. In the future, Mogadishu’s industries and population will converge to the south.”

“Does opening a new port also mean we have to rebuild a city area?”

“It’s not that bad. If you don’t mind the trouble, you can build roads from the city to the new port area to solve this problem. Moreover, as far as I know, you have the purpose of creating river-sea transportation this time, which is very advantageous for planning the connection between the Shebelle River and Mogadishu Port.”

Mogadishu is ultimately different from Kismayo. Kismayo is directly located at the mouth of the Jubba River, which saves Kismayo Port a lot of trouble in connecting to the Jubba River. However, the disadvantage is that the port dredging work will be more frequent than Mogadishu in the future.

Although Mogadishu is a seaport and very close to the Shebelle River, it is still some distance away from the Shebelle River, and roads are needed to ensure the connection. As for the lower reaches of the Shebelle River, it still has a long distance after passing through Mogadishu, and it is an important irrigated agricultural area in the Northern Province and Jubba Province.

“Of course, you don’t have to worry too much. You can completely retain the old port while opening a new port. This is the experience of Dar es Salaam. Now the development of the new and old port areas of Dar es Salaam is quite good. It can even be said that Dar es Salaam has completely surpassed Mombasa because of this. So this option is a good thing for your Mogadishu.”

“Will the cost exceed the budget?”

“There is no need to worry about this. According to the previous design, a new breakwater was to be rebuilt on the basis of the old port. Now it is just moving its position south. The port cost will not be too high, and it may even be cheaper. However, as mentioned before, you have to re-purchase supporting infrastructure to ensure that Mogadishu’s trade is not affected in the short term. The major expenditure can be shared with subsequent projects.”

Roland Windisch’s words reassured the Mogadishu municipal government a lot. The main reason is that Mogadishu Port is currently small, and there is a lot of space for renovation and new construction, which provides Roland Windisch with sufficient operating space.

“Then thank you, Mr. Roland Windisch. The rainy season is in two months, so I hope you and your team can speed up the progress. We will try to start construction next month, otherwise it will be a bit troublesome when the rainy season comes, especially during the busy farming season, Mogadishu’s manpower is not very abundant.”

Chapter 624: Asking for People

The population of the Somali region is not small in East Africa, at least compared to the southwest region. Over 800,000 square kilometers of land are inhabited by nearly 700,000 people, all of whom are immigrants. Somalia was the first to clear out its indigenous population due to its geographical location.

Of course, the Somali desert is considerable in size, but it is not the entirety of the Somali region. The eastern part is mainly desert, while the western part is primarily grassland climate. The Somali region controlled by East Africa is much larger than the Somali territory of my previous life.

Although the northern coast has not been occupied by East Africa, a large area of territory in the west that originally belonged to Ethiopia has been divided up by the Northern Province, Jubba Province, and Turkana Province. At the same time, some areas originally belonging to Kenya have also been incorporated into Jubba Province. This is also an important reason why the area of the East African Somali region is even larger than in my previous life.

Although the tropical grassland climate in the west is better than the tropical desert climate, the population of the Somali region is still mainly distributed along the oases and rivers in the east.

“As of 1880, the Northern Province has developed a total of over 600,000 hectares of cultivated land, more than 70% of which has been reclaimed in recent years as tropical plantations. There is a small amount of grain production, but it is not intended to meet the province’s grain self-sufficiency. It is mainly to provide a constant grain supply for the troops stationed on the northern border. More grain shortages are met through sea transport from the south. However, the province’s grain self-sufficiency rate still reaches about 60%.” Rohlmann Kalin introduced to the commissioner sent by the central government.

The Northern Province can fully promote the tropical economic plantation industry while ensuring a high grain self-sufficiency rate, entirely thanks to its vast land area and sparse population.

Of course, the sparse population here is mainly compared to other countries. After all, the Somali region is larger than Germany, but with a population of less than 700,000, there is no population pressure at all.

The traditionally defined Somali region has about 8 million hectares of arable land, while the East African Somali region includes parts of Ethiopia and Kenya, so the arable land area exceeds 10 million hectares. At the same time, it has a large amount of agricultural land suitable for use as pasture and woodland.

What is the concept? In my previous life, the area of the Western Regions Province of the Far East Empire was twice the area of the two East African Somali provinces, which is about 1.6 million square kilometers, but the arable land area was only more than 7 million hectares.

Of course, the national conditions of Somalia in my previous life were not much worse than those of the East African Somali region. Its arable land area was also more than 8 million hectares, which is still more than the Western Regions Province.

Of course, arable land area is not equal to cultivated land area. In my previous life, the developed cultivated land area of the Federal Republic of Somalia was only about 1 million hectares, while the developed cultivated land area of the Western Regions Province reached about 4 million hectares.

Not to mention, the yield per unit area of the Western Regions Province completely surpassed the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the degree of mechanization reached more than 80%.

Therefore, it is understandable that the Federal Republic of Somalia in my previous life suffered from famine year after year. Even if the politics were stable, it would be difficult to get rid of this problem, unless a considerably capable centralized unified government appeared to comprehensively transform Somalia, at least develop water conservancy, then Somalia’s cultivated land area could at least double.

In the East African version of the Somali region, the western plateau area can even reach more than 500 millimeters of rainfall, and the mountainous area can reach more than 1,500 millimeters. This condition is much stronger than the Western Regions Province.

Therefore, the water shortage problem in the East African Somali region is not significant, especially with a small population. Although the Shebelle River and the Jubba River are seasonal, there is only a risk of斷流 for one or two months throughout the year, generally around February and March. Avoiding this time period allows for the calm arrangement of agricultural production work in the Somali region.

Therefore, the conditions in the Somali region are not as difficult as imagined. It can even be said to be a relatively developed agricultural economy in East Africa, bringing a lot of revenue to the East African government every year. Now East Africa is still investing money inland, while Somalia has already begun to make money. This is also the most important factor for the East African central government to agree to the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan,” and it is also the confidence of the Northern Province and Jubba Province to implement the plan.

“So in this case, I think the government’s immigration quota this year should be increased more for our Northern Province. You should know that even some provinces in the southwest region were established later than us, but their population has already surpassed us. What’s more, now that the ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’ is being implemented, the number of workers and farmers needed is even greater.”

Commissioner Modeline did not easily give in, but instead asked: “There should also be a lot of workers in the Northern Province developing the Shebelle River basin this year, right? Can you use them to offset it first!”

East Africa’s water conservancy construction project is a national project, and the Northern Province is naturally included in it, so Modeline asked from this perspective.

“Commissioner Modeline, I’m afraid you don’t know, although the national water conservancy construction project mentions our Northern Province, it is only mentioned. You should know this project better than I do. Everyone gets a share, but in reality, it is biased towards inland provinces and regions, especially those that mainly produce grain. How many people did the government allocate to participate in water conservancy construction in Somalia last year? Do you know?”

“How many?”

“A total of 3,400 people!” Rohlmann Kalin said helplessly.

“Just that little?” Modeline was a little surprised.

“That’s how little. The national water conservancy construction project is said to employ millions of laborers, plus other related people, most of the country will participate directly or indirectly, but our Northern Province only got more than 3,000 people. Is that reasonable?” Rohlmann Kalin complained.

“This is not the main thing. Our province is also very different from the western and southern provinces. We have achieved a complete population clearing of ‘blacks,’ which means we have lost a lot of labor. The achievements of the Northern Province today can be said to be entirely due to the unity and hard work of the entire Northern Province.”

Of course, the problem is not as exaggerated as Rohlmann Kalin said, because East Africa itself inherited the legacy of the Geledi Sultanate, including the cultivated land, water conservancy facilities, roads, and even buildings left by the local indigenous people.

Therefore, the Somalia taken over by East Africa was not a completely impoverished place. It already had a certain economic foundation. The Northern Province is only optimizing on this basis.

This is much stronger than many regions in East Africa. For example, the First Township, as the capital of East Africa, was built on barren land. Most places in East Africa have not been developed.

However, the Northern Provincial government and immigrants have indeed made a lot of efforts. After all, many cultivated lands in Somalia have been re-cultivated as plantations, rivers have been dredged, canals have been opened, and roads have been expanded, all of which require a lot of work, especially when the population of the Northern Province is only more than 300,000, even less than the population of Dar es Salaam city. Therefore, Rohlmann Kalin is quite short of people and wishes he could use one person as two, so he had to complain to Modeline.

“Well, that’s true. However, we can only think of more ways to get immigrants. Not only your Northern Province is short of people, but the whole country is short of people. Now the immigration market is not as hot as it was in previous years. But don’t worry, I will report to the central government and report your problems. Mogadishu is the largest port in East Africa closest to the Eurasian continent. I think the central government will also focus on considering it.”

Chapter 625: Dre Dawa City’s Thoughts

Modreyn said to Rollman Kalin that the development of Mogadishu Port was indeed inconsistent with its original historical status. Before East Africa occupied Mogadishu, it should have always been the largest port on the East African coast. Now it can only be compared with some less important ports.

On the one hand, this is because East Africa has focused its efforts on developing the southern and inland regions. On the other hand, the early destruction of the Geledi Sultanate by East Africa also caused its original commercial trade to decline sharply and eventually cease to exist, only to re-prosper in the past two or three years with the fruit and vegetable trade.

“Commissioner, then I’ll have to trouble you. Our province has been at a disadvantage in immigration quotas for many years. If we can increase the number of immigrants, it will definitely greatly alleviate the labor shortage in the province,” said Rollman Kalin.

Immigrants are mostly high-quality labor, which is beyond doubt. It may just take some time to integrate into East Africa when they first arrive.

“Don’t be too happy too soon. I’m just reporting to the central government. Whether the central government agrees or not is another matter, but it’s likely to agree, because since it approved your plan before, it shows that the central government attaches great importance to it.”

Modreyn’s words were ambiguous, but in reality, he thought that it was impossible not to pay attention to it, because the Somalia region project was bound to be profitable, so the East African government was willing to invest in it. Otherwise, it would definitely not have approved the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan.” Since it had already recognized this project, it would definitely invest resources.

…

Dre Dawa.

“Will this major economic move in the Northern Province affect our Dre Dawa?” asked Heleyn, the mayor of Dre Dawa.

“Mr. Mayor, you’re overthinking this. Although Dre Dawa belongs to the Northern Province, the relationship between the two is very special. When Dre Dawa was first established, it was a military stronghold, and it generally does not participate in the affairs of the Northern Province. On the contrary, when it comes to the military, the Ministry of Defense will intervene in the Northern Province, so no matter what, Dre Dawa is in a proactive position.”

“In fact, relatively speaking, Dre Dawa’s geographical location is very awkward. Although we are part of the Northern Province, we are located at the northernmost end, while the economy and population of the Northern Province are mainly distributed in the Shebelle River basin in the south, and our Dre Dawa is south of the East African Rift Valley, so the economic ties between the two sides are not close.”

The earliest establishment of Dre Dawa was entirely to contain the power of the three countries of Britain, France, and Italy near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. With the increase in the population of Dre Dawa, it has slowly developed from a military town into a city, but it still has a distinct military character.

After becoming a city, the Dre Dawa Municipal Government was also established, and it had some of the same configurations as other cities in East Africa, but Dre Dawa also had an awkward situation, that is, it was too far away from the Northern Province.

The economic center and population of the Northern Province are in the southeast, while Dre Dawa is in the northwest, so when the Northern Provincial Government formulates plans and implements policies, it will naturally ignore Dre Dawa.

This is actually easy to understand. For example, if a province mainly manages wheat crops, but a part of it grows rice, then the possibility of the province introducing wheat planting subsidies is far greater than rice planting subsidies, which is easy to create centrifugal force.

Dre Dawa is obviously a region with a weak sense of belonging to the Northern Province, but this is not important to Dre Dawa, because Dre Dawa is an important border town, so its priority is even higher than that of the Northern Province. On the contrary, the Northern Province must support the development of Dre Dawa.

“Mr. Mayor, our Dre Dawa has a remote geographical location, and because of military reasons, many industries cannot be developed as we wish. Moreover, the conditions here are not very good, so we should prioritize providing service guarantees for the military. This is also one of the reasons for the establishment of Dre Dawa, so we cannot put the cart before the horse.”

In its previous life, Dre Dawa appeared entirely because of the construction of the Ethiopian railway, which made it an important hub connecting the Port of Djibouti.

The purpose of East Africa’s establishment of Dre Dawa is also related to the Djibouti region, but it is completely different from Ethiopia’s thinking.

Ethiopia’s purpose is mainly for domestic economic development, after all, the country has no access to the sea, while East Africa’s purpose is entirely to target the various hostile forces in the region militarily.

Heleyn: “You’re right. I, as the mayor, am indeed different from other regions. Dre Dawa has a large number of troops and their families stationed here, which is essentially to provide security services for the soldiers on the front line.”

Although he said so, Heleyn still envied the officials in other regions of the Northern Province. The “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan” was such a big move, and it was all political achievements, but Dre Dawa could only watch. Heleyn was naturally not very happy.

“Mr. Mayor, you don’t have to be too discouraged. Mogadishu has its advantages, and our Dre Dawa also has its own economic growth points. We can’t participate in this ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan,’ but we can completely set up some economic projects ourselves to boost the Dre Dawa economy.”

“What are your ideas?” Heleyn asked.

“Our Dre Dawa’s greatest geographical advantage is that it is close to the forces of various countries, especially the three countries of Britain, France, and Italy. British and French soldiers are high-quality customers. As for the Italians, they have a large enough number, and because of Italy’s colonization in the northwest, their material gap is not small. Our Dre Dawa can completely promote Dre Dawa’s economic development through border trade with the above three countries.”

“But the problem is that Dre Dawa is not up to me to decide. We also have to consider the military’s attitude, and if we want to develop foreign trade, we need the approval of the central government. Other regions are fine, but our Dre Dawa may not be so easy to pass!”

“Mr. Mayor, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Dre Dawa used to be a completely military town, so naturally there was no need to consider the issue of economic development. Now Dre Dawa has been formed, and one of the important roles of the municipal government is to develop the local economy.

This is an important change, indicating that Dre Dawa has shifted from its previous military purpose to a normal military-civilian dual-use city. Under this premise, things that could not be done before do not mean that they cannot be done now. This is a relaxation in policy, and as long as we submit the proposal to the central government, we can naturally wait for the reply from above. This is not something you should worry about.”

Heleyn: “What you said also makes some sense. Dre Dawa is indeed different from before. This should be a kind of confidence supported by national strength. After all, there are probably not many forces that dare to directly go to war with East Africa, and the defense pressure in the border areas has been greatly reduced.”

“So, things that could not be done before may have changed now. We throw this problem to the central government, and the responsibility will not be on us in the end. On the contrary, it can also improve Dre Dawa’s reputation in front of the central government.”

This is also Dre Dawa’s advantage. As an important military town, it can directly contact the central government without going through the Northern Provincial Government.

Chapter 626: Closed and Open

“The city of Dire Dawa also wants to engage in border trade. Do you think this is feasible?”

“Actually, Dire Dawa’s idea isn’t necessarily impossible, but we must consider the practical factors. The Red Sea coast is already a place where merchants gather, so I think their plan is very unreliable. Even our own ships sometimes sell goods along the Red Sea coast, let alone the fact that the Red Sea now relies on the Suez Canal to connect the European and Asian markets, so there’s no way it could lack commodities.”

“That’s not necessarily true. Sea transport is convenient, but it may not be able to meet all the needs. For example, for the tropical cash crops of the Northern Province, we must first sell them to Europe, because other regions don’t have the purchasing power, or we’re not satisfied with their prices. So, market demand isn’t a cold number, but rather it’s flexible and changing. Dire Dawa is on the border, and there may be such a market, but it’s not worth our investment of energy. Instead, we should leverage the capabilities of the market and the border residents to develop the market.”

East Africa values two markets the most: Europe and the Far East. The European market is mainly for supplying raw materials, after all, East African industrial products certainly cannot compete with Germany and Austria. The Far East region is the main sales area for East African industrial products.

Although the Middle East is closest to East Africa, a large part of it is managed by Zanzibar merchants. The sales channels are in the hands of Zanzibar merchants. They import goods from East Africa, and whether they can make a profit depends on their individual skills.

Moreover, the countries in the Middle East now are not as numerous as in the previous life. The Ottoman Empire is large but not collapsing, so the person in charge of the region is still there, unlike the fragmented Arab countries of the previous life.

A large part of the Ottoman Empire’s industrial products come from Europe. It is not easy for East African industrial products to squeeze in. The Arabs are also quite shrewd. Don’t look at their current decline. In the long Middle Ages, the Arab region was the prosperous area of world trade, especially relying on the ancient Silk Road to monopolize trade between East and West. It was only after the Age of Discovery that Europeans broke their monopoly.

East Africa mainly takes the Omani route. The Omanis and Zanzibaris have the same origin, and Oman is an independent Arab country and a traditional maritime power along the Indian Ocean in the past. Maritime countries are generally not bad at commerce, especially Oman, which is very dependent on foreign trade.

The industrial products sales, and those controlled by the East African government, are mainly in the Far East. Although East African industrial products are of poor quality, they are low in price. And the poor quality depends on how you look at it. Compared with Europe, it is certainly poor, but it still has some advantages over countries outside of Europe and the United States, especially after the economic crisis in 1873, East Africa introduced a lot of European equipment and technology.

And what East Africa exports the most is definitely raw materials, mainly grain, tropical cash crops, and minerals.

The countries that import raw materials the most are certainly those with more developed industries and more vigorous demand. Obviously, such regions are Central and Eastern European countries, mainly the German region.

Only with a certain amount of industry can a large amount of raw materials be consumed, and Europe cannot fully possess many raw materials for industrial development, especially the three countries of Germany, Austria, and Russia, which are located inland in Europe.

However, there is nothing wrong with being a raw material supplier, especially for East Africa at present. There are fewer things to do, it can make money, and it can consolidate relations with relevant countries.

After all, raw material production is different from industry. It does not require overly sophisticated and complex technology, and management is relatively convenient. Even feudal countries can do well in this regard. The flexibility of rural areas is much higher than that of cities, because agriculture itself has the characteristics of self-sufficiency. If it is industry, it is extremely dependent on the market.

If workers lose their jobs, the risks they face are much higher. As for farmers, of course, there are also risks of unemployment, but they generally encounter disasters and crop failures, or the land is annexed and they become tenant farmers with the nature of employees. Like in this era, self-sufficient farmers live very well, especially self-sufficient farmers in Europe.

East Africa will not have this problem for the time being, because East Africa is a collective agricultural model. Agriculture is concentrated in production, but it is different from traditional manors, capitalist large farms, or collective farms. It has the characteristics of all parties.

In other words, it is not left enough, and it is not right enough, forming a mixed agricultural economic system. However, Ernst is not easy to change now. In the West, they pay great attention to choosing sides and the philosophical thinking of black and white, but the problem is that regardless of capitalist countries or democratic countries in the previous life, planning and the market cannot be completely eliminated. You have me in you, and I have you in me. It is nothing more than a matter of share.

As a major raw material supplier, East Africa’s agricultural model is relatively stable. The annual agricultural output is steadily increasing, without any magnificent waves, more of a natural process.

Correspondingly, East Africa’s agricultural output is generally surplus. If it were a normal country, East Africa should now drastically reduce production to achieve a balance of payments. But East Africa is not a normal country, and the international market does not have so much demand, so East Africa can only give play to its own initiative and use the domestic market to digest the excess agricultural capacity.

Including various large-scale projects, national infrastructure construction, and capacity contraction. Capacity contraction is not really contraction, but further optimization and rational allocation of agricultural resources.

East Africa has opened up a lot of cultivated land, but every year, cultivated land is cancelled and restored, returning farmland to forests and grasslands, especially in the eastern region.

The Northern Province is in this situation, mainly returning farmland to grassland, a large number of pastures have been cancelled, and at the same time, the planting of cash crops is actively promoted to seek higher economic value.

“The problem of Dire Dawa is not a simple economic problem, but involves a national problem. At present, East Africa has nearly ten open port cities, some of which have not even been completed, and Dire Dawa is very different from these coastal areas.

It represents East Africa’s border trade problem. Border trade has always existed, but we haven’t openly opened any of them. The main purpose of border trade in the Northern Turkana Province is to transfuse blood to the Abyssinian Empire to prevent them from being at a disadvantage in the competition with Italy. Similarly, in the south, our arms trade with the Orange people is also the same reason.”

“Dire Dawa is also an important military town, so it is even more worthy of our discussion here. The first issue it considers should be a military issue. Of course, from the perspective of immigration and border consolidation, we must develop the local economy, otherwise, relying only on government financial support can only solve the immediate problem. The city of Gezira in the Nile Province has done a very good job in this regard.

Of course, the situation in Gezira is also very special. The entire Nile Province has the most superior conditions in Gezira, which is suitable for development and is located on the border. The conditions in Dire Dawa are much worse than those in Gezira.”

“In the final analysis, it is still a question of whether Dire Dawa should be opened or not. I think it should be opened. East Africa is not what it used to be. We should be the strongest country in Africa. The security problem is not very significant. The strongest forces in the north are nothing more than the Italians and the British, and the British have controlled Egypt in recent years, but what borders us is mainly Sudan and British Somaliland in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The threat is not at the same level as Cape Town at all.

Not to mention Italy, there is almost no military threat, and they need our support to gain a foothold on the Ethiopian Plateau.”

This is not East African officials humiliating Italy, but out of the traditional psychological advantage of Germans over Italians. Italy itself is not a strong country, especially after the restoration of the Kingdom of Naples. In the eyes of East Africa, it is only slightly stronger than the Kingdom of Portugal.

Chapter 627: Special Administrative City

However, Italy’s development efforts in Ethiopia and Eritrea are indeed quite strong, stemming from its abundant surplus population. Many European countries want to emulate it but cannot.

If Italy hadn’t been re-divided because of Austria-Hungary, and if East Africa hadn’t been absorbing population from the Far East, and Italy had developed its African colonies a decade or so earlier, it would be hard to say who would be stronger compared to East Africa.

“Alright, since we can’t determine the pros and cons of this matter right now, let’s experiment first. We can use Dire Dawa as a pilot project. If it succeeds, it can provide reference and experience for other border areas in the future. If it fails, it won’t be a big loss. After all, Dire Dawa is just a small border city and won’t have a major impact on our overall strategy,” Ernst finally concluded the debate.

“Establish Dire Dawa as a special administrative city, with border trade as the main focus of development, serving as a pilot city for East Africa.”

This allowed Dire Dawa to return to its development trajectory ahead of schedule, except this time Dire Dawa was not born from the railway.

“Dire Dawa is located on the south side of the East African Rift Valley, with the Dechatu River running through it. The former Kefira city was originally a distribution center for local agricultural and livestock products, with a thriving fur trade, so there is still a certain foundation. However, Dire Dawa’s location is indeed not very friendly to our East Africa, especially the poor transportation connectivity. This requires the Northern Province and Turkana Province to re-establish traditional trade routes.”

In the past, East Africa regarded Dire Dawa as a military stronghold, which was not just a random circle drawn on the map. Rather, there were already indigenous settlements there, namely the ancient city of Kefira, a trade node between the Somali states and the Abyssinian Empire.

Dire Dawa is conveniently located on the transportation route for Somalia and the Ethiopian Highlands, but conversely, it is not convenient for the behemoth that is East Africa, because East Africa’s Turkana Province and the Abyssinian Empire have very convenient connections.

As for the Somali region, East Africa’s Somali region is very different from Somalia in the traditional sense. More accurately, East Africa’s Somalia should be the South Somali region, while much of the North Somali region is not in East African hands.

For example, the Afar Depression, where Dire Dawa is located, also known as the Danakil Depression, is in the North Somali region, as are the French Djibouti colony, the British Somaliland colony, and parts of the Italian Eritrea colony to the north.

East Africa’s occupation of Dire Dawa is not of great significance to itself. Even without Dire Dawa, East Africa’s security would not be threatened. After all, East Africa’s core area is in the East African Highlands and the Southern Highlands, and the vast land in between is not considered to have high economic value in the eyes of this era.

The main purpose of Dire Dawa is still external strategic deterrence. To the east, it can advance into the Gulf of Aden; to the north, it can threaten the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast; and to the west, it can reach the Abyssinian Empire’s interior. Therefore, East Africa’s garrison here can achieve multi-faceted strike purposes.

Conversely, if other countries and forces attack Dire Dawa, East Africa will not be affected at all, but can instead deplete their strength there.

The premise is to provide sufficient logistical support to the local garrison, which is why the Northern Province’s grain is prioritized for the Dire Dawa region.

To put it bluntly, the value of the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Ethiopian Highlands are all higher than that of Dire Dawa. They cannot afford to mess around with those areas, while Dire Dawa can be messed with. After all, Dire Dawa is gone, it’s gone. Even if it is destroyed in war, it can be rebuilt. Its scale is not large, while the above areas are either related to the world’s main trade routes or are important economies in the region.

“Your Royal Highness, what is a special administrative city?”

“You can understand it as a key city with important status and functions, but this status and function are more conferred through administrative means.”

In his previous life, Dire Dawa was a special administrative city of Ethiopia, which is related to Ethiopia’s national conditions.

Because Ethiopia is a rather aggrieved landlocked country. After Eritrea separated from it, it lost all of its coastline. Moreover, due to colonial instigation and historical reasons, the relationship between Eritrea and Ethiopia is like fire and water.

Therefore, Ethiopia’s foreign trade is extremely dependent on the port of Djibouti, and the connection between Djibouti and Ethiopia can only rely on railways. Dire Dawa is the node of this railway, so the importance of Dire Dawa to Ethiopia is self-evident. If it is damaged, it will inevitably cause serious consequences for Ethiopia’s import and export trade, or even a standstill. Therefore, it is easy to understand why Ethiopia established Dire Dawa as a special administrative city.

Dire Dawa can be understood as Trieste of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the original history, almost the only sea gateway in the country, although Dire Dawa is not on the sea.

Of course, East Africa’s special administrative city does not have such a high status. Dire Dawa Special Administrative City is just a whim of Ernst, in order to have the same name as the Dire Dawa Special Administrative City of Ethiopia in his previous life.

East Africa’s import and export trade mainly relies on the eastern coastal areas. Even if the eastern coastal areas do not work, East Africa’s western part still has the Atlantic coast to go to sea. The importance of the Nile River Province, the Southern Border Province and other regions for land import and export trade is far above Dire Dawa, so East Africa will not pay too much attention to Dire Dawa’s economy at all.

If Dire Dawa wants to make a comeback, unless the Red Sea coast becomes economically prosperous, but this is obviously unlikely. The Sahara Desert alone is a major obstacle to local economic development.

Of course, it is also possible for the Ethiopian Highlands to develop. Not to say how well it develops, but if it reaches the level of a general country, it will definitely boost Dire Dawa’s economic development. After all, the Abyssinian Empire is large enough.

In his previous life, Ethiopia had a population of over one hundred million, which is considered a large country in the world. Even in this era, the Abyssinian Empire has a population of about ten million, which is larger than many countries. After all, the Ottoman Empire only has a population of about twenty million.

Although East Africa’s current population has surpassed the Abyssinian Empire, the population density of the Abyssinian Empire far exceeds that of East Africa.

So this also proves that the Ethiopian Highlands is indeed a good place. East Africa and Italy have each taken a big bite from it, and the essence of Ethiopia can still support its large population.

Chapter 628: Introducing Foreign Investment

In September, after the central government transferred some engineering teams from the south to Northern Province, the construction of Mogadishu’s new port finally began. Following this, the Northern Province government, through the Hechengen Consortium, formally invited Austrian businessmen interested in agricultural product processing to visit and inspect Mogadishu.

“Gentlemen, our Northern Province possesses the largest area for tropical crop cultivation closest to Europe. Mogadishu has been at the forefront of fruit and vegetable export trade in East Africa for years. I believe that with this advantage, if you choose to invest in Mogadishu, you will definitely receive substantial returns,” Kranis said to the visiting Austrian businessmen at the reception.

“Mr. Mayor, I see that the construction of your port only started recently. Can you guarantee that the Port of Mogadishu will be operating normally before we invest?”

“This is easy to resolve. In another two months, when the agricultural slack season arrives, we will recruit a batch of temporary workers from the surrounding rural areas to accelerate the progress of the project and ensure the normal completion of the new Port of Mogadishu by the end of the year.”

“But there are many problems to solve when building a factory in Mogadishu, such as the need for coal to power the machines, industrial workers to maintain the machines, as well as transportation, lighting, water supply, and a series of other issues.”

“Mr. Claire, let’s put your questions aside for now. The issues you mentioned have naturally been considered by our city of Mogadishu. This brings us to the New Urban Area Plan approved by our municipal government for Mogadishu. To accommodate the long-term plan for the new Port of Mogadishu, our city intends to learn from Dar es Salaam and build a new main urban area in the southern part of the city, on the scale of the existing urban area, to accommodate the introduced industries,” Kranis said.

“You are planning to build a new city, but won’t this conflict with the construction of your port? We don’t even know when the port will be completed. Isn’t this so-called new urban area just pie in the sky, something we can hear about but never taste?”

“You don’t have to worry about that, Mr. Claire. Our new urban area plan will definitely not delay you from making money. You can build your factories, and the city of Mogadishu will prioritize the construction of running water, power plants, and roads. Of course, water and electricity will definitely be charged. If anyone is interested, they can also invest. As for the labor shortage, East Africa is a major immigration country. As long as we have the support of the central government, we can quickly fill Mogadishu’s shortcomings in this area.”

Although the scale of immigration to East Africa is not as large as before, that is only relative to the whole country. Even a small amount that the East African government lets slip through its fingers is enough for Mogadishu to feast on.

“How will Mogadishu solve the problem of industrial workers? Workers are not farmers who can just walk out of the fields and become skilled overnight.”

“This problem is even easier to solve. East Africa implements compulsory education. Mogadishu has a large number of students who, in previous years, were directly assigned to farming after graduation. If you can invest in building factories here, it will be a perfect opportunity to solve the employment problem for a batch of secondary school graduates.”

East Africa’s education is generally excessive, especially for secondary school students. East African industry cannot accommodate so many students, so they can only be sent back to continue farming. This is not without its benefits. Farmers also need knowledge, so in the future, East African farmers’ knowledge and education levels will be more receptive to new agricultural concepts such as mechanization and scientific planting.

“How many students can you provide?” The Austrians have no specific idea of East Africa’s compulsory education. After all, East Africa is not an open country, and outsiders do not know much about East Africa.

“Last year, the number of secondary school graduates in Mogadishu was more than three hundred. Only one hundred or so entered factories. We can supply the rest to you. And that’s just Mogadishu. The number of secondary school students in the entire Northern Province should be around four thousand.”

“Do you have so many secondary school students in East Africa?”

“Of course, but it’s not what you think. East African schools are very different from European schools. Our students have fewer class hours, fewer courses, and more relaxed management. So the knowledge corresponding to the academic qualifications may not meet the standards. But having a secondary school education is definitely more knowledgeable than a primary school education in the German region,” Kranis said.

This is the same principle as Tian Ji’s horse race. Compared with European students of the same level, East African students certainly have a significant average deficiency. But if I use secondary school students to compare with European primary school students, then the situation is reversed.

Moreover, East Africa’s exaggerated secondary school enrollment rate means that there are a considerable number of secondary school students, which is very attractive.

“If that’s the case, then it’s acceptable, but can we inspect the local schools?”

Although Kranis’s words are very moving, secondary school qualifications are considered talent in Europe. Generally, they can get into management positions in factories, so seeing is believing. The Austrian businessmen remained cautious. They did not believe that East Africa had this level of education.

“Of course, there is no problem. I know this is not very credible for you, but that is the reality. East Africa can be said to have the highest level of effort in promoting education among the major countries in the world, but the level of education is too uneven. This is related to the lack of teachers in East Africa, but as East Africa’s talent continues to accumulate, this problem will become smaller and smaller in the future, until it is on par with European secondary schools,” Kranis said.

Although the overall level of education in East Africa is low, the best are selected from the best. Positions such as teachers are definitely held by outstanding normal school graduates. This continuous accumulation will eventually allow East Africa to get rid of the shortcomings in its teaching staff.

However, Kranis also understood these Austrians. The situation in the Austro-Hungarian Empire was such that even universal primary education throughout the country was somewhat beyond its capabilities, let alone large-scale universal secondary education.

Now, secondary schools in Europe can be said to be quite valuable. In addition to regular courses, they cover a wide range of subjects such as painting, music, religion, Latin, and various foreign languages. Unlike East African textbooks, which only have German, mathematics, political history, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, and physical education.

Therefore, the contrast between East African secondary schools and the secondary schools in the minds of Austrians is extremely large. It can even be said that they are not the same thing. Of course, this also places higher demands on European students.

Ernst had no doubt that European secondary school students were more valuable than university students in the 21st century of his previous life. European university students in the 19th century were even synonymous with elites.

Amidst the Austrian businessmen’s skepticism, the next day Mogadishu specially organized them to visit the only secondary school in Mogadishu, Mogadishu First Secondary School.

Here, the Austrian businessmen finally understood the essence of East African secondary schools, which is a “stripped-down” secondary school, and one with a strong bias, especially emphasizing the cultivation of science students.

This would definitely not be considered “talent” in Europe. After all, how can someone without artistic appreciation be considered a “secondary school student”?

But this already made them feel very satisfied. After all, they were here to invest in factories, not needing artists. Moreover, a “stripped-down” secondary school is still a secondary school. The content of study cannot be compared with ordinary primary schools in Germany. Some Austrian businessmen even began to think about whether they could introduce this kind of “cheap” secondary school student from East Africa to work in Austria. Although the value is not high, the quantity is large enough to quench their thirst!

Chapter 629: Education

The Austrian businessman’s plan was to bring East African students to Austria to work as laborers. This contrast isn’t actually surprising, just like how many Filipino maids in my previous life had university degrees. Plus, East Africa itself promotes middle school-level compulsory education, but the local area can’t absorb all of them. Many still have to work in agriculture, so going to Austria as industrial workers is also a good choice.

East Africans with education, a certain level of cultural literacy, and, most importantly, who speak German, can become high-quality industrial workers with just a little training. Moreover, the price is definitely lower than for Austrian locals with the same level of education, making them cost-effective. So, this is very reasonable.

“Mayor Kranz, I would like to ask, have all the cities in East Africa achieved universal compulsory education like Mogadishu?” The Austrian businessman, Treier, still didn’t quite believe that East Africa had the ability to implement a middle school-level compulsory education system nationwide.

Because no matter how small Mogadishu is, it is the provincial capital of an East African province, so its status is very different from that of ordinary cities, so it is not surprising to have a middle school.

The urban population of Mogadishu is less than ten thousand, it is indeed a small city, so one middle school is enough.

And the first baby boom in eastern East Africa, about ten years ago, should be reaching middle school age in about four or five years. At that time, the number of middle school students in East Africa will also usher in a qualitative leap.

Mogadishu will not be affected, because East Africa annexed and developed the Northern Province much later than the eastern part, and the inland and southern regions even later than Mogadishu.

But even so, the number of middle school students in East Africa is not small. Now there are more than one million seven hundred thousand (approximately in the twelve to seventeen age group), which is more than the population of some small countries, with about three hundred thousand graduating each year.

East Africa absorbs middle school students mainly in several areas. First, further education. The local universities cannot recruit many people. The number of local university students in school has not yet exceeded ten thousand, with only more than three thousand. The schools that are running only enroll about one hundred students per grade, and the entire school only has hundreds of students. In addition, there are four thousand international students each year, making a total of just over seven thousand people.

This number is not small. You should know that when Germany was unified in 1871, the number of students with higher education qualifications nationwide was only more than thirteen thousand. By 1880, the number of university students in Germany had only developed to more than twenty thousand. It is not easy for East Africa to accumulate so much wealth.

This is still thanks to East Africa’s status as a German nation. Otherwise, there would be no way to send international students. Monarchical countries such as Germany, Austria, and Sweden are important destinations for East African international students.

Japan can only send thousands of international students to Europe and the United States every year, and the price is not cheap. East Africa has international student cooperation with several friendly countries, which greatly saves costs and provides more places.

Second, the military, with the navy being the main consumer, including the army and navy academies, namely the Hechingen Military Academy and the Ferdinand Naval Academy, which account for a certain share and belong to the military system.

Third, factories. Factories absorb a portion, but places like Mogadishu, which have no industry, have no relevant demand. Ordinary low-skilled jobs, even those that do not require education, can complete most of the work. Industrial cities such as Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Mbeya absorb much more.

Kranz didn’t think too much, but addressed Treier’s question, saying, “That’s natural. East Africa has made great efforts to popularize compulsory education, and it started relatively early. Although it cannot be compared with the developed areas of your Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is much stronger than those backward areas. Basically, every East African city has universal primary and secondary compulsory education.”

The compulsory education of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is more mature than that of East Africa only in areas such as Austria and the Czech Republic. As for Hungary, it is slightly worse, and the popularization in other economically backward areas cannot be compared with East Africa.

“Then how many cities in East Africa have universal middle school-level compulsory education?”

“Of course, all of them. Perhaps some remote areas, or our undeveloped areas, have not yet had time to popularize compulsory education, but there is definitely no problem for many cities with a little history. Schools will be built immediately in every city, so every city in East Africa has a middle school.”

Kranz didn’t know how to explain the difference between East African administrative cities and European cities to Treier, because East African cities, like the Far Eastern Empire in my previous life, also managed a large number of areas, including townships and villages, while European cities and villages are clearly separated.

Because of this, Kranz doesn’t know how many cities there are in East Africa. However, according to European standards, the number is definitely no less than fifty, after all, there are more than twenty provincial capitals alone. Some provinces that are developing well will also have more cities, such as the Central Province, which has six cities.

Moreover, the administrative divisions of East Africa are constantly changing. Take the Highland Province as an example. The Highland Province includes the original Highland Province, Kilimanjaro Province, South Great Lakes Province, (Old) Hohenzollern Province, and the Grassland Area of the Greater Region era. So now there are five cities in the Highland Province that have served as provincial capitals or regional capitals.

However, frequent changes in administrative divisions also show that East Africa’s self-regulation ability is currently in a healthy state. After all, East Africa is a new country, and its territory is constantly expanding, and the original administrative divisions will not keep up with the development of the times.

What Treier wanted to ask was not this, but the specific number of cities in East Africa, so that he could estimate the number of middle school students in East Africa, but he subconsciously ignored the existence of rural middle schools in East Africa.

Although he visited Mogadishu First Middle School, Mogadishu is a provincial capital city, and it is also an ancient city, so the Austrian did not feel too surprised that there was a middle school.

However, Treier did not quite believe what Kranz said earlier about popularizing middle school-level compulsory education nationwide, even after visiting Mogadishu First Middle School.

This is the prejudice of Europeans. Although East Africa claims to be a German nation, this does not affect the stereotypes of traditional German nations such as Germany and Austria towards East Africa, that is, East Africa is just a colony. Even if it is larger now, it is just a larger colony.

After all, even top powers like the Austro-Hungarian Empire have not fully popularized primary school-level compulsory education. How can your East African colony go a step further and promote middle school-level compulsory education throughout East Africa?

There is some truth to this. Whether East Africa counts as promoting middle school-level compulsory education is indeed open to question. At least from the European standard, East African middle schools can only be regarded as semi-finished products. East Africa’s middle school-level compulsory education expenditure is not much more than primary school-level compulsory education. It is nothing more than preparing textbooks for another five years and doubling the number of teachers.

If Kranz knew Treier’s inner thoughts, he would definitely refute it properly. East Africa’s economy is naturally not as good as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but politically, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not necessarily much stronger than East Africa.

Taking compulsory education as an example, it does not completely consider economic issues, but is also a political achievement project, which greatly tests the country’s government’s ability to allocate resources. In this regard, East Africa is much stronger than the noisy Austro-Hungarian Empire.

It can be imagined that if East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire simultaneously conduct national mobilization, East Africa would completely defeat the current Austro-Hungarian Empire, both in terms of efficiency and scale, because the populations of the two countries are now at the same level.

East Africa also focuses on standardization, including public infrastructure such as telegraphs, railways, and roads. On the other hand, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, railway gauges are varied, and various telegraph companies are fighting their own battles. It is just that East Africa’s territory is too large, which may drag down East Africa’s operating mechanism in this regard.

But conversely, the land area gives East Africa a great sense of security, and it can effectively use space to buy time. Tsarist Russia must have a deep understanding of this. It is just that it is more difficult for the two countries to build roads and railways than other countries, after all, the amount of work is greater.

Chapter 630: Labor Cooperation

Regardless of the extent of compulsory education in East Africa, it didn’t hinder Trier’s calculations. He said to Mayor Kranis, “Mayor Kranis, since you have so many middle school students in East Africa, and you can’t provide them with better job opportunities, isn’t this a huge waste of social resources?”

“Yes, we’ve thought about that too. After all, investing in education is no small matter, especially with ten years of compulsory education. However, this matter is decided by the central government, so we can only be responsible for implementation,” Kranis said truthfully, expressing his thoughts.

If spending more money doesn’t yield the expected returns, doubts will naturally arise. However, East Africa is doing this to better adapt to historical trends in the future, because Ernst knows that as times develop, the demand for talent will only increase. The total number of university students in Germany, which is over twenty thousand, is still less than the number in an average university in his previous life.

Ernst was considering long-term benefits, but East Africa was indeed unable to provide so many job opportunities at the moment.

“That’s the thing. We in the Austro-Hungarian Empire wouldn’t be so impulsive in our investment in education. This doesn’t prevent Austria from being one of the cultural centers of Europe,” Trier said.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire also invests a lot in education, but the Austro-Hungarian government is definitely more meticulous compared to the East African government, or rather, their approaches are different. One focuses on elite education, emphasizing quality, while the other focuses on mass education, emphasizing quantity. However, as the saying goes, quantitative change leads to qualitative change, and this is also East Africa’s approach.

However, there is no distinction between superior and inferior. Their goals are the same, provided that they are sincerely cultivating talent for the country, even if it’s just for the utilitarian purpose of maintaining national stability.

Trier tentatively asked, “Mayor Kranis, has your East African government considered a win-win solution to solve the employment problem for middle school graduates?”

“Well, Mr. Trier, what are your thoughts?” Kranis asked, puzzled.

“Mayor Kranis, listen to me. It’s like this: you have students facing employment problems, and we in Austria have many job opportunities that require a slightly higher level of education, at least better than elementary school. Wouldn’t this create a complementary relationship between our two countries?” Trier directly stated his purpose.

His words indeed made Kranis think. As an East African official, Kranis was quite familiar with the national conditions of East Africa, so he was also aware of the extent of East Africa’s compulsory education promotion.

And Trier’s words were indeed very attractive, which relates to the term “remittances.” In fact, many countries generate income through “remittances.”

For example, the mercenaries of various states and nobles in medieval German history can also be regarded as a form similar to “remittances,” risking their lives for foreign monarchs and then earning income.

Like Egypt, Pakistan, India, Thailand, and many other countries in his previous life, “remittances” are an important source of income, especially Egypt. “Remittances” are even a pillar industry. After all, Egypt has a population of over one hundred million, and the land is only along the Nile River. If they don’t go out and find opportunities, they will really starve to death.

The current Japan also relies heavily on “remittances” to accumulate funds for national development. As for Europe, it’s even more frequent, especially within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The development of countries and regions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire is uneven, so a large number of Hungarians, Serbians, and Poles enter economically developed areas to work. If they later choose to return to their hometowns, then these wages should also be considered “remittances.” After all, the countries within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially Austria and Hungary, can be completely regarded as two countries, and other regions also have strong autonomy and independence.

“Mr. Trier, your idea is very good, but this is not something that a small local official like me can decide. You must know that our East Africa has very strict management of its population. The mobility is not as strong compared to European countries, so even if I agree, I am powerless. However, I will relay your suggestion to the higher-ups,” Kranis said.

As for the poor population mobility in East Africa, it depends on how you analyze it. East Africa’s household registration system has fixed many people in place, and without government permission, the mobility is indeed very poor. However, the large-scale population migrations organized by the East African government are also numerous, and this aspect has also had a significant effect on the development of the East African interior. A contrasting example is the development of the American West, where the government hardly intervened, relying entirely on the private sector to exert its power.

Trier asked, “Then, Mr. Mayor, do you think the possibility is high?”

Of course, Kranis didn’t know. After all, he still has the provincial government above him, and it’s not even certain whether it can pass the provincial government’s approval, so he said, “It depends on what the higher-level government thinks. However, you can go to Dar es Salaam to try. After all, your identity as Austrian businessmen is much more effective than my small mayor, and it’s also easier to attract the attention of the central government.”

Trier felt quite satisfied with the solution Kranis gave. It would indeed be more efficient for them to do it themselves.

Finally, the topic returned to the issue of investing in building factories. This time, the Austrian businessmen ultimately gave Mogadishu the opportunity, which was to solve the port problem first. If Mogadishu’s new port can be completed by the end of the year, then they can try the waters first. As for the subsequent supporting facilities, they will talk about it next year.

The reason why Austrian businessmen are delaying is entirely to fight for more benefits. Even without the guarantee of the Mogadishu municipal government, they can also pay for the relevant work themselves, but who wouldn’t do it if they can save more money!

They are still optimistic about the prospects of Mogadishu, especially since the fruits and vegetables here are indeed quite popular in Europe. Therefore, even if Mogadishu doesn’t make too many promises, some of them will choose to cooperate, but that won’t achieve the effect that Mogadishu wants.

Mogadishu places more emphasis on exporting the products of the Northern Province to overseas markets, but its own capabilities in this area are limited and can only be handed over to Austrian businessmen. When they build the relevant factories, they will actively promote the superiority of the Northern Province’s agricultural products to Europe for their own benefit.

…

“Labor cooperation?” When Ernst heard the report from his subordinates, he learned about the Austrian businessmen’s idea. Before this, East Africa had not been without people working abroad, but it was mainly done through official channels or the channels of the Hechingen Consortium. This was the first time that a foreign private group like the Austrian businessmen had actively sought cooperation.

After thinking about it, Ernst agreed. This matter would not harm East Africa, but he also had some considerations of his own.

“Cooperation is possible, but we must maintain the initiative. We can imitate the model of international students to build a similar platform, but this platform is a multinational labor company rather than a government agency. After all, we must ensure the safety of our own citizens, at least prevent them from being unfamiliar with the place in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

Ernst only wanted to build a platform, not control it. This was not alarmist talk. There were indeed examples of countries doing this, namely the current government of the Far East Empire.

Anyway, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also a monarchy, and Ernst is not afraid of any dangerous remarks and ideas being transmitted back to East Africa. Moreover, these graduates who go abroad to work are not afraid that they will not return. After all, their home is in East Africa. Even if they don’t return, it doesn’t matter. In Ernst’s view, staying in East Africa or Germany is all in the family.

Chapter 631: Preparation

“Your Royal Highness, how will the profits from the labor cooperation be distributed?” asked Friederike.

Ernst said, “You calculate a reasonable range to be used as the company’s operating expenses, and the rest depends on their own abilities to earn.”

As the organizer, East Africa charging for providing services is justifiable. After all, ship fares, work arrangements, and related rights protection all require funds as a guarantee.

“Everyone should be registered, one copy locally and one for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, especially recording family and address information. After all, this is working abroad, and communication is not very convenient, so it’s also good to resolve their worries about their families,” Ernst continued.

…

Time came to September, and Ernst had already begun preparing to fulfill his promise to Karolina to return to Europe to visit her grandmother. The family began packing their things for a trip to Europe, but the plan still had some changes.

“Ernst, can little Friedrich and Jena both go to Austria this time? Grandmother also wants to see her little great-grandson. She hasn’t seen her since Friedrich was born!” After learning that little Friedrich could not go to Austria, Karolina asked her husband.

Jena is Ernst and Karolina’s second child, a princess, just two months old. Because she is too young, Ernst and Karolina’s trip to Europe can only be postponed by four months, that is, until February of next year.

The safe age for infants to travel by ship is at least six months, so to be absolutely safe, they have to wait four months.

“Karolina, it’s not that I don’t want to take little Friedrich, but you also know the situation of our Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family. There are only three males in total: me, Father, and little Friedrich. We are truly short on male heirs. And going to sea has a certain risk after all, so it’s better to let little Friedrich stay in East Africa with Father. Besides, Father is old, and having a grandson to accompany him won’t make him feel so lonely,” Ernst explained with some helplessness.

He might also want to take his family to Europe to visit relatives, but this era is not like his previous life after all. Transportation and medical levels have big problems, so it’s better to be on the safe side.

Of course, the main consideration is political. East Africa, as a monarchy, is naturally maintained by the royal family, so the royal family must not have problems. Someone must be stationed in East Africa, even if it is only symbolic.

As for before, East Africa was small, and Ernst could control it in Europe through the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Consortium. Now East Africa is no longer what it used to be and can be considered a “great power,” so it naturally cannot be easily entrusted to others.

Moreover, as long as the royal bloodline remains in East Africa, the country can continue to operate smoothly. This is Ernst’s hard work, so he can’t put all his eggs in one basket, just like the Egyptian plane crash in his previous life, where a single plane directly lost a whole nest of generals.

The only regret is that Friedrich is a little too young, but it’s better to have him than nothing. Besides, there’s still Constantine watching over him. In recent years, Ernst has been very concerned about his father’s health, so he doesn’t let him worry too much about political affairs. At least in terms of complexion, Constantine can still live for a long time.

For this trip to Europe, Ernst does not plan to do anything big in East Africa at the end of 1881. He will operate according to the established plan, and everything will be discussed after he returns.

“Alas, if we were still in Europe, it would be much more convenient to visit relatives by railway and carriages,” Karolina said.

“Hehe, if we were there, we wouldn’t have been able to accumulate such a large foundation. Europe is still too small, especially between the major powers. There is almost no buffer space, and we face the threat of war at any time, so East Africa is safer,” Ernst said.

Now, the major powers in Europe, except for Britain, are all bordering each other. Spain is next to France, France is next to Germany, Germany is next to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Tsarist Russia. Tsarist Russia is not the Russia of his previous life, with Eastern European countries separating it from Western Europe. The Franco-German conflict is also very sharp, and there is unrest between Russia and Austria. It’s simply Britain stirring up trouble everywhere. The whole of Europe could explode, but the current economic situation is good, and there is a lot of space for overseas colonization, so the countries still have some strategic composure.

As for East Africa dividing up a small half of Africa, it is actually not important, because most of the land occupied by East Africa belonged to the spheres of influence of Britain, Portugal, and Belgium in his previous life, plus two unimportant German African colonies.

German East Africa, namely Tanganyika, is slightly valuable, while German Southwest Africa is completely leftover scraps.

Portugal and Belgium are no longer on the same level as East Africa. The fact that the two countries were able to retain such a large area of colonies in Africa in their previous lives was more due to luck and friendship than strength.

The only one who is unhappy with East Africa and has the strength to cause trouble is Britain, but they have already missed the best time to intervene in East Africa. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy for East Africa to develop inland. Colonies such as Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Transvaal, and Bechuanaland can be said to have been stolen by East Africa from Britain.

Moreover, Britain is originally the world’s largest colonial power. East Africa cutting off a large piece of what should have belonged to Britain in history does not change this fact, so East Africa’s impact on the world格局 is not as great as imagined.

It can only be said that East Africa has joined the game, but it has not changed the strength of the old players on the table. Currently, it is still developing according to the approximate trajectory of his previous life. As for major changes, it should take at least a few decades to manifest.

“Ernst, you’re right. Being safe and sound is better than anything else. Compared to Europe, East Africa’s conditions are worse, but it is also far from war,” Karolina agreed.

Ernst shook his head and said, “It’s not exactly far from war. Our south is very unstable, but these don’t affect the areas we have already developed, especially the east and inland. Overall, there is a risk of war, but it is controllable.

And the powder keg that is Europe only needs a small spark to explode. This is also the benefit of a unified country. The fragmented state of Europe is bound to cause this result. It’s just that with the updating and iteration of weapons, the intensity of war is also increasing. Future wars will probably be more and more terrifying.”

Restricted by the times, Karolina could not imagine what pattern future wars would develop into. According to her knowledge, it would simply be that the caliber of artillery would become larger and larger and there would be more and more of them. Maybe in the future, artillery will replace firearms.

Of course, she was just thinking about it, because that is indeed the current military development. From land to sea, countries’ armies are pursuing caliber justice.

“Okay, don’t think so much. Anyway, we East Africa can probably stay out of it, unless we participate in it ourselves, so this is not a problem we should care about,” Ernst comforted.

Even in the world wars of his previous life, the main impact was on the Eurasian continent. As for East Africa, it was similar to North America. Although it would be affected, it was generally safe. The only one that might not be too affected was South America, which was truly remote.

Chapter 632: Heading to Europe

After arranging matters in East Africa, Ernst prepared to depart for Europe. Before leaving, he specifically investigated any potential destabilizing factors. Currently, all internal affairs in East Africa were running smoothly and in an orderly fashion. The only thing worth paying attention to was the civil war in the Orange Free State.

Although the civil war in the Orange Free State wouldn’t directly affect East Africa, the Orange Free State was, after all, East Africa’s neighbor. Based on his previous life’s philosophy, neighborly relations were a rather troublesome issue, just like the group of countries surrounding the Far Eastern Empire. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile. Although they couldn’t cause any significant damage, their annoying tactics were endless.

The same went for Russia. However, Russia had never been good at handling neighborly relations, or rather, they were good at handling neighborly relations with violence. Using force was indeed the simplest and most effective method, but Russia was prone to being tripped up in unexpected ways. Fortunately, its large size prevented it from suffering too much. If Russia were to show even a little weakness, those neighbors would probably join forces and devour it alive.

East Africa handled neighborly relations mainly in two directions: the north and the south.

The northern neighbors got along relatively well with East Africa. The three colonial regimes (the Congo Free State under Belgian rule, Italian East Africa, i.e., parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the Sigmaringen Royal Territory) all had East Africa’s support behind them, as did the two traditional political powers (Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire).

Although Egypt was a semi-colony of Britain, it still had some autonomy. At least, it didn’t dare to pull chestnuts out of the fire for Britain, because East Africa truly had the ability to snatch the Sudan region from Egypt’s hands.

The south was the territory of the British and Boer forces. Apart from the Orange people, the others were basically in a state of hostility.

As for the east and west directions, which were the remaining Portuguese colonies from which East Africa had carved out large tracts of land, they were now completely disregarded by East Africa and were considered a piece of land that East Africa could devour at any time.

As for the Portuguese government’s large-scale investment in military forces in Mozambique and Angola in recent years, Ernst was not worried. On the contrary, he was happy to see it happen, because the East African army also needed a whetstone to stay sharp, especially since the army had not blindly expanded in order to maintain its combat effectiveness, and it needed real combat to be tempered.

“Ernst, make sure to call back when you arrive in Europe, and take good care of my granddaughter.” Constantine said, reluctantly holding Princess Jena.

Little Friedrich stood beside his grandfather, not crying or fussing, still unaware that his parents were about to leave him and go to a country thousands of miles away.

Austria was truly far from East Africa. Even the straight-line distance was more than three thousand kilometers, and the East African territory closest to Austria was New Bavaria Province (eastern Azande Plateau).

If considering sea routes, the European country closest to East Africa was Greece. As for Cyprus, it was Ottoman territory, but it had been leased to Britain by the Ottoman Empire as a base, an important node for maintaining the main sea route between Britain and India.

“Father, after I arrive in Austria, any problems can be discussed over the phone. Information transmission in Europe is still very developed, and this trip to Europe is mainly to visit Empress Dowager Sophie, and also to visit friendly countries. We will be back soon.”

Ernst didn’t plan to stay in Europe for long. After all, he had to handle so many affairs in East Africa. Being away for too long would naturally not be good.

“Alright, I won’t say any more unnecessary words. While you’re in Europe, take a look at the situation in Hechingen. After all, that’s where our roots lie.”

Constantine still had a lot of feelings for the Principality of Hechingen. After all, he had spent most of his life in Hechingen, and Hechingen was the birthplace of the entire Hohenzollern family. After the Prussian royal family became prosperous, they would also fund the renovation of Hohenzollern Castle. The Hechingen line naturally valued it even more.

“Father, we’re leaving then!”

“Go.”

Karina took the sleeping Princess Jena from Constantine’s arms. Ernst squatted down and said to his son, “Friedrich, stay at home and listen to Grandpa.”

He didn’t know if this silly boy understood, but Ernst enjoyed the interaction between father and son. However, the thought of temporarily leaving his father and son still made his nose tingle.

“Go, I will take care of East Africa and Friedrich for you!” Constantine said.

“Goodbye, Father, take care of yourself.”

Afterwards, Ernst boarded the ship with Karina and Jena. This time, they would first go from First Town Port (Little Rhine River port) to Bagamoyo City, and then transfer directly to a warship arranged by the navy in Bagamoyo City to go to Europe.

There was also a detail, that was, the Little Rhine River belonged to the Guards Division’s defense zone, and the Guards Division was mainly the army, so after arriving in Bagamoyo City, the safety of Ernst and his party would be taken over by the navy. However, the Guards Division’s naval force would also send people to board the ship.

The benefits of this arrangement were also obvious, that was, it added a safety valve to First Town. There were many examples of mutinies in history, most of which were by the army, but after the rise of the ocean, the naval power of some countries also expanded.

Especially Britain, Tsarist Russia, and Japan, these countries that built their capitals on the coast.

The capital of East Africa was not far from the sea, and there was also the Little Rhine River waterway connecting it, so the control of the Little Rhine River did not belong to the army or the navy.

Although the Guards Division belonged to the army in terms of organization, it was actually a royal army that was self-contained, after all, the Guards Division had complete naval and land forces, with independent command and logistics systems.

In this way, the defense of the Central Province avoided being interfered with by the navy and army, and they formed a stable balance with the Guards Division.

…

“Your Royal Highness, this time your flagship is the ‘Friedrich’, in addition to which there are the ‘Otto’ and ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ as escorts.”

“What about my father-in-law!” Ernst asked. This time Ferdinand also went back to Europe with Princess Charlotte.

“Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are on the ‘Archduke Ferdinand’. Archduke Ferdinand usually likes to use the ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ as his command ship, and this time is no exception.”

Compared with the last time from Europe to East Africa, this time Ernst’s fleet was smaller in scale, but the quality was completely different. Last time, Ernst’s fleet still had many armed merchant ships, but this time, returning to Europe directly with ironclad ships as escort formations greatly improved the safety, and also showed the development of East Africa’s national strength.

“Karina, pay more attention to the temperature changes. Our East African waters are in the tropics, so it will be relatively hot, but winter in Europe is just about to pass, so it must still be very cold, and Europe is also in a transitional state, so the temperature there will still change after we go.” Ernst reminded his wife.

“Yes, I know. We brought very complete clothing this time, so there will be no problem even if we spend all four seasons there.” Karina said.

This was the difference between East Africa and the Eurasian continent. If it was summer in the northern hemisphere, it would be easy to adapt from East Africa to the Eurasian continent. Conversely, if it was winter, it would be a bit of a pain. In First Town, the temperature was still in the twenties, close to thirty degrees, while the temperature in Vienna might only be in the single digits.

Chapter 633: An “Old” Acquaintance

“Trieste has changed so much in the last few years! I thought the development in East Africa was shocking enough, but I didn’t expect the Austro-Hungarian Empire to be like this too!” Karina exclaimed.

Trieste has seen new changes almost every year for the past dozen years. Karina and Ernst have been in East Africa for so long, so Trieste is completely different from their previous impressions.

Under the tide of the times, it is not only East Africa that is developing, but also Europe, the center of the world. In the 19th century, with the connection of two industrial revolutions, countries that seized the opportunity would undergo earth-shaking changes.

The most typical examples are Germany and the United States. Just seeing Trieste now is enough to know the huge development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Germany and the United States, which have even better results, will be even more surprising.

Even Ernst, who had seen the “infrastructure maniac” in the Far East Empire, felt a mental shock at the current development of Europe.

“This is the change brought about by technology. The two technological revolutions have had an extremely significant impact on the entire world civilization. It is understandable that the Austro-Hungarian Empire has achieved such results under this wave,” Ernst said to his wife.

“Everyone keeps saying how serious the economic crisis and the Great Depression of 1873 were, but this does not hinder the development of European society. On the contrary, after draining the water, the industrial structure has become healthier. Now the Austrian economy is much more vibrant than before we went to East Africa.”

In fact, the great development of Trieste is inseparable from the boost of trade between East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The prosperous port trade has tripled the population of Trieste in the past two decades.

The first surge in population and industry in Trieste came from the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time. The Venice region was recovered by Italy. After losing Venice, Trieste became the only good seaport of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so the economy of Trieste directly achieved a leap and quickly became a major city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The second time was in recent years, with the surge in trade between East Africa and the German region. Thanks to the previous railway construction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this is a transit port for commodity trade between East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Most of the import and export trade between East Africa and the entire German region is transited through here.

East Africa is a huge raw material supplier, and the German region is one of the most economically developed regions in the world. The complementary relationship between the two has ushered in the second major development of Trieste.

The total area of the German region in Europe is more than one million square kilometers, and they are all developed and familiar lands. The density of the railway network is second only to that of the United Kingdom. It connects the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the land and water networks are dense. Inland river transportation is developed. At the same time, it is the east-west land passage of the European continent, with a population of nearly 100 million, abundant coal and iron resources, and a very developed industry. Compared with this, East Africa only has the advantage of having a large enough territory.

If you remove the rich mineral resources in the inland and south, relying only on the resources of East Africa in the previous life (East Africa in the true geographical sense), it is really not enough to show off.

After such a calculation, it is actually true that Germany and Austria joined forces to fight against the world in the First World War. Coupled with the lack of energy, it is reasonable to be able to fight against the Allied Powers without falling behind.

The later failure was more of a failure in confidence, and the United States’ entry into the war accounted for the vast majority of the factors. If the United States did not exist, then Germany and Austria, even if they did not win, still had the ability to draw with the exhausted Allied Powers. Russia in the Allied Powers was also an unstable factor, but the contradictions within Russia were irreconcilable, and Ernst did not think that the Russian Provisional Government could succeed.

“Darling, your ability is also good. After all, East Africa started from scratch, and being able to develop to the present level is enough to make many countries blush with shame,” Karina said to Ernst, while also glancing at her father.

Ferdinand said unhappily: “Why are you looking at me for no reason? The situation in Mexico was complicated at that time, and none of the forces took me seriously. I just had a title. If you are not a cunning old fox, you can’t be stable at all. Also, are you my daughter? Isn’t this exposing my scars?”

Karina put her arms around Archduke Ferdinand’s arm and acted coquettishly: “How dare I expose your scars? And I know that you were just a remote-controlled puppet of Napoleon III at that time, and you might not get support.”

Speaking of Napoleon III, it aroused the memories of Ernst and Ferdinand. Speaking of which, Napoleon III should not be at peace under the Yellow Springs. Now the French people’s evaluation of Napoleon III is definitely not very good, but in a few years, it may be reversed. Later French governments always fail to disappoint their enemies.

However, Ernst and Archduke Ferdinand did not recall this person because of Napoleon III’s civil and military achievements, but because of Napoleon III’s death. Napoleon III was once extremely prominent in Europe, but he finally died in exile in England. This contrast is always sighing.

Archduke Ferdinand once had some resentment towards Napoleon III, but with the death of the person, the debt was gone, and he felt that he was much luckier than Napoleon III. After all, he is now serving as the naval leader, or even the founder, of a major country. Future history should give his life a few more kind praises.

This is the right way to think. There are many monarchs who have fled in European history, but few can be remembered, but there are many more monarchs who have been executed, such as Louis XVI, Charles I, including Archduke Ferdinand (Maximilian I), the Emperor of Mexico, in his previous life.

Moreover, Archduke Ferdinand is not considered to have fled. Future history should record that he was rescued from the anti-government forces in Mexico by his son-in-law, Ernst. Rescue sounds much better.

Ernst was thinking about the solution of Napoleon III and took this as a warning. Before the Franco-Prussian War, no one was optimistic about Prussia, but Prussia counterattacked. Now that East Africa is stable, it cannot be taken lightly. We must never have the arrogant mentality of “the advantage is on my side.”

This is the result of combining the current situation in the Orange Free State. In the previous life, the British used 400,000 troops to conquer the Boers, and now the Transvaalers and the British are standing together. Portugal will also support the British. If the British target a country like East Africa, they will definitely not learn the set of dealing with the Boers, because the size of East Africa is not comparable to that of the Boer countries.

If the British really use force, then the forces that can be assembled will be at least more than 600,000. The British themselves will have no less than 400,000. With the support of the British, the Transvaalers should have no problem forming tens of thousands of people. There should be no problem with the Portuguese having more than 100,000 people. This also takes into account the problem of Indian auxiliary troops.

It is not that Ernst is thinking too much, but that the strength of the enemy must be considered as comprehensively as possible. The British definitely have this ability. After all, the British made a demonstration in their previous life.

The East African regular army is only a mere 300,000, which is the result after adding the navy. Of course, there are also hundreds of thousands of retired soldiers in East Africa. Adding the militia, the mobilization ability is very terrifying, but the combat effectiveness of the militia is questionable, so foreign wars are not decided by patting the head. If something goes wrong, it will be a laughing stock.

As for joking about opening British lobster soldiers, East Africa is really not necessarily more confident than the Boers in the previous life, because the regular army is very different from the guerrilla tactics of the Boers.

Chapter 634: Scheme Selection

Hessen Province.

The name corresponds to the Grand Duchy of Hesse in Germany. In reality, Hesse was just a county in the 18th century, similar to the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. However, Hesse seized the opportunity during the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1803 and expanded its territory. Later, Napoleon formed the Confederation of the Rhine, and Hesse was elevated to a Grand Duchy by Napoleon, annexing more territory and officially becoming one of the important states of Germany.

The capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse was Wiesbaden, but in his previous life, the most famous city in the German state of Hesse should have been Frankfurt, one of Europe’s financial centers.

The Grand Duchy of Hesse, as the name suggests, is characterized by its numerous forests. Three-fifths of the country is covered by forests, making it the most forested area in Germany, with numerous river valleys and basins.

A significant reason for naming East Africa’s Hessen Province similarly is that its natural characteristics resemble those of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, namely dense forests.

Hessen Province is located on the eastern edge of the Congo rainforest, west of the Mitumba Mountains, so it has abundant rainfall. Coupled with the prevalence of mountains and plateaus, the forest coverage rate reaches over seventy-five percent.

It doesn’t reach ninety percent because after merging with the southern Mitumba Province, it acquired a portion of the Katanga Plateau, which has a typical tropical savanna climate.

At the same time, by merging with Mitumba Province, Hessen Province also achieved a border with Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika). It is bordered by the Congo River, the river with the largest flow in East Africa, on the west side, and Lake Tanganyika, the lake with the most freshwater resources in East Africa, on the east side, so Hessen Province has abundant water resources.

Currently, Hessen Province’s development is considered relatively good among the various provinces in East Africa, and the East African Railway Company has also determined the overall plan for the Hessen Province section of the Central Railway after more than half a year of investigation.

“The Lualaba River (the upper reaches of the Congo River) is more than one thousand eight hundred kilometers long, but it has many rapids and waterfalls, and poor water transport conditions. This makes the north-south transportation development of Hessen Province very unsatisfactory. On the contrary, east-west transportation is connected to the outside world through the Great Lakes region, Lake Tanganyika, and the railway to Bujumbura. However, this also makes the economy of the entire Hessen Province easily fragmented. At the same time, due to the existence of the Congo rainforest, there is also a lack of a major transportation artery connecting the hinterland between North and South East Africa, which is quite regrettable,” said Barmir, an engineer at the East African Railway Company.

If the Lualaba River could be navigable, that would naturally be ideal, and there would be no need to build the Hessen section of the Central Railway. However, due to the terrain, the Lualaba River passes through plateaus and plains, so the terrain has a large drop, and there are many waterfalls and rapids, which makes the Lualaba River very poor in navigability, and the corresponding hydropower resources are very abundant.

“Downstream of Kisangani (the third largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as”Stanleyville”), all the way to Kinshasa, the main stream of the Congo River is a natural waterway with very convenient water transportation. If it can be connected with the railway, it will be of great benefit to East Africa’s development of the Congo rainforest.”

Kisangani was discovered by the Belgian explorer Stanley in his previous life, because it is an important dividing point between the Congo River and the Lualaba River.

The Kisangani Falls are located here, and downstream is the navigable section of the river, and upstream is the Lualaba River.

“So now the major point of contention for the Central Railway and the Northern Railway to connect is whether to pass through Kisangani. If it passes through Kisangani, it can connect the two major railway arteries with the Congo River waterway, which will greatly benefit the development of Kisangani, and even in the future, Kisangani’s development will be no less than that of coastal cities.

And if it doesn’t pass through Kisangani, then the overall Northern Railway will have to move north, and the main body will pass through New Bavaria Province (eastern Azande Plateau), and New Bavaria Province will definitely be happy to see it happen.”

This is the dispute between the two major north-south schemes for the extension of the Northern Railway. In fact, both of these schemes are in line with Ernst’s ideas, and in Ernst’s view, they are both necessary to build. However, which one to build first is very particular. The one that is built first can also experience the dividends brought by the railway earlier.

Barmir’s student, Christian, suggested: “In terms of distance, there is not much difference between the two schemes. They both start from Kisumu and end in Bangui. The difficulty is also similar. The northern route has to pass through the Nile Basin, and the southern route has to pass through the Congo Basin. Both have to pass through large areas of rainforest and swamp, so the most important thing is to consider the economic benefits brought by the railway, and the sooner the benefits are obtained, the better.”

“Then it is more reliable to choose the southern route scheme. One is that the economy of Hessen Province is more active than that of New Bavaria Province, and the other is that the Central Railway now passes through Hessen Province, and the Bujumbura Railway also belongs to the branch line of the Central Railway, which overlaps.

So it is better to go through the Northern Railway, so that the economy of Hessen Province can be connected to both major regions at the same time, and I also have an immature idea, that is, in the future, after the economic development along the Congo River, a nationally important transportation hub in East Africa can be formed in Kisangani, and the northern route scheme cannot achieve this effect,” Barmir said to Christian.

A national transportation hub, an important function is to realize economic interconnection. If the southern route scheme is selected, the economic ties between the Northern Industrial Belt, the Great Lakes Region, Hessen Province, and the three inland provinces (Hohenzollern Province, Swabia Province, Matabeleland Province) can be greatly strengthened.

Among them, the Northern Industrial Belt has been developing well, especially in the field of light industry, making outstanding contributions to East Africa.

The Great Lakes Region is an important grain and cash crop production base in East Africa, and relying on the Great Lakes, water transportation is convenient, and the fishery is developed.

Hessen Province is also a major resource province, and is the largest rubber producing area, the largest forestry producing area, and various mineral resources are relatively rich.

As for the three inland provinces, they are the core areas of East Africa’s current development, relying on massive mineral resources and superior natural environment, and focusing on building an inland industrial base.

And it is also necessary to consider the existence of the Congo River, so that an important transportation hub of three lines in one is formed, that is, Kisangani, the capital of Hessen Province.

Of course, the most important thing is that Hessen Province has industries now. In comparison, New Bavaria Province is much inferior, and the gap between the two provinces is all-round, whether it is population, resources, or other.

And an important factor in railway construction is to be as close as possible to cities or developed areas, so leaning towards Hessen Province has become a natural thing.

However, the difficulty of building these two railways is also the most difficult in East Africa, no less than the Siberian Railway. The two are two extremes, one is the cold climate, and the other is the hot climate.

East Africa has to overcome the difficulties in terrain, while the Siberian Railway has to overcome the problem of permafrost. However, there are also many common points, that is, there are many forests and swamps in the area, and the amount of logging and drainage is not small.

However, the overall difficulty of the Hessen Railway is lower, because the permafrost problem is much more difficult to solve than the terrain, and the terrain of Hessen Province is not complicated, at least compared to other countries. The Mitumba Mountains are not a natural barrier. Although they are called mountains, they are actually inseparable from the plateau. Its northern part is also called the Itombwe Mountains or the Itombwe Plateau.

Chapter 635: Within Fifty Thousand

“We can also start considering industries related to Kisangani. The entire Haut-Uele province is mainly centered around rubber and mining, while Kisangani also has cotton cultivation and primary textile industries.”

In fact, there are many crops that can be grown near Kisangani. The annual rainfall here reaches one thousand seven hundred millimeters, located on the edge of the rainforest, with excellent water and heat conditions. Otherwise, the provincial capital would not have been chosen here.

However, if Ernst chooses the provincial capital, he must have the experience of his previous life as a reference. Kisangani served as the temporary capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo in his previous life, with a population of six hundred eighty thousand, and the entire jurisdiction had a population of more than one million six hundred thousand. Coupled with its location in the center of the African continent, it is known as “the world’s most isolated large city.”

This indirectly shows that Kisangani’s foreign exchanges were not smooth in its previous life, mainly reflected in transportation problems. However, Kisangani can develop into a city with a population of more than six hundred thousand, and in the impoverished Democratic Republic of Congo, it shows that the foundation is still solid. Because it has served as a temporary capital, Kisangani has many universities and institutions.

Kisangani under East African rule is naturally not as glorious as in its previous life, but the transportation is much better than in Kisangani in its previous life. This is due to East Africa’s vigorous construction of roads in Haut-Uele province.

East Africa’s obsession with infrastructure cannot be compared with that of African countries in its previous life. The road hardening project currently being implemented in Haut-Uele province benefits Kisangani.

Bamir: “The entire Haut-Uele province has a very weak industrial base, and it is very different from the railway lines we have planned in the past. The difficulty of the projects along the line has greatly increased, so we must use the resources in Haut-Uele province as much as possible, which can save a lot of time and workload.”

East Africa has built a lot of railways, but most of these railways are built in the plateau area. The plateau area of East Africa, not to mention the cool and mild plateau climate, the construction difficulty is not too great. The plateau of East Africa is still flat, except for the high altitude, and because of the savanna, it is more suitable for development. Therefore, the Haut-Uele railway is a very challenging task for Bamir.

“This matter should be discussed with the Haut-Uele Provincial Government. After we hand over our drawings to them, let them plan the quarries and logging yards according to the railway’s trend. The cement plant can also be expanded. There are also three cement plants in Kisangani. Now Haut-Uele Province is massively increasing cement production, and I heard that it is for road hardening projects, which provides convenience for railway construction,” Christian analyzed.

Bamir: “Well, there is also the steel problem. It just so happens that Matabeleland South Province has sufficient steel production capacity. It is not far from Mbeya. Through the Central Railway, we can first transport the steel to Lubumbashi, and then process it locally, and then lay the rails northward along the line.”

Haut-Uele Province can solve the cement problem by itself, but steel must rely on support from other provinces, because the distribution of iron ore in East Africa is very limited. This is not to say that Haut-Uele Province has no iron ore, but that Haut-Uele Province has a small amount of iron ore, a small scale, and low development and utilization value. Future technological advances may be considered.

Christian: “The problem of raw materials is not a concern. What really needs to be solved is the problem of railway construction. This time, the railway will pass through the rainforest area, and the casualties may be astronomical, especially in dealing with diseases such as malaria, so quinine should be prepared in advance, and a large number of mosquito repellent items should also be purchased.”

Some people in his previous life studied that the miasma in the southern legends of the Far East Empire is actually malaria, which is the biggest problem encountered in the southern development. Malaria is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes.

Human activities can effectively suppress the living space of mosquitoes, snakes, and ants, which is particularly obvious in cities. East Africa is actually the same as the south of the Far East. In the areas that have been developed, there is no big difference from other areas in the world.

However, in places like Haut-Uele Province, it is still necessary to be more cautious, so more relevant preparations need to be made.

As for the casualties that the Haut-Uele railway may face this time, Ernst has expectations in his mind. The well-known Death Railway in his previous life, the Thailand-Burma Railway, was built with human lives. The number of deaths was no less than two hundred fifty thousand, and it took only fifteen months to complete the six-year project. On average, more than 600 people paid the price of their lives per kilometer.

This Thailand-Burma Railway project was done by the Japanese, so it is not an exception. Survivor Roy Armstrong said this when recalling this experience: I don’t know how to build a railway, but I never thought of using a basket and a shovel.

Sometimes they can only rest for 2 hours a day, and as the workload increases, the mortality rate of prisoners of war and laborers is also increasing, and the workload assigned to each person is constantly increasing. Some people have worked continuously for 133 days.

They can only eat a standard amount of rice a day, which contains maggots and worms. Occasionally, the Japanese army would bring in a buffalo and cut the best meat for the Japanese officers and guards. The remaining bone residue could not meet the needs of thousands of mouths. They would put some meat in the soup depending on their mood. They tried their best to get enough to eat. If an unlucky python ran into the prisoner of war camp, it was destined to escape.

East Africa will never be as morbid and crazy as Japan. At least the slave food in East Africa is better than in some countries in the Far East, and the combination is more reasonable.

At the same time, East Africa implements militarized management of slaves, and the sanitary conditions are higher than the standards of workers and prisoners of war who built the Thailand-Burma Railway.

Because there is a saying that harming others ultimately harms yourself. If slaves do not pay attention to hygiene, if they are infected with diseases, it is likely to affect the East African management personnel, and then threaten the national epidemic prevention work.

Bamir: “More steam pumps should be prepared, and the fuel problem should also be solved. There are many swamps in the entire Haut-Uele province, especially in the north, and the water accumulation is more serious. In addition to the improvement of tools, the project should also consider drainage, especially drainage ditches, culverts, and material bearing capacity.”

Christian: “This involves some special road sections, and we must consider the mudslides and landslides caused by heavy rain or floods, so road protection facilities must also be considered, and some road sections must be cleared of risks in advance, so more explosives must be applied for.”

Although East Africa still uses a large number of slaves, the use of slaves also carries risks, and East Africa will eventually become a normal country, and the relevant slave system will eventually be eliminated. The way to replace slaves is to vigorously improve East Africa’s technological level and productivity.

At present, East Africa’s gunpowder production capacity has been improved, thanks to the development of East Africa’s defense industry, so it is generous in the use of gunpowder. Ten years ago, East Africa still needed to import a lot, but now it can produce it itself.

Similarly, East Africa can now produce steam engines. The first domestically produced steam engine in East Africa was produced in 1870 after the introduction of a complete set of technologies from Germany.

Now is still the era of steam engines, and steam pumps are produced in large quantities in East Africa. Many mines and irrigation projects use them. Of course, more advanced internal combustion engine pumps are also used, but they are still in the popularization stage.

In addition, many tools have also been localized, and production efficiency has been greatly improved with the blessing of East Africa’s excess steel production capacity.

These provide conditions for the construction of the Haut-Uele Province railway this time, but at present, the railway still cannot get rid of the consumption of people. Ernst believes that controlling the number of casualties within fifty thousand is a reasonable range.

Chapter 636: Sharing the Pressure

The Black Forest Province railway is divided into two parts: the northern section of the Central Railway and the central and western sections of the Northern Railway. Prince Carl has been personally overseeing the Northern Railway’s central and western sections.

Now that the railway department has given the go-ahead for the Northern Railway’s central and western sections to begin construction, Prince Carl is the most excited. After all, this railway is crucial to the development of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory.

So, early in the morning, Prince Carl went to Constantine to inquire about the details. As for Ernst, he is still in Europe, so he naturally couldn’t offer any experience.

“Brother, how long do you estimate the construction period will be for this railway project?” Prince Carl asked directly.

Constantine: “Based on past experience, if we go all out, it can be completed in two or three years. However, this railway is very different from the railways built in East Africa in the past. The amount of work is huge, and there is a high demand for labor for so many projects right now. So, I can’t give you a definite time frame, but the railway department estimates four to five years.”

“Four to five years, isn’t that too long!”

“The railway department said that the engineering problems are manageable, but the main issue is that the railway needs to undergo extensive testing before it can be opened. This is because the area the railway passes through is very risky and could face floods, mudslides, and landslides at any time. Therefore, they need to eliminate these safety hazards before the railway is operational, which will involve changes to some lines, or even major alterations.”

Tropical railways, especially those in tropical rainforest areas, are just this troublesome to build. East Africa is considered to have relatively good conditions. In the Amazon rainforest, it’s impossible to build railways at all; it’s more convenient to travel by boat.

In his previous life, the edge of the Congo rainforest was much better than the Amazon rainforest, and its population was also larger than that of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. However, the basin topography also leads to heavy water accumulation downstream, which is one of the reasons why East Africa focuses on development on the edge of the Congo Basin.

“This year, to develop the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, we specifically recruited more people from the Far East, so we can replace the Black people in the Sigmaringen Royal Territory faster. After all, Black people are an unstable factor. Even in East Africa, we are only using them temporarily; otherwise, they will definitely become the tail wagging the dog.”

Under Ernst’s constant influence, Constantine also agrees with this principle: that Black people are an uncontrollable factor, and one should not be blinded by short-term interests.

“Brother, I don’t have any such ideas, but I will definitely take your words seriously,” Prince Carl said.

He has no choice but to agree, because the development of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory now relies on East Africa to complete. Therefore, East Africa’s values are the values of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory. Otherwise, why would East Africa give up such a large piece of land?

“I’m saying all this for the sake of family interests. Look at the Americans. Their ancestors probably never imagined that one day the slaves would turn the tables and become masters. The Mamluks of Egypt also became masters of the country from being slaves. This has already happened in many countries in the Americas, and Haiti has even become a Black nation.”

Constantine was exaggerating. Although Black people in the United States have been liberated, they are far from turning the tables and becoming masters. Many Black people have indeed gained freedom, but they have also lost their livelihoods.

As a result, Black people are constantly entering the gray and black industries in the United States, contributing to the country’s social disorder.

“If they had some special talents, that would be fine. But now the United States and other countries are in a chaotic state. In the future, Black people will only become an important group that tears the United States apart, because they simply cannot integrate into American society, yet they play an important role.”

“Of course, this has little to do with us superiors, but Black people are indeed not an ideal ruling class, and their level of civilization is too weak. The Black people in America have at least grown cotton in the Americas for hundreds of years. Many of the Black people in Africa have not even escaped the stage of drinking blood and eating raw meat.”

The cost of changing the living habits and moral values of a backward group is enormous. East Africa doesn’t even want to pay the cost of time alone. Therefore, the simplest and most effective way is to completely eliminate these hidden dangers from East Africa. As the northern barrier of East Africa, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory must also be consistent with East Africa; otherwise, East Africa’s work will be in vain.

However, East Africa may well have the idea of using the Sigmaringen Royal Territory as a future population reservoir. This certainly wouldn’t be harmful to East Africa.

If the Sigmaringen Royal Territory has a large population, they can completely squeeze out the local Black people, thus forming a barrier in northern East Africa. This is like “planting crops to remove weeds from the fields,” and it’s a gradual and long-term solution.

“This year, we have relaxed some immigration restrictions, so we may recruit hundreds of thousands more people than last year, which includes the purpose of supporting the development of your Sigmaringen Royal Territory,” Constantine said.

In fact, this is also due to the shortage of people in Somalia’s “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan,” so East Africa has also relaxed this year’s immigration standards.

Constantine continued: “However, some things need to be clarified in advance, and that is that a large influx of Chinese immigrants into the Sigmaringen Royal Territory may not be a good thing. White immigrants must also keep up. East Africa is powerless in this regard, so you should let Carol I think of more ways.”

“The European immigration industry is very depressed now. Actually, other immigrants don’t matter, but there is a severe lack of German immigrants; otherwise, I wouldn’t be worried,” Prince Carl said.

“I have an idea. There are many Germanized Slavs in southern Austria-Hungary. As long as you can guarantee the control of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, Germanization can be steadily promoted. The most important thing is to form an armed force,” Constantine suggested.

During the colonial era in East Africa, it was the army that maintained stability in East Africa, and then the army was used to ensure the smooth progress of various tasks.

Now, East Africa’s development is obviously more focused on the economy, and the development of the army is becoming more and more rational. After all, East Africa is not Germany, surrounded by strong enemies, and with France as a deadly enemy, ready to take revenge at any time.

In other words, East Africa is gradually transitioning to a normal country, while the Sigmaringen Royal Territory does not need to do so, and should also pay attention to army building.

The Sigmaringen Royal Territory is now a primary colony, and it doesn’t matter if the ruling methods are simple and crude. Moreover, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory faces no fewer competitors than East Africa. It is already close to West Africa: France, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands… It’s very complicated.

After all, it is the origin and center of the Black slave trade, and is also known as the Gold Coast and Ivory Coast. It was the earliest colonized region in Africa, and the forces are quite complex. This is also why Ernst chose East Africa as the location for his business, because West Africa was too competitive.

However, compared with East Africa, West Africa’s conditions are indeed not bad. There are basically no shortcomings in various resources. If it weren’t for the mineral resources of Matabeleland Province and Hechingen Province to support it, East Africa’s conditions would really not be as good as West Africa’s.

Constantine’s suggestion to Prince Carl to form an army is also for the sake of family interests. In his previous life, the French forces had penetrated deep into Chad, and East Africa cannot always help Sigmaringen defend their home. East Africa itself has a long border and faces considerable defense pressure. It also hopes that the Sigmaringen Royal Territory will grow up and share the pressure.

Chapter 637: Utterly Devoid of Virtue

Constantine and his old brothers could talk about anything, but of course, most of it was discussing the management of the colonies.

Although Constantine didn’t participate in the management of East Africa during its early colonial period, he had seen the pig run even if he hadn’t eaten the pork. Especially when he was crowned King of East Africa, East Africa was in the transitional period from colony to kingdom.

At that time, many of East Africa’s models were still operating according to the colonial form, especially those newly occupied areas. Prince Karl was naturally not bored and came to listen to Constantine bragging, but really wanted to learn from East Africa’s model.

Colony management is actually not difficult. You can do it with a gun in your hand. The most primitive colonial method is nothing more than “grabbing”.

Now, colony management has been upgraded to a “cooperation” model, like Britain, which is attracting a large group of Indian princes and nobles, and jointly exploiting and oppressing the Indian lower classes.

Britain is also building roads, digging canals, and constructing railways in India, which were not seen in the past. During the era of Portuguese and Spanish colonization of the world, they would not engage in construction in the colonies at all.

As for the Dutch, they paid more attention to trade methods, but unfortunately, their size was too small, and they ultimately failed in the competition with Britain.

What East Africa is worth Prince Karl’s attention is naturally East Africa’s rapidly expanding national power. In just over a decade, East Africa has completed the transition from a primitive society to a modern society.

This is actually not difficult. As long as the population is in place, the development of the colony will be much easier. Of course, black people are also acceptable, but there are not many black people in Africa. After all, they are one of the three major races, but they have not yet reached one hundred million. Adding to the fact that East Africa has squandered so many, there may only be more than seventy million now.

East Africa did not engage in massacres, but East Africa engaged in forced large-scale migrations. Back then, as many as six or seven million natives from the Great Lakes region fled to West Africa, and blood flowed like rivers along the way. After all, when they arrived in a new place, land and wealth always had to be grabbed.

But East Africa has no psychological burden. As long as blood doesn’t splash within East African territory, it’s just tribal feuds between the black uncles, and it has nothing to do with East Africa. East Africa and the United States are like the difference between a robber and a murderer. It goes without saying which is more heinous, but neither is a good thing. Of course, the United States did both robbery and murder. East Africa also has to add the identity of a trafficker, and the buyer is the United States. This is also an irony of the times.

…

“This little one must be Jena! So cute, just like Karina when she was a child.” Empress Dowager Sophie said lovingly while holding Princess Jena.

Communication between East Africa and Austria is still very convenient. At least telegrams and telephones are not lacking, so Empress Dowager Sophie knew of the little one’s existence before Jena was born.

Little Jena was sleepy-eyed, but didn’t cry because a “stranger” was holding her. Her little face was chubby and very cute.

“Grandmother, you’re exaggerating too much. How could we be exactly the same?” Karina snuggled up to Empress Dowager Sophie’s arm and acted spoiled.

“Hehe, I was the one who took care of you when you were a child. You don’t remember what you looked like as a baby. Look at this nose, these eyes…” Empress Dowager Sophie played the game of finding similarities.

It must be said that the current Empress Dowager Sophie is much younger than in her previous life. After all, her precious son, Archduke Ferdinand, was not shot in Mexico, and he can still visit her often now, so she lives more comfortably. Of course, the terrible mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship with Princess Sisi has never changed.

“Little Friedrich and his grandfather are in East Africa. Because the Hechengen royal family is somewhat sparse, for political stability, they cannot come to Austria, so there are only photos.” Archduke Ferdinand took out a photo of his grandson for his mother to see.

Originally, he wanted to give a portrait, but little Friedrich was lively and active and couldn’t sit still at all, so he could only use photos to record it. Although the photos lacked some vividness, they were also more realistic.

While the family was enjoying themselves, Ernst and his great-uncle, Emperor Franz, were discussing the relationship between East Africa and Austria-Hungary in the study.

Now East Africa has the strength to treat Austria-Hungary as equals, and even Franz has to pay attention to East Africa’s existence. The benefits that East Africa gives up every year are not a small amount.

“The British have been sanctioning you for almost a year! I haven’t heard of any follow-up actions from them recently. What’s your relationship now?” Franz asked.

“Before, Afghanistan distracted the British, after all, Afghanistan is directly related to India, and India is the lifeblood of Britain, so Britain put all its energy into dealing with Afghanistan. As for now, we are not worried about the British causing trouble. They are now focusing on dealing with the Orange people.”

“The Orange people?”

Only East Africa currently calls them the Orange people. As for other countries, they may not even know of the existence of the Orange Free State.

“They are the Boers who originally lived in South Africa. After the Transvaal was destroyed by us, most of the residents migrated to the Orange Free State, which is also a Boer country.

Now, Transvaal immigrants and the original residents of the Orange Free State are engaged in civil war, so in order to distinguish between them, we call them Transvaalers and Orange people respectively.” Ernst had to explain the intricate relationship to Franz.

Because the location of the Orange Free State is indeed very awkward, it has been completely turned into a landlocked country by East Africa and Cape Town, and it has no great value except for diamonds, so it will naturally not attract attention. This is similar to Outer Mongolia, which was sandwiched between two major countries in its previous life, but its area is not as large as Outer Mongolia. East Africa and Britain do not pay much attention to it, and the channels for foreign exchanges have been cut off by the two major hooligans, so they can’t express their suffering.

Therefore, places like the Orange Free State are destined to hardly attract outside attention, and even the civil war that occurred there is only known to the two neighbors, East Africa and Britain.

“Since they are all Boers, why are they fighting? Shouldn’t they unite and point the finger at you?”

“Ahem, Great-Uncle, you can’t say that. Our East Africa has always been a country that treats people with kindness, at least the Orange people know our kindness.” Ernst said shamelessly.

“Did you provoke the internal conflicts of the Boers?”

“Of course not. If we had this ability, we would have done it long ago. Moreover, if we, East Africa, were to instigate discord, then the Orange people and the Transvaalers would not split at all. Maybe they would unite to resist foreign enemies, after all, the fact that we wiped out the Transvaal Republic cannot be erased.”

“Since it wasn’t you, why are they fighting internally, and as you said, with East Africa, a great enemy, in front of them, aren’t they afraid of taking advantage of the situation?”

“This is thanks to the utter lack of virtue of the British. Now Britain is the suzerain state of the Orange Free State. Uncle, you also know that the Boers were not on good terms with the British in the first place. Now that the Orange has been incorporated into the British colony, the Orange people will naturally not be honest. For their own rights, they will inevitably sing a different tune from Britain on some matters.

If it were other colonies, the Orange people might really be able to fight for their rights, but they just happened to accept a large number of Transvaalers within their borders.

Many Transvaalers want to restore their country, and facing a powerful country like East Africa, they know that they can only rely on Britain, so Britain chose to cooperate with the Transvaalers.

Therefore, Britain took the initiative to sow discord, dividing the Boers into two parts. Now the civil strife in the Orange Free State has not subsided, so Britain has no way to concentrate its forces in South Africa to confront us.”

Chapter 638: Exchange of Benefits

After listening, Franz’s lips twitched slightly as he said, “They really know how to stir things up!”

Britain’s consistent style of being a troublemaker was well understood by most European countries, especially those like Austria-Hungary, which received special “attention” from Britain.

“Now the Boers should also be considered their own people, yet they’re still playing the game of checks and balances. But this is consistent with the British approach.”

Franz felt indifferent towards Britain, but he did admire one thing: Britain’s methods were indeed superb. To say nothing else, the British mainland was composed of three parts, plus Ireland, making four. But England’s ability to easily control the other three parts was something Franz greatly admired.

After all, within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria couldn’t manage to control Hungary, and behind Hungary, there was a pile of other states and regions trying to cause just as much trouble.

If Austria had England’s ability, it would definitely make Hungary taste the power of the Irish Potato Famine. However, Britain was, after all, an island nation, not easily subject to foreign interference, so the two countries were still very different.

“If you can’t handle Britain, we can also provide some support. Although we can’t directly intervene, we can still help you solve some problems,” Franz said.

Now, East Africa’s status was different, so it was valuable enough to be courted. If it were still the East African colony shrinking in “Tanganyika,” it would probably only receive the response, “Who is East Africa? I don’t know them.”

“Hehe, that won’t be necessary. Right now, East Africa’s main priority is economic development, so it would be good if Austria-Hungary could ease up a bit in areas like education, technology, and culture,” Ernst said.

It’s better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish. Austria-Hungary would certainly not be a sucker like the Soviet Union, teaching everything step by step. However, if East Africa paid its own tuition and came to study, that would not be a problem.

“That’s naturally no problem. But will you help us share a larger portion of our industrial products?”

“I can’t make decisions blindly on this. East Africa is large, but truly poor! However, we can help digest many commodities that East Africa cannot produce.”

Commodities and industrial products are different. Agricultural products can also be commodities. Austria-Hungary itself is a strong agricultural country, located in the temperate zone, with many crops that East Africa does not have, so this aspect can be considered.

But East Africa needs to be cautious about industrial products. Ernst calculated for a moment and then said, “Austria-Hungary’s main source of income is still agriculture. Its industry is not as strong as Germany, Britain, and France. But we in East Africa are currently busy with infrastructure construction. As you know, Uncle, the African land has never been developed before, so East Africa has to build everything ourselves. This year, we plan to build a railway with Romania, directly to the Chad region in the heart of Africa. This railway has many technical difficulties. If Austria-Hungary participates, we can concede more benefits.”

The difficulty of the central and western sections of the Northern Railway is no less than that of the Siberian Railway. If East Africa relies solely on its own efforts, using brute force to create miracles, it can certainly be done, but it would be very uneconomical.

In this regard, involving Austria-Hungary may have unexpected effects. After all, Austria-Hungary’s terrain is quite complex, and it has the most experience in Europe in building railways in mountainous areas.

Although the main force in building the railway is black people, black lives matter too! So, having Austria-Hungary participate to reduce some loss of life is not a bad thing for East Africa. It can also speed up the project. The sooner the Northern Railway is open to traffic, the sooner East Africa can build a northern population isolation zone.

“Austria-Hungary’s oil production is also the highest in Europe. East Africa can import more of that,” Ernst said.

Austria-Hungary still has part of Romania’s territory from its previous life, so its oil resources are relatively abundant, ranking first in Europe in terms of production.

And East Africa needs to promote the development of the internal combustion engine industry and the automobile industry, so oil resources are essential, and they can only take the path of imports.

As for East Africa’s own oil, although Ernst knows the approximate locations, the technology and theories of the current era may not support inland oil exploration, and resource exploration is also a very laborious task.

Geological personnel often have to endure the elements, enter mountains and caves, and stay outside for ten days or half a month, so it is very time-consuming and laborious. Moreover, the understanding of elements and minerals in this era is also very rudimentary, and the technology is backward, so finding minerals is a very difficult technical job.

The advantage of domestic mineral exploration in East Africa is that black people have hardly developed this land, and many minerals may be on the surface. If this were placed in Eurasia, it would have been exhausted by predecessors long ago.

In recent years, the development of transportation in East Africa has further promoted the development and progress of the mining industry. Geological exploration personnel can not only penetrate more areas, but also mechanical equipment can enter development with the help of railways and highways, and finally be transported out through the railway, and then East Africa uses it itself or exports it, fully verifying the truth that to get rich, build roads first.

Railway investment is the trend of this era, just like new energy, artificial intelligence, and the like in the twenty-first century. In this era, railways are this kind of new thing. Although railways have been widely popularized in Europe, that is only for the five major European powers: Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia. Other countries are far behind.

East Africa’s pulling in Austria-Hungary can further digest Austria-Hungary’s domestic steel production capacity and drive the development of related industries, which is already a considerable sincerity. After all, the central and western sections of the Northern Railway would be a proper national project if placed in Austria-Hungary, because Austria-Hungary is so small compared to East Africa.

And Ernst added an oil import, which made Franz even more satisfied. Although oil production is limited in this era, it also shows that oil prices are high, after all, scarcity makes things valuable. Besides being used as fuel, oil has a wide range of uses, otherwise Rockefeller would not have made his fortune from oil.

East Africa’s import of oil from Austria-Hungary is not a small income for Austria-Hungary. Although Ernst did not say the specific amount, it will certainly not be small.

Ernst doesn’t care, because a large part of the oil industry in Austria-Hungary and Romania is invested by the Hechingen Consortium. Importing oil from his own company in this way is nothing more than paying more taxes to Austria-Hungary. Doing business on someone else’s territory, paying taxes is unavoidable.

Getting a satisfactory answer, Franz also asked, “I won’t ask too much about the education matters you mentioned earlier, but this still depends on the needs of the various schools within the empire. After all, they also have to enroll students according to their own capabilities, and there are already many East African students studying in Austria-Hungary every year. We can discuss technology and culture instead.”

East Africa is the largest group of international students in Austria-Hungary. Basically, every university has East African students, so what Franz said is not a problem. However, East Africans are also considered half-Germans, so studying in the German region is not very abrupt. The level and quality of universities are also high in this era, and there will be no discrimination or the like.

Countless countries come to Europe to study, and many shrewd speculators will run some diploma mills to cheat tuition fees. The cost of studying abroad is high in this era. East Africa’s way of studying abroad, which directly cooperates with the governments of various countries, avoids many problems, so East Africa does take a lot of advantage.

Chapter 639: Unequal Exchange

“Technology is multifaceted, involving various industries, and doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to the industrial field. Take the medical industry, or handicrafts, for example. East Africa has always valued medical development, but this is, after all, not a strength of a new country like ours. Although we absorb a large amount of the essence of traditional medicine, we also need the help of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.”

Ernst said this because the industrial development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire had only begun to make significant progress in recent years, and it was probably only stronger than Tsarist Russia among the top major powers.

Of course, being backward was only relative to countries like England, France, and Germany. Currently, it was still something East Africa could only look up to.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s main traditional foreign markets were the Balkan Peninsula and the Ottoman Empire, while domestically, it was a large self-circulating market, which was the relationship between Austria and Hungary.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s domestic market was not stable. The main reason was that there were many conflicts between the economies of various ethnic groups, which affected the stability of this market. The multi-ethnic attribute intensified the market stability of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was an obstacle to the industrial development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The same problem, such as the resource allocation in East Africa. The coal resources in the Southern Frontier Province helped the development of the coastal cities in East Africa. The people in the Southern Frontier Province would not think there was anything wrong with this.

But if it were within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it would easily cause misunderstandings: “The Austrians are plundering our resources.” This kind of illusion.

Therefore, it was very difficult for Austria to integrate the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Opportunists like Hungary could still negotiate, but when encountering extreme nationalists like Serbia, they would directly strike a heavy blow against the leading empire.

Past life experience proved that even without the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Serbia would not be able to become the leader of Yugoslavia or the Balkan Peninsula. It was successful because of extreme nationalism, and it was also defeated by extreme nationalism.

In contrast, East Africa’s fundamental ethnic policy better realized the harmonious coexistence between various ethnic groups or races in East Africa, and consolidated the national consensus.

Of course, the effect was not yet visible, because the first generation of German immigrants still had pride in their hearts, but when they intermarried with other ethnic groups and races, they would naturally become family members.

“In this regard, we can only act as a bridge, but if you really want to learn something valuable, you can only rely on yourselves,” Franz said.

Franz really couldn’t make decisions on the resources within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, unless they were state-owned enterprises or royal enterprises, because “private property is sacred and inviolable.”

East Africa was the opposite. East African assets were in the hands of the state, or in other words, in the hands of the Hechingen royal family. Therefore, Ernst could mobilize the resources of the entire country, but Franz couldn’t.

However, with the support of the Austro-Hungarian government, East Africa could save a lot of trouble. Although they couldn’t contribute, it would be easy to drag them down if they really wanted to.

…

In this transaction with Franz, Ernst didn’t gain an advantage, and even suffered some losses. The benefits obtained by both parties were not equal, but this was the price that backward countries had to pay.

Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had indeed helped East Africa a lot. For example, if East Africa hadn’t had the help of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it wouldn’t have been able to build its navy. This alone was very rare.

There was also the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s support for East Africa in education, which was also invaluable. Therefore, Austria had been dedicated enough to its ally East Africa, so it was reasonable to help Austria digest some industrial products, which was a reciprocal exchange.

Just like how the Far Eastern Empire became the world’s factory in its previous life, it was also achieved by pretending to be a grandson for more than ten years. Such a large country, and a nuclear power, disguised itself as harmless and endured humiliation. Ordinary countries simply couldn’t pull off this feat. If it were the northern neighbor, it would have already lost its temper.

Compared to this, East Africa’s behavior was nothing. If Japan at this time could encounter such a good thing, it would probably even do things like recognizing the enemy as its father.

Of course, the fact that Ernst didn’t gain an advantage from Franz also showed from the side that East Africa had learned or obtained too much from the Austro-Hungarian Empire before.

Now, asking for more would be asking for the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s core skills. Normal countries would definitely not do things like teaching their apprentices to starve their masters, so Ernst was very satisfied to be able to get something from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In fact, Franz was also quite troubled. Ernst, this “beggar,” was also picky, which also showed from the side that East Africa, as a country, was developing rapidly. Many low-end industries were already looked down upon, or rather, they already possessed them, so they were thinking of moving further towards the mid-to-high end.

The root cause of this result was that East Africa was not a small country at all, and it could not be easily dismissed with a little money and aid.

If East Africa included the black population, its population would directly exceed fifty million, which was directly more than the population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Under such circumstances, the Austro-Hungarian Empire simply couldn’t support it.

Therefore, the two countries could only adopt closer cooperation from a military and political perspective. This was mainly reflected in the naval aspect. Although Africa was not far from Europe, it was separated by the Mediterranean Sea.

Moreover, the number of East African troops was similar to that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but East Africa’s territory was several times larger than that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When the scale was large, it was easy to neglect one thing while attending to another. This was also the reason why East Africa adopted a “defend the north and attack the south” approach in its foreign policy.

The southern countries, namely the British and Portuguese colonies, had great hostility towards East Africa, while the threat from the northern countries was much smaller. Therefore, East Africa adopted a conciliatory attitude and supported Belgium and Sigmaringen, which had friendly relations with East Africa, as barriers.

With a large territory, more troops were needed to defend it, but East Africa couldn’t afford to support too many troops, so maintaining between two and three hundred thousand was a reasonable range. The United States simply saved on troops altogether.

The expenses of more than 300,000 European-level regular troops were not a small amount. Only wealthy countries like Germany could afford to equip them.

Therefore, East Africa’s military expenditure had always been maintained at a high level, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army was also maintained at around 300,000, which already put a certain amount of pressure on the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Moreover, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had greater defense pressure than East Africa. None of the three countries, Germany, France, and Russia, were easy to deal with. It was only because it was currently allied with Germany and Russia that 300,000 troops were simply not enough.

Russia alone had a million regular troops. Although their level did not meet the standards of other countries, it was more than enough to deal with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was Ernst’s idea. After the reforms of Alexander II, Tsarist Russia was already very close to the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the industrial field. Of course, the Austro-Hungarian Empire could still defend itself outside its borders. The European countries maintained a fragile military balance between them.

In the 19th century, one thing was better than in later generations, and that was that as long as a country had autonomy and worked hard to develop its industry, it had the possibility of catching up. Without autonomy, it could only serve as a colony. And if it worked hard to develop its industry, it was easy to achieve results in this era, because the technological barriers were not as strict as in later generations.

Taking the equipment level of various countries as an example, there was almost no generational difference between the major powers. It was also easy to imitate weapons, especially army equipment. The real barriers were still high-tech military services such as the navy, which was also an important reason why Britain could maintain its naval lead.

Chapter 640: Construction Site

A human wave attack. In an era without large-scale mechanical engineering, all projects required manual labor. This question was clearly beyond the capabilities of the Africans who had just emerged from primitive society.

On the western side of the Mitumba Mountains, in order to pave the way for the Hesse Railway, the Hesse Provincial Government prepared to mobilize four hundred thousand people to repair the planned route.

Of course, it wasn’t possible to gather four hundred thousand people all at once. In addition to applying from other places, it was more important to mobilize the people of Hesse Province, with more militiamen ensuring the orderly progress of the project.

In addition to suppressing the blacks, there were various dangers in the primeval forest. These also had to be dealt with by the locals, who had accumulated a lot of experience after living here for so many years.

Just logging was a considerable project. It wasn’t as simple as just felling trees; the roots underground also had to be cleared away.

The primeval forests of Hesse Province were quite dangerous. Having not been developed for thousands of years, the trees often reached heights of more than ten meters, and thirty or forty meters were not uncommon. If the direction wasn’t controlled properly, a lucky person could be randomly crushed to death. Even in the twenty-first century, logging is a dangerous job, so this was unavoidable.

Black lumberjacks, with ropes tied around their waists, nimbly climbed to the top of the trees, reached behind them to take out the ropes, skillfully tied them to the trunks, and then slid down.

Soon after, two lumberjacks below used iron axes produced in East Africa to chop at the tree trunk. Finally, with the joint efforts of more than a dozen people, a towering tree that had grown for who knows how many years fell in a fixed direction.

But this was far from over, because the felled tree did not fall directly to the ground, but was instead supported by the surrounding dense vegetation. To completely move it to the ground, they had to continue to cut down the surrounding trees.

“Cut down all the vegetation within fifty meters, remove all the leaves, throw them into the jungle on the side, trim the branches from the trunk, pile them on the periphery, and process all the main trunks into logs and stack them neatly,” Hans, the captain of the engineering team, instructed according to the requirements of his superiors.

The fifty-meter range was considered a temporary construction site. Hans’s task was to lead the team to continuously expand this fifty-meter-wide road to the north, making it easier for subsequent construction personnel to work.

The collected logs that met the requirements would be processed by carpenters into railway sleepers or cable support poles for communication along the railway.

The unqualified wood would not be wasted either. These remaining branches, after being dried in the sun, were natural fuel for boiling water, cooking, and maintaining hygiene.

After all, it was a primeval rainforest, so there were countless parasites and fungi. For the safety of the workers, they were required to shower, wash their clothes, and soak their feet every day.

All of this required hot water. Fortunately, this was a primeval forest, so there was no shortage of wood. Of course, the continuous rainy weather easily soaked these natural fuels, so the East African engineering team was also equipped with coal and other fuels prepared from the rear.

“Lazybones, take your machete and clear the branches and leaves. What’s the use of you chopping at the air there?” Hans kicked a black worker who was slacking off in the butt.

Hans managed more than fifty people, including seven militiamen from Hesse Province, six supervisors, and three cooks.

One supervisor watched four or five black people. Because of the location in the primeval forest, the Hesse government and the Ministry of Railways paid special attention to surveillance work to prevent these black people from escaping.

It wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill, but this area was full of dense forests and complex terrain. If the black laborers really ran away, they would really be gone. East Africa couldn’t possibly go deep into the dense forest to track them down.

Of course, it wasn’t a problem if a few black workers ran away. The main thing was to prevent these black people with “sharp weapons” from rioting and causing bloody conflicts.

With the outbreak of East African steel production, East African tools were replaced one after another. Even Hans’s small construction team was equipped with dangerous tools such as “pickaxes, axes, machetes, shovels, and iron bars.”

Although the East Africans held firearms, who could guarantee that these black people wouldn’t act recklessly and insist on fighting the East Africans to the death? This was still a primeval forest, not suitable for firearms to be used, so it was better to be careful.

Of course, unlike the East Africans, who were full of worries, most black laborers didn’t have this awareness at all.

It wasn’t that they didn’t like freedom, but where could they run to when they were unfamiliar with the place? Most of the black people in East Africa originally lived in the highlands and grasslands, and they were often taken around by the East Africans to rush to work and wouldn’t stay in one place for a long time. Therefore, they were also very unfamiliar with the Congo rainforest. The only ones in the team who were relatively familiar with this place were the militiamen of Hesse Province, or rather, the rubber agricultural workers.

The dark and gloomy tropical rainforest was off-putting to most people, and so it was for the black people who lived in the tropical grasslands all year round and enjoyed the bright sunshine. Therefore, they weren’t really stupid enough to drill into the unfamiliar primeval forest.

And the most crucial point was that the East Africans provided food. If they really ran away, how would they solve the problem of eating? If it was on the grassland, they could still use their traditional hunting skills, but in the rainforest, they were at a loss. The ecosystem here was completely different from the grassland, and the animals were also very different.

Of course, the black people on the grassland couldn’t run away at all. In such an open environment, the East Africans could let him run a hundred meters first and still shoot him down.

Another key point was that under the rule of East Africa, the ambition of these black people had long been worn away. A few years ago, there might have been headstrong black people who yearned for freedom, but now the East African black people had no courage to confront the East Africans at all.

….

“The weather in this Hesse Province changes so quickly. It was clear and sunny just now, and now it’s pouring rain,” Hans said.

“Captain Hans, let everyone take shelter from the rain first! It’s impossible to work in this weather,” said Chris, the militia captain.

“How long do you think this rain will last?” Hans asked.

“It’s hard to say. It could be just a few minutes, or it could be a few hours, or even a few days. But none of that matters. It’s getting dark now, and we won’t be able to see the sun in a while, so we might as well take advantage of the rain to finish work quickly and prepare dinner and hot water.”

Chris was a militiaman from the nearby village of Peneensari, so he knew the climate here very well.

“Well, that’s all we can do. Tell those black people to hand in all their tools, count them, and then go to the tents to take shelter from the rain. Hera and Will are responsible for watching them, and the others rotate every two hours,” Hans said.

The tools were relatively sharp objects, so they had to be counted and handed in every time after work. This was a necessary procedure for every East African construction team with black laborers.

This regulation was definitely not born out of thin air, but was the experience gained after bloody lessons. There had been cases where black people used the tools distributed by the East Africans to crack open the heads of the East African supervisors at night. After such things happened many times, collecting tools became a regulation for East African construction teams.

At night, Hans and his party gathered around the campfire and ate dinner. The sound of rain outside the tent never stopped, and the damp wood crackled in the flames.

The black people slept in a large tent. Their treatment was not as good as the East Africans, but they were each given two large bowls of rice, and straw mats were laid directly on the ground. This was their bed, or rather, the floor.

The Hesse Province Railway was being constructed simultaneously in four sections, but the initial speed was slow. The weather and environment were roadblocks to railway construction, especially the rainy weather throughout the year in Hesse Province, which was very different from the dry and rainy seasons of the plateau.

Chapter 641: One In, One Out

“The Chinese have many bad habits and prejudices, making it impossible for them to assimilate into American life, let alone accept the ethical and moral standards of America, which are based on Christianity; moreover, the large influx of Chinese laborers has created a tense situation where they are competing with American workers for jobs, and employing Chinese laborers will lead to lower wages.” – Knights of Labor.

“Today, the United States formally passed the ‘Law Regarding the Implementation of Various Provisions of the Chinese Treaty,’ which is a major step forward in American social progress, representing the maintenance of traditional order and culture, while also safeguarding the interests of the vast majority of San Francisco citizens.” – San Francisco Workingmen’s Association.

Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States has a long history, especially centered in California in the western region, but starting in May of 1882, their political views officially received legal support for the first time in American history.

Soon, San Francisco established a Chinese Immigration Processing Station to repatriate Chinese immigrants, and the East African Immigration Bureau quickly reached an agreement with San Francisco city officials to help the United States save on repatriation expenses.

Angel Island Immigration Station.

A very ironic name. Now, illegal Chinese in San Francisco are sent here. The cramped environment is crowded with people, even more dirty and chaotic than the slums of San Francisco.

Most of the Chinese people here have queues, just like in the Far East Empire. Their faces are sallow from hunger, their clothes are ragged, and their bodies don’t look very healthy. After all, the work they do is dirty and tiring, not much better than in the Far East Empire.

Even Wilson, a staff member of the Immigration Bureau who was used to seeing all kinds of scenes, was a little disgusted by this environment, but when he thought of the setbacks in his work last year, now that the opportunity had come, he had no choice but to lower his status and work here.

Wilson routinely took the key and opened the small house of the Immigration Processing Station, and then the assistant brought out the table and chairs.

The area in front of the house was already crowded with people. New people are sent here every day, and they will learn of Wilson’s existence through word of mouth from the old-timers.

Because not everyone is willing to go to Africa. Having stayed in the United States for a long time, they know some news about Africa. The United States and East Africa don’t have much contact, so the impression of Africa is still stuck in the past decade or so. Of course, some people just want to return to the Far East, or are thinking of escaping from here and continuing to live illegally in the United States.

Those who are unwilling to go to Africa to work, or who do not trust Wilson, will naturally stay in the Immigration Processing Station for a few more days.

However, there are also many who are forced to desperation. Most of these are undocumented immigrants. Of course, many Chinese in the United States are undocumented, because the Far East Empire government does not encourage going abroad, and most of them are immigrants from the South China region, which is similar to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period.

Wilson began his day’s work. He looked at the first person standing in front of the table, and after confirming that his limbs were intact, he directly asked, “What did you do in the United States?”

“Dock worker.”

“Where did you work before?”

“New York.”

“Then why did you come to San Francisco? New York is very far from San Francisco.”

“Sir, recently the entire United States has been arresting people like me and sending them here.”

“Do you have any desire to work in Africa?”

“Do you provide food?”

“Of course, but Africa is very far away, and the journey may be very hard.”

“Then I’ll go. I’m not afraid of hardship.”

“You passed!” Wilson said, picking up a small ticket and handing it to him.

Without even registering information, as long as you have this small ticket, you can board the ship to Africa. This rough method of selecting people is very different from the usual practices of the East African Immigration Bureau.

Wilson was too lazy to popularize the situation in Africa to them, because this time East Africa’s recruitment of immigrants did not have strict requirements. These people were all sent to the Hohenzollern Royal Territory.

If East Africa were to choose immigrants themselves, they would definitely carefully select them. As for giving them to other regions and countries, there would be no strict requirements.

Of course, if they could encounter rare talents, East Africa would definitely intercept them for themselves, but this kind of thing is difficult to happen. The Chinese who come to the United States are basically at the very bottom.

Every day, hundreds of people pass through Wilson’s hands to go to Africa, and the ships that bring these people back to Africa are precisely the slave ships that come to the United States from East Africa.

After all, the United States has the Chinese Exclusion Act, but no Black Exclusion Act, so with the help of East Africa, the number of people in and out of the United States is not affected.

Many of these Chinese have received “education” in industrial society in the United States, and after going to the Hohenzollern Royal Territory, they can better contribute to the construction of the Hohenzollern Royal Territory.

“These Chinese are all adventurers from the Far East Empire, many of whom are gold prospectors, or workers who were lured to participate in the construction of the American railway. Now we are just packing them up and sending them to the Hohenzollern Royal Territory to solve the population problem there,” said Weiss, the captain of the Delres slave ship, to Wilson, who was getting off work.

“Mr. Weiss, the treatment in the Hohenzollern Royal Territory should be good. These people won’t have a future staying in the United States, so they might as well try their luck in Africa. That’s how I went to East Africa in the first place.”

If there was no East African intervention, the vast majority of these immigrants, even if they could stay, would probably only have one generation in the United States. After all, their status is even lower than that of blacks, and they have no value in the American marriage market at all.

On the other hand, those who have already gone to East Africa may have already had several children, but this group of Chinese immigrants obviously does not have this kind of luck.

It is still the Great Depression in the United States, and as early as when the economic crisis broke out in 1873, East Africa was already recruiting people in the United States. That was the last window of opportunity.

In fact, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the result of the economic downturn in the United States. American society also needed a scapegoat, and the Chinese group, which had a low social status, different values, and was weak and isolated, was the best target for bullying.

Now, if you go to Africa without skills, East Africa will not want you, including railway workers. You can only be sent to the Belgian Congo and the Hohenzollern Royal Territory.

After all, East Africa had given them opportunities before, even before the economic crisis, and the Chinese who could run to the United States were still somewhat courageous, but East Africa does not need courageous people.

If the potential of German immigrants had not been exhausted, East Africa would not have wanted to absorb German immigrants in the United States.

As for this recruitment of immigrants, it is mainly to fill the gaps in the Hohenzollern Royal Territory and the Belgian Congo, and as for the specific treatment, it depends on the conscience of the Belgians and the ruling methods of the Hohenzollern Royal Family.

However, on the whole, going to Africa is still good, especially the Hohenzollern Royal Territory. After all, the Hohenzollern Royal Territory is modeled after East Africa, so the possibility of Chinese immigrants being discriminated against in terms of status is also less.

In fact, the Chinese Exclusion Act is not an isolated case. The East African government also has similar measures targeting East African blacks, but Ernst wants to save face and will not write it directly into the code like the United States.

In California, the state with the most serious anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States, the California government actually did not support anti-Chinese sentiment before, because the Chinese tax revenue filled the government’s deficit. Later, when the government’s finances became rich, it no longer opposed anti-Chinese sentiment.

This is very similar to East Africa before. After the eastern part of East Africa was developed, it also began the “de-blacking” movement. The first region to implement it was the two provinces in the Somali region.

Everyone is good at kicking away the ladder after crossing the river, so East Africa cannot stand on the moral high ground to criticize the United States’ approach, unless the United States targets East Africa, and everyone mutually smears and exposes each other’s dirty secrets.

Chapter 642: Sanctions and Capitulation

The Chinese Exclusion Act not only affected the Far East Empire, but when the news spread back to Europe, it also influenced East Africa. East Africa itself had half of its immigrants being of Chinese descent, and a large number of Chinese were working and studying in Europe.

Because the American Chinese Exclusion Act stipulated that it applied to all Chinese, including those who had already obtained citizenship of a third country, the United States automatically classified Chinese immigrants who had obtained East African citizenship as “Chinese.” Therefore, from the very beginning, this matter was not something East Africa could stay out of.

Ernst, who was visiting Germany, looked grim. He didn’t understand the specifics of the Chinese Exclusion Act. He had only heard of it in his previous life. It wasn’t until Chinese staff in East Africa working in the United States were restricted that Ernst realized, “This American knife also wants to chop off East Africa’s head.” Isn’t this the 19th-century version of long-arm jurisdiction?

If East Africa did not respond, it would be a blatant slander against East African citizens. East Africa had some patience with Britain, the world’s hegemon, but it had no “respect” for the United States.

“Have our media publish the detailed facts of this situation, so that rumors do not prevail in Europe, and at the same time, let Europeans see more clearly the true face of this group of upstarts, thieves, and descendants of robbers,” Ernst said after summoning Thomas (Tom), the person in charge in Germany.

This matter actually had nothing to do with Europe, but the center of world public opinion was in Europe, so the negative nature of the American Chinese Exclusion Act must not be allowed to spread to Europe.

Although the United States was seen as an upstart by Europeans, they were still white after all, so they would naturally be biased towards the United States in their attitude towards the Chinese.

“Not only that, but publish the American human rights hierarchy in European public opinion, so I can see how many countries will help the Americans speak.”

The American human rights hierarchy was nothing more than English, Jewish, French… German, Slavic, Italian, Black, Indian, Chinese in that order. The ellipsis represents the bottom layer, so the people in the German, Italian, and Slavic regions should not think about just watching the fun.

The pot calling the kettle black, that also depends on who the object is. If it were England, France, Germany, Austria, or Russia, then the remaining small European countries would endure it, but who did the United States think it was?

Therefore, Ernst planned to involve local public opinion, elevate the American Chinese Exclusion issue to an American racial and ethnic discrimination issue, and after creating momentum in Central and Eastern Europe, it would definitely give the Americans a headache.

These places also had one thing in common, which was that they were important trade areas for East Africa, and also areas where the Hechingen Consortium controlled public opinion.

During the economic crisis and depression of the previous decade, the Hechingen Consortium in Europe also began to transition from industry to financial capital, holding controlling shares in a large number of newspapers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Before the economic crisis, the Hechingen Consortium had repatriated funds, and later transferred some of its production capacity to East Africa. After all, many European companies went bankrupt at that time, and machines were sold off cheaply in batches. East Africa could pay a shipping fee and assemble the factories in Africa.

At the same time, the Hechingen Consortium could also put a lot of energy into the financial sector. The advantage of this was that the Hechingen Consortium developed towards international investment, and it was more difficult for local governments to control.

If they had all industries in their hands, it would be easier for them to be harvested by various governments, so the Jewish strategy was worth learning for the Hechingen Consortium. As for the hard work of developing industries, it was better left to East Africa itself.

Thomas: “Your Highness, I remember that around 1870, we left a lot of film evidence in the United States. Should these photos of Chinese workers also be published?”

What Thomas was referring to were the photos of the lives and work of Chinese railway workers that Ernst had specially sent people to collect in the United States at that time. Ernst had always retained the habit of preserving evidence of crimes.

“Then publish them all! A leopard can’t change its spots. Don’t the Americans claim to be free and equal? Let’s see how they quibble.”

“Also, question the Far East Empire government and ask them to respond to the American Chinese Exclusion Act. They can’t play dead on this matter. If they can’t afford to offend the United States, don’t think that East Africa is easy to bully. At the same time, in the name of the Pacific Fleet, enter Jiaozhou Bay to express our dissatisfaction.”

The Pacific Fleet only had five gunboats in total, but the symbolic significance was greater. The economic exchanges between East Africa and the Far East Empire had been increasing in scale in recent years, especially in the Huaihai Economic Zone, which had the largest area.

Although the Huaihai Economic Zone was controlled by the Far East Empire, East Africa had cultivated a large number of interest representatives in the area through economic means, mainly local officials and business groups, who relied on trade with East Africa as the leader of the East German trade, rather than trade with the American East.

In addition, local public opinion was also controlled by East Africa. The Qing government did not pay attention to public opinion, so East Africa and Western countries filled this gap.

In this way, East Africa could mobilize the Far East official forces and public opinion in the Huaihai Economic Zone to force the Far East Empire government to respond to the American Chinese Exclusion movement.

In fact, after the Westernization Movement, the national strength of the Far East Empire had rebounded to some extent, especially in the military industry, and several naval forces had been greatly developed. The Pacific Ocean was not so easy to cross in this era, so as long as the Far East Empire government had a slightly tougher attitude, the American government would definitely not take an inch.

Because American trade largely depended on the Far East market, if the Far East was excluded because of Chinese exclusion, causing American trade with the Far East Empire to suffer, then the people of the world would be happy to see it happen.

East Africa acted quickly. First, within East Africa, equal sanctions and countermeasures were taken against Americans in East Africa. There were already nine open ports along the East African coast, and these open ports were indispensable for American merchants who valued commercial trade.

At the same time, the mouthpieces of the Hechingen Consortium in Central and Eastern Europe began to publish the tragic experiences of American Chinese railway workers to European society. The “heroic deeds” of Americans being “ungrateful” and “kicking away the ladder after crossing the river” were widely circulated, and received positive responses in Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Tsarist Russia.

Its image was already not good, and now under East Africa’s instigation, the United States’ international influence plummeted, especially in the Italian region, where national media raised the banner of American “false equality” and demanded that the American government treat Italian personnel in the United States equally.

In July, Richard, the East African ambassador to the Far East Empire, met with the central government of the Far East Empire, and some officials from the four provinces in the Huaihai Economic Zone also submitted letters to the court, demanding that national traitors be punished.

As for who the national traitors were, naturally they were the officials who demanded the appeasement of the “American Chinese Exclusion Incident.” With this big hat on, coupled with pressure from the Germans, the Far East Empire government had no choice but to issue a slightly tougher anti-American statement, and with the support of East Africa, the Far East Empire directly imposed economic sanctions on the American state of “California.”

It directly beat the vanguard of this Chinese Exclusion Act black and blue. Other American states, especially those on the West Coast, revoked “relevant laws” overnight for their own interests, and pushed the responsibility to California.

At the same time, under the rendering of East African background media, a wave of “boycotting American goods” was set off within the Far East Empire, especially in the Huaihai Economic Zone and the Zhuhai trade zone.

Under the dual blows of international public opinion and economic interests, the American government had no choice but to amend the “Chinese Exclusion Act” in August, that is, amend it, not abolish it.

In particular, the item targeting “Chinese with third-country citizenship” was abolished in an attempt to quell the impact, but it did not want to admit its mistake.

However, East Africa’s demands were resolved on this point, and it no longer insisted on biting the United States to death. As for the Far East Empire government’s attitude, that had nothing to do with East Africa.

In this farce, Britain was very comfortable, especially since East Africa and the United States, two thorns in its side, were fighting. As for the Far East Empire’s tough attitude towards the United States, Britain supported it, because Britain was the Far East Empire’s biggest beneficiary, and the market lost by the Americans would naturally return to British hands.

Chapter 643: Spain and the Philippines

This time, East Africa’s actions were significant, but because East Africa wasn’t operating under its own banner in Central and Eastern Europe, at most it was just stirring things up. Everyone was currently verbally attacking the Americans, which conveniently diverted some of the social contradictions arising from the economic downturn in various countries. On the contrary, the governments of those countries were happy to see it happen.

However, the Americans were truly realizing for the first time that East Africa existed as a country. After all, it had escalated to the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and even the Far Eastern Empire government was putting pressure on the United States along with them. This feeling was like being ridden on and beaten down, which was very unpleasant. As for the Europeans’ discussions about the United States, that was a minor matter; when you have too many lice, you don’t feel itchy, and when you have too much debt, you don’t worry.

But the United States really didn’t have any effective way to deal with East Africa. In the end, they could only crack down on East African slave ships heading to North America, which was probably the biggest trade activity between East Africa and the United States.

But East Africa didn’t fall for that trick. The slave trade was already becoming increasingly difficult, so East Africa focused on developing the Latin American market. Except for Argentina, which wouldn’t budge, black slaves were still relatively popular in Latin America.

Moreover, the slave trade didn’t bring much economic benefit to East Africa; on the contrary, it was constantly losing money. So this countermeasure was nothing more than a mosquito bite to East Africa.

East Africa had plenty of ways to solve the black people problem. At worst, they could just sell them at a loss to West Africa. The slave plantation owners in West Africa would surely be extremely grateful.

Ernst originally didn’t want to pay any attention to the Americans’ actions, but since the United States had taken the initiative to provoke East Africa, Ernst couldn’t be blamed for being vindictive.

This time, the public opinion didn’t affect East Africa domestically. After all, news that divided East African citizens into “Germans” and “Chinese” was not conducive to unity, so it wouldn’t be promoted within East Africa. As long as someone obtained citizenship, they were considered “Germans.”

It was just that the first generation of East African immigrants was indeed still relatively distinct. In thirty or forty years, this problem would be completely gone. At that time, East Africa would enter the racial state of Brazil in the twenty-first century of his previous life ahead of time, with people of mixed race completely dominating the country.

…

Amidst all the noise, Ernst and his family finally arrived in Spain to visit the government of Alfonso XII.

“Ernst, I’ve actually wanted to meet you for a long time. Back then, your Hechingen royal family’s assistance to my mother and me allowed us to get through the most difficult years and played a huge role in restoring the Spanish monarchy.”

Ernst’s act of providing help in a crisis ultimately left a deep impression on Alfonso XII, and the relationship between Spain and East Africa was therefore quite good.

Most importantly, trade between the two countries was also relatively frequent. This was mainly due to Spain’s geographical location. Most of the merchant ships traveling from the east coast of East Africa to North America or Western and Northern Europe took the Suez Canal route and then passed through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Therefore, the opening of the Suez Canal was definitely a positive thing for Spain, just like the Strait of Mandeb was also a beneficiary of the Suez Canal.

“Your Majesty doesn’t need to say that. As a major power in the world, Spain’s political stability is very important. Your ascension to the throne ended Spain’s turmoil, which is a good thing for the entire country and Europe,” Ernst said with a casual compliment.

Alfonso XII’s perception of East Africa now could be said to be quite good, because East Africa had conflicts with Spain’s two competitors, the United States and Portugal. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, especially since the Hechingen royal family had once helped him.

And there was another point, which was that his wife, Maria Christina, was a Grand Duchess of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Maria Christina’s father was Archduke Karl of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Of course, there were many nobles named Karl in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

(Alfonso XII’s grandmother was also named Maria Christina, “Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies” in Spanish)

In fact, Maria Christina was Alfonso XII’s second wife. Alfonso’s first wife, Mercedes of Orléans, died half a year after their marriage and did not leave any descendants.

And this Maria Christina’s son was Alfonso XIII, but Alfonso XIII had not been born yet.

In history, Maria Christina became pregnant with Alfonso XIII when Alfonso XII died in 1885.

Alfonso XII’s unexpected death led to Maria Christina serving as the Regent of Spain until Alfonso XIII came of age. Moreover, she was very capable and carried out many political reforms. During her regency, Spain generally maintained stability and successfully handed over power to her son.

Therefore, Carina had also met this Austro-Hungarian Grand Duchess a few times, which made this meeting even more friendly.

Ernst’s purpose in befriending the Spanish royal family was not simple. This had already begun before Alfonso XII ascended the throne.

It was mainly related to East Africa’s management of the Nanyang region. The Indo-Pacific direction had always been the focus of East Africa’s operations, especially the Nanyang region, and Spain, as an old empire, was a pivotal force in the Nanyang region.

Therefore, befriending Spain now was so that East Africa could reap some benefits when Spain encountered disaster in the future, especially in the Nanyang region.

Ernst didn’t know if history would develop the same way as in his previous life, but one thing was definitely certain, and that was that if the United States wanted to become an influential power in the future, it would have to target one of the world’s major powers.

And that major power would one hundred percent be Spain, because Cuba in Latin America had always been the “fat meat” that the United States coveted the most.

Furthermore, since East Africa defeated Portugal, the tail-end of the major powers was directly disgraced and kicked out of the major powers club. If Portugal was a major power, then the Netherlands and Belgium could also call themselves major powers. The territory of these two countries was not necessarily worse than Portugal’s, except for the area.

And after Portugal was abolished, the gatekeeper of the European powers became Spain. Picking the softest persimmon first, the United States would inevitably cause trouble for Spain in the future.

And by that time, Alfonso XII would have been dead for many years, and the Spanish royal family would be a widow and orphans, which was a good opportunity for East Africa to intervene. After all, Ernst’s persona had already been established.

Having a good relationship with Alfonso XII would leave a good impression on Queen Maria Christina. Plus, everyone was German and had a good relationship with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Moreover, East Africa had its own two strategic strongholds in the Indo-Pacific region, especially near the Philippines: Lanfang Overseas Province and the Southern Ryukyu Islands, which happened to sandwich the Philippines in the middle, making them Spain’s best helper at that time.

As for offending the Americans, it was not worth mentioning compared to East Africa’s Indo-Pacific strategy. East Africa would definitely have a hand in the Pacific in the future.

Ernst actually didn’t have any good feelings towards the Philippines. This was thanks to the Philippines’ terrible national governance in his previous life. In fact, the Philippines’ conditions were not bad. In his previous life, the Philippines had a population of over one hundred million, while in the early 19th century, the Philippines only had an export population of one million. Under the rule of the Spanish in recent years, it had increased to about three to four million.

With nearly three hundred thousand square kilometers of land and a population of three to four million, it was more densely populated than most provinces in East Africa.

However, the Philippines had as many as seven thousand islands, which were quite fragmented. East Africa had one island, Balabac Island, which belonged to the Palawan Island group in the Philippines.

As an East African colony, Balabac Island had a total population of 237 people, all of whom were East African soldiers. Since East Africa occupied this place, no one else had been found on the island, except for the occasional pirate.

And Balabac Island was a chess piece left by Ernst, which was an important springboard for future plans to seize Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines, which had an even smaller population.

Chapter 644: Tailor-Made

Ernst has always valued sparsely populated areas, because that also represents greater malleability, while Luzon Island is the core of the Philippines and an area that Spain has already integrated, which Ernst is not interested in.

Of course, the Americans still have to play the villain. Although East Africa has designs on the Philippines, it does not hinder the friendly relations between the two countries at all.

Just like this visit, Ernst put Spain in the last place, which represents importance, and Alfonso XII also enjoys this feeling of being respected.

The current Spain is still a well-known world power, but like Portugal, its national fortune has been declining, but it is much stronger than Portugal. After all, its mainland area is large enough, and it has the foundation of a major power in Europe.

……

Northern Province.

In order to smoothly carry out the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan,” the Northern Province and Jubaland governments must join hands, develop together, improve regional productivity, and release the industrial advantages of the two provinces. Therefore, the two sides negotiated in Mogadishu.

“In the Somali region, we are developing an export-oriented agricultural economy, and the advantages are obvious, but we also face greater risks. Among them, the biggest threat to agriculture is the threat of desert locusts, and our Northern Province and Jubaland are important sources of these locusts.

Therefore, in order to ensure the healthy development of regional agriculture and ensure the stability of fiscal revenue, we must work hard on locust control, which is not only the responsibility of our Northern Province, but also has a major connection with Jubaland.”

“Desert locusts are the most important agricultural hazard in the Somali region. Our two provinces have a consensus on this. Locust plagues occur every year, but the scale is within a controllable range, except for the last time when the northern Somali region spread to our country.”

“Therefore, to deal with this kind of cross-border pest, we must establish an effective monitoring and prevention mechanism, and at the same time set up a unified management agency in the two provinces to regularly inspect the breeding of desert locusts. Once a problem is discovered, the danger should be eliminated in the bud.”

Desert locusts are widely distributed in northeastern East Africa, the northern coast of Somalia, the Red Sea coast, and the Arabian Peninsula.

The only desert locusts that can be effectively managed in East Africa are those within East Africa. Of course, East Africa happens to be the main area of activity for desert locusts. Otherwise, East Africa would not bother to control desert locusts.

If they control them here, and then they fly over from next door, it would be a waste of energy. The desert locusts in the Arabian Peninsula mainly like to fly east, and the rest will cross the Red Sea into East Africa, but in this way, their energy is also consumed by more than half. East Africa can minimize the risk by taking a little defensive measure.

“Two provinces in the Somali region, two pest and disease monitoring centers, are not easy to handle. Because the area where the Northern Province and Jubaland border is so long, if they shirk responsibility to each other, what if the locusts breed on a large scale on the provincial border? In the end, everyone will be dragged down. Therefore, the agricultural related institutions of the two provinces should communicate more and establish smooth intelligence exchange channels, or go a step further and work together.”

This matter was settled in this way. Anyway, it is within their respective powers, so there is no fear of causing trouble.

“There is also the issue of cash crops in our Somali region. The two most popular crops in the Somali region now are cotton and bananas. Although the two crops have high economic value, it is risky to only retain these two crops, and it does not conform to the definition of the ‘Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan’. Fruit basket, fruit basket, you can’t have only bananas in the basket, that would be the ‘Eurasian Banana Plan’.” The Director of the Jubaland Provincial Department of Agriculture said.

“I also agree with this point. A single crop has the worst resistance to pests and diseases. Once it happens, it may cause irreparable losses. And enriching categories such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers is one of our plans for Somalia.” The Director of the Northern Province Department of Agriculture was not to be outdone.

Of course, this is not enough. After all, this feels a bit like picking up what others have left behind, so he further proposed: “In this regard, we East Africa have a great disadvantage, especially in the selection and breeding of seeds and the types of species. After all, East Africa has a short history and lacks relevant agricultural talents, so it is difficult to achieve results in a short period of time. We should also draw more experience and lessons locally.”

As he spoke, he took out a handful of gray things from his pocket, which did not look very good, and placed them on the table.

“Director Antonio, what is this?”

“This is a local agricultural crop. Everyone may not have paid attention to this little thing. It is a plant that the local natives like very much. It is called tiger nuts.”

“Is this the fruit of the tiger nuts?”

“To be precise, it is a fruit that grows underground like peanuts.”

“What is it used for?”

“In addition to eating, the most important thing is that it can be used to extract oil. The leaves of this plant can also be used as pasture.” Antonio said.

Then he began to introduce the advantages of tiger nuts: “As an oil crop, it is not only of high quality and high yield, but also has a high comprehensive utilization value. More importantly, it is very suitable for survival in saline-alkali land, which is similar to many places in our Somali region. It has good stress resistance, strong resistance to external adverse factors, resistance to salinity and alkalinity, few diseases and insect pests, low cost of fertilizers and pesticides, and high yield. The yield per mu can reach several hundred kilograms, and the minimum is no less than three hundred kilograms. The yield of one mu of tiger nuts is equivalent to several mu of other oil crops.”

The oil extraction rate of tiger nuts is quite average, but its yield per mu is high, so tiger nuts are more economically valuable.

“Of course, I want to emphasize one point in particular. This crop has a very strong resistance to diseases and insect pests, and the fruit grows underground, so even in the face of locust plagues, there will be no harvest failure.”

Tiger nuts emit a special chemical substance with a fragrance, which actually has an insect repellent effect. East Africa naturally does not know this, but the natives here have thousands of years of planting experience, so it is not difficult to draw this conclusion.

“If that’s the case, why haven’t we seen the locals plant it on a large scale before?” someone asked.

Antonio replied: “Before us, have you seen large-scale farming agriculture in Africa? Especially in pastoral areas like Somalia, other land is more used for food crops such as wheat.”

However, with a turn of the conversation, Antonio also said: “Tiger nuts have many advantages, but they are not without disadvantages. For example, his fruit is not as easy to harvest as other crops. This plant has a particularly strong tillering power, and the fruit is a little smaller than peanuts, which is more troublesome to harvest, but we in the two provinces of Somalia do not need to worry about planting this crop. The soil in the Somali region is mainly sandy soil, and the soil is relatively loose. I have already designed a tool specifically used to mine this crop with the craftsmen in Mogadishu, which will greatly improve efficiency at that time.”

There is another point that Antonio did not say, that is, the fruit of tiger nuts is more difficult to dehydrate than other oil crops, and requires long-term sun exposure, but if this problem occurs in other regions, it is indeed easy to cause the tiger nuts fruit to deteriorate.

However, Somalia has little rainfall, many sunny days, and a dry climate, so there is no such problem. In addition, tiger nuts require less fertilizer, have high yields, and have good oil quality. It can be said that it is an oil crop tailor-made for the Somali region.

Chapter 645: Matabeleland Province Industrial Development

The “Eurasian Fruit Basket Program” in the two Somali provinces is at the forefront of East African agriculture’s active integration into the international market. In 1882, the most dazzling industrial development in East Africa was in the three inland provinces (Matabeleland Province, Hohenzollern Province, Swabia Province).

In 1882, East Africa’s overall steel production was 1.23 million tons, of which Matabeleland Province accounted for more than 300,000 tons, approaching 400,000 tons, quickly catching up with the eastern coastal cities, the northern industrial zone, and the Lake Malawi industrial zone.

Currently, East Africa’s annual steel production is approaching the level of Germany when it was established a decade ago. However, after Germany’s national unification and the integration of its domestic market (for example, the newly added Alsace and Lorraine regions are important steel-producing areas), steel production experienced an explosive growth in a short period. Then, after the economic crisis in 1873, it shrank, but it was much better than in its previous life. The main reason was that East Africa’s railway construction digested the excess capacity in the German region. Therefore, Germany’s current steel production is more than twice that of East Africa.

The current steel production in the United Kingdom is more than 7 million tons, more than six times that of East Africa, and the United States is more than three times that of East Africa. However, East Africa is more than twice that of Austria-Hungary, much lower than France, but the gap is not large.

This is mainly due to the development and utilization of East Africa’s iron ore resources and the dividends obtained during the economic crisis. However, it is worth mentioning that Russia’s steel production is far lower than that of East Africa, even less than that of Austria-Hungary.

It is impossible to say that Russia lacks mineral resources, and Russia’s population is almost twice that of East Africa, and so is its land area.

The difference between East Africa and Russia may be that Russia’s industrial investment mainly relies on European and American capital, with foreign capital accounting for more than 70%.

East Africa is dominated by German capital, mainly the Hechingen Consortium, and East Africa has built a large number of state-owned enterprises, which allows the East African government to control a large amount of wealth and resources in East Africa.

The development of East Africa and the growth of the Hechingen Consortium are mutually reinforcing. Without the support of the Hechingen Consortium, East Africa’s development could not have been so rapid, and without the support of East Africa’s national strength, the Hechingen Consortium would not be able to become a top financial force.

Moreover, East Africa is a country of immigrants. Although it initially relied entirely on agricultural development and the plunder of wealth from indigenous people in the colonies, Ernst has begun to deploy East Africa’s industry, mining, and other industries in the later stage.

For example, during the economic crisis, the large number of European and American workers recruited by East Africa boosted the development of East African cities and industries, while Tsarist Russia in the same period was dragged down by the agricultural crisis that accompanied the economic crisis.

It is not that foreign investment cannot be used for development, but the Russian aristocratic bureaucrats and European capital are not controllable by Russia itself.

Based on the virtues of the Russian nobles and bureaucrats, Russia’s efficiency, and transportation conditions, Ernst himself would not dare to invest in large-scale industry in Russia.

On the contrary, mining and agriculture are relatively stable, which makes Russian industry actually subordinate to the European industrial system, becoming its important raw material supply base and market.

Of course, this is also related to Russia’s weak technology. East Africa also faces this problem, and the Hechingen Consortium, an important patent giant in the German region, provides technical support for East Africa.

At the same time, East African industry focuses on the layout of key industries, especially the three major industries of electricity, steel, and railways. Light industries such as textiles and the commercial field are not as developed as Russia and other countries.

This enables the East African government to concentrate its efforts and reduce unnecessary losses. After all, one cannot bite off more than one can chew. For rapid development, it is necessary to abandon some areas that East Africa is not good at.

For example, East Africa basically does not have a financial industry, and commerce is limited to a few cities in the coastal areas. Light industries such as textiles largely depend on the Far East Empire and the German region. Therefore, so far, except for Nairobi, East Africa has not formed a second textile center. Bulawayo is working towards this direction, but it still needs time.

Currently, the railway industry has the greatest impact on East Africa’s economic growth, and the railway indirectly drives the development of East Africa’s steel industry. As for the electricity industry, East Africa has invested a lot, but it cannot recover the costs in the early stage.

In East Africa’s steel industry, the Lake Malawi industrial zone still ranks first in steel production, with a steel production capacity of more than 600,000 tons, but the development history of the Lake Malawi industrial zone is much earlier than that of Matabeleland Province.

The third largest steel production area is the northern industrial belt, with Mombasa and Nairobi. The steel production capacity is about 100,000 tons. Among them, Mombasa belongs to both the northern industrial belt and the coastal city. Therefore, the coal and iron resources in the northern industrial belt come partly from local development and partly from the Middle East and India.

Finally, there is the coastal city industry, mainly Dar es Salaam and New Hamburg, except that New Hamburg has abundant coal resources. A large part of the industrial minerals in other coastal cities also need to be imported.

Matabeleland Province is rich in mineral resources, especially gold, diamonds, iron, coal, chromium, copper, etc. Among them, Harare, the provincial capital, Bulawayo, and towns such as Gweru have gold mines.

As the leader of the three central provinces, Matabeleland Province’s copper resources are also quite considerable. In its previous life, the British “Rhodesia” was famous for its copper production (including Hechingen Province and South Salzburg Province). Therefore, East Africa has also deployed the electricity industry in Harare, and the industrial categories here are complete. In the next five years, it will surpass Mbeya and become the leading heavy industrial city in East Africa.

“In 1882, a total of thirteen new towns were added in Matabeleland Province, distributed on both sides of the central railway. Among them, Gweru and Gwanda were established as cities, and Lupane, a northwestern town not along the railway, was also included in this upgrade.”

Industry easily leads to population concentration. In fact, many agricultural towns in East Africa may not have fewer people than these industrial towns, but obviously industrial towns are easier to upgrade.

Most of these industrial towns have developed relying on transportation and mineral resources, which makes Matabeleland Province the fastest-urbanizing area in East Africa.

Taking Gweru and Gwanda as examples, they are both cities along the central railway and important mineral development areas. Kwekwe, which was also upgraded to an industrial town, will be upgraded to a city next year if nothing unexpected happens.

Kwekwe is located in the very center of Harare and Bulawayo, and also in the very center of the Matabeleland section of the Central East Railway, but its development started late, which has led to its current level being lower than that of Gweru.

Lupane, which is not along the railway, is upgraded to a city because of its location in the northwestern region of Matabeleland Province, where there is a lack of cities, and the area within Lupane is rich in coal and other resources.

“As of October this year, there are a total of eleven city-level administrative regions in Matabeleland Province, of which nine are industrial cities. Only two city-level regions belong to administrative management planning. The urban population accounts for more than 30% of the province’s total population, ranking first in the country. Bulawayo has great potential and is expected to squeeze into the top ten cities in East Africa in the next two or three years, while Harare will squeeze into the top five.”

East Africa’s industrial investment in Matabeleland Province is far greater than in other regions. Many of these cities have not yet reached the standard in terms of scale, but based on their potential, population and resources are allocated. Within ten years, Matabeleland Province’s industrial data will leave other regions of East Africa behind and become the most important industrial region in East Africa.

The only shortcoming of Matabeleland Province is the lack of a seaport, which is the current Portuguese colony of Mozambique. In the economic map of Matabeleland Province, a railway will be built from Beira Port in Mozambique directly to Harare in the future to promote the further development of Matabeleland Province.

Chapter 646: The Situation in the South

At the end of the year, Ernst returned to East Africa from his European tour. This trip was actually quite well-received, especially in Germany, which was the most enthusiastic.

This was similar to the attitude of European and American countries towards the Far East Empire during the financial crisis of 2008 in his previous life. In the 1970s, East Africa’s importance to Germany had undoubtedly increased several levels, playing an important role in stabilizing the German economy and allowing Germany to recognize some of East Africa’s strength.

In his previous life, there was Italy, which was courted by all parties. Now Italy was split into three countries, and part of it was occupied by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so Europe lost a powerful country. This brought East Africa into Germany’s field of vision, but East Africa was after all in Africa, so its importance was not as great as that of the Ottoman Empire.

And East Africa did not need to take sides too early, so it was rather ambiguous about Germany’s courtship, but in essence, it was still more inclined towards Germany, or rather, the German camp.

After all, East Africa was also a country in the German system, and it was naturally close to the German region in politics, economy, culture, and military affairs, but East Africa’s geographical location and strength allowed it to continue to maintain neutrality.

“Ernst, you’re finally back! Friedrich missed you so much!” Constantine said with surprise when he saw his son.

“Dad, Mom!” Friedrich rushed into their arms. After not seeing them for more than half a year, the little guy was not at all unfamiliar.

Ernst hugged the little guy and said to his father, “Father, now that I’m back, you can leave the other things to me.”

Constantine said unhappily, “This old bone of mine doesn’t want to toss around anymore. It’s good that you’re back. I was thinking of traveling around more!”

Before Ernst went abroad, Constantine had already stopped asking about government affairs and was relaxing all over East Africa. Now that Ernst was back, Constantine naturally wanted to continue his retirement life. As for the tiring work of governing the country, it was better to leave it to young people like Ernst.

Karina also pinched her son’s chubby cheeks, feeling distressed. Originally, she only planned to stay in Europe for a few months, but the popularity of East Africa obviously delayed the family’s trip. There were countless banquets and receptions, which made Karina, who was used to being free in East Africa, a little uncomfortable.

So in the second half of the trip, Karina kept complaining that she should try to come to Europe less in the future, mainly because socializing was too tiring, and the facial muscles that were used to fake smiles every day were stiff.

The family happily returned to First Town City, but after being away for a long time, there was a backlog of a lot of affairs. Ernst didn’t bother to rest and began to return to his workaholic state.

East Africa was highly centralized, which also meant that Ernst had more pressure and responsibility. So after handing over the affairs with his father, Ernst began to check the problems that East Africa had accumulated over the past year.

The first was the Orange Free State. This issue had been a key concern for East Africa even before Ernst left.

Chief of the Army General Staff, Swiet, had been responsible for monitoring this matter, so he reported, “This year, the Orange people and the Transvaal people have had three large-scale wars. The first two ended with a slight advantage for the Orange people, but the third, which was in September of this year, saw the Transvaal people, with the assistance of the British, reverse the decline in one fell swoop and severely damage the main force of the Orange people’s coalition in Dealesville.”

Although he already knew that the Transvaal people would gain an advantage, it was only a matter of time, after all, East Africa could not provide unconditional assistance to the Orange people like Britain, but had to pay for it.

But Ernst still wanted to know the details of what happened, especially why the Orange people were able to win the first two times.

Swiet said, “According to the information sent back by our intelligence personnel and military advisors, the Transvaal Republican Army had a low combat effectiveness at the beginning. After all, the Boers did not have a need for standing armed forces at the beginning, so they lacked experience and were not as good as the traditional Boer armed forces of the Orange people.

However, as time went by, the Transvaal people accumulated enough relevant experience, and their combat effectiveness improved. With the British guiding them, the Transvaal people made rapid progress.”

“The first war took place in the northern part of the Orange Free State, Excelsior. The Boerfontein garrison of Transvaal and the Rousselle department of the Orange coalition forces had a large-scale battle. This time, the Transvaal people took the initiative to attack, but Rousselle used the terrain to ambush them, and the Boerfontein garrison suffered heavy losses. This made the entire northern situation instantly become favorable to the Orange people, and the Transvaal people could only shrink their forces back to the Boerfontein area.”

“An important reason for the Transvaal people’s failure in this war was their underestimation of the enemy. Rousselle can be said to be the strongest force in the north of the Orange people, and the northwest is basically under his control. As a result, the Transvaal people dared to swagger over without even finding out the intelligence, leading to a disastrous defeat.”

Of course, the reason why Rousselle was in the northwest of Orange was that his troops could better contact East Africa and obtain East Africa’s support. There was no need to say this reason, and the important reason why the Transvaal people wanted to attack Rousselle was to cut off the northern communication channel between the Orange people and East Africa.

“In May, the Orange people and the Transvaal people had a second large-scale conflict, which mainly occurred in the southwest region. The Transvaal people have been actively compressing the living space of the Orange people, so they built fortifications and strongholds around Bloemfontein as the center.

So in order to break the situation, the Orange people in the southwest region cleaned up the Transvaal Republican Army within their borders, which was a local operation for the Orange people, so it was easy to achieve victory over the Transvaal people.”

“The third large-scale conflict was still initiated by the Orange people. The first two major victories led to some expansion of the Orange people, so they gathered a large number of troops in the west, preparing to give the Transvaal people another heavy blow, and even preparing to take back Bloemfontein in one fell swoop.”

“However, the Orange people obviously forgot the advantages of their province. Although the Transvaal Republican Army’s combat effectiveness is not high, it can be considered to have clear division of responsibilities and a detailed command system framework. The Orange people, on the other hand, fought on their own and were not united internally.

So in this frontal war, the Transvaal people achieved an unprecedented victory against the disorganized Orange people, and the British also began to actively participate, sending troops from near Kimberley, making the Orange people attacked from both sides. Under the confluence of the two forces, the Orange people’s forces in the southwest were severely damaged, and many have chosen to surrender to the new government.

Although the northern forces still exist for various reasons, they also participated in the third large-scale conflict and cannot cause any waves in a short period of time. Therefore, the Transvaal people and the British took advantage of the situation to expand their results, and the main battlefield has now shifted to the north. There have even been several times when the two sides fought on the south bank of the Vet River, which was observed by our army.”

“That is to say, the Orange people are now at the end of their rope?”

“Almost. Now, in the Orange Free State, only the north is still resisting because of us. In other areas, the Transvaal people and the British have almost cleared up the problems, especially the Orange forces in the southwest, which were the strongest at the beginning. Many have chosen to surrender to the new government.”

“New government?”

“The Transvaal Provisional Government has officially abolished the original Orange Free State government. Now the Orange Free State can be said to have only a name left, and it still belongs to the Orange people, but everything else has been taken over by the Transvaal people.”

Chapter 647: Preparation

Ernst was also clear about the current predicament of the Orange people, which was quite bad. After all, the two sides had been fighting for more than a year, and the Orange Free State had no complex terrain, basically a flat plain. Its territory was not large, and the only mountainous area nearby was in the hands of East Africa. It couldn’t maneuver with the British army like Afghanistan.

To have persisted until now was already quite remarkable. Ernst even felt that the Orange people had exceeded expectations.

“Now the Orange people are no longer a threat. At most, they can only engage in some minor actions, causing small troubles for the British and the Transvaal people. Then the British will be able to free up their hands,” Ernst said.

“Your Highness, what are your instructions?” Swet asked after hearing Ernst say this.

“We can now confirm that the countries and regions hostile to or threatening East Africa are mainly distributed in the south: the Transvaal people, the Portuguese, the British, and in the northeast: British Somaliland, and the Sudanese region of Egypt, which is now also colonized by the British. We must increase surveillance in these areas to prevent the British from engaging in underhanded tactics. Your military should also be prepared with contingency plans at any time. Also, the army hasn’t fought a war for a long time. Let them move around and see if there are any problems with long-distance deployments, especially since railways and highways are now more developed than they were a few years ago.”

Ernst was a very cautious person, so even if there was only a one percent probability, he would still be on guard.

Because he put himself in the shoes of the British, and he would never let go of East Africa. Now Britain still had leverage and allies in Africa. If they didn’t contain East Africa now, there would basically be no chance in the future.

And confronting East Africa was nothing more than a trade. If Britain failed, at most they would sacrifice the Cape Colony, and that was the worst-case scenario. Apart from the United States to this day, no country had caused Britain to lose a large piece of territory. But if they succeeded in splitting off the southern part of East Africa, it would be a very worthwhile deal.

This was the same as playing chess. You can’t focus on temporary gains and losses. The final result still depends on whether you win. If they could take the southern part of East Africa (Rhodesia), then East Africa would only become like Brazil, unable to even gather enough raw materials for industrial development.

At the same time, taking the south would also break East Africa’s control over Southwest Africa, and Portugal would be able to recover its lost territory. In this way, half of East Africa’s effective territory would be lost.

And Britain’s African colonies would be as glorious as they were in the previous life, instead of fighting over a small piece of land in West Africa with a bunch of countries like they were now.

Moreover, the area controlled by East Africa now was very different from Africa in the previous life. East Africa’s construction of Africa was even more exaggerated than that of many African countries in the 21st century in the previous life.

Not to mention other regions, the eastern coast, as East Africa’s window to the world, had undergone earth-shattering changes in development over the years.

British ships weren’t blind either. With the speed of development along the East African coast, the interior couldn’t be too bad. After all, without inland development as an economic hinterland, the coast couldn’t develop so well, because East Africa mainly relied on the export of bulk commodities. Ships full of goods couldn’t be hidden from the British guarding the Suez Canal. This even led to a rebound in the East African shipping routes that had declined after the opening of the Suez Canal.

Of course, with East Africa, the Suez Canal also became busier, because East Africa’s Atlantic coast was basically just for show. Trade with North America and Europe almost entirely passed through the Suez Canal.

And trade between South America and East Africa was not frequent, except for the slave trade. Commodity trade was even less so. After all, East Africa couldn’t export tropical agricultural products such as rubber and coffee to South America. Instead, everyone was a competitor. And East Africa’s industrial products were not very competitive in South America.

As for minerals, everyone mainly exported them. South America’s industrial level was not as good as East Africa’s. They couldn’t use so many minerals themselves. Instead, it was more profitable to export them to Europe and the United States.

In short, East Africa now had a major difference from the traditional concept of Africa, especially in contrast to West Africa.

Of course, other countries only saw East Africa eating meat, but they didn’t see East Africa being beaten. East Africa’s ability to achieve its current achievements was inseparable from the efforts of every East African, including those slaves.

Now West Africa was still plagued by diseases and frequent natural disasters, and the colonists were fighting fiercely in West Africa, which embodied the word “chaos” and was very consistent with the world’s perception of Africa.

But it can’t be said that West Africa hasn’t made progress. Although the colonists were bad, they did build a lot of plantations in West Africa. Even if the plantations were reactionary and backward, they were still more advanced than the previous indigenous systems. Of course, from the perspective of African natives, it was definitely not like this.

The colonists in West Africa were much more ruthless than the East Africans, and they were a mixed bag, with private armed forces running rampant, completely focused on economic interests.

Ernst remembered that one of the important reasons why Africans in the previous life didn’t like to work was that they were exploited too severely during the colonial era.

More work, more gain can stimulate people’s enthusiasm, while the productivity of West African slaves was completely based on the colonists’ whipping and punishment. Belgium did the most excessive things in the previous life. Of course, Ernst believed that the United States was not much better, after all, dentures made of black people’s teeth were not more “noble” than Congolese black people with their hands chopped off.

Black people were used to being plundered by colonists, so ordinary lower-class black people had no enthusiasm for work at all. No matter how much they produced, it had nothing to do with them.

Even after African countries became independent, this situation would not change, because the independence of African countries was different from that of Asia. The colonists left too many tricks behind when they withdrew.

For example, the ruling class was actually the colonists’ former lackeys. African society had not changed at all. It just changed the exploiters from white people to black people.

And black rulers might not be as good as white people. White people were just bad, but not stupid, while many black rulers were both bad and stupid. This led to the fact that post-independence Africa was very prone to tyrants.

Colonists, no matter what, had more experience in governing countries than black lackeys, and many black compradors still maintained the set of governance methods from the tribal era. Therefore, the industrial foundation left by the colonists during the colonial era was completely abandoned, and many countries were even more chaotic than before independence.

The most typical example was South Africa. The black ruling class in South Africa was a typical case of not learning good things, but mastering the shortcomings of white people without being taught, and governing South Africa into that state.

However, this was the case in many British colonies. This has to be said to be a merit of the British, that is, decisiveness. Actively withdrawing can more calmly bury mines in the colonies, so the independent regions are far less thorough than those independent through armed struggle.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially between countries, which are always facing uncertainty. And we don’t have the ability to predict the future, so it’s best to make full preparations in advance, so that we won’t be caught off guard.”

Ernst himself used to like being a gambler, but now he had to be careful everywhere. Now what East Africa could do was to keep making moves, waiting for the situation to change, and then make a final decision to completely stabilize East Africa.

As for greater ambitions, he no longer had that idea. After all, it was still a bit far to consider these things now. He still had to develop East Africa’s industry first.

Chapter 648: 1883 Defense and Military Reorganization Report

Following Ernst’s request, the Ministry of Defense and the Army General Staff drew up plans for the 1883 East African land-based military deployment.

Yalman and Switt made a detailed report on this military reorganization:

“Your Highness, regarding this troop movement, we have made the following deployments according to your requirements. Among them, the troop strength in Gezira, a province bordering the Egyptian Sultanate along the Nile River, has been strengthened. If the British invade East Africa from the north, then Gezira is the only passage.” Switt said.

Gezira is located along the Nile River, very close to Khartoum, an important city in Sudan. To the east of Gezira is the Ethiopian Highlands, also known as the Abyssinian Empire, and to the west is the Nuba Mountains, and further west is the Kordofan Plateau.

This makes the plain terrain of Gezira particularly prominent. It is naturally an important military thoroughfare. To the east, the Ethiopian Highlands, and to the west, the Nuba Mountains, are both natural barriers.

The Kordofan Plateau area is widely covered by desert. The British army probably doesn’t have the patience to detour through the desert to launch a surprise attack on East Africa. Moreover, the Nile River Province area bordering East Africa and the Kordofan Plateau has very little population.

Most of the population is concentrated near Gezira in the east and Juba in the southeast, which means that even if they risk crossing the Kordofan Plateau to enter the East African Nile River Province, the enemy will still face barren savanna areas, and the Nile River Province is crisscrossed by rivers, with swamps and wetlands everywhere.

Suddenly entering the sultry and humid western Nile River Province from the arid desert area is no less difficult than the “Long March,” and even the conditions are more difficult. Ernst himself could not imagine that there was such an army in the 19th century.

“Theoretically speaking, it is feasible to borrow a route from the Abyssinian Empire, but there are many factions within the Abyssinian Empire. We can quickly get news of any disturbance, and we have always deployed troops on the border with the Abyssinian Empire, so the possibility of a surprise attack from here to East Africa is not high.”

Moreover, there was one point that Switt did not mention, that is, the Abyssinian Empire might not dare to let the British pass through.

The Abyssinian Empire is probably more afraid of the situation of borrowing a path to conquer a state, like the story of Yu. The Abyssinian Empire was once destroyed by the British, which led to a change of dynasty in the Abyssinian Empire, so the Abyssinian Empire’s vigilance against the British is far greater than that of East Africa.

“This is our military deployment in the area bordering Sudan. Overall, it is very solid, and if an accident really happens, we will have time to react and build a second line of defense in Juba.”

Juba is also considered an important military town in East Africa. The most important thing is that East Africa trains tropical multi-terrain combat troops here.

Of course, the most important thing is that the infrastructure construction of the Nile River Province only reaches Juba Province, and further north mostly relies on water transportation.

The White Nile River basin covers almost the entire Nile River Province, so transportation in the Nile River Province is extremely dependent on water transportation. Juba, as the provincial capital, relies on the White Nile River to connect with Gezira, the largest economic city.

This makes Juba the only water and land transportation hub in the Nile River Province. To enter the East African hinterland from Gezira, you must pass through Juba, and then from Juba to the Great Lakes region in the core area of East Africa.

Once you enter the Great Lakes region, it means that you can reach other core areas of East Africa from here, because the navigation of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) in the Great Lakes region connects the Northern Railway and the Central Railway of East Africa.

“In the northeast direction, what we need to pay attention to is the Northern Province. The Northern Province is mainly desert, so it is not suitable for marching. Only Dire Dawa is close to the British Somaliland colony. However, Dire Dawa itself is an important military town, and transportation to the inland is inconvenient, so we don’t need to worry too much.”

It is difficult for East Africa to transport supplies to Dire Dawa, let alone enter East Africa from Dire Dawa, which is also an important reason why East Africa supports Dire Dawa to develop its own economy.

The existence of Dire Dawa is more for strategic deterrence, and the secondary purpose is to serve as a border for military defense.

“The entire north focuses on Gezira and Dire Dawa, and the rest of the area does not need much change. There should not be major changes in the eastern coastal military.”

The east is the current economic core area of East Africa and has always been the area with the strongest military strength in East Africa, so the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense do not recommend major changes. In other words, with the eastern region in hand, East Africa has a chance to make a comeback.

Of course, in addition to the army, the strength of the navy cannot be ignored in the eastern defense. The strength of the East African navy is currently at the forefront of the world and is a hegemon in the western Indian Ocean region. In this way, the main defense method of the East African coast has changed from relying on the offshore defense system to relying on the navy and the outer sea defense system of the Indian Ocean.

In other words, East Africa has horizontally expanded its defense system in the direction of the ocean, greatly improving the safety of the eastern coast of East Africa, a safe strategy to defend against enemies outside the ocean.

“Our main priority at present is to strengthen the military defense system in the southern region, especially Matabeleland, the core industrial province in the central region.

Therefore, it is planned to transfer a main division from the north and northwest to the south and enter Matabeleland. On the one hand, it can guard against possible attacks by the Portuguese forces in the Mozambique area in eastern Matabeleland on Matabeleland. On the other hand, it can use the Central Railway to maneuver into Hechingen Province (Transvaal Republic) at any time to support the hypothetical southern theater.”

The south, especially Matabeleland, is the area that East Africa values most. Of course, Ernst himself values Hechingen Province. Hechingen Province has resources that are one level higher than Matabeleland and is a raw material pool for the future industrial development of East Africa.

However, because of Ernst’s restrictive development of Hechingen Province, the potential of Hechingen Province has been hidden, which has led to insufficient understanding of Hechingen Province by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

This is also good. If even our own people don’t know the potential of Hechingen Province, then other forces will have no way of knowing. If the Boers and the British only knew that Hechingen Province had the largest gold mine in the world, the British would have taken action long ago.

“The central and southern provinces, led by Matabeleland, have been developed relatively late, so the immigrant composition is mainly new immigrants since 1873. The people’s military training and reaction ability to war are not as good as those in the east, so we plan to carry out reserve military training for the central and southern provinces in the near future.”

The central and southern provinces are different from the eastern provinces of East Africa. The eastern part of East Africa has completely developed from a colony, while the central and southern provinces are very different.

Before the establishment of the central and southern provinces, East Africa had already used regular military forces to suppress the indigenous people and hostile forces in the central and southern provinces.

In the eastern provinces of East Africa, nearly hundreds of thousands of militiamen were even mobilized to attack the indigenous forces in the territory, so the east has always had a complete mobilization mechanism.

This means that when the people in the eastern provinces face the threat of war, they can quickly react to the war. Many of them have experienced fighting with indigenous tribes and kingdoms.

Obviously, the people in the central and southern provinces, which were later incorporated into East Africa, cannot do this, because when they arrived in East Africa, most of the threats that existed had been eliminated by East Africa, so the reorganization and upgrading of the reserve and militia forces in central and southern East Africa is more urgent.

After all, the main threats to East Africa now are the Cape Town colony in the south and the Portuguese colony. In addition, the central and southern regions have now developed into important industrial bases, core areas of mineral resources, and densely populated areas in East Africa, so all of this is necessary.

“Finally, we plan to establish two new mobile cavalry divisions, focusing on the defense of Hechingen Province and New Baden Province (parts of Bechuanaland and Botswana). One of the cavalry divisions will be deployed in New Baden Province to deal with possible risks along the Orange River at any time.”

The border between New Baden Province and the Cape Town colony is long, and the eastern part is very close to Kimberley, an important city in the British Cape Town colony (Orange Free State). The south is also not far from Cape Town, so strengthening the military strength of New Baden Province is the common opinion of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense after analysis.

Chapter 649: New Frankfurt City

With troop movements, railway assistance is indispensable. Now, East Africa can roughly achieve national troop mobilization with the help of railways. However, the construction of the Hesse Province railway is still underway, which greatly delays the southward progress of troops in the Northwest region. If it is completed, East Africa will not even need to dispatch troops from the Northwest region southward in advance, but instead directly deploy them to the front line by rail during wartime.

Kapirimposhi Town.

“According to the documents from the Provincial Government and the Central Government, starting next month, our Kapirimposhi Town will be officially renamed New Frankfurt City, and its level will also be raised to a municipal administrative unit. Based on past performance, some effective employees in the city will be promoted.” Mayor Hans-Peter announced the good news to his subordinates with great excitement.

What made Hans-Peter so happy was naturally that he was also among those being promoted. Since the completion of the Central Railway construction, Hans-Peter has been serving as the mayor of Kapirimposhi Town. After so many years of diligent service, he has finally been rewarded.

Hans-Peter continued, “I believe everyone also knows the significance of the name Frankfurt. The renaming of Kapirimposhi Town to New Frankfurt City fully demonstrates the country’s attention to our city. Frankfurt is one of the most important transportation hubs in Germany, and even in the whole of Europe, and New Frankfurt City will also become the main artery of East African railway transportation in the future.”

Hans-Peter was right. The East African government did indeed have this plan, because Kapirimposhi Town was originally the core hub of the Central Railway.

The vertical and horizontal main lines of the Central Railway intersect here, forming a cross railway. With the construction of the Hesse Railway, the current Kapirimposhi Town, which is the future New Frankfurt City, will become the core point of the two national railway arteries running north-south and east-west in East Africa.

From New Frankfurt City (Kapirimposhi Town), going east passes through Mbeya City, Dodoma City, and reaches Dar es Salaam City.

Going west reaches Mangu City. Because most of Angola’s land is still under the control of the Portuguese, this railway line currently comes to an abrupt end within the Hohenzollern Province.

According to Ernst’s idea, he prefers to connect the northern Angolan outlet to the sea with the East African inland from Mangu City towards the northwest. As for the southern part of Angola controlled by East Africa, it lacks good ports, and Southwest Africa is too poor, which is very uneconomical. Therefore, the western section of the Central Railway’s horizontal line has always been a semi-finished product.

From New Frankfurt City (Kapirimposhi Town) going north, it enters the border between Hohenzollern Province and Swabia Province, which is the East African copper mining belt, connecting the three cities of Ndola City, Kitwe City, and Lubumbashi City in sequence. This is also an important railway section for the current export of East African copper mines.

Currently, the northernmost point of the vertical line is Lubumbashi City, and the starting point of the Hesse Railway under construction is Lubumbashi City.

Then from New Frankfurt City (Kapirimposhi Town) going south are Lusaka City, Harare City, Bulawayo City, Otto City and other central and southern cities.

It must be said that the geographical location of New Frankfurt City is also related to the railway pattern of Africa in its previous life.

In its previous life, Kapirimposhi was an important railway hub in Zambia, the terminal of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and the eastern section of the Central Railway’s horizontal line basically overlapped with the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in its previous life, so East Africa rebuilt Kapirimposhi Town in this location.

In fact, even before the Tanzania-Zambia Railway existed in its previous life, Kapirimposhi was an important railway station. During the British colonization of Zambia, Kapirimposhi was a station on the Southern Railway built by the British.

The Southern Railway built by the British went south from the Copperbelt Province of Zambia through Kapirimposhi, passing through Zimbabwe and Botswana, and all the way to the port of Cape Town in South Africa. Later, this railway was blockaded by white countries in the south, which led to the birth of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

Hans-Peter: “The future New Frankfurt City will be one of the key cities in East Africa. Our current goal is how to transform this transportation advantage into an economic advantage, drive the city’s development, and occupy a place in the future East African cities.”

Hans-Peter’s remarks were very meaningful, because New Frankfurt City has no advantages compared to surrounding cities except for the railway transportation hub.

Dodoma City, which is somewhat similar to New Frankfurt City, also started its fortune with railways, but it has a longer history of development. It served as the capital of the region as early as when East Africa was still a colony, and now it has become the capital of the Plateau Province.

In comparison, New Frankfurt City is much inferior. New Frankfurt City has not yet been officially established, and it will take a month. The original Kapirimposhi was just a small town, and this small town rose because of the Central Railway. In the beginning, this place was just a barren land.

Before the construction of the Central Railway, Dodoma City had always been the provincial capital in the province, and its economy was second only to Mwanza City in the current Plateau Province.

Kapirimposhi Town can only rank seventh in the economy of Hechingen Province. In front of it are the provincial capital Lusaka, two important industrial and mining cities, Emperra, Kitwe, and behind it are four cities that were either developed earlier or are mining towns.

The transportation advantage of Kapirimposhi Town has not been transformed, because it was built relatively late, there are no highways connecting it to other regions, and because the area under its jurisdiction is small, it has no economic hinterland, so Hans-Peter has no corresponding authority to develop it.

After New Frankfurt City is established next month, a large area will be划入under its jurisdiction. Hans-Peter and the first leadership of New Frankfurt City can then start to formulate the economic development strategy of New Frankfurt City.

New Frankfurt City has no mineral resources, so the mining industry option can be abandoned, but because of the railway hub, it is definitely necessary to develop related industries, such as locomotive maintenance and manufacturing, railway technical schools, etc.

The surrounding agriculture is relatively developed, mainly with tobacco, grains, and livestock, but before, Kapirimposhi Town and the surrounding rural areas were under the jurisdiction of Kabwe City, and Kapirimposhi Town had no right to mobilize these resources.

After New Frankfurt City is established, it will definitely划走take away a lot of areas from Kabwe City as the jurisdiction of New Frankfurt City. At that time, New Frankfurt City can rely on local agriculture to develop related industries.

“After next month, other jurisdictions in the city will definitely need manpower to complete the inventory of the city’s property and population, and to integrate and restructure the city’s resources. Our city should give priority to the development of industry and agriculture, and on this basis, vigorously develop manufacturing, especially applying for the introduction of railway equipment manufacturing, agricultural product processing, and urban transportation construction, connecting the urban area with surrounding highways and stations, and making the most of our province’s advantages.”

Hans-Peter continued to emphasize, “It is precisely because our city has no resource advantages, or rather, many things that other cities also have, so we must seize the opportunity of the railway hub and build New Frankfurt City into a big city like Frankfurt in Europe around the railway.”

“And the premise is that the city’s economy develops first, and the freight volume is increased as much as possible. This requires agriculture as a foundation, and it is also the easiest industry to achieve results. It is best to formulate our own agricultural plan and form differentiated competition with surrounding areas.”

Agriculture is the only industry besides railways that New Frankfurt City can determine in the future, and in recent years, the main work of Kapirimposhi Town has been to assist the marshalling station and ensure logistics and other businesses.

Many industrial products or agricultural products needed by Kapirimposhi Town are mainly purchased from other regions, which is related to the railway. After all, transportation is a double-edged sword.

It can concentrate population and industry, but the population and industry are limited. Since they are concentrated in one area, other areas will definitely have a reduction. This is also an important reason why Hans-Peter emphasized the development of its own economy.

Chapter 650: Manure Economics

Mombasa Port.

The dockworkers curiously watched the goods being loaded onto the ship, trying to breathe as little as possible. Some even covered their noses and said, “This is really strange this year! Cow manure can be exported? Such a big ship specifically to carry cow manure, what is it for?”

“Cow manure is a good thing, but so much cow manure, and using a ship to transport it, I’ve really never seen it. Mombasa has never shipped cow manure out in previous years.”

“I heard that these ships are from the Northern Province and Jubaland Province. Aren’t those deserts? Are they pulling so much cow manure over there to use as fuel?”

“That’s quite possible. The desert lacks everything, like trees and grass. What do they use to start a fire for cooking?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I asked the old guys on the ship, and they said that this cow manure is fermented fertilizer, and it’s being pulled to the north to be applied to the fields. Their agricultural experts said to use this cow manure to cultivate melons and fruits.”

The workers at Mombasa Port were buzzing with discussion, not because they were particularly fond of cow manure, but because the smell was really strong, and the contrast with the goods they usually transported was too stark.

As for the fuel issue, the Northern Province and Jubaland Province are indeed relatively scarce, but not to the point of importing cow manure from other places to use as fuel. Local camel dung and wood cut from the west are the main sources of fuel for the two provinces.

Ancient Arabs were accustomed to using camel dung to make fires for cooking. This tradition was still preserved in many Arab regions in the 19th century, and the two Somali provinces under East African rule naturally retained this custom.

In addition, the Somali region of East Africa, in addition to the 15 percent of forests within the traditional area, also includes large forests in the southeastern mountainous area of the Ethiopian Plateau. There are also some wheat fields in the river basins (Juba River, Shebelle River), and the wheat straw after harvest is also a good fuel.

It wasn’t just the workers at Mombasa Port who felt it was novel. The northern pastoral areas were also interested in this year’s cow manure market, because in previous years, cow manure was a sought-after commodity, and many southern provinces imported it from the northern pastoral areas. But this year, the addition of Jubaland Province and the Northern Province has made the already tight cow manure production capacity in the northern pastoral areas even more strained.

……

Merti Ranch, Eastern Province.

Agricultural technician Li Ersen explained to the ranch workers, “Raw cow manure is prone to breeding bacteria, so ranches that do not carefully handle cow manure often experience the phenomenon of cow manure affecting the breeding population.

At the same time, cow manure consumes soil oxygen content because it can generate heat, leading to root and seedling burn, which also has a negative impact on the growth of pasture in the ranch.

Furthermore, feces can also play a role in the transmission of parasites and pathogenic microorganisms, so ranches that do not treat cow manure will be harmed by parasites, and even lead to the infection of diseases in the ranch’s breeding population.”

“Therefore, moving the cow manure from the northern pastoral areas of East Africa is a major ecological problem. If it is not properly resolved, it is not just a matter of environmental damage, but more importantly, it will affect the development of the entire East African animal husbandry industry.”

Li Ersen was not exaggerating. The number of livestock in the northern pastoral areas of East Africa has an important impact on the northern pastoral areas every year.

Especially ten years ago, it was most significant. A large ranch may produce tens of thousands of tons of manure per year, and there were hundreds of such large ranches in the northern pastoral areas of East Africa at that time. The smell emitted and the damage to the grassland were visible to the naked eye. Now it is much better. The East African government has effectively utilized and managed cow manure.

Li Ersen continued, “Last year alone, our Merti Ranch produced a total of 30,000 tons of cow manure, 80 percent of which was transported to southern plantations and grain-producing areas for soil improvement.

Cow manure helps to improve soil structure and increase soil water retention capacity. In many areas of East Africa, the soil is severely compacted. In addition to improving soil fertility, fermented cow manure’s most important function is to make the soil in the fields more loose. This is also an important advantage of cow manure as a fertilizer.”

“As far as we know, the Somali region recently plans to import a large amount of cow manure from the eastern province’s pastoral areas to increase the production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.”

“So one of our important tasks is to thoroughly clean up the cow manure. Cow manure must be fermented to be used as fertilizer, and it must be fully fermented and decomposed before use. If fresh cow manure is applied to the field, the heat released during fermentation may harm the plants, and it may also introduce germs into the soil. Therefore, fermentation must be thorough so that the insect eggs and microorganisms in the cow manure can be killed.”

Now, large ranches in East Africa have allocated special land for stacking cow manure for fermentation. Most of these lands are of the type where nothing grows in the first place, so they are not afraid of causing damage to the grassland.

Some small ranches do not have this condition, so the local government will designate areas for small ranches to send these feces for treatment.

Behind the supply of cow manure falling short of demand, large ranches like Merti Ranch also reserve a portion, mainly for making fuel.

Currently, in many regions of Europe, fuel has developed in the direction of coal, especially in the United Kingdom.

In the 18th century, the United Kingdom’s coal production was already five times the total coal production of other countries in the world. Even so, the British at that time still felt that coal mining was too slow.

Under this background, the British invented the original “steam engine” and quickly applied it to coal mining.

Before coal, the main fuel of the British was firewood, so they needed to cut down forests on a large scale. Wood was not only used for cooking and heating, but also very important for other manufacturing fields, houses, household appliances, agricultural tools, containers, and crucial ships. The British Navy reacted very strongly. They were worried that the forest crisis would seriously affect the development of the Navy fleet, so the United Kingdom completely and forcibly implemented a decree to replace firewood with coal.

Many regions in East Africa also face fuel problems, and the demand for wood for warships and ships objectively exists.

The fuel problem in the northern pastoral areas is more prominent than in the southern regions of East Africa. This area is completely dominated by grasslands, with sparse forests and no large areas of farmland.

In other rural areas of East Africa, wheat straw, rice straw, and corn stalks are used together with firewood. Even the Somali region has grain agriculture, so the fuel problem is relatively easy to solve.

The northern pasture is mainly based on animal husbandry, and the grassland also lacks fuel, after all, grassland vegetation is not as easy to harvest as forests and used as fuel.

The benefits of cow manure as fuel are reflected in this. Of course, the cow manure in the northern pasture area is definitely not dried and burned directly like the Indians.

Instead, it is crushed into powder, added with coal ash, and made into cow manure briquettes. Cow manure briquettes have a slightly better combustion effect than ordinary briquettes, mainly because there is less smoke.

Because the coal in the northern pasture mainly relies on the coal mines of Northern Industry, and the quality of the coal mines in the Northern Industrial Belt is very poor, which will cause a lot of loss during combustion. However, adding cow manure powder can make it burn more fully. Furthermore, this kind of cow manure briquettes is also suitable for industrialized production, so it has become an important industry in the northern pasture, and also supplies surrounding cities, such as Nairobi and Mombasa.

In addition to these, cow manure can also be used to produce other animal feed for raising pigs, chickens, fish, etc.

Therefore, the manure economy has become an important part of the East African economy, and has an important impact on the environment, energy, production, and life in East Africa. Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Chapter 651: Southwest Africa

Walvis Bay.

The only good deep-water port along the Atlantic coast of East Africa. To the north is Swakopmund, the East African naval port, which is also the most isolated base of the East African Navy on its own soil.

“Today is the official completion day of the Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway. This is of great significance to Walvis Bay, representing smoother transportation between Walvis Bay and the East African interior. The future development of Walvis Bay will also take a step further.”

The happiest person about the opening of the Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway is the mayor of Walvis Bay, Yassold. This also marks the end of the history of no highway access from the East African interior to Southwest Africa.

The Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway starts from the western part of Hohenzollern Province, which is the western terminus of the horizontal section of the East African Central Railway, the city of Mangue, passes through Letania Province, and finally enters Southwest Africa, reaching Walvis Bay. The entire highway is more than one thousand three hundred kilometers long, and more than twenty thousand people participated in its construction.

East Africa has no plans to build a railway between Mangue and Walvis Bay for the time being, mainly because the area along the route is too empty. Although other areas of East Africa are also sparsely populated, compared with Southwest Africa, that is, present-day Namibia, they are nothing compared to the real thing.

Although the East African railway has not made much money in recent years, the grains, specialties, minerals, and even industrial products and people along the route have been flowing.

If a railway is built between Mangue and Walvis Bay, this effect will not be achieved, because there is no population between the two cities, let alone industry and agriculture.

Therefore, the East African government decided to build only a highway to connect Walvis Bay and the East African interior, which is the most cost-effective and convenient way.

Although the road conditions of the Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway are very poor compared with other highways in East Africa, it is better to have something than nothing. In the past, to reach Walvis Bay from the interior, one could only pass through forests, grasslands, deserts, plateaus, and mountains, and there were no obvious landmarks, so there was always a risk of getting lost.

With the Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway, most of these problems are solved. In addition, there is not much rainfall in Southwest Africa, so the roads do not need to be maintained as frequently as in eastern East Africa. The only sections that need special attention are those passing through desert areas.

“Mayor Yassold, congratulations. I am afraid that we Swakopmund will also have to borrow your road to connect with the interior in the future. Alas, I am afraid that Walvis Bay will be number one in Southwest Africa in the future!” There was a sour taste in the air.

The speaker was the mayor of Swakopmund, Wahl. Swakopmund is only thirty kilometers away from Walvis Bay, and the terminus of the Mangue-Walvis Bay Highway is established in Walvis Bay. Swakopmund can only accept its fate. Who made Walvis Bay’s conditions more superior than Swakopmund’s port? This will definitely be the economic center for the development of Southwest Africa in the future.

Moreover, Swakopmund Port is still a naval port, which further limits the future development of Swakopmund. Therefore, Wahl is very envious of Yassold, but not to the point of jealousy, after all, the two cities have different divisions of labor.

“Hehe, Mayor Wahl is joking. We two are brothers in adversity, who came here to suffer together. After all, who doesn’t know that Southwest Africa has the worst conditions in East Africa? What’s the difference between being here and being exiled? You say they are both deserts, how come Northern Province and Juba Province have such good lives!” Yassold changed the subject.

If we want to distinguish between the big and small kings between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, then Swakopmund is essentially Walvis Bay’s bodyguard.

Of course, the entire two-thousand-kilometer coastline of Southwest Africa is within the patrol range of the Swakopmund Port Navy, but Walvis Bay is close to Swakopmund.

There are only four settlements along the coast of Southwest Africa. If Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are regarded as a whole, then there are only two immigrant settlements left along the coast.

They are the mouth of the Orange River and Lüderitz in the south. Lüderitz is even more desolate, so it is just a stronghold of a few hundred people to prevent people from landing ashore via Lüderitz Bay.

The total population of these four places basically accounts for 60% of the total immigrant population of East Africa in Southwest Africa, which is more than thirteen thousand people. Among them, there are more than one thousand naval personnel, more than two thousand army personnel, and less than ten thousand ordinary people.

There are not many East Africans in Southwest Africa, and there are relatively few natives. There may have been tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands at the beginning, but now there may be only ten thousand or so. Moreover, these natives who have stayed behind should live in oases in the hinterland of the desert, so they have not been captured by East Africa.

In East Africa, there are two places where natives can never be completely captured: one is the Congo rainforest, and the other is Southwest Africa (including the Kalahari Basin), because the area is vast and the environment is harsh. East Africa can only clear out those more conspicuous or unlucky native tribes.

However, this is not a big deal. The number of natives who can survive in this harsh environment will not be too large, just like the Eskimos in the Arctic or the Indians in the Amazon rainforest, the fertility rate is very low.

Just like Namibia in its previous life, the national population was only more than two million in the twenty-first century, which is out of tune with the surrounding African countries with explosive population growth. No matter how many are born, they cannot be supported.

Moreover, the natives of Southwest Africa are somewhat different from the mainstream black Africans - the Bantu people. Many natives of Southwest Africa belong to the Khoisan people, which are independent ancient races.

Many of the Khoisan people captured by East Africa are mixed with Bantu blood. After all, the Khoisan people are at a disadvantage in the competition with black Africans and are driven to the South African region.

Even in Southwest Africa, it is inevitable that the more advanced Bantu people occupy some better places. East Africa is now clearing them out, so the remaining stragglers are basically pure-blooded Khoisan people.

This is scientifically proven in the previous life, that is, about 60% to 71% of the black population in South Africa has maternal lineages originating from the Khoisan people. As for why it is the maternal lineage, it is natural that the males were eliminated by the Bantu people.

In Ernst’s view, the remaining Khoisan people in East Africa will be fine as long as they remain in the harsh environment of Southwest Africa. This is the same as the Serengeti Nature Reserve in East Africa.

Or to put it more harshly, it is similar to the Indian reservations in the United States, or the “laws protecting the living habits of natives” in Canada and Brazil.

Of course, the main reason is that East Africa cannot completely clean up these remaining small fish and shrimps. Even in the twenty-first century, it may not be possible to do this with the help of satellites. Therefore, as long as they are not allowed to integrate into modern society, there is no problem. After all, the natives of the Amazon rainforest and the Eskimos in the Arctic cannot become rampant, and they do not have the conditions to achieve population explosion under this level of productivity.

In fact, if Europe had not colonized Africa in its previous life, the number of black people would probably have remained at a certain number, rather than doubling. After all, Africa is the only continent that is connected to Eurasia but has maintained no progress for thousands of years.

Speaking of Swakopmund Port, the main role of its garrisoned navy is to prevent colonialists from other countries from landing in Southwest Africa. The entire Southwest Africa has an area of more than one hundred thousand square kilometers and a population of only tens of thousands, which makes the coast of Southwest Africa full of loopholes. If an enemy lands and sneaks into the East African interior from here, it is indeed easy to catch East Africa off guard.

Therefore, the Swakopmund Navy is to prevent anyone from building strongholds on the coast of Southwest Africa, and then transporting supplies to the interior through the coastal strongholds. In this way, even if they enter the hinterland of Southwest Africa, they will be doomed.

Chapter 652: Economic Income

Asolde continued to say to Wahl, “Moreover, you Swakopmund also have the Swakop River as a water source, which is much better than our Walvis Bay.”

Speaking of the Swakop River, Wahl was indeed a little smug, because the existence of the Swakop River created Swakopmund. Although the river flow is not very stable, it is still one of the few good places in the entire Southwest Africa.

“And the Mang-Whale Highway is also of great significance to your Swakopmund. After all, our two cities are less than thirty kilometers apart. You only need to build a short highway to connect with the Mang-Whale Highway, which is just a short distance, or directly use the existing road between our two cities,” Asolde suggested.

There is a municipal highway between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, built along the coastline. Asolde’s suggestion was to have Swakopmund directly build a road connecting to the Mang-Whale Highway. Because the Mang-Whale Highway runs from northeast to southwest, building a straight road connecting to the eastern Mang-Whale Highway would directly eliminate the need to transfer through Walvis Bay.

“A road definitely needs to be built, it’s not difficult for us. I’m just annoyed why they didn’t build the highway directly to Swakopmund, so that you could go south directly from Swakopmund to reach Walvis Bay, which would save a lot of engineering and materials, avoid repeated construction, and improve road efficiency.”

Asolde said, “This shows that the higher authorities value Walvis Bay more than Swakopmund. And the only advantage Walvis Bay has over your Swakopmund is probably this deep-water harbor. Your Swakopmund, on the other hand, cannot develop further because of the Swakop River.”

The impact of the Swakop River on Swakopmund is two-way. The relatively abundant water source does provide impetus for the development of Swakopmund.

However, the Swakop River is also a river that passes through arid areas. The sparse vegetation in the upper reaches leads to a large amount of river sand accumulating at the estuary every year.

This is also the main reason why Swakopmund was first colonized in its previous life, and later replaced by neighboring Walvis Bay.

Hearing Asolde’s words, Wahl felt helpless. He said, “So it is very likely that the two cities will merge and develop together in the future. Our city has water resources, and you have the advantage of a port. If the two cities can merge, then a large city with more than one hundred thousand people can be formed in Southwest Africa in the future.”

“Hehe!” Asolde laughed, “You really dare to think, a big city with more than one hundred thousand people. Now the entire Southwest Africa probably only has about ten thousand people, and our two cities combined only have more than six thousand people.”

“What do you mean ‘dare to think’? I’m telling the truth. If the two cities expand relatively quickly, then connecting them is only a matter of time.”

Asolde retorted, “You also said that the two cities have to expand first. The problem is that the distance between our two cities is almost thirty kilometers. How big does the urban area have to be to meet? Dar es Salaam and First Town are also very close. Their development speed is considered fast, right? They haven’t even met.”

“Oh, why can’t you get your head around it! Does urban integration require the urban areas to be together to be called integration? Can’t you achieve this by building more roads? And thirty kilometers is not that far. If we build a railway between our two cities, it would only be half an hour’s journey. People could commute to work, do you still dare to say that this distance is far?”

With Wahl’s reminder, Asolde realized that he had entered a cognitive bias. Transportation is developing day by day. The speed of trains on the railway is getting faster and faster. No one can say what it will develop into in the future.

Thinking of this, he said, “Doesn’t that mean that as long as the speed of transportation becomes faster and faster in the future, the sense of boundary between cities will become weaker and weaker? For example, the distance between Vienna and Dar es Salaam will also have no boundaries due to the development of transportation.”

Wahl did not see it that way, interrupting, “You are a bit too optimistic. The speed of the steam engine is already amazing now. I also believe that there will be faster power than steam power in the future, but the speed of technological development is not as fast as we imagine. At least we shouldn’t think about it in our generation.”

Europeans in the era of the Industrial Revolution were indeed a bit inflated, but that is unlikely at this point in time. Social confidence is directly proportional to economic development. The better the economic situation, the stronger the social confidence. The worse the economic situation, the weaker the social confidence.

And currently it is still in a stage of economic recession. Although the crisis has passed, the anxiety in people’s hearts still exists. This is also the reason why the great powers were scrambling for colonies all over the world in the 1880s.

The main reason is the psychological crisis that the last economic crisis brought to many countries, so more colonies are needed to share the risks, or to maintain a sense of security.

“Of course, cities also need to develop. The main urban areas of the two cities will definitely expand in the future. That is to say, the distance between our two cities is now about thirty kilometers, then it may only be twenty-nine kilometers in five years, and twenty-eight kilometers in ten years. If the city develops well, then it may only be less than twenty kilometers. Coupled with the development of transportation, the distance between the two cities will be even closer.”

Wahl continued, “Of course, this mainly depends on the development of your Walvis Bay. Now that the higher authorities have placed their bet on your Walvis Bay, so in the future, your Walvis Bay will be in the top three in the entire Southwest Africa, and it will also be the economic engine of Southwest Africa for the next ten years.”

Asolde suspected that Wahl was praising Walvis Bay to death. He said, “You are too optimistic about the development of Walvis Bay. The higher authorities have not said that they want to focus on developing our city, and economic development requires material support. Apart from some ships that have gone astray, there is really nothing worth paying attention to in terms of economic growth here. We even need the higher authorities to allocate grain from the inland.”

There was nothing wrong with Asolde’s words. Apart from Cape Town, which cannot be moved, the only ships that still pass through the Cape Town Strait now are those from South America.

After all, most European merchant ships would choose the Suez Canal. The safety alone is stronger than the Cape of Good Hope, which is known as the “Cape of Storms.” Moreover, the coastal waterway of Southwest Africa is not a good place either. North of Swakopmund is the “Skeleton Coast,” where many European merchant ships were shipwrecked in the past.

East Africa’s east coast can rely on the vast resources of the inland to make the entire West Indian Ocean route prosper again, while Southwest Africa, located on the west coast, has a desert area of nearly one million square kilometers, with no population or products. Therefore, in the case of difficult shipping development, Asolde is not optimistic about the future of Walvis Bay.

The fact is also true. The pillar industry of Walvis Bay in recent years has been fisheries, and so has Swakopmund. The shipping industry and service industry are basically stagnant, because after being taught a lesson by the storms of the Cape of Good Hope, more and more ships choose to pass through the Suez Canal, unless they are not in a hurry, or ships from the Cape Town colony. Now even French ships going to Madagascar pass through the Suez Canal.

Therefore, in 1882, the biggest customer of Walvis Bay’s service industry was actually the potential enemy of East Africa - British merchant ships. This is one of the main sources of income for Walvis Bay, second only to fisheries. However, the fishery resources of Southwest Africa are more based on self-production and self-sales, unlike Somalia, which is close to the market.

Chapter 653: Provincial Capital Selection

In other words, Whale Bay Port and Swakopmund Port are currently just fishing ports, incidentally providing services for passing ships, while Swakopmund Port also serves as a military port.

“The country’s emphasis on Southwest Africa is probably at the same level as the Congo Rainforest, Serengeti National Park, and Limpopo River Nature Reserve in East Africa. We’re treated like animals on the savanna,” Wahl joked.

Yasold said, “Heh, I don’t know about other places, but the Limpopo River Nature Reserve is not in the same league as us. The Limpopo River Nature Reserve is within the jurisdiction of the Hechingen Province and the Southern Frontier Province.

Do you think the meaning of the name Hechingen is simple? Moreover, the capital of Hechingen Province is called Otto City, a name taken from the previous Prince of Hechingen, His Majesty the King’s father.

And the Southern Frontier Province, the development of its capital, New Hamburg Port City, is changing rapidly. It seems they are aiming to catch up with Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.”

Wahl retorted, “I’m not talking about the same thing as you. The Limpopo River Nature Reserve is not equal to Hechingen Province and the Southern Frontier Province. Although they are intertwined, they are on the same level, just like railways are governed by the railway system, not by the provinces.”

“That Limpopo River Nature Reserve is also not something our Southwest Africa can compare to. It is a genuine provincial-level administrative unit. Southwest Africa is still not a province, it can only be regarded as a region. Furthermore, the Limpopo River Nature Reserve has more troops than the entire population of Southwest Africa. What can we compare it with?” Yasold reminded.

Speaking of which, it is also embarrassing that Southwest Africa has not yet become a formal member of East Africa in name. According to East African precedent, Southwest Africa’s situation should belong to a military-controlled area. This was the case when Matabeleland Province was first occupied by East Africa, but it was soon designated as a province by East Africa.

“It’s normal. The central government approving and building the Whale-Munjah Highway is already taking care of Southwest Africa. After all, considering the economic situation and natural environment of the entire Southwest Africa, even I wouldn’t pay too much attention. Forget about highways, I think maintaining sea transportation is enough. Building such a long highway is completely uneconomical in my opinion,” Wahl said.

Before Southwest Africa officially becomes a province, excluding military personnel, Yasold, Wahl, and the mayor of Oranjemund (the mouth of the Orange River) should be the top three officials in the Southwest Africa region. As for Lüderitz, it does not belong to an administrative region, it is entirely a military stronghold of the military in Lüderitz Bay.

“So you’re saying that if Southwest Africa is divided into provinces in the future, the provincial capital should be chosen between our two cities!” Yasold suddenly realized this problem.

“It’s very likely to be your Whale Bay City, after all, your economy and population are stronger.”

“Not necessarily. The choice of provincial capital will not be based on these two factors as key indicators. The economies of the capitals of many provinces are not necessarily stronger than other cities in the province.”

“Anyway, it can’t be Oranjemund,” Wahl asserted.

“That’s not necessarily true. Southwest Africa is such a large area that it can be divided into several provinces. Although Oranjemund is remote, if Southwest Africa is divided into multiple provinces, then Oranjemund has a great chance.”

The two high-ranking city officials’ predictions for the future of Southwest Africa were completely different from Ernst’s ideas.

Ernst is not very concerned about Southwest Africa, because East Africa is currently engaged in construction everywhere, and the conditions and importance of other regions in East Africa are much stronger than Southwest Africa.

However, Ernst would not ignore such a large piece of land of more than one million square kilometers in Southwest Africa.

Generally speaking, Southwest Africa actually already has three provinces, one is Letania Province in the Okavango River Basin, Lorraine Province centered on the Okavango Delta in the Kalahari Basin, and New Baden Province with the former British Bechuanaland as its core.

These three provinces all belong to the transition zone between desert and grassland, and the remaining large area is Southwest Africa without administrative divisions, which is most of present-day Namibia, Botswana, and parts of South Africa.

Ernst has no plans to further divide the remaining one million square kilometers of Southwest Africa, because Southwest Africa’s positioning is very similar to the Western Regions Province of the Far East Empire.

However, its importance is far less than that of the Western Regions Province. The Western Regions Province is located in Central Asia and is very important to the national defense of the Far East Empire, while Southwest Africa has almost no land threats. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and the areas bordering the British and Portuguese to the north and south are also areas with harsh environments.

Not to mention other things, the economic conditions of the Western Regions Province are not comparable to Southwest Africa, especially the agricultural conditions. Oasis agriculture in the Western Regions Province is very developed, with a large number of high-quality agricultural areas around the Tianshan Mountains, the Tarim River, or the Yili River Valley. This is very similar to the Somali region of East Africa and can support a large population.

However, there are no large rivers in Southwest Africa, deserts and barren land are widespread, and there are no high mountains like the Tianshan Mountains, so there is not much glacial meltwater.

East Africa’s Southwest Africa is larger than Namibia in its previous life, so a large part of the Kalahari Desert also belongs to Southwest Africa, and the area of the Kalahari Desert exceeds six hundred thousand square kilometers.

Don’t look at Namibia’s long coastline, but the coast is basically covered by the Namib Desert. If it develops according to the path of its previous life, the role of these coastlines will not be fully utilized.

The main factors limiting the development of its coastline are infrastructure and national economic strength. If East Africa opens up a railway passage through here to the interior and the Atlantic Ocean in the future, then the economic level of Southwest Africa is estimated to surpass that of Namibia in the 20th century.

Overall, Southwest Africa’s potential is not high in East Africa, and due to climatic reasons, there is no need to split it up.

As for the choice of provincial capital, Ernst actually had ideas long ago and would not choose it in the coastal area, but in the highland area in the middle of Southwest Africa, such as Windhoek, the capital of Namibia in its previous life, which is a good choice.

So Yasold and Wahl’s ideas are destined to fail. As for why choose the central plateau, which is not developed at all now, the reason is simple: the population capacity of the central plateau area is larger.

Take Whale Bay Port as an example, water is a big problem. To this day, its grain still relies on sea transportation. Although Swakopmund has the Swakop River, the Swakop River does not have a large amount of water and is still a seasonal river.

In its previous life, the combined population of these two cities barely exceeded one hundred thousand. If the population does not increase, then the development potential of these two cities is very limited. This is also an important reason why the central railway does not choose to go to sea here.

Therefore, the future capital of Southwest Africa will definitely be built in the central plateau area with certain agricultural potential, and the central plateau area is an important mineral distribution area in Southwest Africa, which looks much more promising than the coastal ports.

In addition, the central three provinces of East Africa are developing very rapidly now, and their future can effectively radiate the central area of Southwest Africa, further weakening the port traffic advantages of the coastal areas of Southwest Africa.

Because the development of mineral resources in the central region has only two directions, one is export, and the other is for East Africa’s own use. If it is for export, in the future, you can also choose the railway to pass through the eastern ports. East Africa’s own use is even more unnecessary to say. Industry has already been deployed in the central three provinces.

Of course, the role of Whale Bay Port and other Atlantic ports still exists. After all, it is considered to have a few more options, which is conducive to the safety of East African commodity exports, and at the same time has certain significance for national defense security.

However, its population capacity is a big problem, which also means that it is difficult to develop the coastal ports of Southwest Africa into comprehensive ports. It can only focus on developing several pillar industries, which is also the main reason why the provincial capital does not consider the coast.

Chapter 654: Military Vehicle Research Institute

Speaking of which, the Mange Whale Highway is not just a simple highway. It is also equipped with a telegraph line from the postal department, which ended the history of Southwest Africa without telegraphs.

The main reason is that communication in the coastal areas of Southwest Africa, such as Whale Bay, has always relied on the postal department’s ships. Even the closest city, New Hamburg, is three thousand kilometers away, and there is also the risk of being intercepted by the British Royal Navy in Cape Town.

Therefore, this land telegraph line is particularly important. After it is opened, any disturbances on the coast of Southwest Africa in the future can alert the central government earlier, allowing them to react accordingly.

Southwest Africa has no value now, but in case someone takes a risky move and lands from the sea to attack the hinterland of East Africa, it is not impossible.

…

Recently, Ernst finally dealt with most of the work he had accumulated for more than half a year. Enjoying a rare moment of leisure, he went to the Guards Division’s weapons and equipment testing ground to take a look.

The Guards Division is deployed throughout the Central Province. Due to the special nature of the garrison troops, they have always maintained first-class standards in terms of weapons and equipment.

The Guards Division’s weapons and equipment testing ground is built on Mount Kitunda on the left bank of the Little Rhine River. Mount Kitunda is actually a plain and hilly terrain, and the name was inherited from the natives.

It is more than eighty kilometers away from the First Town in a straight line, and it is mainly connected to the First Town by the water transport of the Little Rhine River, so the transportation is still convenient.

After the Little Rhine River was改造 (gaizao - transformed/renovated), most of the river channels are suitable for navigation. Of course, the waterfall area in the upper reaches cannot be directly passed, but East Africa has specially built a canal. This is also an important reason why the Central Canal was divided into three sections at that time, so it can be bypassed.

Otherwise, relying solely on the Little Rhine River, there is no way to directly reach the upper reaches through its original river channel. Of course, the Guards Division’s weapons and equipment testing ground is not far from the First Town, so there is no need to detour through the canal.

Ernst took a Guards Division warship and arrived here two hours later. Landing at the pier, he could see a road extending towards a building area.

A sign stood by the side of the road: “Military Area, No Entry”. This is of course for ordinary people to see, to prevent accidental entry. However, no one would deliberately come to the Kitunda Mountain weapons and equipment testing ground.

Although ships will pass on the Little Rhine River, the destination of these ships is the First Town or Bagamoyo downstream, and they mainly transport grain, and will not stop at the Kitunda Mountain weapons and equipment testing ground.

“Our Kitunda Mountain weapons and equipment testing ground has a total area of sixty-one square kilometers. The building in front of us and the ones behind are the newly built ‘Military Vehicle Research Institute’, located in the southeast of the testing ground, specializing in studying the application of internal combustion engine vehicles to the military.” The person in charge of the testing ground, Marvinus, introduced to Ernst.

The first building seen after landing at the pier of Mount Kitunda, which is a row of bungalows, is the so-called Military Vehicle Research Institute. It looks very simple, and the main thing is that not even a single car can be seen.

So Ernst asked: “Why can’t I see a single car in this Military Vehicle Research Institute? What are you researching without vehicles?”

Guards Division Staff Officer Laird: “Your Highness, the Military Vehicle Research Institute is currently in its initial stage and does not have formal samples and products. Car manufacturing companies are more researched in this area than we are. Therefore, our Guards Division has a related cooperation project with Hechingen Energy and Power Company, and some tests, considering the need for military confidentiality, we can only conduct separate tests.”

“Then what are your experimental products?”

“Reporting to Crown Prince Your Highness, we have two prototype cars, both purchased from the Dar es Salaam City Automobile Factory of Hechingen Energy and Power Company. However, automobiles are a completely new thing. Apart from two technicians, our people don’t know much about the principles and the role of the machinery. So these two cars are now in the warehouse being disassembled and studied by us.” Marvinus introduced.

Laird also explained from the side: “Now the military’s research institute naturally cannot be compared with car companies that spend years honing their craft. Hechingen Energy and Power Company alone has world-leading level of engine research, while the military can’t even gather relevant research personnel. Therefore, relying on enterprises in the early stage is inevitable. Of course, our Guards Division also attaches great importance to the application prospects of automobiles in the military, so we want to make progress and achieve results.”

There are now a total of three state-owned automobile factories in East Africa, located in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and finally Harare.

All rely on Hechingen Energy and Power Company to provide technical support. The three state-owned automobile factories have just completed the construction of their factory areas in March this year, and the estimated production capacity is more than thirty vehicles a year. To put it bluntly, it is a slightly larger automobile workshop.

But this is also understandable. In the previous life, until the end of the nineteenth century, the United States, which had the most developed automobile industry, only had an annual output of several thousand vehicles.

The automobile industry is a new thing all over the world, so East Africa’s state-owned automobile factory’s production capacity of thirty vehicles is already very large.

East Africa’s automobile production is so limited, but it is already the second largest automobile industry distribution area in the world after the German region. Of course, in addition to the three state-owned automobile factories, Hechingen Energy and Power Company has also built three factories in Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Harare. Therefore, the pattern of the East African automobile industry is currently semi-public and semi-private.

The automobile factories of Hechingen Energy and Power Company mainly consider export issues, assemble and produce in East Africa, and then export to other countries.

“We are now cooperating with two car companies in Dar es Salaam. Last year, we purchased two experimental models from Hechingen Energy and Power Company. The technicians were also hired from Hechingen Energy and Power Company, and there are only two in total. So the Military Vehicle Research Institute is playing a very limited role now.”

Even the start-up of enterprises is so difficult, let alone the military’s Military Vehicle Research Institute. Now the Guards Division’s Military Vehicle Research Institute can be said to be a “small office” completely established by Hechingen Energy and Power Company, but the ownership is in the Guards Division.

“The Ministry of Defense also has related projects, but they mainly cooperate with several state-owned automobile factories, and the enterprises directly undertake the related research.”

State-owned automobile factories also belong to government assets, so the Ministry of Defense uses them without any psychological burden, and the cars of state-owned automobile factories will definitely give priority to the military, because they are not entirely for profit, and the military is definitely the one that can take on more orders domestically.

In recent years, in addition to the relatively exaggerated expansion of the navy, the army has not changed much, and even the number of people has been streamlined, which makes East Africa able to invest more research funds in weapons and equipment.

Ernst probably also knew the composition of this Military Vehicle Research Institute. It is still just a show for now, but this is not surprising. The automobile has appeared for such a short time, and there are probably only a hundred or so technicians who know more about automobiles, most of whom still work in the European part of Hechingen Energy and Power Company.

Other countries naturally have imitators, but so far, only Hechingen Energy and Power Company has finished products for sale on the market.

Therefore, starting from scratch, this step is quite difficult for the East African military, but this is already much stronger than other countries, they may not have even seen a sample.

Afterwards, Ernst was not very interested in this place, but he still encouraged them: “I hope you can achieve results as soon as possible. The impact of the automobile industry on the military is huge, just like the railway. Taking the lead means taking a hundred steps less in the future, and your task is to widen this gap.”

After all, his subordinates have enthusiasm, so Ernst did not criticize, and it is experimental in nature, and there are car companies to back it up if it can’t be done.

Chapter 655: Tea Industry Development Status

Ernst took a trip to the Kitunda Mountain weapons and equipment testing ground, mainly to observe various weapons and equipment tests. As for the “Military Vehicle Research Institute,” it was basically an empty shell at this point, but that was understandable in the initial stage of the automotive industry. So, in less than a day, Ernst returned to First Town.

Minister of Finance von der Leyen provided Ernst with a list of the tea industry. In recent years, the tea industry had developed into one of East Africa’s important industries.

“In 1879, East African tea production was second only to the Far East Empire and India. But by 1882, our tea exports climbed to third place in the world for the first time. Last year, our industry exports were second only to the Indian tea region and the Far East tea region, reaching more than 22,000 tons, of which more than 11,000 tons were exported. The Far East Empire’s production should be around 100,000 tons, and India’s around 20,000 tons. Our tea is mainly sold to Germany, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean coast (including North Africa), and the Middle East.”

The increase in East African tea exports mostly came from the assistance of the Hechingen Consortium. Because Central and Eastern Europe did not have the tea-drinking habits of the British, nor did they have high-quality production areas like India, so to expand the market, it was necessary to invest in advertising in Germany and cooperate with distributors. The Far East Empire’s tea export trade was also largely monopolized by the British. Of course, the United Kingdom itself was also the largest consumer of exported tea.

The overall quality of East African tea could not yet compete with the tea-producing areas of the former two countries, but they had their own advantages and disadvantages and were not completely uncompetitive.

First of all, East Africa controlled the German and other tea markets. The current global tea production was far less than in later generations. In Ernst’s previous life, Kenya alone produced more tea than the Far East Empire, India, and East Africa combined. So, the market capacity was still very large, especially in Europe and the Arab regions (the Middle East and North Africa) that did not produce tea.

The British and Western European tea trade was mainly controlled by the British and Dutch, and had a significant impact on Central and Eastern Europe. But cheaper East African tea, once production increased, had a great impact on the original tea-drinking market in Central and Eastern Europe, and currently it was East Africa’s most important tea market.

In the Arab region, mainly North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa also had certain advantages in the tea market. In North Africa, in addition to maritime routes, land tea trade routes were also very prosperous, especially the Arab caravans in the heart of the Sahara Desert.

East African tea was able to squeeze into the Arabian Peninsula thanks to the Omanis, also known as Zanzibar merchants. Oman was the most prosperous country in the Indian Ocean trade in the Arab region, so relying on Zanzibar merchants, East African tea entered the Arabian Peninsula and radiated to other regions.

Apart from Central and Eastern Europe and the Arab region, East Africa could not compete with the Far East Empire and India in other regions. The Far East Empire’s independent tea business covered the entire East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and North Asia (Tsarist Russia, which could almost be ignored). In addition, due to taste and production reasons, the Indian tea region could not compete with the Far East Empire.

“Green tea does not need to be fermented, but it must be ‘killed green.’ Killing green means that after the fresh tea leaves are picked, they are stir-fried, baked, sun-dried, or steamed to preserve their original color and flavor as much as possible. However, this kind of tea is still not as popular as black tea in Europe, but it is more popular in the Mediterranean region, with Austria and Italy being the main markets.”

“On the contrary, black tea and dark tea products can generally be stored for a long time, and the quality improves with age, making them very popular in overseas markets.”

“However, domestic consumption of green tea is higher than that of black tea, mainly due to Far East immigrants, who have brought the green tea culture to East Africa.”

Of course, East Africa’s green tea culture was a very ordinary grassroots folk tea culture, not as particular as the wealthy families of the Far East Empire. But this also greatly contributed to the popularization of tea drinking in East Africa.

This kind of tea-drinking culture could only fool immigrants from Germany, and correspondingly, immigrants from Germany could introduce their research on coffee to immigrants from the Far East.

In fact, neither tea nor coffee was deeply understood by the two major immigrant groups. It was more a matter of being influenced by the cultural environment of their home countries.

“Almost all of East Africa can grow tea trees, especially the vast eastern highlands (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, etc.), which are excellent tea-producing areas. They are mainly divided into two parts, one is the Northern Tea Region (Kenya), and the other is the Southern Tea Region (along Lake Malawi).”

“The Northern Tea Region is our East Africa’s high-quality tea region, where the earliest batch of tea was introduced. Among them, three tea varieties have been deeply cultivated for many years and are relatively mature.”

“In addition, the Northern Tea Region is popular in Germany because its tea leaves have high integrity, bright color, a flower-like East African aroma, a slightly bitter taste, a very strong and fresh aroma, a red and bright soup color, a mellow taste, and excellent quality, with a unique flavor. Two of them are black tea, and one is dark tea. The process mainly replicates the technology of the Far East Empire, but we are also studying related mechanical equipment to increase production without affecting the taste.”

Thanks to the superior geographical conditions of the Northern Tea Region, with an average annual temperature of around twenty degrees Celsius, sufficient sunshine, abundant rainfall, relatively few pests, an altitude of 1,500 meters, and slightly acidic volcanic ash soil, the Northern Tea Region is an ideal production area for high-quality highland tea.

Moreover, East African tea trees are evergreen all year round. Taking the Northern Tea Region as an example, tea farmers pick a round of tea leaves on average every two or three weeks between June and July each year. In the golden season of tea picking in October each year, they can pick once every five or six days. Therefore, East African tea can grow all year round without a dormant period, which makes East African tea have a higher yield per unit area.

“This year, we established the Mombasa Tea Auction in Mombasa to provide auctions for merchants from Austria, Germany, Oman and other countries.”

The Northern Tea Region of East Africa has initially established a reputation. This was a gift from God. The same variety might be unknown if planted in the Far East, but the taste was greatly improved in East Africa, which was reminiscent of the saying “an orange north of the Huai River becomes a trifoliate orange south of the Huai River.”

“The annual output of the Southern Tea Region is about 4,000 tons, mainly producing black tea. The tea soup is clear, the quality is medium to high, and the tea species belongs to the Indian species, so the grading method is the same as that of Indian tea, and the same tea blending method is used.”

“The products of the Southern Tea Region are mainly sold to Western Europe under the brand name of ‘Indian Tea.’ We cooperate with Dutch tea merchants to sell at a price that is three percent lower than genuine Indian tea. However, considering the freight, because the Indian tea region is mainly located in the northeast, the route is about 1,000 kilometers longer than the East African route, which makes the cost of the Malawi tea region lower.”

This was also a strategy for East African tea exports. After all, East Africa was a new tea-producing area, so in areas outside the core business of the Hechingen Consortium, it was inevitable to use the reputation of the Far East Empire or India, two relatively mature tea industries, to open up the market.

Of course, counterfeit goods were not a long-term solution. East Africa was also working hard to develop its own tea brands, which was also the main task of the Northern Tea Region. The Northern Tea Region was East Africa’s highest-quality tea region, especially the quality of the three relatively mature tea varieties, which could be compared with many teas in the Far East Empire.

Therefore, the tea in the Northern Tea Region sold well in Germany due to its price and quality advantages, and the price route was a key focus of East African tea development.

After all, judging from the development path of tea in Ernst’s previous life, European and American countries did not pay much attention to the grade of tea, or rather, they did not have the rich tea culture and atmosphere of East Asia. Instead, tea brands produced and processed by large-scale industries were more easily accepted.

Chapter 656: Expansion and Upgrades

Therefore, Ernst said, “Tea is one of the world’s three major beverages, and of these three, we in East Africa have a competitive advantage in two. This is because both tea and coffee cultivation are geographically limited. The last category, alcoholic beverages, is much more diverse. Various grains, fruits, and even other plants can be used. In short, the raw materials for brewing are so abundant that almost every region has its own alcoholic drinks.”

In reality, alcoholic beverages should also be considered a competitive industry in East Africa, but this advantage is not as prominent when compared to coffee and tea.

And East Africa’s advantage in coffee is currently unshakeable, because, as everyone knows, East African coffee is renowned worldwide for its quality.

Tea, on the other hand, doesn’t quite measure up in this regard. This is because there are so many different types of tea, and the tea varieties introduced to East Africa are small-scale varieties from the Far Eastern Empire. Therefore, they require special cultivation. East Africa has imported over a hundred different tea varieties from the Far Eastern Empire.

This leads to East Africa employing a “quantity over quality” approach in the tea industry. A key reason why Indian tea has yet to replace Far Eastern tea is that its taste is difficult to compare.

East Africa’s solution to this problem is to plant a large number of experimental crops, then select the best in terms of taste and yield for large-scale cultivation.

“The growing area for coffee is smaller than that for tea, mainly confined to the tropics. Tea, on the other hand, can be widely distributed in subtropical regions, and even grow better there. This is an important reason why the Far Eastern Empire has become the leading tea-producing country. An important reason why our Northern Tea Region can stand out among tea-producing areas is its high-altitude terrain and tea yield advantages. The high altitude guarantees the quality of East African tea, and the high-altitude terrain also makes tea plantation easier.”

Of course, tea still requires specific terrain. Generally, high-altitude terrain such as mountains and hills is most suitable. East Africa is a highland region, while the Far Eastern Empire has complex and diverse terrain. The Assam tea region in India is a large area of plains, but its quality is much worse than that of the Far Eastern Empire and East Africa.

This is not an exaggeration by East Africa. In its previous life, Kenya surpassed India and the Far Eastern Empire in tea exports for more than a decade. The important reason for Kenya’s later rise in tea was naturally its excellent quality and huge output.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Kenyans are not used to drinking tea. Most of their tea is used for export, so they have long maintained an advantage in the international market.

In the previous life, the Far Eastern Empire and India had extremely rich domestic tea markets. India cultivated a large number of tea lovers during the colonial era. Of course, Indian tea mainly appears in the form of milk tea, and milk tea shops are very common on the streets of India.

East Africa also has milk tea, mainly in the Northern Pasture and some areas with developed animal husbandry, where the demand for milk tea is high. Among them, the Northern Pasture is close to the Northern Tea Region, and at the same time, the milk production is high. The combination of the two has led to an increase in milk tea production. Of course, the Northern Pasture is also an important consumption area for East African black tea.

In the Northern Industrial Belt, dairy products are in ample supply, including milk tea and coffee with milk are very popular, so the Northern Industrial Belt is also a combination of the world’s three major beverage production and consumption areas.

“In addition to the Northern Tea Region and the Southern Tea Region, the Great Lakes Region is also an excellent tea and coffee producing area, but its scale is not yet comparable to the Northern Tea Region and the Southern Tea Region. This point must be taken seriously, especially the Western Great Lakes Province (Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, etc.). The tea market profit is still considerable, so providing more variety options will also help East African tea open up the market.”

The East African Plateau is considered a high-quality tea-producing area, which is a unique advantage of East Africa. Basically, East African countries in the previous life produced tea, even if they were not on the East African Plateau, and the East African Plateau produces tea, which means that other plateau areas in East Africa are also suitable for tea cultivation, after all, the overall environment is similar.

“Of course, the biggest disadvantage of our East African tea industry is in the industrial production level, especially mechanization, which is far inferior to India. Therefore, we must work hard on the mechanized production of tea. In addition to researching and importing tea production machinery from Austria, we must also build our own related machinery production enterprises.”

East Africa, as a semi-industrialized country, is far inferior to European countries in the field of machinery manufacturing, and the field of mechanized tea production is even blank.

Because most of East Africa’s industrial and technological sources come from the German region, and the German region does not produce tea, so naturally there is no related machinery production and technology accumulation.

And the most advanced in this field is Britain. Britain has been planting tea in India for more than ten years earlier than East Africa. Now there are large-scale machinery factories with hundreds of people in Indian tea factories.

And the world’s largest tea producer, the third largest industrial producer, the Far Eastern Empire and East Africa are still relying on traditional methods to produce tea.

The situation in East Africa is slightly better. A factory in Austria was specially commissioned to design and produce tea machines, but the effect is naturally hard to describe.

After all, this is also a field that Austria has never touched before, so the machines used in East African tea factories are very inefficient, even unable to replace manual labor, and have a high failure rate and high maintenance costs.

So Ernst continued, “Our tea production is still too weak. In response to the unreliability of machine production, corresponding improvements must be made. The way we used to commission foreign design and production in the past now seems to be unworkable. Therefore, we still need to hire a professional team from Europe to tailor-make related machinery for East African tea production based on the traditional East African tea production process.”

In addition, the advantage of this is that it can solve various problems that occur after the machine is running at any time, and make targeted improvements to it.

The disadvantages of this are also self-evident, that is, the cost is relatively high, but the East African tea industry can bring considerable income to East Africa every year, so the money spent on technology is acceptable to the East African government.

Regarding tea revenue, the East African government is much stronger than the Far Eastern Empire government and India. The Far Eastern Empire government is relatively chaotic in tea taxation, and it can even be said that it has done nothing.

Because tea is one of the most important export products of the Far Eastern Empire, before the Opium War, tea alone was an important export product of the Far Eastern Empire to Britain. The Far Eastern Empire could complete a trade surplus with Britain by relying on this item (the total value of exported goods in foreign trade exceeds the total value of imported goods).

Today, the annual tea export volume of the Far Eastern Empire reaches around 100,000 tons, and the export volume is almost increasing every year, but the tea tax of the Far Eastern Empire government is not increasing, and it has been maintained at a level of hundreds of thousands of taels per year. This level is too low, and it is far from matching its status as the largest tea producer and consumer country. If the tea tax can be clarified, it can greatly solve the government’s financial problems, but this is obviously difficult to achieve.

As for India, it is purely a colony. No matter how much tea is planted, the British will profit, which does not contribute much to India’s mainland.

Although the scale of the East African tea industry is much smaller than that of the Far Eastern Empire and India, the value of the benefits it obtains belongs to East Africa. Both the government and tea workers can profit, so the government attaches great importance to tea revenue.

Therefore, the government is quite willing to promote the scale of tea planting, expand the East African tea market, and improve tea production efficiency.

Chapter 657: Angolan Defense

Ernst’s suggestions were mostly panaceas, but they did confirm the overall development direction of the East African tea industry. That was to rely on a “sea of questions” strategy and mechanized production to boost the future development of the East African tea industry. After all, the top two tea-producing countries were not pushovers, and if East Africa wanted to compete with them, it had to “grind” hard.

Relatively speaking, the Far East Empire’s tea industry posed little threat to East Africa because its tea development lacked government support, private tea businesses flourished, and they operated independently.

In his previous life, India completely surpassed the Far East Empire in the 1890s under such a state of decadence in the Far East Empire’s tea industry. Of course, this mainly referred to exports. After all, the Far East Empire’s own volume was larger than all other tea-producing areas and markets in the world combined, and the Far East Empire was particular about its tea, making it impossible for foreign tea to squeeze in.

The import and export trade between East Africa and the Far East Empire also reflected this, with coffee being more popular than tea. Coffee was actually the “foreign tea” in the eyes of the Far East Empire, something they could drink out of novelty.

…

After receiving Ernst’s instructions, Von der Leyen prepared to integrate the East African tea industry, which included opening a new main tea-producing area. Because it was mostly along the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria), two names were initially chosen, so Von der Leyen had to consult before leaving.

“Your Highness, about the expansion of tea production in the Western Great Lakes Province that you mentioned earlier, what should we name it? Should we use ‘Western’ or ‘Great Lakes’ as the prefix?”

This was a small matter, so Ernst said without thinking, “Just name it the Great Lakes Tea Region! After all, western East Africa is so large, including a piece of land in Angola, so using Great Lakes is more appropriate.”

Ernst clearly remembered that Angola was also a tea-producing area, but it was far from comparable to the East African highlands. However, everyone was clear about the situation in Africa in his previous life. Black Africans had poor agricultural technology, and Angola had oil to fall back on, so there was no need to waste resources on tea planting.

In fact, Ernst had a very simple and crude analysis standard for whether African countries were qualified in his previous life, that was whether the region was stable and had not experienced war for a long time. If there were fewer wars, then Africans could barely make a living. For example, a group of countries in Southeast Africa in his previous life clearly had fewer problems than those in Northwest Africa.

However, at the thought of Angola, Ernst realized that he seemed to have been neglecting this Portuguese colony recently, at least compared to southern Mozambique. Because southern Mozambique was closer to Cape Town, the degree of importance was naturally higher, and he subconsciously always thought that the Portuguese could not accomplish anything.

But Angola was much closer to Portugal than Mozambique, so Portugal might have more chips in Angola than in Mozambique.

“If there’s nothing else, you can go ahead and get busy!” Ernst dismissed Von der Leyen and asked someone to call Swet in. Soon, Swet arrived at Ernst’s reception room.

“Has the Angolan colony made any major moves in the past few years?” Ernst asked directly, cutting to the chase.

“Your Highness, that’s for sure. Our contact area with Angola is larger than with Mozambique, but Mozambique is next to Matabeleland Province, so our focus has always been on Mozambique.”

Mozambique was in the east, and the essence of East Africa was also in the east, so the General Staff Department would definitely keep a close eye on every move in Mozambique. A single oversight could result in heavy losses for East Africa’s industrial investment in Matabeleland Province. However, due to the Matabeleland Plateau, East Africa’s terrain was higher than Mozambique’s, which was very beneficial for military defense.

The Portuguese obviously had the opposite plan to East Africa. The Portuguese’s prepared strategy was to attack in the west and defend in the east, because the value of the two colonies of Mozambique and Angola to Portugal was about the same, and Angola, which was closer to the mainland, was obviously more important.

This also had a certain relationship with the existence of the East African Navy. Now East Africa’s naval strength along the Indian Ocean coast was quite strong, and there were only two directions for Portugal to support the Indian Ocean, one was the Red Sea route, and the other was the Cape Town route.

From the Portuguese point of view, neither of these two routes was safe. On the contrary, Angola’s location, starting from the Portuguese mainland and along the West African coastline, could be reached without passing through the East African Navy’s sphere of influence or the East African coast.

This was not because the Portuguese were cowardly, but because the spirit of the old empire had long been worn away over the years, and East Africa had only accelerated this process.

Of course, the vested interests and the Portuguese in the two colonies were now much more active in resisting East Africa than the Portuguese mainland.

Swet said, “The plantation owners and mine owners in the Angolan colony have organized an army since the last cession of land, but we are not very clear about the specific situation, because Angola is not like southern Mozambique. Although southern Mozambique is hostile to us, it is also closely linked to East Africa economically, which makes it easier for us to obtain intelligence in southern Mozambique.”

“At the same time, there are also troops from the Portuguese mainland gathering in Angola, including the Navy and Army. Their Navy often departs from Benguela Port and encounters our Atlantic Naval Detachment in the south. Compared to the Indian Ocean coast, our naval strength in the Atlantic Ocean is almost negligible. If a conflict occurs, we will definitely be at a disadvantage.”

“However, since the opening of the Mungwi Highway, we don’t have to worry about Angola suddenly entering our territory from the southwest African coast. Instead, we should pay attention to the areas bordering Angola on land. Several of our western provinces bordering Angola have small populations and poor transportation, which is indeed somewhat dangerous, but it is not too difficult to provide support from the central region. At least we can guarantee that the Angolan army will be resisted within the western provinces.”

The areas where East Africa and Angola bordered each other, excluding the Congo rainforest, mainly consisted of the Danube Province (southwest of Kinshasa), the Zambezi Province (the source area of the Zambezi River), and Letania Province.

Among them, Letania Province also administered one-third of southern Angola, which was the southern Angolan territory bordering Namibia in his previous life.

In fact, these three provinces were incomplete. Ernst had considered this when dividing the provinces, because these three provinces would inevitably have to wait until East Africa completely annexed Angola before they could be finalized.

Only by completely obtaining Angola could East Africa better re-divide the area of the western provinces, which would be beneficial to East Africa’s future industrial layout.

As a result, the provincial capitals of the three provinces were all temporary offices. After all, the good places in western Africa, including the climate, seaports, and high-quality land, were concentrated in the Angolan region.

There was also the western section of the central railway transverse line that East Africa had been waiting to open up to the Atlantic coast, and the end point on the central railway plan was the Port of Benguela controlled by the Portuguese.

Ernst: “Since that’s the case, then we shouldn’t ignore Angola even more, especially the three western provinces. The military should focus on deploying defenses in their areas. The only army that can be transferred now should be the Eastern Military Region. The city of Mongu exists in the south, so Letania Province doesn’t need to worry too much. The Danube Province and Zambezi Province in the north are the key.”

“The terrain of the Danube Province is more complex, with many mountains, so it should not become the Portuguese’s priority choice. On the contrary, the area between the northern Danube Province and Angola is flat, and there is no railway to provide rapid support. We will focus on deploying defenses in the Danube Province,” Swet replied.

In fact, the Portuguese had not been doing nothing in the past two or three years. They had taken back the losses they suffered in East Africa from the Kingdom of Congo. Now the territory of the Kingdom of Congo on both sides of the lower Congo River had become part of Angola.

The military strength of the entire Angolan colony had also shifted northward, so the defense pressure on the Danube Province was indeed the greatest.

Chapter 658: Strategy

“The Danube Province has always been in an awkward position, neither here nor there. In fact, the climatic conditions of the Danube Province are among the best in the entire East African provinces.”

“There’s the main channel of the Congo River, as well as large tributaries of the Congo River such as the Kwango River. The terrain is flat, with lush water plants and forests. The ancient Kingdom of Kongo was active in this area.”

“The Portuguese were actually aware of this, but they acted too late, so that all the basin east of the Kwango River was occupied by us.”

“The biggest problem in the Danube Province now is in the west, which is also the border, so very few immigrants are allocated there, only slightly more than in Southwest Africa. However, our level of development in the Danube Province is not high.”

Ernst said a great deal in succession, emphasizing the importance of the Danube Province. However, hidden beneath the importance of the Danube Province is high risk. If the risks are not eliminated, East Africa’s development of the Danube Province will naturally be out of the question.

“Now, the Portuguese in the Angolan colony certainly haven’t been idle in the past few years, so it won’t be easy for our army to enter the Angolan colony again next time. The same is probably even more true of Mozambique, after all, with the British supervising from the side, the Portuguese in Mozambique dare not be perfunctory.”

Swete said, “Your Highness, Mozambique is indeed as you say. The British are actually using our objectively existing threat to forcibly tie the Portuguese colony of Mozambique to their chariot. According to intelligence sent back by our agents, the British have basically gained military command of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique.”

“Moreover, most of the weapons now arming Mozambique are provided by the British. In terms of weapons and equipment, the Portuguese are not even as good as East Africa.”

“As for Angola, it’s different from Mozambique. Angola is more independent than Mozambique and is basically not controlled by the British. Local civilian forces and Portuguese mainland troops have jointly constructed Angola’s military defense system.”

“However, the result of our analysis is that these Angolan civilian organizations are probably more difficult to deal with than the Portuguese regular army.”

“First of all, in terms of weapons and equipment, these large plantation owners and mine owners are richer than each other, and they are not stingy with investment in weapons and equipment, which are even more sophisticated than those of the Portuguese mainland troops.”

“Secondly, these local forces that have already taken root in Angola are even more hostile to East Africa than the Portuguese mainland, because our last operation in southern Angola also ruined our chances of winning over these civilian forces next time.”

Throughout every external expansion of East Africa, it has meant that the local original forces were crushed into powder. The most important thing is that the land ownership was taken away by East Africa, and the original local forces were forced out penniless.

Therefore, the attitude of the large plantation owners and mine owners in the southern Angolan region towards East Africa can be described as wanting to eat their flesh raw, and the Portuguese in the north were also frightened by East Africa’s policies.

Any country or force would probably resist East Africa to the end. If East Africa did not confiscate land and respect “private property,” they might betray Portugal and throw themselves into the arms of East Africa without East Africa even urging them.

Of course, Ernst would not dare to use people who came over like this. What comes too easily is not a good deal. These guys choose to submit temporarily for the sake of profit, and they will betray at any time for the sake of profit in the future.

Moreover, according to the common characteristics of regions with obvious ethnic differences, they are naturally hostile to the policies of the central government. Even if the policies are beneficial to them, they probably will not appreciate it and will still concoct some conspiracy theories.

This is most obvious in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Don’t think that Hungary has always said that Austria is squeezing them. In fact, Hungary has been a relatively fast-developing region in Europe in recent years. The speed of railway and industrial development is not slower than other regions, and it can also enjoy the treatment of great powers abroad. However, Hungary does not appreciate it, and Austria can only swallow the bitter pill and have no way to speak out.

Looking at it this way, the Habsburgs are truly a model of benevolent rulers, and Ernst is obviously not suitable to follow this path, so his goal is to force these foreigners who want to stay on “East African soil” to rebel.

Moreover, this group of people in Angola do have a way out. They don’t have to fight East Africa to the end. The last time they received southern Angola proved this.

Unlike Africans, who have no way out, these Portuguese in Angola can return to Portugal.

“Finally, the fighting power of the Portuguese mainland army is very questionable. The political situation in Portugal is chaotic. Capitalists and nobles, local forces and the central government, the people and the government, etc., can be said to be various contradictions superimposed together, which also makes the Portuguese economy always on the verge of collapse, so the Portuguese mainland army cannot form combat effectiveness at all.”

The last point Swete said is actually saying that the Portuguese military expenditure is too low. After all, as a former great power, they cannot produce an ironclad ship and have to buy it from the United Kingdom. This is in stark contrast to the Portuguese navy a hundred years ago. The navy is so shabby, and the army is even more needless to say.

And the military expenditure is already low, and the management is even worse, so you can imagine the situation of the Portuguese army now.

Of course, Ernst does not doubt the fighting power of the Portuguese. If their fighting power was not good, Spain would have swallowed Portugal long ago.

This brings us to the Portuguese noble class. According to European noble traditions, their private armed forces are likely to be the mainstay of the Portuguese military power.

Ernst said, “So next time war breaks out, we must provide sufficient firepower support to our troops. These local forces don’t care about anything else, but they will definitely build their sphere of influence as solid as a rock, so the army may encounter a large number of private defensive works, as well as passes built by the Portuguese mainland army in dangerous places.”

“Also, try not to let this group of people and the army fight head-on. Even if they are like shrinking turtles, relying on bunkers and cities to manage their defenses, we are not afraid. Only guerrilla tactics are the most troublesome, so the troops should advance steadily, uprooting the local forces and leaving no future troubles.”

It is indeed a headache for East Africa if the enemy sticks to their defenses and does not come out, but East Africa has the time and energy to wear down the enemy. With the heavy firepower support of artillery, they can eat the enemy bit by bit. Moreover, this will also wear down the arrogance of the enemies behind them.

What Ernst is most worried about is that the battle will be fought quickly, but these local forces will not be convinced. After all, if the battle is fought too quickly, the East African government will not have time to send officials to take over the grassroots level and control and manage the local area, which may cause unrest in the rear.

The most important thing is to prevent the enemies in these areas from having the idea of guerrilla warfare. If they engage in guerrilla tactics, armies from all over the world will have a headache. Slow and steady wins the race, and the initiative is always in East Africa’s hands, so East Africa has always been sitting tight.

Chapter 659: Trade with Abyssinia

Turkana Province, Jima City.

East Africa’s initial occupation of the southern Ethiopian Highlands was primarily to ensure the safety of the Omo River water source upstream of Lake Turkana.

With East Africa’s occupation here, not only the Omo River, but also the safety of the Shebelle River, the Jubba River, and other river water sources were resolved, making it the “little water tower” of northeastern East Africa.

Now, trade with the Abyssinian Empire has made Turkana Province East Africa’s most important land trade port. The Abyssinian Empire is also East Africa’s largest land trading partner.

This is mainly because the Abyssinian Empire is large. Among the countries and regions bordering East Africa, the most populous are the Abyssinian Empire and Egypt.

Unfortunately, the core area of Egypt is too far from East Africa, Sudan in between is too barren, and Egypt is now a British semi-colony. East Africa can only watch this market with envy.

“This pile of wood carvings can only be exchanged for three Rhine marks, because the wood carving market is not booming right now, especially these kinds of wood carvings. Although they have their own cultural characteristics, they are worthless in the eyes of other countries.”

“Mr. Hans, these wood carvings were carefully crafted by the most famous master artist in Negemete City over several days. Look at the patterns and the texture of the wood. Regardless of the carving skills, the value of the wood alone is not cheap.”

It must be said that East Africa inherited a characteristic of Germany, which is that there are too many people named Hans. If you shout that name on the street, probably six or seven people will turn around. However, immigrants from the Far East Empire have greatly enriched the diversity of East African names and surnames.

“Then how much do you want?”

“At least twenty Rhine marks!”

“Too much. Your batch of goods is not worth that much. As I said before, your culture is ultimately different from that of Europe, and even different from that of Arab countries. So, blindly promoting your own traditions may not be popular in the market. I told you before, it would be better to make them according to the samples we provide, so that you can open up the market.”

The wood carving samples provided by Hans are naturally custom-made for Europe, mainly based on religious and cultural factors. After all, Europeans willingly pay tithes and indulgences, so it’s not too much to buy some cultural products to support “God.”

Of course, more importantly, the Abyssinian carpenters are skilled. They can vividly depict many religious figures, which should be a talent of Africans.

Hans continued to lower the price, saying, “Look at this texture. Such good wood is wasted. It can even be said that the wood itself is of good quality, and its inherent value is more than three Rhine marks. Adding the labor, it could be worth five Rhine marks. It’s because you took it upon yourselves that now three Rhine marks is considered a high price.”

Kalle was obviously persuaded by Hans’s words, but is it really because of his own ideas that the value of this batch of wood carvings has been reduced?

“Then, Mr. Hans, how about we take this batch of wood carvings back and redo them? Making them a little smaller should salvage some value.” Kalle tentatively asked.

How could that be possible? The meat is already at his mouth. Hans naturally doesn’t want to spit it out. As for depreciating this batch of wood carvings to nothing earlier, that’s just doing business! Everyone understands that it’s a process of mutual discounting.

However, what Hans said is also true. Wood carvings like those from the Abyssinian Empire, if not improved according to European aesthetics, are really not easy to sell. But not easy to sell doesn’t mean there’s no market, especially for those artists who are very interested in wood carvings with this kind of primitive, wild beauty.

European artists are not short of money and are usually generous. However, the artist community is, after all, a minority. Mass-market products are also a goal that East Africa values. This is also why Hans requires the other party to make products according to European religious and cultural elements.

So, Hans said, “Forget about taking them back to modify. After all, going back and forth not only takes time but also affects our next transaction. This time, I’ll take a loss and buy them at a price of four Rhine marks.”

East Africa’s large-scale purchase of handicrafts from the Abyssinian Empire is actually a last resort, because the Abyssinian Empire itself does not have outstanding mineral resources. Agriculture is the pillar industry of the Abyssinian Empire, and East Africa is also a major agricultural country. Therefore, in trade between the two countries, East Africa has to think of more ways to make the Abyssinian Empire able to afford it.

Taking wood carvings as an example, East Africa used to be able to produce them itself, but the craftsmanship of the local natives is obviously not comparable to that of an ancient civilization like the Abyssinian Empire.

Moreover, the labor cost of the Abyssinian Empire is much lower than that of East Africa. East Africa has too few people compared to its land area, while the Abyssinian Empire is the opposite. In the past few years, the Abyssinian Empire’s land area has been shrinking, arable land has decreased, but the population has increased instead of decreasing, and labor costs have further decreased.

Therefore, East Africa outsources handicrafts such as wood carvings and carpets to the Abyssinian Empire. Of course, this is limited to handicrafts.

East Africa values industry, not handicrafts. After all, no country in the world can match the Far East Empire in handicrafts. East Africa purchases many handicraft products directly from the Far East Empire.

Handicraft products purchased from the Far East Empire are mainly used for domestic consumption, while handicrafts from the Abyssinian Empire are mainly used for resale to other countries and regions. In fact, East Africa is acting as a second-hand dealer.

In fact, Turkana Province can also rely on the Abyssinian Empire to develop its own industry, which is quite rare in inland East Africa.

The method is very simple. Turkana Province does not have a large population in East Africa, and its resources are not particularly abundant, especially basic industrial raw materials such as coal and iron.

Turkana Province has a large area, so it certainly does not lack these minerals, but it lacks the population to mine these minerals. Therefore, one of the measures for Turkana Province to develop industry is to use its trade advantages with the Abyssinian Empire to turn the Abyssinian Empire into a raw material supply base and market for Turkana Province.

To say nothing else, the iron ore and coal in Jima City, a border city of Turkana Province, are all imported from within the Abyssinian Empire.

At the same time, Jima City is an important gold trading market, because the Abyssinian Empire has relatively rich gold mine reserves and a relatively mature industry. Jima City exchanges the Abyssinian Empire’s gold and other wealth for various industrial goods.

Of course, the most famous trade between the two countries is the arms trade. The Abyssinian Empire has to pay a sum of money every year to purchase East African weapons. This is a long-term business, because the Abyssinian Empire is surrounded by three countries, East Africa, Italy, and Britain (Egypt), none of which are easy to deal with.

Located between these three countries, the Abyssinian Empire is naturally very anxious, so East Africa’s arms trade with Abyssinia ensures that the country does not collapse.

For East Africa, a complete Abyssinian Empire is beneficial to East Africa, because the situation here is complex. If the Abyssinian Empire is divided into several parts, the countries behind each faction will become a tangled mess.

As a whole, the Abyssinian Empire’s strength has long been weakened by East Africa, and its future potential has also been greatly reduced. After all, without the land area of the previous life, the Abyssinian population can only remain at the level of tens of millions forever.

The most important thing is that the Abyssinian Empire’s import and export trade is now basically monopolized by East Africa. It is East Africa’s first de facto raw material supply base and fully open market, so East Africa naturally wants to ensure the stability of the current Abyssinian Empire’s regime.

Chapter 660: Trade and Industry

Throughout the year 1882, the trade between Abyssinia and East Africa had made Abyssinia the sixth largest trading nation with East Africa, just behind Oman. Therefore, East Africa placed a relatively high value on the Abyssinian Empire.

Currently, the five countries with greater trade volume with East Africa than the Abyssinian Empire were the Far Eastern Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, Tsarist Russia, and Oman.

Oman’s prominence was mainly due to the presence of Zanzibar merchants acting as intermediaries. Many goods from East Africa destined for the Arab regions were gathered and distributed in Oman, radiating to the Middle East, Central Asia, and even parts of Southeast Asia.

The trade between the Abyssinian Empire and East Africa also caused the border trade of the entire Turkana Province to surpass that of the Southern Frontier Province, currently only behind the Central Province and the Eastern Province.

The Southern Frontier Province’s outlet to the sea was the port city of New Hamburg, while the Central Province had three trading ports: Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, and Tanga. The Eastern Province also had Mombasa.

Therefore, it was difficult for other provinces to surpass the foreign trade volume of the Central Province and the Eastern Province, especially the Central Province, which had three major trading ports.

The economic hinterland behind New Hamburg in the Southern Frontier Province included: the Southern Frontier Province (Zulu Kingdom), Hechingen Province (Transvaal Republic), Lorraine Province (Kalahari Basin), New Baden Province (Bechuanaland), and parts of Matabeleland Province.

Therefore, it was indeed a remarkable achievement for Turkana Province to surpass New Hamburg in the Southern Frontier Province based solely on trade with the Abyssinian Empire.

The only pity was that the trading locations between Turkana Province and the Abyssinian Empire, that is, the border trade cities, were more than one, lacking the uniqueness of New Hamburg or Mombasa.

In fact, Dar es Salaam was even better than both, but it was shared by Bagamoyo and Tanga in the Central Province. However, Bagamoyo and Tanga were very small in scale compared to Dar es Salaam.

After all, the influence of Dar es Salaam extended beyond the Central Province, with the foreign trade of more than a dozen provinces requiring Dar es Salaam to handle it. Mombasa, on the other hand, monopolized the foreign trade of the Northern Industrial Belt, the Northern Pasture, the Great Lakes Region, and the Northwest Region.

Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and New Hamburg all had vast economic hinterlands and railway transportation, so their development was naturally not slow.

In comparison, Turkana Province was neither coastal nor supported by railways for economic development, and its own population and industry were not advantageous. However, it developed into the third largest province in East Africa for foreign trade, surpassing the Southern Frontier Province, which was enough to show the efforts of Turkana Province.

Of course, the roles of the Abyssinian Empire, the Italian Red Sea coastal colony, and Egypt cannot be ignored, especially the Abyssinian Empire’s economic contribution to Turkana Province, which exceeded forty percent.

In addition to the relatively surprising trade in Turkana Province, the import and export trade between East Africa and the Far Eastern Empire was also a major highlight, surpassing Germany and Austria to become East Africa’s largest trading partner.

The Far Eastern Empire became East Africa’s largest trading country in 1881. Before that, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been East Africa’s largest trading country for a long time, and Germany from 1874 to 1878.

The period from 1874 to 1878 was when the economic crisis was at its most severe. At that time, East Africa’s steel trade with Germany alone reached its peak. After the economic crisis passed, the Austro-Hungarian Empire regained the top spot, but it was officially surpassed by the Far Eastern Empire in just two years.

This was understandable. The economic volume of the Far Eastern Empire was very large, and the Northern Market alone was enough for East Africa to digest. Of course, another important reason was that East Africa could not squeeze into the Southern Market.

Moreover, the prerequisite for East Africa to gain access to the Northern Market of the Far Eastern Empire was to cooperate with the two major commercial groups in the north of the Far Eastern Empire, using trade swaps and other means, without the trade freedom that the British had in the Far Eastern Empire.

East Africa’s annual imports from the Far Eastern Empire mainly consisted of agricultural products, handicrafts, and textiles, while the Far Eastern Empire imported grain, industrial products, electrical appliances, and tropical specialties from East Africa.

East Africa’s industrial products could only take the price route, but the materials used were solid, the production was relatively standardized, and the cost performance was relatively high, but the profits were not ideal.

Electrical appliances were one of East Africa’s few signature products, and a major export product for East Africa, so they were separated into a separate category.

This was not only reflected in foreign trade. The development of East Africa’s electricity industry can also be seen from the popularity of electricity in various countries. The popularity of electricity in East Africa was second only to the German region and the United States, but the growth rate in East Africa was higher than in both regions.

One important point was that East Africa was large. The combined area of Germany and Austria was only over one million square kilometers, so the upper limit could not compare to East Africa and the United States.

However, the United States also had its own problems, namely the large number of electricity companies and the lack of standardization compared to East Africa. The standards between the various electricity companies were relatively chaotic and incompatible, which was not conducive to the unification and promotion of the electricity market.

Of course, there were also benefits, namely that it was easy to form competition, second only to the German region in the field of innovation.

East Africa currently lacked innovation in the electricity industry, but the government’s unified procurement standards made the East African electricity market standardized. The promotion of electricity industry standard compatibility across the country was conducive to the popularization and promotion of the electricity industry, making East Africa one of the countries with the fastest development of the electricity industry in the world.

As for innovation and competition, it was mainly completed in the German region. Hechingen Electric Power Company simultaneously laid out in East Africa and the German region, so as not to make the East African electricity industry walk on one leg.

Moreover, after the economic crisis in 1873, monopoly organizations rose up in various countries, and this was also the case in the electricity industry. Therefore, the previous disadvantages of the East African electricity industry had turned into advantages, allowing it to form competitiveness with the electricity giants of European and American countries and ensure the advantages of the East African electricity industry.

Moreover, East Africa had the world’s first electricity university, while this year, the Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany only introduced the first electrical engineering major in Europe. Therefore, East Africa’s layout for the electricity industry was far earlier than that of European and American countries.

Before 1880, the industries that East Africa focused on promoting were steel and railways. After 1880, they were electricity and automobiles. In the future, East Africa would not be behind other regions of the world in these two fields, while ensuring the future economic strength of East Africa.

Of course, the steel and railway industries in East Africa were still on the rise and growing in the long term. The two provided the foundation for East Africa to develop the electricity and automobile industries, driving the development of upstream and downstream industrial chains.

For example, the copper mines and rubber needed by the electricity industry needed railways to develop them from the interior, and railway construction was based on the outbreak of the steel industry.

In 1882, East Africa’s seventh largest trading country was India, mainly for imports, mainly mineral resources such as coal and iron, as well as unique resources such as jute. The industrial development of East Africa and the development of the steel industry in the eastern coastal areas were important factors in promoting trade between East Africa and India.

The trade with East India broke the British economic blockade of East Africa, successfully allowing East Africa to re-enter the economic system of the British Empire and promote the industrial development of East Africa.

Chapter 661: The Berlin Conference

As 1884 approached, Europe was brewing a “grand” conspiracy. As in the previous life, the location was chosen to be Berlin, but the purpose and content of this Berlin Conference were very different. Unexpectedly, the East African government also received an invitation.

In the previous life, the Berlin Conference was mainly caused by the dispute over the Congo River basin, but in this life, the fuse for the Berlin Conference was the Niger River basin.

After all, East Africa had already effectively controlled most of the Congo River basin. Only the lower reaches of the Congo River were controlled by Belgium and Portugal respectively, and the mouth of the Congo River was completely controlled by Portugal’s Angolan colony. Therefore, there was no so-called dispute over the Congo River basin at present.

“German Chancellor Bismarck intends to hold an international conference on West African affairs, nominally to bring civilization to the West African region and change the backward status quo there. In reality, it is to completely resolve the increasingly fierce confrontation and disputes in the West African region, or rather, the colonizers of various West African countries want to divide the interests of West Africa and accelerate the progress of colonization in West Africa.”

“Invite us? Would they even let East Africa enter West Africa?” Constantine said jokingly.

“That’s the strange thing. East Africa is definitely the leading power in Africa now. If we get involved in West Africa, wouldn’t they be asking for trouble? So this time, I’m afraid they’re up to no good.”

“This Berlin Conference is actually a contest between Britain, France, and Germany in the West African region, with the addition of traditional colonial powers such as Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal.”

Portugal’s colonies in West Africa are mainly a small piece of land along the coast of the Kingdom of Dahomey – Whydah, as well as the Portuguese islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Atlantic Ocean. Even a dilapidated ship has three pounds of nails, which is what Portugal is like. Therefore, this Berlin Conference cannot bypass this completely declining colonial power.

Of course, Portugal is mentioned in particular because Portugal’s participation in this international conference is quite ironic. As in the previous life, the countries qualified to participate in this Berlin Conference are sixteen “world powers” by Western standards.

Specifically, it includes the five major European powers, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Austria, followed by the United States, Spain, the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, the Kingdom of Italy, Portugal, and the only African country qualified to participate – the Kingdom of Hechingen (East African Kingdom).

If Portugal is not considered a “strong country,” then Denmark, Norway, and Italy, which only has half left, would be very embarrassed. Although Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden are small in size, they are either developed or wealthy, or like Sweden, they have considerable influence in Northern Europe. Moreover, these countries are not inferior to several great powers in terms of industrialization.

“This Berlin Conference did not invite us, Sigmaringen. Will this affect our Sigmaringen’s strategic layout?” Prince Karl asked.

Sigmaringen is indeed more concerned about the content of this conference than East Africa, because the main direction of Sigmaringen’s future territorial expansion is West Africa, in order to seek an independent outlet to the sea. However, this Berlin Conference disrupted Sigmaringen’s layout.

What’s even more embarrassing is that Sigmaringen is not qualified to sit at the negotiating table, which means that the mainstream countries in the world do not recognize the existence of the Sigmaringen royal territory.

In fact, this is not Europe being discriminatory, but many countries simply do not know about the existence of the Sigmaringen colony, including Germany, which is leading the conference this time.

Because Sigmaringen’s geographical location is indeed too remote. Even the East Azande Province, which is the border area between East Africa and Sigmaringen, actually does not have much population except for the army, let alone Sigmaringen, which has to go through East Africa to develop the Chad region.

Some French expeditions do know about the existence of the Sigmaringen royal territory, but they mistake the Sigmaringen royal territory for East Africa.

Because before Sigmaringen, the natives in the Chad region mainly dealt with East Africa. Many native forces that fled from the Great Lakes region to the Chad region naturally regarded East Africa as their suzerain state.

Therefore, before the Sigmaringen royal territory colonized the Chad region, the East African Army often patrolled the Chad region to escort East African geologists and explorers to penetrate into West Africa.

In this way, the Chad region was tacitly regarded as East African territory by the French. In reality, it has become the Sigmaringen royal territory in recent years, and the local native forces have been driven away by East Africa in advance.

“Karl, you don’t have to worry. At this conference, we will definitely guarantee the basic interests of Sigmaringen. However, because things happened suddenly, I think it will be difficult for Sigmaringen to obtain an outlet to the sea in the future!” Constantine analyzed.

The final result of the Berlin Conference will definitely be to divide the sphere of influence according to the strength of each party in West Africa. Therefore, except for those countries that originally had colonies in West Africa, countries like Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, Norway, Sweden, and even East Africa are all spectators. Of course, since they are participating in the conference, they will definitely compensate the participating countries in terms of economic benefits, including the rights to trade, travel, and develop in West Africa.

In fact, large areas of land in West Africa have not been developed, especially the inland. In this era, a quick way for general colonizers to develop the inland is to follow the waterway and penetrate into the inland areas.

This is also the reason why European and American expeditions like to explore the source of rivers. In the previous life, Stanley used the banner of exploring the source of the Congo River to carry out preliminary preparations for the colonization of the Congo Basin with the support of Belgium.

This time, he did not have this opportunity, because everything west of the Kinshasa area is within the East African control area. The East African Inland River and Lake Force can cruise the entire middle reaches of the Congo River.

The mouth of the Congo River was also completely controlled by the Portuguese after Portugal destroyed the Kingdom of Kongo. Portugal is still a considerable force in Africa, especially in recent years, it has greatly increased its military strength in order to deal with East Africa.

Therefore, explorers like Stanley can only carry out activities in the Niger River basin. Coupled with the fierce competition among Britain, France, and Germany in West Africa in recent years, the Berlin Conference was held.

Originally, France was the strongest in West Africa, but Britain also occupied many good places, the most famous of which is the Gold Coast. Now, Germany, a newly emerging world power, has also stepped into the West African quagmire, and the entire West African coastline has become a mess.

This is also something that cannot be helped. East Africa has blocked Britain’s southward and northward routes, so it can only lower its status and compete with Germany and France for this last uncolonized area.

“Germany invited us to participate in the Berlin Conference, in all likelihood to support its colonial activities in West Africa. As for East Africa wanting to profit from this conference, it is basically impossible. After all, the three countries of Britain, France, and Germany, including other countries, do not want a behemoth-like country to appear in Africa.

Therefore, our primary goal is to strive for more conditions in terms of economic benefits, like Tsarist Russia and Austria-Hungary, while ensuring the relevant rights and interests of the Sigmaringen royal territory. However, the current situation of the West African coastline is complicated, and it is difficult for the final few great powers to reach an agreement on the distribution of West Africa,” Ernst said.

The main reason is that Sigmaringen entered Africa too late. If Sigmaringen colonized Africa at the same time as Belgium, then this matter would be much easier.

Constantine also said to Prince Karl: “If Sigmaringen wants to obtain an outlet to the sea, it must negotiate with Germany. You should let Leopold discuss this with the Prussian royal family in advance. If Germany agrees, then this matter will be much easier. However, in this way, Sigmaringen will owe Germany a favor in the future.”

In any case, there is no fear of owing favors, especially among the three royal families, who are branches of the Hohenzollern family, and the three main branches. Therefore, the Prussian royal family will definitely support Sigmaringen, but the attitude of the Prussian royal family does not necessarily represent the attitude of the German government.

Chapter 662: Candidate for the Conference

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Prince Karl could only express his gratitude, as Sigmaringen was the weakest, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Of course, besides Germany, Sigmaringen also had Romania as a backer. Just to win over Romania, the German government knew what to do. For Germany, Romania’s geographical location was very important, being a crucial link between Germany and Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire.

“It’s all for Hohenzollern!” Konstantin accepted Prince Karl’s gratitude with a clear conscience.

“We won’t send any royal family members to this Berlin conference. Pick a minister with outstanding abilities to attend this international conference in Berlin,” Ernst said to his father.

The Hechingen royal family had so few members that they couldn’t just run around as they pleased. This was not only being responsible for themselves but also for the country. Even when Ernst visited Europe last time, he was actually unwilling.

If Friedrich were older in the future, Ernst might consider it, but now Ernst’s greatest fear was that his foundation would collapse with the decline of the Hechingen royal family.

Therefore, Ernst wouldn’t be careless about anything concerning the safety of the royal family members, such as this Berlin conference. They would definitely have to travel by ship first, and then transfer to a train.

Moreover, the conference had time constraints, which was very different from the last visit to Europe. Coupled with the poor travel experience in the world now, Ernst didn’t want to go through the trouble repeatedly.

Konstantin also thought so. Although Ernst had naval escorts on his last visit to Europe, Konstantin was still terrified.

Other European nobles had a large number of relatives. Of course, the Hechingen royal family also had quite a few, but Sigmaringen, which had the closest relationship with the Hechingen royal family, was already beyond the fifth degree of kinship, meaning they only shared the Hohenzollern name.

In short, the small population of the Hechingen royal family greatly restricted their activities, which was why Ernst had been working hard to expand the royal family’s population.

“Yes, this kind of international conference should also be our first time participating as a strong nation in East Africa. Therefore, the participants must not be careless. At the very least, they must be familiar with European aristocratic etiquette to avoid making mistakes,” Konstantin said.

Most officials in East Africa were definitely lacking in this regard, as aristocratic etiquette was not a required course for East African officials.

Only many officials who had joined the ranks of the nobility would put more effort into European etiquette, because in this era, the center of civilization was Europe, and the cultural discourse power of Europe was in the hands of the nobility.

“Let Siweit go! Siweit is young, and traveling by sea is a troublesome matter after all. Being young means having strong endurance, and Siweit’s various business abilities meet the standards. Most importantly, he has relatively rich experience.”

Siweit had indeed visited many countries, but those countries no longer existed. Those were the native countries that had dealt with East Africa in the past. Except for those who fled to West Africa, there was nothing left.

Moreover, visiting African chiefs was naturally different from going to Europe for a conference. East Africa could act however it wanted in front of African natives, because the natives had no civilization, and East Africa was the dominant party, so there was no need to be polite to the natives.

But going to Berlin this time was different. East Africa would definitely have to take sides, or at least make many exchanges of interests.

The countries participating in this conference were basically world powers recognized by the mainstream consciousness of European society. Only three countries were not in Europe, namely the Ottoman Empire, the United States, and East Africa.

As for others, such as Norway, Denmark… it was indeed a bit of an overstatement to consider them as world powers. For example, in Ernst’s impression, Norway had always been a country without much presence, except for some resources, there was nothing special about it.

As for Norway’s welfare in his previous life, it was more attractive. This was a common feature of Nordic countries, but it was based on being close to the European market and having a small population.

In fact, in Norway’s icy and snowy environment, it was impossible for the population to grow much through natural growth.

And in 19th century Norway, it had nothing. From any indicator, it didn’t meet the criteria of a “strong country”. The only advantage might be that it was a “traditional European independent country.”

Of course, excluding these countries used to make up the numbers, the strength of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, Britain, and France was still worthy of respect.

As for the United States, it was too far from East Africa. The Ottoman Empire was the one that had been carved up in the past. In recent years, the Ottoman Empire’s territory in North Africa was almost under local autonomy. Local autonomy was considered good; most of them directly broke away from the Ottoman Empire and became independent, or were occupied by other great powers.

The Ottoman Empire, which had a strong influence in North Africa, would definitely not get any benefits at this Berlin conference, because the purpose of the Berlin conference was to divide the African continent.

In fact, if East Africa had not risen in the central and southern regions of Africa, the entire Africa would have been a piece of fat in the plate of Europeans.

The most important thing about the rise of East Africa was that it made this Berlin conference more worthy of its name. After all, there was not a single African country in the previous life. This time, with East Africa’s participation, East Africa could be considered half the master of Africa.

“Our attitude at this Berlin conference is still to mainly support the Germanic countries, but I don’t recommend expressing our attitude too clearly. It’s best to maintain consistency with Austria-Hungary on this matter, because both of our countries are actually just extraterritorial countries,” Ernst said.

Austria-Hungary, like in the previous life, was not enthusiastic about colonies, or rather, it was powerless. The disadvantage in geographical location was too prominent, and with East Africa stirring things up, Austria-Hungary’s situation was very different from the previous life.

Take the last Russo-Turkish War as an example. In the previous life, the last Russo-Turkish War was an important reason for the rapid breakdown of relations between Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia. After all, the Ottoman Empire was defeated too quickly in the previous life, and Tsarist Russia marched all the way to Constantinople, which caused panic in Austria-Hungary, fearing that Russia would monopolize the interests of the Balkan Peninsula.

In this life, not to mention Austria-Hungary, which had annexed part of Italy’s territory, was more confident in its own strength. With the help of various countries, Tsarist Russia did not fight very well in the Russo-Turkish War, and eventually it became a stalemate, so Austria-Hungary was even more able to sit back and relax.

The rational Austria-Hungary would naturally not make excessive reactions like in the previous life and anger Tsarist Russia, leading to the disintegration of the League of the Three Emperors.

Of course, the relationship between Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia was not too good now. In the Russo-Turkish War, Austria-Hungary still made some small moves, such as the Bosnia region being划入 (劃入) incorporated into Austria-Hungary.

However, the overall relationship between the two countries was greatly eased compared to the previous life. With Germany’s mediation, the League of the Three Emperors could still continue to maintain itself.

Of course, this also had something to do with Italy. In this life, Italy’s unification became a bubble, and Europe lost a “great power”. Germany and Austria-Hungary would naturally not choose Italy as an ally like in the previous life.

This was actually a good thing for both countries. After all, Italy’s joining often caused more harm than good. In the previous life, Italy directly betrayed the alliance before World War I even started, which was an important reason for the failure of the Allied Powers.

Chapter 663: Chaotic West Africa

After determining that Swiet would go to Berlin, East Africa quickly prepared the relevant matters, greeted the host German government, and Prince Leopold of Sigmaringen also represented Sigmaringen in joining the meeting.

The Berlin Conference was held in April of 1884, more than half a year earlier than in history, mainly due to the variables brought by East Africa and other countries.

Now the entire South Africa and East Africa have basically been divided up, leaving only West Africa, so other countries are naturally worried that they will not be able to get even this last piece of meat.

The Berlin Conference quickly turned into a vegetable market. After all, with just a few strokes, the ownership of a large piece of land could be determined. In the face of interests, no one could remain calm and composed. They did not feel ashamed to argue red-faced, compared with the tangible benefits in hand, how much is face worth?

But unexpectedly, the main competitors at this Berlin Conference were not Germany and France, these two mortal enemies, but Germany and France united to fight against the British.

France has an advantage in Northwest Africa, but this is not the case in West Africa, especially after the British joined in the colonial efforts in West Africa.

First of all, the Gold Coast, the most traditionally wealthy colony in Africa, is firmly controlled by the British, and then there is the coastal area of what was in its previous life Africa’s number one economic power, Nigeria, where the British also have an advantage.

The current Nigeria is called the Sokoto Caliphate. The area of this empire exceeds one million, and it occupies the most fertile arable land and has a large population in the entire West Africa. The only shortcoming is that the Sokoto Caliphate has split into a large number of vassal states, but this is a shortcoming for the central government of the Sokoto Caliphate, and an assist for the colonizers, making colonial rule more convenient.

Of course, the Sokoto Caliphate only has a very small area along the coast, namely the Oyo Empire and the Ijebu Kingdom.

In its previous life, the Oyo Empire was one of the most famous countries in African history, and at its peak, it ruled the Kingdom of Dahomey, Togo, and most of Nigeria.

The Ijebu Kingdom was a relatively prosperous country in West African coastal trade, so it was captured by the British around 1892 in its previous life.

And these two countries are merely two vassal states of the Sokoto Caliphate, located on the southwest coast of the Sokoto Caliphate.

The southeast of the Sokoto Caliphate does not belong to the Sokoto Caliphate, but to the Kingdom of Benin and other independent countries.

It is worth mentioning that the Kingdom of Benin is not the predecessor of the Republic of Benin in Africa in its previous life, and the predecessor of the Republic of Benin is the Kingdom of Dahomey.

From this point, we can also see the destructiveness of the colonizers to the history of West African countries. If history can be passed down in an orderly manner, there would be no mistake of the Kingdom of Dahomey becoming the Republic of Benin.

The current Kingdom of Benin and the Kingdom of Dahomey are fundamentally two different things, separated by the Sokoto Caliphate. Of course, an important reason why the Kingdom of Dahomey later evolved into the Republic of Benin is that the Kingdom of Benin itself is very famous in Africa and is a well-known ancient civilization in Africa.

This is the same as a bunch of European countries vying for the title of the Roman Empire, and the Republic of Benin, which developed from the Kingdom of Dahomey, is similar in meaning to the Holy Roman Empire in German history.

The British’s newly acquired colony is not the above-mentioned countries, but the Bonny Kingdom in the west of Benin. The Bonny Kingdom is a thorough coastal country with not much land inland, but the coastline is intricate, tortuous and winding.

This is also the reason why the British first occupied the Bonny Kingdom, which is in line with the colonial characteristics of the British maritime nation. After all, in Africa, good ports are relatively scarce.

The vassal states of the Sokoto Caliphate and the independent state of Benin, plus the tribes, within the territory of Nigeria in its previous life alone, there are as many as hundreds of political entities, and there are more than a dozen ancient countries with a little history.

And this is only the area of Nigeria in its previous life. It should be known that there were many West African countries in its previous life, and that was the result of the colonizers’ integration, so West Africa is even more of a mess in this era.

Moreover, there are now many indigenous regimes fleeing from East Africa in West Africa, which further complicates the local situation.

Speaking of this, East Africa is also doing arms deals with these indigenous regimes that have fled to West Africa, but at present, it seems that their overall impact on West Africa has not been reflected, and there will be no chance in the future, after all, the great powers are not vegetarians.

“Germany and France seem to be arguing fiercely, but in fact they are excluding Britain everywhere, especially the targets that the two countries have set their sights on have obviously been communicated before the meeting,” Swiet said to the members of the East African delegation.

“The British representative’s face is almost green with anger, but this is also deserved. Britain itself is the world’s number one colonial power. Now that there is only West Africa left as such a large ‘ownerless land’, the British still want to eat it all by themselves, so they will naturally be excluded.”

The fundamental reason for Britain’s situation and the competition with Germany and France is the rise of East Africa, which makes it impossible for Britain to engage in the so-called “Two C Plan” like in its previous life. The Two C Plan basically put most of Africa under the control of the British, from Egypt to South Africa, plus Britain’s influence in West Africa is not small, so in its previous life, the British were the real overlords of Africa.

However, the British failed to hold on to their sphere of influence after World War II, coupled with the joint suppression of the United States and the Soviet Union, the colonies became independent one after another, and then there was the birth of France, the overlord of Africa.

Of course, this is also related to France’s geographical location. West Africa and North Africa are not far from the French mainland, and during the Cold War, France’s united front value was obviously higher than that of Britain, so French Africa was able to maintain relatively intact until the 21st century without collapsing.

“Let the three countries argue first. This time our goal, in addition to ensuring East Africa’s relevant rights and interests in the African region, is to get some extra benefits if possible,” Swiet said to his subordinates, thinking of Ernst’s instructions.

Although it is unlikely to be realized, it is up to people to make things happen. West Africa has not yet shown its potential, but West Africa in its previous life should be regarded as a rare chosen land in the world.

Especially the Nigerian region, coal, iron, oil, arable land, population and other indicators are not bad, and it can fully support the development of a world power.

That is, Ernst chose to open up a foundation in East Africa. If he were to engage in colonization in West Africa, Ernst would also prefer the Nigerian region.

In fact, the benefits of choosing West Africa are much more obvious than those of East Africa, that is, the main resources for industrial development, West Africa can all be self-sufficient, while East Africa lacks fossil energy such as oil.

Moreover, East Africa’s own endowment of mineral resources is very poor. In order to solve the resource problem, East Africa expanded all the way to South Africa until it completely solved the problem after annexing the Matabeleland Plateau, but this can only meet the needs of the First Industrial Revolution.

This is also an important reason why Ernst put the next target on Angola. The main resources of Angola for East Africa are two, one is oil and the other is water power.

These two are distributed near the mouth of the Congo River, and the hydropower resources contained in the waterfall group in the lower reaches of the Congo River are unique in the world.

The oil production area is not far from the mouth of the Congo River, and finally, the port of Angola is an important channel for East Africa to open up the Atlantic Ocean.

Chapter 664: Hidden Internal Crisis

“The underlying reason for the recent alignment between Germany and France is that France has invested more energy in Southeast Asia in recent years. France has achieved considerable advantages in Vietnam and Cambodia, essentially building the core of its colonies in the Far East.”

“By 1883, France had already expanded the scope of its Far Eastern colonies to the vicinity of the Gulf of Tonkin in the northern part of the Far Eastern Empire. The Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam had completely become a protectorate of a major power.”

“And France’s biggest progress in Africa has been the northward expansion of its Gabon coastal colony, annexing the western Olenge Kingdom (an ancient kingdom in central Gabon), while its westward and southward routes were blocked by Belgium’s Congo colony.”

“Germany also has a certain offensive in Africa, mainly the Bam Kingdom in the Gulf of Guinea (part of German Cameroon). This area is adjacent to Spain’s Guinea colony, and to the west is the British Bonny colony.”

From these points, it can be seen that France cannot exert its full strength in West Africa, and Germany’s colonial cause is even more surviving in the cracks.

There are many kinds of colonial methods, and Germany’s colonial policy is conservative. In contrast, East Africa is radical, and even from the beginning, East Africa was not “colonialism,” but the “overseas nation-building” undertaking promoted by the Hechingen royal family.

The two are extremely different in nature. Colonialism is when the industrial and commercial capital of various countries seeks reservoirs, serves the interests of various countries’ homelands, seeks huge profits from the colonies, and promotes the development of the homeland. The homeland is always the core.

However, the Hechingen royal family never had a “homeland core” from the beginning, because before Ernst’s transmigration, the Hechingen principality had already been de facto incorporated into Prussia. The Hechingen royal family without a “homeland” was almost no different from the ordinary nobles that could be found everywhere in Europe. It can be said that the Hechingen royal family had almost no advantages except for its network of contacts, and the network of contacts needs strength to consolidate. The Hechingen royal family’s loss of “fiefdom” itself greatly reduced its political value, and it was also “relatively poor.” It would only get weaker and weaker in the future.

This is also the fundamental reason why Ernst actively promoted “overseas nation-building.” Playing tricks in continental Europe would only turn them into the kind of wandering “capital” like the Jews. In fact, a single crackdown by various countries would plunder most of the wealth accumulated by the Jews for generations. It can even be said that the current state of the Jews is the “leeks” cultivated by Europe.

Therefore, the consortium route has never been Ernst’s ultimate goal of development. Money can solve a large part of the problem at any time, but power is the foundation of the Hechingen royal family.

In Europe, the Hechingen royal family changed from a “fiefdom noble” to a noble family subordinate to the Kingdom of Prussia, which in fact represents the decline in the importance of the Hechingen royal family. This also means that no matter how the Hechingen royal family develops in Germany, the upper limit is there, and it will never be able to surpass the Prussian royal family. Moreover, the Hechingen royal family has a small population, so political development in Europe is destined to be not smooth. This was very obvious before the Hechingen royal family developed Africa.

After the establishment of the Kingdom of East Africa, the Hechingen royal family was directly promoted to the leader of an important political entity in the world. Even if many European countries have prejudices against the identity of African countries, it cannot change the fact that the Kingdom of East Africa exists and develops.

This is the development strategy of the Hechingen royal family. In fact, the Jews also have similar strategies, but the Jews have never had the concept of “self-reliance,” but continue to play the “parasitic” tradition. In Europe, the Jews cannot find a way out, so they put more energy into the United States, a rising, completely capitalist country.

Germany’s current colonization is still mainly driven by private forces. Bismarck’s convening of the Berlin Conference was also driven by public opinion, but not as strong as in history.

Because Germany now has a better option, which is the “Greater German Economic Sphere” spread by the German business community.

The so-called Greater German Economic Sphere is very targeted. In fact, it is the “fat meat” of East Africa. The potential of East Africa has been demonstrated. At the same time, East Africa exports a large amount of grain, minerals and other raw materials for economic development, and also has a relatively strong market consumption capacity outside of Europe and the United States, which is very attractive to any country in the world.

The rise of this voice in Germany is understandable, but it is certainly not the result that the Hechingen royal family is willing to see. This is also the important reason why East Africa sent Siweit, who has Chinese ancestry, to participate in this Berlin Conference as a special envoy.

This also reflects a characteristic of East Africa’s immigration policy in maintaining the rule of the Hechingen royal family, that is, the huge number of Far Eastern immigrants are the most steadfast supporters of the Hechingen royal family.

If East Africa were all German immigrants, then Germany’s Greater German Economic Sphere could become a reality. By attracting Germans, it could completely manipulate East Africa’s politics, economy, and military, and hollow out the Hechingen royal family, thereby turning East Africa into its economic colony.

This is a social problem, just like the United States, so many people simply have no concept of home and country. East Africa is even more serious than the United States in this regard. The United States now has a history of hundreds of years, while East Africa is only more than twenty years old.

Moreover, Americans and British people are not dealing with each other. The Germans in East Africa do not have this kind of psychology towards Germany, so East Africa must strictly guard against this problem.

In fact, not only East Africa opposes the “Greater German Economic Sphere,” but Austria-Hungary also does not recognize this concept. In the final analysis, it is a question of dominance. If East Africa dominates, then East Africa will naturally agree, but conversely, Germany and Austria will certainly not agree.

Of course, the “Greater German Economic Sphere” is just wishful thinking of some non-governmental organizations. Although the German government also hopes so, it knows that this cannot be achieved. The Greater German Solution (German-Austrian merger) is still possible, but the East German merger has no possibility at all.

First of all, East Africa has formed a self-contained interest group with an independent national consciousness. This interest group is separated from the European aristocratic system. Except for the Hechingen royal family, it cannot form a network with the European aristocratic group.

Of course, the main thing at this stage is that European nobles will not recognize the East African aristocratic system, just like Europe does not recognize Russia as part of Europe. Europe has demonized Africa for at least several hundred years, so East Africa, as an African country, cannot get rid of various prejudices.

However, Ernst doesn’t care. The elimination of such backward things as nobles will not make Ernst feel bad. As for the nobles of East Africa, it is entirely because the Hechingen royal family is a traditional feudal country royal family, so enfeoffing nobles is a necessary means of rule.

Moreover, it doesn’t matter if Europeans don’t recognize it. Judging from the historical development of the previous life, whether European nobles can be retained is a question. Not to mention anything else, France has now become a republic again. Although nobles exist, the power of the republicans is increasing day by day. One day, nobles will become a title, and even the title will not be retained.

People like Ernst who know that the future of autocracy will be eliminated will naturally not go against the historical trend, unless the Hechingen royal family wants to follow the path of the Tsarist Russian royal family in the previous life.

It’s just that East Africa is currently suitable for the autocratic system. East Africa cannot play other systems, but with economic development and structural transformation, the royal family must take the initiative to compromise in the future in order to seek other interests and ensure the continuation of the Hechingen royal family.

In fact, the biggest crisis of the East African country is the internal crisis. It is extremely unstable from top to bottom. If it goes in the wrong direction, Ernst’s efforts over the past ten years will collapse. Now Ernst’s goal is to allow East Africa, as a country, to maintain the correct bet in the general direction, and then continuously check for omissions and fill in gaps in East Africa’s rough national system. This time will take at least fifty or sixty years. Finally, all parties in society will integrate and compromise with each other, and East Africa can mature as a country.

If the country is not mature, it will be like the African countries in the previous life, with military coups and wars breaking out at every turn, and the political situation is unstable.

Therefore, East Africa has a long way to go, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, a period of strong changes in the international situation. Maintaining national stability can compete with other countries and become the final winner.

Chapter 665: War Between East Africa and Britain Is Inevitable

While the Berlin Conference was underway, the resistance movement within the Orange Free State was completely quelled, ending with the last batch of northern Orange Free State resistance fighters fleeing to East Africa.

“The Orange Free State resistance was doomed from the start. They had limited strength, a small territory, and couldn’t compete with the Transvaal Boers or the British. Victory was impossible unless we took over the Orange Free State battlefield, which was obviously out of the question. Providing the Orange people with considerable assistance is already the height of benevolence on the part of the East African government,” Felix said.

In fact, East African officials unanimously agreed that it was remarkable that the Orange Free State resistance had lasted so long. The main reason was the current narrowness of the Orange Free State.

As long as the British and Transvaal Boers blockaded the Orange people, they would quickly achieve results. The Orange people couldn’t simultaneously maintain production and fight against Britain and the Transvaal.

East African aid was a drop in the bucket. After all, East Africa wasn’t a charity and required the Orange people to exchange resources for assistance.

“So, how do we deal with these Orange people who have fled to East Africa? There are currently over two thousand of them. These people have no possibility of reconciliation with Britain, but whether they are willing to be used by us is also an unknown!” asked Mulke, commander of the Southern Military Region.

The Orange Free State resistance was indeed a problem because the Orange people had their own agenda, which was not to merge with East Africa. This needed to be made clear, but East Africa had its own ambitions for the entire Orange Free State.

If it caused consequences like the Soviet-American intervention in Afghanistan in the previous life, it would be counterproductive. Therefore, these Orange people who fled across the river to East Africa were not easy for East Africa to handle.

“The Orange people are destined not to be mine. The best way is to disperse them, integrate them into East Africa, and erase their ethnicity. Either give them a sum of free aid and let them continue to sabotage within the Orange Free State, or send them back to the Netherlands.”

Ernst said, “Forcing it won’t make it sweet. If they are willing to become East African citizens, they must obey the arrangements of the East African government. I don’t think all Orange people want to keep fighting. A stable life is what the general public pursues. As for those Orange people who want to continue to fight against the British and have strong nationalist tendencies, we will send them back to the Orange Free State. Let the British worry about that problem! As for the last option, we won’t stop them. After all, the Netherlands was the former mother country of the Orange (Boer) people, and it is understandable to return to the Netherlands and redevelop.”

“Your Highness, after the Orange people are resolved, I’m afraid the British will focus their energy on us. After such a long war, the Transvaal Republican Army has expanded to more than sixty thousand people. Britain also has more than twenty thousand troops on the Cape Town border, while our East Africa only has more than sixty thousand troops in the Southern Military Region combined. After integrating the Orange Free State, will the Transvaal Boers and the British take action against East Africa?” Felix said.

The Transvaal Republican Army had grown larger and larger through the long war. With the destruction of the Orange Free State resistance, a large number of Orange soldiers were incorporated, making the Transvaal Republican Army’s strength not to be underestimated.

Moreover, the Transvaal Boers had Britain behind them, plus Portugal’s two colonies. These were two proxies. From the surface data, the current strength of the Transvaal Boers plus Portuguese Africa was not much weaker than East Africa, and they could completely act as Britain’s proxy.

Of course, this “not weak” referred to the number of active troops. Just like in the previous life, a small country like Korea had more than a million troops. The number of troops in Portugal and the Transvaal was obviously excessive, with the two sides adding up to about three hundred thousand.

Although East Africa had many troops, East Africa’s defense pressure was also greater, especially along the eastern coast and in the north, where there was military pressure. It was impossible to concentrate all forces in the south to guard against the Transvaal Boers and the Portuguese.

East Africa’s advantages lay in its sound national defense industrial system, developed railway transportation (in Africa), and a strong navy. This was East Africa’s main achievement in the entire 1970s, and also the main reason why Britain had always been hostile to East Africa’s rise in Africa.

East Africa had more than thirty million people (excluding blacks), but looking closely at the population structure, only more than ten million were over the age of majority (the age of majority in East Africa is seventeen). Among them, nearly half were female immigrants, and the adult male population was only more than five million.

Moreover, many adult men may be over forty years old, because East Africa has been established for twenty years, and many of the earliest immigrants are already quite old.

However, people in this era are generally precocious. If East Africa lowered the conscription age, it could still achieve terrifying war potential. As the war progressed, East Africa would add a new batch of adults every year.

“Our East Africa is the strongest in Africa, but we are not sitting back and relaxing. What East Africa actually lacks most is time, so we must be cautious in the face of any danger. This is also the fundamental reason for the previous realization of national military mobilization. Moreover, East Africa lacks a founding war. We have never really fought a world power that is going all out,” Ernst said.

As for Portugal, it was not considered a strong country in East Africa’s eyes. Moreover, Portugal’s strength was mainly reflected in its mainland. The victory over Portugal’s two colonies did not mean the strength of East Africa’s military forces.

Judging from the process of the previous East African-Portuguese war, the situation of the Portuguese army was not much different from that of indigenous countries with strong resistance consciousness.

This can be compared with the Abyssinian Empire. The Abyssinian Empire is an old “strong country” in Africa, and is currently in a stalemate with Italy.

Italy’s military strength in Africa is stronger than that of the previous Portuguese. Even if Italy is weak, it is still an industrial country. Its core, the original Kingdom of Sardinia, has much stronger industry than mainland Portugal.

Therefore, the original Portuguese strength in Africa may not be able to compete with indigenous countries like the Abyssinian Empire. Not to mention the Abyssinian Empire, even the original Zanzibar Sultanate could compete with Portugal. As for the current strength of the Portuguese colonial army, East Africa is really not sure. This mainly depends on Britain’s support for Portugal.

“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. But war often has uncertainty. We must never take competition lightly. Moreover, a war between East Africa and Britain is inevitable. Even if this time does not happen in the 1980s, it will break out in the 1990s, because if Britain does not contain East Africa at this time, then they will completely lose this opportunity. After the arrival of the 20th century, East Africa will inevitably become a world power and change the geopolitical landscape of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.”

As a maritime hegemon, Britain will inevitably suppress East Africa, and at the same time have illusions about central and southern East Africa. East Africa also covets the geographical location and land of Cape Town.

The contradiction between the two sides is irreconcilable. In other words, even if Britain does not take action, after East Africa has completely developed, it will inevitably take action against Britain’s South African colonies.

This is the same as when the United States attacked Canada, but the United States lost, so it can only continue to choose to lie dormant under the international system established by Britain.

Chapter 666: Carl Peters

Cameroon.

Idenau is a German colony in the Cameroon region, but this colony has little to do with the German government. Instead, it was pioneered by a private colonial organization.

The German government-led colony in Cameroon is Douala. Both are actually colonial strongholds that are not very large. Currently, Idenau is much larger in scale than Douala.

However, due to the convening of the Berlin Conference, the German government is promoting the merger of Idenau and Douala to form a more competitive Cameroon colony and then develop inland.

“After the Berlin Conference, Idenau and its surroundings will definitely become our first German colony in West Africa. In the future, this will also represent the first step of the German people’s conquest of the ocean, and it will be the starting point for Germany to become the world’s leading power,” Carl Peters said excitedly.

The managers of Idenau did not think there was anything wrong with what Carl Peters said. Since Germany defeated France, it has become the de facto new overlord of Europe. However, the overlord of Europe can only represent Europe. The world overlord must control the ocean. If Germany wants to go further, it must have a vast colony like Britain to support it.

“Chancellor Bismarck is just a bit too timid. Otherwise, Germany would not be inferior to Belgium and Italy in terms of colonies after so many years. If it had been ten years earlier, we might have been able to seize a colony even larger than today’s East Africa,” Carl Peters said.

Bismarck was never a timid person, and could even be said to be quite mad, after all, he launched three large-scale wars of unification during his tenure, maneuvering and defeating Austria and France one after another. Every step was extremely bold, and one careless move could have led to Prussia’s utter destruction.

However, Ernst believes that Bismarck’s strategy was extremely accurate. Bismarck’s reasons were sufficient. Bismarck believed that Germany should focus on Europe and prevent French revenge, while colonial expenditures were huge and the benefits were small, and he opposed colonial expansion.

Germany’s biggest problem is to first solve France. If France is not solved, then no matter how many overseas colonies Germany has, they will not be able to function.

First of all, France’s geographical location just happens to control Germany’s access to the sea. It can even be said that the Nordic countries can play this role. The Baltic Sea outlet is narrow, and Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands are all stuck nearby.

Further out is Britain, the overlord of the ocean, and unless Germany goes to North America, it cannot bypass the French along the North Atlantic coast. But now there is no place in North America that can be colonized.

Even if Germany borrows a route through Austria through the Mediterranean Sea, it will not achieve this goal, because the strongest naval power in the Mediterranean is still the British and French.

In peacetime, Germany naturally does not have to worry about this problem, but once a war breaks out, both Britain and France have the ability to cut off Germany’s maritime trade routes. Colonies cannot even support the German mainland, and directly become a burden. This was the case during the First World War. Germany directly withdrew its overseas forces back to the mainland, and only the East African battlefield, relying on the genius command ability of von Lettow-Vorbeck, was able to deal with the British.

But it was only dealing with them. If Germany could focus on developing the Tanganyika colony, it would be fine, just like today’s East Africa, relying on its own industrial strength, it could fight against most countries.

However, ordinary colonies are not like East Africa, which has industry. After all, developing industry also means that the risk of colonial independence increases. Assuming that East Africa is now a German colony, according to East Africa’s size and level of industrial development, there is a risk of independence at any time, and there is no need for enemies to do it, its own people will rebel.

Bismarck was obviously very clear about this, so Bismarck’s decision-making plan has always been centered on the European continent, first concentrating its forces to solve the hidden danger of France.

Bismarck’s greatest strength was diplomatic means. He clearly knew that engaging in overseas colonization at this time would definitely offend the British, and then Germany would have to face the squeeze from both Britain and France at the same time.

However, most Germans do not agree with Bismarck’s point of view, or rather, the lure of profits makes them turn a blind eye to these risks.

Seeing Britain making a fortune from overseas colonization, the German business community is naturally envious, so the voice supporting overseas colonization has always been very loud. As long as the German monarch does not trust Bismarck, then this voice can immediately become the direction of Germany’s development.

In fact, from a geographical point of view, Britain and Germany are natural partners, but the Germans do not understand “keeping a low profile”. After Bismarck stepped down, they even wanted to be “the only sun in the sky”, and had to fight Britain to the death, which eventually led to the break between Britain and Germany.

Behind this is the promotion of colonialists, and Carl Peters, the manager of Idenau, is such a colonialist.

Speaking of Carl Peters, he actually has a relationship with East Africa, but that was Ernst’s previous life.

In this timeline, Carl Peters is one of the founders of the German West Africa Company. In 1882, his colonial company, the German West Africa Company, landed in Bamusso on the coast of Cameroon. Through the traditional methods of colonialists, stealing, cheating, and robbing, using Idenau Port as a base, he successfully seized a colony for Germany in the northwest of Spanish Guinea.

In actual history, that is, in his previous life in 1884, Carl Peters founded the German East Africa Company, and eventually enabled Germany to obtain German East Africa.

Speaking of the establishment of German East Africa in his previous life, Bismarck himself did not support it, but Carl Peters threatened that if Germany did not accept East Africa as its colony, he would turn to the Belgians who had gained an advantage in the Congo at that time. This obviously led to strong dissatisfaction among domestic colonialists, and they therefore put pressure on the Bismarck government.

The Bismarck government was under pressure from domestic public opinion and finally had to compromise. German East Africa was officially established and became Germany’s most important colony later on.

Now, East Africa has been intercepted by Ernst, and Carl Peters naturally has no way to plan a colony in East Africa.

As for Carl Peters running to West Africa to establish a colony, this is also inevitable, because Carl Peters is an extreme colonialist.

This has a great relationship with his education. In his early years, Carl Peters studied in Britain. During his four years in London, he studied British history, British colonial policy, and philosophy. After returning to China, he joined the German Colonial Society.

Carl Peters is also a man of action, so under the stimulation of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family’s successful colonization of East Africa, in 1882, he founded the German West Africa Company, engaging in private colonial undertakings under the banner of trade.

His supporters behind him are the German Colonial Society. This society has considerable power in Germany, and many dignitaries are members of its organization, or rather, overseas colonization is the consensus of many countries’ “people of insight” in this era.

East Africa’s catalytic effect on this organization is the most prominent. A small Hohenzollern-Hechingen principality can become a great power with a territory of tens of millions of square kilometers through colonial undertakings. Who is not envious? Therefore, East Africa has actually accelerated the pace of colonization of Africa by other European colonizers.

In fact, even without East Africa, they would be stimulated by Belgium. This is also one of the real reasons why the Congo River basin dispute triggered the Berlin Conference in his previous life.

However, Belgium colonized only more than two million square kilometers of the Congo in his previous life. East Africa’s stimulation to Germany today is obviously stronger than that of Belgium.

Chapter 667: Expanding the Army and Preparing for War

Otto City, Black Hingen Province (formerly Pretoria, Transvaal Republic).

“According to government requirements, veterans must re-register and be ready to accept military conscription at any time. Non-military personnel or retired adult males must also receive paramilitary training arranged by the government in their spare time, with military training to be conducted in the surrounding rural areas this August.”

In the South African region, July to October is the dry season, and also the agricultural off-season in the region. In addition, the agricultural scale of Black Hingen Province itself is not very large, so it will not have a significant impact on agriculture.

“Director Helaide, is there going to be a war? Or is this a requirement from the Otto City Municipal Government?”

“The order comes from the central government. All five southern provinces have resumed normal militia organization training, not just our Otto City. Moreover, receiving militia training has always been a common tradition in East Africa. Many new immigrants are not aware of this. You can verify this with many old immigrants. As for whether there will be a war, we have not received any notification about this. However, as a border province, Black Hingen Province should always attach importance to border defense work.”

The early entry into a state of war readiness in southern East Africa has indeed caused some panic, especially in Matabele Province, where many immigrants have become accustomed to a peaceful life. The sudden possibility of war easily evokes memories of Europe and the Far East.

“What’s there to be afraid of! When we came to East Africa, we never stopped fighting. At that time, Africa was full of indigenous tribes, and the grasslands were full of dangerous wild animals and threatened by diseases. It’s only been a few years of good life, but we can’t forget how long we’ve been out of war.”

“Old Peter is right. In fact, we all know that war is inevitable, no matter where you go. That’s just the way of the world. Whether it’s developed or poor, it has nothing to do with us ordinary people. Europe is the most civilized and wealthy place in the world, but when wars break out, they are terrifying, involving hundreds of thousands of people at a time. The Franco-Prussian War a few years ago even exceeded a million. How many people did Germany have in total at that time?”

“The United States doesn’t fight wars!” someone said.

“The United States doesn’t fight wars, but the United States has many social problems, especially gang fights. I used to be in the American West, and it’s better not to mention how chaotic it was there, with all kinds of robberies and murders. Moreover, if you don’t have the ability in the United States, you’re much worse off than in East Africa, where you’re guaranteed a harvest regardless of drought or flood.”

“Heh, aren’t there brothers who came here from the United States? Aren’t they all people who didn’t make it? And which country has such good public security as East Africa? East Africa is not as good as the best, but better than the worst. We don’t ask for too much. At least the government treats us like human beings. In East Africa, we may not have money, but as long as we are diligent and hardworking, we can eat and dress warmly, without any other worries. Medical care and education are all available.”

“In fact, East Africa is not much different from Germany, except that in Germany, there are not so many job opportunities, and there is not much land for farming. In addition, there are always wars, so many people leave.”

“The main reason is that the intensity of the war is too high. Ordinary people simply cannot afford to bear the burden of European wars.”

“Hans, when it comes to war, your Europe is still not as good as our Far East. Even without war, many of us cannot survive.”

“Tit for tat. Now Germany is not the same as the former Germany. I heard that Germany has developed well in recent years, but the development level of each region in the former Germany was different. For example, the Kuller family fled to East Africa because of the famine in the south. Moreover, in those days, each state was conscripting and arresting people at any time, and you never knew when you would be sent to the battlefield.”

Before the unification of Germany, Germany was also a mess. Anyway, there were many wars, and the efficiency and administration of each state were different. The good ones were like paradise, and the bad ones were a complete mess.

People from all countries are always happy to compare countries, especially those who have lived in Germany, the United States, and East Africa.

After comparing the three countries, they will come to the conclusion that the United States and East Africa are generally stronger than Germany, and the pressure of life is less. Germany and the United States are more prosperous than East Africa, but East Africa is not too bad now. The social order in the United States is not as good as in Germany and East Africa. Social order has never been a strong point of Anglo-American countries. For example, London, the most prosperous city in the world today, is also the most notorious city of sin in the world.

Anyway, choosing to live in any country means sacrificing something. However, this is a comparison between normal countries. Some abnormal countries are not good in any way, such as Haiti and the Philippines in my previous life.

Ernst could not hear the discussions of the East African commoners. He has too many things to be busy with now, especially the issue of expanding the army.

In fact, as an autocratic country, there can never be anything like the voice of the people reaching the heavens. To put it exaggeratedly, Ernst doing a symbolic project and using a golden hoe to till the land would be considered qualified.

After all, ancient monarchs knew that this was just a formality, to let everyone know that they valued agriculture. As for what tools farmers used to cultivate the land, that was not something they should be concerned about.

Of course, that’s just a joke. East Africa still attaches great importance to improving agricultural production efficiency. From the initial purely manual agriculture, it has completely transitioned to semi-animal-powered agriculture, and is now preparing to enter mechanized agriculture.

……

“If we expand the army, it is best to do it in the eastern region, because most of the population is distributed in the eastern region. Matabele Province has a considerable population, but many of them are industrial workers. Therefore, in order not to delay industrial production, we plan to recruit soldiers from the eastern rural areas. However, Your Highness, what number should we keep this expansion at to be considered a reasonable range?” Felix said to Ernst.

In the central and southern regions, the province with the largest population is Matabele Province, but the industrial proportion of Matabele Province is high, and most of the employment is in factories and mines. Therefore, in order not to delay production work, it is naturally not suitable to draw people from Matabele Province to join the army.

“Let’s start with fifty thousand! This can ensure the overall dynamic balance between us and the three forces of Britain, Portugal, and Transvaal. Moreover, our troops are all regular troops built according to high standards. If they cannot cope with the military threat from South Africa, then they are too useless.” Ernst said.

The treatment of the East African Army has never been bad, especially in recent years. Ernst has been suppressing the expansion of the army, and more military expenditure has been used to improve weapons and equipment and logistical support.

Moreover, in recent years, many outstanding military talents who graduated from Germany and Austria have entered the army, further improving the comprehensive quality of the East African Army, at least ensuring the combat level of the East African elite troops.

The Southern Military Region has been on the front line of national defense for a long time, and has always attached importance to military training. It may be because East Africa has been at peace for a long time and has become somewhat lax, but with a little attention, it should be able to recover in a few months and ensure that the mental state of the troops is maintained in a relatively good range.

Therefore, there is no need to expand the army by too many people this time. Of course, the most important thing is that even if the British want to attack East Africa by surprise, they need a long time to mobilize. Britain does not lack soldiers, but they also need to be mobilized from the mainland and India. As for Cape Town itself, the population base is still too small. However, if Cape Town had a large population, Britain would not have tolerated it for so long and would have chosen to attack East Africa long ago.

If Britain draws troops from the mainland or India, it also needs to mobilize. When they mobilize, it will not be too late for East Africa to mobilize in response. Therefore, only a small number of troops need to be supplemented now to ensure East Africa’s advantage in troop strength.

Chapter 668: Everything Takes Time

Ernst: “Militarily, we should try not to interfere with Matabeleland Province. The railway department must prepare in advance, especially for the war preparations for the two Portuguese colonies. If war breaks out, we will completely erase Mozambique and Angola from the map, and completely open up the land passage between the eastern and western oceans of East Africa.”

In the end, for East Africa, the importance of the two Portuguese colonies is higher than that of Cape Town. Taking these two colonies will solve most of East Africa’s national defense security problems, and at the same time, it will be easier to carry out national planning for the economy, transportation, and industry.

“Regardless of when the enemy starts the war, we must set a time node. After this time node arrives, we must completely solve the Portuguese problem. At that time, we will take the initiative to attack, just like we did when we attacked the Transvaal Republic,” Ernst continued.

“Then when should we choose this time node?” Felix asked.

Ernst thought for a moment and said, “Currently, East Africa is vigorously developing its economy, so the war cannot have too much impact on the country’s production work, especially now, when we are laying the foundation for East Africa’s industry and infrastructure.”

Now East Africa’s economic development is transitioning from chaos to order, because East Africa is a new country and has a different system from most countries in the world, without a reference point.

In addition, East Africa’s own talent cultivation started relatively late, so East Africa’s bureaucratic group has less experience in governing the country than other regions in the world, or even no governance experience at all.

Therefore, the early industrialization process in East Africa was very chaotic, and these all required adjustment. This actually caused great damage to East Africa’s economic development throughout the 1970s, but this was also a stage of social development that East Africa inevitably had to go through.

Currently, after more than ten years of adjustment, the East African government’s economic development has only slightly caught up with the world average. It is precisely because of this that East Africa has not been rashly aggressive.

For example, in the 1970s, if East Africa had a good foundation, Ernst could have directly launched a large number of projects to completely transform East Africa into an industrialized nation.

Because during the economic crisis of 1873, elements for developing industry such as technology, industry, and machinery could be obtained from Europe.

But the reality was that East Africa simply could not do this at the time, because of the lack of talent and a sound system.

This is just like the Far Eastern Empire’s industrialization in my previous life. Soviet experts taught them hand-in-hand, and Ernst could imagine how tired the Soviets were, given the level of illiteracy in the Far Eastern Empire at that time. Even highly educated intellectuals needed to learn Russian separately, and how many misunderstandings would this cause due to translation problems?

The situation in East Africa is slightly better, because Germany’s compulsory education is relatively well-developed, so the German immigrants who come to East Africa basically have elementary school education. In addition, East Africa promotes German education and literacy, so even older Far Eastern immigrants or Slavic immigrants can write a few German words. As for speaking and listening, there is naturally no problem at all, because it is basically impossible to get around in East Africa without speaking German. This is a survival skill that must be mastered.

Moreover, speaking German has nothing to do with education level. It is closely related to the language environment. Staying in East Africa for a long time will naturally lead to a tendency towards German, and eventually be assimilated.

The results of Germany’s compulsory education spill over to East Africa, so that East Africa and Germany can communicate smoothly in basic communication. This is also an important reason why East Africa was able to connect with some of Germany’s industries in the 1970s.

Of course, this is also closely related to the fact that East Africa accepted many mature industrial workers from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the United States at that time. This is especially reflected in the development of the steel and railway industries.

However, East Africa’s ceiling was there at the time. Now East Africa is making up for these shortcomings, especially the development of education. Although East Africa’s compulsory education level is low, the quantity is large. A large number of people go abroad to study every year, and in recent years, several batches have returned to the country, which has provided a foundation for East Africa to develop the automobile and electric power industries.

In addition to these, the most important thing is East Africa’s infrastructure construction work. Railways, highways, bridges, and national water conservancy projects are all steadily advancing.

In other words, East Africa is currently in an important period of economic transition, transforming from an agricultural country to an industrial country, and laying a solid foundation for industrial development.

Ernst said, “Now East Africa’s major projects are the Hesse Province Railway and the national water conservancy project. The progress of the national water conservancy project is okay, but the amount of work is large and the construction period is slow. It will take another four or five years. The amount of work for the Hesse Railway is also not small, but the main thing is the difficulty of the project.”

The Hesse Railway is a tropical railway, but many of the areas it passes through are tropical rainforests. East Africa has already seen the difficulty of building railways in tropical rainforests. The main problem is natural disasters caused by rain, and even tens of tons of steel can be directly washed away by floods.

Therefore, the first priority of the Hesse Railway construction is “water control.” For this reason, the railway bridges, culverts, and drainage ditches to be built for the Hesse Railway are three times more than all the previous railways in East Africa combined. In addition, due to the Mitumba Mountains, tunnels must be built in some sections, so the construction difficulty of the Hesse Railway is unprecedented in East African history.

Of course, compared with the difficulty of the Siberian Railway, the Siberian Railway is still better, because there is only one Siberian Railway, and there are many railways built in tropical rainforest areas, but East Africa’s Hesse Railway is the longest, but it is only less than one-fifth of the Siberian Railway.

“The completion time of these two projects should be about the same. After they are completed, we will be able to free up most of our manpower, military power, and financial resources, so it is best to launch a war at that time. Now it is 1884, and the national water conservancy project should be completed before 1890. The completion time of the Hesse Railway should be earlier, so we will set the time at 1890.”

Ernst continued, “There are at least five years in between, and Mozambique and Angola cannot remain unchanged. As far as I know, the reconstruction of Maputo Port should have been completed. Later, the Portuguese should have other defense projects under construction. Considering their shortage of manpower, they should focus on deploying defenses centered on cities.”

“Therefore, you must, within these few years, find out the Portuguese military deployments and defense system in their two colonies.”

“And we also need time to complete military adjustments. This time will take at least two or three years. The Portuguese should not act alone. If they want to take the initiative, they must be consistent with the British. Therefore, to judge the Portuguese’s troop deployment time, we must mainly guard against military changes by the British in South Africa.”

“Now the British in South Africa only have more than 20,000 troops. The rest are mainly Transvaalers. The Transvaal Restoration Army has absorbed many Orange Free State troops. These troops must also be integrated, so the British also need preparation time.”

“We should mainly pay attention to whether the British will transfer troops from outside the region to Cape Town. If a large number of troops enter Cape Town, it means that the British are impatient.”

Chapter 669: Linking Industry and Agriculture

Under economic transformation, it is impossible to bypass East Africa’s largest industry, which is agriculture. Industrialization is not about abandoning agriculture, but about further improving agricultural production efficiency.

To this end, Ernst said at a government working meeting: “Agriculture is the foundation of the national economy and a prerequisite for survival and all production. Therefore, throughout the nineteen eighties and nineties, we must continue to attach importance to agricultural development, focusing on continuously improving agricultural production efficiency, especially promoting agricultural diversification, making every effort to leverage the advantages of East African agriculture, and achieving coordinated development between agriculture and industry.”

Prior to this, Ernst would not have talked about the coordinated development of agriculture and industry, because the scale of East African industry was not even as large as that of handicrafts. Now that they have finally accumulated some wealth, they have the confidence to promote the common development of agriculture and industry.

“What is agricultural diversification? And what does it have to do with our East African agriculture? Agricultural diversification means not putting all your eggs in one basket. For example, in terms of staple foods, our two main staple foods in East Africa are wheat and rice, but we must know that East African land has a far greater talent for growing crops such as corn, millet, sorghum, and soybeans than other countries in the world.”

Of course, these later grain crops are easily high-yielding in East Africa, but in terms of taste, it is difficult to surpass wheat and rice. However, different people have different preferences, and it is always possible to find suitable consumers. Therefore, the East African diet has been diversified from the beginning.

“Agriculture first solves the problem of eating, which is also the first impression most people have of agriculture, but how agriculture provides the basic conditions for industrial development is easily overlooked.”

“Take the textile industry as an example. The main raw materials of the textile industry, cotton, hemp, raw silk, etc., all come from agricultural production activities, and in the nineteenth century, the textile industry was the world’s largest industry.”

“Britain, as the first industrialized country, its early industrialization can be said to have been completely driven by the textile industry, including the American black slave trade, which also occurred under the stimulus of cotton plantations’ demand for labor.”

“In the nineteenth century, agriculture provided the vast majority of raw materials for industry, and only then could the mining industry take its turn.”

In the future, with the progress of science and technology, there will also be the chemical industry, but the chemical industry is still inseparable from agriculture and mining to provide the most basic raw materials, which is essentially an expansion of the application of raw material properties.

In East Africa, agriculture and mining are relatively prosperous, but not developed, because their production efficiency still does not reach the level of European and American countries, of course, this does not include Eastern European countries such as Tsarist Russia.

To be honest, it is more difficult for countries like Tsarist Russia to develop agriculture than it is for East Africa. This is determined by the climate, regardless of yield, variety, or area.

Tsarist Russia simply has the world’s largest area of high-quality black soil arable land, but it has no other advantages besides this. Black soil is the most fertile, but the water and heat conditions are too poor, and only one season of production can be achieved per year.

Moreover, the effective land area of Tsarist Russia is much smaller than that of East Africa. Comparing effective land, East Africa is the first in the world, the second is the United States, and then the Far Eastern Empire.

East Africa’s arable land is mainly provided by several major plateaus, which naturally cannot be compared with the vast plains of North America. The Congo rainforest and desert alone occupy nearly three million square kilometers of land in East Africa.

However, the western United States also has the massive Rocky Mountains, which occupy one-third of the area of the United States, and the United States also has a much smaller land area than East Africa.

Of course, East Africa’s agricultural conditions also have their own disadvantages, which is the quality of the land. However, the quality of the land mainly depends on later management and improvement. In the twenty-first century, many lands rely on fertilizers and scientific farming methods. Moreover, no matter what, the overall land quality of East Africa is better than that of the Far Eastern Empire.

When East Africa takes Mozambique, East Africa will also have its own black soil. Although the area of black soil in Mozambique is much smaller, it also fills a gap in East Africa’s soil.

Ernst continued: “So you must see the correlation between agriculture and industry. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry should communicate more. To put it simply, the Ministry of Agriculture used to deal more with the Ministry of Foreign Trade, because we mainly focused on the export of the most basic grains, but now that the Ministry of Industry is involved, we must increase the added value of agricultural products, so that we can obtain greater value when we export them again, and at the same time extend the industrial chain.”

“For example, canned products, our East African canned fruit industry, is very popular in Tsarist Russia, and at the same time solves the problem that fruits are not durable and difficult to store, opening up their sales channels, and related factories have solved the employment problem for some of our citizens.”

“Or our sisal industry, the East African sisal industry has developed very rapidly in recent years, but in the past, East African sisal processing plants were inefficient and had small production capacity. Through nearly twenty years of efforts, East African sisal processing has finally gotten rid of external dependence. We can meet customer needs for a variety of industrial products such as rope and linen.”

Ernst talked endlessly, mainly to enlighten his subordinates, after all, sitting in the office all day will not discover business opportunities.

“Finally, there is the issue of animal husbandry. Animal husbandry is one of the three major important components of East African agriculture.”

At present, East African agriculture is mainly divided into three major blocks, namely cash crop cultivation, food crop cultivation, and finally animal husbandry.

“In addition to solving the problems of raw materials such as meat, dairy products, and leather, the most important thing for animal husbandry is to provide power for industrial and agricultural production, so the expansion of animal husbandry must continue.”

Steam engines, these bulky and clumsy things, are unaffordable in many parts of East Africa, and they are also difficult to move. Not to mention East Africa, Europe is also the same.

At present, the main force of agriculture is still human and animal power. In addition to the needs of industrial and agricultural production, transportation and logistics also rely heavily on animal power.

Therefore, expanding the scale of animal husbandry is very important for East Africa at present and is an important part of improving East Africa’s productivity.

The contribution rate of animal husbandry and cash crop cultivation to East Africa’s economy is actually greater than that of food crop cultivation. Of course, the food problem is the foundation. If you are not well-fed, you are not qualified to talk about development.

Everything in East Africa is based on food crop cultivation meeting domestic demand while also being able to export. This involves an important role of agriculture in the early stage of industrialization, which is the accumulation of original capital.

In the early days, East Africa’s military expenditure and national construction funds largely depended on food crop cultivation, while the cultivation cycle of cash crops was longer than that of food crops. For example, tea, rubber, coffee, etc., all require East Africa to develop for as long as seven or eight years before they begin to generate income, and the scale has only reached the level that can compete internationally in recent years.

The principle is very simple. The first step in East Africa’s development of its homeland is naturally to solve the problem of feeding immigrants. Therefore, early agriculture must focus on food crop cultivation. Only after solving the problem of food and clothing can we focus our energy on the more profitable cash crop cultivation and animal husbandry development.

“In short, agricultural development can promote industrial development. Agriculture is East Africa’s advantageous industry. East Africa’s industrial sector must actively connect with the agricultural sector to further transmit agricultural advantages into industrial development advantages. Multi-departmental collaboration is also an inevitable choice and future trend for large-scale national governance.” Ernst emphasized at the end.

Chapter 670: Population Flow

Mbeya City, Second High School.

“Rhodes, where are you going after graduation?” Haggens asked.

In the blink of an eye, it was graduation season. Students graduating from East African high schools would also face employment problems. Of course, those with outstanding grades could continue to stay on campus, but that was only a small minority. Most still had to choose their future direction.

“Who knows! But according to my grades and my family’s arrangements, I’ll most likely inherit the blacksmith shop from my father, or go to a factory. As for farming, I wouldn’t know how!”

“Sigh, that’s the benefit of mastering a craft. Someone like me will most likely have to go back to the village farm to work.”

“Heh, I’m actually only half-baked. My father hasn’t systematically taught me the blacksmith’s craft yet. After all, the blacksmith shop is dirty and tiring. I basically don’t participate in work matters when I get home every day. So even if I inherit the family business, I have to start from scratch. And this is also related to grades. The better your grades, the more options you have. The very best can study abroad, the next best can go to university in the country, and the top students in the school can also be assigned good jobs.”

“Are you saying I’m a loser?” Rhodes said resentfully.

“You’re overthinking it. My grades aren’t much better than yours. Aren’t we brothers! And the work in the blacksmith shop isn’t necessarily much better than on the farm. Swinging a sledgehammer is also hard labor, and there are no holidays all year round. The entire village relies on our family for ironware repairs.”

“I wonder where Keld is going? I heard his father is planning to arrange for him to work in a government agency!”

“Probably not a high-ranking position. Most likely he’ll be a junior officer under his father. After all, officials now have educational requirements. If he takes the civil service exam, Keld will definitely fail.”

“The civil service exam is too difficult and the competition is too fierce. If I had good grades, I would also want to apply, but I have no connections and my grades are poor, so it’s better to save the registration fee.”

In the East African social environment, government employees are definitely more popular, which is mainly reflected in lower and middle-level government personnel.

After all, once you reach a certain position, you can live quite well in any country, so it still depends on the treatment of grassroots staff.

“Joining the army is also good, but the navy’s requirements are too high. Last year, our school only recruited two people. I heard the navy’s food is even better than the army’s!”

“The army’s food is already top-notch. The navy’s is just icing on the cake, and you can be exposed to more things. Of course, the navy also depends on where you’re assigned. If it’s a remote and poor place like the South Ryukyu Islands or the Comoro Islands, wouldn’t that be terrible!”

“Heh, the army is even worse. If you’re assigned to Southwest Africa or the Congo rainforest, it’s very torturous, and there are many threats to face.”

“It’s still better than ordinary people. If you join the army, the benefits won’t be bad in the future. You can also enjoy certain privileges and have a certain social status after retirement. That alone is enough. And the conditions in the army have improved a lot now. You can be exposed to many new things, and it’s good to broaden your horizons.”

In recent years, factory construction in East Africa has been relatively frequent, so more and more graduates can enter factories to work, which represents a direction of East African industrialization, with people flowing towards industries.

In addition to students, the East African government is also transferring some of the working population in the east to the west, which is also one of the basic national policies of East Africa.

The population distribution in East Africa is uneven, especially in the western region, so population migration is very important, mostly based on job transfers.

Mbeya City First Steel Factory.

“This year, our factory will send fifteen people to Harare City to work, to support the industrial development of the west. I still advise you to think about it. The environment in Harare City is no worse than that in Mbeya City, and in the future, many of East Africa’s heavy industries will inevitably be placed in Harare City, because the west has more resources, so the prospects are much better than those in Mbeya City,” the director of the First Steel Factory mobilized.

However, there were few respondents, which is normal. Those who can work in the First Steel Factory in Mbeya City have families in Mbeya City, so naturally they don’t want to move to other cities.

“The distance from Mbeya City to Harare City is not far, only a few days, and it’s by train. Everything has been arranged there, waiting for the workers to move in with their bags. Furthermore, Mbeya City’s future steel production capacity will definitely decrease proportionally, while Harare City’s is constantly rising. This also means greater stability. Even if you lose your job, there are now more job opportunities in Matabeleland Province than in South Salzburg Province. After all, Matabeleland Province is the first industrial province in East Africa.”

Being a worker in an East African steel factory is not a guaranteed job for life. There is a bottom-ranking elimination system, and a batch of workers will be screened out regularly, so the director would say this.

“Director, you say this is just a lot of fuss. The Mbeya City Steel Factory is also pretty good. Why are you always thinking about sending people to the west?”

“Hmph, what do you mean by fuss? This is a major national strategy. Don’t feel wronged. In fact, not only our First Steel Factory, but also government agencies, schools, other factories, and even villages are required to send population to the western inland.”

“The purpose of doing this is also obvious. The western population is too small, and so much land and resources have not been utilized, so the development of the west naturally requires support from the east. And the conditions in the west have been improving in recent years, especially in Hohenzollern Province, Swabia Province, and Matabeleland Province. The basic conditions in these three provinces are no worse than those in the east. Matabeleland Province even has the momentum to surpass Central Province.”

East Africa’s emphasis on Matabeleland Province is obvious, and it is also in line with the geographical location of Matabeleland Province. From Mbeya to the west is the central three provinces, which are also one of the most resource-rich regions in East Africa, so it can better connect the eastern overflow industries and population.

The eastern overflow industries and population are naturally mandatory actions by the government, because according to East Africa’s population level, the eastern region has not actually exceeded its actual carrying capacity by far.

After all, the eastern region has more than two million square kilometers of land, and the population is only a mere twenty million. Such a small population accounts for two-thirds of East Africa. The population density in the east is completely insignificant compared to the population density in European countries.

“The country’s consideration is naturally to better develop our country, so supporting the west is inevitable. And the west is not a den of dragons and tigers. There was a westward movement in the early years, but this slogan has not been used in recent years.”

The westward movement was a product of East Africa ten years ago. At that time, the western provinces were truly wild and undeveloped. Now the results of the westward movement have long been reflected, including large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Central Railway, which have improved the living environment in the west, which has led to the current major changes in East Africa’s industries.

However, as time goes by, the westward movement has gradually faded away, but the policy has been steadily promoted, which is also related to the decline in East Africa’s foreign immigrant population.

“It’s easy to go to the west now. In the future, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to go even if you want to. Opportunities are for those who are prepared. The opportunities in the west are definitely more than those in the east, so think about your future. Those who want to sign up can sign up with me tomorrow. If the quota is not filled after three days, then I can only assign according to the old rules!”

As the director, he still has considerable power, but if his subordinates are proactive, everyone will look good on the surface.

Chapter 671: Opportunities in the Northwest

The population of East Africa mainly flowed to the three central provinces, with the northern region as a secondary destination. In the south, East Africa’s enemies were lining up, but the north didn’t have this concern, so the north was orderly.

Now, the western section of the Northern Railway has been launched, which further accelerates the flow of population to the northwest, mainly from the Great Lakes region and the Northern Industrial Belt.

“The difficulty of the western section of the Northern Railway is lower than that of the Hesse Railway, but the resources along the route are relatively scarce, which means the rate of return will be low. However, if it connects with the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, the future prospects are still good.”

“Currently, the western section of the Northern Railway has been completed by thirty percent, and it is expected that the entire line will be completed later. It can be opened for operation before 1887. By then, starting from Mombasa in the east and ending in Kabo and Bangui in the west, a major northern artery will be officially formed, which will have an important impact on the economy, transportation, and national defense of the entire northern region.”

The Northern Railway has two terminals, one is Bangui, the capital of East Azande Province, and also an important river port on the Ubangi River.

Bangui Port is an important tributary waterway of the Congo River, from which Kinshasa can be directly reached. The Ubangi River has a navigable section of more than six hundred kilometers throughout the year, and it can directly reach more than one thousand four hundred kilometers during the rainy season.

Every year from April to June, the rainy season causes the river to swell, and the Ubangi River will experience backflow, which is the same as the Amazon rainforest rivers directly turning into a “sea” during the rainy season.

After all, the Congo rainforest is the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon rainforest, but the Congo rainforest is mainly located in the Congo Basin, which makes it very different from the Amazon rainforest.

This also makes the rainfall in the Congo rainforest a magnitude lower than that of the Amazon rainforest, directly five times less. This is also the reason why the Congo rainforest had so much more population than the Amazon rainforest in its previous life.

The Amazon rainforest has almost no population distribution. The two Congo countries have a population of over one hundred million. In fact, it is more appropriate to compare the Congo rainforest to northeastern India.

The Ganges River in northeastern India, the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Far East Empire, and the Meghna River in Bangladesh share a common estuary, so they are sometimes regarded as a single river, with a flow rate directly exceeding the Congo River, but this classification scheme has not become mainstream.

However, just in that small place in Bangladesh, one hundred million people are squeezed in. The world’s rain pole is also in Cherrapunji in the northeastern region of South Asia, so the water volume of the Congo River basin is really not as good as that of the northeastern region of South Asia. This has to mention the strong effect of the Himalayas and the South Asian monsoon.

After all, the Congo River basin has more than three million square kilometers, and the entire South Asia is about this area. The rainfall in the Congo River basin exceeds one thousand five hundred millimeters, while the northeast of South Asia exceeds two thousand millimeters, and the northeast of Bangladesh directly exceeds three thousand millimeters. There is no comparability between the two under the same area.

However, this is also good. The rainfall in the Congo River basin can barely reach the standard for human habitation, so it is not as difficult to develop as the Amazon rainforest.

This is also an important reason why Bangui has a promising future. The development difficulty is not as high as imagined, and the transportation conditions are also good. It can connect with northwestern Angola through shipping, connect to the Atlantic Ocean, and also undertake the future land transportation between East Africa and West Africa.

This is very important. Only the Abyssinian Empire and Egypt are the two main land countries connected to northeastern East Africa. As for the pile of colonies, their economic volume can be almost ignored.

West Africa is almost the same area as East Africa, and it is a region comparable in resources, especially in iron ore, bauxite, and oil and gas resources.

These three resources are relatively lacking in East Africa, and can form a good complementary relationship with the East African economy, so Bangui, which connects East and West Africa, is particularly important.

In addition, the most important thing about Bangui is its military attribute. By controlling the upper reaches of the Ubangi River, East Africa can ensure that the lower reaches of the Congo River will not be threatened in the future. This is also the reason why both sides of the Ubangi River are under the control of East Africa.

As for the second terminal of the Northern Railway, Kabo, it was completely bent by the investment of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory. After completion, it will accelerate the development progress of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory.

“Moreover, the railway connects with the Hesse Railway in Kisangani, forming a network of the Central Railway and the Northern Railway. The resources of inland industrial provinces such as Matabeleland can be directly transferred to the northern region through Kisangani, and grain can be transferred to the northwest region through the Great Lakes region. The resources of East Africa’s northwest and West Africa are then diffused to the Northern Industrial Belt and the three central provinces through Kisangani. The domestic transportation framework in the central and northern regions is basically formed.”

The central part of East Africa, namely Swabia Province, Hohenzollern Province, and Matabeleland Province, and the northern East Azande Province, New Bavaria Province, and Nile Province are separated by the Congo Basin.

With the Hesse Railway (Central Railway) and the Northern Railway connected in series, a large railway pattern in the central and northern regions can be formed.

The only areas that are not connected are Somalia and northern Angola. The economy of Somalia and East Africa mainly relies on highways and sea transportation, and relies on the Juba River and Shebelle River. The population and economy are narrowly distributed, and sea-river combined transportation can be easily realized, so railways are not very urgent for Somalia.

Northern Angola is in the hands of the Portuguese, so the western terminal of the Central Province Railway has always been in the design blueprint of the Ministry of Railways.

“According to the current construction progress of the Northern Railway, we can also take advantage of the situation to carry out industrial planning for the three northwestern provinces and the Sigmaringen Royal Territory. The three provinces of the Northern Industrial Belt and the two provinces of the Great Lakes region will mainly provide counterpart support to the three northwestern provinces.”

“The first is to increase the population of the three northwestern provinces, build a batch of cultivated land and villages along the railway line, and realize the development of the land in the three northwestern provinces. Secondly, due to the construction of the railway, the original transportation pattern within the three northwestern provinces must be re-planned, and the transportation layout of the three northwestern provinces must be rebuilt through highways.”

As the railway passes, the immigrant strongholds, villages, and cities in the three northwestern provinces, which were originally distributed according to the terrain and highways, will inevitably be re-planned. The most important thing is to connect them with the Northern Railway so that the three northwestern provinces can be effectively utilized and developed.

“The Immigration Department plans to import at least 300,000 people into the three northwestern provinces within three years after the railway is in operation. Twenty percent of them will be centrally dispatched from the relatively densely populated Northern Industrial Belt and the Great Lakes region. With the development of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, the population of the three northwestern provinces will reach one million by the end of this century, around 1890.”

The development history of the three northwestern provinces is not short. They were incorporated into East Africa at the same time as the three central provinces, but their development mainly relied on military affairs and trade with the native countries and tribes of West Africa.

However, since East Africa supported the construction of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, the trade between East Africa and West Africa has been basically cut off. To rebuild the trade route, we must at least wait until the Sigmaringen Royal Territory is completely stable.

According to the East African government’s estimates, this may take several years in the best-case scenario, because Sigmaringen cannot be as rich as East Africa, and the Sigmaringen Royal Territory will take a lot of time just to learn from East Africa’s experience.

However, for East Africa, this is an early investment. Although the Sigmaringen Royal Territory cannot bring value to East Africa now, once it takes shape, the value it creates will definitely be much stronger than the natives, which will help drive the future development of northwestern East Africa.

Chapter 672: Danger and Opportunity

“Ernst, according to the latest intelligence regarding the war between France and the Far East Empire in Keelung, the French have failed again!” Ferdinand said gleefully.

The news came from the Pacific Fleet, which is stationed near the Southern Ryukyu Islands military base, so the East African Navy received firsthand information.

The war between the Far East Empire and France actually began last year, but the Far East Empire didn’t formally declare war on France until August of this year. Moreover, according to Ernst’s prediction, the outcome of this war will once again end with a whimper.

This isn’t because the Far East Empire’s combat effectiveness is lacking, but rather because their desire to fight is low, and the top levels of the government are indecisive. In recent years, the Far East Empire’s government has significantly improved its weaponry and equipment, gaining advantages in conflicts and wars against Tsarist Russia, Japan, and the United States. However, when it comes to the negotiation stage, they always settle for concessions and compromises, making them utterly hopeless.

Ernst already knows the outcome of this war, so he’s not particularly interested in the Far East Empire’s situation.

“Has the war affected our trade routes with the Far East Empire?” Ernst asked.

“Naturally not. Even if the main naval battleground were in the Taiwan Strait, the British would be the first to get anxious. Besides, we can bypass the Taiwan route from the east,” Ferdinand continued. “Moreover, the Pacific Fleet can provide escort services for our merchant ships at any time.”

This highlights the importance of the Southern Ryukyu Islands. The only ones with ambitions for this area are Japan and East Africa, and East Africa completely outmatched Japan, whose naval power is just starting, in the last competition.

“Although the Pacific Fleet has some strength in the Far East waters, it lacks the support of large ships. According to internal discussions within our navy, we plan to allocate two ironclad ships to the Pacific Fleet,” Archduke Ferdinand stated his intention.

“Does the Southern Ryukyu Islands have the capacity to accommodate large ironclad ships?” Ernst asked.

The Southern Ryukyu Islands are too remote within East Africa’s territory, so Ernst hasn’t paid attention to the progress of their construction for a long time.

“We’ve built the Pacific Fleet’s homeport on Miyako Island and Ishigaki Island. Miyako Island, in particular, has completed all construction work, and the related infrastructure on the island has also been completed. Therefore, strengthening the fleet’s strength in the Far East region is imperative.”

Ernst: “The Lanfang Overseas Province in the Nanyang region should also be allocated one ship. I remember the conditions in Pontianak Port being quite good. This will also better connect the safety between the mainland and the eastern routes.”

Ferdinand: “That’s not impossible, but we’ll have to revise the plan. Moreover, three ironclad ships are a significant drain on the mainland fleet.”

Although he said that, Ferdinand wasn’t worried at all, because of Ernst’s promise, the navy has been building new warships for replenishment in recent years. It’s just a bit hard on his daughter. Karina is pregnant again this year, so new warships will have to be launched next year. Most importantly, the navy doesn’t have to pay for it.

Moreover, some of East Africa’s ships, to be honest, are nearing the end of their service life, so it would be good to just pull them to the Far East and Nanyang regions and continue to serve. Even if they sink, it wouldn’t be too painful.

“The navy’s funding has been increasing quite rapidly in recent years. We should also retire some old ships to make room for new warships. So, let’s find a time to sell the ships that are nearing their expiration date while they’re still useful for a good price!” Ernst said directly.

East Africa’s speed of building warships is still too fast, so it’s better to dispose of many old ships. The maintenance costs alone are somewhat beyond the East African Navy’s ability to bear.

“It shouldn’t be that bad! Our warships generally haven’t exceeded twenty years. With daily maintenance, another thirty or forty years of service is normal. Moreover, there are now very good destinations, such as Nanyang, the Pacific, and even our Atlantic coast.”

“The navy needs continuous accumulation and innovation in technology. Moreover, East Africa’s finances aren’t as abundant as those of other great powers, so it naturally can’t afford such a large fleet. Furthermore, East Africa’s military spending will be leaning towards the army recently, so the navy shouldn’t have it both ways. Compared to you, the army has had almost no development in the last decade.”

The statement that the army has had no development is naturally an exaggeration. In reality, armies around the world haven’t changed much in recent years. On the other hand, naval competition is becoming increasingly fierce, especially with countries like the United States, the Far East Empire, and Japan also starting to exert effort on their navies, mainly to cope with the increasingly tense international situation in the 1880s.

European powers are quite peaceful with each other, but this is precisely the most dangerous time for backward countries and regions, including East Africa.

Apart from Germany and Austria-Hungary, which are geographically constrained, Britain, Tsarist Russia, France, and even the United States have successively caused trouble for the Far East Empire. This is a prominent feature of the 1880s.

East Africa can’t be careless either, because East Africa ate too much in the 1870s. Now, East Africa is also considered a piece of fat, but other countries aren’t sure about East Africa’s quality.

As for Portugal, which has had confrontations with East Africa, it can’t be used as a benchmark, after all, Portugal’s colonies are fighting East Africa’s mainland.

It’s like Britain invading Afghanistan; it’s actually the Indian colonial army fighting Afghanistan. Even if they fail, no one will underestimate Britain.

Because it’s ultimately a colony, its military strength can’t be compared to the mainland. Portuguese colonial troops sometimes can’t even defeat indigenous people around the world. They’ve suffered setbacks in the Americas, the Far East, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and so on, so it’s normal to be bullied by East Africa.

East Africa is now just waiting to see when Portugal and Britain will test East Africa’s army’s strength. After all, East Africa’s army hasn’t fought a war for some years, and previous records can’t be used as a reference. At that time, East Africa’s opponents were all indigenous people, lacking substance. After all, the British also suppress indigenous people in their colonies, such as India, Canada, and Australia.

“Then who are you planning to sell the warships to?”

“Ask the Far East Empire if they’re interested! After all, the French should make them more aware of the importance of the navy. Moreover, the Far East Empire has too many enemies, and the threats they’ll have to face in the future are greater than ours, so the demand is also greater.”

Second-hand ironclad ships aren’t that easy to sell. It would be a win for East Africa to find a customer to take them over, after all, the great powers can basically produce them themselves, and small countries can’t afford them. Only a large country like the Far East Empire needs this kind of ironclad ship.

Currently, the Far East Empire mainly relies on a bunch of gunboats to hold the line. Ironclad ships are completely absent. In reality, the Far East Empire can manufacture ironclad ships themselves if they put in the effort.

After the Battle of Mawei, the Fujian Shipping Administration Bureau learned its lesson and relied on its own efforts. Finally, in the late 1880s, it built the Far East Empire’s first domestically produced ironclad ship—the Pingyuan.

So, in this era, the Far East Empire’s military industry can actually catch up with the great powers. It’s not difficult to imitate various Western weapons. For example, the “Pingyuan” is no worse than its European counterparts.

This can be seen from the East African and Japanese military shipbuilding industries. Both countries started their navies relatively late, but the late nineteenth century is a time of crisis and opportunity. Countries that seize the opportunity can use the general trend of the Second Industrial Revolution to quickly catch up with those old powers in terms of national strength.

Chapter 673: Ivory

Selling naval warships is practically no different from dealing with scrap metal, except that in this era, even scrap metal has high value.

What’s more, these are ironclad warships equipped with weapon systems, arguably the most advanced technological weapons of this era, on par with aircraft carriers in my previous life.

After Archduke Ferdinand arranged the naval affairs, Von der Leyen began to report to Ernst on the East African ivory trade from the past year.

“The East African ivory trade has been thriving. Last year, the transaction volume of ivory was over forty thousand tusks. Among them, we have over twenty thousand tusks in stock, which means that approximately over ten thousand elephants died at the hands of East African hunters in 1884 alone.”

The ivory trade has always been one of the most prosperous businesses in East Africa. The initial colonization of Africa by Europeans was for three things: gold, ivory, and slaves. Hence, the existence of names like the Gold Coast and the Ivory Coast. In reality, a “Black Coast” should also exist, but Europeans still need to maintain a facade of morality.

“How much ivory do we have in stock?” Ernst asked.

“We still have over two million tusks. At the current shipping volume, it’s enough for us to export for over a hundred years.”

In the past twenty years, East Africa alone has hunted over three million elephants, averaging over one hundred thousand elephants slaughtered each year. However, the East African wild elephant population still remains at least over six million. After all, East Africa lacks relevant statistics, so the exact number is difficult to determine.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the entire African elephant population should have been over twenty-six million, more than the current black population of East Africa. Compared to the mere four hundred thousand African elephants left in my previous life, this is indeed an exaggeration.

“The international ivory market wasn’t doing well last year because West African ivory shipments increased, so we had to slightly lower our ivory prices as well.”

The reason for the competition faced by East African ivory from West Africa is simple: European colonists have intensified their activities in West Africa in recent years. Coupled with East Africa’s monopoly on most raw material supply areas, this has led to a steady increase in West African ivory production.

Of course, the cost is also obvious: the elephants of West Africa have once again suffered a cruel fate, following the same path as their East African relatives.

The reason for saying “once again suffered a cruel fate” is that the ivory trading center used to be on the West African coast. Later, with the integration and large-scale development of East African territory, East Africa, possessing tens of millions of square kilometers, became the new world ivory supply center. Currently, the world’s largest ivory trading market is in Mombasa.

East Africa is equivalent to one-third of Africa, and the desert terrain of North Africa is clearly unsuitable for elephant survival. Therefore, the remaining elephants are mainly in West Africa, Abyssinia, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Town.

Among them, West Africa has the largest area, so it is the second-largest ivory producing area after East Africa. However, West African colonial history is earlier than East African, so the initial wild elephant population was not more than East Africa.

It was in the 1870s, after East Africa’s rapid external expansion and development, that a large number of East African wild elephants were exterminated, so the East African elephant population plummeted in the 1870s.

It’s hard to say who has more elephants now, West Africa or East Africa, but East Africa’s hunting of elephants has been greatly reduced.

To put it heartlessly, it’s because they’ve killed almost enough, especially in the eastern regions. Human activity areas have basically stopped expanding, and Ernst is too lazy to bother with the animals anymore. The western regions, which are undergoing accelerated development, are completely different.

“Find a time to conduct a survey of the East African elephant population. We need to have a full understanding of East Africa’s wild elephants. After all, ivory resources don’t grow as easily as chives,” Ernst instructed.

Elephants have long lifespans, and each elephant only has one pair of tusks in its lifetime, so ivory growth takes time. African elephants not only far outnumber Asian elephants, but also have higher ivory production because only male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African elephants have tusks.

Ernst’s purpose in understanding the current elephant population of East Africa is naturally not out of a bleeding-heart mentality, but in order to keep the ivory business going. Just like the kangaroos in Australia in my previous life, if there are too many, they can be killed. According to the current East African elephant population, as long as it is maintained within a reasonable range, stable supply can be guaranteed in the future.

However, most African countries in my previous life chose to drain the pond to catch all the fish, so the African elephant population has been declining and has not been effectively restored.

Ernst now hopes to help other countries go a step further, so that East Africa can sustainably drain the pond to catch all the fish in the future.

“In the next few years, increase the ivory in stock to thirty thousand, maintain the annual export volume of ivory at around forty thousand tusks, and import the rest from West Africa.”

Import from West Africa?

“Your Highness, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? Our East Africa is the world’s largest ivory producer, why would we import ivory from West Africa?”

Ernst said, “Because I am not satisfied with the current ivory market structure. East Africa and South Africa in the future, we want to complete unification. These small markets can be ignored, but West Africa is a competitive market that poses a threat to us, so we should blow up this market.”

“To be honest, the elephant growth cycle is quite slow, while the world’s demand for ivory is increasing every year. According to our East African experience, under large-scale extermination, elephant populations are difficult to recover, or even impossible to recover.”

“Our East Africa, as a centralized country, can still adjust policies in a timely manner to ensure that the African elephant population is maintained within a reasonable range, ensuring the sustainability of East African ivory production in the future.”

“And these are things that the future suzerain states of West Africa don’t care about. They only want to obtain more benefits from West Africa, so in the next twenty or thirty years, the elephant populations of West Africa will suffer a devastating blow. I predict that by the beginning of the 20th century, the African elephant population in West Africa may be halved.”

“And our job in East Africa is to further exacerbate this market trend. Moreover, reselling ivory can also bring us certain benefits. It’s just that we have to pay more freight, which will be a matter of course after the western section of the Northern Railway is completed.”

Ernst’s purpose is to accelerate the ivory trade in West Africa. As the saying goes, there would be no killing without buying!

East Africa can achieve this through trade with West African natives, and the cost is nothing more than cheap industrial products and food.

Then, reselling the ivory purchased from West Africa to the major ivory consuming country in the Far East, the empire, can still guarantee a certain profit, because ivory is generally in short supply.

In my previous life, in order to obtain substitutes for ivory, some people even went to Siberia to find the ivory of mammoths frozen in permafrost, which shows the breadth of the market.

“Your Highness, do you mean to seal up most of our ivory and ensure the survival space of elephants in the future?” The subordinate felt that Ernst was a bit whimsical.

After all, the 19th century is connected to the first and second industrial revolutions, which gave mankind the illusion of “man can conquer nature” in the future. Ernst’s actions now are definitely a waste of effort in the eyes of most people.

However, Ernst doesn’t care. After all, people now have some differences in thinking patterns compared to the 21st century. Ernst is not an animal protection member, but simply considers this matter from an industrial perspective.

In the 21st century, in order to restore the elephant population, countries can be said to be using all kinds of methods. As long as East Africa kills a little less, it is estimated that it can monopolize most of the market by the end of the next century, so it is still very worthwhile.

After all, East Africa is different from those poor African countries in my previous life. It does not need to simply rely on the ivory business to increase income. Ivory income accounts for only a small share of East African national income, which can basically be ignored, but the single profit is higher than that of food and ordinary industrial products.

Chapter 674: Land of Fish and Rice

Recently, Constantine hadn’t been idle either. Of course, being older, he mainly spent his energy traveling around East Africa.

Then, starting from the First Municipality, he transferred in Dodoma and headed north, passing through Mwanza, and finally arriving in the West Lake Province.

The West Lake Provincial Government is located in Bujumbura, in the southwesternmost part of West Lake Province, so this time Constantine was greeted by officials from the Kagera Municipal Government.

Kagera City is a port city situated on the shores of the Great Lake, named after the Kagera River, which is the river’s entry point into the lake (equivalent to its estuary).

The Kagera River, which flows into Lake Victoria and is approximately 400 kilometers long, is the largest source of water for Lake Victoria. The Kagera River is formed by the confluence of two branches, one from present-day Burundi and extending into Tanzania before flowing into Lake Victoria.

As the source of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), Kagera is also the source of the Nile River. With the Kagera River, the entire Nile River reaches an astonishing six thousand six hundred and seventy-plus kilometers, firmly surpassing the Amazon River.

West Lake Province, as an important granary of East Africa, is also a key area for water conservancy construction, and the Kagera Basin is one of the key areas for improvement.

“The upper reaches of the Kagera River pass through mountainous areas, while the lower reaches are the Kagera Basin, which has relatively flat terrain, but with many swamps, wetlands, and rivers. After more than ten years of our governance, and the general trend of national water conservancy construction, we have straightened out the downstream river network of the Kagera Basin, and at the same time managed and governed the swamps and wetlands, and widely planted rice and other crops. More than eighty percent of the city’s area has been built into high-standard, high-quality farmland, making the entire Kagera City a veritable land of fish and rice in East Africa.”

The entire Great Lake (Lake Victoria) basin is essentially a subtle basin terrain if Lake Victoria didn’t exist. It is surrounded by the East African Rift Valley on the east and west sides, with high terrain and a collapsed middle.

Under this terrain, the rivers on the left and right sides of the Great Lake eventually converge into the Great Lake, forming a huge lake basin. The only gap is the Owen Falls in the north, which is the downstream of the White Nile.

With sufficient water sources, the grain production in the Kagera Basin ranks among the top in East Africa.

“The farmland here looks very well-organized, and it’s all paddy fields. The rivers crisscross, and the entire area has dense vegetation. This is rare in other parts of East Africa, and it would be a first-class place even in Europe,” Constantine praised.

This was also his sincere opinion. The rural areas of Kagera City are very different from the rural areas of the eastern coast. Although the coastal plains in the east also have excellent conditions, the water volume is obviously not as abundant as the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) basin.

This can be seen from the crop planting situation in the two places. The crops in the eastern coastal plains are more diverse, with wheat, rice, various fruits and vegetables, sisal, and other crops being planted.

The crops in Kagera City seem a bit monotonous, with large rice fields and windmills. If viewed from a distance, it is very similar to European countries such as the Netherlands, except that the Netherlands is also a high-quality pasture, while Kagera City mainly relies on rice farming. With a dense river network, it is indeed appropriate to describe Kagera City as a “land of fish and rice.”

Moreover, Kagera City is even better in its beautiful scenery. In contrast, the eastern coastal plains have obvious tropical savanna climate characteristics, so they appear very rugged and passionate. This is especially strong in the coastal areas of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo.

The officials of Kagera City gladly accepted Constantine’s praise in their hearts, because Kagera City, as an important area to ensure East African food security, has indeed made outstanding contributions.

“Your Majesty, Kagera City’s achievements today are inseparable from the strong support and correct guidance of the central government. For example, the national water conservancy construction has greatly accelerated the agricultural development of our Kagera City. Before this, the utilization rate of arable land in Kagera City was less than thirty percent. With the great help of national water conservancy construction, the utilization rate of arable land in our city has reached more than seventy percent.”

“Agricultural development in Kagera City is not easier than in other regions, so early agricultural development in the grasslands was much faster than in the Great Lakes region. In the Great Lakes region, especially in our Kagera City, due to terrain and rivers, drainage is not smooth, and swamps and wetlands are widely distributed, so early development can be said to be very difficult.”

“Later, with the theoretical support of technicians, we managed the wetlands in the entire area, dredged the water systems in the swampy areas, opened up channels for the water stored in the wetlands to flow into the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), or built drainage channels and windmills, and other measures to improve most of the wetlands and turn them into rice fields suitable for cultivation.”

“At the same time, under the general background of national water conservancy construction, we comprehensively managed the large rivers and lakes within the territory, and enhanced the ability of the lakes within the territory to regulate rivers and climate.”

“This has also enhanced the traffic capacity of the rivers. For example, the Kagera River originally had a traffic capacity of less than one hundred kilometers, but now it can reach two hundred kilometers, all the way to Muinga City in the upper reaches. At the same time, the Kagera River system has also become the most important transportation channel in our Kagera City. It enters the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) in Kagera City, and through the Great Lake shipping, it is transferred to Kisumu City to supply the northern industrial belt, exported from Mombasa City, or landed in Mwanza City, transferred to Dodoma, and finally merged into the central railway trunk line to support the grain supply in the developed areas along the railway.”

In fact, there is also a railway connection from Mwanza City to Kagera City, which is part of the branch line from the central railway Dodoma to Bujumbura, but railway transportation is ultimately inferior to water transportation.

After listening to the Kagera Municipal Government, Constantine roughly understood the development of Kagera City in recent years. He said, “Kagera City is a major agricultural city, and it is indeed somewhat different from the industrial centers or comprehensive cities in East Africa. After all, now is the era of industrialization, but industry is built on the basis of great agricultural development. Kagera City, as a port city, should give full play to its advantages and contribute to ensuring East African food security and grain exports.”

The officials of Kagera City assured, “Your Majesty, we will certainly live up to expectations, but as grain production increases year by year, our shortcomings are also very obvious, that is, the shortage of grain processing machinery and the lack of related factories. After the harvest, most of the grain can only be transported to Mwanza City and Kisumu City for processing.”

A skilled woman cannot weave without rice. Simply developing agriculture will definitely not have a clear future for Kagera City. Comprehensive cities like Mombasa and Dar es Salaam are the goals of almost all cities in East Africa.

Of course, the Kagera Municipal Government is also quite self-aware. Kagera City does have a port, but this port is only a port on the Great Lake, not a seaport, which greatly reduces its value.

Then there are resources. So far, Kagera City has not discovered any special resources. The main task of agriculture limits its geological surveys and other activities. After all, as East Africa’s grain production base, the main task is still to focus on grain planting.

As for resources, other regions of East Africa, especially the three central provinces, are very rich, while the Great Lakes region obviously does not have this condition, and the task of developing industry is not assigned to Kagera City either.

Therefore, the Kagera Municipal Government took advantage of Constantine’s tour to actively raise difficulties, the most important of which is to set up a set of related agricultural food processing industries in Kagera City.

Chapter 675: Water-Rail Intermodal Transport

Constantine naturally understood the Kagera city officials’ little thoughts, but he didn’t speak up, because now he had completely relinquished political affairs, and it was better to leave this kind of thing to his son to worry about.

Constantine’s assistant interrupted at the appropriate time, “Regarding these issues, I will make relevant records and report them to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. However, you shouldn’t have too high hopes, because many places in East Africa are the same as Kagera city, even in the Central Province there are many cities in line.”

The number of industrial cities in East Africa is very limited, and agricultural cities can’t even get a number in the queue, so many agricultural cities need machines and have to wait in line.

But whether there are dates or not, take a shot anyway, what if it works out? After all, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can’t possibly turn a blind eye to the demands of the local areas, right!

“We in Kagera city also know the country’s difficulties right now, so we were wondering if we could order relevant equipment from overseas. However, there is no precedent for this in East Africa, so we have no choice but to ask,” said the mayor of Kagera city.

East Africa’s industrial production capacity is limited, so they can turn their attention to European and American countries, especially Germany and Austria, which are both good in the field of agricultural product processing machinery.

“Is your city’s finances sufficient?”

As an agricultural city, Kagera city’s finances should not be very abundant, if following general logic.

However, the Great Lakes region, as an early key development area in East Africa, has an advantage in one data point compared to other parts of East Africa, and that is its large population.

The entire Great Lakes region, just the West Great Lakes Province and the North Great Lakes Province, has a population of over three million (not counting blacks), so in terms of population density, the Great Lakes region is fully comparable to the eastern coastal plains.

And with a large population, even if the per capita output value is low, it can accumulate a relatively considerable figure, so although it is an agricultural city, and a prefecture-level city mainly focused on grain cultivation, Kagera city’s fiscal revenue is higher than some ordinary industrial cities.

“In previous years, our city was indeed under financial strain due to the construction of water conservancy projects, but now the project is in its final stages, so from next year, we can use more funds to develop other industries.”

Because the Great Lakes region is an important grain production base in East Africa, the construction of water conservancy projects in this area also started the earliest. In addition, East Africa has been transforming the local environment, so the construction of water conservancy projects in Kagera city is now nearing completion.

And at the same time as the project is completed, Kagera city’s agriculture has already reaped the benefits several years ago, the most direct being the newly opened tracts of farmland.

Currently, international grain prices remain at a low level, but they are better than in the nineteen seventies. Grain prices had already rebounded at the end of the nineteen seventies.

On the one hand, the United States, Tsarist Russia and other countries reduced production, and on the other hand, East Africa’s domestic construction and population growth digested a large part of it.

However, the biggest loser from the sharp drop in grain prices was not these major grain exporting countries, but the Far East Empire thousands of miles away.

Coinciding with the time of the last economic crisis, the northern part of the Far East Empire also suffered a major disaster, with drought and famine affecting thirteen provinces and millions of people.

Although the losses were heavy, the situation in the Far East Empire in this timeline is still better, because East Africa previously absorbed a large number of people, and the disaster did not reach the tens of millions level as in the previous life.

And this famine that swept across the northern part of the Far East Empire also contributed to East Africa’s record high grain exports to the Far East Empire in the nineteen seventies, barely recovering some costs in the era of agricultural crisis.

Because of the Huaihai Economic Zone, the Far East Empire has developed some industries and minerals in the north, which naturally benefited East Africa, in reality, just some coal mines and textiles.

More importantly, there were loan businesses, but only within the Huaihai Economic Zone. After all, unlike armed colonization, East Africa has less say in front of the Far East Empire than countries like Britain and France.

“Starting five years ago, many places in East Africa have begun to transform into planting cash crops, and food crops are more concentrated in several important grain production bases. Our Kagera city is expanding its farmland area under this general background.”

East African agricultural production is becoming more and more standardized, and at the same time, various places are planting suitable crops in a more localized manner, and the rice planting area in the Great Lakes region is even further ahead of the eastern coastal plains, which also means that the future development of the region is limited.

Growing grain is a relatively unpromising career, and this will increasingly become a consensus. However, the future development of the Great Lakes region should not be too bad. Although Kagera’s resources are not abundant, the resource potential of the two Great Lakes provinces is very considerable, especially the western region near the Black Forest Province.

……

Bujumbura, capital of West Great Lakes Province.

After leaving Kagera city, Constantine’s next stop was Bujumbura. As the provincial capital, Bujumbura’s location relative to the entire West Great Lakes Province is relatively remote, directly in the southwest of West Great Lakes Province.

However, there is a reason for choosing this place as the capital of West Great Lakes Province, which can be seen from the name of West Great Lakes Province.

The name of West Great Lakes Province naturally means west of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), but Bujumbura belongs to the Lake Sorel (Lake Tanganyika) basin.

East Africa’s three major lakes, namely the Great Lake, Lake Sorel, and Lake Malawi, don’t look far apart on the map, distributed from north to south in order.

At this distance, the East African government naturally considered the idea of opening up shipping between the three major lakes. In fact, by building canals to connect the rivers in the three major lake basins, this idea has a certain possibility.

However, this is impossible for East Africa at the moment, mainly due to technical and economic efficiency issues.

For example, the Great Lake and Lake Sorel, which are most likely to achieve this, the largest water source of the Great Lake, the Kagera River, has navigable waterways less than seventy kilometers away from Lake Sorel.

And replacing this plan is the Mbu Railway (Mwanza to Bujumbura).

“The Mbu Railway passes through the Kagera River, and the upstream navigation capacity of the Kagera River is too poor, mainly with mountainous and hilly terrain. This is almost a common feature of East Africa’s major rivers, so considering various factors, we can only choose the water-rail intermodal transport method to open up the cargo transportation problem from Lake Sorel to the Great Lake.”

“This is not just our West Great Lakes Province’s own problem, but also involves the transportation problem between the Northern Industrial Belt and the Central Three Provinces.”

“The shortest distance from the Central Three Provinces to the Northern Industrial Belt is obviously a diagonal line on the map, but this diagonal line passes through mountains, rivers, and most importantly, through Lake Sorel and the Great Lake.”

“We know that the depth of Lake Sorel reaches hundreds of meters, which means that it is impossible to cross it by bridges or other means. Even if technology develops, it will not be possible to do this within the next hundred years. The area of the Great Lake is too large, and it is even more impossible to build a large bridge. That kind of engineering workload, if placed in Europe, would directly cross borders, it is better to build a long road along the shore of the lake.”

“That is essentially a detour, so the final solution is still inseparable from water transportation, which is also the goal that our Bujumbura city is striving for, to become a bridge between the Lake Sorel coastal economic circle and the future Great Lake coastal economic circle.”

“Now we have completed the initial goal, which is to set up a station upstream of the Kagera River waterway, so that in just half an hour, the goods from Bujumbura can pass through the Mbu Railway, transfer to our province’s water transportation, and finally arrive at Kisumu city. And we cannot complete this transportation line alone. The best way is to form a city similar to our Bujumbura on the southern shore of Lake Sorel to connect the Central Three Provinces.”

In this regard, East Africa is much less lucky than the United States. The area around the Great Lakes of the United States is a plain, while the terrain in the middle of the three Great Lakes of East Africa is much more complex, making it impossible for East Africa’s shipping to be connected into a network.

Chapter 676: Motorcycle

Jiaozhou Port.

A commodities fair was being held locally. The current Jiaozhou Port had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to its former self.

As an interactive center for trade between the three countries of Eastern Africa, Germany, and Austria, and the Far East, Jiaozhou was developing rapidly. Its population had reached around 300,000, and this only referred to the urban population. At the same time, Jinan’s population was only over 200,000.

Jiaozhou had also become a place where high-ranking officials, wealthy dignitaries, and merchants gathered, becoming one of the important large cities in the northern region. Within the Huaihai Economic Zone, it was second only to Kaifeng in population, but its economy was clearly stronger.

The concentration of population also cultivated a certain market in Jiaozhou. The first batch of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles exported from East Africa to the Far East Empire also landed here, but the number was not large, only five in total.

With the operator’s demonstration, this bulky “bicycle” ran on the already hardened streets of Jiaozhou city.

“This is a motorcycle, a high-end product imported from East Africa. Just look at those two wheels and it can run. The principle is similar to a bicycle, except it can provide its own power.”

“Why is this car called a motorcycle?”

“Because East Africa is also a German-speaking country, ‘motor’ is an abbreviation for a two-wheeled machine in German, so it has this name.”

Although the invention of the motorcycle changed from Germany to East Africa, East Africa was still a German-speaking country, so the word “motorcycle” did not change. Moreover, the word “motorcycle” didn’t sound like a local product. Following the trend of this era, coupled with this cyberpunk shape, it was easy to associate it with the invention of Westerners.

The inventor of the motorcycle was a relatively unknown figure in the original history, Lin Leidon, who was cultivated under the Hecchingen education system. When Ernst was still in Europe, he arranged for many graduates of Hecchingen schools to study technology and management with the big shots under the Hecchingen Consortium.

Lin Leidon was Benz’s assistant, and at that time, Benz was still Lenoir’s assistant. Later, after Benz independently became the manager of the Berlin branch of Hecchingen Energy and Power Company, he was mainly responsible for the miniaturization of internal combustion engines and vehicle application research. Lin Leidon continued to study with Benz, and the motorcycle was a project that Benz handed over to him to complete independently.

There were many people like Lin Leidon, such as the Mauser brothers, Lenoir, Linde, and so on. The technicians and managers who served the Hecchingen royal family all had several East African apprentices. This was the so-called “first come, first served” advantage.

Moreover, the talent cultivated in this way had a higher success rate than sending students to study abroad from East Africa, because overseas students were more proficient in theoretical learning and research, and had fewer practical opportunities.

East Africa tried every means to let them participate in work in Europe, so that they could truly grow, but East Africa’s influence was obviously not that great. After all, there is a saying that “teaching an apprentice starves the master,” and all traditional industries or fields are monopolized.

At present, the relationship between East Africa and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is the best, and East African students mainly go to work in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Especially in the government agencies or military of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, after consultations between the two royal families, many East African young people can enter to learn experience, especially in the Austro-Hungarian Navy and foreign affairs departments.

Currently, the number of East Africans in the Austro-Hungarian Navy has reached more than 300, which can be said to be hand-in-hand teaching.

Because the Austro-Hungarian Navy’s status in the country was not as good as the army, Austria was open to its ally East Africa in this field.

As for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of East African graduates has also reached a scale of more than 30, mainly to assist Austrian diplomats.

Diplomacy is based on national strength, but from its own point of view, there are many twists and turns in it, including various etiquettes, knowledge, culture, and interpersonal relationships… So this is a very deep knowledge.

In fact, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes these East African interns who do not need to be paid. It is not common to have such a good thing to work without getting paid, and they can also slack off, which has played a huge role in the training of future East African diplomats.

“This car is just a steam engine added to a bicycle! Look at the black smoke, I’ve seen it in the textile factory,” someone said.

“You don’t understand this. I heard the East African supervisor say that this is called an internal combustion engine, which is more advanced than a steam engine and can be used to provide power to vehicles. Their East Africa is the first country in the world to produce cars.”

“What is a car?”

“A car is a three-wheeled or four-wheeled carriage. Have you seen the ‘rickshaw’ and ‘three-wheeled motorcycle’ produced in East Africa? It’s the same as this motorcycle. A motorcycle is no different from a bicycle, and a car is adding the so-called internal combustion engine to a ‘three-wheeled motorcycle’. The most powerful one is four-wheeled, with a car cover, which is similar to a sedan chair, but with four wheels, it will run by itself.”

“Wang Er, you’re talking so mysteriously, have you seen it?”

Wang Er said smugly: “That’s natural, isn’t it just a car? Look at this motorcycle, I’ve seen it a long time ago. This is the advantage of being a production team leader.”

“Bullshit! This motorcycle is the first batch to arrive in the Far East. You haven’t been abroad, where did you see it before?” Someone questioned.

“Of course I haven’t seen the real thing, but I’ve seen it in pictures! You people can tell at a glance that you are uneducated. I am already on a different level from you, otherwise how could I be your team leader!” Wang Er said.

“Pictures?”

“Hehe, don’t you know? The Jiaozhou Daily in October last year introduced internal combustion engine cars in detail, with two illustrations. Later, in March of this year, another issue came out, which had this motorcycle,” Wang Er continued, “So I usually tell you to read the newspaper more and go to Chunlan Lane to find girls less.”

“Wang Er, stop talking sarcastic remarks. We are all rough guys who don’t know a single word. Who would read the newspaper? And this newspaper is not free! Only you have a good relationship with the foreign supervisor and can get access to the newspaper, otherwise would you be willing to pay for it?”

“That’s not true. Although this newspaper is not cheap, I am willing to afford it. After all, the information on it is all good stuff. It is because I learned from it that Mr. Herle looked at me differently. He originally recommended me to go to East Africa as an administrator. If I hadn’t been reluctant to leave my family, I would have taken a big ship overseas long ago.”

Immigrating to East Africa is not difficult, but it is difficult to directly become a management position in one step, so Wang Er is not bragging.

“Speaking of which, this motorcycle is so expensive, Wang Er, I wonder if Mr. Hermann can afford it?”

“Probably not. This kind of thing is not for ordinary people to consume at all. Not to mention motorcycles, we have to save money for several years even for bicycles. I heard Mr. Hermann say that this thing is only expected to be bought by wealthy merchants and officials here. Ordinary people can’t afford it at all, and wealthy merchants are not ordinary merchants. Don’t even think about it without strength.”

“One vehicle costs 50,000 Rhine marks. I heard that someone has already ordered them all. This much money can buy a large piece of land and become a landlord directly. There are still many rich people in Jiaozhou.”

“Wealth has nothing to do with us. Moreover, this thing is too precious. Big shots use it to show off. It’s a waste in our hands. And this thing burns black oil, which is said to be not cheap. Ordinary people can’t afford the fuel cost alone.”

Chapter 677: Attempting a Civil Service System

The Jiaozhou Motorcycle Exhibition in East Africa this time was more for marketing and building brand awareness. As for the consumption situation in the Far East Empire, it could only be described as extremely polarized. Fortunately, internal combustion engine vehicles were still high-end luxury goods, so East Africa never considered opening up the mass market.

However, the Far East Empire, with its size, had many wealthy people. In theory, East Africa should concentrate its efforts on markets in Guangdong, Shanghai, or even the capital, Beijing, and Tianjin. But that would only be considering the issue from an economic perspective.

Due to East Africa’s origins as a colony, changing the stereotypical impressions of many countries was also a task East Africa had to undertake.

Countries like the United States and Brazil had hundreds of years of history and were already accepted by the public. In recent years, some people still automatically categorized East Africa as a colony.

This was very bad for East Africa’s national image, and the national image was related to the brand benefits of the market. For example, current British products, regardless of their quality, were considered the best in the eyes of many countries. After all, it was the world’s leading power, so how could its products be bad!

This was the same as the Far East Empire’s products in the previous life being exported and then resold domestically, with prices doubling, and still a large number of people willing to pay. This was also a manifestation of cultural hegemony.

Compared to the five vehicles in the Far East Empire, East Africa’s shipments to Europe and the United States exceeded three hundred, which was a considerable scale. However, there were many European countries, so it was just so-so when spread out.

The reason for East Africa’s high motorcycle production was actually due to the gradual maturity of East Africa’s bicycle industry chain.

For example, the tire specifications of the two were similar, and many factories that produced bicycle parts could process parts for motorcycles.

Moreover, it was more convenient to arm oneself with motorcycles than with cars, which greatly reduced the assembly requirements. However, there was also a big drawback, which was that it placed higher demands on the vehicle’s internal combustion engine.

The internal combustion engine that powered the motorcycle could not be too large, so the motorcycle’s performance was very poor. However, this thing was not a common consumer product now, at most it was an opportunity for the middle class who could not afford a car to consume.

However, when it came to East Africa’s current largest demand, it was still bicycles. With the addition of hollow inflatable tires and the East African government’s investment in recent years, East African citizens had a very strong demand for bicycles.

Mainly targeting government officials, urban residents, and the military, these groups ensured that East Africa’s domestically produced bicycles did not have to worry about sales.

At the same time, overseas market expansion was also very smooth. After all, East Africa was the largest rubber production base, and the biggest limitation on bicycle sales before was tires.

East Africa’s main competitor was the United States. The United States needed to import rubber from Brazil and East Africa, and Brazil did not pay much attention to the rubber industry before, which led to the United States lagging behind East Africa in this field.

After all, the technical threshold for bicycles was low. Even ordinary people could tinker with them by following the instructions, so in the end, it still depended on the cost advantage.

In addition to the price of raw materials, one of the most important means of reducing costs was to expand production capacity. East Africa had started its layout early and invested heavily, so it could eat this dividend.

Germany and Austria were also major bicycle producing countries, but the bicycle industry was basically controlled by the Hechingen Consortium. First, rubber needed to be imported from East Africa, and the relationship between the Hechingen Consortium and East Africa was self-evident. Second, the Hechingen Consortium started early. Bicycles had always been a business of Hechingen Household Goods Company, but the performance of bicycles was terrible at the beginning, and even the healthiest people would feel shaken.

However, when it came to the bicycle industry, the most important thing was the concept of assembly line operation. This was Ernst’s magic weapon for starting his business. The East African bicycle industry realized the division of labor and cooperation within the industry according to this concept, which improved production capacity.

Most importantly, a unified standard was established. Compared with a group of European and American companies and small workshops fighting alone, East African bicycles had their own competitiveness in terms of quality and after-sales service.

Unified standards also meant that quality control was more reliable, and parts could also be provided at Hechingen Household Goods Company or designated after-sales points for easy maintenance.

Moreover, in Ernst’s view, East African bicycles were at their peak from the beginning, and there were basically no major shortcomings. If they wanted to improve further, unless they used something like carbon fiber, but with the current era’s technology, it was obviously impossible.

Of course, aluminum products were also good substitutes, but the current output of aluminum was still limited, and the price was not affordable for ordinary people. Moreover, ordinary people needed bicycles to work, and the requirements for load-bearing were very high. It was not just a simple means of transportation, so iron frames would still be the mainstream.

In short, East Africa had gained a firm foothold in this industry, and at the same time, it had driven the operation of hundreds of factories in East Africa.

Some of these parts factories could provide parts for carriages, motorcycles, and even cars, forming an interaction between industries.

……

“Your Royal Highness, according to your request, and in view of the needs of the national situation, we will officially implement the civil service examination nationwide next year.”

After more than twenty years of development, the number of middle school students in East Africa had finally reached a certain base, which corresponded to the East African baby boom.

Therefore, government reforms must also adapt to the development of the times. For example, the selection method of government officials was one of the key points.

“This civil service examination should be promoted steadily. You can’t get fat in one bite, and we must take care of the emotions of many officials in the current government. National modernization is the general trend, so East Africa must also follow this trend.”

Although the scope of this examination was said to be nationwide, more accurately, it was mainly the eastern region, because the eastern region started earlier, and the construction of the education system was earlier and more complete.

For example, in the central and western regions, many have not yet fully popularized compulsory primary education. After all, East Africa has not ruled for ten years, and immigration also takes time, so they will not enjoy the benefits of this civil service examination.

However, even in the east, the competition will be very fierce. After all, the government was implementing it for the first time, and it was in the testing stage, so the opening could not be too large.

Many officials in East Africa entered the government through the military system, the Hechingen Consortium, or by appointment. It was necessary to give many government personnel a buffer time.

The United Kingdom implemented the civil service system as early as ten years ago, and most of its admissions were based on universities. East Africa still had a long way to go in higher education, so it could only lower the standards and take middle school graduation as the minimum threshold.

“This examination should fully draw on the experience of the United Kingdom and the Far East Empire to select a group of knowledgeable civil servants who can adapt to the times. In the past, East Africa had no foundation, so many officials were not qualified to perform government functions, especially during the important period when the country began to transition to industrialization. We need more talented people with culture.” Ernst set the tone.

The older generation of East African officials, including King Constantine, actually did not have a sufficient understanding of industry, and lacked relevant knowledge.

If you talked to Constantine about art, religion, and military affairs, he would definitely be knowledgeable, but talking about industry was really not his forte. Of course, even in European universities, liberal arts were still the social mainstream.

Graduation from East African middle school was the same as graduation from high school in other countries. They had received ten years of compulsory education, and even if they were not proficient in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, they at least had some understanding.

This was closely related to East Africa’s national conditions of transitioning to an industrial society. It needed more knowledgeable young people to join East Africa’s national governance.

Of course, there were also many limiting factors. For example, only more than one hundred people were admitted. After all, the steps could not be too big, so the results could not be seen in the short term, but it was also possible to correct the problems encountered in time to avoid irreversible disasters.

Chapter 678: “Democratic” East Africa

East Africa can now arrange the “Imperial Examination” system with relative ease. After all, there’s the British Civil Service system as a precedent, and it’s been over a decade. All the potential pitfalls have already been navigated, so East Africa only needs to identify and fill any gaps.

For East Africa, the selection of talent should have changed a long time ago, especially since the army and navy haven’t fought any major battles in recent years, and the military promotion model has also been greatly weakened.

…

“Currently, the Japanese are making a lot of noise about leaving Asia and joining Europe. Hmph, they really don’t know what they’re talking about.”

The Japanese theory of leaving Asia and joining Europe was officially proposed in March of this year and quickly caused a major discussion in Japan.

However, East Africa can’t even shake off its “African” identity, so Japan’s so-called leaving Asia and joining Europe seems even more ridiculous in East African eyes.

After all, although East Africa is a mix, at least half of the people truly have European blood, while Japan is just being a complete lapdog. But the Japanese have always been crazy, especially when it comes to admiring the strong, which is why they later recognized the United States as their new father.

As for East African public sentiment, the majority probably feels similar to the Japanese, but Ernst doesn’t think so, because the European filter is currently at its strongest. Almost the whole world wants to be part of the “civilized world.”

Of course, it’s undeniable that the whole world must now learn Western industrialization, or it will inevitably be abandoned by the times.

At the time, industrialization was the general trend, and Europe was just the first to enter this stage. In his previous life, Europe even engaged in deindustrialization, which was another stage, but overall, it was a choice for the country.

East Africa can’t completely Westernize like Japan, because East Africa has taken a different path from the beginning, mixing various systems.

However, overall, it’s characterized by centralization. As a result, the entire East African political, economic, and military work revolves around this. After all, East Africa, which has embarked on a semi-planned economy, is very much in line with the needs of East Africa’s national conditions, and this will become the norm.

Ernst likes to connect his thinking to reality, such as the national development model, which is like different personalities’ attitudes towards life. Some people like to live freely, some like to take things as they come, and some like to be self-disciplined and introspective.

In the future, countries will have only two attitudes towards the economy: market and planning. This is like a person’s life. Ernst definitely prefers a life with his own life plan. Of course, this plan must be made by himself. Being forced to do it by others is naturally very bad.

East Africa is currently in a state of making its own decisions, but it’s only limited to the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen making the decisions. The people of East Africa prefer to take things as they come.

This is also why East Africa’s democratization process is relatively slow. Democratization is a trend of the times, but how to democratize requires specific analysis of specific problems.

At least in Ernst’s view, democracy has always been limited. Like the two major “democratic” representatives in his previous life, the United States and the Soviet Union, both claimed to be democratic countries.

However, who is the “people” needs to be carefully discussed. This has not changed since the era of slave society. The “people” are very narrow. At least the tens of millions of homeless people in the United States are definitely not the “people,” and it goes without saying who the masters of the United States are.

East Africa is naturally the same. Currently, the East African “people” have not yet been finalized, but it is certain that the biggest “people” are the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Therefore, Ernst believes that he is very “democratic,” because his decisions represent the basic demands of most East African people.

In reality, this is also the case, because most East African people are docile. Although East Africa is not considered progressive, it can truly solve the basic problem of food and clothing for them in the 19th century, and this is the foundation for East Africa to remain stable in the next two or three decades.

Unless the first generation of East African immigrants completely dies out, there will always be people who remember the “benevolence” of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen towards them.

And East Africa is still immigrating to this day, so this time will last a long time. In other words, there will be no problem for East Africa to remain stable for forty or fifty years.

Of course, as a good young man who was once influenced by nine years of compulsory education, Ernst wouldn’t hold onto the power of East Africa forever. This is also a direction for East Africa’s future deepening of reforms.

This is irreversible, because industrialization will also change the overall structure of society. The top-level design must conform to this trend and be mutually compatible with East Africa’s national economy. Royal families that are reluctant to let go of power will not have a good ending in the end.

Throughout 1885, the international situation actually did not change much, and this stability will continue until the turn of the century.

However, East Africa’s situation will instead fall into a more dangerous situation. The main danger is the several ticking time bombs in southern East Africa. Ernst’s designed time to defuse the bombs is the early 1890s, completely resolving the external threats in southern East Africa.

Britain, Portugal, the Transvaal Boers, and East Africa are all preparing for this. However, compared to East Africa, it is not known which force will ultimately trigger the conflict first.

This can be compared to World War I. The Balkan Peninsula was a trigger. After the powder keg was detonated in Serbia, countries all entered the fray.

Regarding the South African issue, whether it is Portugal, the Transvaal Boers, or Britain, if any one force fires the first shot, the other two forces cannot stand idly by.

Because East Africa’s “truth” is on top of their heads. Facing East Africa, a common enemy, if the other three forces do not unite, they can only be defeated by East Africa one by one, and finally be eaten clean.

And Ernst also thinks so, and Ernst’s idea is to solve the problem once and for all.

“Once the time passes 1885, we must face the national security issues in southern East Africa. East Africa’s two economic centers are under the threat of external forces. If we allow the southern enemies to collude, and with the advancement of East Africa’s industrialization, if this problem is not solved, then we should not fantasize about being able to develop wholeheartedly in the future.”

The two centers refer to the east and the center. The center is actually also a border, but it directly faces the Portuguese. The east faces the British in the Indian Ocean.

The first thing Ernst wants to solve is the security problem in the center, and completely control the eastern coastal area. The Portuguese colony of Mozambique is like a sharp knife, inserted in the center, dividing East Africa’s eastern territory into two.

Of course, this is definitely wronging the Portuguese, because the Portuguese are passive. If East Africa had not expanded south, then this situation would not exist. But a man is not guilty, but he is condemned for possessing treasure.

After removing the nail in Mozambique, East Africa can also start considering the “relocation of the capital.” The main factors that have been hindering East Africa’s relocation of the capital are two: one is the development of the central provinces, and the other is security.

Currently, the development of the central provinces has been effective, but there is still a certain gap compared to the east. This is the advantage of being the first to develop, and relocating the capital is one of the best ways to eliminate this advantage.

As for the security issue, it is Mozambique in the east of Matabeleland Province. The Portuguese’s combat effectiveness is naturally questionable, but those who land from Mozambique may not be Portuguese.

Chapter 679: Belgian Congo

East Africa doesn’t have many neighboring countries, and the Belgian Congo is a relatively friendly one. After all, Belgium is only a small country compared to East Africa, and its colonial strength in Africa is even weaker. They even have some kinship.

Actually, Portugal and the Hechingen royal family can also claim kinship, but you have to go back two generations, related to the grandfather’s uncle. After the former Queen of Portugal died, there was basically no contact, which is why East Africa doesn’t hesitate to beat up Portugal.

If a conflict were to occur between East Africa and Belgium, they would definitely negotiate first. After all, King Leopold II of Belgium is Karina’s maternal grandfather, making the relationship much closer.

In 1885, Belgium was also a “big” winner in colonization. Taking advantage of the Berlin Conference, it completely secured the “legality” of its colonization of the Belgian Congo, which was recognized by various countries.

After reaching a consensus among various countries, especially France, East Africa, and Portugal, the Belgian Congo was located north of the Portuguese colony of Angola, west of East Africa’s East Azande Province, and south and east of the French colony of Gabon. The total area reached 260,000 square kilometers. Like its previous life, the Belgian Congo was a natural buffer zone.

Of course, compared to the Belgian Congo of its previous life, the area has shrunk tenfold, after all, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has an area of more than 2 million square kilometers.

However, it is unknown whether this is a gain or a loss for Belgium. The economic situation of the Republic of the Congo in its previous life was much better than that of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Belgian Congo’s buffer targets were East Africa, Portugal, and France. None of the three wanted to be directly adjacent to each other. East Africa and Portugal were alright, it was already a settled score. France was different. East Africa and Portugal were both wary of France. France didn’t have any designs on Portugal itself, but the colonial government might.

Colonial governments generally have greater autonomy. After all, “a general in the field may disobey some commands.” They can act first and report later. Many great powers have unknowingly expanded their territories passively.

This does not include East Africa. After East Africa was founded, all administrative, military, and financial powers were centralized. Any action needs to be reported to the central government, so East Africa’s territorial expansion is all planned and promoted by the central government.

The advantage of this is that East Africa can save costs and concentrate resources and power to achieve dimensional reduction strikes against indigenous countries.

Don’t underestimate the natives just because they are backward. Even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone strong black people.

A characteristic of a colony is that a few suzerain states rule over the majority of natives, and the number of troops in the suzerain states is very small. Some colonies may only have a few hundred armed forces.

Black people number in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions. Even ten thousand pigs would be difficult to control with just a few hundred people.

Therefore, colonization is by no means an easy task, and the number of colonial troops cannot be too large. After all, many colonies are not wealthy, and sending too many troops will not even recoup the costs.

This is the case with Belgium’s Congo colony. Currently, the number of soldiers in the Belgian Congo colony is only more than two thousand.

In its previous life, the territory of the Belgian Congo was all within the current East Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). East Africa even has a portion of the territory that belonged to French Congo in its previous life, mainly on the left bank of the Ubangi River, distributed along the Ubangi River and the lower Congo River in a narrow strip.

The smaller territory also means a smaller population, but the population density is much higher than that of the Belgian Congo in its previous life. After all, the population of the Congo rainforest cannot be compared with that of the western coastal areas.

In essence, the current Belgian Congo is the French Congo of its previous life, the later Republic of the Congo (with Brazzaville as its capital).

Of course, the capital of the Belgian Congo is not in Brazzaville, but in the Atlantic coastal city of Pointe-Noire.

Pointe-Noire means “black point.” In 1484, when Portuguese navigators passed through this place, they saw the black rocks of the cape, so they gave the area this name.

At the same time, because of this prominent feature, Pointe-Noire is an important navigational coordinate on the West African coastal route, and like the Skeleton Coast, it has a distinct regional character.

As Belgium’s only colony, Pointe-Noire, the capital of the Belgian Congo, is also its most densely populated area, reaching more than two thousand people, of which more than one thousand are Chinese.

The reason why there are so many Chinese in Pointe-Noire is mainly due to the fact that too few people from Belgium itself colonized Africa. After all, Belgium is relatively wealthy, and there are options such as the Netherlands and France nearby, so going to Africa to make a living in a harsh environment is really unthinkable.

“The Belgian Congo is different from East Africa. White people are white people, yellow people are yellow people, and black people are black people, forming a complete hierarchy. However, because of East Africa, the yellow people here still have some status. As for the black people, they are much more miserable. According to our rough statistics, in the few years of Belgian colonization, the number of black people has decreased by at least tens of thousands, especially in Pointe-Noire, we can see many black people with missing limbs,” said Kairos, the East African consul in the Belgian Congo, to his subordinate, Val.

East Africa naturally has direct contact with the Belgian Congo government, and has permanent staff stationed there, mainly responsible for trade in East Azande Province and the Congo rainforest area, and the Danube Province.

These three provinces and regions are very close to the Atlantic Ocean, and there is no railway connecting to the east, so most of the freight needs to go through Belgium. As for Portugal, there is naturally nothing to talk about.

Belgium can’t afford to not give the yellow people some status, because East Africa is right next door, and East Africa has deployed an entire division of troops near the Belgian Congo, centered on Bangui. Half of the East African army is composed of Chinese.

Every day, the East African army patrols along the Ubangi River, so it poses a great deterrent to the surrounding forces, and the Belgian Congo is one of them.

“Of course, the status of yellow people in the Belgian Congo is not too high. It’s easy to understand them as the Indian auxiliary troops outside of India in the British system,” Kairos said.

Even so, Belgium’s attitude towards Chinese immigrants is much better than in its previous life. In its previous life, Belgium had introduced Chinese from the Far East Empire, and their treatment was basically no different from that of the local black people.

Of course, this was not authorized by East Africa, but was a spontaneous act by Belgium. After all, East Africa is not a saint, and unless they are its own citizens, it will not have special feelings for Chinese in other regions.

The reason why the anti-Chinese behavior in the United States provoked East Africa’s dissatisfaction was essentially because its laws extended to East African Chinese. East African Chinese have East African nationality, so East Africa naturally cannot sit idly by.

“Mr. Kairos, how is this related to our usual work?” Val asked.

“It’s not very relevant. As I said before, East Africa only has Germans, there is no such thing as dividing people according to skin color. We only talk about nationality and safeguard the interests of East African citizens, that is, the interests of nationals with East African identity in the Belgian Congo, including overseas companies, Hechingen Consortium employees, and even East African Defense Force soldiers, etc.,” Kairos emphasized.

Val was somewhat critical in his heart. It sounds good to say that people are not divided according to skin color, but in fact, East Africans all know that the country’s attitude towards black people is different. However, given the decreasing number of black people in East Africa, there will be no place for black people in East Africa in the future, so it makes sense to say so, but this requires a transition period of twenty to thirty years.

Chapter 680: Buffer Zone

Kairos said, “The location of the Belgian Congo is actually very important. In Europe, it would be like Luxembourg or Belgium. If war breaks out between Germany and France, these two countries would be in a dangerous situation. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a strategically vital area. Moreover, we have a very good relationship with Belgium, so we must always pay attention to the Belgian Congo and pass on information that benefits East Africa to East Africa.”

If a major war breaks out between Germany and France, it will inevitably involve Belgium and Luxembourg on the German-French border, so both countries are trying to win them over.

And they are very clear-headed, almost never taking sides between Germany and France, especially Belgium, whose population is divided into two major groups: German-speaking and French-speaking.

For example, Renoir, who works for the Hechingen Consortium, was originally French in the original timeline, but in reality, he was born in the Belgian territory within the borders of Luxembourg in his previous life, so he is essentially half-German. This is one of the reasons why the Hechingen Consortium was able to easily invite him to work in Germany.

Leopold II himself was also a master of balance, maneuvering between Germany and France without ever falling over, and reaping a lot of benefits. This is one of the reasons why the Belgian Congo was able to be established. At the Berlin Conference, the two major powers gave Belgium face, and East Africa and Portugal did not object either, so the Belgian colony can be said to have the strongest legitimacy in Africa.

“The Belgian Congo is, after all, a colony, and it is very different from East Africa, especially since Leopold II’s rule can be said to be quite brutal. This is especially evident in his attitude towards black people, so when you see it usually, don’t try to be a knight in shining armor,” Kairos reminded Wahl, his new colleague.

“Mr. Kairos, I’m not some bleeding heart. I know that East Africa’s national interests are what we should be upholding. As for the mess in the Belgian Congo, I won’t go around gossiping even if I see it,” Wahl stated.

“It’s best if you think that way. In fact, many young people nowadays, because they have experienced too little, forget the foundation upon which East Africa was built, which was never kindness or compassion. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to gain a foothold on the African continent. So I was originally a little worried about you, but now it seems that you are indeed different from ordinary people,” Kairos praised.

Wahl scoffed at this. Although he received ten years of compulsory education in his homeland, his family was not comparable to those later immigrants. His parents arrived in East Africa in 1868, when he was already seven years old, and lived in East Africa with his parents after sailing across the ocean from the Far East Empire.

And he caught up with a good time and became one of the first batch of primary school students to receive compulsory education in East Africa.

So he still has many remnants of the founding process of East Africa, and even memories of living in the Far East Empire, but through sporadic pictures and his parents’ narration, he knows the difficulties of living in the past.

Moreover, he experienced the entire process of slavery in East Africa. After all, East Africa used a large number of black slaves in the early days. At that time, East Africa could not afford cattle and horses, so black people had to bear most of the labor force.

And Wahl’s family was assigned several slaves to use, which was later resolved due to the de-Africanization of the eastern region and the improvement of the performance of East African production tools and the great development of animal husbandry.

Therefore, Wahl not only does not sympathize with black people, but even believes that enslaving black people like Belgium is a matter of course. This is related to his past living environment.

Just like in central and western East Africa now, many plantations and farms are still using a large number of black slaves. Before finding a replacement, they absolutely support the continued use of black slaves.

In fact, most people in the eastern region, which has already abolished the slave system, probably think the same way, and they even want to return to the era of slavery.

Although cattle and horses now have greater power, black slaves can complete many tasks, especially for agricultural maintenance and labor, black slaves have unparalleled advantages.

For example, in cotton planting, when the cotton harvest season comes, cattle and horses do not have the ability to pick cotton, but it is easy for black people to do it.

However, East Africa is following the trend of the times. The slave system is ultimately a backward and cruel system and is destined to be abandoned by the times. Moreover, East Africa has been criticized by abolitionists represented by the do-gooders of Britain and France.

Of course, from Ernst’s point of view, he is more afraid of being retaliated against by colonialism, so in order to solve the problem once and for all, he must make these “victims” disappear completely from the land of East Africa.

Wahl: “Mr. Kairos, you said earlier that the Belgian Congo is as important as Belgium itself in Europe. Does East Africa also have this idea, to get something from Belgium?”

Kairos: “It’s pretty much the same idea. As everyone knows, the hatred between us and Portugal cannot be erased. With such an enemy existing and blocking many of our country’s outlets to the two oceans, there will inevitably be a war between us and Portugal. And war is a superposition of multiple factors. A strategically important location like the Belgian Congo is naturally also within the attention of the East African military.”

Kairos frankly explained this to Wahl. After all, his future work will inevitably involve dealing with East Africa’s intelligence department and the military, so it is necessary to understand some of the work content in advance.

After all, Kairos is the East African consul in the Belgian Congo and belongs to the diplomatic staff, while Wahl is his assistant. In this case, there are still quite a few tasks.

Wahl: “Does the military want to attack Portugal by detouring?”

Kairos: “I didn’t say that. After all, our East Africa loves peace very much now. All parts of the country are busy with construction and have no intention of external expansion.”

In fact, East Africa has not been at war in recent years, and it has indeed been much more honest. After all, large-scale wars will greatly occupy the government’s energy and hinder national development. As for small-scale wars, that is not necessarily the case. The army can be honed at any time to ensure the military’s military level.

East Africa has also had fewer small-scale wars in recent years. The military is more involved in suppressing slave riots and cleaning up wild animals.

Kairos continued, “Some things are better understood than explained. Moreover, the Belgian Congo is a buffer zone. This is a neutral zone that has been tacitly approved by all countries at the Berlin Conference, so our East Africa will not easily take the Belgian Congo’s idea until the last moment.”

As for the last moment, it naturally refers to when the war situation is unfavorable, and East Africa has to take various means to ensure victory on the battlefield, including borrowing a road from the Belgian Congo and attacking Angola from the rear.

However, this situation is generally difficult to happen. At least most East Africans think so, because East Africa has defeated Portugal once and has a vivid memory of the Portuguese’s combat effectiveness, so there is a psychological advantage.

And the East African military naturally has this mentality, but as a national weapon, the army cannot act rashly, and the plans that should be made must be considered.

And the armies of various countries will increase the data of the enemy to the greatest extent. Just like many countries in the previous life took the United States and Russia as imaginary enemies, they wished that the US military would all drive Gundams in simulations, and then confront this unrealistic army in extreme environments.

When the East African General Staff Department is deducing the war, it will also consider the factors in case the front line is lost. After all, Portugal has the support of the British, and Portugal itself has some capabilities. What if it is really supported by the British!

As for the capabilities of the British Army, its scale is indeed not as good as Germany and France, but its individual quality is also firmly in the top five, at least stronger than Tsarist Russia.

Chapter 681: Kinshasa

“The Congo River basin’s only drawback is navigation, which terminates at Kinshasa. Kinshasa is currently the only city on the Congo River with the potential to rival Kisangani. However, all of this is contingent on access to the sea. Without a sea outlet, Kinshasa is just a dead-end port, only useful for East Africa itself. Its freight volume doesn’t even compare to the importance of the Ubangi River to East Africa.”

In the original history, it wasn’t until 1881 that the colonial explorer Stanley arrived in Kinshasa, which was then just scattered villages inhabited by a few thousand Black people.

East Africa seized Kinshasa three years earlier. Currently, Kinshasa’s population is only a little over three thousand, because East Africa doesn’t include the local Black population in its count.

“The Congo River basin, excluding Hessen Province and a few provinces in the highlands, has extremely low economic value. Its most abundant resource is timber, but timber cannot be exported, which basically makes it worthless. Therefore, the Congo River basin essentially produces nothing.”

“At the same time, even if we open up a passage to the Atlantic Ocean and seize a sea outlet from the Portuguese, Kinshasa will still be hindered by the waterfalls downstream. So, if we want to connect the Congo River basin to the Atlantic, we basically have two options: build a railway to achieve combined water and rail transport, or build a canal.”

Building a canal through sheer manpower is highly feasible. While East Africa’s Black population is still somewhat useful, building a hundred-kilometer canal could bypass the downstream waterfalls.

The main challenge is overcoming the terrain to slow down the river’s descent. Moreover, East Africa’s dynamite production is now considerable, so we don’t need to rely solely on manpower to solve all the problems.

However, this plan also requires an astronomical number of laborers, which East Africa’s current western development trend simply cannot support. Most importantly, the downstream area is still controlled by Portugal. If we don’t resolve the Portuguese issue, everything is just a pipe dream.

“Kinshasa’s residents are, to a certain extent, military personnel, followed by those engaged in export trade to downstream areas, including daily necessities and medicines. In other aspects, they are mostly in competition. For example, the vast timber resources are something that even the eastern grasslands of East Africa don’t lack, let alone other forces in the same region. They can also export to their own countries, and they have much more advantages in mineral resources than here.”

Kinshasa’s trade, in the end, relies on East African industry, which is something many colonies lack. Therefore, they need to import many goods from Europe.

East Africa, through shipping, can transport these supplies to Kinshasa, and then the Belgians manage their distribution to downstream areas. As for Portugal, they have long severed trade with East Africa, especially with those Angolan farmers who have purchasing power.

Kinshasa is a very young city, so it has no production capacity. Goods mainly come from Kisangani.

Even with waterway connection, Kisangani is still over one thousand five hundred kilometers away from Kinshasa. However, the one-way trip from Kisangani to Kinshasa is very fast.

The central Congo River is in a basin, with flat terrain, but hundreds of tributaries all flow into the main channel, resulting in a large water volume and a faster flow rate than ordinary rivers. It only takes a few days to travel from Kisangani to Kinshasa.

However, going upstream would be the opposite, but not to the extent of the lower reaches of Kinshasa, where the terrain suddenly drops and makes navigation impossible.

This also places demands on the ships’ capabilities. There are no trackers to pull boats in the Congo rainforest, so more effort has to be put into the ships’ power. Steam engines and internal combustion engines have become the preferred choice. Fortunately, East Africa has accumulated relevant experience, especially with the rapid development of inland river transport in the Great Lakes region, which has solved technical difficulties, making Kisangani’s shipbuilding industry relatively developed.

Even so, medium-sized ships are mainly used on the Congo River. Smaller ships are not easy to control and need to reserve fuel space, while larger ships are difficult to maintain. East Africa has only built a few dozen outposts along the entire Congo River.

“Medicines are a major export of Kinshasa. East Africa has a lot of say in this area. Quinine, for example, is an essential export commodity, very popular in the Belgian Congo and Angola. In addition, there is a large demand for other medicines.”

This is mainly because East Africa is well-developed and has a large population, resulting in ample experience and influence in this field.

After all, if the medicine is not effective enough, East Africa would not be able to establish itself here and have the largest immigrant population in Africa. The size of East Africa’s population is a secret to all parties, but one thing is certain: East Africa has the most immigrants.

As for the Black people, as natives, they have strong immunity. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that they live scattered, so diseases do not have time to spread.

Currently, African natives still mainly follow a primitive social system, with villages and tribes as the mainstream, resulting in a sparse and scattered population, which hinders the spread of diseases to some extent.

Of course, diseases like malaria, which rely on mosquito bites, are unavoidable. Africa is located in the tropics, making it, like South America and India, the most suitable continent for mosquitoes to live in. This also makes East Africa’s mosquito repellent products bestsellers.

However, in this era, few people understand the relationship between mosquitoes and malaria, so they simply use them as mosquito repellent products, rather than making them a necessity like in East Africa.

So, even if some colonizers buy mosquito repellent products to improve their quality of life, they rarely share them with slaves and workers.

In this situation, the secret to East Africa’s population growth and disease control has not spread. After all, mosquitoes are vectors for many tropical diseases, which greatly increases the average life expectancy and health level of East Africans.

Moreover, the dire situation in other regions can further expand East Africa’s medicine export market. This is a win-win-win situation.

So, don’t underestimate Kinshasa’s small population. The profits earned by reselling medicines and daily necessities for East Africa are no less than those of some cities in the east. Of course, Kisangani upstream also benefits.

“Among the cities in the entire western region bordering the Belgian Congo, only Bangui and Kinshasa are barely worth mentioning, and their military significance outweighs their economic significance. However, according to news from above, Kinshasa will continue to expand in the next few years and will be directly led by the central government.”

The Congo rainforest basin region has not been divided into provinces yet, but exists as a region like Southwest Africa.

The only “large” city here is Kinshasa, so it is only natural that it is directly managed by the central government, just like the three cities in Southwest Africa are jointly taken over by the Ministry of Defense and the government.

Kinshasa is of great significance to the East African military. It will serve as East Africa’s forward city against Portugal in the future.

Because Kinshasa is built on the border between the two countries, at the confluence of the Kwango River and the Congo River, it is a hub for water and land transportation. The only thing lacking now is population. Therefore, the development of Kinshasa has been put on East Africa’s agenda for the conquest of Angola, and it is also a key development city near the South Atlantic in the future.

In fact, there is also Brazzaville across the river from Kinshasa, but Brazzaville is located close to the narrow strip of land on the left bank of the Congo River, with the Belgian Congo to the north, so it is not East Africa’s focus of development. Kinshasa, separated by a river, can use the river to provide a certain degree of military defense and transportation functions.

Moreover, East Africa intends to directly build bridges in the future to connect Kinshasa and Brazzaville, as there is no need to develop two cities on both sides of the river.

Chapter 682: Development Strategy

In late 1885, the western section of the Northern Railway was officially completed and opened to traffic, while the Hesse Railway was still under construction. The Hesse Railway was much more difficult to build than the western section of the Northern Railway.

Because the western section of the Northern Railway was completed, the Mombasa Municipal Government held a special discussion on the matter.

Since Mombasa is the starting point of the Northern Railway, the larger the area the Northern Railway covers, the more beneficial it will be to boosting Mombasa’s economic and political status.

In fact, in recent years, due to the Central Railway’s exaggerated length advantage and the vastness of its economic hinterland, Mombasa has always been firmly suppressed by Dar es Salaam.

The most obvious example of this is that the population, resources, and number of cities along the Northern Railway are much worse than those along the Central Railway.

Therefore, Mombasa strongly welcomes the construction of the western section of the Northern Railway and its connection with the Central Railway in Kisangani. This will provide more impetus to compete with Dar es Salaam, the number one economy in East Africa.

From the perspective of East Africa’s domestic economic location, Mombasa does not have an advantage. However, when it comes to connecting foreign countries with East Africa, Mombasa’s advantage is that it is closer to Eurasia than Dar es Salaam.

Mogadishu in the north mainly focuses on agricultural exports and has poor environmental carrying capacity, which is not enough to compete with Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

“The gap between western and eastern East Africa is huge, and the Northern Railway is an important factor in changing this, meaning that the original transportation order in the entire northern region has been broken.”

“In our competition with Dar es Salaam, the important reason why we are at a disadvantage is that the northern inland economy is far behind the central and southern regions. If it were not for the Great Lakes region as the ballast of the northern population and economy, we could completely give up competing with Dar es Salaam.”

Although the Great Lakes region is mainly agricultural, agriculture is also the mainstream of the current national economy of East Africa. Moreover, the Great Lakes region is densely populated and relatively rich in resources, so it is no exaggeration to call it the ballast of Mombasa’s economy. As long as the freight from the Great Lakes region is shipped overseas through Mombasa, Mombasa’s economy will inevitably maintain a dominant position in East Africa. If it cannot be the first, it will inevitably be the second.

“With the western section of the Northern Railway, this situation has been greatly changed. The progress of immigration in Sigmaringen can also be greatly accelerated, and it will play a huge role in the exchanges between many northern provinces.”

The Sigmaringen royal territory and several northern provinces connected by the Northern Railway actually have very limited development. A large number of resources have not been developed, and the opening of the Northern Railway provides transportation conditions for the development of these resources.

“The entire northern industrial belt will benefit from the western section of the Northern Railway. The opening of this railway will extend the radiation area of the northern industrial belt from the Great Lakes region directly to the westernmost part of the country, and connect the economy of the entire West Africa, solving the main shortcoming of the northern industrial belt’s lack of resources.”

Mineral resources and markets are important components of industry, both indispensable, followed by other factors such as water sources, population, transportation, and so on.

The northern industrial belt itself is actually relatively short of minerals, or the quality of mineral resources is relatively poor, which also makes the product quality of the northern industrial belt relatively poor. Mombasa has to import a large amount of coal and iron ore from India to develop its industry.

“However, this is also a short-term cause for joy. Don’t think that you can lie on this railway and eat dividends forever just because the Northern Railway has been built. Although Eurasia is our main trading market in East Africa, it can also radiate to Europe from the west coast, and it can benchmark South and North America, plus West Africa, which is also not to be ignored.”

In the past, East Africa’s economy with South and North America mainly went through the Cape Town Strait and the Red Sea route. Now that the western section of the Northern Railway is completed, this provides a new outlet for future northern foreign trade. What East Africa lacks now is an outlet on the Atlantic coast.

“Especially the west coast, only the northern Angola area has a good climate and convenient water transportation. Our northern industrial belt cannot compare with this. The northern industrial belt mainly relies on the construction of the Northern Railway, and in the future, there will definitely be more and more railways in East Africa, until they cover the entire country.”

The economy of the west coast will inevitably gather in northern Angola in the future, unlike the east coast, where there are four major economic blocks alone. From north to south, they are Mogadishu and Kismayo in the Somalia region, Mombasa, the starting point of the Northern Railway, Dar es Salaam, the starting point of the Central Railway, and New Hamburg Port, the end point of the Central Railway, forming relatively fierce competition.

If the Atlantic coast is included in the East African territory in the future, it will still compete with Mombasa, because East Africa lacks economic pillar ports on the Atlantic coast, most of the logistics in the west mainly rely on the eastern ports, even though they are closer to the Atlantic.

The most direct manifestation is that East Africa’s trade with North and South America, the Red Sea route is greater than the Cape Town route. Of course, there are reasons why the Cape of Good Hope has high winds and waves, and the weather along the southwest African coast is bad, which is not suitable for ships to navigate. At the same time, the main reason is that most of East Africa’s logistics are concentrated in the dozen or so foreign ports on the eastern coast.

“Therefore, to ensure Mombasa’s economic advantages in the future, we must immediately lay out the northwestern region to form path dependence and minimize our distance disadvantage as much as possible.”

Commercial path dependence, to put it bluntly, is to provide better services to ensure that the number of customers is not affected.

“Our main targets are the economic ties between the Sigmaringen royal territory and the West African region, and it is best for the provincial government to unite the entire northern region to create a northern economic corridor with the northern industrial belt as the core, extending from Mombasa deep into the core of the West African interior.”

Taking the northern industrial belt as the core is because Mombasa certainly does not have such strength. The entire northern industrial belt is one of the three major industrial regions in East Africa, so it is possible to develop the economy of northwestern East Africa, the Sigmaringen royal territory, and the West African region in the name of northern industry.

Mombasa gives up many of its benefits and distributes them to cities such as Kisumu and Nairobi, but the ultimate beneficiary is still Mombasa, because Mombasa Port is the end and starting point of the economy. As long as it is the economic activity of the northern economic belt, it will eventually converge in Mombasa.

Therefore, promoting the development of the northern industrial belt is promoting the development of Mombasa itself. Under this logic, the Mombasa Municipal Government is more motivated to give up some benefits instead of developing alone.

In fact, Mombasa has already felt the disadvantage of developing alone, especially compared with Dar es Salaam, which has a large number of brothers. Dar es Salaam itself has many surrounding cities, plus the cities along the Central Railway, Mbeya, Dodoma, Mwanza, Harare, and so on, so it is difficult for Dar es Salaam not to develop.

When the Hesse Railway is opened in the future, Dar es Salaam will take a further step, so this is also a problem that Mombasa is worried about. To compete with Dar es Salaam, the only way out is to integrate the northern economy and seek foreign aid to reduce the gap with Dar es Salaam.

Of course, Mombasa also knows that the possibility of winning the competition with Dar es Salaam is small. The main thing is to avoid being left behind, continue to enjoy the treatment of the twin stars of the East African economy, and avoid Dar es Salaam dominating.

Chapter 683: The First Stage of Dividing the World is Complete

Mombasa City likes to compete with Dar es Salaam City, because the two are in a league of their own in East Africa. However, with the development of the East African interior, Mombasa City is gradually falling behind Dar es Salaam City, which is related to the economic hinterland.

And in terms of economic hinterland, Mombasa City can never hope to surpass Dar es Salaam City. Therefore, in order to compete with Dar es Salaam City and drive the simultaneous development of the northern industrial belt, that is the only way out for Mombasa City.

…

Time flies, and it is now 1886. East Africa is still completing the construction of various regions in an orderly manner, while the East African army is sharpening its swords and preparing for war.

In 1886, West Africa had been completely divided up. Britain, France, and Germany benefited the most. At the same time, in the Far East, Britain, France, Russia, Japan, and the United States showed great interest in the Far Eastern Empire and its affiliated countries.

As early as the eighteen sixties and seventies, the United States had invaded Korea through military means, but the Korean government became even more determined in its isolationism, and the Americans’ attempt did not succeed. This should be one of the few proactive colonial activities of the United States, and a failed case.

The reason why the United States could not colonize Korea through military action may be related to the distance between the two countries. Later, in the seventies, Japan used the same trick, and the Korean government succumbed and was forced to sign a trade agreement.

Britain also plotted to seize land on the Korean Peninsula, but because of the joint opposition of Japan and Russia, it did not succeed. From this point, it can be seen that in the seventies, Japan had already shaken off its semi-colonial status and become a sovereign country that could independently participate in international affairs.

Currently, the development of the Far Eastern Empire can also be considered “thriving.” Under the Westernization Movement, the land and naval forces of the Far Eastern Empire have been greatly developed. Although the result of the war against France was very poor due to government reasons, its combat effectiveness has at least been recognized by various countries, after all, the opponent was France, the second strongest army in the world.

Of course, the British were not without gains in eighteen eighty-five. After the Third Anglo-Burmese War, Britain completely occupied Burma, and on January 1, eighteen eighty-six, it was officially declared a British territory, as an independent province of British India.

This also means that the Indochina Peninsula has basically been divided up. Except for Thailand, all other forces have been controlled by Britain and France. As for Thailand, it is a buffer zone between the two sides, and the Thai government is good at playing both sides, so it has not been broken up.

In eighteen eighty-six, the first stage of the great powers’ colonization of the world has been initially completed. Basically, all the “no man’s land” in the world has been divided up.

This is the starting stage of the colonial frenzy since the seventies and eighties. In the next step, if countries want to seize colonies, they can only attack those backward independent sovereign countries, and the three largest pieces of fat are the Ottoman Empire, the Far Eastern Empire, and the East African Kingdom.

Of course, entering the nineties is also an opportunity. Like the United States and Japan in their previous lives, they re-established their position in the international order in the nineties through heavy blows against Spain and the Far Eastern Empire, respectively.

When there is nothing left to divide, then it will be the turn of the great powers to directly enter the arena, which is the outbreak of a world war in the true sense.

Therefore, East Africa must ensure its national defense security and deter enemies in the last twenty years of the nineteenth century, while further strengthening economic barriers.

The great powers’ invasion of countries has always been under the banner of “free trade,” which is actually forced selling.

And now East African industry is in its initial stage, so it is inevitable that it cannot engage in “free trade.” In this way, the industrial products of Germany and Austria alone can devastate East Africa’s accumulated wealth.

In the First Township, officials of the East African central government can feel the strong atmosphere of dark clouds in the international community.

Throughout the late nineteenth century, all countries, including the great powers, had a strong sense of crisis. This sense of crisis was very strong through the economy, society, and the military preparations of various countries.

Europe, as a hunter, is still a little better. Before the prey is completely divided, the hunters can continue to maintain a delicate balance.

The sense of crisis between countries on other continents is very strong, especially for small and weak countries. Countries with huge volumes like East Africa, the United States, the Ottoman Empire, and the Far Eastern Empire, although they also have unease, do not face the crisis of national extinction, so they can still stabilize their mentality.

Especially the Ottoman Empire, which has just experienced the Russo-Turkish War and fought well, so it can enjoy a period of stability in the coming time. After all, there are not many countries that can resist Tsarist Russia.

As for the Far Eastern Empire, as long as it is not as unlucky as in its previous life, it will not decline rapidly. What Ernst is talking about is being unlucky.

The Far Eastern Empire completely fell into decline after the Sino-Japanese War. Before the Sino-Japanese War, the Far Eastern Empire was not at a disadvantage in pure military confrontation with Tsarist Russia and France.

However, after being defeated by Japan, the international image of the Far Eastern Empire directly plummeted, confirming the name of “sick man” of East Asia.

After all, Japan is a “weak country” and a “poor country,” and does not even have many mineral resources for development. Being defeated by such a country, in the eyes of European and American countries, all the “prosperous data” of the Far Eastern Empire’s Westernization Movement era have turned into bubbles.

In fact, if the government of the Far Eastern Empire learned from Tsarist Russia, with such a thick skin, it could also gain a foothold in the international community. After all, Tsarist Russia had also lost face before, but Tsarist Russia would always make up for it, but the Qing royal family in its previous life performed too poorly.

After all, this time and space has undergone great changes, and Ernst is not sure whether the Sino-Japanese War will definitely break out, but judging from the results of last year’s Sino-French War, it is likely to still happen. After all, Japan’s wolfish ambitions are there, and it is only a matter of time.

After talking about the two old empires, then there are the United States and East Africa. In fact, according to the performance of the United States and East Africa in recent years, the two countries have completely different situations from the former two, and can be completely rated as “emerging countries.”

Especially the United States, its development is attracting worldwide attention. East Africa is only doing okay compared to the United States. Currently, the urbanization rate in the United States is close to forty percent, while East Africa is only over twenty percent, so East Africa is still in the “big rural area” stage.

And the urbanization rate of nearly forty percent in the United States, placed in the world, can only be compared with Britain, France, and Germany, or small industrial countries like Belgium and the Netherlands.

Moreover, the location of the United States is also “safer” than East Africa. No matter how remote East Africa is, it is connected to the Eurasian continent. In fact, ancient Africa has always been the continent with the closest connection to the Eurasian continent.

As for other continents, they are isolated civilizations, or like sub-Saharan Africa, there is no civilization.

Therefore, the challenges faced by East Africa are also greater than those faced by the United States. This is a geopolitical challenge that Americans isolated on the American continent cannot feel.

Of course, the Black Hingen royal family’s ability to respond to crises has also increased in recent years with the increase in East Africa’s national strength, but Ernst himself has doubts about the combat effectiveness of the army of an autocratic monarchy.

After all, the East African army is very young and has not encountered a strong opponent, so Ernst also has doubts about his own judgment.

Not to mention the data of the East African army, in fact, the data of the Far Eastern Empire’s army is even better than that of East Africa now, so the final result depends on the actual combat effect, especially the East African navy. The navy is the military branch with the greatest uncertainty, and Archduke Ferdinand has always been responsible for this.

Chapter 684: Black Power

First Township.

Since East Africa began preparing to strengthen its military in the late nineteen-eighties, the related preparatory work has diverted most of the East African government’s energy.

Fortunately, most of East Africa’s projects are now nearing completion, so it is not so busy that it is overwhelmed. It can complete military deployments in the east, south, and west directions with relative ease.

This also reflects East Africa’s current geopolitical disadvantages. If Egypt (under British control) to the north is included, East Africa is surrounded by enemies on all sides, and East Africa needs to resolve this hidden danger at an appropriate time.

As the war preparations unfold, the work of counting the population, especially the war-related population, has also begun.

Among them, the number of Black people is an important indicator. In East Africa’s past wars, Black people have been a group that cannot be ignored.

Before the nineteen-eighties, whenever East Africa had a major war, Black people were an important guarantee for the stable development of East Africa’s economy, because drawing troops from the front lines would inevitably affect production work in the rear. At the same time, logistical support also required a large number of people, and this work was generally done by East African nationals.

Therefore, Black people are a stabilizer to ensure the stability of East Africa’s production work. The further back in time, the more this was the case. During East Africa’s colonial period, the production work in the rear was basically carried out by Black people, while East Africa mobilized all its citizens into the army.

Later, as East Africa’s population increased, it gradually no longer needed so many troops, and the number of professional soldiers was sufficient, but Black people still made up for a certain labor shortage in East Africa.

Therefore, the number of Black people is an important data indicator for East Africa’s wars. However, the statistics of Black people and the statistics of East African nationals are calculated separately and belong to the non-national population.

East Africa began relevant statistical work last year. Population means war potential, and Black people are also part of East Africa’s war potential.

Of course, this is also related to East Africa’s national policy. One of East Africa’s national policies is “trading out old industries for new ones,” and the number of Black people is the most direct standard data reflecting this policy.

Minister of Civil Affairs Wimar reported to Ernst: “Your Royal Highness, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, as of eighteen eighty-five, the total number of Black people in our country has decreased from more than nineteen million five hundred thousand at the beginning of the nineteen-eighties to more than fourteen million nine hundred thousand. Among them, a total of more than two million one hundred thousand have been eliminated and exported according to age.

The Ottoman Empire is still the main buyer, including North Africa and other regions that nominally still belong to the Ottoman Empire, totaling about three hundred and fifty thousand. Central Asia and other Arab regions, including Persia, are about two hundred thousand. Because of the last conflict with our country, the slave trade in the United States has been restricted, with only about one hundred thousand.

Brazil has become the largest destination country for East African Black people in the past five years, totaling more than eight hundred and thirty thousand. The remaining portion is mainly spread among various Latin American countries, about five hundred thousand.”

This is the main data of East Africa’s “Black slave trade” in the past five years. Two million Black people who meet the age standards have been sold by East Africa.

“Among them, seven hundred and twenty thousand people have been exiled to West Africa. Most of these people have some defects, so they are not accepted by other countries.”

These seven hundred and twenty thousand people are actually the old, weak, sick, and disabled. East Africa will naturally not support a group of idlers, and these seven hundred and twenty thousand people cannot be sold, so the government can only spend some effort to send them to West Africa. As long as they do not die within East Africa, it is out of sight, out of mind.

“Finally, there are the Black laborers who are consumed in East Africa, including those who have short lifespans, diseases, excessive physical labor, attacks by wild animals, and so on. The natural attrition caused by various reasons is about one million seven hundred thousand.”

This part of the Black people is also the “hero” of East Africa’s infrastructure construction. East Africa’s infrastructure construction can be said to be an unprecedented large-scale project, including highways, railways, farmland reclamation, water conservancy construction, house construction, and so on.

Before the Black Heringen royal family colonized, the only infrastructure in the entire East Africa was in the Arab-inhabited areas along the eastern coast, or the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, which had long been destroyed.

Therefore, the founding of East Africa is a true “building from the ground up,” making up for the shortcomings of East Africa in a short period. East Africa covers an area of ten million square kilometers, and any highway construction exceeds thousands of kilometers.

Therefore, in more than twenty years, the amount of work to build national highways, railways, water conservancy, and other systems, or to reclaim land and build houses, is astronomical.

All of this is based on East Africa’s oppression of tens of millions of Black people. As of now, the number of Black people who have been lost in East Africa due to engineering construction is as high as four million, especially during the nineteen-seventies and nineteen-eighties, the period of East Africa’s large-scale infrastructure construction.

“Currently, the western provinces have the largest number of Black people. Due to various reasons, it is impossible to investigate in detail. We estimate that there are about eight million, including the Congo Rainforest, East Azande Province, New Bavaria Province, Nile Province, Southwest Africa, Danube Province, and Letania Province.”

These provinces and regions are the last natural gathering areas for Black people in East Africa. Black people in other areas are basically registered and work for East Africa’s farms, plantations, highways, railways, water conservancy projects, and mines.

Of course, the reason why the west retains such a large population is related to the sparse immigrant population in the western provinces and regions in East Africa. For example, in the east and central regions, the immigrant population is large, and the number of Black people is small.

“The accurate number of our East African laborers is six million four hundred and three thousand two hundred and seven, which is the main component of East Africa’s non-national economy. In the past few years, the contribution rate to East Africa’s economy has exceeded seventy percent.”

In East Africa, laborers actually refer to Black people, but Black people are not necessarily laborers, because only registered Black people are considered laborers.

For example, those Black people’s self-retained land in the west do not belong to laborers. They cannot create value for East Africa for the time being. The current number of Black people who actually work for East Africa is only these six million.

However, Black people with self-retained land are not without their use, that is, to make up for the annual shortage of Black people in East Africa. After all, the attrition of East African laborers is huge. Without a reservoir, it would have been exhausted long ago.

In eighteen eighty, the East African national labor force was about five to six million, while the non-national Black labor force at that time reached seven million. The labor force accounted for more than half of East Africa, and they were basically engaged in the most tiring and dangerous work. Therefore, behind East Africa’s economic glory is the history of countless Black people’s blood and tears.

Now the number of Black laborers has dropped to more than six million, which is also related to the decline in East Africa’s workload, especially the large-scale national water conservancy project.

The national water conservancy project involved more than one million Black people, and now many water conservancy projects have been completed, so the number of East African laborers has also decreased to a certain extent.

Of course, there is also the impact of the “livestockization” movement in the central and eastern regions. In East African agriculture, especially in planting, large livestock such as cattle and horses are gradually replacing Black labor, which is also an important reason for the decline in the number of laborers.

Overall, East Africa’s “trading out old industries for new ones” work has achieved remarkable results, and the number of Black people in East Africa has also been reduced to more than fourteen million, a decrease of nearly five million. However, East Africa wants to completely solve the Black people problem, and it will not be possible to implement it in a short time.

Not only that, the number of Black people in East Africa may increase again, because there are a large number of Black people in Angola and Mozambique.

The number of Black people in the two colonies is at least more than five million. If East Africa annexes these two colonies, the number of Black people in East Africa may directly return to the scale of more than twenty million.

An important reason for the large number of Black people in Mozambique and Angola is East Africa’s “tyranny” against Black people in those years. Many Black people in East Africa fled to the Portuguese colonies.

After all, compared with West Africa, the two Portuguese colonies and Cape Town in the south are obviously more suitable for Black people to run away nearby.

Chapter 685: Making the Best Use of Everyone

Ernst said to Weimar, “Black people are important soldiers, especially now that our East African population structure is too young. Moreover, there’s an important characteristic now: our East African territory is more than six or seven times larger than before. Previously, our core territory was only in the eastern region, but now we have to add the central and southern regions, and both of these regions will be threatened by war.”

The main force of East Africa’s new population has actually shifted from immigration to childbirth, so East Africa is also facing population pressure, which is a happy problem.

Conversely, if a country faces an aging population, it probably won’t be laughing. In Ernst’s view, such countries are on the decline. Of course, this is also the inevitable path for East Africa in the future, unless East Africa doesn’t make any progress and, like the African countries of his previous life, remains a third-world country year after year.

Before the new generation grows up, East Africa’s rearing costs are quite high, but in the future, when the new generation that has received compulsory education grows up, East Africa’s national strength will definitely explode at some point, probably within the next two or three decades.

“Your Royal Highness, we have registered all laborers and updated the data. If we need to respond to conflict, we can guarantee that we can draw manpower from them at any time,” Weimar said.

The turnover rate of black people in East Africa is relatively high, especially in the past few years of large-scale infrastructure construction. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are injured, disabled, or die, so the data is updated quickly, which is a very troublesome thing for the East African statistics department.

However, some things must be done. If they are not careful and the black people manage to turn the tables, Ernst will have no place to cry.

“For black people, we can only allow them to enter the military system when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, let them be good migrant workers. The Mamluk-style reversal script can never be staged in East Africa,” Ernst emphasized.

The Mamluks were slaves introduced into ancient Egypt from the Arab region, more precisely “slave soldiers.” So, the fact that these Mamluks turned themselves into masters and became the ruling class of Egypt was the evil consequence of allowing slaves into the military system.

The army is a place to temper people, and it is also the easiest place to “turn the tables,” after all, the army values military merit more. The Mamluks relied on mastering military power to achieve their reversal.

The black people of East Africa might as well take this path, after all, East Africa cannot completely issue “inferior weapons” to the black auxiliary troops. Even cannon fodder must have “handy” weapons.

In fact, in the previous battles between East Africa and the African natives, there were quite a few incidents of “crashing,” even the native tribes holding stone spears and bows and arrows could inflict heavy damage on the careless East African army. It’s just that the continuous stream of immigrants from the rear of East Africa made it impossible for this rare battle situation to become a common phenomenon.

For example, in his previous life, there were only a few thousand Germans in German East Africa, and some black tribes could fight back and forth with the Germans.

The most famous was the Maji Maji Rebellion, which broke out in German East Africa in 1905 under the leadership of Kinjikitile Ngwale, and quickly swept through the southern region of German East Africa.

Subsequently, in 1907, Germany suppressed the uprising through famine and other cruel means, but the Maji Maji Rebellion seriously hit Germany’s colonial rule, forcing Germany to adopt mild means to manage German East Africa.

Therefore, strict defense against black people is East Africa’s political correctness and an important policy for Ernst to govern the country.

Weimar stated, “Yes, Your Royal Highness, we have never relaxed our surveillance activities on black people. After all, black riots are not uncommon in East Africa, with dozens of them every year, but none of them amount to anything.”

No matter how good the treatment of black people in East Africa is, they are still slaves. Even civilians have people who are dissatisfied with the government, let alone slaves who are not even considered the bottom of society. After all, there are cattle and horses in front of slaves. The fact that livestock like cattle and horses are ranked in front of slaves is also a major feature of slave society.

“Very good. Small-scale riots are acceptable to us, but acceptable only means objectively acceptable. These kinds of errors are unavoidable, but the follow-up procedures must absolutely not be lenient. Those who should be held accountable should be held accountable, those who should be punished should be punished, and the relevant personnel and departments must conduct self-criticism and include it in the archives as a reference standard for assessment,” Ernst emphasized.

This is the same as the theory that all plane accidents are caused by human error. Even the Far Eastern Empire in the twenty-first century cannot avoid it, let alone a backward country like East Africa. However, in this era, East Africa’s administrative efficiency is already much higher than that of ordinary countries.

“Of course, the division of labor must be clear. We don’t need black people to enter the army yet, so let them continue to stick to their posts and stabilize production order, especially in agriculture and engineering, these two major items.”

What Ernst wants to do is to ensure the stability of national production during the war. After all, war is quite expensive. Many countries with poor financial situations face war, and the future of the entire country is basically invested in it. Therefore, it is very difficult for a country to rise from the ruins of war, especially those defeated countries.

This inevitably brings up Germany’s foundation. After experiencing two world wars, it can still become one of the spokespeople in Europe. Therefore, the wealth that Germany has unified and accumulated is unimaginable, and more importantly, the accumulation of talent.

Ernst continued, “We want war, in addition to responding to the world changes since the Berlin Conference in 1884, but also to solve East Africa’s geographical disadvantages, especially the coastline of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The incompleteness of the coastline will not only cause trouble for East Africa’s economic layout and development, but also increase our defense difficulties.”

“Without a complete coastline, many railways and ports cannot be directly connected. Just like Austria-Hungary had to concentrate its resources in Trieste after losing the Venice region, and Southwest Africa obviously does not have such population and industrial carrying capacity, which is not conducive to our trade with the Americas and West Africa.”

“In the Indian Ocean region, Mozambique has many excellent ports, and the coastal plains of southern Mozambique can be said to be one of the best agricultural foundations in Africa. Its fertility and terrain are not inferior to the Great Lakes region, and with excellent ports as a reliance, the advantages of developing an export-oriented economy and agriculture are even more advantageous than Somalia. Somalia only has a distance advantage, but in the future, with technological progress, the speed of ships will become faster and faster, so that Mozambique’s agricultural advantages can be fully utilized, and the southern territory of Mozambique already belongs to a subtropical climate, which is the most important point.”

“Of course, all of these are based on one premise, which is to prepare for a large-scale war. Once the war starts, we will face the risk of being surrounded on all sides. Although East Africa is the most populous country in Africa, our land area is also the same, so our population density is not as good as many countries. Under this national condition of vast land and sparse population, if the enemy engages in mobile warfare with us, with the goal of destroying East Africa’s infrastructure and industrial production capacity, then our accumulation over the years will be in vain.”

“Moreover, our enemies are not weak. If they do their best and mobilize a million troops, that is also possible. Therefore, our army and front-line residents must be prepared for war and not be caught off guard.”

Of course, there was one more sentence that Ernst didn’t say, and that was that East Africa had been engaged in large-scale infrastructure construction since the 1970s, entirely in order to realize the “industrial development plan” in the future, so that East Africa, like the Soviet Union in his previous life, could seize the opportunity to become an industrial country in a short period of time.

Industrialization requires funds, so the war must not interrupt East Africa’s production order. Therefore, as an important labor resource, black people maintaining East Africa’s industrial production order and ensuring the stable growth of East Africa’s national fiscal revenue during the war are important means for East Africa to accumulate original capital.

Chapter 686: Model 1885 National Defense Military Helmet

In March, Ernst inspected the Guards Division. The Guards Division’s main task was to be responsible for the defense of Central Province and the First Township, and it was also the most frequently inspected East African army unit.

This visit to the Guards Division revealed the most direct change: the equipment of helmets. This was a first for the East African army.

Therefore, Leideli, the commander of the 101st Guards Division, specially introduced the origin and characteristics of this military helmet to Ernst.

“Your Royal Highness, this helmet is also known as the Model 1885. It is a national defense military helmet designed to cope with the potential dangers caused by stray bullets and shrapnel to soldiers in the battlefield environment during trench warfare.

The visor adopts the traditional German design, making the entire helmet body look somewhat similar to the traditional German military helmet - the Pickelhaube.”

Ernst naturally knew what a Pickelhaube was. The Pickelhaube was a characteristic of the entire German army. A German Empire announcement in 1871 stipulated that all German troops must wear it, and the police and firefighters were no exception.

The most important feature of the Pickelhaube was the conspicuous “spike” on top. The main explanation for the spike was that ancient Teutonic Knights and other European armies used it to hang ornaments to distinguish different arms of service.

Some also said that the cavalry could use it as a support for wearing feathers and horsehair. Secondly, adding a spike could effectively deflect stabbing attacks aimed at the head, because in the cavalry warfare at the time, saber clashes were a common tactic.

German military and political figures such as Wilhelm II, Otto von Bismarck, and Paul von Hindenburg all liked to pose for pictures wearing Pickelhaubes.

In Ernst’s view, the Pickelhaube had some aesthetic appeal. At least, it greatly improved the “appearance” level of the German army among European armies, making them look very gorgeous and majestic.

Of course, some people held different opinions. For example, the famous German poet Heinrich Heine thought the Pickelhaube was very flamboyant and superficial, and wrote a satirical poem comparing the Pickelhaube to a lightning rod: “Yes, yes, I like this helmet, it shows the highest wisdom! The King’s inspiration! I only fear that when the storm comes, that romantic crown will attract lightning!”

Of course, Ernst did not comment on this. Such trivial issues did not need to be discussed. As a pragmatist, Ernst believed that the primary function of a helmet was to provide protection for soldiers on the battlefield.

And the Pickelhaube could not do this. Until World War I broke out, German frontline soldiers were horrified to discover that the Pickelhaube provided almost zero protection.

In the brutal trench warfare, the leather helmet could not resist artillery shell fragments and shrapnel. Worse, the shiny spike would become an ideal target for snipers.

Therefore, in response to this, in September 1915, the German military finally had to issue an order: the new helmet would no longer have a spike!

Subsequently, starting in 1916, the Pickelhaube was officially replaced by the new German steel helmet. The new steel helmet might not look imposing, but it could provide better head protection and prevent artillery shell fragments from causing injury. This one change reduced the rate of head injuries and deaths among German frontline soldiers by 70%.

So, the Pickelhaube was good-looking but useless. This was related to its material composition. Early Pickelhaubes used leather as the main raw material, and leather naturally could not resist stray bullets and fragments. Later, due to raw material problems, the Pickelhaube was changed to tin alloy, but the hardness of tin was also very undesirable.

Sure enough, Leideli made a special explanation on this point: “The biggest difference between our steel helmet and the German Pickelhaube is that it uses steel as the main raw material. The hardness is quite high. Although it is not as comfortable as the Pickelhaube and the appearance is relatively ugly, it is more practical.”

However, Ernst held a different view. People of this era liked flashy things. After all, unlike his previous life where resources were abundant, the aesthetics of this era liked to be colorful, bright, and beautiful.

For example, the “flowered clothes” of the Far East Empire were outdated in the 21st century, but they were a symbol of showing off wealth in the old society.

So Ernst said: “There is no need to be self-deprecating. Among similar military helmets, I think our Model 1885 national defense military helmet is the best-looking. Don’t compare it to the Pickelhaube. The Pickelhaube’s ornamental value is greater than its practical value, and our first goal is to achieve practical value. Moreover, fighting is about results, not decorations.”

Because the East African Model 1885 steel helmet used the shape of the Pickelhaube as a reference, the overall shape was not distorted. The appearance was basically the same as the M35 helmet equipped by the German army during World War II.

This naturally had Ernst’s aesthetic influence, so Leideli’s complaint was a denial of Ernst’s aesthetic.

Of course, Ernst would not make things difficult for him because of this small matter. Moreover, Leideli’s words probably represented the views of most East African soldiers in this era.

However, Ernst believed that as time went on, more and more people would accept the style of the Model 1885 national defense military helmet. After all, it had been tested in his previous life.

“To increase its comfort, we use a cotton and linen blend fabric for the lining, which is strong, durable, and more comfortable. The materials are all domestically produced in East Africa, including sisal and cotton from the East African Southern cotton plantations (Matabeleland Province).”

The advantage of sisal is that it is durable and has good water absorption. The woven fabric made of sisal combined with cotton also has the characteristics of softness.

However, Leideli said this because he was actually very dissatisfied with the comfort of the Model 1885 national defense military helmet. After all, compared with the Pickelhaube or the military caps of the East African army in the past, the weight of the steel helmet alone made people feel uncomfortable, and the breathability was very poor.

In the East African weather, wearing a steel helmet was actually not comfortable, especially in the Central Province, where the defense zone was relatively humid and hot. It might be more suitable for the highlands, where the climate was cooler.

Moreover, the intensity of the wars experienced by the East African National Defense Force in the past ten years did not reflect the advantages of the steel helmet. After all, the East African Army had basically not experienced trench warfare like World War I. The only actual battle was the last East Portuguese War, but the firepower of the Portuguese colonial army at that time was very weak. Not to mention artillery, they could not equip all units with rifles, and the number of machine guns was also very rare.

“The design and production of the Model 1885 national defense military helmet actually reflects the improvement of our military conditions. Without the outbreak of East African steel production capacity, our army would not be able to equip this kind of helmet that uses steel as the main raw material. The same is true for the increase in East African cotton and sisal production.” Leideli said.

Cotton was fine, but the supply of sisal for military use was indeed the result of the continuous expansion of sisal planting in East Africa in recent years.

Because East African sisal is an important export product, or it is used in higher-end product areas such as East African currency, commodities, and special ropes. Even now, it is a high-quality cash crop that is in short supply.

The outbreak of steel production capacity is the main reason why the East African army is equipped with steel helmets. If it were ten years ago, East Africa would not have the basis for equipping steel helmets at all. It also includes the improvement of East Africa’s technological means such as steel smelting technology and forging technology.

However, the current Model 1885 national defense military helmet also has many shortcomings, and the reason is still technical deficiencies. Therefore, the yield rate is not high, and the output is relatively limited. Currently, it is only equipped in the Guards Division.

Chapter 687: The Situation of the Guards Division

The changes in the East African Army are quite significant compared to ten years ago. However, the Model 1885 National Defense Army steel helmet is quite eye-catching, instantly elevating the temperament of East African soldiers by a notch, at least in Ernst’s opinion. After all, a thousand people see a thousand Hamlets, and there’s no way to change the fact that some people’s aesthetic tastes differ from Ernst’s.

Putting aside the steel helmet, there are other noteworthy aspects, especially the significantly improved quality of the National Defense Army’s clothing fabric and shoe materials.

“The overall military uniform hasn’t changed much in appearance from before, but thanks to technological advancements in textile factories in Nairobi and Mombasa, the adoption of new machines, and the expansion of East African fabric raw materials, we have more choices. For example, the socks are made of high-quality long-staple cotton from the Somali cotton-producing areas, which is sweat-absorbent and breathable, greatly enhancing the experience. Furthermore, the development of the East African leather industry also provides ample raw materials for military boots.”

Speaking of the raw materials for military boots, naturally leather is the main component. The great development of animal husbandry in East Africa provides an ample supply of cowhide. At the same time, other animal leathers in East Africa are also very abundant, the most famous being the crocodile skin industry. However, crocodile leather is mainly for export. Moreover, East Africa is rich in rubber, so the rubber soles of military boots can also be fully supplied.

In addition, the canvas desert boots supplied in desert areas are also produced in considerable quantities in East Africa. After all, East Africa itself is a high-quality producer of jute and cotton, with sisal, jute, and various types of cotton all being cultivated.

“Military boots replace the previous cloth military shoes, which can better cope with harsh road conditions, and are also easier to clean and maintain, making them hygienic and suitable for use in humid and rainy areas.”

Although East Africa has undergone major infrastructure construction, greatly improving road conditions, the previous road construction was still mainly earthen and gravel roads.

And most areas of East Africa have rainy seasons, so military boots can better adapt to muddy roads. Of course, the disadvantage is also obvious, that is, they are prone to sweat. However, this is unavoidable. Even in the previous life, many military boots had various shortcomings. Nothing is perfect.

“Currently, military boot varieties are mainly divided into three categories: one is desert boots, one is mountaineering boots, and the last is the most widely used regular military boots. Because of the special area under the jurisdiction of our Guards Division, we basically don’t equip the first two types of military boots.”

The area under the jurisdiction of the Guards Division is mainly the eastern coastal plain, so there are no application scenarios for the first two types. Other military regions must choose according to the actual situation. For example, the Northern Military Region and the Southern Military Region have a large number of desert boot purchases, while mountaineering boots are very common in the Northwest Military Region.

“In addition to military boots, the Guards Division is also equipped with regular military shoes, mainly for use in the dry season. Because of the two rainy seasons in the east, there are two rotations a year. They are also casual shoes for daily use, and are more popular when there is no need for training or missions.”

After all, long military boots are heavy, bulky, and stuffy, so they are not suitable for daily use scenarios, so they are popular with soldiers.

Ernst asked, “Isn’t it still the dry season now? Why are you wearing long boots?”

“Your Highness, as I said before, daily training is still mainly with regular military boots. The training intensity of our Guards Division is very high, and we are always in a state of combat readiness, so regular military boots are still the main choice during training.”

After listening to Redlis’s explanation, Ernst was very satisfied. He said, “Doing so is right. Since you have joined the National Defense Army, you must learn to endure hardship. After all, the battlefield environment is a hundred times, a thousand times worse than reality, and the Guards Division, as an important part of the East African Army, should take the lead.”

The Guards Division and the National Defense Army are still somewhat different, but they still belong to the National Defense Army sequence. This is closely related to East Africa’s national conditions.

The mission of the East African National Defense Army is to defend national security, safeguard territorial integrity, and defend the safety and interests of its citizens. This banner must be established.

After all, East Africa is an autocratic monarchy, and the current East Africa is a “family affair” in fact, so the East African people must not mistakenly believe that the National Defense Army is like the emperor’s army in Europe.

If it becomes fighting for the emperor or king, how can the enthusiasm of the army to defend the country and protect the home be mobilized, and the combat effectiveness of the East African army be maintained?

Therefore, the nominal affiliation of the Guards Division to the National Defense Army sequence is a beneficial measure to deal with the changes in the international community in the 19th century.

As for loyalty to the royal family, there is no need to worry too much. After all, the king and the royal family themselves are also members of the East African people.

Ernst continued, “Of course, as a country, we must not only rely on the dedication of soldiers, but also actively improve the living conditions of soldiers and increase military treatment. This does not conflict with the mission of the National Defense Army. The so-called specialization in skills, the professionalization of the army is an inevitable trend. Just like the conditions of the troops are improving every year, the application of new equipment and new weapons is for our important task of building and protecting the ‘new homeland paradise’ of the East African people.”

In fact, the improvement of the treatment of the East African army in recent years is related to Ernst’s suppression of military expansion. The army does not expand, but the East African army’s funding is increasing. In this case, more money will inevitably be spent on weapons and equipment.

Another point is that with agricultural development and industrial development, the price level in East Africa is also further decreasing. Many items that need to be imported have been localized. The typical example is that the growth rate of exports is greater than the growth rate of imports.

And the major items imported by East Africa are basically products that cannot be produced in tropical regions, or that East Africa is relatively lacking, the most typical being East African drug imports.

East African drug exports mainly spread to other African regions, but the number of imports is far greater than the number of exports, because many medicinal materials are produced in the Far East Empire, and the popularity of traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa is relatively high.

At the same time, East Africa also imports a small amount of foreign fruits and vegetables. For example, apples, a typical cold-temperate crop, are not planted and produced in East Africa. East Africa also imports wheat. Although East Africa itself is a major wheat producer, the quality cannot be compared with that of temperate regions. However, this is in relation to East Africa’s current wheat-producing areas. In fact, the quality of wheat in the southern producing areas is still good, but the southern producing areas are in the initial stage, and the output is limited.

However, these imported products will obviously not be too many, at most to enrich the dining table of the East African people, or the types of goods.

Especially for fruits and vegetables, East Africa has too many products that can be replaced, after all, tropical regions with more superior rain and heat conditions still have advantages in planting in this regard, and East Africa also has the advantages of temperature difference and light.

Afterwards, Ernst visited the daily exercises of the Guards Division. The training subjects were not much different from those of other countries. However, the current training methods of armies around the world are based on Europe as the standard, and they are all learning from Europe. However, when it comes to the specific implementation, the East African Guards Division performed well, which is the conclusion Ernst drew from the overall spiritual outlook of the army.

In fact, the Guards Division is also the local force most easily supervised by the government. No one dares to take it lightly when it comes to the security of the capital.

“Although the Guards Division is not on the border, the situation it faces is no better than that in the south, because you are also facing maritime threats, especially Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo. These two important coastal cities in East Africa, Bagamoyo has a strong naval force, so it may be better. Dar es Salaam cannot withstand the blow. One Dar es Salaam is more economically important than three New Hamburgs, and the central province cities such as the first town, Soja, are not far from the coastline, so the army must be on standby at all times and fulfill its mission.” Ernst emphasized.

Chapter 688: Patrol Soldiers

Angola, on the border with East Africa.

Brenzino, a soldier in the Angolan colonial army’s border patrol, had been transferred from the homeland to Angola for three months.

Brenzino was a rather zealous young man who had joined the “defend the homeland” ranks without hesitation, especially since the kingdom’s only two remaining large colonies, Angola and Mozambique, faced the threat of the rapidly rising barbaric nation of East Africa.

And Brenzino, along with his unit, was assigned to the area where the Angolan colony bordered East Africa’s Laitania Province.

The Portuguese were quite familiar with the country of East Africa, and Brenzino was no exception, because East Africa was the country most frequently described in Portuguese newspapers in recent years, Portugal’s greatest threat at present.

In the Portuguese newspapers’ propaganda, East Africa was naturally a barbaric nation, an evil force ruled by the “tyrant” Constantine, possessing endless greed.

Constantine, as the monarch of East Africa, was routinely targeted, but East Africa’s construction achievements were also attributed to Constantine, the nominal ruler of the country, especially the descriptions of the cities of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam by merchants from various countries.

As the windows for East Africa’s economic development, these cities were East Africa’s most dazzling “pearls,” hailed as the Gemini stars of the Indian Ocean, and on par with the Indian metropolis of Mumbai.

And in sub-Saharan Africa, the only place that could be compared with East African cities was Cape Town, as for other places with small white populations, they were not within this range.

Therefore, the Portuguese would “greet” the families of East Africans every morning, expressing their “gratitude.”

In the Portuguese view, East Africa’s sudden wealth was entirely achieved through the plunder of the Portuguese colonies of Mozambique and Angola.

Before this, Portugal was the most powerful force in the entire Southern African region (according to the current distribution of East African territory, it would be more appropriate to call East Africa Southern Africa, but due to the inherited history of East African expansion, most countries internationally habitually call it East Africa, while the official name of the East African kingdom is the “Black Hecheng Kingdom”). It possessed a sphere of influence covering millions of square kilometers.

If it had been twenty years earlier, and Portugal had carried out its own expansion in the Southern African region, then there would have been no East African kingdom! At that time, Portugal could have established a large colony comparable to Brazil.

The Portuguese’s fantasy was still not bold enough; East Africa’s size was now twice that of Brazil, whether in terms of population or area.

If Portugal had truly valued Africa before, it would have had the ability to build a vast colony similar to East Africa, dominating the southern part of the entire African continent, because in the 1950s and 60s, quinine had already appeared, and the colonization of Africa was in a window of opportunity.

At that time, Portugal as a whole was in a period of decline. In fact, Portugal had been declining for nearly a century, but the separation of Brazil had too great an impact on Portugal, and the entire country lost the spirit of a great power.

They were no longer as daring to take risks and conquer as their pirate predecessors, which was also an important reason for the slow expansion of Portuguese colonies in Africa.

However, the Portuguese, caught in a continuous decline in national fortune, had no time to consider these issues, and the Portuguese government had not made much progress over the years, so all problems were difficult to solve, let alone opening up colonies.

Opening up colonies in Africa was actually not difficult, especially for Portugal before, because Portugal’s two colonies were almost connected, with merchants traveling through the middle, but this process was interrupted by East Africa’s expansion.

Before Ernst colonized Africa, the only competitive region in sub-Saharan Africa was the coast of the Gulf of Guinea.

And like Central and Southern Africa, basically no one cared about it, except for the Portuguese and Cape Town, a key transportation hub in the far south.

So as long as the Portuguese government was willing to spend money at that time, it could have obtained a vast area of colonies in Africa, and there were no competitors.

As for the African natives, they were not necessarily stronger than the Native Americans, so the threat was not great. The only thing to be careful about was Zanzibar, which belonged to Arab civilization, but in the 1950s and 60s, the Sultanate of Zanzibar was also in a period of decline, especially after separating from the Sultanate of Oman, its strength had already collapsed beyond recognition.

And the Portuguese did not grasp this point. In their centuries of competition with Arab civilization on the East African coast, they did not gain an advantage, which led to them missing a good opportunity in the 1960s, and East Africa took the lead, followed by East Africa’s beating of Zanzibar, the former hegemon of the East African coastal region.

In any case, the better East Africa developed, the greater the stimulation to the Portuguese, because in the Portuguese view, any achievement made by East Africa should have belonged to the Portuguese.

As for how East Africa developed, in the Portuguese view, it was naturally through the plunder of African wealth. After all, a country of tens of millions of square kilometers was rich enough just by selling minerals.

Brenzino also thought so, so after arriving in Angola from the homeland, Brenzino vowed to take back the lost land for the motherland.

However, after staying in Angola for a few months, Brenzino felt somewhat disappointed, because the East Africa in front of him seemed to be somewhat different from what was promoted in the Portuguese newspapers.

“This is the border area between us and East Africa. It doesn’t seem as exaggerated as they described before. Isn’t it still a vast primeval forest and grassland? You can’t see any signs of modernization at all!” Brenzino said to his companion in disappointment.

“I also heard before how well the Kingdom of East Africa was built, but since coming to Angola, I haven’t seen any decent buildings or agricultural facilities on the other side. However, I heard that the population of East Africa is mainly concentrated in the east. Perhaps what the country is saying about rapid development refers to the area where the Mozambique colony borders East Africa, and Angola doesn’t see this kind of scene,” Brenzino’s comrade-in-arms explained.

“So our Kingdom of Portugal was defeated by an original German prince like this? Such a desolate scene on the opposite side is completely different from the East Africa, which has been described as a rich land in recent years!” Brenzino felt that he had been shamelessly deceived.

“Brenzino, the East Africans just haven’t developed this place. If you go to the Indian Ocean coast, or encounter East African cities, you wouldn’t say that. They are not the kind of barbarians who drink blood, but are well-equipped and numerous.

The important reason why southern Angola was annexed before was that tens of thousands of East African troops came from the east. I was one of the people who experienced it. It can be said that the East African army looks no different from regular European professional soldiers.

And at that time, the army of our Angolan colony looked no different from the militia, without even uniform clothing, and lacked heavy weapons support.

And the East Africans on the opposite side were equipped with machine guns and artillery, which was almost fatal to the Angolan colony at that time.

Because we didn’t have the ability to face the East African offensive, after all, what Portugal had encountered before were natives with stone spears and bows and arrows. It was as if overnight they had become more professional professional soldiers than our locals.”

At that time, there was a generation gap between Angola and Mozambique and East Africa. East Africa directly led the Portuguese colony by an era. If it weren’t for British intervention, Angola and Mozambique would have basically been destroyed in one battle.

Chapter 689: Mental Imbalance

While Brenzinho was conversing with his comrades, the East African Defense Force’s border patrol in the “Wilderness” was also conducting its daily routine.

“Sergeant Hans, are those Portuguese soldiers over there?” Peter, a new recruit, asked. This was his first time seeing Portuguese people.

“That’s right. Look, there are many Black people in their ranks, and their uniforms are even uglier than our simplified version from over a decade ago. All drab gray and wrinkled. Only the three officers’ uniforms look decent, but they’re quite old too,” Hans commented, scrutinizing the Portuguese patrol across the border.

The uniforms of the Portuguese Angolan colonial army could be described as extremely ugly. To put it kindly, they were “crude,” resembling the warlord armies of the Republic of China in the Far East.

In reality, the Portuguese mainland army uniforms were barely passable, following the European “gaudy” style, with many patterns and a bit of flair. However, the colonies naturally couldn’t compare to the mainland.

This was also related to Portugal’s financial difficulties. In fact, after the last strike in East Africa, Portugal’s national fortune had declined significantly.

“I heard that Portugal used to be a great power, possessing a large number of colonies around the world. Now they’ve really fallen on hard times, which shows how financially strapped they are. It really feels like a sea change,” Peter said with some emotion.

Peter had received East African compulsory education, so he knew a little about history and Portugal’s place in Europe, but he didn’t know much about Portugal. After all, there are so many countries in the world, and East Africa couldn’t possibly describe Portugal in detail in its textbooks.

Of course, if it were the history of the Age of Exploration, then Portugal would be quite glorious, but Portugal’s glorious history was also three or four hundred years ago.

“Portugal has a thick foundation. They declined from the British Empire to what they are today, and they can still hold a place in the world, thanks to the pioneering of their ancestors. If they lose their overseas colonies, they will be no different from those small and poor countries in Eastern Europe,” Hans said.

Hans was speaking German to his subordinates, so the Portuguese on the other side of the border certainly couldn’t understand him, but they could probably tell that he wasn’t saying anything good, because Peter and the others had faint “smiles” on their faces, clearly revealing some hostility and contempt.

As a young man, Peter naturally felt a sense of pride after comparing himself to the Portuguese soldiers across the way, mainly because the gap between the two sides was obvious.

East Africa’s new-style military uniforms had long escaped the predicament of “cutting corners” to save costs. Now, they were completely developed towards: practicality, aesthetics, grandeur, and comfort.

The contrast with the Portuguese soldiers’ uniforms was obvious, and uniforms have always been one of the faces of the army. Good-looking uniforms can significantly boost the morale of the army.

“These German guys, you can tell at a glance that they usually eat oily food, and the fabric of their clothes looks very particular. It’s just that their aesthetics are a bit different from European tastes, a real waste of good things. Their military boots are obviously made of leather, and so are their belts. This kind of vanity project is something only these ‘African natives’ would do,” Brenzinho said with disdain towards the East African army.

In Brenzinho’s opinion, the East African soldiers didn’t look like they were ready for war, dressed so well, did they think they were European aristocrats!

Moreover, because the East African army’s food situation is among the best in the world, the average East African soldier is also more robust than the Portuguese, which made Brenzinho even more psychologically unbalanced.

Even new recruits like Peter, who had only been in the army for a short time, didn’t suffer from malnutrition due to compulsory education and the East African standard of living. Instead, they had a kind of scholarly air about them.

It made the Portuguese feel that the other side was the real army, while their side was more like those “country bumpkins” from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This formed a sharp contrast with the glorious history of the Portuguese colonial empire, and the contrast was very strong.

In fact, when Portugal was financially wealthy, the army was also well-funded, especially hundreds of years ago, when the Portuguese army, wearing expensive plate armor, left its mark all over the world, defeating many indigenous people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. So it is understandable that they are now psychologically unbalanced.

Hans didn’t show it as obviously as Peter. As a veteran, he had a wealth of experience in East Africa and had fought against the Portuguese before.

His 411th Division was the main force that crossed hundreds of miles to attack the Angolan colony, so he had enough pride in the Portuguese army, and even disdained to bother with such a defeated opponent.

In his opinion, the combat effectiveness of the Portuguese army was even inferior to some difficult indigenous tribes. This was his personal experience.

So he said to Peter and the other new recruits: “If you only talk about colonies, Portugal is definitely one of the top countries in the world. After all, there are only a few countries with colonies that cover millions of square kilometers. However, the area and number of colonies do not represent the combat effectiveness of the Portuguese, especially this kind of mixed force wearing Portuguese regular army uniforms and mixed with Black people.”

“Sergeant, why is that? Shouldn’t the regular army be stronger!” Peter asked. In his opinion, the East African army was like this. The army was much stronger than the militia, whether in terms of professional quality, psychological quality, or weapons and equipment.

Hans liked to play the teacher: “The Portuguese colonies were seized by them when they were pirates. On the other hand, after the Portuguese army became regularized, they didn’t achieve much. After all, pirates pay attention to hard work and don’t fear death, daring to fight desperately.

This was especially obvious when our company commander led us to encounter those plantation private armed forces in Angola. The regular army basically collapsed with one blow. After all, the treatment of the Portuguese army is much worse than ours.

I saw their food back then. To put it bluntly, it was only slightly better than the pig slop in East Africa. Combined with their equipment, which is still at the level of ten years ago, without any progress for so many years, you can tell at a glance that the army’s management level is backward.”

The “pig slop” that Hans mentioned caused Peter and the others to laugh out loud. The pigs in East Africa do eat “human” food. Of course, this comparison depends on which countries you compare it to, such as Japan and North Korea.

The laughter of the East African Defense Force soldiers was so harsh in the ears of Brenzinho and the other Portuguese. Although they didn’t know what the Germans were saying, it still caused the Portuguese to glare angrily.

Obviously, the East African Defense Force also noticed this. Peter whistled and glared back provocatively.

“Captain!” The Portuguese patrol’s deputy captain, Leird, gritted his teeth and signaled to Brenzinho.

Obviously, his emotions were provoked by the Germans, so he was a little impulsive.

Brenzinho looked at Leird, knowing what he meant, but he also looked around and found that, apart from the Portuguese, the other Black soldiers were clearly daydreaming, with an attitude of not caring.

He sighed in his heart, how could this kind of army compare to others! Although the Germans on the other side were also a mix of yellow and white, they were as close as one family.

But the Black soldiers on his side were completely lifeless, like “corpses.” How could they fight in this situation! Moreover, as the captain, he couldn’t provoke them on his own because of a moment of anger. If it led to a military conflict, he couldn’t afford to take the blame.

It can’t be blamed on the Black soldiers for being like this, after all, Black people are inferior in the colonies, with no dignity, let alone acting as cannon fodder for the Portuguese.

Chapter 690: Western Military Deployment

The “minor conflicts” on the East African border were countless, and the conflicts with the Portuguese were the most frequent, especially evident on the Mozambique side of the East African border.

As for Angola, it was a secondary direction in East Africa’s strategy. Despite Angola possessing fertile land and excellent ports along the Atlantic coast, which East Africa “coveted,” the Indian Ocean coast was always the core of East Africa’s interests.

The area controlled by Mozambique was the focus of East Africa’s attention. This conclusion could be drawn simply by looking at East Africa’s actual deployments, as Mozambique was almost completely surrounded by East Africa.

Although the Indian Ocean was a vast ocean, East Africa also had the Comoros Islands naval base, so the level of danger faced by Mozambique was far greater than that faced by Angola.

However, contrary to East Africa, Portugal’s management of Angola was clearly higher than that of Mozambique. The most obvious indication of this was that three brigades from mainland Portugal were deployed in Angola, while Mozambique only had one mainland brigade.

However, with British support for Mozambique, and the fact that the main battlefield last time was within Mozambique, Mozambique had already formed an army with a size of around twenty thousand. These twenty thousand were all organized according to European army standards, or rather, British standards, forming two divisions.

In addition, there were more than ten thousand black auxiliary troops. The number of black auxiliary troops could actually be higher, but they were organized into the reserve force by the Governor’s Office of Mozambique. Therefore, the main military personnel in Mozambique numbered around thirty thousand. In wartime, if the army expanded, it should be able to reach hundreds of thousands, with black people as the main source of soldiers.

Angola’s military strength was only stronger, not weaker. However, Angola’s military strength was more reflected at the level of direct leadership by the kingdom, focusing on the two infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade from the mainland.

Angola had over thirteen thousand troops just from mainland Portugal. In addition, there were more than forty thousand troops independently formed by the colony of Angola, under the leadership of the Portuguese army.

Therefore, Angola and Mozambique had a big difference in army models. Mozambique clearly had more autonomy, while the Angolan army was mainly under the jurisdiction of mainland Portugal, basically only differing in name.

Therefore, Brenzino said: “Do not engage in conflict with the East Africans. Here, the black people are unreliable. Relying on just the three of us is not enough to pose a threat to the East Africans on the other side, and we cannot bear the corresponding consequences. If the East Africans do not do anything too outrageous, we can only turn a blind eye.”

What would be considered outrageous was illegal border crossing, or East Africa taking the initiative to attack. This would put the initiative completely in East Africa’s hands. Just thinking about this made Brenzino feel depressed.

In fact, East Africa was also very depressed at this time, especially the Western Military Region. The entire Western Military Region currently only had two divisions of troops that could actually be mobilized. The remaining troops had been concentrated in the three central provinces, ready to be deployed at any time.

This meant that the Western Military Region faced the greatest pressure in the entire country. The Western Military Region had a total of five divisions, of which two were in the central region, one was deployed in Southwest Africa, and only the 414th and 412th Divisions were on the Angolan border.

Before the East African-Portuguese War, the total strength of these two divisions was only over thirteen thousand. After the current expansion, it reached over twenty thousand, while Angola had over fifty thousand military personnel on the opposite side.

Moreover, East Africa’s western border line was long, and the level of development was not as good as the east. The railway only had the western section of the Central Railway, and it only extended to Mangu City.

As a result, East Africa actually did not have much advantage over Angola in terms of transportation and logistics. As for highways, there were several main lines in the entire west, which were the lifeline of transportation in the western region, but they were not necessarily much better than those in Angola.

The reason for this result was that the Southern Military Region faced greater pressure, including the Boers, the British, and the Portuguese.

Therefore, in order to be able to support the southern battlefield at any time, East Africa had four divisions of troops deployed in the three central provinces. These four divisions would provide support to the east, west, and south directions depending on the needs of the battlefield.

Therefore, Hans also knew when to stop and not over-stimulate the Portuguese. He said to his subordinates: “We will continue to patrol. There is no need to stare blankly at this group of Portuguese here. Karls, the three of you continue to stand guard here. If anything unexpected happens, fire a warning shot.”

“Yes, squad leader!”

Seeing the East African patrol team disperse, Brenzino could only lead a group of unlucky black soldiers away, pretending that nothing had happened.

It is worth mentioning that the division of military regions in East Africa was already very different from the administrative divisions of East Africa, because East Africa’s territory had expanded, or rather, the development of the central and western regions, the original division of military regions was somewhat out of date.

For example, the three central provinces now had the economic strength and population size to be considered one of the core areas of East Africa.

However, they still belonged to the Western Military Region. The scope of East Africa’s western military activities had expanded. For example, the Nile Military Region controlled the northwest of East Africa, including the regions of Sudan and the Central African Republic in its previous life. Originally, it only had two divisions of troops.

Later, East Africa’s sphere of activity expanded to the easternmost city of Bangui, and the main channel of the Congo River was also included in East Africa’s military jurisdiction, greatly expanding the scope of the Nile Military Region.

Two divisions of troops were not enough, so a new 312th Division was added to be responsible for the defense of the Ubangi River and Congo River basins.

In fact, this also meant that in addition to being responsible for the defense against Egypt (Sudan) and other forces in the north, the Nile Military Region also shouldered the heavy responsibility of supporting the Western Military Region at any time.

With the help of the Ubangi River and the Congo River, the 312th Division could quickly reach Kinshasa, using it as a position to deter and strike the Portuguese sphere of influence in the lower reaches of the Congo River.

As for the 312th Division, it was actually adjacent to the Belgian colony and Sigmaringen. There was basically no conflict between the two, so temporarily borrowing the strength of the 312th Division was a feasible plan.

The Western Military Region had also expanded its area by nearly one million square kilometers due to the incorporation of Southwest Africa (including southern Angola).

Therefore, the main factors affecting East Africa’s western defense were the large-scale development of the central and western regions, especially the construction of the three industrial provinces in the central region, and the development of Hesse Province in the Congo River basin.

One was the expansion of the western area, including the Congo rainforest and Southwest Africa, which were incorporated into East Africa’s sphere of influence.

With the economic strength of the central provinces, they should actually be separated from the Western Military Region to form a new Central Military Region, but East Africa already had a Central Region.

If East Africa were to “move the capital” in the future, then the Central Military Region should move into the central region of East Africa, and the original Central Military Region would be renamed the “Eastern Military Region.”

However, the current division of military regions was somewhat unreasonable, but it was still usable and generally met the needs of East Africa’s national conditions, because the original level of development in the entire west was too low. Therefore, East Africa had not changed much in these years except for building a few more highways.

Moreover, the development of transportation in East Africa made military mobilization more convenient, especially after the Hesse Province railway opened, the pattern of the East African railway network centered on New Frankfurt would basically take shape.

In the future, the status of New Frankfurt as a national railway hub would no longer be changed. At that time, New Frankfurt would be truly well-connected in all directions.

According to the East African railway network, it was basically possible to go to any place in East Africa from New Frankfurt, and it was the most convenient route.

Chapter 691: South African Situation

“The railway is at the heart of our East African military passage. Around the entire railway system, we can transport troops to wherever we want to go as much as possible, just like in the Franco-Prussian War, where Prussia continuously transported troops from the rear to the front lines via railway, making it difficult for the French to cope!” The East African General Staff made the same judgment.

The East African Army’s model for learning is Prussia, although it has gone a bit “awry” now, the core content is still the same.

After all, East Africa’s national conditions are very different compared to Prussia, or even the whole of Germany. East Africa is vast, which means that the railway system cannot be as dense as Germany’s at present.

“In fact, after the completion of the Hesse Railway, the total railway mileage of our East Africa has only just exceeded fifteen thousand kilometers. This includes many branch lines and mining area railways, as well as the result of the Hesse Railway currently under construction. That is to say, our railway is currently only at the same level as Russia,” said Chief of General Staff, Swete.

“We don’t measure up. Russia’s railway mileage exceeded thirty thousand kilometers in 1880, and it is probably more now. It should be twice ours,” Merkel said.

“But don’t forget that Tsarist Russia’s land area is also twice that of our country, so the two countries are at the same level in terms of railway density, unless it is the kind of excessive railway construction like in the United States.”

After the economic crisis broke out in 1873, railway construction in the United States did encounter setbacks in a short period. For a time, railway companies went bankrupt one after another, and stock prices plummeted.

However, after only a few years, railway construction in the United States was even more extensive than before the crisis. By 1880, the total railway mileage in the United States had exceeded ninety thousand kilometers.

This is also a manifestation of various countries responding to the economic crisis. For example, Germany and Austria-Hungary implemented railway nationalization, and then accelerated railway investment by the state, boosted domestic demand, promoted upstream and downstream development, and ensured employment. Other countries were not so extreme, but they also had similar practices.

Therefore, in the middle and late stages of the economic crisis, the progress of railway construction accelerated instead. East Africa was of course no exception, and large-scale railway construction began at the same time as the economic crisis broke out.

But even the Central Railway, such a major artery, is less than five thousand kilometers long, and with the Hesse Railway still under construction, it is only six thousand kilometers.

The second largest artery, the Northern Railway, has a total mileage of more than three thousand kilometers, and the two together are less than ten thousand kilometers in total mileage.

Therefore, East Africa’s railway construction is far less exaggerated than that of the United States and Germany. At present, East Africa’s railway mileage can only be compared with “small” island countries like the United Kingdom, whose railway mileage is just over eighteen thousand kilometers.

Of course, the most exaggerated is Germany, which has reached more than thirty thousand kilometers, the second largest railway network in the world. But it should be noted that Germany is much smaller than the United States, so Germany’s railway density is second only to the British mainland, and it is worth noting that the British mainland now includes the whole of Ireland, so its railway density is not much different.

The British railway is basically saturated, Germany still has the potential to double, and the United States may build an exaggerated railway network like in its previous life, and then abandon most of it.

Only East Africa and Tsarist Russia are in the same boat, but East Africa’s financial situation is much stronger than that of the Tsarist Russian government. This is also the reason why East Africa’s railway mileage is rapidly catching up with Tsarist Russia.

“If we want to give full play to the advantages of the railway, we need the close cooperation of the railway department, like Germany in a state of war, concentrating all transportation capacity to deal with it,” Merkel said.

“It doesn’t need to be that extreme. The railway must be connected with the military, but it cannot affect domestic production and life activities, especially when the intensity of the war may not be as great as we think,” Swete retorted.

So far, as long as the war has not started, East Africa cannot determine where the scale of the war will develop.

Because the enemy is mainly divided into three forces, one is the Transvaal people. Although the Transvaal people have the smallest territory and the weakest strength, they are the essence of concentration.

The Transvaal people are more warlike than the British and Portuguese, and the Transvaal people have the deepest hatred for East Africa. After all, East Africa’s war against the Transvaal Republic was a war of annihilation, so that now the Transvaal people can only exist on the land of their “brother” the Orange Free State.

It is true that the Transvaal people have now gained the dominance of the Orange Free State, but in order to restore their country, the Orange people are still their main target of wooing.

Therefore, the Transvaal people have made promises to the Orange people, that is, after the restoration of the country, the Transvaal people will voluntarily hand over the dominance of the Orange Free State to the Orange people.

This may just be an “excuse.” After all, it is not easy to spit out something that has already been swallowed, and the Transvaal people also need the former Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State to merge.

Because compared to the British, East Africa, and the Portuguese, the Boer’s territory is too small and the population is too small. If they are divided into several countries, they cannot concentrate their forces to compete with the major forces. In that case, the Boers will only repeat the same mistakes as when the Transvaal Republic was destroyed by East Africa.

With the destruction of the Transvaal Republic and the Griqualand Republic by East Africa, there are actually still two Boer countries in existence today.

One is the Orange Free State, and the other is the East Griqualand Republic. The East Griqualand Republic does not have much presence, but it still exists.

The Griqualand Republic destroyed by East Africa, which is the former British Bechuanaland, should be called the West Griqualand Republic. To the west of the British Natal Colony, there is actually a very small East Griqualand Republic, which is also one of the countries established by the Boers.

However, the concept of the Boer is probably only remembered by the Transvaal people now. First of all, the Orange people can no longer be as harmonious with the Transvaal people as they were in the past. The two have actually split.

Secondly, the East Griqualand Republic does not want to participate in this kind of game and dispute between “big countries.” After all, none of the forces are something that the East Griqualand Republic can provoke, including the current Transvaal people.

Of course, this kind of standing in line is not something that the East Griqualand Republic can avoid by trying to escape. As early as 1879, they became a “dependency” of Cape Town, just like the Orange Free State.

And the East Griqualand Republic was able to escape unscathed, thanks to the British Natal Colony separating them from East Africa, so they did not border East Africa.

In fact, East Africa is not very interested in the land of the East Griqualand Republic. Its location is in the mountainous area of southeastern Lesotho, which is the Drakensberg Mountains.

East Africa has long completed the military layout of the Drakensberg Mountains and the Lesotho region. The north is in the hands of East Africa, and the south is the Natal Colony. It is impossible to launch an attack on East Africa from a high position.

As for the poor Kingdom of Lesotho, it has long been divided up by East Africa, the Orange Free State, and the Natal Colony.

Having said that about the Boers, the second is the Portuguese. The Portuguese are not as united as imagined. At least Angola and Mozambique, which are separated by East Africa, have a certain competitive relationship.

This is mainly a dispute over resources between the two sides. Both sides have their own interests and hope to get the protection of the kingdom’s mainland to avoid being poisoned by East Africa. So in this regard, both colonies are the same. The mainland can be more inclined to its own side. Obviously, the Angola colony is currently more favored by the mainland.

Finally, there are the British. The British situation is much better than the previous two. At least the British mainland still listens to what it says, which is also the benefit of British hegemony.

If British hegemony is gone, then the likes of India, Australia, and Canada would have been independent long ago. So now British hegemony is still extremely stable, and cooperation between the mainland and the colonies outweighs the contradictions.

Chapter 1: Taking Leave

Four o’clock in the afternoon.

Chapter 692: A Vast Disparity

Government of the Transvaal Republic.

“Mr. President, we can’t just sit here and wait for death. Reality is forcing us to act sooner rather than later. Otherwise, it will be even more difficult to make a comeback in the future.”

“Our main problem now is military spending. Maintaining such a large army is an enormous burden for a country like ours. To describe it as being obsessed with military force at the expense of the people would not be an exaggeration. Even with the Orange people included, the total number of Boers in the entire Orange Free State is only about four hundred thousand, which means only two hundred thousand men, and that’s before subtracting the old, weak, and disabled. So, a standing army of over ten thousand men is simply astronomical for us. We simply can’t sustain it.”

“Back when the Transvaal Republic still existed, the national treasury was often empty. We simply couldn’t afford an army. Now, even the rats would leave in tears. All that’s left is a pile of debt!”

“If we manage to restore the country in the future, we’ll only be constantly repaying debts to the British. So, Mr. President, we must make the British choose. Either they provide more free aid, or the Transvaal Restoration Army disbands on the spot.”

Little Pretorius listened to his subordinate’s report with a grim face. Because of the military spending issue, the Transvaal Republic now faced two choices: either disband the troops or launch a war as soon as possible.

Neither of these choices was good for the current Transvaalers. Disbanding the troops would severely damage the government’s authority.

After all, this was supposed to be a “restoration” army, but if the army disappeared, what would the Boers in the Orange Free State think?

To maintain combat effectiveness and sustain the army’s operations, the Transvaal army had already undergone several reductions in size, which naturally caused dissatisfaction among the Orange people.

Because the Orange people were even more eager to promote the “restoration of the Transvaal Republic” than the Transvaalers. This wasn’t because the Orange people had a sudden attack of “conscience,” or regarded the Transvaalers as “brothers in arms.”

It was to get these British lackeys out of the Orange Free State as soon as possible. And the prerequisite for the Transvaalers to leave the Orange Free State was obviously the re-establishment of the original Transvaal Republic. Otherwise, the Transvaalers could only live as refugees in the Orange Free State.

As for launching a war as soon as possible, the Transvaalers also wanted to, but now the Transvaalers were just a dog on a leash held by the British. The British government had instead become the main force maintaining regional peace, and an important reason for this was that Britain was not yet ready for war.

So, Little Pretorius said, “If the British don’t cooperate with us, then this war is destined to fail. So, the question now isn’t whether I want to start a war, but when the British want to start a war. After all, the gap between us and East Africa is too great. Even if we win a few major victories, we can’t change our disadvantage if the East Africans just keep wearing us down.”

Population is East Africa’s core secret. Coupled with East Africa’s semi-closed national management system, it is difficult for foreign countries and forces to obtain East Africa’s true population data.

However, through observation of the East African coast and the performance of East Africa in previous wars, other countries generally agree that the current East African population should be no less than ten million. The only question is whether it is more than Brazil. As for being on par with the United States, no country dares to think that way, after all, East Africa has existed for too short a time.

East Africa is happy to conceal its national strength. Apart from the army and trade volume, there is basically nothing obvious that allows other countries to judge East Africa’s national strength.

After all, the value created by each person is different. For example, the value created by a steam engine is about the same as that of dozens of workers. Even agricultural exports have a great deal of flexibility, and apart from not wanting to excessively disrupt international grain prices, domestic consumption is also very high.

However, East Africa is, after all, a large country, rich in various products, including grain, various cash crops, industrial products, minerals, and a large trading fleet, and a powerful army. It is impossible to achieve such a comprehensive picture without a population of ten million.

After all, small countries with a population of one million cannot have such a complete industrial chain and trade exports. Therefore, East Africa can only be a large country with a population of over ten million. This can be seen from the development of East Africa’s coastal port cities.

East Africa’s two major cities, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, are in no way inferior to those large European cities, and their industrial development is about the same as that of Europe and the United States. Therefore, it can be determined that the eastern coast of East Africa has reached European levels.

East Africa’s vast territory can also consolidate its national defense. Being neighbors with Portugal, Transvaal, Britain, and a group of countries on the northern border, indicates that East Africa’s army reserves are very considerable, and so many troops need a population to support them.

What makes British intelligence personnel feel most uneasy is that East Africa has been demilitarizing in recent years.

For example, Dar es Salaam used to be full of East Africans in military uniforms. At that time, East Africa was called a “military country” by passing ships. Later, Dar es Salaam had more clothing styles, but the number of police officers increased, and it became a “police country.” Now, Dar es Salaam and other open cities are completely the same as ordinary European cities. Walking on the streets feels no different from cities in Germany and Austria-Hungary.

This all shows that East Africa is developing towards a normal country, but in this state, East Africa’s military strength is not weak but strong, and it has even established a powerful new navy.

This can only mean one thing: East Africa’s national strength is growing, and it no longer needs to “arm the whole country” as before. This is a manifestation of confidence, and the East Africans’ confidence is obviously related to the growth of East Africa’s national strength.

British intelligence is naturally equivalent to Transvaal intelligence, and the Transvaalers can originally get close to the East African border.

East Africa maintains a large army in the southern region all year round, and has built many fortifications and military fortresses on the border. Military spending must be considerable, but East Africa’s eastern economy is still developing rapidly. This is a situation that makes the Transvaalers feel fear.

The two southern border provinces (Southern Frontier Province, New Baden Province) have a standing army of about fifty thousand men all year round. Including the military dependents and personnel serving the army, there are almost hundreds of thousands of people. What’s more, New Hamburg, the capital of the Southern Frontier Province (Zulu Kingdom and southern Transvaal Republic), is currently the undisputed largest city in the South African region, with a population of as many as one hundred and thirty thousand, while Cape Town, which ranks second, has only about fifty thousand people.

Therefore, East Africa has about the same population in only two provinces bordering the Orange Free State as the Orange Free State. And these two provinces are only relatively backward provinces in East Africa’s economy. Among East Africa’s more than twenty provinces and regions, only Southwest Africa and the Congo Rainforest, as well as some western provinces, have fewer people than these two provinces.

“The disparity in strength between us and East Africa is so great that we must rely on the British to do anything. Without Britain, I’m afraid East Africa would have crossed the Vet River long ago and attacked us Transvaal Republic elements.” Little Pretorius clearly knew the gap between East Africa and the Transvaal Republic, so he said with a hint of tragic emotion.

“Mr. President, now is not the time to consider the gap in national strength between the two countries. The great cause of restoring the country is the responsibility of our generation of Boers. Recreating the glory of the Boers in the past, South Africa is our land, and Britain and East Africa are both thieves, and we must first solve the hidden danger of East Africa.

The smallest gap between us and East Africa is actually in the military. As long as all Boers unite and have British support, we may not be able to get a script like Prussia’s surprise victory over France.”

Chapter 693: Independence Again!

The military gap is indeed the easiest to close. After all, it’s impossible to surpass East Africa in other areas. To put it bluntly, the Orange Free State is just a tiny speck compared to East Africa, with its population and land area severely limited.

However, if the Boers in this region were mobilized to the extreme, like Paraguay in South America, Transvaal could also field an army of hundreds of thousands.

Of course, achieving this is clearly not the desire of the Transvaal’s high-level officials. If it were really like Paraguay, the future of the Transvaal Republic would be ruined, unless they also learned from Paraguay and reintroduced a large population.

But now Paraguay is like it has had a blood transfusion. Is it still the same Paraguay it once was? So things definitely can’t develop in that direction. After all, they aren’t war maniacs like the younger Lopez, who imitated “Napoleon.” They just want to obtain a small piece of land in South Africa and rebuild the Boer homeland.

Moreover, the Transvaal Republic probably isn’t as brave as Paraguay was back then. Although the younger Lopez failed, he did manage to fight one against three, and his enemies were backed by Great Britain, the world’s hegemon.

At that time, Paraguay’s level of modernization was significantly higher than that of the current Orange Free State. After all, in the eyes of East Africa, the Boers are just a group of herders in South Africa.

Back then, Paraguay had already risen rapidly under the leadership of the Lopez family, two generations of presidents, sending people to powerful European countries to investigate and learn, imitating the West to build their own country.

They not only attracted a large amount of foreign investment to stimulate the economy, but also introduced technology to build railways and steel plants, lay telegraph lines, and paid great attention to public facilities. Schools, hospitals, and other institutions beneficial to people’s livelihoods sprung up.

The Orange Free State doesn’t have as many people as Paraguay, nor is its land as fertile. The Transvaal Republic used to have abundant mineral resources, but they have already become a wedding dress for East Africa.

In recent years, it has even experienced a civil war between the Transvaal people and the Orange people. It can be said that economic development has been a complete mess. The only gain is that, with the support of Great Britain, it has built a modern army with some real combat experience.

This army is also the source of the Transvaal people’s confidence. Therefore, it can be said that the smallest gap between the Transvaal Republic and East Africa is in the military.

“First, communicate with the British. They are too slow. Threaten them appropriately. If they can’t get the aid to us, we will disband the army and no longer confront East Africa. I don’t think that’s the situation the British want to see!” said the Minister of Defense.

This is more like a threat, more like going on strike, just like the British workers going on strike, demanding that the government and factory owners forcibly increase wages. If Britain cannot meet the demands of the Transvaal people, the Transvaal people can also go on strike in the matter of confronting East Africa.

“I have to say, this is a good idea. Every time our reasonable demands are ignored by the British, this kind of indirect threat may be more effective!” said the younger Pretorius.

The Transvaal Republic’s high-level officials reaching a consensus and preparing to put pressure on the British is, to say the least, an irony, because in the 21st century, there was also a political figure from a former Soviet republic who stood and begged for food from European and American governments.

In the small “international community” of the South African region, there is also this kind of political correctness. Boers, Portuguese, British, and even black people unanimously believe that the East African Kingdom is an “evil” empire.

Therefore, the Transvaal people can stand on the moral high ground and ask the British government for money. If the media of the 21st century existed in this era, the younger Pretorius would probably also learn from the younger Zelenskyy, attacking those British politicians who do not provide aid to the Transvaal and accusing them of colluding with “Africa.”

And the coincidence is that the current top leader of the Orange Free State is a Transvaal person, while Zelenskyy is a Jewish person. Neither of them are considered “one of us” in the eyes of the local “natives.”

…

Cape Town.

In reality, the British are also speechless about the “reasonable” demands of the Transvaal people.

“Can’t these idiots solve this problem themselves! We simply don’t have the time and energy to take care of the so-called Transvaal people right now. And an army of more than ten thousand people shouldn’t be too much for the Transvaal people. Even if they sell a few more cows, they should be able to recoup the cost!” said Governor Bartle Frere.

“Your Excellency, the Boers do raise a lot of cattle and sheep, but their ability to monetize them is very poor. In the past, they could directly export goods from the east, but now they can only go through our territory, and the local merchants have to handle it, so the price elasticity is much less. Moreover, the Boers value their quality of life and are not very willing to pay taxes or spend money on military expenses. And apart from madmen like Prussia, probably very few countries do that.”

The subordinate’s words are reasonable. The Orange Free State is surrounded by East Africa on three sides, its traditional trade routes have been cut off, and the war has had an impact. Their financial resources are almost exhausted. Moreover, unscrupulous British merchants are raising prices on the spot, squeezing the Boers’ profit margins, further reducing the Orange Free State government’s fiscal revenue.

In the past, the Orange Free State could collect taxes from local diamond mine owners or transit merchants, but now these are all operated by the British, and the Orange Free State has become a colony managed by Cape Town, so naturally it cannot receive this part of the tax revenue.

Bartle Frere said helplessly: “Asking us for money is definitely impossible, but we don’t need to be soft on those stingy merchants. They should have contributed to resisting East Africa in the first place. After all, isn’t our ultimate goal in South Africa to protect their interests? So let the Orange Free State government discuss it and re-establish tariffs and levy taxes on local businesses!”

“Won’t this cause dissatisfaction among our own country’s merchant groups?”

“There’s no other way. For the sake of the British Empire’s interests, someone has to sacrifice their private interests. And they’ve been eating their fill of fat these years, so it’s time for them to contribute to the country.” Bartle Frere said indifferently.

“Your Excellency, I have an idea. I don’t know if it can kill two birds with one stone, both without offending local merchants and appeasing the Boers.”

“Oh? Tell me about it.”

If he could avoid directly offending his own country’s merchants and mine owners in the Orange Free State, Bartle Frere would naturally be more willing to do so.

“Why don’t we just let the Orange Free State become independent again!”

Bartle Frere asked in some shock: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Your Excellency, this is the best way. In reality, the Orange Free State is just a burden to us. Our colonial government cannot directly obtain much benefit from the Orange Free State. Most of the benefits are taken away by local merchants. And this Orange Free State is still a powder keg that could explode at any time for Cape Town. Sooner or later, they will clash with East Africa, and if a war breaks out, we will be drawn in and unable to escape.”

Bartle Frere: “You mean strategic initiative?”

“Yes, if the Orange Free State becomes independent again, they will not be able to morally blackmail Cape Town, and they can only rely on us, Great Britain. Even if they become independent again, facing the threat of East Africa, they will still have to follow our orders.”

Britain is not opposed to the Transvaal people starting a war with East Africa, but the timing of this war must be in their own hands. They cannot be dragged down by the Transvaal people and forced into a passive war. Therefore, letting the Orange Free State become independent again can solve this problem.

Chapter 694: Extortion

Bloemfontein.

“What? Let the Orange Free State become independent again!” Little Pretorius was somewhat surprised to hear Cape Town’s request, but more than that, he felt worried.

Under normal circumstances, as a Boer, he would definitely be very willing to be independent and autonomous, because the ultimate goal of the Transvaal Boers was to rebuild the Boer Republic.

But the current situation was special. The Transvaal Boers had to rely on the British to survive, and the Cape Colony’s move to let the “Orange Free State” become independent again was not a good thing.

“Are the British worried about being dragged into the water? The Orange Free State was originally annexed by Cape Town voluntarily. We have been very generous to the British in our territory over the years. Are they now trying to kick us away because of the threat from East Africa?”

It was no wonder Little Pretorius thought so. The British colonial status was currently the protective umbrella of the Orange Free State.

If a war broke out, the British would definitely not allow their colony to be invaded or bullied by others. As a colonial empire with so many colonies, the British had to maintain their image as the “master.” Even when beating a dog, one had to consider the owner first.

“Mr. President, I’m afraid you have a point. Although Britain is the world’s hegemon, its authority comes from having the most colonies in the world. But this also means that Britain’s power is relatively dispersed. Our Orange Free State is insignificant to Britain, but it is a complete nuisance.”

Little Pretorius’s face was very ugly. Although what his subordinate said was the truth, it still grated on him.

He retorted, “Doesn’t our position as the front line against East Africa have any value at all? If they are so arrogant, then the entire African continent will probably be East Africa’s domain!

Therefore, the British cannot abandon us as a pawn. Their strength in Africa is not necessarily stronger than East Africa’s! And to suppress East Africa, they can only unite more allies. Although our Orange Free State is indeed insignificant, our location and military strength should still rank in the top ten in Africa.”

“Mr. President, it’s not that bad. I think the British must have their own purposes. After all, the number of British troops in the Orange Free State has increased in recent years, and Cape Town clearly has big plans. So they must also treat the threat from East Africa seriously. This is the basis for cooperation between us.”

The British would not put pressure on the Transvaal Boers at this time. After all, the Orange Free State’s location was special. If they alienated this ally and pushed them to East Africa’s side, it would not be worth the loss. Although this “little brother,” the Transvaal Boers, had their own little schemes, they were insignificant compared to the direct threat from East Africa. The Transvaal Boers’ size did not even qualify as a threat.

“Then what do you say is the ultimate purpose of the British letting us go at this time, a colony that they spent many years planning to acquire? What is the ultimate purpose of this sacrifice?” Little Pretorius said.

“Mr. President, this may be a matter of taking the initiative. First of all, the British suddenly made this request after we first proposed increasing military aid. This likely means that the British cannot meet our request.

So they must have considered this issue from a financial perspective. After all, it is not easy to help us support an army.”

Little Pretorius affirmed, “That’s an interesting idea, but there’s some truth to it.”

If it were Little Pretorius himself, he definitely wouldn’t be as generous as the British. This was partly due to Britain’s strong financial resources, but helping other countries train an army was inherently thankless, especially when spending their own “taxpayers’” money. They might as well recruit more cannon fodder in India. At least in the British’s eyes, the Indians were “reliable.”

“Yes, Mr. President. After all, the British responded this way after we made this request, so it can be determined that their finances are also relatively tight.”

During the Orange Free State civil war, the British could be said to have single-handedly supplied the Transvaal Boers and the Orange Free Staters supported by East Africa to fight.

And the final result was spending a lot of money and time fighting a war with little value. The gains were not as good as the Kingdom of Burma, which they captured without much effort. In comparison, the British definitely felt they had lost a lot.

East Africa, as the behind-the-scenes financier of the Orange Free Staters, naturally also lost money. But for East Africa, it was a gain to be able to consume the internal strength of the Boers in advance. Although the Transvaal Boers’ armed forces also grew with British support, exhausting Britain’s energy in the Orange Free State was in East Africa’s interest.

“Secondly, the British’s idea must be to avoid the situation getting out of control. I guess Britain is definitely not ready to break with East Africa yet. After all, Britain’s sanctions against East Africa in recent years have been like the sanctions against the United States in the past. They have not achieved any results. Moreover, East Africa, like the United States, has achieved good development after the sanctions. This has made the British realize that East Africa is different from ordinary colonies or countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.”

“What does this have to do with us?” someone asked.

Little Pretorius answered this question, “The British are not ready, but we Transvaal Boers want to start a war as soon as possible, because our finances are a big problem. The sooner the war starts, the more beneficial it will be for us. This conflicts with Britain’s grand strategy. So, to avoid the situation getting out of control, the British want to cut ties with us to avoid being dragged down.”

“Mr. President, that’s right. So we can only accept the British’s suggestion now. But we can’t let the British off so easily. After all, they didn’t think of this when they annexed the Orange Free State. This alliance doesn’t mean they can kick us out without paying a price.”

The Transvaal government’s high-ranking officials still had to accept the British’s proposal. After all, their dependence on Britain was far greater than Britain’s dependence on them. So, when you are under someone else’s roof, you have to bow your head.

Of course, this further strengthened Little Pretorius and others’ idea of breaking away from British control in the future. After solving the hidden danger of East Africa, they must not work with Britain, this “insidious” country that abandons its teammates at any time. Otherwise, they would be sold out one day and still help the British count the money.

“First of all, the British must solve the aid problem. We must at least maintain the army. So, the premise of breaking away from British independence is that the British continue to give us military expenses. Let’s set a small goal first, like five years’ worth.”

This was asking for the moon, and then settling for something more realistic. The British would definitely not agree, but combined with the broken window effect, the British should be more willing to accept the Orange Free State’s next demands.

“Secondly, we have lost a source of income. We can only ask the British merchants and mine owners in the Orange Free State for money. I believe Cape Town will also tacitly agree to this.”

The British controlled the economy of the Orange Free State, so it was reasonable for the Transvaal Boers to target these British merchants and mine owners.

“If Cape Town doesn’t accept it, then we will declare war on East Africa while we haven’t broken away from Britain yet. I don’t think this is what the British want to see,” Little Pretorius said with a sinister smile.

Chapter 695: Natal

Cape Town.

“The demands of the Transvaalers are excessive! Is this a blatant threat to us?” Governor Bartle Frere was truly angered by these brainless Boers.

Directly starting a war with East Africa! Bartle Frere felt that the Boers weren’t trying to start a war with East Africa, but rather waging war on him, their direct superior.

And Bartle Frere was unable to voice his grievances, because the Orange Free State was still a British colony.

If the Transvaalers launched a war against East Africa at this time, what would Britain do? Ignore it? That was obviously impossible.

This was basically no different from Britain directly going to war with East Africa, after all, the incorporation of the Orange Free State into the Cape Colony was a fact.

Therefore, Bartle Frere could only accept the Transvaalers’ blackmail.

“Tell those Transvaalers that we can provide them with military assistance, but only for six months. They will have to rely on themselves for the rest. Hint to them that once the Orange Free State regains its independent national status, it can have ‘independent’ financial rights, especially taxation. Don’t mention anything more than that.”

This was the limit of what Bartle Frere could do as governor. After all, the Transvaalers should be the ones to offend people.

As for the mine owners of diamond and other resources, and the merchants, it was just a matter of paying more taxes. This money was enough for the Transvaalers to survive. The diamond business was a highly profitable industry. Although East Africa had also been exporting in recent years, East Africa and the British were restrained, because who would sell these things as stones when they could sell them at a high price?

Moreover, there was no artificial diamond technology in this era, so the value of diamonds was still very “stable.”

…

British Colony of Natal.

Pietermaritzburg is the capital of the Natal colony, which is also the location of the Port of Natal. Just hearing the suffix of this place name, you know that it was once an important military fortress.

Of course, this glorious history can be traced back to the prosperous era of the East Indian Ocean and African routes. Later, it was the British who ended this prosperity.

At that time, Pietermaritzburg was an important stronghold on this route, echoing Cape Town. After all, the location of Cape Town Port could only control the Cape of Good Hope and could not reach the Mozambique Channel, this important international passage.

Although the Suez Canal was promoted and built by the French, the control is now in the hands of the British. Therefore, the Suez Canal lowered the strategic position of the Natal colony, but now, because of East Africa, Pietermaritzburg, this former port city, has become prosperous again.

First, the New Hamburg port city drove the development of regional commodity trade, and second, the increase in troops stationed here drove the prosperity of the consumer market.

“Another ship arrived at the Port of Natal today. The number of Indians on the street has obviously increased, and many of them are soldiers. This is the most common method used by the British, using Indians as lackeys. However, the number of Indian mercenary troops in Natal is somewhat beyond expectations. It is obvious that they are not here to help the British manage the colony. After all, the colony does not need so many people to manage.”

“The Natal colony is almost becoming an Indian nest. There is no doubt that there are more Indians here than natives. The air is filled with the smell of curry and masala. It seems that the British have hoarded a lot of troops and a large number of Indian cannon fodder here.”

It’s not that the agents of the National Defense Security Bureau are maliciously slandering and belittling the Natal colony, but the catering business on the streets and alleys here is indeed very prosperous.

Most of the people doing business here are Indians. The British don’t know how to cook, and there are so many troops, so the food problem is also solved by Indian cooks.

Under the booming business, Indian restaurants and snack stalls can be seen everywhere, but Indian cuisine also provides convenience for East African intelligence personnel, because only Indian food is slightly palatable to East Africans.

After all, many chefs in America are black, and many of the dishes are created by black people. What good things can these guys from primitive societies make? This is similar to British Indian food, so there is no doubt that Anglo-Saxons are born unable to cook.

“The increase in British troops stationed here is very slow. If we didn’t count the ships at the port every day, we probably wouldn’t have noticed the clues. Therefore, Britain definitely wants to do something unexpected in the future. This conclusion must also be sent back to the country.”

“They use merchant ships to transport soldiers from India to the Natal colony in batches. I believe there should be similar measures in other parts of Cape Town. Therefore, we cannot know the results of the number of British troops and Indian mercenary troops in South Africa. This can only be investigated by colleagues in Cape Town.”

Cape Town is the core of the British in South Africa. Natal can only obey the orders of Cape Town. Therefore, East Africa can hardly gain other gains except watching the increasing number of Indians in Natal.

As for military intelligence, that is the job of the East African Military Intelligence Agency. After all, the East African National Defense Security Bureau is not yet mature, so it can only undertake some peripheral work.

This is not because the Military Intelligence Agency is more powerful. To be honest, the work of the Military Intelligence Agency is even less technical than the National Defense Security Bureau. After all, they can only serve the war, while the business scope of the National Defense Security Bureau is wider and more proactive.

East Africa rarely allows intelligence personnel to perform dangerous tasks, because intelligence personnel need a lot of experience to nurture, and East Africa’s short history makes East Africa unable to afford the loss of this special type of talent.

In this case, the opportunity for the East African National Defense Security Bureau to make meritorious service is greatly reduced, but it is safe. After all, they are not without opponents. Some forces in this world have some intelligence organizations.

Some can even be traced back hundreds of years, so there are many old foxes who have been cultivated. East African intelligence personnel have not yet reached the time to fight them.

“We must have people in Cape Town, but I don’t know how they are developing. But I think it should be easier than here. Natal is too close to East Africa, and there are many troops here, so the British’s crackdown on spies is much stronger than in Cape Town.”

After all, Cape Town is not on the front line of confrontation. On the other hand, the Natal colony is opposite New Hamburg, one of the largest cities in East Africa, and there are East African troops stationed there. Therefore, East Africa will definitely collect information on the British army in Natal. This is the consensus of the British Army.

Europe lacks professional and relatively independent intelligence agencies, but intelligence agencies belonging to the military are essential, which are benchmarked against the East African Military Intelligence Agency, while the East African National Defense Security Bureau is truly lacking.

However, Japan should have a relatively strong intelligence agency. This is most felt by the East African National Defense Security Bureau branch in Japan. Moreover, Japanese culture is also deeper than European culture. They are familiar with The Art of War and other Far Eastern empire works. The traditional solutions such as deception and conspiracy are nothing more than that in this era.

Of course, the main focus of the Japanese intelligence agency is to deal with the Far Eastern Empire, while the East African National Defense Security Bureau takes the opportunity to attack the Japanese mainland. The two intelligence agencies have become parallel lines and rarely intersect. This can be regarded as a fluke.

Chapter 696: Oil Well

On the vast shores of Lake Turkana, a steam drilling rig belched thick black smoke. A stoker steadily shoveled coal into the furnace. Driven by the engine, a heavy metal drill bit worked tirelessly, rising and falling, piercing through the rock strata. Workers used tools to clear the rock debris brought up, pushing it away in wheelbarrows and piling it to the side. This was an oil exploration site in East Africa.

“Mr. Karls, are we really going to find oil here? This is already the sixth well we’ve drilled this year. I feel like we’re wasting our time; this is like looking for a needle in a haystack,” asked the oil worker, Sol.

Sol’s team was a professional oil worker team that had returned from the oil-producing regions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Three years ago, under the orders of the kingdom, they returned to help East Africa find oil.

The team’s steam drilling rig was commissioned by East Africa to a German machinery company, then shipped to Mombasa by sea, and finally transported to Turkana Province by rail and road.

“According to my judgment, there is indeed evidence around Lake Turkana that suggests the possible presence of oil, such as some ancient fossils and relics. However, we currently lack relevant theoretical support, so if we want to extract oil here, we can only do so through constant trial and error,” Karls said.

“Does that mean that even you don’t know if there is oil in Turkana Province?” Sol asked.

“Ahem, that’s indeed the case,” Karls said somewhat awkwardly. “But oil is inherently a very scarce resource. Currently, the world’s oil production areas are basically distributed in the United States and Eastern Europe, so it’s normal for us not to find oil.”

Sol frowned and asked, “East Africa’s area is not small. It’s impossible that such a large country wouldn’t discover a single drop of oil!”

“Mr. Sol, it’s too early to draw conclusions. In fact, oil exploration is inherently about luck. The American oil industry developed in this way. After all, they also lack relevant theoretical foundations and rely more on fossils, geology, and other things to make guesses. Moreover, the area we are currently exploring doesn’t even cover a third of Lake Turkana, let alone the entire Turkana Province, or even the entire kingdom.”

“This is a gamble!” Sol originally thought that as a geological expert, Karls had some real skills, but in the end, he still relied on this method, which was truly disappointing.

After all, Sol himself could complete the drilling work, while Karls seemed useless, and everyone still had to listen to his command.

Karls defended, “You can’t say that. We can’t accurately locate oil through theory because this is completely new knowledge for us humans. Decades ago, we didn’t even have a so-called oil industry. Human large-scale application of oil in the industrial field has a short history. If we can succeed, we can accumulate experience for the future development of oil exploration technology.”

Then he used the United States, which currently has the most developed oil industry, as an example.

“In 1859, Edwin Laurentine Drake, a train conductor from Pennsylvania, drilled the first oil well in the United States. This oil well was located in Titusville, Pennsylvania, with a drilling depth of more than 21 meters. This oil well opened the prelude to the American oil industry.”

“Rockefeller himself started by building refineries and now monopolizes more than eighty percent of the refining capacity, more than ninety percent of the oil transportation, and twenty percent of the crude oil extraction in the United States.”

“If it weren’t for the layout of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Romanian oil industries, Europe would probably become Rockefeller’s market as well. The oil production of the United States alone accounts for about seventy percent of the world’s total, so finding oil in the East African interior is not an easy task.”

“In fact, even with the oil from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Romania, international oil prices are still controlled by the Americans. The good news is that oil production is currently far greater than demand, so oil prices are acceptable, which is also a factor in East Africa’s oil imports. However, the kingdom’s emphasis on oil is obviously greater than any other country. I think this is related to East Africa’s automotive industry.”

As for whether East Africa was betting its national fortune on the oil and automotive industries, that was not something a small figure like Karls could know.

Although oil and automobiles had already appeared, the most important use of oil at present was still for lighting means such as “kerosene lamps,” after all, the popularization of electricity was a rather long process.

Automobiles were even playthings for the “powerful and wealthy.” Even the cheapest bicycles were industrial products that only the middle class could afford, so without decades of development, the prospects of these new industries were not clear to most countries, and only East Africa was going all out to promote the development of related industries.

“Mr. Sol has also worked in the oil-producing areas of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so he should also be clear that the discovery of oil is currently an accident. For example, the Americans, they use the simplest and most crude methods to discover oil, so we can only use the most primitive means to complete the kingdom’s early oil exploration work. Regardless of success or failure, this is valuable experience.”

Currently, American oil exploration technology actually doesn’t have much technical content. Even one of the most common methods is for Western cowboys to ride a horse and then “drill” where the wind blows their hats off, in order to find oil.

This method is even more “mystical” than East Africa’s, but the Americans just happen to rely on this method, and some people become rich overnight.

Of course, this is also related to the American westward expansion. After the first oil well was discovered, many “madmen” bought land in the west and then used cowboys’ hats to bet that there was oil on their land. This was the real “gambling.”

People like East Africa, where Ernst already knew that there was oil in Turkana Province, couldn’t understand it. Ernst knew that the intersection of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia in his previous life had such potential.

“Only when we actually drill an oil well can we turn experience into theory, and then use theory to find more oil. So, Mr. Sol, the career we are currently engaged in can definitely advance the progress of human history. Even if we ultimately don’t find oil, we can still make discoveries and innovations in the field of geology!” Karls said.

“Don’t say such discouraging things, what if…” Sol hadn’t finished speaking.

“We’ve struck oil, Captain Sol!”

Sol’s mouth was like it had been blessed. Karls was also somewhat stunned. He had just said that they might not discover oil, and then he was slapped in the face. This feeling was indeed very complicated, but more than that, he felt excited.

Amidst the huge noise of the steam engine, a cheer came. After three years of “arduous” struggle, East Africa’s first oil well was finally born.

The rolling underground “black gold” gushed out from the wellhead. If it were in the free world, it would probably create another “wealth legend,” but in East Africa, where nationalization was the mainstream, this was the wealth of all East African citizens.

“Don’t get close yet, avoid the release of harmful gases from the oil well, surround this place…” Sol began to direct the on-site oil workers according to his experience working in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

After working in East Africa for three years, he was finally able to use his expertise. Although there had been a lot of drilling work before, most of them were dry wells. This time, it was a real oil well.

Chapter 697: Oil Industry Layout

The discovery of oil in East Africa finally put Ernst at ease. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Only by completing the first step can East Africa’s energy security be in its own hands in the future.

At least East Africa’s energy security will be guaranteed for the next few decades. First, there are coal mines, enough for East Africa to use on its own. The coal resources in South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Botswana would not be considered bad even in Europe. Now that oil has been discovered, although the reserves are still unclear, with the first oil well, there will be a second, and more and more in the future.

Now, the more important thing is how to utilize this oil. East Africa has virtually no foundation in this regard. Previously, East Africa’s refined oil was basically imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Romania, and the United States.

Therefore, East Africa basically does not have an oil industry, which requires the help of the Hechingen Consortium, and also requires East African students studying abroad to return to the country to preside over relevant theoretical research work.

The cooperation between the Hechingen Consortium and the East African government is common in East Africa. The two jointly structure the industrial pattern of East Africa, and this time is still the case.

“Your Highness, the military has taken over the Turkana Province oil field. We will try our best to control this news domestically. Although Turkana Province is also a border province, the north is the Abyssinian Empire, and the Ethiopian Plateau, with mountains as barriers, so the oil field in this location is very beneficial for us to continue to maintain secrecy.”

The East African military attaches great importance to the oil field. The automobile industry, the internal combustion engine industry, and the national defense industry, which are closely related to the oil industry, have all been upgraded again.

After all, East Africa used to rely on imported oil, and the imported oil routes were at risk of being cut off by countries outside the region. The main shipping lanes for East Africa’s oil imports are the Mediterranean and Red Sea lines.

In his previous life, Yemen demonstrated how to take advantage of its geographical location to hold this most important trade route in the world hostage.

East Africa’s domestic oil production solves this problem, so the military must ensure the safety here from an energy security perspective.

This is related to the future development of the army. The emergence of automobiles has shown the military endless possibilities. After the oil can also be guaranteed, the East African military can fully bet on this aspect.

“Very good, not only for energy security considerations, but also at the technical level, we also need to accumulate experience. The first is to rely on local oil resources to build refineries. In addition to being an energy source, oil is also an important chemical raw material. We need to increase our research efforts in this field and break the American monopoly. This takes time. We are now the pursuers, so technical research needs to be kept secret to continue to paralyze our competitors.”

The American oil industry has been developing for decades, and other regions only have the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Hechingen Consortium in Eastern Europe, relying on the talents and technological accumulation of Germany and Europe, to build a relatively primary oil processing industrial chain in a relatively short period of time.

“First, gather a group of experts to Turkana Province to study the causes of the oil field and derive theories. After that, we must continue to increase exploration efforts in Turkana Province.”

“At the same time, transfer some of our workers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Romania and let them prepare. In the future, they may have to stay in the country forever and transfer their families and industries to East Africa!”

“The most important thing is mechanical equipment. We must hurry up and place orders in the German region, purchase it in the name of the Romanian oil field, and then transport it to East Africa.”

Fortunately, East Africa does not have to worry about technical issues in this field, after all, Ernst had already made relevant arrangements in Europe.

“Your Royal Highness, there is another problem now, that is, the issue of oil transportation and urban construction. You must know that the environment in southern Turkana Province is not very good, so if we want to invest in construction locally, there will definitely be no shortage of difficulties.”

The climate environment in Turkana Province is relatively extreme. The northern part is rich in precipitation and has a humid climate due to the uplift of the Ethiopian Plateau, while the southern plains are the opposite.

This time, the oil field is located in southern Turkana Province, so we must overcome the disadvantages of the climate environment. Secondly, there is the transportation problem. The entire Turkana Province, like the Somali region, has a certain status in the East African economy, but there is no railway.

According to Von der Leyen’s idea, it is better to directly build a railway that passes through the oil field and directly reaches the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire.

After all, the Abyssinian Empire is East Africa’s largest land trading partner. This can not only facilitate the transportation of oil to the south, but also improve the transportation in Turkana Province, and further expand East Africa’s trade with the Abyssinian Empire, accelerating the local economic development of Turkana Province.

“Okay.” Ernst basically agreed to this matter without much thought.

Because the northeast does need such a railway, just like when East Africa built the Dodoma to Bujumbura railway to transport rubber resources from the inland to other areas of East Africa.

In addition to this, the railway can greatly improve the local living comfort. The oil industry is closely related to the Second Industrial Revolution, and is one of the emerging industries along with East Africa’s electricity, automobiles, rubber, and so on.

Now that oil resources have been discovered in Turkana Province, East Africa’s oil industry layout should also be launched accordingly. Among the same type of industries, that is, emerging industries, the oil industry has appeared relatively late, not to mention that the East African oil industry is still in a “zero” state.

“We must guarantee the quality of life of experts and oil workers. After all, the oil industry is an emerging industry all over the world, and the northern region is not as livable as the plateau region. Even the living materials and food categories are worse than those in the eastern region. Although eastern Romania and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are not developed regions, it is certain that the conditions there are better than those in northern East Africa now.

So we should also improve the local living environment, at least ensure that the necessary living materials can be transported to Turkana Province at a faster speed,” Ernst said.

As long as it is an oil-producing area, the supporting living facilities are basically not lacking, and it is easy to form an industrial cluster. Relying on oil can also drive the development of a large number of upstream and downstream industries, so in the future, Turkana Province should be able to achieve good development by looking at the oil dividend.

However, this also has certain difficulties, that is, overcoming the arid environment of the desert and semi-desert. However, Ernst believes that this can also accumulate East Africa’s experience in building railways in desert environments.

Because East Africa has millions of square kilometers of tropical desert climate areas, especially the resource-rich Nile Province (South Sudan’s oil resources), Southwest Africa (Namibia’s oil, coal, iron, uranium, etc.), and the Somali region.

It seems that the mineral deposits in East Africa’s major desert areas are relatively rich, and the development of mineral deposits requires railway construction. So far, East Africa has not built a railway in the desert area, so building a railway in Turkana Province now is also a good choice.

Another important reason is that Turkana Province has a considerable population, which is very different from other regions. East Africa has a relatively early history of developing Turkana Province, coupled with the later active expansion of trade with the Abyssinian Empire, this railway is obviously profitable, and at the same time, it can solve the history of East Africa’s northeast lacking railways.

Chapter 698: Bait

Ernst’s good mood didn’t last long after the first oil well was established, because a “strange” piece of news came from southern East Africa, leaving the East African government and military somewhat bewildered. What kind of “shenanigans” were the British and Boers up to this time?

“According to our information from February of 1877, the Orange Free State has regained its independence. The Orange Free State has been officially renamed the Boer Republic, with a new coalition government in power. However, this coalition government is just the temporary government of the Transvaal Republic operating the politics of the entire Orange Free State under a different guise.”

“Are the British just watching the Transvaalers re-establish the Boer Republic?” Ernst asked.

“The British side hasn’t reacted at all. We’ve even discovered that they’ve withdrawn some of their troops back into the Cape Colony, which indicates that the British are tacitly approving the independence of the Orange Free State.”

“This is a conspiracy. The British are willing to accept something as terrible as colonial independence, which can only mean that the British are planning something big. Aside from us, I can’t think of any reason why the British would do this.”

“That’s right. If colonial independence isn’t handled carefully, it could trigger a chain reaction. After all, spreading such news has some negative impact on any country.”

Ernst said, “The re-establishment of the Boer Republic shows that the Orange Free State has indeed regained its independence from the Cape Colony. But we received this news through our intelligence personnel in Bloemfontein, which means that the news hasn’t spread widely.

Therefore, the British and the Transvaalers must have reached some kind of deal. Do you think the Orange Free State breaking away from the Cape Colony is a bait, and the fish they want to catch is East Africa?”

After all, East Africa itself had to admit to having “improper” thoughts about the Orange Free State, a point that the Transvaalers and the British were naturally aware of.

However, East Africa had been stationing troops on the border for so many years without taking action against the Orange Free State.

Especially during the last civil war in the Orange Free State, which could be said to be the most vulnerable time for the entire Orange Free State, East Africa did not take the opportunity to send troops to seize the Orange Free State.

So what made East Africa, this “hungry wolf,” remain “expressionless” in the face of the fat meat in front of it?

Naturally, it was the Cape Colony standing behind the Orange Free State, and behind the Cape Colony stood the British Empire.

If East Africa annexed the Orange Free State, it would be almost the same as declaring war on the British Empire. Therefore, the British would naturally suspect that East Africa was intimidated by its “mother country” and dared not act rashly.

This was the East African high command’s speculation about the British mindset. If they were in the British’s shoes, the East Africans would think the same way.

“So the British are just putting on a show with the Transvaalers? Independence is a facade to entice us to launch an aggressive war against the Orange people, thereby dragging us into a quagmire of war?” someone asked.

“That possibility cannot be ruled out. After all, having the Orange Free State, which is now the Boer Republic, contain us and deplete our strength, certainly aligns with British interests. But aren’t they afraid that we will wipe out the Boer Republic in one bite, just like we did with the Transvaal Republic back then?”

“The Boer Republic is just a pawn, which has some value to both us and the British, but it’s not indispensable. If I were the British, I would also want to sacrifice the Boer Republic to test East Africa’s strength. Even if they lose, they can pass the buck to the Boers without getting their hands dirty,” Earl Yalman offered a more constructive suggestion.

“The Transvaalers’ military strength has certainly increased in recent years. Although they were cutting troops last year, they didn’t recover the weapons. Instead, they continued to be held by the civilian militia. At the same time, they still maintain a regular military force of over ten thousand men. So there is only one reason for their troop cuts: they are having financial problems. Originally, based on the size of the Orange Free State, maintaining so many modern troops was a bit excessive!”

“We all know that the Transvaalers’ armed forces are called the Transvaal Restoration Army. From this name, we can see that the Transvaalers have never given up their goal of recovering lost territory, seizing the Blackingen Province and parts of the Southern Frontier Province from our East Africa, rebuilding the Transvaal Republic, and even including the current Orange Free State, reshaping a greater Boer Republic is their ultimate goal.”

“So this time, the independence of the Boer Republic means that war is one step closer to us!”

Someone asked Yalman, “Earl, isn’t that a bit alarmist? In the past, when the Transvaalers had the backing of the British, they didn’t dare to go to war with us. Now that they’ve broken away from British control, they would have to be crazy to ‘declare war’ on us!”

Earl Yalman said, “Don’t believe what you see and hear. Instead, see through the appearance to the essence. It’s just a declaration of independence. Can the Transvaalers really get rid of the shackles of the British?”

“In the past, the Orange Free State, perhaps as a British colony, could obtain more security guarantees. After all, few countries dare to provoke the British Empire. But this also limited Britain’s own ability to act, because our East Africa is not a weak country like Burma or Afghanistan.”

The opposite of East Africa’s situation was the weak countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, which were close to Britain’s strongest colony, India. Even the “overlord” of East Asia, the Far East Empire, was bullied.

East Africa was more special. The British colony that East Africa was compared to here was the Cape Colony, and the Cape Colony, no matter which aspect you looked at, could not form an overwhelming deterrent to the surrounding forces like India.

If the northern Egypt could act as a pawn, perhaps there would be some hope. Unfortunately, Egypt was only a semi-colony, and the Khedive Dynasty still had some autonomy.

Of course, the main reason was that Khedives, these imperialist lackeys, were the typical bullies who feared the strong and oppressed the weak. Otherwise, they would not have sold out Egypt’s national interests and allowed Britain to exploit them.

Egypt couldn’t beat Britain and France, and it was also afraid of the southern East Africa, or rather, Egypt was afraid of “European whites.”

As for whether East Africa had the strength, East Africa’s territory and army were the most convincing proof. East Africa had clashed with the Sudanese before, and the result was that Egypt’s Sudanese local army was basically crushed.

So it was basically impossible for Britain to mobilize Egypt to fight against East Africa. Even if they could instigate the Egyptians, East Africa’s garrison in Gezira could intercept them in the Sahara Desert.

Earl Yalman continued, “Now that the Boer Republic has been established, it may be the first pawn that Britain has played against us. Even if we eat this pawn, it won’t affect British Cape Town. Conversely, if this pawn really holds us back, I’m afraid Britain and Portugal will also enter the game at the same time.”

“Earl Yalman, your analysis is very reasonable. Now we should think about whether to eat the bait of the Boer Republic, and if we do, how to eat it, what benefits we can ultimately gain from it, and what we might lose!” Ernst asked them.

Chapter 699: Military Service Registration

Ernst’s words basically represented East Africa’s attitude towards war. The question now was how to wage the war, the war’s impact on all aspects of East Africa, and the ultimate results East Africa hoped to achieve through the war.

Of course, for East Africa to “welcome” war, it had to first “beautify” war. To be honest, many of East Africa’s citizens were seasoned veterans from the Eurasian continent. Although Ernst liked to describe them as “honest and loyal,” sometimes “honest and loyal” was the least honest and loyal.

However, after several military reorganizations, the image of the East African Defense Force had been greatly improved. At least in the contemporary era, there probably wasn’t a military with better discipline than East Africa’s.

…

Dodoma City, Hlaeli Town.

“One person joins the army, the whole family is honored; join the army once, benefit for life; defend the country and protect the homeland, it is everyone’s responsibility.”

“Actively cooperating with the government’s military service registration is the right and obligation of every East African citizen.”

A new round of military service registration was underway in Hlaeli Town.

“Mayor Milady, you must register all adult men in your town who are over seventeen years old, have graduated from school, and are physically sound, especially those veterans with military service experience. This time, the central government is paying close attention. If you are found to have committed fraud or are reported, the matter will be serious.”

“Rest assured, Lieutenant Yakidman. Our Hlaeli Town has always been an advanced unit in conscription work, and we have never dared to commit fraud. It can be said that in the entire Dodoma City, our Hlaeli Town is the most active.”

This was indeed the case. The enthusiasm for joining the army was higher in agricultural areas than in industrial areas. For example, in Dodoma City, there were more ways to solve employment than just joining the army, so there were more choices. There was no need to develop in the army. Although the benefits and treatment in the army were good, it was also quite hard.

“Lieutenant Yakidman, is war coming?”

“Who told you that?”

“This is my own observation. First of all, the railway passing through Dodoma is carrying military supplies. I used to serve in the army and am familiar with those things. Moreover, the number of trains to Dodoma has changed recently. Combining this with your conscription and reserve registration, and the negative reports about Portugal, Britain, and Transvaal in the newspapers, that’s why I say that.”

“Mayor Milady, this is not a problem you should be concerned about. Since you have been in the army, you should know that a place like Dodoma is even safer than our capital. As for whether there are some small changes on the front lines, that is also very common. However, you are indeed an observant person, but I hope you keep what you know to yourself, don’t cause panic, and don’t delay normal production and life order.”

“I am also concerned about national affairs. The most important thing is public opinion. I have never seen official newspapers publish various negative reports about three countries at the same time in such a clear-cut manner. This is obviously a way to stimulate emotions, so…”

“Mayor Milady, don’t think too much. Our relationship with the British has never been good. After all, the British are still sanctioning us, which greatly restricts our development speed. And the Transvaal people’s hatred for East Africa has never been eliminated. I think you are also clear about the Transvaal people’s attitude towards East Africa. Finally, we have also fought with the Portuguese.”

Lieutenant Yakidman continued, “So, you should understand that they have been enemies of our East African Kingdom for a long time. This is irreconcilable.”

“I naturally know this. After all, I was a member of the Transvaal War. Later, if I had retired a year later, I might have been able to join the East Portuguese War. It’s a pity I didn’t witness that war. I heard that the Portuguese’s combat power is not as good as the Transvaal people’s, and only stronger than the black kingdoms and tribes. The newspapers even jokingly called it fighting a primitive war with modern weapons.”

Mayor Milady’s experience was quite rich. In fact, many East African officials came from the military system, which was one of the reasons why Milady became the mayor.

Lieutenant Yakidman: “So, East Africa has never been at peace. Although we haven’t fought in recent years, the shadow of war has never dissipated. The Portuguese, British, and Transvaal forces surround the entire East Africa.”

“Moreover, in recent years, the Portuguese, Transvaal, and British have been accumulating strength on the African continent. Especially since the end of last year, the military movements in Cape Town have been the most frequent. Obviously, they have freed themselves from Asia and can focus more on Africa.”

“So, the two major military groups in Southern Africa are taking shape. One is our East Africa, and the other is Britain and his two allies. This may not be all, because the attitude towards Italy and Egypt is still unknown.”

Milady also said with a gloomy face, “I don’t know when the war crisis will end. Does the kingdom have to continue to expand until it annexes the entire African continent?”

“Then at least we have to solve the three threats in front of us. After all, it takes two to tango. There has been an irreconcilable contradiction between us and the other three hostile forces from the very beginning.

As for expanding northward, it should be unlikely. We had the opportunity to do so before. The fact that Italy can gain a foothold on the Ethiopian Plateau is entirely the result of our behind-the-scenes support,” Lieutenant Yakidman said.

Lieutenant Yakidman did not mean to mock Italy. It was simply the truth. So far, Italy’s Red Sea colonies (Eritrea and parts of eastern Ethiopia) and the Abyssinian Empire have reached a draw.

Italy’s record was indeed touching. However, the current Kingdom of Italy is only one of the countries on the Italian Peninsula. If it were the Kingdom of Italy in its previous life, one of the great powers, it would be truly embarrassing to achieve this.

However, this also shows that the Abyssinian Empire is not easy to deal with. When East Africa invaded the Ethiopian Plateau, it rarely clashed directly with the Abyssinian Empire. Instead, it attacked the surrounding tribes or subordinate forces, and it was still when the Abyssinian Empire was divided.

Italy’s invasion directly threatened the core position of the Abyssinian ruling class, especially the northwestern region, which has been a prosperous economic area of Abyssinia since ancient times.

Now, the Abyssinian Empire has united because of the external enemy of Italy, so East Africa can use the Abyssinian Empire to contain Italy.

These two forces are currently in a balanced state. East Africa can break this balance at any time. Therefore, the real threats in the northwest are Egypt and the British Somaliland colony, both of which are under British control.

Although Egypt is only a semi-colony, Britain has military transit rights here. If they choose to detour and launch a surprise attack, it is not impossible.

Of course, East Africa, as Lieutenant Yakidman said, is not very enthusiastic about expanding northward, because the remaining areas are either too harsh, or the opponents are too strong (mainly referring to France), or there are no resources or strategic value.

Take West Africa as an example. East Africa cannot bypass French Gabon to expand in West Africa. Moreover, East Africa already has Britain as an enemy, so there is no need to add France.

Chapter 700: Dragoons

South Prussia Province.

Nyeri City is, in my previous life, a town in southwestern Kenya, the capital of the Central Province of Kenya, and a distribution center for regional coffee, tea, sisal, grains, and livestock products. Just like in my previous life, Nyeri City is a relatively developed agricultural area in East Africa.

East Africa’s largest military horse farm is built on the vast grasslands 35 kilometers southeast of Nyeri City, breeding more than 30,000 horses.

Hermann, the head of the Nyeri Military Horse Farm, received personnel from the East African military.

Major General Mars: “According to the government’s order, two new cavalry divisions will be established on the spot, and we will conduct six months of military training here.”

South Prussia Province enjoys geographical advantages. To the north is East Africa’s largest animal husbandry base, and South Prussia Province is located on the northern edge of the abruptly uplifted East African Plateau. With Nairobi as its provincial capital, it also has Kisumu, a prosperous city on the shore of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria). The province’s economy is very developed in the entire East Africa, and together with the Eastern Province (capital Mombasa) to the east, it forms the core of the northern industrial belt.

Horses selected from the northern pastures can receive plateau training nearby. After all, the plateau climate is somewhat different from the plains, so South Prussia Province has always been an excellent training ground for East African cavalry.

In fact, South Prussia Province also has its own plateau military horse farm, but the plantation industry in South Prussia Province is more developed, so it is not well-known.

The tropical plateau terrain of South Prussia Province is very suitable for military horse breeding. The temperature here remains at around ten degrees Celsius all year round, which is relatively cool and an environment that warhorses prefer.

Just like in my previous life, Kenya has the world’s best marathon training ground. I don’t know if this environment has any impact on horses, but the various conditions of the Nyeri Military Horse Farm are indeed much better than those of the northern pastures.

“The two newly established divisions are assigned to the Northern Military Region, with new designations of the 221st Division and the 222nd Division. They are cavalry infantry formed in imitation of European dragoons, and are new types of mobile forces formed by combining infantry training methods with the mobility of cavalry.”

In fact, the 221st Division and the 222nd Division are European “dragoons,” or, more broadly, mounted infantry.

East Africa previously had four cavalry division formations, three in the Eastern Military Region and one in the Western Military Region. The Guards Division also had a separate cavalry brigade. In fact, there was no difference from a general cavalry division, so before 1887, East Africa actually had five cavalry divisions.

The previous East African cavalry still belonged to the category of traditional cavalry, while the 221st and 222nd Divisions belonged to mobile infantry, and there was a fundamental difference between the two.

Before this, the significance of the existence of East African cavalry divisions was to deal with natives in the era of cold weapons. Now, East Africa’s enemies have changed from cold weapons to modern armies with hot weapons, so the East African military must also make adjustments.

There are also great differences in weapons and equipment between the two. The most obvious is that the East African dragoons are equipped with engineer shovels. When they break through to a certain strategic location and switch to defense, they can use engineer shovels to build fortifications.

The pickaxe is a traditional tool of European dragoons, originating from the ancient Roman era, and is still mainstream in Europe, which attaches great importance to tradition.

The engineer shovel was valued in 1869, when a Dane, Mads Linnemann, invented an entrenching tool, which was then used on a large scale in the Tsarist Russian army.

Influenced by my previous life, the East African engineer shovel design is quite “bold.” According to the needs of the army, various “improvements” have been made to adapt to the needs of different troops.

The new battlefield environment requires every soldier to carry digging tools with them, so that they can quickly build shelters to save their lives. However, this new way of combat still requires an adaptation process, and in those long-standing armies, resistance to building trenches is particularly strong.

The East African National Defence Force does not have such a “conservative” concept. As a new army formed from the “bottom,” it also actively absorbs the pragmatism of the Prussian Army, so East Africa also emphasizes practicality and convenience in weapons and equipment.

Hermann: “General, don’t worry, we will definitely cooperate with your work. However, we can only provide training grounds, and the relevant infrastructure is not perfect, especially providing living and training facilities for two divisions at once, which is very difficult for us.”

“You don’t have to worry about this. We have plenty of manpower to solve these things ourselves, but we need the cooperation and guidance of the horse farm, otherwise if we make a mess of this place, it will be difficult for you to explain.” Major General Mars said.

Major General Mars brought more than eight thousand new recruits, who served as the main labor force, and two thousand veterans, who were drawn from the 123rd Division and the Guards Division. They will become the backbone of the two new cavalry divisions, leading these new recruits to grow rapidly.

With the cooperation of the Nyeri Military Horse Farm and the Nyeri Municipal Government, the housing problem was basically solved in just one week. Because the northern part of Nyeri City is a forest area, it is convenient to obtain materials locally, and at the same time, other missing materials and equipment can be supplemented through the Northern Railway.

The “taming” of these recruits also began.

Major General Mars: “With the development of military technology, the performance of rifles has been improved, and machine guns and artillery have been greatly developed. In fact, the role of traditional cavalry is being greatly weakened. Our country’s existing five cavalry units are actually semi-transitional cavalry units, and the two cavalry units formed this time are officially developing towards the European cavalry model.”

“Although dragoons are different from cavalry in the traditional sense, their role is becoming more and more prominent on the European battlefield and is more adaptable to the development of the times. This is an important reason why the previous five cavalry units were not built according to European cavalry standards.”

After all, apart from the Transvaalers, the East African National Defence Force had not seen other cavalry units before. In fact, the Boer cavalry was not formal either. They faced the Zulus, who were also powerful infantry.

“So don’t think that the status of dragoons is lower than that of traditional cavalry. At least in East Africa, this is not the arrangement. Of course, you must also take care of your horses like traditional cavalry units, and pay attention to hygiene.

Warhorses are your partners, partners in life and death. Horse management must be strictly implemented in accordance with regulations and procedures. Clean the stables on time every day, fill the fodder and water troughs, maintain and maintain the saddles regularly, ensure that the storage room is dry and ventilated, keep the place where the horses live clean and hygienic, and prevent the spread of diseases. Horse manure should be cleaned up in time to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of the horse farm.”

In Europe, the status of dragoons varied from country to country, but in mainstream continental European countries such as Germany and France, the status of dragoons was not as high as that of cuirassiers, lancers, and hussars.

In the United Kingdom, the status of dragoons was greatly improved, and they were in the category of heavy cavalry. However, it is easy to understand that the United Kingdom is an island country and different from the European continent. The Swedish dragoons are also relatively special. Swedish dragoons are used in actual use according to the tactical uses of light cavalry and firelock cavalry.

In general, dragoons are in a more awkward state, similar to when paratroopers and marines were first formed.

However, at the end of the 19th century, dragoons finally began to be valued by various countries and were greatly developed. This situation will continue until after the First World War.

However, the development of cavalry belongs to the “twilight years.” In the future, with the development of vehicle technology, as well as various weapons and tactics to restrain cavalry, they will no longer be needed by the times. However, this is not a problem that countries are considering in the current era. For example, the East African National Defence Force wants to use cars to replace horses, but this is impossible in terms of current technology, quality, and output.

Chapter 701: Urbanization

The formation of the dragoons was still to prepare for a possible war in the south, improve the army’s mobility, and support the infantry units at any time.

The reason for choosing South Prussia Province was also a last resort, because the large-scale horse breeding areas in East Africa are located in the Northern Pasture, South Prussia Province, and Eastern Province.

The conditions in the south are not bad, but starting from scratch is a process, and in East Africa, only this region has completed this process. The livestock industry in other regions is either too small or just starting.

…

First Township.

With the unfolding of war preparations, a large amount of funds were invested in the military, and this preparation work occupied a large number of administrative, transportation, and economic resources.

Therefore, Ernst convened an economic conference in First Township to discuss the development issues of various regions in East Africa during the war preparation period.

“What is urbanization? Urbanization is also townization, the concentration of population in urban areas. The development of urbanization must rely on industrial agglomeration. Urbanization without industry will be difficult to move forward. At this stage, this industry specifically refers to industry.”

“So for the current East Africa, industrialization is urbanization. At present, East Africa’s industry is driven by the government. Local officials should not be timid. They should plan and assume cities on the basis of integrating location advantages and being reasonable and scientific.”

“Don’t be too ambitious, for example, seeing the development of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, and wanting to bite off more than you can chew. You have to think about whether the location conditions of your city can reach the importance of these two cities!”

“For example, New Frankfurt, it is the hub of the central railway, the hinterland of East Africa, radiating the whole country, and close to the origin of industrial raw materials, which can realize the concentration of resources. This is the basic condition for the development of New Frankfurt.”

“The shortcomings of New Frankfurt are the lack of infrastructure construction, the lack of population, the lack of industry, and the weak industrial and agricultural base. These need to be solved by the New Frankfurt government one by one. Otherwise, even if New Frankfurt is given another thirty years, it will not develop.”

“Some provincial capitals should not think of dominating everything. For example, in Highland Province, as everyone knows, the capital of Highland Province is Dodoma, but the number one economic city is Mwanza. There are many reasons why Mwanza can become the number one economic city in Highland Province.”

“But the more important reason is not how good the conditions in Mwanza are, but the shortcomings of Dodoma. First of all, Dodoma is more restricted by the terrain than Mwanza, and secondly, the rainfall is less than Mwanza, so Dodoma cannot compare with Mwanza in terms of agricultural base. Transportation is Dodoma’s advantage, but Mwanza has both Great Lake shipping and railway transportation, and its development history is not later than Dodoma.”

“Of course, saying this is not to limit the development of Dodoma, but Dodoma should put more energy into its own advantages, just like First Township as the capital, but its economic development is not as good as Dar es Salaam. Everyone’s distribution is different, so there is nothing to criticize. Would you ‘laugh’ at First Township because its economy is not as good as Dar es Salaam?”

“Each place has its own characteristics and specialties. Adapting to local conditions and scientific development is the right way, just like corn, which is very suitable for growing in tropical and temperate zones. If someone insists on planting it in the cold regions of Tsarist Russia, it is destined to have no harvest.”

Who would plant corn in the frigid zone? This was the common thought of the people at the meeting, but Crown Prince Ernst also used this simple joke to make everyone understand the core of the meeting, that is, to develop advantageous industries, and it should be based on local conditions.

“Of course, the waste of finances in the past few years is also a big problem. Don’t blindly copy the urban development template. Although our country is mainly highland terrain, each city has its own characteristics, such as mineral distribution, farmland, pastures, river layout, population living characteristics, etc. Don’t blindly pursue the view that big is good.”

“Many small towns in Europe also have good economic development, which is a combination of their own characteristics, typically like the Ruhr area, but the problems in the Ruhr area are also very serious, but they are ignored because they are currently blindly pursuing economic benefits. I don’t want us to repeat such mistakes when we develop.”

“The two technological revolutions have given human society a sense of conquering nature, but there is no conflict between harmonious coexistence and common development between man and nature. There is no need to always compete, and it is not to discourage enthusiasm, but not to do wrong things. The key is to highlight the ‘science’ and ‘reasonableness’ of things.”

“Due to the increase in military expenditure and other reasons, the central government’s requirements for lower-level governments will naturally be lowered. For example, the urbanization rate should reach 30 percent by 1890 according to normal development. We will lower this goal to about 28 percent.”

“If we calculate according to the population data of 1880, with 30 million citizens, that is also six to seven hundred thousand people. Now there should be more, and perhaps a million people cannot enter urban life.”

“At present, the urbanization rate in East Africa should be around 26 percent. If blacks are included, it may only reach a level of more than ten percent. Therefore, our urbanization rate data is very low. At present, Germany and the United Kingdom are above 40 percent. The gap between us and them is very huge. Of course, with our country’s economic volume, it has also created a great development of cities, especially since the introduction of industry in the 1870s.”

East Africa’s economic achievements are like the white minority rule in South Africa in the previous life. The hard work of blacks is beyond doubt, but all the credit is attributed to the whites. But when blacks are added, the true picture is revealed.

Of course, there is an essential difference between the two. The number of East African citizens is not less than that of blacks, but even more by more than ten million. Therefore, most of the credit for the main economic achievements of East Africa is indeed created by East African citizens, which is undoubtedly certain.

“The western provinces should absorb the experience of the eastern regions. There is still a lot of potential to be tapped in the ‘natives’ of the west. This is the resource you can use. Therefore, blacks can be allowed to complete some low-tech, labor-intensive jobs. The east can transfer food and other materials to support the construction work in the western regions.”

Using administrative means to complete resource allocation is one of the core means of East Africa’s economic development. After all, international food prices are currently low, so we always need to find a place to consume it, and it is best to turn this consumption into real benefits, rather than dumping milk into the river like capitalists.

The demand in western East Africa is still very strong. After all, it lacks everything compared to the east. Therefore, tilting the excess capacity of the east to the west can complete an economic leap in western East Africa.

Moreover, East Africa’s stable export of blacks every year can ensure that space will be freed up in the future for the resettlement of immigrants. This is a win-win situation.

The most typical example is railway construction. The main force at the grassroots level of East African railway construction is blacks. They built the railway with their blood and sweat, creating a large number of jobs, and these jobs are filled by East African citizens.

The number of jobs required in railway construction is undoubtedly the largest, but it is also the largest in terms of workload and the most dangerous. These dangerous heavy manual labor is handed over to blacks, and East Africa does not have to worry about “compensation,” “work-related injuries,” “death,” and so on.

Chapter 702: East Africa’s “Political Assets”

“In 1886, under the Religious and Cultural Affairs Bureau’s heavy-handed crackdown, 57 illegal missionary organizations were destroyed, over four thousand copies of illegal religious texts were confiscated, and 23 individuals from seven foreign illegal organizations were arrested. Overall, the nation’s efforts to safeguard legitimate religious rights have been remarkably effective, maintaining social stability and further consolidating ideological stability,” John Mendel, Director of the Religious and Cultural Affairs Bureau, reported on last year’s work.

“The people’s minds are unsophisticated, making them susceptible to the deception of those with ulterior motives. However, we cannot simply erase the spiritual sustenance that religious culture provides to the lower classes. Therefore, the harmless treatment of religious thought is of utmost importance. We must support anything that aligns with the law, basic social moral values, and East African patriotism and loyalty to the monarch. Anything else is a target for suppression,” Ernst emphasized.

East Africa’s suppression of religious forces has been going on for a long time. However, according to official East African statements, it is naturally a crackdown on “cults” and illegal religious organizations.

But the vitality of religion is stubborn, like chives. You cut one crop, and another grows. So, every so often, there must be a severe crackdown.

“The education authorities have repeatedly emphasized that no one is allowed to reach for our East African ‘future.’ Anyone under the age of seventeen must not be subjected to religious interference. This is an important foundation for religious freedom in East Africa. At the same time, we must instill correct ideological and moral concepts in East African children, enabling them to distinguish right from wrong.”

East Africa is already feudal and conservative enough, so it naturally cannot tolerate all sorts of chaotic ideas “poisoning” East African youth. This is also an important task in the implementation of compulsory education.

“As of now, 1,308 churches have been built nationwide, along with 143 Taoist temples.”

You heard that right. East Africa has opened up the cultural transmission of Taoism. This prevents a situation where one religion dominates, because having only one religion is unsettling. What if a conflict like the Pope versus the monarchy in medieval Europe arises? This is a means of differentiation and checks and balances.

Like the ancient Far East Empire, which formed a state of checks and balances between Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, East Africa is currently in a similar situation, with Catholicism, Protestantism, and Taoism forming a tripartite balance.

However, the difference in treatment between the two is also quite obvious. There is a huge difference in numbers, which is important for stabilizing the people’s hearts.

Of course, regardless of the religion, its teaching materials are defined and written by the East African government.

These religions with official backing are strictly restricted in their areas and cannot actively proselytize to believers. They can only attract believers by their own means.

At the same time, East African religious development has a trend towards the integration of religious and royal power. This is mainly learned from Japan, where the existence of the Japanese Emperor is closely linked to the spiritual beliefs of the entire Japanese nation.

This “advanced” way of thinking, which consolidates the authority of the royal family, is naturally worth learning for the H Hohenzollern royal family, except without Japan’s level of “craziness” and outward display.

This unorthodox approach is closely related to the ruling foundation of the Hohenzollern royal family, because this era does not pay much attention to “materialistic” thinking.

“In short, secularization is the trend of the times, but even in the wave of secularization, there are always people who need spiritual sustenance. We cannot deny the existence of this spiritual sustenance. What the government needs more is a vague concept to maintain social stability.”

Not giving some people an outlet for their thoughts can easily lead to extreme behavior. Of course, one-sided spiritual control can also easily lead to extreme behavior. Therefore, the ruling class must master the balance between the two, so that the entire East African folk belief is within a reasonable range.

John Mendel: “In the religious and cultural control of recent years, we have clearly found that the penetration of external religious forces into East Africa has intensified. In the decade or so before 1880, only three such cases were discovered, but in 1886 alone, we discovered thirteen cases, involving seven religious organizations. This activity is mainly concentrated in coastal open cities.”

Currently, East Africa is definitely a blue ocean for many religious forces, because East African religions are actually puppets supported by the Hohenzollern royal family and the East African government, and are decoupled from the world’s mainstream religious forces.

This naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of some forces, but it is impossible to make East Africa open its doors, unless violent means are used to destroy the solid national defense that East Africa has built up over the decades.

If the hard approach doesn’t work, naturally only soft methods can be used. Developing proxy believers through coastal open cities is the mainstream model, but they have encountered the great mountain that is the East African Religious and Cultural Affairs Bureau. The two sides have engaged in many battles in the open and in secret, all of which ended in victory for the East African official organization.

“We must strictly crack down on these foreign forces, especially Judaism and Islam, and the Roman Church. This is not the Middle Ages. The rise of nation-states is the general trend. The only path we can take in East Africa is national integration. Eliminating internal divisions will allow us to better concentrate our strength and compete with other countries,” Ernst said.

The reason why Ernst emphasized these three is because these three are the most unlikely to be integrated fundamentalisms, which are, so to speak, a level older than East Africa’s feudal autocracy, and have remained unchanged from slave society to the present day.

Of course, from the perspective of his past life, Islam has changed, but this change has been collectively erased by Western society, and Islamic regions with no way to industrialize have turned to revivalism.

Of course, this matter is not under the jurisdiction of East Africa now. The world order group represented by Britain and France is the leader. There is no conflict between East Africa and France, but it is very different from Britain.

However, with the stability of the East African state, it is currently impossible for external forces to overthrow the traces of the existence of the East African state. The East African regime can be overthrown, or the country can be split, but the cultural system that East Africa has built up over the decades cannot be overthrown. This is also one of the reasons why East Africa is becoming more and more open in the international community.

Simply put, even if East Africa is messed up again, the residue left behind will have an East African flavor. As long as East Africans are not completely dead, some people will want to restore this huge empire.

This is the same as the spiritual reshaping of the Chinese nation by the First Emperor of the Far East Empire after completing the great unification. Just like now, the overall development level of East African countries is not high, but it has squeezed into the ranks of great powers by virtue of its size.

East Africa’s national shaping has many flaws, but it has generally been completed. What follows is nothing more than repairing these flaws. After complete integration, East Africa will be completely mature.

In fact, East Africa has completed the construction of the “spiritual Rome.” East Africa has established a huge empire unprecedented in African history. Even if it is divided in the future, there will be a situation like Europe, where Rome is everywhere, in order to seek the “political and cultural heritage” left by the East African Empire.

The struggle for hegemony between Germany and France, Tsarist Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Italy, and Greece all have their own “Rome” plans, because Rome is an unprecedented large empire in European history, and the establishment and expansion of East Africa is a replica of ancient Rome.

Unless a country that unifies the entire African continent appears, the historical achievements that East Africa has achieved on the African continent in the future will never be surpassed.

This is also the political influence that East Africa has achieved unconsciously, the African political and cultural hegemony that has been gradually established since the Hohenzollern royal family landed in East Africa.

Chapter 703: Streetcars and East African Electricity Development Opportunities

As Africa’s foremost “powerhouse,” the specific manifestation of this is naturally the state of social development. Although East Africa’s social system seems like a “tangled mess,” the overall social atmosphere is basically in sync with the entire era.

Dar es Salaam City.

Dar es Salaam City has consistently ranked first in East Africa’s economy and is the largest comprehensive city in East Africa. Many of its statistics are at the forefront, so many new things appear in Dar es Salaam City.

In 1887, East Africa’s first streetcar officially set sail and operated in Dar es Salaam City, attracting onlookers from the city’s residents.

As early as 1881, German engineer Werner von Siemens laid the first streetcar track in the suburbs of Berlin, establishing the world’s first streetcar prototype.

In fact, Siemens began researching streetcars in 1870. In 1879, Siemens had a prototype car at the Berlin World Expo. As a peer, the Berlin Electric Company was naturally unwilling to fall behind and joined forces with Hetchingen Energy and Power Company in 1875 to design streetcars.

In 1883, they successfully launched their own model. In 1885, the East African government planned to build streetcar lines in Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa.

It wasn’t until 1887 that East Africa’s first streetcar finally operated in Dar es Salaam City. At the same time, Dar es Salaam City converted its horse-drawn streetcar lines into electrified streetcar lines, becoming the world’s first commercially operated streetcar system (historically, the United States in 1888).

Of course, before this, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had already trial-operated the first streetcar line in Sarajevo, but due to technical shortcomings, Sarajevo’s streetcars still needed horses to provide some power, so it was not a truly successful streetcar in the true sense.

In contrast, Siemens was not so smooth in Germany. Back in 1880, Siemens, who was preparing to make a big splash, planned to build an elevated electric urban rail railway in Berlin. However, this move was strongly opposed by local residents because they believed that building an elevated railway would depreciate real estate.

East Africa does not have this problem. First of all, the East African government has greater say, which provides a solid foundation for the promotion and popularization of streetcars. At the same time, East African roads have long reserved operating space for streetcars, so the renovation will not cause too much trouble to East African road traffic. Furthermore, East Africa has no intention of building elevated structures.

“In 1807, the world’s first horse-drawn passenger rail bus appeared in the United Kingdom and was promoted in many European cities. Streetcars are a new type of rail transit vehicle developed on this basis using electric motors as a power source and are part of urban public transportation.”

“In order to ensure the passage of London, thousands of horses operate every day, which also brings great pressure to London’s sanitation problems. Of course, this is also a common problem in many cities. Our Dar es Salaam City is also the same. A large amount of manure and urine is a cleaner’s nightmare, so more environmentally friendly streetcars will play a huge role in improving the urban living environment.”

At present, the mainstream urban public transportation is still public horse-drawn carriages, but there is no doubt that streetcars will replace horse-drawn public carriages and become the new favorite of urban rail transit. The Americans in the previous life were the most crazy in this regard, building more than seventy thousand kilometers of streetcar lines, which is longer than the railways of many countries.

As a country that has heavily invested in the field of electricity, East Africa naturally attaches great importance to important new products in the power and transportation industries such as streetcars.

At present, the Dar es Salaam City Streetcar Factory has been put into production, and the entire city’s streetcar lines have also been completely renovated and can cover two main urban areas.

“I thought this kind of streetcar track was the track for urban railways before. I didn’t expect it to run this thing. But can this kind of streetcar really run?” a citizen asked.

Urban internal railways are not uncommon in this era. For example, many railway stations in London and New York are built in the city. This is considered from an economic point of view, just like East Africa’s stations are generally built in the suburbs.

For the citizens of Dar es Salaam City who are accustomed to new things, streetcars still exceed their imagination. According to official statements, streetcars rely on cables overhead for power supply.

For this reason, power poles have also been erected in the green belts in the middle of Dar es Salaam City’s roads to provide power.

“I can’t afford a car, but the fare for streetcars is extremely cheap. I can try it out. Moreover, many people have never taken a train, so they can use it as a substitute to experience it!”

East Africa has built a lot of new railways, but very few people have taken the railway. Streetcars can make up for this shortcoming to a certain extent, and its price is very affordable. According to the salary level in Dar es Salaam City, it is completely affordable.

In the era when buses and taxis have not appeared, streetcars are the best choice. Even in the 21st century, streetcars are a conventional urban transportation method between buses and light rails.

In Ernst’s view, the development potential of streetcars is relatively huge, and it will not seem outdated even in the future.

The main reasons why various countries eliminated a large number of streetcars in the mid-20th century in the previous life were two: one was the emergence of cars, and there was no so-called energy crisis in the early development of cars, so according to the thinking of people at the time, streetcars were not as easy to use as cars at all; the other was that in the 1930s and 1940s, the world war turned the entire Europe into scorched earth, and the maintenance of rail transit was more troublesome.

Later, under the general trend of energy crisis, environmental protection concepts, and urban transportation development, streetcars “revived” in Europe and the Far East Empire.

Streetcars should actually belong to a type of “light rail” and can even be related to high-speed rail, so developing streetcars is definitely more beneficial than harmful for technological accumulation.

East Africa is a country with relatively “scarce” energy, mainly in terms of oil resources, so for East Africa, it is very necessary to replace some fossil energy with electricity.

At present, East Africa is developing in a multi-polarized manner in terms of electricity supply. In addition to nuclear energy having too high a threshold, thermal power, wind power, hydropower, and even solar energy and tidal energy are all key projects for East Africa to focus on.

This is also Ernst’s guiding direction for the development of the East African power sector. At the same time, Tesla’s alternating current is also being trial-operated in East Africa, especially long-distance power transmission projects, which have paved the way for East Africa’s electrification development.

Thermal power has the support of southern coal mines and is currently the mainstream power generation mode, while hydropower is a key project. East Africa’s water resources rank among the top in the world and are the most important breakthrough point in the direction of power supply.

Especially the western Congo Basin area, which has a large amount of water, a large drop, and stable flow throughout the year (second only to the Sahara Desert), if it can be developed, it can basically solve most of East Africa’s future power supply problems.

In terms of other energy sources, East Africa is a region with relatively abundant wind power, and solar energy potential is also very high. It is the region with the second most solar radiation. In addition to tropical deserts, the vast plateau provides East Africa with huge potential.

Finally, there is nuclear energy. East Africa is very rich in uranium mines, but unfortunately, this cutting-edge technology is not something that East Africa can currently pry into.

Chapter 704: Confidence

Warmburg.

The most important military fortress in southern East Africa, and the front line against the Transvaal Boers. In recent years, the Boers haven’t been idle. Before the civil war, they started building defensive works on the south bank of the Vet River.

So now, opposite Warmburg, there is also a large military fortress built by the Boers. With British technical support, it is very professionally constructed. Even using East Africa’s domestically produced heavy artillery, it would be difficult to conquer, unless super-large caliber coastal defense guns imported from overseas were moved to the front line.

After the civil war, the Transvaalers were able to continue building the southern Vet River defense line, echoing East Africa’s northern Vet River defense line.

Therefore, it is not easy for the Transvaalers to attack East Africa. Conversely, East Africa must also face the fortress complex built by the Boers. So, from the beginning, it was destined that the great war in the south would not be easy.

In previous wars, East Africa had only encountered enemies building fortifications in the Zanzibar Sultanate and a few native countries on the shores of the Great Lakes.

As for the two Portuguese colonies, because they were too large, they were unable to build a systematic defense system. Once a war started with East Africa, they could only use isolated strongholds to deal with East Africa.

But East Africa’s strength is its large population. So, if one place is difficult to conquer, they can choose to leave a part of the troops to besiege it without attacking, and then the main force continues to penetrate into the rear. The Portuguese, who are exhausted from dealing with this, can only watch helplessly as East Africa runs rampant on their territory.

Transvaal Restoration Army General Walspieg: “The Vet River defense line we built is more than two hundred kilometers long. We built a total of one hundred and thirty-seven large bunkers and more than three hundred small bunkers. At the same time, we built hundreds of kilometers of roads to achieve rapid support from the rear to the front line. The total construction time lasted as long as seven years, with more than seventy thousand black laborers participating in the construction. Each fortress can react quickly, giving the East Africans no chance to take advantage!”

The “South” Vet River defense line is Walspieg’s masterpiece, and also the Transvaalers’ confidence in resisting the East Africans.

“Summarizing East Africa’s last war against the Transvaal Republic, the outstanding feature was speed. The Limpopo River was full of loopholes, and at that time we did not have a clear understanding of East Africa’s wolfish ambitions, which resulted in the main force being unable to return to defend when fighting the Zulus.

East Africa divided its troops into three routes, quickly dividing the entire Transvaal Republic into three parts along the Drakensberg Mountains. Moreover, East Africa also had cavalry units that could quickly support various battlefields, and were also quite familiar with mountain warfare. It was clear that they had been planning this for a long time, so the demise of the Transvaal Republic was also reasonable.”

Little Pretorius still remembers the situation of the last war between the Transvaal Republic and East Africa vividly.

At that time, the Transvaalers could be said to have been beaten by East Africa until they lost their bearings. Pretoria directly lost contact with various regions, and finally was trapped in an isolated city, and was defeated by East Africa. At that time, he fled in embarrassment, so Little Pretorius hated East Africa the most.

And in order to deal with the threat from East Africa, the Transvaalers can be said to have fully absorbed the lessons of the last war.

The most important point is to slow down the East Africans’ marching speed, and not to engage in field battles with the East Africans, and there must be heavy firepower support.

An important reason why Pretoria fell was that the Boers lacked the means to counter East African artillery at that time.

At that time, East Africa’s firepower could be said to be comparable only to the garrisons in Cape Town, Natal, and Maputo in the entire sub-Saharan Africa.

“Also, we must strictly monitor the East Africans’ crossing points. Back then, in the Limpopo River area, we neglected the importance of the crossing points, so that East Africa easily landed on the south bank of the Limpopo River. So this time we cannot repeat the same mistake, especially at night. Deploy more searchlights to prevent the enemy from sneaking across the Vet River under the cover of night.”

The defense line built by the Boers on the south bank of the Vet River was naturally also under East Africa’s surveillance. It can be said that it was built step by step under East Africa’s witness. During the Orange Free State civil war, it was affected, but the losses were not great. The main reason was that the Orange people lacked heavy weapons at that time, so they could only let the Transvaal and British allied forces break through the defense line.

Of course, this is also related to the Orange people’s weak sense of resistance. Although the Transvaalers were not kind, they were ultimately of the same ethnicity. The upper echelons fought to the death, but it did not prevent the lower echelons from switching camps.

In fact, a major reason for the Orange people’s failure was that the lower-level Orange people surrendered to the Transvaal government, especially after the Orange allied forces showed signs of decline, the number of deserters increased every day.

“With the South Vet River defense line, it is basically impossible for the East Africans to repeat the situation of conquering the Transvaal Republic last time. We only need to rely on the defense line to wear down East Africa. Later, the British and Portuguese will attack East Africa in other areas, and the East Africans will be exhausted. After the war enters a stalemate, we can take the initiative to attack, and we should be able to gain an advantage,” Walspieg optimistically introduced to Little Pretorius.

“Then what if East Africa continuously supports troops from the rear to here? You must know that most of East Africa’s garrison is concentrated on the Vet River line, and they have been planning for many years, it is obvious that they have great plans. How can you be sure that after the British and Portuguese take action, the East Africans will focus their energy on other areas? If they can break through the Vet River defense line first, it should be of great significance to the entire South African battlefield, after all, the Orange Free State is deep into East African territory!” Little Pretorius retorted.

“President, that depends on the deployment of the Portuguese and the British. First of all, there is the Portuguese colony of Mozambique. In my opinion, its threat to East Africa is far above us. After all, East Africa’s capital and economic center are on the Swahili coast. Dar es Salaam should be the most economically developed city in East Africa, so East Africa must deploy heavy troops to guard against the Portuguese.”

“And Portugal holds the strategic initiative. First of all, their colonies are divided into two parts, on the left and right of East Africa. This situation is naturally unfavorable to East Africa. East Africa must also know this, so the Portuguese are probably East Africa’s primary target. Angola and Mozambique, East Africa must solve one of them to achieve their own strategic security.”

“As for our Transvaal, how important can it be compared to eastern East Africa? Moreover, the reason why East Africa has deployed so many troops in the south is probably not because we are so important, but because of our military threat. After all, the East Africans also know that our hatred for them is difficult to resolve. This is the same as when Prussia and France stationed troops on the border. The powerful military strength of our Transvaal is the reason why East Africa maintains so many garrisons.”

Walspieg is right, East Africa does have this concern. Compared with Portugal, the Transvaalers’ military strength makes East Africa look up to them even more.

The morale of the Transvaalers is much higher than that of the Portuguese. This is an undeniable fact. After all, the two territories of Portugal are ultimately just colonies, and there is a big difference between them and the mainland.

Colonies can be lost at any time. Although it is very uncomfortable, it is not enough to die for. After all, Portugal has lost too many colonies. If they didn’t have a strong heart, the Portuguese would have died long ago.

Chapter 705: The Transvaal’s Calculations

Little Pretorius: “If the situation can really be as you say, that would be the best, but war is most unexpected, just like we didn’t consider the East Africans’ ambitions towards us back then, so we can’t let our guard down because of this.”

“Moreover, we cannot abandon our original intention because of the South Vet River defense line. Our ultimate goal is still to recover our territory. If we gain nothing in the war and instead shrink into fortifications, increasing casualties, it would be a huge blow to domestic unity and ourselves.”

In Little Pretorius’s view, the greatest disaster for the Boers would be if they couldn’t obtain spoils of war on the battlefield.

Firstly, the Boer population is already small. If a war breaks out, it is very likely to have negative growth, so war is inherently harmful to the Boer nation.

Secondly, if there is no expansion of territory, the accumulated ethnic contradictions within the country will erupt. The Orange Free Staters are only temporarily compromising now. If they don’t see results, they will definitely rebel in the future.

The last problem is the debt issue, but for Little Pretorius, it is not worth mentioning. The debt owed to the British is already so much that he couldn’t repay it even if he were sold, so it doesn’t matter anymore.

Of course, the British have actually gotten what they wanted. Now, the Boers’ only value is to be used to wear down East Africa, and the British focus is actually the same as what Valespig thought, which is the Mozambique colony.

The Mozambique colony is the place that can pose the greatest threat to East Africa. This area relies on East Africa’s two major industrial zones, and at the same time poses a huge threat to all important cities and the capital on East Africa’s eastern coast.

Although the British don’t know about East Africa’s industrial investment in Matabeleland Province, accidentally stumbling into it is enough to make East Africa feel the pain.

Moreover, Mozambique directly confronts East Africa’s three military defense zones, posing a threat to East Africa’s three major military regions.

The most typical is the Southern Military Region, which echoes the Cape Town Colony and the Boer Republic. East Africa’s Southern Frontier Province is just a narrow province, sandwiched between the British Natal Colony and Maputo in Mozambique.

If the garrison in New Hamburg Port City cannot withstand the pressure of this pincer attack, then the southern starting point of the Central Railway will inevitably fall into enemy hands, which will directly threaten Hekingen Province. Through Hekingen Province, it can also threaten the East African army on the Orange River line from the rear, or choose to go directly north via the railway and invade central East Africa.

In this way, after East Africa passes Mbeya, the entire south is in danger of falling, after all, the Portuguese also have an Angola colony in the northwest.

This is also an important reason why Ernst chose to start a war with the three countries only after the Hesse Province railway was opened, because even if the southern line of the Central Railway is lost, East Africa can quickly support the southern battlefield from the north through the Hesse railway.

Previously, the connection between East Africa’s Central Railway and the east relied entirely on Mbeya as an important node, but after the Hesse railway was opened, it could bypass from the northern railway. Although it takes a little more time, it greatly improves the traffic safety guarantee during the war.

“Your Excellency President, rest assured, the Vet River defense line is not so easy to break through. Since ancient times, the attacking side has suffered the greatest losses, and our defense line is a group of fortresses. Losing one or two nodes will not affect the overall situation. We can still use these bunkers as strongholds and carry out guerrilla tactics with East Africa, making the East African army exhausted after entering the Transvaal Republic.”

“Moreover, we still have a large number of military facilities left over from the last civil war that can be put into use, but our troops are limited, so we can only try our best to form militia forces to harass the East African army.”

During the Orange Free State civil war, the Transvaalers and Orange Free Staters built a large number of military facilities in what is now the Boer Republic.

In particular, the military facilities left by the Orange Free Staters are often built more covertly, which is very suitable for guerrilla operations. This is related to the initial weakness of the Orange Free Staters.

Moreover, except for Bloemfontein, the civil war almost occurred throughout the Boer Republic, and so are these military facilities. Therefore, if they can be used well, they can completely inflict heavy damage on the East African army. This is also the valuable experience left by the Orange Free Staters to the Transvaal Restoration Army last time, so this civil war was not fought in vain, and the Transvaal armed forces have grown.

“We’ll take it one step at a time. I’m not worried about our Transvaal’s fighting will and preparation. I’m mainly worried that the British and Portuguese are unreliable. If they compromise with East Africa, they are likely to trap us ourselves,” Little Pretorius said, expressing his true concerns.

Valespig: “President, there is no turning back now. Even if we don’t take action, the British will force us to fight East Africa. After all, so much support is not free, but must be forged with blood!”

From the beginning, this pirate ship was not one that the Boers could get off if they wanted to, and the Boers are probably one of the builders of this pirate ship. The British, on the other hand, came from behind and incorporated the Boers’ plan into their own grand strategy.

“So, this is exactly what we want. The Transvaal Republic is our obsession. Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance, we have to try. Even without the British, we will not yield to the East Africans!” Little Pretorius said firmly.

Valespig raised one of his concerns: “Your Excellency President, the current difficulty is, if we want to start a war with East Africa, what excuse, what time, and how to make East Africa willingly take the initiative to start a war with our three forces at the same time? It’s impossible for us to shed blood and sweat in the front, and the British and Portuguese watch from the rear, and then pick the fruits after our blood is drained.”

This is the difficulty that the Transvaalers are encountering now, which has been troubling the Transvaal high-level officials ever since the British allowed the Orange Free State to become independent again.

The three parties are already distrustful of each other, so naturally it is best for allies to contribute more and for themselves to watch. Therefore, they must find a way to drag them into the water as well.

In fact, the Transvaalers had this plan before, but this point was already seen through by the British, and they were not given this opportunity.

“The final direction of the war still depends on the British attitude, so we must put pressure on the British and let them take the initiative to assume responsibility, instead of thinking about tricking allies. As long as the British are resolved, the Portuguese will naturally have to follow, after all, in Europe, the Portuguese are also followers of the British, and now it is also related to their real interests, so they must be more careful. However, someone must supervise them, otherwise they may really negotiate peace with East Africa in secret,” Little Pretorius said.

Little Pretorius is overthinking this point. What East Africa wants most is to eat up the Portuguese colonies, so East Africa will not give the Portuguese this opportunity at all, and will even actively put the knife in the Portuguese’s hands.

East Africa does not dare to take these non-indigenous forces lightly, and also pays attention to some international morality. After all, being isolated by the international community or losing international credibility is really not easy, typical of which is Tsarist Russia.

Therefore, East Africa hopes that the Portuguese will actively send the excuse for war to East Africa’s hands, otherwise East Africa will have to shamelessly frame them.

Chapter 706: East African Diplomatic Relations Upgrade

September 12, 1887.

Abyssinian Empire, Bahir Dar.

Bahir Dar is the new capital of the Abyssinian Empire, where Yohannes IV moved the capital in 1880.

The entire history of the Abyssinian Empire has been completely changed by the intervention of East Africa. Yohannes IV ended the internal strife in his country and built a new political center on the shores of Lake Tana.

“Tana” in the local language means water storage without drying up. It is the largest lake in the Abyssinian Empire and the most important source of the Blue Nile. It is known as the water tower of Northeast Africa, while the African water tower is the East African Plateau within the East African Kingdom.

Fishing and shipping are very developed. Because it is a new city, the population is only over fifty thousand.

The core of the original Abyssinian Empire was in the northeast, near the Red Sea coast, but the northeast region was threatened by both Italy and Egypt, and the Red Sea route’s economic benefits to the Abyssinian Empire were gradually replaced by East Africa’s development of southern trade.

Under the dual guidance of economic interests and strategic value, Yohannes IV had to move the capital from the northeast to Bahir Dar, the current center of the Abyssinian Empire.

Former East African Minister Arland: “Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Abyssinian Empire, from today onwards, the East African Legation in Bahir Dar will be upgraded to an Embassy. I will be promoted to East African Ambassador to the Abyssinian Empire and continue to serve in maintaining relations between the two countries. In the future, we in East Africa will build railways, telegraphs, and factories within the Abyssinian Empire to strengthen the ties between our two countries. This will also be a common testament to the friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire.”

The friendship between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire can best be described as “not good enough, but better than nothing.” Compared to the Abyssinian Empire’s other two neighbors, East Africa seems “amiable.”

As the ultimate victor within the Abyssinian Empire, Yohannes IV is very satisfied with East Africa’s attitude. At least compared to the British, Egyptians, and Italians, East Africa seems very sincere.

The two countries completely resolved the border issue more than a decade ago, making clear demarcations of the territory.

Of course, at that time, the Abyssinian Empire was still in a state of fragmented warlordism, and Yohannes IV was not yet in charge of the Abyssinian Empire.

However, since the border demarcation was completed, East Africa has indeed not extended its hand to the Abyssinian Empire again. The relationship between the two countries has been stable for more than a decade, and East Africa’s sincerity and respect have obviously gained the initial recognition of the Abyssinian Empire.

Of course, if this were in a previous life, it would be basically impossible for East Africa to do this. In essence, the Abyssinian Empire suffered a loss, with many affiliated forces and vassal lands being cut off by East Africa, but at that time, the Abyssinian Empire could barely protect itself, let alone some small brothers.

“Minister Arland, no, Ambassador Arland, East Africa wants to build railways and telegraphs in the Abyssinian Empire. May I ask what impact this will have on our Abyssinian Empire?”

Yohannes IV is a military emperor and doesn’t really understand national construction, so he remains very wary of Arland’s words.

“We are helping Abyssinia build modern infrastructure, naturally for economic and trade exchanges and cultural exchanges between the two countries. This is very different from other European and American countries. It is for peaceful development, not war and enslavement,” Arland said.

“As everyone knows, we in East Africa have never infringed upon the interests of the Abyssinian Empire, because our King has said that the Abyssinian Empire is an important ‘ancient civilization’ in the world, and in the entire history of Africa, only Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire have this status. But you are different from Egypt. Egypt is a puppet kingdom of Britain, constantly being conquered by external forces. Only the Abyssinian Empire has been independent and autonomous for thousands of years.”

Arland put a tall hat on the Abyssinian Empire. Anyway, good words don’t cost money, and the effect is significant. Obviously, the smile on Yohannes IV’s face has increased a lot.

Arland struck while the iron was hot and said, “Our plan is to further deepen the ‘friendly’ relationship between the two countries, and this requires deepening exchanges and trade, so we need to work hard on transportation and communication.”

“In modern transportation, the most important thing on land is undoubtedly the railway. Currently, East Africa has initiated a project to build a railway that spans the entire Turkana Province, and the end point of this railway is Jima City on our border. But after the railway arrives in Jima City, the remaining problems need to be decided by you regarding the situation within the Abyssinian Empire.”

Yohannes IV naturally knows where Jima City is. Currently, relying on the trade of Jima City, the southern Abyssinian city of Neqemte is developing rapidly, becoming an important source of tax revenue.

Therefore, extending the railway into the Abyssinian Empire will definitely be of great benefit to the country’s economy, but Yohannes IV values the military value of the railway even more.

“Ambassador Arland, I have also heard of railways. It is said that they have the function of transporting troops in Europe. If we build railways between the two countries, how can you guarantee that it will not threaten the national security of our Abyssinian Empire?”

“Your Majesty, the Emperor, the railway is just a road built with a pile of steel. Its military value is indeed not small, but the ultimate question still comes down to who controls it.”

“Take our East African railway as an example. The railway within our country is naturally under our control. We can transport hundreds of thousands of troops to the area we want to send them to at any time through the railway. For example, after the construction of our Turkana Province railway is completed, we can send the troops in the south to the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire in a few days.”

“Could you prevent us from doing this? Similarly, the railways within the Abyssinian Empire are naturally controlled by yourselves. Whether it is transporting people or goods, it is up to you to decide. We in East Africa will not interfere or intervene. This is very different from European and American countries, so the railway issue should not be what you are afraid of.”

East Africa’s purpose is to forcibly correct the economic structure of the Abyssinian Empire into a north-south direction through transportation, instead of the previous east-west direction.

After all, the Red Sea coast is the traditional commercial area of the Abyssinian Empire, but once the railway is built, it will be difficult to change this pattern, unless the Abyssinian Empire builds its own east-west railway in the future.

However, commercial trade also has inertia. By the time the Abyssinian Empire has the ability to build its own railway, I am afraid that north-south trade will have matured for decades, so this is a construction of a system standard.

Of course, Arland’s words also have some disrespectful meaning, especially the description of the Turkana Province railway. This is clearly telling the Abyssinian Empire that East Africa wants to invade the Abyssinian Empire through the railway, which the Abyssinian Empire cannot stop at all. After all, the strategic depth of the Abyssinian Empire has already been eaten up by East Africa, Egypt, and Italy.

Now East Africa’s only demand for the Abyssinian Empire is a market for dumping goods. As for the various resources within the Abyssinian Empire, they are not too important. This is the advantage of population.

With a population of over ten million in the Abyssinian Empire, there is a market demand of ten million levels, involving clothing, food, housing, transportation, and other fields. It is a good place for East African industrial products and commodities. This is also the reason why East Africa plans to build railways and highways within the Abyssinian Empire.

Of course, the final destination of these transports is the border between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire, so that future Abyssinian trade will form path dependence and cannot get rid of East Africa.

The Abyssinian Empire is not at too much of a disadvantage. After all, East Africa can indeed bring some modern elements to the Abyssinian Empire, but these elements can only be operated relying on East Africa.

Chapter 707: Trade and Markets

“Ambassador Arland, railways and telegraphs are what we need, but we also need military equipment to resist invaders. Otherwise, we cannot even guarantee national security, and we will have no heart to build our own country,” said Johannes IV.

Arland: “I understand His Majesty’s concerns. We in East Africa will make some preparations for this to ensure the security of your country!”

How to guarantee the security of the Abyssinian Empire? Naturally, it is to resolve the current military conflict between Italy and the Abyssinian Empire.

So Arland’s promise is very important to the Abyssinian Empire. After all, the Abyssinian Empire alone certainly cannot reach a consensus with Italy.

Of course, giving the Abyssinian Empire such preferential treatment is related to the importance of the Abyssinian Empire to East Africa. The Abyssinian Empire is the only major country with a population of ten million whose trade is monopolized by East Africa.

Although the Far East Empire market is huge, East Africa’s imagination in the Far East region is very limited. Even the Huaihai Economic Zone market is shared with countries such as Germany and Austria.

Although trade in the German region is prosperous, East African industrial products cannot compete with German counterparts of the same type. Instead, they are exported to East Africa itself, which is not very friendly to East African industrial product exports.

In 1887, East African trade suffered a major setback, especially industrial products, which changed from growth to stagnation, which is a huge obstacle to East African industrial development.

The second is the Middle East. At present, the essence of the Middle East is basically under Ottoman control, and East Africa can only compete with it through Oman.

So, looking at the current situation of several major markets, the importance of the Abyssinian Empire to East Africa is self-evident.

Therefore, supporting the Abyssinian Empire is an important strategy for the current industrial development of East Africa. The first is to build the roads, otherwise, the southern trade of the Abyssinian Empire will never replace the Red Sea trade and become the mainstream trade route of the Abyssinian Empire.

The reason why the Abyssinian Empire has now become East Africa’s largest import and export country is that the Italians have blocked the Red Sea, but wars and hostile acts cannot remain unchanged.

If Italy and the Abyssinian Empire reach a compromise, and the Abyssinian Empire can reuse the Red Sea route, then East African trade will soon suffer setbacks. After all, the southern Ethiopian Plateau is a mountainous area, and its natural location is not as good as the Red Sea region.

Therefore, East Africa’s current goal is to open up transportation between the Abyssinian Empire and East Africa, further expand trade volume, especially industrial exports, to support the development of East African industry.

……

East Africa, First Township.

Von der Leyen: “In the past ten years, our export trade has been fiercely competed by various countries, especially the Southeast Asian market. The colonial expansion of Britain and France in this region has greatly compressed East Africa’s exports in this region. Countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Annam, and even Thailand have been affected to some extent.”

“In Africa, our trade has also been affected to some extent after the division of spheres of influence in West Africa.”

“If it weren’t for the continuous growth of the Huaihai Economic Zone, this year’s industrial product exports would likely enter negative growth, so opening up new markets is a problem that East Africa urgently needs to solve.”

“We can compete with European and American countries in the electricity and automobile industries and are in a dominant position, but the market for both is narrow, and it is difficult to promote them on a large scale even domestically. The main market for traditional industrial products is the Abyssinian Empire in the north, so we must further strengthen our relationship with the Abyssinian Empire.”

The above is the impact of the current world situation on East African trade. The great powers have divided up colonies around the world, compressing the living space of East African industrial products. Only trade with the Abyssinian Empire and the Far East Empire has not been greatly affected.

So Von der Leyen continued: “We now have three directions to strive for. Among them, the Abyssinian Empire must be guaranteed to exist, so coordinating its relationship with Italy is what we should do. The most important thing is to stop the war between the two.”

Of course, East Africa is not trying to get the Abyssinian Empire to end its hostility with Italy, but simply to stop the war. After all, if Italy really swallows the Abyssinian Empire, East Africa’s international trade will be greatly affected.

Therefore, maintaining the balance between the two is very important. Anyway, Italy has not made any progress against the Abyssinian Empire, but has promoted the internal unity of the Abyssinian Empire under the leadership of Johannes IV, so there is no need for the two countries to continue the war at all.

“Secondly, the Far East Empire, it is very important to continue to maintain the friendly relations between the two countries, and we must give it more military assistance, especially in the navy. Some of our ships are facing replacement problems, while the Far East Empire is facing the threat of the Japanese puppet government supported by Britain. At the same time, ensuring the autonomy of the Far East Empire government can also make the Far East Empire lean towards us in trade between the two countries.”

“Finally, there is the South American direction. We have insufficient natural conditions along the Atlantic coast, but we cannot ignore the size of South American countries, especially the eastern South American countries.”

“South America is a large market with a population of tens of millions and a certain degree of autonomy, especially Argentina and Brazil, so the Atlantic route must be activated. Important measures to open up trade with South America should be divided into three points.”

“Southwest Africa has our only three ports along the Atlantic coast. The southernmost Oranjemund can be ignored for now, as it cannot connect to the central and eastern production bases and markets. Swakopmund is a military port, so foreign trade cannot go through Swakopmund either. This leaves Walvis Bay as the only choice.”

“In addition to these three main breakthroughs, we must also maintain trade with the German region, Eastern Europe, and the Arab region. Industry and agriculture must be viewed separately. These three regions are the main consumer markets for East African agriculture. Agriculture is still the main pillar of our foreign economy.”

Ernst: “That’s right, so if we want to achieve a major breakthrough in foreign industrial commodity trade, there are currently two main directions: one is to open up new markets, and the second is to upgrade industries.

In emerging industries, the gap between us and other countries is not large, and we are even in the leading position, so we must expand this advantage, especially in new industries such as electricity and the automobile industry, continue to increase investment, and at the same time establish relevant research and development institutions and universities to promote development and provide follow-up strength for subsequent development, and get rid of dependence on the German region.”

Improving industrial production capacity and reducing costs are important means to improve the competitiveness of East African industrial products and expand the market.

Of course, the mainstream practice in Europe and the United States is to seize colonies and forcibly open up commodity markets, which can not only provide markets for their own industry and commerce but also keep competitors “out”.

Isn’t this another kind of closed-door policy? So East Africa’s national policy is not a problem. The domestic market is the lifeblood of East Africa, and the requirement to ensure the stability of the domestic market is to ensure the stability of social order.

This is also the biggest problem that East Africa has to deal with, so East Africa cannot easily start wars and must ensure that the main economic regions are not affected.

Of course, not being able to easily start wars does not mean that East Africa does not want to start wars, but that it must launch the Southern African War after being fully prepared. East Africa’s desire for war is no weaker than that of the Southern Transvaal people, the British, and the Portuguese.

Chapter 708: East African Standards Association

In August of 1887, the British Parliament passed an insulting trademark law, specifically stipulating that goods imported from Germany must be labeled “Made in Germany” to distinguish inferior German goods from superior British goods.

Putting down the newspaper in his hand, Ernst felt a sense of poignancy. Some things wouldn’t change just because East Africa had entered the scene, such as Britain’s latest Trademark Act.

The British amendment to the trademark law was, on the whole, due to the pressure they felt from the rapid increase in the industrial strength of countries like Germany. It was a suppression of developing countries by advanced nations.

Even if it were another country, it would be the same. As long as it posed a threat to Britain, it would enjoy the same treatment that Germany was currently receiving. So this was an inevitable trend in history, unless a foolish Prime Minister appeared in Britain and lobbied Parliament to let Germany off the hook.

This situation was almost impossible, after all, the British were famous for being prudent now, unless the entire society experienced an “anti-intellectual” wave like in his previous life, and then kidnapped these politicians through the “democratic system.” Currently, the prevalence of “falsehoods” was not yet popular in British society.

Returning to the impact of the provisions of the bill, not to mention the emotional damage this kind of straightforward humiliation caused to the Germans, East Africa, as a “knock-off superpower,” certainly felt the biting wind.

After all, many East African goods could be described as knock-offs of German products. Then, as far as Britain was concerned, East African industrial products were knock-offs of knock-offs.

The establishment of standards had to be viewed separately for the Hechingen Consortium and East African state-owned enterprises. The companies under the Hechingen Consortium were mostly innovative enterprises and valued product quality.

However, the state-owned enterprises that were the mainstay of East Africa’s national economy had significant shortcomings in this regard, especially in the “re-knock-off” of the “knock-off superpower,” Germany.

This was also unavoidable. The construction of East Africa’s industrial system began in the nineteen-seventies, basically importing a complete set of industrial machinery from Germany and Austria from scratch, so it was impossible to avoid taking this path.

The process of industry going from nothing to something was the same as famine victims eating whatever they could find during a disaster. Filling their stomachs came first; those who were too picky would have starved to death long ago.

So, Britain’s crackdown on “German goods” was actually indirectly cracking down on “East African goods,” and German technology was updated quickly, so East Africa might suffer even greater losses than Germany.

“What the British said doesn’t sound good, but it’s basically the truth. For German businesses, both large and small, and the German government, this is a very humiliating political and economic event, which has had an extremely negative impact on the national image. It also marks a new stage in the competition between the two countries for the commodity market. We can even consider this event to be the beginning of a shift in the world’s manufacturing base,” Ernst said to the officials of the industrial sector.

Don’t look at the negative impact of this kind of “insult.” In fact, it also represents Britain’s “helpless” recognition of German industrial competition, a sign of being driven to desperation.

From the beginning of the British-led First Industrial Revolution to today, Britain is still the “world’s factory,” but now Britain’s competitors have appeared, including Germany, the United States, France… the rise of a group of industrial countries has posed a huge threat to British industry and commerce, and Germany is the “early bird” that the British want to knock down.

Putting quality aside, German goods were indeed cheap, and Germany’s industrial production capacity had greatly improved, with large shipments, coupled with means such as “copying” and “private labeling,” which could achieve a one-to-one restoration of the “genuine product” in appearance.

So Ernst could completely imagine the scene of the British buying “domestic goods,” and then finding out the truth as soon as they used them, and “cursing their mothers” at home.

“Our export enterprises are essentially part of the German commodity export trade system, so they will inevitably be affected by this incident. This is a very good warning for us. The standardization of commodity quality in China should also be put back on the agenda to change the international community’s stereotype of our products!”

Ernst valued standardization, but East Africa had previously been unable to promote this kind of thing. After all, the machines were all imported from Europe, so they could only follow other people’s rules, and at that time, East Africa’s talent reserves were obviously unable to push East African industry towards independent innovation.

East Africa still didn’t have this ability completely now, but East Africa’s reserves of basic technical personnel should be enough. On the one hand, students were returning from abroad, and on the other hand, the number of middle school students had surged.

However, there was a big difference between theoretical learning and the actual situation. Letting the younger generation directly transform East Africa’s industrial system would probably involve a “frustrating” path.

“It should not be difficult for the government and enterprises to establish relevant standard-setting agencies, according to the current situation in East Africa, especially on the basis of the original commodity grading, to assess the East African commodity standards.”

Before this, East Africa had indeed established a preliminary enterprise-level commodity grading, but this commodity grading was based on sacrificing national products.

To compete with the international market, they could only select those products with excellent quality and then sell them in the international market, while the defective products were left for domestic consumption.

However, even now, East African people still felt that supply fell short of demand. This had a lot to do with production capacity. East Africa could not be considered an industrial country now. In addition to the low urbanization rate, the number of industries was also a big problem.

In the early nineteenth century, the standard for an industrial country should be that the urban population reached more than thirty percent, but until now, East Africa’s urbanization level was less than twenty percent (including the black population), but removing the black population, East Africa could immediately become much better-looking.

Moreover, many cities in East Africa should be considered agricultural-industrial hybrid residential settlements, especially in the west and north, where many cities were only promoted by administrative means, rather than cities created by industrialization.

Currently, the only countries recognized as having completed industrialization are Britain, France, Germany, and the United States. The rest, like Austria-Hungary, Tsarist Russia, Spain, East Africa, and Japan, are all catching up.

Of course, East Africa was developing the most rapidly in several industrial fields where it was making every effort, mainly steel, electricity, automobiles, and the food processing industry.

The opposite examples were the textile industry and the machinery manufacturing industry, which were relatively weak in development. Every year, East Africa needed to import from the Far East and the German region.

“The establishment of standardization agencies should discuss and exchange ideas with royal enterprises and several large foreign-funded enterprises. They have rich experience in this area.”

Royal enterprises and large foreign-funded enterprises, plus Hechingen Bank, that is, the Hechingen Consortium. The Hechingen Consortium was the earliest organization to formulate commodity standards.

This was related to the industries engaged in by the Hechingen Consortium. East African state-owned enterprises could not meet the conditions of the Hechingen Consortium, but they were also more standardized than many small European and American enterprise workshops.

However, East Africa had many enterprises run by local governments, and the quality of these enterprises’ products varied, but apart from the textile industry and the food processing industry, they were also the mainstay of East Africa’s light industry.

“Led by the Ministry of Industry, with other foreign-funded enterprises in East Africa supervising and guiding, we will form an organization to guide the quality of East African commodity production, and name it the East African Standards Association.”

The East African Standards Association was actually a replica of the German Standards Association of his previous life, and the German Standards Association of his previous life was not established until nineteen seventeen.

At first, it was just a non-governmental organization, and later it was incorporated by the German government. East Africa directly promoted the completion of this matter by the state, which was the difference between the two.

Chapter 709: Talent Recall

Germany, Berlin.

The Grelling Textile Factory.

The Grelling Textile Factory is a small to medium-sized privately-owned textile enterprise in Germany, which nearly went bankrupt during the economic crisis of 1875.

Subsequently, it was rated as a high-quality enterprise during an inspection by the Hechingen Bank, and received a capital injection, allowing it to continue operating.

In the nineteen eighties, it experienced rapid development and became one of the high-quality textile enterprises in Berlin. It is also an important talent training base for the Hechingen Consortium.

The important reason why the Grelling Textile Factory is favored by the Hechingen Consortium is the Grelling family’s emphasis on technology, as well as its strict corporate management model.

The Grelling family itself transitioned from Junker landed gentry to bourgeois aristocracy, so the factory also implemented comprehensive militarized management.

Due to the militarized management, various production procedures in the factory building are well-organized, and workers perform their respective duties.

Wells, a technical maintenance worker in the third workshop, was processing documents in the office, mostly mechanical drawings.

Knock knock knock…

A knock sounded on the door. Wells, still buried in his work, didn’t bother to look closely at who it was. He subconsciously assumed that there was another machine malfunction.

“Mr. Wells, Mr. Grelling asked you to go to his office. It seems that some important person is looking for you.”

Wells put down his pen and asked, “Looking for me? Not the factory director?”

“It looks like a stranger, but he must be an important person. Factory Director Grelling is very respectful to him.”

Hearing this, Wells had a good idea of what was going on. The so-called important person was probably an official from East Africa.

Wells put the items on the table in order, put a bookmark in the unfinished draft, then put away his pen, put it in his pocket, and went out towards the factory director’s office.

Grelling had been waiting here for a long time. A man in a suit and leather shoes was already sitting on the sofa next to him.

“Wells, you’re here. I remember you’re from East Africa, right?” Grelling asked Wells with a smile.

“Yes, Mr. Grelling.”

“How many years have you worked here?”

“A total of eight years. I started working at the Grelling Textile Factory in the second half of eighteen seventy-eight, shortly after graduating from school.”

“Well, this is Mr. John Leeds from your East Africa, who is also the general manager of the Hechingen Bank’s Mitte Street branch in Berlin. He is here today mainly to arrange for you to work in East Africa. He will discuss the specific situation with you.”

John Leeds: “Mr. Wells, hello!”

“Hello, Mr. John Leeds!” Wells said politely.

John Leeds said, “Mr. Selva, who was previously responsible for contacting you, has retired, so I am here to take over his work. Now the country needs young people like you to contribute to the country’s construction, so we can only ask you to return home.”

Wells had long been mentally prepared for returning to his motherland, after all, this was clearly stated in the original overseas agreement.

Wells: “Mr. John Leeds, I would like to know if the country wants me to continue working in a related professional field when I go back?”

“Yes, there are currently three options for you to choose from, namely Nairobi, Bulawayo, and Kisan City. The first two cities are important textile industry cities in East Africa, and the last one is a city that is preparing to vigorously develop the textile industry.”

“Nairobi is not inferior to European cities in all aspects. Of course, I am definitely not talking about Berlin or Munich. With Nairobi’s population size, it should be a large city like Stuttgart or Dusseldorf in Germany. As for Bulawayo, it is not bad either, but because it started late, the city has a lot of room for growth, especially the textile industry, which is the city’s key development direction.”

“As for Kisan City, its textile industry foundation is the weakest, with only more than thirty textile factories. However, the country is preparing to invest heavily in Kisan City. There are great opportunities to go now, and it is even possible to directly become a member of the management, at least no worse than your treatment in Germany, and the upper limit is higher.”

After all, Wells staying in Germany is impossible to replace Grelling as the factory director. Talents like Wells with high education and commoner background can at most become senior wage earners, or start their own businesses, but as a mixed-race person starting a business, and without any connections and funds, it is quite difficult.

Going anywhere is working for someone else, so it is better to go back to East Africa to work. Of course, this is just the East African government’s idea. For talents who have developed well in Germany and are not too important, East Africa is willing to let them go.

Of course, more East African students studying abroad will definitely return to their country, after all, their families are all in East Africa, unless they don’t even want their families anymore, learning from those “run” people in the previous life, East Africa would not dare to use such people!

“Mr. John Leeds, I have naturally been prepared to return to my country for a long time. After all, I haven’t seen my parents for several years. I just don’t know if I can still live with my family when I go to East Africa?” Wells asked.

John Leeds took an envelope from the table and handed it to Wells, saying, “Your family’s situation has changed a long time ago. Now you have another younger sister. It’s all here. I guess your parents haven’t had time to send a telegram here yet, but now you can go back and see them directly.”

East Africa has a special agency to manage students studying abroad, so they know their family situation very well and record it every year.

Wells opened the kraft paper envelope, which focused on recording his personal information and family situation. Wells’ experience of studying and working in Germany during this period was recorded in detail.

“Your parents are in good health, and they also had a younger sister for you this year. Including you, there are a total of six people in your family. Now they are too busy taking care of the little ones, mainly because they are worried about how you are doing in Germany, but you also have relatives here. I guess you have already met them, right?”

East Africa is a population “Pi Xiu”, only taking in and not giving out as a whole. It is extremely difficult for ordinary people to go abroad, so many immigrants to East Africa can only contact their relatives by telegram. Far Eastern immigrants are even more miserable. Many of them are refugees or have lost contact with their families long ago. They can only survive well in East Africa. The rich own vast fields, and the poor have no place to stand. This is the true portrayal of this era.

Having a small piece of land that can be used to settle down belongs to the “rich peasant” class, which is the yeoman farmer according to European standards.

East Africa, although it has a lot of land, only has the right to use it, and obeys the state’s arrangements to engage in agricultural production activities, should be regarded as agricultural workers or “serfs”, after all, East Africans are also restricted to the land by household registration, including both cities and villages.

“After you choose your job location, we can adjust your parents’ work, so don’t worry about related issues. Moreover, the conditions in these places are not bad, even the worst Kisan City. When the Hessen Railway opens next year, Kisan City will completely end its history of not having a railway. Your generation can be considered to have caught up with a good time,” John Leeds said.

However, Wells had to consider this matter carefully. He had heard of Nairobi, because when he left East Africa, Nairobi was one of the five major cities in East Africa, and it was the textile industry center of East Africa.

As for Bulawayo and Kisan City, he had never heard of them, but according to John Leeds’ description, these two cities should also be quite important in East Africa.

In fact, these three textile industry cities are all based on East African cotton planting to form related industries. Of course, these three cities got on the bus first and then bought the ticket later, first there was East African urban construction, and then there was the textile industry layout.

East Africa also has other textile industry centers, but the cities mainly based on cotton textile industry are these three, such as Tanga City and Tabora City are hemp textile industry centers, New Hamburg Port City is a wool textile industry center, and Lusaka City is a silk fabric production center.

Dar es Salaam and Mombasa also occupy an important position in the textile industry, and other cities have some layout more or less.

Chapter 710: Consolidating the Economy

“Mr. John Leeds, could you provide more detailed information about the three cities? After all, I’ve been away from East Africa for so long, I don’t know much about it anymore,” Wells said.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Wells, I’m not very familiar with the cities in East Africa either. There are so many cities there now. The information you have was sent from back home. But if I had to say, Nairobi and Bulawayo would be the best choices. Both of them have railways, which Kisangani can’t compare to right now. Besides, Kisangani is said to be in the Congo Basin in western East Africa. You used to live in the highlands, so the climate would definitely be more suitable.”

“Alright, if you don’t mind, I’d like to consider it for a while. It would be best to get more information from back home,” Wells said.

“The deadline is the thirteenth of next month, so you have a little over ten days to consider. It would be best if you could give us an answer as soon as possible. I’m working at the Mitte Street branch now. Just ask for me there. The results have to be sent back home so they can prepare. The deadline is the third of next month,” John Leeds said.

“No problem!” Wells said. This gave him enough time to discuss it with his family. Wells really wanted to talk to his family the most.

Afterward, Wells and Factory Director Grelling saw John Leeds off together.

Grelling: “Mr. Wells, before you leave, you should hand over your work. Your departure is actually a loss for our factory.”

While he said that, Grelling wasn’t exactly desperate to keep Wells. In fact, Germany wasn’t lacking in talent in this area. Of course, it would be best if Wells could stay, but East Africa wouldn’t let him go.

“Thank you for your care over the years, Factory Director Grelling. I wish you prosperous business.”

Grelling waved goodbye and said, “You should pack your luggage first! After all, East Africa is quite far away. You’ve lived in Germany for so many years, I imagine you have a lot of things to take with you.”

……

Bringing talent back home was also for further improving, or rather, consolidating, East Africa’s industry. Before this, East Africa’s industrial system could only barely function, so it needed more professional talent, especially these East African young people who had accumulated rich production experience in Europe and had a certain level of education.

“We have recalled over two thousand elites and leaders from all walks of life from Europe at once. Although their talent may be limited, after years of honing in Europe, they can effectively identify and fill gaps and optimize East Africa’s current industries.”

“Involving textiles, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, ceramics, papermaking and other industries, strengthening the weak links in our economy.”

The weakness of East African industry is light industry, and these are the industries that East Africa can best penetrate in Germany and Europe. Heavy industry, on the other hand, is not easy to arrange for people to learn.

“Light industry is an important part of the national economy, related to the clothing, food, housing, and transportation of East African citizens. Focusing solely on the development of heavy industry and military industry can easily lead to an imbalance in the industrial structure and is not conducive to the stable operation of the country.”

Ernst continued, “According to the current economic situation in our country, vigorously developing light industry and adjusting the industrial structure are also important indicators for increasing East Africa’s international competitiveness.”

The export of military industry and heavy industry is obviously not as good as the export of light industry. First of all, the military industries of the major powers are basically not too bad. Even the countries of the Far East established a strong military industrial system in the seventies and eighties.

Therefore, the international competitive pressure of heavy industrial products is even greater than that of light industry. The four countries of Britain, France, Germany, and Austria firmly hold the right to speak in this field, and it is difficult for any country to squeeze into the arms market of these countries because it involves systemic issues.

In addition to the issue of weapon and equipment systems, politics is also an important reason. The above-mentioned major powers, plus Tsarist Russia and the United States, Spain, basically divided up the world’s political resources.

This is also a major shortcoming of East Africa. The only major country that East Africa can influence is probably the Abyssinian Empire, but the Abyssinian Empire is only a medium-sized country in Europe.

“The integrity of the industrial system is extremely important for a large country like East Africa. Small countries cannot build a complete industrial system, and at the same time, their right to choose their destiny is very small, and they are inevitably subject to others. Obviously, we in East Africa have broken away from the level of small countries, so in order not to be subject to others, all walks of life, of course, I am talking about legitimate industries, must be fully developed.”

“With the completion of the Hesse Railway imminent, East Africa’s industrial production is bound to be affected by the upcoming war. In order to avoid the negative impact of the war on factories and facilities, more professional talent must be invested in stabilizing production.”

“Therefore, providing a fast track for these returning talents and arranging for them to quickly integrate into East Africa’s social production is extremely important and urgent.”

The completion of the Hesse Railway is the time for East Africa to pinpoint and eliminate potential threats around East Africa, so the East African government’s work is also the busiest.

“Your Highness, rest assured, all departments and the Immigration Department and embassies will actively cooperate to let them do their jobs as soon as possible. We guarantee to arrange for the return of talent before March next year.”

East Africa is now in a state of tension, especially the central and southern regions feel it most deeply. The eastern residents do not have much reaction, which is related to their distance from the central and southern borders that may become the front line of the war, but the factories and military and political organs in the eastern provinces have felt the coming storm.

War is expensive, East Africa must work overtime to produce supplies to prevent social problems caused by the war leading to production stagnation, so we must prepare for both possibilities: one is to hoard daily necessities, and the other is to ensure the normal operation of factories and other institutions when the war breaks out.

According to the unanimous judgment of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff Headquarters, once the war starts, the problem facing East Africa will definitely not be the small fights of the past.

Because East Africa’s enemies have made sufficient preparations over the years, and the war is likely to spread to East Africa from all directions, basically the entire territory of East Africa may be directly threatened.

Ernst: “Very good, the return of talent must be accelerated, and preparations for war must also be accelerated, especially the registration and training of the reserve force, which must be carried out nationwide. All military regions, especially the central and southern regions and the northeastern region, and the navy must do a good job in preparing for war.”

“This war is also East Africa’s real war of national destiny. If we win, then East Africa’s status as a world power can be recognized by the international community, and at the same time, the harsh geopolitical environment facing East Africa can be eliminated, paving the way for East Africa’s development in the next few decades. Conversely, we must be prepared to cede land and pay reparations, and even lose the opportunity for development in the next few decades.”

The problem facing East Africa is actually, in the context of the times, the last battle for the “tickets” of the great powers, just like the United States to Spain, Japan to the Far Eastern Empire, winner takes all.

In fact, if the Far Eastern Empire could defeat Japan in the nineties, then the Far Eastern Empire’s status as a great power could continue to be maintained, and it would represent the success of the Westernization Movement.

Everyone is fighting for national destiny, but East Africa’s enemies are obviously the most difficult to deal with. In fact, if Britain does not target East Africa, East Africa can achieve the same effect by facing Portugal and the Transvaal people alone, but Britain’s suppression of East Africa will obviously be unreserved.

The important reason why East Africa faces a more dangerous situation than the United States and Japan is that the United States and Britain have already fought each other, and there is a bond of interest between the two, and the United States itself has inextricable ties with British culture. As for Japan, it was completely supported by Britain.

Only if East Africa first belongs to German culture as the mainstream in terms of ideology, decouples from Britain economically, and at the same time poses a huge threat to Cape Town, British Somaliland, Egypt, and India.

Chapter 711: Returning Home

Dar es Salaam City.

Wells ultimately chose to work in Bulawayo. After all, Bulawayo, located between Nairobi and Kisangani, could be said to have the advantages of both, making it easier for people to accept. Of course, this was also due to the persuasion of his family, who hoped that Wells would be more ambitious, and Nairobi was clearly saturated with little room for advancement.

Wells was not returning from Europe alone; he was accompanied by his German wife and son. After all, he had lived in Germany for many years, and high-quality marriage prospects like Wells were quite popular.

In fact, it was easy for East African students and workers in Germany to find marriage partners because these people were in good financial shape and mostly engaged in “high-end” industries, making them more promising than ordinary workers.

In Dar es Salaam, Idris from the Immigration Department was responsible for receiving Wells and others.

The government had a special reception area for returning talents like Wells, namely the Dar es Salaam Talent Apartment.

Idris opened a room with a key and introduced it, “There are three floors in total. Your apartment is on the second floor. Each of your family of three has a room, one kitchen, two bathrooms, and one shower room. Of course, there are also family apartments with higher demand. The one you are temporarily staying in is a family apartment. Even five people wouldn’t feel crowded in this space. This is the largest apartment.”

Wells’ wife, Mary, was very satisfied. Since arriving in East Africa with her husband, her impression of the “poor and backward” East Africa he had described had completely changed.

“Wells, didn’t you say East Africa was very backward? Dar es Salaam alone is probably not much worse than Berlin. We also passed through Mombasa in the middle, which looked good too.”

“Mary, it’s not the same. Just like Berlin is the capital of Germany, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam are also the most economically developed regions in East Africa. But East Africa’s land area is more than ten times that of Germany, and the inland situation is much worse, especially my hometown of Iringa. In fact, the urban area is no different from European towns, not to mention that I grew up in the countryside of Iringa. Moreover, Dar es Salaam is far from being comparable to Berlin. Berlin has a population of over a million, and the two urban areas of Dar es Salaam probably don’t even have half the population of Berlin combined.”

Idris said, “Mr. Wells is right. Berlin’s population should be around one and a half million, while Dar es Salaam only has less than five hundred thousand people, and that’s already the largest city in East Africa.”

Mary: “I just feel that Dar es Salaam is not worse than Germany in terms of urban construction and living facilities, and you also have novel things like trams, which are probably rare in Europe, only a few big cities have them.”

“That’s because Dar es Salaam was built late, so the planning and design are more scientific. This advantage is more obvious in newer cities. For example, Bulawayo, where you are going this time, may not have as good economic data as Dar es Salaam, but I think the environment won’t be much different,” Idris said.

“In short, the living environment of this apartment alone is much better than the apartment we rented in Berlin. I want to know if we will have the same treatment after going to Bulawayo?”

“Of course, this kind of talent apartment is standard in every industrial city in East Africa. Bulawayo may just have a different design, but the basic facilities should be the same.”

“Bulawayo is an important node on the Central Railway. We can see it on the route map of the Dar es Salaam Central Railway Station. And cities that can be marked are generally larger cities. Moreover, the country has been vigorously developing Matabeleland Province in recent years, so Bulawayo, as the second largest city in Matabeleland Province, will definitely not have poor development.”

“Not only talent apartments, but even the temporary residences for immigrants have been greatly improved. Seven years ago, all the immigrant settlements in East Africa were renovated and rebuilt, including the immigrant settlement in Dar es Salaam.”

“Mr. Idris, can I go and see the immigrant settlement?” Idris’s words aroused Wells’ interest. The temporary immigrant settlements in East Africa were a collective memory of the older generation of East Africans. His parents had lived there, so he was eager to see it.

“Of course, but you have to hurry. You will be leaving next Saturday. You can’t stay here permanently. It will be more difficult to visit Dar es Salaam in the future. After all, Bulawayo is very far from Dar es Salaam.”

The distance between Bulawayo and Dar es Salaam is enough to travel abroad in Europe, so Idris said that.

…

After handling the luggage, Idris took Wells to “remember the bitter past and appreciate the sweet present.”

The East African immigrant settlement still uses collective dormitories, but they have all been replaced with four-person rooms, and the space has been greatly improved.

Water towers have been built on the roof of the collective dormitory, and tap water has been connected, which also allows each dormitory to have its own independent bathroom. The cafeteria is still shared, but the cafeteria occupies a building alone, divided into two floors.

“In East Africa, you don’t need too many clothes and bedding. The old-fashioned military uniforms that were previously distributed have also been replaced with common work clothes on the market. If you don’t add a label, you can hardly tell the difference from East Africans.”

“At the same time, we have also established language schools specifically for immigrants. This did not exist in East Africa before. The development of education allows us to provide more teacher resources, so immigrants no longer need to adapt on their own.”

“This is a super-large community, also known as a ‘super-large school’ by the citizens of Dar es Salaam. It can accommodate ten thousand people every year, but now the number of immigrants in Dar es Salaam is not as high as before, maybe only three or four thousand people every year.”

“Has East Africa’s immigration policy changed?”

“That’s one reason, but there are also other newly built port cities diverting the flow. East Africa currently has eighteen port cities, instead of just Dar es Salaam and Mombasa having the capacity to receive immigrants as before.”

In Wells’ view, the living standards in East Africa have indeed improved greatly. Even this kind of temporary immigrant settlement is built quite well, so Bulawayo is definitely a place worth looking forward to.

“The standards for East Africa to receive people have been reshaped. Now, those who can settle in East Africa are all talents with knowledge or skills. This is also a big change in East Africa,” Idris introduced from the side.

“Of course, the development of East Africa is best observed through the railway line. You are going to Bulawayo via the Central Railway, so you can see the construction situation in East Africa over the years along the way.”

As an official of the Immigration Department, Idris has been to many places in the country, so he is most impressed by the development of East Africa in the past ten years.

The nineteen seventies and nineteen eighties were a period of great development in East Africa. During this period, East Africa completed the reshaping of the country, and industry and agriculture were greatly developed. Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, road transportation, water conservancy projects, cities, and villages can all directly reflect the changes in East Africa.

These construction achievements were then displayed to the East African people through newspapers, shaping a collective sense of honor for the new and old generations of citizens. The entire East Africa was a scene of prosperity.

Of course, in the sky above this prosperous scene, the clouds of war were already dense, and the entire African continent could be ignited at any time. It was also a major test for East Africa after a long period of peace, to see if East Africa, in addition to being good at construction, could protect its harvest.

Chapter 712: Sights Along the Railway

“The first major city you reach heading west along the railway is Mbeya, but before that, we’ll pass through cities like Dodoma. Dodoma is a railway hub, but its built-up area is relatively small, not even ranking in the top ten in East Africa. However, its geographical location is extremely important and of great strategic value. Unfortunately, East Africa now has a vast territory, and there are many places that can replace Dodoma’s role. Once the railway network expands further, its position may face further challenges.”

If East Africa were Tanzania in his previous life, then Dodoma’s position would be almost the core of the country. But East Africa isn’t like that; Mbeya has become a relatively important hub city, along with the rising star, New Frankfurt.

This is similar to the Far East Empire in his previous life, where Zhengzhou, located in the plains, became an important railway hub early on. But as railway technology and construction became more widespread and advanced, a large number of railway hubs sprang up around it, like Wuhan, Shaanxi, Hefei, Jinan, and so on, inevitably leading to a decline in its transportation status.

This decline is relative, just like the United States in relation to the Far East Empire. In reality, without the backdrop of the Far East Empire, the United States’ position in the world and other aspects wouldn’t change much, and it would still be growing every year.

Dodoma faces a similar situation. In fact, Dodoma is developing well, but it pales in comparison to the surrounding cities.

On the one hand, although Dodoma is located on a plateau, its terrain is mostly hilly, which limits urban development. Moreover, the region is relatively short of water resources, making it unsuitable for industrial development. Its annual rainfall can only be maintained at around five hundred millimeters.

Dodoma’s location is simply an important passage for the transition from the coastal plains of East Africa to the plateau, so it hasn’t fallen behind too much.

Mary said, “Dodoma’s environment is somewhat similar to southern Austria.”

She and Wells transferred to the railway before coming to East Africa, so they happened to pass through southern Austria, eventually sailing from Trieste. The Mediterranean climate zone is in winter, with a mild and rainy climate, while Dodoma’s rainy season is concentrated between December and March of the following year, so they look similar.

The rainy season is a period of concentrated rainfall, but it doesn’t rain every day, especially in a place like Dodoma, which is considered relatively arid even in East Africa. The only difference may be the vegetation.

However, this is not obvious along the railway, because East Africa has planted many plants along the railway, some of which are excellent tree species selected from all over the world.

Beyond the railway lines are vast grasslands and occasional farmlands and villages. This is the current state of the East African countryside. Even in the more “densely populated” east, there is still a large amount of undeveloped land.

“The railway situation in East Africa should be similar to that of Tsarist Russia. Although the mileage is long, the density is not as high as in Europe. Of course, we in East Africa have much more advantages in railway construction than Tsarist Russia, especially in this plateau area, where there is a lack of tall trees, making development very convenient. You will pass through Mbeya and Hohenzollern Province along the way, where there are large tracts of huge forests. To the north is the Congo Rainforest, and to the south, the grassland scenery will return. Bulawayo’s climate should be similar to that of Dodoma, but it is rich in mineral deposits and has a flat terrain. It was also once the capital of the Ndebele people, so its conditions are much better than Dodoma.”

Adelis was also traveling with them, so he was popularizing the situation in the East African interior to Wells and his wife.

He often travels through most of East Africa on the Central Railway, so he is extremely knowledgeable about the customs and conditions of East Africa. Such people are a minority of talented people with broad vision in East Africa.

“When you enter the Matabeleland Province border, you can also see the Zambezi River bridge, which is also quite spectacular. It is entirely built of steel and would be a large project even in Europe. It is one of the major transportation construction projects in East Africa.”

East Africa doesn’t have many decent large rivers, or rather, many rivers are shared with other countries. The Nile, Congo, Orange, Limpopo, and Zambezi rivers are all like this.

The common point of these rivers is that the upper reaches are all in East Africa’s hands. The Orange River is an exception, but the upper reaches of its main tributary, the Vaal River, are under East African control.

The Zambezi and Congo rivers are obviously of greater significance to East Africa. The lower reaches of these two rivers are in the hands of the Portuguese. If East Africa seizes the lower reaches controlled by the Portuguese, East Africa will also exclusively own two world-class rivers.

It’s like before, even the small Little Rhine River (Ruvuma River) could have a certain reputation in East Africa, which is simply laughable. To be honest, the Zambezi River is a bit of a stretch to compare with the Rhine, let alone the Ruvuma River, a small river only a hundred kilometers long.

Compared to the advantages of waterway transportation in other continental rivers, East Africa’s river hydropower resources are not enough to watch, but this is already a good situation. It’s better to have something than nothing.

“The Zambezi River should be the largest river in East Africa. Our textbooks used to have descriptions of the Zambezi River, extending from the interior of East Africa to the Portuguese colony, and finally flowing into the Indian Ocean,” Wells recalled.

“The old East African geography textbooks are outdated. The old textbooks can only be regarded as simple descriptions and are full of loopholes. For example, we also control the north bank of the downstream area. This is the result of the last East Portuguese war, but you should already be studying in Africa, so you don’t know about these things,” Adelis explained to Wells.

He continued, “And it won’t be long before the Zambezi River will probably become an internal river of our East Africa.”

Wells asked in surprise, “Is East Africa going to war?”

“Hehe, there’s nothing to be surprised about. In recent years, our country’s army, especially in the south, has never been disbanded. You should have also noticed in the past two days that several military trains have passed by our train. These are all signs of war. Of course, this is my own judgment. Whether or not to fight depends on what the central government thinks.”

Adelis naturally didn’t dare to guarantee it, but East Africa does have signs of preparing for war. Coupled with East Africa’s past actions, Adelis believes that this should be the case.

East Africa’s more than ten million square kilometers of territory was not given by others. From beginning to end, East Africa has been a highly aggressive country. Even in these most stable years, East Africa has spread its influence across the ocean to the Pacific region.

Now, anyone who glances at the map of East Africa would want to remove the two Portuguese colonies, after all, they are too discordant. For a perfectionist like Ernst, being able to tolerate it until now is already very difficult.

Of course, the economic and strategic value of these two colonies is Ernst’s driving force. In Ernst’s strategy, the coastlines of Mozambique and Angola must be obtained. Only then can East Africa truly become a two-ocean country like the United States.

As for the coastline of Southwest Africa, it is not even as good as the Somalia region, unable to take on the important task of East Africa’s economic management and strategic deterrence of the South Atlantic.

The conditions of the eastern coastline are actually not bad, but if Mozambique can be taken, it will be of great help to the foreign economy of the central and southern regions. Exporting through the Central Railway still requires a detour.

At the same time, it is also a huge threat to the port city of New Hamburg. In East Africa’s railway planning, the railway along the Indian Ocean coastline has long been planned. The narrow coastal plain in East Africa, from Somalia to South Africa, is the great artery that will connect the East African economy in the future.

Chapter 713: Not Afraid of War

Wells was not surprised by Idris’s mention of war, and even considered it a matter of course. This was related to the long-term, low-intensity warfare in East Africa.

East Africa had been at war for almost a decade. The new generation, like Wells, had spent almost every year of their lives in East African wars. Even East African villages used to frequently clash with tribes and wild animals.

But for Mary, the German, it didn’t feel so good!

“Wells, is East Africa often at war?”

Germans actually have a strong sense of awe towards war, especially for German civilians. Every war in Europe is extremely tragic because the difference between the warring parties is not significant, so they can only rely on a large number of cannon fodder to consume each other.

As for the prevalence of militarism, it was actually forced out. If they didn’t develop their military, they would only be beaten. The former German states felt this most deeply. Germany was essentially the Central Plains of Europe, a natural battlefield for various forces. If the Germans didn’t strive for themselves, they couldn’t escape being beaten by others, so it was better to unite and actively beat others.

“Hehe, Mary, don’t worry. The wars in Africa are not as tragic as those in Europe. Because East Africa’s opponents are not strong, we East Africans used to fight with the natives frequently. This is not a rare thing.”

Wolves are not afraid of sheep. This is the current situation of East Africa’s development in Africa. In the past, the strongest military power in Africa was Egypt, and East Africa was a little more restrained. Now that East Africa has firmly established its position as the strongest military power in Africa, it should be the surrounding forces that are afraid of East Africa.

Idris also chimed in, “War is not unfamiliar to East Africans. It’s just that in most cases, we East Africans invade other countries and tribes. Whether in terms of population, military strength, or economic and political power, East Africa has an overwhelming advantage over its surroundings.”

“Moreover, in recent years, the development of East Africa’s navy and army has been even more rapid than before. There is no generation gap in weapons and equipment compared to Europe, and we also have our own arsenals, so the war will not have too much impact on civilians.”

Mary didn’t believe a word of what they said, because the environment she grew up in instilled a fear of war. After all, before Germany was unified, most of the German states were the ones being beaten.

Similarly, in addition to the description of war, the description of Africa was also the same. Although the African continent under East Africa’s rule had undergone tremendous changes, Europe’s stereotypes of Africa had never changed.

Before this, Mary was actually reluctant to leave Germany, but her husband was East African, so the whole family had to develop in East Africa. Fortunately, East Africa was not the barren land described in Europe.

Actually, this is understandable. Although East Africa actively promotes East Africa and lures immigrants, this actually hinders East Africa’s positive public opinion in the German region.

Because most of those who believe in East Africa’s advantages have immigrated, they cannot form the advertising effect of “three men make a tiger.” After all, East Africa is quite far from Europe, and there is more slander than praise. Ordinary people cannot have a deep understanding of East Africa’s development if they do not leave Europe.

This is the same as the natural “filter” of the Western world towards other regions of the world in Ernst’s previous life. Europe is the center of civilization, and this is politically correct. Even the United States, which has a hundred-year history, is not a good thing in European public opinion, let alone East Africa with only a few decades of history.

“Don’t worry about the war. Bulawayo, where you are going, is actually in the rear of East Africa. Even if the war is unfavorable, it will not have too much impact there. From another perspective, the area of one of our East African provinces is about the same as the area of a European country. These provinces are natural buffer zones,” Idris said.

Bulawayo is still in the western part of Matabeleland Province, far from the border. Of course, it is not as safe as Idris said.

However, East Africa has a geographical advantage, because Matabeleland Province is located on a separate plateau terrain. The Limpopo River and the South African Plateau separate it to the south, and it faces Mozambique from a high position to the east.

The Mozambique Plain is one of the few true plains in Africa, and this is also Mozambique’s biggest disadvantage. Plateaus naturally have a military suppression advantage over plains.

Moreover, the area where East Africa and Mozambique border is very poorly developed in Mozambique. Many are rainforests and swamps, and the transportation is very poor. Only north-south transportation is relatively convenient, which is also the reason why Mozambique’s national border is distributed in a narrow and long shape in Ernst’s previous life.

The South African Plateau in the south is indeed more accessible, but it is located inland, and the transportation in these African countries, except for East Africa, is basically a mess.

After all, other colonies, including the Portuguese who have colonized Africa for hundreds of years, have no concept of construction. Among the many colonies in the world, I am afraid that only the British have the highest degree of construction in India, and East Africa has broken away from the scope of colonies, so it must pay close attention to national construction.

“However, after so many years of war in East Africa, the national territory should have expanded to its limit. If there is another war, then our opponent should not be natives, right!” Wells thought of a key question.

“Most likely it will be the Portuguese, but Portugal’s military strength is not outstanding in Europe. Even we East Africa have made them cede land and pay compensation, so I think Portugal’s strength is probably only one level higher than the natives in East Africa’s eyes,” Idris said.

“Of course, it may also be the Boers, after all, the enmity between East Africa and the Boers is the greatest.”

Idris had not thought of Britain. Although Britain’s relationship with East Africa is not very good, there should not be too much hatred. Of course, even if there is a threat, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff should also have contingency plans.

Mary: “I thought I wouldn’t see war after leaving Germany, but I didn’t expect other places in the world to be like this too.”

“The difference is huge. Wars in Eurasia are the normal form of war, and the intensity of wars in other regions cannot compare to Europe. Taking East Africa as an example, unless East Africa also has a civil war like the United States, any form of war is a local war for East Africa.”

East Africa has not yet enjoyed the situation that Germany has, where enemies come from all directions. It will probably be difficult to enjoy in the future, because East Africa does not have many neighboring countries, and their strength is not strong.

Of course, it is another matter if the British can pull France and other European countries to form an intervention army against East Africa, but the possibility of this situation is basically zero. At least it can be confirmed that Germany and Austria-Hungary will definitely object, and other countries will definitely be ambiguous. This is the benefit of being a great power.

Of course, the status of a great power is not necessarily easy to use. The Ottoman Empire and the Far Eastern Empire should feel this most deeply. Instead, because of the threat of the two countries, they are subject to suppression by other countries.

Just like Europeans can’t imagine that in Ernst’s previous life, the Americans ruled Europe across the Atlantic Ocean, the so-called center of civilization first became a bargaining chip between the United States and the Soviet Union, and finally completely became a puppet of the United States.

However, the United States, which does not look like a benevolent ruler, has a negative image that far outweighs its positive image after completely establishing its global hegemony. As a world “leader,” it should set an example and make a demonstration for the development of other countries.

But the United States has not made any achievements in domestic construction, and has become the source of various international social problems such as “guns,” “drugs,” “race,” “homeless people,” and “gender.”

As for the merits of the United States, of course, cannot be denied, but its international order and achievements are basically the product of competition with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. After the death of the Soviet Union, the United States also quickly corrupted.

When a country is governed without strict laws at home and without external enemies, it will surely perish.

Chapter 714: Iringa

After a five-day journey, the train finally pulled into Iringa. Almost at every stop, the train had to halt to replenish supplies. Iringa, being a major station, warranted a longer stop.

As the hometown of Wells, he was about to meet his family here.

Stepping out of the carriage, Wells felt a sense of bewilderment. First, there was the unfamiliar station building, two stories high and built of red brick, just like in Europe. When Wells left Iringa, there were only a few small houses and a simple wooden sign, without even a proper platform underfoot.

Standing on the platform constructed of cement and brick, looking at the station building before him, this was not the “Iringa Railway Station” he remembered.

“What’s wrong, Wells?” Mary, holding her son, noticed her husband’s somewhat lost expression and asked.

Wells composed himself and said, “Perhaps it’s just the feeling of being close to home after so long. Also, this station is very different from what I remember, so I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

Adris said, “Mr. Wells, this station should have been built three or four years ago. Although I often travel the Central Railway Line, I don’t remember the construction dates of each station very clearly. But many stations in East Africa used to be in very poor condition, so it’s understandable that there’s such a big difference from what you remember.”

“Yes, the Iringa Railway Station wasn’t this fancy back then. The entrance was just a simple fence, surrounded by mud and grass. The train would just stop on the tracks, and it was difficult to get on. You had to lift your luggage onto the train first, then pull yourself up by the door frame,” Wells recalled.

He stamped his foot on the ground. “Now they’ve got concrete platforms. There’s only a small gap between the train door and the platform, and with a ramp, you can walk straight off the train.”

Pointing to the station building, he said, “There used to be only four small huts here. I remember there was even a warehouse. Now they’re all gone, replaced by a grand waiting hall. Is passenger and freight traffic separated now?”

“The freight station has been moved. You should have seen it when we passed through Dodoma. Now they’re separated by a branch line, which greatly improves efficiency. I think there should be a branch line leading to the freight station not far ahead,” Adris explained.

In the past, East Africa had few trains, and most trains carried both passengers and freight. Passenger-only trains like the one Wells and his family were riding were uncommon.

“Even a small, relatively unknown city like Iringa can be built so well. Then other cities in East Africa must be doing pretty well too,” Wells said.

“Actually, Iringa isn’t considered a small city in East Africa! After all, along the entire railway line from Dodoma to Mbeya, Iringa is one of the larger cities,” Adris said.

The development of cities in East Africa is uneven, especially those that are key development areas or have advantageous locations. Of course, aside from these factors, eastern cities are generally stronger than other regions, mainly because they were developed earlier.

“The question is, who’s going to pick you up?”

Wells had been away from his hometown for so many years. He couldn’t possibly carry all this luggage back home on his own, especially since his home was in the village, not in the city center of Iringa, which was quite a distance away.

“The government has notified your family, but trains aren’t exactly the most punctual form of transportation. We might have to wait here for a while. If that doesn’t work, we’ll have to spend the night at the postal system’s inn,” Adris said.

Trains in East Africa couldn’t be guaranteed to be on time, which was common in this era. However, unless there was an emergency, such as a severe natural disaster, the delay usually wouldn’t exceed six hours. Wells and his family’s journey had been smooth so far, so they shouldn’t be too late.

Wells looked at his watch and said, “Our train arrived an hour early. Could it be that they’re coming to pick us up according to the normal schedule?”

Adris said, “Let me go ask the staff. Are you waiting here, or coming with me, or going back to the carriage?”

“Mr. Adris, thank you for your kindness, but I’ll wait here,” Wells said.

He didn’t want to miss his family due to his own mistake, so waiting here for a while was fine.

Seeing this, Adris had no choice but to find a place to rest himself. He certainly didn’t want to stay with him on the platform.

“Wells, it’s quite sunny here. I’ll take Wiggins back to the carriage first!” Mary said.

“Okay, go ahead!” Wells said.

Although the Iringa Railway Station had changed a lot, it was still an open-air station without any shelters from the sun and rain. Of course, this was a common phenomenon worldwide.

Wells had to wait alone on the platform. To pass the time, he wandered around and chatted with the railway workers at the station.

A local worker who was responsible for maintaining order chatted with Wells.

“You’re an East African who studied in Germany?”

“Yes, and I’m also a native of Iringa.”

“That’s really amazing. It’s hard to go abroad without real talent. You must be a genius. My boys don’t focus on their studies, so they’ll have to go to work after graduating from middle school.”

“Actually, I’m not a genius. The curriculum in East Africa is quite simple. I realized this deeply in Europe. Europeans learn more than us, and their schools are stricter.”

“Sir, you’re too modest. Only a handful of East Africans can study abroad each year. You must have a good brain, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to compete with so many people.”

Wells could only smile and say nothing. He was telling the truth. There was very little to learn in East Africa at that time, including in his primary and secondary schools. Teachers basically just read from the textbook.

So learning mainly relied on self-study. Wells just focused on studying the knowledge in the textbooks, because some of the principles might not be clear to the teachers either.

But when he arrived in Germany, Wells found that the students there had a truly broad range of knowledge. Sometimes they had to learn several languages, unlike in East Africa where only German was taught.

Of course, East Africa was different from Europe after all. Europe had so many countries, so languages were a very important subject. Otherwise, they might only be able to stay in their own country in the future.

However, Wells, who only knew German, felt pretty good, because there were many German states. Later, in order to understand new technologies, he also taught himself English and French.

“Knowledge is always useful. In our generation, even in Europe, you can find a good job with knowledge, settle down, and start a family. After all, in the industrial age, countries value the value of knowledgeable talents,” Wells said.

“Who says otherwise! It’s a pity that the useless things in my family just don’t know how to improve. Successful people like you should be their role models.”

This was probably the downside of the popularization of compulsory education in East Africa. What is too easy to obtain is not easily cherished.

“If you don’t have too much ambition, that’s fine too. I’ve been in Europe for many years, and I rarely have the opportunity to meet my family,” Wells said. This was Wells’ true feeling, which cannot be compensated by the quality of life.

Of course, this situation would definitely improve in the future, after all, East Africa was gradually moving towards opening up, and restrictions on the mobility of social personnel would be further relaxed.

Chapter 715: A Brief Reunion

After chatting with the old man, Wells learned that he was a veteran retired from the army. This was very common in East Africa, especially the resettlement of soldiers, which was a characteristic of East Africa.

Just as the two were about to continue talking, a somewhat familiar, yet unfamiliar voice came from behind Wells.

“Big brother!”

Wells turned around and saw a young man, a little over one meter seventy tall, standing behind him.

“Are you Mel?” Having been away from home for so long, Wells was a little disoriented by the changes in his family.

“Big brother, it’s me. After so many years, you haven’t changed much, but if you look closely, you can see a difference in your temperament. Did you have a good time in Germany?”

The person who came to greet Wells was his second younger brother, Mel.

“Your voice is a little different than before. I didn’t even dare to think it was you. If there weren’t anyone else around, I definitely wouldn’t have thought you were calling me,” Wells said.

After so many years apart, Mel’s appearance and voice had changed to some extent.

Mel chuckled innocently, “I’ve grown up. When you left home, big brother, I was only in elementary school. Now I’m almost graduating from middle school.”

“Is that so? How are your grades?” Wells immediately went for the kill.

Mel’s smile froze for a moment, “Of course, I can’t compare to you, big brother. You’re the only college student in our village.”

“That’s precisely why I hope you can make progress in your studies. I gave you a lot of tutoring back then.”

“Oh, I know that, of course. But thinking about it, it’s unlikely I’ll study abroad like you. I’ll probably go to a vocational school or university in East Africa. I originally wanted to go straight to work, but our mother values education so much, so I can only study hard.”

“Mom is right. The benefits of going to school can’t be described in just a few words. You’ll understand if you go to Europe. Knowledge is also highly respected in East Africa. The country will need more highly educated people in the future.”

Because East Africa directly popularized middle school education, Wells could only say highly educated people. Currently, East African high-level talents are divided into three types: one is scholars and technicians who are famous in Europe, one is students studying abroad, and the last is talents cultivated by local higher education in East Africa. From the current situation, this is definitely the case, and it may be improved in the future.

While Wells was chatting with his younger brother, Mary noticed and came out with her son, Wiggins, to ask about the situation.

“This is your sister-in-law, Mary, and this is your nephew, Wiggins,” Wells introduced to his younger brother.

“Hello, sister-in-law! And a cute little nephew.” Mel picked up Wiggins. Little Wiggins was only three years old this year, and he wasn’t heavy at all. At home, Mel often held his younger siblings.

“Hello, Mel,” Mary also greeted Wells’s younger brother.

“By the way, where are Mom and Dad?” Wells asked.

“They’re outside the station. I came to the platform specifically to pick up the train,” Mel said.

Edris also came back and said, “Mr. Wells, this train leaves at eight o’clock tomorrow morning, so you should reunite with your family first! The luggage can be temporarily stored, and I will lock the door of the compartment.”

After arranging everything, Edris slipped away, no longer disturbing them.

…

Outside the station, Wells saw his parents and two other younger siblings. The youngest sister was not even as old as his son, Wiggins.

“Wiggins will have to take care of his little aunt in the future!” Wells’s parents joked.

Wells’s mother was from the Far East, so she enthusiastically pulled Mary aside to chat. On the contrary, Wells’s father was relatively taciturn, unlike traditional Germans.

“Let’s go. We’re temporarily staying at a hotel. It’s arranged by the government. Brother, let me help you with your luggage,” Mel said.

So the family got into a horse-drawn carriage and headed towards the hotel next to the Iringa City Government. This was also one of Wells’s perks. Generally, hotels in these inland areas were provided for civil servants.

Along the way, Mel, the middle school student, introduced the development of his hometown in recent years to his older brother.

“Currently, the urban area of Iringa City has only more than four thousand people. Including the surrounding areas, it has become a distribution center for tobacco, grains, and livestock. Tobacco is a special crop grown locally and is also our most important product. Other industries are not significantly different from the entire Highland Province.”

“When I left Iringa City, the entire urban area had only more than two thousand people. Now the population of Iringa City has doubled, and it looks more prosperous than before,” Wells said.

“After more than ten years of development, all cities will develop to some extent. For example, all kinds of necessary buildings and facilities are gradually accumulated. So this kind of development is very common in small and medium-sized cities in East Africa, unless they encounter war and destroy them. But that obviously won’t happen. As long as there is peace, the development of a region will always accumulate slowly.”

“Many old houses have been torn down and rebuilt. Now the city government and other government agencies have been changed to brick and stone structures. The public facilities in the city are also much better than in the countryside. But the changes in the village are also quite big.”

“Now the main crops grown at home are wheat and tobacco. However, compared to wheat, tobacco cultivation is more complicated, especially during the harvest season. It’s easy to get greasy all over, but the wages are also higher than wheat, and you can get more living supplies.”

“The roads in the village have been widened and renovated, and a reservoir has been built in the west of the village, which has greatly solved the water problem.”

Wells listened with great interest to the changes at home. Overall, things were steadily improving, and the living standards of the East African people were further improved. This was a common phenomenon. Of course, the most important thing was the development of East African industry, which provided more consumption channels for the people.

This could be seen from the clothes and mental outlook of the family. Perhaps because they were coming to the city, even his father and mother had changed into new clothes. Both his father and mother were very frugal.

Of course, Iringa City was not a place that looked down on the poor and loved the rich. Compared with the countryside, the urban area was just more complete in facilities. In fact, the income gap between rural and urban areas was not large.

Of course, East Africa definitely cannot take care of rural development at present, because East Africa’s urbanization rate is too low. If decentralized construction is carried out, it is easy to cause waste of resources.

When the degree of mechanization is improved in the future, and villages and towns can be merged, East Africa can basically carry out major transformations of rural infrastructure. This is something that the current East African society cannot imagine.

The family happily arrived at their temporary residence. Wells specially brought back some specialties from Germany, especially food and industrial products from his father’s hometown of Bavaria, which were difficult to buy in East Africa.

However, cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, which are international cities, should also sell them. After all, the German region is one of East Africa’s main trading partners, and East Africa is also culturally inclined towards the German region. Many things that have a market in Germany are also the same in East Africa, and it is more convenient to write letters or send telegrams domestically.

This reunion was a rare one for Wells, but the only pity was that he could only stay here for half a day and one night. So the family didn’t sleep at all, but chatted all night. Tomorrow morning, Wells, his wife, and son would go to the station to go to Bulawayo. Of course, they could take the railway during the holidays and reunite again. This was something that could not be achieved when studying and working in Europe.

Chapter 716: Surprise Inspection

In the eastern Matabeleland Province, East Africa is actively constructing a new Eastern Defense Line to protect the strategic security of the entire province.

As East Africa’s most important industrial province, Matabeleland Province ranks second only to Central Province in East Africa, and is even a level higher than Eastern Province, which is dominated by a single city (Mombasa).

The Eastern Defense Line is based on the border between Matabeleland Province and Hechingen Province, and is a military defense line designed to defend against Mozambique.

The entire defense line is more than one thousand three hundred kilometers long, extending from Tete in present-day Mozambique to within the Kingdom of Eswatini.

For such a long border, East Africa naturally cannot set up defenses everywhere, but many fortifications have been built on important military thoroughfares and key transportation hubs.

Taking full advantage of East Africa’s terrain, a certain number of troops have been deployed in river valleys, mountain passes, and areas where plateaus and plains meet.

At this time, East African military commissioner, Glaid, is leading a team to inspect the construction of the entire Eastern Defense Line, to prevent anyone from cutting corners.

Currently, Glaid has arrived at Chipinga Fortress, which was an important commercial route for Portuguese merchants from Mozambique to trade with the African interior and the natives. There was originally a commercial stronghold here, but East Africa expelled the local Portuguese merchants and took it over, gradually evolving into a military fortress.

Even today, it is still an important commercial port. Merchants value profit, and although East Africa had offended them before, East Africa can bring them greater benefits, especially with the development of East Africa, the productivity of the African interior has further improved, which saves them commercial colonization costs.

Through East Africa’s cheap goods, they can bribe the upper echelons of the natives in Mozambique, and further squeeze the lower-level natives to obtain economic benefits. This is a model for plantation development in Mozambique.

At the same time, some of East Africa’s abundant products, especially tobacco, alcohol, leather, and so on from Matabeleland Province, can also be transported to all parts of the world through Portuguese merchants.

Currently, the place where Portuguese merchants trade with East Africa is less than three kilometers east of Chipinga Fortress, forming a sizable trade market.

Driven by commerce, a new commercial route has also formed between Mozambique and Matabeleland Province.

Normally, this commercial route is naturally not dangerous, but once relations between East Africa and Portugal deteriorate, this commercial route may become a strategic passage for the two to compete for, so Chipinga Fortress is an important military stronghold for controlling this commercial route.

However, East Africa has the ability to build a fortress to control the first half of the trade route, but the Portuguese do not have the ability, or rather the idea, to build a military stronghold to compete with East Africa head-on.

After all, there are too many places where Mozambique borders East Africa, and Mozambique’s population is far less than that of East Africa, so Mozambique does not pay much attention to defense line construction except for places that cannot be ignored.

Glaid has the standard appearance of an Austrian, with a high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and a fierce look in his eyes that comes from years of battlefield experience. He exudes authority without being angry, and the surrounding air seems to have cooled down a few degrees, giving people a chilling feeling in East Africa’s warm weather.

“Start the test!”

The low voice made the soldiers stationed in the Chipinga Fortress company feel uneasy. They turned their attention to the company commander, Eugene.

“What are you looking at me for? Aren’t you taking the officers to visit?” Eugene scolded loudly, feeling a little guilty.

Eugene really did not expect that the “inspection team” would come to Chipinga Fortress for inspection today, so he was not prepared to deal with this surprise inspection.

The testing process was very simple and detailed. Several military police officers used various professional instruments to measure parameters, while inspecting the layout of various facilities, looking for loopholes and non-compliance.

Time passed little by little. Glaid looked at his watch. Unknowingly, more than ten minutes had passed, and Eugene, who was standing next to him, was already sweating profusely from the pressure.

“Company Commander Eugene, are you very worried?” Glaid’s devilish voice came from Eugene’s ear.

This made Eugene shiver, and then he pretended to be calm and said, “Reporting to the officer, I’m fine, I’m fine!”

However, his tone had betrayed him. Eugene could already imagine the scene of being scolded.

Glaid said again, “Don’t worry, if you follow the division’s orders and do your usual work well, I will naturally report the truth, and you will get your due credit.”

Heh! Eugene thought disdainfully in his heart, if he really did his job according to the regulations, would he be so frightened!

He knew his own situation. Because Chipinga Fortress is rarely inspected, and usually only the logistics department comes to deliver supplies regularly, Eugene’s company is somewhat slack. He did not expect the higher-ups to suddenly make a surprise inspection.

So this inspection is probably hopeless. As Eugene expected, the inspection results came out quickly.

“Reporting to Colonel Glaid, we have found a total of seven violations, including clogged trenches, problems with the fortress’s drainage system, firearm maintenance, ammunition storage, etc., all of which have major loopholes.”

Colonel Glaid said coldly, “Company Commander Eugene, do you want to explain?”

Eugene lowered his head and did not argue.

Glaid criticized him with disappointment, “Look at what you’ve become now? Do you think you can escape punishment by not speaking? What’s the use of military law and discipline then! We are all soldiers, supported by the country and the people. You should reflect now, how can our army defend our country with this shoddy work and laziness?”

Eugene could only say, “It’s all my fault, I didn’t strictly implement the requirements of the troops.”

Glaid emphasized, “This is not the requirement of the troops, but the requirement of the country and the people. The army is a sacred place, and our East African Defense Force is the people’s protective umbrella, so no detail can be ignored. Any army that does not pay attention to details is destined to fail.”

“Now there are only a few months left until the rainy season, and we must make up for all the debts we owed before. I will report your problems and the problems of your company truthfully.”

“By the way, the new political instructor should be taking office soon. I remember that your company’s political instructor has been vacant for various reasons. Now it seems that the lack of supervision from the political instructor is indeed a big problem. Other companies have not had your situation.”

Eugene said with shame, “I will definitely actively correct my mistakes in the future.”

Glaid said, “It’s useless to promise me. I don’t know what kind of punishment you will receive. Temporary demotion is not impossible, but before the new political instructor arrives, clean up your mess first. At the same time, you must not forget the border defense work. This is the border, and it may become the front line at any time. Our conflict with the Portuguese merchants is great, so you front-line troops must be prepared at all times.”

After inspecting Chipinga Fortress, Glaid continued to patrol south, conducting investigations on combat troops and units within the jurisdiction of the entire 411th Division.

After the new political instructor took office, Chipinga Fortress was reorganized, especially to correct the unhealthy tendencies of the company and establish the “correct” East African national political concept. This is one of the important characteristics of the East African army after professionalization.

As for Eugene, he received a warning from the battalion headquarters and a demerit, but he was not demoted. At the same time, he had to write a self-criticism for this incident.

Chapter 717: South African Version of the “Triple Alliance”

While East Africa was consolidating its eastern defenses, Mozambique wasn’t idle. Unlike East Africa’s defensive strategy, Mozambique leaned towards proactive offense.

This was because the value of the two regions was completely different. For East Africa, Matabeleland Province was an industrial base, while Mozambique was just a colony. Therefore, East Africa’s territory was more valuable, and ensuring that industry wasn’t threatened by war required more meticulous defense.

Mozambique’s main economic structure consisted of plantations and mines. These two types of economies were very adaptable. Even if they were destroyed by war, it wouldn’t be a great loss, as the investment was very low. It only required repeatedly squeezing and exploiting the indigenous population within its borders. Therefore, Mozambique had a high degree of flexibility.

So, Mozambique’s strategic goal was to launch a “destructive” offensive against East African territory to destroy East Africa’s war potential, weaken its national strength, and pave the way for the three countries to divide East African territory.

…

Maputo City.

At this time, Maputo was a gathering of various “schemers”. Representatives from Portugal, Britain, and the Transvaal had gathered in this historic African “ancient” city.

“Why not establish the command center in Bloemfontein? Although Maputo’s location is good, it’s separated from our Boer Republic by East Africa and Cape Town. This makes it impossible to communicate in the middle!” Davidson asked, pointing at the map.

Bouguereau: “Although you Boers are also surrounded on three sides by East Africa, the pressure you face is not comparable to that of Mozambique. You must know that East Africa’s most elite troops must be deployed north of Mozambique, while the southern part of East Africa is just a border area.”

“Even the central Natal colony cannot communicate with each other, as it’s divided by New Hamburg. Therefore, to open up communication between the three countries, we must spare no effort to take New Hamburg.”

“The Natal colony has 50,000 British troops and 80,000 Indian auxiliary troops. We have also deployed 40,000 troops in Mozambique, plus Mozambique’s 30,000 Portuguese troops and 70,000 Black soldiers, which is 140,000. The two parts total 270,000. The Boer Republic can temporarily expand its army to 30,000, bringing the total number of troops to 300,000.”

This didn’t even include the garrison situation in Cape Town and Angola, so the total available force of the entire Triple Alliance was around 500,000.

“Our troop strength is comparable to only a few great powers in Europe, so this war must deliver a fatal blow to East Africa and contribute to peace and stability in Africa,” Earl Roberts said with great enthusiasm.

Even if it was just theoretically commanding more than 500,000 troops and fighting a war against a large country with an area and population of over ten million, perhaps few people in British history had achieved such a feat. This was no less than a replica of the “Crimean War.”

However, in the Crimean War, Britain was not the main force. At that time, the main force was France. The Crimean War was also the pinnacle of France’s foreign wars during the reign of Napoleon III.

Therefore, Earl Roberts could exclusively enjoy this honor. If he could successfully command this war against East Africa, he would become a major figure in the history of the British Empire.

Davidson and Bouguereau didn’t dare to refute these British earls, because Earl Roberts was previously the highest military commander of the British in India. He came from a British military family, his father was a British general, and he himself rose to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces.

In his early years, he participated in suppressing the Indian Rebellion, the expedition to the Abyssinian Empire, and the Second Afghan War (a war provoked by East Africa). In the original history, he also commanded the Second Boer War and was also the last Commander-in-Chief in British history. In short, his background and experience made him one of the top military talents in Britain.

Roberts continued, “Of course, our enemy, East Africa, is also quite strong. They maintain a standing army of over one hundred thousand men year-round, and all their weapons and equipment are Germanized. This is an important reason why East Africa has maintained an advantage in African wars. They also have a strong regional navy, so when fighting a large country like East Africa, we must go all out.”

Although he tried his best to exaggerate the threat of East Africa, Earl Roberts’ attitude towards East Africa had not changed, that is, he never believed that East Africa had a huge advantage over the Allied forces.

First of all, in terms of troop strength, the Allied forces currently have an absolute advantage, and the weapons and equipment of the Triple Alliance forces, after being armed by Britain, are mixed, but they are at the same level as East Africa.

Secondly, in terms of command authority, the Transvaal and Portugal must obey the command of himself, the British commander-in-chief. The Transvaal people are Britain’s younger brother, and Portugal is even more loyal to Britain. This is the same in Europe, so there will be no unclear command authority, which gives Earl Roberts greater confidence.

Finally, in terms of the navy, Britain can simultaneously mobilize the Royal Navy forces of India and Cape Town to wage war against East Africa. The East African Navy was supported by the Austro-Hungarian Navy, so the British Navy has the confidence to defeat the learning object of Austria-Hungary, a naval “weak country.”

“Our main disadvantage is logistics. Once the war starts, we must quickly and accurately eliminate the main force of East Africa and not engage in attrition warfare with the enemy in the region. At the same time, to prevent accidents, we must prepare sufficient material reserves. This is also an important reason why I put the main battlefield on the east coast, where we can receive materials from India and our mainland by sea.”

East Africa’s advantage lies in land transportation. With the construction of railways, it can mobilize resources across the country, which is something that Britain and Portugal, whose homelands are in Europe, cannot do, so they are extremely dependent on maritime transport.

This also means that the first battle between East Africa and the Triple Alliance is likely to be a naval battle, but this is not Earl Roberts’ responsibility, and there is no need to tell the two allies.

Because the Portuguese naval power is basically zero, with only one ironclad ship imported from Britain, which is estimated not to leave the mainland. As for the Boer Republic of the Transvaal, it is completely a landlocked country and does not even have the ability to build a navy. The Mongolia of the Far East Empire still has large lakes, but the Boer Republic only has the Orange River tributary that can be used.

Therefore, the main force of the naval battle can only be the British Royal Navy. The two allies are not even qualified to be bystanders, but the two countries need to put in a lot of effort in the land war.

Especially Mozambique, whose location is the most prominent. This is also the reason why Earl Roberts put the headquarters of the Triple Alliance in Maputo. This is the main battlefield personally selected by Earl Roberts.

The establishment of the Allied Command also means that the South African version of the Triple Alliance, led by the British, has officially formed. The main purpose of this alliance is to dismantle the common threat of East Africa.

The Allied forces have Britain, the world’s hegemon, sitting in charge, and are assisted by the two main colonies of Portugal, a “pseudo-great power”. The military strength of the Transvaal people should not be underestimated on the African continent.

If it were in the previous life, an alliance of this military strength would be enough to wipe out any other colonial forces on the African continent.

It was almost the same in reality. In the previous life, Britain and Portugal basically divided the entire South Africa and East Africa after World War I. Coupled with the British colonies in Egypt (including North and South Sudan) and Somalia, the area of British African colonies also reached its peak.

Chapter 718: Othello’s “Slave Trading”

South Atlantic route, African section.

The Little Hans had just passed the coast of southern Angola, heading north along the Benguela Current, and entered the waters of the Portuguese-controlled colony of northern Angola.

The ship’s name indicated its former ownership. The name suggested it was once a vessel of a German nation. Of course, that was only in the past. Now, the Little Hans was a wooden sailing merchant ship registered in the Republic of Haiti, which was also its official identity.

“Report, Captain, a British warship has been spotted ahead!”

“Don’t panic. First, check the personnel on board to see if there are any oversights. Perhaps the British warship is just passing by.”

Although he said this, Captain Othello had prepared for the worst. British law enforcement warships were rarely seen on this route.

Soon, the British ship signaled with flags, ordering the Little Hans to stop for inspection.

“Captain, what do we do now?”

“Accept the inspection!” Othello ordered.

There was no escape, and they couldn’t fight back. This slave ship, disguised as an armed merchant ship, was no match for an ironclad warship.

Currently, the ships used to transport slaves in East Africa were relatively backward wooden sailing merchant ships, many of which were second-hand vessels purchased from around the world.

The slave trade was accompanied by enormous risks, especially under the joint crackdown of the international community. Therefore, East Africa, as a slave-exporting country, could only act discreetly. However, under normal circumstances, East Africa had not encountered any targeting in the South Atlantic, but today it seemed they were in trouble.

Soon, the British warship approached the Haitian merchant ship. In front of the British warship, the Haitian merchant ship looked like a tiny speck. This was also a defect of wooden sailing merchant ships: it was difficult to surpass these steel behemoths in size.

British sailors quickly set up the gangway and then crossed over to the Little Hans.

“Which of you is the captain of this ship?” a Royal Navy sailor asked.

Othello stepped forward and said, “I am the captain of this ship, Othello.”

“Othello?” The Royal Navy sailor carefully sized up the black captain and asked strangely, “You’re black?”

“Yes, I am a Haitian,” Othello said with a flattering smile, not daring to show the slightest hint of abnormality. His jet-black face revealed a set of pearly white teeth, which were particularly dazzling against the backdrop of the blue sea and sky.

“Haitian? Why is your ship called the Little Hans?”

“This ship was purchased from East Africa, so we didn’t change the name. However, the sailors and I are all genuine Haitians,” Othello replied.

“That’s quite rare!” the British Royal sailor said.

A black captain on the ocean was indeed uncommon. Perhaps there were more in countries like the United States, but in Africa, where there were the most black people, black people engaged in ocean trade were definitely as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

In the past, the Somali and Swahili people, as well as some black nations on the Red Sea coast, were relatively skilled in maritime trade, but these countries had long been abolished or colonized by Western colonists led by East Africa.

Othello said, “Of course, Haiti is an island nation, and the country’s main trade relies on shipping, so we have also purchased many ships from the civilized world to develop shipping.”

In reality, these cheap merchant ships were all gifts from East Africa to the Haitians. After all, the slave trade was difficult to conduct, and the East Africans did not want to directly intervene. Therefore, it was much more “harmonious” for the Haitians, who were also black, to sell black slaves.

Moreover, Haiti itself was now the largest “labor” exporting country in the Americas, so this was even more reasonable. This was also a direction for the development of the East African slave trade in recent years.

Othello was a Haitian merchant who cooperated with East Africa. East Africa provided the ship, and Othello pulled “goods” from East Africa. In this way, Othello could not only obtain an ocean-going vessel at an extremely low cost, even if it was just a wooden sailing merchant ship that was being phased out, but it was a great fortune for the Haitians.

At the same time, he could also get “goods” and “labor” for free. In this case, it was equivalent to East Africa sending three portions of money to the Haitians.

The ship was provided by East Africa, the goods were actually the freight paid by East Africa, and the labor was also slaves who had retired after completing their service in East Africa.

The Haitians only needed to contribute manpower and effort to obtain these riches. At the same time, the Haitians could continue to resell the slaves and goods, making another fortune.

Under this “hundreds of millions of subsidies” from East Africa, the Haitians naturally lived a prosperous life in every household, going further and further down the road of a slave-based economy.

The Royal Navy sailors were not interested in these things. Because Haiti was a former French colony and was now independent, they didn’t have the time to investigate in detail where they got these second-hand ships.

What he was more interested in was whether this ship was a slave ship. This was what the superiors required, so it was necessary to ensure that there were no mistakes.

“Now we need to inspect your merchant ship, including personnel and cargo, to see if it complies with international regulations. Captain Othello, you shouldn’t object, right?”

Othello’s expression was very ugly. Although his black skin made it impossible to see any change, he didn’t dare to refute and said, “Then please do so! But we are merchants who do legitimate business and never do illegal business.”

The British didn’t believe what Othello said. There weren’t many clean businesses on the sea in the 19th century.

Soon, under the coercion of the British sailors, Othello’s crew led them to carefully inspect every part of the ship.

“Captain Othello, why are there so many sailors on your ship? It’s obviously overcrowded. A few dozen sailors should be enough. There are nearly a hundred people on this ship, right?”

“Sir, we do employ more people on our ship, but these are all Africans who have obtained Haitian citizenship. Currently, there are many labor companies in Haiti in the Americas, and they need a large number of people, so these are all legal workers.”

On the surface, what Othello said shouldn’t have been a problem. At least from their clothing, these people didn’t look like slaves.

These clothes were naturally distributed by East Africa. After all, the slaves in East Africa had contributed their youth, and if they couldn’t even get a set of clothes, then the East Africans would be “animals.”

“There’s also a problem with your cargo. The cargo of a normal merchant ship shouldn’t be so little. Aren’t you losing money on this trip?”

Othello: “Sir, that’s because you don’t understand the situation in Haiti. Haiti is a notoriously poor country, with a narrow land area and few resources, so there aren’t many things that can be used for foreign trade. Therefore, it’s normal for the cargo volume to be small. Moreover, as you said before, the most important thing on my ship is these new Haitian ‘citizens.’ They are our wealth.”

“Which is to say, slaves?”

Othello didn’t dare to answer, but instead said righteously, “These are all citizens who have legally joined our Haitian citizenship, with identity information issued by our Haitian embassy. Sir, you can’t harm us!”

Under the British sailor’s suspicious gaze, Othello had these people take out their identity “certificates” issued by the East African Haitian embassy.

The entire inspection passed very dangerously. The British warship had no choice but to release this “normal trading vessel.”

This was also where the East Africans were cunning. Now that the slave trade was becoming increasingly risky, slave traders naturally had to constantly improve with the times.

Now, East Africa didn’t even send people, directly disguising the slave trade as normal legal forms such as “immigration” and “employment.” Overall, the international community couldn’t find fault with it.

Of course, the fundamental reason why this “advanced” slave-trading method could be realized was that East Africa had paid a large cost, not prioritizing profit as the primary goal, and even having to subsidize it to maintain it.

Chapter 719: Mule and Horse Empire

Of course, losing money in East Africa was only on the surface. These black people had long since “earned” their tickets to the Americas through the construction of East African nations.

So, the value of slaves wasn’t in the slave trade itself, but in the social wealth these slaves created for East Africa. East Africa could then use slight-of-hand to dispose of these slaves, whose value had declined due to age, thus avoiding social problems.

After seeing off the British warship, Othello could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Although the form of the slave trade had undergone a very big change, the risk remained high.

“These British guys, they really have nothing better to do. If it weren’t for the British, our ship could have added at least three times the cargo,” Othello grumbled inwardly.

After the British warship left, the British sailor who had negotiated with Othello suddenly remembered, wasn’t the name Othello familiar?

“Will, have you heard of the name Othello?”

“Othello! Isn’t that the name of one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies?” Will thought and said, “It describes the strange love story between a naive Venetian noblewoman and the son of an African Moorish chieftain.”

“Yes, the Haitian black captain’s name was Othello. I was wondering where I had heard that name before. It turns out it’s the same name as Shakespeare’s work.”

The two British Royal Navy sailors then began a discussion about Shakespeare, the famous British writer.

The black-faced Othello took his wealth towards Haiti, where the world’s largest slave market was being built. Every day, various labor companies selected laborers from there, and then went to North and South America to earn labor fees. This was an important economic pillar of Haiti at the time.

…

First Township.

“Your Royal Highness, five days ago, a British warship appeared in the waters off Northern Angola. Our patrol boats in the Atlantic fleet, as well as some merchant ships returning from the Americas, have all reported this. This shows that the British are definitely deploying their navy in Northern Angola now. The cooperation between the Portuguese and the British has deepened further, and this is very likely to threaten our ‘Empty the Cage, Change the Bird’ grand strategy.”

Although these slave ships escaped unscathed because of complete “procedures” and “formal” channels, if the British insisted that these were “slave ships,” it would definitely have a certain impact on East Africa’s population policy.

Ernst said, “Don’t act rashly now. We need to continue to gather more intelligence on the British and the Portuguese. There are a lot of military movements throughout Southern Africa, not just us, but also the other three major powers. This shows that the enemy, like us, is about to lose patience.”

“Maintaining a military is very costly in terms of money and energy, so it’s only natural that the enemy wants to fight this battle. If they compete with us in a military race, they definitely won’t be able to hold on. The current level is already the maximum military strength that the three countries can maintain, so now they are eager to bring their fists to our faces.”

“As for the slave trade, it’s not really a slander against us, but even if this trick is used, it won’t have much effect on us. Even if these black people die of old age in East Africa, it’s just a matter of building a few more cemeteries.”

Ernst said numbly, but his tone revealed a burst of coldness. As the environment of the entire era continued to influence him, his thinking also continued to move towards the “traditional.”

The slave trade is only a small problem for East Africa now, because East Africa’s population structure has already determined that black people in East Africa will have a hard time becoming a force. Even if they unite now to launch a counterattack against the East African tyrant, it will be in vain.

Because the gender structure of black people in East Africa has been distorted to the point where it can no longer support the reproduction of the population, this should fall into the category of physical sterilization.

Of course, in the west, especially in southwestern Africa and the Congo rainforest, there are definitely small tribes that can continue to reproduce, but in that difficult natural environment, the population is basically saturated, and it is impossible to achieve large-scale growth, just like the ancient northern grasslands of the Far Eastern Empire. The Mongolian grasslands themselves cannot support a large population, so after the population increases significantly, it can only be consumed through various means.

A low-level approach is mutual plunder between tribes, and a high-level approach is to band together and then go south to the southern agricultural civilization areas to “suck blood.”

However, the late 19th century is already the age of guns and cannons. As far as now, cavalry can no longer restore the glory of their ancestors. It’s just that there are relatively few such cases now. The whole world is still relatively peaceful. The major wars that may occur in the next few years will mainly be naval battles.

Of course, this does not include the upcoming South African War. Once the South African War breaks out, it will definitely leave a heavy mark on modern history.

At the same time, this may also be the largest land war in the late 19th century that changed the world格局, while wars like the one between Spain and the United States, and the one between the Far Eastern Empire and Japan, were mainly naval battles.

Of course, cavalry can still play a role in land warfare now, especially dragoons, which are mobile infantry, and should also be considered the last glory of the cavalry!

In an era when mechanization has not yet fully arrived, the combat methods of the Mule and Horse Empire cannot be replaced. The entire logistics system requires a large number of livestock to maintain, and in areas where railways have not been extended, cavalry is also needed to quickly complete mobile deployments.

Thinking of this, Ernst said, “We must pay attention to this year’s livestock trade. We must give priority to ensuring the supply of troops, and we don’t know how long the war will last. The consumption of livestock must be huge, and we must ensure that we can replenish them at any time.”

East Africa is now also a member of the “Mule and Horse Empire.” In rural areas, on roads, in the army, and so on, livestock are the main source of power for transportation.

In a situation where bicycles are not yet popular, and automobile production is surprisingly low, the army cannot wait for the day when technology and production improve.

“The logistics system is heavily dependent on livestock, and the management of livestock is quite complex and cumbersome. This shows that we must accelerate the development of automobile production and strive to achieve motorization in the army as soon as possible.”

Motorized infantry first appeared in World War I in his previous life, so the role of war in promoting technology is very obvious.

In peacetime, countries are not very active in reforming military equipment. Just like many weapons and equipment from the Cold War era in his previous life are still sharp in the 21st century.

The Cold War should also be considered a special “peace” era, but under the military competition, countries imagined a third world war, which instead promoted a major explosion of military technology.

Motorized infantry is the development direction of the East African Army. That is to say, East Africa is the main automobile producing country, and the automobile industry is constantly improving every year. Therefore, after the war, East Africa should also be able to develop various military vehicles on a large scale in the army, becoming the first country in the world to apply internal combustion engine vehicles to the military field.

Of course, East Africa is not the only one with this idea, but East Africa is definitely the one that attaches the most importance to it, and East Africa is also the most likely to achieve this the earliest. If it were not for the approaching war, the East African Army would definitely be able to achieve this earlier.

Moreover, East Africa has more important things to do now, which is to make up for the shortcomings in its geographical environment. No country can feel comfortable with a bomb buried under its heart (mainly referring to Mozambique), so solving the security situation is the only way to better develop the economy.

Chapter 720: East African Military Industry Development

February 3rd, 1888.

Constantine inspected the Mbeya City Arsenal, observing the development of East Africa’s military industry. The Mbeya City Arsenal is an advanced representative of East Africa’s independent military industry, and has been one of East Africa’s most important military construction units since the late nineteen sixties.

The higher-ups of the Mbeya City Arsenal led Constantine on a tour of various weapons production workshops, among which the artillery production workshop was still one of the most interesting places for Constantine, the former European battlefield general.

“We improved the French 1807 75mm field gun, effectively solved the recoil problem, and greatly strengthened the army’s firepower. So far, the entire army has equipped a total of three hundred and seventy-eight pieces, which are an important component of land mobile support artillery, with an annual output maintained at around thirty pieces,” the director of the Mbeya City Arsenal introduced to the King.

“In the past three years, our factory has also cooperated with Austria-Hungary to produce one hundred and twenty millimeter heavy artillery, but the application scenarios are few, and a total of forty-nine pieces have been produced.”

“We have independently developed the 1883-type grenade launcher, with a total production of more than two thousand, and more than one hundred and thirty Maxim machine guns have been copied.”

East Africa is a country that does not strictly enforce patent laws, so it mainly relies on direct imitation of Maxim machine guns, which is closely related to East Africa’s national conditions.

At present, the most open coastal area of East Africa still belongs to a semi-open market, and the inland area is basically not open, so patents are not effective in the inland.

This is also a problem for East Africa in attracting investment. It is basically impossible to exchange the market for technology. For example, Maxim will definitely not invest in building a factory in East Africa. After all, East Africa currently does not pay much attention to intellectual property rights. Therefore, after the birth of the Maxim machine gun, East Africa can only purchase and then imitate it. It was successfully imitated in 1885, a factory was built in 1886, and mass production began in 1888.

Of course, this itself benefited from Ernst’s emphasis on weapons such as machine guns, and East Africa launched a long period of research before the Maxim machine gun.

It’s just that this research process cannot ultimately match Maxim’s genius thinking, so East Africa can only imitate the principle of the Maxim machine gun, which is not entirely plagiarism.

“As of now, the East African Army has equipped a total of more than six thousand artillery pieces of various types, mainly coastal defense guns and small-caliber artillery.”

In East Africa, artillery is standardized at a 75mm caliber. Anything lower than this value is considered light artillery, and anything greater than or equal to this value is considered heavy artillery.

This standard actually meets international standards. For example, the British heavy artillery standard is a caliber greater than or equal to three inches, which is 76mm, while East Africa is a metric country, so for the convenience of calculation, the metric system is mainly used, which resulted in the 75mm standard.

At present, the number of large-caliber artillery in the world naturally cannot be compared with later generations, and a 75mm caliber is considered a relatively large artillery value.

Moreover, large-caliber artillery is inconvenient to transport. For the East African Army, which relies on animal power as its main power source and has imperfect road conditions, it naturally prefers light artillery.

Of course, East Africa’s road conditions are actually in excellent condition in the world. During the large-scale infrastructure construction in the nineteen seventies and eighties, East Africa’s road level was higher than that of Tsarist Russia, basically equivalent to that of the United States, but the United States has longer roads and a larger quantity, while East Africa has better quality.

As for other European countries, due to the issue of land area, they are not suitable as a horizontal comparison reference for East African roads.

Of course, East Africa’s land transportation is not limited to roads, but also includes railways and inland water transportation, but it does not have advantages compared with European and American countries.

One is that East Africa has few railway miles. Even with the opening of the Hesse Railway, East Africa’s railways have only completed the initial networking, and are mainly based on the Central Railway and the Northern Railway as the two major arteries.

The second is water transportation. East African rivers have poor trafficability and cannot achieve national interconnection. They can only achieve regional transportation accessibility. This is especially characterized by the developed lake transportation. There are four large lakes in East Africa. Even on the world map, you can see them at a glance, and the smaller lakes are also leading large lakes in other regions of the world, such as King Lake (Lake Albert), Constantine Lake (Lake Edward), Hechingen Lake (Lake George), Lake Kivu, Lake Mweru, Lake Rukwa…

Compared with the prosperity of lake transportation, river transportation is completely in an awkward situation. The rivers with the highest shipping value are all in units of hundreds of kilometers. Only the White Nile and the Congo River can reach thousands of kilometers and are unimpeded, but the banks of these two rivers are sparsely populated areas.

The Zambezi River flows through important economic areas of East Africa, but because of canyons, dangerous shoals, and rapids, only some sections of the river can be navigable.

As of 1888, East Africa has a total of twenty-three artillery production plants, three in the Northern Industrial Belt, six in the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, four in the Central Province, seven in Matabeleland Province, two in the Hohenzollern Province, and one in Swabia Province.

Overall, the focus of artillery production is in the central region. The Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, led by Mbeya City, is also relatively close to the central region. Therefore, East Africa’s overall military industrial production has completed the transition to the inland. This layout is conducive to East Africa’s national defense production security.

Three of the four artillery factories in the Central Province serve the Navy, and one is a military industrial enterprise under the Guards Division. At the same time, the Central Province is also the easiest place in East Africa to conduct technical exchanges with Europe, so the military industrial enterprises in this region have the best technology, while other artillery factories rely more on resource and transportation advantages for construction.

Of course, some artillery factories are just subordinate units of arsenals and are not only responsible for artillery production. There are a total of forty-three arsenal units in East Africa. The army’s directly affiliated arsenals are mainly concentrated in eight provinces in the central and eastern regions. In addition, there is also an arsenal in New Hamburg Port City in the south, and then the Navy has seven directly affiliated arsenals, including three military shipbuilding factories.

Taking the Mbeya City Arsenal as an example, in addition to artillery, the output of rifles, machine guns, etc. is also extremely large, belonging to a giant military industrial enterprise. This is the early advantage of Mbeya City under the early development of East Africa’s military industry.

When the central resource provinces such as Matabeleland Province had not yet been incorporated into East Africa, the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone became East Africa’s only heavy industry production base.

At the same time, it is a key layout area for the military industry. The industrial city group along Lake Malawi, led by Mbeya City, formed East Africa’s earliest coal and iron complex. It was not until Matabeleland Province was established that the status of the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone was gradually replaced.

Up to now, the military industrial production of the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone still accounts for nearly thirty percent of East Africa’s total, because once an industry is formed, it is not easy to relocate, and the technical accumulation is more solid than that of the three central provinces led by Matabeleland Province.

Many East African domestically produced equipment were first born in the Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, especially in the field of weapons and equipment manufacturing, which was absolutely leading at the time.

Of course, military industrial products are not limited to weapons and equipment. Light industrial products are also an important guarantee for the army’s combat effectiveness, and this is mainly undertaken by the Northern Industrial Belt.

Nairobi and Mombasa in the Northern Industrial Belt are both important textile centers in East Africa, including cotton and linen textile industries, and the leather industry occupies a leading position in East Africa.

At the same time, Mombasa and Nairobi are also the most important food processing industry centers in East Africa. The Northern Industrial Belt region is rich in coffee, tea, and various types of economic or food crops. It is also an important animal husbandry center, adjacent to the Northern Pasture, and borders the Indian Ocean to the east and the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) to the west. The northern mountain plateau is also an important forestry area, and there are almost no shortcomings in the agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery industries.

Mombasa is also the bridgehead for East Africa’s foreign exchanges, making it very convenient to introduce advanced European technology and machinery and equipment, and the Northern Railway connects the economic development of the Northern Industrial Belt. Therefore, the Northern Industrial Belt has considerable say in the field of light industry in East Africa. Thirty-seven percent of East Africa’s military light industrial products are provided by the Northern Industrial Belt.

Of course, the shortcomings of the Northern Industrial Belt are also very obvious, that is, resources are a shortcoming, but this is also an important reason for promoting the Northern Industrial Belt to focus on light industry as its main development direction.

Chapter 721: Model 1885 Heavy Machine Gun

“Da-da-da…”

Under the operator’s control, the Maxim gun perfectly “pulverized” the target. Its powerful firepower and stable performance made Constantine’s eyes light up.

The East African-made Maxim gun, officially designated as the Model 1885 heavy machine gun, was essentially a replica of the Maxim gun, with some improvements to the details.

This was similar to the German-made MG08 heavy machine gun or the Russian M1910 heavy machine gun in his previous life, which were all extended versions of the Maxim gun.

“Our domestically produced Model 1885 heavy machine gun has a rate of fire between four hundred and four hundred and fifty rounds per minute, which is basically on par with the British Maxim gun. It’s slightly inferior, mainly due to limitations in materials and precision processing. This is the disadvantage of East Africa as a late-developing country. However, the Metal Research Institute is vigorously researching new materials, and it is expected that these minor differences can be made up for in two to three years.”

Constantine said, “The fact that the Model 1885 heavy machine gun could be completed almost simultaneously with the British is a credit to you. It shows that our military manufacturing industry can at least catch up with the European military industry. The gap is not that big. Technically, it is indeed our disadvantage, but this disadvantage is not because we Germans are inferior to the British, but because East Africa has a short history and is a latecomer among the world’s major powers. Therefore, learning from advanced countries is not a shameful thing. Acknowledging shortcomings is the best way to make up for them.”

“What Your Majesty says is very true. Although there is an element of ‘borrowing,’ the ability to break through this technology in a short period of time is still due to the Kingdom’s huge investment. This investment is not only in funds and resources, but more importantly, in talent,” said the director of the Mbeya City Arsenal.

“Before the Maxim gun was officially introduced, East Africa had been improving and researching machine guns for more than a decade. The Gatling gun was introduced in 1861 and tested in the Paraguayan War. Our factory alone has more than seven or eight improved models of the Gatling gun. And this is just the Mbeya City Arsenal. Other units should be no less impressive in their research on machine guns, such as the Dar es Salaam City Firearms Research Institute.”

The Gatling gun was the world’s first practical machine gun. In fact, as early as 1851, France had invented the Montigny mitrailleuse, but it was very laborious to use, requiring a series of operations such as: opening the breech, loading ammunition, cocking, locking, firing, and ejecting the spent cartridge. It could exhaust soldiers and only fire intermittently. It weighed no less than artillery, and its range and power were not as good as artillery.

The Gatling gun also had serious problems, but before the advent of the Maxim gun, it was the best-performing machine gun in the world and had participated in many wars, having been tested in battle. East Africa used it in the war with Portugal. Its actual combat performance was not outstanding, but it caused great psychological damage to the Portuguese black auxiliary troops, often becoming a breakthrough point on the battlefield.

“In special sections, especially some narrow military passages, sometimes a single Model 1885 heavy machine gun can completely suppress the enemy with firepower, achieving the military effect of ‘one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men unable to pass.’ The firepower of hundreds of rounds per minute can be said to be a deterrent weapon second only to artillery,” said the director of the Mbeya City Arsenal.

“In open areas, it can also serve as a good fire support point, and several machine guns can form a dense firepower network to suppress the enemy. If hundreds of them are concentrated, they can even cope with large-scale group attacks.”

Constantine also followed his words and began to imagine. If this scene were on the European battlefield, especially in the Franco-Prussian War or the Austro-Prussian War, it might really be possible.

Of course, back then, when East Africa was fighting against the extremely backward African kingdoms of the Ndebele and Zulu people, if they had a few Maxim guns, they could probably rout the enemy’s formation in one round.

Constantine asked, “What are the outstanding advantages of the Maxim gun compared to the Gatling gun?”

“Your Majesty, it is very obvious, it is in the ammunition loading. The Maxim uses gunpowder gas to complete the automatic process. No external force is required to complete the automatic firing. The Gatling gun uses external force and must use a crank to manually load the ammunition. Moreover, the firing process is very much affected by subjectivity, such as emotions, strength, and other external factors. The Maxim is much better.”

“This is the most direct. The specific advantages can be summarized as the Maxim gun has a faster and more stable rate of fire, a more complete mechanical structure, a lower failure rate, and the barrel is water-cooled, so theoretically it will not overheat. Since the barrel moves in a fixed manner on the axis rather than in a transverse space, the firing accuracy has been greatly improved. The use of canvas belts makes it much more stable, portable, and versatile than the gravity-fed Gatling gun.”

Therefore, the Maxim is a groundbreaking product compared to the Gatling. Of course, the shortcomings of the Gatling are not impossible to improve, but under the current conditions, the Maxim gun is more cost-effective.

For example, in his previous life, with the advancement of electric motors and advanced technology, the Gatling later regained its vitality. However, East Africa would certainly not be able to equip a Gatling gun with a separate motor for driving.

Subsequently, Constantine also visited a rifle shooting demonstration. The Mauser rifle was the main weapon of the East African army. It had been improved over the years, but the overall change was not significant.

When the Mauser rifle was promoted in East Africa, it was during the economic crisis. At that time, East Africa introduced a large number of advanced equipment, so the performance of the East African Mauser rifle could be guaranteed.

However, the Mauser rifle in front of him had undergone tremendous changes, which attracted Constantine’s attention.

“Your Mauser rifle doesn’t have thick black smoke. Is this new technology?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. In 1884, France invented smokeless gunpowder to replace black gunpowder, but the power was increased threefold. What you see before you is our East African experimental rifle. Similarly, the German Model 1888 rifle is said to have been completed and is about to be mass-produced.”

“What about our East African army?”

“It is currently in a small-scale experimental stage. As for mass production, it is unlikely, because we and Germany face different environments. Germany faces the threat of the French and must quickly follow up. Therefore, the Model 1888 rifle is just a temporary product developed by Germany. We have introduced its samples from Europe, but there are too many problems. This is mainly due to the hasty development.”

“The rifling design of the Model 1888 rifle is very poor, leading to rapid wear of the barrel. The excessive chamber pressure generated by the new barrel leads to barrel rupture. Moreover, the second bullet may be loaded before the first bullet in the chamber is fired, leading to a breech explosion. Therefore, East Africa is still in the research stage for this new rifle.”

The relationship between Germany and France was like two lions, ready to bite each other to death at any time. Therefore, even if the hastily developed Model 1888 rifle has extremely unstable performance and major safety hazards, Germany can only bite the bullet, after all, France is also a world-class military power.

East Africa, isolated in Africa, obviously does not have this kind of pressure, so it can continue to polish its craftsmanship with peace of mind. After completely solving the problems, it will launch a new rifle and equip it in large quantities.

As for the war that may break out in the South African region at any time, the equipment of the East African army is completely sufficient, because even the strongest of the “Triple Alliance,” Britain, is actually at the same level as East Africa in terms of army weapons, or even slightly inferior. Portugal’s national strength has declined and it is a maritime power. The army’s equipment is even more terrible. It has gone further and further down the road of “it is better to buy than to build.” And the Transvaalers have no defense industry at all.

Chapter 722: Personnel Retraining

East African military industry is primarily focused on heavy industry. Light industry, on the other hand, has a short production cycle, requires less investment, and generates quicker returns, allowing for rapid capital recovery and profitability.

The opposite is true for heavy industry. Of course, in the 19th century, the development of heavy industry was still in its early stages, so these problems were not yet apparent. In countries like England, France, and Germany, heavy industry profits were quite considerable. In normal years, the risk was generally low, so investing in heavy industry was profitable and relatively stable.

At the same time, it benefited competition between countries. In the 19th century, military strength was the foundation for national development. Otherwise, one could be focused on peaceful production, only to have the great powers arrive the next day with “gunboat diplomacy,” directly bombarding the country and destroying its domestic industry, making development impossible.

“Our military industry is one of the few industrial sectors capable of independent research, development, and design. The nation invests its limited talent in the development of military industry. As for civilian industry, only a few sectors like railways, steel, electricity, and automobiles have this capacity. And according to East Africa’s talent cultivation cycle, we won’t reach the level of European and American countries until at least after 1895.”

This is the current state of East Africa’s talent pool. East Africa’s talent mainly relies on the early Black Hohenzollern schools, that is, the various schools established by the Black Hohenzollern royal family in Europe, supplemented by East Africans studying and working in Europe. The local talent cultivation cycle, however, takes as long as a decade or even decades.

…

As of 1888, East Africa still retained over seven hundred language schools, employing over eight thousand teachers and staff.

“The re-education of these teachers is a must. We plan to eliminate most of them, retaining only a hundred or so, which should meet most of the needs. We will focus on retaining schools in the central-western and coastal areas, while many language schools in the eastern regions can be eliminated.”

Language schools are a key project in East Africa’s assimilation efforts. At their peak in the 1870s, there were nearly ten thousand language schools of various forms, mainly built to promote German.

The operating conditions varied greatly. Some didn’t even have a fixed location, and some were directly incorporated into the East African compulsory education system.

As special schools that have existed in East Africa for over twenty years, language schools have made a significant contribution to East Africa, most importantly ensuring the dominant position of German in East Africa. Currently, the German-speaking population in East Africa can ensure the autonomous assimilation of immigrants speaking other languages, without the need for mandatory policies.

This is similar to Slavic immigrants to Germany. Many Slavs from places like Poland go to live in German cities like Berlin. If they don’t actively learn German, they will inevitably find it difficult to get by.

“Eliminating hundreds of language schools at once means that many teachers will face the problem of finding new employment. Based on the educational level of these teachers, we believe that the government should lead them in further deepening their studies. Because they have been engaged in education for many years, their learning ability is still relatively strong. They can achieve re-education by going to our local higher education institutions or to German regions in Europe.”

In order to quickly popularize German, East Africa had very limited choices when it came to selecting language teachers. They were mainly young people, many of whom had only received very basic compulsory education or lower-level education from the Black Hohenzollern royal family’s schools in Europe.

So the language teachers are actually not that old, and their years of teaching experience have made their German skills, especially in writing, very good. At the same time, they have access to more learning channels, so their educational level is not too low.

However, similarly, their years of only being responsible for German education have also made their education very narrow, mainly concentrated in language and literature, giving them a feeling of being neither here nor there.

After all, now that German has been popularized in East Africa, the value of German education has declined, and they have no other work experience.

Ernst: “Although language teachers are not quite the same as real teachers, their foundation is still good. Many of them were originally studying in Germany, but interrupted their studies in order to popularize German in East Africa. So, based on their interests, let them first receive short-term training at local higher education institutions, and then study abroad. In the future, they can re-enter other fields in East Africa, which can also effectively supplement East Africa’s high-level cultural talent.”

The talent cultivation cycle for people who normally receive the East African education system is very long, with compulsory education alone lasting as long as ten years. So these teachers who have been teaching in East Africa for many years are in a very awkward situation.

Asking them to study for a long time again would be a bit difficult for them. After all, compared to ordinary students, they are too old, so they can only be crammed into East African schools for local training first, and then go to Europe to study.

Although it is a bit rushed, their foundation is much better than that of students from Japan and the Far East Empire. First of all, there is no language barrier. Secondly, their teaching experience in East Africa has given them a good literary foundation. Moreover, the older they are, the more likely they are to cherish the hard-won opportunity. East Africa is not kicking them aside, but providing them with the opportunity to continue their studies.

Of course, Ernst couldn’t just abandon these people. An important task of language schools is to conduct cultural and public opinion propaganda for immigrants.

So these people’s “ideological awareness” is definitely among the highest groups in East Africa. Moreover, many language teachers are orphans, and the Black Hohenzollern royal family provided them with early living security and learning opportunities.

Originally, according to Ernst’s idea, these people would go through normal German learning channels, but East Africa’s expansion was too fast, disrupting the rhythm. The talents who originally needed several years of cultivation all became crash-course talents in a few months.

Now, letting them go back to the drawing board is also to make up for the regrets of the past. It’s just that this requires coordination from the East African government, especially since the number of government-funded study abroad places in East Africa each year is limited. Fortunately, in recent years, East Africa has successively built a batch of higher education institutions, which can first cram them into these schools and then slowly arrange things.

“The number of people studying in Europe is ultimately limited. In recent years, many private higher education schools have been built in Germany and Austria-Hungary. We can negotiate with them, but the effect may not be ideal. After all, the educational level of these schools varies, and the tuition fees are not uniform. We need a professional team to identify and then negotiate to send people, which may also be a considerable expense.”

Ernst: “Just go ahead and do it. Studying abroad is an important talent cultivation model, and European education needs to be identified anyway. Now some capitalists are specifically opening ‘diploma mills’ to recruit students from backward areas. If we in East Africa don’t pay attention, we may also be deceived!”

When saying this, Ernst was not ashamed at all. In fact, Ernst himself opened the most “diploma mills” in the German region of Europe.

It can be said that he started this bad trend, and the entire educational atmosphere in the German region has deteriorated. This was originally a bad idea to earn tuition fees from students from countries like Japan, but it was extremely successful.

Those people mainly suffered from a lack of understanding of Europe, coupled with the Black Hohenzollern Consortium actively placing advertisements in the Far East, making it difficult not to be fooled.

In fact, even the East African government had been fooled by this. Fortunately, the staff of the Black Hohenzollern Consortium reported the matter to Ernst, otherwise it would have been a real joke.

Chapter 723: Strategic Objectives in East Africa

After all, the East African government and the Hohenzollern Consortium were two separate systems. Ernst couldn’t exactly advertise his “fake” university construction, so the uninformed East African government had been taken for a ride.

Of course, Ernst was indeed too realistic in faking the universities, with all sorts of “official” procedures completed, to the point where it was a case of the water god’s own temple being flooded.

After thinking for a moment, Ernst said, “Later, I’ll have someone in Europe screen a list of schools first, and then you send people over to investigate, to prevent our students from being ‘scammed’.”

East African students were fortunate, because the East African government paved the way for them. This was also related to the Hohenzollern royal family’s connections. The only entity likely to deceive East Africa was probably the Hohenzollern Consortium itself.

Of course, although the Hohenzollern Consortium had built dozens of fake universities, it had also done some “real work,” such as the Hohenzollern-affiliated schools in the East African talent training base, which were managed by the Hohenzollern Consortium.

That is, the pile of schools Ernst left behind in the Prussian Hohenzollern Province’s Hohenzollern Principality, including the old site of the Hohenzollern Military Academy, had now become important study abroad bases for East African students.

The biggest difference from those fake schools was that the land for these schools was truly owned by the Hohenzollern royal family, and the teachers were hired from Europe. More than five hundred international students studied here each year.

Of course, in addition to international students, there were also schools in the form of “orphanages” that Ernst had left behind, directly receiving orphans from Germany every year to study. These were the top-tier immigrants in East Africa. After completing their studies in Germany, they would directly go to East Africa to develop.

Most of the teachers in language schools came this way in the beginning, but now East Africa could provide them with a stable learning environment, no longer requiring so-called “crash course” learning.

The issue of where the language school teachers would go was also settled. The main focus was on reshaping them and then reintegrating them into East African society.

“Your Royal Highness, next is the strategic issue concerning our south. So far, the armies in our south-central and eastern East Africa have been deployed, and the defense lines have been basically completed. They are the Zambezi River Line (the lower reaches of the Zambezi River in Mozambique), the Eastern Line (Matabeleland Province, the eastern provincial border of Hohenzollern Province), and the Southern Line (also known as the Orange River Line), a total of three major sections, with a total length of more than three thousand kilometers.”

East Africa’s military defense line mainly consisted of three major sections, which also showed East Africa’s enormous defense pressure. The mere existence of the Mozambique colony meant that East Africa had to maintain an additional one thousand eight hundred kilometers of border. Without Mozambique, East Africa’s land border defense spending could be reduced by one-eighth.

Regarding the Orange Free State (called the Boer Republic by the British and the Transvaalers), East Africa also wanted to completely drive them to the south bank of the Orange River, which was the Eastern Cape region of the former South Africa Republic.

Here, we must mention the regional division of the South Africa Republic. Apart from Cape Town, the southernmost part of South Africa has three large provinces named after Cape Town: Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.

The capital of Western Cape is the current Cape Town at the Cape of Good Hope, while the capital of Northern Cape is Kimberley. Eastern Cape is located in the south of the Boer forces, on the south bank of the Orange River.

Apart from these Cape provinces, the other areas in the administrative map of the former South Africa Republic were the sphere of influence of the original Boers and Zulus.

In other words, East Africa wanted to “divide the river and rule” with Britain, incorporating the original spheres of influence of the Boers and Zulus into its territory, while using the Orange River as a natural geographical boundary.

As for taking the Cape Town area, East Africa had no such intention. Even if the British suffered losses on the front lines, they would not give up the Cape Town area.

Moreover, East Africa did not want to completely break with Britain. This situation would only allow countries such as Germany, France, Russia, Austria, and the United States to reap the benefits, which was not in the interests of East Africa and Britain.

Therefore, although East Africa and Britain had irreconcilable contradictions, neither would choose to fight to the death for the South Africa region.

This actually illustrated East Africa’s current helplessness. Britain’s mere military presence in the South Africa region was enough for East Africa to go all out, and even if East Africa won, it would only mean that Britain lost its strategic foothold in the south to threaten East Africa.

Therefore, choosing to quit while ahead was the most beneficial decision for East Africa. Otherwise, with the current strength of the Royal Navy, if it only dealt with East Africa, East Africa’s international trade would be directly ruined.

Although East Africa could be tough and choose to fight to the end, playing games on the African continent would only make it an African country, and it might allow Germany or the United States to steal the fruits of its labor in advance.

This involved East Africa’s post-war “large-scale industry” blueprint. Currently, East Africa had only built the most basic industries, and it was still a long way from the goal of industrialization.

If East Africa had achieved industrialization before the war, it could have tried to challenge Britain’s world hegemony in advance, and even gain dominance over the Indian Ocean.

However, the problem was that East Africa had not completed industrialization, which was similar to the situation that present-day Tsarist Russia faced.

If Tsarist Russia had achieved industrialization, the Eurasian hegemony could have ended early. Therefore, East Africa needed Britain’s big ship not to suddenly disintegrate.

This tangled psychology was the same as the attitude of European and American countries towards the Soviet Union in the past. They certainly hoped that the Soviet Union would die, but not too quickly.

For example, the European Union was established only two years after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the past. Although the European Union was an economic alliance, European integration was definitely not what the Americans wanted to see.

Of course, this was considered from the perspective of East Africa winning the war. If it was a defeat, then East Africa would be very uncomfortable. A better situation would be for East Africa to continue to resist and fall into a protracted war with Britain and other countries, with Britain dragging other countries into the water to jointly divide East Africa.

A worse situation would be for East Africa to directly lose the south-central region, nearly half of its industrial investment, and one-third of its agriculture to other countries.

This was the unbalanced state of the war results caused by the huge gap between East Africa’s national strength and Britain’s national strength.

Of course, if either side won this war, the winner’s gains would be extremely huge. For example, Britain, if it could seize Matabeleland Province in East Africa, Britain’s hegemony would be greatly consolidated in the future. Matabeleland Province alone had a population of over one million, and it was closest to achieving industry. Coupled with the various resources of Hohenzollern Province, the British would probably be overjoyed. The gold revenue from Hohenzollern Province alone would allow the British to recoup their investment.

If East Africa won, it could bring decades of peaceful development opportunities to East Africa’s mainland in the future, while completely establishing its status as a world power. At the same time, it would acquire two important regions, Mozambique and Angola, to make up for East Africa’s shortage of oil and energy, become a two-ocean country, and open up a land passage between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, forming two major ocean economic belts centered on the central region and the central railway.

It seemed to be a remake of the Boer War, but it was actually an enhanced version. However, in terms of international impact, it might not be as great as the Boer’s impact on Britain’s international image in the past.

Because East Africa itself was a member of the (pseudo) great powers. Of course, if Britain was defeated, they would immediately arrange a great power title for East Africa, confirming East Africa’s status as the largest country in Africa.

After all, losing to a world power and losing to a “peasant” from a small place like the Boers were two different concepts.

Therefore, once this war broke out, it would be a war that would change the world格局, with the winner taking all. Of course, for East Africa, the most important thing was not Britain, but the Portuguese. If it could annex the Portuguese’s two colonies in south-central Africa, East Africa would make a bloody profit. Taking the Transvaal Republic would be an unexpected surprise.

Chapter 724: Temporary Adjustments

While preparations for war were underway in East Africa, the Triple Alliance wasn’t lagging behind either. However, at this crucial moment, Earl Roberts suddenly changed his mind.

He had new plans. Although he had accepted command of all Allied forces in the South African region, he had arrived relatively late and therefore had his own views on the war.

Roberts convened an Allied military conference and presented his decision at the meeting: “As the main battlefield, we must strengthen the military forces in Mozambique, because Mozambique faces the risk of fighting on three fronts. Moreover, East Africa has the advantage of fighting on its own territory and a large population. If we want to quickly open up the situation on the battlefield, we must rationally distribute our forces.” Earl Roberts spoke of his plans.

The military commanders of Mozambique naturally supported this wholeheartedly. After all, Mozambique was their own territory, and they would be more diligent in its defense.

Earl Roberts was well aware of the subtle changes in the Portuguese. However, as a military commander with rich war experience, he would not disrupt his deployment because of this. Narrow-minded military commanders rarely achieve victory on the battlefield.

From the beginning, his goal was to defeat East Africa, not to bicker with these people for profit and haggle over details. Everything was based on the strategic goal, even if it might cause some losses to the British Empire.

“Commander-in-Chief! I object to concentrating military forces in Mozambique. It’s fine to support with a portion of the forces, but there’s no need to do so.” Wilson, the military commander of the Natal colony, said.

“Oh? What different views do you have?” He was not surprised that the first person to jump out and oppose him was his own British commander.

Wilson: “The distance between the Natal colony and Maputo is very short, with only one East African port city in between. We don’t need to disrupt the initial deployment through large-scale military adjustments. According to the plan, we can first remove New Hamburg port city to open up the northward passage and connect Natal and Mozambique.”

“Moreover, this was the strategy determined before. Even if we strengthen the military forces in Mozambique, our next step is still to cooperate on both sides and attack New Hamburg port city.”

“At the same time, large-scale military mobilization will definitely attract the attention of the East Africans. I think there are quite a few intelligence agents from East Africa in Maputo. They will definitely pass this information back to East Africa quickly, and our strategic deployment may be exposed!”

Roberts waited for Wilson to finish speaking and did not immediately deny his words. Instead, he said, “Of course, I have considered these, but I don’t think New Hamburg port city is a city that can be easily taken. After all, the location of New Hamburg is too special, and the East Africans will not let us take it easily.”

“Moreover, there is one thing we must understand. The location of the Natal colony is not a threat to East Africa. If we cannot successfully take New Hamburg port city, it is likely to restrict the发挥 [fā huī - give play to] of our army. Relying on the Tugela River and the Drakensberg Mountains, only a small number of troops can block our army in the small area of the Natal colony.”

“If we can’t break the deadlock, wouldn’t we be letting so many military forces be wasted? At that time, are we going to cross the Drakensberg Mountains to the west to support the Boer battlefield? That will take a considerable amount of time, and I’m afraid the battlefield will undergo several major changes!”

This was also Earl Roberts’ view of the situation in South Africa. If it was just a war between Britain and East Africa alone, then the importance of the Natal colony would indeed be very important. But with Mozambique, this gave Earl Roberts more choices.

“As for military mobilization, it is what it is if it’s exposed. We are only responsible for placing the main force in Mozambique, but the East Africans will not be able to predict in which direction they will take the initiative to attack.”

The long border between Mozambique and East Africa was the confidence that Earl Roberts had in mobilizing troops at risk.

He could choose to attack New Hamburg port city to the south, or attack the central region of East Africa to the west, or threaten the core area of eastern East Africa to the north.

“Of course, all of this requires the cooperation of the Mozambique colony, Governor-General Boegival.” Earl Roberts looked at Boegival and said.

Boegival stated, “Commander-in-Chief, our Kingdom of Portugal will certainly fully support your decision, but please instruct us on how to cooperate specifically.”

Earl Roberts was very satisfied with Boegival’s attitude. Although the Portuguese were not very reliable, they only needed to be obedient enough in front of Britain.

He said to the high-level officials of the Portuguese Mozambique colony: “First of all, there is the issue of East African spies mentioned by Wilson earlier. I think we must prevent this, because this matter is indeed very annoying. Our intelligence with East Africa is not equal. East Africa can easily plant spies in our territory, but we cannot use the same means against East Africa.”

“East Africa currently only has a few port cities on the eastern coast that can understand East Africa, but the information we obtain is fragmented and difficult to analyze into real and useful things. There is indeed no good way to solve this, because East Africa is too closed.”

“If we can’t solve this problem, then we can only disrupt the East African intelligence system in the South African region, at least in our territory, especially the ports. The screening of personnel, after the war starts, can basically be taken over by the army. We must cut off the ears and eyes of the East Africans.”

This was Earl Roberts’ intuition. He did not trust the Portuguese, so he had to forcibly implement it himself. Anyway, those Portuguese merchants who did business with East Africa did not have the ability to find trouble with him, an Englishman.

“In addition to intelligence work, there is also the issue of receiving and settling the troops. I think you should be prepared?”

Boegival frowned: “That’s not a problem. Before we use black troops, we can let your people share Mozambique’s facilities and camps.”

As for the black auxiliary army, it was just a number for Portugal. Obviously, the British Army was more reassuring, so it was reasonable to make those blacks suffer first.

“However, the environment may not be very good. After all, our conditions in Mozambique are limited, and it is very difficult to support an army.”

Earl Roberts didn’t care about this, because soldiers were not meant to enjoy themselves. He had been in Abyssinia and Afghanistan, where the conditions were much more difficult than in Mozambique.

“In this way, the Natal colony will transfer five brigades of the main British army to Mozambique. Such a short distance should be completed within a week, leaving only one brigade in Natal.”

This was twenty thousand British troops, and in Mozambique, there were already more than thirty thousand people brought by Roberts from India, which made the main British force in Mozambique reach more than fifty thousand people.

With these fifty thousand British troops, Earl Roberts felt that he could be invincible. Although the British Army had many jokes, it was also one of the world’s five major top powers (England, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia)’s army, and it was not on the same level as other countries.

As for the United States, like East Africa, the world did not know much about the two countries’ war capabilities. After all, their history was short and there were no outstanding achievements to show. Even after World War I and World War II in his previous life, the ability of the American Army could not convince the public. On the contrary, the Navy and Air Force did establish prestige after World War II.

Chapter 725: Pre-War Calculations

March 7th, 1888.

With all preparations complete, the Triple Alliance was officially ready to begin.

Before the war, Earl Roberts made one last deployment: “Once the war begins, the two brigades in southern Portugal, in coordination with the British forces in the Natal Colony, will advance towards New Hamburg Port City.”

“The remaining forces will be mainly divided into two directions. With our two divisions as the main force, we will attack central East Africa. One division and the Portuguese army will maneuver along the Zambezi River in the north, engaging East Africa.”

“The remaining two divisions will serve as reserves, ready to support various battlefields at any time.”

“As for the Boers…”

Davidson, as the representative of the Transvaal people, finally had a chance to speak.

“Commander-in-Chief, our Boer Republic is an independent theater of operations, so we can only provide support for the main battlefield. However, we will try our best to attract the East African forces in the south to the west, preventing them from supporting the eastern battlefield.”

Even if the Transvaal people wanted to support the eastern coastal areas, they couldn’t. Like Mozambique, they were surrounded on three sides by East Africa, and the Drakensberg Mountains cut off the Allied forces’ connection to the east.

This meant that the Boer Republic could only serve as an independent theater of operations, supporting the eastern main battlefield. The same was true for the Angola colony.

The Angola colony was even more special than other regions. Its location made it impossible for the Allied headquarters to incorporate it into its command system.

Therefore, Angola and the eastern battlefield were at the same level. The commander-in-chief was a Portuguese national, and the corresponding personnel were basically Portuguese paired with black soldiers.

However, the British would provide naval support to Angola. East Africa’s naval power in the South Atlantic was extremely weak, so a few small warships could suppress East Africa’s Atlantic fleet.

East Africa didn’t care about this. The so-called Atlantic fleet was just a coastal patrol team built on the basis of Southwest Africa, which couldn’t play a major role. Moreover, Southwest Africa was such a rotten place that they weren’t afraid of being attacked by the enemy.

The desert was the best natural barrier. It was difficult for East Africans to travel from Southwest Africa to the East African interior, and those who were even more unfamiliar with the local area, or even knew nothing about it, would probably get lost in the desert without East Africa even needing to take action. In the end, they would collapse without being attacked due to supply and water shortage problems.

Of course, all of this was on the premise that East Africa could stabilize the western battlefield with Angola. East Africa’s western defense line was very loose, which led to a more flexible strategy in western East Africa than in the east.

Conversely, it was impossible to build a strategic defense line in the west like in the southeast, so offense had to replace defense.

Earl Roberts said to Davidson: “Of course, but you must not sit idly by and watch. I think you are also clear about how big the gap is between you and East Africa. Even if the three countries join forces, we may not have a great advantage over East Africa. If everyone doesn’t contribute, and we are defeated one by one, the consequences will be very serious.”

Davidson said calmly: “Of course, if you talk about who has the deepest feeling for East Africa’s military strength, it must be us Boers. East Africa’s powerful military strength is definitely one of the best on the African continent.”

The Transvaal people had experienced the process of national subjugation once, so they had always attached the most importance to East Africa’s strength. On the contrary, the Portuguese had not yet seen the situation clearly.

Although there was the First East Portuguese War, the Portuguese believed that it was because Portugal had not prepared for the war. Plus, with the support of the British this time, even if they couldn’t overthrow the East African kingdom, they could at least inflict heavy damage on East Africa. After all, as of now, it seemed that the Allied forces had a better chance of winning.

Earl Roberts had no doubts about the Boers’ determination to fight against East Africa. He said: “The results of this war also depend on each other’s contributions. If the Boers want more, they must contribute more on the battlefield. Not only will you be able to restore your country, but you will also be able to obtain more land, including the original Zulu Kingdom, which is now New Hamburg Port City. I think a seaport will be very attractive to the Boers.”

Anyway, the war had not yet started, and making generous promises before the war was no pressure for Earl Roberts. If it weren’t for being too exaggerated, he could verbally promise to give the entire East Africa to the Transvaal people.

The British would still dominate the final distribution of spoils. At that time, the British would say whatever they wanted, and the final interpretation right was in the hands of the British.

Earl Roberts’ words were not convincing to Davidson, because now the Transvaal people were forced into a corner by East Africa and had no other choice. It would be best if they could expand their territory.

Bujval was a little moved. Currently, Portugal’s goals can be divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower. The upper level is to restore the original area of the two colonies while dividing up part of the land in central East Africa to expand the area of the Portuguese colonies.

The middle level is to take back the land that was taken by East Africa last time, and to obtain a larger share of reparations. The war reparations of a big country like East Africa are also very considerable income. The lower level is to ensure the safety of the current colonies and prevent them from being further encroached upon by East Africa.

Among these three goals, the first is unrealistic, because Portugal is unlikely to get the central region of East Africa, so that the Portuguese colonies can be connected together, because this conflicts with the interests of the British.

The British are not here to do charity. They are likely to turn the rich areas of East Africa into their own colonies after the war, and central East Africa is the best location.

As for eastern East Africa, that area is not within the scope of the Allied forces’ consideration. That is the land where East Africa rose to prominence. Unless East Africa is destroyed, it is impossible to cede it.

After all, there is no precedent for directly destroying a country as large as East Africa since the Age of Exploration.

Of course, East Africa’s size only refers to its area. The population is actually quite large, but population data is not easy to obtain.

According to the current British thinking, it is best to replicate the Paraguayan War in South America once, and weaken all the forces in South Africa except for the British.

In the eyes of countries around the world, East Africa should be the same type of country as Brazil, but Brazil is like a glass box. The whole world can see the mess in Brazil, but the inside of East Africa cannot be seen, so many data rely on speculation.

However, one thing is certain, that is, the East African government must be more honest than the Brazilian government. After all, in terms of the military strength displayed by the two countries, East Africa is much stronger.

Although Brazil is independent, it is only stronger than an ordinary colony. It is an economic colony of various powers, while East Africa is a truly independent country with autonomy.

In this regard, Japan is much stronger than Brazil. Japan suffered no less humiliation than Brazil at the beginning, but Japan has been actively abolishing the unequal treaties signed during the shogunate era.

Brazil is on a path of no return to being an economic colony. The most important thing is that the various forces in Brazil are mixed and cannot dominate the country’s direction, and cannot form a joint force. Otherwise, according to Brazil’s basic conditions, it should not have developed into what it is today.

Chapter 726: Going Deeper

“Our surveillance target is showing signs of unusual activity. These Portuguese merchants have very extensive connections, and their recent actions fully illustrate the problem. It’s like merchants at the end of the year trying to earn one last bit of business, constantly doing promotions and discounts to go home for Christmas. But it’s only March now, so their behavior indicates that other factors are causing their business to become unsustainable.”

As an intelligence operative in East Africa, Eureka keenly observed the abnormal behavior of the Portuguese merchants. They were increasing their purchases from East Africa and transporting the goods away with maximum capacity. These were all specialties of East Africa, especially rare items like crocodile skin and ivory that are only found in East Africa.

Of course, Mozambique itself doesn’t lack these things, but Mozambique’s production is not as large as East Africa’s. After all, they don’t have enough manpower, so importing from East Africa is the most cost-effective.

They only need to prepare cash and vehicles to transport the semi-finished goods directly to the eastern ports, and then ship them back to Europe for sale.

“Eureka, it feels like our mission has been the most frequent this past year, but I have a feeling this is all coming to an end,” his colleague Rice said.

“Looks like the other side is preparing to show their hand. How do we continue to go deeper and transmit the information back?” Eureka asked.

“Just follow them. Now we are Portuguese, so as long as we follow other trade caravans, we can further understand the detailed reasons for this change,” Rice wanted to further unravel the mystery, so he planned to directly follow the Portuguese trade caravan through the Mozambican hinterland, then go out to sea in the east, and then return to East Africa.

“This is indeed a risky operation. After all, we are not real merchants, so it is easy to make mistakes in the details. Therefore, in order not to cause misunderstandings, it is best to act like we are just starting out,” Eureka suggested.

Eureka and Rice’s advantage is their youth, and young people are always inexperienced, so they appear less conspicuous in the eyes of a group of shrewd Portuguese merchants.

“That being said, there is one problem that cannot be avoided, that is, if the situation suddenly changes, I am afraid we will not be able to transmit the news back to our homeland,” Rice said.

“It’s all the fault of these Portuguese. No wonder they have become increasingly weak over the centuries. They never thought about repairing the roads in their territory, and even new things like telegraphs are not popularized and promoted, so they simply cannot compete with us in Africa,” Eureka said speechlessly.

As long as you compare East Africa and Mozambique a little, you will know why the Portuguese were defeated in the last war.

That is because they do not pay enough attention to the colonies. The various infrastructures are limited to a few coastal cities that are barely passable, and there is basically no development of the interior.

Not to mention building railways like East Africa, even the number of muddy trails is very insufficient, so it is understandable that Mozambique and Angola have not changed much for hundreds of years. If you remove some modern industrial products, the Portuguese colonies basically maintain the appearance of their ancestors’ era.

This has also brought great inconvenience to the intelligence work in East Africa, which is why Eureka and Rice are complaining.

If it were in the country, they could have transmitted the news back to East Africa in a timely manner through the telegraph network built by East Africa, but the Portuguese have not even built a telegraph to their homeland, but instead need to go to East African cities such as Dar es Salaam to pay to use the East African telegraph system. This is also the reason why Dar es Salaam has become the most important commercial intelligence gathering place in Africa.

Eureka: “The Portuguese military force is mainly on the coast. In the interior, in this kind of peripheral area, they can only inquire about some meaningless news from nine to five every day, so we should apply to our superiors to go into the Mozambican hinterland for investigation. As for intelligence transmission, because of Mozambique’s poor construction situation, this is something we cannot overcome, so we can only deal with it for now. At least we have to transmit a lot of data from the hinterland to our homeland, so we shouldn’t be in a hurry.”

“That makes sense. Unless the Portuguese restore the glory of a hundred years ago, even if they launch a war during this period, it is impossible to make progress easily. After all, our blockade of them is even stricter, but East Africa only knows about five or six tenths of Mozambique, and Mozambique probably only knows one or two tenths of East Africa,” Rice said.

Rice is actually already giving the Portuguese enough credit. The Portuguese intelligence system’s gains from East Africa over the years, not to mention half the effort for twice the result, can also be said to be a complete failure.

Because there is no sophisticated intelligence system in Portugal itself, let alone in a colony like Mozambique.

In fact, not only Portugal, but most European countries’ intelligence systems in this era are useless. Take the last Franco-Prussian War as an example, Napoleon III’s important channel for obtaining information about the German army on the front line was actually the newspapers in the rear.

Of course, this is also understandable. Europe does not have a household registration policy, and people flow between countries. Especially during wartime, where there is a war, it will cause a large flow of people in Europe. Moreover, European countries are small in area, and any disturbance is very easy to be discovered. In this case, there is really no need to put too much effort into intelligence.

Spending more money simply doesn’t have the same effect as making more friends and marrying into more families in Europe. According to the complex relationships of European nobles, they are the easiest source of information.

From the central government to the local level, the nobles control everything in Europe, especially at the grassroots level. The landlord nobles are the hubs that directly connect with the local residents. The noble lords control all aspects of the local area, including population information.

The reason why East Africa was able to immigrate so many Germans from Southern Germany was through the friendship with the nobles in Southern Germany. In rural areas with explosive population growth, people are just worthless numbers. Cut one crop, and another will grow.

And according to Germany’s population density, this is even more so. Therefore, it is beneficial for both parties for East Africa to absorb these surplus populations.

After all, if the population exceeds the carrying capacity, it will inevitably lead to social problems. And Germany does not have vast colonies like Britain. If the British could have more children, the British government would be very happy. There is always a place to arrange them. After all, even criminals have a continent to be exiled to.

The German population will inevitably overflow to “culturally similar regions” like East Africa. Of course, this process has disappeared with the completion of German industrialization. Now Germany has become a new population importing country in the world.

However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which is developing relatively slowly, is temporarily unable to get rid of this situation. However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s annual population outflow is not very large, and it remains within a relatively reasonable range every year, unless it is a special situation in wartime, such as the last Italo-Austrian War, which led to a large loss of population in the Venice region.

This is a good thing for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Many of the Austro-Hungarian immigrants absorbed by East Africa are Slavs and Italians, which greatly alleviates the national contradictions in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Of course, East Africa’s actions have also triggered some negative effects, that is, Germany and Austria-Hungary are no longer as aggressive as they were in their previous lives. After all, the alleviation of social contradictions, to a certain extent, avoids the ruling crisis, and there is no need to transfer it through extreme means of war.

The most important thing is reflected in the last Russo-Turkish War. Austria-Hungary did not stage the ugly face of taking advantage of the fire as it did in its previous life. Now Russo-Austrian relations are far less acute than they were in their previous life, and Bismarck can continue to maintain the relationship of the European Three Emperors League.

Chapter 727: Fleet

This is also a small contribution that East Africa has made to world peace, but the negative consequences of easing social conflicts in Europe have not disappeared, but have been transferred to Africa.

Especially in the South African region, the large-scale introduction of population by East Africa has resulted in a sharp rise in East African national power and fierce competition with other forces in South Africa.

Relying on its population advantage, East Africa has been invincible, which is also the fundamental reason for the outbreak of this war. East Africa is too powerful, so other forces must unite to eliminate this East African “heresy.”

If East Africa is not stopped, then in the future, other countries on the entire African continent will have to live under East Africa’s thumb. The worst result would be the emergence of an African version of the United States.

…

Dire Dawa, a city in the northern part of East Africa.

British Somaliland is one of the neighbors of Dire Dawa in East Africa, but the two sides rarely interact.

It is not because of the hostile relationship between the two countries, but because a large desert area lies between them. Only Arab caravans occasionally travel through this “dangerous” area with camels, maintaining a centuries-old commercial trade route.

However, Dire Dawa is only a transit point for them to reach the former Abyssinian Empire. Now that Dire Dawa is under East African control, the impact on them is not significant.

Since the opening of Dire Dawa, this commercial route, which had been interrupted for several years, has regained its former glory.

It has transformed from a stopover point for past trade into a rather prosperous commercial market, where Somaliland, East Africa, the Italian Red Sea colony, and French Somaliland (Djibouti) form a converging market.

Although British Somaliland is now a British colony, the local residents are not British, but native Arabs, so commercial trade has never been interrupted. The poor relationship between Britain and East Africa does not change the local people’s way of life.

Of course, a few years ago, Dire Dawa was still a military fortress, and Arabs could only change their route to a harsher climate in northern Dire Dawa to maintain the operation of the commercial route. In those years, the Arabs of Somaliland had great resentment towards East Africa, and their hatred was only slightly lower than that of the British who colonized Somaliland, and the French next door.

Whether it is British Somaliland, or the Majeerteen Sultanate in the northeast (located in the northern part of East Africa’s Somali region, the last traditional independent Somali kingdom east of British Somaliland), or French Somaliland, or the Somali region of East Africa, were originally inhabited by Somalis.

And for them, Britain, France, and East Africa are all invaders, but the Somalis within East Africa have long “disappeared,” while the main residents of the British and French colonies are still Somalis.

Fortunately, Pan-Somali nationalism has not risen, otherwise there would be many overseas Somali forces using the banner of “national revivalism” to become enemies with East Africa.

Now, only the Majeerteen Sultanate is hiding on the tip of the Horn of Africa, shivering. Sooner or later, it will be colonized or annexed by other countries, it’s only a matter of time. Historically, Italy ended the life of this country, but now Italy’s strength is far less than in its previous life, and it is mainly based on the Red Sea colony (Eritrea and parts of Ethiopia), so it is probably unable to annex this truly African Horn nation.

And Britain and East Africa are not very interested in the Majeerteen Sultanate, or rather, it is because the two sides are mutually restrained, which leads to the inability to concentrate on dealing with the Majeerteen Sultanate. The Majeerteen Sultanate can be considered to have benefited from misfortune, but as long as the balance between East Africa and Britain in Africa is broken, the victor will remove this “eyesore” country from the map.

Of course, these contradictions and conflicts do not affect the local Arabs’ trade activities. Somalis are also a type of Arab, because Arab is a religious and cultural force. As long as there is a strong core, they can live together in one country.

This is much more effective than “white supremacy.” There are various races and ethnicities within the Arab cultural circle, and the inclusiveness is actually much stronger than in Europe.

Of course, this will not offset East Africa’s hostility towards the “black” Arabs in the Somali region. Currently, most of the pure black natives have been eliminated by East Africa.

East Africa can barely accept countries with a high degree of mixed blood, such as the Abyssinian Empire and the Majeerteen Sultanate.

Today, an Arab caravan brought a message to the East African garrison in Dire Dawa: a team of British warships has entered British Somaliland for repairs.

Morse, the highest military officer of East Africa in Dire Dawa, believes that this rumor should be taken seriously.

“The British Royal Navy docked in British Somaliland is likely to be part of the Mediterranean Fleet, or it may be from India, but for us, it is definitely not good news, after all, they have never been to Somaliland before.”

“British Somaliland is an important military base for Britain to maintain its Red Sea region, guarding the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. From a geographical point of view, I am more inclined to believe that they are from the Mediterranean Fleet. If it is the British Royal Navy in the Indian region, they should go to the Seychelles, rather than detour to British Somaliland. Of course, this is under the assumption that Britain is preparing to go to war with us,” Morse’s adjutant said.

“Anyway, they are unlikely to be coming for our Dire Dawa. Dire Dawa is of no use to Britain, unless they want to penetrate deep into the East African hinterland through land, but with Egypt as an option, this is completely impossible. Even if Egypt is not involved, these lobsterbacks will only launch an attack from the northeastern coast of East Africa.”

“It’s the navy that’s coming, so it’s likely to be unrelated to us, but this news should be notified to the General Staff in a timely manner. After all, in the current situation, any disturbance may involve national defense security issues.”

Ordinary people in East Africa do not yet know, but the East African army already knows that war may break out between East Africa and Britain.

The armies on the eastern, southern, western, and northern borders of East Africa have all received the news, and the Dire Dawa garrison, which is a neighbor of British Somaliland, is naturally no exception.

So Colonel Morse said: “No matter what the British fleet’s purpose is, we should not take it lightly. Let our people be vigilant, especially the patrols. We must carefully search along the northwestern edge of the desert, and report any emergencies in a timely manner. From now on, all garrisons in Dire Dawa must enter a state of combat readiness, and firearms and artillery must be inspected and maintained to ensure a constant combat posture.”

“At the same time, send a telegram to the Northern Military Region to inform them of the large-scale appearance of the British Navy in British Somaliland.”

The Northern Military Region basically encompasses most of the Somali region of the previous life, parts of Kenya and Ethiopia, that is, the five provinces of East Africa: Jubaland Province, Northern Province, Turkana Province, South Prussia Province, and Eastern Province.

In fact, according to the current location and area on the East African map, it is more appropriate to call it the Northeastern Military Region. Corresponding to it is the Nile Military Region in the northwest of East Africa, which is also five provinces.

However, the strength of the Northern Military Region is stronger, including the two newly formed “Dragoon” divisions of East Africa, which belong to the military establishment of the Northern Military Region.

At the same time, Mogadishu is also the northern home port of the East African Navy. Although the coastline of the Somali region is long, there are only a few usable ports, so Mogadishu, with the best conditions, has become the only choice.

Chapter 728: The Battle of Mogadishu

The intelligence in Dire Dawa was clearly lagging. Although there were telegrams connecting it to the rear, the intelligence source was Arab from British Somaliland. They had arrived in Dire Dawa several days ago, which was more than enough time for the British Royal Navy to make its next move.

The sea area of Mogadishu Port.

The East African Navy had already entered a state of combat readiness, with naval vessels patrolling as a routine. The naval strength of Mogadishu was not strong.

There were only three gunboats as the main combat ships, but the entire Somali coastline was nearly two thousand kilometers long.

“Galadi sent back a message that seventeen minutes ago, a British fleet passed through the sea near Galadi. They are heading towards our Mogadishu Port. According to the report from Galadi Town, there are a total of thirteen warships, including four first-class ironclads and five second-class ironclads. They are bypassing the Galadi sea area aggressively.”

Alex: “Send a telegram directly to Bagamoyo. We need support. If an emergency occurs, the Mogadishu Navy is unable to undertake an interception mission of this level.”

At this time, the patience of the East African Navy was extremely tested. Although naval headquarters had warned in advance to be vigilant against the British Navy, Britain had not yet declared war on East Africa.

This was like the United States holding military exercises in the South China Sea area of the Far East Empire in his previous life. You can’t be sure whether its purpose is really a “military exercise,” so you must not be impulsive at this time, but you can’t relax your vigilance!

“Don’t get too close to the British warships. First, try to drive them away.” Mogadishu Navy Colonel Alex ordered.

…

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Alex led his “small” fleet, waiting for the rabbit, and successfully intercepted the British Royal Navy fleet in the north, but the situation did not look good.

“Leysol, are these the ships piloted by East African monkeys, the main combat ships of the East African Navy?”

Philear liked to call East Africans East African monkeys, because in his opinion, the “apes” in this uncivilized region of Africa were a group of monkeys who could not integrate into civilized society, even though East Africans were largely part of the Germans.

“Don’t underestimate the East Africans. Although their shipbuilding technology is backward, the combat effectiveness between ironclads largely tests the commander’s military capabilities. The East African Navy is mentored by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire has its merits in shipbuilding technology.” Leysol said.

“And we haven’t encountered the main force of the East African Navy yet. According to intelligence, the main naval force of East Africa is in the former Zanzibar Sultanate sea area. There are currently more than a dozen ironclads, although the quality varies, but they can also pose a certain threat to us.”

Compared with the British Royal Navy, the strength of the East African Navy is very different. Many of East Africa’s first-class ironclads are actually second-class ironclads in Britain.

First of all, in terms of tonnage, the main ships of the British fleet to East Africa this time all have a tonnage of more than six thousand tons, of which four are more than eight thousand tons.

The largest tonnage ironclad in East Africa is only more than seven thousand tons, and there are only three of them. The lowest tonnage is not much higher than the East African gunboat, only more than one thousand tons.

The displacement of East African gunboats is less than one thousand tons. In the British navy, this type of equipment is the Rendel gunboat, which rose rapidly in the 1870s, but declined rapidly in the 1890s and withdrew from the naval stage.

The history of this type of gunboat, which plays a substitute role, is very short, with only less than twenty years of glory, but it is currently East Africa’s most technologically mature domestically produced warship.

But it is simply nonsense to want to confront the main ship of the British Royal Navy in front of them with a displacement of at least more than eight thousand tons.

In the original history, that is, the naval battle between the Far East Empire and Japan in 1879, the “mosquito boat,” that is, the Rendel gunboat, was not a match for the ironclad at all.

Britain also equipped a large number of these cheap “gunboats,” but they were mainly used in colonial areas.

As for the main combat ships of the British Royal Navy, that is, various types of ironclads, they are mainly deployed in the British mainland waters of the North Atlantic, or the Mediterranean waters, which are also the two most important areas of British maritime hegemony.

East Africa has a similar idea. Ironclads are the main maritime force to ensure national security, so East African naval ironclads are basically distributed in the eastern sea area, with Bagamoyo Port, Pemba Island, and Zanzibar as the main core.

At the same time, Mombasa City, Tanga City, and Pemba City (one of East Africa’s pure military ports) constitute the outer maritime defense, while Mogadishu Port is not even considered the outer area. Its strength is not as good as the South Ryukyu Islands colony of East Africa.

This is also the main reason why Alex did not hold out hope for expelling the British Navy. The three gunboats under his command were not enough for this British expeditionary fleet to fill their teeth.

“Give these East African monkeys a little shock, and eliminate them directly!”

Royal Navy Expeditionary Force Commander Grafton ordered.

Because it had been detected by the East African Navy, there was no need to conceal this expedition, so it was logical to destroy this inconspicuous small gunboat fleet along the way.

With Grafton’s order, the British Navy’s “Grey Fox” directly turned its main turret and aimed at the East African gunboat.

Accompanied by a huge “roar,” it directly stirred up huge waves beside the East African gunboat.

Alex’s command ship suddenly felt a jolt, his ears seemed to lose hearing instantly, and the crew members also staggered.

“Damn it, this is real war, fire back quickly!”

But the British would not give Alex a chance. After the first shot, the muzzle was quickly calibrated, and this time the shell landed closer to Alex’s command ship.

The East African gunboat seemed to be in a precarious situation in an instant. At this time, the British “Giant” also joined the battlefield.

With the continuous sound of artillery fire, Alex’s heart sank. The strength of the two sides was not at the same level at all. At this time, they were not the British’s opponents at all.

He shouted: “Send an order to the other two warships, we retreat to our home port. It is important to escape at this time, don’t make unnecessary sacrifices.”

Relying on the Mogadishu battery, perhaps they could still deal with the British for a while. If they confronted them at sea like this, it would only be a dead end.

Britain only dispatched two ironclads, and the East African Mogadishu Navy had already been beaten to “flee in panic.” In the precarious situation, Alex was unable to exert his command ability.

The Mogadishu Navy used sea maneuvers to avoid the British Royal Navy’s artillery fire, while trying to use its main guns to fight back and delay the speed of the British warships.

But in the face of the huge gap, these were all in vain. At three twelve in the afternoon, after the fifth pre-aiming, the “Grey Fox” successfully hit the East African “Andres” gunboat with one shot.

A large hole was instantly blown open in the hull of the “Andres,” and seawater poured into the cabin instantly. The “Andres” began to list.

Alex was a little luckier, and his flagship and another successfully escaped the range and quickly approached the Mogadishu home port.

But escape could not escape the destined fate. The Royal Navy quickly followed up and began to bombard Mogadishu Port.

Mogadishu Port suffered heavy losses, and a large number of ships that had not left the port were severely damaged. The silver lining was that this was the old port of Mogadishu, mainly for military purposes.

After being hit by artillery fire, the Mogadishu city coastal defense artillery system began to react and start, making it impossible for the British to approach the port area again for shelling, reducing losses.

After confirming that the East African warships in the port area could no longer move, the British left directly and headed towards southern East Africa.

Chapter 729: Declaring War Officially

The old port of Mogadishu was a scene of devastation after the shelling. The port area was a complete mess, and even the merchant ships operating there suffered significant damage.

Alex, who had fled back to the port area, was fortunate to escape with his life, but his command ship and another gunboat were severely damaged to varying degrees, probably requiring a return to the factory for extensive repairs.

Meanwhile, of the “Andres” which was sunk in the outer sea, only twenty-odd survivors escaped back to Mogadishu in lifeboats, while the remaining hundred-plus people were missing.

…

Just four minutes after the naval battle in Somalia occurred, the East African Navy and the central government received the news. Although the outcome of this naval battle in Somalia was within expectations, it still caused a huge uproar in East Africa.

Especially the naval department, where Archduke Ferdinand was furious. Archduke Ferdinand was no longer in the mood to investigate the losses of the Mogadishu navy. This British fleet was clearly heading for East Africa, and it was highly likely that they would sneak into the eastern coast of East Africa under the cover of darkness.

This meant that the first battle of this war was started by the navy, and the East African Navy was about to face a tough battle.

…

First Town City.

“The British have already started the war without a declaration. The losses in Mogadishu are still being counted, but the Mogadishu navy has been declared scrapped. Next, we will face a more severe situation. The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff Department will immediately begin to deploy for a full-scale war. East Africa enters a state of war. The embassy will directly submit a declaration of war. We must win this war.”

As the military order was issued, the East African army began to officially take over railways and highway transportation hubs, and the East African armory began to enter a wartime state to expand production capacity.

Before East Africa could make any major moves, at the Allied Command in Maputo, Earl Roberts also officially issued the operation order.

Great Britain, Portugal, and the Boer Republic simultaneously declared war on East Africa, and the military forces of each country began to gather on the land of South Africa.

At the same time, the eyes of the world were drawn to this “sudden” war in South Africa.

South Africa originally did not have much popularity internationally, but once the British entered the fray, the eyes of the world were focused on the African land.

Great Britain is the world’s leading power, and its every move will be watched. Moreover, Portugal is clearly going to join Britain’s war against East Africa, so the South African war is destined to attract worldwide attention. As for the Boers, because their strength is “too weak,” they are not worth the attention of various countries.

Berlin, Paris, Washington, Beijing… various extraterritorial countries are thinking about the causes and scale of this war.

The embassies of First Town City, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar are transmitting war news to their countries in real time via telegram.

…

Austro-Hungarian Empire.

“What’s wrong with the British? Why are they launching such a war in South Africa?” This is the question Franz was pondering at this time.

As an ally of East Africa, Austria is now very embarrassed. East Africa has gone to war with Britain without a word. Should it join or not?

And why didn’t the East Africans disclose relevant information to the Austrian government in advance? Are they directly dragging the Austro-Hungarian Empire into the water!

The Austro-Hungarian government takes a neutral attitude towards the war between East Africa and Britain. Although East Africa is weak, it has the advantage of fighting on its own soil, and East Africa’s strength is not bad, so it should not be instantly defeated by Britain.

That’s right, including countries led by Franz, no one believes that East Africa has an advantage in the war. Even if it can repel the British and Portuguese coalition forces, it will have to pay a heavy price, so the Austro-Hungarian Empire does not want to intervene in the war between the two countries now.

But after all, they are allies, so they still have to care. Franz said: “Ask the East African government what’s going on? How did they directly go to war with Britain? Such a big thing didn’t reveal any information before!”

There are many people who are as confused as Franz, but most countries, although surprised by this sudden war and even unaware of the location of East Africa, believe that anything that can make Britain and Portugal join forces must be a tough nut to crack.

However, everyone still treats this war with a “watching the show” attitude, because Africa’s position in the world map is “not important.” Except for North Africa and West Africa, which were previously divided by various countries, everyone is very unfamiliar with East Africa and South Africa, and if someone can cause trouble for Britain, that’s really… great!

…

Berlin.

The newly enthroned Frederick III did not expect that the East Africans would give him a big gift as soon as he ascended the throne.

Compared to Wilhelm I, Frederick III is not familiar with East Africa, so he called Bismarck to help him advise on the cause of this war, and what could cause Britain and Portugal to join forces.

Bismarck: “The East Africans are too extreme. This war was probably planned for a long time. Britain and East Africa each have their own plans. They were prepared from the beginning to determine hegemony in the South African region.”

Although East Africa’s name has been fixed due to early national regional issues, East Africa is actually South Africa as a whole for the African continent. It is in the southern part of the African continent, including the several forces in this war, so the war is also called the South African War.

Moreover, compared to other countries’ ignorance of the South African War, Germany immediately guessed the intentions of East Africa and Britain.

This is mainly due to the efficiency of the German intelligence system. As early as three years ago, Germany noticed the British troop adjustment to South Africa.

However, at that time, Germany did not think that Britain was preparing for this war, but mistakenly thought it was for colonial needs. After all, Germany is not very active in colonization now, and the intelligence system pays more attention to Europe.

Therefore, the troop deployment in South Africa was not analyzed in depth. If Germany had carefully investigated at that time, it would have discovered that Britain’s military power in South Africa could completely support a large-scale war, which was obviously beyond the tolerance of the natives.

As for East Africa, a country also ruled by the Hohenzollern family, Germany is more optimistic. Anyway, regardless of winning or losing, East Africa will continue to have closer relations with Germany in the future.

Bismarck: “East Africa’s strength is actually not weak. Their army is completely trained according to our army’s methods, and they have their own industrial system. This is probably also an important reason why the Hechengen royal family dares to face the challenge of Britain and Portugal alone.”

Frederick III served in the army for many years before succeeding to the throne, and he does not know much about East Africa, so he asked: “Can East Africa ensure its production capacity in the war? Moreover, this country was established for such a short time, and its industrial construction is probably not very good. It is difficult to have a good result by rashly starting a war with a world power like Britain.”

“That’s not what we should be concerned about. We only need to pay attention to the direction of the war. If East Africa withstands the pressure, it is worth our efforts to win them over. Germany and Austria-Hungary’s position is very awkward. If there is a strong ally outside the region, it will be a good thing for us to deal with the European situation. Moreover, East Africa’s economic strength is not weak. We import many raw materials from East Africa, so it is necessary for us to help East Africa at a critical period of the war, and we can test the strength of the British without us having to do it ourselves,” Bismarck said.

Bismarck’s attitude can be summarized as “wait and see,” but Germany must play a role. East Africa is an important German country, but the cooperation between the two countries is not close enough. If Britain can teach East Africa a lesson and let East Africa know the importance of “allies,” it will save Germany a lot of trouble. Of course, if Britain wants to directly destroy East Africa, Germany cannot stand idly by. At the “necessary” time, Bismarck plans to mediate the war.

Chapter 730: Battle of Lamu Bay

March 23rd, three in the morning.

The East African fleet sailed north along the coastline to prevent the British from attacking Mombasa. The two sides met in the waters of Lamu Bay.

To confront this main force of the British Royal Navy, nearly half of the East African Navy’s main battleships sailed north, radiating outwards from the cities of Lamu and Mombasa.

Eight o’clock in the morning.

The lookout on the bridge reported, “Suspicious targets sighted ahead!”

In the northeast direction, plumes of black smoke could be seen.

“All ships stand ready! Prepare for battle! Open fire as soon as the enemy ships enter range!” Vice Admiral Kerry of the East African Navy ordered.

The British Expeditionary Fleet finally spotted the formation of East African ironclad ships. A total of seven East African ironclads had sailed north this time. The number was only half that of the British fleet, and the heaviest East African ironclad, the Friedrich, was only over seven thousand tons, far less than the British ironclads. However, East Africa had supplemented a certain number of gunboats as a supporting force. Although the Battle of Mogadishu had proven that gunboats had no chance against ironclads, they were still feasible as auxiliary warships.

“The British warships are more advanced, with larger caliber guns, stronger firepower, and more experience. But behind us are the cities of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, and beyond Dar es Salaam is our East African capital. Therefore, we must not retreat in this war, even if all our ships sink. We cannot abandon the East African soldiers’ belief in defending their homes and country!” Captain Will of the Pelican began to give a pep talk.

“Of course, we cannot underestimate ourselves. The enemy is coming from the Mediterranean. We can completely wait for them to tire. However, the British army on the opposite side is battle-hardened, while we have no actual combat experience in this world. So we must prove the courage of the East African naval soldiers to the world!”

Although the East African Navy had a long coastline, the lack of good ports and the scarcity of islands restricted the deployment of East African naval forces.

For example, the British had military bases in Djibouti and the Arabian Peninsula, and also had the Seychelles Islands in the center of the Indian Ocean to deploy naval forces.

East Africa only had a few large islands, of which the most important Pemba Island and Zanzibar Island were too close to the East African coastline, which was not conducive to maritime defense. The Comoros Islands would be more favored, but the Comoros Islands were located in a remote area and were not in the focus of the current war.

When East Africa spotted the British fleet, the British were also excited to encounter the main East African fleet. Currently, the strength of the two sides was quite different, with the British having a double advantage.

However, after a night of sailing, the British fleet was now somewhat fatigued, which was not conducive to combat, but it could be overcome for the British Navy, which had been active at sea for many years.

Kerry: “The accuracy and power of our artillery are far inferior to the British. The quality and weight of the hulls and the hardness of the armor are relatively poor. Therefore, we must not confront the British head-on. We must outsmart them, and we must have a suitable distance, close to combat. Otherwise, with the range of the British artillery, the war will be increasingly unfavorable to us.”

“So after the battle begins, the fleet will be divided into two branches, with the Friedrich and Trieste as command ships, respectively, as the First Fleet and the Second Fleet, launching attacks on the British from two directions.”

“We will take the Friedrich as the lead, attracting the British warships head-on. In order to avoid the enemy dividing their forces, after the war starts, each ship of the First Fleet will operate independently. They can act according to circumstances and expand the range of the First Fleet.”

“The Second Fleet, led by Major General Antonio with the Trieste as the command ship, will bypass in an arc, seize the opportunity to attack the flanks or rear of the British army. The Second Fleet must ensure that its forces are concentrated to avoid being defeated individually!”

It must be said that Kerry made a major risky decision, which was to divide the command of the fleet into two, and the specific effect was unknown.

Of course, the fundamental reason that prompted Kerry to make this decision was the huge gap between the East African Navy and the British Royal Navy. The East African Navy, as the weaker side, had to take risks.

When the East African naval fleet split into two groups and showed an extremely chaotic change of formation, it did confuse the British for a while. They could not see the East African military intentions.

However, for the British Royal Navy, which had an absolute advantage, they would naturally meet soldiers with soldiers and water with earth. However, this time, East Africa took the initiative to attack, which was somewhat beyond the expectations of the British Royal Navy.

“Pay attention to the right wing of the East African Navy. They have broken away from the main force of the East African Navy. There must be a purpose. The Grey Fox and the Porpoise… keep an eye on them. When the East African ships enter range, open fire directly.” Grafton, the commander-in-chief of the British Royal Navy Expeditionary Force, ordered.

The East African Navy’s command has now been divided into two. Vice Admiral Kerry commanded the remaining ships and said, “Each ship must ensure that it opens fire after entering the limited range. Do not waste shells, but ensure that there is a target when firing, instead of blindly shooting. Each ship should pay attention to the distance, leaving a channel to avoid the first round of British artillery aiming.”

In fact, the difference in artillery range between the two sides was not significant. The power of the British was definitely stronger, and the British ships were also better in terms of hull and faster in speed, while the advantage of East Africa was that it was more flexible in turning.

Major General Kerry hoped to use guerrilla tactics to divert the British attention, so that they could not form a joint force, and then create conditions for the Second Fleet.

“Boom…” With a loud noise, the East African First Fleet took the lead in firing. At the same time, the line formation composed of the Friedrich, Pelican, Nightingale, White Eagle, and four gunboats formed an inward attack trend from the outside in terms of firepower.

Although the equipment was backward, the East African Navy maintained a normal state in training and military maintenance. Therefore, in the face of a sudden war, although the soldiers who experienced it for the first time were a little nervous, they quickly calmed down under the leadership of the veterans and began to operate the ships according to daily training.

As the world’s leading naval power, British sailors relied on their rich experience to operate smoothly. The hit rate of both sides was relatively high.

However, the overall manufacturing level of East African warships was not as good as that of the British after all, so the East African Navy suffered greater losses. If no accident happened at this time, then as time went by, this East African fleet was destined to fail.

Vice Admiral Kerry’s command ship had already been hit once. A large hole was blown out on the left side of the Friedrich by a shell, but the quality of the Friedrich was up to standard, and it had little impact on the hull and could continue to fight.

The Friedrich had been in service in East Africa for more than ten years. It was still a warship produced by the Austrian Royal Shipyard in Trieste. This era was indeed a case of old swords not losing their edge. Of course, East Africa’s annual maintenance costs were also relatively high, but this was the price of developing a navy.

As a warship that could directly compete with British ironclads, the Friedrich’s counterattack was also relatively sharp, severely damaging the British Slade and also hitting the stern of the Giant. Unfortunately, the shell only grazed the side and did not pose a great threat to the Giant. On the contrary, the East African Antonio gunboat was already engulfed in flames on the deck under the fire of the British Navy.

In addition to the four ironclads, the other gunboats were also in poor condition. Without the thick impact resistance of the ironclads, any accidental damage could cause them to lose their combat effectiveness instantly.

Chapter 731: Heavy Losses

If they couldn’t break the deadlock at this moment, then as these covering forces were gradually exhausted, the ironclad ships of East Africa would face a situation where they couldn’t stand alone.

At this time, the Second Fleet, on which Commodore Kerry placed high hopes, was also facing its own difficulties. The British ships had a numerical advantage, which forced the Second Fleet to terminate its encirclement tactics halfway through.

“Commodore Anton, the enemy ships are blocking our path. What do we do now?”

Commodore Anton did not speak, but carefully observed the battlefield. At this time, Commodore Kerry’s First Fleet was gradually falling into a disadvantageous position, so the Second Fleet had to shoulder greater responsibility.

Seeing the disparity in strength between the two sides, Commodore Anton carefully analyzed the problems facing his side. Continuing to execute the encirclement plan was impossible. Returning to support Commodore Kerry’s First Fleet would not only be ineffective but would also delay the battle.

“All ships, power to maximum, attack to the right, break through the enemy’s blockade! Each ship acts independently, with only one goal: to attack the central area of the enemy’s main fleet. I don’t care what means you use, I only want results!” Anton ordered.

Following Commodore Kerry’s decentralization of authority, Commodore Anton decentralized authority again. This time, the East African Second Fleet was truly fighting on its own.

However, Commodore Anton’s strategic goal was very clear: to disrupt the British’s conventional offensive posture at all costs and relieve the First Fleet. If the First Fleet was annihilated, the Second Fleet would also be doomed.

The Hamburg, with a total displacement of about 6,700 tons, was the Second Fleet’s ironclad ship second only to the Trieste. After receiving the new order, Captain Sperber hesitated and immediately ordered: “Increase the ship’s speed to maximum, proceed at full speed in a southwest direction of thirty-odd degrees, aim the cannons at the British ships ahead, and carve out a path of blood!”

Almost at the same time, the Second Fleet began a state that the intercepting British army could not imagine: the East Africans had gone mad!

On the Grey Fox, a British gunner asked: “Which direction should we fire now?”

After the command of the East African Second Fleet was decentralized, the Second Fleet’s ironclad ships, including gunboats, each showed their special abilities in a chaotic manner. This made the three British ironclad ships responsible for interception instantly unsure of which target to strike first.

“Attack the armored ships first, then deal with the gunboats. Pick the big ones!” said the commander of the Grey Fox.

But at this time, three East African ships took the lead in firing, all aiming at the Grey Fox. They thought the same as the British at the first moment: pick the big ones to hit.

After the command was decentralized, many ships independently chose opponents or strategies to achieve their goals. Among them, the Pace was the main force, and its target was the Grey Fox, while the other two were gunboats.

Although gunboats are easily sunk and have low defense, their firepower is not weak and are known as mobile turrets. At this time, three ships of different sizes simultaneously focused their fire on the Grey Fox, making it difficult for the Grey Fox to resist despite its strength.

A shell from the Grey Fox directly hit the Pace, but the East African gunboat Hermann and the Pace simultaneously hit the Grey Fox. Immediately afterwards, the gunboat Margaret took the opportunity to get within two hundred meters of the left side of the Grey Fox and successfully penetrated the side armor of the Grey Fox.

Its three hundred and five millimeter main gun successfully pierced the hull of the Grey Fox. This shelling directly caused the Grey Fox to stall, and the internal power system suffered a huge impact. Subsequently, the three ships continued to exert their firepower, and the Grey Fox announced its withdrawal from the battle.

While the East African Second Fleet made contributions, the other British ships also inflicted heavy damage on the East African Second Fleet. The East African Second Fleet had lost two gunboats so far, both of which were sunk.

However, relative to this loss, East Africa finally opened a gap on the left wing of the British Navy. The Trieste and Hamburg held back the two intercepting British ironclad ships, and the other four ships of the East African Second Fleet took this opportunity to enter the hollow area on the left side of the British fleet.

The ironclad ships held back by the Hamburg and Trieste could not return to support, and at this time, the main force of the British fleet wanted to beat the dogs in the water of the East African First Fleet.

The influx of four East African ships cut off the British main battle order, and at this time, the East African Second Fleet could completely eat the flank of the British Navy, but because of Commodore Anton’s previous order, they had to bombard the central position of the British Navy’s main force at all costs. At the same time, in order to prevent being hit, these four gunboats came towards the British army at extreme speed, with no rules in their routes.

The turmoil in the rear of the British army instantly attracted the attention of Commodore Kerry, who knew that the Second Fleet must have played a role.

He immediately ordered: “Stop attacking the British head-on. Divide the remaining ships into three directions and find attack targets on your own to completely disrupt the British rhythm.”

So the command of the First Fleet was also delegated to each ship. At this time, the East African Navy was completely out of order, and the disintegration of the First Fleet also caught the British fleet off guard. Coupled with the four East African “flies” in the rear causing trouble, the British front line began to show chaos.

Rear Admiral Grafton, commander of the British Royal Navy Expeditionary Force, had noticed something was wrong, but it was too late to make adjustments at this time.

He could only order the British ships to reorganize around the Giant, but the effect was not good after the order was issued.

East African ships played the trick of “Qin Wang circling the pillar” on the sea with the British, and fought independently, attacking the British ships at will.

At this time, the British and East Africa had completely become a mess as a whole. In this close contact, if they fired, they might hit friendly forces instead of the enemy.

Of course, British ships are large and strong and can choose to collide with East African ships, but the East African Navy still chooses artillery as a means of attack even at such a close distance. Now the East African Navy can’t distinguish between friend and foe, and is just grabbing large ships to bombard.

And the British ships are large and numerous and are mixed with East Africa, so they are naturally easily hit, and it is not easy for the British to fight back against these “running” East African warships.

Moreover, the British had been at sea for several days at this time and had only rested in Somaliland before, so they were exhausted.

In this state, the combat effectiveness of the British Expeditionary Force soldiers declined sharply, especially their mental activity was obviously unable to keep up. After East Africa successfully disrupted the battle, everyone was finally pulled to the same level.

Time flew by to about ten o’clock in the morning, and at this time, the war finally came to an end due to the arrival of East African reinforcements.

Archduke Ferdinand personally led the remaining main force of the East African Navy and rushed from the home port of Bagamoyo. At this time, both the British and East African navies were exhausted and unable to fight anymore.

After seeing the East African reinforcements, Rear Admiral Grafton did not hesitate to issue a withdrawal order, but was still bitten by the reinforcements, leaving behind the British cruiser Hyderabad.

So far, the Battle of Lamu was completely over, but both sides suffered heavy losses. Almost a quarter of the East African Navy was destroyed in this battle. Two ironclad ships were sunk, six gunboats were lost, and the remaining ironclad ships were basically damaged. Although the Friedrich did not sink, it was probably about to be retired.

The British Expeditionary Force also had three ships sunk, four seriously injured, and two captured. This meant that half of the Expeditionary Force’s combat ships were wiped out by East Africa, especially the two captured warships, which made Rear Admiral Grafton very unwilling.

Chapter 732: A Lose-Lose Situation

After the Battle of Lamu Bay, Archduke Ferdinand’s heart was half-frozen. More than a decade of effort had been destroyed in just a few hours. The unpredictability of naval warfare was indeed the greatest.

But now was not the time for him to be sentimental. He still had to clean up the mess, including the ironclad ships half-dead on the sea, and a large number of personnel to be rescued.

Although East Africa suffered heavy losses in this naval battle, the overall results were still acceptable. It was not a complete annihilation, and the British expeditionary fleet was also severely damaged.

East Africa should be grateful for the Indian Ocean. The scarcity of islands here, to a certain extent, prevented the British from having the ability to rest and continue their attack. The closest British naval base to East Africa’s core waters was in the Seychelles. The British expeditionary fleet should be fleeing in that direction, but the Seychelles did not have the ability to provide maintenance for the British expeditionary fleet, so the Seychelles could only serve as a transit station.

“Your Highness, we have rescued a total of more than five hundred of our own sailors, in addition to capturing more than seven hundred British soldiers, and two British ironclad ships.”

Finally, there was some good news, which made Archduke Ferdinand feel a little more comfortable. Two British ironclad ships could be considered a supplement to the East African navy. Although they had suffered varying degrees of shelling, which caused them to be stranded on the sea, as long as they had not sunk, they could be towed back to East Africa for repairs.

Even if they could not be repaired, it did not matter. As the world’s leading naval power, Britain was second to none in shipbuilding technology. These two British warships could fill many gaps in East Africa’s military shipbuilding industry.

Of course, these were all future matters. Two of East Africa’s own ironclad ships had sunk, and the condition of the remaining ships was not very good. It was unlikely that they would be able to participate in the battlefield in the short term. So, all things considered, East Africa still suffered greater losses.

Because it was wartime, no one could guarantee whether the British Royal Navy would make a comeback. Now, the number of warships that East Africa could use had been sharply reduced, while Britain had not even suffered serious damage.

Specifically, in terms of Britain’s shipbuilding plan for this year, Britain had formulated a plan to invest more than twenty million pounds in the next five years to build ten battleships, forty-two cruisers, and eighteen torpedo boats.

The shipbuilding capacity of the British was self-evident, so it would only take a year for Britain to make up for the losses of the Battle of Lamu Bay.

Here, it is necessary to mention the differences caused by the national conditions of East Africa, Austria-Hungary, and the German navy. Although the East African navy could be compared to the emerging naval forces of the two countries.

But the responsibilities borne by the navy were completely different. Although the navies of Germany and Austria were very aggrieved, one was blocked in the Baltic Sea, and the other was blocked in the Adriatic Sea, but similarly, they only needed a small number of navies to block the waters near their own country.

The defense pressure was not great. East Africa’s coastline alone was nearly four thousand kilometers long in the east, and it faced the Indian Ocean directly. There was a lack of large islands or island chains nearby to serve as cover, which meant that the enemy could strike the East African coast from multiple directions.

Therefore, although East Africa possessed a top ten naval force in the world, it was not enough for East Africa itself. This was the same as the East African railway. The total mileage of the East African railway could also rank in the top ten in the world, but the East African railway obviously could not meet domestic needs.

Moreover, the location of the East African waters, mainly the Indian Ocean waters, although the location was not very good, it was also closer to the center of the world than a “remote” continent like the United States.

East Africa also occupied a certain share of the main trade routes of the Eurasian continent, which also meant that the East African navy faced greater challenges. The good news was that the naval strength of Asian countries was relatively weak at present, and could not pose a challenge to East Africa.

However, Britain had its largest base in the Indian subcontinent, India, and a place of exile, Australia.

Therefore, whether in the European direction or the Asian direction, the biggest threat to the East African navy was the British.

East Africa had not invested too much maritime military force in the South Atlantic, which the British mainland navy could directly threaten by going south. If the main force of the navy was placed there, it could be declared scrapped in less than half a year.

In the Indian Ocean waters, the East African navy still had the ability to resist, especially the three major naval bases in East Africa, forming a core triangular formation with Bagamoyo, Pemba Island, and Zanzibar Island, which could effectively protect the safety of the East African navy.

This was also an important reason why Archduke Ferdinand left half of the naval force before the outbreak of the Battle of Lamu Bay. Before the location of the British expeditionary fleet was determined, the East African navy could not be dispatched in full force. If it was attacked at home, the East African navy might fall into a situation of complete annihilation.

However, the overall combat effectiveness of the East African navy was good. After all, the East African navy was the weaker side, and the opponent was the world’s number one. Therefore, for the Battle of Lamu Bay, the strength of the fledgling East African navy was more in line with the East African navy’s paper strength.

“Take all the prisoners to Bagamoyo, give priority to rescuing our crew members, as for the British, wait until our people are treated before giving them treatment, but the treatment process should be stricter to avoid emotional problems.” Archduke Ferdinand said.

The main thing was that he was afraid that the East African ship doctors would take the opportunity to retaliate against the British sailors. After all, the war between the two countries was officially a break in relations, and after this battle, the East African navy was relatively young and easily acted impulsively.

“The soldiers and ships that participated in this battle are currently unable to work. Let them go to the rear to recuperate. The task of maritime patrol is assigned to other ships. After the Battle of Lamu Bay, the number of our naval ships has been sharply reduced. We must use the remaining naval ships reasonably. The main force still remains in Bagamoyo. If the British navy makes a comeback, do not start a war at the first time. Try to find the nearest port and use the coastal defense artillery system to deal with the enemy.”

……

In fact, Britain had no intention of making a comeback at all. Although the British Empire had a solid foundation, it could not be wasted like this.

The reason why the five-year shipbuilding plan was proposed in 1888 was essentially to cope with the rapidly rising trend of global naval power.

The East African navy had great defense pressure, but the British Royal Navy was even more so. After all, the oceans of the world were the areas of activity of the British Royal Navy.

The British Royal Navy expeditionary force in the Battle of Lamu Bay was drawn from the Mediterranean Fleet. The Mediterranean Fleet, as the second naval force only to the Home Fleet, was already somewhat dissatisfied with drawing military forces south.

After all, there were so many countries in the Mediterranean, France, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, Spain, which one was not more important than East Africa? And the naval forces of these countries were not weak.

And this did not include the Russian navy blocked in the Black Sea, and some small Mediterranean countries’ navies, such as Italy, Greece, the Kingdom of Naples, and so on.

If the Battle of Lamu Bay was won, it would be fine. Now, the two sides were tied. In terms of battle results, this was a “惨败” (literally “miserable defeat”, meaning a disastrous loss) for the Mediterranean Fleet.

This was also a very interesting point of the Battle of Lamu Bay. Both the East African and British navies believed that they had suffered greater losses.

And now, the military force drawn from the Mediterranean Fleet was enough to subvert the main naval force of a country in Europe. To use such a naval force to deal with an “uncivilized” African country was simply a waste of money, and how to make up for the loss of nearly half of the expeditionary fleet’s combat effectiveness?

If a sudden situation occurred in the Mediterranean region, how would the Mediterranean Fleet respond! Therefore, the Mediterranean Fleet was opposed to continuing to directly confront the East African navy. The Royal Navy should let the Royal Indian Navy in Mumbai or the Home Fleet do it.

Chapter 733: Besieged on All Sides

The navy’s current influence on the situation in South Africa cannot play a dominant role. This is mainly due to the lack of solid strongholds for the British in the nearby waters. Historically, Britain annexed Zanzibar to contain German East Africa, but now Zanzibar has long been lost to East Africa.

It is the lack of Zanzibar as a strategic fulcrum that has led to the absence of British naval power in the entire western Indian Ocean. The British naval forces in the South African region are basically concentrated in Cape Town, but due to the impact of the Suez Canal, the naval forces in Cape Town have not actually increased much in recent years.

On the contrary, Alexandria in Egypt, British Somaliland, that is, the strength of the Mediterranean Fleet, has been strengthened as a whole, which reflects the importance of the Red Sea route.

……

Compared to the navy’s performance, the army is the main force in this South African war. At the same time as the Battle of Lamu Bay began, the Allied forces launched attacks on the East African mainland from multiple regions.

East Africa was suddenly subjected to military pressure from the south, east, and west. The north is currently in a state of peace, but the main reason is that the Sudan region is not conducive to marching. Britain is temporarily unable to launch military operations against northern East Africa through Egypt, and British Somaliland has weakened military strength, mainly naval, and does not have the conditions for land warfare.

However, the military pressure from three directions still made the East African Defense Force feel a great threat. Angola, South Africa (Cape Town and the Boer Republic), and Mozambique, with hundreds of thousands of troops, simultaneously attacked the East African hinterland. For the first time, East Africa was in a state of troop shortage in Africa.

First Town City.

Earl Yarmann reported the current East African war situation to the government. This information was collected from various fronts and transmitted back to First Town City within a day through the East African telegraph system for the General Staff and the government to reference.

“Currently, the Portuguese army in Angola is mainly forming pressure on us in two directions. The troops in the Western Military Region can only delay their military operations and cannot organize large-scale counterattacks. The three western provinces are all buffer zones in the army’s plan. At the same time, we must implement a scorched earth policy in the west so that their large-scale offensive cannot obtain effective material supplies, but this also means giving up the construction of the western region for several years.”

“We must block the Portuguese in the west and not let them invade our central region. As for implementing a scorched earth policy in the west, it is feasible. Apart from agriculture, the west basically has no major valuable industries. Even agriculture only accounts for less than three percent of East Africa’s share, and the population is relatively small. It can be completely withdrawn to the rear without causing too much impact on our country.”

“In the south, the joint military forces of the two countries, mainly the Boer Republic and assisted by Britain, simultaneously launched offensives against the Vet River defense line and the Orange River line. However, we have invested military forces in this area for many years, especially the Vet River defense line, which can be regarded as impregnable after years of operation.”

“The main military pressure in the south lies on the Tugela River line. Britain has stockpiled a large number of troops in the Natal colony, so the Tugela River line is most likely to be captured. The situation in New Hamburg Port City behind the Tugela River is not very good either. To the north is Maputo, and the British and Mozambican coalition forces have already moved south.”

“So, it seems that Britain and Portugal intend to first defeat our military presence in the southern border provinces in order to achieve the goal of joining forces in one place. If they achieve this, then the British and Portuguese coalition forces can draw a large number of troops into our southern region.”

“Moreover, the very unfavorable thing now is that our troops in New Hamburg Port City are weak, so the General Staff believes that troops should be drawn from the Hechingen Province to take over the railway and highway passages of the Drakensberg Mountains, to avoid the British and Portuguese coalition forces launching an offensive to the west with the help of the railway after the fall of New Hamburg Port City. In this way, the Southern Military Region may be surrounded by the armies of the three countries in the Orange River Basin.”

For New Hamburg Port City, it can be said to be the most “disgusting” nail that East Africa has driven into South Africa. Due to the existence of New Hamburg Port City, hundreds of thousands of troops from Mozambique and the British Natal colony cannot form a confluence.

At the same time, this narrow territory is also the most important sea passage in the five southern provinces of East Africa, undertaking the fastest economic connection channel with eastern East Africa.

But precisely because of this, the General Staff is not optimistic about the situation in New Hamburg Port City. It is sandwiched by the Allied forces on both sides, without a wide territory as a buffer, and faces the threat of the naval forces of the two countries in the sea area.

Therefore, the military pressure on New Hamburg Port City is unprecedented. Britain and Portugal will definitely launch a crazy offensive against the local area. As long as New Hamburg Port City is in the hands of East Africa for one day, the Allied forces will not be able to safely carry out the next military operation against East Africa.

After all, the Allied headquarters in Maputo is only a few days away from New Hamburg Port City. If it is the navy, it will be more convenient. They also have to consider the possibility of East Africa launching a military counterattack against the Allied forces with New Hamburg Port City as the center.

Earl Yarmann continued: “On the eastern defense line, that is, the Matabeleland Province border, the Portuguese and British have concentrated at least tens of thousands of people to conduct tentative attacks on our eastern defense line at the same time, especially several important military strongholds, which have been subjected to a lot of pressure, but relying on the terrain advantage, these strongholds are currently firmly controlled by our side.”

“Then there is the Zambezi River defense line. The Anglo-Portuguese Allied forces here do not have a strong offensive intention, so we can be sure that the main offensive direction of the Allied forces now is our central and southern regions. The main pressure currently on the eastern region is at sea.”

“The Battle of Lamu Bay has just ended. With the main force of our navy still there, relying on the eastern naval base, there is no security problem for the time being. The British Expeditionary Fleet has not even touched Mombasa City.”

This is of course the main credit of the navy. If Britain really crossed Mombasa and hit the Tanga line of sea, then the East African Guards Division could consider organizing a war centered on defending the capital, First Town City, which would also indicate that the East African political center was under great threat.

If this is the case, then moving the capital will become a necessary consideration. As far as the current situation is concerned, there is no need for this. First, the navy has withstood the first wave of British attacks. Second, even if the navy is completely wiped out, there are still naval forces under the Guards Division that can continue to undertake the function of coastal defense. Finally, the coastal defense system that Ernst built in East Africa can also play a role.

In the coastal area of the Central Province, there are only three large ports suitable for the enemy to land on a large scale. These three ports are equipped with European-level large-caliber coastal defense artillery.

Even if this last layer of defense is broken, it is only the army taking over the battlefield, and at this time, the East African government will be able to evacuate to the rear along the railway.

“No British troop movements have been detected in the north for the time being, but we have found suspicious personnel along the Nile River. This information was discovered by the National Defense Security Bureau in Khartoum, Egypt, but no troops have been found entering Khartoum, so the Nile River Province is still in a safe situation, but the appearance of suspicious personnel also means that Britain is considering sending troops to East Africa from Egypt, so we need to be vigilant in this direction.”

“Finally, there is British Somaliland. British Somaliland is the area where Britain’s military strength is the weakest in the region bordering us, so it does not pose a threat to our country.”

“The current national defense security situation is as expected before the war. Our current situation can be described as besieged on all sides, especially the war potential of Britain, Portugal, and the Boers, which we have underestimated. This South African war is obviously a plan that has been going on for nearly ten years, just to give our military forces a fatal blow.”

Chapter 734: New Hamburg Port City in a State of War

April 3rd, 1888.

New Hamburg Port City.

Since the entire nation of East Africa entered a state of war, New Hamburg Port City had become a solid fortress wedged between Portugal and Britain.

All enterprises in the city prioritized supplying the army, and the municipal and provincial governments actively organized the urban area and surrounding regions to support the war on the front lines.

Under the cover of night, the rumble of artillery fire could be faintly heard from both the northern and southern fronts from New Hamburg Port City. In reality, the front line of the war between East Africa and Britain was less than seventy kilometers south of New Hamburg Port City. Under this tense and oppressive atmosphere.

“The streets must be sealed off. Currently, food is being transported to the urban area as much as possible. We must store enough drinking water and food to fight for the survival of New Hamburg Port City.” Hans, the administrator of Runwell Street, issued the municipal government’s orders to the citizens of his jurisdiction.

“Director Hans, what’s the situation on the front lines? Many people from our street have gone to support the front lines.”

Hans sighed and said, “The situation is not optimistic. As everyone knows, Britain is the world’s leading power. East Africa has never faced such an opponent before. Moreover, I heard from higher-ups that the British Natal Colony, which borders our New Hamburg Port City, is quite strong itself. Now, a large portion of the British army’s strength is concentrated in Natal. The number of troops alone is more than ten times that of our national defense force. Moreover, the Portuguese in the north have also gotten involved. Our New Hamburg Port City is in a pincer attack.”

“With such a big gap, can we defeat Britain and the Portuguese? These two countries are both among the top in the world!”

Hans: “The front lines are not on the verge of collapse yet, but under double-line operations, we must prepare for the failure of the front lines, even triple-line operations, and being completely surrounded. Now the enemy’s naval forces have not yet been dispatched, otherwise today we might see the enemy’s artillery fire into the urban area of New Hamburg Port City.”

Whether Hans’s pessimistic words had an effect or not, just after he finished speaking, the rumble of artillery fire came from the direction of the Indian Ocean to the east.

The New Hamburg Port City Navy and ground forces had already exchanged fire with the British Cape Town Navy.

This made the citizens of the Runwell neighborhood panic, and the scene instantly began to show signs of chaos and loss of control.

“The British are attacking?”

“What do we do? Should we run for our lives!”

Those who were leaving were already instinctively preparing to go home or run away. Many East African immigrants came from regions where wars frequently occurred (Germany and the Far East), so this fear of war was awakened from the marrow by the sound of artillery fire, as if they had returned to an era of chaos and war.

“Quiet, everyone be quiet!” Hans tried to calm these people down, but many people couldn’t hear what he was saying at all.

Just then, a gunshot rang out, instantly suppressing all the noise.

Runwell neighborhood police officer Anderson was seen holding a pistol and firing two more shots into the sky.

After seeing the citizens “calm” down, he stood on the street and said in an unquestionable voice, “Everyone be quiet. The situation is not that bad. That is our army at the estuary driving away British warships. The enemy wants to attack our Runwell neighborhood. It’s still early, at least before the north and south lines are breached, it is impossible for the enemy to directly attack the urban area from the sea.”

New Hamburg Port City has two urban areas, built relying on the port, including commercial and military ports are crowded in New Hamburg Bay.

The terrain of New Hamburg Bay (Richard’s Bay) is very peculiar, with a small mouth and a large belly, so the British can’t pass even the first East African battery relying solely on the navy. As long as they enter the channel, they can only become a living target.

So Anderson was sure that the British Navy must be exchanging fire with the East African coastal defense artillery on the Indian Ocean. He just didn’t know if the navy had been dispatched yet.

Anderson is a retired member of the East African National Defense Force. Because he now belongs to the police department, there is no need to go to the front line. Of course, this is related to the fact that New Hamburg Port City needs people who understand military affairs to deploy the city’s defenses. New Hamburg Port City already has measures to deal with possible street fighting, and these require professional guidance.

Of course, war will bring social disorder, so policemen like Anderson, who came from the military, are also a deterrent to negative elements and can stabilize people’s hearts at the same time.

Just like now, the citizens of Runwell neighborhood have been persuaded by Anderson. After all, Anderson is a person who has fought in wars and seen the world. His words are enough to convince the public. Of course, the pistol in his hand is also very convincing.

“Now continue to work. If war really comes, there is no place safer than the urban area. The food outside the city has been requisitioned to the city in advance. Here, there are all the daily necessities that we can use, and villagers have been evacuated to the city.”

Generally speaking, in the event of war, urban residents flee to rural areas to avoid the threat of war.

However, the reason why New Hamburg Port City is doing the opposite is that New Hamburg Port City and the entire Southern Border Province are not the main grain-producing areas of East Africa. Instead, the population is concentrated in towns or in the mines in the west.

East Africa’s initial design was not to develop industry and agriculture on a large scale in the south. New Hamburg Port City is a special case because of the port.

The industry here is relatively sound, but the food is mainly transported from eastern or central East Africa, and compared to Hechingen Province, the industrial and agricultural base of Southern Border Province is not bad.

Therefore, the rural population of Southern Border Province is relatively small and can be completely received by New Hamburg Port City, and then the surrounding villages and farmland will be destroyed to implement a scorched earth policy.

Of course, in order to ensure the food security of New Hamburg Port City, East African railways have begun to fully transport food and other materials to this port city. Together with the city’s own reserves, it can at least guarantee the needs of New Hamburg Port City for three years.

However, the population of New Hamburg Port City is now mainly composed of women and children. All the men in the eastern part of the province have been assigned to various places in need, receiving military training, or building the outer positions of New Hamburg Port City.

The East African government is trying to use New Hamburg Port City as a large military fortress, continuing to insert it behind the British and Portuguese forces in Southeast Africa, making them afraid to act rashly.

Of course, the condition for doing so is that New Hamburg Port City can be self-sufficient. Basically, except for food, the essence of Southern Border Province is concentrated here, so East Africa certainly cannot easily give up New Hamburg Port City.

New Hamburg Port City is not isolated and helpless. Even if the surrounding areas fall, the Drakensberg Mountains controlled by the East African army can launch a counterattack at any time, but now the western army is being held back by the Boer Republic, otherwise the defense pressure on New Hamburg Port City would not be so great at all.

This is also the current situation in the entire southern region of East Africa, which is bounded by the Limpopo River. It mainly serves the mining industry and the military.

From the beginning, war was considered. Although New Hamburg Port City has a small grain output, it has a large grain storage. Moreover, Southern Border Province is rich in coal, and New Hamburg Port City is the only outlet to the sea, which means that energy will not be lacking here in a short time.

The most important thing is that the bay conditions of New Hamburg Port City are relatively special. If it were like Dar es Salaam, which directly faces the Indian Ocean, then New Hamburg Port City would not need to be defended. That would be too costly and ineffective. It would be better to retreat directly to the west of the Drakensberg Mountains and use the natural barrier of the Drakensberg Mountains to resist the Allied forces’ attack.

Chapter 735: Gurkhas

While New Hamburg Port City was actively preparing for war, Wilson, the commander of the British Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean, was at his wit’s end.

“New Hamburg Port City is said to be a coastal city, but it’s actually some distance from the sea. If anything, it should be considered a lakeside city, with only a narrow waterway less than a kilometer wide connecting it to the interior. The East Africans must have set up gun emplacements on both sides of the waterway. It’s simply impossible to attack the urban area of New Hamburg Port City from here.”

“Moreover, the coastline around East Africa’s New Hamburg Port is too straight and has many reefs and shoals, making it unsuitable for ship passage. It’s similar to our Durban port in this respect, making it difficult to attack this type of terrain from the sea.” The adjutant added.

In fact, the British forces couldn’t even get close to the entrance of the narrowly distributed waterway of New Hamburg Port City. It might be possible to land in New Hamburg Port City by sending small ships, but that would require a lot of ships and manpower, which the Cape Town Navy didn’t have.

“The New Hamburg Port City navy is also avoiding battle. Did we come all this way for nothing?”

The New Hamburg Port City navy only had five main combat ships, so of course, they wouldn’t be willing to fight the British head-on. The navy was now holed up in the inner waters of New Hamburg Bay (Richards Bay), with the defense work mainly relying on the army’s artillery.

The coastal defense construction of New Hamburg Port City was of the highest standard in the entire East Africa region, consisting of semi-underground bunkers made of reinforced concrete, mobile artillery, fixed gun emplacements, and other coastal defense artillery systems. Naturally, it couldn’t be easily broken by a few British warships, especially not like the British main combat ships in the previous Battle of Lamu Bay.

Of course, compared to the East African New Hamburg Port City navy, the British Cape Town Navy was still strong enough. After all, the New Hamburg Port City navy was still equipped with two wooden sailing warships, which were outdated long ago.

……

Along the Tugela River.

“Report, sir, our third attempt to cross the river has failed. The East African firepower on the other side is too strong, making it impossible to achieve a breakthrough. Moreover, the Tugela River has a relatively large flow, and our army lacks large river-crossing vessels. Each small-scale river-crossing operation simply cannot succeed.”

East Africa was worried about the large number of British troops in the Natal Colony, but the British had already started “cursing.”

Although the British had an absolute advantage in the number of troops and firepower, the Ninth Brigade of the East African 513th Division, defending based on the Tugela River, was not an easy bone to gnaw on.

The number of East African troops had not increased significantly over the years, and a large amount of military spending was used to improve weapon and equipment systems. In addition, the improvement of East Africa’s military industrial capacity meant that the weapon and equipment level of the East African Defense Force was not much worse than that of Europe.

So, the situation the British faced was encountering an army with the same level of weapons and equipment for the first time in the colonies.

East Africa had deployed a large number of artillery, machine guns, and other weapons along the Tugela River, and the firepower density far exceeded the opponents the British had encountered in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

It is worth mentioning that the British army in the Natal Colony was mainly composed of Indian soldiers. The main British forces had already been transferred to the Mozambique area by the British Commander-in-Chief, Earl Roberts, and this also included many heavy weapons that were given priority to Mozambique.

Therefore, although Natal had a large number of troops, the weapon advantage was not too great. Of course, even so, the number of artillery pieces of the British army in the Natal Colony was about three times that of East Africa.

But now East Africa was on the defensive, and the main purpose was to disrupt the British army’s river-crossing plan, so the conversion of firepower advantage was not significant.

“Bring all the artillery of our division, including those that can be used from other Indian infantry divisions, to the riverbank. We must suppress the East Africans’ firepower and provide fire support for the river-crossing troops.”

“Also, a huge failure point in the previous river crossings was that the Indians disrupted the morale of the army. This time, let our people and the Gurkhas take the lead. If any Indian deserts again, execute them on the spot and throw their bodies into the Tugela River!”

British Division Commander Rost gnashed his teeth and said. Although East Africa was not weak, this was not a reason for his failure. After all, the opposite side only had a brigade of troops, while Natal had a British division and three Indian divisions, several times the enemy’s firepower and troops. They couldn’t even take down a small East African infantry brigade, which was simply a disgrace to the empire.

Therefore, Rost attributed this result to the Indian army, which served as cannon fodder for the assault. In Rost’s view, Indian soldiers were inherently lacking in courage, which led to the failure of the previous operations.

Of course, Rost’s passing the buck could be considered to be pointing to the right problem. The problem of the Indian auxiliary army was indeed very big. Taking the most “excellent” third river-crossing operation as an example.

The Indian auxiliary army had not even crossed a third of the river before it collapsed, which was too much to say!

The average width of the Tugela River was only about one hundred meters, and the narrowest place was only twenty meters. At this distance, the boat might have crossed without paying attention.

Therefore, the Indian’s fighting will was too weak. Rost considered himself a relatively peaceful person, but he was also quite annoyed by the performance of the Indians.

Of course, the Indians did not admit Rost’s accusations. Several Indian officers pushed the blame to “the powerful East African firepower.”

In fact, in terms of firepower, Rost’s troops had suppressed the East African artillery fire. It was under these circumstances that the Indians’ words were “sophistry” in Rost’s ears.

It was okay to use this excuse for the first river-crossing failure, because Rost did not expect the East African firepower to be no less than that of the European army, but in the second and third river crossings, Rost increased the firepower support to a considerable capacity, basically suppressing the army. After all, no matter how strong the East African firepower was, the opposite side was only a brigade configuration.

As Rost’s order was issued, the British and Gurkhas became the leaders of this river crossing.

The Gurkhas, also known as Gurkha mercenaries, can be said to be the most brave and good at fighting army in the British in the 19th century, and their fighting will is even stronger than that of the British native army.

Moreover, Gurkha mercenaries are very loyal and the price is very low. Because most Gurkha soldiers are forced by life to be soldiers for generations, Gurkhas often say without concealment: “Being a soldier is for money, there is no other purpose.”

The British are naturally very satisfied with such an army, and it is also a powerful arm of British rule in India.

Gurkhas often suppressed Indian uprisings, so Rost’s use of Gurkhas to supervise the battle was very much in line with the Gurkhas’ positioning. They often did this in India.

Of course, the main purpose this time was to give play to the Gurkha mercenaries’ spirit of not fearing death and breaking through the East Africans’ Tugela River defense line.

As long as they can seize the coastal positions on the north bank of the Tugela River, even if it is a gap, Rost’s purpose will be achieved.

The fourth river-crossing operation is about to begin. In order to stimulate the enthusiasm of the Gurkhas, Rost specially promised them a large reward. The Gurkhas like this.

Everyone’s eyes were bloodshot, as if they wanted to tear the East Africans on the other side of the river to pieces. After all, for the Gurkhas, poverty is the most terrible thing. For the pound, this life is sold!

With the Gurkhas taking the lead, the “East Africa phobia” of the Indian auxiliary army seemed to have been alleviated to a certain extent, and the British soldiers were in a better state than the Indians, but their enthusiasm was obviously not comparable to that of the Gurkhas.

Chapter 736: The Ninth Brigade

The East African Defense Force built many bunkers along the banks of the Tugela River, some directly on the riverbank, equipped with machine gun nests to intercept the river, especially at the bends.

In April, South Africa had not yet entered the rainy season, so the Tugela River wasn’t overflowing, but it wasn’t dry either. Due to the Drakensberg Mountains to the west, orographic rainfall was abundant, and the dry season wasn’t as pronounced as in other parts of East Africa. This kept the Tugela River’s water volume quite considerable.

This was also an important reason why Lesotho became South Africa’s “water tower” in its previous life. In the previous life, the Republic of South Africa’s water diversion project bought water from Lesotho to supplement the water needs of the northern industrial areas.

Overall, the British chose a good time to cross the river, during the Tugela River’s dry season, but it still posed some difficulty. However, defending the Tugela River wasn’t easy for East Africa.

The Tugela River was very winding due to the terrain, with many large river bends, which lengthened the river channel and required a very long defensive line.

The East African Ninth Brigade had a total of five thousand seven hundred soldiers, a number that was larger than some East African divisions in the past. This was a result of East Africa’s military expansion.

However, the Ninth Brigade’s defense area directly exceeded two hundred kilometers. Less than six thousand soldiers had to defend such a long border, so the East African Ninth Brigade would inevitably be unable to hold out for long against the British forces from the Natal Colony.

As long as the British continued to attack, they would always find a suitable place to cross the river. The British army’s main problem now was the limited number of river crossing vessels.

After all, the development of the entire East African region was very weak. Even though East Africa was the only infrastructure powerhouse in Africa, it was still building various basic projects across the country. However, roads, canals, bridges, etc., were still significantly behind the countries of Eurasia, and overall only stronger than South America.

However, South America wasn’t strong in large-scale projects, but regional small-scale infrastructure should be above East Africa, especially in Argentina and Brazil, where conditions were good in densely populated areas.

Especially Argentina, whose railway growth wasn’t slower than East Africa’s. With the support of British capital, Argentina was developing rapidly.

If East Africa’s infrastructure level could rank first in Africa, then the level of other colonies or African countries could be imagined.

Taking the Tugela River basin as an example, the Zulus lived here before. The Zulus were “de facto” barbarians, and their development of the Tugela River basin was basically zero.

The Tugela River basin after East Africa and Britain took over hasn’t changed much. East Africa mainly built a large number of military facilities in the area.

Britain didn’t have this need. As the world’s leading power, Britain was often the attacking party and didn’t need to put too much effort into defense.

After all, no country had the courage to dare to take the initiative to clash with Britain. As for Germany, its national strength hadn’t yet reached the point where it could compete with Britain, and the United States was excluded from the center of the world by Europe and could only flex its muscles in the Americas.

The Tugela River was the border area between Britain and East Africa, with zero commercial exchanges. Neither side developed the Tugela River basin, so the shipping industry naturally couldn’t develop, and the insufficient number of ships was only to be expected.

Of course, the Tugela River itself didn’t have the potential to develop a shipping industry. The Tugela waterfalls alone were enough to cut off local shipping conditions.

Currently, East Africa was facing simultaneous attacks from the Allied forces on three major fronts, with countless smaller fronts. At the same time, it had to guard against the British forces in Egypt in the north.

Therefore, the distribution of East African troops on each battlefield was relatively even, which made the forces seem somewhat stretched. The only area with an advantage in troop strength was the Eastern Military Region. The Eastern Military Region was actually divided into two parts, namely the Guards Division and the Eastern Military Region. Although the Guards Division belonged to the Eastern Military Region, it was actually an independent unit.

In short, the Ninth Brigade was under tremendous pressure that it shouldn’t have been under. Being able to stop the British from crossing the river three times already exceeded its capabilities.

In this regard, the Ninth Brigade had to thank the British commander’s command, whose eagerness for quick success caused the current situation.

This was largely due to the British commander’s underestimation of the enemy. After all, the main force of the British army this time came from the British Royal Indian Army. Having fought too many easy battles, they thought that the configuration was the same in Africa as in South Asia. However, East Africa’s current military strength had already surpassed that of small and medium-sized European countries, and could even rank among them in Europe.

Ninth Brigade Forward Command.

“Brigade Commander, we have observed that the enemy is about to launch a new round of offensive. Their river crossing troops have regrouped again!”

Brigade Commander Ari Dode didn’t give instructions immediately, but asked, “What time is it now?”

“It’s already five twenty-three in the afternoon, and there’s about an hour left until dark.”

Ari Dode analyzed, “The British commander only knows how to act rashly. During the day, they have organized and launched three large-scale landing operations, which were all repelled by our army with superior firepower. However, our ammunition consumption is extremely high, especially for machine guns, which are very effective against these small river crossing vessels. We even directly destroyed the hulls, causing the British army’s entire river crossing assault force to be scrapped.”

“Alas, it’s a pity. Although Maxim machine guns are easy to use, East Africa’s production capacity is very limited. In less than a day, we have consumed one-fifth of our inventory.”

“Maxim machine guns are very useful against the enemy’s small landing craft. The British troops on the river have become sitting ducks. Just one round of sweeping fire will directly exhaust the other side’s patience for war and severely damage the enemy’s morale.”

The various front-line units of the Ninth Brigade had very good feedback on the machine guns, but the ammunition consumption of the machine guns was also alarming.

This made Brigade Commander Ari Dode think about the usage model of machine guns. Machine guns were very powerful. What would happen if they were concentrated together to deal with the enemy’s large-scale offensive!

The most important thing was that the efficiency of machine gun use hadn’t reached Ari Dode’s expectations. This kind of large-scale destructive demand should be applied to large-scale land frontal battlefields.

Using them to intercept the British army crossing the river was a bit of an excessive waste. Many soldiers enjoyed fighting, but easily ignored ammunition usage.

So Ari Dode said, “If we use machine guns as firepower output points, we can effectively intercept the British army’s river crossing troops, but if we organize the machine guns and arrange them as a firing strip, what will be the result of the damage to the enemy?”

After all, the British army’s combat mode was mainly based on the line-up-and-be-shot tactic. If East Africa could organize machine guns at the same time and sweep them at the enemy, the scene would probably be very efficient just thinking about it.

The Ninth Brigade’s current use of machine guns as defensive weapons against the enemy’s landing operations couldn’t maximize the role of machine guns, after all, the British army’s landing force was scattered.

Ari Dode’s idea triggered the thinking of everyone in the brigade headquarters. This approach seemed very feasible, but without seeing the actual combat effect, everyone couldn’t be completely sure of its feasibility.

Seeing that no one had put forward any meaningful suggestions, Ari Dode had to put this idea in his heart for the time being. The most important thing now was to repel the enemy’s fourth river crossing operation and buy more time for the entire New Hamburg port city.

So Ari Dode ordered, “Repel the enemy’s fourth attack before dark. Once it gets dark, it will be much more difficult for the British army to cross the river. Now that the volunteers from the front-line support New Hamburg port city have withdrawn, we must at least block the British army for two days before withdrawing to New Hamburg port city. During this time, we must save bullets, especially machine gun ammunition, and reserve at least more than half.”

Chapter 737: Peculiar Indians

Following Aristode’s order, the already somewhat exhausted officers and soldiers of the Ninth Brigade began a new round of blocking actions against the British army.

However, compared to the “apprehensive” mentality of the East African army towards the British army before the war, it had already turned into a state of numbness, thinking, “The British are nothing more than this.”

After all, the title of “world’s strongest power” is quite intimidating, but only when you actually fight can you realize the “gap.” The opponents also have two arms and two legs, mortal bodies, not invulnerable and fearless “heavenly soldiers descended to earth.”

Of course, the East African grassroots soldiers certainly didn’t think that way; it was more of an exaggerated way of speaking. Currently, the Ninth Brigade soldiers are mainly composed of two parts: one is experienced veterans, and the other is new recruits who joined the Ninth Brigade after the expansion.

Among the new recruits, there are again two parts: one is the group that has immigrated to East Africa in recent years. This part of the new recruits is the biggest unstable factor in the East African Ninth Brigade.

The immigrants mainly come from the German region and the Far East, so their attitudes towards the war vary, and they even have various ways of thinking from the old-style army. However, they get along well with many East African veterans.

The other part of the new recruits is the group that has received compulsory education in East Africa or Germany. After all, many immigrants in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were Slavs, and the popularization of compulsory education was not very high, so many of them came from Germany but may not have received compulsory education.

And the new recruits who have received compulsory education in East Africa obviously have not received military camp education, and their impression of the army has a certain deviation. However, the disciplinary education in East Africa for so many years has not been in vain, and the officers are even more so. It can’t be said that the discipline of the East African army is very good, but it is definitely not bad.

For the new recruits, a day of actual combat has completely washed away their immaturity. Especially after fighting against the “world’s strongest power,” all the officers and soldiers of the Ninth Brigade have made the greatest progress and quickly adapted.

By the time the British army launched its fourth river crossing operation, all the anxiety, unease, and panic of the Ninth Brigade had disappeared. Instead, under the leadership of the veterans, they quickly became qualified soldiers. This was the most direct feeling of the grassroots military commanders of the Ninth Brigade, and the command of the troops became more and more smooth.

“The British are about to launch an attack again. Everyone be on alert. This time, according to the brigade headquarters’ order, we must save ammunition, especially the machine gunners. Aim before firing. Don’t waste bullets on the river surface just because the machine gun is powerful,” said the company commander of the Third Company of the Seventh Battalion.

……

The Tugela River flows rapidly, and the potential energy accumulated from the Drakensberg Mountains is greatly released downstream. There are also floating crocodiles in the river, waiting for another feast.

These Nile crocodiles also brought great pressure to the British army. Many Indian soldiers who unfortunately fell into the water before died in the mouths of the crocodiles.

Therefore, the British army’s small ferry boats are very careful. They must not only overcome the rapid currents, but also be careful of the lurking grim reapers in the water, and also be careful of the bullets and artillery fire shot from the opposite East Africa.

“Bang…”

The Ninth Brigade soldiers began a new round of shooting, but this time they were more economical with ammunition, and the firepower was not as strong as the previous three times.

This made the Indian soldiers of the British army on the river breathe a sigh of relief. The Gurkha mercenaries at the bow of the boat did not have the slightest fear. Instead, in the bumpy environment, they began to counterattack the East African firepower points.

The British were at the stern, commanding the Indian soldiers to row hard. Things seemed to be developing in a favorable direction.

“Speed up, you lazy ghosts, haven’t you eaten?”

“If you delay the battle, you will be dealt with according to military law. Charging forward may save your life. If you dare to turn around, I guarantee none of you will escape.”

The British on the boat cursed in various ways.

Under this scolding and rebuke, the efficiency of the Indian soldiers did improve greatly. Sure enough, it is more effective to use tough methods to deal with these Indians who are slow to act.

This time, the British army finally made a major breakthrough. Until the center of the river, there was no phenomenon of collapsing at the first touch like the previous few times. All the ferry boats with any abnormal movements were supervised by the British and Gurkhas. There were even bloody incidents. Some negative Indian soldiers were made examples of.

……

“Without fire suppression, the British have indeed made a lot of progress. Listen to my order, wait until the enemy is less than twenty meters away from the shore, then give it to them with all you’ve got. We must not let them seize the beach and build fortifications.”

This time, the British army made obvious progress compared to the previous few times. After all, with the Gurkha mercenaries as a model, taking the lead in charging to the front line, and with the British supervising from the rear, the Indian soldiers, as cannon fodder, had no reason or opportunity to desert.

“Machine gunners, fire!”

As the British army got closer and closer, the Ninth Brigade no longer flinched. Artillery and machine guns fired together, and the British army was now in a situation where there was no way to retreat, and they were close to the shore.

Naturally, it was impossible to shrink back, after all, the way back was even more difficult, and the risk of being broken on the river was too great.

The Gurkha mercenaries had no fear at all. Although the East African machine gun points were powerful, they did not scare them away.

These Gurkha mercenaries were like suicide squads. Before the boat had landed, they jumped up and landed forcefully. Even if people kept falling, it did not affect their combat awareness in the slightest.

After landing, they immediately entered combat status. In order to avoid the dense East African firepower output, they did not foolishly rush directly up. Instead, they began to look for cover, or soaked in the mud, crawling forward.

The Indians behind them seemed a little dull. If they had time to think, they certainly couldn’t understand why these Gurkha mercenaries had no fear of death.

“Get ashore, don’t be dazed!” The British commander roared.

After driving these slow-reacting Indian soldiers ashore, the British commander found that things were not easy. The East African firepower was too strong, and there was a lack of cover on the river. In this case, I am afraid it will be a waste!

But having landed meant there was no retreat. After understanding this, the British commander began to organize a “death charge.”

Unfortunately, the effect was not good. Many Indian soldiers directly hugged their heads and lay on the ground pretending to be dead, and although the Gurkha mercenaries were not afraid of death, there were too few of them.

This made the British command completely unable to function. The East African side was not in a hurry, hiding behind cover, enjoying the harvest of the lives of these British troops.

Time soon came to six o’clock in the afternoon. After confirming that the last wave of enemies had been eliminated, the Ninth Brigade soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The British army’s fourth river crossing operation was declared a failure.

“Throw all the corpses into the river, don’t cause the breeding of viruses and bacteria,” ordered Brigade Commander Aristode.

Every time after a battle, East Africa has to send people to clean up the battlefield. These corpses piled up here, coupled with the relatively high temperature along the South African coast, can easily cause problems, so they must risk cleaning up the British corpses on the beach.

This is the usual practice of the East African army. Before, the British army had not even completed the river crossing, so there was no need to clean up the battlefield.

However, what East Africa did not expect was that many of the so-called “corpses” on the beach were actually pretending to be dead. This was the first time the East African Defense Force had encountered this situation.

When East Africa was cleaning the beach, many Indians suddenly came alive and surrendered directly. This allowed the Ninth Brigade to directly harvest more than six hundred Indian prisoners.

Aristode looked at the captured Indian soldiers in amazement. He had fought in East Africa for so many years, and it was the first time he had encountered an army that pretended to be dead on a large scale to escape the war. India is truly a magical place.

Chapter 738: Mutual Scheming

Night fell, and both sides of the Tugela River defense line were plunged into silence. As for crossing the river under cover of darkness, it was not within the scope of consideration for the British army. Night battles were never the preferred option in war.

Although there was only a brigade of East African troops on the opposite bank of the river, there were many unexpected situations on the battlefield, and the intelligence on both sides was very limited, so the British commander, Rost, had to be cautious about the situation.

No one was sure whether East Africa had reinforcements, when the reinforcements would arrive at the Tugela River, or how many reinforcements would come.

East Africa’s policy of isolationism played a great role at this time. Conversely, it was also difficult for East Africa to obtain news about the actions and plans of the British army in the Natal colony. If it were Durban and other places behind Natal, it might be possible to install intelligence personnel, but as for the front line of the Tugela River, there was no such opportunity. Breaking into the war zone was easy to be discovered.

Under the dim light, British commander Major General Rost was discussing the combat summary of the day with his subordinates.

Rost’s face was very unsightly. He ran into a brick wall in the first battle in South Africa, which was completely different from what he had expected before coming to South Africa.

The subordinates looked at Rost’s gloomy face and did not dare to breathe loudly, especially the commanders of the British Indian troops, for fear that Rost would vent his anger on them.

“Today’s battle makes me very dissatisfied with all the troops. A full four attacks were repelled by the East Africans, and the Tugela River is not an insurmountable natural barrier. If we can’t defeat the East Africans in this situation, then won’t we have a hard time advancing in the Drakensberg Mountains later?”

“Neither our army’s fighting will nor military capabilities have been reflected. Instead, we have lost face in front of East Africa. If our army loses face, it is losing the face of the British Empire!”

The commander of the British Indian troops retorted: “Major General, it’s not that we don’t want to work hard, but the quality of the Indian soldiers is too poor. Although these few attacks were not effective, our troops also suffered heavy casualties.”

Rost: “Humph, you still have the nerve to say that? I saw the performance of the Indian soldiers clearly. Was that poor performance? That was cowardice before the battle. I can let bygones be bygones for the last landing operation, but the first three failures were all caused by the Indian soldiers under your command taking the lead in running away, which caused a bad influence.”

Although the fourth river crossing operation also failed, it did cause some damage to the East African army, and the landing operation force was “completely” wiped out, so it still met Rost’s psychological expectations. After all, he did not expect the troops to cross the Tugela River defense line and defeat the East African National Defense Force in one go, but the failure of the first three operations was unreasonable, and there was no reason to evade responsibility.

“Major General, in my opinion, the main problem is not morale, but hardware. I think there are two points that are beyond the capabilities of our army. First, East Africa is equipped with a large number of heavy weapons, and the level is not bad. This does not conform to our previous colonial combat model.

Secondly, our army is not well prepared, especially the lack of ships, which makes the ships stretched every landing operation.

So if we want to overcome the difficulties, we must find a way from these two directions, instead of blaming the lower-level troops. After all, the Indians themselves are the ruled. They are inferior to us Anglo-Saxons in terms of thinking, quality, etc. This is a racial gap, and innate inferiority cannot be compensated.”

In a few words, he threw his responsibility away. After all, this is also the idea of the British. If the Indian soldiers had some bloodiness, then Britain would not be able to colonize India so easily.

“Now is not the time to discuss this issue. We are an army, and the army is to win battles and achieve strategic goals. I don’t care what the reason is, we must find a way to break through the East African defense line. Now you come up with a feasible plan.” Rost said.

“Major General, in my opinion, we were wrong in our direction before. Compared with East Africa, our biggest advantage is that we have sufficient troops. This can be seen from the number of artillery pieces. Although the power of East African artillery is not weak, the density is far less than ours, so East Africa must have fewer troops on the Tugela River line than us. Therefore, to give full play to our advantages, we should break through at multiple points, rather than attacking a key direction. We should consider the entire Tugela River basin and always find an ideal place to break through, and then tear a hole.”

“Very good, but this requires us to prepare more ships. It would be even better if we could build pontoon bridges on the river, but it may delay the opportunity. Today, our four attacks have lost nearly three-fifths of the ships. If we make them now, I am afraid it will take a lot of time.”

“Major General, this problem may be considered flexibly. We can completely make a batch of simple rafts. The Tugela River is not too wide. We can use ropes and tree trunks to let soldiers with good swimming skills build pontoon bridges. Of course, the biggest problem is that there are too many crocodiles in the Tugela River, which may cause a certain threat, and large-scale construction of pontoon bridges may be detected by the East Africans, so it is best to act at night, but the difficulty of operating on the river at night is definitely greater than during the day.”

After discussion, the British finally gave up their conservative tactics. Spending time with the East Africans on the Tugela River had made them lose their patience.

Although this is conducive to ensuring the safety of their own personnel, after all, the Indian cannon fodder at the forefront is not considered their own. The British will not feel sorry even if the blood of the Indians is shed. This is the same as East Africa’s use of black troops.

Of course, there are no longer any black auxiliary troops in the East African army, and even the logistics are mainly based on domestic citizens.

East Africa’s use of black people is mainly to maintain production. The army’s conscription has had a great impact on East Africa, especially on the young labor force, which has further increased the labor intensity of East African black people during the war.

East Africa’s model was actually very common in the early days. The Boers in South Africa were like this. The Boers acted as the armed force, while the black people created value as slaves.

Later, the development of East African industry and agriculture required a large number of people to engage in production activities, and the previous military activities were transformed into the main model. Now, with the outbreak of the war, it has returned to the right track.

……

The British planned to launch a full-scale attack, but the 9th Brigade on the opposite bank of the river did not have the idea of holding on.

“Brigade Commander, the volunteers have all withdrawn to New Hamburg Port City. Now there are only soldiers on the entire Tugela River defense line.”

Aristotle: “Very good, we must also prepare to evacuate, but we can’t let the British have an easy time. We must slow down the British army’s speed and efficiency on the way to New Hamburg Port City and along the railway line. And now I already have a plan. As long as it is implemented properly, it is likely to bring us surprises.”

“Brigade Commander, your plan…”

“It’s not urgent now. After we give the British a final blow on the Tugela River, we will also have time to arrange it. In short, we must preserve our strength as much as possible. The military region has sent a message that we may not be able to wait for reinforcements, and they plan to cut off the Central Railway starting the day after tomorrow. We can only rely on New Hamburg Port City to deal with the British army. Now our main task is to cause trouble for the British while ensuring our strength.”

Chapter 739: The Defense Line Falls

Three days later, at six o’clock in the morning on April 7th, East African time, the well-prepared British army launched a full-scale attack, taking advantage of the dawn.

The British army simultaneously forced crossings at five river sections of the Tugela River, instantly creating huge gaps in the Ninth Brigade’s defense line.

This was entirely within Aristode’s expectations. After all, the Ninth Brigade had limited manpower, so it was impossible to effectively defend against the British army based on the Tugela River.

The Tugela River defense line in East Africa was like a “single line formation.” The British army’s multi-pronged attack was like “striking the snake’s vital points.” The Ninth Brigade’s various units, with their scarce manpower, were unable to effectively coordinate and support each other.

Moreover, the British army was surprised to discover that the East African firepower seemed weaker than it had been three days ago.

This discovery was not surprising, but rather due to two reasons, which the East African brigade headquarters had already provided an answer for.

Aristode’s adjutant said, “Our fifteen heavy artillery pieces were withdrawn to New Hamburg Port City a day in advance, and one-third of the light artillery was also withdrawn, so the degree of artillery support has weakened, making it easier for the British army to cross the river.”

Aristode waved his hand and said, “Even if we left these heavy weapons behind, they wouldn’t be of much use to us. Just like now, the British army is launching attacks from multiple locations, covering a line more than one hundred kilometers long. Even the easily mobile light artillery wouldn’t have time to provide support.

So I have already issued orders to the front-line units to break up into smaller units, based on companies, and deal with the British army in their respective areas.”

Moving artillery is not an easy task, especially along the more than two hundred kilometer long and very winding Tugela River defense line.

By the time these artillery pieces were concentrated where they were needed, the war would probably be over. Therefore, Aristode had already begun organizing the artillery to withdraw to New Hamburg Port City a day earlier.

In New Hamburg Port City, these artillery pieces could be concentrated to deal with the enemy’s attack, while on the Tugela River, they would probably only benefit the British army crossing the river.

“Our goal is to eliminate as many British troops crossing the river as possible. The Tugela River defense line cannot utilize our firepower advantage, so allowing lower-level units to carry light weapons is the best choice.”

……

While Aristode was speaking, at various river crossing points within the Ninth Brigade’s area of responsibility, East African forces were already engaged with the British army. Even without artillery support, the Ninth Brigade soldiers were able to achieve a good exchange ratio in a half-crossing attack situation, but the British army was like a tide, impossible to kill completely.

Seventh Battalion, Second Company position.

“Company Commander, we are running out of ammunition, but there are too many British soldiers. I didn’t expect them to choose our area as a breakthrough point. We can’t hold on for too long!”

“Send a telegram to the brigade headquarters, report our situation, position twenty-three is about to fall, we can retreat!” Second Company Commander Hans said.

Soon, with the fall of position twenty-three, the East African Ninth Brigade’s Tugela River defense line was about to be abandoned.

The brigade headquarters, through telegrams and messengers, ordered the various units to retreat to the rear according to plan.

The Second Company also received the order. Subsequently, the Second Company began to destroy the defensive positions they had personally built, and at the same time, important military supplies such as weapons, ammunition, and telegraph machines were also loaded onto vehicles.

Apart from the telegraph lines buried underground, the Ninth Brigade only left the British army with corpses on the riverbank and a pile of ruins. The Tugela River defense line took three months to build, but was destroyed in less than a week after the outbreak of the war.

This was also the Ninth Brigade’s helpless move. Even if the Ninth Brigade really desperately defended the Tugela River defense line, it would actually be of no avail. After all, the British could also launch amphibious operations from the sea.

Currently, the control of the Indian Ocean waters around New Hamburg Port City is actually in the hands of the British, so the Tugela River defense line can only be used as a temporary position.

……

Ninth Brigade Headquarters.

“Fifth Battalion of the Second Regiment is responsible for staying behind to block the enemy’s advance, and the other units retreat to the rear. Wilder, how is the task I gave you progressing?” Aristode asked.

“Reporting to the Brigade Commander, we have currently concentrated nearly half of the brigade’s seventeen machine guns and deployed them in the middle section of the road in Kranskop Village according to your instructions.”

Kranskop Village is a transit station for retreating from the Tugela River defense line to New Hamburg Port City, and it is also the only place that the connecting road must pass through.

Aristode planned to concentrate the machine guns and experiment with their power in Kranskop Village to see what kind of result it would have on the British army, who were good at forming ranks.

“Very good, next let the troops concentrate in Kranskop Village first. If the machine guns can exert their due power, I think this is a good opportunity to strike the British army,” Aristode said.

……

At three o’clock in the afternoon, British Major General Rost also crossed the pontoon bridge. Looking at the ruins of the Tugela River defense line that had finally been taken, Rost felt happy.

“Where are the East Africans! Why are there so few of their bodies?”

“Reporting to the Major General, the East Africans have no intention of fighting. After their attempt to block our river crossing failed, they took the initiative to retreat to the north. Moreover, the number of East African troops is probably less than we imagined, so they simply cannot stop our attack. If we had fought like this on the first day, we would probably have already reached New Hamburg Port City!”

“How many East African troops are there approximately?” Rost asked.

“Based on the situation on the position and our pursuit, the East Africans should have only deployed a brigade of troops on the Tugela River.”

Rost: “Damn it, are you saying that we wasted four days here because of a brigade?”

“Yes…”

Rost thought for a moment and said, “Are you really sure it’s a brigade? Did you see it with your own eyes!”

“Uh, it’s just speculation based on the traces at the scene.”

“Very good, since it’s speculation, that means the data is inaccurate. In my opinion, the East Africans should have deployed at least a main force division on the Tugela River line, otherwise why could they stop us for so long, and also have strong fire support!” Rost said decisively.

The subordinate understood Rost’s meaning and hurriedly said, “It was my misjudgment, it is a main force division of the East Africans.”

Rost looked at him appreciatively and said, “On April 7th, 1888, my unit won a great victory at the Tugela River, successfully repelling a division of East African troops defending the Tugela River line.”

However, Rost couldn’t continue writing. He suddenly realized that the East African army’s unit designation was not clear.

“Bring the East African prisoners over, I want to interrogate them!” Rost ordered.

“Reporting to the Major General, we did not capture any East African prisoners. After our army landed, the East African troops took the initiative to retreat. Apart from the corpses that could not be disposed of in time, our only discovery was a group of Indian prisoners.” The subordinate said awkwardly.

“Indian prisoners?”

“They are the Indian soldiers who were captured in our river crossing battle four days ago. These bastards did not fight to the death at all, but directly surrendered to the East Africans. However, the East African troops retreated in a hurry and did not have time to deal with them, so we discovered them.”

Rost’s face turned green when he heard this! These deserters should all be shot.

“Are there any British or Gurkha mercenaries among them?”

“Not a single one. Our soldiers and Gurkha mercenaries all sacrificed themselves.”

“Humph!” Rost was really angry.

Indian soldiers surrendering was not a big deal, but the fact that not a single one of his own soldiers or Gurkha mercenaries was alive was very telling.

“Shoot them all to death as a warning to others!” Rost ordered fiercely.

Chapter 740: Ancient Warfare

Originally, according to Rost’s idea, he would naturally strive for more “military merits,” but because there were no East African soldiers as “prisoners,” it was impossible to figure out the organizational structure of the East African army.

In this situation, how could the “Tugela River Victory” be fabricated? After all, even fabrication had to be based on facts.

Rost’s approach was not considered strange in this era, just like the British during the Boer War in his previous life, who greatly exaggerated military merits and losses, almost draining the British treasury. What the American army later did in Afghanistan was essentially the same.

Of course, the Tugela River defense line was indeed breached, which was an undeniable fact, but to “exaggerate” this victory a bit, it was still necessary to obtain intelligence about East Africa.

After dealing with the issue of Indian prisoners, Rost ordered: “Order the entire army to rest briefly and then immediately head north. This time, we must make East Africa pay the price.”

This time, a batch of East African prisoners must be captured to figure out the organizational structure of the East African Defense Force. Before that, there was no rush to report the situation of the Tugela River battle.

After Rost’s order was issued, the British army, which had just landed, hurriedly continued to pursue the “fleeing” East African army after waiting for the heavy weapons to cross the river.

In fact, the British army’s fire preparation this time was not sufficient. After all, according to past experience, colonial wars were dominated by British firepower.

Of course, the British army’s firepower was not weak this time, but East Africa’s firepower was beyond the British army’s expectations, so compared to previous colonial wars, they had the idea of “insufficient firepower.”

…

Kranskop.

Under the command of Ari Todt, the Ninth Brigade did not rush to retreat to New Hamburg Port City, but instead prepared to fight the British head-on here.

What gave Ari Todt confidence was that the Tugela River battle had not caused too many casualties to the Ninth Brigade. Excluding casualties, the Ninth Brigade still had more than five thousand people.

After actively abandoning the Tugela River defense line, the Ninth Brigade could instead concentrate its forces, which actually increased Ari Todt’s available forces.

Ari Todt stood on the roof and pointed around, saying to his subordinates: “Kranskop Village is actually a slightly low-lying area, mainly plains, with slightly higher terrain around it. We will deploy our troops on the high ground on both sides, and Kranskop Village is also the only way to New Hamburg Port City. The British will definitely pass through here.”

“So choosing the battlefield here is most advantageous to us. This will also be the first time our brigade has faced the British head-on. I won’t say anything more. Everyone must be energetic and play their respective roles according to the pre-war deployment, especially unconditionally obey the brigade headquarters’ orders. I don’t want anyone to be greedy for military merits and reluctant to fight when I issue the retreat order.”

Previously, Ari Todt and other members of the brigade headquarters had conducted a thorough analysis. There was a ninety percent chance that the British lords would not choose to go anywhere else.

Because the road conditions in the Southern Border Province were extremely poor, and the British, dragging a bunch of belongings, could only choose to travel on the highway.

Of course, accidents were not impossible. If an accident really happened, it could only be said that the Ninth Brigade was too unlucky.

War is like this, it cannot be perfect, so Ari Todt can only choose the strategy that maximizes the benefits for his side to arrange the war.

Of course, the Ninth Brigade’s current layout also faces the risk of being surrounded by the British, but the premise is that the British have mature intelligence on East Africa.

And this is the biggest problem currently facing the British army, which Rost is also facing.

Rost: “The people from the intelligence department should all be hanged. The map these useless people gave is not even remotely similar to the actual East Africa. I’m afraid it’s a collection of African maps from before colonization. They haven’t even figured out the basic terrain.”

“Sir, what should we do? Should we attack East Africa along the coastline, or take the highway built by the East Africans?” a subordinate asked.

It was certain that going along the coastline would definitely reach New Hamburg Port City. After all, New Hamburg Port City was a coastal city, and going north along the coastline would definitely find the main force of East Africa.

In addition to the coastline, the only thing of reference value was the highway built by the East Africans. The Ninth Brigade retreated along the highway, leaving many ruts and footprints on the road.

Because of the dry season, these traces were very clear and had not been washed away by rain. However, judging from the condition of the highway, the East Africans’ construction level was still good.

Although there was only one highway, the neighboring Natal Colony, apart from Durban and other cities and strongholds, would not bother to build such a cross-regional road.

“Pursue along the highway! We have fought against the East African army before. Judging from the road conditions, the end of this road must be the main direction of the East African army’s retreat. This road will definitely lead to New Hamburg Port. So now we are pursuing north along the highway. Of course, to avoid the East Africans ambushing along the highway, the vanguard must be careful.”

After Earl Roberts went to Maputo, Rost was the highest military commander in the Natal Colony, so his orders were final.

Soon the vanguard of the British army went to the location of Kranskop Village.

At a little after four in the afternoon, as expected, they met the Ninth Brigade, which had been waiting for a long time. A fierce exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, and the British army in the rear finally arrived after the vanguard encountered the enemy.

“There is an East African village ahead. The enemy we defeated before seems to be resting there. There are quite a few of them, so the vanguard doesn’t dare to act rashly and is waiting for your instructions!” a subordinate reported to Rost.

“Very good, this should be the East African troops who defended the Tugela River. We couldn’t take them down before because of the Tugela River. Now they have no support. Let’s see what they use to fight us. Order the Indian troops to organize an attack,” Rost ordered.

At this time, the British lobsterbacks could finally put out their ancestral “single-file lobster formation.” Of course, this time Rost still used Indian troops as the vanguard.

Indians died, so be it. Anyway, they were cannon fodder, and they should be able to consume a lot of East African ammunition. Of course, this would also make the number of British casualties look much better.

Rost was not actually a reckless man. Before this, the British army had lost a bit of strength, but the number was almost negligible, because the Indian auxiliary troops, who accounted for the majority, could only be considered consumables.

As long as it wasn’t the British who died, Rost could find a way to cover things up. After all, Britain had no shortage of Indians.

And this was an important reason why Rost had not learned his lesson until now. Although the Indian soldiers suffered heavy casualties, Rost could not empathize. If so many British people had died, Rost would probably have gone berserk long ago.

The Indian troops deserved to have received the true teachings of the British army. Although their weapons and equipment were a bit backward, they were almost exactly the same as the British in other aspects.

They lined up outside Kranskop Village, which had open terrain, in the standard British formation, and even organized a European-standard military band.

The East African Defense Force was seeing this kind of situation for the first time. Of course, this first time mainly referred to the enemy’s side. In the past, when fighting against natives, East Africa also liked the firing squad tactic. Facing the death charges of some large native tribes or kingdoms, it could indeed concentrate firepower more easily to reap lives.

However, later, with the equipment of Dreyse needle guns, the performance of rifles was greatly improved, and the firing squad tactic, this “ancient warfare method,” had long been eliminated by East Africa.

Chapter 741: Killing Machine “Maxim”

In the past, the opponents East Africa faced had basically never encountered the volley fire tactic, except for that batch of students from the “Black Forest Military Academy” who participated in the Franco-Prussian War.

The Portuguese had the capability, but during the last East Portuguese War, Portugal wished they could split each soldier into two. They had too few colonial troops, and the Black auxiliary army didn’t have such ability.

Not just any army can use the volley fire tactic. First, the army’s discipline must be strong, and second, they must have extraordinary courage.

The Black auxiliary army hastily organized by the Portuguese possessed neither of these qualities. On the contrary, the Ndebele people used a “semi-finished” volley fire tactic when East Africa fought the Ndebele Kingdom before.

Although the Ndebele people have become history, it is undeniable that their organizational skills were relatively strong. Unfortunately, the Ndebele people had too little time to learn about firearms. Otherwise, they might have been able to reproduce the volley fire tactic.

…

Faced with this “novel” tactic that the East African Defense Force had basically never seen before, some soldiers of the Ninth Brigade were indeed a little confused, especially those new recruits who immigrated from the Far Eastern Empire, who couldn’t understand it at all.

“Why are these ‘British’ lined up so neatly? Are they preparing to die?”

“You idiot, those aren’t British, but Indians from British colonies. Look at their dark skin, only a little lighter than East African Blacks. Those white-skinned commanders are the British.”

“As for why they are lined up in neat ranks, it just shows how little you’ve seen. This tactic is actually very common in Europe. If you had participated in foreign wars in the Far Eastern Empire, you might have had the opportunity to see the British and French use this tactic back then, but that was decades ago. Judging by your age, you certainly didn’t experience it.”

The last time the British and French jointly invaded the Far Eastern Empire was in 1856. At that time, East Africa didn’t even exist, and it was more than thirty years ago. Therefore, except for a few early immigrants to East Africa, later immigrants to East Africa had never seen it.

“If that’s the case, why hasn’t the Defense Force used this tactic? Isn’t it a mainstream European tactic?”

“The Defense Force used to use it, but at that time it wasn’t called the Defense Force, but the colonial army. We also had a period of colonial history. Later, after the establishment of the kingdom, coupled with the upgrade of firearms, this tactic was eliminated. As for the British, they have never been good at land warfare. Countries like Germany and France are probably also eliminating line infantry tactics, but we generally call this tactic the volley fire tactic, so it’s okay to say that this tactic is suicide.”

The official name of the volley fire tactic is “line infantry tactics,” but even the Germans like the term volley fire tactic, because in the eyes of traditional German civilians, war is inherently about going to die.

If Prussia hadn’t carried out army reforms, Prussia would probably still be the army with the most deserters in Europe, making it difficult to achieve the great achievement of unifying the smaller German regions.

The desertion rate of the Prussian army before the military reforms also shows the fear of war that the volley fire tactic caused among Prussian civilians. After all, using this tactic meant either the enemy falls or you fall, more like “trading pieces.” Whoever runs out of pieces first loses the war. Those officers don’t take human lives seriously, but ordinary soldiers cherish their lives very much.

Therefore, the volley fire tactic is the greatest “test of morale” for the lower-level soldiers, and many soldiers are conscripted into the army, making it easier to collapse at the first blow.

The Indian soldiers in front of them are putting on a good show, but who knows how much they have learned from the British Lobsterbacks. It should be known that “Lobsterback” is just a mocking term, and the British army’s courage in the face of battle is still commendable. Otherwise, Britain would not have been able to conquer such a large territory.

At this time, the Indian soldiers were actually even more confused than the East Africans. In their eyes, the British’s enemies were also “Europeans,” but why were they so different from the British?

Some East African soldiers didn’t understand, and veteran soldiers and knowledgeable soldiers explained it to them, but the Indian soldiers didn’t have this opportunity. After all, they couldn’t possibly ask the white officers! They probably wouldn’t get an answer, and they would get beaten. It’s better to obey the white people’s orders honestly.

Just like now, this volley fire tactic is what the British masters told them to do, lining up in neat ranks and then shooting at the enemy. They had trained in this tactic in India for a long time, so the Indian troops performed decently.

Rost was very satisfied with the performance of the Indian soldiers and said, “It seems that we misunderstood the Indians before. The Tugela River did hinder the army’s attack. It is still more suitable for our combat on land.”

“Yes, Division Commander, we were very strict with the training of these Indians in India, completely according to our army standards. Something like the Tugela River was just an accident.”

On the Tugela River line, the volley fire tactic naturally couldn’t be used because of the existence of the Tugela River. After all, it’s impossible to “line up” in the water. But after arriving on land, the British army can finally use their ancestral secret recipe.

“Attack!” Rost ordered with increased confidence.

The strength of the East African troops has been figured out. Regardless of whether it is a brigade, even with reinforcements, it is impossible to have more troops than their own. After all, this time the British, Portuguese, and Transvaalers are attacking from multiple fronts, and the East Africans certainly cannot draw too many troops to support the East African army in front of them.

Even if East Africa has surplus troops, there is not enough time. Rost knew this after the British army crossed the river. After all, if East Africa had surplus troops, it would not be possible to easily give up the advantageous terrain of the Tugela River.

In the magnificent music of the military band, the Indian troops marched with powerful steps, and began to attack the “crude” positions of East Africa.

At this time, the East African machine gunners were already ready.

Because of the British army’s “late arrival,” the East African Ninth Brigade successfully completed its assembly, so the number of machine guns was also fully replenished. The Ninth Brigade has a total of sixty-three machine guns.

The British army’s lateness was due to East Africa’s “habitual” mistake. East Africa’s prediction of the British marching speed was calculated according to East Africa’s marching speed, which led to the Ninth Brigade estimating the British army’s arrival time “four hours” earlier.

In fact, the British army has not yet completed its assembly. The heavy artillery units are far behind on the opposite bank of the Tugela River. Those big guys are not easy to move, especially the temporary pontoon bridge built on the Tugela River cannot bear it at all.

Therefore, the British army only carries light artillery, and the number is not large. At this time, the British firepower is actually far inferior to that of East Africa.

The East African light artillery had long been hidden on the so-called “high ground.” At the same time, Aristotle concentrated all the machine guns of the brigade to prepare to verify the power of the machine guns.

“Fire!” With Aristotle’s order.

The East African machine gunners began to strafe the British Indian troops’ line on a single line.

Bullets flew towards the British army like rain. Soon, large plumes of white water vapor billowed from the exhaust ports in front of the Maxim machine guns, which was the water-cooling structure cooling the gun body.

The Indians on the opposite side fell in swathes like corn stalks under a harvester. Panic quickly spread among the Indians, but the East African machine guns were like “devils,” constantly reaping their lives.

In its previous life, the first large-scale real combat of the Maxim machine gun was actually used by the British in 1893, and the target was the Ndebele people. The British eliminated more than 1,500 natives at the cost of only four deaths, and at that time the British army only had five Maxim machine guns.

The British who are now fighting the East Africans are also equipped with machine guns, but they are still Gatling machine guns. Even in the original history, the British did not equip the first batch of Maxim machine guns until October 1888.

Therefore, the British army is actually behind East Africa in terms of machine gun weapons, and this is still the situation of the British army. The auxiliary army like the Indians is probably not even equipped with the “temporarily backward” Gatling machine guns.

Chapter 742: A Major Victory

The Maxim machine gun had tremendous killing power, but the Indian troops seemed “fearless” and launched continuous offensives. This was completely different from the performance of the Indian soldiers at the Tugela River.

“No retreat allowed!” The British rear guard played a significant role.

In reality, both the British and the Indians were anxious in this situation. However, like a stampede where those in the back don’t know the situation in the front and blindly rush forward, a failure in command and coordination led to the Indian soldiers at the front knowing the situation, while those in the back were unaware. The British rear guard behind the Indians was even more clueless.

If it were a regular British division, the commander might quickly discover the problem. However, the high-level commanders of the Indian divisions were British.

The flat terrain limited the British commander’s understanding of the situation at the front lines. The surge of Indian soldiers from the rear was actually a very common occurrence. After all, the British were well aware of the weak fighting will of the Indians. In other words, it would be abnormal if the Indians weren’t trying to escape to the rear.

At this moment, if one could look down from high altitude, they would discover a very bizarre battlefield situation: East African machine gunners were massacring Indian soldiers on a large scale in the front, while British rear guards were urging the Indian soldiers behind to continuously fill the ranks.

After more than twenty minutes, the British commander finally noticed the changes in the battlefield situation. The number of Indian troops was drastically reduced, and with the increasing number of corpses, the tragic nature of the battle at the front could be vaguely discerned from the rear of the battlefield.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that corpses littered the field. The Indian soldiers in the rear could no longer move forward. Small mountains of corpses blocked their path.

As the truth spread, the fear that had already developed among the Indian soldiers was approaching a critical point, and then it exploded.

This fear exceeded their fear of the British. They rushed towards the rear, trying to escape at all costs, even under the threat of gunfire from the British rear guard.

The complete “madness” of the Indian troops caused the entire British front line to collapse directly, and it quickly spread to the main British forces in the rear.

No one knew what the Indians had experienced that made them so terrified. Rost ordered the British troops to intercept the Indian soldiers, but with little effect.

At this time, the East African artillery also began to fire, shelling the British rear and further deepening the fear of the Indian soldiers.

Now, they only had one thought in their minds: to escape this hell. Rost was very annoyed. The Indian soldiers retreating from the front lines were like madmen,衝擊ing the formation of the main British forces, and he still couldn’t figure out the reason.

Could it be that the East Africans on the opposite side had more than just one brigade, but were ambushing even more troops! That’s what led to the great defeat of the Indian troops.

Two Indian divisions, which were more than four times the strength of the East Africans, shouldn’t have been defeated so miserably, even if they couldn’t defeat a single East African brigade.

At this time, the commander of the East African 9th Brigade, Aristotle, after observing the chaotic situation of the British army, decisively ordered the troops to retreat.

“The entire brigade will retreat to New Hamburg Port City. The artillery and wounded will retreat first. The first battalion of the second regiment is responsible for staying behind and continuing to block the enemy along the highway, slowing down the enemy’s marching speed.”

There was no point in staying at this time. With this “spending spree,” most of the ammunition of the 9th Brigade was exhausted. If the British army caught up, the 9th Brigade would inevitably face the risk of complete annihilation. The enemy already had an absolute advantage in numbers.

Taking advantage of the British army’s confusion, the East African 9th Brigade began to run away. At this time, the British commander, Major General Rost, was still in a state of anxiety.

There were too many of these fleeing Indian soldiers. Even suppressing them would take a lot of time. At the same time, he had to be wary of the East Africans’ attack. However, he didn’t expect that the East African 9th Brigade wouldn’t be attached to the battle at all and had already started to run away.

As time passed, the British army finally “pacified” the defeated Indian troops under Rost’s command. At the same time, because of the “sudden situation” of this war, Rost had to order the British army to rest in place. The situation of the battle between the two armies during the day was also compiled and reported.

“According to the description of the Indian soldiers, the East Africans are using a new type of machine gun. We didn’t seize any objects, but according to the description of the Indians and the characteristics of the machine gun, it should be the newly emerging Maxim machine gun in Europe. I didn’t expect the East African army to be equipped with a large number of these new machine guns. This shows that the Maxim machine gun is very mature and can be fully applied on the battlefield. Its performance is far superior to the Gatling.”

Rost: “What about the results of the Maxim machine gun? Is it a bit of an exaggeration that the East Africans defeated several times our troops with just machine guns!”

Rost had heard of the Maxim machine gun, but this machine gun had not been widely promoted in Europe, or rather, it had not been used in large-scale actual combat. Rost couldn’t believe that a small machine gun could achieve such amazing results.

After all, the British army also had machine guns, although not Maxim, but the Gatling had never achieved such results. Therefore, Rost couldn’t imagine the effect that machine guns could bring.

“According to our army’s statistics, more than seven thousand Indian soldiers were killed or wounded today alone, including more than four thousand killed in action and more than three thousand wounded.” Speaking of this, the subordinate trembled a little.

Rost’s face turned black. In just one afternoon battle, half a division of troops was directly scrapped. Although they were all Indian soldiers who died, this number far exceeded Rost’s psychological expectations.

At the same time, the great defeat of the Indian troops also made sense. With such high casualties, it would be abnormal if there were no great defeat.

Then, Rost began to think about how to deal with the results of this war. More than seven thousand casualties was not a small number. Even if he was British, he couldn’t shirk the responsibility for this war’s defeat.

If there were three or four thousand casualties, Rost would have a way to blur the matter through connections. However, more than seven thousand was beyond his ability. Now, Rost was most fortunate that the majority of those who died were Indian soldiers. If his own division faced this situation, he wouldn’t have to do anything and could go straight to military court.

Rost paced back and forth anxiously in the division headquarters, thinking about how to “beautify” the situation of this war.

So many casualties couldn’t be concealed because the numbers were too large. So, he could only think of a way to deal with the enemy.

First of all, just like before, he had to exaggerate the strength of the East African army. The calculation of the East African strength must be that the enemy has the advantage, and our army has the disadvantage, so that such large casualties can seem less abrupt.

Secondly, he had to exaggerate the weapons used by the enemy, especially the role of the Maxim machine gun. If he didn’t praise the Maxim machine gun to the heavens, then this matter would not be easy to explain.

“Did we capture any prisoners this time?” Rost asked!

“We captured three live East African soldiers, but they are all in critical condition and are still unconscious.”

“Quickly heal them. Send my personal doctor over there. We must find out the organization of the East African army on the opposite side.” Rost said.

“Also, you must start organizing discussions on the analysis of the Maxim machine gun now. Our army is not equipped with this ‘terrifying’ killing weapon, which is the main reason for the war casualties. The Military Intelligence Agency must take great responsibility.”

“This fully shows that the East Africans have increased their investment in the military, while our country’s army funds are insufficient, which has led to the disadvantage in weapons and equipment. Therefore, the casualties of our army in this battle are also reasonable.”

Chapter 743: Phase One

While Rost was racking his brains, the Ninth Brigade successfully withdrew to New Hamburg Port City, even the First Battalion of the Second Regiment, responsible for the rearguard, safely returned to New Hamburg Port City.

As for the enemy’s pursuing troops, they simply didn’t exist. The mountains of Indian soldiers’ corpses piled up on the front lines were enough for the British army to clean up for a while.

The only regrettable thing was that the results of this battle could not be accurately tallied. The Ninth Brigade did not know the specific casualties of the British army, but it was certain that both the Kranskop blocking action and the previous Tugela River blocking action had achieved excellent results, effectively killing and wounding the enemy’s active forces and striking a blow to the enemy’s arrogance.

…

First Township.

The war had already begun for a week, and intelligence from all fronts was rapidly being gathered in First Township.

Swete reported to Ernst: “Currently, the overall situation on the front lines is good. Our army has resisted the first wave of attacks from the Allied forces. Except for the western region, the other major fronts have effectively delayed the enemy’s military operations. The most stable is the Southern Military Region. The only pity is that the British army has too many troops in the southeast, so the Tugela River defense line was breached.

Currently, the Ninth Brigade has withdrawn to New Hamburg Port City, preparing to respond to the next round of British attacks. However, the Ninth Brigade has also overfulfilled its mission. According to their battle reports, they have annihilated at least several thousand British troops, especially inflicting heavy casualties on the Indian troops.

At the same time, machine guns have played a huge role in the war. The only drawback is the excessive consumption of ammunition.”

“The Eastern defense line is also facing a situation similar to that of the Ninth Brigade. However, due to its proximity to Matabeleland Province, ammunition can be replenished in a timely manner. Currently, both sides are engaged in fierce artillery battles along the Eastern defense line. The firepower of the British and Portuguese armies is in no way inferior to our army. However, in most cases, our army is at a higher elevation, so we have a visual advantage over the enemy, resulting in greater lethality.”

“The only mistake occurred in the western region. Our army has too few troops in the western region. As predicted before the war, the Portuguese army launched a relatively fierce offensive, and in some areas, they have already broken through into our territory. However, this offensive suddenly slowed down the day before yesterday, and our army is currently organizing a counterattack.”

The Portuguese army’s main force is in the Angola colony. From the beginning of the war, Portugal has been in an all-round advantageous position. The strength of the two sides is too disparate.

Therefore, the East African General Staff adopted a strategy of trading space for time in the west. The important reason why the Portuguese army’s offensive has stalled is exactly as the East African General Staff judged.

That is, the logistics system cannot keep up with the progress of the war. The Angola Portuguese army has been advancing all the way, seemingly achieving brilliant results, but in reality, it has also stretched the front lines.

Moreover, East Africa has implemented the same “scorched earth” policy in the west as in the Southern Frontier Province, and the enemy cannot obtain supplies locally, and even the most basic food cannot be guaranteed.

And East Africa’s construction in the west is not much stronger than that of the Angola colony. Angola, at least in the coastal areas, has a considerable population and a relatively developed economy, while the western provinces of East Africa, in comparison, are sparsely populated, have inconvenient transportation, and many areas are still inhabited by a large number of black people.

Of course, the Portuguese army is not completely unable to solve the problem of military food. Africa’s resources are still relatively abundant, especially meat and fruits, but the Portuguese army mainly lacks grains and other basic necessities.

Even drinking water is a big problem. However, many Western countries in this era do not pay attention to water source issues. They are not as “squeamish” as the East African Defense Force.

“Currently, the main problems reflected by the various units of the Defense Force are two. One is the personnel issue. Our army has gained an advantage on many fronts, but it cannot organize an effective counterattack due to insufficient personnel. For example, the Ninth Brigade, which was previously stationed in the Tugela River, Brigade Commander Ariedort said that if he was given twice the reinforcements, he could double the results of the Kranskop blocking action.”

“The second is the issue of weapons and ammunition. Our army and the British army are evenly matched in the number of artillery pieces, and artillery battles occur frequently, resulting in a huge consumption of ammunition. The machine guns assigned to the troops have also played a huge role in the war, but machine guns consume a huge amount of bullets. Many units have exhausted their machine gun bullets, and the front-line troops urgently need more machine guns and weapons and ammunition.”

“Currently, in the first phase, our army can basically guarantee the stability of the front lines. However, this defensive posture cannot fully utilize East Africa’s advantages, especially with the enemy coming from three directions, which disperses our forces and prevents us from achieving large-scale battles with the enemy. The central industrial zone is under great threat, and the pressure on the remaining defense lines has also increased sharply.”

“To get rid of this situation, we must disrupt the enemy’s strategic deployment, achieve breakthroughs in key areas, threaten the enemy’s rear, and disrupt their overall strategy.”

“And currently, there are mainly two points that have the ability to achieve this. One is the Zambezi River defense line, and the other is the southern defense line. These two areas are where our army has a troop advantage. The enemy and we have taken the same defensive measures in areas with weak troops, so now it depends on who breaks through the other’s weak point first, so as to gain strategic initiative.”

For this point, Swete’s war intentions are very clear, that is, East Africa is now in an extremely passive state. Britain and Portugal are on the offensive, while East Africa is on the defensive.

East Africa is unable to effectively strike the enemy’s Allied forces because its forces are dispersed. Although East Africa has repeatedly gained an advantage on the battlefield tactically, it has been unable to expand these tactical advantages into strategic advantages due to various reasons.

Therefore, if East Africa wants to break the deadlock, it must quickly gain an advantage in local areas, so as to mobilize more troops and transfer them to the eastern region that East Africa needs most.

The key to this is the Boer Republic, and northern Mozambique. East Africa has a troop advantage here. If progress can be made in these two places, it can threaten the enemy’s rear, and at the same time, it can free up relatively redundant troops to the eastern main battlefield.

Currently, the main reasons why these two locations are forcing East Africa to stockpile a large number of troops are terrain and other factors. Just like the Boer Republic, which borders East Africa on three sides, if East Africa removes this point, then East Africa only needs to deploy on one side, and the troops on the other two sides can be used for other battlefields.

Moreover, the Boer Republic has a very bad location, threatening the hinterland of Cape Town, the core British colony. If East Africa gains an advantage here, the British army will have to spend more energy deploying troops here.

However, the area near Cape Town close to East Africa has very poor transportation conditions, located in the center of the plateau. It is not easy to transport materials and troops here, which will allow Britain to be further bled dry.

As for the Zambezi River defense line, it is mainly the responsibility of the Eastern Military Region. The Eastern Military Region currently has little combat. The Allied forces’ main offensive is mainly aimed at the central and western parts of East Africa.

Therefore, the southward movement of the Eastern Military Region’s troops can effectively alleviate the current military pressure in the central and western regions. Of course, this also has certain risks, that is, the Eastern Military Region is responsible for the military security of many developed areas in eastern East Africa, including the Central Province.

If they move south, it may cause security problems in East Africa’s current economic and political center. However, the main threat to the east comes from the sea. As long as the East African Navy is not completely destroyed, it can guarantee the security of the east in the short term.

And the Central Province also has the Guards Division responsible for land security, but it cannot radiate to the entire east. However, as long as the strategic security of First Township is guaranteed, the national military and political stability of East Africa can be guaranteed.

Chapter 744: Adjusting Mentality

In reality, under the current circumstances, East Africa’s war potential has not been fully utilized. For example, East Africa has a sufficient number of reserves ready to support the battlefield at any time.

The East African government’s mentality can be understood as needing to maintain normal national production activities and social order while also ensuring the ultimate victory of the war.

When the front lines do not present a situation unfavorable to East Africa, the East African government does not need to expand the scale of the war. Of course, if it could end the war as soon as possible, that would certainly be the outcome East Africa desires, but now East Africa is on the defensive, with the aim of exhausting the enemy’s time, energy, troops, morale, ammunition, equipment, and so on.

The fundamental reason for the General Staff’s behavior is that East Africa is actually in an advantageous position in the war. Currently, the war seems to be progressing rapidly for the Allied forces, even achieving significant advantages on some fronts.

However, these surrounding areas are all colonies, not the homeland. The Boer Republic is an exception, but the Boer Republic is small and a purely agricultural and pastoral country.

Therefore, the Allied forces’ weapons and equipment need to be transported from their homelands to the colonies before being supplied to the local armies. In contrast, East Africa’s defense industry is located in the rear, capable of providing strong support to the front lines at any time.

Once the Allied forces’ offensive momentum weakens, East Africa will enter a counterattack state. The occurrence of this situation will inevitably be due to the Allied forces encountering serious problems with personnel and supplies.

Ernst said, “As long as we withstand the first wave of pressure, it will mean that we have already gained an advantage in this war. Of course, this advantage is not a reason for our army to be arrogant. Do not underestimate the British’s war capabilities. As the world’s leading power, the outcome of the South African war actually depends on the British government’s investment.”

“Currently, it seems that the enemy still has great war potential. The enemy forces on the front lines still maintain a high level of enthusiasm in their attacks. At the same time, with preparations lasting for several years, the enemy’s material reserves are also relatively abundant. Therefore, we can see that the enemy has not yet reached a state of weakness. So, our overall strategy is still mainly to exhaust them, continuously bleeding the Allied forces.”

…

The British, Portuguese, and Boers have all suffered losses at the hands of East Africa, so they are not dealing with the war in a perfunctory manner. Instead, they have made ample preparations. Of course, they also underestimated East Africa’s war capabilities.

The current state of the war against East Africa is far from the psychological expectations of the Allied countries, especially the British Army.

The Allied Commander-in-Chief, Earl Roberts, frowned as he looked at the battle reports. He was very dissatisfied with the performance of the Allied forces.

“The results reported by the various units are all ‘victories’ everywhere, but except for the Natal Colony direction, none have achieved my strategic objectives. If there are so many victories, why hasn’t the enemy’s defense line changed at all?”

Except for the garrison in the Natal Colony, under the command of Rost, breaking through the Tugela River defense line, there have been basically no major changes in other areas, which made Earl Roberts very dissatisfied.

Of course, the Portuguese Angola colony has achieved good results, even breaking through into East African territory, but the Angola colony garrison is completely under Portuguese command and does not belong to the command of Earl Roberts, the Allied Commander-in-Chief.

Regarding Roberts’ confusion, his subordinate replied, “The East Africans have built solid fortifications on the border, and East Africa’s weapons and equipment have also exceeded our estimates. According to the current firepower of the East Africans, even if placed in Europe, it would not be behind. So, the reason why this war has not reached expectations is still due to our insufficient acquisition of East African intelligence.”

Earl Roberts said, “We need to be clear that we came to South Africa not to fight a war of attrition. Once we fall into a war of attrition, it means that our goal has failed from the beginning.”

“East Africa is a very closed country, which is the real reason for the conflict between our country and East Africa. Judging by the area of East Africa alone, it is a large country with nearly ten million square kilometers. The minerals, population, industry, agriculture, and market of this huge country all exclude Britain. In the final analysis, it is a struggle for interests. However, East Africa’s closed nature has led to our intelligence work being difficult to carry out in East Africa. War can be said to be the final test of East Africa’s national strength, but now it seems that the East Africans’ ability to respond to war is extremely strong.”

Earl Roberts can be said to have stated one of the main reasons for this war. War is actually not a good choice for any country. It is often the last resort after all other means have failed.

But now East Africa has withstood the pressure of war, which shows that East Africa’s comprehensive national strength far exceeds other countries’ estimates. Judging by the current scale of the war, if it were to be dealt with by Brazil, I am afraid Brazil would have been unable to withstand it long ago.

However, once the war starts, it cannot be easily ended, especially for the British Army. This kind of major war is a rare opportunity, so the army must continue the war, even if it does not conform to Britain’s interests.

Moreover, although the current direction of the war is beyond Earl Roberts’ expectations, it is generally not out of control. It is nothing more than treating East Africa as an opponent like Tsarist Russia and adjusting his mentality.

Before coming to South Africa, Earl Roberts had a sense of contempt, after all, the world does not know much about East Africa. Even if East Africa is an independent country, everyone still subconsciously lists East Africa as a “colony.”

Like Brazil, although nominally independent, its economy is controlled by foreign capital, which is what Britain wants to achieve in East Africa. Even if it is not as good as that, it should be like Tsarist Russia.

Tsarist Russia is considered an industrial power, but it is also extremely dependent on Western capital, and many economic lifelines are controlled by foreign capital. Of course, compared with countries like Brazil, Tsarist Russia has much greater autonomy. Although some national economies are not very developed, they are controlled by themselves.

Compared with the two, East Africa is definitely an anomaly. East Africa has a high degree of nationalization and has built the overall framework of the national economy in a short period of time. Although there are many problems, the total amount is rising rapidly, which is essentially catering to the current development trend of monopoly enterprises in the world.

Therefore, to deal with East Africa, a tough nut to crack, Earl Roberts must correct his mentality. This is also what the British and Portuguese armies need. He said, “Now we need more troops, more weapons and equipment. The war cannot end rashly. I don’t believe that East Africa, a country with only a few decades of history, can withstand the military pressure of two major powers at the same time with its own national strength.”

“Of course, we should also pay attention to East Africa as an opponent. East Africa’s performance has made us realize that this country is completely different from the opponents we have fought in the past. Our understanding of this opponent is far from enough.”

“East Africa’s military strength should not be underestimated. Their military industry should have important connections with the German region, such as the various new equipment that appears on the battlefield, and the firepower that is not behind Europe, which shows that East Africans are also good at learning. They are not just a closed country located in Africa, but have a broad vision, which is particularly evident in the military.”

“This also means that our war strategy against East Africa must be adjusted. We should not treat East Africa as a colonial country, but as an opponent similar to a European military power.”

Chapter 745: A Battle of Weaklings

With the change in Count Roberts’ mindset, a very negative shift occurred on the South African battlefield. The allied forces, who had always been on the offensive, abandoned their original tactics and instead began to revert to normal army operating procedures.

According to the British army’s previous state, they wanted to rely directly on “advanced” military weapons to wipe out East Africa in one fell swoop, but they far underestimated their opponent.

Count Roberts’ adjustment actually aligned with the thoughts of the frontline commanders. Despite the “great victories” reported in the war reports, the British frontline commanders actually had grievances they couldn’t voice, and they couldn’t directly admit that their poor results were due to inadequate preparation and underestimation of the enemy.

Therefore, Count Roberts’ order conveniently provided them with a way out, allowing them to back down gracefully. The British commanders began to become more professional in their tactics and strategies, but this also led to a sudden slowdown in the progress of the war on the front lines.

This shift was difficult for the East African Defense Force, because the British became more difficult to deal with as their command became more professional.

Under this change of circumstances, time quickly came to May.

Neither side had achieved significant victories. Although East Africa had new weapons like the Maxim machine gun and artillery that was no worse than the British, the Maxim machine gun, while powerful, could be largely avoided by the British after they adapted to the weapon and slightly changed their tactics.

At the same time, Britain urgently promoted the domestic production of “Maxim machine guns” and urgently purchased a batch of Maxim machine guns from Belgium for use on the South African battlefield.

The two sides were not far apart in strength, and it depended on who could further gain a tactical advantage, which further tested the abilities of the military commanders.

…

In the Southern Military Region, the German and Austro-Hungarian military advisory groups also arrived in South Africa.

As two powerful European countries, both naturally paid close attention to the South African war. In fact, many European and American countries were watching this unprecedented war.

However, Germany and Austria-Hungary had more convenient access than other countries to observe and guide East Africa in depth.

Merkel, the East African representative responsible for receiving the military advisory group, asked, “What is your assessment of the state of our East African Defense Force?”

“This journey has given me a preliminary understanding of East Africa’s strength. Their army, whether in discipline, logistics, or weaponry, is in no way inferior to many European military powers. It is not surprising that the British are finding it difficult to achieve results here,” said Hetzendorf, the head of the Austro-Hungarian military advisory group, with admiration.

“That’s right. At least in the several front lines we have visited, the morale and combat awareness of East African soldiers are much stronger than those of ordinary countries. With such excellent soldiers, even in Europe, they would be enough to support many wars,” said Pletwitz, the head of the Prussian advisory group.

The East African Defense Force focused on discipline, and various rules and regulations were strictly enforced, which was of course based on the high military expenditure of the East African Defense Force.

The only pity was that as a country of immigrants, the cohesion of East African nationals had not yet reached the standard of a normal country. This was also considered by the East African General Staff before the war, so their tactics tended to be conservative.

However, compared to the British, who had traveled thousands of miles to fight in South Africa, the East African war had instead become a patriotic war against aggression, which to some extent added to the legitimacy of the East African war, so the morale of East Africa was higher than that of Britain.

Moreover, as time went on, the British army’s “world’s strongest power” filter was shattered by feedback from various battlefields, dispelling the East African soldiers’ stereotypes of Britain, which to some extent encouraged East Africa’s confidence in resisting the “aggressors.”

Of course, this was also a coincidence. If Britain had started the war a month later, East Africa’s “patriotic” war would probably have become a war of “aggression.”

“Is this the Maxim machine gun used by East Africa?” Pletwitz asked, studying the East African-made machine gun.

“Our East African-made machine gun is called the Type 1885 heavy machine gun. It does refer to some of the structure of the Maxim machine gun, but the two came out almost at the same time. It is mainly the result of our East African military industry’s independent research and development.”

Pletwitz was speechless when he looked at the so-called Type 1885 heavy machine gun, which was no different from the Maxim machine gun. Plagiarism was plagiarism. They were carved out of the same mold, so there was no need to say anything about independent research and development.

Merkel: “The Type 1885 heavy machine gun played a huge role in the early stages of the war, greatly hindering the British offensive. Combined with trenches and barbed wire, it can cause huge casualties to the enemy. In the entire Tugela River battle, the Maxim machine gun caused more than a thousand casualties to the enemy. However, in the later stages, with the adjustment of British tactics, the effect of the Maxim machine gun was greatly reduced, but it is still a good source of fire support.”

The Germans and Austro-Hungarians had no idea where the Tugela River was, but listening to Merkel’s tone, they knew that the Maxim machine gun had played a huge role in the South African war.

The German army itself was also equipped with MG80 heavy machine guns, so Pletwitz was very interested in the results of the Maxim machine gun.

“The impact of a weapon on war is ultimately limited. What is more important is the ability of the commander and the fighting will of the soldiers,” Hetzendorf said from the side.

Merkel did not refute: “You are right. The biggest problem between the East African Defense Force and the British army is also in this regard. Neither of us has an obvious advantage in weapons and equipment, which has become an important constraint on the progress of the war.”

After East Africa and Britain actually fought, everyone realized that both sides were weaklings. Britain was a maritime power, so its army was not as strong compared to its navy.

On the contrary, although East Africa was a land power, the East African army had no major war experience, which led to the current military stalemate between East Africa and Britain.

In this case, the point of comparison is the war endurance of both sides. This is certain. For the East African Defense Force, “the advantage is on our side.”

The longer the war lasts, and without any accidents, East Africa’s advantage will definitely become greater and greater. In addition to East Africa’s national strength as a support, and the advantage of fighting on its own territory.

The negative emotions of the allied forces will also increase with the passage of time. The more mistakes the enemy makes, the greater East Africa’s chances of winning.

However, East Africa’s advantage has not yet been fully realized. According to the requirements of the East African General Staff, the main task now is to wear down the enemy. War is a complex system, and it is not until a critical point is reached that it is a great time for East Africa to launch a counterattack.

Of course, the East African Defense Force is also preparing its forces, preparing to launch an attack on the allied forces in several key battlefields, but this takes time.

Previously, the East African Defense Force had not fully grasped the initiative of the war, but instead passively dealt with the changes of the British army. This situation continued until the British army adjusted its tactics.

Currently, the front lines between the British army and East Africa are stabilizing, which is a great opportunity for East Africa to prepare for a counterattack. It is like a turn-based game. The British have made the first move, and now it is East Africa’s turn to play.

East Africa’s playing direction is the Boer Republic and northern Mozambique. East Africa has been preparing for these two battlefields for two months, and the next step is the implementation phase.

Previously, the British army and the allied forces launched surprise attacks on East Africa from three directions, which to some extent caught East Africa off guard. This time, East Africa will also put pressure on the allied forces on multiple fronts.

East Africa withstood the pressure in the early stages of the war. Conversely, if the allied forces cannot resist now, then this war can be declared that the allied forces have entered a passive state.

Chapter 746: Morale is Usable

Fett River Defense Line.

As the longest-built and most solid defense line in East Africa, it has withstood more than a dozen attacks from the Boers and the British army since the beginning of the war.

In fact, using East Africa’s Fett River defense line to deal with the Boers feels like “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut,” just like the Maginot Line was not used to resist Germany, but Belgium.

Merk has begun to personally command this Fett River battle, preparing to end the passive defense that has lasted for three months.

“Tonight at twelve o’clock will be the time for us to cross the river. We must eliminate the Transvaalers on the opposite bank in a short time. Our army is preparing to attack from three directions to completely eliminate the Boer Republic, this thorn in our side,” Merk said in the military headquarters.

Hötzendorf asked, “General Merk, why launch a night battle? You have a complete advantage in terms of troop strength and firepower. There is no need to launch a counterattack at night. This may actually cause errors in your operations due to the interference of the darkness.”

“Night is indeed not a good time to fight, especially when the enemy is well-prepared on the opposite bank. You have to deal with various problems, including a lack of understanding of the terrain and the enemy’s defensive offensive,” Plietwitz also emphasized.

Merk explained, “Don’t worry about this. We have already figured out the enemy’s defensive deployment. Although the Boers have built fortifications on the opposite bank, their engineering is completely incomparable to ours. Don’t think our Fett River defense line is indestructible. It was built with a lot of manpower, and the Boers on the opposite side cannot achieve this kind of human resources.”

The biggest weakness of the Boers is their sparse population. Historically, the Boers should have had more than four hundred thousand people at this time, but after the tossing of East Africa and themselves, I am afraid that the national population is only close to four hundred thousand.

Of course, East Africa used a lot of “black slaves” to build the Fett River defense line. There is naturally no need to elaborate on this to the German and Austrian military advisors.

Merk continued, “The Boers have been launching continuous offensives against our army for the past three months, but according to the recent offensives of the Boers, they are probably reaching their limit. So I judge that the state of the enemy and us has long changed. Now the morale of the Boers is probably falling to the bottom, and their ambition has been exhausted under our careless passive defense mode.”

The current situation of the Boers is indeed very bad as Merk said. One is that they have been unable to break through East Africa’s Fett River defense line for a long time, and the other is the aversion of the grassroots soldiers to the war.

A country of the size of the Boer Republic is now maintaining a force of nearly fifty thousand, that is, one out of every six Boers is in the army, and children and old people can be seen everywhere in the Boer army.

If it were not for the British material support, the Boer army would probably have collapsed long ago. Even so, the current mental state of the Boers is very bad.

“In the Far East Empire more than two thousand years ago, there was an ancient war called the Battle of Changshao. A man named Cao Gui said that the first drum rouses courage, the second slackens it, and the third exhausts it. In the end, he won by eliminating the enemy’s morale.”

“Our East Africa actually adopted this method, consuming the enemy’s morale. After three months of offensive without achieving results, the recent Boer offensives have seemed weak and powerless,” Merk explained.

Currently, East Africa, as an immigrant country, is not bad in all aspects, except that it takes time to cultivate a sense of national belonging.

The South African War is an opportunity that the East African government values. Currently, all lines in East Africa are in a defensive stage. This state of only being able to be passively beaten without being able to fight back is definitely very unpleasant for East African soldiers.

Except for the high-level officers, the troops below all have a breath in their hearts, that is, to retaliate fiercely for the beatings they have taken “for nothing” in the past few months.

In this case, the sense of belonging of the East African army soldiers is actually increasing rapidly. No matter where everyone came from before, now they have a common external enemy.

After three months of running-in, the unity of the East African army is unprecedented, and this is also the result that the East African government wants to see. Now it is just a matter of winning the war to establish national pride and honor.

This is also the helplessness of immigrant countries. Of course, to be accurate, it is the helplessness of East Africa. Countries like the United States probably would not have this problem.

Also as an immigrant country, the United States has various means to fool the bottom people so that they cannot find the north, but East Africa does not have such conditions, because in the world situation of the 19th century, the ideology of the United States was the most “advanced.”

East Africa, as an autocratic monarchy, lacks such effective means, and at the same time does not have such a perfect aristocratic system as Europe.

The European aristocratic system can be said to be a powerful force for maintaining European royal power and political stability, especially in the local area, where the aristocracy has great prestige among the people.

East Africa, of course, also has a corresponding political model, but it mainly sings praises to the “Black Hohenzollern Royal Family,” which is very similar to the previous life of Korea.

However, this situation certainly cannot be maintained for a long time, especially after the demise of East Africa’s first generation of “grateful” immigrants. Currently, the East African government is mainly developing towards the German political model.

Germany has the banner of nationalism available, while East Africa’s nationalism is not very reliable. To change this situation, it is necessary to cultivate the East African national identity.

One way to gain identity is through war. As long as East Africa wins the South African War, East Africa can accelerate national integration in a short time.

The United States still has a hundred years of history, and has undergone a long period of running-in, which East Africa lacks. There is no more effective means than war for East Africa to make up for this. Therefore, in Ernst’s mind, the South African War is East Africa’s real founding war.

As for the previous East Portuguese War, although it had a similar effect, Portugal, as a setting sun, brought far less shock to the East African people’s hearts than defeating Britain, the world’s number one power.

Hötzendorf and Plietwitz naturally do not understand East Africa’s pursuit of this ideological aspect, because the two countries do not have such a dilemma.

Of course, the Austro-Hungarian Empire certainly has it, but the situation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is very different from that of East Africa. This is the difference between the European way of thinking and the Far Eastern way of thinking.

Hungary is independent again, and it also supports the Habsburg family. At the same time, although the relationship with Austria is a little bad, everyone is used to it.

Ernst certainly does not want East Africa to follow the old path of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This political model has been proven to be useless in the World War.

Merk: “For the war, this time we will start in three major directions at the same time. It doesn’t matter even if we are not successful here. In the eastern Winburg area, we are directly connected to the Boer Republic on land, and there are troops on the Orange River in the west to respond. As long as we gain an advantage in one direction, we can cause a huge blow to the Boers.”

“At the same time, launching a counterattack at night, I think the Boers will definitely not feel good. After all, this counterattack is East Africa’s first active attack. It is difficult for them to predict this situation. In addition, with the Boers’ backward intelligence system, maybe we will be approaching Bloemfontein before they can react.”

Chapter 747: Battle of the Vet River

Merk’s statement wasn’t an exaggeration because the Boers lacked an electrical system, making it impossible to coordinate and organize counterattacks on various battlefields in a timely manner.

The construction of telegraph lines in East Africa was among the best in all of Africa, while the Boer Republic only had one professional telegraph line, running from Cape Town to the Kimberley mining area.

The Boer Republic now was not like its previous incarnation, possessing South Africa’s gold mines, so construction in all aspects was very backward. Furthermore, they had to maintain a massive military force, leaving virtually nothing for infrastructure development.

As for the telegraph line in the Kimberley area, it was built by British merchants who controlled the Boer Republic’s only significant mineral, the diamond-producing area.

All of this had been reported to the East African government by the East African National Defense Security Bureau. Therefore, the Boer Republic was not only small in size and population, but also very backward. This backwardness was undoubtedly very detrimental to the Boer Republic’s war progress.

…

Midnight.

Both banks of the Vet River were silent. Although it was the rainy season in South Africa, the banks of the Vet River, deep inland, didn’t experience much rain, which brought some convenience to East Africa.

East Africa was very well prepared for crossing the river. From the day they eliminated the Transvaal Republic, the East African government clearly knew the deteriorating relationship with the Boers, so they were sure to fight again.

Therefore, unlike the British army at the Tugela River, which didn’t even have enough boats prepared, East Africa had prepared countless plans for attacking the Orange Free State during peacetime. Boats for crossing the Orange River were essential equipment, with almost every stronghold having some in reserve.

This time, East Africa directly deployed an army of thirty thousand, using the darkness as cover to begin crossing the Vet River. Although located in the heart of the South African plateau, rainfall here wasn’t abundant, but the plentiful rain from the Drakensberg Mountains replenished the various tributaries of the Orange River.

This was very similar to the Shebelle and Juba rivers in Somalia. Somalia had scarce rainfall, but the abundant precipitation in the Ethiopian Highlands made these two rivers large rivers with considerable flow year-round.

East Africa’s large-scale movements were still discovered by the Boers, but at this time, which should have been a time for rest, many Boer soldiers hadn’t even left their camps before the East African army had already landed.

And the East African army after landing was not so easy to deal with. The reason for this result was the Boers’ laxity. East Africa had been in a defensive posture for the previous three months, without launching any offensives.

In this state, the Boer front-line soldiers were easily lulled into complacency. In fact, this was the case. The East African Defense Force, due to Ernst’s influence, attached great importance to discipline.

But the Transvaalers, as Britain’s little brothers, didn’t have this awareness. Their army construction could be said to imitate the British army, and “bandits” would be a more appropriate description.

The only pity was that East Africa didn’t give these “bandit armies” a chance to loot East African territory. This could be seen from East Africa’s industrial layout. East Africa’s industrial areas were all located in the rear, and even the agriculture in the southern border area hadn’t been developed much.

“The East Africans are attacking!”

The first to discover the East Africans was a Boer drunkard named Laurence. As a logistics personnel, Laurence could often get a lot of good things, such as today, British imported whiskey. He got drunk with several Boer soldiers during the day, and then woke up in the middle of the night to relieve himself by the river.

Then, in his blurry vision, he seemed to see a faint light in the river, which was the light reflected by the East African helmets.

Laurence instantly sobered up, but facing the approaching East African army, he was a little at a loss, stunned for three seconds before reacting and running towards the position.

With Laurence’s shouting, more and more Boer soldiers began to wake up, hurriedly organizing resistance.

Facing the noisy Boers, the response was East African artillery fire.

As the East African army landed, the artillery began to organize attacks on the Boer bunkers. Of course, the artillery used for this river crossing was actually grenade launchers, a type of light, portable, small-caliber artillery widely used in the East African army.

Although small boats could bear the weight of East African heavy artillery, they were unstable and inefficient, and it was inconvenient to carry them during a night raid.

But it should be enough to deal with the Boers. The Boers’ equipment was arguably the worst in the allied forces, especially the lack of heavy weapons.

Moreover, their heavy weapons couldn’t play a role at this time, because of the night, they didn’t know the specific location of the East African army at all, and only felt that there were people everywhere.

It’s hard to believe, but the Boer fortifications were very crude, even more dilapidated than before the war. It should be known that this was not done by the East Africans.

The real reason was that the rainy season caused the Boer defense line to collapse to a certain extent, and East Africa had not launched an offensive for a long time, so the Boers gradually became less concerned about the maintenance of the fortifications over the past three months.

The Boer defense line was originally built very crudely, mostly with earth and wood structures. Although South Africa had little rain, it still had a certain destructive power on this crude construction.

But the main reason was still the Boers’ improper maintenance of these fortifications, and now the Boers had to pay for their carelessness.

As the grenade launcher shells fell, these fortifications were completely vulnerable. East African artillery rarely made mistakes by locating the “firelight.”

These firelights were mostly campfires used for lighting or heating at night, and now they became the Boers’ death warrant.

Even if some smart people started running into the darkness, they were easily injured by mistake. Besides, the darkness itself had certain dangers, such as being tripped by debris or being pushed by others.

The entire Boer position was in chaos. After all, it was the first time facing this kind of scene, and it was at night, so it was difficult to calm them down.

Boer officers watched helplessly as the chaos occurred among their own soldiers, but were powerless. At this time, even if they wanted to organize a counterattack, it was impossible to achieve.

Because of the darkness, the Boers could be said to be soldiers not knowing their generals, and generals not knowing their soldiers. In addition, the huge noise of East African artillery fire further increased the difficulty of command, or rather, the command system of the Boer army was completely paralyzed.

After a round of artillery fire, the Boers had completely collapsed, and the East African army began to harvest them. Of course, because of the night, many Boers chose to run away, without confronting the East African army.

At this time, it was difficult for the East Africans to pursue these deserters. However, as long as the Boer riverfront positions were taken, the Boer Republic in the rear would have no defenses, and the Boer Republic government would not be able to gather these troops together in a short time.

East Africa’s three-pronged offensive went very smoothly. Only the west encountered a little trouble. The British army there was clearly more experienced than the Boers, but they only held out slightly longer than the Boers.

Although the number of Boer front-line troops was large, the rapid expansion of the army also made the Boer army internally mixed, especially some Orange Free Staters who had no intention of fighting.

Under their leadership, the Transvaalers also chose to flee. Only many of the original Transvaal Republic’s landlord class were staunch resistance fighters, after all, East Africa had previously harmed their interests. More of the lower-level Boers collapsed without a fight.

Chapter 748: Phase Two

The Battle of the Vet River shattered the fragile balance between East Africa and the Boer Republics. Overnight, the entire Vet River defense line of the Boer Republics was breached by East Africa.

By the next morning, after tallying the results, East Africa had captured or killed over twenty thousand Boer Republic soldiers, causing a direct collapse of the Boer Republic front lines.

However, a significant number of Boer soldiers, estimated at around ten thousand, retreated from the front lines, heading rapidly towards Bloemfontein.

Merkel: “After cleaning up the battlefield, all units will continue to pursue southwards. The western route will target Kimberley, the northern route will target Bloemfontein, and the eastern route will support the northern route units.”

Once Bloemfontein and Kimberley are captured, the war against the Boers will essentially be over. Subsequently, the Southern Military Region’s war situation within the Boer Republics will transition from offensive operations to counter-insurgency operations.

Bloemfontein and Kimberley are the only two major cities in the Boer Republics. After capturing these two locations, the Boer Republics will be left with no defensible positions.

Of course, East Africa’s biggest headache at the moment is dealing with the “legacy” left behind by the Boers at the Vet River front. First, there’s the treatment of the wounded, then the clearing of corpses, and finally the large amount of weapons and equipment left on the battlefield.

So many wounded and corpses require careful cleanup by East Africa’s follow-up forces. Africa basically has no winter, so leaving these corpses here could cause serious problems.

East Africa captured a total of fifty-three artillery pieces, which is estimated to be most of the Boer Republic’s artillery arsenal. The disparity in firepower between the two sides is obvious.

However, East Africa’s heavy artillery was mostly left on the north bank of the Vet River yesterday and did not participate in the battle. Therefore, the Boers had an advantage in firepower, but their effective artillery attack advantage was not brought into play.

The Boers couldn’t take these heavy artillery pieces with them either. The retreat at night was already rushed, so who had the time to drag these big things along to escape?

I’m afraid they wouldn’t have gone far before being captured along with their weapons and personnel by the pursuing troops.

…

East Africa’s achievements in the Boer Republics were quickly delivered to Earl Roberts’ desk. It must be said that this was very bad news for the Allied forces.

However, Earl Roberts had no way to help the Boers at this time. While East Africa launched a counter-offensive against the Boer Republics, parts of East Africa’s Eastern Military Region and Northern Military Region had already launched an offensive in northern Mozambique.

The Allied forces, which had previously been in a situation where “the situation was excellent,” immediately fell into a state of desperation.

“An East African cavalry division and three infantry divisions have launched an attack from the north. They have launched a fierce offensive against our north from the three directions of Kaya, Tambara, and Marromeu. Currently, except for the Kaya area, the other two directions have been broken through by the East African army.”

“If that’s the case, we can only give up the Zambezi River line now. Our forces are not sufficient, and the Zambezi River is too long to prevent East African troops from crossing the river. Therefore, it is most appropriate to launch the Pungwe River defense line as a place to withstand this round of East African counterattacks.”

The Pungwe River originates from Mount Nyangani in western Mozambique. Mount Nyangani is an important dividing line between the Matabele Plateau and the Mozambique Plain, and also the dividing point of East Africa’s Matabele Province’s military defense. This location is very dangerous, so it is not the focus of attention for East Africa and the Allied forces.

The main reason is that the Nyangani Mountains have basically not been developed. It is basically a primeval forest and mountains. Except for a small number of natives, there are basically no living people. This place does not have the conditions for marching.

Neither East Africa nor the Allied forces would use this as a breakthrough point. If the army passed through here, I am afraid that there would be a risk of self-collapse without fighting.

No roads are just one aspect. The second is the abundance of forests and vegetation. Large primeval forests cannot be traversed. In Africa, forests represent huge risks, various poisonous insects and diseases, and water sources are difficult to solve. Finally, the area is prone to natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides. Carelessness could lead to the annihilation of the entire army. It is currently the rainy season, and Mozambique has abundant rainfall.

The Pungwe River is also one of the important rivers in Mozambique. Its lower reaches have the Port of Beira, the second largest port in Mozambique in its previous life.

However, the Beira area is still a desolate land with few people. The city of Beira was built in 1887 in its previous life.

Now, in order to cope with the East African military threat, the Portuguese have abandoned many lands north of the rivers in Mozambique, and instead built more strongholds on the south bank.

Therefore, there is no Port of Beira on the north bank of the Pungwe River estuary. Instead, Antonio on the south bank of the Pungwe River estuary has been vigorously developed.

The so-called vigorous development, of course, does not refer to the economy, but to military purposes. From the beginning, the Mozambique colony clearly knew that if a war broke out with East Africa, it would definitely be greater in the north than in the south.

As for the east and west directions, there is no natural defense at all, so we can only take the initiative to launch an offensive from the west, using offense as defense.

“Earl Roberts, if we launch the Pungwe River defense line, can we use this river to resist the East African offensive? Now the various battle lines in the west have not achieved results. In the south, we have only separated East Africa’s New Hamburg port city from East Africa’s mainland, but have not eliminated the garrison in New Hamburg port city. I am afraid that the war situation will become increasingly unfavorable to us.”

Faced with everyone’s questions, Earl Roberts also found it difficult to think of a way to break the situation, because the difficulty of the war with East Africa greatly exceeded the Allied forces’ pre-war estimates.

East Africa directly withstood the pressure when facing the first wave of offensive from the Allied forces. This was something that Earl Roberts did not expect. After all, the total strength of the Allied forces this time has reached nearly five hundred thousand. Anywhere in the world, it would be enough to launch a major war, or even a war of annihilation.

The number of troops that Earl Roberts could directly command reached about three hundred thousand, but now three hundred thousand troops have not even taken down East Africa’s eastern defense line. This is a serious blow to the morale of the Allied forces.

East Africa only has more than seventy thousand troops on the eastern defense line, but it has withstood three times the strength of the Allied forces. Not to mention the Allied forces’ advantage in strength, the fact that East Africa can mobilize so many troops has already exceeded Earl Roberts’ expectations.

After all, East Africa not only has the eastern defense line, but also the Tugela River defense line, the Vet River defense line, the Orange River defense line, the Zambezi River defense line, and the west, these are the main battle areas.

In these main battlefields, East Africa has invested as many as two hundred thousand troops. East Africa also has troops in other areas that have not been mobilized, such as Jazirah City in the north, which is East Africa’s military stronghold to resist the British army in Egypt, and Dire Dawa, which is responding to British Somaliland. East Africa and Belgium, Abyssinia Empire, and the Italian Red Sea colony must also have troops to prevent emergencies, so East Africa’s military potential has been too underestimated.

Of course, in addition to East Africa’s excellent performance in terms of troop strength, what makes Earl Roberts even more unimaginable is the combat effectiveness of the East African Defense Forces.

The tactical level of the East African Defense Forces is completely no less than that of the British army, and even slightly stronger than the British army, which is very terrifying.

The British army is not the Portuguese, Indian, Boer, or black army, but the real British army. Currently, the number of British troops in the entire South African war has increased from 60,000 before the war to nearly 100,000.

This is also a very big pressure for the British mainland, but it has not played a big role in the South African battlefield, especially the allies Portugal, and other troops, the losses in the face of the East African army are even more tragic, and the level of combat effectiveness is worrying.

If we could go back to before the war, even if Earl Roberts replaced all the troops under his command with British soldiers, Earl Roberts would not dare to say that he could defeat East Africa.

Chapter 749: Heading South

All of this is understandable. After all, maritime powers and land powers have different priorities. East Africa currently places far more emphasis on its army than its navy.

Although East Africa’s standing army isn’t as large as those of the major land powers in Europe, it’s still not comparable to the reserves that Britain temporarily assembles from within the country.

The British standing army numbers only a few hundred thousand, and the majority of those are stationed in the home islands and India. The standing army certainly can’t be deployed to the South African theater in large numbers, as they must remain vigilant against changes in the European situation or to guarantee the security of various colonies.

Therefore, the British forces under Lord Roberts can’t be considered elite. Most of them are reservists or temporarily conscripted from within the country.

East Africa also temporarily increased its army by about one hundred thousand reservists, but many of East Africa’s reservists have military experience. Although they haven’t fought any major battles, they have no shortage of experience. Even some of the new recruits have undergone long-term military training, which is specifically reflected in East Africa’s compulsory education system.

…

Zambezi River defense line.

East Africa didn’t expend much effort breaking through the Zambezi River, because the Allied forces on the other side of the Zambezi River were very few in number and simply couldn’t support a confrontation with the East African army.

“Currently, our army has a total of four divisions heading south, including the newly formed 221st Division. The 221st Division belongs to the Northern Military Region, and the other three divisions belong to the Eastern Military Region, including the 111th Division stationed in the Lake Malawi industrial area, the original 112th Division of the Zambezi River defense line, and the 122nd Cavalry Division of Dodoma,” said Rosenwill, commander of the 112th Division.

The 112th Division was initially established by East Africa as the main force for the Ruvuma River defense line. Later, after the First East African-Portuguese War, the border between East Africa and Portuguese Mozambique was pushed south to the Zambezi River line, so the 112th Division’s station also moved south accordingly.

Therefore, this military operation against Mozambique is mainly led by the 112th Division, the old adversary of the Portuguese.

Division Commander Douglas said, “In reality, cavalry isn’t suitable for combat in southern Mozambique. Mozambique is currently in the rainy season. Although Mozambique has a large number of plains, they are divided by rivers and forests, so cavalry is actually less flexible than infantry.”

“Now is not the time to be picky. Other regions don’t even have the conditions to request cavalry support. Originally, the 221st Division and the 122nd Division, two cavalry divisions, were prepared to support the central battlefield, but the central battlefield is currently in a stalemate, so the General Staff sent the two cavalry divisions to the north.

Moreover, don’t use the road conditions of East Africa to speculate about the road conditions of Mozambique. If you were stationed on the border between East Africa and Mozambique year-round, you would know that the road conditions in Mozambique are simply a pile of ‘shit’. Although this road condition is very unfavorable to cavalry, the infantry won’t have it easy either. On the contrary, ships are very suitable as transportation tools,” Rosenwill said.

“The Zambezi River also has many tributaries in the lower reaches, but we don’t have enough ships, so even if we break through the Zambezi River defense line, it will be difficult to march within the area. These Portuguese are simply lazy ghosts. They haven’t built a few more roads in hundreds of years. Even if they built a few more simple dirt roads, it wouldn’t cause us any trouble.”

The biggest difficulty hindering the East African army from heading south is the road conditions in Mozambique. In fact, when East Africa didn’t have large-scale infrastructure construction in the beginning, the road conditions weren’t necessarily much better.

However, East Africa is mainly grassland, and although Mozambique also has a savanna climate, the rainfall and vegetation are much stronger than in the East African highlands, and there are correspondingly more rivers.

Therefore, after the East African Defense Force entered Mozambique, they clearly felt the kind of pain that the German army felt when they entered the Soviet Union in the previous life. This harsh transportation environment alleviated Lord Roberts’ pressure to a certain extent.

Of course, this cannot be a reason for the East African Defense Force to stagnate. In fact, the German army in its previous life also faced the problem of poor road conditions, but their initial advance speed was not slow at all.

“Our army should arrive at the Pungwe River line in Mozambique within a week. Currently, the main force of the Mozambique Allied forces is mainly being held back in the west, which is a good opportunity for us to head south,” Rosenwill said.

Douglas: “If we want to completely annihilate the Mozambique army that previously blocked us, we should advance this time by one or two days. I think marching forty kilometers a day should be a more appropriate pace. The Zambezi River is about two hundred kilometers away from the Pungwe River, so thirty kilometers a day is too slow. I’m afraid the enemy will have run back to Antonio by then!”

Rosenwill advanced the time again and said, “The Mozambique army is more familiar with the terrain than we are, so we will probably waste more time on the road. Therefore, without affecting our combat effectiveness, we should control the Pungwe River line in four days. After controlling the north bank of the Pungwe River, we can cut off the connection between the Portuguese and the area north of the Pungwe River, achieve an encirclement, and at the same time rest on the north bank of the Pungwe River.”

“This is basically the limit of an ordinary troop’s march, but it can indeed be considered in this way only for infantry. What’s more important is the destination of our two cavalry divisions. The cavalry divisions should play a greater role.”

“Therefore, the 122nd Cavalry Division should play a role this time. Their rapid mobility may be able to intercept the enemy in advance and eliminate risks in advance.”

Rosenwill also carefully considered the reason for choosing the 122nd Division as the vanguard. The 122nd Division is an old East African cavalry unit that has participated in many battles and has rich combat experience.

This war is being waged in enemy territory, and the East African Defense Force lacks understanding of Mozambique. In fact, not to mention East Africa, the Portuguese are probably not too familiar with the Mozambique colony.

In this case, the experience of the 122nd Division, an old unit, is even richer. Even if they encounter danger in Mozambique, they can deal with it more calmly, while the 221st Division of the Northern Military Region lacks relevant experience.

In fact, the mission of the 221st Division in Mozambique this time is to support the Eastern Military Region, not to undertake the main combat mission. After all, the 221st Division was established too recently and must first be broken in on the battlefield for a period of time. The 222nd Division, which was established even later, is still training in the Northern Military Region and doesn’t even have the opportunity to come into contact with the battlefield.

After formulating the battle plan, the East African army showed the enemy for the first time the speed of East Africa’s large-scale strategic march. The forces of four divisions quickly advanced to the rear of Mozambique.

As the vanguard, the 122nd Division bit down on the Portuguese blocking force that had withdrawn from the south bank of the Zambezi River the next day and severely damaged it. Then, the 2nd Brigade of the 112th Division joined the battle and completely annihilated the main force of this Portuguese army. Only a small number of Portuguese troops escaped.

However, no matter how fast they run, they can’t outrun four-legged horses. The 122nd Division, having completed its combat mission, arrived at the Pungwe River line in just two days and began to block it along the Pungwe River.

Subsequently, other East African troops began a game of hide-and-seek with the Portuguese routed troops north of the Pungwe River. These remnants of the Portuguese army, even if they wanted to fight against East Africa, lacked the strength. More Portuguese troops actively surrendered to East Africa.

As of late June, 1888, the original twenty thousand Portuguese troops (including blacks) on the north bank of the Pungwe River were completely annihilated by East Africa. Of course, there were also many “missing persons” in the Portuguese army, especially black deserters.

These missing persons are basically difficult to find. Most of them are blacks who took the opportunity to leave the Portuguese, and Mozambique is sparsely populated. East Africa cannot go deep into various places to search carefully, and can only wait until the end of the war to ferret out these hidden populations when developing Mozambique in the future.

Chapter 750: The Complaints of Portuguese Soldiers

While significant military breakthroughs were being achieved in two directions in East Africa, the colonial army in western Angola was also encountering trouble.

However, this trouble did not come from East Africa, but rather from the African environment and the Portuguese army’s own lack of preparation.

Luena was a small East African village in the central part of the Danube Province, established as a small stronghold during the western development of East Africa.

However, as East Africa implemented a scorched-earth policy in the western region, Luena had long been deserted, and the East African Defense Force eventually destroyed the village.

A small unit of the Angolan colonial army was the first to discover this place, but after finding it to be an empty village, everyone was greatly disappointed.

“Ording, damn it, this is another empty village. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it had been hit by a plague. There’s not a soul in sight!”

That’s just how the African climate is. If no one lives there, it will soon be swallowed by nature. The village of Luena was evacuated to the rear two months ago, and the ruins of the village are covered with various weeds and moss, and various small animals are nesting here, reflecting the “harmony” between “man and nature.”

“Chris Luther, stop complaining. It’s good enough to find a place to rest. I don’t want to sleep in the wild tonight. At least there are some remnants left by the East Africans here. Although they are in very bad shape, they can still provide some shelter from the wind and rain,” Ording said to his comrade.

Although it was just ruins, in the surrounding dense rainforest, the open space in Luena village, along with some ruins, seemed particularly welcoming.

Ording lay on a half-collapsed small earthen slope, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the sky, a pipe in his mouth, and said, “Look how wonderful the sunshine is! We’ve been dealing with the rainforest for months, and haven’t enjoyed such comfortable sunshine in a long time.”

The Portuguese army had been suffering greatly since entering the Danube Province of East Africa, especially from the dark and humid environment of the rainforest, and the harassment of various poisonous insects and wild beasts.

A waste like Luena village was enough to make Ording, who had suffered for two or three months, feel very satisfied.

“Speaking of sunshine, it’s true that we haven’t seen it for too long. The roads here are also very difficult to travel, or rather, there are no roads at all. Now I really want to know how the East Africans attacked Angola in the first place? Didn’t they have such troubles?” Chris Luther asked curiously.

Ording explained, “I heard the old people here say that the last war with East Africa was an attack on Angola from the south. The south is drier than the north. I heard that it’s all grasslands and deserts there, so the conditions are much better than here. After the last Portuguese-East African war, the kingdom was forced to cede the southern land to East Africa.”

“Then why don’t we take the south back? Anyway, we’ve already broken ties with East Africa. Can they really block our army from passing through? We rarely encounter East African troops here,” Chris Luther said.

“If only it were that simple. In fact, the south is the East African province of Letania, and we are here in the so-called Danube Province. The conditions in Letania Province are better than those in Danube Province. It’s a plateau, and it seems more habitable, so East Africa has a lot of troops stationed there. Although the conditions in Danube Province are harsh, there are no major battles to fight. All in all, there are advantages and disadvantages!”

Although the development of Letania Province is not very strong, the economic and population conditions in the eastern part of Letania Province far exceed those in Danube Province.

This is because Letania Province is also an important transportation route for East Africa to connect with southwestern Africa, the Kalahari Basin, and the central region.

Therefore, East Africa attaches greater importance to Letania Province. So this South African war can actually be seen as a war centered on central East Africa against the Allied forces. Regardless of the direction, the primary goal is to protect the industrial zone of the three central provinces. On the contrary, eastern East Africa, apart from experiencing naval battles, has not been greatly affected by the war.

However, these are things that Portuguese soldiers like Ording and Chris Luther cannot understand. Even the Portuguese military is confused and cannot figure out the situation in South Africa.

Although Portugal has a long colonial history in the Angola region, its understanding of the African interior is far inferior to that of East Africa, a latecomer.

In the past, Portuguese merchant caravans had traversed the African interior, thereby opening up trade routes from Angola to Mozambique, but those were all ruthless people who “sought wealth and danger,” and they were also not professional.

The commercial routes drawn by these unprofessional merchants have instead become the only maps that Portugal and the Allied forces can use, but East Africa’s development of Africa has made these maps long outdated.

Like Ording and Chris Luther’s unit, they are busy and disoriented in the Danube Province. The northern part of the Danube Province is dominated by a tropical rainforest climate and has never been developed on a large scale.

Therefore, the Portuguese army can only bite the bullet and search everywhere for roads leading to the East African hinterland. Luena village is one of their achievements.

This Luena village is not recorded on the Portuguese’s old maps. At the same time, there is another opposite situation, that is, many African native villages or tribes marked on the maps have disappeared from the maps.

This is obviously the “credit” of the East Africans. Apart from very vague mountain ranges, the Portuguese army cannot obtain any effective map information. Even so, the simple maps are full of loopholes, especially the errors, which are very large.

In short, the army on the northern line of the Portuguese Angolan colony, although it has not fought many major battles, has suffered more mentally. Staying here for a long time, it is better to go to the southern line and fight the East Africans to the death.

Just as Ording and Chris Luther were enjoying the sunshine, the voice of their comrade Mars came from their ears.

“The farmland around the village has also been destroyed by the East Africans. We also found a lot of ashes, and there are traces of smoke on the broken walls. The iron pots on the stoves have been taken away by the East Africans. The East Africans didn’t leave anything behind,” Mars said helplessly.

“Damn it, how can the East Africans endure this hellish place? Compared to Europe, the African environment is simply hell!”

“And now malaria is rampant in the army. Our non-combat attrition is very serious. Why haven’t the kingdom’s medicines been sent to the front lines yet?”

“Only a small number of local plantations have quinine, but they are asking for too high a price. We simply can’t afford it,” Ording explained.

“Damn it, these plantation owners think we are fighting on the front lines for whose benefit? Angola is just a colony. Without the kingdom’s support, they would have been annexed by East Africa long ago. At this time, they should fully support the front lines, instead of thinking about how to get rich. These greedy bastards,” Chris Luther cursed angrily.

“Fortunately, we haven’t had a large-scale epidemic, otherwise, according to the current environment, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to get treatment at all. Basically, it would be a ten-to-one chance of survival,” Ording said with emotion.

The reason why Ording and Chris Luther’s unit is special and has not had a large-scale malaria epidemic is not because of their special physique, but because they have been in Angola for a long time.

So a long time ago, they were infected with malaria, this terrible disease. At the same time, being in Angola for a long time has already eliminated the problem of acclimatization, so they can escape the disaster.

Of course, this is also thanks to the fact that they came early, when it was still peacetime, and medicines were not so scarce.

But even so, many comrades died in Africa. People like Ording are actually lucky ones who have been “screened” by the “environment” once, so they are not easily infected again and have a certain resistance. As for those with poor physiques, they have long been eliminated.

Chapter 751: Western Front Counterattack

The situation currently faced by the Portuguese troops stationed in Angola was actually similar to that encountered by early immigrants in East Africa.

It’s just that conditions in East Africa are much better now, especially in those developed provinces, which seem no different from other parts of the world.

…

Night.

Ording’s company decided to rest for the night in Luena village before continuing to search eastward for the East African army.

However, most of the Portuguese, including Ording, agreed that finding the East Africans would be very difficult.

Because for three months, they hadn’t seen what the East African National Defence Force looked like. Other units had engaged in firefights with the East Africans, but such things had almost become “legendary” among the troops invading the Danube Province.

So, after setting up a temporary camp, the defenses of Ording’s unit were very lax, with even few sentries.

After all, compared to the “elusive” East Africans, being able to sleep soundly in this unknown village “ruin” was the most important thing for the Portuguese who had suffered for months.

But sometimes things are just so coincidental. While Ording and his men were stationed in Luena village, a team of soldiers from the East African 411th Division happened to be in the same area.

“According to the map, Luena village is ahead. This used to be one of our reclamation villages, but after the outbreak of the war, the villagers were arranged to evacuate to the rear. It’s just that the Portuguese were too slow. They’ve only just reached here now. If we had known it would be like this, there would have been no need to evacuate Luena village in the first place,” said Ronal, the platoon leader of the team.

According to the Western Military Region’s plan, basically giving up nearly four-fifths of the entire Danube Province, the Portuguese should have been able to push their troops to at least two-thirds of the country.

But the Portuguese taught the East Africans a lesson: the Portuguese army’s efficiency was far slower than the East Africans had anticipated.

“Our scouts discovered smoke rising from Luena village at around six o’clock today, so we judged that there should be Portuguese troops stationed in Luena village. However, the exact number is unknown, but according to the scale of the smoke, the number must not be large. At the same time, the impact on the surrounding environment is also very weak. We didn’t see any birds or other animals being startled, so this unit should be a very small detachment of the Portuguese vanguard.”

“Our people didn’t go deep, for fear of stirring up a hornet’s nest, but it’s certain that this should be the front line reached by the Portuguese army. I’ve already notified the rear troops of this situation. According to the battalion’s orders, we should act according to our capabilities, but we don’t need to be overly cautious in this counterattack. If there are any unexpected situations, support can be easily obtained.”

Ronal looked at his watch and then said, “It’s seven o’clock in the afternoon now, so this Portuguese army probably hasn’t rested yet. After it gets completely dark at eight o’clock, our scouts will get closer to investigate the situation. If the other side doesn’t have many people, then we’ll wipe out this enemy force.”

Following Ronal’s arrangements, all the soldiers of the company began to close their eyes and rest against the tree trunks. At this time, the sun had already set, and it was slightly cold in the rainforest.

Because of the enemy, they couldn’t light a fire to avoid exposing their position. Before this, everyone had only eaten some compressed biscuits to fill their stomachs.

However, beneath the calm exterior of the company’s soldiers, their heartbeats were constantly accelerating, and everyone’s spirits were extremely high.

When it reached eight o’clock, the scouts set off again, wearing camouflage suits woven from green vegetation, and approached Luena village. To avoid ambushes set up by the enemy, the company’s scouts didn’t take the main road.

There was an inconspicuous road connecting Luena village to the outside world, but it was now overgrown with weeds. If you didn’t look closely, it would be really hard to see.

The scouts approached Luena village along the jungle beside the road. The location of Luena village was still easy to determine, because the Portuguese hadn’t extinguished the bonfire in order to keep warm. At this time, faint firelight flickered in Luena village.

This little bit of firelight could provide the East African scouts with accurate coordinates, so they very smoothly investigated the vicinity of Ording and his men’s station.

In just less than twenty minutes, the scouts returned and reported the situation to Ronal.

“Platoon leader, the enemy’s vigilance is very lax. They didn’t set up sentries on the main roads at all, and the same is true for the periphery of the village. There are only a few sentries near the camp. We weren’t discovered by them.”

“These Portuguese are really careless. Aren’t they afraid of encountering us and being caught off guard!”

“I’m afraid these Portuguese aren’t the main force. This level of mistake is unimaginable in our army. Even if they don’t deploy sentry posts on the main roads, they should at least arrange some manpower on the periphery!”

In fact, Ording’s unit hadn’t thought about the external passages of Luena village at all. After drilling through the jungle for several months, their vigilance had long been lost.

So, subconsciously, they didn’t think about this point in Luena village. Of course, Luena village was indeed a bit ridiculously dilapidated, especially the existing roads. If you didn’t look closely, it would be difficult to find. According to the current state of the Portuguese army, it would be difficult for them to directly notice this detail like the East African scouts.

Ronal didn’t know what to say about the scouts’ complaints. After all, he didn’t know much about the specific situation of the Portuguese army. Anyway, he wasn’t the commander of the Portuguese.

He asked, “What about the enemy’s strength?”

“It looks like there should be about a hundred people, probably also a company’s worth of troops, but their condition isn’t very good, and their equipment doesn’t look too sophisticated.”

Ronal said, “Very good, we should be able to take this force directly.”

“Platoon leader, are we attacking now?”

Ronal looked at the time again and said, “Continue to rest now. Anyway, the enemy can’t run away, and if we take large-scale action now, I’m afraid there will be unexpected changes. After eleven o’clock, when the enemy’s mental state is completely relaxed, we’ll sneak over and catch them off guard.”

In this way, time passed little by little, which was extremely torturous for the East African soldiers. After all, they couldn’t do anything at this time, while the Portuguese were slowly falling asleep in Luena village, quietly unaware of the impending threat.

After eleven o’clock, Ronal’s unit began to move. Led by the scouts, they approached Luena village “swaggeringly” along the road.

Along the way, it was as the scouts had said before. The Portuguese completely ignored this point. When they reached the periphery of the village.

With an order from Ronal, the company directly rushed into Luena village. At this time, the Portuguese had just fallen asleep and hadn’t reacted yet. They were held at gunpoint by the East Africans.

The entire war lasted for less than five minutes and ended with the victory of East Africa, with only sporadic gunshots.

Most of the Portuguese had become East African prisoners before they could react. At the same time, three Portuguese escaped.

However, escaping at this time was obviously not a good choice. The surrounding rainforest and the dark environment meant that even if they ran, they would probably get lost. What’s more, these Portuguese weren’t locals. As outsiders, they would basically have a slim chance of survival if they left the main force.

Twenty minutes after the battle, one of the escaped “unlucky guys” returned to surrender to the East African officers, because he simply didn’t know where to go, so he could only choose to surrender.

With the victory of the battle in Luena village, it also represented the first battle of East Africa’s counterattack against the Portuguese in the western region.

East Africa’s regaining control of Luena village also meant the first step in East Africa’s recovery of the Danube Province. This was the center of the Danube Province. As East Africa and the Portuguese came into contact here, a major war was imminent.

Chapter 752: Easy Target

The actions in western East Africa were a case of hitting rock bottom and bouncing back, but at this time, Earl Roberts, far away in Mozambique, had not yet received this news.

The command of the allied forces was divided into three parts by East Africa. When the Boer Republic was defeated, it could still send the results to Mozambique in time through the Cape Town communication line.

But Angola simply didn’t have this opportunity. After all, without East African consent, land telegraph lines simply couldn’t be built. And the coast had to pass through the Skeleton Coast of Southwest Africa, and laying such a telegraph line was destined to lose money, so no capital was willing to invest here.

Mozambique was special entirely due to the needs of the British army before the war. The Natal Colony and Mozambique only had a small New Hamburg port city between them, a short distance.

Therefore, the discontinuity in intelligence further gave East Africa an advantage in the war.

…

First Township.

The intelligence returning from each front made Ernst feel much happier. Currently, apart from within the Boer Republic, where the Boers were still putting up a desperate resistance, the other two key counter-attack locations could be said to be very smooth.

In comparison, the Portuguese performance was the “worst,” which was very much in line with Ernst’s impression of the Portuguese army. Portugal’s combat power, like its national fortune, had been in a state of decline, so you never knew the Portuguese’s bottom line.

At this time, Von der Leyen suggested to the Crown Prince, “The current situation shows that the situation is developing in a positive direction, so we should participate more actively and resolve the negative impact of the war on East Africa as soon as possible.”

The war had indeed brought some trouble to East Africa. In summary, there were advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, East Africa’s military industry was integrated and further optimized during the war. At the same time, the railway and communication systems, and the logistics system were all tested. The war also brought an increase in demand, and the production capacity of East African factories was more than doubled compared to before the war.

Of course, East African factories had already begun to increase production capacity before the war started. After all, this war was the result of East Africa and the allied forces moving towards each other, and everyone was prepared before the war.

However, this kind of wartime demand was only short-term. The main difficulty for the East African economy was still in foreign economic exchanges. Now, merchant ships flying the East African flag had disappeared and could only travel on the ocean under the flags of various countries.

At the same time, war had uncertainty. Now that the strength of the allied forces had been determined, it was not suitable to delay any longer. The longer the time, the more likely changes would occur.

At the same time, battlefields meant people would die. Although the population was not as scarce to East Africa as it once was, it was still a valuable asset, especially the young and middle-aged labor force who joined the army, which was relatively lacking.

Swete also thought so. He said, “The current situation on the battlefield is developing in a direction that is favorable to us. Especially after the reserve training is over, we can now replenish and even expand the frontline troops, and take the victory of the war with superior forces.”

Of course, Swete’s superior forces did not only refer to quantity, but also quality. Since the beginning of the war, East Africa had been dealing with the three countries with only half the strength of the allied forces, while the reserves were receiving military training in the rear.

Now East Africa was not only stronger than the allied forces in quality, but also in quantity. Although it may not be able to mobilize as many troops as the allied forces, the gap between the two sides should not be too large. At this time, investing another two hundred thousand was still within East Africa’s tolerance.

Ernst asked, “Does the General Staff have a detailed plan?”

Swete introduced, “We plan to invest fifty thousand troops on the western front. The Portuguese have the weakest combat power among the three countries, so it is easiest to solve the Portuguese army in Angola first. As long as the Portuguese army in Angola is resolved, we can also threaten the British army’s material supply line in the South Atlantic.”

“At the same time, the Nile River Military Region will also cooperate with the Western Military Region’s actions. From the current point of view, Belgium should not participate in the South African battlefield. In this case, we can let the troops of the Nile River Military Region in the northwest go south along the Ubangi River to support Kinshasa and pose a threat to northeastern Angola.”

“In this way, we can launch a large-scale battle of one hundred thousand people in the west, and wipe out the Portuguese colony of Angola in one fell swoop, resolving the military pressure in the western region. The new recruits on the battlefield, tempered by the Portuguese, can be re-invested in the eastern main battlefield. Coupled with our current geographical advantages, we can further compress the enemy’s living space.”

Picking the softest persimmon first, this was the plan of the East African Defense Force. According to the war data currently held by the Defense Force, the Portuguese lived up to expectations and became the “weakest link” of the allied forces.

As for the Boers, although they were defeated by East Africa on the front lines, the Boers’ fighting will and resistance ability exceeded East Africa’s expectations.

During the civil war, the various facilities established between the people of Transvaal and the Orange Free State for the war began to play a role, effectively delaying the speed of the East African army and bringing no small trouble to East Africa.

As a result, the main force of the Defense Force in the south could not get away and was forced to play “encirclement and suppression and counter-encirclement and suppression” with the people of Transvaal.

In order to ensure that no accidents occurred, Ernst did not order the Defense Force to reduce its manpower to support the eastern battlefield, but ordered the troops to fight steadily and clear out the Boer resistance forces step by step.

Of course, this was related to East Africa’s national policy of wanting to annex the Boer Republic. East Africa’s demand was “the land, not the people.” After all, the Boers and East Africa had formed a deep hatred.

Not to mention the people of Transvaal, even the people of the Orange Free State had a strong resistance mentality. Therefore, to keep this land within East Africa, all hidden dangers must be eliminated.

War was a very effective means. Back then, the Boers went north to escape the British. Now East Africa was just doing what the British had done again.

This required a lot of energy and time, and if there were too few people, there was a possibility of failure. East Africa’s application of fifty thousand main troops to the Boer Republic, which had a population of only more than three hundred thousand, was already a recognition of the strength of this small country.

“Within the Boer Republic, according to your Highness’s request, we are mainly focused on attrition. We are implementing a policy of dispersing the Boers. Currently, we have relocated more than four thousand people from the Boer Republic. Together with the more than twenty thousand prisoners, this is almost one-fortieth of the Boer population. A large number of Boers are fleeing towards Cape Town to avoid the war.”

“The soil on which the enemy relies to carry out guerrilla tactics is also being rapidly compressed. At this rate, the Boer ethnic group may only exist within the United Kingdom in the future.”

The main target of the Boers was to deal with the Transvaal guerrillas. This time, the people of Transvaal were not like the last time, unprepared. After being armed on a large scale by the British, coupled with years of sufficient war experience, and advantages such as familiarity with the terrain.

The East African frontline soldiers suffered a lot. The effective way for East Africa to deal with them was to physically eliminate the local population.

Of course, East Africa was not going to play the massacre game. On the one hand, it was plundering the Boer population, and on the other hand, it was destroying Boer villages and forcing them to relocate.

With this two-pronged approach, the Boer guerrillas lost the soil for resistance. Of course, if the British could provide effective support, it should be able to solve the Boers’ predicament.

But unfortunately, the United Kingdom was now in a state of sweeping the snow from its own doorstep, and not caring about the frost on other people’s roofs.

Chapter 753: Ending the War in Three Months!

The number of British troops in Cape Town was actually not large, and part of them were in Kimberley, but Kimberley had already been blockaded by East Africa, and this diamond-producing area was also forced to stop production.

This also touched the interests of many British mine owners. Now there are already calls for a ceasefire in the United Kingdom, but they are still very weak. After all, the situation is not yet determined, and temporary losses are acceptable.

Especially with the main force of the British army still on the eastern battlefield and showing no obvious signs of decline, this allows the pro-war faction in the United Kingdom to occupy an absolute advantage.

Under the crisis that the entire Cape Town may fall, the limited military strength of the Cape Town colony has used the main channel of the southern Orange River as a barrier, trying to prevent the invasion of the East African army.

In fact, East Africa currently has no plans to invade Cape Town. The Boer Republic alone has consumed a lot of East Africa’s energy.

And the situation on the eastern main battlefield is also very unfavorable for the British army, especially after the East African Eastern Military Region troops crossed the Zambezi River and captured the land north of the Pungwe River.

The sphere of influence of the Allied forces was further compressed in southern Mozambique. If the Save River falls next, the north will completely lose its natural barrier, and the East African army can go south unimpeded to take Maputo directly.

However, although the Allied forces have suffered losses on the eastern battlefield, their forces are also more concentrated, and each direction below has become more difficult to attack.

“To deal with the eastern battlefield, our current strategy is to have a decisive battle with the Allied forces with superior forces after the end of the Angolan war, and the New Hamburg port city in the enemy’s rear can also be reactivated.”

The periphery of New Hamburg port city has been lost for more than three months, but the main urban area has not been greatly affected. With the Allied forces’ offensive, two East African brigades, which is one mixed division, are stationed there.

As long as the East African Army reopens the central railway, it can activate New Hamburg port city, this strategic location.

Now the supply of materials to New Hamburg port city mainly depends on pre-war reserves, but it should not be able to last too long. Food is not a big problem, but the shortage of weapons and ammunition is.

Although New Hamburg port city has an arsenal, its production capacity is far less than the consumption of a division, especially under the continuous attacks of the enemy.

“New Hamburg port city is a key location, and its military strength is an important part of the eastern battlefield. Now the navy should try to strike the Allied navy in the South African waters from the sea, and the sea may also be the key for us to win the eastern battlefield,” Ernst reminded.

Archduke Ferdinand said from the side: “Our navy has repaired the two main battleships from the last naval battle, so this should still be able to retaliate against the British and Portuguese navies in the South African waters.”

The Allied navy in the eastern waters of Mozambique is not the main force of the British army, but belongs to the Cape Town navy and the Portuguese colonial navy.

Neither is strong, but before, the East African navy was worried that the British Royal Navy would attack East Africa like last time, so it mainly patrolled the northern end of the East African waters and monitored the British Seychelles colony.

From the current point of view, the last naval battle was also a major blow to the United Kingdom. After confirming that there was no risk in the short term, the East African navy could still spare some strength to support the South African battlefield.

Ernst: “With the cooperation of the navy, the army on the eastern main battlefield must also perform better, especially the garrison in New Hamburg port city. If this naval battle is won, we can control the southern waters without accident, so as to restore the logistics of New Hamburg port city. Taking New Hamburg port city as a base, we will increase our support for the eastern battlefield.”

If the shipping in New Hamburg port city is restored, East Africa can continuously transport materials from the eastern region to here, and at the same time, it can use this as a base to attack Durban and Maputo, and speed up the war process.

Ernst continued: “It would be best if the war can be ended as soon as possible, but we still need to be steady. My psychological expectation is that it can be ended by the end of this year. Of course, this mainly depends on the military. Do you have any disputes about the time?”

Schweinitz: “If everything goes well, we are confident that we can end the war within three months, but that may mean greater material support and sacrifice. So if we don’t rush for success, we should be able to end it within half a year.”

It is already July, and if the war is to be ended before the end of the year, there are only five months left, which is relatively urgent for the East African military.

However, according to the current war situation, even if the war cannot be ended this year, it should be able to consume a large amount of the enemy’s living forces.

The trend of the war still depends on the British’s support. Currently, the British are definitely more entangled than East Africa. After all, this South African war is an expedition.

East Africa is fighting on its own territory, and has a relatively complete independent military industrial system. East Africa’s population is also quite sufficient, which makes the East African army appear to be getting stronger and stronger, while the British’s combat effectiveness has generally declined seriously due to diseases, acclimatization, and losses.

And the two allies, the Portuguese are very unreliable, and the Boer’s volume is too small, now the South African war can be said to be a lone tree that is difficult to support.

Of course, the situation of the British army is not so bad that it has no power to fight, but with the continuous increase of the East African Defense Forces, the mentality of the South African British army will probably change day by day in the future.

Of course, the biggest mistake of the British army was the lack of information acquisition about East Africa before the war. This is the main reason why the British army fell into passivity.

According to inertial thinking, East Africa should be at most at the level of Brazil, but no one thought that East Africa was a jackal lying dormant on the African plateau.

The “insidious” part of East Africa lies in the low profile of the Hohenzollern family. Of course, Ernst actually thinks that East Africa is not too low-key, after all, the navy cannot be hidden.

However, the British will definitely disagree, after all, navies can be bought with money. Currently, the navies of the Far East Empire and Japan are built with money.

But being able to buy ships does not mean that they can quickly form combat effectiveness, and the East African navy, under the guidance of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, obviously has combat capabilities.

But what is even more surprising is the ability of the East African army. Now the British completely regard the East African army as an opponent of the same strength as those on the European continent.

The East African army is not worse than the British army in any aspect, and even stronger in many aspects, which is the most uncomfortable thing for the British government.

Currently, the British government also feels huge pressure on the delay of the war. Whether to continue to invest in the South African war is the hottest topic in the British Parliament recently.

After all, how much military potential does East Africa have? What if the British Empire continues to invest and cannot achieve results!

If Ernst encountered this situation, I am afraid it would be difficult to choose, and Ernst’s psychological expectation for the British military strength is based on the Boer War in his previous life as a reference.

But facing East Africa, the British obviously do not have the determination to eliminate the Boer Republic as they did in their previous life. The Boers are making trouble, but they cannot threaten the United Kingdom. As long as they continue to exert pressure, the Boers will collapse sooner or later.

After all, the Boer’s volume is so large, but East Africa is not that kind of small country, so the United Kingdom is extremely cautious in dealing with opponents like East Africa.

When they cannot win on the battlefield, the British begin to consider practical interests.

Chapter 754: The Predicament of the East African Navy

New Hamburg Port City.

With the East African Defense Force retreating to this location, focusing on the urban area, East Africa established multiple lines of defense to resist the combined forces of the Natal Colony and Mozambique.

“Currently, based on the material reserves of New Hamburg Port City, we can hold out for more than two months. At the same time, maintaining the production of New Hamburg Port City is the main problem facing our army. In particular, steel reserves are insufficient. The only thing New Hamburg Port City doesn’t lack now is coal. Before the British army blockaded New Hamburg Port City, it was one of East Africa’s coal export centers, and a large amount of coal was stored in the docks and the city.”

“But coal alone can only maintain the operation of factories and electricity in the city. The lack of iron ore and other raw materials prevents the armory from maintaining the production of weapons. Now our weapons and equipment can only be maintained with a small number of parts.”

In simple terms, it’s patching things up to barely maintain the losses in the war. However, New Hamburg Port City is not a key area for East Africa’s military industry deployment, so its production capacity is very limited.

Moreover, New Hamburg Port City faces greater military pressure than any other city in East Africa. The war has never stopped, so even the supply of spare parts is stretched thin.

“Now we can rely on seizing some supplies from the enemy, but it’s just a drop in the bucket. The armory’s raw materials have even started to dismantle some equipment to obtain raw materials. This kind of loss恐怕连半个月都支撑不下去, unless we only rely on rifles as weapons, and have to endure the shortage of ammunition.”

This is something that the East African Defense Force, which is used to fighting a war of abundance, has never encountered before.

“But there is also good news. The General Staff has decided to open up the sea transportation channel. The specifics depend on the navy’s performance. Regarding this, Rear Admiral Bruce, what is your navy planning to do?”

Until now, the New Hamburg Port City Navy has not made any major moves in the war. Rear Admiral Bruce, the highest military officer of the New Hamburg Port City Fleet, has adopted a “strategy of avoiding battle.”

“The navy has indeed received the headquarters’ message. Next week, the navy will attack the Allied navy in the Mozambique Channel. At that time, our New Hamburg Port City fleet will definitely have to cooperate. If nothing unexpected happens, the sea routes between New Hamburg Port City and the east will soon be reopened.” Rear Admiral Bruce said to Aristotle.

Rear Admiral Bruce’s words eased the pressure on the army. Before the war, the army relied most on the railway and highway systems, but currently the railways and highways connecting New Hamburg Port City to the outside world have been cut off by the Allied forces.

As a port city, New Hamburg Port City’s shipping conditions are among the best in East Africa, and it is also the key point easiest to break through the enemy’s blockade.

Although the East African Navy faces great defense pressure, it is also the strongest in the western Indian Ocean. It only needs to divert a little strength to solve the problem quickly.

In the final analysis, East Africa currently lacks a stable military base in the Indian Ocean, so it is in a situation of having strong strength but nowhere to exert it.

The islands in the Indian Ocean are mainly concentrated in the east. There are very few islands available in the central and eastern regions. Among them, the most critical for East Africa are the Seychelles and Socotra Island.

Both of these islands are under British control, which puts the East African Navy directly under pressure from the north and east.

Starting from these two islands, they can directly approach the East African coast. This is very similar to the United States, but the United States is far away from other continents, making military intervention difficult.

However, East Africa is very close to the traditional major powers of Eurasia. If the military level of various countries is ignored, the East African waters actually have no security to speak of.

Of course, as a late-developing country, East Africa’s management of the ocean is currently very advanced. It is a pity that East Africa was founded too late to achieve control over the islands closest to East Africa.

For example, Socotra Island controls the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and also restricts East African shipping lanes. Britain intervened in the local regime as early as the mid-18th century, and incorporated Socotra Island into its protection in the 1770s.

There is even less to say about the Seychelles. It is a trophy Britain obtained from the French and one of the important pillars of Britain’s Indian Ocean security.

The only strategic pillar island that East Africa can offer is the Comoros Islands, but the main role of the Comoros Islands is to contain the Mozambique Channel and Madagascar.

But there are basically no major forces with serious threats to the south of East Africa, unless regional powers emerge in South Africa and Madagascar.

This is basically impossible. To put it bluntly, Madagascar is an isolated island in a corner, and its own value, apart from rich minerals, has nothing to covet.

Only countries like Britain and France, which have global naval strategies, are somewhat interested in Madagascar, and South Africa, which is now Cape Town, is famous for controlling the Cape of Good Hope.

However, since the opening of the Suez Canal, its strategic position in the world has been severely weakened. In its previous life, Cape Town occupied an important position in world shipping, mainly because some large ocean-going ships, mainly oil tankers, could not pass through the narrow Suez Canal.

But in the 19th century, when the oil industry was just starting, there were no such big guys to support Cape Town’s economic value.

Of course, the British will definitely not let go of Cape Town. After all, the Suez Canal is just the best option, but not the only option. The forces in the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and even the Indian Ocean may threaten the security of the Red Sea route. At this time, the value of Cape Town as a backup is reflected.

Of course, this kind of shipping value is for maritime transportation between Eurasia. If the perspective is shifted to the east and west coasts of the African continent, then the strategic positioning of Cape Town is different.

In the early days, there was only one sea passage connecting the two coasts of the African continent, namely Cape Town. After the opening of the Suez Canal, there were two.

However, the shape of the African continent is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. To say nothing else, the East African coast gradually extends from south to north. This can be directly reflected in the topography of Somalia. The Somali coastline is a straight line extending in the northeast direction. Therefore, even from East Africa to Trieste, Austria-Hungary, the distance is actually very far, almost equivalent to the western coast of India.

Therefore, detouring from the north and taking sea transportation is possible, but the cost is too high, and the mileage directly doubles or triples.

The south can well reflect the importance of Cape Town to African shipping. For example, from New Hamburg Port City to Oranjemund in East Africa, it is only more than two thousand kilometers.

More than two thousand kilometers seems like a lot, but taking the northern route is only the distance from Mogadishu to Djibouti. The Red Sea itself is more than two thousand kilometers, and to Austria-Hungary it is six thousand kilometers or more.

But Mogadishu is also a northern port for East Africa. If you travel from Mombasa or Dar es Salaam to Austria-Hungary, the distance is even greater.

This is only Austria-Hungary. If you go to farther areas, the detour will be even more exaggerated. For the African continent itself, the status of Cape Town is evident.

Of course, if East Africa builds a continuous east-west “road and bridge” in the future, the situation may be very different. The only pity is that East Africa’s water transportation conditions are too poor. Otherwise, by networking inland rivers, it could completely replace most of Cape Town’s economic value.

Chapter 755: The Tables Have Turned

The main way to connect the east and west coasts of East Africa is still through railways. Of course, connecting via waterways is not impossible, but it is definitely not something East Africa can achieve at present.

That would involve connecting the Zambezi River Basin and the Congo River Basin, which would require the construction of a large number of water conservancy projects to improve navigation conditions between the two basins.

Even in the twenty-first century, such a project would be virtually impossible to realize. The Zambezi River Basin alone is extremely difficult to tame.

Of course, if railways and highways were used to connect these intermittent inland waterway routes, it would not be too difficult for East Africa.

However, these ideas are too far-fetched for the current East Africa. Even after the nationwide water conservancy construction in East Africa during the 1970s and 1980s, East Africa still has a large number of natural rivers that have not been transformed, and conquering these rivers and waters will probably take hundreds of years to gradually complete.

…

August 4, 1888.

Under the premise of ensuring that the British Royal Navy in the east and north had no unusual movements, the East African Navy dispatched a fleet of two battleships, six gunboats, and ten auxiliary ships to the Mozambique waters.

Faced with this “powerful” naval force, the Allied naval forces were unable to cope at all, and the Allied warships urgently withdrew to Durban and Maputo to preserve their strength.

The sea route from eastern East Africa to New Hamburg Port City was restored. Although there were still Allied naval forces attacking and raiding the route, they were basically unable to achieve anything significant.

At the same time, with the ebb and flow of the situation, the East African Navy retaliated in kind for how the Allied forces had previously blockaded New Hamburg Port City, imposing a military blockade on Maputo and Durban. The attacking and defending positions of both sides were reversed.

At the same time, this naval operation also completely declared that the balance of war was developing in a direction favorable to East Africa. Whether on land or at sea, East Africa had already grasped the initiative in the war.

The role of the Comoros Islands as a base for the East African Navy was also fully activated, becoming a reliable strategic fulcrum for the East African Navy and playing a huge role in blockading the Allied forces.

At the same time, in response to the decision of the Naval Headquarters, the New Hamburg Port City Naval Detachment also switched from defense to offense and began to confront the Cape Town Navy in the Durban waters.

The premise of a fox exploiting a tiger’s might is that there is indeed a tiger. Although Rear Admiral Bruce’s strategy led to the East African Navy having basically no accomplishments in the Mozambique Channel in the early stage, it preserved its strength.

The strength of the New Hamburg Port Navy is definitely insufficient against the British army, but it has the strength to fight the Portuguese Navy in Mozambique.

With the loss of sea control, it is now the Allied forces who should be having a headache. At present, the only supply route for the Allied forces is the narrow area along the eastern coast of the Drakensberg Mountains.

However, with the resumption of supply of materials to New Hamburg Port City, the two brigades of East Africa in that area are also preparing to enter the counter-offensive phase.

At the same time, the Southern Military Region will also send troops to cooperate with the New Hamburg Port City garrison to launch an offensive and regain control of the southern border province section of the Central Railway.

In this way, East Africa will completely cut off the only external channel of the Mozambique Allied forces, forming a “close the door and beat the dog” war situation.

According to the economic strength and industrial capacity of the Mozambique colony, it is obviously impossible to support the main force of the Allied forces with supplies.

East Africa has invested a lot of industry in New Hamburg Port City, which ensures that when the East African Defense Force is trapped in this place, although it is very difficult, it can still guarantee a military presence in the area.

And it has the ability to launch multiple tit-for-tat large-scale tactical operations during the siege, which Mozambique obviously does not have.

Although Mozambique has been preparing for war for a long time, all its energy is mainly concentrated around Maputo.

Maputo is like Paris in France. If Paris falls, the will of France to resist will basically plummet.

Maputo is just as important to Mozambique, but Maputo is even more dangerous than Paris. After all, Paris is in the hinterland, while Maputo is on the coast.

Now the East African Navy can bombard Maputo, which is the same as the Allied forces bombarding New Hamburg Port City.

It will be difficult for East Africa to break through this solid and huge military fortress in a short period of time, so encirclement is a prerequisite for solving Maputo.

However, Maputo still has a considerable hinterland, and the resources of the entire southern Mozambique can still be transported to Maputo.

The East African Navy is definitely powerless to do anything about this, and can only target Portuguese and British ships on the sea, cutting off the supply of materials from the two countries to Mozambique.

The final battle still depends on the operations of the army, and the current idea of the army is to give priority to solving the Portuguese army in Angola.

If they want to concentrate their superior forces, they need to wait until the overall situation in Angola is settled. Of course, if the Southern Military Region’s operations against the Boer Republic can end sooner, East Africa also has the ability to conduct large-scale two-front operations.

This possibility exists. At present, the main war in the Boer Republic is the security war against Bloemfontein and some areas.

Bloemfontein is the capital of the Boer Republic. It is the concentration of the last foundation of the Boers and also a difficult point in the military operations of the Southern Military Region.

Bloemfontein not only serves as a military fortress, but also connects the rear of the Boer Republic. Cooperating with other Boer armed forces and the British army, it has now formed the prototype of the second line of defense of the Boer Republic.

Overall, from the map, it protrudes into the southern battlefield in a triangular shape, and the Boer forces are compressed within the triangular area.

The British army in the direction of Cape Town has been doing its best to reinforce this area. As for Kimberley, which the British army originally valued, it has been abandoned.

Kimberley’s location is not very good. The most important thing is that the local economic foundation exists entirely for the development of the diamond industry, and its comprehensive conditions are far inferior to those of Bloemfontein, a naturally formed city.

Of course, from the perspective of Cape Town, Kimberley’s priority is definitely above Bloemfontein, but Cape Town is not just a city, but the general term for the British South African colonies.

The rear supporting the front line is actually not Cape Town City, but the southeastern port cities of Port Elizabeth and East London in South Africa.

The British had already developed and built Port Elizabeth as early as 1820, and East London Port was also built in 1847.

The two places are important economic centers in the southeast of the Cape Town colony. The British’s emphasis on these two places can be seen from the names alone.

Cape Town City is located in the southwest corner of the Cape Town colony, and the transportation conditions between it and the inland hinterland of the Cape Town colony are not very convenient.

The distance from Port Elizabeth and East London to the Boer Republic is only more than 400 kilometers, while the straight-line distance from Cape Town to the Boer Republic exceeds 700 kilometers.

Moreover, the climate conditions to the north and east of Cape Town City are harsh, far inferior to those in the southeastern region, which can also be seen from the density of roads and settlements.

Therefore, the British can only choose to support Bloemfontein as the center to conduct military defense against East Africa. Of course, support is only support.

The British army has already begun to build a defense line on the north bank of the Orange River and is not very optimistic about Bloemfontein. Now it is mainly to buy time.

Once Bloemfontein falls, the road to the south for East Africa will basically be smooth, and only the Orange River has a little value for utilization.

However, the British population in Cape Town is a fatal weakness. At this time, the importance of the Boer Republic is even more important. Even within Cape Town, the Boer population has an advantage. If the Boers of the Boer Republic are added, the Boer population in the entire South Africa will have an absolute advantage.

Therefore, uniting the Boers to fight against East Africa is almost the only option for the British. Under such circumstances, the Boer Republic government, headed by the Bloemfontein government, is currently the only option for the British.

Chapter 756: Textile Industry Crisis

With the threat of war, East Africa’s foreign trade has been severely affected, especially the various bulk goods imported by East Africa, including important industrial raw materials such as cotton, coal, and iron ore.

Coupled with the stimulation of domestic demand under the war, this has led to an imbalance between supply and demand in East Africa.

Under such circumstances, the East African government has had to take corresponding measures to ensure domestic strategic security.

Part of East Africa’s textile industry is not located in the country, but in the Far East. Although a complete textile industry system has been built, the overall scale cannot meet local demand.

There are many reasons for this, including the late start of cotton planting in East Africa, relative labor shortages, few planting areas, and relatively less national investment in heavy industry.

Von der Leyen said: “This year, our country has been affected by the war, and the import of textiles has been affected by freight, risks and other issues, and prices remain high. Under such circumstances, cultivating and strengthening the local textile industry is an essential means.”

“Customs data shows that this year our total imports of textiles have decreased by about eighteen percent, but import prices have only decreased by three percent. The main reason for this problem is that under the war, Britain’s blockade of our country has greatly affected our shipping industry, and hiring ships from other countries to transport goods also faces price increases and other problems.”

“The textile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, and it is also a pillar industry in our country. However, compared with other countries in the world, especially European and American countries, the East African textile industry as a whole is characterized by small scale, low efficiency, high production costs, and inability to fully meet domestic demand. Therefore, strengthening the construction of the textile industry should be put on the government’s agenda.”

The East African textile industry has been able to develop entirely relying on a closed market. If it has no competitive advantage in international competition, countries like Britain (India), the United States, and several other powers are much stronger than East Africa in the textile industry, and even Japan is.

Although East Africa is following a similar path to Germany, with heavy industry as the core and prioritizing the development of steel, railways, etc., there is an important difference: Germany had a good textile industry foundation before unification.

At that time, East Africa may not have even had a textile industry. In recent years, it has successively opened up four major cotton producing areas, namely the Somalia producing area, the White Nile River producing area, the northwest producing area of the East African Plateau, and the western producing area of Matabeleland Province.

Don’t be fooled by the grand names. In fact, the output of the other producing areas is pitifully low, except for the northwest producing area of the East African Plateau. In particular, only the city of Gezira produces cotton in the White Nile River producing area.

As for the Matabeleland Province producing area, its future potential is indeed not small, but it is still in the development stage. The output of the Somalia producing area is also very limited, because the Somalia producing area has too many rich cash crops. With limited population and energy, cotton planting is only a part of the Somalia producing area.

Of course, the greatest value of the Somalia producing area lies in the planting of long-staple cotton, which is an important pillar of East Africa’s high-end cotton industry. Only the White Nile River producing area can compare with it.

The main crops in the White Nile River producing area are only wheat and cotton, so it can compare with the two river basins of Somalia in terms of long-staple cotton production.

However, it is undeniable that both have great potential for growth, and there is still a lot of land that has not been effectively utilized and developed.

The main constraints in the White Nile River producing area and the Somalia producing area are population and water conservancy construction, both of which are indispensable. For example, many crops planted in the Somalia producing area are concentrated along the Shebelle River and Juba River. If more canals and water diversion facilities can be built, it can expand to both banks. This is actually the development path of Egypt’s planting industry along the Nile River.

It’s just that the conditions of the Nile River in Egypt are better than the rivers in East Africa. Under the natural law of periodic flooding, the available land can be effectively expanded. In East Africa, only the Shebelle River has a similar function.

However, the Shebelle River has its own drawbacks, that is, flooding can not only transform farming conditions, but also cause flood disasters, so the Shebelle River must be effectively managed.

And now East Africa does not have the energy to do this in the Northern Province, mainly due to population constraints. After all, the Nile River in Egypt is densely populated, while the population of the two river basins in Somalia is less than one-twentieth of that of Egypt.

The current Egypt is not as small as it was in my previous life, and it also includes most of Sudan’s territory. The population is over ten million. The population of Egypt’s core territory should be around ten million, while Sudan should also have two to three million people.

East Africa lacks people, mainly a lack of labor force, so it does not have a cost advantage in developing the textile industry.

However, under the current war situation, the East African textile industry is threatened by the war, which means that East Africa cannot ignore the development of the textile industry, at least it should be able to meet its own needs.

And the bulk of the textile industry is the cotton textile industry. Other types of textile industries in East Africa are actually even more incomparable with foreign countries, including the wool textile industry, silk textile industry, etc.

The only one that can be shown off is the linen textile industry. East Africa’s linen textile industry is distributed throughout the country, mainly in the eastern region, because it started the earliest and the government strongly supports it, so it has developed the best.

However, the contribution of linen textiles to the civilian living field is definitely not as good as that of the cotton textile industry, especially in the field of clothing.

Currently, East Africa’s main textile companies are focused on serving the front lines, which has affected the domestic civilian textile industry.

Ernst said: “The major countries in the world basically have advanced textile industries. Our East Africa naturally cannot lag behind. Developing a textile industry that matches East Africa’s national strength should also be put on the agenda.”

“During the First Industrial Revolution, many representative inventions were closely related to the textile industry, such as water-powered looms, mules, steam engines, etc. It can be said that the textile industry created Britain’s hegemonic position.”

“And the huge market needed to develop the textile industry is one of the driving forces for Britain’s continuous external expansion and development of colonies.”

“In order to ensure the healthy development of our country’s textile industry, we must not blindly expand production, but should be technology-oriented and constantly catch up with the international advanced level.”

“Of course, our huge land advantage should also be fully utilized. East Africa’s unique climate conditions are lacking in many countries. Increasing cotton production should also be a priority to solve the raw material problem.”

“Therefore, East Africa’s cotton industry in the future should be diversified, forming several core areas, especially building a new major producing area on both sides of Lake Malawi.”

Ernst focused on Lake Malawi, because it was an important cotton growing area in Africa in his previous life. Countries such as Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania all have cotton growing industries in this area in his previous life.

For example, Malawi’s important source of revenue is cotton and tobacco, and Zambia’s main cotton growing areas are also concentrated in the Eastern Province near Lake Malawi.

Tanzania and Mozambique do not necessarily only have this one option. Many places on the East African Plateau are suitable for cotton planting, so basically the entire territory of Tanzania is fine. Mozambique’s cotton planting in his previous life was concentrated in the Zambezi River valley.

Of course, the choice of new cotton planting bases also takes into account Ernst’s industrial layout considerations. Compared with Matabeleland Province and Swabia Province, Hohenzollern Province in the central three provinces of East Africa has developed relatively slowly, mainly because its resource conditions are relatively weaker than the other two.

Therefore, the development of the economy of Hohenzollern Province should focus on a model that combines light and heavy industries, so that it can better make up for the economic shortcomings in central East Africa, and at the same time reasonably utilize East Africa’s land resources.

Chapter 757: Falling Apart

Besides the textile industry being affected, foreign trade in coastal areas was basically impacted to varying degrees.

Fortunately, the British didn’t push things too far, otherwise East Africa would have been in serious trouble. Of course, the reason this situation arose was naturally due to East Africa’s own strength.

East Africa was worried about its trade being affected, and Britain had similar anxieties. Just like Egypt and Somaliland were also threatened by East Africa, and although the East African navy found it difficult to defend against British naval attacks from the east and north.

Similarly, Britain’s Indian colony also had such anxieties, especially with the East African navy still possessing some strength.

Britain could strangle East Africa’s foreign trade routes, and East Africa also had the ability to cut off the connection between Britain and India, which made both sides hesitant to act rashly.

Therefore, the South African War was generally within the controllable range of the two countries, and it was also a probing exercise. As for a larger conflict and war, neither was the optimal choice.

……

Mungo City.

As the western terminus of the Central Railway, it was an important hub for East Africa’s major counteroffensive against Angola. Originally, Mungo City had a population of only three thousand, but now a large number of troops were gathering here every day, and then heading to the western front.

The army for the Angolan counteroffensive was mainly composed of reserves, with the framework being jointly formed by retired soldiers and combat veterans.

Such an army naturally had little war experience to speak of, and this was also an important reason why East Africa chose to launch the counteroffensive in Angola.

Compared to the British army, the Portuguese army was a soft persimmon in the eyes of East Africa, which could effectively achieve the purpose of training troops.

“Don’t be afraid when you encounter the Portuguese. To be honest, the Portuguese’s combat awareness is not even as good as some natives. Moreover, their army has a low level of education, weak coordination ability, and poor equipment. When you see the Portuguese, give full play to our army’s firepower advantage.”

Helade, an East African veteran who had retired and been re-enlisted, was instilling his combat experience into these young men.

“Mr. Helade, are the Portuguese really worse fighters than the natives?”

“Of course I wouldn’t lie to you. This is all my personal experience. Although Portugal is a relatively famous country in the world, and its strength was not weak in the past, Portugal has long lost the vigor of its ancestors.”

“To put it simply, in the last East African-Portuguese war, we only used two divisions to defeat the Portuguese, who were utterly routed. They had no resistance at all. Even if they have made some progress in recent years, I’m afraid it’s not much.”

“Why?” someone asked Helade curiously.

“Because they lack money. The Portuguese kingdom’s economy has completely rotted, so their soldiers themselves are in a very poorly paid profession. The last time we fought the Portuguese, they were still using outdated weapons, even old-fashioned firearms from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.”

“A country that cannot even meet the needs of its weapons and equipment naturally cannot compete with other countries. This can also be seen from the uniforms of the Portuguese army.”

“At the beginning of the Age of Exploration, the Portuguese army was very well-equipped. Now, the uniforms of the Portuguese army, especially the colonial army, are even simpler than our old East African army uniforms.”

“I believe you have all seen the old East African army uniforms, which were simplified versions of the German army uniforms. The Portuguese cannot even unify this simplified version of the army uniform, and the organization of the troops is also very chaotic.”

“Based on my previous experience, the Portuguese will collapse with just one charge. I don’t know if they have made any progress in recent years.”

Helade said. In fact, the most important factor for the combat effectiveness of an army is the issue of the army’s treatment. The Portuguese army has long rotted from its roots.

Taking the current Angolan army as an example, although conditions have improved somewhat, it is a drop in the bucket, and as the war progresses.

The Portuguese soldiers’ war-weariness is getting higher and higher, and desertion has even begun to occur.

In the early stages of the war, Portugal could barely afford the soldiers’ military expenses, but Portugal had too many troops.

Portugal itself has a population of only a few hundred thousand, while the armies of Angola and Mozambique have reached more than one hundred thousand. This does not even include the black auxiliary troops. For Portugal, military expenditure is a heavy burden.

By the middle of the war, Portugal had already begun to delay the payment of military expenses, at which point the Portuguese soldiers could still bear it.

Now, the Portuguese government has begun to give up, and can only give soldiers empty promises, the most important of which is to go to East Africa to “kill, burn, and loot.”

However, empty checks still have a slim chance of being realized, but the goal of fighting the war with war and making a fortune in East Africa has not been achieved.

Because East Africa has actively implemented a “scorched earth” policy, which makes it impossible for Portuguese soldiers to generate extra income, and even the basic problem of food and clothing cannot be solved.

Under such circumstances, the mentality of the Portuguese grassroots soldiers naturally directly “exploded,” so that by the middle of the war, the Angolan colonial army began to enter a state of giving up, which is also an important reason for the slow progress of the Portuguese.

Now the Portuguese soldiers are completely being exploited by the Portuguese government, and this result is a complete surprise to East Africa.

Early August, 1888.

The fully prepared East African army officially launched a full-scale counteroffensive against Angola. East Africa attacked Angola simultaneously from the north, central, and southern directions.

As East Africa had expected, the Portuguese army was indeed the lower limit of the Allied forces’ combat effectiveness, and the black auxiliary troops lost their formation before the war even started.

Then, East Africa’s “free” artillery bombardment caused the black auxiliary troops to have a mental breakdown, and the Portuguese did not perform much better.

Many Portuguese soldiers passively resisted, simply firing blank shots into the sky, and even some units surrendered directly to East Africa as a whole.

This was greatly beyond East Africa’s expectations, and the reason for the Portuguese surrender was also laughable, that is, the food was too poor.

East Africa achieved great results on all three fronts, advancing the front line by more than fifty kilometers within a week.

What really hindered the progress of the East African army was not the Portuguese army, but the aftermath of East Africa’s “scorched earth” policy.

East Africa’s scorched earth policy had a significant impact on the enemy, but now it has become a stumbling block on the road to East Africa’s annexation of Angola.

East Africa’s scorched earth policy included the destruction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and settlements. Now the situation of offense and defense has changed.

The East African Defense Forces have to remove the mines they buried themselves, which greatly delays the speed of the march.

However, compared to the troubles encountered by East Africa, the Portuguese side is really surrounded by enemies on all sides, especially on the northern front of East Africa. The East African Nile River Military Region troops directly arrived at the Kinshasa front along the Ubangi River.

Kinshasa is the closest military town to Portugal in East Africa. It is only more than three hundred miles away from here to the core area of Portugal’s Angolan colony.

Moreover, the main force of the Angolan colony is mainly distributed in the central and southern regions, and there are not many troops in the north to resist the southward advance of the Nile River Military Region troops.

This is also the aftermath of the last war. During the first East African-Portuguese war, East Africa directly entered the heart of Angola from the central and southern regions, and directly threatened the safety of Benguela and Luanda.

Therefore, this time Portugal deployed heavy troops in the east and west, thus ignoring the water transport conditions of the Congo River.

Of course, this cannot be blamed on the Portuguese, after all, most of the Congo River is in the hands of East Africa, and the Portuguese have no channel to understand it.

Chapter 758: 331st Division

Kinshasa.

The 331st Division of the East African Defense Force is responsible for military operations in this area. The 331st Division is under the Nile Military Region and is also the region’s ace unit. In its early years, the 331st Division was one of East Africa’s elite forces.

The 331st Division focuses on training in various harsh environments such as rainforests and mountains. It is stationed in the western part of the Nile Military Region. Before the expansion of the East African army, the 331st Division was one of the five divisions, besides the Guards Division, that were fully staffed.

The division headquarters is located in Bangui, the capital of the Azande Province, so the division’s southward support to Kinshasa is mainly through the Ubangi River, and then onto the main channel of the Congo River, making transportation very convenient.

To the north of the 331st Division is the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, and to the west is the Belgian Congo colony. Currently, the relationship between these two countries and East Africa is good, so the military pressure is relatively small, which provides conditions for the 331st Division to support the Angolan battlefield to the south.

With the start of the western counteroffensive, the 331st Division has successfully defeated the Portuguese army on the outskirts of Kinshasa and taken over the city’s defenses.

With the Kinshasa crisis resolved, the 331st Division also plans to gain greater achievements in the war. Attacking the heart of the Angolan colony, that is, the Atlantic coast of western Angola, is undoubtedly the key to ending this war as quickly as possible.

Subsequently, the city of Kinshasa became the temporary command post of the 331st Division headquarters.

Lieutenant General Kaster, the commander of the 331st Division, is formulating a strategy against Portugal. With the expansion of the army, although the 331st Division is not as active as other units, it has reached more than thirteen thousand people.

With the support of this powerful military force, Kaster’s ambitions are even greater. Although Portugal has nearly two hundred thousand troops in Angola, probably less than ten thousand can be used in the north.

At this time, it can be said that the 331st Division has an absolute advantage in the north.

This has led Kaster to want to develop a more aggressive plan to achieve the goal of ending the war quickly.

Kaster, holding a pencil, marked the map on the table while saying to the senior officers of the 331st Division: “This is Cabinda, which is the area controlled by the Kingdom of Portugal on the north bank of the Congo River. It is one of the important strongholds in Angola. Going south across the Congo River is Soyo. These two places control the outlet of the Congo River, so if we East Africa want to control the Congo River basin in the future, these two regions are indispensable.”

“Of course, this has little to do with our war. The initial goal of our army is to directly capture the Portuguese cities of Cabinda and Soyo in the lower reaches of the Congo River along the river, and then threaten Luanda, the capital of Portuguese Angola, along the coastline. Finally, if possible, we will control Benguela as well.”

“In this way, the main ports of Angola will basically be controlled by our army, and the Portuguese army fighting inland with our army will collapse without a fight if they cannot obtain external resources.”

Kaster’s strategy is to cut off the connection between Angola and mainland Portugal. However, the East African navy is weak in the South Atlantic, so this can only be accomplished by the army.

According to Kaster’s vision, most of Angola’s supplies come from the mainland, and the excellent ports that Angola can use are Cabinda, Luanda, and Benguela.

As long as these three ports are cut off, the supply of the Portuguese army will inevitably have major problems. Food may still be solved by looking at local products, but medicines, guns, and other materials will basically be cut off.

Hans Griffin, the staff officer, agreed with Kaster’s war plan, but he also directly pointed out the difficulty of this strategy.

Hans Griffin pointed to the waterfall area marked with a red line in the downstream area and said: “After the Congo River passes the Kinshasa section, it cannot be navigable due to the waterfalls and terrain drop. This means that the next journey can only be done on foot, and our heavy weapons can hardly be sent to the front line to support the battlefield.”

As an elite unit of the East African Defense Force, the 331st Division is equipped with a large number of light and heavy weapons. Although compared with other main divisions, the 331st Division focuses more on mountain and jungle warfare, it is not inferior to ordinary units in terms of heavy weapons.

Therefore, attacking the core area of Angola is still very challenging for the 331st Division.

Hans Griffin continued: “The road conditions in Portuguese Angola can be described as a quagmire. The south may be better, but the north is the original indigenous country—the Kingdom of Kongo. Based on the level of black civilization we have seen, the Swahili region, the Somali region, and the Great Lakes region have the highest level of black civilization, but even these three civilizations are very poor in terms of infrastructure construction, so don’t have too much hope for indigenous countries like the Kingdom of Kongo.”

In fact, so far, the indigenous civilization with the highest level of civilization that East Africa has encountered in Africa is the Abyssinian Empire, but the Abyssinian Empire, like Madagascar, is a semi-mixed race, so it cannot be compared with pure Bantu blacks.

Kaster: “What you said makes sense, but no matter what the road conditions of the former Kingdom of Kongo are, it cannot hinder our progress. We will now organize engineers to deal with various factors that may be unfavorable to the troops’ advance.”

Speaking of this, Kaster suddenly became a little puzzled, how did the Portuguese solve this problem!

He asked: “How did the Portuguese attack Kinshasa in the first place?”

“Although the Portuguese brought a lot of people, they were basically rifles, without heavy firepower support, so they besieged Kinshasa for three months without success, and their troops were obviously inefficient, otherwise Kinshasa would not have been in our hands all the time.” Corps, the military commander of Kinshasa, explained directly.

“In other words, we may not need to consider too much about heavy weapons, after all, the Portuguese equipment level is also very poor.” Hans Griffin stroked his chin and thought.

Kaster denied: “It’s still different. If it is Cabinda and Soyo, the Portuguese have not built any decent fortifications, and perhaps they can easily seize local control without artillery support, but Luanda is different. Luanda has solid military fortresses and fortresses. The Portuguese have been operating for hundreds of years, and I am afraid that it is not inferior to some fortresses in Europe, so if you want to remove the nail in Luanda, you must have heavy firepower support.

Moreover, as the capital of the Portuguese Angola colony, the weapons, equipment, and personnel composition are probably not comparable to the miscellaneous troops we have encountered before, so we still cannot take it lightly.”

Much of Kaster’s intelligence comes from public sources. Of course, the East African Defense Force’s intelligence department has not really put in too much effort in Angola, and has basically obtained most of the Portuguese’s intelligence.

Because the Portuguese in Angola have a very poor sense of confidentiality, and the army is concentrated in several fixed coastal locations, which is simply an open-book exam for the intelligence department.

Therefore, East Africa dares to solve the Angolan colony first because of the victory in intelligence. The more they understand the current situation of the Portuguese army, the higher the East African side’s confidence in victory.

And as of now, the Portuguese have not disappointed East Africa. Their performance in the coalition forces is only slightly better than that of blacks and Indians, ranking behind the British and Boers. As for the Indian troops’ skill in dragging their feet, it is indeed the strongest in the coalition forces.

Chapter 759: Vicious Methods

Regarding Custer’s view, Coles agreed: “In the three months we were trapped in Kinshasa, the entire Kinshasa military force had only over six hundred people, while the enemy numbered as many as four or five thousand. Yet, with just over six hundred of us, we withstood the Portuguese attack for a full three months.”

“Although this Portuguese army was just a motley crew mixed with a large number of black slaves, their firepower was a notch above the weapons of the Portuguese army during the First East Portuguese War.”

Coles was a veteran who participated in the First East Portuguese War, so he was very clear about the situation of the Portuguese army last time.

“And this is just an improvement of the Portuguese ragtag army. Portugal has two brigades stationed in Angola, which should be the top military force in Angola. It is not yet certain where these two brigades are located, but their weapons and equipment should be able to catch up with the European average level.”

“As the rear, the lifeline of Angola and the colonial capital, Luanda, the specific number of troops is not easy to know, but in terms of fortifications and the number of artillery pieces, it is definitely the most in Angola.”

“So, to deal with Luanda, we should ensure a certain number of artillery pieces to suppress the enemy. Therefore, artillery is essential in war.”

In Coles’ view, even if the Portuguese take the initiative to launch an attack in the early stage, it is impossible to put all their main forces into the front line.

After all, the safety of the capital is definitely the top priority of the colony, just like Maputo in Mozambique. To be honest, Maputo’s location is geographically very unsuitable as a war command center.

However, the Portuguese have developed it for hundreds of years, making Maputo’s various conditions far superior to other inland areas, so its status has been continuously strengthened based on historical continuity.

The same is true for East Africa. Its location is too far east, but the most elite Guards Division is stationed in the first town and city as the center.

This is the privilege of the political center. Luanda is the political center of the Angolan colony, so the Portuguese “noble lords” will definitely give priority to deploying troops in the Luanda area. Even if the number is not too large, they are definitely the Portuguese elite.

Custer: “Well, no matter what the Portuguese do, we should be bolder. Just now, I had an idea that, if successful, could greatly save our time costs.”

Hans Griffin asked: “What idea?”

Custer: “That is, can we divide our forces into two groups to achieve our strategic goals? Before, our idea was to go north first and then south, but why don’t we carry out military operations against the mouth of the Congo River and Luanda at the same time!”

“For Portugal, the importance of Cabinda is definitely not as great as Luanda, so we only need to send a smaller force to complete the control of the mouth of the Congo River.”

“As for the Luanda direction, we need to increase some personnel and equipment and launch an attack at the same time, so that we can achieve our strategic goals faster.”

Hans Griffin asked: “How do we allocate troops?”

Custer: “More than four thousand should be enough for the mouth of the Congo River. As for the rest of the troops, they will all advance towards Luanda.”

Hans Griffin: “Isn’t there a certain risk in doing so!”

Custer: “There is definitely risk, but our chances of success are greater. After all, this Western Front counter-offensive is not just us. The Western Military Region is the real main force, and they are the focus of the Portuguese attention.”

“So, most of the Portuguese army will probably be dragged down by the brother troops in the southeast, which is also a great opportunity for us to advance into Luanda.”

“And even if the Portuguese want to return to aid, I am afraid it will not be so easy. You must know that the Western Military Region will definitely bite their tails tightly.”

“Moreover, the threat of our army to Luanda is more likely to disrupt the morale of the Portuguese army in front, making them even more unable to resist our offensive.”

Of course, in the final analysis, Custer’s confidence comes from the fact that there are no decent opponents in the Angolan colony. If the Portuguese cannot concentrate more than three times the troops, Custer is confident that he can win the battle.

After all, as one of the elite troops in East Africa, the 331st Division has very advanced combat effectiveness. If even the Portuguese ragtag army cannot be dealt with, there is no need to fight the South African war anymore.

…

August 7, 1888.

The East African 331st Division began to divide into two parts and went to the mouth of the Congo River and Luanda at the same time.

The route of the 331st Division of the British Army was mainly within the former Kingdom of Kongo. The Portuguese and East Africa were the main reasons for the demise of the Kingdom of Kongo.

Of course, Portugal’s annexation of the Kingdom of Kongo in the 1870s to supplement the land passively ceded from the south was the direct reason.

Moreover, East Africa blocked the road for the Kingdom of Kongo to escape to the east at that time, so it could only be slaughtered. In Africa, if you can’t win, you can escape. In the beginning, many indigenous kingdoms fled from East Africa to West Africa.

Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Kongo had a bad fate. There was no way to go in all directions. To the north were the most brutal Belgians, and to the east were the “notorious” East Africans. In comparison, the Portuguese were the most friendly force to the Kingdom of Kongo.

Although the Portuguese annexed the Kingdom of Kongo, Angola itself had many mixed-race descendants who cooperated with the Portuguese to rule.

And these mixed races have become the biggest threat to the 331st Division’s southward advance, seriously delaying the East African army’s marching speed, which made General Custer very angry.

“The harassment of these black auxiliary troops has already posed a serious threat to us. In order to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, I think we should clear them out.” Custer said through gritted teeth.

Hans Griffin: “I’m afraid this will delay our military operations.”

Custer: “Now it seems that these blacks are obviously going to live and die with the Portuguese, so if we don’t eliminate them, I’m afraid they will become more and more presumptuous and eventually lead to disaster.”

“Are you going to massacre the local natives!” Hans Griffin asked with some trepidation.

Although East Africa does inhuman things in Africa, there are almost no massacres against blacks. The original area, the Kingdom of Kongo, is obviously an area with a relatively dense black population. Only the Belgians in the north are ruthless. Now the number of blacks in Belgium has been greatly reduced.

Custer: “If I could do that, I would definitely do it. After all, for those who are stubborn, physical elimination can be more satisfying.”

Hans Griffin quickly persuaded: “It’s better not to do this kind of thing that easily gets your hands dirty. We really have no way to deal with these blacks now, but after the war, we will have plenty of ways to deal with them.”

Hans Griffin continued: “Our primary goal now is to solve the Portuguese. As for these blacks who dare to offend us, in the future, we will send them all to the Belgians’ territory and let them see what cruelty is.”

Custer and Hans Griffin are quite convinced of Belgium. After all, Bangui is not far from the Belgian Congo colony, so many people in the 331st Division know the Belgian colonial rule methods very well.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Belgians are born executioners. Under the reactionary rule of Leopold II, the Belgian Congo successfully achieved negative population growth, and the disability rate is very likely to be the highest in the world. Therefore, Hans Griffin’s crooked trick foreshadowed the tragic fate of the Angolan blacks who opposed East Africa in the future. This plan is extremely vicious.

Chapter 760: The Ambitions of the 421st Division

It’s no wonder that the little black guy resisted so fiercely. East Africa’s reputation among black Africans is, if not “utterly infamous,” at least enough to make children stop crying at night.

The closer black people are to East Africa, the more they fear it. East Africa is like a Pi Xiu, only taking in and never giving out. Take the former border of the Kingdom of Kongo as an example. There used to be a large number of black people in East Africa, but now it’s almost impossible to find any trace of them.

Of course, a large number of black people fled to the Kingdom of Kongo and other areas, but everyone only knows the objective fact that the number of black people under East African rule has decreased significantly. Coupled with the artistic embellishment and exaggeration of the fleeing black people, East Africa has naturally become a “devil’s den.”

East Africa is certainly not as bad as all that, but some people always like to add their own subjective assumptions when recounting their experiences.

However, having said that, Portugal’s treatment of black people was indeed “not bad.” This “not bad” is relative. As the earliest global colonial empire,
the Portuguese, through hundreds of years of accumulation, were indeed more likely to integrate with the local people. Now, Angola has hundreds of thousands of people of mixed Portuguese and indigenous descent, which is also one of the important foundations for Portugal’s rule over Angola.

These mixed-race descendants in Angola actually belong to the ruling class and are beneficiaries of the Angolan colonial system. Therefore, they are bound to support the Portuguese Kingdom’s rule over Angola.

After being persuaded, Kaster’s emotions had stabilized. He said to Hans Griffin, “Forget it. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve encountered this kind of situation, so I couldn’t suppress my anger. As for how to deal with them, the kingdom will naturally decide in the future.”

Taking the same side as the colonizers and hating the enemy, Kaster had been in Africa for many years, but it was the first time he had encountered this. So it was inevitable that he was a little angry. After all, everyone is an invader, and the local natives’ “double standards” easily broke Kaster’s defenses.

…

While the 331st Division wanted to take advantage of the fact that the main Portuguese forces were held back on the front lines by friendly forces and seize the fruits of victory, the friendly forces in the Western Military Region were not willing to be outdone.

In Laitania Province.

The 421st Division had similar plans. As a very rare cavalry division in the west, the 421st Division can be said to be a treasure in the Western Military Region.

The commander of the 421st Division, Helmond, was formulating the next battle plan in Menongue.

Menongue was originally named Serpa Pinto, named after a Portuguese explorer. After the First East Portuguese War, it was ceded to East Africa by Portugal, and then changed to its current name.

Located in what was Angola’s south in its previous life, it is a relatively important city. In its previous life, Angola had railways and airports here. Now it is the base of the 421st Division.

As a cavalry division, the 421st Division can effectively play its role in this area. Southern Angola is mostly grassland and desert, mainly grassland, so it is very suitable for the 421st Division to fight.

One of the important reasons why Catania Province did not lose a large area of land like Danube Province in the early stages of the war was the strong mobile combat capability of the 421st Division.

The 421st Division frequently launched harassing attacks on the Portuguese army on the vast grasslands in the south. Even if the Portuguese concentrated their superior forces, they could not do anything about the 421st Division because of its strong mobile combat capability.

Often, when the Portuguese reinforcements arrived, the 421st Division had already run away with its men and horses. Therefore, within Laitania Province, the Portuguese could only passively take a beating.

Of course, one of the important reasons why East Africa did not give up Laitania Province is that Laitania Province is too important in terms of location. It is an important area for East Africa to connect the Kalahari Basin and Southwest Africa.

If the Portuguese were allowed to succeed, it would pose a serious threat to East Africa’s overall national defense, especially to the Southwest African region, which is heavily dependent on inland material supplies.

If the Portuguese occupied Laitania Province, the East African Defense Forces in Southwest Africa could basically lay down their arms and surrender.

Now, ships on the west coast can no longer cross Cape Town to provide supplies to Southwest Africa. All the pressure is concentrated on two land routes.

One is the Mang Whale Highway, and the other is the north bank of the western Orange River. The 421st Division must ensure the smooth flow of the Mang Whale Highway.

Of course, with the advancement of the war, the 421st Division’s mission can be considered complete. Now, what is more important for the 421st Division is to actively achieve greater results.

Helmond analyzed the current situation of the Angolan war and said, “Now other troops, led by the 414th Division, are already engaged in battle with the Portuguese in the east, and the 331st Division in the north has also moved south. At this time, the 331st Division’s southward move is not necessarily a good thing for us. After all, the Portuguese’s important cities such as Luanda are concentrated in northern Angola.”

“If we can’t achieve results before the 331st Division, it would be too much of a loss. We must know that even without the support of the Nile River Military Region, our Western Military Region is capable of taking Angola.”

“Now that they have intervened, what face will our Western Military Region have if they break through Luanda and other places?”

“Therefore, we must give full play to our advantages and achieve eye-catching results on the Angolan battlefield.”

Everyone in the room agreed with what Helmond said. After all, no one would嫌少 (xián shǎo, dislike having too little) military merit, and there was also the meaning of maintaining the reputation of the Western Military Region and the 421st Division.

The main force of the Western Military Region is actually mainly confronting the Matabeleland and Mozambique colonial allied forces in the west, and only two main force divisions are retained in the west.

The 421st Division is one of them. In the eyes of the 421st Division, the 331st Division of the Nile River Military Region is here to steal credit. After all, the 421st Division and the 414th Division have been fighting the Portuguese on the western battlefield for three months. Now the war situation has changed.

The 331st Division has joined in, and of course, there is a suspicion of “reaping the benefits.” Of course, in order not to let the 331st Division be the only one to shine, the 421st Division must naturally represent the Western Military Region in playing a role in the war.

“Commander, from the current point of view, the 331st Division will definitely focus on Luanda. They have a distance advantage, and the Portuguese forces in the north are weak. This may become a driving force for the 331st Division to seize Luanda earlier. Therefore, our focus should be on Benguela, which is second only to Luanda.”

The port of Benguela was built in 1587 and the city was built in 1617. It is one of the earliest colonial strongholds in southern Africa and is currently an important city in the Angolan colony, second only to Luanda.

Moreover, Benguela is not far from Melongue. If the 421st Division’s mobility is used, the success rate of capturing Benguela is very high.

“Not just Benguela, Benguela was already regarded as being in the bag by our army before the war. After all, we captured Benguela once in the last war.”

In fact, during the First East Portuguese War, Benguela was briefly occupied by East Africa. Later, after the ceasefire, it was returned to the Portuguese.

However, the last time Benguela was captured, it was not only the 421st Division, but also the participation of other troops, such as the 412th Division currently fighting in the east with Mozambique, and the 414th Division that is holding back the main force of the Angolan colony.

In fact, the 414th Division is the one that is truly suffering and cannot speak out. Now it can only watch the 331st Division and the 421st Division establish meritorious service, while it is being held back by the main force of the Portuguese.

Of course, in reality, it is the Portuguese who are being held back by the 414th Division. Most of the newly expanded East African army is in Danube Province, cooperating with the 414th Division. This makes it impossible for the Portuguese to successfully withdraw the front-line troops, creating huge strategic loopholes in the north and south directions of Angola, creating excellent opportunities for the 331st Division and the 421st Division.

Chapter 761: The Angolan Chicken Dinner Contest

“Benguela must be taken, but with the lessons learned from the last East Portuguese War, I’m afraid Benguela will be even harder to conquer, so we can’t just focus on Benguela as our only objective,” Helmuth analyzed.

Benguela had been occupied by East Africa once before, so the Portuguese must have learned their lesson. Moreover, this time when fighting the Benguela garrison, there were no brother units to cooperate with, which was also a difficulty for the 421st Division.

As a mobile unit, the 421st Division was actually not as strong in firepower as regular infantry divisions. After all, you win some, you lose some; to gain mobility, they had to sacrifice some firepower.

Of course, in the long war in Letania Province, the 421st Division had long become less pure. In order to compete with the Portuguese army, the 421st Division also adopted many tactics of regular infantry divisions.

Moreover, although the firepower of the East African cavalry division was somewhat insufficient compared to other regular infantry divisions, it could still crush the Portuguese army.

Portugal’s finances made it impossible for them to provide their army with a large number of advanced weapons, while East Africa, with the development of its military industry, reduced costs, and increased production, had been improving the army’s firepower and weapon performance in recent years.

Of course, the more important thing was whether it was a “domestic” war. Given this premise, if what was next to East Africa was not Angola and Mozambique, but the Portuguese mainland, then the situation of the war would probably be very different.

Although the Portuguese mainland had declined severely, it was not too weak overall in Europe, especially its domestic military industry, which should be able to fight East Africa.

However, Portugal’s domestic military industry was definitely not as good as East Africa’s, because its military and civilian industries were affected by the military industries of external countries. For example, much of the Portuguese army’s equipment was imported from Germany and France, while naval equipment was mainly imported from the United Kingdom.

In this case, the development of Portugal’s military industry was inevitably hindered, and East Africa’s military industry was developed systematically. Portugal was definitely not as systematic as East Africa in this regard.

And Angola and Mozambique were obviously not comparable to the Portuguese mainland. Even if it was the Portuguese mainland, East Africa was not afraid, let alone two colonies.

And this may also be where the Portuguese’s confidence lies. Fighting in the colonies was very different from fighting in the homeland. For example, if Spain invaded Portugal, it would definitely trigger a nationwide resistance from the Portuguese.

As for the colonies, Portugal was not afraid of war, but it would not pay too much attention to it. What war fears most is causing serious damage to the country’s development, especially in core areas.

Just like ancient nomadic peoples who frequently went south, continuously bleeding the Far Eastern Empire, while the Far Eastern Empire had no good way to deal with the grasslands.

East Africa also had this concern before the war, so it adopted a conservative approach, first stabilizing the front line. The overall strategy was to first avoid the central industrial provinces from being affected by the war.

After all, East Africa’s opponents had almost no industry in the region. East Africa was not short of plantations, nor was it short of black people.

And once the opponent broke into the central region, what would be destroyed was East Africa’s industry, which would be too uneconomical. Therefore, East Africa’s early strategy was very conservative, completely based on defense to consume the enemy’s offensive momentum.

But now the offense and defense have changed, East Africa has entered a counter-offensive phase, and the enemy is beginning to have difficulty coping, and is exhausted.

Helmuth said, “We must eat Benguela, and Luanda is also our goal. Although Luanda is six or seven hundred kilometers away from our army, as long as we are fast enough, it is still possible to reach Luanda before the 331st Division. Even if we can’t take Luanda in a short time, the 331st Division can’t share our achievements.”

“Commander, this will make our task heavier, especially the logistics problem. Long-distance raids can be achieved, but it is easy to cut off our logistics.”

Helmuth: “Luanda and Benguela are the most essential places in Portuguese Angola, and there are many plantations distributed around them. Although the Portuguese are not enthusiastic about planting food crops, they must have a certain amount of food reserves, which is enough for us.”

“We can wait for the transport team later. Of course, if the war can end quickly, we may not have to wait for the logistics crisis to break out before we can solve the problem. There is definitely no shortage of food in Benguela and Luanda.”

In Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, famine is impossible to occur in areas with slightly better conditions.

Especially in Angola and Mozambique, which are very underdeveloped, there are many wild plants that can be eaten after selection.

And Africa has the most wildlife resources. In many parts of East Africa, wildlife has been greatly reduced due to over-development.

The Portuguese territory is not like this, so even if there is a food crisis, the East African army can temporarily solve the problem by slaughtering animals.

After all, what the East African army is holding is not a fire stick, but a rifle, which is a complete dimensional reduction strike for African wildlife. Lions, hippos, zebras, and wildebeest can all be used to fill their stomachs.

Although many East Africans avoid this because of East Africa’s day-to-day propaganda, some things can be compromised in wartime.

Furthermore, the large number of plantations built by the Portuguese in the Angolan region can also contribute to East Africa’s material supply. The Portuguese have built large-scale plantations in Angola.

These plantations range in size from thousands of acres to hundreds of acres. Although there are few Portuguese, the black people in these plantations have to eat.

So in an emergency, the rations of these black people can also be used to get by. Of course, if the Portuguese are as vulnerable as Helmuth said, then a food crisis will naturally not break out.

Of course, this is a small probability event. The Portuguese must have put a lot of effort into the management of Luanda and Benguela. They are fortress cities like Maputo, so it will take some effort to break through the two cities head-on.

Both the 1st Division and the 421st Division wanted to get rich quick, combining their own advantages to plot Luanda, the capital of the Portuguese colony.

The advantage of the 1st Division is that it is close, and the advantage of the 421st Division is that it is fast, but for the 421st Division, the most important thing is Benguela.

If they successfully capture Benguela, it is equivalent to receiving welfare. The 421st Division’s contribution in this war is indispensable. If they can capture Luanda, it would be a complete surprise.

In fact, in addition to the 331st Division and the 421st Division, other brother units also have ideas about Luanda. For example, the 414th Division, which is currently fighting the main Portuguese force, although it is currently delayed in the east, is also determined to take Luanda.

Although the 414th Division does not have the advantages of the 331st Division and the 421st Division, if time permits, it may be able to join the battle to besiege “Luanda” midway.

What is delaying the 414th Division now is not the Portuguese army, but the complex terrain of the Danube Province. In addition, there are many troops around the 414th Division, and they can completely share the task of encircling and suppressing the Portuguese with friendly forces, and then advance towards Luanda.

In addition to several veteran main combat troops, the remaining East African troops also have similar ideas. Even if they cannot all participate, it is still possible to send small troops to break into the rear of the Portuguese.

In short, everyone definitely wants to be the first to enter Luanda, which is quite like the “chicken dinner contest” in Berlin during World War II in their previous lives.

Chapter 762: Passing the Buck Meeting

As the various East African troops converged on Luanda, Angola’s “frequent victories” of a month ago were completely exposed as a sham.

“You bunch of bastards, why can’t you beat the East Africans in less than a month? Were all the military reports from the past few months lies!”

Angolan Governor Owen was furious, and even the air in the meeting hall seemed to drop by a dozen degrees. Everyone was silent as cicadas in winter. Owen was as proud a month ago as he was angry now.

The Portuguese army at the front was fighting terribly. If the Portuguese army had been bad from the start, Owen would have had nothing to say. But when the war started, everyone under him was eager to claim credit, as if it wouldn’t take long to reach the first major city and capture the Black Hinggen royal family alive.

As a result, the Portuguese army was exposed as soon as East Africa exerted a little force. Starting two weeks ago, the various fronts were either shrinking or collapsing. Was the result of the last East African-Portuguese war going to be replayed in his hands?

During the last East African-Portuguese war, the weak Angola was simply unable to stop the East African offensive, which was understandable, since Angola didn’t receive any support from the mainland at the time.

As a colony, its military strength was inherently weak, and it didn’t even have much of a standing army, so it was reasonable to be crushed by East Africa.

But this time, Portugal had “sharpened its sword for ten years” and made full preparations for a comeback. To think they fought the war into this mess, Owen naturally had an inescapable responsibility.

“Your Excellency Governor, now is not the time to be angry. Criticism won’t change the corruption of the front-line military operations. We didn’t expect that the army equipped with great effort by the kingdom, and even the mainland army’s combat effectiveness, would be so unbearable.”

Owen’s assistant emphasized the “strength” of the mainland army in a very serious tone. After all, if the kingdom’s mainland army couldn’t beat East Africa, then the Angolan colonial army would naturally be even more useless.

This could at least give the colonial high-level officials some comfort. It couldn’t possibly be their fault that the mainland army was incompetent. If the Angolan colony was lost this time, it was a problem with the entire kingdom’s military system. In any case, they would put the blame on the mainland first.

But as the highest political and military officer in Angola, Owen’s responsibility was still unavoidable. It was true that there was a problem with the kingdom’s army, but the colonial army was organized by Owen. If everyone was just comparing who was worse, Portugal would be finished sooner or later.

Owen said coldly, “Everyone is responsible for this war. Of course, I personally made some mistakes, seriously underestimating the military strength and war preparations of the East African kingdom. But did the British make no mistakes in this matter?”

“The British are the main driving force behind this war, but they have completely failed to fulfill their pre-war promises. Although I don’t know what the situation is in Mozambique now, the fact that East Africa can transfer so many troops to invade Angola speaks volumes.”

“Either the allied forces in Mozambique didn’t put in any effort, or they are in the same predicament as us.”

“But one thing is clear: the British have not achieved their pre-war strategic goals, otherwise the East Africans would not have been able to reinforce the western front!”

Owen’s analysis was recognized by everyone. The Angolan high-level officials were indeed somewhat “incompetent”, but compared to the British performance, it was acceptable.

Before the war, the British confidently assured Portugal that as long as they joined forces, the East Africans would be defeated.

As a result, the two sides were separated by the central territory of East Africa, and they had not achieved their pre-war strategic goals of joining forces in the central territory of East Africa for three months.

It was one thing for the Portuguese to lose face, after all, they had lost face several times in Brazil and Europe. But the British were in a terrible situation this time. This was probably the most embarrassing time for the British since the Afghan uprising.

“Your Excellency Governor is right, and the biggest mistake in the war is not actually our fault or the British fault. The biggest enemy is actually those vermin in the mainland!”

“From the beginning of the war until now, our Angolan material supplies have never reached the standard. The front line lacks guns, ammunition, artillery, and other weapons. This is all the fault of the logistics department. If they are not embezzling, then their efficiency is too serious. Therefore, the Portuguese logistics department should be responsible for the failure of this war. After all, with a lack of various supplies, what can the front-line soldiers use to fight East Africa?”

Owen looked at his subordinate with approval. This was indeed an excellent excuse for the failure of the war, since it was a fact that Angola did not receive the war materials it should have.

Although the Angolan government was not clean either, and everyone had embezzled a little, the supplies sent from the mainland were definitely not enough.

In any case, the Angolan government could attribute all “normal” losses to East Africa. The mainland bureaucrats couldn’t find a place to pass the buck. However, based on the current situation of the Portuguese kingdom, it was estimated that nothing could be found out. At most, a few scapegoats would be pulled out and shot after the war to appease the public.

Of course, this was very much in line with Governor Owen’s perception of the Portuguese government. But now, saying these things was of little use. The most important thing was how he could escape from this quagmire in Angola.

Owen asked the military personnel, “General Madrid, what is the real situation on the front line now?”

Here, Owen specifically emphasized the real situation, because the military had falsified things too seriously before, and now Owen had lost trust in them.

General Madrid was a little embarrassed. Although Owen was nominally the highest military officer, specific military affairs were handled by him, the general transferred from the mainland. So now that the front line had been lost, the biggest blame was probably on him.

He said somewhat stiffly, “Our army’s main force is now being held back in the east by East Africa, and it is difficult to return to support. But according to our intelligence, two East African main forces are heading towards our rear, especially the East African army in the north, which is likely to be heading for Luanda.”

“Then what is your plan? Can you stop this East African army?” Owen asked anxiously.

The others were the same, because if East Africa directly targeted Luanda, it would really threaten everyone’s lives.

“We are currently working hard to get the front-line troops to return to Luanda to support, and at the same time organizing manpower to block the southward movement of that East African army. We have now achieved some results, especially many Black tribes have performed very well,” Madrid said.

Owen asked, “Then can you eliminate this East African army?”

Madrid shook his head and said, “I’m afraid not, because this East African army is very strong. Even if the warriors of those tribes obstruct their military operations on the road, it will probably be a drop in the bucket, and can only temporarily delay their arrival in Luanda.”

Owen: “Are we just going to watch the East Africans approach the city?”

General Madrid said, “It is very likely that way, but now I have begun to organize manpower to carry out military deployments in Luanda. If the front-line troops can return to support in time, our predicament should be resolved in time.”

Although Madrid said so, everyone now realized the seriousness of the problem, that Angola was probably really finished.

Unless a miracle happened, the enemy was about to reach Angola, and even the mainland at this time could only watch Angola fall without being able to do anything.

Chapter 763: Threatening Benguela

Although the Angolan colonial government complained in various ways, if the colony were lost, the blame would be shared by everyone, and it might even trigger a new round of political turmoil in Portugal itself.

However, the 331st and 421st Divisions didn’t care whether the Angolan government’s emotions were stable or not; they had already begun a rapid march toward Luanda.

As for General Madrid’s claim that troops would be sent back to support them, it would probably be very difficult, because the East African army was already in a chaotic melee with the Portuguese army on the front lines.

At this time, everyone was mixed together, and some East African units were even advancing faster than the Portuguese army was fleeing.

The newly formed 416th Division of East Africa encountered this situation. The 416th Division had been formed for less than two months, but it performed very well on the Angolan battlefield.

It crushed one or two Portuguese brigades upon entering the battlefield. Subsequently, the 416th Division became embroiled in a second-by-second chase and escape with the Portuguese army.

Major General Kapuch, the commander of the 416th Division, was originally a brigade commander under the 112th Division of the East African Eastern Military Region. In this expansion, he was promoted to commander of the newly established 416th Division.

Kapuch asked his staff officer, Hans, “What is the current movement of our army?”

“The Second Brigade is advancing too quickly. According to the message they sent back yesterday, the vanguard of the Second Brigade has already reached the Mutumbo area. The First Brigade is still fighting the enemy on the east bank of the Kwanza River. This enemy is a black auxiliary force of the Portuguese army, which was surrounded by our army on the east bank of the Kwanza River because it did not cross the river in time.”

The Kwanza River is a north-south river. Most African rivers are naturally undeveloped primitive waterways, so they are very winding and surrounded by many lakes and forests.

So even the natives of Angola, in their panic, the Portuguese army ran off course. According to their original intention, they should have retreated to the northwest, but they ran off course to the southwest, and then ran into the 416th Division’s First Brigade, which was coming to meet them. Subsequently, the First Brigade seized the opportunity to prepare to annihilate this enemy force.

This slowed down the 416th Division’s marching speed. Of course, this kind of accident was rare. Most of the Portuguese army still managed to escape successfully.

The Portuguese unlucky unit encountered by the First Brigade had only two choices: to be annihilated or to surrender to East Africa.

“Tell the First Brigade to speed up. If they’re too slow, they won’t even get a sip of the soup.” Kapuch said.

Hans: “I think the First Brigade should have almost annihilated this Portuguese army, after all, the battle report was seven hours ago.”

And as Hans said, the First Brigade had annihilated the Portuguese army more than an hour ago, but the news had not yet reached the division headquarters, mainly because the facilities in Angola were too backward.

There were no telegraphs, let alone decent roads, and the jungle near the Kwanza River was dense, so it took the First Brigade a lot of time just to clean up the battlefield.

And this was not the most troublesome thing. The total number of enemies captured by the First Brigade exceeded one thousand seven hundred. The custody of this group of prisoners was also a major problem, and this matter could only be handed over to the follow-up troops to solve.

In addition to the regular army, East Africa also organized a number of militia forces, that is, the people who had previously evacuated from the Danube Province.

If there were no surprises, this group of prisoners would most likely be handed over to them, and the militia would also be responsible for the transportation of supplies for the East African army.

Angola was too backward, so the main mode of transportation was still manpower and animal power. Fortunately, East Africa had enough livestock, but it also needed to be coordinated.

The supplies in the west were mainly handled by the Hohenzollern Province and the Swabia Province, while the supplies for the eastern battlefield were mainly handled by the Matabeleland Province.

Of course, supplies from the east and north were also transported to the three central provinces via railway lines, mainly grain and equipment.

…

August 24, 1888.

“Benguela is ahead. It seems that the Portuguese are severely short of troops now. We have hardly encountered any troops along the way.” The Second Brigade Commander of the 421st Division said.

As a cavalry unit, the 421st Division moved very quickly, arriving on the outskirts of Benguela in just a few days.

The 421st Division did not encounter any Portuguese troops along the way, only scattered small units. The reason for this was that the Portuguese had already withdrawn all their troops back to the city of Benguela.

The Portuguese forces in southern Angola were originally small, and the 421st Division was a tough nut to crack, or very difficult to crack. In addition, there was no valuable Southwest Africa to the south.

Therefore, the Portuguese army did not focus on the south. Although Benguela was an important location, second only to Luanda, it was not allocated too many troops.

After learning the news from Luanda, the military commander of Benguela decisively abandoned southern Angola and withdrew his troops to the city of Benguela.

The small units encountered by the Second Brigade of the 421st Division along the way were actually Portuguese troops who had not had time to withdraw to Benguela.

Currently, the 421st Division, like the 331st Division, was divided into two groups. The destination of the Second Brigade of the 421st Division was Benguela, while the other troops, led by Division Commander Helmond, were heading towards Luanda.

In other words, the war against Benguela would be entirely the responsibility of the Second Brigade. This was indeed bad news, after all, the Second Brigade had a total strength of less than four thousand men.

Of course, as cavalry, the number of people was relatively small, so it was very difficult for the Second Brigade to solve the city of Benguela on its own.

Currently, the garrison in Benguela has reached more than fourteen thousand people, which is almost seventy percent of the troops in southern Angola before the war.

“Brigade Commander, we have inspected the city defenses of Benguela. The Benguela city garrison is well prepared, and there are basically no loopholes. This battle may be difficult to fight.”

The Second Brigade Commander said, “Don’t worry, we can slowly wear down Benguela. There will always be times when they reveal their weaknesses. Now the division headquarters has gone north, which means that we are the only main force in southern Angola. We have plenty of time to wear down the Benguela city garrison.”

Of course, that’s what he said, but in his heart, he was still thinking about how to break through this Portuguese fortress.

The Second Brigade was also equipped with a number of artillery pieces, but the calibers were not large, and the artillery in Benguela was first-class in the entire Angola, after all, it had been managed by the Portuguese for hundreds of years.

However, the Portuguese artillery was mainly used to deal with maritime threats in the past. They probably never thought that one day a hostile force would pose a threat to Benguela from land.

While the Second Brigade was thinking about how to break through Benguela, the Portuguese garrison in Benguela was extremely terrified. The arrival of the Second Brigade meant that East Africa had invaded the Angolan hinterland!

Of course, this was an illusion created by the location of Benguela. Benguela was on the far west side of Angola, while the Second Brigade actually came from the southeast.

Most of Angola is currently still controlled by the Portuguese. The 331st and 421st Divisions are actually isolated forces penetrating deep into enemy territory.

If the Portuguese could seize the opportunity, they might be able to inflict heavy damage on these two East African units. Unfortunately, the Portuguese were too backward.

They lacked a military communication system that kept up with the times, so the Luanda government could not fully grasp the intelligence of East Africa, or even the military information of their own people. Many Portuguese troops on the front lines were actually fighting on their own. If they could not resolve the 331st and 421st Divisions in time, Luanda and the front-line troops would probably be completely disconnected.

Chapter 764: Plan Adjustment

On September 1, 1888, the 421st Division arrived in Luanda first, but facing the well-prepared Luanda garrison, it was difficult for the 421st Division to break the deadlock.

However, on September 3, the 421st Division, having shaken off the obstruction of the local natives, also arrived in Luanda. The two sides joined forces victoriously in Luanda, which basically meant the shaking of Portuguese rule in Angola.

After combining the current situation, the 331st Division and the 421st Division reached a cooperation agreement. The 331st Division was responsible for the main attack, while the 421st Division was responsible for intercepting Portuguese troops attempting to return to Luanda for reinforcement. Both sides gave full play to their own advantages in order to seek victory over Luanda.

The 331st Division had a much greater advantage in heavy weapons than the 421st Division, which was also one of the important reasons why the 331st Division arrived in Luanda later than the 421st Division.

The 421st Division’s large number of cavalry units could ambush and encircle the Portuguese troops returning for reinforcement, giving full play to their mobile advantage. Even if East Africa could not conquer Luanda in a short time, it could use Luanda to achieve “besiege the city to strike the reinforcements.”

Of course, the 421st Division’s firepower itself was still considerable. After Helmholtz discussed it with Custer, the artillery of the two armies was concentrated and used together, so that it could be compared with the firepower of Luanda.

At the same time, other East African troops were also putting pressure on the front-line Portuguese troops. The current Portuguese main force was actually “encircled” by East Africa in reverse.

Angola’s important ports, Luanda, Benguela, and Cabinda, had all been surrounded by East Africa, which meant that the Portuguese army’s retreat was blocked. Behind them was the East African army chasing relentlessly. The current situation was already difficult for Portugal to change.

The key point was Luanda. Luanda could still contact the outside world, including obtaining material and personnel support from its homeland, so Luanda was Portugal’s only hope now.

If Luanda fell, it could basically be declared that Portugal’s military failure in Angola was unavoidable, as the political, military, economic, and foreign trade center of the Angolan colony.

The besieged Luanda area was like a hostage with its neck strangled by a gangster. As long as the two East African troops “twisted” off Luanda’s head, the remaining Angolan troops could only be manipulated by East Africa.

…

The western battlefield was currently going smoothly, but it had not fully achieved the General Staff’s goals. The main reason was that the time spent on the western battlefield was beyond East Africa’s expectations.

The last time East Africa attacked Angola, it was lightly armed, and each unit was able to unleash its full potential. At that time, Portugal’s military strength in Angola was very weak, so it was easy to succeed.

But now the situation had changed. East Africa had made qualitative improvements in terms of numbers and equipment, but the Portuguese had also made considerable progress. Moreover, although the Portuguese human wave tactics had not changed the battlefield situation, they had greatly delayed East Africa’s time.

Swet: “Although the western front is progressing smoothly, it has wasted too much time. More troops have not exerted the advantage of our army’s quick and decisive victory during the last East-Portuguese war. Instead, it has made the entire war system more complicated. Of course, this tactic also has its advantages, mainly that it can more safely avoid the impact of the war on our inland areas.”

East Africa’s biggest concern about this war had actually always been the Allied forces entering East Africa’s industrial zone, but now the eastern and western battlefields, after obtaining a large number of troop supplements, had temporarily solved this problem.

Especially the eastern battlefield, East Africa, like the western front, supplemented a large number of troops, but the eastern front faced the Anglo-Portuguese Allied forces, so it could not launch a full-scale counterattack against Mozambique like the western battlefield.

Therefore, East Africa’s industrial investment in the three central provinces, led by Matabeleland Province, had become the reason why East Africa was constrained in this South African war.

Of course, even if he had to do it all over again, Ernst would still choose to build an industrial system in the three central provinces, because East Africa’s development was too unbalanced.

Before the industrial development of Matabeleland Province, East Africa’s economy was dominated by the eastern region, and the only natural advantage of the east was the port.

Moreover, early investment yields early results. If the development of the central region was delayed until East Africa’s industries were completely established, it might not be possible to correct it. Historical experience told Ernst that the greater the first-mover advantage, the harder it was for latecomers to catch up and surpass.

Moreover, according to Ernst’s overall thinking, he still hoped that East Africa would develop in a balanced way in all regions. Of course, according to East Africa’s national conditions, this overall mainly referred to all the highlands of East Africa.

As a tropical country, the highlands were more livable, which was something East Africa could not change. The distribution of highlands in East Africa was relatively balanced, from south to north, from east to west, which was conducive to East Africa spreading risks.

“Chief of General Staff, the western battlefield has disrupted our deployment, but our army’s results in the southern battlefield are still good. Just on the twentieth of last month, our army captured Bloemfontein. Now the southern battlefield has completely entered a state of counter-insurgency warfare, mainly dealing with small-scale attacks by Boers who are not organized.”

Swet asked, “Has the entire Orange River line been taken?”

“According to front-line reports, five days ago, the Southern Military Region had approached the north bank of the Orange River. Now the Boers and British troops are withdrawing into the Eastern Cape.”

Swet: “Send a telegram to the Southern Military Region and tell them to control the north bank of the Orange River as soon as possible. I’ll only give them one week.”

The changes in the southern battlefield made Swet realize that this was an opportunity to advance the main force of the Southern Military Region eastward, regain the eastern part of South Frontier Province, and cooperate with the New Hamburg port city garrison to restore the central railway.

The combat effectiveness of the Southern Military Region was relatively strong among the various military regions in East Africa, because it had been confronting the Transvaal people, an enemy with a national hatred, for many years, so it maintained a state of military readiness all year round.

The Southern Military Region’s war against the Boers also showed that this knife in the Southern Military Region was still very sharp. After all, the Boers’ will to fight was stronger than that of the British army.

Their individual combat effectiveness could be said to be second only to the Gurkha mercenaries in the Allied forces. The only difference was that their foundation was too weak. Not to mention compared with the British army, even the Portuguese army was richer than the Boers.

Even if Portugal’s finances were terrible, it still had some industries, while the Boers could only rely on agriculture and animal husbandry. The conditions in the original Orange Free State were actually far inferior to those in the original Transvaal Republic. It also had so many people crammed into it and had experienced a civil war.

Therefore, the Boers’ resistance to East Africa was entirely based on “a surge of blood,” but unfortunately, under East Africa’s absolute advantage in troops and weapons and equipment, the Boers did not complete the task of “defending their homeland.”

East Africa’s vigilance against the Boers had never dissipated. After all, the people of the Transvaal Republic had been shouting the slogan of “national restoration.” This was also the reason why the per capita military expenditure of the Southern Military Region in East Africa had been maintained at the highest level except for the Guards Division for many years.

Now, although the Boers still chose to resist, as long as the main force of the Boers was driven to the south bank of the Orange River.

The Boers in the Orange Free State could only be manipulated by East Africa. In this way, the Southern Military Region could transfer troops to recover South Frontier Province.

Of course, for the sake of stability, Swet’s goal was only to recover the entire South Frontier Province first. The decisive battle against the main force of the Allied forces would have to be considered in the long term.

After all, the border between East Africa and Cape Town was too long. The Southern Military Region had to maintain a certain number of troops to prevent the British army in Cape Town from rushing to support the eastern battlefield.

Although East Africa’s defense pressure had been greatly reduced after capturing the Orange River, it did not mean that it could sit back and relax. According to the East African military’s pre-war predictions, even relying on the Orange River, East Africa would need to retain at least 20,000 troops to defend Cape Town.

After annexing the Orange Free State, it did not mean the end of the war in the region. To deal with the Boer guerrillas, at least more than 10,000 people had to be reserved. Adding other regions, the entire Southern Military Region had to retain at least more than 40,000 troops to deal with emergencies.

Chapter 765: The South African War and a Radically Altered History

Due to the delays on the western front, Schwert had to temporarily change his plans. Soon, the General Staff’s plan was submitted to Ernst.

After Ernst patiently read it, he said, “Has the southern battlefield completely ended overall?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness. The main forces of the Boers and the British have retreated to the south bank of the Orange River. Most of the Boer cities and important villages, including Bloemfontein and Kimberley, are basically under our control,” Schwert replied.

However, this did not completely convince Ernst, because the Boers’ performance in South Africa in his previous life was outstanding. Therefore, this de facto supreme ruler of East Africa always viewed the Boers through rose-tinted glasses.

Ernst cautiously said, “The plan can be implemented, but some details need to be changed. In particular, the crackdown on Boer guerrillas cannot be interrupted. After the Southern Military Region transfers troops eastward, the rear will definitely be empty. Since the southern provinces have always lacked population, the Armed Forces Department should also organize militias from the central and eastern regions to support the Southern Military Region, cutting off and suppressing the remaining Boer forces. The most important thing is to eliminate the soil in which the guerrillas survive.”

Ernst was not particularly concerned about the development of the Hechingen Province, or rather, he deliberately did so. After all, the Hechingen Province was too close to the British. If the gold and other mineral resources of the Hechingen Province were exposed under the noses of the British, the British would have gone all out in this South African war long ago.

Not only the British, but even the fighting ability of the Portuguese would have improved by leaps and bounds. The pursuit of gold in the 19th century was extremely fanatical, just like oil in the 20th century, with important strategic significance.

In his previous life, the British went after the Boers with bloodshot eyes for gold, which naturally had sufficient profit considerations. Without the backing of the South African gold mines, the British would not have gone all out to deal with the small Boers.

But in this life, not to mention the British, even the East Africans other than Ernst did not know that the world’s largest gold mining area was buried on both sides of the Vaal River.

This also dampened Britain’s current enthusiasm for the South African war. As it stands, although there are more than 300,000 British troops in South Africa, more than 200,000 of them are Indians. The intensity faced by East Africa is completely different from that faced by the Boers in the previous life.

Of course, the British also found the Portuguese and the Boers as helpers, which to some extent made the scale of this war exceed the Boer War of the previous life.

But in terms of the quality of the war, the South African War may not be more sophisticated than the Boer War, because in the previous life, the strength of the Boers was far inferior to that of the British.

East Africa, on the other hand, seemed evenly matched with the entire Allied Forces. The most important thing is that East Africa is fighting “at its doorstep,” while Britain and Portugal, although not weak in national strength, cannot effectively support the South African battlefield with this power.

This is also the most troublesome point for the British. If East Africa was the kind of “country bumpkin” that did not value coastal defense and had limited vision, it would be easy to deal with.

But the problem lies here. East Africa does not lack talented people with broad vision, and it also has a ruler like Ernst who has received “nine years of compulsory education” and the “useless” knowledge dividend of the Internet big bang era.

Therefore, when East Africa had no money, it was keen on coastal defense. After having money, it actively expanded its navy. Therefore, even if the British could spare no effort to destroy the East African navy, it was unlikely that they could enter and exit the East African coast and even inland rivers as unscrupulously as they did in the Far East Empire.

Moreover, Ernst is very cautious in his actions, but he does not have the “Anglophobia” of this era, which has led to East Africa’s unwavering attitude in confronting the British army.

Don’t think that “Anglophobia” does not exist. Which country, like Germany, France, Tsarist Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the United States, is not stronger than East Africa? But they are all secretly developing under the maritime hegemony of the British Empire, and the same is true for other countries in the world.

The only one who dared to openly challenge British hegemony was “Wilhelm II,” but Wilhelm II’s challenge to British hegemony was more like a “rebellion” against his mother. Queen Victoria’s childhood “tyranny” over Wilhelm II made this monarch innately resentful of the British.

It is worth mentioning that Wilhelm II officially came online more than two months ago and became the ruler of the German Empire.

Frederick III ultimately failed to escape the torment of his illness and passed away. The Hechingen royal family, which had a good relationship with this German emperor, could only send people to mourn.

In fact, before Wilhelm II, Germany had always been one of Britain’s close allies, which is also an important reason why Germany has not intervened in the South African war to this day.

And now Wilhelm II is still unstable and is still fighting wits with Bismarck. If the South African war was a few years later, around the same time as the Boer War in the previous life, Wilhelm II might have come to help.

In short, the current history has become unrecognizable. It is unknown whether Wilhelm II will take the old path of confronting Britain and France as in his previous life.

At the same time, the attitude of Tsarist Russia is also worth being vigilant about, because in this life, the relationship between Tsarist Russia and Austria-Hungary has not become as rigid as in the previous life.

The European political landscape has also undergone some “small” changes. For example, Italy, a “master” at jumping back and forth, has lost its chance to become a “great power.”

After this war, Portugal will probably be completely reduced to the ranks of third-rate European countries, and Portugal’s situation is even more miserable than Italy’s.

Italy can still obtain a colony in Africa, while Portugal is likely to be left with only small colonies in West Africa and the Far East, and its economic level is also far inferior to Italy’s.

Although Italy’s last unification failed, Italy’s economy has actually been developing in a good direction in the past two years.

In its previous life, Italy may have been too arrogant in Africa due to its inflated national power after unification, so it was beaten badly by the Ethiopians. In this life, it has adopted a steady and pragmatic strategy in Africa due to its lack of national power, so it has not crashed.

Italy’s Red Sea colony has greatly alleviated the domestic population pressure, and the existence of the colony has also stimulated the domestic economic recovery, which can already replenish the mainland.

There is also Belgium, a small European country, which has also undergone significant changes. After all, the Belgian Congo and the Belgian Congo of the previous life are completely two different concepts. Although the current Belgian Congo has relatively concentrated resources and is supported by excellent ports, its population and economic size are far inferior to the Belgian Congo of the previous life.

Of course, what has not changed is Leopold II’s brutal rule. The black people in the Belgian Congo have suffered even more appalling treatment than in the previous life.

The current Belgian Congo is like the French Congo of the previous life. Although the French did not implement “benevolent governance” in the Congo, they did not completely implement “tyranny” in the French Congo like Belgium did.

And the most miserable thing is that the people of the Belgian Congo in the previous life could still escape, but now the residents of the Belgian Congo cannot escape at all. The surrounding areas are all lands that have been divided in advance. In any case, East Africa will not let them run to the east bank of the Ubangi River. These black people outside of East Africa do not even have the qualifications to be East African “slaves.”

Although the East African black people are not living well, they can still “endure” until East Africa exports them abroad, and maybe they can gain “freedom.”

In addition to Europe, East Africa has also made some changes to the Far East. In addition to the several colonies established by East Africa, the biggest achievement is that the Far East Empire has avoided Japan’s coveting of “Danwan Island.” Without the South Ryukyu Islands as a springboard, the Japanese do not have this idea for the time being.

Of course, as a price, the East African Pacific Fleet has shouldered the pressure. After the start of the South African War, Japan made several rounds of probing for the so-called recovery of the “South Ryukyu Islands.”

However, although East Africa has no way to teach “Japan” a lesson now, the South Ryukyu Islands are not easy bones to gnaw on. For East Africa, the South Ryukyu Islands are a strategic fulcrum used to contain the countries of the Far East, so from the beginning, the construction of the South Ryukyu Islands was aimed at “war.”

The Japanese Navy is not prepared to confront East Africa head-on for the time being. After all, the outcome of the South African War is still unclear. If they are “settled after the autumn harvest,” it would outweigh the gains.

Chapter 766: Assembly

Volksrust.

This rather tongue-twisting name was inherited by East Africa from the Boers. Strictly speaking, Volksrust was not originally part of the Transvaal Republic’s territory.

Rather, it was the intersection of the Boer and Zulu kingdoms, or rather, the “battlefield” where the two clashed, and it is now firmly controlled by East Africa.

At the same time, Volksrust is a transportation hub in the area, an important passage to New Hamburg, and the East African central railway passes through it.

With the military movements of the Southern Military Region, a total of more than twenty-seven thousand troops are preparing to cooperate with the New Hamburg garrison to recover the Southern Frontier Province.

This has made Volksrust Station busy. The troops of the Southern Military Region must first assemble here and then pass through the various passes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

East Africa controls the large and small passages. Although British troops occasionally break out and open a road to the west, East Africa can quickly retake it.

Of course, although the Drakensberg Mountains have a certain defensive function, they cannot guarantee complete security. As long as the British army uses its full strength, it still has a chance to break through the natural barrier of the Drakensberg Mountains.

However, even so, this is a difficult task for the British army. The first is the lack of detailed understanding of the Drakensberg Mountains.

After all, the British came too late. By the time the British wanted to make a big splash in South Africa, the Transvaal Republic and the Zulu Kingdom had been destroyed by East Africa.

And East Africa does not open up to foreign trade, and even restricts the entry and exit of people, so it is very difficult to obtain intelligence in East Africa.

Most of the intelligence that the British army can obtain comes from expeditions. “Explorers” can be said to be the most notorious existence in the 19th century. This term corresponds to “navigators” and are both pioneers of colonialism.

Of course, East Africa also had similar official organizations in the past, but now they have been replaced by various types of scientific expeditions, or professional foreign intelligence agencies.

The Drakensberg Mountains are so large, and East Africa is sparsely populated, so even if East Africa wants to engage in “closed-door” policies, it cannot completely prevent “explorers” from all over the world from entering East African territory. Generally, as long as they do not stray into East African towns and villages, it is difficult to be discovered by East Africa.

The same is true for the southern provinces of East Africa. The southern provinces add up to more than one million square kilometers, and the population, including the military, is less than one million. In this case, the population density in southern East Africa is actually no different from that of the Boer Republic and the Cape Colony, and both are typically sparsely populated.

The only difference is that the number of troops in East Africa in the south is almost one-eighth of the population of the Boer Republic.

Of course, with the outbreak of the South African War, the number of troops of the Allied Forces in South Africa also increased rapidly and surpassed the number of East African troops, but most of the Allied Forces’ numerical advantage came from Indian soldiers.

If only the original population of the Boer Republic and Cape Town is considered, even with the addition of the two Portuguese colonies in the east and west, East Africa would have no difficulty in taking on four opponents without local support, and could even steamroll them.

…

In Volksrust, the military commanders of the 511th, 513th, and 514th Divisions, who had just finished the Boer Republic war, met to discuss how to recover the lost territory of the Southern Frontier Province.

In addition to these three units, there is also the 512th Division, which is now the New Hamburg garrison. The main force of the 512th Division is besieged in New Hamburg, but the headquarters of the 512th Division is in the De Aar area near the Drakensberg Mountains.

So this time, East Africa has a total of four participating units, which is basically most of the Southern Military Region’s assets.

“The British army now has a total of more than twenty thousand troops on the outskirts of New Hamburg, which is twice that of New Hamburg, and the total number of Allied troops in the entire Southern Frontier Province should be more than forty thousand. The remaining troops are mostly confronting us on the east side of the Drakensberg Mountains,” Kailar said to the commanders of the friendly forces who came to support.

Prypiat, the commander of the 511th Division, said, “That is to say, the British army in the Southern Frontier Province is not the main force?”

Kailar: “The main force of the British army is now in the north, that is, in Mozambique. As for the British army in the Southern Frontier Province, they did try to break through our division’s deployment in the Drakensberg Mountains in the first month of the war, but they were repelled by our army. Later, the enemy and us fell into a tug-of-war near the Drakensberg Mountains, which has been delayed until now.”

As the former highest military commander in the eastern part of the Southern Frontier Province, Kailar led the 512th Division and fought many battles with several times the number of British troops in the past few months, including the very famous Battle of Tugela River in the early stage of the war.

It’s just that the 512th Division has now been divided into two parts by the enemy, and now the troops in the east centered on New Hamburg mainly follow the command of Aritod.

Aritod is also the commander of the East African Battle of Tugela River. He used to be Kailar’s subordinate. Later, after New Hamburg was besieged, in order to unify the command of the New Hamburg garrison, the Southern Military Region temporarily reorganized Aritod’s Ninth Brigade and the remnants of the Third Brigade withdrawn from the northern front into the New Hamburg Combined Division.

So now Kailar can actually only command one-third of the original 512th Division. But even so, East Africa’s strength in the eastern battlefield of the Southern Frontier Province is four and a half divisions, which can reach more than forty thousand, which is more than twice that of the British army.

Kailar continued: “Our railway to New Hamburg has been completely cut off, and so is the telegraph line. Communication with the New Combined Division can only be relayed through the General Staff.”

This is an important reason why Aritod obtained independent command. Now, although Aritod’s troops are nominally under the Southern Military Region, they are actually directly under the dispatch of the General Staff.

Of course, the one who feels the most bitter in his heart is Kailar. His former subordinate has now run ahead of him and commands more troops than himself. There is nowhere to reason!

Of course, this is a special situation under the war. In the face of several times the number of British troops than the 512th Division, even if other East African troops were in this situation, it cannot be said that they would have done better than Kailar.

Although Aritod shined brightly in the war, it cannot be denied that Kailar was the military commander and made the initial military deployment of the entire Southern Frontier Province war.

So after the war, Kailar’s credit is indispensable, but it is even more enviable for his colleagues.

The other main forces in the Southern Frontier Province all participated in the war against the Boer Republic. Although East Africa is suspected of bullying the few with the many, after the war, the war against the Boer Republic is definitely another war of annihilation.

Kailar is quite envious of this. Although the Boer Republic is small in area, has a small population, and is weak in national strength, the war of annihilation sounds imposing.

Of course, Kailar has actually participated in this kind of war of annihilation, that is, when East Africa destroyed the Transvaal Republic.

In addition to the Transvaal Republic, the countries destroyed by East Africa are as numerous as a cow’s hair, but most of them have no gold content except for Zanzibar.

After all, African chiefs who dominate Africa with backward weapons are not worth mentioning in the war history of East Africa. East Africa has destroyed at least hundreds of such kingdoms, and perhaps thousands if even large tribes are counted.

The commanders of the other divisions did not feel anything about Kailar’s little calculations. Although the 512th Division has now been divided into two units, there is no difference in their eyes. After all, the strength of the Combined Division has not increased out of thin air, and it is still the old team of the original 512th Division.

As for bullying the “Boers,” it may not be more exciting than confronting the British army head-on. Unlike Ernst, Ernst values the Boers, but the goal of most East African officers is definitely not the “mere” Boers, but one of the “most” powerful armies in the world - the British Army.

Chapter 767: Occupying Angola

September 20, 1888.

The main force of the East African Southern Military Region, assembled in Volksrust, began to launch an offensive against the British forces in the eastern part of the Southern Frontier Province, relying on the strongholds and passes in the Drakensberg Mountains that originally belonged to the 512th Division.

At the same time, under the command of the General Staff, the garrison of New Hamburg Port also began to attack the British forces outside the city.

With the reopening of New Hamburg Port, the newly mixed division had actually completed its personnel expansion and equipment and material resupply long ago.

East Africa launched offensives against the British forces from the east and west, and the already exhausted British forces were simply unable to resist. What was worse, they had no defensible terrain.

The only city that could serve as a barrier, New Hamburg Port, could not be captured, and the Drakensberg Mountains were firmly locked down by East Africa.

At this point, unless the main British force in Mozambique provided support, the entire Southern Frontier Province would probably return to the hands of the East Africans.

However, although the British forces in the Southern Frontier Province received support from Earl Roberts, it was a drop in the bucket and could not change the situation at all.

Because at the same time as the Southern Frontier Province recovery war began, East Africa also launched a new round of large-scale offensives from the north and west. Earl Roberts had to withstand the pressure and prevent the collapse of the entire defense line. Under such circumstances, there were no spare troops to support the south.

This was even after the Allied forces in Mozambique had contracted their defense line again a month ago, and the British defense pressure had been reduced to some extent.

The East African army continued to advance eastward from the Drakensberg Mountains. The tens of thousands of British troops in the west could not compete with East Africa in terms of numbers or morale.

Coupled with the attack on New Hamburg Port, the British forces did not dare to divide a portion of the 20,000 British troops in the east to support the western front.

At this time, if New Hamburg Port was also completely liberated, the British forces would really face the disadvantage of being attacked by East Africa from both east and west. After all, after several months of war, the British forces’ perception of the New Hamburg Port garrison was that of “a tiger trapped in a cage.” Once an opening was made, this powerful force could cause huge trouble for the British forces.

The East African Southern Military Region did not care what the British forces thought. In order to completely annihilate the British forces remaining in the Southern Frontier Province, the 513th Division advanced along the railway line towards New Hamburg Port.

The 4th Division blocked the British forces’ retreat to the Natal Colony along the Tugela River, and the 511th Division advanced from the plains, confronting the main force of the British western front with the 512th Division.

With multiple measures taken simultaneously, the British forces were unable to fully resist the East African offensive. What was worse, the East African Western Military Region seized the opportunity to increase reinforcements from the northwest, holding back the British forces from Mozambique who were supporting the south.

The western military region controlled the southernmost end of the eastern defense line, which was the territory of the former Kingdom of Swaziland. This area had a geographical advantage for the entire Southeast Africa. A regiment of the 412th Division directly cut diagonally from the northwest into the inevitable route for the Maputo reinforcements.

Although it did not stop the British reinforcements from going south, it greatly delayed the troops’ marching speed, buying valuable time for the Southern Military Region to eliminate the local British forces.

Taking advantage of this gap, the 513th Division and the New Hamburg Port New Mixed Division successfully joined forces and launched a full-scale counterattack against the 20,000 British troops surrounding New Hamburg Port.

On September 27, 1888, by the time the British reinforcements arrived, New Hamburg Port had completely lifted the crisis.

The British forces going south numbered more than 20,000, which Earl Roberts had scraped together by pinching pennies and forcibly transferring them from Mozambique.

However, they had to face the 30,000 main East African forces who had just won a victory and were full of morale. What was worse, the British forces now had no defensible terrain. Seeing that things could not be done, the British commander decisively abandoned the task of rescuing the British forces in the Southern Frontier Province and fled towards Mozambique.

September 30.

East Africa officially recovered the entire Southern Frontier Province. In the two battles, a total of more than 18,000 British troops were captured, including more than 3,000 British, with the rest being mainly Indians.

While East Africa launched the Southern Frontier Province recovery war, huge changes also took place on the western front. At this time, most of the Angolan forces had basically been completely defeated by East Africa.

The 414th Division and other troops broke through the Portuguese defense line head-on, and then began to advance towards Luanda and other important Angolan military towns.

Under a series of military victories, a large number of Portuguese soldiers were captured, totaling more than 40,000, and a large number of black auxiliary troops were also captured or scattered by East Africa.

However, these black soldiers who escaped with “advanced” weapons were considered quite dangerous by East Africa, so the entire western front began a full-scale encirclement and suppression of black deserters.

After all, these weapons were very likely to become a “trouble” for East Africa’s development of the Angola region in the future. In the current Angola colony with more than 300,000 square kilometers of land, it was indeed not an easy task to find tens of thousands of black deserters.

In addition to the collapse of the frontal battlefield, Cabinda, an important city in northern Angola, was also captured by East Africa. As a result, the entire Angola was left with only Luanda, Benguela, and a few coastal military strongholds still under Portuguese control.

Luanda had persisted until now in this war because of the Portuguese and British governments’ maritime superiority in the South Atlantic, allowing Luanda to receive sufficient supplies and troop reinforcements.

A brigade from mainland Portugal had arrived in Luanda a week ago, but morale in Luanda was declining day by day.

East Africa’s forces in Luanda had been increasing, and various artillery pieces had also been reinforced here. The fall of Luanda was only a matter of time.

The same problem existed in Benguela, but Benguela was slightly luckier than Luanda. The 2nd Brigade of the 421st Division lacked siege equipment and heavy firepower, allowing the city to survive. However, the newly formed 419th Division of East Africa was heading towards Benguela. Once the 419th Division was in place, it was basically certain that the Benguela garrison would be unable to recover.

Now, the main resources of the mainland were mainly tilting towards Luanda, so Benguela received very few supplies. The 2nd Brigade alone had already stretched Benguela’s firepower thin. Once the 419th Division arrived, Benguela would not be able to cope with the firepower suppression of a fully staffed East African division.

October 7, 1888.

With the cooperation of the 419th Division and the 421st Division, Benguela, the second largest city in Portugal, fell. The Benguela high command fled to Luanda by sea, and the troops in the city who did not have time to escape surrendered to East Africa.

At this time, the western battlefield also entered its final stage. The entire Angola, except for the isolated island of Luanda, was under East African control.

The new army of East Africa on the western battlefield had also grown rapidly and formed combat effectiveness after this period of war.

End of October, 1888.

After basically clearing the territory of Angola, East Africa began to launch a full-scale offensive against Luanda.

East Africa concentrated one hundred and three artillery pieces, roaring at Luanda, the coastal fortress in the South Atlantic second only to Cape Town.

The Portuguese would never have imagined that they would enjoy the treatment only available on the European battlefield in backward Africa. This was also the first time in sub-Saharan Africa that a single battle involved a cannon battle with a scale of hundreds of artillery pieces.

Although Luanda had been built by the Portuguese for hundreds of years, the Portuguese certainly had not imagined that Luanda would one day suffer such treatment.

On the last day of October, 1888, at four o’clock in the afternoon, after experiencing more than an hour of East African artillery bombardment, a white flag was raised over the ruins of Luanda, declaring the end of the Portuguese rule in Angola for hundreds of years.

Chapter 768: Futile Resistance

On the fertile land of Angola, the smoke of war did not completely dissipate with the collapse of the Portuguese colonial regime, even after East Africa had destroyed Angola’s spiritual pillar—Luanda.

Because compared to Luanda, there was still a group of “true” masters on Angolan soil, whose most genuine interests were not the so-called “patriotism,” but the land and abundant resources of Angola.

The plantations and mines of Angola, these “Portuguese” who truly lived in Angola, their resistance to East Africa did not end with the demise of Portuguese rule.

East Africa, during the war against Luanda, had no time to manage these planters or mine owners. Now that the frontal war was over, in order to obtain the land of Angola, East Africa had to launch a new round of military operations.

N’harea.

N’harea is 267 kilometers from Luanda. It is a Portuguese plantation, and at this time, a company of the 416th Division is fighting the plantation’s guards here.

Gunfire rose and fell in the furrows on the left side of the N’harea plantation. The arcing shells from the grenade launchers landed on the ground, emitting plumes of black smoke, dyeing the lush green fields.

“Old-fashioned grenade launchers still use black powder. Although the power is not as good as smokeless powder, the smell of gunpowder at the muzzle is more intoxicating!” Company Commander Parker said with great satisfaction in the temporary trench.

As a newly formed unit, many of the equipment in Parker’s unit had not been updated in time, and were all old goods moved out of the East African National Defense Warehouse.

Smokeless powder was a great invention, but unfortunately, the time node when East Africa was able to produce smokeless powder was too close to the South African War, so even before the war, not all troops could replace their equipment and ammunition with new ones.

But for Parker, although these weapons had some shortcomings, they were enough to deal with the Portuguese plantations that could not even put together a full complement of weapons.

“Company Commander Parker, these Portuguese are really ungrateful. Their main force has already been annihilated by us, why haven’t they given up resisting? Do they really think they can fight us with their crude weapons and the weak fighting spirit of their black slaves!”

Parker said, “People die for wealth, birds die for food. For these planters, land is their foundation. They came all the way from Europe to this place, reclaimed wasteland and expanded territory. Now, because of the incompetence of their country, their centuries of accumulation has been plundered. It must be difficult for them to accept this result.”

Of course, this was just an exaggeration. After all, only a few wealthy people could truly live in Angola. After accumulating considerable wealth here, they still had to return to the dazzling, extravagant world of Europe.

Even though Portugal was somewhat second-rate among European countries, it was once a great nation worthy of Portuguese remembrance.

In the colonial era, the former glory of the Portuguese Empire was a passport for the Portuguese to safely accept the identity of “civilized people.”

Of course, behind the extravagance and respectability of European gentlemen and capitalists was the painful price paid by countless countries and civilians in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

As long as a country has the strength, it is easily “respected” by other countries. Portugal is no longer capable now, but the glory of its “pirate” ancestors will not allow anyone to truly despise this country, after all, what if, maybe, perhaps Portugal will once again make an initiative like the early days of the Age of Discovery?

But all of this has nothing to do with the East African soldiers. Like Parker, for him, present-day “mere” Portugal is just a stepping stone for the great Black-Hesse Kingdom to stand at the top of the world. In the future, East Africa will definitely be no worse than any country in the world.

Just like now, the black slaves on the opposite Portuguese plantation do not even have basic freedom, and they are only used as cannon fodder for the planters in the face of war. Parker already feels uninterested in dealing with such an opponent.

Parker said, “From the moment of victory in the Battle of Luanda, Portuguese rule in Angola was completely terminated. However, these planters, with their plantations of thousands upon thousands of acres, have also lost the ability to be protected by the Portuguese Kingdom. These are all their private property, so they must be dissatisfied with our East Africa, after all, our actions are damaging their real interests. But the 19th century is an era where strength speaks.”

“If we were the ones who were defeated, I think the situation we would face would not be much better than Angola’s current situation. So for the sake of the kingdom, for the sake of Germany, we must fight the Portuguese and achieve victory. This is a completely just war of self-defense.”

Of course, Parker’s righteous words cannot change the fact that East Africa is now depriving Portuguese “civilians” of their land in Angola. Until a few months ago, this war was indeed a war of national defense.

The current East African army, like Napoleon in those days, has been redefined from national heroes to “invaders.”

However, the East African soldiers felt no burden in their hearts about this. First of all, the situation in the 19th century was that whoever had the bigger fist had the say. Portugal failed in this war, so East Africa, as the victor, obtained all the spoils, which was completely reasonable.

Secondly, the East African soldiers had no sympathy for such large private plantations, after all, they themselves were not big planters.

East Africa implements land nationalization. Although nationalization cannot make East African nationals rich overnight, it can ensure that they have enough food and clothing, which is a very happy thing for East African nationals in this era. After all, compared with the misery of the people in most countries in the late 19th century, East Africa is simply “heaven.”

Moreover, land privatization actually has a derogatory meaning in the eyes of most East Africans in this era, especially land privatization like that in Angola, where an entire plantation is owned by the planter, while the laborers attached to him cannot share even a little bit of the profits.

Although East Africa also “exploits” its nationals to a certain extent, this is unavoidable. Competition with other countries requires East African nationals to be diligent.

After all, East Africa’s foundation cannot be compared with that of most countries. This disadvantage in foundation can only be created by “effort.”

Of course, the only pity is that the ruler of East Africa is the Black-Hesse royal family, otherwise East Africa might really take a different path and become a pioneer of this era.

Of course, now under Ernst’s governance, East Africa’s performance in various aspects is basically qualified, which is already very much in line with the psychological expectations of East African nationals. In fact, even if Ernst does nothing now, Ernst will become one of the most “great” people in East African history in the future.

Because now Ernst is equivalent to fabricating a new nation, although it is wearing the shell of Germany, but everyone knows that this is just a shell.

No matter which direction East Africa develops in the future, it cannot change the history of Ernst creating this nation and country.

Unless one day, the East Africans are all wiped out like the American Indians, or the ruling institution of the state no longer exists, and world harmony is achieved.

The 19th century is an era of great changes, but as long as Ernst lives long enough, East Africa will have the opportunity to get through the dangerous period. This is the prerogative of the founding monarch. Of course, East Africa’s de jure founding monarch is Constantine, which is special, but who made the Black-Hesse royal family so small in the past!

Chapter 769: Bargaining Chips

The war waged by East Africa against the remaining forces in Angola, or rather, against the plantation owners and mine owners, was a one-sided affair. After all, even the Kingdom’s army had failed, and these plantation owners who relied on enslaving “black slaves” for their survival could not possibly get the black slaves to genuinely risk their lives for them.

When something really happened, they were the first to run! No, they ran faster than anyone else. However, this was a good thing for East Africa. No matter how they ran, as long as they were still on East African soil, the fate of these black people had long been arranged by East Africa.

…

November 12, 1888.

First Town City.

“Currently, all wars against Angola are basically over. After our statistics, there are approximately more than one hundred and thirty thousand Portuguese people, including soldiers and civilians. There are not many Portuguese people in the interior of Angola, and many of the Portuguese people in the coastal areas have escaped back to their homeland by boat,” Swet reported to Ernst on the current situation in Angola.

Ernst: “Only more than one hundred and thirty thousand people?”

After all, Portugal’s rule in Angola had lasted for hundreds of years, and this small population did not meet Ernst’s expectations. Moreover, a considerable portion of them were Portuguese troops from the mainland.

Strictly speaking, these Portuguese mainland troops cannot be regarded as the local Portuguese population of Angola, because they are only temporarily staying in the area due to the needs of the war.

Swet explained: “There are also many mixed-race descendants of Portuguese and natives, but we did not count them as Portuguese. I think the Portuguese are unlikely to be interested in these black people.”

According to the American one-drop rule, the mixed-race descendants of the Portuguese must also be considered black. They don’t have close relatives in the mainland like the Portuguese whites, so their value is not high. Therefore, the Portuguese government is unlikely to take over these “hot potatoes.”

Ernst said: “Very good, first gather these Portuguese people and detain them. These are the capital for us to negotiate with the Portuguese government in the future.”

Although it is impossible for East Africa to return Angola to Portugal, the failure of the war does not mean that the Portuguese government has the courage to compensate East Africa with “Angola.” This behavior is tantamount to treason.

Therefore, if East Africa wants the Portuguese to honestly sign a treaty after the war, it needs this group of prisoners as hostages. If it is to redeem its own citizens, then even if the Portuguese government cedes land and pays compensation, it will be easier to explain.

One hundred and thirty thousand purebred Portuguese people are not a small number, especially for Portugal, which has a population of only a few million. It can basically present a scene of every family “wearing mourning.”

Moreover, this is only Angola. Now there is still Mozambique that East Africa has not yet captured. Optimistically estimated after the war, East Africa will have at least three hundred thousand Portuguese people in its hands.

These three hundred thousand Portuguese people are an important bargaining chip for East Africa to coerce the Portuguese. Of course, East Africa can also use very crude methods to directly and “illegally” occupy the two colonies.

However, a legally compliant treaty of national humiliation can make people feel more at ease. After all, if Portugal does not sign a treaty, it will not be good for East Africa’s international image.

Although signing treaties of national humiliation after defeat is common in Europe, like Prussia, France, Austria-Hungary… they have all signed similar treaties, but Portugal is in Europe after all, not Africa. If the Portuguese government is determined not to sign a treaty of national humiliation, East Africa really doesn’t have a good way.

Just like in the previous life, after Japan defeated Tsarist Russia, it demanded war reparations. Why was Tsarist Russia able to refuse so stubbornly? That’s because the land in the Far East was not very important to Tsarist Russia. Japan defeated Tsarist Russia in the Far East, but it didn’t hit Saint Petersburg. Moreover, even if Japan really had this strength, Tsarist Russia’s national character probably wouldn’t completely surrender.

Now Portugal is almost in a similar situation for East Africa. Ernst has not thought about how much war reparations he can get from Portugal. First of all, the Portuguese government is already so poor that it has sold its pants. Secondly, East Africa does not have the ability to collect debts in Portugal.

So the best result is to let Portugal honestly accept the cost of losing two colonies. Although this is painful, it is not unacceptable.

At least Portugal has not lost everything, such as the current colonial hotspots - West Africa, the East Indies, and even in India and the Far East Empire, the Portuguese still have colonies, and there are also some more important islands.

It’s just that the value of these colonies, except for the Gold Coast, cannot be compared with Angola and Mozambique.

Of course, if Portugal really loses Angola and Mozambique, according to Ernst’s prediction, the only entrepreneurial direction for Portugal in the future is probably the Gold Coast, which is now Portuguese Whydah, and the Dahomey Kingdom in West Africa is likely to become the expansion direction for the Portuguese.

As for other regions, the opponents faced by Portugal are too powerful. For example, in India, Portugal still has several Indian colonies, but the area is very small, and next to it is the territory of the British Empire. The Portuguese-Macau colony in the Far East Empire is also out of the question. Maintaining the status quo is already an act of grace by the current government of the Far East Empire.

Finally, there is also the Portuguese Timor colony. The Dutch next to it are not something the current Portuguese can provoke. After losing Angola and Mozambique, Portugal is completely inferior to the Netherlands.

Only the Portuguese in West Africa still have a chance. Although the Portuguese territory in West Africa is a bit small, West Africa is a mixed bag, which is very suitable for fishing in troubled waters.

Of course, Ernst is not concerned about the future fate of the Kingdom of Portugal. Now Ernst just wants to secure Angola and Mozambique.

So he said: “Treat our Portuguese prisoners well. These are important bargaining chips for post-war negotiations. As for those mixed-race descendants, don’t worry about them for the time being. If the Portuguese are interested in them in the future, they may still have some use value.”

Of course, saying that, Ernst is very pessimistic about the Portuguese attitude towards mixed-race descendants. After all, the Portuguese who have been reduced to marrying natives or simply being irresponsible should also be at the bottom of Portuguese society.

The Portuguese with a little strength would not have relations with natives at all. Otherwise, according to the Portuguese colonial history in Africa, the mixed-race descendants in Angola should have exceeded one million by now.

Of course, this is also related to Portugal’s lack of effort in developing Africa before. The expansion of Portuguese Angola and Mozambique was actually forced by East Africa and the international colonial wave.

In the hundreds of years of Portuguese colonization of Africa, most of the time, Portuguese colonies were limited to coastal areas.

Because the Portuguese had almost no competitors in Africa before, and the sudden emergence of East Africa was an important reason why Angola and Mozambique were valued by Portugal.

It can be said that the decade or so when East Africa threatened the security of Portuguese colonies was also the fastest period of development for Angola and Mozambique. Both population and construction were higher than the sum of previous eras.

It’s just that Portugal is ultimately one step behind East Africa. Just like Ernst, if he hadn’t introduced immigrants from the Far East Empire early on, the current population of East Africa would not have reached this scale.

And Portugal is sparsely populated even in its own mainland (compared to other European countries), and they can go to Brazil to develop, so why go to Angola and Mozambique!

East Africa’s openness is also an important reason for East Africa’s victory in the African colonial war. Without millions of immigrants from the Far East laying the foundation for East Africa in advance, there would be no current development of East Africa. Population and land are the foundation of East Africa’s development.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that immigrants from the Far East are easy to fool. Europeans more or less know that Africa is “not” a good place, but the vast majority of people in the Far East Empire are now unenlightened. Most people have probably never even heard of the so-called African continent. The spread of the African continent may not be as famous as the East Victory Divine Continent in “Journey to the West.”

Of course, this is also a thing of the past. Now the popularity of Africa in the Far East Empire has been promoted a lot by East Africa, after all, immigration and commercial activities are too frequent.

Chapter 770: Inheritance of the Angolan Legacy

Luanda City.

Having endured the ravages of war, Luanda was already riddled with holes. East Africa, upon taking over Luanda, began the local reconstruction work.

“The scale of Luanda’s port is somewhat below standard, but there’s no value in renovating it now. After all, no one can guarantee whether the enemy will harass this place, and it’s very likely they’ll bombard it. Our naval strength in the South Atlantic is very weak at the moment, so there’s no need to carry out large-scale repairs on the cities in the Angolan region. Perhaps after the war, we’ll have to completely tear down and rebuild the area,” said engineer John Lowell.

For East Africa, Luanda’s port conditions were superior to most ports on the East African coast. Firstly, it had a large area. Cities like Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were actually ports extending inland, while Luanda had a naturally formed giant sandbar extending into the open sea, which made Luanda more malleable than the former two.

Of course, the disadvantages were also obvious, namely that it was far from the main commercial routes. The world’s main trade was still concentrated in the exchange between Asia and Europe, and even the Americas now could not break this monopoly in a short time.

Dar es Salaam and Mombasa were naturally close to the main shipping lanes. In contrast, Angola under Portuguese rule, whether in terms of population or productivity, was far inferior to East Africa, so Luanda’s foreign trade was very backward.

The important role of a colony was to provide markets and raw materials to the suzerain state, and Angola clearly had its natural disadvantages in terms of markets. Firstly, it had a small population, although if you included the blacks, it might be comparable to Portugal itself.

However, the consumption power was too poor. The value created by the local blacks was far less than the plantations and mines built by the Portuguese in Angola. Moreover, due to the low level of civilization, the original Kingdom of Kongo was not as populous as the Abyssinian Empire.

Compared to the Abyssinian Empire, a true ancient African civilization, other indigenous African countries could only be regarded as uncivilized lands.

Of course, North Africa’s Egypt had a glorious history, and it is still relatively developed today, but ancient Egyptian civilization had long been replaced by Arab civilization, and the same was true of other North African countries.

On the other hand, some of the ancient kingdoms of West Africa had some civilization, but they were also heavily influenced by Arab civilization. In this light, the Abyssinian Empire was more representative of African civilization.

Of course, the level of civilization was only one indicator determining Angola’s prosperity. When this indicator was not met, Angola’s development was naturally unsatisfactory.

As for the advanced civilization brought by the Portuguese, it was actually a colonial culture based on exploitation, and Portugal, as one of the earliest colonial empires, was far behind Britain and France in its methods.

British and French colonies could receive a certain degree of construction, but Angola under Portuguese rule did not change much for hundreds of years.

But this was a good thing for East Africa. If Portugal had really transformed and built Angola, it would not have been easy for East Africa to take over the area smoothly.

“For Luanda’s planning, it will definitely be one of the most important cities on the west coast in the future, and its future development prospects may not be much inferior to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.”

“We lack a direct sea passage linking the North and South Atlantic. Although Southwest Africa existed before, the conditions at Walvis Bay are somewhat poor, while the natural level of the Angolan ports is even better than those on the east coast, and the climate is also very good. This place will definitely be a key construction area for the kingdom in the future.”

Eugene was convinced by John Lowell’s words, after all, the arrival of John Lowell’s team was proof of this.

John Lowell had participated in the construction of many East African cities and was a famous urban designer in East Africa. Even before Angola had completely settled down, the Kingdom’s government sent him to Luanda to survey and plan, and the purpose was self-evident.

He said, “Mr. John Lowell, another great city may be designed under your hands, which is truly gratifying.”

John Lowell was very pleased with the compliment from the government-arranged security personnel. He said, “This is also the reason why I chose to come to East Africa to work. There are so many opportunities here, and in Europe, where connections and seniority are emphasized, I would not be able to achieve such great success.”

After all, most of the cities in Europe were already established, and competition among European colleagues was very fierce. As a commoner, John Lowell, although talented, was naturally at a disadvantage compared to those nobles who controlled connections and resources, or had family support, whereas there was no such concern in East Africa.

John Lowell came to East Africa about thirteen years ago. There were not many people like John Lowell who came to East Africa seeking development opportunities, but there were also quite a few, but it tested their respective levels even more.

The reason why John Lowell was able to obtain the support of the East African government was naturally because his several works were very satisfactory, including the two masterpieces of Kisingani and New Frankfurt, and he also participated in the construction of East African cities, led by Dar es Salaam.

East Africa had new city construction, old city expansion, and a large number of construction projects, all of which provided a large number of employment opportunities for practitioners from Europe.

John Lowell said, “Luanda was originally planned by the Portuguese as a small to medium-sized city. According to the current residential areas, it can accommodate a maximum of 30,000 people, but according to the traces of life in Luanda, at least 70,000 to 80,000 people lived in Luanda, which is quite unreasonable.”

Eugene: “Mr. John Lowell, apart from military fortresses, the Portuguese may not have carefully planned the construction of Luanda at all. The buildings in these cities should have been accumulated slowly.”

John Lowell glanced at Eugene approvingly and said, “You observed well. This chaotic urban layout and the dirty and messy environment clearly show that the Portuguese did not put in much effort at the beginning. Their cities were more freely developed, so they appear particularly crowded, while sacrificing the living environment.”

“And my blueprint is to demolish all these dilapidated things and design the urban space more reasonably, just like other cities in East Africa.”

“Especially the port area and water source are the key points. Luanda was favored by the Portuguese because of its geographical location and port conditions. By the same token, this place will also be an important port city in East Africa in the future, so how to make the port area and the city more closely connected is an important direction in the design.”

“As for the water source problem, Luanda’s rainfall can only be considered medium to low in East Africa, so the rational use of rivers and lakes can solve Luanda’s production and living problems.”

Luanda’s annual rainfall is only around 500 millimeters, but this rainfall is far more advantageous than Walvis Bay and can meet basic agricultural and industrial production.

Of course, the most important thing is that Luanda is not short of water sources. The upper reaches of the rivers are areas with relatively abundant rainfall, which can better alleviate Luanda’s needs.

However, the reason why Luanda’s rainfall is far less than that of the west coast of East Africa is mainly due to the influence of the Benguela Current, which is somewhat similar to the Somali region, but the ocean currents in the Somali region will change with the seasons, while the Benguela Current only has strong and weak distinctions.

But even if affected by the cold current, Luanda’s rainfall is enough to satisfy East Africa. This is not the twenty-first century. In the twenty-first century, large-scale industrial production is an important reason for water shortages, while the scale of industry in the nineteenth century naturally does not consume much water.

Chapter 771: Angolan Inheritance (Continued)

Besides taking over Luanda, East Africa has already started a new round of population migration. Nothing is more reassuring for controlling Angola than immigration.

Of course, this is also to accept the legacy of the Portuguese and avoid wasting resources. Although the Portuguese government was driven away, production in Angola must continue.

Angola is very different from the areas previously occupied by East Africa. Under the rule of the Portuguese, although not developed, the agricultural conditions are not bad. East Africa cannot directly ignore the large number of plantations.

After all, in the pre-mechanized era, land reclamation is very difficult. East Africa has a deep understanding of this. It took East Africa more than twenty years to build the country’s agriculture to its current scale, which cost a lot of time and labor.

And now Angola has large plantations that can be taken for free, which is much easier than East Africa reclaiming land from scratch.

The accumulation of the Portuguese over hundreds of years is not a small amount, especially in the western coastal areas where the degree of development is high. East Africa can directly take over and settle a large population.

This is very important for Ernst, as it relates to East Africa’s future industrial layout, especially opening up national trade in East Africa and boosting the central economy.

Although the three central provinces are rich in resources, the limited development of the inland is a common problem for many countries. After all, now is the age of the ocean, and the main mode of transportation for trade is by sea.

If the inland wants to compare with the coastal areas, the most effective way is to activate the inland waterway network, just like the Far East Empire’s Yangtze River can directly transport goods from the coast to the Sichuan Basin. The most typical example is Germany. In addition to the role of railways, the canal network is an important reason for the balanced economic development of the German region.

East Africa certainly does not have superior waterway conditions, but if the construction of the western section of the central railway is activated, it can achieve seventy percent of the effect in the future.

The most important thing for inland economic development is to connect with the surrounding areas. At present, East Africa’s industrial investment is also mainly concentrated in the inland areas, so that the three central provinces will gain a first-mover advantage, thereby offsetting some of the disadvantages in transportation and logistics.

In other words, inland economic development mainly relies on the domestic market, while coastal economic development mainly relies on the foreign market. In the age of sea power, coastal economies inevitably gain an advantage, and East Africa is using various means to solve this problem.

Moreover, the situation in East Africa’s inland areas is very different from the unpopularity of the central areas of the Far East Empire and the United States, especially after acquiring Angola.

The main industrial resources of the United States and the Far East Empire, in terms of important energy and major minerals, are mainly concentrated in the peripheral areas. For example, the United States is mainly around the Great Lakes, and the Far East Empire is mainly in the west or northeast.

East Africa happens to be mainly concentrated in the central and southern regions, but the climatic conditions in southern East Africa are not as good as those in the central region, and the environmental carrying capacity is weak. This is one of the advantages of central economic development.

Then there is transportation. Transportation in the United States and the Far East Empire is affected by mountains. The western United States is the Rocky Mountains. If the economy of the western United States had not been driven by the Internet and the strong rise of the economies of the Far East Empire in the 21st century, it would be difficult to compare with the old industrial areas near Europe.

The western part of the Far East Empire not only has many mountains, but also the economies of the Central Asian countries further west are not developed. The cost of land transportation cannot compete with the cost of sea transportation, and there is a lack of water resources, which prevents effective connection to the central economy.

East Africa is different. The situation on the east and west coasts of East Africa is similar, and the various situations faced are similar. For example, the west coast faces North and South America, while the east coast faces Asia and Europe. This is the distribution of market demand.

In terms of energy and raw materials, the west coast is close to the West African region, the east coast is close to the Middle East region, and the northern land of East Africa can be connected to North Africa.

This means that East Africa will be close to the world’s three major commodity oil production areas in the future, and the same is true for raw materials such as iron ore.

West Africa’s mineral resources are no worse than those of East Africa, and can complement East Africa. The most important thing is that oil energy is relatively scarce in East Africa.

This, to some extent, makes up for East Africa’s inherent lack of oil resources. Of course, the abundant oil and gas resources in the Angola region are already sufficient for East Africa’s development needs, as long as the population is not too large.

In short, East Africa attaches unprecedented importance to Angola, just like when Ernst crossed Mozambique to get the Matabeleland Plateau and the Transvaal Republic into his hands.

……

First Town.

As the main person in charge of Angola’s post-war economic recovery, Von der Leyen is reporting to Ernst on the government’s work.

“We have sent more than six hundred professionals from various industries to Angola, but this is just a drop in the bucket for the Angola region. At present, the main daily operations in the Angola region are still maintained by the army, but the army can only be responsible for security issues and preventing enemies from the sea.”

“So, if we want to restore Angola’s production, we need a large population to do this. Given the relatively scarce population in the central region, we can only think of ways from the east.”

“Now, affected by the war, our immigration policy has also been greatly affected. Even the Far East immigration business is in a short-term standstill.”

“Before this, we had recruited a lot of people from the east into the army or to support the central and western battlefields. Therefore, judging from our country’s population situation, the development of the west is still very difficult.”

This is the first time in nearly ten years that East Africa has felt the constraints of labor shortages again. Originally, East Africa’s population is not small in the world.

But East Africa has a very big problem, that is, East Africa’s livable areas are richer than similar countries. This is mainly reflected in the arable land area.

Except for the desert areas, most areas of East Africa seem to be able to develop planting industries, and even in the desert areas, East Africa has “fertile” land like the Somali two river basins suitable for developing economic planting industries.

For this, it is estimated that Tsarist Russia, which is also a large country in the world, can cry to death. The difference between tropical and cold regions is very significant.

Although East Africa’s land area is not comparable to that of Tsarist Russia, if you calculate the effective land, it will be reversed. Even the Congo Basin is only unsuitable for development now. Except for the core area of the rainforest, it can be effectively utilized as long as you are willing to invest.

“Moreover, the Portuguese’s development of Angola is very low, but after all, they have been operating for hundreds of years, and the legacy they left is very rich. In addition to a large amount of land resources, we also control many minerals. In order to maintain and build the Angola region in the future, we must immigrate at least forty thousand people in the early stage to maintain the normal operation of plantations and mines.”

The Portuguese in Angola have now been basically controlled by East Africa, which has caused the production of plantations and mines to directly stagnate.

Restoring the production activities of these plantations and mines is an important goal of the current East African government, which requires personnel with management experience.

“According to the usual practice, professional personnel can be transferred from existing farms and mines to the Angola region. However, the Portuguese black slaves are not easy to communicate with, so we need a group of black people from the central and western regions as translators to assist in directing the local black slaves in Angola.”

Relying on forty thousand people at most is to maintain a basic population framework, and if you want to retain Angola’s plantations and mines, you naturally have to rely on the two or three million local black people in Angola, which is quite a helpless move.

Chapter 772: Mindset

“There are many places needing manpower now, especially under wartime conditions. Our labor shortage problem is even more severe. However, there’s no other way. We can start with recent school graduates and encourage them to actively go to the west to create job opportunities. Of course, for safety reasons, the army must assist to avoid serious casualties.” After thinking carefully, Ernst said.

In fact, East Africa certainly doesn’t lack population now, but what it lacks is able-bodied labor, especially trustworthy able-bodied labor. Otherwise, the black people of East Africa might be able to play a role, but obviously, East Africa will not trust the black people.

If it were a few years later, East Africa would definitely not have this problem now, so some things still require time to accumulate.

“How are the military’s preparations for the decisive battle in Mozambique going?” Ernst asked Felix and Swet with a leap in his thinking.

Angola needs to be taken care of, but the biggest problem now is the war in Mozambique. The war is far from over, and the main force of the allied forces is still resisting in Mozambique.

“Significant progress has been made on all fronts. Some of the troops in Angola have also completed their rest and reorganization and are marching east. If nothing unexpected happens, we can launch a full-scale counterattack against the allied forces in Mozambique by the end of November,” Felix said with a relaxed expression.

The war has been going on for more than half a year, and now it has finally completely fallen into East Africa’s rhythm. As long as the main force of the allied forces in Mozambique is eliminated, the South African war can basically be declared over, so Felix, as the Minister of Defense, felt relieved.

Since the start of the war, East African officials and officers have been under considerable pressure. After all, the opponent is a world hegemon. However, with the progress of the war, the mindset of the entire East African population has been reshaped.

At this point in time, some people have even developed arrogance - the world’s number one power is nothing more than that. Of course, Ernst is very clear that Britain has not used its full strength in this South African war. After all, compared with the previous Boer War, the strength shown by the British army in the South African war is far inferior to the Boer War.

Even after this war is won, the British cannot be underestimated. There must be sufficiently steady leaders to suppress the “restless” mentality that is now beginning to spread in East Africa.

As the world’s number one power, one cannot only look at the superficial military data, but also at the war potential. Britain’s industrial strength and various data are still far ahead. Although there are late-developing countries like the United States and Germany closely following behind, only these two countries are the most special. The current Britain can still fully strike a country if it wants to, but this will only benefit a third party.

After the South African war ends, East Africa will only become an existence that the United States and Germany cannot easily suppress, becoming a chess player recognized internationally, rather than truly possessing the strength to challenge Britain’s bottom line.

After all, post-war East Africa still needs to develop, and in the age of sea power, East Africa certainly cannot play the game of isolation, so it must integrate into the international order.

After all, it took two world wars for the United States to take over Britain’s hegemony, and the ending of Germany, which chose to fight Britain to the death, was also quite miserable. This also shows that if Britain really wants to fully suppress an opponent, this kind of situation is not impossible, especially since East Africa is obviously far less powerful than Germany now.

So Ernst said, “We must go all out in the war in Mozambique and not underestimate the power and strength of the world hegemon. At this time, Britain has not exerted its full strength at all. For example, the Royal Navy only made a casual move and caused us heavy losses. As for the army, Britain is fully capable of deploying more troops, but they have not done so because Britain, as a global strategic empire, is not only focused on Africa. So you must not be arrogant and complacent. The gap between us and Britain is still very large.”

Of course, that being said, it also means that after East Africa wins the war, East Africa will step into the ranks of regional powers.

For example, the Ottoman Empire, although declining, is an important hegemon, the Far Eastern Empire is the East Asian hegemon, the United States is the North American hegemon, Germany is the temporary Western European land hegemon, and Tsarist Russia is the Eastern European hegemon.

However, Europe is more special. Europe is currently the strongest continent, so France and the Austro-Hungarian Empire are existences that cannot be ignored, and there is also Britain, the world hegemon.

South American countries do not have this situation. To put it bluntly, they are all trash. Before the rise of East Africa, the African continent as a whole was also in this situation. The strongest was Egypt, but Egypt, the former strongest country in Africa, was only a semi-colony of the world powers, so Africa previously did not have a regional hegemon.

After the South African war, East Africa can represent the strongest force on the African continent and participate in international affairs.

After Ernst mentioned the Royal Navy, the East African leaders present couldn’t help but feel a sense of tension. East Africa may be able to challenge Britain’s army strength, but the strength of the Royal Navy, to put it bluntly, is such that even if the navies of all other countries in the world were combined, the British Royal Navy would probably be able to fight them.

From this point of view, even if East Africa wins the war on the African continent, there is nothing to be proud of. After all, this is not ancient times, when transportation mainly relied on land and one could choose to play a single-player game, but rather one must embrace the ocean.

Ernst continued, “Of course, there is no need to be self-deprecating. We must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. Our current national strength has not reached the level of vigorously developing the navy, but the results achieved by the army are enough to be recorded in history. East Africa has a long way to go, and it cannot be changed by one or a few wars in the present.”

The navy is the military branch that tests industrial capabilities the most in the current era. After all, the conditions of the ocean are much harsher than those of the land, and the emergence of ironclad ships and battleships, as well as the development of various ships, and the prosperity of maritime trade have also established the status of the navy.

Britain’s world hegemon status was not obtained through the army, and before Britain, the world hegemons of Portugal, Spain, France, and the Netherlands were all achieved through the navy.

Although the East African navy looks strong, it has definitely not reached the same level as other powers, and the most important factor is the limitation of shipbuilding capabilities.

In the last naval battle, East Africa and Britain fought to a draw, but Britain’s shipbuilding capabilities can replenish these losses at any time, while East Africa needs more time and energy to make up for this loss.

It can be said that the apparent strength of the British Royal Navy is far from Britain’s limit, but the British have not reached that point yet, just like the potential of the British Navy was completely stimulated after the German Navy exploded in the previous life.

The East African navy’s foundation was accumulated with a lot of money and time. As long as one operation is improper, it may even lose its underwear.

The military expenditure of the navy is much higher than that of the army, so excessive development of the navy may have an impact on the domestic economy, and only a wealthy country like Britain can build the most powerful navy in the world.

Currently, it seems that the only other country in the world with this capability is probably the United States, but the United States is a relatively cunning country, knowing the price to be paid for confronting Britain, so it has always chosen to bide its time before Britain declines, and this is exactly the advantage that East Africa should learn from after the war.

Chapter 773: The Passive British Army

Maputo.

Earl Roberts looked at the military map in the command post with a look of dejection. The war situation was developing more and more unfavorably for the Allied forces.

“The current situation is very unfavorable to us. Just last month, Angola was completely defeated by East Africa, and Portugal’s military capabilities in Angola were completely destroyed. That is to say, now only we are fighting East Africa,” Roberts said weakly.

“Your Excellency, Earl, East Africa has shown amazing war strength. Now we are surrounded by East Africa. The only way to break the situation is the ocean. Only by reopening the Indian Ocean passage can we turn defeat into victory!”

His subordinate’s comforting words could not cheer Earl Roberts up. He said, “Even if we regain control of the sea, it won’t change the war situation. Our area of activity has been compressed by the East Africans to an area of less than one hundred and fifty thousand square kilometers. Moreover, the defeat of the Boers and Angola also means that two strategic fulcrums have been destroyed, and Mozambique is the most difficult to support.”

If the main battlefield had been chosen in Angola at the beginning, Britain might have been able to effectively support Earl Roberts’s troops, because the East African navy was basically non-existent in Angolan waters and even the entire Atlantic region.

However, Earl Roberts’s main idea at the time was to attack the central and eastern parts of East Africa, these two core areas of East Africa, so Mozambique, which was located in the heart of East Africa, seemed to have more favorable conditions.

But this required a premise, that is, the Allied forces always maintained an advantage, but now the so-called Allied forces are actually dead in name only, and only Britain is still struggling to support them.

“Moreover, more support is meaningless for the South African battlefield. East Africans have complete military industrial capabilities, which enables them to fully replenish the losses in the war, while the cost we need to pay is several times that of the East Africans.”

“And the most important problem now is that the New Hamburg port city crisis has been resolved. East Africa has cut off our passage south or the British army in the Natal colony north. Our supplies have entered a state of pure consumption and cannot be effectively replenished.”

So now, Roberts could conclude the outcome of this war. As long as East Africa did not make a stupid move, Britain would basically not be able to win.

Of course, the biggest reason why Roberts was so pessimistic was actually the current state of the British army. If it was just a disadvantage in the situation, Earl Roberts would naturally not be so passive. For nobles from military families like Earl Roberts, it would not matter even if they died for their country.

However, the current combat effectiveness of the British army is not caused by the British army’s own problems, but by a terrible disease—malaria.

That’s right, with the advancement of the war, a serious spread of infectious diseases broke out in Mozambique, the most serious of which was malaria.

Unlike East Africans, who are “natives,” in order to deal with diseases such as malaria, East Africa attaches great importance to the hygiene and mosquito prevention of the army, which can be said to have reached a crazy attitude.

The British army obviously did not realize this problem, so the hygiene of the British army was very poor. After East Africa cut off the British supply channel, there was a lack of medicine and alcohol supplements, which made the British army even more passive.

In addition to anesthetizing the mental state of soldiers, improving combat morale and medical value, alcohol also has an important role, that is, to prevent drinking unclean water from being infected by parasites or bacterial viruses.

The East African army does not drink raw water, but the British army obviously does not have this “weird” regulation, but this also led to the British army paying a heavy price for it. In addition, the bodies on the battlefield were not cleaned up in time. With the current temperature in Africa, the problem would be too big.

In fact, battlefield cleanup is also a headache for East Africa, but in the long years of fighting in Africa, East Africa has formed norms and various experiences, so it can minimize the risk, while the Allied forces are much worse.

There is also the mosquito problem, which is the culprit for the rampant malaria. The Portuguese and local natives are a little better, but the British army has never suffered this kind of hardship!

Of course, if it is the British army from India, the situation will be much better, because India is also a country where malaria is rampant.

However, with the current understanding of this era, the British army cannot effectively deal with this problem at all, after all, they do not know the medium of malaria transmission.

This has to mention the Briton Ronald Ross, who was born in northwestern India. In 1874, he studied at St. Bartholomew’s Medical College in London, England. In 1881, Ross was assigned to India to treat soldiers with malaria. Ross was instructed by a master—Manson, a pioneer of British tropical medicine. Manson introduced Laveran’s malaria specimen discovered in 1880 and the hypothesis that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes to Ross. Through unremitting efforts, Ross finally found the mosquito that transmits malaria—“Anopheles mosquito” on August 20, 1897.

If history does not change much, then this hypothesis will not be proven in India until ten years later.

At the same time, Ross’s experience also fully shows that even in India, the core British colony, the British are now very troubled by the problem of malaria. After all, Ross’s job is to treat malaria for the British army in India.

Under Ernst’s guidance, East Africa has indeed effectively avoided the medium of mosquito-borne malaria, and as a major producer of pyrethrum, it is among the world’s leading manufacturers of mosquito repellent products.

However, East Africa currently does not have a good solution to malaria. It can only compress the infection rate within the minimum limit. East Africa has the advantage of local operations, which allows the East African army to receive sufficient quinine and other drug supplies, coupled with good living habits, to reduce non-combat attrition to a minimum.

Earl Roberts frowned and said, “The effective supply of quinine and other special medicines cannot be effectively supplemented. This is one of the biggest difficulties currently facing the army. Before this, our army could suppress the outbreak of malaria, but now the spread of malaria is too terrible. Even I cannot avoid it, let alone the soldiers below.”

Earl Roberts was also infected half a month ago, but as the supreme military commander, Earl Roberts will certainly not lack quinine and other special medicines, but Earl Roberts’s recovery period has also had an important impact on the South African War.

Of course, the most fatal point for the British army is that malaria can be repeatedly infected. After all, malaria is not a bacteria or a virus, but a parasitic disease, and it is difficult to achieve prevention by relying solely on human immunity.

This makes the number of malaria infections increase exponentially. In the case that the British army cannot effectively solve the mosquito problem, and the British do not know that mosquitoes are the culprit for spreading malaria, this falls into a dead cycle.

With the superposition of various unfavorable factors, the morale of the British army has naturally fallen to the lowest point, and without alcohol and tobacco to numb the nerves, and death is always around, making the negative attitude spread throughout the military camp.

Even the East Africans do not need to take action. If they surround the British for a few months, the British army may collapse without a fight.

The British certainly thought about getting a solution from East Africa, but unfortunately there was no gain, because East Africa only strictly implemented the “weird” regulations formulated by Ernst in the army. At most, everyone felt that the Crown Prince paid more attention to hygiene.

As for the spread of malaria, Ernst has never made it public, after all, he is not a medical scientist like Ronald Ross and cannot prove this point.

However, after East Africa’s medical capabilities met the standards, it did instruct East African medical personnel to use this direction as a research goal, but now East African medical personnel have not obtained effective evidence, but with the correct direction, East Africa’s scientific understanding of malaria transmission should appear earlier than Ronald Ross.

Chapter 774: Relocation

“Boom, boom, boom…”

On the surface of the Indian Ocean, East African ironclad ships and gunboats began shelling the city of Maputo. Shells left mottled marks on the fortress walls built of black boulders, demonstrating Maputo’s solidity as a fortress.

“Maputo is no longer safe. Besides facing the menacing East African army from New Hamburg Port City, East African warships on the Indian Ocean have also become a serious threat to Maputo,” Bojeval said to Earl Roberts with a grave expression.

In fact, the Allied forces had long anticipated that East Africa would attack Maputo from the sea, but when this day truly arrived, the Allied forces still felt immense pressure.

“With the sea controlled by East Africa, Maputo has effectively become an isolated city. Except for the north, Maputo is very close to other East African troops. Therefore, I suggest that we relocate the command post inland or to the north.”

Bojeval’s words naturally included the Mozambique Governor’s Office. Now, Maputo could no longer provide everyone with a sense of security.

To the south of Maputo is the Southern Frontier Province of East Africa, and to the west is the former Kingdom of Swaziland, now part of the Hechingen Province. The Indian Ocean is also threatened by East African warships. In this way, East Africa has formed a one-and-a-half encirclement of Maputo with superior forces.

Within this semi-circle, each point is less than two hundred kilometers from Maputo. If East Africa cuts off the north as well, Maputo will be completely surrounded.

Earl Roberts: “You are right. Actually, from the beginning, Maputo was more suitable as the location of our headquarters, but the war situation has changed too quickly and differs from what we anticipated before the war, which has led to Maputo’s current predicament.”

Initially, the British army’s thinking was quite arrogant. At that time, Earl Roberts’s own goal was to quickly break through the East African defenses, open up the New Hamburg Port City passage, and then take Swaziland along the way, before advancing east into the former Transvaal Republic area, or directly using superior forces and firepower to break into the Matabeleland Province in central East Africa.

Underestimating the East African army’s combat effectiveness and East Africa’s war potential led to Earl Roberts’s strategy being directly hampered at the first step by the small New Hamburg Port City, unable to proceed for a long time. Moreover, East Africa’s eastern defense line was as solid as a rock, supported by the Southern Salzburg Province and Matabeleland Province. Even if the German army came, East Africa would have the confidence to deal with the British army.

The Southern Salzburg Province and Matabeleland Province, centered on Mbeya City and Harare City respectively, concentrate the core strength of East Africa’s heavy industry and military industry, and are East Africa’s two industrial bases with heavy industry as their core.

At the same time, with the existence of the Central Railway, materials and personnel can be quickly transferred between the two provinces, and then transported to the front line by road.

What’s worse is that East Africa has a natural geographical advantage over Mozambique. East Africa is high in terrain, mainly plateau, while Mozambique is mainly plains. This kind of high-to-low advantage is natural, and even more so in the age of hot weapons. Therefore, even if the British army continues to increase troops, East Africa still has the confidence to hold the eastern defense line.

“If East Africa uses the Indian Ocean as a breakthrough point and lands in northern Maputo, it may really cut off our army’s contact with the northern troops. This is the most fatal point. Losing the command of Maputo, the various troops that are already at a disadvantage will probably have their morale further lowered, resulting in irreparable losses,” Bojeval said from a command perspective.

During the British army’s siege of New Hamburg Port City, the East African New Hamburg Port City garrison could communicate with East Africa through underground backup national defense telegraph lines and by sea and land.

However, Mozambique does not have this condition. Except for Maputo and a few coastal cities that have telegraph lines, the telegraph penetration rate in Mozambique is very low, and it can only be used for internal regional communication. If you want to connect with the mainland, you must transfer in Dar es Salaam City, East Africa.

This is the advantage of industrial countries over agricultural countries in the industrial age. Of course, East Africa is also an agricultural country now, but this is compared with other great powers, and Mozambique, as a Portuguese colony, is obviously more backward than East Africa, especially after being blockaded by East Africa near the sea, Mozambique has even fallen into a state of backward development.

The negligible “industry” was also forced to stagnate because it could not import mechanical parts and raw materials from the mainland.

The same is true militarily. Now, the Allied forces’ main weapons and ammunition all rely on pre-war stockpiles. Although occasional smuggling ships can transport supplies, it is just a drop in the bucket.

Shipping in the western Indian Ocean has not completely stagnated. Although more ships choose to pay for passage through the Suez Canal due to the South African War, there are still many daring ships that choose the Cape Town route.

East Africa does not prohibit this behavior, and it also has its own difficulties. After all, East Africa also needs foreign trade, so it can only turn a blind eye to maritime trade. The United Kingdom is also doing the same, but now the ships of both countries are disguised as merchant ships of various countries and sailing in the western Indian Ocean.

This situation is very common in history. After all, the Indian Ocean route is an international transportation route, and East Africa and the East African coastal countries have no right to monopolize it, unless a country simultaneously occupies part of the East African continent and Madagascar Island.

Even so, East Africa has no reason to do so, which may cause dissatisfaction in the international community, just like the Red Sea region, the Suez Canal is related to global trade, and if a country cuts off the Red Sea route, it will definitely cause condemnation from the international community.

Of course, East Africa turning a blind eye does not mean that it does not care about anything. It can still check the goods on board, and the British are also doing the same.

However, most of East Africa’s military industry can be self-sufficient, and only a small amount needs to be imported from other regions, which means that the British cannot find any “contraband.”

The United Kingdom naturally has no reason to cut off the free commercial trade between Germany, France, and other countries and East Africa. As great powers, they will naturally not allow the United Kingdom to enforce the law violently, especially France, which has colonies on Madagascar Island.

Unless the United Kingdom can offer benefits that would move countries like France, and East Africa, a country that can militarily confront the United Kingdom, France would naturally not easily offend.

It would be better if East Africa fought poorly, and France would definitely step in to get a share of the pie, but now East Africa is getting stronger and stronger, and obviously has the military strength of a great power, so even if the British are willing to share some benefits, it can only be an empty promise.

This is the benefit of East Africa showing its military strength. If it is vulnerable, even the friendly Germany and Austria may kick it when it’s down.

Of course, if it is a few years after Wilhelm II takes the throne, Germany may not be in this attitude. After all, Wilhelm II’s goal is the United Kingdom, and to confront the United Kingdom, he needs allies. Even a group of small and weak countries in Eastern Europe are the targets of both the United Kingdom and Germany, and a country with the strength of East Africa is of great value to win over even if its military is a little weaker.

After all, in his previous life, Germany’s favorite thing was to provide military assistance to its allies and support the strength of its younger brothers, including Austria-Hungary, which was also the case. In the later stages of World War I, Austria-Hungary’s military had already begun to follow the Germans.

“If we move north, we must choose a military location where we can fight East Africa for a long time. The most important thing is to facilitate the command of various troops, and we cannot ignore the role of Maputo. Even if Maputo is no longer the location of the command post, it still retains important military functions,” Earl Roberts said.

Chapter 775: Chokwe

After final negotiations between Boegival and Earl Roberts, it was decided that the Allied Command Headquarters, along with most of the Mozambican administrative institutions, including the Governor’s Palace, would be relocated to the Chokwe area.

Chokwe is also located in what was Gaza Province in Mozambique in my previous life. Currently, it is only the size of a town, but in Mozambique, a town is already considered a well-developed administrative level. After all, there are few Portuguese in Mozambique, and the population is mainly concentrated in a few cities along the coast.

Now that the entire Mozambican coast is unsafe, inland towns like Chokwe naturally stand out.

If you only look at the Portuguese settlements in the inland areas, then Chokwe is definitely the best choice. It is one of the larger towns in the entire Mozambican interior, especially after losing a large amount of territory.

Therefore, there are not many options that are suitable to become the location of the Allied Command Headquarters and the Mozambican government offices. The Mozambican government and the Allied Command Headquarters together have more than a thousand people. So many people eating, drinking, and living would be too much for a small village to handle.

Boegival said, “Chokwe is located in the plains on the south bank of the Limpopo River and has always been a relatively developed agricultural area in Mozambique. Therefore, we can solve the food problem there. Most importantly, the downstream shipping conditions of the Limpopo River are still quite good, and the allocation of supplies is also more convenient.”

Of course, the shipping conditions that Boegival mentioned cannot compare to Maputo. Maputo has a natural harbor, making it more convenient to receive aid from the homeland.

However, Maputo is far from the center of Mozambique and is located in the southernmost corner, which is not conducive to Maputo concentrating the resources of the entire Mozambique.

On the other hand, the Limpopo River, although considered a large river in South Africa, does not have bad downstream shipping conditions, but the mouth of the Limpopo River has very serious siltation, with a large number of shallows and silt, so it cannot form a river port.

The Limpopo River only has inland waterway value, but this is perfect for the Allied forces now. After all, having a seaport also means that East African warships can sail into the inland river.

The final straw that forced Earl Roberts and Boegival to move the capital was that East African warships could directly threaten the safety of Maputo. Therefore, Chokwe in the Limpopo River basin can reassure the Allied forces more in terms of security.

And the Limpopo River basin is an important agricultural area in Mozambique, so even if East Africa cuts off Mozambique’s external resource channels, there will be no shortage of food or water.

“The Limpopo River is hundreds of meters wide and has military defense functions. It is one of the defense lines we have reserved. Even if the East Africans break through the Save River defense line, we can still deal with them through the Limpopo River. Moreover, Chokwe is surrounded by the Limpopo River on three sides. This is advantageous terrain similar to medieval Paris. We only need to build fortifications on the south side to easily complete the defense work,” Earl Roberts analyzed from a military value perspective.

Of course, Earl Roberts was just exaggerating. Although Chokwe’s location is good, it is far from reaching the standard of the ancient city of Paris. The ancient city of Paris was built on an island in the Seine River.

Although the Limpopo River also has similar terrain, it is located downstream of Chokwe, and the downstream section of Chokwe can be said to be very “unruly.”

Just like the ancient Yellow River, it often changed its course, leaving behind many abandoned river channels and oxbow lakes, but the Yellow River’s course change has silt problems, while the Limpopo River is only affected by the Coriolis effect.

This is also an important reason why agriculture in the Limpopo River basin is relatively developed. The downstream has a large area of alluvial plains, with flat terrain, fertile land, and abundant water resources.

The only pity is that the Portuguese have invested too little in the development of the Limpopo River basin. The entire downstream Limpopo River is all natural river channels and a large amount of undeveloped land.

If it were in the Far East Empire, the Limpopo River could be developed into agricultural areas as developed as the Jianghan Plain. Even in the hands of East Africa, it could become another grain base for East Africa.

In fact, East Africa’s arrangement for Mozambique is the same. The agricultural conditions of the entire Mozambique area can only be compared to the Great Lakes region in East Africa. It is a natural agricultural base, which is a waste in the hands of the Portuguese, a nation accustomed to taking shortcuts.

“Chokwe can more easily connect with the western defense line and the main force of the Save River defense line, as well as Maputo. Now Maputo belongs to the front line, and East Africa has also amassed a large number of troops around New Hamburg, which puts Maputo under unimaginable pressure.”

“And Chokwe is only more than one hundred and seventy kilometers away from Maputo, so even if we move the headquarters to Chokwe, it will not take too long. The only disadvantage is that Chokwe has a relatively low level of construction and does not have the urban defense advantages of Maputo. Therefore, we also need to conscript a large number of black slaves to build Chokwe, which requires the cooperation of the local government,” Earl Roberts said.

What Earl Roberts lacks most now is troops, so the construction of Chokwe certainly cannot be done by the army. Of course, it is not completely hands-off. Guidance and supervision must be done by his own people.

If they are completely left alone, based on the efficiency of the Portuguese, coupled with the laziness of the blacks, I am afraid that Chokwe’s city defense will directly become a “tofu-dreg” project.

Earl Roberts has a deep understanding of this. Of course, compared to the Indians under his command, the Portuguese are still much better. Although they are slow, they can still do basic work well, just like the solid and reliable city defense of Maputo.

In the era of the Portuguese Empire, the Portuguese certainly would not be like this, but later, with the decline of the Portuguese Empire, the entire Portuguese society was full of decay and depravity, including colonies like Mozambique.

The colonies of Britain and France would not be as lifeless as the Portuguese colonies. Take Britain as an example, India, Canada, and even the penal colony of Australia are well-constructed.

Boegival did not notice the complaints in Earl Roberts’ heart. His task was to assist this “supreme emperor” from Britain.

Portugal completely relies on Britain to survive. Even Portugal itself cannot be surprised by this, and Britain, as an elder brother, is still relatively reliable.

Just like this South African war, without the support of Britain, according to Boegival’s estimate, Portugal would not be able to hold on for even half a month. The East African military is too powerful compared to Portugal.

So Boegival said, “Even if they are blacks, we need time to capture them from the surrounding areas. However, in a state of war, this should not be too difficult. Moreover, under the oppression of the East Africans, the number of blacks in Mozambique is also more than before. It is still very worthwhile to have them participate in the work.”

After East Africa occupied northern Mozambique (north of the Zambezi River), a large number of blacks were driven into southern Mozambique, so the black density in the Mozambique colony is even denser.

Therefore, requisitioning black slaves from various tribes is not a difficult task. Although the strength of these black tribes has also increased, the increase in population cannot match the guns in the hands of the Portuguese. In addition, with the Portuguese’s centuries of prestige, the local blacks have long been “tamed.” Moreover, compared to the East Africans, the Portuguese seem “kind and benevolent.”

“Very good, we don’t have much time, so it is best to build the framework of Chokwe within the year. If we cannot break East Africa’s offensive this year, our situation will be even more dangerous next year,” Earl Roberts said.

Chapter 776: Stage Three

December 12th, 1888.

On the banks of the Save River.

While the Anglo-Portuguese Allied Forces were building new headquarters and government offices in Chokwe, the East African troops, who had been resting for nearly half a month, were finally ready.

Under the cover of night, the East African 221st Division began crossing the river at the Massangena crossing. The Save River is over six hundred and eighty kilometers long, so the Allied Forces could not possibly deploy too many troops in every area of the Save River defense line.

The 221st Division chose to cross the river in the western part of the Save River. Due to climate and other reasons, this is the most primitive area of Mozambique. The Portuguese had basically not developed it. If it weren’t for the war with East Africa, the Allied Forces probably wouldn’t have even sent a small unit here.

In the southwest, it is also the area with the least rainfall in Mozambique, with scarce rivers and sparse vegetation. Therefore, even in its previous life, this place was only a wildlife reserve in Mozambique. One can imagine how desolate such a place would be in the 19th century.

Mars, the commander of the 221st Division, was naturally well aware of this.

“The British and Portuguese forces are mainly in the central and eastern sections of the Save River, while the western part is sparsely populated. Although this gives us an opportunity, it also means that we will be affected by the supply of materials and water sources, and logistical support will become more difficult.”

“Therefore, after crossing the river, our army will immediately advance east along the Save River to cooperate with other troops, instead of going directly south. This is the order of the General Staff, and it is also what I think is a more reasonable arrangement.”

The river crossing operation naturally unfolded at multiple locations. The Eastern Military Region and the 221st Division launched in-depth cooperation. The East African Defense Force has already crossed many rivers like the Save River.

The rivers in Mozambique mostly run east-west, so the East African Defense Force would encounter a river every so often along the way, and the degree of Portuguese development in Mozambique was shockingly low.

The vast majority of rivers remain in their most primitive state, with only a handful of bridges, and those are certainly heavily guarded by the Portuguese.

Therefore, the East African Defense Force could only rely on their own efforts to be self-sufficient, but most East African troops have this skill.

In East Africa’s decades-long conquest of Africa, the harsh natural conditions of Africa have never been an obstacle to the East African Defense Force’s advance. Even in East Africa itself, most areas have not been effectively utilized and developed.

In this environment, the various units of the East African Defense Force naturally had to learn the skill of building bridges and roads, and it was an essential skill, just like the several pontoon bridges built by the 221st Division right now.

Although they looked very crude due to insufficient materials and the rush of time, they still successfully met the 221st Division’s needs for crossing the river.

Stepping on the land on the south bank of the Save River, Major General Mars seemed to see Maputo right in front of him. Of course, now is not the time to stay here. The 221st Division has successfully crossed the river and should follow the General Staff’s plan to help the brother troops advance south.

……

First Town City.

Chief of the General Staff Swete and other military and political personnel had arrived. The South African War has now entered the countdown stage. After the troops have been fully rested, East Africa’s current goal is Mozambique.

Ernst: “Are all the units ready?”

Swete: “Currently, the combat troops of the three major military regions are ready. In addition, some troops from the Northern Military Region and the Nile Military Region are participating in this operation. The newly formed 221st and 222nd Divisions of the Eastern Military Region and the Northern Military Region are the first to act.”

“The Western Military Region is the strongest and has the most personnel. At the same time, some troops from the Nile Military Region will cooperate with the Western Military Region to carry out military operations in the east. The main battlefield of this war may be on the Eastern Defense Line.”

“Finally, there is the Southern Military Region. The main force of the Southern Military Region is currently distributed around New Hamburg Port City, with the goal of Maputo. However, Maputo should be difficult to attack, so we will still adopt the tactic of compressing the living space of the British and Portuguese troops from the west and north.”

“When the Anglo-Portuguese Allied Forces are forced into the narrow southeastern area, the difficulties they face will become greater and greater. If the military operations go smoothly, we can achieve victory ahead of schedule.”

Archduke Ferdinand: “The Navy has cooperated with the Guards Division. We will assist the Guards Division in landing northeast of Maputo. Although there are no berthing conditions there, we can only use small boats to send the soldiers ashore.”

Southern Mozambique lacks good ports, and the coastline is almost as straight as the Somali region. This may also be an important reason why Maputo Bay became the center of Portuguese rule in Mozambique.

Of course, later Mozambique continued to expand northward, which made Maputo’s location in Mozambique very unusual. However, this is also in line with the terrain characteristics of Africa. The Portuguese almost completed their expansion needs along the Mozambican plains.

Of course, the main driving force behind the Portuguese expansion in the later period was the severe pressure that East Africa put on Mozambique. Like Tsarist Russia, it lacked a sense of security, so it was extremely eager for land to achieve a buffer.

However, this approach of the Portuguese proved to be effective. The previously occupied land effectively slowed down the East African march. If Mozambique had always maintained the territorial form it had before East Africa, East Africa would have probably been at the gates of Maputo long ago.

After all, East Africa expanded its territory too quickly, and even the Zulu Kingdom in southern Mozambique was destroyed by East Africa. Originally, the Zulu Kingdom was a buffer zone between Portugal and Britain. Before the British and Portuguese could react, East Africa stole their home. At that time, East Africa’s controlled territory actually only reached the Limpopo River line.

From the map, the strengths of the various forces in the South African region were still relatively balanced at that time, especially when the Ndebele people still existed before that.

But East Africa broke the balance between the regions, and also directly threatened the safety of Britain and Portugal.

The most miserable was the Transvaal Republic, which was directly destroyed by East Africa, as well as the Swaziland Kingdom, which was cleaned up by East Africa along the way, and the Zulu Kingdom.

If East Africa had not destroyed the Zulu Kingdom and the Swaziland Kingdom, then Maputo’s location could be said to be quite good. After all, facing indigenous forces, all other parties had sufficient confidence and advantages.

Even if the Boers had the advantage in the region at that time, it wouldn’t matter, after all, the Boers themselves were very backward. Even if they occupied the entire South Africa, they probably wouldn’t dare to provoke the Kingdom of Portugal.

But all of this changed because of East Africa’s meddling. East Africa directly became a thorn in the side of the other four forces.

“The mission of the Guards Division is to cooperate with the Southern Military Region to take Maputo, cutting off the connection between Maputo and the Portuguese troops in other places. This time, the Navy will also participate in the subsequent siege of Maputo, attacking Maputo from four directions. I don’t believe that Maputo can withstand our pressure this time.” Commander of the Guards Division, Felegein, said.

The Guards Division only sent one brigade to participate in the war this time, but one brigade of the Guards Division is equivalent to the strength of a main division in other military regions of East Africa.

And this time the Guards Division participated in the war, it was also East Africa’s first overseas expedition experiment, just like when the British expeditionary force crossed the Indian Ocean and attacked the Abyssinian Empire, the East African army was the first time to deploy a large number of troops to the enemy country from the sea and land.

The participation of the Guards Division also means that almost all units in East Africa have participated in this encirclement and suppression of Mozambique, which is also East Africa’s final battle against the Anglo-Portuguese Allied Forces. If everything goes well, Mozambique will also follow in the footsteps of Angola.

Chapter 777: Christmas Offensive

Eastern Front.

The Eastern Front encompassed the Matabeleland province of East Africa and parts of the Hechingen province bordering Mozambique.

However, with the Eastern Military Region’s operations, the activity space of the British and Portuguese forces in Mozambique was constantly being compressed in northern East Africa. The loss of land in the north meant that the Eastern Front was constantly shortening.

The troop strength of the Western Military Region of East Africa was also increasingly concentrated in Hechingen province. After the destruction of Angola, the main forces of the Western Military Region in the Angolan region and the Nile River Military Region also successively supported the Eastern Front.

Currently, the total troop strength of the entire Eastern Front has reached as many as one hundred and thirty thousand. However, the Eastern Front has been shortened by nearly one-third compared to before the war. East Africa has begun to gain a numerical advantage over the British and Portuguese allied forces on the Eastern Front.

Of course, this troop strength advantage does not include an absolute numerical advantage, but rather a qualitative one. The fighting strength of the East African Defense Force is naturally not comparable to the “weak chickens” of the Portuguese. Therefore, when East Africa calculates the strength of the allied forces, it tends to use the British army as a reference, while the Portuguese, blacks, and Indians are considered extras.

It’s not that East Africa looks down on the Portuguese, but mainly because the Portuguese’s combat effectiveness is very uneven. However, overall, they are still in the relatively poor category, only suitable for fighting favorable battles.

However, compared to the Portuguese, Indian soldiers would drag their allies down even when fighting favorable battles, almost like the Italian version of World War II.

Moreover, similar to Italy, the Indians are also the “foodies” in the allied forces. Now, most of the allied forces’ diet is handled by Indian cooks. In the field of cooking, Indians are indeed much stronger than the Portuguese and British.

As for the British, who are good at dark cuisine, they are not necessarily at the bottom of the allied forces. Although British dark cuisine is unpalatable, there are still representative dishes such as fish and chips. The Mozambican natives have absolutely no concept of “food culture.” They only know the most basic grilling and boiling. If the natives cook, it is basically a pot of stewed mishmash.

Apart from the Indians’ leading “cooking skills” in the allied forces, the biggest role of Indian soldiers in the army now is to maintain logistical work. As for combat missions, Earl Roberts is afraid of being angered to death.

Currently, the total number of British troops in Mozambique is close to one hundred thousand. Therefore, the troop strength of the East African Eastern Front has a numerical advantage over the British army.

This does not include the Eastern and Southern Military Regions. The Eastern Military Region, the Southern Military Region, and other troops add up to more than one hundred thousand people. This is almost most of the East African army’s foundation.

Except for the Northern Military Region and the Nile River Military Region, all the main forces of East Africa participated in the South African War. The reason why the Nile River Military Region and the Northern Military Region did not go all out was to prevent the British troops in Egypt and British Somaliland, and to prevent the British from invading the East African interior from the northern sea.

…

Giyani.

Located on the border of Hechingen province, Giyani is an important town on the East African Eastern Front, on the right bank of the Limpopo River. Previously, the East African Defense Force was mainly in the Matabeleland province on the left bank of the Limpopo River.

However, as the Mozambique colony was constantly being eroded, the East African Matabeleland province garrison was constantly transferring to the southern Hechingen province.

The original Giyani was just a wilderness, but it was forcibly built into a “military city” by the East African Defense Force, and at the same time became the wartime headquarters of the Western Military Region’s Eastern Front.

Nearly sixty thousand East African troops are stationed in Giyani and the surrounding areas alone, while the current troop strength in Matabeleland province has dropped to less than thirty thousand.

Opposite Matabeleland province is the southern part of the 221st Division’s river crossing point, which is a large area of primitive grassland. The degree of development is too low, and there is a lack of water sources, so there are not many allied forces. Correspondingly, East Africa has deployed much fewer troops on the border.

South of Giyani is the Drakensberg Mountains, which is also the reason why Giyani has become the new center of the East African Eastern Front. It is not suitable for large-scale troop operations to the south.

As the Eastern Military Region fired the first shot, the Western Military Region, as the main force in this Mozambique war, naturally refused to be outdone, and also launched a heavy attack on the allied forces at eight o’clock in the afternoon on December 12th.

“The 331st Division and the 421st Division are the main forces that participated in the Angolan War. The 331st Division once participated in the war against the Transvaal region. This time, returning to South Africa can be said to be a return to the old place.” Eastern Front Commander Leiden said to Karls, the commander of the 331st Division.

As a mountain division, the 331st Division initially attacked the Boers and Zulus southward along the Drakensberg Mountains. Giyani happened to be a place where the 331st Division had fought before. If it is an old member of the 331st Division, they will of course feel some closeness to this place.

The reason why Leiden attaches importance to the 331st Division, in addition to its “long” history and strong combat effectiveness, is also because it belongs to the Nile River Military Region. The Nile River Military Region belongs to the guest army, and the remaining troops are all from the Western Military Region.

Karls: “Your Excellency Commander, in this war, our division will definitely live up to expectations. Especially the former Kingdom of Swaziland region, which is a place where our division has fought before. Therefore, I hope you will allow our division to participate in the Maputo campaign.”

There is naturally Karls’s small calculation here. Everyone knows that Mozambique is already declining, so in order to gain military exploits, there is naturally no battle more valuable than being the first to capture Maputo. It would be even better if he could capture Earl Roberts, the supreme military commander of the British army.

Leiden is not a petty person and has no prejudice. He said to Karls: “Of course, there is no problem. However, in this way, you will have to act together with the 411th Division. The main garrison in Mbabane is the 411th Division. Just like you previously took Luanda together with the 421st Division, this time I also hope that you can cooperate sincerely and be the first to break through Maputo.”

The 411th Division is the main division of the Western Military Region. As for the 331st Division’s old partner, the 421st Division, Leiden has other plans. The 421st Division is a cavalry unit, so it is naturally impossible to run to the mountainous area of Swaziland to cooperate with the 331st Division.

Leiden plans to let the 421st Division be responsible for the northern plains battlefield. This is the cavalry’s home field. Moreover, the 421st Division, as the only cavalry unit in the Western Military Region, is regarded by Leiden as the “big killer” of the Western Military Region.

At the beginning, Leiden placed the 421st Division in Angola in order to interfere with the Portuguese’s eastward advance speed with the least amount of troops. Later, the 421st Division excellently completed the task. Although the means of attacking cities were poor, it was completely the grim reaper for harvesting enemies on the plains. Thinking of his deployment, Leiden thought to himself, what will Moerk use to compare with me this time!

…

The commander of the Southern Military Region, Moerk, naturally did not know what his old friend was thinking. Now he is thinking about how to capture Maputo.

The Southern Military Region has a very obvious geographical advantage. It is the closest to Maputo among the East African troops, but unfortunately, Maputo is most afraid of New Hamburg Port City and the surrounding East African troops.

“The terrain between New Hamburg Port and Maputo is narrow, so if we force our way through, we will definitely pay a huge price, which is not something we can afford. Since this is the case, we can only detour from the western mountainous area, or bypass the Maputo garrison in the middle through the navy.”

Moerk finally decided to adopt a roundabout tactic. Of course, the advantage of New Hamburg Port City is that there is a naval sub-fleet deployed, but even with the cooperation of the navy, I am afraid that not too many troops can be transported. Therefore, Moerk plans to divide the troops into three parts, one way detouring from the Swaziland area, one part detouring from the sea, and finally the frontal attack troops. Three-pronged approach will definitely break through the Portuguese defense line.

On December 12th, East African troops and military regions launched a large-scale military operation against Mozambique. This battle was planned by the General Staff to eliminate the main force of Mozambique before Christmas, so it was called the Christmas Offensive.

Chapter 778: Cross-Sea Operation

On the sea, the New Hamburg Port City Navy’s five warships, accompanied by two merchant ships, were “majestically” heading towards Maputo.

Although it was only a short distance, the large contingent of East African Army soldiers on board didn’t react much. Only a very few felt dizzy from the sea’s rocking, a symptom of seasickness.

However, this performance made Colonel Schwar, who was leading the team, somewhat dissatisfied. Of course, this was based on his own experience. Although he wasn’t seasick, he felt a slight churning in his stomach, giving him a new understanding of the sea.

“It seems the Defense Force should organize a unit specifically for landing operations, something between the Navy and the Army. Not everyone can withstand the rocking on the sea. They must receive relevant training, or the Army should receive more training in this special environment. Perhaps we will encounter such special combat situations in the future,” Schwar said.

In fact, compared to most countries, the East African Army was performing quite well, because the East African immigrants had all arrived in East Africa by sea, so they had a certain tolerance for the waves and rocking on the sea. However, after arriving in East Africa, East African immigrants rarely went to sea again.

This was mainly because East Africa’s marine fishing industry was not developed. Although East Africa’s marine fishery resources were very rich, with the Somali Current in the east and the Benguela Current in the west, both could form fishing grounds.

But East Africa was not a country that lived off the sea. Instead, for the sake of national development, it was more actively developing inland. This policy was definitely correct. Without inland development, East Africa would definitely be in trouble in this South African war.

Without the support of the three central provinces, and the construction of the Central Railway and telegraph network, East Africa’s material supplies and troops could only travel long distances by animal and manpower. In that case, East Africa’s combat situation would not be much better than that of the British and Portuguese, who needed overseas support. Just the intelligence work alone would be enough to overwhelm East Africa.

Of course, while focusing on inland resources, the development of coastal areas has not stagnated. Coastal cities with large populations, such as Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Dar es Salaam, still have marine fishing.

However, another factor in the lack of active development of East African marine fisheries is the inconvenience in preservation and transportation.

East Africa’s coastline is straight and lacks good harbors. As a result, the coastal population of East Africa is bound to be smaller relative to the total population of East Africa. Conversely, in Europe, the continent is fragmented, there are many coastal residents, and quite a few countries rely on fishing for survival. For example, Greece, the cradle of European civilization, is a typical maritime civilization, and East Africa lacks the developed canal network of Europe.

East Africa’s fishery can be compared to that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has less coastline than East Africa, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire is also smaller than East Africa, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire is located deep in the European hinterland, so locals are more accustomed to eating freshwater fish.

The dietary habits of East African immigrants actually conform to the habits of continental countries. East African immigrants can be divided into three parts: one is Far Eastern immigrants. The Far East has experienced a long period of “closed-door” policy, and even many seaports and fishing villages have only developed in recent years. This is also the reason why the Far Eastern Empire’s navy has not developed well.

Then there is the South German population centered on the Swabian region, which can be said to be the core component of East African culture. Many pure Germans, including the Hechingen royal family, come from the South German region. The South German region, like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, naturally lives in the inland away from the sea, so it is also a traditional agricultural group.

Finally, there are Austro-Hungarian immigrants, but Austro-Hungarian immigrants are mixed, just like the ethnic composition of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Overall, there are a huge number of Slavs.

Therefore, in terms of national composition, East Africa is a truly traditional agricultural civilization country, not a maritime civilization country. Various factors have made East Africa’s marine fishery underdeveloped.

In contrast, East African maritime trade is increasing every year, and an important reason for the increase in maritime trade is that inland development has greatly enriched the types of goods and commodities that East Africa can use for international trade.

So the two are positively correlated. The stronger the inland development, the stronger the maritime trade.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as the current state of war, where East Africa’s ocean-going trade has suffered a great setback, but this is just a special situation during the war.

Moreover, this is not entirely a bad thing for East Africa. For example, after East Africa’s overseas trade is restricted, many industrial parts imported by East Africa are affected to a certain extent. This forces East Africa’s industrial departments and factories to put more effort into the path of “self-sufficiency”, which to a certain extent catalyzes the deepening of localization.

In this regard, East Africa already has the conditions to achieve independent research and development and production of some core equipment, but it has not been able to play its role due to the influence of the environment of “buying is better than building”.

After trade was restricted, many equipment were sanctioned by the United Kingdom, which instead stimulated the “creativity” of the entire East African country.

Of course, this is based on the achievements of East Africa’s initial industrial system and compulsory education construction. You can’t make bricks without straw. A certain industrial foundation and talent are the foundation of East Africa’s confidence.

The current technology has not yet developed to the point where it can be completely monopolized, which is also an important reason why East Africa can develop rapidly.

Like the technological revolution of the twenty-first century, such as new energy, artificial intelligence, and big data, countries such as the Far Eastern Empire and the United States have actually further widened the gap in the world’s technological level.

For example, in Africa, many countries cannot even master the technology of the first industrial revolution, let alone the third technological revolution. If the foundation is not laid well, the more lessons you have to make up, the more you have to make up.

…

Schwar’s idea is actually the Marine Corps. As Ernst in the 21st century, he naturally thought about it, but East Africa has not yet developed the need for similar arms.

First of all, other countries have not yet been involved in this field, so Ernst is not in a hurry. Secondly, East Africa is still focusing on the African continent as the core of development, rather than the ocean, so there is no such need.

Now East Africa is just drinking a sip of the leftovers of colonialism, and the colonies around the world are just some scraps that other countries do not value.

Of course, scraps may not be valued by no one. Like the Southern Ryukyu Islands, for a country like Japan with scarce land resources, scraps are also very attractive, but now Japan does not have the ability to overturn the table, especially after being suppressed by East Africa to a certain extent, its national strength in the same period is not as good as in its previous life.

In short, arms such as the Marine Corps will definitely exist, but not at this time. Just like the air force and mechanized troops, Ernst is also envious, but there are no conditions to realize them for the time being.

Speaking of which, this time Schwar’s sneak attack on the southern defense line of Maputo, actually started from New Hamburg Port City, and the distance to the destination is only less than three hundred kilometers.

This can only be regarded as a short cross-sea operation, but Schwar’s ability to discover problems also shows that he is good at thinking.

However, the regiment led by Schwar has a total of only more than two thousand people, and they are deep behind enemy lines, and they are likely to face a two-sided attack from the enemy, so it is very dangerous.

Of course, the most dangerous thing is that there is no harbor that can be directly docked between New Hamburg Port City and Maputo, which means that Schwar’s troops can only land by naval boats.

If discovered by the Portuguese, they are likely to be trapped at sea. This requires considering luck, that is, betting on whether the Portuguese pay attention to the coastal patrol.

Chapter 779: Successful Landing

Schwar’s luck could only be described as average, because the East African Navy’s actions were still discovered by the Portuguese. As a seasoned military man, Earl Roberts could not possibly relax his vigilance against the enemy on the sea.

Moreover, the East African Navy’s shelling of the port of Mozambique for a period of time further strengthened the ideas of Earl Roberts and other allied commanders.

So the East African Navy ran head-on into the Allied reconnaissance troops, and the navy also reported this situation to Schwar.

“Lieutenant Schwar, our observers discovered a small detachment of Allied forces while on watch. They should have discovered our tracks. Are you going to abandon this mission?”

Although the New Hamburg port naval vessels are not large, the possibility of being identified in coastal waters is still very high. Moreover, at this time, there are very few merchant ships traveling the East African route, and there are even fewer large-scale fleets like this. Commercial fleets with this strength generally don’t care about the Suez Canal toll, and there is no need to risk taking a detour through the East African route.

Of course, the number of ships traveling the East African route is actually not small. Apart from British ships, East Africa will focus on checking whether there are any “prohibited items.” As for ships from other countries, East Africa will mostly let them pass directly.

At present, the countries with the most ships traveling the East African route are France and Austria-Hungary. France has Madagascar Island, and Britain may have also placed orders with France to transport “goods” that are inconvenient for them to send to Mozambique. East Africa is well aware of this, but East Africa cannot afford to offend the French after offending the British.

As for the Austro-Hungarian merchant ships, many are actually fronts for East Africa. With the operations of the Black Heringen Overseas Trading Company, some merchant ships have been disguised. In addition, there are also many Arab merchant ships, mainly for trade.

East Africa is truly “vast and abundant,” with no shortage of various resources. Moreover, because of the development of East Africa, the productivity of the original region has been greatly improved, so this “fatty meat” is difficult to give up, or rather, impossible to give up, especially for Omani merchants.

Now “Zanzibar” has completely become East African territory, so the Arabs of Zanzibar have also chosen to “return to their roots” and return to the embrace of the Sultanate of Oman.

However, the trade relationship established between East Africa and them is becoming increasingly stable, which has also boosted the current Omani economy.

The Zanzibaris who regained Omani citizenship are either nobles, merchants, or craftsmen, because they were originally the ruling class in Zanzibar. Therefore, when they returned to Oman, in addition to increasing Oman’s talent pool, they also brought a large amount of money, and most importantly, commercial channels.

Now Oman has become an economic transit point affiliated with East Africa. Omani merchants are actively promoting East African goods in all Arab countries.

Moreover, East Africa can also adjust its domestic production status according to the import needs of the Omanis. For example, camel breeding has reappeared in the northern pastures of East Africa, and Mombasa has become the center of East Africa’s camel exports.

Cloves, a spice crop, are very popular in Europe and the Arab region, and the East African coast and Zanzibar Island have always been the best-quality producing areas. Moreover, this was originally a traditional clove-growing area in the Arab region.

East Africa’s act of “usurping the nest” has not been met with much resistance, precisely because of East Africa’s “generosity,” so the two sides have a cooperative relationship.

Of course, for Schwar at the moment, the most important thing is not to think about trade issues, but whether to continue to implement the landing plan.

However, after only a little thought, Schwar strengthened his conviction and said, “Rear Admiral Bruce, thank you for your concern! I have decided to land the troops here.”

Bruce kindly reminded, “Although we are different systems, I still want to persuade you. There is a high probability that we have been discovered by the Allied forces, and from here to the coast, there are still hundreds of meters. Even if you don’t carry heavy equipment, it will probably take at least three trips to get all the troops ashore.

Such a long time, I am afraid that Allied reinforcements will arrive. In that case, there is a high risk of facing complete annihilation. The risk of your mission is already high, so there is no need to risk your lives to carry it out. You can completely abandon this mission.”

Schwar was very clear about Rear Admiral Bruce’s statement. If there was a better option, he would definitely not take this risk.

He asked, “Rear Admiral Bruce, about how far is it from here to the Allied garrison at Mankuki on the coast?”

Mankuki is the defense line established by the Allied forces south of Maputo to prevent East African invasion. There are no terrain obstacles from New Hamburg port city to Maputo.

There are large areas of water that can be used around Mankuki. This is similar to the role of the lakes on the Crimean Peninsula. There are vast lakes and rivers near Mankuki, so Mankuki can effectively hinder East Africa’s offensive.

Rear Admiral Bruce answered Schwar’s question very clearly, “It’s about thirty-five kilometers, and it’s about seventy kilometers to Maputo.”

The East African Navy’s research on the Mozambique coastline is naturally very clear, so Rear Admiral Bruce easily gave an approximate distance.

Moreover, this landing site was also chosen by the navy and army long ago. In the entire Maputo area, the water conditions here are most suitable for landing operations. As for the reason, Schwar’s next words can naturally explain it.

“That’s right. The journey from here to Mankuki is indeed not short, but even if the Portuguese and British are as well-trained as our army, they can only walk a maximum of forty kilometers in a day. This means that the reinforcements from Mankuki to here will take at least half a day. This time is enough for us to get ashore.”

“Of course, this is not the main point. The main point is that on the map, this coastline is less than a hundred meters away from the forest. We can now see the lush landscape on the other side. This is very suitable for my small-scale force to hide.”

Schwar’s confidence lies in the large primeval forest near the coast. The rainfall on the eastern side of the Drakensberg Mountains is very abundant, and there are a lot of forest resources.

In this environment, as long as Schwar is fast enough, they can completely take advantage of this loophole and slip into the enemy’s rear.

“Of course, the premise is that the Allied forces have no ambush. However, I think this possibility is very small, because the Allied forces cannot obtain intelligence about our landing operation,” Schwar said.

After all, the dense forest is very suitable for Allied ambushes, and East Africa cannot confirm this from the ship. The reason why they were able to discover the Allied reconnaissance troops was thanks to the contrast of the coastal beach.

Hearing Schwar say this, Rear Admiral Bruce also felt that the feasibility was very high. He said, “If you think so, then let’s start! The Allied reconnaissance troops just now have probably already reported the news. You better pray that there are no Allied troops stationed nearby.”

“No problem,” Schwar said. This is another gamble, but Schwar believes that the chances of success are very high this time.

Soon, with the cooperation of the navy, Schwar’s regiment began to land. The navy lowered lifeboats and small boats into the sea, and the army boarded the boats, first the personnel and then the equipment.

After an hour of hard work, Schwar’s troops all landed, and they were lucky enough to not find any traces of the enemy for the time being, which means that there are no Allied troops nearby.

Of course, the footprints of the Allied reconnaissance troops were still left on the coast. Through Schwar’s observation, they usually patrol along the sandy beach of the coast, but today there is a string of footprints that are the same as the dense forest, which means that before Schwar’s troops landed, these reconnaissance troops chose to escape from the forest. After all, there is no cover on the coast, and they dare not bet on the East Africans’ physical strength and marksmanship.

Chapter 780: Tracking

This time, Schwal’s luck finally played a role. Less than an hour and a half after Schwal led his men into the jungle, a Portuguese unit arrived at the scene.

The Portuguese commander, Howell, frowned as he looked at the coast, which had been “ravaged” by the East Africans. Various footprints covered the narrow beach.

“How many people did you see landing?” he turned and asked those behind him.

“Reporting, Lieutenant, we didn’t dare approach them to observe, so we don’t know the number of East Africans who landed. However, the enemy has several warships anchored offshore, so there must be quite a few East Africans,” answered Moderise, the squad leader who discovered the East African traces, somewhat nervously.

Howell asked impatiently, “Didn’t you hide and observe carefully? This dense forest next to us should be a good hiding place!”

After swallowing hard, Moderise said nervously, “We just wanted to deliver the message to you as soon as possible. After all, this is a race against time. If we arrived quickly enough, we might have been able to stop the East Africans on the coast, but unfortunately, it was too late.”

Of course, Moderise wouldn’t say that he was terrified at the time, so running away was the first choice. It wouldn’t be good if he was captured by the East Africans.

Seeing his subordinate trembling, Howell cursed, “Waste!”

Moderise “earnestly” accepted the criticism, but for Moderise, putting his own life first was definitely the priority.

As for dying for the country, one must first have the concept of the Kingdom of Portugal. It was difficult for the Portuguese army, which was constantly in arrears with its daily wages, to have any sense of belonging.

Moreover, the Portuguese army was more like mercenaries, doing things for money. Without money, it was difficult to stimulate combat effectiveness. In fact, the Portuguese army’s combat effectiveness was not weak now, it just lacked “a little bit” of start-up capital.

And similar to East Africa, the Portuguese also had the characteristic of “defending their homeland” this time. In the early stages of the war, Portugal was the aggressor, but now Portugal had actually become the invaded party.

However, East Africa’s “invasion” did not inspire the Portuguese soldiers’ patriotism. First of all, the money was not in place. Of course, the amount of wages was not the main problem. The so-called problem is not scarcity but inequality. They were shedding blood and sweat on the front line, but their superiors were indulging in “wine pools and meat forests” and not taking the lead. Why should they?

In fact, the grassroots officers had the greatest impact on the soldiers. They were the main group that directly affected the soldiers, but they were also the easiest group to have their image shattered.

And most of the Portuguese grassroots officers were corrupt from top to bottom, which made the Portuguese soldiers despise their military officers and recognize their “cannon fodder” status. Therefore, on the battlefield, they were more inclined to save their own lives and avoid being killed by the incompetent commanders with big bellies.

Secondly, Portugal and Britain were the first to launch the war, which made the Portuguese soldiers initially believe that they were on the “aggressor” side. This psychological disadvantage has continued until now.

Of course, it was also very enjoyable to bully the “weak,” but the Portuguese happened to encounter a tough nut like East Africa. East Africa didn’t even count Portugal as part of the coalition’s combat power because the Portuguese army was very passive from top to bottom.

Ordinary troops collapsed at the first touch, and even the elite could not withstand East Africa’s firepower advantage and artillery strikes. The equipment disadvantage was extremely prominent in the Portuguese army.

Finally, Mozambique was essentially a Portuguese colony, and the main residents living here were natives, which was very different from mainland Portugal.

In the mainland, everyone had family, and the style of most European armies was basically worse than bandits. Therefore, in order to avoid being invaded, everyone still had a certain degree of combat enthusiasm, but this colony of Mozambique could not inspire the soldiers’ awareness.

In the eyes of bottom-level soldiers like Moderise, everyone came to Mozambique to protect the “interests of the nobles, large plantation owners, capitalists, and mine owners.”

Compared with the interests of these people, saving lives was naturally more important, and the Portuguese also had many negative factors that affected the Portuguese army’s combat effectiveness.

Including inadequate training, working for three days and fishing for two. Often in arrears with basic wages, corporal punishment of soldiers, gambling, prostitution, and drugs, etc.

Therefore, the Portuguese should be most grateful to the Spanish. If the Spanish were not equally “useless,” Portugal would have perished long ago.

Howell looked at Moderise, who was impervious to reason, and was furious. The fat on his body was shaking.

But now was not the time to pursue responsibility. It was most important to solve the big problem of East Africa first. However, looking at the vast primeval forest in the west, Howell was in trouble.

“How big is this forest?” Howell asked.

“It’s about seven or eight kilometers long from north to south and about two kilometers wide from east to west,” the adjutant said.

After listening to the adjutant’s answer, Howell thought for a while and said, “In that case, if it’s not too big, it should still be possible to track the enemy based on the traces in the forest.”

Schwal’s troops did not conceal their whereabouts, so they directly created a “road” in the forest. Of course, this road was only composed of crushed branches and fallen leaves, but it was very different from the surrounding environment, so it was easy to distinguish.

However, the adjutant still cautiously suggested to Howell, “The forest is a very dangerous terrain. There are a lot of covers here, which is very suitable for ambushes, so you must be careful.”

The adjutant’s words reminded Howell that it was indeed possible to be ambushed by the enemy. Although this forest was not big, it was entirely possible to use it as a battlefield. Even a division of troops could hide inside.

This made Howell shudder. He said, “Then what should we do now?”

The adjutant said helplessly to his useless superior, “Send people to search first. If you find anything unusual, immediately fire a warning shot. At the same time, report the situation to the brigade headquarters. This is not the time to be afraid of being held responsible. If the enemy causes greater losses, then we will all be miserable.”

Hearing this, Howell’s mood also became depressed. In any case, this time the enemy landed from his defense zone, and he couldn’t get rid of this mistake now.

“Is there no way to remedy it?” he asked the adjutant for help.

“Of course, there is.”

Howell seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw and quickly asked, “What way!”

“That is to eliminate this East African army.”

Howell: “This is the way you said?”

The adjutant nodded and said, “Otherwise! Now the East Africans have entered our rear. Their strength should not be large, so they can land in such a short time. And I have observed the situation on the coastline before. There are no large rut marks, indicating that the enemy did not carry heavy weapons and livestock manure. This unit should all be mainly infantry, and there are not many traces of small boats left on the beach. The enemy cannot be too many. I estimate it should be around a regiment.”

After listening to the professional’s analysis, Howell thought it made a lot of sense. If this was the case, then this East African unit was the same as his side. In that case, what was he afraid of?

“Very good, since we clearly know the strength of the East Africans, the scouts will lead the way first, and we will chase after them, looking for the traces of the East Africans.”

Both sides probably only had a regiment of troops, so Howell was not afraid. Anyway, he was not the one charging in the front, and this might also become an opportunity for him to turn defeat into victory and be promoted.

After all, there should be some advantages in fighting on home soil. Even if he really couldn’t resist the East Africans, other Portuguese or British “big brother” troops could quickly support him.

Chapter 781: A Ring Inside a Ring

Just as Howells finally made his decision, Schwarz had already led his men out of the forest. The forest was indeed not suitable for marching. It was only because the Portuguese were too slow that Schwarz felt he would definitely be cornered here.

Looking at the familiar grassland, Schwarz’s hanging heart finally relaxed. However, the crisis was far from over at this time. After all, they were deep behind enemy lines, so it was best to find a safe place first.

“Commander, which direction do we go?”

Schwarz: “Westward, but we must find a foothold today. There is no time to dawdle here now. The enemy has already discovered our trail, so at this time, we can only get through the immediate difficulties first.”

Schwarz couldn’t afford to overthink at this moment. After all, East Africa was not too familiar with this area. Although there were maps provided by military intelligence, they were not very detailed.

And whether going south or north, they might encounter the main force of the Allied forces, so only the west was the safest in Schwarz’s view.

Of course, Schwarz also had the idea of meeting up with the main force of this outflanking operation. East Africa had a total of two troops deep behind enemy lines this time. In addition to his regiment, there was also a brigade entering the enemy’s rear from the western mountains.

It’s just that their speed must be much slower than Schwarz’s troops, who were traveling by sea and land, so Schwarz still had to find a way to get through these few days.

The most important thing was to solve the problem of material supply. This was the biggest problem for the survival of Schwarz’s troops. The East African Defense Forces, after going deep behind enemy lines, completely lost their logistics, and everything could only be figured out from the enemy.

However, Schwarz believed that this problem should not be too big. After all, the amount of supplies needed by the British and Portuguese on the front line must be huge, and these supplies could only be sent from Maputo to the front line.

In other words, the location of Schwarz’s troops was precisely the enemy’s supply line. As long as they found a good hideout, Schwarz’s troops could attack in all directions and rob the enemy’s transport convoys.

At the same time, they also faced the risk of being besieged by the enemy. However, Schwarz was not afraid of this, because the main force on the East African front line should be able to hold most of the enemy’s forces.

Therefore, there was a seventy percent chance that the troops the enemy could send would be the garrison from the direction of Maputo.

However, he only needed to wait two or three days, and the situation would change drastically. By then, the enemy would also have to face the interference of an East African main brigade in the west, and the East African army on the front line would continue to put pressure on the Allied forces.

In this way, Schwarz’s pressure would be greatly reduced, and the room for maneuver would be even greater. Of course, cleaning up the enemy’s material supply line was only a secondary part of this combat mission.

More importantly, stabbing the enemy troops on the front line in the back, thereby causing chaos in the morale of the Allied forces on the front line, and the main combat mission must be completed by other troops.

Thinking of this, Schwarz said: “Before dark, we must march westward at least thirty kilometers to shake off the tails behind our butts.”

It was already getting dark, and marching at night was safer and easier to get rid of the enemy’s crisis. This was a compulsory course for the East African army.

Moreover, according to Schwarz’s many years of experience, the British and Portuguese would definitely not be able to continuously pursue Schwarz’s troops.

It would take a lot of time to reach the East African landing point, and it would take even longer to pursue the East African army.

This point was even more intuitively reflected in the fact that the enemy’s main force had not appeared yet, indicating that the enemy’s closest troops were not close to the place where Schwarz’s troops landed. Now that two hours had passed, even if the enemy’s speed reached forty kilometers per hour, they should have traveled eighty kilometers.

Of course, the enemy’s speed could not reach this fast at all. According to the marching speed of most Portuguese troops, it would be the elite of the elite to reach thirty to forty kilometers a day. Like the Indian army, they were very slow, and could only travel ten to twenty kilometers a day at most.

And the most normal British in the Allied forces did not have much problem in this regard, but Britain could not spare troops now. Earl Roberts adhered to the method of using good steel on the blade.

The troops were divided into four major blocks for use. The British army was the absolute main force in the war, so it must be deployed in places with the greatest war intensity, such as the front line or important cities, strongholds, fortresses, etc. in Maputo.

Secondly, the Portuguese, pure Portuguese troops were mainly responsible for supporting the British military operations, and were generally deployed on the flanks of the British army to assist the British main force in combat.

Then there were the blacks. Black troops were generally used as cannon fodder. This had been found to be very useful by the Allied forces. Black troops were more brave than Indian or even some Portuguese troops.

Finally, there were the Indians. The Indians were mainly responsible for logistics and other work, because the Indians were too poor at fighting, and it was easy to cause bad results on the front line, resulting in even greater loopholes.

After receiving several “educations” in the early stages of the war, Earl Roberts and the senior British army no longer dared to challenge the “bottom line” of the Indians. Facts proved that they had no bottom line at all.

This also meant that if Schwarz’s troops were to attack the Allied logistics, they would probably succeed very easily, because the Indians were responsible for this area.

It’s just that the Allied forces had not thought that East Africa would go deep behind enemy lines and attack their logistics line. It wasn’t that they hadn’t considered it.

It’s just that East Africa had been fighting the Allied forces for more than half a year, but had hardly ever gone deep behind enemy lines, so this made the Allied forces relax their vigilance.

In addition, the Allied forces had deployed “heavy troops” on the coastline, which Roberts thought should be “foolproof”, but Earl Roberts had miscalculated again.

The troops responsible for the coastline were mainly “Portuguese”, and although the Portuguese soldiers did not break the “rules” as often as Indian soldiers, they would definitely bring “surprises” to everyone.

Just like Schwarz’s troops being able to enter the rear of Mozambique, it was entirely dependent on the slack of the Portuguese army, but the Portuguese army was not doing nothing.

At least they maintained daily patrols. If they let the Indians guard the coastline, they would probably not be able to find the traces of the East Africans.

After all, patrolling the coastline could be “falsely reported”. Just like signing in, as long as the superiors couldn’t see it, who knew if they had seriously completed the task after leaving the barracks? How could it not be according to their own ideas?

…

While Schwarz’s troops successfully landed and successfully penetrated the enemy’s rear, a larger fleet was heading towards Maputo in the Indian Ocean under the cover of night.

This joint force was the East African Navy and the Guards Division. The Guards Division also had its own small navy, and as the main force on land, their target this time was northern Maputo.

In this way, East Africa’s encirclement and division of the enemy around Maputo was being completed, and a small encirclement was now taking shape.

The large encirclement would be completed by the Guards Division in cooperation with the Western and Southern Military Regions. The Guards Division carried a large number of heavy weapons, and the Navy and the Guards Division’s small navy would also cooperate to launch a new round of attacks on Maputo.

In this way, the troops in and around Maputo would be divided into two parts, forming a strategic pattern of a ring inside a ring.

In this way, Maputo might really become an isolated city, thereby interrupting the Allied forces’ communication and command with the remaining troops in the area.

However, what the East African side did not expect was that half a month ago, British Commander-in-Chief Earl Roberts and Mozambique Governor-General Bougeval had already transferred the Allied headquarters to Chokwe in the Limpopo River basin to the north, which could be considered an early escape.

Chapter 782: Guards Division

“There are enemies on the coast, but not many. We can launch a strong attack!”

With a round of artillery fire from the East African Navy, a gap was blasted into the northern coastline of Maputo.

“Begin the landing.”

Completely different from Schwal’s landing tactics, the Guards Division swaggered ashore with the cooperation of the navy, a testament to their strength.

For this landing, the navy and the Guards Division prepared a large number of ships. Hundreds of small boats, large and small, appeared on the sea. Machine guns were mounted on the bows of the Guards Division’s boats, firing at “suspected” coalition soldiers on the beach.

The tongues of fire greedily devoured the lives of the coalition soldiers. Soon, with the cooperation of the East African Navy and Army, the coalition forces who came to resist gave up and yielded the entire coastline, fleeing towards the rear. The officers and soldiers of the Guards Division safely landed on Mozambican soil.

The coalition forces had already spotted the movement of East African troops in northern Mozambique, but they didn’t have many troops to deploy, and they didn’t know where the East Africans would land. So, from the beginning, Mozambique’s actions were destined to be futile.

With the completion of the Guards Division’s landing, the main naval fleet did not leave and return to East Africa. Instead, it continued south towards Maputo Bay, preparing to deliver another “surprise” to the city of Maputo.

The Guards Division quickly cleared the battlefield and constructed defenses, preparing to take root here. This scene could only make Schwal feel envious.

Schwal’s forces were too small, so they could only flee around the rear of the coalition forces. Fortunately, the rear of the coalition forces was empty, and there were supply lines to loot, so Schwal was living relatively well.

However, compared to the Guards Division, it was much worse. After landing, the Guards Division directly took root on the spot, building positions, without having to hide. Logistics were handled by the Guards Division’s own subordinate naval department or the Ministry of National Defense Navy.

“This place is less than thirty kilometers away from Maputo. I think the enemy forces in Maputo should have noticed the battle here, but I don’t know if they have the courage to take the initiative to attack out of the city.” Cristiano, the brigade commander of the 1st Brigade of the Guards Division, said.

“They should be more concerned about the new round of attacks by our navy, rather than confronting us here. So, our current task is to quickly build the position, and clean up the bodies left by the enemy. Just now, the waves have swept many enemies into the Indian Ocean, I guess they are feeding the fish now.” The staff officer said coldly.

The staff officer’s joke made Cristiano break out in a cold sweat. This guy was truly shocking, but for the battle-hardened Cristiano, he had to admit that his words were correct. Seeing this kind of scene too many times, you have to admit that what he said was the truth, but he said it in the most ordinary tone.

“In short, we must carefully disinfect this place. The most terrible thing in Africa is the plague caused by war. I don’t want our soldiers to risk this kind of risk to fight the coalition forces.”

The East African army has developed a good habit of quickly cleaning up the battlefield. The temperature in East Africa is not too high, but the warm weather is also most likely to become a breeding ground for viruses and mosquitoes.

If there wasn’t not enough time to find enough fuel, the enemies would probably have been cremated by the East African army. This is the best solution.

Compared to East Africa, the coalition forces also have similar operations. The only pity is that the coalition forces are mixed, so not every unit can firmly carry out the task, especially the lazy Indians, who often cause trouble for their own people. To save trouble, they directly throw the bodies into the river, which can save the history and time of digging pits.

As a result, the water source was polluted, which often caused various unexpected diseases within the coalition forces, and this also brought great trouble to East Africa. Originally, due to the war, there were many casualties, and the demand for medicines was high.

Fighting against the coalition forces, which carry a large number of diseases, made it even more difficult for the East African army. This could allow the enemy’s diseases to spread to their own camp, so in order to reduce this situation, various Chinese medicines were often boiled on the East African positions.

As a major producer of Chinese medicinal materials, although East Africa’s Chinese medicine varieties are not as rich as the Far East Empire, the planting scale is not small, especially in the state of war, the search for “cheap” and excellent medicines has made the popularization of Chinese medicinal materials more widespread.

It is said to have the effect of improving the body’s immunity, but no effective data feedback has been obtained. These are the experiences of Europe and the Far East Empire. The Eurasian continent has continued for thousands of years of war, so there are always various ways to deal with the sanitary environment in the war, and East Africa is a country that is very good at summarizing.

Regardless of whether this method is really effective, at least the strong smell of Chinese medicine can dilute the East African soldiers’ nervousness about the war, and even become the “nightmare” of many soldiers. They feel nauseous when they smell the smell, after all, good medicine tastes bitter, and Chinese medicine even plays a sedative role.

The enemies on the opposite side are the opposite of East Africa, using a large number of “unconfirmed” chemical agents, or simply using opium and other drugs to anesthetize the nerves.

As the war continued, the enemy’s supplies also experienced shortages, and items such as cigarettes and liquor became scarce. East Africa was not bad in this regard. Although it also faced the situation that some areas were too remote to be delivered, with the rear production and the machines running at full power, the output increased, and it could still meet most of the needs of the troops.

Fighting close to the homeland, East Africa’s biggest advantage is here, especially for troops like the Guards Division. This landing operation was completed with logistical support.

Schwal’s deep penetration into enemy territory did not have this treatment. All supplies needed to be obtained from the enemy, including weapons and ammunition. If East Africa had not quickly opened up the war situation around Cape Town, Schwal’s troops would have faced a huge risk of running out of ammunition and food.

So, with the successful landing of the Guards Division, East Africa’s final link to Cape Town was also arranged. At this time, only the northwest corner of the entire Cape Town was temporarily connected to the coalition forces, and the northwest corner also had the risk of being cut off by the Guards Division and the western East African army.

This has become an irreversible reality, unless a “miracle” occurs in Cape Town, but it is difficult for someone who can create such a military miracle to appear in the coalition forces.

Because the British army, as the main force of the coalition forces, actually takes the same path as East Africa, relying on system operations to win. It is difficult for such an army to produce any “particularly prominent” military talents.

This has to mention the German army. The German army is also like this in army building, but according to the performance of the German army in the previous life, a large number of military geniuses emerged, which is the strength of the German army.

East Africa has a short development time, and the external crisis is not too serious. It has not encountered too thrilling wars, so it is difficult for “turn the tide” figures to appear.

This also shows the balance of the East African army to a certain extent. If there is no such balance, then East Africa will definitely be able to emerge a group of dazzling “military talents”, but in the case of occupying an overall advantage, the generals of the East African Defense Force basically will not make big mistakes, and can complete the tasks of the General Staff step by step, which has made Ernst feel very satisfied.

This is also an advantage of the high cultural level of the East African army. The East African Army originated from the Hechingen Military Academy, and from the beginning, it has focused on military literacy training, so it is more calm than the enemy during the war.

Of course, this is also related to East Africa’s expansion into the interior and continuous replenishment of combat experience. Before the war with the British-led coalition forces, East Africa experienced an overall change from weak to strong.

Chapter 783: The Fall of Maputo

December 20th, 1888.

After enjoying more than half a month of peace, Maputo once again resounded with the sound of alarms, because the damned East Africans were back.

“Just three hours ago, the East African navy engaged our forces in the north. Enemy troops landed east of Marracuene. We just spotted the enemy navy at the lookout post north of Cape Town Bay, and they are advancing into the bay.”

The mouth of Maputo Bay is nearly twenty kilometers long, making it impossible to completely block. Of course, Maputo city is built further inside the bay, so there is no risk of it being breached from the sea.

Just facing the enemy ships’ artillery fire was enough to make Davis, the current supreme military commander of Maputo, feel frustrated and terrified.

“Get the troops ready for battle. The moment any of the gun emplacements spot enemy ships, open fire immediately, without hesitation,” Davis ordered after calming down slightly.

There was no time to worry about the East African landing force in the north. Who knew if the East Africans were just feinting, and would directly attack Cape Town.

In reality, even if he knew that the East African army in the north was the main force, he couldn’t spare too many troops to eliminate the East African army that had landed in the north.

Because just three days ago, an unknown small unit had infiltrated the area between Maputo and the southern defense line, and launched a devastating attack on the supply lines between Maputo and the southern defense line.

In order to wipe out this East African unit, Maputo had already sent its last reserve force south to encircle and suppress this small East African unit.

And this small unit was precisely the regiment led by Schwar. If the enemy wanted to wipe out Schwar’s unit, they would have to deploy at least a brigade, but since Earl Roberts and the Governor’s Office had transferred, they had taken nearly half of Maputo’s original forces to Chokwe.

At this time, dividing the troops to encircle and suppress Schwar’s unit was like adding insult to injury for Maputo, which was already short on troops. Therefore, the troops in the city were completely unable to spare any more, and even had to recall some troops to consolidate Maputo’s defenses.

Davis felt a heavy weight in his heart and said weakly, “It seems the East Africans are prepared to fight a decisive battle in Maputo! Quickly have the messengers recall our troops. Only Maputo city can serve as the last reliance now. Let’s abandon the other areas for the time being!”

At this point, there was no way to take care of areas outside Maputo city. Based on the experiences of the past few days, Davis was clear that the East African encirclement of Maputo had taken shape, and that a small unit had been sent within the encirclement to cut off the connection between Maputo and the main force in the south.

Now Davis’s idea was to protect the main force on the southern defense line, otherwise they were likely to be surrounded by the East Africans. Unlike Maputo, the southern defense line didn’t have a city, military fortresses, defensive works, or sufficient supplies to hold out.

Once the East Africans advanced south from the north or west, the southern defense line would probably be completely annihilated. Moreover, Maputo now needed troops to replenish its forces.

“The troops in the north must be the East African elite. We heard the artillery fire for nearly an hour, which means they are carrying a considerable number of artillery pieces and ammunition, at least a division’s worth. Now, let all the northern troops retreat to the outskirts of Maputo. This is no longer something they can face!”

Before the Guards Division landed, the area north of Maputo was part of the Mozambican hinterland, so the troop strength was actually not that great. The area where the Guards Division landed was only supported by a nearby battalion, which was why the First Brigade of the Guards Division landed directly and violently.

The total strength of all the troops in the north of Maputo was only a brigade. Under such circumstances, they certainly couldn’t clash head-on with the East Africans.

At the same time, Davis also considered this aspect when withdrawing the southern troops. If the north was invaded by the East Africans, then the southern defense line would no longer have any reason to exist.

After all, the original idea of the Allied forces was to use the narrow terrain in the south to block the East African army outside of Mozambique. Now that the enemy had appeared behind Maputo, the so-called defense line would collapse without being attacked. In this situation, Davis could only prioritize the safety of Maputo.

Throughout history, there have been many examples of relying on cities to resist enemies. Without mincing words, there was one example in this South African War, which was when the East Africans were trapped in New Hamburg, which held out for as long as three months.

Davis thought that based on Maputo’s current construction, it should be able to hold out for a year. Even if it was eventually breached, it should be due to running out of ammunition and food, rather than being captured by the enemy.

…

The East African General Staff had no idea what Davis was thinking. After the navy and the Guards Division were in place, the General Staff issued a general offensive order to the Western and Southern Military Regions.

At this time, Schwar finally waited for the large force that had detoured. After the two sides met, Schwar’s unit and the Ninth Brigade switched from defense to offense.

They completely cut off the Allied forces on the southern defense line’s hope of retreating to Maputo. At this time, the main force of the Southern Military Region also began a full-scale offensive against the southern defense line.

In just one day, the Allied southern defense line, which was under attack from both sides, completely collapsed. At this time, the Western Military Region also captured the Allied forces west of Swaziland, and marched towards Maputo in a mighty manner.

Davis’s messenger had not yet delivered the letter when he became a prisoner of the East African Defense Force. As the various defense lines collapsed, Maputo was also suffering. The East African navy launched a new round of attacks on Maputo.

This century-old military fortress in the western Indian Ocean could not withstand the repeated shelling of the East African main battle ironclads, and large areas of ruins appeared in the city.

Before the Allied forces could even clean up the ruins in the city, the Northern Guards Division began to advance south, forcing the Allied forces to fight the East Africans relying on the ruins.

However, the situation was not too bad. Although many buildings in the city were destroyed, Maputo’s city walls did withstand the East African artillery fire.

This fortress, which had been fortified by the Portuguese for hundreds of years and nearly ten years, was far more impregnable than any other city in Africa.

However, the biggest problem facing the Allied forces at this time was the shortage of troops, not the city’s defenses. Without enough troops to defend, weaknesses would easily appear.

But a situation that made Davis despair occurred. The next day, intelligence from the south and west was transmitted back, bringing with it absolutely terrible news. The Allied main forces in the south and west were almost completely lost, with less than a division of troops escaping back. Including the brigade withdrawn from the north, the current number of Maputo defenders was less than thirty thousand.

The East Africans probably outnumbered the Maputo defenders several times over. At this time, Maputo was besieged on all sides, but Davis remained calm.

Although less than thirty thousand troops was too few, it was more than enough as long as some of the outer areas of Maputo city were abandoned. Therefore, Davis still wanted to put up a desperate resistance.

Subsequently, the East African Guards Division, the Western Military Region, and the Southern Military Region completed their meeting in Maputo city. With a full advantage in troops and firepower.

The East African army achieved good results, but not enough to capture this solid fortress in a short time, but an accident occurred.

After being bombarded by artillery fire for a day, under the planning of the East African National Defense Security Bureau stationed in Maputo, and in a state of extreme pessimism, a Portuguese regiment announced its uprising and actively led the East African National Defense Force into Maputo city.

Davis never dreamed that this would happen on the battlefield. That night, the East African National Defense Force that entered the city engaged in fierce street fighting with the stubbornly resisting British troops. After seven hours, Davis, with no way out, could only lead his troops to surrender to the East Africans.

Chapter 784: One of Our Own

Inside the city of Maputo.

“So, it was you who betrayed us. Why?” Davis spat out the words through gritted teeth.

Traitors are the most detestable, especially this Portuguese traitor. If he had been fairly defeated by East Africa, Davis would have accepted it. But to be defeated because of a traitor, a Portuguese traitor no less, was too much to bear. Even if it had been a traitor from his own country, Davis would have felt better.

The Portuguese “traitor” before him, named Owen, seemed somewhat embarrassed. Instead of directly answering Davis’s question, he said, “The war has reached this point. Everyone knows the coalition is doomed. So, a smart person naturally knows how to choose.”

“You…” Davis began to say.

Merkel interrupted him, “Now is not the time to assign blame. The fact is that Maputo has fallen into our hands. General Davis, you would do well to cooperate. After all, you are all pillars of your respective nations, and you will eventually return home to serve. As for Mr. Owen’s defection, it only proves that your launch of this war was not justified.”

“Alas, the victor is always right! It’s all futile to say anything now.” Davis had accepted his fate.

However, seeing Owen standing there so self-assured, he felt a surge of displeasure and said, “You’d better get rid of this ingrate. After all, a person who can betray his country can betray his master again. I think such a person is unwelcome anywhere.”

Owen was unfazed by Davis’s words, looking at him as if he were a clown. However, he concealed it well, only a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.

…

After a “cordial” exchange with Davis, Merkel and other East African leaders decided to imprison Davis for the time being. He was a big fish, second only to Earl Roberts and Governor-General Bugival.

Outside the residence, Merkel asked with interest, “Mr. Owen, what motive led you to take such an extraordinary action?”

Merkel certainly had no fondness for this turncoat. Although Davis’s words had a hint of sowing discord, what he said was true. No one likes a traitor.

Owen said without hesitation, “Viscount Merkel, what I did was not an extraordinary action at all, but a thorough consideration for the kingdom.”

“Oh! So you’re a patriot? Then why did you betray Portugal? It shouldn’t benefit you, and it doesn’t fit with what you said about considering the kingdom.” Merkel asked.

Owen adjusted his glasses and said, “Viscount Merkel, is it possible that I am not Portuguese at all, but East African?”

These words instantly silenced the scene! Everyone seemed to have heard incredible news.

Seeing the stunned expressions on everyone’s faces, Owen felt very pleased. He said to them, “I am actually a member of the kingdom, of course, I must state in advance that I am an intelligence officer of the Kingdom of Black Hingen. From the beginning, I was an East African who was lurking in Portugal. Of course, I need to re-establish contact with my superiors before I can verify my identity, so I need your help to contact my superiors first, and someone will prove my identity later.”

“Then why didn’t you say so before, and only reveal your identity now?” Someone asked.

“After all, I was surrounded by Portuguese and British people at the time, which does not comply with our confidentiality regulations. At the same time, I also hope that you will not spread this matter casually. Everything must wait for the decision of the central government.”

“How did you manage to get into the position of regimental commander on the enemy’s side?” Merkel also asked curiously.

“It was actually a complete misunderstanding. I was originally carrying out my mission in Maputo, but two months ago, because the Portuguese were conscripting soldiers in the city, I was forcibly enlisted. Plus, I had some skills, so I was unexpectedly favored by a high-ranking Portuguese official, and then promoted to this position.” Owen explained.

The Portuguese did not have identity documents, especially in a mixed place like the colony, so Owen, with a pure “Lisbon” accent, easily lived a comfortable life in Maputo with a fake identity.

Originally, according to Owen’s idea and the orders of his superiors, he was to stay in Maputo for a long time to gather intelligence and transmit it back to East Africa, but an accident occurred.

As the war progressed, the Portuguese began to accept anyone, regardless of background. In addition to blacks, white people in Mozambique also began to be conscripted into the army. Of course, in simple terms, it was kidnapping able-bodied men.

Soon, Owen, a slightly cultured Portuguese small businessman, was also pulled into the army. This disrupted Owen’s rhythm in Maputo. At the same time, because of the war blockade, Owen did not have time to contact his superiors.

So Owen could only muddle through in the Portuguese army, and then unknowingly became the “high-ranking” regimental commander.

Of course, this was also related to the unfavorable situation in Mozambique. With the large loss of troops at the front, the Portuguese later formed the army, which was basically a case of choosing the tallest among the dwarfs. Talented people like Owen, who were “both civil and military”, unexpectedly became a new regimental commander.

Of course, being in the position of regimental commander naturally attracted attention, such as Owen’s group of “Portuguese” subordinates. So on the night before the uprising in Maputo, Owen was very nervous, fearing that Portuguese soldiers would report him.

But what Owen did not expect was that his actions were not opposed, and he smoothly gained the “support” of the soldiers below.

Of course, support is a bit of an exaggeration, but no one objected. The Portuguese soldiers already had a high degree of war weariness, coupled with the instigation of Owen, the spy regimental commander, so everyone was at ease with “defecting.”

However, even the Portuguese did not expect that Owen was actually a lone wolf of East African intelligence personnel who had infiltrated the Portuguese army.

However, this can be regarded as deserved. If it were not for the Portuguese high-level “kidnapping able-bodied men”, perhaps Owen would still be in some unknown corner of Maputo.

Owen’s experience made a group of officers in the East African National Defense Force feel incredible. This plot in the novel actually came into reality, and everyone actually encountered it.

“Regimental Commander Owen, although your explanation is very reasonable, in order to be on the safe side, we still have to send someone to keep an eye on you before we determine your true identity,” Merkel said.

Owen: “Of course, no problem, but before that, you’d better let me prove my identity first. I originally had a contact person, but I don’t know if he is still in Maputo.”

After all, after the tyranny of the Portuguese, many innocent Portuguese people were involved in the war. Owen’s contact person was likely to have been forcibly enlisted into the army. After all, the fake identity background was not hard enough, and the Portuguese also looked down on people. Those “Portuguese” people without backgrounds were directly arrested into the military camp, and sent to the battlefield the next day. So now Owen’s contact person is still alive is a mystery.

“What if your contact person is lost?”

Owen said, “Then I can only go back to Dar es Salaam and contact my superiors directly. I think you should have heard of the East African National Security Bureau. I am a member of it. Of course, I can only say so much.”

After hearing the words National Security Bureau, everyone’s suspicion of Owen has gone for the most part. This agency is quite secretive, and ordinary people cannot contact it. Of course, the military high-level is relatively clear.

The military also has a military intelligence department, so they know something about this brother department, but their business scope is different. I didn’t expect that the National Security Bureau could infiltrate the Portuguese army and become a high-level officer. This is too outrageous.

Chapter 785: Difficulty Upon Difficulty

With the fall of Maputo, the East African Christmas Offensive was also drawing to a close. Maputo was a highly representative battle in this offensive.

In fact, East Africa had made significant breakthroughs on multiple fronts. The Eastern Military Region and the Northern Military Region had also successfully crossed the Save River, pushing the front line to the Funhalouro area. Only a few Portuguese strongholds remained to the south before reaching the Limpopo River basin.

The Western Military Region and the Nile Military Region achieved even more brilliant results. In addition to participating in the Battle of Maputo, the Western Military Region completed the encirclement and division of the main Portuguese forces in the west, eliminating a large number of enemy personnel.

Now, only the enemies in Mapai and São Jorge, located in the upper reaches of the Limpopo River, were still putting up a desperate resistance. However, with the encirclement by the East African army, the enemy forces in these two places could only passively take a beating.

The Southern Military Region and the Guards Division were the main forces in the Battle of Maputo. The results on these three fronts basically eliminated most of the main forces in Mozambique.

Now, Earl Roberts had only a little over seventy thousand troops left under his command, concentrated in an area of less than forty thousand square kilometers centered on Chokwe, which was more than two-thirds less than before the war.

Apart from the enemy forces trapped in Mapai and São Jorge, the garrison in Maputo was the newest elite. However, after the fall of Maputo, it meant that Earl Roberts had no more cards to play.

The only battle left where they could fight to the death was probably the defense of Chokwe. However, Chokwe was far inferior to Maputo, a majestic African city, especially in terms of infrastructure and city defense works. This was an extremely fatal flaw.

…

Chokwe.

The location of the new Allied Forces headquarters and the temporary capital of Mozambique. Currently, the basic city defense of Chokwe had been completed, with the original town of Chokwe as the core.

The Allied Forces had built two layers of defense circles here. Chokwe town itself was not bad, because it was located on the front line of the confrontation between the original Mozambique and the African indigenous kingdom of Gaza, so Chokwe town was originally a military fortress.

The Gaza Kingdom was a very powerful indigenous kingdom, and its heyday was exactly in the 1860s, with its territory covering most of the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers from north to south.

At that time, the Portuguese were mainly concentrated along the coast. In fact, the Portuguese had no way to deal with the Gaza Kingdom, just like the Boers and the Zulus maintained a balance. Therefore, the military fortress built by the Portuguese in Chokwe later was quite solid.

What accelerated the Portuguese annexation of the Gaza Kingdom was the threat from East Africa. In the 1870s, the Portuguese military strength in Mozambique continued to increase, and finally in the 1880s, they completely eliminated this indigenous kingdom.

As a result, Chokwe became a town in the interior of Mozambique. The Allied Forces expanded and strengthened it on the basis of the original military fortress, making Chokwe a fortress suitable for modern warfare again.

At the same time, on the periphery, Earl Roberts relied on the Limpopo River to build a group of fortresses, trenches, and walls, and also established a water combat force on the Limpopo River.

In this way, the defense system of Chokwe was basically formed, but there were also many places that troubled the Allied Forces, such as the rainy season of the Limpopo River, which happened to be in the summer, that is, between December and March. The summer in the southern hemisphere is the opposite of the northern hemisphere.

During the rainy season, the Limpopo River would flood, which caused the river water to occupy part of the land originally on the banks of the Chokwe River, which added a lot of trouble to the Allied Forces.

Of course, the most troublesome thing was the unstoppable offensive of East Africa, which had left the Mozambique Allied Forces with no way to respond.

“This is the battle report from two days ago. Maputo has been lost. East Africa has besieged Maputo from four directions, but we have not yet figured out the specific reason for the fall of Maputo.” The subordinate reported to Earl Roberts.

“Davis! Davis, you have ruined me!” Earl Roberts roared.

Although he had withdrawn from Maputo to Chokwe, Maputo was an important foundation for Earl Roberts’s daring to do so.

The solidity of Maputo could be said to be among the best in Africa, second only to Cape Town. Therefore, Earl Roberts positioned Maputo as a nail in the north to delay East Africa’s northward advance.

Even if East Africa spared no effort, Maputo should have held out for at least a few months. At worst, it should have broken through to the northwest, preserving its strength. But unfortunately, Davis did not do any of that.

“East Africa dispatched its navy and launched a landing operation at the same time, so General Davis’s inability to break through from the north is understandable. However, the fall of Maputo can be said to be completely unexpected. This is too illogical,” Bougainville said with a gloomy expression.

Now the situation was getting worse and worse. The area under his jurisdiction as the Governor-General of Mozambique was getting smaller and smaller. He was afraid that the position of Governor-General of Mozambique would no longer exist in the Portuguese kingdom in the future.

“East Africa must have taken some special measures to capture Maputo. As for General Davis, he can still be trusted. After all, he has no motive to defect to the enemy,” Bougainville continued.

Of course, Earl Roberts was clear about this. As his most valued subordinate, Davis was his confidant, and he certainly believed in Davis’s character.

But now was not the time to discuss Davis’s character. The fall of Maputo was a foregone conclusion, and the battlefield situation was deteriorating rapidly. Could there be anything worse than this? Facts proved that there was.

“We have also lost contact with the Western Army. East African troops have appeared in the Machinji area, less than one hundred kilometers away from Chokwe in a straight line. The main force in the north has also been defeated by East Africa and is retreating towards the Limpopo River basin. And the East African troops in Maputo will probably also go north.”

The appearance of East African troops in Machinji was a very dangerous signal. This could only indicate two situations: either the main force in the west had been completely annihilated by East Africa, or it had been besieged.

It should be known that from before the start of the war until now, the troops in western Mozambique had been the main component of the Allied Forces, and also the most elite and numerous.

The East African Defense Force that appeared in Machinji was actually the 421st Cavalry Division of the Western Military Region, while the main Portuguese forces in the west were being compressed between São Jorge and Mapai by four divisions of the East African army.

Of course, even if the main force in the west was not trapped, the pressure faced by the Allied Forces would not be reduced, because the enemies in the north and south were also close at hand, and there was basically no natural defense in the middle.

Chokwe was already in a precarious situation. In less than three days, Earl Roberts would probably hear the news that the East African vanguard had appeared on the outskirts of Chokwe.

Earl Roberts did not have much confidence in Chokwe. After all, Chokwe did not have the conditions of Maputo, so how could it cope with the encirclement of East Africa?

If there were no reinforcements from the direction of Cape Town, then as long as East Africa surrounded Chokwe, Earl Roberts would only be able to surrender in less than a month.

Due to time constraints, the supplies in Chokwe had not yet been fully replenished, especially the recruitment of soldiers and the requisition of grain, which required a lot of manpower.

The Allied Forces had spent a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources just to build the Chokwe defense system. Therefore, the Allied Forces in Chokwe could only hope that the reinforcements from Cape Town could break the situation, especially the British army in the Natal colony, which could break through the port city of New Hamburg, so that the Mozambique war could be reactivated.

However, Earl Roberts also knew that this situation was basically impossible. It was unknown whether the Natal colony had fallen into the hands of East Africa, because the troops in the Natal colony were basically second-line troops with weak combat effectiveness.

It was basically impossible for them to break through East Africa’s heavy defenses. Of course, Earl Roberts did not expect these “leftovers”, but instead hoped that the mainland could heavily support the South African battlefield to change the war situation.

Chapter 786: The Tables Have Turned

Natal Colony.

British Commissioner Marshall arrived here by ship. Due to the devastation of the South African War and the precarious situation of the Mozambique Allied Forces, Commissioner Marshall landed in the Natal Colony to investigate and question the South African War.

Seeing Marshall arrive in South Africa empty-handed, the Natal garrison felt somewhat disappointed. What everyone needed most now was support and reinforcements from the homeland.

However, Marshall clearly did not think so, because before the war, the Allied Forces held an absolute advantage on paper. Before the Angolan campaign, the Allied Forces had more troops than East Africa.

Therefore, the reason for the failure of the South African War, in the final analysis, was the incompetence of the generals, with Earl Roberts bearing the brunt. However, given that Earl Roberts was now besieged in Mozambique.

Marshall naturally couldn’t fly over to make trouble for Earl Roberts, and the Natal Colony garrison generals, who were still relatively safe, were out of luck.

Instead of waiting for aid, they welcomed an evil star. Marshall’s first words after arriving in Durban were: “Why not attack East Africa!”

“The East Africans have recaptured and blockaded the Tugela River. Currently, our passage north to support Earl Roberts has been cut off. Moreover, the most critical thing now is how to deal with the enemy’s threat. They are unlikely to stop at the Tugela River line. Therefore, what we should be most concerned about now is our own safety, rather than thinking about rescuing Earl Roberts,” said Biddes, the highest military commander of the Natal Colony, bracing himself.

“Has the situation in South Africa deteriorated to this point?” Marshall asked, frowning.

“It’s much more serious than that. We have lost contact with Earl Roberts. Three days ago, the East Africans captured Maputo. However, according to news from half a month ago, Earl Roberts and the Mozambique government have moved to the inland areas, so they may still be fighting against East Africa.”

“Maputo is lost!” This news greatly surprised Marshall.

“Yes, we obtained the information from Portuguese merchants. In fact, East Africa had already launched operations around Maputo some time ago, but now we have accurate information that Maputo has been occupied by East Africa.”

The news of Maputo’s fall completely silenced Marshall, because the distance from Britain to South Africa was not short, so Marshall had been at sea for more than ten days. Before he set off, Maputo was still firmly controlled by the Allied Forces.

“What is the situation in the Natal Colony now? What about Cape Town? On the way here, I saw that Natal has a lot of troops, but many soldiers are idle. If the East Africans weren’t already on the north bank, I would have thought Natal was at peace!” Marshall asked angrily, “So why aren’t you organizing a counterattack?”

Biddes, dripping with cold sweat, said: “Commissioner, don’t think that Natal has a lot of troops, but most of these soldiers are Indians, so their combat effectiveness is very worrying. Most of the British have been taken to Mozambique by Earl Roberts. The number of British troops in Natal is less than four thousand, only three thousand seven hundred. With so few troops, it is not enough to change the situation, so we are mainly focused on defense.”

“Are the East Africans war gods? What’s wrong with Indian soldiers? Aren’t they people? As long as they can pull the trigger and aim, they are qualified soldiers. Don’t make excuses for your failure.” Marshall didn’t care about these issues. In his opinion, the failure of the war was entirely due to the incompetence of the generals led by Roberts.

Biddes had his own grievances that he couldn’t express. If it came to bragging, the Indian soldiers would definitely brag loudly enough, but actually leading these people was extremely difficult.

He had no doubt that if he completely let the Indians defend the Tugela River line, he would probably see East Africans on the streets of Durban the next day, and they would have been let in directly by the Indians.

However, Marshall didn’t believe such outrageous things. Although Britain also had many jokes that insulted Indians, Indians were also people and had many advantages, such as cooking better than the British.

So Marshall directly ordered Biddes: “I don’t care what kind of soldiers you have under your command, even if they are a bunch of pigs, dogs, cows, and sheep, you have to drive them to recapture Maputo for me, instead of shrinking in Natal doing nothing.”

Faced with his “unreasonable” new superior, Biddes had no choice. Now he even began to miss Earl Roberts. Although Earl Roberts was strict, he was relatively knowledgeable about the military situation.

But this commissioner parachuted in from the homeland was like a feisty old hen, making Biddes restless. However, Biddes dared not disobey Marshall’s orders and could only brace himself and start organizing that group of “hopeless” Indian soldiers, preparing to confront East Africa on the Tugela River line.

As for crossing the river, it was completely beyond Biddes’ consideration. Now the Natal Colony should pray that the East Africans would concentrate their energy on Mozambique, not Natal. Given the current momentum of the East Africans, if they aimed their spearhead at Natal, he was afraid that the Tugela River defense line would not hold for even a day.

……

Biddes’ concerns were completely correct. The East African Ninth Brigade deeply understood how difficult it was to defend the Tugela River, even though East Africa had been operating the Tugela River defense line for many years.

But they only held it for one day before being captured by the British army. Of course, the East African Ninth Brigade had voluntarily withdrawn to New Hamburg Port, without fully blocking the British army’s river crossing operation.

But this also shows that the situation of the Tugela River is not conducive to defense, and now the tables have turned. The difficulties that East Africa encountered in the past have now become the difficulties of the Natal Colony.

After resolving Maputo, the East African army gathered in Mozambique, so now that the troops were concentrated, there was no longer a need for so many troops. The Southern Military Region began to decide to attack Natal and Cape Town.

Before the war ended, East Africa would naturally not let the Natal Colony and Cape Town Colony get away with impunity.

Previously, the main focus was on Angola and Mozambique, so East Africa could not spare the energy to deal with the British. Now that the overall situation in Mozambique had been settled, the Southern Military Region began to plan retaliation against Natal and Cape Town.

The two British colonies of Natal and Cape Town could be said to be the most “disgusting” existences to the Southern Military Region, because of the General Staff’s grand strategy before.

The Southern Military Region could only cooperate with other military regions to encircle and suppress the Portuguese colonies, and at this time, the British colonies often stabbed the Southern Military Region in the back.

Of course, as enemies, it was understandable for the British to do so, but this kind of provocative behavior had long been disliked by the Southern Military Region, like flies, disgusting.

Moreover, the culprit of the South African War originally included the British, and it could even be said that it was led by Britain and East Africa. East Africa would naturally not look for problems in itself, so everything was the fault of the British.

After resolving Maputo, most of the troops in the Southern Military Region began to withdraw, leaving only a small number of troops to follow the Guards Division and the Western Military Region north to hunt down Earl Roberts.

As for the Southern Military Region’s army, it gathered in the direction of the Orange River and the Tugela River.

December 23, 1888.

On the day before Christmas, the Southern Military Region began its counterattack against the southern British colonies, and on the same day, other East African troops also arrived in Chokwe, firmly surrounding Earl Roberts’ troops.

Chapter 787: Attacking Natal

“Shawuqui.”

Bujivar said with a gloomy face, “East Africa has already surrounded Shawuqui. It’s basically certain that the troops in other directions have all been annihilated by East Africa. Now we are completely trapped in this isolated city.”

Of course, Bujivar was still too pessimistic. It wouldn’t be so easy to eliminate the British army, especially the main force of the British army in the west. So far, the joint forces of Saint George and Mapai have still not surrendered voluntarily.

However, they were also unable to break through the East African blockade to join forces with the allied forces in the east and Shawuqui.

In this case, it was actually similar to what Bujivar said, except for some differences in the details. The ending was already destined.

“East Africa currently has about eight or nine divisions, firmly surrounding Shawuqui. We basically have no possibility of breaking through,” Earl Roberts said with a gloomy expression.

Having fought all his life, the South African War could be said to be the most regrettable one for Earl Roberts. He shouldn’t have participated in this war. If he hadn’t, he would still be a respected hero.

However, if he was defeated by East Africa, Earl Roberts’ past achievements would also be overturned. After all, Earl Roberts’ former opponents were the Abyssinian Empire, Afghanistan, India, Burma, and so on.

In most cases, he actually relied on the British army’s advantage in weapons and equipment. But once defeated by East Africa, his past achievements would be relegated to “bullying the weak, unable to attack the strong.” This was unacceptable to Earl Roberts.

“Havier, how many people do we have left now?” Earl Roberts asked.

“Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, there are still about seventy thousand people in the entire Shawuqui area, including nearly ten thousand British troops, more than twenty thousand Portuguese troops, and the rest are Indians and blacks.”

After hearing about the army’s situation, Roberts frowned. It seemed that the troop strength was about the same as East Africa’s, but in reality, probably less than thirty thousand people could fight against East Africa.

However, thinking of his future “tragic” fate, Earl Roberts still decided to go for broke with East Africa. Tomorrow was Christmas, and if nothing unexpected happened, both sides would cease fire for a day. However, Earl Roberts decided to break this traditional agreement and attempt to break through to the northwest on Christmas Eve.

…

December 23rd, Christmas Eve.

Facts proved that Christmas Eve was not peaceful at all. Similarly disregarding military ethics, East Africa launched a surprise attack on the British army at night.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

On the Tugela River, East Africa had already begun to organize artillery to bombard the British army’s positions on the opposite bank. At the same time, the East African National Defence Force began to lay pontoon bridges under the cover of machine guns and artillery.

Because the British army had retreated to the Natal colony earlier, they had destroyed all the bridges and ships on the Tugela River, so East Africa could only directly cut down trees from the surrounding area to cross the river.

It is worth mentioning that the Central Railway has now resumed operation, so logistical supplies are continuously transported to New Hamburg Port City through the railway, which is also the reason for East Africa’s confidence in this campaign.

Shells and bullets covered the enemy’s positions as if they were free. Under the cover of artillery fire, East Africa successfully laid multiple pontoon bridges, and then East Africa began to clear out the British army on the south bank.

The British army and Indian auxiliary troops in the Natal colony had almost no power to fight back. Relying on only three thousand British people, it was difficult to motivate more than thirty thousand Indians. Instead, because the Indian auxiliary troops deserted, the British army’s defense line was breached.

“These damn Indian bastards!” Commissioner Marshall, who was watching the battle from a high place, directly lost his composure. Bydes, who was next to him, was like a piece of wood, motionless, but his eyes were full of schadenfreude, as if he had expected this.

“Major General Bydes, what should we do now?” Marshall asked awkwardly.

Bydes held back his laughter and made himself look very serious, saying, “There is no way now. We can only retreat towards East London. I think you have already seen the character of the Indian soldiers. It is completely impossible to expect them to fight against East Africa. At the same time, the comparison of firepower between our two sides just now was also very obvious. Now the East Africans completely surpass us in firepower. Therefore, the fundamental reason for the failure of the South African War is that we underestimated the strength of the East Africans before the war. It is no exaggeration to say that their military strength has reached the standard of the great powers.”

Seeing Marshall’s ugly face, Bydes, although gloating, still analyzed some details of the war to Marshall.

Marshall seemed to suddenly realize, “I was wondering why the East Africans are so difficult to fight. Their firepower is indeed a bit beyond common sense. Could it be that extraterritorial countries are secretly supporting them?”

No wonder Marshall thought so. The British army had always been the side with the advantage in firepower, but the South African War was obviously different. East Africa, a “colonial country,” was actually stronger than the British Empire in firepower, which naturally made it difficult for Marshall to accept for a while.

Bydes ruthlessly revealed the facts, “East Africa has a complete national defense industry. This is especially evident in the war. Their firepower has become even stronger than in the early stages of the war as the war progresses. Therefore, the war has stimulated East Africa’s war potential.

At the same time, it is impossible for us to allow other countries to support East Africa on a large scale. Although we are at a disadvantage in the South African battlefield, it has not affected our global military layout. The most important thing is that the Suez Canal and British Somaliland are in our hands. Countries like Germany and Austria-Hungary cannot support East Africa at all.”

Marshall: “Could it be that the East Africans did not import weapons from Europe or other regions?”

Bydes: “East Africa is obviously premeditated. They had long expected that a war would also occur on the African continent, so they began to build their own national defense industry in the 1870s and consolidated it in the 1880s. So far, East Africa’s set of national defense industrial system has clearly supported East Africa’s war needs. Therefore, it was a mistake for us to launch the war from the beginning.

Many people, according to惯性思维 [habitual thinking], understand East Africa as a country like other colonies, but East Africa, under the rule of the Hexingen royal family, has accepted Europe’s advanced technology and knowledge, and inherited the warlike militaristic tradition of various German regions. Therefore, from the beginning, we were fighting a weakened version of the German Empire.”

In Bydes’ mouth, East Africa had even become a country comparable to Germany, but there were still great differences between the two. It can be said that each has its advantages and disadvantages, but now East Africa’s overall strength is still far weaker than Germany, and even less than Germany. The only thing that can be praised is East Africa’s vast territory.

But now is not the time for Marshall and Bydes to chat idly. The East African National Defence Force has landed on the south bank of the Tugela River, and the Natal colony is also in imminent danger.

So Bydes said, “Commissioner, I’m afraid we have to retreat, otherwise it would be unsightly if we really became prisoners of East Africa. Now go back to Durban, and then take a boat to East London Port. We can continue to fight against the East Africans.”

Marshall’s face was ugly. He had only been here for less than a week, and he had to leave by boat. This was simply a humiliation to him, but the situation was stronger than people, and it was important to save his life.

On the same day that the Southern Military Region launched the landing operation in Natal, the Southern Military Region also launched a river crossing operation in the Orange region, engaging in fierce fighting with the British army in Cape Town.

However, the British army in Cape Town was not as easy to fight as the British army in Natal. The remaining forces of the Boer Republic provided a relatively sufficient source of troops for Cape Town, so they could continue to rely on the Orange River to fight against East Africa.

Chapter 788: The “Awakening” of the Captives

On the same day that the Southern Military Region of East Africa launched offensives against Cape Town and Natal, British Commander Earl Roberts also initiated a round of military operations against East Africa.

Earl Roberts concentrated four divisions, nearly fifty thousand troops, and launched an attack on the garrison of the Guards Division and the 512th Division in the southeast, attempting to reopen the passage to the southeast.

At this time, Earl Roberts was fighting a desperate battle. Using the Limpopo River as a boundary, he only needed a small number of troops to delay the offensive of the East African army in the north. The remaining forces were mainly concentrated in the west to obstruct the support of the East African Western Military Region to the Guards Division and the 512th Division.

Earl Roberts’ plan was feasible, or rather, the optimal solution under the current circumstances. The East African forces in the west and north were numerous and strong, while the troop deployment in the southeast was small. However, Earl Roberts underestimated the combat effectiveness of the Guards Division.

Cristiano, the commander of the First Brigade of the Guards Division, concentrated all seventy-plus heavy artillery pieces and hundreds of other artillery pieces of various types to provide comprehensive fire coverage to the Mozambique Allied Forces coming from the front.

At the same time, with the cooperation of machine guns, grenades, and other weapons, they not only firmly held their ground but also caused huge casualties to the Allied Forces. Subsequently, with the cooperation of the cavalry, the Guards Division, together with the 512th Division, launched a full-scale counterattack, which basically ended the battle in just one hour.

In this battle, more than five thousand enemy troops were killed or wounded, and more than six thousand were captured, mainly Indians, completely destroying the Allied Forces’ ability to take the initiative in attacking. At the same time, a number of enemy artillery, firearms, and other weapons of various types were seized.

At the same time, various units in the Western Military Region also inflicted devastating blows on the blocking forces sent by Earl Roberts, suffering losses of more than one-third.

Earl Roberts could only shrink the remaining forces, hold on to the hinterland of Chauke Town, and was unable to confront East Africa any further. At the same time, he abandoned some peripheral areas, and more than fifty thousand defeated soldiers continued to hold on to a narrow area of less than thirty square kilometers.

…

“The firepower of one division of the enemy is almost equivalent to that of our entire army. This is a completely new situation that has almost never been encountered in British history. More than fifty thousand people are being suppressed and beaten by more than twenty thousand East African troops. It is simply one of the greatest humiliations in the history of the British Empire!”

Earl Roberts was quite indignant, and at the same time, he realized for the first time the combat effectiveness of the East African Guards Division. As a garrison force, the Guards Division protects the safety of the First Town and the Central Province, and its equipment level is unmatched in East Africa. If the number of people is not taken into account, it can be completely compared with a military region in East Africa.

Without exaggeration, according to the equipment level of the Guards Division, it is fully capable of competing with the elite troops of Germany and France. And this time, the First Brigade of the Guards Division actually did not bring all of its equipment.

Due to the reason of cross-sea operations, the Second Brigade did not bring many larger-caliber artillery pieces, otherwise, Earl Roberts would feel even more despair.

Moreover, other troops are in the same situation as the Guards Division. Because the front line advanced too quickly during the counterattack, many of the heavy weapons of other troops did not keep up with the pace of the main force.

Therefore, the situation facing Earl Roberts will only become more difficult, and Earl Roberts may not even be able to hold out until the subsequent East African artillery arrives.

At this time, however, the Guards Division was having a headache over a large number of British prisoners of war and wounded. Capturing so many at once, the rations alone are enough to suffer.

Cristiano: “For these prisoners, first identify their identities. Officers are held separately, and those who are wounded or sick are given priority for rescue. As for the soldiers, British and Portuguese soldiers will be treated according to our standards. Indians and blacks will also be treated the same, but they can’t eat for free. Let them repair fortifications and find some physical work. In short, they can’t be idle. The food standard will be based on the previous East African auxiliary army standard.”

The East African auxiliary army is also known as the black troops, but until now, East Africa has not conscripted black troops to participate in the war.

First of all, the East African forces have not been stretched to that point, and secondly, the East African military is afraid that the black troops will hold them back, just like the British army this time, which was completely screwed over by the Indians. With this lesson, the threshold for the British army to incorporate Indians into combat troops next time will probably be greatly increased.

Of course, East African blacks also make important contributions to the war, mainly by maintaining the stability of domestic production in East Africa, which is the biggest guarantee for the war.

However, Cristiano obviously underestimated the integrity of the enemy. The Indians and blacks holding rice buckets and scrambling for food were almost about to fight. Even the food standard of the auxiliary army was much higher than that of the lowest-level soldiers of the Allied Forces.

Cristiano believed that if the East African food was not a little “hot,” these Indians would be able to directly reach into the bowl and grab it to eat.

Of course, Indians originally eat with their hands, so they simply cannot use the East African troops’ tableware. Moreover, because there were too many prisoners this time, there was simply not enough tableware, so they could only make do with a few people sharing.

And this is the reason for the disputes among the Allied prisoners. After sharing tableware, a few people eat around a pot. If you eat a little more, he will eat a little less, so conflicts arise.

The East African cooks were also very annoyed. There were already enough troubles, and these “uncivilized” Allied soldiers were adding to the chaos.

The burly cooks began to maintain order with large rice spoons, and gave the troublemaking Allied soldiers a “spoonful,” a nearly one-meter-long spoon handle with a metal “spoon head,” which silenced them with one hit.

These Indians and blacks were also frightened by the East African cooks, which made them realize their prisoner status again and regain the feeling of being dominated by the “British and Portuguese armies.”

Unlike these “rice buckets” who scrambled for food, the British and Portuguese soldiers were treated much better. They all had separate tableware, which was also related to their small number. In addition, some of them had portable lunch boxes, so East Africa could spare some for them to use.

Like East Africa, East African lunch boxes are uniformly standardized. British and Portuguese soldiers are also equipped with them, but many were damaged in this war, or they did not bring them with them before the war.

It can be said that the Portuguese benefited from being “Europeans” and were classified into the “second tier” of prisoners. With their weapons, equipment, and clothing, they could only be compared with individual armies in Eastern Europe, and even worse than the Indian soldiers in the British army.

As the world’s leading power, even the “dogs” raised by Britain are “richly raised.” In addition to wearing big turbans, the Indian soldiers even look more energetic than the ordinary Portuguese soldiers, but some are too energetic, without the awareness of being prisoners, and appear very “silly.”

In contrast, the British and Portuguese soldiers were much “quieter.” Although the East African soldiers’ food did not suit their taste, and they were not used to using the reissued tableware, the taste was still good, especially compared to the recent frequent shortages of supplies for the Allied army.

These grassroots soldiers felt very satisfied with their prisoner life. After the meal was over, they were even more satisfied when they saw the Indians and blacks being forced to work. After all, there are people who are worse off than themselves, and in comparison, they are much happier.

Compared with these easily satisfied soldiers, the British and Portuguese officers are the “difficult to serve” objects. They are used to being “masters” in the Allied army, and the “preferential treatment” of East Africa seems very “shabby.” Of course, some officers also have great resentment, so they deliberately put on a bad face for the soldiers of the East African Guards Division.

The East African soldiers were angry but dared not speak out against these “master” like enemy officer prisoners, mainly because their superiors had repeatedly emphasized, “These are treasures, you can’t hit them, and you can’t scold them. Except for watching them to death, you can satisfy them without violating principles or conditions.”

Chapter 789: Attitude

“I want red wine and steak, not this ‘garbage,’ and the conditions here are too basic. This bed doesn’t even have a blanket. How is anyone supposed to sleep here?” A Portuguese officer named Igor was yelling in the room.

The food that Igor called “garbage” was actually the standardized meal of the East African Army. Furthermore, two extra cans were prepared for this high-ranking coalition officer: beef stew with potatoes and mango, along with two bottles of beer and a pack of cigarettes. Even ordinary East African soldiers didn’t often receive this kind of treatment.

“Stop howling, Igor. This is already pretty good. I don’t believe you haven’t eaten worse than this before. Although the taste is weird, the food is still decent,” said Igor’s roommate, British Lieutenant Mitchell.

“Besides, you could scream until you’re hoarse, and the East Africans outside won’t fulfill your requests. You should be grateful they haven’t dragged us out to be laborers.”

Hearing Mitchell’s words, Igor reluctantly sat back down at the table, but he continued to complain, “Look at this environment. It’s so dark and cramped, and we have to share it with two people. It’s unimaginable, and there aren’t even basic bedding supplies.”

“It’s December now, and the weather is as hot as an oven. What more do you want? This ‘cellar’ is cool to live in. Besides, East Africa not putting you in collective housing is already good enough. And East Africa probably doesn’t even have collective housing. Other captured soldiers might only have the ground as their bed and the sky as their blanket,” Mitchell retorted exaggeratedly.

Although summer in the Southern Hemisphere is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, southern Mozambique is close to the subtropics, so it’s not too hot. Igor was just complaining, and Mitchell could only go along with Igor, this “complaining woman.”

But the effect was very good. Igor did feel much better. Mitchell was quite disdainful of this Portuguese nobleman’s behavior. They had already lost the battle, and it was merciful of East Africa not to execute them directly, especially since the treatment was not bad.

“Look at this rice. Why don’t they prepare bread? Do we have to eat the same as the East African grunts? And this dish looks like it was stewed in a big pot. There’s pitifully little meat and so many wild vegetables,” Igor still said critically. However, his tongue didn’t lie. Igor didn’t stop talking, eating as he spoke, and soon finished all the food.

Igor’s complaints were not intentional harassment by the Guards Division. It was simply that things were hard to come by in Mozambique. Not to mention anything else, even wild vegetables were something most East African soldiers were very satisfied with.

The proportion of undeveloped land in Mozambique was even more exaggerated than in East Africa, and Chokwe, as an inland area, had no fruits or vegetables nearby except for the farmland and plantations that had already become the front line of the battlefield. Fortunately, East African soldiers had been in Africa for a long time and had learned about many edible plants from the natives, so occasionally improving their meals was not bad.

Using wild vegetables to improve meals was also a common practice for East African soldiers because when they were in their homeland, they never lacked oily foods. East African animal husbandry was not very developed, but it was large-scale, and the army supply was particularly sufficient.

However, in this cross-sea operation, the Guards Division’s logistics supply had to be transferred from the sea to land again, so many things were not easy to send over. Meat was fine, but fruits, vegetables, and other things that were not easy to preserve were even more difficult, so obtaining supplies locally was one of the important lessons for East African cooks.

Moreover, the Guards Division’s chefs considered that these coalition officers were probably used to eating rich food, and many of them had big bellies, so they were afraid they wouldn’t be used to it, and they specially gave them more wild vegetables.

Even if the food wasn’t palatable, the taste of the canned food was consistent and should satisfy most people’s tastes. Only a “complaining woman” like Igor could never be satisfied.

His roommate Mitchell was much more open-minded. He was very satisfied with the current environment. After all, he had suffered a lot, which also showed the difference between the British and Portuguese armies. The British army was far less corrupt than the Portuguese army.

Although there were also big-time grafters in the British army, the army’s various rules and regulations were more complete than those of Portugal, and the “suffering education” received by British nobles was much stronger than that of Portuguese nobles.

Especially Mitchell, who came from a small aristocratic family and had a military background, although not as strict as Prussia, his family education was also much stricter, especially military training, which was an essential item, and an important item in military training was “enduring hardship” in a battlefield environment.

Moreover, being captured by East Africa now was not considered abuse at all, but rather preferential treatment, which made Mitchell even more satisfied.

He didn’t say anything about Igor’s complaints, but he couldn’t agree with them in his heart. Take the food, for example. In fact, he found it more difficult to accept than Igor. Igor was Portuguese, and Portugal also grew rice. Even if rice wasn’t on the Portuguese nobles’ menu, they should have at least seen it.

But Mitchell had never even seen this crop in England. Maybe the British, who were used to being in India, could accept it more easily.

……

After the meal, the East African soldiers took away the tableware. At this time, Igor lay like a dead pig on the bed he was very uncomfortable with, while Mitchell applied to the East African soldiers for books.

“I’m so bored here. Can you find a book for us?”

Although he couldn’t understand Mitchell’s English, the East African soldier still reported Mitchell’s situation to his superiors. Soon, a translator arrived.

“Hello, Mr. Mitchell, what are your requests?”

“I hope you can find a book. I’m so bored now. It feels like an eternity here.”

Mitchell’s words made the translator feel embarrassed. After all, who brings books to war?

However, after two hours, Mitchell’s request was still resolved. East Africa actually found an English book, which was quite rare.

If it was just German books, many East African officers would have them in stock. Some soldiers might even carry books. For many East African soldiers who had received compulsory education, reading was already relatively common.

But English books were extremely rare in East Africa, especially in the military camp. After all, English was not popular in East Africa, and the East African printing industry was not yet developed. Limited resources naturally tended more towards German products.

However, there were many bilingual or multilingual talents in East Africa. For example, Chinese immigrants could speak Chinese and German, which was not contradictory. Although most people couldn’t write or recognize Chinese characters, you couldn’t say they didn’t know it.

Even in Germany, there might be people who immigrated from England or actively learned English, so there were many people in the East African army who knew English, French, and Russian.

Of course, there were definitely not too many in the Guards Division. However, one soldier’s grandmother was British, so he knew English and brought a box of English books when he immigrated to East Africa from Europe. This time, he also carried an English “Bible” on the battlefield.

So Mitchell could only hug the Bible and read it. However, this also suited Mitchell’s heart. There was nothing more comforting to his soul than a Bible in this terrible state.

After all, it was a product of religious culture and inherently carried psychological suggestions. In this situation, Mitchell’s uneasy heart after being captured seemed to be baptized. For Mitchell, this might be God’s test for him.

Of course, it would be perfect if his roommate wasn’t “Igor.”

Chapter 790: The Fall of the Royal Banner

“This is our observation map of the entire Chokwe terrain over the past few days. Although Earl Roberts has attempted to rely on the Limpopo River to resist stubbornly, yesterday’s battle dealt a fatal blow to the Allied forces. With already limited forces, Earl Roberts’ planned defense system has significant loopholes, especially in the western part of Chokwe. Earl Roberts definitely intended to utilize the river bend here initially, but now he can only retreat to the narrow eastern area. Therefore, the west is currently the weak point of the Allied forces. We should be able to annihilate Earl Roberts’ forces quickly by concentrating our artillery and troops for a strong attack.”

Leiden, the commander-in-chief of the Western Military Region, said to the others. With Moltke heading south to command the operations against Cape Town and Natal, Leiden is now the highest military commander in East Africa for Mozambique.

The Western Military Region is also the main force currently fighting against the Mozambican army, especially after the main force of western Mozambique was surrounded by the Western Military Region in the São Jorge area.

Now, Mozambique has become a piece of meat in the eyes of East Africa. The fastest way to resolve the Mozambique issue is to eliminate the Allied forces headquarters led by Earl Roberts and the Mozambican government, and then recruit the main force of the Western Mozambique Allied forces.

If this does not achieve the goal, then after destroying Earl Roberts’ forces, the East African army will advance westward, cooperating with the four divisions besieging the main force of the Allied forces to annihilate the enemy troops in São Jorge.

Of course, the most important thing now is to capture Chokwe. The terrain of Chokwe is very conducive to defense. The only pity is that the Allied forces have not been operating here for long enough, so there are very large loopholes, especially at the bend of the Limpopo River in the west.

Originally, according to the Allied forces’ plan, they would use the natural river channel here as part of the Chokwe city defense, but unfortunately, due to a lack of manpower and materials, the construction of Chokwe was not fully completed.

As the war progressed, the basic order of Mozambique had long since collapsed, so it was impossible to conscript soldiers here. The Mozambique colony was originally sparsely populated, and there were many jungles, mountains, and canyons. After the outbreak of the war, many natives hid themselves, so the Portuguese were simply unable to go deep into these areas to drag them out.

The lack of labor ultimately led to the failure of Earl Roberts’ plan, but in this situation, Earl Roberts could still use the old city of Chokwe to contend with East Africa.

December 25, 1888.

Under the temporary authorization of the General Staff Headquarters, which appointed Deleien as the temporary commander of the battlefield, various units and military regions of the East African Defense Forces, as well as the Guards Division, launched a massive counterattack on Chokwe.

The Eastern Military Region troops, the Western Military Region troops, and the Guards Division served as the main firepower output, concentrating thousands of artillery pieces of various types to bombard the ammunition depot in Chokwe for as long as half a day.

The Eastern Military Region is only separated from Chokwe by a river. This is not a good place to attack Chokwe from land, but it allows for a more leisurely concentration and deployment of artillery units to carry out corrected artillery fire on the core area of Chokwe on the opposite bank.

The Earl Roberts’ forces, shrinking in Chokwe, could not cross the Limpopo River to counterattack the East African troops in the east and north, so they could only passively take a beating. At this time, in order to prevent the main force of East Africa from attacking in the west and south.

Earl Roberts had to concentrate most of his only remaining artillery to deal with the artillery of the Guards Division of the Western Military Region, while he could only let the East African troops in the east and north do as they pleased, waiting until the East African troops showed signs of crossing the river before launching a counterattack against the East African troops.

Before that, the Chokwe defenders could only huddle under the fortifications, dodging the artillery bombardment from the Eastern and Northern Military Regions of East Africa.

The daily training of the East African artillery was very strict, so the artillery accuracy was very high, and they could basically accurately aim at large targets on the opposite bank.

Under the bombardment of artillery fire, the temporary fortifications built in Chokwe on the opposite bank of the Limpopo River were vulnerable. Because of the hasty construction, some of the fortifications in Chokwe were still mainly made of rammed earth, which became a death warrant during the war.

The British and Portuguese hid in the trenches, with dust flying around them. The roar of the shells landing made the Allied soldiers very uncomfortable. Although it did not lead to rivers of blood, the trenches were filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood, and occasionally one could see残肢断臂, complete corpses. The entire defense line was like a living hell.

At the same time, in the south and west of Chokwe, the Allied forces faced an even more arduous test. The artillery fire of the Guards Division and the Western Military Region was many times greater than that of the Eastern and Northern Military Regions.

Under this dense artillery attack, the Chokwe fortifications were almost completely destroyed, leaving only scorched earth.

Eight o’clock in the evening.

Under the bugle call of East Africa, the general attack on Chokwe City officially began. Under the cover of artillery and machine guns, the East African infantry advanced step by step towards the Chokwe positions and the city walls.

At this time, most of Chokwe had been bombed into ruins. The East African infantry climbed onto these ruins and then fought fiercely with the enemies who emerged from who knows where.

The enemy was very tenacious, but this was only a minority. Most of the enemies surrendered when they saw the East African military flag. At this time, they had completely lost their chance.

The British and black troops were okay, but the Portuguese soldiers and Indians seemed to have seen their own parents, begging for mercy from the East African soldiers.

This discordant situation completely tore apart the resistance of the Allied forces. After all, why risk one’s life when there are pig teammates? How can this battle be fought?

The “demonstration” made by the Portuguese and Indians was ultimately transmitted to all the Allied forces. The Allied forces on the periphery basically surrendered, and the East African soldiers sent those who tried to fight to the death to hell in advance.

At this time, Earl Roberts had less than three thousand reserve troops left. Earl Roberts looked at the East African army like a tide, his face as pale as water, his chapped lips slightly open, his eyes dull, and his gaze blank.

“Surrender!”

At this time, a voice came from behind Earl Roberts. It was the Governor of Mozambique, Bujival. Bujival also looked very frustrated, looking at Roberts gloomily.

“Surrender?” At this time, Earl Roberts muttered in his mouth, but he still looked like a dead fish, as if he hadn’t come out of it yet.

“Your Excellency Earl, wake up! We have no chance. We can’t let these young lives die in vain. Continuing to resist will only add cold numbers to the East Africans’ list of merits. We have failed, completely failed.”

After saying these words in an almost roaring, broken voice, Bujival was drained of all his energy and collapsed to the ground.

Earl Roberts clenched his fists, and the old skin on the back of his hands formed wrinkles full of the breath of time.

“Alas!”

……

At nine o’clock in the afternoon, East African time, the sky was already gray, but one could still vaguely see some shadows. Several conspicuous white flags slowly rose above the inner city of Chokwe.

With the surrender of Earl Roberts and the Mozambique colonial government, East Africa officially captured Chokwe, and another colonial flag of the Kingdom of Portugal in Africa quietly came to an end.

The glory of the Kingdom of Portugal was completely buried by the Kingdom of East Africa in the historical dust of the late nineteenth century. Many such wars of the century occurred in the nineteenth century, but for the Portuguese, this was their last chance.

Without land and population as a foundation, it is basically impossible for Portugal to rise again in the future, unless their descendants stand on the cusp of the wind like their ancestors and complete new feats, but that is basically impossible. Just like Ernst knew in his previous life, the two good-for-nothings on the Iberian Peninsula have been in a state of decline.

Chapter 791: The Dagger Revealed

“Earl Roberts, hello!”

Commander-in-Chief Leiden of the Western Military Region shook hands with this once-illustrious British veteran with a beaming smile.

Facing this East African general, who was more than a dozen years younger than himself, Earl Roberts would certainly have admired him greatly under different circumstances. However, the agonizing shadow of defeat lingered in Earl Roberts’ mind, difficult to dispel.

His facial muscles were stiff, and he said with a look of helplessness, “Congratulations to you, you have won this time.”

Regarding the outcome of the war, although difficult to accept, East Africa had indeed emerged victorious. Success is king, and failure is the villain, there was no need to say more.

Moreover, this time East Africa had defeated the Allied forces fair and square, without resorting to any opportunistic tricks. Therefore, Earl Roberts had only two words to describe such an opponent: “Formidable.”

“Don’t be discouraged, Earl. Although the war was lost, the blame is certainly not on you. The British army performed exceptionally well in this war. The only pity is that the preparations were insufficient, and subsequent support was inadequate. Therefore, this defeat is not due to a failure in battle. You have fulfilled the responsibility that history entrusted to you.”

Leiden consoled him. The British army’s performance in the South African War was still commendable. However, the British and Portuguese homelands provided insufficient support, and the Allied forces were a mixed bag. Earl Roberts was able to lead this force and fight East Africa for a whole year, which, in Leiden’s view, was entirely worthy of Earl Roberts’ previous reputation.

After all, East Africa was fighting on its own soil, and its various statistics were no worse than those of the British army. The number of troops was more than three times that of the British army, so Earl Roberts was not considered a failure.

As for the Portuguese army, the Indian army, and the hastily assembled black auxiliary troops, in Leiden’s view, they did not contribute much to the South African War. On the contrary, they hindered Earl Roberts and the British army at some critical moments. There were advantages and disadvantages, so the merits and demerits canceled each other out.

Of course, Leiden’s consolation did not have much effect on Earl Roberts. Earl Roberts clearly knew that the outcome of this war was due to his own misjudgments in the early stages of the war.

In the past, the British army could have reversed the war by relying on its advantages in weapons and logistics. However, in the South African battlefield, the situation faced by Earl Roberts was completely different from the past.

The uniforms of these East African soldiers were not fancy, but their combat effectiveness was extraordinary. Wearing gray steel helmets and military uniforms, the East African soldiers demonstrated the strength of a world-class army.

The deployment of the army was basically without major errors, indicating that the East African command system was complete. The soldiers’ morale was high, their spirits were full, the army building was very careful, and various tactics were applied freely. Especially in the later stages of the war, the East African army improved faster, responded to the battlefield situation more smoothly, and made up for the final shortcomings.

All indications showed that the East African Defense Force already had the appearance of a world-class army, or rather, it was already one of the most powerful armies in the world.

What impressed Earl Roberts the most was the East African army’s application of various new weapons, as well as its complete logistics supply system. This was also an important factor in East Africa’s victory, while the opposite was the deficiency on his own side.

Although East Africa had the advantage of home-field advantage, this kind of away battle was also the strength of the British army. On the European plains, Constantinople, the Crimean Peninsula, the Abyssinian Empire, India, Afghanistan, Persia, the Far Eastern Empire… the British army had achieved outstanding results.

Only in South Africa, this marginal area, did they suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of the East African Defense Force. Therefore, Earl Roberts’ impression of East Africa had undergone earth-shattering changes. This was a powerful empire that had completely risen in the African continent!

Earl Roberts said to Leiden, “General Leiden, your performance in the war has impressed me deeply. I even feel like I am not fighting in Africa, but in Europe against world-class powers such as Germany and France.”

Leiden: “Earl, you are too modest. The strength of Britain is beyond doubt. This time, you only used a little bit of your strength. If we were to engage in a full-scale war with you, we would definitely not be able to resist. As for the countries on the European continent, they are monsters. East Africa cannot challenge them at the moment. They have a mobilization potential of tens of millions at every turn. We in East Africa are far behind compared to them.”

Up to now, East Africa has mobilized a total of more than four hundred thousand troops, and the South African battlefield alone has reached three hundred and sixty thousand.

If a limit mobilization is carried out, more than a million would not be too difficult for East Africa, but it is not easy to mobilize so many troops, maintain basic production order, and provide sufficient weapons and equipment. This is the gap between East Africa and other top powers.

Like Britain, if Britain mobilizes a million troops (including colonies), it is also an easy task, and it will not have a great impact on the domestic economy. During World War II, Germany fought against the whole world almost single-handedly, and Germany was able to persist for as long as six years, which is almost unimaginable for people now.

In the 19th century, if someone said that Germany could fight against several great powers at the same time with its own strength, it would be absolutely fanciful, even with the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The most similar to East Africa should be Tsarist Russia, but Tsarist Russia has almost two to three times more population, more than twice the area of East Africa, and a deep foundation. Even so, Tsarist Russia is very difficult to mobilize a million troops. Just like in World War I, many Tsarist Russian soldiers could not even put together a decent weapon.

The East African Defense Force is certainly not as “poor” as Tsarist Russia, but the premise is that the East African Defense Force does not have many troops. Just like now, the number of East African Defense Force personnel did not exceed five hundred thousand during the war, and before that, it only maintained a level of two to three hundred thousand.

Therefore, with the same military expenditure, the fewer people shared, the more each soldier could naturally get in terms of weapons, equipment, and logistics.

However, East Africa did this because East Africa faces relatively few foreign enemies. It is no exaggeration to say that, except for the Ottoman Empire and Egypt, there is no match in the north of Africa.

The British in the south can bring a lot of pressure to East Africa, but not much. The countries bordering Tsarist Russia are not simple. The two countries of Germany and Austria do not need to be said. Northern Europe has repeatedly fought with Tsarist Russia in history, and even completely suppressed Tsarist Russia during the strong period of Sweden. The Ottoman Empire in the south and Tsarist Russia are sworn enemies, and Iran and Afghanistan in the south are not easy to provoke.

In the east, there is the Far Eastern Empire. Although it is temporarily suppressed, Tsarist Russia is not feeling well either. The winner of the last Western Regions War was the Far Eastern Empire.

Therefore, looking at the only object that can be “bullied” around Tsarist Russia, only Japan is left, a small island country. However, Japan’s strength has not yet been shown. When the Russo-Japanese War breaks out, Tsarist Russia should understand that the ability of this island country cannot be offset by a Siberian Railway.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Leiden finally began to get to the point: “Earl Roberts, in fact, your main force in the west has not yet failed. They are still stubbornly resisting in the area centered on São Jorge. Therefore, we hope that you can take the initiative to help us persuade them to surrender. Of course, the order of the Governor-General of Mozambique is also equally important.”

The Mozambique War is not completely over yet. There are still more than 50,000 main force troops of the Allied forces in the west, mainly British troops. This force has also been fighting with the Western Military Region from the beginning of the war to the present. If they are to be completely annihilated, East Africa is estimated to pay a considerable price. Therefore, it is the best result to use the name of Earl Roberts and the Governor-General of Mozambique to let them surrender voluntarily.

Chapter 792: Conditions

“This…”

Earl Roberts was caught off guard by Lyden’s purpose and felt embarrassed, even annoyed. According to his expectations, the main force in the west should have been wiped out by the East Africans.

After all, from the beginning, Earl Roberts believed that the East Africans would first eliminate the main British force in the west, and then continue eastward to besiege Chauke.

This wasn’t without basis, because from the start, Earl Roberts believed that the East African forces were numerous, but the exact number was unclear. Intelligence on East Africa was too difficult to obtain, and this lack of intelligence was a major reason for the repeated failures of the British army.

Moreover, the main force in the west had been out of contact with the Chauke headquarters for a long time, which was also an important reason why Earl Roberts believed that the main force in the west had been wiped out by the East Africans.

In reality, the main force of the Allied forces in the west was surrounded by the East Africans, and there were cavalry units patrolling the periphery to prevent the British western main force from escaping eastward. Even if they managed to get past the numerous checkpoints and reach Chauke, they would not be able to contact Earl Roberts. Before the war, Chauke was also surrounded by East African forces. It was almost impossible to enter Chauke city from such a large army.

Seeing Earl Roberts’s difficulty, Lyden said, “Your Excellency, Earl, there is no need to feel guilty, because although your western troops have not been completely wiped out by our army, they have been trapped by our army with equal strength. As long as our troops in Chauke advance westward, it will be easy to eliminate them. We may not even need to do it ourselves. Before long, they will be forced to surrender due to insufficient supplies. We just want to end this war as soon as possible.”

Lyden directly exposed the weakness of contacting the western main force. As the East Africans advanced westward, the Allied western military region lost cities and land, and a large amount of supplies could not be brought to Saint Jorge due to time constraints. Moreover, the channel for obtaining supplies from the east was cut off by the East Africans, so in the end, they could not escape the East African’s grasp.

After listening to Lyden’s words, Earl Roberts said helplessly, “Alright, Your Excellency’s reasons have convinced me, but I want to know if there are other places where our troops are stationed besides the west?”

Although it was unlikely, Earl Roberts still hoped from the bottom of his heart that there would be more steadfast “patriotic” troops like the main force of the Western Allied Forces.

Lyden said regretfully, “No, your western troops were only not annihilated by our army in the first place due to special reasons, because they were too numerous, had strong combat effectiveness, and the importance of Saint Jorge was far less than Chauke and Maputo in the rear, so I only left enough troops to trap them.”

After a pause, Lyden continued, “As for the Allied forces in other directions, to put it bluntly, they are not enough to pose a major threat to East Africa, so they were either completely annihilated or surrendered voluntarily.”

I knew this would be the result! Earl Roberts thought to himself. The main force of the Western Allied Forces was Earl Roberts’s hard work. From the beginning, the west was the main offensive direction set by Earl Roberts, so Earl Roberts deployed a large number of troops and elite Allied forces in the west.

The Western Allied Forces had been fighting against the Western Military Region in the East African Matabeleland Province, Hechingen Province, and the Mozambique border since the beginning of the war.

They were also the Allied forces that Lyden hated the most. At first, they caused great pressure on East Africa’s eastern defense line, but later, with the support of rear troops, they turned from offense to defense.

Therefore, the person who knew the Western Allied Forces best was Lyden, the highest military commander of the East African Western Military Region.

As for the other directions, especially the Northern Allied Forces, they were completely secondary forces of the Allied Forces. From the beginning, their purpose was to slow down the East African offensive from the north, and this proved to be the case. When the two cavalry divisions of the Eastern Military Region and the Northern Military Region appeared on the banks of the Limpopo River north of Chauke City, it meant that the Northern Allied Forces had been completely lost.

The Southern Allied Forces were slightly better. They could initially retreat to Maputo or Natal Colony, and their strength was second only to the main force of the Western Allied Forces, almost the same as the Chauke garrison, so many fled to Cape Town in the later stages of the war to avoid the limelight.

As for those who ran towards Maputo, they had long been taken care of by the East African Defense Forces along with Maputo City.

After completely losing confidence in the war, Earl Roberts said dejectedly to Lyden, “I can write a letter to let the western army surrender to your army, but you must also ensure their safety, and it is best to provide sufficient food and medicine. Now malaria is rampant within the Allied forces. I hope it won’t cause you any trouble.”

During his time in South Africa, Roberts found it very difficult, and disease was one of the biggest problems. Of course, the British army was not too panicked about dealing with malaria.

Especially people like Earl Roberts, who had been in India for a long time, were very familiar with malaria. This was also the main reason why the British focused on transferring troops from India to the South African battlefield.

Of course, the value of Africa was obviously not comparable to that of India. Although both were areas severely affected by malaria, India was a well-developed land for thousands of years, a place that had nurtured ancient Indian civilization. As for the African continent, apart from the Gold Coast, it was really difficult to attract the attention of other countries before.

Lyden readily agreed to Earl Roberts’s request, “That’s natural. We in East Africa value the lives of your country’s soldiers very much, and naturally we will not let them die in vain on the battlefield.”

Now every British soldier in Mozambique is an important hostage for East Africa to “extort” the British government in the future, so East Africa attaches great importance to the safety of British soldiers.

Although this would increase expenses a lot, East Africa could still afford it, but Lyden also emphasized, “Of course, you should also ask for help from your country at the same time, because we can’t guarantee whether East African medicines will be effective.”

East Africa certainly wouldn’t be a sucker for nothing. Although quinine production was not small, it could basically only meet domestic demand in East Africa. After all, East Africa had not considered the possibility of capturing a large number of Allied soldiers from the beginning. As for other drugs, their effects were far less than quinine, but they were cheap and produced in large quantities.

In fact, malaria within the Allied forces was no longer too serious. Allied soldiers who could stay in Africa until now probably already had resistance.

Therefore, some medicines in traditional Chinese medicine that can improve immunity can solve most of the British army’s problems. The most important thing is hygiene and environment. East Africa does not need to correct this. Anyway, the prisoner-of-war camps have strict rules and regulations that can help the Allied prisoners get rid of their bad habits.

Of course, these conditions are almost only for British and some Portuguese prisoners. Indians, Portuguese mixed-race people, and black people will definitely not have this treatment, otherwise East Africa’s expenses would be too high.

The British and Portuguese governments will not pay for these “waste products,” so East Africa mainly treats these people with the same treatment as local black people, in simple terms, they have no human rights.

Earl Roberts couldn’t care about Lyden’s little plans. He only needed to be responsible for the safety of his own people, and that was enough. Even if British soldiers were abused, it wouldn’t be a problem, as long as they could return to their homeland alive, he could be “at ease.”

As for the Indian troops he brought this time, to be honest, he wouldn’t feel bad even if they all died. Of course, he definitely couldn’t ignore some of the Indians.

Chapter 793: Bird in a Cage

The Indian troops were also divided into different classes. There were many who had connections with Indian princes and nobles, and they would definitely be taken back. These people could be said to be one of the cornerstones of British rule in India. Without the cooperation of the high-caste ruling class in India, it would have been impossible for Britain to completely control the Indian region.

Of course, even if Britain didn’t want them, East Africa wouldn’t keep the Indians around for nothing. Although East Africa had always been a slave-owning country, it was also a country that was moving towards the abolition of slavery. And with so many Indians captured in the South African War, East Africa wouldn’t even give them the chance to be slaves.

In the eyes of the East African government, the British prisoners were their “apple of their eye.” As far as the British government was concerned, they couldn’t allow tens of thousands of British people to remain in East Africa. The pressure that would create was not something ordinary people could bear, and this was an important guarantee for East Africa to cash in on its “spoils of war.”

…

São Jorge.

As the only region in Mozambique still resisting, the temporary command post of the Western Allied Forces was established in this place.

The entire São Jorge was an important military fortress, with layers of solid defenses built around the perimeter. Various pillboxes and trenches were densely distributed, and Allied soldiers were stationed in these pillboxes and trenches.

The entire Allied position was bleak. As the war continued, the Allied soldiers had long been numb, waiting here for their final fate.

But today was destined to be a different day. A small team, coming from the direction of East Africa, was heading towards São Jorge. They were not carrying weapons, and in addition to East Africans, they were accompanied by British and Portuguese.

This was very easy to distinguish, because these people were wearing the military uniforms of their respective countries. However, sharp-eyed Allied soldiers could tell at a glance that these people were of high rank. They didn’t know much about the East Africans, but the British and Portuguese in the team were high-ranking officers in the army.

Of course, the Portuguese translator at the front of the team was the most conspicuous presence. He was holding a metal megaphone and shouting loudly at the Allied position, waving a small white flag from side to side.

“Friends, don’t shoot! We are not carrying weapons. We have important matters to report to General Williams.”

The translator repeated this sentence loudly to the Allied forces in both English and Portuguese, but from his trembling hands, one could see his nervousness and fear.

After all, if someone accidentally fired a shot, he would definitely be the first to be killed by his own people. Of course, beneath the fear was also a sense of shame.

After all, waving a white flag and shouting words that sounded like a “traitor” was like being paraded through the streets. But who told him he was unlucky, just a small translator.

At this moment, he even thought that if he ever gained power in the future, he would definitely hang up and beat that bastard “officer” who sent him to lead the team, just to relieve the hatred in his heart.

The officers from the three countries in the back naturally didn’t know about the translator’s inner thoughts. They were here to persuade the São Jorge garrison to surrender. Everyone was a respectable person, so naturally they couldn’t hold up a white flag and shout shameful words to enter the enemy camp.

Of course, even so, they felt a little nervous, because the atmosphere on the battlefield between East Africa and the main force of the Allied forces was very heavy, and this sense of oppression couldn’t give people a sense of security.

Fortunately, the Allied forces didn’t have any “reckless men.” The officer corps successfully crossed the open ground between the two armies and was intercepted by a British front-line commanding officer.

“I am Baron Waltz, a staff officer from the General Headquarters. I am here on the orders of Earl Roberts, and entrusted by the Governor’s Office of Mozambique, to deliver important instructions and letters to General Williams.”

Looking at the imposing officer, British Company Commander Joles didn’t doubt him, but he still carried out a “security check” on the group according to procedure, confirming that they were not carrying weapons or other dangerous items.

Joles said, “Baron, please wait a moment. I need to report your arrival to my superiors.”

Baron Waltz waved his hand impatiently and said, “Hurry, hurry. We don’t want to stay in this godforsaken place for too long.”

…

Soon, the news of the officer corps was reported to General Williams, the highest commander of the Western Allied Forces.

“General Williams, there are people from the General Headquarters outside who say they want to meet with us. They say they have letters from Earl Roberts and instructions from the Governor’s Office of Mozambique.”

Hearing this news, Williams’ heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. He said with a gloomy expression, “I’m afraid they’re not here with good intentions!”

“General, do you mean that these people are impersonating East Africans?” asked Victor, the staff officer beside him.

Williams shook his head and then said, “It’s not that bad. What I mean is that there has probably been a major change in the war situation, and it’s extremely unfavorable to us. Otherwise, Commander-in-Chief Roberts would never have been able to bypass the East African defenses and send people over in such a grand manner. As for impersonating our personnel, the East Africans would definitely not do such a useless thing.”

“General, are you saying that the General Headquarters…” Victor asked nervously.

Williams nodded gloomily and said, “That’s right, it’s what you think. I’m afraid the General Headquarters and our rear have been completely captured by the East Africans.”

Victor asked with a troubled expression, “Can you be sure? There are still hundreds of thousands of troops at the rear General Staff Headquarters. They shouldn’t be so easily wiped out by the East Africans in such a short time!”

Victor didn’t know that Maputo and northern Mozambique had already fallen, so with this information gap, he subconsciously thought it was unlikely to happen.

“Whether it is or isn’t, it doesn’t matter anymore. As long as we call the people outside in, we can confirm the news,” Williams said.

Victor nodded and said, “Then let’s call them in!”

Soon, the officer corps arrived at the joint command of the Western Allied Forces. Williams looked at the East Africans in the officer corps, and his eyes twitched. This already confirmed his guess.

The same was true for the people in the Allied command, and a lot of important information could be seen from the expressions of the few people.

In particular, the extremely unnatural expressions on the faces of the British and Portuguese representatives and the almost uncontrollable smirk on the face of the East African representative formed a stark contrast.

“General Williams, I am Baron Waltz. You should have met me before. This is a letter that the Earl asked me to hand over to you personally.”

Williams didn’t speak, but instead used his eyes to directly instruct his subordinates to bring the letter to him. Then, he opened the letter with a dagger and began to read it quietly.

The entire command was filled with oppressive air, making people feel chills down their spines.

After a long time.

With a loud “bang!”, everyone was instantly awakened.

Williams’ right hand clenched into a fist and slammed hard on the table, and blood flowed out on the deep black table.

Everyone didn’t dare to breathe loudly, even the East African officer Andrei, who had been holding back a smile, was the same. He reorganized his facial expression, after all, he was now in enemy territory, so he couldn’t be too arrogant.

“Maputo has fallen too?” Williams asked.

Waltz had just been startled as well. Now that Williams asked, he came back to his senses and subconsciously said, “Yes, now our sea route has been completely cut off, and the mainland is unable to provide support at all. So surrendering to the enemy is our only way out. We can’t let the lives of tens of thousands of British soldiers be sacrificed in vain in the upcoming war. The overall situation has been decided, and it is impossible to go against it.”

“Yes, the overall situation has been decided!” Williams sighed helplessly. It would be difficult for him to change the course of this war if it continued, after all, even he himself was surrounded by East Africa in the small area of São Jorge, like a bird in a cage, unable to break through the shackles of the cage.

Chapter 794: The British Parliament

With the surrender of the last resistance force in Mozambique, the South African War also began to draw to a close. East Africa turned its guns and began to fully attack the Cape Town colony.

The changes in the South African situation completely triggered an uproar in Britain, and the pressure on Prime Minister Cecil grew day by day.

Cecil, whose full name was Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.

He was another prime minister who was extremely hostile to East Africa after Gladstone, the “moderate,” and his foreign policy and methods were even more extreme than Gladstone’s.

For example, Gladstone’s political strategy towards Ireland mainly advocated “autonomy,” while after Cecil took office in 1886, it became “armed suppression.” Almost all of Britain’s wars in the late 19th century were actively planned by him.

For example, the Second Boer War in his previous life, the suppression of the Far East Empire’s popular uprising, and the promotion of British colonial activities in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Uganda, Kenya, and Rhodesia were all incorporated into the British Empire’s colonial map under his promotion. Therefore, from his policy proposals in his previous life, we can see the origin of the “feud” between East Africa and him.

During Gladstone’s time, although Gladstone also “encircled and suppressed” East Africa, it did not reach the point of resorting to force. It was mainly based on economic sanctions.

Even if he took action, it was through Portugal as an agent, and he did not personally participate. Therefore, compared with Cecil, Gladstone actually became a “moderate” in the eyes of East Africa, which is undoubtedly a great irony.

…

Before the end of the Mozambique War, the British government parliament in London was still engaged in fierce debate over the South African War, discussing whether to increase support for Earl Roberts.

London.

“Africa is the last piece of untouched paradise, and it is an important part of Britain’s national fortune for the next hundred years. If we don’t seize the opportunity and allow East Africa to dominate Africa, it will be disastrous for our country. By then, Egypt, Cape Town, British Somaliland… we will all face the threat of the Germans.”

Cecil tried to explain the threat of East Africa to the parliament. These were facts. The existence of East Africa had seriously undermined the British Empire’s progress in the colonial era.

Cecil’s political views were also supported by a large number of parliamentarians, especially those who had real interests in South Africa.

“Prime Minister Cecil is absolutely right. Our country has important interests in South Africa. Cape Town itself has extremely important strategic value and is an important part of the British Empire’s global strategic security. At the same time, we also have considerable economic interests in South Africa, especially the mineral resources in Kimberley and other places, which can bring a lot of revenue to the government every year. Therefore, we must not give up our country’s important political and economic interests in the South African region, and at the same time maintain peace and stability in the South African region, we must eliminate the evil Black Hegen Kingdom,” a parliamentarian said in support of Cecil.

Of course, many people did not buy into this kind of reckless statement.

Conservative Sir Herta stood up and asked: “The current situation is that we are completely at a disadvantage in the South African War, and our two allies, the Boers, have been completely driven to the south bank of the Orange River by East Africa. Portugal’s Angola has also been captured by East Africa, and only Mozambique is still struggling, and that is with our help.”

“Even the Natal colony fell a few days ago. This is a huge shame unprecedented in the history of the British Empire. Even in 1812, when the United States of America attacked the Canadian colony, we had not suffered such humiliation.”

“As far as I am concerned, this is very painful, but we also need to think, is this worth it, gentlemen?”

Sir Herta’s words were interrupted before he could finish: “Sir Herta, do you mean that we should submit to an African country that has just been established and does not even exist in history!”

Sir Herta said without changing his expression: “Of course not. I am just interpreting the views on the South African War from the perspective of national interests. Also, interrupting someone’s speech is not something a qualified gentleman should do, so please let me finish my words before you make a judgment.”

After setting the tone, Herta reorganized his thoughts and said: “As far as I know, from before the war to now, the Allied forces have mobilized a total of more than 700,000 troops. Our country alone has mobilized nearly 400,000 troops to South Africa, including nearly 200,000 local troops, who are fighting with the East Africans in Cape Town, Natal, and Mozambique, and there are also more than 200,000 Indians.”

“The Kingdom of Portugal has also tried its best to cooperate with the Empire’s strategy, organizing nearly 300,000 troops in Angola and Mozambique, but how many results have we achieved in the South African War so far?”

The parliament was silent. The number of troops invested by both sides in the South African War alone exceeded one million, which is rare in the world. It can even be said to be the largest war except for the Eurasian continent and the American Civil War.

Moreover, this war is a modern war, and the weapons and equipment of both sides are at the forefront of the world, and the pressure on Britain since the start of the war is also unprecedented.

Sir Herta continued: “Since the start of the war, we have spent 80 million pounds, far exceeding the total amount of our war expenses in other regions, and our income is zero, or even negative. And if we want to change the disadvantage of the South African War, how many more soldiers do we have to recruit? How much more money do we have to spend!”

When the economic accounts were calculated, everyone was shocked. Eighty million pounds was an astronomical figure in this era, and this number would continue to climb as the war continued. Even the most composed British gentlemen could not sit still and had to stop the Prime Minister’s “crazy” ideas.

In the Second Boer War in history, Britain spent 220 million pounds in war expenses, because the Boer War lasted for two and a half years. The South African War has been going on for less than a year so far. At the same time, there have been large-scale naval battles between the two sides, plus the reason for the pound itself, so it is only “a mere” 80 million.

However, 80 million was enough to make the British government feel a headache, because the South African War and the Boer War had another important difference, that is, the South African War was a passive war, while the Boer War was an active war.

In his previous life, Britain launched the Second Boer War for the rich gold mines in South Africa, so naturally it had sufficient motivation. The South African War was to suppress East Africa, an African power. From the beginning, Britain’s gain from this war was actually secondary. In short, it was a thankless task.

“Prime Minister, it is time to end this aimless war. Our underestimation and arrogance towards East Africa have cost Britain dearly. If the war continues, we will only lose more.”

“That’s right, East Africa’s political map in the African continent is already difficult to change. We don’t need to let the Empire continue to bleed for a meaningless war.”

Pessimism about the South African War began to spread in the parliament. The heavy war burden, the tenacious resistance of East Africa, and the defeat of the British army made more original centrists realize that the South African War was harmful to the British Empire and had no benefit. Withdrawing from the South African War in time should be the Empire’s only option.

Chapter 795: Brothers in Misery

Facing the overwhelming situation in Parliament, Prime Minister Cecil was helpless. Without parliamentary approval for funding, there was no way to increase military expenditure. The people who supported Cecil, apart from his confidants and political allies, were mainly the interest groups in Cape Town.

However, the largest interest group in Cape Town was the diamond merchants of Kimberley and other places. Although they were powerful, they couldn’t change the situation. After all, the diamond business wasn’t very important to the British Empire, as the world’s hegemon had too many giants in various fields.

Moreover, the military expenditure in South Africa alone now exceeded the total economic revenue of Britain in Cape Town, which was completely uneconomical for the British government.

And Britain was one of the most calculating countries in the world, and it hadn’t done such a losing business with no prospect of profit for many years.

Of course, Cecil, as the British Prime Minister, didn’t give up lobbying Parliament, trying to amplify the East African threat from a strategic perspective.

So the British Parliament was once again caught in a wrangling phase, but soon they wouldn’t have to argue anymore. The changes in the South African war forced them, including Cecil, to make a decision.

Three days later.

“Bang.”

Cecil slammed the South African intelligence report on the table in anger.

“What is Roberts doing?”

“Even forty thousand pigs shouldn’t be easily captured in less than a month, let alone more than four hundred thousand fully armed soldiers. If the world knows this result, how can we hold our heads up in the world?”

Faced with the exasperated Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary comforted him: “Earl Roberts’ available forces should be less than one hundred thousand. The combat effectiveness of the Portuguese and Indians is questionable, and the black soldiers are more about quantity than quality.”

Although what he said was indeed the “truth,” it didn’t change Cecil’s emotions. As the main promoter of the South African War, Cecil had originally hoped that Earl Roberts, this veteran British general, would bring him surprises, but instead of surprises, he was greeted with fright.

Even ignoring other factors, Earl Roberts also had nearly one hundred thousand British soldiers under his command. Apart from Cape Town, this number was already more than half of the British army in South Africa. With the strength of one hundred thousand British troops, Cecil could say without any politeness that it was enough for Britain to launch a medium-sized war anywhere in the world and win.

As a result, Earl Roberts lost everything in less than a month, and he himself became a “prisoner” of East Africa. This was unprecedented in British history.

Cecil was utterly disappointed with Earl Roberts, and even more resentful.

“Maputo has fallen, and the Mozambique Allied Forces have been completely annihilated by East Africa. Now we only have the Cape Town colony as a foothold in South Africa. And now the East Africans are probably already starting a new round of military operations against Cape Town. If we can’t come up with a solution as soon as possible, then Cape Town probably won’t last long. And by analogy, Egypt and British Somaliland will probably also be threatened militarily by East Africa, so we must react to the South African War immediately,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

Cecil frowned, and finally had to give in. There was no other way but to cease the war. Continuing the war had been rejected by Parliament, and there was no room for maneuver.

Especially after the news of the fall of Mozambique became widely known.

……

Compared to the distress of British Prime Minister Cecil, King Carlos I, the supreme ruler of the Kingdom of Portugal, was even more miserable.

“Maputo has fallen, and the British, along with our troops, have been completely wiped out in Mozambique,” Prime Minister João Franco reported to the new Portuguese monarch.

That’s right, like Cecil, Carlos I had also just ascended the throne, but he was three years later than Cecil. Moreover, just after succeeding to the throne, a few months ago, the old King Luís I had a stroke due to the loss of Angola, and passed away a few months earlier than in history, allowing Carlos I to take the throne almost a year earlier than in history.

However, the Kingdom of Portugal that Carlos inherited was a complete mess, especially the repeated defeats of the Portuguese army in the South African War.

And today he finally received the most painful news, which was the fall of Mozambique. Was the glory of Portugal going to end in his hands!

“What do the British say?” Carlos I asked João Franco, the Prime Minister he had personally promoted.

“The British haven’t replied yet, but the situation shouldn’t be optimistic. They are also one of the losers in this war. After all, Earl Roberts has already surrendered to East Africa, and the main force of the British in South Africa has basically been lost. Now only Cape Town can barely hold on.”

This news was a bolt from the blue for Carlos I, because Carlos I himself was actually an “Anglophobe,” so his foreign policy in his previous life was completely one-sided towards Britain.

It was even so outrageous that shortly after Carlos took the throne in his previous life, the British sent an ultimatum demanding that Portugal withdraw its troops stationed between Angola and Mozambique, and the monarch agreed to the British conditions under the threat of British warships (at that time, British warships sailed into Lisbon).

Of course, Carlos I himself was definitely not willing. In the cesspool that was Portugal, facing a powerful country like Britain, Portugal could be said to have no power to fight back.

Of course, with East Africa, the situation had undergone major changes compared to his previous life. First of all, the old King Luís I died (of anger) prematurely, and dared to do so at the unfavorable juncture of the South African War. As the saying goes, death cancels all debts, and the domestic contradictions in Portugal were instead transferred to a certain extent, and the hatred for the monarchy was transferred to the hatred for East Africa.

Secondly, Carlos I didn’t have time, and didn’t encounter the “treasonous” problem of his previous life. In this era, Britain’s main enemy in Africa was East Africa, and Portugal, which owned the colonies of Angola and Mozambique, had instead become the object of British co-option.

Especially during the war, with the support of Britain, the economy and politics of Portugal actually improved, and Carlos I’s ascension to the throne was smoother than in his previous life.

So the emergence of East Africa, although it made Portugal lose Angola and Mozambique in advance, was actually a “good thing” for the Portuguese royal family.

And it was conceivable that after Portugal completely lost its two South African colonies, the Portuguese government would become more dependent on British support, and this kind of “loyal” ally was exactly what Britain needed.

Of course, Carlos I couldn’t imagine these things. After all, he didn’t know that his previous life was much worse than now. Now he just had a headache about the various difficulties he faced, especially the issue of domestic political stability after Portugal lost a large number of colonies.

Now Portugal had no way to deal with East Africa, so Carlos I could only continue to go down the same road with Britain, and was full of confusion about the situation in Portugal.

Prime Minister Franco had no solution to this. Franco’s only advantage was his loyalty to the monarch and his patriotism. He was a staunch royalist. If he was asked to deal with the Republicans, that was his area of expertise, but dealing with East Africa was completely beyond his capabilities.

However, the monarch and his minister probably couldn’t have imagined that the South African War was a “crisis” for them, but the opportunity was greater than the danger. If it hadn’t been for the intrusion of East Africa, Carlos I would have been assassinated and killed by the Republicans according to the historical trajectory, and his fate had already embarked on a new fork in the road, and the future was unknown.

Chapter 796: A Firm Stance

As the monarch of Portugal, Carlos I was destined to have a rough time, but having East Africa draw the aggro could solve quite a few problems. However, Portugal’s future was likely to be difficult. In his previous life, under the leadership of Carlos I, Portugal experienced two government bankruptcies.

Now, having lost Mozambique and Angola, two important sources of revenue, and owing Britain a large sum of money to expand its army to deal with East Africa, Portugal’s finances would only become more difficult.

Moreover, Carlos I’s confidant, Prime Minister Franco, was not skilled in economics, and his political skills were also very ordinary. Otherwise, Carlos I and his son would not have been assassinated in the street in his previous life.

The only comforting thing was Franco’s loyalty to the royal family, which was more important than anything else to a monarch.

“Your Majesty, after this war, I am afraid that East Africa will no longer choose to return Angola and Mozambique to us. We must be prepared to lose our two most important colonies! But this may not be a bad thing for us; it can be considered as getting rid of two burdens,” Franco said to Carlos I, expressing his views.

To be honest, the importance of Angola and Mozambique to the Portuguese government was mainly to maintain the image of Portugal as an old colonial power. In reality, they did not bring much tangible benefit to Portugal. Moreover, in recent years, in order to guard against East Africa, the two colonies had actually been in a state of deficit.

Maintaining a permanent military presence in Angola and Mozambique was already a difficult burden for Portugal to bear. If it were not for the British needing “cannon fodder” and the need for a united front, East Africa would not have had the opportunity to bully Portugal.

These things were not important to Carlos I. The biggest problem now was dealing with potential political problems at home.

Carlos I had just ascended the throne and did not have deep control over the country. Moreover, the democratic movement within Portugal, a European country, was very serious.

A large number of Republicans were ready to overthrow Carlos I’s rule at any time. Of course, this was not Carlos I’s own problem.

After all, Carlos I had just taken office and had not yet shown his “political iron fist.” The blame could not be placed on Carlos I, but rather on Portugal’s long-standing political struggles.

Portugal’s continued decline naturally made the people less optimistic about the Portuguese royal family. Of course, even without the Portuguese royal family, Portugal’s performance in its previous life would not have changed.

“Prime Minister Franco, we are powerless to change the outcome of this war. Portugal will not be able to organize more troops to recover the lost territories against a powerful enemy like East Africa. Therefore, we must strictly guard against and defend against the villains at home. From now on, we must strengthen supervision and not allow them to achieve their goals,” Carlos I said.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty, I have already made preparations. This is the most difficult time for Portugal in a century. Anyone who wants to undermine Portugal’s unity is my enemy,” Prime Minister Franco said firmly.

Afterward, Franco turned the question back to the South African war and asked, “But Your Majesty, we must also solve the problem of Angola and Mozambique. If it is not handled well, it will still cause new waves.”

Carlos I said with a troubled expression, “At this time, we can only rely on the British. Send someone to negotiate with the British government. The British must give us some explanation for the deteriorating situation in South Africa.”

This was intended to put pressure on Britain. Although Portugal had not performed well in the South African war, it was ultimately in response to the British government’s call.

Carlos I himself had originally planned to rely on Britain in his foreign policy. Therefore, as a younger brother, now that his interests were damaged, he naturally hoped that Britain could come forward to settle the matter.

Of course, the British government was not to be trifled with, but the British government certainly could not persuade the East Africans to return Portugal’s two colonies. After all, Ernst was not a foolish ruler. Having won the war himself, he would not allow Britain and Portugal to take back East Africa’s spoils of war at the negotiating table.

The French’s “diplomatic” victory in Vietnam could not be replicated by Britain in East Africa.

…

First Town City.

“Your Highness, this is a message from the British government in London. They are preparing to hold peace talks with us to end the four-nation war in South Africa,” Foreign Minister Hermann reported to Ernst.

“What price are the British offering?” Ernst asked.

Ernst was not surprised that the British were holding peace talks at this time. After all, the East African Defense Force was about to advance to southern Cape Town.

“The British advocate restoring the territories of all countries to their pre-war state, signing a ceasefire agreement between the four countries, and maintaining the stability of the situation in South Africa.”

“That’s it!” Ernst asked, seeing that Hermann did not continue.

“Uh, yes, that’s right,” Hermann said.

“It seems that they are still not sincere. Britain and Portugal have been unable to change the overall situation in this war. Cape Town has less than two hundred thousand troops left, most of whom are Indians and Boers. Does the British government expect the Indians to stand up for them!” Ernst said sarcastically.

To say that the territories of the four countries should be restored to their pre-war state was simply not taking East Africa seriously. Of course, Ernst knew that this was just a test by the British government.

For Britain, it was best to be able to use its power to pressure others. After all, there was precedent for this in the world. If East Africa could be made to concede with just a few words, it would naturally be a “great” victory for Britain.

Ernst said, “The foreign ministry should reply to the British government that East Africa does not fight meaningless wars. If they do not sit down and negotiate seriously, then we will take our spoils of war on the battlefield ourselves.”

At this time, Ernst would definitely not reveal his price in advance, but rather wait until Britain was mentally prepared to bleed heavily before East Africa would make its demands.

According to Ernst’s expectations, Angola and Mozambique would definitely be incorporated into East Africa’s territory. As for the Orange Free State, it should be the focus of the negotiation.

However, East Africa would definitely not take the Orange Free State too seriously, but rather proceed from the overall situation, using British colonies such as Cape Town as a threat to break the British’s illusions and allow the British to cede the Orange Free State smoothly.

As for Angola and Mozambique, that was East Africa’s bottom line. If the British did not want to give these two places to East Africa, then there was no need for peace talks at all, and the war would simply continue.

“Of course, the wording should not be too harsh, just be moderate. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives uses it to make a fuss, it may still cause the situation to develop in a direction that is unfavorable to us,” Ernst emphasized.

For the great powers in the world, dignity is also particularly important, especially for hegemonic countries. Although East Africa was the victor in the war, it could not be too arrogant.

In the age of nationalism, this could easily arouse public anger in Britain, so that the hawks in Britain could take the opportunity to continue the war.

This was obviously not what Ernst wanted to see. The war had been fought to this point, and East Africa’s losses were actually not small. The military and civilian casualties alone exceeded twenty-eight thousand, with New Hamburg Port City being the most severely affected. During the months of encirclement, the British repeatedly shelled the city, causing heavy losses to New Hamburg Port City.

Of course, East Africa was not comfortable, but it was completely within its ability to bear. The losses of Britain, Portugal, and other countries were several times greater than those of East Africa. In the entire Maputo battle alone, East Africa captured and killed more than sixty thousand Allied troops. Although most of them were Indians and blacks, this was the price that Britain and Portugal had to pay for using colonial residents as soldiers.

Chapter 797: Port Edward

Port Edward.

“These South African mountain roads are truly difficult to navigate, and it seems the British forces in Cape Town aren’t entirely without a means of resistance.” Moltke said to his subordinates.

With the military advance in East Africa, the Southern Military Region had already penetrated deep into the eastern hinterland of Cape Town. However, due to the Drakensberg Mountains, the terrain was rugged, and rivers and swamps greatly slowed down the East African advance.

Moreover, the British army could effectively use the narrow terrain to their advantage, hindering the East African Defense Force’s offensive. Port Edward is about one hundred and fifty kilometers in a straight line from Durban.

It was originally the territory of Griqualand East, one of the Boer republics, wedged between the Natal Colony and the Cape Colony. The British army occupied it in the late seventies and early eighties.

So it was originally very desolate here, and Port Edward was only recently established, just a small town by the sea with a small population.

“Commander, military advancement still depends on the inland areas. The western troops should have crossed the Orange River by now. After all, the inland plateau is convenient for marching, and the population is relatively sparse, while the eastern part is the more densely populated area of Cape Town, so the British army is actually stronger.”

The population of South Africa is clustered, with Cape Town and its surroundings in the far south, and then the east, centered on East London and Port Elizabeth, both of which are British strongholds.

Further north are the Natal Colony and the former Boer republics, which are more densely populated, while the plateau area between the western Boer Republics and Cape Town is a population vacuum.

The same is true between Durban and East London in the eastern Natal Colony, but there are more British people here than in the west, plus the main British forces from the former Natal Colony have moved south, so Moltke’s forces encountered greater resistance.

Moltke said, “The British have only been developing Port Edward for a few years. The core area of Griqualand East was originally in Kokstad, not the coastal area, so Port Edward is now our last obstacle to reaching East London.”

“However, there are still more than three hundred kilometers in between. Continuing to wear down the enemy is too slow. Send a message to the rear and see if the navy can help our army break through the enemy’s blockade faster.”

The main reason the British army was able to safely withdraw from Durban was by using the sea route, thereby achieving an orderly retreat.

Previously, the East African Navy mainly cooperated with the northern East African troops to strike the Mozambican coast. Now that the war in Mozambique is over.

So Moltke plans to use the power of the navy to achieve his goals. Of course, using merchant ships from New Hamburg (Richards Bay) could also achieve Moltke’s goals, but the risk is relatively high.

The Cape Town navy still has strength. Although it cannot go north to actively attack the East African navy, it can still play a role in preventing the East African navy from going south in the area.

So Moltke wants to go by sea, he must have a naval escort. As for the British army on land, he can leave only a small part of the troops to entangle them.

Because the population of the Cape Colony is mainly concentrated around the cities, as long as East London and Port Elizabeth are captured, the eastern British army will basically have no resistance.

East London and Port Elizabeth are also the rear of the British army. Cutting off the connection between these two places, East Africa can strangle the British army in terms of logistics alone, thereby forcing the enemy to surrender without a fight.

…

While Moltke’s forces were advancing south.

The various East African troops who had just participated in the Mozambican war also began to move south, reinforcing the southern battlefield according to the instructions of the General Staff.

The central railway from New Hamburg (Richards Bay) to Otto (Pretoria) became busy. Since East Africa regained the eastern part of the Southern Frontier Province.

The central railway, which had been destroyed by the British, was completely repaired. However, it is also very difficult for the army to move south. In addition to maintaining stability in Mozambique, a large number of people need to be left to maintain order, and hundreds of thousands of prisoners must be guarded.

Currently, East Africa plans to settle these prisoners in Maputo and other Mozambican port areas, and then transport supplies and rations by sea and land.

Of course, supporting hundreds of thousands of mouths is not East Africa’s style. After identifying valuable prisoners, a large number of black people directly obtained East Africa’s “slave” status and maintained the plantations in Mozambique.

What gives East Africa the biggest headache is actually the Indians. First of all, the Indians are not natives, after all, such a large British colony is in the Indian Ocean. However, the Indians do not belong to the British.

Now, what East Africa fears most is that the British government will directly abandon this group of Indians. It should be known that since the South African War, East Africa has captured more than one hundred and seventy thousand Indian soldiers.

If they learned from the Boers, it would be enough to establish a country in South Africa. Therefore, the handling of Indians is a big problem.

Of course, this problem is for Ernst. In the eyes of East African officials, it is a small problem. Ernst has a poor impression of Indians, but East African officials see no difference between Indians and blacks. Anyway, they have no human rights and it doesn’t matter if they are directly used as slaves.

However, if so many Indians are really allowed to take root in East Africa, it will definitely be one of the sources of trouble in the future. After all, judging from the situation in Africa in the previous life, as long as a place is colonized by the British, it is easy to form an Indian cluster. With the reproduction speed of Indians in the future, and the distance between India and East Africa, it is easy to form a situation where Indians bring their families to East Africa to make a living.

Therefore, in order to deal with the possibility of this “inferior” immigration, Ernst’s idea is to pack up the Indian prisoners in East Africa and send them back to India. Even if the British are really rogue and leave the Indians in East Africa after the war, it will be fine if East Africa spends more on shipping.

Of course, Ernst is not doing this out of discrimination against Indians. In fact, many Indian merchants are engaged in commercial trade in the coastal areas of East Africa.

But these people are definitely different from the captured Indian soldiers. Indian soldiers are basically from the bottom of society and have no use value other than brute force. Although they are strong, they have many bad habits. As a race from tropical countries, Indians and Southeast Asian natives are very lazy. Ernst is most afraid of these Indians leading East Africans astray.

The “diligence” of the people has always been a problem that Ernst values. Don’t think this is making a fuss, because East Africa is a place suitable for lying flat. The black people here have been lying flat for thousands of years.

Like the homeless people in the United States and Russia in the previous life, some may be threatened by severe cold and food, and have to engage in some labor.

In East Africa, a place with “spring all year round and abundant products”, to be honest, if the infrastructure is completed, it is simply a paradise for homeless people.

Therefore, in order to avoid this situation, we can only start with the social atmosphere. The East African government guides the East African people to “work hard”.

The “lazy” state of India is very negatively educational. Of course, in the 19th century, this was the case in many places. Indians are not an isolated case.

However, the population of East Africa is mainly composed of German immigrants and Far Eastern Empire immigrants. It can be said without hesitation that the residents of these two regions are the “most hardworking” people in the world today.

Of course, this was also the case in Britain and France before the 19th century. However, with the advancement of the Industrial Revolution, Britain has passed the era of treating people like animals (actually worse than animals), and the French like to enjoy themselves. Therefore, in the 19th century, the gap between the two countries and Germany was rapidly narrowed.

Chapter 798: East African Meteorological Bureau

With Mozambique and Angola falling into East African hands, East Africa no longer concealed its ambitions for the two regions. Various East African government departments and subordinate agencies, under the leadership of the cabinet, began to move into these areas.

Spearheading this effort were government agencies such as the Meteorological Bureau and the Bureau of Land and Resources Survey. East Africa possessed very limited data for these newly acquired territories.

Although Portugal had colonized them for centuries, effective development of Angola and Mozambique had really only occurred in recent years.

Wells, the Director of the East African National Meteorological Bureau, said, “Currently, large areas of Angola and Mozambique are places with long-term absence of human activity. There may even be various deserters from wartime. Therefore, personnel working in these areas should be issued and carry weapons. Observation stations should be established primarily in areas already developed by the Portuguese, and attention should be paid to personnel safety.”

During the war, a large number of black soldiers in the Portuguese army took the opportunity to desert, and these soldiers carried modern weapons supplied by the Portuguese government, making them very threatening.

East Africa had not yet launched a full-scale “cleansing” operation in Angola. The main forces were fighting to the south, and at this time, apart from a few cities and important agricultural areas, there was almost no excess population.

Portuguese prisoners were mainly concentrated in the eastern port areas, ready for handover to the Portuguese government, provided that the Portuguese government offered the bargaining chips East Africa wanted.

The work of the East African Meteorological Bureau was to summarize the climatic characteristics of Angola and Mozambique, complete the national climate map, and guide East African agricultural production. This was very important for East Africa.

As a country established on agriculture, East Africa was the first agricultural and industrial civilization nation in sub-Saharan African history.

Agriculture contributed more than eighty percent of East Africa’s total national economy, and seventy percent of national fiscal revenue came from agricultural income.

This important characteristic dictated that East Africa must compile its own agricultural calendar. As a country with a long and narrow north-south distribution, this characteristic was amplified in East Africa.

Countries spanning more latitudes are generally subject to more complex climatic conditions than countries spanning more longitudes.

A typical example is the Eurasian continent, where civilization spread mainly in the same latitude zone, which is conducive to civilization exchange. Africa is different. Before the industrial age, Africa was a very unsuitable region for agricultural production because its climate was completely different from that of Eurasia.

The East African rainy season is mainly concentrated in the first half of the year. The Congo Basin is the center of the most abundant rainfall in the entire African continent. From March to July, the rainy season shifts northward, and after August, it shifts southward.

South Africa is a place where the impact of the rain belt is weakened. The Great Lakes region is rainy all year round, and the eastern plains (including Tanzania and Mozambique) also have abundant rainfall.

The seasonal changes in the central region (Zambia, southern Congo Plateau), western Angola, and the Nile Basin (South Sudan) are particularly obvious, with rainfall similar to the monsoon climate zone of the Far East Empire.

Rainfall is scarce in other areas, typically Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe), but it is very suitable for agricultural development and can be compared to the North China Plain.

Overall, East Africa’s rainfall is not as high as that of the Far East Empire, but its distribution is more even, with a symmetrical distribution pattern of more in the middle and less in the north and south.

In terms of temperature, East Africa is more balanced, mainly affected by terrain. High-altitude areas are often wheat-growing areas, while low-altitude areas prefer rice cultivation. Of course, if rainfall cannot be met, it is more suitable to grow drought-resistant crops such as millet.

In short, East Africa, as a large country in the world second only to the British and Russian empires in area, is also one of the regions very suitable for agricultural development.

One of the important reasons for the slow development of African civilization under such favorable natural conditions is that African nomadic and hunting-gathering civilizations have a natural advantage over agricultural civilizations.

The African “strong” countries that East Africa eliminated, such as the Ndebele Kingdom, the Zulu Kingdom, and the Boer Republic, were all typical nomadic civilizations.

Only the Great Lakes region developed a relatively “developed” agricultural civilization, but the Great Lakes region, the north (South Sudan, Ethiopia), and the original East African coast (including the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the Somali states) were influenced by Arab civilization.

Early Arab civilization was also a typical nomadic civilization, which later turned to a “commercial” civilization. Therefore, even the “agricultural” civilization countries that East Africa eliminated were actually just semi-agricultural, semi-nomadic pseudo-agricultural civilizations.

If they did not implement this pseudo-agricultural civilization, they would not be able to cope with attacks from nomadic civilizations and primitive hunting-gathering civilizations.

A byproduct of nomadic and hunting-gathering civilizations is that it is easy to produce “warriors,” while agricultural civilizations must develop to a certain extent to achieve a “troop surge” mode, thereby achieving confrontation with nomadic civilizations.

The African continent has vast grasslands, flat terrain, and abundant wildlife resources, which are especially suitable for the development of nomadic and hunting modes.

Agricultural civilizations cannot develop for a long time and are easily conquered by nomadic and primitive hunting-gathering civilizations.

East Africa and the European colonists are different. Under the threat of guns, they opened up important conditions for agricultural development in Africa.

The first is to directly liquidate and encircle these African tribes and kingdoms, thereby seizing land resources. The second is to use firearms to teach African wildlife a lesson.

African wildlife is one of the important obstacles to the difficult development of African agriculture. The original small settlement natives could not resist groups of animals.

Large empires cannot appear out of thin air, bypassing small settlements. In this way, if a native person appears as a “genius” today and cultivates native varieties of agricultural crops, they may be trampled by a large group of zebras the next day.

The East Africans’ firearms shed blood on the grasslands. This war was not only aimed at the natives on the grasslands, but more importantly, it was aimed at eliminating the large wildlife groups that had been entangled with the African natives for hundreds of thousands of years.

Today, wildlife in the East African region has been killed by East Africans to the point of “fear,” which provides a safe space for East African agricultural development.

Summarizing the various factors that prevented African agriculture from developing, and why it changed after the arrival of the colonists, can actually be compared to North America.

North American civilization was also not suitable for the development of agricultural civilization before. The most suitable development for Native Americans on the vast plains of the United States was nomadic civilization and primitive hunting-gathering civilization.

The change in North America was due to the superiority of the Western world in terms of productivity, and the forced distribution of this technology to the entire North American region with immigrant groups.

What East Africa is doing today is replicating this model in Africa again. Of course, Africa is a unique continent after all, so adapting to local conditions is essential, and East Africa has many attempts in this regard.

The task of the National Meteorological Bureau is to study the overall climate of East Africa, thereby providing security for agricultural production in various parts of East Africa. From this point of view, East Africa is in a relatively advanced position.

The world’s first modern meteorological bureau was born in the United Kingdom in the 1850s. Although the East African Meteorological Bureau was established later than countries such as the United Kingdom, its powers, funding, and status in the government are relatively high.

As a continent that humans have not fully explored, Africa has very prominent shortcomings, and there are more lessons to be made up for, all of which require modern science and technology as a guarantee.

Chapter 799: Venice Conference

The entry of institutions such as the East African Meteorological Bureau and the Bureau of Land and Resources Survey into Angola and Mozambique also signifies the imminent commencement of East Africa’s development of the two regions.

Currently, the focus is on conducting a rough assessment of the various conditions in Angola and Mozambique, after which the East African government will formulate development goals.

……

Vienna.

February, 1889.

“Your Majesty, the British have begun to seek reconciliation with East Africa. They intend for us and other countries to act as mediators to resolve this war.”

The arrival of the British disrupted Franz’s peaceful life. Since the 1880s, Austria-Hungary has been developing well, marking a period of rapid growth. Franz’s work has also become relatively easier.

“It seems East Africa has brought considerable trouble to the British. What is the situation with the South African War now?” Franz asked.

Austria-Hungary isn’t currently overly concerned about the South African War. Of course, in the early stages of the war, Austria-Hungary was somewhat affected. As an important trading partner and ally of East Africa, the Austrian government was greatly alarmed when East Africa went to war with Britain.

Firstly, Austria-Hungary feared being dragged into the conflict by East Africa. If it were merely a war between East Africa and Portugal, that would naturally be inconsequential. However, only the countries on the European continent truly understand how terrifying Britain’s power is.

The reason East Africa can be so “arrogant and domineering” is that it is relatively far from the British mainland, making it difficult for Britain to intervene. In reality, if it weren’t for East Africa’s frantic immigration policies and emphasis on developing military industries over the past twenty years, Britain’s Indian colony alone could have inflicted significant damage on East Africa.

It can be said that throughout the Indian Ocean region, apart from East Africa, no other country or region is a match for British-ruled India.

And the countries on the European continent, being closer to the British mainland, can more directly feel the pressure Britain brings to them, especially Austria-Hungary.

Among the current world’s five great powers, Austria-Hungary has the weakest national strength, and the most domestic instability factors, even more serious than the problems faced by Tsarist Russia. Although Tsarist Russia doesn’t have a large majority ethnicity either, its occupied territories are mainly inhabited by Slavs.

Therefore, it would be easy for Britain to cause trouble for Austria-Hungary, and it would be enough to leave Austria-Hungary with no outlet for its anger.

Relying on the Royal Navy, Britain may not be good at much else, but causing trouble is definitely its forte worldwide. Anyway, as long as Britain’s navy doesn’t weaken, other countries can’t do anything about it due to its location.

This is like how the Far Eastern Empire and Tsarist Russia were firmly suppressed by the United States in their previous lives, relying on the United States’ location and naval strength.

Now, other world powers face Britain with this sense of powerlessness. If they are not great powers, they are even more unlucky, like Brazil and Portugal, who are often bullied.

Besides Austria-Hungary’s own strategic considerations, the impact on trade between East Africa and Austria-Hungary is also a headache for Austria-Hungary.

East Africa is an important market for Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary was even able to get rid of the economic crisis ahead of schedule, thanks to East Africa’s great support behind the scenes. Therefore, Austria was one of the most anxious countries when East Africa went to war with Britain.

Of course, under Austria-Hungary’s bizarre dual monarchy system, Hungary is indifferent to this war, because the existence of East Africa has weakened Austria, and the developed regions of Austria-Hungary such as the Czech Republic and Venice’s dependence on Hungarian agriculture and minerals.

Therefore, the attitude within Austria-Hungary towards the South African War is divided. Consequently, Austria’s allies cannot effectively intervene in the course of the South African War.

Fortunately, Ernst never expected Austria-Hungary to provide much help to East Africa from the beginning, otherwise East Africa’s outcome might not be much different from that of the Boers in its previous life.

Of course, the Boers had already been incorporated into British colonies before their war with Britain in their previous life, so the results are definitely different.

Even if East Africa fails militarily, it will not be completely annexed by Britain, and at least it can protect its core eastern region.

“Your Majesty, East Africa has now completely gained the upper hand in the South African War. Angola and Mozambique have both been taken by East Africa. The East Africans are advancing south to attack Cape Town, and this is why the British are so anxious,” said Foreign Minister Count Aehrenthal.

Hearing about the British’s misfortune, Franz was overjoyed. There are almost no countries in the world that like Britain, so Franz is very happy that Britain has stumbled in front of East Africa.

“Is there any possibility for Britain to turn the tables?”

“Basically, no. Unless Britain launches a full-scale attack on East Africa, but this is almost impossible. East Africa has withstood various restrictions and suppression from Britain from the beginning of the war until now, and the South African War is the British’s last attempt after having no way to deal with East Africa. But now it seems that the war cannot solve East Africa’s strong rise in the southern African region.”

Hearing this, Franz also put away his smile. He began to re-examine this “unexpected” country of East Africa.

The establishment and development of East Africa can be said to be one of the most unique historical events of the 19th century, and its significance is no less than the collapse of the Vienna system, the Franco-Prussian War, and other changes in the world pattern.

Before this, the only country that could be found with a similar case was the United States of America in North America. So, can East Africa become another America, or Brazil!

“Aehrenthal, what do you think we should say to the British?” Franz asked.

“It is a good thing that the British want us to mediate the war, after all, our relationship with East Africa is very close, but we still have to see if East Africa needs to end the war, or what kind of bargaining chips they want,” Count Aehrenthal replied.

“If East Africa agrees, what should our attitude be in the middle?”

“Your Majesty, everyone with eyes can see that East Africa’s rise in Africa is inevitable, so we should stand on the side of East Africa. Besides the fact that East Africa itself is our important ally, our country’s potential future interests are closely related to this suddenly rising world power. After taking Angola and Mozambique, East Africa’s land area directly exceeds thirteen million square kilometers, second only to Tsarist Russia. The resources and military strength of such a vast country cannot be ignored.”

“What about the British?”

“The British are suffering the consequences of their own actions. After all, it is even harder to get things at the negotiating table that you can’t get on the battlefield, and now the British are eager to get out of the South African War, seeking our help, so we don’t need to pay too much attention to the British attitude.”

Count Aehrenthal’s words gave Franz reassurance. Now the British are asking Austria-Hungary for help, and East Africa itself has shown its value in being won over, so this deal can be taken.

As for why the British are negotiating with East Africa through Austria-Hungary instead of Germany, besides the fact that Austria-Hungary has the best relationship with East Africa, the most important point is that Wilhelm II has only recently ascended the throne and does not have enough prestige, so Emperor Franz is more suitable as a mediator to preside over the negotiations.

February 12, 1889.

Under the mediation of Austria-Hungary, the East African government was invited to Venice to participate in peace talks with Britain and Portugal.

At this time, the South African War was actually unnecessary to continue, but East Africa is not one to let go until it sees the profit. Before Britain and Portugal cede territory, East Africa will not easily end its new round of offensive against Cape Town.

Chapter 1: Taking Leave

Update in the evening.

Chapter 800: Changes in Venice

Venice.

Venice under the Austro-Hungarian Empire looked far more desolate than before the Italo-Austrian War. Due to the war, Venice suffered the most severe population loss and serious damage to its infrastructure. It has yet to recover from the heavy blow.

Of course, the reward was a more stable rule over the Venice region. During the Italo-Austrian War, hundreds of thousands of Italians went to East Africa, becoming one of the major sources of population in East Africa. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Italians left for other countries and regions due to the war, leaving a large vacuum of population that was filled by Austrians.

At the same time, the nobles and powerful families in the Venice region were also purged by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which enabled Austria’s various population policies to be implemented in Venice. This made it much more difficult for Venice to break away from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the future.

However, compared to neighboring Lombardy, the Venetians were still fortunate. Under the oppression of the Hungarian government, the economy of Lombardy was in a terrible state, and a large number of factory equipment was destroyed or relocated.

The biggest shortcoming of the Hungarian government was its failure to rebuild Lombardy. After all, the biggest obstacle to the entire Austro-Hungarian Empire’s finances was Hungary. There was no possibility of getting Hungary to pay for the construction of Lombardy itself. On the contrary, Lombardy’s taxes were heavier than Venice’s.

After entering the 1880s, with the Austrian government’s investment in Venice and the construction of a railway directly to Vienna, it once again became an important trading port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Of course, Venice was still suppressed by Trieste for the time being, and could only become the second largest port city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This was the result of historical inertia.

“From the current point of view, Venice has already shaken off its economic decline. Many factories in the city have resumed work, or rather, have been rebuilt. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has done a good job in construction here,” East African Foreign Minister Hermann said to von der Leyen, who was traveling with him.

“Now Venice is just restoring its original role during the Austrian Empire. However, Austria is naturally a land power, and even if it acquires Venice, it cannot change the fact that the entire country’s access to the sea is confined to the Adriatic Sea. Of course, this is already the best result for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After all, Venice’s more important role is to suppress the entire Apennine Peninsula and prevent the emergence of a unified Italian state,” von der Leyen analyzed.

“That’s the logic. Speaking of the division of Italy, we were, it seems, also a driving force behind it back then. A large number of Venetians live in cities such as Nairobi, and these people are mainly artisans and agricultural producers. It can be said that we cut off Venice’s foundation back then.”

As veteran East African officials who cooperated with Ernst in undermining Italy, they were quite aware of the immoral things East Africa had done in the Italo-Austrian War.

It can be said that Nairobi’s status as the textile capital was built on the corpse of Venice. At the same time, the East African shipbuilding industry cannot do without the help of Venetians. A large number of Venetians also live in East African shipyards.

“Speaking of which, Venice’s contribution to East Africa’s economic development is indeed not small. Before the war, Venice was a relatively developed region in Italy or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Traditional handicrafts and industry were among the best in the region, but now it is not even as good as Tyrol.”

Tyrol is a southern territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, located in the Alps. It was originally behind Venice. As Venice’s economic foundation was destroyed, its population was greatly lost, and its machinery and equipment were sold off cheaply, it was surpassed by Tyrol. Not to mention compared to neighboring Trieste.

Of course, Venice is poised to surpass Tyrol again. After all, it is superior to Tyrol in terms of transportation, terrain, and other aspects. However, with Trieste ahead, it is currently very difficult to become the largest port in the Austro-Hungarian Empire again.

After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire is not stupid. After suffering a great loss in Venice once, it is destined to continue building the already rising Trieste in the future.

Trieste’s economy must rely on Austria, and it is entirely built by Austria. Unless a war occurs, there is no risk of secession or independence, which can ensure the safety of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s maritime strategy.

Moreover, the crucial point is that Trieste is close to Vienna and other Austrian heartlands, making it easier to control, and the cost is not higher than Venice.

“In contrast, Venice is now developing less well than our city of Nairobi. I remember that in 1880, Nairobi’s population had already exceeded two hundred thousand, while Venice’s urban population has not increased but decreased. Now it may only be a little over one hundred thousand.”

Von der Leyen was naturally not very clear about the specific figures for the population of Venice. However, it was certain that before the Italo-Austrian War, the population of Venice was close to two hundred thousand. In the 1840s and 1850s, the population of Venice had exceeded one hundred and twenty thousand.

And since the 19th century, cities in Europe have been expanding. Especially in recent years, as long as it is a normal country, development has been good. For example, Belgium completed its industrialization during this period. Of course, there are also countries that have declined rapidly, such as Portugal, where military spending has seriously dragged down economic development, and Portugal’s economic situation was already not good.

“I’m afraid many people in Venice are still Austrians. If you calculate it this way, the original Venetians are probably only tens of thousands,” Hermann added.

It is worth mentioning that East Africa’s focus on plundering the population of Venice was not on the urban area of Venice, but on the rural areas within the region.

One was that Venice was under long-term blockade at the time, making immigration work difficult to carry out, and the other was that Ernst deliberately strengthened Austria’s strength.

The natural population growth rate in economically developed areas is generally not very good, especially in Venice, which has been very prosperous since the Middle Ages. At the same time, the public’s education level is also relatively high.

East Africa’s interception of a large number of rural people has further plunged Venice’s natural population growth rate into a low ebb. A large amount of land has been occupied by Austrians, so in the future, the entire population of Venice will slowly shift towards Germans. Coupled with population assimilation policies, it is really possible to achieve the goal of a German Venice.

Of course, East Africa’s plundering of the population in the urban area of Venice was not small either, but it mainly focused on workers and artisans, the two categories. The typical examples are the textile and shipbuilding industries mentioned earlier, which are both technical talents in this era.

Of course, a large number of Venetians also chose to smuggle to South America and other regions via black ships, such as Paraguay.

With the arrival of the East African negotiating delegation, the city of Venice made headlines in European newspapers on this day. Many people began to pay attention to this African country that had defeated Portugal and the British Empire.

Sub-Saharan Africa has always been seen by Europe as a poor, backward, and barbaric land. However, a powerful country established by European colonists was born on this land, which is indeed an interesting topic.

Of course, the Kingdom of Portugal and the British Empire, as the backdrop, certainly do not think so. The status of the East African Kingdom was built on the bones of soldiers from both countries, especially Portugal, which can be said to have lost all face.

European newspapers described it as: “Portugal - a European ‘power’ defeated by a colony!” Portugal’s glorious history and recent events have been exposed, including Brazil’s independence and this South African war, which all show that this country is beyond redemption.

Some malicious editors joked: “Countries like Portugal should be kicked out of the ranks of the civilized world.”

In the eyes of Europeans, the civilized world is naturally Europe. This is also the consensus of the 19th century world. Of course, people from countries outside Europe certainly put their own countries in the same “civilized” ranks as Europe, such as the Indians who flaunted their power in British colonies with the British, Japan, which was eager to “leave Asia and enter Europe,” or East Africa, which promoted the German nation.

Chapter 801: Congratulations

As for whether East Africa was a German state, in reality, many people in both Germany and Austria did not agree. After all, East Africa’s composition was too complex, and it was located on the African continent, naturally at the bottom of the hierarchy of contempt.

However, after the South African War, East Africa was definitely a German state, because the only nation that “could” defeat the Anglo-Saxon people was the German nation.

Although East Africa’s bloodline was “impure,” it had a proper and authentic German royal family, coupled with the dominant position of German culture.

Of course, Ernst’s purpose was merely to use the name of a German state to reap benefits. After all, the African region was indeed too backward, which was not conducive to East Africa’s international exchanges. In essence, Ernst had no fundamental difference from those African tribal chiefs.

…

The Doge’s Palace.

Formerly the Doge’s Palace of Venice, Ernst’s father-in-law, Archduke Ferdinand, had once worked here. This was also the venue for the negotiations between East Africa and Britain and Portugal.

“Welcome to you, Count von der Leyen and Baron Hermann!” Austrian Foreign Minister Count Aehrenthal said to the two.

“Hello, my old friend,” Hermann said to Count Aehrenthal.

As East Africa’s Foreign Minister, Hermann often traveled to Austria on business, so he had established a good personal friendship with Count Aehrenthal.

“This is East Africa’s Finance Minister, Count von der Leyen,” Hermann introduced to Aehrenthal.

In Europe, finance ministers generally held high positions and were often the best candidates for prime minister. Of course, the same was true for foreign ministers. Many prime ministers were appointed from among finance ministers or foreign ministers, a typical example being Bismarck.

Hermann’s words also confirmed von der Leyen’s position in East Africa. Of course, East Africa’s national conditions were special, and there was no position of prime minister. Ernst held all state power, so the position of finance minister was not the same as in Europe.

“Hello, Count von der Leyen, I believe this is our first meeting,” Count Aehrenthal said.

“Indeed, I have not left East Africa since the 1870s, but I am familiar with your reputation,” von der Leyen said to Aehrenthal.

In fact, von der Leyen felt somewhat uncomfortable communicating with Aehrenthal. He had previously been a colonial employee valued by the House of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and becoming a nobleman could be said to be a complete surprise.

Therefore, he was somewhat restrained when communicating with these old European nobles. However, von der Leyen, who had been in a high position for many years, quickly adapted and began to communicate with Aehrenthal.

“This time, East Africa fought a beautiful battle, clean and efficient. After the South African War, you will inevitably have a place in the future world,” Aehrenthal complimented, and of course, this was also the truth.

“Not at all, East Africa is still far behind. The British did not go all out this time. Otherwise, the South African War would probably have fallen into a stalemate. In addition, the Kingdom of Portugal’s strength in the South African War was too weak, which created opportunities for us.”

Having been around a ruler like Ernst for a long time, von der Leyen naturally had some humility. Of course, the statement that the Kingdom of Portugal was too weak was a bit of a humblebrag.

However, Aehrenthal agreed and said, “The Kingdom of Portugal is indeed too backward, always immersed in the glorious history of its ancestors and unwilling to wake up. In all aspects, it cannot keep up with the pace of Europe, so it is inevitable that it will be eliminated.”

As a diplomat, Aehrenthal was very familiar with Portugal’s national conditions. However, the more he understood Portugal, the more he realized that the country was outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Portugal was just a scary name, only able to deceive other backward countries and regions in the world that did not understand the European situation.

“Of course, Portugal is not the focus at all. The British are the main event in this war. Is it convenient to reveal what stage the South African War has reached?” Aehrenthal asked.

This was not a top-secret event, so von der Leyen said, “I am not a military person, but I have a general understanding of the current war situation. Our troops have entered the south of Cape Town. Now, only the western and southern parts of the Cape Town Colony are still under British control.”

The western part of the Cape Town Colony was a desert area, so naturally it was not East Africa’s main target of attack. As for the southern part of Cape Town, although it was small in area, it was the essence of the Cape Town Colony.

“Then are you confident of ending the war within a few months?” Aehrenthal asked curiously.

“If all goes well, it should be within two or three months. Of course, the premise is that Britain does not increase its troops in South Africa,” von der Leyen did not give a definitive answer.

However, even if the British army continued to increase its troops, it would not change the overall situation. Cape Town was too far away from Britain. Cape Town’s location was not as easy to support as Canada.

“That’s very good. What are your psychological expectations for this war? Of course, we are on the same side. His Majesty the Emperor and Crown Prince Ernst have already reached a consensus on this point.”

Franz Joseph I had already communicated with Ernst, so Austria’s support for East Africa was already a consensus between the two countries.

Hermann: “Angola and Mozambique must be incorporated into East Africa. After all, we will not give the Portuguese a third chance to launch a war. As for the Boer Republic, it should be a difficult point. Britain’s main economic interest in South Africa is the diamond mines within the Boer Republic, but we can make appropriate concessions and continue to allow the British to mine diamond mines in Kimberley.”

“What about Cape Town?” Aehrenthal asked.

“Hehe, old friend, you should know that is the British bottom line. They should not give up Cape Town,” Hermann said truthfully.

Aehrenthal nodded and said, “That is the truth. Cape Town concerns Britain’s global strategic security and is an important part of its maritime hegemony. The Royal Navy will definitely not give up control of this important military passage.”

The Royal Navy’s attitude was actually the British government’s attitude. After all, Britain’s interests were all achieved by the Royal Navy, and to maintain the Royal Navy’s advantage, it was necessary to ensure the safety of the Royal Navy’s overseas bases, and Cape Town was undoubtedly an important strategic stronghold that the Royal Navy would not abandon.

Of course, Cape Town’s current status could no longer be compared with the past. With the Suez Canal as an option, Cape Town was destined to be a backup.

In fact, as a maritime passage, Cape Town corresponded to the Drake Passage at the southern tip of South America, but in the past, Cape Town was the main trade route between Asia and Europe, and its economic value was not comparable to the Drake Passage at all.

Even so, Britain had the Falkland Islands as an important strategic stronghold to contain the Drake Passage, so the Royal Navy would not give up the more important Cape Town.

Now, Cape Town’s economic value had been weakened, but it was still a stronghold for Britain to contain East Africa in the future. After all, East Africa’s trade between the east and west coasts could not avoid Cape Town.

At the same time, as a backup, if a major accident occurred in the Suez Canal or the Red Sea, Cape Town could be immediately reactivated by Britain.

Therefore, Cape Town was bound to be Britain’s bottom line. Of course, if East Africa wanted to use force, it could indeed obtain Cape Town, but it would inevitably completely offend Britain.

However, East Africa did not want to fight to the death with Britain, especially in the era of international turmoil at the end of the 19th century. In addition to Britain, there were many other powerful countries in the world.

As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. This was not the result East Africa wanted. As for the South African War, as long as it did not harm Britain’s core interests, it could also give the British government something to show its people at home.

Chapter 802: Argument

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Nine countries, including East Africa, Great Britain, Portugal, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and France, participated in the Venice Conference negotiations. Of course, apart from a few involved parties, the remaining countries were mainly there to make up the numbers. It is worth mentioning that the Boer Republic also sent representatives, but the Boers could only sit in the audience.

Count Allen塔尔伯爵 was responsible for hosting the meeting: “Gentlemen, I am honored that everyone could gather in Venice to participate in this conference on the reconciliation of the South African War. I hope that both sides can sit down and calmly resolve the South African issue and make due contributions to regional peace. Now, let’s first invite the British representative to speak.”

As one of the protagonists of this conference, Britain was undoubtedly the most eye-catching country, and also the most powerful country in the war, so the British were the first to express their opinions, and East Africa naturally would not object.

British Foreign Secretary Salisbury said first: “The South African War is a war that took place in the southern African region. It has lasted for a full year from last year to the present and has not yet ended. The main culprit of this war is the barbaric expansion of the Kingdom of East Africa in southern Africa, which has caused a serious humanitarian disaster in Africa. In areas such as Angola and Mozambique, a large number of people have been displaced or swallowed up by the artillery fire of the East Africans, and tens of thousands of people have lost their lives. Moreover, the Kingdom of East Africa disregards the principle that private property is sacred and inviolable, and has massively encroached on the legitimate property of local people in southern Africa. Therefore, I, on behalf of the British government, strongly condemn the crimes of the Kingdom of Heringen in the war, and the Kingdom of East Africa should pay the price for this…”

Salisbury immediately placed all the blame on East Africa, and pretended to be righteous, as if East Africa had committed war crimes.

Hermann knocked on the table and interrupted Salisbury’s speech: “Your Excellency Salisbury, I know that the defeat in the war has made you feel dissatisfied. This psychological imbalance is understandable, but I cannot ignore any country’s slander against our Kingdom of Heringen.”

Count Hermann and Salisbury have a huge difference in their names for East Africa. The current official name of East Africa is the Kingdom of Heringen, but other countries still use the Kingdom of East Africa as the official name of East Africa according to inertia or future convenience.

Of course, this does not rule out that some countries deliberately do this, after all, if Africa is put aside from pure geographical significance, it is a synonym for barbarism and uncivilization in the world.

Salisbury, without blushing at all, said to Hermann, who interrupted him: “I am just objectively describing what the East African army has done in southern Africa. After all, now Angola, Mozambique, Orange, and even Cape Town have fallen into the clutches of your East Africa. You know best what you have done there.”

Although what Salisbury said was biased, it was not wrong. Humanitarian disaster, if black people had “human rights,” then that was indeed the case, but this was not just a problem for East Africa. After all, Britain itself started with the black slave trade, and the colonial governments of various countries in Africa were accomplices, and they did not regard the African natives as human beings at all.

As for infringing on “private property,” that is even more ridiculous. It is only allowed for Britain and Portugal to plunder Africa, and East Africa is not allowed to snatch food from the tiger’s mouth. This is the same as the saying “the magistrate is allowed to burn down houses, while the common people are not allowed to light lamps.”

In essence, Britain and Portugal, and even the Boers, are all latecomers, who have obtained wealth through the plunder of black people. Even the black people (Bantu people) themselves are plundering the San people. Therefore, East Africa is just robbing robbers, and is no different from these southern African colonists.

Of course, knowing it in their hearts is one thing, the East African government will definitely not admit it. Hermann also learned from Salisbury’s way and said shamelessly: “Your Excellency Salisbury, the military discipline of our East African army is very strict, unlike the armies of some countries in southern Africa, which are like bandits, and even do not spare the crops in the fields of farmers.”

The military discipline of East Africa is much stronger than that of Britain and other countries in the current era, and the little wealth that Britain and Portugal have in South Africa, to be honest, is not even enough for East Africa’s military expenditure. As for the land in South Africa, which is slightly valuable, it does not go into the pockets of ordinary people, but is confiscated.

Of course, it is feasible for East African soldiers to hide some small objects, but Angola and Mozambique do not have much wealth, but are just places that have been continuously drained by Portugal, so each person cannot get much when divided.

Compared with the East African Defense Forces, the British and Portuguese armies are the real soldier-bandits. It’s just that Ernst had been guarding against them for a long time, and had hardly deployed any industries in southern Africa, so except for the serious damage to New Hamburg Port City in the war, East Africa’s losses in other areas were almost negligible.

Moreover, even the losses in New Hamburg Port were mainly due to destruction. The only advantage that the Allied Forces could take was the farmland that East Africa did not have time to destroy, which provided convenience for the Allied Forces’ food sources. However, some of the food crops in New Hamburg Port City were actually imported from the east, and the planting industry itself was not very developed.

“Hehe, Count Hermann, your so-called strict military discipline is just empty words. Our British Empire has a long history, and the excellent traditions of the army are simply incomparable to your East Africa, a country with only a few decades of history. Everyone present will definitely agree with my point of view. In comparison, the British Empire’s army pays more attention to the spirit of chivalry, while your East African Defense Forces are good at opportunism.” Salisbury said.

However, the other countries present actually agreed with Salisbury’s words. Although East Africa’s military strength is not weak, everyone subconsciously compares East Africa with Prussia. After all, they are both thugs of the Hohenzollern family, and their styles should be similar.

Of course, this is also a stereotype of European armies towards Prussia. After several reforms in recent years, the Prussian army is no longer what it used to be.

The East African Defense Forces did “not talk about martial ethics” in the war, and East Africa cannot refute this, because Ernst himself does not pay much attention to it.

The “chivalrous” spirit advocated by European armies is, in Ernst’s view, simply a product of pointless moaning. As long as the army can win battles, Ernst does not care what tactics are used.

Moreover, the military commanders of the East African army are basically from civilian backgrounds, and it is impossible for them to be as “exquisite” as those European military nobles.

“Hehe, let’s not argue about this point first. As far as the war is concerned, the Allied Forces took the lead in launching the war. This is an indisputable fact. Therefore, from the beginning, this war was unjust, and as the initiators of the war, the British and Portuguese governments themselves are the main culprits. For us in East Africa, this war is entirely a war of self-defense and national defense, which is also the main reason for your failure in the South African War.” Count Hermann said aggressively.

The initiators of the war actually include East Africa, but the Allied Forces took the first step, which coincides with East Africa’s national strategy.

But it was bad luck for the Allied Forces. If they had launched the war even two months later, then the main culprit of the war would have become East Africa.

Of course, East Africa launched the war against Portugal and the Boers. East Africa could not directly challenge Britain. Britain’s participation in the war was entirely a case of being too greedy.

Chapter 803: Threat

Salisbury was unable to refute Herman’s words. The war was indeed initiated by Britain, which essentially defined Britain as the primary responsible party for the war. However, this did not prevent Salisbury from blaming East Africa.

“The original intention of our British to launch this war was entirely to maintain regional peace and stability. East Africa itself is the most unstable factor in Africa. From the time the Hechengen Kingdom opened its first colony to the present, East Africa’s land area has directly expanded to tens of thousands of square kilometers. Therefore, your East African Kingdom is the most evil country in the history of Africa. These lands were all snatched from the hands of the natives, which is more like the Russians…” Salisbury said without restraint.

“Ahem…” The representative of Tsarist Russia, Cherstvsky, expressed his dissatisfaction with an unsightly expression. As expected, the British could only utter foul words.

Salisbury also realized his gaffe and hurriedly changed the subject, saying, “Of course, although Russia has vast land, Russia itself has a ‘long’ history, while East Africa has only taken decades to acquire these lands. It can be said to be the most aggressive country in the world.”

Judging from the results alone, Salisbury was completely correct. East Africa is indeed a relatively greedy country. Of course, in other words, there is no problem with saying that Ernst is greedy.

However, there are very few countries or politicians in this world who are not greedy. Ernst seized the opportunity of the times. Since he had the ability to annex so much land but let it go, it would simply be letting down Ernst’s ambition. Heaven gives, but one does not take, one will be blamed.

Just like Angola and Mozambique now, if East Africa doesn’t get them, it will create obstacles for East Africa in all aspects.

Herman: “Your Excellency Salisbury, this is a complete slander against our Hechengen Kingdom. All countries have expansionist behavior in Africa, especially you British. In the north, you have Egypt, in the east, you have British Somaliland, in the south, you have Cape Town, and in the west, you have the Gold Coast. Moreover, from a global perspective, Britain is the country that occupies the most colonies in the world, especially India, Australia, Canada, and so on. Regardless of population, economy, politics, or military, Britain’s expansion is the most exaggerated in the world. Does the same principle mean that East Africa is greedy and aggressive, then is Britain spreading the seeds of civilization?”

“Well said.” The representatives of other countries thought so in their hearts.

As the world’s hegemon, there are many countries that are hostile to Britain, especially the countries present, except for Portugal and the Boers, can be said to be chess players in world politics, and have long coveted the assets of the British Empire. There are also some who simply have feuds with the British, such as the Russians.

Cherstvsky completely agreed with Herman’s words. These British guys were originally a bunch of pirates, and they still have the face to accuse great Russia.

Of course, Cherstvsky was also quite jealous of East Africa. Russia desperately expanded in order to obtain access to the sea, while the small Hechengen royal family only used such a short period of time to expand so much land. It’s simply infuriating to compare people to each other.

There were quite a few people who had the same idea as Cherstvsky, but the overall feeling of everyone towards East Africa was not jealousy at first, but annoyance, regretting that they started too late. If even one country present had competed with East Africa at the same time, wouldn’t it have had a greater advantage than the small Hechengen royal family?

Unfortunately, it was too late. By the time of the Berlin Conference, eastern and southern Africa were basically settled, and there were too many competitors in West and North Africa. This shows the importance of seizing the opportunity.

Of course, it is not too late to exert efforts now. West and North Africa are not small in area, and they are much richer than East and South Africa. This is what the representatives of various countries are thinking.

Of course, Russia and Austria-Hungary are exceptions. The geographical locations of Russia and Austria-Hungary are destined to have no connection with Africa, especially the West African region. Now Tsarist Russia is still blocked in the small Black Sea and Baltic Sea. The primary task is to expand in Eurasia, rather than going all the way to West Africa to show off. Austria-Hungary is mainly due to domestic political reasons, and the central location is easily constrained.

Herman’s words greatly stimulated Salisbury, and he said to Herman: “You East African swine, we British are messengers of civilization, and we are going to change those uncivilized and barbaric lands. You barbarians cannot understand this.”

“Ahem…” Earl Ellenthal said: “Your Excellency Salisbury, please do not make personal attacks casually. Everyone present is a decent person. If you want to vent your emotions, you can return to your hotel after the meeting. Don’t do this in public areas, it will seem very lacking in public morality.”

Earl Ellenthal’s words were simply adding fuel to the fire, but good medicine tastes bitter, and Salisbury had to behave a little more “gentlemanly”, and then sat upright on the armchair again.

However, everyone could see from his flushed face that he was holding back very uncomfortably, probably very angry.

As the host of the meeting, Ellenthal brought the topic of the meeting back to the right track: “Personal grievances and negative emotions will affect your judgment. We are here to solve problems, not to argue for the sake of arguing. Therefore, the representatives of the two countries should quickly reach a consensus on how to resolve the war.”

Salisbury, who had already calmed down, said decisively: “Our British attitude is very clear. East Africa withdraws its troops, restores the pre-war borders between the two sides, and East Africa must compensate us for our losses in the war.”

Von der Leyen spoke at this time, and he said: “Hehe, Earl Salisbury, Britain launched the war, which is destined to pay the price, and your request is simply like the victor of the war, and I don’t think Britain is at an advantage in the war. After all, the Defense Force is less than four hundred kilometers away from Cape Town.”

Salisbury retorted: “Don’t think that East Africa has taken a firm hold of us. We British just haven’t exerted our strength. Defeating East Africa is as simple as drinking water for the Imperial Army. It’s just that for a poor country like East Africa, even if we win with great effort, I’m afraid it won’t be able to make up for our military expenditure losses.”

“The reason why you were able to escape a disaster is entirely because of the remote geographical location, but this shortcoming is not important in the eyes of the Royal Navy. As long as you make a slight move, you can reverse the situation.”

Regarding Salisbury’s tough attitude, Herman directly threatened: “Our Hechengen Kingdom does not rely on this or that excuse to fight, but on real ability. Now we have a total of more than 60,000 British prisoners of war in our hands. They can fully explain the status of the two sides in the war. At the same time, Angola and Mozambique, Orange, Northern Cape Town, and Eastern Cape Town all show that we East Africa are not afraid of war and have the ability to win this war.”

Earl Herman’s words can be said to have dropped a bombshell. The situation regarding the number of British prisoners of war is actually only clear to East Africa, but everyone thought that tens of thousands of British people were captured by East Africa.

Some people even suspected whether Indians were also counted in it. After all, capturing tens of thousands of British troops is almost “impossible” to complete.

Even Salisbury himself couldn’t believe it when he first heard the news, but he didn’t dare to deny it directly. If it was true, it would be troublesome for Britain.

Chapter 1: Taking a Leave of Absence

Evening.

Chapter 804: A Lion’s Opening

The British prisoners of war were the leverage for the East African negotiations, and when this card was played by Hermann, everyone present, especially the major colonial powers like Britain and France, felt it deeply. Of course, Britain was completely deflated, while the French were secretly gloating.

During the colonial wars of the 19th century, colonialists often achieved considerable gains with only a small number of troops.

For example, before East Africa, the Portuguese had a total force of less than ten thousand in Angola and Mozambique.

The most exaggerated case was the British East India Company’s conquest of India in the 18th century, which was achieved with only less than a thousand native troops and about two thousand mercenaries. Even in the 19th century, the total number of British troops stationed in India did not exceed ten thousand.

The British can be said to have replicated Wang Xuan Ce’s conquest of India in the Tang Dynasty. Although the number of British troops was small, they formed a large number of puppet troops, mostly Indians.

Closer to the present, in the war between Britain, France, and the Far Eastern Empire in the 1950s, the total force was only five thousand six hundred people.

Of course, the war with the Far Eastern Empire had great unexpected factors. First of all, the Far Eastern Empire did not have sea power at that time, and its capital was close to the coast.

Before the British invasion, the Far Eastern Empire had only one trading port in Guangzhou, which was “single-port trade.” This was significantly different from East Africa. In the early days, East Africa also had only one trading port in Dar es Salaam, but East Africa itself had poor natural geographical conditions and lacked good ports.

After East Africa transformed many coastal bays, it formed the current coastal city pattern, typically including Bagamoyo and Mombasa.

Before East Africa, both places were truly barren lands. Bagamoyo had a population of only a few hundred people (historically, the population of Bagamoyo was only about one thousand in 1880). Mombasa was slightly better, but under the rule of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, it was only a small town because it was far from the core area of the Sultanate of Zanzibar (Zanzibar Island and the area around Dar es Salaam).

European colonizers often only needed a few regiments of troops to easily capture a country and large areas, but East Africa obviously broke this “common sense.”

Britain had actually “overestimated” East Africa as much as possible before the war. First of all, East Africa’s naval strength was among the best in the world, and secondly, East Africa’s weapons and equipment were basically on par with European levels. Therefore, before the war with East Africa, British Prime Minister Cecil treated the war with East Africa with almost the “maximum possible” effort.

However, the facts proved that they still seriously underestimated East Africa’s war potential. The capture of tens of thousands of British troops was almost the greatest humiliation the British army had faced since the 19th century.

Of course, Britain’s determination to use so many troops to attack East Africa at once was closely related to East Africa’s rapid economic development. Although East Africa was “closed,” the economic situation in the coastal areas was visible to the naked eye. Coupled with the prosperity of trade, the density of ships on the East African routes, and Britain’s control of the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca, Britain itself could obtain a lot of East Africa’s import and export data. Therefore, the South African War was essentially driven by profit.

Hermann continued to demand an exorbitant price, saying, “Currently, there are more than two hundred and seventy thousand British and Indian prisoners of war. Considering the cost of feeding and housing these prisoners in East Africa, as well as compensation for East Africa’s economic losses and military expenditures, Britain should compensate our country eighty-two million pounds.”

As soon as Hermann said this, the whole place was in an uproar. Not only Britain, but also Austria-Hungary, Germany, France, and others couldn’t hold back.

It should be known that the entire Franco-Prussian War only saw France pay Prussia an indemnity of fifty billion francs, which at the time was about two hundred million pounds.

East Africa was demanding eighty-two million pounds from Britain at once, which was almost half the war reparations of the Franco-Prussian War, and close to Britain’s annual revenue. In 1888, Britain’s total annual revenue was about ninety million pounds.

And this was far from over. While everyone was shocked, East Africa continued to demand an exorbitant price. Hermann did not forget Portugal, sharing the spoils, saying, “Portugal should also compensate our country forty-eight million pounds. This is after our country considered the financial difficulties and combat effectiveness of the Kingdom of Portugal and gave them special preferential treatment. Otherwise, if the price of Portuguese soldiers were calculated according to British soldiers, this number would be tripled.”

This sentence not only made the Portuguese representative’s heart beat faster, but also deeply humiliated him. East Africa was directly pointing out Portugal’s low combat effectiveness.

“Count Hermann, you East Africans are going too far! Even if you sell the entire Angola and Mozambique as a package, it’s not worth forty million Reais (Portuguese currency), let alone pounds!” The Portuguese representative asked before Salisbury could.

Hermann smiled harmlessly, “Mr. Gels, don’t be anxious. There is a reason for our calculation. We captured a total of more than one hundred and twenty thousand Portuguese soldiers in this war. If each Portuguese soldier is calculated as one-third of a British soldier, which is fifty pounds, that would be six million pounds. And this is just the ransom for the Portuguese soldiers. We also captured more than three hundred thousand Portuguese auxiliary troops. Just the cost of feeding and housing these prisoners for the past few months, even if we give a 50% discount, that’s still an astronomical figure.

Moreover, the damage caused by Portuguese soldiers to our western and central provinces is almost devastating, causing millions of residents to be displaced and almost all infrastructure to be destroyed. At the same time, the Hechingen warriors who sacrificed to defend their homes and country must also receive compensation and pensions. So, is forty-eight million pounds too much? Our Kingdom of Hechingen has actually suffered serious losses. If it weren’t for considering Portugal’s economic level and the fact that Portuguese soldiers are not as destructive as British soldiers, you should be the ones paying the most.”

According to Hermann, Portugal was actually paying less. Of course, the accounts definitely couldn’t be calculated like this. First of all, Hermann’s so-called millions of people was a number conjured out of thin air. If it were black people, it would be reasonable, but black people obviously couldn’t be counted as East African population.

Secondly, East Africa had hardly developed in the west, so the so-called serious damage to infrastructure was also a completely fabricated situation. After all, most places in the west didn’t even have a “hair.”

Finally, there was the calculation of the Portuguese army. Would Portugal treat the more than three hundred thousand black auxiliary troops as “people”? Obviously not, let alone pay ransom for these black people.

Therefore, what could actually be cashed out were the one hundred and twenty thousand Portuguese native soldiers. The six million pounds ransom was actually enough for East Africa to recoup its costs. Based on Portugal’s economic situation, it would probably be difficult to even scrape together six million pounds. The forty-eight million pounds that East Africa demanded was just a tripling of the amount based on including black people as Portuguese.

Six million pounds was not a small amount, but Portugal could bear it with great difficulty. Forty-eight million pounds, however, would directly take the Portuguese government’s life.

There was no doubt that as long as Portugal accepted this figure, it would not be able to recover in the next fifty years and would completely become a third-rate European country.

France was rich and powerful, while Portugal had been living off its past. Moreover, Portugal had a small land area and a small population. If it compensated according to this amount, basically every Portuguese person would have to bear a debt of about fifteen pounds. At this time, the monthly salary of most British workers had not exceeded ten pounds. The Portuguese, with their poorer economic situation, would have to work for at least two or three months without eating or drinking to pay off East Africa’s debt. Moreover, the salary level of ordinary Portuguese people could only barely support their families. Therefore, the Portuguese government would definitely not agree to East Africa’s conditions.

Chapter 805: Asking an Exorbitant Price, Bargaining on the Spot

“Earl Hermann, you’re practically asking for the moon! Even if we sold the Portuguese government, we couldn’t afford such an astronomical sum. And frankly, given the economic state of Angola and Mozambique, we’ve been operating at a loss for years. They’re like bottomless pits, and their debt problems are already difficult to solve. Do you really think we’d kowtow to East Africa for the sake of those two places?” the Portuguese representative said, his face flushed.

Hermann said shamelessly, “Of course not, Mr. Gels. We don’t care how Portugal manages Angola and Mozambique. After all, East Africa is a peace-loving nation, but that doesn’t mean we’re easily bullied. The outcome of this war is the result of Portugal overestimating its own strength. You clearly didn’t learn your lesson from the last war. The Portuguese government was the instigator of both wars, which fully demonstrates that the South African War was entirely your own fault.”

“And don’t be so quick to deny it. It’s only reasonable to demand compensation for the enormous losses that your acts of war have inflicted on East Africa. If you want to go over the accounts, the total will only increase. After all, we’ve already removed a large portion of the compensation for you.”

Hermann’s words were completely turning black into white, but the guilty Gels couldn’t refute him. However, he felt more aggrieved and stifled. Portugal’s defeat was a fact, but the compensation shouldn’t be as exorbitant as East Africa was demanding.

So Gels retorted, “Your land in western East Africa is just a pile of worthless dirt, not worth much at all. As for the so-called million displaced people, everyone knows those uncivilized Africans have no fixed abode to begin with. And I doubt you even consider them your own people normally. So East Africa’s demands are nothing more than extortion against the Kingdom of Portugal.”

Hermann countered, “That’s not right. First of all, it’s our East African civilians who have suffered from the war. Furthermore, does Portugal’s army of over three hundred thousand black soldiers not count as part of the Portuguese army just because they have dark skin?”

“Our Portuguese army has no black people at all…” Gels tried to distance Portugal from black people at this point. From the moment of defeat, they were already destined to be abandoned by Portugal.

But Hermann would not agree to reduce the war guilt by doing this: “Mr. Gels, you wouldn’t say that these black people found their weapons in the African jungle. The armament of over three hundred thousand people is all genuine Portuguese production. There’s no denying that. And as a former Portuguese-ruled region, these black people are themselves Portuguese. Since they raised their guns at the Black Xinggen Kingdom with the weapons you provided, shouldn’t this debt be counted on your head!”

After a pause, Hermann continued sarcastically, “Could it be that these black people aren’t wearing Portuguese uniforms, or that they have the ability to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people themselves and learn to produce standard Portuguese military weapons?”

“You… I… you…” Gels wanted to say that Hermann was slandering him, but he thought that East Africa would definitely be able to produce ample evidence. After all, East Africa had as many as tens of thousands of Portuguese prisoners in its hands.

From the beginning, Gels was in a passive position. After all, Portugal was inherently in the wrong, fought poorly, and was weak, so it had no ability to contend with East Africa.

“Alright, Earl Hermann, I think the issue of Portugal should be put aside first. After all, Portugal’s economy simply cannot satisfy your greedy appetite. I would advise you to have a bottom line in life, and so should a country. East Africa may not have such good teeth.”

Salisbury helped Gels out of the predicament at this time. Other countries were watching the show, so Britain had to pull Portugal along. As an ally, Britain’s help to Portugal on this occasion and at this time was helping itself.

After all, East Africa really wanted to take it. More than eighty million pounds. Britain’s expenditure in the entire South African War was about this number. If they admitted it, Britain’s losses would be directly close to two hundred million pounds, which was no different from France losing the Franco-Prussian War.

Of course, Salisbury also understood that the real purpose of the East African government represented by Earl Hermann was definitely not this.

The British had played the trick of asking an exorbitant price and bargaining on the spot many times. It was just that the British’s previous enemies knew that they were at a great disadvantage, but they could only swallow their teeth and swallow them into their stomachs.

Unexpectedly, the tables have turned, and Britain has also encountered this problem. But Britain is the world’s hegemon, would it be afraid of East Africa’s “extortion”!

Salisbury said, “Earl Hermann, East Africa has indeed temporarily gained an advantage in the war, but this is not the capital for your unreasonable demands. The British Empire has not been serious at all. As for the so-called sixty thousand prisoners, this is just your word. As we all know, there are also many white people in India. Perhaps it is difficult to distinguish them. You can’t just throw the blame on us because you say so casually.”

At the first time, Salisbury still had to deny the fact that East Africa had captured British troops, after all, the South African War was too bad, and it had too negative impact on Britain’s international image, especially it would set a bad example for other colonies.

He continued, “As for some series of requirements such as the so-called economic losses, they are also suspicious. As we all know, the African continent is a barren land. East Africa’s history in East Africa is only twenty or thirty years. Especially the development of southern East Africa is pitifully low, so eighty million pounds of war reparations is definitely unreasonable.”

Earl Hermann said, “Hehe, our calculations are all reasonable, and the bulk of the war reparations calculation is actually concentrated on the prisoners and military expenditure. As for the number of British troops, I think we can still distinguish between Indians and British people.”

“Well, do you want to challenge the bottom line of the British Empire! Our country is indeed slightly inferior in terms of the army, after all, there is not much military expenditure, but the majesty of the Royal Navy is not to be challenged. If East Africa continues to be obsessed, I think East Africa will regret today’s aggressiveness!”

As Salisbury’s words fell, the atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense. Salisbury was not afraid of Hermann’s extortion at all. As for the safety of the captured British soldiers, it was completely insignificant compared with the interests of the British Empire.

At this time, Earl Ellentall, as the host, had to come out to mediate: “Lord Salisbury, don’t be excited, there is nothing that can’t be discussed. At this time, don’t be impulsive. Everyone should take a step back to solve the problem.”

“Humph!” Salisbury snorted coldly and said, “Although we British are rich, we won’t pay a penny to the East African pigs. If you have the strength, go to London to get it. I’m afraid you don’t have the guts.”

Hearing this, Von der Leyen couldn’t sit still, and he also said in a tough tone: “In that case, our Black Xinggen Kingdom will not compromise. The war will continue until our losses are reasonably compensated. At that time, we hope you can be so tough in the areas bordering East Africa, such as British Somaliland and Egypt.”

Seeing that the situation was a bit out of control, Ellentall hurriedly said: “The two of you, calm down. We are not going to expand the situation. Today, both sides are affected by personal emotions, which is obviously not suitable for further debate. So the meeting will be adjourned temporarily, and we will reconvene after both sides calm down.”

As he said, Earl Ellentall winked at Von der Leyen and Hermann, telling them to take what they could get and not cause more trouble. East Africa had already gained a bit of an advantage today, so don’t add more trouble.

Chapter 806: Big Things Done in a “Small Meeting”

“The meeting is adjourned. I wish you all a pleasant time in Venice.” Count Aerenthal concluded with a final word.

Subsequently, everyone began to leave, but the main players, the Eastern African and British representatives, were asked to stay behind by Aerenthal.

“Gentlemen, please hold on a moment. Although there were no concrete results in the meeting, I have a general understanding of both sides’ situations. Would you be interested in gathering at my estate tonight?” Aerenthal invited the representatives of Eastern Africa and Great Britain.

Hermann and Von der Leyen had originally planned to ask Aerenthal about the situation after the meeting. Now that Aerenthal intended to bring Britain into the fold, it was clear that Aerenthal had something in mind.

The two exchanged glances, and then after Von der Leyen nodded affirmatively, Hermann said, “Of course, it would be an honor.”

Salisbury also said, “Very well, I will accept the invitation out of respect for you.”

From beginning to end, Aerenthal did not invite Portugal or the Boers, because these two countries were not the main players in the South African War, or rather, their strength did not reach the level that Aerenthal valued. If it had been Portugal of the previous century, Aerenthal might have been interested in courting them, but now Portugal’s last pair of pants had been taken by East Africa.

Therefore, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was full of contempt for Portugal, but Aerenthal, as a diplomat, did not show it. Most of the attendees felt the same way.

Of course, the only comforting thing was that Britain was also in an unfavorable situation in East Africa, which made Portugal seem to have some strength after all. After all, Britain, as the world’s leading power, could not always find excuses.

Afterwards, the group took carriages towards Aerenthal’s estate on the outskirts of Venice.

At this time, it was already eleven o’clock in Venice, and the sky was beginning to darken. Many people noticed Aerenthal’s group leaving alone, including the Portuguese.

This made the Portuguese representative, Gels, feel dissatisfied and nervous. This was not good news, because if Portugal was excluded, it was hard to say how Britain would negotiate.

Now Britain’s situation in South Africa was very awkward. If the British decided to sacrifice Portuguese interests to negotiate with East Africa, it was entirely possible, and if the British did so, Portugal would really have no chance of recovery.

Aerenthal and the others, who had already left, had no intention of paying attention to Gels’ petty thoughts. This was the sorrow of a “weak country.” Losing to East Africa twice had completely confirmed Portugal’s status as a weak country. The previous conference to divide West Africa still included Portugal, but it would be hard to say in the future.

At night, Venice had already begun to enter its nightlife. As one of the most prosperous cities in Europe, even if it had declined due to war, Venice was still a very charming city.

The taverns were filled with noisy sounds, and workers who had just finished their night shifts were drowning their sorrows here. Factories operated day and night in the streets and alleys, and black, foul-smelling sewage was discharged directly into the canals of Venice.

Thanks to the investment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Venice’s economy had begun to improve. As an important textile center, factories received a steady stream of orders, most of which came from within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In the past, Venice was just an economic colony bled dry by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire, having regained Venice, had obviously changed its previous policies.

In fact, this was easy to understand. The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s industry was mainly concentrated in the Bohemia region, and to be honest, if Ernst were the ruler of that country, he would definitely not be at ease.

Just like in the previous life, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dismantled, more than seventy percent of the military industry and at least sixty percent of the large-scale industry directly became independent with Czechoslovakia and separated from Austria.

This was also an important reason why Ernst concentrated East Africa’s industry in Matabeleland Province. The central area always made people feel more at ease. Of course, from an economic point of view, the coastal areas were definitely more cost-effective.

“Count Von der Leyen, Count Hermann, and Lord Salisbury, in fact, the South African War is not a complicated issue. For all of us, what should be certain now is that both countries want to stop the war. On this basis, both sides might as well put forward their true opinions and talk calmly. Anyway, there are no outsiders present now. This is not a formal meeting.”

Even though Aerenthal said so, in reality, the four-person meeting had already begun to determine the resolution of the South African situation. If everyone present agreed, then the subsequent meeting would at most be a formality.

However, as Aerenthal’s words fell, neither side spoke, but instead stared at each other, and the atmosphere cooled down.

At this time, it was time for Count Aerenthal to play his role again. He said to Lord Salisbury, “Lord Salisbury, what are the bottom lines for you British? Why not lay them out first, and the Kingdom of Hexingen representative can evaluate them. That is the attitude to resolve the South African War.”

“Humph!” Salisbury said unhappily, “Our British attitude is very simple. As the losing side in the war, Portugal can compensate East Africa for its losses by ceding some land to East Africa, but East Africa cannot annex Angola and Mozambique. Secondly, the Boer Republic must be preserved. Finally, the East African Defense Forces must withdraw from Cape Town and Natal.”

Von der Leyen said, “Your Excellency’s ideas are a bit too naive. It is impossible for our Hexingen to allow Portugal’s colonies in southern Africa to continue to exist. After all, we have suffered twice. If we continue to retain the Portuguese colonies, I am afraid there will be a third war between Portugal and the Kingdom, and the damage caused by the war to the Kingdom is enormous.”

There was nothing wrong with Von der Leyen’s words. As the “initiator” of the two wars, Portugal should at least be held responsible for its actions on the surface.

However, Aerenthal also heard the part that could be mediated between the two, that is, Britain did not value Portugal too much, and East Africa’s primary goal was Portugal’s colonies and was determined to obtain them. This should also be East Africa’s bottom line. Of course, it was easy to persuade the British to give up Portugal. You could make it up to the British in other ways.

This was also easy to solve. After all, the South African War was not limited to Portugal’s two colonies. The core interests of the British were Cape Town and the Boer Republic.

If East Africa had not achieved military victories in these two places, it would be hard to say, but now the Boer Republic and Natal had fallen, and Cape Town was at its last gasp.

Aerenthal said, “In that case, Portugal is indeed a detrimental factor in disrupting regional stability. On this point, I agree with Count Von der Leyen’s opinion.”

“Of course…” Aerenthal changed his tone and said, “If it’s just like this, it is unreasonable for Portugal. After all, Portugal still has to bear huge war reparations. East Africa certainly cannot take the land and at the same time demand that the already indebted Portuguese government pay such an astronomical figure.”

“However, Portugal’s defeat in the war is a foregone conclusion, so the territory is East Africa’s due. It’s just that East Africa should be more lenient on war reparations and offer reasonable terms based on Portugal’s economic level.”

Regarding this point, Von der Leyen said, “Out of respect for you, we can reduce the amount of war reparations, but it is absolutely impossible for us to give up Angola and Mozambique.”

“We can give up eight million pounds in war losses, but forty million is the minimum. After all, the expenses of this war have plunged East Africa into a long-term economic stagnation. The losses in national production and military casualties far exceed this figure.”

Chapter 807: A World Where Only Portugal Gets Hurt

Even Allen Tharr, who was biased towards East Africa, twitched at Ursula von der Leyen’s shameless words.

However, judging solely from the scale of the war, East Africa’s demands were entirely reasonable. If the scale of the South African War had occurred on the European continent, it would have ranked among the top conflicts.

But Africa is Africa, and Europe is Europe. Allen Tharr was certain that the losses caused by the South African War were less than those caused by Austria’s war against Venice back then. After all, Venice itself was a major European city, and even its surrounding economy was strong. In contrast, the main battlefields of the South African War were mostly barren lands, forests, and grasslands. Even if the war dragged on for ten years without entering East Africa’s core areas, it wouldn’t have a significant impact on Africa.

Nevertheless, Allen Tharr could only say, “Alright, East Africa’s demands are considered reasonable. However, whether the Portuguese can accept this price is something we won’t discuss for now. Our main focus should be on the issues of the Boer Republic, Cape Town, and Natal. Regarding these areas, Madam von der Leyen, East Africa should make appropriate concessions to Britain. After all, it’s impossible for East Africa to have all the good things.”

He placed special emphasis on the word “concessions,” as Lord Salisbury hadn’t spoken yet, which already indicated his attitude to some extent.

Ursula von der Leyen said understandingly, “The conflict with Britain is actually just a misunderstanding between the two countries. Historically, we haven’t had many serious disagreements with Britain. Therefore, East Africa is willing to respect Britain, but only on the condition that Britain doesn’t harm our interests.”

Count von der Leyen had already taken the initiative to offer a way out, and now it was Lord Salisbury’s turn to speak.

In fact, during the conversation between the two just now, Lord Salisbury had already realized that East Africa was determined to acquire Portugal’s colonies. No matter how much Britain did, it couldn’t make the East African government compromise on the issue of annexing Portuguese colonies.

Since that was the case, he couldn’t continue using the Portuguese issue to stall East Africa. This wouldn’t end the war, and for Britain, continuing the South African War would only result in greater losses.

Therefore, Lord Salisbury said, “Britain has its own plans for the Portuguese issue, but we certainly won’t favor the main culprit of the South African War.”

The statements of von der Leyen and Salisbury directly equated to pinning the blame for the South African War on Portugal, who was just “passing by.” One wonders if the Portuguese would cry themselves to death if they knew.

“We are now more concerned with Cape Town and its surrounding areas. Our attitude towards Cape Town and Natal has been consistent from beginning to end: they are sacred and inviolable parts of the British Empire. As for the Boer Republic, we also have significant interests there.”

Lord Salisbury basically laid out Britain’s bottom line, which was the integrity of British territory and the existence of the Boer Republic’s interests.

Ursula von der Leyen said at the right moment, “We can guarantee Britain’s relevant interests in Orange, including the safety of British merchants’ property in Kimberley, and the right to continue developing and utilizing existing developed mines in Orange, of course, on the premise of complying with our country’s laws.”

Lord Salisbury frowned and said, “The Boer Republic is, after all, a legitimate government, so it’s best to maintain it.”

In contrast, von der Leyen said with a smile, “The Boers originally lived around Cape Town. Now, it’s also good for them to return to Cape Town. As for the Boer Republic, it has long existed in name only. In the past few months, most Boers, apart from the rebels and their families who have fled, have automatically joined East African citizenship. We have already established government institutions in Orange in fact.”

“Hmph, that’s just your one-sided statement. What if they were threatened by you?”

“Of course not, Lord Salisbury, don’t be anxious. Let me explain in detail. Orange originally had a population of only a little over three hundred thousand, and some of them have already fled to Cape Town. East Africa, including the Boers we obtained as prisoners of war, only has about one hundred and seventy thousand. Currently, one hundred and thirty thousand of these one hundred and seventy thousand people have been assigned to various regions within our country. Even if we wanted to let the Boers return to Orange, it would no longer be possible.”

Von der Leyen’s words were clear: the Boer Republic had completely ceased to exist in name and in fact, and it was impossible for East Africa to spit it out again.

Von der Leyen continued, “The Orange River is the natural border between the two countries. The Orange region should be the natural boundary between East Africa and Britain. In addition, our country can withdraw its troops to the area north of the Orange River, and the Natal colony can also restore the pre-war border between the two countries. Of course, as a goodwill gesture from East Africa, we can also appropriately reduce our demands for war reparations from Britain.”

“Heh, you don’t really expect the Empire to compensate you, do you?” Lord Salisbury sneered.

Von der Leyen’s words sounded like surrender in Lord Salisbury’s ears. Britain had never compensated any country for war losses before.

“Britain has paid a huge price to protect its national interests, including more than ninety million pounds in expenses for the army and navy. We’re already giving East Africa face by not asking you for war reparations, and that doesn’t even include the losses suffered by South African cities like Durban and East London,” Lord Salisbury said.

At this time, Allen Tharr said, “Regarding the issue of war reparations, I think East Africa can demand them from the Portuguese government. Of course, the British government should also make some concessions. I think the two countries should restore their borders after the ceasefire, and East Africa should provide some compensation to Britain.”

After summarizing the opinions of both parties, Allen Tharr presented a third plan.

Von der Leyen then asked, “We compensate the British?”

As the victorious side in the war, East Africa naturally couldn’t understand this. After all, Britain still had more than sixty thousand hostages in East African hands, so it seemed that East Africa was in a dominant position.

“It’s best to spare people when you can. Britain didn’t exert much effort in this war, and East Africa has already gained so much land. The British government also needs to have something to show its people at home, so this is a good way to resolve the war,” Allen Tharr said.

“Of course, this is definitely unfair to East Africa, but I have a perfect plan. I wonder what the two of you think? That is, Portugal’s war reparations can be completely paid by Britain. In this way, Britain can get the money, but it’s borne by the Portuguese government, while East Africa gets the land. Both sides can get what they want.”

Allen Tharr completely confused the representatives of East Africa and Britain. Then, Allen Tharr explained his idea in detail.

That is, East Africa is the victor of the South African War, and Portugal has to cede land and pay reparations. East Africa gets the Portuguese land, and Britain gets the reparations. Of course, on the surface, this money is definitely paid to East Africa, but East Africa and Britain sign a private agreement that East Africa doesn’t pay a penny, and Britain can acquire Portugal’s debt relationship.

This is equivalent to East Africa taking Portugal’s land while Britain controls it economically. After all, Portugal already owes Britain a mountain of debt. If the war reparations are implemented, Portugal’s mainland will be completely reduced to Britain’s economic colony. After all, with forty million pounds plus the previous loans Portugal took from Britain, Portugal will never be able to pay it off in its lifetime.

Of course, overall, Britain has both losses and gains. Being able to better control Portugal’s economy is certainly a good thing, but the expenses of this South African War are indeed difficult to recover. However, after controlling Portugal’s mainland economy, Britain has plenty of ways to get the military expenses back. The debt from war reparations alone can recover half of it, and with interest, it can earn even more.

As for East Africa, it will definitely make a big profit, but Britain can only cut its losses in time. The failure of the South African War also means that it has lost its last chance to contain East Africa.

Chapter 808: The Dust Settles

Under the collusion of several parties, Portugal directly became the biggest victim. Not only that, Salisbury also rejected Allen Thaler’s previous proposal to reduce Portugal’s reparations.

After all, eight million pounds was not a small sum. Since East Africa was playing the “bad guy” and Britain was getting the money, there was naturally no need to let Portugal pay back less. Salisbury even thought, without any conscience, that East Africa’s initial asking price from Portugal was too low, and if it doubled, Britain would really be raking it in.

This idea was met with contempt from Austria-Hungary and East Africa. Being allies with the British clearly didn’t lead to good outcomes.

Allen Thaler spoke up, saying, “Forty-eight million pounds may already be the limit of what Portugal can bear. If it’s doubled, the Portuguese government will probably just default. They are no longer the mighty Portuguese colonial empire that once held sway around the world.”

In the shifts of the global landscape during the 19th century and earlier, various countries were essentially snatching food from the mouths of Portugal and Spain, as those two countries had once held the vast majority of colonies.

Now, Spain still had some strength, but Portugal had completely declined. Therefore, the situation Portugal faced in the future would definitely be even more difficult. However, most of the colonies Portugal had left behind were not of great value, such as Portuguese Goa, East Timor, and São Tomé and Príncipe, all small pieces of colonial land.

As East Africa and Britain reached a reconciliation, the subsequent negotiation meetings were just for show, and the Portuguese representative, Gers, also noticed Salisbury’s change.

Most of the time, Salisbury was debating with the East Africans, and the scene was very intense. However, when it came to the Portuguese issue, Salisbury was vague and ambiguous, and sometimes even just watched the show.

And Gers, facing East Africa, naturally had no power to resist. This was a gap in national strength. Everyone could give some face to East Africa, the rising new power, but Portugal? Who? Never heard of them.

Of course, this was also related to Portugal’s close ties with Britain. In everyone’s perception, Portugal was an appendage of Britain, so it was naturally not their turn to intervene in Portuguese issues first. Didn’t they see that the British weren’t worried? So they were even less willing to speak up for the Portuguese.

While the Venice Conference was underway, the East African government also had several private exchanges with Britain. Selling out the Kingdom of Portugal to protect British interests in South Africa had been recognized by both countries. Britain could also make a huge profit at the same time, so why not?

As for the previous huge military expenditure, in the end, it was all eaten up by Britain’s own military-industrial complex, so Britain didn’t lose out at all. Although the South African War did not reach the optimistic expectations before the war, being able to withdraw gracefully was the best outcome for the current British government.

The Venice Conference stumbled along until June. Although Britain and East Africa had determined the basic ideas in March, in order to save face for Portugal and the Boers, two British allies, Britain and East Africa engaged in fierce verbal battles.

At the end of March, the East African government began to stop military operations in Cape Town as promised, and at the same time began to repatriate captured British soldiers.

The first batch of British troops, a total of five hundred and twenty-three men, returned to British soil on April 26, 1889, which greatly restored the British government’s public image. The British prisoners of war were greatly welcomed by the local people, after all, Britain was not a large area, and more than sixty thousand prisoners of war could almost be distributed to every region.

Therefore, the living conditions and safety of these prisoners of war received great attention from the British people, which involved more than sixty thousand families.

In fact, it should be more than eighty thousand families, after all, East Africa would not use necromancy to resurrect the twenty thousand British troops who died and hand them over to Britain.

Moreover, a large part of the twenty thousand British troops who died were not due to war, but due to diseases and other problems. Among them, the number of missing persons reached one thousand and eight. East Africa did not dare to say that they were familiar with themselves, let alone the British army fighting as a guest army on the South African battlefield.

In fact, the number of casualties of the British army was relatively good compared with the Allied forces. A total of 170,000 people of the Allied forces were killed in battle, and the number of wounded and sick people exceeded 300,000, which was enough to cause a plague in South Africa.

And the fact is also true, until now East Africa is still cleaning up the mess in Angola and Mozambique, especially the expenditure on medicines has reached a new high, and this was also submitted to the Venice Conference in June.

East Africa’s claims against Portugal increased instead of decreasing, directly breaking through fifty million pounds, which also forced the Portuguese government to speed up the negotiation schedule. If they stayed any longer, the 120,000 captured Portuguese troops would be like pixiu, only taking in and not giving out. (Pixiu is a mythical Chinese creature that only eats but doesn’t excrete, symbolizing wealth accumulation.)

Unlike Britain, Portugal really couldn’t stand the torment, especially the prisoner problem. The total population of Britain was close to forty million, so the importance of sixty thousand prisoners of war to the British government was almost negligible, which was not as troublesome as the workers’ riot.

However, Portugal’s population was only more than three million, and 120,000 prisoners of war basically could connect with a large part of the people in Portugal.

Therefore, the Portuguese government must ensure the safety of the 120,000 Portuguese prisoners of war, otherwise the angry people could directly overthrow the Portuguese government.

So, with Portugal’s compromise, the Venice Conference finally came to a conclusion on June 28. The three participating parties signed a truce agreement under the witness of the international community led by Count Allen Thaler.

According to the truce agreement:

East Africa and Britain immediately ceased fighting, and the troops of both sides withdrew to the borders of the two countries before the war. Britain was required to compensate a total of three million pounds for the consumption and treatment costs of British prisoners of war in East Africa.

Portugal ceded Angola and Mozambique to the Kingdom of East Africa, and compensated East Africa with forty-eight million pounds in war reparations.

Due to Portugal’s financial pressure, this part of the war reparations was paid by Britain. Of course, the original two million pounds was converted according to the value of Angola and Mozambique, which meant that East Africa acquired Portugal’s two colonies for a value of two million pounds, completely establishing the ownership of Angola and Mozambique.

Legally, Angola and Mozambique were no longer related to Portugal.

Finally, there was the Boer issue. The Boer Republic was abolished and incorporated into East African territory. Orange became part of the Kingdom of East Africa. The Orange River and the Tugela River were the boundaries, with the south belonging to Britain and the north completely belonging to East Africa.

As for the opinions of the Boers, they were completely ignored by the East African and British governments. The Boer Republic could not even retain a government in exile.

After all, the premise of a government in exile is that the Boer Republic’s mass base still exists, just like Poland. Although it was occupied by Tsarist Russia, the people living on the land were indeed Poles, so the British Polish government in exile was very useful, and could at any time incite nationalist sentiments in Tsarist Russia to deter Tsarist Russia.

However, what East Africa did in the former Boer Republic, that is, the Orange region, was too decisive, directly draining the local Boer people’s mass base. Therefore, even if the Boer Republic government in exile was retained, it would be meaningless. Apart from barking at East Africa across the Orange River, it would not have any effect other than spending more money from British taxpayers.

Of course, the British government had deeper considerations, that is, there were too many Boers in the Cape Town colony. If the Boer Republic government in exile was retained, it would not only not threaten East Africa, but might also stimulate local forces that were unfavorable to British rule.

In the population of the Cape Town colony, the Boers accounted for more than sixty percent. Therefore, the Boer Republic, this “hidden danger,” naturally could not be kept.

Chapter 809: Aftermath

“Count Arenthal, we must thank the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s mediation in this conference, which has made our work here much easier,” Von der Leyen said to Count Arenthal.

After the peace talks concluded, Von der Leyen felt very good. The basic goals for East Africa had been achieved, even exceeding East Africa’s expectations.

East Africa’s expectations were just Angola and Mozambique, but with Orange also completely incorporated into East Africa’s territory, Von der Leyen and the others had exceeded their mission, not to mention obtaining six million pounds in war reparations.

Of course, compared to East Africa’s previous demand for a sky-high reparation of over one hundred million pounds, six million pounds was not even a drop in the bucket.

However, being able to get any money at all already made the East African government quite satisfied. East Africa had previously estimated that Britain would definitely not give a single penny, because as the world’s leading power, ceding territory and paying reparations were both unacceptable.

As for the six million pounds, it was actually obtained in the name of East Africa’s expenses and medical costs for British troops in East Africa, and did not belong to war reparations. After all, East Africa could not let these prisoners of war eat, drink, and waste medical resources for free in East Africa.

In reality, six million pounds, not to mention just the British, even including the Portuguese army, could already cover the living expenses of the Allied prisoners of war in East Africa. The two countries combined were close to two hundred thousand.

After all, East Africa, as a backward agricultural country, had a very low actual price level, and did not require too much investment in treating prisoners of war. The main expense was basically medical expenditure.

Moreover, East Africa’s income was not just the six million pounds. In Mozambique and Angola, East Africa also acquired a large number of industries. Although they could not be liquidated immediately, they saved a lot of costs for future development.

Moreover, the Allied forces left behind a large number of military weapons in East Africa, with more than six hundred and thirty thousand rifles alone, thousands of artillery pieces, and countless other weapons and equipment. Most of these remained in Angola and Mozambique, and could be sold for a good price if a good buyer was found.

The weapons of the Allied forces, especially those of the Indian troops, were particularly good, with low wear and tear. With a little maintenance, even second-hand ones could be sold for a good price.

Of course, East Africa’s biggest gain was the more than six million acres of developed land in Angola and Mozambique owned by the Portuguese.

In this regard, the Portuguese were indeed incompetent. Six million acres of arable land was equivalent to the total arable land area of Israel in the previous life. It should be known that Angola and Mozambique were not small places, and their soil and water conditions were far superior to those of Israel.

Moreover, Portugal’s colonial history in Angola and Mozambique exceeded three hundred years. Three hundred years was equivalent to developing about twenty thousand acres of land each year.

Especially in the Mozambique region, Mozambique’s farming conditions are among the best in the world. In Africa, perhaps only the Great Lakes region and Nigeria can compare.

From this, it can be seen that the Portuguese really did not like “farming.” Of course, it is certainly not correct to say that the Portuguese did not like to develop land, but they preferred high value-added cash crops.

Of the six million acres of arable land in Angola and Mozambique, the vast majority were plantations, mostly slave plantations.

This is also the main reason for the sparse Portuguese population in Angola and Mozambique. After all, black people could be exploited for free, and with free labor, plantation owners did not need to import a large number of people from their home country.

A typical example is Brazil. As a former Portuguese colony, the population of Brazil directly surpassed that of Portugal, and the most important reason for this was that Brazil lacked labor, so Brazil was also a country where the slave trade once flourished.

Of course, Brazil is still engaged in the slave trade, because it was not until May of last year (May 13, 1888) that Brazil officially ended slavery in law.

This was indeed a blow to East Africa. Brazil had always been one of the most important destination countries for East African black people. Last year, due to the war, the export of slaves to Brazil and other countries almost stagnated.

Now that East Africa has acquired Angola and Mozambique, most of the residents on these two pieces of land are still black people, so the black population of East Africa may increase by at least three million or more.

This means that East Africa’s efforts to export black people in recent years have basically been in vain. Before the war, the black population in East Africa should have been around eighteen million. If the black people in Mozambique and Angola are added, it is likely to directly return to more than twenty million, and this is East Africa’s black population data in the 1970s.

Of course, the Immigration Department will eventually have a headache over this matter, but according to East Africa’s current transportation capacity, the ability to export black people is continuously increasing, especially after entering the 1980s, after the number of foreign immigrants to East Africa has greatly decreased.

Of course, these things are a “happy problem” for East Africa, which has gained nearly one million square kilometers of new territory, and are not enough to share with outsiders.

People like Von der Leyen and Hermann are now in very good spirits, which Count Arenthal is quite envious of.

“This time, your East Africa has added nearly one million square kilometers of territory, which is almost equal to the area of an Austro-Hungarian Empire. African land is really easy to acquire!” Count Arenthal said with emotion.

Count Hermann said, “Old friend, you are thinking too much. The value of African land is too low. Even if it falls into our hands in East Africa, it will not be easy to develop. Moreover, in order to win the South African War, East Africa can be said to have paid a ‘heavy’ price, mobilizing millions of people across the country, and the number of casualties is an astronomical figure. The number of enemies is almost more than twice ours. Among them, the fighting power of Britain and Portugal is not weak, and the year-long war has also had a significant impact on our country’s economy.”

During the entire South African War, East Africa’s military and civilian casualties numbered more than forty thousand, with about eight thousand deaths. The city of New Hamburg suffered the most severe losses.

Of course, although the South African War was a grand affair, the intensity of the war was simply incomparable to the wars on the Eurasian continent. Apart from the British army, East Africa basically did not encounter any decent opponents.

However, the South African War can already be recorded in the history of the African continent. The Second Congo War, the largest in Africa in the previous life, is not worth mentioning in front of the South African War.

Nine countries participated in the Second Congo War, including more than twenty armed forces, but there was no real substance.

The strength of a bunch of African countries, many of which are probably not even as good as the current Boer Republic in terms of combat effectiveness. Of course, the Second Congo War was extremely destructive to Congo, with at least five million civilians dying.

In comparison, the South African War can be completely called a “civilized” war. Of course, the important reason for this result is that the population of Africa is sparse today. The Second Congo War mainly occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the population of the Democratic Republic of Congo at that time was probably more than the entire population of Southern Africa combined.

Another reason for the low number of civilian casualties in this South African War is that the Allied forces were slow to invade the core areas of East Africa.

In the 19th century, armies had no discipline or morality to speak of. Countries like Portugal and Britain were unscrupulous countries that had committed genocide.

East Africa’s methods were relatively “mild,” but they were also the kind that only cared about killing and not burying. The impact of war is multifaceted. Few people die directly from the flames of war, but the indirect impact is definitely not small, especially on the black civilians in Angola and Mozambique.

During the war, a large number of black soldiers carrying hot weapons roamed among the people of Angola and Mozambique, and their destructiveness to the local black people was far greater than that of the East African Defense Forces and the Allied forces.

Chapter 810: Coastline

“Only a little over eighty million kilometers, that’s quite unexpected. It seems visual errors can be significant.” Ernst muttered to himself, looking at the newly marked East African coastline.

He hadn’t noticed it before, but now Ernst thoroughly understood the geographical gap between East Africa and those powerful maritime nations.

Comparing it to the coastline of the Far East Empire in the future, the disadvantage of East Africa becomes immediately apparent. Before this, because the East African coastline was not complete, Ernst had not noticed this issue.

Undoubtedly, East Africa, if only considering its mainland, is a nation bordering two oceans. On a globe, it would seem that East Africa’s coastline should be longer than most countries in the world, but that is not actually the case.

For example, the Far East Empire is a typical Pacific nation. The straight-line distance between its northern and southern seaports (only the mainland part, excluding Outer Northeast China), that is, the straight-line distance from Jinzhou to Xuwen Port, is about two thousand six hundred kilometers.

And East Africa, from the northernmost port city of Mogadishu to the southernmost port city of New Hamburg (Richard’s Bay), exceeds three thousand seven hundred kilometers.

However, the Far East Empire’s mainland coastline directly exceeds eighteen thousand kilometers, while East Africa’s Indian Ocean coastline is only about five thousand kilometers. Adding Angola and Southwest Africa (Namibia), which is East Africa’s west coast, East Africa’s coastline length is only a little over eight thousand kilometers.

In other words, East Africa, sitting on the coastlines of two major oceans, actually has a coastline length that is less than half of that of the Far East Empire, which only has a Pacific coastline.

This also illustrates the characteristic of East Africa’s coastline being too straight and lacking excellent ports, similar to India. India faces the sea on two sides (or even three), but its coastline is only a little over five thousand kilometers.

But the problem is that India has a land area of less than three million square kilometers, while East Africa’s area is more than four times that of India.

Therefore, East Africa’s area and coastline are quite disproportionate. Many small countries have longer coastlines than East Africa, including Norway and the Netherlands (including the Dutch East Indies colonies).

Another country to consider is Canada, which has the longest coastline in the world, exceeding two hundred thousand kilometers, even more exaggerated than Russia, the largest country in the world.

However, the value of Canada’s coastline is quite low, with most of it located in high-latitude frigid zones, and with numerous bays and islands, the most typical being Hudson Bay in the northeast.

Conversely, East Africa has less coastline, but its value is slightly higher. However, the scarcity of natural deep-water ports is a major drawback. Currently, there are only four ports on the west coast that can be used for economic development.

They are Cabinda, Luanda, Benguela, and Walvis Bay in Southwest Africa.

The situation on the east coast is slightly better, but not by much. For example, the Somali region of East Africa has one thousand six hundred kilometers of coastline, but only Mogadishu and Kismayo are currently available as ports.

Among the world’s continents, Europe should have the most excellent ports. Although Asia has the largest number, its territory is vast, and there are also landlocked countries with huge areas, so the distribution of ports is uneven. The Far East Empire is one of the best examples.

“Now it seems that although we have seized the high-quality coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, our coastline length is not among the top in the world, especially among large countries of similar size.” Ernst said, looking at the map.

The countries that can be compared to East Africa in area are Russia, the Far East Empire, Canada, the United States, Australia, and Brazil.

But their coastlines, except for Brazil, all exceed ten thousand kilometers. However, Brazil only has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, yet it is only about one thousand kilometers shorter than East Africa’s. It’s really a case of comparing oneself to others only to be frustrated.

In his previous life, East Africa’s coastline (mainland only) would only rank fifteenth in the world, after Mexico (nine thousand three hundred thirty kilometers) and before Italy (seven thousand six hundred kilometers).

Of course, East Africa doesn’t need to be too discouraged. East Africa’s maritime conditions cannot be judged solely by the length of its coastline. Considering all factors, it is still among the top in the world.

The single fact of facing two major oceans is enough to make people envious and jealous. For example, Germany’s coastline is actually not short, at around three thousand kilometers.

The current Germany is not the castrated version after World War II in his previous life. East Prussia is still in their hands, so it is longer than the coastline in his previous life, about one-third of East Africa’s.

However, the German navy is trapped in the Baltic Sea, which is very frustrating. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is the same. The coastline of the Croatian region alone exceeds one thousand eight hundred kilometers, and with Venice and Slovenia, it is about three thousand kilometers, but it is also stifled within the Adriatic Sea.

Therefore, East Africa’s coastline advantage is also very obvious. This was demonstrated in the East Africa-England naval battle. Except for the Somali region, which is difficult to defend, East Africa can use its maritime talent to maneuver with the British navy.

East Africa’s current shortcoming is the lack of islands in the Indian Ocean region as strategic strongholds, which would further enhance East Africa’s national security.

However, the main islands in the Indian Ocean are currently controlled by Britain and France. East Africa only has the Comoros Islands near the coast that are barely adequate.

Swietbert analyzed from the side: “Your Royal Highness, the length of the coastline is too affected by the coastal topography. This is something we cannot change. However, after our country seized Angola, it has basically made up for its maritime disadvantages. In the future, after completing the port infrastructure on the west coast, our merchant ships and navy can basically navigate freely in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.”

“Well, that’s right, but we should take action now, instead of waiting for the future. Now Luanda, Benguela, and other ports can be expanded and developed. Let’s get these two places back in operation first.” Ernst pointed to the map of Angola and said, “Although we have won the land of Angola, our rule is not stable, so we should prioritize solving these key coastal towns on the west coast, and then slowly digest the inland areas.”

“In the future, Cabinda and Luanda should be able to rival Dar es Salaam and Mombasa as international East African ports, so the development of these two places takes precedence over other regions of Angola.”

“As for the interior of Angola, let the railway department get moving and build two railways first, one from Mongu (a city in western Zambia) directly to the Luanda area, and one from Lubumbashi directly to the Cabinda area.”

This actually belongs to the two western schemes of the Central Railway. In fact, there is a third scheme, which is the Benguela Railway scheme, but now East Africa’s top priority is to consolidate East Africa’s rule in the Angola region, especially Cabinda, the starting point of the west coast.

For this, we can refer to Mozambique. After occupying Mozambique, East Africa is not worried about the security of Mozambique. Mozambique is surrounded by East Africa on three sides. Once it falls into East Africa’s hands, it cannot escape.

Of course, in Ernst’s plan, Cabinda’s status has been infinitely elevated. In fact, the previous Cabinda was just a small Angolan border town that the Portuguese did not pay much attention to.

However, Ernst knows Cabinda’s potential. As the area with the richest oil in the entire East Africa, Cabinda alone can solve East Africa’s energy security problems for nearly a hundred years in the future.

This is not an exaggeration. In the future twentieth century, as long as East Africa can effectively utilize Cabinda’s oil resources, it can completely meet most of East Africa’s needs.

And East Africa cannot rely solely on Cabinda’s oil resources. Exploration of other areas within the country will not be reduced, and at worst, it can go out and “grab” resources.

East Africa has a natural advantage in this regard. The world’s oil is mainly distributed in the Middle East. There is no restricted passage like the Strait of Malacca or the Suez Canal between East Africa and the Middle East. As long as East Africa has powerful guns, it can at least ensure its future oil security.

Moreover, apart from the Middle East, the oil resources in North Africa and West Africa are also not bad, and these two places, in the future, the East African navy can depart from the west coast and directly reach the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, and North Africa is directly connected to East Africa by land.

Chapter 811: Farewell

New Hamburg Port.

The war-torn New Hamburg Port has now been mostly repaired. With some black servant troops organized by the Portuguese acting as labor, East Africa has done a remarkable job of repairing New Hamburg Port and Maputo.

The current New Hamburg Port is even busier than before the war. Dozens of British and Portuguese ships dock here every day, taking away the prisoners of war stranded in East Africa.

“General Roberts, I hope you’ll visit East Africa again. We in East Africa welcome our friends,” Moltke joked to the Allied Commander-in-Chief, who was about to return to England.

Earl Roberts forced a smile. “This time, returning home, I’m afraid things don’t look good. I probably won’t be in the army for much longer. If I have the chance, I’ll definitely come and see this place, this land that allowed me to taste failure.”

As the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the South African War, Earl Roberts will certainly face difficulties upon his return home, but he won’t be made the sole scapegoat.

After all, he has past achievements to his name and extensive connections in England, so the outcome won’t be too bad, but it will be difficult to remain in a high position.

Although the two countries, East Africa and England, have “reconciled,” this is not the result the British government wanted to see. In fact, England has already lost the South African War, and its suppression of East Africa has completely failed.

However, they preserved the integrity of the Cape Town colony through negotiations, which is some consolation.

Looking at the jubilant British soldiers, Earl Roberts felt only bitterness in his heart. People’s joys and sorrows are not shared.

Now the British prisoners of war know that they can finally leave this hellhole of South Africa and go home. Their memories of South Africa are not pleasant.

In reality, they are not so much dissatisfied with the war, but more with the South African environment. Many people’s biggest difficulty in the South African War was the painful memory of contracting malaria, even feeling that they were going to die in this wild land of South Africa.

This situation only improved after East Africa intervened. As a long-term sufferer of malaria, East Africa has become a skilled doctor through long illness. In addition to developing quinine and other special drugs, it has also developed a variety of adjuvant therapies, mainly based on traditional Chinese medicine.

After all, East Africa is relatively backward in modern medicine and chemistry, lacking drug research and development capabilities, so it can only use traditional Chinese medicine and other means for conservative treatment, but the effect is still good.

The British soldiers will certainly not forget the experience of being force-fed Chinese herbal medicine in the prisoner-of-war camps. Mainly because it was so bitter, and they had to drink a large bowl every time. After being force-fed the strange East African potion, they felt like they had lost their souls.

At first, the prisoners of war even thought that East Africa had concocted some kind of special “poison,” after all, the taste of Chinese medicine was really unpleasant, and it was even more difficult to swallow, even when pinching their noses.

However, the effect was also very significant. After recovering, they felt refreshed, so the strange East African potion became known as “energy booster” among the prisoners of war.

Of course, the British government eventually paid for it. East Africa will not do a losing business.

Moreover, the fundamental reason for rescuing the wounded and healing the sick was that East Africa was afraid of being implicated by these British guys. Every major war is accompanied by a major epidemic, so immediately after the end of the war, East Africa carried out a major disinfection in the occupied areas.

However, given the large area occupied this time, the main method was fire. Many battlefields were directly burned by East Africa, while in towns and villages, they cleared ruins, checked water sources, and so on.

And Earl Roberts was one of the witnesses. Looking at the brand-new New Hamburg Port, he sighed, “Losing this war to you is not unjustified. Your strong mobilization ability and efficient organization are not inferior to most European countries.”

Moltke was naturally aware of this, after all, East Africa was fighting on its doorstep this time, while England couldn’t be fast even if it wanted to. He said, “You are also good. If it weren’t for the distance limitation, the South African War would have been hard to say. But this kind of assumption is meaningless.”

While the two were talking, the ships arranged by the British government were already packed full.

“Earl, our ship is about to leave,” Earl Roberts’ subordinate said.

Earl Roberts looked at the bustling dock of New Hamburg Port, his eyes filled with loneliness and regret. He patted Moltke on the shoulder and said, “Goodbye, young man!”

Then, this old man who had fought for England for most of his life walked step by step towards the deck, the British ship bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Moltke smiled and turned back without looking back.

This time, the British and Portuguese governments have a lot to do. In addition to the British army, the British government still has a conscience. They did not abandon the more than two hundred thousand Indian soldiers, while Portugal seemed very unfeeling. Basically, all blacks, including Portuguese mixed-race descendants, were left behind.

Even the Portuguese government didn’t really want to care about some Portuguese civilians in the colonies, but under the strong demands of East Africa, the Portuguese government had to arrange ships to take these Portuguese residents back to their homeland.

Because there were too many people, the Portuguese government simply asked the Brazilian government for help. Brazil is relatively short of population, so those colonial residents might as well go directly to Brazil.

Therefore, in the Luanda area, there are many Brazilian ships. There are more than one hundred thousand Portuguese in Angola besides the army. The Brazilian government welcomes these Portuguese.

Now, Portugal is heavily in debt. It is impossible to take nearly three hundred thousand Portuguese civilians from Angola and Mozambique back to their country for resettlement.

So they asked Brazil, their former little brother, for help. Although they lost all face, they could only do so. East Africa didn’t feel anything about these Portuguese, just like the Boers.

There are more than one hundred thousand Boers in East Africa, but they have been dispersed by East Africa and distributed throughout East Africa. If it weren’t for the fact that the Boers could have some connection with Germany, East Africa would have sent them back to Cape Town long ago. In fact, the British have no feelings for these Boers, so even if East Africa wanted to send them to Cape Town, the British Cape Town colonial government probably wouldn’t accept them.

The main body of the Boers is Dutch, French, and German, so they can barely have some connection with East Africa. This is also the basis for East Africa to accept the Boers.

Of course, in order to completely integrate these Boers into East Africa, they cannot be concentrated in one place again, and they can no longer stay in Orange and Hechingen provinces. They are mainly used to fill Angola and Mozambique, and then cooperate with East Africa’s immigration to the two places. Finally, these Boers will also disappear into the long river of history.

As for the Boers in Cape Town, it is really hard to say in the future. There are too many Boers in Cape Town, and it is very likely that the situation of South Africa in the previous life will be repeated, that is, the Boers will regain power after independence.

Moreover, this time, the Cape Town colony does not have the basis for the so-called black and white dispute. South Africa is originally an area with a relatively small distribution of blacks, and the most important black ethnic group, the Zulu, has been eliminated by East Africa. Even if Cape Town becomes independent in the future, there will be no Mandela-style figures.

However, Cape Town is unlikely to reproduce the glory of the Republic of South Africa in its previous life. All the mining areas are basically occupied by East Africa, and it will at most become an agricultural and pastoral country.

The only thing worth mentioning is the value of shipping. In the future, East Africa’s shipping on the east and west coasts cannot avoid Cape Town. This is inevitable, but after the completion of East Africa’s two-ocean railway, its dependence on it will be greatly reduced.

Chapter 812: Expelling the Portuguese

By the end of September, Britain had completely withdrawn all its troops from East Africa. Portugal, dragging its feet, also took away its own troops and some civilians, with more civilians going to Brazil.

Regarding the mother country’s miserable fate, Brazilians felt a bit of schadenfreude. After all, the Portuguese had a rich political legacy in the international community. As the leading Portuguese-speaking country in the world, Brazil naturally believed it should inherit the Kingdom of Portugal’s political standing and influence in the Portuguese-speaking world, just as Mexico always wanted to replace Spain as the head of the Spanish-speaking world.

However, with Mexico’s inflated sense of self-importance, it was destined to achieve nothing significant. Spain itself was still a force to be reckoned with, its fig leaf not yet torn off by the United States. Moreover, a country like Mexico, so firmly under the thumb of the United States, had no standing in the Spanish-speaking world.

Currently, there was also a rapidly developing Argentina in the Spanish-speaking world. Even if Spain itself declined, it wouldn’t be Mexico’s turn to be the spokesperson.

Of course, history ultimately proved that Spain, as a member of the Western world, was always in a different league compared to other Spanish-speaking countries. And Mexico and Argentina were ultimately brought to heel by the United States. Counting the Philippines, Cuba, and Venezuela, the United States seemed to be specifically targeting former Spanish-speaking countries for exploitation.

However, Spanish-speaking countries typically experienced severe polarization. There were countries like Mexico that directly kowtowed, and there were also small countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Paraguay that dared to confront powerful nations. Of course, Paraguay had already been devastated and was currently focusing on economic development.

…

Maputo.

Maputo was an important component of the current East African eastern ports. With the Portuguese management, Maputo’s development was in no way inferior to other East African cities.

Although Maputo’s population had significantly decreased, it could still be considered one of the top eastern seaport cities, because it was so remote that Brazil did not send ships to pick people up. As a result, there were still at least twenty thousand Portuguese residents in Maputo. Of course, as a comprehensive international “metropolis” in Southeast Africa, Maputo also had a considerable number of Arabs, Persians, and Indians.

Regarding the Kingdom of Black兴根’s flag rising over Maputo, the Arabs and Persians were well aware of the situation. The Arabs and Persians here were mainly merchants, who not only frequented Maputo but also conducted commercial activities in Dar es Salaam and other East African cities.

As a hegemon in the Indian Ocean, they were well aware of East Africa’s methods in the western Indian Ocean region, so they actively cooperated with East Africa’s rule over Maputo.

“Tickets back to Europe are all double the price. Of course, if you can catch a ride on a passing ship or have the Portuguese government send you back, then good for you. If you want to stay in East Africa, that’s also fine, but everything must be arranged by the East African government.”

Hans Leighton, the newly appointed mayor of Maputo, began to issue an ultimatum to the Portuguese residents of Maputo as soon as he took office.

Regarding Portuguese civilians, the East African government’s attitude was that they could join East African citizenship, but joining East African citizenship also meant losing freedom.

Most of the Portuguese in Mozambique had some assets, so they would naturally not voluntarily integrate into East Africa. Therefore, more people chose to take their savings from these years and return to Europe.

Of course, East Africa was also picky. Even if there were people who couldn’t think straight and planned to apply for East African citizenship, they still had to pass East Africa’s screening. East Africa had long passed the stage of being indiscriminate about immigrants.

“Ronald, is your family planning to return to the homeland?” Griffin asked.

“Of course. Staying in East Africa now is not a wise choice. After all, Portugal has long broken up with East Africa. Do you think East Africa will treat those who stay kindly?” Ronald replied.

“You’re right, but is your family planning to return to Portugal?”

“Yes. Where else can we go besides Portugal? You also know that my wife and children are locals. They probably won’t be welcomed in other countries.”

Griffin said, “I’m afraid the situation in the homeland won’t be too good either, so I still advise you to develop in Brazil. I heard that Brazil has abolished slavery, and there are many black people in Brazil, so you won’t be discriminated against too much there. On the contrary, your family probably won’t integrate into the homeland.”

Hearing this, Ronald was also very worried. He said with a bitter face, “But we have no way to go to Brazil now. There are too few passing ships through Maputo, and the prices are even higher than the East Africans. But East African ships provide routes to Lisbon, and even then, tickets are hard to come by.”

“Alas, there is no other way but to leave Maputo, especially for people like your wife. I heard that East Africa treats black people very harshly. If you stay here and don’t leave, you will probably become slaves directly,” Griffin said with great concern.

East Africa had a bad reputation, especially in the former Portuguese colonies. East Africa’s reputation had always been very poor, so most people only had fear of East Africa.

East Africa was well aware of this, but they were happy to see it happen. After all, they couldn’t wait for the Portuguese to get out of here as soon as possible.

In the 19th century, there were not many so-called “good citizens” in the colonies. Most of them were adventurous “troublemakers” or simply prisoners. The most typical example was the Australian prison.

Therefore, East Africa naturally had little interest in these Portuguese residents left behind by the Portuguese government. As for the Boers, there was no way to deal with them. After all, the Boer Republic had been destroyed by East Africa, and there was nowhere to send them. The original Boer mother countries, the Netherlands and Britain, would not accept these Boers.

But the Portuguese were different. Even if they didn’t go to Portugal, there was still Portuguese Goa and Portuguese Timor. These Portuguese colonies would definitely welcome Portuguese immigrants.

Especially Portuguese Goa, which faced great pressure from India. Without a certain population, it would be difficult to maintain the interests of the local Portuguese, especially after Portugal’s homeland had completely lost face.

Of course, now was not the time to send these people to Portuguese Goa. Currently, the East African government was trying to empty the pockets of the local Portuguese, and the price of tickets back to Portugal was not cheap.

After the Portuguese with financial resources had completely left, East Africa would organize the remaining people to be sent to Portuguese Goa. Portuguese Goa was on the west coast of India, not far from East Africa, so the ticket price was also half cheaper.

If the Portuguese Goa route was opened at this time, most Portuguese people would decide with their butts and would prefer Portuguese Goa, so East Africa would earn less.

Of course, those with connections or means could also leave East Africa by catching a ride. As a commercial port, Maputo had many Arab and Persian merchant ships passing through, and they could leave East Africa through them.

They didn’t have to choose only Portugal. Many countries didn’t discriminate against immigrants, for example, the neighboring island of Madagascar was also a good choice. Currently, the northern part of Madagascar was French territory, and the quality of life there would not be too bad.

It could be said that in colonies all over the world, white immigrants were relatively welcome. Like the United States, although Anglo-Saxons were the ruling class, the domestic population was actually dominated by Irish, German, Italian, Slavic, and other residents.

And Madagascar Island was currently the most cost-effective destination for the Portuguese. They could be second-class citizens on the island, and as long as they obeyed the French government’s orders, they could basically continue to live comfortably.

Chapter 813: Madagascar

Speaking of Madagascar, Ernst has always had ideas about this largest island in Africa, seeing it as an excellent strategic foothold.

Conversely, it’s also a place where external forces can easily threaten East Africa. A typical example is the United States and Cuba. Cuba’s location can be said to make the United States very uncomfortable, especially during the Cold War, as it was the only strategic foothold for the Soviet Union to pose a threat to the United States in North America.

Madagascar is even more remarkable. It is much larger than Cuba, with an area of nearly six hundred thousand square kilometers, and has a large amount of arable land.

The strongest country on the island, the Kingdom of Imerina, is a typical feudal agricultural power. It’s just that its historical development was relatively late; otherwise, it would be completely on par with traditional African powers like Abyssinia.

However, because East Africa has been expanding on the mainland, it has not had the energy to fight on two fronts. Especially during the South African War, the East African navy wished it could split itself in two. Moreover, considering the attitude of the French, East Africa has not yet made any gains on Madagascar.

However, Ernst is determined to get the tropical savanna areas of Madagascar, mainly the western and southern plains. These two areas are tropical savanna and tropical dry savanna, with climates similar to East Africa.

Of course, the truly habitable areas of Madagascar, like East Africa, are the eastern highlands, which are the core areas of Madagascar and the sphere of influence of the Kingdom of Imerina.

Currently, the Kingdom of Imerina is still an independent country, mainly friendly with Britain. Of course, France has already successfully established a colony in the north of the Kingdom of Imerina. If history had developed as it originally did, France would have occupied Madagascar in 1895.

However, because of East Africa, the Second Boer War in history naturally could not have happened. And during the South African War, taking advantage of the war between Britain and East Africa, Britain had no time to care about the Kingdom of Imerina, and the French launched a new round of offensives against the Kingdom of Imerina, which greatly advanced the time France occupied Madagascar.

Therefore, if East Africa wants to get a piece of the pie on Madagascar, it must hurry. In two or three years, Madagascar will probably be shaped into the image of the French.

…

First Town City.

“We have already gathered information that France did launch a new round of attacks on the Kingdom of Imerina during the South African War. Several cities in the north and west of the Kingdom of Imerina have been occupied by the French,” the intelligence department reported to Ernst.

“Then what is the situation of the Kingdom of Imerina now?” Ernst asked.

“The Kingdom of Imerina can still resist the French offensive. In recent years, the Kingdom of Imerina has actively learned from Europe, especially from Britain, including the Kingdom of Imerina’s army, which was trained by the British. Therefore, their core areas have not been greatly affected.”

The Kingdom of Imerina is definitely considered a relatively “modernized” country in Africa. Of course, since the residents of Madagascar are mainly of Asian descent, apart from its geographical location, it doesn’t have much to do with the African natives.

Of course, the main ethnic group of the Kingdom of Imerina is the Austronesian people. The Austronesian people were the strongest maritime people of early human civilization. They are widely distributed in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and their sea-crossing tools were extremely simple.

Today, the Austronesian people living on isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean can be said to be excellent swimmers. Some even pierce their eardrums in order to dive. This is truly living off the sea, unlike the so-called maritime civilization of ancient Greece. The ancient Greeks could trade and plunder around the Mediterranean Sea, and the Mediterranean environment is not as turbulent as the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Of course, the civilization of the Austronesian people is very backward and has not developed much, so that the current population of the entire Madagascar is less than three million, only over two million, and concentrated in the northeastern highlands, which is within the territory of the Kingdom of Imerina.

Archduke Ferdinand: “Now that the South African War is over, the pressure on our navy has also disappeared. We can completely take the time to carry out expansion activities on Madagascar. Ernst, what are your thoughts?”

Ernst said to his father-in-law: “We can’t touch the Kingdom of Imerina. After all, we just ended the war with Britain. We can’t go back on our word, otherwise Britain will definitely be driven to desperation.”

Currently, the Kingdom of Imerina still belongs to Britain’s sphere of influence. Of course, it cannot be considered a British colony. The close relationship between the Kingdom of Imerina and Britain is entirely a spontaneous act of the Kingdom of Imerina actively approaching Britain, rather than being forced, so it is still an independent sovereign state.

Of course, the French certainly don’t think so. France’s ambition for the Kingdom of Imerina has been around for a long time, which is also one of the important reasons why the Kingdom of Imerina actively leaned towards Britain.

Ernst continued: “The Kingdom of Imerina is now being targeted by both Britain and France, so it is not something we can covet. It would be a losing battle to offend France after already offending Britain. Moreover, the Kingdom of Imerina has a relatively high level of civilization, and it is not a favorable place for expansion.”

The Kingdom of Imerina is much more knowledgeable than the natives of Africa, and its national character has already formed, which does not meet East Africa’s colonization standards.

Ernst has always liked sparsely populated areas, and the tropical savanna area in western Madagascar is this type. After all, it is similar to most areas of East Africa, so Ernst is determined to get it.

He said: “The west and the south, these two areas, are our targets, so that we will not overlap with the forces of Britain and France, and the difficulty is relatively small.”

Of all climates, tropical rainforests are one of the least suitable areas for military operations. Madagascar is no exception. The strongholds of France and Britain are concentrated in the tropical rainforest areas of the east coast.

That is because the main population of Madagascar is concentrated in the Kingdom of Imerina in the eastern highlands. Colonies without a population generally do not have good economic benefits and are difficult to develop.

What Britain and France considered when colonizing was not the cost, but the amount of profit. Otherwise, according to the logic of the 21st century, no piece of land in the world is superfluous. Maybe one day minerals and other resources will be discovered, and it will soar into the sky.

But the 19th century did not have this concept, so there are many “ownerless” islands in the world, such as Nauru, which was accidentally obtained by Germany.

After all, the energy of various countries is limited. Even colonial empires like Britain and France would not make a place their colony for no reason. Every time a colony is opened up, troops and government agencies must be stationed, which are all expenses. Areas without a population have low economic benefits, and the cost of stationing troops or establishing order is very high.

Of course, if they are colonists with development goals, the situation is different. A typical example is East Africa. East Africa’s rise is entirely dependent on the rich immigrant resources of Germany and the Far East Empire. With people, economic benefits can naturally be generated.

Other colonists are more inclined to plunder from the colonies rather than build, because they have a homeland. Even if they obtain a large amount of benefits from the colonies, they will naturally prioritize investing in the construction of their homeland.

The most typical example is Portugal. Portugal basically did not invest in the colonies, which is the fundamental reason why East Africa was able to occupy Angola and Mozambique. Ernst could drive Portugal out of southern Africa by using the lowest-level human wave tactics.

Chapter 814: A Second Coming?

At this time, Archduke Ferdinand was very confident in the East African Navy. The East African Navy had endured the greatest pressure during the South African War. Under this daily high pressure, the East African Navy gained a wealth of experience and eliminated a large number of hidden problems.

“Now, after the baptism of war, the naval department can say that, apart from a powerful navy like Britain with its profound foundation, we dare to draw our swords against any navy. Therefore, we are fully confident of taking Madagascar, which is so close at hand,” Archduke Ferdinand said confidently to Ernst.

“Madagascar is not a small place. If we want to control the vast area outside of the Imerina Kingdom, we definitely won’t have enough troops. Therefore, after the navy seizes the target, the army should be stationed permanently on Madagascar with no fewer than a brigade. It would be best to equip them with cavalry. At the same time, in order to guard against the Imerina Kingdom’s unauthorized expansion, we must kill the chicken to scare the monkey, making them stay put in the eastern highlands,” Chief of General Staff, Swit, said.

Currently, the Imerina Kingdom is the biggest obstacle to East Africa’s expansion into Madagascar. Because the Imerina Kingdom has the highest level of civilization on Madagascar, they also have the ambition to annex the entire island.

This obviously does not conform to East Africa’s interests, so we must strike hard against the Imerina Kingdom, restraining its people from migrating to future East African territories, until East Africa’s population base on Madagascar is sufficient to prevent the expansion of the southwest regions of Madagascar.

This is a typical “populate the borders with immigrants” policy, which can also be called the “immigrant invasion” plan. East Africa has been able to develop from a tiny place into a major power spanning Southeast, Central, and North Africa because of continuous immigration activities.

Traditional colonizers simply cannot resist this rogue tactic. Once they confront East Africa, they will find themselves short of manpower.

However, for a long time to come, East Africa will not be able to have too many people on Madagascar. In this case, it is especially important to beat the Imerina Kingdom into submission.

At present, East Africa’s population distribution is very uneven, especially in Angola and Mozambique, where the population base is basically zero. Even in the most densely populated eastern part of East Africa, the population is still relatively sparse.

For a long time to come, East Africa’s priority development direction will definitely be the west and south, as well as the developing central region. There are not many surplus people to consider Madagascar for the time being.

“The territorial expansion targeting Madagascar must be completed within one year. Otherwise, once France or Britain completely colonizes the Imerina Kingdom, we will miss the best opportunity. Therefore, before the end of 1890, we must completely conquer the western and southern parts of Madagascar,” Ernst said, “As for the troops, let the Southern Military Region station a brigade on Madagascar, and the Northern Military Region provide a cavalry brigade, especially for the arid areas of southern Madagascar.”

This is basically equivalent to stationing a division of troops on Madagascar, which is more than enough to deal with the Imerina Kingdom with a population of only over two million.

It is only because Madagascar is close to East Africa’s mainland that this kind of troop deployment scale can be supported. Conversely, it is precisely because Madagascar is close to East Africa that East Africa cannot turn a blind eye to this place.

…

September 21, 1889.

Not long after the end of the South African War, East Africa launched another colonial war against Madagascar. The East African Navy and Army, totaling more than twelve thousand people, landed on Madagascar.

This also gave all the Malagasy ethnic groups other than the Imerina people a painful lesson, because the Imerina people are of Asian descent, while the other forces besides the Imerina Kingdom are mostly Bantu people, that is, black people who lived in West Africa in ancient times.

Of course, this is purely coincidental. They happen to live in the area that East Africa wants to expand into, and East Africa has always been merciless to black people. In addition, the development of Madagascar lacks population, so a large number of Bantu people have become slaves.

However, there are not many black people in the East African controlled areas, because they live in the tropical grasslands, these black people are no different from the black tribes that lived in the East African grasslands in the beginning. The entire Madagascar has only a few hundred thousand black people, including some black-Asian mixed races.

As for the rapid increase in the black population on Madagascar in the previous life, it was entirely due to the French introducing black slaves in order to expand plantations. The French introduced at least more than five hundred thousand black people into Madagascar.

In addition, Madagascar is too close to the African continent. Even black people, a race with low technical skills, can cross the sea, so the number of black people on Madagascar is naturally increasing.

However, since the founding of East Africa, even if the French occupy the entire Madagascar, it is impossible to introduce cheap black slave resources again, unless they introduce people from West Africa at any cost. Obviously, Madagascar is not worth the French doing this.

Of course, now the French are still huddled in the northern and eastern coasts, and have not even settled the Imerina Kingdom, so the history of Madagascar has been completely changed beyond recognition.

…

“What are the East Africans trying to do? Our two countries just signed a truce agreement, and now you are attacking Madagascar. It’s too much. Do you want to re-ignite the South African War?” The British Minister to East Africa, Bruce, protested to the East African government.

It’s no wonder Minister Bruce is nervous. When East African cavalry appeared on the border of the Imerina Kingdom, he was almost scared to death.

He even thought that East Africa was going to “make a comeback” and start the war again. This worry is not superfluous, after all, Britain did not gain an advantage in the South African War.

Therefore, they are very worried that East Africa, which has won the victory, will become inflated, which is not conducive to the stability of the South African region. The subsequent military operations on Madagascar confirmed Minister Bruce’s guess even more, which is why he actively contacted the East African government.

“Minister Bruce, please be calm. Of course, we respect your country’s interests on Madagascar. However, as far as we know, Britain’s influence on Madagascar is limited to the Imerina Kingdom, and there is no military deployment. The western and southern parts of Madagascar have been ‘no man’s land’ since ancient times, so our East African activities on Madagascar are completely reasonable and legal,” the receptionist at the East African embassy explained.

Hearing this, Minister Bruce asked, “In other words, you will not invade the Imerina Kingdom?”

“Naturally, East Africa has never had any ideas about the Imerina Kingdom. Our military operations in western and southern Madagascar are entirely to ensure the safety of the western Indian Ocean shipping lanes.”

Minister Bruce scoffed at East Africa’s shameless remarks: “On Madagascar, the Imerina Kingdom is the core interest of our Britain, so no matter what East Africa does, it cannot enter the territory of the Imerina Kingdom. At the same time, in order to determine the sphere of influence of the two countries, we must conduct a detailed border division of Madagascar.”

The East African government easily accepted Bruce’s request. After all, they cannot “push people too far”, and East Africa is happy to resolve the Madagascar issue peacefully.

However, even if this trouble of East Africa is resolved, it will not be easy for Britain to control the Imerina Kingdom, because France is the main force truly expanding towards the Imerina Kingdom, and it is the kind that the British cannot stop.

Chapter 815: Madagascar Military Control Zone

The military operations in East Africa against western and southern Madagascar went very smoothly. At this time, the British government did not want to create unnecessary complications, because they were under serious threat from the French.

During the South African War, France took advantage of Britain’s inability to attend to the Imerina Kingdom and occupied a lot of territory, expanding its colony to the highland areas of the Imerina Kingdom.

Therefore, at this time, in order to concentrate more on dealing with the French threat, the only way for the British government was to stabilize East Africa and prevent it from taking sides in the struggle between Britain and France.

To be honest, with East Africa’s military strength on Madagascar, it didn’t need to take sides at all, and could even directly change the landscape of Madagascar. However, as the leaders of the current world order, East Africa didn’t need to fall out with both countries for the sake of an Imerina Kingdom.

In fact, France was just as nervous about East Africa’s military activities on Madagascar. However, the Imerina Kingdom had been leaning towards Britain. Before completely colonizing the Imerina Kingdom, France did not need to negotiate with East Africa and could only watch East Africans occupy the western and southern regions of Madagascar.

However, this also made the Imerina Kingdom more important in the eyes of Britain and France. With East Africa’s expansion, there were fewer and fewer places in southern Africa where Britain and France could intervene. Britain still had the Cape Town colony as a support, while France now only had Réunion Island in the southern Indian Ocean completely under French control.

Next, the struggle between Britain and France for the Imerina Kingdom would only become more intense, but in terms of investment, France would eventually gain the upper hand.

The main reason was that the Imerina Kingdom could not be considered a British colony, so Britain could not fully support the Imerina Kingdom against French invasion.

…

East Africa only took three months to basically determine East Africa’s sphere of influence on Madagascar, and signed security agreements with Britain and France respectively, guaranteeing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Imerina Kingdom.

Next, East Africa would be in a position to watch the tigers fight on Madagascar. As for who would eventually gain control of the Imerina Kingdom, the East African government did not care.

Although the Imerina Kingdom had a small population, it was not an easy fruit to swallow. Throughout the 19th century, through the rule of several generations of monarchs, the Imerina Kingdom actively learned from advanced European countries and actually formed a relatively advanced civilization.

The capital of the Imerina Kingdom, Antananarivo, was actually already a city with a completely European style, and even Christianity became the state religion of the Imerina Kingdom.

Moreover, the population of Antananarivo was not small even by European standards. In the 18th century, the population of Antananarivo exceeded eighty thousand, and now it has reached more than one hundred thousand, which is one of the rare large cities in the entire African region.

Even before East Africa, apart from the capitals of the British and Portuguese colonies, no city in sub-Saharan Africa could compare with Antananarivo.

In his previous life, even France took as long as thirteen years to colonize the Imerina Kingdom, which shows that the Imerina Kingdom was not a simple indigenous country.

…

November 27, 1889.

With the end of East Africa’s military operations on Madagascar, East Africa established the Madagascar Military Control Zone as a temporary transitional administrative region.

Two brigade divisions were stationed in Mahajanga in the north and Toliara in the south, respectively controlling the western grassland area and the southern arid grassland area.

Although both belong to the tropical savanna climate, the internal differences in the tropical savanna climate are extremely large. The rainfall in southern Madagascar is similar to Dodoma, less than six hundred millimeters, while the west is much better, almost on par with Mozambique on the opposite shore.

Therefore, the main economic model of the black people in southern Madagascar is mainly nomadic animal husbandry, while the west is mainly hunting and gathering.

East Africa was not in a hurry to develop Madagascar. Grain could be completely transported from the east to Madagascar by sea.

As for the local black people, they were controlled by East Africa to build military camps, roads and other infrastructure to ensure the control of the East African Defense Force over the Madagascar Military Control Zone.

And for this sudden neighbor, the most nervous was actually the Imerina Kingdom. The Imerina Kingdom also knew about East Africa’s fierce record in the South African region.

Therefore, the Imerina Kingdom was extremely nervous about this “evil neighbor” at first, but with the guarantee of the British government and two months of observation, the Imerina Kingdom accepted East Africa’s military presence on Madagascar.

At the same time, the Prime Minister of the Imerina Kingdom, Rainilaiarivony, sent a diplomatic mission to East Africa to seek to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Now the Imerina Kingdom is under the rule of Queen Ranavalona III, but most of the country’s main policies are formulated by her second husband, Rainilaiarivony. It was also during the Rainilaiarivony period that the Imerina Kingdom became more open and civilized.

However, it was too late for the Imerina Kingdom to transform at this time, and coupled with its weak strength, it was unable to get rid of the control and invasion of Britain and France.

The addition of East Africa allowed the Imerina Kingdom to see a new breakthrough. They hoped to balance the relationship between Britain, France and East Africa, so as to achieve the security of the Imerina Kingdom.

November 6, 1889

Just as East Africa had not completely completed its military operations on Madagascar, the Imerina Kingdom mission arrived in Dar es Salaam and was received by the East African government.

East African officials did not show much interest in this African “powerhouse” that had been hiding on Madagascar.

However, East Africa naturally welcomed countries that took the initiative to establish diplomatic relations with East Africa. In fact, since the South African War.

East Africa’s diplomatic environment has undergone tremendous changes, and more and more countries are choosing to befriend East Africa, this newly emerging world power.

Including the United States, whose relations with East Africa had deteriorated due to racial issues, also re-established diplomatic relations with East Africa.

Asian countries such as the Far East Empire completely placed East Africa in the same position as powers such as Britain, France and Germany. Japan also lurked again.

Japan has always harbored illusions about the southern Ryukyu Islands. After the start of the South African War, it was even more eager to make trouble. However, the outcome of the South African War was beyond Japan’s expectations. This forced Japan, which has always “admired the strong,” to continue to “keep its head down and act small.”

At this time, Japan had not yet gotten rid of its inferiority complex, especially after the baptism of war. Although it had gained many advantages in the Korean region, it had not fought against the world’s major powers.

The national strength in the same period was also slightly weaker than in history. However, Ernst knew that Japan at this time was actually qualified to fight against any force except the great powers.

Of course, it was only limited to this. The catalyst for Japan’s development was the war reparations obtained after the Sino-Japanese War. Before that, even if Japan tried its best to save money, it would not be able to compete with the world’s great powers.

Of course, empires like the Ottoman Empire or the Far East Empire, although they belong to the great powers, can only be regarded as pseudo-great powers. And don’t look at Japan’s small national size, in fact, Japan is already the number one maritime power in East Asia.

Although the Far East Empire’s navy is good, it is inferior to Japan in terms of marine economy, civilian shipbuilding and other aspects. This is also the advantage of Japan as an island country.

Of course, the real difference between the two countries is actually mainly a matter of mentality. The Far East Empire has always been wary of the ocean. Many open ports were forced to open, and this is still the case today. The different attitudes towards the ocean naturally led to Japan’s rise in the western Pacific region. If they had been more decisive and dealt with Japan a few years earlier, Japan’s fragile economy would not have had the opportunity to rise again.

Chapter 816: 1890 Agricultural Development Report

This possibility was only a few years ago. Currently, the Japanese Navy has developed, and it is basically impossible for the Far East Empire Navy to “handle” them again.

Throughout the 1880s, the navies of the United States, Japan, and the Far East Empire all expanded. The East African Navy has lagged behind in this regard, but with the end of the South African War, Ernst does not plan to focus on military expansion anymore.

Moreover, due to the high military expenditures caused by a year of intense warfare, and the impact of the war on East Africa’s foreign trade, East Africa suffered significant economic losses.

After the war with Britain, East Africa’s surrounding environment will be safe for the next twenty years, so East Africa should wholeheartedly develop its economy in the next decade, especially promoting industrial upgrades.

…

First Township.

The Ministry of Agriculture is reporting to Ernst on the current state of agricultural development in East Africa.

Minister of Agriculture Augustine said: “In the past twenty years, our country’s agriculture has achieved brilliant results. In the 1880s alone, a total of sixty million hectares of arable land were newly opened up, which is two to three times more than the total arable land area of Germany (at this time, Germany’s area was larger than in later generations). The total arable land area of the country reached one hundred and twenty million hectares.”

East African officials have always liked to use Germany as a data reference. In addition to East Africa’s national attributes, the most important thing is that East Africa only understands Germany best.

One hundred and forty million hectares is about eighteen billion mu of land. Of course, East Africa’s land scale is completely dwarfed by the United States. The United States has about forty billion mu, and may even exceed fifty billion mu.

Because the United States had not experienced the ravages of the “Dust Bowl” at this time, it did not pay attention to environmental issues. Coupled with the Western development movement, the arable land area of the United States doubled compared to the 1860s, and at that time, the arable land in the United States had already exceeded twenty billion mu.

East Africa has been more conservative in its land development. Although the expansion speed is not slow, it also returned a lot of areas “unsuitable” for agricultural development in the 1880s. These areas are generally mainly due to water source and other issues.

While East Africa’s arable land area is only half of that of the United States, its population may not be less than that of the United States. In 1890, the population of the United States was more than sixty million, while East Africa had at least no less than fifty million. After all, ten years ago, the population of East Africa had already exceeded thirty million, and with the addition of blacks, it directly exceeded fifty million. Now, with the addition of Mozambique and Angola, the total population of East Africa (including blacks) is likely to be close to or exceed sixty million or even seventy million.

That is to say, East Africa relies on half the arable land area of the United States to feed almost the same population.

Of course, the account cannot be calculated in this way. The United States has been in North America for more than a hundred years, and the colonial history of Spain, France, and Britain before that has directly exceeded several hundred years (Spain set up a colonial stronghold in Florida in 1565).

Secondly, American agriculture is more inclined to commercialization, rather than for the so-called “food and clothing” problem. For example, a large number of American agricultural products are actually invested in livestock feed and industrial production raw materials. East Africa certainly cannot reach the American level in this regard.

Of course, East Africa’s agricultural development is not to solve the “food and clothing” problem, but Ernst first based it on the issue of food security in East Africa’s national security, and then vigorously developed economic crop agriculture.

A large amount of East Africa’s arable land is used to produce tropical economic crops, avoiding competition with the United States, the world’s leading agricultural power.

If it relies solely on grain cultivation, East Africa will not be able to gain an advantage in the international agricultural market at all. Not to mention the United States, even Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and Russia are agricultural powers. No matter how much grain East Africa produces, it is difficult to squeeze into this market.

The most important thing is the channel problem. East Africa has a short history, and what it lacks most in the traditional agricultural field is channels. Therefore, concentrating its efforts on developing tropical economic crop cultivation is the only way for East Africa to play a role in the international agricultural market. As for the grain market, it can only be developed slowly.

“However, the overall development level of our country’s agriculture is still at a low level, especially in the fields of mechanization and fertilizers, which are far behind the powerful European and American countries.”

“As of 1889, the total number of agricultural harvesters in our country is more than seven thousand three hundred, and more than five thousand were imported from Austria and Germany. Only less than two thousand were produced domestically, most of which were completed in the 1880s. In the early 1880s, the number of agricultural harvesters in Germany may have exceeded twenty thousand, and now it is probably around seventy or eighty thousand. The United States and Britain will only have more.”

Germany had more than twenty thousand harvesters in the early 1880s, and now it is almost the 1890s, so the number of agricultural harvesters in Germany has probably increased several times.

As of now, the total number of agricultural harvesters in East Africa has only reached more than seven thousand. This gap is too large. It should be known that Germany’s arable land area is far less than that of East Africa, only one-sixth of East Africa’s, but the number of agricultural harvesters is more than ten times that of East Africa.

Therefore, according to the unit area, the popularization rate of agricultural harvesters in East Africa is even less than one-seventieth of that of Germany.

“Now our country is vigorously promoting the research and development of internal combustion engine tractors, and has produced a total of fifty-three sets of internal combustion engine-powered tractors for pilot projects in various cities. This is an important breakthrough direction for our country to improve agricultural production efficiency.”

Agricultural tractors have always been a key development project in East Africa. Previously, tractors were mainly powered by steam, while East Africa is one of the well-deserved powers in the field of internal combustion engines.

“Of course, a distant water cannot quench the present thirst. The current government mainly promotes the promotion of large-scale draft livestock in rural areas. In the past ten years, the scale of our country’s animal husbandry has doubled, which has provided conditions for the development of rural areas and our country’s economic construction. In the window period when internal combustion engine tractors and other agricultural tools are popularized and promoted, animal power will probably still be the main source of power for our country’s agricultural development in the next twenty or thirty years.”

Of course, Augustine should also include the blacks. East Africa was able to almost double its arable land scale in the 1880s, thanks to the efforts of East African blacks.

Especially the construction of water conservancy projects, which provided the necessary conditions for East Africa to open up a large amount of high-quality arable land. The construction of water conservancy projects in the developed agricultural areas of central and eastern East Africa and Somalia has become increasingly perfect.

To complete such a large-scale project in such a short period of ten years, in this era where it can only be completed by manpower, the price paid is unimaginable. The construction of water conservancy projects has even become the project with the highest death rate for East African blacks, far exceeding railway construction.

Although the railway construction in East Africa is not slow, the amount of railway construction is destined not to be comparable to the widespread construction of water conservancy projects. Many places in East Africa are starting from scratch. A large number of rivers and swamps need to be dealt with. At the same time, more irrigation canals need to be excavated, and a large number of reservoirs need to be built, and so on.

The suffering of blacks within East Africa is far from over. For example, a large amount of land in Mozambique suitable for agricultural development is still waiting for East Africa to invest a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources to develop and build.

Ernst is very satisfied with the report from the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture is the foundation of a country. East Africa’s agricultural development has reached his psychological expectations. Of course, this is only the first step in East Africa’s agricultural development, and the first step has not yet been finally completed.

East Africa still has a large amount of arable land that has not been effectively utilized, and Ernst believes that East Africa’s land resources should increase by at least one billion mu, if not on par with the United States, it should not be too far behind, ensuring the third position in the world.

Currently, the world’s first is Britain, and the second is the United States, but most of Britain’s territory is colonies. If only comparing the homeland, the United States far exceeds other countries.

The arable land area of Tsarist Russia cannot expand as rapidly as East Africa. As a frigid zone country, Tsarist Russia has fewer optional crop varieties, and cannot fully invest in tropical economic crop cultivation like East Africa. Traditional grain cultivation has not been very profitable in recent years because international grain prices have remained low.

Chapter 817: East African Granary

Timely updates on agricultural conditions each year are a crucial task for the East African government, as agriculture is one of the main sources of government revenue. Moreover, East African agriculture is still developing, with constant increases occurring annually, making timely data updates essential.

Ernst stated, “Now that the war is over, the focus of East Africa’s development must return to the economic front. Agriculture is a vital guarantee for industrial and economic development, so maintaining the stable and orderly development of East African agriculture after resolving the security crisis is a key task for all agricultural departments.”

Undoubtedly, agriculture is one of the cornerstones of East Africa’s economic development. In the future, East Africa’s industrial development will inevitably require more funds and raw materials from agriculture.

The best approach is to continuously increase agricultural production and exports. As for causing a drop in international grain and agricultural raw material prices, that is not East Africa’s primary concern.

Just like how the Far East Empire in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries devoted all its efforts to developing cheap labor factories, it was actually a desperate choice. If you don’t even engage in the most basic labor-intensive industries, there are plenty of others abroad who will, and their labor costs are even cheaper.

Once you miss the opportunity, the industrial transfer from Europe and the United States will shift towards regions like India and Africa. At worst, the United States can transfer towards South America and the Middle East.

Unlike the twenty-first century, agriculture in the nineteenth century was still the main source of income for most countries, and also the only channel for the initial capital accumulation of non-colonial countries.

Therefore, East Africa’s economic development inevitably requires drawing from agriculture. The hard work East Africa has put into agriculture over the past two decades is actually cultivating its own domestic ability to generate wealth.

Of course, East Africa also has other sources of income, among which mineral resources are as important as agriculture, especially East Africa’s precious metal resources, namely gold mining.

However, this mainly serves as a supplement to East Africa’s economic development. If it relies solely on selling minerals as its main source of income, East Africa’s fate will be no different from those resource-dependent countries in its previous life.

Ernst’s primary goal is still to ensure that the East African people are “active,” maintaining their productivity, and extracting surplus value, thereby ensuring the orderly development of the entire country’s social atmosphere.

Therefore, East Africans lack the tens of thousands of “rags to riches” stories like in the United States, but they can concentrate national power to lead industrial development more effectively. As for the difference between national wealth and personal wealth, in Ernst’s view, East Africans have no right to bargain.

Because East Africa is a monarchical country, national wealth does not mean Ernst’s wealth. This money is mainly led by the East African government and fully invested in the country’s economic operations.

Ernst himself has not taken money from national funds for the Hechengen royal family, which is the greatest example. Of course, backed by the Hechengen Consortium, the Hechengen royal family is still incredibly wealthy, but the scale of the Hechengen Consortium is no longer comparable to the collective of state-owned enterprises under the East African government.

…

The Great Lakes Region.

While Ernst was calculating his assets, Constantine visited the Great Lakes Region for the third time to inspect it. Since Constantine stepped down from his important position, his favorite thing to do is wander around East Africa, while also inspecting and lecturing local governments.

“The Great Lakes are the seas on our East African plateau. Building the water conservancy of the Great Lakes Basin is a century-long plan for the entire Great Lakes Basin,” Constantine said, looking at the vibrant farmland.

Windmills slowly turned in the breeze, creaking and groaning, guiding the lake water to flow towards the shore, then flowing from iron pipes into troughs, and injecting into irrigation canals, watering the land on the shore.

Now, the various agricultural facilities in the Great Lakes Region are more complete, the fields are well-organized, the rivers and canals are crisscrossed, the houses are neatly arranged, and farmers and livestock roam in the fields, creating a prosperous scene of a “land of fish and rice.”

Graham, an official from West Great Lakes Province, assured Constantine, “Water conservancy construction has always been the focus of our West Great Lakes Province’s development. In the past ten years, West Great Lakes Province has undergone earth-shaking changes, and most of these changes are guaranteed by water conservancy construction.”

In fact, as a major agricultural province, the West Great Lakes Provincial Government can only put more effort into agriculture, because East Africa’s industry is mainly concentrated in the coastal and central regions, and the West Great Lakes Province, located deep inland, does not even have a chance.

Of course, the resource endowment of West Great Lakes Province is not entirely bad, and it has the ability to develop industry, but it pales in comparison to the central and southern provinces.

However, the gold mining in West Great Lakes Province is indeed the first in East Africa. The area around the Great Lakes is an important gold mine distribution area in East Africa, so the two provinces in the Great Lakes Region are currently the main gold producing areas in East Africa.

However, gold production is directly managed vertically by an important government-appointed agency in East Africa, and West Great Lakes Province does not get any benefits from it.

“In the entire 1980s, our province refined the management of 170,000 square kilometers of river basins within its borders, newly cultivated more than 43.5 million acres of arable land, built 2,923 kilometers of river embankments, dredged and renovated 3,451 kilometers of river channels, built 5,487 sluices, excavated 30,000 kilometers of artificial canals, and built 586 large, medium, and small reservoirs. Grain output has tripled compared to the 1970s,” Graham proudly recounted the construction achievements of West Great Lakes Province.

Constantine was also very interested in these, and he said, “Being able to achieve such construction achievements in ten years, I am afraid that few countries in the world can compare. You have done a good job.”

In fact, any of the famous great powers in the 19th century of his previous life developed well, but their development paths were different from East Africa’s. East Africa embodies the style of a large government everywhere, and everything is promoted and led by the government, similar to Germany.

The opposite example is the United States. In fact, the annual development of the United States is more exaggerated than any country in the world, but the economic data of the United States is scattered, and the private economy and local forces play a leading role.

For example, in terms of water conservancy construction, East Africa focuses on large-scale planning and coordinated regional development, while each state in the United States develops independently, and occasionally the central government coordinates cross-regional engineering construction. Therefore, as long as the data of the United States is summarized, it is not inferior to any country.

The weakness of the US central government in the national economy also means that its economic data is not easy to be directly reflected, but the East African government has a thorough understanding of the national development of East Africa.

Graham continued, “Now the cultivated land area of the entire West Great Lakes Region has reached more than 205 million acres, ranking second in the country, second only to North Great Lakes Province.”

By 1890, East Africa had cultivated more than 1.8 billion acres of arable land, and the provinces around the Great Lakes alone reached 900 million acres, accounting for half of East Africa’s arable land area, and the output of food crops even exceeded two-thirds of the national scale.

Of course, the provinces around the Great Lakes Region are a relatively broad range. For example, the southern Plateau Province is almost the main body of later Tanzania, with a considerable area, and the arable land area of North Great Lakes Province in the north, which is the former Uganda, is also very considerable.

Moreover, the area is mainly based on food crops, so the area around the Great Lakes is a veritable “East African granary,” with wheat and rice yields ranking first in the country.

The second is the coastal plain area. The coastal plain area is not small, but in recent years, agriculture has mainly shifted to cash crop cultivation, providing raw materials for eastern cities or directly participating in foreign trade.

Other areas such as the central, southern, northwest (Somalia), and northern regions have too small cultivated land scales to be compared with East Africa’s traditional three major grain production bases.

Chapter 818: The Maputo Railway

New Hamburg Port City.

October 29th, 1889.

With the flames of war extinguished, the construction of the south of East Africa has been put on the agenda. The first priority is to build a railway from New Hamburg Port City to Maputo, connecting Maputo to other cities in East Africa by rail.

This is the simplest way to connect Maputo with East Africa, requiring only the construction of a railway less than four hundred kilometers long to link Maputo, the former capital of Mozambique, to the East African railway network.

Of course, an east-west railway will definitely be built through Maputo in the future, to undertake the important task of providing a sea outlet for provinces such as Matabeleland in the central region.

However, Matabeleland is not particularly interested in Maputo. Their priority is the Beira region in central Mozambique.

Beira is one of the important seaports of Mozambique in its previous life. It is located directly west of Matabeleland and is the fastest sea route for Matabeleland.

For Matabeleland, Maputo is too far south. For Hechingen Province, Maputo is not the best option either, as the Drakensberg Mountains stand as a barrier between the two.

On the other hand, the terrain between New Hamburg Port City in the south and Hechingen Province is relatively flat, making the construction of the central railway easier. Connecting Maputo to the East African interior will have to wait for the future.

Under the current conditions, the East African Navy is actually the most interested in Maputo. They plan to concentrate the naval forces of New Hamburg Port City in the Maputo area.

The reason why Maputo was able to become a Portuguese military fortress in the western Indian Ocean speaks volumes about its importance. The port conditions are also unmatched along the entire eastern coast of East Africa.

Its economic role is secondary. Like Mozambique in its previous life, Maputo’s location is too far south. If it were not the political center, it would at most radiate to the southern plains of Mozambique.

This is a historical inertia. Just like if the capital of German East Africa had not been moved from Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo might have been the most economically developed area in the continental part of Tanzania in its previous life.

In the fields between New Hamburg Port and Maputo Port, rails are neatly stacked on the grass. The distance from New Hamburg Port to Maputo is not long, and the terrain is very flat, so the railway construction is not difficult.

These rails are all produced by the New Hamburg Port City Steel Plant. As an important coal base in East Africa, New Hamburg Port City is also one of the important steel production bases.

The iron ore in New Hamburg Port City is mainly imported from other places. This is similar to most coastal cities in East Africa. With the end of the South African War and the reopening of shipping routes, cheap iron ore from India and the Middle East is obviously cheaper than from the inland.

Along the three hundred plus kilometers from New Hamburg Port to Maputo, black railway workers can be seen working everywhere. They wear simple work clothes and swing sledgehammers to hammer the rivets at the joints of the rails.

As a technical job, even black railway workers need to be trained. Therefore, this group of black railway workers was actually brought from the east, rather than simply conscripting a group of black slaves locally to start work.

There are more than two hundred thousand black railway workers in East Africa, most of whom are front-line workers. Apart from the black workers, there are actually only about one hundred and fifty thousand official railway employees in East Africa.

Of course, a large number of temporary workers are used during railway construction, and East Africa cleverly assigns these floating jobs to black laborers, maintaining the stability of East African railway employees.

This situation is very common in East Africa, and it has also led to some skilled black people staying in East Africa for longer periods of time, but the casualty figures are also relatively high.

The number of employees in the East African railway system alone exceeds the number of workers in the entire Far East Empire at the same time, and is one of the symbols of East Africa’s basic industrialization.

Of course, the large number of railway workers in East Africa is related to the fact that the railway is a pillar industry in East Africa. Similar industries include the steel industry, the power industry, the machinery manufacturing industry, and the military industry.

However, there is still a huge gap compared with European and American countries. In European and American countries, especially in Western Europe, the industrial population has already surpassed the agricultural population, while East Africa is just starting out.

Currently, the number of workers in East Africa exceeds one million, mainly thanks to the policy changes in East Africa in the nineteen seventies and nineteen eighties, as well as the siphon effect on unemployed people in Germany and the United States during the economic crisis, which allowed East Africa to quickly shorten the gap with developed countries.

This is similar to how the Soviet Union achieved industrialization with only two five-year plans during the Great Depression of the nineteen thirties in its previous life. The opportunity of history is very important.

However, the economic crisis of eighteen seventy-three is obviously not comparable to that world crisis, and cannot become a springboard for East African industry. So far, the industrial population of East Africa accounts for about five percent of the national population, and this is a conservative estimate without counting the nearly twenty million black people, so East Africa still has a long way to go in industrialization.

Of course, according to the current size of East Africa, about five percent is about two to three million people, which is more than the total population of some countries in the world. This is an effective proof of the so-called “big is strong” theory.

In its previous life, India, as a “world power,” although its economic level was poor, was the world’s number one power under the five permanent members of the Security Council. With the decline of Britain and France, it may not be more advantageous than India.

Of course, if you delve into India’s combat effectiveness, many countries in East Asia are definitely stronger than India. Ernst never doubts this. Even if Vietnam goes to war with India, without using nuclear weapons, the two sides may be evenly matched.

This is not nonsense, but is based on the national character of the Indian people. As a typical tropical country, the social efficiency of Indian society is basically at the same level as that of Africa and Southeast Asia. Among tropical countries, the most efficient is Singapore, followed by Vietnam.

In a humid environment, it is difficult to cheer people up. This is very obvious in some parts of East Africa. The most typical are the Nile Basin and the Congo Rainforest.

For example, the reason why Juba, the provincial capital of the Nile Province, can become East Africa’s training ground is not because the environment is superior, but because it is too difficult.

An army that can maintain daily training in Juba can exert stronger combat power in even more difficult conditions in the future.

After all, the southern environment of the Nile Basin is too humid and hot. The entire region is like a “steamer.” It is very difficult to live in this environment three hundred and sixty-five days a year.

Although East Africa is a tropical region, most areas have a dry climate. For example, the capital, First Town City, occasionally has high temperatures in summer, but the humidity is not high, and it can barely be considered a livable area.

This is also reflected in the Nile Province. The strongest economic area in the Nile Province is the northern Gezira Plain, and the Gezira Plain and its surrounding areas have a typical tropical desert climate, belonging to the edge of the Sahara Desert, which is more suitable for agricultural production activities and industrial development.

The highland areas of East Africa have even more obvious climatic advantages, naturally dry, with suitable rainfall and evaporation, and flat and open terrain. The highland areas with the eastern and central regions as the core are also the most densely populated and economically developed areas in East Africa.

In the future, the South African plateau, as well as Mozambique, and the highland areas of western Angola will also be the focus of East Africa’s development. Climatic factors are one of the important prerequisites.

Chapter 819: Population in 1890

The First Township.

The year is now early 1890, and the population data for East Africa has been updated again. In reality, if it weren’t for the war, the East African population data should have been completed last year in July or August.

Since East Africa’s population statistics were changed to be calculated every ten years, 1889 marked exactly ten years since the last East African census. However, it was delayed by a few months due to the war.

In 1879, the population of East Africa was fifty million, including thirty million citizens and nearly twenty million Black people. Now, ten years have passed.

“As of last December, the total population of East Africa has exceeded fifty-two million, making our country one of the few countries in the world with a population exceeding fifty million, ranking after the Far Eastern Empire, Great Britain, Tsarist Russia, and the United States.”

“According to our estimates, the United States population should have already exceeded sixty million. As for Germany and Austria-Hungary, they should both be around forty million, with Germany possibly approaching fifty million, not far from us. Austria-Hungary should be slightly stronger than France, but Austria-Hungary’s population is about ten million less than ours.”

The current Austria-Hungary differs from its previous life in that it has more of the Venice region, so its population is higher than in original history, probably just over forty million.

Germany has consistently maintained a high birth rate, and there has been no population outflow in recent years, so its population is approaching fifty million, but it should not have exceeded it.

France continues to perform steadily, but it absorbed a significant number of people from Italy during the Italian War, so its population may be higher than in the same period.

The disintegration of Italy can be said to have made a significant contribution to the population increase of countries around the world, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Austria, and East Africa, all of which have benefited from the spillover of the Italian population.

If Italy had not disintegrated, it would at least be a major country with a population of over thirty million today.

Even so, the Kingdom of Italy still has a population of over ten million, and the Red Sea colony has greatly alleviated the Kingdom of Italy’s population pressure.

The Kingdom of Naples is much worse off. The Kingdom of Naples has a poor economic foundation, and its birth rate is the highest in the Apennine Peninsula. It has now replaced Germany as the region with the most severe population loss in Europe.

“Among the world’s top five most populous countries, Great Britain is a relatively special case, because the population of the British Indian colony exceeds two hundred million. If France includes its colonies, then the total population of France is estimated to exceed ours.”

Including the French colonies, the total population of France should be around seventy million, directly surpassing the United States to rank fourth in the world.

The colonial population should be one of the main factors that enable Britain and France to dominate the world landscape. Although Tsarist Russia also has a large indigenous population, many of Tsarist Russia’s territories are actually no different from colonies, especially parts of Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

“Currently, the number of Black people in our country is still unclear, because the population data of Mozambique and Angola has not been fully counted, but it should not exceed four million. If the Black population in the two places is calculated at four million, then the Black population in our country is about twenty-one million.”

Including the Black population, the population of East Africa directly exceeds seventy million, which is basically on par with France, including the colonial population, and directly exceeds the total population of the United States. Therefore, the population of East Africa is still stable in the top five in the world.

However, this also makes the East African officials feel very uncomfortable. After ten years of development, the number of Black people has not decreased but increased.

However, these Black people can no longer cause any trouble. East African citizens are already close to twice the Black population. Even if Black people can fight for rights in the future, it is impossible to change the East African population structure.

Obviously, the East African government will not give Black people this opportunity at all. The policy of “emptying the cage and replacing the birds” will continue to be implemented until the last drop of blood is completely replaced.

Ernst then said: “Our attitude towards Black people is as always, we can only use them, not count them as part of the East African nation. It is now the 1890s, and within the next thirty years, we must completely eliminate the Black population of East Africa.”

The country in the world that adopts the same national policy as East Africa is Argentina, and many countries and regions with Black people have actually become accustomed to coexisting with Black people.

The most typical examples are Brazil and the United States. Brazil officially abolished slavery some time ago, which means that the future population structure of Brazil is completely finalized. Although the status of Black people in the United States is still low, they have been integrated into American society. Of course, this integration refers to integration into the lower class of society.

Although East Africa has only twice as many Black people as the United States, under Ernst’s special care, the Black population in the United States has exceeded nine million, accounting for about fourteen percent of the United States population, while historically it was eleven percent.

The Black population in the United States will continue to increase in the future, because after the East African truce, the slave trade between East Africa and Haiti has been reopened.

In addition, after the South African War, the relationship between the United States and East Africa was reconciled, which made it easier for East Africa to “add bricks and tiles” to the economic construction of the United States.

In the 1870s and 1880s, East Africa took advantage of the economic crisis to obtain a large number of German people from the United States, but returned nearly two million Black people, so the United States still made a profit.

Of course, East Africa did not intercept many German people from the United States. For example, one-third of New York’s population is now of German descent, and the United States still has six or seven million German people.

The United States is still the country with the fourth largest German population after Germany, Austria-Hungary, and East Africa. Today, the main foreign population in the United States is Italians (including the Kingdom of Naples), Black people (mainly from East Africa), and Irish people.

The Irish are once again exporting to the United States on a large scale, which is largely related to British Prime Minister Cecil.

In the 1870s, the issue of Irish autonomy had become the focus of Britain. During Gladstone’s rule, the Irish issue was not resolved, and then Cecil came to power.

Cecil is a hardliner. Like launching the South African War, Cecil adopted a repressive national policy towards Ireland. Therefore, during Cecil’s rule, Ireland launched a new round of resistance movements, and the turbulent situation triggered a new wave of immigration among ordinary Irish people.

However, now Cecil has stepped down due to the failure of the South African War, and Gladstone has successfully formed a new cabinet.

Therefore, the relationship between Britain and Ireland will ease next, and the problem of Irish population loss will be alleviated to a certain extent.

This is also good news for East Africa. If people all over the world run to the United States, it will increase the difficulty for East Africa to export population to the United States.

However, the Black people issue is still severe. The twenty million Black people in East Africa is not a small number. According to the current number of Black people exported abroad, East Africa’s work is still very long. However, Ernst already has a new idea for this, which is to increase the amount of population exported to West Africa.

Although East Africa currently lacks labor, it is mainly due to the population structure. There are too many newborns in East Africa, and the cost of raising them is high, which is the main reason why East Africa maintains the Black population.

But in just about fifteen years, the new generation of East Africa will be able to completely take on the burden. At that time, East Africa will not need to retain a large Black population at all.

In addition, with the passage of time, the development of industries such as internal combustion engines and electricity will improve production efficiency. Even if the population of East Africa remains unchanged, it can slowly eliminate Black people. After all, the important reason for the decline of the modern slave trade is the development of industry and the improvement of production efficiency. East Africa will also experience this process.

Chapter 820: Purchasing a Warship

Germany, Stettin.

Stettin is one of Germany’s important port cities. It might not sound familiar, but in my previous life, it had a more well-known “Polish” name—Szczecin.

This is the birthplace of Catherine II, the Russian Empress and creator of the Russian Empire. Her father was a prince in the Kingdom of Prussia.

The name Szczecin also appeared in the famous “Iron Curtain” speech, when Churchill declared, “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent,” a witness to the Cold War.

Of course, in my previous life, these two cities, Szczecin and Trieste, served as important port cities for Germany and Austria-Hungary respectively, and their fates were quite similar.

Germany was obviously slightly better off; no matter how much it was divided, it still existed, while the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated after World War I, so the issue of nationalism was always taken seriously by Ernst.

“Count Hermann, our German shipbuilding technology is absolutely reliable. Just ten years ago, the Far Eastern Empire commissioned two first-class ironclad ships and three cruisers from our factory. They have been fully tested in the Far East and can completely meet the needs of the East African Navy. Therefore, you have come to the right place by choosing our Vulcan shipyard among the many shipyards in Germany.”

The Vulcan shipyard is where the Beiyang Fleet ordered warships. Its predecessor was just a small shipbuilding factory founded in 1851.

However, Germany had not yet unified in 1851, and the Prussian navy was very weak at the time, so the starting point of the Vulcan shipyard was not low in Germany. At that time, it was a modern shipbuilding pioneer in the Kingdom of Prussia, which had not yet unified Germany.

Moreover, the parent company of the Vulcan shipyard not only manufactured ships for military and civilian use, but also manufactured railway equipment, making it a relatively powerful military industrial enterprise in the Prussian region.

After the unification of Germany, it developed rapidly and became one of the leading shipyards in the country. The biggest achievement of the factory was obviously building two world-class ironclad ships for the Far Eastern Empire in the 1880s.

Prior to this, the Vulcan shipyard had never actually built large ironclad ships. In this respect, it was not as good as the Bagamoyo shipyard in East Africa. Moreover, the Vulcan shipyard had many competitors, and its ability to stand out was entirely due to the purchases made by the Far Eastern Empire in the 1880s.

The Vulcan shipyard is located in Bredow, a suburb of Stettin (Szczecin), in the lower reaches of the Oder River in central Prussia.

Now, the director of the shipyard, Wells, is trying his best to promote the factory’s business to East Africa, but the East African Foreign Minister, Hermann, is obviously not very interested in Wells’ words.

“Director Wells, we do not doubt your factory’s technology and manufacturing capabilities, but we only need to order one ironclad ship as a supplement to the navy. At this stage, East Africa’s demand for the navy is not too strong.” Count Hermann said euphemistically.

The navy, as a money-guzzling beast, will never be satisfied. Of course, the more warships, the better, but the East African Navy obviously does not represent the attitude of the East African government.

With the South African War as a beautiful founding battle, East Africa can be said to be very safe in the short term, so East Africa has also begun to work on demobilization.

The navy is currently retiring four ironclad ships in one go. Of course, as compensation, three ironclad ships with the latest technology will be introduced as a supplement.

East Africa is preparing to build one ship itself, and the remaining two will be introduced from Germany and Austria-Hungary respectively. In addition to absorbing the advanced technology of its peers, it will also facilitate the East African Navy to further broaden its horizons.

Most of East Africa’s ironclad ships were built in the 1860s and 1870s, and most of them are now outdated. Of course, as the world’s top naval military industry, the backwardness of ironclad ship technology is only relative to the great powers, and it can still exert deterrence in other regions.

Two of the East African Navy’s retired warships are prepared to be sold at a price of six hundred thousand taels of silver, according to the pre-war transaction with the Far Eastern Empire, with an average price of only three hundred thousand taels, which is basically equivalent to giving them away for free.

However, if the East African Navy wants to develop, keeping these ironclad ships will not lay any golden eggs. Letting them “retire” in the Far Eastern waters is a good place to go. Otherwise, they can only be dismantled or used for target practice.

Of course, this deal is definitely a bargain for the Far Eastern Empire, because the East African retired warships have not been in service for long, and the earliest ones are no more than twenty years old.

The cost performance is still very high, and they can still serve for more than ten years with a little maintenance. Even selling them as scrap metal can recover some of the cost.

German shipbuilding technology may be stronger than that of East Africa, but it is limited, especially the Vulcan shipyard. The Hechingen Consortium itself has its own shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, so East Africa is fully capable of obtaining some German shipbuilding technology.

The special feature of the Vulcan shipyard is its reputation. As for its strength, it is actually on par with East Africa. Of course, with the support of Germany’s strength and education, the future development of the Vulcan shipyard should not be bad.

Therefore, East African officials such as Count Hermann are not very interested in introducing warships from the Vulcan shipyard, but the Vulcan shipyard has the ability to independently build ironclad ships after all, and many technologies have their own originality, so it is still worth East African Navy’s reference.

If it were not for this purpose, East Africa could completely hand over the order to the Hechingen shipyard in Hamburg. Of course, the Hamburg branch of the Hechingen shipyard is not as strong as before, and one of the reasons is that it mainly focuses on commercial ships.

After all, the development of East Africa’s local shipbuilding industry mainly relies on transferring elite soldiers and strong generals from Venice and Hamburg. In this way, the development of the Venice and Hamburg shipyards is naturally limited.

However, Germany and Austria are both world-class powers. With the resources and education systems of the two countries, the Hamburg and Venice shipyards are still developing well and can still be ranked in the two countries.

“That’s a pity. The strength of the East African Navy is worthy of respect. It is an honor for many shipyards to produce warships for a navy with real combat experience. In this regard, I am a little envious of the Trieste Royal Shipyard.”

In the South African War, the East African Navy performed well. Although it only fought to a draw and even suffered a slight loss, it depends on who the opponent is.

The two most powerful navies in the world are currently Britain and France. It is very surprising that the East African Navy can confront the British Royal Navy head-on.

This also makes the Austro-Hungarian military industry and shipbuilding industry proud, because most of the East African Navy’s main warships are built by Austria-Hungary, or the technology comes from Austria-Hungary.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy originally had the Battle of Lissa as a battle record, while Germany was far behind in this regard.

Therefore, the fact that East Africa was able to order warships from the Vulcan shipyard itself made the Vulcan shipyard feel a little surprised.

“Director Wells, you don’t need to be too frustrated. The development of Germany’s shipbuilding industry is obvious to all. It can be said that the development of the German navy is the fastest in the world. Taking your factory as an example, being able to defeat Britain in the entire 1880s and win the order from the Far Eastern Empire can be said to be a source of pride within the industry. Now Germany is simply lacking opportunities for actual combat.” Count Hermann comforted.

Although the East African Navy has also developed extremely rapidly, it is very dependent on the technological support of Austria-Hungary, while Germany has been more creative and independent from the beginning, so Germany is still much stronger than East Africa in this field.

Moreover, what East Africa lacks most is the system, especially the shortage of high-end talents, which is closely related to the short development time of East Africa’s education system. The East African Navy is half bought and half built.

Especially in the 1870s, it was very eager for quick success and instant benefits. The East African Navy directly tried to get fat with one bite, and has not been fully digested to this day.

Chapter 821: Military Cuts

Of course, the East African navy’s construction in the 1970s was also a matter of necessity. Ernst also wanted to develop it gradually, but knowing the world situation, he had no room for hesitation.

At that time, the East African navy’s demand was to be able to take shape in a short period of time and form combat effectiveness in order to cope with the severe national defense situation in the 1980s.

After all, Ernst knew that the 1980s were a peak period for the great powers to expand around the world, and the African continent was a key area. Therefore, under such circumstances, the East African navy must have a certain scale and strength in order to safeguard East Africa’s real interests. Obviously, building a relatively strong navy in a short period of time would come at a price.

Fortunately, the East African navy successfully completed its historical mission, resisting the pressure of the British Royal Navy in the South African War.

The East African navy took shape in the 1970s and began to form combat effectiveness in the 1980s. If it were like the Far Eastern Empire, the United States, and Japan, which only began to expand their navies in the 1980s, the East African navy would probably have found it very difficult to confront the British Royal Navy in the South African War. After all, adapting to warships and naval training is also a relatively long process.

Now, according to Ernst’s judgment, East Africa’s dangerous period has passed, so the East African army and navy’s military reduction is inevitable. In addition to the need to reduce expenditure, there is also the consideration of recovering funds.

Especially the large amount of weapons and equipment that were outdated or captured in the South African War should be sold off immediately while they can still fetch a good price.

Of course, the East African navy has a certain degree of domestic production capacity, and it still needs to continue importing warships from Germany and Austria. Apart from political factors, the more important thing is to absorb the advanced experience and technology of other countries.

In the field of experience and technology, there is no doubt that the most powerful is still Britain. The reason why East Africa did not introduce warships from Britain is quite a humblebrag: East Africa captured two British warships and sank three in the South African War.

After the South African War, East Africa did not return them to the British government. After all, six million pounds was not enough for East Africa to recoup its costs. These two British warships were just used to make up for the losses in the South African War.

In fact, one of the three sunken warships has already been successfully salvaged, which means that the East African navy has three advanced British warships in active service, including two ironclad ships and one cruiser.

Of these three warships, two were severely damaged and are undergoing major repairs. As for the ironclad ship that was salvaged, it has been dismantled and studied by the technical personnel of the Bagamoyo Shipyard.

If you count the two British warships that are about to enter service with the East African navy, plus the East African government’s shipbuilding plan for the next few years, the East African navy’s losses are actually not that great, and it has even completed a small-scale upgrade.

However, after this upgrade, the East African navy has changed from being dominated by Austria-Hungary to a situation where Britain, Austria, and Germany are in a three-way standoff. The East African navy will fully compare the advantages and disadvantages of the warships of the three navies based on their actual combat effectiveness, and then provide feedback to the Bagamoyo and other shipyards.

Now, what is lacking is French warships as a reference. As for Tsarist Russia and the United States, they can be completely ignored. Tsarist Russia and the United States are not too strong in technology and are at the same level as East Africa. Tsarist Russia has a poor level of industrialization and low naval investment, while the United States does not pay much attention to military development. Although the United States Navy also achieved great development in the 1980s, before that, the United States Navy can be said to have developed in a “paralyzed” manner. Since the end of the Civil War, the United States has basically had no investment in the military, and the naval development in the 1980s was still due to the current international environment.

After all, in the 1980s, European expansion activities were too frequent and intense. No other region or country in the world was not afraid. Any country with eyes was expanding its military.

As for countries and regions that are blind to the situation, their future will be the same as West Africa. The great powers will divide the place with knives and forks, leaving nothing behind.

……

First Township.

Every time a major war ends, Ernst starts to cut the military. This has almost become a rule, and in 1890, the East African Defense Force was still doing so.

Ernst: “In the next ten years, the size of the navy will remain unchanged. The main task is to slowly replace the current main warships. According to the construction time and other parameters, arrange for retirement. Maintaining the current navy size is enough to ensure our country’s maritime security.”

“Of course, considering that our country has recently acquired the colonies of Angola and Mozambique, thereby obtaining more coastline and ports, the navy’s defense pressure is actually greater. On this point, my opinion is to develop more small and medium-sized and multi-purpose ships to make up for the shortcomings of the East African navy in this area.”

The development of the East African navy in small and medium-sized warships and multi-purpose ships has always been relatively backward, such as torpedo boats, supply ships, troop carriers, and so on.

Therefore, the arrangement for the navy in this military reduction is actually not increasing but decreasing. It has not achieved the purpose of “military reduction,” but has instead achieved a certain strengthening of the navy.

Of course, this is also as it should be. After all, East Africa is now a truly two-ocean country, or even a three-ocean country. The navy simply cannot be reduced. Even increasing the budget would not be an exaggeration.

However, while maintaining the overall size of the navy, the East African navy is still among the top ten in the world, so there is no need to expand too much. This also conforms to the current level of economic development in East Africa.

Like Japan, investing in naval construction regardless of cost is actually a serious burden on the national economy. This is also an important reason why Japan is keen on war. If it does not plunder from other places, the Japanese economy will collapse on its own.

In this regard, East Africa and the United States have a similar attitude, that is, enough is enough. Of course, East Africa has always been more active in military construction than the United States. After all, in Ernst’s view, military development is a long-term need and cannot be directly suspended due to short-term interests.

“As for the army, it should be reduced to the pre-war level. After solving the problems of Angola and Mozambique, our country’s land defense pressure has been greatly reduced. The border line has been shortened by nearly three thousand kilometers. At the same time, the Portuguese have been eliminated, and we have a dozen fewer troops with threatening deployments around us. There is no need to deploy a large number of troops on the border in a tit-for-tat manner.”

The incorporation of Angola and Mozambique has completely changed East Africa’s national defense security situation. Instead, the north has become the focus of East Africa’s future land defense.

However, the threat in northern East Africa is completely dwarfed by the South African region before the South African War. The strongest force in the north is still the British, that is, their colony of Egypt.

However, Egypt and East Africa are separated by the Sahara Desert, which is a natural geographical barrier. Although South Sudan was historically part of Egypt, the South Sudan region is actually in a completely semi-independent state and can secede from Egypt at any time.

Now, East Africa only needs to deploy a small number of troops on the Gezira Plain to completely block Egypt’s (British) southward route. As for detouring through the Kordofan Plateau, it also faces the tropical rainforest area in the south. It is almost impossible to achieve without guides and sufficient material supplies. If an army can do it, it would be a “military miracle” worthy of being recorded in history.

As for the other forces in the north, there is even less to worry about. The strongest may be the Abyssinian Empire, but the Abyssinian Empire is too backward and has a good relationship with East Africa.

After the Boer Republic in the south was eliminated, East Africa completely controlled the north bank of the Orange River. According to the terrain, it completely got rid of the military and terrain disadvantages. Only a small number of troops are needed to defend against the military strength of the Cape Colony, and the Cape Colony probably will not have such thoughts after the South African War.

“Therefore, the final number of the Defense Force’s army should be maintained at around two hundred thousand. Of course, the newly formed cavalry units in the war can continue to be retained. The various military regions should cancel or mix some secondary units as appropriate.”

In this way, the East African army will almost cut half of its troops, but this is also within everyone’s psychological expectations. After all, with the lessons of the South African War, there are basically zero countries that dare to launch a direct war against East Africa.

Chapter 822: Cabinda

Cabinda.

As an important port established by Portugal in Angola, Cabinda was founded too late to compare with the cities of Luanda or Benguela.

Currently, Cabinda is actually a small Atlantic coastal village, or rather, a small military fortress, left behind by the Portuguese. Not only is it small in area, but its infrastructure is also incomplete.

Luanda and Benguela have more than a hundred years of development history, while Cabinda is a northern coastal fortress city that the Portuguese only began to build in the 1880s. If it weren’t for the Berlin Conference and the establishment of the Belgian colony, the Portuguese would not have been interested in this coastal rainforest area at all.

Of course, Cabinda has another important function, which is to contain the mouth of the Congo River. Previously, East Africa and Portugal were in a hostile relationship, so the Portuguese development of Cabinda also had the purpose of blocking East Africa from going to sea via the Congo River.

Now, East Africa has decided to expand and rebuild this Western coastal military stronghold, which is only the size of a fishing village.

“The Portuguese stronghold in Cabinda is less than three hundred meters long from east to west, with an area of about five thousand square meters. There are only less than three hundred buildings in this area, and previously there were about one thousand people living there.”

East African city designer, Dierka, said to Balco, the military commander of Cabinda: “So the demolition work in Cabinda is not difficult. The difficulty lies in the huge rainforest surrounding it, which is not conducive to urban construction. Therefore, a large number of people are needed to cut down and destroy the tropical rainforest before space can be freed up to build the port of Cabinda.”

Currently, Cabinda is the garrison of the Fourth Regiment of the Second Brigade under the 331st Division. Balco is the commander of this regiment. During the South African War, the 331st Division captured this place, but Cabinda was too small to accommodate a large number of troops, so the Fourth Regiment stayed here.

In fact, it is difficult for a regiment of soldiers to be stationed here, because it is really difficult to transport supplies.

Previously, the 331st Division captured Cabinda by land, it can be said that they forced a small road out of the wilderness. Now this small road has been completely covered by vegetation, restoring the original appearance of the rainforest.

Now the main supplies of the Fourth Regiment are actually mainly transported by sea, bypassing Cape Town from New Hamburg Port and then transported to Cabinda.

In fact, this transportation route also includes ports and strongholds in Southwest Africa, mainly because sea transportation is more convenient and the cargo volume is large.

Luanda is more convenient, but Luanda destroyed all ships before the Portuguese evacuated, and land transportation is not convenient, especially the Congo River. Every crossing of the Congo River is actually an adventure.

The downstream of the Congo River is too turbulent and not suitable for small ferry boats to pass through. Of course, the root cause is that the downstream of the Congo River has not been developed at all. East Africa wants to cross the river directly and can only use local materials to build simple rafts. There is no problem with using this kind of raft temporarily, after all, time is tight during the war. Of course, the 331st Division had already completed the river crossing in Kinshasa, and there was no difficulty in going from Kinshasa to Brazzaville.

Of course, Kinshasa can also transport supplies, but Kinshasa itself has limited capabilities, and Bangui and Kisangani upstream are remote areas of East Africa, and East Africa wants to create Cabinda, relying on these cities cannot be achieved at all.

Therefore, the development of Cabinda will ultimately rely on Luanda, and then rely on the sea transportation between Luanda and Cabinda to complete it.

But now the land route between Cabinda and Luanda is impassable, and the sea transportation conditions cannot be met, so East Africa can only go around in a big circle.

In peacetime, East Africa has no need to risk soldiers crossing the river on rafts. During the war, many soldiers going south were washed into the Atlantic Ocean by the Congo River along with their rafts.

Moreover, although Luanda can now directly connect to the East African interior by land, without railways, the time and effort spent is not as convenient as sea transportation.

“Cabinda’s geographical location is very important. This is the beginning of the western coastline, the border area between our country and the Belgians. The straight-line distance from Cabinda to Pointe-Noire, the capital of the Belgian Congo, is only ninety kilometers by sea, and it is only six hundred kilometers away from Port Gentil in French Gabon.” Balco said from a strategic perspective.

The capital of French Gabon is Libreville, which is also the largest port city in Gabon, while Port Gentil is an important port in the central coast of Gabon. Currently, these are the only two ports in French Gabon, and they were also the two most important ports in Gabon in its previous life.

As an old colonial empire, France’s vision for selecting colonial locations is impeccable. The geographical conditions of both Libreville and Port Gentil far exceed the port conditions of the Belgian Congo and the West Coast of East Africa.

Libreville is located at the mouth of the Komo River, and also has a natural harbor as a support. It is a typical bay port and estuary port with dual attributes, which can not only undertake sea transportation, but also connect Gabon’s inland shipping.

Most East African ports, such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, are bay ports, relying on bays to build ports. Similar to Libreville is Bagamoyo.

But Libreville and Bagamoyo are not on the same level at all, and the Komo River is not a small ditch that the Little Rhine (Ruvu River) can compare with.

Of course, comparing economic attributes, Bagamoyo is currently far more valuable than Libreville. Large areas of tropical rainforest within the French Gabonese colony, even with excellent port and inland waterway transportation value, are difficult to develop.

The economic value of Bagamoyo is based on the premise that the East African interior has been effectively developed, and Cabinda in the West Coast region is obviously incomparable to Libreville or Port Gentil in all aspects.

The Portuguese did not encounter this problem before because Portugal itself is a maritime country, and most of the inland areas have been occupied by East Africa. Developing only the coast can already meet their needs.

East Africa is obviously not satisfied with this. East Africa’s goal is to connect Cabinda with the East African interior and build Cabinda into a bridgehead for future economic development between East Africa and Atlantic countries.

“In the future, this will be the center of communication between East Africa and the Belgian colony. To open up this node, we must comprehensively transform the current Cabinda, especially in terms of transportation.”

“The easiest thing to achieve in Cabinda now is to restore sea transportation. As for land transportation, that requires overcoming many difficulties, especially the Congo River, which is a natural barrier between Cabinda and Luanda. However, Kinshasa can be temporarily used as a temporary option. The only thing missing between Kinshasa and Cabinda is a highway.”

Currently, Brazzaville, across the river from Kinshasa, is a small military stronghold with only one platoon deployed there, under the jurisdiction of Kinshasa. So the highway that Balco mentioned is the one built from Brazzaville to Cabinda in its previous life. This is the only condition that can be considered for land transportation at present.

When conditions are ripe, a highway or even a railway can be built between Luanda and Cabinda. As for the Congo River, it can be temporarily solved by ferries.

This requires East Africa to first build shipyards and other facilities in the lower reaches of the Congo River, or directly introduce small轮船(small steamships/ferries) and establish ferry crossings.

For the poverty-stricken Angolan region, this will take a long time. Under the hundreds of years of Portuguese rule, Angola has not been developed at all except for the development of a small part of agriculture, especially the transportation problem, which is the biggest headache for East Africa.

When East African troops were fighting in Angola and Mozambique, the biggest headache was the transportation in the two places. Fortunately, there are many grasslands in these two areas, which alleviated this problem.

But Cabinda is surrounded by a typical tropical rainforest climate, which is the biggest problem for East Africa to develop Cabinda.

Chapter 823: West Coast Development

Dierka focused on this key issue and said, “No matter what method we use, we must prioritize solving the problem of the surrounding rainforest. But right now, Cabinda’s biggest shortage is manpower. We can’t possibly have your garrison complete this task, and you don’t have many people either.”

Barko said, “Mr. Dierka, you can rest assured on that point. Our primary goal now is to resolve the issue of receiving supplies in Cabinda, focusing on the port. Once the problems around the port are solved, food and supplies will be guaranteed. Subsequently, government personnel will move in and organize manpower to clear the surrounding rainforest.”

So far, East Africa has not established a government in Cabinda, which is why Barko, as a military officer, is coordinating with Dierka’s team.

Of course, in the future, Cabinda’s military attributes will not be weakened. As the endpoint of the Congo River, Cabinda is also the endpoint of East Africa’s northern defenses, and troops will still be stationed here.

East Africa will deploy a certain amount of troops along the entire right bank of the Congo River, even though the adjacent Belgians are not strong and have no hostility towards East Africa.

“In that case, why not take advantage of the current small population of Cabinda and conduct a large-scale burning of the rainforest area to reduce the difficulty of future work? Of course, this requires your coordination, after all, setting fires is a technical job. If we accidentally burn into the Belgian area across the border, it might cause some misunderstandings,” Dierka said.

“Mr. Dierka, burning is indeed a solution, but it is not easy to accomplish in the rainforest area. You used to work mainly in the east, so you know that the savanna and the rainforest are two completely different climates. There are too many rainy days here. Even if people try, it is impossible to develop the fire too much. And even the burned forests need manpower to clear, so let’s wait until the country sends more people to solve this problem.”

“You’re right, Lieutenant Barko. But now we are facing too many problems. Cabinda is completely an isolated island in the rainforest. Our connection with other areas can only rely on sea transport. There is no clean water source here, no electricity. At the same time, because of the rainforest, my survey work is also difficult to complete. All kinds of work are difficult to carry out. Building a city here is extremely difficult.”

The Belgians certainly agree with Dierka’s words. When they built Black Point, they encountered exactly the same problems. Until now, Black Point has only a few thousand people.

The East African government’s positioning of Cabinda is at the same level as those large cities on the eastern coast, which Descartes cannot understand. In his opinion, developing Cabinda is not as good as vigorously building Luanda.

Of course, there are many people who think the same as Descartes, but Ernst knows that Cabinda is inconspicuous now only because of the limitations of the times. What is really important about Cabinda is its rich oil resources. The oil resources alone are enough for Ernst to put Cabinda on the list of important cities in East Africa, so the construction of Cabinda should be done as soon as possible.

……

As time passed, in May, the first batch of government personnel and slaves arrived in Cabinda, and the Cabinda Municipal Government was officially established.

Subsequently, the Cabinda Municipal Government, this makeshift team, began to cooperate with Dierka to repair the port of Cabinda.

At the same time, they organized manpower to cut down the rainforest around Cabinda. A large amount of wood was transported through Cabinda to the southern regions of Walvis Bay and Oranjemund, giving the most worthless “wood” in the rainforest a secondary use value.

Southwest Africa is dominated by a desert climate, so it lacks raw materials such as wood, and the development of Cabinda effectively solved this problem.

At this time, shipping on the west coast has resumed, so there are more East African ships on the west coast, but unlike the past when most of them were slave ships, these are all legitimate merchant ships.

In just a few months, Cabinda’s scale has expanded more than four times compared to before, surpassing the efforts of Portugal for several years.

At the same time, Cabinda’s foreign trade with Belgium has also achieved initial results. The construction of Cabinda can completely borrow strength from Belgium. Although Cabinda’s products are not abundant at present, there are still some specialties, such as the famous “Cabinda bark.”

East Africa sells part of the resources produced during the development of Cabinda to Belgian merchants in Black Point at low prices, thereby obtaining some funds, which, although a drop in the bucket, is still valuable.

While Cabinda is being developed, the construction of Luanda and Benguela is faster. Of course, thanks to the excellent basic conditions of Luanda and Benguela, East Africa’s investment in these two regions is actually not large.

The cities also maintain the appearance of the original Portuguese rule, mainly repairing the houses and roads destroyed during the war.

East Africa’s development of the west coast is gradually on the right track. Of course, the most important thing is the construction of the Central Railway. At present, the western line of the Central Railway has entered the geological survey stage.

This also makes East Africa’s labor force more tense and scarce, and the black forces that caused major trouble to the 331st Division and other troops during the South African War have suffered.

A large number of blacks from the former Kingdom of Kongo were incorporated into the East African slave army developing the west coast. For these Angolan blacks who had caused trouble to East Africa, East Africa adopted more severe measures than those taken against blacks in other regions.

East Africa completely learned from the Kingdom of Belgium in the north. Angolan blacks became the main force for East Africa to develop the west coast, and for “retaliatory” reasons, they did not enjoy “labor” treatment.

They became another black group treated differently by East Africa after the Ndebele people. The result of the Ndebele people was that this ethnic group of more than one hundred thousand people has completely disappeared in the long river of history. Most of the Ndebele people physically died during the construction of the eastern canal.

The number of Angolan blacks is much larger than that of the Ndebele people, so the impact is even more serious, especially in the development of rainforest areas.

At this time, East Africa was actually a bit indiscriminate in its recruitment. Although East Africa’s population growth rate is extremely fast, it cannot keep up with the faster rate of increase in East Africa’s territory.

Moreover, the problems brought about by territorial expansion are even more prominent. At this time, even the so-called “densely populated” areas of East Africa are actually far from reaching the normal standards of countries in Asia and Europe.

The population density of Angola and Mozambique is almost comparable to that of Siberia under Tsarist Russia.

Under such circumstances, East Africa can only use a large number of black slaves. In addition, during the war, the Angolan blacks had strong hostility and conflicts with the East African army, so East Africa showed unprecedented “retaliatory measures” when supervising the Angolan blacks.

Of course, compared with the United States’ methods against Native Americans, East Africa is still somewhat insufficient. Even the Belgians in the neighboring Belgian colony believe that East Africa’s methods are too “benevolent.”

At this time, the East African government, especially the military on the west coast, although there were emotional components in treating Angolan blacks, the main purpose was to fully utilize the value of these blacks to develop the western region.

Naturally, they cannot really kill these blacks. If it is easy to deal with them all, then East Africans would have to do it themselves, which would be very uneconomical.

If it were before, of course, this could be done. At that time, East Africa had a large number of immigrant resources that could be used, but since the population of the German region no longer flowed out, this model no longer works.

Chapter 824: Mechanization and Land Reclamation

First Town City.

Ernst: “The development of Angola and Mozambique is a matter of utmost urgency, but we are now facing a shortage of population. At the same time, the public security management of the two places has not been completely concluded. A large number of black people were displaced during the war, coupled with the poor infrastructure. The government should come up with a set of regulations for the development of the two places, how to utilize and develop them, and how to allocate resources are all important issues.”

After seizing Angola and Mozambique, the economic construction of the two places is no longer a regional issue, but a national resource allocation issue.

Simply put, the investment in each place in East Africa is uneven. Just like in the 1960s and 1970s, East Africa mainly focused on developing the eastern coastal areas. In the 1980s, it vigorously developed the central provinces, especially Matabeleland Province. Now that Ernst has set the tone, the priority of economic development has naturally become Angola and Mozambique.

Von der Leyen said: “The central provinces actually still have great development potential. Take Hohenzollern Province as an example, the forest coverage rate reaches 70%, and a large number of areas have not yet been developed. On the contrary, the situation in Matabeleland Province, a typical grassland climate area, is slightly better. However, the development of Mozambique must be beneficial to the central region, especially Matabeleland Province. Matabeleland Province’s shortcoming is that it is not coastal, and after Mozambique is developed, it can further activate the economy of Matabeleland Province and connect our central and eastern regions into one piece.”

Swete retorted: “The problem now is how we can invest so much population. In the 1970s and 1980s, East Africa absorbed a large number of immigrants, which enabled the rapid development of the eastern and central regions. However, entering the late 1980s, the number of immigrants in our country has dropped to a historical low. Last year, only more than two thousand immigrants moved into our country. Although this was affected by the war, the immigrant population in 1888 was only more than five thousand, and the war had not yet broken out at that time.”

Von der Leyen: “This is not unsolvable. In the short term, we can rely on the natives of Africa and the legacy left by the Portuguese to temporarily develop Mozambique and Angola.”

“Moreover, we don’t have to carry out full-scale development of the two places, but focus on key areas, such as northern Angola and southern Mozambique, which are the essence of the two places, and the assets left by the Portuguese are also the most abundant.”

“Taking Mozambique as an example, we can completely divide Mozambique into two major blocks for the time being, with the Zambezi River as the boundary, namely Northern Mozambique and Southern Mozambique.”

“Northern Mozambique has been under our rule for many years. Since the First East Portuguese War, the total population of Northern Mozambique has been more than 300,000, concentrated in the northern region.”

“Southern Mozambique currently has a large number of black people and a small number of Portuguese. The positioning of Southern Mozambique is an important agricultural base in the future that our country can compare with the Great Lakes region.”

“According to the current situation in Mozambique, the basic conditions in the south are better than those in the north. During the Portuguese colonial period, the economic activities of the entire Mozambique colony revolved around Maputo at the southernmost tip, so the economy in southern Mozambique is more developed and the population is concentrated.”

“During the Portuguese colonial period, the southern region of Mozambique became a plantation and labor source for Portuguese colonists. Portuguese colonists introduced a large number of African laborers and slaves to work in plantations and mines, leading to a high degree of immigration.”

“The scale of plantations in the south is more than ten times that of the north, and the distribution is more even, extending to the middle reaches of rivers such as the Limpopo River, while the north is concentrated in a few coastal areas.”

“Portuguese colonists established a large number of plantations in the area, mainly growing cash crops such as rubber, coffee, sugar, and cotton.”

“Currently, our army has taken over 457 large and medium-sized plantations, but only less than 70 have resumed production, and it is urgent to arrange personnel to southern Mozambique to resume plantation management.”

“This will create a lot of employment opportunities, and it will also be easier for the population in the eastern region to move out. In the early stage, they are mainly responsible for management, and it is completely acceptable as long as there are no major problems.”

“After restoring production in the two places, we can carry out comprehensive transportation and economic construction to connect the two places with the central and eastern regions. At the same time, we can gradually replace the indigenous residents who are transferred to infrastructure construction with our own citizens, so that Angola and Mozambique can gradually get on the right track.”

Everyone generally agreed with what Von der Leyen said, but in this way, the development of Angola and Mozambique will definitely not be fast, after all, relying only on the immigration of our own citizens to the two places will be a long process.

At this time, Ernst spoke, and he said to the officials: “The above suggestions are relatively conventional, so I will add a little bit, that is, the construction of the two places this time should not be limited to the past, but should focus on the progress of the current era.”

“In the past, agricultural development and urban construction were very slow processes, but in the industrial age, this situation has undergone fundamental changes. The development of industrialization has greatly improved our ability to transform nature. A large number of emerging cities have risen in Europe and North America, especially in mineral areas such as the Ruhr area. Many directly turned from small villages or even wasteland into industrial areas where many cities sprang up. The Great Lakes region of the United States is also the same. Not to mention foreign countries, our Matabeleland Province is a typical example.”

“At the end of the 19th century, the situation changed again. At present, the development of agricultural machinery has entered a new stage. In addition to traditional steam power, internal combustion engine power is also rapidly maturing.”

“East Africa is originally a relatively backward agricultural country. Our agricultural machinery penetration rate is far inferior to that of countries such as Britain, France, and Germany. Therefore, the development of Mozambique and Angola can start with new technologies and increase the penetration rate of machines to replace a certain amount of manual labor.”

“This will not only promote our development of the two places, but also expand the domestic market. For example, Matabeleland Province and Southern Salzburg Province, which have advantages in agricultural machinery production, can focus on modern large-scale agricultural machinery to develop related industries and promote them in Mozambique and Angola.”

“Of course, in this way, we must also develop large farms similar to those in the United States in Mozambique and Angola to improve the utilization rate of machinery.”

“Especially the Southern Mozambique Plain, where the natural conditions are excellent, the terrain is flat, and the soil is fertile. We certainly cannot let go of such high-quality arable land.”

“And Mozambique is close to developed areas such as Matabeleland Province and Southern Salzburg Province, which is conducive to the direct connection between the industries of the two provinces and the support of Mozambique’s agricultural development.”

According to Ernst’s plan, he intends to develop a batch of large-scale state-owned farms in southern Mozambique, using machinery to replace a large amount of manpower.

This can not only effectively develop the local area, but also promote the development of East Africa’s machinery manufacturing and automobile manufacturing industries.

Of course, according to the current technical level and production capacity limitations of East Africa, Ernst’s goal will certainly not be achieved in a short period of time.

However, the fact that it cannot be achieved at present is not a problem at all. The development of Mozambique and Angola should not be eager for quick success.

The East African government still needs to proceed from reality, take multiple measures, so that it can always break through from one aspect, so as to realize the effective utilization and development of the two places, and continue to expand the economic volume of East Africa.

At this meeting, Ernst’s real purpose, in addition to caring about the development of Angola and Mozambique, was actually a deeper exploration of the further mechanization and scaling of East African agriculture.

Chapter 825: Different Choices

“Fernandes, are you really not going to think about it again, and are you going to stay in East Africa?”

At the docks of Maputo Port, Eusebio said to his friend Fernandes, who had come to see him off.

Fernandes took a puff of his cigarette, inhaled deeply, and then frowned as he said, “Even if I return home now, what difference would it make? Besides, the situation in Portugal is probably not much better than in Mozambique. I heard that the government owes a lot of debt after the war, and the future economy will probably be dragged down. There are so many people returning home now, it will probably be difficult to find a job. So, it’s better to stay in Mozambique. At least after so many years in Mozambique, I have some affection for this land.”

Rather than affection, it was more like he had gotten used to staying in Mozambique, like a prisoner who has been locked up in prison for so long that he becomes disconnected from society. Fernandes was pretty much in this situation.

Mozambique, as a former Portuguese colony, although it wouldn’t be reduced to a penal colony like Australia was to England, it wouldn’t be too far off.

In the past, when Portugal was still prosperous, the priority of colonies in South America and the Far East was definitely above Africa. Moreover, in the hundreds of years that Portugal colonized Mozambique, it had been lingering in the coastal areas. The real development of the interior has only been in recent years.

On the one hand, all the other valuable colonies were lost, and on the other hand, the direct threat from East Africa made Portugal feel insecure, so it invested in Mozambique.

However, Portugal’s attention to Africa came too late. In such a short period of time, Portugal simply didn’t have time to change the domestic public’s perception of Mozambique.

Apart from those who really had the ability to make a fortune in Mozambique, most of the Portuguese who came to Mozambique to develop were actually from the bottom of society, those who couldn’t make it in their homeland, such as Fernandes and Eusebio.

Fernandes recalled the past and said, “Eusebio, do you remember why we came to Maputo?”

Eusebio said, “Of course, to look for job opportunities!”

“Yes, we both came from Minho village. We had no land in Portugal, and we couldn’t find a job, so we were coaxed to come here to work. So even if we return to Portugal now, nothing will change. Besides, after paying the fare, we probably won’t have much savings left after all these years. So, is there any need for us to go back?” Fernandes asked rhetorically.

Eusebio felt a tightening in his heart. What Fernandes said was indeed a bit harsh. The lower class are the lower class everywhere. Only a few can become rich, and Fernandes and Eusebio obviously belonged to the majority.

Fernandes continued, “In Portugal, we don’t have any assets, and now we are getting old. We were only seventeen years old when we left Portugal. Now we are almost thirty, but we are still failures. Even if we return to the mainland and enter a factory, we probably won’t be able to compete with those young people. If life is like this, then it’s better to stay in East Africa. After all, East Africa is a country that can defeat England, so I think this country should have a brighter future than Portugal.”

Eusebio was silent for a while, and after thinking about it, he said, “Perhaps we can return to Portugal first, and then find opportunities to go to France or Germany. That is also a way out.”

Fernandes said, “That is indeed a good idea, but we need connections. We don’t have high education, and we don’t have much work experience. After all, we have been working on plantations for so many years. We probably won’t be able to find such a job back in Europe. Of course, if we have relatives or acquaintances to lead the way, that is also a shortcut. But after all this tossing and turning, it feels not much different from being in East Africa.”

Eusebio said, “The difference is too big. You’ve been in Mozambique for so long, you can’t not know what kind of country East Africa is, right? The Germans here live like machines, with no fun. Even the most prosperous city in East Africa is far inferior to major cities like Paris and Berlin.”

Fernandes said, “Dar es Salaam isn’t as bad as you say, is it? And you really dare to think, Berlin and Paris have always been the most developed cities in Europe. The cities in East Africa are very young. Besides, Dar es Salaam is much stronger than Lisbon. It is more prosperous than many national capitals in Europe. Although East Africa is relatively closed, it is stable. I am past the age of being arrogant and ambitious. Pursuing stability is more in line with my heart.”

“Alas, we are all old!” Eusebio also sighed, of course, this was indeed the case in terms of the average life expectancy of people in this era. Of course, it wasn’t too exaggerated, after all, if there were no major illnesses or disasters, ordinary people could still live to be seventy or eighty years old.

After all, average life expectancy is just statistics. In this era, the infant mortality rate alone can lower the average life expectancy a lot.

“However, I still don’t think staying in East Africa is a good idea. After all, East Africa is the East Africa of the Germans. Our Portugal has offended them badly. It is inevitable that we will be purged if we stay. Even if they are generous, they will probably look at us with colored glasses,” Eusebio advised.

Regarding this point, Fernandes said confidently, “It definitely won’t happen. Although East Africa is not very open and inclusive, it is not too closed and conservative. There are many immigrants from all over the world in East Africa. Apart from blacks, I haven’t heard East Africans discriminate against any country. I think it will be the same in the future.”

“That’s hard to say, but I’ve made up my mind to return to the mainland first. After all, I still have family, so I can only wish you good luck, my friend. If you have the opportunity, write me a letter!” Eusebio said his final farewell to his companion.

Fernandes’ nose tingled, and he gave Eusebio a big hug.

“Good luck, my friend.”

Under the fluttering sails of the Portuguese merchant ship, Eusebio and other Portuguese people waved goodbye to their former colleagues, comrades, and relatives, and from then on, the fates of both sides embarked on completely different paths.

In the end, more than forty thousand Portuguese people stayed in Mozambique, exceeding the East African government’s budget, but the East African government chose to accept all of these Portuguese people who were willing to integrate into East Africa.

After all, Mozambique was too short of manpower at this time. These Portuguese people could stay and assist East Africa in the development of the southern Mozambique region.

These Portuguese people also became part of the source of East African citizens. Of course, as time goes by and the assimilation policy is promoted, they will naturally no longer be called Portuguese people in the future, but will be directly incorporated into the German nation.

This situation in East Africa is actually quite common in Germany and Austria, but the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s assimilation ability was too weak, and the strength of other ethnic groups in the country was too strong, so the assimilation policy was not easy to implement.

However, no matter what, Germany and Austria mostly absorb the population of Europeans, while East Africa also integrates Asians, so the so-called German nation in East Africa is very “im”pure, although everyone is essentially the same.

In terms of the location of Germany and Austria, it is a natural melting pot of European races, located in the center, and the economic level is not bad, which can play a certain role in assimilating the weak civilizations of Eastern and Southern Europe.

So there is no pure single-blooded nation in this world. For example, the United States is a typical Anglo-Saxon culture, but Anglo-Saxons are not the most numerous.

The biggest difference between the Ottoman Empire as a green “Rome” and East Rome in terms of the underlying people is actually only the difference in cultural identity.

Chapter 826: The German, Fernandes

“Fernandes, Portuguese, age 27, what are your specialties? What was your occupation in Mozambique before?”

“Sir, I don’t seem to have any specialties! But I suppose occupation means work, so I guess I was a farmhand on a plantation?” Fernandes asked, sounding uncertain.

Facing the East African clerk’s inquiry, Fernandes still seemed a bit uneasy, because the East African in front of him looked quite stern, even making Fernandes feel somewhat intimidated.

This East African looked less than twenty years old. Although his age made him seem a bit immature, his face, like the bark of a withered tree, was gray and weathered, making people subconsciously overlook his youth.

But for Fernandes, it wasn’t so much that this East African made him feel oppressed, but rather that he could sense the faint aura of killing intent emanating from him.

Coupled with his outdated East African Defense Force uniform, which hadn’t been exchanged for a new one, it was clear that he had “killed people,” and quite possibly had the blood of several Portuguese on his hands. This was a silent deterrent to the Portuguese present.

“So, a thug, then!” Proust asked.

Proust didn’t notice the psychological activity of the Portuguese being registered. As a former Defense Force soldier who had just enlisted and then been discharged shortly after to work in a civilian role, Proust had indeed seen blood.

In his mind, people like Fernandes in the Portuguese plantations were probably thugs. After all, farming didn’t seem like something Portuguese colonists would do themselves; they just needed to watch over the black slaves.

Fernandes shook his head and said, “I’ve never bullied anyone. Although my status was a bit higher than the blacks, my job was mainly to patrol the plantation, observe the cotton growth, and then report to the managers.”

“What did you do before you came to Mozambique?”

“Before I came to Mozambique, I was born in a small fishing village by the sea in Portugal. But my family mainly farmed for Mr. Erbak. Erbak is the nobleman in our village; most of the land in the village belongs to his family,” Fernandes said, slapping his forehead.

“Oh, so your family is in Portugal?”

Fernandes nodded and said, “I have an older brother and my father. My mother passed away when I was young. I haven’t married these years, so I should be alone in Mozambique. But I do have a few friends, but many of them have left Mozambique and chosen to return home.”

“Alright, congratulations, you are now a glorious German.” Proust stamped the official seal on Fernandes’s name.

…

After becoming a “German,” Fernandes and the others were assigned to various plantations or farms around the original Maputo. However, compared to the past, there was now a compulsory lesson every day.

“As Germans, you naturally need to speak fluent German. East African Standard German is based on Swabian, incorporating vocabulary and content from other languages. Of course, you don’t need to know too much about that. The most important thing now is to be able to communicate with people, or to understand some vocabulary.” A Portuguese translator said to the workers in these plantations.

In East Africa, Portuguese was a relatively popular foreign language, because East Africa and Portugal had frequent trade exchanges in the past. And later, when the two countries became enemies, it was even more important to “know yourself and your enemy,” so the scale of Portuguese language education in East Africa was not small.

“You must first forget your past Portuguese identity, because, barring accidents, many of you will never be able to have anything to do with Portugal again in this lifetime. Accepting reality is not shameful. After all, the decline of the Kingdom of Portugal has been going on for centuries, and it wasn’t caused by you.”

“And the Kingdom of Hechingen is the future country for you and your descendants. Only when everyone loves this country can our lives become better. And in order to eliminate various disputes, mastering German first is necessary.”

“Of course, you can also choose to slack off and not take the initiative to learn. That will only make it difficult to move an inch in East Africa. In the future, there will be no room for other languages to survive in the entire East African territory.”

The East African instructor’s words were harsh, but most of the former Portuguese present didn’t have any objections. This was the realization brought about by the defeat in the war. Moreover, in Europe, population migration and changing nationality was not something to be ashamed of.

East Africa’s two defeats of Portugal meant that these remaining people in Mozambique couldn’t be tough. Of course, there were exceptions, such as the Boers who were forcibly conquered by East Africa.

However, East Africa adopted a completely different strategy for the Boers than for the Portuguese in Mozambique. Currently, the Portuguese in Mozambique have not been broken up by East Africa and continue to stay in Mozambique, but the Boers have already spread throughout various regions of East Africa.

“Now, let’s start the class. Today, we will first learn fifty words. Don’t be afraid of not being able to remember them. Someone will help you forcibly memorize them in the future.”

Then, the East African instructor began to teach these Portuguese people. The content of the class was also very simple, just reciting the copied words over and over again.

Most of the East African immigrants initially went through this process. What really allowed them to learn German in a short period of time was not the classroom environment, but the German environment in daily life.

The East African government is organizing immigration work. It will only take less than a year, and then the number of East Africans will exceed the number of original Portuguese in Mozambique.

…

“Fernandes, did you understand anything in class?”

After class, it was already eight o’clock in the evening. A colleague asked Fernandes in Portuguese.

Fernandes shook his head and said, “Of course not. Now, whenever I think about those strange symbols, I get a headache.”

“Yeah! I didn’t expect that joining East African citizenship would require learning. It’s simply unbelievable. We’re not noble lords or those merchants. Overseeing a plantation doesn’t require that much knowledge.”

Fernandes said, “It’s too late to say anything. After joining East African citizenship, we can’t leave even if we want to. But our choice is not bad. At least the East African government hasn’t treated us harshly. They should be treating us as their own people!”

The colleague nodded and said, “You’re right. Of course, the premise is to sever ties with the Kingdom of Portugal. From now on, we will have nothing to do with Portugal. But that’s fine too. Anyway, there’s no hope to be seen in Portugal.”

Fernandes chuckled and said, “Now we are all Germans. But just by filling out a form, we become Germans. If so many countries in Europe also learned from East Africa, wouldn’t there only be one country left?”

“One country is fine too, saving us from fighting wars in Europe every day,” his colleague said.

“Portugal doesn’t fight wars, but its economy is a complete mess, and there are often various riots and disturbances. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have run overseas,” Fernandes said.

“Most countries are like that when the economy is bad. But Portugal is too terrible. The whole world is developing now, but Portugal is constantly regressing. But all of this has nothing to do with us. We are now also a member of the Germans. Whatever happens to Portugal in the future has nothing to do with us.”

Fernandes nodded and said, “That’s right. But the situation in East Africa is also hard to say. Let’s stay for a while and see! I hope our choice is not a problem.”

There were quite a few people like Fernandes who were apprehensive. They were both familiar and unfamiliar with East Africa. However, in the more than ten years of coexistence between the Portuguese and East Africans, one thing was clear: the East African cities were developing very rapidly. When the two countries had friendly relations, many Portuguese would go to the cities of East Africa to spend money and have fun.

Chapter 827: Plantation Turned Farm

Of course, the East African coastal region belongs to an export-oriented economy and cannot represent the entire picture of East Africa. In particular, the national conditions of the inland areas are very different. Fernandes previously only saw the rapid development and prosperity on the surface of East Africa. How specific the situation is will require a period of experience to gain a deeper understanding.

…

Maputo City.

“Currently, we have restored production in seventy-one plantations around Maputo. There were originally four to five hundred plantations of various sizes around Maputo. After we took over, we comprehensively integrated the local plantations and ultimately formed seventy-one super-large plantations.”

“The main labor force in the plantations is the black slaves left by the Portuguese. The Portuguese had more than forty thousand black slaves in Maputo. During the war, they forcibly conscripted many more black people. These can maintain the development of the plantations before the arrival of livestock and machinery from the east. However, the plantations will then become large-scale farms.”

Tropical plantations are a typical labor-intensive industry. For example, cotton harvesting was difficult to mechanize in the 19th century.

The world’s three major cotton producing areas, the United States, India, and the Far East Empire, are all densely populated areas. The United States, for example, introduced a large number of black slaves due to the shortage of labor in cotton plantations. During the Civil War, the northern capitalists were certainly envious of the large number of black people in the southern plantations.

East Africa’s positioning of southern Mozambique is obviously not for the cultivation of tropical cash crops such as cotton, but for grain cultivation.

It would be a pity not to grow grain on such high-quality black soil and vast plains in southern Mozambique. It can be said that the land here is more fertile than that of the Great Lakes region, and the rainfall and temperature are just right, located near the Tropic of Capricorn, neither too far nor too close.

Most of East Africa’s territory is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, especially the northern part, which at its furthest point only reaches the southern region of Sudan, still some distance from the Tropic of Cancer.

Therefore, the South African region plays a huge role in enriching East Africa’s climate environment. The southernmost Orange River basin has crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and reached about 30 degrees south latitude.

Of course, most of East Africa is affected by the terrain, forming a tropical savanna climate. At the same time, due to the high altitude, the temperature is low, which is similar to a subtropical climate in its characteristics.

Do not underestimate this plain in southern Mozambique, which looks small on the map, but its area reaches 330,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest plains in Africa. The largest Northeast Plain in the Far East Empire is only 350,000 square kilometers.

Of course, compared to the vast territory of East Africa, this small area of plain is not enough. The plains of East Africa are mainly concentrated on the eastern coast, and although northern Somalia is a plain, it is a tropical desert climate. The plain between Mombasa and Kismayo is also dominated by arid grassland due to scarce rainfall.

Mozambique is different. The average annual rainfall fluctuates between 750mm and 1200mm, and there are many rivers and a dense river network. The upper reaches are mostly plateaus and mountains, forming a vast alluvial plain in the lower reaches. Under these circumstances, the land in Mozambique is naturally very fertile.

“According to news from Dar es Salaam, their first batch of agricultural tractors will not arrive in Maputo until the end of this year at the earliest, because they have not produced so many tractors in such a large batch before. As for the livestock from the northern pastures, they may not be delivered here until August, mainly dispatched from the port of Mombasa. On the contrary, New Hamburg can temporarily transfer a batch to help us develop southern Mozambique.”

New Hamburg belongs to the East African Southern Pasture area. The Southern Pasture is a relatively developed area of animal husbandry in East Africa, second only to the Northern Pasture, and may even surpass the Northern Pasture in the future. Therefore, New Hamburg has the ability to allocate a batch of livestock to support Maputo.

Of course, affected by the war, animal husbandry in New Hamburg was severely damaged. Before the war, a large number of livestock were transferred to Hechingen Province.

However, there is a railway connection between Hechingen Province and New Hamburg, so the recovery speed after the war is very fast.

“After the railway from New Hamburg to Maputo is opened, it will greatly alleviate our problems. New Hamburg is originally a major industrial city, and basic agricultural tools can also effectively help Maputo. However, the Southern Frontier Province is also recovering now, so we want to obtain full support from New Hamburg at least until after the new year.”

For the Maputo government, there is a shortage of people, tools, and power… but this is the case in other areas of East Africa.

However, the situation in the Mozambique region is particularly serious. It joined East Africa too late, coupled with the Portuguese’s touching “efficiency,” Mozambique and Angola are far behind other regions of East Africa.

For example, Hechingen Province and the Southern Frontier Province, which have restricted development in East Africa, have basically the same level of agriculture as the two places, and industry is even more incomparable.

Under Portuguese rule, Mozambique had absolutely no industrial base, with only a few ship repair yards and three armories temporarily built due to the war.

These three armories are actually large gun repair factories and do not have the ability to produce weapons at all. Moreover, with the withdrawal of Portuguese technicians, they are now also paralyzed. The machines are well preserved, which is different from Angola. The Portuguese army in Angola finally withdrew from the sea, almost destroying the production and living facilities in Luanda and Benguela.

Maputo was blockaded by East Africa in the middle and late stages of the war, and finally completely fell into the hands of East Africa, so Maputo is relatively well preserved among the original Portuguese colonial cities.

Of course, according to standards, the only Portuguese colonies in South Africa that can barely be called cities are Luanda, Benguela, and Maputo.

“In addition to integrating Mozambique’s agriculture, the development of Maputo should also return to normal. Many places in the city are now empty. Hotels and inns, ship repair yards, handicraft workshops, etc. are basically shut down. We must seek help from other cities, and this must be written into the government report.”

Before the war, Maputo’s commerce was relatively prosperous, and there were also a large number of merchants from various countries operating local businesses in the city, exporting Mozambique’s resources.

However, with the outbreak of the war, Maputo fell into a state of stagnation. After the end of the war, due to the withdrawal of the Portuguese government and a large number of civilians, the entire management system of Maputo collapsed directly.

If only the government has a problem, it is easy to solve, but the departure of a large number of Portuguese civilians directly led to the destruction of the local grassroots system. Therefore, after the Maputo government appointed by East Africa arrived, the situation in Maputo did not improve.

Previously, Maputo was under military control. Now, there are more soldiers than civilians in Maputo, of course, this is without counting the black people.

Of course, there are not a few Portuguese who stayed in Mozambique, but they have been temporarily requisitioned by the East African government to temporarily manage the black people and maintain Mozambique’s production activities.

That is, the local plantation industry, to prevent the land from being abandoned again. As for Maputo’s commerce, it is completely finished. In the short term, merchant ships from various countries will avoid this place and dock at New Hamburg, or Durban in the British Natal colony.

At the same time, the Portuguese also took away their traditional commercial routes. For example, now that the plantations have been nationalized by East Africa, the commercial channels of the original Portuguese plantation owners have also been cut off.

These need to be handled by the Maputo Municipal Government in the future, but according to Maputo’s geographical location and conditions, it is only a matter of time before it becomes prosperous again.

Chapter 828: The Orange Free State Population Crisis

Orange Free State, Bloemfontein.

“Currently, Kimberley completely lacks the population to support its existence. Before the war, it was the most developed city in the entire Boer Republic, complete with railways, telegraphs, and everything else. But now it’s completely paralyzed, and the most terrifying thing is that we simply don’t have enough people to restore local construction.” The mayor of Kimberley, East Africa, Yulta, complained with a gloomy face.

When it comes to East Africa, the most miserable area is the former Boer Republic region, because East Africa is truly driving out the Boers, to the point where nine out of ten houses in the Orange Free State are empty, and almost all that remains are soldiers.

Therefore, the Kimberley municipal government and other Orange Free State governments are in a more difficult situation than the governments of Mozambique and Angola.

“You can’t make bricks without straw. How can we develop the area without people? Kimberley is now like a ghost town. There’s not a single sign of life except around the municipal government and the military camp. And we can’t possibly order the army to do this kind of manual labor.”

“Kimberley also has production tasks to complete. All the mines are completely shut down. If no one maintains them, it’s estimated that the mining areas will collapse in a few months. It will be difficult to restore them again then.”

Regarding Yulta’s complaints, the mayor of Bloemfontein, Hervey New, still maintained a deadpan expression and said, “You’re asking me for people, but I can’t do anything about it! Bloemfontein is also an empty shell now. If it weren’t for the garrison here, I wouldn’t doubt that our lives would be threatened by wild animals. The outskirts of Bloemfontein are overgrown with weeds. There are so many empty houses, it feels creepy at night.”

Yulta: “At least you can still maintain your office. We rarely even go to Kimberley now. Enough said, just give me a few hundred people. It’s better to set up the skeleton of the city in Kimberley than to live as refugees in Bloemfontein.”

Hervey New said with difficulty, “Bloemfontein’s population was borrowed from the neighboring New Badden Province. The Southern Border Province in the south originally only had troops stationed there, as well as military families or military personnel. Everyone is short of people, so don’t be impatient.”

New Badden Province can’t be considered a major population province in East Africa at all, and it barely exists. Being able to support Bloemfontein with a few thousand people is already the limit.

The original cities of the Orange Free State have completely stalled due to East African policies, and the same is true for rural areas. Angola has support from the central region, Mozambique has support from the eastern region and New Hamburg Port City, while the Orange Free State is completely like an abandoned place.

Yulta said, “I don’t care about other places. Kimberley used to be the most economically developed region in the Orange Free State. Bloemfontein only occupies the convenience of being the capital of the Boer Republic. Other than that, it’s completely unimportant to the Orange Free State. If you want the higher-ups to see the value of the Orange Free State, you must prioritize the development of Kimberley’s minerals. You don’t expect the meager income from farming to move the central government, do you?”

In the Orange Free State, Kimberley became the most developed area in inland South Africa due to its diamond mines, and it was also the focus of contention between the British and the Boers before the war.

The output value of Kimberley alone is much higher than the sum of other areas of the Boer Republic. This is easy to understand. Before the war, the total population of the Boer Republic was less than four hundred thousand, which is the size of a city in Europe and the Far East Empire. Kimberley was one of the largest diamond producing areas in the world before, so the diamond industry alone exceeded the total income of other areas in the Orange Free State.

Regarding Yulta’s words, Hervey New also thought there was some truth to it. If the Orange Free State completely stalled, it might not attract attention. The most effective way to show its value is to revitalize the Orange Free State’s industry first.

The diamond industry is obviously the most valuable industry in the Orange Free State, and it is a high value-added industry. In the 19th century, diamond production was very limited, so the price was very considerable.

After thinking about it, Hervey New said to Yulta, “In other areas of East Africa, many mines are mainly staffed by black people. Obviously, Kimberley can also use black people to hold the fort first. However, there are almost no black people in the Orange Free State, so we can ask other provinces for black people resources, and then I will allocate dozens of people to you. You can maintain Kimberley’s mining industry first, even if you complete the task. Moreover, there is a military garrison in Kimberley, so you don’t have to worry about black people rioting.”

Yulta said with a bitter face, “To put the idea on the heads of black people, our Orange Free State is probably the only one in East Africa.”

In other parts of East Africa, black people have made important contributions to East Africa’s economic development. Even Angola and Mozambique, which have just been incorporated into East Africa, have a large number of black people who can be used by the local government. The Orange Free State is really miserable, and there are not many black people.

The Boers are also a very xenophobic people. In addition, they mainly engage in animal husbandry, which does not require too many people, so there are not many black people in the Orange Free State. Only a small number of San people are distributed in remote areas.

Hervey New patted Yulta on the shoulder to comfort him, “There’s no other way. Angola and Mozambique at least have a large black population, while there are only soldiers in the Orange Free State, and we can’t intervene, so we can only think of a way to get black people from other provinces. The country is short of citizens everywhere, so we should be able to squeeze out a lot of black people. I don’t believe the higher-ups will refute our application.”

Yulta said, “We don’t need too many. Tens of thousands of people can restore the mines to their previous production capacity. Before the South African War, the population of the Boer Republic was not large. It mainly relied on the machines left by the British. Black people may find it difficult to master them, so a dozen people will definitely not work. You must give at least two or three hundred people, otherwise it will be a waste of Kimberley’s machines.”

Yulta’s words reminded Hervey New, what is the most valuable thing in the Orange Free State now? In addition to minerals, it is the machines and infrastructure left by the British, and these are mainly concentrated in Kimberley.

Therefore, the Orange Free State cannot be developed without Kimberley. If these machines and infrastructure are allowed to be destroyed, it may be difficult for the Orange Free State to find another opportunity for industrialization in the future.

So he said to Yulta, “Machines are indeed very important. Kimberley was previously comparable to many economically developed cities in East Africa. The conditions left behind are indeed unique. When you arrive in Kimberley, first take good care of those machines and infrastructure. Nothing else, first take good care of Kimberley’s railway. Our relationship with Cape Town is indeed awkward now, but it’s hard to say that the two sides won’t reconcile in the future. Then Kimberley’s railway can play a big role.”

Kimberley has the only railway line in the former Boer Republic that connects to Cape Town, which was mainly used by the British to transport diamonds out. This also shows Kimberley’s economic strength.

Of course, this railway is now a dead end. Even the bridge over the Orange River was destroyed during the war.

However, this railway may not be able to play a role in the future. After all, the relationship between East Africa and Britain cannot always be rigid, especially Cape Town, a British territory connected to East Africa.

Of course, the British railway and the East African railway cannot be interconnected, so whether Kimberley’s railway can be retained in the future is a question, but Hervey New still tends to keep it first. Even if it really needs to be dismantled in the future, the situation in the Orange Free State will definitely be very different from the current situation.

Chapter 829: Fleecing a Sheep

For East Africa, the population is actually not small. In the international community, East Africa is also one of the few major countries with a population exceeding fifty million.

The fundamental reason for the current population shortage in various places is that population migration is a major project and cannot be completed in a short period of time. Especially in Angola and Mozambique, the population shortage in each place is not tens or hundreds of thousands, but millions.

And this is only the minimum requirement. Given the conditions in Angola and Mozambique, it is reasonable to accommodate tens of millions of people. In its previous life, Angola and Mozambique were countries with populations exceeding thirty million, which is more than the current population of East Africa combined. Therefore, in the current stage, no government in East Africa will complain about having too many people; on the contrary, the more the better.

One hair can move the whole body. The migration of several million people is simply not something that can be completed in a short period of time for East Africa. If costs are not considered, it can certainly be forcibly completed, but it is not cost-effective, as this would have a huge impact on the economic development of the population-exporting areas.

For example, although New Baden Province only supported Orange with a few thousand people, it has already reached the point of hurting its bones and muscles. If it were not for the mandatory requirements of the central government, the New Baden Provincial Government would not want to send a single person.

……

First Township.

“Your Royal Highness, various parts of East Africa are now requesting people. This is a telegram sent to us by the Orange Regional Government the day before yesterday. They urgently need at least thirty thousand black people. At the same time, it would be better if they could get some professional workers, because the infrastructure conditions in the Kimberley area are not bad, and there is a lot of infrastructure left by the British.”

“Now Orange even wants black people?” Ernst asked.

“This is also something that cannot be helped. Currently, the most numerous in the entire Orange area are the troops. Apart from the troops, the entire population of Orange is less than ten thousand. Therefore, they can only think of a solution from the black people. Moreover, there are not many black people in Orange. There are originally few black people in the South African region, and the Orange area is one of the more prominent places among them.”

Von der Leyen’s words reminded Ernst of eastern East Africa. In the east, black people have completely become history. Of course, this is not to say that there are no black people in the east, but that the black settlements in the east have all been dismantled by East Africa, and all black people in the east have been incorporated into the “labor force.”

The east can be said to be the only area that has completed the de-blackification process. Like the central and western regions, there are still a large number of black settlements, which also reflects the population distribution of East Africa.

More than seventy percent of East Africa’s population is concentrated in the East African Highlands and the eastern coastal areas. The East African Highlands alone account for forty percent, but the area of the East African Highlands is only equivalent to one-tenth of the country. This is a manifestation of the uneven population distribution. If it were not for the development of the central provinces, the proportion would be even more exaggerated.

The total population of the four central provinces (including Hesse Province) is more than ten million, barely meeting the standard, and the central and eastern regions are economically closely linked. Currently, the eastern population resources are also leaning towards the central region.

Apart from the central and eastern regions, the combined population of other regions in East Africa is only about five million, and they are distributed in more than a dozen provinces, concentrated in the north and south.

This does not include Angola and Mozambique, which have just been incorporated into East Africa’s territory. Therefore, even areas that have long been incorporated into East Africa’s territory are lining up. It is almost impossible for East Africa to take care of all regions.

Of course, in the Orange area, Kimberley certainly cannot be delayed. Ernst believes that Kimberley’s conditions are better than many areas in East Africa. Even if it only restores the urban scale of the British rule period, it can become the second largest city in the southern region, second only to New Hamburg Port City.

Ernst said: “Kimberley can be used as a priority development area in the Orange region. After all, Kimberley’s diamond industry is very famous. This is a point that can generate profits in the short term. Therefore, let the east, especially the various diamond mining areas, squeeze a bit and organize a group of experienced workers to Kimberley to restore local diamond production.”

Previously, Kimberley’s biggest competitor was East Africa. Diamonds are distributed in almost every province in East Africa, from the Nile Basin in the far north to the South African Plateau in the far south, from west to east. East Africa has considerable diamond reserves throughout its territory. However, East Africa has only developed the eastern diamond mining area. The diamond development in the central and other regions is generally mined as a by-product of other mineral development.

If there were no restrictions, it would not work. After all, diamonds have high value in both industrial and jewelry fields, and low prices are not very beneficial for East Africa.

Even so, East Africa’s development still lowered the world’s diamond prices. This is probably the main reason why the British abandoned Kimberley’s interests. Of course, the deeper reason is that East Africa lowered the population of Orange, so that Kimberley could not continue to maintain normal production, and hiring East African workers is not cheap, and they must also comply with East African laws, which is the most unacceptable thing for the British.

In fact, although East Africa has labor laws, the enforcement is not strict, but if it is foreign employment, that is naturally another matter.

“Your Royal Highness, it seems that we should think more about overseas immigration. Overseas immigration is less costly than domestic migration, and it will not interfere with normal production and living order.” Von der Leyen suggested.

“But for the sake of national balance, where can we introduce Germans from now? The German regions of Europe are different from more than ten years ago. Since the unification of Germany and the rapid economic development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the population has almost stopped emigrating.” Ernst said.

“Your Royal Highness, we have all overlooked a problem, that is, the main ethnic group of our East Africa has now been constructed. We can also learn from immigration countries such as the United States and appropriately relax immigration restrictions. This will not change our East African culture and population structure.” Von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen’s words awakened Ernst. Now it is indeed different from the past. In the past, East Africa had to shape cultural identity, but now the mainstream cultural configuration of East Africa is quite complete. At this time, introducing non-Germans is no longer a problem.

Von der Leyen continued: “Especially the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although the economy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is developing rapidly, the domestic economic development is not balanced. Except for Venice, Austria, and Bohemia (the Czech and Slovak regions), the economic situation in other regions is actually not very good, and the fertility rate is also relatively high. Hungary is a high-quality target for us to absorb the population. After all, under Habsburg rule, the habits of Hungarians and other Austro-Hungarian ethnic groups are no different from those of Germans.”

Ernst nodded and said: “Well said, I did overlook this issue. In that case, let the Immigration Department formulate a plan, and various departments cooperate. If we introduce population from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, we must have a sufficient supply of jobs, so that we can replace a large part of the local residents, and then let them go to the west and south.”

Introducing immigrants from abroad cannot directly supplement areas such as Angola. After all, East Africans are in the minority there. If overseas immigrants are directly added to these areas, there may be a risk of the cuckoo occupying the nest.

If it becomes a replica of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it will really become a joke. Therefore, population migration to the newly incorporated areas is still “local citizens first.” As for the vacancies they leave, they will be filled by overseas immigrants.

Moreover, if the immigrants are mainly residents of backward areas of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they can integrate into the East African environment more quickly. After all, under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they have long been accustomed to the German way of life.

East Africa is now fleecing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which cannot be helped. East Africa would not consider countries like Germany, because the development of Germany is relatively balanced, and the economic levels are similar. In this way, the difficulty of coaxing people from Germany becomes higher. Of course, the situation was exactly the opposite more than ten years ago.

Chapter 830: Reservoir

“Currently, Sigmaringen has a population of around seven hundred thousand, with fewer than fifty thousand white immigrants and over six hundred thousand Chinese.”

“You East Africans have taken all the best bits, leaving us in Sigmaringen unable to attract many Germans at all. Even Romanians aren’t showing much enthusiasm for developing in Chad.”

No wonder Prince Karl was agitated. Although it was a bit of a complaint, Ernst could understand Prince Karl’s feelings. The main thing was that money moved people’s hearts, because the Sigmaringen royal territory had begun to “profit.”

Sigmaringen’s investment in the Chad region had lasted for several years, and now the Sigmaringen royal territory was quite substantial.

Of course, the Sigmaringen royal territory naturally could not compare with East Africa, but it also held a pivotal position among colonies worldwide. Its area alone reached nearly one million square kilometers, which was far larger than the African colonies of countries such as Belgium and Italy. Only East Africa, France, and Britain could overshadow the Sigmaringen royal territory in Africa.

It was good to have the support of a large tree. With the support of East Africa, the strongest country in Africa, Sigmaringen had reaped benefits that many countries could not imagine with minimal investment.

The largest investment was the western section of the East African Northern Railway, but East Africa mainly bore the brunt of the Northern Railway, so Sigmaringen benefited from East Africa’s light.

After the Northern Railway was completed, the population of the Sigmaringen royal territory soared, and a large number of immigrants entered the Chad region through the East African Northern Railway.

Of course, as Prince Karl said, Sigmaringen’s main problem was that it was difficult to attract German people, and could only eat East Africa’s leftovers. Currently, many East Africans even served as officials in the Sigmaringen royal territory government.

This was unavoidable, because Sigmaringen immigrants were mainly from the Far East Empire, so East African government had to teach the Sigmaringen royal territory government hand-in-hand in terms of experience in governing the Chinese.

Ernst said, “Uncle Karl, the development of the Sigmaringen royal territory is indeed quite unexpected. If the Berlin Conference had not divided the colonial structure of West Africa in advance, Sigmaringen might have been able to replicate the glory of our Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family in East and Southern Africa. But you entered Africa too late. If it had been ten years earlier, I believe it would definitely be stronger than East Africa is now.”

Ernst’s words were naturally based on something. Back then, the Sigmaringen royal family was much stronger than the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family. Sigmaringen itself was much larger than Hechingen and its economy was more developed. Later, Sigmaringen, with the help of Napoleon III, even seized control of Romania and almost became the new master of Spain.

Therefore, if Sigmaringen had developed colonies in Africa ten years earlier, it might not have been worse than East Africa. Of course, theory is just theory. Ernst’s greatest wealth actually came from his experience and knowledge from his previous life. Without these as a foundation, East Africa could not have developed so quickly. Just the way malaria is transmitted alone would cause big trouble if Ernst hadn’t known about it.

Prince Karl said, “Alas, it looks very good, but the transportation in the Sigmaringen royal territory is a major weakness. Chad is located inland in Africa, too far from the sea, and much of the land is actually desert. If it weren’t for its large enough area and Lake Chad providing sufficient water, Chad might not even be comparable to Belgium or Italy’s colonies in Africa.”

Environmentally speaking, Ernst did not like Chad, but it depended on who it was compared to. The southwestern region of the Italian Red Sea colony had good natural conditions, but other areas were mostly desert. As for the Belgian Congo, it was mainly green desert and tropical rainforest climate.

Of course, these two places completely crushed the Sigmaringen royal territory simply from the point of having ports. Of course, with the support of the Northern Railway, the gap between the two sides in transportation was not obvious. For example, Belgium’s Pointe-Noire port, although the natural conditions were good, the degree of development was extremely low.

Italy was better in this regard, because Italy was a country with a population overflow. With a population, there was also a certain economic support, so the actual development of the Italian Red Sea colony was good, especially in the years after the truce with the Abyssinian Empire, it had developed rapidly.

The Kingdom of Italy’s investment in the Red Sea colony far exceeded that of its previous life, and it was truly regarded as local construction. If the Red Sea colony became independent in the future, it should be considered a country of decent size in Africa.

Currently, the number of Italians in the Red Sea colony is estimated to be between seven hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand, on par with the Sigmaringen royal territory, which greatly alleviated the social contradictions in the Kingdom of Italy.

Ernst: “What Sigmaringen should do most now is actively establish contact with Germany’s Cameroon colony, but the Cameroon colony is only in the coastal area. It is estimated that it will be very difficult for the two to communicate with each other.”

The Cameroon colony was the fastest channel for Sigmaringen to obtain access to the sea, and the biggest advantage was that Cameroon was a German colony. Now the Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Sigmaringen, and Prussian royal (imperial) families have actually achieved good results in their respective fields.

The Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family established the East African Kingdom, dominated Southern Africa, and secured its position as a great power after the South African War. Sigmaringen held Romania and the Sigmaringen royal territory, with a total area of more than one million square kilometers and a population of one million.

The Hohenzollern family at this time can be described as unprecedentedly strong, and culturally, everyone is German. Of course, Sigmaringen is slightly special. Romania has its own history and national cultural characteristics, and the main population of the Sigmaringen royal territory is mostly Chinese.

However, in these two regions, Romanians have a good impression of Germany, while the Sigmaringen royal territory is completely dominated by German culture.

It’s just that Sigmaringen has too few Germans, so Prince Karl had to go to Swet Palace to complain to Ernst.

Of course, Ernst himself did not care about this, because his positioning of the Sigmaringen royal territory was a population buffer zone. It did not matter whether it was white or Chinese, as long as it was not black or green population, it could be accepted.

The refugee crisis in Europe and the racial issues in the United States in his previous life left too deep an impression on Ernst, so for the future development of East Africa, it is better to take the initiative to create a population reservoir around East Africa.

This is also an important reason why Ernst can tolerate and even support Italy and Belgium colonizing northern East Africa. If no country colonized northern East Africa, Ernst himself would have to conquer the surrounding area, and then engage in a wave of enfeoffment, establishing countries that are neither black nor green, to block the direct connection between North Africa, West Africa, and East Africa.

Moreover, letting Italy and Belgium do this can also maximize efficiency. Although the two countries are not large, their populations are not small.

East Africa itself has a large number of undeveloped areas, and has no ability to expand to West Africa and North Africa, and expanding territory to these two places is also easy to cause hostility from the international community.

Take Tsarist Russia as an example. A large area of frozen soil and extremely cold regions in the east were not effectively developed in the 19th century. If this part is removed, the core area of Europe is only a few million square kilometers, and the land conditions in the European part of Tsarist Russia are not very good. Areas such as Ukraine and Poland also have independent risks.

If we really compare effective territory, the United States and East Africa are definitely more hated than Tsarist Russia. This can be seen from the development and population migration of East Africa. It can be said that except for Southwest Africa, other regions of East Africa have agricultural development conditions. Even the Congo Basin has most areas suitable for agricultural planting, but East Africa has too much good land and does not need to develop places with poor conditions.

Chapter 831: Population Great Wall

A population reservoir absolutely cannot be built within one’s own country. Generally speaking, cities and villages serve as population reservoirs.

For example, cities constantly absorb the young and middle-aged labor force from the countryside, thereby continuously obtaining low-end industry workers, promoting the sustained development and prosperity of cities. This is because, under normal circumstances, the natural population growth rate of cities themselves is low, and after developing to a certain stage, they are highly likely to experience negative growth without the introduction of foreign populations.

Population aging and the decline of low-end industries are fatal to urban development, and the same is true for a country. Of course, low-end industries are dynamically developing, after all, technology will advance over time, and original industries will become low-end industries.

Of course, the solution is also easy to solve, that is, to introduce foreign populations, or to truly realize machines replacing manpower. However, Ernst, being a person from the 21st century, knows that even after another century, it is impossible to achieve machines replacing manpower. If machines truly replaced manpower, then world harmony should also be achieved. And such a utopian society, pessimistically speaking, is unlikely to be achieved even after several hundred years, or even ever by humanity.

Therefore, when Ernst formulates East African national policies, he often refers to the human social problems of the 21st century, trying to delay the occurrence of similar problems in East Africa in the future.

For example, the population problem. If East Africa can become a developed country in the future, it will naturally face a shortage of labor. And at that time, East Africa will most likely introduce foreign populations, either stubbornly holding on like Russia, leading to a continuous decline in population and sluggish economic development.

Or like Europe, introducing refugees, but refugees are a double-edged sword, which will have a huge impact on European culture, social order, and the lives of the lower classes.

Among European immigrants, Eastern Europeans are obviously a high-quality population source. On the one hand, Eastern Europeans naturally admire Western European civilization, and are of high quality, able to perfectly integrate into Western European society. On the other hand, Arab populations, whose civilization clashes with Christianity, are obviously difficult to integrate into European society, at least on a cultural level. In this regard, even black people are slightly better than Arabs, but people all have their own biases, and white people naturally look down on other people of color.

Ernst, as an ordinary person, is the same. His experiences in two lifetimes have made him biased against people other than Germans and Chinese.

Therefore, in the future, the countries bordering East Africa must be non-Arab white or Asian countries, so that a population security Great Wall for the future East African nation can be built.

Like the Abyssinian Empire, it barely passes the test. The skin color is barely acceptable, and the culture is a branch of Christianity. Otherwise, from a personal emotional standpoint, Ernst would definitely not allow such a country to exist.

Of course, if East Africa fails to become a developed country, future population growth is unlikely to be too high, because East Africa’s basic education popularization and promotion achievements are relatively excellent. As time ferments, a group of citizens who do not live according to the ideas of the ruling class will “awaken” in the future.

These are unavoidable problems, so Ernst’s solution is a compromise. Since the future East African population problem cannot be avoided, then ideal immigrant groups that conform to East Africa’s “values” must be introduced.

This is an important reason for the construction of Sigmaringen royal territory and other East African-supported colonies, these places are the future “reservoirs” of East Africa’s population.

If these “reservoirs” are not built, then Ernst’s future East African rulers will obviously not be able to prevent the population infiltration from North Africa and West Africa.

Of course, all Ernst can do is this. If the later East African rulers still cannot solve the problem, then he can’t control it, anyway, he will be in the ground by then.

As for believing in the wisdom of future generations, Ernst doesn’t believe a word of it. Problems are easier to solve in the bud, and they will only become more and more serious as time develops, eventually becoming too big to fail, and finally only the system can be reinstalled. If the system reinstallation fails, then there will be no then.

…

Of course, Ernst keeps these thoughts buried in his heart and does not reveal them, after all, his ideas may not be politically correct.

“Uncle Karl, in the future East Africa, if the Sigmaringen royal territory, plus German Cameroon, can be connected into one piece, the problem of the Sigmaringen royal territory’s access to the sea will naturally be solved.”

At this time, Bismarck had already been kicked out of the German political arena by Wilhelm II, so Cameroon, as a German overseas colony, would definitely receive “great” development.

Therefore, Ernst is also considering whether the Cameroon colony can be included in the African “German” circle in the future.

Because Ernst is not optimistic that Germany can hold Cameroon, if a major war breaks out in Europe, then Cameroon is likely to be handed over to the Sigmaringen royal territory or East Africa for trusteeship.

Even if Germany does not give up Cameroon, it will most likely become independent in the future, after all, Cameroon is almost the size of present-day Germany.

Obviously, Europeans in the 19th century could not understand this point. Even after the Second World War, Britain and France thought they could continue to dominate in colonial countries, until they were double-teamed by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Prince Karl said, “Of course, Leopold has already communicated with Wilhelm II on my behalf, and Wilhelm II supports us on the issue of shared access to the sea.”

Currently, the person in charge of Sigmaringen in Germany is Prince Karl’s eldest son, Prince Leopold, who still holds an important position in the German army, so Prince Leopold has also become the contact person for direct dialogue between Sigmaringen and Wilhelm II.

“But are you not interested in Cameroon?” Prince Karl asked.

In fact, the distance between northwestern East Africa and the German Cameroon colony is not far. If East Africa has ideas, it can directly open a channel to the Atlantic Ocean through German Cameroon.

Of course, Prince Karl asked this mainly because he hoped that East Africa could take the lead in building a railway or highway to the coast of Cameroon.

Because in Africa, the only countries with large-scale infrastructure capabilities, apart from some countries in North Africa and Cape Town, are able to do so.

Currently, neither the German Cameroon colony nor the Sigmaringen royal territory has such capabilities, or enough population to complete such a project.

Ernst shook his head and said, “Now our East Africa’s main energy is concentrated in the south, and we are completely unable to spare any effort to do other things. We even feel that our population is not enough. The area of the newly occupied areas is not small, and they have hardly been effectively developed during the Portuguese and Boer periods.”

“Take the Boer Republics as an example, they are even less well-developed than the current Sigmaringen royal territory. Only Bloemfontein can barely be considered a city. Kimberley is actually managed and invested in by the British. Other areas are no different from large ranches.”

Hearing Ernst’s troubles, even though Prince Karl was old, he was a little “jealous”. He also wanted this kind of trouble!

He knew the population of East Africa, which was a full 70 million (including black people). In terms of the local population alone, East Africa was only behind the Far East Empire, Tsarist Russia, and India.

Even so, Ernst still complained that the population was small. How much population would there be after the construction of southern East Africa was completed? Previously, it was said to be over 100 million. Perhaps by the end of this century, the East African population could directly break 100 million, Prince Karl thought.

Of course, in Ernst’s view, it is still difficult. He is not as optimistic as Prince Karl. After all, East Africa has to continue to eliminate black people, and removing black people leaves nearly 20 million people, and ten years is not enough for population iteration, so it is still relatively difficult for East Africa to break 100 million people in this century.

Chapter 832: Escorted

“Whoo…”

The roaring steel behemoth traveled through the forests of the Congo Basin, its cast iron wheels grinding against the rails with a piercing screech.

On both sides of the railway, the lush, primeval rainforests formed a stark contrast with the stone-covered tracks, a wild beauty intertwining savagery and civilization pervading the Congo Basin.

“The Helsen Railway is a great engineering achievement of East Africa in the nineteen eighties. It took a total of four years and stretches nearly two thousand kilometers, opening up the connection between the Katanga Plateau and the lower Congo River. It has become a major transportation artery for East African minerals, timber, rubber, and other materials. It is the busiest rainforest railway in the world, and also the longest railway in the world that passes through a tropical rainforest area.”

On the train, the soldiers escorting supplies and black people looked out of the carriages at the boundless green “ocean” and sighed from the bottom of their hearts.

Anyone would feel shocked in this environment. After looking at this green primeval forest for ten consecutive days, they would eventually feel lonely and depressed.

There are very few towns along the Black Forest Railway, and the monotonous scenery along the way, coupled with the stuffy environment in the carriages, poses a severe challenge to the people on the train.

East Africa’s development of the Congo Basin is concentrated in the marginal areas, that is, the area where the basin meets the plateau.

This basically coincides with the population and urban distribution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its previous life. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ability to become the fourth most populous country in Africa is closely related to these areas.

In its previous life, there were four countries in Africa with a population of over one hundred million: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Fifth was Tanzania, with only over sixty-five million people, but according to the population growth trend in Africa, there will be more countries in Africa with a population of over one hundred million in the future.

Of course, under East African rule, the term Tanzania does not exist, and it is divided into the East African Plateau and the Eastern Coastal Plain, two geographical units.

In its previous life, the East African Plateau included the original Uganda, Rwanda, and other countries, with a population of over one hundred million, while the scope of the East African Eastern Coastal Plain was even wider. Initially, the Eastern Coastal Plain was only the Tanzanian coast, but now, from the northern Somali Plain to the southern Tugela River Plain, it all belongs to the Eastern Coastal Plain, covering an area of over one million square kilometers.

However, the separately divided Eastern Coastal Plain appears even narrower and longer than Chile. Of course, the northern Somali Plain is a large desert area, so many places have no agricultural value.

The plains in other areas are mostly alluvial plains formed by rivers, and these alluvial plains constitute the main body of the Eastern Coastal Plain.

In its previous life, East African countries were basically able to achieve self-sufficiency in food, which is obviously something that Congo cannot do. From this, we can also see the environmental carrying capacity of the two regions.

However, the areas in the Congo Basin that are not suitable for habitation are mainly rainforest areas, but the Congo rainforest does not overlap with the Congo Basin. In addition to Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo-Brazzaville all belong to the Congo rainforest range, while Cameroon, Gabon, and others are obviously not within the Congo Basin.

The main habitable areas of the Congo Basin are at the junction of the surrounding plateaus, especially in the east and south, which are also the areas with the richest mineral resources in Congo. However, in its previous life, the capital of Congo was Kinshasa in the west, which caused internal turmoil in Congo and a clear tendency towards regional independence.

East Africa obviously does not have this problem, because East Africa’s economic center is mainly concentrated in eastern and southern Africa, which happens to be adjacent to eastern and southern Congo.

This further expands the advantage of eastern East Africa over the west, so East Africa’s economic center must be dominated by the east.

“Eyre, it’s twelve o’clock now. Go and inspect the carriages in the back, and open the windows to let them get some air. Don’t let these people die in the carriages.”

Squad Leader Li Senrood put down the watch in his hand and instructed Eyre.

The East African soldier named Eyre listlessly put on his steel helmet, preparing to inspect the carriages in the back.

“Take your gun with you. If you encounter any problems, fire a warning shot. Your life comes first,” Li Senrood instructed.

Obviously, the escort job is not safe, so Li Senrood gave such an order.

There are a total of over one thousand black people in the five carriages at the back of this train, and Li Senrood only has eight men under his command. There are only over thirty East African armed personnel on this train, about a platoon’s worth of soldiers.

It is extremely dangerous for over thirty people to guard over one thousand unarmed black people. If a riot occurs, there will definitely be bloodshed.

“Yes, Squad Leader,” Eyre replied.

However, when Eyre stepped into the carriages in the back, he was still overwhelmed by the various indescribable smells that assaulted him. Although he was wearing a mask, the fermented smell of feces mixed with sweat and food residue was too much to bear.

Eyre began to count the number of people with disgust: “Sit down!”

With Eyre’s command, these black women, children, the old, the weak, and the disabled restored order.

They huddled on both sides of the carriage, honestly leaving a path in the middle. As for those who were not obedient, they had been whipped by the East Africans, so the black people present could not raise any thoughts of resistance.

“One, two…” Allen began to count along the carriage, but it was mainly just going through the motions. The windows on the walls of the carriages on both sides were welded shut with steel bars, making it impossible for anyone to escape.

“Clean this up. When I come back and see the filth on the ground, I will definitely let you know what pain is,” Eyre said, pointing to an unidentifiable liquid stain on the ground.

Although there are portable toilets on the train, there are always undisciplined people who will defecate anywhere, because there are too many people, and Eyre cannot find out who did it, so he can only adopt the method of collective punishment.

Many of the black people on this train were brought from the Angola region and have no concept of hygiene at all, like Indians who can “relieve themselves” anywhere. East Africa obviously cannot correct their concepts in a short period of time.

Nor is there a need to correct them, because East Africa has no intention of keeping them in the country at all. So when this train arrives at Sigmaringen, Eyre and others can end this terrible mission.

After inspecting the carriages once, Eyre finally escaped from this “hell,” but Eyre’s suffering was far from over.

Soon the train staff began to “disinfect” and clean these five carriages, and then began to distribute food.

The indigenous people who received the food finally felt a little comfort in their uneasy hearts, after all, their fate was ultimately unknowable.

No one knows where these East Africans are taking them. In the dark and humid carriages, in the cramped space, the unknown fear deepens with the passage of time.

Fortunately, three days later, the train finally arrived in Kisangani, which relieved both the East Africans and the indigenous people. They could finally briefly come into contact with the land again.

But Kisangani is just a transit station. In the future, there are still more than ten days of travel before they can reach Sigmaringen and the East African border.

After replenishing supplies in Kisangani, the train began to move towards the border area again.

On the entire East African Railway, East African trains are doing the same thing every day, which is to export black people from Angola and Mozambique to West Africa.

Not all black people are “qualified” to participate in the slave trade. Slave owners in the Americas and other regions only need strong black people to create value.

Women, children, the old, the weak, and the disabled indigenous people are naturally not worth a ticket to the Americas, nor can they become members of the East African “labor” army.

However, these immigrants are still relatively popular with the indigenous forces in West Africa. For tribes, women represent wealth, and children can also expand the tribe’s population. As for the old, the weak, and the disabled…

Of course, even if they don’t need them, East Africa will force them on them and refuse “returns.” This is the suffering suffered by the indigenous people under East African rule.

Chapter 833: Tractor

The 19th century was a tragic century, especially for the indigenous people of colonial regions and countries. The United States and East Africa were both typical countries transformed from colonies. While East Africa was persecuting the indigenous people of Southern Africa, the Americans were doing the same.

Also in 1890, the United States experienced the Battle of Wounded Knee, or the “Wounded Knee Massacre.” The Battle of Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890, was a landmark event in American history, the last armed conflict between the United States and Native Americans, tragically ending over three hundred years of Indian Wars.

Sure enough, with a contrasting example, Ernst’s treatment of black people seemed incredibly “benevolent.” After all, compared to outright slaughter, it was ultimately more “humanitarian.”

However, this also meant that the American Indians would find it difficult to rise again. The United States completely eliminated the resistance of the native population, while East Africa would need more time.

…

Maputo Port.

As usual, a merchant ship flying the East African flag docked at Maputo Port. This shouldn’t have attracted much attention, but today, something different was clearly present at Maputo Port.

The East African Defense Force blockaded the port, and then unloaded many large items from the ship, or rather, drove off many large items.

“Put-put-put…” Thick black smoke accompanied by loud noise lined up on the dock, as many as eight in total. If someone knowledgeable saw them, they would definitely recognize them as “tractors.”

However, these were the world’s earliest internal combustion engine-powered tractors, not the traditional steam tractors. As East Africa’s “cutting-edge technology,” it made sense that the military was escorting them.

“Commander Coles, we’ll be troubling you for the next few days. The final destination for this batch of tractors is Chokwe, for farm development on the Limpopo River Plain. They are all valuable items, so they can’t be driven directly to Chokwe. They must be transported to Chokwe by vehicle,” the driver in charge told Commander Coles.

Looking at these “behemoths,” Commander Coles was quite surprised. He had only seen tractors in newspapers before, and this was his first time seeing the real thing.

“Mr. Kessel, rest assured, we will use vehicles that our troops use to pull heavy artillery to transport these big fellows. We won’t delay your journey.”

There were many people accompanying Kessel, including three repairmen, two engineers, a mechanical expert, and eight drivers. They were all going to the state-owned farm in Chokwe. Kessel himself was in charge of managing a state-owned farm in Dar es Salaam.

In this era, drivers were definitely scarce talents. Even car drivers were rare, and drivers of “special vehicles” like tractors were even more scarce.

Subsequently, with the cooperation of the military and Kessel’s team, the tractors were moved onto large vehicles, requiring as many as eight horses to pull one.

Internal combustion engine tractors were much lighter than steam tractors. In 1890, this year, the wheeled steam tractor manufactured by Benjamin was 7.3 meters long with all-metal wheels, 60 horsepower, and weighed 22 tons, of which more than two tons were water to provide steam.

Therefore, steam tractors were basically no different from locomotives. Even if the weight was reduced, they would still be the weight of a “small locomotive.” It was naturally not easy to use such a tractor for plowing.

Moreover, East African internal combustion engine-powered tractors used solid rubber-coated iron tires to further reduce weight. As for pneumatic tires, the current technology was clearly not sufficient for the weight of the tractor. Of course, this was much lighter than all-iron wheels.

Of course, there were also tracked tractors, but unfortunately, the technology was not yet up to par. Currently, there were more than 100 patents related to tracked tractors in the world, but the prototypes produced had all failed in trials.

For example, Benjamin, the American tractor developer mentioned earlier, went to the pioneering country of the Industrial Revolution, Britain, in 1903 to investigate the development of tracked tractors in the original history. But he was very disappointed. He did not see a successful example. So, he hastily ended his trip to Britain and returned to his own factory in the United States to continue developing tracked tractors.

But now it was only 1890, and East Africa naturally could not break through tracked technology in a short period of time. However, East Africa’s research on tracks was among the world’s best.

Ernst knew the historical success of tracked tractors, especially the later application of this technology in the military, which created the “King of Land Warfare,” the tank.

Therefore, Ernst would naturally not ignore this issue. Currently, East Africa’s research on track structures was mainly led by research institutes in several cities such as Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Harare.

With direction and support, the progress was naturally not slow. Among them, the Mbeya City Mechanical Research Institute had taken the lead in achieving results, but it was still too early to apply tracks to special vehicles.

After all, tractor technology was not very mature yet, otherwise the East African government would not have equipped these eight tractors with such a luxurious team.

It would be more accurate to say that these eight tractors were here to develop the southern plains of Mozambique, rather than East Africa serving eight grandfathers.

The performance of these eight tractors may be disappointing in the future. There shouldn’t be too many major problems, but there will definitely be many minor problems that will be a headache.

Because the Dar es Salaam Tractor Factory had only produced prototypes before, and there were still many shortcomings in the technology. Moreover, the main business of Dar es Salaam was actually steam tractors.

As for internal combustion engine-powered tractors, it was entirely a new track opened up by East Africa. Internal combustion engine-powered tractors performed well in the test field, but it may be difficult to be satisfactory in a “barren” area like Mozambique.

But this was also unavoidable. If East Africa wanted to achieve something in the industrial field, it must dare to be the first. If the technology was not mature, it would be slowly improved. As long as there was enough time, East Africa would one day become a leader in this field.

In fact, East Africa was already far ahead. Although the technology of internal combustion engine-powered tractors was not mature, it appeared almost ten years earlier than in history.

The world’s first gasoline tractor, recognized internationally, was the “No. 1” tractor manufactured by Hart and Parr in Charles City, Iowa, USA in the winter of 1901. The machine’s serial number was 1205, and it was sold to farmers in July 1902 and used successfully for 17 years.

Although the technology of East African tractors was still questionable, the research was early. As long as they withstood the test, East Africa could complete a curve overtaking in the agricultural field.

As the tractors were loaded onto the vehicles, Kessel had people cover the vehicles with rainproof tarpaulins. From a distance, the uninformed masses would probably only think that the troops were transporting confidential items such as artillery.

“Commander Coles, we’ll be troubling you next.” After confirming that there were no problems, Kessel said to Coles.

“No problem!”

Thus, escorted by the Defense Force, Kessel and his party, carrying East Africa’s “major national weapon,” marched mightily towards Chokwe.

The establishment of the First State-Owned Farm in Chokwe also foreshadowed the arrival of a huge era of change in East Africa and world agriculture. It was destined to write a thick and colorful stroke in the history of East African agriculture, and was considered the starting point of East African agricultural mechanization, thereby being remembered by the East African people.

Chapter 834: Railway Conditions in Various Countries in 1890

“Currently, the research and development of internal combustion engine tractors is mainly centered in Mbeya and Dar es Salaam. Harare, due to its inland location, is still relatively weak in terms of technical talent cultivation and is not conducive to academic exchanges. Therefore, if central cities like Harare want to innovate in the field of education in the future, they must develop both external and internal channels.” The East African Minister of Education, Aldrich, said to Ernst.

At present, East Africa’s cutting-edge technology is being vigorously promoted inland. Because East Africa, as a late-developing country, most of its knowledge comes from “imported goods,” and its local talent training system is not yet sound.

Mbeya, which has a longer history of development, is currently the end point for East Africa to absorb advanced world culture, knowledge, and technology. As for Harare, it is too deep in the center and has a short history. Although it has developed rapidly in industry and its size has surpassed Mbeya, it lags far behind eastern cities such as Mbeya in cutting-edge technology and scientific education.

“Actually, Harare is not too far from the ocean. It’s just that Mozambique was previously in the hands of the Portuguese. Now that Mozambique has been incorporated into East Africa, we must open up the fastest external channel for Harare, thereby promoting the development speed of central cities, especially in the high-end industry sector,” said Liu Yideville, Minister of Transportation.

The names of the East African ministers are quite unique. Of course, as a country that integrates foreign populations, this is normal. For example, the Minister of Transportation is a first-generation Chinese immigrant who graduated from the Beichingen Military Academy.

Ernst asked Liu Yideville, “What ideas does your Ministry of Transportation have?”

“Your Royal Highness, the Port of Beira is already quite large, so we believe that the conditions for building a railway from Harare to Beira are now ripe. The Ministry of Railways and us agree that building the Habe Railway is very necessary. Only about 450 kilometers of railway are needed to give Harare the fastest access to the sea, while also promoting the development of central Mozambique,” said Liu Yideville.

The railway system is obviously also part of transportation, but in 19th-century East Africa, the railway system was separately divided into a government department, on the same level as the Ministry of Transportation. Of course, the close relationship between the two parties means that the two departments must communicate and cooperate in East Africa’s national development.

“The Habe Railway can solve Harare’s access to the sea. If completed, it will only take one day to get from Harare to Beira. This is only a dozen kilometers more than from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, and even shortens the time from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam by half,” said Andre, Minister of Railways.

The speed of East African railways is between 30 and 50 kilometers per hour, so if the Habe Railway is completed, it will only take less than a day to arrive. With Mozambique’s current conditions, it is impossible to set up too many stations along the way, because there are no cities near the railway line, and even villages are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. This means that the completion of the Habe Railway can greatly save time costs.

The reason why East Africa’s West African slave export route is so slow is because there are many cities and strongholds along the way, and the slaves have to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. This stop-and-go approach wastes a lot of time.

Ernst nodded and said, “The value of the Habe Railway is undoubtedly certain. It is very necessary for the development of eastern cities, but this is far from enough. In Mozambique, Angola, and the Boer Republic, these newly occupied areas, we must have railways in the future. The current railway pattern in East Africa is that there are many in the east, the central and northern regions are even, and the western and southern regions are few. Your Ministry of Railways must carefully plan this.”

Andre replied, “As of last year, which is 1889, our country’s total railway mileage was 19,000 kilometers. In 1889, railway construction was slightly delayed for a year due to the war. In the past 20 years, an average of more than 1,000 kilometers of railway have been built each year, so the specific situation of railway construction in the west and south depends on the terrain, economy, and national defense requirements.”

The construction time of East African railways was actually around 1873, which has not reached twenty years. However, in the 1870s, affected by the economic crisis, the world’s steel production capacity was surplus, and the construction speed of East African railways was very fast. In the 1880s, it declined somewhat.

Of course, this also promoted the healthy development of East Africa’s industrial structure. In the 1870s, most of the steel and machinery were mainly imported from Europe, while by the end of the 1880s, the localization of East African railways had reached more than 70 percent.

“Our country’s railway construction has achieved brilliant results in the past twenty years. Among the non-great powers in Africa, only Argentina can compare with us. However, although Argentina’s railway growth rate is fast, it has not exceeded 10,000 kilometers. We are twice the size of Argentina’s railways. The country with the most railway mileage is currently the United States, which should be more than 200,000 kilometers, followed by Tsarist Russia, which is more than 40,000 kilometers. Germany’s railway mileage should be around 40,000 kilometers, then the United Kingdom at around 30,000 kilometers, and France is close to 30,000 kilometers. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is similar to France,” said Andre.

The United States railway goes without saying, it was already the world’s first before the economic crisis.

Argentina’s railway development speed is very fast. In 1870, the country’s railways were only 740 kilometers, 2,133 kilometers in 1880, 5,964 kilometers in 1886, and had reached 9,254 kilometers by 1890.

Although East Africa is twice that of Argentina, if you calculate the density, East Africa is completely not an opponent, after all, Argentina’s territory is only about a quarter of East Africa’s.

Of course, although the world hegemon, the United Kingdom, only has 30,000 kilometers of railways, this is only in its homeland. In the past twenty years, the United Kingdom has built railways very exaggeratedly. For example, the aforementioned Argentine railways were mainly built with British capital. In addition, British capital has participated in the railways of the United States and India.

In 1890, the length of Indian railways had exceeded 25,000 kilometers. If taken out separately, it would have exceeded most countries in the world.

The length of Tsarist Russia’s railways is at the same latitude as East Africa. Tsarist Russia’s railways are also twice that of East Africa, but Tsarist Russia’s area is almost 10 million square kilometers larger than East Africa, so the two countries are basically on par.

Moreover, the Siberian Railway has not yet been built, and Tsarist Russia’s railways are basically concentrated in the European region. Within the European region, many railways are distributed in Poland and western Ukraine and other regions, so as far as the railways in the Russian region are concerned, they may not be much stronger than East Africa.

As for France, it is obviously affected by the aftereffects of the Franco-Prussian War, so railway construction is quite difficult. In fact, in the entire 1870s after the Franco-Prussian War, the French government was working hard to restore the economy, but unfortunately encountered an economic crisis.

So it was not until the end of the 1870s that France ambitiously proposed the “Freycinet Plan,” which is to build a large-scale railway network, highways, and waterways. To this end, the French government allocated a special fund of 5 billion francs.

The plan is to build 30,000 kilometers of railways, 200,000 kilometers of highways, and 200 kilometers of canals within twenty years, while opening up and dredging ports such as Nantes, Bordeaux, Rouen, and Dunkirk.

This sum of money is exactly the same as the war reparations of the Franco-Prussian War, which is equivalent to saying that the Franco-Prussian War directly lost France at least “twenty years.”

However, this can also reflect France’s tenacious vitality from the side. It only took ten years to basically eliminate the negative impact of the war on France.

As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it is basically on par with France, after all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself is much more backward than France.

In addition to these countries, the development of some small countries in Europe is also extremely rapid, especially the Low Countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the three Nordic countries.

Apart from these countries, the rest are not very ideal. For example, Japan only had more than 2,700 kilometers of railways in 1890, and the Far East Empire only had about 400 kilometers.

Therefore, although East Africa’s railway construction is exaggerated, it is not particularly prominent when viewed on a global scale.

Chapter 835: The Grand Railway Blueprint

“Currently, our country’s railway is large but not strong. Many cutting-edge technologies still rely on foreign countries. Of course, the Ministry of Railways is actively promoting the training of railway talents in our country and tackling various technical problems. It is estimated that it will only take twenty to thirty years to catch up with the international level,” Andrei said.

Ernst: “Technology is a process of accumulation, not something that can be achieved overnight. This matter must be done step by step, there is no shortcut. At the same time, I hope the railway department will also do the same. Subordinate units should not try to save trouble sometimes. The idea that ‘it is better to buy than to build’ is absolutely unacceptable. The fundamental thing is to rely on ourselves.”

Of course, Ernst was just saying that. In reality, in the 19th century, buying was the fastest way to break through technological barriers. Otherwise, East Africa would not have developed to where it is today.

Of course, buying is also a technical skill. You must understand the technology, otherwise you will be fooled and waste time and money in vain.

In addition to buying technology, another way to obtain technology is “copying.” These two are currently the “magic weapons” for the rapid development of East Africa’s industrial sector.

“The uneven distribution of railways is a very big obstacle to our country’s construction, especially in newly added land areas. Reconstructing the railway network is one of the key points of development in the next ten years,” Ernst said.

“Our country has a short history and a weak foundation, so the development time in railways is short. At the same time, according to the development of railways in foreign countries, it is estimated that in the next ten years, East Africa should build at least forty thousand kilometers of railways to barely meet the demand.”

Adding another forty thousand kilometers is sixty thousand kilometers, which is about two thousand kilometers of railways built annually.

East Africa has a weak foundation and needs to make up for a lot of lessons, which costs a lot of money, so it cannot be impatient for quick results in railway construction.

Of course, this is also related to the current world economic situation. The rapid development of railways in the 1970s was a good opportunity to encounter the economic crisis, and the world’s steel production capacity was surplus.

Of course, the goal set by Ernst is still conservative. After all, since the end of the South African War, East Africa’s defense pressure has been greatly reduced, and military spending has been reduced.

Military spending has never been a small amount. For example, the Japanese government invests more than 60% of its annual income in naval construction in order to develop its navy, making it the most militaristic country in the world today.

Germany is also the same. Today, the tonnage of the German navy has climbed to 190,000 tons. In the early 1980s, the two countries were at the same level. Now Germany is about twice that of East Africa, and the German army has also maintained more than 400,000 troops for many years. Wilhelm II will also expand the German army this year, which happens to be twice that of East Africa.

Of course, Germany is also forced to do so. The standing army of neighboring France has exceeded 500,000, and there is also the behemoth of Tsarist Russia to the east of Germany, so even if the German army is expanded by one more time, it will only be barely enough.

East Africa is much more comfortable in this regard. Now the tonnage of the East African navy has declined, only more than 90,000 tons, which is 30,000 tons less than in the 1980s, and the army has been reduced to more than 200,000 after the South African War.

However, compared with the decrease in the number of people, East Africa’s military expenditure has not decreased much, but is mainly used to improve the level of military industry and improve the quality of the army.

For Ernst, the reduction of troops is for the healthy development of the army, not to cripple itself. If Ernst is willing, the East African Defense Force can completely slack off like the US Army.

The active force of the US Army is only 30,000 people, and the strengthened reserve force is only 130,000 people. Of course, for Americans, they really do not need a large-scale army.

The tonnage of the US Navy has been increased to 240,000 tons, second only to Britain and France, ranking before Germany. It is a typical “small army, big navy” pattern.

East Africa can only envy the scale of the US Navy. After all, in 1890, the United States had surpassed Britain to become the world’s largest industrial country.

Compared with the economic strength of the United States, its navy is actually not too “luxurious.” For example, the tonnage of the world’s second navy, the French navy, exceeds 320,000 tons.

The tonnage of the British navy exceeds 600,000 tons. The strength of the United Kingdom and France in dominating the world pattern can also be seen from the tonnage of the navy.

Even if France fails in the Franco-Prussian War, it will only lose its position as the hegemon of continental Europe, and it will not change France’s strength as the second strongest country in the world. After all, no matter how good the German army is, the navy is suppressed by Britain and France.

In fact, the tonnage of the Tsarist Russian navy is not small, it should be close to France, but Tsarist Russia, like Germany, is restricted by geography. The main Baltic Fleet and the German Navy are both spinning around in the Baltic Sea.

In short, in the 19th century, the military investment of various countries was a huge burden. Although countries would not be as extreme as Japan, it would also affect economic development.

East Africa will also drag down the economy by maintaining a certain scale of the army, but it is within an acceptable range, and it is also necessary. After all, there are still 20 million black people in the country. Without a sufficient army to suppress them, it will inevitably have a negative impact on East African society.

Conversely, the economic value that 20 million black people can create can definitely give back to the East African economy. This is very cost-effective. It is equivalent to black people sharing East Africa’s military expenditure.

It should be known that Japan’s population is only 30 million, and the value that 20 million black people can create is far above Japan. After all, East Africa is not a resource-poor country like Japan. Even if black people’s productivity is low, they can break through their original productivity level under the whip of East Africa.

This is especially evident in agriculture and mining. As for infrastructure construction, black people have also made great efforts, but the specific value is not easy to reflect.

Ernst said: “Railways and highways can drive the rapid development of industries such as steel, so the annual railway construction should show an increasing trend, so as to meet the needs of East African development. In the future, East Africa should build at least several national railway trunk lines, interwoven into a railway network covering the whole country.”

“For example, Southwest Africa, although it seems to have no value now, has a large area and abundant resources underground, so even Southwest Africa should build at least one trunk railway to connect Walvis Bay with the inland.”

“The Southern Central Railway will then extend to Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and to the west, the Kalahari Basin and north of the Orange River, until Upington also need a southwest-northeast railway trunk line, which is of great significance for maintaining national defense security.”

“The northern Azande Plateau, the Great Lakes region, and Somalia all need railway construction. The railway network in the central and eastern regions should also be started to improve. The central and eastern regions have been developed, and there are many urban populations, which require a denser railway network to promote the sustainable development of the economy.”

“Finally, there is the eastern coastal area. Many countries will build railways along the coast. The eastern plains area of East Africa also needs a north-south coastal railway to promote the economic development and linkage of coastal cities.”

The coastline of East Africa’s eastern coast is as long as more than five thousand kilometers. If a railway is built along the coastline, it will be at least four thousand kilometers, so Ernst’s idea is a huge project.

Moreover, if a coastal railway is built in the east, the west will definitely be the same. Even if the natural environment of Southwest Africa is harsh, the western Atlantic railway line will not be less than one thousand kilometers.

East African officials have no doubt that East Africa can complete these words of Ernst, because railway construction capacity is an increasing process, just like the explosive growth of American railways has only been in recent decades.

East Africa has a larger land area than the United States, a larger population, and East Africa’s dependence on railways is far greater than that of the United States. The United States has an endless central plain and a developed water transport network.

East Africa lacks all of these, so East Africa’s emphasis on railways is more prominent. On this basis, the future East African railway should at least reach a level similar to that of the United States to be considered reasonable.

Chapter 836: Transportation Conditions

Currently, the United States has over two hundred thousand kilometers of railways. This means that East Africa will need to build at least two hundred thousand kilometers of railways in the future to meet national demand. However, the American railway network is likely to continue growing, potentially reaching at least four hundred thousand kilometers at its peak. Ernst still needs to carefully consider such an exaggerated figure.

East Africa’s mainland is nearly twice the size of the contiguous United States (the United States without Alaska in the same era), so doubling the railway length is justifiable. However, based on the development path of railways in Europe and the United States in his previous life, Ernst still needs to pay attention to certain aspects.

Of course, the United States’ extravagant railway development is closely related to the current era. Firstly, Americans could not have foreseen the future explosive growth of automobiles, which have become almost essential transportation for every American family.

Secondly, the Panama Canal was not yet completed, so the main transportation method between the east and west coasts of the United States had to rely on railways. Traveling by sea would require circumnavigating the entire South America, similar to how Eurasian trade had to go around the African coast before the Suez Canal was opened.

Speaking of the Suez Canal, Ernst’s feelings are complicated. Without the Suez Canal, East Africa’s economy could definitely have reached a higher level. However, without the Suez Canal, East Africa’s expansion in Southern Africa in the first twenty years would definitely not have been so smooth.

The opening of the Suez Canal reduced the great powers’ attention to Africa. Secondly, the main routes for European immigrants to East Africa and import/export trade through the Suez Canal were more convenient.

Now that East Africa’s nationhood has been solidified after the South African War, and the great powers cannot change the situation in Southern Africa, so without the Suez Canal…

Dispelling these complex thoughts, Ernst said to Andrei, “Railways are an important mode of transportation related to national defense, economy, and people’s livelihood. They cannot be completely profit-oriented. For example, the opening of some railways may result in losses, but the economic boost to the local area is unimaginable. Overall, East Africa’s railway construction must consider many aspects, even environmental issues, such as the impact on the ecosystem. Of course, we cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater. Currently, railway construction should still focus on developing national defense, economy, and people’s livelihood.”

Ernst still puts national defense first. In fact, East Africa’s railway construction initially prioritized national security.

At that time, the primary purpose of the Central Railway construction was to control the Southern African region. Initially, central and southern East Africa was surrounded by hostile forces on three sides. The Central Railway was like an arm extending from the east, firmly controlling the central and southern territories under East African rule. As for the incidental economic development of the central region, it was only a matter of time.

Changing the subject, Ernst said to Liu Yideweier, “The Ministry of Transportation must also actively cooperate with the railway department, especially in highway construction. Railways cannot reach every place. Railways are the major arteries, and highways are the same, even more important. They also act as capillaries, connecting cities, villages, railway hubs, and so on.”

Currently, East Africa is vigorously promoting highway upgrades, especially in some important urban areas, where asphalt roads have been laid.

At the end of the eighteenth century, during the Industrial Revolution, the Englishman John McAdam designed a new road construction method, using crushed stones to pave roads. The road was higher in the middle to facilitate drainage, and the road surface was flat and wide. Later, this type of road was named “Macadam road” after its designer’s surname, which is the origin of the term “road.”

Asphalt roads have a shorter development history. Around the 1850s, France first used rock asphalt for road surfaces. In 1854, a thin-layer asphalt pavement close to the current standard was built in Paris, which can be considered the beginning of hot-mix asphalt pavement.

East Africa has very few highways with asphalt pavement. Only some cities in the eastern coastal areas have built them. After all, the distribution of natural asphalt in the world is extremely uneven, and East Africa is naturally poor in this regard. Of course, as a major country, it is definitely not completely without it. Ernst himself knows that there are considerable asphalt sand resources in Congo, which is located at the mouth of the Congo River, basically overlapping with East Africa’s oil and gas resource distribution.

However, this is the work of the mining department. Ernst only knows the approximate area, and development is a matter for the future. Moreover, with the current industrial level, the world still mainly uses natural asphalt, so East Africa also needs to import from Europe.

Moreover, asphalt is not an expensive commodity. Even if it provides a better experience than cement roads, cement roads also have their advantages. When there is a substitute for anything, the price will not rise too high.

Liu Yideweier said, “As of last year, we completed twenty thousand kilometers of road surface hardening projects in Hessen Province alone, which greatly improved the transportation conditions in Hessen Province. Although the progress in other regions is relatively slow, it is also a significant improvement compared to the past.”

Hessen Province was the first province to promote road surface hardening because the local road conditions were at the lower end of the spectrum in East Africa. East Africa focuses on optimizing road conditions in rainy areas, such as Hessen Province and the provinces in the Great Lakes region.

This is easy to understand. The economic situation in these two places is not bad in East Africa, ranking in the middle to upper levels. Coupled with the strong demand, the progress is faster.

The roads in other parts of the central and eastern regions can be maintained for a while because they are located in grasslands or plateau areas, and the roads were built earlier.

“As of last year, the total mileage of hardened highways nationwide has exceeded two hundred thousand kilometers, which is considered relatively fast in the world,” He Buchong said.

Ernst nodded and said, “Highway development is always beneficial. The current highway situation in East Africa is far from enough. There is a huge gap between us and Europe and the United States, so we must continue to accelerate highway construction.”

“Moreover, with the future development of the automobile industry, the demand for highways will become greater and greater, even replacing some of the functions of railways. This is one of the important indicators of our country’s industrial innovation and regional development.”

In the end, it is still to promote the development of East Africa’s automobile industry. As a leading automobile industry “powerhouse” in the world, the driving experience on most roads in East Africa is not good.

Of course, unlike trains that are fixed on rails, cars can basically travel on any flat ground, except that it is very bumpy.

For example, for military vehicles, off-road performance is a very important indicator. At this time, East Africa’s vast grasslands are all “roads,” but they are a bit hard on people.

In addition to railways and highways, water transportation is also an important part of East Africa’s transportation structure. However, East Africa’s water transportation conditions are poor, so there is nothing to say. Currently, land transportation construction is still the main focus.

Of course, while the water transportation conditions are poor nationwide, this is not the case regionally. In particular, East Africa has many large lakes. Six of the world’s top fifty largest lakes are located in East Africa, and three of them are in the world’s top ten. Lake Victoria, one of the Great Lakes, ranks third in the world, second only to the Caspian Sea and Lake Superior.

Moreover, the three major lakes of East Africa are concentrated in the eastern region, which makes East Africa’s lake transportation industry relatively developed and growing very rapidly.

These lakes are also an important source of fishery resources in East Africa, which means that even in inland East Africa, freshwater fishery resources are not inferior to coastal areas.

The only drawback is that these lakes are relatively independent and have not formed interconnections like the Great Lakes. However, this is also conducive to the dispersion of water resources.

In addition, the plateau lake groups also impose certain restrictions on East Africa’s territory. For example, the existence of Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika makes Mbeya in the middle the only passage.

The future will be the same. Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika are both hundreds of meters deep and large in area, and do not have the conditions for bridge construction. In the future, transportation between the east and west coasts will definitely be mainly by ferry.

Chapter 837: Typhoon

March 14, 1891, Beira.

Having passed the New Year, Beira, the number one project in the Mozambique region, was beginning to take shape.

In the original history, Beira was founded in 1891, and East Africa’s construction of Beira was just half a year earlier. In its previous life, Beira was one of the main transit ports for Zimbabwe, Congo (Kinshasa), Malawi, and Zambia, and the second largest port in Mozambique. This also shows the advantages of Beira.

However, Beira’s current situation is not good. The entire area is experiencing strong winds and heavy rain, testing this nascent city.

Due to time constraints, many of Beira’s buildings are temporary structures, mostly made of earth and wood. Under these extreme weather conditions, local buildings have suffered great damage.

“This damn weather! I never encountered a hurricane of this magnitude in Dar es Salaam,” said Burley Land, the first mayor of Beira, loudly.

Mozambique is a country that is frequently hit by typhoons. East Africa did not know this before, or rather, had little experience with it, because typhoons generally occur near the equator and then develop into typhoons as they move towards the polar regions, which is the hurricane that Beira’s mayor, Burley Land, mentioned.

Typhoons have three main names: tropical cyclones, hurricanes, etc. The southeastern part of the Far East Empire is called a typhoon, while the southeastern part of the United States is called a hurricane.

Most of eastern East Africa is affected by typhoons, but the typhoons in the Indian Ocean region are not very powerful, and Dar es Salaam is very close to the equator, so it is generally not affected.

Beira is different. Beira is located near 30 degrees south latitude (29 degrees), which is exactly where typhoons are more powerful.

Of course, East African typhoons are much weaker than those in the Americas and the Far East, and East Africa is not as affected as one might imagine.

In the southeastern part of East Africa, which is most vulnerable to typhoons, there is the world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar, which to some extent blocks some typhoons from reaching East Africa.

However, because the Mozambique Channel is too wide, some stronger typhoons generally strengthen again on the sea surface after passing through the Mozambique Channel. This is the situation that Beira is currently experiencing.

“What impact has this had on the ships in the port?” asked Beira Mayor Burley Land.

“Mr. Mayor, the overall condition of the port area is good, but two ships collided because they were too slow to enter the port, and the damage is quite serious. We have no way to deal with it for the time being, and we can only reassess the situation after the typhoon weakens.”

“Phew, that’s good. It doesn’t sound too bad…”

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, his subordinate said, “Mr. Mayor, although the port is not a big problem, the situation in the city may not be good.”

Burley Land quickly asked, “What’s the situation now?”

“Many houses and shacks have been destroyed by the typhoon, and there may be casualties. The trees in the city have been broken in half. Under these circumstances, I’m afraid most of the buildings, except for the city hall, are in bad shape.”

Beira is located north of the Pungwe River estuary, with the land protruding to the northeast, which is the opposite direction of the typhoon’s approach, so the port area has not been greatly affected, while the urban area has suffered. At this time, it is impossible to send people out to organize rescue efforts, so the city government and other government agencies can only stand by and watch.

In fact, the reason why the city government was not affected is that the city government and other government agencies are brick and stone structures. After all, this is an East African tradition. Whenever a new area is opened up, government agencies and infrastructure are given priority.

“Once the typhoon stops, immediately organize manpower to rescue the affected people in the city and collect disaster data,” Burley Land ordered.

In fact, Beira only has more than seven thousand people so far, so the affected population cannot be too large. On the contrary, the construction in the previous six months may not be able to withstand the test, which increases the difficulty of Beira’s construction, especially at the time when the Habe Railway is about to be built.

Half an hour later, the wind and rain finally stopped, and the city government and government agency personnel began to move out, but they obviously lacked a correct understanding of typhoons.

In less than an hour, the typhoon struck again, catching everyone off guard. People had not yet been settled, and a new storm arrived.

This caused the number of typhoon-related deaths in Beira to rise from four to twelve. On the other hand, the old sailors in the port area had some experience with typhoons, so the port area was not greatly affected.

In the dock house next to the John Derr, Captain John Derr explained to everyone: “A typhoon is actually a large circle, but the center of this circle is hollow. We call it the eye of the typhoon. In the eye of the typhoon, it is generally calm, but after the eye of the typhoon passes, the typhoon will continue.”

He took a bowl to demonstrate to everyone: “The wall of the bowl is actually where the typhoon really has power. As for the center, it is actually empty for special reasons, but the typhoon is rotating, so the typhoon will only really end after the other side of the bowl wall passes.”

“I encountered a typhoon in Southeast Asia before, and that experience was much more terrible than the typhoon in Beira. Sailing on the sea, you will always encounter unpredictable situations. The more knowledge you know, the easier it is to save your life…”

It was another vivid lesson, but Beira suffered unnecessary losses because it encountered this situation for the first time and lacked relevant experience. This can also be regarded as a lesson for the East African government.

After the disaster, the number of deaths and missing persons rose to forty-three, including three government workers and four police officers responsible for rescue missions. More than two hundred houses were destroyed, and economic losses reached more than thirteen thousand Rhenish Thalers.

Fortunately, Beira has not been built for a long time, and the city is not large, otherwise the losses would have been greater. This is also the first time in recent years that the East African government has encountered such a powerful typhoon. Previously, only the Portuguese government could enjoy this “blessing.”

The disaster in Beira has, to some extent, affected the start of the Habe Railway construction. At least in terms of house reconstruction, Beira needs to put in more effort.

Of course, typhoons are not necessarily all bad. This typhoon actually penetrated deep into the East African interior, all the way to the Matabeleland Plateau, bringing abundant rainfall to Matabeleland Province and boosting agricultural development in Matabeleland Province.

Because the development level of the Mozambique region is too low, it cannot enjoy this benefit. Instead, the surge in rain has brought some trouble to the railway line exploration work.

In April, the construction of the Habe Railway could finally begin. As for the impact of the typhoon, it was the first time it entered the East African government’s field of vision.

However, the government’s attitude towards this “new thing” of typhoons is very stable, because compared to natural disasters such as typhoons, it is not even on the list in East Africa.

The main natural disasters that the East African central government encounters every year are drought and floods. In a country as vast as East Africa, there is always a place where the weather is not good, so everyone is used to it.

However, assistance to Beira has not been delayed. After all, the Habe Railway is an important national project valued by the East African government, and the construction of Beira Port is also one of the main port construction projects of the East African government in 1891. Therefore, even if Beira is not affected by the disaster, East Africa will still increase its investment in the area.

Beira’s location advantages determine that its development potential will not be bad. In the future, it will also be one of the key development areas among the port cities in East Africa, and it will not stagnate due to “small” natural disasters.

Chapter 838: Steel “Monster”

“Tuk-tuk-tuk…”

Just as dawn broke, the residents of Shaukuai Town were awakened by the sound of a tractor starting, followed by a bugle call, “Doo-doo-doo…”

The East African military camp was located in the center of Shaukuai City. Because Shaukuai was an important town for the former Portuguese, many Portuguese and natives remained after the war. Therefore, to prevent local rebellions, the army was not completely withdrawn.

“Honey, what’s that sound?” Hannah Montana nudged her sleeping husband awake.

Andor said impatiently, “Isn’t that just the East Africans’ bugle call! Don’t make such a fuss, let me sleep a little longer…”

Hannah Montana slapped him and said, “I can tell the difference between a bugle call! I’m talking about that tuk-tuk-tuk sound before the bugle call, and it hasn’t stopped yet. Listen carefully.”

Urged by his wife, Andor reluctantly poked his head towards the source of the sound. Sure enough, amidst the powerful bugle call, he heard a different noise, and the sound was getting closer and closer, as if it was heading towards his house.

“Hmm…” Andor’s attention was drawn.

Suddenly, a burst of exclamations came from outside the street: “Look, a monster, a moving monster…”

“Help!”

Various Portuguese voices, mixed with some native voices, spread outside the street. Andor and his wife exchanged glances, hurriedly dressed, and went out to see the “excitement.”

Andor pushed open the door and saw a chaotic scene on the street. The chaos outside the street was mainly caused by Mozambican natives, and the scene was extremely disordered.

Some people were running around, some were hastily looking for cover, and some natives were even prostrating on the ground, muttering to themselves.

Andor couldn’t understand what they were saying, but he could guess that these were some of the natives’ mystical prayers, probably like white people seeking God’s protection.

And the “culprit” behind all this was a few machines of unknown purpose. However, based on the sound and the smoke coming from the exhaust vents, Andor believed that it should be an unknown “steam engine,” except where were the exhaust vents of this “steam engine”! That black thing should just be a chimney!

Andor knew about steam engines and even understood the basic principle of “boiling water.” In Andor’s impression, steam engines would produce a lot of water mist, but these strange machines were clearly different from “normal” steam engines.

In Andor’s view, the East African tractor was more like a “small train” that could run on ordinary roads, at least in appearance.

Hannah Montana hid behind her husband and asked, “Honey, can you see what’s going on?”

Andor muttered, “Looks like the East Africans’ ‘train’ has frightened the natives on the street.”

“Train!” Hannah Montana exclaimed from behind.

Startled by the scream, Andor shouted, “What are you doing! Don’t be so jumpy, you almost deafened me, just like those ignorant natives.”

“Andor, do you think it’s possible? There are no railways in Shaukuai. How did the East Africans get a train here!” Hannah Montana temporarily forgot her husband’s sarcasm and questioned.

Andor opened the door wider, stepped aside, and said to his wife, “Why don’t you take a look for yourself?”

At this time, Hannah Montana saw the scene happening on the street, but her attention had been drawn to the tractor, and she had no time to care about the chaos on the street.

Seeing his wife’s surprised expression, Andor said proudly, “See! The East Africans have a train that can drive directly on the road, but this kind of train is too small and can’t carry much cargo at all. There are no carriages behind it either.”

Tractors can of course carry goods, but this requires specially made carriages. Of course, attaching horse-drawn carriages is also possible, but the staff of the Shaukuai Town state-owned farm did not have time to install them. Therefore, the East African tractor presented to Andor and his wife looked more like a peculiar “locomotive.”

“This should be what the East African army escorted over in those carriages a few days ago! It was covered with cloth at the time, and I thought it was some heavy weapon,” Hannah Montana said.

“Anyway, it’s East Africa now, and there’s no chance of war here, so we should just live our lives honestly,” Andor said.

Soon, the army of Shaukuai Town suppressed the riot in the district.

Currently, the security of Shaukuai Town is mainly the responsibility of the army. In Mozambique and Angola, except for “big” cities such as Maputo and Luanda, there are no public security systems stationed yet. Most areas are still under military control.

East African cavalrymen riding warhorses, wielding whips, directed the black people on the street to restore order. They were slightly nicer to the original Portuguese residents, simply signaling them to make way and not cause obstruction.

Of course, the Portuguese-speaking translator was mainly responsible for this task: “Everyone, don’t block the front, keep the road clear, and you black devils, stay to the sides of the road and don’t cause trouble.”

“Everyone, don’t worry, this machine is not a monster, but a tractor. You can think of it as a farm tool, or a vehicle,” government personnel also began to appease the people.

In fact, many government personnel only learned the term “tractor” yesterday. Before that, they only knew that the military had brought a batch of “big guys.”

Of course, not all natives could understand, because this exceeded their worldview.

During the centuries of Portuguese colonization, local natives could more or less write Portuguese, especially slaves, or natives who participated in the Portuguese army during the war.

The original Portuguese residents were better off. Most of them had seen the world in Europe. At a glance, they knew that the tractor was an industrial product. Although they had never seen it before, a pile of steel products was not that “sophisticated,” just a little curious.

Steam tractors are rare even in Europe and America, let alone this earliest gasoline tractor in the world. Not to mention the Portuguese, even few people in East Africa have seen it, let alone Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony. Before this, Mozambique could be said to have nothing modern except guns and cannons.

Soon, the residents of Shaukuai Town witnessed how this thing called a “tractor” worked.

As a town located on the banks of the Limpopo River, Shaukuai Town was also mainly engaged in agriculture before the war, so most of the residents of the town were farmers.

Almost all the residents were watching the tractor working on both sides of the fields, everyone stopping to watch.

Soon, the tractor driver installed the mechanical plow, and after confirming all the procedures, sat in the tractor’s driver’s seat.

In the “tuk-tuk-tuk” sound, he operated the tractor to work in the field. The tractor, running at full power, pulled the plow and easily dug out furrows in the flat and open Limpopo River plain. The speed was not much faster than plowing with oxen, but the endurance was strong. It worked continuously from seven in the morning to ten in the morning, three hours without stopping, and the work efficiency was extremely high.

And in the middle of this, only one tractor malfunctioned, but it was quickly repaired by an experienced repairman.

“This is the agricultural mechanization that the central government is talking about, using modern agricultural equipment to greatly improve production efficiency. If it can be rolled out across the country, I can’t imagine what that scene would be like,” Renville, the director of the first state-owned farm in Shaukuai Town, exclaimed.

“The charm of industrialization lies in this. It not only develops in the industrial field, but is also closely related to agriculture, mining, and other related industries. In the future, the South Mozambique Plain will build a world-class large-scale mechanized farm cluster, and our Shaukuai Town is the vanguard of this agricultural revolution,” Mars, the first East African mayor of Shaukuai Town, said from the side.

Chapter 839: Powerful East African Electricity

However, a mere eight tractors were a drop in the bucket for Chauquela Town, and local agricultural construction still required a large amount of manpower.

As an area that Portugal had operated in for a long time, Chauquela had a large number of plantations and farms nearby, and the area was not small. Otherwise, Count Roberts would not have chosen to set up the Allied headquarters here in the first place.

Before the Portuguese left on a large scale, the entire Chauquela Town had tens of thousands of black slaves as labor, serving the local plantations and farms.

And when it became a battlefield, Chauquela built a large number of military facilities. Now Chauquela still has a large number of trenches and bunkers in the outer areas.

The East African government did not demolish these military facilities on a large scale, which also delayed the agricultural development of Chauquela. Especially after the heavy rain a while ago, the trenches in Chauquela Town were filled with rainwater. At the same time, there were a large number of bullet casings left in the soil within the Chauquela area, all of which needed to be cleaned up.

Of course, this was not too difficult for Chauquela Town. After Portugal surrendered, it left East Africa with hundreds of thousands of black slave auxiliary soldiers, all of whom were ready-made labor.

Especially Chauquela Town, where 20,000 blacks were left here after the war to maintain Chauquela’s production and reclamation activities, and East Africa stationed a whole regiment of troops here.

……

First Township.

“This is East African Broadcasting Station. The time is now 6:00 PM, East African time, May 12, 1891. Welcome to listen to the East New Agency news…”

The Ernst family listened to the news from East Africa’s first wired broadcasting station in front of the radio.

East New Agency is the abbreviation of East Africa National News Agency. Previously, the main means of communication for East New Agency was newspapers, but now the emergence of wired broadcasting has once again enriched the way East Africa transmits information.

Of course, as the first batch of wired users, the residents of First Township were lucky. They were always the first to enjoy the improvement of quality of life brought about by technological progress.

“Daddy, hug…” A delicate porcelain doll disturbed Ernst’s mind of listening to the radio.

This was Ernst’s second daughter, East Africa’s Princess Lina, born in 1885, and seven years old this year. She also has a twin brother.

In the past ten years, from the birth of the eldest daughter Jena to the present, Ernst’s children have reached a total of six, including the eldest son Friedrich, there are four princes and two princesses.

The eldest prince Friedrich, the eldest princess Jena, and the second prince Karls are already in school. As for the twin princess Lina and his brother, the third prince Antonio, they will also enter school in the second half of this year. The youngest son, Maxim, was born four years ago and is only five years old. Now the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family finally has a feeling of prosperity, at least Ernst’s family business will not be without someone to inherit.

Ernst picked up his second daughter and kissed her, saying, “What’s wrong, baby? Do you want to listen to the radio too!”

“What is a radio, Daddy?” Princess Lina asked.

“Radio means broadcasting widely, and many people can hear the news. You know the telephone, right? Radio is a sound coming from a similar device, but many people can hear this sound, as long as they have a radio at home.”

Lina stared with wide eyes, completely unaware of what her father was talking about.

Of course, what Ernst said was almost the same. Now wired broadcasting actually relies on telephone lines for transmission, so there is no problem in saying that it is a device similar to a telephone.

Historically, in 1893, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, connected more than 700 telephone lines and broadcast news regularly, forming a formal wired broadcast. East Africa is two years earlier than this time.

This was not because the technology was not mature before, but because East Africa did not need wired broadcasting to transmit information before. However, now with the improvement of East Africa’s urban development level, wired broadcasting technology can also be launched.

Moreover, unlike in the past, the application of new technologies had to be launched in the European market first, such as electric lights, telephones, etc.

This time, the first city to apply wired broadcasting technology was an East African local city, which also shows the development status of East African cities.

Ernst strongly supports the development of the electricity industry. Today, East Africa’s electrification level is in the first echelon in the world.

The development of the local electricity industry has also promoted the development of East African power companies such as Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company. Just the year before, Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company was taken down by German Electric Power Company in Germany and fell to third place. The top two are Siemens and German Electric Power Company, two monopoly enterprises supported by the German government.

However, the decline in the German market is only the result of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family transferring its industry to East Africa. In fact, worldwide, Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company is still one of the leading monopoly enterprises and can rank among the top in many countries.

Of course, in addition to Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company, a royal enterprise, East Africa also has a number of state-owned large-scale power companies. They and Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company jointly monopolize the East African electricity market, forming a huge electricity monopoly organization.

Enterprises moving towards monopoly is a normal state of enterprise development in the 19th century, which can better participate in international competition and improve resource utilization efficiency.

At present, there are a total of five electricity entities in the world, which basically divide up most of the world’s market. The first is Hohenzollern-Hechingen Electric Power Company, the second is East Africa National Electric Power Corporation, then General Electric of the United States, and finally Siemens and Electric Power Company of Germany.

It directly reflects East Africa’s strong strength in the field of electricity, and with Ernst’s foresight, the general direction of East Africa’s electricity development is stable, such as the promotion of alternating current in East Africa and the international community is greatly accelerated.

In the past ten years, East Africa has been one of the countries with the most newly built thermal power and hydropower plants in the world. In the central and eastern parts of East Africa, electricity is basically no longer a “luxury” and is widely involved in social production and life activities. The main cities have basically achieved the goal of “electrification.”

At the same time, East African electricity has a huge market share in Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Asia and other regions, and the three-legged international electricity pattern is basically stable.

Moreover, East Africa has the support of East Africa National Electric Power University. This university, which East Africa has developed with the strength of the whole country, can be said to be the most concentrated institution of higher learning for electricity talents and technology in the world.

At the same time, almost every major city in East Africa has built electricity-related colleges, which have made great contributions to the popularization and promotion of electricity in East Africa. Therefore, in the field of electricity, East Africa has truly achieved all-round development, and there are almost no shortcomings.

Of course, the vigorous development of the electricity industry is not representative and cannot reflect the level of economic development in East Africa. In machinery, chemical industry, shipbuilding, medical treatment, etc., the gap between East Africa and European and American countries is still very large.

In the field of traditional industries, the problems are even more prominent. In this regard, countries such as Britain and France occupy an absolute advantage. For example, during the South African War, Britain almost completely banned the import of medium and high-end machinery to East Africa, which had a certain impact on East Africa’s textile industry and mining industry.

Moreover, in the past ten years, East Africa has mainly focused on the four major industries of steel, railway, mining, and electricity, and automobiles. East Africa has achieved catching up, or even surpassing, in these four fields, but the performance in other fields is unsatisfactory.

Therefore, East Africa must work hard in other industrial fields in the future, especially important industries such as chemical industry, petroleum, textile, and medical treatment.

However, this kind of thing may not be easy, because the new incorporation of a large amount of territory will inevitably involve a lot of energy, manpower, material resources and financial resources of the East African government in order to develop these new territories.

If East Africa wants to achieve a breakthrough in industry, it must first reach the basic conditions for mass production, and this condition is continuous expansion of production. Only when the quantity reaches a certain level can the problem of qualitative change be considered.

To put it simply, quantitative change leads to qualitative change. Now East Africa does not even have enough “quantity”, so naturally it cannot cause qualitative change, just like a person who first solves the problem of “eating enough” before considering other things.

Chapter 840: Upington

Upington.

Upington is the second largest city in New Baden Province, located in the southwestern part of East Africa, on the north bank of the Orange River, and was the former capital of the Griqualand Republic.

In June of this year, the citizens of Upington received good news. According to rumors, a railway was to be built in Upington.

“A railway is going to be built? Is the news accurate?”

In Upington, truckloads of construction materials were continuously transported from the east. Thanks to the British construction of the Kimberley Railway, many raw materials for railway construction could be transported from near Kimberley.

“Of course, this railway runs from Bulawayo, through Gaborone and Kathu, and finally arrives in Upington.”

No wonder the citizens of Upington were so interested in the railway. As a small frontier town in East Africa, transportation here was simply too inconvenient.

Upington itself was located on the southern border, far from the political and economic center of East Africa. This railway construction would greatly improve Upington’s transportation capacity.

The Upington Railway mainly passed through the eastern part of New Baden Province, basically parallel to the Orange River, because the southeastern region of New Baden Province had the best natural conditions and the richest mineral resources in the entire province.

The construction of the Bulawayo-Upington Railway, in addition to defense needs, was mainly to transport the mineral resources of New Baden Province.

The railway mostly passed through New Baden Province, with a small portion within Matabeleland Province, and then connected to the central railway line of Bulawayo, running in a northeast-southwest direction. It was an important project for East Africa to develop the Kalahari region.

The Kalahari region, that is, the area centered on the Kalahari Basin, was considered a separate geographical unit in East Africa.

Of course, the Kalahari region in East Africa was strictly speaking also part of the Southwest African region, but the southeastern part of the Kalahari region and the Okavango Delta still had development value, while the natural conditions in Southwest Africa were too poor.

The East African New Baden Province was the area north of the Orange River in the former Northern Cape Province of South Africa and southeastern Botswana. It can be said that New Baden Province occupied the essence of the former Northern Cape Province of South Africa and the Republic of Botswana.

In its previous life, the Northern Cape Province played an important role in South African minerals, producing more than thirty percent of the country’s diamonds, more than seventy percent of its silver, more than eighty percent of its iron ore, ninety percent of its aluminum, almost all of its copper, and a large amount of manganese resources.

Of course, the copper mines in the Northern Cape were mainly concentrated in the western coastal area, with only a small distribution within the East African New Baden Province. However, East Africa was not a copper-deficient country. Copper mines were distributed in many provinces in East Africa, and the copper reserves in the central region were world-class. Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe), Hohenzollern Province (Zambia), Hesse Province, and Swabia Province (eastern and southern Congo) all had very considerable copper reserves.

Moreover, this “small” distribution was only compared to the Northern Cape region of the Cape Colony, and the quantity was still very considerable.

Within the British Cape Colony, apart from copper mines and diamonds being relatively large in scale, the main minerals were distributed within East Africa.

Especially the rich iron ore resources in New Baden Province, which were necessary for the industrial development of Matabeleland Province.

New Baden Province itself was obviously not suitable for industrial development. In addition to being located in the border area, the local natural environment was relatively dry, located on the southern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The local economy was mainly based on sheep farming and grape cultivation.

The lack of water resources was fatal to the industrial development of New Baden Province, and the local environmental carrying capacity was extremely poor, which could easily lead to the expansion of the Kalahari Desert or soil salinization.

In this regard, the situation in the eastern Orange region was much better than in New Baden Province. The annual rainfall could at least be maintained at five to six hundred millimeters, and the eastern part could even reach more than nine hundred millimeters. Even Kimberley in the westernmost part could maintain about four hundred millimeters.

The rainfall in New Baden Province could only be maintained at about three hundred millimeters. A little worse, and it would be no different from a desert area.

Therefore, Upington has become the city with the longest sunshine hours in East Africa, and the quality of local wine is also among the best in the country.

East Africa mainly has two major high-quality grape growing areas, one is in the north near North Africa, and the other is the South African plateau, especially the Upington production area. The quality can completely challenge other top wine growing areas in the world, and the area is also an important wine producing area in East Africa.

It is worth mentioning that the capital of New Baden Province is the former Botswana capital Gaborone, while the capital of the former Northern Cape Province of South Africa was Kimberley, but now Kimberley is only an important city in the Orange region.

So it can be said that Gaborone and Kimberley both suffered a loss, one lost the opportunity to be a capital, and the other lost the opportunity to be a provincial capital.

Upington, on the other hand, was completely unaffected, and was instead valued by East Africa due to the importance of its geographical location.

Upington is the most suitable area for living in the western section of the Orange River. Further west is Southwest Africa and the western Cape Colony, where the climatic conditions are even harsher and not suitable for human habitation. If it were not for the Orange River passing through, and a small amount of irrigated agriculture could be developed along the river, it is estimated that there would be no human existence.

The East African Oranjemund is located at the mouth of the Orange River, and Oranjemund, which is close to the sea, is actually completely surrounded by desert. This can be considered “sighing at the ocean,” as the Atlantic Ocean did not share a drop of rain with Oranjemund.

To the east and north of Oranjemund is a vast desert of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, with almost no human habitation. The closest city to Oranjemund is Upington, which is more than four hundred and seventy kilometers away in a straight line.

Although Upington is the closest to Oranjemund, transportation between the two places relies entirely on walking or camels. On the contrary, it is more convenient to travel by sea from Walvis Bay to Oranjemund.

This is also the main reason why the British did not attack Southwest Africa during the South African War. It was all desert, and with too many people, logistics alone would probably kill them, and it would not pose any threat to East Africa.

Of course, another important reason was that it was very difficult for the British themselves to reach the northwestern region of the Cape, as they had to pass through deserts, Gobi, and mountains. To bypass these areas, they had to cross the Orange River, and on the north bank of the Orange River, they might encounter East African border soldiers.

This is where the strategic value of Upington is reflected. Capturing Upington would allow them to attack the East African interior along the northeast direction. Unfortunately, the Cape Colony had too few people, and East Africa had heavy troops stationed in New Baden Province, so this military feat could not be accomplished.

Now, the construction of the Bulawayo-Upington Railway is to prevent the British from launching another conflict with East Africa in the future to seize Upington, or it can be used as an East African military front line, continuously transporting troops and supplies from the rear to the front line via the railway.

Of course, there are also many economic considerations for the Bulawayo-Upington Railway, especially the rich mineral resources in the east, including iron, manganese, diamonds, copper, aluminum, and so on.

Of course, another important reason for building the Bulawayo-Upington Railway is that the navigability of the Orange River is too poor. The Orange River extends deep into southern East Africa, but the estuary is in the Atlantic Ocean, and the terrain is undulating, resulting in a large river drop. Like most rivers in East Africa, for example, near Upington is the former fifth largest waterfall in the world - Augrabies Falls.

East Africa has too many waterfalls that rank among the best in the world, but these waterfalls also cut off several major rivers in East Africa.

Victoria Falls, also known as King’s Falls in East Africa, cuts off the Zambezi River. Of course, even without King’s Falls, the Zambezi could not be fully navigable. King’s Falls is simply the largest in scale on the Zambezi River.

The Kisangani Falls on the upper reaches of the Congo River and the Livingstone Falls on the lower reaches were relatively well-known in its previous life, as well as the Tugela Falls, Owen Falls, and so on.

Ernst was numb to this, so it was understandable that East Africa vigorously developed railway transportation. From that perspective, East Africa’s dependence on railways was the strongest.

Chapter 841: A Great Power Delegation

October 3rd, 1891.

Port of Dar es Salaam.

“Welcome everyone to East Africa!”

Now, as a member of the world’s great powers, East Africa can engage in equal dialogue with any country in the world. Conversely, most countries need to foster good relations with East Africa.

Among these countries, the most eager is undoubtedly Germany, which is most concerned about East Africa. This time, the German delegation to East Africa is personally led by Chancellor Caprivi.

Previously, it would have been hard to imagine a world power leader visiting an African country. Not only is this the 19th century, but even in Ernst’s previous life, it would have been rare to witness such a scene. The only impression he had was of a certain American president going back to his ancestral home in Kenya.

As for Britain and France, they basically had no great power prestige in the 21st century, especially France, which was practically the overlord of Africa, with Paris considered the capital of West Africa. Moreover, their international status had declined significantly compared to the 19th century. But in the 19th century, the status of countries like Britain, France, and Germany was similar to that of the Far Eastern Empire, the United States, and Russia in Ernst’s previous life – the top three permanent members.

Of course, it’s a bit of a stretch to say that Caprivi is the leader of Germany. Although he is the German Chancellor, Germany is a monarchy with an Emperor, so Caprivi can only be considered one of Germany’s main leaders.

Caprivi: “Hello, Mr. Swet.”

“His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince welcome your arrival,” Swet said politely.

Although Dar es Salaam is economically developed, it is not the capital of East Africa after all. Therefore, Caprivi and his party will have to take a train to First Town City.

Looking at the young man before him, Caprivi was very envious. To be in such a high position at such a young age was truly rare. He had toiled for so many years to finally reach the position of Chancellor.

Of course, Swet is not exactly young now, but rather middle-aged. However, compared to Caprivi, he is naturally very young. Young officials are a relatively common phenomenon in East Africa.

As a result, Ernst treats the older people in the government as treasures, using them to temper the impetuosity of the East African government. Young people are prone to impulsiveness, especially in a rapidly developing country like East Africa.

For example, the aging Minister of Defense, Earl Yalman, has basically retired from daily affairs, but still firmly holds the position of Minister of Defense.

Under Swet’s leadership, the German delegation took a brief tour of Dar es Salaam. As a window city, the development of Dar es Salaam attracted the attention of German officials.

The size of Dar es Salaam is only a quarter of that of Berlin, but it still drew praise from Caprivi.

“Even in Germany, Dar es Salaam could rank in the top ten. It’s hard to imagine that this is an African city.”

Swet said, “East Africa has developed for more than a decade and can be considered a populous country. With the accumulation of population and resources, developing a relatively developed city is not difficult. Moreover, Dar es Salaam is not in the East African hinterland. It used to be the political center of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and was not without an economic foundation. At that time, Dar es Salaam was one of the important commercial centers along the western Indian Ocean.”

“Haha, Mr. Swet, you are being too modest. Without the existence of East Africa, the Zanzibaris at the time would not have been able to create a world-class city. Moreover, you not only have Dar es Salaam but also Mombasa, New Hamburg Port, and other cities. The development of East Africa is obvious to all,” Caprivi said.

While praising East Africa, Caprivi actually lamented in his heart that it was a pity that Germany had not paid attention to such good land in the past, letting the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen royal family get it on the cheap.

At the same time, a sense of dissatisfaction with Bismarck welled up in his heart. If Bismarck had devoted even a little more energy to colonial affairs, there would be no East Africa to speak of.

As the new German Chancellor personally promoted by Wilhelm II, Caprivi’s political views were not completely opposite to Bismarck’s, but they were certainly incompatible.

Unlike the “continental policy” of the Bismarck era, which focused on Europe, Caprivi advocated a “new course,” which meant broadening the empire’s diplomatic vision to the world stage, developing from a continental power into a world power, seizing overseas colonies, and expanding the German colonial empire.

In Caprivi’s view, if they had only put in a little more effort in the beginning, East Africa’s vast territory and market could have been theirs, instead of having to sit down and talk about cooperation with East Africa now.

Of course, Caprivi was just thinking about it. What’s done is done, and Germany has already missed the best opportunity to intervene. The connection between Germany and East Africa is probably not as deep as that of Austria-Hungary.

But on second thought, the existence of East Africa is not necessarily a bad thing, at least not for Germany. Because without East Africa, this vast area would probably have been divided up by Britain and France. Instead, the existence of East Africa allows Germany to get a piece of the pie.

Moreover, as a non-traditional colonial country, Germany’s appetite is not yet large. It is not yet accustomed to flexing its muscles overseas. Of course, it is impossible to think of running wild in East Africa, because although Germany’s development speed is the fastest in Europe, its strength is still not as good as that of Britain and France.

This is also one of the purposes of Caprivi’s visit to East Africa, which is to promote cooperation and exchanges between the two countries and boost Germany’s economic development.

What Germany lacks most now is a colonial market. As an independent country and one of the great powers, East Africa naturally cannot become a German colony. Therefore, they can only take a step back and allow German industrial and commercial goods to enter East Africa more smoothly. If possible, it would be best if the two countries could form an alliance.

Germany is not as timid as Austria-Hungary. If it can form an alliance with East Africa, it would naturally be welcomed, rather than just Austria allying with East Africa.

After admiring Dar es Salaam, the German officials boarded the train to First Town City with lingering interest. Then, the tall chimneys of Dar es Salaam and the roaring sounds of machinery slowly dissipated.

First Town City held a warm welcoming ceremony for Caprivi’s visit, and the East African honor guard held a ceremony to welcome foreign high-level heads of state for the first time in the country.

Ernst personally received Caprivi at Swet Palace and held specific negotiations on cooperation.

Alliance! Of course, that’s impossible. East Africa no longer needs to wave the banner to maintain national security. Moreover, how can an alliance be as free as being independent? After all, an alliance with Germany would certainly not be led by East Africa, and it would be difficult to shirk any troubles after the alliance.

Ernst politely declined, saying, “Our East Africa is a peace-loving country. In Africa, we have just experienced the South African War, so making some strategic misjudgments may cause misunderstandings from third-party countries. This is not conducive to the stability of the world situation and the economic development of East Africa.”

The third-party country can refer to Britain or France, which is at odds with Germany. Any interpretation is fine. Now that East Africa is so “powerful,” if it allies with Germany, many countries may not be able to sleep well.

Caprivi had expected Ernst’s refusal. An alliance, in other words, is banding together for warmth. Obviously, East Africa’s current diplomatic environment does not need to worry about security issues. On the contrary, an alliance with Germany may drag East Africa into trouble.

Caprivi felt a little sad about this. Germany can be said to be surrounded by enemies, while East Africa’s geographical advantages are extremely prominent, second only to the United States among the world’s great powers.

Before the South African War, Britain could still exert some pressure on East Africa by relying on Cape Town and the Portuguese colonies. After the South African War, East Africa’s security issues had been completely resolved, just like the United States today, with Canada in the north being insignificant and Mexico in the south being a complete loser.

Chapter 842: Complementary Strengths

The geopolitical environment in East Africa is indeed quite secure, and within this environment, the main threats to East Africa in the future will come from the north and west, namely North Africa and West Africa.

However, this is very difficult to achieve. Unless the two regions are integrated, they simply won’t have the strength to confront East Africa. As it stands, West Africa is full of colonial powers planting their flags, and it will likely develop into a collection of countries with different cultures.

“East Africa has no interest in international affairs, but we are quite interested in economic cooperation with various countries, which is also the common expectation of the people of both nations,” Ernst said, changing the subject.

Cooperation is certainly not a problem, but East Africa’s main strategic focus at present is economic development. Occasionally, it plants a few seeds in the South Pacific to prepare for the future. This is also East Africa’s grand national policy direction.

Of course, mainly because there’s nothing left to expand into elsewhere. In this respect, East Africa and Germany are in a similar situation. Apart from some odds and ends in the Pacific, there is basically no room for expansion in the world. The main areas are in the hands of Britain and France.

Of course, East Africa is a little stronger than Germany. It has quite a few colonies in the Pacific region. This is mainly because East Africa has a geographical advantage over Germany. After all, Germany spat out most of the Asian and Pacific colonies it had in its previous life, having to navigate too many sea routes.

Actually, East Africa is about the same. Although it has gained something in the Asia-Pacific region, as long as the Strait of Malacca is in British hands, East Africa’s colonies are not considered safe.

However, unlike Germany, East Africa’s desire for colonies is not particularly strong. After all, the development of East Africa itself is enough for it to digest for decades, even centuries.

Moreover, most of it is not frigid land like Tsarist Russia, which is difficult to develop. If over thirteen million square kilometers are developed, the potential presented will be astonishing.

Kapprivi felt somewhat regretful that East Africa was not interested in forming an alliance with Germany, but economic cooperation was enough.

After all, Germany’s primary goal now is to open up markets and sources of raw materials for its domestic industry and commerce, thereby further boosting its national strength. This is also an important policy of Kapprivi’s “New Course.”

“Well, there are not many German nations in the world. Apart from Germany and East Africa, the others are some insignificant small countries, so cooperation between our two countries is an inevitable choice,” Kapprivi said.

He reluctantly considered East Africa, a country with a large proportion of Chinese immigrants, as part of the German nation. After all, East African culture is completely leaning towards German cultural identity, and the royal family is also a traditional German noble family. The Hechingen royal family still retains the title of Prince of Hechingen of Germany, so it is legally justifiable, and East Africa has the value of being won over.

Of course, the main reason is that pure German immigrants account for about one-third of East Africa’s population, and non-German immigrants have accepted relatively thorough Germanization, so some minor problems can be completely ignored.

Here, it is necessary to mention the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is not considered a German nation. Only Austria is part of Germany. Bohemia, that is, Czechoslovakia, can barely be counted, after all, the origin of Germany can be traced back to the Holy Roman Empire, and Bohemia was also part of the empire.

Even so, the Bohemians can only be considered a semi-Germanized region, and now Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire is on an equal footing with Austria, so the Austro-Hungarian Empire cannot be said to belong to the German nation. If it were the Austrian Empire of that time, it could barely pass muster.

However, Prussia would not have admitted it back then. After all, including Hungary and other regions in the German nation would threaten its say in the German region.

And now the weakened Austro-Hungarian Empire is actually what Prussia wants to see. It’s just that the Prussians are happy to see it happen now. I’m afraid that when the last fig leaf of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a powerful empire in name only, is lifted, they won’t be able to laugh anymore. In the previous life, if the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been slightly stronger, Germany would have had a very high chance of not losing the war. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had not experienced the whole process, could not even exert one-third of its strength and was humiliated by Serbia, which had just become independent.

Of course, this cannot be blamed on the short-sightedness of the Germans. I am afraid that even the Habsburgs could not have imagined that their “powerful” country would be so vulnerable.

However, with Ernst’s strengthening, the current situation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is more than a little better than in the same period of history. However, even with Venice, Ernst is not optimistic about the future of this country.

The reason why East Africa is supporting the Austro-Hungarian Empire is naturally to better take over the political assets of the Austro-Hungarian Empire around the world, mainly in Europe, in the future.

After all, East Africa has no say in the Mediterranean at all, and the importance of the Mediterranean to East Africa is second only to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, above the Atlantic.

And the Mediterranean coast is truly a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The main means for East Africa to gain influence and maintain economic interests in the local area is to support the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Now the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s influence in the Mediterranean is second only to Britain and France, and in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is second only to Britain.

Ernst was not interested in Kapprivi’s flattery, and it was better to talk about more practical interests.

“East Africa and Germany are both major economies in the world. If our two countries can join hands in the economic field, it will naturally be a win-win situation and can also promote German influence around the world.”

“In my opinion, Germany is a true economic power, while East Africa is an economic power completely piled up by land and population size. The two can achieve perfect complementarity. We in East Africa need German talent, technology, and financial support, while East Africa can provide Germany with markets and abundant raw materials, and both sides can benefit from it.”

And what Ernst said is exactly the real purpose of Kapprivi’s visit to East Africa this time. East Africa’s territory is too large, and according to the approximate import and export data of East Africa analyzed by Germany in recent years, the benefits are completely no less than those of any European country.

Perhaps the East African government wants to continue to “play the role of a little transparent person in the international community,” but the busy commercial fleets on the East African sea and the developed urban economy along the Indian Ocean coast cannot deceive people.

Taking Dar es Salaam as an example, although it is only a quarter of the size of Berlin’s built-up area, its economy may be even worse. After all, Berlin is the capital of Germany, and the country’s economic and political resources are concentrated in Berlin, but there are not many cities in the world that can reach a quarter of Berlin’s size.

Especially in Africa, Dar es Salaam is already the most prosperous city, surpassing Cairo in Egypt, and has become the economic center of the African region.

And East Africa has more than one such city. Mombasa is actually very close to Dar es Salaam, with Dar es Salaam leading Mombasa by only a slight margin.

In addition, New Hamburg Port, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Mtwara and other areas that were developed earlier or coastal cities that East Africa focused on building have developed well.

And this is only the coast of East Africa. According to the intelligence of embassy staff and the analysis of East Africa, East Africa also has inland cities with relatively developed economies such as Nairobi, Mbeya, and Harare.

So the extent of East Africa’s interests has exceeded the expectations of most countries, and if you want to build such a batch of economically developed cities, the German government naturally does not believe that the East African interior has not been effectively developed.

After all, Germany itself also has a colony in Africa, namely Cameroon. To put it bluntly, Cameroon’s economic situation is quite poor, and the German government is still adding money to it. As for recovering the costs, it is probably a distant prospect.

With Cameroon as a comparison, Germany naturally knows the excellence of East Africa. After all, the various regions of sub-Saharan Africa are actually similar, and Cameroon can be completely regarded as a miniature version of East Africa.

Chapter 843: The Black (East) German Economic Cooperation and Development Agreement

Of course, Germany’s losses were government investments and didn’t have much to do with the colonial groups developing Cameroon itself. Early colonial losses were also normal. Years ago, the Hechingen Consortium had to pour funds into East Africa, which slowed its own development. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have had its market share in Germany swallowed up by the German General Electric Company, relegating it to third place.

Moreover, although Cameroon’s climate is similar to East Africa, its tropical savanna region is inland, while the coast is an unsuitable tropical rainforest climate. This is very different from East Africa, where the cradle of East Africa, Tanganyika, has a tropical savanna climate even along the coast, making it a suitable area for human habitation.

This is well demonstrated in the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, which is located in the transition zone between tropical savanna and tropical desert, also known in a previous life’s geography as the famous African “Sahel region.”

The Sahel region was also a suitable area for civilization development in ancient times. For example, the African black empires of Ghana, Songhai, and Mali all originated in this region. There are actually many relics of civilization in the Sigmaringen Royal Territory.

Sigmaringen is just lacking a natural outlet to the sea, otherwise, its conditions are actually much better than Cameroon.

The development of tropical rainforest cities is actually quite difficult, as East Africa knows well. The only typical tropical rainforest cities in East Africa are Kinshasa and Cabinda, but neither has a population of more than ten thousand (non-black).

Hesse Province and its capital, Kisangani, are located in the Congo Basin, but they are in a transition zone between tropical rainforest and tropical savanna. The eastern mountainous and southern plateau areas are actually very livable. If they weren’t livable, Kisangani wouldn’t have briefly become the capital of Congo-Kinshasa in a previous life, becoming a large city with a population of nearly seven hundred thousand.

There are hardly any people living west of Kisangani all the way to Kinshasa, and the reason Kinshasa became an East African city is because of its important geographical location as a major transportation hub on the Congo River.

In a previous life, the Belgians used this place as the capital of the Zaire colony, which developed from a military station. You can go directly upstream from Kinshasa.

But even in the twenty-first century, Kinshasa has developed into a large African city with a population of over one million, its surroundings are still lush tropical rainforest, similar to Cabinda.

Therefore, the difficulty of Germany’s development of Cameroon can be imagined. In fact, before Germany, the Portuguese, British, and French had all expanded in Cameroon, and Germany’s ability to come from behind and occupy the area also shows that Cameroon’s value is not particularly important.

Of course, for Germany, especially for Wilhelm II and the new government of Caprivi, Cameroon’s position is very prominent.

First of all, both of them support Germany’s overseas colonial activities, and Cameroon is now Germany’s largest overseas territory.

Moreover, Cameroon is east of the Sigmaringen Royal Territory and East Africa, which further enhances Cameroon’s position.

Anyone with eyes can see that if a communication channel between the three countries can be opened, it will be of great benefit to Germany’s development of Cameroon. After all, Germany’s main outlets to the sea are in the Atlantic Ocean, and Cameroon is in the South Atlantic Ocean, which is the fastest area for Germany to reach East Africa. The only pity is that the economic center of East Africa is in the central and eastern regions.

But even so, East Africa’s strength around Cameroon is not comparable to Germany’s. East Africa’s Northern Railway reaches the western city of Bangui, which is only over a thousand kilometers away from the coast of Cameroon.

In fact, in addition to Bangui, the capital of the East Azande Province, East Africa also controls the Shari River (the main river flowing into Lake Chad) and parts of the eastern Adamawa Plateau (the watershed of the Shari River and the Ubangi River tributaries), so geographically, East Africa is actually bordering Germany.

It’s just that Germany’s development progress in Cameroon is too slow, such as the transportation problem, which cannot effectively connect East Africa and the Sigmaringen Royal Territory. Therefore, Germany’s cooperation with East Africa and Sigmaringen is essential for the development of Cameroon, which can greatly accelerate this process. Compared to the two countries, Germany has too few people in Africa.

Of course, Germany naturally thought about introducing people from the Far East Empire to achieve the development of Cameroon, but Germany is not Sigmaringen after all. Sigmaringen’s development of the Chad region actually completely copied the East African model, using East Africa as a blueprint.

Conversely, East Africa’s support for the Sigmaringen Royal Territory actually comes with binding conditions.

And Germany is obviously difficult to accept these conditions, such as introducing Chinese immigrants. In Germany’s view, it is completely better to directly capture black natives in the interior and then develop Cameroon. After all, even Chinese immigrants require time and money.

Moreover, Germany’s colonial activities in Cameroon are themselves achieved through the support of local black forces, which is very different from East Africa and Sigmaringen.

East Africa and Sigmaringen are like forcing their way in, every inch of land is taken by force. Of course, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory is special, so it hired the East African Defense Force as a substitute.

Furthermore, the three countries have completely different orientations towards Africa. East Africa regards African land as its own territory, and the Sigmaringen Royal Territory is not far behind. After all, Leopold lost the Spanish throne inheritance, so it is not bad to be able to obtain a foundation in Africa. Germany’s orientation towards Cameroon is a colony, with development greater than plunder, but now the conditions for plunder are not yet mature, so the income is less than the investment.

It is naturally no problem for blacks to mine and engage in plantations, but it is certainly unrealistic to further develop Africa by relying solely on blacks. The cost of re-education is obviously not as convenient as Chinese immigrants.

Of course, if Germans could be introduced, that would definitely be the best. The problem is that with economic development in recent years, Germany has ended its history of large-scale population emigration. After all, Sigmaringen can’t even recruit people in Germany.

In this way, Cameroon is naturally in a state of being neither up nor down, not much different from the West African colonies of other countries.

As the promoter of Germany’s “New Course,” Caprivi believes that the key to breaking the situation is East Africa, and that by getting East Africa on board, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory will also be settled.

This is also one of the purposes of Caprivi’s visit to East Africa. He himself wants to build Cameroon into a colonial model, which requires the Cameroon colony to achieve results. Of course, the Cameroon problem is a minor matter, and cooperation with East Africa is the main thing.

Next, the two governments launched a fierce discussion on economic cooperation between the two sides, which was nothing more than East Africa opening up its market in exchange for Germany’s support in technology, capital, and talent for East Africa.

East Africa’s focus is on obtaining technical support in the chemical field, because Germany is currently unparalleled in the chemical field. With no large-scale changes in German land, German agriculture has developed rapidly, even with output comparable to Tsarist Russia, the chemical industry has made great contributions, and this is what East Africa lacks most.

Secondly, Germany also has its own technological advantages in the industrial fields of steel and railways, and many factories in East Africa still use German technology from the 1870s in traditional industrial fields.

Finally, there is the academic exchange and talent cooperation and training mechanism that Ernst values most. Germany’s higher education is in the midst of an explosion, which is the part that Ernst covets most.

As a price, East Africa mainly opens up some German industrial products to enter East Africa, and exports some important industrial raw materials to Germany, especially non-ferrous metals and rare metals.

On December 13, 1891, East Africa officially signed the “Black (East) German Economic Cooperation and Development Agreement” with Germany, conducting limited cooperation in the economic field.

The main reason why it is limited cooperation is that the differences between the two countries are not small. First of all, East Africa is relatively conservative in the political field, and secondly, East Africa and Germany have competitive relations in some fields, especially in the field of agricultural products. It should be known that the Junker aristocracy is the most important political force in Germany. They oppose East Africa, a major agricultural country, entering the German market without restrictions, just as they oppose Russia’s cooperation with Germany.

However, the cooperation between the two countries has achieved great results. After all, East Africa has more options. In the field of grain, East Africa does conflict with the Junker aristocracy, but East Africa is also the world’s most important producer of cash crops. Rubber, cotton, coffee, tea, and other (sub)tropical cash crops are Germany’s weaknesses.

Chapter 844: Rudolf

Two months before the agreement was signed, Caprivi had already returned to Germany. After all, as the Imperial Chancellor, he couldn’t stay abroad for too long, especially since East Africa was so far from Germany.

European leaders’ visits are generally within Europe, not too far away. It’s like how Confucius traveled around the states, but actually stayed in the Central Plains.

Many European countries, when placed in East Africa, are only at the level of a province or city. Of course, there are also large countries like Tsarist Russia with vast territories, and colonial powers like Britain and France with huge overseas colonies.

After signing a cooperation agreement with Germany, East Africa once again turned its attention to Austria-Hungary. East Africa’s development cannot be separated from Austria’s support, especially in recent years, when the cooperation between the two countries has been going on for many years.

Of course, as always, Austria is not equal to Austria-Hungary, which is the only pity. However, Austria has played a significant role in the construction of the East African coastal areas.

Back then, East Africa opened up the Northern Industrial Belt for cooperation with Austria, but the results were not significant. It mainly relied on East Africa’s own accumulation to barely support the development of the Northern Industrial Belt. Austrian investment was mainly concentrated in Mombasa and did not penetrate inland. Of course, this was also related to East Africa’s policies and the basic conditions of the Northern Industrial Belt.

The Northern Industrial Belt has never been a resource-rich area. However, that was in the past. Since the expansion of the Northern Railway, East Africa’s northern resources can be continuously transported directly to Mombasa via the Northern Railway. This is also the main reason why Mombasa can be on par with Dar es Salaam.

Moreover, Mombasa is closer to the international market, which to some extent makes up for the gap between it and Dar es Salaam.

……

The Austrian government attaches great importance to East Africa’s invitation. After all, East Africa is no longer what it used to be. Since the South African War, no country dares to underestimate the potential of East Africa. Therefore, the victory of the South African War not only promoted East Africa’s geopolitical security but also comprehensively improved East Africa’s international status.

In early 1892, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary came to East Africa on behalf of the Austrian government to negotiate cooperation matters.

“Rudolf, you look much more mature after all these years. How are your relationships with your family now?”

As soon as they met, Ernst couldn’t help but ask about his little brother’s situation. After all, Ernst had been away from Europe for so many years and didn’t know if Rudolf had returned to his historical trajectory.

Rudolf smiled bitterly: “Brother-in-law, don’t mention it. I said in my letter that His Great Majesty the Emperor simply doesn’t think much of me. Now, our family basically lives our own lives.”

Ernst saw Rudolf’s complaints, but he didn’t have any good solutions. After all, this was Rudolf’s family matter. Ernst could only act as Rudolf’s emotional sounding board, trying to help the future master of Austria-Hungary avoid detours as much as possible.

Ernst comforted him: “Your father is a rather stubborn person, and his thinking is always old-fashioned. However, this is not a bad thing for Austria-Hungary. After all, governing an empire that is constantly on the verge of division is indeed worrying.”

As he grew older, Rudolf could also understand Franz’s difficulties. However, the rift between father and son had already been established, so it was difficult to change this situation.

Rudolf said: “I also understand why Father does this, but the main thing is that there are too many annoying things in the court, especially the lack of control over fate, unlike you in East Africa, where you have the final say and can do whatever you want.”

“Governing a country cannot be arbitrary. As for fate, it is inherently an obligation for nobles. As long as you relax your mind, there is nothing to complain about. After all, we are born to enjoy the corresponding rights,” Ernst said.

Of course, Ernst could understand Rudolf’s situation. However, Ernst was already quite satisfied that Rudolf could stand in front of him completely intact.

Historically, at the end of 1888, Rudolf, whose spirit collapsed due to the failure of “love,” chose to commit suicide. But now it is 1892, and Rudolf is still alive. History has completely changed. It is unknown whether this is a blessing or a curse for the future of Austria-Hungary.

However, in Ernst’s view, this is a good thing. After all, Rudolf is already in his thirties and will be able to mature completely in a few years. After all, as the saying goes, at forty, one is no longer perplexed. Rudolf’s character will always be smoothed out, and Ernst predicts that Rudolf will most likely become like Franz in the future.

After reminiscing for a while, Ernst stopped worrying about Rudolf’s psychological problems. After all, he still had to explore this path slowly on his own, and others’ help would not be too great. At least now Rudolf has not met his former mistress and is still alive, which is the biggest change.

“This cooperation is because Germany has already reached an economic agreement with East Africa. After all, such good things cannot be biased. In the past ten years or so, although the cooperation with Austria has been relatively long, it has not been more in-depth. Now, you also know that we have acquired a lot of new territories. For the development of these territories, we need Austria’s help.”

Cooperation with Austria-Hungary will naturally involve the Mozambique region. East Africa’s own capabilities are limited after all, so it must make good use of external forces. Moreover, this time there is no economic crisis to help, so it can only find more partners.

Rudolf asked: “We do want to deepen cooperation with East Africa, but the problem is that East Africa is too closed. Many companies’ operating activities in East Africa are not smooth. The laws and regulations are too strict, and the labor costs are even comparable to those in Europe.”

In this regard, East Africa is quite similar to India in its previous life, that is, the management of foreign investment is very strict, which undoubtedly restricts East Africa’s development.

Of course, Ernst does not intend to solve this problem now, because the 19th century was originally a world of great contention. Not to mention East Africa, except for Britain, the economic systems of various countries are actually the same.

Especially after the economic crisis in the 1870s, various forms of trade protectionism prevailed. Therefore, East Africa’s policy of closing its doors to the outside world does not seem abrupt in this international environment.

Moreover, even Britain, which advocates free trade, has become somewhat negative after experiencing the beatings from Germany and the United States. Of course, in backward areas and colonies, free trade is still the mainstream promoted by Britain.

The scale of East Africa’s local monopoly enterprises is very large. In fact, this is the same as Germany and the United States, but as a non-free market country, East Africa has done it more thoroughly.

“East Africa’s system is indeed not easy to change, and the laws are also to protect the interests of our own citizens. However, we also have a basis for cooperation. To a certain extent, we can give Austrian investment enterprises preferential conditions for five years, including tax exemption, factory building construction expenses, etc.,” Ernst said.

The reason why Ernst is so generous is naturally because East Africa has too many black people and they are difficult to deal with, so it is better to continue to squeeze their surplus value.

Moreover, East Africa is now in urgent need of developing the East African coastal areas. After seizing Mozambique and Angola, East Africa’s coastline has doubled, and nearly three-quarters of the coastline has not been effectively utilized and developed.

First, let Germany and Austria build factories along the East African coast. East Africa will collect less tax and add more cheap native labor. This can speed up the construction of the coastlines of Mozambique and Angola.

And this is only a matter of earning less for the East African government. Tax revenue is temporarily dispensable for East Africa. After all, the number of companies that can invest in East Africa should not be too many. After all, East Africa’s reputation is not very good. If it were not for the size and market, it might not be able to attract many people.

Chapter 845: Northern Mozambique

“These conditions are not bad, but most of the areas you’re offering are undeveloped. Take Beira, for example. According to the map, it’s a completely new city. I’m afraid there aren’t even many people there yet, right?” Rudolf asked, pointing to the word “Planned” written in front of Beira on the map.

Ernst explained, “Currently, our population in Beira has already reached more than seven thousand people, and there is a railway line directly to the interior that connects to the Port of Beira. Investing in building factories here will definitely not be bad in the future. Moreover, East Africa, strictly speaking, does not lack population, especially with the relatively mature compulsory education system in East Africa.”

“Furthermore, you don’t understand the national conditions of East Africa. See this area? In fact, this is the most industrially developed place in East Africa. When Beira is connected with the central provinces, the Port of Beira will develop rapidly, just like the Port of Trieste you developed back then.”

The area Ernst was referring to was East Africa’s number one industrial province, Matabeleland. Obviously, if Beira could take on the important task of being Matabeleland’s outlet to the sea, its status in the future would not be lower than that of Dar es Salaam.

Because this is the fastest natural sea passage for Matabeleland, and it can radiate to the southern part of Lake Malawi, the Hohenzollern Province, and other central regions.

Ernst’s words made Rudolf a little incredulous: “Isn’t the most developed area of East Africa the eastern coast?”

After all, based on what Rudolf had seen and heard during his visit to East Africa, the development of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam was no less than that of any city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Bagamoyo and Tanga were also good, and the First Township was also very modern. Therefore, his first impression was that he never thought that the East African interior would be more developed than the east.

Ernst nodded and said, “We have more than twenty provinces in East Africa. If you look at the numbers, the eastern part of East Africa is indeed the economic center of the country. But comparing individual provinces, the industrial scale of Matabeleland in the central region is already the highest in the country, and other provinces in the central region are also developing well due to resource issues. So, don’t underestimate the potential of the East African interior.”

Rudolf frowned and said, “Then why don’t you open up the inland market and instead only develop the coastal areas?”

“Nonsense, we in East Africa are fully capable of developing the central and eastern regions ourselves. Otherwise, why would we cooperate with Germany and Austria in the coastal areas?” Ernst asked rhetorically.

Moreover, even if East Africa opened up inland restrictions, Germany and Austria would not sincerely help East Africa develop. After all, they are not the Soviet Union, which was known for giving away money, and East Africa’s current international status makes it impossible to recognize the two countries as big brothers.

Therefore, East Africa fully supports the two countries’ investment in the coastal areas, while the East African government itself is responsible for the interior, especially some of East Africa’s heavy industry departments and defense industries, which must be placed in the interior.

As for the coast, Angola on the western coast can cooperate with Germany, and Mozambique on the eastern coast will naturally cooperate with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so that East Africa can reduce a lot of pressure.

Of course, Germany and Austria are not charities either. Companies from both countries also need to make money, so their investments in East Africa must be profitable. East Africa has no objection to this, as long as they don’t owe the salaries of their own citizens, it is completely within East Africa’s tolerance.

Moreover, Germany and Austria cannot invest too much in East Africa. They can build factories in their own countries, and the amount they can invest is also very limited, as their financial industries are not very developed.

If we really talk about capital, Britain and France are definitely the strongest. Britain is the financial hegemon, and France also has the “reputation” of being the empire of usury.

Therefore, cooperation is real cooperation, and it is not the support of Germany and Austria for East Africa. With the blessing of state-owned monopoly enterprises and resource foundations, East Africa itself is not much worse than the Austro-Hungarian Empire in terms of economic volume.

Rudolf also realized what Ernst said, that this cooperation itself is equal. In fact, it is just a platform built between the three countries to promote mutual development and complementary advantages of the three countries’ enterprises.

In the end, Rudolf, on behalf of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, still signed an agreement with East Africa. After all, East Africa has great potential, at least in the early stage, there is no need to worry about losing all the investment, and East Africa, as a tropical country, has special resources that Austria lacks.

…

February 1892

Pemba Port.

Pemba is an important port in northeastern Mozambique. East Africa started construction here relatively early. Of course, this is also the more economically developed area in northern Mozambique.

Because Pemba Port is a natural deep-water port, hidden and easy to enter. Its terrain is similar to that of New Hamburg Port, both being pocket-shaped, but Pemba has a larger area, with a bay eight kilometers wide and fourteen kilometers long, and a port entrance two point five kilometers wide, with the narrowest point being one point eight kilometers.

Moreover, Pemba Port is close to East Africa’s New Württemberg Province (southern Tanzania), so it is also easy to get support from East Africa.

East Africa’s development of northern Mozambique is mainly concentrated on the coast, namely the three coastal ports or islands of Pemba, Nacala, and Mozambique Island.

Among them, Pemba and Mozambique Island are mainly responsible for the foreign economic port functions of northern Mozambique, while Nacala Port is a military port that the East African Navy focuses on building.

In fact, this is easy to understand. Mozambique Island was developed early. As early as 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed on the island. Even earlier, from the 10th century to the late 15th century, this island and its natural port were used as a maritime trade center by Arab merchants. Mozambique Island was already quite developed and densely populated when East Africa took over.

The island played an important role in Portugal’s efforts to take over the trade of India and the East Indies, which is probably an important reason for the origin of the name of the Mozambique colony.

It’s just that the importance of Mozambique Island has gradually been replaced by Maputo in the south, but a lean camel is bigger than a horse. Before East Africa took over, Mozambique Island was still a relatively developed area in Mozambique.

Historically, the Portuguese built Pemba Port in 1904. Therefore, before East Africa seized Pemba, it was just an undeveloped natural harbor. Nacala Port was similar to Pemba Port. The Portuguese did not have time to develop the area before it fell into the hands of East Africa.

Of course, according to the history of Mozambique in the previous life, even if the Portuguese had the ability to develop these two ports, I am afraid they would have to wait until after the 20th century.

“Nacala is one of the strategic ports that the Navy focuses on developing. It is one of the best places for our naval military bases. Although Bagamoyo and Pemba Island are also good, their population and economy are also relatively developed, and Nacala’s location determines that its importance in the national economy of East Africa will not be too high.”

“Moreover, Nacala is northeast of the Comoros Islands, and due east is Madagascar Island. The three are mutually reinforcing and cooperating, which is of great significance for our country to control the Mozambique Channel.”

“The civilian ports in the northern Mozambique region are mainly responsible for Pemba Port in the north of Nacala Port and Mozambique Island in the south.”

Of course, this is the current main situation of the ports in northern Mozambique. In fact, there are still many natural bays in northern Mozambique that have not been developed. This is where the coastline of East Africa is more tortuous, and it is located in the very center of the western part of the Mozambique Channel, so the location is very important.

From the perspective of the previous life, Mozambique’s three major ports are Maputo, Beira, and Nacala, and East Africa’s layout is obviously different. Among them, Nacala has become a military port, and Mozambique Island, a small place that was unknown in Mozambique in the previous life, has also received attention from East Africa.

In fact, the decline of Mozambique Island was mainly caused by natural disasters and man-made disasters. The political turmoil in Mozambique caused the population of Mozambique Island to flow out, and Mozambique Island, which lost its industry and population, plummeted in status.

When East Africa took over the local area, Mozambique Island would naturally no longer be subjected to repeated washings of war. The only pity is that Mozambique Island is not connected to the mainland, but this is not a big problem for East Africa. In the previous life, Mozambique built a road bridge several kilometers long to connect it to the mainland. East Africa will naturally be able to do the same in the future.

The entire northern Mozambique is not considered too important in the East African economy, but it has already surpassed some northern and southern provinces. However, after completing the national map, the location of northern Mozambique becomes prominent.

This is the central location of the eastern coast of East Africa, so the development of the coastal areas cannot bypass northern Mozambique. If it were not for reasons such as terrain, such as the obstruction of Lake Malawi, the development of this region would not be inferior to any other coastal area in East Africa.

Chapter 846: East African Cowboys

If Lake Malawi didn’t exist, the central railway wouldn’t need to be moved north, and northern Mozambique would have more natural harbors, potentially replacing the role of Dar es Salaam.

Of course, the existence of Lake Malawi has its pros and cons. For East Africa as a whole, it’s naturally better to have the lake. After all, lakes are precious natural resources, and giant lakes like Lake Malawi are resources that many countries can only dream of. Moreover, the existence of Lake Malawi doesn’t necessarily mean a complete disadvantage in transportation. At least, the Lake Malawi industrial zone took shape precisely because of the local lake transportation industry.

The Lake Malawi coast has excellent natural conditions and is an important transportation route connecting east-central Africa, enabling the rapid flow of resources within the region.

The local natural resource base is also not bad. Cities along the coast, led by Mbeya, were able to become the most important heavy industrial base in early East Africa, relying on the local rich coal and iron resources.

Moreover, Mbeya also has the added benefit of the central railway, and its economic strength in East Africa is not to be underestimated. In the future, Mbeya will also be a land transportation hub in east-central Africa.

Of course, Lake Malawi’s conditions are very good, but it limits the development of the northern Mozambique region east of the lake, mainly because transportation infrastructure is not sufficient to support the economic connection between the local area and the interior.

For example, the New Württemberg Province in northern Mozambique has a railway connecting the coast and the Lake Malawi industrial zone, which has made New Württemberg Province one of the economically stronger provinces in East Africa.

So, strictly speaking, it is not Lake Malawi that limits the development of the east, but rather that the northern Mozambique region was developed too late. After all, even without the Lake Malawi factor.

With hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land, northern Mozambique’s potential would not be too bad. For example, Tete Province in western Mozambique in the previous life contained rich coal resources.

…

“Bowers, Malingen Town should be ahead. We’ll camp outside the town today. You’re responsible for purchasing supplies in the town. We’ll communicate with the local government and ask them to provide accommodation,” Launs said.

“Yes, Captain. Shall we go ahead then?” said a middle-aged man named Boris.

On the plains four kilometers north of Malingen Town, the long line of East African cattle herders and cattle stretched for a full kilometer, looking quite spectacular.

Cattle herders can also be called East African cowboys. This is a formal profession in East Africa, mainly responsible for importing cattle and horses, two kinds of large livestock, to various parts of East Africa.

In East Africa, the northern pastures have long maintained the important indicative task of supporting the livestock labor force throughout the country. Therefore, in order to send these large livestock to where they are needed, the East African government has organized professional teams to be responsible for large-scale escort missions.

This has formed a professional “cowboy” team. They are similar to the cowboys of the American West, both driving cattle herds to their destinations over long distances.

However, everyone’s purpose is different. The United States has a huge beef consumption market and is also the world’s most important exporter of beef, so the cowboys’ task is mostly a money-making profession required by employers.

East African cowboys, of course, also have to support their families, but because of the market rules in East Africa, they receive a stable salary that is not greatly affected by market price fluctuations.

Of course, in East Africa, cowboys’ wages are higher than those of ordinary agricultural workers in East Africa, because this job has great risks, and living outdoors is commonplace. The most important thing is that it wastes time, and there are not many stable days throughout the year, so this hard-earned money is necessary, but it is also limited.

However, for the East African cowboy group, they are happy with the situation. At least the stable job and salary do not have to worry about family expenses. With the development of East Africa, this job has become easier and easier.

For example, now, the foothold of Malingen Town in front of them was just a village a few years ago, and perhaps just a wilderness more than a dozen years ago.

The growth of the East African population has led to an increase in towns and cities along the way, and road conditions have greatly improved.

In the past, East African cowboys could only spend the night on the grasslands, and had to worry about attacks from beasts such as lions, leopards, and hyenas.

Today, the most common are well-maintained roads, cultivated farmland everywhere, and occasional passing vehicles and occasional signs of human habitation, which was unimaginable in the past.

It can be said that the East African cowboy group is also one of the groups that has witnessed the development of East Africa most profoundly. After all, they are active in various parts of East Africa all year round and are familiar with the geographical environment of East Africa, so they have the most experience with the rapid changes in East Africa.

Launs and Boris are the so-called “East African cowboys.” Their skin is dark, which is actually the result of years of wind and sun. They wear typical herdsmen’s sun hats, ride horses, and are accompanied by vehicles carrying living supplies and firearms, driving thousands of cattle.

In less than three o’clock in the afternoon, the cowboys arrived at Malingen Town. Malingen Town is located in the south of New Württemberg Province and is a necessary stop on this journey.

Mayor Wald of Malingen Town warmly received this group of “cowboys” because most residents in East Africa are no strangers to them. A few years ago, most of the livestock in Malingen Town were driven by cowboys.

Wald said: “Mr. Launs, I remember you. It seems that you led the team to help our town deliver the plowing cattle five years ago, right?”

Relying on the familiar Mayor Wald in front of him, Launs asked with some doubt: “Are you?”

Wald explained: “I used to be a villager in Mulingen Village, which belongs to Malingen. It’s normal that you don’t remember me. At that time, I was not the mayor of Malingen Town, but you went to our village, so I have a deeper memory.”

After all, Launs played a significant role in promoting plowing cattle to replace black slaves in East Africa. He often travels the New Württemberg Province route, so he has some local popularity.

“I see!” Launs nodded.

“Where are you going this time, Mr. Launs? There are quite a few cattle being transported this time?” Wald asked.

Launs did not hide this: “We are going to northern Mozambique. These plowing cattle are going to be sent to northern Mozambique to help with land reclamation.”

“Northern Mozambique? That’s a bit far. I heard that it used to be Portuguese territory. Is the country going to vigorously develop it now?”

Launs replied: “Yes, I heard that there are relatively few people there, and now our East African livestock breeding scale has risen, so our task is to send the cattle to northern Mozambique.”

Wald said: “I have also been there once, but it was during the war the year before last. Our town organized people to help the army transport supplies. I remember having to cross a big river, it seems to be called the Ruvuma River!”

Launs nodded: “Yes, we are going to cross the Ruvuma River this time, and then hand over with the local government personnel.”

Launs is not familiar with northern Mozambique, so he needs locals to lead the way. However, East Africa has been developing northern Mozambique for several years, so there are still some people, which is not a big problem.

The reason for choosing Launs as the team leader is also considering his rich experience. In his years as a cowboy, Launs has never been lost, and there are still many wild animals in northern Mozambique. After all, it has not been developed for many years, and it needs an experienced old cowboy like Launs to deal with emergencies.

Chapter 847: Animal Husbandry

Speaking of Mozambique’s wildlife, it is definitely more abundant than anywhere else in East Africa. Even now, the East African Defense Forces and militias are still carrying out a “major cleansing” of the local area.

Moreover, unless there is a significant change in Mozambique’s population, this problem will likely not be solved effectively. They can be harvested once, but they quickly grow back, resulting in a significant increase in the amount of ivory and leather in East African income.

“Mayor Wald, we plan to rest near your town tonight. Do you have any good places to recommend?” Lawrens inquired.

Wald thought carefully for a moment and then said, “We have cattle sheds in our town, but they are too small and definitely not enough for you. As for open spaces in the town, there aren’t any. If you don’t mind, you can rest on the grassland south of the town. We can definitely arrange better accommodation for the personnel, but you have too many cattle.”

Lawrens asked, “Have there been any wild animals sighted near your town recently?”

Wald shook his head and said, “They haven’t been seen for the past two or three years. They might have been encountered before, but now they have been hunted to extinction. And you don’t have to worry about that piece of land south of our town at all. Two years ago, it was the temporary camp of a southward-bound cavalry unit. They had many horses, so they built quite a few camps in the south at that time. You can live there directly. It’s abandoned now, but it just needs some tidying up.”

This was a complete surprise for Lawrens. This abandoned military camp was probably a product of the South African War. If there were no accidents, it was likely an abandoned camp of a cavalry division, which should be enough to accommodate the cattle Lawrens was escorting.

Most valuable of all, there were abandoned houses to live in. Although they were probably overgrown with weeds now, they were much better than setting up temporary tents.

After saying some words of thanks, Lawrens led the team towards the abandoned military camp.

This abandoned military camp in Malingen Town was not small in scale, and even had stables, which made Lawrens even more pleasantly surprised. After checking the quality, Lawrens was relieved. It was perfectly capable of accommodating his cattle.

This abandoned military camp had actually only been used for less than three months, and most of the buildings were intact, after all, the South African War had not been over for very long.

However, as Lawrens had expected, it was overgrown with weeds, but this was perfectly satisfactory for cowboys who spent years living in the grasslands.

…

Cowboy teams like Lawrens, exporting livestock to Mozambique, were not rare. Today, animal husbandry in East Africa is relatively developed, basically comparable to the major animal husbandry countries in the Americas.

However, due to the short history of development in East Africa, the demand for livestock is mainly to meet domestic construction first, so East African meat exports are not very strong in the international market.

Speaking of the country with the fastest development in animal husbandry in recent years, it has to be Argentina. Backed by British investment and the huge British market, Argentina’s animal husbandry is even, to some extent, catching up with the United States.

This also explains one of the reasons why Argentina and the United States were at odds in the early days. The two actually had huge conflicts of interest, especially in animal husbandry.

During Argentina’s most glorious era, all of Europe and the Commonwealth were its beef markets, and it became a high-income country.

Of course, there may have been British intervention in this. After the independence of the United States, Britain had always wanted to support a country in the Americas to form a balance with the United States, and Brazil was obviously not suitable for this role. Instead, Argentina was at the southernmost tip of the Americas, beyond the reach of the Americans.

Of course, Argentina was at odds with the United States in the early days. When Argentina and Britain clashed over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Argentina tried to wave the banner of the “Monroe Doctrine,” hoping to use the power of the Americans to make Britain back down. As a result, the United States played dead, which made the Argentinians very unhappy. So that’s what the so-called “Monroe Doctrine” is all about, just shouting slogans!

In this regard, East Africa, also as an emerging animal husbandry power, does not have much conflict with it, because East African dairy and meat products flowing into the international market are not large, and are concentrated in the German region.

Furthermore, East Africa is slightly inferior in quality, especially the animal husbandry in the northern pastures, which is only large in quantity. To break the situation, we can only wait for the development of animal husbandry in the South African region.

However, this is also thanks to the rapid population growth in East Africa. Population also means market. At present, the domestic market in East Africa is not yet saturated, which greatly digests excess capacity.

Countries with small populations like Argentina are actually very dangerous. Once they lose British support, Argentina’s animal husbandry will suffer a devastating blow because it is extremely dependent on the international market.

The United States is fearless in this regard because the United States’ own beef consumption market is the largest in the world. Even if other countries compete, it can protect its domestic market through tariff barriers.

East Africa’s economy is worse than that of the United States, but its per capita income can be considered at a medium level in the world, and its meat consumption capacity is considerable. At the same time, East Africa has a large demand for construction, and in the case that machinery has not been widely promoted and popularized, it is an indispensable substitute.

Especially in the agricultural field, East Africa’s demand for oxen is extremely strong, and East Africa’s large-scale engineering construction also needs these livestock to temporarily replace labor.

Taking the First State-Owned Farm in Chaukwé Town, Mozambique, as an example, there are only a dozen tractors, which is obviously far from enough. At present, East Africa’s tractor production capacity is relatively limited, which is not enough for distribution to farms and plantations across the country, so the importance of livestock is reflected at this time.

As for the black natives, although they are also very cheap, East Africa cannot completely rely on blacks for construction. After all, East Africa’s national policy is to eventually achieve “zeroing” of the natives.

Of course, although East African animal husbandry does not temporarily show its advantages in the international market, it does not mean that it cannot achieve great things in the future.

In recent years, with the development of power technology, and East Africa happens to be a leader in the field of refrigeration and preservation technology, this is thanks to Linde, the general manager of Blackhingen Electric Company, who is also the inventor of the world’s first refrigerator.

With the promotion of technicians such as Linde, East Africa has maintained a leading position in refrigeration and preservation technology.

At present, some East African merchant ships have already started the construction of cold storage, and East Africa is actively promoting this.

After all, East Africa is a tropical country, and the importance of technological products such as refrigerators to East Africa is self-evident. At the same time, many of East Africa’s fruits and vegetables are mainly sold to Europe, and the development of cold storage technology will naturally help increase East Africa’s exports.

At the same time, other departments in East Africa also have a strong demand for cold storage technology, such as hospitals, where many drugs need to be stored in refrigerators.

A typical example is snake venom antivenom. There are many venomous snakes in East Africa, and the promotion of refrigerators has enabled some hospitals in remote areas of East Africa to ensure that the injured can receive treatment.

In the future, promoting the export of East African dairy and meat products, cold storage technology is naturally an indispensable trump card, so with the blessing of technology, the future prospects of East African animal husbandry exports are still relatively optimistic.

Of course, the biggest problem in East African animal husbandry is the serious lack of technical accumulation, especially in the breeding and cultivation of species. It will take time to cultivate excellent livestock breeds suitable for East Africa.

This requires time accumulation, which cannot be changed by East Africa in a short period of time, but with the explosion of talent in East Africa, this can be compensated as much as possible in the future.

Chapter 848: Centralizing Educational Resources

April, 1892.

First Township.

“Currently, our country has over five thousand township-level administrative units, each typically comprising about five or six villages and a street, with a population ranging from a few thousand to nearly ten thousand,” said Gels, Director of the National Bureau of Statistics.

Due to immigration, the population in East Africa is actually quite concentrated in certain areas. Firstly, a lack of land reclamation would certainly be a problem.

Secondly, in the early days, East Africa faced harsh natural and social conditions. Indigenous people and wild animals posed a constant threat to East African immigrants. Therefore, villages were never too small. Villages with only a dozen or even a few people simply didn’t exist in East Africa. They had to have at least several hundred people, and larger villages could even have a thousand.

Moreover, East Africa’s terrain is mainly plateau, and the overall topography is relatively flat and open. This prevents the formation of too many small mountain villages restricted by terrain.

Furthermore, the East African government actively concentrates the population in one place for ease of management. Population movement in East Africa is mainly driven by the government.

However, the size of East African villages and towns is not excessively large. Each year, with policy support, the East African population spreads inland or to undeveloped areas, forming new villages.

This results in a relatively high natural population growth rate in the eastern region, but the actual resident population is not too large because people are constantly moving out to live or work in new areas.

Ernst said, “Villages are the main population centers in East Africa. Approximately forty million of our people live in rural areas, accounting for about eighty percent of the national population. Therefore, boosting the rural economy should focus on townships as the core, driving local economic development.”

“And boosting the rural economy should start with educational resources and other public resources. The sooner we do this, the better. Universities can be concentrated in cities, but there is no need to do so with primary and secondary education.”

“In addition, the same applies to medical resources. We lack modern medical talent, but we can set up traditional Chinese medicine clinics in the countryside, concentrating limited medical resources at the city level and above.”

In East Africa, there is no administrative concept of a “county,” but this is merely a matter of terminology. In reality, many cities are equivalent to counties. Of course, cities where provincial capitals are located are exceptions.

East Africa’s population is not too large relative to its land area, so there is no need for overly fine-grained divisions. After all, there are already more than twenty provinces, and this is even before many regions are designated as provinces, such as Mozambique, Angola, and Southwest Africa. These three regions temporarily do not meet the requirements for establishing provinces, so they have a two-tiered administrative management system.

Overall, East Africa’s administrative divisions will remain unstable for the foreseeable future. As for achieving overall stability, it will take at least until the development of various regions in East Africa is relatively balanced.

Balance should not be primarily based on the economy. Otherwise, large East African cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa would also qualify. It mainly depends on comprehensive capabilities, such as economy, population, geographical location, infrastructure, and so on.

In fact, some towns in East Africa have economic and other conditions that are no worse than those of cities, and are even much stronger. For example, the town of Dire Dawa on the northern border and the town of Chokwe in southern Mozambique.

That’s right, although Chokwe is just a former Portuguese town, its infrastructure is no worse than that of many East African cities. It’s just that Mozambique’s conditions are not good enough at the moment. Chokwe is fully capable of being established as a city.

The town of Dire Dawa is more special. It is an important military town with no other large population centers nearby, so it has always maintained the administrative division of a town. In reality, it could be established as a prefecture-level city in the Northern Province.

However, these administrative divisions are not of great significance because East Africa’s current level of development is too low. The regional advantages of many areas have not yet become apparent. It is possible that they will be upgraded or downgraded for some reason. This is a real possibility.

For example, in the west and north, many prefecture-level cities were abolished early on due to natural disasters and other reasons. Some areas have formed new regional centers due to changes in transportation conditions.

Of course, East Africa’s major cities are relatively stable because many regions were directly designated by Ernst according to the administrative divisions of Africa in his previous life. This is especially evident within the original territory of Tanzania.

Of course, to some extent, East African cities have also inherited the influence of the original regional civilizations. Although these African natives had a low level of civilization, their choice of location had also undergone thousands of years of historical testing.

However, there are not many such places. African natives mainly had tribes as their main political structure, and many East African tribes were mainly nomadic and hunting, with no fixed residences at all.

Moreover, it is likely that black people did not arrive in various parts of Africa too long ago. For example, in the South African region, West African blacks arrived there at almost the same time as European colonists. The Zulu kingdom, which was wiped out by East Africa, was at the forefront of this.

Arab commercial activities in Africa also catalyzed the formation of a number of East African settlements. For example, the city of Dodoma was originally a necessary commercial route for Arabs along the coast to penetrate inland.

Finally, there is the inheritance of towns and strongholds from other colonists. East Africa has done too much of this. It can be said that Portugal has made the greatest contribution to East Africa in this regard.

In fact, most of East Africa’s southern territory was obtained from the Portuguese. These areas had more or less been colonized by the Portuguese or had Portuguese commercial activities.

Take the Sultanate of Zanzibar as an example. The Sultan of Zanzibar was actually a trophy obtained by the Sultanate of Oman after defeating Portugal.

Portugal’s early colonization in Africa can be said to have been dominant. However, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Portuguese Empire declined, causing the Portuguese to even be driven from the interior to the coast by the natives. This is the main reason why East Africa was able to become so powerful in Africa.

In other words, it was actually because Portugal strategically contracted its overall presence in Africa early on, and East Africa occupied this window of opportunity.

Portugal withdrew, but other forces did not fully know the true extent of Portugal’s weakness, so a colonial vacuum was formed in southern Africa. East Africa took advantage of this opportunity, and by the time Portugal and other powers reacted, East Africa had already grown stronger.

“Currently, the rural population distribution in East Africa is mainly concentrated in the central and eastern regions. The central region is slightly worse, but it can be considered to barely meet the standard. In addition, the central region’s cities are relatively strong, so further improvements in the central rural areas can be carried out in an orderly manner.”

“Take education as an example. At least two middle schools should be established in each town. Those with the strength can build two campuses, and those without the economic strength can share one campus. As for primary schools, population density should be the main reference. Try to choose areas with convenient transportation. After all, primary school students obviously do not have as strong a self-care ability as middle school students, and they have to go home nearby, so it is best to choose a location close to the center.”

“We must concentrate basic educational resources at the township level. Of course, schools can also be built in large villages or farms and plantations with better conditions and larger populations.”

Educational resources should not be too dispersed, nor should they be too concentrated, especially basic education. Too dispersed, and the investment is large, and the teacher allocation work is not easy to carry out. Too concentrated, and it is not conducive to students in remote areas to study.

Of course, this also means that East Africa’s compulsory education model is undergoing a major transformation, no longer being decentralized to villages. In fact, this is closely related to East Africa’s current social development and future economic, transportation, and other factors.

Now, with the popularization of animal power and the repair of roads in East Africa, coupled with the improvement of the security environment, travel costs have been greatly reduced. In the future, with the development of new transportation such as automobiles, travel costs will be further reduced. This is the prerequisite for East Africa to further concentrate basic educational resources.

Moreover, it is conducive to improving the quality of education. After all, many village primary school teachers even have only single-digit numbers, and their levels vary greatly. Concentrating them can improve efficiency and accelerate communication between teachers, promoting the improvement of teaching standards.

Chapter 849: East African Medicine

Some village primary schools lack textbooks, teaching equipment, and teachers, which obviously hinders the development of basic education. Merging several village schools into a town school can greatly solve this problem.

This is also closely related to the layout of East African villages. East African villages are generally centered around a town, with several villages closely adjacent to it, forming a layout like stars surrounding the moon. Conversely, if the villages are too far away, promoting the concentration of educational resources will obviously do more harm than good. After all, no one wants their children to walk several miles to school.

Of course, if it is impossible to concentrate resources due to special reasons, the school can continue to retain its qualifications. This mainly depends on the specific local situation, which is handled by the local authorities at their discretion and then reported.

Ernst continued, “Medical care is a weakness in East Africa, or rather, modern medicine is. In this regard, we in East Africa must vigorously promote traditional Chinese medicine clinics in rural areas, as well as the localization of the traditional Chinese medicine industry in East Africa.”

The good thing about traditional Chinese medicine is that many medicinal materials can be grown in the ground, so it can have a price advantage.

Although modern drugs are more efficient, East Africa is, after all, a latecomer in the field of modern medicine, and these drugs have great uncertainty and are not easy to crack.

Developed pharmaceutical and chemical companies in Europe and the United States monopolize modern drug patents. East Africa cannot disassemble, analyze, and study these modern chemical drugs like it does with counterfeit “machines.” After all, a tiny difference can lead to a huge error, which can be fatal.

Therefore, modern medicine can only be explored slowly, and there is no shortcut. The only shortcut is to vigorously cultivate relevant talents and achieve independent research and development capabilities as soon as possible.

Of course, this is a bit absolute. East Africa naturally has its own channels to accelerate the rapid growth of East African “modern medicine.”

That is “human experimentation.” After all, East Africa has twenty million black people, and these are very rare “materials.” However, this belongs to the dark side of East African society, so I won’t describe it in detail.

The large number of clinical trial opportunities means that East Africa’s development in the medical field is actually not slow. Just like in my previous life, why India’s medical industry, especially the pharmaceutical field, is so prominent is because India has a lot of “materials,” making it a natural large-scale drug testing ground.

Of course, no matter how fast the development of modern medicine in East Africa is, it cannot be as fast as East Africa’s direct adoption of traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine now has advantages in price and talent cultivation, which is why East Africa vigorously promotes the popularization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Under the guidance of the East African Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, the cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine talents in East Africa has been institutionalized, abandoning the apprenticeship system. At the same time, through “natives,” many deficiencies and errors in prescriptions have been supplemented and corrected. Moreover, because Africa’s climate and geographical characteristics are very different from those of the Far East, traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa has added many new plant-based medicines.

In fact, traditional Chinese medicine in East Africa has completely changed. Many traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and schools are equipped with modern medical equipment such as microscopes and petri dishes, taking a completely different path from the current traditional Chinese medicine of the Far Eastern Empire.

Moreover, due to “material” reasons, East African traditional Chinese medicine has also developed rapidly in human anatomy. More detailed human research has overturned many traditional cognitions and superstitions.

In the field of drug research and development, East African traditional Chinese medicine has made rapid progress. Of course, this is related to the weak “patent” awareness of various countries in the Far East. Therefore, East Africa uses various means such as “stealing, buying, and borrowing” to vigorously crack traditional prescriptions and reagents, and then rush to register patents.

This is not only aimed at the Far Eastern Empire, but also Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, and other countries have suffered. In addition to the East Asian cultural circle, India and the Arab region are also targets of East Africa.

Westerners naturally look down on, and even discriminate against, the medical systems of these “backward” regions in the eyes of Europe and the United States. East Africa is obviously not in this category, and it accepts everything.

In this environment, East African traditional Chinese medicine integrates the strengths of various schools and is supported by modern medical technology and methods. It is difficult not to develop and grow. Even now, the boundary between East African traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine is not very clear.

After all, I can do what modern medicine can do, and I also have what it doesn’t have. In this case, if it weren’t for some special medication habits and slight differences in treatment methods, it would be impossible to distinguish the difference.

Moreover, the achievements made by East African traditional Chinese medicine will naturally be borrowed by East African modern medicine. Therefore, the two systems now have a tendency to merge. If not deliberately prevented, East Africa will form an East African modern traditional Chinese medicine system with traditional Chinese medicine characteristics in the future.

Therefore, East Africa is now both a “weak medical country” and a “strong medical country.” However, it depends on how you compare it. Compared with European and American medicine, East African medicine integrates the medical achievements of East Asia and other regions. Compared with traditional Chinese medicine, East Africa has the characteristics of European and American medicine.

In this way, East African medicine naturally takes an extremely “special” path. However, in Ernst’s view, this is a good thing.

Because the medical systems of various regions actually have mutual prejudices. For example, European religious and fundamentalist medicine will definitely have some conflicts and frictions with modern medicine in their hearts. Far Eastern traditional medicine does not recognize European and American medicine, and Europeans and Americans believe that other medical systems are “heretical” and “evil arts.”

East Africa has broken this “arrogance and prejudice.” Various schools can communicate and compete with each other, which has a feeling of “a hundred schools of thought contending” in the medical field.

In Ernst’s view, the flourishing of a hundred flowers can naturally promote the development of East African medicine more quickly, so he is happy to see it succeed. After all, in the end, it depends on who has the best curative effect, and the final result belongs to East Africa itself.

Of course, this is where East African medicine is strong. Where it is weak is also very weak. For example, East Africa is definitely much worse in the cutting-edge fields of Western modern medicine, especially some “special drugs” of chemical products.

The same is true for traditional Chinese medicine. Many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners “cherish their secrets,” and the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who immigrate to East Africa are definitely not the “top” batch in the Far East.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that East African traditional Chinese medicine practitioners can break outdated ideas and develop vigorously with Ernst’s acquiescence. If they are not competitive, Ernst will not be able to support them even if he wants to.

Currently, traditional Chinese medicine obviously occupies an advantage in the medical system in East Africa. However, with the passage of time, it has also become unrecognizable.

If East African traditional Chinese medicine groups go to the Far East in the future, they may be scolded for being “heretical.” In addition, East Africa has indeed “taken and borrowed” a lot of things, which is indeed a bit unkind.

Of course, East African traditional Chinese medicine is obviously not yet mature and does not have the opportunity to show its face in the international community. After all, neither Eastern nor Western societies can recognize the nondescript “East African medicine.”

Moreover, the cultivation of East African medical talents also requires a lot of time. It will definitely take more than ten years to produce a group of experienced “famous teachers.” There are too few young people who can carry the big beam now.

As for the current “medical masters” in East Africa, their level is actually similar to that of some so-called “masters” in the modern Far Eastern Empire. They may not be very high-level, but as pioneers and forerunners, many people will be able to be recorded in the history of East African medicine in the future. After all, the earlier the time, the greater the opportunity to become the founder of various disciplines of East African medicine.

And they are just taking the essence and discarding the dross of medicine from the East, the West, and all over the world, which is not a completely meaningful “independent innovation.”

Chapter 850: Immigration

June 12th, 1892.

Far East Empire, Jiaozhou.

With the passage of time, Jiaozhou has become more prosperous than before. As the most important trading port for East Africa, Germany, and Austria-Hungary in the Far East Empire, Jiaozhou’s development is no less than that of several coastal trading ports in the south.

The permanent population of Jiaozhou has exceeded 400,000, ranking among the top cities in the north and becoming the economic window to the outside world in the north.

The Jiaozhou area is already very developed and prosperous, and its industry is the best in the north. Most of the industries are invested by the three countries of East Africa, Germany, and Austria. Merchants from other countries also gather here. Of course, this also includes spies from a certain country with wolfish ambitions who are active in Jiaozhou. It can be said that they have been coveting the prosperous Jiaozhou for a long time.

Of course, the German forces in the Jiaozhou area are relatively strong. After all, they have three great powers as their background. Even countries such as Britain and France cannot do whatever they want here, so the wolfish ambitions of a certain small island nation in the Pacific can only be restrained.

After a major power in Africa released a batch of immigration quotas, it received a positive response. In less than an hour after the announcement was posted, a long queue formed in front of the East African Consulate in Jiaozhou.

Unlike in the past, East Africa used to resort to all means, including coaxing and deceiving, to attract immigrants. Now, East Africa itself can attract many people who are willing to develop in East Africa.

“The immigration environment back then was very different from today! Just take the ships going to East Africa as an example. The internal space was small, only the size of a palm, and it was crowded with people. It was only slightly better than the slave ships of earlier years.”

Wang Defeng stood in the queue, recalling the scene of immigrating to Africa in those years, and couldn’t help but feel a lot of emotion. Back then, he was only fourteen years old, and he falsely reported his age in order to obtain a ticket. Finally, he went to East Africa, which was the most correct decision he ever made.

Wang Defeng’s East African name is Dave Wang, but now he naturally uses his real name in the Far East Empire. This time he came to the Far East Empire to bring his family to East Africa to live a good life.

Now that East Africa has released a batch of quotas for returning home to visit relatives, he took advantage of this opportunity to return to the Far East Empire, the homeland where he was born and raised.

Now, he is taking his whole family, mainly his younger brother’s family, on a ship back to his country.

The little nephew next to him asked curiously: “Uncle, according to what you said, the conditions for going to East Africa were very difficult in the past?”

Wang Defeng smiled and then recalled: “Of course, at that time everyone was trying to survive, and they had no choice but to develop in East Africa. Many people were skeptical about the situation in East Africa, and after arriving in Africa, there were indeed many differences from what was advertised. Now it’s much better. The country is developing better and better, and I also have the opportunity to come back. Once the visa is approved, our whole family will go to East Africa to apply for citizenship. And the Kingdom has just conquered a large area of territory, and it is precisely the time when people are needed, so you will have more development prospects in East Africa than here.”

During the conversation, the door of the consulate opened, and the staff began to check the list. People talked excitedly, their eyes twinkling with anticipation for a new life.

As an East African citizen, Wang Defeng still has some privileges, such as the fact that their team is actually a fast track.

A staff member with a “pale” face sat on the chair and said directly: “Documents!”

Wang Defeng’s younger brother’s family naturally did not understand German, and they looked at Wang Defeng nervously.

Wang Defeng took out his ID card and said to the staff member: “Mr. Wilson, I am returning to visit relatives this time, and I also hope that I can bring my family here to live with me in East Africa.”

After briefly checking Wang Defeng’s documents, Wilson returned them to him. After all, being able to speak fluent East African German, there was naturally no doubt about his identity.

However, he still reminded: “Mr. Dave Wang, of course you can bring your family, but you have to sign a guarantee letter. After all, the procedures are strict now, and we are also afraid that someone will take advantage of loopholes.”

Wang Defeng responded: “Of course, no problem, this is my younger brother’s family, they are all honest and law-abiding farmers, I can guarantee that they will not cause trouble to the Kingdom.”

Wilson nodded and said: “Okay, you are a respectable soldier, I believe what you say, then go inside to complete the formalities, once it is implemented, there will be no chance to regret it.”

Wilson said this not because he was afraid that people would run away, but because he was afraid of wasting time. After all, the transportation capacity is still relatively tight.

In recent years, East Africa’s immigration efforts in the Far East have been shrinking, so many immigration ships have been converted into merchant ships, and a sudden increase in the number of immigrants is somewhat beyond its capacity.

Wang Defeng took his younger brother’s family to the consulate courtyard, and then followed the signs to find the place where visas were issued.

After a simple physical examination and identity confirmation, the family successfully obtained visas to East Africa, which were also their tickets for boarding the ship.

“Citizenship still needs to be processed after arriving in the homeland. The consulate does not have the relevant authority, but after arriving in East Africa, we may have to separate. Your family is likely to go to Mozambique or Angola, or even Orange, but don’t worry too much. If you have anything, contact me by letter or telegram. You must remember my address and name.”

Wang Defeng’s younger brother, Wang Desen, nodded and said: “Brother, we have been mentally prepared for this. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t even have the opportunity to go to East Africa.”

Now the threshold for East African immigration is so high, it is difficult for ordinary people without a skill to obtain a visa, especially farmers like Wang Desen.

After all, growing crops in the Far East is different from growing crops in East Africa. The climate and environment in East Africa are very different. East Africa also took a long time to explore before forming a systematic, comprehensive, and accurate agricultural planting experience.

With the recommendation of Wang Defeng, an East African citizen, Wang Desen’s family has this opportunity, which is also the privilege of returning home to visit relatives, or the privilege of East African citizens.

Wang Desen held the visa in his hand tightly, and secretly vowed in his heart: I must work hard and live hard in the new land, and live up to my brother’s expectations.

Wang Defeng: “Of course, going to East Africa is only the first step. Actually, I don’t know how the government will arrange it, but according to my previous experience, you will slowly get used to it, including language, habits, etc. The government will teach you hand-in-hand. Children like Shuanzi also have the opportunity to study. When Shuanzi understands it at school, it will definitely help you integrate into East Africa faster.”

Wang Desen was not surprised by what Wang Defeng said, because his brother had already told him the general situation before.

To be honest, if his parents could have taken the two brothers to East Africa together back then, the family wouldn’t have to separate from their elder brother even after going to East Africa now.

He heard that his elder brother’s family had given birth to six children, all of whom were healthy. He also wanted to see his little nephews, but unfortunately, once he went to East Africa, he probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to see them again in a short time.

Wang Defeng comforted him: “Alas, saying these things is just overthinking. The specific situation will only be known after arriving in East Africa. Maybe I can follow you to settle down first. Now my vacation has not ended, and there is still some time before I return to East Africa. Maybe I can go with you to take a look at the place first.”

After all, Wang Defeng is a combat hero and a person who has made contributions to East Africa, so he was able to get this return visit quota. Therefore, he still has some connections in East Africa, but the connections are mainly in the army. Now he has actually retired, so he doesn’t know if it will work.

Chapter 851: Heading to Mozambique

A little over twenty days later, the ship finally docked in Dar es Salaam. Wang Defeng took his younger brother and his family to the Dar es Salaam Immigration Department to inquire about the specifics.

“Of course, Mr. Dave Wang. The country doesn’t explicitly prohibit such actions. However, it’s not easy. After all, it will take time for your relatives to obtain East African citizenship. Do you have the time to stay with them for so long? They could very well be assigned to remote areas.” The staff member at the Dar es Salaam Immigration Department inquired.

Wang Defeng nodded and said, “About how many days will it take to complete the procedures?”

“Normally, it would take at least five or six days, and longer ones even twenty or thirty days. After all, every region is asking for people, and the relationships involved are very complex. However, the processing time has been shortened quite a bit now because most immigrants are leaning towards Angola, Mozambique, and Orange, so the review is also more lenient. If things go quickly, it might be completed within a day.”

After listening to the staff member’s explanation, Wang Defeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had a little over ten days left of his vacation. If his younger brother’s family’s household registration and other procedures could be completed quickly, then he should have enough time.

…

Two days later.

The identity cards and household registration of his younger brother’s family had been finalized, which relieved Wang Defeng. He sent a telegram to his wife in Dar es Salaam, informing her that he would first send his younger brother to Mozambique and asking her to hold down the fort at home for a while.

Afterward, he took his younger brother’s family to a photo studio in Dar es Salaam to take a family photo. He borrowed a pen from the photo studio and wrote his name and home address on the back of the photo.

He handed it to his younger brother and said, “Keep this photo safe and don’t let it get damp. My home address and my name in East Africa are written on the back in pen. You probably won’t be able to understand it, but when you write back to me, just show it to the local post office staff. I reckon there must be a German teacher there who can speak Chinese, so just have him write the letter for you.”

As he spoke, Wang Defeng patted his nephew’s little head and said, “When Shuanzi goes to school, he can also write letters to his uncle’s family. Your cousins must want to see your family too.”

Shuanzi nodded and said, “Uncle, when I learn to write, I will definitely write letters to you and my cousins.”

Shuanzi liked his uncle’s family quite a bit. Although he had never met his uncle’s family, his uncle had been very good to him when he was in the Far East, bringing him a lot of good food and fun things.

After preparing for a few days, Wang Defeng followed his younger brother’s family on a ship to Beira. That’s right, the place his younger brother’s family was assigned to was the inland area west of Beira, mainly the area along the future railway.

The transportation was relatively convenient, which made Wang Defeng happy. He said to Wang Desen, “I currently live in Harare, and before I left East Africa, I heard that a railway was going to be built directly to Harare from Beira. If that’s the case, then it will be easy for our two families to stay in touch. If the railway opens, a direct train will only take a day to arrive. If I have a vacation, I can take your sister-in-law and nephew to visit you.”

Shuanzi asked from the side, “Uncle, what is a railway?”

Wang Defeng said with a smile, “It’s a road made of steel, which looks quite spectacular. It’s hard for me to describe. You will have a chance to see it in the future.”

Soon, Wang Defeng’s words were confirmed, because the Harare-Beira railway had already started construction at this time and had already completed a portion of the route.

When Wang Defeng boarded the ship at Beira, he saw the construction site of the Harare-Beira railway at a glance. At this time, the railway construction within the city of Beira had actually been completed, and the railway was being built towards the inland. In fact, Harare was also building this railway eastward. East Africa was starting construction in both places at the same time. If nothing unexpected happened, the Harare-Beira railway would be completed by the end of this year.

After a simple rest in Beira for one night, Wang Defeng took his younger brother’s family inland. This time, they were traveling by carriage.

Even so, it gave his younger brother’s family a new understanding of East Africa, because horses and cattle were too common in East Africa. In Dar es Salaam, there were also many citizens riding bicycles, and there were also electric trams that could run on their own, which broadened the horizons of his younger brother’s family.

Wang Defeng was used to these things, after all, he had served in the army, so even railways were not too rare for him. He was almost numb from sitting on them when he was a soldier.

Wang Defeng’s group basically traveled along the railway line. Of course, after walking for a distance, it turned into grassland.

The group was not small. In addition to Wang Defeng and his younger brother Wang Desen’s family, there were also hundreds of immigrants. Besides these people, there were also National Defence Force soldiers responsible for sending them to their destinations.

Mozambique was currently under military administration, so the immigration work was mainly the responsibility of the army. As Wang Defeng had only recently retired, he could also talk to them.

“Young man, what year did you enlist?”

The young soldier in front of him was obviously new to the world, with some childishness still on his face.

“Uncle, you can speak German!” the soldier said in surprise.

“Hehe, I am originally from East Africa, so I naturally speak German. Moreover, I not only speak German, but I used to be a National Defence Force soldier just like you.”

“Really, Uncle? I thought you were an immigrant. After all, most of the people in this team are immigrants from other places.”

Wang Defeng shook his head and said, “My family, they are mainly from the Far East. This time they are immigrating to East Africa and are unfamiliar with the place, so I am sending them off. After they are settled, I will go back to work.”

“Uncle, weren’t you in the National Defence Force?” the young soldier asked.

“I said, that was before. I just retired last year, and the government arranged for me to work in a factory. But taking advantage of the break in between, I applied for a long vacation and went back to my old home in the Far East to bring my relatives over.”

“Uncle, where is your home?”

“Harare.”

“Harare is a good place. I heard it is considered a big city in the country. The previous railway seems to lead to Harare.”

Wang Defeng nodded and said, “That’s right, but East Africa is actually about the same everywhere. Although Harare is considered a big city, life…”

Wang Defeng chatted with the soldiers escorting the immigrants, gathering a lot of information. For example, the place his younger brother’s family was going to was about one hundred kilometers away from Beira, and it was not a completely blank slate, but a colonial stronghold left by the Portuguese.

There were also small groups of troops stationed there, so safety was not a problem. The living facilities were also relatively complete, with Portuguese plantations. Overall, the living environment was not bad, which reassured Wang Defeng a lot.

His younger brother’s family could only listen to Wang Defeng chatting with the East African National Defence Force soldiers as if they were listening to a heavenly book. This was the common understanding of the other immigrants. Most of the immigrants who came along were from the Far East, and the few white faces were not Germans, but from the Bosnia region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Now it was not easy to recruit Germans, so East Africa had focused its energy on other ethnic groups, and Bosnia was the southern mountainous area of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a place with a very poor economic level.

In less than three days, the group arrived at their destination. After settling his younger brother’s family, Wang Defeng, who had established a good relationship with the local garrison, bid farewell to his younger brother’s family and embarked on the road back to Harare.

Chapter 852: Hawaii

Hawaii, Kauai.

“Mr. Kerkhoff, your asking price is too high. We’ve inspected your land, and the yield is simply not good. Moreover, Hawaii has a labor shortage. Kauai isn’t like the larger islands in the southeast, so we can only offer a price of four hundred pounds.”

Kerkhoff still wanted to haggle. Although he agreed with what Rogge said, he would be a fool not to try for a better price.

“Six hundred pounds. That’s my bottom line. I won’t sell the local farm for less than that,” Kerkhoff emphasized.

“Four hundred and fifty pounds at most. That’s only because you’ve invested a lot previously. You have to understand that this price is enough to buy an equivalent-sized farm in the American West. If you go to the larger southeastern islands, you could even more than double your farm. If you don’t accept this offer, we’ll start acquiring the smaller farms, and the price won’t exceed three hundred and eighty pounds. You won’t be able to sell it even if you want to,” Rogge said firmly.

Kerkhoff thought for a moment, deciding that the price was indeed sincere enough. Once he sold the land, he could buy an equivalent area near Honolulu.

“Deal. But I have one condition. You have to throw in a case of liquor. No vodka, I want red wine.”

Rogge gritted his teeth and said, “No problem. Consider it a favor between old friends.”

Finally, after three months of wrangling, East Africa secured the land. This meant that East Africa’s first move in Hawaii was complete.

East Africa had long coveted Hawaii, but the situation there was complex, so East Africa planned to learn from the United States and first infiltrate the area.

Of course, East Africa didn’t want to swallow Hawaii whole, but to secure a piece of the pie in the future.

Currently, Britain, France, and the United States all had forces deployed in the Hawaiian Islands. East Africa, as a latecomer, couldn’t compare to the United States, let alone Britain and France.

Therefore, to gain a foothold in Hawaii, East Africa had long set its sights on an island that wasn’t particularly advantageous in the overall Hawaiian archipelago.

Kauai is the fourth largest island in the Hawaiian Islands, located in the northern part of the archipelago. It was once a Russian colony, but later it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The entire island has a population of less than twenty thousand, concentrated in the eastern region. East Africa is currently targeting the Eleele area in southern Kauai.

Eleele has a port and a small amount of arable land, although the best land and port on the island are in Lihue in the east.

Now, with the acquisition of Kerkhoff’s land, most of the southern and western coastal land centered on the Eleele area has fallen into East African hands.

Kauai is a volcanic island, so the central and western areas are mainly crisscrossed by mountains and steep cliffs, making development of the southwest virtually non-existent. East Africa easily acquired most of the southern coastal land at prices above market value.

(Image)

Of course, in other words, East Africa bought a large area of undeveloped tropical rainforest. Only the Eleele area has a small amount of developed arable land, and the local port hasn’t even been built, with only a pier that can accommodate small ships. However, after falling into East African hands, that naturally wouldn’t be a problem in the future.

That’s why East Africa bought his farm from Kerkhoff at three times the market price. With the incorporation of Kerkhoff’s farm, East Africa had completely controlled the Eleele area.

After completing the transaction, Rogge returned to East Africa’s economic office on Kauai and said to John Crane, the East African Governor of Hawaii, “Governor, from today onwards, we completely control the entire Eleele area. You, as governor, are finally more than just a figurehead.”

That’s right, East Africa had established a Governor of Hawaii, but according to normal logic, this Governor of Hawaii was definitely illegal.

In reality, that was the case. For the past six years, East Africa had been annexing land in southern Kauai under the guise of German merchants, and the title of governor was self-proclaimed by East Africa. Kauai is currently managed by a real governor of the Kingdom of Hawaii, located in Lihue on the east side of the island.

Hawaii is still a sovereign nation. In fact, the United States will annex Hawaii next year, when a group of American businessmen overthrows the Kingdom of Hawaii and establishes the so-called Republic of Hawaii. Of course, only Ernst knows about this yet-to-happen historical event.

John Crane asked, “Did that Russian with the big beard finally agree to sell the land?”

Rogge sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, “Yes, he even extorted a case of red wine from me before he left. If it weren’t for the kingdom’s mission, I would have drowned him long ago!”

Hearing his colleague’s slightly violent words, John Crane felt a chill, even though the weather was so hot, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

That’s right, Rogge was a member of East Africa’s intelligence department. He had done his fair share of murder, arson, coercion, and inducement. Of course, that was also why he was able to successfully complete the local land acquisition.

East Africa certainly couldn’t buy land here under the name of East Africa, so Rogge was ostensibly a merchant with dual British and American citizenship.

“Next month, our people will be able to set off. The kingdom will send a batch of retired National Defense Force soldiers with combat experience to Eleele. I heard they participated in the South African War. Then my nominal title as Governor of Hawaii will truly be solidified,” John Crane said to Rogge.

In the end, occupying a piece of land in Hawaii still depended on military strength. In 1843, the British government declared that Britain had sovereignty over Hawaii. In 1849, France declared its occupation of Hawaii.

But the one who ultimately occupied Hawaii was the United States, which declared that “no country can exclusively occupy Hawaii.” This was similar to the skillful application of the Monroe Doctrine and the Open Door Policy, worthy of being a traditional American craft.

So when Americans say: I’m not interested in…, that’s when it’s really worth being vigilant.

Ernst also wanted to get a piece of the pie when the United States annexed Hawaii in 1893, so East Africa began laying out its plans in Kauai several years ago.

Today, there are only over thirty thousand residents on Kauai, and East Africans number more than six thousand, spread throughout the southeast, northwest, and even the political center of Kauai, Lihue, with a large number of East Africans distributed there. Ostensibly, they are mainly Chinese and Japanese.

After all, Hawaii has a large number of Far Eastern Empire residents and Japanese immigrants. By using the identities of the two countries, East Africa can act more easily without attracting the attention of the American government.

The reason for placing the residence of the economic office, which is actually the East African Governor’s Office of Hawaii, in Eleele is also for this reason. Lihue, as the political center of Kauai, is too conspicuous and not conducive to East Africa’s actions.

“Although the preparations are quite adequate, it is difficult to annex a country. I wonder if the Americans will intervene forcefully at that time,” Rogge said.

To this, John Crane said with a smile, “There’s no need to worry too much. After all, the United States can’t blatantly annex Hawaii. If they dare to do something underhanded, we can retaliate in kind. We already have a significant advantage in the population of Kauai. By the end of this year, there may be even more people, plus the help of the army, we can effectively occupy Kauai. But the premise is that the military can perfectly cooperate with us and not make mistakes.”

Rogge nodded and said, “The main thing is to see the navy’s reaction speed. The premise of controlling the entire island is that the navy can cooperate in a timely manner. I think the American government will definitely use this approach if they want to annex the Kingdom of Hawaii. The only difference is that the United States has a much better mass base in the local area than we do.”

John Crane said disdainfully, “What mass base? It’s just the old trick of replacing the population. Now there are Americans everywhere in Hawaii, only on Kauai do we have more people. Everyone is just playing the game of secretly maneuvering. To be honest, if Japan and the Far Eastern Empire were not weak, they could do the same.”

Chapter 853: Secret Entry

September 12th, 1892.

Two unremarkable Austro-Hungarian merchant ships brazenly docked in the bay of Eleele. By this time, all the residents of Eleele had been replaced by East Africans.

Even the infrastructure, including the port, had been secretly acquired by East Africa, so the landing of the two “merchant ships” did not attract foreign attention.

“Lieutenant Gladstone, welcome to Eleele.”

“Governor, please take care of me in the future as well.”

“We brought a total of one battalion, more than six hundred soldiers. I wonder if that’s enough to shoulder the military responsibility of Kauai?” Battalion Commander Gladstone inquired.

“It should be! We have more than six thousand people on Kauai, and more than three hundred of them are armed. Adding you all, that’s more than a thousand people. And with your elite force here, even if the United States sends its army, they won’t be our match.”

Of course, the more than three hundred men under John Crane were actually present in the form of security personnel. After all, it wasn’t uncommon to carry weapons overseas in this era.

The Kingdom of Hawaii couldn’t restrict countries from bringing weapons to Hawaii for business either. Countries like Britain, France, and the United States all had some military presence in Hawaii. Of course, the Americans were the strongest. Although the United States Army’s strength was lacking, the militia’s combat effectiveness was barely passable.

Battalion Commander Gladstone agreed with his superior’s words. After all, East Africa didn’t really recognize the combat effectiveness of the United States. At least compared to the Defense Force itself, the East African military certainly didn’t think much of them.

Since the Civil War, the United States had hardly fought any wars, while the East African army had been tempered in decades of iron and blood. The East African soldiers who went on this expedition to Kauai were all East African veterans with more than ten years of combat experience, including Battalion Commander Gladstone himself, so they had confidence.

Of course, Gladstone wasn’t blindly arrogant either. After all, the United States had the advantage in Hawaii, so if East Africa wanted to seize Kauai from the Americans, it needed to be fully prepared.

“Governor John Crane, I hope to incorporate these three hundred armed personnel into my troops. After all, we are ultimately at a disadvantage in Hawaii, so it’s best to concentrate the available military forces.” Gladstone proposed.

With the addition of these three hundred men, Gladstone would have nearly a thousand men at his disposal, which would give him more confidence in occupying Kauai.

“What about the various forces on the island?” Gladstone asked.

“The population of Kauai is thirty thousand, of which about eight hundred are Americans, more than one thousand are Chinese and Japanese immigrants, and excluding us East Africans, there are less than twenty thousand native Hawaiians.” John Crane introduced.

Gladstone nodded and said, “In other words, the only ones we need to be wary of are these eight hundred Americans.”

John Crane said affirmatively, “That’s right. Don’t underestimate the Americans just because they have the smallest population on Kauai. In fact, they occupy most of the land and industries in the east, and there are American forces on several islands in the south, so their strength should not be underestimated.”

“In that case, besides their own people, the Americans can also rely on the Chinese, Japanese, and natives who work for them on Kauai. In other words, even if we add up all the East Africans, we only have close to seven thousand people. But seven thousand against twenty thousand, I feel that our chances of winning are still greater. If we can arm the remaining citizens of our country before the war, the entire Kauai will be completely ours.”

John Crane shook his head and said, “That may be difficult. Unless we urgently requisition a batch of weapons from the mainland, we have stockpiled a batch of weapons on Kauai over the years, but even if we add them all together, we can only arm at most eight hundred people.”

“In order to increase our chances of success, we still need to assemble as many other people as possible. If we can’t keep up with firearms, we can arrange for cold weapons, especially in places like Lihue, we need to increase our organizational efforts so that our people can control the entire island as soon as possible. After all, not all of the eight hundred Americans are military armed personnel. In this case, the armed personnel on the entire Kauai cannot exceed three hundred without the Americans being prepared. And our army has close to a thousand soldiers, plus eight hundred militiamen, the armed forces are close to two thousand. With the cooperation of East African nationals in various places, taking Kauai will be easy.”

Gladstone continued, “At that time, the navy will definitely intervene as well. I just don’t know how many ships and people the navy will send over, but I estimate they won’t be less than five hundred.”

In Eleele, Governor John Crane and Lieutenant Gladstone were boldly plotting the plan to seize Kauai.

Meanwhile, the East African National Security Bureau also began secretly organizing the East African people on the island in the eastern region of Kauai, preparing to cooperate with the East African government’s actions.

Kingdom of Hawaii.

Lihue, the seat of the Kauai government.

“Yoderian, our army has secretly entered the Eleele area, so the action to seize Kauai may happen at any time. You must be vigilant and not reveal anything, and be prepared to respond to the uprising at any time.” Roger said to Yoderian, the factory director.

Yoderian was naturally also an agent of the National Security Bureau. Of course, his public identity was a sandalwood merchant. Sandalwood is a specialty of the Hawaiian Islands, so to cover his tracks, Yoderian opened a sandalwood processing factory here.

Most of the workers in the factory were East African citizens, but most of them worked here under the identity of Chinese and Japanese immigrants.

In fact, these East African citizens, although they looked similar to the Chinese, were all from the mainland, not temporarily recruited from the Far East.

After all, this was a coup d’état in an independent country, and East Africa naturally didn’t trust other groups of people. Moreover, a large part of the island’s population had served in the East African Army or received systematic militia training.

Yoderian said with some concern, “Station Chief Roger, are you sure the kingdom’s plan will succeed? After all, Hawaii is a focal point. Britain, France, the United States, Russia, and Japan all have some presence in Hawaii. If we want to stage a coup here, I’m afraid it will trigger a military conflict.”

Roger tapped him on the head and said, “Do you think the United States has any ambitions for the Hawaiian Islands?”

Yoderian said uncertainly, “Maybe!”

Roger smiled sinisterly and said, “It’s an open secret. After all, the United States is about to completely control the Hawaiian Islands. They control the island’s economy, politics, and even have weapons in their hands, so it’s only a matter of time before the United States annexes Hawaii. As long as we follow the instructions of the central government and take a share when the United States annexes Hawaii, the Americans will have no way to point fingers at us.”

Yoderian said, “How does the central government know the specific time when the Americans will annex the United States? What if the United States doesn’t annex Hawaii this year, but ten years later? Wouldn’t we be wasting ten years in the local area for nothing?”

“Don’t worry about that. Anyway, the decisions of the superiors cannot be changed. We should just follow the plan honestly.”

Roger continued, “Moreover, you may not be able to get in touch with them, but when I was in contact with those American businessmen, they all had similar ideas. At least the American businessmen were very interested in annexing Hawaii, so our people must keep a close eye on Lahaina. Once there is any disturbance there, it will be time for us to take action.”

Lahaina is a city on the island of Maui, which is also the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. If any major political changes occur in the Kingdom of Hawaii, it will definitely start from Lahaina, which has always been the main place for East African intelligence to keep an eye on.

Chapter 854: American Conspiracy

December, 1892.

“Brother Rogge, you’ve arrived?” Enders, a member of the Hawaiian Business Association of America, greeted Rogge with a smile as he led him into his home.

“Moore, brew a cup of coffee.”

Moore was Enders’ servant, a typical Black man. Enders hired Black people as his servants because they were cost-effective. Not only was the price right, but they could also manage the house in an orderly manner. Upon hearing the order, Moore obediently did as his master instructed.

Rogge lay on the sofa, looking quite comfortable. He asked Enders, “Boss Enders, how come you have time to invite me here this time? I used to invite you often, but you were never home.”

“Heh, I’ve been busy with business. I’m not like you, with such a large business. I have to work a little harder. I’ve been busy with European orders recently. The orders aren’t big, but they’re all small portions, and the quantity is large, so the work never ends,” Enders said.

“You’re joking. I’m just a small businessman. I haven’t had any business lately, so I have time to wander around. I don’t know how many people truly envy you. The Europeans have always been generous, and I can only do business in the Far East.”

In Hawaii, everyone mainly does sandalwood business, but the sandalwood business in Hawaii is also declining. Thinking about it, there are only a few small islands here, and no amount of resources can keep up with decades of logging.

As for other things, Hawaii’s greatest use is as a stopping point for ships at sea. After all, in the heart of the North Pacific, the Hawaiian Islands are the only decent place.

Of course, this is also the main reason why East Africa has its eye on this place. Hawaii’s location is too important to ignore.

Hawaii is right in the middle of the North Pacific Current, and East Africa travels to Alaska mainly along the North Pacific Current to the west coast of America, and then north along the Alaskan Current.

Ships at sea generally travel along ocean currents, which can save a lot of time and cost, especially in the age of sail, which is especially prominent.

And East Africa’s South Ryukyu Islands colony is right at the source of the North Pacific Current, so only by completing the piece of Hawaii can the traffic between East Africa and Alaska be stabilized.

Of course, when ships return from Alaska, they take a different route, namely the Japanese archipelago and the eastern waters of Asia.

Generally, ships returning from Alaska carry mostly timber and furs, which are sold in Japan and the Far East before being reloaded and returned to East Africa.

After all, East Africa itself does not lack timber, and furs are not needed. East Africa is located in the tropics and does not need furs for warmth. Instead, products such as silk are more popular.

Fortunately, the Far Eastern Empire is extremely short of timber, especially in the northern regions, so Alaskan merchant ships do not have too high a rate of empty ships when returning.

Of course, in this way, the Alaska route does not earn much money in East Africa’s trade, and even loses money. East Africa has to transport more than twenty thousand tons of food to Alaska every year to ensure the normal operation of the Alaskan royal territory.

Initially, the main reason why Tsarist Russia abandoned Alaska was Alaska’s pitiful food self-sufficiency rate.

Moreover, Tsarist Russia itself had a Siberian region that required the Tsar to continuously exile prisoners to maintain the population, so it was even more impossible for Russians to run to Alaska to reclaim wasteland.

Alaska isn’t completely incapable of growing anything. Potatoes, barley, oats, and a small amount of drought-resistant vegetables can be grown in the south, but this is just a drop in the bucket for the entire Alaska. Therefore, East Africa must constantly supply the staple food of the Alaskan people, and on this basis, effectively utilize Alaska’s arable land resources.

Of course, if Alaska’s mineral resources can be developed, that would definitely be another matter, but does East Africa currently have the ability to develop Alaska?

Obviously not. It is certain that if the mineral development of Alaska is opened up, then the armies of Canada and the United States will immediately head north, so we can only make the people of Alaska suffer first.

Of course, this is just a joke. The standard of living in Alaska is actually not bad. After all, the population is small. As a country with surplus agricultural production capacity, East Africa does not lack that little bit of food. In addition, Alaska has abundant fishery resources, so in terms of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, the living standards of Alaskan residents are quite high.

And East Africa, or rather the Hohenzollern royal family, wants to maintain its rule over Alaska, so it naturally needs to ensure smooth communication between the two places. From East Africa to Alaska, the main mode of transportation is sea transport, so the importance of Hawaii is once again highlighted.

This is the same reason why Ernst insisted on interfering in the Ryukyu Islands dispute back then. In fact, the ultimate goal was to ensure the safety of Alaska.

If there were no Alaskan royal territory, East Africa would not have gotten involved in the muddy waters at all, because the South Ryukyu Islands and Kauai have no resources, and East Africa would not gain any practical benefits from occupying the two places, and might even be targeted by Japan and the United States.

Of course, East Africa would definitely not be intimidated by the targeting of the United States and Japan. East Africa is far away from the two countries, and even if they use all their strength, they can’t do much to East Africa, but conversely, East Africa can control the two countries.

This reflects East Africa’s geographical advantage. World trade is mainly concentrated in the Eurasian continent. It is impossible for the United States and Japan not to take the Indian Ocean route, and in the Indian Ocean region, as long as East Africa does not target the United Kingdom and the United States, no one can do anything to East Africa.

Especially Japan, the European silk market is extremely important to Japan, and the Indian Ocean is the only way for Japanese merchant ships to reach Europe. Otherwise, they can only detour through the Americas. In today’s world where the Panama Canal has not been opened, detouring through the Americas is too risky and takes too long.

The United States’ 19th-century railway construction was also because sea transportation was inconvenient, so it was forced to connect the east and west coasts through railways, giving rise to the world’s largest railway network.

The poor French are still building the Panama Canal, which is simply not learning from the lessons of the Suez Canal. However, France now likes to invest overseas, after all, the country’s industrial production costs are too high. After losing Lorraine and Alsace, it is even more unable to compete with Germany, so it is understandable that France invests heavily overseas.

And France’s approach cannot be said to be without gains. In the previous life, France’s colonies were relatively stable because France had a higher degree of construction, and the colonies received relatively more dividends than the colonies of other countries. Of course, this dividend has nothing to do with the local natives, mainly the French residents living in the French colonies.

“Brother Rogge, you underestimate yourself too much. In the years you’ve been in Hawaii, who doesn’t know Rogge’s name? Almost all of your industries are spread across Kauai. Based on these industries alone, you are a top merchant in Hawaii, unlike me, who can only dabble in the sandalwood business, and with the depletion of sandalwood resources, I’m afraid I won’t be able to continue in a few years. When that time comes, I’ll have to ask you to take care of me,” Enders complimented Rogge.

Rogge’s industries are naturally concentrated on Kauai, after all, this is the instruction of the central government, which is conducive to East Africa secretly controlling Kauai.

Now is not the time to reveal our hand. East Africa can only continue to bet on Kauai. Once the United States takes action in Hawaii, East Africa will respond in a timely manner, realizing the division of Hawaii between the two countries.

To put it unkindly, the Americans would not have thought that East Africa would be so insidious. In fact, the United States mainly guards against three countries in Hawaii: the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.

With these three countries sharing the firepower, East Africa, a country far away in Africa, is naturally ignored, and in the midst of mutual competition and prevention, no one would have thought that East Africa would extend its hand to Hawaii without making a sound.

Chapter 855: Birds of a Feather

Of course, Enders also had some modesty. As a sandalwood merchant who could do business in Europe, the energy and background behind him were not small.

“Brother Rogge, the reason I called you here this time is actually because I have something big to trouble you with.”

The main event finally arrived. At this time, the Moorish coffee was also brewed. Rogge picked up the coffee and asked, “What is it? As long as it’s within my power, I will definitely help you.”

Enders smiled and waved his hand, saying, “It’s a good thing, a great thing, otherwise I wouldn’t have come to you, brother. After all, our relationship is as close as brothers.”

Rogge asked calmly, “Please enlighten me, brother.”

Enders did not directly answer Rogge’s question, but instead asked, “Brother, what do you think of the Kingdom of Hawaii?”

“Hawaii?”

“That’s right, just talk about the place itself.”

Rogge took a sip of coffee and said, “Naturally, it’s a good place. After all, our business has grown here.”

“Yes, we came to Hawaii to make a fortune. Do you think the existence of a feudal kingdom like the Kingdom of Hawaii is good for us, Brother Rogge?”

Hearing this, Rogge sat up straight and said, “Brother Enders, what do you mean by this?”

Seeing Rogge’s slightly nervous expression, Enders smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, “Brother Rogge, you are still too nervous. Isn’t what I said obvious enough? The existence of the Kingdom of Hawaii has seriously restricted the interests of us merchants. After all, paying taxes every year is not a small amount, which is very detrimental to our development in Hawaii. Just thinking about this money being spent by the native Hawaiian royal family instead of being used to develop the local area makes my heart ache!”

Rogge took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and said, “Could it be that you want to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii’s government?”

Enders shook his head and said, “I naturally don’t have that ability, but the existence of the Kingdom of Hawaii does seriously limit the interests of us Americans, so this is everyone’s common idea. I just don’t know if you, Brother Rogge, think so too.”

Knowing what was going on, Rogge naturally supported the Americans’ approach. If they didn’t do this, East Africa wouldn’t have a chance!

“That’s natural. Although the tax rate isn’t high every year, the bigger the business, the more you pay. I naturally share the same view as my colleagues on this point.”

Hearing Rogge’s words, Enders said with a smile, “Now there is an opportunity for us to jointly promote the progress of the Kingdom of Hawaii. I wonder if you are interested, Brother Rogge?”

“That’s natural.”

Enders said, “A while ago, our Chamber of Commerce President, Mr. Wilson, and several other powerful chambers of commerce discussed this issue together and agreed that the Kingdom of Hawaii, a backward and feudal country, is not suitable to exist in the world. Therefore, we plan to establish a democratic republic in Hawaii to achieve Hawaii’s prosperity.”

Rogge naturally didn’t believe a word of Enders’ nonsense, but he naturally expressed his strong support.

Seeing that Rogge also supported everyone’s decision, Enders was still very happy. After all, Rogge’s strength on Kauai was not weak. If he could persuade Rogge to join this operation, everyone’s chances of success would naturally be greatly increased.

After all, this was a coup. Although the Kingdom of Hawaii was backward, it was located at the intersection of civilizations and was constantly learning and progressing. Therefore, the more people who participated in the coup, the more certain they could be of achieving their goals in one step.

Otherwise, if an accident occurred and the Kingdom of Hawaii counterattacked, it would probably directly benefit the British and French on the island, and it would be much more difficult for the United States to control Hawaii.

Subsequently, at Enders’ invitation, Rogge, the East African spy, swaggered into a dinner party of American businessmen in Honolulu.

This dinner party was naturally to discuss how to overthrow the rule of the Kingdom of Hawaii and establish a “puppet” Republic of Hawaii. To prevent eavesdropping, all attendees were Americans.

“Everyone, the specific time for this operation is March of next year. At that time, with the support of the National Guard, we will overthrow the brutal rule of the Kingdom of Hawaii in one fell swoop…”

In fact, in January of 1875, the Kingdom of Hawaii signed the “Reciprocity Treaty of 1875” under the coercion and inducement of the United States. The United States gave Hawaii the most-favored-nation treatment in tariffs to facilitate Hawaii’s export of sugar to the United States. The treaty also stipulated that Hawaii was not allowed to give other countries most-favored-nation treatment, nor was Hawaii allowed to lease land to other countries or provide them with the privilege of using ports and territories. This marked Hawaii becoming the exclusive sphere of influence of the United States, but Hawaii also gained temporary economic benefits from exporting low-tariff sugar to the United States.

This was also an important reason why Rogge was active in Hawaii as an American. Otherwise, East Africa would never have been able to annex a large amount of land on Kauai.

After learning about the conspiracy of the American government, Rogge immediately returned to Kauai after attending the dinner party to discuss countermeasures with John Crane, the East African Governor of Hawaii.

“There are still three months left. We must speed up the training of our troops and at the same time notify the Jiaozhou Bay Consulate and the South Ryukyu Islands Navy to arrive in Hawaii before March 15th. Of course, the time should not be too early or too late, so that we can better interfere with this coup.”

After listening, John Crane said seriously, “If the specific time is unknown, there will be errors in the arrival time of the navy, so you must pay close attention to the Americans’ actions. I will send the news back to the mainland in a timely manner.”

“As for the army, you don’t have to worry. We have increased the armed forces on Kauai to two thousand people. Even if the Americans have all their military forces in Hawaii, they can’t do anything to us.”

Rogge nodded and said, “After the coup begins, we must promptly control the Governor of the Kingdom of Hawaii on Kauai and force him to declare Kauai’s secession from the Kingdom of Hawaii, regain its independence, and then establish a puppet government.”

Kauai is the only island in the Hawaiian Islands that was not conquered by King Kamehameha by force but later automatically submitted to the dynasty.

The Hawaiian Islands were actually not a unified country before. Later, Kamehameha the Great, that is, the Kingdom of Hawaii, unified the entire island.

Because Kauai voluntarily submitted, the current Governor of Kauai is actually a descendant of the native King Kaumualiʻi.

This provided an opportunity for East Africa. Since Kauai could join the Kingdom of Hawaii, it could naturally secede from the control of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Of course, there would be no so-called Kingdom of Hawaii at that time, but a puppet government established by the Americans, the Republic of Hawaii.

As soon as the Americans took action, East Africa would push the current Governor of Kauai to secede from the Kingdom of Hawaii and restore the native kingdom on Kauai.

Of course, this native kingdom would definitely also be a puppet government, but as long as there was a righteous cause, East Africa could argue with the American government. At that time, as long as the Americans did not deploy their mainland troops, they would not be able to do anything to East Africa.

After all, the United States was the first to be unjust, so don’t blame East Africa for being unrighteous. Everyone is cut from the same cloth. If countries were to evaluate, they would all be wolves in sheep’s clothing. The final result would be that everyone would be condemned by the international community.

Of course, the international community mainly refers to Britain and France, and perhaps Japan as well, because these countries all have interests in Hawaii.

Chapter 856: Final Preparations

This period was the height of colonialism. Britain had suffered setbacks in East Africa, and France had fared terribly against Germany. Japan was the most fanatical of the aggressors, so overseas colonial activities were even more rampant in the late 19th century.

After all, with less meat in the pot, everyone was more ruthless in the scramble. The Pacific region also contained major powers such as the United States, the Far Eastern Empire, and Spain, as well as the Netherlands, which possessed vast colonies in Asia. Therefore, any country wanting to stir up trouble in the Pacific region had to be quite powerful.

The Far Eastern Empire and Spain had not yet been exposed for their weaknesses and posed no immediate danger. Although the Netherlands’ colonial area was not small, it mainly consisted of tropical rainforests, and its value was not immediately apparent.

However, Ernst knew that the potential of the Dutch East Indies colonies was enormous. After all, Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia in his previous life, had originated there.

Now, the Lanfang Overseas Province of East Africa was actually the West Kalimantan Province of Indonesia in his previous life. As for the Sarawak Kingdom of North Kalimantan, it had become part of the British colonies, while the Dutch forces retreated to the eastern and southern parts of Kalimantan Island.

Germany had also made some gains in the Pacific region, mainly some islands that Spain could not manage, as well as German New Guinea.

German New Guinea looked large on the map, but even in the 21st century, there were still many primitive tribes in the interior, with a lower level of civilization than Africa. However, this was Germany’s biggest gain in the Pacific region in recent years.

Germany’s colonies in the Pacific region were currently not even as good as East Africa’s. After all, Germany entered the game too late, and even the scraps they could pick were the worst.

East Africa, to some extent, actually made up for the lack of colonies for Germany and Austria. In addition to the East African domestic market, East Africa’s overseas colonies were also open to merchants from Germany and Austria. Of course, they were of little value.

At most, they provided a few more footholds for overseas merchants from the two countries. Lanfang and Southern Ryukyu were not wealthy places, and were rather like a “chicken rib” – something of little value.

While East Africa had considerable influence in the Far Eastern Empire, it was only at the official level that they could have a say. Germans abroad naturally used a common banner, which could only be considered “fellow countrymen.” The relationship between East, Germany, and Austria was very different from that between Britain and the United States.

Although Britain and the United States shared a common origin, their differences outweighed their cooperation. The two countries had even fought wars with each other, while the relationship between East, Germany, and Austria was very good, which was very common in the German region.

Except for the slightly strained relationship between the Habsburgs and Switzerland, there was generally little friction between German countries. Any friction that existed was basically resolved by Prussia through annexation.

The reason why East, Germany, and Austria could get along harmoniously was that there was actually no conflict of interest, but rather strong complementarity.

Germany and Austria were mutually supportive in continental Europe, as both countries had very poor geographical positions. East Africa, on the other hand, occupied one-third of the African continent and was a major power that could not be ignored, while also making up for the two countries’ weak overseas influence.

…

March 14, 1893.

Hawaii.

“Brother Rogge, tomorrow is the day we overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii. A brand-new Republic of Hawaii will appear in this world. Let’s drink to that!”

Before the coup was about to begin, the Americans had already gathered together. Even if there might be bloodshed tomorrow, everyone still held a banquet and drank heavily.

After all, it was just the Kingdom of Hawaii. As long as the American soldiers acted in unison, it could be wiped out with a wave of their hands. It was not worth the attention of the gentlemen present. Everyone was a businessman and did not need to charge into battle themselves, so they just had to wait for the result.

“Cheers to victory!” Rogge said with a drunken expression, following Ender’s words.

Rogge was not pretending to be drunk. After all, he had drunk a lot of alcohol at the banquet. Otherwise, he would have been too out of place and easily aroused suspicion, even though East Africa was going to intervene in this coup.

But that did not mean that Rogge would give up his current “identity.” On the contrary, in order to continue to lie low in the United States, he had to become a “victim” of this coup.

After all, Rogge was the largest landowner and business owner on Kauai. If something happened on Kauai, the Americans would definitely suspect Rogge.

Therefore, in order to be able to retreat unscathed, the East African government also had to find a way to protect Rogge. If Rogge’s identity was exposed, it would not be a good thing for East Africa. So far, the East African National Defense Security Bureau was a secret unit and should not appear in the international spotlight.

Most importantly, Ernst was also afraid that other countries would follow suit and set up intelligence agencies in advance, which could greatly reduce East Africa’s information advantage.

Half an hour later, the party finally ended. Rogge staggered out of the banquet venue and said goodbye to several “friends” with whom he had chatted happily.

“Master!”

Rogge’s “butler” hurriedly stepped forward and supported Rogge, who seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

Rogge rubbed his face, trying to sober up a little, and then said, “Get in the car first.”

After the car had driven a distance, Rogge whispered to the “butler,” “Have someone rush the message back to Kauai. Tomorrow at eight in the morning is when the Americans will act, so the message must be delivered back tonight.”

The “butler” noted Rogge’s words and, after sending Rogge back to the hotel, immediately organized his men and, taking advantage of the night, sailed the ship that had already been docked towards Kauai.

Although Kauai also belonged to the Hawaiian Islands, it was separated from Oahu by more than one hundred kilometers of sea. Therefore, by the time the news was delivered back to Eleele, the American coup would probably have already begun.

Of course, there was no need to worry too much. After this coup, the United States would only control Oahu. It would definitely take time to control the southern islands, including Lahaina, the original political center of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The population of Hawaii was mainly concentrated on the southern islands. Kauai and the nearby uninhabited Niihau were actually a bit far from the main body of the Hawaiian Islands, so Kauai would definitely be the last island that the United States would take care of.

Therefore, it would not affect the overall situation if East Africa acted a little later. After all, the time it would take for the Americans to deal with the Hawaiian royal family and then take over the various islands would be enough for East Africa to complete its deployment.

…

At the same time, in the Pacific Ocean east of the Hawaiian Islands, three gunboats and two supply ships of the East African Navy’s Pacific Fleet were speeding towards Hawaii.

“I wonder if we can still make it in time for this operation. We’ve already wasted a day at sea,” said Merches, commander of the Pacific Fleet.

The original plan was to arrive at Kauai one day in advance, but it was delayed by a day due to the preparation of supplies for the Huaihai Economic Zone. After all, Hawaii was located in the heart of the ocean, and Merches was not confident without bringing more supplies.

“Commander, don’t worry. After all, the army also has deployments on Kauai. Even if there is a conflict with the Americans, they will definitely be able to hold out for a while.”

Hermes nodded and said, “I don’t doubt the army’s combat power. After all, we are able to fight against strong countries like Britain. As long as the Americans don’t send out elite troops, they really can’t take Kauai. Moreover, the American government can’t directly send out elite troops from the mainland.”

Hermes was actually not sure about the strength of the American army. After all, the United States had not fought a war in recent years. However, he thought that it must be much worse than Britain. Although Britain had performed poorly in the South African War, its combat experience was ten streets ahead of the United States.

In particular, many of the British troops transferred from India during the South African War had participated in the Afghan War and the war against Burma.

The last time the United States fought was the Civil War, which was infighting, and no one could see the Americans’ true strength. However, the Americans could not be underestimated.

In 1890, after its industry surpassed Britain, the United States had become the world’s largest industrial power. Although the number of troops was small, its weapons and equipment were also world-class.

Chapter 857: Divided in Two

Eleele Harbor.

“Your Excellency Governor, Rogge has sent word that the Americans will take action today? Presumably, they have already started. Should we make our move?” Lieutenant Gladstone inquired.

John Crane nodded and said, “It’s seven o’clock now. I’ll have our people on the island prepare first. Then, at six o’clock this evening, we’ll launch the coup.”

Gladstone did not object to John Crane’s words. This operation couldn’t be carried out solely by their own people. They also needed to coordinate with other forces hidden on the island from East Africa.

The two thousand men under Gladstone’s command couldn’t be spread across the entire island. They needed to be used in key locations. After all, Kauai wasn’t a small island, and dispersing the troops too thinly would be detrimental to any potential conflict with the Americans.

Gladstone said, “When the time comes, I’ll take the main force to Lihue. How many people should we leave in Eleele?”

John Crane thought for a moment and said, “Three hundred should be enough for Eleele. Too few, and there’s a risk of being defeated. Too many would hinder our control of Lihue. After we control Lihue, we’ll probably have to divide our forces to other areas in the east and north of the island. So, you should keep at least a thousand troops in Lihue, and you should personally be stationed there.”

Gladstone said, “That’s for sure. Lihue has the largest population. I’ll pay close attention. As for the east and north of the island, we should pay more attention to the north. After all, controlling Lihue secures the east. The north is mainly concentrated in Princeville, east of Hanalei Bay.”

“Princeville is the second most populous town on the island, and it’s a long way around most of the island. If we send people now, news from there won’t be able to get out for a while,” John Crane also said.

As for Eleele, because it’s not far from Lihue, it was developed relatively late. It only gained some scale after the arrival of the East Africans.

After discussing the relevant arrangements for the coup, Gladstone asked, “Your Excellency Governor, why hasn’t the navy arrived at Kauai yet?”

John Crane said, “The day before yesterday, news came back that the navy should be on its way now. It’ll probably arrive in the next day or two.”

……

Oahu.

Iolani Palace.

Iolani Palace, built in 1882 in downtown Honolulu, is the “only” royal palace on American soil in its previous life.

This palace, built relatively late, is entirely Western-style in architecture. It looks a bit smaller than the Sultan’s Palace in Zanzibar back then, but it’s also more refined.

At this time, the Hawaiian royal family still couldn’t imagine that the Americans would ultimately not “show mercy.” After all, the United States had previously been quite righteous, helping the Kingdom of Hawaii resist the invasions of Tsarist Russia, Britain, and France.

Of course, in recent years, the Hawaiian royal family had also recognized the harm of the United States’ dominance in Hawaii, but they could only play ostrich, hoping that the United States still had some decency.

The United States adopted a “boiling frog” approach to the Kingdom of Hawaii, gradually annexing the area. Originally, Hawaii had its own native Kapu religion.

The Kapu religion was eradicated, which provided conditions for the American invasion. Many American missionaries preached the Bible in Hawaii, and American Christianity spread wantonly within the country.

On the surface, American missionaries opened free schools and hospitals in Hawaii and held many charitable events. But in reality, this was a form of hidden invasion.

Of course, the Kingdom of Hawaii was also to blame. The current Hawaiian King Kalakaua is an outright pro-American. After ascending the throne, Kalakaua also took a series of measures to get closer to the United States. Therefore, since Kalakaua ascended the throne, the fate of the Hawaiian royal family had already been sealed.

In reality, Hawaii’s location isn’t ideal for invasion. Even the United States mainland is more than three thousand seven hundred kilometers away from Hawaii.

If Hawaii could balance the various forces on the island, it would be easy to play both sides. However, the Hawaiian royal family had already blocked its own path.

Today, the Hawaiian sea breeze was still very fresh. Kalakaua stood in front of the window of the palace, enjoying the blessings of the “civilized” world.

Since Kalakaua ascended the throne, he moved the capital from Lahaina to Honolulu, which was more economically prosperous. Iolani Palace, this American-style palace, was his creation.

The palace’s exterior walls, like the American White House, were painted a bright white. Tall tropical trees were planted in front of the palace, and the roads were smooth, no less impressive than the royal palaces of some small European countries.

Take the Hohenzollern Palace of the Ernst family, for example. The Hohenzollern Palace is more like a military fortress, and the living experience isn’t actually that great. Iolani Palace, on the other hand, is the opposite. It’s located in the city center and has little defensive function. There are only simple walls on the periphery. Now, outside these walls, the Americans have arrived with weapons, full of menacing intent.

“Your Majesty, something bad has happened! Our palace is surrounded!” Kalakaua’s minister nervously reported to Kalakaua.

“What’s going on?” Kalakaua asked in shock.

“The Americans, it’s all Americans outside. They’ve surrounded the palace with weapons. At the same time, I also saw banners protesting against monarchical rule.”

“Damn it, how could this happen!” Kalakaua said in disbelief. How could his “American daddy” turn around and overthrow him?

It must be said that Kalakaua trusted the Americans too much. If it were Ernst, he certainly wouldn’t have put the palace in Honolulu. Although Lahaina was more remote, it wasn’t easy to be directly surrounded by the Americans. If there were a military palace like Hohenzollern Castle, it wouldn’t be a problem to be besieged for a few months without using heavy weapons.

Of course, the most prominent feature of Hohenzollern Castle is that it’s built on a small mountain, so the living conditions of Hohenzollern Castle can be imagined to be poor. Iolani Palace and Hohenzollern Castle are completely opposite.

Kalakaua built this palace to “enjoy life.” Pearl Harbor in Honolulu is the best port in the entire archipelago, so the economy is also the most developed. Plus, a large number of Americans live there, so the living conditions are also the best. Now, all of this has become Kalakaua’s death warrant.

Of course, according to the Americans’ character, it’s unlikely that they’ll kill Kalakaua. After all, they still need to use the name of the Hawaiian Kingdom to maintain American rule in the area, mainly to prevent gossip from the international community. East Africa has the same plan.

Six o’clock in the evening.

Lihue.

“You are Kumali, the governor of Kauai. I heard that you are a descendant of King Kaumuali’i?”

Gladstone easily led his men into the governor’s mansion in Lihue, capturing Kumali, the governor of Kauai appointed by the Kingdom of Hawaii.

“Next, what we say, you do…” Gladstone didn’t waste words with this Kumali, who was already scared out of his wits. He directly ordered him to start forming a puppet government and declare independence from the Kingdom of Hawaii, restoring the Kauai government.

At the same time, the turmoil on the island naturally attracted the attention of the Americans, but looking at the murderous East African Defense Force soldiers, they didn’t dare to utter a peep.

Some sharp-eyed British merchants even recognized the uniforms of the East African Defense Force at first glance and exclaimed, “Good heavens, how are these damn East African barbarians here!”

Fortunately, the East African soldiers couldn’t understand English, otherwise, they would have given him a rifle butt.

On this day, March 13, 1892, a world-famous painting appeared in the Hawaiian Islands. East Africa and the United States launched coups in the Hawaiian Islands on the same day, one after the other.

The unified Kingdom of Hawaii was completely destroyed, and two puppet regimes were established: the Republic of Hawaii supported by the United States, and the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii (Kauai) supported by East Africa.

The changes in the archipelago quickly attracted the attention of the forces of Britain, France, Japan, and other countries on the islands. The countries could only watch helplessly as the United States and East Africa “divided the spoils” and were temporarily unable to stop them.

Chapter 858: That Sneaky Brit

The day after the coup.

“Mr. Rogge, we’re counting on you next. We’ve already taken the southern islands. On Kauai, you’re our main representative.”

Rogge pretended to be “full of vigor.” After all, once the United States ruled Hawaii, his status as an “American” would naturally rise sharply. So, seeing Rogge’s attitude, everyone was not surprised at all.

“Gentlemen, once we control Kauai, I will definitely entertain you well on the island. I hope everyone can come to my estate for a good drink.”

Rogge’s words made the American soldiers present very happy. After all, they were doing life-risking work. As for the people accompanying Rogge, only one was a representative of the American business community and also the military commander of this operation.

For this “expedition” to Kauai, the Americans gathered a total of one hundred and eight people. With the cooperation of the Americans on Kauai, they could easily make the governor of Kauai surrender.

So, under the gaze of everyone, a “warship” flying the flag of the Republic of Hawaii sailed mightily towards Kauai.

At this time, the Americans did not know about the coup that had taken place on Kauai on the same day as theirs. After all, Kauai’s location was somewhat remote from the southern islands.

Moreover, East Africa had already blockaded the entire Kauai yesterday, prohibiting ships and private individuals from going to sea, to prevent anyone from informing the Americans. Now, the American businessmen on Kauai had been controlled by East Africa.

This was also thanks to the fact that Kauai’s status in the Hawaiian Islands was not very high, mainly because its economy was not developed. Therefore, there were few ships and people on the island, making it easy to control. If it were a port like Pearl Harbor, where ships come and go every day, it would be hard to say.

Of course, East Africa’s dominant population on the island was also a major reason. Various East African organizations lurking on the island actively responded during the coup, and immediately controlled the government agencies, police stations, military, and other important departments on Kauai.

In fact, the Hawaiian police and military on Kauai only numbered a few dozen people in total, and they were concentrated in Lihue. Therefore, they surrendered at the first moment of the coup.

On the other hand, some private armed forces on the island gave East Africa a headache. In this era, it was common to carry weapons when going to sea. Even some merchant ships were equipped with cannons to guard against pirates. Therefore, after the coup, the East African government was on guard against anyone causing trouble.

However, East Africa’s worries were superfluous. Although there were not many East African troops on Kauai, the dark gray military uniforms, coupled with the murderous faces of the East African Defense Force soldiers, made these business groups dare not pick a fight.

Of course, there were still some bold people who questioned the so-called Kingdom of Northern Hawaii government supported by East Africa. These were generally British and French merchants who, relying on their status as citizens of great powers, were not afraid that the East Africans would be unreasonable.

“Your Excellency John Crane, what you are doing is illegal. You must know that the Kingdom of Hawaii is an independent country, and even the United States cannot overthrow the rule of the Hawaiian government.” A British merchant protested to John Crane.

“Mr. Robert, please be patient. We in East Africa have no intention of annexing Hawaii. We are simply helping King Kumali restore his family’s rule on Kauai. After all, the Kingdom of Hawaii was previously composed of several countries, so Kauai’s re-independence is completely reasonable and legal. And East Africa has accepted King Kumali’s request, so naturally we cannot sit idly by.”

“Your Excellency John Crane, such words are somewhat sophistical. Kauai was originally peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It is clearly East Africa that is interfering. Kumali is nothing more than your puppet.” Robert said.

As a Briton, Robert looked down on East Africa. After all, Britain had lost face in the last war. As a citizen of the British Empire, he was not afraid that the East African government would do anything to him, so he was full of confidence when confronting John Crane.

John Crane was not angry, but said in a calm tone: “Heh, those are just some of your speculations. Our attitude towards weak countries in East Africa has always been consistent. The people of Kauai cannot stand the tyranny of the Kingdom of Hawaii, so naturally they want to secede again. If Mr. Robert is not convinced, you can completely go to the streets and encourage them to overthrow the legitimate government of the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii.”

John Crane’s words made Robert feel a chill in his heart. He said with a slightly disgusted tone: “At this time, you don’t have to pretend. So many East Africans have suddenly appeared on the island. It must be that you have been planning for a long time. At this time, I am afraid that the natives on the island are not as numerous as the East Africans.”

Previously, Robert had thought that these yellow-faced East Africans were Japanese or Far Easterners, or perhaps Hawaiian natives. The possibility of them being Japanese was the greatest, after all, they did not have queues and their skin was fairer than that of the natives.

Of course, because these people generally spoke Chinese before, everyone thought that there were more Chinese and Japanese on the island, which was a normal phenomenon. Hawaii was originally like this.

As a result, he did not expect that after these guys no longer concealed it, they spoke fluent German. Thinking that East Africa had been immigrating so many people to the island without making a sound, it was probably prepared for many years. So, East Africa was clearly premeditated.

However, Robert thought again, the Kingdom of Hawaii has always been regarded as a sphere of influence by the Americans, and there are the most Americans on the archipelago. So why should he be the one to stick his neck out? It would be great to watch the Americans and East Africans fight like dogs!

At this time, Robert regretted it a little. He should not have rushed to John Crane to show his displeasure. This job should be done by the Americans.

John Crane was still unaware of Robert’s psychological changes, and said: “Let’s not mince words. Mr. Robert has been doing business for so many years, and he is also a smart person. I know that the establishment of the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii does not conform to the interests of some individuals. But now the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii is already a protectorate of our East Africa. This fact cannot be changed. Even if there is a problem, the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii must come and talk to us. Of course, a puppet government is definitely not qualified.”

Robert felt a little “strange” about John Crane’s last sentence. What does it mean that a puppet government is not qualified? Isn’t the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii the puppet that you support?

However, on second thought, Robert believed that John Crane was probably talking about the American government behind the Kingdom of Hawaii. After all, the new king of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kalakaua, had been pro-American in recent years.

So, the East African government was dissatisfied with the American government. And thinking that East Africa might have a dispute with the United States over the Hawaii issue, or even a war, Robert suddenly felt very good.

He suddenly changed his tone and said: “Mr. John Crane, I was a little harsh in my tone before. After all, I also have some industries on the island, so I am a little worried about the political changes on Kauai. But as long as East Africa can guarantee our British interests on the island, we absolutely have no intention of interfering in the island’s affairs.”

Why is he suddenly so easy to talk to? John Crane thought strangely in his heart. But being able to avoid this trouble is also a good thing.

“Mr. Robert can rest assured about this. We respect the vested interests of all countries on the island. Private property is sacred and inviolable! As long as you abide by the island’s laws and regulations, we will naturally not target the normal commercial activities of business groups from various countries, and we will guarantee the safety of everyone’s property.”

Of course, not including Americans, John Crane silently added in his heart. Americans are also masters of playing “substitution,” and East Africa will definitely have to find a way to get the Americans on the island to withdraw from here in the future.

Robert then said with a smile: “That would be great. I have something to do at home, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Robert now wanted to change the scene and communicate with the Americans on the island, or rather, stir up trouble. This kind of thing should be handled by the Americans. After all, Britain is too far away from Hawaii. It is most appropriate to let the Americans deal with East Africa.

Chapter 859: Landing, Capture, Repatriation

However, Robert’s calculations were off, because he discovered that those Americans had all been invited by the East Africans to be “guests.” Looking at the serious-faced East African militia on Lihue Street, Robert could only return home feeling somewhat dejected.

Meanwhile, out at sea, Rogge and his group also noticed that something was amiss.

Charles frowned and said, “Mr. Rogge, have you noticed anything strange?”

Rogge pretended to agree, replying, “I also feel that something is strange about the sea today, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.”

“It’s the ships. Although Kauai and the other islands aren’t closely connected normally, you can still see sea vessels. But until now, we haven’t seen a single ship,” Charles said.

As they got closer to Kauai, Charles’ mood worsened, because even fishing boats were absent near Kauai today. This was too suspicious.

“Mr. Rogge, was there anything unusual on the island before you left Kauai?” Charles inquired.

Rogge didn’t answer directly, but instead asked, “Unusual? Mr. Charles, have you noticed something wrong?”

Charles said, “So far, we haven’t seen a single fishing boat. This is too strange. I’m worried that something we don’t know about might have happened on Kauai.”

Rogge said with “concern,” “Before I left, I didn’t notice anything unusual. Could it be that you’re overthinking it?”

Charles thought for a moment and said, “Maybe, but considering the situation on Kauai, even if something major happened, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”

Charles believed that Hawaii, especially Kauai, was so close to Honolulu on Oahu that no one would dare to cause trouble under the Americans’ noses.

Soon after, the ship finally caught sight of the outline of Kauai. Although they still didn’t see any ships leaving the harbor, they didn’t see any major changes on the shore either. So Charles still ordered the ship to head towards Lihue Harbor.

On the island, the East Africans naturally noticed this sudden ship. Since the port was closed, Lihue only allowed entry but no exit. However, the ships that came and went were all small boats, but this ship was very large.

The most conspicuous thing was the flag hanging on the ship, which looked like the British Union Jack. In 1795, Kamehameha I unified the Hawaiian Islands and established the Kingdom of Hawaii. Because he admired the United Kingdom, he voluntarily used the Union Jack as the national flag.

The Union Jack had always been the national flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In his previous life, this flag was also the state flag of the U.S. state of Hawaii, and it had been used for over three hundred years.

Therefore, the Republic of Hawaii also continued to use the national flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii, but the East Africans naturally didn’t know the details.

Seeing the flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii, they were subconsciously a little apprehensive, after all, they were staging a coup and secession on someone else’s territory. But they quickly realized, wait a minute! Wasn’t the Kingdom of Hawaii already overthrown by the Americans? So this should be an American ship.

Soon, after the ship docked, it further confirmed the East African officers and soldiers’ thoughts. A group of burly men came down, wearing red ribbons around their necks. These were the American militia of the Hawaiian Islands.

Charles also swaggered ashore with his men, but they were quickly dumbfounded. In no time, a large number of people appeared from all directions of the dock and surrounded them.

“Drop your weapons!”

Faced with the ferocious East African Defense Force, the American militia didn’t dare to resist at all. Nonsense, the other side looked like a regular army at first glance. What could their ragtag national guard use to fight them? Sharp-eyed people even saw the black machine guns already aimed at their side.

Rogge, in disguise, was also on the side, exclaiming in surprise, “We are American citizens, don’t kill us!”

Looking at the timid Rogge, Charles’s mouth twitched. He was really embarrassing the Americans. Although his own surrender wasn’t glorious either, circumstances were stronger than people. The other side not only had more people, but also had an advantage in weapons. Naturally, he could only disarm first and see what was happening. But Rogge, this “disgrace to the Americans,” was almost wetting his pants. This made Charles extremely disgusted with this “American businessman.”

But that was exactly the effect Rogge wanted. Now he was a victim, so naturally he couldn’t stand with the East Africans, otherwise his career would be over.

……

The next day.

More than nine hundred Americans, including the spy Rogge, were repatriated to Honolulu by the East Africans.

“What’s going on?”

Charles said with a bitter face, “During our coup, the East Africans invaded Kauai and established the so-called Kingdom of Northern Hawaii.”

“What?”

“How dare the East Africans!”

“…”

Charles’s answer caused a great uproar. The Republic of Hawaii had already regarded the entire archipelago as its own, but someone else had stolen the fruit, which was simply infuriating.

“What is the strength of the East Africans on the island? Is it a colonial group or an army? How many people are there?” asked Sanford, the president of the Republic of Hawaii.

Charles: “It’s the East African Defense Force. I definitely won’t mistake their ugly clothes.”

In this era, the military uniforms of various countries were very bright, and the unadorned, earth-gray uniforms of East Africa were, in Charles’s view, synonymous with ugliness.

“How many people do they have?”

Charles shook his head and said, “I’m not very clear, but I’m afraid there are more than a thousand people just from what I saw, and they are equipped with machine guns and other weapons. They look like the elite troops of East Africa, and they are obviously carrying killing intent.”

At this time, Sanders suddenly remembered that Rogge was from Kauai. He quickly asked, “Mr. Rogge, why didn’t you notice the sudden East African invasion of Kauai before?”

Rogge said with a mournful face, “Mr. President, I’m just a small businessman. How would I have thought that East Africa would be interested in a small island tens of thousands of miles away? You can ask everyone about this.”

The “everyone” Rogge was referring to were the American merchants who had been expelled by the East Africans. They were released by the East Africans along with Charles’s team.

“Mr. Rogge is right. There were indeed many yellow-faced people on the island before, but Hawaii has so many Chinese and Japanese people, including the local natives, who all have the same skin color. Who would have thought that East Africans were mixed in? Moreover, it seems that the East Africans came from other parts of the island. They should have landed somewhere on the island and then seized Kauai in one fell swoop.”

“Mr. President, now that we have been driven out by the East Africans, you must stand up for us! Our property is still in the hands of the East Africans!” Rogge cried loudly from the side.

Other American merchants also rushed to ask for help. Hearing a group of chattering noises, Sanford’s head grew bigger. He, the president of Hawaii, had encountered such bad luck as soon as he took office. Who could he complain to?

As for helping them recover their property, Sanford could only delay with excuses for the time being. After all, the East Africans had an army on Kauai, and no one knew whether the East Africans would take advantage of the situation to move south and seize the entire Hawaiian Islands.

So at this time, Sanford’s first consideration was his own safety: “Quickly ask the mainland for help. We must let the government negotiate with East Africa. This is no longer something we can participate in.”

The government Sanford was talking about was naturally the U.S. government, and the fact that he, the president of the Republic of Hawaii, was a puppet was confirmed.

Chapter 860: President Cleveland’s Entanglement

“What is this?” the twenty-fourth President of the United States, Cleveland, said, looking at the document his secretary had placed on his desk.

“Mr. President, a coup d’état has occurred in the Kingdom of Hawaii. Our country’s business community has overthrown the Kingdom of Hawaii and established the Republic of Hawaii. However, they are now encountering trouble and are seeking our help.”

Cleveland picked up the document with displeasure and began to read it. Although many people in the country coveted Hawaii, especially within the Democratic Party, where the calls were the loudest.

However, as a Democrat, President Cleveland was clearly not among them, because in foreign affairs, Cleveland advocated that the country continue to adopt an isolationist policy, oppose territorial expansion, and oppose the annexation of Hawaii.

That’s right, Cleveland was unequivocally opposed to the United States annexing Hawaii. Of course, although he had no particular interest in Hawaii, Cleveland was clearly not a pushover. He paid close attention to the Americas and the Pacific (mainly the Far East Empire and Japan) and actively promoted the expansion of American influence in the relevant regions.

The most typical example was forcing Britain to accept arbitration on the Venezuelan border dispute. In his previous life, Cleveland even sided with Japan in the war between the Far East Empire and Japan, openly supporting Japan and using the “protection” of American missionaries and the “safety and commercial interests” of expatriates as an excuse to send Marines to the capital and Tianjin area of the Far East Empire.

Of course, although Cleveland opposed the domestic arguments for annexing Hawaii, if everything had gone smoothly, he would naturally have turned a blind eye and tacitly approved of their actions. But now, the businessmen in Hawaii had clearly stirred up trouble and only now thought of asking him to “clean up” the mess, a practice that made him very unhappy.

“Humph!” Cleveland said coldly, “This so-called Republic of Hawaii didn’t communicate with us beforehand. Now it won’t be easy for us to clean up, especially with East Africa not being a weak country.”

When he took office, East Africa had just ended the South African War and become a major power in the world. The United States was actually quite welcoming of the rise of such a major power, after all, at this time the United States was also keeping a low profile. Although its economy had surpassed Britain, it was still firmly suppressed by Britain.

Many countries were like this. In an era of rampant hegemonism, countries with weaker strength naturally hoped that some country could share the pressure they faced from the hegemon. East Africa and the United States were actually both targets of British suppression.

“This coup in Hawaii was initiated by our minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii. In addition to requesting that our mainland send troops to retake Kauai, he also requested that the government pass a bill to incorporate Hawaii into our territory,” the secretary said from the side.

Cleveland then said, “There is no room for discussion on this matter. As Americans, we must oppose this act of aggression with strict moral standards and a sense of justice. Moreover, this also involves East Africa, a third-party country. Our international reputation is already not very good. If we learn from East Africa, we will probably become as notorious as them.”

What Cleveland said was absolutely correct. Hegemony is not only at the military level. Britain’s ability to guide world opinion was also top-notch. Terms like “nouveau riche” for the United States, “savages” for East Africa, and “barbarians” for Prussia were not flattering, but they were widely accepted around the world. These suppressions in public opinion were the privileges of being a world hegemon, somewhat like the United States designating “freedom and democracy” in his previous life. Anyone who did not conform to “American freedom and democracy” would be frantically torn apart by the United States and its Western countries and lackeys.

The reason why France could stand independently from Britain was because France currently had a very strong cultural influence in the world. The two countries dominated the world’s colonial system and at the same time dominated the world’s cultural and public opinion hegemony.

Therefore, after the South African War, East Africa’s international reputation could be said to be even more tarnished. “Despotic, colonial, barbaric, enslaved” all sorts of unflattering terms were showered on the people of East Africa without restraint.

Ernst gladly accepted these terms. The 19th century was not the 21st century. If the whole world praised East Africa, that would be the most terrifying thing.

Of course, due to the war, East Africa temporarily replaced the United States as Britain’s number two “hate” object, but it was actually not too prominent. After all, the contradictions between Britain and France were more prominent than those between East Africa and Britain. Britain did not gain an advantage in the South African War, but it was not considered a defeat either, and East Africa’s overall national strength did not pose a threat to Britain for the time being.

The United States and Germany, two countries with rapidly developing industries, were the real threats to Britain’s heart, especially Germany under the leadership of Wilhelm II, which would increasingly attract British firepower and hostility in the future.

To put it bluntly, East Africa’s industrial products, apart from a few key industries that were heavily supported, were very weak in international market competitiveness, which was also the main reason why Britain did not take East Africa seriously.

Although Cleveland’s words were somewhat unbelievable, he did the same in the original history. In December of 1893 in the original history, Cleveland submitted a message to the United States Congress in which he requested Congress to assist the regime of the Kingdom of Hawaii in a way “consistent with American honor, justice, and morality.” This delayed the time when the United States formally annexed Hawaii until 1898.

Now Cleveland was simply using East Africa as an excuse to do what he had done in the original history again, and in this way, he could save a lot of trouble.

In history, after Cleveland rejected the annexation of Hawaii, American newspapers frequently accused Cleveland of failing to expand the territory of the United States, but he always adhered to what he believed to be a just position.

And now, the emergence of East Africa made it possible to completely avoid the dissatisfaction of some people in the country, after all, East Africa could share the flak.

The secretary said anxiously from the side, “Mr. President, what about the Republic of Hawaii? And even if we don’t support the Republic of Hawaii, this illegal organization, are we going to let the East Africans annex the entire island of Hawaii!”

His words did arouse Cleveland’s concern. It was true that Cleveland did not support the United States annexing Hawaii, but it did not mean that he wanted to give up the influence in Hawaii.

In particular, the presence of other national forces in this important position of Hawaii would inevitably affect the national security of the United States.

Cleveland supported the vigorous development of the United States’ naval power, coupled with his identity as a Democrat, so he supported foreign expansion, only Hawaii was an exception. Now that East Africa had made the situation in Hawaii even more turbid, it was also necessary to negotiate with East Africa.

I don’t want it, but you can’t grab it either. This was Cleveland’s attitude. In fact, if Cleveland’s attitude towards the Hawaiian Islands had not been so “contradictory,” there would not have been these troubles.

“Contact the East African embassy in the United States. We need to communicate with the East African government. East Africa is, after all, a major power. We can’t start a war with them over Hawaii, but we can’t hand over the Hawaiian Islands either,” Cleveland said.

In the current situation, it was not only a matter of what Cleveland and the Republic of Hawaii thought, but also what the third-party country, East Africa, thought. After all, if East Africa did not agree to withdraw its troops, Cleveland’s and the Republic of Hawaii’s ideas would be impossible to realize.

This was the most troublesome thing for Cleveland. He was completely morally blackmailed by the Republic of Hawaii. After all, the Republic of Hawaii was entirely the individual actions of the American minister and business community on the island and had not been authorized by him, but these were his own people and he could not let them go.

At the same time, with the addition of the East African factor, if it was not handled well, it would be an international dispute. Therefore, finding out the attitude of the East African government was the most important thing for Cleveland.

Chapter 861: Sharing the Spoils

“Ambassador Russell, just now a White House staff member came to our embassy. He said that President Cleveland has invited you to the White House for a discussion.”

At this moment, Russell had no idea why Cleveland was inviting him to the White House, because the changes in the Hawaiian Islands were a special operation of East Africa. Apart from the top echelons of East Africa, the military, and the National Security Bureau, even few East Africans knew about it.

However, Russell wasn’t too surprised. Since East Africa and the United States resumed diplomatic relations, high-level exchanges like this weren’t uncommon, although President Cleveland only took office this March and hadn’t had any interaction with Russell before.

Before President Cleveland, the previous U.S. President was actually Benjamin Harrison, so Russell was relatively unfamiliar with President Cleveland.

Of course, it wasn’t like he knew nothing at all, because Cleveland was also the twenty-second U.S. President. That’s right, Cleveland had previously served a term as U.S. President, and this was just him taking office again.

The main reason why Harrison didn’t win re-election was his advocacy of an economically “isolationist” policy. When faced with economic depression, it caused dissatisfaction among domestic capital. After all, the United States was already the world’s largest industrial power, and its policies made the American business community feel that their interests were being harmed.

Although Cleveland was a supporter of “liberal economics,” after taking office, he was actually just doing the same thing under a different name. The United States still maintained a “high tariff” policy, although it was somewhat weaker than during Harrison’s time.

Regarding Cleveland, Russell’s personal attitude towards this American president was lukewarm, because the two hadn’t had much contact before. Moreover, the restoration of East-American diplomatic relations was mainly President Harrison’s achievement. Although Harrison was also adapting to the international trend after the South African War and making flexible changes, Russell only looked at the results. During Cleveland’s term as the twenty-second U.S. President, he hadn’t had much interaction with East Africa.

However, as a diplomat, Russell wouldn’t let his emotions get in the way. He still went to the White House as agreed to communicate with this unfamiliar American president, to see what he was up to.

…

Conference room.

“Hello, Ambassador Russell, I believe this is our first meeting.” Cleveland greeted Russell warmly.

“Hello, President Cleveland!” Russell replied politely.

Cleveland noticed that this East African diplomat was very young. Of course, that wasn’t his first impression. Rather, Russell seemed a little difficult to deal with as a diplomat. After all, he was greeting him with a smile, but Russell’s reaction was minimal, not at all like a qualified diplomat.

His feeling was correct. Russell came from a military background, carrying with him the rigidity and seriousness of military personnel. East Africa, a country with less than thirty years of history, didn’t have many professional diplomats. Of course, in other words, not many of the diplomats professionally trained by East Africa held high positions.

In East Africa, the military system was the fastest way to advance, and the East African government was dominated by people from the military system. Furthermore, East Africa had been at war constantly, so soldiers were more likely to be promoted.

“President Cleveland, what is the reason for inviting me here this time?” Russell asked directly.

This further confirmed President Cleveland’s guess, but he still said with a smile: “East Africa and the United States are both major powers in the world, so our exchanges don’t necessarily have to be for national affairs. They can also be to increase the friendship between our two countries! I wonder what Ambassador Russell would like to drink?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Yaburen, prepare a cup of coffee for Ambassador Russell.” Seeing Russell’s answer, Cleveland instructed his secretary.

“Ambassador Russell, you are a straightforward person, and I will also speak frankly. What is East Africa’s view on Hawaii?” President Cleveland asked directly.

“Hawaii? What does that have to do with East Africa?”

“Hmm, you don’t know?” President Cleveland thought that Russell was trying to play dumb. You East Africans have already swallowed Kauai, and you still want to deny it!

Russell asked in confusion: “Hawaii should be an island nation in the Pacific, right? East Africa is very far from Hawaii.”

Seeing that Russell really didn’t know the situation on the Hawaiian Islands, Cleveland then explained the course of events to him: “…So, what is East Africa’s attitude?”

No wonder Russell didn’t know about this. After all, Hawaii was far from the East African mainland, and to send the news back to East Africa, it had to be shipped to the Southern Ryukyu Islands first, and then relayed back to East Africa via telegram.

Moreover, the East African troops in Hawaii hadn’t returned to the Southern Ryukyu Islands yet, because they had to ensure the stability of Kauai first, so there was a lot to do.

Before receiving the news, the mainland naturally wouldn’t send a message to Russell, after all, it was a special military operation, so the fewer people who knew before the dust settled, the better.

However, now that Russell knew from the mouth of the American president, he naturally didn’t dare to act on his own authority. He said to Cleveland: “I need to go back and discuss this with the mainland first.”

Cleveland could only send Russell back first, but with Russell as a connection, there was a communication channel between East Africa and the United States. If it was before the South African War, this kind of thing could really cause trouble.

The next day, the East African mainland sent the specific situation to Russell, and explained East Africa’s attitude. Russell returned to the White House again.

“It is true that our country sent troops to Kauai, but East Africa has no interest in the Hawaiian Islands other than Kauai. Moreover, this dispatch of troops was at the invitation of King Kumali, to help him avoid exploitation by unscrupulous merchants, and because of his dissatisfaction with the Kingdom of Hawaii, he wants to secede and restore his kingdom.”

Only the first part of Russell’s words was honest, while the latter part was completely East African “smear,” after all, Kumali had never met any East Africans before, how could he invite East Africa to send troops.

However, after knowing East Africa’s intentions, Cleveland also breathed a sigh of relief. If East Africa was just supporting a puppet regime on Kauai, then it was barely acceptable.

After all, the most important thing about Hawaii was Pearl Harbor. If East Africa was aiming for Pearl Harbor, then even Cleveland, who opposed the annexation of Hawaii by the United States, wouldn’t agree.

Moreover, the United States itself was in the wrong. The coup in southern Hawaii was done by its own people, so the United States couldn’t morally attack East Africa. In that case, scolding East Africa was scolding itself.

Therefore, the United States couldn’t morally drive the East African forces out of Hawaii, and it was even more impossible to achieve militarily. The United States was very cautious militarily now, and Cleveland wasn’t a warmonger. What’s more, East Africa’s military strength deserved the respect of the United States, so it was obviously impossible to expel East Africa from the Hawaiian Islands by force.

The United States did the first day of the month, and East Africa did the fifteenth. If East Africa and the United States fought, the United Kingdom and France would probably be the happiest. Therefore, Cleveland was inclined to divide Hawaii equally with East Africa.

That’s right, after East Africa made its attitude clear, Cleveland’s original decision not to support the annexation of Hawaii also changed.

After all, if the United States didn’t take action, the Kingdom of Hawaii wouldn’t be able to resist the East Africans’ invasion. In this case, it would be better to recognize the illegal government of the Republic of Hawaii and incorporate the southern Hawaiian Islands into the United States’ sphere of influence.

Moreover, in Cleveland’s view, East Africa’s intervention in the Hawaiian Islands wasn’t a bad thing. Originally, the United States’ annexation of the Hawaiian Islands would have caused negative public opinion in the international community, but now wasn’t there East Africa involved? They could share the blame and divert the attention of other countries.

In the end, President Cleveland made a decision that went against his heart and incorporated Hawaii into the American territory in advance. Of course, this future state of Hawaii would be an incomplete territory missing Kauai.

Chapter 862: Aftermath

The tacit understanding between East Africa and the United States quickly drew the attention of countries like Britain and France, or rather, their dissatisfaction. Britain, in particular, couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

To launch coups on the same day and then coexist peacefully seemed like a prearranged agreement. Initially, Britain had wanted to wait and see if the two countries would clash over the Hawaiian issue, but that didn’t happen, further confirming the suspicions of Britain and France.

“We strongly suspect that East Africa and the United States reached some kind of understanding before the coups. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that both countries experienced coups on the same day? It’s clear that they had a well-prepared plan to divide the Hawaiian Islands,” said Wilson, the British minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii, and Cabusier, the French minister on the island.

Cabusier thought the same way. He said, “Now that the situation is a fait accompli, we need to issue a protest to the United States government and demand that the United States government accept our two countries’ demands.”

Why not approach East Africa? The reason was simple: East Africa only held Kauai Island, while the United States held a string of islands. Even if they approached East Africa, East Africa wouldn’t give up Kauai. Negotiating with the United States at least allowed them to leverage the other islands.

Soon, the United States government received inquiries from Britain and France. In fact, Japan was also indignant, but of course, Japan didn’t have much international prestige yet and wasn’t in the ranks of the great powers, so it couldn’t justifiably demand benefits from the United States like Britain and France could.

Thus, President Cleveland soon faced the trouble he had anticipated. Diplomatic personnel from Britain and France began negotiations with the United States on the Hawaiian Islands issue.

East Africa, one of the instigators, became a spectator, wondering which interests the United States would concede to appease the British and French governments.

However, the most crucial step in the Hawaiian Islands issue had yet to be resolved: the American property on Kauai Island that was temporarily “held” by East Africa.

“Rogers has been putting on a pitiful act in the Republic of Hawaii these past few days, pretending to be quite convincing,” John Crane muttered.

Rogers’ identity couldn’t be revealed, so John Crane hadn’t told anyone else about Rogers’ true role. However, as one of the main merchants on Kauai Island on the surface, his actions in Honolulu were easily reported back to Kauai.

Rogers certainly didn’t have this kind of influence on his own, but there were many “victims” like him. Dozens of former Kauai merchants, along with Americans from Kauai, demanded explanations from the Honolulu city government, which did have some effect.

Regarding this matter, the United States naturally couldn’t sit idly by. After all, it was about protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its merchants, and it wouldn’t look good if it made the newspapers.

Regarding the issue of returning the property of American citizens on Kauai Island, the American minister to Hawaii soon personally went to Kauai to negotiate with East Africa.

American Minister to Hawaii, Minister Stevens, arrived on Kauai Island aboard an American warship with a grim expression. He was the main manipulator of this Hawaiian coup.

After all, without his tacit approval, American merchants wouldn’t have dared to launch a coup in Hawaii. No matter how weak the Kingdom of Hawaii was, it was still a country with an army. If something really happened, they would still have to rely on the American mainland.

“Those are East African warships!” Stevens said, looking at the ships of the East African Pacific Fleet, which were even larger than his own vessel.

After all, the local troops hadn’t participated in this Hawaiian coup, so Stevens’ ship was naturally no match for the regular warships of the East African Navy, even if it was just the East African Navy’s Pacific Fleet, which was more for show than substance.

Although the East African gunboats weren’t as majestic as ironclad warships, they could serve as the main warships in many countries. The fact that East Africa had deployed three of them at once on Kauai Island showed Minister Stevens that East Africa was determined to take Kauai.

But the more this was the case, the more Stevens hated it. As the leader of the Hawaiian coup, East Africa’s actions were equivalent to digging out Stevens’ heart. That was one reason. The second, and most important, reason was that the United States had the opportunity to exclusively occupy the Hawaiian Islands, but East Africa’s actions resulted in the two countries jointly dividing Hawaii.

And these losses would ultimately be blamed on Stevens. After all, the coup was his personal action, not authorized by the mainland, so his career would likely be greatly affected after returning home, and he might even be held accountable.

But it was too late to say anything now. Stevens could only try to recover the losses for the American “victims” as much as possible, so that they wouldn’t sue him after returning home.

After landing in Lihue, Stevens was taken directly to the East African Hawaiian Governor’s Mansion. Looking at the East African flag and the flag of the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii flying over the East African Governor’s Mansion, Stevens felt another pang of heartache.

Regarding the compensation issue, East Africa negotiated with Minister Stevens for a long time. Unlike their generosity when acquiring industries on Kauai Island before, East Africa was now haggling over every penny.

In the end, East Africa still acquired some American assets at a price 0.3% higher than the market price, including “Rogers’” share, but this money was essentially just being transferred from one pocket to another.

As for some American merchants who were unwilling to accept the compensation, East Africa returned their assets, but they couldn’t take them away and could only operate on Kauai Island, mainly land and real estate.

East Africa also had ways to deal with these Americans who were staying on Kauai. They could simply raise taxes a little, and in the end, they would still have to give in obediently. However, in order to temporarily stabilize the American government, the East African government wouldn’t do this directly yet. They would wait until the defense fortifications on Kauai Island were completed before carrying out related work.

…

“Brother Rogers, don’t sigh. At least you got your money back. You can always develop somewhere else. There are still quite a few opportunities on the mainland now. With your financial resources, I believe you can still thrive after returning to the mainland,” Enders comforted.

Rogers pretended to force a smile and said, “Thank you for your comfort, but so many years of hard work have been ruined. These East Africans are simply beasts!”

Rogers’ heartbroken appearance aroused the sympathy of the Americans present, while also making some of them gloat. Fortunately, their previous industries weren’t deployed on Kauai Island, otherwise Rogers’ pitiful situation yesterday would be their situation today.

“What are your plans for the future, Brother Rogers?”

Rogers sighed and said, “The East Africans at least compensated me some money, so I won’t lose everything. I plan to take this money and go to the (American) West to take a look. The risks of doing business overseas are too great. My small frame can’t handle it. I also advise you to leave this place of trouble in the future.”

His words resonated with everyone. After all, if they could develop well on the mainland, who would want to come to this remote part of the Pacific? Hawaii’s location wasn’t even as good as a backwater, and it had a tropical rainforest climate. If it weren’t for its strategic value and relatively good returns, no one would risk coming here to make a fortune.

“When I’ve earned enough money in a couple of years, I’ll definitely return to the United States to invest. I’ll treat you to a drink then,” Enders comforted.

However, Enders never imagined that this fellow with thick eyebrows and big eyes was actually an East African spy. As for the matter of meeting in the future, Enders never heard from Rogers again.

No one knew where “Rogers” went in the end. After all, Rogers was just a code name, and he had a dozen or even more such code names.

Amid everyone’s reluctance, Rogers left Hawaii, this place of heartbreak, with his “workers.” He stood on the ship and “tearfully bid farewell” to everyone.

After the ship had sailed for a while.

“Station Chief, where are we going next?”

At this time, Rogers no longer had his pitiful appearance. He said with high spirits, “We’re going to Florida…”

Chapter 863: Three Vertical, Three Horizontal

The Hawaiian coup was just a minor episode for East Africa. Since the end of the South African War, East Africa had been investing heavily in large-scale construction in the south and west.

Since the end of the South African War, the average annual railway construction mileage in East Africa had increased from about one thousand five hundred kilometers to an average of three thousand kilometers, nearly doubling.

At the same time, this figure was still increasing, with multiple railways under planning and design. In addition to the several trunk railways in the south and west, the central and eastern regions were also accelerating the popularization and promotion of railway networks.

“According to the Ministry of Railways’ preliminary plan, we will achieve the completion of three north-south railways before 1900. Among them, the Central Railway has already been completed. In recent years, our country will construct the other two major north-south railway corridors, second only to the Central Railway in importance. The eastern coastal railway starts from Mogadishu in the north, passes through Kismayo, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Beira, Maputo, and finally reaches the port city of New Hamburg in the south. The western coastal railway starts from Cabinda and ends at Alexandria.”

This Alexandria is a natural deep-water port located in southwestern Angola, not Alexandria in Egypt.

Alexandria is located in a desert area, but relying on a natural bay, the conditions for building a port are excellent. To the north is the port of Mossamedes, which has similar conditions to Alexandria. If it were not for the desert limitations, the conditions would be no less than those of Luanda and Benguela, and even stronger.

Further south, the East African Ministry of Railways had no plans for railway construction. This section of the railway involves many desert areas, and the more than eight hundred kilometers south to Walvis Bay are uninhabited areas, making it unnecessary to build a railway.

The eastern coastal railway is another national strategic railway project after the Central Railway and the Northern Railway. The eastern coast of East Africa is expected to be an economically developed region in the future. Therefore, the eastern coastal railway is also the primary engineering project to be tackled by East African railways in the future. Once this railway is completed, it will exceed four thousand kilometers, covering the major port cities of eastern East Africa.

“We call these the ‘Three Vertical,’ which are the three major arteries of north-south transportation in our country for the next decade. In addition to the vertical railways, we will also build three east-west horizontal railways, including the Northern Railway and the Central Railway. In the south, we will start from Walvis Bay, pass through the edge of the Okavango Delta, Bulawayo, and end at the port of Inhambane with the Southern Railway. These three railways we call the ‘Three Horizontal.’”

“In this way, we can basically establish the pattern of ‘Three Vertical, Three Horizontal’ for our country’s railways, and at the same time complete the initial network of East African national railways, opening up all regions of the country, including Southwest Africa and Somalia.”

The emphasis on Southwest Africa and Somalia is because these are East Africa’s two major desert regions, and it will also end the history of no railways in East Africa’s desert regions. Of course, although the environments of the two are poor, one is located in northeastern East Africa and the other in southwestern East Africa, and their defense status is extremely important.

“On the basis of the ‘Three Vertical, Three Horizontal,’ we will build new branch railways, especially in the central, eastern, and Mozambique regions. Before 1900, our country’s railways will reach at least one hundred thousand kilometers.”

This requires East African railways to quadruple in the next few years, but according to the current economic trend in East Africa, it is entirely feasible.

Aside from the “Three Vertical, Three Horizontal” national initial basic railway pattern, East African railways focus on the Mozambique region in order to open up the economic ties between central, eastern, and Mozambique East Africa.

In the past, East Africa’s economic and population pattern was “dumbbell-shaped,” with the eastern and central major economic zones connected by the Central Railway, separated by Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, and the Mitumba Mountains. After the development of Mozambique is completed, East Africa’s major economies can be connected into one piece.

Forming a large economic core area, and can effectively radiate the whole country, enhance East Africa’s economic competitiveness.

Of course, according to Ernst’s idea, this “Central Economic Block” will definitely include northern Angola in the future, which can better exert its driving role.

Take the United States as an example. Now the economic core of the United States is in the northeastern Great Lakes and coastal areas, which is not in the center. However, the northern part of the United States is Canada, which does not pose a threat to the United States, and is also conducive to the United States’ use of Canada’s economy and resources.

East Africa does not have strong economies around it, and resources are concentrated in the central and southern regions, while maritime advantages are concentrated on the east and west coasts, which is very different from the United States.

Now the differences between the east and west coasts of the United States are huge, the climate conditions in the west are poor, and there is the Rocky Mountains barrier, while the East African plateau area extends from the center to the east and west coasts. Except for a few lakes in the east, there is basically no terrain obstruction, the climate conditions are not much different and are relatively suitable, the agricultural conditions are good, which is conducive to population concentration and industrial concentration.

Of course, East Africa’s capabilities are currently limited, and it can only prioritize the development of the central and eastern economies. It is worth noting that Mozambique also belongs to the east in the East African national map, and is directly east of the Matabeleland Plateau and directly south of the East African Plateau. In this way, the future development potential of eastern East Africa is further enhanced.

The west is subject to certain natural conditions. First of all, in terms of territory, the northwest region of East Africa does not extend to the west coast of Africa, but stops abruptly near the Zande Plateau, which makes the northwest corner of the East African region seem to be missing a piece.

However, this missing piece is mainly a tropical rainforest area, which has limited potential in itself. This can be seen from the population distribution in Africa in its previous life.

The southwestern region also has a tropical desert climate distribution, so the only area in the west that can be vigorously developed and constructed is actually the Angola region. However, the area of the Angola region is not small, so the difference between the east and west coasts of East Africa is actually smaller than that of the east and west coasts of the United States.

Therefore, after the initial development of Mozambique is completed, East Africa will inevitably continue to develop westward. In this way, in addition to the north and south, East Africa’s future economic body will be clear.

However, New Hamburg and Maputo also belong to southern East Africa, and Somalia in the north is also a key development area in East Africa, so East Africa’s future economy will still tend to be balanced on the whole.

Although it will not be as balanced as Germany and other European countries, it will be more balanced compared with large countries of the same level, namely the Far East Empire, Tsarist Russia, and the United States.

After the “Three Vertical, Three Horizontal” railway network is formed, it will further narrow the gap between regional economies in East Africa. After all, the conditions of Angola and Mozambique, these new territories, are not worse than those of the original central and eastern regions of East Africa. As long as the infrastructure construction and population and industrial migration are completed, the gap can be quickly smoothed out.

Of course, the Ministry of Railways’ plan has further spurred Ernst’s idea of selecting a site in the East African interior to build a capital. Putting the capital in the interior is naturally safer.

At the same time, it can also accelerate the development of central East Africa through administrative and other resources. Compared with coastal areas, the central region is naturally more popular for developing heavy industry relying on resources, but once a globalized market like the 21st century is formed, minerals are mainly imported from lower-cost regions, and the economic gap between the coastal and inland areas will quickly widen.

Although Ernst may not see that day, he still has to plan ahead, and putting the capital in the center of the country is also more conducive to maintaining the rule of the Hohenzollern royal family. The Far East Empire is an example of a capital that was too close to the sea in the era of sea power, and without a strong navy, the capital was threatened by external forces several times.

East Africa’s first-tier cities obviously also face this problem. Of course, this is just a possibility. After all, there is no country that dares to attack East African territory now, but this is only because East Africa’s current military strength is strong. If the national strength declines to the level of the Far East Empire, it may also face this problem.

At this time, the location of the capital is more important. If the capital is in the interior, then even in the face of invaders like Britain and France, as long as there is a monarch with a little courage, he will not compromise with the invaders. After all, it is deep in the interior, and the enemy cannot attack for a while, and it will not threaten the life safety of the ruling group.

Chapter 864: Morogoro City

Regarding the selection of a new capital, Ernst had been hesitant, but this was normal. After all, moving the capital was a major national policy, and the central region that Ernst favored was relatively weak in development compared to the eastern region. Currently, the forest coverage rate in the central region exceeds seventy percent, which shows the state of construction there.

Of course, this data was not from East African statistics. The current East African government didn’t have the leisure to tally the country’s forest situation. The forest coverage rate in East Africa was very high. Even west of the Somali region, large forests could be found. Today, the Congo Basin’s forestry resources account for more than half of all of Africa.

Of course, due to East Africa’s development, the forest area in East Africa is already decreasing rapidly. However, with Africa’s nearly undeveloped forest resources for thousands of years, even if East Africa develops for decades or even hundreds of years, it probably won’t see the bottom. After all, East Africa itself plants and introduces some excellent tree species while cutting down trees.

This is very common in East African cities. East African cities generally value greening, which is very different from current European cities. Therefore, even in Dar es Salaam, you can see many parks, street trees, and green belts.

The contrast is especially obvious when compared with highly industrialized cities such as Berlin. In the city center of Berlin, every inch of land is precious, and there are few green plants. Besides buildings, there are only lonely street lamps on the roadside.

This has led Europeans who have stayed in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa to call the two cities “green cities.” In fact, most East African cities use the two cities as templates, and the development is similar. However, the only East African cities that foreigners can name are Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, and if you add one more, it would be New Hamburg Port.

Maputo also has a relatively high profile, mainly due to its brief fame during the South African War, but its urban construction is vastly different from other East African cities.

Of course, 19th-century cities mainly focused on industrial brutalist aesthetics. Steel, cement, and concrete are more pleasing to the eye in the current era. London, New York, Berlin, and Paris are all like this. In contrast, East Africa is an outlier.

Of course, Berlin’s environment looks much better than Paris and London because Berlin is larger and the population density is much smaller than Paris and London.

Like the black smoke in factories, Ernst associated it with “pollution,” but in the current era, it seems to be the aura of “industrialization.” The black river water flowing through the Seine in Paris, France, and the Thames in London, England, is a symbol of the “civilized era.”

However, as long as a city undergoes industrialization, these problems are unavoidable. East Africa is only trying to avoid some visible problems. For example, the air in First Town and Soja City is visibly cleaner than in Dar es Salaam. It is not like a modern city in the 19th century, but more like a large town.

In addition, the public infrastructure in East African big cities is also more abundant than in other cities, mainly reflected in roads, parks, public toilets, sewer networks, and so on.

Of course, this is only reflected in the major cities of East Africa. Emerging cities or areas with poor economic levels are another matter. However, as time goes by, they will definitely follow the example of these big cities in the future.

…

August, 1893.

It’s better to see the specific situation in the central region with your own eyes, so Ernst decided to go to the central region for an inspection.

As the train started, Ernst’s inspection tour officially began. Along the railway line to the west, the areas around First Town were scenes that Ernst was very familiar with.

In recent years, with the rise of East Africa’s national strength, the development of the eastern region has become increasingly perfect. Between First Town and Morogoro, there are rice fields, reservoirs, and villages everywhere. At the same time, relatively flat roads can be seen. Now, the main roads in the area centered on First Town have completed the hardening project.

Soon the train arrived in Morogoro City. Morogoro is the only city of considerable size between First Town and Dodoma. Although it cannot compare with the eastern coastal areas, it is a relatively well-developed area in the inland region.

“The most famous thing about Morogoro City is the Central Canal Project. This is the main passing area of the western line of the Central Canal Project. The reason why Morogoro can develop rapidly is due to the local transportation development, including the trinity of railways, highways, and canals, which is connected to the eastern urban agglomeration. Located at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains, it is the agricultural center of the region and one of the country’s main sisal, timber, and rubber processing centers…” John Lear, the Minister of Commerce who accompanied Ernst, introduced.

Morogoro, as a city under the jurisdiction of the Central Province, has a relatively prominent position in East Africa. It is a regional transportation hub. To the south are the Uluguru Mountains, and to the west are the Udzungwa Mountains on the edge of the East African Plateau. The two form an intermountain plain, which merges with the East African coastal plain in the north.

Therefore, Morogoro has mountains and rivers, and because it is located south of the equator, according to the saying of the Far East Empire, this is a typical sunny mountain and shady water place.

East Africa and the Far East Empire have some differences in latitude. Most of East Africa is located in the southern hemisphere, so Morogoro’s feng shui is the opposite of that of the Far East Empire. The territory north of the equator is the opposite again.

Ernst listened to his subordinates’ introduction with great interest. The local development can be seen very clearly from the outside. Morogoro is smaller in scale than First Town, but not by much. First Town, as the administrative center of East Africa, is actually not very large in urban scale. It can only be regarded as a medium-sized city.

Morogoro is mainly based on agricultural product processing, with some transportation functions. Therefore, it is considered to be relatively good to have developed to this point. In terms of Morogoro’s scale, it is even better developed than the provincial capitals of many backward areas in East Africa.

This is easy to understand. After the canal was connected, Morogoro actually had closer ties with several cities in the east. With the cooperation of railways and other transportation, Morogoro is about one hundred kilometers away from several cities in the east. This distance can almost be ignored.

At the same time, Morogoro is also the only city in the western part of the Central Province, which can effectively accept the industrial transfer from the east and is conducive to concentrating the resources of the western part of the Central Province. For example, the local advantageous crops, sisal, rubber, timber, etc., are all concentrated in Morogoro. After preliminary processing, they are sent to the east, especially Dar es Salaam. A large part of the industrial development raw materials come from Morogoro City.

Moreover, Morogoro’s resources can also be radiated to Dodoma City in the west through railways. Although Dodoma is not far from Morogoro, the climate conditions between the two are vastly different, especially the rainfall.

Most areas of Morogoro are located on the windward slope of the southeast trade winds, so the rainfall is very abundant, while the rainfall in Dodoma City is one of the low-lying areas in the entire eastern part of East Africa. Due to the plateau climate, the temperature is also lower than that of Morogoro.

Therefore, this has made Morogoro one of the largest rubber and timber producing areas in the eastern coastal plain of East Africa and the junction of the East African Plateau.

Moreover, East Africa’s rubber and forestry resources are mainly concentrated in and around the Congo Basin, deep inland, which makes Morogoro and other places the closest rubber producing areas to the eastern coastal areas, especially Dar es Salaam.

In addition, it controls the important railway passage between the East African Plateau and the eastern coastal plain, so Morogoro’s future development potential will not be bad.

It is worth mentioning that East Africa’s first experimental hydroelectric power station was built in Morogoro City, so the future electricity in Morogoro City will also be among the top in East African cities.

This place is located at the junction of the East African Plateau and the coastal plain, with a large drop in terrain and abundant rainfall, so the future hydropower potential is very large. In his previous life, the Tanzanian government built a large-scale hydropower station in the area to supply Dar es Salaam.

Chapter 865: The Highland Province

Although Morogoro’s development was good, it was just a small interlude in this trip. After all, as a city not far from the First Township, Ernst had plenty of time to inspect Morogoro. In fact, Ernst had already inspected Morogoro twice before, but the last inspection was in 1888, and Morogoro at that time obviously had not developed to the level it is today.

The train did not stop in Morogoro, but continued towards the next stop, Dodoma. Passing through the Udzungwa Mountains, the railway began to detour towards the northeast, and then transition to the East African Plateau. Because the northwestern slope was gentle, the Central Railway initially constructed the northern route.

The southern route would have gone directly from Morogoro to Iringa and then directly to Mbeya, but this would have bypassed Dodoma. Therefore, the East African Railway Department chose the northern route at the time, taking into account Dodoma and the Highland Province.

However, this decision later proved to be correct. With the opening of the Bujumbura-Dodoma railway, the Great Lakes region also became more closely connected with the eastern economy.

As for the southern route, it was not without its merits. It could greatly shorten the distance between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya, so when the East African railway is expanded in the future, a railway line will definitely be built from Morogoro to Iringa.

……

Dodoma.

Ernst got off the train here. The train would stop here for a short period of time. Today, as the capital of the Highland Province, Dodoma’s level of development is similar to that of the First Township. As the fourth largest economic city on the East African Plateau, Dodoma is obviously not comparable to Nairobi, Mwanza, and Kisumu, but as one of the national railway hubs, Dodoma’s economic volume can rank among the top ten in East Africa.

Especially after being incorporated into the former Hohenzollern Province (mainly the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika), Dodoma has developed more rapidly, with resources from the entire province concentrated here, especially the rapid development of industry.

This brings us to the area of the Highland Province. In the East African Plateau, the Highland Province has the largest area. In fact, South Salzburg Province is larger than the Highland Province, but South Salzburg Province spans the East African Plateau and the Katanga Plateau, and does not entirely belong to the provinces on the East African Plateau.

The advantage in size, coupled with the advantage in geographical location, has made Dodoma’s development relatively rapid. However, Ernst had already begun planning to re-divide the Highland Province.

If the Serengeti Plain is included, the area of the Highland Province reaches an astonishing four hundred thousand square kilometers. Even in Europe, this area could become a relatively large country.

The reason why the Highland Province had such a prominent area in the early days was because the overall development level of the Highland Province was relatively poor at that time. However, after so many years of development, the population density of the Highland Province is now also in the upper reaches of East Africa. Secondly, Dodoma’s location in the Highland Province is too far to the east, which is not conducive to driving the economic development of the entire province.

According to Ernst’s expectations, the Highland Province will be re-divided into at least two to three provinces in the future. This is not like the Northern Province or Southwest Africa, which are mainly desert terrain. The agricultural conditions are actually quite good, especially after the large-scale water conservancy projects in East Africa, the Highland Province has become the largest wheat-producing area in East Africa.

Moreover, after the abolition of the former Hohenzollern Province, the Lake Sollen (Lake Tanganyika) basin lacks a decent large city, mainly in comparison with the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and Lake Malawi.

Of course, Bujumbura, the capital of West Great Lake Province, also belongs to the Lake Sollen basin, but the economy of West Great Lake Province is mainly in the Great Lake basin.

Dodoma is not the largest city in the province either. The largest city in the Highland Province is Mwanza on the southern shore of the Great Lake.

However, based on the area of the Highland Province alone, the administrative divisions on the East African Plateau will definitely be greatly changed in the future, and the urban adjustments within the region will also be carried out.

Currently, the main reason why Ernst has not done this is because East Africa’s current main focus is on the development of the south and west. The provincial boundaries of the south and west have not yet been divided, so when the economy and population of the two places reach a certain scale, East Africa will divide them together with the Highland Province and other regions.

Of course, even after being split, the provinces split from the Highland Province will not be too bad. The main split provinces will have an area of at least more than one hundred and fifty thousand square kilometers.

It should be noted that in his previous life, Tanzania had more than eleven first-level administrative regions in this area. The first-level administrative region in Tanzania is called “Region”, which is equivalent to the province of other countries. Of course, the area will be smaller, even smaller than the area of a state in the United States, because the United States had only fifty states in such a large area in his previous life, while Tanzania, with a land area of less than one million square kilometers, is covered with thirty-one first-level administrative regions.

However, the overall terrain of Tanzania is flat, and the time difference is not too great, so the evenly divided “Regions” are relatively balanced in strength, as long as they are not compared with cities such as Dar es Salaam or Dodoma.

The area of East African provinces is destined not to be too small. Even if the Congo rainforest, Southwest Africa, Somalia, and the northern deserts (mainly the border area between North and South Sudan) and other uninhabitable areas are removed, the land area of East Africa is still close to ten million square kilometers.

Ernst’s expected number of provinces in East Africa should be around thirty to forty. Currently, East Africa has more than twenty provincial-level administrative regions, and more will be divided in the future.

However, it will not reach nearly one hundred like Tsarist Russia. The first-level administrative regions of Tsarist Russia were mainly provinces and states. In addition, there were higher-level governor-general districts, about ten in number, similar to the military regions established in East Africa.

After all, the national conditions of East Africa and Tsarist Russia are different. Without counting Alaska, the royal territory, the territory of Tsarist Russia is almost one United States larger than East Africa.

The United States has nearly fifty states, which Ernst does not think is too reasonable, especially in the Midwestern United States, where the horizontal and vertical boundaries, in Ernst’s view, are very easy to equalize the economic strength of the states in the United States, and are also not conducive to the central government’s division and balance of power over the local governments.

Of course, the national conditions of the two countries are different. East Africa is a centralized country, and the central government is far stronger than the local governments, while the United States is a federal system, where the states live together, so it cannot be generalized.

However, according to Ernst’s idea, the provincial system is naturally better. After all, he is most familiar with this system, and it is conducive to the rule of the Hechingen royal family.

Of course, for the need of rule, Ernst also has the idea of establishing principalities, but mainly in areas outside the mainland, such as remote places like Alaska, which is convenient for the Hechingen royal family to share risks in the future.

Moreover, overseas areas are far away from East Africa and have strong centrifugal force, which will inevitably require greater autonomy. If they are set up as principalities or affiliated countries, it will be conducive to maintaining contact, similar to the British Commonwealth. Moreover, the Hechingen royal family serving as the future leaders of overseas colonies will also make it easier to increase the safety of the mainland royal family.

However, thinking about these things now is still a bit far away. I don’t know how long it will take to develop the south and west, so Ernst has no plans to make major changes to East Africa’s administrative divisions in recent years.

In Dodoma, Ernst mainly got off the train to get some fresh air. After staying at the station for dozens of minutes, the train departed again. In the following days, Ernst would inspect Iringa and Mbeya in turn. Ernst had basically never been to these two regions.

After passing Mbeya, it would be the central region where Ernst would focus on inspecting the site selection for the “future capital”.

Chapter 866: The BASF Inspection Team

While Ernst was enjoying his inspection tour, the city of Beira on the coast of the Indian Ocean was also welcoming new development opportunities.

Unlike Maputo, Beira was a completely new city developed and constructed in East Africa. However, its development speed had already surpassed all East African cities, including the former Mozambican capital, Maputo, by 1892. The main reason for this was the East African national policy’s inclination towards Beira.

In his previous life, African industry was concentrated in northeastern South Africa, within the former Transvaal Republic, including Johannesburg (the largest city in South Africa, yet to be developed in East Africa) and Pretoria (now the East African city of Otto), among other important industrial and mining cities in South Africa.

Centered on Johannesburg, there were more than 60 gold mines within a radius of 240 kilometers. It was located in the center of the world’s largest mining area and the economic hub of South Africa. Johannesburg and the surrounding industrial and mining cities together accounted for about half of South Africa’s total industrial output value.

East Africa’s industrial layout was concentrated in present-day Zimbabwe, rather than the South African region, which meant that Beira’s port location conditions were valued. Supporting facilities such as railways, ports, and highways were rapidly developed, and population, capital, technology, and industries were concentrated in the area.

August 17, 1893.

The Beira Municipal Government welcomed a group of important guests from Germany at the dock: an inspection team from BASF, one of Germany’s chemical industry giants.

BASF is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, across the river from Mannheim in the Grand Duchy of Baden. It rose to prominence in the nineteenth century due to the development of the chemical industry. Ludwigshafen and Mannheim on the opposite bank form a joint port. BASF was founded in 1865 and was originally named Baden Aniline and Soda Factory.

Many of Germany’s chemical plants were founded in the 1860s and 1870s, initially focusing on the textile industry. At that time, the mainstream products in the dye industry were still natural dyes, but because they mainly came from plants, their composition was complex, their product concentration was low, and their color was unstable.

Therefore, it was difficult to achieve the standardized production of modern industry and meet the growing needs of the textile industry. BASF took advantage of the situation and chose to enter the field of synthetic dyes, using coal tar, a by-product of gas, to make synthetic dyes.

In 1869, BASF successfully synthesized the first natural dye: alizarin, which became the company’s first global success story. Subsequently, new dyes such as eosin, phloxine, and robinia yellow also came out one after another.

From the 1870s, BASF entered a period of expansion, acquiring two extremely important dye sales companies in Germany. At the same time, BASF began to establish production facilities and sales offices abroad, including in the United States, France, and Tsarist Russia.

In the 1880s, the application of new technologies made BASF the world’s largest producer of sulfuric acid at that time.

At the beginning of its establishment, BASF had only more than 30 employees, but now it is a large German chemical enterprise with thousands of employees. Despite the small number of people, the wages in the chemical industry are actually much higher than in other industries. Even the average salary of new employees who have just graduated and entered the company is 25 times higher than that of other industries.

This shows the huge profits of the chemical industry at this time. Of course, BASF, which started with dyes, was at the forefront of the times. The great development of the textile industry has led to people’s higher demand for textiles, and “textiles” as “clothing” in clothing, food, housing, and transportation, are absolutely essential goods.

Therefore, East Africa, or rather Ernst’s emphasis on the chemical industry, is self-evident. This inspection in Beira is one of the important contents of cooperation between East Africa and Germany.

Of course, where BASF and other German chemical companies ultimately invest and build factories depends on the methods of various cities in East Africa. That’s right, before coming to Beira, BASF had already conducted inspections in cities such as Mombasa and Tanga. While visiting Beira, BASF also had inspection teams visiting New Hamburg Port City and Luanda on the west coast.

Therefore, the Beira Municipal Government is completely unsure whether this investment promotion will be successful. Compared to Beira, Mombasa, Tanga, and New Hamburg Port clearly have better basic conditions, and only Luanda on the west coast is currently at the same level as Beira.

“Gentlemen, welcome to Beira for inspection. I am the mayor of Beira, my name is Kuri Beriland. We have prepared catering and accommodation for you in advance. Coming to Beira will definitely make you feel at home,” said Beriland, the mayor of Beira, enthusiastically.

After the typhoon two years ago, Beira’s development speed was not affected at all. Instead, it reached a new level in 1892. The city expanded rapidly with the increase in population and labor. The port was basically formed, and the railway was about to be completed. The current city of Beira can be said to have everything ready except for the east wind, and this east wind is the industry.

Beriland doesn’t know much about the chemical industry, but it must be something extraordinary if it receives high attention from the East African central government. Therefore, even if he has to be shameless, Beriland will try every means to keep BASF’s branch factory in Beira.

The members of the BASF inspection team were not at all surprised by the enthusiasm of the local officials, because they had received such courtesy in other East African cities before.

A rather young member of the inspection team said: “Hello, Mayor Beriland, there is no need to be so enthusiastic. Our main focus this time is still on the inspection task. As a company, BASF still hopes that the local area meets our standards for establishing a branch factory.”

Beriland looked at the young man in front of him and said: “May I ask how to address you? Are you the leader of this inspection team?”

The reason why Beriland attached importance to this young man, in addition to him standing in the first position, was mainly because his appearance characteristics made Beriland feel a little strange. After thinking about it carefully, isn’t this the characteristic of an East African mixed-race person!

His bone structure is biased towards German, but he has a head of thick black hair. At the same time, his facial features and skin color also combine the characteristics of German and Chinese.

“Of course, my name is Sharieran, and I am the leader of this inspection team. However, I am not very skilled as the leader of this inspection team, but because I am originally from East Africa, the company considered sending me to the local area to inspect the situation. Therefore, I will be more strict in the following inspections.”

Sharieran generously stated the reason why he became the leader of the inspection team, but the last sentence also showed that he would not relax the inspection standards because of his East African nationality, but would be even more strict.

However, now Beriland is very interested in Sharieran’s experience and also wants to build a good relationship with this representative of BASF, so the two started chatting.

Later, under Beriland’s probing, Sharieran’s experience gradually became clear. The reason why Sharieran, an East African, could become an employee of BASF was mainly due to the East African education system.

East Africa sends a large number of students to study in Europe every year, but the freedom of these students is not strictly restricted by the East African government. The main constraints of the East African government on them are “tuition fees” and family.

Tuition fees are easy to understand. The East African student group is all studying abroad at public expense, and the tuition fees for university students in the 19th century are very high. Even if the governments of Germany, Austria, and other countries give some leeway in consideration of the East African government, it is still the same. Family is naturally a natural bond. This is actually not a means of the East African government. The parents of students, except for orphans, must live in East Africa.

After some students complete their studies, they can choose to return to their country to “repay the loan”, so that the study loan will be directly cancelled. Students who do not choose to return to their country can choose to work in Europe and then return the “loan”. In this way, most students will choose to return to their country for development, while a small number of people with connections may stay in more prosperous Germany.

Sharieran is one of those who has connections. His father is a German immigrant, and his mother is Chinese, but his grandparents and other relatives still remain in Germany. Therefore, after returning to Germany, he “recognized his ancestors” according to his father’s instructions. In addition, he majored in chemistry when he was in school in Germany and had excellent grades, so he was favored by BASF, which directly offered him a high annual salary. This enabled Sharieran to repay his loan after only one year of work after graduation and stay in Germany.

Chapter 867: Sales Pitch

Currently, in the German job market, chemistry graduates are highly sought after. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for East African students like Sharial An to be snatched up by German companies; it’s a widespread phenomenon.

Germany’s chemical industry didn’t actually start that early. Most of it emerged after the nineteen sixties and seventies, and the rise of the German chemical industry has only been in recent years. Furthermore, the integration of German higher education into the chemical industry only became widespread after the nineteen seventies.

So, Germany’s education in the field of chemistry actually lags behind the development of the chemical industry, leading to a situation of “supply falling short of demand” in the job market.

At this time, German chemical companies set their sights on the large East African student population. Currently, the largest number of foreign students in Germany are from East Africa, especially after the nineteen eighties, when the number of East African students going to Germany each year remained above four thousand.

In comparison, the number of Japanese students studying in Europe and the United States at the same time was only a little over one thousand, and it wasn’t until eighteen ninety that it just exceeded two thousand.

And this is only the number of East African students in Germany. Adding the East African students in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and other countries, the number of East African students in eighteen ninety-two alone exceeded ten thousand. During the same period, the number of native East African university students was only a little over seven thousand.

This means that most of East Africa’s higher education is achieved through foreign higher education. This is also unavoidable. East African higher education talents who can serve as faculty members in this era are, without exception, top elites in any country.

During the same period, the number of university students in Germany had already exceeded thirty thousand, not including some technical colleges. Of course, a large part of German higher education (including technical colleges) is made up of East African students, accounting for a staggering four and a half percent.

Therefore, East Africa’s investment in the field of education is extremely exaggerated. However, high investment represents high returns. Without talent cultivation, it would be impossible for East Africa to rapidly pursue international standards, or even reach leading levels, in emerging industrial fields and some traditional industrial fields.

Moreover, East African students are mainly concentrated in science and engineering fields, which makes German companies even more eager to poach East African students. Nearly twenty percent of the student population stays in Germany every year.

It should be known that these twenty percent of students who are valued by German companies are obviously not mediocre people, but have shown real talent and practical skills during their time at school.

In other words, East African students have helped promote Germany’s industrial development. Therefore, the German government is very welcoming to the East African student population. In addition to generating revenue for higher education institutions and local areas, they can also be used for their own purposes. Why not? Sharial An is one such East African young person who stayed in Germany under this background.

“What a bargain for Germany!” Beriland exclaimed after learning about Sharial An’s experience. East Africa’s investment in the student population is not just money, but also time and energy costs. Not to mention, the cost of ten years of compulsory education alone is quite astonishing.

However, this is also unavoidable. Now Germany and Europe are far more developed than East Africa, and East Africa cannot rely on tough measures to force these talents to return home. It is better to give them a good impression. At least Germany’s openness to East Africa in many educational fields has obviously increased.

Moreover, it has improved East Africa’s reputation in Germany. East African students in Germany generally have high qualities, and coupled with being somewhat “of the same race and origin”, they are naturally very popular. This represents Germany’s high level of education and strong cultural appeal.

However, overall, East Africa is not at a loss. At least eighty percent of the students still choose to return home to develop. East Africa is adopting a “scatter the net widely” strategy. There will always be talents who can promote the great development of various industries in East Africa.

For example, in the chemical industry, the proportion of returning talents is only about forty percent, but it has also laid the foundation for the great improvement of the chemical industry in various industrial zones in East Africa.

That’s right, there is also a chemical industry in East Africa’s industrial zones and coastal cities, but because of the short development history, it cannot yet compete with European and American countries that have been around for decades.

This is also an important reason for the cooperation between East Africa and Germany in the chemical field. In the chemical field, the strength of England and France is still strong, and the United States is also extremely powerful. Like Germany, it is a rising star. The United States also has giants in the old chemical field such as DuPont.

Germany started the latest among the four, but it already has a trend of surpassing England and France. And the reason why Germany can succeed is inseparable from Germany’s talent training mechanism.

The reason why East Africa is currently lagging behind in the two heavy industrial fields of chemical industry and materials is actually mainly a matter of time. East Africa’s chemical industry only started in the late nineteen seventies, which is nearly twenty years later than Germany.

Before that, East Africa’s investment was mainly concentrated in fields such as steel, railways, and electricity, and the investment in the chemical industry was not high. The chemical industry is a very money-burning industry.

For example, a certain new dye being developed by Bafus Company directly burned more than one thousand marks, and it is still continuing. Today, Bafus’s market value is less than twenty million marks.

Therefore, if East Africa wants to develop in the chemical industry, in addition to talent cultivation, it must continue to invest huge amounts of money, and it may not be effective in a short time. Just like the research and development in the machine tool field, there is no shortcut, and only continuous investment of time and money can achieve qualitative improvement.

Subsequently, Beriland began to introduce the location conditions of Bella City to the members of the inspection team. Everyone spoke German, so there was no language barrier.

“Don’t think that Bella City is not as good as Mombasa and Dar es Salaam now, but in the past three years, our government’s investment in Bella City has been at the top, surpassing all other cities in the country.”

“Just wait two more months, and the Harare-Bella Railway will be completely completed. I think Mr. Sharial An should know something about Harare City. Harare City is currently the second largest industrial city in East Africa after Mbeya. At the same time, Matabeleland Province, where Harare is located, is the number one industrial center in East Africa, equivalent to Germany’s Ruhr area, bringing together East Africa’s first industrial powerhouse with full industries such as steel, metal smelting, railway equipment manufacturing, mechanical processing, chemical industry, and materials.”

“And our Bella City seems to have nothing to do with Matabeleland Province, but it is the most convenient seaport for Matabeleland Province in the future. After the railway opens, it will only take one day from Bella to Harare.”

“You can see with your own eyes the development speed of Bella City. Three years ago, this was still a deserted bay. Before that, this was the ruling area of the Portuguese. The Portuguese did not develop it at all. Therefore, BASF’s branch factory can achieve the greatest benefits if it is built in our city.”

“Of course, I know that Nairobi is the largest textile city in East Africa. Your company’s main business is closely related to the textile industry, so Mombasa is very attractive. However, the second largest textile city in East Africa is Bulawayo in Matabeleland Province, which is also a huge market that cannot be ignored. Moreover, the scale of Bulawayo’s textile industry is still expanding rapidly. In the next few years, it may be comparable to Nairobi.”

“At that time, our Bella City will be the main export channel for Bulawayo’s textiles. With the central government’s attention, Bella City will also give birth to a batch of textile companies. In this regard, our Bella City is far more advantageous than Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, because new textile industries are more likely to cooperate with your company. After all, cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa have developed early and have a certain path dependence, and may not fully adopt your company’s products.”

“Moreover, you have many competitors. Many German and Austrian companies are eyeing big cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, such as your competitor Bayer in Germany.”

“So if you choose to build a factory in Bella City, I can give you the greatest convenience, such as factory construction. Cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa will definitely not be able to give you the best location. After all, they have developed for decades, and the territory is large. Now, entering is at most arranging you in a relatively marginal area…”

In order to promote Bella City, Beriland kept putting down other cities, but he did not feel guilty about it. After all, other cities would definitely use similar methods when introducing their own cities, especially Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, the “twin stars” of East Africa, who almost only have each other in their eyes and do not take any other cities in East Africa seriously.

Chapter 868: Dust Settles

Berliland spoke eloquently, but the members of the inspection team showed no reaction. Instead, they were taking notes diligently in their notebooks.

“Mr. Chariel Ann, seeing is believing. Next, I will take you to the site for an on-the-ground inspection, so you can see more directly what Bella City has to offer.”

Subsequently, under Berliland’s arrangement, they directly took everyone to the city center. At this time, Bella City had already built a number of factories, but most of them were idle.

“You see, this is less than one kilometer from the station, and to the left is the Pengkui River, which can be fully utilized.”

Chemical companies are generally built on rivers or by the sea, because the industry consumes a lot of water and is also accompanied by serious pollution.

Therefore, in later generations, chemical companies prioritize locations downstream of rivers, or by the sea where emission standards are more lenient. Of course, in the 19th century, there was no strict concept of “pollution.” For example, BASF’s main factory was built on the banks of the inland Rhine River.

“The railway can directly transport coal, lead, zinc and other resources from Matabeleland Province and the central region to Bella City. Moreover, East Africa has no shortage of rubber, being the world’s largest rubber producer. We have also planned new rubber production areas in the western region of the railway. At that time, Mozambique will also become an important rubber production area in East Africa.”

Mozambique, especially the central and northern regions, has abundant rainfall, coupled with the climate, which is very suitable for rubber growth. On the contrary, after passing the Matabeleland Plateau, rainfall is affected by the plateau terrain and begins to decrease, so it is not suitable for rubber growth.

Of course, an important reason for East Africa’s planning of a new rubber production area in Mozambique is that it is closer to the seaport, and there is a large amount of land suitable for rubber planting, which is more convenient for export.

The application of rubber in the chemical field is very broad. Even rubber-extended rubber products, including tires, rubber pads, and so on, add a large number of chemical components, so they belong to the chemical industry. The American Goodyear was the first to develop and master vulcanized rubber technology, which greatly improved the usability of rubber.

In the early 19th century, early rubber industries arose in Britain and the United States. But rubber has a fatal flaw, which is that it is too sensitive to temperature. If the temperature is slightly higher, it will become soft and sticky, and have an odor. If the temperature is low, it will become brittle and hard. This shortcoming made rubber products have no market, and the early rubber industry invariably fell into crisis.

In January of 1839, Goodyear’s experiment had a major breakthrough. He accidentally heated rubber, lead oxide, and sulfur together and obtained a leather-like substance. This substance, unlike the elastic rubber that is usually known, would decompose at higher temperatures.

However, this world-changing technology did not change Goodyear’s fate. In 1860, Goodyear died in poverty.

Because the vulcanized rubber technology has a low threshold, most companies directly use its technology, including East Africa. At this time, Goodyear had already passed away for more than thirty years, and the large-scale development of the rubber industry in East Africa and the world is thanks to this American.

Especially East Africa, standing on the cusp of the development of the automobile industry, coupled with East Africa’s early bet on rubber cultivation, has made East Africa very profitable in the rubber industry.

This is also very important for BASF. As a giant in the German chemical field, BASF has also made breakthroughs in the rubber industry in recent years, and the root cause of this result is the large-scale entry of cheap East African rubber into the German market.

Although the land in Germany is fertile, the Junker nobles’ main business is still grain cultivation. After all, the place is small, and the priority for planting crops is food crops.

In terms of food crop planting, East Africa is far inferior to Germany. Especially with the development of mechanization and the fertilizer industry, Germany relies on hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of land to feed a population of nearly fifty million, relying on advances in agricultural technology.

Of course, this is related to East Africa’s agricultural development strategy. In recent years, East African agriculture has increasingly shifted towards the cash crop industry.

In the field of commodity grain agriculture, there are too many competitors, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Tsarist Russia, all of which are strong countries in this field.

But in the field of tropical cash crops, East Africa’s competitors are only Brazil, small South American tropical countries, and India. These are the four main competitors, and France, which has a large number of overseas colonies, can barely be counted as half.

Moreover, these tropical countries or forces are far behind East Africa in the field of agricultural technology, just as East Africa is behind European and American countries in commodity grain agriculture.

At the same time, East Africa’s land area far exceeds the above-mentioned tropical countries. Even Brazil is nearly one-third smaller than East Africa in area, and Brazil’s population is also a hard injury, with a national population of less than twenty million, about fifteen million.

The Brazil of the 19th century was not like the Brazil of the previous life, which vigorously developed the interior. Today, Brazil’s population is mainly concentrated in the small southeastern region. The Amazon rainforest in the north accounts for nearly half of the country’s area, and the development of the inland tropical savanna area is negligible compared to East Africa.

However, the climatic conditions in southeastern Brazil are indeed superior, belonging to a subtropical monsoon climate, similar to southern Mozambique in East Africa.

The preferred destination for European immigrants is currently Argentina in the south, and Portugal, the suzerain state of Brazil, does not have a large population itself, so the current development of Brazil is completely expected.

In other words, if East Africa did not have the support of the Far East and the German region, the two regions with the most serious population outflow in the world, it would be impossible to develop the African continent in a short period of time.

After the population is formed, East Africa’s development will naturally change rapidly. Don’t think that most areas of East Africa are basically undeveloped. You must know that the current population of East Africa is mainly concentrated in the central and eastern regions.

The combined area of these two regions is nearly three million square kilometers. Even before the South African War, East Africa’s population and economic scale had reached the standards of a world power.

……

“Mayor Berliland, thank you for your introduction. We will report the specific situation of Bella City to headquarters as it is. As for the specific results, we still have to look at the decision of headquarters,” Chariel Ann said politely.

Berliland naturally knew what Chariel Ann meant. However, the significance of the inspection team is to submit the data analysis report. The views of the inspection team members are extremely important in this process. Their specific descriptions will definitely be subjective.

Therefore, after the initial inspection of Bella City, the Bella City government still provided everyone with a full range of attentive services.

Three days later.

The members of the inspection team ended their trip in Bella City, and Berliland led government officials to the dock to see them off in person.

However, Chariel Ann and others were very tight-lipped and would not reveal another word no matter how Berliland probed.

In this uneasy mood, Berliland waved goodbye to the members of the BASF inspection team. In the sound of the ship’s whistle, Berliland sighed and said, “We have done everything we can. As for the outcome, it is no longer up to us. Let’s go back!”

However, Berliland’s expectations were not in vain. A month later, the East African Central Government officially issued instructions to the Bella City Government to fully cooperate with BASF’s establishment of a factory in Bella City.

Of course, Bella City did not squeeze out the quota of other cities, because Mombasa City also successfully landed a BASF branch.

BASF is very optimistic about the market prospects of East Africa, so it decided to set up branches in Mombasa and Bella City at the same time.

Mombasa goes without saying. It and Nairobi in the west are important cities in the East African textile industry with good basic conditions.

Bella City’s selection was entirely a bet made by BASF after understanding the industrial development of central East Africa, because BASF’s main business is still textile dyes, and East Africa’s second largest textile center is Bulawayo in Matabeleland Province. Therefore, BASF’s choice of Bella City as the location of its branch factory is actually a feint; its real intention lies elsewhere.

Chapter 869: New Frankfurt City

As for why BASF didn’t directly choose Bulawayo or Nairobi to open branch factories, the reason is simple: East Africa only opens up its coastal areas; the interior is inaccessible.

Moreover, the industrial configuration of the interior is basically dominated by East African state-owned enterprises. In reality, the various industrial sectors in the interior are complete, but their strength is weak. To prevent them from being directly impacted by foreign capital, effective barriers are still a viable measure. At the same time, they can directly compete with foreign-funded enterprises in the coastal areas, so they won’t become complacent due to being trapped by their environment.

With a moat in place, while also fostering competition to maintain vitality, as long as it’s handled properly, the basic foundation of East African industry can remain invincible.

This kind of operation by East Africa wasn’t particularly outstanding in the 19th century, because even the United States and Germany would protect their domestic industries from external shocks in the form of tariff barriers, especially the Junker aristocracy in Germany. For economic interests, they even opposed the easing of relations between Germany and Tsarist Russia, causing Tsarist Russia to lean towards the Entente during World War I.

Of course, East Africa also has similar policies, except that East Africa can bypass commodity grain agriculture and turn to tropical cash crop agriculture development, avoiding direct competition. In this area, currently only Brazil and the Caribbean coastal countries can slightly compete with East Africa.

As for India, although it is a tropical country, it has too large a population and must ensure basic food and clothing, so it’s impossible to fully compete with East Africa. Moreover, India’s territory is only three million square kilometers, which is far less than even Brazil’s. Furthermore, as a British colony, it has no autonomy, and its productivity level is low. Britain prioritizes India’s low labor costs in various fields, rather than improving India’s agricultural technology level. Brazil is also the same; its market is basically controlled by foreign capital, making it difficult to achieve anything for the time being.

And Southeast Asia, where tropical cash crops were most prosperous in his previous life, is just getting started now and cannot yet form a strong competitive force.

…

New Frankfurt City.

New Frankfurt City, formerly Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia in his previous life, has developed rapidly since being upgraded to a city, which is even more in line with its status as East Africa’s largest railway hub.

And Ernst also went straight to New Frankfurt City after inspecting the industrial development of Mbeya City.

The current temperature in New Frankfurt City is only about 24 degrees Celsius, and Ernst felt very comfortable as soon as he stepped out of the carriage.

In fact, since entering the East African plateau, Ernst has felt that the livability of the inland area is better than that of the First Township. If the railway allocation wasn’t too much of a hassle, then this trip would be perfect.

“Since New Frankfurt City was upgraded, the population has now increased to more than eighty thousand people. The Central Railway, especially the North-South Line, converges in New Frankfurt City, the largest cities in East African industry, so New Frankfurt City is developing very rapidly, especially the equipment manufacturing and transportation industries. The food processing industry is one of the three pillar industries in the area.”

After listening, Ernst affirmed Frankfurt City’s work over the years. After all, the original Kapiri Mposhi was just a small town, and it was not easy to develop to its current scale.

In his previous life, Kapiri Mposhi was also a railway transportation hub in Zambia, but it was not very prominent among Zambian cities. Of course, this has a very important reason related to Zambia’s transportation construction situation.

In his previous life, Kapiri Mposhi was only the end point of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, while East Africa’s Central Railway runs horizontally across the two oceans and reaches directly from the Azande Plateau edge to the New Hamburg Port City on the southeast coast.

The driving effect it plays is unparalleled. Moreover, the northern part is a string of copper mining belt cities, and the southern part also has the two major cities of Lusaka and Kabwe. Further south is directly Matabeleland Province.

Located in the middle of these cities, it’s impossible for New Frankfurt City to develop slowly even if it wanted to. And in the future, when Angola is developed, New Frankfurt City’s regional conditions will become even more prominent.

Subsequently, under the leadership of the New Frankfurt City government, Ernst visited the local urban construction situation. The urban area of New Frankfurt City relies on the development on both sides of the railway. After the train entered New Frankfurt City, Ernst had a certain understanding of the local infrastructure construction, but these were all superficial appearances.

Ernst first visited the local factory construction situation. Benefiting from the railway hub, although New Frankfurt City is not a resource-based city, it does not lack various raw materials. The manufacturing industry is relatively developed. The copper mines in the north are roughly processed into semi-finished products such as copper ingots, and New Frankfurt City then carries out further processing. The same is true for iron ore and other resources.

“Our city’s next step is to strive for the landing of the power industry in New Frankfurt City. Previously, the most developed power industry was in Mbeya City, Swabia Province, and Hohenzollern Province. The resources of the two provinces are exported to Mbeya City, and then made into power products. Our New Frankfurt City is optimistic about the prospects of the power industry and intends to become one of the important regional power industry cities.”

Simply mentioning Mbeya is because Mbeya City’s power technology level is high. In East Africa, basically only Dar es Salaam and Mombasa can compare with it. Most other cities are in the second tier, including Lusaka, Harare in the south, and Lubumbashi in the north.

Ernst naturally supports New Frankfurt City’s ideas: “The power industry is a strategic industry in East Africa. Not only can you develop electricity, but I think you can also develop the automobile industry. Moreover, you can cooperate with surrounding cities through division of labor. The entire automobile industry chain is a large project. Various parts can be produced in advantageous areas, and New Frankfurt City is a transportation hub, so you can concentrate the parts and focus on assembly and processing, and then rely on the railway to transport them throughout the country.”

“Of course, whether it is the automobile industry or the power industry, paying attention to research and development is the key. You can’t rely solely on imitation. For example, the appearance, interior, configuration, etc. of automobiles must be done with care to continuously improve comfort and practicality.”

“At the same time, you must pay attention to production safety, especially now that East Africa is vigorously popularizing electricity. If electricity is not used reasonably, it is very dangerous. Therefore, you must popularize safety knowledge about electricity use to prevent accidents.”

After the popularization of the power industry, the electricity consumption of East African industry and residents has increased significantly, and the popularization of electricity safety knowledge is also particularly important, especially after the high-voltage power transmission system is put into use.

However, this is a rather long process. After all, even in the twenty-first century, there are still many people who ignore this issue. In the nineteenth century, it is even more difficult to popularize electricity safety knowledge.

East Africa is considered good, with a high rate of compulsory education and a high level of education among the people, so there are some advantages in this area of work. The acceptance level of the German people is also not low, as for other countries, it temporarily seems to be a difficult problem.

Of course, although there are more and more power facilities now, they are far from reaching the standard of national popularization. Many cities do not even have electricity, but this does not affect East Africa’s popularization of electricity safety knowledge to the national public.

After all, according to East Africa’s current power development situation, I am afraid that in thirty years, even remote rural areas will be able to connect to the power grid. Now, various cities in the central and eastern regions have begun to use electricity on a large scale, and some rural areas in the eastern region have also begun to install electric lights and other electrical products.

Chapter 870: Preliminary Work

Ernst stayed in New Frankfurt for three days, mainly to examine the surrounding environment.

When deciding on an inland capital, the city must not develop heavy polluting industries, just like First Township. Therefore, all heavy industrial and resource-based cities in the central region were essentially excluded from Ernst’s selection.

Secondly, transportation must be well-developed, allowing rapid access to all parts of the country. Many cities in the central region meet this standard, such as New Frankfurt, Lusaka, Kabwe, and the southern Copperbelt, which benefit from the central railway and are easily accessible.

Then there’s the environment, which is a secondary concern. Most of the highland areas in East Africa are relatively habitable, and the landscapes are similar.

As such, New Frankfurt meets all the above requirements and is very suitable as a capital. Of course, in Ernst’s style, he most likely wouldn’t choose to build the capital on the original site of New Frankfurt, because New Frankfurt’s rise relies on the railway, and its inherent conditions may not be the best in the area.

As for other cities, like Kabwe, it is the largest mineral development area in Zambia, especially rich in lead, zinc, and heavy metal mineral resources. Most cities like Lusaka have risen based on copper and other mineral resources, so they are not within Ernst’s selection.

However, Ernst certainly can’t handle these troublesome matters alone. Selecting a capital is a complex and significant issue, so the location of the new capital will inevitably undergo continuous investigation and screening.

After the trip, Ernst immediately decided to return to First Township and then dispatch professionals to conduct investigations around New Frankfurt.

Professional matters are left to professionals. Experts from the East African Geological Bureau, Meteorological Bureau, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Transportation, and various other fields, especially urban planning and design experts, gathered in First Township to receive the tasks assigned by Ernst.

“First of all, the primary point is transportation accessibility. Hohenzollern Province (western Zambia) and Matabeleland Province (Zimbabwe) are both located in the future economic center of East Africa (currently Mbeya), but Hohenzollern Province is significantly better than Matabeleland Province in terms of transportation, mainly due to its advantage in connecting with eastern transportation. Of course, considering the future development of East African transportation, Matabeleland Province won’t be bad either, but the upper limit of Matabeleland Province’s transportation is just that. Relative to Hohenzollern Province, Matabeleland Province is located further south. Based on this situation, we can also choose Swabia Province (southern Congo), so taking both into account, Hohenzollern Province has a very high lower limit for its national land transportation location.”

The first thing to consider for a national capital is definitely transportation, to facilitate the efficiency of policy communication, while also facilitating the East African central government’s supervision and inspection of various regions, and also facilitating the arrangement of national military deployments around the capital.

For example, the current Guards Division’s jurisdiction is in the Central Province, but the Central Province is on the eastern coast of East Africa. If rebellions occur inland or in other directions, it would be inconvenient for the army to mobilize to quell them.

“Secondly, there’s comfort. The capital’s average annual rainfall should be no less than eight hundred millimeters and no more than one thousand five hundred millimeters. The temperature should be approximately between fifteen and twenty-five degrees Celsius, not too low or too high. Many areas in Hohenzollern Province meet this standard.”

“We also need to consider water sources. It’s best to have lakes and rivers as water sources, but not too many. Many swamps in western Hohenzollern Province are not suitable.”

“Terrain is also key. We need to ensure smooth drainage during the rainy season and not have a shortage of water during the dry season. It’s best to have some military functionality.”

After all, the climate in most areas of East Africa is seasonal, just like the eastern region of the Far East Empire, so finding a place that is guaranteed to be free from drought and flood all year round is not too easy, but it is not uncommon. For example, the current East African capital and coastal cities, after improving the surrounding rivers, basically do not have major problems.

As for the so-called military functionality, Ernst only mentioned it in passing. East Africa has hardly any places with both strategic terrain and excellent natural conditions, because East Africa, as a country dominated by plateaus, most areas are only high in altitude, and the terrain is very flat. Except for the coastal plains, the distinction between most inland mountains and plateaus is not very prominent. For example, the Muchinga Mountains in Hohenzollern Province almost merge with the plateau on the northwest slope, while the southeast slope is steep because the Luangwa River’s erosion and downcutting have formed large river valleys.

“In terms of geology, we must also choose stable areas and avoid volcanic and earthquake zones.”

Ernst’s requirement is not without reason. The African continental plate is actually relatively safe among the various plates in the world.

However, volcanic and earthquake zones are mainly concentrated in the East African Rift Valley within East Africa. Although I have never heard of any major earthquakes in Africa other than Morocco in my past life, it is still best to avoid them, especially since several small-scale earthquakes have occurred around Nairobi in my past life.

As for the volcano issue, it can actually be completely ignored. Most of the volcanoes in East Africa are dormant volcanoes, and the most famous active volcano is probably Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is also one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, but Ernst certainly won’t choose to set the new capital in the Congo area.

Hohenzollern Province is generally far away from the volcanic and earthquake zones, that is, the East African Great Rift Valley, and the overall safety is still relatively reliable.

The biggest natural disasters there are floods and droughts, so this is also the main reason for choosing areas with abundant water sources and good terrain, which can effectively avoid natural disasters.

“Finally, we need to consider economic factors, including the industrial and agricultural base. Agricultural conditions must be excellent, capable of supporting the central area. Secondly, there’s industry. This needs to be arranged in conjunction with the political, cultural, educational, and technological center functions of the capital. It’s best to form a cooperative relationship with cities in the region.”

If industrial development is to be considered, then Ernst doesn’t need to choose, and can directly lock in New Frankfurt. However, in Ernst’s view, the capital should not interfere too much in regional industrial deployment.

Just like First Township, basically most of the production functions are all handed over to Dar es Salaam, so that First Township’s economic data is not very high in the country.

After all, Dar es Salaam is only more than fifty kilometers away from First Township, and there is also Bagamoyo nearby, so basically nothing is lacking.

“During this trip to the central region, I focused on examining New Frankfurt. New Frankfurt’s development is trending well, and it is also a national central transportation hub, so the capital’s location should be close to New Frankfurt, so that the new capital’s transportation problems can be guaranteed.”

This is a matter of leveraging existing advantages. For example, First Township is not the most developed place in terms of transportation within the Central Province, far inferior to Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, and Morogoro, but no one would say that First Township’s transportation conditions are poor, because First Township has railways, canals, and highways, and it only needs to transfer through a few nearby cities to go to the whole country, which is completely fine.

“Of course, moving the capital is a complex process. In this century, I don’t have this plan for the time being, so the time left for you is still relatively sufficient. Haste makes waste, so be sure to select the best location for the future capital.”

That’s what he said, but in reality, there are only seven years left until the end of this century, but it is enough for the investigation of the new capital and the preparation of some preliminary work.

Of course, there is another important reason for not moving the capital now, which is that the economic situation in the central region is temporarily unable to compare with the eastern region. If the capital is moved there at this time, and an existing city is not chosen, I am afraid that East African officials can only work outdoors.

Chapter 871: “Rhine” City

With Ernst’s pronouncement, various departments in East Africa began a new round of work. A large number of personnel went to New Frankfurt, using it as a center to screen potential locations for East Africa’s new capital. This task wasn’t too difficult, as the search area was limited to the vicinity of New Frankfurt, significantly narrowing the scope of the survey.

At the same time, Ernst had already planned for the name of the new capital. As a German nation, the capital’s name had to be eye-catching, at least refreshing in its translation.

Like London, Paris, Berlin, and New York, all world-renowned metropolises, Ernst mainly considered the issue from the perspective of people from the Far East Empire in his previous life. The name of the new capital should not only be well-known in the Far East Empire but also in Europe, America, and even the world.

In fact, First Town City already had a certain degree of “fame,” as the name was easy to remember when translated into various languages, mainly because it contained the word “First.”

However, the implication and connotation of the name First Town City weren’t very good. “First” seemed somewhat exaggerated, giving the same “nouveau riche” feeling as the United States, which was quite vulgar.

If First Town City could truly rival any metropolis in the world, that would be fine, but First Town City was clearly not in that category. Even among East African cities, its economic, scale, population, and other data didn’t rank in the second tier.

The top East African cities were currently Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, belonging to the first tier. Then Nairobi, Mwanza, Mbeya, Harare, Bulawayo, Lusaka, New Hamburg Port City, and others ranked in the second tier. First Town City could only be placed in the third tier.

Therefore, compared to the name “First,” First Town City was clearly not living up to its name. Of course, adding the word “Town” made it somewhat more fitting.

However, placing the East African capital in the “Town” category and comparing it with the capitals of other countries would probably make other countries laugh their heads off. Everyone else’s capitals were “Cities,” how could you have the nerve to say your capital was a “Town”!

Besides being tacky, the name First Town City also carried a strong “colonial color,” because First Town City was East Africa’s earliest colonial stronghold. Therefore, using this name as the capital easily reminded people of “the origin of East African territory.”

In other words, this name was originally “evidence” of East African colonialism, and overlapping it with the capital made it even more memorable.

Therefore, “First Town City” as the name of East Africa’s capital didn’t satisfy Ernst in any way.

Ernst’s name for the new capital was one that fully conformed to being “faithful, expressive, and elegant,” possessing historical and cultural characteristics, high global recognition, and highlighting East Africa’s culture as a German nation: “Rhine.”

The word “Rhine” clearly originated from the German mother river—the Rhine River, Germany’s longest river, the mother river of Germany, and the cradle of German civilization.

At the same time, the Rhine River was the largest river in Western Europe, a famous international river, and a famous international shipping waterway.

It originated in the Alps, passing through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and flowing into the North Sea near Rotterdam.

Therefore, the countries it passed through alone destined the “Rhine River” to be famous in Europe. So, using “Rhine” as the name of East Africa’s new capital would definitely “civilize the world.”

Moreover, the meaning of Rhine was quite good, meaning “clear and bright” in ancient Celtic. Even when translated into Chinese, it was easy to pronounce.

At the same time, although “Rhine” was famous, it was rarely used as a place name except for Germany’s “Rhineland.” There was no city in Europe called “Rhine,” which provided convenience for East Africa.

This also meant that adopting “Rhine” as the name of the new capital would have extremely high recognition. The first thing everyone would think of was the East African capital.

City name duplication was not a small problem. For example, the American city of Saint Paul and the Brazilian city of São Paulo were very easy to confuse. The American Saint Paul was the state capital of Minnesota.

The Brazilian São Paulo was the largest city in the country. It seemed Brazil had the upper hand, but the state capital of the United States, as a powerful country, wasn’t bad either.

East Africa also had similar examples, such as the East African western port city—Alexandria, which shared the same name as Alexandria in Egypt. Of course, the current East African Alexandria was definitely unable to compete with the Egyptian Alexandria.

So this also reflected the preciousness and rarity of the name “Rhine.”

At the same time, “Rhine” also conformed to the mainstream cultural identity of East Africa, such as the first river named in East Africa—the Little Rhine River.

The Little Rhine River had a very high reputation in East Africa, while in its previous life, it was just an unknown small river in Tanzania—the Rufiji River, which was even more unknown internationally.

The Little Rhine River was not only well-known in East Africa, but it was also most easily mentioned in Europe, especially in Germany. It was the most famous river in East Africa, besides the Nile, Congo, Orange, and Zambezi rivers, precisely because it had an advantage in its name.

Therefore, using “Rhine” as the name of the East African capital could greatly enhance East Africa’s international influence, while also enhancing national identity and supplementing certain cultural and historical deficiencies.

East Africa itself had a very short history. If the city wasn’t given an eye-catching name, it would be difficult for people to remember. Currently, the most famous cities in East Africa were Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

Of course, due to the economic development of Dar es Salaam and the rise of East Africa’s national strength, the old translation of Dar es Salaam had actually been replaced by the simplified “Dar City” in the Far East Empire.

As for “First Town City,” because the name was too recognizable, it continued to be retained and even spread more widely after the South African War.

To be honest, Ernst himself felt somewhat embarrassed about the name “First Town City” if he were an ordinary person from abroad.

It was like not translating “New York” into New York, but “New Village.” In an instant, it had the same effect as “First Town City.” Ernst could even say that “Town is bigger than Village,” so First Town City was winning big.

However, the American New York actually came from the Duke of York in England, and with “New” as the name, the UK also had “Yorkshire.” This was the same as East Africa’s “New Hamburg Port,” “New Frankfurt,” or the former Dutch name for New York, “New Amsterdam.”

If it weren’t for the existence of the Zanzibar Sultanate and the influence of his previous life’s memories, Ernst would probably have changed “Dar es Salaam” or “Mombasa” to German names and taken “New…”

Of course, even after determining the name of the new capital, Ernst didn’t tell anyone else about this idea for the time being, because East Africa hadn’t even finalized the specific location of “Rhine City” yet.

After East Africa completed the site selection, he would widely announce “Rhine City.” Even after the site selection was completed, the construction of the new capital would take time. It would probably take several years to develop to the scale of First Town City.

So, “Rhine City” was still far away. In this century, Ernst didn’t expect to complete the relocation of the capital. Only after the supporting railways, highways, water and electricity, and other infrastructure were completed could the moving journey be officially started.

Chapter 872: Cotton Expansion

Mtwara City.

“According to the provincial government’s instructions, we must vigorously boost the cotton economy. In the future, Mtwara will expand its cotton production by more than three times in response to the great development of the cotton economy, expand cotton exports, reduce grain planting area, adapt to the general trend of agricultural production structure adjustment, and provide impetus for the city’s development.”

Cotton planting in East Africa has always been lukewarm, because the country’s key investment is not in the textile industry. In the past, only the northern cotton area centered on Nairobi, the southern cotton area centered on Bulawayo, and the Lake Malawi cotton area were formed. These three major cotton areas accounted for half of East Africa’s cotton production. In addition, there are Gezira, Somalia and other high-quality long-staple cotton producing areas, and various small cotton producing areas relying on cities.

The direct reason why the East African government’s attitude has now changed and vigorously encouraged cotton planting is also due to the increase in German orders.

The most crucial part of German Chancellor Caprivi’s trip to East Africa was to make East Africa one of the raw material supply bases for German industrial development, and among the various raw materials that East Africa could provide, East African cotton was particularly valued.

Germany is very short of cotton. As of now, Germany is already the largest textile country in continental Europe, and ranks third in the world, second only to Britain and the United States.

Nearly four hundred thousand workers in Germany are directly engaged in the textile industry, and one in every ten industrial workers is engaged in the textile industry.

In 1892, the German cotton textile industry created nearly seven hundred million marks worth of goods, which was thirty percent higher than Germany’s second largest industry, coal, and forty percent higher than the steel industry.

However, Germany’s coal and iron ore resources can basically be self-sufficient, while Germany’s raw cotton almost entirely relies on imports. In 1892 alone, Germany imported more than seven hundred million pounds of cotton. No other German industry relies on imports as much as the cotton textile industry in terms of key raw materials.

At the end of the 19th century, cotton prices continued to rise. The fundamental reason for the increase in cotton prices was that the United States and India, the two largest cotton producing areas in the world, were increasingly consuming cotton themselves. Cotton prices have already doubled.

Before the American Civil War, American factories only used about twenty percent of domestically produced cotton, but by the 1870s, this proportion had risen to about thirty-three percent, and after 1892, it rose to more than forty percent. India also benefited from British investment, coupled with population growth, and the scale of the cotton textile industry continued to expand.

Therefore, Germany urgently needs to find a stable cotton supply base around the world to meet the needs of its domestic cotton textile industry.

Before cooperating with East Africa, Germany had tried to grow cotton in its colony of Togoland (Togo, West Africa), but failed miserably.

After all, in 19th century Africa, except for East Africa and North African countries such as Egypt, there was basically no cotton planting experience.

Germany could not even find abundant labor with cotton planting experience in Togo, and Germany’s domestic cotton planting scale was small, and it lacked experience in the field of cotton planting compared with Britain and the United States.

Moreover, Germany has only controlled Togoland for a few years, and its understanding of local natural climate conditions is quite lacking, so failure is inevitable.

Of course, there is no problem with Germany choosing Togoland as a place for experimentation. Togoland was a major cotton planting country in Africa in its previous life, especially after its independence, the cotton planting industry expanded more than seventy times. Its neighbor Benin (the current Kingdom of Dahomey and the Portuguese colony of Whydah) even became the largest cotton planting country in Africa in the 21st century.

However, it is unrealistic to make the Togoland colony a German cotton supply base within a few years, and the Togoland colony also has a fatal flaw, that is, its territory is narrow and small.

In addition, Togoland’s infrastructure is almost zero. Selecting this place as Germany’s cotton supply base will inevitably require large investments, and the area surrounding Togoland is a densely populated area of other countries’ colonies, and the investment risk is high.

Germany’s other colonies, such as the Pacific Islands and the largest Cameroon, are mostly tropical rainforest areas and are not suitable for cotton planting.

Therefore, looking at the world, there is no place more suitable as a German cotton supply base than East Africa. East Africa itself is one of the main cotton supply bases for Germany and Austria-Hungary, especially in the field of high-quality long-staple cotton, it monopolizes the markets of the two countries. If they don’t get goods from East Africa, they can basically only buy them from British merchants at high prices, and East Africa also needs a shipping point because it is sanctioned by Britain, so everyone gets what they need.

“The Academy of Agricultural Sciences and German experts have conducted in-depth research on the climate and soil of our Mtwara, so it is determined that Mtwara and the surrounding areas are suitable for cotton growth. In addition, with the advantage of our Mtwara’s coastal location, with the authorization of the central government, we are allowed to vigorously develop the cotton planting industry.”

Mtwara has always been one of East Africa’s important port cities. It was one of the first coastal cities developed in East Africa. In the early days, it was as important as Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, and Tanga.

However, as East Africa continues to expand its territory, Mtwara City is facing increasing competitive pressure, especially after a large number of emerging port cities have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

In fact, the three seaports in the New Württemberg Province are facing this pressure. Previously, the New Württemberg Province could only hold on to the Lake Malawi industrial area. Now, the entry of German capital is regarded by the provincial government as a new opportunity for the province’s economic development.

Not only German capital, but also Austria-Hungary. The investments of the two countries in the coastal areas of East Africa have entered a new stage.

Taking the cotton planting industry as an example, it not only provides order support, but even in order to encourage East African cotton exports, it plans to invest in a batch of ginneries along the coast of East Africa to save labor costs, provide high-quality cotton varieties, unify cotton production quality, and send local experts and technicians to scientifically guide the East African cotton planting industry.

This is good for the East African cotton planting industry. Of course, East Africa’s excellent infrastructure also makes these German capital optimistic about the East African market.

For example, basic infrastructure such as railways, highways, and ports basically do not require investment. This is very important for German companies. If cotton is planted in Togoland, German companies need to do all of the above supporting facilities themselves.

Mtwara, for example, has ports, railways, highways and other facilities, and itself has a certain industrial and industrial base. New Württemberg Province has a large amount of land resources. Even if the original crop planting area is not changed, a large amount of cotton fields can be obtained through reclamation and other means.

Of course, East Africa’s labor costs are also very important. Although wage costs need to be paid, East Africa is efficient!

In Togoland, Germans face not only the lack of planting experience among the local natives, but also major management problems. Most importantly, the locals are actually afraid of large livestock!

In the end, this matter is indeed outrageous. After all, most African natives are not traditional agricultural civilizations. As mentioned before, most of the native African cattle are located in Northeast Africa and North Africa.

In the eyes of many African natives who mainly rely on hunting and gathering civilizations, the species of cattle represents similar irritable and dangerous species such as African native “wildebeest, zebra, and rhinoceros.”

Therefore, considering various factors, East Africa is the best choice for German capital. East African immigrants themselves are mainly farmers, and East Africa is a major agricultural country. As long as it is operated properly, investing in East Africa will basically not be as costly as in Togoland.

Chapter 873: Agricultural Structure Adjustment

Of course, it wouldn’t be accurate to say that West Africa couldn’t find any native cotton growers. East Africa sends a large number of Black natives to the West African region every year. A significant portion of these natives have undergone several years of “education” in East Africa. However, the fate of these natives flowing from East Africa to West Africa is entirely up to chance.

……

First Township.

“Your Royal Highness, regarding this round of agricultural production structure adjustment, it has been preliminarily determined that the new agricultural development land in East Africa will mainly be concentrated in the central region, Mozambique, and Angola. Among them, Mozambique and Angola are new food crop planting areas,” Minister of Agriculture Goerwelstein reported to Ernst.

In this round, East Africa will continue to adjust its agricultural production structure. Mozambique and Angola will become new food crop planting bases, and many areas in the eastern region will be changed from food crop planting to cash crop planting.

Ernst said, “In the future, East African planting should form five major regions, including the east, center, west, and south, to ensure national food security. However, at present, our country should pay more attention to the development of commercial agriculture, vigorously develop cash crop planting, promote the popularization of mechanization and the fertilizer industry, and enhance the competitiveness of the East African agricultural economy.”

Up to now, the main source of income for East African countries is still agriculture, accounting for more than seventy-five percent of national tax revenue. Although it has declined, it is still the mainstay of the East African economy, so the East African government cannot but pay attention to this foundation.

Moreover, the decline in the proportion of agriculture in tax revenue does not mean a decrease in quantity, but rather a substantial increase.

With East Africa’s large-scale promotion of cash crop planting and the adjustment of agricultural structure, the profit margin of East African agriculture has actually increased.

It has formed the core competitiveness of East Africa’s advantageous crops such as rubber, cotton, hemp, tea, tobacco, spices, fruits, and vegetables, and has surpassed other regions in the world in the field of tropical cash crop planting, becoming the world’s largest tropical cash crop planting country without a doubt.

Of course, the current major agricultural structure adjustment in East Africa is concentrated in the east, because the eastern agriculture took shape earlier and is larger in scale, its agricultural production structure no longer conforms to the general trend of East African agricultural development.

On the contrary, the tropical cash crop planting industry in the Somalia region has become a new benchmark for the current East African agricultural economic development. This is actually after solving the basic problem of food and clothing, the East African government has invested more energy in East African agricultural income.

Of course, this does not mean that East Africa does not pay attention to the planting of food crops, but rather pays more attention to it. In the new cycle of agricultural structure adjustment, East Africa’s food crop planting policy is mainly reflected in the expansion of capacity.

First of all, it is necessary to clarify that East Africa’s demand for food crop planting is constantly increasing, because the East African population is in a stage of rapid growth, and the population growth rate is directly proportional to the development of basic farmland in East Africa.

Therefore, on the basis of the original food crop planting area, East Africa will fully develop the southern land, that is, the newly developed land led by the South Mozambique Plain, to form a new grain agricultural planting base, forming a new high-quality grain agricultural production area of more than ten million hectares.

Prior to this, the four major grain agricultural planting areas that have been formed in East Africa are the coastal plain area, the East African plateau area, the Great Lakes area, and the central plateau area.

Among them, the East African plateau area and the Great Lakes area are integrated, but they are divided into rice and wheat planting areas according to rainfall.

The potential of the central plateau area is still very huge. At present, the central plateau area mainly develops only Matabeleland Province. The land idle rate in Hohenzollern Province and Swabia Province is still too high.

Hohenzollern Province, which is the former western Zambia, has a cultivated land area of more than forty percent of the country’s land, but East Africa’s development has only reached about eight percent. If it were not for the rise of a batch of cities, the development rate would be pitifully low. Swabia Province is also in this situation.

In these two regions, the industrial output value actually exceeds agriculture. It should be known that the ratio of industry to agriculture in Matabeleland Province, which has the largest industrial scale in East Africa, is not as large as the gap between these two provinces. Therefore, the central development is still a long process, and it will take time to fill the gap to reach the level of the eastern region.

“Last year, the agricultural economic output value of Somalia was the most prominent in various regions of East Africa. Most of the agricultural products were exported, accounting for more than eighty percent of the total agricultural output of the Somalia region, becoming an important agricultural production base for supplying the European market, bringing a lot of economic benefits.”

“At present, we plan to replicate the advanced experience of Somalia and the Northern Industrial Belt in the eastern coastal areas of East Africa, especially in the New Württemberg Province in northern Mozambique, which has natural location advantages, and use ports, railways, and highways to achieve new breakthroughs in the export of agricultural products and raw materials to Central and Eastern Europe.”

In the final analysis, Somalia and northwestern East Africa, in the absence of an industrial base and large-scale national industrial investment, can only vigorously develop cash crop planting, and the result is not bad.

Taking advantage of its proximity to the main shipping lane of the Asia-Europe Sea Route, exports to the Eurasian continent have reached new highs year after year, promoting the rapid economic development of the region.

“The regional advantages of Somalia are significant, and the Northern Industrial Area also has Mombasa as a leader. However, compared with the Northern Industry, the current development of the Somalia region is actually limited due to the lack of railways. Therefore, the three provinces in the Somalia region have reflected to us the issue of railway construction, and two horizontal railways should be built to relieve the pressure of agricultural products from the Jubba River and the Shebelle River going east.”

The Somalia region actually involves four provinces, namely the Northern Province and Jubba Province, which completely belong to the Somalia region, while Turkana Province and Eastern Province have some land in the Somalia region.

However, the capital of Eastern Province is Mombasa, and Mombasa has a very strong driving force for the local area. In addition, Eastern Province is actually distributed in a block shape. Through Mombasa as the core of the radiating highway, the local demand for railways is not strong.

Turkana Province, Jubba Province, and Northern Province are the three largest provinces in East Africa. Jubba Province and Northern Province are narrowly distributed along the Jubba River and the Shebelle River, respectively. The navigation capacity of the two rivers is poor, and the transportation demand is large, so they attach great importance to railways.

Turkana Province actually has a north-south railway, but it is located in the western part of the province, while the eastern Somalia region is located in the interior of Somalia. Without the driving force of the railway, the development is inconvenient.

Therefore, the three provinces have common interests in railway demand. For Turkana Province, the opening of the railway in Northern Province or Jubba Province is conducive to the development of its eastern region.

Regarding this request, Ernst replied, “Let them communicate with the railway department. The Ministry of Railways did have a plan for the Somalia railway before, but it is part of the eastern coastal railway and belongs to the north-south direction. The economic role for the two provinces is actually not very large.”

Now Northern Province and Jubba Province are both export-oriented agriculture as the pillar industry, so the railway connection with the southern region of the country is actually not as urgent as the construction of the intra-provincial river railway.

In Ernst’s view, these two east-west river railways are indeed more important for the two provinces, so in principle, he supports the railway construction in the two places, but it depends on whether the East African railway system has resources to invest.

These are all minor problems. Although the railway department already has a systematic plan, some railway lines can be temporarily shelved, such as the Walvis Bay Railway, which can be completely placed after the Somalia Railway. After all, the economic output of Walvis Bay is not even a fraction of that of the Somalia region.

Chapter 874: Promoting Immigration Destinations

Time flew by, and it was now 1894. Over the past three years, East Africa’s development of Mozambique and Angola had been quite effective. Mozambique alone had seen an influx of 2.73 million people, preventing it from being as desolate as before.

In addition to the local population continuously expanding into the interior and remote areas, the past three years had also seen a small peak in foreign immigration, although it still couldn’t compare to the scale of immigration in the previous thirty years.

Moreover, this wave of foreign immigrants was mainly composed of Italians and Chinese, making it increasingly difficult to recruit people from the German regions.

One reason was the rapid economic development of German countries such as Germany and Austria. Among all the German countries in the world, none had experienced poor development in recent years, including the Sigmaringen Royal Territory, centered on Chad, which was engaged in colonial expansion. Although conditions were harsh, it was sparsely populated and rich in resources, leading to considerable development.

Of course, attracting foreign immigrants was only a temporary measure to provide conditions for the rapid development of Mozambique, Angola, Orange, and other places. East Africa’s native population was growing rapidly. Even without the help of foreign immigrants, East Africa could still have developed Mozambique and Angola to their current state in just two to three years.

The American Westward Expansion and the East African Westward Expansion began almost simultaneously. A careful calculation would show that the American expansion started more than a decade earlier than East Africa’s. By the 1890s, the overall American expansion had basically ended, while East Africa’s development of Angola was only just beginning. In addition, there were still large areas in northern and southern East Africa that urgently needed development.

Furthermore, East Africa’s conquest of the African interior was driven by large-scale warfare, while the expansion of American territory had already been completed before the 1850s.

In the 1840s, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Texas, and other places were incorporated into the United States. The Mississippi River basin, including the eastern part, except for Florida, was incorporated into the United States in the early 19th century.

Looking at these regions that were later incorporated into American territory, the overall shape of the completed American map was only about fifty years earlier than East Africa’s. The development of the central and eastern regions of East Africa began almost simultaneously with the American Westward Expansion.

By the time the American Westward Expansion ended, East Africa’s development of its territory was only entering its peak. The only change was that East Africa no longer relied on foreign immigrants to develop its domestic regions. The current foreign immigrants could only be considered icing on the cake for East African development.

This was indeed the case. After Mozambique and Angola began to take shape, East Africa tightened its immigration policy again in 1893. As for the immigrants who missed the last train, East Africa directly used resources to send them to regions such as Sigmaringen, Cameroon, and the Belgian Congo.

…

Jiaozhou.

“This year, East Africa is no longer issuing visas on a large scale. If you want to immigrate to East Africa on a large scale, you must strictly follow the rules.”

With East Africa closing its immigration channels, many people who had come upon hearing the news were very disappointed.

“Sir, East Africa can’t just abandon us! We all responded to the previous call and traveled thousands of miles to seek refuge with you. We’ve sold all our family property just for an overseas ticket. If we can’t go to East Africa, we’ll have no choice but to sleep on the streets.”

The consulate was surrounded by a sea of people protesting. This was unavoidable. East Africa’s reputation, accumulated over the past few decades, had spread to the interior of the Far East Empire, especially after East Africa opened its postal system to Germany and the Far East Empire.

Those who immigrated to East Africa could contact their relatives in their home countries through telegrams, letters, and other means. Some could even go abroad to visit relatives.

This made the situation in East Africa more realistically apparent. The living conditions in East Africa were only considered average among the countries of the world, but compared to the still relatively poor Far East Empire at the time, it was indeed a land of opportunity. The same conditions would not be so attractive in Europe.

Now, European immigrants could choose to go to America, Argentina, and only then would they consider East Africa. And those countries with colonies allowed their own people to choose their own colonies first.

Of course, this did not change the enthusiasm of Far East Empire immigrants to go to East Africa. The main reason was that East Africa itself had a large Chinese immigrant community and, unlike America and Argentina, did not discriminate against foreigners.

This could also explain why the Japanese were keen to immigrate to Brazil. Brazil was more tolerant in its population policy than East Africa, and people of all skin colors could be found there, while East Africa was too unfriendly to black people.

“Quiet, this is the consulate, not a place for you to make trouble and argue. East Africa’s immigration policy naturally follows the standards of its own development needs. I know that some of you yearn for East Africa, but you have come a step too late. If you had come two days earlier, the situation might not be like this.”

“However, some of you don’t need to worry. Our East Africa’s demand for highly qualified talents remains unchanged. Those who are interested can take the exam organized by us. Of course, this is very difficult.”

“Of course, if you can’t go to East Africa, you can also choose the countries surrounding East Africa. This mainly depends on whether you can accept it. If you are interested, we can directly issue you a visa for the Sigmaringen Royal Territory.”

The Sigmaringen Royal Territory’s immigration channels in the Far East had always been managed by East Africa, so East Africa could directly issue Sigmaringen visas. This was the same as with Haiti, except that East Africa and Haiti were the product of cooperation for the slave trade.

“Where is Sigmaringen? What are the conditions like?”

Everyone knew more about East Africa, but Sigmaringen was a completely unfamiliar name.

The consulate staff did not hide anything and told the truth about the Sigmaringen Royal Territory.

“There are deserts there! Can that place be good? Lack of water is a big problem…”

“Ahem, don’t underestimate the Sigmaringen Royal Territory. Although the environment is slightly worse, the population is small, the pressure of competition is also small, and the territory is large enough, larger than three or four provinces of your Far East Empire. Take Shandong, which you think is not small, right? Sigmaringen is eight times the size of Shandong, and the lack of water is only in some areas. There are also places where there is no lack of water! Many rivers and lakes are surrounded by uninhabited areas.”

“Furthermore, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory has another advantage, which is that there are many Chinese people there. There are hundreds of thousands of them, all your fellow countrymen, so developing in Sigmaringen is definitely better than going to places like America. At least you don’t have to be second-class citizens. What are second-class citizens? That means they don’t treat you as one of their own.”

Of course, no matter how much the East African staff explained, everyone was afraid to make a decision easily. After all, the complexity of the name Sigmaringen Royal Territory alone caused many people’s brain cells to die.

East Africa had two names in the Far East, East Africa and Hechingen, which at least did not exceed three characters, while Sigmaringen Royal was too complicated.

At this time, the consulate staff directly said: “Of course, you can hesitate and consider carefully. After all, going to a place thousands of miles away is an important decision, but it is better to go sooner rather than later. Just like when East Africa used to recruit people, there were no limits, but now it is difficult to get even one visa.”

“To be blunt, Sigmaringen still needs at least a million more people. Don’t think it’s a lot, it’s actually only a matter of a few years. In a few years, I’m afraid it will be like our East Africa, with quotas.”

Sure enough, under the urging of this “scarcity,” many people gritted their teeth and chose to get on the boat first. As for whether it was a “pirate ship,” there was no time to consider it anyway, because there was nothing left to lose.

East Africa helped the Sigmaringen Royal Territory sell tickets, which was a requirement of cooperation between the two countries, and the Far East Empire immigrant community could also choose to go to German Cameroon, Togoland, or the Belgian colony.

Of course, East Africa would definitely not recommend them to go to the Belgian colony. Although, because of East Africa’s influence, the Belgian government was slightly “kinder” to Chinese immigrants in the Belgian Congo, that was only the status of black people in America.

Moreover, Belgium and Germany both had embassies in the Far East Empire, and East Africa certainly could not interfere in immigration matters casually.

Chapter 875: Naval After-Sales Service

Of course, East Africa would not prevent Germany and Belgium’s “fraudulent” activities. After all, in Ernst’s view, as long as the non-Black population of the buffer zone between East and West Africa could be increased, it would be beneficial to East Africa’s future.

…

While the Jiaozhou consulate was promoting the Sigmaringen royal family’s territory, the former “East African” warships in Jiaozhou Bay were also conducting military training.

After receiving the East African warships, the Far East Beiyang Fleet further expanded its scale, with two ironclad ships being deployed in Jiaozhou.

In the original history, the Beiyang Fleet only had two naval bases, Weihai and Lushun. Now, with the increasing importance of Jiaozhou, it had been designated as the third largest base several years ago.

Especially after the retired East African warships were added, this directly made up for the shortcomings of this originally “nominal” third largest base. Of course, there was still a certain gap compared to the former two.

East Africa sold three ironclad ships and seven gunboats, which was a relatively large scale. Naturally, after-sales service was provided along with them. Therefore, a military advisory group was sent to train the sailors of the three ironclad ships in drills and daily maintenance.

“Taking a certain island nation in the east as a hypothetical enemy, although you are stronger than them in terms of naval scale, the gap in comprehensive quality and performance is not large. Especially these warships exported by East Africa, some of which are even old guys from more than a decade ago, so you must be more careful in maintaining the ships.”

You get what you pay for. This was especially true for the warships that East Africa sold at a discount, but the price was indeed a super low price that the Far East Empire could not refuse.

Moreover, the warships sold by East Africa were enough to form a combat system, which had been proven in East African naval battles. Technically, they could not be compared with British warships, but if operated properly, they still had a chance to fight. If properly maintained, there would be no major problems for another twenty or thirty years.

Thanks to Ernst’s “favoritism,” these warships had undergone major repairs in East African shipyards before departure, and some equipment had been upgraded, so there were basically no major problems.

As for some “minor problems,” even the most advanced warships of today could not avoid them. Overcoming difficulties still depended on the specific operations of the Far East Empire sailors.

“Lieutenant Claire, why do you always use Japan as our hypothetical enemy in every exercise?” Liu Fulong, the captain of the Wuwei ship, couldn’t help but ask.

After all, in Liu Fulong’s mind, Japan was just a small island nation. How could it have the courage to have a large-scale military conflict with the Far East Empire? Although there had been many maritime frictions between Japan and the Far East Empire before, in his opinion, they were all acts of a small country “taking advantage.”

It was just that the Far East Empire did not care about it. Otherwise, it would definitely defeat the Japanese pirates with “thunderous” force. After all, the Japanese pirates were a historical problem that had existed since the Ming Dynasty. No one dared to imagine that this island nation of Japan had the great ambition of “a snake swallowing an elephant.”

Claire: “I never said it was Japan. I just said a certain eastern island nation. And throughout the Far East region, only you and Japan have a decent naval scale. But Japan is so small, yet its naval development is on par with yours. Shouldn’t that be worth being vigilant about?”

Liu Fulong shook his head and said, “Perhaps Japan is weak, so it can only rely on strong ships and cannons to maintain a sense of security.”

Claire denied this, saying, “I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. Japan’s naval development has seriously dragged down its own economy. No matter how insecure it is, it must ensure its own economic problems. Looking all over the world, the only country like Japan that is so obsessed with military force is the former Prussia. Their high military expenditure cannot be sustained, so they can only alleviate the pressure through external expansion. If I’m not mistaken, their first target must be Korea, and Korea is your vassal state. Will you save it or not then?”

Of course, although Claire’s words made some sense, Liu Fulong still stuck to his own opinion: “Our navy is much stronger than Japan’s. Even if they have ambitions, they cannot defeat us.”

Regarding Liu Fulong’s stubbornness, Claire said, “You should also know something about the Battle of Lissa. At that time, the Austro-Hungarian navy defeated a stronger enemy. More recently, in the East African naval battle, our military strength was far inferior to that of Britain, but the two sides fought to a draw. And the gap between the Japanese navy and the Far East Empire navy is obviously smaller. So, as your Far East Empire saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“Moreover, as the main military force of the modern era, the navy must be valued no matter what. Therefore, the necessary training cannot be reduced in any way.”

“We in the East African navy have a saying: ‘Treat your warships like family.’ All the soldiers in the East African navy come from within the country and have at least a secondary education level. There are also quite a few people who have received higher education.”

“In this situation, the East African navy can perform well in the East African naval battle. But the problem with your navy is obviously bigger, especially in terms of the quality of soldiers, which is far from that of East Africa.”

“As far as I know, Japan is also a country that values education. They have already implemented compulsory education. Although it is not as good as East Africa and Germany, Japan’s level is definitely first-class in the Far East Empire.”

“In terms of cultural knowledge, I am not very optimistic about you either. After all, it is difficult to become talented in a short period of time without receiving scientific and systematic education. But there is a saying called ‘practice makes perfect,’ so the amount of naval training cannot be reduced at all. At the same time, you must master the necessary ship knowledge. In this regard, our military advisory group members will fully cooperate with you.”

It was impossible to hold back anything. The East African military advisory group was almost imparting everything it had to the Far East navy. After all, naval technology in the 19th century was constantly improving. What might be popular now might be outdated in a few days. Therefore, the East African navy itself had to constantly learn and explore.

Of course, for the East African navy, if East African warships could perform well in the Far East Empire in the future, it would also be beneficial to its own warship sales business. Britain had a clear understanding of this.

If it weren’t for the Royal Navy’s prestigious reputation, who would buy British warships? The Far East Empire initially wanted to fully purchase British warships, but the British were too cunning, and in the end, Germany intercepted the deal.

Liu Fulong was quite touched by what Claire said. He didn’t really know the true level of these East African military instructors in the world.

But in his opinion, they all had real talent and practical learning. And there was a saying that “a strict teacher produces outstanding students.” The amount of training and homework in the entire Jiaozhou military base was the highest in the Far East Empire navy.

In fact, this was also the result of the East African instructors competing with the German instructors. As a German nation, East Africans wanted to compare themselves with Germany, the country with the highest national strength among the German nations, in everything.

Especially after the end of the South African War, the confidence of the East African people was further raised to a new level, and the攀比 (pānbǐ) mentality was even greater. [This refers to a competitive mentality, a desire to compare and outdo others, particularly in material possessions or achievements.]

Especially the navy. The strength of the East African navy used to be ranked first among the three German-speaking countries (East Africa, Germany, and Austria). However, since the 1880s, the German navy had developed rapidly, especially after Wilhelm II came to power.

This made the East African navy feel somewhat unbalanced. Of course, the fact that the East African navy was no longer expanding rapidly was due to important reasons for East Africa’s economic development. Whether it was adjusting the agricultural industrial structure, developing new territories, upgrading industrial technology, national infrastructure construction, etc., all required money.

The proportion of funds obtained by the military naturally decreased. Of course, the military expenditure of the East African army as a whole was still growing steadily.

Chapter 876: White-Faced Yama

After all, although development in East Africa is strenuous, once the population and land area increase, the economic volume will naturally multiply. What’s more, East Africa has an early layout in various industries and seizes the initiative in many fields. The national financial situation is even better than that of many established countries.

The advantage of established countries is their long history of development and accumulated wealth. Although East Africa does not have the time to accumulate wealth, East Africa itself also has its own advantages. That is, the African continent had hardly been developed before, so it basically did not flow out of East Africa. These resources naturally directly benefited East Africa, especially high-value mineral resources such as gold and diamonds.

…

In early spring, the weather in Jiaozhou is unpredictable, sometimes warm and sometimes cold. Although some areas are already full of flowers, for Jiaozhou sailors, this weather is even more tormenting than the cold winter.

Many locals can’t stand the change of seasons, let alone the military instructors from East Africa. Claire himself was also affected.

“Ah-choo…”

Liu Fulong asked worriedly: “Lieutenant Claire, I’m afraid you have caught a cold. Can your body handle it?”

Claire wrapped his cotton coat around himself and said listlessly: “It’s nothing serious. The weather in your Far East is unpredictable, so I didn’t adapt for a while. Actually, I had this kind of weather when I was a child in Württemberg (Germany), but later my family went to East Africa. East Africa has no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer, so I am a little unaccustomed to going to high latitudes.”

In other words, the climate in East Africa is too comfortable. Take the various bases of the East African Navy as an example. None of them are at high latitudes. The northernmost North Hawaii and the Southern Ryukyu Islands are also tropical.

Moreover, these two places are not very friendly to the navy. Including the Lanfang Overseas Province and the eastern islands of East Africa, they are typical tropical rainforest climates, which are quite hot. On the contrary, the home port of Bagamoyo and other coastal port bases are more comfortable due to the overall climate of the African continent.

Of course, although Alaska is a typical cold region, the army sequence has nothing to do with the East African Defense Force. It has its own system, similar to the local Guards Division, but the Guards Division is nominally part of the East African Defense Force sequence.

Therefore, the Alaskan Navy can only be said to have the same origin as the East African Navy. As for when they will merge, unless Alaska officially becomes a colony or overseas province of East Africa.

Moreover, the Alaskan Navy only has a few fishing boats, which are insignificant. After all, it is difficult for East Africa to support Alaska, so it is better to develop more army, which can still have a certain degree of self-protection.

“Hehe, East Africa is similar to the southernmost part of our mainland. There is no winter there either. We occasionally have the opportunity to go south to participate in some military exercises or exchange activities.”

Liu Fulong has some understanding of East Africa, but it is not comprehensive. After all, in this era, East Africa is like a bamboo shoot just emerging from the ground. Not many people know about it. If it weren’t for the impact of the South African War, East Africa’s popularity among people around the world might not be as good as some small countries.

As an East African, even Claire does not have a comprehensive understanding of East Africa. After all, the East African government has hardly disclosed too much important data. So far, the various data of East Africa by various countries basically rely on speculation, including land area, population, number of cities, railway mileage, and so on.

The suddenly rising East Africa is both familiar and unfamiliar to many countries. Even the East African government needs to adapt. After all, in another ten or twenty years, East Africa may undergo major changes again.

Claire said: “Anyway, these will not delay military training. After exercising for a while, my body will be warm.”

Liu Fulong reminded: “Are you still going to lead the team yourself? Don’t be brave. If something happens to you instructors, we will not be able to explain to the East African government.”

Claire waved his hand and said: “The relationship between our government and your country is already relatively friendly, and this is our own decision, so even if something goes wrong, you will not be blamed. Moreover, if we can’t overcome such small problems, what kind of navy are we? The army is originally a place to endure hardship.”

This is also what Liu Fulong admires most about Claire and other East African military instructors. They can lead by example and be united from top to bottom. If the people of their country have this awareness, why worry that the Far East Empire will not revive again.

So, he restrained his attitude and said seriously: “Lieutenant Claire, people like you are truly worthy of the word ‘soldier’. As the captain, I naturally cannot lag behind. I will personally train the soldiers and build a strong imperial navy later.”

The captain in the Far East Empire Navy is the position of captain. After all, it is an ancient civilization, and the military system of the Far East Empire has distinct historical heritage characteristics.

…

Claire and Liu Fulong’s good intentions have good starting points, but it is difficult to arouse the resonance of the lower-level sailors.

“What evil wind did the White-Faced Yama blow to the captain today? We still have to train in this terrible weather. I’m afraid our warship has the largest training volume in the entire fleet, right?”

White-Faced Yama is Claire’s nickname among the Far East sailors. Claire’s training is strict, regardless of status. All officers and soldiers under the Wuwei warship have suffered his “torture”, which is like a living Yama. Plus, Claire is white, so he has the title of White-Faced Yama.

“Alas, don’t say it. Isn’t being a soldier just selling your life for the officials? But what Lieutenant Claire usually says is also correct. Only when we are strong can we save our lives on the battlefield. Don’t look at the calm these past few years. In fact, the international situation has already turned upside down. The former Great Britain and France have been conquering and plundering all over the world in recent years. Even Lieutenant Claire’s country has fought a battle with Great Britain. Great Britain and France entered the Forbidden City back then. It is inevitable that they will make a comeback in recent years. According to Claire, sweat more in peacetime and bleed less in wartime.”

“Wang Fugui, you keep saying Lieutenant Claire, but you won’t get any favors from the White-Faced Yama. You will still get the same amount of torture.”

“I’m just reasoning. Lieutenant Claire doesn’t understand worldly affairs, but at least he is willing to train with us, which is much better than those officials. They only talk, no wonder the soldiers led by foreign instructors can win battles. With such an instructor, although he is not pleasing at ordinary times, I am convinced in my heart.”

Wang Fugui can be said to have spoken the inner thoughts of the Jiaozhou sailors. To lead troops to fight, those officers above must be able to convince the public. As a result, you hide in the rear drinking and listening to music, and let them, the common soldiers, fight bloody battles with foreign enemies. Is this reasonable!

Take the European armies as an example. Although the aristocratic officers have their own shortcomings, most of them still go to the front lines when fighting. If the general is a bear, the whole army is useless. Even if the equipment is poor, they will not be defeated miserably.

Amidst the various voices of the Jiaozhou sailors, Claire did not show any mercy. Moreover, Claire believed that it was necessary to conduct ship training in this weather. Not only is the weather changeable, but the wind and waves are also strong today, so being able to adapt to this environment will prevent them from handling situations too poorly on the battlefield.

So, at Claire’s suggestion, the Jiaozhou Navy “again” conducted sea training. The reason for the word “again” is that the Jiaozhou Navy has the highest attendance rate in the entire Beiyang system, but this navy was established the latest in the Beiyang system.

This has also created a unique “East African” faction within the Far East Empire Navy, according to the nationality of the instructors, there are also “British” and “German” factions.

Compared with British and German instructors, East African instructors have a huge advantage, that is, there are quite a few people in East Africa who understand Chinese. At least the military personnel dispatched this time can communicate without obstacles, so they can better understand the personnel situation of the Far East Navy and formulate more scientific training goals according to the national conditions of the Far East Empire.

Chapter 877: Cooperative Education

The hard days for the Jiaozhou sailors were far from over! Because according to the East African government’s resolution, or rather, Ernst’s decision, the East African instructors would continue to put these Far Eastern Empire sailors through more than a year of intensive training, completely simulating a war scenario, until May of next year.

This was because, according to the original timeline, Japan’s invasion of Korea was in June of next year, after which Korea would inevitably seek help from its suzerain state.

Of course, history is not set in stone. It’s hard to say whether the Far Eastern Empire will even face this calamity. Maybe a hero will descend from the heavens or they’ll get lucky and be able to withstand Japan’s first wave of attack.

That’s right, the first wave of attack. Based on Ernst’s understanding of the Japanese, “minor” setbacks are completely surmountable when it comes to their ambitions. Like in his previous life, if there hadn’t been atomic bombs, they probably would have had to invade Edo and capture the Japanese Emperor alive to force them to surrender unwillingly.

Ernst’s actions weren’t entirely driven by personal motives. Ensuring the independence of the Far Eastern Empire also safeguarded East Africa’s interests in the Far East. For example, Jiaozhou now, thanks to East Africa’s promotion, was experiencing economic development thirty years ahead of its previous timeline. Britain, Germany, Japan, and the United States were all extremely envious of Jiaozhou.

The problem was that East Africa had made this cake bigger, so naturally, it was impossible to share it with other countries. Of course, Germany and Austria-Hungary could still participate, after all, East Africa had been flying their flags when developing Jiaozhou in the first place. At that time, East Africa was still seen as a “savage” in the eyes of the Far Eastern Empire’s previous emperor.

…

Dar es Salaam.

Today, the eastern district of Dar es Salaam was particularly lively. Following Dar es Salaam University, the second higher education institution registered with the Ministry of Education in Dar es Salaam was established.

Many important officials from the Dar es Salaam municipal government and the Central Province government jointly participated in the celebration.

“Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology Inauguration Ceremony.”

A banner with white characters on a red background hung across the entrance of an “East African” style university. The reason it was called an “East African” style university entrance was that East African universities were quite different from many mainstream schools in the world at the time.

In many people’s eyes, East African higher education institutions, like East Africa’s transportation planning, were somewhat “seriously” wasteful and had a rather strange style.

This was naturally Ernst’s masterpiece. After all, as a civil engineer, Ernst’s ability to copy was quite good. He heavily borrowed from the characteristics of 21st-century Eastern campuses. If it wasn’t a perfect match, it was at least ninety-nine percent similar, including the rather “grand” university gate that embodied industrial minimalist style.

This architectural style, which Ernst was used to seeing and even somewhat visually fatigued by in his previous life, had an unexpectedly striking effect when placed in the 19th century, especially among a bunch of European-style buildings.

At this time, Constantine was chatting with a German “compatriot”: “Director Wagri is also from Stuttgart. What do you think of our Dar es Salaam?”

In Europe, Stuttgart was the closest major city to the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Back then, the previous Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, Ernst’s grandfather, had supported Stuttgart’s education.

Now, the tables had turned, and Stuttgart was supporting East African higher education. Of course, “Berlin” was definitely pulling the strings behind the scenes. After all, Germany’s higher education resources were also limited, and East Africa was a “remote and backward” place. Without the German government’s promotion, this kind of thing would have been difficult to accomplish.

This time, the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology was being supported by the Stuttgart United Technical Industrial School. Of course, it had been renamed the Stuttgart Polytechnic Institute since 1876.

Of course, in the 21st century of his previous life, it had an even more resounding name – the University of Stuttgart, one of the nine leading German Institutes of Technology, a member of TU9, and considered one of the six most prestigious technical universities in Germany, along with RWTH Aachen University, the Technical University of Berlin, the Technical University of Munich, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

The Stuttgart United Technical Industrial School was founded in 1829, and in another thirty years or so, it would be a “century-old famous school.”

Therefore, with this school as the main supporter, the construction of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology also made it easier for the East African government to introduce the German higher education system.

Wagri had long heard about Constantine, the King of East Africa, who was also a well-known figure in Stuttgart. After all, when he was still an elementary school student, Constantine was one of the celebrities in the Stuttgart area.

Hohenzollern-Hechingen was too close to Stuttgart. Most people in Stuttgart, and even the former Kingdom of Württemberg, knew of the existence of the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, especially after East Africa became a world power. After all, it could be considered a “big shot” who had emerged from the Stuttgart area.

“Your Majesty, after coming to Dar es Salaam, I felt a sense of familiarity. It has a similar style to Stuttgart in some ways.”

Wagri wasn’t flattering, but stating the facts. This was inevitable. The Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family came from the Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen near Stuttgart, so the Kingdom of East Africa had a strong “South German style,” or more precisely, a “Swabian style.”

Hearing his evaluation, Constantine was very happy. Although he had lived in East Africa for many years, he still had feelings for Germany.

“Director Wagri, this East German cooperation is a good opportunity for both your school and East Africa. Although East Africa has been established for a short time, it is no exaggeration to say that Dar es Salaam is in a good position in the world in various fields, and the only thing that doesn’t match is the higher education situation in Dar es Salaam.”

Constantine continued: “Cities like Berlin, London, Vienna, and Paris are all home to a large number of universities, while Dar es Salaam only had one university before, and it hasn’t been built for many years. Your support has greatly enriched the educational resources of Dar es Salaam and added more German cultural heritage to the city.”

Dar es Salaam’s higher education resources and city size were indeed mismatched. Even a “small city” like Stuttgart had several universities.

Of course, this “small city” was relative to Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam in Germany should be at the same level as cities like Munich.

Moreover, Dar es Salaam’s higher education resources were actually concentrated in the nearby “Soga City,” including East Africa’s top-notch East African University of Electricity, which was located in Soga City, along with a bunch of schools and research institutes.

Soga City was only a dozen kilometers away from Dar es Salaam. In this way, as long as Dar es Salaam gradually expanded, it would inevitably border Soga City in the future.

Not to mention Soga City, even First Town had this possibility. After all, Ernst planned to move the capital in the future, so after First Town lost its political function, it could only integrate into the Dar es Salaam economic circle.

Of course, the small number of universities in East Africa, apart from a few key universities, meant that other schools were far behind European and American universities. This was also an important reason why East Africa was eager to cooperate with the German government in running schools.

East Africa had cultivated many college students, but there were very few who could stand on their own, and these top talents were also divided up by various research institutions. Therefore, in order to accelerate the development of higher education in East Africa, cooperation with Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking countries was inevitable.

Chapter 878: Radio

Cooperative education is just a stopgap measure. This kind of university can only build a rough framework and still has a long way to go compared to a real university.

For example, many of the school’s current faculty and staff can only be chosen from among the less qualified. Recent college graduates are appointed, while professors from the Stuttgart Institute of Technology fill some important positions. As for the president, he is a genuine East African.

The university is one of the battlegrounds for public opinion and ideology. The East African government naturally cannot allow this area to be quietly taken over, especially when the abilities and character of the German expatriate faculty are not entirely clear.

Of course, there is no need to worry too much, especially for technical schools like the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology. If it were a comprehensive university, East Africa would not allow other countries to interfere!

…

First Township.

Today, Svet Palace held a knighting ceremony specifically for a scientist. Nikola Tesla, born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was officially promoted from Baron to Count.

“Count Tesla, this invention of yours will ensure that your name is recorded once again in the history of East African science and technology. This is a brand new page in the history of human communication.”

Ernst said, looking at this great East African scientist who was even younger than himself. In the past ten years, Tesla had already created enormous value for East Africa in the fields of electricity, physics, mechanics, and more, making significant contributions to improving East Africa’s technological level.

Following the widespread adoption of the alternating current high-voltage power transmission system in East Africa, the young Tesla had already made a name for himself in East Africa’s scientific and technological circles and become an East African “national treasure.” Of course, as early as when Tesla landed in East Africa, his “supervision” and security affairs had been taken over by the National Defense Security Bureau under Ernst’s authorization. If nothing unexpected happened, Tesla would become a household name worldwide like Edison in the future.

In his previous life, Edison’s fame was certainly higher than Tesla’s. Even though his image as a patent troll collapsed later due to the information explosion, his fame cannot be denied.

Because elementary school students know Edison’s name, while knowledge of Tesla only begins in middle school.

Of course, comparing him to Edison is a kind of belittlement of Tesla’s status. After all, Edison could never receive the honor of “Count” now. The United States is, after all, a republic.

Moreover, without the entanglements of various mundane matters, Tesla’s important theoretical research and inventions have reached more than two hundred in just the past five years.

Furthermore, the fields involved include energy, electricity, mechanics, and other fields. Tesla has also pointed out the direction for the development of modern major technologies such as radar principles, particle accelerators, radio-controlled weapons, and death ray weapons.

Therefore, Tesla alone is equivalent to a country’s top scientific organization. East Africa has really gotten a great deal. In addition, East Africa has invested early and heavily in the field of electricity. The number and quality of scientists and engineers in the field of electricity are not inferior to those of European and American countries. Therefore, East Africa’s leading advantage in the field of electricity can continue to be maintained for at least nearly a hundred years in the future.

The reason why Tesla’s position is emphasized is because he is an “all-round” talent. In the field of science and technology, theory and application are two important directions, and Tesla is a top genius who can combine the two well.

This has been fully proven when East Africa promoted the popularization of the alternating current system. Without Tesla, the popularization of the alternating current system in East Africa would have been delayed by at least five to ten years. Edison, at best, can be considered an “inventor” and a businessman, while Tesla is a combination of scientist and inventor.

“Around 1864, Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell proposed the theory of radio waves. In 1888, German physicist Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of radio waves. And now, Count Tesla, you are the pioneer leading mankind into the radio age.” Ernst praised without reservation.

Historically, there have been many disputes about the invention of radio. The more well-known ones include Lodge, Pupin, Edison, Fessenden, Slaby, Brown, Thomson, Stuen, Popov, Marconi, Tesla, and others.

But now there is no need to argue. In East Africa, Tesla is the world’s first inventor of radio. At the same time, with the East African scientific community and the East African government as his backing, no one will be able to “steal” Tesla’s achievements in the future.

Of course, it is unlikely that East Africa will be able to block this technology. After all, radio research is being carried out simultaneously in many regions of the world and has already achieved certain results. East Africa has only taken the title of “first” into its pocket.

“Your Royal Highness, the achievements I have made today are inseparable from the support of the government. Therefore, this is not my achievement alone, but also the support of my team and the government behind me. They have saved me a lot of trouble so that I can concentrate on my research.”

Tesla did not take credit for himself at all, but first expressed his gratitude to the East African government and related personnel. Ernst respected this scientist, who possessed both ability and integrity, and was consistent in word and deed, even more.

Of course, the historical Tesla was not like this. In his previous life, Tesla would also file lawsuits with Edison, Marconi, and others because of interests.

But this is understandable, because the overall values of American society are like that. After entering the East African environment, Tesla does not need to consider too many issues from an “economic” perspective.

Because “wealth” in East Africa itself does not mean anything. Tesla has already gained both fame and fortune. Even if he lies down and does nothing in the future, the East African government will not mistreat him. What’s more, Tesla has a passion for scientific research. Now his life goal is to promote the common progress of “all human society.”

“Well, very good, Count Tesla, you are a respectable person. Although I am just a layman compared to you in the field of scientific research, I can still do some things within my power. If you have any troubles or problems, you can directly contact me at Svet Palace.” Ernst directly promised.

It is worth mentioning that Ernst himself is also an “inventor,” although they are all plagiarized from “previous life” works, but no one knows! Therefore, the identity of “inventor” has always been talked about with relish.

Therefore, Ernst and Tesla can barely be considered half “colleagues.” Of course, Ernst at most tinkers with some daily necessities, small furniture, or small appliances, which cannot be compared with Tesla, a big shot.

After chatting happily with Ernst, Tesla also met with East African senior officials from the military and various government departments. After all, the value of radio is clearly visible, and it is an important tool for changing the country’s status quo.

This also means that Tesla has officially become one of the top authorities in East Africa’s scientific community, with government endorsement. He can even be like the Soviet Union’s “Lysenko,” with the final say in his field.

Of course, Ernst will definitely not let Tesla participate too much in the big dye vat of politics. This is a great waste of resources. Therefore, Ernst emphasized: “As government officials, do not interfere too much with Count Tesla’s work. Every achievement of Count Tesla is a great contribution to East African society. Even if the value is not apparent now, it may become the key to East Africa’s technological breakthrough in the future. For this kind of scientist, do not disturb him too much, but should let him continue to shine in the field of scientific research for the world.”

This is very important. After all, even Hawking in his previous life had to accept “Epstein’s” invitation. The inside story is unknown to ordinary people, but the impact is extremely bad. Therefore, Ernst must take the lead in respecting the scientific community so that researchers can better serve East African society in a comfortable environment.

East African officials may not be able to do such “outrageous” things, but banquets and social events are indispensable. Therefore, they must be given a preventive shot.

Chapter 879: The Military’s Emphasis

Regarding the promotion of radio, the military also directly participated this time. After all, the military value of radio was too great. Therefore, in order to better strengthen the pilot experiments of radio in the army, the scientific research groups under the military have already begun to take action.

“The application of radio is inseparable from the transmission of information, and its application is reflected in the specific point of radio telegraph. In the past, our army could only transmit messages through wired telegraph, but the laying of lines has great limitations, which greatly delays the speed of military intelligence transmission, while radio has great plasticity in this regard.”

“Of course, radio also has a drawback, that is, its signal is directly transmitted in the air. In this way, the enemy can obtain our information by building signal receiving devices. This requires our army to work hard in the field of information security, especially compiling new codebooks to prevent the enemy from easily cracking our military intelligence information.”

“At the same time, this also shows from the side that wired telegraph still has use value, especially some important military units and departments, which use wired telegraph transmission to ensure national information security.”

The East African military leaders spoke eloquently about the application of radio, which is also easy to understand. The East African army can be said to be the most receptive group to advanced military technology in the world.

Because the East African army system is generally younger and has a higher level of education, the application of advanced military technology is also an important reason why East Africa was able to defeat Britain in the South African War.

Archduke Ferdinand said: “Our navy will definitely popularize radio on ships on a large scale. After all, warships cannot be connected by wires. In the past, the communication between naval vessels basically relied on traditional methods. Now the emergence of radio means that a major change is about to occur in our navy.”

“Not only that, our overseas military bases also have a great demand for this technology. After all, the investment cost of wired transmission promotion is high, and the spread of radio can directly connect the Kingdom of North Hawaii and the Lanfang Overseas Province with the East African mainland.”

The emergence of wired telegraph and submarine cables has enabled Britain’s tentacles to extend to all parts of the world. Relying on wired telegraph, Britain has established the world’s largest telegraph network. For example, communication between East Africa and the Far East Empire must first go through Europe and then be transferred through India.

The development of wired telegraph in East Africa has also been extremely rapid in the past thirty years, and it has basically formed an effective network covering the whole country. Of course, places like Mozambique and Angola are certainly less dense in distribution.

However, East Africa’s wired telegraph network is only a regional network, while Britain’s is a “global network.” Only a country like Britain, which holds the world’s hegemony, can do this.

As early as 1880, the submarine cables laid by Britain reached an astonishing 1.56 million kilometers. Today, the scale will only be larger, basically connecting all major overseas colonies of Britain, including Canada, Australia, India, South Africa, and so on.

Relying on the submarine cable network, the British government can realize the plan to monitor the world. The British have a tightly organized secret agency for submarine cable eavesdropping. They set up eavesdropping agencies at the connection points where the cables must pass, install eavesdropping devices, and quickly collect and study important information.

The earliest case of this in the previous life occurred during the Boer War. After Britain’s defeat, German Emperor Wilhelm II, gloating over the misfortune, sent a telegram to Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic, warmly congratulating the Boers on their victory and calling Transvaal “independent and autonomously defeating the invaders” and “defending national independence.”

Before this telegram was transmitted to Transvaal through the submarine cable controlled by the British, it was intercepted by the British first. Since then, Britain has strengthened its attention to Germany’s threat, changed its previous compromising attitude, and instead took countermeasures around the world. Germany also responded tit-for-tat, and the contradictions between Britain and Germany gradually intensified, eventually gradually falling into an “arms race” and establishing alliances with each other as imaginary enemies, eventually leading to the outbreak of World War I.

There is some possibility for this statement, but it is definitely not the fundamental reason. After all, Wilhelm II himself is a “big mouth” who often “makes amazing remarks” in the international community.

However, this also proves from the side the authenticity of Britain’s use of the global wired telegraph network to obtain intelligence from relevant countries.

At least Ernst himself believes it. This is a traditional skill of the Anglo-Saxons. Later, Britain’s “filial son,” the United States, also had “Prism” to monitor the governments of various countries, and it was made public as relevant righteous people fled, so the prevention of Britain is not “making a fuss about nothing.”

Putting himself in their shoes, if Ernst had this “network” in his hands, then for the sake of East Africa’s national interests and security, Ernst would definitely do the same.

Of course, the wired telegraph network from East Africa to Europe is still safe. It is directly connected to the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s network and takes a separate line, without the need to transfer through Cape Town.

However, there is operability from Austria-Hungary’s access to the British Mediterranean to the Far East Empire, but this is also a complex project, and the East African government can completely ensure information security through “disguise.”

Of course, in the end, it will definitely embark on the road of building an “independent” network. In fact, after realizing Britain’s behavior, the United States, France, and Germany all began to build independent submarine cable systems in the 20th century.

In the 20th century, the disputes between wired telegraphs were not limited to these. During the war, a special type of ship called a “cable cutter” appeared. This type of ship would unceremoniously cut off other countries’ submarine cables during wartime, and the powerful British Royal Navy could ensure that these “electric pirates” operated smoothly.

Therefore, even if wired telegraph is more reliable in terms of security, it is not foolproof, especially since East Africa’s access to Europe and the Far East Empire will inevitably pass through British spheres of influence. If the submarine cable is cut off, it will be over.

Therefore, in the East African telegraph industry, Ernst’s plan is to “walk on two legs,” realizing the mutual complementation of wired telegraph and radio telegraph, wired telegraph transmission independent of Britain, and at the same time, matching the radio telegraph system, so as to realize East African national information security.

In addition to the military, the needs of other departments for radio telegraph cannot be ignored, such as the postal system, academic exchanges, commercial information transmission, and the connection between the central and local governments, and so on.

This means that in the next few years, East Africa’s original reliance on traditional information transmission methods such as wired telegraph, railways, and postal station systems will be greatly affected.

East Africa’s information industry will undergo tremendous changes with the birth of radio telegraph, which is no less than an information revolution.

Of course, this also means that East Africa must start preparing for the popularization and promotion of radio. For example, the interception problem mentioned by the military before requires various departments and research institutions of the East African government to compile new communication rules, and at the same time, increase new equipment.

This also involves the production of radio equipment, which is also a complex issue. For example, the military’s requirements are certainly relatively high. After all, the threshold for electrical equipment to meet military standards is very high. The army cannot afford to raise “delicate” electronic equipment. It must meet field requirements and be able to work normally in various extreme climatic conditions, and at the same time have waterproof and shock resistance.

Especially the navy, the required standards will only be more stringent. Ships sailing on the sea will definitely encounter various extreme weather conditions. After all, the East African navy cannot always operate in the tropical waters around East Africa. Occasionally, they have to conduct training in high-latitude waters. The sea is also extremely bumpy. In this case, higher requirements are placed on the performance stability of electronic products.

Chapter 880: Angolan Agriculture

East African Minister of Agriculture, Golwestein, mentioned at the 1893 Angolan overall agricultural report conference:

“Angola’s agriculture can be divided into five parts: the northern tropical cash crop production area, the central highland food crop production area, the southern traditional animal husbandry area, the eastern marine fishing area, and the western forestry resource area.”

Marine fishing was one of Angola’s important pillar industries during the colonial era, reaching its peak in the 16th century, when Angola’s fishing industry reached its zenith.

During this period, Angola’s fishing industry not only exported large quantities of fish to Portugal itself, but also supplied fish to other Portuguese colonies. Angola became one of the most important fishing grounds in the Portuguese colonial empire.

Of course, later, with the discovery of gold and silver mines in South America, Portugal shifted its focus of development, and Angolan marine fishing, along with Angolan agriculture, entered a period of decline, until Portugal completely withdrew from Brazil, and Angola and Mozambique regained importance.

But it was too late, because the rise of East Africa on the east side made Portugal’s reinvestment basically a waste of money. Of course, at this time, Portugal had already embarked on the road of decline, and its investment in the two places was far from comparable to the period of strong national power in the 16th century.

As for forestry resources, in its previous life, Angola’s forest area ranked second in Africa, second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“During the Portuguese colonial period, Angola mainly grew corn, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and cotton, as well as some European crops such as grapes, olives, and spices (mainly introduced by the Dutch in the 17th century). They also introduced animal husbandry, raising livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses to provide meat and other animal products. In addition, the Portuguese also reclaimed a large amount of land for growing cash crops such as coffee and palm trees for export.”

Angola, like Zimbabwe, has extremely favorable agricultural conditions. The former is known as the “granary of Southern Africa,” while the latter is the “breadbasket of Africa.”

Of course, these are “honors” obtained by the two countries when they were under Portuguese and British colonial rule, respectively. As for the fact that the agricultural structure of the two countries collapsed rapidly after independence, and they changed from food exporters to countries that could not be self-sufficient in agriculture, it is actually completely reasonable.

To put it bluntly, the local natives simply don’t know how to farm, or more accurately, they don’t know how to manage.

After all, they definitely know how to farm. Under the lash of the colonizers for hundreds of years, and with most of the labor on plantations and farms being black slaves, it would be completely self-deceptive to say that the locals didn’t know how to farm, because if the black slaves didn’t know how to farm, the white colonists’ plantations and farms would not be able to operate at all.

However, knowing how to farm does not solve the problem, especially in the large-scale agricultural socialization of colonial areas. All the key details are in the hands of the whites, including seeds, fertilizers, technology, sales channels, and the management of plantations and farms. None of these are things that the local natives can master.

Without mentioning anything else, when the whites withdrew from the area, the market that originally sold to the whole world was artificially interrupted, which was an unsolvable problem for the local blacks.

Moreover, these agriculture industries are all based on large plantations and farms. One plantation or farm involves hundreds or even thousands of people. African natives, even their upper class, only have the ability to govern a tribe, and they may not be able to govern it well. They also lack the corresponding knowledge and technology. Therefore, the colonizers built “barriers” from the beginning to prevent the local natives from turning over.

Of course, East Africa will definitely not “empathize” with these natives. Instead, it will intensify its efforts, because East Africa is a more determined exploiter.

Golwestein continued: “At present, the various plantations, farms, and fishing grounds in the Angolan region have basically resumed production. At the same time, we have newly established pasture and forest farm management agencies. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s forecast, in the next twenty years, the total agricultural output value of the Angolan region will become one of the new agricultural growth points in East Africa, just like Mozambique and Orange and other new territories. The local favorable agricultural resources will be fully developed, and then become a new engine for East African agriculture.”

The agriculture that East Africa took over from the Portuguese and Boers is a complete agricultural system, which is fundamentally different from the land that East Africa had plundered before.

Therefore, the early work of the East African government does not require major changes to the local area. The most typical example is Orange. From the comprehensive factors of latitude, terrain, vegetation, precipitation, and population, the most suitable development there is animal husbandry.

And the situation in Angola is the most complicated. From tropical rainforest to tropical grassland to tropical desert, Angola has the richest agricultural development conditions in East Africa. In addition, the Benguela Current has spawned one of the world’s top five natural fishing grounds, and the fishery resources are also very unique.

“In 1892, Angolan agriculture had already recovered to pre-war levels. By 1893, the scale of Angolan agriculture had increased by 56 percent, with the development of marine fishery resources ranking first in the country, second only to the Eastern Province and the Central Province.”

Speaking of marine fishery development, it has always been one of East Africa’s weaknesses. As a major maritime power, East Africa’s marine fishery resource development rate has been low. This is fully reflected in East Africa’s shipbuilding industry.

In the new marine vessels in East Africa in the past thirty years, fishing boats accounted for less than 20 percent. On the contrary, inland water fishing boats accounted for 59.56 percent.

East Africa’s marine vessels mainly contribute to the two major categories of merchant ships and warships. Although the number of warships is small, the tonnage is large, and the great development of transport ships provides conditions for the export of East African industry and agriculture.

East Africa’s original accumulation started with the development of agriculture and mineral resources, especially with tropical cash crops and gems and rare metals as the guide. In recent years, with the rapid increase in the scale of East African industry, the export of industrial products has also been developing rapidly.

Various reasons have led to insufficient investment in the development of marine resources in East Africa, so that Angolan marine fishery resources can directly rank third in the country.

It should be known that the current Angolan marine fishing industry under East Africa’s rule actually completely inherited the marine fishing industry of the Portuguese rule era. And Angola was previously only a Portuguese colony, that is to say, the marine fishing industry of a colony could previously be compared with the whole of East Africa, which is very amazing.

And the amazing thing is not the development of Angola’s marine fishing industry, but the fact that East Africa’s marine fishing industry is too backward.

However, this backwardness is not caused by technology and other reasons, but by the economic development structure of East Africa. East Africa has been promoting the development of the three major industries of agriculture, mining, and industry, and the direction has always been promoted from the eastern coast to the inland areas, so it is naturally easy to ignore the utilization and development of marine resources.

Moreover, as a major animal husbandry country and East Africa, which has multiple world-class lakes and multiple world-class rivers, has very developed inland fishery resources. Therefore, East Africa itself has abundant sources of meat, and compared with other countries, East Africa has few excellent ports and other comprehensive reasons. East Africa currently has little interest in promoting marine fishing.

Of course, this situation will inevitably improve with the incorporation of Angola and Southwest Africa into East Africa, especially in the Southwest African region, which is extremely dependent on marine fishing. The local area is dominated by tropical desert climate, which is not suitable for the development of other types of agriculture.

The port area in southern Angola is similar to the situation in Southwest Africa. The coast is dominated by tropical desert climate, and there are many excellent ports. In addition to some military needs, it is suitable for development into large fishing ports.

Chapter 881: The Feasibility of Mechanizing Economic Crops

For Angolan agriculture, the East African government’s primary task was previously to restore the production of local plantations and farms. Now, this goal has been achieved. After the Portuguese withdrawal, East Africa spent four years re-establishing agricultural order in the region.

Subsequently, the focus shifted to resolving public security issues, or to put it bluntly, re-capturing the escaped black slaves who had scattered throughout Angola during the war and putting them back to work on plantations and farms.

While restoring production, East Africa simultaneously revived Angola’s original commodity export markets. Otherwise, if agricultural products were produced but had nowhere to go, the East African government would have labored in vain.

East Africa’s strategy was to simultaneously promote domestic and foreign markets. One aspect was restoring the commodity sales channels that the Portuguese had established in Angola, but due to the relationship between the two countries, progress in this area was limited.

Therefore, East Africa urgently needed to develop new shipping markets, and this naturally fell to Germany. On ocean routes, the fastest way to reach Germany from the west coast of East Africa.

Originally, East African ports were located in the east, so direct trade between East Africa and Germany required ships to detour through the Strait of Gibraltar, or rely on the Austro-Hungarian railway for transit.

With the addition of ports on the west coast, East African ships could directly reach German Atlantic ports such as Bremen and Hamburg, or enter ports along the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak Strait or the future German Kiel Canal.

At this time, the Kiel Canal was not yet open. Construction of the Kiel Canal had already begun before the South African War, in 1887. According to the current progress, the Kiel Canal would not be open until at least next year, which is 1885.

In addition to rebuilding international markets, establishing domestic markets was also an important path for Angola to escape its predicament. With the completion of the Benguela and Luanda railways in the north and south, central East Africa and Angola had been connected.

This was also a win-win situation, meaning that industrial and agricultural products from the central region could be shipped not only from eastern East Africa, but also from western ports.

Taking Lubumbashi, the capital of Swabia Province, as an example, its straight-line distance to both the eastern and western outlets was around one thousand four hundred kilometers. At this time, the choice of eastern or western outlet mainly depended on the location of the product’s export market. For example, if it was Austria-Hungary, it was naturally more cost-effective to ship from the east. If it was Germany, it was more cost-effective to ship from the west.

…

“Regarding Angolan agriculture, the Portuguese put more effort into it locally, but our investment has mainly focused on Mozambique, and is mostly based on farm economies, while Angola is mainly based on plantation economies,” Goerwelzstein said.

Currently, plantation economies require a large labor force, which is the case in any region dominated by plantation economies, while farm economies can quickly reduce costs through mechanization.

Plantation agriculture involves many plant resources, such as natural rubber, coffee, cocoa, tea, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, oil palm, sisal, tobacco, cotton, and jute. Most of these cannot be mechanized, or rather, cannot be mechanized at present.

In East African farms, the focus is mainly on food crop cultivation, supplemented by some livestock breeding and vegetable cultivation. Food crops, especially grain crop mechanization, have already begun to take shape in developed regions.

For example, a series of machines such as tractors, seeders, plows, harvesters, planters, binders, mowers, and transporters have almost all been invented.

Currently, European and American countries, like East Africa, are vigorously promoting agricultural mechanization, but this is a long process. In the previous world, it was not until around World War II that developed European and American countries achieved overall agricultural mechanization.

This is also the general direction of the current East African agricultural reform, which is why Mozambique, with its predominantly flat terrain and favorable hydrothermal conditions, was chosen by East Africa as a key experimental area.

For tropical cash crops such as rubber, sugarcane, and cotton, we can only rely on manpower at present. In East Africa, like other countries, a large number of black slaves are used as cheap labor. In addition, the current high profitability of cash crops has made them a major source of income for East African agriculture.

Angola’s agricultural model is mainly dominated by tropical plantation agriculture, and the proportion of food and fisheries is significantly smaller compared to tropical plantations.

Addressing this point, Goerwelzstein said: “Currently, our country’s tropical cash crop cultivation industry still relies heavily on cheap indigenous ‘labor’ as the main source of power. This is clearly inconsistent with our national policy of eliminating black labor within the next twenty years. Therefore, our Ministry of Agriculture’s view is to vigorously support research institutions in improving agricultural tools for some cash crops that can potentially be mechanized for planting and harvesting, thereby reducing reliance on cheap labor.”

The partial tropical cash crops mentioned by Goerwelzstein mainly refer to non-woody plant crops. For example, rubber, fruit trees, tea, etc., have not achieved large-scale mechanized operations even in the 21st century. However, cotton, sugarcane, etc., have feasibility, mainly in terms of harvesting.

Of course, East Africa does not have good solutions for rubber and fruit trees, and can only maintain the status quo, but it can reduce costs in some aspects.

For example, by building railways and highways to reduce transportation costs. Although large-scale mechanized harvesting cannot be achieved, small-scale modern agricultural machinery can be developed to facilitate plantation workers in completing harvesting, pruning, and other work processes.

Another important reason for the low mechanization rate of economic crops worldwide is that developed countries such as Europe and the United States are not major economic crop planting countries themselves. For example, the United States mainly completes the contract production of economic crops by controlling surrounding countries along the Caribbean coast to meet its own needs.

Countries such as Britain and France can reduce production costs through cheap labor costs in their South Asian, Southeast Asian, or West African colonies.

The labor costs in these economic colonies are already extremely low, which further increases the difficulty of research and promotion of mechanization in tropical economic crops.

The only country that can make a difference in this field is undoubtedly East Africa, which has the ability and the need to promote the mechanization of tropical economic crops.

First of all, East Africa is an independent sovereign country that can independently formulate policies that align with its national strategic development direction. This is the biggest advantage that European and American colonies do not have.

Secondly, East Africa has a huge advantage in the field of science and technology compared to its peers. East Africa’s competitors are generally backward countries and colonies with extremely backward technological levels.

Finally, East Africa needs to promote the mechanized development of tropical economic crops. East Africa itself is the largest tropical economic crop planting country, far surpassing countries such as Brazil. Secondly, East Africa cannot always rely on black slaves to ensure the competitiveness of this field. Black slaves will inevitably be replaced by East African citizens in the future.

Moreover, East Africa also has ambitions, that is, to become the manipulator of the world’s tropical economic crop industry in the future, just like the United States’ position in the world’s commodity grain agriculture field.

To achieve this goal, it must gain an all-round advantage in this field and defeat other competitors. After losing the price advantage of black slaves, East Africa can only work hard in the field of science and technology if it wants to achieve this goal.

Therefore, the needs of reality have prompted East Africa to increase investment in this field. Otherwise, given East Africa’s climatic conditions, it would be very difficult to compete with European and American countries in the traditional agricultural field.

Of course, if East Africa completes the mechanization of most tropical economic crops, then countries such as Brazil and Southeast Asia will not have a good time in the future. However, this is not a problem that East Africa is worried about. Even without using technological means to crush these countries, East Africa is currently the world’s largest and strongest tropical economic crop planting country.

However, considering the hardship of the tropical economic crop planting industry and the difficulty of mechanization, if East Africa does not exert its strength in this field, then the agricultural economy in the future will always be a labor-intensive industry, just like in the previous world.

East Africa cannot always rely on labor-intensive industries to make a living in the future. This is not in line with East Africa’s current national strength, status, and ambition.

Chapter 882: Exit

March 2nd, 1894.

Kisumu City.

“Today, we’ve tallied a total of fourteen automobiles, along with a large quantity of goods, primarily industrial products. This entire shipment will be sent to Jima City and then exported to the Abyssinian Empire.”

At the Kisumu railway station, brand-new automobiles manufactured by the Mombasa Automobile Factory, arrived in Kisumu City yesterday. Mombasa is currently the only city in the Northern Industrial Belt with the capability to manufacture complete vehicles.

Cities in the Northern Industrial Belt, such as Kisumu and Nairobi, are only responsible for producing some automobile parts, which are then transported by rail to Mombasa for assembly.

East Africa’s automobile industry currently has five centers: Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Harare, and Bulawayo. In addition, the New Frankfurt City automobile industry, which was initiated after Ernst’s inspection last time, may become the sixth automobile production city in East Africa in the future.

Furthermore, the upstream and downstream industries involve a total of seventy-eight East African cities and regions, in order to catalyze the unification of the domestic market, reduce production costs, and enhance the strength of the East African automobile industry.

Among the several automobile production bases, the automobile industry production capacity in the East African inland region is significantly stronger than that of the coastal region, and it prioritizes meeting the construction and development needs of the inland region.

This is one of the benefits of locating high-end industries in the inland region. Even if technology and management models spill over, they will first spread to the peripheral areas of East Africa. By the time they are transmitted to other countries and regions in the world, the East African inland region will have already completed product updates and technological upgrades.

Of course, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam on the coast are currently developing well due to their comprehensive strength, but their advantages will further diminish in the future as competition increases. For example, New Hamburg Port, Beira Port, Cabinda Port, Luanda, Benguela, and the nearby Lobito Port are all growing faster than Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

With East Africa’s conquest of Mozambique and Angola, the monopolistic form of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam over East African coastal foreign trade will be diverted in the future, forming a multi-faceted East African economic pattern centered around one point.

The so-called “one point, multi-faceted” means that the central part of East Africa is the center, radiating in four directions: east, west, south, and north. Currently, except for the British Cape Town colony, East Africa is fully exerting its strength in the east, west, and north directions.

Although the north is a continent, several inland ports have already been established, among which Jima City, bordering the Abyssinian Empire, is a leader.

In addition, there are Gezira City, Dire Dawa Town, and Saar City, respectively connecting to Egypt, the Red Sea coast, and the Sigmaringen colony.

However, Egypt is a British colony, the economy of the Red Sea coast north of Dire Dawa Town is weak, and Sigmaringen is also under development, so it cannot compete with the long-standing Abyssinian Empire market for the time being.

Therefore, the Abyssinian Empire is an important link in the East African economic circle. Over the past thirty years, economic and trade relations between the two countries have continued to strengthen, especially after the Abyssinian Empire’s relations with Egypt and Italy deteriorated. The Abyssinian Empire, which has no access to the sea, can only completely lean towards East Africa.

Currently, the Abyssinian Empire’s military industry products, industrial products, and high-end luxury products are basically East African goods, making it a dumping ground for East African products, and East Africa has become the Abyssinian Empire’s largest trading partner.

And this train from Kisumu to Jima City carries the industrial products that East Africa sells to the Abyssinian Empire today. The increasingly prosperous trade between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire has also driven the development of cities along the Turkana Railway.

As early as a few years ago, with the completion of the Turkana Railway, its starting point was in Kisumu City, passing through the hinterland of Turkana Province, the west bank of Lake Turkana, and then entering Jima City on the eastern Abyssinian border through the southern Ethiopian Plateau, and then entering Abyssinia from Jima City.

“Counting this batch of cars, the Abyssinian Empire’s imports of cars from our country this year have probably exceeded fifty. It’s only March now, so it seems very likely to exceed last year’s one hundred and sixty-seven,” said railway employee Alverd.

“This shows that the Abyssinian Empire has a large economy. Even if it is poor, the upper class has strong spending power. Moreover, the Abyssinian Empire is also rich in resources. Now, agricultural products and minerals are imported from the Abyssinian Empire on the railway every day. These agricultural products and mineral exports have created huge value for the Abyssinian Empire, so the Abyssinian dignitaries can be so extravagant,” replied fellow worker Andrew.

It can be said that the agricultural and mineral resources of the Abyssinian Empire have largely benefited East Africa, especially the Northern Industrial Belt and Turkana Province.

Although the war with Italy in recent years has led to a further shrinking of its territory, the Abyssinian Empire is still a major power in Northeast Africa, second only to Egypt.

The territory still remains above 300,000 square kilometers, and most of it is the core area of the previous life. Except for the loss of the traditional core territory in the northeast, most of the other areas are suitable for farming and are rich in resources and products.

The Italian Red Sea colony is based on Eritrea and has expanded the territory of the Abyssinian Empire east of Dessie, most of which is a transition zone between desert and plateau plains.

Although East Africa has annexed a lot of territory from the former Ethiopia, it is mainly mountainous in the south (East African Rift Valley) and arid areas in Ogaden.

Therefore, the overall size of the Abyssinian Empire is still very considerable. The plateau area is inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack, which is the fundamental reason why Italy cannot annex the Abyssinian Empire.

Of course, Italy will not have this opportunity in the future. In essence, the current Italy is different from the previous life and can only be regarded as a small and medium-sized country in Europe. Now that East Africa is balancing regional stability, Italy’s opportunity to annex the Abyssinian Empire no longer exists.

Moreover, after losing the northeastern territory, the Abyssinian Empire’s idea of regaining access to the Red Sea was completely cut off, making it a completely landlocked country that can only carry out economic activities with East Africa in the south.

Of course, the Abyssinian Empire is not completely at a disadvantage in the economic relationship between the two countries. As an important crossroads in the Northeast African region, the Abyssinian Empire has restored relations with Egypt in recent years, indirectly opening up trade links between Egypt and East Africa.

The restoration of relations between Egypt and the Abyssinian Empire is ultimately due to Italy’s meddling, which has made the original territorial disputes between the two countries no longer exist.

After improving relations with neighboring countries, the Abyssinian Empire’s economic development has been generally stable in recent years, and it has started a “middleman” business, transporting East African goods to the North African region.

With the support of railways, the transportation cost is not much higher than sea transportation, especially in the Sudanese region of inland Egypt, where transportation is poor.

Overall, the Abyssinian Empire has completely joined the East African economic circle, and although trade between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire has the suspicion of economic colonialism, it meets the needs of the Abyssinian Empire.

First of all, after years of turmoil and colonial invasions, the Abyssinian Empire government relies on East African arms to maintain social stability and national territorial integrity.

Secondly, East Africa does not adopt strong measures in trade with the Abyssinian Empire, and like the United States today, it mainly focuses on implicit economic colonialism, rather than direct plunder and aggression.

Although East Africa has annexed a lot of territory from the previous Ethiopia, the Abyssinian Empire is not the same as Ethiopia. These lands did not originally belong to the Abyssinian Empire, at most they belonged to its affiliated or even hostile sphere of influence.

In the previous life, the Abyssinian Empire learned from the strength of the West before conquering the southern region by force and ultimately forming Ethiopia.

Chapter 883: Full-Scale East Africanization

Therefore, the early Abyssinian Empire’s perception of East Africa was mostly one of fear and discomfort. There were no fundamental conflicts of interest between them. After all, the Abyssinian Empire had been fragmented after the British expedition and had a strong fear of Westerners.

At the same time, East Africa took advantage of the Abyssinia’s turmoil to incorporate a large area of its southern territory into its own. It was only natural that the Abyssinians, who had been the dominant power in the region for thousands of years, felt somewhat unbalanced.

However, the Abyssinian Empire could not fault East Africa’s actions at all. After all, the Abyssinian Empire was only a regional power and did not have direct legal claim to the southern lands. Therefore, when southern Ethiopia was incorporated into East Africa, the Abyssinian Empire could only blame its own weakness.

Moreover, with Italy, an external power, entering the Northeast African region, and with the contrast provided by its old enemy Egypt, East Africa seemed to the Abyssinian Empire to be the embodiment of all that was “great, glorious, and righteous” in the world, the most “lovable” country. This was especially true after the two countries signed a border demarcation agreement.

…

Bahir Dar.

Located south of Lake Tana in the Abyssinian Empire, within the Central Province, it rapidly became the empire’s new political and economic center after Yohannes IV moved the capital here.

The Central Province of the Abyssinian Empire is the former Amhara region, and the reason for the existence of this administrative division is a manifestation of the Abyssinian Empire’s “East Africanization.”

That’s right, this so-called Central Province was established in imitation of East Africa’s Central Province, where its capital is located. This reflects East Africa’s strong influence in the Abyssinian Empire.

The 19th century was an era of backward countries learning from the Western world, and East Africa was the Abyssinian Empire’s model for learning.

Today, East Africa is synonymous with “powerful, prosperous, and civilized” in the eyes of the Abyssinian Empire. After all, the modern Abyssinian Empire’s tragedy began with the British expedition to Abyssinia. In 1890, after East Africa defeated the powerful British, the shock to the Abyssinian Empire can be imagined.

In addition, East Africa is right next to Abyssinia. Both countries are predominantly highland countries with similar climatic conditions. Due to the relationship between the two countries, the Abyssinian Empire’s external political environment, and other reasons, East Africa became Abyssinia’s primary object of study.

Of course, the fact that both were monarchies was also very important. If it were a republic like the United States or France, the Abyssinian imperial family probably wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

As a new city, Bahir Dar shows East African style everywhere. It was specially designed by East African designers after Yohannes IV moved the capital, and the template was the East African city of Mwanza.

Bahir Dar is located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Abyssinia, just like Mwanza. Therefore, the East Africans directly copied Mwanza’s design and replicated Bahir Dar.

Therefore, traces of East Africa can be seen everywhere in Bahir Dar. Even public toilets, trash cans, and other infrastructure are ubiquitous in the city.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing is the occasional car imported from East Africa driving on the road, making Bahir Dar look nothing like a traditional African city, but rather a small European or East African town.

Of course, as the capital of the Abyssinian Empire, Bahir Dar’s potential is not very high. After all, the Abyssinian Empire as a whole is relatively poor. Therefore, although it was designed according to Mwanza, the city’s scale is far from reaching Mwanza’s standard, so there are many compromises.

For example, East Africa’s generous road construction plan has been greatly reduced in Bahir Dar. However, compared with Europe, Bahir Dar’s roads still appear spacious and clean, while also paying attention to the greenery on both sides of the road.

It is worth mentioning that the Bahir Dar Palace is also basically a replica of the East African State House, and there is no difference in the overall appearance.

The State House itself is relatively small in scale among the world’s palaces. After all, Ernst never intended to keep the East African capital in First Town, so to reduce “waste,” the scale of the State House is only the size of some small and medium-sized European countries.

This is also why the Abyssinian Empire was able to easily build the Bahir Dar Palace. However, although the palace is a little smaller in scale, it is still an extremely “magnificent and spectacular” building for the Abyssinian Empire.

Moreover, the popularization of running water, telephones, telegraphs, and lighting equipment makes the palace’s experience extremely strong and full of modern atmosphere. There is no doubt that these products are from East African factories.

In addition to the palace, the architectural style of Bahir Dar is entirely modeled after the East African style. If it weren’t for the Abyssinians and Indians with their darker skin tones, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between here and East Africa at all.

In southeastern Bahir Dar, the Abyssinian Empire’s first railway is under construction. This railway is extremely important to both the Abyssinian Empire and East Africa.

The railway runs from Agaro, northwest of Jimma in East Africa, directly to Bahir Dar, the capital of the Abyssinian Empire. Therefore, it is called the Agaro-Bahir Dar Railway by East African railway designers, or the Aba Railway for short. Of course, this is East Africa’s name for the railway.

The Abyssinian Empire calls the railway the “Central Railway.” After the loss of its eastern territories, the center of the Abyssinian Empire’s territory shifted westward. The Aba Railway is indeed located in the center of the country, so there is no problem with this name. However, the reason for this name is obviously still influenced by East Africa’s domestic railway artery, the “Central Railway.”

As the Abyssinian Empire’s first railway, it is called a symbol of “the first step in the Abyssinian Empire’s modernization” by Yohannes IV.

For East Africa, this railway is the first overseas railway to be completely contracted by East Africa and constructed according to East African standards. The railway is completely the same as East Africa’s domestic standards. Except for sleepers, ballast, and other locally sourced materials, all facilities are exported from East Africa.

Of course, the Abyssinian Empire, for national defense security considerations, did not directly connect the railway with East Africa’s Turkana Railway. Therefore, there is no railway line connecting the thirty-odd kilometers from Agaro to Jimma.

Of course, East Africa has no intention of annexing the Abyssinian Empire. After all, this is one of the only two countries with a population of over ten million near East Africa (the other is Egypt), so East Africa cannot be interested in Abyssinian territory.

Another important reason why the Abyssinian Empire adopted East African standard railways is that Egypt and Italy both use British standards, so they also have similar considerations to Tsarist Russia.

As for East Africa, although it is also an object of vigilance, when the “enemy” is too powerful, this is not a problem. East Africa is not a small country like Italy that can be easily provoked. Even without relying on railways, it can easily destroy the Abyssinian Empire. It is precisely because it clearly knows this that the Abyssinian Empire authorities completely adopt an attitude of “meek submission” towards East Africa.

In addition to architecture, infrastructure, urban planning, and other aspects, the Abyssinian Empire is comprehensively learning from East Africa. East Africa’s political system is also a key focus of the Abyssinian Empire’s learning.

In particular, Yohannes IV is very envious of East Africa’s central centralization of power. In the past few years, the Abyssinian Empire has suffered greatly from warlord separatism.

Therefore, after Yohannes IV came to power, he has been busy concentrating the power of the central government, especially after his base area of Tigray was directly threatened by Italy, forcing him to move the capital to Bahir Dar.

Therefore, after Yohannes IV moved the capital, he comprehensively strengthened Bahir Dar’s position in the country, including the construction of the Aba Railway, which was also to win over and balance the tribal forces close to East Africa to prevent them from completely siding with East Africa.

East Africa has a huge influence in the southern Abyssinian Empire, so preventing the southern forces from splitting is one of Yohannes IV’s important tasks, which is also related to his origin in the northern traditional aristocratic families.

In the past, the core of the Abyssinian Empire was in the north, but after the war with Italy, the northern forces were severely weakened. Now, the north has directly become the border. This is one of the important reasons why Bahir Dar, a previously insignificant region, became the new capital. Along with this, the northern aristocratic families and Yohannes IV concentrated the resources of the north in Bahir Dar.

Chapter 884: Deepening Cooperation

The Abyssinian Empire has fully embraced East Africa on a cultural and social level. Although the two countries differ slightly due to factors such as religion, the Abyssinian Empire is much more pleasing to East Africa than other countries in the region.

North Africa is entirely an Arabic cultural region. In contrast, the Abyssinian Empire’s mainstream religion is also a branch of Christianity. Moreover, after experiencing years of turmoil, the country is destined not to become a major power, or even a regional power, in the future.

First, it lacks a coastline. Second, its land area is small. Even if its population were in Europe, it would only be considered a medium-sized country. Third, the country is deficient in natural resources.

Of course, this resource deficiency is only in comparison to East Africa. In reality, the Abyssinian Empire’s reserves of advantageous mineral resources are not small. Coal and iron, needed for the First Industrial Revolution, are distributed throughout the country, and it is also a significant gold-producing area.

However, the problem of not having a coastline will continue to plague the Abyssinian Empire in the future, unless it reclaims the Red Sea coastal colonies seized by the Kingdom of Italy.

But this hope is slim. The current Kingdom of Italy is not as ambitious as it was during World War Two, but more pragmatic. Today, there are at least nine hundred thousand Italian immigrants in the Red Sea colonies. Even if the region becomes independent in the future, it will have a large immigrant population, making it impossible to return to the Abyssinian Empire.

And this is exactly what Ernst wants to see. If Abyssinia had a Red Sea coastline, how could it wholeheartedly cling to East Africa’s coattails?

To further control the Abyssinian Empire, on March 19, 1894, East Africa’s ambassador to Bahir Dar, Reymonds, met with Yohannes IV again at the Bahir Dar Palace to discuss further in-depth cooperation between the two countries.

The level of East Africa’s diplomatic personnel stationed in the Abyssinian Empire shows East Africa’s importance to the Abyssinian Empire. For backward countries of the same level as Abyssinia, East Africa only sends envoys-level diplomatic personnel, except for European countries.

The East African embassy area in Bahir Dar is very conspicuous, less than seven hundred meters away from the Bahir Dar Palace. Currently, only the Egyptian and Italian embassies, in addition to East Africa, are located in Bahir Dar.

“Your Majesty Yohannes, although the relationship between East Africa and Abyssinia has always been amicable, for the long-term development of our two countries, the Abyssinian Empire should try to avoid direct competition with East Africa and achieve differentiated development. This way, we can each leverage our advantages on different tracks.”

Reymonds said directly in the Bahir Dar Palace, which piqued Yohannes IV’s interest.

He asked, “Ambassador Reymonds, I wonder what you mean by differentiated development?”

If it could avoid direct competition with East Africa in some areas, it would naturally be a good thing for the Abyssinian Empire, after all, East Africa is not something the Abyssinian Empire can defeat.

Of course, if there were some non-negotiable interests, Yohannes IV would naturally not give way. Although the Abyssinian Empire is backward, it also has its pride.

Ernst is very clear about this. As one of the few African countries in his previous life that firmly resisted colonizers, the Abyssinian Empire has earned Ernst’s respect on this point.

Like in the war with Italy, the Abyssinian Empire never wavered its bottom line and resolutely resisted to the end. Although it ultimately ended in failure, the Abyssinian Empire’s courage is worth mentioning.

Reymonds said, “East Africa and Abyssinia are both located on the African continent, and both are countries dominated by plateaus. The natural climates are similar, which inevitably leads to convergence in the agricultural development of the two countries.”

“Yes.” Yohannes IV nodded in agreement, “This is indeed the case, especially after our country lost a large amount of eastern and northern territory.”

Among the territories lost by the Abyssinian Empire, only the southeastern region has cultivation value. The other northern and eastern regions are mainly desert.

Of course, although the northern region is a desert area, it also has relatively complete water conservancy facilities, and multiple rivers from the plateau region flow into it, so the agricultural conditions are actually quite good.

Otherwise, the Tigray region would not have always been the core territory of the Abyssinian Empire in ancient times. The Tigray region itself is the most economically developed area of the Abyssinian Empire.

Unfortunately, most of it has now been taken by Italy, which has caused Tigrayans to migrate to the Amhara people’s territory. The original Abyssinia mainly had three major ethnic groups: the Tigrayans, the Amhara people, and the Oromo people. The Tigrayans have long been in a dominant position within the Abyssinian Empire, with Yohannes IV being one of their representatives.

Because of East Africa, the Oromo people’s forces in the south were largely exiled to West Africa or entered East Africa to work, so the Oromo people are destined not to be able to influence Abyssinian politics in the political landscape of the Abyssinian Empire as they did in the previous life (in the previous life, the Oromo people accounted for twenty-seven percent of the country’s population).

So now the main population of the Abyssinian Empire is the Tigrayans and the Amhara people. The Amhara people have always been the largest ethnic group in Abyssinia, but they have long been subordinate to the Tigrayan forces.

However, with the southward movement of the Tigrayan forces, the two ethnic groups will likely merge in the future, forming the main ethnic group of the Abyssinian Empire, which is good news for the future of the Abyssinian Empire.

Today, the Central Province of the Abyssinian Empire is the former Amhara State, and the large influx of Tigrayans is bound to lead to intermarriage and integration with the local forces, which is the general trend.

In his previous life, Ethiopia had more than eighty ethnic conflicts, which were very serious, especially in the southeastern Somali region and the northern Tigray region, where separatist intentions were most evident.

Although Tigray is the main creator of Abyssinian civilization, it has lost power in modern times, especially after the capital was moved to Addis Ababa.

It should be known that although the Tigray region is small in area and population, its total economic output accounts for more than forty percent of the country, and it has long played the role of conqueror in the history of the Abyssinian Empire, so the Tigrayans’ separatist tendencies are the most serious, somewhat similar to Catalonia in Spain.

Today, with the joint efforts of East Africa, Italy, and Egypt, the Abyssinian Empire has actually lost other major ethnic groups besides the Tigrayans and Amhara people, including the Oromo people, Somali people, Afar people, and primitive tribes in the Omo Valley, which has actually reduced the ethnic conflicts in the Abyssinian Empire.

And now the two major ethnic groups, the Amhara people and the Tigrayans, actually have the same origin. The Amhara people actually originated in the Tigray region and were formed after the Tigrayan forces moved south, so there will be no resistance to the integration of the two major ethnic groups.

And the overall stability of the Abyssinian Empire is what East Africa is happy to see. East Africa is not the United States, which would deliberately engage in activities that harm others to benefit itself in its surrounding areas. After all, regional stability is also conducive to East Africa’s border stability and economic development.

“The Abyssinian Empire’s comprehensive shift to a plateau economy means that the Abyssinian Empire will inevitably form some competition with East Africa in agriculture in the future. Therefore, for the coordinated development of the two countries, we plan to carry out agricultural division of labor and cooperation with the Abyssinian Empire, such as the Abyssinian Empire planting some tropical cash crops that are different from those in East Africa. In this way, agricultural production cooperation between the two countries will be greater than competition, which is a good thing for both countries,” Reymonds said.

In other words, East Africa plans to fundamentally transform the agricultural development of the Abyssinian Empire into the way East Africa needs it, integrate it into the East African economy, provide East Africa with cheap agricultural products, and then form competitiveness with other tropical regions in the world.

Chapter 885: Awakening to Economic Colony Status

The Abyssinian Empire was a thoroughly backward agricultural country, but one point could not be ignored: its labor costs were extremely low.

After all, with only three hundred thousand square kilometers of land, its population was about one-seventh of East Africa’s. Therefore, the Abyssinian Empire was very suitable for engaging in some labor-intensive agriculture.

Since de-slavery in East Africa was a foregone conclusion, after the complete disappearance of black slaves, East Africa’s labor costs were bound to rise. Therefore, it was necessary to transfer some labor-intensive agriculture to the Abyssinian Empire in advance.

For example, industries like rubber, tea, and coffee cultivation, which would be difficult to mechanize in the short term, East Africa could allocate a portion to the Abyssinian Empire. As for competition, East Africa was not afraid of a country as small as Abyssinia. Rather, it was a large tropical country with a vast territory like Brazil that East Africa was wary of.

Of course, Johnnes IV was aware of East Africa’s desire to control Abyssinia’s agriculture, but he could not prevent it. If East Africa adopted economic means to change the agricultural situation in the Abyssinian Empire, Johnnes IV would be equally helpless.

Of course, Remus also said, “We in East Africa understand the national conditions of Abyssinia. The Abyssinian Empire has a hunger problem and needs to solve the food problem first. East Africa can help the Abyssinian Empire with this. East Africa is one of the world’s largest food exporters and is fully capable of solving the Abyssinian Empire’s food problem, forming an economic pattern of exchanging food and industrial products for cash crops.”

Of course, the Abyssinian Empire had a relatively dense population and low productivity, so agricultural production was mainly focused on food crops, after all, the problem of eating had to be solved first.

And in order to make the Abyssinian Empire willingly produce cash crops that heavily relied on manual labor for East Africa, it was natural to give the Abyssinian Empire a reassurance.

Of course, the main reason was that East Africa’s food crops, especially rice and wheat, were beginning to show signs of mechanization. In the future, a small agricultural population could meet the needs of large-scale agricultural production.

Of course, this was something that the native emperor Johnnes IV could not imagine. He was not actually opposed to planting cash crops, because there was a large demand in the international community. Developed countries in Europe and the United States would take as much as was produced. Otherwise, European and American countries would not be engaged in plantation economies all over the world.

Of course, East Africa was giving up a portion of the share because it had already begun to shift to industrialization. At the same time, East Africa’s size was not comparable to that of the Abyssinian Empire, and the Abyssinian Empire was easier to control. This was the main reason.

In the future, East Africa did not want to fight natives in the rainforests of Vietnam like the United States. Southeast Asia was far from East Africa and had complex terrain, while Abyssinia was mainly highland terrain, and the mountainous areas that were easy to defend and difficult to attack were basically in the hands of southern East Africa, so it was impossible to resist East Africa’s control.

Of course, Remus could not make Johnnes IV easily submit with just a few words, but it was only a matter of time, because the Abyssinian Empire had no choice.

No matter how the Abyssinian Empire struggled, even if the whole country only planted tropical cash crops, its output would always be limited due to its small land area. On the contrary, after these cheap agricultural products entered East Africa, East Africa could slightly process them and sell them to Europe and the United States.

This was equivalent to East Africa deploying labor-intensive agricultural types in Abyssinia, while East Africa engaged in mid-to-upstream industries, namely processing and sales, forming a large industrial chain dependent on East Africa. This was a good thing for both East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire.

To further dispel Johnnes IV’s doubts, Remus specifically said, “Of course, as a friend of the Abyssinian Empire, we in East Africa respect your decisions. For example, regarding food security, your country has a lot of restricted land. You can expand the cultivated area on the current basis, so as to engage in cash crop cultivation. This will not pose a threat to domestic food security, and you can also earn more money. After all, international grain prices have been low in recent years, and the profits are far less than crops such as rubber, coffee, and sugar.”

Sure enough, with Remus’s reminder, Johnnes IV, the emperor with a military background, also “suddenly realized” that this was indeed the truth!

Of course, this was obviously impossible. There was a huge loophole in Remus’s words, that was the premise that East African grain did not enter Abyssinia.

Remus also said that international grain prices had been maintained at a low level, so cheap East African grain had actually entered the Abyssinian Empire more than a decade ago. Therefore, more and more landlords in the Abyssinian Empire were now starting to switch to cash crop cultivation. East Africa was only accelerating this process.

East Africa’s ultimate goal was to completely integrate the Abyssinian Empire into the East African market. Now Remus’s approach was only to accelerate this process.

As for food security, it had always been East Africa’s weapon. If Abyssinia really could not be self-sufficient in food, East Africa would only be happy to see it happen.

Of course, as a fish raised by East Africa, East Africa would not go too far like the United States did along the Caribbean coast. At least it would give the Abyssinian Empire a share of the pie.

In this regard, the East African government still had integrity. After all, the East African government was not a merchant government like the United States. It would consider more from political and economic factors.

“Moreover, the East African government will provide assistance to the Abyssinian Empire in agricultural technology, providing more advanced agricultural tools, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to increase the Abyssinian Empire’s agricultural income,” Remus added.

The agricultural tools for cash crop cultivation currently had basically no technical content, so there was no need to worry about technology leakage. It should be known that East African tractors were only used domestically at present, and exports were avoided in order to prevent agricultural powers such as the United States and Tsarist Russia from improving their technology in the future.

As a powerhouse in the field of internal combustion engines, East Africa undoubtedly belonged to the first tier in the machinery in this field. Because of early investment, it was ten to twenty years ahead of other countries in the world.

The internal combustion engine tractors of similar competitors on the market did not yet have large-scale promotion value, while East Africa’s gasoline and diesel tractors had already begun mass production in the inland.

This was equivalent to East Africa implementing reverse technology blockade on the world. Moreover, because of the world market, East Africa could easily obtain technology from other countries in the world through commercial or even espionage activities. Therefore, as time went by, East Africa could achieve a pattern of “you have what I have, and I have what you don’t” in the field of practical technology.

This was East Africa’s reverse application of the “closed-door” policy. Of course, this was obviously not conducive to technological progress in the world, but East Africa obviously did not care about this.

“Ambassador Remus, I will give you a reply later regarding the matter of cooperation between the two countries,” Johnnes IV said.

After all, he had to let his think tank help him with advice on this matter. However, Johnnes IV was soon persuaded by his ministers.

After all, the Abyssinian Empire’s economic dependence on East Africa was a foregone conclusion, which led to the birth of a large number of “comprador” groups. Of course, the situation in the Abyssinian Empire had already destined it to be unable to resist East Africa’s subtle invasion in all aspects. Since it could not resist, it was better to “enjoy” it.

In April of 1894, East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire officially signed a treaty on in-depth cooperation and development. The Abyssinian Empire also officially became the first country in the world to be tied to East Africa’s chariot.

Chapter 886: Transfer of Outdated Industries

Economic colonization of the Abyssinian Empire is an important step in establishing the East African economic sphere, because it is currently the only independent country with a decent economic size around East Africa.

Like other countries and regions, apart from British Cape Town and the Italian Red Sea colony, none have a population exceeding one million.

Cape Town’s development history is long. It has experienced hundreds of years of development from the Netherlands to Britain. After the South African War, a large number of Boers returned to the Cape Town colony, further increasing its population.

The initial essence of the Red Sea colony was the result of population overflow from the Apennine Peninsula. Following Germany, Italy has become the mainstream immigrant group in Europe. In recent years, Mozambique and Angola in East Africa have absorbed many Italian immigrants.

This has enabled the Italian immigrant community in East Africa to rapidly catch up with the Slavic immigrant community. However, the Slavic immigrant community in East Africa mainly comes from various regions in the southern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and has been deeply influenced by Germanization to a certain extent, while the number of Slavic immigrants from Tsarist Russia is not that large.

The situation in the countries surrounding East Africa is that, apart from the Abyssinian Empire, all others are colonies. This is the way things should be in the African continent. An independent country like East Africa, which is not inhabited by indigenous people, is a real oddity.

…

First Municipal City.

“Since 1873, a large number of production equipment has been imported from Germany and other places, thereby achieving leapfrog development of our country’s industry. However, nearly twenty years have passed, and much of the equipment is outdated. East Africa’s overall industrial technology and equipment also need to be innovated, especially in non-emerging industrial fields.”

East Africa has always wanted to upgrade its industrial system, because most of the equipment imported by East Africa was in the seventies, but the actual age of some equipment may be even earlier.

Ernst continued: “At present, old industrial equipment is mainly concentrated in the central and eastern inland areas, so this technological equipment innovation should start from the inland areas first, and at the same time, it should focus on East Africa’s own new technologies and equipment.”

“Of course, the old equipment still doesn’t need to be eliminated immediately, but should be transferred to the west and north, so as to achieve further sound development of our country’s overall industrial strength.”

In the seventies, East Africa’s territory was still mainly in the east, so industry was basically deployed in the eastern region. In the eighties, with East Africa’s development of the central region, a large number of backward production capacities were transferred to the central region, promoting the rise of the central heavy industry base.

Of course, in the mid-to-late eighties, with the improvement of East Africa’s education, economy, and research and development capabilities, East Africa prioritized the deployment of several key industrial fields in the central region, including electricity, automobiles, and railways, which barely achieved parity in industrial levels between the central and eastern regions.

However, compared to the eastern coastal areas, the overall strength of East Africa’s inland areas is still weak. After all, the current technology center of the world is in Europe, and the eastern coast can more conveniently connect with the world market.

Therefore, coastal cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa can stand out among the various cities in East Africa. It should be known that this is the result of the East African government favoring the inland areas with policies.

“The current level of development in our inland areas is good, and they can already compete with the eastern coastal areas. However, apart from the central and eastern regions, the economic development of other regions in the country is seriously lagging behind, especially the northern region, which was incorporated into our territory earlier.”

“Now, with the further deepening of economic cooperation between East Africa and the Abyssinian Empire, we should deploy a batch of industries around the Abyssinian Empire to reduce production costs and achieve further optimization of industries.”

Although East Africa has a large number of backward industries, these industries are still relatively advanced in backward areas, especially for remote areas in East Africa.

The northern region of East Africa is not a small place, mainly including the Azande Plateau, the Upper Nile Basin, the Ethiopian Plateau, the plains along Lake Turkana, and the Somali Plain, with an overall population of more than ten million.

Although it is far behind the central and eastern regions, it is temporarily more advantageous than the south and west when viewed from a national perspective, so the focus of this transfer of backward industries is the northern region.

Of course, there is another consideration for transferring these backward industries to the north, which is to be close to the regional market. In the land economy, East Africa itself occupies the Central and Southern African continent except for Cape Town, so the land foreign economy is mainly West Africa in the northwest, and North Africa across the Sahara Desert.

These old equipment introduced in the seventies can continue to shine and generate heat after being moved to the north, and complete their final retirement mission, and the end point is to be completely eliminated.

Moreover, it is much easier to move equipment to the north now than in the seventies and eighties. With the construction and popularization of East African railways and highways, today’s transportation conditions in East Africa are much better than they were a decade ago.

In the past, the industrial equipment during the period when East African industries moved to the inland areas was completed by manpower and animal power, and the degree of hardship was far greater than it is now.

“The north, especially the northwest, is our bridgehead for connecting with West Africa. With the development of the Sigmaringen royal territory and the Belgian Congo and German Cameroon, the northwest will be an important part of East Africa’s foreign trade in the future.”

“The central and eastern regions should further optimize industries, especially in the fields of railways, steel, electricity, automobiles, and equipment manufacturing, continue to exert efforts to expand the advantages of emerging industries, and improve the production efficiency of traditional industries. In the field of traditional industries, the future goal of East Africa’s central and eastern regions is to catch up with European and American countries.”

As for the west, East Africa’s positioning of the west, especially the coast, is relatively high. Regions such as Luanda, Cabinda, and Benguela are all targeting Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, so in addition to developing traditional industries, emerging industries will also be developed as a priority.

The strategy is the same as East Africa’s development strategy in the central region. After all, East Africa’s eastern coast is anchored to the Asian and European markets, the inland region is anchored to the national market, and the west will be anchored to the European and American (mainly Latin American) markets in the future.

Countries like Argentina and Brazil have good purchasing power levels and are important markets that cannot be ignored, especially Argentina today, which exports a large number of agricultural products to Europe, and its per capita living standard is catching up with developed countries and regions. East Africa’s western routes directly connect with South America, so there is a geographical advantage.

Moreover, Latin America is rich in various natural resources, which can facilitate East Africa’s western coastal cities to purchase raw materials, and the west itself is not bad in terms of resource endowment.

In his previous life, Angola was one of the major resource countries in Africa, especially its oil resources were the most abundant. Coupled with its proximity to the central industrial zone of East Africa, it meets various requirements for industrial development.

With the construction of two railway trunk lines, it will inevitably be connected to the central and eastern regions in the future and become a major industrial distribution area in East Africa.

Therefore, East Africa’s emphasis on the west, especially Angola, is far greater than that on the north. Backward industries are, in the final analysis, the soup left over from East Africa’s central and eastern regions. The northern region can only eat these leftovers, while East Africa’s arrangements for Angola are obviously not like this.

Apart from the above areas, only the southern region has no detailed planning. East Africa is not actively developing the southern region. One reason is that the south only has the British Cape Town colony. The relationship between the two sides is poor, so trade is naturally not frequent, and it also serves as a buffer zone.

Although the northern part of East Africa also borders the United Kingdom, Egypt, including the Sudan region, has extremely poor transportation conditions. As for British Somaliland, its size is too small to pose a threat to East Africa.

Chapter 887: The Eight Cities of the North

With just a few words from Ernst, the people below were going to be run ragged. Although the idea was to relocate outdated industries to the north, the destination couldn’t be decided arbitrarily. Even outdated industries were valuable resources for East Africa, considering its current industrial scale wasn’t large and demand was far from met. Therefore, even the transfer of outdated industries required research and investigation.

To this, Ernst said rather deviously, “The location of Gezira City, I think, is quite good. It’s situated in the Gezira Plain, has a certain agricultural foundation, and is close to the Nile River, so water resources aren’t lacking. We can focus on developing a batch of chemical industries and other highly polluting industries there. This way, it won’t affect our domestic environment, and it will also facilitate trade between us and Egypt.”

The Nile River flows from south to north and is an international river, mainly involving the three countries of East Africa, Egypt, and the Abyssinian Empire.

International rivers are generally prone to international disputes, mainly concerning water resources. Most of the rivers in the upper Nile basin (South Sudan) eventually converge into the Nile.

And Gezira City is the last section of the Nile within East Africa. If highly polluting industries were set up here, it would indeed be quite wicked, as East Africa, located upstream, would inevitably pollute the Nile River water within Egypt.

The Nile River is Egypt’s lifeblood, and most of its drinking and irrigation water comes from the Nile, so Ernst’s idea was very dangerous.

However, East African officials quite agreed with this point. After all, people of this era didn’t have environmental awareness, and the development of industry would inevitably cause pollution. East Africa’s industrial wastewater was all discharged into rivers and the sea.

Currently, East Africa’s main industrial zones are concentrated on the eastern coast, along the shores of Lake Malawi, and in the central region, so East Africa’s industrial wastewater is also mainly discharged in two directions: the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

The water of Lake Malawi flows through the Shire River into the Zambezi River, and the main rivers near the central industrial zone are the Zambezi River and the tributaries of the Congo River, so some of it flows into the Zambezi River, and some of it flows into the Congo River, with their final destinations being the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, respectively.

Of course, if East Africa deployed highly polluting industries in Gezira City, the impact wouldn’t actually be as bad as one might think. After all, the country that pollutes the Nile River the most is actually Egypt itself.

Although Egypt is backward, its industrial level is second only to East Africa in the entire Africa, and Egypt’s industrial wastewater is obviously also discharged into the Nile River. In its previous life, the Nile River was one of the most polluted rivers in the world, rivaling the Ganges in India.

Although the Ganges River basin has a much larger population than the Nile River, the Ganges also has a larger flow and a stronger self-cleaning ability. The Nile River has a smaller water volume, and there is only one river channel in the lower reaches, so the pollution is naturally more serious. In addition, Egypt has a dense population, and the water used by residents along the coast all comes from the Nile River, but the corresponding domestic sewage and industrial wastewater can only rely on the Nile River as well.

So even if East Africa doesn’t pollute the Nile River, the Egyptians themselves will pollute it. In fact, this is the current situation. Egypt introduced a large number of textile companies during the era of Muhammad Ali, and the pollution from the textile industry is very serious, and this industrial wastewater is of course the main source of pollution for the Nile River.

As for the upstream Abyssinian Empire and East Africa, their impact on the Nile River is actually small. Of course, the Abyssinian Empire is a purely agricultural country and cannot have a major impact on the water quality of the Nile River.

Although East Africa has a certain scale of industry, most of its industrial deployment is in agricultural areas, except for some cities along the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) region, so the impact on the Nile River is not significant.

Of course, whether Gezira City can be industrially developed is inevitable. Gezira City is one of East Africa’s important long-staple cotton producing areas. Other things aside, the textile industry must be arranged, so some of Nairobi’s textile industry will definitely be relocated to Gezira City.

As for the chemical industry, although Gezira has the advantage of being located upstream, the development of the chemical industry also requires a certain industrial base in the local area, and many cities in East Africa are interested in the chemical industry, because in East Africa, the chemical industry is also an emerging industry.

Moreover, Gezira City is far from the East African hinterland. Currently, the railway from Juba City to Gezira City has not yet been opened, so the industrial development of Gezira City will still take time.

“Bangui City must be a key development area. At the same time, Mogadishu and Kismayo on the Somali coast, Bangassou on the Azande Plateau, Dire Dawa, and Turkana Province are all priority options.”

Turkana Province was singled out. As one of the earliest developed regions in East Africa, Turkana Province is currently East Africa’s most important oil producing area, and it has multiple trade ports connecting to the Abyssinian Empire. Railways and highways have also been opened long ago, so it will be a key focus of the industrial sector this time.

In addition to Turkana Province, Bangui’s position is the most prominent. Downstream of it are Kinshasa and Cabinda, to the north are the Sigmaringen royal territory and German Cameroon, and to the west is the Belgian Congo, so East Africa must vigorously develop Bangui City.

In addition to economic considerations, there are naturally also national defense and security considerations. The population in the northwest region is small, and it is not a key direction for East Africa’s development, but with the activities of other colonizers, East Africa must pay more attention to the local security to prevent its territory from being eroded.

Most of the border between East Africa and Belgium is located on the right bank of the Ubangi River. This area is mostly swampy, so it is currently difficult to distinguish the border between the two countries. As for the other two colonies, Sigmaringen, East Africa is not worried about, and although the relationship with German Cameroon is considered friendly, it must be guarded against.

In the end, the East African government determined several key cities for this transfer of outdated industries, namely Dire Dawa, Jimma, Gambela (border with the Abyssinian Empire), Juba, Gezira, Bangassou (Central Africa), Bria (Central Africa), and Bangui.

These eight cities are basically spread across various northern provinces of East Africa, and most are located in border areas, including Dire Dawa, Jimma, Juba, and Gezira. Bangui is also close to the border, but the urban area is far from the border. In addition, they are regional transportation hubs, such as Bangui, Juba, and Bria.

As for the cities that were not selected, some were not because of poor conditions. Cities like Mogadishu and Kismayo, and some cities in Turkana Province, actually have a certain industrial base, so they don’t need these outdated industries that are about to be eliminated.

Taking Mogadishu as an example, its key development industry is the food processing industry, and Mogadishu’s food processing industry itself is at the top level in East Africa. At the same time, Mogadishu also has a textile industry, which is one of its pillar industries. Its textile industry has only recently been put into production, mainly as a result of the “Eurasian Fruit Basket Program” investment promotion in the two Somali provinces last time.

Moreover, with the cooperation between East Africa and Germany, more German merchants are choosing to invest and build factories in the coastal areas of East Africa. There are many opportunities in themselves, so this transfer of outdated industries is not highly valued by Mogadishu and others.

After all, German and Austro-Hungarian investment is definitely mainly in emerging technologies on the market. If they were to receive outdated industries eliminated from central and eastern regions, it would not be an opportunity for these cities, but a burden.

Therefore, these outdated industries still need to be transferred to the less developed areas of East Africa. Of course, there can’t be no economic base at all, otherwise even if outdated industries are transferred to the local area, they probably won’t be able to operate. And the eight cities selected above are at this intermediate level, perfectly meeting the needs of the East African government.

Chapter 888: Selecting a Site for Rhein City

July 4, 1894.

After conducting on-site inspections, the East African government’s New Frankfurt City survey team, after meticulously filtering according to Ernst’s requirements, finally selected a potential site for Rhein City. The team leader, Bels, ultimately reported the findings to Ernst.

“Based on our survey of the area surrounding New Frankfurt City and considering various factors, we believe that the area approximately forty-nine kilometers southeast of New Frankfurt City and about seventy kilometers northeast of Kabwe is the most suitable location for Rhein City.”

“Firstly, the Lunsemfwa River flows through this area, so there won’t be any issues with the city’s water supply. It’s generally accepted that a city is best built near a river, as is the case with most cities around the world. For example, our capital, First Town, is built along the Little Rhein River, and most of the city’s water comes from it, providing both agricultural irrigation and shipping value.”

“Of course, shipping will be difficult to achieve on the Lunsemfwa River. This river is a tributary of the Zambezi River, specifically the Luangwa River, and neither it nor the Zambezi River can support large-scale navigation. The Lunsemfwa River inherits this characteristic, with a significant drop in elevation. Only by building locks can its shipping value be improved.”

“However, there are also advantages to this. For example, the local hydropower potential is enormous. Especially in the area we selected, the Ministry of Water Resources has confirmed that it is suitable for damming the river and building a large dam, creating an artificial reservoir that would form a sizable lake.”

Ernst had some recollection of this, as Zambia had built the Lunsemfwa Dam in this area in his previous life, providing power to Kabwe and serving as a fish farm, creating the sizable Lake Mita.

So Ernst said, “That’s a good idea, but we don’t have any plans to build a large dam at the moment. The technology isn’t mature enough, and it would be a waste if something went wrong.”

This was a lesson learned from the Kariba Dam in his previous life. In Ernst’s view, the earlier a dam is built, the greater the risk and the lower the efficiency. It’s better to build these large-scale projects later. This is why East Africa is currently choosing to build hydroelectric power stations on smaller rivers.

And if the Lunsemfwa River reservoir were to be built, it wouldn’t be a small undertaking, but a very large project.

Bels naturally had an explanation for this: “Your Royal Highness, we have taken this into consideration. Therefore, the site for Rhein City is some distance from the Lunsemfwa River, rather than being built on the riverbank like First Town. The Ministry of Water Resources has calculated the local terrain and reserved enough safety distance so that even if there are plans to build the Lunsemfwa River reservoir in the future, it will not threaten the safety of Rhein City.”

“At the same time, Rhein City will rely primarily on railways and highways for transportation during its construction, so it doesn’t need to be too close to the river. The Lunsemfwa River will mainly be used for urban water supply and agricultural irrigation, which can be achieved using the river’s tributaries, as is the case with New Frankfurt City and Kabwe. One city arose because of its railway hub, and the other because of its mineral development, not because of the local river. Otherwise, they could have chosen to be near the river at the time.”

Ernst nodded and said, “If that’s the case, then it’s indeed a feasible plan. And reserving space for future reservoir development will also facilitate the sustainable development of Rhein City. Continue with the local advantages and disadvantages.”

Bels said, “The local climate, terrain, soil, transportation, and so on basically meet the requirements you mentioned, Your Highness. The temperature is basically the same as New Frankfurt City, and the terrain is relatively flat. Although there are some undulations, they are mainly in the downstream area of the Lunsemfwa River, which will not have a major impact on the area we have selected. It is convenient for the construction of railways and highways, connecting to the New Frankfurt City railway hub. From any perspective, there are no obvious shortcomings in the area.”

“Of course, all of this will depend on the later construction of Rhein City. If the subsequent construction and planning are not in place, it will inevitably cause some negative impacts. Therefore, we also need Your Royal Highness to provide more advice so that we can make targeted modifications to Rhein City according to your requirements.”

Ernst did have some requirements for the new capital. After all, this wasn’t East Africa’s first time building a capital. They had some experience from building First Town, and First Town’s long-term role as the capital had also revealed some problems.

Ernst thought for a while and said, “First of all, the city size. First Town is still too small, and with the extravagance and waste in urban planning, it seems a bit secluded. This is not very adaptable over time. Therefore, Rhein City should learn from European countries in terms of scale and population design, not just limiting itself to administrative functions.”

Ernst wouldn’t have thought this way before. After all, having lived in big cities in the 21st century, Ernst felt that small cities were better. In addition, First Town was not Ernst’s ideal capital location, so First Town’s expansion has not been significant over the years.

Having lived in First Town for so many years, Ernst was a bit tired of this lifeless feeling, so the new capital should have a larger population and be more lively.

So Ernst mentioned, “Among the many cities, Vienna is the one that has satisfied me the most in recent years. Considering the future development prospects of East African cities, the best population size for Rhein City should be around fifty thousand to three million.”

This range was a bit large. After all, only Dar es Salaam in East Africa currently has a population of over five hundred thousand, and the second largest city, Mombasa, is only approaching five hundred thousand.

Three million is a standard that many cities in Europe do not meet today, including major cities such as Berlin, Vienna, and Saint Petersburg.

Of course, Ernst had his reasons for mentioning this number. First of all, Rhein City will definitely be built according to the standards of a city with at least three million people, to avoid being caught off guard by future city expansion issues, such as highways, city roads, and basic living facilities.

For example, Brasilia, the later capital of Brazil, was initially built to a standard of five hundred thousand people, and it was only intended to be responsible for administrative functions at the beginning, but by the 21st century, it was obviously not enough.

Ernst continued, “Of course, although the city framework is large, the initial construction will definitely be based on a population of fifty thousand. In fact, only Dar es Salaam in East Africa currently has a population of over five hundred thousand, so Rhein City will definitely not have a large influx of people in the short term. So what I really mean is that you should take a long-term view and reserve enough urban land.”

East Africa is not a small country after all, and the capital is definitely an important reference point that can reflect a country’s style. Although Ernst is not pursuing the kind of mega-city he knew from his previous life, it must also match East Africa’s great power temperament.

“Modern elements, especially diverse elements, should be reflected as much as possible, so that the city does not appear too monotonous. For example, Paris is too homogeneous and lacks the atmosphere of everyday life. You must also grasp this degree well. The priority reference object is Vienna, a city with a strong classical and modern atmosphere.”

“The key is not to design too idealistically, but to make it convenient for citizens to live. Many city designs in Europe and the United States now focus too much on artistry or visual impact. We in East Africa should try to avoid this as much as possible…”

Afterward, Ernst spent a full hour giving his opinions, which finally made Bels feel the pressure.

Because according to Ernst’s requirements, the new capital must grasp the “degree,” but this degree was entirely Ernst’s personal feeling, with no uniform standard.

This was too difficult, because no one knew whether the finished product would eventually be “favored” by the Crown Prince. If it was a design as rigid as Paris, it would be much easier, simply copying the template.

Chapter 889: Far East War

Therefore, Bels could only write down all the Crown Prince’s requests and then go back to discuss them with everyone. After all, one person’s wisdom is limited; if there’s a headache, everyone should share it, not just him suffering alone.

So, after finalizing the specific location of Rhine City, Bels and his team’s main task shifted to urban planning and design, with the ultimate goal of building a city of moderate size, blending old and new cultures, full of life, and at the same time, well-organized, with reasonable zoning, meeting the capital’s political, cultural, and diplomatic center positioning, while also having some economic and transportation functions.

Of course, Ernst, as the client for the construction of Rhine City, wasn’t too worried. After all, even if East Africa wanted to build a new capital, it would take time, during which various problems could be corrected. Rhine City was being built from the ground up, so it could be completely demolished and rebuilt. And the location of Rhine City meant that it wouldn’t encounter too many problems, at most some minor troubles.

…

“Your Highness, just yesterday, the Far East government applied for our country to mediate its dispute with Japan over interests in the Korean Peninsula.”

The East African Foreign Minister urgently took a telegram from the East African Embassy in the Far East Empire to Swet Palace to report to Ernst.

What was coming, was coming after all, Ernst thought to himself, while taking the telegram and reading it carefully.

On July 6th, after the Far East Empire’s attempt to seek help from the British government failed, the Far East Empire had to place its hopes on other major powers such as Germany, the United States, and East Africa.

Previously, a large-scale peasant uprising occurred in Korea, and the Japanese government took the opportunity to send troops to Korea, triggering a new round of political crisis in the Far East.

The last Far East crisis was when Japan invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ended with East Africa’s intervention and the division of the Southern Ryukyu Islands.

Moreover, with the end of the South African War, East Africa’s national status had significantly improved, so this time the Far East Empire clearly regarded East Africa as a major power.

After a while, after confirming that Ernst had finished reading the telegram, Hermann asked, “Your Highness, should we accept the Far East Empire’s request?”

Ernst frowned and said, “Of course. After all, we have had some unpleasantness with Japan in the past. To this day, Japan is still reluctant to give up the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Last time, they were quite resentful of our occupation of the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii. And according to intelligence reports, Japan has been conducting espionage activities in Jiaozhou, and Jiaozhou, as everyone knows, is where East Africa’s interests lie in the Far East. This shows that Japan has always posed a great threat to East Africa, so when necessary, we should definitely make some trouble for the Japanese.”

For various reasons, East Africa had to make trouble for Japan, but only to that extent. After all, the Far East was too far from East Africa. Although East Africa had two footholds in the Southern Ryukyu Islands and the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii, it was only enough to maintain East Africa’s interests in the Far East region.

Moreover, Japan was in fact supported by Britain and the United States, one to contain the expansion of Tsarist Russia in the Far East, and the other to further open up the Far East market, so East Africa could not prevent the outbreak of this war at all.

Ernst had a clear understanding of this, so he said to Hermann, “Express our attitude to both countries. East Africa opposes the turmoil in the Far East region. At the same time, we must strive for Germany and Austria-Hungary’s support in public opinion. After all, if the war takes place in the northern sea, it will inevitably affect the interests of our three countries. Britain and the United States will not be so kind to help Japan.”

So, under Ernst’s instructions, Hermann expressed the East African government’s attitude to Richard, the ambassador to the Far East Empire.

Of course, the final result was naturally fruitless. Although East Africa firmly opposed it, and to a certain extent influenced the attitude of Germany and Austria, the three countries could not directly threaten Japan. After all, the most powerful of the three countries in the Far East was East Africa, and East Africa’s so-called Pacific Fleet was insignificant in the Far East, and it was divided into two parts due to the new incorporation of the Kingdom of Northern Hawaii, so it could not influence the situation in the Far East.

East Africa naturally wouldn’t let it go. Three days later, on July 10th, the East African government signed a batch of military agreements with the Far East Empire. Of course, it was mainly a military sales agreement, including more than seventy thousand pieces of British and Portuguese equipment seized by the East African army after the last South African War, as well as naval warships that had already been signed and were being repaired in East African shipyards, accelerating their delivery to the Far East Empire government. This was hardware support for the Far East Empire.

In addition, East Africa and the public opinion organizations under the Hechingen Consortium also responded, with a large number of reporters flocking to the Far East region to report on the war in real time.

This was a very necessary measure, because in the previous life, the public opinion in the Far East was unfavorable to the Far East Empire in the war with Japan, just like the evil deeds of the Jews in the previous life were covered up in the Western world.

The massacre of Port Arthur by Japan was also automatically ignored by Britain and the United States, especially in American public opinion, which completely stood on the side of Japan, calling the war a victory of “civilization” over ignorance.

This shows that the United States’ bias towards Jews in the 21st century is completely traditional performance art, and is essentially synonymous with “evil.”

East Africa’s public opinion organizations can only influence the country, but the news newspaper consortium under the Hechingen Consortium is very different. It covers European countries such as Germany, Austria, France, and Russia. Although it is not mainstream in some countries, it is also quite influential.

Under the pressure of public opinion, Japan naturally cannot ignore international influence. It would be best if it could prevent some tragedies from happening.

After all, even a colonial country like East Africa has never openly carried out purposeful massacres of black people.

It is worth mentioning that, with the development of East African technology, the news agencies under the current East Africa and Hechingen Consortium have also been upgraded. Some reporters are equipped with portable film cameras. The three major international giants that produce portable cameras are Kodak of the United States, the Mbeya City Optical Factory of East Africa, and Pfitsch Company under the Hechingen Consortium.

Pfitsch Company is an enterprise funded by the Hechingen Consortium, mainly responsible for business in the European market, headquartered in Berlin, while the Mbeya City Optical Factory in East Africa is a semi-military enterprise.

With the support of new technologies, the public opinion organizations controlled by East Africa can better “monitor” the development of the Far East war situation.

In addition to these supports, East Africa has also achieved some results in diplomacy. Under the insistence of East Africa, Tsarist Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary, the scope of this war can only occur on the Korean Peninsula, with the “two rivers” on the border as the boundary, and the two sides of the land battle must not use force on this line.

Although Tsarist Russia is not out of “good intentions,” it has also caused some changes in the international attitude towards this war.

As for the sea, that’s another matter. And under Ernst’s deliberate strengthening, if the Far East Empire’s navy can still lose the war, then the government is incompetent, and no one can save it.

Subsequently, the war between the Far East Empire and Japan finally broke out completely in late July. Although Japan is weak, due to the gambler’s mentality, coupled with the connivance and support of Britain and the United States, and the development of militarism, the national strength can hardly support its exaggerated army, especially the naval expenditure, so it must also use “Korea” to make a cut and recover some blood.

As for East Africa, this troublemaker… it really can’t afford to provoke it for the time being. In short, it’s best to get Korea first. This is the most determined goal of the Japanese government.

Chapter 890: Railway Construction

The war in the Far East, after all, was a minor matter for East Africa, and it was even difficult to attract the attention of its own citizens. After all, East Africa was mainly focused on domestic construction and had no intention of interfering in international affairs.

September 1894.

New Frankfurt.

“This railway goes in a southeast direction. According to what the higher-ups said, it seems they want to build a new city southeast of New Frankfurt and northeast of Kabwe. This newly opened railway branch line uses the New Frankfurt railway and connects to the national railway network.” Railway worker Hans told his workmates the inside information he had obtained.

The East African government’s efficiency was still good. With the location of Rhine City determined, the railway to Rhine City also began construction. Hans and others were railway workers on this railway line.

“There’s nothing strange about that. East Africa has a large number of new cities being built every year. Take our Hohenzollern Province, for example. There are quite a few cities that have sprung up in recent years,” Lavis replied.

Many cities in Hohenzollern Province have suddenly risen due to mineral resources or railways, especially the northern copper belt and along the central railway line. Therefore, the emergence of a new city around New Frankfurt is not surprising to Lavis.

“Hehe, you don’t understand. If it was just a new city, it wouldn’t be worth my attention. But I heard from Supervisor Valeni that this new city is very likely to become our new capital in the future, replacing the current First Town.” Hans said to Lavis and the others.

Lavis: “How did you get the news from Supervisor Valeni? And since he knows this information, why hasn’t it been publicized openly?”

Hans: “Didn’t I accompany Supervisor Valeni for a drink a while ago? He said it himself when he was drunk. I didn’t think much about it at the time, because First Town seems to be perfectly fine as the capital now. How could there be a relocation of the capital! But not long after, Supervisor Valeni’s words were confirmed, especially this railway, which Supervisor Valeni specifically mentioned.”

His other colleague, Bell, interjected at this time: “Hans, what’s so special about this railway?”

Hans’s mouth turned up in a smile and said: “The knowledge in this is vast. As you all know, the capital of any country should be a place where transportation is accessible throughout the country. Isn’t there a saying that all roads lead to Rome? So the capital must be chosen in the most convenient transportation area in East Africa.”

“And although the location of First Town is good, close to the sea, and has a railway, it is too far east. Our East Africa is a large country, even bigger than a dozen Germanys. So the location of First Town is naturally too remote for the whole of East Africa.”

“The area around New Frankfurt is different. Not only is it the geographical center of East Africa, but it will also become our future national economic center. To put it simply, if the central government is placed here, it can better control all regions of the country, especially our main highland core area.”

Everyone also felt that what Hans said made some sense, but Lavis asked: “But wouldn’t that be redundant? You could just put the capital in New Frankfurt, and building a new city would seem like a waste.”

Regarding this point, Hans explained: “This is not contradictory. First Town was not placed in the more prosperous Dar es Salaam, but built about fifty kilometers west of Dar es Salaam. So our future new capital may also take this approach.”

At this time, Supervisor Valeni suddenly appeared from nowhere and said: “Hans, what are you talking about?”

Valeni’s appearance gave everyone a big shock, after all, as a superior, everyone was still somewhat afraid of Valeni.

Hans’s face stiffened, and he quickly said: “We were just discussing the railway, after all, Supervisor Valeni, you also said that we should pay special attention to this railway, so we were just talking about work.”

“Oh, is that so? You better not play any tricks. This railway is very important, and there can’t be any flaws in the quality. So pay attention during construction, and report any problems in time, otherwise it will be troublesome if problems occur later.”

“Supervisor Valeni, we’re tired of hearing these words. Don’t worry, we always remember them,” Lavis and the others echoed.

The more they said this, the more uneasy Valeni felt. He said directly: “The importance of this railway is higher than any railway we have built before, so we must treat it with ten times, a hundred times the seriousness. Otherwise, I won’t bail you out when you go in and work the sewing machine.”

Hearing Valeni’s words, everyone was shocked. “Working the sewing machine” meant going to prison, or, in East Africa, possibly going to a mine or doing other heavy manual labor.

“Supervisor Valeni, did you get any news? Hans just said that this railway leads to the future new capital of East Africa.”

Valeni frowned and said, “Hmm, Hans, where did you get the news?”

Being suddenly named, Hans said somewhat tremulously: “Supervisor, have you forgotten? You told me when you were drinking last month.”

Valeni scratched his head: “Really! What else did I say when I was drunk?”

Hans: “Mainly something about Rhine, something like that, I was also tipsy at the time so I don’t remember much.”

Valeni then remembered how the news was leaked. It seems that he should drink less alcohol in the future. He didn’t expect that he would speak the truth after drinking. If any secrets were exposed, it would be too embarrassing.

“Don’t pay too much attention to it. Anything about the capital is still far from certain! I just got some inside information from a friend, but one thing is certain, that is, the higher-ups attach great importance to this city, so you all need to be serious when you work, especially when supervising the blacks.”

Speaking of blacks, Valeni had more to say: “The year before last, during the construction of a section of the railway that we were responsible for, an accident almost happened because of the carelessness of the blacks. So you must pay close attention to the work of the blacks, and repeatedly inspect their construction sections, at least three times a day, to ensure the quality of the project.”

There are a large number of black laborers in the East African railway system. Although they have made important contributions to the construction of the East African railway, it is clear that due to a lack of awareness and culture, they cannot become excellent industrial workers.

However, the East African government is well aware of this. The East African government never intended to train blacks into excellent industrial workers. As for the fact that blacks are now working in various industries in East Africa, it is entirely because they are reluctant to part with these cheap laborers.

However, in departments such as the railway, the proportion of black laborers is actually decreasing. In the past, there were blacks and East African supervisors everywhere on the railway, but now the number of blacks has dropped to less than thirty percent.

Of course, the proportion is slightly higher in mines and plantations. Now, the main work has begun to be done by East Africans themselves. After all, the number of East African nationals has long exceeded two to three times that of black slaves. At the same time, this is also the East African government starting to adapt in advance to the social effects after reducing black slaves.

“Blacks are generally not very attentive, or rather, they lack basic knowledge, so you must keep a close eye on them, otherwise, in addition to trouble, it will definitely be counted on your heads,” Valeni continued to emphasize.

“Don’t worry, Supervisor, we will keep an eye on them, and we will definitely complete some key tasks ourselves, so that we can ensure efficiency while ensuring project quality,” Lavis said in a timely manner.

Chapter 891: “Rice” Character Shaped Railway

It must be said that the use of Black laborers greatly improved the quality of life for East African railway workers and reduced the intensity of labor to a certain extent.

Of course, in recent years, with the decrease in the number of Black laborers and the increase in the national citizen population, all sectors of East African society, except for agriculture, have felt some pressure.

However, with the steady development of industrialization and the prosperity of import and export trade, East Africa is also very active in introducing advanced production tools, trying to reduce production costs through technical means.

Taking the railway system as an example, a large number of jacks, special railway construction vehicles, and better quality construction tools have been purchased.

Of course, the railway system can do this because the East African government invests heavily in railways. After all, railways are one of the few important industrial sectors.

…

While railway workers in New Frankfurt were working overtime to build the railway between New Frankfurt and Rhine City.

The “rice” character shaped railway system of New Frankfurt is also taking shape, and New Frankfurt will become the first important railway hub in East Africa connecting the whole country.

Roggens, the mayor of New Frankfurt, said: “As early as the mid-term of the Central Railway construction, the Central Railway had already formed a ‘cross’ shaped line, starting from Dar es Salaam in the east, reaching Mangu City in the west, reaching Kisan City in the north, and reaching New Hamburg Port in the south.”

“And then until now, with the incorporation of Angola and Mozambique, the final obstacles to railway construction have been eliminated, and the final pattern of our country’s railways has been finalized.”

“Our New Frankfurt is the central hub of the national railway network. Through eight lines, it radiates across the country, reaching the Azande Plateau in the north, the East African coastal plain and the East African Plateau in the east, the South African Plateau in the south, and Angola and Southwest Africa in the west.”

“Among them, except for the area of Southwest Africa, all are the core areas of our country’s economy. Except for the Ethiopian Plateau, the main plateaus are within the radiation range of New Frankfurt through railways.”

East Africa is a plateau country, and the plateau economy accounts for more than 70 percent of the East African economy. Therefore, controlling the East African plateau is basically equivalent to controlling the economic lifeline and most of the population of the country.

The locational and transportation advantages of New Frankfurt are reflected in this point. It is the core point connecting the main plateau areas of East Africa except for the Ethiopian Plateau.

As for the Ethiopian Plateau, it does not account for a high proportion of the East African economy. After all, it is located in the border area, with many mountainous terrains, the East African Rift Valley, and other factors. Therefore, compared with other plateau areas in East Africa, it is only slightly stronger than Southwest Africa and the Azande Plateau.

Regarding what the mayor said, the New Frankfurt municipal government officials naturally knew very well the important position of New Frankfurt in the national transportation system.

“Mr. Mayor, now the royal family and the central government have decided to build a new capital in New Frankfurt. This is another opportunity for our city.”

Roggens was very clear about what his subordinates said. He said: “New Frankfurt has risen because of the railway, so in the future, New Frankfurt will definitely assume the transportation hub function of the capital. Therefore, continuing to promote the construction of the ‘rice’ character shaped railway is a long-term task of the government.”

The German language naturally does not have the pictographic Chinese character “米” (rice), so the name “rice” character shaped railway in East Africa is actually a “foreign import”. According to rumors, it was personally defined by the Crown Prince, who is proficient in Oriental studies.

At present, New Frankfurt has completed or is building a total of eight railway trunk lines:

Dar es Salaam - New Frankfurt

Kisan (Gani) City - New Frankfurt

Luanda City - New Frankfurt

Benguela City - New Frankfurt

Beira City - New Frankfurt

Quelimane City - New Frankfurt

New Hamburg Port City - New Frankfurt

Walvis Bay City - New Frankfurt

At present, except for the Quelimane City - New Frankfurt and Walvis Bay City - New Frankfurt railways, which have not yet been started, all others have been completed.

(Picture)

Quelimane City and Beira City are both coastal port cities in Mozambique, and Quelimane City is located in northern Mozambique, that is, north of the Zambezi River.

The Quelimane City - New Frankfurt railway actually has another name, which is the “Zambezi River Railway”. It starts from Quelimane City in the northern Zambezi River Delta, passes through Tete City along the Zambezi River, and then enters the New Frankfurt through the Luangwa Valley.

The role of this railway is actually to fill the transportation gap between the Zambezi River and Lake Malawi. After all, the Zambezi River Valley and Lake Malawi are areas with quite good conditions, and Tete and the downstream Quelimane City were important cities in Mozambique in the previous life.

The Walvis Bay City - New Frankfurt railway, also known as the Southwest Railway, is being surveyed and researched due to crossing the desert. In addition, the economic conditions in Southwest Africa are too poor, and there is basically no great economic value along the line. Therefore, the planned construction time in the East African railway department is relatively late, and the Walvis Bay City railway will have to wait a long time to connect to the inland.

New Frankfurt can become the most important railway hub in East Africa, thanks to the construction of the Central Railway. Among its “rice” character shaped railways, five come directly from the Central Railway, and the along the line are very important cities in East Africa, including Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Harare, and so on.

The remaining three also have inextricable links with the Central Railway. For example, the Beira City - New Frankfurt railway is actually formed after the Habe Railway is connected to the Central Railway.

Similarly, the Walvis Bay railway is connected to the Central Railway from Bulawayo. Only the Quelimane City railway is a new line directly connecting New Frankfurt.

Roggens said: “The railway hub is the biggest advantage of our New Frankfurt. At the same time, coupled with the possibility of becoming a transportation hub in Rhine City in the future, we should give priority to striving for a batch of advanced equipment manufacturing industries to settle in New Frankfurt and build an inland national central city comparable to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.”

It must be said that New Frankfurt has great ambitions. After all, in terms of land transportation alone, New Frankfurt is indeed the strongest now. However, it may be possible to catch up with Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, but it will be difficult to surpass them.

At least before other port cities in East Africa develop, the status of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa will be difficult to shake, especially Mombasa, which drives the entire northern region and is the only good outlet to the sea in the northern region.

Dar es Salaam is much worse in this regard. First of all, Dar es Salaam has too many competitors. In addition to the East African Plateau area, most of the inland areas now have increased choices, including Luanda, Benguela, and Beira. The central region can already use these three ports to go to sea, and it is not necessary to go through Dar es Salaam.

Corresponding to Mombasa on the western coast of the African continent, that is, the Atlantic coast, belongs to other foreign colonies. East Africa does not have an outlet to the sea, and the Congo rainforest, a natural wall, further hinders transportation development.

Therefore, if most of the northern provinces want to go to sea, under the premise of not going abroad, they can only give priority to choosing Mombasa as the outlet to the sea, including the Sigmaringen royal territory.

Chapter 892: Industrial Incubation Center

As the number one railway hub in East Africa, the importance of New Frankfurt is self-evident. Of course, a vast country like East Africa cannot have only one national railway hub.

According to East Africa’s “three vertical and three horizontal” plan, these six main railway lines, connected vertically and horizontally, should form nine intersections. However, because the West Coast Railway cannot currently cross the Namib Desert, Walvis Bay cannot become a railway hub.

The objective reason for this result is that the Namib Desert is a shifting sand desert. Even in the 20th century, only a few countries had the ability to build roads and railway facilities in such areas.

Moreover, later maintenance is difficult, and the railway is easily buried by sand. Either supporting desert control projects are carried out along the line, or elevated railway lines are built like the Far East Empire in the 21st century to reduce wind and sand erosion and submersion.

Neither of these two points can be easily achieved by East Africa at present, and even if they can be achieved, they would be extremely uneconomical.

Therefore, in reality, there are only eight intersections of the three vertical and three horizontal lines, and these eight points are the most important railway hubs on the six main lines of East Africa.

In the central region, there are three national-level railway hubs, namely Kisangani, New Frankfurt, and Bulawayo.

In fact, including branch railways, Harare, Lubumbashi, Dodoma, and others are also regional railway hubs. However, at present, East Africa mainly focuses on the construction of main railway lines. Branch railways, unless they have great value like the Habe Railway, will be built before the main railway lines.

……

Mbeya is the science and technology center of East Africa, which is very unexpected. After all, higher education in East Africa is concentrated on the eastern coast, as well as in Soga, a city that was built with science, education, and culture in mind.

So, neither being positioned as a science and technology center city, nor being the city with the highest concentration of higher education, Mbeya’s ability to stand out from many cities in East Africa naturally has its reasons.

Today, Mbeya’s industrial volume has been surpassed by Harare, but its industrial base is still strong. Moreover, Mbeya’s level of higher education can also rank in the top five in East Africa.

Since there is the blessing of industrial and educational foundations, Mbeya’s scientific and technological level in East Africa will naturally not be bad. The real reason why Mbeya surpasses Dar es Salaam, First Town, Soga… is that Mbeya’s research institutions far exceed those of other regions.

Including universities and independent research institutions, Mbeya has a total of more than one hundred various research institutes, including thirteen at the national level, thirty-two at the provincial level, and ninety-three at the municipal level, covering most industrial fields such as metallurgy, electricity, power, energy, steel, railways, and ships.

“Our Mbeya’s scientific research level is very developed in the entire East Africa. This is still the result after some institutions moved to Lusaka, Harare and other central provinces. If it were not for the loss of industry and talent, Mbeya would be even stronger in the field of scientific research.”

The mayor of Mbeya said with a hint of regret. After all, as the vanguard of East Africa’s development of the central region, Mbeya’s geographical location determined its main position in supporting the central development.

Because according to East Africa’s geographical division, Mbeya is located at the junction of the central and eastern regions. The inland cities were basically developing heavy industry in the early days. At that time, as the heavy industry center of East Africa, Mbeya naturally had to take responsibility for assisting various industrial and mining cities in the central region to build the framework.

“Mayor Rennie, don’t regret it. Industrial transfer is the general trend. The country has formulated a general policy, and we can only follow it. Moreover, it must be said that Mbeya’s achievements today cannot be separated from the policy inclination of the central government at the beginning. Only when everyone progresses can our country develop better in the future.” Rogans, who came to sponge off resources, persuaded from the side.

Rogans is the mayor of New Frankfurt. This time, his mission to Mbeya is to sponge off resources, or rather, according to the requirements of the central government, to package and bring back some scientific research institutions and talents in the fields of automobiles, electricity, and equipment manufacturing in Mbeya to New Frankfurt.

In the past ten years, Mbeya can be said to be the “incubator” of industries in various central provinces. After all, as the earliest heavy industry base in East Africa, Mbeya has a solid foundation.

Rennie said unhappily to Rogans, this government “scoundrel” who doesn’t even want his face: “You’re just being ungrateful. I get angry just thinking about your New Frankfurt. The Rhine City doesn’t even have a shadow yet, and you’ve already enjoyed the first batch of policy dividends.”

Rogans smiled and said: “You can’t say that. Even without the Rhine City, the status of our New Frankfurt would not be low. After all, it is a transportation hub. The name Frankfurt alone is full of the central government’s high hopes for our city.”

Rennie said with disgust: “You do have certain advantages in transportation, but it is not much higher than our city. After all, land transportation between the central and eastern regions cannot bypass our Mbeya at all. In the future, Mbeya will build more highways and railways, and we also have Lake Malawi, a natural lake, and water transportation is also relatively developed.”

This is indeed true. Lake Soden (Lake Tanganyika) and Lake Malawi have created Mbeya’s unique location advantage, playing an important role in East Africa’s land and water transportation.

Even compared with New Frankfurt, it can only be said that the difference between the two is very small. Lake Soden and Lake Malawi are both narrow and long lakes. The north-south distance of Lake Malawi reaches more than five hundred and sixty kilometers, while Lake Tanganyika is more than six hundred and seventy kilometers long. Therefore, if you want to bypass Mbeya by land, you have to detour a long distance. In addition, the depth of the two lakes reaches several hundred meters, so if you want to pass through the lake, you can only rely on ships.

“This time, we will separate 30% of the Second Automobile Factory Research Institute to join New Frankfurt. As for equipment manufacturing, we have not yet selected personnel for the time being. After all, equipment manufacturing is very complex. Our plan is to draw a part of the strength from thirteen relatively strong factories and research institutes to join your city, including electricity, locomotives, engines and other fields.” Rennie said with great pain.

New Frankfurt will draw at least a professional team of hundreds of people from Mbeya this time, which is also a major blow to Mbeya. The last time this happened was in Harare.

However, Harare is much more “excessive” than New Frankfurt. It almost copied 60% of Mbeya’s industrial departments and scientific research institutions to Matabeleland Province. Otherwise, Harare would not have developed so quickly.

Of course, Mbeya could not do this by relying on its own city alone. Instead, the entire Lake Malawi industrial zone behind Mbeya transferred a large number of elite soldiers and strong generals to the three central provinces to support the industrial framework of these three provinces.

Therefore, this time New Frankfurt “sucking blood” from Mbeya is not a major blow to Mbeya.

“These are all our Mbeya’s treasures, Rogans, you must treat them well.” Rennie said.

Rogans naturally agreed to this: “Don’t worry, Mayor Rennie, talents are respected everywhere, and our New Frankfurt will naturally receive this group of distinguished guests with the best treatment.”

After staying in Mbeya, one of the industrial incubation centers in East Africa, for three days, Rogans continued his journey eastward. After all, Mbeya is just the starting point, and there are cities such as Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, and Nairobi waiting for him.

According to the itinerary, Rogans will also go to Soga after returning, mainly to grab talents from the East African University. In East Africa, college students are scarce resources, and various cities will go to Soga to recruit talents.

Soga mainly focuses on domestic college students, while the group of international students is mainly distributed by the East African industrial sector. Generally, they will be given priority to national direct agencies, state-owned enterprises, or royal enterprises, and then the local areas can pick up some “leftovers”. However, the upper limit of those who can study abroad is hard to say, but the lower limit is very high, and various cities and institutions in East Africa will rush to get them.

Chapter 893: Natural Gas Industry Takes Off

September of 1894.

The Western Great Lakes Province of East Africa.

“What are these long steel pipes for? They look about as thick as a man can hug!” This was a common question among the people.

“I heard they’re natural gas pipelines, transporting the same kind of gas used for gaslights.”

What everyone was discussing was East Africa’s first industrial-scale, long-distance natural gas pipeline, a project that was currently receiving significant attention from the East African government, or rather, from Ernst.

The three giants of conventional energy minerals are coal, oil, and natural gas. East Africa doesn’t lack coal, but oil reserves are relatively scarce. Therefore, Ernst naturally focused his attention on natural gas.

One reason was that East Africa is rich in natural gas resources. In his previous life, countries like Tanzania and Mozambique, now within East African territory, had large reserves of natural gas.

Another reason was that natural gas application technology was already mature, so East Africa urgently needed to popularize the use of natural gas to replace some industrial and residential fuel applications.

Humans have a relatively long history of using natural gas, but the large-scale application of modern natural gas began in England.

In 1732, a man named Carlisle Spedding in England proposed using methane extracted from coal mines to provide lighting for the streets of Whitehaven.

By 1813, the Gas Light and Coke Company of London and Westminster, England, obtained the first municipal gas lighting contract in history.

Next was the United States. The American natural gas lighting industry began in 1816 when Baltimore, Maryland, started using natural gas for street lighting. By 1886, the United States had already built the world’s first industrial-scale, long-distance gas pipeline.

Therefore, East Africa’s development and utilization of natural gas started relatively late. Even with significant investment, it still took some time to catch up technologically. However, the results were significant. For example, this natural gas pipeline in East Africa was only nine years behind the United States.

The constraint on the construction of natural gas pipelines in East Africa was not a lack of technology. The relevant technology had matured several years earlier. Instead, it was East Africa’s experimentation with natural gas power generation technology.

The primary purpose of building this gas pipeline was to supply energy to East Africa’s first natural gas power plant, which would then transmit electricity to cities such as Bujumbura and Mbeya through a high-voltage power grid.

As for promoting the use of natural gas among the public, it was necessary to first popularize safety knowledge. Natural gas is flammable and explosive, and natural gas leaks can easily lead to suffocation and death. Therefore, considering public safety, it was only possible to promote it on a small, experimental scale. This was the same principle as when East Africa popularized electricity, which was accompanied by a large amount of safety education.

However, apart from a lack of knowledge about its use, other aspects were already complete. Residents using natural gas would simply need to use gas cylinders and specialized stoves, which were not difficult problems for East African researchers to overcome.

In fact, as early as 1760, the British had already invented the gas cylinder, which was later used to power gaslights. Therefore, gas cylinders had been developed for more than one hundred years, and their safety performance was already very reliable. Thus, the hardware conditions for using natural gas as residential fuel were already mature.

Currently, the main fuels for East African residents are firewood and coal. Rural areas mainly use firewood, and some, like the northern pastures, use dried manure mixed with coal to make special fuels. Cities mainly supply coal.

The promotion of natural gas will greatly change the lifestyle of East African residents. After all, in the 21st century, natural gas is also the most energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective residential fuel.

“Everyone, please don’t gather around here. This is a natural gas pipeline. Natural gas is flammable and explosive and has ‘toxic’ properties. Our project is about to start testing, so it’s best if you don’t get too close.” Patrol officers dispersed residents who were watching the installation of the natural gas pipeline.

People naturally trusted the government officials. After all, this era was developing too fast, and new things were constantly emerging. Especially in East Africa over the past thirty years, earth-shaking changes had taken place, so people’s ability to accept new things was also much stronger.

“Isn’t natural gas just the gas used for gaslights? That stuff does have some danger, but ordinary people don’t come into contact with it. I thought gas was going to be phased out with the development of electricity!” Someone muttered.

The early use of gas was as fuel for lighting fixtures, and the emergence of electric lights greatly reduced the use of gas in this field.

Of course, countries like the United States had already begun to promote natural gas as a residential fuel, and East Africa was doing so almost simultaneously.

In the United States, the promotion of natural gas was mainly driven by private companies, while East Africa was best at using administrative power. However, in this way, as long as production capacity was guaranteed, East Africa could quickly promote it on a large scale throughout the country, unlike the United States, where private companies were fighting their own battles.

Therefore, although East Africa started late in this area, it would be easy to surpass other countries later on. After all, no other government in the world attaches as much importance to natural gas energy as East Africa.

“Roel, why are the natural gas pipelines being built directly on the ground instead of being buried underground, like sewers? Isn’t that too dangerous?” A patrolman asked the technician who was directing the pipeline welding.

Roel explained, “Many people in East Africa have never seen natural gas, so they don’t understand its properties. The reason why natural gas pipelines are laid above ground is that natural gas is lighter than air and can only be ignited when the concentration is between five and fifteen percent. The advantage of above-ground lines is that if a pipeline leaks, it will float upwards and dissipate, not forming a combustible mixture. If it were underground, the leaking gas would accumulate in the pipeline trenches, and any spark would cause an explosion. That’s why we’re building this pipeline on the ground.”

“Of course, this also makes it easier for future maintenance and inspection. This pipeline will eventually lead to the power plant. After the connection is complete, we can inspect along the pipeline to prevent leaks.”

As someone who had received compulsory education, the patrolman could understand the general idea. After all, the different densities of gases were something that should be understood if one paid a little attention in school.

However, East African textbooks did not have specific descriptions of natural gas. After all, the large-scale utilization of natural gas was only a little over one hundred years old, and in the previous East Africa, it was completely blank.

However, concerns about the safety of the pipeline were actually unnecessary. Although the world’s first gas pipeline was built relatively late, the world’s first oil pipeline was built much earlier.

Therefore, the relevant technology was relatively mature. As long as the factory that produced the materials didn’t cut corners, there wouldn’t be any major problems.

“Mr. Roel, do you know how this gas is used to generate electricity?”

Roel replied, “It’s actually the same principle as using coal to generate electricity. It’s all about boiling water and then using steam to drive turbines.”

In his previous life, in 1940, a power plant in Switzerland introduced the world’s first gas-powered turbine, marking the birth of natural gas power generation technology.

East Africa was advancing the timeline by a full forty years. In his previous life, around the 1920s, natural gas chemical research began to rise in the United States and Germany, and people began to use natural gas to separate and produce chemical products such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, and synthetic rubber.

East Africa’s early layout in the natural gas field would only benefit the country’s development, not harm it. In his previous life, the United States had formed a long-term technological advantage because of its early development in this field, thereby manipulating the international natural gas market. It should be known that natural gas, unlike oil, is distributed extremely unevenly, but the United States can monopolize the market, which shows that technological accumulation is very important.

Therefore, research work in the natural gas field would inevitably become one of the focal points of East Africa’s energy field, on the same level as coal and oil.

Chapter 894: Energy Landscape

East Africa is actually the country with the largest natural gas reserves in Africa. However, this is easy to understand, as East Africa’s land area accounts for about forty-three percent of the entire African continent. If based on the African national structure of the previous life, Nigeria would be ranked first. Compared with Nigeria’s current land area and just over nine hundred thousand square kilometers, it is indeed bullying.

However, this also indirectly illustrates that Nigeria’s various conditions were among the best in Africa in its previous life. Coal, natural gas, and oil, the three major energy sources, are all among the top in Africa, and other resources are also very abundant. Coupled with vast arable land and no shortage of excellent ports, it is not difficult to understand why it developed into the largest economy in Africa in its previous life.

……

First Town City.

“According to the telegram from Bujumbura, our country’s first natural gas well has been successfully put into operation, which is extremely good news for our country’s energy security landscape.” Ursula von der Leyen reported to Ernst and other officials with a smile on her face.

This is also something that cannot be helped. Since the discovery of oil in Lake Turkana, oil exploration work in various parts of East Africa has not been smooth. Only a few small oil fields have been discovered. On the contrary, a lot of natural gas resources have been discovered during oil exploration, including considerable natural gas fields in the central and eastern regions.

Of course, according to East Africa’s oil layout, the current exploration work will naturally not be smooth, because East Africa’s oil is mainly distributed in the north and west, while East Africa’s development of these two regions has weakened. Many areas have inconvenient transportation, sparse population, and backward equipment. The exploration work under these comprehensive factors will naturally not be smooth.

There is no need to worry too much about this, after all, Ernst knows the overall distribution of oil in East Africa, but at present, there is no need for East Africa to rush to develop it on a large scale.

At present, the oil production of Turkana Oil City, plus imports, can basically meet domestic needs. East Africa’s oil self-sufficiency rate is maintained at about twenty percent. If there is an emergency, it can completely increase the production capacity of Turkana Oil City in a short period of time to meet the oil demand of the entire East Africa. After all, the demand for oil from various countries in the world is not very high at present.

“Energy exploration is a long and complex process. East Africa has a vast territory, and many resources have not been discovered. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, many resources that cannot be used now may be able to obtain utilization value in the future.” Ernst said.

“Last year, we imported three million tons of oil from foreign countries, of which the Baku oil field in the Caspian Sea of Tsarist Russia accounted for about thirty-five percent, Romania accounted for about thirty percent, Austria-Hungary accounted for about fifteen percent, and the rest came from the United States and other countries. Our country is at least among the top three in the world in the field of oil consumption.”

Last year, East Africa’s oil consumption alone was close to four million tons, while the current global oil production is only over ten million tons, less than twenty million tons, and East Africa’s local production has not yet exceeded one million tons. It can also be seen from the oil import data that East Africa’s advanced layout in the oil industry.

At present, East Africa, or rather, the Hechingen Consortium, has strategic deployments in Romania and Tsarist Russia, and has carried out a large number of oil well investment and construction in the local area. Especially in the Romanian region, it can account for thirty percent of East Africa’s oil imports. The main reason is that the Hechingen Consortium controls a certain share of oil extraction. It should be known that although Romania’s oil resources are abundant, they are far inferior to the Baku oil field in Tsarist Russia, whose production capacity is already close to forty percent of the world.

“A large amount of oil imports cost a lot of money every year. In our country’s energy use, as a source of power, the proportion is higher than in other countries. This is mainly because our country’s automobile industry and internal combustion engine field are larger than other countries. As for the chemical industry, it is lower than European and American countries.”

The application of internal combustion engines in European and American countries is actually weaker than in East Africa, because European and American countries themselves have the foundation of the First Industrial Revolution, and steam engines still have broad application space.

In short, the old industry of steam engines has hindered the development of the internal combustion engine industry in Europe and the United States, especially in the two fields of factories and fuel. In the choice of coal and oil, the two main energy sources, East Africa is obviously more inclined to oil.

Of course, now East Africa has a third option, which is natural gas. However, compared with oil and coal, natural gas is not conducive to preservation and transportation, so the initial investment and operating costs are higher.

Just like the Bujumbura natural gas power plant, it is equipped with a dedicated natural gas transportation pipeline. If it only relies on producing special storage containers, it is simply impossible to realize.

Oil only needs to be packed in barrels, and the requirements for airtightness are not high. As for coal, it is even simpler. It is a solid fuel and does not need to produce special containers for transportation.

“Now, oil is mainly dependent on imports because our country’s oil resources are not abundant, and most of them are located in inland areas, and the mining cost is relatively high, unlike the oil in Romania and Tsarist Russia, which can be loaded on ships nearby and transported away. For this reason, we specially built the Turkana Railway.”

The two main purposes of the Turkana Railway at that time were border trade with the Abyssinian Empire and the transportation of Turkana oil to the south.

“Therefore, the development and utilization of natural gas is of great significance to our country’s economic and energy development. In the future, our country must put more effort into the popularization of natural gas, including natural gas power generation, residential fuel, and the chemical industry, all of which have certain needs.”

Everyone quite agreed with the application of natural gas in power generation and the chemical industry, but many people twitched their mouths at the point of residential fuel.

Although they have seen the physical objects and usage demonstrations of gas stoves and gas tanks, everyone still has some psychological barriers to the acceptance of natural gas.

After all, if that thing has an accident, it is no different from a bomb. One tank of gas can completely destroy a kitchen, and not to mention the explosion, the risk of leakage alone is extremely high.

Ernst naturally saw the wonderful expressions on the faces of the East African officials, but after using natural gas, they would only say it’s truly amazing.

As a clean energy source, it does not produce a large amount of smoke like other fuels besides electricity when it burns, and it takes up a small space. One tank of natural gas can burn for a long time. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages, especially the experience is far better than other energy sources.

In addition to natural gas, electricity has also appeared in East African kitchens. For example, electric rice cookers, a magical tool, have been popularized to a certain extent in East African urban families. They are very convenient for steaming rice and cooking porridge. In addition to electric rice cookers, the most commonly used household appliance in East African kitchens is electric kettles.

“Natural gas does have certain safety hazards, but more of it is psychological. Some people think that gas tanks are very risky, but it has been more than a hundred years since the British invented gas tanks. Before the advent of electricity, the lighting system at that time used a large number of gas tanks to store natural gas for gas lamps. Therefore, as long as the process standards are strictly followed and produced according to standard procedures, there is no need to worry about safety performance at all.” Ernst said.

Of course, that’s what he said, but whether everyone is at ease is another matter, but according to the experience of the previous life, as long as it is promoted, there will basically be no major problems later.

“In the national energy landscape, oil, electricity, coal, and natural gas are the four major categories that East Africa will focus on promoting in the future. Although we do not lack coal, the utilization rate is too low. It should be known that the quality of East African coal is among the best in the world, so we must continue to improve and perfect the technology and techniques.”

Chapter 895: Second National Water Conservancy Project

As the world’s primary energy source, and also East Africa’s primary energy source, coal’s dominant position remains unshakeable.

After annexing Angola and Mozambique, East Africa’s coal reserves further increased, especially in Tete, Mozambique, which is a significant coal-producing area. Furthermore, it is close to the Central Industrial Zone and Lake Malawi Industrial Zone, the two most densely concentrated heavy industrial areas in East Africa. Therefore, the reason for building the railway along the Zambezi River, that is, the Quelimane City to New Frankfurt City railway, through Tete is self-evident.

East Africa’s coal reserves are relatively small compared to other large countries in the world. Countries like Tsarist Russia, the United States, the Far East Empire, and the United Kingdom (Canada, Australia, India) are all major coal producers, with only Brazil having relatively fewer reserves.

However, the quality of East African coal is quite impressive on a global scale, and coal quality has a significant impact on the industrial sector.

For example, the “Thomas process,” which allowed Germany to surpass Britain in steel production capacity, involved using technology to improve coal utilization.

In 1877, the Englishman Thomas and Gilchrist invented the Thomas process. The iron ore in Germany and the Alsace-Lorraine region after the Franco-Prussian War was mainly phosphoric iron ore. For a long time, the dephosphorization problem could not be solved, resulting in high costs and greatly affecting steel production.

The Thomas process solved the dephosphorization problem by adding lime to the Bessemer converter. The promotion of this technology enabled Germany’s steel production capacity to achieve leapfrog growth. In 1879, Germany widely adopted this technology in steel production, solving the dephosphorization problem and making improvements that greatly reduced production costs.

East Africa’s coal utilization rate is relatively low. After all, the quality of East African coal is different from that of Germany, so local East African researchers need to develop relevant technologies based on the characteristics of East African coal.

…

After summarizing the East African energy situation, everyone began to discuss the next topic.

This time, Yarsd of the Ministry of Water Resources said, “Your Royal Highness, the main issue that our Ministry of Water Resources wants to raise is the inland river transportation in the central and eastern regions. Currently, after the national water conservancy construction, the navigability of the rivers in both regions has reached a new level, but it is still far inferior to the eastern coastal areas.”

“Therefore, the idea of our Ministry of Water Resources is to improve the regional navigability of East African rivers in the East African Plateau and the Central Plateau, and on this basis, to upgrade the rivers in Mozambique and Angola. At the same time, water conservancy construction in the latter two countries is also a major problem. After all, during the Portuguese rule, the Portuguese government’s development of the two regions was too low.”

In Ernst’s view, these requests from the Ministry of Water Resources were not excessive at all. Although East Africa paid a “heavy price” for building water conservancy facilities, it is conservatively estimated that at least seven hundred thousand people died for this cause. Of course, East Africa can only express condolences for these black people who sacrificed themselves in the East African water conservancy construction projects.

After silently mourning for these black people for three seconds, Ernst decisively said, “The agricultural water conservancy facilities in Angola and Mozambique must be improved as soon as possible. Although the Portuguese government made minimal contributions to the local area, it was not completely without a foundation, especially in Angola. We will rebuild and construct the area according to East African standards on the basis of the original water conservancy facilities.”

Angola’s water conservancy facilities are the most complete among the two main African colonies of the Portuguese, but compared to East Africa’s construction standards, they can be described as shoddy.

After all, the water conservancy construction in its colonies was mostly carried out independently by local plantations, with little overall scientific planning. At the same time, there was a great shortage of materials and tools.

Although East African black slaves also worked hard, the tools and materials they used were all produced in East Africa. Don’t underestimate this point. Portuguese colonies could only rely on imports from the mainland, and the cost of imports was too high, so in order to save money, many plantation owners completely relied on black people to “achieve miracles through brute force.”

Coupled with the lack of scientific planning and guidance, the water conservancy facilities in the two regions were unsystematic, very scattered, and of varying quality.

“Please rest assured, Your Highness, that after more than thirty years of experience, our Ministry of Water Resources has accumulated sufficient experience. Now everything is ready, except for the mobilization of manpower and materials.”

In the end, the Ministry of Water Resources still needs people. After all, although there are many black people under the management of the Ministry of Water Resources, they are also consumables. As for the mobilization of materials, it is not a big problem. After all, the East African railway and highway systems were not as developed as they are today. The current hardware facilities will only be more advanced than before, and East Africa has always been a major grain producer. Although the population is also increasing, the expansion of East Africa’s territory is even more astonishing.

The increased population requires food, and increasing food production may require further land reclamation. Coincidentally, East Africa’s territory has increased again, providing more space for agricultural development, and agricultural development cannot be separated from water conservancy construction, thus forming a closed loop.

“This time, our Ministry of Water Resources needs to directly mobilize at least two million national laborers. In addition to the construction of water conservancy facilities in Angola and Mozambique, the water conservancy construction in other regions of the country must also be further improved, so this requires the active cooperation of other government departments,” Yarsd said.

“Well, water conservancy construction has always been East Africa’s national policy. When the last national water conservancy construction began, our country’s territory was not as large as it is today, so it is entirely reasonable for the Ministry of Water Resources to request more manpower.”

Ernst naturally supports this point. However, in this way, the workload of East African black laborers will be even greater. Last year, the number of East African black laborers had dropped to just over nineteen million, which means it has decreased by more than three million in the past four years.

This shows the extent to which East Africa exploits black laborers. Of course, not all of these three million missing black people died on construction sites. A large part of them were sent out by East Africa, after all, East Africa has a black labor disposal system.

This water conservancy construction will definitely have a far-reaching impact on East Africa. After all, water conservancy construction is different from railways. The number of black laborers required for railways only reached more than three hundred thousand during peak periods.

The number of laborers required for water conservancy construction is often in the millions, not to mention that it is not entirely black laborers who are contributing, but also a large number of East African citizens participating in water conservancy construction.

Based on the experience of the first national water conservancy construction, the number of participants in this national water conservancy construction is conservatively estimated to be over twenty million.

Water conservancy construction is a national project that can basically cover all regions of the country. After all, it involves tens of thousands of rivers, thousands of reservoirs, and even the ditches in every field are part of water conservancy construction.

In the absence of mechanization today, these projects can only be completed by manpower. Moreover, East Africa is taking a “speedrun” approach. If it does not use the extreme mobilization model, East Africa would not have been able to achieve a leapfrog increase in national strength in more than thirty years and become a world-renowned grain producer and the number one country for cash crops.

Therefore, in Ernst’s view, the two million black people requested by the Ministry of Water Resources are very conservative. Taking the Far East Empire as an example, in the mid to late twentieth century, hundreds of millions of people across the country were mobilized to build national water conservancy.

The Far East Empire has a history of water conservancy development of thousands of years, while East Africa has only thirty years of history. Looking at it this way, East Africa cannot compare with the Far East Empire even if it tries its best.

Therefore, in this way, it can only increase the burden on black laborers on the basis of mobilizing people from all over East Africa. The tasks of water conservancy construction projects vary in size. For example, the construction of new ditches in farmland is basically completed along with land reclamation, while digging canals and building reservoirs are truly more difficult.

Chapter 896: The “Savanna” Great Migration

Of course, compared to countries like the Far East Empire, which had strong traditional agriculture and emphasized the construction of water conservancy facilities, East Africa was still far behind. However, compared to some underdeveloped countries and regions in Europe and the Americas, the water conservancy facilities in central and eastern East Africa were already quite complete, not to mention some even more backward and sparsely populated countries and regions.

In fact, the two national water conservancy construction projects in East Africa were completely out of necessity. The goal of the East African government, or rather, of Ernst, was to complete the development path that other countries took hundreds or even thousands of years to traverse within a single generation.

Water conservancy construction is the lifeblood of agriculture, a painstaking effort that must be undertaken, and there are no shortcuts. Therefore, it can only be accomplished by means of “iron and blood.” Of course, the natives were the main force shedding blood.

…

As the East African government finalized the details, the second national water conservancy construction project began in full swing. This time, the East African government had the experience of the first national water conservancy construction project, so mobilizing the national strength was much easier.

“Go to the west, go to the south, go where the motherland needs you!”

Although East Africa is a country of immigrants, it also played the “patriotism” card in its slogans. In reality, the number of residents born in East Africa now exceeds that of foreign immigrants.

Moreover, the main target of this mobilization was the new generation of young and middle-aged labor force in East Africa. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the second national water conservancy construction project, East Africa planned to simultaneously carry out a national population migration to the west and south, completely changing the situation where the central and eastern regions of East Africa were dominant.

In fact, Angola, Mozambique, and Orange, after years of construction by East Africa, already had a certain foundation, which was the basis for this large-scale immigration.

Moreover, this immigration mainly targeted the agricultural sector. As for industrial immigration activities, they had already been carried out simultaneously with industrial transfer.

West Lake Province, Kagera City, Kegel Village.

“According to national requirements, families with large populations must send at least one person to work in the underdeveloped areas of the west and south. Our West Lake Province is a key area for this immigration, so everyone must actively cooperate with the government’s actions and complete this task.” Kegel Village Chief Andre said.

Andre’s words naturally caused a small ripple among the villagers, after all, immigration is never a simple matter, involving all aspects, and each immigration means the “separation” of some families.

However, the immigration did not cause major trouble, after all, this was already common for the people of East Africa. East Africa has been migrating people from densely populated areas to other places for many years. Even the small Kegel Village has many young people leaving every year to go all over the country, but this time the East African government’s actions were larger.

“Andre, why is this immigration so high-profile!” A villager asked, addressing him by his first name.

“This is actually easy to understand. The last time our country expanded its territory, we seized a lot of land from the Portuguese and Boers. In order to control and develop these new territories, we naturally need manpower. Although there have been immigration activities in several places before, they can only be regarded as appetizers.”

“Now, after years of governance in Angola, Mozambique, and other places, both social security and economic foundation are very considerable. Therefore, on this basis, in order to balance regional development, we must naturally further increase the number of immigrants.”

To put it simply, in the past few years, the East African government had solved the unstable factors in these new areas. Coupled with the needs of national development and the need for infrastructure construction such as water conservancy, the East African government planned to go one step further and directly turn Mozambique, Angola, and other places into the core territory of East Africa.

“Everyone, don’t hold any侥幸心理 (jiǎoxìng xīnlǐ - a lucky mindset, meaning don’t think you can get away with it), after all, as a backward country, East Africa must use strong medicine if it wants to develop. Moreover, it’s just changing to a new living area. Life will not change much for everyone in the new place, after all, it’s all East Africa, so it doesn’t matter where you go!” Andre emphasized.

“Moreover, this immigration activity is much simpler than it was a dozen years ago. Now the railways and highways are much more developed than before, and it doesn’t take too long to go to all parts of the country. Ten years ago, immigration was a real hardship. I think I don’t need to say more, many old people in the village can recall the hard times of East Africa in the past.”

Andre’s words did evoke memories of some old immigrants, but tracing back further, things were only harder in Eurasia.

After more than a month of preparation, the first batch of emigrants from Kegel Village reached more than one hundred people, and there may be a second and third phase… until the needs of the East African government are met.

As a large agricultural province, West Lake Province has an extremely terrifying natural population growth rate in East Africa, so this immigration activity is not a fatal blow to the local economic development.

It can even be said that it alleviates population pressure. After all, as a large agricultural province, West Lake Province has only so many agricultural resources, but the population growth rate is not slow. If there is no continuous population loss and no industrial support, the per capita resources will only become less and less, thus entering a poverty mode. If the population continues to grow disorderly and the industrial structure does not change much, then India and the countries of East Asia may be the future of West Lake Province.

Therefore, the West Lake Province government supports population loss, although the agricultural potential of West Lake Province itself has not been fully developed.

With the migration of population and the construction of projects, a large number of people were continuously transported to all parts of the country through East Africa’s railways and highways. Many families bid farewell with tears, and the same scene was constantly staged in various regions of the east.

The central region is slightly better. As the region with the second largest population after the eastern region, the central region is far from being comparable to the eastern region, so it is not the main force of this immigration. However, due to the transfer of backward production capacity, the industrial population transferred from the central region to other regions is greater than that of the eastern region.

According to statistics from later generations of East Africans, from 1894 to 1900, East Africa immigrated at least eight million people to Angola, Mozambique, and other places, completely changing the population distribution of East Africa, making the population of the western and southern regions rise to the ten million level in a short period of time.

Of course, the specific value created by these people in local development and construction can only be reflected in the next century.

This mighty national immigration activity was vividly called the “East African Savanna Great Migration.” As a country dominated by tropical savanna climate, the animal migration on the East African savanna is quite spectacular, but this time it was the migration of East Africans, so it was used to describe this East African population migration activity.

Of course, with the development of East Africa, the so-called great migration of savanna animals is actually becoming increasingly difficult to see in later generations, except in places like the Serengeti. The squeeze of East Africa’s population migration and project construction on the living space of local wild animals is very obvious.

This population migration activity was also talked about by various countries in later generations. After all, as a country that became a world power in a short period of time, many people are very interested in the course of East Africa’s rise.

The rapid rise of large cities such as Luanda, Cabinda, and Beira in East Africa in later generations was also considered to be related to this population migration activity, making them a group of well-known cities in the world in the twentieth century.

Chapter 897: The End of the Far East War

While East Africa was engaged in a massive national construction effort, the Far East region was engulfed in the flames of war. Despite East African support, the Far East Empire’s navy performed poorly. It should be noted that the Far East Empire’s navy was stronger than it was during the same historical period, but it struggled to gain an advantage against the cunning Japanese navy.

It wasn’t just the Far East Empire that was suffering; the Japanese government was also in a difficult position. After all, even with the Japanese navy’s higher quality personnel, it was difficult to gain an advantage in a short period against the larger Far East Empire navy, which had more bases. Meanwhile, military spending continued to rise, becoming a constant source of worry for the Japanese government.

“Damn it! The Imperial Navy is so slow to gain an advantage, it’s a disgrace to the Imperial Army! Your navy has no Bushido spirit, otherwise the war wouldn’t have dragged on until now. All that military spending every year is just feeding livestock!”

To end the war as soon as possible, Japan formulated an audacious plan shortly after the outbreak of hostilities: to land in Zhili, attack the Far East Empire’s capital, and force the Qing government to surrender.

The first step in this plan was to seize Lushun and Weihaiwei, which controlled the entrance to the Bohai Sea, and completely destroy the Beiyang Fleet to prevent it from interfering with the landing operation, while also serving as a springboard for the landing battle.

The Japanese navy’s high command, of course, could not swallow their anger at the army’s criticism: “The Far East Empire’s navy spends far more than we do on both military expenses and warships. It’s already an extraordinary achievement that our navy can fight the Far East Empire to a standstill. Your army isn’t doing much better, with such slow progress on the Korean Peninsula…”

“Bastards! If your navy hadn’t sabotaged our transport ships out of fear that we would gain merit, we would have already invaded the Far East Empire from land! You bunch of navy fools…”

In the end, the Japanese navy had indeed acted dishonorably, so they ultimately lost the argument. At the same time, the Japanese army’s high command was further determined by this experience to build their own warships in the future, so they would not be constrained by this group of navy fools. The Japanese army and navy maintained their tradition of internal strife and would further develop it.

“Alright, stop arguing! Now that the war is a mess, the whole country should be united, not trying to find out who is to blame. Now, talk about how to deal with the aftermath!” The Japanese Emperor said, feigning anger.

“Hmph…” The army and navy generals glared at each other.

“Your Majesty, I believe that we previously underestimated the strength of the Far East Empire. As a region in East Asia, the Far East Empire still has considerable strength, which is why this war has not achieved the expected results,” Ito Hirobumi said.

“Before the war, our strategy was to directly threaten the Far East Empire and Korea from both the sea and land. But now it seems that as a late-developing country, Japan inevitably lacks the strength to face the massive Far East Empire. Therefore, the focus should now be concentrated on the Korean Peninsula.”

The Japanese government clearly did not consider the Far East Empire to be its equal, but it had to admit that it did not currently have the ability to swallow the Far East Empire.

“Moreover, the war cannot continue to be deadlocked, otherwise countries like Tsarist Russia will definitely not be able to restrain themselves. Therefore, we must ensure that this war is not a complete loss and avoid getting too entangled with the Far East Empire.”

Japan was very wary of the great powers. After all, Japan was very clear about the reason why this war was able to gain the tacit consent of the great powers. They were just a knife in the hands of the great powers. If the knife’s function could not be demonstrated, Japan would probably be discarded by the great powers after it had served its purpose.

The Japanese Emperor strongly agreed with the Prime Minister’s statement: “In that case, the army and navy must go all out to capture Korea first, so that we can get out of the quagmire of war in time. If we compete with the Far East Empire in attrition, it will be very detrimental to our country.”

…

As the Japanese government changed its strategy, the war situation suddenly changed. First of all, the Far East Empire’s garrison in Korea felt great pressure, while the navy’s pressure was greatly reduced.

However, the Japanese navy did not give up completely and launched an offensive in winter, engaging in a major battle with the Far East Empire’s navy in the Yellow Sea. Although it did not destroy the Far East Empire’s Beiyang Fleet, it did inflict heavy damage on it.

This made the Beiyang Fleet’s commander within the Far East Empire’s government feel extremely alarmed. He ordered the Beiyang Fleet to defend instead of attack and not to engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese navy in order to preserve its strength.

After the Far East Empire’s navy retreated, the Japanese navy did not continue to pursue its victory as it had in history, after all, the Far East Empire’s navy was still very powerful.

Subsequently, Japan focused all its efforts on Korea from both the sea and land. The Far East Empire’s army suffered repeated defeats, and in September, Japan advanced to the Pyongyang area from land.

Then, Japan engaged in a decisive battle with the Far East Empire’s army there. On September 20th, the Far East Empire’s army was defeated and withdrew from Pyongyang.

In early October, Japan advanced to the “Two Rivers” region, and both sides stopped their offensive because the “Two Rivers” was the red line set by the great powers before the war.

With the end of the war, the Far East Empire’s forces completely withdrew from the Korean Peninsula. At this time, Japan and the Far East Empire signed a ceasefire agreement in Pyongyang.

The reason for choosing Pyongyang was that the Japanese government was worried about interference from the great powers. After all, this war was a “lose-lose” situation for both the Far East Empire and Japan. Although there was the gain of Korea, it was far from meeting Japan’s pre-war expectations.

Finally, in early December, the ceasefire agreement officially came into effect. The Far East Empire paid the Japanese government an indemnity of 20 million taels of silver and recognized Japan’s de facto occupation of Korea.

Although, for various reasons, the Far East Empire still ended in failure in this war, it was much stronger than it was during the same historical period.

As for Japan, in order to make up for the losses in the war, it could only impose an even more brutal rule on Korea than it had in the same historical period. After all, the benefits gained from the Far East Empire this time were too small to even cover the Japanese navy’s military expenditures.

After Japan made peace with the Far East Empire, the great powers received the news. East Africa was relatively satisfied with this result, after all, the life or death of Korea had no impact on East Africa’s interests in the Far East.

Although Britain and the United States were somewhat dissatisfied with the development of the war, they could barely accept it. After all, the main purpose of this war was to strike at the Far East Empire’s government and prevent the expansion of Tsarist Russia’s forces in the Far East Empire.

As for Tsarist Russia, it only felt hatred for Japan, after all, in its eyes, Japan was eating away at its “share”.

The outcome of the Far East Empire’s war with Japan still had some “positive” significance. The navies of both countries performed in accordance with their strength standards, at least better than some countries that were all show and no substance, above the passing grade. This led the great powers to have to admit that the naval strength of the two countries possessed the standards of the great powers, at least on par with countries such as Turkey and Spain.

In fact, it might even be a little stronger than East Africa, but East Africa had the achievement of fighting the British Royal Navy to a draw, so even for the sake of its own face, Britain would not say that the East African navy was too bad, after all, world public opinion was in the hands of Britain.

Another result of the Far East War was that Japan took a half-step into the ranks of the great powers and replaced Spain as the gatekeeper of the great powers. After all, although the Far East Empire’s combat power was不堪, it had always belonged to the ranks of the “great powers”. There were only a handful of countries in the world that could defeat the Far East Empire.

And Japan was able to win against such a great power, even if it was only a small victory, it was enough to be recognized by European and American countries.

The “corruption” within the Far East Empire’s army was further recognized by the great powers. If there were no accidents, the external situation facing the Far East Empire in the future would only become more and more serious. However, only Ernst knew that the Far East Empire’s situation was much better than it was during the same historical period.

Chapter 898: Tete City

The Far East War had a significant impact on the region’s landscape, but overall, its impact was less than in its previous life. Furthermore, Ernst was not optimistic about the Far East Empire’s short-term prospects.

Take its Northern Navy as an example. Although it wasn’t completely annihilated this time, the losses were still considerable. After all, its naval strength was much stronger than in the same period of history. Based on this, its naval losses were not much different from its previous life. Considering the large size, the specific losses of the Northern Navy this time were seventy percent of those in its previous life.

As a country, Japan’s naval strength was actually a bit stronger than in its previous life, mainly because its reference point was the Far East Empire’s navy. As the Far East Empire’s navy increased the number of warships, the Japanese government would follow suit. However, constrained by financial pressure, it only borrowed from Britain to introduce three of its navy’s retired main combat ships, which was more than in its previous life.

And this loan, Japan could only recoup from Korea after the war. After all, the Far East Empire’s reparations this time were only one-tenth of those in history, but Ernst was happy to see this.

Ernst had no feud with Korea, but he certainly didn’t have any good feelings towards it. Moreover, Japan’s increased exploitation and oppression of Korea would inevitably arouse fierce resistance from the Korean people, which would further increase Japan’s colonial costs.

Although Korea’s combat power was worrying, it could not be compared with the natives of Africa. If the African natives had forty percent of Korea’s strength, Ernst’s East African colonial strategy would have been difficult to implement. Moreover, during this period, Korea was actually a populous country. In the late 19th century, the population of the Korean Peninsula had already exceeded seventeen million, which was more than the population of the Abyssinian Empire, but its land area was nearly one hundred thousand square kilometers less than the Abyssinian Empire.

Of course, Korea was also unlikely to overthrow Japanese colonial rule. This was not Ernst talking nonsense. In his previous life, Korea overthrew Japanese rule mainly relying on external forces. If relying on Korea’s own strength, it would probably be difficult for Korea to become independent until the middle of the next century. Secondly, Korea was too close to Japan, and the gap between the two countries was significant. This was also the reason why Korea was difficult to overthrow Japanese rule.

Therefore, Ernst was generally satisfied with the pattern formed by the Far East War. Even if Japan developed, it was unlikely to be as rapid as in its previous life. However, Ernst also did not want Japan to be too weak.

If Japan was too weak, then East Africa would have to worry about Russia’s dominance, just like Britain. At the same time, Japan would still be a pawn to leverage the situation in Nanyang and the Pacific in the future.

East Africa was quite dissatisfied with the international situation in the Nanyang region. Apart from the Lanfang Overseas Province and a completely non-existent Balabac Island, East Africa’s influence in the area was very weak, even less than that of the Netherlands and Spain.

If you don’t look at the colonial area, East Africa’s influence in the region was even less than that of Portugal. Although Portugal only had East Timor as a major colony in Nanyang, Portugal had been rooted in the region for hundreds of years, and the influence left behind was still considerable.

In addition to these countries, Britain and France had overwhelming advantages in the Nanyang region. In particular, Britain, with India as its base, controlled the main areas of the Indian Ocean and Nanyang, except for the East African coast.

So Japan was a very good thug. In his previous life, the United States also saw this, but the United States did not expect Japan’s combat effectiveness to be too heaven-defying, and it could even push back the United States’ homeland.

……

Tete City.

Tete City is one of East Africa’s important cities in Mozambique. Its economy and population even rank above Maputo and Beira, making it the fourth largest city in the entire region.

The top three are all port cities, including Pemba City, Nacala City, and Quelimane City.

The common point of these four cities, including Tete City, is that after the First East Portuguese War, they were incorporated into East Africa along with the entire Mozambique north of the Zambezi River. Among them, Tete was still the main battlefield between East Africa and Portugal.

After being incorporated into East Africa, Tete City achieved considerable development, transforming from a desolate commercial stronghold into an emerging city in the region.

Although Tete City is located inland, its regional conditions are superior. First of all, it is located on the banks of the Zambezi River, which is the shipping dividing point of the Zambezi River. From Tete, you can directly reach the Indian Ocean.

Secondly, Tete City is sandwiched between the East African Lake Malawi industrial area and the Central industrial area, so the economies of Mbeya City and Harare City can radiate to Tete City.

Finally, the most important point is that Tete City is surrounded by abundant natural resources, including coal, bauxite, rare metals, and iron ore.

To sum up, Tete City is both a regional center and an important transportation hub, as well as a relatively important industrial and mining city in East Africa. The only thing Tete City currently lacks is a railway, but this will not be a problem once the Quelimane City-New Frankfurt City railway is completed.

This is a trunk railway. On the branch railway, the two major industrial areas led by Harare and Mbeya City intend to build a railway passing through Tete City, so as to realize the linkage of the two major industrial areas in East Africa. Of course, there is also the idea of using Tete City’s resources to promote the development of the region.

After all, Tete City is rich in coal and iron ore resources. Matabeleland Province may not value this, but it is very important for South Salzburg Province.

Of course, as a city with superior conditions in all aspects, the Tete City government naturally has its own ideas. Since its natural endowments are considered superior in the entire East Africa, why not replace them? Its goal is to become an important national city like Mbeya City and Harare City.

With such ambitions, in early 1895, the Tete City government once again sent a team to cities such as Mbeya and Harare.

This time, the Tete City government, in response to the newly discovered bauxite resources in the region, plans to build East Africa’s largest aluminum processing and manufacturing center. As for its plan to build an aluminum smelting plant locally, it was rejected by Ernst.

As for the reason why it died before it could even start, it was also because aluminum smelting is an extremely polluting industry, and it is generally chosen in the lower reaches of rivers and away from residential areas.

Tete City is located on the north bank of the Zambezi River. Although it also belongs to the lower reaches of the river, the Zambezi River, as one of the four major rivers in East Africa, has a considerable length in its lower reaches. Moreover, the lower reaches are a key agricultural development zone reserved by East Africa. If Tete City builds an aluminum smelting plant locally, then the banks of the river for more than four hundred kilometers downstream of Tete City will be miserable.

Therefore, the aluminum smelting plant was finally located in Xinde Town at the mouth of the Zambezi River. After the aluminum smelting is completed, it will be transported back to Tete City for secondary processing by water, and the sewage will be directly discharged into the Indian Ocean, which will avoid pollution to the rivers and coastal soil in East Africa.

Moreover, deploying industries along the coast has another advantage, which is to save the cost of importing bauxite in the future.

Of course, aluminum smelting, like steel, relies on local resources, but when economic development and the world market or the era of globalization arrive in the future, it will definitely rely on imported raw materials.

After all, East Africa’s bauxite resources are also considered abundant, but they are still a bit inferior compared with the world’s superior producing areas, and the reserves alone are not in the same class.

At the same time, building the aluminum smelting plant in Xinde can also drive the development of the mouth of the Zambezi River. Although the port conditions in Xinde at the mouth of the Zambezi River are much worse than those in Beira, it has its unique economic value as the intersection of the Zambezi River and the Indian Ocean.

Among the four major rivers in East Africa (Nile River, Congo River, Orange River, Zambezi River), it is the only estuary port with certain shipping value.

The mouth of the Nile River is in Egypt, the Orange River is a boundary river, and the lower reaches are mainly desert with sparse population, while the lower reaches of the Congo River also have no navigation capacity.

This highlights the importance of Xinde Town. Shipping from Xinde to Tete is basically unimpeded, flowing through the East African coastal plain, and is one of the few river sections in East Africa with high shipping value.

Of course, although the East African central government rejected Tete City’s proposal to build an aluminum smelting plant in its own city, Tete City would naturally not give up completely.

Therefore, the Tete City government plans to rely on the Zambezi River shipping to pull the aluminum from Xinde back to the city for secondary processing, which is highly operable and can drive the development of many industries.

Chapter 899: East African Aluminum Industry

In early 1895, the Tete City government delegation arrived in Beira City, with a focus on inspecting the Mbeya City Iron and Steel Research Institute and the Aluminum Materials Research Institute.

This trip was mainly for “electrolytic aluminum technology.” Although the aluminum smelting plant had been confirmed to be located in Chinde, Chinde was still under the jurisdiction of Tete City before Mozambique was divided into provinces, so the Tete City government was responsible for the negotiations.

Since the aluminum smelting plant could not be established in Tete City, they could only focus on the iron and steel industry. Therefore, the Iron and Steel Research Institute and several steel plants in Mbeya City were the key targets of the delegation’s visit.

Meanwhile, representatives from Chinde Town and Tete City went to the Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute together.

“Currently, the countries in the world that have mastered the cutting-edge technology of electrolytic aluminum are the United States, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, France, and East Africa. Our institute is the most authoritative institution in the field of aluminum materials in East Africa. We are currently promoting the research of aluminum alloy products, and we already have three types of aluminum alloy materials with large-scale promotion value,” Director Eusébio introduced to the group.

East Africa’s emphasis on basic materials science can be traced back to the 1880s. After higher education showed some improvement, and under the leadership of some returned talents, East Africa established several materials research institutes in 1883, covering common metals, rare metals, precious metals, and other fields.

Among them, the Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute was one of the first national key research institutes established in East Africa, which Ernst had paid special attention to.

After all, in the 21st century, aluminum is the most important metal after steel. This is only considering the output. Aluminum is the second largest metal mineral in terms of future usage, second only to iron.

According to this idea, the metal materials research that East Africa focused on at that time were iron, aluminum, chromium, copper, manganese, lead, and zinc. Corresponding research institutes were established for these seven metals, and East Africa also established some comprehensive materials research institutes and many niche materials research institutes.

The above seven major metal materials research institutes are also in line with East Africa’s national conditions of mineral resources. East Africa is not short of common metal mineral resources such as iron, aluminum, and copper.

East Africa’s reserves of chromite and manganese ore are far ahead of the world, and resources such as lead and zinc are also relatively common. For example, Kabwe City started and developed as an industrial and mining city based on these two metal elements.

In fact, East Africa does not lack the top ten metals in terms of global output in later generations. The three metals after the top ten, titanium, nickel, and zirconium, are also widely distributed in East Africa. African minerals are especially known for non-ferrous metals and rare metals. If you add East Africa’s world’s number one gold mine, East Africa also occupies an important position in the field of precious metals.

It’s just that many mineral resources have not become mainstream minerals due to the times and technology, such as aluminum, the world’s second largest metal element in terms of output in later generations.

The low output of aluminum has caused its price to remain high, so from this point of view, it is very profitable to conduct research on aluminum materials.

Of course, the reason why Ernst attaches importance to breakthroughs in aluminum technology is that emerging industries such as automobiles, aviation, aerospace, and electric power in the future cannot do without aluminum products.

In traditional industries, aluminum has broad market prospects in various fields such as shipbuilding, machinery equipment manufacturing, and rail transportation.

Taking automobiles as an example, the car bodies of the 21st century have begun to use aluminum alloys as the main carrier, which has the advantages of excellent ductility, light weight, and sturdiness. Of course, the main reason is that the price is cheap and the output is large.

Airplanes also widely use aluminum as the material for the fuselage. If it is a typical example like the MiG-25, which uses stainless steel as the main material, then Ernst didn’t say anything.

If titanium is the future metal for the 21st century, then aluminum is the future metal of the 19th century. The end of the 19th century was a critical period for breakthroughs in aluminum production technology.

In the original history, in 1886, Charles Martin Hall of the United States and Paul Héroult of France obtained patents for producing metallic aluminum by electrolyzing alumina in molten cryolite almost at the same time.

In this timeline, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, East Africa, the United States, and France almost simultaneously achieved technological breakthroughs.

In fact, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s breakthrough in this field is closely related to East Africa, because this is a joint project between the two countries.

Eusébio, the director of the Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute in East Africa, is an East African student sent to study in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His laboratory had a close relationship with the Joseph University of Technology in the early stage of its construction.

The Joseph University of Technology is located in Hungary and was later renamed the Royal Hungarian Joseph University of Technology. The college is an important historical source of the Budapest University of Technology in later generations, and Eusébio was a student majoring in chemistry at the Joseph University of Technology.

In fact, as one of the earliest publicly funded students, Eusébio graduated from the Joseph University of Technology in 1873. After graduating, he was employed as a teaching staff member at the school due to his excellent grades and engaged in related research.

Even in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was a top talent, so after returning to China, the East African government arranged for him to serve as the director of the newly established Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute.

In the early days, East Africa was not completely blank in this field, but it can be said that they knew nothing about it. Therefore, under the lead of Eusébio, East Africa cooperated with Eusébio’s alma mater, the Joseph University of Technology, and the laboratory of the Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute was successfully put into operation.

However, it is gratifying that three years after the establishment of the research institute, in 1886, the latest electrolytic aluminum technology was finally broken through, so the results of the project are jointly owned by the Mbeya City Aluminum Materials Research Institute in East Africa and the Joseph University of Technology in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The reason why this is the result naturally has a certain reason. Currently, Hungary itself is one of the important bauxite producing areas in Europe, and the other is France. During World War II, Germany mainly obtained aluminum resources through these two countries.

East Africa also has a wide distribution of aluminum mineral resources, including the territories of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, and Madagascar Island in the previous life.

Of course, the most noteworthy aluminum mineral resource in Africa is Guinea in West Africa, which was one of the world’s largest bauxite producing areas in its previous life. However, Guinea is too far away from East Africa and is a French colony, so East Africa is not easy to intervene. If it were Portugal, Ernst might have sent troops long ago. After all, in addition to aluminum mines, Guinea also has the most iron ore reserves in Africa.

Basic materials science is one of the most important disciplines. Of course, according to later generations, this basic discipline should be established as early as possible.

Because basic materials science is a discipline that is not easy to achieve results. It may take decades or even generations, high investment, high time consumption, and slow results. At present, the domestic companies in East Africa that can support this investment cycle are basically state-owned enterprises and scientific research institutions supported by national funds.

So Eusébio said: “It took us three years to overcome the latest electrolytic aluminum technology, and with the help of the Austro-Hungarian Empire University, the idea of setting up an aluminum smelting plant is technically mature. At the same time, aluminum alloy materials also have a large number of application scenarios, so the aluminum industry will have a huge market in East Africa and the world in the future, and can completely become one of the pillar industries in some cities in East Africa.”

“Of course, our research institute is mainly for research purposes. In fact, the first factory in East Africa to apply this technology is in Bagamoyo City, so you will need to go to Bagamoyo City to investigate the specific situation next, especially the equipment introduction. Only Bagamoyo City has a mature aluminum industry.”

“At the same time, aluminum smelting requires a lot of electricity, which is also an important issue that you need to solve in advance.”

Of course, Eusébio is not completely unable to help. He said to everyone: “Although our research institute can’t help much, we can still help with some small things. Especially regarding the latest technology of aluminum materials, you can ask our institute for help. We also need specific production data and market feedback to formulate research directions.”

Chapter 900: “Three Regions” Construction

“The aluminum industry is one of the mainstream industries of the future world, just like electricity was in the beginning. Everyone can now see the enormous potential of the electricity industry, while the aluminum and petrochemical industries in East Africa are just getting started. They are both pillar industries of extreme importance to industry,” Ubysseyo reminded the municipal governments of Xindai Town and Tete City.

This point was indeed persuasive. When electricity was still in its infancy, East Africa invested heavily in it. Now the development of the electricity industry in East Africa is very rapid, and various cities hope to get a piece of the pie.

Therefore, Ubysseyo’s words had a certain effect. At least, the delegations from Tete City and Xindai Town were more determined to bring the aluminum industry to their regions.

The consideration of introducing the aluminum industry by Xindai Town and Tete City actually reflects the current East African government’s shift in investment focus to backward areas such as Angola and Mozambique.

This is very important. If the East African central government does not support it, then this matter may not be easy to accomplish. Take Hechingen Province in southern East Africa, formerly the Transvaal Republic, for example.

In its previous life, it was the most economically important area in South Africa, with highly developed industry, ranking first in Africa. However, due to Ernst’s restrictions, the development of Hechingen Province has been lukewarm.

After all, the state-owned economy accounts for 70 percent of East Africa’s economy, and the development of various regions is entirely determined by the East African central government.

Wherever Ernst wants to develop, he can make a final decision. If Ernst says that Walvis Bay should be built into the largest city in East Africa, even if the local climate conditions are harsh, it can become the largest city in East Africa.

Of course, as the ruler of the country, Ernst certainly will not completely rely on personal feelings to formulate national development strategies. As for the overall pattern of the East African government leading economic development, the benefits actually outweigh the disadvantages for driving the East African national economy.

The most typical point of comparison with East Africa is Brazil. Today, Brazil’s economy and population are completely concentrated in the southeastern coastal area, which is quite unfavorable to inland development. East Africa has already completed the development and construction of the eastern and inland hinterland, and is now turning to other regions again. In this case, the gap between Brazil and East Africa will only grow larger. This can be fully reflected in the agricultural field. The expansion rate of arable land in East Africa is much higher than that of Brazil, and even ranks first in the world.

When international grain prices suffer, Brazil’s development of inland land suffers. East Africa, on the other hand, uses administrative means to forcibly drive the development and construction of various regions in East Africa. Even in areas such as Hechingen Province, where development is restricted, economic growth is much higher than in Brazil.

At the same time, the coordination of the state-owned economy is far higher than that of private enterprises, which is fully adapted to the grand strategy of East African national development. Although it is not conducive to competition, in the current situation where monopoly organizations are rising in countries all over the world, this situation in East Africa is in line with the development trend of the times.

After all, competition between countries is the mainstream, and competition between countries requires monopoly organizations to achieve it. Otherwise, under the erosion of foreign capital, whether domestic enterprises can survive is a question.

…

With the large-scale migration of people in East Africa and the start of new construction projects, a new construction boom has emerged in Angola, Mozambique, and other places.

According to the East African government’s plan, at least one million people are relocated from the central and eastern regions every year to settle in relatively backward areas.

Therefore, new villages are springing up in Angola and Mozambique. The East African railway system is overburdened, and the highways are also very congested, which makes governments at all levels in East Africa even busier.

“This year’s passenger and freight traffic on the railway system has obviously exceeded the design standards, especially the number of trains is seriously insufficient, and the overload exceeds 30 percent, which forces us to relieve the pressure on transportation through highways and waterways,” Liu Yideville, Minister of Transportation, reported to Ernst.

“Moreover, the number of people is still rising. In addition to our own citizens, black laborers are also transferring to all parts of the country. Therefore, we and the Ministry of Railways unanimously believe that we should increase the production of trains,” the Ministry of Railways also complained.

Industrial transfer, population migration, and engineering construction all rely on the railway and highway systems, and the scale is not small, which puts great pressure on the work of the two departments.

“The operation of the railway now is the same as during the South African War. In fact, we are facing an economic war in peacetime. The western, southern, and northern parts of East Africa must be developed. These areas are far behind the central and eastern parts of our country, so I know your difficulties,” Ernst said.

At present, the national work of East Africa is similar to the “Third Front” construction of the Far East Empire. The main development directions are also three, corresponding to the west, south, and north, so it can be summarized as “Three Regions” construction.

Of course, the differences between the two are also very large. The guiding indicators of East Africa’s “Three Regions” construction are population and agriculture, while the main indicators of the Far East Empire’s Third Front construction are industry, especially the national defense military industry.

After all, the population of the Far East Empire is already saturated, and even remote areas had a large population at that time. In the “Three Regions” of East Africa, even the population is an important resource, and the problem of “having or not having” a population must be solved first.

After the population problem is solved, the natural consequence is agricultural development. Otherwise, the problem of food and clothing cannot be solved by relying solely on existing arable land, unless the fields in the central and eastern regions that have been transformed into cash crops are turned back into arable land for food crops.

This is obviously impossible. As an important source of income for East Africa, the area of cash crop cultivation will only increase, not decrease. After all, East Africa wants to be a hegemonic country in cash crops.

If the existing arable land remains unchanged, then naturally new arable land must be reclaimed. However, the development of arable land is inseparable from population factors, so the two are complementary.

This also means that East Africa’s future grain export scale will become smaller. After all, during the period of population migration, the grain output of newly reclaimed land will definitely take time. At the same time, it is accompanied by the construction of various infrastructure projects in East Africa, including two major parts: transportation and farmland water conservancy construction, which will consume huge amounts of grain.

However, the reduction in grain exports has little impact on East Africa. First, international grain prices have been low for many years, and the profit is already low. Second, East Africa is also a country with surplus grain production. It is a good thing if surplus grain production capacity can be consumed through population migration and engineering construction.

Of course, the area of newly added arable land in East Africa will definitely increase greatly in the future, and grain production will definitely increase greatly. This is not a big problem either. After all, the population growth rate in East Africa is also fast. By the end of this century, the population of East Africa is likely to exceed 80 million.

Although the “Three Regions” construction also involves the industrial field, it is very different from the “Third Front” construction. The industries transferred during the Third Front construction were all top-quality industries in the Far East Empire at that time, while East Africa is only transferring backward industries. In addition to expanding the industrial volume of East Africa, there is also the need for industrial upgrading in the central and eastern regions.

Moreover, even if it is a backward industry, it is not all transferred. Currently, the industry in many cities in East Africa is based on mineral resources.

In this case, it will definitely not work if the transfer destination does not have corresponding mineral resources. Therefore, not all of the backward industries eliminated in the central and eastern regions are transferred, but only a part.

Moreover, the transfer of backward industries and industrial upgrading are not achieved overnight. They also correspond to the population migration in East Africa and will take several years.

In fact, with the help of this large-scale immigration, East Africa is also upgrading East Africa’s industrial scale and urban population while developing the western, southern, and northern “Three Regions.” Cities such as Luanda, Beira, and Bangui will all benefit.

The “Three Regions” construction is actually a comprehensive and systematic optimization of domestic construction in East Africa. When it is completed, the pattern of population, cities, industry, agriculture, transportation, etc. in East Africa will be more balanced.

This is also the process of East Africa consolidating its “foundation.” After the “Three Regions” construction is completed, the East African economy will enter a new level. In the next stage, what Ernst needs to consider is the comprehensive industrialization of East Africa.

Chapter 901: The East African Grand Canal Project

Of course, the “Three Departments” construction is actually related to the overall situation of international economic development. This requires going back to the economic crisis of 1873. From the East African perspective, it seems that the impact of the economic crisis has long ended, or did not happen at all. It could even be said that the positive significance for East Africa outweighs the negative.

In reality, the negative impact of the 1873 economic crisis has continued to this day (historically from 1873 to 1896). Although it ended in 1879, the world economy and trade subsequently fell into a state of depression. The specific manifestation was that free trade was replaced by trade protectionism, and Europe and the United States have not fully recovered from the impact to this day.

A typical example is Russia. After the end of the economic crisis, the Russian economy continued to be sluggish. After all, Russia’s economic system was the worst among European and American countries. Therefore, even if the economic crisis ended, due to insufficient investor confidence, Russia’s economic growth was severely inadequate.

Other countries fared much better, especially Germany and the United States. Through various economic means, their economies have recovered. As for Britain and France, they took the colonial route, transferring the crisis to colonial areas, which was one of the inducements for the South African War.

Unfortunately, even through warfare, Britain failed to pry open the East African market. As a result, Britain could only increase its exploitation of colonies such as India.

However, as time goes by, this economic crisis, which had the greatest impact in the 19th century, will eventually end. Now it is 1895, and in the original historical timeline, the impact of the 1873 economic crisis ended next year.

Subsequently, there will be more than thirty years of “Great Prosperity” in the world economy. Although a “World War” occurred in the middle of Europe, it allowed countries outside the region, such as the United States, to make a fortune.

This is also a huge opportunity for East Africa. Of course, the prerequisite is to be able to get out of the next economic crisis in advance. However, this is too early for East Africa at present. It is still unknown whether the First World War will break out and when it will break out.

What East Africa needs to do is to strengthen itself in the next thirty years, under the premise that the international market is in good condition and that the war economy may be in high demand due to the European war.

If East Africa wants to get a bigger share of the pie, it must improve its local productivity. Therefore, East Africa must complete the construction of a national market before 1900, boost the level of industrial and agricultural development in East Africa, and then compete with various countries in the subsequent period.

……

After “encouraging” the transportation and railway departments, the Minister of Water Resources rushed to Ernst’s office.

The Minister of Water Resources, Jalsd, placed a thick stack of documents on Ernst’s desk. This was a huge canal construction plan. The words “East African Grand Canal” were written on the cover of the document. The “madness” of this plan can be seen from the name alone.

“We plan to connect the inland waterway transportation of the four major river basins: the Malagarasi River (the largest river in the Plateau Province), the Zambezi River, the Congo River, and the Kwanza River (located in Angola).”

“Well, a very bold idea!” Ernst could only say this. After all, no one had done this in his previous life. But thinking about it, it makes sense. With the fragmented national structure of Africa in his previous life, and the involvement of countless warlords and tribal forces in various countries, even if the level of productivity in the African region was not backward, it would be impossible to do such a large-scale project that requires overall planning.

“But, what about the feasibility of this plan! I need a satisfactory answer.” Ernst asked.

Jalsd pushed up his glasses and said unhurriedly: “This plan is actually a contingency plan of our Ministry of Water Resources. A similar concept existed during the first national water conservancy construction plan, but now the Angola region has been newly added.”

“During the first national water conservancy construction, we conducted a more thorough and systematic transformation of the central and eastern rivers. In this process, the Ministry of Water Resources and experts obtained complete and detailed information on the East African rivers.”

“Therefore, after fully summarizing, calculating, planning, and researching, we put forward the East African Grand Canal plan.”

“The key to this plan is the Katanga Plateau and the Bié Plateau. Water flows to low places. Therefore, according to the terrain, if East Africa wants to connect the four major river basins together, it must rely on the terrain.”

“This can be seen from the source of the East African rivers. Many tributaries of the Congo River and the Zambezi River originate from the East African Plateau, the Katanga Plateau and the Bié Plateau. Therefore, the Katanga Plateau and the Bié Plateau, which are located in the center of the four major river basins, are the key for East Africa to realize the mutual navigation of the four major river basins in the central region of East Africa.”

Jalsd said a lot, but it is not very complicated. To put it simply, the plateau terrain of East Africa can be regarded as the plains of the Far East Empire. The several major plateaus in the middle of the country are actually connected, and East Africa uses the river branches in these connected areas to connect several major rivers.

It is like the Grand Canal of the Far East Empire, which passes through the North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain, interspersed with some small terrains.

The several plateaus that Jalsd emphasized can be regarded as Jiangsu Province. The northern part of Jiangsu Province is the North China Plain, and the southern part belongs to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain. There is actually no clear boundary between the two.

Of course, the East African Grand Canal sounds very similar to the Grand Canal of the Far East, but the two are actually completely different.

After all, the Grand Canal has an obvious single waterway, which is thousands of kilometers long, but East Africa obviously does not have such geographical conditions.

Jalsd also explained this: “The East African Grand Canal is not a single channel, but a network of inland shipping covering the entire central territory of East Africa is indirectly formed by connecting the tributaries of these rivers through dozens of canals of various sizes.”

The main rivers of East Africa can be said to flow in their own directions. The Zambezi River flows eastward into the Indian Ocean, the Congo River flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Nile River flows northward into the Mediterranean Sea. The overall river network is scattered.

Therefore, it is impossible to connect the main streams of these rivers, but in addition to the main streams, there are thousands of tributaries.

The East African Grand Canal uses these tributaries to achieve the purpose of connecting the inland of East Africa to the sea and compressing inland transportation costs.

“According to our calculations, the actual length of the East African Grand Canal may reach about one thousand seven hundred to two thousand three hundred kilometers. The specific value depends on the plan adopted.”

“Because the East African Grand Canal plan is actually composed of dozens of small canal plans, some trade-offs will inevitably be made in these small canal plans, resulting in data changes.”

The East African Grand Canal plan is actually more appropriately called the East African Canal Network Plan. The water conservancy experts in East Africa have also formulated many alternative plans. Which plans will be adopted in the end depends on the specific construction situation.

Ernst felt a glimmer of hope for the bold ideas of the water conservancy department. He still has capable people under his command.

The problem of inland river transportation in East Africa has always been a concern, but the East African Grand Canal plan cleverly uses river tributaries as support points. Since the main streams cannot be connected, the tributaries are connected together. This is actually a roundabout tactic.

Although the tributaries are inferior to the main streams in terms of river channel and water volume, it is already a blessing for East Africa to realize the interconnection of the inland waterway network.

Large ships cannot pass, but small ships are acceptable. After all, even small ships have much lower costs than roads and railways. If time costs and some specific factors are not considered, water transportation must be the preferred option.

“Very good, there are no loopholes in the overall plan, but you should also conduct more on-site inspections and summarize the possible problems before July this year, and then report to me.” Ernst said to Jalsd.

Although Ernst very much agrees with this plan, he still chooses to be prudent. After all, this plan involves as many as hundreds of large-scale tributaries, which has a huge impact on the ecological problems in the central area of East Africa.

Of course, ecological issues are not Ernst’s main concern. According to this logic, other countries should not build canals.

The 19th and 20th centuries were actually a peak period for canal construction in various countries, especially the great powers such as Britain, the United States, Germany, and France. He did not see that the canals they built in his previous life had too much impact on the ecology.

Of course, Ernst can only say sorry for some species that may disappear due to canal construction. After all, the East African government is completely “people-oriented”, and economic development is the most important thing.

Chapter 902: The Imperial Palace

While East Africa was undergoing a new round of vigorous construction nationwide, the development of Rhine City, this newly planned city, was also not lagging behind.

“The East African Imperial People’s Palace, referred to as the Imperial Palace, covers an area of 130,000 square meters. It references the architectural features of parliamentary buildings in Germany, Austria, and other countries, drawing on the strengths of many.”

The Imperial Palace, which is the East African National Assembly Building, is one of the key projects of Rhine City. Currently, there is no parliament in East Africa, as East Africa does not yet have this need.

Wilhelm II was extremely envious of this. Of course, with the development of East Africa, a parliament is clearly an indispensable key power organ.

In fact, initially, Wilhelm II held a positive attitude towards the idea of a parliament. However, after he completely seized power, that is, after 1892, the parliament became an extremely hated institution that restricted his power.

This is clearly reflected in his correspondence with Ernst. To this, Ernst could only say that Wilhelm II was straightforward and never played games, otherwise he wouldn’t always offend people in the international community.

But Ernst’s attitude was much calmer. Autocratic monarchy is definitely not a long-term solution, which is why the construction of the East African Imperial Palace came about.

And precisely because of this, the East African Imperial Palace, which is under planning and construction in Rhine City, is one of the key landmark buildings of Rhine City. Its architectural features are highly similar to those of Germany and Austria.

However, in specific details, it is more inclined to the style of the German Reichstag building, mainly reflecting the characteristics of solemnity and stateliness, embodying the great power style of East Africa. On this point, Ernst believes that the British Parliament is more prominent, but the British Parliament building is too solemn and gives Ernst a gloomy feeling, which is not good.

Of course, when it comes to architectural aesthetics, the Winter Palace of Tsarist Russia is indeed superior, but it is too extravagant and not to Ernst’s liking.

Of course, the Winter Palace is not a parliament. As a monarchical country, both Tsarist Russia and East Africa currently do not have parliaments.

Historically, the Tsar, under pressure, opened the first Russian parliament, the Russian “Duma,” in 1906.

In front of the Imperial Palace is a wide lawn, which is the German option, because the most conspicuous thing in front of the Vienna Parliament is sculptures and fountains.

To sum up, the East African Imperial Palace can be seen as an upgraded version of the German Reichstag building. After all, as a large country with a large population and land area, East Africa must be more grand in the construction of its parliament than ordinary countries.

As early as the 1890 census, the population of East Africa had already surpassed Germany, and the future population growth rate and scale of East Africa will definitely be above Germany.

The administrative district of Rhine City is located in the northeastern part of the city, rather than the city center area. First of all, it is considered from the perspective of environment and scenery. The northeastern part of the city is close to the Rensem Fuwa River, and the Rensem Fuwa River flows from north to south, so the administrative district must choose the upstream area of the river, which can ensure sufficient water supply and pure water quality.

Secondly, after the Rensem Fuwa River is built with a reservoir in the future, a large artificial lake will inevitably be formed in the east, and the future urban development will inevitably expand towards the lake area.

Later generations of cities like to build artificial lakes, one important reason is to alleviate the local urban heat island effect. The specific heat capacity of water is large. When the temperature is high, the lake water evaporates and absorbs heat, consuming part of the heat in the air, which plays a role in regulating the climate.

And the common feature of most artificial lakes is the diversification of surrounding functions, including commerce, business, hotels, residences, administration, medical care, tourism, transportation… Many artificial lakes have these functions involved around them. It can be said that the artificial lake or the green space around the lake also integrates these different functions more smoothly.

With so many advantages, the site selection of the administrative district of Rhine City must naturally give priority to occupying the best land resources in the city.

“As a city, Rhine City itself has its own administrative system, but as the national administrative center, Rhine City has two administrative systems, with different focuses. Therefore, in the future, the Rhine City government and agencies will focus on the southwest of the national administrative district.”

Although the positioning of the capital city is relatively special, it cannot change the fact that the Berlin city government is not the German central government. East Africa is also the same. The primary purpose of the city government and its related urban governance institutions is to serve the city.

The national administrative center serves the whole country, so the difference between the two is very large. In this way, the Rhine City government agencies are closer to the city center area, which is convenient for urban governance and serving the surrounding citizens.

“In addition to administration, the function of the capital is to focus on science, education, culture, and health, and at the same time, according to the Crown Prince’s requirements, it also focuses more on transportation and economy than the first town.”

Of course, there is another level that Ernst did not mention, that is, the tourism function of the capital. The capital of a country itself naturally has cultural and tourism attributes, but in the current era, the tourism industry is not valued, so Rhine City must lay out for this in advance.

However, this is more difficult for East Africa, because East Africa is a country without historical heritage.

For example, the capital of the Far East Empire, even if it is not the national political center, historical sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven can attract people to visit.

Even in Europe, London, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin all have their own characteristics. In contrast, Washington in the United States and Brasilia in Brazil were not very prominent in their past lives.

In this way, if East Africa’s Rhine City wants to become a tourism hotspot, it can only be achieved through “wonders” in the future.

Brasilia is a typical example. The aircraft outline of Brasilia city is relatively famous in the world, but this outline can only be viewed from a high altitude. Even if you go to Brasilia, it is difficult to directly reflect it. Moreover, although this urban design of Brasilia is unique, it obviously has many shortcomings, especially the unreasonable mandatory functional zoning, which leads to inconvenience in life.

As for Washington, to be honest, a little bit of its popularity is entirely due to the strong national power of the United States in its previous life. If the United States were an unknown Caribbean island country like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who would care where its Washington is!

The United States and Brazil are still like this, let alone East Africa, a country with only more than thirty years of history. Of course, the history of African indigenous civilization is not short, but the civilization of American Indians is relatively backward, and African indigenous civilization is even more backward. American countries can still play the Indian civilization card, but East Africa has no black card to play.

It is impossible to compare the mud and branch houses that are not even shacks with the “pyramids” of the Indians. As for the Arab buildings and relics left in East Africa, a considerable part have been destroyed by East Africa, that is, there are still remnants on Zanzibar Island.

In addition, the oldest buildings in East Africa are those left by the Portuguese, which do not need to be demolished, and are themselves spoils of war for East Africa.

Therefore, one of the important aspects of the Imperial People’s Palace is that it can add a wonder to Rhine City. The empire represents the attributes of the East African monarchy, and the word “people” was added by Ernst.

It represents East Africa’s ambition and the country’s future direction of democratization. Now East Africa is still a kingdom. Ernst is definitely not satisfied with this level, and according to East Africa’s current national strength, the basic conditions for upgrading the kingdom to an empire have also been met. An empire is in line with East Africa’s status as a great power.

Otherwise, the so-called “enthronement” of the Japanese and Vietnamese royal families has a meaning of “a monkey wearing a hat.” Ernst only has the idea of “enthronement” after East Africa has completely become a world power. Countries like Japan and Vietnam, which are not even regional powers, seem a bit ridiculous.

Of course, at present, Japan has barely entered the ranks of regional powers through the victory of the Far East War, but in Ernst’s view, it is still lowering the gold content of the word “emperor.”

Chapter 903: Rhine Palace

Of course, compared to the East African Empire’s People’s Assembly Building, the most important building in the entire Rhine City is obviously the new royal palace of East Africa – Rhine Palace.

Currently, the design of Rhine Palace is still in progress. Unlike the Imperial Building, which has already started construction, Ernst is naturally particularly attentive to it as his future residence, and his requirements are also numerous.

“The design of Rhine Palace this time should not emphasize the palace itself, but rather the gardens. It should focus on feng shui and create a harmonious coexistence between people and nature, combining Eastern and Western elements.”

These were Ernst’s original words. In Ernst’s view, one iconic palace is enough. There’s no need to win in terms of scale and quantity, such as creating a large architectural complex like the Forbidden City or a giant single palace building like the Palace of Versailles.

Taking the Palace of Versailles and the Forbidden City as examples, Versailles covers an area of more than 1.1 million square meters, while the Forbidden City is actually a group of buildings, covering an area of 1.043 million square meters and a building area of 218,400 square meters.

Looking at the data, the Palace of Versailles seems to be larger than the Forbidden City in later generations, but in reality, the Palace of Versailles includes a vast garden area, while the Forbidden City is only the area of the current Inner City of the Far Eastern royal family.

However, Ernst personally does not like European gardens because they are planned too regularly and emphasize geometric shapes. Taking the gardens of the Palace of Versailles as an example, they give a sense of a Far Eastern Empire city park from later generations.

Therefore, Ernst hopes that the gardens of Rhine Palace will follow the terrain of Rhine City and blend into nature, the more “disordered” the better.

So, this time, the design of Rhine Palace is not like the design of Swet Palace last time, which was completely realized by Western designers. Instead, a group of garden designers were borrowed from the Far Eastern Empire to realize the design of Rhine Palace.

In the garden design of Rhine Palace, the main reference is the northern gardens of the Far Eastern Empire. First of all, the talent in the hands of the Far Eastern Empire government is more concentrated. There are a large number of royal gardens and private gardens in the north, so there is no doubt about their professionalism.

Moreover, considering the rainfall, the overall rainfall in Rhine City is above 800 millimeters, which is exactly between the north and south of the Far Eastern Empire.

Therefore, it is not realistic to create “small bridges and flowing water” in Rhine City. Secondly, the overall atmosphere of the palace should also be inclined towards solemnity, solemnity, and grandeur, while the southern gardens are more delicate, complex, and implicit.

This would seem out of place with the overall East African style. Of course, the northern garden design emphasizes rigorous rules, neat layout, and symmetry, with more use of central axes and opposite view lines.

This is also unacceptable to Ernst, as it is too rigid. Therefore, the garden design of Rhine Palace is actually to integrate the different characteristics of the West and the East.

However, the overall effect is more inclined to the characteristics of the northern gardens of the Far Eastern Empire. The biggest difference between the two is that East Africa does not have a distinct winter, so there will not be too many changes in vegetation with the change of seasons.

Secondly, adopt the unconventional layout of southern gardens, and try to design according to the local natural environment and river terrain.

The Lensem Fuwa River, as a tributary of the Luangwa River, which is a tributary of the Zambezi River, actually has many tributaries on both sides, and Rhine Palace will use these small rivers to realize the garden layout of Rhine Palace.

This is the overall characteristic of Rhine Palace in terms of gardens. According to Ernst’s requirements, plus the garden area, the area of Rhine Palace will only reach about 300,000 square meters, which is not much different from the palaces of most countries in the world.

But this is only the overall area, including the gardens, not the building area. Ernst’s expected building area limit is only 50,000 square meters, which is only the upper limit, which means that the final effect may be less than 50,000 square meters.

This scale can only be considered moderate among the palaces of various countries in the world, but it is also almost twice as large as Swet Palace in First Town City.

In the end, the Rhine Palace that Ernst expected in his heart was just a palace in a garden, not even as large as some universities.

However, this is also equivalent to indirectly reflecting the “frugal” spirit of the East African royal family, unlike many European countries now, which make their palaces magnificent and large-scale, and there is more than one. For example, the Palace of Versailles in France is very famous, and the Louvre, Fontainebleau, and Élysée Palace are not bad either.

Austria also has a Winter Palace and a Summer Palace. For example, Schönbrunn Palace is the Summer Palace, and the Hofburg Palace is the Winter Palace.

East Africa previously only had Swet Palace as a royal palace, and its scale was relatively small. Of course, the climate of East Africa also determines that East Africa cannot have a Winter and Summer Palace.

……

The overall construction of Rhine City obviously starts from the administrative area. As mentioned before, it can be roughly divided into three parts, namely the palace area, the national administrative center area, and the city center administrative area.

Among them, the palace area and the national administrative center area are closely connected, and the city center administrative area, that is, the Rhine City government, is located near the city planning center.

Of course, in terms of traffic accessibility, although the national administrative center area is not in the center of Rhine City, it is no worse than the Rhine City government.

East Africa is preparing to build three railways to realize the direct connection between Rhine City and Kabwe City, New Frankfurt City, and Tete City.

That’s right, the railway along the Zambezi River will eventually pass through First Town City and then connect to New Frankfurt City. After all, as the capital of East Africa, Rhine City mainly does not undertake the main transportation hub function.

But Rhine City must be a transportation hub city. Simply put, the railways through Rhine City are given priority to officials, civil servants, the military, students, and Rhine City residents.

The intensity of use between the two is different. To put it bluntly, New Frankfurt City does the heavy lifting, while Rhine City does the “high-end” work.

Currently, Rhine City as a whole is a large construction site. Priority is given to the construction of basic transportation such as railways and highways. Even subways and civil defense projects have corresponding plans.

This is relatively advanced, after all, there are no airplanes at the current time, let alone so-called bombers that can threaten East African airspace.

Moreover, even if there are airplanes, the location of Rhine City in the hinterland of East Africa determines that it is not easy to attack here. After all, if enemy planes can fly here, it can only mean that East Africa is definitely not doing well.

As for the subway, it is not a new thing. The United Kingdom built the world’s first subway as early as 1863, and there are no major problems at the technical level.

Of course, East Africa is now only carrying out tunnel construction first, which is relatively easy for Rhine City, which is completely building from scratch.

At the current time, only the United Kingdom has subways. East Africa may be the second or third country in the world to have subways.

Because countries that are building railways at the same time as East Africa also include the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hungary (opened in 1896) planned the first subway to celebrate the millennium anniversary of the founding of Hungary. The United States also has relevant plans, but the time is later (opened in 1897).

Of course, East Africa may be faster, after all, the construction difficulty is relatively weak. Now Rhine City is a blank slate, so the construction difficulty is also relatively low, while subway construction in other countries is carried out in existing cities and relatively prosperous areas, so there are more unfavorable factors to consider.

Of course, even if the construction is completed, it will take a lot of time to open, after all, the current Rhine City is completely a “ghost town”.

East Africa’s first subway, like the Austro-Hungarian Empire, uses electricity as its main power source, and related technologies mainly come from locomotive research and development institutions in cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mbeya. This also reflects East Africa’s growing capabilities in related scientific fields.

Chapter 904: Cabinda

Thinking of the fates of the royal families of various countries in his past life being liquidated, Ernst still felt some fear in his heart. After all, his current position was also one that could lead to being strung up from a lamppost, so being low-key in the palace could at least offer some comfort.

However, Ernst’s worries were largely unnecessary, because Ernst had cut off that road from the very beginning. This could be seen from the composition of the East African immigrants.

Not to mention ordinary people, even the East African government was full of foul-mouthed roughnecks. Noble etiquette was non-existent. The East African nobility only held the honorary title of “noble.”

If the upper class was like this, the ordinary people of East Africa were even more so. They simply didn’t have so many complex thoughts, and East Africa’s compulsory education was completely geared towards science and engineering, which reduced a large number of social critics.

The threshold for keyboard warriors in the 19th century was very high. Only those with a deep literary foundation and a certain degree of social recognition were qualified to serve, and their circles were only popular in the upper class.

Of course, with the expansion of the worker population and the improvement of cultural levels, a group of public party activists who dared to draw their swords had begun to emerge in Europe.

However, this was only limited to Europe. Other parts of the world were not very popular, including the more industrialized United States. After all, the United States’ national strength had been on the rise, and social contradictions were easily digested.

It was precisely because Europe was industrialized, socially chaotic, and full of countries that it was easy to trigger the generation and spread of various ideas.

This was clearly an impossible situation in countries like East Africa, the United States, or the Far East Empire. That is to say, the state machine of the Far East Empire was on the verge of paralysis, otherwise cultural control would be even stricter than in East Africa.

This can be seen from the “desolate” situation of the East African literary industry. To date, Ernst has not heard of any local “writers,” so in one or two generations, there is no possibility of major social changes in East Africa.

So far, East Africa’s policies have been implemented from top to bottom. In other words, basically all of East Africa’s social progress has been promoted by Ernst, the top-level designer. Otherwise, East Africa would be like Brazil, with a chaotic society.

Of course, none of this will prevent Ernst from having high standards and high demands for personal enjoyment. On the surface, the East African palace is relatively low-key in terms of scale and decoration, but in reality, it is a treasure trove. According to Ernst’s requirements, it is naturally as comfortable as possible, so when the East African palace is completed, it will be one of the most modern palaces in the world.

Security is also a key consideration for Ernst, so Rhine Palace will also be equipped with bunkers and a dedicated tunnel connecting to the Rhine City subway, as well as a reserved dedicated passage to the Lunsemfwa River.

After the Lunsemfwa River Dam is completed, it will form a huge artificial lake. The designer will design a dedicated dock according to the surrounding terrain of the lake, so that the royal family can escape by water.

Although the East African royal family’s rule is very stable, “life-saving” facilities are indispensable, and this is not an overreaction. East Africa itself is studying aircraft projects.

Other countries are naturally the same, so the emergence of bombers in the future is not a difficult task. Not to mention bombers, even nuclear weapons are only forty or fifty years away.

Therefore, the safety considerations of Rhine Palace are completely in accordance with later standards, and Ernst has a lot of experience in this area. After all, he was a construction worker in his previous life and had worked on many projects in Africa, so he is not completely ignorant of the design of Rhine Palace.

In this way, the design of Rhine Palace is more inclined to practicality and convenience of life, rather than the artistic pursuit of current Europe, or the unrestrained schemes of the United States.

…

Starting in 1895, from the northern city of Gezira to the southern city of Upington, from the eastern city of Dar es Salaam to the western city of Cabinda, a wave of construction boom swept across East Africa.

The whole world is actually the same. Even the poorest and most backward countries and regions will be built with a large number of plantations due to the arrival of colonists. Indigenous people who have not changed for thousands of years will also be shackled and forced to work.

“Crack,” the sound of a whip in the air has become a feature of the nineteenth century, plus a sentence: “Lazybones, get up and work!”, this is the characteristic of the colonial era.

The East African supervisors are also very familiar with this kind of work. Cabinda has undergone earth-shaking changes in less than five years in the hands of East Africa.

“Although the Congo River’s estuary is only five kilometers, the river’s downcutting depth is very deep, and the river is turbulent, so building a bridge here is not realistic. The only solution now is to realize the connection with Luanda through ferries. As for the railway, it can only be realized through a detour in the upstream area.”

Cabinda has become one of the important economic ports in western East Africa. With the expansion of the city’s scale and the prosperity of foreign trade, the flow of people and freight has increased, and the original backward transportation situation is also eager to change.

In fact, the development speed of the four port cities in the west is not slow, only slightly worse than the port of Beira.

After all, it is a bridgehead for Atlantic trade, and the economic strength of the Atlantic coast and countries is not weaker than that of Eurasian trade. Of course, Eurasian trade here also includes the Indian Ocean section. In the age of shipping, Eurasian trade cannot bypass the Indian Ocean.

Among the Atlantic coast, South America and West Africa are the raw material producing areas positioned by East Africa, while Europe and the United States are the markets. With both complete, coupled with German investment and the docking of East Africa’s inland economy, the growth rate of western coastal cities is much higher than that of inland Angola.

Of course, this situation has an important relationship with East Africa’s geographical situation. No matter how Angola and Southwest Africa develop, the national policy resources they enjoy are certain.

However, including Angola and Southwest Africa, there are currently only four ports available for commercial trade operations. From north to south, they are Cabinda, Luanda, Benguela, and Walvis Bay. In addition, there are two naval ports, namely Alexandria Port and Swakopmund Port. Other places outside these ports, such as Oranjemund, can only be regarded as small immigration strongholds.

The location of Cabinda is the same as Mombasa in eastern East Africa, it is the port on the west coast closest to the main international trade route.

The only regret is that there is no railway connecting to the inland. The lower reaches of the Congo River next to Cabinda have no shipping value due to the upstream waterfall group. In the absence of both water and land transportation.

In 1895, the population of Luanda exceeded 70,000, mainly relying on its location advantages to vigorously develop import and export trade, as well as processing and manufacturing.

Because domestic transportation is not smooth, Luanda imports raw materials from West Africa and South America, and then processes them to export finished or semi-finished products to West Africa and South America. Some commodities can even be exported to European and American countries.

Of course, in the absence of oil resources, Cabinda’s importance is far less than that of Luanda. Luanda is currently the most developed city on the west coast of East Africa.

In particular, German investment is also concentrated in Luanda and Benguela, while Cabinda is completely dependent on the investment of the East African government.

The main reason for this result is the lack of transportation such as railways, so Cabinda’s urgent need for railways is higher than any other city in East Africa.

In 1895, after the Luanda and Benguela railways, the East African government finally began to change this situation, and the final plan for the Cabinda railway was to proceed simultaneously with Kinshasa upstream.

“The Kinshasa section of the Congo River has the best river conditions and is suitable for railway bridge construction, but this may also be the largest bridge construction project since the founding of East Africa.”

“When the bridge is completed, it can supply both railway and highway passage, and solve the railway problems of Kinshasa and Cabinda at the same time. The railway will branch off from the Luanda railway, then go north to Kinshasa, and then pass through the Congo River Bridge, along the north bank of the Congo River to finally reach Cabinda.”

Chapter 905: “Aspirin”

Of course, although the construction of the Cabinda Railway is difficult, it is not impossible for East Africa to complete, because a huge amount of experience was accumulated during the construction of the Hessen Railway, so this tropical rainforest railway crossing the Congo River is highly feasible.

The only regret is that Cabinda does not have a direct railway to Luanda. The starting point of the western coastal railway is exactly Soyo Town, opposite Cabinda, which is the south bank of the Congo River estuary, cutting off the direct connection between Cabinda and the southern Angolan cities.

However, currently, Cabinda City does not have the confidence of Luanda City. Being able to get the Kinshasa Railway to extend to Cabinda City is already “burning incense to thank the gods.”

Of course, there is nothing wrong with the Cabinda municipal government’s idea. Once Cabinda City’s oil resources are developed, Cabinda will be fully capable of becoming one of the strongest cities in East Africa.

After all, Cabinda’s oil resources alone are equivalent to about half of the total oil resources of the Far East Empire in its previous life. Coupled with the location conditions of a port city and policy inclinations, its importance to East Africa far exceeds that of Luanda.

…

With the construction of the “three departments,” the national resources of East Africa are being transferred to these three regions, including new schools and hospitals, of course.

However, the current education and medical conditions in these areas are naturally not comparable to those in the central and eastern regions. Take Cabinda City as an example.

There is only one hospital in the entire Cabinda City, and the entire hospital has only more than seventy people, which is equivalent to one doctor for every thousand people.

However, this is much better than the overall level in the west. There is only one doctor for every three thousand people in the entire west. Cabinda, as a city, is considered to have a better situation. Moreover, only Cabinda’s high city level allows for this. If it were other backward towns, it would be even lower.

“Mr. Luo Fu, two more patients have been sent today.”

Two patients were sent to the city hospital today, without exception, both were black. From this point of view, the black laborers in East Africa seem to be treated well. After all, medical care is a scarce resource, and it can still be used on black people. In the general environment of the 19th century, it is obviously a bit of a “waste.”

Of course, East Africa cannot really be so kind as to treat them for free. In addition to being an important labor resource for East Africa, these indigenous patients are also important medical materials.

After all, the medical level and the quality of doctors in the 19th century were extremely backward, and if you want to improve the quality of doctors, you must have more clinical trials.

Obviously, it is not suitable to use domestic citizens as test subjects, but black people are different. You can confidently and boldly try prescriptions and treatments. This is also one of the important reasons for the rapid development of East African medicine.

Luo Fu looked at his patients as usual, but he was not in a hurry to start. Instead, he asked his students to check the situation first: “Browns, take a look at the situation first, and then tell me.”

A slightly young man, after putting on his gloves, said: “Yes, teacher.”

He came to the two black people and began to observe and ask about the symptoms. Under the rule of the original Portuguese, these black people only knew simple Portuguese, or some directive German, and obviously could not answer his professional questions.

Therefore, Browns can only confirm the disease by analyzing the patient’s parts. He first measured the body temperature, then opened the black man’s mouth and observed the condition of the tongue coating, and then examined the lesions.

After observing for a few minutes, Browns said somewhat uncertainly: “Teacher, the symptoms seem to be some kind of inflammation. The patient’s body has a high temperature, and the wound has red and swollen scars with clear boundaries… It seems to have been delayed for a long time, but the specific problem is unknown.”

Luo Fu nodded and said: “These are all basic. It should be some kind of skin disease. I tend to think it is erysipelas, after all, some previous patients also had similar cases.”

“The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ records: ‘Willow leaves… for infantile erysipelas. Use one catty of willow leaves, add one dou of water, boil to extract three sheng of juice, and wash the affected area. It is advisable to wash seven or eight times a day…’ So willow leaves must contain some kind of chemical component, which shows that it had a good effect in ancient times in the Far East Empire, otherwise it would not be recorded in detail. Of course, it depends on whether it is the right medicine for the disease, but we don’t have willow leaves here, so we can prescribe some anti-inflammatory drugs first.”

Browns is naturally very familiar with the book “Compendium of Materia Medica.” It is one of the must-read books. The East African Pharmacopoeia compiled by the East African Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine contains it.

The East African Pharmacopoeia is a pharmaceutical encyclopedia compiled by the East African Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on medical masterpieces and prescriptions from various countries around the world, as well as herbal varieties unique to East Africa.

“Erysipelas is also a skin disease. Under a microscope, we can conclude that this disease is caused by a virus or bacteria, and willow leaves contain a certain component that inhibits this virus or bacteria, so our focus is on finding this virus or bacteria, or even fungal components.”

“The medicine of all countries in the world has its merits, but only traditional Chinese medicine has achieved great success. Traditional Chinese medicine has rich data support and records of various diseases.”

“Not to mention anything else, we in East Africa have collected thirteen versions of the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica,’ including a rare copy collected by the royal family, and two Japanese versions. This shows that the content of the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ has changed greatly since it was passed down to this day. After all, medicine must be rigorous, and the slightest change may cause serious medical accidents.”

“Of course, this subtle adjustment also has a certain reason. After all, each doctor has their own experience and knowledge, so this subtle change is likely to be a correction and improvement, and we cannot ignore it.” Luo Fu talked eloquently to his students.

“Of course, I say this in the hope that you will be able to draw knowledge from ancient books in the future. This knowledge is ultimately a valuable asset, just like the inhibitory effect of willow leaves on erysipelas that I just mentioned. It is currently said that the national medical laboratory is extracting its components. In fact, there are also similar treatment cases in ancient Egypt, so drawing on the strengths of others is one of the important processes for our medical progress.”

The national medical laboratory that Luo Fu mentioned has actually achieved a lot of success. After all, there are as many medical cases and treatment plans recorded in traditional Chinese medicine as there are hairs on an ox. East Africa is just extracting the medicinal chemical components on this basis.

This is equivalent to pointing out the research direction, instead of bumping around like a headless fly and making breakthroughs by accident.

And there has been considerable progress in the extraction of components from willow leaves. You may not know much about it, but in fact, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of willow trees is salicylic acid, but the side effects are too great at present, so it has not been promoted and is still being improved in the laboratory.

In its previous life, the most famous salicylic acid drug was “aspirin,” which was developed by Hoffman in Germany, and Hoffman’s research time was basically the same as that of East Africa.

Of course, the East African Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine certainly does not know that Hoffman exists. Their scientific research project is completely based on the direction found in ancient medical books of the Far East Empire. Of course, if you want to extract the effective components of drugs from ancient books, you must have a chemical foundation.

Therefore, East African medicine is actively recruiting talents from all walks of life, or integrating and learning knowledge in other fields, so as to better promote the development of East African medicine.

In this way, East African traditional Chinese medicine will naturally be more likely to achieve results. The knowledge in the medical classics of the Far East Empire alone is enough for them to study for a lifetime.

Like the extraction of “salicylic acid,” first, the records of traditional Chinese medicine point out the direction, and then the doctors in East Africa try to extract this component by modern means. If it is successfully improved in the future, it may become an effective drug like “aspirin.”

Chapter 906: East African Planned Economy Committee

“In order to comply with the needs of East African economic development, the East African Planned Economy Committee is established to coordinate national industry, agriculture, energy, technology, engineering, and other construction.”

“The main reason for establishing this institution is to formulate national medium and long-term development plans, maintain the stability of development policies, and at the same time, more scientifically design East Africa’s independent economic development path, coordinate the work of state-owned enterprises and various public institutions, government departments at all levels, formulate production plans, and improve industrial and agricultural production capacity.”

In a country like East Africa, which is dominated by a state-owned economy and a collective economy (mainly agriculture), it is obviously impossible to rely on the traditional Western or capitalist economic development model.

Therefore, in October of 1895, Ernst formally promoted the establishment of the East African National Planned Economy Committee, drawing elite forces from various East African government agencies to form this economic policy institution that was completely different from the Western world.

The establishment of the East African National Planned Economy Committee does not mean that East Africa denies the market economy, but rather to more scientifically guide the development of East Africa’s state-owned and collective economies.

Of course, East Africa’s main private economy is the royal enterprise, so in fact, it will also comply with government requirements to formulate the company’s development strategy in East Africa.

However, the nickname for this institution within the East African government is “Economic Cabinet,” after all, it is completely unlike the Ministry of Finance, where most of the work is completed within the department, but it can directly intervene in the work of all departments related to the national economic field, and the top leader is naturally concurrently held by Ernst.

“In our country’s economic composition, the state-owned economy and the collective economy occupy a dominant position, so in order to facilitate the management of state-owned enterprises and collective economies, the Planning Committee is a necessary institution. In the past, our country’s economy was in a state of barbaric development for a long time, and there was a lack of connectivity in communication and collaboration between various departments and enterprises. At the same time, it was not conducive to the formulation of national economic policies, so the task of the East African Planning Committee is to implement the grand policy of ‘the whole country’s economy as a single chessboard,’ formulate the government’s economic work tasks and development direction, and provide guidance for the development of enterprises and economic groups.”

Regarding what Ernst said, many officials in East Africa only felt that it was profound and incomprehensible, after all, there was no precedent for this in various countries around the world.

However, it did not cause too much disturbance, after all, East Africa used to be a “planned” economy, and the general direction of national development was completely decided by Ernst alone.

Of course, Ernst alone certainly did not have this ability, mainly relying on the think tank team to complete the specific work, and finally Ernst signed and agreed.

So now the East African Planning Committee is actually equivalent to Ernst upgrading the think tank team into a formal government agency. Under the circumstances of “the same medicine in a different bottle,” everyone naturally felt nothing.

After the establishment of the East African Planning Committee, the power of the Ministry of Finance was greatly reduced, but it was still an important economic department of the government. After all, theoretically, the Planning Committee had no real power, and spending money to handle affairs still required the Ministry of Finance to review and sign for confirmation in the end.

After the department was established, Ernst said: “In the blink of an eye, it will be the turn of the century, and in four years it will be the 20th century, which also means the arrival of a new era. Therefore, in these four years, the Planned Economy Committee must fully take over the formulation of national economic development strategies, while familiarizing itself with relevant work and formulating the overall goals of our country’s economic development before 1900. There is no need to set the tone too high, work pragmatically, and improve the current national economic system.”

After all, the Planned Economy Committee has just been established, so whether it can complete Ernst’s requirements remains to be seen. Therefore, the four years from 1895 to 1900 are its running-in period.

It is impossible for them to formulate detailed plans. First, formulate a rough development plan, and then observe the effect in 1900, and then make major adjustments and changes.

In Ernst’s view, East Africa’s planned economy, in particular, must not be rushed, although it is easy to achieve results, it is also easy to ignore potential drawbacks.

It is always necessary for the people under his command to first familiarize themselves with various affairs, understand the national conditions of national economic development, and the trends of world economic development, and then formulate relatively scientific development plans in accordance with the specific situation of East African countries.

This has led to the first national development plan formulated by the East African Planned Economy Committee being quite conservative:

Establish at least fifty new state-owned enterprises of various types, break through three million tons of steel production (of course, East Africa is at two million tons), break through fifteen hundred million mu of cultivated land, and break through at least two hundred billion jin of grain production (currently one hundred and seventeen billion jin), break through seventy thousand kilometers of railways (thirty thousand kilometers less than the original plan of the Ministry of Railways)…

Moreover, in some economic fields, the goals are set quite implicitly. After all, in a short period of time, the Planned Economy Committee does not have a thorough understanding of East Africa’s national conditions and cannot grasp detailed data.

Therefore, it can only be said to encourage the development of various industries, promote industrial upgrading and transformation, vigorously develop national defense military industry… and other uncertain topics.

Ernst is more understanding of this, after all, there is no experience, so Ernst’s requirements are not high. After four years, it is estimated that the Planned Economy Committee will be familiar with relevant work, and it will not be as “helpless” as it is now.

This also made other government departments in East Africa see a “joke.” After all, the work and business are not proficient, making the East African Planned Economy Committee look neither fish nor fowl. The economic development goals it formulated are even less than the plans formulated by the original government departments at all levels.

This includes the Ministry of Railways, whose original plan was to break through one hundred thousand kilometers of total railway mileage in East Africa before 1900, but it was cut by the Planned Economy Committee, directly losing the entire national railway mileage of France.

Of course, the initial task of the Planned Economy Committee is mainly to run in and learn, and its formulation of economic policies only has guiding significance. It would be great if the Ministry of Railways could overfulfill the task.

However, the Planned Economy Committee’s data of seventy thousand kilometers is not completely unreasonable. Its data is based on the East African railway construction data in previous years. After all, East African railway construction has peaks and troughs. According to their estimates, in the next four years, East African railway construction will be difficult to reach the scale of the 1970s and 1980s. After all, the outbreak of railway construction in the 1970s and 1980s had the factor of economic crisis.

The debate between the two can only be proven by time. Before that, the Ministry of Railways will naturally continue to plan the national railway construction plan according to the original plan.

Therefore, after the establishment of the East African Planned Economy Committee, it will hardly have a major impact on East Africa’s national economic development between 1895 and 1900.

In fact, even without this department, the current East African economy could not develop too slowly in the major cycle of world economic recovery.

At the end of the 19th century, it was the period of the Second Industrial Revolution. As long as the overall stability of the country can be maintained, even the current government of the Far East Empire can achieve good results.

In fact, the economies of the Far Eastern countries and East Africa have great similarities, that is, the large number of enterprises established by the government in the Westernization Movement are actually state-owned enterprises, and this period is the stage of rapid development of the military industry and other fields in the Far East Empire.

Of course, the government of the Far East Empire is obviously still a bit timid in industrial investment, unlike East Africa, which is all big deals, which also has a lot to do with the national conditions of the two countries.

Especially after the Far East War, this can be regarded as one of the turning points in the national fortune of the Far East Empire. After more than ten years of peaceful development, the Far East War also means the re-emergence of regional turmoil.

East Africa, on the other hand, will be in a state of peace and stability for the next ten years due to the South African War. In this case, East Africa is likely to rapidly narrow the gap with the Far East Empire in terms of economic size.

Chapter 907: The Three Connections Policy

That’s right, looking at the economic size of the Far East Empire on a global scale, only England and the United States can definitively surpass it. It belongs to the level of being large but not strong.

This can be glimpsed from military spending. The scale of the Far East Empire’s navy is among the best in the world, and this is achieved despite its weak industrial base.

Therefore, the population advantage is fully reflected in the Far East Empire. Even if East Africa is powerful, it is impossible to compete at a ratio of one to seven. In 1890, the Far East Empire’s population was seven times that of East Africa, and East Africa’s industrial level is generally weak. Although it is stronger than the Far East Empire, it is limited. Therefore, the Far East Empire is still stronger than East Africa in terms of economic size.

However, East Africa’s population is growing rapidly, coupled with the acceleration of industrial progress, the change of power between the two is only a matter of a few years.

…

“By 1900, our country should achieve the comprehensive ‘Three Connections’ policy in major urban areas, that is, universal access to water, electricity, and roads, while in the next fifty years, from 1900 to 1950, we will achieve nationwide electricity coverage, including electricity, safe drinking water, roads, and other infrastructure in various rural and remote areas of East Africa.”

Currently, more than two million households in East Africa have access to electricity. It seems like a lot, but it is actually less than five percent of the national population. Yet, this has already created East Africa’s position as the world’s largest electricity industry country. The scale of the United States’ electricity industry only accounts for about forty-seven percent of East Africa’s, and Germany is third.

East Africa, the United States, and Germany are in the first tier of the world’s electricity industry, far ahead of all other countries, including England and France.

“As of May of this year, more than one thousand seven hundred power plants of various types have been built nationwide, with a power generation capacity of three point nine billion kilowatt-hours, of which seventy-nine percent is used for lighting. Industries such as electrolytic aluminum in the industrial sector are large consumers, and the number of workers in the electricity industry and related practitioners has exceeded seventy thousand.”

The United States has about thirty thousand, and Germany has more than twenty thousand. Therefore, judging from the number of electricity industry employees alone, East Africa is far higher than other countries in the world, with more than twenty thousand professional electricians alone.

The development of the world’s electricity industry is very rapid. From scratch to development and growth, it has only been about thirty years. As one of the countries that seized the opportunity, East Africa is undoubtedly the world’s number one in this regard.

Electricity, automobiles, petroleum, and other special industries are also among the few industries in which East Africa is at the forefront of the world. In comparison, industries such as steel, railways, and textiles are slightly behind, but overall, they are also ranked at the forefront of the world, barely meeting East Africa’s status as a great power. Chemical industry, equipment manufacturing, steam engines, etc., belong to relatively backward areas, but although East Africa is not strong in these industries, it still has them, so it will not be completely strangled.

East Africa’s investment in emerging industrial fields has led to a fundamental difference between East Africa as a late-developing country and pursuers like Japan. Instead, like Germany and the United States, it has surpassed England and France in emerging industrial fields.

Of course, Germany and the United States have a good foundation, so it is actually a bit unfair to include them in the ranks of late-developing countries. Although Germany was previously fragmented, the economies of the German states were not too bad. As for the United States, it is even more excessive. If judged solely from the economic scale, it is already the “world’s number one.”

“The electricity and internal combustion engine industries are still the key investment areas for the country in the future, especially the promotion and popularization of production. The popularization of electricity is the easiest livelihood project to benefit the people and improve the happiness of our citizens, so the popularization of electricity is very important.”

This is easy to understand. East Africa naturally cannot equip every household with a car right now, but it is very easy to achieve the installation of electric lights in every household.

Of course, this ease is relative. For example, as mentioned in East Africa’s proposed electricity plan, nationwide electricity coverage in major towns can only be achieved by 1900.

Currently, East Africa’s urban population should be around ten million, and the population enjoying electric lights is only more than two million. This is the result of the East African government’s efforts for more than thirty years.

Of course, when the electricity penetration rate reaches five percent, the speed of electricity promotion will increase exponentially. This is the case in countries such as the United States in its previous life.

Therefore, East Africa dares to say the bold statement of achieving nationwide electricity coverage in major towns before 1900. As for why it is major towns, the reason is that new towns may spring up in East Africa at any time.

In particular, the development of the “Three Regions” and resource exploration will also give birth to new industrial towns. The electricity coverage of these new cities cannot be completely synchronized with other towns in East Africa.

Therefore, the “Three Connections” policy is mainly aimed at the major towns in the central, eastern, and other regions of East Africa. Electrification is the most difficult to complete.

As for access to water and roads, it is much simpler. Most areas have already completed road access. As for water access, it is impossible to develop into a densely populated town without sufficient water sources. East Africa is just building new water plants and laying tap water pipes on this basis.

“The ‘Three Connections’ policy is not entirely based on economic data as an indicator. It is also an important livelihood project in our country, in order to quickly catch up with European and American countries and narrow the gap.”

In fact, East Africa’s “Three Connections” policy is far more than that. None of the European and American countries have achieved all three connections, and even the electricity industry cannot compare with East Africa. Moreover, in European society, those who can use electricity are generally not ordinary people.

After all, electricity is currently a scarce resource and costs money. Although East Africa also divides electricity popularization into different levels, it also benefits some ordinary people, especially in developed urban areas of East Africa. Many ordinary citizens can also enjoy the benefits of electricity, which is why East Africa can become the world’s largest electricity producer.

With the implementation of the “Three Connections” policy, the future popularization of electricity in East Africa will benefit more than twenty percent of the national population in just a few years.

This is also the essential difference between East Africa’s state-owned power companies and European and American private power companies. East Africa’s power companies do not completely prioritize profitability and bear certain social responsibilities, while European and American private power companies completely prioritize profitability.

Of course, not all companies in East Africa are like this. For example, the Hohenzollern Power Company is a Hohenzollern royal family company, so there is no essential difference from European and American power companies.

However, as one of the world’s electricity giants, the Hohenzollern Power Company’s main industry is still deployed outside East Africa, especially in Europe, and only accounts for less than twenty percent of the domestic market.

However, twenty percent is not a small share. It can basically kill any country, including Spain, except for the top powers.

In its previous life, Italy also had a good development in the European electricity industry, but in this time and space, Italy’s electricity industry development is not satisfactory due to re-fragmentation. After all, the current electricity industry development mainly relies on monopoly organizations, especially East Africa, the United States, and Germany, and Italy obviously does not have the conditions of the three, mainly the market size.

After the initial completion of the “Three Connections” policy, the gap between East Africa and other countries in the field of electricity will be further widened, unless a “crash course” player like the Soviet Union appears. However, East Africa is accumulating and accelerating, so even if there is a Soviet Union now, it is not easy to surpass East Africa.

Even the United States cannot reach fifty percent of East Africa’s level in the field of electricity, which shows the development speed of East Africa’s electricity industry. The most terrifying thing is that East Africa’s population is still growing rapidly, which means that the scale of East Africa’s electricity industry will only continue to accelerate in the future.

Chapter 908: Sustainable Development

Resource-intensive industries, also known as land-intensive industries, obviously involve industries that rely on land and related resources, the most typical of which are agriculture and mining.

East Africa is a typical major country in agriculture and mining. Agriculture goes without saying, and mining has expanded rapidly with the expansion of East Africa’s territory, especially in the south-central region of East Africa, where a large number of cities have sprung up due to mineral resources.

With the development of economic cooperation between East Africa and Germany and Austria, East Africa’s mineral exports have also begun to climb year by year. Agriculture is still okay, because East Africa’s chemical industry is backward, and agriculture is still mainly organic agriculture, but the development of mineral resources has caused serious pollution to land and rivers.

Take the city of Kabwe as an example. Don’t underestimate Kabwe as an unknown city. In fact, in its previous life, Kabwe was one of the ten most polluted cities in the world.

Kabwe’s dominant minerals, lead and zinc, cause serious heavy metal pollution during mining, and it is almost irreversible. However, human demand for lead and zinc is essential, so lead and zinc production areas like Kabwe cannot be directly stagnated by East Africa. Instead, production must be increased to meet the needs of industries such as electricity, military industry, metallurgy, and chemical industry.

“Our government cannot turn a blind eye to industrial pollution prevention and control, blindly pursue production efficiency, and ignore environmental issues, especially environmental issues in inland areas,” Ernst emphasized at a government meeting.

“Mineral resource development will generate a lot of pollution, in the order of solid, liquid and gas.”

“It is indeed not easy to solve gas pollution prevention and control, but solid and liquid pollution problems must be solved easily. After all, the development of mineral resources in the mining industry generates a large amount of slag and harmful substances, which cause the most serious pollution to land and rivers.”

“This is even more serious than agriculture. Although agriculture also has a great impact on the ecology, agriculture itself is part of the ecosystem and has a substitution effect, while the impact of mining on the ecology is almost negative. If we do not pay attention to this issue, then in fifty or sixty years, many cities will either decline directly due to resource depletion or ecological problems.”

“Of course, it doesn’t sound very serious, after all, cities can be redeveloped. Where there is decline, there is rise, but the accompanying pollution of land and rivers is completely different. These cities and surrounding areas will become pieces of difficult-to-heal scars on the future land of East Africa.”

“Although East Africa’s land resources are abundant, they are also limited. This is true for any country and region in the world. For example, if the land around the Nile River cannot survive due to pollution, then Egypt is basically a country in name only.”

“Of course, our East Africa cannot be compared with Egypt after all. The little land that Egypt can develop and utilize is not even comparable to East Africa’s Northern Province, but by the same token, our industrial scale is not comparable to Egypt’s.”

In the end, environmental management is similar to the hygiene of a room. The owner of the room will generate various kinds of domestic waste every day. Diligent people clean up the garbage they produce every day and throw it into the trash can downstairs, while slovenly people will accumulate it until it can’t be contained before starting to clean it up.

Ernst couldn’t say which of the two models was better, after all, the final result of the room was that it was clean, but diligent people lived in a clean house every day, while slovenly people “endured for a while” before cleaning.

The main purpose of this meeting is actually to focus on the treatment of waste slag and waste rock, and the method is not difficult, which can be summarized as centralized storage in these four words.

The first thing to consider is definitely to stay away from rivers and cultivated land, followed by residential areas, and place them in areas that are difficult to utilize and will not cause serious impact on the ecology.

Moreover, slag may not have secondary utilization value. In the 19th century, mineral smelting technology was quite backward. Perhaps there are resources in the waste slag that have not been extracted. Perhaps they can be reused in the future when technology advances.

After talking about the mining industry, the topic returned to agriculture. As a resource-intensive industry, the biggest impact and coverage is still agriculture. After all, mineral resources with economic value are not available everywhere, but agriculture is everywhere. Even deserts can develop some special small-scale agriculture.

For agriculture, it is an old topic, including water system management, cultivated land development, and connection to the market.

As the saying goes, cheap grain hurts farmers, but this is not necessarily the case in East Africa. Because of collective agriculture, what is damaged is national assets, so the development of agriculture must naturally meet international market demands, which cannot be separated from mechanization, crop selection, fertilizer and pesticide production.

The general direction of mechanization has already been determined, and crop selection naturally gives priority to the transition to cash crop cultivation, and the focus is on the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

With the development of economic cooperation between East Africa and Germany, Austria and other countries, and the trend of East Africa’s chemical industry development has become clear, the use of fertilizers and pesticides must be cautious.

Ernst is naturally not a supporter of the “green agriculture” of Africa in his previous life. The magic weapons for increasing production such as fertilizers and pesticides should still be used. Not only that, East Africa should also vigorously develop “agricultural genetic engineering.”

However, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, especially pesticides, obviously cannot be blind. In this regard, Ernst proposed three key principles: “safety, sustainability, and reasonable dosage.”

Some pesticides are not just pesticides, they may even threaten people as well. After all, countries in the 19th century did not have strict management of this.

All of this naturally requires East African researchers to conduct experiments first, determine the side effects, and then selectively promote them on a large scale.

The less pollution, the better. Although East Africa will do more than other countries in this way, it will not have a big impact on East Africa’s overall economy.

Pollution is all your own, just like health is all your own. Capitalists pat their butts and run away. In the future, governments of all countries will still have to work hard to rectify environmental problems. No one can escape this difficulty.

Moreover, East Africa should pay more attention to this. East Africa is one of the countries with the largest non-ferrous metal reserves in the world, and mineral resources are concentrated in inland areas, so environmental issues cannot be taken lightly.

The pollution in coastal areas flows to other sea areas along with the ocean currents. Even because of the issue of maritime sovereignty, if you don’t pollute, other countries will pollute.

Obviously, the country that will cause the most serious pollution to the Indian Ocean in the future is the Indian region, so Ernst has no psychological burden to dump garbage into the sea.

As the meeting ended, the East African government began a new round of work, especially the re-planning and management of mines and ore refining plants.

The focus is on the storage management of slag, and the key protection of the river environment in the mining area. This is actually very easy. After solving the slag storage problem, the pollution of rivers will basically be reduced, unless it is some liquid pollution sources, which cannot be helped.

Cities with slightly better conditions can only simply precipitate and filter polluted water before discharging it into rivers, lakes and seas, but this also greatly reduces the pressure on inland rivers in East Africa.

This series of work does bring some trouble to East Africa’s industrial and agricultural production, but the problem is not big. After all, the economic entity of East Africa is public ownership. If it is a private enterprise, there may be complaints, after all, it is necessary to arrange more manpower and increase production processes, but for East African enterprises, they will naturally do whatever the government says, and there is no problem with execution.

Chapter 909: Armored Force Concept

“Traditional cavalry is bound to be eliminated. With the advancement of military weapons, such as the use of machine guns, which was tested in the South African War, how cavalry can break through the machine gun fire coverage network is a major problem. With enough machine guns, infantry can effectively deal with the threat of cavalry. Therefore, our cavalry units must adapt to the development of the times and embark on the path of motorized cavalry,” Lieutenant General Mars said.

Mars was promoted after the South African War. The 221st and 222nd Cavalry Divisions he created before the South African War achieved good results, especially the 221st Division, which fought almost the entire war in the Mozambique area.

The East African cavalry, to say nothing of its long history, has little to show in terms of battle achievements. After all, the earliest East African cavalry was created entirely to suppress the indigenous forces of East Africa, which was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The highlights of the East African cavalry were the Boer War and the South African War. As for the First East Portuguese War, East Africa did not even need to deploy cavalry to successfully cause Portugal’s homeland to fall. At that time, Portugal’s two colonies were too close to East Africa’s core territory, and the East African border troops were enough to deal with the Portuguese. In fact, the East African border troops did not even fully mobilize at the time, instead using Black people to fight the Portuguese.

With the end of the South African War, the East African Army has naturally not been idle in recent years. First of all, research on traditional weapons such as rifles and artillery has continued to advance.

After the South African War, the importance of new weapons, new technologies, and new tactics such as machine guns, railways, telegraphs, and trench warfare was further enhanced. The Battle of New Frankfurt was a classic case of trench warfare in East Africa. The trench system built by the East African Defense Forces with New Frankfurt as its core greatly consumed and delayed the military strength of Britain and Portugal.

This was the impact of the South African War, and aside from the war factors, the development of new things such as radio and automobiles once again promoted the East African Army’s research in related fields.

Lieutenant General Mars developed a pessimistic view of the development of cavalry units on this basis. With the establishment of the Guards Division’s motorized infantry unit, the importance of automobiles in future military operations has become prominent.

In 1895, with the development of the East African automobile industry, the military also took the opportunity to propose the application of automobiles in the military, and the Guards Division, being the wealthiest, naturally took the lead among the various East African units.

Mars is now in charge of the 101st Cavalry Division, serving as its commander. The 101st Cavalry Division is stationed in Mbeya.

Mbeya is one of the production bases of the East African automobile industry, so Mars can most directly witness the rapid development of the East African automobile industry. Coupled with the establishment of the Guards Division’s motorized infantry unit, he realized the crisis facing the East African traditional cavalry.

In order to cope with this crisis, changes must naturally be made. Therefore, after more than a month of contemplation, Lieutenant General Mars believes that if the cavalry units want to keep pace with the times, they must have more powerful machinery than the Guards Division’s motorized units, and they must be both offensive and defensive, with the advantages of mobility.

This kind of machinery is obviously different from automobiles. It should have a certain defensive function, and at the same time, it can be equipped with machine guns and artillery and other weapons with strong striking capabilities.

To achieve defensive functions, it is natural to equip “armor”. As for machine guns and artillery, it is to achieve suppression of infantry. However, after Mars learned that the Guards Division’s motorized infantry unit had added machine gun positions to its automobiles, he became more determined to add more powerful artillery to the machinery used by the cavalry units. Of course, machine guns are also essential.

Soon, Mars wrote his ideas into a specific draft proposal and submitted it to the General Staff. Subsequently, he was called to First Town by the new Chief of General Staff, Moerk, to give a report.

“Well said, Mars. As for the new type of cavalry equipment you proposed, relevant research has actually progressed under the promotion of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. However, I cannot disclose the specific content. However, the fact that you can realize this problem in advance shows that your vigilance and sensitivity to new technologies are very good. This is what our East African soldiers need,” Moerk praised without reservation.

“As for the new type of cavalry equipment you mentioned in the document, we have had plans for it for a long time. The name is ‘Tank’. Its equipment is similar to what you expected, but there are also some differences, but the overall function is similar.”

The specific difference is naturally to replace the “automobile’s” wheel hub with the “tractor’s” tracks. Of course, there is also research on wheeled armored vehicles, but tracks are obviously more suitable for the battlefield environment, which has led to more tractor factories than automobile factories participating in armored vehicle research in East Africa.

Moreover, there are still some definitional differences between “tanks” and wheeled armored vehicles. Armored vehicles obviously emphasize the meaning of “vehicle”, while tanks emphasize offense and defense as a whole.

Of course, this does not prevent tanks from being a type of armored vehicle, but they emphasize their own offensive capabilities more.

“In the future, our country intends to deploy the first armored unit in the central region. Of course, it is too early to say this now. After all, tank research is still in progress, so we have to wait a long time. However, you can first participate in the compilation of relevant military tactics, how to give full play to the battlefield advantages of this kind of offensive and defensive, mobile unit. At the same time, relevant research should also be conducted on how to restrain this kind of armored vehicle.”

Moerk’s words basically determined Mars’s future participation in the establishment of East African armored units. After all, before the finished product comes out, no one knows what the tank looks like. Now, they can only rely on speculation and imagination.

Mars was among the first of the East African generals to recognize the shortcomings of traditional cavalry units and even propose corresponding solutions, which Moerk thought was very worthy of cultivation.

“Of course, pay attention to confidentiality. Only a few people know about this matter now, because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has high hopes for armored units, and even believes that they will be the main force on the future battlefield. Therefore, armored units are also our East Africa’s future trump card. Do not reveal this situation to others after you go back.”

Mars naturally nodded in agreement to this. Confidentiality has always been a tradition of the East African army. Even unimportant intelligence is kept secret, let alone what Chief of General Staff Moerk solemnly told him.

“Chief of General Staff, I have a question. I don’t know when the so-called tank will be finished. After all, I can’t just rely on speculation to complete the tactical design of the future armored unit.”

Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice. Mars cannot formulate corresponding tactics based on a “virtual” tank. He needs specific details and data support so that he can gradually explore the future development direction of the armored unit.

Moerk said, “It’s hard to say, but it will be in the next few years. Even I don’t know the specific details. I’m afraid only His Royal Highness the Crown Prince knows about this matter, because the project was already determined before I took office. Even Prime Minister Swete doesn’t know when this project was launched.”

Swete, as Ernst’s confidant, has become the leader of the East African Planning Commission, that is, the Prime Minister of the East African Planning Commission.

In the absence of a prime minister in East Africa, this prime minister is equivalent to a “quasi” prime minister, more like the Grand Secretariat of the Ming Dynasty, except that the Planning Commission is in charge of East African economic affairs, and its scope of power is smaller, but it is not a non-“statutory” institution like the Ming Dynasty’s Grand Secretariat.

In short, the East African government agencies have become completely unrecognizable under Ernst’s transformation. The world cannot find an organization like the East African government, which is mixed with the characteristics of various national political systems.

Chapter 910: Tank Testing Grounds

The East African tank testing grounds were built in the Rukwa Lake basin, northwest of Mbeya. This location allows them to leverage the industrial resources of Mbeya while also providing terrain and climate suitable for tank testing operations.

Lake Rukwa is also one of the larger lakes in East Africa, equivalent to half the size of Qinghai Lake, and is located between Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika.

As a saltwater lake, the biggest difference between Lake Rukwa and Qinghai Lake is that Lake Rukwa is a seasonal lake, which can even dry up completely during the dry season.

Lake Rukwa is home to a large number of wild animals such as hippos and crocodiles. Unlike other places, its development and utilization rate is extremely low. After all, the two characteristics of being a saltwater lake and a seasonal lake mean that East Africa will not carry out large-scale development here for the time being. The local resource is the salt pan in the southern part of the lake, where East Africa has set up a small salt extraction plant.

Apart from this, there is basically no human habitation around Lake Rukwa. The few villages and towns are mainly distributed along the rivers that flow into Lake Rukwa, which provides the East African Army with a good testing ground for weapons and equipment.

After all, the sparse population not only facilitates confidentiality but also makes it difficult for external factors to interfere. As for some ignorant “animals” that get crushed or blown up in weapons tests, they only have themselves to blame.

To ensure the safety of the testing grounds, there are dedicated armed personnel guarding the vicinity of Lake Rukwa, mainly to defend against the hippos of Lake Rukwa. Crocodiles also do not easily come ashore.

Hippos are definitely a universally disliked nuisance in Africa, and their “exhaust fumes” alone are unbearable.

Back then, in order to ensure the safety of water sources, East Africa severely “culled” a batch, as over a thousand hippos could pollute an entire river.

The reason why the hippos of Lake Rukwa escaped this fate is entirely because it is not a water source and Lake Rukwa is an endorheic lake, meaning the lake water does not affect other areas.

Therefore, the hippos of Lake Rukwa can be said to have been born in the right place, just like the animals on the Serengeti plains, who escaped the “sanctions” of the authorities due to their range of activity.

The Serengeti plains are a special case, after all, Ernst does not want the famous “wildebeest crossing the river” scene from old documentaries to disappear.

Lake Rukwa, on the other hand, has temporarily managed to escape the clutches of East Africa thanks to its harsh environment. In reality, as East Africa develops the local salt resources, it will still be affected to some extent. Of course, currently, domestic demand for salt resources from this area is not high.

Because East Africa has many saltwater lakes like Lake Rukwa, the largest of which is Lake Turkana. Salt lakes are widely distributed throughout East Africa, except for the Congo rainforest area, so they are a very common resource.

Not to mention other places, there are many salt lakes on the Plateau Province, and they are also close to industrially developed coastal areas. Lake Rukwa’s advantage is that it is close to Mbeya.

However, the climate of Mbeya is very different from that of the Rukwa Lake basin. As part of the Lake Malawi basin, Mbeya has abundant rainfall, unlike the Rukwa Lake basin, where it is either drought or flood.

“The tracked chassis of a tractor is more suitable for the terrain of the Rukwa Lake basin than wheels, and it can travel unimpeded in both the dry and rainy seasons. Of course, another important reason is that tires can hardly bear the heavy weight of a tank, and tracks are more durable and reliable,” East African tank research expert Phillip said to his colleagues.

Colleague Yalsk said: “Wheeled armored vehicles also have their advantages, such as being significantly faster, but they have high requirements for road conditions. Hardened roads may be fine, but flat roads are a rare and ideal state in a battlefield environment. What’s more, the infrastructure level of many countries is not even as good as ours, and the road conditions are very poor.”

Although it is a late-developing country, East Africa, like the United States and Germany, is a 19th-century infrastructure juggernaut. The United States has the most advanced railway system in the world, while Germany has strong comprehensive capabilities, especially in terms of density, which far exceeds other countries.

As for East Africa, although it started late, it has also been in a state of explosive growth in recent years, with highways, railways, canals, and so on all exploding, rapidly catching up with other countries in the world.

It is no exaggeration to say that the current level of infrastructure in East Africa alone may be stronger than the entire African continent in my previous life combined. In another four or fifty years, East Africa will be able to completely catch up with Europe and the United States.

In fact, in some areas, East Africa is already the world’s number one in terms of scale. The most typical example is hardened roads, also known as “modern highways.” To pave the way for the automotive industry, East Africa’s construction of highways, especially cement and asphalt roads, is the largest in the world.

After all, other countries cannot yet foresee the demand for highways after the future explosion of the automotive industry. The importance of railways in the land transportation of various countries is still ranked first.

In the field of canal construction, it is even more exaggerated. Although Germany and Belgium are no less enthusiastic about domestic canal construction than East Africa, East Africa’s vast territory and the inherent shortcomings of inland water transport mean that the East Africa Grand Canal project alone exceeds the sum of the national canal projects of other countries.

Therefore, East Africa’s infrastructure level is definitely first-class in the 19th century, which is also a result of being forced to do so. It’s like a test paper: other countries have a certain foundation, while East Africa starts from scratch, so East Africa’s room for improvement is naturally the greatest.

Of course, with the development of East Africa, not to mention compared with Europe and the United States, at least compared with the Far East, South America, and other regions, it has surpassed these relatively backward areas. As for European and American countries, there is still a certain gap, but as time goes by, it will eventually be able to reach the same level.

“You’re right. If the infrastructure level improves, the maneuverability of military armored vehicles will also increase, but it will never exceed that of tanks, unless the entire East Africa is a large cement factory. Even so, wheeled armored vehicles still have to solve many problems, including load-bearing capacity and stray bullets.”

The current tire design for military armored vehicles has not exceeded the limitations of the East African automotive industry, and tires can be directly scrapped if they encounter sharp objects or stray bullets. Of course, how to solve this problem specifically is something that Phillip’s competitors should consider.

While Phillip and Yalsk were talking, the East African “tank” had already begun a new round of performance. This was an extremely bulky behemoth, covered in thick steel, with a medium-caliber cannon extending from the top, moving through the mud at a snail’s pace.

“Crack…”

Hearing the sound, Phillips and Yalsk’s expressions sank, and familiar images flooded their minds once again.

The behemoth was directly stuck in the mud, with thick black smoke billowing from its rear, looking half-dead.

“Expert Phillip, the engine has blown!” the tank driver said helplessly as he climbed out of the tank’s iron box.

Although Phillip and Yalsk were used to this result, they still couldn’t help but feel a pang of discomfort every time it failed.

“Go get the toolbox. We’ll take it apart again this time. I don’t believe it will always have problems,” Phillip instructed.

Dismantling this complex behemoth was still very difficult, and it took several people a long time to complete. And this was only the first step. After all, the problem was with the engine, which meant that this failure would definitely not be resolved today.

“Pull the engine back to the lab first,” Phillip said helplessly.

After working with their own hands for a long time, Phillip and Yalsk no longer looked like “civilized people.” They were covered in oil and dirt, and their faces were smeared. The others were also similar. They were working in the mud, so it was impossible to be spotless. This was the normal state of life on the testing grounds.

The tank’s engine was not small, so it took more than a dozen people more than ten minutes to lift the behemoth onto the rear frame of the tractor.

Chapter 911: The Importance of Industrial Foundation

The laboratory that Phillip spoke of was actually just a row of small bungalows. After all, the Rukwa Lake Basin was not exactly a bustling place, so the construction of the test site looked rather slapdash from the outside.

Of course, as a top-secret national project personally overseen by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the equipment provided was not lacking in any way. The East African government even built a highway from Mbeya City to the test site specifically, although ordinary people needed to be checked to get there.

Mbeya City was already located inland, and coupled with East Africa’s inherent isolation, it was impossible for anyone to easily investigate the specific situation of the East African tank test site. Even the East African higher-ups knew very little.

Even if they knew, they wouldn’t pay too much attention. After all, what was a “tank”? They hadn’t heard of it, hadn’t seen it, and no one could realize the importance of tanks for future battlefields like Ernst.

“Judging from the engine situation, it should still be overloaded, resulting in insufficient power. This is not a problem we can solve. We need to cooperate with domestic internal combustion engine manufacturers to improve engine performance. Otherwise, we can only reduce the configuration of the tank prototype, sacrificing some functions to reduce weight, which may achieve a similar effect,” Yarsky said to Phillip in the laboratory.

Phillip: “Let’s prepare for both possibilities! We’ve been requesting this regarding the engine problem for a while now, but it will take time for them to produce results, so we can’t completely wait for the relevant factories and research institutions to come up with something. Let’s re-optimize and adjust the tank structure first. Perhaps by lowering some standards, we can get it out sooner. As for other problems, we can slowly improve them later.”

Both of them felt that they had set the bar too high before. Tank production was actually more in line with the tractor industry, and the East African tractor industry had only been around for a few years, much later than the automobile industry.

And tanks are different from tractors. Their weight is too great, and the performance requirements are high. For example, one of Ernst’s important requirements for tanks was that they could easily cross trenches, which ordinary tractors could not do.

“In addition to the engine, there are also the tracks, which are also a key point. Many previous failures were concentrated in these two areas, so we need to cooperate with other institutions to solve this problem. And before the tank is finalized, no one knows what will be added in the future. We also considered heat dissipation and other issues before, but now it seems that we still have to take it one step at a time, first solving its mobility problem. As for the drivers suffering a little, they’ll just have to suffer! This is unavoidable,” Yarsky suggested.

The internal environment of the tank was like a large steamer, and the drivers were indeed uncomfortable. Phillip and Yarsky had previously wanted to put more effort into this aspect, but now they had to be more realistic.

In fact, the temperature in East Africa, at least in the Rukwa Lake Basin, was not too high. The average altitude here was over eight hundred meters, and the temperature was only four to five degrees lower than the coastal areas, basically the same as the turn of spring and summer in Europe, so even the steamer environment inside the tank would not be too exaggerated.

Of course, for Phillip and Yarsky, they would have to make major changes to the overall structure of the tank next, so comfort had to give way to practicality. As for the future, they would start to improve the tank’s comfort when the relevant technology matured.

In fact, these difficulties in tank research were not too bad. Ernst could provide some reference, after all, the overall shape of tanks had not changed much in his previous life. As for aircraft research, that was a chaotic mess, and there were no relevant physical objects to refer to.

Tanks could still learn from tractors, with the support of the tractor industry. Aircraft did not have this condition. Even how to choose the engine was a big problem, but this kind of thing was naturally a headache for the relevant researchers.

East Africa’s tank research was “nowhere in sight,” and even if it was developed, it might not be able to be used in actual combat. Even if it could be used in actual combat, it would take time to form combat effectiveness.

Ernst was naturally clear about this. After all, tanks did not perform very well before World War II. Even because of the dazzling performance of trench warfare in World War I, France embarked on a different military path than Germany.

Therefore, in Ernst’s view, it would be great if East Africa’s armored forces could take shape in the early next century, at least becoming a combat-effective force by 1920.

Of course, this does not mean that East Africa’s tank research progress was slow. In fact, the tanks at the Rukwa Lake test site already had a certain degree of mobility, but there were too many problems, large and small, that needed further improvement.

Optimistically, the finished product should be able to meet the army’s initial requirements within three years. The engine and track problems that Phillip and others focused on were not too difficult, after all, East Africa’s technology in related fields had been progressing.

…

Mbeya City First Tractor Factory.

“This is Phillip’s request. He said that the performance of the engine we provided them last time was still a bit lacking, and he hopes that we can provide them with better products. In addition to the engine requirements, there is also the track problem.”

In response, Mendes, the director of the Mbeya City First Tractor Factory, asked: “What is the progress of our latest research and development engine?”

“Director, the experimental data has been released. There are no major technical problems, but we only have one prototype.”

“Since that’s the case…” Mendes pondered for a moment and said: “We will strive to replicate one within a month and send it to Rukwa Lake. After all, they are urging us more urgently this time. If we can meet their needs, we may be able to directly sign a stable order with the military in the future. We have many competitors. The tractor factories in Dar es Salaam, Harare, and Mombasa may all have related research.”

In addition to meeting the needs of the Rukwa Lake test site, the Mbeya City First Tractor Factory also needed a new generation of engines to improve the performance of its own tractors, so supporting the Rukwa Lake test site was also in their interests.

After Director Mendes gave the order, the Mbeya City First Tractor Factory quickly delivered the latest engine. As for the track problem, it still needed a little time, after all, this also required an improvement in material performance. The Mbeya City First Tractor Factory could only seek help from the Mbeya City Steel Materials Research Institute again.

At this time, Phillip and others were making major changes to the tank structure. The original bulky tank prototype directly lost a ton of weight, and some armor was also reduced, replaced by lighter materials. Although this greatly reduced the defensive function, there was no other way.

After the new engine arrived, Phillip and others made major adjustments again, because the structure of the engine sent this time had some changes, after all, it was not the same model.

In this way, with the continuous adjustments and modifications of the East African tank researchers, East African tanks were becoming more and more mature. Research and development is like this, full of compromise and trial and error.

Moreover, in the process of tank research and development, hundreds of enterprises in Mbeya City and other regions of East Africa were involved, because even the Mbeya City First Tractor Factory, which provided the main support, did not produce all of its parts itself, but rather sourced them from other factories. This reflects the importance of the industrial foundation for tank research and development. Of course, the Mbeya City First Tractor Factory played a leading role.

The fastest unit in East African tank research and development was the Rukwa Lake test site, relying on Mbeya City’s most complete industrial system and the densest research institutions in East Africa.

This also reflects the importance of a complete industrial system to the military. Without any link, the difficulty of tank development would increase by a level. After all, if it relied on foreign imports, there would be no problem in peacetime, but once it was blockaded, it would inevitably be at a loss.

Chapter 912: Luanda Merchant

“Surpass the Port of Hamburg in ten years, catch up with Mbeya in twenty, and become the new Dar es Salaam in thirty.”

“Work diligently for fifty years to build a world-class international city.”

“A bridgehead for the western economy and a future industrial city of East Africa.”

………

On the streets of Luanda, such red slogans are visible everywhere. As the largest city on the west coast of East Africa, Luanda has the greatest ambition among the cities on the west coast.

From the standpoint of geographical location, climate, transportation conditions, and any other aspect, Luanda’s conditions are no worse than those of Dar es Salaam. The only difference between the two is that Dar es Salaam was developed more than twenty years earlier than Luanda.

This time frame naturally starts from the time when the two cities were incorporated into East African rule. Without this factor interfering, it would be hard to say which city, Luanda or Dar es Salaam, would have a better level of development.

Before the emergence of East Africa, Dar es Salaam was the main city of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, while Luanda was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Angola. In terms of strength, they were only about equal.

However, after so many years under East African governance, Dar es Salaam has long shed the “African” flavor. Even in the international community, Dar es Salaam is a “metropolis” that can be ranked. Therefore, Luanda’s pursuit seems like an impossible task to many.

After all, Luanda’s development is indeed good, but Dar es Salaam is also progressing. Dar es Salaam’s goal is to be like New York, London, Paris, Berlin, and other of the most prosperous cities in various countries.

Moreover, Luanda’s development speed in East Africa is currently not as good as that of Beira, and it is even being chased by Cabinda, which has a “harsh” environment in the region.

Seeing these red, inspiring slogans, Herr felt somewhat uncomfortable for some reason. Herr is a German businessman who came to East Africa to look for business opportunities.

And his destination is Luanda, because after Luanda Port fell into the hands of East Africa, it became an important port for exporting resources to Western Europe. With the opening of the Luanda Railway, the freight volume here is no less than that of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

“East Africa is a very strange country. Although your culture originates from the German region, you have your own characteristics. This distinguishes you from any other country or region in the world. Even the Far East Empire, which has the largest immigrant population, cannot find this characteristic.” Herr said to Maxim, the East African in charge of receiving him, as he looked at the Luanda city slogans.

“How can Mr. Herr be so sure?” Maxim asked curiously. He was very curious about how Herr came to this conclusion. This not only requires understanding Germany, but also understanding various countries in the world.

Herr shook his head and said, “Perhaps my knowledge is shallow, but I have also been to many places in the world, and I have never seen a country with such a huge difference as East Africa. Take Germany as an example. Although Germany is also a country with big government intervention, Germany is a military power, and national management reflects the characteristics of the military field everywhere. But we all know that Germany does this to maintain Germany’s security, after all, we Germans are surrounded by wolves.”

“What about East Africa?” Maxim asked.

Herr pondered for a moment and replied, “Frankly speaking, my impression of East Africa before was that it should be a more iron-blooded militaristic country than Germany, but after coming here, I found that I was wrong. Even in Angola, which is temporarily under strict control, I can’t see too many troops. Instead, there are scenes of vigorous economic development everywhere.”

Of course, there was one thing Herr didn’t say, and that was that this kind of development was like a cow being whipped forward, only because the East African government’s administrative intervention in the economy was too outrageous. But it must be said that this method is very effective.

He had also seen Luanda under Portuguese rule when he was young. At that time, the Suez Canal had not yet been opened, so most ships had to pass through here.

And East Africa has only taken over Luanda for five years, and the urban area and population of Luanda have expanded several times. Moreover, East Africa has deployed industries here, so Luanda can be considered a relatively good small city even in European countries.

Speaking of this, Herr suddenly remembered something. He said to Maxim, “These slogans remind me of something! They are like the German conscription slogans from before, except that the content of the two countries is different.”

To this, Maxim said, “After the South African War, the external threat to East Africa basically no longer exists, so the expansion of the army naturally stopped. In fact, although the number of troops in East Africa was large before, it was not obvious in East Africa, after all, East Africa’s territory is more than ten times that of Germany. To be honest, East Africa should be compared with Europe to be fair, but there are many countries in Europe, and each country has a lot of troops, so the total is naturally much more exaggerated than East Africa, especially the great powers have more troops than East Africa.”

Europe has a concentrated population, and the area of each country is small, so any news is easily spread domestically, such as conscription, which can easily cause panic.

If it were in East Africa, it would be different. East Africa conscripts troops in the east, and other regions simply cannot feel it, unless it is the residents along the railway line who can feel the pressure of troop movements during wartime.

“Moreover, our East Africa is also a peace-loving country. In the early days, everyone was a soldier, but that was a special measure for a special period. Think about the fact that there were a large number of indigenous forces and wild animals in Africa in the past. If we hadn’t adopted this method at that time, there would never have been the peace and stability of East Africa today.”

The peace and stability of East Africa is built on the corpses of natives, Arabs, Portuguese, and British, of course, wild animals throughout the country have also suffered a devastating disaster.

In this regard, Herr was more envious. He said, “Your East Africa is in a great location, with oceans on both sides, only Cape Town in the south, and most of the north is uncivilized. As long as the country is developed, the threat of war will basically be eliminated, while Germany is located in the heart of Europe and is not peaceful on all sides.”

Maxim could only comfort him, “This has also created Germany’s position as the crossroads of Europe, becoming the center of Europe, so as long as Germany remains strong, this is an advantage.”

Although he is an East African, East Africans are also Germans, so Maxim is not stingy in praising Germany. After all, when it comes to theory, the main civilization of East African society still originates from the German region. Similarly, if it were an Austrian present, Maxim would also say the same.

Germany and Austria are important economic partners of East Africa, and even Austria and East Africa are “allies” on the surface. In addition, East Africa’s current industrial development needs the support of Germany and Austria, so Maxim will also express some “respect” to people like Herr.

Of course, it is hard to say what Herr thinks in his heart. Although East Africa claims to be a German country, whether it can be recognized by the people of Germany and Austria is questionable.

In fact, the theory that East Africa is not German has a large market in Germany and Austria, especially before the South African War, many people simply and directly refused the “German” identity of East Africa, after all, East Africa has two negative factors superimposed on it in terms of blood and geographical location.

However, after the South African War, this argument basically disappeared. Only “Germans” can win against the British.

After all, France has already been a defeated opponent once, and Tsarist Russia is a backward and barbaric country. Only Britain can make German angry youths a little interested. As a result, the South African War directly broke this layer of filter. Even East Africa can’t beat them, so should Britain’s world hegemony be handed over?

Chapter 913: Foreign Capital

Of course, this is somewhat of a sophism. Considering East Africa’s current national strength, it’s no exaggeration to say that unless all the world’s great powers join forces, they wouldn’t be able to threaten East African territory. It’s virtually impossible for a single country to invade East Africa.

“Mr. Hull, let’s not digress. Let’s talk about business. After all, national affairs are a matter for the higher-ups to consider. We little people can only offer support within our capabilities, such as in the economic field, which is no less important to the country than military affairs,” Maxim said.

Hull: “You’re right. This time, our company mainly wants to increase its purchases of East African agricultural products. The world economy has improved recently, so we plan to expand the raw materials for our textile products. On this basis, we plan to import a batch of cotton from Luanda.”

Hull didn’t specify the exact quantity and price, naturally hoping to get more concessions from the East African side. In fact, in trade between the two countries, East Africa is at a disadvantage, as it is an agricultural country and can only export low value-added commodities such as agricultural products and minerals to Germany.

However, this is not important for the city of Luanda. Angola has accumulated a batch of agricultural products and urgently needs to find a way out.

After all, Angola used to be a source of raw materials for Portugal. Now it understands how to expand the scale of local agricultural planting on this basis. With increased production, the pursuit of sales is naturally more urgent.

“We can lower the price by ten percent, but your purchase volume must reach at least one thousand pounds, otherwise we can only reduce it by five percent.”

This is a form of bundled sales, but even without this, Angolan cotton prices are already relatively low.

“What if my purchase volume is over one thousand pounds? If it reaches two thousand pounds, or even more, can you offer further discounts based on the quantity?” As a businessman, Hull naturally wanted to get more.

However, Maxim couldn’t make a decision on this. He said, “I can only ask my superiors for instructions first. I can try to negotiate on your behalf, but I need to know how much you need, Mr. Hull, so I can report it to my superiors.”

Hull said mysteriously, “The unit should be changed to at least ten thousand pounds, but the specific quantity depends on your sincerity.”

…

East Africa can only focus on economic development under conditions of peace and stability, which Germany and Austria lack.

In fact, besides the German states, the country with the most investment in East Africa is definitely unexpected: France.

Although France has a certain animosity towards Germans because of Germany, French capital is relatively pragmatic. Especially after losing Lorraine and Alsace, the development of French domestic industry was limited. Coupled with the strength of the French financial industry, French investment in East Africa has continued to increase over the past five years.

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that East Africa teaching the British a lesson made France feel good. Before Germany, the Anglo-French conflict had always been one of the main conflicts in Europe. This speculation is not without reason, after all, before the South African War, France basically had almost zero investment in East Africa, and only after the South African War did it increase significantly.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that East Africa has no actual conflicts with France. For example, Austria used to have a good relationship with France, but now Germany and Austria are closer.

East Africa is isolated in southeastern Africa, and France has almost no conflicts of interest or geopolitical conflicts, except for its colonies in Madagascar and Gabon.

Furthermore, East Africa is a large market and a source of raw materials. Its industrial and agricultural scale has also been growing rapidly in recent years. No country can ignore East Africa.

In fact, East Africa’s success has also stimulated French colonial activities in West and North Africa. Of course, it is impossible to let its West African colonies become independent countries like East Africa, but West and North Africa are only a Mediterranean Sea away from France, and “integration” can be fully implemented.

However, also because of East Africa, the number of France’s competitors in West and North Africa has greatly increased. Countries like Britain and Germany can only strategically shift to the West and North African regions, and even small countries like Belgium can snatch food from the tiger’s mouth.

The current Belgian colony is actually pieced together from parts of the former French Gabon colony and Congo (Brazzaville) colony.

And France has no good way to deal with Belgium, after all, Belgium is too important to France in Europe. Besides being a buffer zone with Germany, the local mineral resources are an important source for French domestic industrial development.

According to statistics from the East African Immigration Department in 1884, the number of French residents in East Africa was second only to Germans, Austro-Hungarians, and Arabs, reaching more than three thousand. Most of them are engaged in commercial trade, and there are very few who invest in building factories in East Africa. This is just the resident population.

After all, investing in East Africa is not without risks. The main reason is that East Africa’s review and supervision are relatively strict. Only Germany and Austria have government backing, so some powerful businessmen and companies dare to invest in East Africa.

As for making quick money from East Africa, it is basically impossible. East Africa’s financial industry is almost non-existent, and there is little room for manipulation. Therefore, many investors in East Africa are genuinely engaged in real industries.

With this free time, going to other countries to set up a shell company to directly cheat and make big profits, or using the identity of a great power to be a “supreme emperor” in colonies or backward countries, is much faster than investing in East Africa, and you can also experience the pleasure of being superior.

In this regard, German companies are naturally more welcome in East Africa. In addition to the various friendly relations and close ties between the two countries, the German financial industry started late, has more doers than talkers, and does not have as many petty thoughts as businessmen from other countries, including Austria. After all, the economic crisis of 1873 was triggered by the Austrian financial industry’s credit crisis.

This also led to the fact that although East Africa cooperated with Austria early on, the scale of East Africa’s trade exchanges with Germany later surpassed it. This became even more prominent after the opening of several ports on the west coast.

Previously, a large part of East-German trade had to be transshipped through Austria-Hungary, but after the opening of the west coast ports, merchant ships from the two countries could directly travel through the Atlantic Ocean without having to detour through the Mediterranean Sea.

Of course, in addition to German capital, East Africa welcomes companies and businessmen from other countries who are willing to invest in the coastal areas of East Africa, even British and Portuguese.

East Africa actually doesn’t have much hatred for Portugal. Portugal is completely guilty of possessing a treasure, which is why East Africa targeted it. Although some conflicts were indeed initiated by Portugal first, East Africa was actively instigating them behind the scenes.

This is like how Europe and the United States in the previous life kept expanding their sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, thereby forcing Russia to jump. East Africa is actually adopting this tactic against Portugal.

East Africa deliberately encircled land around Portugal, eventually dividing and surrounding Portugal’s two colonies. In this situation, how could Portugal not be anxious! And the Portuguese government’s idea was completely correct.

East Africa wants to realize its ambition to eventually annex Portugal’s two colonies. Even if Portugal doesn’t fight back, the final result will not change. The South African War only accelerated this process.

Of course, before the war, East Africa was naturally full of hostility towards Portugal, but after the war, East Africa completely changed its tune, especially in attracting Portuguese businessmen. After all, if the Portuguese left, how would Angola and Mozambique sell the goods that originally supplied Portugal?

So until today, Portugal still curses East Africa, but Portuguese merchants are still one of the important buyers of East African goods.

After all, Portuguese merchants have been operating in the coastal areas of East Africa for hundreds of years. It is obviously not cost-effective to directly abandon these commercial channels. Although doing business with East Africa is disadvantageous, it is also profitable. If they give up directly, they will be unemployed.

Chapter 914: An Old Acquaintance in a Foreign Land

For the French who invest or engage in trade in East Africa, they believe that East Africa’s economic activity is not bad, and that the chances of meeting fellow countrymen here are very high.

“Hey, Burleigh, you went back home last month. I didn’t think I’d see you for a long time!” Cross said in surprise, seeing a familiar figure.

“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Cross. Of course, I couldn’t stay away for too long. After all, we’re doing long-term business with East Africa. I just went back home last month to report some situations to the company.”

Burleigh is the East African commercial manager of a French machinery company. With East Africa’s recent policy of eliminating outdated industries in the central and eastern regions, many equipment technologies have been updated, so the import of related foreign products has also increased. Burleigh was the one who negotiated a large order with an East African manufacturer under this premise, which attracted the attention of the company’s headquarters.

“I really envy you guys who deal with mechanical equipment. Recently, many factories in East Africa are replacing equipment. Many old machines in Dar es Salaam are being dismantled and transported away by rail, and then they are buying equipment with higher international standards. Your company must have made a fortune this time!”

Cross asked enviously. Dar es Salaam is one of the key cities for industrial upgrading in East Africa, mainly to eliminate a batch of old equipment introduced by East Africa in the seventies and eighties. Some of these equipment can even be traced back to the forties and fifties.

During the economic crisis in the seventies, when East Africa introduced European and American industries to build a domestic industrial system, the requirements for equipment were not high.

After all, East Africa was completely an agricultural country with zero foundation at that time. The industrial start-up from scratch did not have high standards for technology and equipment, but paid more attention to price.

Moreover, East Africa’s education and industry had not yet taken shape at that time, and there was a lack of relevant talents, which led to many imported machines having big “problems.” Simply put, many were fooled or “deceived.”

This time, East Africa is eliminating outdated industries and upgrading the industries in the central and eastern regions, so naturally it will not follow the old path.

On the one hand, East Africa’s own industrial level has improved, and many things can be manufactured independently. On the other hand, due to compulsory education, East Africa has cultivated a large number of qualified industrial workers and technicians, so it is no longer a novice in terms of technology.

Of course, another reason cannot be ignored, that is, East Africa is not as rich as it was in the seventies. In the seventies, due to the economic crisis, European and American industrial products were unsalable, so the prices were low. In addition, Ernst was prepared early, so the introduction of industry was relatively generous.

But more than ten years later, there is no such good opportunity. In addition, the East African government has a lot of expenses for various construction projects recently, so it is relatively stingy in spending money on the introduction of equipment technology.

High requirements and unwillingness to spend more money, such good things will naturally not be East Africa’s turn, but the difference from more than ten years ago is that East Africa’s economic volume is now far greater than before, and the government’s fiscal revenue has naturally risen sharply. The development of agriculture alone has nearly tripled East Africa’s fiscal revenue.

In addition, this industrial upgrade is limited to the central and eastern regions, so the East African government is still capable of doing it.

Although it is only the industrial upgrade of the central and eastern regions, the profit in this is already a considerable figure for European and American businessmen. As for how to get East Africa’s orders, each country naturally shows its own unique abilities, and Burleigh’s company is the winner in this round of competition.

“Where, actually, I almost wore my lips out negotiating with East African manufacturers for the previous three months. The other party was too difficult to deal with. Not only did they not offer a high price, but they also nitpicked our company’s products. If you experience the hardship, you probably won’t envy me.”

Although Burleigh was complaining, it could be seen from his expression that this kid made a lot of money this time, and the corners of his mouth were almost upturned to the sky.

Regarding this point, Burleigh is not lying. What he said is the objective situation, but even if he earns less, it is only relative. East Africa is not a third world country after all. As one of the world’s top ten industrial countries, it also has bargaining power, so as a buyer, East Africa’s bargaining power is still good.

Burleigh continued: “And you merchants who buy East African agricultural products are the most enviable in my opinion. The prices of East African agricultural products have been falling in recent years! As long as you toss back and forth, you can earn more than before. It’s really comparing people to people that makes people angry.”

As an agricultural country, the East African government’s main source of income is still agriculture. In recent years, the planting scale of various agricultural products in East Africa has been expanding, and East Africa urgently needs to obtain funds from agriculture to develop industry, so the East African government has given various countries preferential treatment in the sale of agricultural products.

Of course, East Africa will not lose money and make a fuss. With the transformation of agricultural planting, tropical cash crops are now East Africa’s flagship export products, such as tea, rubber, cotton, and so on.

In addition, East Africa also has strategic considerations. Lowering the export prices of agricultural products can also further suppress East Africa’s competitors such as Brazil, Southeast Asia, and India, so East Africa will naturally do so when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Cross did not deny what Burleigh said. The drop in prices of East African agricultural products in recent years is naturally a good thing for trade merchants like him.

He and Burleigh are both French. As an industrialized developed country, France has a relatively high demand for agricultural products, especially cash crops.

Although France is a strong agricultural country in Europe, and even farmers have high incomes, this is only limited to grain crops and a small amount of cash crop cultivation. Other agricultural products mainly rely on imports.

East Africa, a major producer of cash crops, can naturally form a certain degree of complementarity with France. As for the colonies opened up by France, although they are large in scale, they still need time to develop and cannot replace East Africa, the world’s number one tropical cash crop powerhouse.

Take France’s West African colonies as an example. Although the area is not small, many of them have only been included in the scope of the colonies in recent years, and the black population in West Africa is actually not very large, and it has been divided by several extraterritorial countries.

After all, West Africa has long been the main location for the slave trade. At least seventy million of the one hundred million people lost from Africa in the previous black slave trade were lost from West Africa.

However, West Africa’s foundation is better than East Africa’s, so the impact is not too great, but due to the excessively backward civilization, the overall natural growth rate of blacks is actually not high.

The population explosion in African countries in the previous life basically happened after the mid to late twentieth century. The improvement of productivity can indeed bring about population growth, but Western colonists have not yet had time to improve the productivity of West Africa. The specific effect will not be reflected until at least twenty years later.

Moreover, because they are squeezed together, the colonies of various countries in West Africa are actually in a fragmented state, so they cannot be effectively integrated.

For example, Portugal’s Whydah colony is firmly fixed in the middle of the British and German colonies. According to the original history, it should have been occupied by the French as early as last year (1894).

In fact, after losing Angola and Portugal, Portugal’s attention to the Whydah colony is unprecedented. Not only did it not lose this colony, but it also expanded its area several times and eventually annexed the Kingdom of Dahomey (now southern Benin).

Of course, Portugal’s success is inseparable from the support of the British. After all, during the South African War, Portugal lost too badly with the British, so it may not have meant to compensate Portugal. Anyway, after the South African War, Portugal has become Britain’s most loyal younger brother.

Chapter 915: The Strategic Value of the West Coast

After the South African War, Portugal’s war reparations were effectively transferred from East Africa to British hands. Consequently, Britain achieved comprehensive control over Portugal’s economy. Coupled with the traditional alliance between Britain and Portugal, the British tacitly approved of Portugal’s expansion in West African colonies.

Moreover, this could also serve as a buffer between British and German colonies. As for France, it was naturally impossible to strip the Whydah colony from Portugal as it had done in the previous timeline.

In reality, the British would never allow France to do so. Having suffered significant losses in South Africa, Britain could only intensify competition with France in West Africa. However, France’s strength in West Africa was clearly too great, so the conflict between France and Britain in West Africa was actually quite significant.

Ultimately, it was all because the expansion of East Africa disrupted the colonial ambitions of various countries in the previous timeline. Based on the current territory of East Africa, the victims included Britain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, and France.

Britain lost Kenya and Rhodesia, Portugal lost Angola and Mozambique, Germany lost German East Africa and Southwest Africa, Belgium painfully lost the Congo Basin, and France only obtained one-third of Madagascar.

The only two beneficiaries were Italy and Sigmaringen, but Italy had previously been severely tricked by Ernst, losing the entire Venice and part of Lombardy, as well as the re-independence of the Papal States and Naples.

This shows East Africa’s role as a “spoiler” in the global situation. In fact, Japan and the United States were also victims, having been tricked by East Africa to varying degrees.

Of course, apart from Britain, Portugal, and Japan, other countries have good relations with East Africa. After all, they could not have foreseen their colonial patterns from the previous timeline.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that French businessmen invest or trade in East Africa. A large country with a land area of thirteen million square kilometers and a population of over seventy million, even a small leak is enough for many businessmen to make a fortune.

Kross: “Actually, your company’s ability to secure this order is indeed related to us. The East African government earns money from us through agricultural products, which gives them the funds to purchase advanced industrial equipment from you. Otherwise, relying on East Africa’s economic level, it would be difficult to improve their industrial capabilities on their own.”

What Kross said was also true. East Africa is now following the Soviet path, using the price scissors between industry and agriculture to raise funds for industrial development. Of course, this approach was not unique to the Soviet Union, but it was a typical example.

Early industrial development in European and American countries actually had similar cases, including the well-known Enclosure Movement in England. However, in European and American countries, land was mainly concentrated in the hands of landlords, so the form of expression was different, but the essence was the same: sacrificing the interests of farmers to promote industrial development.

Of course, sacrificing agriculture is one of the mainstream methods for countries seeking industrialization. However, Europe and the United States can also achieve primitive accumulation of wealth through external colonial plunder and the export of industrial products.

East Africa is no exception. However, East Africa’s colonies have basically been “localized,” but the harm to the local natives is irreversible. Although East African agriculture has made great progress, agricultural development has provided the main funds for industry. At the same time, East Africa also exports electricity, automobiles, steel, and other products. Therefore, the industrialization processes of various countries are similar, and none are very clean.

Burleigh was naturally aware of what Kross said. He said with a smile: “The same, the same. This only shows that everyone has obtained their respective benefits in trade with East Africa. East Africa has obtained advanced industrial equipment, and we have all made money. It’s just a matter of mutual benefit.”

So who is losing out in the transaction? The answer is the Portuguese, the Orange, the Zanzibaris, and the natives of Africa.

As for East African agriculture, although it seems to be at a disadvantage, it can only be considered a mix of gains and losses. After all, East African agriculture has also enjoyed the dividends of the times. The land was basically seized, and black people were used as a supplement to the labor force. Although the number of black people is decreasing rapidly, East Africa’s animal power has increased, and mechanization is now in its infancy. Coupled with the improvement of related supporting projects, the development of East African agriculture is actually no slower than that of industry. It’s just that industry is easier to produce results.

“Mr. Kross, as fellow countrymen, why not gather in the Eleventh District tonight? Let’s invite more friends. As French people overseas, we should help each other.” Burleigh suggested smoothly.

The Eleventh District is actually the red-light district of Dar es Salaam. Foreigners generally like to go there for pleasure.

“No problem, but I know quite a few acquaintances in Dar es Salaam. You’ll have to spend a lot tonight.” Kross said with a smile.

In fact, the French in East Africa are relatively concentrated. For example, there are more than seven hundred permanent residents in Dar es Salaam.

Of course, the main reason for this is that Dar es Salaam is the largest city in East Africa, with more opportunities, and another reason is that East Africa has relatively few ports. In addition, due to the impact of East Africa’s isolationist policy, no matter how many foreigners there are, they can only be concentrated in a few coastal cities.

There are only a handful of such cities, so most foreigners are currently distributed in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Mogadishu, Kismayo, Beira, New Hamburg Port, and Luanda and Benguela on the west coast.

The foreigners on the west coast are mainly Germans, concentrated in Luanda and Benguela. As for other west coast cities, such as Cabinda, which is second only to Luanda in terms of economy, there are actually not many Germans, because the local railway has not yet been opened, and due to the tropical rainforest, Germans prefer to invest in Luanda and Benguela in the south.

As for merchants from other countries, apart from Portugal, there are hardly any permanent residents in East Africa’s west coast ports.

As for Austria, they certainly wouldn’t go far to invest in the west coast. Austria is closer to the eastern part of East Africa via the Suez Canal, and the economic strength of the eastern coast of East Africa is also stronger.

Of course, another reason why the Germans attach importance to the west coast is that Germany’s Cameroon colony is not far from East Africa’s west coast. This requires East Africa’s nearby support for the construction of Cameroon or other German West African colonies.

After all, Germany is located far north on the European continent. The journey from the mainland to various West African colonies passes through British and French waters, so it is not very safe.

Furthermore, some of the goods needed for colonial development can save a lot of costs by importing directly from East Africa, after all, East Africa is very close.

Moreover, investing in East Africa is not a bad thing in itself. Germany is also optimistic about East Africa’s development and construction of the western region, especially Angola. Advance planning can also deepen the influence on East Africa.

Currently, East Africa is an important new raw material production area and market for Germany, with great potential. And sea transportation from East Africa’s west coast to Germany is the most convenient and least likely to be constrained by the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.

This can also be seen as a strategic vision of Germany, just like the Far Eastern Empire in the previous timeline developed ports and land routes in Pakistan and Myanmar to ensure energy security.

It may not seem very useful or even lose money at ordinary times, but if there is a blockade or war, it may play an important role.

The Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal are under British control, and Germany naturally does not want to be easily controlled by others. Germany’s construction of the Baghdad Railway in the previous timeline may not have been without such considerations, that is, to break through other countries’ blockades of the sea through land.

The emergence of East Africa has only given Germany another option. During wartime, it is more difficult to blockade trade between East Africa’s west coast and the German mainland, after all, there are no favorable terrain conditions like the Suez and Gibraltar, or even the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

Chapter 916: Walvis Bay Railway

The lone smoke of the desert rises straight, the long river sets round. This phrase, used to describe the Namib Desert in Southwest Africa, is not at all out of place. As other main railway lines were completed, East Africa finally began the construction of the Walvis Bay Railway.

Although it is close to the sea, the Namib Desert cannot enjoy the nourishment of the Atlantic rains. Like Chile and Peru, the local vegetation relies on fog for its main source of water.

“Ryder, am I seeing things? Are those elephants?” Railway worker Vasily said, dumbfounded, looking at a group of elephants passing by on the highway next door.

There is a highway from Walvis Bay directly to Mangochi. This highway is naturally built in the hinterland of the desert, and the Walvis Bay Railway is also built along the highway, that is, also in the desert, so Vasily almost thought he was hallucinating.

“Don’t make such a fuss. Those are desert elephants, different from the savanna elephants we usually see. I remember there is also a forest elephant in the Congo Basin, so you haven’t seen enough.” Ryder introduced to Vasily with some pride.

“This area is full of sand, what do they eat to maintain such a large size?” Vasily was a little disbelieving. After all, Vasily had seen many elephants on the grasslands, but those elephants were not short of food!

“Look carefully, are these elephants a little smaller than the elephants we usually see? Desert elephants mainly live on shrubs in the desert. Although the Namib Desert is arid, there is a lot of fog, and many plants rely on this to develop survival methods completely different from other desert plants in the world.”

“Anyway, you’ll understand when you’ve been in the Namib Desert for a long time. I also heard it from some old-timers. Later, when building the Walvis Bay Highway, I realized this more intuitively. Not only elephants, but also lions, zebras, and other animals you’ve seen in grassland areas in the Namib Desert. You’ll get used to it in the future.”

Of course, Ryder said it casually, but his next action startled Vasily.

Ryder took out his pistol, skillfully loaded it, and then fired a shot in the direction of the elephants.

“Bang…”

Of course, Ryder just fired a shot into the air above the elephants to scare them away.

“Why did you suddenly shoot? You scared me!” Vasily said somewhat resentfully.

“Of course, it’s for safety. Elephants are dangerous animals. If there weren’t too many of them and we didn’t have enough manpower, I wouldn’t have just fired a warning shot.”

The gunshot attracted the attention of the road patrollers in the rear, and he also asked Ryder what had happened.

“It’s okay, Hope. There was just a group of desert elephants in front, and I fired a shot to scare them away.”

“Don’t be so reckless next time. Although you have a weapon, leave this kind of dangerous thing to us.” Hope reminded him, not surprised, “Look, the black workers next to you are too scared to work.”

As East African railway workers, they are actually assigned black laborers as assistants. Only jobs that are technically difficult are done by their own people.

“Don’t worry, Hope. These black people just want to be lazy. After all, they are not those wild animals and don’t know what a gun is for.”

“Very good. As long as you can complete the task within the construction period, you can handle the details yourself. After all, it’s quite a headache if the black people riot. Don’t think that you are foolproof just because you have weapons in your hands. There were people who thought that way before, but in the end, they were killed.”

What Hope said was naturally the truth. The current East African black people are no longer “ignorant” natives. Under the management of East Africa, they have also come into contact with many new things.

For example, guns, which were once considered “demonic objects,” have returned to their correct understanding. They are a weapon used by East Africans, and pulling the trigger can make you a “hometown hero.”

It must be said that the black natives are also “opening their eyes to see the world” with the development of East Africa, but this has also caused the East Africans to “fall from grace” in the eyes of the natives.

It turns out that they are not invulnerable, but they can defeat us only by holding better weapons. Under this understanding, naturally, many black people take risks.

Of course, this also strengthened the determination of the East African government. In the future, they must never leave these “troublemakers” in East Africa. Let them go to other “civilized worlds” to cause trouble!

“Hope, we have been working together for a long time, and you also know that I used to be in Southwest Africa. I naturally understand the principles here and will never cause trouble.” Ryder assured Hope.

Afterward, he asked Hope, “Do you have any specific news about the railway construction in the rear? I don’t know if they have completed it? I just want to finish this section in the Namib Desert as soon as possible. It’s too painful to stay here.”

What Ryder was talking about was naturally the plateau section of the Walvis Bay Railway. The Walvis Bay Railway is divided into two parts, one is the coastal Namib Desert, and the other is the Khomas Highland.

The construction of the Khomas Highland section is related to the progress of the Namib Desert section, because after the Khomas Highland section is completed, building materials can be transported from the interior more quickly.

“You don’t need to worry about this. Currently, there are less than fifty kilometers left, and the railway can be connected to the Namib Desert. Now Windhoek has been determined as the new capital of Southwest Africa in the future, so the construction progress is very fast.”

In the past, the political center of Southwest Africa was naturally Walvis Bay, and the military stronghold was Swakopmund, north of Walvis Bay. However, with East Africa’s construction of Windhoek, it has become a “newly emerging” city in Southwest Africa due to its superior geographical and climatic conditions.

Windhoek is the capital of Namibia in its previous life. In the original history, the Germans established a city there in 1890, and in 1892 it became the capital of German Southwest Africa at that time. The first colonial capital of the Germans in the area was Swakopmund.

Now that East Africa has established Windhoek as the capital of Southwest Africa, it is actually consistent with the German approach in its previous life. It is located in the center of Southwest Africa and has certain agricultural planting conditions, which is much stronger than Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, which only rely on East African subsidies.

In the past, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund were obviously more important, and they were the only two relatively large-scale West Coast ports in East Africa. However, with East Africa’s occupation of Angola, East Africa has better choices such as Luanda and Cabinda on the West Coast, so the status of the two places has naturally declined.

Of course, the importance of the two places mainly has a greater impact on economic value, and they are still very important strategically. After all, it is related to East Africa’s main maritime strategic deployment in the Southwest region and is one of the areas that the East African Navy attaches great importance to.

Of course, with the development of mineral resources in Southwest Africa in the future, Walvis Bay and other places may turn around, but now Southwest Africa is actually a “bottomless pit” in the East African national region.

Just like the Walvis Bay Railway, except for Walvis Bay and Windhoek along the line, only the regional economy outside Southwest Africa is relatively developed.

In the next few years, the Walvis Bay Railway is unlikely to have a large flow of people and freight volume. After all, Walvis Bay only has a little fishery output now, and Windhoek has just started. The entire Southwest Africa is sparsely populated.

Therefore, the operation of the Walvis Bay Railway will inevitably suffer losses for a long time in the future. If it were not for a country like East Africa, it would be difficult for any force to build a railway in Southwest Africa, or even the highest-level main railway line. After all, the East African government never considers it entirely from an economic perspective.

This is somewhat like the Tsarist Russia’s Siberian Railway. Currently, the Siberian Railway is still under construction, and it is still a long way from being fully completed.

The Walvis Bay Railway in East Africa has completed 40%, which also shows the gap between the two countries. Although the Walvis Bay Railway is far less in length than the Siberian Railway, the difficulty is not less at all. It’s just that Tsarist Russia’s gray livestock may not be able to withstand the terrible weather in Siberia, while East Africa’s black slaves are relatively acceptable to the Namib Desert area.

Chapter 917: East African-French Border Conflict

April, 1896.

Madagascar.

As early as 1893, the French government had intensified its invasion of the Kingdom of Imerina, and at that time, it forced the Kingdom of Imerina to cede the Bay of Diego Suarez to France.

In 1895, the French government had already decided to annex the entire Kingdom of Imerina and launched another war, capturing Antananarivo. In April 1896, it finally achieved a complete military occupation of the Kingdom of Imerina.

Of course, in the perception of the French, the Kingdom of Imerina, as the main country on Madagascar, was basically equivalent to Madagascar itself.

However, after the French completely defeated the British and controlled the Kingdom of Imerina, they finally discovered that the Kingdom of Imerina had already been divided by East Africa in the northeastern direction of Madagascar.

From the Maevatanana River basin in the north to the Manambao River basin in the south, all had become East African spheres of influence. In the process of pursuing the remaining forces of the Kingdom of Imerina, the French army inevitably encountered the East African Defense Force, leading to some minor misunderstandings.

“Colonel Silves, is it? Why are you crossing the border into East African territory? As Frenchmen, I think you should be aware of the Westphalian system, so you should respect East Africa’s territory and sovereignty.”

East African Lieutenant Masers gave the French a lesson right off the bat. The Westphalian system is the foundation of the modern concept of national territorial sovereignty, and this system was initially led by the French, thereby deconstructing Habsburg rule and completely turning Germany into a geographical concept.

Silves, of course, didn’t back down from Masers’s questioning. You East Africans are just a bunch of uncivilized bumpkins from the back of beyond, are you acting like “men” now?

Of course, although the East African Defense Force didn’t have many people, their weapons and equipment were clearly superior to those of backward civilizations like the Kingdom of Imerina. Plus, who knew how many East Africans Lieutenant Masers had behind him, so Silves was relatively restrained. Otherwise, just based on the other party’s fluent German, he would have taught these young people a lesson.

“Lieutenant Masers, East Africa is also a newly emerged country benefiting from colonialism. I think Madagascar wasn’t originally East Africa’s, was it? Now that the Kingdom of Imerina has become our French sphere of influence, and the Kingdom of Imerina was the original hegemon of Madagascar, France naturally has reason to intervene in the control of the entire Madagascar.”

Masers: “What does that have to do with East Africa? East Africa recognizes the Kingdom of Imerina as an independent country, and also recognizes that the Kingdom of Imerina has de facto become a French colony, but the Kingdom of Imerina does not represent Madagascar. The Kingdom of Imerina has never actually unified Madagascar, so East Africa’s territory naturally does not include the territory of the Kingdom of Imerina, but rather the area outside its territory. The land you are standing on now is East African territory.”

Well, well! Silves was amused to be given a taste of his own medicine. If it were really as East Africa said, France would have accepted it, but in reality, when France was fighting the Kingdom of Imerina, would you dare swear to God that you didn’t encroach on the territory of the Kingdom of Imerina?

Well… obviously, East Africa did do that, but you’re allowed to invade the Kingdom of Imerina, but we’re not allowed to profit from it? East Africa was naturally righteous, everyone is a crook, why pretend to be a saint.

“Lieutenant Masers, is East Africa’s name written on this land? We are merely recovering the territory of the Kingdom of Imerina, after all, they have been fleeing here all along.”

The remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina, who were named by Colonel Silves, trembled on the side. After all, although they feared France, the East Africans next to them were not to be trifled with either.

In fact, the Kingdom of Imerina also knew about East Africa’s encroachment on its territory, but at that time, in order to deal with France, the main threat, who could care about the scraps that East Africa was swallowing? After all, East Africa was only taking a slice, while France was after their lives.

Masers glanced at the remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina. These people were actually intercepted by him. In order to escape French sanctions, the Imerina people naturally ran to East African territory, not caring about East Africa at all. As a result, they were blocked by the East African border guards and the French pursuers on the border between the “two countries.”

“Colonel Silves, that doesn’t prove anything. If Belgians run onto German land, can you say that the place the Belgians went to is Belgian territory? That’s completely sophistry. As for the ownership of the land, we naturally have evidence. Look at that stone tablet in the distance, that’s proof.”

Following Masers’s direction, Silves really found a prismatic stone tablet buried in the ground. On it, in German, was written: “Kingdom of Hechingen Boundary.”

The Kingdom of Hechingen is the official name of East Africa. Of course, according to the respective habits of countries around the world, most countries still call it the Kingdom of East Africa, just like the Netherlands is actually the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and German and Germanic are similar.

Seeing Masers’s so-called evidence, Silves was speechless. If a stone tablet could solve the problem, then the stone tablets that France erected in Lorraine and Alsace should have been able to prevent the Franco-Prussian War.

Of course, although Silves was dissatisfied, East Africa was, after all, the local power, so he said: “I won’t argue with you about this topic for now. At the same time, we don’t want to have a conflict with East Africa, but you must first hand over these remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina to us.”

Masers naturally didn’t care about the so-called remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina. After all, the reason he was here in the first place was to block these remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina from entering East African territory.

“Of course, but the prerequisite is that you withdraw from our territory first, then we can hand the people over to you.”

Hearing Masers’s words, Silves gnashed his teeth in displeasure, but in the end, he did as he said. So the French side withdrew behind the stone tablet, and Masers also handed over the remnants of the Kingdom of Imerina to the French according to the agreement.

“Colonel, these East Africans are too arrogant and domineering! Are we just going to let it go?” On the way back, a subordinate asked dissatisfiedly.

Colonel Silves said unhappily: “What, do you want to have a fight with East Africa? Do you know the strength of East Africa’s forces on Madagascar? Don’t look at the fact that the East African officer didn’t bring many people, but East Africa’s overall strength on Madagascar is definitely far above ours. If a conflict rashly occurs under such circumstances, then the South African War will be our fate.”

“Do you expect the mainland to send more troops from afar to this godforsaken place, and then replicate the British’s ‘glory’…”

In Colonel Silves’s tirade, no one mentioned the conflict just now again.

After a moment of silence, Silves said: “Hard tactics definitely won’t work. This matter can only be handled by the government interfering with these country bumpkins from East Africa. That’s not within our scope of consideration.”

After Silves and his party returned, they naturally embellished the report of today’s encounter and gave it to the French government.

As a great power, when has France ever suffered such grievances? So the government’s attitude towards this matter is naturally… to negotiate with East Africa.

In addition to the dispute in the Madagascar region, France actually has two other colonies that border East Africa, including the Gabon colony and French Somaliland (Djibouti).

Of course, in fact, there is not much connection between French Somaliland and East Africa. Although there is a small section of border, it is not a desert area that people pay attention to.

The focus is on the issue of sovereignty over the Gabon colony and the Madagascar colony with East Africa. With the South African War as a lesson, the French naturally couldn’t be so headstrong as to have an African war with East Africa.

At that time, the British had dragged Portugal and tens of thousands of Boer cannon fodder and still didn’t gain an advantage in East Africa’s hands, so communicating with East Africa still had to be done by convincing them with “reason,” not “brutally.”

Chapter 918: 《East Africa, France Territorial Confirmation Agreement》

The French government’s choice was very rational, and East Africa’s was no less so. Lieutenant Marsles reported the news to his superiors, and since East Africa was close to Madagascar, the East African government received news of the border friction between the two countries earlier than the French government.

“We foresaw this day long ago. After all, the Madagascar issue was a seed planted in the last century. It’s just that no one thought that East Africa and France would ultimately have disagreements in this area,” said Herman, East African Minister of Foreign Affairs.

This was stating the obvious. East Africa only entered the historical stage in the mid to late 19th century, while France had colonial activities on Madagascar as early as the late 18th century. Originally, East Africa had no part to play. However, the sudden emergence of East Africa disrupted the original Anglo-French game. Now, Britain’s attention to Madagascar was not even as great as in its previous life.

This was also understandable. The South African War actually replaced the Boer War of the previous life, representing the budding decline of British global hegemony. Therefore, at this time, Britain did not want to have another go at Madagascar.

Of course, France had never fought against East Africa after all, so East Africa was not sure of itself. This did not mean that East Africa did not have the confidence to defeat France on its own territory. In East Africa’s eyes, the East African territory on Madagascar was also part of its homeland.

“Talk if we can, fight if we can’t. There is no fundamental conflict of interest between us and France, so we should start with negotiations on this matter and appropriately extend goodwill to the French government,” Ernst said.

Ernst had no great interest in the Kingdom of Imerina, just like with the Abyssinian Empire. After all, these two countries were among the few in Africa that had their own independent ideologies, and France would not be able to hold onto this place in the future.

Therefore, both the French government and the East African government tended to resolve the issue of territorial sovereignty over Madagascar through negotiations, which laid the foundation for the two countries to divide Madagascar.

In June 1896, at the initiative of the East African government and with the active response of the French government, the two governments conducted negotiations in Paris. After some discussion, the two countries finally decided to demarcate their borders based on the areas actually occupied.

After all, the historical and geographical boundaries of the border area between the two countries were originally vague. After all, how everyone’s territory and colonies came about was a confused mess. It was impossible to truly follow the standards of the original natives.

Therefore, using the actual occupied areas of the two countries as a reference was most in line with the common interests of both sides. Of course, on some minor details, both governments showed a certain degree of “tolerance.”

Thus, in an atmosphere of harmony, in August 1896, the East African and French governments formally signed the 《East Africa, France Territorial Confirmation Agreement》. The agreement clarified the fixed border lines between the two countries in adjacent areas, namely Madagascar, Gabon, and French Somaliland, and East Africa, peacefully resolving the territorial disputes between the two countries. Everyone believed that this agreement was fair and equal.

This also disappointed some countries outside the region who hoped that East Africa and France would clash, including Britain, Portugal, and Germany.

Britain and Portugal had suffered a great loss last time, while Germany did not want France to have it too easy, and at the same time did not want East Africa and France to get too close.

Of course, East Africa and France would naturally not be disturbed by the attitude of third-party countries. Both countries were major powers. Although France was a level stronger than East Africa, East Africa’s influence in Africa was unparalleled, and France also had a large number of interests in Africa. Therefore, the foundation for mutual respect and cooperation between the two countries was established.

The signing of the 《East Africa, France Territorial Confirmation Agreement》 was also a historically significant event for East Africa.

“After the signing of this agreement, the borders of East Africa’s mainland with surrounding countries, regions, and forces, including the Abyssinian Empire, Egypt, Sigmaringen, Germany (Cameroon colony), and Belgium, have been basically confirmed and implemented.”

Actually, there was also Britain, but Britain was the only country that confirmed its respective spheres of influence with East Africa through war. The two countries did not have any relevant formal agreements or treaties.

This was actually a small trick played by Britain. Britain’s favorite thing to do was to create some historical legacy issues to ensure conflicts between regions.

Fortunately, East Africa had signed relevant treaties with the Egyptian government before Britain completely colonized Egypt, otherwise Egypt might really have a reason to bring up the “South Sudan” issue to make trouble in the future.

Moreover, according to East Africa’s size, unless Egypt was hiding Africa’s “Wakanda,” it would dare to provoke a hegemonic country like East Africa.

“Through this agreement, the territorial scope of our East African mainland has been basically determined and implemented, and we can now conduct a census of the national area based on this event,” said Gers, Director of the National Bureau of Statistics.

In the past, the specific value of East Africa’s land area was unstable. After all, East Africa had been continuously expanding. After the South African War, the estimated land area of East Africa in 1890 was about 13 million square kilometers. This time, it was just right to conduct a more accurate measurement of the national area again.

“In addition, our administrative divisions should also be readjusted. With the stabilization of the national territory and the industrial transformation carried out by the construction of the ‘Three Departments’ of East Africa, population migration activities have accelerated the development of regions such as Angola, Mozambique, and Orange. In order to facilitate the governance of the region, administrative divisions should also be adjusted for these regions that have not been set up with clear administrative regions.”

Previously, East Africa’s rule over places such as Mozambique and Angola had already reached five years. Through the construction of the Three Departments, the three places should be able to reach the national average level by 1900.

Ernst also agreed with this. He said to everyone: “Since this is the case, then let’s start a new round of compilation for the national zoning. My requirement is to implement this zoning adjustment based on comprehensive factors such as the economy, population, environmental carrying capacity, geographical location, terrain, and climate of various places.”

“Of course, not only should we focus on the current population and economic level of various places, but also look to the future. For example, the western, southwestern Africa, and Angola regions are definitely different. As an important foreign channel on the west coast of East Africa, Angola’s potential is no less than that of the eastern coastal areas. As time goes by, it may even surpass some areas of the eastern coast. Therefore, in this round of zoning adjustment, we should take a long-term view.”

“Secondly, some unreasonable regional zoning in the past should also be adjusted according to local conditions. For example, the provincial capital of West Great Lakes Province, Bujumbura, is too remote, and due to terrain reasons, communication with other areas in the province is inconvenient. This point should also be taken seriously.”

Bujumbura City is in the southeast corner of West Great Lakes Province, and the entire West Great Lakes Province is more inclined to the Great Lakes (Lake Victoria) basin, while Bujumbura, the provincial capital, belongs to the Sorel Lake (Lake Tanganyika) basin, and is the most developed city in the Sorel Lake basin. This is really a bit awkward.

Therefore, according to Ernst’s idea, Bujumbura will no longer be the provincial capital of West Great Lakes Province in this zoning adjustment. The new provincial capital will be directly selected from the eastern cities of West Great Lakes Province.

And Bujumbura will become the provincial capital of the new province. As we all know, among the three great lakes of East Africa, Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and Lake Malawi are too favored, while Sorel Lake (Lake Tanganyika) has been neglected for a long time. Therefore, in order to effectively manage and develop Lake Tanganyika, Ernst intends to set up a new province around the lake area.

And this new province has another purpose, which is to weaken the Plateau Province. After all, the area of the Plateau Province is relatively large in the eastern region.

As the East African government decided to remeasure the national area and East Africa wanted to carry out a new round of administrative division adjustments, from 1896 to 1897, the East African government conducted a new round of survey and inspection of the country.

The focus was on the border areas, as well as Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Orange, and other areas that had been incorporated into East Africa for a short time and had not set up relevant administrative divisions.

Chapter 919: East African Land Area and Administrative Divisions

Adjusting administrative divisions is clearly not something that can be done overnight. It involves bargaining between all parties, as it relates to resource allocation, most typically in areas like education and healthcare, which are vital to people’s livelihoods. This is especially true under the East African system, where only provincial-level administrative regions can enjoy the upgraded resources that come with it.

In November 1896, the East African government released a general plan for adjusting East African administrative divisions.

“Based on a comprehensive assessment of data from various regions across the country, we intend to divide the country into 45 provincial-level administrative regions, including the Lanfang Overseas Province and two new provinces to be established on Madagascar Island, but excluding overseas colonies.”

“There is also a special area, namely the Congo rainforest region. Due to its climatic characteristics, we intend to continue to preserve its role as a protected area, with an administrative level consistent with that of a province.”

“Furthermore, due to the city of Rhein, we plan to abolish the original Central Province and carve out portions of land from the Hohenzollern Province, Swabia Province, and Salzburg Province to form a new Central Province. This way, the future Central Province will be geographically located in the true center of East Africa. As for the original Central Province, it will revert to its former name of Coastal Province.”

The Coastal Province, which is the current Central Province, is where the first town is located. In the early days of East Africa, this area was one of the three coastal districts. At that time, East Africa’s administrative divisions were determined according to large regions.

“In the Mozambique region, we will establish five new provinces: Tete Province, Niassa Province, Zambezi Province, Rhodesia Province, and Plains Province, with Tete City, Nacala City, Quelimane City, Beira City, and Xinxiang City as their respective provincial capitals.”

The name Niassa is naturally a former name for Lake Malawi. Similarly, Rhodesia is what present-day Zimbabwe and other places were called in a past life, a name that Ernst has preserved.

As for Plains Province, that’s entirely Ernst’s little joke. And the capital of Plains Province, Xinxiang City, is actually the former Portuguese colonial town of Chókwè.

After all, East Africa has very little flat terrain, and the best arable land is concentrated in southern Mozambique. Therefore, Ernst naming it Plains Province is quite fitting, and the capital of Plains Province should naturally be named Xinxiang, which can also remove the name Chókwè from the Portuguese colonial period.

Plains Province also has a port, which is the former Mozambican city of Inhambane. This way, although Xinxiang City is located inland, it won’t be without access to the sea.

“Maputo, along with New Hamburg Port City and the surrounding area, will form a new province, namely Hansa Province, with the capital set in New Hamburg Port City.”

“In addition, a new Orange Province will be established in the South African region, with Bloemfontein as its capital, and the area will basically overlap with the original Orange Free State.”

“Baden Province will undergo slight changes, with the capital set in Gaborone, and the second largest city in the province will be Upington.”

The geographical location of Baden Province is roughly the southeastern part of present-day Botswana plus the northern part of the British Bechuanaland colony.

“In addition to adding the Central Province, with Rhein City as the national political center, Matabeleland Province will be renamed Bohemia Province.”

This change in name is actually to emphasize the industrial attributes of Bohemia Province (northeastern Zimbabwe). As everyone knows, most of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s industry was concentrated in the Bohemian region, so East Africa also used this as a basis to rename Matabeleland Province to Bohemia Province.

“At the same time, Bulawayo City will be separated from Bohemia Province and, together with part of the western Kalahari Basin area, will form a new Lorraine Province.”

This is for the sake of checks and balances. The original Matabeleland Province was too strong, so it was split into two provinces in this administrative division adjustment, while also taking into account the Kalahari region.

The entire original Kalahari Basin is within the Lorraine Province area, but there isn’t a single decent city, and the area is full of deserts and arid regions. Therefore, incorporating Bulawayo City is a way to strengthen and drive the local area.

“At the same time, Hesse Province in the central region will revert to two provinces: Hesse Province and Mitumba Province.”

This is a case of what goes around, comes around. The original Hesse Province was formed by the merger of Hesse Province and Mitumba Province, but now it is split into two provinces again, mainly because the local economy has developed.

“The Okavango Delta in the northern part of Lorraine Province, together with the northern plateau area, which is mostly the eastern part of the original Letania Province, will form Okavango Province, mainly for the comprehensive management of the Okavango River basin.”

“South West Africa will establish South West Province, with the capital set in Windhoek City.”

South West Africa has finally been established as a separate province and is the second largest provincial-level administrative region in East Africa in terms of area, second only to the Congo Rainforest Protected Area.

“In the west, Letania Province will take Alexandria as its new capital and develop westward as a whole. Its area will be reduced due to the separation of Okavango Province.”

“With Benguela as the capital, Benguela Province will be established along the railway. With Luanda as the capital, West Coast Province will be established along the railway.”

“In the northern Congo River area, Congo Province will be established, including Cabinda City and Kinshasa City, with Kinshasa City as the capital.”

The new Congo Province basically follows the lower reaches of the Congo River, and the main port is Cabinda. This also means that Brazzaville is gone. In the future, Kinshasa will be a city spanning the Congo River.

In a past life, Brazzaville and Kinshasa were two cities formed due to colonial divisions. Now that East Africa has unified both sides of the Congo River, there is naturally no need to set up two cities, especially after the establishment of the Congo River Railway Bridge project.

“The main change in the northern region is the establishment of Ubangi Province, with the capital set in Bangui City.”

This province is basically established because of the Ubangi River and is an important border province, bordering Sigmaringen, Cameroon (German), Gabon (French), and the Belgian Congo.

“At the same time, the eastern part of Ubangi Province will be divided into two provinces: West Azande Province and East Azande Province, divided according to the Azande Plateau. The original Bavaria Province will move eastward to the west bank of Lake King (Lake Albert).”

In this way, the Azande Plateau and its surrounding areas will be transformed from the original two provinces into four provinces.

“The western and southern parts of the Great Lakes region will establish Great Lakes Province, the northern part will continue to retain North Great Lakes Province, the northwestern region will basically remain unchanged, the eastern part will establish Sollen Lake Province, and the original Central Province will be renamed Coastal Province.”

“Finally, Madagascar Island will be divided into Mahajanga Province and Toliara Province.”

The administrative divisions of Madagascar Island are basically the same as in a past life. Ernst directly borrowed the names of these two provinces, and the area and region of the two provinces are basically the same as in a past life.

“The above are the changes to East Africa’s provincial-level administrative regions. In addition, there are two special cities, which do not reach the level of provincial-level administrative regions, but are also higher than general provincial capitals and prefecture-level cities, namely Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa City. In the future, special cities may be adjusted at any time as East Africa’s economy develops.”

Similar to the Far East Empire’s sub-provincial capital cities or municipalities directly under the central government in a past life, but not as high as the status of municipalities directly under the central government. After all, municipalities directly under the central government are provincial-level administrative regions, while Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa City still belong to Coastal Province (formerly Central Province) and Eastern Province.

This is a reflection of the economic strength of the two cities, but in the future, as other cities develop, they may also be promoted to special cities. Cities like New Frankfurt City, Beira City, New Hamburg Port City, Luanda City, Cabinda City, Mbeya City… are all on the shortlist.

In the end, East Africa has a total of 45 provincial-level administrative regions, including Lanfang Overseas Province, the two provinces on Madagascar Island, and the Congo Rainforest Protected Area. Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa City become special cities.

In March 1897, the latest data on East Africa’s land area was also released. East Africa’s land area is approximately 13,006,500 square kilometers, just barely exceeding 13 million square kilometers. If calculated according to Africa’s area of 30,200,000 (30,220,000) square kilometers, it accounts for approximately forty-three percent of the continent’s area.

(Image)

Chapter 920: Plotting Mindanao

In reality, the East African territory had shrunk somewhat due to negotiations with France. For example, East Africa had seized some land east of Antananarivo, but after negotiations between the two countries, East Africa returned some of it to France.

After all, this was a cost-free transaction. The benefits East Africa gained from France’s invasion of the Kingdom of Imerina far outweighed these returns, so in essence, France still lost out. France could have obtained the entire territory of the Kingdom of Imerina, but it didn’t happen because of East Africa.

Of course, returning part of the territory of the Kingdom of Imerina was not important to East Africa. Most of the other areas East Africa acquired were mountains and areas that could form strategic passes, giving East Africa a strategic advantage over the French colony of Madagascar.

Of course, if it weren’t for returning this part of the land, East Africa’s territory would definitely have exceeded thirteen million square kilometers, instead of just barely doing so as it is now.

However, East Africa could not be too greedy. East Africa was already the second largest country in the world by area, and thirteen million square kilometers was just the mainland. If the Lanfang overseas province was included, it would be more than that, not to mention East Africa’s other colonies.

…

“This administrative division is relatively reasonable, but it will take a long process to implement. We should first establish provinces in undisputed areas, such as Orange and Southwest Africa. As for disputed areas like the Great Lakes Province, we need to transition slowly.”

After all, the Great Lakes Province required consultation with the original Plateau Province and West Great Lakes Province. Even Bujumbura’s independence to become the new provincial capital of Soren Province was unfair to the original West Great Lakes Province, as the resources of the original West Great Lakes Province were concentrated in the provincial capital, Bujumbura.

Of course, the Plateau Province lost the most. Not only did it lose its western territory and become the main body of the new Soren Province, but it also ceded the relatively wealthy city of Mwanza in the north. Dodoma City completely achieved dominance within the province, which was obviously not what the Plateau Provincial Government wanted.

Therefore, the original provinces had to do a good job of handover, involving industries, resources, population, and so on. The provinces in remote areas were easier to solve, after all, they were completely blank slates, so there was not too much intense controversy.

“By the year nineteen hundred, there are still nearly three years. This time is almost enough to complete these tasks, which basically means that after nineteen hundred, East Africa’s political map will be basically stable. On this basis, after nineteen hundred, East Africa’s expansion will shift from the African continent to overseas colonies, especially in the Nanyang region.”

Ernst was still thinking about the Nanyang region. After all, compared to exerting East Africa’s political influence in other directions, the Nanyang region was the easiest.

According to East Africa’s geographical location, West Africa and North Africa should normally be prioritized, but competition in these two regions was too fierce. Before the decline of European countries such as Britain and France, Ernst was basically not optimistic about the local situation.

Thinking of this, if nothing unexpected happened, next year should be the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, and East Africa should also take action in advance.

After the meeting, Ernst called in Foreign Minister Hermann and Director of the National Defense Security Bureau, Wolsten.

Ernst asked, “Wolsten, how is our preparation in the Philippines going?”

“Your Royal Highness, the progress is going smoothly. We have disguised our personnel as people from various countries and entered Mindanao Island in turn. Currently, we have more than two thousand core personnel on the island, plus about eight thousand peripheral personnel. However, it may be difficult to turn the tide.”

In Wolsten’s words, it was only difficult, which was a conservative statement. In fact, Mindanao Island’s status in the Philippines was quite low, similar to a “savage land.”

Even in his previous life, Mindanao Island had nearly half the population of Luzon Island, and now the entire Philippines only had about five or six million people, even less than the Abyssinian Empire. It was not until the mid-nineteenth century that the Philippines’ population exceeded twenty million.

This was already the result of the Spaniards’ efforts to “spoon-feed” them. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Philippines only had more than one million people. At the beginning of Spanish colonization, the Philippines’ population would only be lower. Therefore, although colonies were not a positive term, in this era, the improvement of productivity and medical and health levels in backward areas was visible to the naked eye. Otherwise, the population of various colonies would not have doubled, of course, some colonies that did not treat people as human beings were exceptions, such as the Belgian Congo colony next to East Africa.

“According to our statistics, the current population of Mindanao Island is about three to four hundred thousand. The main population of the Philippines is mainly concentrated on Luzon Island and other islands. Therefore, although we only have more than eight thousand people on Mindanao Island, there is a risk in wanting to control Mindanao Island, but the chances of success are still great.”

The numbers given by the National Defense Security Bureau were not far off, which also showed the desolation of Mindanao Island. Even though Ernst often said that East Africa was sparsely populated, after searching all of East Africa, only Southwest Africa and the Congo rainforest had smaller populations than Mindanao Island.

Of course, from the perspective of population density, Mindanao Island far exceeded Southwest Africa and the Congo rainforest. After all, Southwest Africa had an area of more than eight hundred thousand square kilometers, and the Congo rainforest even exceeded one million square kilometers, while Mindanao Island was less than one hundred thousand square kilometers.

In his previous life, the population of Mindanao Island exploded starting in the late nineteen thirties. Before that, Mindanao Island was equivalent to the place of exile in ancient times for the countries of the Far East, or Siberia for Tsarist Russia. It was not until the Philippine government advocated immigration in nineteen thirty-nine that the population of Mindanao Island increased significantly, and exceeded twenty million in the twenty-first century.

Twenty million compared to the current three to four hundred thousand also shows that the tropical rainforest climate was indeed a “green desert” before the Industrial Revolution. Not to mention development, even survival was quite difficult.

Of course, this was also the reason why Ernst had designs on Mindanao Island. If there were more people, who would want this place? The Abyssinian Empire and the Kingdom of Imerina were examples of this.

Accompanying the conversation between Ernst and Wolsten, the old secret agent, Foreign Minister Hermann next to him broke out in a cold sweat.

“Your Royal Highness, are you planning to have a conflict with the Kingdom of Spain? This is a matter of interfering with the sovereignty of other countries, and Spain is not a small or weak country. Doing so may cause a diplomatic incident,” Hermann asked from the side.

Wolsten did not speak. In fact, the Crown Prince’s ambition for Mindanao Island had been planned for a long time. East Africa’s infiltration of the local area had already begun before the South African War. Since he took office as the Director of the National Defense Security Bureau, Mindanao Island and Kauai Island in Hawaii had been the key tasks of the National Defense Security Bureau abroad, second only to Europe, the United States, and Japan. It was just that Kauai Island had become East African territory, and now only Mindanao Island was left.

Ernst: “The Nanyang region is the key area for East Africa’s future overseas layout, so it is reasonable for us to make some preparations in advance. After all, on the surface, the Nanyang region has already been divided up, so if we want to gain a foothold here, we must take some special measures.”

Hermann: “But the opportunity like the Kingdom of North Hawaii, which took advantage of the right time, place, and people, is probably only once. We also took advantage of the loophole that the Kingdom of Hawaii was an independent country at the time. Even a little later, the Americans would have controlled the entire Kingdom of Hawaii. We obviously do not have this condition in the Philippines. After all, the Philippines is one of Spain’s important colonies, which is completely different from Hawaii. Doing so may anger the Spanish government.”

Of course, Ernst did not mean to offend Spain. After all, East Africa had already offended many countries. Britain, Portugal, and Japan were countries with considerable strength in the world. The other countries that were destroyed by East Africa did not even have the opportunity to hate East Africa.

As for how to obtain Mindanao Island from Spain, Ernst naturally wanted to replicate the successful experience of the Kingdom of North Hawaii last time, letting the United States act as the villain, and East Africa picking up the cheap stuff behind the scenes. Of course, Hermann and others naturally did not understand the key, after all, they were not Ernst.

Chapter 921: Spain Plays an Unconventional Hand

Of course, Ernst would never say something foolish to his subordinates like, “I’m a time traveler, and the United States and Spain will openly clash…”

Ernst said, “We certainly don’t intend to offend Spain. After all, I have a pretty good relationship with the Spanish royal family.”

The House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen had greatly helped Alfonso XII before he ascended the throne, so the relationship between the two countries had always been friendly. Of course, Alfonso XII passed away in November of 1895. Now, the King of Spain is his son, Alfonso XIII. The relationship between the two countries has not changed because of the change of kings. Not to mention the ties between the two countries, the strength of East Africa itself is worth Spain’s attention.

After the South African War, the relationship between East Africa and Spain became even closer. After all, Spain and neighboring Portugal don’t get along very well. At that time, Alfonso XII even sent a special letter to Constantine to congratulate him.

“Therefore, how we obtain Mindanao requires the efforts of your Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Ernst continued.

“What does Your Highness mean?” Hermann asked, somewhat puzzled.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should come forward, and we will purchase the ownership of Mindanao from Spain,” Ernst explained.

This was indeed a solution, but Hermann was not optimistic. After all, selling territory was not unprecedented. The most classic example was the purchase of the Alaska colony by the Russian royal family. But could Spain be compared to Tsarist Russia at that time? Hermann naturally did not believe that Spain would want to sell its colony. After all, there was some news when Tsarist Russia sold Alaska.

However, trying it out wouldn’t hurt, it was more reliable than a coup d’état by the agents of the National Security Bureau on the island.

So Hermann asked, “Your Highness, how much money will we spend to buy Mindanao?”

In Hermann’s view, whether or not they could obtain Mindanao depended on how much money they spent. If the price was right, they would sell even India, let alone Mindanao, but no one could afford that price.

Ernst did not explicitly answer Hermann’s question, but instead held up two fingers.

“Twenty million? Pounds or dollars? Isn’t that too high? After all, Alaska was such a large piece of land, and it only cost a few million dollars back then. Even if the currency has depreciated somewhat now, it’s not worth it.”

Ernst said, “It’s Rhenish marks. How could it be pounds or dollars? And that’s the maximum price. It’s impossible to go beyond that price.”

Twenty million Rhenish marks is about three million dollars. If you look at the twenty million dollars the United States paid Spain in its previous life, this price is indeed sincere for buying Mindanao. After all, East Africa is not buying Luzon.

Of course, the accounts cannot be calculated like this. After the Spanish-American War, the United States not only acquired the Philippines, but also Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and other colonies.

As for the seemingly large sum of twenty million, in reality, Cuba alone is worth far more than that. At most, it can be regarded as a little “comfort” from the United States to Spain. After all, Spain is a great power. Even if it loses to the rising star of the United States, given the strength of the United States at the time, it did not want to completely offend Spain.

And using three million dollars to buy Mindanao seems very insincere. After all, Mindanao accounts for nearly one-third of the area of the Philippines, and why should Spain accept East Africa’s offer? Spain did not lose to East Africa and was forced to cede land.

At this time, Hermann’s psychological thought was that even if Mindanao had no value, Spain was unlikely to sell its colony. Of course, Hermann didn’t say much. After all, in his opinion, East Africa’s sincerity was enough with the offer of twenty million Rhenish marks. It could be used to do a lot of things even if it wasn’t used to buy territory.

In fact, Ernst also believed that Spain would not accept East Africa’s terms. After all, the Philippine colony was very important to Spain, mainly because of its location. To the north was the Far East Empire, a supermarket, and the Philippines itself was relatively mature after hundreds of years of development by Spain.

“Okay, your Ministry of Foreign Affairs should first contact the Spanish government. It would be best if this matter can be achieved. If it cannot be achieved, then we can only use other means. Of course, twenty million Rhenish marks is our bottom line. Don’t throw it out at the beginning. Start with a lower price and bargain with Spain, provided that Spain is willing to sell Mindanao,” Ernst finalized.

According to Ernst’s idea, even if Spain doesn’t sell now, East Africa can offer a price again when Spain and the United States fight next year. At that time, it will be up to the Spanish. As for offending the United States by trading during the war, so what!

In fact, there was another beneficiary in the Spanish-American War in his previous life, and that was Germany. Germany took the opportunity to purchase the Palau Islands and the Mariana Islands (excluding Guam) from Spain after the war.

In fact, before the Spanish-American War, Germany had the idea of purchasing the Philippines and surrounding islands from Spain, but Spain did not agree.

Therefore, Ernst judged that Spain would also not agree to East Africa’s conditions, after all, even if East Africa offered a price, it could not be higher than the wealthy Germany.

……

However, the actual situation is always unexpected, and what Ernst and the East African government thought was impossible actually happened.

“What? Spain agreed to our terms?” Ernst asked Hermann incredulously.

Hermann was also very excited at this time, but he still stabilized his emotions and explained the reason to Ernst: “We first expressed our willingness to purchase Mindanao to the Spanish government, and then this matter was valued by Alfonso XIII. They actually agreed, but we had some disputes with the Spanish government on the price. According to Your Highness’s request, we initially only quoted ten million Rhenish marks. Spain thought the price was too low. After some wrangling, the two sides finally set the final price at seventeen million Rhenish marks.”

Ten million Rhenish marks is more than two million six hundred thousand dollars, which is nearly four hundred thousand dollars lower than Ernst’s psychological price.

“It shouldn’t be!” Ernst couldn’t believe it, “Why did the Spanish agree?”

Hermann also thought so: “Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs also felt surprised, but later we got the answer from Count Rolls of Spain.”

“What did he say?” Ernst asked curiously.

Hermann: “It’s still that Mindanao is too barren. If we were to ask to buy Luzon and other islands like Germany, then Spain would definitely not agree. After all, Luzon is the essence of the Philippines.”

“Of course, another important reason is that Mindanao is a hot potato in Spain’s eyes. They have not established effective rule there. The local Moro people are green believers and have been fiercely resisting Spain, so the Spanish government only has a few fixed strongholds in Mindanao and does not actually rule the area.”

Sure enough, there is no free lunch in the world. Spain actually does not have a good outlook on the future of Mindanao, so it is willing to sell Mindanao.

Of course, there may be other factors interfering, such as the attitude of Alfonso XIII, East Africa’s offer, etc.

East Africa’s price is indeed low, but Spain also has its own considerations. First of all, East Africa is only buying Mindanao, which does not involve Luzon, the core of the Philippines. Otherwise, Germany would be a lesson.

Secondly, the Spanish government believes that if it does not sell Mindanao to East Africa, does East Africa have no other means? East Africa has also made some achievements in the Pacific region in recent years, such as the Lanfang Overseas Province, the South Ryukyu Islands, the North Hawaiian Kingdom, and the Balabac Island. These areas have become new players in the Pacific region.

Therefore, the Spanish government believes that it does not matter to sell Mindanao, which cannot be effectively controlled, cannot generate economic value, and is fiercely resisted, to East Africa.

Of course, this also means that the problems encountered by the Spanish government in Mindanao will also be transferred to East Africa as Mindanao becomes an East African colony.

Chapter 922: Unleashing the Slaughter

As the saying goes: you get what you pay for. East Africa quickly learned the pain that Spain had suffered.

In May of 1897, with the withdrawal of Spanish troops, East Africa smoothly took over several strongholds of the Spanish on Mindanao Island. East Africa directly transferred some of the garrison troops from the Lanfang Overseas Province to be stationed on Mindanao Island.

“The Moro people are the main residents of the island, and they believe in the Green Religion. This is also the reason why the Moro people are so difficult to deal with. Under Spanish rule, most of the people in northern Luzon Island believed in Christianity, so the Moro people’s hatred for ‘heretics’ is innate. They are not as easily conquered as the indigenous people in northern Philippines, and Mindanao Island has complex terrain and lush vegetation, so Spain has besieged the Moro people several times before, but the results were not great. Instead, they could only huddle in a few coastal strongholds and promise the Moro people a high degree of autonomy, which means their rule was only nominal.”

An intelligence officer from the National Defense Security Bureau introduced the situation on the island to the first Governor of East Africa stationed on Mindanao Island.

“In fact, Moro is a collective term used by the Spanish for believers of the Green Religion on the island. Internally, they are divided into several ethnic groups and tribes, but because of their unified faith, they are more united.”

In fact, Mindanao Island was the most turbulent region in the Philippines in its past life. The local Moro people not only fiercely resisted the Spanish, but also did the same when the Americans came later. The Americans also failed to establish effective rule there.

Therefore, the United States gradually conducted political negotiations with the Muslims in the south, and successively signed the Bates Treaty with the Sultan of Sulu and the Sultan of Maguindanao. According to the treaty, the Americans would not enter the southern Philippines, and internal affairs would be managed by the Moro people autonomously.

Later, the United States and the Philippine government gradually changed the local population structure through immigration, so that the Moro people, who originally accounted for one hundred percent of the population, became a minority, which achieved overall stability in the area.

However, even in the 21st century, Mindanao Island was still a region in the Philippines with a strong desire for separation, with warlords, separatist forces, independent armed forces, and government separatism.

Faced with such a complex situation, Berkeley, the Governor of East Africa stationed on Mindanao Island, also looked grim.

“Currently, we can only control the areas of Zamboanga and Davao. However, it will be very difficult to stabilize the local rule.” Berkeley said.

Zamboanga is easier to manage. It is located at the western end of Mindanao Island and was the most important stronghold of the Spanish on the island. Davao is not yet a chartered city of the Philippines in its past life. It is currently just a small town, but the port conditions are excellent, so East Africa chose to land in these two places.

“During the Spanish rule, Zamboanga was often attacked by the Moro people. It happened three times last year alone. The situation in Davao is slightly better because our people are mainly concentrated in Davao and have already formed an advantage there,” said a member of the National Defense Security Bureau.

Just hearing the name Zamboanga, you know that the area has a long history, while Davao has not yet become famous, so the National Defense Security Bureau easily established a foothold there.

This is also the area with the largest number of Chinese in Mindanao Island. In fact, except for Zamboanga and Davao, which were developed by the East African National Defense Security Bureau, the rest of the island is basically undeveloped. Even the indigenous people of East Africa would probably “shed tears” if they went to these areas.

This is not nonsense, after all, it can be seen from the island’s population and beliefs. The Green Religion originally originated in desert areas, and the tropical rainforest climate is a “green desert”, so it is very much in line with the population distribution of this belief.

Of course, this is also related to the commercial activities of the Green Religion, especially in ancient times. The Green Religion was considered a higher level of civilization to these indigenous people, and with its proximity, the local indigenous people were naturally easily converted.

“So, if we want to establish effective rule on the island, the first thing is to settle the Moro people on the island, otherwise this place may become East Africa’s most turbulent and expensive colony.”

Although Lanfang Overseas Province is also in Nanyang, its population is mainly Chinese, so East Africa’s rule is very smooth. However, it is unlikely that the Green Religion area will be so smooth. East Africa has a deep understanding of this in Zanzibar. The people of Zanzibar had a close relationship with Oman, so they had a place to run to, and would not fight to the death with East Africa.

Mindanao Island is different. The attitude of these Moro people towards external invaders is firm. Even Berkeley does not think that Mindanao Island can be easily conquered.

…

Berkeley’s idea was quickly verified. Less than a month after East Africa started to straighten out the Zamboanga area, the East African colonial forces suffered three small-scale rebellions.

“Your Excellency Governor, we lost more than a dozen soldiers this time. Although we killed more than sixty enemies, most of them ran directly into the jungle, and we dare not pursue them rashly!”

Berkeley’s face was so ugly that water could be squeezed out of it when he heard the report. Since he took office in Zamboanga, more than forty soldiers have been sacrificed. Don’t look at the small number, but Berkeley only has more than five hundred soldiers in total.

“These natives must have been informed by the Moro people in the city. The third attack was obviously premeditated. The enemies were completely wiped out in the first two attacks, but this time it is obvious that the organization is stronger. The clues can be seen from the enemy’s escape route and combat coordination.”

“So, we must expel the Moro people in the Zamboanga area and limit them to withdraw from Zamboanga within fifteen days.” Berkeley directly ordered.

Those who do not submit to our rule can be killed. This is East Africa’s attitude. Ernst had instructed this long before Berkeley arrived.

After all, in Ernst’s view, land is more important than the value created by the colony. The annexation of Mindanao Island was not primarily for the purpose of exploiting and oppressing these Moro people. Even if the Moro people were honest and stable, East Africa would not leave these troubles behind. Moreover, the Moro people showed a resistance consciousness several times stronger than that of the African natives, so they could not be left behind even more.

Berkeley’s order caused an uproar among the Moro people in the Zamboanga area. No one could accept such conditions from the East African government.

Sure enough, four days after the order was issued, the Moro people launched the largest rebellion in the history of the Zamboanga area.

As the most developed area in Mindanao Island, the total population of Zamboanga area is only over ten thousand, most of whom are Moro people, as well as some Spanish and northern Filipinos, and Chinese.

Berkeley, who had already borrowed weapons from the National Defense Security Bureau, was naturally not afraid. On June 17, 1897, as the rebellion occurred, Berkeley, the Governor of Mindanao Island, who had already prepared, ordered the extermination of the Moro people in the Zamboanga area.

Before this, some Moro people had already fled from the Zamboanga area. Only three thousand unwilling Moro people in the city wanted to resist stubbornly.

Including the personnel of the National Defense Security Bureau, the armed forces of East Africa in Zamboanga reached more than one thousand. Therefore, as soon as the war started, the strong and powerful East African armed forces launched a purge against the Moro people.

This is also one of the few targeted massacres of indigenous people in the colonies since the founding of East Africa.

This day was extremely shocking for the Spanish and Chinese in the Zamboanga area. Throughout the streets of Zamboanga, East African soldiers searched house to house. Anyone who was verified to be a Moro was executed on the spot. It can be said that nine out of ten houses in Zamboanga City were empty.

On the same day, the National Defense Security Bureau also carried out a large-scale purge of the local population in Davao City. This made the Spanish and Chinese in Mindanao Island see the real “brutality”. The policy of leaving the land but not the people was thoroughly implemented by the East African colonial government in these two main strongholds of East Africa.

Spanish businessman Mosier later recalled: “I will never forget the darkest day in Zamboanga. The executioners of East Africa slaughtered the natives of Zamboanga like cattle and sheep. Gunshots rang all day long, one body after another… This is one of the most serious tragedies in human history. The production and commercial activities of the entire Zamboanga were almost stagnant. Except for the Spanish, Filipinos, Chinese, and East Africans, there was no one alive.”

Chapter 923: Doing Every Evil Deed Imaginable

Moxier’s recollections perfectly matched historical facts. In Zamboanga, once the most prosperous city in Mindanao, a precipitous decline in population led to the near-paralysis of production activities. Only the plantations, factories, and workshops run by Spaniards and Chinese escaped disaster.

However, with the loss of a large number of people, most industries in Zamboanga basically came to an end. After all, without a population, the original raw material supply and market demand for the city were essentially cut in half. East Africa’s actions were purely destructive for the sake of destruction.

In the period that followed, Zamboanga continued to experience a large outflow of people, mainly Spaniards who had been engaged in commercial trade. After all, with the original raw materials and markets destroyed by East Africa, they couldn’t get rich by staying there, so it was better to leave directly.

This wasn’t the end. The struggle between East Africa and the local Moro people continued for nearly twenty years. Eventually, through a continuous stream of immigrants and military suppression, East Africa essentially eliminated the Moro people. The entire island was completely emptied of its Muslim population. Of course, if they converted, they were naturally safe and sound.

…

The East African central government naturally received news of the Zamboanga tragedy, but everyone was unconcerned. Firstly, the region was a neglected colony. Secondly, East Africa’s cleansing of the Moro people was a response to the Moro people’s attitude towards East Africa.

After all, as a country born from colonialism, East Africa was generally lenient towards the local natives, not completely pushing them to their deaths. The main reason was that since its inception, East Africa had never encountered natives who resisted East Africa as strongly as the Moro people.

Finally, the population of Mindanao was not large, and its location was remote, so the impact was not significant. After all, no one would speak up for the Moro people, because everyone was doing the same thing.

The Spanish government had also carried out massacres in Mindanao, but the Spanish government also needed the Moro people to work like oxen and horses for the construction of their colonies. East Africa was different. Ernst only valued the land and had no interest in the natives at all. Therefore, faced with the resistance of the Moro people, East Africa would only adopt more brutal means of rule than the Spanish government.

If you don’t listen and insist on going your own way, then go meet God. After all, East Africa also left a way out for the locals, such as converting to Christianity, which would naturally be met with leniency. If you can’t even do that, then you can only go and talk to the old man God in person. Anyway, the Moro people are under Allah’s jurisdiction, so God won’t blame East Africa.

Of course, the Spanish government naturally had some understanding of East Africa’s actions. They were quite speechless about what East Africa was doing in Mindanao.

After all, the purpose of running colonies is naturally to make money, but with East Africa doing things this way, when will Mindanao be able to recoup its investment without introducing an external population? After all, East Africa spent money to buy Mindanao, and it has to spend money on stationing troops, administrative management, and subsequent investment.

Ernst was naturally aware of this, but the economic value of Mindanao was mainly reflected in the local mineral resources. Even if East Africa left it undeveloped, it could still make money in the future.

As for population migration, that was much simpler. It could be introduced from the Far East. Colonies are not the mainland, so there is no need to worry about population structure issues. It doesn’t matter if there are more Chinese immigrants than white people. After all, the Lanfang Overseas Province is a case in point, even though the white population there is less than twenty percent.

Of course, the development and governance of Mindanao is also a long process. First of all, it is very difficult to completely eliminate the Moro people scattered throughout the island.

The Vietnam War in his previous life had already provided a template, and East Africa would naturally not learn from the United States and fight them to the death. Therefore, East Africa’s strategy was mainly based on “compression, replacement, and weakening.”

The first step was to cut off Mindanao’s connection with the outside world. This was easy to do, and could basically be achieved by sealing off the coastal ports.

After that, starting from the coastal strongholds, gradually occupy land suitable for survival, destroy the Moro people’s farmland, houses, etc., and force them into the primitive jungle.

In this way, even though East Africa has no way to deal with them after they escape into the primitive jungle, the regression of civilization and productivity, coupled with the harsh conditions of the rainforest environment, will in itself lead to a decline in the Moro population.

At the same time, East Africa is constantly carrying out encirclement and suppression of the Moro people on the periphery, coupled with related measures such as setting fire to the mountains. If the Moro people who have returned to primitive jungle life, it is difficult for them to form a significant force.

Of course, the premise for doing this is that East Africa introduces a large number of people, thereby forming a concentrated population area and occupying land suitable for survival, in order to achieve this goal. Otherwise, if East Africa leaves and these natives come down from the mountains, it will be a waste of effort.

In reality, this is a premeditated genocide, and it is even worse than what East Africa has done in its own territory. In the mainland, many black people at least have the option of going overseas, but East Africa doesn’t even have the intention of exiling the Moro people. From this point of view, East Africa has truly done every evil deed imaginable on Mindanao, demonstrating the “style” of 19th-century colonialists.

Therefore, at a government meeting, Ernst said directly: “In the next ten years or so, we must directly introduce millions of Far Eastern immigrants to fill Mindanao. Only in this way can we consolidate our rule over Mindanao.”

Introducing Chinese immigrants might be digging one’s own grave for other countries, but it poses no threat to a mixed-race country like East Africa. At the same time, the upper-level rulers of Mindanao will definitely be East Africans, so East Africa doesn’t have to worry about Mindanao splitting off in the future.

To be honest, even if they are of the same race, feelings towards these colonies far away from the East African mainland will fade after a few decades, just like the British global colonies, which will eventually disintegrate.

Therefore, East Africa does not need these overseas colonies to become part of East Africa in the future, but to become dependent forces that rely on East Africa for existence.

This is easy to do, such as the location and history of Mindanao. After the Philippines becomes independent in the future, won’t the Philippines be tempted? Won’t they engage in the “since ancient times” rhetoric?

Not to mention anything else, why is Australia so afraid of Indonesia? Isn’t it because Indonesia has too large a population? In the future, the Philippines will definitely experience an explosive population growth like in its previous life, so the Philippines will naturally be tempted by Mindanao, which split off from it.

Similarly, the situation in Lanfang Overseas Province is even more complex than that in Mindanao. At least geographically, Mindanao is separated from the Philippines, while Lanfang Overseas Province directly borders other countries.

Ernst cannot guarantee whether countries like Indonesia and Malaysia will still exist in the future. After all, East Africa’s dismantling of the Nanyang region has already begun. Without a doubt, in Ernst’s eyes, it is better to subdivide this region. Like the Philippines with more than seven thousand islands and Indonesia with more than seventeen thousand islands in their previous lives, it is too outrageous that they can form a country. This is obviously thanks to countries like the Netherlands and Spain.

They were trying to save trouble. In order to facilitate their colonial rule over the local area, they mixed a bunch of islands together. In Ernst’s view, Indonesia should at least be divided into several to a dozen countries to be considered reasonable. Similarly, the Philippines and Malaysia in their previous lives were also the same.

Of course, East Africa certainly does not have the ability to do this now, which means conflict with the Netherlands and Britain. However, as East Africa’s national strength grows, this day will come sooner or later.

Not to mention these countries, even Australia has a lot of potential in Ernst’s eyes. After all, in addition to valuing the strategic location of the Nanyang maritime transportation hub, East Africa is most greedy for the local resources. One of the main reasons why Lanfang Overseas Province can become East African territory is that it has a small population and abundant resources, and it is destined not to break away from East Africa in the future.

Mindanao is different. The island is rich in mineral resources, with abundant reserves of coal, iron, copper, and so on. With coal and iron, it means that there is no lack of basic industrial development resources.

Therefore, in Ernst’s mind, Mindanao can be arranged for enfeoffment in the future, directly letting one of his sons go there to be king. In this way, even if Mindanao becomes independent, it can form a bond with East Africa, which is also conducive to maintaining the rule of the East African royal family, killing two birds with one stone.

Chapter 924: The Ocean

East Africa’s actions in Mindanao demonstrated its determination to explore the ocean. Correspondingly, in 1897, East Africa newly established 27 large-scale shipbuilding enterprises. With the expansion of its territory, the number of usable ports in East Africa also increased significantly. These ports included those in the mainland and those in overseas colonies, with the mainland ports mainly located in the south and west.

At the same time, territorial expansion brought about the expansion of East Africa’s inland waterway mileage, and inland waterway ports also grew rapidly, especially under East Africa’s ambitious “East Africa Grand Canal” plan, the prospects for the inland shipping industry became even broader.

Meanwhile, overseas territories such as the Lanfang Overseas Province, the Southern Ryukyu Islands, the Northern Hawaiian Kingdom, Balabac Island, and Mindanao Island also provided a large number of excellent ports for East Africa’s deep-sea strategy.

Among them, the important role of Balabac Island was reflected as it connected the Mindanao colony and the Lanfang Overseas Province after East Africa incorporated Mindanao.

“Currently, our mainland has identified and invested in the construction of a total of 25 key ports, concentrated in the east. There are fewer ports in the west, but each developed port has good inherent conditions. The cities where these 25 ports are located basically correspond to the more economically developed areas along the coast,” Ernst said to government personnel.

Although East Africa’s coastline is relatively straight and lacks excellent harbors, the number of seaports that East Africa has currently built and developed has exceeded forty. These forty-plus ports basically undertake East Africa’s national foreign trade, and among them, the 25 most important ones are the ones that East Africa values most.

In contrast, the number of inland waterway ports in East Africa has exceeded two hundred, with a significant difference between the two. Moreover, with the development of the inland economy, this gap will further widen.

The Great Lakes region alone has more than sixty ports, mainly distributed along the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) and the rivers that flow into it.

The next most developed areas are the Lake Malawi basin and Lake Soro (Lake Tanganyika). These three regions are the most developed areas of East Africa’s inland waterway transportation industry, accounting for more than fifty percent of East Africa’s inland waterway transportation.

Of course, although the number of inland ports far exceeds that of seaports, the value between the two is clearly unequal. It is no exaggeration to say that the importance of one seaport for external communication is more important than ten inland ports.

“Currently, our country’s development and utilization of the ocean is clearly lagging behind other countries in the world. Not to mention compared with those large territorial countries, even Germany has more seaports than our country, although its seaports are mainly small and medium-sized ports in the Baltic Sea.”

German seaports are concentrated in the north, including present-day Poland and Russia’s Kaliningrad, so the number of German seaports is not small, but most are confined to the Baltic Sea. There is no major problem in developing the economy in peacetime, but in wartime, its navy is basically impossible to achieve great success.

The same is true for Tsarist Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is not like in its previous life. Today, it sits on Venice, Trieste and other Adriatic coasts, but the Adriatic Sea also restricts the performance of its navy.

Not to mention Tsarist Russia, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea are its main economic sea areas, and both of these sea areas are restricted. Although the Pacific and Arctic Oceans have ports, neither is a suitable area for economic activity. Among them, Murmansk is known as an ice-free port all year round, but it is not a more active area of the Russian economy. Like Vladivostok, its military use is more prominent.

Of course, apart from these three unlucky ones, the maritime conditions of other major world powers, at least in terms of the number of seaports, are only worse than East Africa’s in Brazil and the Far East Empire.

The main reason for the Far East Empire is that the time of opening up to the sea is too short, and even under the threat of the great powers’ powerful ships and cannons, only some areas were opened up as trading ports. Brazil is completely due to poor economic development and uneven regional development.

From this point of view, East Africa’s number of seaports is not as good as the best, but better than the worst. With the limited number of seaports, coupled with East Africa’s increasingly frequent overseas trade, the East African government naturally attaches unprecedented importance to the available ports.

“Faced with increasingly fierce maritime competition, East Africa cannot only develop inland without paying attention to port construction. In addition to some special-purpose ports, the number of commercial ports should at least exceed one hundred, so as to better drive coastal economic development and relieve the pressure on existing ports.”

Special-purpose ports mainly refer to naval ports. In this regard, East Africa is quite considerate of the navy, and basically reserves the best port areas in various major sea areas for use as naval bases.

The goal of exceeding one hundred seaports is a bit difficult, but it is not impossible to achieve, because East Africa still has a large number of undeveloped bays, especially the Mozambique area in the east.

In their previous lives, these African countries had few seaports, mainly because their economic strength was insufficient and they were unable to develop and utilize these bays or river estuaries.

Of course, the lack of active foreign trade is also an important factor. The economic level of African countries in their previous lives was such that the existing ports were completely sufficient, so the local governments were not enthusiastic about building new ports, or they were powerless due to learning, wars, and other reasons.

The most typical example is that the Eastern power helped these African countries build ports and roads and other infrastructure. If it were not for the rise of emerging forces, Africa would probably not have even a little chance to strive for.

Under East Africa’s rule, this situation will naturally not occur. East Africa itself is one of the “infrastructure maniacs” of this era, so the East African government is relatively careful about the construction of seaports.

“In addition to the mainland’s maritime construction, there should also be breakthroughs in the construction of colonial ports, with Pontianak, Zamboanga, and Davao being the focus.”

As for other colonies, their value is mainly reflected in strategic value, and their economic value is difficult to compete with the above three ports. Although the Lanfang Overseas Province is somewhat lacking in resources, its area is not small, and Mindanao Island has basically no shortcomings except for climate and population.

Others, such as the Southern Ryukyu Islands, the Northern Hawaiian Kingdom, etc., are too small in area. Some islands in the Southern Ryukyu Islands even have problems with water sources. These colonies are barely enough as naval bases, and there is not much potential for economic prospects.

The Alaska colony is an exception. Although its area, resources, and population are not small, East Africa does not currently have the strength to develop Alaska. After all, it would be a big loss if it worked hard to develop it, only to have its fruits snatched by surrounding forces.

The area around Alaska can be described as surrounded by wolves. Canada, the United States, Tsarist Russia, and Japan all have this strength. Similarly, the Southern Ryukyu Islands and the Northern Hawaiian Kingdom also have this possibility. Therefore, the East African government’s main strategy for these three regions is to maintain stability. As long as it can ensure the stability of local rule, there will be long-term development possibilities in the future.

“Of course, port construction is equivalent to building roads, and it won’t work without vehicles. Compared with other major countries in the world, our country’s shipbuilding industry is far behind, so vigorously promoting the development of the shipbuilding industry is one of the important tasks of the government and enterprises in the next ten to twenty years.”

“The shipbuilding industry is one of the major heavy industry sectors in the world, involving metallurgy, machinery, electrical engineering, chemistry, and other fields. It can effectively drive the development of related industries, so investment in the shipbuilding industry is very important, especially the training of relevant personnel is a long-term process.”

Many officials in the East African government are also very clear about what Ernst said. The development of the shipbuilding industry cannot be separated from personnel and technical support. After all, its engineering volume is huge, the process is complex, the investment is large, and it focuses on the system.

The shipbuilding industry has been a veritable industrial pearl since the Age of Discovery, and if East Africa wants to compete with other countries in the ocean, it is naturally inseparable from the great development of its domestic shipbuilding industry.

Chapter 925: Shipbuilding Industry

The shipbuilding industry in East Africa started in the 1970s and has developed to a decent scale today. Of course, East Africa is somewhat specialized, with the military shipbuilding industry accounting for a significantly larger proportion in this field.

In East Africa’s civilian ships, the import ratio exceeds 60%, including those from Britain, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, and even the Netherlands and Italy.

One of the important reasons for such a huge import share is the inherent shortcomings in the development of East Africa’s shipbuilding industry at that time. At that time, East Africa’s main ports were concentrated along the coast of present-day Tanzania and Kenya, while Mozambique and Angola had not yet been incorporated into East Africa’s territory.

In this situation, the number of ports in East Africa was quite scarce. Coupled with the very backward progress of East Africa’s road and railway construction at that time, inland resources were difficult to develop and utilize, so many raw materials relied on imports.

Therefore, the shipbuilding industry in East Africa at that time was truly a case of “it’s cheaper to buy than to build,” and lacking excellent seaports, East Africa naturally could not build many shipbuilding enterprises. At that time, the most developed shipbuilding center in East Africa, namely the port area of Bagamoyo City, could only meet the needs of the navy first. Under this general trend, East Africa’s military shipbuilding industry developed by leaps and bounds, while the development of the civilian shipbuilding industry was somewhat lagging.

At the same time, this also caused the civilian shipbuilding industry in East Africa to be forced to transfer to Zanzibar Island and Pemba Island. These two islands are quite important to East Africa. In addition to serving as a maritime barrier, they have a relatively large number of ports. Coupled with the fact that East Africa’s shipbuilding industry relied on imported raw materials at that time, the shipbuilding industry in the two places developed rapidly.

Of course, by the 1990s, the situation had also changed. First of all, Angola and Mozambique were incorporated, and East Africa acquired a large number of excellent seaports or undeveloped bays.

Secondly, East Africa’s basic transportation conditions have developed to a certain extent, especially railway construction, which basically achieved coverage of the East African coast.

The development of inland industry further provided conditions for East Africa’s shipbuilding industry. Other things aside, the rise of the inland shipbuilding industry in the Great Lakes region and the Lake Malawi industrial area occurred almost simultaneously with the rise of regional cities.

With the increase in the number of ports, the development of inland resources, a relatively complete industrial base, and coastal and inland transportation no longer being a problem, the basic conditions for the localization of East Africa’s shipbuilding industry could be met.

Therefore, Ernst said: “Emerging cities such as Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda, Beira, and Maputo all have the conditions to develop the shipbuilding industry. Their regional conditions are superior, and they can realize the allocation of national resources through highways and railway systems. Vigorously developing our country’s shipbuilding industry and increasing the domestic share of our country’s civilian shipbuilding industry to at least 50% or more is the initial goal of our country’s shipbuilding industry development.”

“The total tonnage of our country’s civilian ships should break through the one million ton level before 1900, so that we can barely compete with the world’s maritime powers.”

At present, the total tonnage of civilian ships in East Africa is close to 700,000 tons, while Germany is close to two million tons, and above Germany are the United States, France, and Britain.

East Africa’s current civilian ship tonnage has just exceeded the level at the beginning of Germany’s unification. In 1871, the total tonnage of German merchant ships was around 640,000 tons.

In terms of quantity alone, East Africa is nearly twenty years behind Germany, not to mention other countries with more developed maritime transportation industries.

Of course, the development of the shipbuilding industry in the United States is quite peculiar. During the last prosperous period of the sailing era, that is, in the 1840s and 1850s, the United States was the world’s number one shipbuilding industry, far surpassing its original suzerain state, Britain. However, although the shipbuilding industry in the United States has also been progressing since then, its speed has obviously lagged behind European countries.

This is the impact of new technologies on the shipbuilding industry in the United States. Previously, as the New World, the United States had massive forestry resources, which was undoubtedly a very significant advantage in the sailing era.

However, with the application of steel in the shipbuilding industry, the shipbuilding industry in the United States was quickly defeated by the European shipbuilding industry and fell into a state of depression.

In fact, the current situation of the shipbuilding industry in the United States is similar to that in East Africa, mainly relying on imports from Europe. Of course, this is the apparent situation.

In fact, the reasons why East Africa relies on imports are very different from those of the United States. One of the important reasons is that East Africa’s shipbuilding industry started too late.

The founding time of East Africa was basically the emerging time of steel steamships, and it did not even catch up with the last glory of the sailing era. This led to the fact that when the East African Navy was first established, it had to use the antique warships of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, patching them up and continuing to use them.

Subsequently, in the 1970s, East Africa introduced a large number of personnel, technologies, and equipment from Europe, and East Africa’s modern shipbuilding industry began to start.

Therefore, even if East Africa tried its best, it would be impossible to reach the same level as European countries in a short period of time. What’s more, at that time, East Africa’s investment was mainly in the development of the inland. Except for the military shipbuilding industry, the civilian shipbuilding industry did not receive much attention at all. Of course, for an emerging country like East Africa, the development of East Africa’s civilian shipbuilding industry is also very prominent in the world.

But this achievement is based on the huge volume that East Africa has gradually accumulated. This is the case in all walks of life in East Africa. As East Africa’s territory exceeds ten million square kilometers, the population exceeds seventy million, and a large number of cities and rural areas rise, the government’s tax revenue rises sharply. Under the blessing of these factors, even industries that East Africa did not pay attention to at the beginning have achieved leapfrog development.

The most typical example is the textile industry. East Africa’s textile industry is completely supported by the vast population market, and the textile industry has not been the focus of industrial investment in East Africa before. The civilian shipbuilding industry is also the same, and it is positively correlated with the scale of East African immigration and trade.

Therefore, East Africa’s shipbuilding industry started late and developed rapidly, but there is still a long way to go to surpass the European average level, but the overall trend has been upward.

Compared with the 1840s and 1850s, the shipbuilding industry in the United States has undoubtedly declined. This is also easy to understand. How brilliant the United States was in the sailing era, which also means that it is more difficult for it to transform in the new era of the shipbuilding industry.

Moreover, the shipbuilding industry is a high-investment industry, and it takes a long time to see results, which is not cost-effective for American businessmen. It is better to invest in industries that are quick to see results and require less investment. After all, the American government’s intervention in the market is weak. Of course, the American government is not completely useless.

In fact, with the rise of free trade advocacy in the United States, the United States’ emphasis on the navy has further increased. In the future, the military shipbuilding industry in the United States will enter a stage of rapid development, which is almost in line with the current expansion of the United States Navy.

After all, in 1890, the United States had already surpassed Britain in terms of total industrial output value. Therefore, the change in the situation prompted the United States to make efforts in the navy. After all, at this time, the United States had a product advantage over other countries, and it needed naval power to ensure its interests in the commodity market.

At the same time, the monopoly position of traditional colonial powers such as Britain and France must also be broken through military competition. Although the United States does not have the guts, it is always preparing.

Of course, these are not important to Ernst. For Ernst, East Africa’s shipbuilding industry certainly cannot follow the path of the United States. It is understandable to attach importance to the military shipbuilding industry, but the civilian shipbuilding industry is equally important. Without the civilian shipbuilding industry to support it, the military shipbuilding industry will not go far either. After all, the military shipbuilding industry can hardly directly generate economic value.

The long-term investment to support East Africa’s shipbuilding industry naturally cannot rely on private capital. Only the continuous support of the East African government can ensure a steady stream of resources.

Chapter 926: Farm-to-Market Road

Dodoma City, Loringen Town.

“To just bulldoze perfectly good farmland like this, it’s a real waste! In the Far East, they’d spit on you for doing this!”

Old East African farmer Wang Weimo watched as the land he had painstakingly cultivated for decades was leveled by everyone working together, and he couldn’t help but lament from the sidelines.

“Dad, you can’t cling to those old ideas. East Africa is different from other places; we just have a lot of land. I heard that the second-largest country in the world is East Africa now. This little bit of land is nothing to East Africa,” Wang Weimo’s eldest son, Wang Lun, advised from the side.

“What do you know, you little rascal? You don’t care about wasting your grandfather’s fields. Back when I was in the Far East… your grandparents, while they didn’t exactly starve to death, it was close. Just because we have more crops now doesn’t mean we can just squander things! Second-largest country in the world or not, that doesn’t diminish the value of this land,” Wang Weimo said, disappointed in his son.

This made Wang Lun numb. He couldn’t stand his father bringing up his life in the Far East. Although his old man’s days in the Far Eastern Empire were indeed hard, Wang Lun and the new generation of East Africans hadn’t experienced it, so those “hard” days were like fairy tales to Wang Lun.

Of course, when he was a child, Wang Lun might have liked listening to his father’s stories about life and legendary experiences in the Far East, but even the most captivating stories get old after hearing them for over a decade, especially when they’re mixed with lectures.

“Alright, Dad, you must be tired of talking! Have a sip of water. It’s not that I don’t understand or don’t cherish the farmland. I know it’s a pity to destroy it, but our country needs to develop, so we have to adopt new technologies and new ideas. This farm-to-market road is a must. Think about it, how could those small field ridges ever support a big thing like a tractor? It would probably collapse if it drove over them.”

Wang Weimo glanced at the “iron lump” in the distance and said with disdain, “That tractor, isn’t it supposed to plow the fields? I don’t think it’s as useful as an ox. It broke down less than a week after it arrived, and they took it apart and fiddled with it for a long time before they fixed it. It’s not durable at all.”

Wang Lun reassured him, “It’s not the same. Technology will improve. In the past, domestic tractors would break down every half a day, and you’d spend the whole day repairing them. Then it developed to breaking down every two or three days, and now it’s every one or two weeks. This kind of progress is obvious. Maybe in the future, it won’t even break down for months or even years.”

Since the popularization of tractors began in Mozambique, the performance of East African tractors has greatly improved. With this as a premise, the East African government began to promote tractors in other agricultural areas.

“That’s still unreliable now. There aren’t even a few people in our town who have seen a tractor before. It was only when people from the city came that they managed to fix that pile of scrap metal,” Wang Weimo said dismissively to his son’s explanation.

“Hey, everything takes time. Didn’t you say electricity was useless when our town got it a few years ago? Now you love it. Machines replacing animal power is the general trend. It’s just that I was born a few years too early, or I would have gone to school too. Look how smart our younger siblings are. They can figure out this electricity stuff right away. This tractor is the same. There aren’t many people who understand it now, but there will be more in the future.”

These words struck a chord with Wang Weimo. Thanks to the East African compulsory education system, a large number of “new youths” were born in East Africa. Unlike their parents’ generation, they all had a certain level of education and vision.

Of course, Wang Weimo’s eldest son, Wang Lun, didn’t catch this wave because he was born in the Far East and was already six years old when he first came to East Africa.

At the time in East Africa, six years old wasn’t considered old. The first batch of people to receive compulsory education, because East African immigrants hadn’t had time to give birth yet, and there were few children of school age, so even twelve- or thirteen-year-old elementary school students were not uncommon.

But in Wang Lun’s time, East African compulsory education had just begun, so it was only promoted in towns and cities at first. Unfortunately, the town of Loringen where Wang Lun lived hadn’t developed yet and couldn’t even be considered a village; it could only be called a colonial outpost.

So at that time, there wasn’t even an elementary school in the Loringen outpost, and Wang Lun naturally had no chance to receive an education.

But this opportunity was seized by his younger siblings. After coming to East Africa, Wang Weimo and the other previously malnourished adult men regained their vitality and were able to have and raise children, so Wang Lun had four more younger brothers. Originally, there should have been six, but two had already died young.

In fact, according to his father, he had an older brother, but he died shortly after birth in the Far East.

Now his brother’s remains are still in the Far East, which is a regret in his parents’ hearts. Dying young was already considered unlucky, and now that the family has immigrated to East Africa, thousands of miles away, it’s even more pitiful. But that’s just how things are, and they can only sigh helplessly.

“You’re right, kid. I’m old and useless, can’t keep up with the times!” Wang Weimo sighed.

“Dad, what are you talking about? You’re the town’s treasure, a perennial evergreen,” Wang Lun persuaded.

Wang Weimo was actually only fifty-three years old, but in a country like East Africa, he was considered relatively long-lived among ordinary people. People like East African King Constantine, who was nearly a hundred years old, were the truly rare evergreens.

Even if Wang Weimo felt it was a pity, the reforms in East Africa’s rural areas would not change, because the development of tractors and automobiles meant that many farmland roads were clearly no longer adapted to the new changes of the times.

Therefore, the farmland roads in Loringen Town also needed to be improved. It was not too far from Dodoma City, so it was also a pilot area for East Africa’s high-standard farmland construction.

With the development of the times, East Africa’s high-standard farmland has also been updated to the second generation. The main work involves three aspects: First, the consolidation of farmland to adapt to mechanized operations; second, the technological upgrading of irrigation canals, mainly replacing windmills and other means of lifting water with new technologies such as water pumps; and third, the construction of farm-to-market roads to facilitate the operation of large machinery in farmland, which is nothing more than strengthening and widening the agricultural roads.

This is also the reason why Loringen Town is backfilling some farmland. In the past, there was no problem with people and cattle or horses walking on the agricultural roads, but it wouldn’t work with heavier tractors and automobiles.

In addition, the second generation of East African high-standard farmland should also have supporting measures such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides, but these are currently East Africa’s shortcomings, so it mainly relies on farm manure or imported fertilizers and pesticides.

Of course, East Africa is not completely dependent on imports. In some developed domestic cities and coastal cities, areas with a certain industrial base can still be given priority.

For example, Dodoma, the city above Loringen Town, has small-scale chemical enterprises, but its output can currently only meet the needs of areas around the city. Although Loringen Town is close to Dodoma City, it is not a suburb, so it will not be allocated relevant pesticide and fertilizer quotas.

…

First City.

Minister of Agriculture Gelveston was reporting on the national agricultural improvement in East Africa. In order to facilitate management and promote mechanized farming, the Ministry of Agriculture divided the country into zones.

Gelveston: “East Africa has now formed nine major agricultural zones and several small agricultural zones. The nine major agricultural zones are the Eastern Coastal Plain Zone (including northern Mozambique, Kenya, and the Tanzanian coast), the East African Plateau Zone (east of Lake Tanganyika), the Great Lakes Zone (also mainly distributed on the East African Plateau), the Two Rivers Zone (the Shebelle River and Juba River basins), the Central Plateau Zone (mainly on the Katanga Plateau and Matabeleland Plateau), the Mozambique Region (South Mozambique Plain), the Lake Malawi Zone, the Angola Region, and the South African Plateau Zone.”

“In addition to these nine major agricultural zones, areas such as the Azande Plateau, the Nile Basin, the Congo Rainforest, and Southwest Africa have not yet formed large-scale agricultural areas due to various limitations.”

“Among the nine major agricultural zones, the Central Plateau Zone and the Mozambique Region are developing the most rapidly and have the potential to surpass the Great Lakes Zone.”

Chapter 927: A Grand Initiative for Higher Education

There was a reason why Göringstein singled out the Central Agricultural Zone and the Mozambique region for discussion.

In East Africa, rainfall is the most significant factor influencing agricultural distribution. Except for the Mesopotamian region (Somalia), the other eight major agricultural zones generally receive over four hundred millimeters of rainfall. Mozambique and the Central Agricultural Zone receive between six hundred and one thousand five hundred millimeters, beyond which lies true tropical rainforest climate.

Generally, tropical rainforest climates experience annual rainfall exceeding two thousand millimeters. The Congo rainforest in East Africa is an exception, with rainfall typically between one thousand five hundred and two thousand millimeters. In specific situations and regions, it might exceed three thousand millimeters. The Amazon rainforest, for example, generally maintains a stable rainfall level above two thousand millimeters in most areas.

Rainfall above four hundred millimeters is suitable for developing agriculture, while above eight hundred millimeters is considered a humid zone. Therefore, the areas in East Africa with annual rainfall reaching eight hundred millimeters or more, excluding tropical rainforest areas, largely overlap with the distribution of population and economic activity.

The Katanga Plateau and the Great Lakes region are humid areas adjacent to the tropical rainforests, making them ideal for agriculture. Although the Mozambique region is far from the tropical rainforests, it benefits from abundant rainfall due to terrain and other factors.

Of course, the Mesopotamian region is a special case among the nine major agricultural zones. Somalia’s inclusion is entirely due to its developed commercial agriculture, its proximity to European and Asian markets, and the excellent quality of its agricultural products, with cotton and melons being the primary exports.

“Dividing the country into these nine major agricultural zones essentially means that East African agricultural policy will favor these areas. The focus will be on vigorously promoting mechanized farming methods in these regions, coordinating and managing them uniformly according to their respective agricultural characteristics.”

“Similarly, industrial support facilities such as fertilizer plants, agricultural machinery, pesticide factories, and repair shops will be strategically located in these areas to ensure our food security, improve production efficiency, reduce production costs, and promote the modernization of our agriculture and related technological advancements.”

This was the real intention; the fundamental reason for East Africa’s agricultural reform was to stimulate the development of related industries, especially chemicals, machinery manufacturing, automobiles, tractors, and petrochemicals.

The goal was to allow these emerging industries to take root, grow, and flourish in East Africa alongside agricultural reform. While East Africa is not currently behind the times in these fields, it needs sustained effort and accumulation of time and policy to solidify its position.

Ernst stated, “Industry and agriculture are inseparable, especially in East Africa, a major agricultural country undergoing transformation. Undoubtedly, East Africa is still a backward agricultural nation, and becoming a world power with a preliminary level of industrialization is our goal for the coming decades.”

“Although we have made some undeniable achievements in industrial development, we still have a long way to go compared to Western countries.”

“In strong Western countries, urbanization has exceeded forty percent in many cities. In Britain, it has surpassed seventy percent, approaching eighty percent. Germany has reached around fifty percent, and the average level across Europe, excluding Tsarist Russia, is about thirty percent.”

“According to our data from the past twenty years, East Africa’s urbanization level has declined from around twenty percent in the early nineteen eighties to about seventeen percent in the early nineteen nineties. Therefore, East Africa’s industrialization process has a long and arduous journey ahead.”

The reason for the regression in East Africa’s urbanization level is not the slow pace of industrial development, but rather the rapid growth of East Africa’s population, which has slowed down the industrialization process.

Of course, the previous level of twenty percent was also related to East Africa’s outstanding performance during the world economic crisis in the nineteen seventies.

Moreover, East Africa’s total population in the nineteen seventies was far smaller than in the nineteen nineties. Therefore, the seventeen percent in the nineteen nineties represents a far larger industrial volume than the twenty percent in the nineteen eighties.

The South African War was a significant turning point. Before that, East Africa was burdened by factors such as developing its military industry, building its army, and ensuring national security, in addition to developing its own economy and expanding its territory.

After the South African War, the East African government’s focus shifted entirely to economic construction. Except for overseas territorial expansion, East Africa’s mainland territory was basically formed, and with the end of the South African War, East Africa’s external threats had been eliminated.

Therefore, in the nineteen nineties, East Africa’s focus was on catching up with developed countries such as Europe and the United States. Of course, catching up within ten years was a pipe dream, but narrowing the gap was Ernst’s main concern.

“By the end of this century, East Africa’s urbanization level should break through twenty percent again. At the same time, we will continue to exert efforts in various basic industrial fields, build a relatively complete industrial system, maintain East Africa’s leading position in emerging industries such as electricity and automobiles, and strengthen industries such as oil and chemicals. We will also focus on traditional industrial fields such as shipbuilding, steel, railways, and textiles.”

“In the field of education, over the next three years, our country will build at least one hundred higher education institutions according to administrative divisions, becoming a new world academic and educational center.”

Higher education has always been East Africa’s weakness, but the conditions for East Africa to build its own higher education system are now ripe. First, after decades of development, East Africa has accumulated a relatively sufficient number of highly skilled personnel.

Second, after the administrative divisions are adjusted, East Africa will have a batch of new provincial capitals and cities, and educational resources will naturally be established along with the development of these new cities.

According to Ernst’s idea, each province should build at least three higher education institutions, prioritizing agriculture, industry, and medicine. At the same time, teacher training should also establish a batch of higher normal colleges.

In this way, East Africa’s forty-five provincial administrative regions, plus several key cities, and East Africa’s new capital, Rhine City, will not be enough without the establishment of hundreds of new higher education institutions.

This will be a leapfrog development for East African higher education. As of eighteen ninety-seven, East Africa only has forty-three formal universities, including higher vocational colleges, which are concentrated in the central and eastern regions. The eastern region alone has twenty-six. Below that are only technical schools with quasi-higher education levels. These technical schools are between vocational colleges and East African practical secondary schools in terms of level and are not considered regular higher education institutions.

However, these “diploma mill” technical schools have also played a significant role in East Africa’s talent cultivation, especially in the training of basic technical workers. The most famous of these is the Mbeya City Electrical Technology School.

This also shows the hard work East Africa has put into the field of electricity. Among East African universities, the East African National Electric Power University enjoys the most favorable resources and the highest level. The construction of related institutions is also the most complete, which is an important reason why East Africa’s electric power industry has firmly held the world’s top position.

East Africa’s higher education resources are not only scarce but also unevenly distributed. Of course, the uneven regional distribution cannot be blamed on the East African government, after all, East Africa’s territorial expansion has been too rapid.

Ernst continued, “Of course, in addition to the universities established according to administrative adjustments, the state will focus on building a batch of key disciplines and departments, covering industrial fields such as electricity, petroleum, chemicals, steel, textiles, automobiles, and shipbuilding. At the same time, medical, military, and theoretical fields must also be supplemented, serving as the vanguard and pioneer of our country’s future technological development.”

If international students are included, the number of university students in East Africa is actually not less than that of other countries. After this meeting, East Africa’s higher education will surpass other countries in terms of scale.

Of course, the cost of doing so is that quality will certainly not be easy to improve. In reality, what East Africa lacks compared to other countries is not higher education talent, but top-notch scientific and technological talent, the kind of big shots who can promote technological progress on their own. Such people are never too many for any country.

Of course, it’s not that East Africa doesn’t have such big shots, it’s just that no country would complain about having too many of them.

Chapter 928: The Military Makes Way

Roggens: “This time, our city has boldly added five key schools in one go. They are the New Frankfurt City University of Science and Technology, the New Frankfurt City Institute of Light Industry, the New Frankfurt City Institute of Electrical Engineering, the New Frankfurt City Institute of Textile Industry, and the New Frankfurt City Automotive Engineering Institute.”

At the beginning of the education reform, New Frankfurt City was stunned by the central government’s generous offer. As a relatively young East African city, New Frankfurt City previously didn’t even have a single university. This time, four were added at once, which greatly excited Roggens, the mayor.

The reason it was four is that the fifth, the New Frankfurt City Automotive Engineering Institute, doesn’t fall under the category of higher education. However, its appearance on the list at least indicates that it’s a key school of the same type as the Mbeya City Electrical Technology School.

“In recent years, New Frankfurt City has developed at a good pace, but it lags far behind other cities of the same level in education. Now that the national policy is in place, this problem will be solved immediately. In terms of the number of institutions to be built, we can already squeeze into the forefront of East African cities,” Roggens said.

It should be noted that even if you combine Soga City and First Town City, the two places with the most concentrated higher education in East Africa, they only have ten universities. Mbeya City only has three universities, but its laboratories and research institutions are among the best in East Africa.

Of course, being able to secure such generous treatment is inseparable from New Frankfurt City’s own advantages. The most important point is that the city is the heart of the East African railway, making it convenient for students from all directions to study here.

The second influencing factor is the rise of Rhine City. As the future capital of East Africa, it will definitely have the most concentrated educational resources.

Because this time, Ernst doesn’t plan to create another specialized academic city like Soga City. Instead, Rhine City will directly serve as the center of East African education, scientific research, and academics.

However, as the capital of a country, it’s not best to concentrate all universities in Rhine City, especially some engineering majors, which are better placed in cities with corresponding industrial distribution.

New Frankfurt City will undertake some light industry projects, or educational resources corresponding to its advantageous industries.

First of all, the University of Science and Technology goes without saying. Although New Frankfurt City’s industry is inclined towards light industry, it doesn’t prevent it from being an important industrial city in East Africa.

New Frankfurt City is also one of the centers for electrical equipment manufacturing and automobile assembly in East Africa. At the same time, benefiting from its transportation hub status, New Frankfurt City is also the national cotton distribution center of East Africa, and it has come from behind in the textile industry, now second only to Nairobi and Bulawayo.

New Frankfurt City’s only disadvantage is its relatively scarce mineral resources, but to the north is the copper belt, to the south is East Africa’s industrial base, and to the east is Mbeya City, a research center. Its geographical location is quite ingenious.

Of course, compared to New Frankfurt City, other East African cities have also gained a lot in this education reform. According to the content of this education reform, every provincial capital in East Africa will have at least three higher education institutions within the next three years, and in addition to the provincial capitals, there are a bunch of key cities in East Africa that can all get a share of the pie.

The most eye-catching is undoubtedly the new capital of East Africa, Rhine City. The first batch of planned institutions is as high as twenty, and the types of universities are also the most complete in East Africa.

As everyone knows, East African education values humanities over science. So in the past, East African liberal arts higher education was basically non-existent. Of course, this doesn’t mean that East African science and engineering higher education is so good. At least before this education reform, East Africa’s higher education resources were extremely scarce. The previous forty-three universities were truly a case of too many wolves and not enough meat.

But this can’t be helped. East African education has been accumulating strength over time, and it has accumulated enough talent for higher education teaching through decades of continuous overseas students.

In the new round of education resource allocation, if New Frankfurt City is compared to the previous East African higher education, it is definitely dazzling. But with other regions and departments running higher education, it is not so prominent.

In addition to allocating educational resources according to cities and industries, this school-running trend actually also involves the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy… the Ministry of National Defense, etc.

At the same time, a batch of original quasi-higher education schools have also been upgraded, merged, and cut in this reform. Among them, Mbeya City Electrical Technology School has been upgraded to Mbeya City Electrical University. The merged schools are concentrated in the old industrial cities of East Africa. As for the ones that are cut, there are very few. In fact, cutting and merging echo each other. A more accurate term should be reorganization.

…

“This time, our Ministry of Education and other departments have listed a total of one hundred and seventy-two institutions, basically covering all industries, agriculture, and other fields.”

According to Ernst’s requirements, after detailed discussions and research, the East African government has determined the new landscape of East African higher education.

However, the number of one hundred and seventy-two universities still startled Ernst. After all, according to his original idea, it would be quite a lot if the number of higher education institutions in East Africa exceeded one hundred, but the list provided by the government obviously greatly exceeded expectations, and was close to two hundred.

Of course, after carefully reading the government plan, Ernst believes that this list is not only reasonable, but also cannot meet all the needs of East Africa. The demand for education from various departments and cities is relatively strong. If you look at the East African government departments and provincial-level administrative regions, one hundred and seventy-two universities seems like a lot, but it is actually not enough to distribute at all.

Of course, East Africa cannot become fat in one bite. Obviously, more than that would exceed the current capacity of the East African government. After all, East Africa’s education funding is limited.

East Africa’s investment in education has actually exceeded that of other countries in the same period. If this reform is carried out, it may even exceed the military expenditure of the army in 1890. After all, East Africa’s education has a wide coverage, including primary and secondary compulsory education. If you add universities, it will definitely be a heavy burden for the East African government.

Of course, the growth rate of the military expenditure of the East African Army is also not small now, especially after the formulation of the motorized strong army strategy. The East African Army is in a period of equipment replacement, but this process is relatively long and is estimated to be completed within the first decade of the next century.

Therefore, the East African government is now in a relatively short-of-money state. Industrial and agricultural construction, military construction, and education construction all require money, and it wishes it could split one Rhine Shield into two.

The fact that East Africa can currently support the construction of one hundred and seventy-two universities already fully demonstrates the superiority of the East African social system.

Of course, although one hundred and seventy-two universities is a lot, it includes the original forty-three universities in East Africa. So the number of newly established universities in East Africa should be one hundred and twenty-nine, and the higher education funding has directly quadrupled.

“Okay, let’s implement it according to this list! After all, education is a long-term investment. You may not see any benefits now, but you can’t ignore it. And now our external military pressure in East Africa is weak, so in the case of tight financial conditions, we can appropriately slow down the development of the army. There is no need to fully invest in mechanization transformation. After all, the speed of technological updates is not slow. The same is true for the navy. In a few years, there may be new warships that surpass the current battleships. So military reform should have some limits.”

Ernst’s words basically mean that the development of the army should make way for education. After all, the East African Army is not backward to begin with, and when the dreadnought era comes, these advanced warships are basically no different from scrap iron.

Furthermore, East Africa’s geographical location makes it difficult to be militarily threatened. So the dream of a strong army can be slowed down a bit, and more military spending can be given to support the development of East Africa’s science, technology, and culture in the future.

Chapter 929: The Navy’s Thoughts

With Ernst’s order issued, the East African Defense Force ultimately bore the brunt. The armored units, originally planned for experimentation before 1900, were delayed until the next century, effectively three years later.

For the army, the delay in armored units didn’t have a major impact, as the East African army was already on par with European and American armies.

Of course, in terms of sheer size, the East African army couldn’t compare to the major European and American powers. This was considering the combined strength of the army and navy. Although the East African Defense Force was confident it could take on ten American soldiers for every one of theirs, the American navy’s rapid expansion in recent years had widened the gap between them and the East African forces.

“Ernst, why is the navy’s funding being cut again? According to our original agreement, even if the navy doesn’t expand, I shouldn’t have to reduce its budget!”

Soon, Archduke Ferdinand stormed in to demand an explanation from his son-in-law. After the South African War, the navy entered a period of slow development. While the East African navy remained in the world’s top ten, other countries hadn’t been idle, frantically expanding their naval power.

East Africa was already an anomaly. Now, to cut the navy’s budget was simply unacceptable to Archduke Ferdinand.

“After the South African War ended in 1892, the British built the world’s first battleship with an all-steel hull – the Royal Sovereign. This is a time of naval transformation. How can you take funding away from the navy! I think it would be better to make the army contribute more. Let’s forget about that armored unit that’s still just a concept, and even reduce the number of rapid deployment troops.”

This was the main reason for Ferdinand’s anxiety. The Royal Sovereign, the British’s new generation of main battleships, had emerged as early as 1892.

This class of warship had a famous name in its past life: pre-dreadnought battleship. Of course, this name corresponded to the later dreadnoughts, and even more insane super-dreadnoughts.

The East African navy naturally followed suit, rushing to develop or import pre-dreadnoughts with other countries to fill their own navies. Currently, the East African navy’s first pre-dreadnought, the Sea Wolf, was nearing completion at the Bagamoyo shipyard.

As the head of the East African navy, Archduke Ferdinand naturally wanted to increase construction efforts on this basis, so that the East African navy would fully enter the battleship era in the future. However, Ernst’s budget cut came down hard on the navy.

“Father-in-law, don’t be anxious. I understand what you’re saying, and this budget cut isn’t just for the navy, it affects the army as well. As for reducing the army’s mobility troops, that’s impossible. The biggest feature of the army’s mobility troops is the use of automobiles to replace mules, horses, and other livestock. And the current development of the East African automobile industry cannot be separated from the support of military orders,” Ernst soothed.

Indeed, East Africa’s civilian automobile production was not low, but military orders were equally important. In its past life, the early development of the German automobile industry was inseparable from the support of the military.

“The automobile industry is indeed important, but our navy’s new warships are no worse, no, they are even more important. After all, East Africa’s main military pressure comes from the sea. Didn’t we just acquire Mindanao Island recently? Plus North Hawaiian Kingdom, and the coasts of Mozambique and Angola, the East African navy’s size is already insufficient. You still want to cut the navy’s budget, it simply doesn’t make sense!” Ferdinand said loudly.

The East African navy’s defense pressure was indeed significant from the perspective of East Africa’s territorial expansion. But since the South African War, no country had dared to provoke East Africa on its doorstep, unless the British returned. But the British clearly didn’t want another South African War, especially since only seven years had passed since the last one.

The British also had Germany and the United States expanding their navies like crazy, making it even less likely they would focus on messing with East Africa. So, not expanding the East African navy was actually a good thing.

After all, Germany and the United States were enough of a headache for the British. If East Africa intervened, it would only make the situation more chaotic.

Of course, as the main military branch, the navy certainly couldn’t be too weak, so Ernst said, “What you said makes sense. Now our East African-controlled waters extend all the way to the Pacific Ocean, and with the navy’s current size, we are indeed stretched thin. So, the navy’s new ship construction plan certainly can’t be delayed. Therefore, before 1905, we will add four battleship constructions. That should be enough.”

“Four is too few! At least seven or more are needed, otherwise the number of our battleships won’t even reach half of other countries,” Constantine said.

In fact, Ernst’s expectation was to build two or three before 1905, which would be sufficient. But East Africa was not a small country after all, and two or three would indeed be too shabby, so he reluctantly raised the number to four.

As for later, after 1906, dreadnoughts should appear without any surprises. At that time, it would be good to pile up the number of warships.

Of course, Constantine certainly didn’t know about these things. He only knew that pre-dreadnoughts were already powerful enough, and other countries’ big navy plans were too crazy. Even the small island nation of Japan in East Asia was ambitious. It would be too embarrassing if East Africa was surpassed by this small country in the future.

“Isn’t the navy currently focusing on equipping submarine units? So, battleships are indeed useful, but we also have other options. Anyway, in two or three years, when East Africa’s financial situation improves, I will definitely prioritize funding for the navy to develop ships.”

Ernst chose to stall, after all, the East African government’s expenses were too high right now. Once this period passed, he could naturally loosen the reins on the East African army again.

“Submarines are just turtles in the sea. They don’t have the momentum and deterrence of battleships, and the importance of deterrence to a great power’s navy is self-evident,” Ferdinand said.

Ernst didn’t see it that way. Compared to the current mainstream ironclad ships and battleships, submarines had enormous potential. Even in the twenty-first century, they were an important deterrent force for the navy. This was also why Ernst had started investing in East African submarine research as early as the 1870s.

Moreover, submarines were cheaper to build. This was also the main reason why Ernst wanted the navy to use submarines as a temporary substitute. Although the cost of submarines was relatively high now due to technology and other reasons, it was still not comparable to the gold-devouring battleships. The cost of one battleship was enough for the cost of twenty or thirty submarines.

“Don’t worry, Father-in-law. The country’s economy is currently difficult. If the economic situation improves in a while, then the navy’s opportunity will come. In the first decade of the 20th century, the scale of our East African navy will definitely undergo a major expansion,” Ernst gave Constantine a reassurance.

Of course, this reassurance was full of pitfalls, because Ernst didn’t specify a specific time. If history didn’t change, and World War One started at the same time, then East Africa would definitely have to start preparing before 1914.

So, after 1905, the East African army and navy had to prepare, because Ernst didn’t know if the war would start earlier or be delayed. After all, the shots in Sarajevo might disappear due to historical interference, right? Now that Rudolf kid was still alive and kicking!

The Archduke Ferdinand, who was assassinated in Austria-Hungary in his past life, didn’t even have the chance to become the empire’s heir now. So, the future was full of variables, and Ernst was also dancing on a tightrope, trying to maximize East Africa’s interests.

Chapter 930: Hansa Province

The financial difficulties in East Africa are essentially due to the abundance of projects and initiatives throughout the 1990s, requiring investment in all aspects. In this situation, the East African government must optimize financial investments to achieve comprehensive development in various fields.

Although military spending has been compressed, this is relative to other areas. According to the economic development of East Africa, military spending is still increasing, but at a slower pace. However, compared to other countries, East African military construction has made significant progress.

……

Maputo City.

After the administrative division adjustment, Maputo City was incorporated into Hansa Province, but the provincial capital of Hansa Province was still chosen to be New Hamburg Port City.

However, as one of East Africa’s excellent seaports, Hansa Province has high expectations for Maputo. In October of 1897, the Hansa Provincial Government decided to build Maputo into one of the province’s external economic windows.

Although New Hamburg Port City’s conditions are not bad and its resource endowment is excellent, New Hamburg Port City is not without its shortcomings. As one of the naval bases, New Hamburg Port City has higher confidentiality than ordinary coastal cities. In addition, the port area is small, so land resources are quite tight when used by both military and civilians.

Maputo City does not have such concerns. Maputo’s advantage lies in its excellent port conditions. Its northern part is the Plains Province, a new province with poorer economic conditions than Hansa Province. After all, Hansa Province has New Hamburg Port City, a major city with one of the highest economic levels in East Africa.

During the Portuguese colonial period, Maputo was also the economic and political center of the entire Mozambique. Xinxiang City, the capital of Plains Province, was originally just the Chokwe town under Maputo City during the Portuguese period. There was a significant gap between the two. Even if Xinxiang City now makes a comeback as the provincial capital, it is still difficult to compete with Maputo as an inland area with an underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.

“According to the documents from above, although our Maputo City is not the provincial capital, thanks to its excellent geographical location and the relatively excellent economic foundation in the Mozambique region, Maputo has been allocated a university, namely the Maputo Agricultural College. According to the document instructions, we will comprehensively utilize Maputo City’s agricultural foundation to build a regional agricultural powerhouse.”

Maputo also belongs to the southern plains of Mozambique. At the same time, because it is backed by the Drakensberg Mountains, it has abundant rainfall and multiple rivers flowing through the area, so the agricultural foundation is very good.

Although other areas of Hansa Province also have plains, the area is not as vast as the area surrounding Maputo City. In line with the development trend of agricultural mechanization, Maputo’s advantages are even more obvious.

“Our city has a large area of plains, many rivers and lakes, and a vast water area. The west has mountains and plateaus, and the east faces the sea directly. Therefore, the comprehensive conditions for agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery are obviously advantageous. This is also one of the important reasons why the Hansa Provincial Agricultural College is located in Maputo.”

“At the same time, according to the instructions of the provincial government, in addition to establishing a provincial key university, eighteen key industrial projects will be invested in our city in 1898, covering the two major fields of agriculture and industry, including the Maputo Woolen Mill, the Timber Processing Plant, real estate…”

The appearance of real estate on the project list is rather abrupt, but Mayor Hans Leighton quickly explained it.

“According to the provincial government’s opinion, our city, as an important commercial and trade port in the Southern Hemisphere, will vigorously develop the service industry, relieve the reception pressure on the provincial capital New Hamburg Port City, and build a batch of catering, hotels, taverns, ship repair yards, and other service-oriented real estate surrounding the service industry, mainly to provide services for ships and passengers docking in Hansa Province.”

In fact, this is following the path of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, but compared to the two cities, Maputo’s location is too remote.

Before the opening of the Suez Canal, Maputo may have been a must-pass for many ships, but after the opening of the Suez Canal, East African cities that are closer to the north in commercial trade are more likely to succeed. This is also the main reason why Mombasa can compete with Dar es Salaam under relatively weak comprehensive conditions.

Of course, Maputo’s approach is not wrong. After all, East African coastal trade is a big cake that these two cities cannot swallow alone. The development of New Hamburg Port City is the same.

Of course, the early development of New Hamburg Port City actually focused more on industry than on commercial trade. Its commercial trade activities were mainly carried out with Portuguese and British colonies, but now the two Portuguese colonies have been incorporated into East Africa, which has broken one leg of New Hamburg Port City’s foreign trade.

However, with the most developed industry in southern Africa, New Hamburg Port City can still stand out from the crowd, and domestic trade accounts for a large part of New Hamburg Port City’s trade.

For example, most of the mineral resources in the southern region are exported from New Hamburg Port City to resource-poor areas such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, especially coal and iron ore, which account for the majority.

At the same time, New Hamburg Port City’s industrial products are also exported to the inland, including Hechingen Province, Orange Province, and Baden Province. At the same time, relying on its seaport conditions, it can also export certain daily necessities to Southwest Africa.

As the southernmost seaport city in East Africa, New Hamburg Port City has actually formed a staggered development with Mombasa and Dar es Salaam in the north. The real threat to New Hamburg Port City’s position is actually the original Mozambican coastal cities, including the rapidly developing Beira.

Taking the two advantageous resources of iron ore and coal exported by New Hamburg Port City as an example, after the opening of the Beira Railway, the central Bohemia Province (formerly Matabeleland Province) can also transfer coal and iron ore from the province to coastal cities through Beira.

In this case, Hansa Province urgently needs new cities to ensure its economic position in southern East Africa, so building the twin-star city pattern of Maputo and New Hamburg Port City has become an important goal of Hansa Province.

There is a railway connection between New Hamburg Port City and Maputo, and communication is also convenient, so linked development can further consolidate the economic position of Hansa Province.

Of course, Hansa Province’s goal is actually to prevent being surpassed by the Zambezi River Province, whose capital is Beira. As for the Plains Province between the two, it has been positioned as an agricultural province, and its development has been restricted, so it is difficult to achieve anything in a short time.

Of course, it is still quite difficult for Hansa Province to compete with Beira. Behind Beira is East Africa’s largest heavy industry base. Although Matabeleland Province has been split and Bulawayo has been incorporated into Lorraine Province, the cities in Bohemia Province, led by Harare, have far surpassed New Hamburg Port City in terms of comprehensive economic strength.

Hans Leighton said: “During the Portuguese colonial period, Maputo left a certain industrial and agricultural foundation, but it has lagged far behind compared with East African cities. Therefore, if our city wants to become an important city in southern East Africa, we must re-integrate the resources in the city. At the same time, we will give full play to the influence left by the original Portuguese, transform and upgrade the port area resources, and provide more convenient and high-quality services for domestic and foreign ships.”

During the Portuguese rule, Maputo basically had no industry. There were only a few small factories, namely the most basic industries such as tobacco and timber processing. The biggest asset left by the Portuguese was actually a pile of handicraft workshops. These workshops were mainly to meet the needs of Maputo at that time. Self-sufficiency was possible, but there was no ability to expand. In addition, after Maputo fell into the hands of East Africa, a large number of local people returned to Portugal, and the already relatively prosperous handicraft industry also shrank.

These are what Hans Leighton wants to reuse. Currently, Maputo City can’t get many policy resources. After all, so many cities in East Africa are competing, and there are more monks than porridge. Even the resources that can be won are limited.

Therefore, according to Hans Leighton’s idea, the original handicraft industry in Maputo City will be re-integrated. Although it is not as efficient as large-scale factories, it is enough to support Maputo’s early development. Moreover, many handicrafts cannot be industrialized for the time being, so Hans Leighton believes that there is a lot of room for maneuver.

Chapter 931: Hans Leighton’s Reforms

November, 897.

Mayor Hans Leighton convened a meeting of leaders from several state-owned factories and dozens of workshop administrators with decent strength in the city.

Although many workshops were not large, they were still part of the state-owned capital in a country like East Africa. Apart from a few large state-owned factories, these small workshops were actually enterprises directly led by Maputo City. In other words, state-owned factories were state-owned enterprises, and these handicraft workshops were municipal enterprises, but they were essentially the same. It was just that state-owned enterprises did not necessarily have to completely dance to the tune of Maputo City. They were also connected to provincial and even central departments.

“Mayor Hans Leighton, I wonder why you’ve called us, the main factory directors and management of Maputo City, here?” The director of the Maputo City Power Plant was the first to ask.

“Ahem, the main purpose of calling everyone to this meeting is to hope that everyone will cooperate sincerely and make their own contributions to the development of Maputo City. After all, everyone knows that our Maputo City is poor! If we don’t unite, Maputo City’s competition with other cities will only be in a disadvantageous situation, which is not good news for any of us.”

“Of course we know this, but if the country doesn’t give us resources and quotas, we can’t expand our scale. After all, Maputo City is so big, and there are so many citizens. It’s impossible to produce more electricity and waste it, right!” said the director of the Maputo City Power Plant.

“That’s right. The reason why we were able to build factories was due to the promotion of national policies. Things like electricity, tap water, and timber all have fixed quotas.”

Under Portuguese rule, Maputo had no electricity or tap water at all. These things were newly established under East African rule. After all, developing the electricity industry and promoting the quality of urban life, industries related to people’s livelihoods, were standard equipment for every city.

Hans Leighton tapped the table and said, “Of course I understand your difficulties, but opportunities don’t come from waiting, but should be sought and grasped by ourselves. This is also an important part of our meeting, which is to change the ideological concept of the city’s economic development.”

“As we all know, although there are many rules and regulations for economic development in East Africa, it is not without room for maneuver. Why are the economies of coastal cities like Dar es Salaam and Mombasa so prosperous? In addition to geographical and policy advantages, subjective initiative is also important. Therefore, Maputo City must also learn to find opportunities on its own, so as to break the economic shackles and surpass other cities.”

Someone retorted, “Mr. Mayor, what you said makes sense, but we don’t have enough connections and resources to achieve it! If we have to increase production capacity, it’s simple, but how can we solve the problem of product sales?”

Hans Leighton: “That’s a good point. This is indeed a problem for inland areas, but Maputo City is after all coastal, so it is different from the situation in inland cities. As the window of East Africa’s economy, coastal cities have the opportunity to communicate with the outside world, so this time the municipal government has specially invited a group of professionals to help you get out of trouble.”

Then, at Hans Leighton’s signal, the secretary invited a group of people in suits and leather shoes into the conference room.

“This is Mr. Wilco, the director of the Maputo branch of Hechingen Foreign Economic and Trade Company, who is mainly responsible for coordinating the export work of Hechingen Foreign Economic and Trade Company in this city.” Hans Leighton introduced to everyone.

“This is Mr. Grewell from Portugal, who used to do import business in Mozambique for many years.”

“…”

Under Hans Leighton’s introduction, everyone in the conference room knew that these were the “reinforcements” that Hans Leighton and the Maputo government had brought in.

“The reason why I invited these business elites here is very simple, that is, the Maputo Municipal Government intends to cooperate with you. Our government will complete the matchmaking, so as to help you find sales channels and markets. Similarly, it can also solve the problem of raw materials, and our Maputo City enterprises are responsible for production and completing orders.”

Most of the businessmen Hans Leighton invited were Portuguese. After all, as a former Portuguese colony, Maputo City had the most in-depth cooperation with the Portuguese.

This was very different from Beira City. Under the matchmaking of the central government, Beira and other cities attracted a large amount of investment from German businessmen, but Maputo did not catch up with this train.

So Hans Leighton turned his attention to the Portuguese. Don’t look at the fact that Portugal’s local economy is a mess, mainly because of the government’s reckless actions, but the strength of Portuguese businessmen is not weak. After all, during the former Portuguese colonial empire, Portuguese commercial activities were all over the world.

Now the Portuguese folk business community is also much bigger than one would think. What’s more, colonial independence does not necessarily get rid of the influence of the original suzerain state.

Among them, the most typical is Brazil. The commercial groups in Brazil have a very deep relationship with Portugal, and Brazil is undoubtedly a big market, so if the Brazilian market can be opened with the help of the Portuguese, it will definitely be of great help to Maputo City.

Hans Leighton said: “I plan to establish a special economic office in this city. In order to promote the economic development of Maputo City, the office is responsible for negotiating with domestic and foreign enterprises and businessmen, and then carrying out unplanned production activities through Maputo City’s enterprises.”

“Of course, the premise is to give priority to completing the planned production tasks. On this basis, we will join the international market competition and promote the industrial and commercial development of Maputo City.”

Hans Leighton creatively proposed the concept of “planned” and “unplanned”. Of course, many management of large state-owned factories have doubts about this. After all, in their view, it is almost enough to complete the tasks assigned by their superiors, and there is no need to stir up trouble.

Of course, Hans Leighton never expected to command these “leaders of big factories”. If he can’t command you, Hans Leighton will always coordinate and manage other municipal enterprises.

He said to the leaders of the municipal enterprises: “The municipal enterprises are small in scale and have low production efficiency, so I decided to integrate the resources of the city’s municipal enterprises. For example, we have four timber factories in Maputo. After the integration, they will become one. At the same time, with the guarantee of the municipal government, we will borrow from Hechingen Bank, purchase a batch of advanced equipment, increase output, and expand the production line. Finally, Mr. Grewell and others will contact buyers to sell…”

In Hans Leighton’s view, these small workshops have a group of skilled workers, but lack financial and equipment support. Relying on them to fight alone will never develop and grow. Therefore, the municipal government should first integrate them into a large factory, and then improve tools and equipment, so that they can form a municipal enterprise with a decent scale, which is not inferior to ordinary large state-owned enterprises.

Moreover, the management rights of such enterprises are mainly in the hands of the municipal government, which makes it easier for him to manage the economy and optimize resources in Maputo City. Then, only by earning money can he further carry out all-round transformation of Maputo City.

After all, Hans Leighton could not be satisfied with staying in place in “Maputo City”, a city “abandoned” by East Africa. After all, according to the original status of Maputo in Mozambique and the development history of Maputo after its incorporation into East Africa, it is actually not very valued.

Cities such as Tete City, Beira City, Quelimane City in the north, and even Xinxiang City enjoy more policies than Maputo City, and the new round of development opportunities in Maputo City are still the result of provincial allocation.

Chapter 932: French and Spanish Ambassadors

Hans Leyton’s ideas were first reported to the Hansa Provincial Government of New Hamburg Port City, then to the central government, and finally to Ernst.

Sweiert, who had already taken office as the Director of the State Planning Commission, reported the plan of the Maputo City Government to Ernst and asked, “Your Highness, what attitude should we take towards the Maputo matter?”

Ernst said, “This matter is indeed very controversial. However, although Hans Leyton’s ideas do not conform to the understanding of most people in the East African environment, in my opinion, this is a good thing. Giving full play to the initiative of local governments on the basis of government plans is very meaningful.”

After a moment of contemplation, Ernst said, “We will not deal with this matter for the time being. Let’s see the effect first. When Hans Leyton’s term expires, we will look at the specific results. If the effect is good, we will expand the scope and implement it throughout the Hansa Province.”

Sweiert nodded and said, “Understood. Your Highness means to use Maputo City as an experimental field.”

“That’s right. East Africa has its own national conditions. East Africa is a complex country, and its economic structure is different from most countries in the world. Therefore, if we want stable and sustainable development, we must constantly try and make mistakes, and then correct the problems in our system. In the current environment, no country’s system is perfect. What we need is to grasp the balance according to the times.”

Ernst said these words not only to Sweiert, but also to himself. As the actual ruler of East Africa, the Hohenzollern royal family cannot abandon the monarchy. However, East Africa cannot completely govern the country according to the autocratic monarchy system. Otherwise, the royal family will inevitably be liquidated in the future. Therefore, balancing the royal family and the East African system is also an important goal for Ernst.

The world is either black or white, but no one can clearly distinguish between black and white. It can only be said that there is white in black and black in white. Only by mastering the essence of “muddling through” can the East African royal family survive.

In fact, what Ernst is considering is the future ideological issue of East Africa. This ideology cannot be extreme. After all, in their view, monarchs are dispensable. Since this is the case, it is better to muddy the waters so that everyone is indistinguishable in the dark.

…

February 17, 1898.

While East Africa was busy with economic transformation, the world situation was not peaceful. The East African government, which originally thought that there would be no major intersection with Spain after the purchase of the Mindanao Island incident, was unexpectedly drawn into the vortex by France today.

“French Ambassador to East Africa, Gelaide, and Spanish Ambassador to East Africa, William, request to meet with Your Highness.”

If it were just the French, Ernst would not know what France’s plan was this time. But with the addition of the Spanish, and this delicate time node, Ernst already had a plan in mind.

“Let them wait in the reception room for a moment!” Ernst instructed.

Before Ernst arrived, Gelaide and William were communicating.

“Ambassador William, this time the Americans are clearly deliberately creating disputes. We will definitely stand on your side regarding your country’s situation. However, among the world’s major powers, only we France cannot influence the attitude of the American government. The other countries are also relatively ambiguous, so we must try our best to win over allies so that Spain will not fall into a passive situation.”

William deeply agreed with Gelaide’s words. He complimented, “France has always been our best partner in Spain. We support France in the European order. However, the attitude of the East African government…”

Gelaide said, “There is no need to worry about this. As a monarchical country, as long as we convince the Hechengen royal family, then there will be no problem.”

In fact, William also understood this principle. Although Spain is also a monarchical country, the Spanish royal family obviously does not have the power of the Hechengen royal family. Moreover, his biggest concern is not actually the relationship between Spain and East Africa, but that he thinks the French are not reliable as spokesmen.

After all, he hasn’t seen France and East Africa have a very good relationship normally, and the Hechengen royal family belongs to the Hohenzollern family branch. Given the relationship between the German royal family and the Hechengen royal family…

Of course, William would not say what he was thinking, because Spain was really desperate this time, and only France could help Spain overcome the difficulties.

This is actually easy to understand. The current world situation is actually dominated by several great powers. In the situation where Japan has not yet fully developed, the undisputed great powers in the world at this stage are England, France, Russia, Germany, Austria, the United States, Spain, and East Africa. These eight countries basically dominate the changes in the international situation. As for Italy and Portugal in the previous life, they have been completely eliminated.

East Africa, as a great power, has joined the ranks of the great powers that can dominate the world situation, which is actually affected by the South African War. After the South African War, East Africa’s international status rapidly increased. In fact, under the praise and killing of the British, East Africa’s military strength is even above “Spain” and “Austria-Hungary.”

Spain, which has been reduced to the gatekeeper of the great powers, has no dispute about this. After all, they cannot achieve the fierce record of East Africa in the South African War. Not to mention England, even Portugal, a country that has been kicked out of the ranks of the great powers, is not easy to deal with. As neighbors on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain knows Portugal better.

In fact, if East Africa had not appeared, Portugal would not have ended so miserably. East Africa rose to power by stepping on Portugal. Now Spain is also facing the same situation, that is, the Americans also want to rise to power by stepping on Spain.

However, facing the United States’ aggressiveness, Spain lacks confidence. The United States Navy has surpassed the Spanish Navy after years of development.

Although the scale is not much different between the two, Spanish weapons are outdated, and the performance of many warships is no longer sufficient to compete with the up-and-coming United States Navy.

Of course, it is not impossible to win with weakness, just like the Battle of Lissa, where the Austro-Hungarian Navy was in this situation at the time, but it managed to turn the tables by relying on the quality of its personnel.

Spain naturally does not have such lofty ambitions. They only hope that their country can achieve the same record as the East African Navy in the South African naval battle, which was a draw with the British Royal Navy.

Of course, this does not represent the position of most people in Spain, because Spain does not want to go to war with the United States now. In fact, for decades, the United States has been the aggressive party, constantly provoking Spain, hoping to squeeze Spain’s influence out of the Caribbean.

It is still because of the location problem, just like the South African War. Why does East Africa have the confidence to go to war with two great powers at the same time? The main reason is that East Africa’s location determines that the two countries cannot deal with East Africa with all their strength.

The United States is playing the same game. The Spaniards simply cannot win against themselves at “America’s doorstep.” If a war breaks out between the two, the advantage will be on the side of the United States from the beginning.

The Spanish government is also clear about this, so they are afraid of war, which leads the Spanish government to place more hope on the international community to mediate the conflict between the two countries.

Now the Spanish government has only won over one supporter, which is the French government. However, no matter how resourceful the French government is, it is now impossible to directly intervene in the conflict between the United States and Spain. After all, the United States does not seem easy to provoke.

Of course, it would be best if the United States and Spain could avoid war because of this. Therefore, the French government needs to increase its bargaining chips. However, after testing the attitudes of various countries in Europe, the situation is very delicate. In this case, France turned its attention to the great powers outside Europe. Among the great powers outside Europe, there are only East Africa and the United States.

Chapter 933: French Leadership

As the main participant in this conflict, the United States would definitely not agree to French mediation. That’s why the French and Spanish ambassadors came together to First Town City to negotiate with East Africa.

Before long, Ernst arrived in the reception room with a smile. Although he had a rough idea in his mind, he still asked Gled and William, “I wonder what brings both of you ambassadors here to see me?”

“Your Highness Ernst! I presume you’ve heard about what happened the day before yesterday. The American cruiser, the Maine, was sunk for unknown reasons. Now the American government has pointed the finger at Spain. Therefore, our government hopes that East Africa and we can work together in this matter to maintain peace and stability in the international order.” This was Gled’s explanation.

The Maine incident, the fuse of the Spanish-American War in his previous life, occurred exactly as it did in the original timeline. Of course, on that very day, East Africa’s intelligence department had already sent the news back to East Africa. Therefore, Ernst not only knew about the Maine incident but also knew about it more quickly than other countries outside the region.

“That American warship, right! I heard it exploded in Cuba, but I don’t know the specifics yet. So its name was the Maine.” Ernst pretended to be ignorant.

“It is the Maine. The Americans are insisting that the Spanish government is responsible. Relations between the two countries are already very tense, so our country is very concerned about the regional peace situation,” Gled said.

Currently, the only country in the international community that can speak for Spain is France, because France is Spain’s main creditor. At the same time, due to historical and economic relations between the two countries, their interests are deeply intertwined. For example, many French-made warships are currently in service in the Spanish navy.

In fact, after Spain’s decline, with the arrival of the 19th-century era of steel warships, the first ironclad ship Spain introduced was built by France.

After the Franco-Prussian War, Spain was also an important investment area for France’s large surplus capital, and East Africa was the same. Especially after East Africa and France mutually “yielded” territory to each other, the economic relationship between the two countries became even closer. This was all part of the initial deal, so the relationship between East Africa and France was also good. This is why the French government sent Gled to probe East Africa’s attitude.

As for the relationship between the Black Herington royal family and the Prussian royal family, it is not worth mentioning at all. After all, East Africa allied with Austria, but not with Prussia, which had a closer relationship. This is enough to illustrate the problem. In the eyes of the French government, this is part of East Africa’s policy of maintaining national independence.

Especially after the two countries had contact during the last territorial negotiation, the French government became even more certain of its ideas. Therefore, international communication is still very important and can break some misunderstandings.

At least France proved one point: East Africa has its own national interests and is not like the Romanian royal family, a mere echo of Germany. This is worth France’s effort to win over. After all, if Germany, Austria, and East Africa were to form an alliance, the world pattern would probably change completely.

This is precisely East Africa’s concern. Getting too close to Germany and Austria would easily make them the target of the entire world. Two major camps might form instantly.

Therefore, after the South African War, East Africa became a “scumbag” who only talked about money and not feelings. Moreover, East Africa was not afraid of offending Germany, because Germany needed East Africa, not the other way around.

The reason why France can become East Africa’s third-largest creditor is also because of this. Now French capital is also part of the economic introduction of East Africa’s coastal cities.

Of course, East Africa welcomes all comers. Not to mention France, a country with a delicate relationship with East Africa, even Britain and Portugal, who were fighting to the death last time, are welcome to invest in East Africa.

Therefore, regarding what Gled said, Ernst said, “East Africa and France are important economic partners, and the two countries have common interests. However, we are afraid it will be difficult for us to intervene in the Maine incident. We can only provide some support to Spain. After all, as a country that loves peace, we in East Africa do not want regional peace and stability to be undermined.”

Gled: “That’s probably not enough. After all, the Maine incident is full of conspiracies…”

William also interjected, “We Spaniards are completely innocent. This matter was completely premeditated by the American government…”

William, an ambassador of a great power, actually started pleading with East Africa, which made Ernst feel a little emotional. Regarding what he said about the American government’s premeditation.

If it were his previous life, the cause of the Maine explosion might be questionable. Now Ernst can say with certainty that this is a script “directed and acted” by the United States. After all, Ernst has completely deviated from history, and the time of the Maine incident can still accurately coincide with his previous life. This obviously cannot be explained by “accident.” Even the time of the Sino-Japanese War has undergone major changes due to East Africa’s influence, advancing the time. This was already set in Japan’s invasion plan, the “Tanaka Memorial.”

Therefore, according to Japan’s national policy, the Sino-Japanese War will inevitably break out in the order of first Korea and then the Far East. However, the Maine explosion, a small probability event, is completely different.

Coupled with Ernst’s experience in his previous life, he is even more convinced of his judgment. After all, the United States is experienced in this regard, the most famous of which is the “Iraq” washing powder incident.

“Whether it’s an accident or a conspiracy, the American government’s attitude is probably not easy to change. After all, the development of the American navy in recent years shows the ambition of the American government. If your two countries go to war, you will face the most severe test. Not only Cuba, but even other Spanish colonies, and even the Philippines in Asia, may be the target of the Americans.”

Ernst is reminding the Spanish government here. As for whether Spain can prevent the American sneak attack on the Philippines in the end, that is not Ernst’s consideration.

However, Ernst’s attitude still moved William very much. At least East Africa’s attitude on this matter is biased towards Spain.

This is certain. Not to mention the relationship between the two royal families, just relying on the favor of Spain selling Mindanao to East Africa, East Africa’s attitude towards Spain will not be bad.

Ernst continued, “Regarding the conflict between the United States and Spain, East Africa’s attitude is the same as France’s. Ambassador Gled, I wonder if your France has any specific plans.”

The work of offending people must not be done by East Africa. As the second strongest country in the world and the second strongest country in Europe, it is natural for France to take the lead. East Africa is responsible for standing with France. Even if France wants to help Spain attack the United States, East Africa dares to help out.

Of course, France will definitely not do this. After all, France’s primary concern is still Germany. It is completely impossible to completely offend the United States for Spain.

Therefore, France’s ultimate means must be to “muddle through,” which is also Spain’s only choice. Now, apart from France and East Africa, which is “idle” and focused on economic development, no other country supports Spain.

Britain and Russia are pursuing a policy of appeasement towards the United States because of the conflict of interests in the Far East. Germany, as a late-developing country, hopes that the United States will disrupt the original world colonial system and take a share of the pie. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is even more needless to say. If it is the Mediterranean region, it may be able to speak, but the Asia-Pacific and Caribbean regions are too difficult.

Therefore, under such circumstances, France is Spain’s only choice. As for East Africa, it is just making soy sauce. However, if France can persuade East Africa to support its position, France’s room for maneuver will be greater.

Britain and France are in a unique position among the great powers, especially in terms of international influence. If France’s attitude is tough, perhaps, it should… it is also impossible to stop the United States’ actions, but it can still help Spain reduce some losses.

Chapter 934: Two-Step Communication

However, East Africa couldn’t just sit and watch. The arrival of Glaid and William gave Ernst an opportunity. But to maximize the benefits, he still needed to talk to France and Spain separately.

In Ernst’s view, Spain was doomed this time. The United States was at a critical stage of transitioning to imperialism, so no one could save Spain.

However, if he could collude with countries like France to reduce Spain’s losses, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, that would be very important.

On one hand, East Africa was also setting up shop in Southeast Asia. At this time, almost all powerful countries except Austria-Hungary were investing in Southeast Asia. Among them, Britain, France, Germany, and East Africa were the most aggressive. The United States joining the competition in Southeast Asia was undoubtedly bad for everyone. After all, the pie was only so big, and now a big eater had arrived. Everyone was worried that their “share” would be eaten.

Besides the United States, Japan was the most active in Southeast Asia in its previous life. However, Japan was overwhelmed with debt repayment, so it missed out on this feast. But Ernst believed that Japan would repeat its mistakes in the future, because a leopard can’t change its spots.

In Ernst’s view, although Britain and France were in a dominant ecological niche in the Southeast Asian region, their threat was far less than that of Japan and the United States.

After all, Britain and France were preoccupied with Europe, and withdrawing from the Southeast Asian region was only a matter of time. But Japan and the United States were different. They were not only close, but also less susceptible to external interference.

East Africa was actually the same. East Africa occupied forty-three percent of Africa’s land. The northern part of its territory was the Sahara Desert. Although West Africa had great potential, it had already been carved up by the great powers. Therefore, there was no force in Africa that could threaten East Africa.

On the other hand, keeping Spain in Southeast Asia could further muddy the waters. East Africa currently did not have the ability to throw its weight around in the Southeast Asian region. Although East Africa had three colonies, they were insignificant in the Southeast Asian region.

Not to mention Britain and France, which ranked ahead of East Africa, even the Netherlands and Spain were difficult for East Africa to handle. If the United States joined in, it would be even more difficult for East Africa to manipulate the situation in Southeast Asia in the future.

Moreover, East Africa and the United States were actually following the same path: hiding their capabilities and biding their time, then seizing the opportunity to rise to power and take over world hegemony. More importantly, there was a lot of overlap in the geographical competition between the two sides.

For example, the United States regarded Latin America as its backyard, but East Africa also harbored ambitions for South America. After all, from a geographical point of view, the reason why Europe was so indignant about the United States’ Monroe Doctrine was because the United States was in the Americas, making it difficult for Europe to intervene.

But East Africa was different. East Africa might not be able to reach the entire Latin American region, but narrowing it down to South America, the distance between East Africa and the United States was actually about the same.

Especially the countries on the east coast of South America, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, were only separated from East Africa by the South Atlantic Ocean.

Of course, with East Africa’s west coast economy not yet rising, East Africa temporarily did not have the ability to extend its influence to the above-mentioned areas. However, it was foreseeable that countries such as Brazil and Argentina would be a key area for the game between East Africa and the United States in the future.

As a two-ocean nation, the United States was based in the Americas, planned Europe in the east, and focused on the Asia-Pacific in the west. East Africa was based on the African continent, with the Southeast Asian region as the key focus in the east, including Australia. The west focused on South America.

Southeast Asia belonged to a part of the Asia-Pacific, and South America was a part of the Americas. This was the geopolitical situation between the two.

Of course, the United States’ position had advantages over Europe, while East Africa’s position had advantages over the Middle East and India. These were the differences.

Overall, the two countries had their own strengths and weaknesses, but they had a common goal, which was to make Britain, France, and other European countries fail as soon as possible, so that East Africa, the United States, and other emerging countries could re-divide the pie.

If nothing unexpected happened, there might be a new player in the international community in the future, the Soviet Union. However, Ernst did not have high hopes for the Soviet Union. Its sphere of influence could not escape the Eurasian continent at all, and it did not have the conditions for maritime competition.

…

“Ambassador Glaid, I wonder what France’s plans are for Spain? Ambassador William is not here this time, so I hope you can be frank with us in East Africa. Only in this way can our two countries act together.”

After dismissing Ambassador William, Ernst first communicated with the French separately. After all, the main force in determining this intervention was still the French. The French certainly could not go all out for the benefit of Spain.

Glaid frowned and said, “Your Highness, since you asked, I naturally won’t hide anything. Regarding the conflict between Spain and the United States this time, although we in France are willing to stand on Spain’s side, we may be pessimistic about Spain’s situation.”

Ernst deliberately asked, “Then how do you plan to resolve this conflict? The Americans won’t let it go easily!”

Glaid slowly opened his mouth and said, “From our perspective, we naturally want to minimize Spain’s losses after its defeat. Therefore, we need East Africa to speak up for us at that time to prevent the Americans from going too far.”

In his previous life, the Spanish-American War was ultimately mediated by France. Otherwise, the United States, as the victor, would not have obediently paid twenty million dollars to Spain.

Of course, France’s favor to Spain, in addition to debt issues, was mainly based on strategic considerations. As France’s hinterland, Spain must stand on France’s side.

For example, the spark for the Franco-Prussian War was the Spanish throne succession issue. If Spain was won over by Germany or Britain, France would be uncomfortable.

Now, France was thinking about revenge against Germany every day, so Spain, this basic foundation, naturally could not be lost. If something went wrong, Spain might give France a fatal blow in the competition between Germany and France. Therefore, the fundamental reason why France had always adopted a policy of appeasement towards Spain lay in this.

Ernst said, “I understand roughly. East Africa supports your country’s ideas. We will help France support Spain when necessary. Moreover, in my opinion, what we should be most worried about is not only the situation in the Caribbean region. Although the hotspot this time is in Cuba, the United States may not set its sights on Spain’s other colonies, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pacific has always been the focus of the United States’ strategy, and Spain has vast colonies and important strategic islands in the Pacific.”

“Therefore, this is also the focus that Spain should guard against. You must know that the United States has a geographical advantage in the Pacific, and the United States is strong, with developed industry and a large population. In this case, the United States can easily support battlefields in two directions, and many of Spain’s colonies are stuck at important strategic nodes in the Pacific, which undoubtedly is not conducive to the interests of various countries in the Asia-Pacific region.”

“Take Spain’s Philippine colony as an example. If the United States occupies this place, its next direction will definitely be to expand to the Indochina Peninsula. After all, the most essential area of Southeast Asia is in the Indochina Peninsula.”

Ernst continued to stir the pot for France. If you want to say which country has the greatest advantage in the Indochina Peninsula, it is undoubtedly France, which occupies Vietnam, Cambodia, and other places. The resources, ports, population, and arable land conditions are the best in the Indochina Peninsula. Ernst’s words may not have an effect, but he can continue to dig holes for the United States. Anyway, East Africa will not suffer.

Glaid did not react much to Ernst’s words. He said, “What you said makes some sense, but the United States may not reach out to the Philippines or other Spanish colonies in the Pacific while dealing with Cuba. Of course, I will report this to the government. The specific results are not up to us.”

For Glaid, France helping Spain was already the best it could do. As for Spain ceding territory, it was irrelevant to France, so Glaid didn’t care. Ernst, as an outsider, had no way to change that. However, if he couldn’t persuade France, he could still lobby Spain.

Chapter 935: Supporting Spain

As the saying goes, “It’s better to rely on yourself than to rely on others.” France can indeed dominate some of the post-war outcomes, but Spain still has to bear the brunt of the war itself. This will determine the key to the outcome of the Spanish-American War. If Spain breaks out and wins against the odds, it will not only interrupt America’s national fortune but also continue to maintain Spain’s international status. This is obviously not something Spain can do on its own.

The day after the conspiracy in East Africa, East Africa began to communicate with the Spanish government separately. In Ernst’s view, Spain had chosen too late. According to the original history, the war between Spain and the United States broke out in less than two months.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible for Spain to fully prepare for war. Therefore, East Africa had to find a way to help Spain so that the war could develop in the direction it expected. Of course, if Spain was useless, East Africa would treat it as an investment fed to the dogs, which would not be a big deal.

First Town City, Svet Palace.

“Ambassador William, East Africa has already obtained a lot of intelligence. Judging from the content of the intelligence, Spain’s situation is not very good. This time, the United States will definitely not give up. From the beginning, its ultimate goal was war. Therefore, you must not take it lightly. In my opinion, Spain should prepare for war immediately. Through communication with the French, I don’t think France, or our major powers in East Africa, can make the United States give up this opportunity for expansion by speaking well for Spain in the international community.”

When talking to William, Ernst did not test him like he did with Glaid yesterday. Instead, he directly put pressure on him so that the following content could attract William’s attention.

After hearing this, Ambassador William’s expression became serious. After all, Ernst’s words contained too much information. He frowned and tentatively asked, “I wonder if Your Highness has any intelligence that we Spaniards are unaware of?”

Ernst would naturally not reveal the intelligence agency of East Africa, which was an important trump card for East Africa to participate in international competition.

So, he said, “Actually, it’s just a summary of some conventional intelligence. I think your Spanish government is well aware of it, but it’s just hard to accept in your hearts.”

“The conflict between Spain and the United States has a long history, and the Cuban issue is the key. However, the issue I want to talk about has little to do with Cuba, but rather the recent problems in the Philippines. As we all know, the Philippines and Cuba are both encountering rebellion problems, and these problems broke out at the same time. Obviously, there are Americans behind them.”

“Moreover, domestic public opinion in the United States has completely turned to one side. Obviously, the United States government is intensifying the hostility of its own people towards Spain.”

“To put it bluntly, there is only one possibility for the United States to create such momentum, and that is to pave the way for war. Combined with the previous Maine incident, it is clear that the United States government has been planning for a long time. Now the United States has surpassed Britain and become the world’s leading industrial power. With the improvement of its strength, it naturally wants to take a step further to gain international status. Therefore, war is inevitable, and the United States is ready for war. If Spain does not actively prepare for war now, it will only become a victim of American hegemony.”

After a series of alarmist remarks, William’s face turned even uglier. In fact, Ernst just summarized the problems that Spain had encountered recently. There was no so-called “special intelligence.” The Spanish government also knew about this intelligence.

Knowing is knowing, but the Spanish government had been playing ostrich before, and Ernst wanted to directly break the Spanish government’s negative attitude.

“Your Highness, what you said makes sense, but we Spaniards are facing the United States…” Ambassador William’s voice became smaller and smaller.

Ernst didn’t care and said, “I know the Spanish government’s concerns. Now Spain is no longer the world’s leading power that once roamed the four oceans, and the United States has an overwhelming advantage over Spain in all aspects. But this is not an excuse to avoid the problem. Even if the ending is doomed, Spain cannot let the United States have an easy time. Is it possible that the United States can pose a threat to your homeland?”

If the United States really burned the war to the Spanish mainland, Ernst would laugh in his dreams. After all, since the Age of Discovery, Europe had never been threatened by countries outside the region. If the United States showed such strength, Britain and France would definitely not sit idly by.

The reason why Ernst said this was also to encourage William. After all, it was impossible for the United States to do this. No matter how the war between Spain and the United States was fought, the ending would not be the worst. If they were tougher, they might be able to gain the respect of the international community.

“The gap between Spain and the United States is indeed very large, but there is only one decisive factor in the war between the two countries, and that is force. Now the United States is encouraging colonial rebellion, which also determines that the war will be divided into two major sections, one is naval warfare, and the other is land warfare in the colonies.”

“The Spanish navy is not weak. Although there is some gap with the United States, it is not insurmountable. I think Ambassador William has also heard about the South African naval battle. The fundamental reason why the East African navy was able to achieve relatively outstanding results is that our navy is not afraid of death. After all, the attitude of the East African navy towards the British Royal Navy at that time was almost exactly the same as the attitude of the Spanish navy towards the United States Navy today.”

“So, as long as you arrange it reasonably and make sufficient preparations in advance, the Spanish navy may not be able to reverse the situation. The Caribbean may be difficult, but the Philippines and the Pacific are your home turf.”

Ernst mentioned the Philippines again to strengthen Spain’s memory and make Spain notice that the United States might launch a long-range sneak attack on Spanish colonies in the Asia-Pacific region.

“At the same time, the United States will definitely impose a blockade on Spain during the war. Therefore, Spain should immediately reserve war materials. In this regard, East Africa can provide Spain with the greatest help. In terms of weapons and equipment, we East Africa dare not say that we are the best in the world, but we also have a lot of experience, especially in the research and development of weapons in tropical regions. In this field, East Africa can be said to be unique in the world.”

The topic still involved strategic materials and weapons and equipment. After all, to make a fortune from war, you must start from these two points.

In order to further clarify East Africa’s sincerity, Ernst said, “Moreover, we East Africa can provide Spain with the greatest convenience in terms of materials. First of all, East Africa is rich in products. We can fully meet the various needs of the Spanish army, including all types of food, military equipment, various drinks, tobacco, and so on.”

“Secondly, we East Africa is closer to the Nanyang region than Spain, and we can offer more suitable prices in terms of freight expenses.”

“Of course, these are not the most important things. We can also open up the ports in the Nanyang region to provide supplies and maintenance for the Spanish navy.”

East Africa’s colonies in the Nanyang region are exactly on a straight line and connected to the Philippines. Therefore, Ernst’s promise is extremely sincere, which is equivalent to inserting half a foot into the conflict between the United States and Spain.

Ernst’s last sentence really aroused the attention of Ambassador William. Although Spain was not sure whether the United States had a plan to occupy the Philippines, as the saying goes, it is better to be prepared than sorry. Now that East Africa had fed the food to their mouths, it would be too much if Spain did not accept it.

“Your Highness, I accept your friendship on behalf of the Spanish government. I will immediately send the news back to the country. I believe the government will make plans.” Ambassador William said.

Ernst had been emphasizing the Nanyang region, which made William’s thinking run astray. After all, the hotspot in Spain had always been in the Cuba region, and few Spaniards paid attention to the Philippines.

Therefore, subconsciously, William agreed with Ernst’s statement that the United States would attack the Philippines. This was what Ernst was happy to see.

Chapter 936: Arms Sales

East Africa had no way of knowing the Spanish government’s attitude towards the Spanish-American conflict, but this did not prevent East Africa from selling various war materials and munitions to Spain in advance.

In fact, East Africa’s arms trade with Spain began as early as after the South African War. After the South African War, East Africa’s military products, especially army equipment, attracted the attention of many countries.

Spain was one of them, because a large part of the Spanish army’s weapons procurement came from Germany, and East African army equipment had the same origin as Germany, which provided convenience for East Africa.

If East Africa’s weapon quality might have made Spain doubtful before the South African War, this doubt disappeared after the South African War.

From after the South African War to the present, East Africa has exported more than twenty thousand rifles and hundreds of machine guns to Spain. The performance of machine guns in South Africa was undoubtedly the most outstanding, thus attracting much attention.

“Mr. Cruz, this is the M1895C Mauser rifle, a special tropical jungle rifle produced by East Africa. It also belongs to the Mauser rifle series, but the East African military research and development team has improved it for regional conditions. According to the temperature and humidity of the tropical jungle area, targeted material improvements have been made to make it more suitable for shooting in hot and humid areas,” East African arms salesman Manske said to his old friend Cruz.

Since 1886, Spain had already begun to equip Mauser rifles. The Mauser rifle used by Spain was the M1893, a type exported by Germany, specially designed for Spain. East Africa also had the production qualification, but the Mauser rifles used by the East African Defense Force were different from the German or its export-type Mauser rifles in details, mainly to adapt to the climate and terrain characteristics of East Africa, as well as the requirements of the East African Defense Force.

In the Spanish-American War in its past life, the M1893 Mauser rifle used by Spain performed excellently, so much so that after the Spanish-American War, the United States, having suffered losses, later developed the M1903 Springfield rifle, which was actually designed with the Mauser M1898 rifle as a prototype under the authorization of the Mauser rifle factory.

Therefore, the Mauser rifle currently equipped by Spain is destined to shine in the war, and East Africa naturally wants to intervene and test the performance of East Africa’s weapons and equipment.

Moreover, because of the South African War, the Mauser rifle used by the East African Defense Force already had combat achievements, which also accelerated the Spanish government’s determination to replace Mauser rifles, and the army introduced Mauser rifles on a larger scale than in history.

Therefore, now that Spain wants to meet the needs of the war, it can only go through Germany or East Africa, the two major countries in the world that use and produce Mauser series rifles.

In its past life, Spain alone ordered more than five hundred thousand M1893 Mauser rifles and continued to use them until 1928. Its domestic Mauser rifle was not officially released until 1916, so Spain’s Mauser rifles mainly rely on imports, which provides export opportunities for East Africa’s defense industry.

“Spain has been one of our partners since 1890. After all, the quality of our East African Mauser rifles is not worse than German products, but the M1893 Mauser rifles you use may be good for the local environment. After all, Spain has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters, but Cuba and the Philippines have a tropical rainforest climate, which is hot and humid, and has many jungles. The shooting environment in this situation is different from your local environment.”

“Take the jungle environment itself, it is different from the conventional field environment, because of the rain and fog, plus the dense trees, the shooting conditions are naturally limited, so strengthening firepower is more important than range and accuracy. Think about it, in the full view of the tropical jungle, all are trees, how far can your bullets fly?”

Cruz nodded and said, “You are right, but when it comes to understanding the local environment, we are always more familiar than the Americans. Even if there is a land battle, large-scale battles are unlikely to take place in the jungle.”

After all, neither Spain nor the United States are locals who are as comfortable in the jungle as Vietnam. Their colonial focus is concentrated in coastal and developed areas.

Manske was very clear about this. He said, “Don’t be too absolute. Could it be that if you Spaniards lose ports and other areas in the war, you will give up! And not only the Americans, but the suppression of the colonies is also a major issue. Those local natives are also a part you urgently need to fight against, and this cannot be avoided in jungle warfare.”

Now, the local people’s uprisings in the Philippines and Cuba are emerging one after another. The root cause is that Spain’s exploitation is too heavy. Of course, there is also the shadow of the Americans behind this. They have carried out targeted economic sanctions against Spain, the most typical of which is to increase tariffs on Cuban sugar. In this case, it has aggravated the economic difficulties in Cuba and other regions. The changes in the economic situation have aggravated the resistance of the local people.

Of course, Cuba and the Philippines are somewhat different. The local resistance forces are actually local Spaniards, just like the American independence in the past. They are not satisfied with the central government’s taxation of the local area, and this contradiction is further intensified in the context of the economic downturn.

The colonial armed riots are also one of the important reasons for Spain’s defeat in the war, which involved a lot of Spain’s energy. With internal and external collusion, Spain has no chance of winning.

Of course, East Africa cannot control the situation in Cuba. East Africa still attaches importance to the ownership of the Philippines, so East Africa is more enthusiastic about helping Spain suppress the Philippine natives.

“Your army may have been very easy to deal with the local natives in the past, but with the support of the Americans behind them, it is different. No one knows what weapons will appear in the jungle,” Manske said meaningfully.

Cruz also said with a solemn expression, “Yes, the colonial thugs are indeed a key issue. If they were not causing trouble behind the government, the Americans would not be able to pose a threat to Spain so easily.”

In Cruz’s view, these natives or some comprador forces in Spain are typical examples of eating inside and out. Spain may have done too much, but the Americans are just changing the soup but not the medicine.

“Then I don’t know what you think of this rifle? Do you want to buy it? You should know that some of our troops have already equipped this rifle, especially in the western region.”

Manske continued to fool him: “The M1895C rifle is a prototype of the M1888C tropical jungle rifle, which participated in the battle with Portugal and has been tested in the South African War. At that time, the troops equipped with this rifle included our most quintessential 331st Mountain Division. The unit has been fighting all the way from the tropical rainforest of Angola to Maputo in the southeast. It can be said that it has made great achievements in battle. The excellent performance of this rifle has been tested in war.”

“The M1895C tropical jungle rifle is a new generation of tropical jungle special combat rifle that we have created on the basis of the M1888C rifle over a period of five years. It can only be said that the student surpasses the teacher. The troops stationed in western East Africa, especially the tropical rainforest area, basically use this rifle as the main rifle.”

Manske directly used combat achievements to speak. Although the combat achievements of the M1895C rifle mainly inherited the 1888 type, there is a relationship of inheritance and development between the two. The East African military industry department improved it according to its advantages and disadvantages in actual combat, and its performance will only be more excellent than before.

At this time, Cruz was already a little moved. He said to Manske, we can first purchase five hundred to test the effect, and then expand the scale if it performs well.

Manske shook his head and said, “Five hundred is still too few. How about this, I will take you to simulate the terrain to directly see the actual combat effect, and then you can determine the purchase quantity.”

No matter how much you say, it is better to let Cruz and other Spaniards operate it once. As weapons procurement personnel, Cruz and others also know more about guns. Manske is confident that this East African rifle will achieve excellent results in front of them.

Chapter 937: Countdown to War

After preparing the relevant materials and documents, Mansk, accompanied by Cruise and his party, arrived at the military restricted zone northwest of Dar es Salaam, escorted by the Guards Division and the security department throughout the entire process.

After all, Dar es Salaam is close to the first town of the East African capital, so for the sake of the safety of the first town, not just anyone can freely enter and exit the vicinity of Dar es Salaam, especially the military jurisdiction of the Guards Division.

And this was the first time that Cruise and other Spaniards had deeply entered East African territory. Apart from Spanish diplomats who could reach the first town, their usual area of activity was limited to the city center of Dar es Salaam.

The weapons training ground was a training base of the Guards Division. Cruise and others got a preliminary glimpse of the demeanor of East African soldiers here. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, so there were many troops in the training base organizing regular afternoon training.

“As expected of a powerful army that can defeat Portugal and Britain. Judging from the strictness of the organization and the military appearance of the soldiers, it can be seen that this is a unit with strong combat effectiveness.” Cruise praised without exaggeration.

This made Falkirk, the accompanying officer of the Guards Division, feel very comfortable. After all, being praised by a country like Spain, which also belongs to the great powers, was more fulfilling.

Falkirk introduced, “Mr. Cruise, our East African army has always restrained itself with the strictest requirements, and attaches importance to discipline and training. This effect can only be achieved day after day.”

Cruise continued to praise, “If our Spanish army could be like the East African army, then I believe that even the Americans may not be able to overwhelm us on the battlefield, but unfortunately…”

As far as Cruise was concerned, he still knew a lot about the virtues of the Spanish army. The more he knew, the less optimistic he was about the outcome of this war.

Falkirk comforted him, “Spain, as an old power, may not be worse than the United States. The two countries may have some gaps in their navies, but that is caused by the gap in economic strength. The American army may not be worth looking at, so with advanced weapons and thorough preparation, I believe that Spain will definitely be able to teach the Americans a profound lesson in land battles.”

The main battlefield of the colonial war was still the ocean, and the Spanish army did not have much opportunity to perform. Moreover, there was a huge gap between the colonial army and the Spanish mainland army. However, the Spanish colonial army’s opponents were probably also the American navy.

Mansk said at this time, “As the saying goes, sharpening your axe won’t delay your work. The advantage in equipment can often change the course of a war, so you should introduce this rifle in large quantities in the colonies. Of course, no matter how much I brag, it’s not as good as a direct demonstration.”

Soon, the group arrived at the rainforest combat terrain simulated by the Guards Division. This basically replicated the rainforest combat environment, with dense jungles, rivers, and other wetland types.

The Guards Division soldiers operated the M1895c jungle rifle and began various targeted demonstrations, including immersing the gun in water and shooting at targets in the dense forest.

Mansk explained on the side, “We have made detailed modifications to the grip, so that sweat and rainwater can quickly flow away along the lines, and it has anti-slip function to ensure that you won’t lose your grip.”

“When facing enemies in dense forests, the surrounding area is full of vegetation, and the enemy can easily blend into the terrain. At this time, it is not easy to lock on to the target, so the power of the bullet is increased, which can effectively increase the wounding effect after hitting the target…”

At the same time, Mansk also took the opportunity to promote other products: “Look at these rain boots, they are specially designed for tropical jungle terrain. East Africa is a major rubber producer, so we also have certain advantages in raw materials. If you are interested in buying them, we can give you a certain discount… rainproof cloth… canned food…”

The performance and quality of most of these military products were recognized by Cruise. After all, many of them were mature products equipped by the East African active forces.

After the demonstration, Cruise said to Mansk and others, “Very good, I can make the decision to increase the purchase of rifles to two thousand. However, I can only make the decision on the purchase of rifles. Although other East African military products are good, I don’t have the relevant authority. At the same time, I am quite interested in the uniforms of the East African army. I wonder if you can give me a set?”

Cruise’s words surprised Mansk a little. It is well known that the East African military uniform style is “unique” in the world. It was even called the “vagrant army” by the British and Portuguese in the early days of the South African War, mainly because it was too plain to be pleasing. Of course, with the development of the war, this gray-black uniform became the nightmare of the British and Portuguese armies.

Of course, the outside world recognizes the combat effectiveness of the East African Defense Force, but other countries are still not interested in the East African military uniforms. To put it bluntly, due to the gap in early craftsmanship, even the East Africans themselves disliked their military uniforms. However, with the passage of time, the improvement of craftsmanship and the improvement of details, the current East African military uniforms are still mainly “simple”, but the details are well handled, and they are no longer as rough as in the past.

In addition, the Guards Division is the most well-equipped unit, and their clothing is also the most cutting-edge of the East African army, so it can attract Cruise’s attention.

Mansk naturally agreed directly to Cruise’s request. After all, being able to complete the sales work and give away a set of military uniforms was just a small matter.

And this time, the weapons sold by East Africa to Spain were not only limited to the M1895c jungle combat rifle, but also the regular Mauser rifles equipped by the Spanish army, as well as some machine guns and small-caliber artillery.

The purchase of weapons and equipment was not the whole story. The Spanish government ordered a large amount of military supplies from East Africa, mainly food, medicine, and tobacco.

Most of these goods were sent directly to the Philippines, while the Cuban region was the responsibility of Spain itself. After all, East Africa has a distance advantage from the Philippines, while Spain itself is closer to Cuba.

In this way, before the Spanish-American War had even begun, East Africa had already made a fortune from Spain. Of course, Spain did not lose out, after all, the quality of the products provided by East Africa was very reliable, and the price was relatively reasonable.

While East Africa was trading with Spain, the United States government was not idle, actively preparing for war. In addition to domestic public opinion further pressuring Spain with the help of the Maine incident, it also interfered in Spain’s rule in the Philippines, demanding that the Spanish government carry out democratic reforms there according to its own ideas.

This was actually taking the side of the local resistance forces, allowing them to continue to increase their efforts to fight against the Spanish colonial government, which further aroused the Spanish government’s attention to the Philippines. After all, Ernst had already planted nails in advance.

At that time, the Spanish government naturally did not believe Ernst’s words. After all, the Philippines was not like Cuba. Cuba was close to the United States, but the distance between the Philippines and the United States was not close.

But now the United States directly interfered in Spain’s rule over the Philippines, which confirmed Ernst’s previous statement that the United States had ulterior motives for the Philippines. At least many people within the Spanish government believed it, so the Spanish government had to increase its attention to the Philippines.

At the same time, under the mediation of the international community led by France, the negotiations between the United States and Spain were not smooth. For example, the United Kingdom completely stood on the side of the United States in terms of public opinion, and clearly expressed its support for the United States. In this case, the United States naturally could not listen to France’s advice.

Therefore, the Spanish government already had the idea of going to war, but at this time, Ernst naturally did not want Spain to start the war too early, at least until the Philippines was armed. Therefore, under the persuasion of East Africa, the Spanish government, which was originally prepared to declare war on the United States in April, postponed the time to mid-May, and continued to argue with the United States in negotiations in order to buy time.

In this tense atmosphere, the East African government fully supported Spain’s preparations for war. A large amount of military supplies were transported from Dar es Salaam and Beira to Manila and other Philippine regions. East Africa even gave away more than a dozen coastal defense artillery pieces, which was also Ernst’s hope that Spain would not be as embarrassed in Manila as it was in its previous life.

Chapter 938: Blood Transfusion

March 17th, 1898, Manila.

A fleet of merchant ships urgently docked in Manila Bay, where the Spanish colonial army in the Philippines received their supplies.

“Is today some important holiday? I can’t believe the homeland would remember us second-rate troops and provide us with new weapons and equipment!” exclaimed Graleslin, who was moving military supplies at the Manila Bay docks.

He held a brand-new rifle in his hands, praising it repeatedly, “This gun is one hundred percent new, with absolutely no signs of use. I just don’t know if it’s as good as my old Mauser rifle.”

“Stop looking at it. A gun is just a killing weapon. After a few months of using it, you’ll probably get tired of it,” said his comrade, Gorkas.

“Gorkas, don’t ruin my mood. Re-equipping is always a good thing. After all, we rely on weapons to get around in the Philippines. The more advanced the weapon, the more it can save our lives. It’s our most trusted partner,” Graleslin said.

“You know, this rifle seems different from ours. Isn’t its barrel a bit shorter?” Gorkas suddenly asked.

Graleslin examined it carefully, “You’re right. This is probably the latest model of the Mauser rifle. Looking at it this way, we really lucked out this time!”

At this moment, Graleslin and Gorkas’s commanding officer, Velika, walked over and said, “The rifles transported this time are the M1895C Mauser rifles produced in East Africa, specifically for tropical jungle warfare. They are more suitable for the Philippine environment, so you need to get familiar with them as soon as possible. I heard that in a few days, East Africans will send instructors to help you quickly master the use of this rifle and corresponding tactics.”

Graleslin: “Lieutenant, are East African weapons reliable? The previous Mauser rifles were at least developed by Germany. East Africa…”

It was normal for Graleslin to have doubts, after all, East Africa was far behind Europe in all aspects.

“That’s why we didn’t purchase them in large quantities. Unfortunately, our unit was selected to be equipped with this new type of rifle,” Velika said without the slightest defense.

He also felt that changing weapons and equipment now was inappropriate. First, he had doubts about East Africa’s military manufacturing industry. Second, any weapon requires a familiarization process.

“However, the government has gone to great lengths to help us change to new equipment, which shows that this new weapon has its own merits. And we can’t look at East Africa with old eyes. America used to be a barren land, but who would have thought that America would become such a world power today? East Africa’s performance in the South African War further proves that its military manufacturing base is not bad.”

Every time the South African War was mentioned, Britain was dragged out and criticized, especially for the Spanish. A country that could face Britain head-on had more convincing battle results. After all, Spain’s loss of hegemony began with the defeat of the invincible fleet by British pirate troops.

Of course, that was a long time ago, but every Spaniard must miss the era when Spain dominated the four oceans.

…

At the same time, East African military personnel had already entered Manila Bay in advance.

“General Anthony, upon my arrival, I carefully observed the situation in Manila Bay. If you prepare for war with this mentality, it may cause indelible shadows.”

General Anthony was somewhat dissatisfied with the East African’s presumptuousness. After all, who are you to point fingers at us?

However, he still said amicably, “General Bruce, you might as well explain it more clearly. If it’s reasonable, our Manila base will definitely make corresponding arrangements.”

Bruce said, “General Anthony, as a junior, my experience in combat is definitely not as rich as you seniors. However, I also participated in the South African naval battle and was the commander of the New Hamburg Port City naval base at the time. At that time, the New Hamburg Port City navy was completely nominal. Our south was close to the British port of Durban, so we were always at a disadvantage in the early stages of the war. Therefore, when facing the powerful British navy, the New Hamburg Port City navy could only rely on the terrain of New Hamburg Port to maneuver with the British army and persisted until the war situation changed.”

Anthony nodded. He had also studied this naval battle and knew the competitive situation between New Hamburg Port City and Durban Port. However, he didn’t expect that the person in charge of the East African navy in New Hamburg Port City at that time was this General Bruce.

“Manila Bay, as one of the few large bays in the world, is far from comparable to New Hamburg Port City. Only Maputo Bay in the north can compare with it. When the East African navy attacked the Portuguese, Maputo Bay was a key offensive direction, and it was used as a breakthrough point to finally encircle the Portuguese army in Mozambique,” Bruce said.

“Therefore, in my opinion, if Manila Bay is used as a naval base for a powerful country, it is naturally a treasure land. But the potential enemy you face, the United States Navy, is now far above you in strength. The strength of the Spanish colonial navy alone cannot stop them, so you must coordinate land strike forces and make good use of the bay’s terrain to be invincible.”

Anthony: “Isn’t that a bit alarmist? How could the United States launch an attack on the Philippines?”

Bruce: “Hehe, the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet has already been stationed in the Hong Kong area since last year. And Hong Kong is now a British colony. Why do the British allow American warships to enter this place? Could it be that the United States has ideas about the Far East Empire? As far as I know, the United States has been actively training since last summer, and now with the situation in Cuba…”

Bruce didn’t say much. The Americans entered the British colony for training in advance, so they must have come prepared. As for who they are targeting, it is obviously not the countries of East Asia. After all, the coastal areas of the Far East Empire, from north to south, have been regarded as their own spheres of influence by various countries, and each force is not something the United States can easily provoke.

If it was to cooperate with Britain to deal with Tsarist Russia, they should have gone to Yingkou in the north for training, not Hong Kong. As for the other sea areas in the north, the interests of East Africa, Germany, and Austria-Hungary are intertwined. Obviously, no one is stupid enough to offend three world powers at once. As for the Southeast Sea, it is the world of Britain, France, and Germany.

Bruce: “The United States Navy’s long-term ocean training this time is obviously aimed at a certain area in Asia. And judging from the current relationship between the United States and various countries, the possibility of the Philippines being targeted is at least sixty percent.”

There is still a forty percent possibility that the United States just wants to flex its muscles in the waters of the Far East Empire and then force the Far East Empire government to give up more benefits. Of course, the two can be carried out at the same time, that is, they can put pressure on the Far East Empire government and prepare for the invasion of the Philippines.

Bruce continued to add fuel to the fire, “Cuba is under the nose of the United States. If they lose, there are plenty of excuses to make. As for the Philippines, it’s not necessarily the case. After all, you still have the advantage of timing and location. The strength of the Philippine colonial navy is not weak. After all, the United States Navy is not going all out. They also have to be responsible for the Caribbean region. And once the negligence of the generals leads to serious consequences, I don’t think the Spanish homeland will not find scapegoats…”

At this time, Anthony was completely speechless. What Lieutenant General Bruce said was true, especially the point he mentioned about the United States Pacific Fleet being stationed in Hong Kong, which was obviously prepared. If he doesn’t take action at this time, he will definitely be held accountable after the war.

After all, the Philippines is different from Cuba. Cuba is under the nose of the United States. Even if the Cuban garrison is defeated, it is not their fault. But Spain has been operating in the Philippines for hundreds of years. If they are defeated by outsiders who have only been training for more than a year, it is also indefensible.

In fact, as the local military commander, Anthony also clearly knew that the Manila garrison had been in a state of “wasting time.” The main reason was that the local area had been peaceful for too long and had forgotten the war and gunpowder smoke. If the United States suddenly attacked Manila at this time, the result would definitely not be good.

Chapter 939: Manila Defense System

“Manila Bay should immediately enter a state of military readiness, especially the exit of Manila Bay. We should deploy mines and other obstacles to prevent the enemy from driving straight in.”

As one of the world’s few large bays, although it is easy to defend, the exit of Manila Bay is also very large. If the Spanish Navy were strong, there would naturally be no problem, but the current situation is that the enemy is strong and we are weak. Therefore, the Spanish Navy must rely on external forces to achieve an advantage over the American Navy.

“At the same time, the coastal artillery on both sides of the Manila Bay exit must be maintained in a timely manner. This time, East Africa has provided a lot of large-caliber coastal artillery. We can replace some antiques. Of course, these eliminated cannons must also be used to increase the artillery coverage of Manila Bay as much as possible, and effectively cooperate with the local navy.”

“Especially Corregidor Island, which is located in the center of the Manila Bay exit. It should be modernized immediately. After all, the military facilities built on Corregidor Island are too old. Now, cannons and warships are no longer comparable to the age of sail. The original military facilities are difficult to cope with current weapons.”

Corregidor Island’s important location dictates that it is a strategic point that all military strategists will fight for. In the ninth century, Spanish colonialists occupied this small island, equipped it with 250 mm cannons with a range of 2,000 meters, and set up a checkpoint here. All ships entering and leaving had to be verified by them.

Later, after the United States occupied the island, they paid even more attention to it, spending huge sums of money to build Fort Mills on the island, along with barracks, hospitals, soda factories, cinemas, churches and other infrastructure.

In order to defend Corregidor Island, the United States built solid reinforced concrete gun emplacements on the island, with 23 artillery positions.

The coastal guns were very large, with a caliber of 300 mm and a range of 28,000 meters. The range of the two mortars was 130 meters, and they could be fired in any direction. Later, a large number of tunnels were built on the island, which can be said to have made the local area impregnable.

Of course, later Japan broke through the American defenses, relying on endless bombing, dropping tens of thousands of bombs in just nine days, and finally captured the island under the cover of aircraft and tanks.

Therefore, if you want to defend Manila Bay, you must carry out a large-scale transformation of Corregidor Island, which is obviously a difficult task for the Spanish Philippines colony.

Anthony said, “General Bruce, is the problem urgent?”

Bruce: “Even if the war is about to start, it should start from Cuba first. Therefore, before Cuba is attacked, Spain still has time. Moreover, the current negotiations between the two countries are to buy time for preparation. As far as we in East Africa know, the United States has long been prepared for war. Therefore, it is unwise for your government to declare war on the United States at this time. Therefore, before that, it is best to transform the area around Manila Bay within three months. As for manpower, you need to solve it yourself.”

Is there a shortage of people in the Philippines? The answer is yes. Otherwise, the Philippines would not have directly abandoned the north in its previous life and fought with the American army in Manila.

However, the lack of people in the Philippines does not mean that there is a lack of people near Manila Bay. This should be the most densely populated and economically concentrated area in the Philippines. Coincidentally, the Philippine government is going to encircle and suppress the local resistance forces in the past two days, so wouldn’t the people come!

Of course, there are still shadows of East Africa behind this. While the East African military advisory group led by Bruce was pointing fingers at the defense of Manila Bay, East African instructors had already led Filipinos equipped with new jungle warfare rifles into the jungle around Manila Bay to encircle and suppress the resistance organizations.

“Bang…” The sound of gunfire echoed in the Philippine rainforest. Under the leadership of indigenous traitors, this Spanish encirclement and suppression was quite successful.

“Lieutenant Karen, your East Africa can defeat Britain. It is indeed not a coincidence. In the past, it was difficult for us to organize battles in the rainforest. If it weren’t for your expertise this time, I’m afraid we would return without success as usual.”

Karen said politely: “Haha, everyone has their own expertise. We also have a large number of rainforest areas in East Africa, so tropical jungle warfare has always been the focus of the East African Defense Force.”

Lieutenant Karen has been active in the Congo rainforest in East Africa for many years, encircling and suppressing the remaining indigenous forces in the depths of the rainforest, so he has accumulated a huge amount of jungle warfare experience.

This time, led by him, coupled with the cooperation of internal traitors among the Philippine natives, the nine jungle strongholds that were locked were wiped out in one fell swoop.

After all, jungle guerrillas are indeed a headache, but not everyone can handle jungle warfare. For example, the Philippine natives on the opposite side have no tactical brains, so they have no power to fight back against Karen, an old fox who specializes in dealing with jungle guerrillas.

Why was the Vietnam War prominent in its previous life and became a classic of jungle warfare? One of the main reasons is that the local people received the military thinking output from a major Eastern power.

Otherwise, Vietnam would not have been so thoroughly suppressed by France before, with no good record of battles. The turning point was the military output of the Eastern power to Vietnam. The Philippine natives are not even comparable to Vietnam, not even some African natives.

This is Karen’s intuitive feeling. After all, the devil is one foot tall, and the road is ten feet high. In the encirclement and suppression in East Africa, African natives will also make progress, but in the face of East Africa’s continuous influx of immigrants, their efforts are doomed to be in vain.

The Philippine natives are different. The Spaniards are undoubtedly a minority in the local area, and the technological progress brought by the Spaniards has caused the Philippine native population to explode. Therefore, the Philippine resistance forces have a continuous flow of blood injected into them, and the Spaniards were not good at jungle warfare before. They only relied on their firepower advantage to suppress the local natives.

However, with the support of the Americans, the local forces are also rapidly catching up in terms of weapons, which has caused the previous Spanish colonial government to have no good way to deal with them, leading to a situation where they are too big to fail. Karen gave them a lesson today.

Of course, Karen is also absorbing nutrients in these scattered battles. After all, it is almost impossible to encounter natives fighting with hot weapons in East Africa, but the Philippine natives are different. The geographical location of the Philippines dictates that it has close ties with the outside world, and Spain cannot prevent the external sources of weapons for these natives.

“The effect of the weapons in this operation is also good. The M1895C jungle warfare rifle is more powerful, less restricted by terrain, and has strong structural stability. This rifle is more useful for the Philippines.”

The Spanish garrison in the Philippines has changed its doubts about East African firearms to recognition through actual combat. After all, this is the result of East Africa’s research for more than ten years.

Karen is also very interested in his country’s firearms. Now, only a small number of troops in East Africa are equipped with the M1895C jungle warfare rifle. After all, East Africa is mainly dominated by tropical savanna terrain, and conventional rifles have greater advantages. However, the climate of East Africa’s Nanyang colonies and the Philippines is the same, so he believes that this new type of rifle should also be widely popularized in East Africa’s own colonies.

Undoubtedly, this Spanish “bandit suppression” has, to a certain extent, made up for the manpower for building the Manila defense system, but more gaps still need to be filled by drawing from ordinary native people. As for arousing more serious resistance emotions, the Spanish colonial government can’t care about it.

With the American Navy as a major enemy in front of them, if they lose the war, the Philippines will have nothing to do with Spain. In particular, most of the personnel in the colonial government may lose their jobs. Therefore, under the instigation of the East African military advisory group, the American threat theory is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The entire Spanish Philippines colonial government is actively cooperating with the East African military personnel to carry out war preparations.

Although due to conditions, many projects and training cannot meet the psychological expectations of the East African military advisory group, this is still dozens of times stronger than the preparations made by Spain in the Philippines in its previous life.

Not to mention anything else, the large number of mines deployed in Manila Bay alone will not allow the American army to enter Manila Bay as recklessly as in its previous life.

Chapter 940: The Capital Relocation Begins

While East Africa was digging holes on one side, it couldn’t spare much attention for the situations in Spain and the United States, because there were more important matters at home.

April 1st, 1898.

The East African government formally passed the bill to move the capital to Rhine City. Relocating the capital was obviously a complex and massive undertaking, but fortunately, First Town had never been designed as a major city from the start. Its population and industries were small, and it was close to Dar es Salaam, so apart from its political status, it wasn’t particularly prominent in other respects. This provided convenience for the East African government.

This is easy to understand. Take the capital of the Far East Empire in my previous life, for example. It had over ten million registered residents. If a decision like East Africa’s capital relocation were made, there would be over ten million objectors. Just thinking about it is a headache.

However, it must be admitted that the location of the Far East Empire’s capital was indeed good. It was just that the modern navy was lacking, the Bohai Bay was vulnerable to foreign invasion, and the population was too concentrated in later generations, causing water shortages. Other than that, there were almost no shortcomings.

“This capital relocation process is divided into three steps. First, various government departments will send out a portion to set up a framework in Rhine City in advance. The second step is for some government agencies to completely move into Rhine City to work. Before 1900, we will realize Rhine City’s complete transformation into East Africa’s new political center.”

The vast majority of people had no objections to moving the capital to Rhine City. After all, First Town was indeed not the preferred option, and the new capital, Rhine City, far surpassed First Town in terms of planning in all aspects. Although Rhine City’s scale was still comparable to other cities, its potential was enormous.

After the capital relocation officially began, the trains on the Central Railway increased their workload again, and a large number of files and equipment began to be transported to Rhine City continuously.

At this time, the railway framework of Rhine City was basically complete. Arriving in Rhine City from First Town no longer required transiting through New Frankfurt. Although New Frankfurt was still the most important railway hub, Rhine City’s transportation also formed its own system.

In fact, the railways of Rhine City and New Frankfurt formed a dual core in the national railway network. However, the Rhine City railway prioritized government, military, and other departments, while New Frankfurt focused more on economic freight transportation.

…

Rhine City.

East African National Library.

The original National Library was located in First Town. Of course, in terms of scale, East Africa’s largest library was in Soga City.

“The Rhine City National Library will replace the original First Town National Library, and the First Town Library will be used as a branch. The new National Library’s books mainly come from the First Town National Library and the Soga City Library, and will be expanded on this basis. According to the latest plan, the library’s collection will reach five million volumes, including other documentary collections, becoming East Africa’s new knowledge and cultural center.”

“With our library as the center, there are as many as thirteen higher education institutions and research institutions planned nearby. This will become an important place for national talent and cultural exchange in East Africa in the future.”

The director of the National Library, Krone, felt happy about his future. After all, he loved reading, and at this time, the new East African National Library was one of the top libraries in the world, both in terms of scale and collection.

Books were relatively valuable items in the 19th century. To ensure the safety of the books, some libraries even used special chains and shells to lock the books on the shelves to prevent them from being stolen.

In the early days, East Africa was obviously unable to build a library with a collection of more than five million books. It wasn’t for other reasons, but mainly because East Africa was “short of books” at the time.

The new National Library’s collection of five million volumes is only the first phase goal. Large libraries in later generations often have tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of books, so Ernst used this as a reference and invested heavily in the Rhine City National Library. In the future, it will collect at least twenty million books, which makes the new National Library extremely large and equipped with an electrical system and a more advanced and complete fire protection system.

The architectural style of the Rhine City National Library is also very different from the traditional library style, paying more attention to practicality and improving the reading experience, while Europe and the United States emphasize the artistic style of the palace, which is more solemn and sacred.

Therefore, the East African National Library can be said to be the most modern building in East Africa, breaking with tradition.

Of course, the new East African National Library is just starting out. The total number of books is only more than two hundred thousand. Subsequent books still need to be transported from the east or other regions.

The National Library is just a microcosm of Rhine City. Many national service agencies have been established in Rhine City in recent years, including the Royal Palace, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, government office buildings, embassies, hospitals, and so on.

The overall core framework of Rhine City is currently designed for five hundred thousand people, and a large amount of development space is reserved on the periphery. According to the current construction progress, it is equivalent to the size of two First Towns.

After all, the total population of First Town is less than two hundred thousand, only one hundred and seventy thousand. If the initial construction is completed, Rhine City will be almost three times the size of First Town.

In other words, the scale of Rhine City can now accommodate the entire First Town, which is the basic condition for the official launch of the capital relocation.

However, because Rhine City has a small population now, the whole city seems very empty and lacks a sense of life, except for the large number of construction workers.

…

“Father, when the capital relocation is completed, I plan to formally upgrade East Africa from a kingdom to an empire. At that time, you, the king, can become a true emperor.”

In the Swiet Palace, Ernst directly told Constantine his thoughts. This idea had actually been buried in Ernst’s heart ten years ago, but East Africa’s national strength was weak at that time, and there were no conditions for it.

Constantine said, “In my opinion, king and emperor are just empty names. Adding a title doesn’t seem to have much impact, and if the procedures are too complicated, I’m afraid my body won’t be able to handle it.”

In Constantine’s mind, he was already very satisfied to be the king of a powerful country. As for the title of emperor, he didn’t care too much. After all, the Queen of England becoming Empress just sounded a little better, and the traditional coronation ceremony was extremely complicated, so the elderly Constantine didn’t want to suffer this crime.

Ernst advised, “Father, in fact, there are other meanings to turning the kingdom into an empire this time. My idea is to divide East African history into two stages through this change of national system. In the early stage, our establishment of the Hohenzollern Kingdom was mixed with a lot of colonial history, and we can take this opportunity to separate from the past.”

“Secondly, although you are old, you are still in good health, so take this opportunity to let you experience the fun of being an emperor. As for the coronation ceremony, it will naturally be in accordance with our own East African rules. There is no need to imitate Europe. We can simplify the ceremony.”

Ernst’s remarks were very unorthodox, but Ernst was just a fake “Christian”. He couldn’t even remember the contents of the Bible himself, so this kind of operation was commonplace for him.

Moreover, East Africa is different from Europe. Even if East Africa follows European rules, it is just kissing up to someone who doesn’t care, and it won’t please anyone, so it’s better to follow your own ideas.

So Ernst said, “If we really follow the traditions of Europe, then East Africa will never become an empire. After all, there can only be one emperor in Europe. Now Germany, Tsarist Russia, and even Austria and Napoleon of the former France all call themselves emperors, but their emperor is Caesar. We East Africa are in Africa, and naturally have different national conditions and interests from Europe.”

Chapter 941: “Rhine Empire”

Constantine was not surprised by Ernst’s statement. After all, his son had always had ideas different from ordinary people since he was a child. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to build such a foundation.

“Ernst, although what you said makes some sense, without the recognition of the international community, the so-called throne of East Africa is just like the British Queen’s throne in India. It might easily be criticized by outsiders behind our backs.”

Ernst smiled and joked with his father, “If Queen Victoria of England moved the capital to Mumbai, wouldn’t her throne be worthy of the name! Moreover, East Africa is completely different from Britain. East Africa’s current size is stronger than most kingdoms, so an empire is more in line with the current development of East Africa.”

“As for the discussions in Europe, if we were vying for the title of Emperor of Europe, it would naturally be laughable, but this is East Africa, so the empire we establish is an unprecedentedly large country in African history, and it should naturally be called the East African Empire.”

The Kingdom of Hechingen belonged to the European political system after all, so the Kingdom of Hechingen could not be called an empire. After all, Hechingen was originally just a small state under the Holy Roman Empire.

Of course, Ernst also coveted the title of Holy Roman Empire, but the other German states would never agree, especially Germany. If East Africa called itself the Holy Roman Empire, what would Germany become?

Of course, Constantine was not satisfied with Ernst’s idea: “The name East African Empire is not good. Although we are indeed in Africa, the name Africa has long been stigmatized. When I hear Africa, I can only think of poverty, backwardness, and barbarism.”

What Constantine said was also true. Although East Africa was developing rapidly now, the European countries’ stereotypes of Africa had not changed in the slightest.

The main reason was that North Africa and West Africa were holding them back. These regions were colonies or spheres of influence of European countries, so their descriptions of Africa were still based on these regions.

“Then, Father, what are your thoughts?” Ernst asked. In fact, he felt that the name East African Empire was not bad.

“Think about it. Although the main body of East Africa is still the eastern part of the continent, after several expansions, East Africa as a whole is actually more in line with the name South Africa on the map.”

Constantine said this. Of course, East Africa could not use the name South Africa. In addition to still being related to Africa, the main reason was that the British South African colony had already occupied this geographical designation.

After the end of the South African War, Britain integrated the colonies in the South African region, completely integrating the Natal Colony and the Cape Town Colony, and the government was collectively referred to as the South African Colonial Government.

So now South Africa mainly refers to the British colonial area at the southernmost tip of Africa. East Africa naturally cannot reuse this name.

“In my opinion, it’s better to select from the cultural elements of the German region and then use them as the new country name for East Africa. The ones I like most are Rhine and Swabia.”

Rhine naturally comes from the Rhine River, and Swabia is the place where the Hechingen royal family started, the original Principality of Hechingen, which is now the Hohenzollern Province of Germany, is located in the Swabia region.

Ernst suddenly realized: “That’s right! How could I not think of using Rhine as the country name for East Africa? This is readily available!”

Ernst did not think of this when he built the city of Rhine. His father’s idea was more reliable.

As for the name Swabia, Ernst did not consider it at all. Although East Africa has Swabia Province, Swabia was really a country in history, that is, the Duchy of Swabia under the Holy Roman Empire. Now all or part of Württemberg, Hechingen, Sigmaringen, Bavaria and other regions are within the scope of the country. The standard German of East Africa is collected from the Swabia region.

However, although the name Swabia has a deep historical origin, it is completely incomparable with Rhine.

Ernst said directly: “Then our East Africa will be called the Rhine Empire, and Father will be the first emperor of the Rhine Empire.”

Constantine shook his head and said, “I was originally planning to abdicate and let you officially take over, so you should do it! And I don’t want to suffer at the coronation ceremony.”

Generally speaking, kings are for life, but Constantine is unwilling to continue to serve as the King of East Africa. After all, he has long been a recluse and does not ask about political affairs. Moreover, since Ernst implemented the official retirement system in the East African government, Constantine’s idea has become even stronger.

Ernst denied: “Father, you are the ballast stone of the country. Even if you really want to abdicate, it should be after the title of emperor is implemented.”

Ernst was reluctant to Constantine’s idea, and he continued to persuade: “As for the coronation ceremony, I said before that it will not be as bloated and complicated as in Europe. At that time, just do a few big scenes, and you can just walk through the motions and the coronation ceremony will be completed.”

“Simplifying the ceremony is not difficult for us. In fact, we don’t even need to invite foreign guests. After all, East Africa becomes an empire because its strength has arrived. It is a natural thing, and it is not necessary to be recognized by other countries. What is more important is to unite the people’s hearts at home.”

“We don’t need carriages like in Europe at all. At that time, you can just sit in the car and wave to the people. The roads we built in Rhine City are completely asphalt roads, not bumpy at all, and other processes can also be omitted and simplified.”

“After all, it is the 19th century now, and Europe has undergone tremendous changes, and the relevant systems should also be changed accordingly.”

Like the British royal family’s coronation, with golden carriages and big stones (Stone of Destiny), Ernst thought it was both suffering and funny. Of course, only Ernst thinks so now.

Ernst continued: “The coronation ceremony must be as comfortable as possible, and I don’t want red tape to restrict the successors behind.”

“And to put it bluntly, the monarchy is already showing a downward trend in the world, so our Hechingen royal family must also find ways to integrate into the country, rather than completely separating from the people, especially in terms of class, at least it should not be divided too clearly. In the future, with the development of technology and social thinking, members of the royal family should act in a low-key manner, so as to reduce trouble.”

Constantine also nodded. He agreed with his son’s words. If it was before, as an old aristocrat, Constantine would definitely not think so, but with the development of the times, some things cannot be ignored by pretending not to see them.

Even monarchs like Wilhelm II and Nicholas II, who tried their best to maintain royal power, found it difficult to change this situation. As for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was already a stagnant pool. Although the economy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is still not to be underestimated, the combat effectiveness of the army is rapidly declining. This is the direct feeling of East Africa. In military cooperation with East Africa, the quality of the Austro-Hungarian army has declined severely.

So the Austro-Hungarian Empire is now in a very dangerous situation. If the gun is not hard enough, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire is at risk of disintegration at any time. Now Franz has really been reduced to a patcher, patching up the aging empire.

In fact, the Austrian government does not want to restore the glory of the Austrian Empire, but Hungary has strong combat effectiveness. Through parliamentary struggle, on the one hand, it resolutely promotes Magyarization in the Hungarian region, and on the other hand, it constantly compresses military expenditure, which makes the Austro-Hungarian army unable to get fresh blood, so decline is inevitable.

Chapter 942: Declaring War

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was already caught in a vicious cycle militarily. This wasn’t due to economic problems, but rather political ones. The East African Navy felt this most acutely. In their cooperation with Austria-Hungary, they could clearly see a severe decline in the quality of their personnel, and the speed of their equipment upgrades couldn’t keep up with East Africa’s. The East African Navy simply hadn’t expanded its scale, while the Austro-Hungarian Navy was crawling slowly forward.

Under these circumstances, Germany’s situation in Europe was truly not optimistic. Without Italy, that turncoat, and with Austria-Hungary dragging its feet militarily, even if Germany wanted to launch a war like in its previous life, it would have to find its allies first. Now it seemed doubtful whether the Central Powers of the original timeline could even be formed.

Of course, there were advantages and disadvantages. Seeking new allies also meant avoiding the pitfall of encountering a pre-war defector like Italy in its previous life.

Of course, the possibility of World War One breaking out still exceeded eighty percent. After all, Germany’s national strength was growing faster than in its previous life. With British assistance, East Africa’s economic cooperation would naturally avoid Britain, and East Africa’s vast market and raw materials mostly benefited industrial nations like Germany.

However, East Africa also had ambiguous relationships with countries like Austria-Hungary, France, Tsarist Russia, and Spain, so Ernst himself was curious to see how the course of history would change.

…

April 28, 1898.

Pontianak Port.

As East Africa’s most important port in the Nanyang region, East Africa’s investment in Pontianak Port was considerable, and it could rank among the best even domestically.

At eight o’clock this morning, two Spanish mainland battleships were undergoing repairs in Pontianak Port. The journey from mainland Spain to Pontianak Port was quite strenuous for the Spanish mainland navy.

The people of the Lanfang Overseas Province weren’t surprised at all to see warships flying the Spanish flag. After all, the Nanyang region was currently a chaotic scene, practically a natural testing ground for warships from various countries. The world’s major powers all had navies deployed in the area, or had a history of long-distance voyages.

“The armored cruiser Zaragoza, originally used as a training ship, was refitted in Spain due to this support mission to the Philippines. It has a total tonnage of around five thousand tons, and its construction dates back to the eighteen sixties or seventies. It returned to Spain in 1873 due to internal conflict.”

“The armored cruiser Sagunto has an even more legendary history. It was originally designed as a wooden-hulled steamship, but the emergence of ironclad warships forced it to stop midway and be redesigned. It ultimately took fourteen years to build, but it was already completely outdated when it came off the assembly line. However, it’s larger than the Zaragoza in terms of tonnage, reaching more than seven thousand tons.”

The East African Navy’s person in charge of Pontianak Port wasn’t very interested in the arriving Spanish warships, because both ironclads were products of the eighteen sixties and seventies and were completely obsolete.

The East African Navy might look down on them, but for the Spanish government, this was already a huge boost to the Asian fleet stationed in the Philippines.

The Spanish Asian fleet in the Philippines was a typical colonial navy, considerable in size but unable to participate in the great power naval race, only able to defend passively.

Previously, the flagship of the Spanish Asian fleet was the Cristina, with a total tonnage of just over three thousand tons, less than forty percent of the Far Eastern Empire’s Zhenyuan warship, and not much larger than East Africa’s gunboats. Currently, East Africa’s largest gunboats had been upgraded to more than two thousand tons, blurring the line between them and ordinary warships. The Cristina’s six main guns also had a caliber of only one hundred and twenty millimeters, less than East Africa’s gunboats, and its armor was extremely weak.

The Cristina was already the top warship in the Spanish Asian fleet. For example, the Castilla, ranked second, was still a wooden-hulled cruiser, not to mention the other warships.

So the Zaragoza and Sagunto, although not highly ranked in the Spanish mainland navy, were a great show of sincerity when placed in the Philippines.

It should be known that the main battlefield of the Spanish-American War was still Cuba, and the Spanish government also had to guard against an American attack on mainland Spain, so it was already extremely difficult for the Spanish Navy to send two old ships to the Philippines.

“Rear Admiral Herson, one of the Sagunto’s boilers had some problems on the way to Pontianak. I don’t know if you can fix it.” Captain Yahr of the Sagunto asked Rear Admiral Herson with some embarrassment.

Silently criticizing the decline of the Spanish Navy, Herson said without changing his expression, “Of course, there’s no problem. The shipyard in Pontianak is quite strong. Some of our East African merchant ships and warships also undergo major repairs in Pontianak if they encounter problems.”

According to the agreement between East Africa and Spain, East Africa would open Pontianak Port as a rest stop for the Spanish Navy during this period in 1898.

Although Pontianak Port was close to the sea, it was a river port, so there was no fear of warships from other countries posing a threat to Pontianak Port. Seven three-hundred-millimeter coastal defense guns and several small-caliber main guns were deployed on both sides of the waterway leading from Pontianak Port to the sea, making the naval distribution of the entire Pontianak Port unafraid of any threat.

Captain Yahr complained, “That’s great. Alas, if the infrastructure conditions in Pontianak Port weren’t perfect, the Sagunto would probably have a hard time participating in the subsequent war. The shipyards in Manila Bay can only solve some minor problems, because the local navy is mainly composed of wooden-hulled ships.”

In fact, Yahr was already quite resistant to being sent to the Philippines. First of all, the Sagunto itself had big problems. The design was changed midway, and it was changed from a wooden hull to an ironclad, so it would be strange if there were no problems.

Secondly, the Sagunto’s crew was also temporarily pieced together. Fortunately, the Sagunto had been used as a training ship for many years, so even if the crew was complex, most of them could get started relatively easily. After all, many recruits’ first experience with ship training might have been on the Sagunto.

Finally, although the Sagunto was larger than the American Asian fleet in terms of scale, with a total tonnage of seven thousand tons, while the main warships of the American fleet were only five thousand tons, the equipment and technology were the opposite. Although the Sagunto’s main guns far exceeded the Spanish Asian fleet’s flagship Cristina, they only reached a caliber of two hundred millimeters, but the armor thickness met the standard, three times thicker than the Cristina.

The armored cruiser Zaragoza, which was sent to the Philippines this time, also had only five thousand tons, but its main guns had four more two-hundred-and-eighty-millimeter guns, making it the only warship capable of competing with the American Asian fleet in terms of firepower.

So the Zaragoza and Sagunto should be retired or sent to the colonies for service according to East African standards.

This was also the case in history. The Zaragoza and Sagunto should have been retired and declared scrapped at this time, but they were pulled out by the Spanish Navy to make use of waste, which shows the Spanish Navy’s predicament at this time.

Of course, this predicament was in relation to other great powers. In fact, the Spanish Navy’s strength was not weak. Many of the warships in the mainland fleet were advanced main battleships in the world, but the Spanish mainland fleet could not fully participate in the “gambling” war with the American Navy.

Relying on the Spanish colonial navy, it was naturally impossible to defeat the emerging American Navy, including the Maine, which was bombed, and was not weak in the Spanish Navy.

After staying in Pontianak Port for more than ten days, the Zaragoza and Sagunto officially headed to Manila Bay with a determination to die.

In Pontianak Port, East Africa provided meticulous services to the two warships, including catering and medical care, so that Spanish mainland soldiers could adapt to the tropical waters as soon as possible.

The time in Pontianak Port was probably the two warships’ last “vacation” in the Nanyang region. After arriving in Manila Bay, they would not only face a more complex and harsh environment, but also endure the shadow of war.

On May 27, 1898, the Spanish government and the American government, after fruitless negotiations, officially declared war on each other, and the Spanish-American War officially began.

Chapter 943: Manila Bay Naval Battle

First Town.

After Spain declared war on the United States, Ernst quickly received the news. The war between the two countries naturally attracted the attention of the East African army and navy.

The East African navy had a short history, few victories, and little experience, so it paid close attention to the impending naval war. Both the United States and Spain were maritime powers, so regardless of who won or lost, this war could provide better data support for the development of the East African navy.

The United States Navy was a key focus for East Africa, after all, the expansion of the United States Navy had only occurred in recent years, and the application of a large number of new technologies far surpassed Spain, a fading power.

The East African army was not as concerned about the Spanish-American War, because the land battles between the two countries were a case of chickens pecking at each other. However, Spain had applied some East African standard equipment in the Philippines, so there was still some testing effect on weapons such as rifles, artillery, and machine guns.

“This great war between Spain and the United States is probably the last major war of the entire 1890s. Adding the South African War and the Far East War, three large-scale wars have broken out in just ten years. This also indicates that the world is in a period of intense collision, and the battle between new and old forces is far from over,” Ernst said with emotion.

East Africa against Britain, Japan against the Far Eastern Empire, and the United States against Spain were all challenges from new forces to the old powers in the international order.

Of course, the South African War was more complicated, involving Portugal as well. As for Britain and East Africa, it could only be considered a draw. However, when Britain intervened in the South African War, other countries easily overlooked Portugal, which was also a major player, and the Boer Republic was even less noticed.

Of course, these three wars were actually just appetizers. In Ernst’s mind, Germany’s challenge to British hegemony was the ultimate outcome. Among the old powers, Britain and France were the most representative, and among the emerging countries, it was naturally Germany.

Although there were rising stars like East Africa, the United States, and Japan, these countries were not in Europe. The center of world civilization was currently in Europe, so the significance was different.

World War I’s main battlefield was Europe, while World War II spread to the three regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Of course, the main battlefield in Africa during World War II was North Africa.

Archduke Ferdinand said, “The current international situation is like this. Many countries have achieved breakthroughs by taking advantage of the tide of the Industrial Revolution, but the international community is a cake that has already been divided. Emerging powers can only get a share by challenging the old powers.”

Constantine: “The United States should not be considered an emerging power. In fact, the United States has always been very strong, but it has been hidden relatively deeply and is often overlooked. Therefore, the Spanish-American War is also an opportunity for the United States to show its military strength, thereby gaining more political influence.”

“What my father-in-law and father said is correct, but precisely because of this, we in East Africa cannot stop our development. For East Africa, we are in a relatively passive position in the current international situation,” Ernst said. “On the one hand, we lack the strong accumulation of countries like the United States, and on the other hand, East Africa’s domestic economy has just begun to develop, so if we want to dominate the division of the international cake, it will take at least twenty or thirty years.”

East Africa’s economy had only just established its overall framework, and the country’s industrialization still required at least a dozen years or even longer of effort.

According to the current rate of economic development in East Africa, if urbanization can break through to 30% before 1910, then the East African government will have achieved excellent results.

After all, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1910, the level of urbanization was only over 20%, and Tsarist Russia was even lower, only over 10%, which was much worse than East Africa now.

East Africa was able to join the ranks of the world’s powers due to the accumulation of population and land area. Tsarist Russia was the same, while other great powers were more powerful in terms of industrial strength.

Of course, Ernst was not too worried about improving East Africa’s industrial strength. After all, East Africa had already completed the layout of emerging industries such as electricity and internal combustion engines, which meant that East Africa’s technology would not be too bad as time went on.

Therefore, the East African government’s economic work was mainly to continue to improve the country’s economic system and stimulate economic development. Currently, the state-owned system dominates, which is more conducive to East Africa catching up with other countries.

East Africa’s reform of the state-owned economy has never been interrupted. Even the Far Eastern Empire in his previous life had to constantly spur state-owned enterprises, and East Africa’s state-owned economic framework would only be more rudimentary. Now the East African government is constantly identifying and filling gaps on this basis.

Of course, Ernst would still not let go of the shackles on the private economy at this stage. After all, East Africa’s state-owned economy is still in a period of growth and is conducive to the East African government concentrating national resources to compete with other countries.

It will be when East Africa’s state-owned economy is relatively mature and able to dominate the country’s economic development that Ernst’s next stage of reform will begin.

……

Due to East Africa’s instigation, Spain postponed the declaration of war, which gave the Spanish garrison in the Philippines more time to prepare.

After the two countries declared war, the American Asiatic Squadron stationed in Hong Kong officially headed towards the Philippines. By the time the American navy reached the Philippine coast, it was already June.

The Spanish navy in the Philippines adopted the strategy from his previous life, preparing to rely on the terrain advantage of Manila Bay to maneuver against the powerful American navy.

At noon on June 3rd, the American navy finally arrived in Manila Bay and confronted the Spanish navy. Due to the addition of the Saragossa and Sagunto, the number of Spanish Philippine naval warships increased to eleven, including nine cruisers and two gunboats.

Only the Saragossa, Sagunto, and Cristina were steel-armored, so the Spanish navy was still at a clear disadvantage.

In just one encounter, the Spanish navy was beaten black and blue. The Cristina, which was at the forefront, was directly blown a big hole, and seawater quickly poured into the cabins. Other warships were either sunk or damaged. Fortunately, the Saragossa and Sagunto were unharmed.

This prevented the Spanish Philippine navy from losing all confidence. However, after the first round of head-on confrontation, the Spanish navy dared not fight again. At this time, the Spanish navy had already lost four warships, so the Spanish naval commander decisively ordered the entire army to flee into Manila Bay to avoid being completely annihilated by the American army.

During the retreat, as expected, another warship was sunk, and the Sagunto was hit by a shell because it did not react in time. Only the Saragossa could still organize limited counterattacks.

Seeing the Philippine navy fleeing, Dewey decisively ordered the American navy to pursue the defeated enemy. However, facing the Spanish army fighting on their own doorstep, the American navy was not so lucky this time.

First of all, Spain had laid mines in Manila Bay, and the coastal defense guns had also been upgraded. Therefore, while pursuing the entrance to Manila Bay, in order to avoid the attack of the Spanish coastal defense guns, an American warship sailed north and plunged into the minefield of Manila Bay.

With a loud noise, this American warship unfortunately became the first American naval warship lost in the Spanish-American War.

This was already an unexpected surprise for Spain. Of course, the Spanish government certainly did not think so, after all, they did not know that in the Manila Bay naval battle in his previous life, the United States did not lose a single warship and easily annihilated the Spanish Asiatic Squadron.

Although the Spanish Asiatic Squadron had lost nearly half of its ships this time, it still had the power to fight, and it had sunk an American warship, so the war would not be lost too badly. As for the subsequent outcome of the Manila Bay naval battle, it depends on the next steps of the two countries.

Chapter 944: The Argo Sets Sail

While the outcome of the Battle of Manila Bay had some variables, its defeat was already sealed after being blockaded by the American forces. Without external supply sources after the blockade, the Spanish forces in the Philippines could only delay the inevitable for a while. Ernst merely wanted to cause some trouble for the United States with this opportunity, so he stopped paying attention.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible to turn the tables. That would require Spain to completely annihilate the main force of the American Navy in the Caribbean Sea and threaten the American mainland. But that possibility was even smaller. With the homeland navy preserving its strength and unable to go all out, the Spanish Navy’s fate would probably be similar to that of the Far Eastern Empire.

…

June 5, 1889.

Bulawayo.

“Humanity has always yearned for the skies, and the Argo carries our urgent hopes. If this experiment succeeds, it will be a history-changing day for East Africa, and even the entire world.”

At this moment, at the test site west of Bulawayo, researchers and reporters from the East New Agency were on high alert.

The chief designer leading this experiment, Liu Leide, and his research team were even more nervous. As a person of mixed race.

Liu Leide received a formal education in East Africa. His father was a graduate of the Hechingen Military Academy and made great contributions to East Africa’s expansion, so according to conventional practice, he should have followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military.

However, Liu Leide did not follow the usual path. He was naturally more interested in inventions and creations. Later, he went to the University of Vienna in Europe for further study. After graduation, he was directly recruited into the Vienna branch of the Hechingen Energy and Power Laboratory for an internship. Finally, after returning to East Africa, he was entrusted with the important task of building the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute.

An aircraft, simply put, is a flying machine, an aircraft. In the 19th century, during the critical period of research and development of this project, a large number of researchers around the world went one after another, but none of them succeeded, but they accumulated enough experience.

Liu Leide also knew something about airplanes. Of course, many of the “aircraft” he knew about were unsuccessful cases.

The reason why Liu Leide was able to become the leader of the East African Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute was entirely because East Africa was short of manpower, so it could only reuse local talents.

After all, for this kind of scientific research project, Ernst naturally set a very high level of confidentiality, which meant that some projects had to be carried out anonymously. For many European and American scientists or inventors who pursued fame, even if East Africa offered high salaries, it was not worth it.

Although local talents like Liu Leide were a little young, East Africa had ways to make up for the shortcomings. For example, Liu Leide’s core team had more than forty members, all of whom were top students in East Africa.

Many hands make light work. East Africa, which was already “over-educated,” had the largest number of college students compared to other countries. East Africa may lack top talents, but East Africa could make up for it with quantity, even with a hundred to one. This crude human wave tactic was of great help to East Africa’s scientific research. Many national laboratories in East Africa were built up by these young talents, and they had achieved many successes.

Moreover, compared to many European inventions and creations in the 19th century, which mostly relied on individual whims, East Africa’s scientific research team model had inherent advantages.

For example, the Wright brothers, who historically invented the first airplane, only had high school diplomas and made a living repairing bicycles.

In this case, compared with the East African Aircraft Research Institute, the Wright brothers could not even be considered a ragtag army, not to mention that Ernst also pointed out the direction for the East African researchers.

The fact was also true. The “airplane” in Bulawayo City looked much more “luxurious” than the airplane invented by the Wright brothers in the previous life, not only with a simple mechanical structure, but even equipped with certain electronic products and a shell.

The Wright brothers’ airplane in the previous life had no shell, only a crude frame. Sitting on it was probably like driving a convertible.

In fact, this East African-developed aircraft had its first flight as early as March of this year, but this time it was even more prepared, and the central government specially sent reporters to record this precious historical image.

“Buzz buzz buzz…”

As the propeller in front drove, the Argo made a huge noise, and then clumsily moved forward along the runway.

For the “non-professional” people present, the so-called airplane that had not yet taken off felt somewhat like a strangely shaped sports car.

A military representative said disapprovingly: “Can this thing really fly into the sky? Its two wings are obviously fixed, and they are made entirely of metal. It is impossible to rely on the vibration of the wings to fly like birds or insects…”

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the Argo leaving the ground, facing upwards at an angle, and then leaving the ground in an instant, flying close to the ground, and then quickly rising in a very short time, and finally flying straight in the sky.

Facts speak louder than words, and although the members of the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute had not seen the plane take off for the first time, they were still so happy that they almost jumped up.

The reporters from the East New Agency were even more flustered to record this historic moment. Under the attention of the camera, the first airplane in human history successfully completed its mission, flying in the sky for nearly seven or eight minutes before returning to the runway and landing smoothly.

In the original history, the Wright brothers’ first airplane flew less than three hundred meters in fifty-nine seconds, which shows the high starting point of East Africa’s first airplane.

Of course, this was also a matter of course. Behind East Africa’s first airplane were not only more than forty core researchers, but also other research institutions sharing data, various East African factories providing the best parts, East African financial support, and so on. In comparison, the Wright brothers’ team could only be regarded as a small workshop.

With such support, it would be too much to say that East Africa’s first airplane was as crude as it was in the previous life.

At this time, the East African research team also felt proud, after all, as the developers of the world’s first airplane, they had the capital to feel proud.

This was also an encouragement to the many young people in East African research institutions. Although East Africa’s talent quality lagged behind European and American countries, this did not mean that their IQ was not enough, but that their accumulation and experience were insufficient.

The East African government undoubtedly provided them with an excellent platform, allowing them to have the opportunity to show their talents and quickly grow in national projects. As time went by, people like Liu Leide would also become as famous as those “masters” in Europe today, becoming figures recorded in history.

This was also what Ernst hoped to see. Top talents could not only rely on imports. If East African local talents could continue to achieve results, it would naturally be even better. After all, science belongs to all mankind, but scientists have nationalities.

In fact, this was also the case. Many European and American scientists or scholars hired by East Africa came to East Africa for money or other reasons, but their sense of belonging was ultimately not to East Africa.

For example, many university teachers hired by East Africa only used East Africa as a springboard, and ultimately wanted to return to Europe for development.

Local talents were different. At least the vast majority of people who grew up in East Africa naturally had a strong sense of belonging to East Africa, and were the talents that East Africa could most easily retain.

…

First Town.

“Very good! It seems that the military expenditure will increase soon!” Ernst thought in his heart after learning about the success of this flight experiment.

In fact, Ernst knew that the Argo had taken off successfully as early as March, but after confirming it again, he couldn’t help but get excited. After all, airplanes were also one of the major inventions that could change human history, and being able to achieve it in East Africa made Ernst even more optimistic about the future prospects of East Africa.

In addition, the first large-scale application of airplanes in the previous life was in war, with functions such as reconnaissance, attack, and transportation. The successful take-off of East African airplanes also meant that the third major military service, the Air Force, was about to be born.

With the Argo taking off, East Africa should prepare for the Air Force as soon as possible to prepare for future wars.

Chapter 945: Air Force

“Publish this news nationwide in written form and announce it nationally through radio broadcasts. The Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute will be commended and given material rewards…”

Ernst decided to spread the news about the aircraft. After all, other countries would develop aircraft within a few years, so there was no need to completely conceal it.

Moreover, even if aircraft were introduced, they would not immediately attract the attention of various countries’ militaries. With the advantages already accumulated in East Africa, as long as investment continued, East Africa could maintain this first-mover advantage.

As for material rewards, that was even easier. Besides money, things like real estate and cars… this was a set of related procedures that East Africa had worked out.

Of course, reputation was also essential. Although it wouldn’t be heavily promoted internationally, it would be easy to achieve household recognition within East Africa in the future.

“At the same time, have the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute share its data with its sister organizations. Now that the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute has achieved results, they should also speed up their progress.”

East Africa naturally didn’t only have the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute. Cities like Mbeya and Harare, which were developed inland industrial cities, also had them.

Among them, Mbeya had two, and Harare and Bulawayo each had one. The fact that Bulawayo was able to outperform Mbeya and Harare, which had stronger industrial foundations and research capabilities, was indeed surprising. However, this could more easily stimulate the determination of other related aircraft research institutions to develop.

Thinking of this, Ernst continued, “I think it’s necessary to organize a study and exchange session for various research institutions this year. Only mutual learning and promotion can boost the rapid development of our country’s scientific research.”

…

After discussing the rewards for the Bulawayo Aircraft Research Institute and the encouragement for other research institutions, Ernst began to plan the construction of the East African Air Force.

Of course, it was just building the most basic framework. As for forming an army, that would take time. After all, aircraft had just been introduced and mass production hadn’t even been achieved.

“Go and call Moltke and Felix over!” Ernst instructed. The current Chief of the General Staff of the National Defense Force was Moltke, and the Minister of National Defense was Felix.

Soon, the two arrived at the Zwett Palace. Felix took over the position from Marquis Almann. After all, Almann was too old, and he had many hidden ailments left over from the early wars, so he had retired. Felix was now also in his sixties and no longer as arrogant as he was when he was young. In his youth, Felix was a well-known hawk who showed no mercy to natives and enemies.

Moltke was the current Chief of the General Staff and a representative figure of the young and middle-aged officers in East Africa. He had also participated in and commanded many major battles, especially standing out in the South African War.

Ernst showed them the materials filmed by East African reporters on a projector and asked, “What do you think of this new type of transportation?”

Felix was still quite surprised, “Your Highness, I remember that the navy was already equipped with submarines, plus the armored units and rapid motorized infantry that the army is building, and now with this thing that can fly in the sky, isn’t that complete coverage of the sky, land, and sea! The development of technology today is truly amazing.”

As Minister of National Defense, Felix’s level of knowledge was relatively low. After all, as one of the first mercenary members, most of them didn’t have high levels of education, except for the Blackingen Military Academy that was later stuffed in. Of course, Felix had caught up with the wave of compulsory education in Germany, and East Africa had further improved their education, so he was still stronger than Marquis Almann in this regard.

Moltke said, “Your Highness, are you planning to equip the troops with this new invention?”

After all, the two people Ernst had brought were the highest leaders of the army, plus the precedents of submarines, cars, and armored vehicles, so the intention was still very obvious.

Ernst nodded and said, “What do you think is the impact of this equipment on future wars?”

Moltke said, “This is somewhat similar to airships. It should be able to take the army’s construction to a new level in reconnaissance and information transmission.”

As early as the nineteen fifties, the French had invented manned airships. Today, airships are also an important project for countries to try to occupy a place in the sky. East Africa is no exception, but East Africa’s investment in airships is not large. The East African army is only equipped with two domestically produced airships to complete some specific military tasks.

“Then what do you think is the difference between this new type of aircraft, that is, airplanes, and airships?” Ernst asked.

Felix: “Judging from the video alone, the maneuverability of airplanes seems to be stronger and the reaction speed is faster.”

Moltke also nodded, but he also raised a different point of view: “But we don’t understand the specific details of airplanes and airships. Because of their stability, airships can calmly complete many tasks in the air. I don’t know if airplanes can do it!”

Ernst: “That’s natural, but early airplanes obviously can’t meet the requirements of airships. After all, airplane research and development has just started, and airships have been developed for forty or fifty years and are becoming more mature. However, with the development of technology, airplanes will eventually surpass airships. In fact, as far as the current situation is concerned, airplanes already have many advantages over airships, such as speed, turning, operation, and so on.”

Moltke asked, “Then I don’t know how Your Highness plans to arrange the application of airplanes in the army?”

Ernst: “Early airplanes will obviously serve the army, responsible for reconnaissance, transportation of special items, and other purposes. However, with the passage of time and technological progress, in my opinion, an independent military branch can be completely established relying on airplanes, and it will be the third largest military branch alongside the navy and army.”

Ernst’s words immediately made Felix and Moltke feel awed, but they did not refute it, because the facts proved that many of the Crown Prince’s assertions were correct.

Ernst explained, “The application scenarios of airplanes are very broad, of course, it is difficult to be convincing now, but before the Industrial Revolution, it was also difficult for anyone to imagine the application of inventions such as steam engines, internal combustion engines, generators, etc., would have such a huge impact on human society.”

“And airplanes also represent an important step for mankind towards the sky. In the future, there will not only be naval and land power, but also air power. The development of airplanes will also allow them to carry weapons and suppress the enemy from the sky. What I am saying is that the establishment of the third largest military branch has been determined.”

“What you have to do is to transfer a group of elite and strong generals from the army, preferably those who also understand some technology, to build the basic framework of the future air force.”

Like the navy, the air force is a technology-based military branch from the beginning. It is difficult for ordinary people to play with, so without a certain scientific literacy, it is not conducive to the progress of the air force.

Moltke nodded and said, “Does Your Highness have any other requirements?”

Ernst continued, “Now airplanes are only experimental flights, so the air force is not built in a day. You don’t have to be too anxious. According to my idea, the East African Air Force will be basically formed in about ten years, and the scale will not be too large. In addition to technicians, pilots also need professional training. This is a complex system…”

With Ernst’s long speech, the establishment of the East African Air Force was basically determined. Of course, the main task of the early East African Air Force was to assist the army. To truly be independent like the navy, it would have to wait until East Africa’s production capacity increased.

Chapter 946: Nales’ Diary

June 2nd, 1898.

Black Point City, the capital of the Belgian Congo.

Nales, an employee of the East Africa Trading Company, and his party completed their trade with the Belgians. As an East African employee who had been engaged in trade in the Belgian Congo since 1886, Nales discovered a very shocking fact during this trip.

After returning to Luanda, he reported his observations in the Belgian Congo to the company in detail, which then attracted the attention of the East African government.

In order to determine the accuracy of this information, East Africa organized personnel again in July to conduct a secret investigation into the Belgian Congo.

Thus, in 1898, the East African government reached an astonishing conclusion: the East African government discovered that the Chinese population in the Belgian Congo had become the absolute majority. Although there was no data to support it, no one would deny this fact when East Africans went deep into the Belgian Congo.

That is, the local natives are very likely to have been completely exterminated. From 1897 to 1898, the staff of East Africa in the Belgian colony did not find a single native.

This shows that the local black people have been completely eliminated by the Belgian colonists, of course, excluding the black people transported by East Africa to the Belgian Congo, but they are also foreign populations and do not count as natives.

In other words, the natives of the Belgian Congo may now be extinct, and the current population of the Belgian Congo comes from other regions, including Belgians, Chinese, and black slaves from Angola.

After the East African government occupied Angola, it sent more than one hundred thousand die-hard elements loyal to Portugal in the South African War to the Belgian Congo, and these die-hard elements have also become the main black population in the Belgian Congo today. However, in just a few years, they have decreased from the initial one hundred thousand to a scale of twenty to thirty thousand.

However, with the start of various projects in East Africa, East Africa is in urgent need of a large amount of labor. In this case, East Africa has also suspended the export of black slave population. Now East Africa does not have enough black people, let alone drive out the only remaining stock. Therefore, before 1892, East Africa officially stopped the slave trade business that had lasted for more than twenty years.

And Nales’ report and some East African personnel reports aroused Ernst’s attention, especially Nales’ diary.

“February 7th, 1898. Today is the twenty-third day I entered the Belgian Congo. I have gone deep into a local colonial stronghold called Kalabi. This is in the eastern part of the Belgian Congo. I heard from the local Belgians that it is less than sixty kilometers east to our East Africa. This colonial stronghold is mainly based on mining, and the main mineral is tin ore, which is also one of the main purposes of my trip.”

“I have also been here before, in April of 1892 and May of 1895 respectively, but today I found that there is not a single black person among the workers in the mine. You must know that when I came last time, at least sixty percent of the people were black slaves.”

“Out of curiosity, I asked the local Belgians, but most of them were hesitant and vague in their answers, and were unwilling to answer this question.”

“However, this is not difficult for me. Through a pack of cigarettes, I got the answer I wanted, that is, in the past three years, the local natives have been exhausted.”

“Thinking carefully, along the way, except for Black Point, I really haven’t seen many black people. This aroused my interest. Of course, what the specific result is, you can pay a little attention to it on the road later.”

From here on, the following diary is a detailed account of Nales’ population survey of Belgium. Ernst turned the pages one by one.

“February 8th, 1898. After staying in Kalabi for a day, I found that not only are there no black people here, but I think most of them have been physically exhausted. Moreover, the local Chinese laborers are also living very hard, but the situation is only slightly better than that of the black people. Although many people in East Africa also come from the Far East, I don’t know anything about Chinese. However, under the rule of the Belgians, the local Chinese laborers have also learned some French. The Belgians can speak German and French, so the Belgians are very cunning. They deliberately placed the German and French speaking people on the borders of East Africa and France respectively. Kalabi is relatively close to East Africa, so most of the Belgians here speak French, but this is not difficult for me. After all, doing business with the Belgians requires French as a compulsory subject.”

“Through simple French communication with the local Chinese, I have some understanding of their living conditions, which can only be described as appalling. They have to do a lot of physical labor every day, do not get enough rest, and their meals are mixed with all kinds of strange things.”

“However, it is still better than the black people who were originally here. The Belgians simply do not regard black people as human beings. Of course, their attitude towards the Chinese in private is similar, but it is only because of the existence of East Africa that they leave some leeway for the Chinese.”

“Moreover, because the Belgian Congo is now severely short of population, the Belgian ruling strategy has undergone a major change. In the past, the Belgians used to cut off the arms or other parts of black slaves at every turn, or simply execute them. Now they have restrained a lot, because there are too few local people, and the Belgians obviously cannot personally complete these heavy physical tasks.”

The record in Nales’ diary is largely true. East Africa has consolidated its national system, so the Chinese are also very influential in East Africa, the most typical of which are the military and education circles.

Of course, this influence will eventually dissipate after a generation of Chinese immigrants die. As for the second generation, they are basically mixed-race.

“February 13th, 1898. During my trip, I deliberately focused on the situation of the Belgian colony and conducted an in-depth investigation. Through observation of the local area, and the narration of the Belgians and Chinese, it can be basically determined that most of the black natives in the Belgian Congo have disappeared. Of course, this only represents what I have seen and heard on my route, and I don’t know whether other regions are different…”

“June 2nd, 1898. Finally returned to Black Point. Here I finally saw a large number of black people again, but these black people seem to be all provided to Belgium by East Africa. Now Black Point is the most important port in the Belgian colony, so most of these black people work here. I heard that there were hundreds of thousands of them at the beginning, and now there are only less than twenty thousand left, which also gave me a deeper understanding of the cruelty of the Belgians.”

“The black population provided to Belgium by East Africa alone is half of the original local natives in Belgium. Because most areas of the Belgian Congo, like Cabinda, have a tropical rainforest climate, the original number of local natives was insufficient. According to our estimates, before the Belgian colonization, the local population may have been only two to three hundred thousand, and could not have exceeded four hundred thousand. Under the Belgian policy of draining the pond to catch all the fish, this number of natives is simply not enough for Belgium to consume.”

The fact is also as Nales said, the Belgian Congo is probably the former French Congo and parts of Gabon, with an area of about three hundred thousand square kilometers. Because there is no specific data on the border between the Belgian and French Gabonese colonies, it is difficult to calculate the specific land area of the Belgian colony, but it is not much different from the former Congo (Brazzaville).

And the population of the former Congo (Brazzaville) at the beginning of its independence from France was only more than two million, which was already in the 1960s. Therefore, through this data, analyzing the local population before the Belgian colonization, that is, the scale of two to three hundred thousand mentioned by Nales, is relatively reliable.

Leopold II slaughtered at least five million people in the former Congo (Kinshasa), so now the Belgian Congo, whose population is not even a fraction of that of Congo (Kinshasa), does not have enough native population for Belgium to harm.

Chapter 947: Total Black Population of Africa

There is also data stating that under Leopold II’s rule, the Congo lost over ten million people, which is enough to show how wealthy the Congo was in my previous life. In reality, the area of the Belgian Congo in my previous life was much larger than the current Congo, especially the eastern and southern regions where the population was most concentrated.

However, these areas have all fallen into East Africa’s hands. Ernst optimistically estimates that the total Black population in East Africa should be around fifteen million, and this is just an optimistic estimate.

Because since the South African War, East Africa’s rule over the local Black population has entered its most “brutal” stage, in order to alleviate the pressure of East Africa’s population growth.

Now East Africa already has a large population and a high growth rate. With over fifty million people and a relatively high population growth rate, Ernst himself doesn’t know how much East Africa’s population has swelled. However, it is certain that by 1900, East Africa’s non-Black population will definitely reach third in the world, surpassing the United States and only behind Tsarist Russia.

Besides population pressure, closely following is East Africa’s large-scale infrastructure construction. The East African Grand Canal project alone is enough to put Ernst on par with Emperor Yang of Sui, and that’s not even including the highways and railways, and urban construction.

In this situation, East Africa doesn’t even need to export Black people. The local Black population will head towards extinction due to heavy labor tasks and an imbalanced population structure. Therefore, Belgium’s genocide is child’s play compared to East Africa’s.

So when reading Nales’ diary, Ernst felt no emotion. He also had no sympathy for the experiences of the Chinese in Belgium.

After all, the situation of the Chinese under Belgian rule is much better than in my previous life. In my previous life, Leopold also introduced Chinese immigrants from the Far East Empire to the then Zaire colony (formerly known as the Congo) to make up for the shortage of Black labor. As a result, the overwhelmed Chinese immigrants were eventually forced to cross the rainforests of the Zaire colony to escape to other countries’ colonies.

One can imagine how brutal the Belgians’ rule over the Chinese was in my previous life, after all, the Chinese in the 19th century were definitely the epitome of hard work and resilience.

Under East Africa’s influence, the Belgian colony is now very restrained. At least the East African border has never received any cases of Chinese people fleeing from Belgium to East Africa.

Of course, this is not a problem for a mature and cold-blooded politician like Ernst to consider. He is more concerned about the impact of East Africa on the African population.

Now, under Belgian rule, the Chinese have become the mainstream population there, not to mention the Sigmaringen Royal Territory and East Africa, two major countries of Chinese immigrants.

Of course, the Sigmaringen Royal Territory and East Africa are countries where Germans and Chinese intermarry, so the situation is very different from Belgium. In the future, there will be no mainstream Chinese race in either country. There will only be different proportions and degrees of mixed-race descendants.

Ernst doesn’t care about the current number of Chinese in Africa. He wants to know how many pure Black people are left in Africa.

Ernst thought that if the Black population within East Africa is calculated at fifteen million, these fifteen million are all male, and they will basically die out on their own when the time comes.

In other words, in the future, African Blacks will only exist in West Africa. According to the African population data from my previous life, the total African population at the end of the 19th century was over ninety million.

Now East Africa occupies forty-three percent of Africa’s land, and it is also the main gathering place for Blacks in my previous life. Therefore, excluding the local Black population in East Africa, the total African population must be reduced by at least forty percent.

That is about forty-five million. Of the remaining forty-five million, we must also subtract the Arab cultural areas of North Africa. Egypt, Algeria, Libya, and other countries previously had twenty million. If we include Abyssinia, which is a mixed Black and White race, then there are probably thirty million. So calculated, the population left for West Africa is probably less than fifteen million!

Of course, this number is probably not very reliable, because reducing it by half due to East Africa is definitely not reasonable. After all, West Africa has always been more developed than the indigenous civilization in East Africa before East Africa.

In addition, East Africa has imported a lot of people into West Africa, so the total Black population in West Africa should now be between twenty million and less than thirty million.

If that’s the case, then the total number of Black people in the entire Africa is probably equivalent to that of the United States in the twenty-first century, and may even be less than the number of Black people in the United States.

The number of Black people in the United States in the twenty-first century is forty-seven million, and the Black people in East Africa plus the Black people in West Africa may be about this number.

Moreover, we must further consider that the future of the Black people in Sigmaringen and the Belgian Congo is basically bleak. The number of Black people in West Africa will only be less.

The total Black population in West Africa is less than thirty million, this number is very interesting. After all, colonial development requires a large population, and the total population of West Africa is now only equivalent to the total population of France, which shows the extent of the sparse population in West Africa today.

Of course, there are gains and losses. The total African population will not change much due to the cliff-like decline in the Black population.

The total population of East Africa alone is already close to or even the size of the entire African population in the 19th century in my previous life, except that most of them have been replaced by Europeans and people from the Far East.

Thinking that it’s almost 1900, Ernst also feels that he should launch a new round of census on the population of East Africa and other data.

At the same time, East Africa should also pay attention to the population of West Africa and other regions, in order to facilitate East Africa’s layout in the entire African continent in the future.

……

A census is a complex matter, especially after the population size of East Africa has further increased, the difficulty and amount of calculation have further increased.

Therefore, compared to the census, focusing on other areas is more urgent and convenient, and the investment in the education field has already begun to show results.

With the previous upsurge of running schools in East Africa, in 1898, the number of universities in East Africa further increased, almost doubling in less than a year, and the number of college students also increased to more than fifty-two thousand. If you add quasi-higher education, it directly exceeds one hundred thousand, and has become the country with the most universities and college students in the world, surpassing the United States, Germany and other European and American countries, and this is only the initial stage of East Africa’s university expansion.

“Before 1900, after the completion of university construction in various provinces, the number of college students in our East Africa is expected to exceed one hundred and sixty thousand, further widening the gap with other countries in the world.”

“The current increase in the number of college students can be mainly divided into two aspects, one is that existing universities have increased their enrollment scale, and the other is that newly built universities have begun to enroll students.”

The average number of students in each university in East Africa is actually only about six or seven hundred, which is far from comparable to the universities in my previous life. To put it bluntly, a university in my previous life can accommodate all the college students in East Africa now, and the number of faculty and staff in East Africa’s universities is less than eight thousand, of which only more than three thousand are teachers, and the ratio of teachers to students is about one to seventeen.

So even if East Africa’s higher education is at the mid-level in the world, it can still be called elite education, after all, East Africa cannot only be compared with European and American countries. There is also higher education in other regions and countries. East Africa has a gap with Europe and the United States, and other regions and countries also have a gap with East Africa.

But one thing is very good, that is, East Africa’s universities have been taking the people’s war strategy from the beginning. As an agricultural country that has not yet successfully transformed, East Africa’s higher education and basic education penetration rate is already at the forefront of the world.

This is also one of the important reasons why East Africa squeezed Black slaves to death after the South African War. East Africa’s education expenditure accounts for the first place in the world, surpassing Germany.

Chapter 948: Seizing Manila

“In 1897, the total number of our army fluctuated around one hundred and forty thousand, less than one-third of the armies of Germany and France. However, military expenditure reached a new high, about four-fifths of Germany’s, mainly due to the equipment of new tools and weapons such as automobiles, which drove up the national defense expenditure. There was little change in the navy.”

East Africa’s naval expenditure was not small, but against the backdrop of continuously surging naval expenditures in other countries, it seemed rather conservative.

Naval expenditure accounted for the bulk of East Africa’s military expenditure, so even with the army’s expenditure soaring, East Africa’s overall military expenditure remained within a controllable range.

“The main investments in other areas are mainly in industry and infrastructure construction, so this part of the expenditure must not be reduced.”

“With the development of universities and basic education, education and scientific research expenditure now accounts for 9.7 percent of our national budget, while military expenditure is only maintained at around 13 percent. Therefore, our country’s investment in education is at a high level worldwide, equivalent to sacrificing military construction funds to support education, with the result that the equipment of many troops has not been effectively replaced, especially in the field of weapons such as artillery.”

East Africa’s education expenditure and military expenditure were already very close. If it were not for the tense international situation, East Africa’s military expenditure would probably have further room for decline.

This also reflects the East African government’s support for education and scientific research. In the construction of the East African industrial system, education provided East Africa with high-quality workers, while scientific research was mainly reflected in breakthroughs and innovations in industrial technology.

……

Manila Bay.

In the blink of an eye, it was already July. Since the last naval battle, the Spanish Navy had completely solidified its strategy of “avoiding battle to preserve ships.”

The Spanish Navy held fast in Manila Bay and refused to come out, which undoubtedly caused a huge problem for the United States Navy. After all, it was not easy for the United States Navy to make a trip to the Philippines. If Spain relied on the advantages of the terrain to wear down the United States Navy, it was entirely possible to win without a fight.

After all, the United States Navy could not keep drifting at sea. If it could not break through Manila Bay, it would either return home to reorganize its supplies and fight again, or find a port nearby for rest and resupply.

It was not impossible to do this. If they communicated with Britain in a humble manner, it was still feasible. As for the other countries in the vicinity, only the Netherlands, East Africa, and France had the ability, but everyone would certainly not do so.

“No matter what, we must take Manila Bay tomorrow. We can’t keep wasting time here with the Spanish,” said Commodore Dewey, commander of the United States Asiatic Fleet, in a very tough tone.

The results of this long-planned sneak attack were not significant. After all, the Spanish had made some preparations before the war. They lost a warship in the first day of naval battle, which was an unfavorable start. Naturally, Dewey could not let it go.

“But Commander, the Spanish mines and coastal artillery are not easy to deal with. If we attack rashly, I’m afraid there will be problems. Why don’t we wait until we replenish our ammunition and supplies before launching an attack?” someone advised.

Dewey denied his subordinate’s statement: “The Spanish mines are a big trouble, but not too big of a problem. Tomorrow, the Raleigh cruiser will be responsible for clearing the way, blasting a channel into the bay. The other warships will follow closely behind. As for the coastal artillery on both sides, leave it to the Olympia and Baltimore to deal with. As long as we can enter Manila Bay, the Philippine Navy will be like a turtle in a jar, with no possibility of fighting back.”

Dewey’s move was actually a huge gamble. If the Spanish Navy and colonial troops were competent enough and cooperated well, the United States Navy’s Asiatic Fleet would probably be completely lost in Manila Bay.

June 5, 1898.

The United States Navy launched another attack on Manila Bay. The cruiser Raleigh led the way, firing directly at the sea ahead, stirring up waves on the surface of the water.

Then, the Raleigh went full speed ahead into Manila Bay. At this time, the Raleigh was actually a “suicide ship.”

In addition to having to worry about passing through the minefield, it also had to deal with the attacks of the Spanish coastal artillery in Manila Bay.

Sure enough, the Raleigh, which bore the brunt, became a thorn in the side of the Spanish colonial garrison. The artillery on the north bank of Manila Bay and the central island of Corregidor opened fire on the Raleigh together.

“Boom, boom, boom…”

In a series of loud noises, the entire Raleigh was in a state of turmoil, but perhaps because of the lack of training, the first round of Spanish fire did not hit a single shell. The closest shell was only forty meters away from the Raleigh.

This opened the eyes of the East African military advisory group observing the battle situation on the northern coastal highlands.

“The quality of the soldiers in the Spanish colony is too poor. A dozen artillery pieces in a relatively narrow area cannot achieve a single hit. Now the American Raleigh is obviously going straight ahead, and the course and speed of advance can be directly observed, so it is not difficult to hit. The large-caliber artillery we provided them is simply a waste of resources.”

“It depends on whether the Spanish can achieve anything next. As long as the Raleigh gets through, it basically means that the naval battle of Manila Bay can end early.”

The Spanish garrison and the United States Navy could not hear the complaints of the East African military advisory group. At this time, both sides were still controlling the development of the war in accordance with their respective rhythms, and the Spanish were obviously at a disadvantage.

“Suppress the enemy’s artillery with fire!” As Dewey’s order was issued, before the Spanish could launch a new round of shelling, other American warships had already begun to attack the Spanish fire points on the shore.

Although at sea, the conditions for warship shooting were obstructed, the American naval soldiers carried out various operations in an orderly manner, and shells flew from both sides towards the Spanish artillery positions.

After one round, two Spanish fire points were paralyzed. The performance of the two sides was completely reversed, as if the Americans were firing on land and the Spanish were at sea.

“Tsk, tsk, I don’t know if Spain can continue to maintain its fighting spirit. At this time, the positions are probably in a mess,” said the East African observer directly, speaking sarcastically.

And the fact was also true. The American naval artillery made the Spanish soldiers in the fortresses and defensive offensives very flustered. In this case, those who could continue to complete the attack according to the procedure were considered elites in the colonial troops.

As the Spanish artillery on both sides was suppressed, the United States Navy, under the command of Dewey, began to squeeze into Manila Bay along the safe channel cleared by the Raleigh.

However, under the restrictions of Spanish artillery and torpedoes, the United States Navy’s room for maneuver was still limited. After the American warships poured in, the number of targets increased at this time, and the Spanish artillery finally played a role. A shell hit the bow of the Baltimore, and then the Spanish colonial artillery seemed to have cheated, showing a completely different effect from before.

It hit several American warships again, but unfortunately, most of the Spanish artillery was not powerful enough, and the more threatening fire points had already been taken care of by the United States Navy, so they could not exert their power.

As a result, the United States Navy broke into Manila Bay with one ship sunk, one seriously injured, and three slightly injured. At this time, the Spanish naval warships in the Philippines began to move out, causing secondary damage to the United States Navy again.

But the gap between the two sides was too great. Even the injured American warships had an advantage in dealing with the Spanish old-fashioned warships.

So, by three o’clock in the afternoon, the United States Asiatic Fleet, with injuries, annihilated the Spanish Philippine colonial navy, which also meant that the Philippine war situation entered the next stage.

Chapter 949: Defeated

Manila Harbor.

The Philippine Navy had been almost completely annihilated, forcing the Spanish Philippine colonial government to pin its hopes on delaying the American offensive on land.

The coastal artillery of Manila Harbor still tried to put up a stubborn resistance, but they were easily wiped out by the American forces. The main Philippine artillery was deployed at the mouth of Manila Bay, leaving the rear relatively undefended. After the navy was completely destroyed, Manila Harbor could only passively take a beating.

Compared to the Philippine Navy, the performance of the Spanish Army could only be described as “utterly disastrous,” causing the East African military advisory group, which had provided short-term special training to the Spanish, to cover their faces in shame.

“The Spanish Philippine army is utterly shameless. I clearly didn’t teach them this way. They’re fighting like a pile of dung. The weapons in their hands are probably worse than firewood sticks…”

“Alright, Peter, we can’t be blamed for this. The Spanish garrison in the Philippine colony simply has no will to fight. Even a divine army couldn’t win in this situation.”

The members of the East African military advisory group were very dissatisfied with the performance of the Spanish soldiers, but the American forces on the other side didn’t think so.

After landing, the American forces exchanged fire with the Spanish colonial garrison. Both sides were equally inept. The Spanish performed poorly, and the Americans weren’t much better, especially given the Spanish advantage in rifles.

This also infuriated Dewey, the commander of the American Asiatic Squadron. He had to order the landing force to retreat back to the dock area to hold their ground.

He then led the fleet to carry out a devastating strike on the defensive system along Manila Bay, successfully completing the blockade of Manila Bay.

In this situation, the Spanish colonial garrison was completely trapped in Manila Bay by the Americans. As time passed, the Spanish soldiers would eventually surrender, unless the Spanish mainland could provide support to the Philippines.

This was clearly impossible. At this time, Spain’s energy was completely tied down by the Americans in the Atlantic region. The main forces of the American and Spanish armies and navies had begun a confrontation in the Cuba region.

Santiago de Cuba harbor was considered “impregnable” by the Spanish army compared to Manila Bay. The density of naval mines alone far exceeded that of Manila Bay. If the naval mines of Santiago de Cuba harbor were deployed in Manila Bay, the local Spanish garrison might have achieved greater results.

On June 8, 1898, the Cuban campaign officially began. The American Navy launched an all-out attack on Santiago de Cuba harbor for a day and a night. After paying the price of hundreds of casualties, the American forces officially landed successfully in Guantanamo Bay.

The Cuban campaign was even worse than the Battle of Manila in the Philippines from the start. Although Spain also failed in the Battle of Manila, it inflicted a huge blow on the American Asiatic Squadron, sinking two American warships and damaging nearly half of the American warships.

After the American forces successfully landed in Cuba, the war between the United States and Spain shifted from the coastline to the inland. The two sides engaged in fierce fighting in the jungles. History repeated itself, and the Spanish garrison in Cuba performed even worse than the Philippine garrison.

On the one hand, the local people of Cuba at this time held a welcoming attitude towards the United States, so there were many collaborators. On the other hand, Cuba’s depth was not as great as that of the Philippines. Finally, Cuba was too close to the American mainland, and the United States could mobilize more troops and continuously support the American forces in Cuba from nearby.

Throughout June, the American forces continued to achieve victories, constantly compressing the Spanish garrison’s living space with their advantage. In this situation, the Spanish Navy had to take the initiative to attack and engage in a decisive battle with the American Navy.

July 4, 1898.

The Spanish Navy in Santiago de Cuba engaged in fierce fighting with the Americans in Santiago Bay, attempting to break through the American naval blockade.

The Spanish Navy flagship, the Maria Teresa, led three cruisers and two torpedo destroyers out of the harbor, retreating while bombarding the American ships outside the harbor. The batteries on both sides of the harbor also opened fire on the American ships at the same time.

In less than three hours of battle, the American Navy sent all the Spanish warships to the bottom of the sea. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, it officially declared the complete destruction of Spain’s naval power in the Philippines and the Caribbean Sea.

At this time, the main theater of war had completely shifted to land. After the destruction of the Spanish Navy, the Spanish colonial garrison continued to put up a stubborn resistance. The two sides fought from July to early August, and the Philippine garrison persisted until mid-August, surrendering to the American forces after running out of ammunition and food.

…

Manila Harbor.

“Who are you? Why are you leaving the port?”

At this time, in Manila Harbor, East African military personnel were stopped and questioned by American soldiers. After all, the Philippine war was basically over, and the members of the East African military advisory group could not stay.

“We are Germans. This is our identification.”

In fact, even without identification, the Americans could not do anything to the East African military advisory group. Of course, it was still necessary to maintain a low profile.

After the Spanish army in the Philippines was clearly defeated, the East African military advisory group had destroyed all signs and items with East African traces.

The main reason they were stopped by the American soldiers was that they exuded an aura of being “one of their own.”

“You shouldn’t be merchants!” The American soldier said, staring at the calluses on the hands of the East African military advisory group. He even reached out and compared them with his own. It was obvious that the other party was also of military origin.

“You have a good eye. We are indeed not merchants, but East African diplomats in the Philippines.”

“Then what is the purpose of your visit to the Philippines?”

“I can’t say. It’s not something you can inquire about at will!”

The American soldiers could not do anything about the arrogance of the members of the East African military advisory group. After all, they said they were diplomats in the Philippines, which meant they were officials and not someone they could afford to offend.

Of course, out of displeasure with their attitude, the American soldiers increased the intensity of the inspection of the personal belongings of the members of the East African military advisory group, but they obviously gained nothing.

“In that case, we also want to leave this place of right and wrong. Goodbye, young man!” The East African military advisory group teased.

At this time, shipping had resumed in Manila Bay, so East African merchant ships had been waiting in Manila Harbor for a long time.

The East African military advisory group, which had provided more than three months of service to the Spanish, all safely returned to East Africa. As for the work in the Philippines in the future, it would still be controlled by overseas intelligence departments such as the East African National Defense Security Bureau.

Although it was certain that the Philippines would fall into the hands of the Americans, intelligence work in the area would not be cut off, as the Philippines’ geographical location was extremely important.

Three weeks after the East African military advisory group left, the Spanish colonial army in the Philippines officially surrendered to the United States. The surrender of the Philippine colonial army also officially marked the end of the war between Spain and the United States.

Compared to Cuba, this time the Philippine colonial army could be more tough than in its previous life. After all, Cuba had the support of the Spanish mainland, while the Philippines received almost no other support besides a small amount of aid obtained before the war, and its battle record was also more dazzling than that of the Cuban garrison, especially against the Asiatic Squadron.

Although the Philippine Navy was also completely destroyed, the Philippine Navy was originally the weakest in the Spanish Navy, with only three ironclad ships. Two were close to being scrapped before the war, and even one was far behind the American warships. The rest were all wooden-hulled ships.

Compared to the Philippine Navy’s situation before the war, the Cuban Navy was stronger. In addition to having stronger quality and quantity of warships, it could also receive support from the mainland navy during the war. However, its losses were also greater, and its main damage to the American forces relied on land battles, with little naval achievements to speak of.

Chapter 950: The Paris Conference

“Your Highness, the Spanish government has already revealed to us their intention to negotiate peace with the United States. They have completely lost the confidence to continue fighting, and this war is coming to an end.” Hermann reported to Ernst the intelligence obtained by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the Spanish-American War, Spain was originally on the defensive, and after the complete annihilation of its colonial navy, it simply gave up completely.

And as East Africa and France stood on Spain’s side before the war, they became Spain’s preferred mediating countries.

“We can just follow France’s lead in this matter. I think France can secure the best possible conditions for Spain.”

This was indeed the case. If it hadn’t been for French mediation in his previous life, Spain would have lost even more miserably.

However, Ernst’s mood was generally good. Although Spain was defeated, it also taught the United States a lesson: even the bottom line of a great power like Spain could cause trouble for the United States, let alone naval powers like Britain and France, which showed no signs of decline. Moreover, the navies of both countries still had considerable room for improvement.

Although countries now seemed to be developing in the direction of “large navies,” they had not actually squeezed out their final potential, and it would take at least a world-class war to realize this potential.

November 2nd, 1898.

Paris, France.

Hosted by France, diplomatic personnel from Spain and the United States gathered in Paris to finalize the Spanish-American War. East African Ambassador Lawrence also participated in the mediation conference.

After the outbreak of the war, Spanish-American relations had completely fallen to freezing point, and with Spain’s defeat, the animosity of the Spanish people towards the United States had reached its limit, surpassing that towards Britain.

A former world power like Spain had many enemies, including Portugal, the Netherlands, Britain, and so on. But without a doubt, in Spanish history, Britain, which had deprived Spain of its maritime hegemony, was definitely at the top of the list. Of course, this was already a matter of centuries past.

The impact of the Spanish-American War on Spain was no less than the destruction of the Spanish Armada. This time, the Spanish navy replayed the history of near-total annihilation.

If it weren’t for Spain’s still reasonably sized mainland territory, Spain might have been reduced to a third-rate country like Portugal.

After the meeting began, the Spanish and American sides blamed each other for being the main responsible party for the war. The entire venue was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder. In fact, post-war negotiations were also a war in the form of peace.

Soon, after the two countries expressed their respective views, France began to mediate, simply asking the two countries to make concessions to each other, so that everyone would be happy.

When Lawrence spoke, he reignited the “war.” As an even more steadfast supporter of Spain than France, Ambassador Lawrence began by saying in a sarcastic tone: “Spain is the obvious victim in this war. Although the source of the conflict between the two countries is the Maine incident, the Maine incident is inconclusive. Perhaps it was a staged drama by a third party. After all, the illegal armed forces in Cuba have been receiving support and other assistance from third countries, which is the root cause of Cuba’s political instability.”

“And in a region like Cuba, which has a fragile geopolitical environment, Spain has absolutely no need to conflict with the United States. So the Maine had an air of conspiracy from the beginning, and the Spanish government had no need and no motive to tamper with the Maine.”

From any perspective, Lawrence had to say good things for Spain. Of course, Lawrence’s remarks directly triggered the dissatisfaction of the American diplomatic personnel.

“Ambassador Lawrence, the Maine is a scar for our United States. Hundreds of American soldiers and a large number of American expatriates sacrificed their lives. We have long conducted a detailed investigation of the Maine, and the cause has already been pointed out. The Maine was caused by a Spanish-launched mine.”

Lawrence said unceremoniously: “Unilateral investigations have never been convincing. After all, evidence can also be forged, and it is also somewhat unreasonable for a single torpedo to cause the Maine to explode directly.”

“We emphasized beforehand that the Spanish torpedo hit the Maine’s ammunition depot, causing a larger explosion.” The American side defended.

Lawrence: “The Spanish have never participated in the construction of the Maine, how could they know so much about the Maine’s hull structure…”

The debate between the two sides around the Maine was naturally impossible to resolve, but this was exactly what Lawrence wanted to see. It didn’t matter what the United States did, what mattered was convincing other countries that the United States was really the mastermind, even if it was just suspicion, his goal would be achieved.

“Alright, Ambassador Lawrence, don’t say things casually without evidence. Presumption of innocence is the only way to reflect the fairness of this meeting.” A Belgian diplomat advised from the side.

The French also interrupted Lawrence’s speech in a timely manner: “This kind of thing has been unclear from the beginning. Now our focus should still be on the outcome of the war between the United States and Spain. As the defeated country, Spain must naturally bear the consequences of the defeat. However, this war mainly took place on Spanish territory, so no matter what excuse was used to start the war, the United States also has done wrong.”

The French government immediately gave the United States and Spain fifty lashes each, and then said: “As the victor of this war, I wonder what result the United States wants?”

At this time, the United States government had no intention of arguing with Lawrence, the bastard, and still wanted to get the benefits first: “As the victor, we demand that Spain withdraw from Cuba, the Philippines… several colonies, and compensate our country for the losses in this war…”

The United States’ losses in this war were indeed not small. Including the Maine, the United States lost a total of four cruisers, and five were heavily damaged. Other warships also suffered losses.

Of course, compared to the United States, Spain was even more miserable. The colonial navy was completely annihilated, and the mainland navy also suffered a great loss in Cuba. After this war, Spain’s naval strength would not be able to be revitalized for decades to come.

Therefore, the Spanish naturally could not agree to the conditions of the United States government. Ceding territory was already heartbreaking enough, and now they had to pay compensation, which made the Spanish even more unacceptable.

Of course, the United States was fearless about Spain’s refusal. After all, the Spanish navy had been abolished, and if the war continued, it would really be fought at Spain’s doorstep.

“The value of Cuba alone is enough to make up for the losses of the United States. As for compensation, not to mention, the losses of the Spanish navy are much greater than those of the United States, so it should be the other way around, the United States should pay Spain for the losses.” Lawrence jumped out again at this time.

Faced with Lawrence, this jumping clown, the American diplomatic officials were speechless. Is Spain your East African biological father! Of course, the Spanish government was extremely grateful for East Africa’s “righteous words.”

However, Lawrence’s words did not cause strong dissatisfaction among the Americans. Just like he said, the value of Cuba, an important producer of sugar cane and tobacco in the world, is enough to make up for the losses of the United States.

Moreover, Lawrence’s statement just shows that East Africa does not object to the United States annexing Cuba! Therefore, the American diplomatic officials chose to forgive Lawrence’s improper remarks.

Of course, Cuba is Cuba, and the Philippines is the Philippines. East Africa can default to the United States annexing Cuba, but it cannot tolerate the United States easily annexing the Philippines, so the issue of the Philippines’ ownership is Lawrence’s main battlefield next.

“The Philippines should not be a topic of discussion in the first place. After all, the Maine incident happened in Cuba. The Philippines was completely caught in the crossfire, and the United States Navy had already started training in Hong Kong in June last year. After the war broke out, it quickly reacted to the Philippines, so the Philippine issue cannot be equated with the Caribbean region. The sovereignty of the Philippines should continue to be led by Spain.”

On the Philippine issue, Lawrence directly encouraged Spain not to give in. After all, being neighbors with Spain is far more reassuring than being neighbors with the United States, and it is somewhat contrary to international morality for the United States to use the Philippines as a battlefield in the first place. The fuse of the war was the Maine, and Cuba should bear the main responsibility. Pulling the Philippines into the battlefield is, to some extent, an act of overreach.

Chapter 951: Ideas Go Bust

Of course, so-called international morality is worthless in the eyes of every country. Since the United States has already declared war on Spain, even if they were to attack the Spanish mainland, let alone the Philippines, there would be no problem.

However, with East Africa and France backing them, Spain is actually clinging to this point to negotiate with the United States on the Philippine issue, and the United States naturally cannot spit the Philippines back out.

The final compromise was that the United States purchased the Philippines for the same amount as in history, twenty million dollars. However, compared to history, the United States absolutely suffered a huge loss this time. On the one hand, the war losses were greater, and on the other hand, the island of Mindanao in the Philippines had already been sold to East Africa. Therefore, the United States spent the same price but only got two-thirds of the Philippines.

Spain felt even more aggrieved. If they had known this would happen, they might as well have sold the entire Philippines to Germany before the war. Twenty million dollars was not a low price, but Germany would definitely have offered more. Most importantly, their own navy would not have been completely annihilated.

Don’t underestimate the Philippine navy’s previous strength. Now, the Spanish navy has suffered a direct fracture. Even the previous Philippine navy, if placed in Spain now, could at least maintain some semblance of respectability for the navy in terms of total tonnage.

……

First Township.

“Regarding the outcome of the Spanish-American War, the two countries officially signed an agreement on the nineteenth of this month. The United States acquired Cuba, the Philippines, and other colonies. As far as we know, Britain and Germany also benefited from this war. Some islands in the eastern Philippines fell into German hands.”

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Germany had done something like this. For example, Nauru Island, which Ernst coveted in the Pacific, was taken by Germany from Spain in 1888.

Ernst actually regretted it. If he had known it was so easy to buy land from Spain, he should have seized more islands in the Pacific back then.

However, this also gave Ernst a reminder. Now that the Spanish train has left, there is still the Netherlands in Southeast Asia. The Netherlands holds a considerable amount of land, especially the island of Borneo. Taking advantage of the aftermath of the American-Spanish War, a deal might be possible.

What does the Spanish-American War have to do with East Africa buying territory from the Netherlands? In fact, the relationship is significant. The Spanish-American War once again exposed the law of the jungle to those small countries. A great power like Spain could still be beaten badly by a stronger country, let alone a “small” country like the Netherlands.

Of course, although the Netherlands is small, it is not a weak country. In all aspects, it is much stronger than the half-dead Portugal. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to hold such a large territory as the Dutch East Indies.

And why Ernst is focusing on the territory of Borneo in the hands of the Netherlands is naturally for the resources on the island.

The Lanfang Overseas Province of East Africa is actually a resource-poor area, while the northern British sphere of influence, such as Sarawak, Brunei, and North Borneo, has abundant oil and gas resources. East Africa naturally cannot take advantage of Britain.

The territory of Borneo controlled by the Netherlands not only has oil but also a large amount of coal and other resources. The coal resources in southern Borneo alone account for sixty percent of Indonesia’s in the previous life. At the same time, the eastern Borneo oil fields are also one of the three major oil and gas areas in Indonesia in the previous life (the other two are Java and Sumatra).

Moreover, Borneo has a low level of civilization, and its importance to the Netherlands is far less than that of Java and Sumatra. In the Dutch East Indies, Java is the absolute core, and Sumatra is part of the Strait of Malacca.

Therefore, Borneo, which borders both East Africa and Britain, is more like a hot potato for the Netherlands.

Thinking of this, Ernst immediately asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with the Netherlands. With the precedent of Mindanao, it would be best if the southern and eastern parts of Borneo could be obtained through peaceful means. If not, it wouldn’t matter. Anyway, according to the national strength of the Netherlands, it will eventually withdraw from the East Indies.

Soon, East Africa’s probing of the Dutch government received feedback. The two sides did not reach a preliminary consensus, mainly because the Netherlands itself is relatively wealthy and shrewd, so the asking price is also high.

The Netherlands has a strong commercial culture, so when the East African government proposed to buy Borneo, the Dutch immediately began to calculate East Africa’s purpose.

This is easy to guess. East Africa already has the Lanfang Overseas Province on Borneo, so according to Dutch speculation, East Africa wants to expand the scope of the Lanfang Overseas Province.

In recent years, East Africa’s expansion in the Southeast Asian region has not been slow. Especially after acquiring Mindanao, it is also one of the major colonial powers in the Southeast Asian region.

Mindanao and Borneo face each other across the sea. By controlling eastern Borneo, East Africa can connect the two colonies into one.

Therefore, East Africa’s reason for wanting to buy Borneo is reasonable and sufficient. However, in the eyes of the Netherlands, Borneo is equally important to the country. It is the Netherlands’ second-largest colony.

The first is Sumatra, which has an area of more than four hundred thousand square kilometers, and the area of Dutch Borneo is also more than four hundred thousand, only slightly less than Sumatra.

The area of Borneo is more than seven hundred thousand, and because of Britain and East Africa, it is not entirely occupied by the Netherlands. Otherwise, Dutch Borneo would probably be the largest colony of the Netherlands.

In fact, Borneo is the largest island in Asia and can be ranked third in the world, second only to Greenland and New Guinea.

New Guinea also has Dutch colonies, but like Borneo, New Guinea is also divided into three parts, belonging to the Netherlands, Britain, and Germany.

The Netherlands has more than four hundred thousand square kilometers of colonial territory on Borneo, which is four times the size of Mindanao. Moreover, in the eyes of the Dutch, the importance of Borneo is no less than that of the Philippines, so they directly asked for two hundred million Rhenish guilders, which is almost twice the price the United States “bought” the Philippines for. After all, in terms of area, Dutch Borneo is indeed twice the size of the Philippines (excluding Mindanao).

East Africa naturally cannot accept this offer. With so much money, East Africa could build its own navy and seize all of Borneo.

The Netherlands is not in a hurry either. In their view, East Africa is asking for something from the Netherlands, so it would be best to accept this offer. If they don’t accept it, the Netherlands can simply not sell.

“If we really spend two hundred million Rhenish guilders to buy Borneo from the Dutch, that would be a real international joke. Borneo’s climate is only slightly better than Alaska’s, and the population is not large. The Dutch really dare to ask for that price.” Ernst said to his subordinates.

Now, East Africa is spending money everywhere, so in Ernst’s mind, for a “rotten place” like Borneo, it would be best to spend only a few million dollars. Ernst feels like he’s losing out if it exceeds ten million dollars.

After all, buying it won’t immediately increase East Africa’s national strength. Ernst is just planning for East Africa’s future, and Borneo is not a must-buy.

According to the historical process of the previous life, as long as East Africa seizes the opportunity, Borneo will still fall into East Africa’s hands in a few decades at most. Even without Japan, this trouble maker in Southeast Asia, East Africa’s national strength at that time will be enough to make the Dutch leave the Southeast Asian region in disgrace.

And this probing also dispelled Ernst’s enthusiasm for messing around. The situations of Mindanao and Alaska cannot be easily replicated. It is more cost-effective to spend more money to improve East Africa’s strength.

Chapter 952: The “Lion” Map

As the relocation of the capital progressed towards the end of 1898, it was finally the royal family’s turn to move inland.

“Currently, Rhein City has a population of 60,000, and its infrastructure is basically complete. Once the central government and the royal family move there, we can guarantee that there will be no major problems.”

“However, there are also some details that require special attention. Firstly, this relocation may have a certain impact on the railway system in the short term. Secondly, after the relocation, all government departments and the public nationwide need to adapt,” a subordinate reported to Ernst.

Ernst said, “In that case, we must first confirm with governments at all levels, government departments, and the people across the country that Rhein City has officially become the new capital of East Africa. This should be confirmed through newspapers, radio broadcasts, and other means.”

In fact, the news that East Africa was going to relocate its capital had already been leaked, but this news only circulated within the government. This time, it was to firmly establish the accurate news that East Africa was moving its capital, so that East African citizens would know that the capital had become Rhein City.

“As for the relocation of the royal family members and the central government, it must be arranged reasonably. It is best for the royal family and key government officials to go to Rhein City before Christmas, to facilitate the work next year.”

As members of the royal family set off for Rhein City, East Africa’s capital relocation officially entered its final stage. On December 7th, Constantine took the lead in heading to Rhein City.

Two days later, other key members of the royal family, including Ernst, officially boarded a special train heading towards Rhein City.

On the train, in the eyes of Ernst’s family, everything on both sides of the railway was rapidly receding. First Town City gradually began to blur. This city, which had served as the political center of East Africa for more than a decade, had officially lost its title as the capital of East Africa.

Now, First Town City, like its change in status, was extremely desolate. With the construction of Rhein City, many of the first residents of Rhein City came from First Town, and this population migration would continue for some time until most people went to Rhein City.

Therefore, the current First Town City looked a bit depressed. The population in the city center was noticeably smaller than before. Without the added value of being the capital, First Town City was just an inconspicuous small city on the central railway line.

“Papa, are we leaving First Town City for good?” Princess Lina asked Ernst.

“Yes! We are going to live in a new city, where the climate is better than in First Town City, and it is located in the heart of our country,” Ernst said, following his daughter’s words.

“Is it the heart of the big lion?”

“That’s right, it’s the heart of the big lion.”

The “lion” that the father and daughter were talking about was actually East Africa’s official explanation of the shape of East African territory, just like the “autumn leaf begonia” of the Far East Empire now, and the “rooster” of later generations.

As for how to associate East African territory with a “lion,” it must be said that there is indeed a certain trick to it. After 1890, the territorial expansion of East Africa was basically completed.

The lion on the East African flag is the standing lion image commonly seen on European flags, and the outline of East African territory is still somewhat similar to it. In addition, the lion is the most representative animal in East Africa, so the concept of “lion” fits the image of East Africa.

According to the East African government’s explanation of the East African map, the Ethiopian plateau region at the northern end of East African territory is the lion’s crown, after all, the traditional European lion image wears a crown.

The Congo River, East Africa’s largest river, is the outstretched arm of the East African “lion,” the head is the East African Plateau, the main body is the Central Plateau (Zimbabwe, Zambia, etc.), the legs are the central plateau of Southwest Africa and the southern plateau of Southeast Africa, and Madagascar Island is exactly the lion’s tail.

Overall, East African territory is a relatively abstract pattern, and associating it with a lion has a somewhat far-fetched meaning, but substituting the East African government’s setting makes it easier to accept, especially the East African territory on Madagascar Island, which plays a “finishing touch” role. Without Madagascar Island, the lion’s tail would be really hard to find.

If you don’t substitute the East African government’s official setting, ordinary people simply cannot associate the East African map with a lion.

In fact, among the great powers, England in Britain also uses the lion as a totem. The animals in the British coat of arms are the three lions representing England, and the unicorn representing Scotland. Northern Ireland is more special, it is not an animal but a harp, and there are other representative elements.

Compared to Britain, East Africa has always used the lion as the East African totem, and the elements are relatively simple. In addition to East Africa and Britain, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the United States all use the “eagle” as a typical representative, of which Germany, Austria, and Russia are all double-headed eagles.

In fact, the French coat of arms also had “eagle” elements before, but now the government’s totem has been changed to an axe.

Of course, many countries do not have a clear legal “coat of arms,” such as the United States and France, and the coats of arms of other great powers are actually evolved from royal crests.

And East Africa’s “lion” is at least more convincing on the map than other countries. The territory of Russia in its previous life did fit the setting of a double-headed eagle, but the territory of Tsarist Russia today is much larger than Russia, and the image of the territory does not look like two “eagle heads,” let alone the other countries.

…

Three days later, Ernst’s family and the East African central government officially arrived in Rhein City, this new city. At this time, the western part of Rhein City was still under construction, but this would not prevent the East African government from handling government affairs.

The unfinished areas are mainly the residential and industrial areas in the southwest, and the administrative area has already been completed.

Moreover, with the current population of Rhein City, it is impossible to effectively fill the built-up area of Rhein City. The built-up area alone is enough to accommodate 300,000 people, and even if the entire population of First Town City is moved here, it will only account for half.

Of course, as the new political center of East Africa, it is still very simple to meet the population needs of Rhein City. After all, even if Rhein City initially achieves a scale of 500,000 people, it will only rank third among East African cities, smaller than Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

In fact, if it were not for developing the interior and achieving relatively balanced development in other regions, Dar es Salaam and Mombasa would be fully capable of becoming large cities with a population of millions, no less than those in Europe and the United States.

Of course, the development of other coastal cities in East Africa today is not weak either. Cities such as Luanda, Cabinda, Beira, and New Hamburg Port have already gained a certain level of competitiveness.

And inland cities such as Mbeya, Harare, and New Frankfurt have become well-developed cities. If East Africa were to switch to a “free market” economy at this time, it would not cause a large loss of population in the central and western regions in the short term.

However, the development of East African cities is relatively balanced, but the regional gap is still relatively large, especially in the western region, which, apart from a few cities, is far from being able to compete with the central and eastern regions.

After the train arrived, Ernst’s family was finally able to directly observe their new residence. This was Ernst’s first time in Rhein City, and Constantine, who had arrived earlier, was already waiting for Ernst and his party at the station.

“Ernst, the climate inland is more comfortable than on the coast. I feel refreshed after arriving in Rhein City,” Constantine said.

It was summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so First Town City on the coast was still relatively hot, with daytime temperatures reaching over thirty degrees Celsius. Rhein City, located on a plateau, had daytime temperatures only in the low twenties, which was indeed more comfortable than the coast.

Chapter 953: New Home

“Father, it’s best if you can adapt. I was worried that this long journey would make you uncomfortable.”

Sitting on a train for a long time is indeed a torment. Like the little ones behind Ernst, they all looked listless. Ernst and Karina were the same. After all, the Ernsts spent many years in First Town City and rarely went out, so they were not used to it.

Constantine smiled and said to his son, “Don’t always stay cooped up in the palace. It’s good to go out and walk around more. Look at me, I’m this old, but I’m still in good health because of years of exercise and traveling.”

Since entering his senior years, Constantine had been traveling all over East Africa. Of course, for the sake of the King’s health, Constantine usually traveled along the railway, so he often took the train. This time, traveling from First Town City to Rhine City was no problem for Constantine.

“Alright, Father, let’s go take a look at our new home now! As newcomers, we have a lot of tasks to do.” Ernst said.

A lot of government affairs had not been dealt with in the past three days, and he was also busy moving, so Ernst’s top priority was to complete the work at hand first.

Constantine said, “I have already been to Rhine Palace. The environment is very good. The architecture and landscape design are also very novel. It is much larger than Swete Palace, at least it is in line with the identity of a world power’s royal family like ours in East Africa.”

He was quite satisfied with the construction of Rhine Palace, especially when compared with the “shabby” Swete Palace. In Constantine’s opinion, the living experience of Swete Palace was no different from when he was in Hohenzollern Castle. Anyone who didn’t know better would think that East Africa was a small country palace like the former Hechingen Principality!

Ernst was also full of curiosity about Rhine Palace. Although he had seen the blueprints a long time ago, he could only get a more intuitive feel for the specific effect by conducting an on-the-spot inspection.

Soon, Ernst and his party took a car towards Rhine Palace. Rhine Palace was located in the northeast corner of Rhine City, while the railway station was located in the northwest of Rhine City, so along the road, they could see the construction of the northern part of Rhine City.

This also aroused the interest of the little ones. They were full of curiosity about Rhine City. Of course, it was just curiosity. After all, there was still some gap between the prosperity of Rhine City and Dar es Salaam.

Soon, Ernst and his party finally arrived at Rhine Palace. What came into view was a large number of man-made gardens.

Ernst was quite satisfied with the landscape design of Rhine Palace. He was not completely at ease with the initial adoption of Eastern and Western designs, for fear of creating something that was neither fish nor fowl. However, after truly seeing the landscape of Rhine Palace, Ernst could rest assured.

The landscape design of the outer area of Rhine Palace was mainly based on lawns and gardens, with a certain number of woodlands, planned in a well-spaced manner. Bluestone slabs and gravel islands extended along the asphalt road, making full use of “water sources” to create various fountains, pools, and artificial streams.

The fountains were obviously different from those in Europe, and instead used the rockeries and boulders of the Far East Empire to create a natural and harmonious “high mountain flowing water” scenery.

The landscape design of Rhine Palace also had distinct tropical characteristics. For example, many tropical plants could be seen everywhere here, creating a different kind of artistic conception.

Therefore, the Rhine Palace garden was actually a combination of three different styles: European, Far Eastern, and tropical. Under the joint efforts of the designers, the three styles were mixed together without appearing abrupt, but instead gave people a fresh and refined special feeling.

Ernst was also very interested in the “pavilion” type buildings. In Ernst’s impression, the gardens of the Far East Empire must not lack “pavilion” type buildings.

The Rhine Palace garden also adopted this architectural form, while matching Western-style outdoor corridors, with vines and various plants, naturally integrated into the garden terrain.

Anyway, Ernst was very satisfied with the design of Rhine Palace, which conformed to his aesthetics. Of course, Ernst still asked his family members for their opinions: “What do you think of the Rhine Palace garden?”

“Anyway, I am quite satisfied. Although it doesn’t have the regularity of traditional European gardens, it is orderly in its chaos and well-spaced, so it won’t cause aesthetic fatigue.” Constantine said frankly.

The little ones also said, “Daddy, this place is very beautiful.”

For beautiful things, these children’s attitudes are more real. If it looks good, it looks good. If it passes the children’s test, it means that there is no problem with the landscape design of Rhine Palace.

Ernst said to Karina, “My dear, what do you think?”

Karina nodded and said, “I think it has its own merits compared to the gardens of Vienna! Although I prefer European gardens, the construction of the Rhine Palace garden is also eye-catching, and it also integrates the characteristics of European gardens. It can be regarded as a collection of the strengths of many schools.”

Karina’s artistic vision is the highest in the whole family. After all, Karina came from the Austrian court and received formal education from an early age.

Unlike Ernst and Constantine, Constantine used to be a military man among the Junker nobles, and was naturally insensitive to art, and Ernst could not inherit any artistic cells from his father.

So Ernst was still very happy with Karina’s affirmation. He said to Karina, “In order to build the Rhine Palace garden, I specially borrowed people from the royal family of the Far East Empire. The most powerful thing about their palace landscape designers is that they can design the garden with a low-key luxury and cultural connotation. The European landscape designers are more flamboyant. The combination of the two produces a unique chemical reaction, which is why the Rhine Palace garden has its current charm.”

Of course, Ernst didn’t think so before seeing the actual effect. He was worried that the two could not be effectively combined and produce something that was neither fish nor fowl.

This was not Ernst’s blind worry, but the experience of his previous life. As a civil engineer in his previous life, Ernst had seen many antique buildings in China, which can only be described as eye-watering. Especially the antique or restored ancient pagodas and palaces completely lacked ancient charm and were full of a sense of twenty-first century construction waste.

This is also the reason why Ernst only asked the Far Eastern designers to participate in the landscape design of Rhine Palace, while the main building of Rhine Palace was completely designed by local and European designers.

Ernst was afraid of creating something that was neither fish nor fowl. Compared to architecture, landscape design was simpler. After all, the garden was mainly decorated with vegetation, so it wouldn’t be too out of place no matter how it was done. Even if there was a problem, it would be easy to demolish and rebuild.

After browsing the garden, the final destination was Rhine Palace. Rhine Palace adopted a combination of classical and modernism, which is definitely a unique existence among palace buildings in various countries.

Because it adopted the modern industrial style, Ernst felt that the architectural design of Rhine Palace would not be outdated even in the 21st century. Of course, another reason for adopting the modernist style was naturally to install various modern furniture and facilitate circuit design.

Therefore, Rhine Palace is destined to be the most modern, have the best living experience, and be the most practical and convenient for future maintenance among the palaces of various countries. For example, most of the windows of Rhine Palace are transparent windows, rather than the expensive and complex stained glass of Europe.

Of course, the glass of Rhine Palace looks ordinary, but it has been specially treated, and glue is added to make it stronger. Of course, when the technology is mature, it will definitely be replaced with stronger bulletproof glass.

Chapter 954: Ernst’s “Commute”

Moving the capital to Rhein City was not without its drawbacks. Since the Age of Exploration, the ocean had been the primary focus of major powers. The most typical example was Tsarist Russia. Originally, the capital of Tsarist Russia was Moscow. Later, in order to seize a sea outlet, Tsarist monarchs such as Peter the Great implemented a maritime strategy, comprehensively learning from the West and moving the capital to what is now Saint Petersburg.

Undoubtedly, Tsarist Russia’s policy of establishing its capital in Saint Petersburg brought enormous benefits. With the advantage of sea transport, it could more easily receive technology and capital from Europe. Saint Petersburg also transformed from an impoverished backwater under Swedish rule into the most economically prosperous region of Tsarist Russia.

Then, the rapidly westernized Saint Petersburg radiated these technologies and capital towards the inland regions of Tsarist Russia, which allowed Tsarist Russia’s Eastern European homeland to develop rapidly.

East Africa’s move of its capital from First Town to Rhein City should be considered the opposite case, at least it wasn’t as convenient for Ernst to inspect the Bagamoyo naval base.

In the past, when he was in First Town, Ernst could go whenever he wanted to see the development of the navy. First Town was less than seventy kilometers from the coast, and he could arrive within an hour, but that was no longer possible now.

Of course, although Rhein City is located deep inland, it also has beneficial effects on East Africa’s maritime strategy. After all, East Africa is different from Tsarist Russia. Tsarist Russia’s important ports are concentrated in the east, while East Africa is a two-ocean nation.

Therefore, Rhein City is located in the center of the east and west coasts, which can more conveniently coordinate the exploration and development of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans by the East African central government.

In the past, the East African government naturally couldn’t do this, but with the development of communication technologies such as telegraphs, telephones, and radios, the good foundation of railway and road transportation, and the future development of airplanes, the communication barriers between Rhein City and the East African coast are being reduced.

Just imagine, in the era of Peter the Great, there were no railways at that time, and communication relied almost entirely on horses to deliver letters. By the time news of changes and developments in Europe was delivered to Moscow by horses, it would be too late.

At this time, Saint Petersburg, located on the coast and close to Europe, became the only choice for the Tsar to realize Tsarist Russia’s maritime strategy.

If it were in the era of Peter the Great, East Africa would not have the conditions to move its capital. Although the inland area is more conducive to controlling the whole country, it is not conducive to participating in maritime competition. At this time, First Town, located on the coast, is more advantageous.

The advancement of communication and transportation technologies enables East Africa to maintain good contact with the outside world and keep abreast of world development trends and participate in international competition even if it moves its capital to Rhein City.

Similarly, in Ernst’s view, Tsarist Russia is now suitable for moving its capital from Saint Petersburg back to Moscow. Although Saint Petersburg is still the most economically active and easiest to communicate with the outside world, Moscow is not worse than Saint Petersburg in this regard with the support of railways and communication methods.

Moreover, and most importantly, Saint Petersburg is in a too dangerous location. Moscow, located deep inland, is superior in terms of security. In fact, after the demise of Tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union and later Russia used Moscow as their capital, based on this.

…

Before he had time to complete the renovation of Rhein Palace, Ernst had already started “working,” heading to the Rhein City Central Government Building to preside over government affairs on the day of his arrival in Rhein City.

This was a major change after the capital relocation. In First Town, Ernst worked in Svet Palace. After all, the traditional royal palace was originally the political center of feudal autocratic countries.

However, in Rhein City, Ernst completely separated the royal residence from the office location, which also meant that Ernst would start his own “commute” like the East African officials.

“It’s at least a thirty-minute drive from Rhein Palace to the Central Government Building. Isn’t this just making things difficult for yourself?” Constantine said to Ernst.

Ernst said, “Now we have cars, and twenty minutes is enough. It doesn’t take much time. Besides, having the office in Rhein Palace would reduce the living experience, so it’s better to keep the two separate.”

That’s what he said, but in fact, Ernst was thinking that if the East African monarch becomes a figurehead in the future, it would still be necessary to allocate a special government office location, which in other countries is specifically manifested as the Prime Minister’s residence, the Presidential Palace, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the like.

The most typical example is 10 Downing Street in the United Kingdom, so it is better to separate the royal palace and the government residence now to avoid trouble in the future.

This is actually a relatively euphemistic statement. The twentieth century is about to begin, and the early twentieth century was also the last glorious era of monarchies.

If East Africa also experiences the same political changes as in Europe and other regions in the future, and the royal flag falls, it would be easy to cause trouble if the royal palace is the administrative office center.

“To be honest, it’s only because there are no civilian areas between Rhein Palace and the Central Government Building, otherwise security would be a big problem.” Constantine continued.

After all, there have been many assassinations of monarchs throughout history, especially the late Tsar Alexander II, who experienced more than a hundred assassinations in his life. He escaped them all before finally being sent to the Western Paradise by a bomb thrown at his carriage by an assassin in 1881.

This caused quite a stir at the time. Constantine strongly demanded that Ernst strengthen the security defenses of Svet Palace, which was located in the center of First Town and not strictly separated from residential areas. If there were villains like those in Tsarist Russia, they might find an opportunity to carry out a beheading operation against the East African royal family.

Of course, this possibility is small. First Town was built entirely as a political city, so most of the residents of First Town are “good citizens,” at least they are reliable on paper.

“Father, security has always been a concern of mine. The security facilities in the entire area from Rhein Palace to the Rhein City administrative district are the strongest in East Africa, so it is impossible to encounter any thugs. Most of the people along the way are residential areas for government officials’ families. The other residents who maintain the life and infrastructure of the administrative district are also carefully selected. There are also troops nearby, so the security of Rhein City is among the best in the world.”

Along with the East African government and the royal family, the Guards Division originally stationed in the Coastal Province (formerly the Central Province) also moved, and even its naval part moved over. Of course, their area of activity also shifted from the Little Rhein River and Bagamoyo Port to the Rensem Fuwa River.

It’s just that the Rensem Fuwa Dam has not yet been completed, and the Guards Division Navy has limited space for activities. After the Rensem Fuwa River Dam is completed, they can carry out law enforcement operations in the Rensem Fuwa River Reservoir.

In fact, it has also changed from the navy to the lake army. Because of the existence of large lakes such as the Great Lake (Lake Victoria), Lake Malawi, and Lake Soren (Lake Tanganyika), East Africa has always maintained an inland navy. However, the inland navy has been reorganized into a water police department, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security.

“In fact, there is a subway connecting Rhein Palace and the Central Government Building, which is extremely safe, but it is not necessary. It is very safe to go anywhere by car. The royal family’s cars all have a certain degree of bulletproof effect. In case of danger, personnel can quickly be in place.”

When Ernst said this, Constantine remembered that there was a subway in Rhein City, but he asked with some doubt, “Where is the subway entrance in Rhein Palace?”

Ernst smiled and said to Constantine, “The subway was fully completed in the middle of this year, during the Spanish-American War. However, the Rhein Palace subway is located more than one hundred meters deep underground in Rhein Palace. Usually, there are no vehicles passing through. There is a secret room in Rhein Palace that is the subway passage, but after we go back from the Central Government Building, I will take you to familiarize yourself with the internal structure of Rhein Palace.”

As the current King of East Africa, Constantine naturally has to show his face in the government. After all, this is the first day of work for the East African central government after the capital relocation, so if he wants to understand the layout of Rhein Palace, he has to wait until the father and son “get off work.”

Chapter 955: Rhine Palace Subway Station

Although the Rhine City subway had been completed long ago, it still needed some time before it could operate normally, because Rhine City was currently very sparsely populated and did not need a subway to ease traffic.

This resulted in the Rhine City subway being completed earlier than the Hungarian subway, but its official opening was much later. In fact, the Rhine City subway was completed as early as 1896. As for the completion time of the subway under the Rhine Palace that Ernst mentioned, it was actually the second line of the Rhine City subway.

After all, it involved the royal palace, so the design of the second line was more complex and the standards were higher. Moreover, the government and Rhine Palace sections of the second line were also equipped with supporting shelters, temporary command posts, and other facilities, so the amount of construction was greater.

This also meant that the only two subway lines in Rhine City were currently out of service. Line 1 was a completely civilian line, running through the city center and the southwest industrial and residential areas, while Line 2 was divided into two parts, one section for civilian use and one for the use of the East African government and the royal family. The royal family’s dedicated line and the East African government line also had certain differences.

The two subway lines in Rhine City also represent the current state of subway construction in East Africa. Even Dar es Salaam, the most economically developed city in East Africa, has not been built.

After all, Dar es Salaam only has about seven hundred thousand people, while London already had more than two million when it built its subway in 1863, and now it has exceeded four million. Therefore, Ernst believes that the subway construction standard should start with a city of two million people. No city in East Africa can meet this standard.

As for the Hungarian subway, it was a political project for Hungary to celebrate its millennium of nationhood. Moreover, Budapest’s population had already reached two million in 1896, meeting the standards for subway construction in terms of both economic and population needs.

As for why Budapest has such a large population, it is mainly because of its good foundation. It was originally two cities, Buda and Pest, which merged into Budapest in 1873 and became the capital of Hungary. At that time, Budapest had a population of over one million.

With the industrial development of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in recent years, and Hungary being a plain, industry and population were more easily concentrated in Budapest.

In comparison, the Rhine City subway is entirely a political product. Based on the current population size of Rhine City, opening and operating the subway is a complete waste of resources.

Of course, Ernst believes that the construction of the Rhine subway is completely reasonable. After all, East Africa’s planes have already taken off. In the future, to cope with bombing in wartime, the subway is a natural shelter. As the political center of East Africa, Rhine City should prepare early.

Of course, it would not be easy for foreign forces to carry out air raids on Rhine City in the first place. After all, Rhine City is located in the inland center of East Africa, and it would take a lot of time just to fly here from the coast.

…

In the evening, after Ernst and Constantine returned to the Rhine Palace, Ernst took his family to familiarize themselves with the structure of the Rhine Palace.

Of course, Ernst was also new here, so Butler Thomas introduced them.

“Here is the entrance to the Rhine Palace subway, built in the central room of the Rhine Palace. Turn the mechanism behind the bookcase, and a passage will appear. Go down the stairs through the passage entrance, and there is a gate here. Pull it up, and the power system will start supplying power to the lights.”

As Thomas closed the gate, the lights in the passage instantly lit up, and then everyone went down the stairs.

“Actually, there are other passages in the Rhine Palace, and even elevators are equipped, but elevators are not very reliable after all, so it is best to choose this traditional staircase when escaping,” Thomas said with a serious expression.

Ernst remained noncommittal about this. The reliability of stairs is certainly higher than that of elevators, but it is not as Thomas said, as if accidents are prone to occur.

After all, the maintenance of the Rhine Palace’s elevators is very good. With regular inspections, it is almost impossible to encounter a failure. Of course, nothing can be said too absolutely.

The Sviet Palace in the First Town was equipped with elevators, and the Rhine Palace is even more so, so the maintenance workload of the Rhine Palace’s elevators is much greater than that of the Sviet Palace.

After walking for a while, they came to a flat ground, but there were still stairs leading down.

“The Rhine Palace subway is located more than one hundred and seventy meters underground, so the stairs extend down in stages,” Thomas said.

Finally, near the bottom, an iron gate appeared in front of everyone.

“This metal door is used to isolate the Rhine Palace subway from the Rhine Palace, and it is the first obstacle. It took a lot of effort to build this metal door alone, and it needs to be opened and closed using machinery.”

As he spoke, Thomas also demonstrated it. In fact, it is to drive the complex mechanical structure through the joystick to open and close.

Thomas just gave a brief demonstration, moving the door a few inches, after all, they still had to go down and couldn’t close the door first.

After a while, they finally arrived at the location of the Rhine Palace subway. The subway station under the Rhine Palace is a palace-style building, built in a magnificent style.

In fact, in Ernst’s opinion, this subway station is very similar to the subway stations built in Moscow during the Soviet era in his previous life, so he is still very receptive to the scene in front of him.

But Constantine, Karina, and the princes and princesses of the Hechingen royal family were different. They were greatly shocked. This is equivalent to building an underground palace under the Rhine Palace.

“This subway station and a small number of subway stations will not appear on the Rhine City subway map. The Rhine subway also has many hidden lines and shelters. These areas are generally not open to the public. For example, the Rhine Palace subway station will not be opened unless the royal family encounters a major threat. However, the subway station will also be on standby at any time to deal with any possible emergencies.”

This situation is estimated that it will not appear in another hundred years. After all, with Ernst’s arrangement, almost no foreign enemies will be able to enter the Rhine Palace area in the future, except for nuclear war. However, Ernst is confident that East Africa will become the first country in the world to possess nuclear weapons in this timeline, so unless someone really wants to fight East Africa to the death, the security of Rhine City is maxed out.

“By the way, I have lived for so long and have never taken the subway. Can you let me try it?” Constantine said on the side.

“Dad, we want to too!” Several little guys were as interested in the subway as their grandfather.

After all, besides East Africa, the only countries in the world that have built subways are Britain and Hungary.

The first subway in the United States was built one year later than Hungary and East Africa, that is, the Boston subway, which was built and opened in 1897.

Ernst naturally agreed to his father and children’s requests, after all, he also wanted to see and experience the subway in the 19th century.

Subsequently, under Ernst’s instructions, the staff started the Rhine subway, from the Rhine Palace station to the platform of the Central Government Building, which is only a dozen kilometers away.

As for the experience, it can’t be said to be very good. This thing is actually not much different from a train, more like a tram. After all, it is also driven by electricity, but its electricity is supplied by the track, while the tram relies on the antenna on the top to contact the power grid. The speed is not very fast, and the staff does not dare to drive at high speed.

Chapter 956: Expert Advice

Rhine City, as a new city, is far superior to First Town in many areas, such as infrastructure construction, functional design, and industrial structure.

As the capital relocation of East Africa progresses, a central urban agglomeration with Rhine City as its core will form around Rhine City in the future. Currently, there are New Frankfurt, Kabwe, Lusaka, and many towns in the Copperbelt around Rhine City.

This can also be considered an important function of Rhine City, which is to fill the gap between the three major economic zones of East Africa in the future.

The eastern and western coastal areas of East Africa go without saying, and the southern Bohemian Province (Zimbabwe) is also the largest heavy industrial area in East Africa. Rhine City is located between these three.

Even without the existence of Rhine City, the local economic foundation would not be considered poor, but compared with the above three, there is still some gap.

Therefore, the existence of Rhine City fills the key to East Africa’s development core and is the center connecting the two oceans and the north and south regions.

Although the north has a weaker economic strength, the north has a large area and abundant oil resources. Moreover, the north borders many other countries and regions, which is of great significance to East Africa’s energy and national defense security, and should not be underestimated.

……

Kampala City.

Kampala is the capital of North Great Lake Province. The East African government began investing in its construction in 1871. It has now become one of the famous highland water towns along the Great Lakes, which means that local agriculture is relatively developed.

At the same time, Kampala is an important city along the northern railway. With the help of the Great Lakes, it can directly achieve the exchange of materials and personnel with towns along the Great Lakes such as Kisumu, making it the fourth largest city on the northern railway.

Of course, because of East Africa’s positioning of the entire Great Lakes region, its industry is much worse than that of southern cities, and in the entire Great Lakes region, industry is mostly concentrated in Kisumu and Mwanza.

Because of the geographical advantages of the two, it is easier to accept the industrial and technological transfer from the eastern region in the early stage.

Of course, as the fourth largest city in the Great Lakes region, Kampala is accelerating its development and narrowing the industrial gap with other cities.

The opportunities for Kampala’s industrial development come from two aspects: one is that the economic development within the region and related regions provides Kampala with markets and raw materials, and the other is the transfer of backward industries from the central region to the northern region.

Although it is said to be the backward industry in the central region, from a national perspective, these industries transferred to the local area are still relatively advanced.

At least compared with Kisumu, Mwanza, and Bujumbura, there is no obvious difference, because East Africa’s industry started late. Even the backward industries eliminated in the central region have only been around for twenty or thirty years at most.

The industrial facilities in cities such as Kisumu and Mwanza are about the same level. After all, East Africa’s industrial investment in them was relatively early, and a new round of technology and industrial upgrading cannot be launched immediately. This makes the industrial equipment in Kampala now actually the same as these cities.

After all, this round of technology and industrial upgrading is mainly carried out in areas where the original industry and scientific research are relatively developed or coastal areas. Inland cities such as Kisumu and Mwanza have not yet received this treatment.

Of course, East Africa’s positioning of the Great Lakes region is East Africa’s most important agricultural production base, and it does not pay as much attention to local industry compared with other regions of East Africa.

Therefore, as the capital of North Great Lake Province, agriculture and related industries still occupy an advantage in Kampala’s industrial structure.

At this time, the agricultural and forestry departments of Kampala are conducting relevant discussions on optimizing the agricultural construction in the region.

In Kevins Town, northeast of Kampala, agricultural meteorologist Morse, after more than ten years of investigation and monitoring, gave a rather in-depth report to Kampala government officials on the issue of agricultural production safety in Kampala.

Morse: “Under normal circumstances, the increase of forests and vegetation will reduce the annual runoff of rivers. Of course, the impact of forests and other vegetation on the climate is relatively complicated. Under certain factors, it may show the opposite effect. However, it is certain that ensuring forests and vegetation under suitable climatic conditions is more beneficial than harmful to the overall climate.”

“So my opinion is that it is best to ensure that the region maintains its forests and vegetation in its original state, so that problems are less likely to occur. In layman’s terms, it is to maintain the local ecological balance as much as possible and transform local agriculture while respecting the laws of nature.”

Kampala Agriculture Bureau Director Helvein asked: “Mr. Morse, do you mean that our agricultural construction in the local area is unfavorable?”

In Helvein’s opinion, Morse’s words just now seemed to be criticizing the destruction of the local ecology in East Africa’s agricultural development. After all, a large number of forests and grasslands have indeed been eliminated in the process of farmland and water conservancy development, replaced by large areas of farmland.

Morse waved his hand and said: “I didn’t say that. What I mean is that human beings are currently weak in the face of nature, so the development of our agriculture must be carefully considered, not to say that local agriculture is unfavorable.”

Looking at the puzzled expressions of Helvein and other East African officials, Morse could only explain: “I won’t beat around the bush. My agricultural development suggestions can be summarized as follows: First, it is necessary to restore the necessary forests or vegetation. As for what is necessary, this needs to be adapted to local conditions. For example, some areas with less rainfall are not suitable for large-scale development of cultivated land. Second, build more reservoirs or protect local waters. Through my years of research in the local area, the more reservoirs, the more beneficial it is to agricultural development in the region. Of course, we are already along the Great Lakes, so there is no need to go to great lengths, just do a good job in the construction of related water conservancy facilities.”

“And the two points I mentioned are to ensure that the local climate will not change due to excessive agricultural development. If excessive agricultural development leads to soil erosion, reduced rainfall, land desertification and other problems, it will be a devastating blow to the local agricultural ecology that has been built.”

“To put it simply, it is to moderately develop local resources, so that we can have a long-term and steady income, rather than draining the pond to catch all the fish.”

Under Ernst’s influence, East Africa has become the area with the highest concentration of environmental ecology scholars in the world, and their knowledge and theoretical level have also continued to improve with the development of East Africa and the passage of time.

“Moderately!” This is the keyword that Helvein grasped.

Morse: “That’s right, the key is moderately. This is most evident in Asia. I will take the Mesopotamia in the Middle East as an example. In ancient times, Mesopotamia gave birth to relatively mature civilizations such as ancient Babylon. With the increase in population, the excessive development of the local area by the residents of Mesopotamia made the climate of the basin increasingly dry, forests degraded, and deserts swallowed farmland, and many areas gradually became unsuitable for agricultural production.”

Speaking of this, even if Helvein doesn’t have much knowledge, he can basically understand it.

This is also something that cannot be helped. Helvein has passed the best age for learning, and he entered the East African government through military merit, so he relies heavily on these professionals in regional governance.

This is also the current situation in East African countries. Although East Africa has established a relatively complete education system and cultivated a large number of basic talents, this system has only matured in recent years.

Before that, the officials of the East African government were mainly low-educated people like Helvein, and it will take about ten to twenty years for talents with higher education and knowledge levels to replace the East African government.

The current East African industrial and agricultural development model is still relatively extensive, so people like Helvein are barely enough. When East African industry and agriculture further develop, more professional personnel are needed for management.

Chapter 957: Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, and Fishing

After listening to Morse’s advice in Helwein, Ernst also asked Morse to formulate an agricultural development strategy for Kampala, which can be regarded as a good phenomenon in the governance of East African countries.

After all, most East African officials do not have the rich experience and family heritage of European aristocratic officials, which makes East African officials more dependent on the advice of “experts.” The only pity is that there are too few practical experts like Morse.

…

Meanwhile, in Rhein City, Ernst was also listening to a report from professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture.

“As of 1898, the country’s arable land area has approached two and a half billion mu. Looking at the world, it is second only to Tsarist Russia and the United States. In the past eight years, the newly added arable land has been mainly in the central and western regions, as well as the southeastern region.”

“With the increase in arable land, agricultural water conservancy facilities have also increased significantly. More than four million Black laborers have participated in agricultural production activities, and a large number of water conservancy facilities and reservoirs have been newly built. In the past five years alone, the number of newly built reservoirs has reached more than twenty thousand, greatly improving agricultural production efficiency.”

As a country dominated by tropical savanna climate, the rainfall distribution in most parts of East Africa is not uniform, especially the seasonal differences are large. The construction of water conservancy facilities has greatly improved the efficiency of agricultural production in East Africa.

Without water conservancy facilities, the land in most parts of East Africa can only be cultivated once a year. After the construction of new reservoirs and other water conservancy facilities, with the guarantee of water sources, many lands in East Africa have been upgraded to two crops a year, and a few areas can even have three crops a year.

This is equivalent to East Africa being able to double its grain output without increasing the area of arable land, which shows the remarkable achievements of East Africa’s agricultural water conservancy construction.

“In the 1890s, our most important technological progress was the research, development, and popularization of large vehicles and agricultural machinery. In 1898, the number of tractors in the country reached more than fourteen thousand, with the highest penetration rate in the Great Lakes region and the central region.”

East Africa’s tractor production technology is relatively complete. As a key science and technology project in East Africa, it mainly prioritizes meeting domestic demand. Currently, East Africa also has the largest number of internal combustion engine vehicles such as automobiles and tractors in the world.

The secret to East Africa’s production advantage in automobiles, tractors, and other agricultural machinery is assembly line production. Of course, on this basis, Ernst also proposed the concept of a complete industrial chain.

This has made the division of labor in East African factories clear, promoted cooperative development, and had a huge impact on East Africa’s industrial production capacity. Taking the automobile assembly plant in New Frankfurt as an example, many of its internal parts are not produced by the plant itself, but are provided by other factories.

Of course, the unified management and unified standards set by the East African government have greatly improved the reliability of the parts.

These factories are basically located in the central inland areas for confidentiality reasons, while the coastal areas adopt European and American standards. As a result, the automobile production plants in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa still use the traditional manual assembly model, which is extremely inefficient.

Of course, East Africa’s assembly line models will also cooperate with the automobiles produced by these manual factories for export. The former are generally high-end models, while the latter are low-end models.

After all, assembly line models have more parts produced and more uniform quality, making them easier to maintain and repair, so they are shaped as “high-end goods.”

However, the main sources of income in the two places, in addition to industry, are also commerce and service industries, which are not available in East Africa’s inland cities.

“The past thirty years have also been a period of great development of our country’s forestry resources. The continuous expansion of the territory has enabled us to continuously expand the area of forests we have obtained, especially the almost inexhaustible forestry resources in the Congo Basin. As for artificial forests, they are mainly rubber forests.”

Before East Africa, the African continent had not been effectively developed for a long time, so it accumulated a huge amount of forestry resources, including a large number of virgin forests in arid Southwest Africa and Somalia. Therefore, at the current stage, East Africa’s area of forest felling is far greater than the area of planting.

Moreover, this situation will continue. The area of cities and arable land is still on the rise, so the plunder of forests will also be a long-term process.

“East Africa’s animal husbandry has developed rapidly, especially in high-quality pastures such as South Africa and Southwest Africa. The main economy of Southwest Africa is animal husbandry. At the same time, the development of animal husbandry in the western region has also formed a certain competitive relationship between us and Argentine agriculture.”

Argentina is a major animal husbandry country. In the 19th century, it could even be said to be a strong animal husbandry country. Although Southwest Africa is arid, it also means that there are a large number of grasslands in the area. Coupled with the sparse population, it is naturally conducive to the development of large ranches. At the same time, with the construction of the Walvis Bay Railway and the Port of Alexandria, it provides an export channel for agricultural and livestock products in Southwest Africa.

The main target of the animal husbandry market is naturally European countries, which to some extent has lowered international beef prices. Of course, Southwest Africa’s animal husbandry development started late, so its current influence is also weak.

“As for fishery resources, they are also in a stage of rapid development. In particular, the existence of the West Coast fishing grounds has provided East Africa with a stable source of marine fishery resources. In the past eight years, East Africa’s marine fishing industry has quadrupled. With the development of ships, railways, and cold storage technology, it has not only provided new sources of meat for domestic residents, but also brought huge profits through exports to European and American countries.”

East Africa’s West Coast fishing ground is the fifth largest fishing ground in the world, and it is also the only one of the world’s five major fishing grounds that has not been developed on a large scale.

At the same time, on the east coast of East Africa, due to the existence of the Somali Current, seasonal fishing grounds will be formed. East Africa is not the kind of country with turbulent political situation like Somalia in its previous life, so East Africa basically firmly grasps the resource development rights of the Somali coastal fishing grounds.

In its previous life, Somalia was unable to effectively manage the Somali coast due to the civil war and the corruption and incompetence of the government and local warlords, so the entire Somali coast became a paradise for foreign fishing boats.

The small boats of Somali fishermen are naturally unable to compare with foreign advanced and professional fishing boats, so foreign fishing boats massively fished off the Somali coast, causing the depletion of local fishery resources and the loss of income for fishermen, thereby giving rise to the profession of Somali “pirates.”

The original small fishing boats were indeed not good at fishing, but installing engines allowed them to cross social classes by robbing passing merchant ships, so the Somali pirate problem is also a kind of karmic cycle.

Of course, although the Somali coastal fishing grounds are rich in resources, they are still not comparable to the West Coast fishing grounds. Although East Africa has obtained the West Coast for a short time, judging from the time when the East African government strongly supported the development of the marine fishing industry, the two are almost carried out simultaneously, so the growth rate of the West Coast marine fishing industry far exceeds that of the East Coast.

“The above is basically the basic development of the four major industries of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishing in our country. Overall, East African agriculture is in a period of high-speed and stable development.”

“The driving force behind this high-speed and great development is mainly the promotion of government policies, the increase in the national population, and the development of the transportation industry, etc.”

The national chessboard is under one command in terms of policy, and the role of the East African government cannot be ignored. Population growth is the original driving force for East Africa’s agricultural investment and expansion, and the development of the transportation industry is also extremely important, especially for the development and utilization of fishery resources.

If the western transportation conditions are not in place, East Africa will naturally not be able to achieve vigorous development of the western marine fishing industry, unless it is processed into shelf-stable canned food or semi-finished products near the western coastal cities and factories.

The application of refrigeration technology on railways enables the East African inland to eat relatively fresh seafood products, which expands the market scope of the marine fishing industry.

In fact, it was after the East African railway network was basically formed that the East African marine fishing industry entered a stage of rapid development.

Chapter 958: Paraguay

Asunción, Paraguay.

Having weathered the Paraguayan War, Paraguay has now fully recovered its vitality, with its population returning to pre-war levels in the 1880s.

The only unfortunate aspect is that after the Paraguayan War, Paraguay is farther from a seaport. However, thanks to the two excellent waterways of the Paraná River and its tributary, the Paraguay River, Paraguay’s domestic and foreign trade has not been greatly affected.

At the fork of the Paraná and Paraguay Rivers, the East African Paraguay trade fleet is splitting up.

“The Aaron Green and Ovim, and the Bala Jinma, are headed to Ciudad del Este, while we will head northwest into the Paraguay River and then arrive at Asunción, the capital of Paraguay,” Captain Corrid said to the trainee crew members.

“In the trade between East Africa and Paraguay, the Paraguayan capital of Asunción and Paraguay’s second-largest city, Ciudad del Este, are our main destinations. In the future, your voyages will most likely be between these two cities and East Africa.”

“Captain, is there anything special about Ciudad del Este?” someone asked, mainly because East Africa also has a city called “Eastern City” on Pemba Island in the Indian Ocean.

Captain Corrid explained, “Paraguay’s Ciudad del Este is on the banks of the Paraná River, and in the local language, it should be called Ciudad del Este, but the meaning of Ciudad del Este is ‘Eastern City’. As for our domestic Eastern City in the Indian Ocean, the two concepts are completely different. Paraguay is a small country with a small population and a small economy, so our trade with Paraguay mainly goes through Asunción and Ciudad del Este, two cities that barely meet the minimum requirements in terms of scale.”

Although Paraguay’s economy and population have emerged from the shadow of war, it does not change the reality of Paraguay’s small size and population. Today, Paraguay’s population is only over seven hundred thousand, of which only Asunción and Ciudad del Este have populations of over fifty thousand.

“Asunción is the capital of Paraguay, and across the river is Argentina, so Asunción is actually an important trade hub city between East Africa and Paraguay and Argentina.”

In fact, Asunción was not originally across the river from Argentina, but after the Paraguayan War, the southern bank of the Paraguay River was ceded to Argentina. The land across the river is actually former Paraguayan territory.

However, after the Paraguayan War, Paraguay’s population was almost wiped out, so there were not many former Paraguayans left on the ceded territory. Now, Paraguay’s national population is mainly a mix of Italian descendants, indigenous people, and Paraguayans.

Captain Corrid continued, “In comparison, Ciudad del Este is even more remarkable. Ciudad del Este is located at the confluence of the Paraná and Iguazu Rivers, next to Argentina and Brazil. The three countries are separated by the Paraná and Iguazu Rivers. This geographical location destined Ciudad del Este for commercial prosperity. On the opposite bank of Ciudad del Este are Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina.”

So, as long as East Africa transports goods to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, there is an opportunity to sell these goods to Brazil and Argentina. Of course, this is basically the job of the Paraguayans.

The Paraguayans, acting as middlemen, have also made a lot of money. This is one of the main reasons why the economies of Asunción and Ciudad del Este have recovered rapidly and accelerated their development.

“Paraguay is East Africa’s earliest window for trade with South America, making a significant contribution to East African commodity exports and witnessing the friendship between the two countries,” Captain Corrid said with a rather proud tone.

As he spoke, the fleet Captain Corrid was in had completed the split, and the Kaguan, where Captain Corrid was, and the other three ships sailed into the Paraguay River. From here, it also meant that the fleet officially entered the border between Paraguay and Argentina.

Of course, the fleet did not directly arrive in Asunción, but stopped at Puerto Formosa in Argentina. Puerto Formosa is former Paraguayan territory, established by Argentines in 1879.

East African merchant ships are one of the main sources of imported goods for the Formosa region of Argentina, and the East African Paraguay trade fleet only left one merchant ship here.

After all, Formosa is just a small border town in Argentina, and its purchasing power is completely incomparable to the Paraguayan capital of Asunción, and it is not easy to convert their goods into cash.

Argentina and Paraguay’s main export commodities are beef and agricultural products such as wheat, while East Africa itself is a major agricultural and pastoral country, so East Africa’s trade activity in the region is not very high.

However, due to the unique geographical environment, the quality of beef and wheat in Paraguay and Argentina is higher than in East Africa. In this case, East Africa still has some demand for its agricultural products.

The East African commercial fleet exports local agricultural products such as beef directly to Europe, or transports them back to the mainland, thereby earning meager profits.

Soon, the East African Paraguay commercial fleet arrived in Asunción. As the East African merchant ships entered the port, many Paraguayan merchants had already gathered to wait.

The main commodities that East Africa imports to Paraguay are textiles, electrical equipment, and automobiles. Of course, sales of the latter two are not very prominent. At this time, automobiles are luxury goods, and only a very small number of upper-class people in Paraguay, a small country with a small population, can grit their teeth and afford them. As for the sales of electrical equipment, they are not much better. After all, the road to popularizing electricity in Europe, the United States, and East Africa is still long and arduous, let alone a South American peripheral country like Paraguay.

Of course, even if the Paraguayan market is small, it is still a piece of meat. During the López era, Paraguay had already laid telegraph lines and built railways, so the locals’ acceptance of new things was still relatively strong.

It’s just that the Paraguayan War interrupted Paraguay’s development path, including South America’s most “developed” industry. After that, East Africa and Austria-Hungary squeezed into the Paraguayan market.

Today, forty percent of Paraguay’s electrical equipment comes from East Africa, followed by France, and finally Austria-Hungary.

Before the Paraguayan War, Paraguay’s largest trading partner was France. López graduated from France and used Napoleon as his idol. After López’s death, the Paraguayan government’s policies still changed, which allowed East Africa to obtain a ticket to enter the market.

However, it was not East Africa that was doing business with Paraguay at the beginning, but the Hechingen Consortium. East Africa did not have this ability at the time.

Later, after East Africa’s economy and industrial strength increased, it began to use the Hechingen Consortium’s trade channels to gradually accumulate trade volume with Paraguay.

After entering the 1890s, with the rapid development of East Africa’s industry, even if East African industrial products are not sold at reduced prices in Paraguay, they can compete with other countries. Among them, electrical equipment and automobiles are Paraguay’s priority options. In these two fields, East African manufacturing belongs to high-end products and has strong competitiveness in the global market.

Of course, in the 19th century, even the worst countries that worked hard to develop industry did not lack markets. The industrial production capacity in the 19th century was limited, and the demand for industrial products was very strong.

Although Paraguay is a small country with a small population, its per capita consumption capacity is strong. After the Paraguayan War, in order to quickly restore the national economy and population, Paraguay’s economic policies were relaxed. The original social classes were also broken due to the war, so ordinary people had more opportunities. Even if they only developed agriculture, their income was relatively considerable.

In addition, the increase in Italian immigrants provided Paraguay with a rich industrial and commercial population, which has made Paraguay’s economic development relatively good today. In the industrial and agricultural fields, it is even a step up from before the war.

After all, many of the Italian immigrants who fled to Paraguay came from Venice, a relatively developed region in Italy, and Venice itself is an area with a strong industrial and commercial atmosphere.

Chapter 959: South American National Relations

“Captain Corrid, how’s the trade this year?”

In Asuncion, Luo Lie, the East African diplomatic ambassador, met with Captain Corrid, which was essentially a gathering of old friends.

Communication between East Africa and South America isn’t very convenient. Even Luo Lie, as East Africa’s ambassador to Paraguay, has to rely on Captain Corrid and others who come from East Africa to Paraguay for trade to obtain some domestic information.

“Business has been pretty good these past few years. Trade between Paraguay and East Africa has been steadily increasing. I used to lead a team with only four ships, but this year there are a full three. Besides Asuncion, Ciudad del Este has also become an important location for trade between the two countries.”

Luo Lie nodded and said, “It seems our country’s trade development in Ciudad del Este is good. I remember the relevant policies only started in 1892. At that time, trade between East Africa and Paraguay was mainly concentrated in Asuncion.”

Captain Corrid said, “Yes, Ciudad del Este’s location is quite special. It’s not just Paraguay; it also has Brazil and Argentina behind it. Argentina’s economy has been developing very rapidly these past few years, so our trade with Argentina is increasing rapidly.”

Luo Lie: “Argentina’s situation is unique, mainly due to its superior geography and climate. That’s why Britain has been investing in Argentina in recent years, especially in the rapid growth of Argentina’s railways. However, Argentina’s economy is also quite distorted. If the British withdraw their investment or the market changes, countries with such a single economic structure like Argentina are most vulnerable to impact.”

Of course, Captain Corrid didn’t see it that way: “Without British investment and construction, Argentina would still be a barren land. So the Argentine government should thank the British for their investment and construction. Of course, even without Britain, Argentina’s conditions could attract other countries. As for the economic structure, agriculture is always relatively stable. Even if Argentine agriculture goes bankrupt, it won’t be a complete disaster. Before, they had nothing. At least the British helped them build a lot of railways and factories.”

Luo Lie remained noncommittal and said, “It’s still better to be independent. Of course, what I mean is not to become dependent on other countries. For example, our East African economy is self-sufficient. Even if there are some gaps with other countries, we have explored our own path. Argentina’s economy is more like drinking poison to quench thirst.”

There was actually nothing wrong with what Ambassador Luo Lie and Captain Corrid said. The Argentine government’s governance ability is relatively poor, at least from the perspective of developing the economy. It is not mature and is easily subject to external interference.

To this end, Luo Lie also cited Paraguay as an example, saying, “The Paraguayans have a much better vision than the Argentines. Before the Paraguayan War, the Paraguayan rulers knew the importance of industrial development. After the Paraguayan War, Paraguay could be said to have been completely destroyed, but through these years of effort, it has reproduced the glory of the past.”

Captain Corrid agreed with this point and said, “That’s true. At least you can see it from the development of Asuncion. When I first came to Asuncion, the population was only over twenty thousand. Now it has grown to about seventy or eighty thousand, right!”

Luo Lie said with a smile, “Your vision isn’t good either! Asuncion’s population exceeded one hundred thousand last year. It’s not a small city in South America. The total population of Paraguay is probably over nine hundred thousand now.”

A population of nine hundred thousand is quite large in the region. At that time, Argentina’s population was only over four million, and Brazil’s population was eighteen million. However, Argentina and Brazil are too large, while Paraguay’s neighbor Bolivia has a population of just over one million. Uruguay, Paraguay’s original close brother, also has less than one million people.

Historically, at this point in time, Paraguay’s population was only over six hundred thousand, close to seven hundred thousand, so Paraguay’s population is two hundred thousand more than in history.

Now Argentina’s population is just over four times that of Paraguay. If the two countries fight another war, it’s hard to say who will win or lose. Of course, that’s assuming Brazil and Uruguay don’t participate.

The total area of Paraguay today is only over three hundred thousand square kilometers, which is less than what the Bolivian government gave Paraguay as an assist (Paraguay gained one hundred and eighty thousand square kilometers of territory in the Chaco War), so Paraguay’s population density is already quite high in the region.

Captain Corrid said, “With the increase in population and economic recovery, it’s not surprising that the trade volume between East Africa and Paraguay is increasing. However, the development of other South American countries is also not weak, if you don’t compare them with East Africa.”

East Africa’s development is completely unique among countries outside of Europe and the United States. After all, East Africa has only existed for more than thirty years, and it has already left Brazil, the number one in South America, in the dust. Its population is several times that of Brazil, and its industrial and agricultural growth far exceeds Brazil’s.

Not to mention anything else, Brazil’s population is now only larger than Argentina’s, but its actual economic situation is far inferior to Argentina and Paraguay.

Of course, Paraguay’s economic achievements are inseparable from East Africa, but if the Paraguayan government is not capable, then it is all in vain.

Captain Corrid: “I also have a message to bring you this time. Before I came, domestic newspapers had already frequently increased their descriptions of South America, so South America will definitely be a key direction for our country’s development in the future.”

Luo Lie picked up his coffee and took a sip, saying, “This is inevitable. Since our country acquired Angola, East Africa is destined to have a role to play in the Atlantic Ocean. The countries and regions in the Atlantic where our country can achieve the fastest results are West Africa and South America.”

East Africa, West Africa, and South America are all located in the South Atlantic region, so if East Africa wants to expand its influence and trade in the South Atlantic, it will inevitably start with West Africa and South America. West Africa is now full of colonies and has no right to independent development, so the relatively independent South American countries are the only choice for the East African government.

“The only pity is that Paraguay, which has the best relationship with our East Africa, is ultimately not a major power.” Luo Lie sighed. After all, he is the ambassador to Paraguay, not the ambassador to Brazil or Argentina. East Africa may attach more importance to these two countries than to Paraguay.

Of course, in addition to Brazil and Argentina mentioned by Luo Lie, Ernst’s attention to countries such as Peru is also not weak, but Peru should be considered a Pacific country, and the Drake Passage is even more dangerous than the Cape of Good Hope route. Even ten-thousand-ton ships in the twenty-first century do not easily pass through the Drake Passage, let alone ships in the nineteenth century.

So even if East Africa wants to bypass the Drake Passage and develop trade with Peru, it is not easy. Replacing the Drake Passage may also be one of the important meanings of the construction of the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal is more difficult than the Suez Canal, so it has not been completed until now, and the United States mainly uses railways to achieve trade between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

However, the danger is insignificant compared to Peru’s rich resources. Peru alone has more copper mines than the entire East Africa, and other resources are also relatively abundant. Of course, it is also relatively close to East Africa.

East Africa’s current focus on South America is mainly in the south and east, which is actually the five countries of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.

Chapter 960: Opening Up New Markets

The geographical locations of these five countries can be described as “extremely good.” The Southern Hemisphere is already relatively remote, and they are located in the Americas, even further away from the Eurasian continent. Although the main part of East Africa is located in the Southern Hemisphere, East Africa relies on the Indian Ocean and is closely connected to the Eurasian continent, making it convenient to reach Europe and Asia.

But these countries are different. This is indeed the case, after all, they are places that could avoid both World Wars. Even Africa, the most backward place in the world in my previous life, was one of the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars. The Japanese even coveted Oceania. The state of South America being detached from worldly affairs also illustrates the disadvantage of South America’s position in global trade.

Of course, this disadvantage is actually an advantage for East Africa. The shipping route between Africa and South America is also the most convenient, so South American countries occupy an important position in the economy of the west coast of East Africa.

“Corrid, what good things did you bring this time? Do you have any tea and coffee?”

The quality of East African tea and coffee is excellent, so for Roland, domestic products are still better, especially exported coffee and tea.

Corrid shook his head and said, “This time, our ship brought industrial products. After all, South America also produces coffee, although the taste may be a little worse. But I still have some stock, and I’ll have someone send some over later. As for tea, I personally don’t drink it, but other people on the ship may like it. But this time, I specifically brought you some mosquito coils, because there are quite a few mosquitoes in Paraguay.”

“That’s great, there are more mosquitoes here than in East Africa. Although mosquito repellent products like mosquito coils can also be bought locally, they are much more expensive than in our country. Many of the mosquito repellent products here are exported from us,” Roland complained.

……

Rhine City.

Minister of Commerce John Lear is reporting to Ernst on the relationship between East Africa and various South American countries over the past few years.

“We officially established diplomatic relations with Brazil after 1891. However, Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay did not establish diplomatic relations with us until 1892. The main reason why these countries did not accept our olive branch immediately was because their economies relied on the support of British capital.”

“Especially Argentina. Currently, Argentina’s economy is mainly cooperating with the British. The British import Argentine wool, beef, and other agricultural products. Then, Argentina entrusts its railway, port, and other infrastructure construction to the British. The two have achieved mutual benefit.”

“So, after the South African War, Argentina was still relatively restrained in establishing diplomatic relations with East Africa at that time. As for Peru and Uruguay, I guess they had the same consideration.”

“However, since we established diplomatic relations with Argentina and other South American countries, economic cooperation between the two sides has developed rapidly, especially Argentina’s demand for East African industrial products is relatively strong.”

East Africa couldn’t help but take a different look at Argentina in the 19th century. This country with only four million people was ranked among the top ten economies in the world, so you can imagine how wealthy Argentina is now.

The key to this is naturally Britain. Currently, Argentina’s wool exports rank first in the world, and the destination is naturally Britain. Although other industries are also developing, the status of the textile industry is still unshakable. In the 19th century, the textile industry was still the world’s largest industry, and as the most developed country in the textile industry, Britain’s demand for wool was extremely strong.

The wool income alone is enough for Argentinians to live a life of plenty. After all, the market demand in Britain and its colonies is quite large. Argentina only needs to play the role of Britain’s shepherd, and on this basis, Argentina’s beef and mutton exports are also very considerable.

In comparison, Brazil is not enough to watch in this era. In the competition with Argentina, Brazil is now at a disadvantage.

Geographically speaking, Argentina has a suitable climate and is easier to absorb European immigrants. The plain area is vast and the river network is dense, making it easier to develop than Brazil.

Don’t look at Brazil’s territory far exceeding Argentina, but due to transportation reasons, the Brazilian interior has not been effectively developed, and the north is the Amazon rainforest, so the economic population is concentrated in the southeastern coastal area.

However, the existence of the Brazilian Shield makes the Brazilian coast mostly steep cliffs. When transportation problems are difficult to solve, the port is difficult to drive the development of the interior and form an economic core. On the other hand, Argentina’s coastline is not inferior to Brazil’s, and the terrain is flat and there are many rivers, making it easy for the interior and the coast to interact. Therefore, in the early days, Argentina was easier to develop than Brazil.

In other aspects, Brazil’s original suzerain state was Portugal, while Argentina’s suzerain state was Spain. Spain’s control over Argentina was weak, which also led to Argentina’s independence earlier than Brazil and shorter time being exploited by the suzerain state.

Also, the political ecology has also had an important impact on the two countries. During the South African War, a revolution also broke out in Brazil. In 1888, after Brazil abolished slavery, the Republicans were greatly encouraged and overthrew the Brazilian royal family in 1889.

The political turmoil in Brazil also affected East Africa, which further promoted the end of the East African slave trade. For some time before that, Brazil had been the largest destination for black people in East Africa.

When Brazil also stopped enslaving people, the East African slave trade naturally became more difficult to maintain, which is also an important reason why East Africa simply stopped the slave trade.

Of course, the abolition of the imperial system in Brazil did not achieve the leapfrog development of the Brazilian economy as the Republicans imagined. Instead, the political situation became more turbulent. The first president stepped down less than a year after taking office, so the economy was naturally even worse under the unstable political situation in Brazil.

Therefore, in East Africa’s trade with South America, Argentina and Paraguay are ranked before Brazil. Argentinians are rich and have strong consumption power, while Paraguay has the best relationship with East Africa. Before East Africa established diplomatic relations with other South American countries, East Africa’s trade with South America was mainly transited by Paraguay. Through Paraguay, East African goods could be indirectly sold to Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia.

Of course, with the development of time and the consolidation of East Africa’s international status, East Africa naturally cannot rely solely on Paraguay as a grip. Therefore, since the 1890s, East Africa has begun to strengthen its relations with other South American countries.

Not only the five South American countries, but other South American countries also have exchanges with East Africa, but due to geographical location and economic reasons, other countries are not the focus of East Africa.

In fact, from all perspectives, trade and exchanges between East Africa and South American countries is a relatively slow process, far less than trade and exchanges between East Africa and Eurasian countries.

But under the international environment, East Africa has to take the initiative to win over these countries. After all, the global market is so big, and the development of East African industry can only continue to open up new markets. Although South American countries are deeply involved with Britain, at least they are relatively independent on the surface.

Therefore, although exchanges with these countries are laborious and unrewarding, they are not completely ineffective. This is also the process of East Africa’s external economic influence expansion. Without the premise of war, this process will be very slow.

After all, war is the most effective means of opening the other party’s country. At the end of the 19th century, East Africa’s strength was far from enough. In terms of naval strength alone, East Africa was ranked after Britain, the United States, Russia, Germany, and France.

Therefore, the object of East Africa’s learning can only be the United States before. As the world’s largest industrial country, the United States does not have the world’s right to speak, so American goods cannot be sold well all over the world, and they will always be restricted by the rule makers of Britain and France.

Chapter 961: Danger and Opportunity

Of course, the United States is also aware of this issue, so it has now picked up the “free trade” script of the old British Empire and is vigorously developing its naval strength.

In the original timeline, the United States launched its so-called “Open Door Policy” in September of this year, demanding more opportunities for “fair competition.”

East Africa has not yet reached the stage of development of the United States, but with the development of East African industry, it will not be long before East Africa also supports the United States’ position.

After all, the current world rules are formulated by traditional European powers such as Britain and France. Other countries are more than happy to break this old world system, and East Africa is no exception.

“Continue to increase diplomatic, cultural, and political exchanges with South American countries, especially to support our proxies. The international market is now almost completely divided up, and if we want to take more than our fair share, it means that someone has to give up their interests, which is obviously not easy to do. So we can only continue to work hard, open up new avenues, avoid direct competition, or improve our industrial standards and increase the competitiveness of our products,” Ernst said.

You have to be strong yourself to forge iron. If East Africa’s industrial level is further improved, East African industrial products will be able to compete head-on with other countries. In the end, it depends on who has the stronger industrial strength. After the industrial level rises, it will naturally drive the development of other fields.

Like the United States, its shift in foreign policy is also due to the rapid expansion of its industry. Industrial development has driven the improvement of the United States’ strength. This is the premise of the current development of the United States Navy and the guarantee of victory in the Spanish-American War.

At present, East African industry has not yet grown in quantity, so it cannot be compared with other great powers. However, as time goes by, East African industry will also enter a new period of explosive growth.

In 1899, East Africa’s previous industrial reforms were basically completed. A large number of new factories were built, spread across the eastern, central, and western regions, and the northern and southern regions also achieved industrialization from scratch.

In the central and eastern regions, a number of emerging industries in East Africa are growing rapidly. The electricity, machinery, petroleum, chemical, and mechanical industries have all achieved leapfrog development.

In particular, industries such as electricity and automobiles have not only grown in scale, but have also accumulated a large number of technical advantages. As long as time goes by, East Africa will have a great competitive advantage in the market for these industries in the next two or three decades.

At the same time, this also means that in 1899, East Africa’s previous round of industrial investment was completed, and the subsequent process was the recovery of East Africa’s industrial investment.

This is also the main reason why East Africa is actively developing new consumer markets such as South America. After all, industrial products cannot be digested only by the domestic market in East Africa. The international market is even more important.

In the international market, after excluding the colonies and spheres of influence of various countries, there are not many regions and countries available for East Africa to choose from. South America is also the only region that East Africa has not yet been heavily involved in.

So Ernst said: “In terms of exports, our main markets are currently Europe, the Far East, and the Middle East. Europe is the main market for East African industrial and agricultural products, while the Far East and the Middle East are advantageous markets. On this basis, South America will be the fourth largest market for East African trade in the future.”

“The most important thing for the development of new markets is the binding of interests, so as to achieve a certain breakthrough in the current environment of high tariff barriers.”

According to Ernst’s memory, several economic crises occurred in the early 20th century in his previous life, especially the economic crisis in 1913, which directly led to the outbreak of the World War.

Therefore, in the entire early 20th century, competition in the industrial field will only become more intense, but the impact on East Africa should not be great. On the one hand, East Africa’s domestic market is not yet saturated. As an agricultural country, the domestic market demand in East Africa is relatively strong.

Like tractors, electrical equipment, automobiles, etc., East Africa’s current self-production and self-sales are greater than exports, and these industries rely on emerging industries. Emerging industries are far more capable of coping with economic crises than traditional industries.

In the previous round of industrial investment in East Africa, an industrial upgrade has been completed, and most of the backward production capacity has been eliminated. Against the background of other countries vigorously expanding their military, East Africa has invested more funds in technology and equipment upgrades, scientific research, education, and other fields, which itself has an advantage.

Of course, this does not mean that the path chosen by other countries is wrong. If they can occupy more colonies and markets through military expansion, they can naturally cope with economic risks.

However, Ernst is not optimistic about this path, at least for the current stage, military expansion is more harmful than beneficial to national development.

At present, the strength of various great powers is relatively balanced, which makes it difficult for countries to make up their minds to go to war. If there is no war, the cake cannot be redistributed. Of course, the Spanish-American War should be regarded as an exception, but the size of Cuba and the Philippines acquired by the United States is not large, and it is only a drop in the bucket for the United States.

This is the same as East Africa’s purchase of Mindanao. Mindanao has a small population and cannot be effectively developed, so East Africa cannot temporarily obtain benefits from Mindanao.

Moreover, the current equipment technology is in a period of rapid iteration, especially the navy. The expansion of the United States Navy is actually a matter of buying early and enjoying early, while Ernst’s naval development route belongs to buying late and enjoying discounts. Before the appearance of dreadnoughts, the East African Navy does not plan to expand the number of warships on a large scale in the next four or five years.

In Ernst’s view, in the next few years, until 1905, the focus of East Africa’s national development is to vigorously develop the economy, especially to improve East Africa’s industrial strength. After 1905, it will not be too late to consider changes in the international situation and formulate East Africa’s development strategy.

Of course, the frequent economic crises in the early 20th century are indeed worthy of Ernst’s vigilance. Although history has changed a lot, the general trend of world economic development should remain unchanged. It is necessary to avoid the economic crises of other countries from spreading to East Africa and disrupting East Africa’s layout.

Of course, this worry is a bit superfluous. Other countries may only have high tariff barriers, while most areas of East Africa, except for coastal cities, are still in a state of isolation.

With this firewall in place, even if the economic crisis really affects East Africa, it will only have an impact on the economy of the coastal areas.

Moreover, the economic crisis is not a bad thing for East Africa at present. Crisis also represents opportunity, which is more conducive to East Africa obtaining advanced technology and equipment from other countries.

Although East Africa itself has many industrial highlights, it is limited to emerging industries. The gap between traditional industries and other countries is still difficult to bridge, and the economic crisis is East Africa’s opportunity.

Of course, East Africa’s introduction of technology and equipment is very different from the 1970s. In the economic crisis of the 1970s, East Africa mainly solved the problem of going from nothing to something, while in the new century, East Africa’s most important thing is to make up for the shortcomings of East Africa’s industry and check for gaps in East Africa’s industrial system. There is a big difference between the two.

However, this also makes Ernst quite regretful, that is, in the early 20th century, East Africa could not play the role of the Soviet Union in his previous life. Although East Africa’s economic system has some similar characteristics to the Soviet Union, East Africa has already invested funds in industrial development in advance.

However, this is not a bad thing. The Soviet Union did rapidly achieve industrialization in the economic crisis of the 1930s and enjoyed the dividends of the economic crisis in Europe and the United States. Although it was also a shock to the Soviet Union’s own industry and scientific research, it can be avoided by grasping the degree.

In contrast, East Africa has adopted a completely different route. After all, Ernst has always pursued a steady approach. In Ernst’s view, it may not be a good thing to allow East Africa’s industry to expand rapidly in a short period of time. Otherwise, the mining of the Hechengen Province gold mine can solve the funding needs of East Africa’s industrial development.

Chapter 962: Tirpitz

February 1899, Pemba Port.

A group of German naval personnel were in Pemba Port, engaging in exchanges with East African naval personnel. They weren’t particularly interested in the East African warships, but rather in East Africa’s submarines.

Leading the group was Alfred von Tirpitz of the German Navy. Tirpitz, the German Naval Minister, was visiting the East African Navy ostensibly to strengthen cooperation between the two navies. The most important aspect of this was the hope that East Africa would open some ports or colonies as bases for routine German naval training or as stopover points.

However, while in Bagamoyo, Tirpitz learned about the existence of East African submarines from a German businessman, so he spontaneously decided to visit Pemba Port to inspect the East African submarines.

After obtaining the consent of the East African Navy and government, Tirpitz and his party arrived at Pemba Port in the south, which was currently the only home port for the East African submarine force.

Of course, the main reason East Africa was willing to show Tirpitz this courtesy was because of his special status. Otherwise, as a strategic weapon valued by Ernst, it would have been impossible to demonstrate it to outsiders.

Alfred von Tirpitz, appointed Imperial Naval Minister by Wilhelm II in 1897, was the father of the German High Seas Fleet in his previous life. He once said, “Without a strong navy, Germany’s role in the world is like a mollusk without a shell.”

Undoubtedly, Tirpitz was one of the main executors of Wilhelm II’s grand naval plan. Now, this creator of the German High Seas Fleet in his previous life was visiting East Africa for the first time after leading the development of the German Navy.

It was not surprising that Tirpitz valued East Africa. As one of the world’s naval powers, the East African Navy itself had a certain value in terms of winning it over. Moreover, the East African Navy possessed advantages that the German Navy did not, namely, relatively abundant overseas bases and the advantageous geographical location of the East African Navy itself.

East Africa directly faces two major oceans, and especially in the Indian Ocean, it has a great deterrent effect on the Asia-Europe shipping lanes. Its strength in the Indian Ocean region is second only to the British Royal Navy.

Moreover, East Africa owns multiple colonies in the Pacific region, which are all things that the current German Navy lacks. Especially under the world policy of Wilhelm II’s government, the German Navy is in an extremely awkward situation. Even newly built warships cannot change Germany’s harsh geographical environment.

Without colonies and overseas bases, the German Navy, no matter how many warships it has, can only play a role in continental Europe and cannot form the same global influence as Britain and France.

It’s like a certain major power in its previous life, even if its naval strength reached second in the world, it would not be able to run to the Baltic Sea and slap Lithuania in the face.

Looking at the whole world, in the eyes of the German Navy, there is no better partner than East Africa, which is why Tirpitz focuses on East Africa.

“The East African Navy’s submarines look very good. I personally believe that the role of submarines in ocean strategy is not inferior to surface ships at all. I just don’t know what the specific performance of your naval submarines is?”

After seeing the East African ships for the first time, Tirpitz developed great interest, because his intuition told him that the big guy in front of him was definitely not ordinary. Judging from the part floating on the water alone, the displacement should be at least over a hundred tons.

East Africa’s construction of such a big guy was obviously not meant as a toy, so Tirpitz initially judged that East African submarines were likely to have strong combat capabilities.

As early as the Franco-Prussian War, Tirpitz had developed a strong interest in the potential power of submarines in war. After all, the Prussian Navy was weak at the time, so during the Franco-Prussian War, the Prussian Navy could only huddle in the harbor most of the time, wary of the French Navy passing through the English Channel, which was very embarrassing for the Prussian Navy.

In this depressing environment, Tirpitz naturally sought ways for the Prussian Navy to cope with the powerful French Navy in a disadvantaged state, and submarines could obviously play a certain role, after all, their function was significantly different from that of surface ships.

“Our country’s research and development of submarines began as early as ten years ago, and the technology is now relatively mature. We use internal combustion engines as power, and there should be no other countries in the world with similar submarines.” Clintmann, the East African submarine fleet supervisor, said rather modestly.

In his previous life, Germany did not develop a dedicated diesel engine for submarines until 1913, but East Africa greatly accelerated this process. East Africa’s research and development in the field of internal combustion engines was already at the top level. Coupled with early planning and Ernst’s attention, this allowed East African military submarines to emerge first and form the world’s earliest submarine force.

In fact, as early as 1720, the Russian Nikonov built the first military submarine with the support of Peter the Great, but after Peter the Great’s death, the Russian Navy canceled all support.

In the following two hundred years, people continued to try to break through submarine technology, but the effects were not great. Suitable power to support submarines’ underwater long-distance navigation had to wait until technologies such as diesel engines and electric motors matured, and coincidentally, East Africa was relatively strong in these areas, so East African submarines could emerge when the technology was mature.

“The Nautilus in front of you can reach a depth of sixty or seventy meters under normal circumstances, with a surface displacement of more than two hundred tons… It can travel long distances, but the failure rate is quite high. Previously, our East African submarine, the Kroo, went directly missing.”

The Kroo was actually not equipped by the navy, but was an experimental product of the Soren Lake Submarine Research Institute. It sank into Soren Lake during its eighth test flight due to a malfunction, and because of the depth of Soren Lake, it was not salvaged.

Currently, the East African Navy has only four submarines, and the oldest one has only been in service for three years. East African submarines have already undergone one iteration. The current Nautilus and the other three active submarines are technically quite mature, but Clintmann was not telling Tirpitz the truth.

Even though Germany and East Africa have a good relationship, Clintmann could not be so selfless as to reveal the core data of East African submarines to the Germans. The figures mentioned before were all relatively conservative, and even mixed with the data of the previous generation of East African military submarines.

Even so, it made Tirpitz’s eyes light up. Regardless of the East African submarine technology, it was already remarkable that it could be applied to actual combat. What’s more, East Africa had even established a special force for submarines.

“Colonel Clintmann, if there are no accidents, your submarines are, without exaggeration, the most advanced in the world.”

The reason Tirpitz said this was mainly because East Africa was hiding too deeply, and he only found out about this situation now. Maybe other countries have similar projects.

In fact, the “exposure” of East African submarines was unavoidable, unless the East African submarine force stayed in Pemba Bay all day long, and the depth of Pemba Bay was obviously not suitable for submarine training and operations, so submarines frequently active in the Indian Ocean would eventually be discovered.

The German businessman who reported the news to Tirpitz was one of them. During a business trip to Beira, he accidentally saw an East African submarine surfacing from underwater on a ship.

Of course, he did not know that the submarine belonged to the East African Navy, after all, apart from East Africa, no other country currently has a naval submarine force.

When he met Tirpitz in Bagamoyo, he accidentally thought of this submarine, so he told Tirpitz the news. After all, appearing in the near sea of East Africa, the submarine was likely to be East Africa’s.

If an ordinary person got this news, they might not pay attention to it and forget about it after listening, but Tirpitz was not an ordinary person. His interest in submarines was unmatched among senior naval generals around the world.

In his previous life, Germany’s “unrestricted submarine warfare” was his masterpiece, but unfortunately, even so, it did not change the fate of the German Navy.

Of course, Tirpitz’s thoughts were a bit excessive, because the only country that values submarine technology is currently East Africa, but this is only limited to the government level. There are also many explorations of submarine technology by private individuals or groups in other countries.

Chapter 963: Idea for Cooperation

“Your Excellency the Count is too kind. Submarine technology is still unstable and cannot compete with powerful battleships. Its position in the navy is, at most, to play an auxiliary role, and in this regard, the strength of our East African navy is far inferior to that of Germany,” Clintmann said very modestly.

Tirpitz did not take Clintmann’s humble attitude to heart. After all, before coming to East Africa, Tirpitz had learned that East Africans were not as flamboyant as Europeans, nor were they as overly humble as the current Far Eastern Empire.

This is actually easy to understand. When strength is insufficient, keeping a low profile is not a bad thing. Just think about how, before the 1950s, the Far Eastern Empire’s descriptions of foreigners were actually very contemptuous.

Even the Self-Strengthening Movement, its core idea was “learn the superior techniques of the barbarians to control the barbarians,” and in the Far Eastern Empire, “barbarian” was not a good word.

Ignoring Clintmann’s deliberately self-deprecating words, Tirpitz said, “It seems that this time we have come to East Africa not only to strengthen cooperation at the strategic and tactical levels of the navy, but also to reach some cooperation between the two countries in some of the unique skills of the East African navy, especially in technology.”

Before coming to East Africa, Tirpitz originally looked down on some of the technologies mastered by the East African navy. After all, the East African navy was born out of the Austro-Hungarian navy, and even the early officers were Austro-Hungarian navy personnel. Its commander-in-chief was even Archduke Ferdinand, the former helmsman of the Austrian navy.

So before, Tirpitz believed that the East African navy might not even be as good as the Austro-Hungarian Empire in terms of technology and shipbuilding.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with this statement. If we talk about shipbuilding today, although East Africa’s scale has surpassed that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, there is still a gap in technology and quality compared to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

At present, the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s shipbuilding capabilities are actually stronger than in history. After all, Venice is in hand, providing the Austro-Hungarian Empire with more choices, while in the previous life, the Austro-Hungarian Empire could only rely on Trieste and the underdeveloped Dalmatian coastal areas.

Of course, this is not the case in the military shipbuilding industry. The East African military shipbuilding industry has completely broken away from its dependence on Austria and has surpassed the Austro-Hungarian Empire in some fields.

The main reason is that the two countries’ navies have different positions and orientations in their respective countries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is not like Germany, and Franz is not Wilhelm II, so Franz’s understanding of his own country is much more sophisticated than Wilhelm II’s.

There is a saying that Wilhelm II himself promoted the German High Seas Fleet plan because he was stimulated by attending the British Royal Navy review ceremony in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. After that, he vigorously developed the German navy, laying the groundwork for the outbreak of World War I.

Faced with the vast Royal Navy fleet, Wilhelm II’s carefully selected “best German warship” was completely dwarfed, which greatly stimulated Wilhelm II’s self-esteem.

According to Ernst’s understanding, this rumor is likely to be true, because after that, Wilhelm II often made “inappropriate” remarks in public, including “Germany’s future is the ocean” and “Germany is a world power.”

Of course, Wilhelm II’s ideas are also supported by many in Germany. German scholars recently claimed in newspapers: “Germany’s goal… Germany’s influence, Germany’s capital, Germany’s commerce, Germany’s industry, and Germany’s intelligence compete with other powers around the world… and all of this is inseparable from a strong navy.”

Including Tirpitz, the newly appointed Minister of the Navy, is also a supporter of Wilhelm II, and he was also the naval officer who escorted Wilhelm II to Queen Victoria’s birthday review ceremony in 1897.

In fact, it was after the review ceremony that, authorized by Wilhelm II, Tirpitz led the massive twenty-year German naval development plan – the “Tirpitz Plan.” According to this plan, the German navy would be built into at least the second largest navy in the world, and would be able to compete with the British navy.

If it were Franz or Ernst, they would definitely not do this. After all, the current strength of the German navy is not too weak. Even if it maintains its interests, it only needs to stabilize the Baltic Sea. Even if the German navy reaches the level of the British navy in terms of hardware facilities, it cannot avoid the geographical disadvantages.

On the contrary, the Austro-Hungarian Empire seems “rational.” Its naval positioning is coastal defense, ensuring its presence in the Mediterranean, rather than a high seas navy.

East Africa is also the same. Don’t look at how East Africa made the British army lose face in the South African War, but it does not affect the prestige of the British Royal Navy in the slightest.

If East Africa, like Germany, launched a “big navy” plan at this time, it might really trigger a new round of war between the two countries.

After all, the current East African navy has already posed a great threat to Britain, and the connection between India, Australia, and the mainland is under the surveillance of the East African navy.

Of course, even if East Africa increases its investment in the navy, it will not be able to gain an advantage over the Royal Navy in a short period of time. This has been fully proven by Germany in its previous life. Even if Germany desperately strengthens its naval strength, Britain can still outperform it.

The financial resources of Britain and Germany are far above those of East Africa, so participating in naval competition in the current environment will only lead to East Africa reaping nothing. It is better to invest more resources in domestic development and industrial development. Therefore, the current focus of East Africa is on civilian shipbuilding, which is very abrupt in the naval arms race of various countries.

However, East Africa’s approach is certainly in line with Britain’s current philosophy. No matter what the outcome of the naval arms race between countries, the negative impact on the British Royal Navy is the greatest. After all, Britain was originally the first before the arms race, but the naval expansion of other countries has forced the Royal Navy to follow suit and invest more funds, which in itself is a drain on national potential.

……

After visiting the East African submarine, Tirpitz and the German naval representatives returned to Bagamoyo and made relevant suggestions to Archduke Ferdinand.

Since Ernst moved the capital to Rhine City, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife have continued to stay in Bagamoyo. Now Archduke Ferdinand no longer presides over front-line work, but he has a huge influence in the navy, and in Bagamoyo and even East Africa, the identity and status of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are second only to the members of the Hechingen royal family.

“The new German Minister of the Navy?” Archduke Ferdinand asked.

“Yes, Your Highness, our German Navy intends to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the East African Navy, and this is the purpose of my visit to East Africa this time,” Tirpitz said directly.

“Well, I also know something about you. I wonder what your thoughts are on the future development of the German Navy?” Archduke Ferdinand said to this junior.

Archduke Ferdinand is quite well-known in the world’s navies. Apart from the stain of being the Emperor of Mexico, he once served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian Navy, and later created the East African Navy single-handedly. These are all quite dazzling achievements, and the East African Navy has experience in the South African naval battle, so its combat effectiveness is also recognized by various countries.

This has also reversed Archduke Ferdinand’s image. Although his career as Emperor of Mexico was somewhat anticlimactic, the development and growth of the East African Navy made it easy for people to attribute the credit to Archduke Ferdinand. After all, when he took over, the East African Navy was completely “zero,” and now the East African Navy has become one of the few powerful navies.

Chapter 964:

Archduke Ferdinand and Tirpitz were having a delightful conversation. After all, birds of a feather flock together, and they had many common topics as fellow naval officers.

“By using a large number of submarines to strike at the enemy’s maritime transport routes, the stealth capabilities of submarines can perfectly achieve similar effects, and they can silently break through closed sea areas…” Tirpitz described to Archduke Ferdinand his vision for the future of submarines in warfare.

“Submarines, eh! If they perform as you say, they certainly have a role to play. However, our submarine forces have encountered many problems during training, such as not being able to clearly distinguish between types of ships, leading to misjudgments. But in the final moments of war, I’m afraid no one will care about international morality. In that case, submarines might play a huge role,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

Archduke Ferdinand’s prediction was quite reasonable. In his previous life, the reason why Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare failed to achieve results was largely due to too many “accidental injuries.”

However, it is undeniable that German submarines inflicted heavy blows on the Allied Powers during the war, achieving results that other types of ships could not.

As a relatively traditional naval commander, Archduke Ferdinand did not value submarines very much. Of course, this did not affect Ernst’s emphasis on submarines. Therefore, the East African naval submarine force was not only established but also received strong support, and it may even become the main combat force in the future East African navy.

This was Ferdinand’s view, but Ernst would definitely cry foul. It was true that Ernst valued submarines, and it was also true that the East African naval submarine force would receive the most support in the next few years.

But this was a special measure under the current East African financial constraints, after all, battleships were too expensive. Ernst’s view was actually a “whole system” naval mindset, regardless of battleships, submarines, or future aircraft carriers, none could be all-conquering.

However, under Ernst’s mindset of “no major war in the next ten years,” East Africa’s primary goal at present was to focus on economic development, so the military could only enjoy limited resources.

“Your thinking has some merit after all, at least for the German navy it is a good choice, but our East Africa and Germany have different national conditions, and the two countries have completely different external environments in terms of the ocean,” Archduke Ferdinand said.

East Africa faced two major oceans directly, so the East African navy would basically not encounter a blockade, unless the British Royal Navy was fully mobilized, and even then, it might achieve this effect, and this situation was simply impossible.

Therefore, in Archduke Ferdinand’s view, developing a large surface fleet was the future goal of the East African navy. Similarly, due to geographical reasons, the East African navy was not easily blockaded, which also meant that the East African coastline was vulnerable to attack, and East Africa lacked natural protection such as islands and island chains nearby.

The most typical example was the Seychelles Islands, which the East African navy regarded as a thorn in its side, a thorn in its flesh. This island was to East Africa what the Hawaiian Islands were to the United States.

Of course, these hypothetical conditions also depended on the specific strength of the country’s navy. For example, the Far Eastern Empire originally had a very good maritime situation, with Hainan Island in the south, the Ryukyu Islands in the east, and Korea in the north as natural barriers, but they did not play a role because of the neglect of coastal defense in modern times.

Tirpitz sighed and said, “East Africa’s maritime situation is quite excellent in the world. In comparison, the maritime situation of Germany and Austria-Hungary is quite bad, even surrounded by wolves. The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, even small countries, have naval strengths that are not much worse. And East Africa can be said to be dominant in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic.”

Ferdinand waved his hand and said, “That’s too exaggerated. Although East Africa is surrounded by mostly uncivilized countries, the forces of all parties cannot be ignored. Take the Indian Ocean region, for example, from Egypt to British Somaliland, then Yemen, Oman, the Persian Gulf, India, and the Strait of Malacca, there are British warships everywhere. Our East Africa can only flex its muscles at home, and West Africa is now a major hunting ground for various countries, so it is unlikely that East Africa can play a role. South America is even more dominated by the British.”

The East African navy’s situation was not very good. At least until the British navy declined, the East African navy was unlikely to play a major role in the surrounding areas.

Tirpitz said with a smile: “That’s why Germany and East Africa should cooperate sincerely, especially in the naval field. Our German industry and technology are the most advanced in the world, and East Africa has huge potential and advantageous geography. Cooperation between the two navies can realize the global hegemony of the German nation.”

Archduke Ferdinand was quite moved by the beautiful vision described by Tirpitz, but it was limited to fantasy.

“Cooperation between the two navies is an inevitable trend, after all, it is beneficial to both our East Africa and Germany, but I am no longer in charge of affairs, so you still need to communicate with Ernst to achieve your goals. If you had come a few months earlier, it might not have been so troublesome. At that time, East Africa had not yet moved its capital, and it was very convenient to go to First Town City. The new capital, Rhine City, is located in the inland hinterland, and it would probably take a lot of time just to take the train.”

“This is not a problem for me. After all, for this cooperation, it took a long time just to travel by sea. Many domestic affairs cannot be handled. When I go back, I’m afraid I won’t be able to get away,” Tirpitz said with a smile.

This also reflected Tirpitz’s and Germany’s emphasis on this trip to East Africa. If cooperation with East Africa could be reached, it would have a huge impact on Germany’s maritime cause. In this case, spending more time was worthwhile.

To be honest, Germany was also very envious of East Africa’s geographical location and conditions. It would be even better if the two countries could be one country. To put it bluntly, if the two countries could merge, their momentum would be no less than that of the current British Empire.

Under the rule of the Hohenzollern royal family, the potential shown by East Africa today was no less than that of the United States. Of course, it was only limited to potential, and it remained to be seen whether it could become the next United States, after all, there was also Brazil as a negative example.

This was the “conservative” estimate of the outside world on East Africa. If the true situation of East Africa was exposed, many people would probably not be able to sleep well.

The population of East Africa alone had already reached the standard of a world power, and the population data of East Africa had never been made public. In this case, other countries optimistically speculated that the population of East Africa might be only about forty to fifty million.

The main reason was that the coastal areas of East Africa could not reflect the true national situation of East Africa. Compared with Europe and the United States, and even the Far Eastern Empire, the coastal areas of East Africa were still relatively “desolate,” although there were large cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, which could not be underestimated even in the world.

But who knew what the situation was in the interior of East Africa? It was possible that the population was mainly concentrated on the coast, just like Brazil.

This was a non-objective conclusion drawn by various countries based on their personal experience in West Africa. West Africa was now in a mess, but there was no doubt that the colonial activities of various countries were mainly concentrated in the coastal areas, and although the inland areas were vast, the investment of various countries was also small.

Therefore, putting themselves in their shoes, many people did not believe that the situation in the interior of East Africa would be better than that in the coastal areas, but the actual situation was that the interior of East Africa was more livable and the total population far exceeded that of the coastal areas.

Although the coastline of East Africa was long, the population was mainly distributed in clusters in twenty or thirty major cities and their surrounding areas.

Moreover, the climate in the coastal areas was more humid and hot, which was more likely to cause diseases such as malaria, which was also the main reason why European colonial activities in Africa were hindered in the early days.

European colonial activities mainly started from the coast, but the African coast was not very livable, and the East African coast was relatively lacking in minerals such as gold compared to the West African coast, so early African colonial activities were not active.

An important criterion for the earliest Spanish and Portuguese colonial activities was to determine whether there were gold mines in the area through trade and exchanges with the locals, and whether there were gold mines was also an important criterion for colonists to judge whether the area had colonial value.

India, the United States, and South America were mostly in this situation, while the gold mines in East Africa were mostly distributed in the inland areas, with the closest to the coast being Hechingen Province (Transvaal Republic), but it was blocked by the Drakensberg Mountains and there were almost no people.

Chapter 965: The Germans’ Shock

The lack of precious metals along the East African coast is why traditional European colonizers weren’t interested in the region, allowing the Hohenzollern dynasty to get a good deal.

The most typical counterexample is West Africa, which is close to East Africa. The name “Gold Coast” implies that the area was destined to be unstable.

…

Tirpitz would eventually take a train from Dar es Salaam to the East African interior, and this trip inland further solidified his idea of cooperating with East Africa.

After East Africa moved its capital, the original diplomatic work naturally shifted from First Town City to Rhine City. This meant that foreign diplomats, who could previously only wander around First Town City, could now go deep into the East African interior for observation.

Foreign diplomats could only travel by rail from the coastal city of Dar es Salaam to the new capital, Rhine City. However, the railway from Dar es Salaam to Rhine City was over one thousand five hundred kilometers long.

The cities, villages, and farmlands along this one thousand five hundred kilometer route allowed these diplomats to gain a clearer understanding of East Africa’s national strength.

Tirpitz was one such example. Since boarding the train in Dar es Salaam, he had been “greedily” observing East African intelligence along the Central Railway.

“Since we left Dar es Salaam, we have passed twenty-three towns and more than fifty villages. The larger ones include First Town City, Morogoro City, and Dodoma City… Of these, nearly five or six appear to be East African cities based on their size. The rest should be townships and villages,” Tirpitz said to his entourage.

It wasn’t difficult for Tirpitz to know the names of the East African towns. Each station had a sign with the station’s name, which was usually the name of the local town.

Tirpitz’s assistant, Mord Fochland, was also quite shocked and said, “Your Excellency, Count, we have clearly underestimated the country of East Africa. So far, many areas along our train route have obviously been developed by East Africa, with a large number of farmlands, villages, towns, and roads… All of this shows that East Africa’s development and governance of the interior is extremely successful.”

“Their farmlands are neatly constructed and have perfect supporting water conservancy facilities. Ditches and windmills are very common, and if I’m not mistaken, there may also be tractors, a kind of large machinery. I even suspect that American and European farms are only at this level.”

As an important piece of agricultural machinery in East Africa, tractors currently have a very low adoption rate. Even so, Mord Fochland still discovered and identified them, which shows that naval personnel have very good eyesight.

Of course, Mord Fochland didn’t think too much about it. Even with the transition of tractors from steam engines to internal combustion engines, their specific shape hadn’t changed much, so he didn’t know that East African tractors were all powered by internal combustion engines.

Tirpitz seriously added, “We may have only traveled a few hundred kilometers on this train so far, but the development along the railway shows that East Africa’s development of the interior is far superior to that of the West African colonies. If the whole of East Africa is like this, then we must pay more attention to this country.”

Mord Fochland shook his head and said, “Your Excellency, Count, that’s probably unlikely. East Africa hasn’t occupied areas like Mozambique and Angola for very long, so they shouldn’t be up to that standard. Moreover, eastern East Africa should be the most developed region in East Africa. You can tell from the country’s name that this is East Africa’s place of origin, where development started earliest, so it’s perfectly reasonable that it can reach European and American levels.”

What Tirpitz’s assistant said made some sense. Eastern East Africa was indeed at the leading level in the country, but central East Africa was no less developed than eastern East Africa. The economic and population totals of the two regions were comparable, while other regions lagged far behind.

Now, Tirpitz and his party had arrived in the Iringa region of the East African Highlands Province by train. The train had traveled about five hundred kilometers, meaning it had just transitioned from the East African coastal plain to the East African highlands.

There was still more than half the journey to the final destination, Rhine City. Although the situation along the railway currently displayed could give the Germans some shock, it was still within everyone’s expectations. After all, during the South African War, various countries had estimated that the population of East Africa at that time should exceed twenty million. For a large country with a population of ten million, it was reasonable for the coast and surrounding areas to be well-developed, but this couldn’t represent the development situation of the entire East Africa.

Tirpitz said, “Based only on our current observations, East Africa’s development of the interior, especially along the railway, is relatively complete. After all, the economic conditions in the areas through which the railway passes are generally good, and it’s normal for there to be a large number of towns along the railway. I just don’t know if the areas outside the railway are also like this.”

There are definitely more towns and a greater number of them along the railway. As for areas outside the railway, unless they are along rivers or roads, the population couldn’t be so dense. Of course, the farmland area in the eastern region is still very considerable. The eastern coastal plain and the southern East African highlands are important grain production bases in East Africa. The density of large-scale farms is about the same as in Eastern Europe.

Compared to Central and Western Europe, Eastern Europe has a much lower population density. Although the entire Tsarist Russia had a population of over one hundred million, the combined population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany in Central Europe alone was nearly one hundred million. Therefore, the more densely populated eastern part of Tsarist Russia was about the same as the central and eastern regions of East Africa. Moreover, at this time, Tsarist Russia included territories such as Ukraine and Poland.

In the following days, Tirpitz and his party were even more amazed. When passing through the urban area of Iringa City, they recognized that it was also a small to medium-sized city in East Africa. It might be somewhat inferior to Dar es Salaam, First Town City, and Dodoma, but it was also much larger than an average town.

Next, they encountered two more cities of similar size to Iringa City, until the train entered Mbeya City along the Central Railway.

As soon as they entered the urban area of Mbeya City, the Germans saw the extraordinary nature of this city. Judging from the naked eye alone, its level was actually above Dodoma City and First Town City. Even compared to Dar es Salaam, it was probably not inferior at all.

As a result, Tirpitz and his party mistakenly recognized this place as the new East African capital, “Rhine City.” After all, at this time, they were nearly one thousand kilometers away from the East African interior, and Tirpitz and others had a hard time grasping the concept of distance.

“Mbeya City is one of the five major cities in East Africa, currently the second largest city in the East African interior. It is not the East African capital. Rhine City is still more than six hundred kilometers away from here,” the East African reception staff had to explain to Tirpitz and his party.

“Mbeya City is a provincial capital like Dodoma City, and it is located in our industrial zone, with relatively developed industry. It is not inferior to some large European cities, so it is not surprising that it was mistaken.”

Tirpitz asked, “Then is Rhine City even larger?”

“No, although the built-up area of Rhine City is not small, its current population cannot compare with traditional East African cities such as Mbeya City, after all, Rhine City is completely a new city.”

Tirpitz was speechless at the East African’s explanation. As far as he was concerned, any city in East Africa was “new.” After all, the history of East Africa as a country was less than forty years. The so-called “traditional major cities” were even more inexplicable. According to East African standards, more than ninety percent of German cities had a long history.

Chapter 966: A Visit to Mbeya

Mbeya Station was a large station, so the stop was longer. At Tirpitz’s strong request, and after a phone application through the station, the East African government permitted him to observe the development of Mbeya City around the station.

Looking at the East African security personnel guarding him as if he were a thief, Tirpitz said helplessly, “I had heard before that East Africa was relatively closed off, and now it seems that is indeed the case. Just to think that turning around this East African city requires so many restrictions.”

East African reception staff member Aaron naturally couldn’t allow Tirpitz to “slander” his country at will, explaining, “Your Excellency Count, East Africa is actually a relatively free country, it’s just that we are indeed much stricter in the screening and review of foreigners. After all, East Africa has a short history, and in order to maintain regional stability, we need to prevent third-party forces from posing a threat to East African national security, but these things don’t have much impact on ordinary East African citizens.”

“Oh! Then do I look like a spy? Or someone who is plotting against East Africa?” Tirpitz said sarcastically. No one would feel good about being treated like this, so Tirpitz deliberately said it this way.

“Haha, Your Excellency Count is naturally not an outsider. East Africa and Germany are brotherly nations, but East Africa adheres to the principle of the rule of law, so such procedures are unavoidable. You must know that the population of East Africa is not entirely indigenous, so we must guard against some people who have grudges against East Africa from using the natives to create an impact on East Africa’s social order.”

Aaron’s words were reasonable and well-founded. As for the countries that had grudges against East Africa, without a doubt, in the eyes of outsiders, there were only Britain and Portugal.

Tirpitz, the old fox, naturally didn’t believe Aaron’s words. After all, East Africa was even more closed off before the South African War. At that time, East Africa only had the two open cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, just like the Far Eastern Empire before the Opium War, when the Far Eastern Empire only had Guangzhou as a legally open port.

Of course, there were various speculations from the outside world about East Africa’s implementation of a closed-door policy, but it didn’t attract excessive attention. After all, the African continent was not a hotspot. Except for the South African War period, it was hardly reported by Europe. After the end of the South African War, although the situation improved somewhat, it was better than nothing.

Tirpitz was too lazy to bother with so much. Now he was only interested in Mbeya, this large inland city in East Africa.

It was already past three in the afternoon, but Mbeya’s streets were very prosperous, with a constant flow of people and vehicles, and the large chimneys of the factories in the industrial area were emitting exhaust gas into the sky.

Mbeya City had many buildings, and the roads were clean and tidy. All the streetlights were electric lights, which showed East Africa’s unremitting efforts in the development of electricity.

Along the way, Tirpitz had passed through many cities. Those East African cities also had factories and electrical facilities, which was in line with East Africa’s national conditions as a major exporter of electrical equipment and products in the international market.

“What is the population of Mbeya City?” Tirpitz asked Aaron.

“I don’t know the exact number, but it should be around five hundred thousand, after all, it is one of the few large cities in East Africa,” Aaron honestly replied.

And the actual total population of Mbeya City was just over five hundred thousand, ranking fourth among East African cities.

“In that case, this city is indeed not to be underestimated. At first glance, I knew that this city is more prosperous than Dodoma City. If it were in Germany, it could probably rank in the top five,” Tirpitz said.

If only considering population, only Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne in Germany were definitely ahead of Mbeya City. Munich was comparable to Mbeya City, also with more than five hundred thousand people, so Mbeya City’s population could also rank in the top five in Germany.

“Mbeya City is East Africa’s earliest heavy industry base, so it has a first-mover advantage. In the early days, East Africa’s military industry and heavy industry were concentrated in Mbeya City, and with the construction of the Central Railway, Mbeya City has maintained its great advantage,” Aaron said.

The Central Railway and the East African national policy support were important reasons why Mbeya City has always been able to maintain high-speed development.

In his previous life, Mbeya City only ranked sixth to eighth among Tanzanian cities, fluctuating up and down, but now Mbeya City can rank in the top five in East Africa, which is naturally closely related to the East African government’s emphasis on Mbeya City.

“So it seems that East Africa attached great importance to industrial development many years ago, and it was also in the heartland of the country. No wonder East Africa was able to fight against the two major powers of Britain and Portugal at the same time in the South African War without falling behind. If Portugal had invested in its colonies as much as you did, it wouldn’t have been driven back to its homeland,” Tirpitz said.

The biggest difference between conventional colonizers and East Africa was that they took more than they built. In the past, Portugal only focused on developing the coastal areas of its two colonies, and the inland areas were completely left to fend for themselves. In this case, how could they compete with the striving East Africa.

Tirpitz continued, “Mbeya’s urban planning, construction level, and industrial development are all qualified. Although it’s just a glimpse, I can assert that if other East African cities are like Mbeya, then East Africa will be the next United States in the future.”

“Originally, I thought that East Africa only carried out effective development along the coast, but what I have seen and heard along the way has made me understand that East Africa’s development is far from what the outside world shows. I am afraid that few Europeans can imagine that in the heartland of the African continent, nearly a thousand kilometers away from the coastline, there is also a metropolis that is not inferior to European cities.”

“Before, I also had this idea, but after seeing Mbeya City, I realized that my previous understanding was somewhat laughable.”

So what was Tirpitz’s original idea? The answer was the same as many uncivilized areas, especially South America, where the inland areas had almost no civilization. Lions and other wild animals roamed the East African savannah, and only sparse colonial outposts were scattered in the East African interior.

However, the towns and villages along the Central Railway, and the vast fields and plantations, all told the story of the East Africans’ pioneering history. Like the American westward movement, they were frantically expanding their land into the depths of the African continent, and transforming the land they had already occupied into continuous habitable areas.

And cities like Mbeya, Dodoma, and Iringa proved that East Africa was not only developing agriculture in the interior, but they also had the ability to build cities that were not inferior to Europe. If the future East Africa’s more than ten million square kilometers of land were all like the Central Railway line, it would be too terrifying!

It should be known that although a behemoth like Tsarist Russia had a strong sense of oppression, there were also many great powers around it, such as the Far Eastern Empire, Iran, the Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and even Germany itself could restrain Tsarist Russia. The United States was isolated overseas, while Brazil and Australia were uncivilized lands with sparse populations.

Although East Africa’s population was not very large relative to its land area, Tirpitz thought that it probably had forty to fifty million people, which was comparable to Germany, but Germany had a small land area, and the per capita resources that could be enjoyed were far inferior to East Africa.

“Your Excellency Count, thank you for your praise, but the gap between East Africa and Germany is still very large. Although we also have several large cities, most of them are piled up with population. As you can see, East Africa is actually a mixed system country dominated by German culture, and Chinese immigrants have played a huge role in East Africa’s construction, especially in the early development of East Africa.”

“And the Far Eastern Empire, as the world’s most populous country, has almost unlimited population resources. As a naval officer, I think you also know something about the coastal cities of the Far Eastern Empire. Although the Far Eastern Empire as a whole is relatively poor and backward, their coastal cities are developing quite well. Our several large cities in East Africa should also be similar.”

Chapter 967: Otto

A city’s population is an important indicator of its development, but it’s not entirely related to whether the city is developed. For example, in the current era, the cities of India and the Far Eastern Empire are formed mainly based on their huge domestic markets.

After all, basic necessities like food, clothing, housing, and transportation cannot be changed. The difference between a market of hundreds of millions of people and a market of tens of millions of people is huge, and it cannot be compared to a market of millions or even fewer people. This is also why the European and American powers are so greedy for India and the Far Eastern Empire.

While Tirpitz and Aaron were talking, a car drove past on the street. As East Africa is a major automobile manufacturing country, Tirpitz was not surprised to see cars in Mbeya. He had seen many in places like Dar es Salaam before.

“I don’t think I’ve seen that car on the market before. It looks very good!” Tirpitz said.

“That’s East Africa’s official car, generally only government personnel can ride in it, so it’s not sold on the market. However, it’s not impossible to buy, but ordinary people can’t afford it,” Aaron said.

“What brand is it? If possible, I would like to get one to Germany.”

“Otto, second only to the Crown. The Crown is generally only for truly important figures.”

This Otto is actually the name of the previous Prince of Hechingen, Ernst’s grandfather. For example, the capital of Hechingen Province is Otto City (formerly Pretoria). Of course, in the Far Eastern Empire, it is translated as 奥拓 [Ào Tuò]. Ernst remembers that in his previous life, the Far Eastern Empire had this brand, and “拓 [Tuò]” has the meaning of advancement and development, which is in line with the aesthetics of the people of the Eastern power. In other regions, using the name Otto is also in line with European tradition, like Ferrari and Benz, which are just the names of the founders.

It is worth mentioning that Benz is currently responsible for the Hechingen Consortium’s automobile production business in Germany, and the “Mercedes-Benz” brand has naturally emerged.

As for the Crown brand that Aaron mentioned, Tirpitz had also heard of it. East Africa had given this brand of car to some European royal families, including Wilhelm II, who also had one. However, Wilhelm II preferred domestic cars, so his Crown car was kept in the garage, but this did not prevent the Hechingen Consortium from holding shares in many German car companies.

If possible, Tirpitz himself would of course want a Crown, but the car was too expensive and its production was quite low.

“I think that Otto car would sell well if it could be exported to the market. Its exterior design is eye-catching.”

As an official car, the Otto’s design is more stable, which is very attractive to political figures.

Aaron said, “Actually, it’s just the appearance that’s good. In reality, the internal experience is not much stronger than other vehicles on the market, but if there is an export version in the future, the interior may be improved.”

As luxury goods, European and American cars are quite luxuriously decorated, while East Africa has many different criteria for judging cars. Even though East Africa’s automobile production is not high now, East Africa’s positioning of cars is divided into two types: ordinary consumer goods and luxury goods.

This also reflects the ambition of the East African government, which is to promote cars to the East African common people. This plan seemed crazy in the 19th century, but for Ernst, it is very reasonable. After all, in his previous life, cars were just a normal means of transportation.

Of course, while East Africa is vigorously developing automobiles, it has not given up on the research of electric vehicles. In his previous life, electric vehicle research actually started not much later than automobile research, but in the early stage, there were few cars all over the world and there was sufficient oil energy. However, with the rapid increase in industry and the number of cars, and the impact of the oil crisis, people had to re-examine electric vehicles in the 21st century, but this wasted nearly a hundred years, seriously hindering the development of electric vehicles.

Therefore, East Africa’s ability to retain electric vehicle research when all other countries in the world have turned to oil vehicle research is beneficial to the future development of East Africa.

Moreover, electric vehicles have a wide range of applications. In Ernst’s view, the electric vehicles, bullet trains, and new energy vehicles of his previous life all belong to electric vehicles, including the current trams.

It can be said that Ernst has clearly arranged the direction of East Africa’s next world technological development. As long as there is no outflow of talent and technology due to defeat like in Germany, the fruits grown from these seeds planted by Ernst will be enough for East Africa to eat for a hundred years.

Of course, as far as the current situation is concerned, the East African government’s car popularization plan still has a long way to go. Taking the current car production and sales model in East Africa as an example, it is very different from foreign countries.

However, this difference will not hinder the development of East Africa’s automobile industry. In his previous life, the Soviet Union implemented a more thorough planned economy than East Africa, and was also able to achieve roughly the same car ownership as European and American countries. East Africa can naturally do the same.

What the Soviet automobile industry lacked was a slow response to market demand. After all, whatever vehicles the Soviet automobile factories produced, the Soviet people could only enjoy those vehicles, rather than what vehicles the Soviet people needed, the Soviet automobile factories produced.

East Africa can still avoid this. After all, East Africa’s automobile production is composed of two major parts: the Hechingen Consortium and state-owned enterprises. As a completely private capital, the Hechingen Consortium’s automobile brand production is completely in line with international standards, and it covers and participates in many foreign automobile manufacturers, which can feed back data to East Africa’s state-owned enterprises.

As a naval officer, Tirpitz ultimately did not pay too much attention to East Africa’s automobiles. East Africa has always been a major automobile manufacturing country. The world’s first automobile was produced in East Africa, and East Africa sells many automobile brands in the international market. However, this does not reflect the production situation of East Africa’s domestic automobile industry.

The East African government would naturally not show the secrets of East Africa’s automobile industry development to an outsider like Tirpitz. Automobiles are not just a means of transportation, but also closely related to East Africa’s military, transportation, and industrial development.

Especially with the East African military equipping a large number of automobiles, this is quite advanced in the world’s armies.

In Mbeya, although they only strolled around the train station, it opened the eyes of Tirpitz and other Germans. Mbeya shattered the image of the East African interior as “barren,” “dangerous,” and “sparsely populated” that these Germans had imagined.

After all, East Africa is a closed country, and almost no outsiders have been able to penetrate into the heartland of this country before, so the existence of Mbeya shattered the false fantasies of Tirpitz and others.

The climate here is pleasant, the scenery is magnificent, and it is not the “malaria-ridden” and “civilized desert” that is rumored. Of course, this is only limited to East Africa. If it is other parts of Africa, it is still very accurate.

To say nothing else, it is easy to understand what the situation is in the Germans’ own colony, Cameroon. Basically, the negative propaganda about Africa completely corresponds to it.

Of course, Cameroon and Gabon, and the Belgian Congo are indeed in a harsher environment in Africa, basically in the tropical rainforest area. Even East Africa cannot have a greater transformation capacity for the tropical rainforest area, let alone these few more sparsely populated colonies.

The essence of West Africa is still the tropical savanna area in the northern Gulf of Guinea, but from a climatic point of view, it is still somewhat inferior to East Africa. After all, West Africa has relatively few plateaus and a relatively low altitude, so it is even hotter. However, West Africa’s mineral resources are indeed very rich, especially oil, iron ore, bauxite and other resources.

Chapter 968: Divergence

After two days, Tirpitz and his entourage finally arrived at Rhine City. After passing Mbeya, they didn’t see any cities as large as Mbeya along the way to Rhine City. The central region, which in his previous life was the eastern part of Zambia, had surprisingly good agricultural development.

“This is Rhine City, our new capital of East Africa. Because of the recent relocation of the capital, the city’s population and industries are still relatively scarce, so the whole city seems rather empty,” Aaron explained to the Germans.

“I can see that the building density is far lower than Mbeya and Dar es Salaam, but the city framework is very large. Just the road network construction shows that East Africa has high hopes for Rhine City, and there are also quite a few railways.”

At this time, Tirpitz and others were approaching Rhine City Station by train. As the capital of East Africa, it was naturally no less than a central railway hub like New Frankfurt, so the closer they got to Rhine City Station, the number of railway tracks increased visibly, and two main railway lines gradually merged with the railway line where Tirpitz and his party were.

“Rhine City’s railway plan should be your national railway hub. This location should be right in the geographical and economic heart of East Africa,” Tirpitz said.

Aaron explained, “It will take time for the railway hub to take shape. Currently, one of these three lines has not been completed. Only a section east of Rhine City has been completed, but it only accounts for about one-third of the entire railway.”

Now, the Rhine City railway has been separated from the Central Railway, so there is no need to transfer through New Frankfurt, which also meant that Tirpitz and others did not have the opportunity to see the situation in New Frankfurt.

As the new capital of East Africa, the urban layout of Rhine City is completely different from the East African cities Tirpitz had seen, such as the first town, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Mbeya.

Here, a trend can be seen: the closer to the East African hinterland, the more different the urban architectural style is from Germany.

Early East African cities completely imitated European architectural styles, but with the development of East Africa, the seeds of local architectural styles gradually formed. Because inland development was later than the coast, the inland city styles became more bold and open.

This architectural characteristic was most evident in Rhine City. Although the overall core of Rhine City is still similar to Europe, a large number of simplified industrial style elements have been added.

Coupled with East Africa’s consistently exaggerated roads and landscaping, the entire Rhine City presents the vitality of an emerging city.

Tirpitz and his party finally got off at Rhine City Station. The Rhine Station felt quite grand and imposing. The scale of this station should be among the best in the world, which was different from Mbeya and Dar es Salaam that Tirpitz had seen before.

Subsequently, under the arrangement of the East African government, the German naval delegation formally visited the political center of East Africa. Ernst, who was busy dealing with a large number of official duties accumulated due to the relocation of the capital, also took the time to meet Tirpitz, a relatively famous figure in his previous life.

“Count Tirpitz, welcome to East Africa.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, for taking the time to meet with us.” Facing Ernst, even though Tirpitz was older, he seemed quite respectful.

Even putting aside Ernst’s many titles and identities in East Africa, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family is also quite prestigious in Europe, especially in the German region.

“This time, Count Tirpitz, as the new German Naval Minister, has chosen East Africa as his first stop. East Africa is very honored. I believe that in the future, Germany and East Africa can cooperate sincerely to play a greater role in the ocean realm,” Ernst set the tone.

Ernst would naturally not refuse the German Navy’s active pursuit of cooperation with East Africa. Although the East African Navy has matured, there is still a significant quality gap compared to Europe.

The early development of the East African Navy was inseparable from the support of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, but the Austro-Hungarian Navy was not particularly prominent in Europe, especially compared with Western and Northern European countries. Among the great powers, it was at a middle-to-lower level, which inevitably led to the East African Navy having many lessons to learn.

Although the German Navy developed late, and Germany is not a traditional naval power, Germany is currently the world’s center of science and technology and academia, and its industrial strength and cutting-edge technology are on par with the United States.

From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, the world’s navies were in a period of great change, especially the resurgence of battleships. In this context, the German Navy is one of the new forces that can lead the development of the world’s navies in the near future.

Although Germany lost the First World War in his previous life, the performance of the German Navy from the beginning to the end of the war was remarkable. In particular, German warships were in no way inferior to British warships in terms of quality and stability.

With the East African Navy not expanding for the time being, the pressure on East African maritime defense is actually increasing, especially after East Africa has a western coastline that can be developed and built on a large scale. The original available scale of the East African Navy is even more stretched.

At this time, cooperation with the navies of Germany and other countries can undoubtedly reduce East Africa’s military pressure in special periods.

Although Ernst emphasized that economic development is East Africa’s top priority, this does not mean that Ernst ignores the possible risks of war.

After confirming Ernst’s supportive attitude, Tirpitz was naturally very happy. With Ernst’s authorization, it meant that the general direction of naval cooperation between the two countries was stable.

Of course, Germany and East Africa each have their own interests and strategic considerations, so there will be no shortage of differences. However, these differences are only differences in opinion and do not hinder cooperation between the two navies.

Tirpitz and Wilhelm II are undoubtedly supporters of the high seas fleet, which is in line with Germany’s world policy, so they want to exert the influence of the German Navy globally.

The East African Navy’s current mainstream policy direction is still coastal defense, even though East Africa has many colonies and economic spheres of influence in the world.

The completely different naval development strategies of the two countries will inevitably affect naval cooperation between the two countries. The first is the conflict in ideological concepts.

Speaking of East Africa’s economic sphere of influence, Germany and East Africa also have differences, especially on the attitude towards the Far East Empire. The focus is undoubtedly on East Africa’s two economic cooperation zones in the Far East, especially the core Jiaozhou Port.

With the development led by East African capital, Jiaozhou has now become a more tempting bait than in his previous life, coveted by any country. Germany valued Jiaozhou in his previous life, not to mention Jiaozhou after being supported and developed by East Africa.

Ernst would naturally not give up the dominant power over Jiaozhou, which is the channel for East Africa’s exchange with the Far East Empire and the most important economic passage.

Out of the need to win over East Africa, the German naval delegation led by Tirpitz would naturally not forcibly seize it. However, one thing is certain, that is, Germany cannot sit idly by and watch other great powers divide up the Far East Empire market.

Although Jiaozhou is nominally a region where the common interests of East Africa, Germany, Austria-Hungary and other German states exist, the dominant power in the region has always been in the hands of East Africa.

Therefore, if Germany wants to have a core port dominated by Germany in the Far East Empire, it can only find another place to build and develop, or seize it from countries such as Britain and France. The latter is obviously unrealistic, so Germany will most likely re-encircle land outside the spheres of influence of various countries as its commercial base in the Far East.

Ernst could not help with this. After all, East Africa could not stand on the opposite side of Germany, nor was there any reason to interfere with Germany’s national policies. East Africa’s ability to guarantee Jiaozhou’s independence was actually a great help to the Far East Empire. Although, for various reasons, East Africa inevitably carried out cultural and economic penetration in Jiaozhou, the Far East Empire at least had some dominant power, and would not be completely bossed around by other great powers like other ports.

Chapter 969: Limited Cooperation

“East Africa’s current national strength is insufficient to support the construction of a deep-sea navy. Moreover, traditional maritime powers like Britain and France, as well as the rising star, the United States, already possess significant naval advantages. Unless something unexpected happens, increasing our naval construction will only trigger a naval arms race between countries. This endless competition won’t narrow the gap between the navies of different nations. Therefore, every penny spent on the East African navy must be carefully calculated, rather than thrown into a never-ending naval arms race,” East African Defense Minister Felix told Tirpitz.

In general, when two countries cooperate, the stronger the ally, the better. This means the allied camp is more powerful, like Italy, Germany’s chosen ally in a previous life. Even if Italy hadn’t been a hindrance, it might have significantly impacted the global landscape.

However, the East African government clearly only wants limited cooperation with the German navy in areas such as military technology and routine exercises and training.

Tirpitz was naturally somewhat disappointed with the East African government’s lack of ambition. In his view, East Africa was fully capable of becoming a powerful helper for the German navy in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

“East Africa, as a nation bordering two oceans, or even three (including the Pacific, as East African colonies are mainly distributed in the Pacific region), and having even defeated Britain, could, with our Germany’s full support, gain greater influence in the Indian Ocean and become one of the founders of a new international order,” Tirpitz continued to try to lure East Africa into the game, painting as enticing a picture as possible.

Germany and East Africa are highly complementary. One is in the Northern Hemisphere, and the other is mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, with no conflicting interests and similar cultures and ethnicities. If East Africa could be tied to Germany’s war chariot, the German government would be overjoyed.

To say nothing of anything else, if the East African navy were to expand, the British in the Indian Ocean would be the most nervous, greatly easing the pressure on the German navy.

Of course, this is Germany’s idea. The East African government has three options to choose from: first, to completely side with Germany; second, to remain neutral; and third, to side with the British.

Choosing the first option would mean that East Africa would very likely join forces with Germany to confront the Entente powers in the future. This is too risky for Ernst. In a previous life, the Central Powers, led by Germany, and the Entente powers were actually evenly matched militarily. Could East Africa, a country of this size, change the outcome of the war by joining?

The answer is uncertain. Although it seems that East Africa siding with the Central Powers could increase their chances of winning, East Africa’s actual impact on the European war would be limited.

This has to do with East Africa’s geographical location. There are three main channels of communication between East Africa and Europe: the Suez Canal controlled by Britain, the British-controlled Gibraltar colony, and the English Channel.

Therefore, even if East Africa wanted to support Germany, it couldn’t be done in the short term. Moreover, Britain and France have a large blood bag, the United States, as a logistics support center, further increasing the uncertainty of the war.

As for choosing the third option, it is not very realistic at present. East Africa and Britain have a very poor relationship, and the possibility of cooperation between the two countries is very small. Of course, it is not impossible. After all, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. If the British offer a high price, East Africa might consider siding with them.

Finally, there is the neutral route. This route is also attractive to East Africa. In a previous life, the United States took this route in the early and mid-stages of the war. However, this also meant that the United States did not change the original world order after the war and could only continue to watch Britain and France dominate the global situation.

All three routes are feasible, but as far as Ernst is concerned, he prefers neutrality, mainly because it is the least risky, while the former two could drag East Africa into the abyss of war.

Of course, the final decision will still be based on the actual situation when choosing East Africa’s national policy. In Ernst’s mind, the probabilities of these three routes are three, four, and three.

However, East Africa will definitely not join the conflict between Germany and Britain and France at present. This involves Ernst’s judgment that there will be no major war in the next ten years.

Therefore, Ernst said, “The world situation is affected by various factors, and we in East Africa are too backward and weak to participate in the game of global power struggles. Of course, from a national and emotional point of view, we would certainly prefer Germany to lead the future world order.”

Anyway, it doesn’t cost anything to say nice things. Complimenting Germany is definitely not a problem. If he were facing France, Ernst might say something similar.

Ernst’s words finally had some effect. Although they did not meet Tirpitz’s expectations, there is no doubt that the close relationship between East Africa and Germany is a definite fact, and the two countries have more common interests in culture, politics, and economics.

As for East Africa’s lack of enthusiasm for the global power struggle, it is understandable. Although East Africa’s development is good, there is still a considerable gap between it and European and American countries. At the current stage, East Africa is mainly focused on developing its domestic economy and industry and does not need the reshaping of the world order as urgently as the United States and Germany do.

The development of the United States and Germany has reached the limit that their homelands can accommodate, so they urgently need more markets and raw material producing areas, while their domestic markets and raw material supplies are approaching their limits. The comprehensive national strength of the two countries has reached the standard to compete with any country on the same stage.

East Africa has obviously not yet developed to this stage. There are still a large number of undeveloped areas in East Africa, the degree of industrialization is not high, and the national economy and population distribution are not balanced. There is still great potential to be developed.

Therefore, East Africa’s current demand for external markets is not as strong as that of Germany and the United States, and East Africa itself is a resource-rich country, at least in the current stage of industrial development, it does not lack any raw materials, so its demand for raw materials is not as strong as that of Germany.

Therefore, East Africa’s main focus is still on its homeland. After East Africa completes its own resource development and economic construction, it will consider more far-reaching issues.

Although the East African government’s attitude towards cooperation between the two countries cannot satisfy Germany’s appetite, something is better than nothing, so Tirpitz can only reduce the ambitious plan he formulated before coming, according to the requirements of the East African government.

In this case, Germany naturally cannot fully support East Africa, and in fact, cannot afford to. East Africa is too large, and Germany can only play a role in adding icing to the cake.

In this way, a watered-down version of the “East Africa-Germany Naval Cooperation Plan” was released. Tirpitz stayed in East Africa for another week before returning to Germany to begin a sweeping reform.

The East Africa-Germany Naval Cooperation Plan mainly involves the sharing and development of some technical equipment in the field of technology and equipment. At the same time, East Africa provides Germany with certain conveniences to support the future activities of the German navy in overseas regions such as the Pacific.

Regarding the sharing and development of technical equipment, East Africa is interested in German battleship technology, while Germany, or rather Tirpitz, is more interested in East African submarine technology. Researchers from both countries will conduct exchanges and cooperation in related fields.

Supporting Germany’s activities in overseas regions such as the Pacific mainly involves providing the German navy with port facilities. However, as an independent country, East Africa only provides support and cannot cede its territory to Germany for use as a military base. At most, it can provide the German navy with temporary stopovers and maintenance services.

The East Africa-Germany Naval Cooperation Plan can only be regarded as limited cooperation. Under this cooperation plan, the East African navy still adopts a conservative policy, but communication with the German navy is smoother, which is conducive to learning from each other’s strengths and avoiding reinventing the wheel.

Chapter 970: Fourth in the World

As time passed, it was already the year 1900 in the blink of an eye. As usual, the East African government’s census work was also nearing its end.

The turn of the century also meant that East Africa’s development was entering a new historical stage. Therefore, the census work in 1899 was more detailed and cumbersome. Moreover, due to the popularity and development of railways, telegraphs, and postal services, population data was easier to collect.

Ernst listened to the report on East Africa’s population development in the new century at the central government building.

“The results of this census show that our country’s total population has reached 83,130,000. The urbanization rate has increased to 28 percent, which is about 19,000,000 people. The average population of towns above a certain size is around 20,000 to 30,000 people. Among them, the city with the largest population is Dar es Salaam, with a total urban population of 710,000.”

By 1900, East Africa’s total population had exceeded 80,000,000, ranking fourth in the world, behind only the Far Eastern Empire, Britain (India), and Tsarist Russia.

The three countries ahead of East Africa all had populations exceeding 100,000,000, while the United States, ranked fifth after East Africa, had a total population of over 70,000,000. This also meant that the next country likely to exceed 100,000,000 in population was East Africa.

“In addition to our own citizens, there are 12,080,000 illegal immigrants in our country, mainly distributed in areas such as Angola and Mozambique, engaged in infrastructure and agricultural production activities.”

The illegal immigrants referred to by the East African government were black people. In less than ten years, the number of black people in East Africa had decreased from more than 20,000,000 after the South African War to about 12,000,000. Including these black people, East Africa’s population was close to the total population of Africa in the same period of his previous life, around 95,000,000.

There is no doubt that the past decade has been the most difficult decade in the history of black people in East Africa. A large number of black people have paid the price of their lives for East Africa’s railways, canals, water conservancy and other large-scale national projects. Countless souls are floating under the sleepers, in the riverbeds and in the plantations of East Africa.

The proportion of black people has dropped directly from 28 percent ten years ago to less than 13 percent, and the trend will continue.

This also shows East Africa’s brutal rule over the local indigenous population. Throughout the African continent, tens of millions of indigenous people have died, fled, or been sold off because of East Africa, and more than 10,000,000 indigenous people have died directly because of East Africa.

It is worth mentioning that the proportion of black people in the United States during the same period was also around 13 percent. East Africa has reached the same level as the United States in this area. Of course, there are still great differences between the two. Black people in the United States can be said to be integrated into American society, while the segregation system in East Africa means that East Africa has never included black people in its national population system.

In the future, East Africa’s population will continue to decrease rapidly at a rate visible to the naked eye. Ernst predicts that the proportion of black people in the United States may surpass that of East Africa in the next two to three years.

This result is undoubtedly quite bloody. What replaces it is East Africa’s rapid development in the past decade, especially the leapfrog development in transportation, agriculture, and urban construction. The indigenous people have made huge contributions to the original accumulation of East Africa’s industrialization.

“Currently, the majority of the country’s population is distributed within the 600 mm isohyet and in the sub-rainforest areas below 2,000 mm.”

The sub-rainforest is a unique climate classification in East Africa, used to distinguish the vegetation differences within the tropical savanna. It is mainly distributed around the tropical rainforest, surrounding the entire Congo rainforest. The most typical areas are the Great Lakes region and the Zambia and Angola regions, including eastern Tanzania and parts of Mozambique.

These areas are close to the equator, so they are strongly affected by rising air currents, and the rainy season is longer, making them the most developed agricultural areas in East Africa.

Tropical savanna climate, like monsoon climate, is prone to droughts and floods. Taking subtropical monsoon climate as a reference, tropical savanna climate is more prone to droughts. Therefore, East African agriculture and population naturally shift to areas with relatively abundant precipitation.

The sub-rainforest is a common vegetation under this climate. In the Great Lakes region, the East African interior, and the coastal areas, the forest coverage rate is high, but these areas are roughly classified as tropical savanna climate.

Of course, the amount of precipitation and vegetation type are not the only reference standards. The time distribution of precipitation is also an important reason. The longer the rainy season in the tropical savanna climate, the more conducive it is to stable agricultural production.

The population distribution in East Africa is mainly based on the sub-rainforest belt. The area between 5 degrees north latitude and 20 degrees south latitude is the most densely populated area in East Africa.

“Currently, the urban population has once again exceeded 20 percent, reaching about 23 percent of the national population, indicating that East Africa’s industry and urban development have been very rapid in the past decade. Especially in recent years, a large number of industrial investments and constructions have been made. In addition to the central and eastern regions, the number of factories in other regions is also developing rapidly, especially in the southeast coastal and west coastal regions.”

“According to the scale and proportion of our country’s urban population, our country has entered the ranks of semi-industrialized countries, second only to France among the world’s major powers, ranking above Austria-Hungary and Tsarist Russia.”

“This fully reflects the superiority of our East African political system. State-owned enterprises have made major contributions to the country’s industrialization. The economic system dominated by state-owned enterprises has allowed the East African economy to maintain a high level in competition with other major world powers.”

At the end of the 19th century, the only countries that had completed industrialization were Britain, France, Germany, the United States, and Western European countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. Of course, within Austria-Hungary, Austria and Bohemia had completed industrialization, but Hungary and other regions were lagging behind.

Therefore, Austria-Hungary, like East Africa, was a typical semi-industrialized country. Tsarist Russia’s industrialization level was even inferior to that of East Africa, but Tsarist Russia had tens of millions more people than East Africa and started earlier, so its industrial scale was also among the strong countries in the world, similar to Brazil and India in the future.

“In terms of other population data, our country’s population structure is becoming more reasonable, and the male-to-female ratio has reached the same level as traditional countries.”

Solving the problem of gender imbalance has always been an important indicator of East African national governance, and East Africa has always attached great importance to this issue.

In addition to avoiding infanticide and gender discrimination through strict laws, the East African government also adopted female infants from all over the world through illegal means, especially in the Far Eastern Empire and Europe.

The 19th century was a cannibalistic era, so East Africa did not need to spend too much effort to obtain the population it wanted. After all, even in Europe at that time, there were a large number of homeless orphans wandering the streets. Many of the early students of the Hechingen Academy were mainly recruited from this source.

Of course, this was an exception in East Africa itself. With a large number of black laborers, East Africa did not need to overly exploit its own people to support its industrial development. In addition, the compulsory education system meant that there was no problem of child labor in East Africa.

“According to data analysis, our country is likely to exceed 100,000,000 people in the next decade, which will add some pressure to our industrialization process, but it also means unlimited potential in our economy. If we can maintain the current industrialization rate, East African industry will have a great possibility of surpassing Tsarist Russia in the next decade.”

In fact, by 1900, East Africa’s industrial output value was already close to that of Tsarist Russia, ranking fifth among all countries in the world, behind only the United States, Britain, Germany, and Tsarist Russia. Among them, the United States, Germany, and Britain had the highest quality of industrialization, while Tsarist Russia was able to reach fourth place only by virtue of its size. Tsarist Russia’s population should be over 130,000,000, at least 40,000,000 more than East Africa (including black people).

East Africa is similar. For example, East Africa has already surpassed France in industrial terms, but East Africa’s population is more than twice that of France. This is the advantage of size. What’s more, France lost important industrial areas in the northeast due to the Franco-Prussian War.

Of course, it is already remarkable that East Africa has reached its current level in nearly thirty years. At least in terms of comprehensive national strength, East Africa ranks above Tsarist Russia and Austria-Hungary, second only to Britain, France, Germany, and the United States.

Among them, France’s advantages over East Africa are mainly reflected in technology, industrial quality, political and cultural influence, and military.

If other aspects of data are emphasized, such as population, land area, resources, industrial scale, etc., then East Africa ranks ahead of France, second only to Britain, the United States, and Germany.

Chapter 971: Economic Situation

Different focuses in data standards lead to different conclusions. However, regardless of how it’s ranked, East Africa firmly holds a top-five position. As for Tsarist Russia, although its total output is higher than East Africa’s, Ernst believes that in comparison, Tsarist Russia is far inferior to East Africa, especially with East Africa’s rapidly growing population trend, which will eventually replace Tsarist Russia’s population advantage.

After all, Tsarist Russia has a large population, but territories such as Poland, Ukraine, and Central Asia are unstable. The country has numerous ethnic groups, and conflicts are prominent. These populations may even have a negative effect during wartime.

Tsarist Russia’s millions of “gray livestock” seem imposing, but with East Africa’s current total population, it can also easily assemble millions of troops. At the same time, East Africa does not have Tsarist Russia’s harsh geographical environment and prominent conflicts, so East Africa can vigorously develop its economy and is confident in achieving a comprehensive overtaking of Tsarist Russia in the next decade.

In reality, in the future, the East African government’s key task is to bridge the gap in science and technology and culture with the developed countries. After making up for this shortcoming, East Africa will almost be in an invincible position.

This is not to say that East Africa’s current level of scientific, technological, and cultural development is poor. On the contrary, East Africa is rapidly catching up with European and American countries in these fields.

At the end of the 19th century, breakthroughs in East Africa’s domestic science and technology fields were no less impressive. However, due to systemic and political reasons, the talents cultivated in East Africa were not very active in the international community, which easily led people to overlook the development of East Africa’s education and science and technology fields.

Many talents are kept within the East African government or research institutions. The most typical examples are in the fields of electricity and internal combustion engines. East Africa is a leader in these fields, just like the United States and Germany. But in contrast, East African researchers in these two fields are relatively unknown in the international community.

Of course, it is undeniable that East Africa still lags significantly behind other major world powers in terms of cutting-edge basic theoretical talent. However, as time goes on, similar talents will emerge as the quality of East Africa’s higher education improves.

…

With the release of population data, the upper echelons of East Africa have a clearer understanding of East Africa’s development. Population represents the market and labor force. Understanding population data is conducive to the government formulating future development policies.

Subsequently, the State Planning Commission announced East Africa’s industrial data for 1900, and Siweit made a detailed report.

“As of last year, our country’s steel production has exceeded 3.2 million tons, pig iron production is 1.9 million tons, and coal production is more than 30 million tons, achieving leapfrog development in the steel industry and ranking among the top in the world.”

Although there is no specific data from other countries, the East African government can roughly judge that East Africa’s steel industry is at the forefront of the world, because the East African steel industry has already undergone a technological update and has no obvious technological gap with other major countries in the world.

In fact, this is the case. In 1900, East Africa’s steel production only lagged behind the United States, Germany, and England. England ranked third, with a production of nearly 5 million tons, while East Africa ranked fourth, and Russia ranked fifth, with only more than 2 million tons.

The development of East Africa’s steel industry is inseparable from the rapid development of East Africa’s transportation and other infrastructure construction. Transportation construction itself has a huge demand for basic raw materials such as steel, and transportation development provides conditions for the integration of the steel industry.

For example, the construction of the Apington Railway enabled the iron ore in southwestern East Africa to provide new raw material production areas for the Bulawayo steel plant, which further increased Bulawayo’s steel production.

“In 1900, the total mileage of our country’s railways reached 90,000 kilometers, making it the third largest railway network in the world, second only to Europe and the United States.”

This data exceeded the Planning Commission’s plan, but did not reach the Ministry of Railways’ stated level of 100,000 kilometers, but it can still reflect the rapid progress in East Africa’s railway construction.

In the railway field, individual European countries naturally cannot compare with East Africa, but East Africa has a land area of more than 13 million square kilometers, which is larger than the entire area of Europe plus almost the area of India. Therefore, although East Africa has the second largest railway network in the world, the density is far from sufficient.

Compared with Europe, railway construction in the Americas ranks first in the world. The United States and Canada both have a lot of railways. The United States is the country with the largest railway mileage in the world, with a total mileage of 300,000 kilometers. The railways of the United States alone can be compared with the entire Europe, and the Americas also have countries such as Canada and Mexico, especially Canada, which is no worse than European countries, reaching nearly 30,000 kilometers.

Moreover, the American railway is still in a stage of rapid development. Before the opening of the Panama Canal and the popularization of automobiles, the railway will still be the main mode of transportation for goods between the east and west coasts of the United States.

Therefore, it is unlikely that East Africa will surpass the United States in terms of railway mileage, and Ernst does not have this idea. However, this does not change the fact that East Africa’s total railway mileage already ranks second in the world, while Russia, which has the largest land area, only has about 50,000 kilometers.

The development of East Africa’s railways is an important factor in promoting the expansion of the steel industry. Similarly, the development of transportation such as shipbuilding, highways, and bridges has greatly promoted the development of the country’s high-speed rail industry.

“The textile industry has also been greatly developed. Compared with 1890, our textile industry’s output has almost doubled and is also at the forefront of the world. It has become the second largest cotton producer in the world, which provides basic raw materials for the development of our textile industry and also exports a large amount to Europe and other regions.”

East Africa has natural advantages in developing the textile industry, because most areas in East Africa are suitable for cotton planting, including Kisangani in the Congo Basin, which is one of the important cotton textile industry centers. After the South African War, East Africa also took over a large number of cotton plantations from the Portuguese.

However, in addition to meeting domestic needs, East African cotton is mainly exported to Central and Eastern European markets such as Germany. Germany’s cotton textile industry is developing rapidly, but Germany is not a major cotton producing area, so East Africa has become Germany’s main cotton supplier, and East Africa can almost meet all of Germany’s cotton needs, both in terms of quality and quantity.

“Our country is still in a leading position in emerging industries such as electricity, automobiles, and petroleum. Most of the important export products in our economy come from these emerging industries. At the same time, in 1889, a new round of oil and natural gas exploration was launched to provide security for our country’s energy sector.”

There is no doubt that East Africa’s rapidly developing automobile, petroleum, and chemical industries all require petroleum as a basic guarantee. Therefore, under Ernst’s instructions, the East African government has begun a new round of energy exploration work.

Among them, Lake Albert (called Lake Constantine in East Africa) basin in Uganda in the previous life is the focus of this round of oil exploration. The oil resources here are enough to support East Africa’s needs for the next fifty years.

Of course, Ernst does not want to start the oil resources in the Nile River basin in northern East Africa and the oil resources near Cabinda for the time being. Both regions are located in border areas and are more likely to cause disputes.

As for the oil near the Lake Albert basin, there is no such concern. It is located in the Great Lakes region of East Africa’s core territory and is very safe.

“…As of 1900, the number of enterprises above designated size in our country has reached more than 3,000. These enterprises account for more than 65% of our country’s total economic output, and together with other enterprises, including local small and micro enterprises, joint ventures, etc., form the overall economic pattern of East Africa.”

Chapter 972: An Emerging Industrial Powerhouse

The most prominent aspect of this National Industrial Summary was concentrated in the field of internal combustion engine vehicles, which was also a key area of focus for Ernst and the East African government.

“As of last year, the total number of internal combustion engine vehicles in our country has reached 700,000, covering three major types: automobiles, trucks, and tractors. Our automobile ownership ranks first in the world, exceeding 170,000 vehicles, with 200,000 trucks, and over 300,000 tractors. We have constructed over one million kilometers of new highways and renovated or newly built three million kilometers of machine-cultivated roads.”

In this regard, East Africa has truly achieved a significant lead. In the automobile category alone, East Africa’s automobile ownership exceeds the total of all other countries in the world combined. The United States, ranked second in the world, has just surpassed 10,000 automobiles nationwide. East Africa’s automobile production is more than ten times that of the United States.

Moreover, in the next decade, East Africa’s automobile industry will usher in a new round of explosive growth. In this industrial upgrade, East Africa has integrated and upgraded its domestic automobile industry, forming seven large-scale automobile production enterprises nationwide, covering 59 automobile brands, and spanning over 30 cities and more than 400 factories.

In present-day East Africa, the manufacturing of automobiles, trucks, and tractors has become an emerging industry capable of competing with traditional industries.

Corresponding to the great development of internal combustion engine vehicles in East Africa, from colonization to nation-building and now, Ernst feels that his main task is to develop infrastructure. East Africa’s current infrastructure construction, in addition to new construction, can be divided into three major parts.

Nationwide, it involves reconstructing the highway system, implementing road surface hardening, and providing a foundation for the development of the automobile industry. It also includes renovating the eastern river network and water conservancy facilities, and constructing new water conservancy facilities in other regions. After all, East Africa’s production of industrial products such as cement was limited in the past, so the original water conservancy facilities were relatively primitive, mainly based on earth and wood structures. Now that cement and steel production have increased, it is natural to rebuild them, and many water conservancy projects that could not be realized in the past must also be newly built.

The popularization of tractors also requires East Africa to upgrade agricultural area roads such as rural areas, farmland, plantations, and pastures. Therefore, after entering the 1990s, East Africa’s workload has actually increased compared to the past.

Compared to automobiles, the popularization of trucks and tractors is even greater, as can be seen from the production volume. The number of trucks and tractors exceeds that of automobiles, after all, East Africa itself values practicality and efficiency more.

Automobile production is entirely out of the need to win people’s hearts, mainly to equip East African officials and researchers.

And this is already considered good, after all, European and American countries can only afford to play with cars now, and the automobile industry has not yet trickled down to the civilian market.

Judging from East Africa’s automobile production, East Africa will achieve the trickle-down of automobiles to the civilian market one step ahead of European and American countries.

Of course, under Ernst’s instructions, East Africa also attaches importance to the research and development of public transportation vehicles, after all, East Africa’s local oil resources are relatively scarce.

Similarly, East Africa’s automobile research and development is also moving towards the two major ideas of “speeding up” and “saving fuel,” which requires East African car companies to differentiate between domestic and foreign markets, and the domestic market must be further divided into civilian and military markets.

Ernst has an awareness of “energy security and crisis,” but the foreign market does not have the relevant concept, so the foreign market’s pursuit of automobiles values experience, and “fuel efficiency” will inevitably sacrifice some experience value. Fortunately, East Africa is a closed market country, so it is easy to engage in differentiated routes.

Otherwise, East Africa’s huge automobile production capacity could completely overwhelm other countries’ automobile manufacturers. In fact, international friendly manufacturers are already suffering from East African competitors, and this is only the case when East Africa’s coastal car companies are exerting their strength.

East Africa’s automobile industry is mainly laid out in the inland areas, and it is also mainly for domestic supply. Foreign sales mainly rely on automobile production enterprises in the two coastal cities of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

After all, East Africa belongs to a planned economy and does not need to emphasize market economy content too much. The current content of the planned economy is to improve East Africa’s level of industrialization.

East Africa does not pay much attention to profits in manufacturing internal combustion engine vehicles. Otherwise, according to the current income level of East African residents, it would be very difficult to promote the development of East Africa’s automobile industry. Even East African officials cannot easily afford to buy them.

Therefore, the market for East Africa’s automobile industry, after excluding the high-profit foreign market, has a route within the country like the Far Eastern Empire’s railway department in its previous life: passenger transport loses money, and freight transport makes up for it. This is also why East Africa’s production of trucks and tractors is higher than that of automobiles. Trucks and tractors can create more industrial and agricultural income, while automobiles are much worse.

Of course, even so, this is also beneficial to the expansion of East Africa’s automobile industry. After all, under the government’s administrative measures, a domestic market has been forcibly created, and this market is the largest in the world, although the profit is far less than that of the foreign market.

The next goal of East African car companies is to further compress production costs and expand production capacity, so as to truly achieve East Africa’s goal of becoming a “nation on wheels.”

“Internal combustion engine vehicles have begun to play a huge role in our country’s transportation, engineering construction, and agricultural production. At the same time, internal combustion engine-related industrial production equipment, such as engines and generators, are widely used in factories. A large number of pumping stations used in water conservancy and other livelihood facilities also require internal combustion engines or motors as power.”

“The internal combustion engine industry and the electric power industry have undoubtedly become the most important engines for our East Africa’s development, enabling us East Africa to be the first to achieve the goal of becoming an industrial powerhouse in emerging industries.”

“Without the continuous efforts and huge potential of these emerging industries, our East Africa will always be a follower of European and American countries, and the leading position in emerging industries is equivalent to our country’s industrial development grasping the future. As time goes by, our country’s industry will inevitably become more and more prominent in the world.”

In the field of traditional industries, East Africa, Germany, and the United States cannot easily surpass Britain, especially in the fields of steam engines and textiles. The solution is to eliminate traditional industries through emerging industries, thereby seizing market share.

Of course, compared to East Africa, the traditional industries of the United States and Germany are also very strong, and this is the main reason for the huge economic gap between East Africa and the two countries.

Another point is that East Africa’s current industrial scale is still different from that of the two countries, but this gap is not too big. The main reason is that East Africa’s population growth rate is too fast. In this case, even if East Africa’s industrialization rate and urbanization rate no longer increase, the industrial scale will passively increase due to population growth.

In fact, the United States’ industry surpassed Britain in 1890 using this route. Population is an important resource. In the era of industrialization, every industrializing country will usher in a surge in population.

However, it is also very difficult for East Africa to ensure that its industrialization level does not decline and achieve growth. After all, a large population is also a burden.

However, the international environment in which East Africa’s industrialization stage is located is much better than that of the Far Eastern Empire in its previous life. In this era, the blockade of backward countries by developed countries is much smaller. After all, the world is not dominated by one country, but is truly multipolar, although there are strong and weak, it undoubtedly creates more opportunities for backward regions and countries.

And the currency in the 19th century was pegged to gold and silver. As a major gold-producing country, East Africa can almost buy any industrial equipment it wants during the industrialization stage, which is also one of the important reasons why East Africa can easily complete industrial upgrades.

Of course, East Africa’s own strength in emerging industries is not weak, but after the industrial upgrade, industries such as coal, steel, railways, chemicals, and textiles have also achieved updates and iterations, greatly saving time and efficiency.

This has laid a good foundation for East Africa’s next step of industrialization. In the next decade, even in the face of population growth pressure, the East African government is confident to ensure the further growth of its industrial level.

Chapter 973: Preparations

After the various departments finished reporting their situations, Ernst and his subordinates continued to discuss some well-worn issues. Having determined the future direction of development, the East African government was not actually very confused in the economic field. It only needed to continue following the development path of the 1990s and continuously promote the development of the country’s industry and agriculture.

Apart from economic matters, Ernst then began to introduce the key work for 1900. He said, “Currently, our country meets the standards of a major power in terms of land, population, and industrial level, among other important indicators. Now that the capital relocation of East Africa has been basically completed, in order to further enhance East Africa’s political and diplomatic influence, the kingdom is clearly no longer in line with the current situation of the East African state. Therefore, according to the original plan, our country’s political system should also be upgraded a level. An empire is more in line with East Africa’s current national strength.”

Everyone present was unsurprised by Ernst’s words, after all, Ernst had revealed similar ideas as early as a year ago, during the capital relocation.

Swete said, “Among the world powers, except for Spain, other monarchical countries are called empires, such as the British Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Tsarist Russia, and the German Empire. Therefore, I agree with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s idea of upgrading East Africa to an empire.”

Ernst also said, “Of course, the transition from kingdom to empire will not have much practical impact on East Africa, so there is no need for overly extravagant and complex ceremonies. The government should come up with a charter, and there should be a reasonable range for how to hold this ceremony.”

After Ernst finished speaking, everyone began a heated discussion. After all, Ernst made it sound simple, but this was a major event concerning the national system of East Africa.

Of course, the vast majority of people certainly supported the upgrade from kingdom to empire. After all, an empire sounds more impressive than a kingdom, and as East Africa is on the “new” continent, everyone is equally unhappy with East Africa being a kingdom below Europe. This can be seen in the overthrown Brazilian Empire, and the Mexican Empire once ruled by Archduke Ferdinand.

“Your Highness, I don’t know how to choose the time. It would be great if it were this year, after all, it is the new century, but it is already February. If it is arranged this year, I am afraid that the time will be a bit rushed.”

Ernst said, “I have already said that the ceremony does not need to be too complicated, just keep it simple. There is no need to invite too many outsiders. Our government officials, people from all walks of life in East African society, and foreign diplomats in East Africa are enough.”

Ernst did not intend to invite too many European nobles to East Africa to participate in the establishment ceremony of the East African Empire. If he invited “Old Europe” nobles to East Africa, they would probably say that East Africa was like a monkey wearing a crown.

The arrogance of European nobles is no joke. Letting them recognize an African empire would probably result in more people watching the joke than being sincere.

“Of course, we can still invite personnel from some friendly countries,” Ernst added.

It was impossible not to let any European nobles come. For one thing, Leopold of Sigmaringen definitely had to participate. In fact, Leopold was already considered an African, as he had replaced Prince Karl as the resident ruler of Chad. Others, such as some nobles from Austria-Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and France who had close relations with the Hohenzollern-Hechingen royal family, would definitely have to be invited.

“If not many people are involved, then the work we face will be relatively less. Therefore, I plan to hold the Imperial Inauguration and Coronation Ceremony on May 1st of this year,” Ernst said.

In this way, there would only be more than two months to prepare, which would be too tight for government officials.

Someone asked, “Your Highness, the time is so rushed, I am afraid it will not be conducive to our arrangements. After all, even if the establishment of the empire and the coronation ceremony are simple, they are quite solemn and cannot be easily decided.”

Ernst had already planned for this, and he said, “I have my own ideas for this imperial inauguration. We don’t need to completely follow the European tradition. After all, East Africa itself is a new country, not a traditional country. Before us, such a power had never appeared on the African continent.”

“Therefore, in terms of ceremony and procedure, we East Africans don’t need to care too much about the opinions of foreigners. In essence, from kingdom to empire, it is an opportunity to promote national prestige. So, why not just hold a military parade directly at this ceremony to show the demeanor of the East African army to foreign diplomats.”

Ernst had long been itching to hold a military parade. The founding of the East African Kingdom was not celebrated in a big way at the time, precisely in order to save it up for this occasion.

“A batch of elite soldiers and generals will be drawn from various troops across the country for the military parade, and some advanced weapons will be displayed at the same time, giving external deterrence and internal national pride.”

Speaking of this, Ernst suddenly thought that since he wanted to give external deterrence, he should naturally invite personnel from some countries that do not have a good relationship with East Africa to participate. However, Ernst rejected this point again. This was just asking for trouble for himself and the hostile forces. After all, if East Africa held an imperial inauguration and invited enemies, it would inevitably increase their vigilance against East Africa, so it is better to treat it with a normal heart.

Moreover, the main purpose of this imperial inauguration is not to show off military power, but simply because this time node is very good. Otherwise, Ernst would not have been able to delay the time until 1900.

If Ernst wanted to, he could have reported it as early as ten years ago, especially after the end of the South African War, when East Africa officially entered the ranks of the great powers.

Why didn’t Ernst do this at the time? One of the reasons was to avoid stimulating Britain and Portugal, the two losers of the war.

East Africa is naturally not afraid of Britain, but Britain can cause trouble for East Africa, which does not conform to Ernst’s national policy of biding his time.

Therefore, even for the Imperial Inauguration and Coronation Ceremony, East Africa should be as low-key as possible and reduce the relevant heat in the international community.

Before East Africa completely rises, it is better to have less showing off. Currently, East Africa does not have the capital to show off, after all, there are still four countries ahead of East Africa: Britain, France, Germany, and the United States.

After the end of the next decade, that is, the tenth anniversary of the founding of the country, after East Africa’s industry and military rise, it would be best to conduct another deterrent. At that time, it will also be close to the war node, which will help ensure the security of East Africa’s homeland.

Thinking of this, Ernst said, “This promotion to the Imperial Inauguration should form a convention. After that, our country will establish May 1, 1900 as the National Founding Day, and hold a military parade every ten years. The new national name will be the Rhine Empire. As for the national emblem, national flag, and national anthem, there is no need to change…”

The National Founding Day that Ernst mentioned is naturally the National Founding Day of the Rhine Empire, not the current East African (Hohenzollern-Hechingen) Kingdom. In fact, the establishment of the East African Kingdom was quite hasty, so much so that East Africa did not have a statutory National Day at all. Now it can be regarded as making up for some regrets.

At the same time, this National Founding Ceremony, in addition to changing the name of the country, has almost no other major changes. The national flag, national emblem, and national anthem remain the same, which also represents the inheritance and upgrade relationship between the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Principality, the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Kingdom, and the Rhine Empire.

With Ernst’s all-round plagiarism of the great eastern power of his previous life, the specific process of East Africa’s Imperial Inauguration and Coronation Ceremony was also determined by the East African government. Subsequently, the East African government and the military began preparations, including arranging Rhine City, inviting personnel, and army rehearsals.

Chapter 974: Formation of Squads

Rhine City.

Commander Flegain of the Guards Division was assigning tasks to his subordinates.

Seated at the head of the table, Flegain addressed his officers, “According to the General Staff Department’s requirements, our Guards Division will be drawing the majority of its troops from Rhine City, New Frankfurt, Lusaka, and other garrisons around Rhine City to participate in this military parade. Due to the special circumstances of the Guards Division, our unit and the brother units of the Central Military Region will be the main force in this parade.”

Following the relocation of the capital, the East African military region divisions were also adjusted. The original Western Military Region and Central Military Region were integrated into the Central Military Region, along with the Eastern Military Region and the Western Military Region, forming three military regions.

At the same time, the original Nile Military Region and Northern Military Region were reorganized into the Northwest Military Region and Northeast Military Region respectively. Only the Southern Military Region remained largely unchanged.

The renaming of the Nile Military Region was closely related to its area of jurisdiction, which included the Azande Plateau, the Nile Basin, and other regions. Therefore, the name Nile Military Region was clearly no longer in line with the actual situation.

Based on location, Northern Military Region would have been more appropriate, but since East Africa already had a Northern Military Region, they simply followed the positions of the two military regions, forming the Northwest Military Region and Northeast Military Region as the two major military regions.

In this way, the number of military regions in East Africa increased from the original five to six. The additional Eastern Military Region evolved from the original Central Military Region, which was centered on First Township.

A large portion of the eastern territory of the Western Military Region was incorporated into the Central Military Region. However, similarly, Southwest Province (Namibia) was placed under the jurisdiction of the Western Military Region. Furthermore, the coastal area of Angola was also taken by East Africa from Portugal, so the Western Military Region’s territory was not weakened.

The new Central Military Region includes twelve provinces: Central Province (capital Rhine City), Mitumba Province, Hesse Province, Swabia Province, Okavango Province, Hohenzollern Province, Bohemia Province, Tete Province, Salzburg Province, Lake Soden Province, Luanda Province, and Kasai Province (eastern and southern Congo, the entirety of Zambia, western Tanzania, most of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, and parts of Angola).

“The total number of troops participating in this parade is over eight thousand, and the invitees include diplomatic personnel from various countries. So, if any of you embarrass me, I will definitely let you know what real trouble is!” Flegain said through gritted teeth.

He tapped the table and said, “My requirements for this exercise are that we cannot be worse than other units. After all, the Guards Division is a garrison force, the imperial guard, the face of our country’s military. So much military spending is invested every year, so no matter what, we must meet the military appearance of the strongest army.”

Although Flegain said so, other East African troops probably did not agree with the Guards Division being the strongest army in East Africa.

Undoubtedly, the Guards Division’s military expenditure ranks first in the army, but the Guards Division’s establishment is a corps, while other East African troops are less than half that size, especially after many East African armies were reduced in size after the South African War.

However, from a combat effectiveness perspective, the various East African armies were mutually unconvinced, especially the ace units of each military region, especially those participating units that shone brightly in the South African War.

Although the Guards Division also participated in the South African War, it was already towards the end of the war when the Guards Division participated, so the Guards Division’s achievements were not recognized by other units.

Of course, Flegain could not control the doubts of other units. Although it was true that the Guards Division had few battle achievements, the fundamental reason why the Guards Division did not fully participate in the South African War was that the Guards Division had to ensure the safety of First Township at that time.

At that time, East Africa had to be constantly on guard against the British Royal Navy launching a possible surprise attack at sea, and First Township was less than eighty kilometers away from the Indian Ocean. The Guards Division naturally could not act rashly. Only in the later stages of the South African War could the Guards Division deploy troops south to participate in the war.

“This military parade will be held on National Avenue in front of the Central Government Building. We will officially enter the venue for rehearsals starting April 27th, so we only have two months for focused training. Each unit must select soldiers with appropriate appearance and height to form squads.”

“The parade formation is divided into thirty-two squads. The infantry squad is in a twenty-five by fourteen plus two formation, with two guides. Our Guards Division is mainly responsible for the infantry squads, with six squads under our responsibility.”

This was also the parade formation specification of a certain major country in his previous life. Of course, East Africa still had to hold back a bit in this parade to avoid revealing the situation of East Africa’s military reforms.

Therefore, this military parade mainly consists of infantry squads, combined with some cavalry, artillery, and naval unit squads. The artillery squad, as the main equipment display unit, is not equipped with motor-towed artillery, but continues to use horses for towing.

Similarly, the air force and armored units, and rapid mobile units cannot participate in this military parade. These are the core secrets of East Africa’s military reforms.

Although East Africa’s air force and armored units have not yet taken shape, it still has the strength to bring out one or two aircraft and tanks to participate in the parade.

Flegain continued, “That is to say, our Guards Division will send two thousand one hundred and twelve people, accounting for almost twenty-five percent of the total number of troops participating in the parade. This also shows the importance that the central government and the General Staff Department attach to our Guards Division. Therefore, no one in our Guards Division is allowed to hold us back. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Commander!” The junior officers of the Guards Division assured him one after another.

“All participating troops will be assembled before April. Training will be conducted in the western suburbs in April, rehearsals will be held on National Avenue at the end of April, and we will officially participate in the parade ceremony on May 1st. Go back and prepare, now dismiss!” Flegain said.

While the Guards Division was preparing, other units of the National Defense Force were also preparing for the founding ceremony. Like all units of the Central Military Region (the Guards Division also belongs to the Central Military Region), the 221st Division of the Eastern Military Region, the 312th Division of the Southern Military Region, the 411th Division of the Western Military Region, the 511th Division of the Northeast Military Region, and the 631st Division of the Northwest Military Region will all participate. This is basically the main force of each military region.

After the adjustment of the military regions, the numbering of the various East African troops also changed accordingly. The Central Military Region’s starting number is 1, the Eastern Military Region (original Central Military Region) is 2, the Southern Military Region is promoted to 3, the Western Military Region remains 4, the Northeast Military Region (original Northern Military Region) is lowered to 5, and the Northwest Military Region (original Nile Military Region) is lowered to 6.

From the military region number, we can basically see the importance of East Africa’s territorial regions. Among them, 1 to 4 are undoubtedly the most important, and 5 and 6 are slightly worse.

The Southern Military Region changed from the original number 5 to 3. In addition to the incorporation of the Mozambique coastal area, its resources are the richest in East Africa. The south also has the British South African colony, which needs to be vigilant. At the same time, on the island of Madagascar, we must be vigilant against the French (in fact, it should be the South African colony and the French Madagascar colony being vigilant against East Africa).

In this military parade, the only cavalry unit participating in the parade is provided by the 221st Division. Although East Africa has already begun to form armored units, it still takes time, so East Africa still has a large number of cavalry units temporarily retained.

As for the naval parade unit, it is not worth paying attention to. After all, the navy cannot sail warships to Rhine City, and can only send a small number of personnel to form a marching squad.

At the same time, the Ferdinand Naval Academy and the Hechingen Military Academy, and other East African military academies will also send teachers and students to form marching squads to participate in this event. These two schools are the cradle of East Africa’s naval and army commanders, and also represent the future of the East African army.

This is basically the main force of the East African military system participating in the parade. In addition to reviewing East Africa’s military strength, other activities must be organized. After all, the founding ceremony includes not only the military parade, but also the important part of the coronation ceremony.

Chapter 975: Diplomatic Storm

May 1st, 1900.

This day is International Labor Day, established back in 1889 by the Second International to commemorate the May Day strike by workers in Chicago, USA.

It is worth mentioning that, due to Ernst’s influence, May 1st in East Africa is also Labor Day, albeit without the “International” qualifier. Furthermore, East Africans will now celebrate National Day on May 1st as well. Ernst has also decided to extend the May Day holiday in East Africa from three days to seven days, or a full week.

East Africa is already a country with relatively few holidays. As a new nation, Ernst canceled some European religious holidays. East Africa also lacks a distinct winter, and its territory is divided into two parts by the equator. This means that East Africa does not have a universally unified agricultural off-season. Therefore, to minimize disruption to agricultural production, many traditional Eurasian festivals do not have a market in East Africa.

This means that May Day will become East Africa’s most important holiday after the New Year, and the second-longest holiday besides student vacations.

East African students have two vacations: a long vacation during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer (coinciding with the East African New Year) and a short vacation during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

Because most of East Africa is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Southern Hemisphere’s summer is the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, other countries’ students have their winter break when it is the hottest time of the year in East Africa. This is equivalent to East Africa’s summer vacation, and because it coincides with the East African New Year, it is also the longest vacation, lasting nearly two months. In contrast, the short vacation is only a little over a month long.

…

“Ambassador Bleuren, long time no see. Are you also here to attend East Africa’s coronation ceremony?” The German Ambassador to East Africa, Boers, asked, seeing the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador to East Africa, Bleuren, at the Rhine Palace.

“Ah, Baron Boers. The East African government has invited quite a few people this time, but besides diplomatic personnel, it seems that no other country’s important heads of state are attending,” Bleuren said.

“That’s just as well. The Hechengen royal family’s approach was never likely to be well-received. After all, there are already too many empires in the world. Countries like Tsarist Russia should be considered more in name than in reality,” Boers said.

Bleuren took a sip of wine, smiled, and said nothing. There are currently three emperors in Europe. In Bleuren’s opinion, apart from Emperor Franz of Austria-Hungary, the other countries are just Napoleonic clowns.

The Queen of the British Empire is the Empress of India, and the Prussians’ so-called emperor is just the German Emperor, not the Emperor of Germany. The Tsar’s title is also questionable. As an Austrian, Bleuren has some thoughts about Austria-Hungary regaining dominance in the German region, but they are just thoughts.

Of course, realistically speaking, none of the current emperors in Europe are widely recognized. After all, the definition of emperor in Europe is very different from that of emperors in the Far East.

A European emperor is a collection of a bunch of titles, the most important of which are Caesar and Augustus, etc. Even if they become emperors, the power of European emperors is restricted, and they cannot have the final say on everything, unlike emperors in the Far East, whose power is unlimited.

“Although the Hechengen royal family originated from the European aristocratic system, since they have expanded their territory in Africa and have in fact formed a powerful empire, from the perspective of the East Africans, it is beyond reproach for them to become an empire. It’s just that this system should be viewed separately from Europe,” Bleuren said, not criticizing East Africa’s right or wrong.

But in his heart, he was criticizing Boers, the Prussian barbarian. As expected of a diplomat from the military, he is as unrestrained as Wilhelm II.

Boers took a sip of wine and said, “That’s true. Africa is not Europe after all. The Hechengen royal family probably knows this, so their empire should be a country with Africa as its core. It’s the same if the United States produced an American emperor, but in principle, Europe can only have one Roman emperor.”

The Roman Emperor, in a sense, is the emperor of all of Europe. This is also the common pursuit of the current Tsar, German Emperor, and Austrian Emperor. Of course, apart from the Roman era, Europe has never seen such a person again. The closest in recent times was Napoleon. Although Napoleon was not recognized by the European aristocracy, he was the man who was only one step away from unifying Europe.

While Boers and Bleuren were talking, French Ambassador Lawrence and Spanish Ambassador William were also having related discussions. However, the Spanish were relatively friendly to East Africa, while the French had mixed feelings about East Africa. Diplomats from many small countries also had different views on East Africa’s upgrade to an empire.

The most exciting was the interaction between the diplomatic personnel of Tsarist Russia and Britain. Even in East Africa, a third-party country, the two countries were at odds.

“Mr. Wilson, the weather is very nice today. For East Africans, their empire was given to them by a certain country. After all, without the war in 1889, East Africa would not have millions of square kilometers of territory and become another transcontinental empire in the world,” Russian Ambassador Maxim said sarcastically, exposing the British’s scars.

At this time, the relationship between Britain and Tsarist Russia was at its worst. Although East Africa was also resented by Britain, as time passed, the relationship between Britain and East Africa has now moved towards normalization. After all, ten years have passed since the South African War, and the British cannot stare at East Africa forever.

The threat from Tsarist Russia is far greater than that from East Africa. Germany also has this trend, but Germany’s relationship with Britain has not completely deteriorated.

Although Britain regrets its mistake that led to the rise of East Africa, a huge country, it is not unacceptable. After all, Britain has experience in related fields, such as the United States’ independence from British rule.

Moreover, East Africa has been relatively honest in the past decade. Although East Africa is still expanding overseas, it has not threatened British interests. At the same time, the size of the East African navy also gives Britain the most peace of mind. It has not learned from other countries to engage in naval races. If the other great powers in the world all needed East Africa, the British Royal Navy would not need to be as nervous as it is now.

Wilson’s face did not show any emotional changes. He said to Maxim in a formulaic tone: “We did have some unpleasant exchanges with East Africa, but East Africa was already one of the world’s great powers at that time. It must be admitted that East Africa is far from comparable to a certain region near the Arctic Circle in the north. After all, in Siberia, you can only maintain your life by relying on a little potato. This is probably the difference in intelligence. We British have undoubtedly achieved today’s achievements with our own wisdom. Although East Africa, like a certain frigid country, only knows how to fight, they are undoubtedly smarter than Mr. Maxim. I heard that your Siberian Railway is being built with great difficulty. If you need it, we British are willing to help you.”

Wilson directly belittled Maxim’s intelligence, which was extremely insulting. After all, East Africa is an African country, and the black people of Africa naturally give people a relatively low impression of African intelligence. In fact, this stereotype has also been inherited by East Africa.

And Wilson’s statement that the Russians’ intelligence is not even as good as that of East Africa is like saying that the Russians’ intelligence is not even comparable to that of black Africans.

Ambassador Maxim was indeed angered. He shouted loudly that he wanted to duel with Wilson, attracting the attention of all the participants.

Wilson pretended to be helpless and said: “See what I mean? As expected, some countries only have the simple minds of warriors. As civilized people, we British do not advocate…”

As the host, the East African government naturally could not watch the conflict escalate and made excuses to separate the two. The conflict between the British and Russian diplomatic personnel became one of the small episodes before the coronation ceremony.

Chapter 976: Beginning

In the morning, the coronation ceremony officially began. After simplifying the procedures, the coronation ceremony in East Africa was rather hasty. After all, Constantine was too old, and both Constantine and Ernst themselves did not want the process to be too complicated.

As the East African national anthem played, Constantine was sitting on the temporary throne set up in Rhine Palace, and the proclaimer below read aloud:

“On May 1st, 1900, His Majesty Emperor Constantine established an unprecedented empire in Africa. This achievement will be recorded in history, creating a great cause for all ages. God has bestowed the new Rhine Empire upon the Hechingen Kingdom. His Majesty Constantine shall be the Emperor of the new empire…”

After a lengthy proclamation of the Rhine Empire and Constantine’s great achievements, Constantine personally placed the crown on his own head.

The East African coronation ceremony was an eye-opener for the attendees, especially the diplomats from various European countries. No wonder this coronation ceremony did not invite heads of state from other countries. It was simply too untraditional, or rather, unconventional.

Even the religious forces in East Africa were puppets of the Hechingen royal family, playing no role in the coronation ceremony and acting as mere spectators.

Of course, it was easier to understand for Zhang Heng, the ambassador of the Far East Empire, and other non-European diplomats. Anyway, they didn’t believe in Christianity, so no matter how East Africa played it, it didn’t affect them.

“Welcome everyone to participate in the founding ceremony of our Rhine Empire and my personal coronation ceremony as Emperor. One of the purposes of this ceremony is thrift, so I hope everyone will forgive any inadequate hospitality.” In any case, Constantine came up with an excuse to perfunctorily address everyone, “After the coronation ceremony, at three o’clock in the afternoon, we East Africa will hold a review ceremony in Rhine City. You are welcome to go to the Central Government Building to watch.”

The military parade was undoubtedly the focus of today. After all, East Africa was founded by force. With hard power, even if many people were unhappy with East Africa, they could only shut up.

Even though many core technologies of the East African Defense Force were not displayed, this military parade could still leave a deep impression on the people present. The wars of the 19th century were nothing more than comparing who had more people, more guns, more artillery, and whose army was more brave in combat. East Africa met these standards of a world power.

Although the current East African Defense Force has less than three hundred thousand active military personnel, the only countries in Europe that can surpass East Africa are Tsarist Russia, Germany, France, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

At the viewing platform of the Central Government Building, the invited personnel took their seats one after another. At this time, the National Avenue had been carefully arranged by the East African government.

Although the military parade had not yet begun, the East African Defense Force and student formations prepared on the side of the road already revealed a strong “killing intent”.

Due to the perspective, diplomats from various countries could not see the specific situation, but the atmosphere had been rendered in place. Although there were only more than eight thousand troops participating in the parade, it was already a rare grand scene in the 19th century.

“East Africa has made a lot of preparations for this review ceremony. Their National Avenue is very distinctive. That kind of road surface should be built with asphalt. At the same time, the road surface is also very in line with East African characteristics. I have to say that in terms of road construction, East Africa far exceeds Europe and the United States,” Blairoen said with an appreciative tone.

“That’s indeed the case. In First Town City and Dar es Salaam, East Africa’s road construction is wider than that of Europe, and the asphalt road experience is also quite good. However, East Africa itself is also a colonial country, and their land is not as valuable as Europe, so they can be so generous in road construction,” Bulls said factually.

The value of European land is indeed beyond doubt, especially the capitals of various countries, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, etc., which are all prime locations. If East Africa were the same as Europe and the United States, it would obviously not be easy to complete the land acquisition task.

Of course, East Africa’s short history and early urban planning before urban development are also important reasons. Moreover, East Africa is still an agricultural country, and the population is mainly in the vast rural areas. Many cities are already over-planned.

“I think this kind of road still lacks historical background. Asphalt roads do have many advantages, but they also make East African urban planning lack a lot of agility,” said Maxim, the Russian ambassador.

Zhang Heng, the ambassador of the Far East Empire, who was not on the same page as the European and American diplomats, praised the construction of Rhine City in the corner. He believed that Rhine City had a magnificent feeling that many European and American countries did not have. On the contrary, many European and American cities were relatively petty and could not reflect the majesty of the monarch. Of course, countries with non-monarchical systems such as France and the United States were an exception.

Of course, the participation of Far East Empire court landscape designers in the construction of Rhine City was also a bonus, which also made Zhang Heng think that the Hechingen royal family, these European “bumpkins”, had good taste.

Most of the diplomats from various countries held a positive attitude towards East African urban construction. After all, compared with other regions in the world, East African cities were at a leading level in terms of transportation, sanitation, and environment. Even the most critical people could not deny these advantages.

For example, Ambassador Thomson said that London, England, was full of industrial beauty, but in reality, London was overcrowded, had extremely poor social security, low air quality, and serious river pollution…

This is the situation in most industrial countries’ capitals. Rhine City inherited the characteristics of First Town City. Industries with too much pollution were simply impossible to build locally. Of course, Rhine City has also changed relative to First Town City, but Ernst considered this when choosing the location for Rhine Palace. The city’s administrative district is far away from Rhine City’s industrial area.

As time passed, the military parade officially began. The first thing that came into view was a convertible car. General Merkel, the Chief of General Staff of East Africa, stood on the car and drove to the viewing platform.

“Merkel, Chief of General Staff of the Rhine Empire Defense Force, reports to His Majesty the Emperor that the troops to be reviewed are ready, please give your instructions!” Merkel stood steadily on the car and reported to Constantine.

Constantine said solemnly into the microphone: “I announce that the first founding military parade of the Rhine Empire officially begins.”

Afterwards, the vehicle Merkel was in began to turn around, and another car that had been prepared long ago drove out from the direction of the Central Government Building. The person in this car was Ernst, the Crown Prince of the Rhine Empire.

Merkel saluted Ernst, Ernst nodded to indicate, and then the vehicle Merkel was in began to follow behind Ernst’s car, heading towards the direction of the reviewed formation along National Avenue.

“Soldiers…”

The “friends” from various countries on the stands watched the scene in front of them in surprise. After all, they had never seen such a scene before, and everyone was talking about it.

The East African news media also recorded the valuable historical material at all times. Tomorrow, these news materials will be spread across East Africa for publicity.

After circling around, Ernst’s car finally returned to the finish line. Ernst breathed a sigh of relief that nothing went wrong in the middle. Then Ernst also entered the viewing platform and came to Constantine’s side.

Next, the East African artillery unit began to perform. In the resonance, the tri-service guard of honor entered the arena, escorting the national flag towards the flagpole with powerful strides.

“What is the tri-service guard of honor?” The diplomats present were very puzzled by the East African commentator’s explanation.

The three services are naturally the army, navy, and air force. Currently, the East African Air Force only has a framework, but the tri-service guard of honor has been prepared in advance. Those wearing blue uniforms are the air force, the army wears gray uniforms, and the navy wears white.

“You can think of it as an airship unit!” This is how the senior officials of the East African government explained it.

Airship unit? That’s fine then. Although airships are indeed novel, forming a separate army and being on par with the army and navy, diplomats from various countries could only understand it as an East African characteristic.

Chapter 977: Intelligence Gathering

Amidst the national anthem and cannon salutes of the Rhine Empire, the East African Lion flag slowly rose. All East Africans present stood and sang the national anthem, which gave the diplomatic personnel present a considerable shock. This detail was not merely for show, but a manifestation of cohesion.

Today, the number of people visiting the ceremony exceeded two hundred thousand. The scene of two hundred thousand people singing the East African national anthem was naturally an unparalleled demonstration.

“East Africa’s cohesion is too strong. No wonder East Africa has risen to become a world power in just over thirty years. The Helsenberg royal family’s grasp of the East African people’s hearts is beyond imagination,” French Ambassador Laurence objectively commented.

“Indeed, although East Africa is a multi-immigrant country, their cultural identity is absolutely not comparable to that of upstarts like the United States. In East Africa, I have never seen any friction between yellow and white people. If it were in the United States, even white people are divided into different classes. Therefore, the East African government’s brainwashing methods for the people are very clever,” Spanish Ambassador William echoed.

William was shocked and envious of the cohesion displayed by the East African people at this moment. After all, his home country, Spain, was deeply divided internally, which has always been one of the weaknesses of the Kingdom of Spain.

Laurence, as a Frenchman, could not appreciate this point. The French have always had a strong sense of national identity. Even in the 21st century, many black people still regard France as their motherland, which shows that French culture is inclusive.

Of course, East Africa is not as perfect as they imagined. As a country forcibly mixed by the Helsenberg royal family, East Africa has had a chain of contempt since the colonial era. However, with the passage of time, the popularization of German, and intermarriage among immigrants, these contradictions have gradually been eliminated. As an early country with forced marriage, it is difficult for various immigrant groups in East Africa not to integrate.

As the national anthem and military songs switched, the highlight of the day finally began amidst the military music. The parade troops, mainly from the East African Defense Force, began to march in sequence towards the front of the podium.

This is a program that foreign diplomats and East Africans alike enjoy. The military itself has various mysterious and legendary colors, and has always been the most talked-about group.

“Coming towards us is the Fourth Company of the Third Battalion of the Second Brigade of the Rhine Imperial Royal Guard. This is a unit that played an important role in the South African War. It was founded in… and later participated in… and many other battles, demonstrating the spirit of the Rhine Imperial Royal Guard soldiers and their strong courage to defend their country…”

Amidst the awkward expressions of the British and Portuguese diplomats, the Royal Guard parade troops marched in orderly goose steps. With a handsome bayonet drill, the white edge of the bayonet revealed bursts of murderous intent. Leather shoes stepped on the National Avenue, kicking out deafening sounds.

And the guests on the viewing platform and the onlookers beside the National Avenue burst into thunderous applause, which was particularly harsh in the ears of the British and Portuguese diplomats.

Ambassador Thomson said sourly: “Like a bunch of machines, without any characteristics. An army should have its own soul, instead of losing its own characteristics like this, appearing rigid.”

Vagri, the president of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Trade in East Africa, also strongly agreed with Thomson’s remarks: “Yes, yes, yes, it seems that after ten years of peace, the East African army has also declined. This kind of showmanship is of no use on the battlefield.”

Because of the South African War, Portugal has not yet established normal diplomatic relations with East Africa. Therefore, the so-called Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Trade in East Africa is Portugal’s diplomatic organ in East Africa. After all, East Africa is one of the world’s major powers, so the Portuguese government cannot but communicate with East Africa, no matter how much it hates East Africa, especially today when commercial activities between the two countries are becoming more and more frequent.

The whispers of the British and Portuguese diplomats naturally did not resonate with others. Instead, Maxim, who had suffered from Wilson before, came to Wilson’s side and said, not afraid of making trouble: “It was this kind of showmanship that beat the British to a pulp ten years ago, tsk tsk tsk.”

Wilson said with a gloomy face: “Our Britain only chose to cease fire for geographical reasons, not defeat. Moreover, compared to the East African army, which can draw with our British Army, the Russian army is completely vulnerable. After all, in Crimea, you were our defeated opponents. Your gray livestock are dressed like beggars. Look at the East African army in front of you. Their investment is definitely not weak even in Europe, at least not like a beggar army.”

Wilson was still venomous, which angered Maxim. Just as he was about to flare up, East African personnel had unknowingly come to the two of them.

“Two ambassadors, today is an important day for our East Africa, so don’t let unpleasant things happen. And Ambassador Maxim, it’s not good for you to leave your position without authorization.”

In order to prevent the British and Tsarist Russian diplomats from arguing, East Africa deliberately placed Maxim and Wilson far apart. Unexpectedly, Maxim was so vengeful that he came here specifically to make trouble. So, under the mediation of the East African staff, Maxim returned to his position indignantly.

The small episode on the viewing platform ultimately did not affect everyone’s interest in watching, after all, this was a rare opportunity to understand the situation of the East African army.

“The East African Defense Force is very qualified in terms of military appearance and discipline, and only our German army can compare with it.”

“Their weapons and equipment are not inferior to any army. The Mauser rifles are very well maintained, the number of machine guns is also very considerable, and there are various calibers of artillery. East African artillery has its own system, covering all types, large, medium and small, but the personnel dragging them are somewhat different from us.”

The artillery dragging work of many units in East Africa has been completely handed over to military trucks. Therefore, it is not very skilled to reuse mules and horses to drag them. After all, a seventy-five millimeter rapid-fire gun requires the cooperation of six military horses, which is not easy. Therefore, the artillery trained in a short time is still somewhat rusty.

“The East Africans still have vision. We French are equipped with a large number of seventy-five millimeter artillery. According to my observation, this type of standard artillery is the most in this East African military parade. East Africa also specially ordered ten seventy-five millimeter artillery from our country before the year. It seems that many East African generals have similar ideas to our army.”

Undeniably, East Africa is more fond of seventy-five millimeter artillery, but it is not as much as French Ambassador Laurence believes. This is actually a historical legacy.

In the early days, East Africa did not need too many large-caliber artillery. After all, most of East Africa’s opponents were natives, and using artillery to deal with them was a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. In addition, East Africa’s development was weak in the early days, and it had not encountered decent trench warfare. The artillery units naturally preferred to transfer, so a lot of seventy-five millimeter artillery was produced at that time.

However, this situation has changed in the last ten years. The East African artillery production category has tended to be diversified, especially in the study of trench warfare in South Africa. Facing military fortresses like Maputo and Luanda, this has enriched the research topics of the East African Defense Force.

After the squads composed of infantry, cavalry, artillery, and machine gunners passed, the highlights of this military parade were basically gone. At this time, East Africa’s so-called “air force” also dispatched, which were two East African domestically produced airships after imitation, flying over the National Avenue to conclude this military parade.

This military parade was a visual feast for the people present. Even in Europe, it is difficult to see such a large-scale military parade.

At the same time, this East African military parade showed many weapons and equipment, all indicating that there is no obvious gap between the East African Defense Force and the European military powers, and they are at the “same level”. Common weapons and equipment, especially heavy firepower, are quite abundant.

Although the parade troops were only less than ten thousand in scale, the standing armies of many countries are only tens to hundreds of thousands in scale, except for countries like Tsarist Russia and the Far East Empire. Of course, correspondingly, the weapons and equipment of the two countries are also the worst among the great powers.

Chapter 978: Subsequent Impact

The opening ceremony of East Africa managed to capture the attention of foreign diplomats, but that was about it. Once the news of today spreads throughout East Africa, the excitement will likely dissipate.

This buzz will spread on a small scale in Europe at most, and it will be through the diplomats who attended the military parade to other countries’ high-level officials. This is unavoidable.

But this also aligns with East Africa’s interests. Public sentiment can also influence government decisions, like in Portugal’s case. Without the Portuguese public’s active opposition, the impact of the South African War would have ended long ago. Perhaps the Portuguese government would have already established diplomatic relations with East Africa.

Through this military parade, foreign diplomats gained a deeper understanding of the East African army. Judging solely from the parade, the East African army’s organizational capabilities, discipline, and weaponry all meet the characteristics of a world-class military.

Therefore, with the East African Defence Force at its disposal, East Africa has no rivals on the entire African continent, and no foreign country would consider waging a ground war with East Africa across the sea.

As for the East African navy’s data, it has always been reassuring. However, the East African navy follows a path of elite troops, and it should not be underestimated. At the very least, it has the strength to maintain East Africa’s coastal waters.

After the opening ceremony, many attentive diplomats began to describe the military intelligence revealed by the East African military parade to their home countries.

German Ambassador Boers wrote in a letter: “Based on this round of military parade and outdated data from the South African War, it can be inferred that East Africa’s standing army is maintained at at least two hundred thousand year-round. Its land area is vast, so the army’s scale is definitely above that of the United States. The number of people in this military parade reached eight or nine thousand, and such mobilization ability is obviously very easy for East Africa to achieve.”

Eight or nine thousand people is not too many, but it is enough to reach about one-fortieth of the German army. Therefore, in Boers’ view, East Africa’s standing army should be at least two to three hundred thousand to be considered reasonable.

He dipped his pen in ink and continued to write: “However, East Africa’s defence pressure is obviously less than that of European countries, so the number of troops cannot reach the standards of various European military powers. This can be reflected in East Africa’s weaponry. The number of its guns and cannons is not inferior to the Imperial Army, and East Africa is not a very wealthy country, so its army configuration focuses on quality over quantity.”

Regarding Boers’ argument that East Africa is not very wealthy, there is not much of a problem. As a whole, East Africa is still an agricultural country, and its income level is naturally incomparable to that of industrialized countries in Europe and America.

However, the East African government is obviously different from the governments of European and American countries. The East African government holds a large amount of resources and industries, so in terms of the government’s wealth, the East African government is probably above the governments of various countries. This also means that the East African government’s resource integration ability is stronger than that of traditional countries.

Resource integration is conducive to improving efficiency and reducing costs, especially in promoting the development of the military industry, so although East Africa’s army size is comparable to that of Germany and France, the actual expenditure on the army is not inferior to that of various countries.

“East African soldiers are full of energy. Judging from this military parade and the daily lives of East African people, the East African army will definitely not be lacking in catering. In addition, East Africa’s compulsory education system is very complete, so it can be inferred that the quality of East African soldiers may even reach or exceed our country’s level.”

Boers’ idea may stem from the fact that East Africa’s compulsory education time is longer, so theoretically, the quality of East African soldiers is higher than that of Germany.

This is definitely not a problem, but although East Africa’s compulsory education system is larger in scale and longer in duration, the quality of East Africa’s compulsory education is very poor. At least at the same level of education, East Africa is not as good as Germany. However, East Africa relies on its human wave tactics to offset some of the gap in education quality.

For East Africa, the low lower limit of education quality is not a big problem, but the talents needed in East Africa must be abundant.

“…In my opinion, in the future, East Africa, as an important economic, commercial, cultural, and political exchange country for our country, its military, especially the army level, cooperation should be strengthened. If it can become our country’s arm, it will be greatly beneficial to compete for world power in the future.”

At this point, Boers’ letter ended. He took a sip of tea and said to the servant: “Send the letter to the country!”

To be realistic, the military strength displayed by East Africa in this military parade has not changed much from the South African War, but it is not surprising that it can attract Boers’ attention.

After all, although military development will undergo major changes over time, stability within a cycle is also common.

From the Franco-Prussian War to today, especially in the field of army equipment, except for East Africa, which has private goods, other countries have not changed much. It is nothing more than making slight adjustments to traditional weapons such as guns and cannons. The real military equipment competition is concentrated in the naval aspect.

Of course, this is for countries in the first echelon. Like many backward countries and regions, there is indeed a lot of room for improvement, such as the African natives in the hinterland of West Africa who are still using cold weapons or even primitive weapons.

Boers’ focus is on the changes in the East African Defence Force in the past decade. After all, ten years have passed since the South African War, and ten years is enough for a country’s army to become corrupt.

This military parade is an important reference for examining whether the East African army still maintains its combat effectiveness. At least on the surface, the East African army still maintains a good mental outlook and discipline, which is enough for Germany, which wants to win over East Africa.

After all, everyone is afraid that their teammates will hold them back in the future, such as the Austro-Hungarian army. Germany has always known that the Austro-Hungarian army has many problems, but they never thought that the Austro-Hungarian army would be so crotch in another time and space, and even a small country like Serbia could not easily cope with.

Germany’s ability to find teammates in its previous life was indeed worrying, but this does not mean that they would not examine their teammates and enemies. For example, an important basis for Germany’s judgment on the decline of British military power in its previous life was the British’s poor performance in the Boer War.

Now, because of East Africa, the Boer War, which should have been in this time period, is gone, and the British will not make a bigger fool of themselves. I don’t know what kind of judgmental impact it will have on the German government.

Therefore, the British, who suffered a great loss in the South African War, should “thank” East Africa. No matter how weak East Africa is, it is also a large country with a population of tens of millions. If it is a country with only hundreds of thousands of people like the Boers, even if the number of British troops is comparable to it, it would be truly embarrassing if they could not achieve good results.

If the reduction of British prestige in the South African War was five, then the weakening of British prestige in the Boer War in the previous life was fifty, or even higher, which is equivalent to East Africa extending the life of British hegemony to a certain extent.

The struggle for power between major countries often starts from secondary regions. By weighing the other party’s strengths and weaknesses, they finally launch a fatal blow. In its previous life, Germany used the Second Boer War to test Britain, and the Moroccan crisis was a test of France.

Just like the prelude to the twenty-first century, several major countries conducted through the Middle East, Europe, Egg Bay Island, the Philippines and other regions, the more flaws a country reveals, the more disadvantaged it is in international competition.

Therefore, East Africa’s military parade also has some similar purposes. The East African navy is definitely impossible to compete with other countries overseas, because the East African navy is not strong enough and prone to problems. Once it overturns, it is easy to trigger a chain reaction, which is not conducive to East Africa, which already has many overseas colonies.

Therefore, showing off muscles through the army is a relatively peaceful means. After all, no country dares to wage a war with East Africa on the African continent. The army can also reflect that the East African army is still sharp, cutting off some countries’ bad ideas.

At the turn of the century, East Africa also needs to constantly send signals to the outside world, that is, the East African army is still capable of fighting, so as to maintain neutrality in the increasingly bad and harsh international environment. In the absence of war, this goal can only be achieved through military parades or exercises.

Chapter 979: Western Opportunities

Many people shared the same thoughts as Bulls. Among them, the French Ambassador Laurence wrote in his report to the French government: “We must not allow East Africa and Germany to reach an agreement. We must prevent the East African government from siding with the Germans at all costs, even if they remain neutral.”

The Far Eastern Empire’s Ambassador Zhang Heng also reported on the recent East African military parade. He suggested: “East Africa is among the great powers the most friendly towards us. Its military strength is formidable, its territory even larger than our empire, and its population rivals that of European nations. At this critical moment for our empire’s survival, maintaining friendly relations with East Africa is of utmost importance.”

After the Yellow Sea Battle, the Far Eastern Empire encountered even more troubles. Although it was better than the same period in history, the improvement was limited. Therefore, the Far Eastern Empire did not have many true friends in the international community; they were all vampires eager to take a bite. Under these circumstances, the Far Eastern Empire naturally grew closer to East Africa in diplomatic relations.

Of course, despite the close ties, East Africa could not help the Far Eastern Empire escape its troubles. After all, one who relies on others will fall. East Africa’s influence was only intimidating to some small countries; the Far Eastern Empire could solve these minor problems on its own.

British Ambassador Wilson did not pay much attention to the situation in East Africa. He told his subordinates: “Britain’s interests have always been on the ocean. No matter how strong the East African army is, as long as they do not expand their navy, they pose no threat. Conversely, we will not allow any changes in East Africa’s navy.”

According to Wilson’s words, it is estimated that there will not be any major conflicts between Britain and East Africa in the next five years. After all, East Africa has no plans to expand its navy during these years, nor does it intend to seize more colonies overseas. In this way, East Africa will basically not encounter any major events overseas.

Of course, what will happen after five years is beyond East Africa’s consideration. By then, Ernst will definitely strengthen his naval power, and Britain probably will not have the energy to pick a fight with East Africa.

…

After the Founding Ceremony, the Rhine Empire government continued to work, largely unaffected. In the new century, the East African government’s Planning Commission also began drafting the first official national industrial plan.

Swet: “In the past few years, we have conducted preliminary trials. The Five-Year Industrial Plan is generally feasible. East Africa’s industrial growth has been extremely high in the past five years, and the industrial scale has more than doubled, especially in the southeastern coastal areas, which have been vigorously developed.”

“A new hotspot for southern economic development has formed, centered on Bella City. This area is already close to the more developed industrial areas of the East and Bohemia (Zimbabwe), so construction is the fastest.”

“The construction of multiple railways has further opened up the ‘Ren and Du’ meridians of Mozambique’s development. It can be said that the Mozambique region is an extension of the eastern coastal economic belt and the two industrial provinces of Bohemia and Lorraine in the central region.”

“In Mozambique’s Bella City, Tete City, Pemba City, Nacala City, Quelimane City, Chinde City, Maputo City, Xai-Xai City, Inhambane City, and other cities have developed rapidly. Population, infrastructure, industry, and agriculture have all achieved leapfrog growth, filling the development gap between New Hamburg Port City and Mtwara City.”

“In the new Five-Year Plan, which is also the first time our Planning Commission has officially drafted a Five-Year Plan, I have decided to focus on the west coast, with the Angola region as the core.”

“Although the west coast’s development has not been weak in the past, it has not received as much support as Mozambique. We have only optimized and partially expanded on the basis of integrating the assets left by the Portuguese. Angola’s location advantage is obviously more important than Mozambique, so Angola’s development should be valued to make it one of the most economically developed regions in East Africa in the future.”

Swet’s words were obviously very ambitious. It should be known that in his previous life, Angola’s long-term war led to the almost complete destruction of the industrial legacy of the colonial era, making it one of the countries with the weakest industrial base in the world.

If it were not for the support of oil resources, Angola would probably be one of the poorest countries in its previous life, and its economy would probably not be much better than Tanzania.

Therefore, East Africa’s goals for the Angola region are obviously quite high. Of course, Angola today can be said to be in a much better situation than in its previous life, at least in terms of its foundation.

In the 1890s, East Africa made large-scale investments in the coastal areas of Angola, including energy, minerals, agriculture, and fisheries as the main content.

The East African government’s direct investment in the energy sector included three oil refineries, two in Cabinda and one in Luanda. It is worth mentioning that the main raw materials for the current oil industry in the two places come from the United States across the ocean.

Although Angola has abundant oil resources, they have not yet been developed and explored. Therefore, in order to lay out the local oil industry in advance, Ernst specifically positioned Cabinda and Luanda as East Africa’s oil industrial centers.

The advantage of doing so is that when East Africa develops Angolan oil in the future, the local area will already have a certain industrial base and accumulated considerable experience, so it will not be caught off guard. Secondly, the west coast of East Africa itself is forming a large market, and the demand for oil will sooner or later catch up with the central and eastern regions, so there is no harm in making arrangements early.

In the mineral field, the Angola region is also relatively rich in resources, especially the local diamond mineral resources are the main export minerals. East Africa has integrated the mines and workshops of the Portuguese colonial era, making the west coast the center of East Africa’s diamond processing and sales in the Atlantic region.

In addition, resources such as iron, copper, manganese, lead, tin, zinc, tungsten, and gold are also distributed in Angola, but because East Africa occupied Angola late, the development of these resources still requires surveying and analysis.

In terms of agriculture, the main crops planted in Angola include sugarcane, cotton, peanuts, corn, cassava, rice, wheat, beans, etc. These crops are basically a continuation of Angola’s agriculture under the Portuguese colonial system.

Relying on the local agricultural characteristics, East Africa has built a number of sugar factories, oil presses, textile factories, etc. on the west coast.

During the Portuguese colonial period, Angola, as the closest source of raw materials to Portugal, these agricultural products would basically be transported to Portugal for processing and sale with increased added value.

After East Africa’s investment in the local area, these agricultural products are processed locally into commodities, and finally sold to Western Europe, North America, and South America through the Atlantic route.

The development of fishery resources is also among the best in East Africa. Of course, affected by the Benguela Current, the best fishing grounds are along the coast of the Southwest Province (Namibia), so Walvis Bay will most likely become one of East Africa’s future fishery centers, especially after the completion of the Walvis Bay Railway.

Therefore, the Angola region that East Africa is facing now is not in too bad condition. Although it was affected by the South African War in the early stage, it has experienced ten years of stability and rapid development.

Of course, the focus of this development includes not only Angola but also the Southwest Province, Ubangi Province, and East and West Azande Provinces (mainly including Angola, Namibia, Congo, and Central Africa), that is, the entire western part of East Africa.

The Southwest Province is restricted by terrain and climate factors and does not require too much investment, while Ubangi Province is second only to the provinces in the Angola region. Although it is located inland, Ubangi Province is also adjacent to Belgian, French, and German colonies, which is its location advantage.

However, the most important thing is the development of the Angola region. The East African government hopes that it can become an economically developed region that is competitive with the central and eastern regions in a short period of time. After all, East Africa has already moved its capital to Rhine City. If the west coast does not develop, it will not be able to form the core economic zone connecting the two oceans that Ernst envisioned for East Africa.

Chapter 980: The Atlantic Economic Zone

East Africa, in the past, also had a “Westward Expansion” like the United States, but as time went on, the connotation of the Westward Expansion also changed.

Originally, the Westward Expansion was for the development of what is now the central region, including industrial areas such as Bohemia Province (Zambia and Zimbabwe, southern Congo, etc.). However, after the South African War, East Africa’s geographical west actually shifted to areas further west, such as Angola. So, this is the result of changes in East Africa’s territory.

Therefore, Ernst added, “Now, the western part of our country’s territory has changed from the central region before the South African War to include the Ubangi River Basin, the Congo River Basin, the Angola region, and the Southwest Province to the north. Therefore, the original Westward Expansion should also change with the development of the times.”

“The Southwest Province, which is the original Southwest Africa, was incorporated into our territory relatively early, but in the past, it was not effectively developed due to transportation conditions. The Ubangi River Basin was developed earlier, but it has always been on the edge of our country’s territory. The outlet area of the Congo River Basin was also incorporated into East Africa’s territory along with the Angola region. Therefore, among these regions, Angola has the highest degree of development.”

“However, the Angola region still has a big gap compared with the eastern and central regions that have already developed. Therefore, in the next ten years, the western region, with Angola as the core, will be the focus of national development.”

“Our country has moved its capital from the first town and city on the eastern coast to what is now Rhine City. Therefore, with Rhine City as the center, there are two important radiation lines, corresponding to the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean respectively. The level of economic development along the Indian Ocean is higher than that along the Atlantic Ocean, which is unbalanced.”

“So, how to make the west catch up with the development level of the east in a short period of time is the key issue we should discuss. Therefore, I believe that East Africa should form three major economic cores in the future, namely the Indian Ocean Economic Zone, which has already taken shape, the Central Economic Zone, centered on Rhine City, and the Atlantic Economic Zone, which has not yet taken shape, forming three major vertical economic development regions.”

Of the three major vertical economic zones proposed by Ernst, the two major ocean economic zones mainly rely on the advantages of maritime transport, while the central region relies on mineral resources and land transport advantages.

At this time, Swiet said, “According to His Highness’s requirements, we are preparing to develop relevant advantageous industries in the western regions such as Angola, and use national power and policies to greatly increase the local industrial level.”

“This includes the construction of deep lines for the Atlantic coastal railway, breaking the poor transportation between Angola and the Ubangi River Basin, the Congo River Basin, and the Southwest Province. This is the key project for Angola’s railway transportation in the future.”

The Atlantic coastal railway has already been built, but it only covers the coastal areas of Angola. Now, the East African government’s idea is to completely turn it into a major artery that can connect the entire west, just like the Indian Ocean coastal railway.

“The technical difficulty lies in the fact that the extension line has to pass through two climate zones, tropical rainforest and tropical desert, and covers complex terrain such as mountains, plateaus, plains, hills, deserts, rainforests, grasslands, and rivers. This railway will also be the most difficult railway to build since the founding of East Africa.”

“Once the railway is completed, the route from Bangui to Kinshasa will no longer rely solely on the waterway transportation of the Ubangi River. Although the Ubangi River can directly reach Bangui, it cannot guarantee year-round smooth passage due to the seasonality of the climate. The railway is a supplement to the Ubangi River’s shipping. At the same time, after the railway is connected, it can completely connect the northern railway and the two major arteries along the Atlantic coast.”

“The railway extension line in the Southwest Province is the same principle. It can connect the Atlantic coastal railway and the southern railway network, which is of great significance for the economic development of the west.”

“Especially in the transportation of energy and minerals, although the west is also relatively rich in minerals, it also needs the support of southern minerals, especially the relatively scarce coal resources.”

Angola’s iron ore can currently be self-sufficient, but it is far behind in coal. Therefore, the coal resources it needs still need to be transported from southern East Africa before the mineral exploration work in the region is completed. In the past, the coal needed for Angola’s industrial development needed to be transferred through the central railway through the central region, which increased the cost out of thin air.

Although East Africa, like Japan, a country with scarce resources, also imports foreign mineral resources to develop its own industry, the difference is that East Africa’s imported minerals account for a very small proportion of its own industrial development, mainly relying on the resources of the central and eastern regions.

There is also a key issue, that is, in order to balance accounts, many of East Africa’s industrial products are exported to backward countries and regions, mainly through material exchanges with the local area in the absence of advantageous markets.

Many backward countries and regions, including some colonial areas, have insufficient funds and purchasing power due to their backward economic level.

In this case, they are naturally unable to consume more industrial products. Therefore, the East African government will directly conduct “barter” trade based on the local resource situation, similar to the currency swap implemented by a certain major country in the East in its previous life in order to bypass the U.S. dollar.

Of course, East Africa has not yet developed to the level of a certain major country, and the times have not developed to this level. For example, the right to issue currency and finance in many colonial areas are in the hands of the suzerain state. The locals have no autonomy and no conditions for direct and equal exchanges with East Africa. Therefore, barter is easier for people to accept.

For example, the trade between East Africa and India is like this. Although India is a British colony, India also has its own lower-level governance system, mainly local princes and nobles and local British officials. East Africa bypasses the interference of mainland Britain by negotiating with these forces.

After all, it is impossible for East Africa to directly ask the Indian colonial government to accept the Rhine Shield. If this is discovered by mainland Britain, it would be a major taboo. However, goods are much easier to handle. After all, the place of production may not be directly stated on the goods, and the price of goods is not fixed like currency.

One pound is one pound, but it is not certain how much a one-pound commodity will sell for on the market. This provides room for middlemen to make a difference, and the Indian colonial government plays the role of a middleman.

Moreover, in general commercial activities, the purpose of merchants is to obtain more currency. It is very difficult for East Africa to directly squeeze a penny from other countries and forces, but it is much easier to exchange things that are not important locally.

For example, India is rich in coal resources, and India itself, as a colony, does not have a large demand for coal for its industry. At this time, the corrupt officials of the colonial government and the local princes and nobles can use the local coal to exchange for goods from East Africa.

Although this is inefficient, slow in return, and long in cycle, after all, it is not as convenient as currency settlement, it allows East Africa’s goods to circulate successfully, thereby driving the development of the local industry.

This works in East Africa. After all, as an economy dominated by state-owned economy, East Africa can reallocate and integrate resources from the national level, while commercial activities in general countries are mainly conducted by private individuals.

Imagine, in the 19th century, a British rag merchant sold his products in India. What he wanted in return was obviously pounds. If you asked him to pull back a pile of coal of equal value, then his brain circuit would definitely be abnormal. After all, mainland Britain is rich in coal, developed more, and has low costs. He also has to pay more transportation costs, further increasing the risk, unless the batch of coal is given away for free and he has sales channels in the mainland.

Therefore, this form of trade cannot be done in other countries, but it must be done by people with strength. However, even European monopoly organizations take profit as their main goal and will not engage in East Africa’s approach. Money can definitely be made, but it is too much effort and unrewarding.

Therefore, in addition to normal commercial trade activities, direct barter trade with backward countries and regions along the Atlantic coast will also be a focus of the East African government’s development path in the Atlantic Economic Zone. This is essentially a replication of East Africa’s trade in the Indian Ocean.

For the East African government, this is beneficial to the current economic development of East Africa. After all, as a late-developing country, East Africa does not have traditional commercial paths.

Chapter 981: Shortcut

For example, in the Far East Empire, it is difficult for East African goods to squeeze into the commercial areas of England and France. After all, countries like England, France, and even the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have been operating in the Far East for much longer than East Africa. They have built a stable network of contacts and have many fixed partners.

The reason why the Huaihai Economic Zone in East Africa was successful is largely because the local consumption capacity was originally insufficient. Not to mention the per capita purchasing power, when East Africa entered the Far East market, the local population was small due to war and famine.

This is also why East Africa was able to easily build a northern trade system centered on Jiaozhou, because other countries did not value it. Of course, after more than thirty years of joint efforts by the local area and East Africa, the Huaihai Economic Zone is no longer the most impoverished and backward area in the Far East.

But this is also what the East African government deserves. After all, East Africa has invested a lot of energy and financial resources in the local area, which has enabled East Africa to have a place in the trade of the Far East Empire and to be on par with the United States, Britain, and France.

…

“The economic development of the west cannot be separated from trade support. Among the countries along the Atlantic coast, there are developed countries such as Britain, the United States, and France, as well as less developed countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, and also backward but equally important large countries such as Brazil.”

“Among these countries, the key markets for our low- to medium-end industrial products should be the underdeveloped industrial markets such as Spain, Brazil, and Argentina.”

Spain is a very important country for East Africa. It is the hub for East Africa’s west coast to enter the Mediterranean. After all, Portugal and the United Kingdom (Gibraltar colony) have poor relations with East Africa.

And with the Suez Canal in the east under British control, and British colonies near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the importance of Spain will be further enhanced if Britain cuts off East Africa’s eastern shipping routes to the Mediterranean.

Of course, this possibility is almost zero, unless Britain is determined to lose its global hegemony and suffer a lose-lose situation with East Africa.

But as long as there is a possibility, the East African government must consider this. Therefore, Spain has always been an important target for East Africa to win over. Its geographical location is related to the strategic security of East Africa’s commercial trade.

At the same time, Spain’s economic development level is relatively poor compared to other European countries, especially in the industrial field. It and Portugal have missed opportunities due to historical reasons, which also means that East Africa can have more opportunities.

Similarly, the birth of East Africa is also a new choice for Spain. After all, Spain has competition and cooperation with countries such as Britain and France in the region. After the Spanish-American War, Spain’s relationship with the United States has deteriorated. In this case, it is beneficial for East Africa to replace the United States’ interests in Spain.

Argentina is a high-quality market. Relying on various advantages, the purchasing power of Argentinians ranks first among South American countries, and even exceeds the average level of Europe and the United States. More importantly, Argentina’s own industry is very backward, and many industrial products cannot be self-sufficient.

Therefore, Argentina in the early 20th century was like those Middle Eastern oil-rich countries in the previous life. East Africa cannot ignore this high-quality trading partner. Moreover, Argentina is located on the South Atlantic route, and transportation between East Africa and Argentina is also relatively convenient.

Brazil goes without saying. Although Brazil is a mess right now, East Africa does not expect to make a lot of money from Brazil. Brazil’s positioning in East Africa is that raw material supply is greater than its existence as a market.

Before the mining industry in West Africa has been developed, Brazil is the only external country that can provide East Africa’s west coast with a relatively cheap and large amount of raw materials.

“The United States and Western Europe are the main destinations for our western agriculture. The Mediterranean Sea is divided into two major parts by the Strait of Tunisia, which is an important geographical dividing line for our east and west coasts’ trade with Europe.”

The area east of the Strait of Tunisia is the Eastern Mediterranean, and the area west is the Western Mediterranean. In the past, in East Africa’s trade with Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East were East Africa’s most important markets in the world.

After the west coast economy develops, it will be beneficial for East Africa to develop trade with Western and Northern Europe through the Atlantic route.

The most important thing is that this trade route is almost not threatened too much. There are no terrains such as the Suez Canal, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and the Strait of Malacca that are easily controlled along the route.

For example, East Africa’s trade with France in the past was basically achieved through the Red Sea route. Now, from East Africa’s west coast to France, it only needs to pass through the Atlantic Ocean.

The same is true for the Nordic countries. In the past, East Africa’s maritime trade with the Nordic countries needed to pass through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Tunisia, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the English Channel. Now, it can be done through the Atlantic route and the English Channel.

In short, the west coast of East Africa, especially the Angolan coast, has opened up the “Ren and Du” meridians of East Africa’s maritime trade, which is of strategic significance to East Africa’s national economy, especially industry.

It enables the area that East Africa’s commercial trade can radiate to basically cover most areas of the world, and the obstacles to direct trade with various parts of the world are greatly reduced.

Now the only channel that can block East Africa’s ocean trade with major economic regions in the world is the Strait of Malacca, but East Africa can also bypass the Strait of Malacca. After all, the main body of East Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, and the location of the Strait of Malacca is not as important as intercontinental trade compared to East Africa.

East Africa can directly go north through the route of the East Indies and Australia. In the British colonial system, Australia, unlike India, does not currently have the ability to block waterways, at least it cannot block a major country like East Africa. Not to mention blocking East Africa, maybe East Africa can take the opportunity to make the British get out of the Australian region forever.

The East Indies are mainly controlled by the Dutch, and they are unlikely to do such a thankless thing.

Swete continued, “If the Atlantic economic zone can reach half the volume of the Indian Ocean economic zone, the data that can be improved for our national economic scale is very considerable, and it will grow into a new economic growth pillar for East Africa.”

The Indian Ocean economic zone mainly covers East Africa’s mainland, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, accounting for more than 80% of East Africa’s foreign trade.

The Atlantic economic zone, in addition to East Africa’s mainland, can also connect with West Africa, Europe, South America, and North America, and its importance is not inferior to the Indian Ocean economic zone.

Its only drawback is that there are fewer usable ports and coastlines than in the east. However, judging from the economic zones it connects to, if East Africa’s west coast can develop without affecting the east’s foreign trade, East Africa’s foreign trade should be able to increase by at least 30%.

This is too attractive to East Africa, which is why East Africa will obtain the Angolan region at all costs.

The advantage of two-ocean countries is reflected in this. Like the United States, its trade is mainly connected to Europe in the Atlantic and the Far East in the Pacific. East Africa is the same.

Therefore, building industry and economy on the west coast is the easiest to achieve results, has the highest success rate, and is of great importance to East Africa’s trade security. The west coast relies on the raw materials and markets of countries along the Atlantic coast to develop, which is a shortcut to improve East Africa’s national industrialization in a short period of time.

Chapter 982: Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Area

“By 1905, in terms of transportation, the national railway network should reach a total length of 150,000 kilometers. In terms of urban rail transit, two new subway lines and an intercity railway should be built in the Dar es Salaam area, connecting First Town, Rhine City, and Soga City. The Rhine City subway network should be expanded, and the total length of cement and asphalt roads should exceed 2 million kilometers. Twelve new canals should be built to connect the waterway network between Mozambique and the central region.”

After the capital was moved, the original political status of First Town declined, which also meant that First Town lost its original political industries. Therefore, if First Town is not to be abandoned, it can only continue to develop by merging with Dar es Salaam, because the resources of First Town itself are no longer sufficient to support its continued development due to the relocation of the capital.

Swet used a red pen to circle Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, First Town, and Soga City on an enlarged map of the Coastal Province (formerly Central Province).

“Everyone, please look at these four cities in the east of the map. I think everyone is familiar with them, after all, most of us used to work in First Town.”

“The problem now is that First Town was able to develop in the past because it relied on the highest priority political resources, including hospitals, schools, transportation, industries, etc., all of which revolved around serving politics.”

“However, with the completion of the capital relocation, it also means that the original urban ecosystem of First Town cannot be maintained. Moreover, most of the medical, educational, and industrial resources have been dismantled and reorganized in Rhine City, and even the population of First Town is now less than 50,000.”

Ernst added at this time: “Although First Town has lost its original status after the capital relocation, it is still the political center of Coastal Province and one of the transportation hubs. The urban construction is also quite complete. Therefore, the arrangement for First Town is to make full use of its advantages to ensure its subsequent development. Currently, my idea is to incorporate First Town into the Dar es Salaam economic zone, which will be conducive to a strong alliance.”

Although the capital of East Africa has changed, the original Central Province, now Coastal Province, government is still in First Town. And during its time as the capital, First Town accumulated a large amount of medical, educational, and administrative resources. Although most of them were transferred to Rhine City with the capital relocation, the remaining resources are still considerable in scale and quality.

Just like in the previous life, under the administrative division changes of the Far East Empire, the educational resources of some canceled administrative regions would still remain in the local area. First Town is in a similar situation.

As the saying goes, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. First Town is in this situation. Although it is far less economically developed than Dar es Salaam, First Town is even more developed than Dar es Salaam in terms of public resources such as administration, education, and healthcare.

Swet continued: “First Town can serve as a satellite city of Dar es Salaam, cooperating with Soga City to form the science, technology, political, and cultural center of the eastern Coastal Province, building a large Dar es Salaam economic development cluster, so as to surpass the super-large cities in Europe and America.”

“With Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, First Town, and Soga City developing together, the urban population within the region will exceed one million, and they will also be in the first tier in the country in terms of economy, culture, education, healthcare, and transportation. To achieve the coordinated development of the four cities, the core issue is to solve transportation bottlenecks.”

“Currently, First Town, Soga City, and Dar es Salaam are directly connected by the central railway. Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam are connected by the eastern coastal railway. First Town and Bagamoyo are connected by a canal, which forms a triangular transportation network. The four cities are also connected by highways, so the inherent advantages in the field of transportation are obvious.”

“It’s just that this transportation network used to be centered on First Town, but now First Town is obviously unable to undertake the task of guiding regional economic development.”

“At the same time, in order to release the economic vitality of Dar es Salaam, build a new bridgehead for the Indian Ocean economy, promote the division of labor among eastern cities, and upgrade our country’s industry and industrial base, cluster development is an inevitable choice.”

“On this basis, further improvements to local transportation and the implementation of a coordinated development plan for the four cities have been put on the agenda.”

In the past, although transportation in the four cities of Dar es Salaam was developed, the transportation network that had been built mainly served the whole country. After all, Dar es Salaam is one of the main ports in eastern East Africa. When East Africa’s territory was limited to the East African region in the early days, it was the only important outlet to the sea. At that time, Mombasa had not yet developed.

Correspondingly, there is still greater room for improvement in the coordinated development of cities in Coastal Province. In the past, due to the limitations of the times, local transportation focused on serving the whole country. Now, the East African government wants to make its transportation provide convenience for regional economic services.

Obviously, East Africa cannot cancel the original functions of the local built transportation, so it can only re-plan and build a new transportation network that serves the local economic and industrial integration on this basis. The key to this is intercity railway and highway construction.

Swet continued: “That is to build an intercity railway loop around Dar es Salaam, connecting Dar es Salaam, Soga City, First Town, and Bagamoyo, so as to realize the smooth flow of people, logistics, and information.”

“At the same time, build intercity expressways, that is, direct highways between the four cities, to facilitate the connection of highway transportation such as cars in the future. This will not only alleviate the pressure on the original transportation network, but also further enhance the ability of the four cities to develop in coordination.”

“At the same time, the new Dar es Salaam metropolitan area will cover the educational and scientific research resources of the original First Town and Soga City, promote the development of emerging industries, integrate the shipbuilding industries of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam, and provide a large amount of developable land and more industrial population, so as to promote the more efficient economic development of Coastal Province.”

In fact, the educational and scientific research resources of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo are not bad. If First Town and Soga City are integrated, their scientific research capabilities and potential will directly exceed Mbeya, the current scientific research center of East Africa.

After all, the educational and scientific research resources of these four cities are among the first tier of East African cities when taken out individually.

Educational and scientific research resources are only one aspect. The integration of industries is the main thing. Dar es Salaam and Mombasa are all-rounders among East African cities. They have no shortcomings in many industrial fields. If they merge with Bagamoyo, their industrial scale will be further improved.

Bagamoyo is not a small city in the current East Africa, but a relatively developed medium-sized city, and it is the current shipbuilding center of East Africa, with a population of more than 300,000. Therefore, the combination of Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo alone will exceed one million people, plus First Town and Soga City, it will be more than one million.

In terms of distance, the cities are also relatively densely distributed, with a distance of no more than 60 kilometers between each other. If it were a first-tier city in the Far East Empire in later generations, it would be enough to achieve integration.

Of course, in the 19th century, East Africa obviously had no way to do it. After all, there was no way to achieve seamless connection in transportation, so the concept of a metropolitan area is more in line with the four cities such as Dar es Salaam.

The only shortcoming in the local area is probably the insufficient mineral resources, and it cannot achieve the economic depth of Shanghai in the Far East Empire to the inland. After all, the topographic features of East Africa determine that multiple centers will be formed along the coast of East Africa in the future, rather than Dar es Salaam dominating alone.

After all, in the past, when the East African coast only had the coasts of Tanzania and Kenya, Dar es Salaam could not steadily suppress Mombasa.

Chapter 983: Pilot Area

Speaking of Mombasa, its development has indeed greatly exceeded Ernst’s expectations, but upon closer thought, it’s actually quite normal.

Mombasa’s economic development mainly relies on the Northern Railway, and the western part of East Africa’s north has no access to the sea, bordering the colonies of Belgium, France, and other countries.

This means that the entire Northern Railway is top-heavy, with its foreign trade almost entirely dependent on the single seaport city of Mombasa.

In contrast, the Central Railway, where Dar es Salaam is located, faces much more competition. Bagamoyo, New Hamburg, and other cities can all get a piece of the pie, especially as the East African railway network becomes increasingly complete. Ports like Lobito, Cabinda, Benguela, and Luanda can all bypass Dar es Salaam.

Most importantly, many routes are even lower in cost than Dar es Salaam. Unlike Mombasa, which almost monopolizes most of the import and export business in northern East Africa, the northern ports of Mogadishu, Kismayo, and Lamu cannot compete with Mombasa and can only serve very small areas.

Land transport obviously cannot compete with maritime transport, and besides the Abyssinian Empire, the other northern East African neighboring countries are insignificant. The economic levels of the various colonies in West Africa are even worse.

Of course, although Dar es Salaam does not have the monopolistic advantage of Mombasa, it is still the fastest sea access route for most of the East African plateau, so the East African government has always prioritized Dar es Salaam.

The proposal of the Dar es Salaam city cluster actually means that the development of Dar es Salaam has reached a bottleneck.

As the most developed city in East Africa, Dar es Salaam faces shortages of resources such as population, land, and transportation. However, First Town and other cities not only have land and population, but also have relatively complete infrastructure construction, which can undertake the industrial transfer from Dar es Salaam.

Previously, as the capital, First Town might not have “cared” about Dar es Salaam’s industries, but now that it has lost its capital status, First Town’s location conditions are not very favorable in the entire East African region. Therefore, cooperation with Dar es Salaam seems very logical.

As for why a city cluster is not established in Mombasa, it is mainly because Mombasa does not have the conditions. There are no decent cities around it, which is in line with Mombasa’s characteristic of being the only dominant city in the north.

The situation around Dar es Salaam is different. Although Bagamoyo is only a medium-sized city, its industrial output value is close to half that of Mombasa. Although First Town and Soga are not industrially developed, their education and scientific research strengths should not be underestimated, and they can provide more talent reserves and technical support for regional development.

The teaching and research resources of the entire Coast Province are one of the main reasons for the birth of the Dar es Salaam city cluster.

After East Africa invested the resources originally belonging to First Town and Soga in Rhine City, the education and scientific research industries in First Town and Soga were actually in a state of stagnation.

To reactivate these resources, there must be industrial support, which is exactly what First Town and Soga lack.

Although the scientific and educational resources of First Town and Soga are close to being abandoned after a large number of resources were taken by Rhine City, the strength of the two places should not be underestimated.

For example, the two universities of Tsinghua and Peking in the Far East Empire in his previous life, even if seventy percent of their teachers and students were taken away, no one would say that the remaining thirty percent were not powerful. It’s just that the original system is difficult to operate due to the large loss of personnel.

Now the purpose of the East African central government is to keep the remaining thirty percent running, and preferably achieve a phoenix rebirth.

So Ernst said: “In the past development, the development of Dar es Salaam has been restricted to a certain extent, especially in the fields of education and scientific research, which are highly incompatible with the economic status of Dar es Salaam.”

“The development of industry cannot be separated from talent and technology reserves. In particular, the development of emerging industries has increasingly high requirements for talent. The best example of this is Mbeya, which is a model of the combination of science, education, and industry in East Africa. Without the highly developed science and education, Harare would have surpassed Mbeya to become the most developed city in inland East Africa.”

Harare, as the capital of Bohemia Province (Zimbabwe), ranks first in East Africa in terms of heavy industry scale and is the largest city in inland East Africa, but its industrial value is far less than that of Mbeya.

Mbeya is currently the scientific research center of East Africa, and its education is relatively weak. Previously, Soga ranked first in education.

After Rhine City split the education of First Town and Soga, Rhine City has become the educational center of East Africa, and this advantage will continue to expand.

“Therefore, the industrial transformation of Dar es Salaam cannot be separated from the explosion of science and education, and Dar es Salaam itself cannot achieve this, but First Town and Soga can, which forms the integration and optimization of resources.”

“At the same time, First Town and Soga also need the industrial resources of Dar es Salaam, which can alleviate the pressure on land, transportation, and population in Dar es Salaam.”

That is, to prevent big city problems. Dar es Salaam is the most typical big city in East Africa, with an urban population of more than seven hundred thousand, which puts higher demands on urban land, drinking water, social security, education, medical resources, and so on.

Of course, this does not mean that East Africa wants to completely restrict the development of big cities. One of the functions of a city is to save public resources and reduce vacancy rates.

Taking First Town as an example, although its city is small, it wastes a lot in urban construction, especially now that the population has decreased significantly, a large number of buildings and land are idle, while the land and population pressure in Dar es Salaam is relatively tight, so the two can complement each other.

Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to various urban development models. Big cities have the advantages of big cities, and small cities have the advantages of small cities. The city cluster is an attempt by the East African government in the East African First Five-Year Plan.

That is, through the city cluster model, the advantages and disadvantages of big cities and small cities are combined. If this road works, then the focus of East Africa’s urbanization in the future will definitely be on city cluster construction.

As an emerging country, the focus of the East African government’s work has completely shifted from agricultural construction in the past to industrial construction. Correspondingly, transforming the original agricultural population into an urban population is something that the East African government must do.

The increase in the urbanization rate is the process of increasing the urban population. In this process, urban construction is the key, and the small city model is obviously not feasible. Only big cities and city clusters are feasible.

East Africa cannot require every region to develop city clusters, such as Mombasa, where there are no cities around it. If the Dar es Salaam city cluster experiment is successful.

The next step for East Africa will be to build the Rhine City city cluster in the central region, centered on Rhine City, and the West Coast city cluster in the west.

This is also Ernst’s main purpose. The most taboo thing in industrial development is to fight alone. Without division of labor and cooperation, large-scale industrial production activities cannot be formed.

The construction of city clusters also requires East Africa to further refine the inter-regional transportation network on the framework of the national transportation infrastructure. This also represents the beginning of a new round of infrastructure construction in East Africa, just like a tree grows a main trunk before it can further flourish.

In fact, in the construction of highways and railways in East Africa in the 1990s, the construction of branch line transportation has reached the same scale as the main lines. Now, the transportation main lines in East Africa, except for water transportation, are relatively complete, and what is lacking is the construction of branch lines.

Chapter 984: The First Five-Year Plan’s Steel Industry

“From the end of the 19th century, the steel industry underwent major changes. Due to technological advancements, the production structure and location of the steel industry changed significantly. Because of increased efficiency, the steel industry’s demand for coal decreased, and the dominant industrial factor shifted from coal to iron ore.”

“Furthermore, due to the influence of factors such as transportation and markets, the entire steel industry should undergo significant transformations. Taking transportation as an example, the railway network is initially formed, and the development of highways and internal combustion engine vehicles allows for greater interaction of resources in the inland regions of the country. A typical example is the development of the steel industry in New Frankfurt, where almost all of its raw materials and energy come from other regions. The local area has neither iron ore nor coal, nor any other basic resources for industrial development.”

“Ocean shipping and inland water transportation have also greatly changed the current industrial landscape of East Africa. With the progress of the times and the continuous improvement of technology, ships are being built larger and larger, carrying more and more goods, promoting the industrial development of coastal and inland waterway hub areas, such as Mwanza in the Great Lakes region and various coastal cities in East Africa.”

“Returning to what was said earlier, now that the demand for coking coal in the steel industry has decreased, and transportation costs have also decreased, it will inevitably impact the traditional steel industry pattern in our country.”

“Therefore, the task requirements for upgrading our country’s steel industry during the First Five-Year Plan should also be adjusted accordingly. On the one hand, we should adapt to local conditions and focus on iron ore producing areas as the main direction of construction. On the other hand, we should be guided by transportation and markets to lay out our country’s steel industry more rationally.”

In the 19th century and before, the steel industry was mainly dominated by coal resources as a locational factor. Typical examples include coal mining in the United Kingdom, which helped the United Kingdom become the world’s first industrial nation, the northeastern industrial area of the United States, the Ruhr area of Germany, as well as the Matabeleland Province industrial area and the Lake Malawi industrial area in East Africa. The steel industry was mostly built near coal mining areas.

The immaturity of early technology led to low efficiency in the use of coal in the steel industry and a high demand for coal. Therefore, if the steel industry was not built near coal mining areas, transportation costs would be high.

After the mid-19th century, the steel industry ushered in a technological revolution. With the promotion and application of new technologies such as the Thomas steelmaking process, the steel industry underwent major changes. By the beginning of the 20th century, the steel industry’s dependence on coal producing areas had greatly diminished.

In other words, even if steel plants are not built in coal producing areas, but in railway areas, the cost is already comparable, or even lower.

“Therefore, starting from 1900, our country’s steel industry will focus on building the steel industry in south-central Angola in the west, northern Southwest Province, Tete Province in Mozambique, and the Lake Malawi industrial area, and promote the industrial upgrading of traditional steel industry areas such as Bohemia Province, Lorraine Province, and Hansa Province (northeast South Africa and southwest coastal Mozambique).”

East Africa’s iron ore resources are relatively evenly distributed throughout the country, but the main reserves are still in the central and southern regions, and they overlap with the main producing areas of coal mines in East Africa. This allows heavy industrial areas such as Bohemia Province (Zimbabwe) to maintain their traditional steel industry advantages.

Among them, Tete Province in Mozambique is relatively special. As a late-developing region in East Africa, it is rich in both iron ore and coal resources. At the same time, it is located on the southern shore of Lake Malawi and, together with Mbeya in the north, belongs to the Lake Malawi industrial area.

South-central Angola and northern Southwest Province, which are the areas bordering present-day Namibia and Angola, are mainly rich in iron ore resources. However, due to transportation and climate reasons, the focus of its steel industry development will definitely be biased towards the Angolan side, that is, within the territory of Letania Province.

“Before the end of 1905, our country’s steel production will reach at least five million tons, with three new steel production bases and four new large-scale state-owned steel enterprises, namely Tete Province Steel Plant No. 1 and No. 2, Letania Province Steel Plant No. 1, and Maputo Steel Plant, and carry out renovation and expansion projects on existing steel industries, including the steel industries in Mbeya, Harare, Bulawayo, New Hamburg Port, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and other regions.”

Maputo City is close to New Hamburg Port, a strong steel industry city, and can make full use of coal and steel resources in the South African plateau region, and its shipping advantages are prominent.

And Tete Province is even more remarkable. Its own resource advantages are significant, and it is located in the middle of the Lake Malawi industrial area and the Bohemia Province industrial area. With the completion of the Tete Province section of the Quelimane Railway and its proximity to the Zambezi River, its comprehensive advantages in geography, transportation, water resources, and society rank first among the newly planned steel industry bases in East Africa.

Therefore, the East African government is preparing to invest in two large-scale state-owned steel enterprises in Tete Province at one time. After all, relying on the thighs of the two most developed heavy industrial areas in East Africa, it is difficult not to succeed.

In contrast, the East African government is more cautious about investing in the steel industry in Letania Province. It is far from the traditional industrial areas of East Africa, lacks personnel and technology, is not easy to undertake industrial transfer, and has a late development time with a relatively weak industrial base in the province.

Letania Province belongs to one of the four provinces of Angola, and East Africa’s early construction of Angola focused on coastal cities such as Cabinda and Luanda. Therefore, the difficulty of developing the steel industry in Letania Province is the greatest among the three planned new steel industry bases.

Not to mention anything else, the transportation conditions alone are far inferior to those of Tete Province and Maputo City. Tete Province is located on the East African railway trunk line, and the Maputo City railway was also completed early and was the first railway built and put into use in the Mozambique region in East Africa. On the other hand, Letania Province, as the southernmost part of Angola, has no other railway lines except the Atlantic coastal railway.

However, the Atlantic coastal railway passes through the Letania Province area, which is not an iron ore producing area. Therefore, if you want the Letania Province steel plant to be built and put into operation, you still have to put in some effort in transportation.

Of course, compared to other regions, the conditions in Letania Province are already quite good. After all, many places do not even have iron ore or coal resources, and do not have the basic conditions for steel industry investment.

In addition to the above three major new steel industry bases, East Africa will build a number of inland or coastal small and medium-sized steel enterprises during the First Five-Year Plan to meet the steel needs of the region.

These small and medium-sized steel enterprises will be concentrated in transportation hubs or regional centers relying on policies. For example, the northern part of East Africa is relatively lacking in related minerals, so the northern part of East Africa will be the key investment area for this type of enterprise.

However, according to East Africa’s current capabilities, it is estimated that the scale of investment will not be too large. After all, East Africa now has a large national area, and the government does not have much energy to take care of all places.

The above is a general overview of East Africa’s steel investment during the First Five-Year Plan. East Africa’s current steel production is about three million tons, ranking only after the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and ahead of Tsarist Russia and France. The Austro-Hungarian Empire has just exceeded one million one hundred thousand tons, ranking after France.

In other words, in terms of steel production alone, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, East Africa, and Tsarist Russia are in an absolutely leading position over other countries. The lowest steel production of Tsarist Russia is more than two million tons, while East Africa is between Tsarist Russia and the United Kingdom, which is about three million tons.

If East Africa’s steel production exceeds the five million ton level in 1905, there will be basically no major changes in the world ranking, because in 1900, the United Kingdom, as the world’s third largest steel producer, was already close to five million tons. By 1905, the United Kingdom’s steel production should be able to reach at least six million tons.

As for Germany and the United States, they have no reference value at all, far ahead of other countries. Although the gap between Germany and the United Kingdom is not too large at present, the growth rate of Germany’s steel industry is much higher than that of the United Kingdom. By 1905, I am afraid that Germany has become the only other country in the world besides the United States whose steel production has exceeded ten million tons, leading other countries except the United States by a wide margin.

Chapter 985: The First Transcontinental Land Bridge

If economic and social factors were not considered, then the steel production of East Africa and Tsarist Russia should not have lagged behind the United States and Germany by such a large margin. East Africa has extenuating circumstances, after all, its development history is short, and it is already a remarkable achievement that its high-speed rail production can reach fourth in the world.

Tsarist Russia, on the other hand, did not lack resources, especially in the early stages of industrialization, its resources were even more abundant than East Africa’s. The difference between East Africa overtaking Tsarist Russia lies in East Africa’s ability to integrate its mineral, energy, and land resources through state power.

Of course, there are also conditions created by the opportunities of the times. Since the 1880s, East Africa has become one of the largest infrastructure construction countries in the world, and in the 1890s, it surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest infrastructure construction country, ushering in a period of explosive growth in highways, water conservancy networks, urban construction, railways, and other fields. What supports East Africa’s large-scale infrastructure construction is the formation of East Africa’s population size and the maturation of its population structure.

The infrastructure construction has driven the continuous and strong demand for steel, cement, wood, and other materials, which is one of the important internal reasons why East Africa’s steel industry can rise suddenly.

Without the maturity of the population structure and the breakthrough in scale, East Africa could not catch up with those old powers no matter how hard it tried. Of course, the Black labor force is also an important factor that cannot be ignored. The contribution of Black people to East African infrastructure is even greater than that of the laborers who served under Emperor Yang of Sui during the construction of the Grand Canal.

Under the First Five-Year Plan, the steel production target set by East Africa is not too aggressive. At least, under Ernst’s emphasis, the idea that man can conquer nature is not feasible in East Africa. The current steel expansion plan formulated by East Africa is completely within its capabilities.

After ending the discussion on the steel industry, the East African government began to discuss the transportation industry. If it were in the 19th century, the focus of the East African government’s discussion in the transportation field would definitely be on the railway level.

However, with the basic formation of the East African national railway network in the 1890s, coupled with the development of the automobile industry, the importance attached to railways by the East African government has decreased to a certain extent.

However, the decline in attention does not affect the fact that railways are still the leading big brother in East Africa’s current transportation construction field.

Minister of Railways Andrei said: “During the attempted planned economy at the end of the 19th century, the goals set by our Ministry of Railways and the State Planning Commission were conflicting. However, the final data did not reach the optimistic data of our internal departments. Therefore, combined with previous experience, under the guidance of the State Planning Commission, the threshold for the railway construction task of East Africa during the First Five-Year Plan is set at 50,000 kilometers.”

“That is to say, during the First Five-Year Plan, we will complete at least 50,000 kilometers of new railway construction plans, further improve the national railway network, and strive to build the world’s third largest railway network after Europe and North America by 1905, with a total railway mileage of nearly or more than 150,000 kilometers.”

“Among them, in addition to the construction of a small number of trunk railways, the focus will be on intercity railway transportation construction, especially the Dar es Salaam urban agglomeration and the internal railway construction of various industrial zones.”

“At the same time, the western railway construction is the focus of our work between 1901 and 1905. Although the western trunk railway is relatively complete, the railway network density is far from that of the central and eastern regions.”

“Under the guidance of the State Planning Commission, our Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Transport intend to build a three-dimensional land bridge of railways, highways, and waterways between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. This is our mid-term planning scenario to achieve unimpeded flow of people, logistics, and industries between the east and west coasts of East Africa.”

A land bridge generally refers to a land passage connecting two oceans, generally based on railways. In fact, after the completion of the Central Railway, it has effectively become a land bridge connecting the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

This is the earliest land bridge in the world, that is, the North American land bridge built by the United States. Before the opening of the Panama Canal, the North American land bridge had a significant effect on the improvement of the American economy.

In fact, due to the relatively narrow north-south distribution of East Africa’s territory, there are currently two land bridges that have been built in East Africa, namely the Central Railway and the Walvis Bay-Inhambane Railway. The Central Railway east-west line is also known as the First East African Land Bridge, while the Walvis Bay-Inhambane Railway is known as the Second East African Land Bridge, which is an important railway trunk line connecting the two oceans of East Africa.

In fact, the Northern Railway also has the potential to form a land bridge in the future, but it needs to be connected with the western Belgian or French, and German colonies. According to East Africa’s understanding, Belgium, France, and Germany currently have no intention of building even an inch of railway in their colonies bordering East Africa.

The main reason is that the colonies of the three countries near East Africa have too complex climates. They are the core area of the African tropical rainforest climate, with dense wetlands and rainforests, and sparse population.

The developed river network in the area is also an important reason why the three countries do not plan to carry out railway construction in their colonies near East Africa. After all, relying on ships can basically penetrate into the hinterland of various colonies, and there is no need to build railways.

Furthermore, apart from Belgium’s relatively high regard for the Belgian Congo, France does not pay much attention to Gabon, nor does Germany pay much attention to Cameroon. The two colonies were originally weak in development, with small populations and low output. If railways are built, it is estimated that the cost will not be recovered for decades.

After all, when building railways in colonies, raw materials such as steel can only be purchased from the mainland or East Africa, and the cost of railway construction will double. If railways are really built in colonies, it would be a waste of money.

If it is a colony like India, building some railways will recover costs and make profits quickly. However, the total population of the colonies of Belgium, Germany, and France in the Congo rainforest basin is probably less than two million, of which only hundreds of thousands of Chinese immigrants have been introduced by Belgium. The population of German and French colonies cannot be too large either.

Of course, they may also have considerations for maintaining the security of their colonies. After all, with such a behemoth as East Africa next to them, if the railway is really connected, wouldn’t it be convenient for East Africa to directly invade and occupy the colonies of the three countries.

Not to mention them, even East Africa, the local tyrant, will try to bypass the Congo rainforest when building domestic railways. At present, in addition to the Hessen, Cabinda, and Kinshasa railways, the only rainforest railway project confirmed to be built is the Bangui Railway.

The Bangui Railway is also one of the key projects in the new western development of East Africa, and belongs to the extension line of the Atlantic coast railway.

Minister of Transport Liu Yideville followed Andrei’s words and said: “For the construction of the First East African Land Bridge, the focus of our Ministry of Transport is on the construction of highways and waterways. At present, the East African Grand Canal project is being carried out in an orderly manner, and it is expected to be completed before 1905, so it can also be used as one of the key projects of the First Five-Year Plan. At the same time, we plan to build several small-scale canals in the west with the water conservancy department during the First Five-Year Plan.”

“As for highway construction, it is currently a new focus of our country’s transportation construction field. With the increase in motor vehicles across the country, the requirements for highways are also getting higher and higher, and there are still many gravel roads and even mud roads in our East Africa.”

“Therefore, in the construction of the first land bridge, we plan to complete the renovation of 30% of the first-class highways in the central and eastern regions during the First Five-Year Plan, and focus on the construction of western highways, and all of them will be built according to hardened highway standards, of which asphalt pavement will account for at least 20% of the share.”

If the three-dimensional transportation network of the First Land Bridge is completed, the connection between eastern and western East Africa will inevitably be closer before the end of 1905, which will also drive the development of Rhein City, the national capital of East Africa located in the center, and the entire central region.

Chapter 986: Farmers Enter the City

In addition to the New Western Development, the Dar es Salaam City Circle, the three major new steel industry bases, and the first major road and bridge three-dimensional transportation network, during the First Five-Year Plan period, the East African government will continue to invest in basic industrial fields, namely energy, minerals, metallurgy, petroleum, chemicals, electricity, automobiles, and other industries.

“In 1905, the urbanization level of East Africa should increase by two to three percentage points, reaching at least twenty-five percent, striving to surpass Austria-Hungary and catch up with France. Our country’s urbanization level is about the same as Austria-Hungary, but the industrial strength of Austria, Bohemia, and other regions within Austria-Hungary is strong, so we should face the gap squarely. Among the great powers, the urbanization and industrialization levels of Britain, Germany, the United States, and France are far above East Africa.”

“Therefore, it is unrealistic to surpass the above four countries in a short period. Among these four countries, France has the lowest level of industrialization, but it is still above thirty percent, at least ten percentage points higher than East Africa. This gap cannot be closed in a short time.”

After all, at the end of the 19th century, the industrial development speed of various countries was relatively fast, and France was no exception. From the 1880s to the present, according to information obtained by the East African government, the French government is expected to invest five billion francs to build its own infrastructure such as highways, ports, and railways.

If there were no comparisons with Germany and the United States in the same era, France’s industrialization progress would not be inferior to any country. Although the growth of East Africa’s industrial scale is fast, East Africa’s population growth rate is also high. The two offset each other, so it is not so impressive. After all, the overall population of France has not changed much, and the average industrial increase seems to be much higher than East Africa’s per capita.

This is also the reason why East Africa wants to promote its own industrial development plan. The industrial plan itself is to rapidly advance its own industrialization process in a short period of time by increasing domestic industrial investment.

However, East Africa is still relatively modest, setting the urbanization level in 1905 at twenty-five percent. This kind of improvement is actually not much faster than the development speed of many normal capitalist countries. Take Germany as an example, its urbanization level has increased from fifty percent in 1895 to about fifty-four percent today. Similarly, in five years, Germany’s urbanization rate has increased by about four percent, which also shows the conservatism of East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan.

This is also something that cannot be helped. Although industrialization is East Africa’s key task, Ernst must also seek progress while maintaining stability. East Africa is not the Soviet Union, and cannot devote all its energy to industrial construction through communication between the state and the people.

One of the important sources of funds for the Soviet Union’s First Five-Year Plan was Soviet agriculture. In order to provide funds for industrial development, the Soviet Union has long suppressed the prices of agricultural products. Not only the Soviet Union, but East Africa and any other country that develops industry will squeeze agriculture, because before the industrial age, agriculture was the most important source of national income.

The funds for national industrial development must be extracted from agriculture. Take Britain as an example, its industrial development funds were completed not only by squeezing its own farmers, but also by plundering. Britain’s earliest and most important colonies, India and the United States, were thoroughly agricultural regions at that time.

Therefore, raising funds for early industrial development is inseparable from the plunder of agriculture. East Africa can only obtain a portion of industrial funds from regions and countries that are relatively backward compared to East Africa through industrial production and trade activities. East Africa’s own colonies are basically worthless leftovers, which cannot provide too much value for East Africa for the time being.

During the First Five-Year Plan period, industry was completely the focus of East Africa’s national development. Conversely, the importance attached to agriculture will naturally decline, but the status of agriculture as the foundation of the country will not change.

Ernst said: “I have always emphasized the importance of agriculture. Ensuring the food security of East Africans is fundamental. Therefore, correspondingly, our country must guarantee a certain base number of cultivated land, and maintain grain output at least one hundred percent, so that we can be self-sufficient. On this basis, we will develop high value-added agriculture.”

As time goes by, East Africa is now paying more and more attention to cash crops and animal husbandry. Today, East Africa’s grain output is still surplus, so on this basis, the East African government will naturally change its thinking.

“For big countries, food security is the lifeline. Some small countries can fully develop high value-added agriculture by relying on the economy or big countries, but for a big country like East Africa, it is obviously impossible to entrust its own life and death to other countries.”

In his previous life, Dutch agriculture was very developed. The Netherlands actually developed agriculture with a business attitude, and buying low and selling high was its basic principle.

The Netherlands basically abandoned low value-added agriculture such as grain production, and focused on developing high value-added vegetable and flower horticulture, dairy and meat animal husbandry, agricultural product processing, and seed and breeding industries.

The Netherlands’ agricultural exports are mainly flowers, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and various processed agricultural products, while imports are mainly low value-added grains, feed, oil raw materials, and tropical agricultural products that it cannot produce itself.

What the Netherlands relies on is the European Union system. If other European countries block the Netherlands, then Dutch agriculture will naturally be finished. However, the Netherlands, as a small country, does not have many choices, and there is no threat, coupled with its geographical location, ports, rivers and other advantages, so it can develop well.

Obviously, the agricultural development model of the Netherlands in his previous life cannot be replicated for a super-large country like East Africa, unless all other countries in the world import East Africa’s agricultural products, which is obviously impossible.

However, the fact that East Africa as a whole cannot replicate this agricultural model does not mean that regions cannot, especially economically developed and conveniently located areas such as the Dar es Salaam City Circle.

With the development of East Africa’s industry and cities, there is naturally more and more domestic demand for high value-added agriculture, the most important of which is fruits, vegetables, and animal husbandry.

Therefore, Ernst said: “Under the premise of ensuring national food security, developing animal husbandry and cash crops on the outskirts of cities is one of the important goals of East African agriculture in the First Five-Year Plan. A relatively rich supply of products is also one of the important means to siphon agricultural population into cities.”

In other words, it is necessary to artificially improve the living standards of cities, thereby stimulating the East African agricultural population to enter the city, so as to promote the country’s industrial development.

After all, East African agriculture is relatively unique. Under the East African agricultural system, the quality of life of farmers is relatively stable and the risk is small. If it is in other countries, it is not conducive to the development of cities. The most typical example is France. During the Napoleonic era, the quality of life of French farmers was relatively high, but this also limited the development of industry and cities in France to a certain extent.

Of course, improving the treatment of urban residents is only one of the means for the East African government to accelerate the entry of farmers into cities to become citizens and workers. Under the East African system, a large number of agricultural registered residents actually enter cities to work every year, especially after the 1980s, when the demand for emigration from East Africa declined, and more energy was devoted to promoting the agricultural residents who had already branched out in the country to cities through administrative means.

It’s just that this process is not too intense. Urbanization must ultimately be consistent with the level of industrialization. Excessive urbanization will form a large number of urban poor, like Latin American countries in his previous life. After all, the country’s industrial level cannot provide more employment plans, which will inevitably lead to the vigorous development of black and gray industries, thereby triggering the collapse of social order.

Chapter 987: Economic Crisis and the First Five-Year Plan

For the average East African, moving to a city to develop isn’t too difficult, provided they can secure stable employment. Especially with East Africa’s compulsory education system, even the new generation in the most remote areas has a relatively broad perspective.

This is the fundamental guarantee for East Africa’s population mobility in recent years. East African population movement is mainly achieved through administrative means, and only with the government’s guidance of educated people can major conflicts and unrest be avoided.

This isn’t alarmist. In many European and American countries in the 19th century, a large influx of agricultural populations into cities inevitably caused serious social problems. Countries like Germany, with universal compulsory education, were better off.

But imagine some illiterate and impoverished rural farmers from Poland, lacking urban living skills, entering German cities. Their development would inevitably face setbacks, especially during periods of frequent economic crises.

This example isn’t fabricated. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new round of capitalist economic crisis was already arriving. The first unlucky one was Tsarist Russia. While the East African government was busy formulating its First Five-Year Plan, Tsarist Russia’s economic crisis had already erupted. This economic crisis was also the root cause of the Russo-Japanese War in my previous life.

Both Japan and Russia were victims of this round of economic crisis, and both had prominent imperial contradictions in the Far East. Therefore, it is highly likely that Japan and Russia will still clash this century.

Of course, the economic crisis is an opportunity for East Africa. As early as the 1890s, the East African government had already adjusted its economy, further transitioning to a planned economic system. The First Five-Year Plan was Ernst’s imitation of the Soviet Union in his previous life, using this crisis to further transform and upgrade East African industry.

However, based on Ernst’s experience in his previous life, this round of economic crisis will not have a major impact on European and American countries. This is one of the reasons why the East African First Five-Year Plan is formulated conservatively.

After all, only a major crisis like the one in 1929, which had a strong impact on the economies of European and American countries, would cause companies to sell various core technologies and machines at any cost, allowing the Soviet Union to usher in an unprecedented historical opportunity for development.

The 1900 economic crisis obviously cannot achieve this effect. This crisis has a short duration, and its impact unfolds sequentially in various countries. As East Africa has completely shifted to a planned economic system, it will naturally not be affected. After all, under national planned production, even if East Africa faces overproduction, it will not be as severe as in European and American countries.

The key to this lies in the integration of industries. Private enterprises in European and American countries rush into whichever industry is profitable, and then when the economic crisis comes, they all die together. Today, the development of the capitalist economy is relatively crude, without a unified global organization and perfect treaty coordination.

Moreover, there are many major powers: Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Tsarist Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, East Africa, Spain, the Far Eastern Empire, and so on. Competition and conflict outweigh cooperation, and the ability to cope with crises is naturally weaker under individual struggles.

And Britain, as the world’s hegemon, does not have as much control over the world as the United States did in my previous life, especially in the 20th century. Its title of world hegemon is already somewhat undeserved.

For example, Germany. In the past, Britain could easily manipulate the ununified Germany. Now, Germany has become one of the main challengers to British hegemony.

East Africa is also in this list. After the South African War, East Africa dominated the vast areas of eastern and southern Africa, occupying nearly forty-three percent of the entire African continent. Most of East Africa’s territory was the colony of the British in my previous life.

It can be said that the damage to Britain’s prestige from the South African War was not as great as the Boer War in my previous life, but the damage to Britain’s actual interests far exceeded the Boer War. Britain lost face in the Boer War, while the South African War was the opposite; Britain lost substance.

After all, in my previous life, Britain’s colonization of Africa continued until the 1960s. It is conceivable that the British African colonies, which occupied half of Africa’s area, prolonged the life of the British Empire’s hegemony for a considerable period.

Of course, Ernst doesn’t care about the aftermath. Even if Britain suddenly dies, Ernst will only applaud. In the current world situation, even if Britain suddenly dies, East Africa can still seize a certain initiative. In short, East Africa’s wings have hardened.

Ernst: “Now, in Tsarist Russia, the severe economic crisis will definitely have an impact on Tsarist Russia. And according to Tsarist Russia’s economic size, this crisis will inevitably spread to Europe and around the world. Therefore, we in East Africa must be prepared, build a good economic moat, and further adjust the industrial structure, especially to make up for the shortcomings of economic development.”

“Therefore, during the First Five-Year Plan, the tests facing our government are severe. We must be more proactive and active in exploring the international market, especially the development of emerging markets in South American countries and Far Eastern countries, so as to promote the export of our domestic industry. For traditional markets such as European and American countries, we must further increase the export of agricultural products.”

“Of course, under the economic crisis situation, the purchasing power of various countries has declined, which will inevitably be detrimental to international trade. Therefore, building our own large market is the foundation for maintaining our East African economy, including increasing residents’ income, stimulating public consumption, promoting small appliances to the countryside, other industrial consumer goods entering thousands of households, qualified production units purchasing large consumer goods such as cars, tractors, and trucks to improve production. This requires us to further improve and expand East Africa’s power facilities, gas stations, highways, railways, and so on.”

“The economic crisis is also an opportunity for us. Now the economic crisis in Tsarist Russia is serious, so we can follow the general trend of the economic crisis and introduce a batch of Tsarist Russia’s superior industrial production materials and talents.”

Although Tsarist Russia is a relatively backward country among the great powers, it is undeniable that Tsarist Russia still has many advantageous talents for East Africa, especially in the fields of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and other fields, which are East Africa’s current shortcomings.

During the First Industrial Revolution, Tsarist Russia learned advanced technologies such as shipbuilding, navigation, and steam engines from Britain. During the Second Industrial Revolution, Alexander II of Tsarist Russia promoted the serfdom reform, which greatly promoted the industrial development of Tsarist Russia. Taking the 1900 economic crisis as an example, its source was Tsarist Russia, which fully shows that Tsarist Russia’s industrialization has been improved.

It is undeniable that Tsarist Russia is not even as good as East Africa in the emerging industries field, but there are many places in Tsarist Russia’s traditional industries that are still worth learning from East Africa.

Although Russia has never been a leader in the industrial revolution, it has never been a laggard. Especially in technological innovation, it has always been firmly in the second tier.

For the East African government, the demand for Tsarist Russian talent is higher than the demand for Tsarist Russian technology. There is no doubt that since the era of Peter the Great, Tsarist Russian society has set off a style of learning from Europe, which has enabled Tsarist Russia to produce a group of world-class scientists in any era thereafter.

Especially in basic disciplines and theoretical research, Tsarist Russia has always been in the world’s first tier. Therefore, if a group of talents can be introduced from Tsarist Russia through the 1900 economic crisis, it can play a very good supplementary role for East Africa, a country with a very short history.

East Africa usually likes to poach people, but the focus is generally on Germany and Austria-Hungary, two countries with similar cultures. And the talents in the German region have indeed made great contributions to East African industry and technology.

Tsarist Russia is no weaker than European countries in the field of science. Therefore, the East African government plans to take advantage of the Tsarist Russian economic crisis to poach high-quality talents from Tsarist Russia to fill the gap in high-end talents in East Africa’s education, scientific research, and industrial fields. Although the effect may not be very good, East Africa will make a profit if it can get one or two genuine top talents.

Chapter 988: Within the Plan

Saint Petersburg.

East Africa are pragmatists. Before deciding to undermine Tsarist Russia, they had already organized relevant personnel to explore the way in Tsarist Russia, and the first stop was Russian universities.

Tsarist Russia placed relatively high importance on education. In addition to Saint Petersburg and Moscow, regions with developed economies and higher levels of openness such as Kyiv and Warsaw also had good higher education strength.

Of course, compared to East Africa, Tsarist Russia’s higher education followed a typical elite route. The number of universities was extremely small, but this also meant that the teaching quality of Tsarist Russian universities was relatively high, at least much stronger than most universities in East Africa.

The leaders of this “gold rush” to Tsarist Russia were East African Deputy Minister of Education Leider and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Morris.

Leider said, “The Russian education system is different from ours in East Africa. In Russia, universities are a typical aristocratic education. Generally, those who can come into contact with them are the powerful and wealthy, and there are not many ordinary people. But for us, we must aim at those Russian university students who have no background and no way out. Now that Russia’s economy is in recession, it will inevitably have a series of negative impacts on their employment.”

“No background” may also mean a declining noble family or a middle-class family that values education. The number of truly lower-class students who enter Russian universities is undoubtedly rare.

Morris also said in a timely manner, “In addition to university students, some important factories in Tsarist Russia are also our targets. Taking Saint Petersburg as the center, we will divide our forces into three groups and go to Moscow, Kyiv, and Warsaw to carry out recruitment work. In particular, the chemical industry should be given special attention. The country is currently in urgent need of talents in related fields.”

Leider: “The same is true for universities. Our primary targets are students majoring in science and engineering such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, and mechanics.”

Morris: “Minister Leider and I will only stay in Russia for two months. During this period, the liaison center will be located in Saint Petersburg. Of course, you don’t have to rush. According to government requirements, this round of talent recruitment will be a long-term effort. In the next year at least, you can carry out your work slowly, but our requirement is that the screening must be strict. Don’t recruit people who are just making up the numbers. We will conduct another exam in Dar es Salaam, so don’t be perfunctory in order to complete the quota.”

Although the 1900 economic crisis is unfolding in Russia, other countries, including major countries such as Britain, France, and Germany, will also be affected. Therefore, Morris and Leider, two senior officials, will then go to other countries to carry out “undermining” work.

Of course, East Africa has some relatively complete talent introduction processes and organizations in the German region, so the focus of this work is non-German regions. Countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy are the focus of this East African work.

This is just East Africa’s layout in Europe. At the same time, another talent hunting plan organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology is in the Americas, with a focus on the United States and Canada. In addition, East Africa has also sent working groups to some non-key areas, such as South America and the Far East.

There is no doubt that South America and the Far East have a low level of economic development, but in the 19th century, as long as they were normal countries, they would run some universities and industries. And because the level of economic development is not high, many talents have difficulty finding employment. Just like in the previous life, India cultivated many talents, but it was difficult to find employment in its own country, so they went to Britain and the United States to develop. East Africa is also carrying out work according to this idea.

After all, it is a fact that East Africa is not as good as Western European and North American countries, but apart from these countries, there are very few regions that are more developed than East Africa.

Of course, the Far East region in East Africa’s talent recruitment is not the Far East countries, but the Far East region of Russia. Ernst would not go to the Far East Empire or Japan to poach talents.

This was designated by Ernst as the “Within the Plan,” taken from Emperor Taizong of Tang: “All the heroes in the world are within my grasp.” According to this plan, during the First Five-Year Plan period, East Africa will introduce at least hundreds of top science and engineering senior talents from Europe and the United States.

……

Russia, Tomsk.

Tomsk is a city in Russia, located in the southeast of the West Siberian Plain. This area belongs to the Far East region of Russia.

There is no doubt that Tomsk, located in the Far East, is not very prosperous. After all, it is restricted by climatic conditions, but its status cannot be underestimated. It is the main education and science center in the Siberian region of Russia.

For example, the famous Tomsk Imperial University of Tsarist Russia is located here, which is the former Tomsk State University of Russia, one of the four famous universities in Russia.

Tomsk Imperial University was founded in 1803 and was the first institution of higher learning established by Russia in Siberia. Later, with the support of Tsar Alexander III, it completed its upgrade and transformation in 1888 and has become an important academic exchange center in Tsarist Russia. Tomsk Imperial University is just one of the most representative universities in Tomsk.

“This damn weather, if I hadn’t come to recruit people, I would have thought I was exiled!” Cowell, the leader of the East African talent recruitment working group stationed in the Far East region of Russia, said, wrapped in a mink coat.

The working group entered Tomsk in October 1900. Tomsk has already entered winter, and the local winter temperature can even reach minus ten degrees Celsius. This is simply hell on earth for East Africans, most of whose territory has no winter.

“Mr. Cowell, this is no different from exile. The northern hemisphere is now entering winter. If it were Europe, the temperature might be acceptable, but Russia itself is relatively cold, let alone Tomsk, which is located in the interior of Russia. Fortunately, we are not going further east, after all, Tomsk’s infrastructure is already considered the most complete in Siberia.” Temporary member Anka said.

“I really envy those colleagues who went to big cities such as Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Kyiv. Although Saint Petersburg and Moscow are also very cold, the situation is much better than in Tomsk. There are surprisingly few people here. I am afraid that only the northern part of East Africa has a lower population density than here.” Cowell said.

Anka: “Although Russia has a much larger population than East Africa, their territory is also much larger than ours. So, from the perspective of population density alone, East Africa is still above Russia and is more evenly distributed. The Congo rainforest and desert areas with the harshest climate in East Africa also have a stronger population than the Far East region of Russia.”

Cowell looked at the Russian-style wooden houses on the streets of Tomsk and said, “The people of Tsarist Russia are also much poorer than our East Africans. Fortunately, there are more timber resources here, otherwise the poor Russians would probably have difficulty even making it through the winter.”

As he spoke, he took his hand out of his glove and waved it in the air, then quickly retracted it: “The air here is drier and colder than in East Africa. Living here is definitely a disaster.”

“No wonder Napoleon was defeated by the Russians. In this kind of weather, if we weren’t fully armed, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to stand it for half a day. Only the Russians can persevere in this bitterly cold land. Therefore, if a great power attacks Russia, it must be prepared to face the harsh transportation and climate conditions.”

In Cowell’s mouth, Tsarist Russia has become a bitterly cold land, and at this time, the construction and development of East Africa has been less than forty years, which can also reflect the different development situations between East Africa and Tsarist Russia in the mid-to-late 19th century.

Anka said with a smile: “The mink pelts on our bodies are still imported from Alaska. The warmth retention effect is really good. Alaska was originally sold to the royal family by the Russians. Faced with this kind of icy and snowy environment, mink pelts are indeed practical and comfortable.”

Cowell: “It’s only because I’m on a business trip to Russia, otherwise this outfit would have no consumer market in East Africa at all. However, Alaska is too far away from East Africa. It would be great if Alaska were in Antarctica, so that it would be convenient for us to manage East Africa and provide a place for vacation and recreation.”

For East Africa, a country without winter, the icy and snowy climate like Tsarist Russia has become a resource. Just like in the previous life, Tsarist Russians liked to vacation in tropical areas, many East Africans, especially the new generation of East Africans, have never seen snow in their lives, so it is normal to have some yearning.

Chapter 989: Academic Exchange

After settling accommodation and purchasing daily necessities, Cowell and his group began their work.

Their first stop was Tomsk State Polytechnic University, not Tomsk Imperial University. Although Tomsk Imperial University was the top institution in the area, it didn’t match the current talent needs of East Africa.

This was because Tomsk Imperial University focused on liberal arts and did not have engineering departments, which is a common problem for many European universities.

Traditional universities mainly focus on art, religion, literature, and law. Tomsk Imperial University was founded in 1803, and in three years it would be a century-old school. As such an old institution, the subjects it offered were the same as those of early European universities.

On the other hand, Tomsk Polytechnic University, although founded in 1896, just four years ago, could be seen from its name to have a different focus than Tomsk Imperial University.

“Welcome, guests, to our Tomsk State Polytechnic University.” The president and faculty of Tomsk State Polytechnic University warmly welcomed this group of guests who had come from afar from East Africa.

There was no other reason than that it was rare to see foreigners in Tomsk. Not to mention foreigners, even Russians themselves, who would want to come to this godforsaken place to develop if it weren’t for policy reasons?

The arrival of Cowell and his group naturally attracted a lot of attention, not to mention that they were from East Africa, a mysterious country. For most countries in the world, East Africa is a country full of mystery, able to build the barren land of Africa into a world power that could kick Portugal and challenge Britain in just a few decades.

East Africa is worthy of respect and full of attraction for a country like Russia, which admires strength. Of course, there is more hearsay involved. No country in the world dares to say that they are an “East Africa expert” because East Africa has always been very closed off.

Therefore, whether it was curiosity about the arrival of strangers or a desire to learn more about the mysterious country of East Africa, the entire staff of Tomsk State Polytechnic University was full of enthusiasm for Cowell and his group.

There was actually another reason. The fact that Cowell and his group first visited Tomsk Polytechnic University made the people at this school feel very honored. After all, the East African personnel came to Tomsk City under the guise of introducing talent and cultural exchange.

Whether in terms of historical background or the degree of importance attached to it by the country, Tomsk State Polytechnic University was not as good as Tomsk Imperial University, a long-established Russian famous school. So what did the arrival of the East Africans mean? It meant that in the eyes of the East Africans, this school was more important than Tomsk Imperial University!

This was the mentality of the teachers and students of Tomsk State Polytechnic University. Of course, the members of the East African working group stationed in the Russian Far East did not have such a complicated mentality. Everyone still respected the strength of Tomsk Imperial University, but East Africa valued science and engineering talents, and it was impossible to recruit a group of artists, writers, or religious scholars from Tomsk Imperial University.

“Hello, Vice-President Mulotov, thank you for your school’s enthusiasm. I am Cowell, a faculty member from Mbeya National University in the Rhine Empire, mainly responsible for teaching mechanical engineering. This is…”

Cowell introduced the members of his group to President Mulotov one by one. Most of the members of the group were university teachers or elites in the East African industrial field.

Instantly, everyone’s enthusiasm rose even higher. After all, judging from the composition of Cowell’s group, most of them were science and engineering elites, and many teachers at Tomsk State Polytechnic University were the same, so everyone had a lot in common to talk about.

Mulotov asked, “Mr. Cowell, may I be so bold as to ask, were you trained in East African domestic institutions or did you study in Europe and then return to serve your country?”

Cowell: “There’s nothing I can’t say. I was indeed trained by the local education system, but I also received university education in Europe. I don’t know if President Mulotov has heard of the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences in Germany. I studied there for two years. As for my alma mater in the Rhine Empire, it is Mombasa National University.”

Mulotov pondered for a moment and said, “Stuttgart Polytechnic Institute. I have heard of Stuttgart as the political center of Württemberg, but I have never been there because I only studied in France back then. As for the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, it is even more impossible for me to have heard of it. However, if it is a German school, then its strength should be good.”

“As for Mombasa National University and Mbeya National University, where you work, they are even more unfamiliar to me. After all, in our Russia, there is not much news about the Rhine Empire, including in the field of education.”

Cowell said with a smile, “Of course, the Rhine Empire is a relatively remote country compared to Russia. Although many of our schools are quite strong, they don’t have much reputation in Europe and the United States.”

Cowell’s words made Mulotov hesitant. He also wanted to know more about the strength of East African institutions of higher learning.

So, he said to Cowell, “Mr. Cowell said earlier that you are a mechanical engineering teacher. I myself am a chemistry major. Our president is quite good at mechanics, but he is on a business trip in Saint Petersburg, so it is a pity that I cannot have some exchanges with you. It’s really regrettable.”

Cowell waved his hand and said, “The president is able to serve as the president of Tomsk State Polytechnic University, so he must have extraordinary abilities. Although it does not overlap with my major, his relevant academic level must be very high.”

As he spoke, he pushed forward one of the members of the group and said, “This is Mr. Remington from Harare University of Technology in the Rhine Empire. He happens to be a chemist. I think you and the president will definitely have a common language.”

In foreign exchanges, because the early impression of East Africa’s geographical location has taken root, East Africa has become a common name for East Africa by other countries. This is like the Far East Empire having many country names in various dynasties, but now it is solidified as “Middle Earth.”

Mulotov looked with interest at the young man recommended by Cowell. To be called a chemist by East Africa, he must have achieved good results in the field of chemistry in East Africa. Therefore, Mulotov also decided to use Remington as a starting point to see what the East Africans were made of.

“Hello, Mr. Remington, we can be considered colleagues. I wonder if you…”

Remington was obviously not as eloquent as Cowell, so he was quickly led on by Mulotov. However, after some exchanges, Mulotov quickly determined that Remington had real talent and learning, and that he had also studied in Europe. Mulotov even knew his European mentor.

“Professor Olakier is actually your mentor. I met him a few times in Belgium and still exchange letters with him to this day. However, I didn’t expect him to have such an excellent student as you, but I haven’t heard him mention you.”

Remington: “I returned to work in my country after graduation, and some of my exchanges with my mentor can only be done through letters, plus work reasons…”

Mulotov roughly understood that many of Remington’s achievements were relatively famous in East African academic circles, but not so well-known in Europe and the United States, which was related to the East African system.

In fact, since the nineteen nineties, East African academic circles have already had the beginnings of some influence in the world, but the East African education system has only just been completed and is just beginning to bear fruit. At least Cowell’s alma mater, Mombasa National University, is relatively well-known in the German region.

However, for various reasons, academic exchanges between East Africa and Europe and the United States are always limited, and East Africa, as a latecomer, is currently in the stage of narrowing the gap, only leading the world in individual fields.

Mechanics and chemistry are obviously East Africa’s weaknesses, so Mulotov did not see too many bright spots from Cowell and Remington, but they were definitely good enough compared to others.

In fact, this was also the case. If Cowell and his group were definitely not the top talents in East Africa, otherwise they would not have come to Tomsk, a city in the Russian Far East, to introduce talent and conduct academic exchanges.

Chapter 990: Sucking the Marrow from the Bones

Although Kowell and his team were recognized by the higher-ups at Tomsk State University in terms of academic level, the recruitment work was still not going smoothly, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Anka: “Mr. Kowell, although Tomsk is just a Far Eastern city, there is no doubt that those who can enter Tomsk are elites. Russia has not popularized compulsory education, and their government previously withdrew from relevant policies, almost cutting off the upward mobility of the lower classes.”

“In my exchanges with colleagues, I also learned about this situation. Tsarist Russia’s literacy rate is only twenty percent, and there is a lot of trickery in that number. Take most of Russia’s primary education, for example. Less than five percent of primary schools are five-year systems; most are only three-year systems. The quality of the educational content is probably not even as good as that of East Africa.”

It goes without saying how much exaggeration there is in the twenty percent figure. According to Tsarist Russia’s population, that would mean at least twenty million people have received an education. If that were really the case, Tsarist Russia wouldn’t have been surpassed by East Africa in many fields.

“Before, fifty percent of schools in Tsarist Russia did not have their own educational facilities. Instead, they rented rooms or used venues provided by religious organizations to carry out educational work. Theology is an indispensable subject in Tsarist Russian schools, which also takes up a lot of educational resources.”

No country can escape the issue of religion, and this is also the case in the field of education. East Africa is naturally the same, except that theological education in East Africa is only accessible at universities, and the number of people recruited is small. They also have to obey national arrangements and accept national assessments. Compared with the current Russia, East Africa is completely a secular country.

“Moreover, the educational situation in the European part of the country has raised Russia’s overall education level, which means that the relevant data in the Far East is even more inflated.”

Kowell nodded and said, “We were prepared for this before we came to Russia. I’m not surprised by this result at all.”

Anka: “However, just as we thought, Russia’s secondary and university education is no worse than European schools. Take the local middle schools and universities in Tomsk, for example. Those who can enroll are basically the ruling class or wealthy groups in Tomsk or Siberia. We only found seven students at Tomsk University who could be considered ordinary families. Only one of them was born into a truly peasant family. The rest were nobles and gentry whose families had declined, or wealthy families who had fallen on hard times.”

The peasant families Anka mentioned should be classified as wealthy peasants or self-cultivating farmers according to Soviet standards. They were definitely not serfs.

A single-digit number of “lower-class” educated people in a university is unimaginable in East Africa. Although East Africa’s education level is a mess due to funding problems, many commoners also have the opportunity to enter university and account for the majority of East African university students.

Kowell: “That being said, it is undeniable that Russia’s education has improved since the serfdom reform. In the mid-nineteenth century, the number of educated people in Tsarist Russia probably did not reach one percent. Even if the twenty percent is mixed with a lot of exaggeration, it is much better than it was decades ago. There are also many immigrants from the Alexander II era in East Africa, and hardly any of them are literate.”

Anka: “It’s better than nothing. Currently, only three graduating students have expressed interest in developing in East Africa. Their level is okay, but they are not scarce talents in East Africa.”

As mentioned before, Tomsk State University was founded in 1896, and this year happens to be the graduation of the first batch of university students.

“Many Russian university students don’t have to worry about employment opportunities at all, because their families are not greatly affected by the economic crisis. Even the seven people whose family conditions were not very good, as mentioned earlier, four of them do not think that developing in East Africa is more beneficial to them. The remaining three only have the idea, but are not sure.” Anka said with some frustration.

Kowell said helplessly: “This is easy to understand. If East Africa were a European or American country, they would probably have already started moving their luggage. But East Africa is obviously not that attractive to them. If we hadn’t come to Tomsk in person, they probably wouldn’t even consider East Africa.”

“This is the significance of our work: to connect European and American students with employment in East Africa. Don’t be discouraged. If these three people from Tomsk State University have real talent, we can provide them with convenience. And Tomsk State University is just a local university. Pessimistically speaking, it also means that we can recruit at least five or six people locally.”

“Imagine, Tomsk is just a Far Eastern city in Tsarist Russia that is not economically developed. There are not a few schools in Tsarist Russia that are more capable than Tomsk State University. If we can find a few in each school, that adds up to at least dozens. Plus the talents in the industrial field in Tsarist Russia, that’s hundreds of people. Looking at it this way, this trip is quite practical.”

Kowell’s comfort did work. This trip to Tomsk is only their first stop in Siberia, and the Kowell team is just a small branch of this recruitment trip to Tsarist Russia.

Not making achievements in Tomsk does not mean that they cannot do it in the Siberian region, let alone the developed European region.

After some self-comfort and encouragement, the members of the working group began to poach people from other schools or factories in Tomsk.

And as Kowell said, the potential of the entire Tomsk is still good. Before the end of 1900, the Kowell team provided a total of thirteen people in Tomsk with the convenience of going to East Africa, including students in science and engineering, and medicine, mainly from Tomsk State University and Siberian State Medical University (also in Tomsk).

In addition to the student population, there are not a few technical talents in Tomsk who are unemployed due to the economic crisis, which is also the main gain of Kowell and his party this time.

After the work in Tomsk ended, Kowell and his party did not stop. The next stop is Novosibirsk. However, compared to Tomsk, the academic center of Siberia at the time, Novosibirsk has only risen in the past few years and has only begun to develop due to the construction of the Siberian Railway.

Therefore, the working group stayed here for a short time. Their next stop is Yekaterinburg, an important Russian city.

Before the end of 1990, the East African government recruited a total of less than thirty talents of various types from east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, which can be regarded as temporarily squeezing out the available talents in the local area.

This is simply adding insult to injury for the already backward and underdeveloped education in the Siberian region of Russia. However, even without East African intervention, these people would most likely leave Siberia in the future to work in the European part of western Russia or other European and American countries. Even without East African intervention, some of these people will become one of the main forces to overthrow Russian rule in the future.

While East Africa recruited nearly thirty people in the Siberian region, the results in the more developed European part of Russia would naturally be better. In 1900 alone, through the East African talent introduction program, as many as two hundred and twenty-four Russians immigrated to East Africa, most of whom were recent university graduates or technical talents who could not maintain their lives due to unemployment problems.

East Africa’s sucking the marrow from the bones of Russia has only just begun. During the Tsarist Russian economic crisis, East Africa’s work will continue, which means that in the next two years, more Russian high-quality talents will flow into East Africa. As the saying goes, as long as you swing the hoe well, there is no corner you can’t dig up.

Under the Russian economic crisis, East Africa’s talent introduction program is just an appetizer. Other European and American countries are the real feast.

There is no doubt that these talents will add bricks and tiles to the construction of East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan and make corresponding contributions to improving East Africa’s industrial system and other fields.

Chapter 991: Arrival

“Everyone, we are about to reach East Africa! The crew members informed me that in less than an hour, we estimate we will arrive in Mombasa, the second largest city in East Africa.”

“I know that for all of you, East Africa is an unfamiliar country. In Mombasa, you may catch a glimpse of its true nature. As East Africans, honesty is ingrained in our bones, so I will now truthfully reveal some information about East Africa to you.”

Kolyad, who was responsible for “escorting” the talented people from various European countries back home, had barely finished speaking when a bad feeling welled up in the hearts of these European immigrants who had been “lured” to East Africa.

Admittedly, in order to attract talent, East Africans in Europe must have embellished their descriptions of their homeland’s “prosperity, peace, civilization, and friendliness.”

However, now that the contracts have been signed and the ship is almost ashore, there is basically no chance of regret. The East African personnel naturally became more casual. It’s not like these Europeans who boarded the East African “pirate ship” could jump into the sea and swim back.

“Everyone doesn’t need to worry too much. There may be some discrepancies between East Africa and what was advertised, but the error won’t be too great. Your work will also be guaranteed by the East African government, and your treatment will not be lower than what’s in the contract. Of course, if you want higher pay, that depends on your abilities. East Africa is a country that respects knowledge and technology, and you will not be treated unfairly in East Africa.”

Kolyad’s explanation only made things worse, as if East Africa were truly a man-eating den in northern Myanmar, which made the European guests on board feel increasingly uneasy.

“…” Kolyad didn’t pay attention to everyone’s psychological state and finally got to the point, starting to explain various East African customs.

As Kolyad’s explanation deepened, some people began to suspect that the country Kolyad was describing seemed somewhat “dreamlike”—collective agriculture, state ownership, a five-year plan. It felt like the propaganda of the “ghost” party in Europe.

But one thing was certain: as a monarchy, East Africa definitely couldn’t be that kind of country.

Kolyad naturally didn’t need to explain too clearly to them. After all, East Africa’s political system was too strange for the whole world. Even the East Africans were dazzled by the royal family’s various operations. The specific situation in East Africa still required them to experience it firsthand in order to make a better judgment.

On December 3, 900, at 11:00 a.m., the first batch of high-level talent introduced to East Africa from Europe officially arrived in Mombasa.

“This is Mombasa!”

After experiencing the psychological torment of the countries and regions along the Red Sea, Mombasa was the first international metropolis in Africa that the Europeans on board had seen.

This voyage started from Trieste in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, then passed through the Suez Canal and entered the Red Sea. This was also the first time the Europeans on board had seen Africa. Undoubtedly, the vast sea of sand in Egypt, Ottoman, Italian Red Sea colonies, Djibouti, and other places made everyone feel very disappointed.

Because of the Sahara Desert, most people’s stereotype of Africa was drought, and this confirmed everyone’s thoughts. Then East Africa…

In fact, along the eastern coast of Somalia, the passengers on board had already entered East African waters, but Somalia, if you exclude the Shebelle River basin and the Juba River basin, was basically no different from the Red Sea coast.

But when they arrived in Mombasa, everyone’s hanging hearts finally dropped by half. The entire Mombasa was undoubtedly very prosperous. Judging from the density of buildings and factories alone, it was not inferior to any European city. The climate conditions here were also much better than in the north, but it was still relatively dry compared to northern Europe, somewhat similar to the Mediterranean coastal areas.

Looking at the shocked expressions of these European immigrants, Kolyad felt extremely satisfied. This was the pride of an East African in his homeland.

Kolyad said loudly to them: “Mombasa has a population of nearly seven hundred thousand and is currently the second largest city in East Africa. Its industry and commerce are very developed. What European cities have, Mombasa has. At the same time, East African industrial products are also sold overseas through port cities such as Mombasa, including some high-tech products such as automobiles and electrical equipment. Mombasa…”

While Kolyad was talking about the situation in Mombasa, many passengers began to whisper to each other.

“Antonov, how many people are there in Kyiv?”

“It should be around two or three hundred thousand! But in our Ukrainian region, Odessa should have a larger population. I remember that in the eighties, Odessa already had more than two hundred thousand people,” Andropov replied.

“Then compared to Ukraine, which place do you think is more developed?”

“It’s hard to say, but judging from the situation in Mombasa alone, East Africa is definitely better. After all, cities that support such a large population are rare in Russia. Perhaps only Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Warsaw can compare. But Kolyad just said that Mombasa is only the second largest city in East Africa.”

“I know the largest city in East Africa. When I was in Europe, the East African Deputy Minister of Education said it was Dar es Salaam, but it seems that the gap between Dar es Salaam and Mombasa is not that big, which means that the population of Dar es Salaam should be around seven or eight hundred thousand. In this case, East Africa still has a certain gap compared to Russia. After all, the population of our top two cities is larger than that of East Africa.”

Andropov: “That doesn’t prove anything. Kolyad once said that East African cities develop differently from European cities. They have fewer megacities, but the strength of their small and medium-sized cities is not bad. Moreover, it is said that the urbanization rate in East Africa is higher than in Russia, which means that East African industry may be more developed than Russia. After all, many East African products are also quite famous, especially automobiles and electrical equipment, and East African agricultural products are also very popular in Russia.”

Russia has always been an important consumer market for East African agricultural products, second only to the German region. As a country even colder than the German region, East Africa is the closest tropical product producing area to Tsarist Russia.

Of course, geographically speaking, India and Southeast Asia are closer to Russia, but East Africa has a greater advantage in terms of shipping routes, especially the Black Sea route. Moreover, the degree of development in Southeast Asia is currently too low to compete with East Africa at all.

The large-scale development of Southeast Asia still requires the efforts of Britain and France. Southeast Asia does not have as many people as it did in later generations, and the degree of development is also low. For example, in the previous life, Southeast Asia was the world’s largest rubber producing area, but now the rubber industry is almost monopolized by East Africa. Although Britain and France have rubber plantations in Southeast Asia and other places, they are just starting out and still face competition from East Africa, so development is very slow.

As the world’s largest rubber producer, relying on large-scale planting and perfect rubber industry advantages, East Africa severely suppressed the international rubber price, just to suppress the rubber industry in Brazil, Southeast Asia, and other regions.

Rubber is just one aspect. East Africa has also taken similar measures in the tropical fruit, spice, and other industries, forming a near monopoly in the Central and Eastern European markets, which will not create economic competition with these major grain-growing countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Correspondingly, East Africa will also import a large amount of grain from Central and Eastern Europe. As for East African grain, it is used for feed or industrial production. Taking the food processing industry as an example, if East Africa does not import high-quality wheat from Russia and uses its own wheat for processing and export, the taste will be much worse.

However, East Africa’s trade with Russia is generally in a surplus position. East Africa’s imports from Russia mainly include grain, minerals, and a small amount of industrial products. The East African government intervenes in all of this. Doing business requires give and take in order to have a long-term relationship.

Just like the early trade between the Far East Empire and Britain, the Far East Empire, with its developed handicrafts, completely defeated British industrial products. Unable to play the game, Britain simply used war and other insidious means to force the Far East Empire’s handicraft industry into bankruptcy, thereby allowing its own industrial products to flow into the Far East Empire.

Chapter 992: Naturalization

“So this is Mombasa. It looks really nice. The climate is also quite agreeable. When we set off from Europe, it was still winter, but here it’s summer, and the temperature is so high. Nature is truly amazing.”

Mombasa is very close to the equator, just south of it. So, December in Mombasa is the height of summer. And today, the temperature in Mombasa is only twenty-six degrees Celsius, which is wonderful for many of the Russians in the team.

Thanks to the urban construction of Mombasa, the city’s green belts, parks, and residential areas are planted with a large number of flowers and greenery. The whole city is colorful and vibrant. Coupled with the refreshing sea breeze, although industry is very developed and there are many factories, Mombasa is not as smog-filled as London.

Yaklov squatted by the side of the road, gently stroking the flowers in the green belt, and said in surprise, “Russia should already be covered in ice and snow, but in East Africa, the flowers are blooming so brightly. I already have quite high expectations for this place.”

“Mr. Yaklov, this is very common in our country’s cities. Mombasa is a typical garden city. As long as there is enough water, the vegetation will not wither all year round,” said Kolyvid.

“That’s great!” Yaklov exclaimed, “The weather in Russia is far too harsh compared to East Africa. Even Europe doesn’t have this kind of uniquely advantageous climate like East Africa.”

Hearing praise for the East African climate from a foreigner, Kolyvid was naturally very happy. However, as Kolyvid had just said, this situation is only common in cities, so he chose to tell the truth.

Kolyvid: “Mr. Yaklov, our Black… Rhine Empire also has its own shortcomings in terms of climate. It’s not as wonderful as you imagine.”

Because of the recent change of the country’s name, Kolyvid almost blurted out the outdated name of the former Black Hingen Kingdom.

“Compared to Europe, the biggest problem in East Africa is the lack of water, especially for cities like Mombasa, which are located in the transition zone between grassland and desert. The reason why Mombasa can be evergreen all year round is because of the well-developed water supply and drainage systems. If these urban green belts are not artificially irrigated during the dry season, they will only turn into withered, dry grass.”

“Drought and flooding are the two most serious natural disasters in East Africa. I think most areas in Russia don’t have this problem.”

The Russian population mainly lives in temperate continental climate zones, and because the temperature is relatively low and evaporation is small, the climate is relatively humid. For the same reason, the winters are long and cold, and the accumulated temperature required for crop growth is insufficient. So, apart from the extreme climates of tropical deserts or rainforests, and the frigid tundra and ice sheets, each climate has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Yaklov did not refute Kolyvid’s words, because he was Ukrainian, and Ukraine’s agricultural conditions are among the best in Europe.

“This is what East Africa deserves. You have put a lot of effort into urban construction to create such a beautiful city, just like Saint Petersburg many years ago was only swamps and wasteland, and only became one of the leading cities in Europe after imperial development,” Yaklov said.

“And East Africa may be doing even better than Russia. In Mombasa, I have hardly seen the kind of impoverished people like in Russia. The mental outlook and material enjoyment may be more balanced than in Russia.”

Yaklov did not say anything stupid like East Africa being an egalitarian country. Although the lives of ordinary people in East Africa are better, Yaklov also saw many wealthy groups in Mombasa. There are many cars on the streets of Mombasa, which are clearly not something ordinary people can afford.

According to Kolyvid, most of those who can afford cars in East Africa are government officials, senior corporate executives, and high-end talents in various industries.

And without a doubt, people like Yaklov, who are brought in by the East African government, are also considered high-end talents. So, Yaklov is full of expectations for his future life in East Africa, of course, provided that his work and residence are in Mombasa, since he currently only knows about Mombasa.

Mombasa is undoubtedly very prosperous, but what about other parts of East Africa? Due to time constraints, Yaklov does not yet know where his future in East Africa will be.

So he asked Kolyvid, “Mr. Kolyvid, how is my application progressing? I wonder where I will be assigned?”

Kolyvid shook his head and said, “There are no results yet, but based on your expertise, it is basically certain that you will work in a city. As for which city, it depends on the needs of East African companies and departments. It could be Mombasa, or some inland or western cities.”

“However, I heard from a clerk at the Immigration Department that your information has been entered, and you should be able to officially naturalize in two days. After naturalization, the following work should be faster, because our country’s construction needs, especially the implementation of the Five-Year Plan, now have a great demand for talent, so I think all procedures can be completed within a week.”

Yaklov had heard about East Africa’s Five-Year Plan long ago. It sounded impressive and showed East Africa’s ambition to develop its own industry. Of course, Yaklov, let alone most people in East Africa, could not know the specific details. Basically, information is obtained through media such as newspapers.

“The Five-Year Plan, that is, gradually completing industrial development according to a plan. It’s a bit like studying according to a timetable in college,” Yaklov said.

Yaklov not only went to college, but also worked for two years, but because of the economic crisis, his original company went bankrupt and he was unemployed at home, which is why he was poached by East Africa.

Kolyvid: “In fact, since the colonial era, East Africa’s economy has been developed according to this model. It is under this government-coordinated approach that our country has been able to complete many great projects step by step. Things like railways, highways, and water conservancy construction have reached the forefront of the world, which has built the foundation of the East African economy.”

“Take railways as an example. Today, the railway mileage in East Africa may have exceeded one hundred thousand kilometers. Without a planned economy, we would not be able to achieve such a great achievement in a short period of time. The East African railway network is second only to Europe and North America in all continents.”

Most East African people do not hold opposing views on the planned economy like many people in the former Soviet Union, because everyone has been living under this economic system since the colonial era and has directly enjoyed the benefits of the planned economy.

After all, before the Soviet Union, there was also the Russian imperial system and capitalist government, with many supporters of various systems, complex social situations, and many disputes.

East Africa, like the United States, directly finalized its economic system at the beginning of its founding. So, the United States has become the most typical capitalist country, while East Africa is currently a firm planned economy country.

Kolyvid said: “I was born in East Africa. My father was from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and my mother was from the Far East Empire. From the time they immigrated to East Africa, our country has been this economic system, so I grew up under this economic system since I was a child. Later, I came into contact with the European economic system when I went abroad.”

“Personally, our country’s economic system may not be perfect, but compared to Europe, the environment in East Africa is still better. And the royal family and the government have been making various attempts and adjustments to this economic system. The government has also emphasized that East Africa’s political system is in the initial stage of exploration and will be in this exploration for a long time.”

This is inevitable. Ernst does not believe that there is a perfect social system in the world. Even slavery will have supporters, just like Ernst himself. Otherwise, East Africa would have abolished the slave system long ago. Of course, the slave system is bound to die sooner or later. Now, if East Africa wants to continue to develop, it can only continue to make achievements in industry.

Chapter 993: The Strong Provincial Capital Strategy of Eastern Province

Yakrov: “Planned economies are indeed exactly the same as free markets, but judging solely from Mombasa’s development, your economic system should be quite successful.”

Currivede: “Of course, but this economic system is not perfect either; there are many problems. However, at this stage, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. After all, the actual changes and development in East Africa cannot be faked. Not only Mombasa, but other cities in East Africa are also developing rapidly, and new cities are constantly emerging.”

“Mr. Currivede, could you tell me about the situation in other East African cities?” Since it concerned his future work and life, Yakrov naturally wanted to put in more effort and prepare himself mentally before deciding on his work location.

“Of course, I haven’t been to many East African cities, but I still have some understanding of the overall situation. I’ll start with the major cities in East Africa, such as our new East African capital, Rhine City…”

…

While Currivede was introducing the development of East African cities to Yakrov, the Mombasa Municipal Government and the Eastern Provincial Government were also discussing the Dar es Salaam metropolitan area issue.

As the twin star cities of East Africa, Mombasa undoubtedly paid the most attention to Dar es Salaam, and so did Eastern Province, because Eastern Province’s economy mainly relied on Mombasa, unlike Coastal Province, which also had strong economic cities such as Bagamoyo, Tanga, Morogoro, First Town, and Soja.

Although Eastern Province also had cities other than Mombasa, their strength was not strong enough to form a competitive advantage with Coastal Province. Mombasa was already inferior to Dar es Salaam, and after East Africa moved its capital, Dar es Salaam was likely to go even further.

Of course, there were also opportunities in this. First Town was no longer the capital, which Mombasa saw as an opportunity. After all, when First Town was the capital, the original Central Province, which is now Coastal Province, ate up a lot of policy dividends, and the cities around First Town developed well.

Now that the capital had become Rhine City, this policy advantage had also shifted to the area around Rhine City. Therefore, the Eastern Provincial Government believed that without the policy advantages of the central government, Coastal Province’s development would inevitably be affected. This was a rare opportunity for Eastern Province, which was determined to surpass Central Province.

However, with the implementation of the Dar es Salaam metropolitan area policy, Eastern Province and the Mombasa Municipal Government also felt pressure. Although the capital had been moved, Dar es Salaam and Coastal Province still received more attention than Eastern Province and Mombasa.

Mombasa Mayor Lorraine said: “The Dar es Salaam metropolitan area national plan has further stimulated Mombasa’s ambition. Mombasa has always regarded Dar es Salaam as its number one target to surpass. Although the municipal government and the provincial government have worked hard in recent years, the overall advantages are still slightly worse than Dar es Salaam.”

“Now, the Dar es Salaam metropolitan area plan is undoubtedly bad news for our Mombasa’s goal of becoming the number one city in East Africa. Therefore, for the further development of Mombasa.”

“And Mombasa’s economy accounts for more than seventy percent of the entire province. Therefore, if Mombasa cannot develop, it will be a disaster for the entire province. The municipal government hopes to get the support of the provincial government to avoid Mombasa from being left behind by Dar es Salaam.”

Eastern Province official Andre agreed with Lorraine’s statement: “Although our province also has Malindi and Lamu, two relatively strong economic cities, Lamu’s military use restricts its development, and although Malindi is one of the few ancient cities in East Africa, its economic development in recent years has been very unsatisfactory. And excluding Mombasa, Malindi, and Lamu, the strength of other cities is even more difficult to form competitiveness.”

Andre had already put it very euphemistically. Apart from the above three cities, the other cities in Eastern Province were simply not worthy of the name, and only reached the city standard in terms of administrative level, which is to say, township level.

“Therefore, our province’s economic development can only first concentrate its efforts on developing Mombasa, and then drive the development of the regional economy through Mombasa.”

Although there was support from Lorraine and Andre, there was naturally also opposition. Someone said: “Official, isn’t this decision too hasty? It is true that the development of other cities in the province is not satisfactory except for Mombasa, but this also proves that other cities have great potential, and it is not safe to put all your eggs in one basket. If Mombasa fails to develop and eats up a lot of resources, it will definitely be a disaster for our province.”

Andre sighed and said: “But we have no choice but Mombasa. Mombasa itself accounts for a large proportion of the province’s economy, and it also has unparalleled advantages in transportation. It is an important national railway and shipping hub city.”

“This also means that Mombasa is the easiest to achieve results, and none of the other cities in the province can take on this important task. In our province, only Lamu can barely compare with Mombasa in terms of basic conditions, but a large part of Lamu’s port is requisitioned by the navy. In this case, Mombasa’s role is even more irreplaceable.”

Since the completion of the Northern Railway, the other cities in Eastern Province were destined to be unable to compete with Mombasa, not to mention that Mombasa was originally the city with the best port conditions in Eastern Province.

Andre said: “If we want to compete with Coastal Province, we, as the weaker party, must concentrate all our efforts to develop Mombasa first. Even if we can’t surpass Dar es Salaam, we can’t be left behind by Dar es Salaam. Only in this way can we form competitiveness with Coastal Province. If even Mombasa cannot develop, we will only become more and more strained and even fall behind in the future competition with Coastal Province.”

“Therefore, during the First Five-Year Plan period, the provincial government’s resources must be prioritized to ensure the development of Mombasa, concentrating on the development of one city, and finally driving the development of the entire province.”

“Mayor Lorraine of Mombasa and I have already reached some consensus on this. In order to promote the development of Mombasa, we will formulate a Greater Mombasa development strategy, expand the urban area of Mombasa, and coordinate the further inclusion of surrounding towns into the Mombasa economic cooperation zone.”

“The key is to include Kilifi Town and Mtwapa Town into the Mombasa urban area, making them a highly industrialized area like the Dar es Salaam New Area.”

Kilifi Town and Mtwapa Town are both located in the north of Mombasa, on both sides of the Mtwapa River, less than twenty kilometers away from Mombasa.

“At the same time, Mombasa’s development potential is also extremely great. Currently, the main part of Mombasa is on Mombasa Island. Therefore, in order to further promote Mombasa’s development, during the First Five-Year Plan period, our province will focus on building two bridges to realize the development of northern and western Mombasa, and build two new areas.”

“That is, on the basis of the original Mombasa urban area, the urban area of Mombasa will be expanded three times, and the three new areas will be connected to the Mombasa urban area through highways and railways. We will concentrate provincial enterprises to invest in the construction of new factories in Mombasa, and at the same time guide foreign investment to build the northern new area, promoting the landing of important industries such as steel, electricity, and electrolytic aluminum in Mombasa.”

“Once the Greater Mombasa plan is completed, even if the Dar es Salaam metropolitan area takes shape, we can compete with it with the strength of Mombasa alone.”

“This is the goal of Greater Mombasa during the First Five-Year Plan period. In the next twenty years, Greater Mombasa will form a transportation and industrial layout of four key port areas, two trunk railways, and three or more industrial concentration areas.”

Andre’s plan will further make full use of Mombasa’s port conditions. Mombasa’s port conditions are much stronger than Dar es Salaam’s. Its harbor waters and complexity are stronger than Dar es Salaam’s.

That is why Andre mentioned four key port areas. Currently, Dar es Salaam Port has only developed Mombasa Island. In fact, in addition to Mombasa Island, the north, west, and south of the harbor can be developed and utilized.

However, because Eastern Province’s conditions are limited, according to Andre and Lorraine’s opinions, priority will be given to developing the north bank and west bank, which can also be connected to the two towns on both sides of the Mtwapa River in the north, which is conducive to subsequent development.

Chapter 994: Economic Foreign Aid

In reality, the reason for not developing southward for the time being is also because the southern bay is an important waterway. Mombasa Island divides Mombasa Bay into two parts. The southern port is wide and the water is deep. Building bridges would greatly weaken the shipping conditions of Mombasa Port, while the northern and western parts do not have such concerns.

In its previous life, Mombasa’s development path was also like this, with bridges built to connect Mombasa Island with the northern and western landmasses. Before this, there was already a railway bridge connecting the western part with Mombasa Island. Now, the Eastern Province government plans to further expand the economic ties between Mombasa Island and the mainland.

However, completing the Greater Mombasa plan is not easy for the current Eastern Province. To realize the Greater Mombasa plan, at least one and a half million people are needed, while the current population of Mombasa is less than seven hundred thousand.

In the past, the population growth rate of major East African cities was not fast. The most typical examples are Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. Based on East Africa’s economic size and population scale, if they were free market countries, the population of both places would probably have exceeded one million many years ago.

Here, we can use the United States as a reference. In the mid-19th century, the population of New York had already exceeded one million, while at that time the entire population of the United States was only about twenty million. Now, the population of East Africa, including blacks, is over ninety million, but there is not a single city with a population of over one million. This makes it clearer to understand the development path of East African cities.

Therefore, for Mombasa, urban development is constrained by population, which is a big problem. However, there is still an opportunity, which is that one of the goals of the East African Five-Year Plan itself is to improve urbanization levels.

So, Andre said, “An important factor in promoting the gathering of urban population is industry. Only when the industry meets the standards can it provide more jobs and attract more people.”

“Greater Mombasa needs at least one million people to achieve our goals. Therefore, we will first set the population target of Mombasa at one million. Breaking through one million would be a great victory for us, so that even when facing the Dar es Salaam metropolitan area, Mombasa will not be left too far behind.”

“An important direction for attracting population is to transform the agricultural population into an industrial population. To get farmers into the city without delaying our province’s agricultural production tasks, the most important thing is to improve rural productivity.”

“Therefore, while supporting the Greater Mombasa plan, the provincial government will carry out relevant reforms in the agricultural sector, including further adjustments to the agricultural production structure, increasing the level of agricultural mechanization, and focusing on tackling the productivity of fertilizers and pesticides, etc.”

“Agricultural production structure adjustment means taking Mombasa as the center and transforming the province’s agricultural production tasks to connect with food and processing enterprises in Mombasa and other cities in the province, while increasing the proportion of animal husbandry and cash crops in agriculture.”

“That is, with Mombasa as the core and other cities cooperating, forming an integrated agricultural product processing and export port, concentrating the province’s efforts to vigorously develop agricultural product processing industry, improve agricultural income and production efficiency, on the one hand, to provide abundant agricultural products for urban residents in Mombasa, on the other hand, to actively strengthen agricultural product exports and increase the added value of agricultural products.”

“Agricultural mechanization, this term, everyone is probably familiar with, that is, to strengthen the use of tractors, agricultural vehicles, water pumps and other machinery in the agricultural field.”

“In these areas, Mombasa also needs to further develop related industries, striving for Mombasa’s industry to give back to the province’s agriculture.”

“The production of fertilizers and pesticides is an important guarantee for steadily increasing the yield and quality of agricultural products in a short period of time. In addition to serving the province’s agriculture, it can also be exported or transported to other regions in East Africa. The above three priorities are the issues that agricultural reform should solve first.”

With the improvement of agricultural productivity, the corresponding demand for agricultural production population decreases, so the population will naturally transition to the city.

Of course, if the urban industrial layout is not in place, in this case, the original agricultural population may become unemployed, then the Eastern Province government’s economic development plan may backfire. Therefore, ensuring the expansion of industrial scale is the primary issue that Mombasa must solve.

During the Five-Year Plan period, Mombasa did not receive abundant policy support, because the current focus of East Africa is on the construction of the western region, so it is not easy for Mombasa to further enrich its urban industries.

In this case, it is necessary to seek more external support. The first is to seek help from the provincial government, and the provincial government naturally supports the development of Mombasa, because Mombasa is also the capital of Eastern Province.

However, with Mombasa’s economic volume accounting for about 70% of the province’s total, the province’s strength is obviously not enough, so foreign aid is also needed.

So, Mayor Lorraine said, “At present, even if Mombasa concentrates the province’s efforts to develop, it will be relatively difficult. In this case, we must pull in more allies. In this regard, I have two ideas.”

“That is to rely on the two major arteries of the Northern Railway and the Coastal Railway to cooperate with other provinces, especially the provinces in the Northern Railway Economic Belt.”

“The provinces along the Northern Railway Economic Belt have close relations with Eastern Province and a high degree of industrial collaboration. Therefore, integrating the resources along the Northern Railway Economic Belt is to strengthen our province’s advantages.”

“Mombasa is the leading part of the Northern Railway Economic Belt, and most of the import and export work can only be completed by relying on Mombasa Port. Therefore, the provinces along the Northern Railway Economic Belt are most dependent on us.”

“In this case, we can completely lead the economic construction of the entire Northern Railway Economic Belt, cooperate with various provinces, so as to realize the coordinated development of personnel, logistics, resources and minerals, and industries.”

In this regard, the Northern Railway Economic Belt has abundant population, resources and markets, which are all needed for Mombasa to further develop.

Although northern East Africa is a relatively sparsely populated area, this is not the case along the Northern Railway Economic Belt. From Mombasa all the way to the Great Lakes region, this belongs to the eastern region of East Africa’s economy and has always been the most densely populated area, especially the Great Lakes region, where agricultural activities are developed, the agricultural population is large, and the natural growth rate is high. In the past, it has always been an important population reservoir in East Africa, transporting a large number of people to various parts of East Africa.

Therefore, the key to Mombasa’s population exceeding one million lies in the Great Lakes region. Similarly, the Northern Railway Economic Belt can provide a large amount of resources for Mombasa. Although resources in northern East Africa are relatively scarce compared to other regions, it is completely sufficient to supply the development of a city. In Lorraine’s opinion, in the entire northern East Africa, which city can take on this important task other than Mombasa.

For example, the abundant nepheline syenite resources in the Kenyan mountains are an important raw material source for Mombasa’s aluminum industry. Nepheline syenite is a substitute for bauxite and is an indispensable raw material for the ceramics and glass industries.

This type of mineral is generally distributed in areas with more active geological activity, and Mount Kenya, which is located in the East African Rift Valley, is an important producing area of this mineral.

Similarly, the northern region is currently the most important oil producing area in East Africa, especially the two major producing areas of Lake Turkana and Lake Albert Basin, which can support the development of Mombasa through railway advantages.

In terms of other resources, Mombasa can also easily import them with the help of its superior geographical location. For example, coal and iron ore for industrial development mostly come from imports, including the Middle East, India, and East Africa’s own New Hamburg Port City.

Mombasa’s geographical advantage is also its true core advantage. It is an important port for East Africa to communicate with Eurasia and other regions. Although Mogadishu Port is closer, Mogadishu’s economic volume is far less than Mombasa’s. What’s more, Mombasa relies on the Northern Railway, and its economic hinterland can reach as far as the Azande Plateau and the Congo Rainforest region.

Therefore, the planning for Mombasa must always rely on its port location advantages, which is also an important basis for the Eastern Province and Mombasa Municipal Government in formulating policies.

Chapter 995: Service-Oriented Government

Mayor Lorraine continued, “Based on the above situation, the external forces we can rely on for Mombasa’s economic development are, firstly, favorable central government policies; secondly, provincial support; thirdly, other East African provinces; and next, I want to talk about the fourth force we can leverage, which is foreign capital.”

“Currently, in the economic development of various cities in East Africa, there is one city that is a typical example of development through foreign capital, and that is Maputo in Hansa Province.”

“I believe everyone is familiar with Maputo, which was the capital of the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique. After the South African War, Maputo’s position in East African economics and politics actually declined. This meant that Maputo did not have an advantage in obtaining resources and policies, and its conditions were much worse than those of our Mombasa.”

“However, with the support of Hansa Province and the Maputo municipal government, Maputo has introduced a large amount of foreign capital from Portugal and other countries. In the past few years, it has achieved good results in economic development. Moreover, with the Maputo Steel Plant being established as part of the First Five-Year Plan, there is no doubt that this marks its return to the ranks of important cities.”

“This also gives us a direction to think about, which is how to fully leverage foreign capital in the development of Mombasa. Through in-depth analysis and understanding, I have discovered a point that is often overlooked, which is that our country lacks attention to capital from colonies or underdeveloped countries.”

Mayor Lorraine’s words undoubtedly aroused everyone’s interest, because through colored glasses, colonies or underdeveloped countries always give people the impression of being poor and backward, and naturally do not receive much attention.

Lorraine continued, “But people often overlook a very important point, which is that the people of these colonies or underdeveloped countries are indeed very poor, but their upper classes are very rich.”

“Among them, I want to specifically name India. India was a British colony. Undoubtedly, in East African propaganda and impressions, Indians are objects of enslavement, cruelly exploited by the British. Many Indians do not have enough to eat and often face famine problems.”

“However, precisely because of this, we often forget that not all Indians are from the lower classes. Indian society has the most complete caste system. In India, the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, or other high-ranking religious figures, or even princes and nobles, are often extravagant and dissolute. They control a large amount of wealth in India and, through cooperation with the British, have the autonomy to dispose of their wealth.”

“The British are like the Mongols in history. Although the Mongols exploited other regions, they achieved mutually beneficial results by colluding with local interest groups.”

After all, the bad things were done by the colonizers, so that the original local interest groups could get benefits without bearing the blame. The Indian princes and nobles cooperated with the British in this model.

And when the contradictions in the lower levels of Indian society are completely aroused and cannot be suppressed, they will jump out again, “comply” with the will of the people, pretend to be heroes who drove away the British colonizers, and take over the national power.

Of course, no matter how dark these Indian princes and nobles and high-caste people are, it does not hinder Mayor Lorraine’s ideas.

He revealed his true intentions and said, “The key is that these high-level Indian people control a large amount of social wealth, and the wealth of Indian princes and nobles is mostly obtained through rent collection and taxation, which means that Indian princes and nobles have a large amount of unspent wealth stored in their hands.”

“Although Indian princes and nobles may have investments and industries in the United Kingdom, the proportion is definitely not high in their wealth. This can be seen from our commercial trade with India.”

“In the past five years, India has been the second largest consumer of Mombasa automobiles, and a large part of the orders come from Indian princes, nobles and the wealthy. Moreover, Indians are good at doing business. During the South African War, a large number of Indian merchants served the British and Portuguese armies. These Indian merchants also accumulated a large amount of wealth through the British colonial system.”

“Therefore, if we want to obtain industrial development funds, we can completely start with the upper classes of these backward but wealthy countries and regions, and attract them to invest in Mombasa.”

“And we happen to have advantages in this regard. First of all, we are very close to countries such as India and the Middle East in terms of distance, and Mombasa itself has many Arab and Indian business groups.”

“We can use this as a breakthrough point and jointly build a batch of industrial enterprises with their behind-the-scenes bosses. Don’t be stingy with some policy preferences, which are nothing more than support in terms of land rent rules. As long as we let them invest their money in our factory construction first, they will not be able to get away easily, and they will also have to stand by us to help with product sales.”

Lorraine’s idea is to lock in these external capitals through joint ventures. Once they enter the trap set by Lorraine, it will not be easy for these external funds to withdraw their investment. They should not think about recovering their costs before the factory is built and put into production, and they must also help solve the sales problem after production. Moreover, enterprises that are capable of cooperating with the Mombasa municipal government are definitely not ordinary people. They have the strength and connections in the region, which is equivalent to making it easier for Mombasa industrial products to open up new sales channels.

“Of course, we cannot drain the pond to catch all the fish. We must give the benefits that should be given. A person cannot stand without credibility. We cannot sacrifice Mombasa’s future in exchange for short-term benefits. What we need are industries to solve employment problems, not completely taking profit as the primary goal.”

“And after the industry is established and developed, we can consider other issues. You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish.”

“If our reputation in the Indian Ocean region is ruined due to credibility issues, then we don’t even talk about surpassing Dar es Salaam, and may even lose future development opportunities because of this.”

We cannot ignore the city’s business environment problems just because of Mombasa’s location advantages. Many cities cannot develop because of the local government’s laziness and inaction, or even abetting wrongdoing.

Without supervision, the business environment in any place will be quite poor. After all, more than ninety-nine point nine percent of businessmen are profit-oriented, which is unavoidable in various countries at present.

This also puts higher demands on the Mombasa municipal government. As an important commercial center in East Africa, Mombasa must provide comfortable services to merchants passing through so that more merchants will come to Mombasa to look for opportunities and drive local economic development.

Just imagine, if the officials of the Mombasa municipal government all put on stern faces, it will definitely leave a bad impression on foreign merchants, which will inevitably have a negative impact on the image of the Mombasa municipal government, and bring a negative impact on local commercial trade activities.

Therefore, Lorraine especially emphasized to the various departments of the municipal government: “Remember that a service-oriented government is an important development goal of our Mombasa. In this increasingly competitive era, a smile may give foreign businessmen a good impression. If he is in a good mood, he may directly invest in an industry.”

“Therefore, I will incorporate the government’s service attitude into the assessment of Mombasa officials, further strengthen supervision and oversight, and organize a staff training next month. If anyone screws up, then I will take away your hat. Don’t feel wronged, this is all a necessary measure for the success of the Greater Mombasa Plan. Even I will lead by example.”

Chapter 996: Western Population Expectations

The focus of the First Five-Year Plan is the development of the west. Since 1900, investment in western towns, mines, and agriculture in East Africa has increased significantly. In particular, cities like Cabinda, Luanda, Benguela, and Kinshasa have received far more practical policy support than the “all talk, no action” Dar es Salaam city circle or the self-funded Greater Mombasa Plan in Eastern Province.

“During the First Five-Year Plan, more than two hundred new towns will be established in the west, especially in the vacuum areas between the coast and the central region, namely the Kasai, Lunda, and Okavango provinces. There are plans to introduce a large number of people to settle and work there.”

“At the same time, the population size of important cities such as Cabinda and Luanda will be supplemented. During the First Five-Year Plan, at least two new cities with a population of over five hundred thousand will be built in the west to balance Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in the east.”

It goes without saying that these two cities will definitely be Luanda and Cabinda, with Cabinda corresponding to Mombasa and Luanda corresponding to Dar es Salaam.

The development of the new western region of East Africa can be compared to the United States’ development of the West Coast, or Russia’s development of the Far East. Of course, the natural conditions in western East Africa are superior to those in the American West, while Russia’s investment in the development and construction of the Far Eastern Empire is large, but it is actually difficult to achieve effective results.

“In the past decade, we have re-overhauled and constructed the industries and original infrastructure in the Angolan region on the basis of the former Angolan colony. With the efforts of millions of Black laborers and more than four million East African people, the overall transportation, water conservancy, and other aspects of Angola have been fully improved. In contrast, the local population is unevenly distributed, especially with a sparse population compared to the central and eastern regions, and the situation of vast land and few people is very serious.”

Four million people (excluding Black people) is even less than Russia’s Siberia. In the last Russian census in 1897, the total population of Russian Siberia was more than five million, close to six million.

So Ernst said, “During the First Five-Year Plan, the total population of the Angolan region should reach at least ten million, so that it can shoulder the important task of being a new pillar of national economic construction.”

“Rationally utilize the sea and land advantages of the western region, focusing on the development of equipment manufacturing, the electricity industry, and other industries, especially promoting urbanization, transforming the agricultural population of eastern East Africa into urban residents, and promoting the progress of urbanization in East Africa.”

There is no doubt that the focus of the current East African government has completely shifted to the stage of industrialization, so East Africa does not pay much attention to improving agriculture in the west.

Because during this period, even the more developed central and eastern regions of East Africa are actively carrying out the work of de-agriculturalization.

Therefore, the construction in Angola is very different from the past East African immigration and development process. In the past, East Africa always prioritized agriculture before industry, but now East African agricultural production activities are close to their peak.

Of course, de-agriculturalization does not mean not developing agriculture, but rather not developing labor-intensive agriculture, but promoting mechanized agriculture, thereby reducing the demand for agricultural population.

Although agricultural construction has a positive significance for the population growth of East Africa, East Africa cannot afford the trend of sustained high-speed population growth. Now the population of East Africa has exceeded eighty million (excluding Black people), second only to Russia in the world, and is still in a stage of high growth.

If the industrial structure of East Africa is not adjusted in a timely manner and industry is vigorously developed, then East Africa is very likely to fall into a vicious cycle in which economic growth is dragged down by population growth.

In fact, the East African government has already felt the pressure, with a substantial increase in social expenditures such as medical care and education, and agricultural production activities cannot support these expenses, because agricultural profits are far less than industrial profits. Even if East African agricultural sales are unimpeded, the income will only continue to decline.

On the one hand, the development of various countries or their colonies has led to a continuous increase in the output and categories of grain, dairy products, and cash crops, further intensifying competition in world agriculture.

A typical example is the substantial increase in dairy products in Argentina, which is bound to impact the dairy market in other countries and regions. Argentina has a vast land and sparse population, excellent climatic conditions, and low sea transportation costs. Its exported dairy products are of high quality and low price, and at least East African animal husbandry is difficult to compete with Argentina overseas.

The advantage of East African agriculture lies in tropical cash crops. In this field, East Africa is undoubtedly the world’s number one in comprehensive strength, but Brazil, India, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean region are also developing, and the technical threshold is not high, so it also faces greater competitive pressure.

If the population of East Africa is only twenty to thirty million, or forty to fifty million, and remains stable at this value, then agricultural profits are still very promising, but the population of East Africa is second only to European, American, and Asian countries even in the world. With rapid population growth and continuous decline in agricultural profits, developing industry is currently the only way out for East Africa.

This is easy to understand. Among countries with similar area and population, East Africa can only refer to the United States and Tsarist Russia. Although the population data of countries such as Britain, France, and Germany are not bad, the area is too small and does not have reference significance.

Tsarist Russia is undoubtedly a country where agriculture is greater than industry, while the United States is already a relatively developed industrial country. The future situation of the two countries in the previous life is also very clear, that is, the domestic crisis in Tsarist Russia is becoming increasingly serious, and the regime is eventually changed, while the United States takes over world hegemony.

Although the Soviet Union later emerged and led the original Russian region to become a superpower, the gap between the Soviet Union and the United States had already widened significantly at that time. The gap between the two countries was at least forty to fifty years. Even under the Soviet model, the Soviet economy grew rapidly, but it was difficult to bridge the gap.

The most representative data is the urbanization rate of the two countries. By the 1980s, the urbanization rate of the Soviet Union had barely reached 60%, while other developed countries generally had more than 70%.

Therefore, grasping the economic development window at the beginning of the 20th century is very important for East Africa, including taking advantage of opportunities such as economic crises and wars.

During the World Wars in the previous life, the original production activities of European countries completely turned to the military industry, and were invested in the bottomless pit of war. It should be known that before the war, Europe was the most developed industrial region in the world, and the world market share given up by European civil industrial production activities due to the war was also the largest.

And in the previous life, these world’s largest market shares given up due to war were almost eaten up by the United States alone, and the improvement of American industry and society cannot be estimated.

The World War is undoubtedly a huge opportunity for East Africa as well, but if East Africa wants to seize this opportunity, it must first build a good industrial foundation in its own country, in which case it can make a fortune from the war.

Therefore, in the first decade of the 20th century, Ernst went all out for the industrial construction of East Africa. Only countries with developed industries and located outside the European region can more comfortably enjoy the dividends of the war economy.

This brings us to the Far Eastern Empire. In the previous life, the Far Eastern Empire’s economy actually enjoyed the dividends of World War I. During this period, national capitalism achieved leapfrog growth, or a chance to breathe, but because of the weak industrial base of the country, the war dividends it ate were not even as good as Japan’s.

After all, Europe’s demand for all kinds of materials due to the war is almost unlimited, and only industrial countries outside Europe can eat the bulk of the war dividends.

In the previous world, the only developed industrial countries outside Europe were the United States and Japan, but in this time and space, due to the rise of East Africa, there should be three. The industrial level of East Africa may have a gap with European and American countries, but its strength is far above Japan, and because of its geographical location, East Africa is easier to eat from both ends than the United States. Trade between the United States and Europe is completely dependent on the Atlantic Ocean, which is bound to be restricted by Britain, while East Africa can transport resources to both camps through the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Chapter 997: The Foundation of Industry

Of course, the premise is that the Ottoman Empire joins Germany’s side as it did in the previous life. In this way, in addition to the Suez Canal, East Africa can directly use the Persian Gulf and then transport materials to Germany and Austria-Hungary through the Baghdad Railway.

After all, the Suez Canal is under British control, which carries a certain risk. However, even so, East Africa has a greater advantage than the United States, because the United States only has one route to choose from, the Atlantic Ocean, while East Africa has three trade routes. In an extreme case, East Africa can open up a land trade route along the Sahara-Mediterranean coast, but the difficulty is too great and it does not have a cost advantage.

Of course, all of this is predicated on history developing along its original trajectory, and that East Africa’s industry develops and has a strong navy to guarantee East Africa’s economic interests.

The fundamental guarantee for the United States to profit from both sides in the war in its previous life was its relatively strong naval strength. Otherwise, the British and French navies would have been fully capable of cutting off trade between the United States and the Allied Powers.

It should be known that after the end of the First World War, the total tonnage of the United States Navy was close to half of that of the British Navy, with a total tonnage of nearly five hundred thousand tons. In the early and mid-stages of the First World War, the United States maintained a neutral status and did not participate in the war. Therefore, the fundamental guarantee for the United States to profit from both sides in the First World War was still its strong naval strength.

This is of great reference value to Ernst, so before the outbreak of a full-scale war in Europe, the strength of the East African army should also be greatly expanded and improved.

However, this does not interfere with East Africa’s economic development policy during the First Five-Year Plan. East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan is completely different from that of the Soviet Union in its previous life. The primary goals of the Soviet Union’s First and Second Five-Year Plans were to develop defense industry and heavy industry.

East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan is relatively balanced, focusing on heavy industry as a whole, but also vigorously developing light industry and agriculture. Although it is biased towards heavy industry, light industry and agriculture also occupy a certain share, unlike the Soviet Union’s first two five-year plans, which were top-heavy.

The reason for this situation lies in the different national conditions and geopolitics of the two countries. The Soviet Union faced a serious external crisis, and due to its harsh geopolitical environment, it faced the risk of joint armed intervention by European countries at any time.

This forced the Soviet Union to solve the problem of natural security first, and this forced choice also laid hidden dangers for the subsequent imbalance of the Soviet industrial structure. Therefore, it can be said that the Soviet Union’s economic development path was very difficult, and various crises also led to the Soviet Union’s lack of strength when facing competition from the United States in the bipolar pattern.

In contrast, East Africa is completely different. East Africa’s geopolitical environment is very safe, and it is not far from the main trade route between Asia and Europe, with smooth sea routes. These are the most basic favorable conditions for East Africa’s economic development.

In the First Five-Year Plan, the reason why East Africa continues to focus on heavy industry as its development focus is related to the current national conditions of East Africa. East Africa’s industrial level is far behind that of European and American countries, which makes East Africa’s industrial output seriously insufficient.

As the most basic industry, heavy industry can be fully called the foundation of industrial development. This can be seen from the definition of heavy industry, which is the industry that provides the material and technical basis for various departments of the national economy.

With heavy industry as the foundation, there is a basis for the great development of light industry. Taking the first industrial development as an example, the development of the steel and coal industries was the most important driving force for the development of the British textile industry. Steel provided raw materials for textile machinery manufacturing, and also promoted the development of railway and shipbuilding industries, promoted transportation development, and provided convenience for British textile exports, while coal was the main source of power for light industries such as the textile industry.

Therefore, theoretically speaking, the development of light industry cannot be separated from heavy industry. Light industry without heavy industry is like water without a source, difficult to maintain.

Therefore, for East Africa, basic industries such as steel, coal, oil, electricity, and chemicals are the main goals and trends for promoting industrial development during the First Five-Year Plan, especially the steel and coal industries. East Africa has a huge gap with the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. After the completion of the First Five-Year Plan, the strength of East Africa in these two basic industrial fields will be greatly improved, especially narrowing the gap with the United Kingdom.

The development of these basic industries can provide raw materials and means of production for the development of East Africa’s light industry and agriculture. For the current East Africa, with the development of heavy industry, light industry and agriculture will naturally develop.

In simple terms, during East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan, the most important thing is to unleash the production capacity of basic industries and provide the most basic raw material supply for East Africa’s economic development. These raw materials will be invested in East Africa’s infrastructure construction, urban construction, transportation construction, and so on.

So Ernst said to the government officials: “In the western construction, we must build a new comprehensive industrial base in the western coastal provinces to promote the development of local light and heavy industries. This is completely different from our past construction experience.”

“In the past, East Africa was biased towards agricultural construction. This was determined by the national conditions at the time. At that time, East Africa lacked funds, technology, and talent, so we could only start with the most basic agriculture. Now, we have gathered all the necessary elements for developing industry. This is also the main reason why our development focus shifted from agriculture to industry in the 1990s.”

“Of course, the gap between us and European and American countries is still very large, so in the current stage, focusing on the development of basic industries, that is, heavy industry, is our inevitable path in East Africa.”

“After heavy industry develops, we can use it as a foundation to develop other industries. This is one of the important paths for the current world economic development. In fact, it is also a characteristic of German industrial development in the last century.”

“In the last century, German industrial development started with steel, coal, and railways, and then gradually surpassed Britain and France in many fields, becoming the third largest industrial country in the world. East Africa is restricted by historical reasons, so it is naturally impossible to achieve this in a few years.”

“We can only accelerate this process through administrative and planning means, and my expectation is that East Africa’s overall industrial level will at least surpass Russia after the completion of at least two five-year plans.”

Currently, Russia is known as the fifth largest industrial country in the world, and should be ranked between France and East Africa, while Austria-Hungary naturally comes to seventh place in the world.

Of course, in the industrial strength rankings recognized by countries around the world (except the East African government), East Africa is actually ranked seventh, still after Austria-Hungary. The order is the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Austria, and East Africa.

However, according to East Africa’s own understanding of its own industry, East Africa’s industrial strength and scale should have actually surpassed France, but East Africa’s overall industrial output value is low, and one of the important reasons is that heavy industry accounts for a large proportion.

If the output value factor is excluded, the ranking of industrial scale among countries is the United States, Germany, Britain, Russia, East Africa, France, and Austria. Russia can be ranked fourth in the world, thanks to its large population size. In this case, although East Africa’s industrial level is higher than Russia’s, it cannot erase the gap of tens of millions of people with Russia in a short period of time.

France’s industrial output value is higher than East Africa’s, but in the field of basic industries, France obviously cannot surpass East Africa, because France lacks raw materials for industrial development in its own country among the great powers, which makes French industrial development funds flow to light industry and high-profit industries.

Therefore, if France and East Africa engage in a war of attrition, East Africa is likely to win over France, not only in terms of troop sources, but also in the field of defense industry. However, East Africa’s current development focus is not on the military industry, which makes East Africa’s naval and army scale and strength inferior to France at the current stage.

This is obviously not good news for France, because France is being dragged down by Germany and must maintain a relatively large army size, which will inevitably have a negative impact on its national economy.

Chapter 998: Beira City

Beira City.

In the national positioning of East Africa, Beira City is quite special. It is one of the central cities on the southeast coast, connecting the two important ports of Dar es Salaam in the north and Maputo in the south.

In the past decade, Beira City has been the fastest-growing city in East Africa. Today, the total population of Beira has exceeded three hundred thousand. As the fastest sea outlet for Bohemian industrial products and the Lorraine industrial zone (eastern regions of Zimbabwe and Botswana), Beira undertakes almost all of the cargo trade in the central industrial area.

The new mayor of Beira City, Kelta, said, “At present, the city’s economic level is constantly rising, and it has become the number one export port in the country for important materials such as sugar, tobacco, copper ore, and machinery in the central region. Among the several coastal cities in the east, it is second only to Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, and New Hamburg, and during the First Five-Year Plan period, the industry and economy of our city will definitely surpass New Hamburg and become the third city in eastern East Africa.”

Relying on the central industrial zone, Beira City is very likely to become or surpass large cities such as Mombasa or Dar es Salaam in the future, because the industrial level of the central industrial zone currently ranks first in East Africa.

Neither Dar es Salaam nor the southern city of Maputo can form effective competition against the port of Beira. Even some goods that belonged to the Zambian and southern Congolese regions in its previous life are more willing to be exported from the port of Beira due to its rise. Therefore, the rise of Beira poses the greatest threat to Dar es Salaam.

In its previous life, there were a large number of countries within East Africa. Due to various reasons, these countries could not reach a consensus on transportation construction and generally built transportation networks centered on their own capitals. This also made transportation cooperation among African countries very weak and susceptible to political and war factors.

The establishment of East Africa has undoubtedly eliminated this sense of regional division, which is also an important factor in Beira’s rapid rise.

Kelta said, “Thanks to the rapid development of the port of Beira in the nineteen nineties, Beira City is now one of the most important industrial cities in the country, which is beneficial for our city to compete with other cities in the First Five-Year Plan.”

“Before nineteen-oh-three, our goal is to at least surpass New Hamburg and secure our position as the third coastal city in the east. On this basis, the population of our city will reach at least four hundred thousand, and the scale of industry will increase by at least fifteen percent.”

“And with the big picture of the First Five-Year Plan as a backdrop, we will implement the further development of our city’s oil and chemical industries and become a supply center for inland oil and chemical raw materials.”

With the rise of the oil and chemical industries in East Africa, most of the coastal cities in East Africa have gained new development opportunities. The central industrial zone of East Africa does not produce oil, so oil can only rely on imports or the northern part of East Africa.

Beira is the port through which the central industrial zone imports oil. Oil resources from Austria-Hungary, Romania, and Russia will first arrive at the port of Beira and then be transported inland by rail.

Therefore, relying on this advantage, during the First Five-Year Plan period, the East African central government plans to deploy a larger-scale oil industry in the port of Beira, mainly in the two major areas of refining and storage and transportation, producing petroleum products including fuel, lubricating oil, petroleum wax, petroleum asphalt, and petroleum coke, while providing corresponding production raw materials for petrochemicals.

The establishment of the oil industry in Beira City is inextricably linked to the central industrial zone. Without the huge energy demand of the central industrial zone, there would be no need to go to great lengths to deploy related industries in Beira.

This is easy to understand. Without industry, the demand for energy is naturally small. In its previous life, the Far East Empire went from being an oil-exporting country to the largest oil-importing country, which was caused by industrial development.

Today, in the field of energy, the dominant position of coal is still stable, but East Africa has already begun large-scale development of energy sources such as oil and natural gas, and has surpassed the United States in this field, ranking first in the world.

Under this background, Beira and other important coastal cities are more or less vigorously exploring the potential of the oil industry to inject new blood into East African industry.

Of course, the world’s three major oil-producing regions are the United States, Europe, and East Africa, and East Africa has already reached the third position in the world in terms of output, but it still imports a large amount of oil from abroad, which shows the East African government’s emphasis on the oil industry.

Kelta: “The oil industry is expected to become an important industry in the twentieth century like the electricity industry. At present, the electricity industry has exerted great power in various countries around the world, driving the development of a large number of related industries and becoming an important symbol of industrial development in various countries.”

“And with the development of internal combustion engines and the development of the chemical industry, the prospects of the oil industry are already very clear. Oil has become the second largest energy source in East Africa, second only to coal, so developing the oil industry is the focus of East Africa’s future. Our city must seize the opportunity to become an important center for national oil refining and by-product processing.”

Compared with East Africa, the demand for oil in other countries in the world is not large at present, so the point that oil has become the second largest energy source in East Africa is not valid in other countries, and may not even be comparable to the amount of natural gas used, because the history of large-scale application of natural gas is earlier than that of oil, because a lot of natural gas comes from by-products of coal mining, so with the early development of the coal industry, the natural gas industry was formed earlier.

During the British Industrial Revolution, the natural gas industry was formed and became the main energy source for the European lighting industry.

Kelta: “In addition, during the First Five-Year Plan period, in addition to building an oil refinery with the latest technology, our city will also innovate the steel industry, renovate the equipment of the Beira City Steel Plant, build the Beira City Coal Washing Plant, the Beira City Second Pharmaceutical Factory, the Fifth Power Plant and other enterprises, and at the same time connect with the aluminum industry in Xindai Town to develop aluminum product processing, etc.”

In the nineteen nineties, Beira City cooperated with German chemical and pharmaceutical companies, making the pharmaceutical industry here relatively developed. Therefore, on this basis, East Africa focused on strengthening the local pharmaceutical industry, but it was mainly export-oriented.

From the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century, many chemical and pharmaceutical companies were not separated, and the strongest country in this field was Germany.

Of course, pharmaceutical companies in this era were relatively chaotic. Many medicines were not effectively tested and regulated, especially psychotropic drugs, which were likely to be illegal ingredients in its previous life. Just like people’s understanding of the dangers of radioactive substances was not comprehensive, most people in this era did not have a comprehensive understanding of these substances.

What really made Europe, and even the world, realize its harm was the final result obtained after the army used it in large quantities during the two world wars.

Therefore, although the East African government strongly supports the pharmaceutical companies in Beira City, it is quite cautious in the use of the domestic medical system, but this does not prevent the pharmaceutical industry from being quite profitable. East Africa is cautious about using it domestically or simply prohibits it, but it has no psychological burden for exports, and because it is addictive like tobacco, many drug exports basically do not have to worry about sales problems.

In addition to manufacturing, the aluminum product processing industry is also a key industry in Beira City during the First Five-Year Plan period. East Africa has already laid out the electrolytic aluminum industry in Xindai Town at the mouth of the Zambezi River. The important reason for the construction of the Beira City Fifth Power Plant is to provide electricity support for Xindai Town. The two cities cooperate and develop together. If you add the main city of Tete, it is three-way cooperation.

Xindai Town itself has a short development history, and the electrolytic aluminum industry has a huge demand for electricity, so there is a large electricity gap. In this case, “borrowing” electricity from Beira City and Tete City nearby is very important. Tete City is rich in coal resources, so the cost of power generation is low, while Beira City, as an important port city, facilitates the import of coal from India and southern East Africa, and has a large population and a strong industrial base, so the power generation is also relatively abundant, so the two places can provide a part of the electricity gap for Xindai Town.

Chapter 999: New Soda Ash Production Process

Conversely, the aluminum semi-finished products from Hinde Town are then transported to Beira and Tete by rail and water for further processing, forming a closed industrial loop by producing household goods and electrical equipment parts.

Of course, if East Africa wanted to, it could completely deploy related industries in Hinde Town, and it actually did so. However, the Zambezi River estuary where Hinde Town is located does not have the advantages of other river estuaries. Shipping is a major problem, and the extraction and preliminary processing of bauxite cause significant pollution, especially to water sources. Therefore, it is not suitable for building large cities there. Beira and Tete, the cities closest to Hinde Town, undertake a large amount of subsequent processing work.

Hinde Town still has good potential, but if it wants to be developed, East Africa needs to comprehensively develop and manage the Zambezi River. This is also the main reason limiting the development of Hinde Town. Although the Zambezi River is the second largest river in East Africa, its shipping conditions are too poor. At least from Hinde upwards, it can only navigate to Tete. This level has no advantage compared to some rivers in the East African coastal plain.

……

May, 1901.

While East Africa’s First Five-Year Plan was in full swing, the East African Ministry of Science and Technology came to the University of Nairobi for inspection. A new technology was born here, attracting the attention of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The university’s research team received the personnel from the Ministry of Science and Technology. Professor Robben, the head of the research project team, and his students overcame the challenges of a new soda ash production process.

Robben: “Our country’s soda ash industry started in the nineteen eighties. Although a set of equipment was introduced in the nineteen seventies, the output was low due to the lack of relevant talents. It was not until the nineteen eighties that our country poached a large number of technicians and workers from Europe and built soda ash factories in Mbeya and other places.”

East Africa began its initial industrial construction phase in the nineteen seventies, which can be said to have been quite tortuous. Although a large number of equipment was introduced by taking advantage of the economic crisis at that time, many industrial equipment could not be put into production and use due to the lack of technical personnel, making maintenance difficult.

However, East Africa’s situation was better than that of the Far East Empire at that time. Although East Africa itself lacked relevant talents and technology, East Africa had the technical guidance of the Hechingen Consortium.

The Hechingen Consortium can be said to have played the role of the Soviet Union in the Far East Empire’s First Five-Year Plan in the early industrial construction of East Africa.

The Hechingen Consortium has a large number of enterprises under its umbrella, so it can relatively easily obtain technology and professional talents. On this basis, East African industry was able to develop bumpily in the nineteen seventies.

Without this prerequisite, no matter how much industrial equipment East Africa introduced in the nineteen seventies, it would be equivalent to buying a pile of scrap iron with money.

Fortunately, in the nineteen eighties, East Africa introduced a large number of technical personnel from Europe and the United States, and with the development of East African education and the return of students studying abroad, East African industry stabilized. In the nineteen nineties, East African industry achieved greater development, and it was relatively mature in terms of capital, technology, and labor.

East Africa’s soda ash industry also ushered in greater development in the nineteen nineties. At present, East Africa’s soda ash production can be self-sufficient and achieve partial exports.

The special circumstances of East African industry and society have made East Africa’s demand for soda ash relatively strong. This requires starting from the uses of soda ash.

Robben introduced: “Soda ash, commonly known as soda, has the chemical composition of sodium carbonate. It is widely present in nature and distributed all over the world. According to density, it is divided into heavy soda ash and light soda ash.

According to its uses, it is divided into industrial-grade soda ash and food-grade soda ash. Industrial-grade soda ash is one of the main raw materials for flat glass, and can also be used as a flux for smelting, a flotation agent for mineral processing, and a desulfurizer for steelmaking. In the textile field, soda ash can be used as a water softener in the textile production process, etc.

Food-grade soda ash can be used as a food additive to act as a neutralizing agent, leavening agent, buffer, and dough improver, increasing the taste and flexibility of pasta, and can also be used as an auxiliary additive in the production of monosodium glutamate and soy sauce.”

Among these, in addition to general uses, the importance of soda ash to the glass industry and the detergent industry is an important driving force for the development of the East African soda ash industry.

In this timeline, in order to develop the automobile industry, under Ernst’s guidance, the first industrialized mass-produced flat glass was produced in East Africa. East Africa’s early emphasis on hygiene also destined East African society to value detergent products.

For example, in the early days, the cleaning work of East African immigrants required a large number of products to be imported from Europe, which was much more costly. Therefore, East Africa has attached great importance to the soda ash industry since the colonial era.

“At present, the Leblanc process is mainly used in our country’s soda ash industry, which is also the most mature and largest-scale soda ash production process in Europe.”

“Of course, countries around the world are now transitioning to the Solvay process in the soda ash industry, but our country obtained the Solvay process relatively late. Because of the blockade of the Solvay process by various major countries, we did not obtain the relevant technology until after the South African War, when our relationship with Germany was further improved.”

The Solvay process is the mainstream trend in the current soda ash industry and is also monopolized by the great powers. It was born in the last century (the late nineteenth century), so East African industry at that time could only introduce the earlier Leblanc process.

At first, soda ash was mainly extracted from plants. In Europe, alkali was extracted from the juice leached from seaweed ash.

However, with the Industrial Revolution beginning in Britain in the mid-eighteenth century, the demand for alkali from industries such as textiles, printing and dyeing, papermaking, soap making, and glass increased dramatically. It was obviously insufficient to rely solely on alkali extracted from natural alkali and plant ash, which required artificial manufacturing.

Later, under the heavy reward of the French government, the Frenchman Leblanc first made a breakthrough. The Leblanc process came into being. The raw materials used in the Leblanc process, in addition to table salt, also include sulfuric acid, charcoal, and limestone.

This soda ash production process has continued to this day, and is used by European countries and East Africa. It will take more than ten years for the Solvay process to completely replace the Leblanc process.

Various reasons have led to the fact that the most advanced Solvay process currently accounts for a small proportion of the East African soda ash industry. Just when East Africa was preparing to vigorously promote the Solvay process, East Africa also had a major technological breakthrough in the soda ash industry.

The emergence of the new East African soda ash production process is different from the Leblanc process and the Solvay process. The fundamental reason for its emergence is East Africa’s resource advantages.

The specific details of the new East African soda ash production method are actually to refine the alkali minerals existing in nature, rather than chemically synthesize them from other raw materials like the former two.

This leads to the distribution of natural alkali mines in the world. Generally, alkali mines are mostly stored in surface alkali lakes and exposed surface deposits, mainly in North America, East Asia, Turkey, and most parts of Africa.

The Egyptian Alkali Desert Valley is a world-famous natural alkali mine. The ancient Egyptians were also one of the first groups of people to use soda ash.

In the Ethiopian region of the East African Rift Valley, Kenya, Tanzania and other regions, and Botswana in southern East Africa, there are a large number of natural alkali mines, so East Africa has very rich natural alkali mineral resources.

The birth of the new East African soda ash production method was created by the Chemistry Research Office of the University of Nairobi. They used local alkali mines for refining, thereby obtaining a new soda ash production process, which is actually the natural alkali method mainly used in the United States in later generations.

Professor Robben said in a somewhat boastful tone: “The new soda ash production process actually does not have much technical content. It can only be regarded as an accidental discovery of mine, and it was finally successfully tested. Its main application method is to use our East Africa’s rich alkali mines to directly refine soda ash. Moreover, this method is cheaper than the current mainstream soda ash production process. If it can be realized on a large scale, it will undoubtedly make a huge contribution to our country’s soda ash industry.”

Chapter 1000: Walking on Two Legs

Fideli from the Ministry of Science and Technology said, “Professor Robben, the alkali production process you described sounds good, but I have to interrupt this vision. Since the raw materials for this alkali production process come from natural soda ash deposits, it means that this mineral resource has a great deal of uncertainty.”

“Like coal, it’s not abundant in every region. If the reserves of natural soda ash are not abundant in East Africa, it will obviously be greatly restricted.”

Robben: “Director Fideli, I am quite confident about this point. East Africa has not paid much attention to the exploration of natural soda ash deposits. After all, in the past, due to different technologies and alkali production processes, there was a general lack of understanding and awareness of natural soda ash deposits in society.”

“And in my past field expeditions, I found that our East African natural soda ash deposits are relatively abundant, especially in the East African Rift Valley, where many lakes contain natural soda ash.”

“The most noteworthy of these is Lake Magadi, which is less than eighty kilometers southwest of Nairobi. I can say with certainty to the Ministry of Science and Technology that the natural soda ash deposits in this lake are very rich. If effectively developed, they can completely solve the current national demand for soda ash.”

“This natural soda ash deposit has advantages in terms of both distance and resource reserves, and the refining cost is quite low, with a relatively high purity. Moreover, according to the situation of Lake Magadi, there should be many similar resource distributions in the East African Rift Valley.”

As the Earth’s largest scar, East African scientists are very enthusiastic about the research of the East African Rift Valley. Even those who are not geologists go to the East African Rift Valley to find materials, especially some botanists and zoologists. Therefore, it is not surprising that Robben discovered the natural soda ash resources of Lake Magadi.

What’s more, Lake Magadi is so close to Nairobi, a distance of eighty kilometers, which is about the same as the distance from the First Township to Bagamoyo City.

Moreover, Lake Magadi is quite unique. This lake has a striking pink color, which is very easy to attract people’s attention. After all, pink lakes are rare, and the strange color also indicates that the chemical composition in Lake Magadi is very high.

Robben continued, “I and Professor Ankapov, a geologist from Nairobi, conducted an in-depth study of this lake for as long as two months. Lake Magadi is located in a semi-desert area and is an inland lake with several cold and hot springs flowing into it.”

“The hot springs contain a large amount of alkaline substances, making the lake water a dense sodium carbonate brine. The bottom of the lake is deposited with several meters of natural soda ash. The high concentration of salt makes it impossible for any aquatic organisms to survive in the lake. Underground springs emerge from the encrusted alkaline crust, dyeing the lake water a bright pink, which looks like the color of wine from a distance.”

“That is to say, Lake Magadi will continuously produce natural soda ash and other substances. In the past, this was a place where natives used to refine salt, but it was later abandoned. The surface of Lake Magadi is close to eighty square kilometers. In the dry season, the lake evaporates rapidly, and the alkaline substances accumulated at the bottom of the lake will be exposed.”

“Therefore, in Lake Magadi, both salt and soda ash resources can be developed at the same time. In the dry season, it is also a rare open-pit mine. These factors combined make the resource development cost of Lake Magadi very low. Now the only thing that needs to be solved is transportation and factory construction.”

“And this lake is so close to the Northern Railway, only a road is needed to transport its resources continuously.”

This made the personnel of the Ministry of Science and Technology more clearly aware of the soda ash deposits in Lake Magadi that Robben mentioned.

In fact, as Robben said, the development of Lake Magadi existed before the founding of East Africa. The local natives would use the lake to refine crude salt, and this situation lasted for hundreds of years, but later the East African colonists arrived and interrupted this process.

Fideli said, “Professor Robben, we are still undecided about your natural soda ash method for the time being. We will send more professional personnel to Lake Magadi for systematic exploration work, and finally determine whether this alkali production process is worth promoting.”

Robben: “Of course, after all, without sufficient raw materials, the natural soda ash method is like trying to make bricks without straw. However, I believe that after you fully investigate Lake Magadi, you will definitely be interested in the natural soda ash method.”

In his previous life, the natural soda ash method was the mainstream alkali production process in countries such as the United States and Turkey. Especially in the United States, its natural soda ash reserves are as high as more than sixty billion tons, which cannot be fully developed. It is estimated that East Africa’s natural soda ash resources will be difficult to exceed the United States in a short period of time.

However, East Africa is also lucky. Lake Magadi itself is the largest natural soda ash deposit in Africa, and it has the right timing, geographical advantages, and human support. It is easy to develop, has low refining costs, large reserves, and is close to East African cities and transportation. It would be a sin for East Africa not to exploit such a resource.

Soon this matter was also reported to Ernst’s desk. Ernst attached great importance to the alkali production industry. In addition to the importance of soda ash itself, the alkali production industry occupied a certain amount of space in the history textbooks of his previous life, and the famous United Alkali Production Method and its founder Hou Debang left a deep impression on Ernst.

The full name of the United Alkali Production Method is the Hou’s United Alkali Production Method, which can be said to be a rare benchmark in the chemical industry in modern Far East Empire.

Of course, the United Alkali Production Method has not yet been born at this stage. Even in his previous life, the United Alkali Production Method was not produced until the forties. Currently, the Solvay process is in full swing.

“Your Highness, should this natural soda ash method be fully implemented?” Kaimens, Minister of Science and Technology, asked.

Ernst: “I have always advocated that industry should walk on multiple legs. From the current point of view, the new alkali production process has great advantages, but chemical synthesis also has irreplaceable advantages. Even the Leblanc process cannot be completely replaced. After all, in addition to alkali production, it can also produce chlorine gas, which can be used to purify water sources or applied to the chemical industry and disinfectants.”

“Therefore, we don’t need to choose one of the three for the natural soda ash method, the Solvay process, and the Leblanc process. Continuing to improve related processes can determine unexpected effects, which does not only involve soda ash.”

“Moreover, the Leblanc process currently occupies the mainstream position in our country’s alkali production industry. The change is the change of the entire industry. Of course, from the perspective of cost and utilization efficiency, we must definitely adopt more new processes.”

“Therefore, our country’s alkali production industry will simultaneously popularize the natural soda ash method and the Solvay process on this basis.”

“And in my opinion, the Solvay process also has a lot of room for improvement, to continue to improve its resource utilization rate. These tasks require the efforts of East African researchers and our enterprises. In the alkali production industry, you must cooperate with industrial departments and state-owned enterprises to continuously improve our country’s alkali production industry.”

Overall, the next task of the East African industrial sector is to simultaneously develop the Solvay process and the natural soda ash method to replace the current Leblanc process as the mainstream of the East African alkali production industry.

The main reason is that the output of the Leblanc process is relatively low. With the development of industry, its production capacity is increasingly unable to keep up. And if only the natural soda ash method is developed, it is not very suitable. After all, East Africa’s natural soda ash resources are relatively abundant, but they are not as abundant as the United States in his previous life. If East Africa also has 60 billion tons of natural soda ash reserves, then there is no problem for the East African alkali production industry to live a carefree life. However, East Africa’s current specific data on natural soda ash reserves is not clear, which is easy to cause anxiety.

Just like oil in his previous life, humans can always find new oil resources through technological progress, and the Earth’s oil reserves are always underestimated, but this does not prevent most countries in the world from having oil anxiety.

Therefore, East Africa must simultaneously develop the Solvay process and the natural soda ash method. The Solvay process in the East African alkali production industry has just started. Developing the natural soda ash method is a beneficial supplement to East African industry and mining.

Table of Contents

Entrepreneurship Chronicles in Africa
Chapter 1: Transmigration
Chapter 2: Ernst’s Transformation
Chapter 3: In Berlin

Chapter 4: Everything is Difficult at the Beginning

Chapter 5: The Booming Manufacturing Industry
Chapter 6: War Approaching
Chapter 7: Expanding Production
Chapter 8: Prussian-Austrian Coordination
Chapter 9: Contact Warfare
Chapter 10: Reactions from Various Countries
Chapter 11: The Hechingen Conglomerate
Chapter 12: Lull in the Battlefield
Chapter 13: International Mediation
Chapter 14: Kingdom’s Ambition
Chapter 15: From Amsterdam to Venice
Chapter 16: Venice, City of Water
Chapter 17: Dar es Salaam
Chapter 18: Overseas Trade
Chapter 19: Black Root Military Academy
Chapter 20: First Town (Mlandizi)
Chapter 21: Militarized Management
Chapter 22: Colonial Development
Chapter 23: Hindering the Progress of the Era
Chapter 24: Raising Funds

Chapter 25: Military Industry: Beginner’s Ticket

Chapter 26: People from Afar
Chapter 27: Map
Chapter 28: “Land Grab”
Chapter 29: Arduous March
Chapter 30: Dodoma
Chapter 31: Clash of Tribes
Chapter 32: Hohenzollern Castle
Chapter 33: Seeking “Light”
Chapter 34: Mobilization
Chapter 35: Beasts of Burden
Chapter 36: Coastal Zone
Chapter 37: War
Chapter 38: Reclamation
Chapter 39: The Battle of Lissa
Chapter 40: Immigrant Army Returns Home
Chapter 41: Returning Home in Glory
Chapter 42: The Immigration Rush
Chapter 43: Administrative Divisions
Chapter 44: New European Situation
Chapter 45: Ron Roda
Chapter 46: Fleet
Chapter 47: Marriage Matters
Chapter 48: Engagement
Chapter 49: Disease Prevention
Chapter 50: Education
Chapter 51: Tanga Port
Chapter 52: Trieste
Chapter 53: Potato Planting
Chapter 54: Schönbrunn Palace Conversation
Chapter 55: Off to East Africa
Chapter 56: Balance
Chapter 57: Expedition Team
Chapter 58: Conspiracy
Chapter 59: Zanzibar Palace Coup

Chapter 60: Marching Towards the Port of Dar es Salaam

Chapter 61: Baghash bin Said’s New Administration in Zanzibar

Chapter 62: Fierce Battle
Chapter 63: Conquering the Zanzibar Palace
Chapter 64: One-Day Politics
Chapter 65: Electric Light
Chapter 66: The “East Zanzibar Treaty”
Chapter 67: The Minister Route
Chapter 68: Alaska
Chapter 69: Black Heringen Royal Territory
Chapter 70: Mombasa
Chapter 71: Submarine Cable
Chapter 72: Tobacco Cultivation
Chapter 73: Digestion
Chapter 74: The “Purge” Movement
Chapter 75: The Great Escape
Chapter 76: Promised Land
Chapter 77: “Cargo” Arrives
Chapter 78: Austro-Hungarian Empire
Chapter 79: Small Talk
Chapter 80: Agriculture
Chapter 81: Coal Mine
Chapter 82: Flour Mill
Chapter 83: Saving Maximilian I
Chapter 84: News

Chapter 85: East Africa in the Eyes of Maximilian I

Chapter 86: Coffee
Chapter 87: The Turmoil in the Northwest
Chapter 88: Conflict Escalates

Chapter 89: The Hamburg Overseas Commercial Trading Fleet

Chapter 90: New Administrative Divisions (Refer to the Egg Chapter Map)

Chapter 91: Explanation: Please Don’t Scroll Away, Be Sure to Read It, Begging You.

Chapter 92: Stealing from the Foundation
Chapter 93: Mtwara
Chapter 94: Paraguayan Immigrants Arrive
Chapter 95: Armory Upgrade
Chapter 96: Northwest Elegy
Chapter 97: Daily Life
Chapter 98: Traveling
Chapter 99: Coastal Defense Guns
Chapter 100: Coastal Defense System
Chapter 101: Recruiting
Chapter 102: Deceive, and Continue Deceiving
Chapter 103: “Big Killer”
Chapter 104: Diet
Chapter 105: The Portuguese

Chapter 106: The East Africa and Mozambique Non-Aggression Treaty

Chapter 107: Lake Turkana
Chapter 108: History Class
Chapter 109: Christmas
Chapter 110: Data
Chapter 111: Civilization Theory
Chapter 112: Population and Agriculture
Chapter 113: Ambitions
Chapter 114: Christmas in East Africa
Chapter 115: After Christmas
Chapter 116: Rudolf’s Source of Nightmares
Chapter 117: Domestic Bliss
Chapter 118: Beer Hall Gathering
Chapter 119: Busy Farming Season
Chapter 120: Tropical Disease Research Center
Chapter 121: Mwanza Shipyard
Chapter 122: Northern Territory Development
Chapter 123: Kidnapping
Chapter 124: Water Well
Chapter 125: Rudolf’s Transformation
Chapter 126: Border Patrol
Chapter 127: The Ras Kamboni Trading Market
Chapter 128: Reconnaissance
Chapter 129: Northwest Will Be at War
Chapter 130: Invasion
Chapter 131: Capturing Kayanza
Chapter 132: Eager to Try
Chapter 133: Northwest Immigration Work

Chapter 134: End of the First Phase of Operations

Chapter 135: Recuperation
Chapter 136: Roads
Chapter 137: Patch
Chapter 138: The Battle of Lake Kivu
Chapter 139: The War Ends
Chapter 140: New Product
Chapter 141: Central Asian Bandits
Chapter 142: Three Districts and One Renaming
Chapter 143: Slave Economy
Chapter 144: Trade
Chapter 145: Tobacco Factory
Chapter 146: Agricultural Research Institute
Chapter 147: Rubber Planting
Chapter 148: Education for Immigrants
Chapter Still Under Review…
Chapter 149: Throne
Chapter 150: Investment and Instigation
Chapter 151: In France
Chapter 152: Restoring Contact
Chapter 153: Delivering Wine
Chapter 154: Shipping the “Goods”

Chapter 155: Special Treatment for Russian Immigrants

Chapter 156: Burning (Content May Cause Discomfort)

Chapter 157: Windmill Mill
Chapter 158: Isolated East Africa
Chapter 159: Experimental Base
Chapter 160: Reform
Chapter 161: Inspection
Chapter 162: Fishing
Chapter 163: Year’s End
Chapter 164: Meat

Chapter 165: The Development of the Las Khorey Trade Market

Chapter 166: Job Advertisement
Chapter 167: Cultural Extinction
Chapter 168: Utensils
Chapter 169: Fisher’s Work
Chapter 170: Shopping
Chapter 171: 1868 Development Report
Chapter 172: Expansion and Immigration Issues

Chapter 173: Agricultural Development Directions in 1869

Chapter 174: Independent Food Industry
Chapter 175: Village Site Selection
Chapter 176: Hornfeiss and Maria
Chapter 177: Grazing
Chapter 178: The Yeke Kingdom
Chapter 179: Headquarters
Chapter 180: A Nation of Football
Chapter 181: Armed Delegation
Chapter 182: The Choice
Chapter 183: Arrival
Chapter 184: Negotiation
Chapter 185: Transaction Accomplished
Chapter 186: The “Three Lines” Plan
Chapter 187: Persuasion
Chapter 188: West Palace
Chapter 189: Occupation
Chapter 190: Seeing Off and Explanations
Chapter 191: Green Lemon

Chapter 192: Splitting the Research and Development Department

Chapter 193: Husband and Wife Chat
Chapter 194: Welcoming
Chapter 195: Visiting
Chapter 196: Railroad
Chapter 197: Suggestion
Chapter 198: A Comical Conversation
Chapter 199: Settling the Account
Chapter 200: Division
Chapter 201: Taking Office
Chapter 202: Consolidating Military Power
Chapter 203: Impure World Reincarnation
Chapter 204: “Exile”? “Going Abroad”!

Chapter 205: Don’t Say I Didn’t Give You a Chance!

Chapter 854: Archduke Ferdinand
Chapter 206: “Collecting Scrap”
Chapter 207: Changing the Sign
Chapter 208: Indecision
Chapter 209: First Railway Project Approved
Chapter 210: The Clown
Chapter 211: The “Pocket” Plan
Chapter 212: The Suez Canal
Chapter 213: Southwest Strategy
Chapter 214: One of Us, Don’t Shoot?
Chapter 215: Negotiation
Chapter 216: Future Prospects
Chapter 217: Ernst’s Little Scheme
Chapter 218: A Meeting Gone Astray
Chapter 219: The Importance of Connections
Chapter 220:
Chapter 221: Make the Negroes Suffer First
Chapter 222: Decency
Chapter 223: Trip to Sweden
Chapter 224: King Constantine Falls
Chapter 225: The East African Kingdom
Chapter 226: Far East Ambassador

Chapter 227: The Utterly Morally Deficient East Africans

Chapter 228: International Students
Chapter 229: Full Throttle
Chapter 230: Foundations in East Africa

Chapter 231: Reforming Administrative Divisions

Chapter 232: Reorganizing Districts and Establishing Provinces

Chapter 233: Padding Out Another Chapter (Do Not Subscribe)

Chapter 234: Brothers Haggling

Chapter 235: Ernst, Who Wants to Stir Things Up But Doesn’t Want to Exert Himself

Chapter 236: The “Rome” Scheme

Chapter 237: Thinking Too Small, Scope Too Narrow

Chapter 238: Three “Knives”
Chapter 239: What Exactly is Franz Up To?
Chapter 240: A Large Loan
Chapter 241: Black H興根 Enters the Scene
Chapter 242: Why Mayotte?
Chapter 243: Type 70
Chapter 244: Turning Defeat into “Victory”
Chapter 245: My Governor Uncle

Chapter 246: The First Shot of the German Wars of 1870

Chapter 247: The Hechingen Brigade
Chapter 248: Heinrich
Chapter 249: Heat
Chapter 250: The Enemy is in Paris
Chapter 251: Actions on All Fronts
Chapter 252: The Outbreak of War
Chapter 253: The Battle of Wissembourg
Chapter 254: An Unpleasant Parting
Chapter 255: Fifty-Fifty Chance
Chapter 256: Receiving Italian “Refugees”
Chapter 257: Mutual Calculations
Chapter 258: Night Raid

Chapter 259: Italy: It’s My Turn to Take the Stage!

Chapter 260: A Wildly Inaccurate Guess
Chapter 261: Threat
Chapter 262: British and Russian Attitudes
Chapter 263: Playing the Long Game
Chapter 264: The Great Venetian Escape
Chapter 265: Pre-War Preparations
Chapter 266: Rome’s Second Liberation
Chapter 267: Individual Battlefields
Chapter 268: “Patriot” Beef and Potato Stew
Chapter 269: Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Chapter 270: The Loyal and Patriotic Venetian Merchant

Chapter 271: New Naval Base Location
Chapter 272: Adriatic Sea Battle
Chapter 273: Chaos Ensues
Chapter 274: First Contact
Chapter 275: Southern Boundary
Chapter 276: “Old Friends”
Chapter 277: The Caged Bird Transformed
Chapter 278: Over Three Thousand Kilometers
Chapter 279: Somali Bananas

Chapter 280: The Bagamoyo Shipyard and the Culture War

Chapter 281: Labor Export

Chapter 282: The “Progress” of the Zanzibar Sultanate

Chapter 283: Theresian Military Academy
Chapter 284: A Series of Stratagems
Chapter 285: Berlin—Mauser Factory
Chapter 286: Worker Transfer
Chapter 287: Fleeing Westward
Chapter 288: New Nairobi Citizens
Chapter 289: Teaching
Chapter 290: Long-Staple Cotton
Chapter 291: “Theft Nation”
Chapter 292: The Advanced Tax Farming System
Chapter 293: Entering the Pass!
Chapter 294: Anda Watches
Chapter 295: Rejection
Chapter 296: Taking Venice
Chapter 297: Army Blood Transfusion
Chapter 298: Banana Plantation
Chapter 299: Preemptive Strike
Chapter 300: Plunder
Chapter 301: Austrian Commercial Delegation

Chapter 302: Continuation of the Inspection Tour

Chapter 303: Malawi Lake Heavy Industrial Zone

Chapter 304: Mediation
Chapter 305: The Birmingham Peace Agreement
Chapter 306: Handing Over Mayotte Island
Chapter 307: The Birth of Germany
Chapter 308: Infiltration

Chapter 309: Private Intelligence Organization

Chapter 310: Aiding Africa

Chapter 311: The Kingdom of Italy’s Thoughts

Chapter 312: Swords Point at the Abyssinian Empire

Chapter 313: Bootleg “Stuttgart”
Chapter 314: Trade and Conflict
Chapter 315: Clearing the Stock
Chapter 316: Rhine Shield

Chapter 317: “The Eastern African-Egyptian Border Demarcation Agreement”

Chapter 318: Juba Town
Chapter 319: Headquarters Relocation
Chapter 320: Double Standards
Chapter 321: Kitui Coal Mine
Chapter 322: Inspecting the City of Dodoma
Chapter 323: The Great Ndebele Uprising
Chapter 324: Zhuhai Trading Zone
Chapter 325: Supporters of the Ndebele People
Chapter 326: The “Central Canal” Project
Chapter 327: Heading South
Chapter 328: Foreign Powers
Chapter 329: Behind the Current Version
Chapter 330: Running Away
Chapter 331: No Escape
Chapter 332: Rice Seeds
Chapter 333: Triangular Alliance

Chapter 334: The Triangular Alliance (Continued)

Chapter 335: Pig Farming
Chapter 336: East African Cuisine?
Chapter 337: Fellow Countrymen from America
Chapter 338: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Chapter 339: Increased Investment
Chapter 340: The Huaihai Economic Zone
Chapter 341: Democratic Elections
Chapter 342: The Glass Industry
Chapter 343: Military Farming

Chapter 344: Indian Ocean Metropolis - Dar es Salaam

Chapter 345: Aid Delegation
Chapter 346: Immigration Transit Point
Chapter 347: Dinner is Served
Chapter 348: Urbanization Rate

Chapter 349: Wasting Resources on Military Expansion

Chapter 350: A New Player in Africa

Chapter 351: The Past

Chapter 352: The Sea Coachman of the Indian Ocean

Chapter 353: Next Stop
Chapter 354: Telegraph
Chapter 355: Anka Village
Chapter 356: Railway
Chapter 357: Soja
Chapter 358: War Preparations

Chapter 359: Now that you’re here, you’re not leaving!

Chapter 360: Arrangements
Chapter 361: K-001
Chapter 362: The First Railway Master Plan

Chapter 363: A Million Acres of Rubber Plantation

Chapter 364: Burning
Chapter 365: Deceptive Immigration
Chapter 366: “Reciprocity”
Chapter 367: Ironclad Warship
Chapter 368: Interlude
Chapter 369: Farewell
Chapter 370: (Subscription Not Required)
Chapter 371: Business
Chapter 372: Reaching Africa Again
Chapter 373: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
Chapter 374: Lively South Africa

Chapter 375: The Security Situation of First Township

Chapter 376: War Council
Chapter 377: Progress in Italy
Chapter 378: Having One’s Own Path
Chapter 379: Golden Leaf
Chapter 380: Night Talk
Chapter 381: National Gift
Chapter 382: Crossing the River
Chapter 383: Introduction

Chapter 384: Entrusted with a Mission in a Time of Crisis

Chapter 385: Incitement
Chapter 386: On the Verge of the City
Chapter 387: First Encounter
Chapter 388: Changing the Guard
Chapter 389: Handover
Chapter 390: Persuasion to Leave
Chapter 391: Lambs to the Slaughter
Chapter 392: Strategic Security
Chapter 393: Civilian Conflict in East Anglia
Chapter 394: Tough
Chapter 395: Playing the Rogue
Chapter 396: Speculation
Chapter 397: Prussia is Playing a Grand Game
Chapter 398: Even a Dog Gets Slapped Twice
Chapter 399: Still Need to Ask Daddy
Chapter 400: Non-Aggression Pact
Chapter 401: Rejected
Chapter 402: Compromise
Chapter 403: Divestment
Chapter 404: Getting Filthy Rich
Chapter 405: Behind the Canal
Chapter 406: Black Industry Chain
Chapter 407: Military Reform
Chapter 408: The Executioner Goes Online
Chapter 409: Belgian Congo
Chapter 410: The Naval Problem
Chapter 411: Ferdinand Naval Academy

Chapter 412: Buying and Building in Combination

Chapter 413: The Binary System Secondary School

Chapter 414: New Hamburg Bay
Chapter 415: In Trieste
Chapter 416: Different Positioning
Chapter 417: Cook’s Vehicle
Chapter 418: Apprentice
Chapter 419: Crisis Erupts
Chapter 420: Solid as Mount Tai

Chapter 421: The East African Great Railway Plan

Chapter 422: Railways and Copper Mines
Chapter 423: Military Industry Sales
Chapter 424: Flight
Chapter 425: Expanding the Market
Chapter 426: Return to Europe
Chapter 427: Prince Hermann
Chapter 428: Discussion
Chapter 429: Weak Foundation
Chapter 430: Guests
Chapter 431: Residence
Chapter 432: Three Channels

Chapter 433: The Little Strengthen Governance Project

Chapter 434: Far Ahead
Chapter 435: Steel and Population
Chapter 436: Malicious Competition
Chapter 437: Cholera and Shady Dealings
Chapter 438: Countdown

Chapter 439: A Diamond in the Rough Gets Married

Chapter 440: So Beautiful, Vienna!
Chapter 441: Returning Home
Chapter 442: The East African Threat
Chapter 443: Biding Our Time
Chapter 444: Arriving Home
Chapter 445: Locust Plague and Profiteering
Chapter 446: Disaster Situation
Chapter 447: Casual Chat
Chapter 448: 1874 Administrative Divisions
Chapter 449: Ambition
Chapter 450: Population Crisis
Chapter 451: Population (Continued)
Chapter 452: East African Railway Network
Chapter 453: Loan
Chapter 454: Military Exercise

Chapter 455: Pointing the Sword at Southeast Asia

Chapter 456: Imperialism

Chapter 457: Planting the Flag and Claiming Territory

Chapter 458: Pacific “Pearl”
Chapter 459: Work Conference
Chapter 460: Conflict
Chapter 461: Friedrich

Chapter 462: The Crisis Triggered by Germany: The Wolf is Coming!

Chapter 463: Choosing Sides
Chapter 464: Persuasion
Chapter 465: Quasi-Alliance Relationship
Chapter 466: Attitudes of Various Nations
Chapter 467: Observation
Chapter 468: Southwest Africa
Chapter 469: Walvis Bay
Chapter 470: Orange Free State Joins Britain
Chapter 471: Loophole
Chapter 472: Preparing for War
Chapter 473: The New Governor’s Troubles
Chapter 474: Discussion
Chapter 475: Making a Move
Chapter 476: Higher Education
Chapter 477: Li Ji’s Sense of Responsibility
Chapter 478: Intelligence from Maputo
Chapter 479: Cattle and Horse Empire
Chapter 480: Anglo-French Conspiracy
Chapter 481: Playing Along
Chapter 482: Bosnia
Chapter 483: A New Ethnicity
Chapter 484: Training
Chapter 485: War Game
Chapter 486: Diplomatic Pressure
Chapter 487: Tete City
Chapter 488: Intelligence Warfare
Chapter 489: War is War, Trade is Trade
Chapter 490: An Oddball Commander
Chapter 491: Failed Offensive
Chapter 492: Static Warfare
Chapter 493: Naval Showdown
Chapter 494: False Intelligence
Chapter 495: Preparing a Counterattack
Chapter 496: Engagement
Chapter 497: Preparing to Mediate
Chapter 498: Peace Talks

Chapter 499: A Rush to Establish Diplomatic Relations

Chapter 500: German Ambassador

Chapter 501: Four Seas, Two Lakes, and Two Inland Areas

Chapter 502: Lanfang Overseas Province
Chapter 503: Meddling
Chapter 504: Borrowing People
Chapter 505: Speeding Things Up
Chapter 506: Undying Evil Intentions
Chapter 507: Playing Both Sides
Chapter 508: Economic Sanctions
Chapter 509: Getting Started
Chapter 510: Giving Britain Something to Do
Chapter 511: Blood Transfusion

Chapter 512: Providing a Stage for the Russians

Chapter 513: Decision
Chapter 514: The Kabul Uprising
Chapter 515: Dog Eat Dog
Chapter 516: Patriotic Education
Chapter 517: Surplus
Chapter 518: Proceeding Step by Step
Chapter 519: A Million Black Slaves
Chapter 520: Power Plant
Chapter 521: Application
Chapter 522: Great Power Goalkeeper
Chapter 523: Drought
Chapter 524: Happiness
Chapter 525: Serum
Chapter 526: Beacon of Civilization
Chapter 527: East African (Indian) Trade
Chapter 528: Keeping Up with the Times
Chapter 529: Applying to Return Home
Chapter 530: Juba Comprehensive Training Base
Chapter 531: Garrison City
Chapter 532: Scheming for Ryukyu
Chapter 533: Perilous as a Stack of Eggs

Chapter 534: The Struggle for Ports in the Western Indian Ocean

Chapter 535: A Backward Agricultural Nation
Chapter 536: Spy
Chapter 537: The Seventies of the Past

Chapter 538: The Hohenzollern Version of the “Scramble for Africa”

Chapter 539: Neighborly Discussions

Chapter 540: Bureau of Cultural and Religious Affairs

Chapter 541: Dare You Do It Again Next Time
Chapter 542: Begetting a Fleet
Chapter 543: The Southern Ryukyu Islands
Chapter 544: The Kui River Arch Dam
Chapter 545: Orphans
Chapter 546: Permission
Chapter 547: Landing
Chapter 548: East African History Lesson
Chapter 549: Bicycle Industry
Chapter 550: Old Comrades Catching Up
Chapter 551: To Be Tested by Time
Chapter 552: The Past
Chapter 553: Utterly Impartial

Chapter 554: The Eastern Jewish Conflict Behind the Scenes

Chapter 555: Humiliation
Chapter 556: Spitting Blood from Anger
Chapter 557: Shadows in Edo
Chapter 558: Shifting the Blame
Chapter 559: Framing
Chapter 560: Press Conference
Chapter 561: The Navy Arrives
Chapter 562: World Powers
Chapter 563: A Helping Hand
Chapter 564: Benefactor
Chapter 565: Naval Cooperation
Chapter 566: Comparison

Chapter 567: Electrical Engineering Technical School

Chapter 568: A Livable City
Chapter 569: Insubordination
Chapter 570: Surrender!
Chapter 571: Blockading the Miyako Strait
Chapter 572: Ceasefire Line
Chapter 573: The Land and Sea Dispute
Chapter 574: Backing Down
Chapter 575: Reaching a Consensus
Chapter 576: Ginseng Cultivation
Chapter 577: Wrapping Up

Chapter 578: Water Conservancy Construction Issues

Chapter 579: The East African Model

Chapter 580: Dar es Salaam City Cable State-Owned Factory Number One

Chapter 581: “Locomotives”
Chapter 582: Geographical Divisions
Chapter 583: Grades of Tropical Savanna
Chapter 584: The Hessen Railway Vision
Chapter 585: An Era of Transformation
Chapter 586: Enticing a Joint Venture

Chapter 587: East Africa’s “Westward Expansion”

Chapter 588: Harare Tobacco Factory
Chapter 589: Prosperous New City
Chapter 590: Showing Concern
Chapter 591: The Journey Home
Chapter 592: Inspecting Bagamoyo
Chapter 593: The Barltikum Shipyard
Chapter 594: Contradiction
Chapter 595: Incitement
Chapter 596: Sense of Oppression
Chapter 597: Decayed Military Discipline
Chapter 598: New Year
Chapter 599: The World’s “First”
Chapter 600: Attempt

Chapter 601: Prospects and Crises in the Rubber Plantation Industry

Chapter 602: Husband and Wife Conversation
Chapter 603: The Energy Problem
Chapter 604: The People Live in Utter Misery
Chapter 605: The Orange Uprising
Chapter 606: Regret
Chapter 607: A Circuitous Route
Chapter 608: Meeting
Chapter 609: Improvement
Chapter 610: Military Advisory Group
Chapter 611: Infiltrating the Interior
Chapter 612: Food Festival
Chapter 613: Work Report
Chapter 614: Nikola Tesla
Chapter 615: Alternating Current
Chapter 616: Traces
Chapter 617: Action
Chapter 618: Conscience
Chapter 619: Spoils
Chapter 620: Proceeding Step by Step
Chapter 621: The Eurasian Fruit Basket Plan
Chapter 622: The Prospect of Somali Fisheries
Chapter 623: Mogadishu Port Renovation
Chapter 624: Asking for People
Chapter 625: Dre Dawa City’s Thoughts
Chapter 626: Closed and Open
Chapter 627: Special Administrative City
Chapter 628: Introducing Foreign Investment
Chapter 629: Education
Chapter 630: Labor Cooperation
Chapter 631: Preparation
Chapter 632: Heading to Europe
Chapter 633: An “Old” Acquaintance
Chapter 634: Scheme Selection
Chapter 635: Within Fifty Thousand
Chapter 636: Sharing the Pressure
Chapter 637: Utterly Devoid of Virtue
Chapter 638: Exchange of Benefits
Chapter 639: Unequal Exchange
Chapter 640: Construction Site
Chapter 641: One In, One Out
Chapter 642: Sanctions and Capitulation
Chapter 643: Spain and the Philippines
Chapter 644: Tailor-Made

Chapter 645: Matabeleland Province Industrial Development

Chapter 646: The Situation in the South

Chapter 647: Preparation

Chapter 648: 1883 Defense and Military Reorganization Report

Chapter 649: New Frankfurt City
Chapter 650: Manure Economics
Chapter 651: Southwest Africa
Chapter 652: Economic Income
Chapter 653: Provincial Capital Selection

Chapter 654: Military Vehicle Research Institute

Chapter 655: Tea Industry Development Status
Chapter 656: Expansion and Upgrades
Chapter 657: Angolan Defense
Chapter 658: Strategy
Chapter 659: Trade with Abyssinia
Chapter 660: Trade and Industry
Chapter 661: The Berlin Conference
Chapter 662: Candidate for the Conference
Chapter 663: Chaotic West Africa
Chapter 664: Hidden Internal Crisis

Chapter 665: War Between East Africa and Britain Is Inevitable

Chapter 666: Carl Peters

Chapter 667: Expanding the Army and Preparing for War

Chapter 668: Everything Takes Time
Chapter 669: Linking Industry and Agriculture
Chapter 670: Population Flow
Chapter 671: Opportunities in the Northwest
Chapter 672: Danger and Opportunity
Chapter 673: Ivory
Chapter 674: Land of Fish and Rice
Chapter 675: Water-Rail Intermodal Transport
Chapter 676: Motorcycle

Chapter 677: Attempting a Civil Service System

Chapter 678: “Democratic” East Africa
Chapter 679: Belgian Congo
Chapter 680: Buffer Zone
Chapter 681: Kinshasa
Chapter 682: Development Strategy

Chapter 683: The First Stage of Dividing the World is Complete

Chapter 684: Black Power

Chapter 685: Making the Best Use of Everyone

Chapter 686: Model 1885 National Defense Military Helmet

Chapter 687: The Situation of the Guards Division

Chapter 688: Patrol Soldiers
Chapter 689: Mental Imbalance
Chapter 690: Western Military Deployment
Chapter 691: South African Situation
Chapter 1: Taking Leave
Chapter 692: A Vast Disparity
Chapter 693: Independence Again!
Chapter 694: Extortion
Chapter 695: Natal
Chapter 696: Oil Well
Chapter 697: Oil Industry Layout
Chapter 698: Bait
Chapter 699: Military Service Registration
Chapter 700: Dragoons
Chapter 701: Urbanization
Chapter 702: East Africa’s “Political Assets”

Chapter 703: Streetcars and East African Electricity Development Opportunities

Chapter 704: Confidence

Chapter 705: The Transvaal’s Calculations

Chapter 706: East African Diplomatic Relations Upgrade

Chapter 707: Trade and Markets

Chapter 708: East African Standards Association

Chapter 709: Talent Recall
Chapter 710: Consolidating the Economy
Chapter 711: Returning Home
Chapter 712: Sights Along the Railway
Chapter 713: Not Afraid of War
Chapter 714: Iringa
Chapter 715: A Brief Reunion
Chapter 716: Surprise Inspection

Chapter 717: South African Version of the “Triple Alliance”

Chapter 718: Othello’s “Slave Trading”

Chapter 719: Mule and Horse Empire

Chapter 720: East African Military Industry Development

Chapter 721: Model 1885 Heavy Machine Gun

Chapter 722: Personnel Retraining

Chapter 723: Strategic Objectives in East Africa

Chapter 724: Temporary Adjustments
Chapter 725: Pre-War Calculations
Chapter 726: Going Deeper
Chapter 727: Fleet
Chapter 728: The Battle of Mogadishu
Chapter 729: Declaring War Officially
Chapter 730: Battle of Lamu Bay
Chapter 731: Heavy Losses
Chapter 732: A Lose-Lose Situation
Chapter 733: Besieged on All Sides

Chapter 734: New Hamburg Port City in a State of War

Chapter 735: Gurkhas
Chapter 736: The Ninth Brigade
Chapter 737: Peculiar Indians
Chapter 738: Mutual Scheming
Chapter 739: The Defense Line Falls
Chapter 740: Ancient Warfare
Chapter 741: Killing Machine “Maxim”
Chapter 742: A Major Victory
Chapter 743: Phase One
Chapter 744: Adjusting Mentality
Chapter 745: A Battle of Weaklings
Chapter 746: Morale is Usable
Chapter 747: Battle of the Vet River
Chapter 748: Phase Two
Chapter 749: Heading South

Chapter 750: The Complaints of Portuguese Soldiers

Chapter 751: Western Front Counterattack
Chapter 752: Easy Target
Chapter 753: Ending the War in Three Months!

Chapter 754: The Predicament of the East African Navy

Chapter 755: The Tables Have Turned
Chapter 756: Textile Industry Crisis
Chapter 757: Falling Apart
Chapter 758: 331st Division
Chapter 759: Vicious Methods

Chapter 760: The Ambitions of the 421st Division

Chapter 761: The Angolan Chicken Dinner Contest

Chapter 762: Passing the Buck Meeting
Chapter 763: Threatening Benguela
Chapter 764: Plan Adjustment

Chapter 765: The South African War and a Radically Altered History

Chapter 766: Assembly
Chapter 767: Occupying Angola
Chapter 768: Futile Resistance
Chapter 769: Bargaining Chips

Chapter 770: Inheritance of the Angolan Legacy

Chapter 771: Angolan Inheritance (Continued)
Chapter 772: Mindset
Chapter 773: The Passive British Army
Chapter 774: Relocation
Chapter 775: Chokwe
Chapter 776: Stage Three
Chapter 777: Christmas Offensive
Chapter 778: Cross-Sea Operation
Chapter 779: Successful Landing
Chapter 780: Tracking
Chapter 781: A Ring Inside a Ring
Chapter 782: Guards Division
Chapter 783: The Fall of Maputo
Chapter 784: One of Our Own
Chapter 785: Difficulty Upon Difficulty
Chapter 786: The Tables Have Turned
Chapter 787: Attacking Natal
Chapter 788: The “Awakening” of the Captives
Chapter 789: Attitude
Chapter 790: The Fall of the Royal Banner
Chapter 791: The Dagger Revealed
Chapter 792: Conditions
Chapter 793: Bird in a Cage
Chapter 794: The British Parliament
Chapter 795: Brothers in Misery
Chapter 796: A Firm Stance
Chapter 797: Port Edward

Chapter 798: East African Meteorological Bureau

Chapter 799: Venice Conference
Chapter 1: Taking Leave
Chapter 800: Changes in Venice
Chapter 801: Congratulations
Chapter 802: Argument
Chapter 803: Threat
Chapter 1: Taking a Leave of Absence
Chapter 804: A Lion’s Opening

Chapter 805: Asking an Exorbitant Price, Bargaining on the Spot

Chapter 806: Big Things Done in a “Small Meeting”

Chapter 807: A World Where Only Portugal Gets Hurt

Chapter 808: The Dust Settles
Chapter 809: Aftermath
Chapter 810: Coastline
Chapter 811: Farewell
Chapter 812: Expelling the Portuguese
Chapter 813: Madagascar
Chapter 814: A Second Coming?
Chapter 815: Madagascar Military Control Zone

Chapter 816: 1890 Agricultural Development Report

Chapter 817: East African Granary
Chapter 818: The Maputo Railway
Chapter 819: Population in 1890
Chapter 820: Purchasing a Warship
Chapter 821: Military Cuts
Chapter 822: Cabinda
Chapter 823: West Coast Development

Chapter 824: Mechanization and Land Reclamation

Chapter 825: Different Choices
Chapter 826: The German, Fernandes
Chapter 827: Plantation Turned Farm

Chapter 828: The Orange Free State Population Crisis

Chapter 829: Fleecing a Sheep
Chapter 830: Reservoir
Chapter 831: Population Great Wall
Chapter 832: Escorted
Chapter 833: Tractor

Chapter 834: Railway Conditions in Various Countries in 1890

Chapter 835: The Grand Railway Blueprint
Chapter 836: Transportation Conditions
Chapter 837: Typhoon
Chapter 838: Steel “Monster”

Chapter 839: Powerful East African Electricity

Chapter 840: Upington
Chapter 841: A Great Power Delegation
Chapter 842: Complementary Strengths

Chapter 843: The Black (East) German Economic Cooperation and Development Agreement

Chapter 844: Rudolf
Chapter 845: Northern Mozambique
Chapter 846: East African Cowboys
Chapter 847: Animal Husbandry

Chapter 848: Centralizing Educational Resources

Chapter 849: East African Medicine
Chapter 850: Immigration
Chapter 851: Heading to Mozambique
Chapter 852: Hawaii
Chapter 853: Secret Entry
Chapter 854: American Conspiracy
Chapter 855: Birds of a Feather
Chapter 856: Final Preparations
Chapter 857: Divided in Two
Chapter 858: That Sneaky Brit
Chapter 859: Landing, Capture, Repatriation

Chapter 860: President Cleveland’s Entanglement

Chapter 861: Sharing the Spoils
Chapter 862: Aftermath
Chapter 863: Three Vertical, Three Horizontal
Chapter 864: Morogoro City
Chapter 865: The Highland Province
Chapter 866: The BASF Inspection Team
Chapter 867: Sales Pitch
Chapter 868: Dust Settles
Chapter 869: New Frankfurt City
Chapter 870: Preliminary Work
Chapter 871: “Rhine” City
Chapter 872: Cotton Expansion

Chapter 873: Agricultural Structure Adjustment

Chapter 874: Promoting Immigration Destinations

Chapter 875: Naval After-Sales Service
Chapter 876: White-Faced Yama
Chapter 877: Cooperative Education
Chapter 878: Radio
Chapter 879: The Military’s Emphasis
Chapter 880: Angolan Agriculture

Chapter 881: The Feasibility of Mechanizing Economic Crops

Chapter 882: Exit
Chapter 883: Full-Scale East Africanization
Chapter 884: Deepening Cooperation

Chapter 885: Awakening to Economic Colony Status

Chapter 886: Transfer of Outdated Industries
Chapter 887: The Eight Cities of the North
Chapter 888: Selecting a Site for Rhein City
Chapter 889: Far East War
Chapter 890: Railway Construction
Chapter 891: “Rice” Character Shaped Railway
Chapter 892: Industrial Incubation Center
Chapter 893: Natural Gas Industry Takes Off
Chapter 894: Energy Landscape

Chapter 895: Second National Water Conservancy Project

Chapter 896: The “Savanna” Great Migration
Chapter 897: The End of the Far East War
Chapter 898: Tete City
Chapter 899: East African Aluminum Industry
Chapter 900: “Three Regions” Construction

Chapter 901: The East African Grand Canal Project

Chapter 902: The Imperial Palace
Chapter 903: Rhine Palace
Chapter 904: Cabinda
Chapter 905: “Aspirin”

Chapter 906: East African Planned Economy Committee

Chapter 907: The Three Connections Policy
Chapter 908: Sustainable Development
Chapter 909: Armored Force Concept
Chapter 910: Tank Testing Grounds

Chapter 911: The Importance of Industrial Foundation

Chapter 912: Luanda Merchant

Chapter 913: Foreign Capital

Chapter 914: An Old Acquaintance in a Foreign Land

Chapter 915: The Strategic Value of the West Coast

Chapter 916: Walvis Bay Railway

Chapter 917: East African-French Border Conflict

Chapter 918: 《East Africa, France Territorial Confirmation Agreement》

Chapter 919: East African Land Area and Administrative Divisions

Chapter 920: Plotting Mindanao

Chapter 921: Spain Plays an Unconventional Hand

Chapter 922: Unleashing the Slaughter
Chapter 923: Doing Every Evil Deed Imaginable
Chapter 924: The Ocean
Chapter 925: Shipbuilding Industry
Chapter 926: Farm-to-Market Road

Chapter 927: A Grand Initiative for Higher Education

Chapter 928: The Military Makes Way
Chapter 929: The Navy’s Thoughts
Chapter 930: Hansa Province
Chapter 931: Hans Leighton’s Reforms
Chapter 932: French and Spanish Ambassadors
Chapter 933: French Leadership
Chapter 934: Two-Step Communication
Chapter 935: Supporting Spain
Chapter 936: Arms Sales
Chapter 937: Countdown to War
Chapter 938: Blood Transfusion
Chapter 939: Manila Defense System
Chapter 940: The Capital Relocation Begins
Chapter 941: “Rhine Empire”
Chapter 942: Declaring War
Chapter 943: Manila Bay Naval Battle
Chapter 944: The Argo Sets Sail
Chapter 945: Air Force
Chapter 946: Nales’ Diary
Chapter 947: Total Black Population of Africa
Chapter 948: Seizing Manila
Chapter 949: Defeated
Chapter 950: The Paris Conference
Chapter 951: Ideas Go Bust
Chapter 952: The “Lion” Map
Chapter 953: New Home
Chapter 954: Ernst’s “Commute”
Chapter 955: Rhine Palace Subway Station
Chapter 956: Expert Advice

Chapter 957: Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, and Fishing

Chapter 958: Paraguay

Chapter 959: South American National Relations

Chapter 960: Opening Up New Markets
Chapter 961: Danger and Opportunity
Chapter 962: Tirpitz
Chapter 963: Idea for Cooperation
Chapter 964:
Chapter 965: The Germans’ Shock
Chapter 966: A Visit to Mbeya
Chapter 967: Otto
Chapter 968: Divergence
Chapter 969: Limited Cooperation
Chapter 970: Fourth in the World
Chapter 971: Economic Situation

Chapter 972: An Emerging Industrial Powerhouse

Chapter 973: Preparations
Chapter 974: Formation of Squads
Chapter 975: Diplomatic Storm
Chapter 976: Beginning
Chapter 977: Intelligence Gathering
Chapter 978: Subsequent Impact
Chapter 979: Western Opportunities
Chapter 980: The Atlantic Economic Zone
Chapter 981: Shortcut
Chapter 982: Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Area
Chapter 983: Pilot Area

Chapter 984: The First Five-Year Plan’s Steel Industry

Chapter 985: The First Transcontinental Land Bridge

Chapter 986: Farmers Enter the City

Chapter 987: Economic Crisis and the First Five-Year Plan

Chapter 988: Within the Plan

Chapter 989: Academic Exchange

Chapter 990: Sucking the Marrow from the Bones

Chapter 991: Arrival

Chapter 992: Naturalization

Chapter 993: The Strong Provincial Capital Strategy of Eastern Province

Chapter 994: Economic Foreign Aid
Chapter 995: Service-Oriented Government
Chapter 996: Western Population Expectations
Chapter 997: The Foundation of Industry
Chapter 998: Beira City
Chapter 999: New Soda Ash Production Process
Chapter 1000: Walking on Two Legs